By James Coburn, staff writer

Anita Bhandari, RN, and Reena Daniel, LPN, say their lives have been enriched by their nursing careers at Epworth Villa, located in Oklahoma City.
“We always strive to give the best care possible,” Daniel said.
Both women are charge nurses at Epworth on the skilled nursing unit, and both are furthering their education to advance their careers. They thrive on learning.
Daniel is working toward her Bachelor of Science degree in nursing at Oklahoma State University, while Bhandari is working toward becoming a nurse practitioner with a focus in gerontology.
Bhandari had already worked for one year as a CNA at Epworth Villa before becoming an RN. Helping seniors at Epworth is her purpose in life.
“That’s why I’m furthering my education,” she said.
Seven years ago, Bhandari began working at Epworth after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Wichita State University.
Daniel never thought she wanted to be a nurse even though all her family is in the medical field. However, her aspirations changed when she worked as a CNA at Mercy Hospital. She went to nursing school at Platt College where she earned her credentials to become an LPN. She joined the team at Epworth more than 10 years ago. (story continues below)

Today, Bhandari and Daniel arrive at work in the morning for their assignments. They make sure the certified medication aides and certified nurse aides are there. They know from their reports who among the residents needs some extra care.
The staff has a methodology of best practices to ensure that everybody is cared for according to each resident’s acuity level.
“I know I can go to anybody,” Bhandari said. “If I have any concerns — if I have anything I want to bring up to my administrator, she is very open to any of our ideas and she goes for it. It just feels like a big family. I’ve been here for so long. I had my bridal shower, my baby shower here and everything. We’re a community, we’re just bonded together, and we work well.”
This inviting sense of community transfers to all stages of residential care. Bhandari said it touches her heart to see people’s lives change from being independent to being more dependent on others.
“That change is very hard mentally and physically once you get into that age,” she said. “And for that change it just makes a big difference to have somebody there listening to you.”
The first encounters a nurse has with a patient is always important, Bhandari said. Getting to know a resident’s needs brings opportunities to learn how to motivate and encourage them during challenging times. Patients are assessed as individuals to tailor a personalized plan. Bhandari learns what sustains a person’s wellbeing. For some it’s being home with their pets. So, they will share photos and talk about what is dear to them.
In her own life Bhandari sets herself at ease by being with her 4-year-old daughter and family. Writing is relaxing for her, too. Her life is well balanced by being a nurse.
“I’ve just loved working here,” Bhandari said. “I know there are changes in leadership, rules, and protocols. Change is always difficult, but I’ve always loved working here. It’s a big part of my life. I’m very grateful for Epworth Villa.”
As with Bhandari, Daniel is mother as well. She is married with two children.
“So, pretty much right now, I’m pretty busy with working and taking care of the family and being in school,” Daniel said.
She loves to read and these days most of her reading comes from textbooks for learning.
“I love being a nurse, I wouldn’t want to do anything other than what I’m doing right now,” she continued.
Daniel is grateful for being a nurse in a skilled nursing unit, so she doesn’t visualize a nursing career in management. Her patients receiving skilled nursing care are generally there for a month, two weeks or possibly 100 days.
“I want to be on the floor where I can interact with patients and families. It’s what I enjoy doing,” she said. “I love when they get here, they are not able to do basic things and when they leave, they’re able to function on their own. When they leave, they always say thank you and they tell us how great we were. We have a lot of patients the come back because they love the care that we gave them. We love working here because it’s a great place to work and a great place for the residents. And, we really strive for these patients to be well taken care of, so when they leave here, they leave here happy.”
For more information visit: www.epworthvilla.org.

Story by Darl Devault, Contributing Editor

Many seniors have read that Oklahoma City was built in a day, although historians will tell you that many facets of its rich Western Heritage have not been brought forward to today. That could not be truer than what is commonly thought of as Oklahoma City’s history.
“The world can find the real story of Oklahoma City online at The First Eight Months of Oklahoma City (okgenweb.net), which provides a factual account of the birth of Oklahoma City in its two halves,” said Larry Floyd, 69. The adjunct U.S. history teacher at OSU-OKC said in an interview, “Research often bears out far more detail and sometimes a more surprising history than what gets published in popular accounts of any historic event.”
Although more than 50,000 settlers swarmed into the 2-million-acre “Unassigned Lands” of central Oklahoma Territory during the land run of April 22, 1889, Oklahoma City was not built in a day, month, or even a year. (story continues below)

Most future Oklahoma City residents came in by train to the Oklahoma Station townsite, arriving from the north and the south. The train coming north from Purcell was one hour late to the central depot for the three largest railways in the Southwest: Rock Island, Katy, and Santa Fe.
Because of this Oklahoma City began as two cities. Soon known as Oklahoma City and South Oklahoma City, this instant Western heritage was energized by people seeking the last of the free land folks had moved west to settle. Part of that heritage was the abundance of land, a fact that complicated the city’s beginning.
Many settlers wanted to claim their 160 acres while living close to the new townsite since it featured transportation and water as the North Canadian River ran through it. The 22 packed railroad cars arriving an hour late from Purcell brought new residents to a townsite already filled by hundreds of new Oklahoma Cityans. They had already staked their claims after arriving first on the train from Guthrie.
Oklahomans have consistently proven themselves resourceful, so the late arrivals set about creating South Oklahoma south of the Oklahoma City townsite. For every description of people staking claims and securing lots, the same took place on a prairie south of Reno Avenue in the new South Oklahoma City.
When G.W. Patrick found the most desirable lots taken and unable to do any better, he staked two lots on the south side of block three. His fellow late arrivals from the train followed his lead.
On April 23, Patrick began surveying south from the section line at Reno Avenue as the Citizens’ Survey began working north. Encountering no conflicting surveys, Patrick’s crew laid out 35 blocks along seven streets, and settlers made adjustments as required.
By Saturday, April 27, the citizens of South Oklahoma elected Patrick mayor and a full slate of city officials. They also drafted and adopted a city charter. Oklahoma City to the north elected Capt. W.L. Couch as mayor on May 1.
According to the City Directory published by the Oklahoma Chief newspaper in August 1889, South Oklahoma contained approximately 1,300 residents compared with about 3,700 north of Reno Avenue in Oklahoma City. The commercial district was mainly in Oklahoma City (except for the south side of Reno Avenue) and was the most densely developed portion of the two cities.
During the 15 months of its separate existence, South Oklahoma City saw three months of public schools, two churches, construction of an ice factory, lumberyards, and hundreds of homes built.
On May 2, 1890, the U.S. Congress passed the Organic Act, which provided for the organization of Oklahoma Territory and governing municipal incorporation. A petition was accepted on July 15, 1890, consolidating Oklahoma City and South Oklahoma into Oklahoma City.
This info is available online at https://www.89ertrail.com/12/# .
Capitol Hill was incorporated as a city in 1905. By then, a strong sense of community and civic activity made this area an economic and cultural force remaining independent until it joined with Oklahoma City in 1911.
The southern part of Oklahoma City continued to provide space to grow in the decade of statehood in 1907, Oklahoma City became the nation’s fastest-growing city from 1900 to 1910 and the new state’s capitol city.
Oklahoma City’s first major park, Wheeler Park, was established on the banks of the North Canadian River in 1903. The park included extensive gardens and places to relax and picnic. In 1904 the city’s first zoo opened in the park. After two great floods swept down the river in 1923, wiping out Wheeler Park, the zoo was relocated. The playground, park, and baseball diamonds were restored.
Oklahoma City’s first airport was built in south Oklahoma City. In 1911, the Oklahoma City Municipal Airfield opened the skies for future travel. The airfield brought new opportunities and visitors to the city, and in 1941 it was rededicated as Will Rogers World Airport.
Oklahoma City has since capitalized on its strategic central location from its beginning to its present status as the crossroads of America. Just like its beginning as a railroad hub, it assumed the crossroads are our nation’s two main interstate highways (I-35 and I-40). They intersect in Oklahoma City and share the same roadway for two miles. Even before the interstate highway system, OKC gained from being on historic Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles.
Farmer-stockmen found the city’s location along the North Canadian River strategic and its railroad services a lifeline to the rest of the country. Once the area’s largest employer, the Oklahoma City Stockyards and its business district maintain a high profile, it is a tourist destination and unofficial Western heritage center. Although no longer a focal point for local slaughterhouses, the daily cattle auctions still make it the world’s largest stocker/feeder market.
The city has cultivated its place as the centrally located Western Heritage center. It hosts more horse-related shows and competitions each year than any city globally. The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum is the official steward of that Western heritage. After a recent expansion, it now houses the most extensive collection of Western art and Americana west of the Smithsonian.

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Central Oklahoma announces it has received a $17,300 grant from the Oklahoma City Community Foundation and its Services for the Elderly iFund grant program. The grant will help fund its Provide-A-Ride senior transportation program and allow RSVP of Central Oklahoma to increase its level of service to older adults in Oklahoma County. Provide-A-Ride is a free medical transportation program for older adults who are no longer able to drive to doctor’s appointments. Caring volunteers pick up seniors at their front door, take them to their appointments, wait for them in the waiting room, and then safely return them home. Last year, even with the COVID-19 extended shutdown, our volunteers provided 1,470 medical rides to 133 low-income, older adults.
“It’s vital for us to help our elderly neighbors remain active, engaged, and healthy,” said Beth Patterson, RSVP of Central Oklahoma Executive Director. “For more than four decades, the Oklahoma City Community Foundation has been a strong community leader and financial supporter in improving the lives of older adults in our community. This grant will help RSVP continue to provide a critical service to some our community’s most vulnerable citizens.”
Since 1973, RSVP of Central Oklahoma has helped senior adults continue to live with purpose and meaning by connecting them with rewarding community volunteer opportunities, including RSVP’s Provide-A-Ride Senior Transportation Program, which started in 1994. The past two years, RSVP volunteers provided more than 95,000 service hours in the community at a $2.25 million value of service. RSVP is a partner of AmeriCorps Seniors and the United Way of Central Oklahoma. To learn more about the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, visit www.occf.org To learn more about RSVP of Central Oklahoma, visit www.rsvpokc.org.

Story and OU story scans by Darl DeVault, Contributing Editor

Remembering is a common theme among seniors, which comes with being retirement privileged and the contemplation of a full life rich in accomplishment. This gift of remembering was recently brought home by the power of technology and the Internet when Oklahomans made the 120 years of the University of Oklahoma’s student newspaper available to read online.
For many who wrote for the paper or attended OU, the linkage of personal memory to the passage of time in their lives becomes more precious as they age.
Oklahomans and interested people worldwide can explore and search OU’s history from their computers, one article or photograph at a time. This opportunity puts our state and our state’s most prominent research university in a new light in the age of the Internet, now 30 years on. (story continues below)

The Oklahoma Historical Society recently partnered with the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center (CACRSC) to digitize the OU’s student newspapers, including all issues from 1897 to 2017.
“The Oklahoma Historical Society is excited to make the OU’s Student Newspapers Collection available on the Gateway to Oklahoma History (https://gateway.okhistory.org/explore/partners/CACR/),” said Chad Williams, Oklahoma Historical Society director of research. “Through this partnership with OU and the Carl Albert Congressional Research and Studies Center, along with the University Library and Journalism School, we have made the entire history of OU available with a click of your mouse.”
9,557 OU student newspapers are now available to research, read, and revisit. As the senior archivist at the Carl Albert Center’s Congressional Archives, JA Pryse, an OU graduate, supervised the digital scanning and indexing.
The OU Student Newspapers Collection comprises work produced across various publications chronicling the evolution of OU since its earliest days.
“Just as town newspapers are a snapshot of every community in Oklahoma, the student newspaper is a daily snapshot of the history of OU and their students and faculty throughout the years,” Williams said in an interview. “Inclusion of these newspaper issues on the free online Gateway to Oklahoma History allows that history to come alive for generations to come as they share these word-searchable digital files on social media or download them to their computer.”
From its 1897 beginning as a student-run semiweekly, the newspaper’s name has evolved. The collection includes the “Sooner State Press,” founded by H. H. Herbert as a School of Journalism teaching tool from 1920—75.
By the mid-1970s, the pre-computer newsroom printed it as “the Oklahoma Daily.” By the time the newsroom was powered by CompuScan VDTs and an electronic back shop, it was slugged as “The Oklahoma Daily.” Going online, the print edition now known as “OU Daily” became weekly while the “OU Daily.com” is updated daily, complete with videos.
For more than 120 years, the paper has been OU’s public forum in all its forms. It has been the only independent, entirely student-run media outlet dedicated to serving OU’s students, faculty, staff, and alumni on campus, in the state, and worldwide. The paper has won 47 major national organization awards, making it one of America’s leading university newspapers.
Former OUDaily staffers are now foreign correspondents, editors, and reporters for The Wall Street Journal, CNN, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, and many others. The paper has also educated a Pulitzer Prize winner, its current staff advisor, Seth Prince.
As with every collection on the Gateway to Oklahoma History, these newspapers can be explored by resource type, decade, and title. In addition, each issue can be searched for specific wording, while individual pages can be enlarged and downloaded.
This collection of 200,000 pages was digitized with the generous support of the Inasmuch Foundation in 2020. The grant allowed the CACRSC, OU, and the OHS the opportunity to make these indispensable community resources available online, free of charge. This electronic evolution of the student paper is in keeping with its long tradition of keeping up with technology. The paper was one of the first six university newspapers in America to go digital. In 1976, it purchased a CompuScan system for its students and editors to enter the desktop publishing world.
The CACRSC is a unique and nonpartisan institution striving to strengthen representative democracy through scholarship, learning, and service. It was established in 1979 by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the OU Board of Regents. The center is a tribute to the ideals and leadership of the Honorable Carl Albert, native Oklahoman, OU graduate, Rhodes Scholar, and the 46th speaker of the US House of Representatives.
“This project has placed nearly 10,000 newspaper issues online and will only grow as current issues are published and placed on the Gateway in the future,” Williams said. “This partnership reflects the Oklahoma Historical Society’s mission to collect, preserve and share the history of the state. I invite all history lovers and specifically all Oklahomans to go online and explore the Gateway to Oklahoma History. You will find millions of pages of Oklahoma newspapers, photographs, books, documents, maps, audio, and videos telling the story of our diverse and unique state.”

Oklahoman winner of the Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program

Kids across the country are earning a lot of “green” after being selected as the “Best in State” in the Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program. This year, nearly 200,000 third graders in the 48 contiguous states have gotten hands-on gardening experience growing colossal cabbages with one student in each state awarded a $1,000 scholarship towards education from Bonnie Plants, the largest grower of vegetable and herb plants in the U.S.
“We relaunched the 3rd Grade Cabbage Program in the spring as a safe, remote-friendly learning activity to inspire children of all backgrounds to grow a love of gardening,” said Mike Sutterer, President and CEO of Bonnie Plants. “After pausing the program last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re thrilled to once again see so many students were able to participate and learn the basics of gardening as well as life lessons like responsibility, self-confidence and accomplishment.”
At the beginning of the program, Bonnie sent each student a starter cabbage plant and the lessons needed to care for and nurture their plant every step of the way. Students took a photo with their cabbage when it was fully grown and submitted it for a chance to win the $1,000 scholarship. Winners were selected by Bonnie in collaboration with state departments of agriculture based on the student’s enthusiasm to participate and learn in addition to the size and overall appearance of their cabbage.
“It’s truly amazing to see firsthand how the 3rd Grade Cabbage Program is able to inspire a love of vegetable gardening in young people and grow our next generation of gardeners,” said Angela Thomas, Corporate Communications Manager at Bonnie Plants. “We’re proud of all of this year’s participants and would like to congratulate all of the winners whose hard work is paying off!”
Bonnie Plants launched the 3rd Grade Cabbage program in 1996, choosing cabbages because they were the first profitable crop the company sold. The cabbages utilized for the program are the O.S. Cross variety, which is known for producing giant, oversized heads of cabbage that can tip the scales at more than 40 pounds!
Getting involved in the 3rd Grade Cabbage Program is free. Fall registration for those who are located in USDA Hardiness Zones 8-11 is now open. Teachers and parents can click here to register their class or student. Registration opens in January for the spring growing season.
A McCurtain, OK student just earned a lot of “green” after being selected as Oklahoma’s winner.
Kynlei was selected by Bonnie Plants in collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food and Forestry based on the student’s enthusiasm to participate and learn in addition to the size and overall appearance of their cabbage.
“It’s truly amazing to see firsthand how the 3rd Grade Cabbage Program is able to inspire a love of vegetable gardening in young people and grow our next generation of gardeners,” said Angela Thomas, Corporate Communications Manager at Bonnie Plants. “We’re proud of all of this year’s participants and would like to congratulate Cameron whose hard work is paying off!”
“The Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program is a wonderful way for teachers and parents to introduce children to agriculture through a hands-on, engaging and memorable learning experience,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur. “It was inspiring to see the impressive cabbages that all of the students in Oklahoma were able to grow and we’re confident this is just the beginning of a lifelong gardening journey for them!”
To see the 2020-21 winners as they come in and learn more about the 2022 contest, please visit: bonniecabbageprogram.com.

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn [email protected]

There is no better way to travel and see more than on a cruise. Unpacking once, having an amenable home base for dining, education, entertainment and security are all additional cruise advantages. The ultimate cruise experience is river cruising, where there is never a dull visual moment. Whether moving slowly along picturesque landscapes or stopping at iconic locales to sample the best they have to offer, river cruising is a travel seekers delight. While we wait for safer and healthier traveling it’s never too early to explore travel opportunities for the Summer. And, it’s fun to imagine.
A summer cruise along the Danube and Rhine Rivers in central Europe was just such a joy aboard Viking Danube of Viking River Cruises. I cruised several years ago with this company through the canals and rivers of the Netherlands in the height of their tulip season, so I had expectations for this fifteen day Grand European Cruise. Many improvements had been made since that enjoyable cruise, and I can easily now see why Viking is the most awarded river cruise line.
The daily routine, while predictable, was never a bore. Starting off the day with an overwhelming come and go breakfast buffet, suited my non-morning personality perfectly. Then it was either preparing for an onshore morning tour (always included in the price of the cruise) or confirming an optional afternoon tour (which was always worth the price and effort for a full day of touring.) Viking rates their daily walking tours in relation to physical exertion, so passengers can choose the tour best suited for their abilities.
After the morning tour, we would return to the ship for beverage refreshments before lunch, which was served in the restaurant or in the lounge for a more casual light lunch. Cocktail hour had George playing away as all enjoyed exchanging tour experiences or just relaxing as the world glided by outside and peered through expansive windows. I must mention that Tibor and Danielle, efficiently and congenially executed cocktail requests, whether it was my usual or their ever-changing specialty of the day.
Soon Kurt, our program director, would join us for an over view of the next days events, and pass out administrative announcements. Off to dinner, where the presentation of 4 course cuisine was astounding. A selection of regional specialties were offered with an option of ordering a traditional steak, chicken or pasta alternative ~ wine always included. The elevator down to the restaurant is an added benefit for passengers wishing to by past the stairs. In my experience Viking River Cruises caters to its passengers, making all feel like VIPs. And with only 148 maximum passengers aboard the Viking Danube, this was easily accomplished.
After dinner it was either relaxing in the lounge, escaping to the library for solitude, planning your next day’s activities, viewing a destination oriented movie in your cabin, or going up on the sun deck to marvel at the ever changing scenery.
Highlights of my cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam included a night time river salute to the lit buildings and bridges of Budapest, to the exceptional Vienna Palace Concert of Mozart and of course the celebration of cruising by the castles of the Rhine valley.
The cruise seemed all too short as I had developed traveler relationships with the crew and fellow passengers, who once were strangers, but now compatriots. Through mutual travel experiences you naturally bond with fellow passengers, adding to the credit of river cruising. To paraphrase an old commercial, “Try it, you’ll like it.” I say, “Try river cruising, you’ll love it!”
While now the Viking Danube River Ship has been replaced, there are many new Viking ships along the same itinerary and routines.
For more information on Viking River Cruises and their special offers go to: www.vikingrivercruises.com

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
3110 N.W. 15 Street – Oklahoma City, OK 73107
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www.martinitravels.com

Emergency rooms are designed for true emergencies, yet they are often filled to capacity by patients with non-emergent needs. Those suffering from the common cold, the flu or a minor injury.
Many of these patients resort to the emergency room because they do not have a primary care physician, their physician does not have immediate appointments available, or their injury or illness occurred outside of normal business hours. It can be a frustrating situation for everyone involved.
INTEGRIS Health is constantly looking for ways to make access to medical care more convenient for patients. That’s why we are happy to announce that we will soon be opening three INTEGRIS Health Urgent Care centers in the metro, strategically located to offer the care you need closer to home.
These new facilities will be operated solely by INTEGRIS Health, meaning they will provide the same exceptional care you would expect at any INTEGRIS Health location. INTEGRIS Health Urgent Care will provide care for urgent but non-life-threatening conditions. Providers will have access to lab services and imaging equipment to quickly diagnose and treat patients.
Each location will have two to three dedicated providers per site. Patients will see the same providers rather than a rotation of providers. These providers will have access to all INTEGRIS Health integrated medical records and will have access to the patient’s primary care and specialty care providers.
“These urgent care centers truly are an extension of our services. We’re reaching outside of the hospital and into the communities themselves,” says Timothy Pehrson, the president and chief executive officer of INTEGRIS Health. “Our goal is to meet people where they are and provide the right care, at the right time, in the right place. These urgent care facilities enhance our continuum of care.”
The first INTEGRIS Health Urgent Care center will be in Moore, located at 750 S.W. 19th Street, Suite A. This location will open to the public on Dec. 13. The two other facilities, one in north Oklahoma City at 2201 N.W. 150th Street, Suite 100 and the other in Norman at 1400 24th Ave. N.W., will open within the next six months.
Each location will be equipped to offer x-rays and lab work and conduct minor procedures. Any patient requiring a higher level of care will be seamlessly transitioned to a more acute setting in the INTEGRIS Health system.
The urgent care facilities will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week.
Patients can schedule an appointment online or add themselves to the list of expected patients by using the Get In Line feature on the INTEGRIS Health Urgent Care website. To learn more about the Moore location call 405-666- 9860 or click here: https://integrisok.com/locations/urgent-care/integris-health-urgent-care-moore

Story and photos by Darl DeVault, Contributing Editor

Oklahoma City and the state offer many options for seniors trying to make a decisive quality of life New Year’s resolution to get outside more to walk and hike. Hiking can grow to be an extension of taking a nice walk as close as your front door to stroll in your neighborhood, popular local walking trails, and Oklahoma’s many lakes and state park trails.
Hiking does not have to start as physically demanding and challenging. It can simply be an adventure full of pleasant experiences to spend quality time with nature offering a sense of personal achievement.
Although the multi-use, 9.4-mile loop trail around northwest Oklahoma City’s Lake Hefner claims the most popular trail system in the metro, another newer trail is catching up. Completed in 2015, the West River Trail (WRT) follows the North Canadian River’s north bank from N.W. 10th Street to Meridian Avenue. It is protected from Oklahoma’s strong south winds in spring and summer and winter’s cold north winds along the wooded riverside. (story continues below)

Its 7.5-miles run from N.W. 10th Street west of Council Road to S.W. 15th Street at Meridian Avenue. It picks up from the Overholser Trail to connect to the east to the Oklahoma River Trails, allowing hikers access to and from the Boathouse District and downtown Oklahoma City.
The WRT is one of the three new trails created by tax dollars from MAPS 3. The other two trails are the Will Rogers Trail and the hilly and woodsy Lake Draper Trail circling the lake.
The WRT is a close-in rural trek that takes users along the North Canadian River and around Crystal Lake, away from streets and traffic. The trailheads offer parking at N.W. 10th Street on the west end or Reno Avenue or Crystal Lake midway through the wooded, scenic trail.
It is a part of the more than 90 miles of Oklahoma City’s multi-use trails. The trails system offers recreation and exercise and a network of 10 interconnected trails that can take users to almost every point in the city.
The multi-skill level WRT offers several activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are welcome but are required to be kept on a leash. No motorized vehicles are allowed on the trail system. This child-friendly trail is ideal for family nature trips with newly installed water fountains along the way. Many residents walk and run the course while taking in the many river views.
It is a venue of unexpected ruggedness. It offers close-in, tree-lined boundaries in some sections. Parts of the trail fit the description of a nature trail. Most of the other city trails are open and windswept.
Again, the metro’s most popular place to walk is still Lake Hefner. The lake sits between Hefner Road on the north and North Grand Boulevard on the south and just to the west of the busy Hefner Parkway. The walkers, runners, bikers, and in-line skaters make for heavy traffic on nice days, particularly on the east side of the lake and around Stars and Stripes Park on the south shore.
“It’s crowded sometimes but still a great place to walk or ride a bike,” says city resident Rita Hejny, who lives in the Edgewater neighborhood south of Stars and Stripes Park. “It adds so much scenery and space to the area.”
In addition to the trail activities, Lake Hefner offers restaurants and a venue for many other outdoor activities, including sailing, golf, and windsurfing. These sports provide visual entertainment to those wending their way around the trail at Oklahoma City’s mecca for outdoor sports.
Other metro urban trails include Bluff Creek, just north of Lake Hefner; Dolese Park in west Oklahoma City near Putnam City High School; and Lake Overholser in far west Oklahoma City, just south of the old Route 66 bridge on N.W. 39th Street. All offer a quick fix for exercisers needing a workout.
The more adventurous can find challenging nature trails throughout the state, anywhere from 45 minutes to 6 hours from Oklahoma City by car. The Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, some 100 miles to the southwest off I-44, welcomes hikers to a rugged landscape filled with cactus plants and bison. It is the largest bison refuge managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The pristine Charon’s Garden Wilderness Area offers stunning backcountry vistas, a sparkling waterfall, and a secluded lake to those who venture across the challenging granite boulder field.
Other hikes in the refuge include Dog Run Hollow and a short climb to the top of Elk Mountain, with both offering animal sightings and thick patches of blackjack oak. “I go down to the Wichitas at least once or twice a year for a hike or a bike ride,” says Oklahoma City resident Howard Lucero. “It’s really not far for such a great outdoor setting.”
True outdoor thrill seekers can make the six-hour trek via auto to the far end of Oklahoma’s Panhandle for the eight-mile roundtrip hike to the state’s highest point, 4,973-foot Black Mesa Summit. Once ascended, this peak provides a three-state panorama of buttes and mesas covered with cholla cacti, sagebrush, and other Western flora.
For those who need a guide to outdoor venues across the state, “Oklahoma Hiking Trails” is available. Written and illustrated with maps and photos by Oklahoma City residents Kent Frates and Larry Floyd, the book provides exact information on nearly 60 natural and urban trails. The book can be ordered online at: www.bestoklahomatrails.com.

By Nick Thomas

It’s a personal resolution I observe every January: celebrating the New Year with duck soup, animal crackers and, of course, the cocoanuts.
No, it’s not some strange private culinary ritual. It’s a tradition to welcome the New Year with some old-fashioned Hollywood madcap merriment by viewing several Marx Brothers films including, but not limited to, three of my favorites: “Duck Soup,” “Animal Crackers,” and “The Cocoanuts.”
And at some point this January, I’ll also enjoy the next episode of the “The Marx Brothers Council Podcast.” It’s a series of monthly podcasts co-hosted by three arts and entertainment veterans who are also noted authorities on the legendary 1930s/40s movie comedy team of Groucho, Harpo, Chico and, in their five early films, Zeppo Marx (see www.marxbrotherscouncilpodcast.com).
The podcast is an offshoot of the Marx Brothers Council Facebook group which evolved from Matthew Coniam’s blog, “The Marx Brothers Council of Great Britain” launched a dozen years ago, where Noah Diamond and Bob Gassel became regular contributors.
To date, some 40 episodes have aired. Each is generally led by one of the hosts with the others chiming in as the trio deep-dive into one of the films or some aspect of the Marx canon often joined by special guests. The hosts examine the films and lives of the Marx Brothers in astonishing academic detail but remain entertaining and amusing.
“I am just a big fan who often tries to hide my lack of expertise by making smart-ass remarks,” said Bob Gassel (on Twitter @bobgassel), a career video editor based in Fairfield, Conn., who is also tasked with recording, editing, and publishing the podcast.
While the brothers only appeared together in 13 movies from 1929 to 1949, dedicated fans throughout subsequent decades have helped maintain the comedy team’s popularity. So why their continuing appeal? It’s their absurd humor and dangerous manic energy, explains author Matthew Coniam from Bath, England, who published “The Annotated Marx Brothers” in 2015 (see http://marxcouncil.blogspot.com/.
“It’s low comedy for people with highbrow tastes,” claimed Coniam. “That kind of dexterous verbal humor, that’s very, very sophisticated yet shot through with a joyous foolishness.”
“Their motivation is joy,” added Noah Diamond, a writer and performer based in New York City (see www.noahdiamond.com). “Yes, they’re anarchic comedians but they’re not angry.”
“I’m just going to say I love how smart they actually are,” observed Gassel. “While some may see them as idiots, my perception is that in their best films they are just on a different wavelength than everyone else.”
As children, all three hosts discovered the Marx Brothers for the first time and they continue to share that enthusiasm with listeners. “I’m especially proud of the balance between the scholarly and the silly that we seem to maintain,” says Coniam, indicating the group’s Facebook membership is over 5,000. “We must be doing something right!”
With all past episodes archived on their website, the holiday season is a great time to check out the informative podcast fun. And while you’re at it, remember you can also enjoy “A Night at the Opera,” “A Day at the Races,” and even a “A Night in Casablanca” without ever leaving home.

story and photo by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

For the past 17 years as a hospital chaplain, Mike Bumgarner helped patients and families with some of the toughest decisions they would ever face.
For nearly two decades before that, he served in ministry, helping guide individuals on their individual spiritual paths, navigating life’s ups and downs along the way.
“My greatest joy has always been just being with people. I’m an extrovert and I get energy from being with people,” Bumgarner said. “But focusing conversation and having a conversation around focused issues and helping people make determinations how they want to make their life better whatever that means … I get such great joy out of watching light bulbs come on in peoples’ minds.” (story continues below)

So there was little doubt in his mind that when he retired from the hospital and turned 70, the next chapter of his life would still be centered on helping people, this time as a life coach.
Bumgarner started his road to professional coaching in 2012 with formal training.
“I knew I wanted to do life coaching after I went through all of that,” he said. “The biggest challenge in doing coaching well is learning to ask really good questions instead of giving advice.”
Bumgarner is a member of The International Coaching Federation with the designation of Associate Certified Coach. Before serving as a hospital chaplain for 17 years, he served as a college minister for 22 years.
For 19 years he served on church staff as a college minister and pastoral care.
A staple in the Norman community, he also served on the Board of Education for Norman Public Schools.
He is able to incorporate his experience through years of chaplainship into his practice. He can help people through end-of-life issues, debriefing after tragedy, and general guidance for individuals and families facing traumatic experiences, terminal illness, or death.
It was friend Kelly Lashar, MA, LPC who Bumgarner says helped him make his dream a reality.
Lashar is co-founder of Restore Behavioral Health, a private counseling practice of independent contractors providing mental health and relationship care to the community.
With locations in Norman, Edmond and Midtown OKC, a team of different types of therapists and coaches, faith and non-faith based, bring a variety of education, training, experiences, personalities, and specialties.
The business plan for Bumgarner isn’t grandiose. He’s not out to build a practice for the masses.
He’d like to work two or three days per week, pouring into maybe 20-30 clients each month.
“None of us have it figured out,” he said. “A coach partners with a client or a team or a business to help them discover and put into action any agenda they deem will benefit their progress as a person or a company or a team.”
In short, coaching is designed to help a person maximize their potential.
That can take a lot of directions and oftentimes uncovers needs that have been hidden for some time. That’s why Bumgarner has a keen ear.
“If a client comes to me for coaching and it becomes obvious after two or three sessions that they are stuck in some issue from the past that is still greatly impacting their present, ethically I would offer the opportunity to refer them to a therapist,” he said. “You may not be knee-deep in the mud but you’re certainly ankle deep and you need to sit down and talk about this and that isn’t what I do.”
“Ethically, my job as a coach is to make sure I’m always distinguishing to you what I do as opposed to what you’re asking for.”
He says coaching is about discovery. Therapy is about recovery.
“I’m going to help you determine issues, challenge you on any kind of obstacles, any kind of belief systems or assumptions that could be inhibiting you from achieving whatever goal you’re setting,” he said. “That requires that I listen very deeply to what is said and what is not said and help you surface those things and help you design action plans to get you from where you are to where you want to be.”
And, ironically that is driven by the client.
“Coaches never tell clients what to do,” he said. “Clients in every session set the agenda. If they decide in the middle of the session they want to go a different direction the job of the coach is to go with them.”
But “there is a lot of collected wisdom,” Bumgarner smiled.