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Adult Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures

By
Chloe Fuksa
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Author: Shelby Van Pelt
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

This is certainly a book you can judge by its cover! Remarkably Bright Creatures is the recently-released debut novel from author Shelby Van Pelt, and it is just as wonderful and rich as it looks. It’s a work of literary fiction following three main characters: Tova, Cameron, and Marcellus. The story alternates between each one’s point of view, and you can’t quite see how they are all connected. As you read though, the puzzle pieces start falling into place and you get this beautiful convergence by the end.

Tova has recently lost her husband and now cleans the local aquarium at night to help battle her loneliness. She has a group of friends – the Knit Wits – but she feels that she’ll need to move away to a retirement village so that she isn’t a burden to them as she grows older. For Cameron, he is seemingly lost in life – he can’t keep a job, he doesn’t have a place to live, and he doesn’t know much of anything about his parents. When he arrives in Sowell Bay looking for his father, little does he know what the small town has in store for him. Lastly, Marcellus is a giant Pacific octopus at the aquarium – who likes to escape his enclosure at night! Marcellus is very smart and attentive, and as he forms an unlikely friendship with Tova, he actually helps her unravel the mystery of her son’s disappearance three decades prior.

In the early promotional materials for this book, it was drawing comparisons to A Man Called Ove, and in many ways, that’s very accurate. It is a really warm, charming, funny read, celebrating friendships and family and community and unwavering hope. And a good reminder too to love all living creatures, even a curmudgeon sixty-pound octopus!

Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Remarkably Bright Creatures today!

Children’s Book Review: Flip-O-Saurus

By
Chloe Fuksa
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Author: Sara Ball
Reviewed by Chloe Fuksa, Putnam Six Bookstore

Flip-O-Saurus is the first in a collection of interactive children’s books by Sara Ball, and it is delightfully unique. The book is held horizontally, and each page is split into three columns, for the head, body, and tail of a dinosaur. Kiddos can then mix and match the flaps to create different kinds of dinosaurs. Rather than a normal triceratops, say, they can make a stegorapsaurus. Or perhaps a tyrannoplocus or a deidotops! There are a thousand different combinations, so kids can let their imaginations run wild.

This book isn’t just for fun though; each flap also contains facts and explanations about the real dinosaurs. Kids can learn about their sizes and shapes, their eating habits, their defense mechanisms, and more. Plus, with that information, kids can then figure out what their made-up dinosaurs would be like. Does it make up for its short arms by having a spiky tail to fight away predators? Can an imaginary dinosaur have both wings for flying and a tail fin for swimming? Flip-O-Saurus is wonderful for this mix of sparking creativity while also being really informative.

This book’s target age range is 3-5 years, but it can certainly go much broader than that. The thick pages and hardback binding mean too that even with all that flipping and creating, it can hold up over time. The other books by Sara Ball – Mix-A-Mutt, Flip-A-Feather, and the just-released Build-A-Bug – are equally as neat, so kiddos can move right on to other animals once they’re done with the dinos!

Visit us in Sunset Plaza or call 580-297-5089 to get your copy of Flip-O-Saurus today!

Air Fryer Corn

By
Monica Rorick
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Summer is for cookouts and get-togethers! It’s true!! But these events can often mean a lot of work and prep time in the kitchen, even though it is a “cookOUT”. So here is an easy, and dare I say healthy, side dish that everyone will enjoy!

Kent and I have been working on getting healthier without feeling like we are losing out on the foods that we love. That being said, Kent loves him some corn!! I mean, the man’s go-to when I ask what he wants with his dinner, is CORN! So I have figured out how to cook it in the air fryer…well, I found a recipe for that. I really like the crispness of the corn cooked this way instead of it cooking in the microwave or on the stovetop. I ALWAYS prefer fresh over frozen corn or canned, but I am sure you could use canned as well. Just drain it really well.

The corn cooked this way was tasty, delicious, and buttery!!! (BTW, I ONLY use REAL butter!!! In my opinion (for what it is worth) t is WAY better for you than all of the ingredients in margarine. The recipe is below. Try it….I dare ya!!!

Buttered Corn in Air Fryer

Ingredients

  • 16 ounces Frozen Corn Kernels
  • 4 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter – sliced
  • Salt/Pepper – to taste
  • Handful Fresh Parsley – chopped

Instructions

Place frozen corn into oven safe pan (I use a metal cake pan). Top with butter, salt, and pepper.

  • Air fry at 400ºF for 5 minutes. Stir and air fry for 5 more minutes.
  • Add chopped parsley. Stir and Serve

***To “spice up” this recipe, deseed and finely chop a jalapeño pepper, and finely chop half of a red pepper. Add to the corn, mix with 1/2 tsp minced garlic. Then cook according to the directions in the recipe. This gives you a “Mexican Corn” taste. The perfect summertime side dish for your cookouts! Happy cooking!

What You Need to Know About Sports Physicals

By
St. Mary's Physician Associates
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St. Mary’s Physician Associates family physician, Christopher Hutchinson, DO, discusses the importance of sports physicals.

Why is it important for physicals to be done before participating in certain sports?

Sports physicals are important for athletes to be checked for underlying medical conditions, which may put them at higher risk of injury or death from participation in sports.

What types of health concerns do physicians look for when conducting a physical?

We look at overall well-being with a focus on cardiovascular (heart), pulmonary (lung) and musculoskeletal (muscle and bone) health.

Close-up picture of four happy teenagers in sportswear holding a plank standing in a row on the track outdoors

Does a sports physical count as an annual exam?

A sports physical is a good checkup of overall physical health. However, it does not and should not replace a yearly well-child check, which is a more in-depth evaluation and broad overlook of physical, mental and emotional health.

What are the pros or cons of seeing your primary care physician (PCP) versus participating in a sport physical clinic?

I recommend seeing your PCP for all of your preventive medical care, including sports physicals. While sports physical clinics are convenient, if you fail the physical you will be told to follow up with your PCP for further evaluation.

Often, this can be avoided when seeing your PCP, as they are more familiar with your overall health, past personal and family history, and potential underlying medical conditions, which may or may not prevent you from sports participation.

In general, seeing your PCP for basic healthcare needs will save you money and time in the long-run, in terms of potential repeat testing and treatments that providers unfamiliar with you may recommend.

Group of four young ice hockey players leaning on wall of players box in ice hockey arena

What signs should parents should look for while their children are participating in physical activities?

Signs that may signal there is a problem may include dizziness, chest pain, passing out, difficulty breathing or headaches with exercise. Being sure to stay well-hydrated and eating a well-balanced meal is important for overall health.

Parents should also be aware of the potential injuries associated with the sport their child is playing and what can be done to prevent them. These often consist of appropriate and adequate stretching, warm-up and cool-down, as well as the correct equipment for the sport.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Hutchinson, call 580-249-3782 or book online at stmarysphysicianassociates.com

For language assistance, disability accommodations and the non-discrimination notice, visit our website.

August Doodle

By
Chris Downing
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0

New School, Who Dis?

By
Sophia & Mallie
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Hey y’all and welcome back to TEEN SCENE this month my BSF Bree and I are going to tell you some things we are anxious, excited, or nervous about going into Freshman year at Enid High. Let’s go!!

This month will be the start of my journey attending Enid High school. I am incredibly excited and I have many other feelings rushing inside. I remember my older brother getting ready for his freshman year and I can’t stop thinking about it finally being my turn!! The main thing I am excited for is meeting new people and Cross Country. I also get to sleep in 30 minutes later because school starts later than middle schools did so I’m looking forward to that as well. I’m really nervous about my classes because I’ve heard that they are very difficult. Trying hard in cross country practices to hopefully make the Varsity team makes me nervous as well. I’m anxious to see all my classes and meet my teacher. Enid High is SOOOOO much bigger than my middle school so it’ll be a HUGE change in scenery along with a major increase of students.

As for Bree, she is coming from a different, and bigger middle school than I am since she went to Waller and I went to Emerson. She is excited about high school sports, like volleyball and soccer and wants to try and make varsity too!  She’s really fast and a really good athlete so I think she has a good shot! She also says she is excited about dress-up days during spirit week, making new friends and finally being able to tell people she’s a high schooler! She’s nervous about not having any of her current friends in any of her classes, that her classes will be too far apart and she will be late to class! She’s also nervous about having too much work or missing assignments, but I believe in her! 

A new school can definitely be scary, but we gotta do it to be successful in life. This will be my 5th school, and I’ve ended up loving every one.

Thank you to all of our readers who read this month’s teen scene article, we hope you enjoyed!! What are/were you anxious or excited about before your first day of High School? Let us know at tweensceneenid@gmail.com Also if you have any comments, questions, and ideas for upcoming articles email us there as well!! See you next month!!

Living Dinosaur

By
Dalen McVay
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Happy August folks! By the time this reaches you, I hope we have had some relief from both the drought and the heat. I read a report that June 10-July 11 was the driest month we’ve had since the dirty thirties. My yard proves that to be accurate.

Regardless, enough with the downtrodden talk; let’s talk fishing! I’ve recently taken a trip to the most gorgeous lake on Earth, Table Rock Lake where my folks reside. My father, son (Micah), and I loaded up on with a local guide seeking out these prehistoric creatures. These freshwater fish aren’t native to Table Rock but are stocked annually. While certainly odd looking, these fish are said to date back over 125 million years. Their snout resembles a “paddle” hence the name. The paddle can extend up to one-third of the body length of the fish. Studies show paddlefish can live upwards of thirty years or more, which is significantly longer than most freshwater fish. An average paddlefish weighs approximately 60 pounds, yet can grow to be over 100 pounds. Remarkably, these giant fish don’t eat meat. They survive on zooplankton. When zooplankton are detected, the paddlefish swims through the swarm with its giant mouth wide open. The water rushes through the gills, essentially filtering out the zooplankton for its meal.

Since plankton is all these fish eat, they are caught in unconventional fishing methods. In rivers during spawning season, an angler typically stands on a riverbank casting a large weight and giant hook across the river. The angler then pulls and reals across the water, hoping to snag a beast. In lakes, fishermen also snag the fish, by either trolling and using side finder locators to locate fish on the bottom and then basically drive their boat over the fish hoping to hook one. Another method is using a “livescope” which also locates fish on the bottom. After positioning the vessel close to the bottom-dwelling fish, the angler casts over the fish (again with a large weight and treble hook) and lets it sink to the bottom. Using a jerking motion, the hopes are to again snag the fish. Once snagged, these giant fish put up quite the fight.

If five hours to Table Rock Lake is too far to travel (in MO there is a limited Spoonbill season), then Keystone Lake (just an hour away) is another terrific lake to catch one of these dinosaurs most people spend a lifetime without seeing (or tasting). In fact, Keystone has set the world record (twice) in the last couple of years for the largest Paddlefish (164 lbs!). Remember that when you are skiing there!

Until next time fellow sportsmen. . . . .

Five Stages of Digital Marketing Life Cycle

By
Elizabeth Cummins
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We live in a culture of immediate gratification. Binge-watching a series on a weekend is a far cry from the days of heading to Hastings or Blockbuster in hopes they still had a DVD left of the movie I wanted to watch!

Often this expectation of immediate results seeps into all areas of our lives, specifically with digital and social media marketing. We hope that within a month or two, we’ll see a significant rise in leads and sales after posting a few updates on social media or running a quick Google ad.

The reality is: digital marketing is like exercise – it’s all about slow, steady consistent work. The main result of social media marketing is brand recognition. Brand recognition leads to sales with slow, steady and consistent work.

Recently, in preparation for a presentation, I found a study that broke down the life cycle of digital marketing (socialmediatoday.com). When applied to my clients, this life cycle fits to a T! I’ve put my twist on it, and I believe you can bank on this results timeline for your digital marketing efforts.

Here are the five stages in the digital marketing life cycle:

SET UP (0-3 Months)

This stage is key, and one that we often expect to take just a couple of days. In reality, obtaining (or designing) logos, creating pages, perfecting descriptions, and establishing a consistent look for graphics…takes up to three months.

Sometimes simply obtaining access to existing pages can take a few weeks. “Wait, Alyssa ran the page in 2019… I bet she has the password. Let me text her and get back to you.”

Creating a strategy, getting in the swing with a consistent posting schedule, and establishing client communication can take a few weeks. Eventually, you’ll hit your social media and online advertising stride, and it will all start to feel like second nature/another part of your daily routine.

TRACTION (4-9 Months)

This is one of my favorite stages! Of course, converting leads into clients is the best, but this is a fun and encouraging season.

In the traction phase, you will:

  • Transform touchpoints to conversation points
  • Gain traction on social media sites
  • Integrate mobile with social media
  • Gain responses to call to action
  • Place on search engines
  • Gain new sales/members
  • Gain initial thought leadership interactions
  • Build member satisfaction/feedback
  • Increase customer service

This season is great because a lot of your traffic will come from existing, happy customers who are thrilled to connect with you online. These customers might share testimonials (ask them to if they haven’t!), or comment and tag friends on social media, leading to some new followers who are intrigued and interested in your brand.

POSITIONING (10-15 Months)

This season is one that’s often expected to happen at 0-3 months, but it’s worth the patient, consistent work to get here.

In the positioning season, you’ll:

  • Convert conversation points to conversion points
  • Gain positions on search engines
  • Gain thought leadership interactions
  • Gain new sales revenue
  • Develop brand loyalty

This is when your new chatty online friends start to turn into customers. Once members, they become integral in sharing their positive experiences online, leading to new touchpoints, which turn to conversations, which eventually turn into conversions (more new customers).

EXPANSION (16-27+ Months)

This is the season where you become a subject matter expert.

In the expansion season, you’ll:

  • Stabilize position on search engines
  • Establish some recognition as a thought leader
  • Gain brand power
  • Gain consistent stream of revenue

By this season, you’ll find that you’re in stride, running a steady marathon instead of a 5k, and working toward engaging your existing, now quite large, online audience. Again, this engagement starts with touchpoints, turns to conversations, and then conversations (sales!).

VIRAL GROWTH (Future)

This is the season when you expand networks exponentially through fan/follower networks and social communities. Often, people start by wanting to go viral, simply trying to gain as many followers as possible…You simply can’t go viral without going through the first four seasons!

I encourage you to enjoy the ride, keep on jogging, and you’ll catch your stride. Keep in mind that each of these seasons can be a bit shorter or longer, depending on your specific situation. With dedicated engagement and consistent marketing communication, however, I believe this timeline is tried and true.

Interested in a digital marketing consultation? Visit wordygirl.com.

Until next time.

Cheers,

Elizabeth / Wordy Girl

Garfield County Extension Office

By
Cathy Thomas
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Gardening. While Webster’s dictionary may define gardening as “an act, activity or pastime of planning and cultivating gardens,” another possible definition could be “an emotional spectrum immersion from total joy and serenity to abject despair and frustration.” At gardening’s most innocuous definition it could also be defined as “a natural diversion from regular life.” Whatever definition you may ascribe to, gardening for all of us has foundational points to which we all must adhere. Sunlight, soil, air, and water. As long as these four elements are present in the proper combination our plants will grow. The key is the proper combination.

Garfield County is very fortunate to have the OSU Extension Office right here in Enid. The Extension Office is a physical destination, a wonderful grouping of wise people, and an amazing horticultural resource at our fingertips. It is the best place to turn for Oklahoma-specific information on gardening. As a division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources of Oklahoma State University, the OSU Extension Office is there for you every step of the way in your gardening life to help solve some of gardening life’s mysteries, help you through the hard times and even provide a social network from the ground – up.

The Extension Office has both online and hard copy fact sheets available to help a gardener plan, prepare, plant, nurture, diagnose, treat, and harvest the best of gardening. The information presented in every sheet has been well-researched, thoroughly tested, and personally experienced by scientists, everyday gardeners, and farmers. From testing your soil to ensure quality nutritional support for your garden to identifying and eradicating garden pests and weeds, the Extension Office provides hands-on resources and scientific testing that you may not have available in your garden shed. I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a shed, a centrifuge, or a mass spectrograph to identify the chemical compounds in my soil.

Groups such as 4-H, Master Gardeners, and the Home and Community Education Groups organized by the Extension Office provide social and educational opportunities on-site at 316 E. Oxford near the fairgrounds and various outreach places around the county for all ages and interests. Three of the best human resources at the Extension Office are Jessica Nickels the 4-H Educator, Joy Rhodes the Family and Consumer Coordinator, and our gardening guru and Extension Director, Rick Nelson. If he doesn’t know the answer, he knows the person who will. Stop by the Extension Office to meet these folks and take a walk through the Demonstration Gardens during any season.

Through the educational resources and support of the OSU Extension Office, everything is at your fingertips to balance your soil, sun, air, and water in the proper proportions. A social network is available to share in your joys and sorrows of gardening (and provide info on where to get rid of those 25 extra zucchini). But best of all, it encompasses the whole of gardening, whether gardening is a diversion from daily life, or “act, activity or pastime of planning and cultivating gardens.”

Next month: Fall Gardening – planning, planting, and harvesting

OSU Cooperative Extension Services Office
316 E. Oxford, Enid, OK 73701
(580) 237-1228, Monday – Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. https://extension.okstate.edu/county/garfield/

We Run This Town

By
Robert Faulk
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Enid High Boy and Girls Cross Country are welcoming new coaches, and several new runners to this years squad. Nevertheless, new Boys coach, Justin DeClerck has high expectations for the squads. “Even though I am new as Cross Country Head Coach, this is my 7th year coaching running, after time spent as the middle school Cross Country coach and Enid High Long Distance Track Coach,” he says. Because of his experience around the middle school and high school distance program he is very familiar with who he expects to be part of the team this year. “As far as the boys go, I expect that we will be fairly young. We have a trio of Sophomores, Blake Jensen, Camryn Gantt and Carson Nault who will be returning, and they were all good runners last year. We also have a Junior, Lucas Martinez, who is part of the group I have some decent expectations for.”

Coach DeClerck is very happy with the participation of his team during Summer Pride the last few weeks, and with those that have been doing some running on their own. “We are just doing some easy runs for the summer, to establish that base for when we start actual practice. Some of the younger runners, especially those coming up from middle school, will be a little challenged with the increase from 2 miles to a 5k (3.2 miles), but they will get there. After practice starts we will be doing a few runs in the heat to get the kids used to it, but they will definitely be fine, he said.

Currently the team has 8 scheduled meets, not including the conference, regional and state meets. Coach DeClerck’s goal is to make the State tournament, which would mean finishing in the top 7 at the Regional meet. “We hold each other to a high standard,” DeClerck says, “we try to be each other’s support system. If we are going to make state, it’s going to take some real work. We do have the ability, we just need to have the dedication, practice, effort and attitude to really excel this year.”

Girls Coach Mark Johnson has similar thoughts about the upcoming year, “I am really excited to coach these girls and build this program. These young ladies bring great personality, character, and work ethic. We, too, have a lofty goal of qualifying for the state tournament. It is a challenging goal, for sure, as we have not qualified for state in many years, but if we do a good job training the girls we have, and recruit other good athletes, we have a shot, if not this year, then hopefully soon. I am especially excited about 4 girls in particular, Seniors Sarah Bonebrake, Abigail Pogenpole and Brionna Clayton and Junior Loren Simpson. They will give us some experience as we break in some of our younger runners, like Sophia Faulk coming up from Middle School,” says Coach Johnson.

As the cross country teams train on trails near OBA all the way to NOC, they really do “run this town!”   

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