By Nick Thomas

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

Oklahoman winner of the Bonnie Plants 3rd Grade Cabbage Program

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

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

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

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
3110 N.W. 15 Street – Oklahoma City, OK 73107
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The Omicron variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 was discovered in sewage samples collected in Tulsa on Friday, December 17.
The discovery of the Omicron variant was made through the efforts of a team comprised of scientists, epidemiologists and public health leaders from the University of Oklahoma, OU Health, the Tulsa Health Department and the City of Tulsa and supported by the Pandemic Prevention Institute at the Rockefeller Foundation. People infected with SARS-CoV-2 shed the virus in their waste before they develop symptoms of COVID-19, allowing scientists to provide an early warning of surges and, now, the presence of the new variant.
Since September 2020, the team has been monitoring wastewater drainages in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and, more recently, several smaller cities. Wastewater samples are collected by a team led by Jason Vogel, Ph.D., Grant Graves and Caitlin Miller of the Oklahoma Water Survey at OU and are analyzed by a team of microbiologists led by Bradley Stevenson, Ph.D., Ralph Tanner, Ph.D. and Erin Jeffries of the Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology at OU.
“By collecting wastewater from multiple communities across the state, we have a sampling network that represents more than 1.2 million Oklahomans,” Vogel said. “That has allowed us to sample more than 30 percent of the state’s population and detect the Omicron variant in wastewater as it starts to move into the state.”
“We have seen the concentration of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater increasing recently, to concentrations higher than we have ever observed. This increase has been driven by COVID-19 caused by the Delta variant. However, the recent detection of the Omicron variant in wastewater means that a significant number of Tulsans are now infected with it. While our data suggests that infections from the Omicron variant are still a fraction of the infections from Delta variant SARS-CoV-2, Omicron is on the rise. Monitoring wastewater will allow us to track its prevalence more quickly and with less effort than patient testing,” Stevenson said.
“The detection of Omicron in Tulsa’s sewage highlights the power of wastewater testing as an early signal and complement to other surveillance approaches. The Rockefeller Foundation and the team at the Pandemic Prevention Institute are proud to support this cutting-edge work,” said Megan Diamond, manager and wastewater lead at The Rockefeller Foundation.
Public health officials reiterated the importance of getting vaccinated or receiving a booster shot and wearing a mask in public indoor settings. Because wastewater analysis predicts the presence of the virus about a week before infections may be reported through human testing, researchers know the Omicron variant is already spreading in the state.
“Although the Delta variant of COVID-19 is still the most dominant variant in Oklahoma currently, Omicron will most likely become the dominant variant in a few weeks or months,” said infectious disease epidemiologist Katrin Kuhn, Ph.D. of the Hudson College of Public Health at the OU Health Sciences Center. “The evidence thus far shows that the Omicron variant is more transmissible than previous variants, so it is important that people get vaccinated if they’re not already, or get the booster if they’re eligible. Vaccinations are very effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations and death.”
“It is more important than ever that people who are unvaccinated get vaccinated as soon as possible and those who are fully vaccinated get their booster,” said Tulsa Health Department Executive Director Dr. Bruce Dart. “It’s also important to stay home when sick to prevent the spread of illness. Testing is a great resource to know your COVID-19 status before going around others. Masking indoors where social distancing may be difficult, regardless of vaccination status, is also recommended. The Tulsa Health Department encourages all residents to continue to take a layered prevention approach to stay safe.” Even though the Omicron variant appears to be more easily transmitted than the Delta variant, early evidence suggests that the symptoms of infection could be milder, Kuhn said. That points toward a classic trajectory for viruses in general, including possibly SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
“For viruses to survive in the human population, in time they often evolve to become more transmissible but less lethal in order to keep multiplying,” Kuhn said. “That’s actually good news. Even though we may have to learn to live with COVID-19 indefinitely, a positive scenario is for it to become milder and eventually turn into something like the common cold.”
The characteristics of the Omicron variant also underscore the importance of wastewater surveillance, Kuhn said. Because people infected by Omicron may not experience major symptoms, they may not get tested; therefore, official test results won’t accurately reflect the infection rate.
“If people don’t feel as sick with an Omicron infection as they do with the Delta variant, they may not get tested, but wastewater analysis provides a picture of everyone who is infected whether they have symptoms or not and whether or not they get tested,” she said. “In that respect, it’s actually more important to monitor the wastewater because it gives us a very good indication of how much transmission there is in a community.”

As Nelson and Lola Cresente sit, holding hands they realize the special gift they’ve been given this year. The gift of life.
Nelson nearly lost a battle with COVID-19. When doctors at the hospital told Nelson and his wife that he needed to be put on a ventilator they refused. He had been battling COVID pneumonia, but they feared a ventilator would be the end. They chose, instead, to go home with hospice care, to enjoy what time he had left together.
“The doctor told me I was going to take him home to die,” Lola said.
Just weeks ago, he was home on hospice care. A BiPAP machine aided his breathing. Ashley Henson, a nurse practitioner with Valir PACE, handled some of Nelson’s care at home.
“We even helped them call a priest,” Henson said. “It was that dire.” Week after week, Nelson kept fighting back, doing what he could to regain strength.
“I’m a fighter, 100%,” he said.
During one trip to their home, Lola was explaining to Henson and a hospice nurse how a neighbor had stopped by the day before to pray over Nelson, specifically that his lungs would open. That’s when they witnessed what they all believe was a miracle.
“I listened to his lungs and his hospice nurse listened to his lungs. We looked at each other and were like, ‘We’re hearing air here. Air is moving,’” Henson said.
Lola was shocked.
“You know what I did. I cried. And he did too. And praised God for it,” Lola said.
From there, Nelson continued to make improvements. He was moved off hospice care and began at-home therapies through Valir PACE.
Now, just a few weeks later, he can once again leave his home. He’s no longer connected to the BiPAP machine, using a portable oxygen machine instead.
“I really think he’s a miracle,” Henson said. Henson said the Cresentes were both vaccinated and she does believe the vaccine also played a role in his story. “I think even though he was vaccinated and came close to death, I think that probably would have been an inevitable thing had he not been vaccinated,” Henson said.
One of the few things Nelson has not regained is his sense of taste. He said he is really looking forward to the day he can enjoy tasting the delicious meals his wife makes – especially a steak dinner.

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

COVID-19 Oklahoma Test Results

As of 2021-12-27 at 7:00 a.m.

Sailors help maintain America’s advantage at sea. This means they do not always get to celebrate holidays with their loved ones. An Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, native serving in the United States Navy will celebrate the holidays with their fellow sailors in Guam.
“I’ve always enjoyed Christmas time,” said Petty Officer 3rd Class Crystal Smith. “I’d always be the first one to start decorating the tree and the first one to put on Christmas music. I would say that one of my favorite memories from the holidays would be when my dad and I would go to drive-thru Christmas light shows.”
Smith wants family back home to know they are missed this holiday season.
“I hope you enjoy this Christmas,” said Smith. “Please don’t worry about me not celebrating while out at sea because we are! There are ugly Christmas sweater contests, karaoke, Christmas card exchanges, white elephants and so much more going on. It is sad that I cannot be there, but please enjoy your Christmas. If you just put on ‘Baby, it’s Cold Outside,’ you can bet on me singing along a few thousand miles away.”
Smith serves as an operations specialist aboard USS Lake Champlain. As a member of the U.S. Navy, Smith, as well as other sailors, know they are a part of a tradition providing unforgettable experiences through leadership development, world affairs and humanitarian assistance.
“To me, serving in the Navy means becoming the best version of myself for myself and for my country,” added Smith. “It’s a very prideful thing to be a part of.”

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

Story and photo by Darl Devault, Contributing Editor

For passersby looking at a large public art mural painted on a wall in Oklahoma chances are it was painted by former University of Central Oklahoma art professor Bob Palmer, 70, or one of his former students.
The renowned Bethany muralist’s calendar is crowded with the commissions, chores and deadlines Oklahoma’s most viewed artist attends to these days.
He continues to add to his busy calendar by submitting proposals on large mural projects. Palmer, who earned a doctorate of education at Oklahoma State University, recently submitted a proposal to paint three of The Pathway to Hope Public Art Trail underpasses in Tulsa. The six underpasses are beneath Interstate 244 from Main Street to Greenwood Avenue, planned to honor the vibrant history of the Greenwood District.
Palmer Studios, Inc., a consortium of his best former students during his 30-year art professorship, is in demand. He is busy marketing his painting talents and historical perspective through his and his former students painting career.
Sometimes this means in-depth proposals to selection committees, while other times his vast legacy of 3,800 murals makes gaining work so much easier. This happens when a previous client calls and tells him he is needed for a massive project.
The internationally known artist, yes international because of his works in Canada, Mexico, Macedonia, Zagreb the capital of Croatia and Eastern Europe, is in demand. With the advent of the internet, when people want the most talented muralists possible, they have a global reach. Palmer has been hired from Oklahoma to paint murals in Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Tennessee and Louisiana
“Retired from teaching in 2014, I still work my career every day, in some form or fashion, even when I am not busy painting a mural,” Palmer said. “Now a days it seems people want us to do larger ones, with more detail about their agendas or concerns and I have to be ready with plenty of supplies to make that happen.”
Successful nationally known Oklahoma sculptor Joel Randell said he was fortunate to get into one of Palmer’s traditional painting classes at UCO in 1993. Randell went on to help Palmer complete 450 murals around the state.
“His quiet insistence that I trust my talent, telling us to paint big during the semester helped me learn to paint in an impactful way to create colorful and lifelike murals.” Randell said. “I think that Bob can serve as an inspiration for all of us of the power of mentoring a new generation of artists. The new budgeting for public art across our communities is transforming the cultural landscape in Oklahoma towns and cities.”
Oklahoma art historians say Palmer had a lot to do with Edmond’s City of Art status by showing the way to engaging its citizens and visitors with public art.
The art rich community began with more than 100 sculptures and paintings. This was sparked 30 years ago when Palmer first took his mural painting class’s artists off campus from the University of Central Oklahoma to begin an intense mural painting campaign. This emphasis on adding public art to the community stretched seven semesters before they ran out of walls to paint in the downtown and outlying Edmond area.
This intense emphasis on public art in Edmond sparked many other public art installations, mostly focused on sculptures. The city created the Edmond Visual Arts Commission in 2001, half funded by Edmond’s Art in Public Places Program. It commissioned many art pieces placed across Edmond’s grassy intersections, city streets, business entrances and parks during the past 20 years.
Growing to more than 260 murals, sculptures and installations, Edmond exploded with public art. Edmond utility, transformer and traffic boxes are currently being transformed into works of art.
“As a public art muralist when you paint a scene on a huge scale the viewer is engaged through the powerful lens of their cultural heritage,” Palmer said. “My former students and I have done so many, when I retired, I finally put some of the best and largest into a book that has sold well.”
His hard back coffee table book “Painting Oklahoma and Beyond” with 500 photos of his murals is available at Painting Oklahoma and Beyond illustrates state murals (oklahomabooksonline.com).
“While other artists have paintings in the permanent collection of prestigious museums, my pride is based on far more people seeing mine daily,” Palmer said.
His last three decades as a prolific muralist means more of his art is on public display in Oklahoma than any artist in history and will remain so well into the future.
Palmer says while some artists have their photo taken with famous people, he tries his best to capture the normal street scene the viewer might have seen from the past at its most colorful and most robust.
“This mural work puts me on the road a lot. But I try to make sure the majority of my time away from home is applying paint to my murals,” Palmer said. “Along the way I have met so many neat people here in Oklahoma it has made it a fun, exciting life.”
“My wife has been my biggest fan. Starting off she wanted to keep track of every piece of art I did. After two years she realized that was not going to work and was happy to share her husband with the world,” Palmer said, referring to his wife of 48 years, Carolyn.