STWOK News

Update: Due to rain, the City of Stillwater cancels the annual Boomer Blast fireworks show scheduled for July 4.

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / July 4, 2010) — Due to the extensive rainfall yesterday, crews are unable to park cars safely in the rain-saturated grass lots at Boomer Lake Park. To do so would cause significant long term damage to the grass areas of Boomer Park and potential damage to vehicles. Given this situation, along with the high winds and significant chances of additional rain today, the City of Stillwater has made the difficult decision to postpone the 4th of July fireworks until Labor Day weekend.

Wakeboard competition to continue as weather permits.

The Stillwater Public Library is looking for young volunteers to help with the fun and popular summer reading program.  Several dozen assistants are needed to staff the children’s registration desk throughout June and July.

“Our young volunteers are an essential part of developing a successful children’s summer program,” said Sue Busch, children’s librarian.  “Not only are the volunteers a big help, but they also help the younger children get excited about coming to the library.” Read the rest of this entry →

I am relatively new to Stillwater, living here for less than two years.  I love riding my bicycle as much as possible and was upset to find Stillwater to be a fairly unfriendly bicycle town.  Most college/university towns are very progressive in ensuring two-wheels have as much ‘room’ as those with four.

In searching the city website for information on city-wide planning for bicycle routes and lanes, I found the Stillwater Multi-Use Trail and On-Street Bicycle Master Plan – presented in Nov 2007 and again presented for review in Feb 2009.  Beyond that, I found no other mention throughout the Stillwater.org website.

Its a great plan that would ensure Stillwater could offer cyclists safe travel throughout the city.  Aside from the proposed trails and routes, the proposal offers documented citizen responses that speak volumes to what ‘the people’ want.

You can find the plan at http://stillwater.org/content/2007/per/TTF-draft-Oct2007.pdf

Once I read through and found that there were only two mentions of the plan at Stillwater.org, I wrote to the Parks & Recreation department to find the status.  Here is the response from Eve Morgan (City of Stillwater, Park Planner):

The plan was approved as submitted in early 2009.  Currently, the City has received a stimulus grant to implement the on-street bicycle route portion of the plan.  A bicycle signage plan and cost estimate is being finalized with the hopes that it will be implemented this summer.  The multi-use trail plan portion of the master plan will be developed in phases over the coming years as funds become available.  Currently, the City has a transportation enhancement grant to complete the section from Boomer Lake Park to Parkview Estates.  This is the only section of the trail funded at this time.

Great information and I sincerely appreciated such a quick response from Ms. Morgan.

I am very glad to see that there is some direction in place.  The on-street portion of the plan would be a vast improvement over what we see today.  Of course, I question why the only portion of the multi-use trail that is being developed leads from Boomer Lake to Parkview Estates – a small residential community of up to 250 people.  It seems that any of the other listed options would better serve the community, but at least we are getting somewhere.

So for all you cyclists out there, whether spandex-clad racers or cruiser-riding families, there is hope for our city yet.

Just a reminder that this site was built for the community of Stillwater. If there is anything you want to share with the rest of the community then by all means become a member. It’s free.

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / May 20, 2010) — The City of Stillwater is in a restoration and recovery mode for two major events from yesterday: One caused by the storm and one unrelated. First, a tornado caused tree and power line damage, and, second, a break in the 16-inch water transmission main that feeds the 19th and Range water tower.

Powerline
The city’s Electric Utilities Department had 30 employees working through the evening to restore power. All customers within the city, who did not have damage to their service drop were restored by midnight. The customers located outside of the city along McElroy west of the city were restored by approximately 2 a.m.

According to Stillwater Utilities Authority Director Dan Blankenship, “The west end of the tornado damage area within city limits started at Lincoln Street, and it followed a path from west to east along the approximate alignment of Eskridge Avenue. The east end of the damage area stops approximately at N. Star Street, one block west of Perkins Road. The damage area is approximately 2.5 to 3 blocks wide.” Read the rest of this entry →

This amazing time lapse video was create Michael Biddy. LeBiddy on Twitter. Follow him.

It may sound crazy to outsiders but being so close to such a potentially destructive force of nature is a unique feeling.

I was able to capture a few photos, mostly after the storm. But many others around town have posted their photos. Some are just absolutely stunning. Cred goes to rob3atc, News9, and Spmag on Twitter for posting these great pics.

If there is more that should be added please let me know. You can also add them to the STWOK News Flickr Group.

This year my family has been doing our best to “go green.” Trying to do our part and not be as wasteful we took up recycling. Stillwater does not have recycling pick up. But they do offer local recycling facilities to take your paper, plastic, aluminum, and glass items to. You sort them yourself and put them in the appropriate  bin. Simple basic rules govern this area. Read the rest of this entry →

Here it is. The new STWOK News version 2. So far I like it. Looking into more plugins for Buddypress.

I really like how the Museo font from TypeKit looks on this design. Do I need a good graphic for the header? Or just leave it?

Working on some new ideas for the site. I want to play around it some possible new features. Looking into BuddyPress.

So don’t mind the mess right now.

Spring cleaning has hit the Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History.  All this week the Museum Shop will hold a special sale, offering marked down prices on gift shop stock of everything from local and state souvenirs to local and state history books.  The Museum is also selling items that have been donated to the Museum to sell in the gift shop.  Items include old books and record albums, belt buckles, costume jewelry, tins, cigar boxes, cameras, vintage cameras, accessories, prints, and so much more.

The sale continues through Sunday, April 18th.  Museum Associates, make sure to ask for your discount on top of the already marked down prices! 

Don’t forget this weekend is the 33rd annual Stillwater Arts Festival.  The festival has moved back downtown this year, so while you are out perusing the displays swing by the Museum, it’s just two blocks over from Main Street.

The Sheerar Museum of Stillwater History is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization and all sales in the Museum Shop go to help support the facility’s operations.  The Museum is located at 702 S. Duncan St. and is open from Tuesday-Friday 11am-5pm and Saturdays and Sundays 1pm-4pm.