Town Talk and the American Legion Auxiliary will be hosting our second “Olive Garden” lasagna luncheon in March. Date and location will immediately be posted on Facebook once it’s confirmed.
The Bugle Boy is scheduled to arrive in Stroud next week. As Town Talk continues to raise money to finish paying for him, we are selling Eileen’s Cookie Dough. Flavors available are chocolate chip, snickerdoodle, monster oatmeal, M&M, oatmeal raisin, peanut butter and sugar. Eileen’s delicious cookie icing flavored with a hint of almond is also available. Tubs of dough are $17 and small tubs of icing are $6.00. You may place your order by contacting any Town Talk member, by calling me at 918-527-9833 or commenting on our post on the “Stroud Happenings and Functions” Facebook page. We will take orders until March 5th and you will receive your cookie dough the following week. Payment is due when you receive your dough.
Another fundraising project Town Talk is undertaking is “Happy Birthday” signage to help with birthday celebrations. We also have available large (roughly 42 inches in height) wooden lighted numbers to display the age of the celebrant, if you want to add that to the happy birthday greeting. Town Talk members will place the signage in a designated yard on your requested date. The purchaser is responsible for providing electricity to the lights but Town Talk does have a heavy duty extension cord available for loan. We are offering this at an introductory cost of $20 as we begin this new project. Eventually the cost will increase but you can sign up now for advance dates and receive that price. You may contact me at 918527-9833 to place an order.
Town Talk Table Trivia is coming back, by popular demand. Larry Reed, the trivia master, is preparing questions to kick-off the new season. We have taken a long break due to COVID but contestants say they are ready to begin again. Trivia will take place in April so watch for the date here in this column.
Town Talk is fervently raising monies to finish paying for the Bugle Boy. We also have a loan with the Stroud Industrial Authority and those funds were used to finish the miniature golf course. Our goal is to pay for these two projects and then cease fund raising. With your help we have raised thousands of dollars for Stroud community projects and all dollars raised have gone to pay for these projects. Funds raised have come from donations (both monetary and in-kind), fund raisers and foundations. Things Town Talk has been able to contribute to the community are Main Street’s digital sign, shade awning for playground equipment at Foster Park, swing for special needs children, lounge chairs for swimming pool, updated sign at end of the Turnpike, miniature golf course, renovation of the American Legion building, Main Street flowers, Route 66 Main Street lawn chairs and various other projects. None of these things could have been done without the support of our community and our alums. Our goal is to offer fundraising products and services that appeal to the general public and we use a “no-pressure” technique so all donations have come from your generosity and we can’t thank you enough!
Readers of my column say they have gotten to know my three great-nephews through this column. I’ve told you before, I take that writing style from my dear late friend and former owner of the Stroud American, Alice Faye Brown. She always shared personal stories about her family as well as families in the community. So, to keep you up on the latest I must report to you that first grader August Kennedy Smalley was selected as one of Parkview Elementary’s Student of the Month. I must tell you that selection committee is made up of a smart group of people. LOL Several students are chosen each month for this honor, and they are given a sign to put in their yard proclaiming their accomplishment. I think it’s a wonderful recognition program our elementary school has in place. Congratulations to all students who have received this honor.
Upcoming activities in the community are Stroud Arts at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday. March 1st, Hospital Development Authority at 7 a.m. on Thursday, March 2nd at City Hall, Legislative Breakfast hosted by the Stroud Chamber of Commerce on Friday, March 3rd at the Stroud High School commons area, also on Friday the Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting at the First Baptist Church Family Life Center at noon and Oklahoma Route 66 President Rhys Martin will be the speaker. Lunch is $15 so please contact Erin Bradley to reserve your spots at these two Chamber events. Stroud Industrial Authority will meet at 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7th at City Hall.
Middle School baseball will kick-off its season this Thursday March 2nd in Stroud at 5:00 p.m. hosting Kellyville and will travel to Davenport on Friday, March 3rd also at 5:00 p.m. to play the Bulldogs.
I read an article on fundera.com that had some interesting facts about shopping local. A few facts mentioned are small businesses generate $68 economic return for every $100 spent with them, over 9.3 billion dollars would be directly returned to our economy if every U.S. family spent just $10 a month at a local business and 108 million shoppers spent $12.9 billion on Small Business Saturday. Thanks to each of you who choose to shop and dine local………………….. first!