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.
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.
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.
“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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For those who love to get a head start on great holiday finds, Gordmans’ EPIC deals will begin on Thanksgiving.
Doors open on Thanksgiving Day at 3 p.m., and again on Black FriYAY starting at 6 a.m. As a holiday headquarters, Gordmans has all the perfect gifts for way less than department store prices.
Sneak Peek at a Few of the Deals
Smart Move: 50” 4K Ultra HD Roku Smart TV for $179.99
Stay Cool: Pelican™ Elite 30-Quart Cooler for $89.99
Get Up to Speed: Realtree® Ride-On Toy Truck with MP3, AUX and USB Capabilities for $89.99
It’s Worth Getting There Early…Line Up for Fun!
On Thursday and Friday, 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.
Black FriYAY-only awesomeness: the first 75 guests at each store receive a free, festive reusable holiday tote bag.
A Representative of the VFW will be presenting flags to three (3) Veterans: Daniel Longfellow of Fort Scott, Ward Wools of Fort Scott and James Quirk of Prescott.
These flags will be honored in the Veteran’s names and flown over our State Capital.
We start with Coffee, Great Company & Conversation
Located: 902 S. Horton St. Please use the Main Entrance off Horton Street. Next to the VA Clinic on the main floor.
Chamber Members and guests are encourages to attend for networking, community announcements, and to learn about hosting business or organization.
***Members may pay $1 to make announcement about an upcoming event, special/sale/discount, or news of any kind.
uUPCOMING COFFEES
November 21th – Sunshine Boutique
November 28th – No Chamber Coffee
December 5th – FSNHS (Fort) “Candlelight Tours”
December 12th – FSCC-EFAC – Santa’s Workshop
December 19th – City of Fort Scott
December 26th – No Coffee – Merry Christmas break!”
The Buffalo Grill restaurant, at 3 W. Oak, is being repurposed.
After closing almost a decade ago, it has been used for special events.
But if all the plans fall into place, Dave Lipe said the restaurant will change to an upscale barbeque place in December.
Lipe and Luther Salisberry will be the restaurant owners and have just signed a five-year lease from building owner Al Niece which includes the River Room Event Center on the second floor.
Luther’s BBQ is the name of the new restaurant.
“We are shooting for Dec. 1 (opening date),” Lipe said. “I’ve got to have a lot of things put in place (before then). There is not much to do in the restaurant. We need to get a liquor license and some equipment and we will be ready to go.”
The new restaurant will seat about 150 people, while the River Room Event Center about 500, Lipe said.
“Our specialty will be burnt ends with specials during the week,” he said. “Pretty much everything will be made from scratch with price ranging from average to up.”
Also available will be pork chops, ribs, steaks, smoked brisket, and pulled pork, he said.
“It will be a gourmet, upper-end-style barbeque, mirrored after Q39 and Stack Jack Restaurants in the Kansas City area,” Lipe said.
From left is Alex Hudson/general manager, Luther Saulsberry/owner, David Lipe/owner. Submitted photo.
The business will be hiring approximately 20-40 people.
“Some part-time,” Lipe said. “During busier times of the year, we’ll have a bigger staff. We’ll start interviewing in late November.”
Things are looking good for the business.
“I’ve already booked four weddings for next year,” he said. “The cost will vary, there are several packages available and full-service catering.”
For the River Room Event Center outside catering will be allowed, he said.
Dave Lipe on the lift arm takes down the Buffalo Grill sign on the building at Oat St. and National Avenue on November 4. The lift equipment was loaned by Jason Lewis, lower left in photo, who owns a tree cutting business. The new restaurant will be Luther’s BBQ.
