Good morning, Stillwater! 

We hit (and crossed) a milestone yesterday—500+ newsletter subscribers! Holy smokes! Thank you 🫵 for being part of this growing community!

Let’s keep this love train rollin’! Forward this to your friends, family, or even your frenemies. The more, the merrier!

In today’s edition:

• Stillwater’s most popular library reads of 2024 📚

• Expert picks for your spring planting 🌱

• How to sell your business 💼

• MLK day celebrations 🎉

• but it will be cold! 🥶

– Nate Cheever

WHAT’S UP IN STILLWATER

SLL Issue #8 Comes out on Jan 31st 📰

Last month we honestly weren’t sure, but now I’m excited to announce that the newspaper will be coming out this month! To keep the paper fun and more manageable for me, I’m making a few updates:

• A new award-winning local journalist contributor! I’m stoked about this!

• Temporarily going to 6 pages instead of 8

• Prioritizing subscriber deliveries on Friday, Jan. 31, with local businesses receiving copies on Saturday, Feb. 1

If you’re a fan of the newsletter, I’ll bet you’ll love the paper—it’s a slower, thoughtful dive into local profiles, events, and church news, in the style of the papers of yesteryear. And always 100% local.

Oklahoma Proven 2025 Picks Are Here! 🌱

Not sure what to plant this spring? Worried that pretty plant isn’t suited for our climate? Don’t gamble—take advice from the experts! For over 25 years, Oklahoma Proven has been recommending plants, trees, and shrubs that thrive in our state’s unique climate. They just put out their top four selections for 2025. They are solid bets and they look nice too! 

Here are the contestants:

🌲 Horstmann Blue Atlas Cedar (tree)
🌳 Allspice or Sweetshrub (shrub)
🌼 Swamp Sunflower (perennial)
🌺 Globe Amaranth (annual)

Read more here.

Local Music News

Let’s shine a light on choirs and bands in town who bring us together through song and sound.

Stillwater 8th Grade Band Shines in Tulsa 🥁🎷

The Stillwater Junior High 8th Grade Symphonic Band, led by Megan Perkins, will perform at the Thursday (today) Band Honor Concert at the Tulsa Performing Arts Center at 7 PM. They are the only junior high school band selected in Oklahoma. This is a great honor but if you look at this band’s track record of awards and honors, including two previous OkMEA Honor Band awards, it’s not surprising–we have something special going on here.

Now I know it’s in Tulsa, but hey! Think of it as an opportunity to see a great concert and finally snag that one furniture piece 🪑on Facebook Marketplace that’s been calling your name.

"Wonderful World" Sing-along at Modella Art Gallery 🎶

Raising Voices—a dementia-friendly adult choir—will present a community sing-along at Modella Art Gallery on Saturday, Jan 25, at 1 PM. All are welcome to enjoy familiar tunes, refreshments, and learn about the health and social benefits of group singing. The choir is open to new members, and nope, you don’t have to be a good singer to join.

Choir Rehearsals Are Back! 🎶

I wrote about this a couple of weeks ago, but I figured a reminder couldn’t hurt. The Stillwater Community Singers Spring rehearsals start today! If you can’t make it today it’s no problem. Come another week when you can. Paula and the crew will gladly accept any who love to sing. This season the theme is “The Great American Songbook”.

📅 When: Thursday, Jan 16 @ 7 PM
📍 Where: North Stage Room, Stillwater Community Center

MLK Day Celebration Schedule 🫱🏼‍🫲🏾

Sunday, Jan 19

Join the community at the Stillwater Community Center at 6 PM for an evening of celebration. Enjoy performances by local blues prodigy Connor Helm and the Mt. Zion Choir, and hear from Retired Chief of Police Leon Jones. Refreshments will be provided.

Monday, Jan 20

The MLK Day Unity March kicks off at 1 PM from Southern Woods Park (Hester and 11th Ave) and heads to the Spears School of Business on the OSU campus. It’s expected to be really cold, so bundle up and double-check here for any cancellation updates. 🧤

In addition to Jan 20th being Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it is also the 60th Presidential Inauguration day. OSU and Stillwater Public Schools will be closed, as will the library.

👉 Looking for somewhere to take the kids? Checkout StillyArts Art Camp, open that day.

Stillwater’s Most Popular Library Reads of 2024 📚

Stillwater readers kept their library cards swiping in 2024! Thanks to Emily States, we’ve got the inside scoop on the books that topped the charts in 2024:

Adult Fiction:

• Kristin Hannah’s The Women

• Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us

• Bonnie Garmus’ Lessons in Chemistry

• Ashley Elston’s First Lie Wins: A Novel

• Kristin Hannah’s The Great Alone

Adult Sci-Fi:

• Rebecca Yarros’ Fourth Wing

Adult Mystery:

• C.J. Box’s’ Three-Inch Teeth

We definitely had some authors on repeat! Kristin Hannah had four books in the top 20, Emily Henry had three, with Colleen Hoover and Frieda McFadden having two, all fiction.

If you missed these hits in 2024, there’s no time like the present to check them out—literally. 😉

A Totally Tubular 80’s Prom 📼💃

Has it been too long (or never) since your last 80’s prom? Well, find you a date! Because on January 25th PCYS is hosting an 80’s prom at the OSU Student Union Ballroom, and it’s all for a good cause. Doors open at 5:30 PM, with prom kicking off at 6 PM.

There will be dancing, games, and a catered meal. Go all in on the 80’s vibe with some gnarly gear: scrunchies, big hair, member’s only jackets, etc. There’s even a celebrity look-a-like contest for the best throwback outfits. All proceeds go toward supporting free services for kids and families in Payne County.

📅 When: Saturday, Jan 25| Doors open at 5:30 PM
📍 Where: OSU Student Union Ballroom
💳 Cost: $75 individual reservation

🎟️ Oh, and if you go, you’ll have the exclusive chance to bid on SIX (6) tickets to the SOLD OUT Boys From Oklahoma concert on April 10 during the silent auction. So start digging up that aqua net!

LOCAL BUSINESS

Bobby’s Burgers Debuts This Friday 🍔✨

Local cyclist Bobby Wintel is launching his new food venture, Bobby’s Burgers (nope, not Bobby Flay’s one), this Friday, Jan 17, at 6 PM. Find them downtown at Good Little Eater—near the roundabout at Main St. and 10th, just west of Dennis the Jeweler. Just look for the long line out the door.

The menu appears to be specialized caramelized onion burgers and fries. People who know his cooking are pretty excited, so I’m sure the burgers will fly off the grill. 

There’s no set closing time–they’ll serve until they sell out. So, even though it might be devastating to your new year’s health goals, this cheat day is definitely worth it.

^{^ Not an ad - we just love sharing cool local finds! Want to advertise? Say hello by hitting reply!}

Valuing and Selling Your Business Class 🛒

Are you looking to sell your local business (or buy one)? Meridian Tech Center is holding a class to help guide you through how to value your business. Even if you’re not thinking about selling now, it might be worth checking out to learn about the factors that influence your business value and potential eventual sale. Or, if you’re in the market, it offers a great chance to see who might be willing to sell!

📅 When: Wednesday, Jan. 22| 11:30 AM–1 PM
💵 Cost: $25 (includes a box lunch!)
📍 Where: Center for Business Development, Main Campus, 1414 S. Sangre Road

New Dog Treat Business: Longboyz Treatz 🐕

OSU grad and dog lover Bailie Burrhus recently launched Longboyz Treatz, inspired by her own two dachshunds. The treats are on the soft-side, made “through dehydration to normalize real food for dogs, and cancel nasty, unnecessary preservatives.”

Support this local dog-mompreneur and treat your pup to something wholesome. Check them out here.

CIVIC NEWS

Meet Your Legislators tonight 🤝

Have questions for local officials? Come to the free “Meet Your Legislators” event tonight, Thursday, Jan 16, from 5–7 PM at the Stillwater Community Center. Chat with state legislators, city leaders, and school board members about community issues. No registration required—just show up, enjoy refreshments, and bring your questions 📝.

Myers Park Playground Gets a Boost 🎠

Myers Park is on track to welcome children back to its playground, thanks to a $17,500 grant from the Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA). This funding, secured through the partnership between Stillwater Utilities Authority (SUA) and GRDA, will help cover the costs of new playground equipment for toddlers and older children, as well as safety surfaces, according to a press release from the city.

WEATHER

Thursday
58 🌡️ 38 | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 S 10 mph

Friday
61 🌡️ 27 | 🌤️ | 0% | 💨 S 12 mph

Saturday
33 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️ | 0% | 💨 N 18 mph

Sunday
32 🌡️ 14 | 🌤️ | 0% | 💨 NNW 15 mph

Monday 🥶
24 🌡️ 8 | ☁️ | 10% | 💨 NE 10 mph

Tuesday
31 🌡️ 18 | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 N 8 mph

Wednesday
45 🌡️ 25 | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 S 10 mph

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC

Thursday
Iron Monk | Katie Bardwell | 7–9 PM
Bad Brad’s Bar-B-Q | Songwriter Circle with T Dylan Moss and Guests | 6:30–9 PM
Stillwater Community Center | Troubadour Thursdays | 7:30 PM | Free

Saturday
The Salty Bronc | The Steel Ridge Band | Free 

Sunday
Willie’s Saloon | Open Mic Night | 9 PM

Monday
The Great White Buffalo Tavern | Kyle Beasley | 9 PM

Tuesday
The Other Side Tavern | Song Swap with Michael Massey | 8-11 PM

Thanks to our supporters, Visit Stillwater!

SPORTS

Upcoming home games & matches  🏀 🎾 🤼 🏊

HS/JH - Wrestling vs. Deer Creek (Homecoming)
1/16 @ Fieldhouse - 1224 N Husband St | 5:15 PM - 8:15 PM

JH - Basketball 9th vs. Mustang
1/16 @ Stillwater Middle School, 2200 S Sangre Rd. | 9th G 5:30 PM | 9th B 6:45 PM

Cowboy Basketball vs. Colorado
1/18 @ Gallagher-Iba Arena | 2 PM | Tickets

Cowgirl Tennis vs. Texas State
1/18 @ Greenwood Tennis Center | 1 PM | Watch

Cowgirl Tennis vs. Southeast Missouri State
1/18 @ Greenwood Tennis Center | 6 PM | Watch

OSU Wrestling vs. West Virginia
1/19 @ Gallagher-Iba Arena | 2 PM | Tickets

JH - Basketball 9th vs. Ponca City
1/20 @ Fieldhouse - 1224 N Husband St. | 9th G 5:30 PM | 9th B 6:45 PM

HS - Basketball vs. Putnam City West
1/21 @ Fieldhouse - 1224 N Husband St. | JVG 3:30 PM | JVB 4:45 PM | Varsity Girls 6 PM | Varsity Boys 7:30 PM

HS - Swim vs. Piedmont/Casady
1/21 @ Stillwater YMCA | 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Cowgirl Basketball vs. TCU
1/22 @ Gallagher-Iba Arena | 6:30 PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Stillwater Lokal Life today. If you found something valuable, please share it with the last person who texted you.

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up
Want to get your business in Stillwater Lokal Life? Let's talk