Story by Ammie Bryant, Images provided by Friends of the Stillwater Community Center, Inc.

A little over two and half years ago the Stillwater Community Center’s future was in jeopardy as the City sought a solution for Block 34 and how best to incorporate the area surrounding it. User groups and other interested community members banded together to save the Community Center and in doing so, realized there was an additional need for community investment in the Center’s future.

The Friends of the Stillwater Community Center Inc. officially formed with a mission ​​”to ensure the accessibility, affordability, and sustainability of the Stillwater Community Center for use by the citizens ​of Stillwater and surrounding area.” For the past two years, the Friends have worked closely with the Stillwater Community Center Foundation to secure donations of time, talent, and funds to make needed repairs and improvements to the Community Center. As a result of this close partnership, at the end of this year, the Friends and the Foundation will merge in an effort to more efficiently pursue a shared mission of supporting the Community Center.

Over the past year, the Friends and the Foundation have focused efforts on Project #2: Curb Appeal. Generally, the scope of Project #2 was to repaint the exterior trim of the building, repair broken and damaged windows, add window coverings in high visibility areas, repair high visibility trim, and repair and replace damaged or inoperable exterior lighting for security and signs. Additionally, the grounds were cleaned and brush and dead and dying trees were removed.  

Volunteers kick-started Project #2 with the October 2017 work weekend and continued working in April and May 2018. This summer, contractor Justin Malone completed the second floor exterior painting. Project #2 is complete and totally paid for thanks to volunteer efforts and the generous donations of supporters.

To celebrate the completion of Project #2, the SCC Friends and SCC Foundation invites the community to attend the debut of the new monthly movie series “Classic Cinema at the Center” in the Winfrey D. Houston Theater at the Stillwater Community Center on Fri., Oct. 12, 2018.  Doors will open at 6 p.m. with recognition of those who have supported Project #2 and the reveal of Project #3. Showtime for the movie will begin at 7 p.m. with snacks and water provided.

The new monthly movie series, “Classic Cinema at the Center,” is provided through a partnership between the Friends of the SCC and the City of Stillwater Community Center. Classic movies will be presented each month and selected by the Friends’ Movie Committee from classics that fit a variety of themes and subjects.

The first movie selected to premiere “Classic Cinema at the Center” is “Meet John Doe” starring Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck. In this American comedy-drama, a political movement begins when a man needing money agrees to impersonate a nonexistent person.  Future planned dates for the series include: Nov. 2, Dec. 7, Jan. 11, Feb. 1, Mar. 8, Apr. 5, May 10, June 7, July 12, Aug. 9, and Sept. 13. Admission is free, however the Friends will accept donations to support Project #3 and future projects and events like the Blues Festival.

Visit sccfriends.com and follow the Friends on Twitter and Facebook at @sccfriends for more information as it becomes available or to find out how you can support the Stillwater Community Center.