SPRING FASHION: See tips from our local fashion experts at Lela Rose and Pearl by Lela Rose; Krista Anne’s Boutique and the Women’s Health Boutique. Page 13.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 58 No. 45 • One Section • 14 pages • April 11, 2025
$1 per copy
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
Low voter turnout elects new councilmen in NHills, The Village By Eric Oesch Staff Writer A low voter turnout elected new council members in The Village and Nichols Hills during elections held earlier this month. The April 1 election drew 704 voters in Nichols Hills
while only 496 registered voters cast their ballots in The Village city council contest. In Nichols Hills, Colin FitzSimons (51) received 68.8 percent of votes cast with 484 ballots to win a three-year term on the vacant Ward 2 seat. His opponent, Ford
Festival of the Arts returns to Oklahoma City Arts Council Oklahoma City’s highly anticipated Festival of the Arts returns to Bicentennial Park in downtown Oklahoma City from April 24-27. This annual springtime celebration of the arts brings together local artists, performers, food vendors, and volunteers to create a unique cultural experience that draws thousands of visitors each year. “The Festival of the Arts is a tradition that has become an essential part of Oklahoma City’s cultural fabric,” said Angela Cozby, executive director of Arts Council Oklahoma City. "This year, we’re thrilled to introduce exciting new features like the Creators Collective and the Emerging Artist Tent, designed to showcase even more of Oklahoma’s incredible creative talent.” New features at the 2025 Festival of the Arts This year’s Festival will introduce two new features: Creators Collective: The Creators Collective, located at the NE corner of OKC’s City Hall, will feature a curated selection of local makers and creators. This new space showcases handmade goods, locally produced foods, and creative artistry from around the state of Oklahoma. Emerging Artist Tent: The Emerging Artist Tent will provide a platform for up-and-coming artists to showcase their talents to the Festival audience. This is a wonderful opportunity to See FESTIVAL, Page 7
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week Pablo Escobar-Picasso-Neruda Kuhn turned the big FOUR on March 5 and he had a great time at his paw-ty! On days that he doesn't go to work with his mom, Nikki Kuhn, you can usually catch this handsome hound keeping a watchful eye on Edgemere Park from his front door or window, probably pondering the deep mysteries of the mailman.
Austin (54), received 31.3 percent of votes with 220 ballots cast in his favor. The Ward 2 seat was the only race on the ballot in Nichols Hills. FitzSimons has lived in Nichols Hills for the past 20 years and is president and CEO of Corytus, LLC and is
on the board of Dorchester Capital Corp. He has 15 years of service on the Science Museum Board of Trustees including five years as chairman of the board. He also sits on the boards for Casady School and Allied Arts. Many were surprised when 18-year Nichols Hills
City Council veteran E. Peter Hoffman, Jr. announced his intention not to seek reelection to his Ward 2 seat. Hoffman represented Nichols Hills at the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments See ELECTIONS, Page 7
Redbud Classic 2025
- Photo by Rose Lane
Runners in the Redbud Classic 10K cross the starting line. Due to inclement weather, Saturday’s bike events were cancelled. For more photos, see Page 3.
Ladies in the News marks 57 years of honoring women Thirteen outstanding women are to be honored by the Oklahoma Hospitality Club during its 57th annual Ladies in the News fundraising event. The event is set for this
Friday, April 11, at Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club with check-in at 11 a.m., followed by lunch and fashion show at noon. One of the community’s favorite events, Ladies
in the News, began in 1966 and has honored over 700 women for their distinguished and outstanding contributions to their See WOMEN, Page 7
City of Oklahoma City garners AAA long-term bond rating Moody’s Investors Service and S&P Global have each affirmed the City of Oklahoma City’s high bond rating with a stable long-term outlook. S&P Global Ratings affirmed the City’s AAA long-term rating and stable outlook in a report, and Moodys affirmed its Aaa rating in another report. The triple-A ratings are the highest awarded by each agency. These ratings are used to price bonds the city sells to fund the bond package included in the Better Streets, Safer City infrastruc-
ture investment program. They keep Oklahoma City in an elite group of major American municipalities with the highest possible rating. “Our AAA/Aaa ratings are the result of a longstanding conservative financial culture supported by Mayor and Council and is a reflection of our commitment to high financial standards,” Assistant City Manager Brent Bryant said. According to the S&P report, “Our view of Oklahoma Citys See OKC, Page 7