Issue: March 2009

One of the most daunting tasks of remodeling a house is swapping out hardware — door knobs, sinks, vanities and countless other home décor items. Glenda and David McKee’s Hardware Concepts is a remodeler’s dream come true. With thousands of choices, remodelers can find the perfect items to upgrade their home’s décor. But Hardware Concepts…

There’s a saying in the Edmond Police Department: “Always trust the nose.” That’s because four members of the squad are prized for their phenomenal sense of smell. And their speed, agility, intuition and work ethic aren’t bad, either. The K-9 unit at the Edmond Police Department continues to have a positive effect on the officers…

Funky Monkey Shopping for clothes is fun in the bright, candy-colored world of Funky Monkey. March marks the store’s first anniversary and expansion plans are on the table. The shop with the hottest women’s and children’s clothes is going to get hotter.Owners Jennifer Najera and Brittany Faulkner started Funky Monkey with one goal in mind:…

Take a glance at Edmond resident Tom Palmore’s animal paintings, and you’ll swear they’re photographs. Take a closer look and you’ll see the fur is thousands of careful brushstrokes, and the colorful flare in those expressive eyes came from an artist’s palette. Just as Palmore is renowned for his mastery of the craft, he’s loved…

War-torn and ravaged Sierra Leone, still reeling from 12 years of civil war. Drug-addicted child soldiers. Unimaginable medical needs. Now the poorest nation in the world, it can’t heal its people and rebuild its infrastructure. This is one of several countries – and causes – that Dr. Lori Basey and Sandy Orchard have been called…

The convention center is packed. The roar of the crowd is deafening. Music blares through the loudspeakers. Painted faces sport high school colors. Sheer adrenaline sets the tone. It’s not a football or basketball game. But it is a harsh, brutal competition and the fans aren’t cheering for people – they’re cheering for robots. It’s…

At houses all over Edmond, a young doctor holding to old traditions has set out to change the way patients see their doctors. Nathan Valentine, M.D., has formed a practice where the only appointments are house calls – and he’s the only employee. Embracing a concept known as “micropracticing,” he combines new ideas with old…

At 1,650 degrees Fahrenheit his entire body is consumed in flames, yet he continually dares to defy logic. Nothing, not the deep roar of fire in his ears or the suffocating smoke in his face causes him to compromise his professionalism. This jet ski stuntman has spent half of his adult life willingly lighting himself…

Life moves quickly. Schedules are busy. In days past, the yearly vacation gave families all the time they needed to unwind. Not so anymore. These days, more and more families want vacation-quality relaxation without the travel. The “staycation” is here to stay. The best way to enjoy it? Turn a boring backyard into an outdoor…

Don Booher and his team at Branching Out approach landscaping with an innovative process called “Master Planning.” The process folds together the homeowner’s needs, architectural design and development with a task-independent approach to improvement. It allows homeowners to step into landscaping – a section at a time – without wasting money or time. Says Booher,…