Pittsburg Youth Chorale performed at Grace United Methodist Church on Sunday, February 9, 2020.
The ensemble is under the direction of MJ Harper and comprised of 4th-6th grade vocalists from southeast Kansas:
Jordan Bailey, Amaeus Hawkins, Kayla Hutchison, Adriana Leiker, Sarah Miller, and Leah Niederklein.
Performers sang three a capella arrangements of “Music Alone Shall Live,” “My Lord, What a Morning,” and
“Peace Like a River” for their Spring semester opener.
Pittsburg Youth Chorale looks forward to performing at
Mid-America Music Festival and Pittsburg Earth Day Celebration in April and a Finale Concert in May.
For more information or to book this ensemble for performances, contact MJ Harper 620-719-6633 [email protected] .
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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
Celebrate all things Seuss at a drop-in program on March 2!
Between 10 am and 4:30 pm, stop by the library event room to
enjoy games, crafts, snacks, reading, and prizes inspired by the
works of Dr. Seuss. When available, Miss Val will read your
favorite Dr. Seuss story, as well!
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.
February & March meetings will run as follows:
February 12, 4:15 pm: Valentine’s Crafts
February 19, 4 – 6 pm: Games & Snacks Night
March 4, 4:15 – 5 pm: Community Service at the library
March 11, 4 – 6 pm: Games & Crafts Night
March 25, 4:15 pm: The Lone Wolves Book Club at the Keyhole
NO Meetings on February 26 & March 18 due to training and vacation.
Need a ride from public school to FIGHTERS? Parents or guardians, call Joe Allen at 223-0800 to arrange bus transportation for your student.
An heiress, a Resistance fighter and a widow find their lives intertwined by their wartime experiences and the turbulent 1960s when they seek refuge at Paris’ legendary Ritz hotel. 50,000 first printing.
Discovering evidence of a gruesome murder in a roadside hedge, private detective Agatha Raisin is embroiled in a case involving industrial espionage, a bad-tempered donkey and her own growing fame. By the best-selling author of the Hamish Macbeth series.
Investigating the suspicious death of a social worker, Chief New York City Medical Examiner Laurie Montgomery makes the controversial decision to use genealogic DNA databases to identify a mysterious killer. By the best-selling author of Coma. Simultaneous.
The Wind Science Tinker Lab will be at Buck Run Community Center onFebruary 24, 4 – 5 p.m.
Experiment with wind science at the Buck Run Community Center with Miss Val and FSCC education student Courtney Williams, Jennifer Terell from the K-State Extension Office and 4-H, Michelle Stevenson from the Fort Scott Early Childhood Program, Star McClellan from Parents as Teachers, and a SEK-CAP representative.
Participants will take part in science activities, listen to a story about wind, reflect on what they’ve learned, and enter to win an Airzooka wind cannon! Each pre-registered parent or educator will also receive a mini science kit packed with wind science experiments and instructions and a free book (while supplies last).
To pre-register, visit this link: https://forms.gle/p8pq7vVCyp7MrfGi9 and fill out the form, or stop by the library to fill out a paper form.
Admission is FREE and refreshments will be served.
This event is made possible in part through a grant from Leap into Science, courtesy of the Franklin Institute.
To learn more about the Leap into Science program, visit http://leap.fi.edu/
DUE TO THE FORECASTED INCLEMENT WEATHER IN OUR SURROUNDING AREA.
THE “LUNCH & LEARN” WITH FRANK CLAY PRESENTATION (BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPEAKING PRESENTATION) HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED TO Tuesday, FEB 18 AT 11:00.AM. – 12:00 P.M.
No Storytime on 2/26 or 3/17, 3/18, and 3/25 due to
meetings and Miss Val’s vacation.
Adult Coloring
Wednesdays 2 – 4 p.m.
Teens & Tweens (F.I.G.H.T.E.R.S.)
Weekly on Wednesdays at 4:15 p.m.
Upcoming Meetings:
Community Service Project & Movie (2/5)
Valentine’s Crafts (2/12)
Game Night (2/19, 4-6 p.m.)
Community Service Project (3/4)
Games & Crafts Night (3/11)
Lone Wolves Book Club (3/25 – at the Keyhole)
Maker Monday
Once Monthly 4 – 5 p.m.
(All ages welcome, recommended for
elementary through middle school and families)
Fabric Painting (2/10)
Terrariums (3/9)
Marvelous Monday Homeschoolers & Friends
Bi-monthly 2 – 3 p.m.
Next meeting March 30
Special Events
Wind Science Tinker Lab
February 24, 4 – 5 p.m. at the Buck Run Community Center
Experiment with wind science at BRCC with Miss Val and reps from FSECP, the K-State Extension Office, FSCC, PAT, and SEK-CAP! Activities for all age groups will be offered.
Every parent or educator who pre-registers for and attends the event will receive a mini-kit packed with wind science experiments and a free book (while supplies last)! All attendees will have a chance to win an Airzooka wind cannon in a drawing. To pre-register, visit this link: https://forms.gle/p8pq7vVCyp7MrfGi9 and fill out the form, or stop by the library to fill out a paper form. Admission is FREE and refreshments will be served.
This event is made possible in part through a grant from Leap into Science, courtesy of the Franklin Institute.
A Day of Seuss – Read Across America Drop-In Program
March 2, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Come celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with Miss Val! We will have a Seuss-themed variety of activities, challenges, crafts, prizes, snacks, and books. Miss Val will personally read your favorite Dr. Seuss selection from the books at hand when available (most likely 10-11 am and 2-4:30 pm). Activities will take place in the event room, so wear your favorite silly hat, wacky socks, or simply a smile, and have fun at your library!
If you would like to volunteer to help with library programs, contact Miss Val at [email protected]
A green space amid the concrete sidewalks and streets of downtown Fort Scott will soon be ready for public enjoyment.
Work on the Unsung Heroes Park, just south of the Lowell Milken Center at 1 S. Main, is progressing.
“It would be nice to have it done by the all-school reunion (in late June),” Beth Nuss, one of the organizers of the park told the Downtown Meet and Greet on Jan. 28. “But you know how that goes with weather.”
On January 28, some employees of DreamScape Innovations, Inc., of Mound City, were installing plumbing pipes, planting trees and laying down mulch.
Employee Justin Robertson said weather permitting, that the water feature project will be completed in a few weeks.
R2 Construction did the excavation and concrete work on the site.
Future Work
A stage area is being planned for the wall of the old Kress building which is on the south side of the park.
The Rotary Club is donating benches and trash receptacles for the park.
A bench is also being donated by Niece Of Kansas, Inc. in honor of employee Pat Flanagan who died in September 2019.
There will be a small fenced area for dogs in the park.
“The area for dogs will try to accommodate pets of people living downtown,” she said in a prior interview.
History
The area has been vacant since 2005 when the building sitting on it, burned down.
The idea of green space in downtown Fort Scott began in 2017.
The planning group is currently comprised of Elaine Buerge, Bernita Hill, Beth Nuss, and Carolyn Sinn.
After the original research and planning took place, bids were let.
“The bids were not financially feasible,” Nuss said in a previous interview. “So we needed to revisit the plan.”
“All the money we had was donated,” she said.
Then the Timken Company stepped in with a grant of $25,000, “which got us to the top,” Nuss said.
Since it is a privately funded project, organizations and individuals who would like to contribute may contact group members, said committee member Bernita Hill.
Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton, is offering tenants and the public a series highlighting new technologies, exercise, and fashion styles.
“We are calling it ‘New to You’,” Becky Kellum, PV Marketing Director said.
Monday the presentation is featuring new household items, she said.
“Roomba versus the vacuum cleaner and The Ring, the new way to see who is at your door through your smartphone, I will be giving this presentation,” Kellum said.
“Tuesday Angela Carpenter and I will be demonstrating the Instant Pot,” she said. “We are making soup and will be serving that soup to all who attend.”
” Wednesday the sheriff’s department will be coming at 3 pm to educate the public on the body camera, how it protects them and the public,” she said.
“Thursday we will be educating on the new way to exercise from home with a personal trainer (the new technology) … The Mirror vs the Pelton,” she said.
” Friday we will be displaying the latest fashion trends, with items donated for this display by Bib and Dibs Consignment Store,” Kellum said.
The presentations are Monday through Friday at 3 pm in the Presbyterian Village Community Room.
“This is to educate the tenants what the hottest trends are,” and the public is invited to attend, she said.
The Martin Luther King Jr. celebration continues today with a noon Lunch and Learn at the Gordon Parks Museum on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.
This community discussion will be moderated by Rev. George Proctor of the United Missionary Baptist Church.
Lunch will be provided by Luther’s BBQ.
Films will also be shown throughout the day Monday at 9:00 am, 10:30 am, and 1:30 pm.
A band of friends from the Iola area will perform in Fort Scott at the Fort Scott Community College Round Room, Bailey Hall, on Friday, January 31 at 7 pm.
The public is welcome to come to listen to some old and newer country, rock, along with bluegrass and gospel music.
Special guests are the Matt Kloepfer family.
The band “Takin’ Notes” has played downtown several times and is looking forward to sharing their talents with you.
These bands have something enjoyable for everyone.
Admission is free so come on over and have a great evening with us!
Barbara Ritter, owner of Boiler Room Brewhaus at 2 S. National, has been extra busy since the new year began.
Her sister, Peggy, is a co-owner with Barbara and her husband, Bryan is the brewer.
Bryan and Barbara were doing the final touches of a recent reno last week.
Fort Scott’s first microbrewery is located on the busy corner of Wall Street and National Ave. The Ritter’s feature beer tastings, by the glass and take out.
Since having the business rebranded in the fall, they realized they needed to take some time to do some new things in the microbrewery.
They have expanded their tap selection.
“We are going to have six of our brews on at a time,” Barbara said. “We have been canning our beer since fall.”
They have been doing some decorative changes as well.
“Basically, we did a lot of painting,” Barbara said. “Walls, doors, vanities, tables…in nostalgic colors.”
Since the building was built in 1960, “we have added some elements from that time period,” to the decor, she said.
The Ritters are looking for vintage photos of the Downtowner Hotel, which now houses the microbrewery.
“If anyone has any vintage photos of the Downtowner or people, that they would be willing to share…to purchase or display,” Ritter said, please contact them at 913.636.4892 or 620-644-5032.
“This building was completed in February 1960,” she said.
The Ritter’s moved their business to the new site at the corner of National Avenue and Wall Street on June 1, 2018.
The old logo is gone and has been replaced with nostalgic ones:
Though the microbrewery doesn’t serve meals, they have menus from restaurants where people can order food and have it delivered or can bring it into the Brewhaus, she said.
“There is also a $5 taco bar catered by Crooner’s Lounge on Thursdays, $5 and you can eat all the tacos you want,” Barabara said.
They will also be offering some new appetizers.
Each Friday is karaoke from 7-9 p.m., and Sundays there are team trivia games from 5-7 p.m.
“We are looking to add a music bingo game, possibly on Saturday evenings,” she said. “We will try it once to see how it goes.”
“We are hoping to have musicians coming once a month,” she said. “There are three in the works so far for the next couple of months.”
Currently, they have four part-time employees and two full-time.
“We are looking for one more part-time, one day a week,” she said. “Possibly an older employee with a good work ethic, who is looking for something to do.”
“We’ve had a really good year,” Barbara said. “Almost one-half of customers are new to Fort Scott. Fifty-one percent are local people.. We have a variety of people of all ages.”
“People say this is a cool little town,” she said. “This town has a lot to offer.”
Join us at the First Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet, Tuesday, January 28th, 2020!
8:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Held at Papa Don’s
Rita Schroeder, Administrative Assistant
Lindsay Madison, Executive Director
620-223-3566
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice and light refreshments will be served.
The Fort Scott Area Chamber of Commerce the Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet will be held Tuesday, January 28th from 8:30-9:30 a.m. at Papa Don’s Pizza, 10 N. Main Street.
These informal, quarterly meetings are hosted by the Chamber for downtown business owners, representatives and community members to network and share ideas on events, promotions and anything related to downtown. Coffee, juice and light refreshments will be served.
Our Quarterly Downtown Meetings will be held on that first Tuesday of the quarter.
Please join us Tuesday, January 28th, 2020 for the Quarterly Downtown Meet & Greet. Contact the Chamber at 620-223-3566 with any questions.