OKC FRIDAY Vol. 59 No. 33 • One Section • 12 pages • December 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 and The Village for 50 years
People you should know
Filing dates set for municipal elections By Eric Oesch Staff Writer
MELISSA PEPPER Executive Director Uncommon Ground Sculpture Park
Do you have a favorite childhood memory? Yes, being outdoors, feeling free and having a strong sense of community. I grew up in a large family. I’m the middle child of five siblings (and a lot of pets). Our street was filled with kids and our house backed up to the neighborhood pool. Our yard had gate access to the pool which meant our home often felt like Grand Central Station. I loved being surrounded by lots of friends and family. During the summer, we’d leave the house first thing in the morning and stay out until the sun was coming down. We spent lots of time at the pool, on our bikes and led by our imagination. I remember feeling connected to nature and possibility. See PYSK, Page 7 (405) 606-2727
Resolutions calling for nonpartisan city council elections in Fridayland’s sister cities were approved by both the Nichols Hills and Village city councils last week. Filing periods for city council seats in both cities is Feb. 2-4, 2026. Election in both cities is Tuesday, April 7, 2026. In Nichols Hills, longtime Ward 3 councilman and current Mayor Steve Goetzinger, 67, announced his intentions to file for reelection. He has served on the City Ccouncil for the past 14 years. City Council members in Nichols Hills serve a three-year term. Members of the Nichols Hills City Council are also
Of good cheer! Above: Dana Childress and Diana Robinson play the "Left Right" game during Oklahoma Art League’s annual Christmas Luncheon and Guest Day. At right: Christy Delano adds to the concoction during a cocktail class at The Greens Golf and Country Club. For more, see Page 11.
See FILING, Page 3
Nichols Hills' Evangeline Park gets a fresh new look Evangeline Park, located at the corner of Avondale and Huntington in Nichols Hills, has undergone a revitalization, bringing new life to this cherished neighborhood space. The park improvement effort was led by Nichols Hills resident Nancy Ellis, who spearheaded a campaign and secured several generous donations that made the enhancements possible. As part of the improvements,
From left, front to back: Nichols Hills residents Jerri Seikel, Shari Buxton, Cheryl Ramey, Nancy Ellis, Bruce MacKellar, John Kennedy and John Harvey celebrate the new park improvements at Evangeline Park in Nichols Hills.
See NHILLS, Page 7
FRIDAY’s Dog of the Week
This is Chase Hayes's dog Vivian. She is a standard poodle who is 2-years-old. She loves dressing up and taking over the entire bed at night. Her favorite treat is everything in sight! Her favorite pastime is barking at motorcycles and cuddling. Email Pet of the Week submissions to rose@okcfriday.com.
OKC residents can mulch or dispose of live Christmas trees Instead of leaving your live Christmas tree at the curb, turn it into free mulch with OKC Parks. OKC residents can drop off their natural Christmas trees between Dec. 26 – Jan. 15 for OKC Parks to mulch at one of two locations: • Will Rogers Park, 3600 Pat Murphy Dr., in the parking lot at the center of the park, south of the OKC Tennis Center and on the south side of Pat Murphy Drive. • Wheeler Park, 1120 S. Western Ave., in the parking
lot on the west side of the park next to Western Avenue. All trees must be free of lights, ornaments, nails and stands. The trees must also be unflocked, meaning they cannot have fake snow or dust on the branches. Mulch can be picked up from dawn until dusk in designated areas through Jan. 15. Residents must bring their own shovels and containers. Residents who drop off a tree don’t have to take mulch, See TREES, Page 3