Good morning, Stillwater!

I recently taught an OLLI class, which got me back into something I’d let slip for a while: reading actual books. Last year I only did one book total (yikes!). But prepping for that class kicked me into gear, and I’m reading again, slowly. But it’s so good.¹

No matter how busy your life is, I hope you have time to sit down with a good book this week. Or at least stack one neatly on your nightstand with the best of intentions.

In today’s edition:

• Family picnic celebration this Saturday

• A STEAM-powered chicken (of sorts) 🐓

• Local Mom Meetup in the works

• Learn from the cake pros

Let’s get right to it!

– Nate Cheever

Happy birthday to Patricia Darlington and Laura Chaffin! 🎂

 Cowboy Trade Day is comin’ to town! 🤠

Cowboy Trade Day is set for next Saturday, June 28, from 9 AM to 3 PM at the scenic grounds of Cross Brand Cowboy Church (2700 S Fairgrounds Rd).

Expect a full day of antiques, handmade crafts, tools, tack, vintage decor, Western wear, farm goods, and more small-town treasures.

Got something to sell? Vendor spots are just $40 for a 20' x 20' space. Apply here.

Admission is free for all ages! Bring the family, invite the neighbors, and help kick off what might just become a new Stillwater tradition.

WHAT’S UP IN STILLWATER

Discount Card Update!

Thanks to everyone who bought a discount card! Our printer had a bit of a delay, but he says the cards should arrive at our home today. Once they do, my wife and I are going to pop some popcorn, turn on a spaghetti western movie (A Few Dollars Less?😄) and start slapping stamps on envelopes and prepping your cards for the mail.

When you get them, be sure to post a pic on them socials! #stillwaterlokallife

If you haven’t gotten one yet, you can here:

Juneteenth Celebration at Southern Woods Park 🎉 🌞

The City of Stillwater is hosting a Juneteenth National Independence Day picnic from 11 AM to 2 PM this Saturday, 6/21, at Southern Woods Park on 12th Street. Prairie Arts Center will be there with fun art activities, plus all the fixins: music, bouncy houses, food trucks, games. It will be a good time! Bring a blanket and/or a lawn chair and some sun screen.

What is Juneteenth? Juneteenth is a shortening of June Nineteenth, the day in 1865 when US army troops entered Galveston Texas bringing word of the Emancipation proclamation to the slaves that they were free.

📍 Southern Woods Park, 12th Street
🗓️ Saturday, June 21, 11 AM–2 PM
🎟️ Free

A STEAM-Powered Chicken 🍗 

Before your discount card comes in the mail, and if you were already planning on eating out today, may I suggest Slim Chickens? All you have to do is mention the special code “StillWonder” or use the code SLIMSGIVES if ordering online, and they’ll donate 25% of your bill to support StillWonder, a non-profit dedicated to creating hands-on STEAM learning experiences for our youth.

You eat delicious chicken. Kids learn more through immersive play. Everybody wins! ^{(except the chicken I guess} 🤔⁾

📍 Slim Chickens, 1011 N Boomer Rd.
🗓️ All Day Thursday, June 19 !

Lettuce Turnip at the Cookbook Sale 🥬📚

Stillwater is a remarkable place for many reasons, but one that stands out to me are how many acts of mutual benefit I see, and a new one just popped up!

The Stillwater Public Library is holding a special one-time sale of hundreds of cookbooks donated by a longtime supporter. 100% of book sales benefit the Stillwater Public Library.

It’ll be in the library parking lot on Saturday morning, right next to the Farmer’s Market. Now you can walk over and find a recipe for that weird vegetable you have no idea what to do with!

📍 Library Parking Lot
🗓 Saturday, June 21 | 🕗 8 AM – 12 PM
💵 $1–$5 per book, cash/check only requested

Into the Woods—Now with ASL Interpretation! 🌲👐

Town & Gown Theatre has big news! They are offering the first-ever ASL-interpreted performance during Into the Woods today, Thursday, June 19. Interpreters Cam Cheek and Samuel Hall will sign nearly 30 musical pieces and the script tonight, making the play accessible for deaf audience members. They plan on continuing to have ASL available going forward in their 75th season.

The show runs through Sunday:
🕢 Thursday–Saturday at 7:30 PM
🕝 Sunday matinee at 2:30 PM
🎟️ $18 Adults | $16 Military/Students/Seniors | tix

Local Cake Pros Are Willing to Teach you 🍰👩🏼‍🍳

Do you aspire to be on the Great British/American Baking Show someday? Or maybe wow your family at the next birthday party? If so, you must learn the hways of the pros! Round House Bakery is offering a Summer Cake Camp, with the first session coming up on Thursday, June 26th, to get you in show-stopping-cake-shape.

The first session is the 🎉 Party Cake Camp from 1-3 PM followed by the 🌸 Floral and Funky Cake Camp from 6-8 PM. Good for ages 8+!

This Instagram post says it all:

A few more to look forward to 👀

♫ Stillwater Community Band is set to play some of their favorites for us at the Community Center next Thursday, June 26 at 7PM. It’s fun, free, and family-friendly!

⚔️ Fire Brothers Forgeworks will teach a class on how to forge a basic knife. This Saturday, 6/21, they take on session 2 of forming a finished knife from metal stock. If banging on some hot heavy metal with other craftsman is your thing, you are invited to come! 6/21 11 AM – 5 PM, 1402 S Chester St. No beard required, but it helps. 😉

Grocery Report 🛒

This week’s Cart King is Aldi edging out Walmart (2nd) with lower prices per banana. Walmart in close 2nd.

SOUNDS AROUND TOWN

Reader Donna Sinnes emailed me that this was happening and I got to catch the end of the performance of Raising Voices for their inaugural semester at Modella Art Gallery. These folks sounded great! Here in this picture was the finale of “Happy Trails”, their final piece of five songs.

Director Sarah DeYong was all smiles, so proud of the group. She brought the idea for this dementia-friendly choir to Stillwater after moving back from Minnesota, where she first saw the Raising Voices model take off across the US.

We’re so lucky to have Sarah with us!

There will be another round this Fall, dates unknown at this point. They’re looking for anyone with dementia and their caretakers who is interested in singing or anyone who just loves to sing in a happy choir. Checkout www.raisingvoicesok.com if interested.

LOCAL BUSINESS

☕ Have Coffee, Will Travel: Mobile Coffee Bar Business in Town
A new family-owned business called Good Friend Coffee Bar is about to launch! They plan to park at Lake McMurtry every weekend, so if you’re headed out for a morning hike, you just might find a fresh cup of coffee waiting! They’re also booking for weddings, baby showers, fundraisers, and events of that kind.

🎂 Stonecloud is a Toddler of a Business
GM Matt Sullins noted a special day yesterday—the three year mark of starting Stonecloud. Congrats to them and their fine establishment and all they bring to the community!

👸🏻 Mom Meetup in the works, looking for vendors
Speaking of toddlers, Shelby Hunsaker is planning a Mom Meetup for Saturday, July 19th, from 3-6 PM at 521 W University Ave Suite B, (kitty-corner from the Fire Station on campus corner). She’s looking for food vendors, boutiques, Nail Artist and the like to come and enjoy some time for moms to connect. Apply here.

👕 Cardinals Love for the Homeless Open Free Pantry for Those in Need
Stephanie Gallion and her team of local guardian angels are putting the final touches on their new free clothing pantry opening July 1st at 1311 1/2 N Perkins Rd. Cardinals Love for the Homeless is open to anyone looking for a wardrobe boost, no questions asked. Stop by to donate, volunteer, or enjoy a meal and chat with the crew. They’re pros at making everyone feel like family.

🐾 A Safer Shelter For Survivors and Their Pets
Wings of Hope celebrated the opening of an on-site pet kennel this week, making it possible for domestic violence survivors to bring their beloved animals with them into shelter. Staff members noticed many crisis callers wouldn’t come in because they couldn’t leave their pets behind. Now, thanks to community support, they don’t have to.

The project was made possible through a student-led fundraising effort by Stillwater Makes a Change (SMAC) and Garrett Leming for building the kennel. Read more.

CIVIC UPDATES

Wildfire Aid: FEMA & SBA Deadlines Approaching 🔥
Residents affected by the March wildfires can still apply for federal disaster assistance even if insured. FEMA offers grants up to $43,600 for home repairs, transportation, and rental aid (deadline: July 22). SBA provides low-interest disaster loans for property and real estate damage (deadline: July 21).

Apply online at disasterassistance.gov and sba.gov/disaster.

City Offices Closed for Juneteenth 🔐
City Hall will be closed today, June 19th, in celebration of Juneteenth. Trash pickup will not be affected.

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC

Let me know in the comments!

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Stillwater Lokal Life today. And if you found something nice, share it with someone you’d like to bump into at a picnic.

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 ¹ I’m reading The Iliad by Homer, Fagles Translation. It gets better each time.