FINDING COMMUNITY AT UMBERTO'S PIZZA

I am not from Tulsa.

I need to say that because it conditions my response to this assignment. I am from St. Louis, where there are over 50 neighborhoods and I have a vague idea where about half of them are.

But drop me in T-Town and tell me to find a neighborhood, and I will stare at you wide-eyed and terrified. So when I found out I had to write about a local community, I went to a friend of mine who was raised here.

He told me to go to Umberto’s Pizzeria, on 21st Street just west of Harvard. He promised that I would find a full cast of interesting characters.

I initially found this statement to be flagrantly false. My friends and I were the only people in the restaurant.

So there I was, alone in a pizzeria and in serious need of some sort of community environment. After just a few minutes, though, it became obvious that there is a strong community in Umberto’s. But it isn’t in the restaurant proper—it’s in the large, open kitchen.

The workers of Umberto’s are a neighborhood unto themselves. While I was there, they were speaking Spanish to each other, their cheerful dialogue punctuated with bursts of uproarious laughter.

When Juan, the manager, tells me his favorite part of his job, he pitches his voice to be heard by the rest of the employees and says, “Telling them what to do.”

The other workers all laugh and call out flippant responses, and Juan laughs as though he had orchestrated the whole exchange. There’s something very familial in the way they all seem to know exactly what to say to get a rise out of the others, and the way they grin a little when they’ve finished saying something they know will get a laugh.

Umberto’s Pizzeria is not exactly what I was looking for when I set out to write this story. I was thinking more along the lines of a “where everybody knows your name” place.

But, really, a neighborhood feeling has nothing to do with how crowded a place is. It comes from the interactions of the people, the “cast of characters,” as my friend would say. And Umberto’s has characters that are truly worthy of applause.

--Laura Hermann

LIFE ON TULSA'S INDIANAPOLIS STREET

As I stepped out of my car and into a big pile of yellow and orange leaves, two kids greeted me.

“Would you like to buy some beef jerky, or a candy bar?” one of them asked.

I didn't.

After my visit with the kids, I began my walk down the long sidewalk. Indianapolis Street is located near Harvard and Eleventh Street. I picked this quiet neighborhood because it looked so diverse and interesting.

I drew in a deep breath of the crisp cold air; it smelled of fall leaves and acorns. The homes along Indianapolis Street are small and meticulous, some nicer than others.

One house in particular stood out to me. The house, which sits inside an iron fence, is a dark, algae-green color and decorated with numerous yard decorations. Two large trees and several bird feeders sit in the yard.

The four steps leading from the sidewalk onto the property guide you to patchy grass. The house has six big windows, in where I saw a gray cat sitting on the inside window ledge.

Directly across from the "algae" house is a white house with a burgundy cement porch. Four college boys live there. Luckily, one was stepping out of his car while I was around.

“How long have you lived in this house?” I asked him. The tall young man with curly blond hair replied, “About three months. We all moved in at the beginning of the semester.”

I asked him why they chose to live here. “It’s less that five minutes from campus which is nice, and this was one of the few four bedroom homes we could find,” he explained.

I thanked him and continued to walk down the street. As I came to the end of the sidewalk, I noticed a couple homes had decorative lights complimenting the trees and various aspects of the houses.

This end of the neighborhood was more chic and “homey.” The two kids I met earlier lived here. They were playing in the yard on their bicycles.

“We like our neighborhood because there’s lots of kids to play with,” the little girl said. She hopped back on her bicycle and peddled up to the other end of the neighborhood, the boy following closely behind.

--Lindsey Naylor

FIRST LUTHERAN SERVES MIDTOWN TULSA

The babble of children’s voices fills the parking lot play area of First Lutheran Church, 1244 South Utica Ave. It’s not Sunday, but ministry is a daily occurrence here.

Across the street, a sign in front of one building reads “Luther Place on Troost: A Senior Living Center with Assistance.” This refurbished apartment building is one of the many ministries of this church, located near Hillcrest Hospital.

Sharolyn is at the information desk as I enter. She had to “buzz” me in. Monitoring who comes and goes is all part of the service and the security associated with providing services for the very young and senior citizens.

“My job is to take messages, answer questions about various programs, monitor who comes and goes, and take Angel Food orders. I’m also in charge of Trinity Ministries. We have a Senior Nutrition Site here, a Senior Exercise Group, Senior Computer Classes, all kinds of programs,” Sharolyn said.

While I have been talking with her several other people have come and gone and the smell of lunch is in the air.

Melissa Shell is the First Lutheran Early Learning Center director. “The ELC has been in existence off and on for quite some time. One lady said her grandchildren came here 30 years ago,” she said.

“We’re currently a two-star facility and have four staff members who have their Child Development Associate certification and two more with Mastery certification. The rest are in school to obtain either an associate’s degree or their CDA,” Shell said.

“We’re here to serve our community, we service children who are blind, have kidney problems, and motor skill disabilities,” Shell said.

“Our classrooms build on each other. The infants get a lot of love and care. There’s a monthly curriculum for development that includes stories and songs, and by the time the children are in the Pre-K classes there are writing centers and they are learning colors and shapes,” she said.

The Early Learning Center is licensed to serve 52 infant through Pre-Kindergarten children and currently has 43 enrolled. The facility hopes to be fully accredited by next year.

Shell had to dash. She was headed to the store to buy milk for break time in the ELC.

First Lutheran also has programs that provide sack lunches for the homeless, a meeting place for Alcoholics Anonymous, and a meeting place for a Senior Deaf Group.

The ministry will hold a Jazz Festival Fundraiser on Thursday, Jan. 25, 2007.

--Karen Groff

STEVE'S SUNDRIES: THE CHARMS OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD SHOP

Steve’s Books and Magazines—also known as Steve's Sundries—is nestled in the middle of a shopping center right where the Broken Arrow Expressway crosses over Harvard. It's the type of place that’s going out of style.

Corporate chains like Barnes & Noble—spacious, bright, and predictable—have taken a big place in our consumer consciousness. But there's a certain comforting charm in this little neighborhood shop that I’ve never found in a sterile chain store.

Under the same ownership for 59 years, Steve’s offers what seems like every magazine imaginable, along with paperbacks, candy, puzzles, posters, and other knickknacks. Cramped aisles are packed with goodies, the merchandise seeming to spill out, overwhelming the senses.

During my first visit, the air smelled heavily of dill pickles.

A soda fountain in the back, serving sandwiches, breakfast, sodas and shakes, attracts young and old alike, and allows for Steve’s catch phrase: “Whether you’re looking for shakes or Shakespeare, Steve’s is your place!”

I met the owner, Steve, by chance on my first trip, and he was more than eager to talk, shuffling to a corner to set down his cup of coffee and have a chat. He was quite proud of the fact that his store was the first of its kind to sell both books and magazines under the same roof.

Surprisingly, his relationship with bigger stores like Barnes & Noble is amicable, and he feels like more of a teacher than anything.

“I used to joke that we taught Barnes & Noble how to run a store,” he said with a chuckle.

Steve’s daughter-in-law, Joanie, currently owns half the store, and attributes its good business to regular customers.

“We have a very, very loyal clientele,” she remarked, telling me about the many women who come in daily to see what’s new. “It’s like Cheers without alcohol.”

Steve’s isn’t strong on designer atmosphere, but it has an old-fashioned feel that makes you feel good about supporting a local business. As long as they keep carrying The Onion, they can certainly count on my return.

--Caroline Richardson

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT IN OKLAHOMA

Burglary and larceny are two major kinds of crime in Oklahoma and the state's second largest city, Tulsa, has a higher crime rate on average than the state's largest city, Oklahoma City.

These are among the crime figures published by the information website areaconnect.com.

Statewide, 35,692 burglaries were reported in 2005, along with 93,814 larcenies. Oklahoma recorded 187 murders in 2005, down from 206 the previous year.

The most recent data comparing the crime rates of Tulsa and Oklahoma City were published in 2004 by disaster.com. The murder rate in Tulsa was 12.3 per 100,000 population, nearly double Oklahoma City's rate of 7.4 per 100,000. Aggravated assault was also significantly higher in Tulsa, 850 per 100,000 population compared to Oklahoma City's 521 per 100,000.

As of October 2006, Oklahoma prisons held almost 25,000 offenders, according to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The gender breakdown reported by the department this year was 89.7 percent male, 10.3 percent female.

The racial makeup of the prison population was 56.5 percent white, 28.8 percent African American, 8.6 percent Native American and 5.7 percent Hispanic. About 40 percent of those incarcerated were violent offenders, according to the Corrections Department.

Currently, the state has 86 prisoners on death row, including one female. As of mid-November this year, Oklahoma has put four prisoners to death by lethal injection, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org.

--Caroline Richardson

TOP CAUSES OF DEATH IN OKLAHOMA

Oklahoma has seen a significant rise in the number of heart disease related deaths in the past 10 years, according to statistics complied by the Centers for Disease Contol and Prevention.

The figures show that the mortality rate for heart disease varies significantly across the United States, with the highest rates in the southeastern states. Oklahoma's 1999 age-adjusted death rate was 317.4 deaths per 100,000 people, which was significantly higher than the overall U.S. rate of 268. This means that Oklahoma was ranked seventh among the states in heart disease deaths in 1999.

Other top causes of death in Oklahoma were (2) cancer (in the form of malignant tumors), (3) stoke, (4) respiratory diseases, and (5) accidental deaths. The top ten causes of death in Oklahoma also includes (6) influenza and pneumonia, (7) diabetes, (8) Azheimer's Disease, (9) suicide, and (10) atherosclerious.

Oklahoma spent $357.8 billion, or 31.5 percent of the state budget, on health care in 2003, accoring to the State Health Expenditure Report for 2000-2003.

--Brian Fagan

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY: SOME OKLAHOMA INCOME FIGURES

At $45,000, Tulsa has the highest median salary of any city in Oklahoma, according to PayScale, a research website that tracks such numbers.

Oklahoma City ranks second on the PayScale list, with a median salary of $43,000.

Two Oklahoma college towns are third and fourth on the list, with Stillwater's median income at $40,000 and Norman's at $38,500.

Other Oklahoma cities on the list are Edmond and Lawton, both with a median income of $38,000, and Enid, which showed a median income of $32,280.

Missouri's two largest cities, St. Louis and Kansas City, exceeded Tulsa and Oklahoma City in median salary. Both St. Louis and Kansas City have median salaries ar $48,000.

Additional salary information can be found at the PayScale website, www.payscale.com.

--Lindsey Naylor

MORE STREET STORIES ON THE WAY

The Street Stories experiment is continuing, and new stories will be posted in the coming weeks. Although the fall semester is rapidly winding down, the students have written a new batch of stories for the site.

The first group of new stories will be a bit different because I asked the class to develop stories based on numbers. Using on-line databases and other statistics, I wanted the students to profile Tulsa and Oklahoma numerically. My idea was to get the students more involved in descriptive quantitative data and to process and explain that data in interesting ways.

The students found the assignment harder than they (and I) expected—they were very clear on that point. Nevertheless, they found some curious figures that do tell us more about crime, income, education, industry, agriculture, health and other aspects of the city of Tulsa and the state of Oklahoma.

Look for these postings soon.

--John Coward, Faculty of Communication

THE SOUNDS OF BEAU ROBERTSON

He sits propped on a wooden stool with nothing in his hands but a worn guitar. The instrument shows its scars from countless hours of strumming.

Standing 5 feet 6 inches, Beau's eyes look down at his guitar through a mound of dark, shaggy hair as he starts to pick at his six string. The chords begin to pick up speed and his head slowly rises to meet the microphone in front of him. When he sings, you are taken aback by the soulful undertone you might not expect. He cracks a smile and several of the bar patrons receive him with returning grins.

This is Beau Robertson on a typical Tuesday night at McNellie’s Irish Pub in downtown Tulsa. Robertson, 23, is a Tulsa musician who lives to play music.

“I bartend so I can play music,” he says. You can find Beau at Arnie’s bar once a month and at McNellie’s every Tuesday doing what he loves most: playing music.

People might classify him as a struggling musician, poking around the local bar scene trying to find a gig.

But Beau’s not struggling at all. He’s not trying to pull a record deal or waiting for something better to come his way. As long as he has his guitar in his hand and a microphone at his mouth, he has no complaints.

“I’ve played for two people and I’ve played for 200 people. It makes no difference to me,” he says.

Growing up in Broken Arrow, Beau was drawn to playing music at the age of 13, where he would listen to Tulsa’s own J.J. Cale for hours, mesmerized by his steady voice and smooth guitar. Beau has come a long way since those days.

He's become a weekly favorite in the local bar scene. Simply known as Beau on stage, his music can be heard filtering through the pubs of downtown Tulsa, soothing his listeners, adding to the sounds of the bar.

--Brian Fagan

A NICE GUY WITH A LITTLE SECRET

Mike is a nice guy with a soft, laid-back demeanor. He is one of those people who you can meet and instantly get along with. Nothing about his presence or personality that would give away his secret, a hobby that is illegal most everywhere.

The 23-year-old student knows a lot of people and is liked by almost all of them. But not many people know that he is a drug dealer. He says that he has recently begun selling small amounts of marijuana.

‘Mike’, who for obvious reasons would like to remain anonymous, doesn’t base his life around the illegal substance. He has a rather indifferent attitude about the drug.

“I really just started doing it so I could have money for beer,” he said, explaining how he got into the ‘business. “I’m basically just being a middle man for my friends.”

Mike says that what he does is a necessary thing for his core group of friends. He and his buddies would buy the stuff anyway, and he says that he just makes the process more convenient.

He does admit, however, that he is taking a big risk, although he seemed confident that he was being smart and safe about the illegal operation.

“I just remember seeing [another dealer] and how open and obvious he was about it,” he said. “I never sell to anyone I don’t know personally, and it’s never very much.”

I met Mike, like many others before me, through a friend of a friend. He seemed intelligent and interesting, and until it somehow came up in conversation, no one knew about his secret ‘hobby.’

It made me wonder about the people I meet in every day and what kind of hidden secrets everyone has.

--Tyler Hearn

DAN CROSSLAND: MAKING MUSIC IN TULSA

It's hard for a solo artist to make a name on the local music scene. It takes talent, a crowd-grabbing personality, and a friendly bar owner who will take the risk of letting an unknown artist play.

Dan Crossland has all of these: a great voice as well as strong guitar and keyboarding skills. He also found a bar owner willing to take a chance.

Crossland used to play every Saturday night at the BruHouse on Brookside, a small, smoke-free, nondescript bar where the stage is really not a stage but just some tables and chairs moved out of the way.

Now Crossland has a busy schedule. With his guitar strapped over his shoulder, microphone in front of his smiling lips, he is ready to take on the music world.

Crossland can play covers from Maroon 5 and John Mayer and make them sound like his own. He plays his guitar like it was attached to him at birth. His voice can lull you to sleep, or it can pump you up and make you want to dance.

“I try and throw in one of my own songs," he said. "I never get much response from it though. People like to sing along, and if they don’t know the words, they usually won’t like the song.”

A few months ago he wrote a song called “Not Going Home."

“It was about a situation in my life where I was telling myself I wasn’t going back, and things were going to be better because of it,” he explained.

It's true that the worst breakups make some of the best songs.

Crossland cracks jokes about the bar and about himself to get people to pay attention to him. “It’s hard to get drunk people to stop talking about themselves and listen to me," Crossland said. "I mean who wouldn’t want to listen to my studly self?”

--Melissa Fulton

THE RIDER WITH THE DREADS

Riding is his passion and dreads are his style. He is Russell Waldin, 24, of Tulsa. With flare in his style and attitude in his hair, Russell was walking into the Business Administration Hall on TU’s campus when I stopped him.

Russell looked entirely different than any other person I saw on campus. His bright orange, tightly fitted T-shirt and his Volcom jeans made him stand out. I asked him if I could ask him a couple questions for my news gathering class and, with a slight bit of hesitance, he said, “Sure, why not?”

“First off,” I asked, “how long have you been growing out your dreads?”

“Oh, for a couple years,' he said, while picking out one of his long, messy dreads. "They’re alright I guess.”

When he’s not working or attending classes in the art school, he rides. Riding is a hobby Russell takes great pride in. He has a sponsor, and has the priviledge of riding in competitions and traveling around United States.

“I’ve been riding forever," he said. "It’s just a lot of fun. It’s something I’m good at, and it’s an escape from reality.”

Feeding on my fascination with his hair, I asked more questions about his dreads: “Do you have dread locks to stand out from the rest of the riders, or did you just want them?”

“I’ve always liked the look of dread locks, but it’s nice because I get recognized because of my hair. It’s definitely my signature! It’s crazy. People I don’t even know, know me.”

Despite this recognition, Russell told me that he was thinking about cutting his hair off.

“My hair is getting heavy. I’d like to be able to put a shirt on with out hassle and it’d be pretty sweet to wear hats again.”

--Lindsey Naylor

AN ART STUDENT'S LIFE

On a recent Tuesday, I stumbled upon an art student drawing in front of Philips Hall. Her artwork was impressive. I stood and gazed as she drew.

The student was Sarah Smith, a TU senior, and a graphic design major from Oklahoma City.

I asked Smith about herself. I learned that she grew up wanting to work in the arts. Even when she was young, she liked drawing and laying out her room just perfectly.

“I was always involved with art club and events that involved graphics in high school,” Smith said.

Having art as a hobby, she never thought that she could do it as a career. But as a TU freshman, Smith decided to make her hobby into a major and study graphic design.

Besides art classes, Smith is social chair of her sorority, where she gets to design and layout events on a regular basis.

“I am planning semi-formal right now, which is a very big undertaking,” Smith said. “I’m using my graphic design methods and making really awesome designs from T-shirts to even the layout of the dance room itself.”

--Emily Pickens

A NEWBIE IN T-TOWN
A lot of people in Oklahoma have lived in the same town or city for years. This doesn't mean that here people don’t migrate or move, but many people do "stay where they were planted."

Darlene Conn spent most of her life in a small town in eastern Oklahoma. In August, Darlene moved to Tulsa to become the house mom for the Kappa Delta house. For Darlene, the move to Tulsa seemed like a good change in her life.

“I had just left my job at a hospital and I though ‘why not?’," she said.

Darlene is a well-loved person in the Kappa Delta house. Not only does she look out for the girls but, as the house cook, she also provides sustenance. She is a confidant for many of the girls and uses the kitchen as a social gathering place.

In her first few months as the house mom, Darlene doesn’t doubt her decision to move to T-town.

“I am way more proactive in the girl’s lives that I thought I would be. This has definitely been a great experience in my life,” Darlene said.

Darleen is very enthusiastic about Tulsa. “I’m from a small town, so this big-city feel is fantastic. There is so much to do and see and it seems like I learn something new about Tulsa and the state every day,” she said.

After cooking for the girls during the week and on the weekends, Darlene takes time to see the city. Recently she explored the Philbrook Museum. She also attended the state fair and got a look at the giant Tulsa Driller.

Besides being a house mom and cook, Darlene also considers herself part-time adventurer.

“There is no much to see and do in this town and I plan to do it all,” Darlene said. She also uses her time to bond with the members of the house. With ice cream trips and movie nights at AMC, she is taking advantage of the new activities with her many new friends.

--Brandi Andrews

BROKEN ARROW'S BELGIAN
CHOCOLATE LADY

Look at any restaurant dessert menu and you will find at least one dessert that is chocolate. Ask most women what kind of candy they like and you’ll hear chocolate.

For some people, any chocolate will do. For Christine Joseph, only her native Belgian chocolate will do. The only problem is that she lives in Oklahoma. Besides, Belgian chocolate is expensive.

What’s a girl to do?

This petite, dark-haired, dynamo decided to open an import shop on Tulsa's 15th Street. Unfortunately, importing chocolate has its own unique perils. Hot Oklahoma weather and damaged shipments and Joseph closed the shop.

Not one to give up easily, she decided to make her own chocolate.

“I had no clue,” Joseph said. She tried melting and molding her own chocolates from 22 lb. blocks and had problems with the chocolate crystallizing or melting in the summer heat. (Chocolate is ideally stored at 60 to 70 degrees.)

Perseverance must be her middle name because she tried again at Christmas after receiving specialized equipment for her birthday. She made gourmet chocolates in her home kitchen and gave it as gifts to friends. Soon other people were asking for her special chocolates.

“It came to the point I had chocolates and molds pouring out of the kitchen. I had no more room,” Joseph said. She went to school in Europe to further her knowledge and expertise.

She and her new husband decided to open a manufacturing and wholesale operation in July of 1999. They located their business at 16th and Memorial in Tulsa.

While the shop on Memorial did well, she decided that it really didn’t have the exposure it needed to expand to a retail operation.



An opportunity arose to buy a building on Main Street in Broken Arrow where her business, Nouveau – Atelier de Chocolat, is currently located.

I found her with her hair pulled back with a few wisps escaping, hard at work packing an order of chocolates. She was playing catch-up after being in Europe for a week.

Wiping her hands on her apron, she approached with a smile and a twinkle in brown eyes asking if she could help me. I proceeded to pick out a delectable-looking chocolate from the display case built by her husband and asked for an interview.

Each of the chocolates has a unique name and shape. Her bestsellers are named Tulsa. They consist of three pecan halves encasing a roll of caramel all dipped in delicious milk or dark chocolate.

You can find Joseph at her shop Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. where she will be happy to serve you coffee, ice cream, chocolate drinks and, of course, gourmet chocolates.

Nouveau–Atelier de Chocolat is located at 205 S. Main Street in Broken Arrow.

--Karen Groff

KAYCEE: MY POISON CANDY

Some of us went to South Boston Avenue in Tulsa on a recent Friday night for a party at the Rehab Lounge. But something caught my eye and I suddenly changed my plans.

Near the Rehab, I found this dimly lit wine bar. It was a low-key place, in contrast to the hopping dance club down the sidewalk.

I figured there might be a good story or someone interesting there. I lucked out. The first thing I noticed was the blonde sitting at the bar alone. I thought simply, “Perfect.”

This place really had walls that made you want to drink a red wine, especially in October.As I walked up to the bar the music was fluid and slow. I sat down near the blonde at the bar.

After a moment of silence, I offered to buy her a glass of wine from the display on the shelf. She ordered two glasses of White Haven Sauvignon Blanc, just like that.

We sat and talked a while. Her name was Kaycee and she worked at a pizza place called Pie Hole on 15th Street. She was a model and had a few acting gigs with the Nightingale Theatre every Friday and Saturday night.

I thought that was an interesting name for a theatre and a fitting name for my story. “This show that I’m in, it’s called 'Old Fashioned Poison Candy',” she said.

I took a drink of the wine and couldn’t help from wondering how in the world Kaycee and this odd title could be true. I drank the whole glass, sat it down on the bar, and asked her what it was about.

“It’s a performance art piece and I play a 13-year-old girl that is very much self indulgent, so indulgent that she manages to poison people,” she said.

Kaycee told me she had been artistic since she was young. I asked her what caught her interest with this particular show.

“It’s like a painting," she said. "People will see what they want to see, but it’s a dark painting I’ll give you that. And there’s a scene where I get to take some clothing off.”

After 5 five glasses between the two of us, she decided to call it a night. A friend had arrived to pick her up.

I asked her if she was interested in being covered in a profile story that I was assigned. She agreed and gave me her number.

When she left the bartender slipped me the bill. My jaw dropped—more than $70! Now I can tell you first-hand about my "Poison Candy."

--Troy Dixon

DEBRA SWAFFORD: TRAVELING AT HOME

Some people save up for years in order to travel the world. Debra Swafford gets to do it just by going to work each day.

A 15-year employee of The University of Tulsa, Debra is currently the assistant to the Department of Languages, doing “whatever it takes to make the professors happy,” she said. From sending out emails, helping with the budget, and just keeping everything in order, Debra does almost anything that is asked of her.

Prior to her current position, Debra worked in the College of Law, first hired as a temp assistant in August 1990 and becoming full-time in November 1990. She then transferred to the Department of Continuing Education, and eventually applied for the assistant job in the Department of Languages. She has stayed at TU, and maintains that she loves her job.

“This place has really expanded my horizons, and opened my eyes to different cultures, foods, and religions. It’s like a mini UN here,” she said.

Debra does not speak any other languages—“I can barely speak English well!”—but it’s not for lack of trying: Debra is required to wear hearing aids in order to better pick up the consonants in a person’s speech. Because she can typically only hear vowels, her ability to understand foreign language is greatly reduced.

Debra has traveled across America, visiting places such as California and Chicago, but hasn’t yet had the chance to go abroad. Later this year, she will be taking a seven-day Western Caribbean cruise with her 13-year-old grandson.

“I’m hoping it won’t be too touristy," she said. "I’d like for it to open his eyes a little bit.”

If the opportunity ever arises, however, Debra would still like to visit Europe. “I think that traveling is the only way to learn history, and I love history. If I ever have the chance to go, you bet I’ll take it.”

--Caroline Richardson

STEVE CAYWOOD: ONE OF THE TU GOOD GUYS

I have to admit, when I first decided to interview the man who cleans my residence hall, there was a tiny, unrealistic part of me hoping he would go on some crazy rant about how ungrateful and snobby the students are. It just would have been so dramatic, you know?

Well, Steve Caywood is not plotting against TU students. In fact, he is one of the nicest men I have ever met.

Steve is one of those very earnest-looking people who seems like he could be your best friend’s dad. He smiles easily and chuckles a little when you catch him off guard. And he really enjoys his job.

“It’s actually almost a privilege” to clean the residence halls, he says, because “the students are all great. I love being here.”

After being self-employed for nearly five years and working for the Oklahoma Fixture Company for 16 years before that, working on the TU maintenance staff is a big change for Steve. But he feels like his work is important, because it allows students to focus on schoolwork instead of worrying about whether or not the floor tiles have been cleaned.

“When you’re 45 years old and you’re starting over, it’s hard,” he says. “But it doesn’t really matter what I’m doing. If I can help the kids to succeed, then it’s a good thing.”

--Laura Hermann

NEW PROFILES AND PHOTOS COMING SOON

The second set of Street Stories will be coming to this space soon.

For this new assignment, I asked the News Gathering class to write brief profiles on colorful people from the Tulsa area. I asked them to interview a stranger, not a friend or relative. I want stories about fascinating people and I'm challenging the students to find them and capture them in a short profile.

This idea was inspired in part by Jason Collington, a Tulsa World feature writer who recently spoke to the class. Collington is a passionate guy and he impressed me (and the class, I hope) with his creativity and drive. He's developed a keen ability to report the overlooked or unusual angle, the details most of us don't notice.

If the students follow Collington's advice, we'll have some interesting Street Story sketches here in a few days.

Since photos make this a more lively place, I'm also working with the students to get more images on the Street Stories site. I asked all the students to take photos of their interview subjects for the new assignment. I'm also working to get more photos of the earlier stories to that all the posts will have more visual interest. Check back soon to see what stories and photos have been posted.

--John Coward, TU Faculty of Communication

WINNING FOOTBALL BRINGS TU TAILGATERS

I can hear them before I see them. Something that sounds like a jackhammer is running steadily outside my apartment, piquing my curiosity enough to make me look out there.

Tailgaters. The first of the season.

An older couple has parked a Winnebago in the middle of the field, the wife sitting in a lawn chair watching as her husband makes holes for their tent stakes.

TU football? Fans? I'm baffled.

Before long, the man has completed the setup of the tent, and the wife gets up long enough to move her chair to the newly created shade.

The day moves on, and I have little time to observe the setup of more fans throughout the day. The parking around campus is insane, and I'm almost glad that I don't currently have a car. There are more people here today than there likely will be the rest of the year, and all of them are ready for football.

The game comes and goes—we win! Our score is so high that I almost feel sorry for the opposing team. That feeling is incredibly fleeting, though, and I scream and yell with everyone else as the team goes wild.

I'm walking back to my apartment, which is now surrounded by the tailgaters, some of them chanting "45," our team's score.

As proud as I am for our team, I can't help but feel a sense of amusement toward these fans. Where on earth were they? Have they been here before, and I just missed them?

There's a very large chance that many of them didn't give TU a second thought before last year, but there's no point in getting worked up about that. The stadium was full, the people were having fun, and there's no harm in that.

--Caroline Richardson

Caroline Richardson is the business manager for TU's student newspaper, The Collegian, and a member of the TU band, The Sound of the Golden Hurricane.

LIFE AT LAMBRUSCO'Z

Walking into Lambrusco’z in Tulsa's Brookside neighborhood, you instantly get a feeling of comfort and warmth.

I see employees laughing with one another, having fun, all the while getting orders done in a speedy fashion. Stress does not seem to enter Lambrusco'z. Customers can relax on their lunch break while eating good food.

Lambrusco’z has been making sandwiches and catering for more than 30 years. They offer tasty sandwiches at a good price. They serve Boars Head meat, said to be the best meat in the nation.

Describing a typical day at Lambrusco’z, an employee says is a really busy but not stressful.

“Everyone gets here around ten and leaves at seven," she says. "The morning duties are basically finishing up catering orders for the day as well as getting everything ready for the lunch rush. At the lunch rush we make sandwiches, make sure everything is stocked up, and talk to customers."

She continues: "Once three o’clock hits the lunch rush is over and everyone begins working on catering orders for the following day. Around four o’clock the dinner rush slowing starts coming which goes on until we close at seven. The dinner rush consists of making dinners for customers, nothing too hard.

"The people are really fun to work with she says, I enjoy work,” she says.

My first impressions have been confirmed: Lambruso’z is a great place to go for a enjoyable meal. Lambrusco'z is on 41st Street, just east of Peoria, across from Wild Oats Market.

--Emily Pickens

Emily Pickens is a TU junior from Oklahoma City. She is a communication major with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in marketing.

A NEW REPORT FROM THE CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE

Not many people know this, but Tulsa is the home to the Center of the Universe.

I know it must be hard to believe, but it's true. The Center of the Universe is across the street from the William’s building on 1st Street, in the center of the bridge next to the old train station. You will know you are in the right place when you see a tall metal statue. Walk a few feet, and you will see a circle—the Center of the Universe.

Once you stand in the Center of the Universe, yell out something, anything you want and experience the phenomenon.

What phenomenon I am referring to? Once you yell out something you can hear your echo many times over. It may not seem like anything spectacular, but think about when you yell in a cave. There is obviously a reason why your voice is echoing. Your voice is bouncing off the walls of the cave.

At the center of the universe, no walls close in around you. You are in the outside air with the sky above you, the bridge at your feet, train tracks below the bridge, and buildings many yards away from you.

While I was sitting on the edge of the bridge I watched as a young man and a young woman walked to the center of the universe. They talked and smiled at each other, then the man got down on one knee and yelled, “Marcy, will you marry me?”

I could see the tears starting to swell up in Marcy’s eyes as she yelled, “Yes!”

The echo of both of their voices became the background music of their loving embrace. I let the couple have a moment, before walking over to ask a few questions. The main thought going through my mind was why here? Why the center of the universe?

Scott told me that he brought Marcy here on their first date.

“I did not believe Scott whatsoever when he told me about the center of the universe. I thought it was his come on line to get me to a secluded place,” Marcy said.

After Scott showed Marcy he was indeed telling the truth, their relationship sky rocketed.

Maybe there is a scientific explanation as to why voices echo at this particular spot in Tulsa. Or maybe Tulsa really is the home to the Center of the Universe. Whichever it is, something magical happens every time someone steps into the center of the universe.

--Melissa Fulton

Melissa Fulton is a TU senior majoring in communication.

DOWNTOWN TULSA'S "CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE"

I was raised in a small town in eastern Oklahoma. Because there is nothing much to do in Spiro, I like to visit interesting places in T-Town.

My favorite place in Tulsa is the "Center of the Universe," especially late at night. The Center is a large, circular brick area in downtown Tulsa. If you stand in the middle and shout, your voice echoes around you.

I find the spot extremely spiritual and mystical. My sorority sisters and I always feel compelled to sing our sorority songs there: the echoes really make the songs come to life. The Center has a certain power over those who speak there.

One colorful aspect of the Center are the people who always seem to be there. On my first trip to the Center I encountered a Goth couple who told me a myth about ringing the sculptural "shackles" at midnight on Halloween. They couldn't agree about what happened when you rang the shackles, but it was supposed to be magical.

On my last visit I met a drunk, homeless guy. He told my sisters and me that we should be careful about the weirdos in Tulsa. He only told us that after he forgot that he had talked to us moments before asking how our day was. The Center seems to draw all the colorful characters that Tulsa has to offer.

Another interesting aspect of the Center is the statue that Native American artist Robert Haozous created for the 1991 Mayfest named “Artificial Cloud." It always seems to depress me a little.

Haozous had a lot to say about technology and how it affects society. The lower base of the statue has shackles that are meant to symbolize the shackles that were placed on the Indians of early America. The long, center section illustrates humans without hands among a mass of airplanes and the center section comes to a point where a large cloud rests on top.

Haozous made this statue out of soft steel. It was made to corrode as technology is making our society corrode. While I marvel at the genius of the artist, I still find the statue too deep for my taste.

The Center of the Universe brings color to downtown Tulsa. It is a spot that is both magical and thought-provoking.

--Brandi Andrews

Brandi Andrews is a junior English education major from Spiro, Oklahoma. She is a member of Kappa Delta Sorority and the TU All-Girl Spirit Squad.

IN SALPULPA: THE SOUNDS OF MEGATRON

Smoke fills the air as bright flashing lights move to the increasingly loud music. Slightly overweight couples bounce over to the dance floor in an attempt to reenact the magic of 1985. Fog engulfs the guitar player as he unleashes a face-melting solo.

The pool tables are full of action and screams of joy arise from around the numerous TV’s displaying college football. The bartender tries to keep up with the relentless demand for Bud Light and various other alcoholic beverages.

The patrons of this establishment are here for one reason: to have a good time.

As a musician, it is my job to help create a fun atmosphere and help these people have a good time. I hold a certain power that many people never get a chance to experience. It is my job to make these people dance, drink and get lost in fury of rock and roll.

When I play the drums at a gig, my hands and feet can pretty much go on autopilot and my mind and eyes can wander. I often watch the crowd, observing all of the mini-dramas unfolding. An older couple dancing like it’s the 80’s, almost unaware that is isn’t … a suburban gangster who looks more than a little out of place… drunken girls arguing with each other… there is always entertainment.

The people that frequent this bar in rural Oklahoma are different than the people in ‘big city’ pubs. There are characters here that many people will never encounter, and certainly wouldn’t understand. This isn’t your average bar/grill, but the people in Sapulpa Oklahoma are as friendly as you will find.

Establishments such as the Beer Hunter in Sapulpa are full of character and almost always offer a good time. You won’t find Swedish seating or fancy drinks you can’t pronounce, but you will find friendly service, great music (when my band plays), and cheap drink specials.

The Beer Hunter is located at 1205 New Sapulpa Rd in Sapulpa.

--Tyler Hearn

When he's not playing drums in his band, Tyler Hearn is a TU student and sports editor of the student newspaper, The Collegian.

A SLICE OF NEW YORK PIZZA IN TULSA

Driving west into the sun, I search to my right for the sign. Mario’s New York Style Pizzeria is the place to go for pizza. One family I heard about has a standing Saturday night date here.

They tell me it doesn’t look like much, just a hole-in-the-wall in a little strip mall.

There it is! Parking is at a premium, so it’s nice to see some reserved spots in front. I open the door and the aromas assail my senses, fresh-baked dough, oregano, tomatoes, and sausage. Um-mmm.

Someone behind the counter is hand-tossing dough, three others are prepping in the back and calling out finished orders. Customers are sitting in the booths and at tables in the front and there’s a steady stream coming in and out the door. A television is tuned to a program about motorcycles.

As I wait for my order I notice the mural of Manhattan that includes the George Washington Bridge and a banner-draped depiction of the Twin Towers. On the opposite wall, next to the soda fountain, are framed covers from the Oklahoma Family Magazine and Oklahoma Magazine that name the restaurant Best of the Best for Pizza in 2000, 2002, and 2005.
Computer prints of a mom and her baby are taped to the side of the soda fountain. I recognize the mom behind the counter.

My order is up, a large supreme pizza that is overlapping the pan and three fountain drinks. Hot, spicy cheesiness, it’s delicious! Three of us, two teenage boys and a hungry college student, were too full to eat the last two slices. Grazi!

Mario's is located at 3323 E. 51 Street, at the corner of 51 and Harvard, in Tulsa. The food is worth the trip.

--Karen Groff

Karen Groff is a TU junior, originally from Upstate New York. She is majoring in communication with a minor in psychology.

A MIGHTY GOOD BURGER IN TULSA

Ever get sick of eating at the proverbial hamburger restaurant chain? If so, I may have just the cure.

Claud's Hamburgers, located at 38th and Peoria in Tulsa's Brookside neighborhood, offers a diner-style burger that is well worth giving up the drive-through lifestyle.

Claud's is a small establishment, with a small parking lot occupied by a few cars. The window says simply "Claud's Hamburgers" in green and white paint. The lettering looks like was done in freehand.

As I walk in, I am greeted with a smile and take a seat on the last stool at the end of the counter. The place is simple in every since of the word. A counter with about 12 old stools faces the open kitchen, which is all original stainless steel from its beginning in 1965.

It's quiet this afternoon at Claud's, making it easy enough to hear the relaxing hum of the air conditioning as I read the menu on the wall.

"We'll see you later. It was a mighty good burger," a man says as he meanders out of the door.

Another man in business attire slowly shuffles a newspaper behind me as he quietly sits and enjoys a burger and soda.

"What can I get for you?" a portly, middle-aged man behind the counter asks me. Without hesitation I order the Big Claud, a nine-ounce burger with three patties smashed together, topped with grilled onions on a large bun.

Glancing over to the end of the kitchen I see two of the late Claud Hobson's sons hovering over the grill, handling spatulas as if they were extensions of their arms. They silently flip the burgers as a tiny fan cools their foreheads from the sizzling grill.

After I finish my burger, I take a quick look at six other customers eating by themselves, most of who are regulars. I realize I am not the only content person around.

For 41 years, Claud's has been creating a cozy atmosphere, a friendly smile, and, best of all, a mighty good burger.

--Brian Fagan

Brian Fagan grew up in Kansas City. He is a communication major with a minor in marketing. He enjoys going to concerts, playing drums, camping, and being around good people.

MY MORNING AT THE UTICA SQUARE STARBUCKS

Today, after my 8 a.m. class, I went to one of my favorite places in Tulsa. I went to Utica Square for my Starbuck experience. For this story, I wanted to go to Utica Square because I often have interesting encounters with appealing people.

The look of Utica Square is glamorous. The delicate, nurtured flowers, the artistic sculptures, and the gorgeous buildings add so much to the allure of this upscale shopping center, the oldest shopping center in Tulsa.

Starbucks seems to have its own style. I always feel that the people that work there let their personalities shine through their wardrobes and their attitudes. This is common in some people, but I feel and see it the most when I am at Starbucks in Utica Square.

This morning was a good example of an enjoyable encounter I had with a Starbucks employee. I specifically remember being vocal about how every one was in such a chipper mood.

The mood of Starbucks was set off by the attitudes of the employees and customers. Because it was so early (for me), the customers and employees were very positive.The mood is what I like most about Starbucks. It’s never the same when I go. For example, if I were to go during the evenings the atmosphere would be more laid back, the music would be different, and the employees would adjust their attitudes due to the customers.

The mood is unique at Starbucks—it can’t be compared to any other coffee shop that I have ever been to. I believe that every time I go to Starbucks I get the entire coffee shop experience. Maybe it’s just by watching the people that work there, or maybe it's watching the customers enjoy their time, or maybe it’s just the time I spend talking to the people that I with. No matter what the reason is, I always leave Starbucks satisfied and anticipating my next visit.

--Lindsey Naylor

Lindsey Naylor is a junior from Kansas City. She is majoring in communication, with a minor in marketing.

A COLORFUL OASIS: THE TULSA ROSE GARDEN

The air is thick with a floral scent, and it is hotter than September has any business being. I walk down the gravel path, avoiding the puddles that appear every few feet. Rows and rows of flowers surround me, an explosion of reds, yellows, whites and purples.

I walk through the Tulsa Rose Garden. I wasn’t the only one who had the idea to visit the garden today. I see five people having a picnic under a tree. A man and woman kiss at the base of the stone stairway. A woman walks her very small dog.

The planters are full of different varieties of roses, usually named after vacation destinations or famous people. The Caribbean, Granada, Elizabeth Taylor, and Julia Child all have floral namesakes.



It is not the ideal time for roses, and a few of the plants look like autumn. The Oklahoma rose, in particular, looks wilted and frail. Most of the roses though, are still dense with boldly colored flowers. As I walk down the path, a flock of birds explodes out of a yellow Eureka bush.

The Tulsa Garden Club says the garden was built in 1935. History is visible all around in the garden. Prize winners are marked in all the planters. Bright Lights from 1991, Ivory Fashion from 1959, and Charlotte Armstrong from 1941, are just a few of the former world champion roses on display.

As I head back to my car, the scent of the garden fades from the air. The regular city air takes over, and the sound of cars driving down the road becomes audible once again.

--Ben Pernu

Ben Pernu is a TU sophomore from Broken Arrow, Okla. He is pursuing a major in biology and a certificate in journalism studies.

DANCING AT THE CLUB MAJESTIC

I am not someone who usually to ventures outside her comfort zone very often. So when my friends suggested I go to Club Majestic on Sunday for their drag queen show, I was a little nervous.

For anyone who does not know, Club Majestic is a club and bar for Tulsa's gay community, though heterosexuals are welcome also. Never having been to a gay club before before, I wasn't sure what to expect. As I observed the other club guests, it was easy to pick out the regulars from the people who did not go to the club often or had never been at all. Some people walked around like they owned the place, while others were nervously sitting back, observing everyone and trying to take it all in.

After the drag show started, people started to pile in. The show was actually much better than I had expected. I was impressed at how the performers were able to dance around so intensely in high heels while belting out those high tunes.

Mid-show, the lead drag queen told everyone who had never been to the club before to get on stage. She then proceeded to approach each one of us individually, asking a variety of questions about what had brought us to the club. There really were a variety of people there for different reasons. There was one man who was new to Tulsa and just trying to meet people, a guy taking out his brother for his birthday, and another girl who was kind of like me—just going out of curiosity and new experiences.

I left before the show was over, because the sweating people and the cigarette smoke-filled atmosphere got a little old. But I had a good time. And while I probably won'’t be going back to Club Majestic anytime soon, it was definitely an interesting experience.

--Hillary Lewis

TULSA'S BLACK WALL STREET: 85 YEARS LATER

It is Sunday afternoon in this historic district, Black Wall Street, on Greenwood Avenue. Every store is closed and the street is peaceful and quiet.

I remember learning about this place a couple of years ago in one of my history classes. I was taught that it used to be a thriving place with hundreds of businesses, but that's not true now. I could see that plainly, since I can use my ten fingers to count the businesses in the district. I see a fish market, a print shop, barbershop, and few others.

However, that is not the point about this place. This place means much more than business. It is one of the places in Tulsa that represents a minority group. The race riot of 1921 took many lives, but it failed to take the spirit away. The place may not be as prosperous as it was in early 1900s, but just by being there, means a lot to many of us.

Although "Jim Crow" is gone, stereotypes, prejudice, and hatred are still around. There is a thin line that separates each of us, like Interstate 244, a freeway that separates the north and south side of Tulsa's neighborhoods.

As I am sitting in my car on this quiet afternoon, this place is telling me what we need is a peace, as peaceful as a Sunday afternoon, calm with silent resistance.

--Jintae Hwang

TIE-DYED TULSA

You may have seen it driving around Tulsa: a boxy VW van covered with bumper stickers, multi-colored flowers, and reminders to “have a groovy day.”

The van belongs to Kelly Killion, who painted it with her mother a few years ago. It is the primary source of publicity for Killion’s small business, Tie Dyes of Tulsa, located on 11th Street, just east of the TU campus.

Killion herself is an unassuming woman. When I met her, she was wearing a tie-dyed T-shirt, paint-splattered denim shorts, and a pair of round John Lennon glasses with purple lenses. A floppy tie-dyed hat covered her head as she spray painted bright orange guitars onto blue and white sheets. She is not exactly your typical business owner.

She's obviously doing something right, though, because Tie Dyes of Tulsa has been going strong since 1995, when Killion got her start dying shirts for Hideaway Pizza employees in Stillwater. It is still a small business, perhaps, but it is a definite presence in the Tulsa community.

Tie Dyes of Tulsa is the kind of place that my friends would call "“hippie," which means there are beaded curtains in the windows and doorway, and the smell of incense in the air.

Killion’s two cats, named Yin and Yang, sleep curled up under the American flag hung from the ceiling. Appropriately for such a place as this, the stars on the flag have been replaced with a bold white peace sign.

Tie Dyes of Tulsa is not the kind of store that I expected to find when I shipped myself off to Oklahoma for college. In fact, had I gone my whole life without ever seeing a store for tie-dying, I probably would not have noticed the absence.

It is obvious, though, that Kelly Killion loves her business and believes that she is filling some sort of void in the Tulsa area. And after visiting for even a brief period, I cannot help but feel the same way.

--Laura Hermann

Laura Hermann is a TU sophomore from Fenton, Missouri. She is minoring in Musical Theatre and has yet to declare a major.

WRITING FROM THE STREET

Tulsa Street Stories was inspired by the famous road that passes by the Tulsa University campus, Route 66. This road, known in Tulsa as 11th Street, stretches from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. It may be the most celebrated road in America, a road that the Dust Bowl refugees traveled in the 1930s as they traveled west in search of a better life. Near the TU campus, Route 66 is a colorful jumble of used car dealers, auto parts places, diners and fast food restaurants, mom-and-pop motels, a school or two, a bakery, even a tatoo place.

In short, Tulsa's Route 66 is a fairly typical American streetscape, encompassing a full range of urban life, commerical activity and growth, as well as decay and clutter. Route 66 is also filled with stories, the experiences, dreams, and aspirations of all kinds of people. That's what this site is about: Street Stories from people in and around Tulsa and its most storied patch of pavement, Route 66.

In the coming weeks, the site will publish reporting and personal journalism by members of the Fall 2006 News Gathering class at TU. These stories will provide glimspes into the lives of interesting people in and around Route 66 and give TU journalism students an opportunity to share their writing and reporting with others interested in this "grassroots" journalism project.

--John Coward, Faculty of Communication

John Coward teaches communication at Tulsa University. He is the author of "The Newspaper Indian," a study of Native American news coverage in the nineteenth-century press.