Category Archives: Business

Bourbon County, Business, Fort Scott

Small Business Saturday: Buy Local

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Small Business Saturday
Saturday, November 30, 2019

The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce encourages the community to support SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY on November 30th.

For every $100 spent locally, $68 stays in our community. When the same $100 is spent with a national franchise, only $43 is retained locally. Shoppers across the nation are encouraged to “SHOP SMALL” and support local businesses this season.

The Chamber encourages all to take part in a Passport Event as part of Small Business Saturday. This Saturday when shopping at participating retailers, customers may collect stamps by spending $5 or more at a minimum of four stores, then turn in the passport to one of the businesses by 5 pm to be entered in a drawing for Chamber Bucks.

Small businesses promoting the passport event include Bartlesmeyer Jewelry, Bids & Dibs, Books & Grannies, Country Cupboard, Courtland Spa, Fort Scott Munitions, Fort Scott Gun & Pawn, Front Door Christmas Store, Hedgehog.INK, Here We Go Again Upholstery, Hole in the Wall, Iron Star Antiques, J & W Sports Shop, The Lavender Patch, Lowell Milken Center, Main Street Gallery & Gifts, Mayco Ace Hardware, Papa Don’s Pizza, Redbud Farm & Nurseries, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sekan’s Occasion Shop, Sunshine Boutique, The Electronics Store, Trader Dave’s, and Treasure Hunt Flea Market.

Contact the Chamber of Commerce for more information at 620-223-3566.


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Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment

Rosie’s Cabin Hosts Vendors Dec. 7: Buy Local

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Rosie’s Cabin and Event Center, 563 Maple Rd., Uniontown
Rosie’s Cabin Event Center Manager Kelsey Blythe was approached by a local entrepreneur to host a vendor show.
“Kelly Perry from Perry’s Pork Rinds is a very motivated entrepreneur with great ideas,” Blythe said.  “She came to me with an idea to have a local vendor show. Since we have space, we were delighted to host.”
The Backwoods Holiday Mart is scheduled for December 7 at Rosie’s Cabin – 563 Maple Road Uniontown, just 20 minutes from downtown Fort Scott.
“Everyone is invited,” Blythe said.  “The more support our local vendors get, the better for all of the community in Bourbon County.”
The event is from 9 am – 4 pm on Saturday, Dec. 7.
There will be giveaways, prizes, and samples.
Santa Claus will be available for family photos by Erica George Photography.
“Loads of people will be setting up a booth to sell and advertise their products,” Blythe said.  “There are so many different kinds of vendors coming, it’s going to be so fun to look around.”
  “There will be hand made jewelry, wines, nuts, knives, Perry’s Pork Rinds, homemade baked goods, homemade dog treats, leather goods,  woodworking, Tupperware, homemade Christmas wreaths and many many more. Come support your local business people!! Most of these vendors travel to vendor shows and put their heart into their products.”

Blythe is considering this an annual event and possibly bi-annual
“to give hard-working people a good chance to sell LOCALLY! What would be better than to have one of your best shows be here in Bourbon County,” Blythe said.

 

Business, Fort Scott

Gordmans Offers Gifts On Black Friday

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Line Up for Fun on Thanksgiving & Black FriYAY

The first 75 guests…

  • get a scratch-off card — it could be a $100 Gordmans gift card or a $5 shopping card;
  • can enter a drawing to win a giant FAO Schwarz® teddy bear, replica of the cuddly Bella Bear from Gordmans’ BEARS that CARE partnership with St. Jude.

On Friday, the first 75 guests…

  • receive a free, festive reusable holiday tote bag.

 

GivingTuesday: Gordmans Doubles Donations to St. Jude

  • On Tuesday, Dec. 3, Gordmans will match 100% of all donations made at checkout to St. Jude.
  • Guests also can help St. Jude families by purchasing holiday teddy bears that celebrate a special little girl named Bella, who has childhood cancer and is getting expert care at St. Jude.
  • Gordmans’ BEARS that CARE are under $10; Gordmans will donate $2 of each bear sale to St. Jude.
Art, Bourbon County, Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Schools

Time for the Fall Extravaganza, Buy Local Nov. 25

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Georgia Brown of Sunshine Boutique visits with customers during Fall Extravaganza in a prior year.

FREE childcare and an evening of shopping are offered Nov. 25.

The 10th Annual Fall Extravaganza is next Monday from 5-8 p.m. in the Fort Scott Middle School gym and commons areas. The school is located at 1105 E. 12th Street. The childcare is provided by Fort Scott High School PRIDE.

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out local crafters and businesses.

Homemade articles of cloth and wood, jewelry, locally made food items and other local small business offerings can be found at the event.

 

With over 60 vendors, there should be something for everyone on the holiday gift list.

There will be a full meal for sale from the 8th-grade Washington Workshop students,  and chances to win raffle prizes.

There will also be six $25 cash prize giveaways:

1) Every adult who comes to our event will be allowed to add a middle school child’s name into a drawing. At the end of the night, two student names will be drawn and those students will win $25 cash!

2) Every USD 234 employee who attends will have a chance to be entered into a drawing. At the end of the night, four names will be drawn and those employees will win $25 cash!

The event is sponsored by the FSMS VIPs, which is the parent group at the middle school.
  “This is one of about five fundraisers we do every year to raise money for our school,” Stephanie George, coordinator for the event and a middle school teacher. “Teachers and students benefit.  Every year we look at the needs of them both and decide what to do with the money.”
”  In past years, we have purchased laptops and iPads for student and teacher use, we have given money to the science teachers for lab supplies and to the music teachers for sheet music and instruments, and we give money each year to the teachers to purchase school supplies at the start of the year.  We also pay for software that the district wasn’t able to afford when budgets were cut years ago:  we have paid for Accelerated Reader (a reading supplement) for over five years now and we pay for video subscriptions that teachers want like Flocabulary and BrainPop.”
“The first year of our event was 2009,” George said. “We had 29 vendors and we held it all in our commons.  By year 3, we had so many vendors we had to expand into our gym.  This year we have 69 spots sold, plus a few booths manned by middle school student groups (Washington Workshop and the 8th Grade Technology Class), which is bigger than last year by one vendor.”
Approximately 400 people from the community come to shop during the event each year, she said.
. Fall Extravaganza 2017.

 

Art, Business, Fort Scott

Buy Local: HPA Stocking Stuffer Dec. 7,8

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Articles for sale in a past Stocking Stuffer.

The annual Historical Preservation Association Stocking Stuffer, after skipping a year, will be the weekend of Dec. 7 and 8.

Several area crafters will be offering their wares, along with some small business owners.

“We didn’t have it last year, and this year I have a couple of gals who have stepped up to help,” Carolyn Crystal, event coordinator said. ” Julie Norris and Charlotte Kite.”

On Saturday, Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. vendors will sell homemade crafts, home decor, jewelry and fashion accessories at the Fort Scott Middle School Commons Area, 1105 E. 12th Street.

The 2014 Stocking Stuffer in the gym of the Fort Scott Middle School.

Admission is free.

The Sharing Bucket organization will serve lunch as a fundraiser to provide support for local cancer survivors.

“I invite you to come back and see what all the vendors have,” Crystal said. “There are lots of new things.”

There are currently 30 vendors signed up, and Crystal is seeking more.

The booth space is 10 feet by 10 feet and costs $45. Vendors must provide their own tables. Electrical sites are available.

“If electricity is needed, I need to know ahead of time,” Crystal said.

For more information contact Crystal at 620-215-1969 or Kite at 620-224-0931.

 

 

Bourbon County, Business, Jobs

Free Luncheon For Local Entrepreneurs Nov. 19

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Calling all local entrepreneurs &
aspiring entrepreneurs!
You are invited to a
FREE LUNCHEON
in celebration of
Global Entrepreneurship Week!
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
12 to 1pm
Empress Event Center
Downtown Fort Scott, 7 N. Main St.
(parking in both front & back)
Click here to RSVP for lunch.
Agenda will feature:
Erin Vann & Trisha Newton
Local entrepreneurs
with remarks on experience
with e-commerce business Highway3
In addition to:
Several FSHS Students
in the Business/Entrepreneurship Class
sharing their YEC Projects they are working on in preparation for a March contest hosted by the
Bourbon County E-Community.
With time for networking and questions.
We hope you will join us!
For more info. on GEW, click here.
For info. on YEC, click here.
Event hosted by:
Bourbon County E-Community
A program of the
Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce
In partnership with Network Kansas
Business, Fort Scott, Housing, Jobs

Website Being Developed to Aid Renting Houses/Apts. in Fort Scott

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Frank Adamson. Submitted photo.
Over the last year, local businessman Frank Adamson has been developing a rental property website called GrowFortScott.
He is currently accepting landlords and local businesses to the website and joining is free.
“The platform was designed to gather the local rental market and renters, to one place, to fulfill their combined needs,” Adamson said.
“We understood that endless calls between landlords and potential renters seemed a bit outdated.”
Click below to view the site:

“Inspiration for the site came from Ryan Sparks in Iola,” he said. “He has www.growiola.com. However, there have been many people involved with the development of the (GrowFortScott) project. Local landlords and business owners have contributed. And most importantly Isaac Robinson, formally from Uniontown,  facilitated the website construction. YouAreNowOnline.com.”

“I am the main developer of the site functionality and concept. I have spent many hours making sure that all of the functions were “User-Friendly” before launching the platform to the community,” he said.

There are three core components to the service: rentals and renters, local businesses and local job openings.

 

“We have been developing relationships with local landlords and businesses to find out what some of their needs and wants would be,” he said. “We identified the biggest needs and have developed around them.”
When fully functional, the website  www.GrowFortScott.com will consolidate rental properties, from multiple landlords, that are available now.
“You can search for rent, bedrooms, bathrooms and if it is pet-friendly,” he said. “View multiple photos and read the description of the rental. All from the comfort of wherever you may be. Then once you have determined what rental you would like to inquire about, you fill out an on-line application to the landlord. They will receive it, review it and respond to you. You will then be able to schedule a time to meet at the rental and finalize the renting of the property.”
“Access to local businesses and local jobs just fit as an intricate part of the community,” Adamson said. “We have made it simple for the local businesses to join and provide simple access to their business location, basic information, and potential job openings they may have.”
Frank and his wife, Cheryl Adamson are the owners of the Courtland Hotel and Spa.
Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott

Fort Scott Public Library Newsletter November/December 2019

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Programs and information for Adults

Coloring for Adults will be on Tuesday instead of Wednesday the week of Thanksgiving (November 26th instead of the 27th).

Coloring for Adults
Wednesdays at the Library from 2:00-4:00

We supply coloring pages, pens and pencils, and snacks. You’re welcome to bring your own supplies and projects, if you prefer.

Ongoing Book Sale
We have a shelf and 2 carts of books for sale downstairs ALL the time!
Paperback     $0.25
Hardback     $0.50
Other Items   $1.00 (or as marked)

Download ebooks, audiobooks, comics, TV episodes, movies, music, and more. All you need is your library card login and a valid email address. Ask us if you need assistance.

Download ebooks and audiobooks. All you need is your library card login. Ask us if you need assistance.

 
 
 
Download ebooks and audiobooks from the State Library of Kansas. All you need is a Kansas Library eCard. Ask us if you need assistance.

5th Annual Family Holiday Party
Join us for a family holiday party! Enjoy holiday stories, songs, games, snacks, crafts, prizes, and gifts. Be sure to invite your friends or share on your timeline, too! Children 2nd grade and under must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Activities include cookie decorating, candy cane hunt, “snowball fight,” teen games, and crafts. All children and teens will receive at least one gift and a free book!
 
We are looking for volunteers to help supervise the activities and groups, and donors to help provide food. Please pass the word along and let Miss Val know at [email protected] or by calling 223-2882 if you want to help.

For Kids

Storytime
Join Miss Val for Storytime on Tues. or Wed. at 10 am weekly for a themed children’s program! Storytime features stories, crafts, snacks, singing, and sometimes, special guests, all centered around seasonal themes or ideas from attendees. The program is free and open to all ages! Each event also features a play and coloring table, which families with energetic little ones or special needs children find especially helpful. Join us and see for yourself! Upcoming themes: Firefighters & Fire Trucks (with a special appearance by our Fort Scott Fire Dept. on Nov. 19!), Thanksgiving, Royalty, Dragons & Fantasy Creatures, and the Holidays.
Tell us your child’s theme ideas here.
 
Miss Val is always seeking volunteers to help with programs and prep. Interested? Contact her at [email protected].

 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten
Join our free early literacy program and steer your baby or preschooler toward academic success! Studies show that children who are read to from an early age develop better vocabulary, make more connections in their brains, and form the needed skills to read by themselves much quicker than their average peers who are not read to. Sign up by stopping in at the library for your first reading log, welcome letter, and other paperwork. Take a look at our awesome readers here.
           

For Families

 
                               Come to Holidays Maker Monday!
December 9, 4 – 5 pm
Create holiday gifts, cards, ornaments, and decorations with Miss Val! Enjoy snacks & water and work as a family at this free program. Kids 2nd grade and below must be accompanied by an adult at all times.
 
Marvelous Monday
November 18, 2 – 3 pm
Go on an Autumn and Digital Walking Scavenger Hunt down Main Street at our Marvelous Mondays program for homeschool families and friends! Each participant may try to fill in our BINGO hunt cards and earn a free book for each BINGO. After our walk, we will share treats and crafts in the event room, and complete a brief survey to share tips with fellow homeschool families. In case of inclement weather, we will have an indoor library scavenger hunt. 

FIGHTERS for Teens & Tweens

Middle & High School Students, come on Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m. for a free program just for you! Join our ongoing reading challenge, which will run through the end of next May. Reading prizes and books will be awarded for every 500 pages of reading. FIGHTERS stands for Familiar Inviting Group Helping Those Entities Recover from School. The name was chosen and voted on by our members.
November & December meetings will run as follows:
November 20, 4:15 – 5 pm: Steampunk-Themed Games & Snacks Night
November 27: NO MEETING DUE TO THANKSGIVING
December 4, 4:15 – 5 pm: Community Service: Decorate the library for the Holidays & Winter

December 11, 4:15 – 5 pm: Holiday craft night
December 18, 4 – 6 pm: Teen & Tween Holiday Party Games Night
NO Meetings on Dec. 25 or Jan. 1 due to Christmas & New Year’s.
Need a ride from public school to FIGHTERS? Parents or guardians, call Joe Allen at 223-0800 to arrange bus transportation for your student.

New books–Adult Fiction

A book of bones
by John Connolly

Three murders in different regions of England reveal the work of a sinister killer who is sacrificing victims for an evil agenda, compelling Charlie Parker’s gripping search for clues in multiple countries.

A keeper : a novel
by Graham Norton

Returning to Ireland after her mother’s death, Elizabeth Keane is focused only on saying goodbye to that part of her life until, while she is going through her mother’s belongings, she discovers a small stash of letters that reveal a startling truth.
…
Business, Fort Scott

New Tree Removal Business: Jason Lewis

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Jason Lewis, owner of Timber! Trees A to Z. Submitted photos.
Jason Lewis, 46, started a new business in May 2019 that provides tree removal services and more in Fort Scott.
The Fort Scott native, who graduated in 1991, spent the following 26 years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2017.
“I started this business so I could have a more flexible schedule,” Lewis said.
The name of Lewis’s business is Timber! Trees A to Z and also includes stump grinding, pasture clearing, debris removal, and residential dump truck services.
A part of Jason Lewis’s line of equipment. Submitted photos.
Timber! Trees A to Z address is 1082 205th St., Fort Scott.
Lewis can be reached at 620-215-6784 or
His community involvement includes serving as senior vice president of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Club.

Lewis is married to Lori Lewis and has a daughter, Ainslee Lewis and three stepsons, Jacob, Hunter,  and Peyton Zubieta.

Jason Lewis works on a tree with some of his equipment. Submitted photos.

 

Business, Entertainment, Fort Scott, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

Fort Scott’s Holiday Open House Tonight Nov. 14 from 5-8 p.m.

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The annual Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce holiday shopping event is this evening.

From 5-8 p.m. Nov. 14,  stores in the downtown area will welcome shoppers with new displays and perhaps a snack.

Also Bartlesmeyer Jewelry, 1519 S. National; Sekan Occasion Shops, 2210 S. Main and the Lavender Patch, 2376 Locust, will be open late for shopping convenience.

New this year, Kenny Felt Photography will be offering $10 professional photos to make Christmas cards, with 10 percent of the sales going to local organization Care to Share. He will be a part of the Sekan Occasion Shops happenings.

Dolley the Trolley will be going store to store for those whose feet get tired going from store to store.

In addition to snacks to enjoy while shopping, many stores will be offering special drawings, including $50 in Chamber Bucks.

Santa sits on a bench in front of The Ironstar and gets a second look from Ernestine Eden at a past Holiday Open House.

Stores participating in the holiday event are Bids and Dibs, Books and Crannies, Country Cupboard, Courtland Hotel and Spa, Empress Event Center-Marketplace Vendors, Front Door Christmas Store,  Hedgehog.INK Book Store, Here We Go Again Upholstery and More,  Iron Star Antiques and Such, J&W Sports Shop, Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes, Main Street Gallery and Gifts, Mayco Ace Hardware, Ruddick’s Furniture, Sekan Occasion Shop, Sunshine Boutique, the Lavender Patch, Trader Dave’s, Treasure Hunt Flea Market.

 

Lora Holdridge shows off a Christmas treasure she found at the Holiday Open House.