Exciting things are happening in Stroud and I know each of you want to be a part of all the great things community volunteers are accomplishing.
We had our first “Clean Up, Spruce Up Main Street” meeting last week. Those attending were Mayor Tommy Smith, City Manager Bob Pearman, Chamber of Commerce President Kyle Anderson, Library Board member Rachael Geiger, Prairie Point Administrator Clara Hodgens and Main Street business owners Bronwyn Howard and Pete Sawatzky. Town Talk members David Evans, Cathy Terry, Mandy Clark, Aleta Smalley, Jo Braden and Diana Smalley Reed were also in attendance.
We decided to relocate our flowerpots to place one on each side of our downtown benches.
The group decided this arrangement would provide a larger scale “decoration” for Main Street and a bigger pop of color.
So, don’t be surprised if you find the flowerpot you sponsored in a new location. Town Talk is continuing to sell flowerpots, too, to enhance our Main Street. If you would like to purchase one which includes a sign with your name of it, please contact any Town Talk member or me.
Cost is $100 and Town Talk volunteers keep the plants watered. Class of 1972 just purchased a bench and a flowerpot so those will be a nice addition to downtown.
This bench will be placed on the east side of Dr. Francis’ dentist office with their flowerpot on one side and Janet Place, Class of 1972, flowerpot on the other side.
Other projects the group discussed were providing free wi-fi downtown and painting crosswalks on Main Street. Rachael Geiger and Kyle Anderson are checking into the wi-fi and City Manager Bob Pearman is going to discuss crosswalks with the Department of Transportation.
Last Wednesday Town Talk recruited volunteers to help with the second working block party for Main Street. Volunteers cleaned up the courtyard on Main Street between 4th and 5th Avenues, removed grass and dirt on the sidewalk and curbing from the west side of 4th Avenue, weeded and cut down trees by the former Post Office building on 4th Avenue and assessed ways to help Marshall Horn with his building on the south side of Main Street.
Those volunteering were Jim and Clara Hodgens, Andrea Thompson, Cathy Terry, Barbara Terry, Aleta Smalley, David Evans, Julie Bivin, Diana Smalley Reed, Jerry and Heather Black, City Manager Bob Pearman, Mandy Clark and her daughters, Isabella and Emilia and Alex Neal and her daughter Amira.
Assembly of God Pastor Jeromy Jackson along with his wife Angi, and their daughter Emily cleaned out the grass in the base around the trees planted along the sidewalk on 4th Avenue next to Welcome Home.
They took on this project as a family and did a great job. After they did all the work, Town Talk filled in with lava rock. Check it out when you stop in to see all Heather Black has to offer at her shop, Welcome Home.
Town Talk also cleaned up the area in front of the mural on North 5th Avenue and trimmed the Crepe Myrtles and planted flowers in the flowerpots at Ed. Smalley Centennial Park.
My “undercover” Town Talk volunteer, C’Anne Smalley, helped plant the pots.
Any project I take on, C’Anne and Jason are always there to help me but they like to fly under the radar. (LOL) As you drive around town look for these improvements. It’s all of us working together for a cleaner, more attractive Stroud.
City Manager Bob Pearman is having the bases on the streetlamps on Main Street repaired this week. That will make a huge difference and as people drive down Route 66, they will see that Stroud takes pride in their Main Street. The digital sign is in and is on the list for the City to install.
They have a small crew and a huge work list, so things take time but just know, it is coming.
The second Town Talk Farmers’ Market will take place this Saturday at the Main Street Pavilion on Route 66. Organizer and Town Talk member Mandy Clark will have 40 vendors this month.
Also, Mandy has been working closely with City Councilman Jerry Murfin to put together a car show to be held in conjunction with the Market.
Mandy’s theme for this month’s car show is a Father’s Day theme so women, come shop and bring your husbands with you to enjoy the car show. You can even buy them a bag of kettle corn to eat as they stroll through the cars.
See what I mean – there is a lot going on and we are having lots of fun and fellowship as we help our City make Stroud a picture-perfect little community. Come join us. Watch this column and Facebook to see when our next volunteer opportunities are happening. Our next Main Street Block Party will be June 25th at 7:00 p.m.
Our next “Clean Up, Spruce Up” Main Street meeting will be held in July. Look for details to come later.
For those of you who knew Tommy Henderson, we just learned of his death this week. Tommy was a Stroud graduate who currently resided in Florida.
He was the son of the late Lee and Bennie Henderson and a brother to Terry of Colorado. Tommy was a former business owner in Stroud for several years. Our condolences go out to his family.
Let’s support our local businesses. They are still recovering from the recent shutdown and need our help. If you can’t find what you need in Stroud, tell your local merchants and maybe they can get it for you.
I drink Caffeine Free Coke Zero and Brownie at Williams Grocery makes sure her salesperson leaves two cartons a week. Have a great week and remember to shop and dine local…………..first!