Greetings!
The health and fitness of Tulsans is extremely important. As we achieve a healthier lifestyle, not only will our heath costs decrease, but we will experience a better quality of life.
This year, I have placed a focus on our youth because we need to fight Oklahoma’s childhood obesity crisis. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 15 percent of our teenagers are considered “severely overweight or obese,” which is a 300 percent increase in the past 20 years. Our kids need to be involved in some type of fitness activity every day. That’s why I have asked 15 students from Gilcrease Middle School and McLain to join me in training for the Tulsa Run, Oct. 25.
Team Taylor in Training is one of our Mayor’s Fitness Challenge initiatives, which encourages Tulsans to live healthy lifestyles. Last week, these special students from McLain and Gilcrease joined me in our first training session with Kathy Hoover, owner of Runner’s World, at McLain’s Track and Field.
My hope is that these weekly training sessions at McLain will provide the kids with fun, positive experiences that will last them a lifetime and inspire their peers.
Tulsa offers more than 100 miles of beautiful trails where people of all ages can walk, run or bike their way to good health. I challenge you to join me today in taking steps to becoming more fit and healthy for life!
For details about upcoming events, nutrition tips, success stories, and more, visit the Mayor's Fitness Challenge online.
Sincerely,
Kathy Taylor
Mayor
Monday, March 10, 2008
Team Taylor in Training
Last week a special Mayor’s Fitness Challenge initiative dubbed, “Team Taylor in Training” officially kicked off its youth running program with a breakfast and a press conference at McLain High School of Science and Technology.
Fifteen students from Gilcrease Middle School and McLain were selected to train and run with Mayor Kathy Taylor in the Tulsa Run on Oct. 25. To help kick-start the program, students received Team Taylor in Training T-shirts and Brooks running shoes and socks, courtesy of Runner’s World, the Tulsa Run, Get Fit Tulsa, and Brooks. The students will receive additional incentives in the future to help keep them engaged in the program. Tulsa Run will also award $500 to each of their schools.
Entrepreneurial Spirit Award Competition Kicks Off April 2
Tulsa’s entrepreneurial heritage rivals any city in our nation!
Mayor Kathy Taylor’s Tulsa Entrepreneurial Spirit Award, sponsored by SpiritBank, builds on Tulsa’s entrepreneurial heritage by igniting the energy, excitement and creativity found uniquely in Tulsa.
The Award is based on a business plan competition that gives entrepreneurs a chance to sell their business idea and compete for over $100,000 in cash, prizes and services.
Mayor Realigns
City Resources
Mayor Kathy Taylor has announced a realignment of City resources to better accomplish the challenges and opportunities facing Tulsa today and improve alignment with the City Council’s Compendium of Needs.
“In order to address the reality of our city’s opportunities and challenges today, we have analyzed the resources addressing our most important priorities and the good fiscal management of those resources,” the mayor said. “We have reviewed best practice models, reviewed the recommendations of our internal auditors and HUD and the council’s newly updated compendium of needs. As a result, we will realign the activities of the real estate and economic development department to support retail development, development of the city’s owned real estate and support of the retention and expansion of Tulsa’s existing businesses.”
The Trees Are In!
The Tulsa Parks Department has received the 12 trees won by Tulsa University in the wager with Bowling Green, Ohio over the GMAC football bowl game on January 6. The trees were sent from Oregon to Sanders Nursery in Inola, where they were picked up on Friday. Horticulturists will pot the trees so that they can grow a healthy root ball in preparation for planting in the fall.
The trees which were received included: three Pyramidal Carpinus; three Princeton Sentry Ginko; Three Crimson Spire Oak; and three Musashino Zelkova. The date and site of the fall planting will be announced at a later date.
Pictured: Princeton Sentry Ginko
Irvin Mayfield to Perform at the PAC
Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra (NOJO) is a spirited, swinging, 16-piece band steeped in the tradition of New Orleans jazz, blues, swing and spirituals.
In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, NOJO has become a cultural beacon for a troubled city steeped in rich cultural traditions. NOJO's mission is to bring authentic New Orleans music to cities throughout the United States.
Final Pass of Debris Removal
Starts March 10
The contractors removing tree debris from Tulsa are making their third and final pass through all Tulsa neighborhoods this week.
Monday the trucks began rolling through city streets for the third time, hauling debris to one of the temporary disposal sites where it is being ground into mulch and then hauled to its final disposal site.
Some of the mulch is being used to enrich topsoil. Some is being used for landfill cover. And some is being applied at area sod farms.
Brown Bag It Series at the PAC
The Tulsa Performing Arts Center Trust is proud to announce its lineup for the Brown Bag It spring concert series.
The series features six 40-minute noontime concerts on selected Wednesdays by some of Oklahoma’s finest musicians. The concerts offer a variety of performers who inform as well as perform.
Guests are invited to bring a lunch to enjoy during the concerts in the intimate setting of the PAC’s Westby Pavilion. As always, the Brown Bag It concerts are free and informal.
Photo caption: Booker T Washington Jazz Choir - performing March 12 at the PAC Brown Bag It Spring Concert Series