Upcoming Events

Looking for something to do on a Saturday night in Watonga for a date night?

The next Liquid ART fundraising event at Whirlwind Winery will be at 6:30 PM on SATURDAY JUNE 25, 2016. We'll have cheese, Sprite, and WINE. Space is limited, so reserve your spot by calling 580-623-4269 (leave a message on voice mail with your number).
$30 donation per person is requested. All donations go toward Phoenix Circle Foundation's art, music, reading, and other educational programs. You don't even have to drink wine - just come out and have fun! It's always a party and donations go to toward a good cause!! 

 

The Blaine County Health & Hunger Community Garden is up and ready for groups, families, or individuals to "adopt a plot" or volunteer to help maintain the garden space while you grow produce for your family and to share with the community.  There will be a Community Garden meeting at the First United Methodist Church on Thursday, June 30, at 6:30 pm where you can get more information. 

 

On Tuesday July 19, Judy Painter and Rose Kimball  will be playing a house concert at the Chaparral Retreat at 6:30 pm.  Oklahoma House Concerts are informal, intimate shows and we are lucky to have musicians stop here on their way to another gig.  A donation of $5 is requested to help offset their travel expenses, and Andy and Linda Barrett provide lodging and meals while they are in our area.   Judy and Rose will be heading to Illinois after they play here.  Check them out on youtube at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z0ZBfhMiNsg...

 Here is a link to their webpage:
http://www.judyandrosemusic.com/#!judy-and-rose-videos/c1yws

Last but not least, the First United Methodist Church and Phoenix Circle Foundation are partnering again this year to give away school supplies to elementary and middle school children.  Last year we were able to serve over 100 children and there were still children who we did not have supplies for. We can't do it without community involvement -- anyone can help by dropping off school supplies at the First United Methodist Church, or making a donation which will allow us to purchase supplies.  Phoenix Circle Foundation is able to get supplies at a substantial discount.  If you have any questions, please call the church office at 580-623-5122 and leave your name and phone number. 

[(c) Linda Barrett, Ed.]

 

New Pastor at First United Methodist Church

June 16, 2016
GOOD MORNING, WATONGA.
First United Methodist Church's new Pastor, Tracey Ivy, is on board and will be preaching this Sunday, June 19. We invite all to come meet her, welcome her, and hear her message. Sunday school for adults starts at 9:00 am, children's Sunday School at 9:45 am, followed by fellowship and a light brunch. Worship service begins at 10:50 a.m. SEE YOU ON SUNDAY!

Even though the weather is turning hot ....

June 7, 2016
It's a hot lazy afternoon .... the heat of summer has arrived, which really isn't bad considering it is June and in prior years we've had temperatures in the 80's and 90's in early May.  Before I moved here, my husband told me that the snakes didn't come out until Memorial Day, so that I wouldn't be afraid to go hiking.   Once we moved here and were working to clear out trees and brush, I saw a snake in April.  I didn't realize that the snakes came out when it got warm and that it had nothing to do with the date!  I'm older and wiser now!
 
So we're staying indoors this afternoon until the heat subsides. Earlier in the day our guests strolled down Main Street and took photos of the highlights of the town. They have a son named Blaine and were looking for a sign on the Courthouse that said "Blaine County".  The streets were quiet, the antique store wasn't open, but they enjoyed their walk and commented on the tile work on the Liberty Theatre and the architecture of some of the buildings on Main St.  We ate dinner at the RNSP Lodge and walked down the hall to the lodge rooms to see the photographic display of the history of the Park and Watonga.   They plan on visiting the TB Ferguson Museum and hiking at RNSP while they are in this area. It is always interesting to hear what visitors see and do and appreciate about this area, seeing it all from a different perspective.  Between the Park and the history of Blaine County, we are a pretty good tourism destination, something that many people don't expect to find here! /Linda Barrett    

Chaparral Retreat attracts visitors

June 6, 2016
May has been a very busy month for the Chaparral Retreat and Guesthouse and its owners, Andy and Linda Barrett.  Just this past week visitors have come from Edmond, Wichita KS, and Denton, TX.  Earlier in the month Watonga's local songbird, Katie Ballew, and her singing partner Kelly Potts, performed for a modest but very appreciative audience on a Sunday afternoon.  The Chaparral Retreat is the venue for Oklahoma House Concerts, and the second group to play there in May was a trio from Nashville called "My Politic".  Check them out on youtube.com!  A honeymooning couple came to stay last weekend and experienced the beauty of nature at this quiet little paradise tucked behind fifty-year old trees.  If you don't know what you are looking for as you go north on State Hwy 8A toward Roman Nose State Park, you'll miss it completely (look to your right for a wood fence and a rock sign). The place is a hidden gem and has an interesting history to go with it.

The third wave of color on the property are just now blooming:  daylillies, coreopsis, canna lillies, moon flower, four-o'clocks, Indian blanket and other wildflowers.  Mrs. Barrett gives short tours of the property to show children what they can grow to eat:  basil, mint, rosemary, parsley, cilantro.  The larger garden hosts tomatoes, squash, and green beans.  Guests at the Retreat are able to hike along trails under the canopy of native trees on the property, or are directed to visit the state park just down the road where they can dip their feet in the cold natural springs there, learn about the native American history of the area, admire the amazing rock work of the young men of the Civilian Conservation Corps, and eat at the recently-remodeled Lodge restaurant.

The Barrett family is involved in establishing a new "Health & Hunger Community Garden"  in the town of Watonga, made possible by a collaboration between OSU's County Extension Service, the 1st United Methodist Church, and other community partners.  Everyone in the community is invited to participate in maintaining the garden space, growing and harvesting fresh produce, and learning about chemical-free gardening and composting.  For more information and to register to help with this project, contact Linda Barrett at 580-623-5269 or cell:  940-735-1065.  Look for what's going on in the area on the Blaine Co. Community Events facebook page. 

Art can enhance local business and culture!

Following is a facebook post I received as a member of the board of Red Carpet Country Tourist Assoc. 

This art center in Guymon is putting into practice what Phoenix Circle Foundation has been working on for Watonga for two years. It shows what a collaboration between private enterprises, nonprofit organizations, and city government can accomplish toward a town's economic development.  We're on board with the Oklahoma Arts Council, a private nonprofit foundation, and several local business people.  Maybe by next summer we'll have our space ready on Main Street for a summer camp for OUR children!! 
/Linda Barrett

From  Red Carpet Country Visitors Guide at All Fired Up: Enhancing Local Business and Culture. Guymon, OK ·

ANNUAL SUMMER KIDS ART CAMP SET FOR JUNE IN GUYMON
TWO AGE GROUPS, TWO DISCIPLINES
Whether kids want to learn to paint or learn what goes into to the making of ...pottery, there’s an opening at this year’s Summer Art Camp at All Fired Up Gallery and Art Center in Guymon.

Kids ages seven to twelve will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 3 to 6 pm for painting classes. For pottery classes, the same age group will meet from 3:15 to 5:30pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. hen on Tuesdays and Thursdays for two weeks, ages 13-17 will meet, again, for painting classes at 3 and pottery at 3:15-6pm.
Instructing this year’s Summer Art Camp Painting classes will be Lana Hanes. Hanes has worked with OPSU’s art department including help painting an image for crossing over from 2D to 3D. Hanes is skilled in mixed media including eggshells, modeling paste, tissue paper and even cardboard. Returning to Summer Art Camp 2016 is Josh Hogge of Texhoma, who brings his diverse skills and creative work in 3D artwork, with a focus on ceramics, pottery.
“It’s always a blessing to watch the excitement in the children as they learn new way to be creative. The gifts they learn today will hang in galleries tomorrow,” said Matt Crook, gallery director. Summer Art
Summer Art Camp 2016 is set for June 6-17th for painting and June 20- July 1st for pottery. To sign your kids up, you can call 338 4ART (4278) or email director@artistincubation.com. There’s also a flier at www.allfiredupok.com with camp schedules and contact info, which is also “mobile friendly.” Costs for the camp range from $35 and $45 per day (pottery) to $125-$150 for the two weeks. Summer Art Camp 2016 is sponsored in part by the Oklahoma Arts Council and the City of Guymon.
‪#‎end‬#



 

A collaborative effort makes a difference in the lives of Watonga and community

A HUGE "thank you" to ALL who helped with Vacation Bible School this past Saturday at First United Methodist Church and the Scissortail Chalk Art event. This church had a choice:  they could decide not to have a VBS program this year due to shortage of volunteers, or they could provide a multi-layered program for children with the resources and volunteers who were available and through a partnership with Phoenix Circle Foundation.  They chose to serve the children of our community with a short but meaningful day of praise, bible lessons, food, music, love, and community fellowship. We even had some youngsters from Canton join us. It was a joy to experience. Pastor Steve outdid himself as leader of VBS, and once again we were led by God to make a special day happen!  It would not have been possible without everyone working together to make it happen. 

See photos at facebook pages for Watonga First United Methodist Church, Phoenix Circle Foundation, or Scissortail Arts Day. 

Scissortail Arts Day

On May 28, Phoenix Circle Foundation is partnering with the First United Methodist Church and local businesses to hold the first annual SCISSORTAIL ARTS DAY. 

FREE Sidewalk Chalk Art Event     + Other Children’s activities  + MUSIC + FOOD =

Fun day for the whole family 

Saturday, May 28, 2016 — 1:00 to 6:00 PM

Corner of 4th St. and Burford, Watonga, OK (check in is at Parking Lot of FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

All Ages – Get a Group of Friends Together and register as a team, or reserve a square for one. Call 940-735-1065 or 580-623-4269 (leave a message with your phone number for a call back)  to request information and registration form, or email us at phoenixcir@yahoo.com 

YOU CAN CHECK OUT ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS AT "BLAINE CO. COMMUNITY EVENTS" FACEBOOK PAGE, OR PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION PAGE.