Homes For The Holidays Tour 2017

Ed and Christine Lundberg’s home is the site for the Moonlight and Mistletoe evening as part of the Homes for the Holidays Tour.

Moonlight and Mistletoe

The Moonlight and Mistletoe Evening, always the first part of the Homes for the Holidays Tour, is December 1 from 6-8 p.m. at the home of Ed and Christine Lundberg, 402 Lees Circle Drive.

There will be appetizers served and a tour of the home. The cost for the  Moonlight and Mistletoe Evening is $35 and tickets may be purchased at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall.

“The theme is a ‘groovy Christmas'”, Rhonda Dunn, president of the Historic Preservation Association of Bourbon County, said. “A 1970s theme”.

The HPA sponsors the annual Homes for the Holidays weekend.

In addition to the Moonlight and Mistletoe home tour and appetizers, there will be a  preview of the Christmas in the Park event at Gunn Park on Dec. 1.

The December 1 Christmas in the Park event is exclusively for the Moonlight and Mistletoe attendees, Dunn said.

Homes For The Holidays

The three homes featured in this year’s Homes for the Holidays tour will be open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. December 2 and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, December 3.

The tickets for the three homes tour can be purchased at the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, 231 E. Wall for $15.

Nate and Bailey Lyon’s home.

The Nate and Bailey Lyons home at 919 Burke was built in 1924 by the Gunn family. The Lyons have completely renovated the home.

“It’s a beautiful modern home,”  Dunn said.

The Bob and Terri Taylor home.

The Bob and Terri Taylor home at 315 Holbrook is another tour stop and is a 1880s Victorian home.

“It has many of the home’s original fixtures and is a nice modern home,” Dunn said.

The Shiney Studio.

The Shiney Studio, 123 S. National Avenue is on the tour also.

“The building was formerly the Episcopal Church that they rescued,” Dunn said.  Dandelyon Vrendenburg is the owner and has her home, a yoga studio, apartments and office suites currently housed there.

See the HPA Facebook page Fort Scott Homes for the Holidays for more details.

  • The HPA is also sponsoring a quilt show at the Beaux Arts Center, 102 S. National during the tour weekend.

Do you have a special quilt to show?

Contact Denise Duncan for more information, 620-215-6311.

  • The annual HPA Stocking Stuffer shopping event will have 60 vendors at the middle school on 12th Street during the weekend.

“It’s a great way to start holiday shopping,” Dunn said.

The Homes for the Holidays Stocking Stuffer is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3 at Fort Scott Middle School on East 12th Street.
  • Also, this weekend is the annual Candlelight Tour at Fort Scott National Historic Site. Contact the fort for available tickets still remaining at 620-223-0310.

 

  • In addition is the Presbyterian Village Christmas tree decorating contest this weekend.

“At this location, we are showcasing the Christmas tree decorating contest in Fort Scott where over 15 trees were entered and are all uniquely decorated using creativity and class,” Ginger Nance, executive director of Presbyterian Village, said.

Presbyterian Village is on the Homes for the Holidays tickets for those who purchase their holiday home tours. It’s the same hours on Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday. noon to 4 p.m.

The village is located at 2401 S. Horton, phone number: 620- 644-4362.

“Christmas tree displays will be throughout the village,” Dunn said.

  • Jared Leek will have a Front Door Christmas at 119 S. Main this weekend as well from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 2 and 3.

 

National Avenue Christmas Lights Contest

Businesses and homes along National Avenue are encouraged to decorate for the holidays with a lighting contest. Pictured is Eclectica at National Avenue and Wall Street.

A Christmas lighting contest for businesses and homes along Fort Scott’s National Avenue is on.

“It’s open to anyone with a National Avenue address, both commercial and residential,” said Rhonda Dunn, an organizer of the contest.

“No rules,” she said. “The group I got together wanted it to be fun and about the community, not winning the prize. We are looking forward to seeing what we get.”

The contest will be judged by Al Niece on Friday, December 8.  His business, Niece Products,  will supply a monetary prize for the winner, Dunn said.

“They can contact me with any questions or just do it,” Dunn said.

She can be reached at 620-224-1186.

 

Christmas In The Park Dec. 2

Christmas In The Park is an event that will entertain your family with beautiful lights, a chili feed, a visit with Santa,  craft-making for the children, and gift card giveaways, ALL FOR FREE, according to Diana Mitchell, a member of the organizing committee.

Gunn Park will be closed November 30 through December 3 because of the community event.

Thursday, November 30 will be set up and decorate day for the weekend event.

Friday, December 1 will be a private showing of the park for Moonlight and Mistletoe participants of the Homes for the Holidays Tour. Tickets can be purchased from the Chamber of Commerce Visitors Center 231 E. Wall Street for $35 including the weekend homes tours.

The public event will start at 5 p.m. Saturday, December 2.  December 3 is the takedown and clean up day.

Mitchell, Todd Farrell, and Tom Robertson are the committee that is spearheading the event. For more information about the event, contact Robertson at Buck Run Community Center, 620-223-0386.

All the picnic shelter houses in the park will be lighted, and the road lined with 1500 luminaries. Because of the luminaries, there will be no walk-in or drive-through visitors allowed that evening. Transportation is provided in buses and vans picked up at nearby designated parking lots.

Shelter No. 3 will be a place for families come for photograph opportunities. The stone shelter will be warmed with fireplaces, trees, and lights for use as a background in photos. Families supply their own cameras.

Also at Shelter No. 3, there will be a gift card giveaway signup.

“Only one winner per household, but everyone can sign up,” Mitchell said. The downtown Fort Scott merchant gift cards range from $30 to $150, and one need not be present to win.

Shelter No. 5 will be a chili supper cooked up by the Fort Scott Fire Department.

Between Shelter No. 3 and No. 5 Bethel Community Church will be performing a live nativity scene.

At Shelter No. 6, children can visit with Santa Claus.

Shelter No. 7 will be a place for children to decorate cookies and make other take-home crafts.

Parking for the event will be located at the Mercy Clinic on Horton Street, the Fort Scott Community College Nursing Department on Burke Street and the Professional Building at Burke and 8th Street.

All vehicles must park in the designated parking lots, for safety reasons.

“Please don’t park in front of peoples houses, use these parking lots,” Mitchell said. “At those lots, people will be picked up in buses and vans.”

“We can drop off people at different shelters. We will transfer you around to see all the park for your fun and enjoyment,” she said.

Mitchell encourages everyone to be patient.

“It could be a little wait, but be patient,” Mitchell said. “Enjoy a free, fun family evening.”

The event is run by volunteers from the FS Fire Department and Police Department, Fort Scott Community College athletes, and Fort Scott Kiwanis. Larry Gazaway is providing the music throughout the park and Rhonda Dunn is organizing the transportation piece.

Two businesses are decorating shelters, Todd and I are decorating the others,” Mitchell said.

“If you haven’t been to Christmas In The Park, it’s amazing,” Mitchell said. “It’s a beautiful park, but when it’s decorated, it’s spectacular.”

“Enjoy a wonderful time of year, without a penny in your pocket,” she said.

Price Chopper To Open Soon

Wednesday afternoon the Price Chopper Fort Scott has an empty parking lot, but soon the lot will be full of shoppers cars.

December 6 is the date for the opening of  Price Chopper Fort Scott, the city’s newest grocery store as 2322 S. Main.

“December 6 is their goal,”  Rhonda Dunn, Fort Scott’s Community Development Director, said.

“It’s a beautiful place,” Dunn said. “They are putting groceries on the shelves. They are making a plan for a grand opening.”

Barry Queen is the owner/operator of Price Chopper Fort Scott.

To view more about Price Chopper Fort Scott, click below:

Price Chopper to open for the holidays

 

 

Eclectica Opens At National And Wall

Becky Cowlishaw opened her store Eclectica on Oct.1 at the corner of National Avenue and Wall Street. The shops hours can be seen on her entry door.

Becky Cowlishaw loves to buy and sell items, and she like auctions.

“Years ago I managed the Kress Tea Room and Pie Pantry from 2007-2008  and then the Village Shops,” she said.

“I’ve collected for a long time.”

On Oct. 1, Cowlishaw opened her shop she calls Eclectica by Rebecca Kaye at 2 S. National Avenue.

In this shop can be found antiques, home decor, jewelry, collectibles and some $1 items, she said.

Johnny Walker, John Cowlishaw, Josh Jones, Linda Wilson, Matt Lybarger, Vonda Ngigi, and John Walters also bring items to sell on consignment in her store.

“I don’t operate by booth space and I’m not looking for more consigners,” she said.

Cowlishaw believes her specialty is staging merchandise or decorative design.

“I really like making the colors come together, using odds and ends and making it work,” she said.

Cowlishaw has another passion.

In addition to Eclectica, Cowlishaw purchased the old First Christian Church, at 101 S. Judson, and renamed it Bethesda Christian House of Mercy.

She is the senior pastor at the church, while her son Jerrod Cowlishaw is the associate pastor.

“I live at Bethesda and soon will open a women’s ministry,” she said.

Cowlishaw can be reached by phone at 620-215-3158.

Pictured are some current items in Electica.

Fall Extravaganza Photos

Shoppers descended on Fort Scott Middle School November 20 for the VIP Fall Extravaganza annual fundraising event which benefits students.

“Our 9th annual Fall Extravaganza went very well,” said Stephanie George, VIP president. ” We made $1,400 (in vendor booth rental). Overall, vendors seemed pleased with the turnout. I saw lots of customers with shopping bags and baked goods, so hopefully they were able to get a lot of their holiday gifts and treats taken care of at our event.”

Shoppers visit booths at the VIP Fall Extravaganza at Fort Scott Middle School Monday evening.
Betsy Reichard, The Lavender Patch.
Sue Reinecke, Locust Hill Lamanchas, visits with a customer about her goat’s milk products.
Serious shopping.
Unique homemade gifts.
Stacey Atkins tells about her assortment of jellies, jams, and marmalades.
Local authors Joyce Love and Carol Russell display their books.
Jason Tourtillott shows one of his Tourtillot Creations.
Redbud Nursery’s fresh pine trees and wreaths created a Christmas smell and ambiance to the event.
Georgia Brown of Sunshine Boutique visits with customers during Fall Extravaganza.
Rochelle Casner tells customers about SeneGence products.

Bourbon County Commission Agenda Nov. 21

The Bourbon County Commission meets on the second floor of the courthouse, 210 S. National Avenue at 9 a.m. Tuesdays.

1st District is Lynne Oharah, 2nd District-Jeff Fischer,  3rd District-Nick Ruhl, County Clerk-Kendell Mason.

Here is the agenda for the meeting November 21, 2017

9:00-9:45-Jim Harris

9:45-10:15-Commissioners consider and take action on any and all questions or issues which may arise regarding the law enforcement project.

10:30-Solid Waste Resolution

11:00-Justin Meeks

12:00-1:30-Commissioners gone to lunch

1:45-Carla Nemecek-Extension Update

2:00-Clint Anderson-Counter and Flooring

2:30-Employee Handbook

Justifications for Executive Session:

· Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

· Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

· Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

· Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

· Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

· Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Free Dance Lessons

Submitted photo and story.

Free 1800s dance lessons will be taught on Saturday, December 2, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Grand Hall on the grounds of Fort Scott National Historic Site.

“The city of Fort Scott is hosting a number of holiday events this day as well as the  Candlelight Tour on Friday and Saturday evening at Fort Scott National Historic Site so come spend the day in Fort Scott,” said Dee Young, organizer of the dance lessons, and volunteer at the fort.

“Come join us for some fun and exercise while we learn some new dances and practice some old ones. For the beginner as well as anyone who just loves dancing 1800s period dances. Street clothes are fine. No partner is needed. If you care not to dance just come and enjoy watching. See you on December 2!”

The lessons are taught by volunteers at the fort.