Town Talk volunteers took a break to enjoy the holidays but plan on getting back in the swing of things as we kick off 2021.
Projects we hope to have in place by the time spring rolls around are a shade awning over the playground equipment at Foster Park, a Bugle Boy Statue in Ed Smalley Centennial Park and a Main Street miniature golf course complete with its own train engine.
These are lofty goals for our group, but with your help we can get them accomplished.
Our miniature golf course will be a 9-hole course located on the land between the laundromat and Soonersigns.
Town Talk is asking alums to come together and get their class to sponsor a hole. Two classes could even go into together to sponsor one. Holes two through eight will be named after one of the states Route 66 runs through.
The first hole will represent a train station where you hop on board to travel the Mother Road.
A sign will be placed by each hole denoting the State it represents, a fun fact about that State and the name of the class or classes sponsoring that hole.
We need to raise $2000 per hole to make this project happen. I’m looking for volunteers willing to contact members of their class to kick this thing off.
Town Talk purchased a used teeter totter for Foster Park several months ago. We had the seats reupholstered and turned it over to the City. City Manager Bob Pearman and his crew will install it in Foster Park.
That will be another nice addition for the kiddos when the weather gets warmer. By the time spring rolls around we should have our Main Street pocket park, “Pete’s Place,” completed.
Kids will be able to sit and read a book, play a game of hopscotch or take a walk on the sensory path.
As we end the year 2020, a year that at times seemed hopeless, I want to close out my column on a positive story as we look to 2021 with a new hope.
About a month and a half ago I agreed to teach Sunday School class at First Baptist Church.
Due to the pandemic, classes had been suspended but the church decided it was time to begin having children’s classes again.
I was thrilled because I couldn’t imagine a world where we raise a generation of kids that didn’t get to attend Sunday School. One time we were driving by the church and August, my 5-year-old great nephew, said to me, “Why don’t we go there anymore?”
It was hard for me to think of an answer when the world around us was still “open for business.”
About four weeks ago one of the other teachers was sick so I taught students ages four to 4th grade. During the lesson I gave all students a small flashlight and put them together in pairs.
They had to take turns shining their flashlight on each other and saying to their partner, “Jesus is the light of the world.” This part of the lesson didn’t take but about five minutes.
Over Christmas break, Gideon, August and Lincoln came to stay with me for a few days.
As we sat down to eat dinner one evening, I asked who wanted to bless our food. August said he would. We bowed our heads and I expected him to pray our usual prayer, “God is great, God is good.”
Instead, I heard his sweet little voice say, “Jesus is the light of world.” My heart melted. So, there you have it folks, during these trying times when things feel hopeless, just remember August’s sweet dinner time prayer, “Jesus is the light of the world.”
Happy New Year! Let’s all make a New Year’s resolution to continue to support our community and our local merchants.
Have a great week and remember to shop and dine local………………… first!