OKC FRIDAY Vol. 56 No. 27 • One Section • 16 pages • December 2, 2022
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The Village city manager search narrowed to three
Love Park on track for spring 2023 completion
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
By Eric Oesch Staff Writer It has been a little over one year since then-Mayor Peter Hoffman announced a $1.5 million gift to the City of Nichols Hills from Tom and Judy Love for the construction of Love Family Park along the Grand Boulevard system of parks that runs through in the city. The City Council received an update on the massive five-acre park project set for its expected spring 2023 completion date. “The contractor (Rudy Construction) has stayed pretty close to their baseline schedule, which shows what has been completed since October 2021,” said Nichols Hills City Manger Shane Pate. “The project is still on track for a spring 2023 completion date.” The gift from the Loves, longtime Nichols Hills residents, is being used to create the park situated along the north and east sides of Grand Boulevard between Huntington Avenue and Bedford Drive. “The park system along Grand Boulevard is broken up into different areas with different names,” said Pate. See PARK, Page 13
Pages 14 & 15
For Oklahoma Contemporary Winter Ball co-chairmen Susan McPherson and Connell Branan present a donation to Oklahoma Contemporary’s Board of Trustees. Winter Ball supports Oklahoma Contemporary’s capital projects. Proceeds from the last three Winter Ball events helped the art center open its new, state-of-the-art facility in Automobile Alley. In photo, from left: Front row, Winter Ball’s Susan McPherson and Connell Branan and Oklahoma Contemporary Board President Robert Clements; second row, Board Treasurer and President-Elect Molly Tolbert; Trustee Glenna Tanenbaum and Advisory Member Liz Eickman; and third row, Oklahoma Contemporary Director Jeremiah Matthew Davis, Trustee Scott Potter, Vice President Melissa Scaramucci and Trustee Aimee Harlow.
A nationwide search to replace Bruce Stone, long-time city manager of The Village, has been narrowed down to three finalists who are to visit the city this month for additional interviews. Stone announced his plans earlier this year and is set to retire after 37 years as the longest serving city manager in Oklahoma. Mayor Sonny Wilkinson, Councilman Bubba Symes and City Attorney Jeff Sabin served on the search committee that reviewed over 20 applications before narrowing the list of potential city manager replacements down to six. “These candidates did their homework, and I couldn’t be more pleased,” said Mayor Sonny Wilkinson during last week’s City Council meeting. “They knew the city and said very complimentary things about our outgoing city manager.” During the City Council meeting, Symes said, “These candidates were really good. They were qualified, smart and everyone of them would be a good fit for the city.” In a letter sent to city employees, Mayor Wilkinson shared an update on the candidate search. “The application window for this position closed on Nov. 4 and I’m pleased to report that we received more than 20 applications from See VILLAGE, Page 5
Village neighbors a chatter about casket’s resting spot By Rose Lane Editor Passersby on Sunday along Brighton and Greystone in The Village are probably dying to know why there was a casket along the side of the road. The scene resulted in a lot of chatter on The Village Facebook page. Jason Hare said he traded a
FRIDAY’s Dog
truck for a trike, bike, trailer and a casket, all of which were in his garage. “But my wife was freaked out by the casket so I put it on the curb for free,” he said. The casket was not really in usable shape. Jason said he checked to make sure there was nothing — or no body — inside.
The Village resident Jason Hare put this casket out on the curb for free, resulting in a stir among his neighbors.
See CASKET, Page 2
of the Week Buddy was a 16-year-old Cocker Spaniel, who recently passed away and whose human was Margaret Blair. He was a rescue dog. “His favorite thing to do was dig, dig, dig,” she said. “I called him my little escape artist — he never barked.” To get Margaret’s attention, he would pat her knee three times. “The other really funny thing about Buddy was whenever he smelled food that he loved, he would jump around in circles like crazy,” she said. Margaret has written a children’s book about him, Buddy. Send Pet and Baby of the Week nominations with complete descriptions to rose@okcfriday.com.
Bachelors Club debs, escorts named Twenty-two women will make their debut at the 76th annual Bachelors Club Charity Ball on Thursday, Dec. 22, at the Oklahoma City Golf and Country Club. The black-tie ball begins at 8 p.m. with the debutante presentation to begin at 9 p.m. Each debutante is to be escorted by a member of the Bachelors Club of Oklahoma City. This year’s debutantes and their parents are: Tessa Maria Jane Ayers, daughter of Tracey and Troy Ayers; Dianne Elaine Bohanon (Ellie), daughter of Kristen and David Bohanon; Ella Rose Condon, daughter of Sheri and Bill Condon; Laura Faye Cunningham (Lolo), daughter of Mindy and Paul Brown and Stan Cunningham; Holly Anne Danner, daughter of Melinda and Russell
Danner; Irene Catherine Elizabeth Eckman, daughter of Susan and Eric Eckman; Camryn Ann Fulkerson, daughter of Cindy and Shawn Fulkerson; Mary Grace George, daughter of Alecia and Kevin George; Emiline Tallulah Henderson, daughter of Missy and Robin Henderson; Katherine Leigh Hill, daughter of Shannon and David Hill; and Karoline Alice Leonard, daughter of Kristi and Ran Leonard. Also, Meghan Ann McDaniel, daughter of Stacy and Mark McDaniel; Isabelle Ann Miller, daughter of Kelli and Richard Miller; Anna Alexandra Elizabeth Murphy (Anna), daughter of Patricia and Mike Murphy; Elizabeth Caton Nelson, daughter of Corinne and See DEBS, Page 5