January 2012

www.edmondoutlook.com 1

2 www.edmondoutlook.com

Choose your favorite fabrics, leathers, trims, & wood finishes to create your own design. Outstanding craftsmanship,friendly service, & fine furniture from...

Amish-Made in the USA

3415 N. May | 942-1985www.haggardsfinefurniture.comFree metro delivery - including Edmond!Mon-Fri 10 am to 6 pm & Sat 10 am to 5 pm

Watch theBIG GAMEin style! Smith Brothers • Simply Amish • Millcraft

Valley View Oak • Riverside • StanleySchwartz Woodworking • Hooker

American Drew • Charles SchneiderLaCrosse Sleepers

Tilt-back also available in fabric and/or as a recliner Tilt-back also available in fabric and/or as a recliner


3415 N. May | 942-1985www.haggardsfinefurniture.comFree metro delivery - including Edmond!Mon-Fri 10 am to 6 pm & Sat 10 am to 5 pm

Smith Brothers • Simply Amish • MillcraftValley View Oak • Riverside • Stanley

Schwartz Woodworking • Hooker American Drew • Charles Schneider

LaCrosse Sleepers


Classes begin

January 9th

ENROLL TODAY!

CAREER TRAINING IN CULINARY ARTS, MEDICAL

& NURSING

plattcolleges.edu749-2433North Campus

946-7799Central Campus

912-3260Moore Campus

Day or Evening Classes Available!

For important program information, go to plattcolleges.edu/Disclosure.htm.

*Programs offered vary by campusLicensed by O.B.P.V.S.

Practical Nursing • BSN in Nursing A.S. Nursing (LPN to RN)

Dental Asst. • Pharmacy TechnicianMedical Assistant/PhlebotomyA.S. Culinary Arts • Pastry Arts

A.S. Medical Laboratory TechnicianA.S. Respiratory CareSurgical Technologist

Medical Office Admin. Specialist



30 TAKING A STANDTeaching school-age students self-confidence, self-worth and self-defense through Martial Arts Anti-Bullying Programs.

FEATURES20 Ask Mom RNEdmond mom uses her education in

an unconventional way, providing

practical advice for families.

26 W/O BoundariesWhat one local mom is doing to

save the lives of thousands of

orphans in China.

DEPARTMENTS16 BUSINESS Computer Zone All American Fitness Xpress

18 HOME Estate Sales

25 BEFORE & AFTER Edmond Kitchen & Bath

33 MY EDMOND OUTLOOK Rumble the Bison

6 ARTS Tough Act to Follow

8 SPORTS Zabel’s Tug

10 LOUISE Hello Neighbor!

11 SHOPPING Cool Deals

12 FOOD Blue Nile Ethiopian Cuisine What’s New?

To advertise, call Laura at 405-301-3926

January 2012

22 Stop-MotionFrom “Wall-E meets Michael Jackson”

to “Battle of the Bonds,” local film-

maker Kyle Roberts tells all.

$

28 A Positive ImpactHow one Edmond family is making

a difference in the community with

used clothing and books.


(Volume 8, Number 1) Edmond Outlook is a publication of Back40 Design, Inc. © 2012 Back40 Design, Inc.

Articles and advertisements in Edmond Outlook do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the magazine or Back40 Design. Back40 Design does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors.

The acceptance of advertising by Edmond Outlook does not constitute endorsement of the products, services or information.

We do not knowingly present any product or service that is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Edmond Outlook assumes

no responsibility for unsolicited materials.

PUBLISHERDave Miller

EDITORIAL & ADVERTISINGMANAGER

Krystal Harlow

EDITORErica Smith

ADVERTISING SALESLaura BeamLori Cathey

PRODUCTION DESIGNTanner Yeomans Karen Munger

PHOTOGRAPHYMarshall Hawkins

www.sundancephotographyokc.com

DISTRIBUTIONThe Edmond Outlook is delivered FREE by direct mail to 50,000 Edmond homes and businesses.

13431 N. Broadway Ste. 104 OKC, OK 73114Office: 405-341-5599 Fax: 405-341-2020

[email protected]


Few people can say they have their

dream job, but Erin Spencer is one

of those people. She is an actress

who has appeared on the hit show

“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” and played in

several films and commercials. She has also been

a magician’s assistant in Biloxi, Mississippi, a

dancer in “Chicago the Musical” in New Zealand,

a commercial actor aboard a boat headed toward

Catalina Island, a motion capture performer in the

virtual world of video games and the spokesperson

for Olay Pro-X Clear.

Spencer lives in Los Angeles and attended

Idyllwild Arts Academy in California. But it was

from the Sooner State that Spencer began building

her artistic foundation.

She was chosen to

become a member of

the StarDanceSwan

dance company as a

fifth-grader at Will

Rogers Elementary.

Her heart has been set

on being a performer ever since. “StarDanceSwan

was really pre-professional training. Not only was

(artistic director) Lorrie Keller so creative, she

encouraged us to be co-creators with her. Lorrie

Keller has been a major inspiration in my life,”

said Spencer.

The actress still remembers her first

performance with StarDanceSwan. She was 10 years

old and was to open the show with her partner. “I

was so nervous. I went to the bathroom because I

thought I was going to be sick and everybody kept

knocking on the door,” she said. The show couldn’t

start until she pulled herself together, but then

all went well. “I loved being part of the creative

process,” said Spencer.

Rehearsals for the show were some of her

favorite times. “My mom would bring us dinner in

a Thermos and we’d hang around the theater until

we were called on stage.”

Spencer is working on a variety of projects,

including voice-overs and modeling for print

publications, but wants to concentrate on acting for

television. “I would absolutely love to be on a series

that runs for 10 years,

working with the same

people and having the

character develop over

time.” She said if she

could work on a show

that runs currently, it

would be “Mad Men.”

Spencer watches a lot of movies and her favorite

actresses are Meryl Streep, Christina Hendricks

and Diane Lane. “Diane Lane is definitely talented,”

she said. “She is very good at what she does. She’s

so beautiful, and I was really excited to work

with her.”

Acting is a very competitive field and often

there are as many as 1,500 candidates vying for a

single role. Auditions are scheduled on short notice

and actors have to be ready all the time. “In general

you have about a night to prepare for an audition,”

Spencer explained. Sometimes actors don’t even

see the script. “For ‘Mad Men’ or some of those

big shows, they don’t want scripts floating around,

because they don’t want storylines to get out to the

public.” And even if she doesn’t get selected for a

role, Spencer has learned not to take it personally.

“In my mind, every ‘no’ is one step closer to a ‘yes’!

Everybody who dreams of Hollywood and being

discovered at the 7-Eleven will move to L.A. and

soon after will find out that is not the way it works

at all. You really have to put the work in every

single day.”

Spencer has had all kinds of surprises while

performing - costumes that fall off or things that

break. Once, what should have been a light first-

day rehearsal turned into a vigorous workout.

Spencer and a group of actors were trying to

repeat the movement of a Japanese instructor for

motion-capture roles in a video game. The moves

by Radina Gigova

TOUGH ACTTO FOLLOW

Erin Spencer on the cover ofSAG Magazine taken by Moshe Brakha

Acting is intensely competitive with 1,500 candidates vying for a

single role.


got more difficult until

the actors started

doing cartwheels

holding pistols and

machetes. “It started

getting crazy, but it

was the first day on

the job and nobody

wanted to get

fired,” she joked.

Spencer still

keeps in touch

with her Edmond

friends. Although she

enjoys the ocean and mountains of California, she

has not forgotten the excitement of an Oklahoma lightning strike, the sound

of heavy rain beating down, or the ominous feeling of an approaching storm.

“Acting is such a joy and sometimes it looks so easy, but it takes a lot

more work than people realize,” said Spencer. “It’s hard even if you love it.”

Spencer never stopped loving her craft and chances are that won’t change

any time soon.


College and professional sports

programs across the nation have

found a new way to build strong,

unstoppable players, and the key is an

invention by Edmond resident and former football star

Steve Zabel.

“The Tug” is filled with water and it uses inertia

to offer a new spin on the millennia-old game tug-

of-war. Disc-shaped and fixed with four handles, it

boasts an innovative design for increased safety and

added features to create a workout reminiscent of

dangerous strength-training exercises of the past.

The idea came from Zabel’s football days at the

University of Oklahoma. In the off-season after

his sophomore year, his team conditioned with

“stick wrestling,” a battle of brute strength where

participants wrestled over a 24-inch segment of a

broom handle. The exercise proved to be a very

bloody fiasco, with his teammates getting gouged and

hit with the stick, butting heads and catching elbows.

Thirty years later, after a decade of NFL play for

the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots and

Denver Broncos, Zabel started coaching at Curry

College in Milton, Massachusetts. There he met a

young coach who suggested having the team play

tug-of-war using tires. Instead of running sprints

after practice, the team had six tires for the exercise.

“This is what stick-wrestling was like, except nobody

got hurt,” Zabel explained. However, someone did

get hurt at Harvard when a defensive coordinator

decided to increase the weight by upgrading to

tractor tires. As a result, an athlete broke a femur.

This caused Zabel to realize his still-primitive idea

for The Tug would have to factor in weight variation

and safety.

In the off-season, Zabel applied for a patent and

developed a prototype for his invention. It was 18

months before he got a response from the patent

office in 2004. After that, he found a manufacturer

in Gainesville, Texas, and The Tug went into

production. “It’s been a fun ride so far,” Zabel says.

He started going to football conventions and

high school and college football clinics across the

country to promote The Tug. One of his former

Philadelphia teammates, who was coaching at Baylor

University at the time, bought six. Less than a week

later, The University of Texas bought 12. Soon, OU,

Oklahoma State, Tennessee, Michigan, Wisconsin,

Minnesota and many other Division I schools were

placing orders and integrating The Tug into their

athletic programs. “It’s kind of taken on a life of its

own,” Zabel says.

High-profile appearances in an article

about Syracuse in ESPN The Magazine and on a

Thanksgiving Day football game gave The Tug a

big kick in sales. Now, professional sports teams

including the Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans

and St. Louis Rams are using The Tug and Zabel

has shipped several thousand units. It’s also used

in training for hockey, wrestling, lacrosse, football,

women’s soccer and other applications.

What’s unique about The Tug is that it can hold

about 15 gallons of water, which makes it 80 pounds

when half full. While being fought over, the water

sloshes around, creating inertia. So, when two people

are playing tug-of-war with the device, it’s like there

are three, the third being the inertia created by the

battle. “You’re not just going against your opponent,”

says Zabel. “You’re going against that third guy,

The Tug.”

Users have found solo ways to implement The

Tug as well, in exercises including lunges, duck

walks and squats. The fact that the water is always

moving turns routine exercises into unique, core-

engaging workouts because it’s like trying to balance

an 80-pound level, Zabel explains.

“The Tug has fit a pretty good niche in that

world,” he says. The handles are 36 inches apart,

which makes using The Tug safer than old-school

The idea came from Zabel's football days

at the University of Oklahoma.

by Nathan Winfrey

ZABEL'S TUG

ACE Certified trainers Jake Carney and David Taylor in a Tug battle

Athletes doing Tug drills at Kearney HS in Kansas


stick-wrestling. It’s made of

bendable resin, which is softer

and more forgiving than plastic.

Its weight also serves as a safety

feature. When full, The Tug

weighs about 150 pounds, which

makes it harder to throw around

and hurt someone. “The heavier it

is, the safer it is,” Zabel says.

While The Tug is marketed

mostly to athletic programs,

Zabel is working on a smaller,

more versatile version called “The

Tugger” that will be intended for the public. Zabel says he hopes that one day

every elementary school in America will have a Tugger. Another product that’s

now available from his company, Competitive Action Sports, is the “Water Slog.”

It is designed for more traditional weight lifting and holds 16 gallons of water.

Zabel continues to travel the country promoting and selling his products. “It’s

been something that I’ve enjoyed. It allows me to stay in the world of athletics,”

he says. Not only is he still part of that world, he’s helping shape the way athletes

of the future will train.

For more information, visit www.thetug.net.

Edmond inventor and former NFLstar, Steve Zabel with Water Slog


About the AuthorLouise Tucker Jones isan award-winning author and inspirational speaker. Author and co-author of four books, her work has been featured in numerous publications. Contact her at: [email protected] or LouiseTuckerJones.com.by Louise Tucker Jones

HELLONEIGHBOR!

This cold January weather brings

some “moving” experiences to my

mind. Though my family is far

from nomadic, we have lived in 10

different houses during our 45 years of marriage.

Our first move came when my husband Carl and I

abandoned our tiny one-bedroom duplex in Tulsa

for a 12’ x 52’ two-bedroom mobile home that sat

between a creek that overflowed during heavy rains

and the Arkansas River. My mother was certain her

daughter would float away.

The move took place on our 2nd anniversary

but since utilities weren’t on, we had to stay at a

motel that cold March night. The motel attendant

thought it strange that a young couple would want

a room late at night, especially since Carl couldn’t

remember our new address and wrote his parents’

address, which happened to be on Smith Street. Yep,

Carl Jones on Smith Street, 10 p.m. and a young lady

waiting in the car. Not a pretty picture to a motel

manager in 1968. The last straw for Carl came when

the man remarked about my tired husband’s “shiny

new ring” (his wedding band of two years). Carl said,

“I’ll get my wife out of the car. She’s eight months

pregnant!” But before he got to the door the man

handed over a key. An interesting memory to record

in our scrapbook and eventually tell our son, Aaron

who was born two weeks later.

Every move was memorable in its own way

but one took place on New Year’s Eve, right here

in Edmond, with some interesting results. Who

would move on New Year’s Eve anyway with snow

and cold weather? Well, we did and our friends

Tom and Cheryl braved the elements and helped us

move to our home in the Foxbriar addition. In those

days (over 30 years ago) the little square of houses

was in the country, sitting all to itself with only one

entrance. No surrounding neighborhoods. Just open

country on all sides—the reason we moved there.

Problem was, you had to go up a hill to get out of the

addition and January 1978, presented some major

weather challenges.

Our house sat at the bottom of that hill which

proved to be a great way to meet new neighbors. Over

and over stranded motorists knocked at our door,

asking to use the phone—no cell phones in those

days. I learned to keep a pot of coffee brewing and

some homemade goodies around, not knowing who

my guests might be on those cold, icy January days.

Sometimes there would be more than one person

sitting in my kitchen, sipping coffee while waiting

for help or to have their cars towed. Some of those

neighbors became long-time friends.

So it was only natural that many new neighborhood

activities took place in our home for the first time. We

started a bunco club, a neighborhood association and

a monthly newsletter that my kids and their friends

delivered. We had ceramic classes at another friend’s

house and parades for most holidays. We lived in that

cozy house and friendly neighborhood for 23 years

and would have stayed longer had it not been for

new housing additions crowding out our “country”

perimeters, with builders cutting down huge old

oak trees where my older children and their friends

once built tree houses and a forested area where Jay

and I used to walk which we called the Hundred

Acre Woods.

I’m glad we now have cell phones to call for help

when we need it, but we still want good neighbors so

I’m suggesting a simple New Year’s resolution. Let’s

resolve to meet, greet and support our neighbors.

When bad weather or hardships come, we need each

other. My husband assisted many stranded motorists

and I have learned first hand how helpful neighbors

can be. And rest assured, whether you are the one

giving or receiving, it’s a win/win situation!

“Let's resolve to meet, greet

and support our neighbors.”


LADIES, MELT OFF THOSE HOLIDAY POUNDS!Enjoy a total body workout at a women’s gym complete with toning tables andaerobic circuits as well as massage therapy and spray tanning. Plus, don’t miss theRenewal Spa & Salon right next door, offering everything from shellac nails to threading.15 E. 4th (behind Arby’s) Renewal Salon & Spa - 348-5357 • Dreambodies - 285-9699

renewalsalon & spa

Make your first new year's resolution to quit doing housework and leave the cleaning to us! We’ll take care of all the sweeping, mopping, vacuuming, laundry, dusting, bed linens & more! We offer years of experience and competitve rates. For a free estimate call 740-6004.

Blessings and Blooms is afabulous home decor and gift shop on Main Street in Yukon.We feature Pandora & SorrelliJewelry and many other greatgifts for friends, family, oryourself! We also have beautifulhome and seasonal decor. It's worth the drive! Open Mon-Fri 10-6 & Sat 10-5 at 419 W. Main Street in Yukon. Find us on Facebook! • 577-6790

Bloomin Outdoors is Yukon's newest boutique featuring

Men's and Women's outdoor lifestyle apparel like this Marmot

ROM Jacket. It's windproof, water resistant & breathable with an attached adjustable hood! You'll also find products from Teva, Lucky,

Silver, Mt. Hardware, Keen, Patagonia and Old Gringo. Open Mon-Fri 10-6 & Sat 10-5 at 451 W. Main St. in Yukon.

Find us on Facebook! • 494-7676

FREE Local Student to Student Textbook Classifieds!College Students: Tired of payingoutrageous prices for used textbooks and selling them back fornext to nothing? Now there's a freesite where you can buy and selltext books directly to otherstudents. Save time andmoney and skip thebookstore. Check outMyPriceTextbooks.com today!

Visit Edmond’s only plus-size consignment shop, ReDesigning Women, for quality clothing in sizes 14 & up, shoes and accessories at great prices! With new inventory arriving daily, you’ll want to shop often. Open Tues - Sat 10-6 at 2nd & Kelly • 844-0505

Loabi Boutique carriesthe latest in women'sand children's apparel,shoes, gifts & hand- bags from brands like Fossil, Toms Haute Baby, Aden &Anais, Miss Me andHannah Banana.Open M-F 10-6and Sat 10-5454 W. Main Streetin Yukon • 494-7447 Find us on Facebook!

Our Sisters’ Closet, is an upscale Edmond resale shop benefiting battered womenand children receiving services at theYWCA OKC. Quality resale women’s wear,shoes, purses & jewelry at incredible prices.Shop, donate clothes, money or volunteer.Located 3 blocks North of 2nd, betweenBroadway & Boulevard at 101 E. Hurd.Open Tues-Fri 10-5:30and Sat 10-5.348-2442 • Alsoin OKC at I-240& S. Penn.ywcaokc.org

Beadle DeeBead & Gift Shop

Just opened, Edmond's only bead boutiqueoffers a dazzling variety of gemstone, glass,crystal, Freshwater pearl and other uniquebeads, supplies and gift items. Create yourown jewelry and accessories or have themcustom designed - perfect for gifts or thathard-to-accessorize outfit. Be sure and askabout classes and parties. Located at Danforth & Santa Fe in 7-11 shopping plaza 715-5820 • www.mybeadledee.com Find us on Facebook!


Dan ce for fitn ess

and fun!

341-72203900 S. Broadway, Bldg. 3

www.dancephasestudio.com

Call today to reserve your spot!


The phrase “silverware available

upon request” printed on the

menu is an indicator that the

new Blue Nile Ethiopian Cuisine,

3209 S. Broadway, is more than a

restaurant, it’s a dining experience.

Dining in Ethiopia is characterized by eating

from the same plate, even placing food in the mouth

of another diner from one’s own hand, said Selam

Abebe, owner and chef at Blue Nile. “It signifies the

bonds of loyalty and friendship.”

Some diners might not be adventurous enough

to feed their companions, but even so, Blue Nile

offers them an authentic taste

of Ethiopia. Brightly colored

dishes are cooked in the

traditional manner, such as

injera, which according to

their website is a pancake-

like bread that is part of every

entrée. In Ethiopia, diners break off bites of injera and

scoop up mouthfuls of food to eat.

According to Blue Nile’s website, their injera

is made from self-rising wheat flour and teff flour,

a grain native to Ethiopia. They strictly follow the

tradition instilled in them by their mothers and

grandmothers and never used baking powder, baking

soda or processed yeast in making injera.

Abebe learned to cook from her mother and

BLUENILE

by Dena A. Edwards

Euleyoel and Blue Nile owner, Selam Abebe

aunt, who owned a restaurant in Ethiopia. Abebe’s

father also once owned a restaurant, the first Ethiopi-

an establishment in Dallas, she said, and it was called

the Blue Nile as well.

The first traditional dish Abebe learned to

prepare is on the Blue Nile menu – Ye-Doro Wot,

a chicken leg on a bone in a thick stew made with

seasoned red hot pepper, onion, garlic, ginger root

and clarified herbed

butter, served with a

boiled egg and ayib

(Ethiopian home-

made cottage cheese

made from butter-

milk). In Ethiopia,

they use the whole chicken, Abebe said, and it takes a

half day to cook in the thick stew.

“People made fun of you (in Ethiopia) if you

didn’t know how to cook it when you married,”

Abebe said. “After you wed, you cooked it and took

it to your in-laws at Easter time and that’s how they

measured you.”

Abebe, who has a bachelor’s degree in nutri-

tion and food service management from University of

Central Oklahoma, uses no artificial coloring, flavor-

ing or preservatives, and no eggs, milk or honey, in

keeping with common food practices in her home

country. “Vegetarian dishes are very popular in Ethio-

pian cuisine,” Abebe said. Their website explains

that Orthodox Christians are prohibited from eating

meat and meat by-products during Lent and most

Wednesdays and Fridays.

Other traditional Ethiopian dishes served at

Blue Nile include kitfo, an Ethiopian-style steak

tartar seasoned with a special blend of hot spices and

herbed butter; and wot, a stew that can be made with

vegetables, beef, lamb, chicken or fish, and ranges

from spicy to mild. Native coffee, brewed from

yergacheffe beans with a dash of cloves, is offered by

the cup or in a traditional ceremony for small groups.

“(Blue Nile) is different,” Abebe said. “Edmond

people like to travel, to try different things. I have the

knowledge and experience to bring my culture to

Edmond, and to allow people here to experience it.”

The moderately-priced Blue Nile is open 11 a.m.

to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and noon to 10

p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 330-9987

or visit www.bluenileedmond.com.

No artificialcoloring, flavoring orpreservatives - only

flavorful cuisine.


WHAT'SNEW?by Krystal Harlow

Rediscover an Edmond classic! Now under new management, this Mexican hot spot serves up favorite homemade entrees like no other. Sink your teeth into the house special Chile Relleno or try the Tilapia fish tacos, sizzling fajitas, tasty quesidillas or giant burrito. Satisfying portions are a mainstay at this cozy cantina with an upbeat atmosphere. Enjoy 15% off one entree when you mention this ad. Look for their new location in January, next to Sonic, just one block east of their current location at Broadway and Waterloo. It's worth the short drive! For more information call 359-3319.

Habaneros

Treat the family to an easy drive to Guthrie for a taste of Italy like you've never had it. The Roma family serves up sensational homemade pasta, pizza, stromboli, steaks and decadent seafood entrees in delicious Old World fashion. Dine on Lobster Ravioli, veal, homemade bread and exquisite creations with your favorite wine or beer in this warm hometown eatery. Open for lunch or dinner, Tues.-Sun. Worth the short trip, Roma's is just off the highway as you enter Guthrie, at 1202 S. Division. Call 260-1552 or browse their signature delights at romasitalianrestaurant.com.

Roma's Italian RestaurantVin Dolce Wine Bar

If you haven't yet tried the fantastic new Mediterranean to-go foods at this cozy bakery, you're in for a real treat. Scrumptious flatbreads loaded with chicken, spinach, onions and more, plus hummus, Pita bread, tabouli and Baba Ghanoush are expertly prepared by Zena, formerly of The Garden restaurant, and ready to take home and enjoy. Pick up family-sized meat pies in five hearty varieties for dinner tonight or an easy homestyle meal from your freezer anytime. Treat yourself to their signature cookies, cupcakes and sweets, too! Stop by 2824 E. 2nd or visit redvelvetbakery.net.

Red Velvet Bakery

Inca Trail brings authentic Peruvian cuisine to OKC. Dishes are prepared fresh daily, using only traditional spices. Don't miss the Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken, marinated for 48 hours with nearly 30 herbs and spices, then cooked to perfection in a charcoal-fired oven. The result is tender, juicy chicken with golden-brown skin served with spicy Aji Amarillo and Salsa Verde. Inca Trail also serves authentic specialties like ceviche and lomo saltado plus other seafood, beef and vegetarian dishes from the Andes. Inca Trail is located at 10408 N May Ave. and at incatrailokc.com. Or call 286-0407.

Inca Trail Restaurant

Find a new wine-by-the-glass at your favorite restaurant that you just can't resist? Stop by Edmond Wine Shop and stock up on all your favorites for home entertaining! This inviting neighborhood shop offers Edmond's most impressive, world-class wine and champagne selection and an expert staff to suggest many exciting new tastes. Handwritten descriptions throughout the shop make it easy to browse at your leisure. Choose from a superb variety of collectible, limited edition vintages for quick and easy gifts throughout the year. Stop by 1520 S. Boulevard or call 341-9122.

Edmond Wine Shop

Looking for a warm, cozy place to wine down? Head over to the new Vin Dolce wine bar in downtown Edmond. They feature truly unique small plate entrees such as Gorgonzola Dates wrapped in bacon and stuffed with gorgonzola cheese or Brandied Cherries with caramelized goat cheese, plus delicious homemade desserts. Choose from 104 wines by the bottle, 40 by the glass, and 15 beers. Ask the bartender about their unique WineStation that offers 16 wines to sample by the ounce. No other wine bar in the state offers this revolutionary technology. Located at 16 S. Broadway or call 285-5333.


Buy 1 EntreeGet 1 FREE!*LUNCH ONLY*

of equal or lesser valuewith ad & purchase of 2 drinks

One coupon per customer. Cannot becombined with any other offers. Exp. 01/31/12

Mon-Fri 10:30 am - 4 pm

844-7667Edmond Rd. & Santa FeServing Ice Cold Beer!

With ad - One offer per table per visit • Max. $7 - Restrictions do apply • Exp. 01/31/12


Computer Zoneby Lindsay Whelchel

Owner Wayne Hing

Your Computer's ER

For many of us, our computers are our lives. Or at

least, they contain a large portion of our lives within

their mysterious walls. Access to important files,

photos and our connection to the Internet all rely on

the proper functioning of what is, for many people, an

unimaginably complicated invention.

So when something goes wrong, naturally we

panic. Wayne Hing started the Edmond company

Computer Zone in 1996 to ease some of that anxiety.

Computer Zone is essentially the emergency room for

computer ills. “Our goal has always been the same —

trying to make sure we fix every computer that comes

into the shop and (the customers) are happy when

they leave,” said Hing.

And like the waiting room at any real ER, time

is of the essence. “Customers have been looking

for fast turnaround whenever they have problems

and that is something we have to meet every day,”

Hing says. They work to fix a host of problems. The

most common ones, Hing explains, have to do with

popular viruses, lost data and hardware malfunction.

Contributing to Computer Zone’s success is

customer loyalty. “We believe repeat business is

the key to the success in our business and I’m very

fortunate to have a team that works very hard with

me every day to meet the consistency of excellent

service,” says Hing.

Among this customer base are even a few well-

known customers like television newscasters. “That

makes us feel very good that they trust us,” Hing says,

but emphasizes that to the employees of Computer

Zone, all of their customers are well-known. “We get

to know customers very well. In fact we know every

customer that comes in here by name,” Hing says.

He enjoys the small-town feel of Edmond and there

was never any other place he considered starting a

business. “I’m very comfortable living in Edmond,”

he says.

Hing came to the United States from Malaysia in

1990 and graduated from the University of Central

Oklahoma in 1995. This is his home and, until four

years ago, it was the sole home for Computer Zone. In

time, Hing recognized a need to and opened another

location in Norman to provide that community with

the same service Edmond has been enjoying.

Hing says he wants new customers to come in

and give Computer Zone a chance, reiterating his

gratitude for long-time customers. “We are very

fortunate to have a very broad customer base,” he

says. And for those of us needing to rush our precious

computers to immediate medical attention, Hing and

the rest of his team are waiting.

Computer Zone is located at 29 W. Main

Street in downtown Edmond. To learn more visit

www.computer1zone.com, call 844-5520 or e-mail

[email protected].


All American Fitness Xpressby Dena A. Edwards

Manager Rocky Addington

Owner Wayne Hing

Where Convenience is Key

The season to get back into shape is here. The

weeks of holiday celebrations are behind us, as are

those pesky new pounds … literally. Edmond’s

All American Fitness Xpress 24/7 provides ample

opportunity to fulfill that New Year’s resolution to lose

weight, especially for those with difficult schedules.

Members of All American Fitness Xpress 24/7,

204 S. Littler off 2nd street, have 24-hour access to

the facility, seven days a week, through the use of a

key card. The center is staffed from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday,

and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, but members can

access the fitness club any time they are in the mood

to work out, said owner Jim Benien.

“The Xpress 24/7 facilities were designed

specifically for convenience, as opposed to the larger

clubs, which are more about the amenities,” he

said. Xpress has everything you need to get a good

workout, but is great for people to come and go when

they want, Benien said.

The Xpress is one of six in the state, all of which

are part of the All American Fitness (AAF) Club family.

An Oklahoma company, AAF began in 1976 with

two locations and now has 13, making it the most

diversified fitness company in the state, according to

Benien, who is also AAF president.

“The larger clubs have been around for years,

but technology has changed dramatically in the past

decade, which has allowed us to create a new kind

of club, to fill a new niche — convenience,” he said.

These technological advances allow the facility to be

used safely even when staff members aren’t present.

Six to eight cameras are constantly scanning and

recording, and the doors remain locked, allowing

access only to members with key cards.

Open since March 2007, the Edmond All

American Fitness Xpress 24/7 is an 8,400-square-

foot facility with an open floor plan and private

locker rooms with restrooms and showers. The

cardio area has private television viewing, and each

piece of cardio equipment - including treadmills,

elliptical trainers, recumbent and upright bikes - has

its own electronic LCD entertainment system. Xpress

resistance equipment includes plate-load and pin-

select weight machines, as well as rubber free weights

and dumbbells, all on a specialized rubber flooring to

provide extra cushion for gym-goers’ joints.

Along with the convenience of 24/7 access, they

offer several membership options including month-

to-month as well as special student, military and

group discounts.

“Our membership tends to come from about

a 3-mile radius, and we don’t aggressively market

(Xpress 24/7 clubs) because we like to keep the

membership numbers down enough to keep

them from being overcrowded,” Benien said.

For more information, call 562-1100, or visit

www.allamericanfitness.net.

The Newest Dental Technologies • Implants • Oral Ulcers

• Crowns • Cancer Screening

• Bridges • Post Chemo/Radiation

• Dentures • Bad Breath (Halitosis)

• TMJ Disorders • Dry/Burning Mouth

• Cosmetic • Digital Imaging

• Other Related Complex Dental-Oral Medical Problems

Comprehensive Dental & Oral Care

www.edmondcdoc.com

FREE Exam for New Patients!

Dr. Lida Radfar, DDS, MSDiplomat, American Board of Oral Medicine

Bristol Office Park1713 W. 33rd in Edmond

24 Hour Emergency Care, Including Nights & WeekendsMost Major Medical & Dental Insurance Accepted

Including Sooner Care • Flexible Payment Plans Available

348-9911

(with this ad)

Call Today!


An antique armoire. A half-empty bottle of

glass cleaner. A worn pair of blue jeans. Cans

of green beans. An old collection of dolls.

Oriental rugs. Rolls of toilet paper. This

hodge-podge assortment and more is what can be found and

purchased at estate sales.

“The craziest thing we have sold yet were military flight

suits and other military paraphernalia from one of the wars,”

said Ginny Hawkins, an Edmond real estate agent who

has recently started a business conducting estate sales with

fellow agent Kristyn Grewell. “But most of the stuff (we sell)

is the same stuff we all have.”

“Another time, we were going to take down the silk

flowers along the top of the kitchen cabinets, but when we

climbed up there, they were not only all dusty and dirty,

but they were stapled in, so we left them, thinking no one

would want them anyway,” Hawkins said. “Then a couple

came through and bought every one of them!”

“You can never predict what will sell,” Grewell said. “An

item that we think is a prized item will be left at the end of

the day, while another we debated on throwing away will be

the first thing to sell. You can just never tell.”

Grewell and Hawkins entered the estate sale business

somewhat by chance. The two always had attended estate

sales, and Grewell had a friend that was hosting one, so she

helped. That gave her the idea for a new business, one in

which Hawkins was glad to partner with her. Given their real

estate background, they had an inside track on situations in

which their services might be needed.

“If someone has passed away, or is downsizing, or

moving into a retirement center ... those are times in which

estate sales are beneficial,” Grewell said. “It’s really any time

the personal property needs to be liquidated on a larger scale

than just a garage sale can handle.”

The first step is the women’s visit to the property to

identify any items that will not be sold. Grewell and Hawkins

recommend these items be removed from the property to

avoid any confusion. They also discuss with the owner any

items that will have a minimum price that needs to be met

in order for the client to let it sell. “These are usually ‘I don’t

want to take it with us, but need to get at least this amount

or it will break my heart’ types of pieces,” Grewell explained.

Grewell and Hawkins also refer clients to dealers for the sale

of any firearms. They make note of what items need to be

appraised and what they need to research in order to be able

to accurately price.

“The furniture varies from house to house - some pieces

are originals and some are reproductions,” Hawkins said,

and the owners aren’t always sure which is which. “Things

that (the owner) has looked at all their life and sees as

valueless can be valuable, and vice versa.”

The client then turns over the key and the real work

begins. Grewell and Hawkins go through every single item

in the house and price each one. The golden rule in estate

sales is everything sells as is, where it is. So they price the

dishes, but return them to the cupboard. They open up

dresser drawers and price the clothing, but leave the items

folded in the drawers. Half-empty products are not exempt

from the process and also get priced. “And people buy

them! It’s amazing what people will buy,” she said. “But if it’s

something they will use, and can get a great price on it, then

why wouldn’t they buy it?” Prices generally fall in between

garage sale pricing and retail — more of a wholesale type

scale, Hawkins explained. The women charge 35 percent of

by Dena A. Edwards

EVERYTHING MUST GO

Oklahoma’sPremier

TemporaryHousingProvider

Call or email today forrates & availability!

201-2010ARealHomeAwayFromHome.com

• Superior Accommodations• Competitive Pricing• Unparalleled Customer Satisfaction

Hang Your Hat at...

The Business of Estate Sales


the gross sales and, in return, handle every detail of the process.

Hawkins’ and Grewell’s sales last for three days, usually 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.,

Fridays and Saturdays, and noon to 3 p.m. Sundays, with Sunday most generally

being half-price day. When the women arrive to begin their sale on Fridays, people

always are lined up, waiting to get in and start shopping. Many customers have

shopped the women’s sales before and are estate sales “groupies.” And with the

downturn in the nation’s economy, more and more people are looking to estate

sales, rather than buying retail.

Clients find the estate sales from local newspaper advertising, email lists

for repeat shoppers, signage and Internet resources such as Craigslist and

Facebook. Once the sale is open to the public, the women strongly discourage the

homeowners or family from being present. “It’s hard watching people touching

and going through your stuff, watching your life go out the door. There is such an

emotional connection,” Grewell said.

Hawkins and Grewell said they often play somewhat of a unique counselor

role. In the event of a death, the family is grateful to not have to deal with selling

pieces that have such emotional ties; in the case of downsizing, they deal with a

person who, whether they chose to downsize or are forced to, is coming to terms

with a new lifestyle.

When the sale is over, the women box up the remaining items and help

their client set up donation pickups. They even provide the option of consigning

valuables in their booth at the Broadway Antiques & Market in downtown Edmond.

The entrepreneurs’ long-term goal is to evolve into a full-service estate sale

company — one that liquidates real property as well as personal property, by

bringing in their real estate component and offering the sale of the house itself, as

well as the items inside. “Handling every aspect (of the property liquidation) would

relieve home owners of the burden of dealing with it, and allow them to instead

focus on the emotional issues involved,” Grewell said.

Realtors Ginny Hawkins and Kristyn Grewell

405-887-4121 or 405-974-1174www.heritagerenovations.net

Complimentarydesign service, because

details matter


at-home, would have the best opportunity to tune

in. With four shows monthly, Ask MomRN averages

8,500 listeners a month. Every episode airs live

and is also recorded for listening on the website,

downloaded from iTunes or to an mp3 player.

Not only does Walker share her own

experience as a mother, home educator, nurse and

childcare provider, she hosts a wealth of experts

and celebrities on her talk show. “With our celebrity

guests, high-profile doctors and other experts,

sometimes it’s recorded interviews and not live due

to their schedules,” said Walker. “My guests call in

to the show’s switchboard for the interviews and we

can either do a live interview or record them for a

future episode. I’ve interviewed nationally-known

pediatricians such as Dr. William Sears and Dr. Jim

Sears as well as parenting expert Dr. Kevin Leman,”

said Walker. Celebrities and authors are interviewed

when the nature of their cause benefits Walker’s

audience. “I’ve hosted Kathy Ireland because she

wrote a book for moms and Nancy O’Dell wrote

one on pregnancy.

Lucy Liu promoted a

campaign for the Heinz

Corporation when

they provided vitamin

packets to third-world

countries. Sometimes

it’s talking about a

family movie like ‘Fireproof’ where I interviewed

Kirk Cameron and Stephen Kendrick. Doing the

show on ‘Fireproof’ was one of the neatest things I’ve

done. I had so many people tell me they went to see

it and it caused them to look at their own marriage.

Before the invention of television,

families gathered around the radio

to listen to live broadcasts of music,

drama, comedy, news and weather.

Although technology has changed from ‘The Golden

Age of Radio,’ live radio programming remains part

of the American lifestyle. Tamara Walker, Edmond

resident, unexpectedly found her niche in the

Internet version of radio.

“I worked as a full-time RN until 1993 when I

started a home daycare so I could stay home with my

oldest child. Parents began calling me to ask me for

advice on health or parenting. Then it became calls

from friends of friends and then complete strangers

were asking for advice. My husband recognized what

was happening and created a website that would be

a ministry to share my knowledge,” said Walker. In

March of 2001, MomRN.com launched and became

a place to share insight with thousands of parents.

When Walker offered to be a resource at a local

radio station, she was instead offered her own talk

show and the “Ask MomRN” show was born. “For

two years, I broadcasted live from 91 FM, now

known as AirOne. The Ask MomRN show aired once

a month during the lunch break, then more often

until the station sold in 2006,” said Walker. Although

the show ended with a change in management, the

future of Ask MomRN was far from over.

As fate would have it, Walker became good

friends with Marla Cilley, also known as ‘FlyLady,’

the host of an online network. Cilley encouraged

Walker to bring her show back on the air. “FlyLady

is a home and lifestyle organizational guru with over

half a million subscribers worldwide. She’s allowed

me and several hosts with varying areas of expertise

to be on her network,” said Walker.

The Ask MomRN show returned to the

airwaves via Internet on

blogtalkradio.com in April

2008. “Our mission is to

provide practical advice

for raising a happy, healthy

family. We offer parenting,

health, safety and family

entertainment information.

There’s a wide scope of topics that fall within those

categories so there’s something for any family,”

said Walker.

The hour-long show broadcasts Mondays at

noon when most moms, whether working or stay-

ASKMOM RNBy Melanie Phillips Clemens

Mom RN Tamara Walker

MomRN.com launched and became a place to share insight with

thousands of parents.


They told me they wouldn’t have seen the movie if they hadn’t heard about it on

my show. We’re an outlet for helping people,” Walker explained.

In keeping with family-friendly radio, Walker is very protective of her guests

and callers. “I have a lot of moms who listen from home with their children

around,” she said. “When I have a producer, we open lines for callers depending

on our guests or topics. But with Internet radio, sometimes we get prank callers so

if we cannot open the phone lines, listeners can still post questions and interact in

our chat room during the show.” As the mother of two teenagers, Walker’s family

values are paramount to her success on the show and at home.

“The Ask MomRN show has allowed me a lot of flexibility to be home with

my kids full time. I am able to be involved in their activities and it’s rare that I

ever have to miss something. My husband, Dustin, is extremely supportive. He

designed the original website and has been my IT guy over the years,” said Walker.

“Although I use my nursing knowledge in a nontraditional way, I’ve kept

my nursing license and stay current on health news. My plan was to go back to

nursing but God changed that plan,” said Walker. “As a Christian, I openly share

my faith but I want people of other faiths to know they’re welcome because the

majority of what we share applies to everyone. It’s everyday family and parenting

information. … This has completely been a God thing because I would’ve never

pictured myself doing MomRN.com or the Ask MomRN show. But it’s in line

with what I love doing and I’m able to use my education and knowledge to help

people,” said Walker.

Listen, browse, find or follow at www.momrn.com, youtube.com/momrn,

facebook.com/askmomrnshow or Twitter@momrn.


Not long ago, a telephone was just a

device that let you talk to someone

who was beyond shouting range.

A few waves of advancement later,

many of us carry movie-quality video cameras (that

also happen to make phone calls) in our pockets.

Coupled with the advent of YouTube, for the first

time in history, the door is truly open for backyard

Spielbergs and local filmmaker Kyle Roberts is taking

advantage of that fact.

Most recently, Roberts released a video for

Defining Times, a local supergroup comprised of

talented musicians from some of the metro’s best

bands, fronted by The City Lives’ Chase Kerby. It was

shot entirely on the GoPro 2, a tiny camera meant to

be clipped to bicycle helmets and surf boards. Roberts

employed a setting on the camera to film 120 frames

per second, putting the action in slow motion.

Roberts fixed the GoPro 2 to the back of his car

and pulled Kerby along on a skateboard. To sync

Kerby’s lips to the slow-motion video without slowing

down the song, “Limelight,” Kerby had to sing four

times the song’s normal speed. “We had to have a slow

song,” Roberts explained. “If you took any regular

song, it’s just too fast. You couldn’t even try to sing it.

That’s the challenge of this video. It took him a week

and a half to practice this, even though it’s a really

slow song, to really get that down.” Using special

effects software, Roberts further slowed some of the

skateboard tricks (performed by a stunt double) to

give the illusion of 1,000 frames per second.

During the past year, Roberts has released a variety

of films to his YouTube channel, “ocdeuce22,” under

the banner of his company, Reckless Abandonment

Productions. Many have been shot with handheld

devices and some have delved into stop animation.

Combined, they’ve gotten more than a million views.

Last spring, Roberts made a music video for

“Sarsaparilla Girl” for local band Dr. Pants. Roberts

shot it entirely on an iPhone 4. After that, Nokia

contacted him to shoot a short film with their

smartphone, the Nokia N8, for a competition.

Roberts’ entry was a video for local musician Denver

Duncan’s “Stalker.” “It didn’t win the contest, but it

was the second-most ‘liked’ in all the hundreds of

people who entered,” he says. “That got more buzz

than any of my other videos.”

Special effects trickery is

Roberts’ playground, which is

clear in videos like “Dum Dum

Dah Dah” for the Nghiems, which

features humans and dolls filmed

in stop-motion, spliced together

and fighting each other to music.

“The day after it posted it was the 17th most ‘favorited’

video on YouTube in the world,” Roberts says. The

production, which features the band members’ heads

superimposed onto 1/6-scale Bruce Lee and Michael

STOP-MOTIONby Nathan Winfrey

Chase Kerby singing Limelight for music video

After the video hit YouTube, more than 20 bands contacted

him in hopes that he would make videos for them as well.


Kyle Roberts filming Sarsaparilla Girl for the band Dr. Pants

Jackson dolls, depicts the musical trio in an old-

school, arcade-style fighting game, where they all

have powers related to their musical instruments.

“It’s kind of like Mario — save the princess, save the

world,” he explains. “The special effects and stuff took

the longest part (We had to) basically create

a video game from action figures.” After the

video for The Nghiems hit YouTube, more

than 20 bands from all over the country

contacted him in hopes that he would make

videos for them as well.

Roberts’ other forays into stop-motion are

“Wall-E Meets Michael Jackson,” “Iron Man

vs. Batman,” and “Battle of the Bonds.” “Iron

Man vs. Batman” showcases a brawl between

two of the world’s most famous crime-fighters

set before an Oklahoma City backdrop. The

film is interactive, like a “Choose Your Own

Adventure” book, and allows the viewer to

decide who wins. To date, the video has had more than

260,000 views on YouTube and has been featured in

the L.A. Times and Wired Magazine. “That’s the first

one that really took off,” said Roberts.

“Battle of the Bonds” is a six-minute James Bond

parody featuring six cinematic 007s, from Sean

Connery to Daniel Craig, animated with more than

5,000 individual photos. The short film, which took continued on page 24

eight months to create, stars Sideshow Collectibles,

the same brand of $200, 1/6-scale dolls featured in

the “Dum Dum Dah Dah” video. They are bigger than

normal action figures, and are highly detailed and

posable. Unfortunately, there was no Daniel Craig

“Bond” in the inventory, so Roberts had to have one

custom made in Singapore. The bill for these films

can be high, so Roberts gets sponsorships so he can

focus all his attention on the creative aspect.

For “Battle of the Bonds,” he enlisted voice talent

from across the untamed reaches of YouTube and

superimposed the actors’ mouths onto the dolls.

Roberts says the process is easier than animating

the mouths, but it adds the difficult task of matching

real human lips to arguing, plastic people. “It’s really

tough,” he says. On location, Roberts normally has

a crew of three or four people, many of whom have

done a lot of independent movies. “I don’t think

(people) understand quite how much work

goes into stop-motion, but I think they

understand that it takes a long time.”

Roberts takes inspiration from other

stop-motion films, especially “Fantastic Mr.

Fox,” because it tells a good story in addition

to the beautiful visuals. “I really do watch

as much as possible. One, to get ideas and

get inspiration and just respect what other

people are doing, and just to know what else

is out there,” he says.

Roberts started teaching himself stop-

motion while his wife, Sarah, took grad

school classes at night. “I just started playing

with toys and somehow made a career out of it,” he

says. Although deadlines can be stressful and his

projects are time-consuming, he and Sarah, make time

to go on dates. “It’s very stressful, but we find a way

to make it work,” Roberts says. “She says I play with

toys, or she calls them dolls, but they’re not. They’re

action figures.”


continued from page 23

Kyle Roberts with 007 action figure

“It’s rewarding. At the beginning of it, I just did it

because I wanted to learn it,” he says. “I wanted to tell a

story with action figures ... to see if I could pull it off. After

it got a lot of response, I thought

to myself, ‘Maybe this is something

I could actually do.’” Roberts also

credits faith for his success. “My faith

is a big part of my life and work,”

Roberts explains. “Even though not

everything is ‘Christian’ I always

try to keep it fairly clean and my

production company name, Reckless

Abandonment, stands for leaving

your old life (for) your new life

with Christ.”

Roberts made his first video in

college in 2007, but his video career

didn’t take off until a year-and-a-

half ago. However, he started down

this career in high school when a

broken foot directed him away from

basketball and into broadcasting. “I’m glad I did because it’s

kind of picking up now. I doubt I would have gotten very far

in basketball. I’m 5’10.” ” His school in Columbia, Missouri

had a strong broadcasting program and Roberts was involved

in a weekly news program with other students. That led him

to make music videos and his teacher gave him a key to the

broadcast office so he could edit on weekends.

A scholarship to Oklahoma Christian University brought

him to Edmond and he stayed. As a video intern at church

camps, one in Colorado and one in California, he had to

make videos every day which taught

him to work quickly. He was offered

a two-year internship shooting music

videos in L.A. for Redband Pictures

but it was two years with no pay

and 80 hours a week. Roberts says

he was close to taking the offer, but

instead took a job at NewsOK.com,

producing a biweekly show called

“Static.”

Roberts says when he graduated,

people told him he needed to go to

L.A. to make it. “It was true then, but

it’s not the case now,” he explained.

Roberts wants to prove that he can

become a successful filmmaker here

in Oklahoma. To all the hope-to-be

Wes Andersons and Tim Burtons out

there, Roberts says, “Just go do it. Whether you have an

iPhone or a Flip camera, or whatever — you’ve just got to

get out there and do it.”

To see Roberts’ work, visit ra-pictures.com or check out

his YouTube channel, ocdeuce22. His filmmaker-themed

T-shirt line can be found at recklesspictures.spreadshirt.com.


When construction and design intermingle,

Robert and Brenda Helms are in the midst of doing

what they do best. Edmond Kitchen & Bath LLC

and their crew have been renovating homes in

Oklahoma for over 10 years. “When we first started,

Robert and I had been doing work for builders

and other designers. We were using each other’s

ideas and realized that together we had something

unique that could be marketed for ourselves” said

Brenda. “It was our projects done together that

really stood out. We truly love this business and are

inspired by quality design that we can represent in

our community.”

To the Helms, redesigning or remodeling

doesn’t necessarily mean gut and rebuild, though

sometimes this is the most cost-effective for the

results desired (as was the case in these photos).

“The budget often determines this, but we always

work with the client to create a look they’ll love”

said Brenda.

According to Brenda, the client in this kitchen

wanted a mid-level makeover, but as ideas and

possibilities for the space were discussed, it became

evident that a full remodel was the best solution

for their family. “This homeowner cooks regularly,

and entertains with family and friends often” said

Brenda. “Our goal was to create a working kitchen

while providing a bit of classic elegance.”

From floor plans and cabinet design, to window

treatments and accessorizing, Brenda and Junior

Designer Megan Greve enjoy every aspect of a

project. “As a designer, you appreciate seeing all

the pieces come together for your client. We take

design very seriously and give everyone their own

unique look.” Helms says that she and Megan enjoy

interpreting each client’s ‘design personality.’ “We

don’t repeat what we did on our last renovation and

apply it to the next. We come up with new ideas so

each client has their own fresh look.”

Their design services, coupled with integrity

and quality of craftsmanship, have earned Edmond

Kitchen & Bath LLC a great reputation among

clients. Helms shared, “We’ve had many clients say

After

Before

they came to us because we’re approachable, and

they wanted to give their business to a company

they felt good about. When people tell us they

handpicked our company to have this journey with,

it stands out as gold to us. We have amazing clients

that we truly become friends with.”

Brenda and Megan are both licensed and

registered interior designers with the Oklahoma

State Board of Governors, and Edmond Kitchen

& Bath LLC is a registered member of NKBA, the

local chapter of NARI, and the Edmond Chamber

of Commerce. Located downtown at 243 N.

Broadway in Edmond, their showroom is open

by appointment only. For more information, visit

www.edmondkitchen.com or call 285-1926. Stop

by the Home & Garden Show January 20-22 to see

their newest showroom displays!

&BeforeAfter

www.edmondkitchen.com | 285-1926

by Melanie Phillips Clemens


LOVE WITHOUT BOUNDARIES

Amy Eldridge believes every time

a baby’s life is saved, the world

changes for the better. Eldridge is

the founder and executive director

of the nonprofit Love Without Boundaries, which

helps orphaned children in China by providing

medical assistance, nutrition, education, foster care

and facilitating adoption.

Based in Edmond, Love Without Boundaries

works with more than 200 orphanages in different

provinces in China and has branches in 13

countries, including the Netherlands, Spain, Ireland

and the U.K. About 200 volunteers are directly

involved in the various programs. “I still have a

hard time believing how big it has become,” said

Eldridge. “I’ve been blessed with the most amazing

team members.”

It all started with a trip to China back in 2003.

Eldridge had adopted a little Chinese girl who was

about 3 years old at the time. “She started asking a

lot of questions about her life in China and I didn’t

have the answers.” Eldridge decided to go back and

visit the orphanage. “What I experienced on that

trip changed my life forever,” she said.

The orphanage was crowded with abandoned

babies. Eldridge saw a baby boy, who was so small

and weak that his body

was almost blue. “I’ve

never seen a baby dying

of heart disease before,”

said Eldridge. The little

boy needed urgent

surgery but there were not enough funds for the

operation. That day she met four more children who

had heart defects and needed medical help too.

When Eldridge returned to Edmond, she

couldn’t stop thinking about the children. “One

night around 2 a.m., I just pushed back the covers

of my bed and went to my computer knowing I had

to do something to help them.” She tried to arrange

surgeries for the children, who otherwise would

have passed away. “I will never forget the two words

that I typed into my computer that night all those

nights ago, just ‘baby heart.’ ”

She reached out to family and friends for help. In

China, the cost of the surgery was the equivalent of

$5,000. “We got help from people all over the world

for that baby. And instead of raising $5,000 from

that initial plea, we ended up raising $60,000,” said

Eldridge. This is how the foundation started. The

initial money helped save the lives of 12 children.

Since then, Love Without Boundaries has directly

helped more than 6,000 children and about 2,000

of them have been permanently adopted in the

United States.

After the first surgeries were completed,

by Radina Gigova

Eldridge was invited to visit the children and see

how they were recovering. The local government of

the city where the surgeries were performed gave

her a flag with words that read in Chinese ‘Love

makes no boundaries between countries.’ That is

how Eldridge picked the name for her foundation.

“I still have that flag,” she said.

Eldridge believes poverty is the main reason

why not only babies

but also older children

are abandoned. “We’ve

had children as old as

12 and that’s always so

hard,” she said. Plus,

there is a very strong stigma surrounding babies

born with medical needs. The Chinese government

recently revised its poverty line, announcing that

currently 128 million Chinese, most of them in

rural areas, qualify as poor, living on about a dollar

a day. “If they give birth to a child with a heart

defect, they would need the equivalent of 15 years

of their total wages to pay for the surgery. That is an

impossible figure — and so the baby is abandoned.”

The most common birth defect among the

abandoned children is cleft lip and palate, followed

by heart defects and spinal tumors. Often preemies

and babies born with abdominal defects require

surgery within 24 hours. Eldridge said cleft lip

surgery in China ranges from $500 to $1,000

depending on the province. Spinal tumor operations

average $3,000 and heart surgeries around $5,000.

The costs include transportation to the hospital and

hiring a caregiver. “We honestly see every medical

condition possible though — from babies who were

burned to children who are deaf or blind or have

(cerebral palsy).”

Winter is the toughest time of year for

the children and the orphanage staff. Most of

Amy Eldridge at the Fuyang Orphanage

"My ultimate goal is to save as many children

as possible."


the orphanages don’t have heat. Pneumonia is very common during the

winter months and, sadly, some babies don’t make it. In addition, other

babies are usually abandoned outside and by the time

they are found it’s often too late. “It’s easy to become

disheartened during the winter season, but I just

keep reminding myself of all the miracles that happen

every day when a baby is found and we get them to

the weight they need, and the surgeries they need, and

then adopted.”

Eldridge said the adoption process of a child with a

medical condition could be completed in 10 months.

“I tell people all the time, love has nothing to do with

genetics. It has everything to do with your heart.” Eldridge

is a mother of seven, ages 7 to 24 and her two youngest

children are adopted. “Adoption has been the greatest

blessing in my life.” All of her children are very supportive

and involved in their mom’s work.

“My ultimate goal is to save as many children as possible,” said Eldridge.

Among the thousands of lives that she and her organization already have

saved was a sick baby boy, abandoned in a very poor

orphanage in the Guizhou province. “He was so tiny

and weak that his mouth was opening to cry but no

sound would come out.” He underwent surgery and is

now a healthy one-year-old. Another little girl with a

severe heart defect was so weak that the staff thought

she wouldn’t survive. “Now she is like a Gerber baby,”

she joked.

Eldridge believes anyone can make a difference. “You

just have to take that first step. My first step was to China,

but, of course, there are needs all over the world.” She

hopes more people will decide to take that first step.

For more information about Love Without Boundaries

and ways to help, go to lovewithoutboundaries.com.

Eldridge with Julia, recovering from

a life saving open heart surgery

Babies receiving TLC at the Love Without Boundaries' Healing Home in the Henan Province


What began for Catherine

Godwin, as the normal task

of grant writing for a local

company ended up opening

her eyes to an entirely surprising and disconcerting

array of statistics. Those statistics screamed to the

Edmond mother, “Do something!” and so she did.

What Godwin learned was the impact of the

number of Oklahoma’s incarcerated women and

the connected issue of the overburdened foster care

system that plagues the state. Doing something to

ease the burden was a natural step for Godwin, who

has spent time in the military, helped raise her and

her husband’s five children, and is continuing her

education at the University of Central Oklahoma.

“In my family, doing community service is

a huge part of who we are and making a positive

footprint in the world,” she says.

This time, it started as the desire to collect

clothing for families at the treatment center for

Eagle Ridge Institute. As a nonprofit organization,

they provide rehabilitation services for substance

abusing women with the opportunity to keep their

children with them during the process.

“Edmond is an affluent area,” Godwin says.

“So I said we should ask our friends to donate their

children’s clothes that were all brand-name and

barely used, as you can imagine. We ended up with

an overwhelming amount of clothes,” she explains

...collecting 15 bags of clothes.

Donations are crucial to the mission of Eagle

Ridge’s family treatment center, explains Executive

Director John Mayfield. “We need help from the

public to really make a holistic program where

we’re really meeting the needs of our clients in

all areas, so donations are greatly appreciated,” he

says. He also echoes the concern Godwin has over

the burden of so many incarcerated women. “We

think it makes more sense to send women who

have a drug problem to long-term treatment,” he

says. Their program lasts from 12 to 18 months

and since many of the women have lost everything

during this process, donations are more than

needed. Currently, he says,

the center is in need of a

new washer and dryer. And

of course, clothes.

That is where Godwin

saw her opportunity and

would like to do future

donations for the center.

But Godwin didn’t stop with the clothes. She

realized that not every woman battling drug

addiction gets an opportunity like Eagle Ridge and

many have wound up in jail for nonviolent drug

crimes. According to the website for Oklahoma

Watch, an effort of a local journalistic impact team,

“for 14 of the past 15 years, Oklahoma has locked

up more women per capita than any other state.”

They cite that “more than 65 percent of the women

in prison were convicted of nonviolent crimes and

more than 85 percent leave children behind, whose

care becomes the responsibility of a family member

or the state.”

This knowledge moved Godwin to act. “I can’t

comprehend losing your children to the foster

care system and then on top of that being in an

environment where you hope to come out a better

A POSITIVE IMPACTby Lindsay Whelchel

person, but not having the tools there that we have

every day in the outside world,” she says.

One such tool Godwin puts great importance

on is reading books, reading every morning as

it helps her begin her day right. She hopes to

positively influence the women and men in the

Oklahoma County jail through books.

Godwin and her family began asking their

friends and using social media, like Facebook,

to collect motivational or inspirational books to

donate. She now has over 100 books scattered all

over her den. The books are specialized, usually

from leaders and professionals to inspire life

changes, Godwin says.

“My hope is that someone

will read something, so

that when they start to

make a decision they will

remember what they read,”

Godwin says. The donation

has been cleared through

the county jail, according to Godwin. Now, they are

just waiting on the logistics to give the books over.

Godwin hopes to set a good example for her

children ages 14 to 25. “If you start people when

they’re younger understanding that they sort of owe

something to their community then that spreads

when they’re an adult.”

In terms of her community, Godwin knows she

is lucky to call Edmond home and wants others to

be inspired to act in their communities in whatever

ways they can. “We’re so blessed in Edmond,” she

said, “and it almost feels like we have everything

and I keep telling my children ‘yes, we have a lot,

but this is our chance to make something better.’ ”

For more information about Eagle Ridge

Institute, call 840-1359. To make a book or clothing

donation, email [email protected].

Dr. Kamla Knight, Chiropractor

3209 S. Broadway, Ste 217 • 285-9454All major insurances accepted • Open MWF 9-5

Motor Vehicle Accidents • Applied KinesiologyIonic Foot Detox • Hormone Saliva Testing

Neuro Emotional TechniqueNatural Hormone Replacement Therapy

Alternative & Holistic Medicine

Injuredin a car

accident?We can

help!

Become a fan on for thelatest in health and wellness news!

Knight Wellness Center

Catherine and Ted Godwin

"In my family, doing community service

is a huge part ofwho we are."



Jason Epps, owner and chief instructor at

Pride Martial Arts in Edmond, knows what

it’s like to be threatened and want to fight.

He grew up in a rough area of Dallas and

was continually threatened by classmates.

As the only Caucasian in a gang-related at-risk

neighborhood, Epps said he was the kid that everyone

wanted to beat up. “I got chased home and was in a

fight every day after school,” he said. “When I first

started martial arts, I just wanted to fight. I wanted

to know how to beat people up. When the instructor

asked why we study martial arts, I said, ‘To fight.’

Another kid said, ‘To be better people.’ I remember

thinking that was stupid at the time.”

Now Epps teaches just that in his anti-bullying

program at Pride Martial Arts. Above all else, the

program teaches youths to develop confidence

through goal-setting and testing. The students first

learn they can stand up and be confident, and then

they are put into situations in class that mimic real-

life scenarios. “Confident kids don’t get bullied, at

least not as much,” Epps said. “Secondly, we teach

them to understand boundaries and to set their

own boundaries. Many martial arts schools aren’t

equipped and have no training in the psychology of

teaching kids to deal with bullying.”

At Lovato’s School of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in

Oklahoma City, more students are learning how to

strengthen their spirit as well. With his legs spread

in a strong stance and his body encased in a white

gi, 12-year-old Kendle James of Edmond towers over

the other boys in his 12 to 14-year-old jiu-jitsu class.

Tall with deep, intense eyes set into a round and kind

face, he has an adult-like concentration and focus.

Kendle sets his eyes on the instructor as he shows him

the proper way to do a strike. His opponent

is a smaller boy, but Kendle doesn’t take

advantage of his height. He knows how

hurtful that can be. He doesn’t have to push

his own strength, and he also doesn’t have

to be afraid anymore.

“My son was being bullied and picked

on a lot,” said Haylee James, Kendle’s

mother. “He was the new kid. The bullies

would try to slam his locker on him, called

him names, things like that. Kendle is a

kind boy; he wouldn’t stick up for himself.”

James turned to Lovato’s and since enrolling

Kendle in the martial arts class, she’s been

amazed at the changes she’s seen. “He’s

developed self-confidence. He knows he

has worth,” she said. “Now, he doesn’t care

as much about the bullies, and as soon as they found

out he was learning jiu-jitsu, they left him alone.”

Kendle isn’t alone when it comes to bullying.

According to bullyingstatistics.com, one in seven

students in grades K-12 has been a victim of bullying.

In addition, 15 percent of all students who don’t

show up for school say it’s because of a bully, and one

out of every 10 students has dropped out or changed

schools because of a bully. Most bullying occurs from

fourth to eighth grades.

“It’s about self-confidence and self-esteem,” said

Bekah Graham, who runs Martial Arts Ministries in

Edmond. “When you enroll in martial arts, it’s not

about fighting, but the kids develop a skill set that

allows them to stand up to bullying.”

More and more parents are enrolling children

into martial arts classes to help combat feelings of

victimization by bullies. What their children discover,

however, is so much more than just throwing a

punch. They discover a way of life that helps not only

those being bullied, but even the bullies themselves.

At Pride Martial Arts, Epps teaches “verbal Judo,”

which uses words and communication to diffuse

threatening situations. “They learn how to block

words and deal with the teasing. There are different

options besides fighting, but if it does get physical,

the students have the tools to defend themselves there

too,” Epps said. “There are different kinds of bullying.

With the younger kids, they don’t respect boundaries,

like taking someone’s toys and not giving them back.

With older kids, they can’t communicate effectively,

so they get frustrated and lash out.”

Through the anti-bullying program at Pride,

students learn self-discipline, self-control, self-

confidence and self-defense. “The biggest tool we

can give them is confidence,” Epps said. “We teach

confidence through goal setting, but we also give

them the tools to deal with any situation, whether it’s

TAKING A STANDby Heide Brandes

Jason Epps of Pride Martial Arts teaching students

"I got chased home and was in a fight every day after

school."


verbal or having to defend themselves.”

At Martial Arts Ministries in Edmond, 70 students ages

3 to adult attend weekly classes, learning self-defense and

the skills of martial arts. Many have been enrolled by parents

concerned about bullies. “Some of our students have been

horribly bullied,” said Graham. “Quite a few of our students

were the video gamers, and they were bullied a lot. Our

classes encourage our students to become more confident so

they aren’t bullied.”

Fighting isn’t the key, but knowing that one can defend

oneself is a big part of the needed confidence. Many times,

the martial arts schools focus more on honor and life skills

that create not only physical strength, but mental strength

as well. Graham knows how hurtful bullying can be, so she

has a special mission to help children deal with the problem

in a positive way. “My daughter was bullied in pre-K, so this

is a problem we’ve personally dealt with,” she said. “We

encourage them to speak up, but not to whine. They learn to

use the right words. We teach virtues like honesty, integrity

and self-control. Usually in the second to third week, we see

a lot more confidence in how our students carry themselves.”

Rafael Lovato, Jr., who runs Lovato’s School of Brazilian

Jiu-Jitsu, is a lifelong martial arts enthusiast. His father ran the

studio before him, and now Lovato and his wife, Tina, teach

the skills of Brazilian fighting and philosophy. Students at his

school don't start out sparring. They are taught

harder skills, like respect, determination,

responsibility and focus. Every month, a life

skill is focused on, and the children are given

homework like “doing a chore without being

asked to” or “do something for someone else.”

They also learn self-defense, which includes

take-downs and ground positions. Jiu-jitsu

is a martial art more like wrestling, teaching

kids how to get away if someone is holding

or pinning them down. “Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu is

a grappling art. It’s about closing the distance

on an opponent so he can’t hurt you,” Lovato

said. “If you can hold someone down and talk it out, then

you aren’t hurting them, but they aren't hurting you. Having

the confidence that you can control a situation and control

yourself is what allows kids to not feel threatened.”

Having control and skill means these students can deal

with bullying in a much more calm and effective manner.

In addition, all students bond through the class, developing

friendship and character together, which also boosts their

self-esteem, Lovato said. “Right away, they make friends and

get involved. The socialization and developing friendships

are important parts of confidence,” he said. “We see them

start to ask about competitions. They lose weight and feel

better. They get better grades in school and they start getting

involved with sports. But, with this confidence, they don’t

feel the need to brag about it. They are just confident in

their ability.”

Martial arts not only helps those who are victims of

bullies, but those who bully as well. Kids bully for a wide

range of reasons. Sometimes they need a victim — someone

weaker or smaller — to feel more important or in control.

Sometimes bullies act out because that’s how they’ve been

treated by other children or even family members.

“I honestly believe there are no victims, only volunteers.

For us,” said Epps, “it’s about showing kids they have value,

worth and strength.”

Kendle James with classmates at Lovato Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu

32 www.edmondoutlook.comWith This Ad. Exp. 01/31/12

With This Ad. Exp. 01/31/12

(minimum of 300 sq. ft.)

300

January is the Month for Savings at

• Skilled Installation• Friendly & Dependable Service• Expert & Time-saving Tile Removal• Dust-collection System Minimizes the Mess• Amazing Selection of Wood Flooring, Carpet & Tile

Call 348-6777 | Stop by our showroom at 2701 S. Broadway | Or visit www.kreggers.com

Additional in-store discounts available January only. Come take advantage of the lowest prices of the year!


Name: Rumble the Bison

Have you had a lot of free time this season?The off-season didn't change my schedule much. I already work yearround doing events and appearances. From birthday parties to barmitzvahs, trade shows to school shows. You name it, I've done it.

Married, single or just grazing?I feel like I'm married to the job...and it's a great marriage! Imight start grazing later on if things slow down a bit, but thereis no time right now.

What conditioner do you use to get that shiny coat?Any other grooming tips for hairy guys or bovine-types?Luckily I'm blessed with a natural shine...no conditioner needed.My only grooming tip is to stay fresh. People might say they likethe beast in you, but they don't want to smell it!

Is it safe to say you're a vegetarian?Actually, after I was struck by lightning (feel free to read myback story), I developed a more human-like appetite.

What makes Thunder fans the best NBA fans anywhere?I've performed at many NBA arenas and can speak to this with firsthandknowledge. Thunder fans have a positive and uplifting energy. Instead of usingtheir cheering power for negative feelings towards the opposing team, theyenergize and motivate our team. As a team we do NOT take this for granted.

Bison burgers? Do you have an opinion either way on those?As the Famous San Diego Chicken says "If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em!"Helps eliminate my competition.

Have you made any major TV appearances since the Ellen Show?I've been featured in many FOX Sports, ESPN and TNT segments. I've been oncommercials, billboards and even video games, but it's going to be tough to topThe Ellen Show. The day I was on-set they were also shooting the Lady GaGaepisode. It was crazy!

Is there a special union or club for NBA mascots?The NBA mascots have an unofficial group. Some might call it a 'fur-turnity.' I rarelygo a week without tweeting (@rumblethebison), facebooking (rumblethebison)or emailing other NBA mascots. There are only 30 of us in the world that do whatwe do. Every summer we get together and have a conference to discuss skits,stunts and creative ideas. We also vote on a number of awards like Mascot of theYear, Skit of the Year and Stunt of the Year among others. I had the honor ofwinning Mascot of the Year my first season in 2008. It was a humbling time toget such an award that is voted on by your peers. I'll never forget that.

Some say you talked Harden into a beard. Is that true?I cannot confirm or deny that claim. It looks pretty good though, don't you think?

Favorite activity after the game?Games are quite exhausting. It usually takes me an hour to pack up and showerafter a game. By that time, I'm ready for some nachos and some sleep. Yes, Ihave a weird craving for nachos after every game. The trainer says it might befrom a lack of salt...I tend to sweat a little during games.

MY EDMOND OUTLOOKby Krystal Harlow


Documents

January 2012