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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.

PUBLISHER Dave Miller CREATIVE DIRECTOR Karen Munger ADVERTISING SALES MANAGER Laura Beam PRINT PROJECT MANAGER Bethany ScottPHOTOGRAPHY Marshall Hawkins www.sundancephotographyokc.com DISTRIBUTION The Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct-mail to 50,000 Edmond homes.

80 East 5th Street, Suite. 130, Edmond, OK 73034 405-341-5599 www.edmondoutlook.com [email protected] 9, Number 3 Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. © 2013 Back40 Design, Inc.

FEATURES

10 Piano Notes Bruce Piano Is Preserving a Family Tradition

20 Why Edmond? Four Families Share Their Stories

25 Part of the Plan Entrepreneur/Pastor Bridges the Gap

29 The Mushroom Lady From Lion’s Mane to Large-Capped Shitake

34 Going Organic Reasons Behind the Trend

37 Driving Lessons The Students Are Doing the Teaching

8 Facts & Figures

12 Louise A Dance to Remember

15 Food Italiano’s Pizza & Pasta Food Faves

18 Business Home Instead Senior Care Crossings Community Church

22 Easter Events Happenings Around Edmond

38 My Edmond Outlook Ray Cromer

March 2013

To advertise, contact Laura at 405-301-3926 [email protected].

32 Cowboy Up! Retired Police Officer Emulates Heroes of the Old West

EDMOND OUTLOOK

I’m staring at a screen right now.It’s a tool. I’m using it to express myself. But not long ago (actually a few minutes) I was using this tool to look at stuff I don’t need or care about. Yes, I spend too much time online. It doesn’t get much better at work either. My company, Back40 Design, creates engaging online experiences. Or simply said —we make websites.

We’ve been doing this for the past 12 years and business is good. There’s no sign of the web slowing down. But I can shut it off. It’s a choice I don’t make often enough. Yes, there are times when being “available by phone” is important. If you have kids or parents that need you in an emergency, it’s indispensable. But, as I see it, everything below that is up for debate. Lately, I’ve been more conscious of the time I spend, head tilted downward, staring at my phone. It’s staggering. Here are some examples of the insanity: I walked several blocks the other night in the dark staring at my phone. My dog was there to guide me (who’s walking who?). I was technically spending time with my dog, but in reality, Apple’s falling stock prices had the lion’s share of my attention. I was riding motorcycles in Arkansas last month (you know the warm weekend we had in February) and I was zipping along with my helmet bluetoothed to my phone and I took a call from my dentist’s office. Wow, I’m glad they could reach me. I need to unplug more. My wife and I were out to dinner earlier this week. When she excused herself for a few minutes, I began an inner struggle to look —or not look—at my phone. It took a few minutes, but the phone won. This time. Okay, maybe this is a bit dramatic, but I know I will regret the hours I spend surfing Craigslist, CNN and Slate instead of engaging. My granddaughter. My daughter. My wife. Others. Anyone. And this is why I am struggling to mitigate my screen-centered life. I drew the cartoon below to illustrate what we might look like in generations to come. Hopefully not. I’m closing my laptop now and taking the dog for a walk without my phone.

Dave Miller, Publisher

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is the number of keys on almost every modern piano.

Read about a local father-and-son team’s

craftsmanship restoring antique pianos on page 10.

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AroundTownJunior Hospitality is hosting it’s annual fundraiser, Chips for Charity, on March 23 benefitting the Hope Center of Edmond. Visit www.jhok.org for more information or to purchase tickets online.

The Bottle Shop is hosting St. Pitties Day on March 14th to raise proceeds for Pit Bull Rescue Oklahoma. Stop by their location at 13516 North Eastern in Oklahoma City.

The Edmond Fire Department will host a Spring Break Children’s Safety Challenge on March 18-19. For more infor-mation regarding enrollment, please call the Edmond Fire Prevention office at 216-7393.

Join Armstrong Auditorium for an evening of toe-tapping fun as the Byron Berline Band brings their virtuosic skill and charming wit to a program of traditional bluegrass and Western swing music the entire family will enjoy on April 7th. For ticket information, visit armstrongauditorium.org.

Get your 3 appetizers for $10 promo card at the Texas Road House. Your purchase benefits the Equine Therapy Center in Guthrie and helps at-risk kids develop skills necessary to make positive life choices.

13 millionpints of Guinness are consumed on St. Patrick’s Day. Celebrate safely on March 17th!

Back40 Design racked up a total of 5 regional Addy’s at this year’s event (OKC chapter of the American Advertising Federation).

Congratulations team!

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24 hours. Read about a sprouting business on page 29.

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Dodging roadies and stage hands while setting up a U2 concert or tuning equipment before a legendary performance by the Eagles or chatting with Michael Bublé—it’s all in a day’s work for Gary Bruce and his son Jordan. Working with pianos comes naturally to the father-son duo. Gary Bruce began in the piano tuning business in 1979, catering to a range of client needs. Whether handling the annual tuning of a family piano or restoring a prized classic, Bruce Piano of Edmond approaches each task as a labor of love. They are frequently called to concert venues, movie sets, and other on-scene locations to tune the pianos that will be used. In addition, they manage the tuning for area schools and organizations like OSU and Oklahoma Christian University. They also refurbish and move the majestic instruments. Bruce grew up involved in music, performing in bands and majoring in it in college. While in school he met his wife, also a music major. They married, moved to Edmond and had four children. In addition to Jordan, who is the oldest and involved full-time in the family business, the three other children have carried on

the love of music, studying it in college. Two of Bruce’s kids even have musically involved spouses. “They’re all involved in the music business, which they sort of inherited from us, so it’s kind of fun,” Bruce says. He speaks almost reverently about music and its ability to not just improve other areas of skill, but also to transcend all boundaries. “Everybody can hear

a Beethoven sonata and they hear the same thing. It moves them regardless of language skills,” he says. When it comes to the piano specifically, Bruce’s respect is evident. “The piano is just a fantastic musical invention and creation that’s able to be so expressive. The instrument itself is fairly complex, but to be able to play one is very easy,” he says, adding that “some instruments are not so easy, but any 18-month-old child can sit down and push a key, hear that and make a connection to ‘I made that happen,’ so there’s something really beautiful about that.” Bruce clearly passed along his love for the piano to Jordan. “I grew up always working on pianos. That was almost a part of my chore list. Before I could go watch Ninja Turtles I had to put on a set of bridle straps in an upright piano. I kind of thought all kids had to do that,” Jordan laughs, adding, “I didn’t know it was weird I was in there

by Lindsay Whelchel

Piano NotesHow Bruce P iano is Preserving a Family Tradition

edmondoutlook.com 11

putting pianos together but I liked it because I got to work with my dad.” Initially, Jordan didn’t expect to go full-time into the family business so quickly. He was about to take on the ownership of a restaurant when his father’s shoulder injury called him into running Bruce Piano for a year. Then, when his father recovered, Jordan says he knew he was where he belonged. “I loved it so much I just stayed on. There was no way I was leaving after that,” he says. In addition to the day-to-day work, Jordan is constantly developing ideas for growing the business. Bruce Piano now has five employees and is still as busy as ever. Jordan compares their work to auto care. “You always need an

oil change and it’s the same thing with piano tuning,” he says. He explains that although the piano tuning business is unregulated, there is a governing non-profit organization dedicated to quality of the craft. This is the Piano Technicians Guild, of which Jordan and his father are both members. Jordan has also participated in training opportunities to further his knowledge. He became only the second person to be a second-generation graduate of the Yamaha certification program, following in the footsteps of his father. He has also been trained at Steinway in New York after getting the opportunity to jump ahead

on the potential five-year-long waiting list. For Jordan, the inclusion of refurbishment in their list of services is invaluable. He says that not many technicians offer that option and he enjoys being able to put new life into the classics and often save a family heirloom. “It may be an old family piano that’s completely fallen apart and we bring it back to be like-new. I’ve delivered pianos where the whole family is there and people just start bawling because the piano is back.” When it comes to Bruce Piano, familydefinitelystrikesachord.


by Louise Tucker Jones

After convincing my mother that I was totally well from the flu, I attended a basketball game and got soaking wet in the cold winter rain. The next morning I was hustled off to the doctor with a raging temperature and diagnosed with pneumonia, which meant a week in the hospital. For a 16-year-old, that was at least five days too many to spend in that tiny cubicle called a room, but was actually one of four “curtained” partitions on what used to be a sun porch in the old two-story hospital. My only view was a funeral home across the street. So I was more than a little lonesome that following Saturday night, even though I had managed to get the small,

portable black and white TV—the only one in the hospital—in my room that evening. I was sitting cross-legged in

the middle of the bed when someone peeked around the edge of my curtain that had a “No Visitors” sign

pinned to it. It was my boyfriend! He had told the nurse he was my brother, knowing that only family members were allowed to

see me. And since I had four brothers coming and going, either she believed him or turned a blind eye. Either way, I

was thrilled to have company. We sat on the side of the bed as he filled me in on what was happening “on the outside.” Not only could I not have visitors, but I had no phone. Suddenly, music filled my little room as

Lawrence Welk’s band began to play on TV. Without hesitation, my boyfriend extended his hand to me. “May I have this dance?” I slipped into his embrace wearing pajamas and house shoes, and we waltzed across the sterile, tile hospital floor as if we were at the prom in formal attire. A perfect way to end a lonely day. I was discharged from the hospital the next day and was soon back to my regular routine with my friends at school. And though that relationship eventually ended, as most young romances do, the memory of that dance and many that followed, have lasted a lifetime. Wonderful dances with my husband at fun celebrations like high school reunions, weddings, or just waltzing across our living room floor to a “golden oldies” tune. Dancing with my daddy on my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary. A happy, teary-eyed dance with my handsome son on his wedding day. And oh, the hundreds or thousands of whirls and twirls through the years with my sweet babies in my arms. Hearing their squeals and giggles or feeling them drift off to sleep. Joyous occasions! But it might be that your world is a lonely place today, as mine is on this 47th wedding anniversary, the second without my husband. If so, I hope someone extends a hand of friendship and a ray of sunshine to you. And if by chance you are given the choice of sitting on the sidelines or dancing through life, I echo the lyrics of a once-popular song—“I hope you dance.” I’m glad I did!

Louise

A Dance to Remember The year was 1962 and all that could go wrong in a 16-year-old girl’s life seemed to happen that winter. To make matters worse, my family was living in a small, boxy four-room house with no indoor plumbing while my father and grandfather rebuilt a house my parents purchased. Beingrenters,myparentsgrewwearyofhousesbeingsoldafterourfamilymovedin,fixedthemupwithpaintandwallpaperandturnedthemintohomes.Finally,MamaandDaddywouldhavetheirownspecialplace.Butwhiletheyremodeledthefixer-upperonfiveacres,welivedin the tiny four-room house on the hill with cracks in the walls so wide you could feel the wind blow through them. That winter, everyone in our household was sick at one time or another, including me.

About the AuthorLouise Tucker Jones is an 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.


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Once considered an ethnic food, Italian fare has so pervaded the American dining experience that pizza and spaghetti seem no less indigenous than apple pie or fried chicken. Today’s stylish pastas and custom pizzas set a fashionable lunch scene. By evening, family dinner tables brim with hearty rounds of spaghetti and lasagna in a quest for the ultimate comfort food. And by night, the saucy elegance of artistic Alfredo and marinara dishes conjure up romance in its tastiest form. Is it any wonder we’ve embraced this versatile food with such amore? Given the widely varied interpretations of Italian cuisine, discovering those with authentic nuances steeped in family tradition holds new allure. Joel Brentlinger, owner and chef of Italiano’s Pizza & Pasta, grew up immersed in such tradition. With his Great Grandmother hailing from Calabria, a region in southern Italy, Brentlinger’s cooking naturally reflects the more southern-style customs. A mainstay of that culinary heritage is found in Italiano’s custom sauces, “just the way Grandma and Great Grandma used to make them,” Brentlinger recalls in tribute to his maternal masters.

Whatever Grandma and Great Grandma did, they certainly did it right. Most of the recipes at Italiano’s have been passed down at least four generations, if not five. Inspired to share the family’s culinary heirlooms, Brentlinger is the first of his lineage to cook professionally. “Through my degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration from OSU, I learned the restaurant business and the basics of cooking,” he notes. “I strive for excellence in all my food. That is why I make much of it myself and oversee carefully the rest.” With family from Brooklyn and Long Island and a mother born in Manhattan, Brentlinger’s New York influences spark menu magic as well. The superb New York style, hand-tossed pizzas start with fresh, handmade dough, lightly browned into a chewy crust that lets you linger over each delectable bite. Smoky pepperonis the size of your palm and flavorful, 100% Mozzarella cheese are among 15 toppings for the choosing. Another menu highlight is the Chicken Parmigiana. A breaded chicken breast, pan-fried in healthy olive oil, is smothered in Chicken Delight Sauce—a tangy, slightly sweet red sauce cooked with bone-in chicken for

Laura Beam is a business and food writer and 20-year advertising and marketing executive in radio, newspaper and magazines. Share new business tips and trends with her on LinkedIn or [email protected].

Americans’ love affair with Italian food has earned it the status of a stateside staple. Perhaps the rich family traditions, time-honored recipes and detailed preparation of this storied cuisine speak as much to the soul as to the palate, in any culture or corner of the world.

a hearty punch of flavor—and topped with melted Mozzarella cheese. Brentlinger continually creates new ‘Off Menu’ specials and offers non-traditional foods like Mexican and steaks as well. “We have very good steaks—not something Italian food is known for,” he reveals. “I use Italian herbs and spices to marinate our steaks two to three days before we use them. We currently serve two sizes of rib eye and a 10 oz. New York strip.” Whatever you do, don’t leave Italiano’s without a slab of Grandmother Jean’s New York Cheesecake. The buttery graham crust and dense, creamy, sweet cake “take you back to the streets of Brooklyn,” as one discerning native Brooklyn diner notes.

Located at 6833 N. Broadway, at Waterloo, Italiano’s is open Monday–Thursday 4–9pm and

Friday & Saturday 11am–9pm. Call 216-5660 for to-go orders and catering or visit italianosokc.com.

FOOD

italiano’sPizza & Pasta

by Laura Beam

JOEL BRENTLiNGER, OWNER OF iTALiANO’S

PizzA & PASTA

FOOD


Running Wild CateringWhen you put this creative catering company to work on your special event or corporate function, expect great things! From casual gatherings to major affairs, Running Wild’s legendary reputation for excellence has earned them top status as a full service caterer of choice. They’ll guide you through every detail of food selection, serving options and professional bar service, and can even help plan the theme, décor, venue and entertainment. Choose from hundreds of favorite appetizer, entrée and dessert menu items or let their acclaimed chef create special items for you. Treat your guests to Chicken Salad Cream Puffs or dramatic Shrimp and Snow Pea Skewers or create a fun mood with a Taco Bar or comfort foods. Served in abundant proportions or elegant nibbles, every presentation is exquisite! Plan now for weddings, reunions and summer grilling parties. Call 751-0688 or visit runningwildcatering.com.

Discover a gratifying new way to indulge your taste without blowing your diet and fitness goals! Delicious Smoothiez made of 100% raw juices serve up all the tangy-sweet flavor you crave while delivering a power-packed punch of vitamins and enzymes directly into the bloodstream for amazing boost and vitality. Choose from over 40 specially blended “just juiced juices,” many under 260 calories, and over 20 health-enhancing add-ons. Fun flavors like Banana Split and PBJ & A Glass of Milk offer endless variety. Families, professionals and fitness enthusiasts also love the Yoblendz self-serve yogurt with over 50 toppings. An incredible Eatz menu features popular Breakfast Bagelz, Sandwichez, Saladz and Wrapz to satisfy every craving. Stop by 1200 W. Covell Rd. next to Uptown Grocery or call 405-285-0133. Find them on Facebook or sign up at newinoklahoma.com for a FREE 24-oz. smoothie!

Juiceblendz® CaféWhy celebrate just one day when you can enjoy the luck of the Irish all week at this warm and friendly pub? From March 11–17, relax and enjoy fantastic Early Bird Specials all day for just $8.99. Choose from traditional Irish favorites like Bangers & Mash, Shepherd’s Pie, Corn Beef & Cabbage, Beef & Guinness and Fish & Chips—all prepared to delicious perfection. This lively hot spot is also a super place to kick back with friends for Happy Hour specials and tasty appetizers like beer-battered fried pickles, colossal stuffed mushrooms and loaded cheese fries. As always, you don’t want to miss the annual St. Patrick’s Day party at Dan McGuinness! Come out Friday, Saturday and Sunday for the weekend party—MLP Friday, Big Slick & The Voodoo Daddies outside Saturday, and SuperFreak & 2AM all day Sunday. It’s all happening at 3005 S. Broadway in Edmond. Visit danmcguinnesspub.com for more.

Dan McGuinness Pub

FOODFAVESby Laura Beam


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Many people worry about their parents getting older. Will they remember to take their medicine? What if they have to go grocery shopping? Who will keep them company while I’m at work? For most people, the thought of putting them in a retirement center is heartbreaking. Fortunately, there are companies like Home Instead Senior Care, which believe in helping seniors “age in place” in their own homes, should they wish. “It’s important for seniors to continue to live in their home for many reasons,” says Linda Childress, franchise co-owner of the local Home Instead Senior Care branch. “However, the primary reason is familiarity and comfort.” Being able to have a senior continue their lives still following their

normal routine at home allows for confidence for them and peace of mind for their families. Home Instead focuses on helping seniors live out their day-to-day life with as little interference as possible, continues Childress. “Our Caregivers provide assistance with daily activities, including shopping, grooming, cooking and companionship.” Caregivers are usually certified nursing assistants who receive extensive training in the care of the elderly, including comprehensive Alzheimer’s Caregiver training. Furthermore, “All of our caregivers are bonded and insured, and we perform strict background checks on each and every one. We want to make sure that we are protecting our clients,” promises Childress.

When asked if there’s an option for 24-hour caregiving, Childress replied, “We have caregivers that are live-in caregivers who work 24-hour shifts with our clients, as well as temporary or part-time caregivers.” It’s all about the needs of the client. So whether Grandma forgets to take her medicine or Mom can’t get around the way she used to or if Dad is just lonely or Grandpa needs help with his grocery shopping—Home Instead Senior Care is available to help in whatever way they are needed.

Learn more about Home Instead Senior Careat HomeInstead.com/okc or caregiverstress.com.

Or call 405-521-1963 for a free, no-obligation appointment

DAViD & SuE LOFTiS, LiNDA & CHRiS CHiLDRESS

by SarahPaige Berling

Home insteadSenior Care

BUSINESS


by SarahPaige Berling

THE CONTEMPORARY SERViCE AT CROSSiNGS

A little bit traditional, a little bit contemporary, a whole lot of worship. That’s what you can expect to find at Crossings Community Church, at 14600 N. Portland Ave, in north Oklahoma City. Founded in 1959 on the principles of service and teaching the unconditional love of Jesus Christ, the church has grown and changed and now serves over 6,000 people every Sunday. “Crossings seeks to reach people of all ages and walks of life, so that means there is great variety in what we do,” explains Jennifer Ayotte, Director of Internal Communications. The church recently grew again, adding space for their contemporary worship services, calling the space “The Venue.” These services, which differ from the traditional services in that they only use contemporary praise music, started out in the gym

facility. “The contemporary service met in The Venue for the first time on January 27, 2013,” Ayotte explained. “What began with folding chairs is now a service held twice each Sunday with over 1,500 people attending.” “While younger people do probably tend to gravitate towards the contemporary service,” says Rebecca Ellis, who works with Ayotte, “it’s interesting that you’ll find younger people in the traditional service, too, as they desire to connect to the history and tradition of the old familiar hymns as they begin families of their own.” She continues, “We offer five different worship services each Sunday—the only difference is in the style of worship. If you prefer only hymns, the 8:30 Chapel service offers a traditional service with communion. The 9:30 and 11:00am

Sanctuary services are a blend of traditional and contemporary music—with a choir, orchestra, worship team and praise band. And then, of course, there are the contemporary services at 9:30 and 10:40 in the Venue.” Crossings is also pleased to announce that they offer counseling services to those who are members, provided by licensed mental health professionals. All counseling is both faith-based and clinically informed. No matter what you’re looking for—Sunday school, contemporary worship, traditional worship, something in-between, or counseling—this church will have what you’re looking for.

Visit Crossings Community Church at 14600 N. Portland Ave., online at crossingsokc.org

or contact them at 405-755-2227.

CrossingsCommunity

Church


extended family shortcommute

upsizing

downsizing

school system retirementclimate

family life

low cost-of-living

With more than 82,000 people calling Edmond home,

the reasons for living here are as varied as the demographics.

From the quality of schools to the affordable housing to the

cultural richness, many factors enter into the decisions made to

choose Edmond as a place to call home. It’s no surprise, given

the convenient choices that contribute to a great quality of life.

Edmond’s outdoor parks and lakes complement a stunning array

of retail shopping and some of the best medical facilities in the

state. So we thought we’d ask why you chose Edmond. As varied

as their motivations for moving here, four families share their

stories of why Edmond, Oklahoma, is a perfect place to live.

Catherine Connelly was sick and tired of the uncertain life in Southern

California. Besides spending 15 extra hours a week commuting in clogged traffic to work 12 hours a day at corporations where employ-ment was always questionable due to mergers and layoffs, Connelly was also dealing with having to move. “Our landlord arrived on our doorstep one day to announce he had just sold the duplex we had been living in; therefore, we would have to vacate within 30 days—with or without the opportunity

to save money for the rent and deposits for the next place,” Connelly said. “We were just being kicked out without any time to prepare for this major life event. I was panicked.” She found a temporary house, but her life was out of her hands. Feeling powerless in the face of uncertain employment and nomadic living, Connelly said “The straw that broke the camel’s back was when the company I was currently employed by closed our office in California.”

“I then had to make a decision. Was I going to contin-ue to be pushed from home to home, job to job? I had to act fast. I got online and searched for the quality-of-living criteria I was looking for.” That list included affordable housing, low-crime, great schools, proximity to a city (for employment) but yet a reasonable commute and traffic, and a suburban environment—basically an educated law-abiding community. What did she find? Most cities seemed too expensive and crowded. “Then I checked out Oklahoma City and its suburbs,” she said. “I hopped on a plane and made a bee-line for Oklahoma City. I rented a car, drove straight to Edmond and into a real estate office. I didn’t know anyone here—no relatives and didn’t have a job here yet. I said, ‘Lord, you’re going to have to provide the job!’” She made an offer on a home in Edmond for under $100,000, and a month later she was offered a job in Edmond. “I moved here and brought my mom with me. By then she had cancer, but I wanted her to be at peace knowing she would finally be in a real home, not a rental,” Connelly said. “When I drove her into the neighborhood in Edmond for the first time, she saw the brick homes with fireplaces—and cried. “She said, ‘This is so nice! Do we really live here?’ “I said, ‘Yes, mom; we are finally home.’”

From the Golden State to the Heart of the Heartland

? Why Edmond

by Heide Brandes


extended family shortcommute

upsizingurban accessretirement job transfer shoppinglow crimesmall-town atmosphere

state university

Even nationally, Edmond is known as the place to live. CNN named our town on its “Best Places to Live” list based on

the 20-minute drive to Oklahoma City, low crime rate and plentiful jobs. There are many things for all ages to do right in

town—from shopping at the downtown Farmers Market to the “Liberty Fest” Fourth of July festival and the UCO Jazz Lab.

With its laid back atmosphere, low crime and low cost of living, Edmond is hands-down one of the the best places to

raise a family in Oklahoma. It is possible have that small-town atmosphere without sacrificing big-time amenities.

Job Transfer Brings Indiana Couple to Edmond When Steve Jeryk and his wife Leah moved to Oklahoma from Indianapolis six years ago, they fell in love with not just the state, but with the people too. “A job brought us here, and we loved Oklahoma so we stayed here,” Steve said. “Once you come here, you stick here. We loved the people we met here, and most of them lived in Edmond.” When the Jeryks had their son, Henry, they knew Edmond would be a perfect home for them. They lived in Oklahoma City, but wanted a bigger house, a place closer to the UCO where Leah is a graduate student, and a neighborhood conducive to raising a child. “We found a great school district,” said Steve, “and the neighborhood just feels better with its big trees and open spaces.” Living in Edmond also means remaining close to all the activities they love in Oklahoma City as well. “You don’t feel far away from the city,” Steve said. “There’s just more of a neighborhood feel in Edmond.” (Thanks for Henry’s smile on the front cover!)

South Korean Family Loves UCO and Edmond Schools Sukmoon Kang moved to Edmond from South Korea with his family to earn a master’s degree in TESL (Teaching English as a Second Language) at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) because of the reasonable tuituion. He and his wife quickly discovered Edmond to be a place of joy and education for his family—a good place to raise children. “Most of all, Edmond has good public schools. My two daughters get to be naturally exposed to learning English and are acquiring English very fast. My wife and I are very envious.” “Edmond has a family-friendly environment,” Sukmoon said. “There are lots of beautiful parks; and the library and YMCA are places our family visits on a regular basis” While studying abroad and bringing his wife and two daughters with him, he said that not only was a quality university very important, but also a quality place to live. Sukmoon added that Edmondites have been friendly and helpful to his family as they get accustomed to living here and learning English.

Downsizing for Retirement & Travel Joe & Connie Ziese were looking to dramatically downsize their 70-acre property and purchase a smaller home in Edmond in order to enjoy their retirement years. With a dream of traveling the country in a motor home, the retiring couple wanted to be debt-free and closer to medical facilities as well. “Thinking about our retirement years, 70 acres is a lot to care for,” said Connie. “We wanted an easily-maintained smaller home in a nice community. We want to travel, be on our boat and have a little garden.” They found everything they needed in Edmond. “When I was growing up, Edmond was just a little town,” Connie said. “Now, it’s grown so much. Our friends are here, and the qual-ity of living here is so good because you are close to everything you need.” The true draw for the retiring couple, however, was how pleasant Edmond is to an older crowd. “It’s still a quiet community to live in,” Connie said. “We’re really happy with our choice to move to Edmond.”

THANKS TO MCGREGOR HOMES AND MCCALEB HOMES FOR THE

CRAFTSMAN-STYLE SETTiNGS FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN iN THEiR HOMES

iN THE ARBOR CREEK ADDiTiON iN EDMOND.


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What if today’s

age of information

technology could

mirror a time in

history like that

of the Gutenberg

press, but instead

of disseminating

messages on paper,

this time it’s done

through applications

[apps] on your

smart phone?

That’s the question that Edmond resident and pastor at LifeChurch.tv, Bobby Gruenewald, asked himself in a Chicago airport in 2006. By the time he had made it through the security line, Gruenewald had a name for his idea —YouVersion. Launched in 2007, YouVersion was initially a website for associating pieces of media with the Bible. It didn’t become the popular smart phone app until 2008. Today it allows people to choose reading plans for the digital Bible and access passages from anywhere straight off of their phones or tablets. The app is now registered on more than 81.5 million devices with users having spent 2 billion minutes reading. The name for the app came from the original idea of representing how you were inspired by the Bible through media. The idea of using technology to benefit the church was what brought Gruenewald to LifeChurch.tv to begin with. In 1996, while Gruenewald was in college, he developed a web-hosting company with friends. Surprised by its success, he sold the company and went on to a venture with a pro-wrestling website. During this time, Gruenewald began attending and volunteering at LifeChurch.tv. With the successful sale of his second business, he came on staff as a pastor with the church and leader in the technology department. “In my years of business, I had never made a connection that what I was learning in business and through these technology-based companies would have any application in the church,” Gruenewald says. “I had always viewed the church as a place where I went and learned about what it meant to be a better follower of Christ and I would take those principals and apply them in terms of how I led our companies, but I would never think the other way—like this

stuff I learned in technology could actually help the church. It seems kind of obvious in retrospect.” Gruenewald explains that he knew he was in his rightful place in his new role at the church. “It became real clear that the passion God put inside of me for the church had just eclipsed my passion for business.” The church moved its headquarters farther into Edmond and Gruenewald followed suit around ten years ago. He says they are proud of their home base as well as their implementation of technological advances in their work. “Because of my background in technology, and some others on our team, we really feel like what we’re supposed to do as a church is take technology and invest in it to where we can make it available to help people engage in the Bible,

to help people further their walk with Christ.” In doing so, they have extended their connection to places around the world.

With the mobile version, Gruenewald reports that more and

more people began to connect with YouVersion. When 83,000 people installed the completely free app during the first three days of its launch, that’s when Gruenewald knew it had exploded. Now he hears countless stories where people are even able to access the content in countries where possessing a Bible is prohibited. In addition to this, the number of people who are able to complete their goals of reading the Bible for the first time is high. Gruenewald tells the story of one man who tried that very task for

Part of the PlanHow an Edmond entrepreneur and pastor is building the relationship between religion and technology through a popular app, YouVersion.

by Lindsay Whelchel

Bobby Gruenewald

2 billion minutes reading 81.5 million devices since 2007


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+

47 years. He was finally able to do it by having the YouVersion app. That man is not alone. Gruenewald calls the reading plans a key feature to the user-friendly software. With over 300 different plans or devotional options—some chronological, seasonal or by topics such as marriage—people

can choose how they want to approach reading the Bible. Edmond resident and LifeChurch.tv member, Tiffany Hockenbarger started using the app around eight months ago and refers to the plans as her daily encouragement. “I really like the plans that I’m able to engage in and then it’s really great when I go to my life group to have talking points right there,” she says.

Fellow member Jimmy Bullock reads from his plans every morning with his coffee. He can tell his mood is a bit down if he misses a day. “It definitely helps me every day, just being able to read a little bit,” he says. “I think the importance of it is that it’s always available wherever you are. It’s great that people who wouldn’t carry a Bible around have the option to go to YouVersion and maybe dive into God’s word in places where maybe they wouldn’t have before.”

For Gruenewald, Easter is a busy time of the year as the YouVersion team implements more plans to aid in deepening the understanding of the season. “It’s really been a tremendous thing to be a part of. It’s exceeded our expectations for certain,” he says. Gruenewald also comments that he hopes to create more community features for the app in the future. Sounds like a plan.

over 300 different plansand counting…


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Shopping guide

Barrett Jewelers has served Edmond for over 47 years with excellent customer service

Whether you're shopping for that perfect gift or just need a watch or chain repaired,

our knowledge and expertise are unsurpassed. All jewelry work is done in-house. Stop by 3224 S. Boulevard (off 33rd) or call 340-1519.

Find unique gifts, crafts, jewelry, antiques and more

at the annual Spring Market & Bake Sale. Featuring vendors from Norman, Ada, Crescent,

Tishomingo, Guthrie, Edmond, Oklahoma City & Texas.

April 12 & 13, 9am–4pm at 1st & University in Edmond.

The new Spring catalog is out now! Look for new scents, warmers and more for the spring

and summer months. Contact Nancy Dobbs, Independent Scentsy Director at 341-3107 or elegantcandlegifts.com.

Make a colorful entrance at your Spring Break destination!Find an amazing selection of trendy outfits, jewelry,

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The reality is much different. Imagine instead large bags filled with a special mix of sawdust lined on shelves. The environment is dimly lit and the mushrooms are shaped more like furry softballs or tentacled masses. Picture all of this inside a retooled box truck sitting in the backyard of a pleasantly-suburban Edmond home. Oklahoma Mushroom of Edmond is sprouting the new-est of Oklahoma’s specialty mushroom farms–the so-called “Blue Rose” of vegetable farming. But mushroom farming isn’t like your typical farm. It’s part science, part magic, part imagination and a big part of knowledge to make a mushroom farm both viable and profitable. “The mushroom farm oppor-tunity presented itself last year,” said Heather Popowsky, owner of Neighborhood Gardener and the Oklahoma Mushroom farm. “The couple who started it ended their partnership and was looking to sell. This isn’t your typical soil farm—this is something completely different and we are aiming to produce 200 pounds of mushrooms a week.” Popowsky works her farm with former chef Robert Wehrle, who acts as the farm manager. The farm currently grows Shitake mushrooms, Lion’s Mane, White Elm and soon Almond Portabellos. “We are currently selling mushrooms to restaurants in the area like Local in Norman, the Coach House, Bellini’s, LaBaguette, Picasso Café and West,” said Popowsky. “We will also do the farmers markets and markets like Urban Agrarian and Native Roots.” The goal is to grow and sell the spongy delicacies to restaurants and stores, though home gourmets can also purchase direct. Variety is the key. No button mushrooms here–these are the crown jewel mushrooms.

Science & Nature Wehrle and Popowsky were introduced through Matthew Birch at Urban Agrarian market, and a partnership of fungus was born. Wehrle had a farm in Tuttle where he grew natural, local produce and has always had a passion for mushrooms. As a former chef, he cooked in Germany and in Oklahoma City before creating his organic garden. “I’ve always been fascinated by mushrooms,” he said. “But, leave growing them to experts. Unless you can positively identify a mushroom, don’t pick it and don’t eat it.” For Wehrle, the mushrooms he manages are the delicious, lovely and friendly kind. But what grows so perfectly in nature requires exact science in a controlled environment. “There’s no such thing as a typical day growing mushrooms,” he said. “I start at 8 a.m. every day and make the bags.”

themushroom Lady by Heide

Brandes

Envision a

mushroom farm

and the image of a dark

container full of chocolate-colored dirt with bulbous, spongy mushrooms popping out

with their bright white caps and frilly gills comes to mind.

Heather Popowsky in her mushroom farm

Bags? At Oklahoma Mushroom, special sawdust and organic rice bran are placed in special bags that are then autoclaved to 255 degrees to sterilize the base. Using HEPA filters, the bags are cooled and then grain spawn is added and the mycelium (where all mushrooms come from) are injected. Soon, after sitting in dark, climate controlled environments, blisters start to form in the dirt where the mushrooms will eventually sprout. “Once they sprout, the mushrooms will double in size every 24 hours,” said Wehrle. “We get our source substrate from Prague, Oklahoma, the mycelium spawn from Northwest Microbiological. We build the bags, we sterilize, we inoculate with the liquid mycelium, we incubate and then we harvest.” Popowsky, who purchased the farm with the help of her former husband and local chef Ryan Parrott, owns 70 percent interest in the farm along with her cousin, Jay Thomas. She still maintains her gardening and landscaping business of Neighborhood Gardener, but mushrooms are the apple of her eye right now. “I love mushrooms, but I never thought about growing them until the opportunity presented itself,” she said. “Because we just started in October, we’re only selling to a few places because it takes some time to grow and get to our production goals. Our goals are to grow and sell to as many restaurants and stores as possible. You won’t ever taste anything as good as these mushrooms.”



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long-time employees or family members.”

Edmondite Christy Dowell says, “We have a

home full of Kregger’s floors! New wood floors,

tile floors, rugs, a shower and soon to be carpet.

Paul and Chris and the rest of their crew have

been a pleasure to work with; always courteous,

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Time to say out with the old tile and carpet and

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tearing out your tile? Are you tired of your 70’s

carpet, but the thought of working with unreliable

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Not only does Paul Kregger and his crew offer

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they have also created a system that elimnates many

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Their new dust collection system minimizes the

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With most companies, replacing tile can take

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John Wayne’s character JB Books in “The Shootist” knew he was

dying. He knew walking into that saloon on his birthday could

cost him his life, but the whiskey called and so did the desire

not to die of cancer. So, he strutted in with his signature walk,

saw his enemies sitting at tables throughout the saloon,

and sidled up to the bar.

Glen McEntire walks into the Edmond coffee shop like John Wayne, grins through his white, trimmed beard and immediately starts talking guns. Now a retired Edmond police officer, he spent 22 years teaching thousands of law enforcement officers the accuracy and safety of firearms. McEntire is one of the most accurate, strict and knowledgeable gun men in the state. It’s no wonder heroes of the Old West like John Wayne and the guns they used appeal to him. Shooting single-action pistols from the turn of the century is a challenge. McEntire founded Cowboy Action Shooting, which, in his own words, is a whole bunch of grown men dressing up and acting like 11-year-olds. He recalls, “Years ago, Edmond’s Police Range Master Joe Evans came to me and said, ‘Hey, let’s do some cowboy stuff.’ I said sure.” Already experts in modern firearms, the lure of the Western gunslingers shot off. The two started planning scenarios that gunfighters in the Old West would have faced, and in the early 1990s, they started shooting as cowboys. “We had a saddle that we put over a ladder, and that was our horse,” McEntire said. “But our hobby evolved. We picked up more people and had eight people at our first match in 1990.”

JB Books can feel the outlaws’ eyes boring into his back. At the far table,

the “gambler” keeps his cool, watching the situation play out.

Books calls the bartender over. “I want a shot of whiskey

on the house. It’s my birthday.” He then turns to his enemies and

lifts the shot glass in a toast.

McEntire’s Cowboy Action Shooting Group now has an average of 30 members. Unlike other Single Action Shooting clubs, only those who are experts are part of CAS. The other clubs allow enthusiasts from beginners to experts to join,

but CAS only chooses those who are well-trained in firearm safety. New members have to be sponsored by a current member who stands by every time the provisional member shoots. “Our matches usually have ten scenarios in three types of matches—

one we make up, one based on a historical battle and one from Hollywood,” McEntire said. “For instance, for one we make up, we set up 35 to 40 steel targets and draw cards for teams of two. Then, each team climbs a tower that we call Fort Apache and when the buzzer sounds,

they have to shoot down all the targets. The team with the best time wins.” One of the historical scenarios is based on Wyatt Earp. As deputy U.S. marshal in

Tombstone, Earp once shot a man

by Heide Brandes


through the heart from 75 yards. The CAS places a man-sized steel silhouette at 75 yards with a red balloon representing the heart, and competitors have to shoot the balloon. All chaos breaks loose in the saloon. The outlaw sitting at the middle table right behind Books leaps up, knocks the table over as a shield and starts shooting. Books gets hit, but he jumps over the bar and starts shooting back, killing the man with a bullet that tears through the flimsy table. The second outlaw pulls his guns, but Books puts him down easily. The gambler, however, has a different strategy in mind…

The budding CAS initially held matches at the Edmond Police Department shooting range, but one of the members offered his land in Pink, Oklahoma, as a site. Thus “The Pink Gang” was born. Members are mostly retired from law enforcement, but members also include current officers, one attorney and a machinist. They all shoot under monikers like “GW” or “Rowdy” or “Wagonburner” or “Sergeant Major Gunny Buckshot.” They also incorporate period guns. These days, CAS holds matches eight times a year at McEntire’s new training center in Guthrie, The North American Shooting Academy. When not hosting tournaments, McEntire takes his career’s

worth of firearms training and hosts a public shooting academy that offers classes ranging from beginning firearms to a 40-hour rifle school.

The gambler crawls along the bar to surprise Books on the other side. Books,

crouched and injured behind the bar, looks up longingly at his empty glass of whiskey on the bar and sees the reflection of the gambler. Books takes aim. The gambler pops his head around to take that fatal shot, and Books shoots him dead. “That Hollywood scenario is one of my favorites,” McEntire said. “We set it up just like in the movie…except, we take a shot of tea instead of whiskey and none of us jump over the bar. We’re just too old for that.”

For more information on CAS or on the North American Shooting Academy, call McEntire at 405-315-0764.

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The familiar cliché gets drilled into every elementary school student and they carry

it with them for the rest of their lives. Generally, we hang on to clichés because,

while overused, they’re true. This one is not. More than 90 percent of conventionally grown apples

are loaded with at least two pesticides—and several other chemicals, as well. As consumers learn more about the chemicals in their food, they’re increasingly adopting organic diets and embracing foods that are completely free of pesticides, herbicides and hormones. Edmond resident Carolina Elizabeth is on board with organic diets. “I think what scares me the most is the word cancer and its link to hormones, pesticides and other chemicals in our foods. The

insane amount of antibiotics given to farm animals also frightens me. We find organic fruits and veggies tastier and my girls are more likely to eat them, making them healthier,” she says. Like the rest of the nation, Edmond has felt the rising demand for organic food. February 2012 witnessed the opening of Edmond’s Uptown Grocery. The company’s philosophy is uncomplicated: offer the highest quality foods at the lowest possible prices. With its expansive offering of organic foods, Uptown Grocery is riding the wave of a national increase in demand for clean, chemical-free food. Cindy Dicken, Natural and Organic Manager for Uptown Grocery, thinks the explanation for the increased interest in organic foods is simple. “People are just becoming more health-conscious,” she says, “The data is not very clear on what pesticides, hormones and other chemicals used on conventional crops are doing to us. Our customers are becoming more concerned about these. They believe those chemicals are behind a number of the diseases that have taken off in the last ten years. The increased interest in organic foods is simply a result of consumers’ health concerns. They want to know what they’re putting in their bodies.” Edmond’s resident nutrition expert, Dr. Michele Menzel, owner of Energetic Wellness and author of The 48 Day Transformation, doesn’t hold back when laying out the benefits of organic diets. “I’ve been eating organic food for almost 20 years,” she says, “Organic produce is much healthier for you than conventional

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

by Paul Fairchild


produce because it doesn’t have the pesticide load that conventional fruits or vegetables have. Human beings weren’t designed to have 87,000 chemicals in their food. Organic food is a perfect match for the design and function of the human body.” Menzel conducts nutrition seminars for the general public every second and fourth Fridays. Watching their grocery budgets carefully, some shoppers shy away from organic foods. They’re looking at price tags and the costs of organic foods can be almost double the cost of their conventional counterparts. Jennifer Webster, co-owner of

Edmond’s Providence Farms, believes that figure is misleading. “You’ve got to take into consideration things like nutritional

levels. Organic food is 25 percent more nutritious, with a lot more vitamins and minerals. You’re really actually getting more bang for

your buck with organic foods even thought they cost more,” she says. Webster’s lost 22 pounds over the last year by simply loading

her diet with organic foods. Janet Little, Nutritionist for Sprouts Farmers’ Market, shares that

opinion, but cites additional benefits of an organic diet. “When you buy organic food, you’re supporting a movement to support local food providers. It’s a movement about caring about the planet. Typically, you’re supporting the farmer that values Mother Earth and still values

putting good quality products out to the consumer,” she says. Edmond and Oklahoma City consumers enjoy at least a dozen sources for organic foods. And those aren’t just grocery stores. A night on the town could include Ludivine, a restaurant offering dishes featuring only organic and locally grown foods. Edmond in particular is blazing a trail toward healthy, organic diets—for those that are tired of those chemical-soaked apples.

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Nothing was out of the ordinary the day he visited Lake Eufaula, until Guerra slipped off the back of a boat and dove into only a half a foot of water. The resulting neck injury left the tenacious teenager par-alyzed. But Guerra is not one to let that stop him, exemplified through his recent efforts to do what many of us take for granted—drive. Two weeks after successfully completing his driving test, Guerra sits behind the wheel of a uniquely equipped van, the literal vehicle of his independence. The inside of the van has been modified to steer with the easy turn of a lever. The front seat has been removed and a ramp leads through the side door to perfectly accommodate Guerra’s wheel chair. All of this is made possible because of the work of Edmond resident, John McGivern and the Dan Lutz Rehabilitative Driving Program, in addition to the help offered through the state’s Department of Rehabilitation Services. The program offers driving instruction for those facing chal-lenges from a physical disability. “Since day one I wanted to get back and be a productive citizen and not let this tie me down forever. Just stay in a house and be blocked off from the world? No way! If you’d known me before my accident…No way!” Guerra says. McGivern has been working in rehabilitation for 34 years. He began by teaching rehabilitative driving during the summers while in his role as a football coach at UCO. At the time, the driving program was run out of the university. Upon his retirement and a transition for the program by the university, McGivern was offered the chance to take the business private and handle all cases for the state of Oklahoma.

Over the years he has taught a host of inspiring students to drive. One such student was a man named Dan Lutz, who became the namesake for the driving program. Lutz had a big heart, a great sense of humor, and cerebral palsy. McGivern explains that the two became fast friends and before Lutz lost his battle with cancer, they formulated the idea for a separate

non-profit organization to help others who were disabled. Now McGivern, along with employees Mark Howard and Kelly Jobe, stays very busy traveling statewide to help people. McGivern has worked with at least 4,000 people in the last ten years alone. One of the services provided is that the instructors come to the student, working with them on a one-on-one basis until they are comfortable to pass certification and drive. This style worked perfectly for Edmond resident Erika Ochoa, who has muscular dystrophy, a weakening of the muscles that has left the young mother and college student in a wheelchair. “He’ll tell you whenever he feels like you’re ready. Then, if you’re not ready he’ll train you even longer. I liked it; you can do it self-paced,” she says. The bravery and hard work have paid off for her. “I’m out of the house every day now,” she says of going to college and taking her son wherever he needs to go. “I wouldn’t be able to do it without my car—it would be more difficult for me to find ways to feel independent,” Ochoa says. For Guerra, the ease of the services and McGivern’s commitment to his work, made all the difference. “They come to you. They fit around your schedule. It’s just awe-some, just thinking you can be driving again is a big freedom,” he says. McGivern credits technology and the state agency that helps pay for the necessary equipment for the vans; some costs range higher than $90,000. “What makes this happen is the Department of Rehabilitation Services. Their counselors and their agency are the ones that pay for the program and help these people be independent and help them go to school, find work,” he says, adding, “Everybody gripes about government programs but this program actu-ally works. I’ve seen it help so many people and without it I don’t know where they would get that help.” “It’s just amazing to see people’s forgiveness and just their resolve to take a lousy hand and make it a good one. That’s not easy to do. I just feel fortunate to have been a part of so many special people’s lives,” he says. It sounds like, for McGivern and the rest of us, when it comes to lessons in triumph, it’s the students who are doing the teaching.

by Lindsay Whelchel

Driving Lessons

When it comes to

lessons in triumph,

the students are

doing the teaching.

As the summer of 2009 drew to a close, 17-year-old Kaden Guerra

was looking forward to being a senior at Edmond North High School.

Already, he had a college football scholarship waiting in Tulsa.


MY EDMOND outlook by Bethany Scott

Ray Cromer Fishing Lure Collector

What got you started on collecting fishing lures?i’m not really sure. i’ve always been a collector, just never organized. i’ve always fished, and one time i bought some old lures at a garage sale, did some research and found out people collected them.

Are you an avid fisherman or do you just prefer to collect?i do both. i fish and i collect.

Where is your favorite place to fish? We have a cabin at Eufaula so i go there quite a bit. But i’ve got a lot of favorite spots locally also.

Have you ever used any of your vintage lures on a fishing expedition? Yes i have. You don’t use the ones that are in good shape. You take the ones that are beat up and have paint missing. You can also take some of the older ones and recondition them to fish with. it’s interesting to see if a 40- or 50-year-old lure actually works.

Which lure is your favorite? Choosing a favorite is like asking who is your favorite kid. However, i collect anything that was made in Oklahoma.

How many lures do you own? i’ve never counted them, so there is no telling! But quite a few!

Do you just collect lures or do you like all kinds of fishing equipment? i also collect rods and reels, but mostly lures. Lures are good because they are small and don’t take up a lot of room. You can put a bunch of lures in a drawer.

What are some of the more interesting pieces in your collection?Some prototypes are interesting. When companies first develop a lure, there’s an experimental version which i like to collect.

What is Oklahoma’s history with fishing lures? Oklahoma has a good history, especially after World War ii. From the 1950s and on, there were quite a few manufacturers

around the state. My favorite Oklahoma manufacturer would be Martin Lizard who was run by a man named Jack Martin out of Stillwater and Drumwright. Also, an Oklahoma manufacturer known as Joe-Bob made crawdad lures which are probably some of my favorites.

How do you go about collecting the lures? i visit old flea markets and shop online. i also do trades with friends.

What is the value of a vintage lure? You can go to a lure show and buy all kinds for about $2 a piece. Or you can spend hundreds of dollars on a single lure—depends on your taste and how deep your pockets are.

How does a fishing lure work? Some people think it’s the color. Others think it’s the motion it makes when it goes through the water. i think it’s the combination of the motion and vibration it has as well as the color. The color is what collectors look for. A single lure may have 50 different colors and a collector will look for the same lure in all the different colors. Some colors may be really rare and others really common—the same lure may cost $2 in one color and $20 in another.

How have fishing lures changed over the years?They are still relatively the same. They used to be made of wood prior to World War ii, and then were switched over to plastic. in fact, a lot of the ideas people come up with aren’t really new—they are something somebody came up with a long time ago. They all usually have a body with hooks and a diving lip. That’s why when you fish with some of the old lures, they actually work. in the end, lures were made to catch fishermen, not fish.

Have you ever stuck yourself with a lure or hook? Several times. it goes with the territory. Got one stuck in my hand 3 or 4 times pretty deep. You have to make sure your tetanus shots are up to date!

80 East 5th St., Ste. 130Edmond, OK 73034

edmond outlook march 2013

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