HillSpring Church paints downtown storefront to help attract new businesses

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HillSpring Church slapped a fresh coat of paint on the downtown Sand Springs Triangle District early Tuesday morning, helping the City clean up one of the first buildings you see when entering downtown on North Main Street.

The City of Sand Springs received a “Fresh Paint Days” grant from Keep Oklahoma Beautiful, with the stipulation that they use volunteers for the painting and not City employees. H.I.S. Paint donated materials, and the Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) and the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality donated cash stipends to the program.

The City reached out to HillSpring Church, who frequently assists with Community Serve Days and other City events. A team of about a half dozen volunteers spruced up the building with the goal of attracting a new business into the vacant storefront.

According to Tulsa County Assessor records, the 107 North Main Street building was built in 1920 and is 3,500 square feet. It is currently owned by Frank and Catherine Suraci and managed by Bauer & Associates. Anyone interested in renting the facility can contact 918-665-1210 or visit www.bauertulsa.com.

Catherine Adkins-Suraci curated Gallery 107 art studio from 2003-2005. Their exhibits drew visitors from across the country, with the most notable being work from the late Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead. Frank “Skip” Suraci operated his law office out of the building for many years.

The building’s most recent tenant was The Parlour Hair and Ink. They opened in 2009 as MainStream Tattoo and Body Piercing and moved to 100 North Garfield in 2016. It has also housed Eagle Eye Collectibles and Antiques and I Believe in Yesteryears antique shop in recent decades.

HillSpring meets on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m. at 8801 West 41st Street South.

Downtown Sand Springs experiencing growth and restoration with several new businesses

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YellowHouse Market and Boutique is the newest business coming to downtown after buying out Deja Vu Decor. 

A city's downtown business district is often considered the heart of the community. In Oklahoma, where municipalities are almost fully dependent on sales tax revenue for general operations, a healthy downtown can be paramount to a healthy economy. 

If City officials and local businesses have their way, Sand Springs will soon be one of the premier downtowns in the State to spend the weekend shopping and sightseeing. 

In the recently-approved Sand Springs 2030 Comprehensive Plan, the City identified having an assorted variety of downtown restaurants, businesses, and services as vital to creating a sense of place within a community. The plan sets a goal of enhancing the downtown area as one of the primary focal points of the community.

Beau Wilson Insurance.

In the past, downtown Sand Springs has struggled with attracting both patrons and quality business establishments. Vice-Mayor Beau Wilson attributes the lack of customers to lack of quality retail, the curb appeal of many older buildings, and a failure to market downtown as a destination for Sand Springs. He also says that this is beginning to change.

"Downtown has a number of thriving boutiques and antique shops," says Wilson. "We are beginning to see citizens reinvest in our historic downtown." Beau Wilson Insurance opened in the historic Boone-Rose Building at 17 East 2nd Street this past November. The building was constructed in 1924.

"When I was looking to relocate my business to Sand Springs, there was no other location but downtown in my opinion. My wife, business partners and I were fully committed to finding a location in downtown...and it has been an honor to restore and revitalize a piece of our town's history." 

Dog and Duck Antiques.

Just two doors down from Wilson, Chris and Julie Bedokis opened Dog and Duck Antiques at 21 East 2nd Street on Memorial Day weekend. The couple already had a small booth at the Vintage Stables on Main Street but decided to open their own facility. The store didn't open with much fanfare initially, and is tentatively planning on a Grand Opening event later this year.

Another newcomer to the downtown area is YellowHouse Market & Boutique. Lisa and Mike Miller first opened YellowHouse at the Livi Lee's Shopping Center in October, but just nine months later they're already planning on relocating to a larger facility in the downtown business district. 

The new YellowHouse location will be at 122 North Main Street in the former Chastain's Department Store building. "We did buy a new building. It's a larger space. It's going to help us reach Sand Springs with more clothes, more goodies, and lots of fun," said Lisa Miller in a Facebook Live announcement. The Millers plan to stay open in their current location until the new building's remodel is complete.

The Chastain's building, constructed in 1931, has been owned and operated by Laurie Joslin for the past two decades. At one point she owned the Kindred Spirits novelty shop in the front and The Back Porch Cafe in the back. The Back Porch Cafe acquired a front porch after Joslin purchased the building next door and relocated the diner. She rebranded as The Lunch Box, then rebranded again as Chastain's Casual Cafe and Catering. Eventually the buildings were separated and Joslin opened DejaVu Decor while the old restaurant building was purchased by Boomarang Cafe.

Joslin and her husband, Mark, have plans to relocate their business to The Antique Depot in Skiatook, but will still reside in Sand Springs. They plan on featuring their house in the 39th Annual Pilot Club Parade of Homes later this year.

Chip and Annette Stacy opened Stacys' Resale Shop at 12 East 2nd Street in September of 2016 and recently expanded to their neighboring storefront for a music and guitar shop. The store boasts a large array of modern and classic comic books, records, 8-track cassettes, CDs, jewelry, knives, home decor, furniture, and more. 

The shop is filled with dozens of classic Les Pauls, German fiddles, and other unique instruments and collectibles. Looking up at the walls is like a trip through a museum. Original Black Sabbath, Jim Morrison, Joan Jett, Elvis, Willie Nelson, and other vinyl records wallpaper the store.

Troy and Stephanie Cleveland opened The Vintage Stables on Main in 2016 and performed one of the most notable restorations in recent years. The bright red barnstyle building could easily serve as a stop sign, telling drivers to pull over and shop. 

WSB Designs, LLC.

It's not all shopping in downtown, either. After the passing of Reverend Terry Scott in October, Future Vision Ministries closed their office on the Triangle and sold to local builder William Bell. Bell recently showcased a house in the Tulsa Parade of Homes and is still renovating his new studio. The front of the building pays homage to its prior resident with a quote from Scott. 

Unfortunately, not all classic buildings can be saved. In April of 2012, a fire devastated a historic building housing the Sand Springs Beauty College and Covington Credit. The skeleton remained until 2016 when it was demolished by the Sand Springs Home and construction began on a new retail/office building.

Left, damage from the 2012 fire is cordoned off with caution tape. Right, a new building is erected in the same location.

"The City has made tremendous strides in the past few years to give downtown its identity and purpose," says Wilson. "Under the excellent leadership of City Manager Elizabeth Gray and her staff, we will continue to see downtown prosper."

"As a city, we have some of the most talented employees. Many of whom donate their own time and particular talent and skill-sets to make Sand Springs better. Take the Triangle for example. Jeff Edwards and Grant Gerondale and the entire Parks Department took on that project making it what it is today...it truly is our employees who make the difference and will be the engine behind fueling the growth of downtown."

"I can remember a day when I was a kid when downtown seemed like a ghost town. Especially when all of the growth and emphasis was to the south of Sand Springs...Urban renewal and suburban sprawl were the catch phrases of the day. Rather than restore old buildings, it was easier to tear down and build something new, or reface old buildings with a new modern facade, losing that building's history entirely."

As to the future, Wilson says that the current City Council is committed to saving Sand Springs history. He would like to see downtown business owners take a more active role in beautifying their buildings, with further investment by both the city and its businesses. 

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Jaguar Club's EuroMotor Expo raises more than $600 for Sand Springs Animal Welfare

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Sand Springs Animal Control Officer J.E. Schmidt is presented with a check from the Jaguar Club of Tulsa. SUBMITTED.

The Jaguar Club of Tulsa resurrected their annual EuroMotor Extravaganza in downtown Sand Springs this year after a five-year hiatus. The event drew nearly fifty entries and raised $607 for the Sand Springs Animal Shelter.

In addition to the beautiful cars, the event also included a silent auction to benefit the Sand Springs Animal Shelter and an awards banquet and wine bar. The club successfully raised $607, the most they've ever raised according to Vice President Clark Frayser.

Click here to view our full photo gallery of the event.

The Euro Expo first arrived in Sand Springs in 2007 and set a precedent of giving back to the community by donating all proceeds to the Sand Springs Home and the Shriners' Transportation Fund. It ran annually for six years before having its final event in 2012.

A pair of classic Austin Healeys at the 7th Annual EuroMotor Extravaganza. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

This year the club picked up right where they left off, packing out the downtown parking with Fiats, Volvos, MGs, and more. A gorgeous blue sky with a slight breeze and high of 85 degrees made for near-perfect conditions for the festivities. 

Jaguars were the best-represented vehicle at the show with a dozen entries, closely followed by the Italian Alfa Romeo with ten entries. 

There were fifteen total classifications in the event, with trophies awarded for first through third place in each category. 

The oldest vehicle at the show was Todd Coady's 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre, followed by Les Neidell's 1938 Gulf Miller Indy Roadster. The newest vehicles were a pair of 2017 Fiat 124 Abarths. The 1928 Bentley won Best of Show.

Todd Coady's 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre won "Best of Show" and was the oldest vehicle in the Expo. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

2017 Euro Expo Winners:
Richard Salamon - 1955 Jaguar XK140MC
David & Judy Nichols - 1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible
Scott & Linda Young - 1974 Jaguar XJ6-L
Glenn & Carol Larson - 2004 Jaguar XKR
Clark Edwards - 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Svenskraft - 1983 Saab C900
David Simmons - 1967 Alfa Romeo SS
David Simmons - 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
Richard Salamon - 1954 Austin Healey 100M
Paul Jennings - 1955 MG TF1500
Todd Coady - 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre
Ben Anderson - 1965 Citroen 2CV
KL Mayfield - 2001 BMW Z3
Les Neidell - 1938 Gulf Miller Indy Roadster
Glenn & Carol Larson - 1960 Triumph TR3A

Residents give their opinions on Sand Springs in online survey

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In the fall of 2015, the City of Sand Springs launched an online survey for residents of Sand Springs. More than 600 individuals responded, representing more than 3% of the population.

43.9% of residents view the image of Sand Springs as Good. 19.7% of residents have a negative view of the City. 44.5% of residents believe non-residents have a Below Average view of the City. 55.4% of residents believe non-residents have a positive image of Sand Springs.

28.4% of residents rank the quality of life in the city as High, 66.9% ranked it as Moderate, and 4.7% ranked it as Low.

79.8% over residents rank the quality of Public Safety as above average. 1.2% rank it as below average. 82.9% of residents are satisfied with Police services in Sand Springs while 1.8% are dissatisfied. 90.6% of residents feel safe while walking alone in their neighborhood. 71.3% of residents feel safe walking in downtown Sand Springs at night.

85.9% of residents are satisfied with Fire response services. 84.9% of residents are satisfied with the Emergency response service provided by the Fire Department.

49.3% of residents would definitely support a funding mechanism to hire additional police and fire personnel. 44.5% would possibly support it, and 6.1% would not support it. 

85.4% of residents are satisfied with the variety of housing for sale. 63.9% of residents are satisfied with the variety of housing for rent. 81.6% of residents are satisfied with the overall condition of housing.

76.5% of residents have a favorable view of the appearance of downtown. 74.7% of residents are satisfied with the appearance of the business areas outside of downtown. 

89.9% of residents sited Additional Retail/Restaurants as the primary development need in Sand Springs. 75.4% of residents listed Hardware/Home Improvement as the top retail need in Sand Springs. 93.2% of residents desire more Sit-down Establishments. 49.3% of residents visit Tulsa to eat very frequently. 

46.3% of residents would definitely like to see an increase in establishments providing night life opportunities. 71.1% of residents would definitely support the redevelopment of old industrial areas as something else other than industrial.

47.5% of residents definitely support the construction of the Sand Springs Dam, 43.9% would possibly support it, and 8.6% would not support it. 64.3% of residents would definitely support development of the Arkansas River, 30.9% would possibly support it, and 4.8% would not support it.

51% of residents definitely support a system of city-wide trails, 41.2% would possibly support it, and 7.8% are opposed. 

35.9% of residents would like to see additional Residential Development West of town, 31.6% said South of town, 24.4% said North of town, and 8.1% said East of town. 70.3% of residents are in favor of the annexation of additional lands into City Limits. 34.8% of residents support additional multi-family apartment complexes, with 24.9% opposed. 

25.7% of residents are dissatisfied with the Sand Springs Parks and Recreational Opportunities. 36.1% are dissatisfied with the quantity/quality of parks in Prattville. 33.5% are dissatisfied with the quantity/quality of parks on the North side.

73.6% of residents cited a need for the demolition or redevelopment of blighted areas. 35.4% of residents said the Street and Road Conditions were in the greatest need of public improvement. 59.8% of residents believe Sand Springs road conditions are the same as other communities, while 27.6% believe they are better and 12.7% believe they are worse.

If public funding is required to improve the city, 66.1% of residents would support a dedicated sales tax, 33.1% would support a revenue bond, 31.2% would support a property tax, 21.6% would support development fees, and 15.8% would support a surcharge on utilities. 

European Car Show returns to downtown Sand Springs after five-year hiatus

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A pair of classic Austin Healeys at the 7th Annual EuroMotor Extravaganza. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

The Jaguar Club of Tulsa resurrected their annual EuroMotor Extravaganza in downtown Sand Springs this weekend after a five-year hiatus. The event drew nearly fifty entries and cordoned off the Triangle through much of the afternoon.

Click here to view our full photo gallery of the event.

The Euro Expo first arrived in Sand Springs in 2007 and set a precedent of giving back to the community by donating all proceeds to the Sand Springs Home and the Shriners' Transportation Fund. It ran annually for six years before having its final event in 2012.

This year the club picked up right where they left off, packing out the downtown parking with Fiats, Volvos, MGs, and more. A gorgeous blue sky with a slight breeze and high of 85 degrees made for near-perfect conditions for the festivities. The Sand Springs Animal Shelter was the recipient of the event's proceeds. 

Todd Coady's 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre won "Best of Show" and was the oldest vehicle in the Expo. (Photo: Scott Emigh).

Jaguars were the best-represented vehicle at the show with a dozen entries, closely followed by the Italian Alfa Romeo with ten entries. 

There were fifteen total classifications in the event, with trophies awarded for first through third place in each category. 

The oldest vehicle at the show was Todd Coady's 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre, followed by Les Neidell's 1938 Gulf Miller Indy Roadster. The newest vehicles were a pair of 2017 Fiat 124 Abarths. The 1928 Bentley won Best of Show.

2017 Euro Expo Winners:
Richard Salamon - 1955 Jaguar XK140MC
David & Judy Nichols - 1995 Jaguar XJS Convertible
Scott & Linda Young - 1974 Jaguar XJ6-L
Glenn & Carol Larson - 2004 Jaguar XKR
Clark Edwards - 1978 Fiat 124 Spider
Svenskraft - 1983 Saab C900
David Simmons - 1967 Alfa Romeo SS
David Simmons - 1972 Alfa Romeo Montreal
Richard Salamon - 1954 Austin Healey 100M
Paul Jennings - 1955 MG TF1500
Todd Coady - 1928 Bentley 4 1/2 Litre
Ben Anderson - 1965 Citroen 2CV
KL Mayfield - 2001 BMW Z3
Les Neidell - 1938 Gulf Miller Indy Roadster
Glenn & Carol Larson - 1960 Triumph TR3A

7th Annual EuroMotor Extravaganza returns to Sand Springs this weekend

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The Jaguar Club of Tulsa will host the 2017 Seventh Annual EuroMotor Extravaganza this weekend in downtown Sand Springs. The three day festivities will be held in and around the downtown Triangle Park, with the main show being held on Saturday, June 24th. 

There will be a 5:00 p.m. registration for this event at the Hampton Inn the day before, on the 23rd, and a Tailgate Party with BBQ to follow.

There will also be an 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. registration on the day of. This time frame also includes setup of the cars. At 10:30 a.m. all cars will be in place and there will be Participants Choice judging from then until 1:30 p.m. After the car show there will be an awards banquet at St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Sand Springs from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.

It is $30 to register one car and any additional cars are $10 each. The awards dinner is $20 per person. A link to the registration form can be found here.

This car show is in benefit of the Sand Springs Animal Shelter. There will be a silent auction going on during the show, all proceeds from it will go to the animal shelter. To donate to this auction please contact the shelter at 918-246-2543 or animalcontrol@sandspringsok.org 

Ray Brown Park renovation is complete

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Sand Springs, OK- The City of Sand Springs recently completed improvements to Ray Brown Park including new playground features, artificial grass play areas and custom concrete. The improvements were made with $37,000 in privately funded gifts to Sand Springs Park Friends and the City of Sand Springs.

“The updates include two distinct play sets for children ages five to 12 and toddlers ages two to five,” said Jeff Edwards, Parks Facilities Manager. “This makes Ray Brown Park the only park in Sand Springs with such features.”

An anonymous donor provided $32,000 and community leader, Montie Box, provided $5,000 for the project. City staff contributed over $20,000 in labor and materials over a span of several months to complete the project totaling $59,819

“It was important to update this neighborhood park to meet new maintenance standards,” said Edwards. “The artificial grass areas provide a safe play surface and new custom concrete offers multi-tiered seating.”

Updates in Ray Brown Park follow a recent trail addition and split rail fencing completed in 2014 with community volunteers and staff during a Helping Your Park Environment (HYPE) cleanup event.

For more information on Ray Brown Park, or other Parks facilities, visit the City’s Web site www.sandspringsok.org.

Mark your calendars for the 27th annual Herbal Affair

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Story and photo by: Morgan Miller, Executive Director

If you are from Sand Springs or one of the surrounding areas, chances are you have been to or at least have heard of the Herbal Affair. If you have not heard of this festival, it is an annual herb and garden event held in downtown Sand Springs. The city’s website states that “this event was founded in 1989 and began as a simple downtown street sale. Since then it has grown tremendously and now attracts over 25,000 people each year. It has also led to other communities hosting similar events, but remains the “queen” of herbal festivals.” This event consistently attracts people from all over the state, and even people from surrounding states as well.

I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Kasey St. John, the Marketing and Special Projects Manager for the city of Sand Springs. St. John has organized this special event for Sand Springs for the past two years. For most of its life, the Herbal Affair was actually run by a committee, but a few years ago it was adopted by The City of Sand Springs.

The Herbal Affair has a huge economic impact on Sand Springs. In fact, St. John mentioned that Riddle Plant farm claims the day as their biggest day of the year. With thousands of people being attracted to Sand Springs from out of town, it is bound to impact the economy in a big way. This event drums up business for Sand Springs’ shops in downtown, the hotels, restaurants, and gas stations.

Morgan’s Relax Packs are handcrafted heat packs designed for maximum muscle relief at affordable pricing.

About 25 to 40% of the vendors at the Herbal Affair are from the Sand Springs or Tulsa Metro area. While a little under half are from this specific area of the state, about 90% of the vendors are from Oklahoma. People know what they are going for when they go to the Herbal Affair. Almost all of the vendors are there year after year and that is one of the things that makes it so unique. The herbal affair has maintained a certain standard and character over the years and that, as well, is what makes it so incredibly special. When you go out to the Herbal Affair, you are truly supporting your friends and neighbors.

This event has something for just about everyone. Held in the heart of downtown Sand Springs, there are many unique shops and boutiques, like The Silver Linings Boutique which is on Broadway. The Herbal affair’s vendors don’t only sell plants and herbs, either. There are also craft vendors, as well as food and drink vendors. There will be entertainment for all ages, such as musical performances and a “Kid’s Zone” put on by volunteers from Church That Matters.

If you would like to attend this incredible event, it is being held this year on April 16th, from 9am-4pm, rain or shine! All of the information for the festival can be found at herbalaffairandfestival.com and also on the Sand Springs Herbal Affair & Festival Facebook page. 

The entertainment schedule for this year is as follows:

2016 Entertainment Schedule

8:30-9:30       Casey and Minna
9:30-10:30     Clyde Boyd Middle School Jazz Band
10:30-Noon   Spring Street
Noon-12:30   Hometown Hero Presentation
12:30-2:00    Janet Rutland Trio
2:00-3:00      Seven Feathers
3:00-4:00      Turtle Creek Clogger

Vendors at the event include community favorites such as: Whispering Vines Vineyards and Winery, Tomato Man, The Jelly Lady, Sugar Sisters, Sparks Vineyard, Rosemary's Kitchen, Riddle Plant Farm, Red Dirt Salsa, Pita Place Mediterranean Grill, Okie Dirt, Kountry Kitchen, and Harper's Hut Shaved Ice & Java. The complete list can be found on the city website.