Harper's Hut Shaved Ice receives counterfeit twenty dollar bill

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Can you spot the fake?

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice and Java recently received their first counterfeit twenty dollar bill of the 2018 summer season.

Getting ripped off is a tradition for the Sand Springs snow cone stand. Since opening in 2014, the seasonal hangout starts every year with a hard lesson on how to spot fake twenty dollar bills. CEO William Nozak likes to take the opportunity to teach other small business owners. 

While counterfeit detector pens cost only a few dollars, sometimes they run out of ink or simply get misplaced. Here's a few simple indicators to check the authenticity of a bill.

Modern twenties have two watermarks. On the left side of the bill is a security thread repeating "USA Twenty" from bottom to top. On the right side of the bill is a silhouette of President Andrew Jackson's face. Both can best be seen when held up to a light. 

All bills $5 and larger have a facial silhouettes and security threads. On fives and tens the bands are on the right hand side, the fifty is near the middle, and the hundred is on the left.

In the summer of 2017 Harper's unveiled a new snow cone flavor named the "Fake $20." Harper's Hut has two Sand Springs locations. The original hut is at 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard and a limited menu is available at the Case Community Park concessions stand. 

Nozak Consulting Group looks to help local businesses succeed

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Nozak Consulting Group
(918) 671-6352
www.nozakconsulting.com
www.facebook.com/nozakconsulting

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java
(918) 671-6352
www.harpershutshavedice.com
www.facebook.com/harpers.hut

When William Nozak started Harper’s Hut Shaved Ice & Java in 2014, he changed the game in the local industry. Within a month of opening his doors he won the “Best in the World” award from Tulsa World newspaper and was often open for hours after the official closing time just trying to get the massive lines fed. Less than three years later his company has now expanded to six locations in addition to catering weddings, festivals, and other regional events.

Now, Nozak is bringing that same passion and ingenuity to a new venture that wants to help other local businesses replicate his success.  

The Nozak Consulting Group offers all the marketing tools that major corporations utilize, at a cost that small “Mom and Pop” businesses can afford. From web design and branding to social media marketing and search engine optimization, the Nozak Group wants to bring Green Country businesses into the future with innovative strategies that will allow any small town business to compete with and prepare for national franchises.

“Your website is your online brochure,” says Nozak. “Having a website is not enough, you need to optimize your website. Franchises have corporate locations with teams that do this, putting pressure on mom and pops. They will fold if they don’t do this.”

Nozak has teamed up with businesses ranging anywhere from the hundred-thousand to million-dollar profit range, and thus far his record is spotless. Nozak Consulting has received a five-star rating from every client they have worked with.

“If you’re not coming up in search engine results, you need our services. You will find it very hard to survive in a changing environment.” In addition to his own company, Nozak has also owned a pair of franchises, giving him a glimpse into how the big leagues operate. “Local SEO beats national SEO every time,” says Nozak. Search Engine Optimization utilizes keywords throughout your website that customers are most likely to use when searching for a product or service. “Big businesses don’t know the local city. By optimizing with local lingo and jargon, local owners can win their market. I can help them.”

In the three months since opening, Nozak Consulting has already had to begin looking for new employees to keep up with the demand—and business has been booming. From redesigning websites to building them from scratch, designing logos, pay-per-click campaigns, and even personnel training videos and event advertising, Nozak Consulting has everything a business needs to respond to increased pressure.

“Online marketing is the future, and it is the lifeblood of modern business."

Terry's Classic Coneys presents the Harper's Hut Classic Car & Bike Show, next Saturday in Sand Springs

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Three cars that may be at the car show. Photo: Mark Battenfield

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java is teaming up with Terry's Classic Coneys to bring an old tradition back to the Prattville community. Before being acquired by Teri Buckner, the former Ed's Classic Coneys hosted car shows just about every year. On Saturday, September 24th, the show is back and bigger than ever.

"We've spared no expense," says Harper's owner William Nozak. "It's not just car fans who should be there--it's families. It's a big big thing that we've all come together in Sand Springs to do."

Car Show sponsors:

Allstate
Animal House II Pet Store
Battman Collision Repair
Church That Matters
Copper Oaks Bed & Breakfast
Do Overs Furniture
Green Country Federal Credit Union
Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java
Inkwell Custom Apparel
Lucky 7's Custom Creations
Master Lube
Miss Trita's Dance Studio
Mother's Helper Consignment Shop
Sand Springs Autosource
Sand Springs Leader
Shell & Cross Bones Candles
Sullivan's Body Shop
Terry's Classic Coneys
U.S. Army Sand Springs Recruiting Center

The event may be hosted by Buckner and Nozak, but more than a dozen area businesses and organizations are helping to bring the annual event back to life.

The car show will last from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and will have plenty for everybody. DJ Blake Bush will be providing entertainment for the evening. Miss Trita's Dance Studio students will be performing a routine. The Sand Springs Leader will be providing games for the children and the Army will have youth games. There will be several other vendors of food, crafts, clothes, and more at the event as well.

Church That Matters will be preparing breakfast and the Harper's Hut coffee truck will also be on hand. Throughout the day, attendees will be able to lunch on Papa Pat's Barbecue or Terry's Classic Coneys, and follow it up with some shaved ice for dessert. 

The car show itself will feature 21 classes, with trophies going to the top-three in each class. The first place trophies are extra special, however. Nozak traveled three hours to Conway, Arkansas to acquire the trophies that were hand-made by an artist/mechanic from actual car parts. The trophies are very heavy, and very expensive. 

There's a special category for the kids to participate in, and a People's Choice Award trophy. Every entrant in the competition will receive a T-shirt, but the biggest prize goes to the Best in Show winner. That lucky person will receive a one night paid stay for two at the Copper Oaks Bed & Breakfast in Sapulpa. 

There will also be a raffle open to the public, full of great prizes. There's a lamp made out of car pistons, $25 vouchers to the Sand Springs Pumpkin Patch, two meals at Rib Crib, car detailing supplies from AutoZone, a month of free tanning from Touch of Sun, a one-year subscription to the Leader, and even more great prizes. Raffle tickets will be $5.00 apiece, and each prize will have its own bucket so that everyone gets a good shot at what they're wanting. 

The best part of the whole event is that it's nonprofit. The proceeds from the car show and raffle will all be split between the Keystone Fire Department and the Church That Matters Special Needs ministry. 

For more information, contact
William Nozak
www.harpershut.com
www.facebook.com/harpers.hut

First Annual Taste of Sand Springs boasts delicious dining experience

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The first annual Taste of Sand Springs was a success Thursday evening at the Charles Page High School cafeteria. The Chamber of Commerce event served as a fundraiser for the organization Junior Achievement. 

The dining started off with some delicious sliders from Osage Casino. Napoli's Italian Restaurant provided pasta. Reasor's deli had broccoli salad and deviled egg potato salad. Rib Crib served colossal portions of baked beans and mac and cheese with bacon. Charlie's Chicken had hearty portions of green beans and broccoli grape salad. Gander Mountain Vineyard provided open-faced roast beef sandwiches and mushroom casserole with key lime cheesecake for dessert. 

Other sweet options included Harper's Hut Shaved Ice, Sandlot Snoballs and brownies from Meadowlake Ranch. Livi Lee's donuts had a delicious treat called "Strawberry Fields," consisting of a glazed cake donut with strawberries and whipped cream. Also on hand were sixth-graders Taylor Blackwell and Sydnee Porter selling lemonade to raise money for the Cancer Treatment Centers of America.

Sand Springs City Councilman Brian Jackson was the spokesman for the evening and entertained the customers with periodic giveaways including car detailing certificates, Starbucks packages, Crescent Cafe gift cards and more. Jackson serves as the Development Manager at Junior Achievement of Eastern Oklahoma and is currently running for the Senate Seat 37.

Money raised from the event will benefit more than ten CPHS students participating in the Junior Achievement life skills programs.

“Just a short 15 years ago, I was a junior at CPHS and I had the fortune to be inspired by my community classroom volunteer with Junior Achievement.  That classroom time gave me direction to live out my American Dream alongside my wife and daughter,” said Jackson.

Word of Life Free Community Carnival draws record crowds

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Word of Life Church in Sand Springs hosted their fourth annual free community carnival Saturday afternoon to huge success. Approximately 5000 people turned out for the event, the largest turnout since it began, to enjoy free food, rides, and giveaways.

Word of Life is a non-denominational congregation founded in 1981 by the late David Emigh, and is currently pastored by Chad and Sarah Stewart who took the reigns in September of 2011.

In 2013 the Church held its first annual Free Community Carnival, a dream that Pastor Chad Stewart had been working towards since he first arrived at the church. For the first three years, the event was held at the end of summer, shortly before the fall school session began. The church would give away thousands of backpacks full of school supplies and a team of professional stylists would offer free "Back-to-School" haircuts for kids. 

In 2016 the ride company that the church had been using announced it was in the process of liquidating its equipment, leaving the church searching for a replacement. After locating the Oklahoma-based Sam's Amusements, the church had to move the event to Memorial Day weekend due to the ride company's packed schedule. Instead of looking at the change as an inconvenience, the church is counting it as a blessing and an opportunity to improve the experience for everyone.

This year's Carnival featured more than half a dozen rides of varying sizes and had dozens of games and other activities, as well as free popcorn, hotdogs, lemonade, and shaved ice from local company Sandlot Snoballs.

On Sunday morning the church gave away ten checks of $500 each to guests at their services. Each of the recipients were noticeably touched by the gift. One first service recipient had lost a daughter in 2010 and was still unable to afford a headstone. A second service recipient had just lost her job two weeks prior. Other winners included a single mother of two trying to return to college, and an elderly couple who was barely making ends meet while living on social security.

In other news, the church announced the hiring of a new children's pastor last Sunday in Oral Roberts University graduate Alexis Muscarella.

The church holds two services each Sunday at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. and is located at 1402 North 81st West Avenue. Wednesday youth services are held at the Forward Youth Building at 619 East 10th Street at 7:00 pm under youth pastor Chad Ketcher. 

This story was originally published in the Sandite Pride News Weekly Sunday edition.

Unlimited Free Snowcones all day Thursday at Harper's Hut!

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SUBMITTED. Harper's Hut recently raised nearly $200 to help send special needs students to prom.

By: Scott Emigh, Editor in Chief

Just when you thought Harper's Hut Shaved Ice and Java couldn't get any more generous, they find a way to up the ante...this time with some help from their neighbors.  

Beginning Thursday at 12:00 PM, the local snow cone stand will be giving away free minis all day long at their Charles Page Boulevard location in Sand Springs. The Third Annual Summer Kickoff event is bigger than ever before thanks to help from the Akdar Shriners, Green Country Federal Credit Union, Auto Source, and Master Lube.

From Noon to 10:00 PM, mini sized snow cones will be free, or you can get a larger size minus the price of a mini. Green Country will be giving away free hot dogs, the Shriners Pop Corn Wagon will be giving away free pop corn, and the Hut will be doing giveaways every fifteen minutes. 

The party will benefit The Little Lighthouse in Tulsa, which is a nationally recognized development center for children with special needs. The nonprofit organization doesn't charge tuition and operates entirely on contributions from private donors such as Harper's Hut.

The popcorn and hot dogs will be available from 3:00 to 6:00 PM, during which time the Little Lighthouse will be accepting donations in exchange for Harper's Hut raffle tickets. The prize drawings will go on all day and will include shirts, hats, Snow-Yo's (free snow cone cards), and even a Cold Card, which grants the recipient free snow cones all season long.

The party will feature live music from a DJ, tons of games, including an Xbox Kinect hooked up to a giant screen, and three bounce houses. Harper's, Master Lube, and Auto Source will each be providing a bounce house for the event. 

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java to donate 20% of Wednesday profit to CPHS Special Needs Prom

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java is known for making headlines with their generosity and community involvement. Just two weeks ago they gave away more than 400 free snow cones at the Sand Springs Chillin' and Grillin' festival.

Their latest contribution is planned for tomorrow, Wednesday, April 27th. 20% of all net sales from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM will be donated to the Charles Page High School Special Needs program for use in the 2016 Prom, which is scheduled for May 7th. 

The offer is valid only at the Sand Springs location at 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard, and you must present the official flyer for credit. 

"Prom Promise" is an initiative that began six years ago that exists to ensure students with special needs will be able to enjoy the same prom experience as those without disabilities. The program works to provide tuxes and dresses, tickets, dinner before the dance, and transportation to Prom via party bus. The goal is to raise about $2000 by a May 3rd deadline. 

The group has already raised $490 via a "gofundme" account at https://www.gofundme.com/e8v69jgk and they're also accepting checks payable to "Prom Promise" that can be dropped off at the high school office. 

Harper's ties to the special needs community run deep. Harper's is owned by William and Lindsay Nozak who have several family members on staff at The Little Lighthouse in Tulsa, which is a nationally recognized development center for children with special needs. Lindsay, herself, is the Waiting List Coordinator. According to the company, "LLH does not charge tuition and receives money only from private sources, such as foundations and grants."

Harper's Hut is a frequent contributor to the organization and often brings shaved ice for the children throughout the year. "Our family is extremely involved in the lives of our special needs community," says William Nozak. This commitment comes directly from the Harper's Hut core values, which pledge "support toward non-profit organizations promoting family, and Christian values." 

Harper's hosted an entire day of free snow cones last May to raise money for LLH and plans on doing the same this year on May 19th. Harper's was able to reinvest more than $8200 into the community last season and has already contributed more than $2000 to local charities, organizations, and other community centered events this year, not even a quarter of the way into the season. 

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice is open for the season!

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Spring Break kicks off this Friday for our Sand Springs Sandites and one of the most popular hangouts in town is opening up just in time!

Harper's Hut Shaved Ice will be back open for the season at 3:00 pm this Friday and will stay open till 10:30. 

Harper's hit Sand Springs by storm back in 2014 when CEO William Nozak opened his first hut on Charles Page Boulevard in front of the Sand Springs Cinema 8. Word of mouth began to attract large lines of people from Sand Springs, Tulsa, Sapulpa, and Mannford who were clamoring to try the first gourmet snow cones in the Sand Springs area.

Within a month of opening, Harper's Hut was named the "Best in the World" by the Tulsa World readers, and with more than 80 flavors and hundreds of combinations, there's something for everybody. 

The Harper's popularity continued to skyrocket into 2015 and Nozak opened huts in Mannford and Glenpool as well as supplied his brand of deliciousness to the Sapulpa Aquatic Center. In December, Nozak expanded his entrepreneurial exploits into coffee. The first Harper's Hut Java stand opened in Prattville (South Sand Springs) on 41st Street in front of Church That Matters and is open year-round.

Coffee had always been a part of the plan for Nozak, who originally filed his business under the name "Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java." The South-side location won't be offering shaved ice at this time, but does have signature flavors such as "Volcano" and "Butterbeer" available for smoothies, Italian soda, frappuccinos, as well as hot drinks. 

The North side has aims to expand to coffee at some point in the future, but that hut is currently too small to carry both shaved ice and java. 

Nozak considers this weekend to be a "soft opening," with a Grand Opening set for this May when the students are out of school for the summer. The Grand Opening, like last year, will be a full weekend of events, games, and giveaways. He has already been probing the community on what movies they would like to see at Harper's, which frequently does Free Family Movie Nights throughout the summer on their giant inflatable screen. 

Harper's mobile setup is available for all sorts of events ranging from weddings and birthdays to corporate events and fundraisers. A frequent favorite that Church That Matters has used two-years in a row is The Meltdown, where Harper's shaves enough ice for a large snowball fight in the middle of summer. Harper's raised thousands for local charities last summer and hopes to carry that momentum into 2016 with even more local give-back. 

So get on down to Harper's Hut Shaved Ice today and see the shaved ice stand that Tulsa competitors are calling a game-changer for the area!