NS)--Youth & Family Services of North Central Oklahoma still is in need of donations for its youth shelter campaign. Tree Kelley, interim executive director of YFS, said the nonprofit relies on the annual Nights of Shelter campaign to help take care of the youth in the shelter. As of Tuesday, YFS had met $38,000 of its $50,000 goal. In addition to providing a safe shelter for youth to stay, the funds help with food, overhead costs, case management services, counseling, transportation and education. Typically, the shelter serves between six and 10 kids at a time, mostly ages 13-17. The shelter is licensed to take in 14. It costs about $30 per child per night to run the shelter, and the average duration they stay at the shelter has risen from about two or three weeks to two or three months due to not having enough suitable foster placements in the area available. To donate to the Nights of Shelter campaign, visit https://yfsenid.org/nightsofshelter, mail checks to 605 W. Oxford, Enid, OK 73701, or call (580) 233-7220.
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CT)--The City of Enid offers several options for live-cut Christmas tree recycling. Residents can drop off their live-cut Christmas trees at the landfill, located at 1313 East Southgate Road, during normal business hours at no cost. All customers must have an active City of Enid utility bill. Also, residents can request a free bulk pick up of their live-cut Christmas tree by calling City of Enid Solid Waste Services at (580) 616-7300 or (580) 616-7301. Trees must be ten feet away from other objects. Please do not include any other trash or debris with the bulk pickup. [NOTE: The fee for bulk pickup for other items is $20 for the first truck.]. The trees will be recycled into mulch at the landfill. Mulch is free for all residents if loaded by the resident at the landfill. If City equipment is used, there is a $10 equipment fee. Christmas trees will be accepted at the landfill until the end of January 2022.
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GA)--Enid Regional Development Alliance will close its third round of micro-enterprise grants applications in February 2022. ERDA has several programs that support local entrepreneurial and economic growth. The programs are funded by the annual budget each fiscal year and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. In 2022, ERDA will award two $10,000 grants to two Enid businesses with six or fewer employees. Recipients can use the funds for any business expense necessary for the operation, management, formation or expansion of the company. Those interested in applying for the grant may turn in an application to the ERDA by 5:00 p.m. Feb. 4, 2022, by emailing it to trent@growenid.com or delivering it to the office at 2020 Willow Run, Suite 100. For more information and to download the application, visit www.growenid.com/local-incentives or contact Trent Misak at (580) 233-4232 or trent@growenid.com.
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CS)--In observance of the New Year’s holiday, the City of Enid Administration offices, Enid Animal Welfare, Enid Public Library, and the Recycle Center will be closed Friday and Saturday. The Enid Public Transit will not be operating on these days as well. All trash routes will remain the same this week. The landfill will be closed on Saturday, but will be opened with operating hours Friday. Meadowlake Golf Course will be closed Friday.
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LW)--Kids and parents can ring in the New Year early on Friday at Leonardo’s Children’s Museum. From 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Education Annex, kids can enjoy a dance party, snacks, crafts, Segway rides, photo ops and a countdown to noon followed by a balloon drop during Leo’s Rockin’ Noon Year’s Eve, sponsored by Stride Bank. Hot chocolate will be available and some crafts include making party shooters and noisemakers and decorating memory frames. Three giveaways also will be held at 10:30 a.m., 11:00 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. In order to provide the safest environment possible, tickets are limited to 100 guests. Cost for this event is $5 for members and $9 for non-members and can be purchased at the door on the day of the event. Leonardo’s Children’s Museum and Adventure Quest will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 27 through New Year’s Day and from Jan. 3-8. For information, call (580) 233-2787, go to https://leonardos.org or check out Leonardo’s social media pages on Facebook and Instagram.
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NY)--Gaslight Theatre will host a community New Year's Eve party on Friday from 9:00 p.m to 1:00 a.m. at the Stride Center grand ballroom. The theme for the event is Steampunk - Where the Past Meets the Future. Steampunk is a style of design and fashion that combines vintage elements with technology. Attendees are encouraged to wear Steampunk themed costumes, but it is not required. There will be dancing and a cash bar, with a champagne bar for the midnight toast. Tickets are $75, two for $125, or tables for 6 are $375 and can be purchased at gaslighttheatre.org or in the box office at 221 N. Independence.
Gaslight Theatre, a non-profit organization, is in its 55th season and is one of the most active community theaters in the state of Oklahoma, putting on productions throughout the year, including their annual free Shakespeare in the Park. They host children's drama camp every summer and have an active teen program.
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AB)--Voters in Garfield County who want absentee ballots mailed to them for elections in 2022 should apply now. Registered voters may request absentee ballots for a specific election or for a full calendar year. No reason is needed to vote by absentee ballot. Jody Helm, Garfield County Election Board secretary, said there are several ways to apply for absentee ballots. “For many voters, the easiest way to apply is online through the State Election Board’s OK Voter Portal. Voters can also fill out an application at the county election board. Voters can request absentee ballots electronically using the OK Voter Portal at https://oklahoma.gov/elec tions/ovp. To download a paper application, visit the Oklahoma State Election Board website at https://oklahoma.gov/elections. For more information on absentee voting, contact Garfield County Election Board by calling (580) 237-6016 or emailing GarfieldCounty@elections.ok.gov.
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