After a successful first year, The Bricktown Beach is headed back to Third Base Plaza at the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark in downtown Oklahoma City.

This popular downtown summer fun destination will include a large sand-filled outdoor park area with umbrellas, lounge chairs, sand volleyball equipment and outdoor games and events happening all summer long.

The project is designed to activate an underutilized space in the heart of Oklahoma’s original entertainment district and will serve as a popular gathering place to play, relax and connect with others.

The Bricktown Beach will be open daily from May 25 through August 31.

– Jake Pasdach, Jones PR

Skiatook resident Joshua Slezak is one of 11 contest winners of the national “Share the Experience” photo contest hosted by the National Park Foundation. More than 16,500 photos were submitted over the course of the contest, which ran from April 28 through December 31, 2016. Joshua’s winning photo was taken at Oologah Lake in northeastern Oklahoma.

The annual contest invites amateur photographers to submit their favorite views, moments and adventures showcasing the more than 500 million acres of federal lands and drawing entries from across the United States. There are over 700,000 acres of federal land in Oklahoma.

– Adam Maxey, Jones PR

Candles are lighting the way for adults with developmental disabilities in Muskogee. Golden Rule Industries Inc. launched Golden Rule Candlery as a vocational service to serve the developmentally disabled community that is elevated above the traditional model of thrift stores and sweeping floors.

Their working partners handle every part of production at the candlery including melting the high-quality, golden soy wax, setting each large wick, to pouring each candle with love and tender care.

Right now, the candles are only available from fundraisers. The candlery has plans to launch online ordering, candle-of-the-month club and much more!

– Emily Long, Jones PR

Sulphur girl A’Layah spent much of her life in foster care. When she was adopted she was lucky to be able to take toys, unlike her brother who only had a small box of clothing.

Soon after, A’Layah got the idea to open a lemonade stand to raise money to buy toys for foster kids. From her first sale she raised $132, enough for 24 kids!

She has decided to do another lemonade stand, featuring “love packages.” Each will have a backpack, stuffed bear, a Bible and a toothbrush for only $10.

To find out more or donate, click here.

– Emily Long, Jones PR

Need to spice up date night? We’ve got you covered with these local places to try out on your next date!

• Film Row: Once almost demolished, the Historic Film Row of Downtown OKC was remade and now hosts The Exchange on Film Row where makers, artisans, food trucks and art collide.

• Paint N’ Cheers: Paint and booze might be the perfect formula for date night in OKC. An instructor provides step-by-step instructions, while you sip and have fun with this stress-free date.

• Oklahoma River Cruise: If relaxing is more your beat, this is the date for you!

– Emily Wiley, Jones PR

Before the NBA and before we had a Ferris wheel, we had The Brick. A part of the original MAPS, the Bricktown Ballpark was the crown jewel in the vision of what Oklahoma City could become.

Next month will mark the 20th season of baseball in Bricktown. “If you want to trace Oklahoma City’s renaissance back to a single moment, I think it would be the opening of the the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark,” said OKC Mayor Mick Cornett.

OKC is on its third rendition of MAPS and has been named one of the most desirable places to live in America.

– Adam Maxey, Jones PR

Spring break is just around the corner, and you’re wondering what to do since the kids will be home for a week. Here is a round-up of some fun, family-friendly activities.

• Skeletons Museum of Osteology: Spring break activities include crafts, storytime, live skeleton articulations, food trucks and more.
• Splash Break: Oklahoma Aquarium celebrates the opening of Sea Turtle Island.
• St. Patrick’s Day at the Myriad Botanical Gardens features performances by the Oklahoma Scottish Pipes and Drums and the Hill Irish Dance School, festive crafts and Irish food.

What spring break activities have you planned? Tell us on Facebook!

– Emily Long, Jones PR

Oklahoma City is full of valuable organizations making this city a better place.

Larry Bross started City Care in 1996 to serve the homeless. For 21 years, the nonprofit has been committed to helping those less fortunate in the Oklahoma City area. While City Care’s mission will continue, Bross has announced his retirement.

Community leaders and City Care supporters gathered on Thursday, Feb. 23, to surprise and honor Bross and his wife, Masie, by renaming the Pershing Center to The Larry and Masie Bross Center at Pershing. This 60-unit, permanent housing program focuses on recovery, life skills and employment.

– Emily Anderson, Jones PR

The National Weather Center in Norman is hosting tours this spring for visitors to witness some of the best weather experts in the nation. The tour will take visitors up close and personal with Oklahoma’s notorious springtime weather and the men and women who study it.

Participants are required to register for the hour-long tour, which takes visitors through the University of Oklahoma School of Meteorology, the National Weather Center Observation Deck and laboratory facilities. Scheduled tours can also survey the NOAA Storm Prediction Center, the Norman National Weather Service Forecast Office and the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory.

– Page Jones, Jones PR

It’s no secret that Oklahoma City’s Metropolitan Area Projects — (MAPS) was the revival that we were looking for. Now the projects are models for other cities to jump-start their renaissance.

Forbes recently published an article describing MAPS as a model public works program after contributor Scott Beyer took a trip to OKC and experienced the revival himself.

“There have been numerous failures throughout the history of public works initiatives, with different major U.S. cities subject to bureaucracy, graft and poor design. And then there’s the program in Oklahoma City,” Beyer wrote.

Once again, well done OKC. Well done.

– Emily Long, Jones PR

At a recent town hall meeting, OKC police officers said they have no plans to round up people living here illegally.

“City police have no deportation powers; that is a federal issue,” said Capt. Paco Balderrama. “People need to know the police are here to help. If people are afraid to call and crime goes unreported, it will spread and people will continue to be victimized.”

The department has services available to assist the community, such as the bilingual unit. Police comply with a 2007 law mandating all people arrested for felony crimes or DUI charges be checked through ICE.

– Adam Maxey, Jones PR

Feeling adventurous this Valentine’s Day? Then head to Oklahoma City and brave the cold with hundreds as they strip down to their underwear to raise awareness and fund research of neurofibromatosis.

Gathering 24,000 runners in 47 cities worldwide, Cupid’s Undie Run is the world’s largest organized undie run. The event began seven years ago to support the Children’s Tumor Foundation. The run has raised and donated about $3.7 million to the research of neurofibromatosis, a rare genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on the nervous system.

Click here to join the fun and support this amazing cause.

– Emily Long, Jones PR

An OU student robotics team is set to compete in a challenging event to design and build the next generation of Mars rovers in June. The Sooner Rover Team will compete in the 2017 University Rover Challenge from June 1-3 at the Mars Society’s Mars Desert Research Station in Utah.

Rovers competing in the competition are required to be completely wireless and to be controlled from a remote location. Teams will also face many obstacles, including terrain challenges and autonomous traversal, retrieval and delivery tasks. Winners will receive cash prizes and will present at the International Mars Society Convention.

– Page Jones, Jones PR

If you’re crafty and interested in a piece of state history, head to Hennessey, Oklahoma, and visit the state’s largest quilt shop.

Founded in 2001, Prairie Quilt is located in a 6,000-square-foot, historic 100-year-old building in downtown Hennessey. The shop is packed with over 5,000 bolts of fabric, sewing machines and quilting notions. Above the shop is a recently renovated classroom, where classes on how to sew the perfect quilt are taught weekly.

The shop even hosts quilting retreats, where participants spend three days at Prairie Quilt, sewing and connecting with fellow quilt enthusiasts.

– Page Jones, Jones PR

Over the last couple of years, indoor skydiving has become a popular activity for thrill seekers. Indoor skydiving simulates true freefall conditions in a vertical wind tunnel, which uses fans to push, compress and accelerate air throughout the flight chamber, thus enabling participants to fly.

iFly brings the invention of modern wind tunnels to Oklahoma with a new location in Oklahoma City. The entire first-time flyer experience takes about one hour and 30 minutes from start to finish. Additionally, certified instructors accompany flyers during each session.

Prepare for “takeoff” and explore the exciting world of indoor skydiving in 2017.

– Jake Pasdach, Jones PR

“If you knew her before she came to Early Foundations, you would not have believed they could get her to sit still for several minutes at a time,” said a father whose daughter recently graduated from the Oklahoma Autism Center’s (OAC) Early Foundations (EF) program.

EF practices a model of inclusion for children with disabilities and their neurotypical peers in order to build interpersonal skills and growth of understanding.

In striving to equip autistic children with skills necessary for classroom success, EF practices multiple methods of therapy to learn what works for each child. This year, EF celebrates 10 years.

– Adam Maxey, Jones PR

The holidays are about family, friends and traditions. Looking at holiday lights is a time-honored tradition. Check out three of Oklahoma’s most famous light displays:

Festival of Light: Regarded as one of America’s best holiday light shows, the Festival of Light in Chickasha features over 3.5 million lights and four miles of lighted walkways.

Rhema: Broken Arrow’s premiere light show, Rhema features over two million lights synchronized to classic holiday tunes.

Holiday Lights Spectacular: One of the state’s largest drive-through light displays, Midwest City’s Holiday Lights Spectacular features a quiet forest adorned with over a million lights.

– Page Jones, Jones PR

In 2007, tragedy struck the Ligon family. Their son, brother and husband, Cpl. Daniel Y. Ligon, US Marine Corps, committed suicide as a result of PTSD and depression.

His mother, Mary, didn’t want her son’s death to go in vain. She started the Coffee Bunker, whose mission is “to offer opportunities that support service members and veterans toward successful reintegration with their families and communities.”

The Coffee Bunker is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization accepting monetary and in-kind donations. One of those in-kind donations is from local roaster DoubleShot Coffee, which provides the veterans with coffee.

– Connie Pearson, Jones PR

Searching for fun this November? Head to the Plaza District.

This quaint area is one great example of all the major developments in Oklahoma City. With savory eateries, unique shops and lots of energy, the Plaza is fun for all. Pencil in these upcoming events:

• Shop Small Saturday (Nov. 26): Shop local at the Plaza for your holiday needs.

• Fop Pub Crawl (Nov. 29): Celebrate the 6th annual Friends of the Plaza Pub Crawl.

• A Christmas Carol by Lyric Theatre (Nov. 30): Experience a traditional holiday production.

What’s your favorite thing about the Plaza District? Let us know on Facebook!

– Emily Long, Jones PR

Dedicated employees get to break the mold and earn a paycheck at Dale Rogers Training Center (DRTC), Oklahoma’s oldest and largest community vocational training and employment center for people with disabilities.

From working and volunteering in the community, to making award-winning picture frames, to manufacturing beautiful awards and trophies and much more, individuals in DRTC’s programs love what they do.

“My favorite day is payday!” – Courtney

“I like to work in Prism Place doing the sanding.” – Thomas

Help create meaningful jobs in OKC for those with disabilities through DRTC’s various divisions or by supporting Robin’s Corner Gift Shop online.

– James Helm, Dale Rogers Training Center

The ingredients to an exceptional eatery include tasty food, hospitality and extraordinary people.

Sally Carroll mastered that recipe as the operator of Sally’s Sandwich Shop in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, for 65 years. Carroll made Sally’s famous with homemade pies and generous hospitality.

Carroll took over the small cafe in 1949 when President Truman was president. The eatery closed in 2014 when Sally was 98 years old. When it closed, a vintage pay phone still hung on the wall for when customers called in their orders.

Sally recently turned 100 years old and remains an admired and well-loved resident of Pawhuska.

– Jake Pasdach, Jones PR