edmond outlook september2010

13431 N Broadway EXT, STE 104Oklahoma City, OK 73114

Armchair Athletes Fantasy Football

Healing & Hope Danny Mize’s Story

Looking Back 5th Anniversary Edition

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Publisher DaveMiller

ManagingEditor StacyBrasher

ArtDirector JoshuaHatfield

AdvertisingDirector KrystalHarlow

AdvertisingSales LauraBeam

Photography RandallGreen

Writers RadinaGigova KrystalHarlow LouiseTuckerJones RebeccaVidacovich LindsayWhelchel NathanWinfrey MindyWood

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departments6 ARTS&EnTERTAinmEnT Clay-Filled Connections

8 LETTERSfRomLouiSE Medicare Madness

10 SpoRTS Armchair Athletes

12 BESTofEdmond A Real Home Away From Home & Concrete Technology

15 diningguidE Edible Arrangements

16 gAmEdAygoodiES

18 HomE&gARdEn The Home Museum

22 finELiVing Brilliant Idea, Dazzling Jewelry

32 ARoundTown

features26 gRin&BEARiT Edmond Dentist, Cyclist Champion

28 SHoppingguidE Fabulous Fall 30 EdmondouTLook 5th Anniversary: A Look Back

33 dAnnymizE Turning Tragedy into Healing

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Design group

September 2010


Busy wife and mother Gina McKinnis found an outlet for her creativity. Her eye for color, design and texture take shape in paintings, pottery and jewelry every day

in her garage studio as she gracefully entwines art and emotion.

After testing the waters with festivals and art shows, McKinnis took up space at Broadway Antique Mall in Downtown Edmond after her family moved here two years ago. “I started bringing a few things up there and just kept adding to it. I stay busy with it and sometimes I can hardly keep up,” she laughed.

Her work is now being collected all over the world through www.ebay.com and www.etsy.com. Beyond the notoriety, McKinnis loves having a business that she can work around her family. As a multimedia artist, she works with pottery, glass, textiles, paper collage, and paint. From classic to modern designs, simple or complex color swashes, her pottery is in high demand.

She loves to show her work, but said it’s the special projects for her customers that she loves best, like the dishes she made for a couple’s wedding. “The dishes for the cake were actually a gift to their guests. Each guest took a plate home with them and it was really special because there was nothing like it. It was made according to what they wanted,” said McKinnis.

A large portion of her pottery is devoted to dishes and tiles but one signature creation is especially popular. Prayer hearts and girlfriend hearts are ceramic pieces that contain a special message to a friend or loved one. “People wanted messages like, ‘you’re a great mom,’ or ‘you’re a wonderful daughter’ or ‘you’re fabulous’ and then put them in a bowl so when their friend or loved one sees them,

they can read that message and feel the connection,” said McKinnis.

She was inspired to create something that would connect people to their emotions. “The idea comes from the belief that God created us from clay which literally holds human DNA. I read a story about a sculpture artist who believed that the sculpture he was creating had all his feelings and emotions in it. I put my work out there and see people appreciate it but it’s amazing to step into their hearts and give them something that holds their emotion,” she said.

McKinnis tested her idea based on her own feelings. “I was trying to find a gift for the headmaster of our school who was retiring. I had the older kids sign large hearts and made small ones for the little children. They contained a good thought and the children said a prayer for her, so we literally gave her our thoughts and prayers. It ended up being a giant bowl full of hearts. It was so sweet because each child could tell you what they prayed,” said McKinnis.

“I put my work out there and see people

appreciate it but it’s amazing to step into their hearts and give them something that holds their emotion."

Her work is a labor of love also because it can be time consuming. Ceramic pottery is not an overnight process. “A plate can take three days including drying time. I use the hand-building method with a slab roller and hand belts; a hump and slump method for dishes. I put it on the mold, let it dry, clean it, fire it to bisque, then glaze it and fire it again.”

Depending on the complexity of desired designs, dishes in particular can take as long as six months to complete, but McKinnis says she’s hooked. “When I worked in graphic design, people would say ‘good job’ but they weren’t really connected to it because it was their business. It wasn’t an emotional connection like with the pottery where people want a design that means something to them. They literally want to hand these things down to their children. It’s amazing to see the possibilities and be a part of that.”

For more information about Gina you can visit www.ginamstudio.com or stop by her booth at the Broadway Antique Mall at 114 S. Broadway.

by Mindy Wood

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L etters from Louise

Last month was my birthday and I have never had so much attention. My mailbox was stuffed with envelopes weeks before my celebratory day and my phone rang

incessantly. And yes, I come from a large family but few cards were from special people in my life. It was Medicare madness! I had daily mail from AARP, Medicare and every insurance company imaginable. Many of the phone calls were from agents not only wanting to sell me insurance but to actually come out and explain it. Excuse me, but I don’t think I dropped into some intellectual abyss just because I reached the infamous 65th birthday. I can still read a document and decipher its meaning.

And yes, there are a few perks with this age, like senior prices on meals or hotel rooms (actually most of those came at 55 or 62), but I don’t like being placed in a new category. If I fill out a form, I am no longer in the 50-64 age range. When getting prescriptions, my doctor must now treat me as an “older” patient, taking caution in prescribing meds—not really a bad thing since I have been super sensitive to meds my entire life.

The birthday itself started out a little depressing when my husband tried to wish me Happy Birthday just after midnight on July 31st. No way. I wasn’t born until late afternoon on August 1st. My mother

tells me that every year when she calls so I didn’t pick up that senior baton until Mama called and gave her yearly remembrance concerning the time of my birth.

But there are good things about turning 65. With Medicare my co-pay at the doctor is not as high and I loved the shocked expression of those dear people who exclaimed, “You can’t be 65! You look way too young.” Not sure where my husband found such sweet actors but “Thanks, Honey!” Another good thing is that Carl turned 65 nine days before me. Being the kind person I am, I often asked him what it was

like to be “old” during those nine days since I was still 64. I even encouraged him to take a free class for those 65 and over and apologized that I couldn’t join him. But the fun part was that we got

our Medicare cards on exactly the same day so we celebrated the moment with an Oreo cake cookie and frozen yogurt. Does that sound “senior” enough? Our oldest son, Aaron, teased his dad unmercifully about this new stage of life, sending a birthday letter with huge fonts for easy reading and gently assuaged my ego by telling me to carry an ID to prove my age.

But it truly is just a number and if I am as old as I feel then my age changes daily. And in spite of the senior status, I loved visiting with all those who called to wish me a happy birthday. My five-year-old

MedicareMadness!

by Louise Tucker Jones

“If I am as old as I feel, then my age changes daily.”


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 numerouspublications. Mother of four and grandmother of four, Louise resides in Edmond with her husband, Carl and son, Jay. Contact her at: [email protected] or www.LouiseTuckerJones.com.

granddaughter called two days in a row and sang “Happy Birthday” to me on the phone. (Her dad—my son—got the date wrong the first time!) Just can’t beat that! I got phone calls, cards and e-mails from my children, my mother, grandchildren, old high school friends as well as contemporary ones and most of my siblings—no, not all of my brothers are sentimental over birthdays. My youngest son even chose my cake and decorations—chocolate cake, chocolate icing (yes, I am a chocoholic) and bright yellow trim, Jay’s favorite color, and my husband presented me with a CD of what he thought was my favorite song.

Truly I am blessed with a wonderful husband, children, grandchildren, extended family and friends. So who cares what number is on the birthday cake? I just want to keep celebrating them!

Louise with her husband and their AARP Cards


“Everyone has a hobby. Some people like to finger paint or fly kites – I like to guess how many yards people are going to run,” says Dan Kubier,

fantasy football enthusiast.Fantasy football is an increasingly popular hobby

where “owners” select and trade real-life football players and collect points based on how well their dream teams perform each week.

Websites like espn.com and yahoo.com keep track of what each football player accomplishes for free, that way owners don’t have to keep track of every game themselves. Some websites update the points mere seconds after the real-life achievements are made. The owner with the most points at the end of the season wins.

It’s possible to select your fantasy team and leave the game alone until the end of the season, but it helps to keep an eye on which players aren’t playing that week, and to make sure your star player isn’t injured or playing poorly in real life. If this happens, a simple rearrangement of your starting lineup can save you lost points.

Kubier, a UCO student, is currently in three NFL leagues. “I used to play football, so I get to live vicariously through people who made it to where I wanted to be as a kid. When you beat somebody, even

though there is a lot of luck involved, it’s a thrill,” he says.

Kip and Natasha Baird, with Farmers Insurance in Edmond, recently got into the fantasy football craze last year. “It sounded like fun and I understood the concept of it,” said Natasha. “I decided I would do it if there was a college league. At the last minute, I got a couple people together and set it up.” Natasha and Kip played as a team and wound up winning first in the league.

This season, the husband-wife duo formed a college football league with Edmond Chamber of Commerce members and area business professionals, mainly as a social activity, but also for networking.

Draft night is Kip’s favorite part. Everyone gets together to pick who their players are going to be for the season. They watch games together as well. “It’s the sense of camaraderie and competition among peers that makes it a riot,” Kip says.

Kip and Natasha prefer college leagues over NFL leagues because they like to see new, young talent and appreciate athletes who stick with one team for years. “In the NFL, you never know what’s going to be what in any given year,” Kip says. “You can’t fall in love with your players because next year they could be playing for someone else who is paying them more. Fantasy football makes the whole of college football, not just your favorite team, more interesting.”

“We’ve got a great group of people who are passionate about football and like to get together and socialize,” Natasha added. Their group goal is to develop business relationships as well as friendships.

The social aspect of fantasy football is important to Kubier as well. He uses it as a means to keep

up with friends who have moved hundreds of miles away. “Friends like to have traditions and this is something you can do year in, year out,” Kubier says.

Owners can’t pick a player who is already claimed by another owner in the league. Kip and Natasha’s league has ten owners. Each league can establish how many points each achievement will be worth. For example, in Kip and Natasha’s league, a quarterback gets one point for every 25 yards ran, while a running back gets one point for rushing 10 yards. Point values are customizable.

“It makes every football game interesting,” says Oklahoma Christian student Blaine Morgan, longtime fantasy football participant. “I remember many times when the game’s over and I’m begging my player to get just 10 more yards in a Monday night football game between two teams that no one cares about.”

Morgan says the best way to get started is to round up some friends or join a beginner league. “Study up on the stats of players and run a couple mock drafts to see how things will probably pan out,” he says. “It’s always great to feel like you made a great pick.”

Whether your favorite players are in the NFL, or whether you prefer the young excitement of college games, it’s clear that fantasy football has taken the armchair athlete to a whole new level.

ArmchAir

by Nathan Winfrey

Natasha & Kip Baird prefer college fantasy football leagues over the NFL.

“When you beat somebody, even though

there is a lot of luck involved, it’s a thrill.”


Home SolutionsBest of Edmond

Sometimes timing the purchase or sale of a home isn’t always perfect. Or, perhaps you’ve had the misfortune of experiencing a natural disaster that has left you temporarily

displaced. A Real Home Away From Home, owned by Joyce Spurgeon, offers assistance through these uncomfortable times.

Their executive level homes are leased on a month-to-month basis, so there is no long-term commitment. Temporary residents find their fully furnished houses to have all the comforts of home, such as fluffy beds, furnished offices, full size washer/dryers and fireplaces.

“There are a lot of companies out there who offer corporate housing, but I am one of the few who does this with homes instead of apartments,” Spurgeon said. “I buy or lease the homes and furnish them with high quality kitchen equipment and decorative items. My tenants often comment how much it feels like home, and tell me how grateful they are.”

Spurgeon opened a successful bed and breakfast in Woodward, Oklahoma 17 years ago in order to be at home with her young daughter. After

several prosperous years of providing overnight accommodations, Spurgeon noticed a need in the industry for longer month-to-month stays.

Her entrepreneurial spirit led her to Edmond in 2005, where she originally opened Corporate Suites of Edmond. After she expanded beyond the area, it became A Real Home Away From Home. “I feel very blessed that I’m able to provide a service that people truly appreciate. It also gives me an opportunity to introduce people to Edmond, a place that I am proud to call home,” she says.

Corporate housing serves many needs, but Spurgeon’s clientele are mainly corporate relocations, insurance claims due to fires or floods and real estate transactions. Other clients sometimes include parents who are waiting to adopt within the metro area; individuals who are staying here for extended cancer or other medical treatments; as well as government employees.

Spurgeon’s daughter and parents work in the business as well. “The business is expanding a lot faster than I thought it would, so it requires a lot from the whole family,” Spurgeon said. The family-owned

by Rebecca Vidacovich

business currently manages 22 homes in Edmond and Mustang, with aspirations to expand to Deer Creek and Norman in the near future.

Whether you’ve lost your home in a fire, you’ve relocated for personal or business reasons, or you’ve found yourself between house deals, contact Spurgeon at 201-2010 for the perfect upscale, temporary housing solution, or visit her website at www.arealhomeawayfromhome.com for more information.

Joyce Spurgeon, A Real Home Away From Home


Crafty Concreteby Rebecca Vidacovich

For years, concrete has been thought of as a cold, unwelcoming surface that lacks warmth. However, concrete has taken a refreshing turn for the better

with decorative touches like stamped, stained and engraved concrete.

Terry Meek, owner of Concrete Technology, has been an expert in decorative concrete for over 11 years. “My business is family-owned and ran with a personal touch,” Meek said. “I am always trying to improve on every aspect of my business. The product itself is unique. It’s durable and has unlimited design possibilities.”

Concrete designs are one of the most popular trends for patios, floors, entryways, countertops and pool decks. Decorative concrete can be found nearly everywhere, from new construction homes with sophisticated concrete driveways, to budget remodels with richly stained concrete flooring. The weather-resistant quality and durability makes even outdoor kitchen countertops the perfect candidate for decorative concrete.

Don’t think grey and boring though. Concrete is now considered a beautiful decorative element, allowing flexibility with an element of customization. Consumers are able to select the exact color shade to coordinate with their existing decor and have personal mementos embedded into the concrete.

“I am able to use plain concrete as my canvas and turn it into a piece of art,” Meek said. “I see the canvas as a plain piece of gray concrete and then I begin my work to design the area. The canvas turns into an indoor setting as if you were inside of an elaborate home. Clients are always amazed at the final results.”

Although the greatest challenge for Meek has been reaching new clients, his biggest customer has been Diffee Ford, out of El Reno. “He allowed my business to be his decorative concrete source. The final outcome was for their 50th anniversary. I did the customer lounge area and the outside vehicle display area,” said Meek. “The customer lounge turned out to be a very nice area with my floor detail and the interior decorator finishing touches.”

After a long career in home building, family is a key element to Meek’s life. “My desire to be independent led me to own my own business, the inspiration came from my family,” he said. In his free time, Meek can be found on the golf course or spending time with his grandchildren.

For a decorative concrete quote, contact Terry Meek at 623-1297 with Concrete Technology or visit www.ctiofoklahoma.com.

Terry Meek, Concrete Technology


Dining Guide

Anyone can send a loved one an arrangement of flowers or chocolates, but if you really want to stand out, send a professionally arranged bouquet of fruit. Edible

Arrangements offers fruit bouquets for birthdays, anniversaries, congratulations, sympathy, business events, client gifts and many other occasions.

Cathy Beckwith opened Edible Arrangements in Edmond with her daughter, Melissa Mills in 2006. “I left my nursing career as a NICU RN and my eldest daughter, Melissa left her job to open our store four years ago this December,” Beckwith said. “Melissa worked alongside me until she left to move to Wayne, Oklahoma. She now works in Purcell and is a new mother of our grandson, Aidan. I miss her valuable insight every day.”

Beckwith was first introduced to Edible Arrangements by her youngest daughter, Jessica who used the product and suggested her parents open a store in Edmond. When Beckwith visited Jessica in St. Louis, they ordered a bouquet. “I went to the store to pick it up. Walking in, I felt a sense of excitement,” Beckwith said.

“Edible Arrangements of Edmond, is at this time, the only store in the Oklahoma City area,” said Beckwith. “We uniquely sell fresh fruit bouquets that suit any occasion. Our arrangements look like a floral arrangement with one difference - you can eat the juicy fruit.”

Each fruit bouquet is typically made with strawberries, bananas, pineapple, melons and grapes. The bouquets are known for suiting all kinds of customers, even children. “In fact, lots of children prefer our juicy, fresh fruit to a birthday cake,” Beckwith said.

The Hello Kitty arrangement is perfect for a young girl’s birthday and includes pineapple shaped Hello Kitty images, pineapple daisies, chocolate strawberries, grapes, cantaloupe and honeydew bursting from a keepsake tin.

Another popular themed bouquet is the Triple Play which features chocolate dipped strawberries, arranged in a keepsake baseball container. The bouquet comes overflowing with pineapples, grapes, cantaloupe and honeydew.

The shop also offers individual chocolate dipped fruit that sold in boxes of six or 12 pieces, as well as fruit salads that contain no sugar or preservatives. Beckwith loves to hear positive feedback from customers. “It lifts our spirits and lets us know that our customers love our product,” she says.

Stop by Edible Arrangements at 3209 S. Broadway, Suite 111 from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend hours are Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, or to place an arrangement order, call 844-0909 or visit www.ediblearrangements.com.

Edible Arrangementsby Rebecca Vidacovich

Cathy Beckwith, Edible Arrangements


Chick-Fi l-ACity BitesChick-fil-A North Edmond offers freshly prepared chicken nugget and strip trays, sandwiches, wraps and salads, as well as a variety of other treats. Whether you’re ordering a pre-game meal for the team, or buying food for tailgating, Chick-fil-A North Edmond makes your job easy . You’ll be the MVP of any party when you cater with Chick-fil-A. Chick-fil-A North Edmond is brand new and conveniently located at 1210 E. 2nd Street. Call (405) 330-1141 or visit www.chick-fil-a.com to place your order. Free delivery on orders over $100.

City Bites is famous for crazy wrecking ball and rhino décor, but did you know they do party trays? Choose from a delicious line-up of sandwiches or wraps dressed with lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, black olives, blended oils and mayo on bread of your choice. Or pick up a fresh baked cookie or brownie tray. The Ultimate Party Pack feeds 10 and includes a large sandwich or wrap tray, salad bowl, cookie tray, large bag of chips and two gallons of fresh brewed tea. City Bites has 17 metro locations with two in Edmond. Call 286-4200 for 3601 S. Broadway or 330-4224 for 324 W. Edmond Road. For more information, visit www.citybites.net.

by Krystal Harlow

Dining GuideDining GuideDining Guide

gameday

— Homer Simpson

goodIes“The real reason

we Americans put up with sports is for this: Behold,

the tailgate party!"


Dan’s PizzaPizzas are a great way to feed a crowd and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better pizza than Dan’s. The pizza dough is made from scratch daily and topped with their incredible sauce, meats, cheese and hand-cut vegetables. Among their specialties are the irresistible Philly Cheese Steak Pizza, Hawaiian and the new Barbecue Chicken Pizza made with grilled chicken, cheese, onions, bacon and barbecue sauce. Don’t want to watch the game at home? Dan’s has four HD TV’s for you and your friends, located at 121 E. Waterloo Road. Call in your order to 359-3900 or visit www.danspizza.biz.

Hobby’s Hoagies WingstopWingstop has taken chicken wings to a whole new level by saucing and tossing them in your choice of nine award winning flavors. All wings are cooked fresh to order, even on game days. Pre-orders are top priority, so call ahead and order any of their family-sized packs available in quantities ranging from 10 to 100. Whether you enjoy regular wings, boneless wings or boneless strips, Wingstop has a pack for you, complete with seasoned, hand-cut fries, sides, veggie sticks and a variety of dipping sauces. Call 755-4411 or stop in at 12225 N. Penn. For more information, visit www.wingstop.com.

Need to feed a lot of people fast? Hobby’s Hoagies offers small, medium and large party trays of every kind. Order yours piled high with vegetables, fruits and cheese, hoagie sandwiches or their homemade brownies and lemon bars. Or pick up a six foot party sub made with your choice of the freshest meats, cheeses, lettuce, tomato, onions, oil and spices and of course Hobby’s special crushed cherry peppers. Hobby’s Hoagies is open Monday - Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., located at Santa Fe and 2nd in Edmond and downtown OKC. Give them a call at 348-2214 or visit www.hobbyshoagies.com.


Home & GardenHome & Garden

Collectors of fine art find something priceless in each piece they acquire, but that doesn’t mean they have to be millionaires to participate in the hobby.

There is a world of quality pieces to be found for a relatively modest amount of money.

That is the rule followed by Edmond collector Randel Shadid, owner of Shadid Fine Art, located at 19 N. Broadway. The public gallery, which consists mostly of 100 consignment pieces, boasts original art with no prints in sight. However, Shadid’s private collection contains more than 400 pieces - quadruple his gallery size.

In Shadid’s collection, you’ll find the southwestern landscapes of Kenny McKenna, the cool weirdness of Jim Vogel, the abstract beauty of Dick Evans, the elegant portraits of Dan Gerhartz and the stunning landscapes of Louisa McElwain. He also collects wildlife paintings, bronze pieces, figurative art and Native American Pueblo pottery.

“I’m not looking to spend $100,000 on one painting, even if I could,” says Shadid. “I’d rather spend that money on several paintings by up-and-coming artists and people whose work I like.”

He searches for art by painters he likes, often via the Internet, instead of tracking down individual

by Nathan Winfrey


paintings. As a lawyer, Shadid likes to keep landscapes in his office because of their calming, meditative properties. His mind can travel to distant, serene places without leaving his office.

Shadid recently purchased a piece called “My Constituents” by Jim Vogel. As his current favorite, it depicts men standing around looking like they’re solving the world’s problems. “I can relate to that because of my political days in Edmond,” he says.

He caught the collecting bug from his wife, and gallery co-owner, Dana Shadid. “She’s the one who got me afflicted,” he says. The inception of their collection was a trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico more than 15 years ago. “When we travel, we like to buy art,” he says. “Every time we look at it, it’s a very pleasant reminder of a good experience.”

Dana is also an avid collector, and her tastes tend toward figurative pieces, but she and her husband almost always

Continued on page 20

Roofing & sheetRockARtin


agree on art. “We like the same things 97 percent of the time,” Randel says.

Elaine and Greg Dean have owned the Dean-Lively Gallery at 14 S. Broadway in Edmond for 18 years, where they carry a mixture of originals and reproductions from national and local artists. “We do Native American, contemporary, western, and impressionistic — a broad variety,” said Elaine. “It’s like someone who collects sports memorabilia or glassware. It’s a true love.”

According to Elaine, art is individually-based, so everyone has their own taste and goals when researching or shopping. “When people come into the gallery, they normally come in looking for a larger piece for the dining room, fireplace area or above a couch — places we call ‘focal areas.’ Places the eye catches first,” she said.

Greg sees the difference between a true art collector and one who purchases to fit their home’s ambience. “If a person is really an art collector,” he says, “They’re not into, so much, the style. It’s about color, it’s about composition. They do it because each piece really speaks to them.”

FrameMaster, located at 3226 S. Boulevard, features a dozen local artists in its gallery. Most are originals, but some are limited editions. Styles include abstract, western, fused glass, and photography.

Continued from page 19“We love to support our local art community,”

says Robin Sanders, FrameMaster associate. “Clients often call us when they are moving into a new home, so we can safely transfer their artwork and hang it to the client’s specifications.”

She says businesses frequently request secure installation for pieces that hang in public areas too. FrameMaster brings all the necessary hardware, ladders and scaffolding, to each installation.

“Conservation framing is necessary to preserve artwork, period,” Sanders says. “For pieces on paper, this includes non-acidic mats, conservation glass, and conservation backing. For pieces on canvas, it is important to have an archival barrier between the canvas and the frame itself.”

With the help of these local galleries, almost everyone can begin their own home collections by purchasing great art within their price range, and having it well-preserved for many years to come.

Shadid says those who want to start an art collection should visit a variety of galleries with a price point in mind and see what’s available. “The more you’re around galleries, the more your tastes change — wildlife, abstract pieces — when you see it, you know you like it. To me, that’s the only reason to buy art,” Shadid says. “If I don’t like it, I don’t buy it, because I plan to live with it for the rest of my life.”


Fine Living

Bruce Kerr knew Bali was a beautiful is-land. But when he went there to experi-ence its beauty first hand, he discovered much more.

Kerr, who has lived in Edmond with his family since 1983, is a former lawyer, a certified public ac-countant, and currently manages two labs that ana-lyze industrial waste samples. About three years ago, Kerr added another venture to his resume when he started the jewelry company, Arista Designs.

While working on an environmental project in Indonesia, Kerr visited the island of Bali and was amazed by the exquisite art and jewelry that he saw there. “I just got to thinking,” Kerr said, “that’s some-thing I could probably do… make jewelry.”

Kerr didn’t have to look far for a designer. His 23-year-old daughter Kelly was perfect for the job. When she was a Santa Fe High School student, Kelly was not only mastered her math and science classes, but she impressed her art teacher so much, that he recommended she study art in college. Kelly decided to pursue a degree in chemical engineering at the Uni-versity of Oklahoma instead, because she thought it was an interesting and challenging field. During her

Brilliant idea,

Dazzling Jewelry

by Radina Gigova

“From Kelly’s drawings, the mold makers take a piece of

wax and duplicate her design.”


sophomore year, however, she realized that her true passion was designing jewelry.

“I wanted to be a jewelry designer since I was a little kid,” said Kelly. “I didn’t really think it was an actual possibility, but I designed a little in col-lege, and after I graduated, I started working here full time.”

Kerr made another trip to Bali to search for a skilled artisan, able to recreate Kelly’s designs. He went from store to store, showing the craftsmen dif-ferent pieces with an interpreter, asking if they could duplicate them. A jewelry maker at one of the stores helped Kerr find one of the best artisans on the island. The artisan and the two people who worked with him on that trip later became Arista’s first employees.

From there, the real work began.Kelly now makes the sketches, showing the

pieces from different sides and angles. Then mold makers duplicate her design in wax while craftsmen create a cast piece that serves as a base. Afterward, gold workers and the stone setters add the rest of the sparkling elements.

The final products are rings, bracelets, necklaces and pendants of sterling silver, incrusted with 18K gold and embellished with garnet, amethyst, topaz and citrine. Everything is made on the island and the prices range from $100 to $3,000.

Kelly said her designs are inspired by the art and architecture of the ancient world. She reads books about different cultures, but also studies fashion magazines and goes to jewelry shows to keep up with current trends.

Since its launch in 2007, Arista Designs has grown fast. Kerr started the business with only three employees after that trip to Bali. Now, the company

has upwards of 80 employees and plans to add hun-dreds more.

Arista jewelry is sold in up to 130 stores in the United States. Seventeen of them are in Oklahoma, including stores in Oklahoma City, Norman, Ed-mond, Enid, Chickasha, Duncan, Ada and Stillwater. The next step for Arista Designs will be to test the in-ternational market.

Kerr said the advice from Paul Brockhaus, an ex-perienced jeweler in Edmond, helped the company head into the right direction. Brockhaus also recom-mended their best sales representative. “Paul really played a key role,” Kerr says. “He gave me some real pointers on what we needed to do.”

The road to success hasn’t been always smooth. Kerr said because Arista’s manufacturing facility is literally on the other side of the world and most em-ployees don’t speak English, it can create some com-munication and shipping difficulties.

“You just have to keep moving forward, and you have to realize that you’ll always make mistakes,” Kerr said. The work has been rewarding and has brought a lot of joy for the Kerr family, as well as their custom-ers. “I enjoy seeing Kelly’s designs come to life,” Kerr said. “I like to see people wearing our jewelry and talk-ing about how much they really like it.”

Edmond residents can find Arista jewelry at the Simpson Brockhaus store at 1289 East 15th Street. They can also visit the company’s website at www.aristadesigns.com.

Bruce Kerr, Owner of Arista Designs with his daughter Kelly


In Edmond, it’s a well-known fact that Dr. Charles Hetrick is in the business of smiles – he’s owned a successful dental practice, Hetrick and Holloman, D.D. S., at 218 E. 10th

St. Plaza for 30 years. What few know is that much of his after-work hours and weekends are spent on a bicycle, which earned him the title of 2009 Oklahoma Cyclist Champion.

“Cycling is a coping mechanism for the stresses and strains of life. I enjoy the competition a little bit, but I enjoy the side effects of the exercise more than anything,” he says. “I think physical and mental health run hand in hand. I think you can deal with life’s stresses easier when you’re physically fit and mentally fit.”

Dr. Hetrick looked to sports to help him stay focused after he heard stories of dentists falling prey to the pressures that come with their line of work. Fellow dentist Dr. Jeff Baggett announced one day in 1985 that he’d signed them both up for the Tulsa Triathlon. “I said, ‘What? I can’t even swim!’” recalls Hetrick.

With a little bit of training, Hetrick became an able swimmer, but he was still not good enough to keep up with the natural-born mermen they were competing against. “That was my downfall,” he says. “When I started, swimming was my weakest event. When I finished, I liked it as much as anything.”

Dr. Hetrick riding through the Rocky Mountains on the Triple Bypass tour.

by Nathan Winfrey


Hetrick and Baggett took on triathlons for the next seven years, including the Ironman Vineman, located in Santa Rosa, California with a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, followed by a full 26-mile marathon.

“I’ve always been athletic,” Hetrick says. “I was on a wrestling scholarship at Oklahoma State University.” It was at OSU that he earned a bachelor’s degree in physical education. He briefly taught at Stillwater High School before deciding to go back for a degree in zoology.

Dental school soon followed in 1975 at the University of Oklahoma. “Four years later, I graduated, and I have been in Edmond ever since. It’s a fun place to work because people value what you do for them,” said Hetrick, who has watched the community grow for the last 30 years. In 1979, Edmond had only six or seven dentists according to Hetrick, but it now boasts 40-50 dentists or more.

It was Hetrick’s wife, Mary Beth, who led him to the New York City Marathon, which they participated in together. They also ran the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C.

When Hetrick and Baggett competed in the Vineman, their wives and a friend decided once they got to California to compete as well. “One was a good swimmer, one was a good runner, and they decided that if they could find a bike, my wife would ride that, so they wound up doing a half Ironman as a team and wound up getting second,” he says proudly.

“She still runs, but I don’t,” Dr. Hetrick says. He narrowed it down to cycling because focusing on all three events was becoming too much. “If you’re working all the time, you’re going to be hurt all the time unless you’re superhuman,” he says.

Since the 1990s, he’s been racing bicycles all over the country. “Two years ago, I got back into it in a big way,” he says. “We just got back from Louisville, Kentucky. We were out there all week doing bicycle races — two tandem races and a single bike criterium.” A criterium is a race on a short course, usually one kilometer to one mile in length.

Hetrick kicked off the cycling season in February with a race in Arizona and spent nearly every weekend until the season’s close around Labor Day racing somewhere in the country. He and Baggett are still close friends and still ride together — often with

their wives — but Dr. Hetrick now trains mostly with Peter Erdoes.

He tailors his training days depending on what type of race is coming up — time trial, road race, or criterium. “We don’t just go out and ride,” he says. “We structure everything we do so that we get the most value from our training time.” Practice sessions are generally three hours, three times a week. Mondays are usually for recovery from weekend competitions, so practice is an easy ride. Wednesdays and Thursdays are harder days.

Training doesn’t end with cycling season. “We train in the snow,” Hetrick says. “This was a hard winter to train, because there was a lot of snow and moisture on the ground, but we didn’t miss too many days.”

“Cycling is a coping mechanism for the stresses and

strains of life.”


May 2007

I chose to update this story as a tribute to my stepdaughter and the changes she has made in her life, and to let people know that prayer works. My wife, Sandy, and I were blessed with the opportunity to raise Aubrey since birth. The story ran in May 2007 when our granddaughter, Aubrey, was three years old. Now, after six years of “raising baby Aubrey,” we get to experience a different kind of joy. We packed up the car and moved Aubrey in with her mom, who has made huge strides in becoming a full-time parent.

She went back to school to earn her RN degree. She has a great job and has made remarkable changes in her life. We are proud of her and believe she is ready for the full responsibility of raising her daughter. It’s a difficult transition for all of us, but it’s the right one. Do we miss Aubrey? Only when she’s not with of us. It’s odd to be happy and sad at the same time. Sandy and I lean on each other. I went through the emotions of Aubrey leaving before the move, and Sandy a week afterward. But we are on our way to being grandparents to Aubrey instead parents. Aubrey and her mom are finally becoming the family God always meant them to be. We couldn’t be more happy for them.

I chose this story as my favorite because my generation lived through the OKC Bombing, the Columbine tragedy and 9/11, so we’ve grown up asking ourselves: How do you want to be remembered? What’s the legacy you want to leave behind? As Crystal paints a picture of her seven minutes of terror in that school library, you understand the value of life and the meaning behind these questions. The original story ran in May 2008 and highlighted the seven terrifying minutes that Crystal hid under a library table while young gunmen systematically killed 13 people at her high school in Columbine. During those horrific moments Crystal asked God to save her life and allow her to help others.

Since that time, Crystal has traveled around the world as a spokesperson for Samaritan’s Purse, ministering to young victims of war, poverty and cataclysmic disasters. She has also written a documentary film about school violence in other countries as well as the U.S., including the tragic incident at Virginia Tech. However, funding is not yet in place for release of the documentary. “I still speak at schools across the country concerning school violence,” said Crystal, “but I also like to speak in churches and other places. I love to share a message of hope and healing.” Crystal is enjoying her time at home in Edmond with her husband of seven years, Pete Miller. She works as a Crossfit coach at CrossfitOKC in Edmond and has turned her hobby of photography into a skilled craft. We wish her well.

Five years ago, Dave Miller invited me to write for his new magazine, Edmond Outlook. I agreed and trotted off to my first assignment—Andy Boatman’s glassblowing

studio with no AC in the scorching August heat. Not a comfortable afternoon, but what an adventure. I was hooked. Over the years I counted it a privilege to share many community stories with our readers. A few years ago, I began writing a monthly column—Letters from Louise. Dozens of you have written or called to encourage me and tell me you laughed,

cried and reminisced right along with me. What a compliment! I plan to continue sharing my life with you through Letters from Louise and hope to write new stories about the people of Edmond. After all, everyone has a story to tell. Today, we are updating five popular stories—staff favorites—from past issues of Edmond Outlook. So sit back, relax and enjoy!

To read the original articles, visit www.edmondoutlook.com/5

by Louise Tucker Jones

Dave Miller, Publisher Stacy Brasher, Director of Operations

May 2008


Laura Beam, Account Executive

Josh Hatfield, Art DirectorKrystal Harlow, Advertising Director

Jan Martin was president of the Edmond/North OKC Chapter when the story ran September 2005. One month later, her son, David was killed in action. Those Blue Star moms, who also had children in harm’s way, came to her aid and comforted the grief-stricken mother. Jan continued with the group for a couple of years to honor her son’s courage and heroism, but eventually relinquished her office and went back to school and earned her degree as a tribute to her son. Sherry Strensrud is the current president of Blue Star Mothers and carries the baton proudly.

June 2008I love this inspirational story about a youth pastor

who sees the negative influence the entertainment industry has on teens and how he uses standup comedy to combat that. He’s not only making a difference in the smoke-filled comedy clubs on Saturday nights, but he’s breaking all the stereotypes of what a pastor should look like on Sunday morning. The original story ran in June 2008 and gave people a different view of church services. Elijah Tindall does not look or act like a typical church pastor. In fact, he gave up his position as youth pastor to minister to youth groups across the nation.

And yes, he actually does do standup comedy in places like Las Vegas and Hollywood, but always keeps it clean. He is popular with all crowds but his greatest love is working with young people. He recently performed at a youth conference in Canada to a sold out crowd of 15,000 people. Tindall wants to transform the teenage culture by impressing on youth that their value comes from within their soul, not from what they own or wear. “It’s also important that I keep myself grounded and accountable,” said Tindall, who often attends a church near Phoenix. “It’s just an hour’s flight from home,” adds Tindall who lives in Ventura, California, with his wife and three children, ranging in age from four to a teenager. They travel to The Springs Church about three times a month to work with teens and young adults while keeping a secure foundation for their own faith.

November 2007In the years that I attended Oklahoma Christian,

I never met a professor that tried so hard to help his students and make them feel as special as Dr. Tony Alley. His exuberance toward learning is something I try to carry on in my own life. My only regret is that I didn’t express my gratefulness to him when I was a student. But then, Dr. Alley was never looking for compliments. He would much rather help others. His story ran in November 2007, after he had to give up teaching due to the devastating effects from an incurable brain tumor. His heart-wrenching goodbye to his family and his great faith in God, documented in a videotape, were testaments of his love and courage.

Since Dr. Alley’s death, there has been a tremendous outpouring of compassion for this beloved teacher. Dr. Alley had donated 30 of his own books to the Oklahoma Christian Library for students interested in the field of computer graphics and new media—his specialty. Today, 206 books make up the Tony Alley Collection in the university library; all but the original 30 purchased through donations by students and colleagues in his honor. “A scholarship fund was important to Tony,” said his wife, Priscilla. “The first Dr. Tony Alley Media Scholarship will be awarded next spring, and a simple memorial garden is being planned in his honor.” The garden will be located in an area just outside the window that was once his office and will simply be called, “The Alley.”

September 2005

The story of the Blue Star Mothers is a touching reminder for me of the freedoms we richly enjoy and the debt of gratitude we owe our troops and their families. The mothers, whose sons and daughters are in combat zones, inspire us all to comfort those in need and know we are rewarded many times over in the process. The story ran in 2005 as Edmond Outlook’s first cover story. The dozens of care packages surrounding the mothers and volunteers made a beautiful picture. Packing boxes with snacks, books, personal care items, and many other things provides a positive way of coping. Anything to lighten a soldier’s day. The group often sends more than 200 care packages a month, packed to the brim so those receiving them have plenty to share.


SEPTEMBEREat at Tropical Café on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. to raise money for your school. Write your school’s name on the back of the receipt. 10% of the purchase will go to your school, plus the school with the most receipts at the end of the month wins an ad-ditional $50 and teacher appreciation certificates from Tropical Café.

SEPTEMBER 10-11Pass it On is having a Fall and Winter Kid’s Consignment Sale Sep-tember 10th 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and September 11th 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Church of the Harvest off Western between 33rd & 15th. For more information visit, www.passitonkids.com

SEPTEMBER 16-26There is something for everyone at the Oklahoma State Fair in-cluding, five exhibit buildings, unique shopping opportunities, great food, “Disney On Ice: Let’s Celebrate!”, PRCA Bull Riding ac-tion and countless livestock, horse and creative arts competitions & demonstrations.

SEPTEMBER 18Route 66 Classics in the Park Free Car Show & Craft Fair will be held September 18th at Hafer Park on 9th and Bryant from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. Enjoy over 200 classic cars plus good food and great fun.

BuSinESS BRiEfSEdmond Outlook Magazine is celebrating 5 years with an open house on September 8th from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. located in the Midcon Build-ing, 13431 N. Broadway Extension, Suite #104. For more information, contact Stacy Brasher 478-4080 or visit www.edmondoutlook.com.

Anabelle’s Galleria is moving to a new location on 178th and Western next to Louie’s. A grand opening celebration is scheduled for Septem-ber 23rd from 6 to 10 p.m.

See more events: www.edmondoutlook.com


fl casino

Love and support can grow hope from trage-dy. This is the central pillar for Danny Mize’s work, and his life.

What started out as severe loss within Mize’s own family, has since evolved into a testimony to healing. His lifelong career has helped many others cope with grief – from the Oklahoma City Bombing, to the May 3rd tornadoes, and even 9/11.

“We all have a need to process the things in our life that are unusual, especially crisis and trauma events, such as a death of a family member or friend,” says Mize.

The trauma of grief struck Mize early in life. His younger brother died of cancer, followed by the deaths of his grandparents, an older brother to a mo-torcycle accident, and then his father passed away, also to cancer.

“Those personal losses drove me to first of all, try and understand what was going on with me,” he says. Mize began studying and reading about grief man-agement in order to understand how to cope. After graduating with a Master of Arts in Religion from Pepperdine University, he spent many years working in church ministry and education.

For nearly 15 years, Mize lead seminars and sup-port groups to help others along the same difficult path of grief he once traveled. On April 19, 1995 – everything changed.

“That event obviously changed my life and the lives of so many in the Oklahoma City area,” he says. After the Oklahoma City Bombing, Mize was led to Portland where he learned about the Dougy Center, the first family grief center in the country.

“I went there and studied what they were do-ing and thought; well somebody in Oklahoma City

should do that,” he says. It turns out, that somebody was Mize.

With training from the Dougy Center, a location procured from the Edmond Church of Christ, ex-tensive remodeling, and many volunteers, The Kids’ Place opened in Edmond as a non-profit public grief support organization in October of 1996.

Though the center has developed a successful cur-riculum, Mize defines the program not as a class or a counseling center, but as a support group. “It gives those who are grieving an opportunity to learn from each other,” he says.

One of the most important aspects of the pro-gram is that it is family based. Mize explains that grief affects an entire family, but in different ways. Therefore, the system is set up to accommodate many different age groups at the same time, separately ad-dressing their needs.

Another key to the program’s success is that it has always been a public center so there’s a mix-ture of families, grief, and trauma-related needs in every session.

The first few years following the bombing, about 25 percent of the groups were directly related to the Murrah Building attack. Mize explains that it proved beneficial for those dealing with that particular loss to be a part of a mixed loss group. They were able to learn from others who were at different places in their grieving.

What Mize learned through this experience al-lowed him to be a part of helping others affected by disasters, such as the May 3rd tornadoes as well as the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

In 2004, the financial burden to run The Kids’ Place of Edmond necessitated a transition to have it

housed under the umbrella of the Edmond Church of Christ. With the center remaining fully functioning and Mize still involved in some of its seminars, he was able to take what he had developed to other parts of the country before ending up in Amarillo, Texas, working as coordinator of bereavement and spiritual care for Hospice Care of the Southwest.

“I’m continuing to learn how to use the skills and the knowledge gained through the years, and at The Kids’ Place, here in Amarillo,” says Mize.

He says his biggest reward is seeing people grow. Mize observes that they often come to the group re-luctant; yet from the tools and support they receive, each one develops the ability to handle the grief on their own.

With modesty, he states, “It’s not about us, it’s about them… watching the progress in people as they experience the healing.” Though to everyone around him, it is beautifully clear the impact started with him. Mize took a series of personal losses and mo-tivated others to help define grief, support families, and in turn – grow hope from tragedy.

The Kids’ Place will be beginning a new term on September 14, 2010. Their program will have groups that meet the second and fourth Tuesday of every month. For more information, contact Jen Foster at 844-KIDS or visit www.edmondkids.org.

Danny Mize

by Lindsay Whelchel

HealingTurning Tragedy

inTo

edmond outlook september2010

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