Category Archives: Entertainment

Gordon Parks Museum Adds Interactive Learning

Submitted photos. Elijah Knight and Jax Armstrong use interactive technology at the Gordon Parks Museum.

A  July 2019 grant from the Community Foundation of Southeast Kansas is helping to support interactive technology for youth and young adults, at the Gordon Parks Museum.

 

The museum is located on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

 

“The interactive technology tablet is up and running,” Museum Director Kirk Sharp said.

 

Submitted photos.

 

The museum purchased a tablet kiosk, a stand for the kiosk, and operational interactive software.

 

“It is designed to deliver content in an interactive setting for all of our visitors, especially younger audiences,” Sharp said. “This interactive software will not only provide information about Gordon Parks but will also allow the visitors to view photos, videos, interviews, review books, listen to music, create a drawing/painting, interactive trivia quiz game and much more.”

 

 

Submitted photos.

 

“It has been a goal of the museum board to offer an additional and more modern approach to learning, viewing and appreciating all of the collections and works of Gordon Parks,” Sharp said. “Providing interactive displays in different areas of the museum will benefit the viewer(s) by providing additional details and content to each supported exhibit. This tablet helps us achieve this goal.”

 

“This project helped to give us the ability to provide a more engaging way for the younger generation to learn more about our museum and keep visitors fully engaged,” Sharp said. “The interactive technology has helped make our museum more appealing to younger crowds and to encourage visitors return for future visits.”

 

 

“This project also supports our mission of using Gordon Parks’ remarkable life story to teach about artistic creativity, cultural awareness and the role diversity plays in our lives,” Sharp said.

 

Submitted photos.. Caleb Clay uses interactive technology at the Gordon Parks Museum.

 

“When the museum teaches about creativity, cultural awareness and diversity, it needs to be able to reach our visitors in creative ways, and by providing interactive technology, this will help us deliver on that objective,” Sharp said.  “We want our visitors’ experience to be engaging, educational and interactive, especially for the youth so we can help to keep the Gordon Parks legacy alive for generations to come.”

 

 

Magic Is Part of the Summer Reading Program

Submitted photo.

Valetta Cannon, Fort Scott Public Library Youth Librarian & Assistant Director announces a magician performance as part of the summer reading program

The Fort Scott Public Library has released a pre-recorded performance by Magician Jeff Quinn as a part of the summer reading program.
“From June 13 until June 21, you may view the video performance, created just for our library,” Cannon said. “Jeff has even made a few interactive tricks and created his very own fairy tale, complete with its own trick! Be sure to let the library know if you enjoy his performance – they may hire him to come perform in person next year.”
To learn more about Jeff Quinn, visit his website.
Follow this link to the library’s website to view Jeff’s performance.
If you have not yet registered for the youth summer reading program and are interested in participating, click here to learn more.

Fort Scott’s Swimming Pool Opens June 22, With Modifications

The Fort Scott Aquatic Center is located at 723 S. Scott.

The hot days of June have many seeking ways to cool off.

The Fort Scott Aquatic Center is one option for cooling off.

However, because of the COVID 19 Pandemic, it has remained closed until staff worked on a plan to be able to open safely.

The center will open on June 22, Chasity Ware, the manager, said.

 

Chasity Ware. Submitted photo.
“With many days of the uncertainty of the COVID 19, a lot of research went into making a final decision to plan to open the facility, ” she said.  “Once I had the facts of what we were capable of doing with restrictions placed upon us and then shared with the  (Fort Scott) City Commissioners, their faith in me and my team of employees were given the go-ahead to open. Due to the many behind the scene hours to prepare the opening of the pool along with lifeguard training that had to be completed, we needed a little time.  We also chose to wait until the phase-out plan per Gov. Kelly to help with even fewer restrictions.”
Precautions are in place
“The modifications will include but not limited to:
  • some masks being worn,
  • extra cleaning being provided,
  • no lounge chairs issued this season (we ask patrons to bring in their own chairs),
  • no 3 pm or 5 pm break will be provided,
  • and only pre-packaged foods will be served out of the concession stands.
We will initially limit our patrons to 250 each day for the first few weeks to help with gatherings as well.”
“Also NO pool passes will be sold,” she said. ” We can’t guarantee our season and know so much has already been missed we just didn’t feel the passes were going to be effective. If we were to close, we can’t imagine the nightmare for the refund/credit.”
NO ONE will be allowed to come in and sit to watch anyone swim without paying,” Ware said.  “We have to count them as part of the capacity number.
And one last thing, NO FLOATATION DEVICES of any sort.  No padded suits, no arm wings, no life jackets.”
“There will be NO SWIM LESSONS, she said.
“We want to remind everyone to please pay attention to their symptoms and their children’s,” Ware said.  “Please don’t attend the pool if you are sick, running a fever or overall not feeling well.  Help keep others safe.”
Daily rates
Daily admission rates will apply:  3-14  years old-are $2, 15-62 years old- $3 and 63  years old and older- $2.
The center currently has 29 employees between lifeguards, office/concession personnel and managers.
“This number could change as the future moves forwards,” Ware said.
Pool hours, close date
Pool hours are 1 pm-7 pm Monday through Saturday and 1 pm-6 pm on Sundays.
The date to close will be no later than August 9 due to college lifeguards returning to college the first weekend of August and school for Fort Scott USD #234 is anticipated to start Aug. 12, she said.
“This could change as well as we move forward.,” Ware said. “We pray we have no outbreaks or other issues but are prepared to make decisions as needed. “
NO private pool parties
“We are sorry to say at this time there will not be private pool parties available this pool season,” Ware said. “We need the extra time to clean the facility. “
The center’s phone number is 620-223-8142.

Ware is the Fort Scott Aquatic Center Manager, in her 9th season. She was employed by Mound City Pool seven years prior to joining Fort Scott.

She is a Certified Lifeguard Instructor.

“I certify lifeguards for the Fort Scott Aquatic Center, Nevada, Iola, Pleasanton, and LaCygne pools. I have been doing that for six seasons now,” she said.

Annual Show Is June 26-27

Because of the COVID 19 Pandemic, the annual All-Hit 103.9  Home, Sport, Farm and Garden Show was moved from spring to summer.

The event is now scheduled Friday, June 26 from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, June 27 from  8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Arnold Arena on the campus of Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton.

Submitted photo of a past show.

Hosted by  Fort Scott Broadcasting, which includes radio stations 103.9, Red Dirt 98.3, and 1600 AM, the event is “a great opportunity to get local businesses to show off their products,” said Deb McKenney. Tim and Deb McKenney own the business.

Tim and Deb McKenney.

 

This year there will be pandemic guidelines, Tim McKenney said.

“We are encouraging people to wear masks and gloves, and we will provide some for those who would like some,” he said. “Also hand sanitizing will be available.”

Submitted photo of a past home show.

In addition, there will be more spacing between the vendors, he said.

“There will be fewer booths, so it won’t be so crowded,” Tim said.

This year they are expecting 40 vendors as opposed to 60, he said.

The show began in 1982, and in the late 80s the Pride Organization at Fort Scott Middle School took the reins, as a fundraiser, Deb said.

The broadcast company was asked to take the show on again and they have since continued the showcasing business event for the community.

 

Southeast Kansas Library System Newsletter June 2020

The SEKnFind Newsletter
 June 2020

This newsletter about new books is distributed to people who are registered adult users at a southeast Kansas library participating in the SEKnFind catalog. We hope you find it useful, but if you don’t wish to receive this anymore, you can click on the “Manage Subscriptions or Unsubscribe” link at the bottom.
All the books included in this newsletter are new additions in one or more SEKnFind libraries–and since the catalog is shared, that means they are available to you whether they are in your local library or not!  Just place a hold on the item(s) you want.  If you don’t know how, your librarian can show you.

New Nonfiction

The rural diaries : love, livestock, and big life lessons down on Mischief Farm
by Hilarie Burton Morgan

The actress best known for One Tree Hill chronicles her move from Los Angeles to Rhinebeck, New York where she and her husband manage a farm, raise their children, build chicken coops and make dandelion wine. 100,000 first printing.

No ordinary dog : my partner from the SEAL Teams to the Bin Laden raid
by Will Chesney

Tells the true story of a SEAL Team Operator and military dog handler, and the dog that saved his life. Illustrations.

Magnolia Table : a collection of recipes for gathering / Volume 2 :
by Joanna Gaines

Beautifully photographed, and filled with dishes that should be shared, the author, in this second volume, gives readers abundant reasons to gather together through 145 recipes for each meal of the day. 2000K first printing. Illustrations.

Find your path : honor your body, fuel your soul, and get strong with the Fit52 life
by Carrie Underwood

The Platinum award-winning music artist outlines common-sense approaches to health and fitness that can be incorporated into a busy schedule, sharing personal meal plans, recipes and weekly workout programs for long-term results. 500,000 first printing. Tour.

Empires of the sky : zeppelins, airplanes, and two men’s epic duel to rule the world
by Alexander Rose

The Golden Age of Aviation is brought to life by the story of the giant Zeppelin airships that once roamed the sky and ended with the fiery destruction of the Hindenburg. Illustrations.

Inge’s war : a German woman’s story of family, secrets, and survival under Hitler
by Svenja O’Donnell

The award-winning Bloomberg UK political correspondent shares the long-secret story of her German grandmother, who endured the brutal Nazi regime and postwar years before the advancing Red Army separated her from the father of her baby. Illustrations. Maps.

Run to the finish : the everyday runner’s guide to avoiding injury, ignoring the clock, and loving the run
by Amanda Brooks

“In her first book, popular runner blogger Amanda Brooks lays out the path to finding greater fulfillment in running for those who consider themselves “middle of the pack runners” — they’re not trying to win Boston (or even qualify for Boston); they just want to get strong and stay injury-free so they can continue to enjoy running. Run to the Finish is not your typical running book. While it is filled with useful strategic training advice throughout, at its core, it is about embracing your place in the middle of the pack with humor and learning to love the run you’ve got without comparing yourself to other runners. Mixing practical advice like understanding the discomfort vs. pain, the mental side of running, and movements to treat the most common injuries with more playful elements such as “Favorite hilarious marathon signs” and “Weird Thoughts We all Have at the Start Line,” Brooks is the down-to-earth, inspiring guide for everyone who wants to be happier with their run”

Growing old : notes on aging with something like grace
by Elizabeth Marshall Thomas

Part memoir and part life-affirming map all of us may follow to embrace our later years with grace and dignity, this look at the social and historical traditions related to aging explores a wide range of issues connected with growing older. 50,000 first printing.

New Fiction

Have you seen me? : a novel of suspense
by Kate White

Arriving at work to discover that she has suffered a dissociative fugue and lost five years of her memory, a finance journalist examines a traumatic past event before connecting her experience to an unsolved murder. 20,000 first printing.

The crow’s call
by Wanda E. Brunstetter

When the sole providers of their Pennsylvania Amish Country family are killed in a devastating accident, Amy helps her mother take over their greenhouse business, which is being threatened by shifting family roles and a competitive rival. Original.

Family for Beginners
by Sarah Morgan

Falling in love with a widower, Flora accepts an invitation to accompany his family on an annual summer holiday to England’s Lakes District, where she struggles to bond with her boyfriend’s grieving teenage daughter. 10,000 first printing.

The great texas dance
by Mark C Jackson

“Zebadiah Creed tells a tale of the Texas Revolution, not as history, but a personal portrayal of men and the consequences of their decisions, sometimes made during the savagery of battle, most times made in quiet, their desperate acts allowing them no way out other than through loyalty and friendship, or ultimate betrayal”

A witch in time
by Constance Sayers

After discovering that her teenage daughter is involved with a married painter in 1895 Paris, a witch casts a curse that binds the pair to relive the doomed affair and die tragically over and over again. 50,000 first printing.

Mrs. Mohr goes missing
by Maryla Szymiczkowa

Planning a charity auction sponsored by her wealthy neighbors, bored professor’s wife and socialite Zofia Turbotynska investigates a suspicious death at a local nursing home only to become 1893 Cracow’s most clever amateur sleuth.

Marguerite
by Marina Kemp

A young live-in nurse forges an unlikely connection with her once-powerful elderly charge before the influential people of their village begin targeting the relationship with gossip and a scheme to get the nurse fired. A first novel.

Old Lovegood girls : a novel
by Gail Godwin

Separated by a devastating loss, two estranged college roommates reach out to each other years later in the face of unpredictable hardships before discovering the power of their unbreakable bond to transform their lives. Illustrations.

<a class=”shared-record-link” href=”https://libraryaware.com/211AY0?SID=d2196f86-834b-41ee-82e4-7178baf6ca2d” title=”vanishing half” target=”_blank” data-link-source=”catalog-book” data-catalog-book-title=”vanishing half” data-catalog-book-author=”Bennett, Brit” data-catalog-book-id=”20861901″ data-catalog-book-isbn=”9780525536291″ data-catalog-book-upc=”” data-hard-href=”http://www.seknfind.org/cgi-bin/koha/opac-search.pl?idx=ti&q=vanishing+half&op=and&idx=au%2Cwrdl&am

Vehicle Cruise: Social Distancing Fun

Photo courtesy of Carissa Bowman.
Some local residents have planned activities that provide fun for the town and also some nostalgia in cruising National Avenue this Friday, June 5.
The Fort Scott Cruise Night Facebook Group is promoting what they are calling an “Honorary Good Ol Days Cruise.”
“This is not an event sponsored by the city,” Julie Norris, who along with Rachel Cunningham-Fields are the planners, said.  ” It was scheduled purely for fun since Good Ol Days had to be canceled this year due to COVID 19.”
The COVID 19 pandemic precautions include social distancing of 6 feet from nearby people and taking other measures to help stop the spread of the virus that has circled the world and killed over 100,000  American people, according to the Center For Disease Control.
The cruise allows people to maintain social distancing while remaining in their cars.
“Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend,” she said. ” We will be cruising National, just like the “Good Ol Days”.”
The cruise starts at  6 PM Friday night, June 5.
“Our annual Good Ol Days is something we look forward to every year,” Norris said.  “Although we WILL NOT be able to attend, (because of precautions of the pandemic) what better way to honor it, than to CRUISE!”
“So get your hot rod out, work on that car you’ve been meaning to finish, get the motorcycle ready, and Celebrate Good Ol Days on June 5th by cruising,” she said.  “Our lives may look a little different, but we can still come together, and not gather! “
“A small town is a place we choose to be,” she said.  ” A place we raise our kids, find peace in, or retire in. A place we call home.”
There will be several spots to eat along the way, including vendors,  so save some money for supper.

Fort Scott Public Library Newsletter June 2020

Kids Summer Reading

Upcoming Virtual Events:  
 
June 2: 
10 am: Zoom Princesses & Princes Preschool Story hour with
Miss Val & stories read by educator Jeff Pommier
11 am: Zoom Princesses & Princes Elementary Story hour, with Miss Val & stories read by educator Angie Bin
2 pm: Pre-recorded video of the preschool stories will release on Facebook and YouTube
2:15 pm: story video for elementary students releasing on the same platforms.
3 pm: Scouts Leader Cyndi Goebel will demonstrate how to make the week’s craft in a pre-recorded video released on Facebook and YouTube. All Zoom meetings will require a password which you can obtain by messaging the library or emailing Miss Val at [email protected].
The above schedule should remain our normal schedule throughout the summer, with only themes, guest readers, and craft demonstrators changing from week to week. Craft supplies to go along with the demonstration videos have been distributed in summer reading packets.
June 9: Educator Ashley Morris will be our guest reader and the theme will be Grumpy Creatures for Preschool and Fantasy Creatures for Elementary. Melinda Seaver will be our craft demonstrator.
More topics and guest readers to be announced soon.

Weekly reading reward and frequent craft packet pickups will be available on Fridays, starting on June 5, from 9-11 or 1-3. You will need to call 223-2882 or email Miss Val to schedule an appointment for pickup.
We need more readers and crafters! Please consider signing up here to do a video for our community’s youth.
See Magician Jeff Quinn online! The library will present a magician’s performance tailored to our library online from June 13 – 21. We will share the link to the video through our website and Facebook page, with possible links through other social media. Stay tuned!
                                 
   Magician
Jeff Quinn
Online
                                    June 13 – 21

Tween and Teen Summer Reading

Events for Middle & High School Students  
Wednesdays at 4 pm, Join Miss Valetta on Zoom for the Teen Summer Reading Program! All Zoom meetings will require a password which you can obtain by messaging the library or emailing Miss Valetta at
[email protected].

Zoom can be accessed on any pc with a camera and headset, smartphone, or tablet with online access. The full application will allow participants to see and interact with one another, in addition to being a part of summer reading. You will have the option of turning your video and audio on and off anytime during the meeting.
After each meeting, Miss Valetta will go on the House Party app to play games with any teens who want to join her (with parental permission).
This week’s activity: Painting on mini canvas & Discussing upcoming meetings

You may pick up your painting supplies prior to this meeting in your summer reading packet, which may now only be received during curbside pickup. Call the library between the hours of 9-12 or 1-3, Mon. – Fri. or 9-12 Sat. and request a packet. You must be a middle or high school student to participate. Your grade is the one you will start in the fall.
Weekly reading reward and frequent craft packet pickups will be available on Fridays, starting on June 5, from 9-11 or 1-3. Rewards are only for the week prior, not the current week. You will need to call 223-2882 or email Miss Val to schedule an appointment for pickup.
More opportunities for pre-released videos and screen-free activities for local teens are in the works, so stay tuned.

Adult Summer Reading

 

June 1-August 31, 2020
No assigned reading, just read one book and tell us that you read it!
  • We’ve simplified our Adult Summer Reading Challenge this year.
  • Read one book.
  • While supplies last you will receive a goodie bag for reading the book.
  • We encourage you to read more than one book for the summer, but you only need to tell us that you’ve read one.

Circulation Information about Physical Items

Holds/Interlibrary Loan
Items coming to us from other libraries should begin arriving the second week of June. Everything has to be quarantined for at least 72 hours, so transfers will take longer than usual. We will notify you when items are ready to be checked out.

Returns
All returned items are quarantined for a minimum of 72 hours before being checked in. Don’t worry if items that you put in the bookdrop are still showing on your account.

New Books
We’ve added many new items in the past few months. Here are some links to lists in the catalog. You may place holds on any of these, and we will schedule you for curbside checkout.

Circulation Information about Digital Resources

Digital Only Accounts/I don’t have a library card

We have created a new type of account for people who don’t already have library cards. Go to our catalog www.seknfind.org and create a new account under the “Log in to your account” prompt. Be sure to pay attention to the password you are assigned. (We encourage you to log in and change the password to something more easily remembered.)

We will adjust these accounts daily so that you will have access to digital resources. If you would like access sooner, first create the account, then send an email to either [email protected] or [email protected] with your name and email address.
When we adjust the accounts, we will send you an email with your account number and information about setting up your accounts with hoopla and Sunflower eLibrary.

I have a library card but I need help with digital resources

First look below and see if anything here helps. If you still have any problems getting set up, please email me at either [email protected] or [email protected]. Include your name and account number plus a description of the problem.
You’ll need your library card number, your pin/password, and the email address you used when you signed up for your library card.
Anytime a site asks for your card number or account number, it means the entire 14 digit number. Ignore the spaces when entering it.
When you first set up an account with hoopla, it will ask you for your email and a password. Use the email you used for your FSPL account and create your own password. The next screen will ask for your library, library card number, and pin/password; your pin/password is the last 4 digits of your card number, or if you’ve changed it, use the pin/password that you changed it to. Hoopla has a limit of 5 items checked out per month. Usually it will send you an email near the end of the month if you have checkouts remaining.

When you first set up an account with Sunflower eLibrary, you will need to choose Fort Scott Public Library and enter your FSPL account number and your pin/password. If you have an Amazon account, you can link eligible checkouts to it and read them on an Amazon Kindle reader enabled device.

Hoopla and Sunflower eLibrary (Overdrive) both have apps that you can download to a mobile device. The websites should direct you to the apps.

What if I want a Kansas Library eCard?
Kansas Library eCards provide access to ebooks, databases, and other resources through the State Library of Kansas. If you need us to set you up, send an email with your name, including middle initial, and your birthdate to [email protected] or [email protected], and we will get your account created for you.
You will need the Kansas Library eCard to access ebooks, but many of the databases are available without logging in if you are using the Internet in Kansas. You can experiment by going to https://kslib.info/ and clicking the “Online Resources” link.

Links to Digital Resources

Download ebooks, audiobooks, comics, TV episodes, movies, music, and more. You will need your library card login and the email address associated with it.

Download ebooks and audiobooks. You will need your library card login.

 
 
 
Download ebooks and audiobooks from the State Library of Kansas. You will need a Kansas Library eCard.

Cinema Saturday and Summer Hours at the Gordon Parks Museum

The Gordon Parks Museum will show the films of Gordon Parks on every other Saturday this summer starting on June 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the museum on the FSCC campus.

This free event will feature Mr. Parks’ films.

“This is a good way to spend a couple of hours on a Saturday morning and come watch some of Gordon’s films” said museum director Kirk Sharp.

The schedule is as follows: June 13-Leadbelly; June 27-Shaft (1971); July 11- Shafts Big Score; and July 25-Learning Tree.

The Gordon Parks Museum summer hours will be Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. starting June 6 – August 1.

For more information contact the museum by email at [email protected] or by phone at 223-2700, ext. 5850.

JUNE 13: LEADBELLY, (1 hour, 38 minutes)
SHAFT, (Directed by Gordon Parks) (1 hour, 40 minutes)

JULY 11: SHAFT’S BIG SCORE,

JULY 25: THE LEARNING TREE, (Written, Directed, Music Score, Screenplay by Gordon Parks) (1 hour, 47 minutes)

FREE!

 

Fort Scott Independence Day Celebration: July 3

Fort Scott Community College, 2108 S. Horton is the site of the annual Independence Day fireworks event.

In a year that is seeing a reduction in public gatherings there will be a community celebration this year: Independence Day.

The Fort Scott Elk’s Lodge has coordinated the community fireworks display to celebrate America’s Independence for the past 25 years or more and has a goal this year of $7,000 to cover the costs.

“I think this year after all everyone has been dealing with during the pandemic, everyone will be ready for some good old fashion 4th of July fun,” Bill Brittain, with the Elks organization, said.

“The public can watch from their cars or from anywhere in the community you can see them,” Brittain said.   “A lot of people do line up on Horton Street to be close and many sit in or on their cars from the Bourbon County Fairgrounds as well but again they can be seen from many parts of the community.”

The event is July 3.

“The city of Fort Scott moved this event to July 3rd a few years ago from the 4th so we have them shot on the 3rd,” Brittain said.

“Our (fireworks) company we deal with for this,  sets up behind Fort Scott Community College by the ball fields to actually shoot them off,” he said. “Nobody is allowed back there during this time or while setting them up!”

“I might add it takes the entire community to make this happen,” Brittain said.  “The city and county also help with this financially. We have corporate sponsors that help with this and other charitable events we do throughout the year. The public can help with this by playing in the golf tournament as well.”

 

 

Upcoming Events For June Provided by The Fort Scott Chamber of Commerce

June Schedule:

6/4 ~ Chamber Coffee at Sunshine Boutique (Will confirm if canceled) 8 am

6/4 ~ Old Fort Auto Grand Opening Event & Ribbon Cutting at 5:15 pm

6/5 thru 6/7 ~ Bourbon County Bulldogging Bash – Fairgrounds

6/5 ~ Honorary Good Ol Days Cruise Night, starts at 6 pm

6/6 ~ 9th Annual Tiger Baseball Golf Tournament at Woodland Hills Golf Course, Benefit to raise money for the Baseball Program. Starts at 8:30 am

 

6/11 ~ Chamber Coffee at Briggs of Fort Scott, celebrating 4 years!

6/12 & 6/13 ~ Spring Town-Wide Garage Sale (call the chamber and register your yard sale to be put on the printed map!) Also can sign up at Bids & Dibs, the cost is $10.00. All customers are to use hand sanitizer at every yard sale before touching merchandise and homeowner should have this available and practice social distancing.

6/12 & 13 ~ Retailers will be open for shopping as well with celebrating National Flag Week. With any purchase, shoppers will receive a souvenir American Flad and also they can fill out a Trivia Card to enter them into a drawing for $50 Chamber Bucks!

13 ~ Elks Lodge 579 City Fireworks Display Fundraiser – 3 Person Scramble at Woodland Hills Golf Course

18 ~ The Bourbon County Garden Club hosting Chamber Coffee

21 ~ USD 235 – Uniontown HS Graduation

25 ~ Old Fort Auto will host the Chamber Coffee.