J a n u a r y / f e b r u a r y 2 0 0 9 • V o l u m e 3 0 I ss u e 1 • www . c h - e h . o r g

The Friends of Edgemere School Editor’s Note: Edgemere School’s boundaries include all of CH-EH, with the exception of 42nd street, in Egdemere Height which is served by Horace Mann.

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any of you may have noticed that Edgemere School (NW32nd and Walker) has been under construction for the past year. As one of the many city-wide schools being renovated by the MAPS for Kids project, the historic 1909 building now has updated classrooms and a new cafeteria/auditorium known as a “cafetorium.” During the construction, Edgemere students have been bussed to Martin Luther King Elementary at 48th and Kelley. The day before school started this past year, Edgemere Park resident Kelly Pearson learned that MAPS money was not going to cover some of the essentials of the Edgemere School renovation. Due to cost overruns in construction, items such as furniture, window treatments and playground equipment were cut from the budget. Ms. Pearson, a concerned citizen and a neighbor of the school, took action. After some research and e-mails to active alumni, a committee was formed to help supplement the MAPS funds. Friends of Edgemere School was born. Friends of Edgemere School (FOES) is a coalition of community members dedicated to building a dynamic learning environment for children. Its mission is to forge partnerships with and provide support for students, parents, teachers, and administrators in creating a center of excellence for education. The committee has two distinguished cochairs. Judge Ralph G. Thompson (see related article) and Ed Cook are both former Edgemere students and recognized community leaders. The committee is comprised of neighborhood leaders, parents, school administrators, politicians and business leaders. Friends of Edgemere School’s current project is to raise $150,000 to fund the needs of the school not covered by the MAPS for Kids project. MAPS for Kids provided new furniture, technology and fixtures to newly constructed schools. FOES wants to furnish the school

Rear, left to right: Kelly

Pearson, Ed Cook, Jim Fentriss, Judge Ralph Thompson, Dr. Dennis Gentry front, center: Jo Carol Cameron

with new desks and chairs ($55,000), put a smart board (learning tool that replaces chalk boards or dry-erase boards) and projector in each classroom ($52,500), add a safe playground ($25,000), new window treatments ($17,500) and provide for other audio-visual needs. FOES is also working to ensure that the renovations to the building are appropriate to the needs of the school. On November 10th, Edgemere School and FOES co-hosted the Edgemere Premiere, a public event to unveil the new cafetorium. Red carpet, Oscar Statues and popcorn greeted over 100 guests as they (continued on page 6)

The Newsletter of the Crown HeightsEdgemere Heights Neighborhood

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Business in the ‘Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Neighbor Spotlight: Jessica Ockershauser . . .18

Feature: Welcome Home. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Historical Preservation . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Feature: Juxtaposition . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Voting in the ‘Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Neighbor Spotlight: Jo Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Kids in the ‘Hood. . . . . . . . . . . 19 Photo Pages . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22-26

OFFICERS Alan Kirkpatrick, President Lea Morgan, Vice-President Leslie Yancey, Secretary Judy Krueger, Treasurer DIRECTORS Bob Alfson Patricia Ayling Lola Baker Suzanne Bockus Phillip Clayton Steve Cole Bob Eskew

Brenda Johnson John Joyce Shannon Purnell Sharon Reeves Bob Reising Bart Robey Scott Towery

Lisa Hammond Nancy Love Robertson ALTERNATES Amanda Bleakley Hilary Stolzenberg John Ziegler For questions or assistance, please contact the appropriate committee chairperson: BLOCK CAPTAIN COORDINATOR

Patricia Ayling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 524-3342 Historic Preservation Committee

John Joyce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 521-1764 CHRONICLE LIAISON

Danielle Coats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 524-9797 Lea Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 524-8981 SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Lola Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-7645 HOSPITALITY / NEW NEIGHBORS

Suzanne Bockus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-7197 LANDSCAPING & PARK

Sharon Reeves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528-2967 MEMBERSHIP

Bob Alfson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 525-5536 STREET LIGHTS & MARKERS

Judy Krueger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 528-3917 PET REGISTRY

Marti Jourden & Keith Ball . . . . . 528-5642 Oklahoma City Action Center

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 297-2535

CH-EH Homeowners Association

P.O. Box 18283, Shartel Station Oklahoma City, OK 73154 January/february 2009



January/february 2009



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The Knew Year and the New Year. Did you have a good year in 2008? Did you make resolutions and abide by them? Do you even remember what you resolved to do? Every January I look forward to and plan for what is ahead – the New Year – and I also look back over the past 12 months, thumb through pages of recent history, and reflect on what just happened – the Knew Year. The Knew Year in Crown Heights Edgemere Heights was a great year. Yes, we got off to a rough start with a nasty ice storm and days with no electricity. Yes, the damage is still evident. But the rest of the year has been nothing less than outstanding. In case you have recently moved to the neighborhood or were not able to attend some of our great events this year, you really missed out. The Progressive Party in February – the best one yet. The excellent Easter Egg Hunt in March. The Memorial Marathon in April – rumor has it the Gatorade tastes great at 38th and (Johnny) Walker! The Heights Benefit Party in May – we bought how much?? The Fourth of July Parade and Picnic in, of course, July. Oktoberfest in October – a great time to eat a brat and “Ketchup” with friends. The Holiday Tree Lighting and Carriage Rides in December – watch where you step in the street . These were all fantastic events that brought us together and gave us good memories in 2008. I hope you were able to make most, if not all, of them. In addition to these wonderful events, CH-EH enjoyed many other benefits during the Knew Year as well. A strong membership and unprecedented giving has allowed us to continue maintaining the beautiful landscape and begin recovery from the ice storm. We have continued and are continuing to work with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation to pursue grants and augment our endowment. We have provided venues for neighbors to express their opinions and become informed regarding potential developments in close proximity to our homes. Whether it was a party or some planted pansies, the quality of events and the effort

to maintain the unique values and charms of this community were possible because of the hard work of our neighbors. Board members and non-Board members alike made 2008 a fantastic Knew Year. Which brings me to the New Year and everything I look forward to. I look forward to seeing friends at parties and meeting new neighbors. I look forward to grabbing a bite at one of the terrific restaurants nearby on a weekly (sometimes daily!) basis. I look forward to seeing the investment in our neighborhood grow. I look forward to casual strolls through our streets and in our parks. I hope you too are looking forward to these and other benefits of living in Crown Heights – Edgemere Heights. And I hope, if you have the time and are able, you will volunteer your time and effort to make sure the same successes we enjoyed in 2008 are enjoyed in 2009. But most of all, I hope you had a great Knew Year and I hope your New Year is even better. —Alan Kirkpatrick

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Friends of Edgemere School (cont.)

The Premiere of Edgemere School’s new cafetorium (continued from page 1)

toured the new mixed-use space. The bright cafeteria is a large room with a stage at one end and meal service at the other. The community group Closer to Earth, which has planted trees at the school, was at the premiere to help serve refreshments. Several Edgemere alumni, including CH-EH neighbor Ralph Thompson, shared memories from their beloved school. Founding member Kelly Pearson reported over $47,000 had been raised through individual donations and grants. Edgemere Elementary School’s new principal, Dr. Dennis Gentry, complimented the J.R. Walker construction company for “dealing with a historical building with historical problems.” Dr. Gentry also said that “Martin Luther King Elementary has been graciously accommodating, but we are ready to come home.” Edgemere students are expected to return to their “new” school in January.

January/february 2009



CH-EH Neighbor Raises Funds for Alma Mater High school reunions, like them or not, are a common occurrence. Most people will attend at least one such event in their lifetime. College reunions are also relatively common, especially among small colleges or within fraternities/sororities at larger universities. Has anyone ever been to an elementary school reunion? In 1986, our neighbor, Judge Ralph Thompson, helped organize a reunion of his classmates from Edgemere School in the 1940s. Alumni came from all over the United States-- Guy James Jr. even came from Vienna, Austria. At the recent Edgemere Premiere, Judge Thompson shared some of his fond memories.

“Ms. Violet Smizer was our music teacher. She was the only surviving teacher and came to our Edgemere Grade School Reunion several years ago. All of the memories of that wonderful time and wonderful school came back. Ms. Smizer taught us to love music. She wrote in my autograph book: ‘Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.’ I was able to recite that to her when we saw her at that reunion and I told her ‘Don’t think teachers don’t make a difference.’ It was a tearful moment. She died six weeks later. It was told at her funeral.” Judge Thompson was a member of a football team who played in Edgemere Park on Sundays. “We were a scrappy-looking bunch- we had Cub Scout knickers and old World War II helmets. My friend Jim Fentriss and I both lived on 34th street, on opposite sides of the park. We were close in age, only ten days apart, and he is still one of my oldest and dearest friends.” To this day, the friends celebrate their birthdays in Edgemere park with another Edgemere playmate, Dave Hansen. In October of this year, the Edgemere Park friends donated a park bench. The plaque says Have a seat. Courtesy of Dave, Jim and Ralph. Edgemere Pals since 1934. Judge Thompson’s fond memories of his grade school and his Edgemere Park neighborhood have inspired him to join Friends of Edgemere School and help with the alumni fundraising efforts. “It is a clear case of need. MAPS for Kids did not include furniture and updated teaching equipment. We are dedicated to raising money to provide new desks and chairs, teaching technology in each classroom and a new, safe playground for the school.” To contribute to Friends of Edgemere, call 488-0548 or visit friendsofedgemere.com.

Business in the ‘hood The Hippie Store

Aerial Oklahoma Back in the days of darkroom photography, Tod and Jamin Yeager’s father learned all there is to know about aerial photography working for Ace Aerial Photography. Aerial Oklahoma was founded in 1996 by Mr. Yeager. The company has recently moved to a new location at 4141 North Western as of February of 2008. Tod and Jamin Yeager and Mike Hayton have been taking and cataloging aerial photographs of the southwestern United States since 2005. The family provides service to a wide array of clients. In an interview Jamin commented, “We provide a wide gamut of services. The Oil and Gas industry will use aerial photography to plan exploration. Lawyers will use aerial photography in accident reconstruction and environmental lawsuits.” The company houses the largest historical aerial archive in the state, dating back to the 1930’s. These images can be used to determine land use, environmental damage, or even to simply locate a family farm. On any given day you can find Jamin and his father in the office handling daily business, while Mike will be photographing out in the field. In order to capture their images, the guys at Aerial Oklahoma utilize two types of

above, left to right:

Jamin and Tod Yeager Store owner Lisa Ghariani

below, right: Hippie

cameras. The first is a professional mapping camera used primarily to capture images similar to those you would see on Google Earth. This very large film camera takes 9” x 9” negatives and is mounted in the back of their ‘6-seater’ airplane. Four rear seats had to be removed in order to accommodate the camera and its various control systems. A handheld high resolution digital camera is used for oblique or color angle shots. These images are primarily used for construction progression or real estate sales. Housed in the office are a couple of high end workstations to process and handle the image editing. These high-end computers can count on handling image files up to 10 gigabytes in size, so as Jamin states, “…it takes some muscle to throw them around.” Their facilities also house some very nice scanners and one of the few large format printers in the Metro area. Most any image you want can be found within their existing library and purchased relatively inexpensively. However, in the event that the site you would like to see has not been photographed the company can be hired for bit higher price to take photos for you!

If your New Year’s resolutions include conserving energy, recycling, and dressing to the beat of a different drummer, then have we got a store for you! The Hippie Store, at 2412 N. Shartel, is a shopper’s paradise crammed (When I say crammed, I mean CRAMMED!) full of retro, vintage, quirky (and at times wonderfully awful) clothing. From vintage Pendleton to a teal satin Bea Arthur Golden Girls jacket, complete with shoulder pads, the variety of merchandise is truly astonishing. A quick visual scan reveals scarves, boots (from suede ankle with fringe to thigh-high in red patent leather), macramé belts, lamps, leather coats, caftans, postcards, scarves, hats (vintage and crocheted), wedding dresses, men’s suit coats, sunglasses, purses, art, afghans, costume jewelry, used books, bathrobes, shirts, nightclothes, dresses, sweaters, and racks and racks of jeans. Oh, and a motorcycle helmet. My 16-year-old daughter discovered this Mecca about six months ago, and was thrilled to introduce me to its charms. I sat down recently with owner Lisa Ghariani and asked how she would describe her merchandise. “It’s a collection of ornate objects and interesting and unusual vintage and retro clothing,” she explained. “I used to own Thrift-o-rama at NW 23rd and Walker. It was more ‘fun junk’, I wanted to collect more unusual, higher-end items, and to include local artists,” and so three years ago she opened a new store, christened Panolpy. She also decided to share the space

—Katherine Archer January/february 2009



business in the ‘hood with Janice McCarty’s Talisman, a shop focusing on mineral, rocks and semiprecious stone jewelry. So why does the sign our front say, “The Hippie Store”? With a rueful expression, Lisa said, “My teenage customers kept calling it that, and I finally ended up going with it, too!” Some of her treasure comes from Hollywood, where she goes to visit her daughter. She pointed out a pair of gold lamé boots hanging from the ceiling: “Those are from Paramount Studios. There’s a store where they sell things worn on TV shows— from the 70’s and 80’s. I also brought back some soap opera lingerie.” (You gotta know somebody who needs some of that!) She noted that she stocks a lot of 80’s clothing, which other vintage stores often scorn. Lisa accepts donations of clothing, and said what can’t be used in the store is passed on to others: “I give away baby and kids’ clothes to needy families in the neighborhood. I also leave clothes out front for people to take if they need it.” (I can attest to that—on my first visit, the store was closed, but there were serveral bins out front with sweaters and a

note that explained to take what was needed.) She also spends time creating fun and funky knitted hats which are sold at the store, as well as items by local artists. (I picked up an incense holder made from Graffitti Bridge for my daughter, who discovered the joy of incense on an early visit to The Hippie Store.) A variety of psychic-related services is also offered, including card and aura reading and numerology. Lisa also stocks Peach House Tshirts and bumper stickers. And the Talisman side of the space is crammed (there’s that word again!) with wonderful stones, glass, and affordable genuine gemstone jewelry. Take it from me, an aging and confirmed shopaholic, this is one wonderful place! You can visit Monday through Saturday, “about noon” (Lisa is rueful again!) to 6:00p.m. Parking is right there on Shartel. Lisa can be reached at 521-1010 and has been known to arrange private shopping events on short notice! P.S. Lisa’s generous offer to CH-EH neighbors: mention this article and she will give you a 50% discount on clothing! —Nancy Waller

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feature Juxtaposition: Works and Memories of Brunel Faris Sipping coffee in her late husband’s studio, Mrs. Christiane Faris is surrounded by his works of collage, pen and ink and paint. The space is an addition completed many years earlier so that he would have a home studio. While his art is on the walls, the living room floor is mostly consumed with a very colorful oversized prayer rug that still harbors tiny paint spots from its days in Brunel’s boyhood room. Mrs. Faris met her husband, Brunel Debost Faris, while studying in Kansas as an undergraduate student. After completing her studies Mrs. Faris returned to her home in Germany to pursue a career in teaching language and literature. During the first of Brunel’s many trips to Europe, the two met in Paris and travled together as Mrs. Faris fondly remembers, “proper young professionals.” Mrs. Faris decided to travel back to the United States in order to study at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. The Faris family invited Christiane to spend Christmas with them in Oklahoma. As she comments in her book, “This is when my fondness for Oklahoma began.” The two were married soon there after, and moved to their home on 39th Street in 1969. Mr. Faris deeply influenced the art community as a teacher, administrator, and artist for more than 40 years. Having grown up in Oklahoma and completing both an undergraduate degree and masters degree at the University of Oklahoma, he had a strong connection to art community within Oklahoma for a long time. He was a founding member of the Oklahoma Arts Council, as well as the Director of the OCU Art Department for many years. Brunel worked in pen and ink, silver point, watercolor, oil, acrylic, and particularly mixed media collage. Mrs. Faris has wondeful memories of traveling extensively with Brunel. It was on these trips that he would find the items that would later become collages. His pen and ink drawings are quite expressive, and more than once were used for birthday cards for his daughter or Christmas Eve Party invitations for their friends, family, and students. Mrs. Faris recently released ‘Juxtaposition’ a record of the artworks of her late husband. In order to create an accurate record of his January/february 2009

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life works, Mrs. Faris has written this book in close collaboration with her friend and colleague from Oklahoma City University, Margaret Flansburg. As Mrs. Faris remembers, “We just wrote and wrote, and in the end had too much!” So they edited and the result is an important account of both how one man influenced and nurtured the art community in Oklahoma and how he personally grew as an artist. While the book’s main focus is Mr. Faris’ involvement and influence on the art community, the book begins with a bit of research Ms. Flansburg did into the history of the early art movement and struggles in Oklahoma. Although Mrs. Faris is retired from her position as Director of the Languages Department at OCU, she continues to teach. She is currently involved in a study abroad program in Singapore. A book signing was held at Full Circle Bookstore recently. All proceeds from the sales of this work are donated into a scholarship fund in the name of Brunel Faris. Copies are available at Full Circle Bookstore or Christiane Faris at 405.524.6445 (books can be delivered to parties living within the Crown Heights-Edgmere Heights and Edgemere Park neighborhoods if purchased from Mrs. Faris.) —Katherine Archer

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feature Welcome Home! After 10 months in Bagdad, Captain Joel Kintsel of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team was safely reunited with his family in October. Joel and Nancy Kintsel’s son Gavin was born in January, just three days before Joel’s unit deployed overseas to Iraq. Kintsel enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard in August of 2000 and received a direct appointment as a Judge Advocate in May of 2004. He went on active duty in October 2007 and began mobilization training at Ft. Bliss, Texas as the Deputy Command Judge Advocate for the Headquarters Company of the 45th brigade. Kintsel and the Headquarters Company were set up in the former Republican Guard Palace, which had been the seat of government for Saddam Hussein. He recalls “I didn’t have any horrible combat experi-

Joel Kintsel, second from right, at the crossed swords monument in the international zone

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11

feature ences, but we did sustain rocket fire on the palace complex for 41 consecutive days. The hardest part was missing my family. The reunion in October was one of the happiest days of my life. I feel very lucky.” Joel Kintsel was greeted stateside by his wife, son, parents and grandparents. “My grandfather is a World War II and Korean War veteran. During the Korean conflict, granddad deployed a few weeks before my Dad was born. It is interesting how parallel our experiences have been.” Now that he is back in Oklahoma, Joel has returned to his civilian job as Chief Clerk for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, where he has worked since 2005. As Chief Clerk, Joel serves both as chief of operations for the House and as the House Parliamentarian. Joel and Nancy have lived in Crown Heights since 2006. Their favorite thing about the neighborhood it has so many unique homes and it is a great place to raise a family. above, left: Portico of former Republican Guard Palace; Sandstorm, above, right: Yellow ribbons welcome Joel Kintsel home.

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voting in the ‘hood

Bart Robey; Jim Roth with his mother, Marie; Andrew Rice

Election Day in CH-EH It seems CH-EH is a blue spot in a red state. John McCain’s largest margin of victory (65.6%) was in Oklahoma, and he won all 77 counties. While most of Oklahoma voted for John McCain for President (red), our two precincts voted for Barack Obama: Precinct 478 voted 59% and precinct 479 voted 52%. CH-EH also showed strong support for neighbors Jim Roth, Andrew Rice and Bart Robey (see table on page 16). Following are statements from these candidates to The Chronicle regarding the recent election:

Andrew Rice

Jim Roth

Bart Robey

“I am forever grateful for the chance to serve our State and our County. Public service has fed my soul for many years and I am so appreciative for the amazing support of so many friends and neighbors that made it possible. Although we came up a little short on election night, I am completely at peace with the outcome because I believe in our democracy and I know we worked very hard and put our whole hearts into the service and campaign. I truly believe that our campaign has helped broaden Oklahoma’s energy vision and prepared it better for the future.”

January/february 2009

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“I am grateful to the neighbors in this area for their support. Even though we didn’t win statewide, it means a lot to me that the local neighborhoods showed their confidence for me. I will continue to work on issues as the State Senator for District 46 for the next couple of years. Again, I’m very grateful for the local support.”

“First, I would like to express my gratitude for the support we received in CEEH. Shawnae and I have only lived here three years (nearly) but it was amazing the reception we got in the neighborhood. I personally walked CH-EH twice, and it was awesome to get to meet so many of our neighbors and to visit with them. We made a number of new friends. If the entire race had gone the way of Crown Heights it would have been a landslide in our favor.  That said we underestimated (although we always knew it would be tough) the difficulty the presidential election would provide to our can-

didacy. There were many areas of the district that proved to be just too on sided for us to be successful.  I told our volunteers the day after the election not to be sad for us personally. Oklahoma “works” for Shawnae and me. We are very fortunate to have good lives, jobs, and friends. However, for so many of our people Oklahoma does not “work.” Our education system is one of the worst in the country, one-fifth of our children have no access to healthcare coverage, and the conditions of our roads and bridges are deplorable. Teenage pregnancy, high school dropouts, and those without secondary education are all too common.  I support our leaders in state government irrespective of party. However, the aforementioned issues persist. I can only hope that Oklahoma and its legislature will finally move to improve the quality and accessibility of our educational and healthcare systems. It is important for the present and critical to the future.  I do not know at the present time if I will choose to run again. However, I am excited about continuing to serve our neighborhood and being a part of our community.”

voting in the ‘hood At precinct 479 (east of Shartel), neighbor Steve Barghols was the first in line to vote. He shared with us his reason: right:

“Since she was very little, my daughter Lauren (now a second-year lawyer at McAfee & Taft) and I have shared the tradition of getting up very early on presidential election mornings to be among the first to vote.  On November 4th, each of us was in line at our respective polling sites at 4:55 AM and we enjoyed a 30-minute telephone chat in the dark before others started joining us in line.  That Tuesday was an historic day for our nation, and we’ll always remember how we started that day.”

(continued on next page)

January/february 2009

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voting in the ‘hood

January/february 2009

16

above: waiting

for Precinct 479 to open

Precinct

478

479

Roth

68%

68%

Rice

65%

59%

Robey

63%

56%

Obama

59%

52%

neighbor spotlight

Jo Jones Infant Crisis Services

Good neighbors are abundant in our neighborhood. One special neighbor is Infant Crisis Services. They provide formula, food, diapers and clothing to infants in a time of crisis. The non-profit agency began as a Sunday School project at Westminster Presbyterian Church in 1984 and has become a vital source of aid for many in our community. EH neighbor Jo Jones is the Director of Operations for Infant Crisis Services. Jo was working as a local news reporter in 1995 and did a story about them. She got to know Miki Farris, the Executive Director and a founder, who asked her to serve on their Board of Directors. When Jo’s youngest son turned two, she began looking for an outside-the-house outlet. She wanted something part-time and in the non-profit arena, so she contacted Miki for help to begin her search. It just so happened that Infant Crisis Services needed a part-time volunteer coordinator; Jo had a new job. Fast forward six years and Jo is managing all operations for Infant Crisis Services and handling all internal and external communications. Continued growth in the number of clients seen has led to the need for expansion, which is another project that has surely kept Jo busy. A grant was received from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and a new 17,000 square foot facility at

Jo Jones with a very cute little client

N.E. 42nd Street and Lincoln Blvd is currently under construction. The move to the new location is planned for February, and a public dedication will take place in May. The new location’s extra room will be much appreciated as the client level that Infant Crisis Services sees has set records this fall. Jo believes that greater public knowledge of their services and the downtown in the economy has led to the increase. In September, 1,000 babies came for help and in October, 1,200 were seen. Prior averages were 800-900 per month. Services are limited to four times, and 40% of babies are only seen once. Infant Crisis Services will celebrate their 25th anniversary in 2009. The move to the new facility will kick off the anniversary celebration, but a gala is planned to really get the party going. Ball Gowns & Boots, a black tie event with some room for fun, will be held at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum on February 21, 2009.

Dinner, entertainment and a small auction are planned for the evening. Jo says that she “adores our neighborhood” and feels fortunate to live close to her place of employment. She has lived in Edgemere Heights for 11 years with husband Tom Mullen, and sons Jonathan and Jason.

Editor’s Note: Jo tells The Chronicle that your donations of children’s clothing are always welcome. See www.infantcrisis.org for more information.

(continued on next page) January/february 2009

17

It’s tIme

neighbor spotlight

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Come see why you’ll love to work out with us! Just ask your neighbors...We’re not just another fitness club. nautilus & free Motion strengthtraining ~ Personal training Massage ~ nutrition & Weight loss Counseling boot Camp,spin & Yoga Combo Classes Cardio with individual flat screentv’s locker rooms & showers M-tH 5:30am-8:00pm, frI 5:30am-7:00pm, sAt 8:00am-3:00pm January/february 2009

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Jessica Ockershauser Jessica Ockershauser was recently recognized by OKCBusiness as a rising star, one of their “Forty under 40.” Jessica, an active member of the Junior League of Oklahoma City, was nominated by one of her fellow members. “I thought my nomination was a shot in dark. There are so many talented young professional in Oklahoma City. I am honored.” Now in the corporate communications department at Chesapeake Energy, Jessica had been marketing manager of POPS for the past two years. “Getting POPS up and running was a great experience. The people there are like family to me—but it was time to move on.” Jessica and her husband Patrick have lived in Crown Heights since 2006. “We rented a house in Mesta Park and fell in love with historical neighborhoods. When it was time to buy, we called Wendy Chong and she helped us find our home. I’m a lifer—I want to stay in the neighborhood and just keep upgrading!” For the past eight years, OKCBusiness has showcased these leaders based on their professional accomplishments, commitment to community and charitable involvement. This year’s pool had nearly 200 nominees. Congratulations, Jessica!

kids in the ‘hood

Chronicle Kids

Beginning in our March/April, 2009 issue, a full page will be devoted to our younger neighbors. Chronicle Kids will have a kid editor, Kendall Bleakley, and will feature stories and photos about anything kid related. Kendall has lived in Crown Heights her entire life and attends Westminster School, where she is a 7th Grader. Her grandfather, Bill Bleakley, was the founder of The Chronicle, and her father, Chad Bleakley (yep, VZD’s) delivered those newsletters as a kid. It’s always good to have family! “I have a busy mind, so I’m always changing what I want to do,” says Kendall about her future plans. But, as long as she is “helping other people who need help”, she’ll be happy. She recently worked on

her school yearbook and developed a newspaper known as Bleakley Weekly. Kendall also takes guitar lessons and plays volleyball and softball. Babysitting is one of Kendall’s favorite things to do. “I just love being around little kids,” she said. If you have story ideas or any events for Kendall to cover for Chronicle Kids, you can e-mail them to her at [email protected].

Right: Kendall Bleakley, Chronicle Kids Editor

/TQD +TWTQX

Judy Pitts, ASID Interior Solutions for the way you live

405-557-0226 January/february 2009

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Historical Preservation

HP Commandments

What do you see when you look in the mirror. Are you reasonably content with the reflection you see? Maybe you could stand to drop a few pounds (most of us could) but are you in need of dramatic makeover? Myself, I have a hard time staring at the mirror too long because of the glare of the light reflecting off the top of my head where hair used to be. Should I look into buying a toupee or some type of hair transplant? I’m guessing that most of my friends would recommend against this and that if I listened to Dr. Phil (which I don’t) that he might suggest that the best thing for my mental state would be to learn to accept my current appearance. Often when I hear people talking about future plans for their homes, similar thoughts pop into my head. “I hate the wood shingle siding at the upper floor of my home. I would like to change it to wood lap siding. That would make my home look so much better.” Of course this type of change is an obvious violation of Historic Preservation Guidelines, but that is not really the point. The point is that each historic home is unique and was created before one of us became its “temporary” owner. It is our job as owners of historic homes to appreciate our homes for what they are and not for want we might envision them to be. If

historic windows with storm windows you feel your house would look so much better with a more stately entrance, why not add a grand entrance canopy or porte-cochere? The reason is because your home was not built with a porte-cochere and as a neighborhood we decided years ago that your home does not need a porte-cochere. As a neighborhood we decided all of our homes are just fine as they are - thank you very much. If you can come to terms with this concept most of the “Guidelines” become obvious. So if I hear a neighbor lamenting that the color of his brick is not his wife’s favorite, I might find myself wanting to reply that if he and his wife can not bring themselves to appreciate their home as it is, I am sure Lola Baker (CH-EH Board Member and long-

January/February GALLERY WALK BETWEEN 28TH & N. WALKER & 30TH AND N. DEWEY RECEPTIONS: Mariposa Gallery Adelante! Gallery In Your Eye Gallery Gallery One aka gallery Paseo Art Studio JRB Art @ the Elms Studio Six Paseo Pottery Art of Yoga

L I V E B A N D S AT: Galileo Sauced

FIRST FRIDAY

Gallery Walk featuring over 60 artists

6-10PM JAN. 2 & FEB. 6

SATURDAY

JAN. 3 & FEB. 7 12-6PM “Sneak-a-peek” Saturday, Watch artists work live Over 60 artists in more than 17 galleries, 3 great restaurants, gift shop, clothing boutique, and yoga studio, all within walking distance. For more information call 525-2688 or visit or website at www.thepaseo.com.

time realtor) can find someone who will! So if the first HP Commandment might be “love thy home as it is”, the second Commandment could be either “two wrongs don’t make a right” or “if your neighbor jumped off a cliff, would you?” The reason for the second commandment is that people seeking to violate HP Guidelines love to bring up the fact that they are certainly not the first ones to do so. “What do you mean I can’t paint my brick! I have counted 153 other homes in Crown Heights that have painted brick!” There are certainly no shortage of homeowners who state this case in front of the Historic Preservation Commissioners each month, but this misguided logic is never successful. Of course none of this is to say that our homes do not need maintenance and that no modifications can take place. However, in terms of the front elevation of your home, any significant modification to the exterior surfaces of the home itself is probably worth a phone call to any of our Preservation Review Committee Members or a check of the HP Guidelines (a link is available at ch-eh.org). Now if you’re talking about landscaping the front of your home or an addition to the rear, those are topics for another issue of The Chronicle! — John Joyce January/february 2009

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Holiday Lighting, December 7th

January/february 2009

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recent events

January/february 2009

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Recent Events

Murphey/Brunsteter Wedding right: Cassidy Lauren Murphey and Webster Earl Brunsteter, children of Crown Heights neighbors David and Joni Murphey and W.W. “Dub” and Betsy Brunsteter were united in marriage on December 16, 2008.

Opening of “Our Town” Exhibition below, right: Artist Michael Hoffner at the City Arts Center November 13, 2008. below, left: CH neighbors Bob and Mollie Kinniburgh, whose home was featured in Michael’s piece.

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Recent Events

Hanukah …The Festival of Lights During the darkest season of the year, both Judaism and Christianity celebrate the season with lights, warmth, family and sharing of love and gifts. A Great Rabbi once remarked that “You cannot chase away darkness with a stick, you have to turn on the light.” The way to eliminate darkness -- to rid the world of ignorance, negativity, hatred and greed -- is to kindle the lights of knowledge, generosity, hope and love. The Hebrew word, “Hanukah” means dedication and commemorates a victory for religious freedom between a small band of Jews and the Syrian armies in 165 BCE. The dedication refers to the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated. Hanukah is actually a minor religious holiday on the Jewish calendar, yet its message of religious freedom and the joy of giving during the darkest months, resonates with all who celebrate the season. Hanukah actually means “dedica-

tion” in Hebrew, referring to the rededication of the original Temple in Jerusalem after it was desecrated by the Syrians. Hanukah began on the evening of December 21st with the lighting of the first candle and continued for eight nights through Dec. 28th. On the last night of Chanukah, 12/28 at 6:30 pm, we had a special memorial to former Crown Heights neighbor and OKC Councilmen, Mark Schwartz, of blessed memory. He was instrumental in creating the large menorah for our neighborhood, and for making so many improvements to our city through his work on the City Council. When you see the lights shining on the Crown Heights menorah on the Shartel median, may it remind you of the many ways we each bring light and learning to our neighborhood, our city, our country and the world. —Marcy Price, Program Director Jewish Federation of OKC January/february 2009

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recent events

1 CH-EH Board Christmas Party 1. Jana, Danielle, Sandy 2. Katie, Shannon, Leah, Alan 3. Linda, Bill 4. Patricia, Rick, Linda, John 5. Amanda, Steve

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Opening Doors on the Streets

Where We Live

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