August 17, 2023 Vol. 24, No. 13
In This Issue FOUR SEASONS
Community helps Back-to-School cause
Four Seasons, by Kevin Box, in real life is located in front of the Center for Transformative Learning on the UCO campus, but this week is hidden somewhere in our paper. Email contest@edmondpaper.com with the correct location to be entered in the weekly drawing. For more information, see page 4.
Back to School High School Edition See pages 12-15
PHOTOS BY ELAINE WARNER
FRIDAY, August 18 Sunny High 99° Low 75°
SATURDAY, August 19 Mostly Sunny High 101° Low 75°
SUNDAY, August 20 Sunny High 100° Low 74°
Volunteers for the Edmond Public School Foundation helped families register for free classes and passed out books, do-it-yourself kits, and toys to guests. Left to right: Olivia Romanson, Rihana Murphy, David Boyd, Adya Ohri, Jack Moler and Makenzie Richner. Sgt. Randy Payne and Officer Ethan Eastep take a break to enjoy free donuts. Gervaise, Addison and Alexus Jones from Little Axe pose with Lt. Mark Sanders from Edmond Fire Station 1. Charlotte Velarde from the Central Oklahoma College of Cosmotology trims summer shags before the start of school.
By Elaine Warner Approximately 1500 people turned out for the Back to School Resource Fair, held at Edmond’s First Christian Church earlier this month. Sponsored by the church and Project 66, 700 backpacks with grade-appropriate school supplies including pens, pencils, notebooks, markers, crayons, colored pencils and notebook paper were handed out. First Christian and Project 66 volunteers had prepared over 1,000 backpacks for the event. Left-over supplies will be distributed to Edmond’s Title 1 schools and Project 66 clients. In addition to the supply giveaway, eighteen other organizations participated with information booths, give-aways, and treats. The Edmond Public Schools Foundation passed out books and toys and provided information on free school-readiness programs for parents. Edmond Parks Department set up games on the church lawn. The SWAT vehicle brought by Edmond Police was a big attraction as families
lined up to see the vehicle, chat, take selfies with the policemen and cool off with “copsicles. Firemen from Station No. 1 showed off a ladder truck and set up a pedal car course in the parking lot and the City of Edmond handed out treats from a tent on the lawn. Inside the building, other organizations including Sox of Love and Laundry Love of Central Oklahoma, SNAP, the YMCA and a variety of social service and health-oriented organizations chatted with visitors and passed out information about their programs. In another area, kids got haircuts, had their faces painted and posed with Captain Supertooth, courtesy of Delta Dental Over 100 volunteers made things go smoothly in this annual event which drew participants from across the Metro area. The wide range of organizations which offer services to adults and children should be a source of pride for the Edmond community.
Project 66 First Christian Church Breakfast on Boulevard Edmond Public Schools Foundation Edmond Public Schools Sox of Love & Laundry Love of Central Oklahoma SNAP Regional Food Bank Northcare Oklahoma Department of Mental Health Integris Heath YMCA True Dads/Work Ready Oklahoma Ministries of Jesus (Henderson Hills clinic, etc.) Christ Fit Gym Delta Dental (Captain Supertooth) City of Edmond (outdoor tent/ giveaways) Edmond Parks Department (lawn games) Edmond Police Department (SWAT vehicle, go-carts, cop-cicles) Edmond Fire Department (ladder truck)