Tom and Bev's Blog

The race for the Republican ticket is over and the new Tulsa County Commissioner has been elected.  Sally Bell will take her new position in November '08.  Bell won over voters by eighty-one percent against her opponent, Randi Miller. 

Sally Bell may be new to the political world, but she is well known in Tulsa , Oklahoma.  Many know her name from Bell 's Amusement Park, at the Tulsa County Fairgrounds.  Even though Bell was forced off the fairgrounds last year by the commission, which Miller was part of, Bell says that's not why she ran for office.   

Sally Bell just wants to open up the local government that she feels has been closed for far too long.  So, let's hear it for Sally Bell, our new Tulsa County Commissioner.  We hope to see good things come from her.

I just found out that the new Spirit Bank Event Center is getting ready to open its doors soon in Bixby , Oklahoma .  The concerts for this fall have just been announced so construction crews are in a hurry to finish by the deadline. 

Concert performances for this fall will include Uncle Kracker, Kutless, and Michael Smith.

It's great to have a new events center in town but there has been a bit of talk about the new event center competing with the Mabee Center and the BOK Arena for entertainment acts.  Everything should workout though.  The Spirit Bank Event Center will host the 66rs basketball games, while the Mabee Center will host the ORU Eagles basketball games.  So far it doesn't look to me like they are in competition.  The Spirit Bank will be the smallest venue of three venues with a capacity of 4,000 people.  The Mabee holds 10,000 people and the BOK Arena holds 18,000 people.  

Other events on schedule for Spirit Bank are basketball tournaments, gymnastics and wrestling competitions, hunting and fishing shows, and bridal fairs.  Spirit Bank is set to open with its first event in September.

Many people are feeling the pinch of food prices and gas prices as they keep going up, up, up.  So now many have turned to bartering as a way to save their hard earned money.   After some research, we have found several places online for everyone to take advantage of.

Many things being traded online are movies, cd's, dvd's, appliances, electronics and services.  If you want a movie, you simply go online and swap a movie you already have for the one you want.  You can even do lawn services for your chiropractor or someone else that provides services you need. 

An interesting barter we heard of recently was a house painting job in exchange for five weekends on the homeowner's boat.  Some people are handing over their possessions for dental work or medical services.  Just about anything goes when it comes to bartering.  Your possessions can become your currency nowadays.

So take a look around your home and see for yourself what can be traded.  Even the smallest of things are eligible. 

Some great places to barter online are:

Barter Bee ~ Book Hopper ~ Book Mooch ~ Craigs List ~ Domu Swap ~ Free Cycle ~ Games Trading Zone ~ Go Swap ~ Home Exchange ~ Just Between Friends ~ La La ~ Neigh Borrow ~ Online House Trading ~ Pad 4 Pad ~ Paper Back Swap ~ Peer Flix ~ Swap A CD ~ Swap A DVD ~ Swap A Gift ~ Swap Tree ~ Switch Planet ~ Title Trader ~U Swap It ~ Zuna Fish ~ Z Waggle

Tulsa 's new City Council and Mayor Kathy Taylor are inviting Tulsa , Oklahoma residents and friends to join them for "Neighborfest ‘08" in Tulsa parks this summer.  This event is a great opportunity for residents of Tulsa to meet their elected officials, make new friends and bring friends to Tulsa .

There are four events left: July 15, 22, 29 and August 5.  Each one will include free ice cream and drinks for everyone.  There will also be an on-going talent show, live entertainment, and informative displays. 

The talent show is open to individual persons and group talents.  "Tulsa Talents" is going to be hosted by Wayman Tisdale and wife Regina this year.  Tisdale is a former US Olympic basketball player, an NBA star and a jazz bass guitarist.  Tisdale is also a performer and recording artist with a new album coming out this summer.

The last event will be August 5^th.  This event will also celebrate a city-wide back to school rally where all Tulsa 's students and parents can get together and get to know each another.

Also at this year's event there will be the new "Bring a Friend to Tulsa ."  You can sign up to win two round-trip tickets to bring a friend to Tulsa .  Other prizes are included in the winner's prize package.  The city came up with this unique way to get visitors to come to Tulsa so they can see just how great the city has grown, with great hopes they will buy a home.

We hope everyone and their friends enjoy this years Neighborfest. 

Tulsa will be having many events and celebrations such as concerts, exhibits and outdoor celebrations this 4^th of July and we hope you get to go out and enjoy them.

Here is what you can expect to find in Tulsa this July 4^th 2008:

• Arts, Crafts, Music and Cajun Festival in the Grove Civic Center.  There will be Bayou singing and the best Cajun food west of the Mississippi .
• IBC Bank Annual Car Show at IBC Bank on 101 and Riverside .  Join the Tulsa Vette Set on the 4^th for their second annual car show.  There will be free food, drawings and giveaways all day.  You can vote for your favorite car and see if it wins the People's Choice Award.  There will also be a coloring contest for kids.
• The Fourth at the Fort at the Fort Gibson Historic Site.  Here you can celebrate Independence Day the old-fashioned way like was in 1840.
• Red, White and Zoo from 9am to 5pm at the Tulsa Zoo.  Come picnic with the zoo family for 4^th of July fun.  This will be a great day of celebrations and adventures with the animals.
• Tulsa Freedom Fest '08 from 4pm to 10:30pm at River West Festival Park on Jackson Ave.  This is Tulsa 's big annual 4^th of July celebration.  It features the largest fireworks display and entertainment to be found in Tulsa .

We are sure you will love all the festivities as much as we have since we have been serving Tulsa , Oklahoma .  So, get the family out and enjoy a whole day of fun.