Carolyn Tucker Presents “Music of a Lifetime” Concert

This week the Friday Night Free Concert in Fort Scott will be indoors.

Carolyn Tucker will present her “Music of a Lifetime” concert on Friday, June 23, 7:00 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 308 S. Crawford Street.

The evening will feature some of the gospel music that has impacted Carolyn’s life. The selections will be both piano and vocal, including three piano solos. The music will feature camp-meeting songs such as, “This World is Not My Home,“ beloved hymns, spirituals, southern-gospel classics by songwriter Dottie Rambo, and one original song, “His Sweet Love.”

“Carolyn ‘cut her teeth’ on the music of the church and southern gospel,” concert-series organizer Ralph Carlson said. “Coming from a long line of musicians on her mother’s side, as a young child, she consistently begged her parents for a piano and they soon complied. She began studying piano at the age of nine and quickly discovered that she could also play by ear. Years later, her father affirmed that buying a new piano for his daughter was the best investment he ever made. She has a lifetime of involvement playing and singing for church, funerals, weddings, concerts, retirement facilities, and other venues.”

Dave Oas and Jim Butler provide the sound. The public is invited and encouraged to attend the event complete with comfortable seating and air-conditioning. The one-hour free concert is sponsored by the Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce.

 “Come One, Come All, Let Freedom Ring!  It is once again time to celebrate U.S.A.’s 247^th Independence Day with a neighborhood parade on Fort Scott’s Tower Hill better known as Burke Street on the Fourth of July,” according to a press release from Barb Albright.

The  Annual Burke Street Parade kicks-off at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 4, with The Pledge of Allegiance led by Louie Dunkeson,  and kids’  singing patriotic songs. The singing became a tradition  following the September 11 attack on America, in 2001, she said.

But the parade dates back over four decades, 41 years ago.

“The parade began as a neighborhood event,” Albright said. “Today the general public is more than welcome to participate,  bring a lawn chair and sit along the parade route , and partake in the post-parade social.”

Following patriotic songs by “Kids on Burke” led by two of the parade founders:  Susan Foster and Jill Gorman; the parade will depart at 10 a.m. from Tenth and Burke Street going south around the Marblecrest Street Triangle and returning north to the point of origin, according to the press release.  Traditionally, cheering spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs for comfortable seating and dress in red, white, and blue. Spectators line the parade route with family and friends.

“Post-parade refreshments will be served and ALL ARE WELCOME to the front yard of “Lady Liberty” and  “Uncle Sam” also known as Margaret and Merl Humphrey, 1024 Burke,” Albright said.  “Margaret is another founder of the event.  Neighbors and friends-of-the-parade donate the cookies, and drinks are provided by this year’s hosts Bryan and Julie Buchta.”

A severe storm or lightning strikes cancels the parade and there are no large vehicles allowed due to the many children participating in the festivities.

Parade questions can be answered by Margaret Humphrey 620-223-0388 or Theresa Bahr 620-215-2889.

History of the Burke Street Parade

This history information was gathered by Barb Albright from the following sources:   Fort Scott Tribune articles, online Fort Scott.Biz articles, and a co-founder Margaret Humphrey interview.

“Over 40-years ago local Fort Scott resident Susan Stapleton Foster was visiting her brother Dr. Burder Stapleton’s family in Memphis, TN, over the Fourth of July.  She was fascinated with the neighborhood parades celebrating Independence Day, and returned home to share the idea of a patriotic parade with her Burke Street neighbors Margaret Humphrey and Jill Gorman. 

“According to Margaret Humphrey, the first parades were small going north on Burke past Mercy Hospital and turning back to the south.  A few spectators would come out to see the parade pass and send encouraging cheers to the participants.  After the parade there would be neighbors gathering for cookies and conversations.

“Today the Burke Street Parade remains a patriotic tradition thanks to kids on their bicycles, parents pushing baby strollers, men riding lawn mowers, owners walking their costumed pets, folks marching, and last… but not least, the flag-waving spectators along the parade route in their red, white, and blue attire.

As the crowd has grown, so has the refreshment table with many contributors dropping off cookies prior to the parade.  This year’s hosts are 1002 Burke newcomers to Fort Scott, Bryan and Julie Buchta who will be serving post-parade cookies and drinks in the Humphrey’s front yard at 1024 Burke.”

The library welcomes the community to a collaborative event celebrating fandoms and fans of all kinds on June 17 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library.

SEEKING TALENT and VOLUNTEERS

If you are an author, artist, cosplayer, or a person with a talent, hobby, or skill you’d like to share via a workshop, sign up as a presenter using this form: Authors, Artists & Presenters

If you would be willing to lead a trivia session, judge the cosplay contest, donate food or prizes, or help out in any other way, sign up to help through this form: Volunteers or Donors

The schedule of events includes:

10 – 1   Book Signings & Author Talks with Local Authors Maria Whitson, Maranda Collins, MaryBarbara McKay, and Ronda Hassig

10 – 1   Tabletop Gaming with Sarah Klassen

Presenter Jan Hedges, Hedgehog.INK!

Word Weavers Workshops

An introduction to the art of weaving words into a poem, story, song, etc.
Participants will be involved in writing activities. Writing materials will be provided.

Children 12 & under              11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Teens & Adults 13 & above  12:00 – 12:45 p.m.

12:30 – 1  Cosplay Contest for all ages with winners receiving prizes and small trophies.

Trivia, Digital Scavenger Hunt, Crafts, Toys, and Cosplay Meetups will take place throughout the event.

Twenty years in the making, Patty LaRoche has written a book entitled: A Little Faith Lift…Finding Joy Beyond Rejection

LaRoche said for years, her friends have encouraged her to write her humorous stories about being rejected/humiliated.

“As it turned out, everybody I met had their own anecdotes of not measuring up, and some even shared that they wished they could go back to their teen/early-adult years and not give other people the power to make them feel demeaned or unvalued.,” LaRoche said. ” If they could do that, their lives would have been more confident, more real.”

“As a high school teacher, I observed my students’ insecurities on a daily basis, but when a group of my senior girls asked me to lead them in a Bible study, I realized just how pervasive these problems were,” she said. “Could anyone escape the lies of the enemy (Satan) that they weren’t good enough?  Between my own life, my friends’ lives and my students’ lives, I had plenty of stories to share.”

An excerpt from her book:

“When Dave pitched for the California Angels in the late ’70s, a young outfielder was traded to the team. His wife and newborn soon arrived. I’ll call her Carol. Carol’s entrance into the wives’ waiting room following the opening day game was legendary. She was stunningly beautiful and trendy, dressing much more chic (is ‘chicer’ a word?) than the rest of the wives. After meeting her, I introduced her to the other wives and arranged to sit with her the following evening. We hit it off.”

“Returning home from the ballpark a few days later, Dave told me that Carol’s family needed a place to live while their newly purchased house was being renovated. I welcomed the addition. After all, Carol was special. Not only was she a head-turner, she was multi-talented. From singing to playing the piano to dancing to being a competitive tennis player to loving Jesus, Carol was the full package.

“Her giftedness was recognized by everyone.

“Except Carol.

“The evening of the first day she moved in was proof. While I waited with my infant son to leave for the ballpark, Carol descended the stairs looking like a movie goddess. A goddess starring in a tragedy. In her opinion, her striking outfit had struck out. Handing me her sleeping baby in his carry-seat, she returned upstairs to start over. A fuss that was repeated . . .

three times.

“With each new ensemble, I bolstered my compliments, but they were incapable of undoing whatever negatives had been given permission to determine her value. This scene was acted out daily, and with each tearful entry, Carol’s mascara-dripping makeup needed to be reapplied. Needless to say, we didn’t make it to the ballpark for the singing of the National Anthem. Instead, we made a grand entrance, with Carol being the recipient of ogles and admiration. Fans saw her beauty. Other wives did too. Her attempt at perfectionism was her attempt to mask tremendous insecurities. And even though, in her mind, she was never enough, she pretended well and fooled a lot of people.

Which, as we all know, is exhausting.”

About Patty Laroche

“I grew up in Fort Scott but moved to Washington, D.C. to become a flight attendant (then, “stewardess”) in my early 20’s,” she said. ” It was then I met my husband and entered his world of professional baseball (where I soon learned that there were plenty of incidents of ‘not measuring up’ I would add to my repertoire).”

“Dave had two young daughters from a previous marriage, and together we had three sons,” she said.  “After moving over 35 times in 50 years of marriage, we recently sold our part-time condominium in Mexico and will be moving yet again.”

“My pastimes include hanging with family and friends, writing, playing tennis/pickleball and laughing. Most of all, I love spending time with Jesus, and I give him all the credit for this book.”

LaRoche has written a weekly Christian column for the Fort Scott Tribune, the Fort Scott Biz and the Nevada Daily Mail for several years.

Where to purchase her new book:

Her website: Alittlefaithlift.com

Or one can pre-order  through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Books a Million, after June 25.

The publisher is Carpenter’s Son Publishing, the publishing date is July 25, 2023.

A live music karaoke night is planned at Memorial Hall on June 9, this Friday, to benefit the historic building.

Josh Jones and Cory Byers are spearheading the event to benefit Memorial Hall, which is owned by the City of Fort Scott.

“Proceeds will go to fixing up Memorial Hall,” Jones said.

Food, provided  by Care to Share, a local helping organization, and drink will be available for sale, with Sharky’s Pub and Grub providing a full bar.

The band is Left of Center, playing classic rock and country music, according to the press release.

Doors open at 6 p.m. with live music at 7 p.m.

One can grab a few friends to sing together or sing alone. The entry fee is $10 per person.

Tables for six people can be reserved for $60.

About Memorial Hall

Memorial Hall, at the intersection of South National Avenue and East Third Street, (1 E. Third) is a performance and event center, and  was built in 1925. It is one of the properties included in the Historic Downtown Fort Scott District.

The entrance steps were recently repaired by Mid Continental Restoration Inc. of Fort Scott.

To reserve Memorial Hall, call the City of Fort Scott at 620.223-0550.

In the lower level of the building, at 221 S. National,  is a genealogy organization, the Old Fort Genealogical Society. This  not-for-profit corporation  is dedicated to preserving the history of the community  with records, newspapers, books, photos, school annuals, city directories, obituaries, newspaper microfilm reels, and many other records.