Tulsa, OK

Going Green with a New Coat of Paint

As part of Mayor Taylor’s partnership with high school students to beautify their campuses and the new BeGreen environmental awareness initiative, teens from three Tulsa high schools volunteered to add a special artistic touch to the Tulsa Parks’ recycling barrels.

Holland Hall, Central, and Booker T. Washington art students showed their style by going green with a new coat of paint. The students painted designs on 50 barrels, provided by the Tulsa Parks department. Each barrel is retrofitted with special lids for disposing of plastic bottles and aluminum cans.

The recycling barrels will be used at Tulsa Parks’ events and available for citywide special events, such as outdoor festivals. The painted barrels will reinforce recycling, which is an important part of the citywide environmental awareness initiative.

“We are working with young people in many ways to help them know how they can make the environment better for their future, a step at a time. This project has many elements: environmental stewardship, beautification and community service,” Taylor said. “The cans will make a great addition to City events and festivals while reducing waste.”

Lowe’s donated paint for the barrels, the M.e.t. provided painting supplies and Mazzio’s provided pizza for the event.

Tulsa Run Celebrity Runners and Youth Runners

In spite of their hectic work schedules, Mayor Kathy Taylor and BOK Senior Executive Vice President Steve Bradshaw are breezing through their training times for the October 25 Tulsa Run.

According to Gini McFarland, Hillcrest’s exercise physiologist and trainer for the Tulsa Run celebrity runners, they’re “really motivated and sticking to their training schedules.” Taylor and Bradshaw are running at least three miles, three days a week, as well as strength training and other workouts.

A few short weeks ago, the Tulsa Run celebrity runners led city of Tulsa and BOK employees in a walk to Bartlett Square for a Tulsa Run Corporate Challenge Rally. Taylor and Bradshaw issued a challenge to their employees to compete and get the most participants to run in this year’s Tulsa Run. The October 25 race will begin downtown with a new course and finish line: the brand-new, soon-to-be-opened BOK Center.

Mayor Taylor is also working with McLain High School for Science and Technology and Gilcrease Middle School students who were selected to train with her for the Tulsa Run. Last month her Team Taylor in Training youth ran the 5k at Get Fit Tulsa, a Mayor’s Fitness Challenge event benefiting Tulsa Public Schools.

“I’m so proud of these kids,” said Taylor, “and how great they are running. They keep me going and keep me inspired!” The “Mayor’s Youth Can Do It” running program is a partnership between the Office of the Mayor, Runner’s World and the Tulsa Run. Team Taylor in Training youth participate in twice-a-week training sessions with their trainer, Kathy Hoover of Runner’s World.

For more information on how you can register for the Tulsa Run 15k, 5k, or Fun Run races, visit: www.tulsarun.com

This Week’s Environmental Tip:

April and May in Tulsa finds everyone preparing to plant flowers and vegetables and other plants to beautify their yards.

Some plants do better than others in Oklahoma’s climate. If you read the labels on the plants you purchase, you know that some plants thrive in sunny locations, others in shade, and that certain plants grow better in acid soils (azaleas) or may even change color because of the pH of the soil (hydrangeas).

Another good reason to know something about the plants you choose for your yard has to do with water conservation. When you plant the right flowers, trees and shrubs for our climate, ultimately you save water. Such plants are often natives of Oklahoma – that is – they grow here well without any extra watering and with little extra care.

In California, native poppies grow wild in bright orange fields with only the small amount of water that Mother Nature drizzles on them each year. In Hawaii, orchids love the humid temperatures and tropical rains. Liatris love prairies and will bloom after the worst winter, even without freeze protection.

Another benefit of growing local plant varieties is that the locals tend to get along with other locals like hummingbirds and butterflies, and they know how to naturally make pesky bugs and rodents bug off without the need for chemical repellents.

In the end, you benefit, saving water and avoiding the use of costly (and often harmful) pesticides, not to mention the ease of maintaining a beautiful garden.

Remember, plant NATIVE.

For more tips, visit the BeGreen Tulsa website at www.BeGreenTulsa.com.
National Police Week Begins May 11

On October 1, 1962, President John F. Kennedy signed into law the week that includes May 15 as National Police Week. Each year this special week honors the officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty.

The Tulsa Police Department gathered at the Tulsa Police Academy for a candlelight vigil on May 2 and a memorial service on May 3 to honor Tulsa Police Officers who were killed in the line of duty. They also honored officers who died this past year while serving, as well as those who retired from serving the citizens of Tulsa.

Tulsa Police officers will be wearing mourning bands from May 11 through May 17 to honor Tulsa’s 17,917 fallen officers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our community.