🏠︎ The Longest Night, Done Right 🌞

Nathan Cheever
December 19, 2024

Good morning, Stillwater! This is Stillwater Lokal Life. It's less than a week now till Christmas, can you believe it!?

In today’s Lokal Life Letter:

SLL Issue #7 drops tomorrow 📰
Free community Christmas dinner 🦃
"Art and Eats as the Winter Sun Retreats" 🎨 ❄️

Let’s dive in!

– Nate Cheever

🎂 Happy Birthday to Phillip Thomson

A message from Lucas Grounds, State Farm Agent in Stillwater

As a proud member of the Payne County community, I bring a strong work ethic and neighborly values to my role as a local State Farm agent. My experienced team provides personalized insurance solutions for every stage of life, from auto and life coverage to complex needs. Beyond policies, we focus on building relationships-whether supporting you after an accident or connecting in the community. Grateful for this thriving area, I’m here day and night to serve. Let’s discuss your options today, including ways to save by switching to State Farm.

Call for a free quote or advice!

WHAT’S UP IN STILLWATER

Our December issue (#7) comes out on Friday! 🗞️😀

You can pickup the latest newspaper issue at these downtown locations tomorrow, Friday Dec 20th (If it's not there when you get there, I'm on my way to deliver it). It's jam-packed with stories about noteworthy locals and this issue features some new things: a cartoon, some Christmas art done in-house, and our new Dear Abby. We hope you enjoy it!

Cookies, Cocoa, and Santa, Oh My! 🎅✈️

Santa is still hanging around Stillwater (he must really like it here!), and he'll be at Stillwater Regional Airport today, Dec 19, to spread some extra holiday cheer!

Here's the plan:
☕ Hot cocoa
🍪 Free cookies
🎅 A visit from Santa
🎟️ Enter to win one of FIVE $100 American Airlines gift cards, courtesy of Visit Stillwater.

It's all happening in the terminal (2020-1 W. Airport Road), starting at 6 PM. Bring your holiday spirit, and who knows, maybe his sleigh will be parked on the tarmac!

Tonight is the Night 🗣 🎶

If you love choral music, then I probably don't need to remind you, but just in case:

🎶 Who: Stillwater Community Singers, Acapella Group, Gospel Ensemble, plus solo performances by pianist Kim Strom and cellist Tommy Cabeen
📍 Where: Winfrey Houston Auditorium, Stillwater Community Center
📅 When: Tonight (Dec 19) at 7:30 PM
💵 How Much: Free (but bring your holiday spirit!)

Get ready for a mixtape of lively favorites like Holly Jolly Christmas and serene classics like Silver Bells. With all that talent on stage, it's a good idea to have a handkerchief handy—just saying. 🥹

Here comes the Baby Mobile 🍼👶🏻🚙

Need a little help for your little one? The Infant Crisis Services Baby Mobile will be parked east of Our Daily Bread today, Dec 19, from 12–3 PM.

Here's what they're offering for babies and toddlers (birth to 3 years):

A week's worth of diapers, formula, and wipes
Toddler food (based on age)
A bottle

No appointment is necessary, but here's the fine print: You can visit up to four times a year, and each visit must be at least a week apart. The adult present should be a parent or legal guardian (but no, you don't have to bring the baby).

Now if they could just get a baby mobile to come over and help babies who don't sleep! 😅

This is just one of the many great resources Our Daily Bread offers families. It's definitely worth checking out if you or someone you know could use the support. 💕

See the Live Nativity at FUMC 🎄🌟

First United Methodist Church (FUMC) is hosting a Live Nativity, a great and calming way to take in the Christmas spirit. It's open to the public.

Here's the rundown:

📍 Where: The Labyrinth area next to the Family Life Center, FUMC
🕓 When: Saturday, Dec 21, 5–6:30 PM
👥 Who: Open to everyone
💵 Cost: Free

They'll have live animals, costumes, lights and the scene of the Messiah's birth in the stable. It's a perfect event for the entire family.

Tilting Away, Partying Together 🎉 ❄️

Modella Art Gallery invites you to their Winter Solstice Gathering. What is a solstice anyway? you say. The winter solstice is when the Earth's north pole is most extremely inclined away from the sun. And in these extremely polarizing times, perhaps we should incline ourselves to cut loose a bit and party like our ancestors (the civilized ones 😉)!

It's happening Friday Dec 20, from 6–8 PM at Modella Art Gallery on Main St. Light food and music will accompany.

Free Community Christmas Dinner 🦃 🍽️

All are invited to the Community Christmas Dinner at the Stillwater Community Center on 9th and Duck, 11 AM – 1 PM (or until meals run out). Oh, and did I mention it's free?! Yipee!

Everyone's welcome, and they're making it extra special for kids with toys and stockings! If you can't make it in person, they're even offering meal deliveries—just call Tisha at (405) 880-4307 by Dec 24 to get on the list.

Thanks to these volunteers, no one needs to have a Christmas without good food, kind people, and a warm community. 🎄🍴

A memory from the Stillwater Community Band concert last week.

Representative Trish Ranson read Santa’s First Christmas to the children at last week's Community Band concert. After the reading, Santa surprised the children by entering the front-left exit door.

LOCAL BUSINESS

PooPosse Goes Feline 🐈💩

PooPosse announced they are expanding their poo-rtfolio now to include your furry feline friends! That’s right! Heather and her team will give that sorely-in-need-of-a-clean catbox some professional treatment.

Banana Drama? Not Here! 🍌

Have you ever picked up your groceries, driven them home, and taken them out to find out those green beans aren’t the right kind of green? Moldy blueberries, forest green bananas? Yeech! Perhaps it’s time you take your produce into your own hands this Saturday from 10–2 PM at the Stillwater Farmer’s Market on 1001 S. Duck. Dress warm!

CIVIC NEWS

Stillwater Wins Big for Keeping It Clean 🏆

Stillwater just snagged the Affiliate of the Year Award from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful at the 34th Annual Environmental Excellence Celebration!

Some of the things they were recognized for:

Events like the Trash-Off, Recycling Festival, and Household Hazardous Waste Day.
Year-round efforts like street sweeping (over 12,000 miles cleaned in 2024!) and the Convenience Collection Center, which saw 261,800 visitors since 2019.
A community-first approach, from late-night cleanups after big events to welcoming back OSU students with spotless streets.

Our congratulations to Matt Faulkner and Chris Franks for their leadership, but they couldn't do it without you, the community. After all, this award belongs to everyone who helps keep Stillwater beautiful.

🌟Read more about it here:

Stillwater Recognized by Keep Oklahoma Beautiful for Environmental Efforts

The City of Stillwater received the Affiliate of the Year award from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful at the 34th Annual Environmental Excellence Celebration due to both Waste Management Department and Watershed Quality Division staffs’ day-to-day services and organizational structure and community involvement with annual events.

Discover Tori Kahle’s Holiday Blooms 💐

Do you need a festive centerpiece, a sweet teacher gift, or a perfect hostess surprise? Local floral artist Tori Kahle will take care of you with beautiful, customizable arrangements at prices that’ll make you smile. She also offers delivery for a small fee!

Here are a few highlights from her Facebook page ✨:

Adorable snowman mug arrangements (teacher gift perfection).
Discounted blooms in white vases (a steal while they last!).
Local delivery available, plus Tulsa-area deliveries this Wednesday.

Order soon—these holiday blooms are going fast!You can reach Tori at 918-404-3739.

WEATHER

Thursday, December 19
59 🌡️ 29 | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 S 10 mph

Friday, December 20
44 🌡️ 23 | ☀️ | 0% | 💨 N 8 mph

Saturday, December 21
52 🌡️ 33 | 🌤️ | 0% | 💨 S 12 mph

Sunday, December 22
60 🌡️ 47 | 🌤️ | 10% | 💨 SW 14 mph

Monday, December 23
55 🌡️ 32 | ☁️ | 20% | 💨 NW 11 mph

LIVE LOCAL MUSIC

Sunday Dec 22
Willie’s Saloon | Open Mic Night | 9 PM

Thanks to our supporters, Visit Stillwater!

SPORTS

Upcoming Pioneers games & matches 🤼 🏀

HS - Wrestling Varsity Boys at Hall of Fame Duals (Set-Up)
12/19 @ Fieldhouse - 1224 N Husband St, Stillwater | All Day

JH - Basketball 9th at Ponca City
12/19 @ Ponca City High School, 9th G | 5:30 PM, 9th B | 6:45 PM

OSU Wrestling vs. Virginia Tech
12/19 @ Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater | 7 PM

HS - Wrestling Varsity Boys at Hall of Fame Duals
12/20 - 12/22 @ Fieldhouse - 1224 N Husband, Stillwater | All Day

HS-JH Wrestling Girls at Norman Invite
12/21 - 12/22 @ Norman High School | All Day

Cowgirl Basketball vs. Iowa State
12/21 @ Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater | 4 PM

Cowboy Basketball vs. Oral Roberts
12/22 @ Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater | 2 PM

THANKS!

Thanks for reading the Stillwater Lokal Life today. If you found something interesting, please share it with someone who loves peppermint ice cream.

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