Author: Lisa See Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Book Store
Do you like historical fiction but want a break from World War II Europe? Author Lisa See’s newest novel, Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, is set in 15th-century China and is inspired by the true story of a woman doctor, Tan Yunxian. See’s prior two books were The Island of Sea Women and The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane, and this one is just as incredible, if not more so. The book is structured in four parts, for the four stages of a woman’s life – Milk Days, Hair-Pinning Days, Rice-and-Salt Days, and Sitting Quietly – and it comes in at the perfect length of 340 pages.
We meet young Yunxian at the age of eight, as she’s being taught about a woman’s place in Chinese culture and as she’s enduring the practice of foot binding. When her mother dies due to an infection, Yunxian is sent to live with her grandparents, who introduce her to Chinese medicine and the ways to help heal others. After an arranged marriage at age 15, though, when Yunxian goes to live with her husband’s family, her mother-in-law strictly forbids her from helping others, believing that that task belongs solely to a male doctor. As women realize, though, that only Yunxian knows firsthand what they’re going through, and as word of her secret cures reach farther and farther, she can’t help but treat those who call upon her. Furthermore, when a smallpox outbreak happens, the male doctor is nowhere to be found – only Yunxian has the compassion and courage to jump into action to save her family and household.
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women is an utterly fascinating book in so many aspects. There’s the details of Chinese medicine and the use of certain herbs and concoctions. There’s the social hierarchy that governed every aspect of life. There’s the countless barriers that Yunxian and other women faced and had to overcome. There’s the beautiful friendships that carried the women through good times and bad. This book is such a change in terms of time and place from other works of historical fiction out now, and it really is just an enthralling read.
Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Lady Tan’s Circle of Women today!
September 1-October 20 10 am-5 pm Tuesday-Saturday This is how we Rebuilt Exhibit Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.)
September 1 6- 9 pm First Friday | Speakeasy September Downtown Enid
6:30 pm NW OK Walk for Hope Downtown Enid
7 pm Live Music: TBD Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
7 pm Travis Ledoyt: Elvis Impersonator Stride Bank Center Grand Ballroom (301 S. Independence)
September 2 8 am-12 pm Rowdy Stickhorse Farmers Market Rowdy Stickhorse (626 S. Hoover)
8 am-3 pm Ski Lake/Red Bird Farm Triathlon Red Bird Farm (8812 N. US Hwy 81)
11 am-3 pm History Alive! Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.) Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893
7 pm Live Music: TBD Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
8 pm – 11 pm Live Music: Country Vault Band Moose Lodge (302 E. Purdue)
9 pm Superhero Night Party! RED (302 E. Maple) Costume Contest for cash prize, Superhero themed cocktails, all real life heroes get in free, Firefighters, Police, EMS, Teachers, Military
September 3 9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 5 6 pm Singo Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
September 6-10 Garfield County Free Fair Garfield County Fairgrounds (111 W. Purdue)
September 6 7:30 pm Trivia Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph)
9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 7 6 pm Trivia Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
September 8 6:30 pm Glow on Main Street | Awards & Fundraising Gala Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)
September 9 8 am-12 pm Rowdy Stickhorse Farmers Market Rowdy Stickhorse (626 S. Hoover)
10 am-5 pm Wedding Expo Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)
7 pm Live Music: Jake Bowers Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue)
7:30 pm Auto Racing: Sooner Late Models Enid Speedway (312 E. Oxford)
7:30 pm Live Music: Drink 182 Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph)
8 pm – 11 pm Live Music: Rich Rodriguez Moose Lodge (302 E. Purdue)
8 pm Live Music: Backstage Pass Pheasant Run Golf Club (1702 Clubhouse Dr.)
9 pm Customer Appreciation Celebration! RED (302 E. Maple) Free Cover, Free Food!
September 10 6 pm Live Music: Scott Ryan & The Devilish Folk The Alibi (224 W. Broadway)
9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 11 7 pm Garfield County Free Fair Premium Sale Chisholm Trail Expo Center (111 W. Purdue)
September 12 6 pm Singo Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
September 13 7:30 pm Trivia Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph)
9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 14 6 pm Trivia Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
9 pm Open Mic Night RED (302 E. Maple) Calling all singers, artists, poets, musicians
September 15-16 Cherokee Strip Days Downtown Enid
September 15-17 8 pm 30th Annual Shakespeare in the Park: Hamlet Government Springs Park (509 W. Oklahoma)
September 15 7 pm Football: Enid vs. Edmond North (Homecoming) Selby Stadium (801 W. Iowa)
7:30 pm Live Music: Ian Munsick Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)
September 16 11 am-3 pm History Alive! Cherokee Strip Regional Heritage Center (507 S. 4th St.) Re-enactment characters portray life at the time of the Cherokee Strip Land Run of 1893
12 pm -11 pm Anniversary Party Happy’s Place-Chicaros (117 W. Oxford) Revolt, Borrowed Time, Knight Rider, Robert Allen and more!
7:30 pm Enid Symphony Orchestra Presents Flipside: The Patti Page Story Enid Symphony Center (301 W. Broadway)
9 pm Live Music: Scott Ryan and the Devilish Folk Live P&T’s (408 N. Independence)
9 pm Emo Night Party! RED (302 E. Maple)
September 17 9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 19 6 pm Singo Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
September 20 7:30 pm Trivia Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph)
9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 21 6 pm Trivia Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
September 22-23 5 pm-8 am Camping in the Park Meadowlake Park (1200 W. Rupe) Free, reservations required by Sept. 19 through Parks & Recreation Department
September 22 7 pm Live Music: David Phelps Emmanuel Enid (2505 W. Garriott)
7 pm Football: Enid vs. Jenks Selby Stadium (801 W. Iowa)
7 pm Live Comedy: Jon Carden, Trever Carreon & Andrew Rose Gaslight Theatre (221 N. Independence)
9-11 pm Micro Wrestling Federation CW Scooters (3630 N. Van Buren)
September 23 7:30-10 am Breakfast Fly-In Woodring Regional Airport (1026 S. 66th St.)
10 am-1 pm Fundraiser: 4RKIDS Walk 4RKids (710 Overland Trail)
9 pm Tik Tok Dance Party! RED (302 E. Maple)
September 24 9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 26 6 pm Singo Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
September 27 7:30 pm Trivia Settlers Brewing Co. (202 E. Randolph)
9 pm Karaoke RED (302 E. Maple)
September 28 6 pm Trivia Enid Brewing Co. (126 S. Independence)
September 29
September 30-October 1 8 am – 4:30 pm Blue Thumb Training for Stream Protection Volunteers Autry Technology Center (1201 W. Willow) For more information visit www.bluethumbok.com
September 30 9 am-5 pm Red Bird Farm Harvest Market Red Bird Farm (8812 N. US Hwy. 81)
10 am-5 pm The Market Fall Craft Show Stride Bank Center (301 S. Independence)
11 am-2 pm Redeemer Lutheran Oktoberfest Redeemer Lutheran Church (215 S. Cleveland)
3 pm-11 pm Live Music: Fling at the Springs Government Springs Park North (509 E. Oklahoma)
7 pm The Beach Boys Stride Bank Center (302 S. Grand)
Have you heard about Cans 4 Change? The ESPCA collects aluminum drinking cans to recycle them. The cans help raise money to fund SNIP, ESPCA’s low-cost spay/neuter program. This program is income-based with a sliding scale for the co-pay. In 2023, the ESPCA has done over 500 spay and neuter surgeries, administered 1090 vaccines, and done 134 microchips for the public. SNIP helps by preventing unwanted litters that will impact the shelters later on. There is a waitlist with the high community demand for this critical service, but the ESPCA and the medical team work hard to get in as many surgeries as possible each month. You can be a part of making a difference by donating your aluminum drinking cans.
There are four convenient locations:
ESPCA
1116 Overland Trail
Tractor Supply
4010 W Owen K Garriott Rd
Groom Closet Pet Center
2005 W Chestnut Ave
Park Avenue Thrift
507 S Grand Ave
Pull right up to any of the bins and toss your bag of aluminum drinking cans in, knowing you’ve done a good thing to help the animals and your community. At the Park Avenue Thrift location, they will even take your cans at their donation drop-off. This location is excellent if you have difficulty tossing the bag in the bin’s top.
The ESPCA team has been excited about the impact the cans have made. In August, the Cans 4 Change program added up to $709.30. The dollar amount varies each month, but the ESPCA stretches every dollar, so with the community donations toward Spay It Forward, Cans 4 Change, and a generous grant from Park Avenue Thrift Enid, the program is still going strong in the second half of 2023. For more information about SNIP, click the “programs” link at enidspca.org. You’ll find the details as well as the 2023 pricing.
The ESPCA’s mission is to provide compassionate care to companion animals awaiting adoption. Their hope is to provide beneficial services to people to champion the human/animal bond. Want to add a new family member to your home? All ESPCA pet adoptions include a spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, and a microchip. The small adoption fee of $85 to $125 means your pet will be off to a great start on the “right paw”! You can see more adoptable pets at enidspca.org/adopt and even complete your application online.
Lindy Chambers graduated from Enid High School in 1967. Soon after graduating, she met the love of her life John, and they were married in 1968. Lindy was a preacher’s wife, and that was her main focus while her 2 children were at home. After her kids went on to start their own lives, Lindy began her career and volunteerism in 1994. She has always had a heart for Enid, and this is what stemmed her several years of making Enid a better place. Lindy started her volunteer work in 1994 with Main Street Enid. She quickly realized how much she loved the Main Street mission, and her volunteer work would later become her career when she became the Main Street Director from 2001-2012 where she also managed Cherokee Strip Conference Center. She spoke at multiple state and national Main Street Conventions & won the state Main Street manager of the year in 2012. She was a huge part of Enid Lights Up the Plains from its conception and she and her husband John worked tirelessly to make the event a success.
Even a full-time job could not keep Lindy from helping the community in numerous ways. Lindy was the Garfield County Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator from 1996 to 2001. She did a Pegasys show called For Your Own Safety and worked closely with the EFD in developing the child fire safety mobile house for educating young people about the danger of fires. She served as a Chamber Ambassador on United Way committees, on the Enid Community Band Committee with Doc Bryant, committee chair of the Art District Board, and on the Enid First committee.
She was an advocate for Leonardo’s Children’s Museum construction, Kites over Enid, and was emcee for Fling at the Springs for several years. She was a member of the Enid Rotary Club starting in 2005 and was active on the board. She provided live color commentary for the Cherokee Strip parade on Pegasys. She was a participant in a VIP trip to Valdosta Georgia airbase with other Enid dignitaries in 2004. She was named honorary commander for Vance Air Force Base in 2010, and She was also a graduate of the Oklahoma Leadership Arts Council in 2010. She was a past president of the Interracial Women’s Club. She was a graduate of LGE class VIII and secretary of the LGE Board. She served on the March of Dimes board, Greater Enid Arts and Humanities, Metropolitan Area Planning Commission, Enid Convention and Visitors Bureau & Enid Chamber of Commerce and was a Pillar of the Plains Nominee in 2017.
In her retirement, she is discovering ways to enjoy life on her own after losing her dear husband John unexpectedly in 2022. They were married for 54 wonderful years. She loves spending time with her grandkids whenever possible and making new creations in the kitchen. She will forever be Enid’s biggest advocate with her favorite saying being “80% of success is showing up.” Because she has shown up for decades, Lindy Chambers is a true Local Legend.
September is National Self-Care Awareness Month, and it’s a time to remind ourselves of just how important our own health and well-being is. Whether you take a walk, get a massage, or do some meditating, make sure you carve out some time for yourself this month! According to Healthy Lifestyle Florida, only 6.6% of Americans 25 years of age and older practice health-related self-care every day. You are the only individual entirely responsible for yourself, so why aren’t you one of your own priorities? If you don’t take care of you, who will?
Self-care can be a combination of many different things, but regardless of how you practice self-care, it’s important, nonetheless. America’s Best Care Plus states, “To be clear, self-care is far more than a trending marketing tool. It’s actually an essential lifestyle choice that involves prioritizing things that keep you healthy in mind and body. When done correctly, self-care isn’t about buying products or selfishly indulging – it’s about setting healthy boundaries, making healthy choices, and preventing negative consequences of stress and self-neglect.” What works for one individual might not work for another individual, and that’s okay. What’s important is that you find what works for you.
Self-care is an accumulation of many different things that differ for each person. Your mental health comprises of your psychological, social, and emotional well-being, and your physical health also plays a part as well. Per the National Institute of Mental Health, “It affects how we think, feel, act, make choices, and relate to others.” It’s important to recognize that many people don’t intentionally mean to neglect themselves – it’s unfortunately just one of those things that can happen. Life gets busy, work needs your attention, your efforts are put into your relationships, or you simply procrastinate for another day. However, some self-care practices can be as simple as taking 5-10 minutes to write in a gratitude journal or taking a couple of minutes to meditate while your food finishes cooking. Whatever it may be, it’s important that you make a little time for yourself each day.
Taking time for yourself doesn’t mean you’re taking time from the other aspects of your life. If you’re running on half empty, what do you think you’re giving back to the other aspects of your life? Self-care may be about taking care of yourself, but that doesn’t mean you have to do it by yourself. For many people, a big form of self-care is spending time with family and friends because laughter and joy are good outlets, and you deserve to enjoy the little things.
The National Institute of Mental Health lists 8 practices that can help get you started with self-care:
Get Regular Exercise.
Eat regularly healthy meals and stay hydrated.
Make sleep a priority.
Try relaxing activities.
Set priorities, goals, and boundaries.
Practice gratitude and appreciation.
Focus on the positives.
Stay connected.
The list above contains practices that can help get you started, but that list is not all inclusive. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works for you, so be sure to find what you enjoy and need for yourself. We’re often hard on ourselves and hold ourselves to higher standards than we do others, but it’s important to remember to be kind, patient, compassionate, and forgiving with yourself. Your relationship with yourself is just as important as your relationships with your loved ones – prioritize you the way you prioritize them.
To further dive into the topic of self-care, we sat down with some of the members in our community to see what self-care means to them and what their self-care practices include. We also asked them for any recommendations or services they may offer to better one’s self-care.
We sat down with Shaye Reilly from Alpha Assessment and Counseling to discuss what self-care is like for her. Shaye is a licensed professional counselor, and she is certified in trauma, grief and loss, and children and adolescents. She states, “Adopting self-care into your daily routine is important for your physical and mental health. The goal of self-care is to help you learn about your needs by recognizing patterns and areas of your life that need attention.” For her, self-care includes spending time with her family, traveling, laughing, exercising, staying in, praying, and volunteering her time to others. Her agency encourages self-care to assist in many aspects of one’s life. She states, “Research suggests self-care promotes positive health results such as increased physical health, resilience, longer life spans, and developing better avenues to manage stress.” The benefits of caring for yourself are vast and wide, but the one thing that never changes is the fact that it improves your life in one capacity or another. Certain practices will improve certain areas, and that’s why it’s up to you to determine what areas need improved and what practices will improve your desired area. Self-care is not universal, and that is why it’s so important to figure out what exactly does work for you. Therapy is one of the many avenues of self-care, and if you’re interested in taking that avenue, Alpha Assessment and Counseling is a great facility to look into!
Kaelyn Hedges is an RN BSN, and she currently runs and owns ReVitalize IV Wellness, LLC. She’s a mobile IV infusion nurse, and she’s based here in Enid, OK. Her company is all about feeling good and bettering yourself, so self-care is something she’s well-versed in. For her, self-care is all about doing anything that makes you feel good about yourself and more confident. She states, “Working out, growing my mind, and bettering myself is where a lot of my confidence comes from. I wasn’t a confident person until I started working on myself.” She mentions that she reads of a lot of self-improvement books, and she said one of her favorite self-improvement books is ‘Winning the War in Your Mind: Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life’ by Craig Groeschel. She goes on to say that self-care is important because “You want to feel good about yourself, and you want to love yourself because if you’re not taking care of yourself, you can’t take care of others.” When referring to her IV Infusions, Kaelyn says, “They’re good for skin health and brain health, and they help with focusing.” They help with clearing up any brain fog, and they can help boost your immune system and energy. She has different options when it comes to her treatments, so her clients pick what they need at that moment or what works best for them. Her infusions target different areas and have different intentions, and her treatments deliver different combinations of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins into the bloodstream, which allows for quicker and more significant results. Whether you need an energy boost, some hydration, a confidence boost, or a reboot from a hangover the night before, ReVitalize IV Wellness, LLC has options for you. These options are another avenue for self-care right here in Enid, and Kaelyn is bringing IV therapy to you directly. Treat yourself and look her up on Instagram @revitalizeivwellnessenid for more information.
We also sat down with Meagan Lippard to talk with her about self-care. Meagan owns Blossom Beauty Bar PLLC, and her clinic has one goal, “to make aesthetic treatments effective, safe, and affordable for every woman and man.” Her clinic focuses on aesthetically pleasing services, and these services also benefit your well-being. Taking care of yourself externally reflects internally because if you look good, you tend to feel good. For her own self-care practices, Meagan likes to focus on her skincare and exercising. She states, “Self-care is doing anything for yourself that makes you feel better or puts you in a better mood.” Her clinic offers a wide variety of services that are forms of self-care for many. Whether you’re wanting Botox, chemical peels, filler, microneedling, dermaplaning, or skin care, Blossom Beauty Bar PLLC has options for you to choose from that’ll make you feel good about yourself. Meagan says, “Many people come to me for Botox because they feel like they look tired, so they want something that’ll make them look refreshened, and that’s taking care of themselves.” She continues with “Self-care is important because you have to take care of yourself before you can take care of others. Be intentional with your time and set time aside for yourself.” As a mom, Meagan often puts the needs of her loved ones above her own, which many can relate to. As she said, it’s important to be intentional with your time. Prioritizing yourself and your needs doesn’t mean you’re neglecting the needs of your loved ones – it simply means you’re making time for you, which we all need to do. If you’re interested in any of the many services offered by Blossom Beauty Bar PLLC or Meagan, give them a call for more information!
Dia Metcalf is a Licensed Massage Therapist at Connected Wellness LLC, and we also sat down with her to get her take on self-care. For her, self-care is all about her body, mind, and spirit – it’s about taking care of herself inside and out. For her own self-care practices, she goes and gets a massage about every 2 weeks. In addition to massages, she also prioritizes her health as a form of self-care. She gets regular checkups, and those checkups help her determine the areas of her life that need extra attention or more care. The checkups teach her more about herself, and that allows her to better herself by making changes and improvements to her day-to-day life. Dia says, “I try to listen to my body because we’re the only ones who know our bodies, and we’re the only ones responsible for ourselves.” She goes on to say, “People think self-care is a luxury, but you have to do it repeatedly to get the progress that you’re wanting.” Getting a massage once a year isn’t going to give you the same benefits as taking care of yourself weekly or even every other week. She believes that massages are one of the most effective forms of self-care because massages do so much for everything in the body. Massages affect your lymphatic system and nervous system, and it helps keep your muscles loose. Massages can also relieve stress and help with depression, anxiety, and blood pressure. She states, “Massages are very helpful for every part of your body. When you receive a massage, it releases endorphins and dopamine, and it makes you happier.” Dia recommends massages as the number 1 form of self-care because of all of the benefits it encompasses. If you’re looking to get a massage, Connected Wellness LLC is here in town, and Dia is absolutely wonderful. Visit their website or give them a call for more information!
Self Care Isn’t Selfish Signage
The world we currently live in is full of stress inducing trials and tribulations, and that’s exactly why it’s so important to take some time for yourself. Mental Health First Aid states, “Engaging in a self-care routine has been clinically proven to reduce or eliminate anxiety and depression, reduce stress, increase happiness, and more. It can help you adapt to changes, build strong relationships, and recover from setbacks.” Simply put, practicing self-care can better your overall quality of life. In that same article, the listed benefits of self-care include enhanced self-confidence, increased productivity, and increased happiness. Other benefits listed include reduced risk of heart disease, cancer, and strokes. The benefits are evident – now it’s time to take care of yourself and experience those benefits firsthand.
With September being National Self-Care Awareness month, it brings attention to things we tend to neglect, space off, or forget. It allows you the time to refocus and reprioritize different aspects of your life, and after reading this article, hopefully your own well-being is one of those things being prioritized. Life is hard enough as is, so remember to be kind and forgiving with yourself, and remember it’s okay not to be okay. Today is just another day – tomorrow will be a different day. Take care of yourself, and tomorrow’s already on track to being a better day.
Created by John Browning (a gunsmith and firearms designer in the late 1800s, early 1900s) the 1911 handgun has withheld the changing of the times as one of the most sought-after handguns still today. Used by the United States military for decades, the firearm has proven to be tough, reliable and well, simply beautiful.
Sometimes called the “Lord’s caliber,” the .45 was known to have tremendous “stopping power.” Designed by several different companies from several companies, the gun ranges anywhere from a few hundred dollars up into the thousands.
What do I like best about the 1911 you ask (pretend you did, even if you didn’t ask)? The large frame, multiple caliber options and total balance. Reliability and accuracy are also adjectives I’d say adequately describes a 1911. I read that the original 1911 Colt fired over 600 rounds during the “test” program, dunked in water, cleaned, and oiled every 1000 rounds without any issues regarding performance.
Regarding maintenance, no tools are required to strip it down to its components. While some complain the “newer” 1911 isn’t as reliable as the originals, personally I’ve had zero issues with any of mine. I own several Springfield A-1s, a few Colts (probably my favorite), Rock Island, Kimber, Glocks and a Para Ordnance. I have a steel silhouette at my property where I can often be found practicing or better yet, relieving stress after a stressful day at work. I’d suggest that of all the handguns I own I’m most proficient with a 1911. While too large for my everyday carry, it’s always a good time to simply fire some brass down the range.
Jeff Cooper, a United States Marine and known as the creator of the “modern technique” of handgun shooting once said “The 1911 pistol remains the service pistol of choice in the eyes of those who understand the problem. Back when we audited the FBI academy in 1947, I was told that I ought not to use my pistol in their training problem because it was fair. Maybe the first thing one should demand of his sidearm is that it be unfair.” I couldn’t have said it any better.
The start of school is an exciting time of year. As students head back to the classroom, it is important that they are up to date on their immunizations.
Rebecca D. Lewis, DO, FACOFP, the Chief Medical Officer at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, talks about the importance of vaccines and which ones should be completed prior to the start of school.
Why are vaccinations important?
Vaccinations protect students from diseases and help keep them healthy. On-time vaccinations help provide immunity before children are exposed to potentially life-threatening diseases. Vaccines are tested to ensure that they are safe and effective for children to receive at the recommended ages.
Which vaccinations do my kids require?
Kindergarten students, ages 4-6, should receive these vaccines: DTaP (a booster for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, also known as whooping cough), polio, and a second dose of the MMRV vaccine, which addresses measles, mumps, rubella and varicella, better known as chickenpox.
Students entering seventh grade, ages 11-12, should receive: Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster) and a first dose for meningitis (MenACWY).
Students ages 11-16 should receive the second dose of the meningitis vaccine (MenACWY). They are also eligible for an HPV vaccination (Gardisil). At age 16, students can receive the first dose of a second meningitis vaccine (MenB), which is highly recommended for any child who will be in a large group situation such as living in a dormitory or participating in team sports.
Annual flu vaccinations are important and typically available September of each year.
Please talk to your child’s physician about any questions on vaccinations.
Doctor giving a vaccination shot to a patient
What are the recommendations for the COVID vaccine for children?
For the best protection, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older. A booster, which is updated to impede the most common strain of the virus, might prevent your child from getting COVID-19 or becoming seriously ill or hospitalized. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine can help your child more safely participate in sports and other group activities, too.
Does insurance cover vaccinations?
Most insurances cover scheduled vaccinations. If you don’t have health insurance, or if it does not cover vaccines, there are programs that may offer financial help.
To make an appointment with one of the pediatricians at St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, call our Physician Referral Service at 580-249-3741.
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.
“Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” Just mosey out to the garden and snip a couple of tomatoes and cucumbers for supper, perhaps a few fried squash. Nothing better than fresh-from-your-own-garden vegetables. Unless there was no time to plant your garden this spring.
Fortunately, in Oklahoma we have several growing opportunities for vegetables. In fact, historically, right here in the Cherokee Strip Land Outlet fall turnips were what many settlers survived on that first winter! If you don’t like turnips, there are many other fall vegetables that you can plant right now for a cool weather harvest.
If you want to start with some seedlings for vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, kale or kohlrabi, remember to harden them off a bit first. They need reduced water and exposure to sun for three to five days before transplanting. Many vegetables can also be started as seeds. Seeds will sprout based on the hours of sun, rather than the temperature. These hot days of intense sun in August may be a bit much for these tender newbies, so they need shade when first planted. Additionally, using a drip line or ground irrigation, rather than a sprinkler will help keep the soil temperature a cooler so as not to cook the seeds or roots. Be sure to add a layer of mulch on top of both seeds and seedlings to maintain the moisture and provide another barrier to the intensity of sun and heat.
According to Oklahoma State University Extension Office, many of these plants can be started at the beginning of August. Be sure to provide some shade, such as screen wire strips or shade cloth to cover the rows. This will also moderate soil temperature and moisture. Some vegetables may be started in a seed flat, setting them in small containers for a month and then transplanting them into the garden when the nights are a bit cooler. A few vegetables that benefit from this kind of handling are broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, Chinese cabbage and leaf lettuce. Other vegetables that grow best by direct seeding into the ground in mid-August are bush beans, Lima beans, beets, carrots, and cucumbers. These will take about two to two and a half months to mature from planting to harvest. Be sure to soak the seeds overnight before planting. Other vegetable seeds that may be planted anytime up until mid-September for fall harvest are green peas, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, Swiss chard, mustard, and the Oklahoma staple – turnips. Many of these will be ready to harvest in as early as 50 days, but most will take up to two months.
The best thing about the root vegetables is that many can stay in the ground through a frost. Frost will improve the flavor content for rutabagas, turnips and parsnips. Leafy vegetables such as kale, kohlrabi, collards, leaf lettuce and turnip greens can also be planted in cold frames to extend their growing season past the first frost.
The key to planting a fall vegetable garden is keeping the starter plants cool and hydrated in the late Oklahoma summer heat. Just like people, summertime livin’ can be easy for plants, with shade and a cool drink in hand during that hot part of the day.
Ten years ago, if you told Oklahoma Bible Academy Head Coach Christopher Cayot he’d be in his 5th year coaching at a private Christian school, he’d have thought you were crazy. But even though he spent 22 years coaching at places like Fairview and Laverne, he is extremely happy he made the choice to head up a program like OBA. “Even though the communities I previously coached in were supportive of faith, it’s not really the same thing as at a place like OBA. We are free to talk about our lives, and our beliefs openly and don’t have to worry it might turn someone off or get you in trouble,” Cayot said. “And especially here at OBA, the approach from the school board, to the administration, to the other coaches, is all about focusing on faith, character and especially living out that faith publicly that really attracted me to the school, but has kept me here. My assistant coaches, especially, do so much for both the program, but more importantly care for and mentor our young men. This is the exact kind of place I want my kids to be raised in, and be able to coach. Winning games is important, of course, but the school really cares more about winning at life, and that’s a place I want to be.”
And while they have been winning at building great students of high character, they have been winning on the field too. After going 6-5 and 7-5 Cayot’s first two years while playing 11 man football in Class A, the decision was made to drop to Class B, where they play the 8 man version. “Our school numbers would have allowed us to drop at anytime,” Coach Cayot said, “and we really tried to make a go of 11 man, but we looked around after a few injuries, or a kid or two moving out, and we just didn’t have the bodies to compete. It’s been a really good decision for us and after a year of competing independent, we really had a great year last year.” And a great year it was – as the Trojans finished the regular season 10-0 for maybe the only time in history. “After going 10-0 in the regular season, we had a pretty good playoff run, and finished the year 13-1, losing in the semifinals to Seiling, who we beat earlier in the year,” Cayot said.
And while OBA graduated several excellent Seniors off that special team, Coach Cayot expects this year’s team to challenge for championships as well. “Yeah, we lost some really good players, but we still have some guys that were really good last year, and we have some guys that we expect to step up too. After last season, everyone’s expectations have been raised, so we got to show them what we can do. We are going to look a lot different than last year on offense, since we had a QB that could really throw the ball, but I think we can run the ball effectively, even when the other team knows what we are doing. We just have to work hard and get there.”
And the way there will start with Senior Jud Cheatham, last year’s team leading rusher, and all district running back. “Jud will play some QB for us this year, because he’s our best runner. He’s also a leader on defense at free safety, and a really good tackler,” says Cayot. Snapping the ball will be Senior center, Harrison Crow, who also starts at strong side linebacker on defense. “Crow does a good job knowing where to be and who to block. He will be the reason we will be able to run the ball effectively,” says Cayot. Senior Fullback and Linebacker Ian Eastin is another player Coach Cayot highlights. “Ian is a great team guy, is well respected by faculty, coaches and other students, and can really play too.”
With a team of about 24 players, a lot will be asked of these young men, and many others, for the team to be as successful as last year, but one thing is for sure, even if the football scoreboard isn’t the same, these players are all on a great road to winning at life, with coaches like Cayot.
Although the Enid Symphony Orchestra has been around in one form or another since 1905, the modern version really hit its stride 25 years ago with the multi-million-dollar (and counting) renovation of what is now known as the Joan Allen Symphony Hall. For the 2023-24 season, new Executive Director Victoria Moreira and Artistic Director Doug Newell, wanted to celebrate the anniversary.
“We really started talking about the season in January, and had a lot of different ideas,” said Moreira, “and Doug brought up the 25th anniversary, so we thought that would be a good focus and went from there.” That planning led to a season of six main shows from September 2023 to April 2024. The season kicks off September 16th with “Flipside – The Patti Page Story” a fantastic Off-Broadway performance. “We are bringing in Greg White and his Off-Broadway cast with a 6 piece ‘big band” that features the story of Patti Page, an iconic Oklahoma singer and artist and coincides with Cherokee Strip Days. We are really excited for that.”
Guitarist Matt Denman will highlight the October show playing “stirring music with Latin flavor.” November will include a presentation of Handel’s “Messiah”. February will have ESO Concertmaster Ty Myers performing “Scheherazade,” tales of 1001 Arabian nights. In March the Enid Symphony Orchestra will take the stage with the Enid Youth Symphony and the winner of the 2023 ESO Young Artist Competition. Finally, in April, pianist Edward Auer will perform along with the introduction of a specially commissioned piece entitled “Fanfare for Joan” to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Symphony Hall.
As her first year as Executive Director, Moreira said she really wants to focus on youth and community engagement. “I am so excited about the young artist competition in March. We will have students from Enid and northwest Oklahoma send in audition tapes and come to the hall and perform. We will select one winner and two runners-up for cash prizes, and the winner will get to perform with the ESO and EYO at the show that month. I really wanted to get the youth involved because being part of the larger orchestra community and the training I received in Chicago as a youth was so important to me as a musician and I want to try to bring a similar partnership to our groups here and tie into this year’s 25th anniversary celebration,” said Moreira.
While the subscription series is the main event for ESO, they will be presenting four small events in August as part of the Edward Jones “Harvest Wine Series.” Beginning August 8th, and running for 4 consecutive Tuesday evenings, the ESO will host intimate shows to whet your appetite for the upcoming year.
If you have never been to an ESO performance before, Moreira says that you should come not just for the concert, but for the whole experience. “It is a great date night or fun activity. We have a cash bar open an hour before the show and a free reception after. It is always a really fun night.” Season and individual tickets are available at the Enid Symphony office or at www.enidsymphony.org
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