The Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden partnered with Oklahoma Forestry Services to celebrate the 75th birthday of America’s favorite fire prevention personality, Smokey Bear. The celebration took place July 26th at the Oklahoma City Zoo’s Oklahoma Trails, Big Rivers Building.
“Together with Oklahoma Forestry Services, we were honored to commemorate this historical occasion celebrating one of the world’s most recognizable animal ambassadors,” said Barry Downer, OKC Zoo’s Deputy Director. “Like Smokey Bear, the OKC Zoo is dedicated to the conservation and preservation of our natural world and this event is a memorable way to connect Oklahomans to this vital campaign and its message.”
Smokey Bear’s birthday party featured Oklahoma Forestry Services firefighters, fire prevention information, fun Smokey giveaways, birthday cake—and of course, the bear himself! Plus, the OKC Zoo’s grizzly and black bears received their own birthday cakes created by their caretakers as part of the festivities. Grizzly bear brothers, Will and Wiley, received enrichment treats as did the black bears, Maynard and Woody Both the grizzly and black bear enrichment sessions were viewable from inside the Big Rivers Building and were free with regular Zoo admission.
For 75 years, Smokey Bear has been educating the public about fire prevention and the importance of protecting America’s wild places from unwanted, human-caused fire. Smokey, one of the most beloved ambassadors of our time, and his signature catchphrase, “Only you can prevent wildfires,” are truly iconic. His message of wildfire prevention is the center of the longest-running PSA campaign in our nation’s history.
“We are excited to partner with the OKC Zoo to celebrate Smokey Bear’s 75th birthday,” said Mark Goeller, Director, Oklahoma Forestry Services and State Forester. “Smokey’s fire prevention message is as relevant today as it was in 1944, and we hope it continues to resonate with generations to come.”
Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the Oklahoma City Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Hours of operation are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Regular admission is $11 for adults and $8 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Stay up-to-date with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and by visiting Our Stories. Zoo fans can support the OKC Zoo by becoming Oklahoma Zoological Society members at ZOOfriends.org or in-person at the Zoo! To learn more about these and other happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit okczoo.org.

integrisok.com/seniorwellness

Do you have swelling in your legs that will not go away?
Do your legs get red and warm?
Are your legs discolored or “stained”?
Do you have “weeping” from the lower legs?
Have you had a blood clot in your legs or in your lungs?
Do you have an ulcer or wound in your lower legs that will not heal, or has to be treated by a wound care specialist?
If one or more of these symptoms apply to you, then you could have Venous Stasis Disease
What is Venous Stasis Disease (VSD)?
Veins are the blood vessels which collect blood from tissues and organs all over the body. These veins are filled with carbon dioxide and waste products of metabolism from the tissues and organs. The veins return the blood to the right side of the heart and lungs to be replenished with oxygen and nutrients. It is then pumped out again to the tissues and organs of the body by the left side of the heart. In VSD the veins are not working effectively and blood flow back to the heart is slowed causing poor circulation and pooling of blood in the legs which leads to swelling.
Who is affected?
Primarily older men and women, but VSD can affect all ages. It becomes increasingly common with each year of life. Men are affected earlier, but women catch up quickly. People who have had blood clots in the legs or lungs, pelvic injury or surgery are at higher risk. This can also occur in some people because of the way their bodies are built. People who tend to stand in one position for prolonged periods or who sit at a desk for extended times are at increased risk.
How is it diagnosed?
Careful history and physical exam of an individual by a healthcare professional. After a physical exam, if venous stasis disease is suspected specialized ultrasound exams of the veins in the leg are performed . Oftentimes, specialized testing such as venograms or ultrasound with a probe or camera inside the vein is used to further diagnose.
What are the consequences of the disease?
Pain, cramping in the legs, burning pain, numbness, and tingling in the feet are common symptoms of venous stasis disease. Wounds or infections that are slow to resolve or do not resolve are also signs of the disease. Feet that turn blue, have constant severe pain, ulcers or dark “staining” of the skin may be a result of VSD. If left untreated or treated too late, it can lead to amputations or spread of infection into the bone or blood stream. Eventually, it can also lead to marked thickening of the skin in the legs and transformation to skin more like a thick hide in the lower legs.
Is it preventable?
Try to avoid sitting or standing in position for prolonged periods. Avoid periods of more than 2 hours at a time. Try to spend a few minutes walking and exercising the muscles in your legs, this helps “pump” blood back to the heart.
* Diabetes – it is very important to work with your primary healthcare professional to control your diabetes with a combination of medication, healthy diet, lifestyle modification, and weight loss
* Right heart failure – this can lead to swelling of both legs and requires management by a cardiologist
* Smoking – never start, or if you still smoke – QUIT!
* Overweight – manage with diet modification, weight loss, regular exercise
How is Venous Stasis Disease treated?
* Initially, conservative treatment such as compression stockings is used to put pressure on the legs, reduce swelling, and help pump blood back up to the heart. Diuretics or “water pills” may need to be supplemented to help reduce swelling.
* If there is a wound present, sometimes treatment by a wound care specialist is required
* Minimally invasive (percutaneous) procedures through an iv placed into the vein – in the neck or groin.
*Angioplasty – balloons of various sizes are used to expand a vein to its natural size – the balloon is removed after treatment is complete
*Stents – used in select situations to expand a vein to its normal size, and hold it open with a “scaffold” – these are permanent implants.
Who can treat it?
This can be treated by select cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and interventional radiologists. If you feel that you may be at risk for venous stasis disease, or have some of the above symptoms, you should consult your primary healthcare professional to screen for it, and to discuss treatment options.
Dr. C.V Ramana is a vascular and interventional radiologist with more than 20 years of practice experience. He has expertise in all areas of vascular and interventional radiology. Dr. Ramana has a Ph.D from Yale University and MD from CWRU in Cleveland, Ohio where he subsequently completed his fellowship in Vascular and Interventional Radiology at the Cleveland Clinic.

www.fountainbrookliving.com

Benefits include vehicle discounts, equipment service and access to mobility specialists

The Oklahoma Assisted Living Association (OKALA) is pleased to offer benefits to members through a collaboration with United Access. As the second largest provider of customized accessible vehicles and equipment in the nation, United Access provides vehicle sales for wheelchair vans, trucks and SUVs, as well as wheelchair and scooter lifts, hand controls, power transfer seats and more.
“With United Access our members will have the advantage of working with a local dealership and local mobility specialists who know, live and work in our community,” said Melissa Holland, Executive Director OKALA. “Being able to meet in person with United Access will not only be convenient and comfortable, but also critical to their developing a deep understanding of our members’ businesses and specific accessible vehicle needs, as well as knowing the local resources necessary to keeping your vehicles operating at peak performance.”
Incentives offered by United Access will enable OKALA members to receive the maximum possible value on their vehicles by working with dedicated mobility specialists. In addition to special discounts on vehicle acquisition, OKALA members will receive mobility equipment servicing and access to nationwide remarketing experts for selling vehicles, among other benefits. Dealer sales, service and financing and leasing also are available for retail and commercial wheelchair vans in Oklahoma.
Specific benefits and discounts include:
*Local, dedicated mobility specialists
*Up to 5 percent savings on vehicle acquisition costs
*Free annual mobility equipment service
*Factory ordering, manufacturer and volume incentives
*Access to nationwide remarketing experts for buying and selling vehicles
“United Access is dedicated to giving people the power of freedom and independence by providing the safest and most trusted accessible driving solutions and we are pleased to be able to offer these special benefits to OKALA members across the state,” said Jim Thurmond, commercial sales manager for United Access. “Our vehicles provide an affordable transportation solution for independent living and senior living communities for non-emergency medical transport and ambulette paratransit.”
All United Access’ wheelchair accessible vans comply with National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards and include top quality vehicles from trusted companies including BraunAbility, Vantage Mobility International (VMI), Bruno, Harmar lifts, and ElDorado. Selections include wheelchair vans with side- or rear-entry ramps, as well as full-size vans with lifts. Rentals also are available.

In the first six months of 2019, the Oklahoma Insurance Department recovered double the amount of money for policyholders compared to all of last year. More than $5.1 million in claims disputes have been settled with the Department’s help.
“These recovery amounts make a real impact on peoples’ lives, and Oklahomans should expect their insurance companies to keep the promises made to them” Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready said. “Today’s numbers show our Department’s continued commitment to protect insurance consumers.”
OID’s Consumer Assistance/Claims Division processes and assist consumers seeking help with their insurance companies. The division opened 3,061 files from January to June of this year. They’ve also answered 7,110 phone calls. The money recovered from January to June of this year totaled $5,129,962.81. Last year, the recovery amount for the entire year was $3,549,619.17.
Policyholders who have an issue with their claim can file a “Request for Assistance” for the following types of insurance: auto, home, commercial, life and health, service warranty, title or workers’ compensation. To learn more about the complaint process, go to oid.ok.gov or call the Consumer Assistance Division at 800-522-0071.
The Oklahoma Insurance Department, an agency of the State of Oklahoma, is responsible for the education and protection of the insurance-buying public and for oversight of the insurance industry in the state.

by Vickie Jenkins
Staff Writer

There are a few churches around the metro area that offer a food pantry to those people that need a little extra hand every now and then. Mayfair church of Christ is one of those generous churches.
Meet David Ellis where you will find him here at the church different days of the week, different times of the day, and a lot of his time is spent in a room at the back of the church; designated as The Food Pantry. He will be doing his job as he serves as the food pantry coordinator.
“It all started fourteen years ago with a man named Jerry Bostick who actually started the food pantry at the church. Things were a little different back then,” David said. “There was a closet, literally, a closet, on the other side of the church, where a few boxes of food were stored and a few people picked up a few things. It was twelve years ago that I volunteered to help out. I’m still doing it,” he said with a smile. “Sometimes, I feel like maybe I got shanghaied into it, he laughed. “I really do enjoy it and it makes me feel good to be helping out. Since I am retired, I consider this my full-time job.”
Just for an update, In June, the pantry served 84 households consisting of 251 persons, (40 seniors, 122 adults and 89 children) we have received 34 cases (40 pounds each) of canned food as our portion of the Mail Carriers Food drive held in May. Distributions will begin when the Pantry opens on July 10, 2019. The hours of the Pantry will be each Wednesday 3-5 and the last Monday of each month 10-noon.
How do people hear about the Food Pantry? “Word of mouth is the biggest. Most of the people that come by to pick up food have been coming for several years. On the other hand there are some people that come one time during the whole year. We are here, come rain or shine,” David replied.
David explained how the people get approved to accept food from the food pantry. “The people have to qualify to register for the food pantry; they have to be in one of the six approved zip codes, meet federal income guidelines, show a picture ID and bring some type of document that verifies their address. We get shipments of food from the food bank which includes USDA meats, bread, vegetables, fruit, staples, canned goods and dry goods. We then take special care to bag the groceries according to the size of their family.”
How does David feel about being the food pantry coordinator? “It makes me feel good about the situation, especially when the people come in the very first time. They are not sure what to expect or not sure how to accept the help. I just want to make them feel comfortable and let them know that we are willing to help them,” David replied
“Even though I am the food pantry coordinator, there are plenty of others that use their time to serve others too; the volunteers…say there is a lot of work that goes into the food pantry but it is all well worth it. I am thankful for the people here at the church that are willing to serve,” David said. “I call that teamwork, he added.
On a personal note, David and his wife Elaina just celebrated their 50th anniversary on June 21st. Their families, along with their four grandchildren, were fortunate to be in town for the big celebration.
Because of his past experiences in life, his organizations skills were remarkable. ‘I didn’t realize it at the time, but God was preparing me for this job back then,” he said with a smile. “Running the food pantry takes a lot of organization, from ordering the food, to making sure there is enough for the families each month. We usually distribute about 3000 pounds of food, a little less than a ton. That is a lot of food!”
Asking if David had any words of encouragement, he said, “Well, my daughter said, ‘you are really a glass-half-full guy, aren’t you?’ I agreed with her, wondering what she meant. I laughed at the thought. All in all, yes, I am the Food Pantry Coordinator at Mayfair Church of Christ. I am happy to serve others.”
If you would like more information about Mayfair Church of Christ, located at 2340 N.W. 50, Oklahoma City, OK 73112 or call 405-842-2993

www.harborchase.com

Macaroni “Mackee”, a 10-year-old Dalmatian therapy dog, walks close by owner Jane Neely and settles on the floor surrounded by children and books at the Midwest City Library.
After a little girl reads a book to Jane, while showing pictures to Mackee, a young boy comes in near the spotted dog and begins reading a book about cougars.
“Children are so open. They just sit down without any inhibitions and pet Mackee or read to him,” said Jane, a Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) of Central Oklahoma volunteer since 2005. “Sometimes they read to me and sometimes they like me to help them with their reading. Mackee is patient and just loves the kids.”
Jane is an active member of Therapy Dogs International, the leader in training and certifying therapy dogs, and Mackee is a certified therapy dog. She has had a love of Dalmatians for years, having owned nine. When she first began volunteering with RSVP, she gave her time delivering meals, but the love she has for her dogs and sharing them with others blossomed into a new volunteer opportunity reading to children at libraries and visiting nursing homes, where sometimes Mackee performs tricks for the residents.
Laura McPheeters, RSVP of Central Oklahoma volunteer coordinator, said that Jane’s dog is an icebreaker and comfort to children and the elderly, and that people feel no judgment and feel unconditionally supported by the dogs almost instantaneously.
“I think it’s fun to be a volunteer with RSVP and share my dog with people,” Jane said. “Dogs are born to love.”
Since 1973, RSVP of Central Oklahoma has helped senior adults continue to live with purpose and meaning by connecting them with rewarding community volunteer opportunities, including RSVP’s Provide-A-Ride Senior Transportation Program. RSVP is a partner of Senior Corps and the United Way of Central Oklahoma. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, call Laura McPheeters at 405.605.3110 or visit rsvpokc.org. You can also follow RSVP on Facebook at facebook.com/RSVPokc.

www.fullcircleok.com

Story and photos by Darl DeVault

Oklahomans who have a flair for providing community service can help stage the Oklahoma Senior Games. Volunteers can help promote healthy lifestyles by encouraging active seniors 50 and over to enhance the quality of their lives through athletic and recreational competition.
Regina Stewart, the Games’ volunteer coordinator, a senior athlete herself, is direct in her support of the concept. “The Senior Games keeps me motivated to stay active and compete, which allows me to be healthy,” Stewart said.
Volunteering opportunities abound as the statewide events grow to more than 1,000 competitors this year. Your fellow citizens need your help to conduct the many activities needed to allow events to run smoothly in September and October.
Stewart said she counts on the community to continue embracing what has come to be known as the “Oklahoma Standard.” The Games promote healthy lifestyles for seniors through education, fitness and the spirited competition of sports and recreational games. This goes along with inspiring everyone to embrace health and appreciate and enjoy the value of sports related exercise.
Also the track and field coordinator, Stewart said that more than 100 volunteers helped last year around the state. She estimates double that number can help this year to handle the growth in the many sports and games offered.
Organizers anticipate even more interest this year as they share their message during the Oklahoma State Fair. Volunteers who want to attend the Fair free with free close-in parking can sign up to host demonstrations of table tennis, disc golf, the long jump, and a rowing machine. This booth will be in the Modern Living Building. The Fair runs September 12-22.
More details and signup for these three, four-hour shifts each day of the Fair are on the okseniorgames.org Web site under the Volunteer tab.
The organizers are counting on the warm hospitality and strong sense of community spirt our citizens have shown as volunteers that allow the state to thrive.
“Our volunteers are a major part of how and why our state has proven itself as a great place to compete in senior games each year,” Stewart said. “We have grown each of the last four years because of the time and energy Oklahomans who do not compete have invested in offering the Games to those who do compete.”
Officials ask that corporations organize groups of volunteers of 10 or more employees who can be assigned to specific sports. These groups will be kept together to spark morale within the volunteering ranks.
Volunteers make up the largest resource for the sanctioned state organization to produce state games each year. This help allows the events to be the qualifying site in the Sooner state for the National Senior Games Association’s National competitions.
The Games provide 20 sports and games, some with variations, that provide athletic training opportunities and social interaction.
Along with the competitions, organizers provide healthy lifestyle educational information for seniors, especially at the booth at the Fair.
Please visit the newly expanded okseniorgames.org for more info on volunteering and all the sports and games offered. For general questions call (405) 821-1500 or email info@okseniorgames.org.

Examples of ways to volunteer are listed below:

Oklahoma State Fair: sports demonstration hosts and information providers
Archery: Check-in, refreshments
Badminton: Check-in, refreshments
Basketball: Scorekeepers, check-in, refreshments
3 on 3 Basketball Free Throw/Around-the-world: Scorekeepers, rebounders
Bowling: Check-in, refreshments
Cornhole: Check-in, Scorekeepers
Cycling: Check-in, course monitors, bike holders, refreshments, medals
Golf and Golf Croquet: Check-in, refreshments
Horseshoes: Check-in, refreshments
Pickleball: Check-in, refreshments, scorekeepers
Race Walking: Check-in, water stops, course monitors, refreshments, medals
Racquetball: Check-in, refreshments
Road Races: Check-in, water stops, course monitors, refreshments, medals
Registration: Check-in athletes, t-shirt distribution,
Shuffleboard: Scorekeepers,
Swimming: Timers, Refreshments, Medals
Table Tennis: Check-in, refreshments,
Tennis: Check-in, refreshments, water coolers, t-shirt sales, ball retrieving/distribution
Triathlon: Course monitors, swim lap counters, water stops, check-in, refreshments
Track and Field: Check-in, field event helpers, timers, refreshments, runners, medals
Washer Pitch: Check-in, scorekeepers, refreshments

www.dispatchhealth.com

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) recently announced that fifteen INTEGRIS Family Care Clinics earned Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition renewal.
The clinics received the initial recognition in 2016 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 Care Baptist
INTEGRIS Family Care Central
INTEGRIS Family Care Norman
INTEGRIS Family Care Yukon
INTEGRIS Family Care Coffee Creek
INTEGRIS Family Care Edmond East
INTEGRIS Family Care Edmond Renaissance
INTEGRIS Family Care Memorial West
INTEGRIS Family Care Northwest
INTEGRIS Family Care Southwest
INTEGRIS Family Care Lake Pointe
INTEGRIS Family Care Moore
INTEGRIS Family Care Surrey Hills
INTEGRIS Family Care South
INTEGRIS Family Care Mustang
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.
To date, sixteen INTEGRIS Family Care Clinics have achieved this distinction. INTEGRIS Family Care South Penn has a different renewal cycle.

Saturday will mark a half-century since Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the moon. In the 50 years since, space missions have had an unlikely touchpoint right here in Oklahoma—at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation.
In 1978, Shannon Lucid, Ph.D., then working as a post-doctoral researcher at OMRF, was selected as part of the first class of female astronauts in NASA’s space shuttle program. Her time at OMRF, where she’d studied how chemicals cause cancerous changes in cells, had not prepared her for the media onslaught that followed the announcement.
Local and international news outlets, including crews from Time, Life and People magazines, came to OMRF to interview Lucid. She even appeared on the CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite.
Despite Lucid’s newfound fame, she remained “very down to earth,” said Don Gibson, who worked in the lab with Lucid during the six-plus years she was at OMRF. She spent several months wrapping up her scientific projects at the foundation, determined not to leave any loose ends for her colleagues.
It took seven years of training, but in 1985, Lucid became the sixth American woman to reach space. And as a mission specialist aboard three different space shuttles, she put her scientific training to use.
She conducted a project on the growth of ice crystals and studied the effects of space on wild wheat. She observed quail embryos and, in a nod to her days at OMRF, even did a project with lab rats.
“On the Columbia, we had 48 rats to tend, and I worked with them every day,” Lucid told OMRF’s Findings magazine in 2016. “No one else on the mission had ever done that sort of thing, so I was a natural for that task.”
While NASA’s research has focused on what transpires far above the earth’s surface, many of the projects on space flights also aim to change things right here on our planet. That was the case with a pair of experiments that OMRF’s Allen Edmundson, Ph.D., sent into space in 2003 aboard the shuttle Columbia.
The experiments involved taking cells from cancer patients in their natural, liquid form and transforming them into solid crystals. Once the cells had been crystallized, which happens more readily in the gravity-free atmosphere of space than under earthbound conditions, Edmundson planned to bombard them with radiation to study their structure. He hoped that unmasking the cells’ structure might lead to new cancer treatments.
However, after 16 days in space, the Columbia disintegrated upon re-entry to the earth’s atmosphere. All seven astronauts on the shuttle died.
When Edmundson later viewed photos of shuttle debris found near Nacogdoches, Texas, he was stunned. There, amidst the wreckage, was a small, aluminum container that had held his experiments.
“I couldn’t believe that our little box could have survived a fall from 200,000 feet,” he said. Still, his experiments did not.
The Columbia tragedy put a temporary halt to human space flight, but those missions eventually resumed. This past March, Vice President Mike Pence announced that NASA was aiming for a new generation of Americans to reprise Armstrong’s lunar landing by 2024.
“We still have so much to learn from space,” said OMRF President Stephen Prescott, M.D. “Judging from history, I feel confident that Oklahoma scientists will continue to contribute to this process of exploration and discovery.”

www.whisperingcreekretirement.com

I like the nice weather and getting out in it and maybe walk. Joan Quatro

I used to jog a lot but now I just do boxing. Dovie Kasper

Vacation. I used to hike, backpack and rock climb. Now I don’t do much of anything. Robert Quatro

I like to camp, boat, ski and fish. I’m an outdoor person – have been all my life. Chris Offerson

https://www.aefuneral.com/