During the first November Chamber Coffee, hosted by the local Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1165, the local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honored Aubrey “Buzz” Hawpe for his care of the American flag in Fort Scott.

Jim Gilpin, of Iola, president of the local SAR, presented a plaque to Hawpe in recognition of his tending to more than 40 American flags at over a dozen locations in Fort Scott, including those at the 20^th Century Veterans Memorial, Skubitz Plaza, at the East National and National streets triangle and those at the triangle at Horton and 18^th streets.

“The U.S. flag is one of the most recognized symbols of American patriotism,” Gilpin said. “One of the five goals of the Sons of the American Revolution is to encourage respect for our national symbols, including our flag.”

In the past, the SAR has presented similar awards to the Fort Scott VFW and the Fort Scott National Historic Site for taking care of flags such as by keeping them well lit and replacing and properly retiring worn flags.

Other announcements from local businesses included:

• Mary’s Catholic School will host their fall bazaar Sunday at the Kennedy Gym, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Medicalodges will host a potato bar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to raise money for the residents’ Christmas Fund.
• Students of Fort Scott High School will be presenting the play Bye Bye Birdie at the school’s auditorium next Tuesday and Thursday at 7 p.m.
• Planning for the 2016 Pioneer Harvest Fiesta has already begun, which includes changing the dates from the last weekend in September to the last weekend in August to avoid conflicts with other events.
• The Power and Light musical trio will perform Saturday at the Common Ground at 7 p.m. The coffee shop is also hosting a bingo and baked goods fundraiser Thursday evening for a barista who will be going to Uganda in January.
• The Beacon is serving as a go-between in coming weeks for the adopt a child program, allowing businesses or individuals to buy Christmas gifts for children in low income families this holiday season.
• Fort Scott Community College theater department will be putting on the Wildflowering of Chastity play Friday through Sunday at the Ellis Fine Arts Center.
• The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes recently presented Discovery Awards at a ceremony in Topeka Wednesday.
• The Chamber of Commerce fundraiser Forks and Corks: Taste of Fort Scott will be held at the Memorial Hall Saturday evening at 6:30 p.m., offering a variety of beverages and food vendors as well as auctions.
• The theme of this year’s Christmas Parade is announced as Old Fashioned Christmas, and will occur December 1, at 6 p.m.
• The Holiday Open House will be hosted at downtown shops next Thursday, Nov. 12, with businesses selling holiday items as well as providing snacks to customers.
• The Beacon Soup Line will offer hot meals to the public Nov. 20, at the Kennedy Gym for $5 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Tickets are on sale for the Homes for the Holiday Tour the first weekend of December, including a limited number of tickets for the Moonlight and Mistletoe Tour which will include the LaRoche home.
• The VFW will hold a free-will donation luncheon on Veterans’ Day, Nov. 11, at 11:30 a.m.