Heritage Hall students are lauded Heritage Hall National College Board awardees Cole Spence and Daniel Yeaman.
Heritage Hall senior Daniel Yeaman and junior Cole Spence were designated College Board National Hispanic Recognition Award and National African American Recognition Award recipients.
The honors are based on academic achievement and outstanding performance on the PSAT and/or AP exams. The College Board, which administers the PSAT and SAT among its activities, recog-
nizes academic excellence through its National Recognition Programs. These programs help students from underrepresented backgrounds stand out to colleges during admissions.
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 56 No. 16 • One Section • 12 pages • September 9, 2022
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www.okcfriday.com facebook.com/okcfriday OKC’s only locally-owned legal newspaper with all local news Serving Oklahoma City, Nichols Hills, The Village, Quail Creek, The Greens and Gaillardia for 48 years
Village to take on biggest capital project in its history By Eric Oesch Staff Writer The Village is set to embark on its largest single capital improvement project in the 72year history of the city when ground is broken for the new Civic Plaza area this fall. The $8 million project is focused near the busy intersection of
Hefner Road and Pennsylvania Ave near the Love’s Corporate Campus, Village Library, City Hall, and the Hawthorn Village neighborhood. The Civic Plaza is the final project of a massive Tax Increment District (Tiff District No. 1) created by the council in 2006 to redevelop the area fol-
lowing years of problems created by a large dilapidated 1970s era apartment complex that accounted for much of the crime in the city. LAUD Studio, a landscape and design firm hired by the city to develop a comprehensive plan and oversee the project, presented its final updates to the council which it
approved. Now the city manager is authorized to solicit competitive bids for the Civic Plaza allowing for construction to begin as early as this fall. The massive project includes a Civic Plaza near Manchester Drive and Vineyard Blvd, a linear park from the Civic Plaza to
Pennsylvania Avenue, landscaping and the reduction of Vineyard Boulevard from four lanes to three, a senior fitness center and play area, and reconfiguration of the street signals at the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and Vineyard Boulevard. See VILLAGE, Page 11
OKCPHIL signs multi-year contract with Mickelthwate; announces other staff changes
‘Thank you, thank you very much’ Birthday boy J.R. Homsey does his Elvis impression to the crowd at a lavish party at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. In honor of J.R.’s 75th birthday, the 300-plus guests received “The King’’ish scarves. Oklahoma Music Hall of Famer Leona Mitchell sang “Happy Birthday” to J.R. - Photo by Fran Kozakowski
For more photos, see Page 2.
The Oklahoma City Philharmonic has announced a new multi-year contract extension for Music Director Alexander Mickelthwate. “This marks the beginning of my fifth season leading the OKCPHIL,” Mickelthwate said. “It is truly a thrill to work with musicians of this caliber. Individually, they are so incredibly talented, and as an orchestra they are a source of pride for our entire community. “An Oklahoma audience is something else to behold,” Mickelthwate continued. “They are so much fun and enthusiastic about what we do. And we feel that energy on the stage. They give us love, and we give it right back. I came to Oklahoma City five years ago, and right away felt like this was home. “I lived in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta, and wouldn’t want to be anywhere
else but here. It has the feel of a large city, yet small enough for a sense of community. My wife and sons and I love it here and Oklahoma City has become our home.” Mickelthwate leads the orchestra as the OKCPHIL takes the stage at 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 at Civic Center Music Hall to kick off its new season. Worldrenowned pianist Garrick Ohlsson is to be the featured soloist in a program that includes works by Gabriela Lena Frank, Beethoven and Strauss. The OKCPHIL is also welcoming a new director of development. Blossom Crews brings extensive experience in leadership and fundraising. Her previous roles include work at The Virtue Center, as well as Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Oklahoma and See OKCPHIL, Page 11
John Stamos and the Beach Boys are ‘getting around’ to OKC for benefit show Actor and musician John Stamos is coming back to Oklahoma City to join The Beach Boys, featuring Mike Love and Bruce Johnston, for a Sept. 24 concert at Civic Center Music Hall benefitting the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma's Food for Kids Programs. “We are so excited John was able to break away from his busy filming schedule to visit Oklahoma City for this special benefit event,” said John Occhipinti, show producer and Edmond res-
ident. “John is such an accomplished, brilliant musician and has played off and on with the Beach Boys for decades." All net proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Regional Food Bank's Food for Kids Programs. In the last school year, the Food for Kids Programs provided more than 2.3 million meals for chronically hungry children. “The Regional Food Bank is ecstatic to welcome back The Beach Boys and John Stamos for
Performing arts series announced Oklahoma City Community College is celebrating 50 years of excellence and impact this year along with 25 years of offering its distinguished Performing Arts Series to the community at large and state of Oklahoma. Tickets are now available for OCCC’s 2022-2023 Performing Arts Series, which includes eight shows including the Kyiv City Ballet and “An Evening with José Feliciano.” “We are proud to celebrate 25 years of world-class shows and performances,” said OCCC President Dr. Mautra
Staley Jones. “OCCC plays a pivotal role in keeping the arts and cultural events alive in our community, and we’re especially honored to celebrate with this season’s all-star lineup.” The season kicks off Sept. 22 with “An Evening with José Feliciano” in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. The concert is also part of a series of events occurring that same week honoring and celebrating OCCC’s 50th anniversary. The Kyiv City Ballet makes its only stop in Oklahoma at
this one-of-a-kind benefit show,” said Stacy Dykstra, chief executive officer of the Regional Food Bank. “We encourage all Oklahomans to join us for this night of fun and know that every ticket sold will help put meals on the table for Oklahoma children living with hunger.” Also guest starring at the concert is to be surf rock icon Dean Torrence, of Jan and Dean.
FRIDAY’s Rescue
See STAMOS, Page 3
Dog of the Week Oscar: My ideal human would provide me with at least 3 tennis balls because I can get them all in my mouth. Also a splash pad because water sports is my hobby. I'm looking for someone who can chill with me, at 5-years-old and also wants a guy with some skills, because I know all the standard ones. Call (405) 751-9518 and leave me a message. I'll have someone call you back or drop by The Village Animal Shelter, 1701 NW 115 to meet me.
This sponsorship is available! Call (405) 755-3311 for details. See OCCC, Page 3