Story by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

The free admission Tinker AFB Air Show returns July 1-2, featuring the U.S. Navy Blue Angels’ highly anticipated aerial exhibition finale each day. The Blue Angels aerobatic flight demonstration team of six fighters will treat spectators to their precision flying skills and professionalism. In the team’s rich history, they have performed for an estimated 500 million spectators, sharing their flyovers and shows worldwide since 1946.
The Blue Angels Navy pilots will feature their famous delta formation as they perform in their single-seat, supersonic F/A-18E Super Hornet fighters.
“We are excited to open our gates to host a safe, family-friendly event with an awesome lineup of aerial performers and interactive ground displays,” said Lt. Col. Kyle Moats, commander of the 72nd Operations Support Squadron. “The Air Show is our way of giving back to our community and saying ‘thank you’ for all the continued support of Tinker Air Force Base and our warfighters.”
The world’s most advanced multi-role stealth fighter, the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II, will compete with the Blue Angels for the crowds’ attention by flying above Tinker for the first time. A single fighter demonstrating its stealth and next-generation technology built to replace many older and less technologically advanced fighters will perform each day. The supersonic F-35A’s helmet-mounted display system is the most advanced system of its kind. All the intelligence and targeting information an F-35 pilot needs to complete a mission are displayed on the pilot’s helmet visor.
As Oklahoma’s largest single-site employer, Tinker AFB personnel are part of the enduring 75-year advantage as the world’s most capable and respected air power source. This open house will demonstrate why the last time an American combatant was killed on the ground by an adversary air force was April 15, 1953.
Because admission, parking and shuttles are free, organizers encourage everyone to arrive early. Seniors will want to arrive early enough to park at Building 9001, formerly the old General Motors Plant, off SE 74th Street because those buses drop them off at the gate area requiring the least walking. The event has been popular, and the gates will close when capacity is reached. Gates open at 8 a.m. daily, and aerial demonstrations begin at 11 a.m. All acts are expected to perform each day, but the order of performers may change.
As you approach Tinker Air Force Base from Interstate 40 or I-240, look for signs directing you to the entrance. From I-40 or SE 29th Street, you may enter through the Hruskocy Gate. From Douglas the Lancer Gate. And from the I-240 exit at Air Depot or Douglas, come in on 74th Street to access the old GM plant. The Liberator Gate off Douglas will only be a drop-off point for any LYFT, UBER and other Ride Share vehicles. It is important to note that driving from the west side of the base to the east side will be restricted.
Guests with wheelchairs, strollers or wagons are highly encouraged to enter through the Hruskocy or Lancer Gates to mitigate excessive time spent loading/unloading buses.
Small diaper bags and purses are permitted. Bringing sunscreen, hats, and umbrellas for shade is strongly recommended, as shade availability may be limited. Visitors are also advised to bring blankets, lawn chairs, and strollers, as seating will not be provided. ATMs will be available on-site.
Drivers should have their licenses available for the gate guards as they approach the gates. Park vehicles in designated areas and proceed to the gated entryway or shuttle bus stop. Base security forces will send you in the right direction. All visitors will proceed through a security checkpoint before boarding the shuttle buses or entering the event area.
The show will feature dozens of military and civilian aerial performers and a wide variety of ground display aircraft, such as Tinker’s own E-3 Sentry AWACS, the U.S. Navy E-6B Mercury, and the KC-135 Stratotanker.
The theme for this year’s air show is “STEM Takes Flight,” highlighting science, technology, engineering and mathematics that make human flight possible. STEM City will fill a large hangar so children and adults can witness the “outside-of-the-box” thinking needed to solve the daily problems Tinker’s engineers and mechanics face to deliver air power for America.
Youth can explore various hands-on activities with drone tech, robotics, LEGOs, snap circuits and more for kids ages 5 through high school. The emphasis is on how they can get involved in the field of aerospace, whether in the private or public sector. They will be shown the many jobs available that require a STEM-related education.”
Other educational opportunities include a mobile movie theater showing films about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first Black military aviators in the U.S. Army Air Corps, and the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), who served in World War II.
Visitors can also walk inside an E-3 Sentry AWACS, explore a full-scale E-7 exhibit of the Air Force’s new global defense plane, and get an up-close look at the Blue Angels’ C-130J Super Hercules and other static displays.
Stand-out air acts include a World War II reenactment by Tora, Tora, Tora, including the famous “Wall of Fire,” the USAF Wings of Blue Parachute Team, Jelly Belly Comedy Air Act, Matt Younkin and his Twin Beech aerobatic air act, T-33 demo flight, Tuskegee Airman WWII Red Tail P-51, Adam Baker and his Extra 300 aerobatic air act and more.
Most attractions are free except a VIP area, the Flightline Chalet, and the Kidz Zone. Flightline Chalet VIP tickets are available for $149, offering shade tents, preferential seating, cold beverages, and a boxed lunch. There is also shade seating on the northern end of the flightline starting at $39. Wristbands for the Tinker Air Show’s Kidz Zone cost $20 and are good all day. STEM City is free to attend.
Security measures will be in place, and visitors must pass through a security checkpoint before boarding the shuttle buses or entering the event area. Smoking or vaping is strictly prohibited, and coolers are not allowed. Food concessions will be available for refreshments, with beverages for sale and complimentary water provided, so bring an empty water bottle to fill at the water stations.
As the air show draws closer, Team Tinker continues to add performers, ground displays, and exhibits to enhance the overall experience. Visitors are advised to regularly check the public website https://www.tinkerairshow.org/ and or they may log onto the Tinker Air Force Base’s website: https://www.tinker.af.mil/) and their social media platforms, including Facebook(@TinkerAirForceBase), Twitter(@Team_Tinker), and Instagram (@Tinkerairforcebase), for the most up-to-date information. For those unable to attend in person, the air show will be live-streamed on Tinker’s Facebook page. To ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience, visitors are encouraged to download the air show app AF Connect, which provides important information, including parking and event maps. The official 2023 Tinker Air Show app, ‘AF Connect,’ can be downloaded from popular app stores for free.

This month hospitals across the country celebrated National Nurses Month, designed to honor the contributions and sacrifices nurses make and to highlight the critical role they play in our community. This week, we recognize the heroic actions of one off-duty nurse.
Shyanne Brandon, who is a nurse at INTEGRIS Health Miami Hospital, and Pamela Satchell were at the same company picnic at the pool when a life-or-death situation intertwined their lives forever.
They were honored during the second INTEGRIS Health “Home Run For Life” of the 2023 OKC Dodgers baseball season Saturday, May 20 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
“Home Run For Life” recognizes individuals in the community who have overcome a significant medical event with the help of their families, physicians and health care professionals. To symbolize the end of their battle against adversity, honorees take a home run “lap” around the bases during a pregame ceremony.
Right Place, Right Time
Brandon was attending a company picnic that Satchell was working, handing out shirts to the attendees. After a hot day in the sun, Satchell decided to go down the slide into the pool. When Satchell got to the bottom of the slide, she realized something wasn’t right. “When I hit the water, it felt like somebody pulled me under the water,” she said. Satchell tried not to panic as she struggled to stay above the water and asked the lifeguard on duty for help. “That’s the last thing I remember,” she said.
At the time, Brandon was walking back from one of the food trucks when her grandmother directed her toward the commotion in the pool. She dropped her food and ran towards Satchell.
Brandon and her mother-in-law, Holly, pulled Satchell out of the pool and Brandon immediately got to work. “I first checked for a pulse,” Brandon said. “It was very faint.” She began performing CPR on Satchell. Some may have felt stressed in a similar situation, but Brandon kept her cool. “I felt this peace that I was in the right place and knew what I was doing,” Brandon said.
After three minutes, emergency services arrived to take over and bring Satchell to the hospital. When Satchell woke up, one of the first responders on the scene shared with her the reason she survived. “He informed me if it wasn’t for Shyanne and what she did, I wouldn’t be here,” Satchell said. “She’s my angel.”
Real Life Guardian Angel
Brandon came to visit her the day after the incident and brought Satchell a small figurine of an angel. “I just wanted her to have something there with her to bring her through this,” Brandon said.
After the incident, doctors discovered arteriovenous malformation in the brain, or a brain AMV, which is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins. Satchell brings the angel figurine to every doctor’s appointment and treatment.
“I just want Shyanne with me,” Satchell said.
The experience has made Satchell and Brandon inseparable and has given them both new perspectives on life. “This life can be over in a split second, but it also can be given right back to you in a split second,” Brandon said.
INTEGRIS Health and the OKC Dodgers applaud all nurses, not just during National Nurses Month (MAY), but every day of every year for their compassionate service both on and off duty.

Dear Savvy Senior, Is it possible to collect Social Security benefits from my ex-spouse? We were married for 12 years but have been divorced for almost 20 years now. Never Remarried

Dear Never,
Yes, depending on your specific circumstances, you may very well be eligible for divorced spouses Social Security benefits. Here’s what you should know.
Who’s Eligible? A divorced spouse can collect a Social Security retirement benefit on the earnings record of their ex-husband (or ex-wife) if you are at least age 62, were married for at least 10 years, are unmarried, and are not eligible for a higher benefit based on your own earnings record.
In order to collect, your former spouse must also be at least 62 and eligible for Social Security benefits. But he doesn’t have to be receiving them in order for you to collect divorced spouse’s benefits, as long as you’ve been divorced for at least two years.
Even if your ex is remarried, it won’t affect your right to divorcee benefits, nor will it affect your ex’s retirement benefits or his current spouse’s benefits.
Benefit Amount. A divorced spouse can receive up to 50 percent of their ex’s full Social Security benefit, or less if they take benefits before their full retirement age, which is 66 for people born in 1945-1954 but is gradually increased to age 67 for people born in 1960 or later. To find out your full retirement age and see how much your benefits will be reduced by taking them early see SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/agereduction.html.
Keep in mind though, that if you qualify for benefits based on your own work history, you’ll receive the larger of the two benefits. You cannot receive benefits on both your record, and your ex’s work record too.
To find out how much your retirement benefits will be, see your Social Security statement at SSA.gov/myaccount. And to get an estimate of your ex’s benefits, call Social Security at 800-772-1213. You’ll need to show your marriage certificate and divorce decree to prove your marriage lasted at least 10 years along with his Social Security number to get it.
Other Factors to Know. You also need to be aware that working can affect your divorced spouse’s benefits. If you start taking benefits while working, and are under full retirement age, your benefits will be reduced $1 for every $2 you earn above the annual limit, which is $21,240 in 2023. In the year you reach full retirement age, however, the annual limit increases to $56,520 and the reduction lowers to $1 for every $3 above that limit. See SSA.gov/pubs/EN-05-10069.pdf for more details.
Another factor that can reduce your divorced spouse’s benefits is receiving a pension from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes (like a government). This is a rule know as Government Pension Offset (see SSA.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/gpo-calc.html) which can reduce your benefits by two-thirds of the amount of your pension.
Divorced Survivor’s Benefits. You also need to know that when your ex-spouse dies (and if you were married for 10 or more years), you become eligible for divorced survivor benefits, which is worth up to 100 percent of what your ex-spouse was due.
Survivor benefits are available to divorced spouses as early as age 60 (50 if you’re disabled). But if you remarry before 60, you become ineligible unless the marriage ends. Remarrying after age 60 will not affect your eligibility.
Also note that if you are receiving divorced spouses benefits when your ex-spouse dies, you will automatically be switched over to the higher paying survivor benefit.
For more information visit:
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/applying7.html and click on “Benefits for Your Divorced Spouse.”

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.

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Jerry Jimenez, Navy Office of Community Outreach

Hunt attended Moore High School and graduated in 2016.
Hunt joined the Navy four years ago.
“I joined the Navy so I could see the world,” said Hunt.
Today, Hunt serves as an electronics technician aboard USS Chief.
Skills and values learned in the Navy are similar to those found in Oklahoma City.
“I come from a city with a small-town feel, which helped me get a sense of the Navy community,” said Hunt.
USS Chief is an amphibious warship. These types of ships embark, transport and land U.S. Marines for a variety of warfare missions. Because of their inherent capabilities, these ships have been and will continue to be called upon to support humanitarian and other contingency missions on short notice, according to Navy officials.
As a member of the Navy, Hunt is part of a world-class organization focused on maintaining maritime dominance, strengthening partnerships, increasing competitive warfighting capabilities and sustaining combat-ready forces in support of the National Defense Strategy.
“The Navy is important to national defense because at the end of the day it’s really the Navy that will prevent our enemies from getting to the United States.,” said Hunt.
Hunt serves in Japan as part of the Forward Deployed Naval Forces. These naval forces operate with allies and partners to preserve a free and open Indo-Pacific region. Service members in this region are part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, which has the largest area of responsibility in the world.
“As the largest force in our nation’s front line against revisionist actors, U.S. Pacific Fleet meets this great responsibility with strength, resolve and confidence,” said Adm. Samuel Paparo, U.S. Pacific Fleet Commander. “Together with our joint and combined partner operations, we are positioned to defend – across all domains – any attempts to threaten our nation, our allies and partner’s security, freedom and well-being.”
Hunt and the sailors they serve with have many opportunities to achieve accomplishments during their military service.
“I am most proud of being able to have the technical knowledge to solve equipment malfunctions on the ship while underway at sea,” said Hunt.
As Hunt and other sailors continue to train and perform missions, they take pride in serving their country in the United States Navy.
“Serving in the Navy means showing our allies that we’re here for them,” said Hunt. “Recently we went to Okinawa and the people of Okinawa really showed their appreciation.”
Hunt is grateful to others for helping make a Navy career possible.
“I would like to thank my parents,” added Hunt. “They were really supportive of me. Also, my recruiter, Toni Knight, was very helpful in navigating my way and helping me understand the process.”

Story and photos by Darl DeVault, contributing editor

In a heartwarming display of resilience, 1,000 senior citizens aged 65 or older came together on Saturday, April 29th, to walk or run in the inaugural Senior Marathon, a new addition to the 23rd annual Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon. Their participation allowed seniors to support the nonprofit Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. This institution has served the community for 22 years in honor of the victims, survivors, rescuers, and all those affected by the devastating April 19, 1995 bombing.
The participants of the Senior Marathon undertook a unique training regimen, walking or running 25 miles before the race weekend and recording their progress by completing 1.5 miles each week starting in January. On their race day, they completed their 26.2-mile marathon.
The Senior Marathoners embarked on their journey a day before the main marathon, setting off at 8 a.m., between the 7 a.m. start of the 5,000 meters (5K) run and the Kid’s Marathon that started at 9 a.m. Their route took them from the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum starting line on the final 1.2 miles of their marathon distance, directly south to the finish line in Scissortail Park.
Many seniors chose to continue running in their favorite 5K run. Saturday morning began with the more competitive 5K, in which a diverse group of participants, including wheelchair athletes, eagerly participated.
Norman resident Mary Cherry Burleson, 81, and her Edmond sister Jenny Cherry McMonigle, 79, participated in the “Run to Remember” 5K, making it a decade of running it for each.
Despite Mary’s admission of never being much of an athlete, her determination to be fit led her to participate. Notably, both sisters have consistently placed in the top ten of their age and gender categories in each run, earning two medals each for being in the top three.
For Mary, participating in the Memorial Marathon weekend holds a profound significance. She said, “One of our good friend’s brothers was killed in the bombing, so I run to remember him. I love being a part of all that the Memorial Marathon represents—our community coming together to honor their memory, and the opening 168 seconds of silence at each race are designed to do that.”
On the other hand, Jenny has always been naturally inclined towards running. From running to her grandparents’ house a block away to watch TV at night during her childhood to participating in races with her classmates during grade school recess, Jenny’s love for running has been ingrained in her since a young age.
She even ran in the AAU Junior Olympics one summer. However, it wasn’t until 2013 that Jenny felt inspired to participate in the Memorial Marathon after reading the book “Run for God,” which explores the parallels between enduring a sport like running and having faith, based on the Bible verse Hebrews 12:1.
Jenny’s training for the 5K race demanded commitment, practice, perseverance, and suitable equipment, while also providing an enjoyable, satisfying, and rewarding experience. Upon completing the book, Jenny felt prepared for her first 5K as part of Memorial Marathon weekend, an event encompassing all the elements she had embraced. Jenny’s passion for running was ignited, and she has since participated in the event every year.
For Mary and Jenny, running in the 5K yearly goes beyond staying active and maintaining good health. It serves as a way to honor and remember those affected by the tragic Oklahoma City bombing. Their unwavering commitment to the event and dedication to running inspire others, demonstrating that with perseverance and the right mindset, anyone can achieve their goals and positively impact their community.
Readers who notice their custom tee shirts with their names and ages as 70 Plus in the accompanying photo will soon see a new race day version. Next year they will both be in their 80s, so their new tee shirts will list their ages as 80 Plus.
Kevin Lynes was among the inaugural Senior Marathon participants, a 66-year-old runner who discovered his love for running at age 48, once his children had grown up. Over eighteen years, Lynes has completed an impressive 24 full marathons and 10 ultra-marathons of 50 kilometers or more.
Hailing from Oklahoma City, he has participated in the Memorial Marathon full marathon 10 times and the half marathon six times. Additionally, he has completed approximately 75 half-marathons throughout his extensive running career.
Lynes learned about the Senior Marathon a few weeks before the event, prompting him to embark on a focused training schedule. “I quickly ran the required distance and kept track of earning the privilege to run in it right up to race day,” Lynes said. “I decided to sign up for the event because generating that mileage quickly would be a fun challenge.”
While Lynes ran the final leg of the Senior Marathon alone that Saturday, many of his training runs over the years have been with Oklahoma City Running Club athletes.
This year he began supporting Ainsley’s Angels of America. This national organization promotes inclusion and accessibility for individuals with disabilities in endurance events. Lynes said he had the honor of pushing a young girl Jordyn’s wheelchair while running this year’s half marathon on Sunday, switching off in rotation with her mother and Sarah Mehan. The experience profoundly impacted him, inspiring Lynes to want to help push Jordyn in the full marathon next year.
Lynes’ running journey inspires anyone who may feel there is still time to start a new hobby or physically challenge themselves. His story highlights that, with the right mindset and dedication, there is always time to begin running or walking and make a positive change in one’s life, as he can attest.
The Senior Marathon was designed to be an untimed event, allowing the participants to savor the experience without any pressure or competition. In addition to the race, the Senior Marathoners had the opportunity to partake in the Health and Fitness Expo, held at the Oklahoma City Convention Center that day. The Expo, presented by the OKC Convention and Visitors Bureau and OU Health, was located adjacent to the finish line. It offered a platform for Senior Marathoners to interact, show their support, and gain insights into health and fitness.
The Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon is the largest fundraiser for the privately owned and operated National Park Service-affiliated Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. Over two days, the event welcomed more than 20,000 runners and walkers from across the United States and several foreign countries. In addition to the Senior Marathon, the event featured a marathon, half marathon, marathon relay (comprising five-member teams), 5K, Kid’s marathon, and a wheelchair division.
The Senior Marathon inaugural event was presented by Mercy, a nonprofit Catholic health system serving Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma.
This new event is an outstanding testament to the indomitable spirit of the senior citizen community. By lacing up their running shoes and embarking on their walks or runs, they honored the memory of the Oklahoma City bombing by showing their dedication to supporting their community while seeking a healthy and active lifestyle.

Jim Gebhart was selected to lead Mercy’s operations in Oklahoma, including its clinics, nine acute care and two rehabilitation hospitals across the Sooner state. Gebhart currently serves as community president of Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City and will continue in this role.
As community president of operations for Oklahoma, Gebhart will focus on developing and implementing strategies to create the best experience for consumers and patients across the state who seek care at Mercy regardless of where they live.
“We want to focus on all of our Mercy Oklahoma hospitals and clinics working together to make a consistent experience for patients whether they live in Tishomingo, Watonga, Ada, Admore or Oklahoma City,” said Gebhart. “We learned a lot over the last three years working more closely than ever during the pandemic. During that time, we realized there are so many challenges to overcome in health care – and many continue today. It’s better for our patients and our co-workers when we work together as a region to share resources, expertise and innovations.”
A native of Burns Flat, Oklahoma, Gebhart has led Mercy Hospital Oklahoma City since 2009, overseeing the building and expansion of Mercy’s campus off I-35 in Edmond, the Coletta Building in Oklahoma City that houses oncology services and the addition of Mercy’s hospital in south Oklahoma City in 2020. He is currently overseeing the building of the Love Family Women’s Center and leads Mercy’s relationship with Oklahoma Heart Hospital, which provides cardiology services for patients on both Mercy hospital campuses in Oklahoma City.
Gebhart is a graduate of Oklahoma Baptist University, where he earned a bachelor’s in business administration. He also holds a master’s from the University of Dallas Graduate School of Management in health care administration.
For more information about Mercy Oklahoma, visit: https://careers.mercy.net/

By Nick Thomas

No doubt many a teenage lad, and even a few adults, developed a major crush on Barbara Eden during her 5-season run in the 60s sitcom “I Dream of Jeannie.” Now 91, fans are delighted to see the actress looking so youthful and healthy.
“I have exercised all my life and now do a mild spin (stationary) bicycle and walking,” Eden said from her home in Los Angeles. “I’ve always been careful about what I eat but I’m not fanatic about it – I’m a carnivore! I try to stay away from sugar, but unfortunately I like it too much.”
As for her skincare, she does adhere to a ritual. “I use sunscreen every day and Estee Lauder line repair that I put underneath the sunscreen and underneath moisturizer before I go to bed.”
But Eden and her husband of over 30 years, Jon Eichholtz, did experience a health scare after contracting COVID.
“We caught it early and Jon was very ill,” she recalled. “Our doctor had us infused with the antibodies right away and luckily I wasn’t sick. We did catch the variant later, but it was just like a cold.”
Growing up in San Francisco, young Barbara dreamt of becoming a singer, spending two years at the local Conservatory of Music and taking singing engagements with bands around the Bay Area. But after moving to LA in the early 1950s, her stunning beauty, charm, and talent inevitably led to Hollywood.
Best known for her role as the magical genie in the popular NBC series, Eden has delighted fans for decades with appearances at TV conventions and Hollywood autograph shows. She continues to travel, speaking to audiences and showing clips of her film and TV career, and taking questions. This year, she’s already visited Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina (see www.barbaraeden.com).
And while some actors who became closely associated with one standout role may distance themselves from that character, Eden never resented her connection to “Jeannie.”
“Why would I want to step away from it?” she asked. “I’m lucky to have very polite fans and have loved meeting them over the years in so many cities.”
Beyond her “Jeannie” role, Eden’s entertainment career has been extensive with over 25 film roles, appearances in numerous TV movies and series, and a vast stage career that includes touring major U.S. cities in the beloved play, “Love Letters,” first performing it with “Jeannie” co-star Larry Hagman.
Hagman dealt with alcohol problems while working on “Jeannie” and could be difficult on the set.
“Larry was his own worst enemy but was always wonderful to me,” she said. “He acted out with the crew and would be difficult with male guest stars came on the show. But we had a good rapport and worked together very well. I toured with him in ‘Love Letters’ and he was just wonderful.”
Eden is also an author, releasing her best-selling autobiography “Jeannie out of the Bottle” in 2012. Two years ago, she also published her first children’s book, “Barbara and the Djinn,” which perhaps not surprisingly features a young girl named Barbara and yes, a genie.
“The little girl magically travels to different places and meets different people learning what is most important in life which is kindness and understanding,” she explained. “I’ve loved to read ever since I was 3 or 4 when my mother and aunt would read to me. I thought how sad that children today just look at their phones and computers, so I wanted to give them a book to hold that can take them on an adventure using their imagination. It’s a great book to give to the grandchildren.”
While she has no plans for more books, Eden may appear on stage again for those still dreaming of seeing “Jeannie” in person.
“I don’t have any dates, but I’d love to do ‘Love Letters’ again,” she says. “It’s gratifying that people still want to see me perform and hear me talk about my career.”
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery in Alabama and has written features, columns, and interviews for numerous magazines and newspapers. See https://www.getnickt.org/.

From Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn [email protected]

When you think of visiting Georgia you may only think of the big towns like Atlanta or Augusta, but there are other fascinating towns if you can make the time to travel by car which produces your own unique road trip.
Atlanta does have a lot to offer and I have to say I am impressed with my overnight stay at the Westin Peach Tree Plaza Hotel
(http://www.westinpeachtreeplazaatlanta.com/), with its downtown location, comfy rooms and an impressive observation deck on the 73 floor, capped off with a cocktail lounge and The Sundial Restaurant on adjoining floors. During the cocktail hour I enjoyed their Bar 73 New Georgia Peach Martini ($14) of Grey Goose, Peach Schnapps and Amaretto, to accompany a small Caesar salad ($9). The rotating cocktail lounge is a combination of exhilaration and relaxation with incomparable views of Atlanta.
Augusta (http://www.visitaugusta.com/) offers the historic yet quirky Partridge Inn which was the center of tourist attention of 1889 to 1930. After a recent renovation following many more previous additions, the Partridge Inn sits on “the hill,” as a testament to time and travelers of all seasons. A cocktail or light supper out on the verandah offers a tranquil and southern elegant evening. And while Augusta’s funky, The Bees Knees Restaurant is known for its variety of Tapas, I delighted in my first chicken and waffles. Among many attractions, Augusta offers for your education and enjoyment; the Canal National Heritage area, the Museum of History with a special exhibit of home town musician, James Brown, and an historic downtown with its Haunted Pillar. Touching or moving it may result in a death.
Escape to Statesboro (www.visitstatesboroga.com) where you will find a banquet size meal served in family style elegance complete with ghosts stories in the Historic Beaver House Restaurant
(http://www.thebeaverhouserestaurant.com) at 121 South Main Street.
The home dates back to 1911 and has an antebellum charm but in a real family residence, where room sizes are small but portions are large. The Traditional Boarding House Dinner served on Friday and Saturdays offers exceptional Prime Rib and Fried Fantail Shrimp which is served along with a plethora of homemade sides. And if you need a sweet desert or more, try the Cotton Patch Bakery and Deli for more homemade madness. If you are in a shopping mode on certain days take in the Main Street Farmers market and the nearby comic memorabilia shop, that brings out the kid in us all.
Statesboro is also home of legendary entertainer Emma Kelly. She was called by song writer Johnny Mercer as the lady of ten thousand songs, She is featured in a chapter in the book “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,” and I was privilege to have sat in on a couple of her cocktail lounge performances in Savanah in past years. It was a life affirming joy to see that Statesboro renamed a theater in her honor before she past.
(http://www.averittcenterforthearts.org)
You may think you are in Europe when you stay at the Hotel Indigo in Athens, Georgia. The rooms are equipped with modern amenities, and light switches that may take a little exploration for you to work. This modern design and the hotel’s LEED Gold Certified property of sustainability, fits perfectly with Athens being the host to the University of Georgia.
As one might expect of a university town, Athens has upscale dining as I experienced at The Five & Ten Restaurant where I had a pre fix dinner of Smoked Kielbasa with artichokes, radicchio, fermented sunchoke, sorghum gastrique with sunflower seeds, and an entrée of Glazed Lamb Shoulder with pickled blueberries, hakurei turnips, fennel, smoked pecans and onion broth. A red wine of Minerviois, Chateau D’Oupia, from Languedoc, France 2012 accompanied the meal before the desert of Panna Cotta with pecan sandie thumbprint and pickled peaches. All was impeccably served and while the Lamb was delicious the Panna Cotta was ecstasy! And the true test of fine dining is a properly prepared Martini, which Five & Ten poured to my satisfaction.
Besides the Georgia Museum of Art, artistic delights should be consumed at a number of other eateries, including The Place, Creature Comforts Brewery and the roof top of the Georgia Theatre at Phickles Pickles serving Fried Chicken Skins and Pimento Cheese made with goat cheese. Yum!
Albany, Georgia (http://www.albany.ga.us) has the Ray Charles Plaza complete with a bronze of the entertainer and his piano at Riverfront Park, the Welcome Center in the old bridge house of the Flint River, the Civil Rights Institute and the new Flint River Aquarium. Albany is home to eight golf course and a number of entertainers including, Ray Stevens, Luke Bryan and American Idol Winner, Phillip Phillips. To round out your road trip a stop in Washington (www.historyofwilkes.org) will be a surprise you will not forget with its quaint town square, row upon row of architectural house gems, and the Washington Historical Museum in a home built in 1835, and today serves as a reminder of the past to understand the future of Wilkes County.
When in Georgia think about taking in one of these under sung locales.

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
3110 N.W. 15 Street – Oklahoma City, OK 73107
https://realtraveladventures.com/?s=terry+zinn
https://realtraveladventures.com/?s=zinn
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www.martinitravels.com

The Oklahoma Mobility Institute (OMI), a connected organization to the Oklahoma Transit Association (OkTA), has been awarded a $10,000 local coalition grant from the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).
“OMI is a relatively new organization, and we are honored to receive this funding from APTA to further our mission of helping to facilitate an unparalleled transportation ecosystem with advanced mobility connectivity through shared resources and interorganizational partnerships,” said OkTA Executive Director Andrea Ball.
The grant funding will be used along with seed money from OKTA to support a Mobility Summit Listening Session for the State of Oklahoma to learn what services and support are required by transit providers. It will help OMI to develop tactics to achieve its goals over the next three to five years to advance transportation equity, inclusion, and mobility access for all Oklahomans.
“OMI’s goals include reducing no-show rates for appointments to medical and social services, ensuring weekly food access options for each community, providing grant support and application assistance to public transportation providers, and promoting mobility coordination and coordinated use of federal transportation funding,” Ball said.
The funding will also fund an OMI website that will provide online access to mobility resources in Oklahoma.
“The future website address is www.okmobility.org, and we expect it to be completed this summer,” Ball added.
APTA provides grants to help the fight for public transportation. Generally, grants awarded to coalitions range from $5,000 to $10,000.

by Greg Schwem

Purely for my own entertainment, and perhaps out of boredom while standing in grocery checkout lines, I find myself peering into fellow shoppers’ carts and trying to imagine their life stories.
For example: the guy last week whose cart contained a jumbo pack of diapers and a 12-pack of beer. Was he a stay-at-home dad eager, I mean, REALLY eager, to reward himself when his wife returned from a business trip? Was he the lifelong single uncle who thought, “How difficult can this baby-sitting thing be?” Or something in between?
Earlier this month there was an attractive woman, mid-30s, purchasing a laxative and a large bouquet of flowers. What was her deal? Did she seek something pleasant to look at while the laxative did its due diligence? Did she feel the need to fill her house with fragrance for obvious reasons? Was her digestive system keeping her from her love of gardening? The possibilities were endless.
If grocery cart analysis is your idea of fun, then you really must rent a storage unit. Or simply hang out at a storage facility.
I recently moved from a four-bedroom house into a one-bedroom apartment, a process that required more preplanning and coordination than invading a hostile country. Upon realizing I would not be able to secure my new building’s loading dock on the same day my movers emptied my home, I was forced to secure, for a month, one of those sterile, garage-like structures that people rent for one of three reasons:
1. Like me, they are in transition between residences
2. They are having difficulty downsizing or, worse, have a serious hoarding addiction
3. They are looking to dispose of evidence from the crime they just committed
Whatever their intentions, I found myself making multiple trips to my unit, not only to drop off or retrieve items, but just to observe others doing the same thing so I could imagine what prompted them to pay monthly fees for what started as empty space.
On my first visit, after unloading 15 boxes from a rickety cart into my unit, and realizing months of physical therapy was in my near future, I exited the elevator to find a gentleman with two items on his cart: a truck tire and an electronic piano keyboard.
My mind did not even know where to begin.
Was he part of a musical group called “Spare Automotive Parts”? It was plausible. Or was there a disabled tour bus stranded somewhere, and this guy was elected to find a replacement tire while ditching the one that had just run over a sharp object? That seemed far-fetched; why take the keyboard on this mission? Also, that task seemed more suited for the bass player.
I longed to ask his intentions, but I chose to remain silent. Nobody in a storage facility wants to chat, because nobody in a storage facility is in a pleasant mood. Moving is an arduous task unless you just won the lottery, have elected to take your winnings in hundred-dollar bills and have a distrust of banks.
On my next trip, this time to OPEN all the boxes until I found some documents I had inadvertently packed, I shared an elevator with a couple whose cart contained two paintings and an industrial sized bag of dog food. I’m no art aficionado, so I couldn’t critique the paintings’ subject matter or artistic styles. I chose to focus on the dog food.
Were these two planning to paint a ravenous canine? Or did they just need something to keep their own pet occupied while they plied their craft? Judging from the size of the bag, the latter scenario meant the pair were notoriously slow painters.
Perhaps they weren’t artists at all but merely art collectors. I imagined the couple, their dog between them, gazing at their latest purchase in the foyer of their expensive home. They would celebrate with a succulent dinner of red wine, two steaks cooked medium well and grain free kibble, The only thing lacking would be music.
I know of a keyboard player who could fit the bill. Although he may need transportation.
(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 https://www.amazon.com/. Visit Greg on the web at https://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 https://www.gregschwem.com/)