The Hot Pink Heifer food truck is setting up at Uniontown Park tonight, before the Road Runnerz Band from 7-8:30 p.m., who will be playing classic rock and country music.
The band music is free. Bring a lawn chair.
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This week’s Friday Night Concert will be a special performance by Faith’s Journey, a trio from Branson, Mo. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 301 S. National Ave., which is bringing this concert to the public.
A free-will offering will be accepted.
Faith’s Journey is a ministry of music that performs over 120 dates a year from coast to coast. This ministry is comprised of Jonathan Edwards, MC and baritone for the group; his wife Deana Edwards soprano; and Scott Roberts, tenor and pianist.
Faith’s Journey has ministered on small and large stages across the country singing great traditional gospel music. They have been featured performers at Branson’s Silver Dollar City as well as had their music played on radio stations across the country.
Friday Night Concerts are organized by Ralph Carlson and sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce. Sound support is provided by Dave’s Music and Jim Butler.
Wahzhazhe is the Native American name for the tribal people we know as the Osage.
A dance academy in Pawhuska, OK has created a ballet telling the 400 year-old story of the Wahzhazhe.
The performers are mostly from the Dance Maker Academy in Pawhuska, in Osage County, which is home to the Osage tribe.
There are about 24,000 Osage people throughout the world, Randy Tinker-Smith, the ballet producer said.
Tinker-Smith said the 20 children dancers in this ballet are from different tribes, not all Osage.
The ballet is “an artistic expression of who we are,”Tinker- Smith, who is Osage, said. “We are not history, we are still here.”
They performed the Osage story at the Smithsonian Institution in 2012, she said.
The scene that resonated with viewers there, was the last one, where the performers demonstrate walking in two worlds, the Osage world and the other white people world, she said.
The ballet is the story of tradition, adaptation, tragedy, triumph, survival, and the enduring spirit of the Osage people, told by the Osage Nation, according to a press release from the FSNHS.
“This is not our story to tell, but it is our responsibility to provide a platform for these stories to be told,” said Carl Brenner, FSNHS Chief of Interpretation and Resource Management.
“This area was their native homeland,” Brenner said. “This (ballet) is part of a Native American series (at the Fort). We will continue to talk about this.”
“We jump started our relationship with the Osages,” Jill Jaworski, FSNHS Superintendent said. “There are a lot of doors being opened for having conversations with the Osage. We are looking to update our exhibits and are asking ‘What would you like shared?'”
Ballet: an Osage Tradition
The first five prima ballerinas in the United State were Native Americans, two of them Osage, Tinker-Smith said.
Lavender Sarroll, a mom accompanying the ballet troupe, said her daughter, Lilliana Guillen, 17, has been dancing since she was six years old at the Dance Maker Academy.
The ballet still is emotional for her, Sarroll said.
“To this day, when they get to the place in the ballet, where they rise from defeat, I cry every time,” she said.
Sarroll said the Wahzhazhe have their own government and language.
Doors are opened to a college education for some through the ballet.
Several of the ballet performers are offered dance scholarships to colleges, including her daughter, Sarroll said.
Logistics
Fort Scott National Historic Site and the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site, Inc. offered special access for the media to the Wahshazhe ballet producer, Randy Tinker-Smith, and for viewing rehearsals on Wednesday, July 19.
The rehearsal was a prelude to the three performances, today, Friday, through Saturday at the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the Fort Scott Community College campus, 2108 Horton St.
There are 50 people involved in the production of the ballet, but some parents accompany the group, with a total of 70 people. Most arrived on Wednesday and are staying in the FSCC Residential Halls.
Thursday was the dress rehearsal, then the performances are today, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a Saturday matinee at 3 p.m.
Youth tickets are just $15, adults are $35. Go to Friends of the Fort Facebook page or at OsageBallet.com.
Or one can take a chance, wait, and hope it’s not sold-out and purchase tickets at the door.
There is a question and answer session following the ballet.
Learning More
The performance is for those who are interested in Kansas and American history, Native American culture, the arts and dance, and those wanting to experience something spectacular and different from anything they have seen before, according to the press release.
Killers of the Flower Moon-The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, a story on a tragic part of the Osage tribe is a book that has been made into a movie and will be open in theaters this years, Tinker-Smith said.
“Mollie Burkhart is in the book,” she said. “Her grand-daughter is in the ballet. This movie, we can let people know, we are still here.”
For a synopsis of the book:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/28/books/review/killers-of-the-flower-moon-david-grann.html
The application to be a vendor can be accessed from their website or the Chamber website or by emailing me at [email protected]
Some of the products available include:
Jewelry
Designed Shirts and Mugs
Walking Sticks
Wood Carvings
Art Prints
Candles
Bookmarkers
Keychains
Dog bandanas, collars, bows
Crocheted Scarfs and hats
Baked goods
F ood and drinks available
Fort Scott, KS — Time is running out to get your tickets for Wahzhazhe: An Osage Ballet being held at the Ellis Family Fine Arts Center on the campus of Fort Scott Community College. This memorable stage performance is being offered at 7:30 pm on Friday, July 21 and Saturday, July 22 with a matinee performance at 3:00 pm on Saturday.
The Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site in partnership with the National Park Service is bringing Wahzhazhe to Fort Scott. “This is the story of the Osage people, told by the Osage Nation. It is our responsibility to provide a platform for these stories to be told.” stated park Program Manager, Carl Brenner. Ballet Director and Osage tribal member, Randy Tinker Smith developed the performance with the help of tribal elders and a primarily Indigenous team of professionals. Wahzhazhe has been performed at the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian and for the Pope in Philadelphia, PA among other places throughout the region.
“This riveting stage performance has something for everyone. If you enjoy history, this is for you, if you are curious about Native American culture, this is for you, if you love the arts and dance, this is for you.” stated Kelley Collins, a member of the Friends ballet committee. “This is an especially effective way to introduce children to the arts and history. In additional to 12 professional dancers, there are dozens of children participating in the show. Questions and answers will be fielded by the dancers following each performance making this an tremendous educational opportunity for young and old alike.”
Tickets are $35 for adults and $15 for children (age 15 and below). They can be purchased online from the Friends of Fort Scott National Historic Site’s Facebook page or at www.osageballet.com/events. Any remaining tickets will be sold in person starting an hour before the performance. Cash purchases at the door are available. Seating will begin one half hour before the show. For additional information e-mail [email protected].
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There are several community projects happening in Fort Scott.
At the Quarterly Downtown Meet and Greeton July 11, facilitated by the Chamber of Commerce, leaders of several of the projects gave updates. The event was hosted by Lyons Realty Group office.
Lindsey Madison, Chamber Executive Director, gave a summary of the upcoming events and promotions:
Updates from attendees:
Bourbon County Commission Chairman Jim Harris said it is asphalt laying season in the county, “please be cautious of workers.”
“Since 2019 we’ve lowered the mill levy by 9.6%…I will not vote for a mill levy increase,” he said.
There is a new format for speaking at the commission meetings, he said: People must sign up and they get 5 minutes each to speak. “We want peoples input,” he said. “It’s OK to disagree but be professional.”
Harris said there is a request for proposals for the overpass project on the south side of Fort Scott. The commission will be applying for state and federal funds for the project.
Rob Harrington, Bourbon County Regional Economic Development Director, said they have been working on a Star Bond and TIF project south of town, and it will be “huge to the community.” His office is at the former Mercy Hospital building, now owned by Legacy Health Foundation.
Kari West, Lead Customer Solutions Manager at Evergy, said the utility company hasn’t had an increase in five years and they are requesting one. Evergy purchased property north and west of their current location on Skubitz Plaza with plans to move to that site.
The 6th Annual Bourbon County Special Olympics Golf Scramble is July 29.
“To date we have raised over $115,00 for Special Olympics Kansas,” Steve Anthony, tournament director said. “Because last year was such a huge hit for us we are bringing back former Major Leaguer Otis Nixon to our event.”
“Otis will be bringing with him Harlem Globetrotter Hollywood Brown, Golf Trick Shot Artist Rocky Shipe, and Olympic Medalist Arthur Culbreath,” he said.
They have a full field of sixty-two teams with 264 players coming from seven different states.
Tee times will start on Saturday July 29 at 7a.m. with the first wave of teams. The second wave will take off at approx 1:15 p.m.
“I want to thank Andrew Defebaugh and Chase Halsey for all of their help to make this tournament a success,” Anthony said. “The community is invited to come out starting at 7 a.m. to purchase raffle tickets for $1 each.”
“We also have a golf cart we will be giving away that day to the lucky winner of one of our many raffle prizes we will have available,” Anthony said. “I can’t thank the community enough for always stepping up to raise funds for such a great cause.”
For more information please contact him at 620-215-2392.