One of my favorite Christmas books ever isn’t even technically a Christmas book –it’s actually a middle grade World War II story. But you’d certainly be hard-pressed to find a more precious, heart-warming Christmas scene in a book. A Place to Hang the Moon is author Kate Albus’s debut novel from 2021, and it is an utterly magical story with the most charming main characters.
William, Edmund, and Anna are three siblings who have been evacuated out of wartime London and sent to the countryside to stay with a family. William is the more mature sibling, out of necessity, with all the weight on his shoulders, while Edmund is the ornery, funny one, and Anna is the smart, adorable youngest one. They are first housed with the Forresters, but the host family’s conniving twin boys get the three unjustly kicked out. Next is Mrs. Griffith and her children, but it is an even more inhospitable place. As Christmas Eve comes around, William, Edmund, and Anna have no family to call upon and no home to spend the night in. Things are certainly not looking merry and bright – until the local librarian extends to the children more love and compassion than they’ve had in years.
No matter how many times you read A Place to Hang the Moon, it is just as beautiful and perfect every time. You will want to root for the three children from the very first page, and the final few chapters have all of the themes of the Christmas season – love and warmth and kindness.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of A Place to Hang the Moon today!
Honor someone you love with a donation made in their honor. Just fill out the quick, easy donate form at enidspca.org with your honoree’s information, and the ESPCA will send them an email or card about your thoughtful gift tribute. It makes an excellent gift for the animal lover in your circle.
Something for the Art Lovers:
Give the gift of a limited edition H.T. Holden ornament. This year’s ornament is titled “Just Waitin’ On Christmas” and is expected to arrive on December 20th. You can pick one up at the ESPCA office or mail it to you or your recipient. The ESPCA office also has several other years to choose from for immediate pickup in case you have an ornament exchange or gift event sooner. The ornaments range in price from $20 to $30. All proceeds go directly to help the ESPCA animals, and you can find out more at enidspca.org/holden-ornaments/.
Something for the Shelter Pets:
Put something under the tree at the ESPCA for a special “fur-friend”. The ESPCA has a lot of kennel dogs that love to play and chew. Super strong toys to occupy their time would help make their stay a little brighter. For the kitties, we have it on good authority that they would love treats and wand toys. You can see a complete shelter wish list at enidspca.org/wishlist/.
Something for the Whole Family:
Enjoy an extra family member and foster a pet for the holidays. The ESPCA furnishes the necessary supplies, and you provide the home and love. Start by filling out a foster application at enidspca.org/foster-a-pet. Short-term foster care gives an “adoptable” a much-needed break from the busy shelter life, and you can provide the ESPCA with photos or details to help your guest get a leg up on their future. Whether it’s a couple of days or a couple of weeks, the team can help you select a foster that fits your season plans. January is also a great time to foster. You can schedule ahead and then select a guest closer to the time.
Each of these holiday ideas helps to enrich the lives of shelter pets. Visit the ESPCA to learn more about the adoptable pets there and what they want for the holidays.
After a year that saw two of the Enid High School wrestlers (Carlos Alvarado, Shae Salinas) make the State tournament, and one (Alvarado) finishing on the podium in 4th, another year has begun, with a different, but still exciting season in store. While Alvarado is still improving his mat skills, now as a walk-on at Oklahoma State, Salinas is left to try to become a four-time state qualifier, and this time reach the podium herself. “After making the tournament last year, Shae wrestled a lot over the summer, did a lot of freestyle, so we expect big things from her,” said Head Coach Trent Holland.
As for the team in general, there is a lot to look forward to. “The season is still early,” said Holland, “we have some guys from last year that are making the move to the next level that we have been pleased with. Lot of areas we still need to clean up ad work on, but position wise we have made some good improvements from last year. We do have some decent experience, maybe one of the largest groups of seniors I’ve ever had, both girls and boys. We also have some good sophomores coming up, so it’s pretty balanced.”
As far as the senior leaders this year, in addition to Salinas, Steven Brooks, Payton Zweifel, Zach Fortner and Rhyan Rader will all be counted on to be examples for the rest of the team. “These seniors add a lot of value to the team, they have been around, they know the expectations, so it’s good to have a large group of seniors this year. Payton and Steven both almost made the state tournament last year and that’s certainly a realistic goal for them. They have the capability and tools if they work hard and wrestle well.” said Holland.
While the team is certainly counting on the seniors to score some points, several of the new, and young kids in the room are going to help the team out. “A lot of these kids are going to make some headway and are improving quickly. They are definitely going to push some people in the room and make the team better. A lot of them have previous wrestling experience, through the youth and junior high program, so they know our expectations. We are also hoping to add a large number of football players. The Head Football Coach is really pushing his guys into trying wrestling, so that will definitely add some numbers.”
As always in high school sports, you may lose some of the team stars and favorites every year, but new stars emerge. It will be exciting to see who steps up and takes the mantel this year for the Enid team.
Conte Matal was born on October 28, 1961, in Enid, OK to Linda Hess and Merrill Matal. He attended Highschool in Garber, OK and was salutatorian. Conte attended college at Phillips University in Enid. As a young child, Conte took a deep interest in film and acquired an 8mm Movie camera at the age of 13 and began filming short films and Claymation with his friends.
Conte has always wanted to work in the movie industry. He started in 1986 as a production assistant working on a low budget Horror movie starring John Wayne’s son, Patric Wayne. From there he propelled upward working on some huge Hollywood hits such as Rainman, Big Lebowski, Tombstone, The Doors, Rushmore, Charlie’s Angels, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Oblivion, The Conjuring 2 and many many more.
Conte has worked with such great actors as Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Tom Cruise, Harrison Ford, Adam Sandler, Mark Wahlberg, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Connelly, Brad Pitt and much more.
Through it all, Conte is widely considered among his colleagues as “one of the nice guys” he is humble, modest, kind and full of love.
When his mother got ill with Cancer, Conte moved from Los Angeles back to Enid, OK in 2013 where he resides today flying out to jobs and sometimes working 5-6 months away from home fulfilling a new project.
Conte has a giving heart and donates to charities including St. Jude, Red Cross, and local charities. Conte enjoys hikes and traveling with his wife Kristi and his dogs. He is big on family, and his son, Tyler, is a graduate from OSU in Stillwater.
Hello everyone! December’s Now Serving is what to do with those Thanksgiving leftovers, and a classy, easy drink to serve at any holiday party with or without alcohol! I present Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole and Cinnamon Hot Chocolate!
Thanksgiving Leftover Casserole – Serves 12
3 cups shredded turkey
4 cups mashed potatoes
2 cups turkey gravy
4 cups stuffing, prepared
1.5 cups cranberry sauce
2 cups corn
1/3 cup milk
1/4 cup chicken broth
1. Preheat oven to 400. Combine turkey and cranberry sauce, then spread evenly on the bottom of a 13×9 glass dish.
2. Evenly press on mashed potatoes, then sprinkle corn over the top.
3. Mix together milk and gravy, then spread over corn.
4. Sprinkle on the leftover stuffing, and lightly drizzle chicken broth over the top to prevent the stuffing from drying out.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until heated through.
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate – Makes 1 drink
1 Cinnamon stick
1 cup Hot Chocolate
Reddi Whip
1 oz Cinnamon Vodka
1/2 oz Vanilla Vodka 1. In a large heated mug, pour in hot chocolate, and add vodkas. Mix well with cinnamon stick, top with whipped cream.
Sydney JoLee Reigh was born September 30, 2011. She was an amazing, happy baby. She smiled all the time. In January of 2015, she was 3 1/2 years old and started to have excruciating headaches in the back of her head. She would cry and vomit and tell us it felt like someone was sticking a knife in the back of her head. Her Dad (Grant County Game Warden Marshall Reigh) made a video of one of the episodes, and I consulted Dr. Michael O’Quin. He ordered an MRI at OU Children’s Hospital in February of 2015. We found out that week that she had Chiari Malformation. Her brain was herniated into the base of her skull 22mm. On March 3, 2015, she had her first brain surgery. It was one of the hardest days of our lives. She would average a brain surgery every sixty-six days over the next five years. Thirty-Six brain surgeries would occur from that day to January of 2021. She is now twelve years old and in the sixth grade at Medford Public Schools. She enjoys learning, being the basketball manager, being a cheerleader, being in STUCO, fishing, and hunting.
I asked my little friend Syd a few questions:
“What made you want to start hunting?
Sydney: “I love spending time with my dad and my mom in the outdoors.”
“What’s your favorite thing about the hunt?”
Sydney: “Just being outdoors, spending time with my family hunting and fishing and learning to understand more about wildlife. My favorite animals to hunt are deer and turkeys. I love to hunt everything but those are my favorite. I also love to set traps with my dad.”
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
Sydney: “I want to be a pediatrician or a Pediatric RN. I feel like I could really help little kids that are struggling with their health or that are scared to go to the doctor.”
There you have it folks; the toughest kid I know. THIRTY-SIX BRAIN SURGERIES by the age of twelve, yet if you see her selling fruits and vegetables at the farmers market or running around at ballgames, you’d never know. This young lady has harvested more or better wildlife than many of you probably have. I know she has more than me. She’s also way tougher than me. Until next time Okies. . .
As this year comes to a close, it’s nice to look back on the year and everything it encompassed. Reflecting on life is a big key to growth and improvement, and it’s important to look back and celebrate each and every accomplishment of the year, no matter how big or small. It’s also nice to look at all you’ve done to help plan what you’re wanting to do and accomplish for the new year. As we approach Christmas, we wanted to highlight how important it is to shop locally, and that’s what this month’s cover story is all about. In addition to our cover story, Enid Monthly and participating local businesses have compiled a gift guide for you all. The gift guide includes discounts, coupons, and guides for your Christmas gift buying! So, be sure to check out the gift guide and use all of the discounts and coupons and be sure to shop locally. And, on behalf of us here at Enid Monthly, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
As the year shifts into the swing of the holidays, so does the shopping focus. No matter what the year has brought, we can all find a way to enjoy the holidays in our community.
Traveling around to locally owned businesses downtown and around Enid, there are plenty of shopping choices – for both new and used items.
Locally owned businesses pick the items and products they sell based on what they know you like and want. Small businesses carry a wider array of unique products because they buy for their own individual markets.
At small businesses, customers are able to find and even request products and services that are not typically offered at big box stores.
“Here you’re going to get the memories with stuff for sale,” said Amber Mercado, employee of Broadway Antiques and daughter of the owners. “You might see something that your grandma or mom had here.”
Whether shopping for a gift or for yourself, small businesses offer unique, curated items and services.
“When someone comes looking for something they really want, we put it on a list to send to vendors who can go out and find it,” said Mercado.
“Small business owners here are very kind. If there is not something in the store that you want, they’ll look for it and order it,” said Natalie Rapp, Executive Director of Main Street.
So, next time you’re looking for that plaid fuzzy jacket, a book, or a pair of sunglasses – look no further than a small business before you look at a big box store.
Though big box stores offer a greater quantity of selection, they miss an essential part of community and the small town feel that towns like Enid hope to maintain.
Shopping in a small store, then running into someone you know to chat or even ask shopping advice brings a whole new feeling to shopping. It feels personalized, said Lori Coonrod, Membership and Special Events Director at the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce.
“The cold feeling of department stores in a mall, often feels rushed or even stressed so that you don’t even enjoy it,” said Lori. “Here, with the local aspect of it, you can run down the street or leave your house for an hour or two and shop at the boutiques. It’s just a different feeling.”
When you shop at that boutique downtown or run at the local gym, your dollars are going to the family of the owner, its employees, and back into your community by way of taxes.
“We like to shop locally too,” said Tani Mahaffey, owner of Boho Teepee. “As you become a small business, you become more aware of how much you are supporting your community and their family members by buying from them.”
You contribute to the holiday spirit of giving when you give your business to a small shop.
“It’s not all about money,” said Patricia Case, employee of Boho Teepee. “Yeah, you can go to Ross to get that, but you don’t get that sense of relationship and community. I’m from California,” said Patricia. “You see boutiques but not like here, where you know the family, the employees. Here, you’re going to have a relationship with them.”
Tani said that having a relationship with her customers and the community allows her to be a bigger part of the community. Many customers have turned to friends that just come into the shop to just talk to us on good days and bad, said Tani.
“Anytime I question what I do, I remember them,” said Tani.
Patricia added, “They aren’t even buying anything! They just come in to feel that sense of community, warmth, and acceptance. It’s not just about making money; it’s about having a relationship and a sense of belonging. Life is more than just money.”
It’s no wonder that both regional and national organizations for profit and not, push for consumers to buy from small businesses.
Thirteen years ago, Small Business Saturday was born. The holiday is on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, and it was created to help small businesses gain exposure and to inspire consumers to shop within their own communities during the holiday season. This year, it’s on November 25.
Why buy your holiday gifts around town?
Shopping Small is investing in your local economy
Small businesses give back to their community
Shoppers will find customized service and special items
Sales Tax money is used to support public schools, parks, roads, and sidewalks, as well as fund public service workers. When you support a local business, you’re also supporting your town, city, and neighborhood by way of paying sales tax.
“Facing economic uncertainty and high inflation, many small businesses are feeling the pressure to have a strong quarter before the colder, slower months of winter to come. It is even more important this year to support small businesses and fuel a strong economy,” according to the U.S Department of Commerce.
Small businesses give back by staying, growing, and shopping in their local market. Raising a family here, spending, volunteering, donating time, money, and services – all done by small business owners and customers to help keep each other and their community going.
Small towns like Enid that have shrunk or lost their downtowns, have lost an essential part of a town’s community. If we don’t keep that alive, ours will go away too, said Patricia.
“If you don’t get out into the community, you don’t know what a great community we have,” said Tani. “It’s excellent if you’re out looking for it.”
Nearly all small business owners agree that community engagement is important for their business—and are actively engaged in giving back in several ways—including hosting or sponsoring community events, donating to local charities, and forming partnerships with other local businesses, according to the U.S. Chamber.
Many Enid businesses work in conjunction with each other, supplying each other with goods and services, but also providing support and referrals. With a strong small business network, downtown and other mom and pops businesses will be able to remain open.
“Enid has worked hard to present promotions throughout the years that encourage people to keep their holiday dollars at home, downtown and beyond.” said Lori Coonrod, Membership and Special Events Director at the Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce.
There will be a few special shopping holidays in December locally. The events are put on by Main Street Enid running from 6-9 p.m.
December 8 – a Downtown ‘Sip, Snack, and Shop’
December 15 – Christmas Carol Crawl
Businesses will have different musical groups in their shops playing while you shop.
“I would say that shopping in Enid is an experience,” said Natalie Rapp, Executive Director of Main Street Enid. “It’s got a community feel. Everybody is extremely nice and wants to provide that holiday experience.” “It’s a hallmark movie here during Christmas time, and it’s wonderful,” said Natalie.
One of this year’s Sequoyah books for kiddos is the young adult version of Adam Makos’s 2020 release, Spearhead. Makos has taken the story and individuals from the popular adult version and turned it into a narrative non-fiction book for teenagers. It spans from September 1944 to April 1945 following the Americans, primarily Clarence Smoyer, of Easy Company, and Gustav Schaefer and his 2nd Company of Germans as they battle across Europe.
For Clarence, the book begins with his unit fighting in Belgium and advancing toward Germany. Clarence is a tank gunner, and it turns out he is an exceptional shot. Time and time again the men in his tank will rely on him to act quickly and decisively to save their lives. For Gustav, a tank crewman, his company is moving from Luxembourg to Germany to defend the town of Cologne. The two men square off in a crucial battle there, before the Americans move on to capture Paderborn, Germany, and its critical rail yards and air fields. There are numerous secondary characters as well, like Buck Marsh, Chuck Miller, and Rolf Millitzer, and they all have interesting backgrounds and roles too.
For this reviewer, Spearhead wasn’t polished enough. There were inconsistencies in descriptions – did the train “go right past [Gustav’s] farm” or did he have to “pedal his bicycle far from home to watch” them? – as well as a seemingly carefree method of formatting in the text itself. But if I put my qualms aside, I do think it’s a good book for the Sequoyah list, and I can see why it was chosen. It’s a really interesting story of military history that can hold the attention of young adults and show them some of what our veterans went through. Plus, the final chapter tells of Clarence and Gustav actually meeting up decades later, and it is certainly the best, most heartwarming part of the book.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Spearhead today!
Your heart is a critical organ – the rest of your body depends on it. It is at the center of your cardiovascular system and is responsible for pumping blood around the body to send oxygen and nutrients where they are needed and to carry away unwanted waste products.
“Understanding the health of your heart is important because heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death in the United States, according to the American Heart Association ®(AHA),” said Lior Shamai, DO, a cardiologist with St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. “The heart is the organ that keeps your body running. Recognizing that can inspire you to keep it healthy.”
The cardiovascular team at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center is here to help, from prevention and education, to diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation. We offer award-winning, comprehensive services you need to get your heart health on track.
Is Heart Disease Hereditary?
“If you have a family history of heart disease, you may be at higher risk for having heart issues,” added Dr. Shamai. “Many different types of heart disease can be passed down through families. Some are caused by just one or a few genetic changes that have a very strong effect in causing disease.”
Known as monogenic conditions, they include uncommon disorders that mostly affect the heart’s muscle (such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy) or electrical system (such as long QT syndrome). Another example is familial hypercholesterolemia, which causes very high cholesterol levels and may lead to premature coronary artery disease (occurring before age 50).
In addition, you can have an elevated risk for cardiovascular disease if you have family members with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol, which can have genetic predisposition. Still, family history is just one component of your overall risk for developing cardiovascular disease.
Heart Attack Awareness: What You May Not Know
When you think about cardiac care, a heart attack may be the first thing to come to mind. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that every 40 seconds, an American adult has a heart attack.
Senior man athlete having heart problems during exercise
“One mistake people make is delaying medical treatment when they experience potential heart attack symptoms,” noted Dr. Shamai. “Most heart attack symptoms start slow and mild. It’s important to understand that men and women may experience different symptoms.”
Men often (but not always) experience what are known as “classic” signs of a heart attack:
• Discomfort in the center of the chest that feels like pressure, squeezing or fullness that goes away, yet returns
• Chest discomfort along with fainting, lightheadedness, shortness of breath or nausea
• Pain that spreads to the neck, shoulders, or arms
In addition to a milder form of the “classic” symptoms, others (women) may also experience:
• Shortness of breath/difficulty breathing
• Back or jaw pain
• Nausea, vomiting or dizziness
• Palpitations, paleness, or cold sweats
• Mild, flu-like symptoms
• Unexplained anxiety, fatigue, or weakness
How Do I Know if I am at Risk for Heart Disease?
Ask your doctor about cardiovascular health screening tests. The most important indicators for cardiovascular health are blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels. High blood pressure may indicate that your heart is working too hard to pump blood to your body, potentially damaging your blood vessels. High blood sugar can also contribute to damage to blood vessels. Meanwhile, high cholesterol indicates a risk of fatty deposit buildups in your arteries, which can lead to blockages.
Smoking, family history and body weight are also indicators for cardiovascular disease. Talk to your doctor to help monitor and manage these risk factors.
Advanced Heart Attack Care
Through a web-based data network, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center paramedics in the field can communicate with hospital staff to help improve heart attack outcomes while patients are on their way to the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED). This enables doctors to determine the best care protocols and have staff prepared before the patient arrives.
The cardiac care teams offer advanced diagnostic testing, noninvasive and invasive treatments, cardiac rehabilitation and preventive education about congestive heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, and peripheral vascular disease.
After a Heart Attack… What’s Next?
It’s important to lower the likelihood of future heart problems or related death. The Change of Heart Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at St. Mary’s offers a patient-centered program that emphasizes a personalized approach to recovery through exercise, education, and encouragement.
The team of healthcare professionals includes cardiologists, registered nurses, exercise specialists and dietitians. And as many people who’ve participated in these programs can attest, it can help you feel better physically and emotionally and give you greater control over your health.
If you or a loved one experience signs of a possible heart attack, call 9-1-1 or get to the nearest emergency room.
Learn more about cardiac services at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center at www.stmarysregional.com/cardiology.
Source: American Heart Association®
Physicians are on the medical staff of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, but, with limited exceptions, are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center. The hospital shall not be liable for actions or treatments provided by physicians. For language assistance, disability accommodations and the nondiscrimination notice, visit our website.
