2012 on the horizon: family

n Sunday, March 18, 2012 Enid News & Eagle Page designed by: Violet Hassler

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By Robert BarronStaff Writer

There soon will be a mas-ter plan for improvements toEnid’s parks and a timelinefor getting them done.

Assistant City PlannerWhitney Box said focusgroup and public meetingshave been held this year withrepresentatives of Manage-ment Learning Laboratories,who will assist in compilingthe plan. The primary consult-ant hired by the city is Howelland VanCuren of Tulsa. JoeHowell, a principal of thecompany, has been in Enidrecently looking at the parksand getting to know what ishere.

“The schedule for theentire plan is seven to 10months,” Box said. “Therewill be plenty of public meet-ings throughout the process.”

Howell said there are threeitems most people want whenit comes to park systems:

• First is trails, and Howellplans to include the EnidMaster Trail system in thepark plan, based on inputfrom members of the public.

• Another item people askfor is small neighborhoodparks within walking dis-tance.

• The third request normal-ly centers around sportsfields.

“We’ll see how it turns outin Enid,” Howell said “Everyfocus group we attended men-tioned trails.”

Howell attended seven ofeight focus groups meetingslocally; a city of Enid staffmember who will be part ofthe team has attended alleight.

The focus groups sessions

were spread out among differ-ing areas of and interestgroups in the community,Box said, and usually rangedin size from five to seven peo-ple.

They were selected by citystaff and pulled from groupsand organizations Howellsaid he wanted represented,such as softball leagues,churches, park board, down-town business organizations,David Allen Memorial Ball-park, 4RKids and YMCA.Howell said he expects inputfrom Vance Air Force Base,also.

The Enid park system is in“fairly good” condition,Howell said, adding there ismuch opportunity in theirdevelopment. He brought thecity of Broken Arrow’s parkdirector to look at Enid’sparks because of the similarsize of the communities. Hesaid that individual wasimpressed with Enid’s parksystem as a whole.

Box said questionaires willbe distributed to some areasof the community in lateMarch or early April. Thenext public meeting will be inMay and will include a dis-cussion about the phases ofthe current plan.

The first phase will consistof inventory and data gather-ing, the second phase willdetermine needs and opportu-nity assessments, primarilythrough surveys, and the thirdphase will be writing the mas-ter plan, which will include atimeline and funding needs.

After the plan is written,there will be more publicmeetings, and Box hopes tobe able to submit the finalreport to the city commissionin August.

o n t h e t r a i l

A woman (top) soaks up some sunshine at Meadowlake Park. City employees(above right) work on the bridge at Government Springs Park to repair the foot-ings and other deteriorating areas. The plan is to add a rock facade to the bridge.Fishermen of all ages (above) line the banks of Meadowlake during the annualJuly 4th Fishing Derby. Meadowlake sidewalks are being updated, and the areahousing Kiwanis rides is being renovated. (Staff File Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

New look to some old favorites

According to the city of Enid website the parks are:• AMBUC Park, 600 block of North Jackson• Berry Park, intersection U.S. 81 and Washington• Champlin Park, Van Buren and Garriott• Crosslin Park, between Purdue and Oxford, west of Van Buren• Enid Skate Park, 401 W. State• Exchange Park, Elm and 4th• Frisco Park, 800 N. Grand• Glenwood Park, 1800 E. Randolph• Government Springs North, between Oklahoma and Garriott,

4th and 7th• Government Springs South, South of Garriott off 10th• Hoover Park, 3000 W. Hoover• LaMesa Park, 4200 Prospect

• Lions Park, 2200 W. Maine• Meadowlake Park, Rupe and Van Buren• Meadows Park, 2700 Indian Drive• Monsees BMX-Bike Park, 1700 W. James• Munn Park, North Van Buren overpass• Oakwood Nature Park, half mile west of Oakwood on Purdue• Phillips Southern Heights Park, 400 block of East Iowa• Seneca Butterfly Garden, Seneca and Sequoyah• Sherwood Park, Cleveland and Willow• Soccer complex, west of Van Buren on Poplar• Swander Park, North Van Buren overpass• Vance Observation Park, Vance Air Force Base• Waterworks Lake Park, 1400 W. Chestnut• Weldon Park and Bird Sanctuary, Lincoln and Mockingbird Lane

Enid has more than 30 parks that cover more than 400 acres

TO PERFECTparksStaff reports

Two of Enid’s biggest andmost visible parks are undergo-ing renovations.

Meadowlake Park is gettingnew sidewalks and a new build-ing to protect the carousel operat-ed by Enid Kiwanis Club.Government Springs Park hasseen the lake drained so workerscan do some much-neededrepairs on the bridge spanningthe water.

The carousel and horses atMeadowlake are owned by thecity of Enid and are an asset tothe city, said Jim McClain, PublicWorks Department director.While work is going on, thecarousel and horses have beenput in storage.

The concrete around thecarousel and the Kiwanitrain

building is being replaced, and anew ticket booth will be built forthose attractions and two otherrides in the area. New sidewalkswill meet Americans With Disa-bilities Act standards, McClainsaid.

The old wooden building pro-tecting the carousel from the ele-ments was deteriorating, necessi-tating the new structure, whichwill be taller and configured dif-ferently. It will resemble a carou-sel of the 1940s period, McClainsaid. The building will be made ofmetal and more colorful, makingit more visible from the street. Heestimated it will be 60 feet indiameter and 18-20 feet tall.

Estimated cost for the projectis about $230,000 for the newbuilding and sidewalks.

At Government Springs Park,city workers are repairing thebridge, which hasn’t been touchedfor 30 years. Work is being doneto repair the footings and otherdeteriorating areas. The plan is toadd a rock facade to the bridge.

While the lake is drained,workers also are building 40 fishhabitats, with cooperation fromOklahoma State University, thatwill be under water.

The springs, which gave thepark its name, also were cleanedout and are flowing more freely,McClain said.

Renovation work currently is ongoingat Government Springs, Meadowlake

Enid officials formulating master planto improve recreational assets of city

THIS YEAR IS ONE OF EXPECTATION FOR ENID AND NORTHWEST OKLAHOMA. IT IS A TIME OF CHANGE AS THE AREA EMERGES FROM RECESSIONAND LOOKS TOWARD PROGRESSION. THE ECONOMIC DRIVERS THAT HAVE BUILT AND SUSTAINED OUR WAY OF LIFE ARE CHANGING, AND THEPEOPLE ARE TASKED WITH CREATING A DIVERSE, NEW ECONOMIC MODEL THAT PUTS THE AREA ON THE HORIZON TOWARD A BETTER WAY OFLIFE. TUCKED IN THESE PROGRESS EDITIONS ARE A FEW OF THE STORIES OF THOSE WHO ARE SHAPING THE FUTURE FOR 2012 AND BEYOND.

Enid News & Eagle Sunday, March 18, 2012 n Page designed by: Violet Hassler

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By Austin PrickettStaff Writer

Don Haskins Park serves manypurposes in the community — fromhosting basketball and tennis enthu-siasts to being home to ForgottenChurch — and soon will receive alittle service itself.

The one-square-block park isnorth of St. Mary’s RegionalMedical Center, 305 S. 5th.

The renovation project is a visionof Enid Rotary Club. BruceJackson, local Rotary president, andfellow Rotarians sought a projectthat would significantly impact thecommunity, according to club mem-ber Trevor Miller.

“The park is heavily used andserves many people through theForgotten Church ministry,” Millersaid. “We initially saw a need for abathroom facility.”

Forgotten Church feeds under-privileged in Enid. Miller said theorganization feeds more than 200people each Tuesday.

A planning committee beganconceptualizing the project andfound more need than believed.

“We saw the number of kids outthere, and the project con-tinued to grow,” Millersaid.

In addition to a bath-room facility, the expan-sion of the park will fea-ture new playgroundequipment, a pavilion, abridge across the park’sdrainage ditch, sand vol-leyball courts, new park-ing and lighted paths.

“Everyone we talk to isvery supportive. I think itis a really exciting opportunity tobring together a large support baseto fulfill the vision Bruce initiallyhad,” Miller said.

The committee has received thesupport of the city of Enid and St.Mary’s, among others.

“This is such a great place to puttime and energy into,” Miller said.

“We want to make this something tobe proud of.”

The exploratory committee,comprised of Miller, DwightOlson, Jimmy Stallings and ChadCaldwell, has completed the pre-liminary design for the park. The

project has been approved by theRotary board.

“We haven’t started aformal fundraiser, but wehave a good foundation inplace,” Miller said.

He said the organiza-tion will have a goal ofraising $500,000 for thepark project.

“Rotary provides thefoundation, and then welook for the support,”Miller said. “This wouldbe a really huge improve-ment to the community.”

The park currently has a bas-ketball court and tennis courtsalong with dated playgroundequipment.

“The park already has a goodstart. This project would just finish itoff.”

’proudRotarians embracingHaskins park project

This is such a great place to puttime and energy into.”

Trevor Miller, member,Enid Rotary Club“

Enid Rotary Club is planning to renovate Haskins park (top) after seeing a community need. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)The park is home to basketball courts, a playground and Forgotten Church ministries, which serves food weekly. KennethTurner (middle) eats a meal. Briahna Dixon and Ashlin Zink (above) swing. (Staff File Photo / Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)

‘SOMETHING TO BE OF


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By Cass RainsStaff Writer

YWCAEnid offers local and areafamilies many programs — from itsCrisis Center to its Adopt a Familyprogram each Christmas.

Community Education andPrevention Specialist Rynn Day saidhundreds of people received serviceslast year from YWCA Enid.

“In 2011, 294 women and chil-dren received services in our emer-gency shelter,” she said. “OurSister’s Closet served more than 400men, women and children last year.”

Meeting the needs of familiesCrisis Center Director Shalonda

Kearney said the center serves as anemergency shelter for women whoare victims ofdomestic violence,sexual assault andstalking.

“Immediately,we provide shelterfor all those vic-tims,” she said.“Women and chil-dren are able tocome and stay inour shelter.

“From the verybeginning we arejust trying to meetthe family wherethey are, as far astheir needs,” she said.“Then we try to find them servicesout in the community, whether it befrom Department of HumanServices, doctors, eye care, dentists.We kind of start at the ground andwork our way up.”

A priority is getting childreninvolved enrolled in school.

The Crisis Center is open 24

hours a day, seven days a week andcan be reached by calling (580) 234-7644 or toll free at (800) 966-7644.

Recovery servicesAnother service through YWCA

Enid is REFLECTIONS HalfwayHouse, serving women recoveringfrom alcohol or substance abuse.Leslie Wright, REFLECTIONS di-rector, said goals are to help womenrecover and re-establish families.

“We do a lot of counseling,”Wright said. “It’s a six-month to ayear program.”

Women are required to attendschool, work or volunteer in the day,with counseling in the evenings.

Enid has the state’s only YWCAoffering a halfway house and is oneof three in Oklahoma allowing

women to live withtheir children inrecovery.

R E F L E C -TIONS, whichstands for Recov-ery for Every Fe-male Life with Ev-ery Child TogetherIn an Open &Nurturing Setting,is certified by Ok-lahoma Depart-ment of MentalHealth & Sub-

stance AbuseServices. Theprogram re-

cently received its three-year certifi-cation by Commission Accreditationfor Rehabilitation Facilities.

Fully secured facilityDay care is another service pro-

vided by YWCA Enid.Children’s Learning Center Di-

rector Jennifer Winn said the center

provides quality childcare to ages 6months to 12 years old.

“We’re a fully secured facility,”Winn said. “We also have a WatchMe Grow camera system in ourday care so parents can get on acomputer or phone and watch theirchildren from there.”

Winn said day care services areopen for public enrollment.

Promoting healthy relationshipsDay, the community education

and prevention specialist, said theYWCA also offers supervised vis-itation and safe exchange services.

“We have someone who coor-

dinate schedules,” Day said. “Achild advocate is there with themwhile Mom and Dad meet.”

YWCA Enid ExecutiveDirector Melissa Blanton said oneof the goals of YWCA is to helpfamilies.

“The many programs and serv-ices offered by the YWCA providedirect assistance to families in cri-sis,” Blanton said. “We strive tocreate a web of care and supportaround women and children inparticular to protect them fromfurther harm and to promote safehealthy family relationships fortheir future.”

&YWCA Enid offers womenand children security in good times, bad

Jennifer Winn, YWCA Children’s Learning Center director, (above) reads to Aubree Rucker, KrystalEdwards and Dexton Mantz. Rynn Day, community education and prevention specialist, (right, atright) and Erin Wulffenstein, day care employee, talk at the YWCA. (Staff Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)

Melissa Blanton

secureSafe

Lindsey Stowers, administrative assistant, explains YWCA volunteer opportunities, Crisis Center Halfway House and YouthChildren’s Learning Center to Shannon Crabbs. Hundreds are helped through the services. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK)


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´:H�0DNH�/RDQV�µ

By Phyllis ZornStaff Writer

Babies are born learning. That’sthe premise of the Parents asTeachers parenting program.

Targeted for families with chil-dren from birth to 3 years old,Oklahoma Parents as Teachers isprovided by Oklahoma Depart-ment of Education and, locally,Community Development SupportAssociation.

Diane Juhnke, early childhooddirector for CDSA, points out PAT isfree with no income requirements.Anyone with children in the ageguidelines can enroll.

The way it works is a parenteducator meets with parents andchildren — usually once a month— and offers tips on making themost of each developmental

milestones the child reaches.Not needed, Juhnke said, are

“fancy, expensive educational toys.”Cans and lids work just as well.

A coffee can with a slot cut in thelid and juice can lids to slide throughthe slot do a great job of helpingbabies master eye and hand coordi-nation, Juhnke said.

“Parents often don’t realize thelearning that children are doingwhen they are very, very young,”Juhnke said.

For instance, a child between 14and 24 months old begins to use trialand error to figure out simple prob-lems. Parents can help by giving thechild objects with moving parts, likeclocks with knobs to turn or buttonsto push.

A child at that age begins to over-come simple obstacles, such asreaching a high object by climbing

onto a chair. Parents can help byanticipating what the child will do tosolve a problem and being close byto guide him and keep him safe.

Cristina Perez, Renee Hooverand Ebby Stratton are Enid’s threePAT educators. Right now there are90 children enrolled, Juhnke said.

PAT educators also connect fami-lies with community resources, likestory time at the library, food assis-tance if needed, information on med-ical care and the like.

Kristina Tyner said she washappy to sign on for PAT visits whenshe and her husband, Will, startedout with sons Grant, 3, and Andrew,1.

The Tyner family was familiarwith the program before their sonswere born because family membershave been educators and PAT educa-tors.

Tyner said she appreciates beingkept informed of what she should bewatching for as her children developand knowing what she shouldexpect. Mothers — especially first-time mothers — have so much tolearn that the experience can beoverwhelming, Tyner said. She alsoappreciates the PAT educator per-forming a developmental checklistevery three months or so. If therewere a delay in her child’s develop-ment, she would be aware of it soonenough to take action.

“It’s nice to have somebodycome into the house that would beunbiased,” Tyner said.

But more than that, she said sheappreciates having someone to turnto when she has questions, instead ofhaving to ask her pediatrician every-thing.

“I know any time I need Renee, I

can pick up the phone and call her orshoot her an email,” Tyner said.

The PAT program also connectsher with child-friendly, age-appro-priate activities, Tyner said.

“I think as much support as youcan get when you have a baby, thebetter,” Tyner said.

One of Stratton’s clients isKarissa Knight, 18, whose children,Matthew and Abigail are 1 year and1 month old.

Knight said she learned about thePAT program through Sooner Care.Stratton has been visiting for a cou-ple of months, Knight said. Eventhough it’s been only a short time,Knight said she’s already learning.

“Where Matthew is right now, Ikind of know where he should be atdevelopmentally,” Knight said. “Ididn’t know you have to interactwith them more to help them grow.”

GGGH E L P I N G T H E M

Enid’s Parents as Teachers program focusing on helping families reach developmental milestones

Blanca Mora (far left) laughs as her daughter reaches for apeek-a-boo toy during a parenting session with ChristinaPerez. Perez works with 25 different Hispanic families eachweek. Perez (above, right), a Community DevelopmentSupport Association parent educator, assists Mora as sheworks with her sons, Pablo, 4, and Aldo, 2, during a parent-ing session. Crystal Mora (left), the 6-month-old daughter ofJuan and Blanca, glances toward Perez during a session.Targeted for families with children from birth to 3 years old,Oklahoma Parents as Teachers is provided by OklahomaDepartment of Education and, locally, Community Develop-ment Support Association. (Staff Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)rowrow


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By Jeff MullinSenior Writer

They might be Giants, Dodgers,Angels or Braves.

But what they truly are, saysRobert Faulk, is a miracle.

Faulk is project coordinator andpresident of Enid’s Miracle League,a baseball league for those withphysical and mental challenges whootherwise might never get a chanceto take part in America’s nationalpastime.

In May, Enid’s Miracle League,co-sponsored by Noon AMBUCSand the 4RKids Foundation, willbegin its third season. Last seasonthe league had 52 players on fourteams, with 48 players taking partthe first year. The league is open tothose age 5 and older.

“Just whoever wants to play,”said Faulk. “There is no limit. It isopen to anybody who has a physicalor a developmental handicap.”

Miracle League games are playedunder special rules. Every playerbats and scores a run each inning ofthe three-inning games. Each playeralso is assigned a “buddy” to helpthem during the game. T-ball tees areused for those who need them, andextremely soft balls are used. Thegames are non-competitive, Faulksaid, the emphasis being on partici-pation rather than competition.

Players play for teams namedGiants, Angels, Dodgers or Braves.All receive an official hat and anofficial jersey.

“The kids think that is prettycool,” said Faulk. “All the (team)names mean something.”

Those who had found themselvessitting on the sidelines are able to geton the field and into the action inMiracle League, Faulk said.

“The kids just love it,” he said.“A lot of the kids can’t talk, but youcan just see the smiles on their faces.They are excited to be there.

“It is really cool for those kids tobe able to do something they can’t

usually do. Their friends from schoolcompete in little league, now theycan, too.”

Miracle League, Faulk said,helps “encourage that feeling ofbelonging. They get to do somethingtheir friends get to do.”

As much as Miracle League play-ers and their parents get out of theleague, those who volunteer with the

program are truly blessed, he said.“It has the biggest impact on the

volunteers,” he said. “There has notbeen a single person who has cometo be a buddy who hasn’t walkedaway just amazed at how cool theproject is.”

Faulk found he has gotten asmuch or more out of Miracle Leaguethan the players or their families.

“People kind of get depressedabout small things,” he said. “If I amin a bad mood, all I have to do isspend a morning at our games, and Iwalk away energized and happy.”

Working with Miracle Leaguehas changed his life, Faulk said.

“I was going through a divorce atthe time (the league started),” hesaid. “I thought things were kind ofcrappy in my life. It (Miracle

League) really made a big impact onme and my outlook on life. To beable to be around these kids whohave such a great spirit and are sohappy to be there is really cool. It’sthe reason why I stay involved.”

Finding volunteers hasn’t been aproblem, Faulk said. Groups gener-ally volunteer one Saturday morningduring the season.

“We’ve had the police, firefight-ers, Advance Food, banks, severaldifferent organizations,” Faulk said.

The Miracle League concept

began in 1997 in Rockdale, Ga.,when a 7-year-old boy with a dis-ability was invited to play on a cityleague baseball team.

How miracle began, continuesEnid Miracle League stemmed

from a suit against the city regardingaccessibility and Americans WithDisabilities act. One facility foundnot to be ADA compliant was ABCPark, which is run by AMBUCS.

“Our park was not ADA compli-ant,” he said. “Since part of what we

do is provide independence for peo-ple with disabilities, that frankly wasembarrassing. So we needed to bringit up to code, and we got all thesegood ideas.”

Total cost of renovating the parkwas found to be in the neighborhoodof $300,000 to $400,000.

“A lot of them thought I wascrazy,” he said.

Phase one involved raising$150,000 for playground equipmentfor all children, with or without dis-abilities. That was installed last May.

“Even kids in wheelchairs can getto the top,” Faulk said.

Sidewalks are going in through-out the park, as are a new fence anda backstop for the north field, Faulksaid. Fundraising is being completedfor construction of a dugout.

Phase three involves building anactual Miracle League field com-pletely covered with a flat rubbersurface so “kids in wheelchairs andusing walkers can get around easily,”Faulk said. At present, some$150,000 is being raised for the newfield. Noon AMBUCS and 4RKidshope to have the fundraising com-pleted and the new field installed intime for the 2013 season, Faulk said.

To promote awareness aboutEnid Miracle League, the first-everall-star game was held last April dur-ing the Smokin’ Red Dirt Barbecue.

“All our players are all-stars,”Faulk said. “We just wanted to showpeople who had not had the opportu-nity to see our games just what weare all about.”

Registration is under way for the2012 season, which begins May 5.Games are Saturdays May 5 throughJune 30. Registration deadline isMarch 30. The $35 fee includes hat,jersey and insurance. Cost for play-ers who have hats and jerseys is $15,to cover insurance. Limited scholar-ships are available. For registrationinformation, contact Tricia Mitchellat 4RKids, 237-7890. Those wishingto donate time or money should con-tact Faulk at 249-9100.

More than aLocal league making a difference in livesof children and its volunteers every yearmiracle

Matthew Schultz (above) throws the ball during the Enid’s Miracle League All-Star game. MeridieWager and buddy Tim Doyle (left) race to first base. (Staff FIle Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)


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By James NealStaff Writer

Volunteers and coaches are preparing forthe 36th year of Enid Joint RecreationTriad’s summer youth recreation and sportsleague, and eight weeks of activities arebeing arranged for a variety of interests.

EJRT offers its summer recreation andsports program through a non-profit collab-oration with the City of Enid and EnidPublic Schools.

Unlike the EJRT baseball and footballprograms, which are financed by players’registration fees, the summer recreation andsports program is funded in partby a $25,000 allocation eachyear from Enid CityCommission.

The city has helped financeEJRT since 1976, replacing aformer city staff positionresponsible for coordinating asummer sports and activityleague.

EJRT summer programsdirector Randy McClendonsaid the city funds are “reallyhow we’re able to offer oursummer programs at very smallfees.”

Need-based scholarships areavailable for EJRT summer programs,ensuring all Enid youths have access to theactivities.

“We never turn anyone away over thefees, and the scholarships make sure no kidswill be excluded because of an inability topay,” McClendon said.

McClendon started volunteering withEJRT in the open gym program at WallerJunior High School 30 years ago.

Open gym days, the backbone of earlyEJRT summer programs, offered kids a safe

place to gather and play supervised sports.McClendon described open gym as “thebest organized dodge ball game in town.”

Open gym remains a feature of EJRT’ssummer line-up, but many more activitiesand sports have been added to the offeringsover the years.

This summer EJRT will offer swimminglessons, golf, volleyball, tennis, bowlingand structured activities at Booker T.Washington Community Center.

McClendon said swimming lessons usu-ally are one of the more popular programs.

• This year EJRT will offer four two-week sessions of swimming lessons, includ-

ing two evening lessons in July. EJRTswimming lessons are offered at ChamplinPool and are open to ages 6 to adult.

• Golf lessons will be offered atMeadowlake Golf Course under the instruc-tion of PGA professional Cody Lack. Golflessons will be split in two sessions, begin-ning June 6 and June 20, and are open toages 6 through 12.

• A week-long volleyball clinic will beoffered at Oakwood Activity Center atOakwood Christian Church, 401 N.

Oakwood. The clinic will be split betweengrades 3-8 and 9-12 and will be coached byEnid High School volleyball coach SteveBloom.

• Tennis lessons will be offered in twofour-week sessions at Government SpringsPark South. Bruce Hess will be the coach.

• Bowling will be offered at OakwoodBowl for all school-aged children. EJRTbowling is Wednesday of each week duringJune, July and August.

• Summer programs at Booker T.Washington Community Center will takeplace 8 a.m. to noon Monday throughFriday, June 1 through July 22, and are opento children in kindergarten through sixthgrade. Programs will include tutoring, com-puter, arts and crafts and field trips toChamplin Pool, Oakwood Bowl and otherout-of-town locations.

McClendon said the EJRT summer pro-grams will serve to provide kids fun activi-ties while they’re out of school.

“We want to keep kids active during thesummer, and these programs keep theminvolved in safe athletic activities,” he said.“It gets them away from the TV and thevideo games for a while, at least. It giveskids a way to be involved with a very struc-tured activity, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Last summer EJRT summer programsserved nearly 700 local children in morethan 7,900 activities and lessons.McClendon expects about the samedemand for the program this summer, if notmore.

EJRT summer programs begin June 4. For information go to EJRT online at

www.ejrtsports.com or call McClendon at554-4099.

McClendon said EJRT summer programinformation and enrollment forms will besent home with all Enid Public Schools stu-dents in May.

dodge ballIT ’S N O T J U S T

A N Y M O R EEJRT, city of Enid ensuring summer recreation opportunities are open to all

“We want to keep kids activeduring the summer, and theseprograms keep them involved

in safe athletic activities.”Randy McClendon, director,

EJRT summer programs“Enid Joint Recreational Triad offers baseball (top) and football programsthrough players’ registration fees, but it also is responsible for summerrecreation and sports programs, including the popular swimming lessonsat Champlin Pool (above), funded in part by a $25,000 allocation eachyear from Enid City Commission. The city has helped finance EJRT since1976, when it replaced a city staff position responsible for coordinatinga summer sports and activity league. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

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By Bridget NashStaff Writer

4RKids not only is an organizationfunding a good cause but one that offersfamily friendly entertainment and shop-ping.

“4RKids was established to providevocational opportunities for individualswith disabilities,” said Tricia Mitchell,4RKids program director.

Bret and Barbara Whinery founded4RKids in 2003 with the goal of creatinga non-profit organization that succeededin providing employment to people withdisabilities. The organization has grownto provide training and education, aswell, all while bringing in some money,too, which directly benefits individuals inEnid.

“We provide social and educationalopportunities and community aware-ness,” said Mitchell.

4RKids most commonly isknown for operating Enid’s PuttPutt, a miniature golf course. Butthe business also houses the 4RKidsemployment center and a gift shopcalled 2nd Story.

“At our employment center wemake greeting cards and dog bis-cuits, and we do some shredding,things like that,” said Mitchell. “Wedo have individuals with disabilitieswho work at Putt Putt. They keep itcleaned and stocked, run the cashregister.”

Employees also make things forthe 2nd Story gift shop and helpoperate the store, as well.

“(At 2nd Story) we have fairtrade items,” said Mitchell.

Fair trade products are thosemade in developing countries withthe goal of helping the country’s cit-izens and providing good workingconditions and fair wages.

2nd Story carries jewelry, purs-es, Melissa & Doug toys, bath andbody items and more.

“We try to find unique productsthat you can’t find just anywhere else,”Mitchell said.

Currently 4RKids boasts 22 employ-ees who have some disabilities and eightother staff members.

4RKids also is involved in MiracleLeague, a T-ball team open to disabledindividuals of all ages. Each team mem-ber is assigned a “buddy,” a volunteerwho helps them on the field and makessure they are safe while they play.

4RKids also does many communityawareness projects for parents and teach-ers and is involved with Project Search, a

program for high school seniors.Project Search is an effort between

4RKids, Integris Bass Baptist HealthCenter, public school system, State De-partment of Rehabilitation and Universi-ty of Oklahoma National Center forDisability Education and Training. Highschool seniors with disabilities are able toreceive job skills training by working atIntegris. The skills can help them enterthe work force after graduation. 4RKidsprovides job coaches for the program.

4RKids also gives grants to specialeducation teachers each year.

Throughout the year, 4RKids raisesfunds by operating the gift shop and PuttPutt, but they also host the annual Walk4RKids, a fundraising event that featuresa walk, games, prizes and rides.

Money raised through the walk, thegift shop and Putt Putt supports 4RKids.

“People don’t realize when they cometo play Putt Putt, they are supporting ourorganization,” said Mitchell.

4RKids is looking into expanding itsprograms in the future to provide jobs forthe disabled in various places throughoutthe community.

Jake Whinery (top, second from right) celebrates his birthday with his nieces and nephew at 4RKids Putt PuttGolf, 710 Overland Trail. 4RKids offers employment opportunities for those who are disabled and funds manyprojects in the community. The organization also operates Putt Putt Golf, which provides entertainment, and 2ndStory, which offers unique gifts. Pictured are (clockwise from left) Carol Stansill working at 4RKids employmentcenter, producing products to be sold at 2nd Story; Allison Taylor (left) and Kayeloni Moulton working at the cen-ter; state Rep. Mike Jackson and his daughter, Cadence, playing a round at Putt Putt; and Whinery using his golfclub like a pool cue as he finishes a game of Putt Putt. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON and BONNIE VCULEK)

WORKING FOR A LIVINGand loving every minute4RKids offering residentswork force opportunitiesand a place to have fun

By James NealStaff Writer

Booker T. WashingtonCommunity Center contin-ues to expand services toEnid’s youths now whileplanning for future genera-tions.

The former schoolserved Enid’s black studentsfrom 1921 until 1959, whenEnid Public Schools inte-grated.

The building was thenused as a non-profit com-munity center, run by EnidJoint Recreation Triad. In1982 the building was soldto the city of Enid for $1 toserve as a public communi-ty center.

Since then the old schoolbuilding has served commu-nity children, offering after-school activities, sportsleagues and a safe place togather.

Current executive direc-tor Clifford Porter hasstrong ties to the communi-ty center. His parents bothattended school at Booker T.Washington during the daysof segregation, and he par-ticipated in after-schoolactivities there in theearly 1970s.

“I learned to playball here, my parentswent to school hereand I never thought Iwould be the direc-tor here,” Porter said.“Now, I’m runningthe thing ... I guesseverything happens fora reason.”

Porter began working atthe center part time in 1989and assumed the director’spost in 1999 after formerdirector Dorice Allenretired.

Porter expanded thecommunity center’s pro-grams to include a basket-ball league in the old schoolgymnasium.

“I went from having oneteam to having five or sixteams in one year,” Portersaid. “What we found outwas many of these kids justwanted to belong to some-thing.”

The community centerhas contin-ued toexpand itsspace ands e r v i c e sover thelast decade,g r o w i n gfrom a sin-g l e - r o o moperation inthe 1980sto programson all threefloors ofthe formerschool.

P o r t e rcredits that expansion toCommunity DevelopmentBlock Grant funds providedby the city of Enid and sup-port from United Way ofEnid and Northwest Okla-homa.

Community children canbe found at the center mostdays after school, enjoyingopen gym time, pick-upbasketball games, time inthe workout and gamerooms and a nutritioussnack or meal.

Porter said the centerprovides at-risk kids a safeand productive environmentafter school.

“It’s just a safe place forthem to hang out that’swithin walking distance ofthe lower to low-middleclass income neighbor-hoods,” Porter said. “Itenables them to come hereand get away from the trou-ble with drugs and gangs.During struggling times youneed a place to release angerand frustration in a positiveway, and athletic activitieshelp the kids with that.”

One of the biggest drawsis Kids Cafe, a service of

Regional Foodbank ofOklahoma that offers free,nutritious meals at the com-munity center.

“A lot of times thesekids’ parents are workingdouble jobs or are justworking late, and we get alot of kids in here whowould be going withoutmeals after school other-wise,” Porter said.

The meals have helpedbring older children back tothe community center, giv-ing center staff an opportu-nity to impact teenage stu-dents.

“The high school stu-dents have migrated back tothe program, a lot of themfor the food, and that’s whatreally got us started on ourmentoring program,” Portersaid.

A mentoring program for13- to 18-year-old boys wasstarted in 2010. Porter saidhe and his staff are “reallygetting into theteeth of itnow.”

H ehopes toadd a similarprogram for teenagegirls in the near future.

The community center’sprograms carry on in thesummer with the EJRT-sponsored Booker T.Washington summer pro-gram.

The summer programoffers children in kinder-garten through sixth grade avariety of activities, includ-ing tutoring, computer les-

sons, arts and crafts andfield trips to Champlin Pool,Oakwood Bowl and otherout-of-town locations.

Porter said the summerprogram serves more than100 children each summer.

But, the community cen-ter is about more than justgiving kids a safe place tohang out; it’s about givingthem the tools needed tosucceed in life and giveback to their community.

“We’re trying to get thekids back out to give back tothe community,” Portersaid. “We want them tolearn to give back. They’rereceiving so much, andsometimes they grow upthinking that’s the way oflife, but we want them tolearn to be involved and togive back to others.”

Community service proj-ects are accompanied byGear Up, a program thatstrives to prepare juniorhigh and high school stu-dents for college. Gear Upparticipants get help withcomputer skills, tutoringand researching collegescholarships and financial

aid.Porter said the communi-

ty center is a blessing, bothto the community’s kids andto himself.

“This building has donea lot in the last 25 to 30years for this community,and I’m just blessed to see itstill standing,” Porter said.“It has enhanced many gen-erations of youth, and we’vesent many kids to college

from here. We run itfrom the heart, andwe don’t pat our-selves on the backbecause I think thisis what God wantsus to do.”

The future viabili-ty of the communitycenter likely willdepend on communi-ty members’ willing-ness to return andgive back to the nextgeneration.

“It has a way offeeding itself,” Por-ter said. “People

come back and volunteerand remember where theygot their start. We’re justputting our faith in the Lordthat everyone will use theirhearts and think of thisplace as home.”


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They’re receiving so much, andsometimes they grow up think-ing that’s the way of life, but we

want them to learn to be involvedand to give back to others.”

Clifford Porter, executive director,Booker T. Washington Community Center“

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Zinda Robinson (top, at left) and Diavianne Thomas work on school assignments during the after-school program at Booker T.Washington Community Center. The center (middle) has served generations of residents in the community. Auvianna Dority,Dustin Rock and JaShiya Williamson (from left) work during the center’s after-school program. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)


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By Cass RainsStaff Writer

Denny Price FamilyYMCA has a host of activitiesand programs to enhance timefamilies spend together.

Kimberly Boeckman, sen-ior program director, saidEnid YMCA is operated withfamilies in mind.

She said a Kids Watcharea, for children 6 weeks to 6years, has been established toallow parents to bring theirchildren with them.

“That gives parents theopportunity to come in andexercise, knowing their kidsare within this safe area,” shesaid.

Another area for families,for kids 6 and older, is the I-zone area, an interactive playarea for kids. Boeckman saidthe I-zone features interactiveexercises and has been a pop-ular place of kids at the Y.

“They’re exercising anddon’t even know it,” she said.“We have a lot of parents thatwill go in the I-zone with theirkids and exercise, have fun,play. They’re both getting thebenefits of exercise andspending time with eachother.”

At age 13, teens canbegin using all of theYMCA’s facilities, including

working out with parents.“We have many parents

who come in with theirteenagers and use the cardioand Cybex equipment,”Boeckman said. “I think it’s agreat activity for parents to dowith their teenagers.”

Boeckman said parents areinvolved in many activitiesoffered through YMCA.

“All of our youth sportsprograms and our swim team,for example, use parent vol-unteers as coaches and volun-teers for the program,” shesaid. “That also is another op-portunity for families to spendtime together, interacting with

their children and interactingwith other children.”

She said family is one ofYMCA’s biggest priorities.

“We put a big emphasis onthe family,” she said. “Thefamily unit has changed, andwe try to embrace that.”

YMCA has a familyscholarship program for thosewho cannot afford a member-ship.

“We give out about$40,000 in scholarships tofamilies that can’t afford(YMCA fees) so they are alsoable to use the Y the facilitiesand spend time together,”Boeckman said.

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Denny Price Family YMCA has an emphasis on familyactivities. Pictured are (clockwise from left) RashadSullivan discussing a play with his basketball teammembers at Denny Price YMCA, a family spending timein Advance Foods Aquatic Center, Sullivan working withhis team and members playing in a family area.(Staff Photos by BONNIE VCULEK)

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By Robert BarronStaff Writer

A center to house Enid’snon-profit organizations inone location started out asCheri Ezzell’s master’s the-sis idea in 2006.

Today, it is becoming areality, as Community De-velopment Support Assoc-iation prepares to relocateits offices to downtownEnid in August and open itsdoors to others in the com-munity.

Ezzell, CDSA executivedirector, received a master’sdegree from the Universityof Oklahoma based on herthesis on the feasibility of anon-profit center.

Since that master’s thesiswas penned, Ezzell has beenworking toward establishingthe center.

CDSA raised $2.5 millionto refurbish the building intospaces that will house non-profits in Enid so they cancut costs and be more effi-cient. Ezzell said the entireproject, including purchaseof the old BurchardtFurniture store, will be about$2.8 million. The store build-ing was purchased with sav-

ings accumulated by CDSA.“They are installing new

heat and air and removingthe old elevator, and wallsare starting to go up,” Ezzellsaid.

She currently is workingwith several non-profitorganizations to move theiroffices, although no agree-ments have been signed. Thenumber of non-profits need-ed to pay for the costsdepends on their sizes.Tenants will pay about $9per square foot for the space

they occupy, which is currentmarket rate. They also arecharged pro rata for utilitiesand other services such as acopy center, receptionist,conference center and annualuse of banquet facilities.

There are about 21,000square feet available on themain floor. CDSA will moveits offices into some of thespace. In the basement of thebuilding Enid CommunityClinic will provide services,along with CDSA programssuch as YouthBuild. The

downstairs area also willprovide storage space for alltenants and a future growtharea.

“The purpose is for us towork together and cutexpenses and have cheaperoperating costs,” Ezzell said.

Ezzell, who becameCDSA director in 2001, saidthere has been outstandingsupport from the agency’sboard of directors. All mem-bers of the board contributedtheir own money toward theproject, she said.

“The building needsTLC, and it had asbestos, shesaid.

But the building was per-fect for the agency’s needs,and it was doubtful such alarge space would attract a

retail tenant that could fill itin an era that sees moreretailers moving to otherareas of the city.

“We want to create some-thing beautiful people will beproud of,” she said.

MasterPLANA CDSA dream tohouse non-profitsbecoming reality

The purpose is for us to work togetherand cut expenses and have cheaperoperating costs.”

Cheri Ezzell, executive director, Community Development Support Association“

Rick Eisenhauer works on the renovation project for the new offices of Community Development Support Association indowntown Enid. The group plans to house other non-profit organizations in the building. (Staff Photo by BILLY HEFTON)


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By Bridget NashStaff Writer

Assisted-living centers are a rela-tively new option for senior citizens,and one gaining popularity not onlyamong them but their families.

“They started getting popularabout 17 to 20 years ago,” saidSteve Hackett, co-owner andadministrator of Greenbrier Assist-ed Living Center in Enid. “It wasabout 10 years ago they came outwith an assisted-living license.”

Assisted-living centers are per-fect for those individuals who donot need the constant skilled-nurs-ing care required of nursing homeresidents but may need a littlemore care than can be provided byhome health.

“Home health is a big thingnow so people are able to stayhome a little longer, but homehealth is a kind of limited thing,”Hackett said.

As people get older, somethings, such as housekeeping,medication management, bathingand cooking, become more diffi-

cult. However, one of the biggestproblems faced by aging seniors isisolation.

Isolation from others can lead to:• poor diet.• mismanaging/forgetting to take

medication.• more accidents, such as falling

or tripping while trying to do a dif-ficult task.

• stress.• loneliness.• depression.Those problems can lead to a

deterioration in health, and a move

to an assisted-living center can helpreduce or completely remove thoseproblems created by isolation.

“Assisted living is more likestandby assistance,” Hackett said.

Assisted-living centers are foralert individuals who can managemany things on their own but mayneed help with certain things suchas bathing, medication manage-ment, activity or nutrition. Thereare different levels of care avail-able through assisted living.

“Some of our residents are stilldriving,” Hackett said.

One of thegreatest benefitsof choosing tolive in an assist-ed-living center isthe added yearsof health that canbe provided aswell as socialopportunities and relief of stressoften created by attempting tasksthat have become increasingly diffi-cult.

Greenbrier Assisted LivingCenter and the other assisted-living

center options in Enid welcome vis-itors considering taking the step tomoving into an assisted-living envi-ronment. The goal of each assisted-living center is to make life easierand more fulfilling to its residents.

on meLeanLeanBarbie Rich laughs with Greenbrier resident Mary Vignon Mittelstet (above) as they look at a genealogy book and plays Bingo(top) with Delores Arnold and Andy Hackett. Assisted-living centers are popular among seniors. (Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

Assisted-livingfacilities help seniorsremain independent

Assisted living is more like stand-by assistance ... Some of ourresidents are still driving.”

Steve Hackett, co-owner and administrator,Greenbrier Assisted Living Center“


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By Jeff MullinSenior Writer

The men and women who work at VanceAir Force Base’s Airman & Family ReadinessCenter call themselves “answer people.”

But there is one answer they never want togive: “We don’t know.”

“I will definitely point them in the rightdirection,” said Staff Sgt. Amy Snyder, readi-ness non-commissioned officer for the VanceA&FRC. “I’ll find the answer for them. That’swhat we do; we help solve those problems.”

Vance’s A&FRC assists airmen and fami-lies with virtually every aspect of their lives.

“Basically our mission statement is to bethe answer people,” said Greg Waide, A&FRCchief. “If you don’t know where else to find theanswer, we’ll make sure you find it here.

“Our formula for success is to always bemaking connections within the community.”

Taking guesswork out of deploymentSnyder takes care of deployed airmen and

their families. That is a considerable task, sincein an average year some 120 Vance airmen aredeployed overseas.

Before they leave, Snyder supplies theairmen and their families with a folder filledwith informationthey need andservices that areoffered. Forexample, familiescan get free childcare or a free oilchange paid forby Air Force AidSociety.

Among thematerial providedis a checklist forsingle or marriedairmen to help getthem ready fortheir deployment.

“It takes the guessworkout of it when it comes to preparing for deploy-ment,” Snyder said. “The little things that youmight not have thought about that you shouldprobably get done before you deploy, thingslike power of attorney.”

More often than not it is only the deployingairman who meets with Snyder, who said shehopes to get more spouses involved in pre-deployment briefings.

“A main priority for me is to email or callthose family members within the week of giv-ing that pre-deployment briefing tothat member,” said Snyder. “Theymight not tell their spouse what theymet with me about and all this stuffthat they’re offered, but I’m going to.

“We really do try to take care ofthe families and also the deployers.”

Every month, Snyder hosts HeartsApart, events for spouses of deployedairmen. The events include dinnerand activities for the children and aredesigned to give spouses a night outwith people in a similar circumstance.

“The moms and dads can just goahead and talk and maybe bouncethings off each other,”she said. “If they have astressor that just came upduring their loved one’s deployment, some-times just talking to each other about it reallymakes it easier for them.”

The A&FRC offers classes on coping withdeployment, as does the Red Cross.

“There’s definitely a lot of resources avail-able to them,” she said.

When parents are getting ready to deploy,Snyder gets a photo of them and has it printedon a pillowcase to give to their children, sothey can keep mom or dad close even thoughthey are thousands of miles away.

“It helps them cope with it,” said Snyder.“They can go ahead and sleep better at nightsince that’s one of the things the children havedifficulty with when a parent’s gone.”

Snyder said she made nine of the pillowcas-es during a recent week.

“The families definitely love it,” she said.

Constant communicationThe A&FRC, Snyder points out, is not

alone in its support of deployed airmen andtheir families.

“There’s constant community outreachwith supporting these families and these singleairmen in every squadron on base,” she said.

The A&FRC also makes contact with fam-ilies of every member deployed from Vance.

“I let them know I’m there for them so ifthey need anything or they have any questionsthey contact me,” she said. “We’re the answerpeople here.”

“It’s mandatory that the military membercome in here and talk to Amy,” said Waide.

“But its a goodthing for her tofollow up andcontact the fami-ly just to reiteratethe services thatshe offers.”

Snyder pro-duces a monthly newsletter for deployed fam-ily members, including articles about deploy-ment issues as well as a schedule of local andbase events.

Cookies and care packagesEvery fall the A&FRC holds Operation

Cookie Cutter, which involves volunteers bak-ing cookies that are then packed and sent todeployed airmen. She hopes to expand theoperation to a twice-yearly event, sending outcare packages in the summer, as well.

“We don’t want to miss out on the deploy-ers who aren’t gone during the holiday sea-son,” Snyder said. “We’re thinking bigger andbetter.”

She also hopes to expand Operation CookieCutter to include National Guard and ArmyReserve troops assigned to the Armed ForcesReserve Center located on Vance.

“Basically any Army individual that usesthis base as their home base beforedeployment, we want their addressesand we want to send them a care pack-age, too,” Snyder said.

Each November the children ofdeployed airmen are honored duringthe Month of the Military Family cele-bration. All military children are recog-nized, but kids of deployed airmen arepresented with medals designatingthem as Homefront Heroes by 71stFlying Training Wing Commander Col.Russ Mack.

Providing financial peaceThe A&FRC does much more

than serve deploying airmen andtheir families. The center offers

financial counseling to military members, theirfamilies and retirees. Recently that counselinghas centered on single airmen being forced tomove off base because of renovations to thesingle airmen’s dormitory.

Financial counselor Ruthie Wisdom-McMeans helps them draw up a budget and“makes sure they are financially able to moveoff base,” said Waide.

The center also offers a TransitionAssistance Program helping those who are get-

ting ready to sepa-rate from the mili-tary. Vance A&FRCand AutryTechnology Centerare partnering tocontact TAP officesaround the world toinform them ofemployment oppor-tunities in the Enidarea.

“Here at Vancewe have a prettysmall populationthat is separating,”said Waide, “but

places like Fort Sillhave hundreds of people separating everymonth.

“Here in Enid there’s a shortage of truckdrivers and welders and other skilled trades.We’re going to help get the word out to try todraw separating military members to Enid.”

A&FRC trains key spouses for everysquadron on base. Key spouses are volunteerswho provide peer-to-peer support for otherspouses in the squadron.

“That way they have somebody right therethat they know well and are comfortable goingto, to get answers,” Waide said.

The center also assists military spouses infinding employment during their time in Enidand lets Vance members know about local vol-unteer opportunities.

Maggie Laws is school liaison for theVance A&FRC. She helps military families getconnected with local schools. She also directsExceptional Family Member Program, amonthly support group for families with spe-cial needs children.

Every airman new to Vance is included inthe A&FRC’s newcomer’s program, whilespouses new to the military are served by theHeartlink program.

“So many people coming through are brandnew to the military,” said Waide, “this is theirfirst introduction to military life, and it’s veryimportant that they get off on the right foot andenjoy military life while they’re here.”

The A&FRC also coordinates the base’scasualty and mortuary program.

“We basically take care of the military fam-ilies from birth to death,” said Waide.

Ethan Laws (top, at left) and Kenny Kirk demonstrate The Amazing Helping Frog, which can hold a pair of glasses, at the InventionConvention competition sponsored by Vance Air Force Base’s Airmen & Family Readiness Center. (Staff Photo by BONNIE VCULEK) Col. Russ Mack, commander of the 71st Flying Training Wing, (above) awards the child of a deployed Vance Airman a HomefrontHeroes medal at a Month of the Military Family celebration. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class FRANK JOHN CASCIOTTA)

G O T Q U E S T I O N S ?VA F B A & F R C ’ S G O TanswersanswersAir Force center takes care of its ownin every aspect of life in the military

Greg Waide

Staff Sgt. Amy Snyder


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Leonardo’s DiscoveryWarehouse saw a record96,000 visitors from near andfar during 2011.

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Leonardo’s 2012 scholar-ship auction raised $14,000 atthe March annual meeting.

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The museum is working toraise $6 million for endow-ment and improvement. Thetop priority in the capital cam-paign, launched in August, isto set aside $2.5 million as anendowment to sustain the

museum in the future.The remainder will go for

capital improvements, in-cluding transformation of thethird floor; installation ofnew, permanent exhibits onthe first floor; expansion ofthe museum to the secondfloor; relocation of the mainentry; addition of a stormshelter; and updating the rest-rooms.

Thanks for the MemoryA current feature at the

science and arts museum isthe traveling exhibit “Mem-ory.”

Displays teach aboutmemory from several per-spectives, including biologi-cal, cognitive, personal andcultural. Elements are organ-ized in six different sections:Forgetting, Shared Memory,

Remembering WithoutThinking, Personal Memory,The Senses and the Brain.

• The Senses sectionemphasizes the memory-evocative nature of sensoryexperiences.

Senses are a primary inputinto memory. Rememberingis typically triggered by sen-sory clues.

• The Brain sectionemphasizes the physiologicalbasis of memory in the brain.

• Remembering WithoutThinking explores ways thebrain carries memories a per-son may not be aware of.

• The Forgetting sectionfocuses on learning tricks toovercome the shortcomingsof memory. It examines thedifferent process of recogni-tion and recall.

• In the Shared Memoriessection, the memories that

span many people’s con-sciousness are examined.

• Personal Memory explo-ration rounds out the exhibit,on loan from OklahomaMuseum Network.

“We always look forwardto getting new exhibits fromthe Oklahoma MuseumNetwork,” said Julie Baird,executive director ofLeonardo’s.

The exhibit will bereplaced in September with“Tinkering” an interactive-play exploration of howthings work. Its collaborativeenvironment encourages visi-tors to work together, askquestions, dream new thingsand find answers throughfocused investigations.

For information aboutLeonardo’s or upcomingactivities, go to www.leonar-dos.org or call 233-2787.

Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse (top) and its outdoor, interactive play areaAdventure Quest (inset) saw a record 96,000 visitors in 2011. Leonardo’s hosts trav-eling exhibits through Oklahoma Museum Network (above) throughout the year.(Staff Photos by BILLY HEFTON)

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