OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 37• One Section • 12 pages • January 3, 2025
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www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving affluent far north Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills and The Village for 51 years
$1.87 million Village street projects are set to begin this month
$45k raised at ball for Cleats for Kids The 78th annual Charity Ball hosted by the Bachelors Club of Oklahoma City raised $45,000 for the local nonprofit Cleats for Kids and presented 19 debutantes according to a longstanding tradition. With the $45,000 donation, the Bachelors Club has raised more than $1,165,000 for the Oklahoma City community since the club started hosting the ball in 1945. It has been held annually since then, with the exception of 2020. Bachelors Club President Luke Chansolme, son of Jennifer and David Chansolme, selected Cleats for Kids as this year’s recipient. Before the ball,
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
Lubbers, executive director of ULI Oklahoma. “Their initiative exemplifies outstanding leadership in creating and sustaining a thriving community. “The Village Civic Area is an ambitious project built through decades of planning efforts,” she said. “Their nomination reflects its achievement of high standards in impactful urban development, with a strong focus on connectivity and thoughtful design.”
The Village City Council has awarded Rudy Construction a $1.87 million bid for street construction improvements that affect all quadrants of the city. City officials expect roadwork to begin this month. Budget funds were appropriated from the 2022 and 2024 Series General Obligation Bonds for street improvements approved by voters. Rudy Construction submitted the lowest and responsible bid for $1.212 million base bid with a $653,440 alternate bid for a total of $1.87 million. The city received a total of four bids for the street project. Other bidders included Atlas Paving Co. at $1.99 million; Ellsworth Construction at $2.080 million; and Silver Star Construction at $2.369 million. City Manager Dave Slezickey said the contract with Rudy Construction provides for 240 days, but he expects the project to be completed in about three months. “Cowan Engineering is working with Rudy Construction to get the contract documents prepared and Rudy is working on their material availability,” said Slezickey. “Once the contract is signed and Rudy has materials ready, we will issue a Notice to Proceed for them to officially start the project.
See CIVIC, Page 11
See VILLAGE, Page 11
- Photos by Fran Kozakowski
Austin Pendarvis, Henry Gauither, Jack Duncan, Evan Condon, Luke Chansolne, Joseph Kharroz, Cate Tollison, Julia Reynolds, Helen McDonald, Kylie Wood and Hadley Allen during the 78th Annual Bachelors Club Ball at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. Nineteen young ladies were presented during the event. For more photos, see Page 12.
the 2024 Bachelors Club escorts and debutantes toured the organization’s headquarters to learn more about its mission to change lives by providing free sports shoes and safe equipment to kids in need. So far, Cleats for Kids –
C4K – has equipped more than 275,000 Oklahoma kids so they can play. Chansolme said the tour helped reinforce for the group what impact the Bachelors Club donation can have on an organization and that it is impor-
tant to be involved in nonprofit work beyond high school and college. Growing up, Chansolme served on teen boards in middle and high school that interacted with C4K, See BALL, Page 12
Civic Area Project is in the running for big award By Eric Oesch Staff Writer The $8.9 million Village Civic Area Project is nominated for the Outstanding Public Initiative in the 11th Annual Impact Awards presented by Urban Land Institute Oklahoma. Past award recipients include the Oklahoma City Streetcar system, Scissortail Park and the Oklahoma City Convention Center. ULI Oklahoma’s Impact Awards
are based on the ULI Awards for Excellence, the most highly respected international program of land use awards. As with the ULI Awards for Excellence, ULI Oklahoma recognizes projects that exemplify the best practices in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining a thriving community. “The Civic Area is a new and dynamic public gathering space that serves as a ‘core’ for this once suburban city lacking a main street or downtown,” said Michelle McBeath
FRIDAY’s Cat of the Week This is Zeus. His family is Jim and Renee Stanley. He is a bengal cat and is 2-yearsold. He is very affectionate and likes to talk to us every morning whether we are interested in what he has to say or not. Email Pet of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.
Ways to report illegal fireworks To keep 911 phone lines clear for people experiencing life-threatening emergencies, the City of Oklahoma City asks residents not to call 911 to report illegal fireworks on New Year's Eve. “Complaints about fireworks overload 911 phone lines and can keep people experiencing an emergency from quickly connecting with a dispatcher,” Fire Chief Richard Kelley said. Residents who know the address of the people launching fireworks can report the violation in the following ways: • Call: Fireworks Hotline:
(405) 297-2222 between 6 p.m. 2 a.m. on Dec. 31. An address is required to report a violation. • Email: action.center@ okc.gov. • Text: (405) 252-1053. The city will follow up on complaints. Residents should call 911 if someone is injured by a firework or if fireworks cause a fire. It’s illegal to buy, sell or use fireworks in the City of Oklahoma City. Sparklers, snakes, bottle rockets and all See OKC, Page 3