There are many good things happening in Fort Scott, according to attendees of the Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greet October 2.

The meeting, hosted by Iron Star Antiques, 3 N. Main, allowed area businesses and organizations to tell about their upcoming events:

Bryan Ritter, with Boiler Room Brewhaus Microbrewery, spoke to the attendees about the upcoming liquor by the drink question on the November ballot.

“Yes is a vote for small business and economic development,” Ritter said.

The meeting, hosted by Iron Star Antiques, 3 N. Main, allowed area businesses and organizations to tell about their upcoming events:

• The Gordon Parks Celebration is this weekend at Fort Scott Community College see this link for details: Gordon Parks Celebration Oct. 4-7

• Hole In The Wall Liquor Store’s grand opening and ribbon cutting is from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12.
• Pioneer Harvest Fiesta is Oct. 19-21 at the fairgrounds. Oct. 18 is the downtown parade at 6 p.m.
• Downtown Halloween Parade is 11 a.m. Oct. 27.
• Hedgehog, INK Bookstore, 16 S. Main, grand opening and ribbon cutting is from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 30.
• Forks and Corks at Memorial Hall, Nov. 3.
• Holiday Open Houses, Thursdays, Nov. 8 and Dec. 13.
• Veterans Day Celebration, Nov. 9-11. https://visitfortscott.com/see-and-do/veterans-day-weekend-celebration
• The  Downtown Christmas Parade is Tuesday, Dec. 4. The theme is Cowboy Christmas.
• Homes For The Holidays Tour, Dec. 7-8
• Carriage Rides, Dec. 15, downtown.
• Small business Saturday, Nov. 24 http://shopsmall.com
• Educational Google Livestream “Drive A Holiday Shopping Rush For Your Business” Wed. Oct.17 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Papa Don’s Restaurant.
• Toy soldier cut-outs for decoration on light post downtown for sale at the Chamber for $15.
• There are grants available for exterior painting of a business, and other grants: contact is Rachel Pruitt at City Hall.
• Fort Scott National Historic Site: interactive candlelight tour is Dec. 7-8.
• Veterans Day Weekend, Nov. 9-11. http://www.visitfortscott.com
• Friends of the Fort: Buy a flag subscription to place flags at businesses and homes. Proceeds go to Fort Scott National Historic Site.https://www.facebook.com/Friends.FSNHS
• Fort Scott Economic Development Director Rachel Pruitt said the city is working with Mercy Hospital on solutions to the closing of the hospital.
• There is a new children’s book produced by the Lowell Milken Center For Unsung Heroes, featuring the story of Irena Sendler and using LMC Program Director Megan Felt and her daughter to tell the story.
• The City State Bank downtown branch renovation has started and should be finished in 60 days.
• To support the cause of Lee’s Paws and Claws, businesses are asked to consider placing collection boxes near their cash registers. Contact Kate Sweetser.
• Smallville Crossfit’s Day of the Lifting Dead is Nov. 3
• Bourbon County’s new economic director, Jody Hoener, welcomed input from the community.
• Captured Images is producing a new magazine and is seeking advertisers.
• Nate’s Place Restaurant is closed this week for some remodeling, which was helped with a Healthy Bourbon County grant.
• The Liberty Theater: Across the Pond Band will perform Oct. 27; Jessica Page Band, Nov. 10; and the Jerry Thompkins Band, Nov. 13.
• The Front Door Christmas Store will be open every Saturday and Sunday in November and also the downtown open houses. This year the store will be at 104 N. National, next to the Buffalo Grill.
• Fort Scott Community College events: Oct. 13-free children’s fair; Oct. 20-alumni rodeo, the play “Gilligan’s Island” will be Oct. 19-21.http://www.fortscott.edu/calendar
• Papa Don’s Restaurant held a fundraiser for the FSCC track team Oct. 3. Students waited tables, and a percent of the day’s profits went to the team.
• The Fort Scott Lofts project is in the beginning stage and will be home to 40 more residents downtown, Fort Scott Economic Director Rachel Pruitt said.

• 

Dr. Tim Crawford’s dental office, Family Dental, plans to move from its current location on South Main Street to the building at Wall and Main Streets within a few months.

“Construction on historic Fort Scott buildings is slow,” Crawford said.

Crawford and his staff hosted a Fort Scott Chamber Coffee at the new site on September 27.

He spoke to the crowd in the reception room of his new office.

“I’m excited to be downtown for accessibility,” Crawford told the coffee attendees. “We hope to be open in a few months.”

Dental services offered are implants, oral surgery, pediatrics, “Everything you want to be done at a dentist.”

Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin thanked Crawford for moving his office downtown and taking on the renovation of a historic building.

“I know you run into things that throw you behind,” Martin said.

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.