BOYD STREET
Mark Doescher
Chelsey Koppari
PHOTOGRAPHY
Mark Doescher
Rock Solid Trails
CONTRIBUTORS
Hattie Adams | Roxanne Avery Sharla Bardin | Lindsay Cuomo
Shannon Hudzinski | Scott Martin Chris Plank | Dan Schemm
Tim Willert ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES
Laffoon - trevor@kref.com
Spencer - perry@kref.com
Vinyard
COMMUNITY EVENTS
1-4 NORMAN’S FOURTH FEST
REAVES PARK • NORMANOK.GOV
1 WATER LANTERN FESTIVAL
8PM • LEGACY PARK • WATERLANTERNFESTIVAL.COM
2 OUTDOOR MOVIE NIGHT - CAPTAIN AMERICA
7-10PM • REAVES PARK • NORMANOK.GOV
4 FIRECRACKER 5K
8AM • LEGACY PARK • MEALSONWHEELSNORMAN.COM
11 BEATS & BITES FESTIVAL: FLATLAND CALVARY
6:30PM • RIVERWIND CASINO • RIVERWIND.COM
12 CASA DUCK DERBY
1-6PM, DERBY AT 4PM • WESTWOOD FAMILY AQUATIC CENTER • VISITNORMAN.COM
16 NORMAN COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT
7PM • CATLETT MUSIC CENTER
12 SUMMER BREEZE CONCERT SERIES - NIK PARR & THE SELFLESS LOVERS
7:30PM • LIONS PARK • NORMANDEPOT.ORG
26 SUMMER BREEZE CONCERT SERIES - LABRYS
7:30PM • LIONS PARK • NORMANDEPOT.ORG
COMING IN AUGUST 22 • Red Clay Roots Music Festival
WEEKEND OF LOCAL
Mark your calendars and get ready to shop, dine and support local during the 2026 Weekend of Local, taking place July 17–19. The Norman Chamber of Commerce, VisitNorman and the City of Norman are once again partnering to bring this community-wide promotion to Norman as part of the statewide Independent Shopkeepers Association’s Weekend of Local initiative.
The annual event encourages residents to discover the unique products, services and dining experiences offered by locally owned businesses throughout Norman. Throughout the weekend, participating retailers, restaurants, and food and beverage establishments will feature special promotions, sales, discounts and other incentives designed to encourage local spending and celebrate the businesses that help make Norman a vibrant place to live and work.
Weekend of Local is an opportunity for residents to explore new businesses, revisit favorite shops and restaurants, and experience the diversity of products and services available right here in Norman. Whether you are searching for a one-of-a-kind gift, enjoying a meal with family and friends, or simply looking to support your neighbors, there are countless ways to participate throughout the weekend.
NORMAN’S LOCAL BUSINESS INITIATIVE RETURNS JULY 17-19
Join thousands of Norman residents in celebrating and supporting locally owned businesses during Weekend of Local, July 17–19. Every purchase made locally helps strengthen our economy, support local jobs and invest in the future of our community.
The promotion is free and open to all Norman retail and food and beverage businesses, regardless of Chamber membership. Participating businesses receive inclusion in promotional efforts and listings associated with the statewide campaign. Businesses can sign up to participate at weekendoflocal.com.
For more information and a list of participating Norman businesses, visit the Norman Chamber of Commerce website normanchamber. com/weekendoflocal.
LUNCH WITH COACH(ES)
SFostering Futures’ Annual Luncheon Benefits the Children’s Welfare System
ooner fans and community champions should start making plans to join Head Coach Brent Venables at the OU Football Coaches Luncheon with Fostering Futures on July 30!
Get an exclusive look ahead at the upcoming football season straight from the source with a panel of new and returning coaches and players while enjoying a delicious lunch provided by Hal Smith Restaurants and Mama Roja Mexican Kitchen.
You’ll spot many former coaches and program alumni among the guests and hear some familiar tunes from the Pride of Oklahoma; it is encouraged to come dressed in your best Sooner spirit!
Former Sooner standout Tracy Gordon says, “I was blessed by just being there. Last year was my first to attend and I’ve already got it on my calendar for this year, I don’t want to miss [it]. I reconnected with teammates, former coaches and many Sooner enthusiasts and friends while supporting an incredible cause.”
All proceeds from the Coaches Luncheon will benefit Fostering Futures Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to serving children in the child welfare system. The event will help fund Fostering Futures four main programs benefiting foster children. The Secret Santa philosophy is simple: for once, children should be able to ask for what they want, no matter how big or small, and receive exactly what they wished for. Just last year, Fostering Futures impacted more than a thousand children through Emergency Needs, Sibling Connections, and Luggage with Love. “I am continually reminded that our work extends be-
yond the fun of the Coaches Luncheon and reaches the hearts of the children in our community,” says Cher Duncan, the event chair. “Fostering Futures serves as a vital bridge for families who step forward to care for children in crisis…This work is possible thanks to a community that chooses to show up, give generously and volunteer their time and energy relentlessly.”
Visit FosteringFuturesOK.org for more information. For sponsorship opportunities contact Ronda Chapman McKown at rondamckown@ideal-homes.com or Sue Durrett at sdur2128@gmail.com.
Fostering Futures OU Coaches Luncheon
Thursday, July 30, 2026 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Norman Public Schools Center for Arts and Learning 3801 Journey Parkway
Proud Sponsor of United Way of Norman
COLLECTING DALLAS
Youth Nostalgia Fuels Impressive Collection
David Goodspeed is overcome by nostalgia whenever he opens the door to his spare bedroom.
Inside is a massive collection of memorabilia from the TV series Dallas, a prime-time soap opera that aired on CBS from 1978 to 1991 and starred Larry Hagman as greedy, scheming oil tycoon J.R. Ewing.
“I know I can walk into the room and instantly go back in time and feel like a kid again,” said Goodspeed, 55, the president of OEC Fiber, a high-speed subsidiary of the Oklahoma Electric Cooperative. “The journey it’s taken me on has been one I never would have imagined.”
There are jigsaw puzzles and vintage clothing, signed trading cards and photos, rare props and gear. All of it Goodspeed has amassed over 15 years.
“Every wall is covered,” he said. “You can’t see the walls because of posters and framed photos and autographed photos and me with the celebrities.”
Goodspeed’s collection will be featured on “Collector’s Call,” an original television series on the MeTV network that showcases private collections of pop culture and entertainment memorabilia.
Lisa Whelcehl, best known as Blair Warner on the 1980s sitcom Facts of Life, hosts the show, which will air on Aug. 2 at 5:30 p.m.
“I never thought that my collection was good enough to be on a TV show,” he said.
But Charlene Tilton, who played Ewing’s teenage niece Lucy in the series, convinced him otherwise. Tilton reached out to Whelchel on Goodspeed’s behalf.
“She said, ‘We need to do this show, and I will come to your house, and I will do it,’” Goodspeed recalled.
That was September. The show was taped in one day in early February at Goodspeed’s Norman home, and Tilton made good on her promise.
“Charlene and I are great friends,” he said. “She texts me all the time. We talk about life; we talk about grandkids.”
Goodspeed admits that his 4,500-piece collection, which is valued at $600,000 and has “crept” into his downstairs office, is “out of control.”
“I’ve run out of room because I keep getting stuff every day,” he said. “At least three or four days a week something is coming in the mail Dallas related.
“Most of it came through eBay, Facebook Marketplace,” Goodspeed continued. “Before eBay existed, there were AOL chatrooms, and so I’d meet people that way. But really, a lot of it came through traveling the country and going to antique stores.”
Goodspeed’s passion for collecting started when he worked at a baseball card shop in Brookhaven Village while attending the University of Oklahoma.
Goodspeed traveled the country with his boss, “an old soul at heart who taught me the ways of the vintage.”
“I think collectors thrive off the thrill of the hunt more than anything else,” he said. “I think I do ... because whenever I find something, I will do whatever I have to do to get it. It’s not ‘Can I afford it,’ it’s like ‘How am I going to afford this?’”
Goodspeed promotes his collection on his Facebook page. It is called Cattlemen’s Club after the exclusive members-only social club and restaurant in the series.
“It all started with buying a 25-cent pack of cards, and the next thing I know, here I am,” he said he told Whelcehl when they taped the show. “I told her, I said ‘I don’t know how it ended up here. I just woke up one day and I was like ... I’ve got a ton of stuff.’
“The collection, I think, is just a lifetime of loving something,” he said. “It sounds kind of goofy or whatever, but it’s like my life’s mission to keep it alive.”
NEW DIRECTOR
Roger Denny takes over as Sooner AD
BY: CHRIS PLANK
When Joe Castiglione announced he would be retiring, not many people had thought of the name Roger Denny as a potential replacement.
There wasn’t a tie to Oklahoma — or even Joe C — in his resume, and Denny had just started working in college athletics over the last five years. But Denny was able to lay out a vision and a plan that sold the decision makers at OU. Early on in his tenure as the new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Programs and Director of Athletics, he has proven the plan is more than just talk.
Denny, with just four years of college athletics administration experience at Illinois, might be new to college athletics, but the current formula is the only formula that he has been a part of in the college sports world.
“I showed up at Illinois about a week after NIL became legal,” Denny said. “We talk about all this change in sports. To me, it’s the only way I’ve ever known it. We’ve built a heck of a program (at Illinois), one I’m incredibly proud of.”
Denny enters the OU job during what he calls a “big bang moment,” not only in college athletics, but in the world.
“And then you really start to dig in, and you get to know the people,” Denny said. “The buzzword around our industry is alignment, right? Everyone talks about alignment, top to bottom, this and that. What I would tell you about Oklahoma is it’s not just alignment. It is absolute commitment to excellence and winning, and not just winning, but winning championships.”
So, despite an unlikely path, Denny became OU’s next athletics director and will help blaze the path for the Sooners during a new era and generation for college athletics.
Denny spent the last four years at Illinois overseeing the strategic direction of the department’s business operations while serving as sport administrator for football. Before that, he worked at law firms in St. Louis for nearly 16 years, most recently practicing at Spencer Fane LLP, representing power-conference institutions in coaching searches and retention negotiations, advising Big Ten schools on employment litigation and counseling programs through conference realignment.
During his time as the OU athletics director, he has quickly learned the passion of Sooner fans, whether during packed softball games at Love’s Field or the environment at the spring football game when linebacker Owen Heinecke ran onto Owen Field following his eligibility win. But he’s also gotten down to business.
“One thing that we have to do, we can’t be provincial about this,” Denny said. “We can’t be so proud about
the way we thought of things five or six years ago that we’re unwilling to change today. Whether we accept that, and once we accept that change is happening, whether we embrace it or not, then the question becomes: Can you see around the corner a little bit? Can you try to predict where this thing is going?”
Back in 1998, when Oklahoma last made an athletics director hire, the Sooners targeted Castiglione from Missouri for his rising profile in the collegiate administrative ranks. In the previous era, fundraising in the arms race of securing bigger facilities to attract the top talent across the country was the special sauce for sports leadership.
But this is 2026 — NIL, revenue sharing, wages, pay scales and other contract verbiage have integrated themselves into college sports. With his experience, Denny already has a deep familiarity with those business realities.
Denny spent over a decade practicing law as a partner at Spencer Fane LLP, specializing in corporate, finance and sports industry clients. His background in tax, mergers and intellectual property paints him as less of a previous-era “stadium building” athletics director and more of a sort of “sports business czar.”
“I never set out to chase a job,” Denny said after being hired at OU.
As the deputy director of athletics at Illinois, he was responsible for overseeing all business strategy and department operations and helped secure a $100 million gift, which was the largest ever in the history of Illinois.
Denny also helped lead the NIL strategy at Illinois and was responsible for expanding opportunities for student-athletes. While serving as the sports administrator for the Illinois football program, the Fighting Illini won 19 games over the last two seasons. During his four-year stint, season ticket sales and average attendance ranked among the nation’s best.
Denny was equally surprised and impressed when Oklahoma came calling for an interview last fall.
“The university was taking a different approach in search for a new athletics director,” Denny said. “Not going by the same lists that a lot of people around the industry use.”
During the courtship with Oklahoma, Denny saw the hunger that Oklahoma had to reach the next level. And it wasn’t just coming from President Joseph Harroz Jr. or Randall Stephenson, the search committee chair and Special Advisor to the President and the Director of Athletics. Denny witnessed the same from legends like Sam Bradford, Sherri Coale and Bob Stoops.
“The job got more exciting, and that’s exactly the way you want it to be,” Denny said.
A few of his first major decisions included stabilizing both basketball programs. After throwing complete and total support behind Porter Moser, Denny hired general managers for both men’s and women’s basketball. Denny understands the importance of being competitive at the highest level in basketball as the Fighting Illini men punched their ticket to the Final Four this past season.
“All (sports are) important. Love all of them the same,” Denny said. “But we have to recognize that now our media money is 40% of our budget. So, when you look at something and it’s 40% of your budget, and 90% of that 40% comes from three sports, it’s really important that you’re successful in those three sports. We cannot let any one of those three fall behind.
“I’ve seen what a really top-line basketball program can do for a university and an athletics program,” Denny continued. “It’s really coach (Jennie) Baranczyk in women’s hoops has done this to a large degree, but we need it in men’s hoops as well.”
Denny made clear that the standard for men’s basketball extends beyond incremental improvement. The focus, he said, is ensuring performance reflects the program’s resources and ambitions.
“We cannot be satisfied with the performance of our men’s basketball program over the last five plus years,” Denny said. “The question then becomes, well, what is
causing that issue and how do we fix the issue? And I think for a long, long time in our business, that’s been a pretty simple analysis, right? If you’re not winning, you make a change to the head coaching position and you hope for a better shot the next time. Well, now, the variables have changed a little bit.
“The correlation between the resources that you put into a program, which now includes the amount of NIL opportunity that your student-athletes have, is higher than ever with program success,” Denny continued. “Those conversations have been based almost entirely around what are we doing to give ourselves a shot? How are we investing in the program with the resources that we have? How are we allocating those resources between facilities and staffing and NIL opportunities and everything that goes into the program? And once we see how those resources have been allocated, then it’s a question of, do we have enough resources?”
Denny watched as the Sooner hoops team went on a late-season run, and despite a challenging start to the season, Moser put the Sooners in position to potentially make the NCAA tournament. Despite coming up short of a bid to the Big Dance, Denny liked the leadership and foundation he saw within the basketball program.
“There are probably a few places where we could reallocate things a little bit differently and gain some
margin on the edges, but the place where I found the most room for improvement was flat out putting more resources into the program,” Denny said. “And that’s all areas of the program.
“Certainly, I’ve talked a lot about return on investment,” Denny continued. “I think the highest return on investment that you’re going to get is putting the money into student-athlete NIL opportunities, and that is going to help us retain players. But it’s also going to help us attract players. And what I’ve said to people within our department and otherwise is, like, we all accept how important NIL is in this environment. We all know that at this point. We don’t need to explain why anymore. But the key for us is to make sure that we’ve got enough powder.”
Not only is Denny fully committed to offering Moser and women’s coach Jennie Baranczyk all the resources needed to compete on the floor, but all of the details are important to him — from the fan experience to the landscaping outside the arena to the addition of a new multipurpose facility with the development of the Rock Creek Entertainment District.
FUSON_BoydSt_1225.pdf 1 11/13/25 8:06 PM
“It’s going to be incredible,” Denny said. “All of a sudden, you can go for a game and instead of sitting on Highway 9 for an hour trying to get out of there, you can go hang out and have a great meal or a drink in the district and have a good time for an hour.”
Denny’s early impact at Oklahoma has been defined by a willingness to view the athletic department through the lens of a modern sports business.
His background in law, contracts and strategy has shown up quickly in the way he talks about NIL, revenue sharing, resource allocation and the importance of keeping football and basketball positioned to compete in the SEC.
Denny has not treated Oklahoma’s challenges as problems that can be solved by tradition alone. Instead, he has pushed the Sooners toward a more aggressive, professionalized model — one built around investment, adaptability and a clear understanding of where college athletics is headed.
In simpler terms, it has been a home run hire for Oklahoma in navigating the new path for college athletics.– BSM
BY: HATTIE ADAMS
Music by Richard Rodgers Book and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
PAWS, PAINT AND PURPOSE
EAGLE SCOUT PROJECT CREATES A HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR MOORE SHELTER DOGS
Adoptable dogs at the Moore Animal Shelter now have two new places to rest and feel at home thanks to an Eagle Scout project led by Lillian Castellani, who is on track to become the first female Eagles Scout of Troop 287 in Moore.
Castellani organized the construction, decoration and installation of two dog houses in the shelter’s outdoor yards, providing additional shelter for dogs awaiting adoption while helping create a warmer, more homelike environment during their stay.
Her connection to the shelter began years before the project took shape.
“I’ve always loved the shelter,” she said. “Ever since I was little, I always wanted to volunteer for all the dogs and cats that end up there.”
That compassion became the foundation of her Eagle
project. Castellani said shelter animals do not choose their circumstances and may not understand why they have been separated from their previous homes.
“They never wanted this life, and they can’t understand,” she said. “That’s why I wanted to help so they feel like they belong in this world and feel loved.”
Cody Duke, a fellow Eagle Scout and Eagle review board member, said projects like Castellani’s encourage Scouts to stretch their abilities and recognize the difference one person can make.
“These projects enable Scouts to emerge from their comfort zones and demonstrate the significant impact an individual’s idea can have on a community,” Duke said.
Completing the project required more than constructing the houses. One of Castellani’s greatest
logistical challenges was determining how to move the finished structures into the shelter’s yards. Solving that problem helped turn her vision into a resource the dogs could enjoy.
The project also gave Scouts and adult volunteers an opportunity to contribute their skills and creativity. One house became a collaborative art project featuring individual designs created by members of Troops 6287 and 287.
“I’m so proud that everyone came together,” Castellani said. “Though all the decorations are different, they’re all a part of the person who contributed.”
The project became especially meaningful when the shelter’s dogs were finally able to explore the finished houses.
“I really, really loved watching the dogs check them out as soon as they were finished,” Castellani said. “All of them seemed to love the new decor.”
Duke said Eagle projects meet tangible community needs while also shaping scouts into more capable and confident leaders.
“Eagle projects exemplify what it means to be a good citizen and, by extension, highlight the potential of the next generation,” he said.
Castellani hopes the houses will remind shelter visitors to approach every animal with compassion.
“I hope they see the dog houses and remember to always treat all furry friends with all the love you can,” she said. “You never know their past.”
As the dogs wait for permanent homes, Castellani’s project will provide comfort, protection and a more welcoming place to stay.
BY: LINDSAY CUOMO
Orthopedic services, close to you.
Ortho Central provides comprehensive or thopedic care for all stages of life. With seven surgeons, two sports medicine physicians and a care team full of orthopedic specialists, Ortho Central is your partner in helping you get back on your feet.
Restore your strength here.
THE ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT THAT BUILT A NATION CONTINUES TO STRENGTHEN NORMAN
As our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary this July, Americans have an opportunity to reflect on the ideals, sacrifices and achievements that have defined the United States since 1776. While we honor the statesmen and patriots whose vision gave birth to our nation, we should also recognize a driving force that has shaped America from its earliest days: business and entrepreneurship.
The story of America is, in many ways, the story of people willing to take risks, pursue opportunity and build something greater than themselves. Long before independence was declared, merchants, farmers, tradesmen and entrepreneurs helped establish thriving communities throughout the colonies. Their determination and innovation laid the foundation for economic growth and helped fuel the dream of a more prosperous future.
In fact, many of the issues that led to the American Revolution were rooted in economic freedom. The desire for self-determination was not only political but also about the ability of citizens to pursue their dreams, grow businesses and benefit from the fruits of their labor. The principles that inspired our founders continue to shape the American economy today.
For 250 years, businesses have played a central role in our nation’s progress. They built the railroads that connected the country, powered industrial growth, advanced technological innovation and created jobs that helped generations of Americans achieve their dreams. From small family-owned enterprises to world-changing corporations, businesses have been engines of prosperity and community development. Here in Norman, we see those same principles at work every day.
From the earliest days of our city’s history, entrepreneurship has been part of Norman’s identity. Settlers who arrived during the Land Run of 1889
came seeking possibility and a chance to build a future. They opened stores, established banks, launched businesses and helped transform a prairie settlement into the vibrant community we know today.
Today, that entrepreneurial spirit remains strong. From long-established local businesses that have served generations of residents to emerging companies born from the University of Oklahoma’s research and innovation ecosystem, Norman’s business community continues to shape the city’s prosperity and future. Beyond providing goods and services, these businesses invest in our community by supporting local schools, sponsoring youth sports teams, contributing to nonprofit organizations and community events, and volunteering their time and resources. In doing so, they help strengthen the civic fabric that makes Norman one of Oklahoma’s most desirable places to live and work.
As the Norman Chamber of Commerce works to advance economic prosperity and support our business community, we are reminded that America’s success has always depended on communities like ours. Across 250 years of history, the nation’s progress has been built town by town, business by business and entrepreneur by entrepreneur.
As we celebrate this historic milestone, let us honor both our national heritage and our local legacy. The same spirit of innovation, resilience and optimism that helped establish America continues to thrive in Norman today. By supporting local businesses, encouraging entrepreneurship and investing in future generations, we help ensure that the next chapter of America’s story and Norman’s story will be even stronger than the last.
On behalf of the Norman Chamber of Commerce, happy 250th birthday, America, and here’s to the bright future ahead for Norman and our nation.
Jessica Johnson’s biggest cheerleader is also her source of motivation.
That No. 1 fan is Miles, Johnson’s 18-year-old son.
“Miles gives me accolades all the time,” Johnson said. “I wouldn’t be nearly as driven if it wasn’t for Miles, for sure. He drives me to be a better person.”
Johnson’s son is a major reason why she enrolled in Moore Norman Technology Center’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program. The single mom said the program has been a way for her to make a career change and to better provide for her son, who is autistic.
“This will help me prepare for Miles’ future financially,” she said. “This gives us a lot of stability, and that will help.”
Johnson will graduate July 29 from the program. She said the support, resources and flexibility she’s experienced from the technology center and the SunHive Collective organization — which her son is involved with — has helped her navigate the aviation program.
“The faculty and staff here at Moore Norman Technology Center are incredible,” she said. “The administration, faculty and staff really have shown up for me.”
While Johnson is in school, her son goes to SunHive Collective, a Norman nonprofit that provides educational and enrichment opportunities for young adults with disabilities. Miles is thriving at the nonprofit.
Johnson, of Noble, said one of her reasons for choosing the technology center was the close proximity to her son while he’s at SunHive Collective, making it a quick trip if he needs anything or to join him for lunch.
Johnson said she is also excited about the knowledge and skills she has gained in the Aviation Maintenance
A MOTHER’S MOTIVATION
Student Credits Her Son, Support From Others for Giving Her the Chance to Pursue Career in Aviation Maintenance
Technology program. Students in the program learn how to inspect and perform maintenance, preventive maintenance and alteration of aircraft and aircraft systems.
Prior to attending the technology center, Johnson provided mowing services for government contacts, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. She later began to look at different career options and said aviation has long been an interest of hers. Her father is a pilot, and “I have been a passenger in an airplane since I was five.”
Johnson said her career goals include working for the Federal Aviation Administration or exploring job opportunities within aviation manufacturing.
The student said a big supporter of hers at the technology center is Jennifer Layman, a counselor who works with students in the aerospace, transportation and welding programs. Johnson said she values the encouragement and understanding she has experienced from Layman.
Layman said Johnson’s diligence is inspiring.
“This is my 20th year as a counselor in education,” Layman said. “She is probably one of the most, if not the most, goal-driven and dedicated students that I’ve ever worked with.”
Layman said one of the rewards of her job is seeing students like Johnson who are determined to thrive.
“It’s so great to see these individuals, like Jessica, to see the success that they get from being a student here at Moore Norman Technology Center.”
Layman said those achievements also await other individuals who want to pursue career programs at the center.
“The amount of resources that we have here helps every student be successful,” Layman said.– BSM
Small Commitment. Big Possibilities.
Two hours or two years. One decision could change the course of your future.
Whether you spend two hours learning something new or two years preparing for a career, the time you invest today can change what’s possible tomorrow.
Visit us online or call today to explore the possibilities.
INDOOR AMENITIES
Central heating and air | Gourmet style kitchen
Granite-like countertops | Plush carpeting
Hardwood-like flooring | Stainless steel appliances
Full-size washer and dryer connections
Double door refrigerator, icemaker, filtered water
Spacious bathrooms with soaking tubs
Large walk-in closets | Energy-efficient windows
Cox Quick Connect, allowing immediate internet
COMMUNITY AMENITIES
24 hour fitness gym
Club house
Swimming pool
Business center
On-site maintenance
HOW TO GROW GREEN ON A BUDGET
Gardening is a fulfilling hobby, but it can be expensive. The good news is a flourishing garden doesn’t have to come with a hefty price tag. Here’s how to cultivate a beautiful, vibrant garden without breaking the budget.
START SMALL AND PLAN AHEAD
It’s tempting to fill your garden with everything that catches your eye, but it’s best to start small. Do some research to learn which low-maintenance plants can thrive in your local climate and soil conditions. Then, create a small garden plan that will help you avoid impulse buys. Once you’ve mastered your small garden, move on to something bigger until you have the garden of your dreams.
SOURCE FREE OR AFFORDABLE SEEDS AND PLANTS
Watching a flower or vegetable grow from seed to blossom is a uniquely rewarding experience. As a bonus, seeds are generally far more affordable than seedlings. Get your seeds at community library and gardening club seed swaps, where you can exchange seeds with fellow gardeners at no cost. Alternatively, you can ask your friends or neighbors if they have plants to share.
USE HOUSEHOLD ITEMS FOR DIY PLANTERS
Instead of purchasing expensive pots or planters, repurpose items you already have. With some creativity, old buckets, crates and coffee cans can make excellent planters. Drill drainage holes in the bottom and decorate them to suit your style.
Purchase tools at the dollar store
There’s no need to blow big bucks on gardening tools like trowels and watering cans. You’ll find all kinds of gardening tools that do the job just fine at your local dollar store for half the cost.
MAKE YOUR OWN COMPOST
Skip store-bought fertilizers by starting your own compost pile. Kitchen scraps, like fruit and vegetable peels, coffee grounds and eggshells, can break down into nutrient-rich compost for your plants.
SHARE OR RENT EXPENSIVE EQUIPMENT
Before you blow half your salary on expensive gardening equipment, like aerators or electric trimmers, find out if any of your friends and neighbors would be willing to lend theirs out. Alternatively, you can rent the tools you’ll only need a few times a season from a home improvement store.
SHOP SMART FOR GARDENING SUPPLIES
Timing is everything when it comes to purchasing gardening supplies. Visit nurseries and garden centers at the end of the season, when many plants, tools and accessories are deeply discounted. Look for clearance sections where you can find items at a fraction of their original cost.
GROW PERENNIALS
Investing in perennials will take away the need to replant annually, offering you some savings in the long run. Popular budget-friendly perennials include lavender, daylilies and hostas.
EMBRACE MULCHING
Instead of buying commercial mulch, use free or low-cost alternatives like grass clippings, shredded leaves or wood chips from tree trimmers. If you don’t have enough of these in your own yard, you can often source them for free from local landscaping companies.
Use the tips outlined here to learn how to garden on a budget!
GETTING TO THE ROOT
of Nerve and Muscle Pain with EMG Testing
You’ve been dealing with it for weeks — maybe months. A strange tingling in your hands. Weakness that wasn’t there before. Numbness that comes and goes, or pain that your doctor hasn’t been able to fully explain. You know something isn’t right, but getting to the bottom of it has felt like chasing a moving target.
If that sounds familiar, an electromyography (EMG) test might be exactly what your care team needs to move forward.
WHAT IS AN EMG, EXACTLY?
Electromyography is a diagnostic test that measures the electrical activity in your muscles and nerves. Think of it as a way of listening to the signals your nervous system sends — and detecting where those signals might be getting interrupted, misdirected or weakened.
Your muscles and nerves communicate through electrical impulses. When something disrupts that communication — whether it’s a compressed nerve, a disease affecting the peripheral nervous system or a muscle disorder — an EMG can detect the disruption and help your doctor pinpoint the source.
That precision matters. Without it, treatment is often a process of educated guessing. With it, your care team can move directly toward a targeted plan.
WHAT CONDITIONS CAN AN EMG DETECT?
EMG testing is particularly useful for identifying:
• Pinched nerves and carpal tunnel syndrome — common culprits behind hand, wrist and arm discomfort
• Peripheral neuropathy — nerve damage that often causes burning, tingling or numbness, especially in the hands and feet
• Radiculopathy — nerve pain originating from the spine, often felt as radiating pain down the arm or leg
• Muscle disorders and unexplained weakness
• Unexplained numbness or tingling that hasn’t been explained by other testing
These are symptoms that tend to be dismissed, misattributed or difficult to diagnose through imaging alone. An EMG adds a layer of information that other tests simply can’t provide.
WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR APPOINTMENT
EMG testing is performed right in the office and typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes. There’s no hospital stay, no lengthy prep and no significant recovery time.
During the test, your provider will place small electrodes on the skin or use a fine needle to measure electrical activity in specific muscles. It’s a careful, methodical process — and your provider will walk you through each step and discuss the results with you so you leave with a clearer picture of what’s going on and what comes next.
WHERE TO GO IN NORMAN
Norman Regional Neurology Associates and the Oklahoma Headache Center — both located at 2821 36th Ave. N.W. in Norman — offer EMG testing for patients experiencing nerve and muscle symptoms. EMG is covered by most major insurance plans, though a physician referral is often required.
Living with unexplained symptoms is exhausting. An EMG won’t just identify a problem — it gives your care team the information they need to do something about it. Talk to your doctor about whether an EMG makes sense for you or schedule your EMG by calling 405-307-5700.
SERVICE SPOTLIGHT: LUIS RANGEL
It’s that time of the year when rain and severe storms are common, and while we usually need rain, it can cause drainage issues. Addressing these issues is one of several functions of the City of Norman Stormwater Division.
Luis Rangel, Stormwater supervisor, has been working for the city for almost 19 years and said a lot of the work goes unnoticed.
“The stormwater infrastructure is underground,” Rangel explained. “Stormwater is rain that flows over the streets and yards, picking up pollutants like oil and trash and chemicals. It usually isn’t treated before reaching local waterways, which makes it an issue for Lake Thunderbird, Norman’s drinking water.”
Rangel’s brother-in-law worked for the City of Norman in water line maintenance and suggested he apply for a job with the Streets Division. He did and was one of 12 people hired at Lindsey Yard.
Rangel rose through the ranks from maintenance worker I to maintenance worker II to heavy equipment operator. When Rangel was hired, there were not separate Streets and Stormwater Divisions.
“Those differentiations came into being about 8 to 10 years ago,” Rangel explained. “That’s when a crew chief position opened in Stormwater, and I put in for it. It’s in the same Lindsey Yard as Streets. We piggyback off each other as far as work between Streets and Stormwater and help each other a lot.”
Moving higher in the ranks to supervisor, Rangel now manages 16 employees, overseeing three crews.
“I’ve got guys that run a channel maintenance crew in charge of mowing, the upkeep on our flumes (ravines with a stream running through them) and anything where the water flows,” Rangel said. “Then I have an infrastructure crew. They’re in charge of installing and maintaining the inlet boxes and stormwater pipe and making sure water is flowing properly. I also have a crew responsible for street sweeping.”
When Rangel moved into the supervisor position, he had a lot of support and encouragement, not just from the Stormwater Division but also upper management believing and trusting him.
“The number one thing a person wants to do is prove themselves, and I accomplished that after making it my priority,” Rangel said. “My next priority was to work hard, stay consistent and lead by example.”
When not at work, Rangel is a family man living a simple life with three kids and lots of nieces and nephews.
“We attend a lot of sports activities, and if there’s anything to do with basketball, we’re involved,” Rangel said. “We’re always doing something as a family.”
Rangel’s wife is the owner and director of a daycare in Purcell, where they now live. Before opening the daycare, she was a teacher, and together they fostered kids for six years. Their 11-year-old was placed with them at 9 months old and only knows the Rangels as family. They also have a 22-year-old and a 19-yearold. Rangel said he’s had the privilege of coaching them in basketball from youth league to varsity.
“I’ve fulfilled my dream of coaching through them,” Rangel said.
To keep the community safe during heavy rain events, the Stormwater Division helps prevent flooding, but they can’t do it alone.
“We need the help of the Norman community,” Rangel said. “At the bottom of the hill where there’s a stream, it’s catching trash. It could be disposable drinking cups or napkins blowing out of cars and blowing into the street.”
Rangel said the work of the Stormwater Division is essential, even though it’s behind the scenes.
“We do more than manage the drainage system,” Rangel said. “We can’t control all of it, but we help prevent flooding. It’s important to understand that what we do protects water quality. It’s a cycle, and we drink that water.”
Rangel is committed and dedicated, takes pride in his job and loves what he does.
