Enid, OK – July 1st, 2024 – Main Street Enid is thrilled to announce the successful conclusion of our 2024 History Maker Campaign, marking a milestone in our 30th-anniversary celebrations. We are excited to share that we have achieved our goal of raising $30,000, in honor of our 30th anniversary. Thanks to the generous matching funds of $7,500 from the Enid Regional Development Alliance and $5,000 from Edward Jones, every dollar donated by June 30th had triple the impact. Additionally, we hosted various other events and fundraisers, such as a dunk tank, B.A.T. Express rides, light-up toy sales, and our 2024 downtown discount cards, which brought in over $5,000. Lastly, we want to thank our 2024 History Makers (see attached list) who each made a donation of $100 or more and were pivotal in reaching our goal.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of our 2024 History Maker Campaign. Your support has been instrumental in helping us reach our goal and continue our efforts to revitalize downtown Enid. We look forward to the next 30 years with optimism and enthusiasm.” said Natalie Rapp, Executive Director of Main Street Enid.
100% of the funds raised during the campaign will be used to provide downtown businesses within our district with grant funding for various facade renovations such as ongoing projects and a one-time competitive $10,000 grant for the 2024-25 fiscal year. This collective effort ensures that we continue to preserve our district, for the community, by the community. As we look forward to the next 30 years, Main Street Enid remains committed to enhancing the vibrancy and historical charm of downtown Enid. Thank you for being an integral part of this journey.
Enid may not be a big city, like Tulsa or OKC, but you wouldn’t have known it at this year’s annual Best of Enid Event. Held at Stride Bank Center on Thursday, June 6, it was a terrific night of fun, fellowship, and food. And on behalf of everyone at Enid Monthly, we would like to thank everyone who made the evening possible. Without the support of Table Sponsors, door prize donations, and, of course, Gold and Silver Sponsors, the night wouldn’t have been possible. In addition, the staff at the Stride Bank Center deserve the highest praise. They provided the catering and staffed the event, truly going above and beyond to ensure that everyone had a terrific and memorable evening.
Now in its third year, the Best of Enid awards show brought together a wide cross section of the community. When the doors opened at 6:00, it seemed as if every sector in town was represented. From non-profit organizations to roofing companies to beauty salons—and that’s to say nothing of the many local restaurants that were represented—Enid’s best and brightest came out to celebrate our community. Business was what brought everyone together, but it was truly an evening of friendship, connections, and camaraderie.
With over 200 guests in attendance, the atmosphere was festive. The bar was open, and guests mingled freely. Photographer Kaci Carpenter captured the fun, and she also took official photos of each winner. Dinner was a clear winner, with guests enjoying a menu that featured a garden salad, chicken Cordon Bleu, steamed broccoli, garlic mashed potatoes, and delectable slices of cheesecake.
Once the ceremony began, emcee Frank Baker kept the show moving. With 50 categories, there was a lot of applause throughout the evening. DJ Justin Blasier did a terrific job ensuring that each winner took the stage to an appropriately themed song, such as “YMCA” when the Denny Price Family YMCA won Best Childcare Provider and The Judds classic “Grandpa (Tell Me ‘Bout the Good Old Days’)” when Greenbrier Village won Best Senior Living.
Determining the Best of Enid was something that the community took seriously. Over 25,000 votes were cast, which took an average of 21 nominees per category down to just three. The top 3 finalists were formally invited to the event, and although not everyone was able to attend, the room was full, and a remarkable sense of companionship flowed throughout the evening. Guests were genuinely honored and appreciative of their nominations. Trista from Silver Sponsor American Cannabis Company said, “It makes you feel seen, and it makes you feel heard, like you’re not getting overlooked. It’s just great overall to be included.”
The fact that Enid’s businesses were competing with each other was belied by the genuine support and appreciation for each other that rang throughout the night. Curtis Ediger, with Gold Sponsor Ediger’s Diamonds, had nothing but good things to say about the other three jewelry stores in town. He said, “We’ve been in business for 42 years…All the jewelry stores in town are quality jewelry stores, and so to be nominated is something special.”
First time nominee Christina with Wolf Collective Photography had nothing but praise for her competition, saying that “I feel really fortunate. We have an amazing community of photographers, so it’s a huge honor just to be nominated. We’re very humbled to be here tonight.” Later in the evening, when Wolf Collective won for Best Photographer, Christina gave a shout-out to the other photographers, saying “I am SO fortunate to belong to a community that has so many talented photographers. I am honored to be here and humbled!”
There were several unexpected moments that brought down the house. When Greenbrier Village won, a small team took to the stage to accept the award. At least some of them were residents, and one delightful Greenbrier woman could not contain her joy, shouting, “I’m so glad we won! We deserve it! It’s a wonderful place, and we have things to do all the time!” to uproarious laughter from the crowd.
There was also Extreme Remodeling’s Matthew Compton, who left the room in stitches. His company won in the Best Home Maintenance & Remodeling category, but they could have won for comedy. Compton accepted the award with all due appreciation, but before he left the stage, he good-naturedly shouted, “If your man’s not doing it, call me!” The crowd roared.
Throughout the night, there was a lot of genuine appreciation expressed for the public at large. Misty, the assistant administrator at Gold Sponsor The Commons, spoke warmly about the Enid community, saying that “We have a great community base throughout Enid. I want to say that a lot of the residents that live in our facility, their families work in the community, and when they come to live in The Commons… they become our family as well.”
When Stela Jantzen, Executive Director at Park Avenue Thrift, accepted the award for Best Thrift Store, she made it a point to express their appreciation to the wider community, saying “Whenever you shop and donate at Park Avenue, you’re helping so many nonprofits who are working to make Enid an amazing place to be. So, on behalf of our employees, our board members, and our community partners, thank you so much.”
One of the night’s big winners was Enchanted Beauty Wellness Spa, which won each of the four categories for which it was nominated: Best Massage Therapy/Therapist, Best Medical Spa/Skin Care, Best Hair Salon, and Best Nail Technician/Salon. The folks at Enchanted were clearly humbled and surprised at this sweep, stating “I think we were all in shock last night as they kept calling our name. I personally could not find the words to express how deeply I appreciate all our clients voting for us.”
In addition to the awards, the evening also featured a fantastic slate of door prizes. And they were not just run-of-the-mill raffle prizes; they were a showcase of the incredible generosity of our sponsors. The prizes included a gift basket from Creative Comfort, a 3-piece 14K gold pearl set courtesy of Ediger’s Diamonds, a 58-inch 4K UHD Hisense television courtesy of Enid Monthly, a Traeger Pro 575 WiFi Pellet Grill courtesy of Ace Hardware, and two tickets to Jeff Dunham’s “Still Not Canceled” August 16 show courtesy of Stride Bank Center.
If there were an overarching theme for the Best of Enid, it would have to be community appreciation. Businesses expressed their gratitude toward the Enid community not just for their votes but for their everyday support. The nominees expressed encouragement and kudos for each other, creating a community of support right there at Stride Bank Center. As Samantha Feeney of Gold Sponsor Unleashed Pet Grooming said, “Enid is just small business based, and there are a lot of long-lasting groom shops here in town. We’re really excited – it’s been fun. And we love the event! It’s a really fun event…we just have a really good relationship with a lot of our customers and a lot of them are also small business owners. It’s kind of just a mutual thing—we vote for them, they vote for us. I think it’s just the way Enid is—small town, small businesses support. Our friends and customers are the massage therapists, realtors, financial people, etc. that were there. It was so hard cheering for all of them because we knew people in all categories…Everybody deserves to win!”
Comments on social media show that folks in the Enid community truly appreciate the businesses and organizations highlighted in Best of Enid. Enchanted Beauty Wellness Spa fan Shellie Weber wrote, “Very well deserved! Definitely servant hearts and the BEST!” while Park Avenue customer Tara Hutson chimed in with, “Congratulations! Well deserved! Thank you for all you do to help our community.” And scrolling through the comments for the pages of Leonardo’s Children’s Museum or Da Vinci’s Coffeehouse—who won Best Children’s Party Spot and Best Coffee Shop, respectively—it was nothing but kudos, congratulations, and well wishes from the public at large.
When speaking with Christina from Wolf Collective Photography, she said that “Photography is another medium to tell stories.” In its own way, the Best of Enid is a kind of living anthology of stories, which on the face of it can seem very different from one another. For example, at first glance, it may seem that there are exactly zero similarities between Best Restaurant winner Sandy’s Tacos and Dudes Men’s Store, which won Best Boutique. But scratch the surface and you find that they do have things in common. Both the taco joint and boutique must provide a good product or neither would last long enough to survive the first round of voting, let alone years in Enid. Not only must they provide products that Enid folks want, but they also have to do it well. Great customer service is a key ingredient to success, and in fact, one that was highlighted by many of the award winners, most of whom went out of their way to thank their team.
The third annual Best of Enid event was a night to remember. And as we look forward to next year, we’re excited at the evening’s success and grateful to all of the behind-the-scenes hard work that made it happen. The night would have been impossible without the incredible community here. It was the people and organizations of Enid who made the event such a success, with special thanks to the event’s sponsors! The Best of Enid 2024 Gold Sponsors included Natural Remedies MMJ, Ediger’s Diamonds, Unleashed Pet Grooming, Park Avenue Thrift, and The Commons, and this year’s Silver Sponsors included Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home and Crematory, Healthy Smiles, Schoonover Agency Tax Preparation, American Cannabis Company, and Sandy’s Tacos.
In the end, though, a Gold or Silver Sponsorship wasn’t required, nor was a Table Sponsorship. What was mandatory and what made the entire spirited competition possible was Enid’s general public and the many organizations who so proudly serve this community. As Enid Monthly publisher Rober Faulk said, “This is the 3rd year of the Best of Enid Awards Show, and it could not have gone better. We are just happy to highlight great local businesses and give them an opportunity to come and have a good time with their staff and other businesses around town. We had more votes than ever before and are so excited we get to do this for the community!” We’d like to give a special thanks to every individual and business that helped make the night possible, whether you nominated someone, voted, run a business in town, or came out to celebrate everyone’s success, you made the night possible. Here’s to next year!
Dodge for a Cause is a community-wide event benefiting Rural Health Projects, Inc. Rural Health Projects, Inc is a community-based non-profit funded by multiple grants and contracts. We connect and collaborate with our diverse communities to provide education and resources aimed at improving population health.
As a family-friendly event, dressing up in costumes and forming themed teams is highly encouraged! A concession stand will be available for purchase of food or beverages (no outside food/beverages permitted). All players must sign liability releases or, if the player is 17 or under, a parent/guardian must sign the waiver for the child.
TOURNAMENT RULES & INFORMATION
In the double-elimination format, each team is guaranteed a minimum of two games. Games last three minutes and will enter “sudden death” in the event of a tie. The losing team from the first round moves to the loser’s bracket. Dodgeball boundaries are identical to those of basketball. Teams consist of 6 players, with each player only allowed to play for one team. Participants can enter one of two tournament divisions: the ’15 & Under’ division or the ’16 & Over’ division. Please note that brackets require a minimum of 10 teams per division. If fewer than 10 teams register in your division, you will be notified by July 15th, and a full refund will be issued. All participants must sign a liability waiver and participants under the age of 18 are required to have a parent or guardian sign the youth liability waiver (waivers available at the entrance).
When: Sat, July 27, 2024 09:00 AM – 03:00 PMCDT
Where: Mabee Center, 2401 E Maine Ave, Enid, OK 73701, USA
Continuing the puzzle theme, the latest children’s chapter book from author Lindsay Currie is perfect for escape room aficionados. Released in April 2024, The Mystery of Locked Rooms tells the story of a trio of seventh graders who take on their toughest challenge to date: an abandoned funhouse outside of town that is rumored to have a hidden treasure inside.
Sarah and her two best friends, Hannah and West, are so inseparable that they call themselves the Deltas, symbolized in the Greek alphabet by a triangle, one side for each person. Their favorite hobby is escape rooms, and because each member of the group offers their own unique skillset, the three are really great at solving the puzzles. They are riding the high of their latest success when Sarah learns her house is being foreclosed. Even though it is dangerous and scary, the legendary funhouse is quickly looking like the only option for her to help her parents. And of course if she goes, Hannah and West will be right there with her. The trio is soon encountering a flying trapeze, a room of Roman sculptures, a twisty mirror maze, and more! Just when they think they’ve failed, when they’re ready to admit there isn’t a treasure after all, they find one more clue…
Although I think the editing of the writing could have been a little sharper, overall The Mystery of Locked Rooms is an excellent adventure book for middle-grade readers. It’s quite the page-turner, complete with beautiful friendships, great humor, and a fantastically wacky cover to boot. If a kiddo loves puzzles, loves remembering fine details and using creativity and connecting the dots, this book would be perfect for them.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of The Mystery of Locked Rooms today!
Hello friends! June to me means family get-togethers and picnics! The two recipes this month can be made ahead of time for any event! The first is Watermelon Water, and it’s sweet, refreshing, and guaranteed to be a hit! The second is a Fresh Fruit Pizza, which is easier to make than it sounds, and way more delicious! Try these out and experience for yourself the taste of summer!
Watermelon Water- makes up to 1 gallon
6 cups of seed free watermelon
2 tsp of fresh squeezed lime juice
3 cups cold water
Sugar to taste, if desired
1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth. Strain if desired, pouring into a glass full of ice.
Fresh Fruit Pizza- Serves up to 8
1 box refrigerated pie crust, room temperature
1.5 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
1 banana, thinly sliced
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup cream cheese frosting
1 cup thinly sliced fresh strawberries
1. Heat oven to 450. Remove pie crusts from pouches: unroll onto a clean work surface. Place 1 crust onto an ungreased cookie sheet or 12″ pizza pan. Place the second crust on top of the first crust. Press edges together with a fork or fingers. Bake 10-14 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for 25 minutes, or while you slice the fruit and prepare the chocolate.
2. Meanwhile, heat sweetened condensed milk in a medium saucepan over low heat until warm. Add chocolate chips and cook until melted and smooth, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
3. To assemble pizza, place cooled, baked crust on a serving platter. Spread the cream cheese frosting evenly over the baked crust. Arrange the sliced bananas and strawberries over the frosting. Drizzle with 1/2 cup of chocolate sauce. Cut into wedges and store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Now serving, Watermelon Water and Fresh Fruit Pizza!
Hey Y’all, and welcome back to Teen Scene in ENID MONTHLY. For the month of June, I wanted to share my top 5 things I am most excited about for summer. Let’s go!!!
To start, the one thing I am most excited about over anything else is going to the lake!!
We recently bought a new jet ski, and I am so excited to ride it all summer. The speakers are HUGE, which makes the ride even more fun. I am also looking forward to it because I will have my license, so I can drive to our lake house whenever I am free and allowed. When my friends come with me, we always play football or ride on the boat and tube and wrestle on our Lilypad.
Coaching tennis camp is another thing I look forward to. I love making the little kids’ bracelets and teaching them something I love. They always have so much fun, and this year it’s at the new High School Tennis Courts, so they will get to experience what high school and middle school will be like. I also look forward to snack time halfway through lol.
MY BIRTHDAY is on July 18th, and it is my favorite day of the year. If you know me personally, you know that I love not only my birthday but other people’s as well. Either my dad or mom takes me to the city, and we spend the day there shopping, exploring, and grubbing. I look forward to it every new year.
VACATION!!! This month we are going to Italy, and I am SOOOOOO excited. We are going to visit lots of different cities and islands, try new foods and much more. I love going on vacation because you don’t have to worry about a whole lot besides having fun, especially when you are a kid. The only thing I miss is my comfy bed and always having food and water that I can just go grab from the fridge. Other than that, vacation is amazing.
Last but not least, summer pride and running. Summer pride is the summer workouts Enid High holds for all of the Student-Athletes. We get to do lots of fun workouts, and I love doing them with my best friends because they make it so much easier. We all motivate each other to do our best.
Thank you for reading this month’s article. I hope you enjoyed it!! If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for upcoming articles, email me at tweensceneenid@gmail.com I would love to hear about what you are looking forward to this summer, so email me for that too! I hope you have an amazing summer, June, and a happy Father’s Day! See you next month!
Enid High Athletic Director, Scott Mansfield, has just finished his first year on the job, which made this a great time to chat with him about the 2023-24 school year, and what they are looking forward to in the future.
“I don’t define success by wins and losses, those are for the morning coffee guys” says Mansfield, “I care more about whether the kids are buying into the team culture, team concept, and team philosophy. I want our athletes to strive academically and learn how to be a part of the community. Ultimately, I want them to be solid citizens, which you can’t really track until they maybe graduate college, maybe get married and have kids. I want them to be successful at life, and athletics can play a part in that.”
That’s not to say he isn’t interested in the product on the field or court, but Mansfield believes in the bigger picture. “Wins are great, and our goal is to be competitive in every sport, but we want winners at life too. And I believe our philosophy helps our student athletes achieve just that,” says Mansfield.
And over this last year, there has been a lot to be proud of – the baseball team made the state tournament, Haley Hibbets finished 5th in state at #1 Singles in tennis, Shae Salinas made the state tournament in girls wrestling, swimming qualified 12 events for the state meet, and the 4X400 track team and a high jumper made the state track meet.
But again, Mansfield is quick to point out that the softball team won the Academic State Championship and several other sports programs won OSSAA Academic Achievement Awards, part of his goal to turn out well rounded student athletes.
Learning Curve
Being a first year A.D., Mansfield says that he’s had to learn a lot about the less publicized sports. “My whole life I’ve been around sports like football and basketball, so it’s definitely been a learning experience to try to understand sports like cross country, swimming, and track and what we need to do to help them succeed. Even “private” sports like tennis and golf present challenges that we have to be able to meet to be able to succeed.”
Mansfield also worked with new head coaches for swimming, football, and golf, and he will be hiring new head coaches for volleyball, girls cross country, and track and pom over the summer. “We want high character and high-quality coaches that will grow our youth programs and instill those traits in our student athletes,” he said.
And while he has not started developing a wish list for the future of facilities, he is really appreciative of the public/private partnerships the district has developed that have helped develop some of the top facilities in the state for baseball, soccer, and soon-to-be tennis. “The partnerships we have had across multiple sports have given us a smother and greatly expedited timeline to be able to provide great facilities for our kids.”
The Future
Next up: Summer Pride. “Summer pride is the building block of great teams. While we cannot require attendance, it is highly recommended, and the coaches and I have set a goal of 90% participation. The sweat these kids put in in July pays dividends in November (the first championships). It is also a time to see coaches really pouring into these kids, especially in sports other than what they coach. We see these coaches supporting other kids and as that support grows, it really helps encourage and develop these kids as people. I want the community to be proud of our kids and our brand. I want unity in the department to reach those goals, and I want people to be proud of what we are doing here. Those are my future goals. Creating productive members of society is real winning in my book,” says Mansfield.
Well, howdy again Okies! Today’s topic? Raccoons. Cute little furry creatures of the night, you say? Hogwash, these little trash can pandas are in large part responsible for the decimation of pheasant, quail, and turkey. Don’t believe me? I bet y’all don’t see near the numbers of birds as years past. Sure, they aren’t solely responsible, but I read a recent report that raccoons are responsible for about 70% of the decline in game birds (along with opossums).
I’m familiar with two different programs that will pay $10/tail for a raccoon in an effort to revive the game bird population. As an example, as to their numbers, I’ve personally caught 24 raccoons in a month on my own little measly twenty acres in which I live. While they also eat plants, they’ll consume eggs, small rodents, and insects.
Adults range anywhere from five pounds up to thirty-five pounds. I’m told a large male raccoon can squeeze itself into a hole in a tree that’s barely a few inches in diameter.
Breeding from January to March, females will give birth to up to seven cubs (or “kits”) later in the spring, although the average is generally three to four cubs. Most only live to be a couple years old, although some can last up to six years or so.
Ready for the raccoon trapping secret food? Captain Crunch cereal. I’m not kidding. Grab a Z-trap or a Duke trap (with a heavy, long anchor), put out some cereal, and voila, you’ll catch raccoons. Whether making a raccoon-skin cap or simply trying to help the bird population, raccoons need to be minimized in numbers.
Knowing when to go to the emergency room is important for getting timely medical attention for urgent or life-threatening situations.
Dr. Renah Gibson, DO, family medicine physician with St. Mary’s Physician Associates, provides you with seven medical situations that warrant a trip to the ER.
Pain or Pressure, accompanied by other symptoms like shortness of breath, nausea, sweating or pain radiating to the arm, neck or jaw, which could be a heart attack.
Severe Abdominal Pain, especially if accompanied by vomiting, fever or inability to pass stool or gas, which could indicate appendicitis, pancreatitis or intestinal blockage.
Severe Headache, especially if it’s sudden and intense, along with other symptoms like confusion, weakness, vision changes or neck stiffness, which could be a stroke, meningitis or other serious condition.
Sudden Weakness or Numbness, especially if it’s on one side of the body, which could mean a stroke or transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke).
Severe Trauma or Injury, including head injuries, deep wounds, severe burns or fractures that require immediate medical attention.
High Fever with Confusion, especially in infants, young children or elderly individuals, as it could be a serious infection or other condition.
Drug Overdose, particularly if you or someone you know has ingested a potentially toxic amount of medication or other substances.
If you’re having a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.
To find a doctor and schedule an appointment online, visit stmarysphysicianassociates.com.
For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
You know how you can get a membership to a gym for an affordable monthly payment? How it allows you access to the facility anytime you want to utilize equipment or attend workout classes whenever it is convenient for you. The dedicated health enthusiasts generally have a set daily routine while someone else may frequent once or twice a week at various times. Group classes help people feel motivated and encouraged with other like-minded exercisers. There are staff available to assist with equipment adjustment, basic tips, and connecting to other options the gym has to offer. The idea behind this structure is to allow the flexibility for all members to utilize the space to meet their health needs. Well, guess what? momentumHQ functions the same way for your business needs!
Through affordable membership rates, you can have access to a professional office building equipped with WiFi, printing and scanning capabilities, office supplies, and the ever-important coffee machine. Whether you’re a traditional 9-5 worker in need of a private office or a remote worker that needs to pop in every week to use the large conference room, momentumHQ offers the flexibility to utilize different spaces that help your business thrive. We coordinate events each month with our members and others in the community to provide networking and learning for all types of businesses. Like a gym membership provides flexibility for your health, we can tailor your office membership to meet your business needs.
mHQ Member Highlights:
Innovative Sales Advisors: Vince Trotta
Vince found himself in Enid a few years ago working for GEFCO as a sales advisor. He wasn’t here long when the plant shut down. He realized he enjoyed living in Enid and needed to create a way for him to have a job that would allow him to stay in his newfound hometown. He created his business, Innovative Sales Advisors, where he contracts with large companies in OKC, Tulsa, and Wichita. He helps create effective sales strategies, provides training and recruiting tools, advises management teams, and more through Sales Xceleration. Being a member at momentumHQ has allowed him the freedom and flexibility for his business to succeed.
“When I first learned about momentumHQ, I knew I would use it, but I had no idea how much I would enjoy having a private office outside of my home. I feel productive, and I enjoy networking with the other members.”
-Vince Trotta
Forrest Bookkeeping: Cari Forrest
Cari has years of experience under her belt as a professional bookkeeper for companies across the nation, including many in Enid. Her business allows her the flexibility to work from home and she enjoys her office set up, however, she occasionally finds herself needing a place to meet with clients to go over their books. She has utilized coffee houses or restaurants as a place to conduct these meetings, which have been great, but there are times that she needs a little less public and a little more quiet for focused financial discussions. momentumHQ provides this space whenever she needs it by booking the conference room for a meeting or utilizing a day pass when she feels like getting out of the house for a few hours.
“The atmosphere at mHQ is very relaxing. I felt comfortable, which made my clients feel comfortable. I think because of the great vibe, we had a productive time. The price is the equivalent to hosting coffee or lunch.”
