ArtNow 2025
Heritage Hills Home Tour
Cindi Shelby and Allied Arts President and CEO Sunny Cearley at the kickoff, Party with a Purpose, for Oklahoma Contemporary’s biennial exhibition. Page 2
This year’s beloved tradition opens the doors to some of the city’s most remarkable homes and invites attendees to celebrate the living legacy of Heritage Hills. Page 13
OKC FRIDAY Vol. 59 No. 21• One Section • 14 pages • September 26, 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 & The Village for 51 years
Author tapped to write NHills book
Habitat for Humanity begins construction on homes in The Village By Eric Oesch Staff Writer After more than two years of preparation, volunteers for Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity began framing two of three homes scheduled for construction on land donated by Our Lord’s Lutheran Church, 2900 W. Hefner Rd. in The Village. However, construction of the homes came with considerable debate from neighbors worried about flooding, additional street traffic and curbside parking. Neighboring residents filled The Village council chamber in August of 2023 to register their opposition to construction of what were then four proposed homes on the property. Residents addressed the council for nearly two hours, citing their opposition before a rare split vote by council members approved the resolution to accept the final plat of the
Habitat PUD on donated property owned by Our Lord’s Church in The Village. Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity collaborated with the City of The Village to extend sewer lines and implement other improvements to address concerns raised at city council meetings. Johnson & Associates LLC, a civil engineering firm that works closely with Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, made the required changes to the final plat to address residents’ concerns. The firm offered its services free of charge to the non-profit organization dedicated to building homes for lowincome families who otherwise would not be able to afford a home of their own. The firm’s employees and owners contributed more than $43,400 to construct a retention
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer The City of Nichols Hills celebrates its 100year anniversary in 2029, and to mark this milestone the city’s centennial committee has commissioned historian and biographer Michael J. Hightower, PhD. to research, write and publish a book about the history of Nichols Hills. During its September meeting, the Nichols Hills City Council approved a contract to compensate Hightower up to $115,200 to write the book, or $4,800 per month Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2027. Beginning in 2028, Hightower’s primary role is to take part in marketing the book. The contract says he is to invoice the city at a
See HABITAT, Page 7
Johnson & Associates LLC’s professional land surveyor Jason Harvey lifts and sturdies a house frame while volunteering and helping to frame a new Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity home in The Village. Harvey joined over 30 dedicated volunteers from the civil engineering firm where he works, as well as volunteers from various churches, to help the nonprofit build affordable housing in Central Oklahoma.
See NHILLS, Page 7
Fridayland students are named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists By Rose Lane Editor Thirty-three Fridayland students are among more than 16,000 to be named semifinalists in the 71st
annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically-talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 6,930 National
Merit Scholarships worth nearly $26 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semi-finalists must fulfill several requirements to
FRIDAY’s
Dog of the Week Lucy is excited about the Greek Festival coming up! OPA. The event is set for this Friday, today, through Sunday, at St. George Greek Orthodox Church, 2101 NW 145. For more information, visit greekfestokc.com. Email Pet of the Week submissions with complete descriptions to: rose@okcfriday.com.
advance to the finalist level of the competition. About 95 percent of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists win a National
Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Our semifinalists, listed with the high school they attend, are: See MERITS, Page 11
‘Rocky Horror’ coming back to Lyric Let’s do the time warp again! Back by popular demand, Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma proudly presents the return of “The Rocky Horror Show!” A cult favorite with loyal fans and newbies alike, Lyric is bringing its Texas-themed live production back to glorious life, promising to have audiences shiver with antici … –pation! “The Rocky Horror Show” is directed by Producing Artistic Director Michael Baron, and runs Oct. 2 - Nov. 1 at Lyric’s Plaza Theatre, 1725 NW 16th St. Tickets are now on sale at LyricTheatreOKC.org and by phone at (405) 524-9312, from 12-5 p.m., Monday through Friday.
In this cult-classic musical, sweethearts Brad and Janet, stuck with a flat tire in a storm, seek assistance at the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank ‘N’ Furter. Surrounded by an eclectic group of house guests, the scientist unveils his newest creation, a Frankenstein-esque monster in the form of a physically perfect muscle man named Rocky. As their innocence is lost, Brad and Janet are introduced to a houseful of wild characters, who lead the audience in the iconic dance, “The Time Warp.” Lyric’s production stars See LYRIC, Page 7