Mark your calendars and join the ESPCA and PetSmart for an adoption event on Saturday, May 18th, from 11 AM to 3 PM. Then, on Saturday, May 25th, the ESPCA dogs will be at Atwoods at an adoption event from 10 AM until 2 PM. Both events will allow you to meet adoptable dogs and talk to the team about their personalities, energy levels, and care. It’s an excellent way to see the dogs away from the shelter and in a more relaxed setting where you can visit with them.
Even if you are not ready to adopt, you can still come by and say hello. To show your support, take a few photos and post them on your social media, telling your friends and family about who is there waiting to be adopted. It’s incredible how much of a difference one person can make in changing a life. Let’s help our furry friends!
Charity Mini-Golf Fun!
Join the ESPCA and 4RKids for the Putts4Pets event, a unique opportunity to have fun while making a difference in the lives of animals. It’s a cause worth supporting! Your participation in the mini-golf fundraiser on June 2nd at 2:00 PM will directly benefit the Enid SPCA. The proceeds will support foster care and help cover animal intake expenses. Your contribution matters!
The ESPCA also values the support of local businesses, schools, and community centers. Your help in sharing the event details with your networks and participating is crucial. Consider grabbing a Bronze, Silver, or Gold sponsorship to receive extra perks like exclusive branding, prominent logo placement, and recognition during the event.
By teaming up with your family, friends, and coworkers for this friendly competition, you are not just having fun; you are showing your commitment to the cause. Consider having team names related to animals or golf themes. It adds a fun touch! There will be entertaining awards and celebrations throughout the event. Awards will be given in the categories of Youth (12 and under), Youth Teams, Adult (12 and over), Adult Teams, and “Generation Fusion” Teams.
The ESPCA has set up an easy-to-use online registration form for sponsorships and more information at enidspca.org/putts-4-pets. Remember, every putt counts—both on the golf course and in supporting Enid SPCA’s mission. Best of luck with Putts4Pets!
[Enid, OK] – Park Avenue Thrift is awarding a total of $210,573 across 24 different nonprofit organizations and schools in Enid, OK this spring.
The 2024 spring grant recipients are 4RKids Foundation, A Fling at the Springs, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Atelier 339, Bennie’s Barn, Chautauqua Council of Enid, Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center, Coolidge Elementary School, Enid SPCA, Enid Street Outreach Services, Enid Symphony Orchestra, Garfield County 4H Robotics Club, Garfield County Child Advocacy, Garfield Elementary, Gaslight Theatre, Leonardo’s Children’s Museum, Longfellow Middle School, Main Street Enid, Making a Difference, Northern Oklahoma College, PFLAG Enid, Railroad Museum of Oklahoma, RSVP Enid, and Youth and Family Services.
“We are so happy to see so many nonprofit organizations and schools creating new programs and projects. We are beyond thrilled to be able to help make it happen, ” said Stela Jantzen, Park Avenue Thrift Executive Director. “We’ve had amazing support from the community this year and that’s what allows us to offer our community grants. We could not do what we do without our amazing shoppers, donors, employees, board members, and anyone who shares about Park Avenue Thrift and our mission.”
Park Avenue Thrift not only gives funding through community grants but also through event sponsorships and to classroom projects through DonorsChoose.org.
Author: Geraldine Brooks Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore
If the Kentucky Derby – the “Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports” – is not long enough for you this May, perhaps a 400-page novel about the greatest race horse of the 19th century could last you a bit longer. Horse, by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks, is a work of historical fiction that originally came out in 2022 but has just had its paperback release in early 2024. It is, without a doubt, one of my very favorite books.
Horse revolves around the spectacular thoroughbred Lexington, who raced in Kentucky and around the South in the early 1850s, and Jarret, a young enslaved boy, who is Lexington’s caretaker and trainer. The two come to form an inseparable relationship based on trust and understanding and compassion, and what they achieve together is unrivaled at the time. The other two main characters in the book are Jess and Theo, who live in Washington, DC, in 2019. Jess is a scientist at the Smithsonian who discovers the actual skeleton of Lexington, while Theo is an art history student who happens upon a tossed-out painting of Lexington. Together, the two unravel the long-forgotten story of the famed race horse and his gifted groom.
It may take a few chapters to get your bearings with the different characters and time frames, but overall, Horse is such a strong, thought-provoking combination of topics. It has history and race, art and love, science and sport. The writing throughout is smooth, the characters are inspiring, and once the dots start getting connected, once you see how the different strands are woven together, it’s just a masterpiece. Dust off your Derby hat, mix your mint julep, and enjoy a spectacular ride of a book that will stay with you much longer than two minutes.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Horse today!
Angela Dawn Gallagher was born in Enid, Oklahoma, at Bass Hospital. Her parents had gone through several adoption agencies with no luck, but then their friend, who happened to be a doctor, gave them a call with the news they’d been waiting for. Angela went to high school in Alva, Oklahoma, and she graduated from Alva High School in 2004. She later moved to Enid when she married her first husband. She attended NWOSU as an elementary education major for a while, but she didn’t find her true calling until she decided to attend Enid Beauty College. She went on to graduate from Enid Beauty College in 2008.
Now she’s a hairstylist, certified lash technician, and cosmetologist, and she teaches dance at HYPE here in Enid. In her teaching career, she has helped cultivate students who’ve gone on to become D1 Cheer/Pom girls with full-ride scholarships. She’s also been involved with Gaslight Theatre for several years, and she’s helped with everything from choreography and assistant directing to acting. She recently took over the Gaslight Theatre Drama Camp, which takes place every summer in June, and the program encourages kids to be involved with the arts. She’s helped the program reach new heights by creating a block system, which allows more children to have the opportunity to participate in the program.
As a stylist and dance instructor, Angela shines in her field. In February, she was chosen to be part of New York Fashion Week, and she’ll be a part of the team going to Paris Fashion Week in September. She’s a role model, influencer, and leader with the kindest of hearts. Angela married her husband, Sean Gallagher, in 2020, and together they have 4 kids, Harrison, McCartney, Grant, and Evan. In regard to Angela, Sean says, “She would never consider herself a local legend, but due to her work ethic, willingness, and desire to positively enhance people’s lives, she’s legendary. However, above all, it’s her love for people that makes her worthy of such consideration.” Her kindness, caring heart, work ethic, and drive are reason enough to call her a local legend, but if you couple that with the strides she’s making for Enid outside of Enid, she’s truly a local legend.
Summer is just around the corner, and the Best of Enid is a blink away. We host the Best of Enid each year as a way to bring the community together in a positive manner – to recognize and celebrate each of our accomplishments and strides. With the chaos and turmoil of the world, events like the Best of Enid are special because it’s a time and place where we can have unity in our community. However, as of late, that unity has been something that’s wavered, in and out of Enid. So, for this month’s cover story, we chose to talk about finding that unity in community. May 2nd is National Two Different Colored Shoes Day, which is all about embracing your uniqueness. In honor of that observance and in relation to the climate of the world, we felt having a discussion about unifying as people and a community was appurtenant. For this discussion, we sat down with people who tend to find themselves on the other sides of the conversation, and all parties were encouraged to embrace their uniqueness as they sat down to discuss finding common ground and goals.
Thoughts, opinions, and values are all ideals special to every individual, and every individual is unique – unlike the next. With so many different cultures, heritages, religions, and beliefs, humanity is made up of excitingly diverse individuals. May 3rd is National Two Different Colored Shoes Day, and, according to their website, National Two Different Colored Shoes Day is, “a day set aside to recognize and celebrate the uniqueness and diversity of humanity. Where the simple and lighthearted act of purposely wearing two different colored shoes demonstrates the courage to “take a risk” and step outside of one’s daily routine.”
As a whole, we form humanity, and humanity is currently experiencing and seeing strong division amongst itself. And that division seems to be intensifying with the upcoming elections and climate of the world. And as groups, we form communities, however, our community right here in Enid is no stranger to division either. Whether at the store or in the comments of a Facebook post, you’re likely to encounter passionate disagreements where, often times, parties involved leave feeling frustrated, misunderstood, unheard, or disrespected.
In honor of National Two Different Colored Shoes Day, we chose to have a conversation with members of our community who tend to find themselves on opposite sides of the discussion. As the interviewees embraced their uniqueness, they sat down with an individual who, in many situations, would be the party on the other side of the debate. We sat down with Democrat, Nancy Presnall, and Republican, Lorie Legere, and we also sat down with Hannah Williams, who identifies as queer, and Trinity Currier, who identifies as heterosexual.
In the political world, Nancy Presnall and Lorie Legere encounter all different types of uniqueness. Lorie is a past president of the Garfield County Republican Women’s Club and the Oklahoma Federation of Republican Women, and she’s currently a Member at Large of the Executive Board of the National Federation of Republican Women and a current Vice Chair of the Garfield County Republican Party. And professionally, she humbly serves as the Garfield County Clerk. Nancy is President of the Garfield County Democratic Women’s Club and Chair of the Garfield County Democratic Party. When it comes to debates and hot topics, it’s no secret that these two parties are most often on opposite ends of the discussion. So, we convened with them to discuss embracing their uniqueness, dealing with difficult situations, differences in opinions, and unifying the community.
The world of politics is full of different viewpoints and beliefs, and, more often than not, the political representatives in that realm stand firmly on what they believe in. Nancy references former United States Representative John Lewis when mentioning standing up for what she believes in. She states, “Going back to Representative John Lewis’s statement, ‘Get in good trouble, necessary trouble,’ because every area needs angelic troublemakers.” The term “angelic troublemaker” is a term Nancy’s friends have used when describing her. And in response, Lorie states, “some of my friends say that I’m a velvet covered steamroller.” Both phrases are similar in intent and meaning; don’t allow people to walk over you, but don’t be unkind either. Lorie continues with, “You need to stick to your beliefs and stay true to what you think is right. But, at the same time, you can do that in a respectful manner.” Clinging to your beliefs and backing your opinions doesn’t have to be a vigorous task – it can be as simple as respectfully disagreeing with someone.
When it comes to living in your uniqueness, Nancy states, “We all need to broaden our horizons and just accept people for who they are. We all are unique in one way or another – no two people are exactly the same.” And Lorie continues with, “God made each of us different, and whatever God creates is always good.” The differences between you and the people surrounding you are individual characteristics that should be embraced and celebrated, not shunned, discouraged, or belittled. In reference to those differences, Nancy states, “There’s a battle between freedom and equality because people use their freedom to make other people unequal, and it’s sad.” If you have the freedom to make your own choices and live your own life, why shouldn’t everybody else get that same freedom? However, having that freedom to make your own choices and live the life you want, how you want, is unfortunately a luxury not afforded to everyone.
With so many differing thoughts and feelings, it’s no wonder debates and difficult situations are so common. However, having a different set of beliefs than the person next to you doesn’t separate you as much as you may think. You both may believe in different things, but you’re both still human, and, as humans, you share more in common with the person of opposition than you even realize. So, when it comes to interacting with people who do have differing opinions, Nancy states, “I think the main thing to remember is there’s a difference between fact and opinion.” And when it comes to dealing with difficult situations, Lorie says, “I pause for a second, and I take a very deep breath to try and center myself. And then I think about ‘why is this person acting this way?’ and I try to put myself in their shoes to understand why they’re acting that way.” Allowing yourself to look at situations from a different perspective can be the key to understanding where someone else is coming from. And regardless of whether or not you agree with them, understanding where someone is coming from can make a night and day difference in difficult situations, and it goes hand in hand with listening to understand, not to respond.
When listening to someone to understand, the chances of finding common goals/ground increases drastically because you’re taking yourself out of the mindset of listening to respond, which allows for relatability, comprehension, and, ultimately, deeper conversations. By the end of their discussion, Lorie and Nancy had more in common than they probably even realized. They represent two different parties, but who they stand for and speak up for aligns more than they even knew. Nancy states, “I will probably always go with the side of people who have less money and are less privileged… More often than not, I’ll come down on the side of the underdog.” And Lorie continues with, “I myself, personally, always want to look out for those who are less fortunate.” Beyond their parties are two women who choose to fight for the underdogs and less fortunate, and that’s common ground that can be worked on, together.
When it comes to embracing uniqueness, it comes in all forms and variations, including sexuality. Hannah Williams is disabled and queer, and they use they/them pronouns. Trinity Currier identifies as heterosexual, and she uses she/her pronouns. For National Two Different Colored Shoes Day, Hannah and Trinity sat down to discuss embracing their uniqueness.
As a queer disabled individual who uses they/them pronouns, Hannah is unfortunately no stranger to those with different opinions. And as a heterosexual individual whose grown up in modern times, Trinity is very aware of the climate of the world as well. When asked what embracing their uniqueness meant to them, Hannah stated, “I try to embrace my uniqueness at every turn. I’ve always been a weird person, and I look physically different. So, I try to be myself whenever I can.” Trinity describes embracing her uniqueness as “Being confident and proud of who you are and the things that make you unique.” However, with the division of the world, embracing the things that make them different isn’t always as easy as it seems. Trinity goes on to say, “We as people, in one way or another, are never going to be the same. It’s impossible, so I feel like we should be proud of the things that set us apart rather than the things that make us the same.” Moving forward, Hannah thinks it’s important to have “respect and empathy.” They continue with, “Self-reflection is so important. With how chaotic and scary the world is right now, focus on being comfortable with yourself before worrying about what other people are doing.” Trinity continues with, “Right now, the world is having a hard time with respect. And with all of the chaos, it’s important to work on respecting other peoples’ opinions and viewpoints.” Celebrating someone else’s individuality does not come at the cost of your individuality, nor does it mean you have to agree with them. Embracing someone else’s uniqueness simply means respecting their right to the way they choose to live their life.
With so many different beliefs and viewpoints, it’s hard for many to feel as if they’re understood or even heard. So, when it comes to passionate debates and opinions, Hannah says, “Take a breath and take a step back if you’re getting heated because a fight is not a productive conversation.” And Trinity says, “Acknowledge that there is a time and a place. There is no point in debating with the cashier at Jumbos.” She continues with, “I feel like the most important part is making each other feel heard. While we may not agree, we should both be able to express our standpoints whilst feeling respected.” And when it comes to feeling heard, they both stated that the best practice is active listening. Hannah states, “Don’t wait for your turn to say something – listen to what the other person is saying.” Trinity continues with, “To me, a debate is not an argument. It’s a mutual understanding that we’re both going to express our points.” Now, when it comes to respecting everyone’s uniqueness and individuality, Hannah states, “Your self-presentation literally has nothing to do with anyone else – mind your own business. So, if it’s not hurting you, leave people alone. Let people enjoy themselves and be happy.” They continue with, “If you love the way someone presents and think they have the coolest jacket on, then yes, say something and be complimentary. If you absolutely hate the illustration on somebody’s shirt, turn around and walk away.” Trinity goes on to say “Uniqueness is something we all have in common, and we should treat it like we all have it in common. It should be something we celebrate and encourage.” Different perspectives and stances are what allows us to grow as people. If you shared the same opinions with everyone you knew, how would you grow? Hannah states, “If you’re constantly in an echo chamber just hearing the same things over and over again, it’s not healthy for you, and you’re not going to know what’s actually going on in the real world.” Those perspectives different than your own are what offer a new understanding or a different point of view, and those shifts are how people grow as individuals. After all, a rainbow with only one color isn’t even a rainbow, let alone unique – it’s a color. Uniqueness and individuality are what makes humans beautiful and special, like a rainbow.
When it comes to strengthening the unity in Enid’s community, Trinity says, “Be respectful – that’s the bottom line.” And Hannah says, “I think we need to be pushing for more safe spaces and third locations so we’re not just at work, school, or home, and we have somewhere to go and engage with the community. It’s so important to have somewhere to be, especially when we’re so isolated by technology.” Trinity followed up with, “It’s important to have an availability of places people can go to get different sources of information and different opinions to help them build their own opinions.” To put it simply, Hannah states, “Building communities is going to strengthen the community.” So, it’s important to get out and interact with people, and it’s just as important to engage with people different than you because we can all learn something from one another, but if you’re against learning from others, we can all at least still enjoy something from the individuality of other individuals.
Regardless of their views and perceptions, each party involved with these discussions was able to listen and respect the opinions and views of the party opposite to them. No matter what, we’re all different from the next person, and with the ever-changing times of the world, those differences will only continue to grow. With that being said, it’s okay not to understand someone, and it’s okay to even be confused by someone. However, it is not okay to belittle or disrespect anyone, regardless of whether or not their views differ from yours. You’re a human, and that person you disagree with is a human. No one is going to tell you to believe in something different than you do or to be someone different than you are, so don’t tell anyone else to believe in something different or to be someone different than they are. Celebrate your differences, embrace your uniqueness, and learn from each other’s experiences. Treat others how you want to be treated, and if that isn’t enough of an eye-opener, then treat others how you want your loved ones to be treated. At the end of the day, we’re all somebody’s loved one, and it’s up to us to put “The Unity in Community.”
Enid, OK – April 29, 2024 – Gaslight Theatre proudly announces the upcoming production of “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” by Tom Stoppard, directed by the talented Charlet Ringwald. Performances are May 10-12 & 17-18, 2024 at the Gaslight Theatre in Enid, OK. Celebrating 30 years of Shakespeare in the Park, this modern masterpiece promises an evening of laughter, thought-provoking moments, and existential pondering.
“We’re thrilled to bring the absurdist world of ‘Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead’ to the Gaslight stage,” said Charlet Ringwald, director of the play. “This play shows what happens off stage while the characters are waiting for their entrance. Think Shakespeare meets slapstick comedy, with a dash of existential pondering of the meaning of life and death. This is definitely a show where you’ll laugh, you’ll think, and you might just leave questioning the meaning of it all.”
The production was further enriched by a special workshop led by Professor Lloyd Caldwell, focusing on physical comedy and movement, made possible through the generous support of Park Avenue Thrift. Caldwell recently retired from Oklahoma State University after more than 20 years of teaching theater and arts administration.
Acclaimed as a modern dramatic masterpiece, “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead” offers a unique perspective on Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” from the bewildered viewpoint of its titular characters. In Tom Stoppard’s best-known work, the audience is invited into a world where echoes of “Waiting for Godot” resound, reality and illusion intermix, and fate leads our two heroes to a tragic but inevitable end.
Showtimes:
· Fridays & Saturdays: 7:30 pm
· Sunday Matinees: 2:00 pm
Ticket Pricing:
· $18 Adult
· $15 Military
· $8 Student
· Group discounts available.
Gaslight Theatre is excited to offer free babysitting on Saturday, May 11th, in partnership with the Denny Price Family YMCA, to provide a hassle-free experience for attending families. Patrons are encouraged to reserve spots for their child(ren) by filling out the form linked on our website. Registration deadline is 5 p.m. on May 7th, 2024.
In addition, Autry Technology Center will be providing complimentary hors d’oeuvres during intermission of the Friday, May 17,performance. Students will serve patrons, adding to the ambiance of the evening.
Actor Chad Swanson, portraying Rosencrantz, expresses excitement for the upcoming production: “Rehearsals for this show have just flown by, and yet, we’ve had the opportunity to hone our skills and really challenge ourselves as actors. My brilliant director of a wife, Charlet Ringwald, has really dipped into her BFA bag of tricks with this one to bring something wonderful and strange once again to the main stage of Gaslight Theatre!”
“Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” is produced by special arrangement with Samuel French, Inc. (Concord Theatricals).
Gaslight Theatre is located at 221 N. Independence St., Enid, OK. For tickets and inquiries, please call 580-234-2307 or visit our website www.gaslighttheatre.org.
Don’t miss this extraordinary theatrical experience! Join us for “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” and immerse yourself in a world of wit, wonder, and existential exploration.
About Gaslight Theatre:
The Gaslight Theatre of Enid was founded in 1966 and is one of Oklahoma’s oldest, most active community theatres. Its mission is to provide a wide spectrum of high-quality theatrical entertainment to a broad audience in Enid and the surrounding communities, and to provide a setting for nonprofessional actors, directors, designers and technicians to learn and practice their art. Audition and ticket information is available on the Gaslight Theatre website, www.gaslighttheatre.org.
The Oklahoma Arts Council is the official state agency for the support and development of the arts. The agency’s mission is to lead in the advancement of Oklahoma’s thriving arts industry. The Oklahoma Arts Council provides hundreds of grants to organizations in communities statewide each year, organizes professional development opportunities for the state’s arts and cultural sector, and manages the art collections at the Oklahoma State Capitol. Additional information is available at arts.ok.gov.
If anyone was like me, the championship run of the Texas Rangers baseball team last fall reminded you of how fun the game is and made you think back to your younger days. I remember sitting at the breakfast table before school and every morning opening up the newspaper to look at the box score of the Rangers’ game the prior day. Now, right in time for the start of the 2024 season, author and journalist Kevin Baker has a new book out that is perfect for baseball fans, whether you’re a diehard fan or a rollercoaster one like myself.
The New York Game is a fabulous combination of the history of baseball, the history of New York City, and the biographies of everyone involved – from the players and managers to the politicians and gangsters. The book starts in the early 19th century, when it was just kids playing in corner lots, and travels through the dead-ball era, the gambling scandals, the outright racism, and the professionalization of the game, to finish in 1945, with the impacts of World War II. This thoroughness does make The New York Game a little daunting in its thickness – over 500 pages with the sources and index. But it is not a slog of a read at all. The chapters are short, and the writing is quite lively and enjoyable.
Now, if you wholly despise the Yankees, this book might not be your favorite book ever. But really, The New York Game is so much more than just them. It’s a history of the game overall, the Knickerbockers and the Cincinnati Red Stockings and the Boston Braves and the Federal League. It’s about John McGraw and Christy Mathewson and Johnny Evers and, of course, Babe Ruth. It’s about the rise of skyscrapers and the creation of the subway system and the heyday of the newspaper industry. This book is a really, really fun read, and it will certainly get you even more excited to cheer on your favorite team this season.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of The New York Game today!
Author: James Buckley, Jr. Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa
National Geographic produces so many wonderful books for kids, and I recently learned of a particular series from them about sports: It’s a Numbers Game! There are four books so far – for basketball, soccer, football, and baseball – and they each explore different facts and statistics from that sport in a very kid-friendly way.
It’s a Numbers Game! Baseball, for example, was released in 2021 and is divided into different chapters: the basics of the game, hitting, pitching, baserunning, and fielding. Each part has a really neat mix of history, math, and science. There are the historical records, like most career wins for a pitcher (Cy Young, with 511) and most stolen bases in a single season (Rickey Henderson, with 130). Each chapter also explains multiple mathematical formulas, like how to calculate a batter’s on-base percentage or a fielder’s range factor. And lastly, there is the science of the game, like how baseballs fly further in the thin air at Coors Field and how baserunners going from first base to third run in arcs in order to maintain their speed.
Obviously any interested kiddo can pick the book up, but based on the vocabulary and the level of math, the stated age range of 8-12 years old is probably a pretty good bet. The books are full of fascinating trivia, and there are plenty of tips and applications to apply on the playing field and off. Not to mention the sharp-looking graphics and the cool action photos of players too. If you’ve got a young sports lover, especially one who also enjoys math and science, the It’s a Numbers Game! series would be perfect for them.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of It’s a Numbers Game! Baseball today!
Hello everyone! This month’s Now Serving is a classic, Loaded Baked Potatoes! These are great because they’re so versatile, easy, and delicious! In this recipe, we have all the toppings expected on a loaded baked potato- bacon pieces, cheddar cheese, sour cream, butter, and seasoned beef! With this particular recipe, the potatoes are basted with an olive oil/garlic/melted butter/salt/pepper/onion powder mixture before they’re baked, but they can easily be basted and microwaved for when the craving hits but is too hot to turn the oven on (although best results are with baking for that nice, crunchy skin)! Why go spend so much on appetizers when you can have more than your fill for you and your family for the same price! Now Serving Loaded Baked Potatoes!
6 large baking potatoes 1 cup of butter separated, 4 tbsp melted, 12 tbsp sliced Sour cream to top Sharp cheddar cheese to top Bacon pieces to top 2 oz olive oil 1 tbsp garlic powder 1 tbsp onion powder 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper 1 lb carne picada beef Your beef seasoning of choice
1. Preheat oven to 400.
2. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil. Wash potatoes and poke them three times on each side with a fork, place on lined sheet.
3. In a small bowl, combine 4 tbsp melted butter, 2 oz olive oil, garlic and onion powder, and salt and pepper. Mix well to combine – it will become thick. With a basting brush, coat each potato well with the butter/oil mixture.
4. Bake for 45 minutes, or until skins are easily pierced with the tines of a fork. Return to oven to cook until potatoes are soft against the fork.
5. During the last fifteen minutes of the potatoes baking, begin preparing the meat. Season beef with your choice of seasonings, depending on the flavor you’re wanting. Cook to your desired doneness. Turn off heat.
6. Remove potatoes from oven and turn oven off. Slice each potato lengthwise. I recommend using a pair of tongs to hold each end, and after the slice is made, gently squeeze the ends of the potato, widening the opening for the toppings.
7. Place the remaining sliced butter and cheese first, for ultimate gooiness. Seasoned meat, bacon pieces, sour cream!
