END OF 2016 - UPCOMING EVENTS/ACTIVITIES

December 31, 2016    Happy New Year's Eve! 
I only have a couple of notes to pass on before I write the "end of year" post.
The WHIRLWIND WINERY is open Today, Saturday, from 12:00 noon until 6:00 PM.

The winery is located on east Main St. in Watonga, OK.  Go by and wish a happy new year to Brad and Don, and pick up a bottle or two of their wines for tonight's festivities.  These guys bring a lot of visitors to our town with their Groupon offers and support the idea of tourism being an economic development tool. 




Speaking of tourism, the 2017 issue of the Red Carpet Country Visitor's Guide will be out soon and available locally around mid-January.  I am honored to be a member of the RCC Board of Directors and promote activities in and around Blaine County on Facebook through pages I administer:  Watonga Community Events, Blaine Co. Community Events, Oklahoma Travel & Tips, and by sharing with numerous groups I contribute to.


One of the upcoming events in our area is the FIRST DAY HIKE at Roman Nose State Park on Jan 1. Get more information by calling the Park or check out their facebook page.

   

The next OKLAHOMA HOUSE CONCERT at the Chaparral Retreat & Guesthouse, is  Jan. 22, 2017, 5:00 PM.  A  $10 donation to Phoenix Circle Foundation (tax-deductible) is requested, which allows that charitable organization to offer FREE art activities to local children.  Advance ticket/receipt available, call 580-623-4269.  BYOB and a snack if you choose to.  You can SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC, and make a difference in the lives of children through arts education, by attending these House Concerts or making a donation directly to Phoenix Circle Foundation.  The owners of the Chaparral Retreat provide free lodging and food to touring musicians, and in return they perform in the unique and comfortable setting of the Retreat.  The musicians we've hosted come from all across the country and we try to show them OKLAHOMA hospitality.  There is nothing else like these shows, so come share the experience.  In February, we have a returning musician, Caroline Cotter, coming with a friend, so it will be a completely different show than her solo performance last year.  Get more information at www.chaparralbb.com, and check out our Discover Oklahoma segment on youtube by typing in "chaparral retreat" in the search box at the youtube website. 

We hope everyone has a safe and festive new year's eve.  I'll be working on an "end of year" post, and want to thank all of my followers and supporters. 

/Linda Barrett

KUDOS to the Enid OK Newspaper (link below)

Headline from NY Times article by Manny Fernandez, Dec. 26, 2016:  "An Oklahoma Newspaper Endorsed Clinton. It Hasn’t Been Forgiven."   The article is not reprinted here, but the entire article can be read by clicking on this link:    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/26/us/oklahoma-newspaper-hillary-clinton-endorsement.html?mwrsm=Facebook&_r=0 


The Enid News and Eagle newspaper endorsed Clinton.  It hasn't been forgiven.   A 730 word editorial caused quite an uproar in small-town America, revealed the extraordinary divisions exposed in this election and the surprising ways in today’s digital media age that newspaper endorsements still have the power to generate a reaction, even if they don’t necessarily change people’s votes.  According to the NY Times article, the Enid newspaper has lost many subscriptions and advertisers because of the editorial.  "I hope people can respect that we’re entitled to our opinion, too, and that that can be different from news,” said Rob Collins, the executive editor of The Enid News & Eagle."


One comment from a facebook friend:  "People seem to forget that, just because you live in a "blue county" or a "red county" or a "blue state" or a "red state", that doesn't mean that everyone shares the same beliefs and opinions. Even if one party wins more often than the other, it is still that party's duty to represent the electorate at large, not just its own members. If you vote leaders into office expecting that those leaders will do everything you want, despite what the electorate wants, then you aren't voting for an American democracy."


Kudos to the Enid editor for printing their editorial opinion. Every American has the right to express their opinion, and when we act out of fear of reprisals, personal, financial, physical, we are giving in to the fear tactics that demagoques and dictators use as weapons against a free America. Even though OK is considered a "red state" doesn't mean that every person here supported or voted for Trump. Long ago I adopted a kind of slogan (from a quote by Thomas Jefferson) that represented a truth to me): WHEN TYRANNY BECOMES LAW, RESISTANCE BECOMES DUTY. As free-thinking Americans, we each have the right to believe what we want to believe, but we don't have the moral right to insist that another person with a different point of view be forced to agree with another's point of view, or to squelch another person's expression of their belief through threats and intimidation. So much of our media has already given in to threats by advertisers which severely restricts true and complete information  the public receives. We've seen it in our own local newspaper, though no one wants to admit or talk about that.  Cancelling subscriptions only serves to limit the possibility of that person getting true and correct information. My policy is to get information from many sources, not just the ones who broadcast and distribute information that I want to believe. I'd love to see this post SHARED.


One of the earmarks of our democracy is our right to free speech.  Editorials like the one in the Enid News should serve to open civil discussion among people with differing opinions and not be used as a weapon against free speech. 


/Linda

The State of Tourism

December 11, 2016

"Times have never been better for adding tourism to a small town's economic mix." says  Joanne Steele from  the Center for Rural Affairs.  A link to her complete article “Rural Tourism: It's Never Been A Better Time to Be A Small Town”  will be posted on facebook on the Blaine Co. Community Events page. 

Red Carpet Country tourism association held their December board meeting at the Sod House Museum near Aline.  The Sod House and Museum is an amazing visit !  It is the only existing original sod house in Oklahoma.  If you are traveling through NW Oklahoma on Highway 45 or close to Cherokee, Cleo Springs or Fairview, go by and check it out! I have driven by it many times and never stopped, so I am so glad the meeting was held there. I recommend that everyone looking for something to do in NW and N Central Oklahoma check out the facebook page and website for RED CARPET COUNTRY -- you're sure to find lots of fun and family-friendly activities in Red Carpet Country. 

TOURISM is the third largest industry in Oklahoma, and Blaine County has a natural draw for tourists -- Roman Nose State Park.  Once here, visitors have few options other than the park and the Lodge. There a couple of gift shops, small "down home" restaurants, but the biggest draw to Main St.  Watonga has been the Whirlwind Winery, which is open every Friday and Saturday. The winery participates in the “Groupon” program and brings visitors from all parts of Oklahoma and even some from Kansas and Arkansas and Texas.    

Watonga Arts Center is a building next to the Whirlwind Winery, currently being renovated  to be turned into an Art Gallery with additional spaces for art workshops and art lessons.  It can also be a venue for live music, storytelling sessions and other arts activities for the community.  Once the Arts Center is open the east end of Main St. will be completely full  of active business storefronts.   As a day-trip destination, the City will benefit from  visitors and their tax dollars.   

Working with the PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit,  the owners of Watonga Arts is  hoping and waiting for local business people to step up and support their effort to help make our downtown more attractive.  This area is a flower bud about to bloom, but it will die on the stem if it isn’t nurtured. 

I have found that “not all small towns are alike”, doomed to fade away, as many locals are fond of saying.  Since I have had the opportunity to be part of the Red Carpet Country tourism board, I’ve travelled across the north west and north central part of the state, and visited with directors of Chambers of Commerce, City Managers, directors of tourism.  I have witnessed the transformation of a dying town into a quaint, active, and prosperous town that still maintains that “down home” atmosphere, historical sites, and welcoming spirit.  The towns of Watonga, Okeene, Geary, and Canton are all taking steps to attract tourists to this area. As the saying goes, “If you are coasting, you’re going downhill.”  Blaine County is ripe and ready to start going uphill.  

[Blogger: Linda Barrett]

 

 

A SEASON FOR GIVING

Since moving to Watonga, I've seen almost  ALL of the local businesses and businessmen give money to almost every "fundraising" request, supporting all sports activities, cheerleaders, band students, helping to pay medical bills for some residents, concerts at the Liberty Theatre, and church fundraisers.  I know this community to be a giving community.



Dr. Max Barrett and Marjorie Barrett were long-time residents of Watonga, and upstanding members of the community, supporting the town and the schools, participating in governmental and civic organizations, volunteering their time for the betterment of the community and its residents. We have tried to follow the example set by Dr. and Mrs. Barrett.




As most of those who read this know, we  are on a board of directors of the Phoenix Circle Foundation, an Oklahoma 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of children through programs that involve wellness, arts education, charitable giving. I'm not going to list all of the activities and programs we've headed up or helped with over the past four years.  We provide a public report at the end of each year.  I'm certain you know someone who has benefitted from our efforts in one way or another.



Without further explanation, we are asking for your help with donations that will allow us to continue our programs here.  If the community is not willing to help --i.e., "talk the talk but not walk the walk",  we will not be discouraged and will continue our efforts through grants and, surprisingly, donations we've received from people who don't even live here!  Those donors are people who are interested in making this a better world for our children and they should be applauded for their willingness to help.
 
SO, we are extending a CHALLENGE to each business and business owner, and individuals who support other "nonprofit" activities in Watonga, to make a donation to Phoenix Circle Foundation.  Your money stays here and benefits our community.  There are five ways you can respond:




1.  Send a check, in any amount (every $1 is important) to PCF, PO Box 427,Watonga, OK 73772.  You will receive a receipt for tax purposes as these donations are tax-deductible.




2.  Donate through our "GOFUNDME" campaign.  Log on to www.gofundme.com and search for Scissortail Creative Space.  Phoenix Circle Foundation is registered as a nonprofit with GoFundMe. They take credit cards, but in the interest of full disclosure, they also keep a very small percentage of donations to cover their costs of taking credit card donations.




3.  The EASIEST way to donate is through www.smile.amazon.com when you shop at Amazon online.  You can go directly to that website, or from the www.amazon.com site, type in Amazon Smile in the search box and it will take you to the amazon smile program.  You shop the way you always do, but there will be a box where you can choose a charitable organization to support.  Five are listed, then there is a box to type in another -- in that box type in Phoenix Circle Foundation, and you can confirm that on the next page that pops up.  Amazon will then make a donation -- it's not added onto your bill but is paid by Amazon.  Several people we know are using this method to support us, and we thank them immensely.  Since this is the "shopping" season, your purchases through Amazon can make a huge difference.   If you have any questions about the smile.amazon program, give me a call (940-735-1065 or home: 623-4269 and I can walk you through the process.




4.  You can attend our OKLAHOMA HOUSE CONCERTS and make a donation there + experience a unique and intimate evening of live music from musicians that come from all over the country.




5. You can do nothing -- and stop complaining that our children are running around, have few choices for educational activities to do after school, and aren't getting the well-rounded education all parents want for their kids. 




THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR FOR GIVING, so I hope you will consider these words --

 "All the streets are filled with laughter and light

And the music of the season

And the merchants' windows are all bright

With the faces of the children

And the families hurrying to their homes

While the sky darkens and freezes

Will be gathering around the hearths and tables

...

Well they call him by 'the Prince of Peace'

And they call him by 'the Savior'

And they pray to him upon the seas

And in every bold endeavor

And they fill his churches with their pride and gold

While their faith in him increases

...

Well we guard our world with locks and guns

And we guard our fine possessions

And once a year when Christmas comes

We give to our relations

And perhaps we give a little to the poor

If the generosity should seize us

But if any one of us should interfere

In the business of why there are poor

They get the same as the rebel Jesus." 

--lyrics by Jackson Browne

I am posting this on December 1, 2016 and hope to get responses by December 10.  At that point we will have to spend money on letters and stamps to get our requests out (and I hate spending donated monies on administrative expenses!!).



We thank you for your support.
/Andy Barrett, Director
Phoenix Circle Foundation