UCO Recognized for Service to Military-Connected Faculty, Staff and Students

The University of Central Oklahoma was designated a Purple Heart University by the Military Order of the Purple Heart Monday, Feb. 19, in a ceremony held on UCO’s campus. Central was awarded this honor for its longstanding commitment to serving military-connected faculty, staff and students, specifically those who were wounded in combat.
“It is an extreme honor for the University of Central Oklahoma to receive this designation as a Purple Heart University,” said UCO President Todd G. Lamb.
“This designation represents the dedication of UCO to serving those who have served. We are grateful to our military-connected students, faculty and staff for their service and sacrifice and are honored to help them as they pursue their next steps.”
To become a Purple Heart University, institutions must develop a purposeful approach to supporting not only those who are military affiliated, but also those who have sacrificed themselves in some way to defend our nation and earned a Purple Heart. Institutions must also meet and exceed standards in providing aid and programming to support Purple Heart recipients’ academic endeavors.
“UCO is honored to receive this recognition of our Purple Heart recipients and military-connected students,” said Tom McShane, director of TRIO Student Support Services – Veterans at UCO.
“We are grateful to the Military Order of the Purple Heart for this designation, which acknowledges our veteran and military-connected students, and the services UCO provides to them.”
The Military Order of the Purple Heart is chartered by Congress for combat-wounded veterans and is composed of military men and women who received the Purple Heart medal for wounds suffered in combat or by an act of international terrorism.
“We are honored to have UCO as a Purple Heart University,” said James Battles, Oklahoma State Department junior vice Purple Heart commander and Purple Heart chapter 820 commander.
“Having UCO support the military and those who have sacrificed for our freedoms humbles me and my fellow veterans. Having UCO support their military students and staff shows the military community that they are not alone in their service and sacrifice for their nation.”
UCO prides itself on our commitment to military-connected students, which is evident in our multiple national rankings and awards.
UCO ranks as a top 100 institution nationwide for providing services and support for military-connected students for the eighth consecutive year on the 2023 Military Times “Best for Vets: Colleges” list. Central was also named a gold-level Military Friendly School in the public universities category with more than 10,000 students by Viqtory Media’s 2023-24 Military Friendly Schools list. In 2023, Central was awarded a grant from the Boeing Foundation to address the emotional, physical and educational needs of military-connected students.
Central provides services and support for veterans and military-connected students through the Veterans Higher Education Resource and Opportunity Center (VetHERO) and federally funded programs. These programs provide services such as assistance with educational benefits certification, enrollment services, mentoring and campus and community engagement opportunities.

By Nick Thomas

As any devoted Star Wars fan can deduce, the title of Billy Dee Williams’ new autobiography, “What Have We Here?” released in February, is a nod to the actor’s most famous character – Lando Calrissian. The smooth-talking caped space smuggler first greets Princess Leia with that line in 1980’s “The Empire Strikes Back.”
While the feisty cinnamon-bunned princess may not have swooned on-screen when the charming Lando gently kissed her hand before eventually joining forces to save their galaxy (although Leia’s fleeting smirk suggests her royal knees might have buckled slightly), other screen characters were not so demure when confronted with the suave actor.
For instance, Diana Ross (playing singer Billie Holiday) first glimpses Williams (portraying her future lover, Louis McKay) in 1972’s hit movie “Lady Sings the Blues.” Her character promptly sinks to the floor, emotionally melting – mouth agape – captivated by the dreamy, white-suited Williams gracefully descending a staircase.
“When I saw film of myself walking down those stairs, I fell in love with me!” said Williams, laughing, from his home in Los Angeles. In real life, too, fans were similarly drawn to Williams’ charisma.
“I even had a woman faint right in front of me and it’s all very flattering,” he recalled. “But I don’t take myself too seriously.”
Beyond his Hollywood status as a heartthrob or swashbuckling space pirate, Williams was a solid, compelling actor throughout his long career that began when he stepped onto a Broadway stage, barely 8 years old.
Raised in Harlem during the 40s in a moderately well-off household, young Billy’s family supported his interest in the arts which also included painting – a career he originally planned to pursue. But in 1956, on a chilly winter’s day in New York City, he literally bumped into a TV casting director emerging from a clothing store, striking up a conversation.
The chance encounter led to an offer of work as an extra in East Coast television series, reinvigorating his interest in acting. After moving to Hollywood, Williams would amass hundreds of film, television, and theater credits over the next six decades.
“For a young, brown-skinned boy like me growing up in Harlem, getting to Hollywood was a far-fetched dream in those early days,” Williams said. “I’m not a very competitive person when it comes to something like sports, but I am when it comes to acting. I was determined to make it.”
And he did, with lead roles in feature films such as “Mahogany” (1975), “Scott Joplin” (1977), “Nighthawks” (1981), as well as ABC’s “Dynasty” series and the acclaimed TV sports bio-pic “Brian’s Song.”
“I didn’t want people to just see a young black kid from Harlem on the screen, but to appreciate the full spectrum of the characters I was playing,” said Williams.
It’s been almost 45 years since Williams first entered the Star Wars universe as Lando Calrissian. With his broad appeal and extensive acting experience, he was a popular addition to the franchise.
While he acknowledges that sci-fi actors rarely win Oscars or Emmys, Williams remains grateful for the recognition the character afforded.
“In the long run, I think the whole idea of creating a huge fan base gives you much more longevity,” he said. “I’ll be 87 in April, and I’ve had a lot of interesting experiences throughout my life that are described in the book. Some were not pleasant, but working on ‘Empire’ (and two other Star Wars movies) was. I’m always observing, learning, and trying to be a sponge, so to speak, to make myself a better actor.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama and writes features, columns, and interviews for newspapers and magazines around the country. See https://www.getnickt.org.

Story and photos by Marise Boehs

With the opening of VIPcare’s newest location in the Moore metro area, seniors now have a new and innovative health care option.

VIPcare has been serving senior communities since 2006 in clinics across the southern United States. VIPcare cares for more than 80,000 Medicare beneficiaries utilizing a health management approach that prioritizes spending quality time with the physician.

By focusing on a senior care model and increasing access to high-quality care, VIPcare’s model is at the forefront of the future of healthcare, as opposed to the current system the healthcare organization refers to as “sick care.”  Patients are encouraged to see the doctor often instead of only when they are sick, contributing to their success in patient outcomes.

VIPcare’s goal is to always provide a better healthcare experience for their patients: Less time in the waiting room, more time with the doctor, and more time to care.

VIPcare promises to be there when their patients need them the most with same-day, urgent care appointments, 24/7 on-call provider, and transportation assistance.

Anna Covey, Community Liaison with VIPcare

VIPcare is committed to delivering compassionate and preventive healthcare. This level of exceptional healthcare is something everyone should have access to. VIPcare specializes in primary care for individuals 65 and older. “We accept most Medicare Advantage plans and work personally with insurance plans to ensure families receive the coverage they need and deserve.”

We believe in better healthcare as opposed to ‘sick care. VIPcare eliminates potential healthcare burdens by offering same-day appointments and transportation assistance to and from appointments. Because our doctors only see an average of 12 to 15 patients a day instead of the industry standard of 25 to 35, they’re able to spend more time with patients, sometimes up to 30 minutes. This allows for a different mindset and a different way of providing care. At VIPcare, it’s about time. More time with the patient. More time to care.

Also, as the Community Liaison, Anna is available to assist with difficult paperwork, insurance, questions and other logistics for patients wishing to bring their primary care to VIPcare.

Jared Adams, M.D, Staff Physician

Dr. Adams is a board-certified primary care physician specializing in Family Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and completed his residency at the Lincoln Medical Partnership in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dr. Adams has worked in numerous medical fields, including family medicine, obstetrics, urgent care, and emergency medicine.

KELLY & TANISHA

“When you come in here you will see us every time. We are the staff and we will NOT let you wait in the lobby or in the exam room for more than a few minutes.”

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

What can I say? This place is as advertised!

In an effort to get the real and full story, I decided to get involved in the VIPcare process and see for myself.

STEP 1: I scheduled an appointment and gave my insurance cards to Tanisha to process. Fortunately, my BCBS policy is accepted by them. So just like that, I was in with an appointment for two days later.

STEP 2: I showed up on time to my appointment. Tanisha greeted me as I came in the door. She was simply sitting at her desk, open to the lobby. No big plastic window barrier or nothing! She had some basic and traditional paperwork for me to fill out, which only took a couple of minutes. We chatted about the weekend and TV sports and kids playing softball while I checked the boxes. It was nice.

STEP 3: Paperwork finished, we went into an exam room. Now, when I say exam room, it is really more like someone’s den or sitting area. No computer. (Just digital scale that lies.) But anyway, Kelly did the basic nurse interview about meds I take and any problems or complaints – like the swollen arthritic joints in my hands. Blood pressure was a little high, and we talked about maybe why it was.

After chatting with her – and it did feel more like a friendly chat than an exam of my vitals – she left her notes on a clipboard on a chair saying the doctor would be in soon.

STEP 4: And, believe it or not, he really did come in soon!

We talked about all the stuff Kelly had made notes about.  And we talked about my fitness program, weight loss so far, and where I want to be going forward.

I am training for a 6-day, 230-mile bike ride starting June 2. I still have some weight to lose. But soon, I will need to focus more on strength and endurance.

Dr. Adams was all about it! We decided to do a blood panel and check back in a month to formulate a plan to get me to my goal.

I could not feel better about my experience with

VIPcare and look forward to working with them to stay healthy, live my life, and ride many more trails – 75 years and counting!!

Seaman 2nd Class Cecil Thornton, born in Rogersville, Alabama, who died during the Dec. 7 attack on Pearl Harbor, will be buried with full military honors in the Civitan Cemetery in Rogersville, Alabama on March 11 at 10 a.m.
As Seaman 2nd Class, Cecil Thornton’s duties included performing ordinary deck duties in connection with the upkeep and operations of the ship, such as painting, cleaning, and polishing of the ship’s brightwork; the collection and disposal of garbage; maintenance and repair of various types of equipment. He also handled ropes and wires; stored and secured items; assisted with the movement of cargo on and off the ship. He stood watches as lookout, telephone talker, messenger, or similar duties. Also was member of a gun crew.
Awards and Decorations include Purple Heart Medal, Combat Action Ribbon, American Defense Service Medal (with Fleet Clasp), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medals.
Duty Stations were: USS Oklahoma (BB 37): 03/29/1940 and Naval Training Station Norfolk, VA: 12/15/1939.
Promotions include: Apprentice Seaman upon enlistment and Seaman 2nd Class: 04/14/1940

Mary Lea Forsythe

(Right) 100 years old. Mary Lea Forsythe of Sand Springs was honored for her 100th birthday coming up on February 29 by the DAR Osage Hills Chapter. She attended Sand Springs schools and was in the High School All State Chorus all four years.

Janie Hackler

(Left) 100 years old. Ms. Janie Hackler celebrated her upcoming 100th birthday surrounded by a large crowd of family and friends at Crossroads Fellowship in Bixby. She was beautiful in a pale pink outfit and was such a lovely and gracious lady greeting each and every person by name and with a smile and hug.

Iru Daugherty

(Right) 100 years old. Iru Daugherty of Tulsa celebrated her 100th birthday over the weekend. When she moved to Tulsa in 1987 to work at Victory Church, her son Pastor Billy Joe asked her to “love on people.” And she has done just that, along with many other things, serving in whatever capacity needed & continues to work at Victory Church. She has had an interesting life with wonderful people & is so grateful for good friends.

Russell Shelton

(Right) 100 years old. Russell Shelton celebrated his 100th birthday today. He was awarded a Purple Heart for his service with the Army in WWII, has lived in Bartlesville since 1948 & is a retired chemical engineer from Phillips. He stays active by riding a stationary bike 8 miles & doing 150 push-ups a day and always taking the stairs.

By Marise Boehs

Meals on Wheels of Norman, Inc. founded in 1972, is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit agency. Fifty two years ago, Tedo Pricket and June Morgan saw the need and brought Meals on Wheels to the Norman Community The mission of Meals on Wheels is to provide nutritious noon-time meals to ill, disable, and senior members within the Norman city limits.  They strive to improve the nutrition and mental health of the isolated recipients by providing visitation; and to improve the well-being of their clients by coordinating with existing services in the community.

Clients must live within the Norman city limits. The price of each meal is based on a sliding scale ranging from $1.07-$8.25 and is dependent on the clients income.

“About 50% of our clients are no charge,” said Lynn Haynes, retiring Executive Director of Meals On Wheels of Norman. “These meals are covered through scholarships provide by grants and individual sponsorship.” Clients range in age from 18 to 100+ years.

Determining a client’s eligibility is a quick process and is determined through a brief income screening that can be conducted over the phone. A typical Meals on Wheels client is an elderly widow living on low-fixed income. Today only 9% of individuals served by Meals on Wheels qualify to pay full price.

Meals on Wheels benefits greatly through a community partnership with Norman Regional Health System. Not only does the hospital prepare the noon-time meals deliverd by Meals on Wheels, but provides an annnual subsidy of reduced meal cost, support, and in-kind services. Licensed dietitians determine diets of clients that have special dietary needs. Specialized diets such as diabetic, renal, healthy hear, pureed, and meals that are sensitive to certain food allergies are prepared with care. Additional care is take by the kitchen staff to cut the meat for clients without full use of their hands. All specialized diets are confirmed by the client’s physician to ensure that the appropriate needs are being met.

In order to serve the community, Meals on Wheels relies on a base of over 160 volunteer drivers to deliver approximately 335 meals each weekday. There are 21 different routes delivered daily between 11am and 1pm. Volunteers deliver hot noon-time meals, as well as shelf stable meals for the weekends and holiday, and pet food to the recipients with furry friends. These volunteers come from all walks of life and range in age from elementary school students to retirees. The service these volunteers provide is much greater than just a meal delivery. They offer a lifeline to isolated clients. On many occasions volunteers have found clients in life threatening situations and were able to save the day by just being there. During 2023, 90,711 meals were delivered to 963 ill, disabled, and senior residents of Norman.

Meals on Wheels is governed by a Board of Directors who are active in all fundraising, as well as daily operations. The staff is comprised of three full-time and one part-time positions. Interns through the University of Oklahoma Work-Study Program and TANF workers provide additional office help.

Fundraising is an essential aspect of Meals on Wheels’s survival and growth. Meals Ambassador Baker Mayfield’s No Bogey’s With Baker held at TopGolf in OKC last April was a big success, “adding a large bump to our budget,” said Haynes. Another major fundraising event is the annual golf scramble held in July. As the holidays approach, Meals on Wheels begins to promote its Poinsettia Sale. Their goal is to provide each client with a pretty plant for the holidays as well as raise funds for the budget.

“When I started here in 2002, our budget was $150,000. We had 9 routes and served around 100 meals a day,” Haynes said. “Our budget for 2024 is $920,000. We have 22 routes and serve 305 meals a day.”

HAPPY RETIREMENT, Lynn Haynes! 

YOU’VE EARNED IT.

Oklahoma City Ballet will present Ballet Ball: Coastal Cruise on April 6, 2024 at the Omni Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. All proceeds from the
Ballet Ball benefit Oklahoma City Ballet’s programs and performances. Co-chaired by Bailey Gordon and Natalie Fitzpatrick, this gala will feature cocktails, dinner, a live auction, dancing, plus a special performance by Oklahoma City Ballet dancers. Guests are encouraged to dress in nautical-chic evening wear.
“This year’s Ballet Ball will be a boatload of fun”, said co-chair Bailey Gordon. “We are excited to welcome our guests for beachside cocktails, an incredible dinner, and a captain’s party complete with a yacht rock band. My favorite part of the night is always the special performance Oklahoma City Ballet dancers. It’s the perfect way to remind guests that funds raised at the
event fuel Oklahoma City Ballet’s programs year-round, including free community programs and performances that are enjoyed by thousands.”
The nautical theme is inspired by May’s production of Fancy Free, a ballet by Jerome Robbins that inspired the film On the Town. Fancy Free will be presented with Carmina Burana and Cacti, May 10-12, as part of the Ballet’s “Shorts” series, which features three short ballets in one program.
“Every year the Ballet Ball creates an annual theme which allows the attendees to get creative with their attire. It’s a lot of fun to see what people wear. This year, we want people to think of an elevated yacht party. We even have a “what to wear” guide on the website,” remarked cochair Natalie Fitzpatrick.
Live music will be presented by Soft Hands, a local yacht rock band. A highlight of the evening will be a performance by Oklahoma City Ballet’s professional dancers, who will perform a special piece choreographed just for this occasion.
Ballet Ball: Coastal Cruise will take place on April 6, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to midnight at the Omni Hotel. Individual tickets are $250 per person and sponsorships are available starting at $1,000. Tickets go on sale March 1. To purchase tickets to the Ballet Ball, visit https://www.okcballet.org/balletball/, call (405) 208-8836, or email events@okcballet.org. Checks can be mailed to Oklahoma City Ballet, 6800 N. Classen Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73116.
Ballet Ball Sponsors at the Onyx ($3,000) level will receive a one-of-a-kind silk scarf or pocket square by local clothier William & Lauren, made exclusively for this event.
For more information, tickets, and to learn about other performances, call 405-838-TOES (8637), visit okcballet.org, or follow Oklahoma City Ballet on social media @okcballet.

Dear Savvy Senior, What types of funeral benefits are available to old veterans? My 83-year-old father, who has Alzheimer’s disease, served during the Vietnam War in the 1960s. Planning Ahead 

Dear Planning,
Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) National Cemetery Administration actually offers a variety of underutilized burial benefits to veterans as well as their spouses and dependents.
Most U.S. veterans (both combat and non-combat) who didn’t receive a dishonorable discharge are eligible for burial benefits. To verify your dad’s discharge, you’ll need a copy of his DD Form 214 “Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty.” If you don’t have it, you can request online at Archives.gov/veterans.
Here’s a rundown of some of the different benefits that are available to veterans that die a nonservice related death.
Military Cemetery Benefits: If your dad’s eligible and would like to be buried in one of the 155 national or 119 state, territory or tribal-operated cemeteries (see VA.gov/find-locations), the VA provides a number of benefits at no cost to the family, including: a gravesite; opening and closing of the grave and perpetual gravesite care; a government headstone or marker; a United States burial flag that can be used to drape the casket or accompany the urn; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
If your dad is cremated, his remains will be buried or inurned in the same manner as casketed remains.
But be aware that funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are not taken care of by the VA. They are the responsibility of the veteran’s family, but some veteran’s survivors may be eligible for burial allowances.
The VA also offers a memorial web page called the Veterans Legacy Memorial for any veteran buried in a national, state, territorial or tribal cemetery. This allows families to post pictures and stories of their loved one online as a way to remember and honor their service.
If you’re interested in this option, the VA has a pre-need burial eligibility determination program to help you plan ahead before your dad passes. See VA.gov/burials-memorials/pre-need-eligibility or call the National Cemetery Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.
Private Cemetery Benefits: The VA also provides benefits to veterans buried in private cemeteries. If your dad chooses this option, the VA benefits include a free government headstone or grave marker, or a medallion that can be affixed to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker; a burial flag; and a Presidential Memorial Certificate.
Funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are again the responsibility of the family, and there are no benefits offered to spouses and dependents that are buried in private cemeteries.
Military Funeral Honors: Another popular benefit available to all eligible veterans buried in either a national or private cemetery is a military funeral honors ceremony. This includes an honor guard detail of at least two uniformed military persons, folding and presenting the U.S. burial flag to the veteran’s survivors, and the playing of Taps.
The funeral provider you choose will be able to assist you with all VA burial requests. Depending on what you want, certain forms may need to be completed which are always better to be done in advance.
For a complete rundown of burial and memorial benefits, eligibility details and required forms visit Cem.va.gov.
Burial Allowances
In addition to the burial benefits, some veteran’s survivors may also qualify for a $948 burial allowance and $948 for a plot to those who choose to be buried in a private cemetery. And $231 for a headstone or grave marker allowance. To find out if your dad is eligible or to apply, see VA.gov/burials-memorials/veterans-burial-allowance.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit https://savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Dr. Elise Brantley, M.D.

Practicing for almost 15 years, Brantley established Scissortail Dermatology in 2021.

Story by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

Dr. Elise Brantley, M.D., owner of Scissortail Dermatology, 3030 NW 149th in Oklahoma City, says one of the biggest concerns her patients have this time of year is dry, itchy skin.
“To improve dry skin, it is important to focus on restoring the quality of the top layer of the skin,” she said. “Use soaps/body washes only in areas that need deep cleansing such as under the arms or in the groin. Moisturizers are most effective after a shower or bath. Pat dry, but leave the skin somewhat damp in the areas that are the driest. Apply the moisturizer to damp skin, being careful not to slip. Many patients find it safest to do this step while sitting down.”
She said creams like CeraVe and Cetaphil are great examples of effective and well-tolerated cream moisturizers.
“Creams are more effective than lotions in keeping the skin moisturized,” she said.
Scissortail Dermatology was established in 2021, but Dr Brantley has been practicing for almost 15 years, over 10 of which have been in the OKC metro area. Her clinic provides care to both North and South OKC. She has several hobbies including creating quilting patterns, which she has turned into an online business.
“My mom was a quilter,” she said. “I wasn’t really that interested in it until I saw this random sampler, crazy quilt that was just wild. It blew my mind.” She dove into the craft and now sells quilt patterns online.
Brantley’s other hobbies of long-distance running, reading, and playing piano keep her busy.
“I took piano (before), but quit in sixth grade,” she said. Now as an adult, her 12-year-old daughter Isabella is following her path in developing her own piano skills. After seeing how much she enjoyed watching her daughter perform in recitals, her husband encouraged her to start taking lessons again at the same time. She and Isabella now enthusiastically perform side by side.
Brantley said her husband Steven, an orthopedic sports medicine physician, and her Scissortail team are the key to her ability to pursue her endeavors.
“My husband’s very supportive.” The staff in the clinic are highly efficient and organized, which allows her time to develop her other interests on her days off.
Brantley is board-certified and has been practicing dermatology since 2009. Her practice focus is evaluation and treatment of growths of the skin with emphasis on skin cancer.
She is a native of Broken Arrow, graduated high school from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics, and attended the University of Tulsa for undergraduate studies.
She received her medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and completed her residency training at the University of Cincinnati where she served as chief resident.
While her husband was completing additional training in orthopedics, she served on the faculty of both the University of Cincinnati and Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia before returning to Oklahoma.
Brantley initially went to school to become OBGYN, but then did a dermatology rotation and was blown away at how fun it was to make a diagnosis.
“It was cool,” she said. “It’s fun to use your own visual skills to make diagnoses where you don’t always have to rely on labs. It’s just really fun to figure it out with your brain. It’s really fascinating to me.”
Brantley said diagnosing is a learned skill.
“We spend years learning a method of how to look at something (on the skin) and know what it is,” she said. She likens it to car enthusiasts being able to instantly recognize the make model and year of a car. She explains that learning to recognize a car by its characteristics such as bumpers, taillights, hood ornaments can become second nature to someone who observes them on a regular basis. “You just know you, and you don’t even think through why you know it. You just know it.” Brantley named her clinic Scissortail Dermatology to suggest something recognizable.
“I wanted something that felt comfortable and familiar,” she said. “I have scissortails on my kitchen wall, and I was Facetiming with my brother.” Brainstorming together for a name for the new clinic, he noted the bird hanging in the background. He suggested the name Scissortail and it stuck
Brantley said building a doctor-patient trust is important to her.
“It’s important for them to trust me that I have their best interests in mind,” she said. “I talk a lot to my patients about what kind of things interest them. We talk about their grandkids, we talk about their hobbies, we talk about their sun exposure, of course, what they’re doing outside. We actually catch up, they ask me about my daughter, I ask them about whatever projects they’ve been working on. If they’re quilters, we swap quilt pictures. I truly believe that’s the magic of what makes a practice like this work. I know them and they know me, and that builds a trusting relationship where we can actually make good decisions together. The fact that you can take care of someone through their lifetime is really appealing.”
For more information about Scissortail Dermatology call (405) 562-6222 or visit
www.Scissortaildermatology.com

Edmond Mobile Meals and the Edmond History Museum invite the community to join them at the “Meals and Memories” oral history exhibit opening reception at the Edmond History Museum. Tickets for the event are $50 each, and all funds will be split between the two organizations.
The happy-hour style (come-and-go event is scheduled for Friday, April 5, 2024, from 5-7pm. Attendees can enjoy delicious hors d’oeuvres and cocktails prepared by Edmond Mobile Meals Chefs, Toni Washington & Matthew Rodriguez.
This event kicks off a month-long celebration of Edmond Mobile Meals’ 50th Anniversary of service in Edmond. Founded in 1974, the nonprofit organization has served over 1.2 million meals to homebound elderly and disabled residents in Edmond.
The oral history exhibit will feature several video interviews with Edmond residents about how living in Edmond has shaped their lives. Cristi Twenter, Executive Director of Edmond Mobile Meals describes how the oral history exhibit ties in with their anniversary celebrations. “Over the years, our organization has learned so much from our daily interactions with Edmond’s seniors. These residents have such a rich history, with interesting stories spanning over five decades of living in Edmond. We are honored to be of service to Edmond’s seniors who helped build our community to be the thriving place it is today, and so we wanted to preserve local seniors’ personal stories as part of Edmond’s historical record with an exhibit at the Edmond History Museum. We hope to continue to add to the collection in the coming years.” She adds, “It is fun to collaborate with other organizations in Edmond to share in the collective impact of making Edmond a wonderful place to live.”
“I’m always surprised how every oral history we receive at the museum provides new insight into Edmond history or connects to other research in our collection,” said Derek Lee, Curator of Collections. “I’m looking forward to hearing these and learning new information.”
“Hearing peoples’ life stories is the best way to learn about the past and connect different generations,” said Amy Stephens, Museum Director. “We applaud Edmond Mobile Meals for capturing and sharing these oral histories!”

For more information about this event or Edmond Mobile Meals, please contact Cristi Twenter at 405-341-3111, or email
info@edmondmobilemeals.org. For information about the Edmond History Museum and the oral history exhibit, please contact Derek Lee at
dlee@edmondhistory.org.