NORMAN — Local farmer donates fruit trees
Norman resident Susan Bergen, owner of PeachCrest Farms, has been supplying fresh produce to schools across Oklahoma through the statewide Farm to School program since 2008. This month, Bergen and PeachCrest Farms, in conjunction with OKC Beautiful, give students a new place to reach for fresh fruit with the donation of apple and pear trees to Oklahoma City metro schools. PeachCrest is supplying 44 locations with fruit trees. Schools were offered a minimum of four trees and a maximum of 12.
Both the apple and pear trees reproduce through cross pollination. A group of four trees includes three of one variety and one of another. The apple and pear varieties were specifically selected for their ability to thrive in current conditions.
Hiland Dairy
honored
Quality Chekd Dairies selected Hiland Dairy Foods Company of Norman as one of four finalists competing for the 2013 Production Excellence Award, which recognizes the best single plant for dairy production quality excellence.
“Our team works diligently day in and day out to ensure safe, quality products throughout our plant,” said General Manager Randy Richison. “Being named a finalist for the Production Excellence Award tells us we are doing the right things.”
Selection criteria for the Production Excellence Award include the results of the evaluation of their plant’s process and systems for assuring product quality, and monthly laboratory test scores. Quality Chekd, a member-owned organization of independent dairy processors, will announce the winner at its 2013 QCS Leadership Conference taking place April 21-24 at the Hilton Riverside Hotel in New Orleans.
Panera Bread supports 2-1-1
On Feb. 11, 2013, 2-1-1 Oklahoma will celebrate National 2-1-1 Day in partnership with Panera Bread across Oklahoma. For every heart shaped cookie purchased on Feb. 11, Panera Bread will donate 50 cents to 2-1-1 Oklahoma which is operated statewide by two local nonprofit agencies, HeartLine and the Tulsa Community Service Council.
2-1-1 is a free, 24-hour phone service that provides Oklahomans access to information on any type of health or human service simply by dialing 2-1-1. Call Specialists listen carefully to callers and make an in-depth assessment and referral plan, providing callers with one or more options.
The highly trained Call Specialists at 2-1-1 are available seven days a week, 365 days a year. 2-1-1 has continued to see an increase in call volume every year.
Statewide, 311,556 calls were answered in 2012 with an average of 1 in 5 households in Oklahoma utilizing 2-1-1 for access to basic human needs such food, clothes, shelter, health care, and mental health care.
2013 class for
Leadership Arts
Thirty-two individuals from 22 Oklahoma communities are set to join a growing list of community arts leaders in Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Arts Council today announced the names of its 2013 Leadership Arts program class members. Members receive in-depth instruction on how to use local arts and cultural resources for economic development, improved education, and enhanced quality of life.
Local members of the 2013 class of Leadership Arts include: Jonathan Fowler (Fowler Volkswagen of Norman), Kevin Smith (Cimarron Opera), and Stephen Koranda (Norman Convention and Visitors Bureau)
U.S. Cellular extends military discount to vets
U.S. Cellular recently extended its military discount to include military veterans. Now, active duty, reserve military and veterans can all receive a 15 percent discount off of their monthly calling plan charges on individual plans $39.99 or higher and family plans $59.99 and higher. This adds up to an annual savings of more than $70 on the $39.99 plan and more than $100 on the $59.99 plan. Customers who are participating in or are a veteran of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps., Coast Guard, National Guard and Reserves are eligible for the discount.
— Transcript Staff
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