Across
1 Sarah Spain’s network
5 Percussion set
10 Cards
14 “Go on, git!”
15 Tickle
16 __ were
17 Textile machine
18 Nigerian seaport
19 “Ciao”
20 Medic with an office at Fisherman’s Wharf?
23 Expert
24 Extremely chill
25 Leaders inclined to work as a group?
31 Extremely cold
32 Channel marker
33 Picked up the tab
35 BYU or NYU
36 Sun screen
37 Strive (for)
40 African country in the Maloti Mountains
41 Drains
42 Summits
45 Captain Hook’s incredulous assessment of his nemesis?
47 Statue base
49 Melber of MSNBC
50 Puts comfy shoes through rigorous testing?
56 Tropical spot
57 Safari equine
58 Most CFOs
60 Some game
61 “Middlemarch” novelist
62 Bend at a barre
63 Retired boomers
64 Action
65 Blood bank fluids

Down
1 Subj. for those wishing to be bilingual
2 Utterly beyond repair
3 Play down
4 Motto for the ruthless
5 Meteorological effect caused by refraction
6 Desktop with an AppleCare option
7 Literary award with a spaceship logo
8 Starting on
9 Lab work
10 Thinned (down)
11 Pulitzer-winning journalist Wilkerson
12 Early ICBM
13 Hung around
21 Play-__
22 “Science of Logic” philosopher Georg
25 Small ammo
26 Director Jean-__ Godard
27 LAX postings
28 Superhero once played by Stephen Amell on The CW
29 “__ Comes to Pemberley”: P.D. James novel
30 Obama daughter
34 Friendly honk
36 Rats, gnats, and brats
37 Element in an algebraic equation
38 Wall St. event
39 Key that exits full-screen mode
40 Brand of packaged bagels
41 Is extremely frugal
42 Ladybug prey
43 Shuts
44 “The Gleaners” painter Jean-Fran ois
46 River that rises in the Bernese Alps
48 Fuzzy states
51 Move to a warmer state?
52 Drama honor
53 Cut short
54 Ink
55 Place to hibernate
59 “Wide Sargasso __”: Jean Rhys novel

Matthew Pierce

Owner/Innkeeper of The Monastery at Forest Lake in Oklahoma City

Story and photo by Van Mitchell, Staff Writer

When Matthew Pierce purchased The Monastery at Forest Lake, located at 3500 North Coltrane Road in Oklahoma City, he knew the property had sat vacant for a decade.
What he didn’t realize was the amount of time and money it was going to take to bring the historic property, which served as the mansion home of Oil Baron and Oklahoma Governor Robert S. Kerr, back to life.
“Within the first few months of buying the house and as the hidden catastrophes kept emerging, I thought it appropriate to watch the old Tom Hanks movie, “The Money Pit,” and I began to realize what a financial and architectural challenge I had signed up for,” Pierce said. “Within 12 months I had gone through my entire life savings, almost $400,000, trying to get the 100 year old stone castle-like structure back in shape.”
The Monastery at Forest Lake features a 10,000-square-foot stone fortress on 14 acres, a swimming pool, two lakes, a wedding chapel, and starting in October, the 5-star Bed and Breakfast will transition into an Airbnb.
“We’re going to still offer The Cottage as an Airbnb, (which was Governor Kerr’s servant quarters until 1949) as our most historic suite,” Pierce said. “The Cottage also serves as one of our bridal suites for the wedding venue. And, the old bakery building from the monks’ time here, which is still on-site, that’s a big three-room stone building which is going to be restored into another big cottage so that families can come and stay. It will have a waterfront view and a deck that extends right out to Forest Lake.”
Pierce said the mansion was completed in 1926, and it has a plethora of Oklahoma history and characters. (STORY CONTINUED BELOW PHOTO)

“In the summer of 1926, this mansion and the E.W. Marland mansion in Ponca City were both finishing construction,” he said. “This was all oil money. The financiers were Oklahoma oil barons of the 1920s, as well as politicians, law-enforcement, and even an occasional gentleman gangster. They formed a “Hunting Lodge” in name only, cleverly incorporated as “The Anglers Association”, which disguised the real purpose of the massive structure with 150-pound doors and 18-inch walls: an illegal speakeasy bar on 50 acres of walled and gated forest. The Twin Hills Golf and Country Club was built in 1918, so that predates it, there was a small lane that led to the Lodge from there.”
Pierce said that there is a tunnel under the speakeasy that allowed bar patrons to quickly escape to the lake, accessed by a hidden staircase.
Pierce said the membership of the lodge held a high-stakes poker game weekly, featuring high rollers of the state’s petroleum Industry. He said one night, the card game was moved to Oilman Charles Urschel’s home in Heritage Hills, and it became the scene of an infamous kidnapping involving Oklahoma gangster “Machine Gun” Kelly.
“His wife, who gave him the moniker “Machine Gun”, put him up for one last final caper, and then to retire from his life of crime,” Pierce said. “The poker game was here most Thursdays and it unknowingly presented a lucrative target for a big “score “, but on that particular night, they had moved the card game to oilman Charles Urschel’s house on NE 18th. Machine Gun Kelly kidnapped Urschel and another man, ultimately transporting Urschel to Texas in the middle of the night.”
According to Oklahoma Historical Society archives, on July 22, 1933, using his trademark machine gun, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, along with Albert L. Bates, interrupted a bridge game at Charles F. Urschel’s residence in Oklahoma City, abducting Urschel and Walter Jarrett at gunpoint while their wives helplessly watched.
The widower Urschel, oilman Tom Slick’s brother-in-law and a trustee to his estate, had married Slick’s widow, Berenice Slick, and combined their fortunes, creating one of the wealthiest couples in Oklahoma City. A criminal of relative obscurity, Kelly, born George Kelly Barnes in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1895, married Kathryn Thorne in 1930. Kathryn has been credited for creating Kelly’s underworld persona, because she bought him his first Thompson submachine gun and dubbed him “Machine Gun.”
After kidnapping Urschel, the criminals took him to a farmhouse in Paradise, Texas, and held him there for more than a week. The kidnappers released him on July 30 after a representative for the family paid $200,000 in documented bills. Kelly was convicted and sentenced to life in prison and served 21 years at Alcatraz, inmate No.117.
Pierce said the hunting lodge closed in 1933 when Prohibition ended nationally, but Oklahoma elected to continue prohibiting alcohol statewide (until 1959).
“The oil company executives freaked out, despite running an illegal bar for over a decade,” he said. “They’re like, “Nope, we’re done.” They shut the doors”.
Pierce said Kerr decided to buy the lodge sometime after it closed.
“He watched it sit for three years and said, “He said this is stupid. I’ll close the lodge. I’ll buy out my brothers. I’ll own the place. I’ll make it my home,” Pierce said.
Kerr later sold the home to Oklahoma City Children’s Hospital pioneer, Dr. John Colmore.
“Colmore bought it in 1949, and raised seven children here,” Pierce said. “We’ve been honored to have four of his now elderly children come and stay in the resort, in their old rooms from their childhood. “He was here until 1970”.
His widow, Mrs. Colmore, sold the house to 13 Russian Orthodox-leaning monks in 1971 for $38,000.
“They were a rather eccentric sect of Monks from Illinois, led by Bishop Burke and Brother John,” Pierce said. “They were here from 1971 to 1988. They raised ostriches for the OKC Zoo and were known citywide for their amazing baked bread.”
Pierce said Dr. Andrew John bought the property from the monks when Burke moved the church to Nebraska, and he was there until 2004.
“Dr. John modernized the air conditioning, the plumbing, added 4,000 square feet of living space, put in the pool, and put in the whole north wing where the pool table is,” Pierce said. “He did all of that work, but his masterpiece was eventually sold at Sheriffs Auction in 2004. Retired World Cup soccer player from Peru, Chico Villar, and his wife Judy bought the empty mansion and enjoyed it as a weekend lake house, and I bought it from them.”
Pierce said the monks operated a bakery called Brother John’s Bread for over a decade.
“Most of us here locally, we remember that the monks were the Forest Park Volunteer Fire Department,” Pierce said. “One day I was sitting in my office and I saw an older gentleman, in full monk garb with a rope for a belt, step out of a vehicle in the parking lot. Incredibly, it was Brother John stopping by unannounced for a visit.”
Pierce said it was Brother John’s first trip back to the Monastery since 1982.
“We had a grand time visiting, and I finally got to ask Brother John a question I had wondered about since childhood: “How in the world did you guys become the Fire Department? Pierce said. “I told him I had a copy of the NBC television feature which was aired in April 1979, of him and the “Firefighting Monks”. He remembered NBC filming it but he had never seen it.”
Pierce said Brother John told him the story saying the fire department was across the street where the school is now, and one day he accidentally caught the bakery on fire.
“We waited and we waited and we’re running around with little water hoses and we’re trying to put this fire out,” Brother John told Pierce. “We could see the windshields of the fire engines just 50 feet away in the station. Finally, the volunteer firefighters, they arrived, they jumped in the trucks, drove across the street, and put the fire out.”
Pierce said the local fire chief asked Brother John if the monks would consider helping them fight fires because they were literally just steps away from the fire station.
“With Bishop Burke’s approval, we agreed that that would be a righteous community service. And so that’s how we became firefighters,” Brother John told Pierce.
Pierce said The Monastery has also been home to several businesses.
“The Colmore’s raised national award-winning AKC Dobermans until the late 60’s,” he said. “The same structure which became Brother John’s Bakery, was originally built as a kennel for Dr. and Mrs. Colmore’s show dogs.”
Pierce said there were so many unknown money pits discovered during renovations of the property. At one point they were constructing a parking lot for the bed-and-breakfast resort, and Pierce’s contractor could not figure out why the gravel base would seemingly disappear overnight.
“Every time we would pour a semi-tractor load of gravel out here in the parking lot area, within a day, it was gone. It would sink and mud would bubble up,” Pierce said. “Finally, the contractor’s like, “Dude, you’ve got a natural spring out here.”
Pierce said a University of Central Oklahoma professor did some research on the property, and found the cause of the water issue.
“Greg James starts looking at the abstract and some photos from the Oklahoma Historical Archives and says, “You know Matt, this place had a commercial fish hatchery on it in 1928.”
Pierce said there are some exciting projects beginning over the next few months, including several custom lakefront homes slated for construction by his business partner, Mike Menzel, on the east side of Forest Lake.
“It’s exciting to see my original vision take shape, at such an important place of my childhood memory. My grandmother and I would stop at the bakery here and buy bread from the Monks in the early 1970s.” he said.
For more information visit https://themonasteryatforestlake.com or call Mattew at (405) 760-9984.

Story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

The free 2023 Second Half Expo connecting seniors to valuable resources begins at 8 a.m. Saturday, October 21st, and finishes at 1 p.m. for the third year at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in northeast Oklahoma City, which offers free parking.
In its fifth year, organizers call it the largest senior expo in Oklahoma and bill it as “Everything for the 50+ Generation.” It features more than 100 exhibits tailored to people in the “Second Half” of their lives. This is for those Oklahoma seniors looking to connect with the latest products, services, and educational resources needed to live as they have imagined. Oklahoma’s largest senior-related businesses will be present, providing education and demonstrations of their products and services.
Not just for the retired, the day will be loaded with fun and activities, including free educational seminars, food samples, drawings for prizes and music from some of Oklahoma’s best talent.
“We firmly believe the senior years can be lived with dignity and purpose with the right guidance and resources,” said founder Bob Loudermilk. “We strive to support seniors and their adult children, honoring and assisting their aging parents.”
This year’s free panel session at 10 a.m. is titled “Is Your Estate Plan Retirement-ready? – Asset Protection Strategies in an Ever-changing World.” It offers four community thought leaders sharing their expertise. This timely information for seniors approaching the Second Half of life is about securing their financial future. The panelists will explain how asset protection strategies are paramount for folks entering the Second Half of life, particularly concerning retirement, investments, asset management, Medicare, and new marriages.
Entering new marriages later in life necessitates asset protection to preserve pre-existing assets and ensure desired distribution. Older individuals relying on Medicare must protect these benefits to maintain a stable income during retirement. By proactively implementing asset protection strategies, Americans can secure their financial well-being, preserve retirement funds, and safeguard assets for themselves and their loved ones.
The panel session featuring Brian Hill, David Chaney, Tim Hast and Susie Brown will begin at 9 a.m. with coffee and pastries, allowing for networking. The discussions begin at 10 a.m. and end at 11:30. Seating is limited. Please RSVP to reserve your Meet the Panel – Second Half Expo seat. Details of topics and bios of the four panelists are available on this page.
Hill is a partner at Ball Morse Lowe, PLLC, whose practice is focused on Estate Planning and Probate. Hill has guided clients in estate planning, probate, and trust administration for more than 18 years. He has served as an Oklahoma Bar Association Estate Planning Section officer. As a frequent speaker for various organizations, he has provided insight and practical advice to estate planning professionals.
Chief Executive Officer and founder of Legacy & Succession, LLC, Chaney, ChFC, CLU, has received numerous industry awards and accolades in his more than 35-year career. He holds multiple industry designations, including Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), which he obtained in 1997.
Hast provides coaching and training in leadership, team building, and people skills and helps people in the workplace get along. He is the author of “Powerful Listening, Powerful Influence,” available on Amazon in paperback, e-book and audiobook.
Brown is the co-owner of Senior Benefits Consulting and has 24 years of experience with Medicare and employer benefits. She teaches educational events on how Medicare works and meets with groups and individuals to consult with them on their Medicare options.
The panelist will impart crucial steps to safeguard your retirement, investments, and assets while ensuring a secure future. This session will equip you with valuable insights to navigate the ever-changing financial landscape, from managing risks to maximizing growth potential.
Ball Morse Lowe, Attorneys and Counselors at Law, is this year’s presenting sponsor. It is also presented by “OKSenior Journal,” with “The Oklahoman” as the National Media Partner and Oklahoma’s News 4 as the media sponsor. Also a sponsor, “Senior News and Living” and “Oklahoma Nursing Times” will provide their publication at their booth all day.
Produced by Second Half Events, Inc., the expo is hosted by The National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum at 1700 Northeast 63rd St. For more information visit https://secondhalfexpo.com/.

Story and photo by Bobby Anderson, RN, Staff Writer

Your skin is your largest organ and the only one you can actually see and feel.

So as you age you might want to pay a little more attention to skin changes to prevent something minor from becoming something major.
That’s what one of the leading dermatologists in Oklahoma City tells her patients.
Dr. Elise Brantley is a board-certified dermatologist who has been practicing for more than 10 years.
Her practice at Scissortail Dermatology focuses on protecting your skin year-round.
“I think it’s a good idea for people to be aware of what the signs and symptoms of skin cancer are,” Brantley said. “Just so they know whether or not they need to come in. Another thing is for people to be aware of potential risk factors they may not realize.”
Scissortail Dermatology has offices on both the north and south sides of the metro.
You can learn more at their booth at the upcoming Second Half Expo being held at The National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, October 21 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The free event is the largest senior expo in Oklahoma and will feature 130 exhibits, lots of free giveaways as well as information on senior living, education, and retirement planning.
When it comes to people and their skin, oftentimes they’ll ignore the proverbial warning signs.
“Honestly, everyday especially in the younger population who work outside,” Brantley said. “A lot of people who spend or have spent a lot of time outside (are at risk).”
All those ball games, summers at the lake, and work outdoors will eventually catch up.
As you start to age accumulated exposure to the sun can begin to take its toll, resulting in blemishes and forms of skin cancer – some of which can be deadly if left untreated.
“Especially when they reach retirement age, that’s when the problem arises,” she said. “Before you get to cancer some people experience pre-cancers that are uncomfortable, tender, and make the skin rough. The skin surface is altered and a lot of our patients struggle with that.”
Brantley’s practice focus is the evaluation and treatment of growths of the skin with an emphasis on detecting and treating skin cancer.
She is a native Oklahoman from Broken Arrow.
After graduating high school from the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics she 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.
She has been serving the Oklahoma City metro area for more than 10 years.
Melanoma is the deadliest form of skin cancer. However, when detected early, melanoma can be effectively treatment. You can look for signs of melanoma by following the ABCDE method
Asymmetry is where one half of the spot is unlike the other half.
The spot has an irregular or poorly defined border
* C stands for color. The spot has varying colors from one area to the next, such as shades of tan, brown, black, or areas of white, red, or even blue.
* D stands for diameter. Melanomas are usually greater than six mm, or about the six of a pencil eraser, but can be smaller.
* E stands for evolving where a spot looks different than the rest or changes in size, shape, or color.
Performing a skin self-exam means taking note of all the spots on your body, from moles to freckles to age spots. Skin cancer can develop anywhere on the skin and is one of the few cancers you can usually see on your body. Ask someone for help when checking your skin, especially in hard-to-see places like the scalp and back.
The annual cost of treating skin cancers in the U.S. is estimated at $8.1 billion: about $4.8 billion for nonmelanoma skin cancers and $3.3 billion for melanoma, according to the Foundation.
Thanks to increased education and screening by dermatologists like Brantley, the diagnosis and treatment of nonmelanoma skin cancers in the U.S. increased by 77 percent between 1994 and 2014.
“It’s a great idea to come in for at least one assessment,” Brantley said. “Get an idea of what your risk factors are. You may not need to come in more than once a year. You may need to come in more often.”
For Brantley, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a pound of cure.

For more information or to make an appointment visit https://scissortaildermatology.com/ or call (405) 562-6222.

Fortune® magazine has again named Legend Senior Living among the Top 25 Best Large Workplaces in Aging Services. The 2023 list has just been released, and this is the second time Legend has been included in Fortune’s Top 25 list of large workplaces. Legend is a Wichita, KS-based, privately owned senior living provider with over 50 residences in six states, including independent living, assisted living, personal care and memory care.
Fortune partners with Great Place to Work to determine the Best Workplaces in Aging Services. Surveys of more than 140,000 employees are analyzed from Great Place to Work-Certified™ companies in the aging services industry. Employees share confidential quantitative and qualitative feedback about their employer’s culture, rating it as a great employee experience in terms of “trust, respect, credibility, fairness, pride, and camaraderie.”
To be considered for the list, companies must be Great Place to Work-Certified™ and be in the aging services industry. Companies with 1,000 employees or more are considered for the large category.
“It’s especially humbling to be named to the top 25 Best Workplaces in the country because the ratings come from our employees and are completely confidential and objective,” said Matt Buchanan, President of Legend Senior Living. “We have the best-trained, most dedicated employees in senior living, and they know the culture better than anybody. A great workplace has a direct impact on delivering great service. It means we’re supporting an overall culture of independence, dignity and purpose.”
Legend residences are recognized as Great Places to Work®, have ranked among the Top 25 Best Senior Living communities in the country by Fortune magazine, and appear on U.S. News & World Report’s Best of Senior Living.
Wichita, Kansas-based Legend Senior Living® is a privately held senior housing and services company and one of the nation’s leading senior living providers. The company owns or operates over 50 senior living residences across six states – in Florida, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.
To explore career options with Legend Senior Living CLICK HERE.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
LEGEND SENIOR LIVING OKLAHOMA RESIDENCES INCLUDE:
ACCLAIM LIVING – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
ARBOR HOUSE OF MIDWEST CITY – MIDWEST CITY, OK
ARBOR HOUSE OF MUSTANG – MUSTANG, OK
ARBOR HOUSE OF NORMAN – NORMAN, OK
ARBOR HOUSE REMINISCE – NORMAN, OK
GREEN TREE SAND – SPRINGS, OK
LEGEND AT COUNCIL ROAD – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
LEGEND AT JEFFERSON’S – GARDEN EDMOND, OK
LEGEND AT MINGO – ROAD TULSA, OK
LEGEND AT RIVENDELL – OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
LEGEND AT TULSA HILLS – TULSA, OK
PRAIRIE HOUSE BROKEN – ARROW, OK
RIVERMONT ASSISTED LIVING AND MEMORY CARE – NORMAN, OK
RIVERMONT INDEPENDENT LIVING – NORMAN, OK
THE STONEHAVEN – TULSA, OK

Story by Darl Devault, Contributing Editor

The Oklahoma Senior Games provided a demonstration area at the Oklahoma State Fair, featuring Cornhole and Pickleball for the whole run of the Fair while recruiting volunteers for the remainder of this year’s events.
The largest interactive demonstration court for seniors at the Fair was one of the fastest-growing recreational sports, Pickleball. It is now widely embraced by seniors for its excellent health outcomes.
Pickleball is a recreational paddle sport for all ages and skill levels. Grandparents who welcome the opportunity to try new fitness outlets can play with their grandkids to stay active.
Whether seniors are looking for a way to exercise or want to be challenged at a competitive level, there is a place in the pickleball community.
Also displayed in the demonstration area were the uniquely Native American-influenced T-shirt and medal designs that earned the National Senior Games Association’s highest award for this year, recognizing the highest standards of excellence. The Oklahoma Senior Games T-shirts and medals were cited for demonstrating innovation in program development and following the NSGA’s and its athletes’ mission. It is rare for a state to earn national awards in both design examples in the same year.
The Games organizers say they count on the warm hospitality and strong sense of community spirit our citizens have shown as volunteers to allow the Games to thrive.
“Our volunteers are a major part of how and why our state has proven itself as a great place to compete in senior games each year,” longtime volunteer Regina Stewart said. “We have grown to offer more games because of the time and energy Oklahomans who do not compete have invested in offering the Games to those who compete.”
Oklahomans with a flair for community service can help. Volunteers can help promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging active seniors 50 and over to enhance their lives through athletic and recreational competitions.
Stewart, also a Games’ senior track athlete, directly supports the concept. “This keeps me motivated to stay active and compete, which allows me to be healthy,” Stewart said.
Volunteering opportunities abound as the statewide events grow to more than 2,000 competitors this year. She said your fellow citizens need your help conducting the many activities required to allow events to run smoothly as they finish in October.
Stewart said she knows the community will continue embracing what has come to be known as the “Oklahoma Standard.” The Games promote healthy lifestyles for seniors through education, fitness and the spirited competition of sports and recreational games. This inspires everyone to embrace health and enjoy the value of sports-related exercise.
Officials ask that corporations organize groups of volunteers of 10 or more employees who can be assigned to specific sports in Oklahoma City, Moore, Yukon, Muskogee, Norman, Shawnee, Bixby, Perry, El Reno, Catoosa, Lawton, and Owasso. These groups will be kept together to spark morale within the volunteering ranks.
Senior volunteers are the largest resource for the sanctioned state organization to produce yearly state games. This help allows the events to be the qualifying sites in the Sooner state for the NSGA national competitions.
The Games provide 29 sports, games and activities, some with variations, that provide athletic training opportunities and social interaction.
These are just some of the ways to volunteer for the 10 remaining sports on the schedule in October. For Cycling at Ft. Sill, the organizers seek help with check-in, course monitors, bike holders, refreshments, and medals. The other nine sports, such as Badminton, need check-in and refreshments help. Shuffleboard organizers need scorekeepers, while Tennis needs help with check-in, refreshments, water coolers, t-shirt sales, and ball retrieving/distribution. This gives senior volunteers willing to help an idea of the help needed in Cornhole, Volleyball, Pickleball, Golf, Table Tennis, Weight Lifting, Fitness Challenge, and Racquetball.
Please visit the newly expanded https://okseniorgames.com for more info on volunteering and all the sports and games offered. Call (405) 821-1500 for general questions or email info@okseniorgames.org.

Story by Darl Devault, Contributing Editor

On September 20th, the Oklahoma State Fair lived up to its theme, “The Place to be in ‘23,” when it hosted the “Out of This World Seniors Day” at the Fair, providing activities planned for older fairgoers.
Senior citizens 55 and older celebrated near-space travel with free admission to the fairgrounds on their special day. Many otherworldly experiences were offered to the audience throughout the day.
Many games and contests entertained senior fairgoers who preferred to kick back indoors on the hot and sunny Wednesday in the Modern Living Building. All were entertained by many acts from the space-themed stage and by visiting booths featuring alien and flying saucer decorations.
“I want to share our feedback so far is that this year was our best senior day ever,” said Lisa James, CompleteOK community liaison and event committee member. “I want to thank everyone so much for being a large part of making that happen; we appreciate all of you.” In saying this year’s was the best yet, James added, “I believe the variety of exhibit offerings for our seniors was the best I’ve ever seen.”
The day of activities, entertainment, exhibits, door prizes and health screenings designed especially for the golden agers was packed. The entertainment kicked off at 10 a.m. and finished with Elvis tribute artist Mike Black at 7 p.m.
The Special Events Area at the south end of the Modern Living Building featured outlandish interpretations of many space motifs, including four larger-than-life green aliens with humans trapped inside the costumes.
Sponsor OG&E energized the day while many of the booths donated door prizes and offered giveaways designed especially for the golden ager.
This 46th annual Senior Day at the Fair saw the Okie Stompers’ well-choreographed group display their combination of tap with line dancing as their ten performers dazzled in special out-of-this-world T-shirts. After a quick costume change to a more patriotic outfit, they displayed their ultimate toe-tapping’ clogging when they performed again at 11 a.m.
The one-minute video entries from area independent and assisted living and long-term care communities of their residents “In Motion.” were shown all day to allow the public to select the winner.
Along with the many senior-oriented booths making their services available, “Senior News and Living” gave away their September issue at their booth all day. The publication supplied two door prizes from the stage and small glider planes at their booth.
Although official attendance numbers have not been released yet, “Senior News and Living” sales executive Amanda Miller gave away 900 copies of their publication in their bags before the last 100 were available for pickup without a bag.
The audience participated in themed activities on the decorated stage. At 1 p.m., audience singers took the stage to perform in the “Out of This World Karaoke Contest.” The audience was treated to Gary Aylor’s singing performance at a Robert Goulet quality level. Archwell Health provided his prize.
Activities planned for the day that saw 4,000 seniors last year included a robust lineup of free health screenings. Major organizer OU Health provided memory and depression screening. Passport Health offered Flu, 65+ Flu, vaccines and B-12 shots while more than $10,000 in door prizes were given away in three sessions.
Many seniors picked up a ticket for each session to win one of many donated gifts These multiple drawings in the morning, the early afternoon and then again in late afternoon saw many happy seniors celebrate on their way to the stage to receive their prizes.
The 26-member Vocal Sounds of Oklahoma award-winning a cappella men’s chorus sang several Americana ballads from the stage four-part close-knit harmony for the crowd at 4 p.m. without accompaniment.
The event chairs filled up as Elvis tribute artist Mike Black drew a packed house in the late afternoon. Back from his popular performance last year, Black sang Elvis Presley’s songs at 7 p.m.
The volunteer Senior Day committee works from January through September, planning an excellent event for Oklahoma Seniors 55 and over.
Adjacent, the Oklahoma Senior Games demonstration area was busy all day, with many waiting to play Pickleball on a demonstration court. As America’s fastest-growing recreational sport, it is being widely embraced by seniors for its excellent health outcomes.

Story and photos by Darl DeVault, Contributing Editor

In its second year, September 1-4, at the Renaissance Waterford Hotel in northwest Oklahoma City, WriterCon offered many seniors among the more than 200 aspiring writers a glimpse of the many facets of the book writing and publishing trade. The four-day conference was comprehensive, with four breakout sessions for each of six 45-minute periods daily featuring book industry luminaries and best-selling authors as speakers.
This year, the event offered the most attendees ever a robust educational offering, exploring ideas from authorship to representation to publishing. Discussions of trending issues like AI-generated text and social media influencers’ power occurred.
Organizer William Bernhardt, 63, of Choctaw, began his career as a nationally prominent author in a significant way in 1991. He continues positively impacting book publishing by expanding his signature largest annual writers’ conference in Oklahoma. The event added a fourth day emphasizing book sales and the reader with ReaderCon on Monday.
“Growing up locally and graduating Midwest City High School in 1978, I want to support regional authors’ writing aspirations at a level not available here when I was learning my craft,” Bernhardt said on the first day of the conference. “Oklahoma has just as many talented writers as New York or anywhere else. We must support their efforts that put them on an even footing. We have just as much talent as any other area, if not more, but historically we have not done as well at nurturing and promoting our own.”
Another expansion of WriterCon this year was the launch of the online WriterCon Magazine. It was printed in 38 full-color pages in its debut edition exclusively for the event. Executive editor Kadey Bernhardt and editor Lara Bernhardt said they look forward to the voice the online publishing provides them in support of the book industry. Powered by Substack, it is found at WriterCon Magazine | William Bernhardt | Substack.
Recent University of Oklahoma photography journalism graduate Ralph Bernhardt provided attendees with free author portraits for the event’s first two days.
Currently, literary agents and publishing houses of good size receive more than 5,000 unrequested manuscript submissions annually. The industry reports that less than one percent of all authors get their books published. Bernhardt and his wife Lara, also an author and publisher, dedicate thousands of hours to planning the event to help regional authors beat those odds. By conducting a writing conference addressing the many industry standards, they coach authors to raise their authorship to best-selling status if they have that spark of talent, originality, and, most importantly, perseverance.
To say that WriterCon is a labor of love is an understatement, as Bernhardt puts his two-book-a-year schedule, which has produced 61 well-received books, in the background while he creates WriterCon each year. He recruits speakers year-round when he attends at least five writers’ conferences nationwide to stay abreast of industry trends and his voracious need to learn.
Apart from being interested in the book publishing industry because of his imminent success, Bernhardt is quick to talk about what reading and books offer the reader. Studies show seniors who read daily see their cognitive functions improve over six months.
“Many studies have indicated that reading offers many cognitive benefits, keeping the brain active, improving vocabulary, and exposing readers to new ideas,” Bernhardt said. “But there are also emotional benefits. Studies show readers are more empathetic and understanding. Readers are better spouses or partners. Books are also a great cure for loneliness. When you enter the minds of others (even fictional characters), you gain a better understanding of how others think and what they are going through.”
The Bernhardts displayed their enthusiasm for writing and reading to the WriterCon attendees by offering a schedule that ran six pages and 112 breakout sessions. These sessions covered many topics, from writing instruction panels, genre roundtable chats, keynote address speakers, and agent interview sessions.
Becoming a No.1 New York Times bestselling author in 1991 with his “Primary Justice,” Bernhardt is fortunate that his first book delivered such a robust central character that it sparked a well-received book series.
His training as an attorney and becoming a partner in a Tulsa law firm sparked his ability to write his debut fiction novel. The first of his iconic courtroom dramas sold more than one-half million copies in its first six months. His publisher needed to reprint the literary fiction debut of his Ben Kincaid courtroom drama several times in the first year. This started a writing career that has seen a series of books, including a new series character, Daniel Pike, launched in his recent No.1 bestseller, “The Last Chance Lawyer.”
His 10-book “Red Sneakers” series on how to best write fiction has assured his place in American writing history. Bernhardt received the Oklahoma Center for the Book 2019 Arrell Gibson Lifetime Achievement Award. He had sold more than 10 million copies of his books at the time when his book count stood at 46 works. By 2019, he had written his bestselling Ben Kincaid mystery/ thriller series, three books for young readers, and the historical novels “Challengers of the Dust” and “Nemesis.” He had also penned three poetry books, “The White Bird,” “The Ocean’s Edge,” and “Traveling Salesmen’s Song,” displaying a robust career.
He says his favorite is “The Florentine Poet,” a fable published earlier this year, which critics have called ‘“The Princess Bride” for literature lovers.’
Digital media technology is reshaping the book industry. The book market now encompasses physical books, e-books, audiobooks, and other digital formats. Even though the book industry is dominated by large book publishers and one big online retailer (Amazon), there are still alternatives for publishing and selling books.
The industry is highly competitive, with players ranging from traditional publishing houses to online booksellers and self-publishing platforms to print-on-demand small publishers. These changes will likely continue as the industry embraces more technologies. One recent change is that audiobooks are the fastest-growing sector of the publishing industry.
A critical takeaway from attending these sessions over the three-day writing portion of the event is how persistent even the best authors need to be to shepherd their high-quality manuscripts through the publishing process. Many of the presenters firmly expressed that even high-quality manuscripts of good originality are still rejected, usually due to not being a correct fit, but are often later published when passed on to different agents/publishers.
“I remember what it was like,” Bernhardt said. “Being a young kid desperate to write but unable to find much instruction or professional guidance. Our goal with WriterCon is to make it easier for the next generation of Oklahoma writers. We give scholarships each year to young people who want to attend the event. I know I’ve been fortunate. This is my way of paying it forward.”
Home-schooled and Acellus Academy local eighth-grade student Scarlett Hoffman, who is writing fantasy, dystopian and sci-fi fiction, was one of two scholarship attendees this year. “It has been an awesome experience,” Hoffman said. “I have learned so much that will help me in my writing. The high points have been getting to pitch to agents because I have been looking for an agent these last three months. The other high point was talking to other writers in my genres during the roundtable discussions.”
Lisa Gardner spoke several times during the conference in well-received sessions. She is a No. 1 New York Times internationally best-selling author of more than 25 crime thriller novels, including the Frankie Elkin series. Adapted for both film and TV, her work has earned her numerous foreign awards while being published in more than 30 countries. Her Keynote address and best-attended session of more than half the attendees featured her detailing how authentically she researched every facet of her books. She shared how extensively she travels to interact with the FBI and learn from countless police officers. “It is always a huge honor to be invited to speak,” Garder said. “When William contacted me about coming to WriterCon, I was thrilled and flattered. A chance to talk to other authors, just like me, about the craft we love best. What could be better?”

In this blog, we will explore essential tips to help seniors lead a healthier and more fulfilling life. Aging gracefully involves taking care of both physical and mental well-being. By adopting certain habits and making small changes in daily life, you can significantly improve your health and enjoy the later years of your life to the fullest. Here are some key areas to focus on, courtesy of Senior News & Living OK.

Stay Hydrated

Water is the most essential nutrient for our bodies, and proper hydration becomes even more critical as we age. It’s not uncommon for seniors to experience reduced thirst sensations, which can lead to dehydration if not carefully monitored. Drinking enough water throughout the day helps maintain bodily functions, improve digestion, and enhance cognitive function. Aim for at least 8 glasses of water daily. Consider carrying a reusable water bottle with you, and if you find it hard to remember to drink, set reminders on your phone to sip regularly.

Quit Smoking Now

Smoking can have serious health consequences at any age, but it becomes even more hazardous for seniors. If you are a smoker, quitting now can significantly improve your health and reduce the risk of various diseases, including heart disease, lung disorders, and cancer. Understandably, quitting smoking can be challenging, but you don’t have to do it alone. Seek support from friends, family, or join a cessation program. Nicotine replacement therapy, prescription medications, or behavioral therapy can increase your chances of success.

Drink Less Alcohol and Seek Professional Help if Needed

As we age, our bodies’ ability to metabolize alcohol decreases, making it vital for seniors to moderate their alcohol intake. Limiting alcohol can lead to improved liver health, reduced risk of accidents, and better sleep. While occasional moderate drinking may be acceptable, excessive consumption can result in health problems. For those struggling to reduce alcohol intake, substance abuse treatment centers offer a range of professional help, including rehabilitation programs, counseling, and support groups, all of which can provide invaluable assistance in achieving a healthier lifestyle. If you’re concerned about affordability, you can find nonprofit and donation-based centers in your area.

Prioritize Getting Enough Sleep

Getting a good night’s sleep is essential for anyone, but it’s especially crucial for seniors. Quality sleep supports cognitive function, mood, and immune system health. Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Establish a regular sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, even on weekends. Create a comfortable sleep environment with a supportive mattress and pillow, and consider using blackout curtains to block out light. Additionally, avoid caffeine and heavy meals close to bedtime, as these can interfere with your sleep.

Avoid Isolation

As we age, maintaining social connections becomes even more critical for our mental and emotional well-being. Engage in social activities that you enjoy, spend time with friends and family, or join clubs or groups that share your interests. Social interactions can reduce feelings of loneliness, enhance your mood, and even stimulate your cognitive function. Don’t underestimate the power of a good conversation or a shared laugh in enhancing your overall quality of life.

Embracing a healthy lifestyle is within reach for seniors by following these essential tips. Stay hydrated, quit smoking, limit alcohol consumption, prioritize sleep, and nurture your social connections. Each of these points may seem simple, but their cumulative effect can significantly impact your health and overall well-being. Remember, it’s never too late to make positive changes for your well-being. Your journey towards a healthier lifestyle starts with small, intentional steps and a commitment to your own health and happiness. Take charge of your health today, and enjoy the benefits of a more vibrant and fulfilling life as you age.