OU Health Stephenson Cancer Center has announced a historic first for the campus and the state: A new cancer drug, called OK-1, which was conceived and created by an OU College of Medicine researcher and developed entirely in Oklahoma, without the support of a pharmaceutical company, is being tested in humans for the first time in a Phase 1 clinical trial.
The drug was created by researcher Doris Benbrook, Ph.D., whose work on the compound began more than 25 years ago. New drugs developed within an academic institution, without the aid of a pharmaceutical company, are exceedingly rare. The Food and Drug Administration approved the drug to be given to humans in the clinical trial, which is underway at Stephenson Cancer Center. The drug is initially being given to women with advanced-stage ovarian, endometrial and cervical cancer.
“It is very exciting to reach the point where we can test OK-1 in a clinical trial,” said Benbrook, who is a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the OU College of Medicine. “This drug is not available anywhere else in the world right now. We believe it has tremendous potential for treating cancer without causing toxic side effects.”
OK-1 is derived from the natural compound vitamin A. The human body uses vitamin A to make retinoic acid, a nutrient that supports healthy functioning. Some forms of retinoic acid, as well as synthetic versions called retinoids, have been used to treat cancers such as leukemia. However, both are highly toxic, Benbrook said, and patients often become resistant to their effectiveness. Her aim was to create a better version of the drug that is able to kill cancer cells but is less toxic to normal cells.
That effort has taken over two decades of experimentation. Benbrook worked with a collaborator to modify the drug’s chemical structure and test the biological activity of new versions. The new drug they ultimately developed has been modified to such an extent that it works in a completely different way than vitamin A. Collaborators in the OU College of Pharmacy performed research that was necessary to test OK-1 in clinical trials. The work has been supported by millions of dollars in grants from the National Cancer Institute.
OK-1 works by taking away one of the “tricks” that cancer cells use to survive. When cancer cells develop, the body naturally tries to stop their invasion and growth. In response, cancer cells increase their production of “chaperone proteins,” which act like “bodyguards” to keep the cancer cells from dying. The drug OK-1 is able to attach to the chaperone proteins, disabling them in the process. The body’s immune system, or another drug like chemotherapy, is then better able to kill cancer cells because they are no longer protected by “bodyguards.” The drug does not harm healthy cells because they do not need the chaperone protection.
Phase 1 clinical trials are conducted to determine the highest dose of a new drug that can be given safely without causing severe side effects. While OK-1 has been tested extensively in the laboratory and in animal research models, the true effect can’t be known until it is given to humans. However, preclinical studies of the drug have proved that it is effective without causing severe side effects or birth defects, Benbrook said. The drug is being given to humans in capsule form. Kathleen Moore, M.D., Associate Director of Clinical Research and Director of the Oklahoma TSET Phase 1 Program at Stephenson Cancer Center, is leading the clinical trial. “The Phase 1 investigators are so excited to finally have this novel drug available to our patients,” Moore said. “It is a completely new class of drug, which, in addition to having efficacy in and of itself, may help other current cancer therapies work better without adding toxicity. This is kind of the holy grail. We have many combinations that work better than the single drug, but the combinations are far too toxic for general population use. OK-1 gives us the opportunity to bring combinations into trials that may work better without compromising safety. The potential is so exciting.”
At the conclusion of the Phase 1 trial, Moore and her team will have learned the optimal dose of OK-1. In subsequent trials, they plan to test the drug in combination with other cancer drugs already on the market. Benbrook has made patent applications on several drug combinations; OK-1 appears to be most effective when given with other existing drugs.
“We found in our experimental models that when we add OK-1 to other cancer therapies like paclitaxel, which is the standard chemotherapy for endometrial cancer, we get a synergistic effect that is much better than either drug alone,” Benbrook said.
Benbrook’s preclinical research also has shown that OK-1 may be effective for preventing cancer. She plans to test OK-1 in an ovarian cancer prevention trial in the Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network, a program of the National Cancer Institute. The drug will be given to women who are going to have their fallopian tubes surgically removed. Because most ovarian cancers originate in the fallopian tubes, researchers will examine the effect of the drug on fallopian tube tissues. Ultimately, the drug could be given to women who are genetically predisposed to cancer, such as those with a BRCA gene mutation.
The Oklahoma TSET Phase 1 Program at Stephenson Cancer Center is the only such program in the state and is considered among the top 10 programs in the nation. As a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center, Stephenson can offer patients first access to early-stage drugs like Benbrook’s OK-1.
“This is a very exciting time to be conducting the first Phase 1 trial for a drug developed on our campus,” said Robert Mannel, M.D., director of Stephenson Cancer Center. “It is only possible because of Dr. Benbrook’s passion and determination and the ability of Stephenson Cancer Center to offer Phase 1 clinical trials. We have a very special team of doctors, nurses, researchers and staff who work together to safely give these new drugs to humans.”
In addition to funding from the National Cancer Institute, Benbrook’s research has been supported by grants from Oklahoma City-based Presbyterian Health Foundation, as well as the OU College of Medicine Alumni Association.

Call Autumn House at 405-732-1644 Today!

By Tonya Cater, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Arkansas

World Elder Abuse Awareness Day was June 15. On that day, communities, seniors, caregivers, governments, organizations, and the private sector united to prevent the mistreatment of and violence against older people.
Social Security scams are widespread across the United States. Scammers use sophisticated tactics to deceive you into providing sensitive information or money. They target everyone – especially the elderly – and their tactics continue to evolve.
Here are five easy-to-use resources to prevent Social Security fraud:
* Check out our Fraud Prevention and Reporting page to learn about Social Security fraud – and how we fight scammers at www.ssa.gov/fraud. * Read our Scam Alert fact sheet to learn what tactics scammers use and how to protect yourself at www.ssa.gov/fraud/assets/materials/EN-05-10597.pdf.
* Create your own personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to stay one step ahead of scammers. Please read our blog post at blog.ssa.gov/my-social-security-what-to-know-about-signing-up-or-signing-in for more information about creating or signing in to your personal my Social Security account. * Learn about other types of fraud on our Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) Scam Awareness page at oig.ssa.gov/scam-awareness/scam-alert. You’ll also see how to report these scams to our OIG and other government agencies.
* Read our blog post to learn how to guard your Social Security card – and protect your personal information at blog.ssa.gov/guard-your-card-protect-whats-important-to-you/.
Please share this information with your friends and family to help spread awareness about Social Security imposter scams.

Story by owner Dennis Helm, a True & Proven Senior Advocate

A lot of companies say they specialize in working with seniors. (Hundreds of verifiable References from 35 Years)

But as owner of Smooth Finish Roofing & Construction we’ve proven it since 1987!
I have been a Senior Advocate for as long as I’ve been in the business. I learned this from caring for those who were and are vulnerable to scammers.
My heart was developed to protect the vulnerable and was cultivated as a child of a single mother who faced many challenges and difficulties raising three boys alone.
Free Inspections: Most Oklahoma homes have hail damage not visible from the ground, unseen until Inspection.
How Smooth Finish has helped Seniors: (free consultations, decisions for scope, priority lists, free inspections and estimates)
For seniors who are staying in their home, Smooth Finish can upgrade most all desired home improvements starting with “A good roof over their head” with a GAF Lifetime warranty and we have worked successfully with all insurance companies.
In homes of seniors who want or need to age in place, Smooth Finish can also help with other repairs, restorations and aging in place modifications. Besides roofing, Smooth Finish Roofing & Construction provides:
* Exterior: roofing, siding, carpentry, windows/doors, guttering, Garage Doors, Fence, Painting and more.
* Interior: Ceiling repairs, (Leak Repairs) mitigation, texturing, painting, flooring, carpentry and more.
As a Licensed* General Contractor…we manage the process of bringing in Licensed Trades for Plumbing, HVAC, electrical, etc.
If a senior is moving into a senior living center and needing to sell their home, they may likely need a new roof and/or other repairs. This is where our free advisory scope consultation, inspections and estimate(s) help create priority list(s).
Smooth Finish does excellent work at a fair price, so your home can pass all the inspections required for a sale.
Smooth Finish is not only certified & licensed* for roofing of residential homes, but also senior living facilities.
As a true and proven Senior Advocate, I have a sincere desire to help seniors and I always work to encourage people to use only local, licensed, and insured roofing contractors with hundreds of verifiable references. There are just too many terrible stories of things going wrong when people don’t.
Warning: Roofers may not be who they seem!
I’ve heard many, many times, “most people don’t trust roofers”. That’s understandable.…In our industry there are a lot of… fly-by-night roofers. They come in town, start a ‘company,’ get magnets on their car, (405) phone numbers and in 24-hours they look like a legitimate business. But they’re not.
Undesirable scammers always rush into town after a storm has hit to solicit people who need roofing services.
These unscrupulous “companies” will claim to be local, even though they’re not. They may go to great lengths to look like hometown guys. We have had to replace many roofs installed incorrectly over 35 Years.
I want people with roofing needs in OKC to rest at ease. I want them to know that when they use Smooth Finish Roofing & Construction, they’re getting an honest, proven and reputable company. I’m a lifelong resident and have over 35 years expertise in this business.
License Numbers:
Ask for license numbers and references. Then check them out! reputable roofers live and work in the same city where their business is located.
We don’t go out of town, except for previous and existing customers. There is always more than enough work for us here in the 620 square miles of Oklahoma City and the metro area.
Your family, friends or clients will thank you for a Smooth Finish recommendation.
You can feel confident in recommending Smooth Finish Roofing & Construction to Family Friends or clients you’re helping. For the homeowner, we can work on the rooftop, the floor and everything in between. I’m a licensed General Contractor through-out Oklahoma City and the metro area and, again, I’ve been in business for 35 years.
Since 1987, we have been helping customers with decisions concerning their homes. Many times, we’ve found simple solutions for complex problems. We work to keep costs fair and reasonable and we live by the Smooth Finish motto: “Where quality craftsmanship meets fair pricing.”
Give me a call on my personal cell phone at (405-923-5127)
We are proud of, and enjoy our solid reputation. We enjoy serving Seniors, Military, first responders and single mothers and we only move forward with a job… when you’re comfortable.
*State of Oklahoma Construction Industries Board # CIB 80000242
*City of Oklahoma City General Contractor license # OKC 13705
For 35 years Smooth Finish has helped customers determine priority list(s) for what needs to be done to sell/improve their home. What do homebuyers see? “Curb appeal”. What do they see when they first open the front door?

Smooth Finish Roofing purchases from a LOCAL roofing supplier to ensure profit proceeds “Stay in Oklahoma”  CALL (405-923-5127) OR visit: https://smoothfinishroofing.com/

Dear Savvy Senior,

What can you tell me about electric trikes for semi-seniors? I used to cycle a lot in my younger years but have some balance problems and don’t trust myself on a two-wheeler anymore. I’ve read that electric powered trikes are a good option for older riders but could use some help choosing one. Unsteady Eddie

Dear Unsteady Eddie,
Electric powered adult tricycles – also known as e-trikes – are a great cycling option for older adults with balance or stamina issues because they’re safe and super fun to ride, and easy on an aging body. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you shop for one.
Safer Cycling
If you’re interested in cycling, but worry about falling or injuring yourself, e-trikes are a great choice because of the three-wheeled stability they provide. With a trike you can ride as slow as you want without ever losing your balance, which is very reassuring for most older riders.
E-trikes also come with a small electric powered motor to enhance the riding experience, so when you saddle up and apply the throttle the motor will give you a boost when pedaling, or it will do all the work for you. This makes it much easier to whiz up hills and ride into headwinds without gassing yourself or taxing your knee joints.
In addition, most adult e-trikes are also made with a low “step through” design making mounting and dismounting easier; they typically come with big tires that ensure a smooth ride; have ergonomic handlebars that are easy to reach and grip; and offer oversize seats (some even have backrests) for comfort and support.
There are many different types of adult e-trikes to choose from with prices ranging anywhere from around $2,000 up to $7,000. To shop for one, contact some bike shops in your area to see what they offer, or you may need to order one online.
When shopping for an e-trike, pay special attention to the motor, which determines how fast it will go, and the battery, which determines how far it will go between charges.
Most e-trikes can reach speeds of anywhere between 15 and 28 miles per hour, and typically go somewhere between 20 and 55 miles on a single charge, depending on how much pedaling you do. Battery charge times will vary too, ranging anywhere from 3 to 8 hours.
How to Choose
To help you figure out the right kind of e-trike for you, ask yourself how and where you plan to ride it. If you’re primarily interested in a leisurely ride around the neighborhood for pleasure, fitness or running errands, an upright cruiser e-trike that has a rear cargo basket would be a nice choice.
Some popular options in this category include: Addmotor’s M-340 Electric Fat Trike and M-360 Semi-Recumbent Trike (both $3,000, addmotor.com); Emojo Caddy Pro ($2,900, emojobike.com); Sixthreezero EVRYjourney 250W Tricycle ($2,200, sixthreezero.com); EWheels EW-29 ($2,000, ewheelsdealers.com); and Buzz Cerana T ($1,700, buzzbicycles.com).
Or, if you’re looking to take longer road rides a recumbent e-trike may be a better option. These are aerodynamic, low-to-the-ground stretched-out frame trikes that allow you to recline with your legs positioned in front of you. Catrike (catrike.com) and TerraTrikes (terratrike.com) are two of the biggest U.S. companies that make recumbent tadpole-style trikes (the two wheels are in front) and they both offer electric assist options at prices ranging from $5,000 to $7,000.
There are also folding e-trikes, which are practical if you have limited home storage space or would like to take your trike with you when traveling. Some good options here include the Liberty Trike ($1,600, libertytrike.com) and Eunorau New-Trike ($2,500, eunorau-ebike.com)
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.

Editors note: Be sure to checkout Mobility City at https://oklahomacityok.mobilitycity.com or call (405)725-1755. View Mobility City’s ad on page 20.

Nearly 40 Oklahoma middle school math teachers became students again this week, receiving a glimpse into the medical research that results from the passion they instill in students.
OMRF on Tuesday hosted teachers from the Sarkeys Foundation Summer Math Institute at the Oklahoma School for Science and Mathematics. The weeklong program includes teachers from Inola to Mangum and Madill to Sayre.
Scientists at the nonprofit foundation showed them, among other things, research samples from arthritic knee joints of mice and explained how the regenerative qualities of flatworms might someday apply to humans.
OMRF President Andrew S. Weyrich, Ph.D., welcomed the teachers, calling them “the unsung heroes” behind the minds that shape OMRF’s research.
Throughout the year, OMRF hosts students from elementary school through college for various education and outreach programs, Weyrich noted. “We do that in part because we know Oklahoma students are paramount to the future of research.”
OMRF Vice President of Government Affairs Lisa Day, an OSSM board member, helped organize the event.
“It’s gratifying to connect these teachers with a real-world application of the skills they develop in students,” Day said. “Much medical research requires a mastery of math. Their skill and passion for teaching make what scientists do at OMRF possible.”
During their afternoon at OMRF, the teachers split into small groups to visit lab stations staffed by scientists.
Using a microscope and oversized monitor, David Forsthoefel, Ph.D., demonstrated how quickly the flatworms he studies can completely regenerate their organs. He hopes the clues he learns from the tiny worms might lead to new help in treating conditions ranging from bowel disorders to paralysis.
“We study the flatworms because we hope to learn their secrets,” Forsthoefel told the teachers.
Beggs Middle School teacher Carol Creason called her trip to OMRF “tremendously helpful. It shows how important mathematics is to all sorts of jobs outside of the traditional math field of study.”
Creason was so impressed with Forsthoefel’s presentation that she plans to include flatworms in future lessons.
“I normally use bean plants so they can chart growth, but now I’m going to have them chart regenerative growth in flatworms,” she said. “They’d have a blast.”

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com

Anytime you hear the word Santa Fe, it has to conjure up images. And if you have visited there it must illicit emotions and memories as well. During Summer time it’s easy to slip into the mode of recalling pleasant memories, and plan for a fall visit including the Indian Market or the Santa Fe Opera. My first visit to Santa Fe was in the late 1970s, when I was breaking in a new car and exploring the great American West.
Of course, I traveled a long day’s drive on I-40 West out of Oklahoma City, then took the highway 284 cut off at Clines Corners and entered Santa Fe on the Old Pecos Trail. That road soon turned into the Old Santa Fe Trail, where I drove along the narrow road with the old San Miguel Mission adobe church on my right and the famed Pink Adobe Restaurant on my left. The Old Santa Fe Trail offered a perfect first impression, as it was lined with atmospheric time worn structures, and not the modern franchise eateries and gas stations that hug the more traditional entry up north from Albuquerque, on Cerrillos Road.
I soon came into the parking lot of the at that time, relatively new, Inn at Loretto, replete in iconic Santa Fe adobe architecture. I was treated the next morning with a light dusting of snow and a hint of pinion in the air, as I pulled away from a town I’d hardly seen but ~ silently, subconsciously ~ vowed to see again. I have returned to Santa Fe many times since then and each time explored new venues with a salute to favorite places, which have become a traditional pilgrimage when visiting.
I can’t recall why I chose a one night stay at this particular hotel ~ must have been its appealing architecture and perhaps at that time availability. This time I found myself walking past the Spa and the aroma of relaxation made me regret my time on this visit was too short. My stay at the Inn at Loretto in the l970s, and in subsequent years has always been a pleasant tradition. This time was no exception.
Old traditional haunts include: the La Cantina Bar at La Sena Casa where waiters turn into opera and musical theatre singers about every ten minutes; the Pink Adobe Restaurant with its fine and sometimes spicy gourmet productions; Jackalope on Cerrillos road with its affordable southwestern flared garden and household offerings ~ along with the best and freshest string of red chili ristras in season; and the old haunts along the Plaza with its Indian jewelry market and a variety of upscale fashion shops.
New traditional offerings include the Balconies at the Plaza restaurant, which until a few years ago was the traditional Ore House Restaurant with the best and meatiest tasting salsa anywhere ~ and an always must see at the top of Canyon Road the specialty galleries.
Upon this recent trip I discovered the Santa Fe pickup, a free bus that circles the old town area, and is certainly a boon and must for those wanting to wander down Canyon Road as it will drop you off at the top. While my most recent autumn visit was blessed with perfect weather, I have climbed the road in scorching heat and can testify that the art is much more appealing starting at the top and meandering down.
Other must visits is the New Mexico Museum of Art and the New Mexico History Museum/Palace of the Governors – both on the Plaza; and up on Museum Hill the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art . Of course a road trip out to Tesuque with its sculpture garden and the near by glass blowing gallery can be broken up with a respite at Bishops Lodge for libations and food with a dose of historic luxury. A Santa Fe visit is not complete without a stop at the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and a tasting at is elegant restaurant if it reopens.
I’m not sure if it’s the upscale art and fashion shopping, the authentic New Mexican cuisine, the fresh atmosphere and the nearly unspoiled vistas, or the essence of its history that permeates the soul, which beckons a perpetual return. Probably it’s all, and yet some indescribable something else that all visitors try to describe when remembering, Santa Fe.
For more information contact: The Inn at Loretto –at www.innatloretto.com. And, click the Calendar here for up to date events www,santafe.org.

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
http://new.okveterannews.com/?s=TERRY+ZINN
www.martinitravels.com

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The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently announced that 22 INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Clinics earned Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition renewal.
The clinics received the initial recognition for using evidence-based, patient-centered processes that focus on highly coordinated care and long-term, participative relationships.
The facilities receiving the PCMH Certificate of Recognition renewal are listed below:
INTEGRIS Family First Miami, INTEGRIS Family Practice Miami, INTEGRIS Grove Family Practice, INTEGRIS Grove Primary Care, INTEGRIS Internal Medicine Clinic, INTEGRIS Internal Medicine & Pediatric Associates, INTEGRIS Miami Physicians Clinic, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Baptist, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Central, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Coffee Creek, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Council Crossing, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Edmond East, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Edmond Renaissance, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Lake Pointe, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Memorial West, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Moore, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Mustang, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Norman, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group South, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Southwest, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Surrey Hills, INTEGRIS Health Medical Group Yukon
The NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home is a model of primary care that combines teamwork and information technology to improve care, improve patients’ experience of care and reduce costs. Medical homes foster ongoing partnerships between patients and their personal clinicians, instead of approaching care as the sum of episodic office visits. Each patient’s care is overseen by clinician-led care teams that coordinate treatment across the health care system. Research shows that medical homes can lead to higher quality and lower costs and can improve patient and provider reported experiences of care.

New exhibition will feature more than a dozen works from five Oklahoma-based artists

Destination Oklahoma, opening at Oklahoma Contemporary on July 14, offers artist perspectives on the patterns of migration that have long shaped life in our state. Through more than a dozen works (ceramics, mixed media, paintings, photographs, prints and video) Oklahoma-based artists illuminate the distinct cultural backgrounds that have long existed at the country’s crossroads.
“Destination Oklahoma features artworks by five artists that touch upon the layered contexts and experiences of this place, and the ways in which we define — or misunderstand — what it means to be an Oklahoman,” said Oklahoma Contemporary Associate Curator Pablo Barrera. “As Oklahoma City welcomes refugees from Afghanistan, approaches the one-year anniversary of the First Americans Museum, revitalizes the Clara Luper Civil Rights Center, and sees a record increase of newcomers from other states, this exhibition is a timely opportunity to reflect on how the region’s long-standing patterns of human migration continue to shape our artistic landscape.”
Photographs by September Dawn Bottoms suggest the complicated nature of intergenerational resilience, while drawings by Ghazal Ghazi co-mingle the Persian miniature format with contemporary portraiture. Paintings by Skip Hill reimagine symbolic imagery related to the Dust Bowl era, and paintings by America Meredith playfully mix pop culture references with historical illustrations of Indigenous subjects. Prints by Ðan Lynh Pham blend graphic language with Vietnamese folk art traditions to evoke the sense of connection — or disconnection — felt by some immigrants to the state.
Destination Oklahoma is a collaboration between Oklahoma Contemporary and guest co-curator Liz Blood, a Tulsa-based writer who is contributing to the exhibition a poetry zine featuring responses to artworks by Oklahoma-based writers.
“My family migrated to Oklahoma just over 100 years ago,” Blood said. “Those of us who are not original inhabitants of this land share that history of migration that has made Oklahoma a beautiful and complex place. Destination Oklahoma celebrates and explores that complexity.”
The exhibition will be on view in the Mary LeFlore Clements Oklahoma Gallery through Oct. 17.
Admission to Oklahoma Contemporary’s exhibitions and most programs is free.

HarborChase of South Oklahoma City

On Saturday, July 9, 2022, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum and the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will host the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and the opening of a new exhibit, “Route 66 Transitions, 1981–1991: Jerry McClanahan’s First Decade of Route 66 Photography.” This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided.
Beginning at 2 p.m., the Oklahoma Route 66 Association will induct two special Oklahomans into the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. Inductions are held every two years for individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the promotion or preservation of Route 66. The winners’ plaques will be unveiled with the others on display in the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum’s Hall of Fame, located in the WOW! exhibit room.
Immediately following the induction, the museum will hold an opening for the “Route 66 Transitions, 1981–1991: Jerry McClanahan’s First Decade of Route 66 Photography” exhibit. McClanahan is a noted Route 66 authority, artist and photographer. He first began photographing and mapping the route in 1981 on a trip from Texas back to visit his boyhood home in southern California. McClanahan captured many lost and forgotten scenes during this decade of decline and revival, some of which are presented in this exhibit for the first time.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is located at 2229 W. Gary Blvd. in Clinton. The museum galleries present the history and legends of Route 66 through the decades. For additional information, please contact Pat Smith at 580-323-7866 or email rt66mus@okhistory.org.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum is a division of the Oklahoma Historical Society. 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 www.okhistory.org.

by Greg Schwem

Maybe it’s time to admit that, when it comes to parental discipline, our skills have disappeared faster than a toddler’s attention span.
Princess Kate Middleton recently found herself under the disciplinarian microscope when a hilarious, yet uncomfortable video emerged starring her youngest child, 4-year-old Prince Louis and fifth in line of succession to the British throne. (Translation: He will never be King).
The video, shot as mother and son watched the Platinum Jubilee pageant from front-row seats, featured a clearly bored Louis sticking out his tongue at his mum and batting her hand away when she tried to refrain him from “cocking a snook,” the British expression for thumbing one’s nose.
Because the dustup happened between royals, the video naturally went viral, causing millions to give their unwanted opinions on Kate’s parenting skills. The responses ranged from sympathetic (kids will be kids, even if they do live in palaces) to calling Louis a spoiled brat for daring to show disrespect to the future Queen of England. What kind of hooligan will Louis be at 15 if he is already testing boundaries at 4, they wondered?
I chuckled when I saw the video, knowing Kate was in an impossible situation. What was she supposed to do, knowing her every move was being recorded by dozens of cameras? Backhand her son across the face? Summon the royal guillotine? Or, worse, put young Louis in timeout by making him sit with the weird-haired gentleman. none other than British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in the second row?
If you’re a parent, you’ve had your own Kate moment. When she was 2, my eldest daughter bit my finger hard enough to draw blood. She is now 25 and holds a corporate job. She has never spent time in jail. At least, not that I’m aware.
Cut Kate some slack, I thought. All children should be subject to discipline, but who are we to judge how it is administered?
Of course, that was before I saw the Mercedes.
It was sitting, unattended, in the park I visit each morning with my dog. A real beauty she was; jet black in color, with the silver three-point Mercedes-Benz emblem glistening in the rising sun. A Google search revealed I was staring at the 12-volt, S63 model, featuring one-button start, forward and reverse shifter, wear-resistant wheels, one USB port and an MP3 interface. The car retailed for anywhere between $190 and $250, depending on what site you were perusing.
Oh, no, this wasn’t an actual Mercedes-Benz. It was a toy replica, designed to be piloted by drivers between 3 and 5 years of age. Still, I wondered, what type of ungrateful kid leaves such a vehicle in a public park overnight, knowing another child could just hop in and drive away?
Worse, what parent allows this to happen?
I tried to imagine the scenario: Did the car’s battery die and no toy Mercedes tow trucks were available to assist? This seemed unlikely, since the S63 weighed a mere 33 pounds. Picking it up and putting it in the family car wouldn’t be that difficult.
Or were there other forces at play here? Did another child zoom by in a toy Tesla, featuring a Wi-Fi-enabled touch screen? Did that cause the embarrassed Mercedes owner to throw a tantrum, exiting the vehicle and demanding his cheap parents purchase an immediate upgrade? If I had been that parent, I would have calmly explained the 2023 models hadn’t yet arrived and it would be wise to wait.
When she was 5, my daughter, the aforementioned finger biter, had a Barbie-themed electric car. Purchased for 10 bucks from a yard sale, it was parked in our garage every night. Had she left it anywhere else, rest assured, there would have been consequences.
So, parents, let’s stop coddling our kids. Make them put away their toys and teach them the value of money. Let them know the finer things in life come with responsibilities. They will thank you later.
Even if it means spending time in the royal dungeon.
You are now cured of scrolliosis. That didn’t hurt a bit, did it?
(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)