1. The city sales tax measure for the Watonga (Mercy) Hospital did pass, thankfully. This is important news for our community There was quite a bit of Facebook chatter about it, but not everyone gets their news on facebook.
2. The Great American Cleanup Day (#OKGAC) for our area is scheduled for this Saturday, April 14, 2018, at Roman Nose State Park. Volunteers are needed and everyone can help in one way or another. I know that the State Park appreciates any and all help it can get in helping keep our local state park clean for visitors. With all of the state budget cuts, this is an important activity as Roman Nose State Park is one of the major tourism attractions in this area, and tourism brings people to Watonga, which in turn brings in sales tax dollars. A recent visitor to our town asked "what is there to do in Watonga?" The Watonga resident answered [and no, it wasn't ME that answered], "Roman Nose State Park, the Whirlwind Winery, the antique store on Main Street, and the Chaparral Retreat & Guesthouse"! The visitor actually came out to the Chaparral Retreat and we gave them information on the T.B. Ferguson Home & Museum, a rack card from the Chamber of Commerce, a flyer on Oklahoma House Concerts, and a copy of the Red Carpet Country Visitor's Guide.
In connection with the #OKGAC Clean-Up day, PHOENIX CIRCLE FOUNDATION has coordinated with the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful organization and their partners, and been given gloves, trash bags, a couple of recycle bins for plastic and aluminum cans, bottled water, and some T-Shirts for volunteers. This is a perfect opportunity for community service hours for Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs, church groups, civic groups, children and adults, youth -- everyone can help. BE SURE AND WEAR APPROPRIATE SHOES for walking through the woods and along trails at the park.
Registration
will begin at
9:30 a.m. in the parking lot at the Lodge and small groups will head out from there.
Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Keep Oklahoma Beautiful and its partners have provided trash
bags, gloves, bottled water, and recycling bins. Contact Linda Barrett by phone or text at
940-735-1065 if you have any questions. The event will also be posted on Facebook
page BLAINE COUNTY OK COMMUNITY.
BEFORE the Clean-Up Day, residents can also help the Keep Oklahoma Beautiful program by collecting their aluminum cans and plastic bottles at home (put into separate trash bags) and bring them out to the General Store at the Park. A KOB member will then pick up and deliver the bags to the KOB recycling center in Oklahoma City.
OTHER LOCAL NEWS AND ACTIVITIES
Following an afternoon of clean-up at Roman Nose State Park on April 14, the public is invited to a Movie Night at the Park, sponsored by the Watonga Chamber of Commerce. For more information, see the Chamber of Commerce's Event posting on Facebook or contact Teresa France at the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber and its Board are really working hard with its new director, the management at Roman Nose State Park, and Friends of Roman Nose State Park Association to promote family-friendly activities.
Personally, I don't really care about the newspaper article from Anchorage, Alaska about a moose stomping on a man's foot. I would like to see more articles about and from our own State, county, and city. For Example --
The Chaparral Retreat is honored to host "legendary" (I am told) musician Chuck Dunlap for an informal house concert on Sunday afternoon, April 14, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Chuck was on the ground floor in Stillwater, Oklahoma of the acoustic singer-songwriter genre that filled the gap between country and rock music that would later be pegged "Red Dirt" music. He has opened for such music legends as • Emmy Lou Harris • Johnny Lee Hooker • Levon Helm• Muddy Waters • Leon Redbone • Jerry Jeff Walker
Following an afternoon of clean-up at Roman Nose State Park on April 14, the public is invited to a Movie Night at the Park, sponsored by the Watonga Chamber of Commerce. For more information, see the Chamber of Commerce's Event posting on Facebook or contact Teresa France at the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber and its Board are really working hard with its new director, the management at Roman Nose State Park, and Friends of Roman Nose State Park Association to promote family-friendly activities.
Personally, I don't really care about the newspaper article from Anchorage, Alaska about a moose stomping on a man's foot. I would like to see more articles about and from our own State, county, and city. For Example --
The Chaparral Retreat is honored to host "legendary" (I am told) musician Chuck Dunlap for an informal house concert on Sunday afternoon, April 14, from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm. Chuck was on the ground floor in Stillwater, Oklahoma of the acoustic singer-songwriter genre that filled the gap between country and rock music that would later be pegged "Red Dirt" music. He has opened for such music legends as • Emmy Lou Harris • Johnny Lee Hooker • Levon Helm• Muddy Waters • Leon Redbone • Jerry Jeff Walker
“The influence of Chuck Dunlap on the Oklahoma musical tradition should
not be under-rated.” -Chris B. Critter/Currentland Check out his website:
www.chuckdunlapmusic.com
The concert is FREE, though a donation to Phoenix Circle Foundation of $5 - $10 is requested (but not required) to help bring future arts and music activities to Watonga. The musicians share their time and talents for tips and merchandise sales, and we are so fortunate that Chuck has chosen to stop here on his tour. Another Oklahoma native, Dylan Stewart, will open for Chuck.
The T.B.Ferguson Home & Museum will hold its annual Tea fundraiser on May 6, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church, 301 N. Noble, Watonga. The theme will be "Pottery World of Oklahoma" and a presentation on decorating with pottery will be given. Tickets are $8.00 and must be bought in advance and can be purchased from any Friend of the Ferguson Member or call the museum at 580-623-5069 to reserve your seat. Light refreshments will be served. Email address is historic.tbferguson home@gmail.com
As a final note for today, I appreciate the articles in this week's newspaper about improvement projects on buildings on Main Street. Spring is upon us and will be a busy time, and I look forward to reading and sharing news from our area, not only on this blog but also on the Red Carpet Country tourism page because I am a proponent of the success of our town and of tourism as an economic development tool. Have a great week!
/ Linda Barrett
The concert is FREE, though a donation to Phoenix Circle Foundation of $5 - $10 is requested (but not required) to help bring future arts and music activities to Watonga. The musicians share their time and talents for tips and merchandise sales, and we are so fortunate that Chuck has chosen to stop here on his tour. Another Oklahoma native, Dylan Stewart, will open for Chuck.
The T.B.Ferguson Home & Museum will hold its annual Tea fundraiser on May 6, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the First Baptist Church, 301 N. Noble, Watonga. The theme will be "Pottery World of Oklahoma" and a presentation on decorating with pottery will be given. Tickets are $8.00 and must be bought in advance and can be purchased from any Friend of the Ferguson Member or call the museum at 580-623-5069 to reserve your seat. Light refreshments will be served. Email address is historic.tbferguson home@gmail.com
As a final note for today, I appreciate the articles in this week's newspaper about improvement projects on buildings on Main Street. Spring is upon us and will be a busy time, and I look forward to reading and sharing news from our area, not only on this blog but also on the Red Carpet Country tourism page because I am a proponent of the success of our town and of tourism as an economic development tool. Have a great week!
/ Linda Barrett
