PAGE 2-C–THE PONCA CITY NEWS, SUNDAY, JULY 1, 2012
Jason Andrew Ford and Kayla Jo Oldham
Oldham, Ford Plan Vows
Julian and Beth Ford, of Ponca City, along with June Weiszbrod and Dan Oldham, both of Woodward, announce the
engagement of their children, Jason Andrew Ford and Kayla
Jo Oldham. The couple has selected July 28, 2012 to exchange
wedding vows in a Tulsa ceremony.
The bride-elect is the granddaughter of Dale Oldham, of
Woodward, and the late Bessie Oldham and the late Ralph and
Barbara Kimmel. Kayla is a 2007 graduate of Woodward High
School and earned a degree in early childhood education from
Oklahoma State University in 2012. She is a teacher with Head
Start in Ponca City.
The prospective groom is the grandson of Bill and Sylvia
Bolding, of Hobart, and the late Harrell and Roberta Ford.
Jason is a 2006 graduate of Ponca City High School and earned
a finance and accounting degree from OSU in 2011. He is
employed as an accountant with VanCleave and Associates,
Ponca City.
Edens’ Program at PTC
Preps Girls for Success
The Thursday meeting of
Professionals Today was highlighted by Whitney Edens’
“Girls for Success Program”
at Pioneer Technology Center. She was accompanied by
Kat Dewey, a PTC student and
participant in the program.
The program is a drop-out
recovery effort conceived and
largely funded by Edens. High
school co-eds are invited —
not required — to spend their
two-hour lunch break with
her. This break is between
morning and afternoon sessions and corresponds with
Edens’ lunch and lesson planning time. Participating girls
receive high school credit.
According to Edens, the
program is part mentoring,
part education, part guidance counselor and part life
skills. One day a week, they
get together to cover topics
that may seem really simple
to some, but make a huge difference in the lives of these
girls.
Edens said it’s important for
the girls to change their perception of themselves. Past
bad decisions does not define
a person for the rest of their
life. Everyone can start over
right and do things differently. Through this program,
Edens helps the girls learn
what good decisions look like.
It’s also helping them look
at themselves as something
other than high school dropouts.
According to Edens, the
ladies have no concept about
nutrition and wellness. So,
they learned about exercise
and how that can help burn
off extra energy and improve
mental focus. Kay Smith,
Om Yoga, conducted sessions which taught breathing
techniques and gentle yoga
stretches.
Other areas addressed were
basic sewing skills such as
hemming a skirt or attaching
a button; recycling; car safety
and maintenance; communication skills; self-defense and
healthy relationships. Amanda Doran, executive director
of Domestic Violence Program
of North Central Oklahoma,
gave the ladies signs to watch
for indicating a potentially
abusive relationship. The
group also discussed finances
including how to live within
a budget, how to be a renter,
renter’s insurance, the ins
and outs of credit scores and
even how their credit score
can impact whether or not
they can rent an apartment.
Prior to the presentation,
Louise Abercrombie read the
lyrics to “I am Woman” during
Moments.
Guests were Kailey Sullins,
an agriculture communications student at Oklahoma
State University and summer
intern with PT member Terri
Busch, of Pioneer Technology
Center, and RayLynn Blanton,
daughter of PT member Echo
Blanton. Kerry Mullenax was
welcomed back. Cute takehomes from the meeting were
individual lemonade packet
holders attached to bottles of
water, thanks to Janice Myers
of the hospitality committee.
Celebrating June birthdays
are members Jamie Parton,
Melissa Young and Blanton.
They received cupcake holders. Roses and Raspberries
participants were Christina
Rich-Splawn, Young, Myers,
Busch, Abercrombie and
Blanton.
In a follow-up email to
members, President Shanley
Wells suggested Professionals Today consider partnering
with the “Girls for Success
Program” which has been
solely funded by Edens or
with grants.
The next meeting is set for
July 5 at noon at Pizza Hut.
Little News
By Louise Abercrombie
Hanger Wars
In the clothes closets of the world, there lurks an
untamed army of enemies. They cluster together in platoons of unknown materials, some are just plain wire.
Others are plastic, wood and still others are uniformed
in cotton and stain. These legions of foes bide their time
before attacking the human enemy.
They come in various sizes and
shapes — you got it — they are
the almighty clothes hangers.
When you reach into the closet to
remove a single hanger of wearing
apparel they bring a half a dozen
other fighters to help defeat the
enemy. They hook together and
resist until the desired garment
is jerked free and lands on the
floor.
Looking into the ancestry on
these confounded contraptions,
I found out today’s most used
hanger was inspired by a coat
hook. The shoulder-shaped wire
hanger was invented in 1869 by O.
A. North of New Britain. Please explain why we are still
using these antiqued clothes hanger-uppers after a nearly
century and a half?
If we can put a man on the moon, why can’t we have
clothes sliders or pole tree hangers or non-attachable
metals? Or have these already been invented during the
NASA era and our government is hiding this information
from us? We already know the outer space shots encouraged new products such as Velcro and Tang.
The most humiliating act a wire hanger can commit
against humanity is to hide itself in the interior of a jacket
and let the person walk out in public with the hanger neck
sticking up above their coat collar. And what do we, the
public, do about it? They recycle it right back into the
society of the closet by returning it to the hanging rod
rack.
On the advice of my podiatrist (foot doctor) I never
approach the closet barefoot. Why? Because he doesn’t
want to be responsible for sewing a severed toe back on.
Seems these metal hangers have sharp points on the hanger head and often they join their hanger buddies when a
patron tries to remove a single garment.
These public enemies have a talent for hiding. When
needed for hanging up a dryer full of clothes — they can
hide for days. Then mysteriously appear in a bunch all
tangled up. Try to pick up one and the whole bent-necked
batch clings together as if they are afraid of being singled
out to do some mundane duty such as hanging up shirts.
Trying to beat the HSU (Hanger System United) I’ve
tried several alternative remedies. Throwing clothes in
piles on the floor or folding them and putting them in
drawers, but this only leads to wrinkled garments, which
are frowned on in stylish circles. The dry cleaners seem
to have the situation in hand with hangers ensconced on a
revolving system, but this is not practical for the average
home owner.
Our government is generous in giving economic development grants. Now is the time to apply for a Freedom of
Clothes Hanger Abuse (FCHA) grant.
One good aspect about the hanger dilemma? These
twisted wire antagonists are not biased. They would just
as soon strike youngsters, grown-ups, seniors, males or
females. Seems the only group not affected by this hanger
crisis is The World Nudist Association.
Tell the world about your new arrival!
Visit www.poncacitynews.com and click on “Contact Us”
for access to the birth announcement forms. Or, come by
the Lifestyles desk
at The Ponca City
News, 300 North
Third Street during
normal business
hours to pick up
a form.
Abilgail Ann Wyckoff
Michael and Carissa Wyckoff, of Frisco, Texas, announce the
birth of a daughter, Abigail Ann Wyckoff, born June 19, 2012.
She arrived at 4:03 a.m. at Baylor Medical Center weighing 7
pounds, 1 ounce and measuring 20 inches in length.
Maternal grandparents are Marilyn Lawson, of Richardson,
Texas, and the late Wayne Lawson. Paternal grandparents
are former Ponca City residents Bob and Lavona Wyckoff, of
Skiatook.
—————
Xzavier Joell Gifford
Sean Tipton adn Felicia Gifford announce the birth of a
son, Xzavier Joell Gifford, born in Ponca City April 2, 2012 at
7:50 a.m. He weighed 8 pounds, 7 ounces and measured 20 1/2
inches.
Maternal grandparents are Harry and Andrea Gifford, of
Ponca City; Paternal grandparents are Sherry DewBerry and
Randy Tipton, both of Guthrie. Xzavier is the great-grandson of
Thelma Maudlin, of Ponca City and Grace Tipton, of Guthrie.
Xzavier joins his twin brothers, Malaki and Izaiah Gifford,
ages 2.
Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Don Swift
Dara Torres, Kevin Swift
Wed in Civil Ceremony
Kevin Don Swift and Dara Rebecca Herminia Torres were
married in a planned elopement ceremony on June 6, 2012 at
the Kay County Courthouse in Newkirk. Judge David Bandy
officiated the 3 p.m. event.
The bride is the daughter of Rosalinda Calzada Torres and
Gilberto Eugenio Torres, both of Ponca City. She is the granddaughter of Rebecca Castro, of Corpus Christi, Texas.
The groom is the son of Sondra Lee Donaldson and Stephen
Kelly Swift, both of Mannford. He is the grandson of Don Donaldson and Jessie Swift, both of Tulsa.
The bride wore an ivory gown featuring a trumpet silhouette,
empire waist, cap sleeves and chapel-length train covered in
extensively beaded lace. Her cream-colored, fingertip-length
veil cascaded from a crystal-encrusted headband. crystalled
headband. White feathered designer shoes adorned her henna
decorated feet.
Following wedding traditions she wore her mother’s pearl
earrings as “something old;” her dress was “something new”
and a pearl bracelet from her future mother-in-law represented “something borrowed.” For “something blue” Dara asked
the women closest in her heart to sign message of love on the
bottom of her shoes in blue. She carried a handmade bouquet
of purple and lavender flowers made by Nancy Zimmerschied.
Attending the bride was her sister Xenia M. Robertson along
with Michelle VanWinkle Johnson and Nancy I. Zimmerschied,
all of Ponca City, and Cedar An Torres, of Edmond, sister-inlaw of the bride.
The groom, as well as Crux Gilberto Torres Swift, the bride’s
son, wore tuxedos with handmade boutonnieres of lavender.
After the ceremony the couple was greeted on the courthouse
steps. Guests tossed dried lavender blossoms on the happy
couple as wishes for good fortune.
The newlyweds hosted their family and friends at a reception
at Macarenas Restaurant. The room was decorated with large
flower array of purple feathers, flowers and crystals arranged
by the bride and her sister. The couple toasted their guests and
new marriage with crafted purple glittered champagne glasses.
The wedding “donut tower” was made by Michelle VanWinkle. The guest book was made by the bride. It was a family tree
painted and embellished by each guest’ name and fingerprints
to represent leaves on the tree. The bride also asked each
guest to please highlight a word in an antique dictionary as
inspirations to the new couple.
Ponca City guests included the bride’s parents, Vernon and
Xenia Robertson and their daughter XaraPaz; Nancy Zimmerschied and her daughter Alexandria; the bride’s godmother
Imelda Perez; and Dennis and Debbie Robertson.
Out of town guests were the bridegroom’s parents; Marty
Snider, daughter Lauren Snider and his mother Wanda all
of Mannford; Nick and Rachel Bolen and son Elias, of Tulsa;
Albert and Cedar Torres and children Arabella, Romeo, Bambalina, Enzo and the still unborn newest Torres child, all of
Edmond.
The couple honeymooned in Edmond and plan to continue
the celebration in the Caribbean this fall.
Dara is an emergency room clerk and Kevin is a radiologic
technologist at Ponca City Medical Center — where they first
met and fell in love.
The photography was a gift to the couple by the bride’s best
friend, Tyler Van Arsdale, of Ponca City.
Rethinking a Slow Cooker Classic as a Slider
By ALISON LADMAN
For The Associated Press
Who says sliders have to
be burgers? We came up
with a fresh take on the summer slider, this one packed
with short ribs rather than a
meaty patty.
Most grocers offer two varieties of beef short ribs — with
the bone and without. For
this recipe you’ll want the
boneless option. The bone-in
cut is best for slow cooking.
The boneless variety also is
fine for slow cooking, but its
marbling and big beefy flavor make it a great candidate
for the grill, too.
Short Rib Sliders with
Snow Pea Slaw
Start to finish: 30 minutes
Servings: 6
For the slaw:
1
cup snow peas, cut
into long, skinny
strips
1/2
cup grated carrot
1
tablespoon chopped
fresh mint
1/4
cup golden raisins,
chopped
1
tablespoon cider vinegar
Salt and ground black pepper
For the short ribs:
1
1/2
tablespoon brown
sugar
teaspoon salt
1/2
teaspoon ground
black pepper
Pinch cayenne pepper
Pinch allspice
1/2
teaspoon dried thyme
1
pound boneless short
ribs, cut into 6 pieces
6
small buns
Heat the grill to high.
To make the slaw, in a
medium bowl combine the
snow peas, carrot, mint, raisins and vinegar. Toss well,
then season with salt and
pepper. Set aside.
Using an oil-soaked paper
towel held with tongs, oil the
grill grates.
In a small bowl, combine
the brown sugar, salt, pepper, cayenne, allspice and
thyme. Rub this mixture onto
all sides of the short ribs.
Grill the meat for 3 to 4 minutes per side for medium.
Transfer the meat to a plate
and allow to rest for 6 to 8
minutes.
To serve, pile slaw onto
each bun, then top with a
piece of short rib.
Nutrition information per serving
(values are rounded to the nearest
whole number): 290 calories; 90
calories from fat (31 percent of total
calories); 10 g fat (4 g saturated; 0
g trans fats); 60 mg cholesterol; 28
g carbohydrate; 18 g protein; 2 g
fiber; 410 mg sodium.
LEFT, SHORT RIB sliders with snow pea slaw is shown. (AP Photo)