One of the things we enjoy most about Oak Haven is the feeling of being safe and secure. Oak Haven is gated and the residents are nice and hospitable people. The cottages are nice and very clean. There is some type of activity for everyone to enjoy. Margaret, the property manager, is friendly and professional in her job. David, the maintenance manager, is easy to work with on any problem you might have. They both give you a sense of wanting to help.
We enjoy Oak Haven
Mike and Ginger Pickard

VISIT OAK HAVEN AT https://www.oakhavenretire.com/

Lois Boston, (TOP left) Lois Boston is a SUPER CENTENARIAN celebrating her 110th birthday on May 10! Lois will be celebrating her 110th Birthday on Wednesday, May 10th, 2023. Lois is the oldest living person in the State of Oklahoma as well as the oldest living person to attend OPSU College in Goodwell.

Ted Karner, (BOTTOM Left) Veteran Ted Karner of Claremore was born 100 years ago in Logan County, OK. His early education took place in a rural school. WWII changed the course of his life. He joined the Army Air Corps, which later became the U.S. Air Force, where he served for 30+ years, attaining the rank of Chief Master Sergent.

Jackie Robertson, (TOP Right) ackie Robertson celebrated her 100th birthday with family & friends in Sapulpa. She was “Outstanding Girl” of her 1941 Sapulpa graduating class. She went on to Tulsa Business College, worked in the insurance business, attended 1st Methodist Church & is past president of Tulsa Insurance Women. Her life advice is: “Treat others like you would like to be treated!”

Rutha Bryant, (BOTTOM Right) Rutha Bryant a graduate of Webster High School in Tulsa celebrated her 100th birthday on April 12! One of six children, she was born in Red Fork, one of Tulsa’s oldest communities. Happy Birthday, Rutha!

Seaman Imoni Okine on the USS Nimitz

U.S. Navy Yeoman Seaman Imoni Okine, from Midwest City, Okla., left, and Yeoman 3rd Class Ruby Crystal Patino, from Los Angeles, review paperwork aboard the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68). Nimitz is in U.S. 7th Fleet conducting routine operations. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Project funded by Oklahoma philanthropist Herman Meinders

Mercy broke ground on a new construction project Friday to expand the emergency department at its hospital in northwest Oklahoma City.
The project will include adding square footage to the ER that will house a much-needed CT scanner and space for more radiology equipment in the future. Patients in the ER needing a CT scan currently must be transported to a different floor in the hospital to get this specialized imaging required for a diagnosis.
“We see about 140 patients every day in our ER, and around 60 of them need a CT scan,” said Dr. Lance Watson, department chair of the emergency department at Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City. “This project is so important because the quicker we can get a diagnosis, the quicker we can get patients the treatment they need.”
The hospital is an Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center certified by The Joint Commission, the highest level of stroke certification awarded only to hospitals able to treat the most complex stroke cases. This special designation means Mercy has the most advanced imaging capabilities, 24/7 availability of specialized treatments and staff with the unique training and experience to care for patients who have experienced a stroke.
“For our stroke patients, getting a CT scan that will lead to a diagnosis as quickly as possible is critical to decrease their chances of having long-term disabilities,” said Dr. Bryan Van Zandt, Mercy interventional radiologist.
A CT scan is also needed for patients experiencing trauma, abdominal pain, chest pain, migraines and other neurological conditions.
“The hospital was built in the 1970s, long before we had much of the technology we use today in health care,” Dr. Watson said. “Our teams do a phenomenal job working together to make our current process as efficient as possible. But there’s no doubt having a CT inside the ER will be a huge advancement for patient care.”
Nearly two million brain cells die every minute during a stroke until the patient receives treatment which can lead to disability or death. Despite the challenges, Mercy has the fastest door-to-needle time for stroke patients in the state at 27 minutes, compared to the statewide average of 44 minutes. Door-to-needle time describes the interval between the time a patient arrives at the hospital to the time they receive treatment.
When construction is complete, stroke patients will be wheeled straight from the ambulance into the CT scanner.
Funding construction projects and paying for new technology is a challenge for hospitals across the country. According to the American Hospital Association, 68% of hospitals could lose money this year due to pandemic-related financial challenges including increased costs and labor shortages.
Generous local donor Herman Meinders heard about the need for this equipment and stepped up to provide the funding. Meinders donated $2.6 million to cover the entire cost of the project through Mercy Health Foundation.
“We could not be more grateful to Mr. Meinders for his gift,” said Dr. Watson. “His generosity infuses new life into our ER. It’s been a tough few years for our co-workers. To know that someone cares enough to fund this critical project will be a huge morale boost for them.”
Mercy’s Meinders NeuroScience Institute is also named for Herman Meinders. The building houses the Meinders Center for Movement Disorders and its multidisciplinary team of specialists, nurses, physical therapists, speech therapists, home health nurses and advanced practitioners for patients with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
Meinders said he wanted to show his appreciation for the neurology program at Mercy and made the donation in honor of retired Mercy neurosurgeon Dr. Richard V. Smith. Dr. Smith was the visionary behind the stroke program, and the new ER suite will be dedicated in his name.
“Herman is the perfect example of philanthropy at its finest,” said Lori Cummins, vice president of Mercy Health Foundation Communities. “He sees a need and asks how he can meet it. His generosity is evident all over the campus of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City, from the Meinders Neuroscience Institute and Meinders Center for Movement Disorders to the new Love Family Women’s Center and now this ER project. People’s lives will be changed forever because of him. Herman has been a true blessing to Mercy and those we serve.”

by Greg Schwem

I gazed around the enclosure, wondering how such a small space could be the source of bullying, harassment, and a political maelstrom that shows no signs of abating.
Then I zipped up and exited the bathroom.
But not just any bathroom; a gender neutral restroom in a Chicago restaurant. Normally I don’t do so much thinking while urinating, but others are doing it for me, as evidenced by the increasing number of unisex bathrooms popping up in businesses and bars, and throughout college campuses. Not to mention the debates occurring in Congress.
I am 100% in favor of these facilities, as I feel sorry for women, or those who identify as female, who endure long lines in airports or concert halls while their male counterparts breeze in, do their business and leave, never once wondering if the art of peeing at a particular moment will cause them to miss their flight or the band’s encore.
Yet my question remains: Females, or those who identify as such, do you REALLY want to share a bathroom with us?
No, seriously, have you thought this through? I was in a college fraternity and, 40 years later, all I can say is, old habits die hard.
I’m not just talking about having to lower the seat when you enter the restroom after a male has used it. We’ve been leaving the seat up for years and we will continue to plead forgetfulness even if all toilet seats come with hand cranks to make the process easier. Not that it’s difficult now.
What about our aim? Or lack of it? Are you ready to see droplets, or puddles of urine on the floor and wonder how long they are going to remain there until somebody who is grossly underpaid cleans it up?
That’s what we look at. Unless we are the ones who misfired because, in our states of inebriation, we saw three urinals instead of one and chose incorrectly.
Now let’s move to the sink. Dudes consider it to be more than just a receptacle for handwashing. Quite the contrary. I’ve seen guys shaving in public restrooms or worse, brushing their teeth and spitting gobs of who knows what into that same area supposedly set aside for cleaning hands. Gals, or those who identify as such, you might want to turn off the faucet with your elbows, just in case.
Oh, and, if you think our bathroom habits are disgusting, please rethink the idea of gender neutral locker rooms. For I guarantee you, the restroom is a microcosm of what awaits you in a changing area.
Sure, you wouldn’t see our private parts, as unisex locker rooms are designed to ensure nobody has to change in public. But I guarantee you, we will still walk around in bare feet. Not just bare feet but fungus-addled, athlete’s feet. Is there a law against toenail clipping in a gender neutral locker room? Because I’ve seen guys do this as well. Just saying.
Our mouths have no locker room filters, so be prepared to hear conversations about topics ranging from our copious amounts of body hair to last weekend’s sexual conquest, which we are probably embellishing. We will also lie about what we plan to do THIS weekend and who we plan to do it with.
I applaud your right to identify yourself as “she,” “her,” “them” or “they.” Believe me, I do. I have attended numerous pride parades, in multiple cities, and love watching people celebrate whoever it is they want to be. Be loud, be proud.
Just remember that, when you enter that gender neutral bathroom, a dude whose idea of a perfect day includes a dozen beers and six street tacos may have just exited.
Nothing Congress can do about that.
(Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of two books: “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad” and the recently released “The Road To Success Goes Through the Salad Bar: A Pile of BS From a Corporate Comedian,” available at Amazon.com. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.
You’ve enjoyed reading, and laughing at, Greg Schwem’s monthly humor columns in Senior Living News. But did you know Greg is also a nationally touring stand-up comedian? And he loves to make audiences laugh about the joys, and frustrations, of growing older. Watch the clip and, if you’d like Greg to perform at your senior center or senior event, contact him through his website at www.gregschwem.com)

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation on Thursday welcomed U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) for updates on work at the Oklahoma City-based nonprofit biomedical research institute.
Mullin met with OMRF President Andrew Weyrich, Ph.D., and scientists from two of the foundation’s research programs.
OMRF Vice President of Clinical Affairs Judith James, M.D., Ph.D., briefed Mullin on the foundation’s tribal partnerships and the impact of federal funding at OMRF. A board-certified rheumatologist and member of the National Academy of Medicine, James supports a range of research collaborations with tribal communities as program director of Oklahoma Shared Clinical and Translational Resources (OSCTR).
OSCTR program members, which include the Cherokee, Chickasaw, and Choctaw Nations, the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board, and others, are working to accelerate research and patient access to treatments for conditions that disproportionately affect tribal and rural populations.
Mullin met with Aging and Metabolism Research Program Chair Benjamin Miller, Ph.D., who is studying the biological process of aging with the goal of extending the number of healthy years in a person’s life. Miller updated Mullin on OMRF’s research partnerships with the Oklahoma City Veterans Affairs Medical Center and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
“Support for biomedical research is critical for the health of our country,” said Mullin. “Scientists at OMRF are doing important work in areas including cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune conditions and opioid abuse. Advances made by Oklahomans here impact every American.”
In his meeting with Mullin, Weyrich shared a brief history of OMRF, which was founded in 1946 and opened its doors four years later thanks to donations from more than 7,500 Oklahomans. Today, the foundation has nearly 500 staff members and scientists across more than 50 labs. OMRF’s discoveries have yielded hundreds of patents and three life-saving drugs available in hospitals and clinics worldwide.
“It was an honor to welcome Sen. Mullin to OMRF and introduce him to Oklahoma’s medical research foundation,” said Weyrich. “Oklahoma’s U.S. senators have a longstanding commitment to biomedical research. Their support for OMRF’s scientists and our mission of making discoveries that make a difference has changed and saved lives.”

An event at the Oklahoma History Center (OHC) will highlight the history, heritage and contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to Oklahoma. “Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences in Oklahoma: A Historical Journey” will take place on Wednesday, May 10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. May is AAPI Heritage Month in the United States.
Special honorees include Dr. Jordan Tang of Taiwan; Dr. Dick Hsieh of China; Dr. Thanh Van Anderson of Vietnam; former State Senator Ervin Yen of Taiwan; and current State Representative Cyndi Munson, a Korean American. Dr. Tang and Dr. Van Anderson will be honored posthumously.
The schedule includes a cultural fashion show, dance performances, hands-on activities and more. Performers include Dr. Gregory Lee on violin, Ai-Wei Chang on piano, the India Association, the Zomi community and the Japanese Association. Hands-on activities will include calligraphy and tea tasting.
Mike Lee Hoang, president of the Asian District Cultural Association and a Vietnam American, will be the emcee. Akash Patel, originally from India, will provide the closing remarks. Patel is the vice president of the United Nations Association USA, founder of the Happy World Foundation and the senior consultant for the Institute for Humane Education.
The event is free and open to the public. No registration is required. The event at the OHC is one of several taking place across the Oklahoma City metro throughout the month of May. The program at the OHC is part of the Oklahoma Historical Society’s Multicultural Office (OHSMO) and its “People of Oklahoma” series. The OHSMO has a working objective to develop programs and outreach initiatives to tell the story of Oklahoma’s diverse heritage and give voice to these historically underrepresented communities.
The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit
https://www.okhistory.org.

Dear Savvy Senior, I would like to make my last will and testament and would like to know if I can do it myself, or do I need to hire a lawyer?
Don’t Have Much

Dear Don’t,
Very good question! Almost everyone needs a will, but only around one-third of American have actually prepared one. Having a last will and testament is important because it ensures your money and property will be distributed to the people you want to receive it after your death.
If you die without a will (a.k.a. dying “intestate”), your estate will be settled in accordance with state law. Details vary by state, but assets typically are distributed using a hierarchy of survivors i.e., first to a spouse, then to children, then your siblings, and so on.
You also need to be aware that certain accounts take precedence over a will. If you jointly own a home or a bank account, for example, the house, and the funds in the account, will go to the joint holder, even if your will directs otherwise. Similarly, retirement accounts and life insurance policies are distributed to the beneficiaries you designate, so it is important to keep them up to date too.
Do You Need a Lawyer?
Not necessarily. Creating a will with a do-it-yourself software program may be acceptable in some cases, particularly if you have a simple, straightforward estate and an uncomplicated family situation. Otherwise, it’s best to seek professional advice. An experienced lawyer can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone.
If you need help finding someone the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA.org), the National Association of Estate Planners & Councils (NAEPC.org) and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC.org) websites are good resources that have online directories to help you search.
Costs will vary depending on your location and the complexity of your situation, but you can expect to pay somewhere between $200 and $1,000 or more to get your will made. To help you save, shop around and get price quotes from several different firms. And before you meet with an attorney, make a detailed list of your assets and accounts to help make your visit more efficient.
If money is tight, check with your state’s bar association (see FindLegalHelp.org) to find low-cost legal help in your area. Or call the Eldercare Locater at 800-677-1116 for a referral.
If you are interested in a do-it-yourself will, some top options to consider are Nolo’s Quicken WillMaker & Trust (Nolo.com, $99) and Trust & Will (TrustandWill.com, $159). Or, if that’s more than you’re willing to pay, you can make your will for free at FreeWill.com or DoYourOwnWill.com.
It’s also recommended that if you do create your own will, have a lawyer review it to make sure it covers all the important bases.
Where to Store it?
Once your will is written, the best place to keep it is either in a fireproof safe or file cabinet at home, in a safe deposit box in your bank or online at sites like Everplans.com. But make sure your executor knows where it is and has access to it. Or, if a professional prepares your will, keep the original document at your lawyer’s office. Also, be sure to update your will if your family or financial circumstances change, or if you move to another state.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

The Antelope Party
by Eric John Meyer Directed by Jesse Jou October 12-22, 2023. “The Rust Belt Ponies Meet-Up Group for Adult Fans of My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic” gather weekly to visit Equestria—a land of enchantment aka Ben’s apartment in rural Pennsylvania.
Looking for Tiger Lily
Written and Performed by Anthony Hudson November 16-18, 2023. Starring Anthony Hudson – the human vessel for Portland’s premiere drag clown Carla Rossi – LOOKING FOR TIGER LILY utilizes song, dance, drag, and video to put a queer spin on the ancestral tradition of storytelling.
Under The Radar: On The Road
In Association with The Public Theater January 25-28, 2024. OKC Rep’s annual collaboration with The Public Theater in New York brings a show directly from the NYC festival to Oklahoma City.
Vietgone
by Qui Nguyen, Directed by Nikki DiLorento February 29 – March 9, 2024. An all-American love story about two very new Americans. It’s 1975. Saigon has fallen. He lost his wife. She lost her fiancé.
Of a Mind: Oklahoma City
Created by Kelly Kerwin, Emily Zemba, and Listen&Breathe, Movement Direction by Hui Cha Poos May 9 – June 2, 2024. Put on your headphones and join OKC Rep for a remount of OF A MIND: OKLAHOMA CITY, the audio-guided theatrical walking tour that originally delighted audiences in Spring 2022.
For more information visit: https://www.okcrep.org/season