Tents and booths were set up in the shade of trees on the Kemna property Saturday for the public to view and buy the wares of artists.
The weather cooperated and the beautiful September day was enjoyed by attendees of the Art in the Yard festival at local artist Bobbi Kemna’s property northwest of Fort Scott on Saturday.
Local and area artists of all styles set up booths and tents in the shade to sell their wares.
Pottery, woodwork, fabric, painting, metal, photography, furniture, food, theater, music, jewelry and lavender artists were placed around the acreage for the public to visit with and buy their wares.
The City of Fort Scott provided a free trolley from downtown to the site, located on 215th Street, rural Fort Scott.
There was no official headcount, Kemna said, but approximately 200 people is her estimate.
Following are photos that were taken during the morning of the event.
The public is free to add their photos in comments.
Festival creator and host Bobbi Kemna, left, visits with Arnold and Clara Schofield and granddaughter on Saturday morning at the Art in the Yard Festival.Barb McCord visits with an attendee while demonstrating how to weave in the nature tapestry she bought to the Art in the Yard Festival. The natural material was provided and the attendees were invited to weave the material through a giant loom, with the intent of a finished tapestry by days end.Carol George admires Paul Milk’s Hardanger embroidery. Milk also sold photography and cross stitch articles at the Art in the Yard Festival Saturday.The Fort Scott Community Orchestra, under the direction of Carson Felt, entertained the art festival attendees.Sydney and Hannah Ramsey added final touches to Nick Magee’s artwork Saturday at Art in the Yard. Their mother, Emily Ramsey, right, supervises. Magee, in the background, had his paintings for sale at the Art in the Yard Festival.The Fort Scott High School Thespians entertained the attendees with improv comedy Saturday. The group also sold soft drinks to further their cause of attending an international theater event in Scotland next summer.Bobbi Kemna, event organizer and host, visits with attendees on the porch of her pottery workshop Saturday at Art in the Yard.
Local artist Bobbi Kemna has created something new.
Bobbi Kemna on the front porch of her pottery studio facility.
Turning from pottery, for which she is locally known, Bobbi Kemna has been working for several months to create a one-day festival event for artists to display and sell their wares.
The day will be full of art of all kinds: pottery, fabric, paintings, metal, jewelry, furniture, music, theater, and food.
“This is for artists and art enthusiasts,” Kemna said.
She is hosting the event called Art In The Yard 2018 at her home on Saturday, September 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The Kemna home.
Kemna lives at 1366 215th Street, which is north of Hwy. 54, just west of the Hwy. 69-54 junction.
There will be a free trolley ride to pick up attendees at the Boiler Room Brewhaus parking lot, 10 S. National, starting at 10 a.m.
Additionally, there will be a designated vehicle parking just north of the festival site.
The event will feature artists from the area and also Wichita, Kansas City, and Joplin, MO, Kemna said.
“It will be a fun day with artful stuff to purchase,” Kemna said. “No fee is charged to come.”
The Fort Scott Bus Depot building was moved to the Kemna property years ago. Kemna has decorated the outside with art.
“I’m excited about it,” she said. “I want it to be a launching pad for artists. Some don’t know how to market.”
About 25 artists have said they will be there with metal, fabric, wood, pottery, jewelry, furniture, music art as well as food vendors.
“The musicians will be playing for tips, please be generous,” Kemna said.
BBQ food, homemade cookies and cupcakes, and soft drinks will be sold.
Local artists Barbara Ritter, Mary Eastwood, Paul Milks, Barbara Gibson, Lucy Gladbach, Jean Strader, David and Barb McCord, Diana Stoughton, Tonya Miller, Jeff Tinsley, Nick McGee, Susan Porter, Danny Hereford, Jeremy Rider,Jeremiah Richards, Patrick Kerr, Betsy Reichard, Dylan Renfro and Dee Davis will show and sell their artwork.
Friends and family are giving their support and helping out during the festival, she said.
Fort Scott High School theater teacher Angie Bin and her thespian students will perform and sell drinks as a fundraiser for the group.
Musicians will be playing in different spots in the yard.
Carsen Felt, director of the Fort Scott High School orchestra will be bringing 30 students to perform.
Students from St. Martin’s Academy will perform.
“One plays the bagpipe,” Kemna said.
Kemna inside her pottery studio facility on her property. It is where she creates and showcases her work.
For Kemna, the festival is a fulfillment of a vision she had when she moved into the 1895 circa property called “Anatomy Hill, 20 years ago, with her husband, Harry.
Kemna has the story of her property history on display in her pottery studio facility.
It is a vision she shared with her husband, now deceased.
“Of tents, arts and people, the whole yard full,” Kemna said. “It’s been 20 years to get here.”
For more information about some of the artists, look on Kemna’s Facebook page: Art in the Yard 2018.
Dick and Jan Hedges stand in front of their bookstore that will open soon. Submitted photo.
Jan and Dick Hedges are not ones to sit back in retirement.
A new project they are taking on: Hedgehog, INK!, a bookstore coming to 16 S. Main in historic downtown Fort Scott.
“When I was a little girl, I wanted to open a bookstore,” Jan Hedges said. “Dick and I are loyal to the community. We looked downtown and kept hoping someone would open some retail store. We decided ‘why couldn’t we’?”
“It’s our community service project,” she said with a laugh.
The name of the store, Hedgehog, INK! came from a nickname of her husband, Dick Hedges.
“Dick has often been called Hedgehog. They are cute and whimsical and that is what the store will be,” she said.
“The INK is because it’s also for writers, we want to encourage people to write,” Jan said.
There will be a table in the bookstore where people can meet for reading or writing groups.
A small area in the store will have a typewriter for poetic inspiration, she said.
There will be a designated children’s corner, as well.
Accepting books now
Hedges is accepting “gently used” books currently.
“We will come and pick up books…I can come to look at them to see if they are books suitable to the store,” she said. Contact her at 620-728-9001.
Some people are donating books, “Which is awesome,” she said.
When the store opens, store credit will be given for books.
They will be setting up the store starting in mid-September, following the completion of the renovation of the building they are renting from Jared Leek.
People can wait to bring books in and get store credit when they are setting up.
“The opening will hopefully be mid-October,” she said.
The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Coffee, which was hosted by the Lowell Milken Center, drew a big crowd Thursday, Sept. 6.
The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes hosted the weekly coffee for the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Sept. 6.
Director Norm Conard said this the 12th year in Fort Scott for the center and the third year in their new facility at the corner of Main and Wall Streets in the historic district.
About 10,000 visitors came to the center last year, he said.
Cathy Werling, an administrative assistant at the center and children’s book author, announced that she is completing a book on Irena Sendler.
“It will open with Megan (Felt, the program director at LMC for Unsung Heroes) and her daughter, Blair,” Werling said. “About Megan going on a trip to do a performance (of Life in a Jar). It tells the story of Irena Sendler. Blair learns Irena was a brave person who stood up for what is right.”
Werling, is the author of Why Did Grandpa Cry? and Why Did Sergeant Stubby Go To War? which also featured unsung hero stories.
Center staff, from left, are Megan Felt-program director, Addison Brown-admin. assistant, Madison Shelden-admin. assistant, Cathy Werling-admin. assistant, Joyce Davenport- admin. assistant and Norm Conard, executive director.
Allyson Turvey is the Fort Scott Convention and Group Sales employee. She stands in front of the wall that once had a small window with an office inside. The room now has a bigger window and is the office of Larry Gazaway, the director of the Tourism/Visitor Center and Turvey.
An increased focus on tourism for the City of Fort Scott has brought about the renovation of the interior of the Tourism/Chamber of Commerce Center.
The center is located at 231 E. Wall Street.
“Now when someone hits the door, there is someone there to greet them,” Allyson Turvey, convention and group sales said. “It really needed to open up.”
The Chamber section of the building also needed more visibility, so a hole was placed in a wall so the administrative assistant can view the lobby. Lindsay Madison is the executive director of the Chamber, Hannah Reel is a part-time administrative assistant. The Chamber is currently searching for another staff person.
The Chamber’s administrative assistant office is located inside this space behind the window. The lights were turned off in the office in this photo.
Some fresh paint and a reconfiguring of the display areas were part of the process, as well.
The new retail area features souvenirs and books with local area interest. Turvey said the center is looking for local products to display and sell.Paul Milks Photography has some artwork on display for sale in the lobby area. Pictured is a fall scene of Rock Creek. Milks will be one of the featured artists at the Art in the Yard Festival, September 15 in Fort Scott, Turvey said. At right is a poster with the upcoming Veteran’s Weekend in November schedule of events.The Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes has several posters on display. At eye level are travel brochures from the area and other parts of the country.These are the hours of the Tourism Center and Chamber Office, both under one roof at 231 E. Wall.The Tourism Center and Chamber Office are located at 231 E. Wall, just west of the Hwy. 69 overpass.The Tourism/Chamber of Commerce Center is conveniently located on Wall Street, near a Hwy. 69 turn off.
Decorator finishing touches will be provided by area merchants who will allow their furnishings and accessories to be seen and used in the center, according to Turvey.
“Fort Scott tourism is managed by the City of Fort Scott, which administers tourism operations by maximizing the utilization of transient guest tax revenues to advertise and promote Fort Scott lodging, activities, attractions and events, operate a Tourism Center providing concierge services and visitor information, and facilitate any other related programs to attract individuals and groups for overnight stay in the community,” according to the tourism website.
Jared Leek shows the inside of his newly renovated building office space at 14 S. Main, Front Door Real Estate.
Jared Leek saw some downtown buildings that were vacant and decided to make a difference. He is already the owner of the Liberty Theater and Crooner’s Lounge in historic, downtown Fort Scott.
Most recently, he purchased the building whose storefronts are 14 and 16 S. Main.
“I purchased because I saw an opportunity to take a building vacant for several years and grow the downtown,” he said. “And grow my real estate business.”
His Front Door Real Estate office will be located at 14 S. Main.
Crystal Mason and Lisa Ward are working with Leek at the realty.
Leek has been renovating the building for a month and is working on the finishing touches and internet service currently.
The Front Door Real Estate business contains three offices and a conference room along with a lobby.
“In the very back there is an old dance studio,” Leek said. “That space will be available to rent.”
It would be suitable for a yoga or dance studio, he said. “And we will build to suit.”
The landline number to Front Door Real Estate is 620-224-9787, which connects with Leek, Mason and Ward’s cell phones.
He is anticipating an early September opening.
Leek received a downtown revitalization grant from the City of Fort Scott to help with the renovation of the old building which was once Dr. Charles Parson’s Chiropractic Office.
“It’s (the grant) for downtown business owners,” Leek said. “You can apply for it every year for heating, cooling, windows, doors…anything with the structure, to help preserve the buildings”
In addition to his businesses, Leek is the manager of the River Room Event center, just above the old Buffalo Grill on National Avenue.
“That space is available for rent for up to 750 people,” Leek said.
The River Room Event Center has a full bar, caterer’s kitchen, dance floor, bridal suite, handicapped-accessible restrooms, and an elevator, he said.
The Buffalo Grill, which is on the first floor, beneath the River Room, has been shown to several interested parties for possible restaurants, “But nothing is in stone yet,” Leek said.
Another building long vacant, the old Kress Building, is for sale across from Front Door Real Estate and is listed by the real estate business.
At 16 S. Main, Jan and Dick Hedges will be opening a bookstore, called Hedgehog Ink in October, Leek said.
FSCC students Ally McKenzie and Kristen Davis receive a handout from Pizza Hut employee, Krista Johnson.
On Wednesday, August 22, Fort Scott Community College hosted a Business Expo showcasing local Fort Scott businesses, giving the students a look at what this town has to offer.
The businesses included this year were Pizza Hut, Fort Scott Church of the Nazarene, US Cellular, KKOW Radio, Mercy Hospital, Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce, The Shirt Shack, The Tannery, Safehouse, KOMB Radio, Family Video, Advanced America, Medicalodge, Paparazzi, Common Ground Coffee Shop, Hartman Chiropractic, the U.S. Army, Community Christian Church, Briggs Automall, and Trinity Lutheran Church.
The students were given a slip of paper to collect ten signatures from ten different booths to be entered into a drawing for a free laptop and a set of Bluetooth headphones, which were provided by the college.
The winner of the laptop was Samantha Stumfoll and the headphones were awarded to Audrey Whetzell.
During this expo, FortScott.Biz Intern Briana Blandamer interviewed 2008 Fort Scott High School graduate, Dr. Grant Hartman, owner of Hartman Spine & Joint.
Dr. Hartman has been running his clinic in Fort Scott for three years, offering general chiropractic services as well as tending to sports injuries and offering rehabilitation services. Some of the other services he offers include acupuncture and soft tissue therapy.
Dr. Hartman in front of his booth at FSCC Business Expo.
The Tannery also had a booth during the FSCC business expo, ran by Jenna Kakas. The Tannery has a student discount offering a Buy 2 Tans, Get the 3rd for $1.
Jenna said, “Come to see me at The Tannery, Monday through Friday 11 a.m. -6 p.m. to get your glow on!”
Jenna Kakas with The Tannery booth giving away Chapstick and entering students into a drawing for goodie baskets.FSCC President Alysia Johnston is pictured with Shirt Shack owner, Billy Webster.The TRIO program gave out the student-business signature papers, entered students into the drawing and also had signups to Escape the Fort! Trenton Allison helped run this booth.
Briana Blandamer is the FortScott.Biz intern whose focus is Fort Scott Community College. To give news ideas send to [email protected].
Registration Opens for 2018 Kansas Governor’s Energy Conference
Registration is now open for the 2018 Kansas Governor’s Energy Conference, which will be held October 11 and 12 in Manhattan.
“Our state’s energy sector has brought billions of dollars of capital investment and thousands of quality jobs to Kansas,” said Kansas Governor Jeff Colyer, M.D. “We remain committed to supporting energy producers in Kansas and delivering a high-quality workforce to fill these key positions. The Kansas Governor’s Energy Conference brings leaders in the Kansas energy industry together to explore opportunities for expanding oil, gas and renewable energy in Kansas.”
WHAT: The day-and-half conference will feature three general sessions and several breakout sessions focusing on wind generation, community initiatives, solar, transportation innovations, biofuels and energy storage. Visit http://www.kansascommerce.gov/energyconference for an overview of the 19thAnnual Program including Tim Unruh, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Renewable Power for the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, US Department of Energy.
WHERE/WHEN:8:30 a.m. – 4:45 p.m.October 11, and 8 a.m. – noonOctober 12 at the Hilton Garden Inn, 410 S. Third Street, Manhattan. Exhibits are open 9:45 a.m. – 6 p.m.October 11 and 8 a.m. – noonOctober 12. A reception is planned from 4:45 p.m. – 6 p.m. on October 11.
REGISTRATION INFO: A complete itinerary and online registration is available at http://www.kansascommerce.gov/energyconference. Early bird registration is available for $100 per person through September 19. Regular registration is $125 and is effective September 20.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan. For more information about reserving a room, call (785) 532-9116 and reference the Kansas Energy Conference. The rate is $112.
Memorabilia is coming out of storage and at least one piece has inspired a new beer.
“We will be unveiling the Fort Scott Indian Princess, Friday, August 24 at 4 p.m.,” according to an email from Barbara Ritter, owner of The Boiler Room Brewhaus. “We will also be featuring a namesake beer that has locally sourced peaches.”
“It’s a cream ale, conditioned with peaches beer,” said Bryan Ritter, the brewer.
The wooden Indian is on loan from the Historic Preservation Association, along with other memorabilia, such as old Fort Scott High School and railroad items, for the public to view.
The microbrewery is located at the corner of National Avenue and Wall Street, at 10 S. National.
According to information provided to the Brewhaus from the HPA below, the Indian maiden was in front of a tobacco store on North Main Street in Fort Scott, circa 1869. The store was owned by Frank Boyle, who was the city’s mayor from 1871-72.
A photograph of the piece written by Jane Rodewald in 1990 on the Indian Maiden, that was at one time displayed in the Ralph Richards Museum. The statute is now displayed at the Boiler Room Brewhaus.The brewer of Boiler Room Brewhaus, Bryan Ritter, has produced a special ale in honor of the wooden Indian, called Fort Princess Cream Ale.The Boiler Room Brewhaus is located at 10 S. National.
Hours for the microbrewery are Thursday-Friday from 4-10 p.m.
Saturdays from 2 to 10 p.m. and Sundays from 2 to 7 p.m.
Contact them at 620-644-5032.
For additional information on the business, click on the links below:
TOPEKA – Wichita is the site of the second annual Kansas Manufacturing Summit, a forum providing those in the manufacturing sector the opportunity to network, learn about business match options, and gain insight into workforce development. The event will be held September 18 at the National Center for Aviation Training in Wichita.
The Kansas Manufacturing Summit, hosted by Kansas Department of Commerce and Kansas Chamber of Commerce’s Manufacturing Council, in conjunction with Wichita State University, will cover a range of topics aimed at improving business operations and productivity with Kansas manufacturers.
Conference sessions include:
Emerging (3D) Technologies
Automation and Additive Manufacturing
Sustainability and Efficiencies in Manufacturing Workforce
Workforce Development and Integration
Block Chain Management
Cyber Security
Digital Transformation
“A highlight of this year’s conference will be a panel discussion giving manufacturers insights and opportunities available to help grow and develop the workforce,” said Susan NeuPoth Cadoret, Director of Business Development at the Kansas Department of Commerce.
The cost to register for the Summit is $35 through August 28, after which the cost will increase to $50. Guests will be able to attend the reception held at the end of the Summit for only $20. Registration can be completed online at KansasCommerce.gov/manufacturingsummit. The website will also include the full conference schedule, speaker biographies and hotel information as they become available.
