by Bobby Anderson, Staff Writer

Richard Bailey has spent his entire life in communication. Spanning Asia for the telecommunications industry and then working in the computer and internet industries, Bailey has always been focused on the best way to get a message across.
Retired since 2000, Bailey is now applying his talents as chairman to help the 21st Century Norman Seniors Association communicate their needs as the City of Norman prepares to build a new senior center.
Norman seniors have been watching intently as the city has wrestled with funding a new senior citizen.
For some, it’s been promises broken. For others, it’s simply been a long process that has the promise to unfold into not only a one-of-its kind center but a new wellness philosophy for Norman’s 25,000 seniors.
Welcoming seniors and “anyone who aspires to be a senior,” Bailey’s group is focused on not only seeing that Norman seniors have a place to call home but there’s a philosophy behind it that places value meeting ever-changing needs.
“I think (the value of seniors) is something that’s horribly overlooked,” Bailey said.
AN OLD CONCEPT
The first senior center built was in the 1940s in New York City. Built to provide leisure activities for primarily widows, the center allowed case workers a central location to reach the population.
About 30 years later the city of Norman moved its senior center into a 45-year-old Carnegie Library down the street from the county courthouse.
“And we’re still there,” Bailey said. “And we’re still basically operating under the same service concept that was developed in the 1940s.”
“The whole concept of senior centers has changed dramatically.”
Norman’s population has grown more than 50 percent to nearly 120,000 residents since 1990.
And the senior population is growing exponentially every day.
A NEW VISION
“Remember that every student at Norman North and Norman High School will be a senior citizen during the lifespan of this building so you have to think about not just the people who are there today but the people who will be there in the future,” Bailey said.
The building will be physical evidence the importance of Norman seniors has been recognized but Bailey says it’s about a concept that embraces senior wellness.
Norman’s current senior center has a half-hour wellness class once a day.
“The new concept is health and wellness on demand and has people there organized to help seniors get the best benefit out of the facilities that are there,” Bailey said. “It’s well-proven that the overall cost to society is reduced by spending money on senior activities to keep them healthy.”
The new concept embraces intergenerational activities. More and more high school and college students are seeing the benefit of spending more time with seniors.
“If you think really hard about it it could extend down to an organized latchkey operation for parents who needed it,” Bailey said.
The new concept also embraces volunteerism.
“The seniors that are there today are better educated, healthier and more involved in activities than ever before,” Bailey said. “And if you organize a set of services in the senior center around people who are willing to volunteer to do things you can get a tremendous number of people that will be active.”
And don’t forget about the ever-growing number of seniors or soon-to-be seniors who are serving as caregivers for their own parents.
Bailey has been through that experience.
“There should be an organized set of caregiver activities within a senior center so people can know they can go there and learn and understand from people who have been through it,” he said.
In March, the Wall Street Journal noted people over 65 years old would outnumber children by 2035, a first in U.S. history, according to updated projections released by the Census Bureau.
The milestone would be the latest marker of the nation’s aging, which has accelerated with baby boomers’ move into their senior years and recessionary effects on births and immigration over the past decade.
The growing elderly population will also put pressure on lawmakers to shift funding toward programs such as Medicare and Social Security, particularly because elderly Americans vote at high rates, said Kenneth M. Johnson, a demographer at the University of New Hampshire.
Norman’s senior center serves almost 150 seniors each week.
“We haven’t evolved our programs in our current vision enough to really meet the needs of a significant or even a small portion of the senior community,” Bailey said. “But the value of that senior community to the whole community is much greater than its use right now. It’s an overlooked resource.
You can find out more information online at www.normanseniors.org as well as the group’s Facebook page listed as Friends for a 21st Century Senior Citizen’s Center.

Pet food ministry reaches out

by Vickie Jenkins, Staff Writer

Too many Oklahoma seniors face financial challenges each month.
But for Kim Pempin, founder of Pet Food Pantry, those decisions should never force seniors to decide between feeding themselves or feeding their best friend.
“Seniors can’t just go out and get more money,” Pempin said.
Pet Food Pantry delivers free pet food and supplies to low-income seniors, veterans, homeless and those in domestic violence shelters so they can feed and care for their companion pet while helping them afford their own food and medical supplies.
Pempin and husband, Mike, started Pet Food Pantry in their garage in June 2010.
Feeding street dogs and doing rescue work was just something that came natural for Kim.
She had been delivering food regularly to the men’s mission in cowtown and whatever was left over she would hand out to those on the street with animals.
“God spoke to me and said “Why don’t you do more,’” she remembered. “I knew people in rescue. I knew people who loved seniors and those who loved the homeless.
“I called some friends and asked if anybody was doing this.”
The answer was a resounding, no.
Two weeks later the group had its name and eventually a 501(c)(3) non-profit designation.
A bunch of pet food from a friend was donated. She called a friend at Skyline Ministries to see if they might need some.
She unloaded cases at the organization’s Primetimers programs and noticed something interesting.
When seniors would win Bingo games they would get their choice of a food or clothing item.
“When the pet food was there they would forego that and would get the pet food,” Pempin said. “That kind of told us it was a real deal.”
Branching out from Skyline Urban Ministry clients, Pet Food Pantry continued to grow to its current 150 seniors that receive home delivery and “at least that many in homeless.”
Mike Pempin does a homeless outreach twice a month to make sure pets of the homeless are fed.
The also group regularly provides food to the Homeless Alliance and domestic violence shelters, where kennels are maintained to help in a crisis.
“There’s probably about 800 pets we feed per month through all of this,” Pempin said.
That equates to nearly five tons of food for Oklahoma City’s dogs and cats.
Reaching Out
Applications for pet food assistance are required. But other resources are provided.
Pantry assistance, medication assistance and other resources are also readily available for Pempin to plug participants into through various metro resource providers.
“We do pet food, litter, bowls and treats and all that but we also do a three-month supply of flea and tick medicine,” Pempin said of what her group can provide.
Mindy Duke has volunteered with Pet Food Pantry since 2014.
“The first thing we did was help Mike start bagging food because he was doing it all himself,” Duke said. “Now we’re expanding out and we know corporations are out there looking for opportunities for their employees.
“Everybody who comes seems to have a good time and they keep coming back to help us.”
The Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma is a major supporter of Pet Food Pantry as are private businesses and citizens but the need is growing.
You can contact the organization by calling 405-664-2858.
Free pet food to those 63 or older, or U.S. Veterans (any age with proof of service) is offered with the condition that all pets must be spayed/neutered.
Areas currently served include Bethany, Britton, Del City, Edmond, Midwest City, Moore, Mustang, Norman, Oklahoma City Metro, Warr Acres, and Yukon.
Volunteers including sub route drivers, bin managers, event, and fundraising volunteers are always needed.
Tips for Pet Health
For dogs who have trouble eating dry food, a few hours before your pet’s feeding, place dry food in bowl and add just enough water to cover food. Place bowl in refrigerator. Dry food will plump up and be easier to eat – plus will give your pet some extra moisture. Take bowl out of refrigerator, add some warm water or warm in microwave checking to be sure food is not too hot. Smash food into smaller pieces with a fork. Repeat for each meal.
Healthy alternatives
Green beans are healthy treats and good for controlling pet’s weight. Store in freezer and give as a frozen treat or thaw in the refrigerator and serve with dry dog food. Low calorie, high fiber helps pets feel full and satisfied without increasing their weight. Green beans in the frozen section will have less sodium than canned green beans.
100% canned pumpkin is good for their digestive system – helps with constipation and diarrhea. Keep refrigerated. Add a spoonful to their food or place “dollops” on waxed paper and freeze. Also good for giving pills.

It is summer and Oklahoma families are spending more time at lakes and state parks. With that, the possibility of contact with one of Oklahoma’s many venomous snakes becomes a reality. A new local exhibit offers the opportunity to see these creatures up close and personal in a safe setting to help identify them in the wild.
OKC Rattlesnake Museum will open daily beginning July 5th at 1501 S. Agnew, in Oklahoma City’s Stockyards District. The museum includes 26 exhibits featuring all of the rattlesnakes native to Oklahoma, as well as Oklahoma’s other dangerous snakes — copperheads and cottonmouths. Other rattlesnakes from around the U.S., and a Gila Monster (large venomous lizard) are also on exhibit. Carl Sandefer, museum curator, is available for any questions visitors might have during their tour of the museum.
One of the rattlesnakes on display is an Eastern Diamondback named “Big Girl.” She is over five feet long and weighs 22 pounds. Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes are the largest of any rattlesnake species, as well as the heaviest venomous snakes in North America. This particular rattlesnake is found in the southeastern United States.
OKC Rattlesnake Museum will be open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Admission is free, but donations are appreciated. For more information, go to: https://www.facebook.com/snakemuseumokc/ or call (405) 850-5905.

by Bryan Painter

Jill DeRusha wears her hands-on love for agriculture with pride.
Before the sun has snuck a peek at the new day in southwestern Oklahoma, the 60-year-old who lives northwest of Mangum in the Jester/Willow Community, is out at the barn feeding. Depending on the day, she’s checking to see if heifers are calving. She’s checking water on the places with no ponds. She’s running after parts for the machinery. She’s making sure everyone has lunch and that the paperwork is filled out for the Farm Service Agency office. She’s checking on markets for cattle and crops, and selling crops “when appropriate.” She’s feeding hay to cattle and, when time permits, she’s mowing the yard.
So by the end of the day, DeRusha is always wearing her love for ag not only in her heart, but on her button down shirt and blue jeans.
“On any given day, I can have manure, hay, dirt and grease on me somewhere,” DeRusha said.
Paying attention
She and husband Randy raise cattle, cotton, wheat, alfalfa and some milo. They’ve had roughly 2,000 acres of cotton in recent years. They also have 350 mama cows. They own some acres and lease the rest.
DeRusha said, “We have a sign that says, ‘Jill Ranches, DeRusha Farms.’ That sums up our roles around the place. I can operate most of the machinery, but Randy is who keeps it running and in good shape. I take care of the cattle and he helps with them when needed.”
When DeRusha says she checks on her cattle, that doesn’t mean she’s simply counting them. She knows her mama cows – and the reason for that dates back more than 50 years.
“My granddad would take me everywhere with him,” she said. “He taught me to tell one cow from another. He would say, ‘Just look at their faces or look at them closely. That’s ole curly face, that’s short tail.’ To this day, I don’t tell my 350 mama cows by an ear tag. They all look different or have different personalities.”
DeRusha firmly believes agriculture has shaped her entire life.
“I think the way of life on the farm or ranch teaches a person to deal with everyday living in a positive way,” said DeRusha who’s quick to point out that their ag operation is four generations deep. “One learns there are many different paths to reach a goal or complete a task.”
The well-known drought in the 1950s ended the year Jill DeRusha was born, 1957. However, Jill and Randy found themselves right in the middle of the historic drought that sank its teeth into Oklahoma less than a decade ago.
“One of worst times we have faced was the drought of 2010-2011,” she said. “We had to decide whether or not to hold on to our cattle. We kept all but the 50 head and sold those. We fed hay. We hauled water. Every other day, I hauled a little over 3,000 gallons of water. It paid off, because when it rained and the grass came back we didn’t have to buy all the cattle back that we needed.”
It was a lesson of life, of carrying on, to pass along to family, regardless of their professions. Between them, they have five children. Her daughter Jaclyn and son-in-law Trey Christensen live in Oklahoma City, daughter Kelsey and son-in-law Kelby Merz live in Elk City, and son Kolby Miller and daughter-in-law McKenzie live in Oklahoma City. TaShina DeRusha lives in Somerville, Tenn., and Jared DeRusha lives in Dallas.
Jill and Randy have six grandchildren.
“I’m thrilled that the fifth generation loves coming to visit us at the farm,” DeRusha said. “I am so proud of our family.”
Always a part of her life
DeRusha’s parents, Jimmy and the late Joyce (Wheeler) Heatly, were partners in the family farming and ranching operation which included a cow-calf operation, cotton, wheat and hay.
The first tractor DeRusha drove was a Massey Ferguson 65. She was in second grade.
“I could jump across the width of the plow, so you didn’t seem to get much accomplished in a day’s time,” she said. “I loved the cattle part of the family business the most and my brother Jack would rather be on some piece of machinery, so it worked well. We learned teamwork was always the best way to get things done and that hard work usually pays off.”
Through 4-H and FFA their family traveled near and far showing cattle.
“It taught us more about hard work and responsibility for our animals, as well as sportsmanship and competition,” DeRusha said. “Through 4-H I grew to love Oklahoma State University. While there I was the Agriculture Queen, and even won the wild cow milking contest.”
She finished in the top 10 in the “Ag college.” That college experience only deepened her love for agriculture and she went on to work in the OSU Extension Service at the county level as an Ag Agent. She was a pacesetter in that regard.
She uses that knowledge and experience daily in their ag operation.
Knowing a little about a lot
Paul Harvey’s “So God Made a Farmer” includes a heartfelt description of just some of what is required of a farmer and rancher.
“I love Paul Harvey’s poem, ‘So God Made a Farmer,’ and it is on our wall,” DeRusha said.
Why does she love it? Because she believes that in agriculture you not only have to be determined, you have to be flexible.
“I think farmers and ranchers wear many different hats and I have worn a lot of them,” she said. “I love the spring or fall when the weather is cool. We calve both spring and fall and I love seeing the calves running around their mothers. I love the smell of fresh cut alfalfa hay and the sound of rain on the roof is music to my ears.”
So whether it’s mud, manure or grease that she has on her shirt and jeans at the end of the day, DeRusha will be found wearing every bit of it with pride.

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

Sometimes you just have to grab an important birthday denotation by the horns and plan a celebration yourself. Sound egotistical? Not really. When a landmark birthday approaches, particularly ending in a year with a zero, you reflect on your life, you discover your longtime friends and family were the joys along the way. To insure your landmark in the highway of life is not neglected you can organize your own celebration for not just for your life, but for the people along the way that have shared it with you and supported you through the decades.
This is what I did six months ago as I was surprised that a multiple decade birthday would be here next June. I started making a hand-written list of the people that I thought might like to attend and could attend taking in to consideration that some are almost a continent away, and some may not be in good enough health for an extended event. Then I thought to myself what I would like to do in a long weekend of events that I would enjoy, and as importantly could afford?
I came up with a Friday night come and go cocktail party in my garden and home, a Saturday brunch, and Saturday evening entertainment and a Sunday morning brunch, knowing some guests might need to catch a plane or get back home early.
I tempered this idea with my meager budget and decided to let the guests pay their own way at dinner events. This ala cart method is not unheard of and gives the guest the opportunity to choose the food they would most enjoy, what their budget allowed, and in a way was their gift to me. I included this information in a multiple page hard copy invitation, four to six weeks before the weekend, to enable them to “save the date” and to reply with their intention, the names of their guests and what events they would be attending, in a deadline announced RSVP SASE reply sheet.
In this day of email, I was afraid that many would not use the hard copy reply sheet to let me know their intentions, but ninety percent did just that. This gave me a written page account I could tally and record. I even asked their adult beverage preference so I could have it on hand for the garden cocktail party.
The Friday night garden party would take the most planning and preparations but was happy to share the enjoyment of my garden and my collectible cluttered house with those congenial friends I had not seen in years. I would serve all in crystal glass ware.. No red solo cups – this was not a college style bacchanal. As the weather predicted record breaking temps for my 7 pm event I purchased a number of fans for air circulation[T1] [T2] in the house and out on the deck. These seemed to do the trick, as I was the only one affected by the heat. Months before I had also purchase a mosquito killing machine that cut down on those pesky party poopers. To insure the safety of my evening guests in my “transitional neighborhood” I hired an off-duty policeman to patrol the parking lot. After all one must foresee what might mar the guest’s party remembrance. No drinks without food, so I offered a homemade spinach and avocado hot dip, a favorite spice cake, strawberries and grapes, a variety of cheeses and dips along with a tray of vegies and good ole Southern pimento cheese spread.
For my Celebratory Saturday Bruch I chose Oklahoma City’s newest contemporary hotel, 21c Hotel, (https://www.21cmuseumhotels.com/oklahomacity/) as well as for my host hotel for out of town visitors. The event managers are a joy to work with especially when you have special requests for a memory video screen, music, table arrangements, and preparation for my gift bags and table top party favors of an original small canvas abstract painting I did. Free valet parking for my guests was a boon and with an ideal installment plan to reserve the private dining room, all was ideal. The gathering was greeted with a fluted orange juice or bubbly which was offered next to the 21c hotels’ static penguin mascots.
For the evening entertainment I chose the Remington Park Casino and Race Track (https://www.remingtonpark.com/dining/silks-restaurant/) for their end of season running of the quarter horse races. By reserving 6 weeks in advance I was able to secure tables at the finish line in the glass enclosed Silks restaurant with their large delicious entrees, one would not expect at a race track. By following the advice of the jumbo screen MC I placed a 2 dollar bet and won to the amount of $14. I quit while ahead.
The casual yet elegant Sunday brunch was at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art Cafe, (https://www.opentable.com/museum-cafe?page=1) which always delivers the best of food and beverages. The upscale atmosphere was under samplings of the Dale Chihuly art glass, which is exhibited in more quantity in the museum permanent collection. It’s always a joy to tour the Museum, as I and some of my guests experienced.
You may not be able to host in your house, but perhaps a community center or condo common place can be reserved for an evening cocktail party. Also you need not wait for a decade birthday, as the Holidays are approaching, or just a celebration gathering of your long time friends, showing them and they showing you their love.

Mr. Terry Zinn – Travel Editor
Past President: International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association
http://realtraveladventures.com/author/zin

Sagora Senior Living proudly announces that two of its associates working in Tulsa, Okla., have been named 2018 “Caregiver of the Year” by the Oklahoma Assisted Living Association (OKALA). Bellarose Maintenance Director Joe Canaan was named Maintenance Caregiver of the Year and Aberdeen Heights Certified Nursing Assistant Brenda Cox was named Direct Care Caregiver of the Year.
OKALA, which is dedicated to excellence in care for Assisted Living residents, conducted a state-wide search to recognize associates that have positive & inspiring attitudes and go above and beyond to improve quality of life for their residents.
Canaan has provided excellent service at Bellarose for more than two years. “Joe goes out of his comfort zone to help residents and families to ensure we are well taken care of, wherever and whenever he is needed,” one Bellarose resident noted. “With his great personality, Joe is a go-to person for just about anything I need in my apartment,” wrote another.
Cox has delivered exceptional care to residents and families for more than eight years at Aberdeen Heights Assisted Living. “Brenda is reliable, dependable, patient and Johnny-on-the-spot—she isn’t pushy, and she doesn’t rush me,” wrote one Aberdeen Heights resident that nominated Cox. “She stands out! Brenda jokes with me and goes out of her way to care for me,” wrote another.
“We are extremely proud of our associates for receiving these prestigious accolades,” said Sagora Senior Living President Bryan McCaleb. “Brenda and Joe emulate the Sagora philosophy of ‘resident first’ every day, and we are so glad their hard work and dedication is being recognized in the senior living industry.”
Bellarose Senior Living offers a true continuum of care through independent living, assisted living and memory care in a dynamic environment where residents receive the appropriate level of compassionate care specific to their needs. Located at 18001 East 51st Street, the pet-friendly community has 135 comfortable apartments.
Aberdeen Heights Assisted Living at 7220 South Yale Avenue, boasts 80 apartments in a caring, pet friendly environment that offers privacy and independence with the benefit of 24-hour support and access to care.