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PHOTO PROVIDED Frank and Peggy Morrison can enjoy a quiet meal to themselves in their new home, in Touchmark's newest addition, or stroll down to the Creekside Dining Room to enjoy a chef-prepared meal along with the company of others. PHOTO PROVIDED
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PHOTO PROVIDED The full-size kitchen suits Peggy and Frank Morrison just fine in their new apartment. They recently moved to Touchmark at Coffee Creek, which recently opened its $15-million three-story Grandview expansion and separate memory-care neighborhood. PHOTO PROVIDED
Discussion
EPA recognizes Touchmark for green-power purchase
EDMOND —
Touchmark at Coffee Creek’s $15 million expansion is complete. With the project’s completion comes the distinction of being the largest nonpublic commercial purchaser of wind energy, a form of green power, in Edmond.
For the past four years, Touchmark, 2801 Shortgrass Road, has been purchasing alternative power from Edmond Electric. The expansion allows the retirement community to build on its commitment to the environment and its ongoing collaborative relationship with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership. Today, Touchmark buys more than 2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. This is enough green power to meet 100 percent of the organization’s electricity use.
This purchase also qualifies Touchmark for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements. Green Power Leadership Club members must purchase 10 times the partnership’s minimum requirement.
According to the EPA, Touchmark’s purchase demonstrates a proactive choice to switch from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.
“EPA commends Touchmark at Coffee Creek for its commitment to green power,” said Susan Wickwire, chief of the Energy Supply and Industry Branch at EPA. “Touchmark is further demonstrating how individual businesses can substantially reduce their carbon footprint and boost renewable energy generation in this country.”
The EPA estimates that Touchmark’s green power purchase is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of more than 300 passenger vehicles per year — or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 200 average American homes annually.
“We are proud to be recognized by the EPA,” said Touchmark Executive Director Jamie Ham. “In today’s world, with evidence of increasing pollution mounting, using alternative energy sources like wind power makes a great deal of sense.”
Expansion adds 86 residences
A year ago this month on July 10, 2009, Touchmark had a ceremony that launched construction of the Prairieview memory care neighborhood and a three-story addition of apartments offering independent and assisted living. The building permit approved for the project was the largest permit issued by the city that year.
Prairieview covers almost 38,000 square feet and includes 50 private studios with full bathrooms. It is divided into four neighborhoods, each with 12 to 13 residences. The small neighborhoods provide a family atmosphere. Two neighborhoods can be opened to allow residents to stroll in a controlled setting.
Each neighborhood has its own kitchen and dining area, living room, space for activities and access to the courtyard. There are two spa baths, each supporting two neighborhoods. A beauty salon/barber shop, multipurpose room, family conference room and doctor’s office are shared by the four neighborhoods.
A secure, outdoor garden provides residents contact with living plants, raised garden beds and seasonal plantings.
The Touchmark memory-care program offers specialized care in an environment specifically designed for people with Alzheimer’s disease or other age-related dementia illness. The design draws on the most recent research for providing a comfortable and secure environment for people experiencing memory loss.
A new wing on the Grandview building adds almost 35,000 square feet of apartments for people who live independently as well as those who need some assistance with their daily activities. The 36 apartments range in size and include studio; one-bedroom; two-bedroom, one-bath; and two-bedroom, two-bath designs. The architectural style and finishes are consistent with and complement the other buildings in the community.
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Offshore platform explodes in Gulf of Mexico
An offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico exploded on Thursday, but the company that owned it said it mainly produced natural gas and reported no slick after an initial flyover.
The U.S. Coast Guard reported a sheen on the water about 100 feet wide and perhaps a mile long near the rig, which is west of BP’s blown-out well but operates in much shallower water than the ill-fated Deepwater Horizon. -
Coburn calls for transparency
Americans are filled with anxiety and fear as they consider their future with a $13.3 trillion debt set to become $20 trillion during the next nine years, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn said. Well-intentioned legislation through the years has abandoned the fundamentals of a limited federal government set forth by the U.S. Constitution, said Coburn, R-Muskogee.
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Police: Raids effective
Recent raids at two apartment complexes were effective, but they are not the end to gang and drug issues in Edmond, police said.
During a two-day stretch last week, Edmond led a multi-agency operation that netted a total of 18 arrests and drugs at the Rolling Green and ChapelRidge apartment complexes. -
Plaintiffs object to ‘gifted trader’ court challenge
Plaintiffs have objected to an Edmond man’s plan to show a co-defendant is a “gifted trader” and not behind an alleged $8.7 million Ponzi scheme, court records show.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Oklahoma Department of Securities filed suit against Prestige Ventures Corp., Federated Management Group Inc., Kenneth Wayne Lee, of Mt. Pleasant, S.C., and Simon Yang, of Edmond, in November 2009 in U.S. District Court’s Western District of Oklahoma. -
9-2 This Week: what to do, what to see
2 Thursday
Oklahoma Shakespeare in the Park will present “Romeo and Juliet” Aug. 12 through Sept. 4. Shows are at 8 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at Bicentennial Park in front of the Civic Center in downtown Oklahoma City. Tickets are $10 for adults, $8 for students and seniors, and free for children 12 and under; season tickets are $25. For more information, call 235-3700 or visit OklahomaShakespeare.com. -
Police: Raids effective; gang, drug issues remain
Recent raids at two apartment complexes were effective, but they are not the end to gang and drug issues in Edmond, police said.
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Instruments record quakes east of Edmond
Several earthquakes were recorded Tuesday night and Wednesday in eastern Oklahoma County near Jones and Luther.
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Local officials tout Forensic Science Institute
Enrollment at the University of Central Oklahoma’s Forensic Science Institute has nearly doubled during the past year.
“We now have over 250 undergraduate majors and I think that number may go higher,” said Dwight Adams, FSI director. -
Edmond man gets 20 years in abuse case
A district judge has given an Edmond man convicted of sexually abusing his stepdaughter a 20-year prison sentence.
Last week, Oklahoma County District Judge Kenneth Watson sentenced Robert Andrew Williamson, 45, of Edmond, to 20 years in prison and 20 years probation. -
Fight to ban lead in fishing tackle continues
OKLAHOMA CITY — Politicians, anglers and environmentalists are taking sides over a petition to ban potentially toxic lead in fishing tackle.
On Friday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ruled against considering a petition from the Center of Biological Diversity and other environmental groups to ban the production and distribution of lead hunting ammunition. - More Local News Headlines
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