From left front row: Nikos Giannopoulos, Lauren Jensen, Katie Craven. Back row: Dave Martin, Penny Heath, Paula Franklin, Thomas Dennison and Jolynne Mitchell.
The Lowell Milken Center (LMC) for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, Kansas has awarded its Fellowship to 12 educators this year.
This week six fellows were given the key to the city by Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin and Mayor Jolynne Mitchell. Last week also six fellows were honored in this way.
The Lowell Milken Center For Unsung Heroes, located at Wall and Main in downtown Fort Scott, has been a part of the renewing of the downtown area, Dave Martin told the LMC Fellows in welcoming them to the city.
The Fellows were presented with a key to Fort Scott and a welcome bag.
This week Lauren Jensen from Virginia, Penny Harth from Oklahoma, Katie Craven from Minnesota, Paula Franklin from Tennessee, Thomas Dennison and Nikos Giannopoulos were the Fellows that came to Fort Scott.
The Center selects model teachers from across America and Europe, drawn from a variety of disciplines, to collaborate on projects that discover, develop, and communicate the stories of Unsung Heroes in history, according to a press release from the center.
See the center’s Facebook page at
Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes
Norm Conard, far right, introduces Dave Martin and Jolynne Mitchell to the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Fellows and staff Tuesday morning at Fort Scott City Hall.
A renovation has begun on the Hole in the Wall Liquor Store project at Wall and Scott streets.
The building at the corner of Scott and Wall streets has seen better days.
But with the purchase of the property formerly known as the “The Spoiled Brat” building, there will be new activity. Spoiled Brat was the name of the beauty salon that was located there years ago.
Roy and Jody Hoener own the property now.
The Hoener’s envision this to be breathing new life into a previously condemned structure that sits at a gateway to Fort Scott.
The Hoener’s own The Hole In the Wall Liquor Store, currently located at 13 W. Oak.
The business has been in the family for three generations, Roy Hoener said.
“My grandpa, Roy Louderman, bought the business in 1985,” Roy said. “My mother, Connie Hoener, bought the one-half interest in 2005. In 2015 Jody and I took it over from my mom when she retired.”
But come October they are hoping to be moved to the new site at 124 E. Wall, Jody Hoener said.
“We are doing pretty good on the timeline,” Roy said.
Over the next month’s several local businesses will be helping the Hoeners transform the once blighted and deteriorating building into the store and in addition, apartments on the second floor.
The liquor store will be 24 by 84 foot in dimensions, Roy said, with the apartment space above having the same dimensions.
“We are trying for two apartments,” Roy said. “That will be down the road.”
Behind, to the south of the store, will be an event space, Roy said.
“It will be for wine tastings, etc.,” he said
Those businesses hired by the Hoeners are Hofer and Hofer and Associates Inc.-general contractor, Agricultural Engineering Associates-structural engineers overseeing the entire project, RII Concrete Construction LLC-steel work outside, Geiger Plumbing-plumbing, KTK Electric LLC-HVAC and new wiring and lights, Great Expectations LLC Restoration Company—inside floor joists, Murphy Roofing-roof, Kirby’s Cabinets-counter and display, Miles Woodworking-shelving, and Perry Cannon-interior painting.
Vickie Shead stands in front of her new high tunnel hoop house on the family farm, named by the family “The Garden of Eden”.
Following a lifelong dream to experiment with gardening in a controlled environment, Vickie Shead, rural Garland, applied for and received funding to build what is called a high tunnel or hoop house on the family farm.
Vickie Shead shows the growth of a cucumber vine in her hoop house, one of 22 varities of vegetables grown in the controlled environment.
Since getting it up and going this year, there has been a learning curve in gardening.
“I thought I knew about gardening,’ she said. “But I have learned a lot.”
“We realize that this year is a huge learning curve as we have everything to learn about this new way of growing quality, organic produce. We are very thankful for the grant helping us get started in this adventure in gardening,” Vickie said.
The inside view of the Shead hoop house.
The addition of mesh siding to keep out pests has cut back on much of the insects that normally feed on garden produce, but she has help to work on the insects that do manage to get in.
Her grandchildren.
They help by handpicking insects and insect eggs and also weeding in the high tunnel garden bed.
She also uses low-technology help such as sticky yellow pads, much like flycatchers of old, to aid in getting rid of insects.
One of the ways Vickie Shead helps reduce the insects in the hoop house is with this large sticky yellow flycatcher. One can see it is successful by the number of insects on it. Her grandchildren also help my handpicking insects and their eggs off the produce.
And additionally, they added insect cloth on the sides of the hoop house to lessen insect invasion.
“I needed a controlled environment from the weather and insects,” she said.
The Sheads use no chemicals on their gardens.
The following is an interview with Vickie Shead.
What is a high tunnel growing system? Where did you get the grant from?
“High Tunnel System Initiative, commonly called a ‘hoop house,’ is an increasingly popular conservation practice for farmers, and is available with financial assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and can be applied for through the NRCS (Natural Resource Conservation Service).”
“The seasonal high tunnel system for crops does not include greenhouses or low tunnel systems covering single crop rows.”
What is the grant for?
“The goal is to assist producers to extend the growing season for high-value crops in an environmentally safe manner.”
“NRCS hopes to encourage growers with high tunnels which can aid in improving plant quality, soil quality, reduce nutrient and pesticide transport, improve air quality through reduced transportation inputs, and reduce energy use through local consumption. It is to be used on cropland where climatic conditions due to heat, cold, severe weather may interfere with the producing of vegetables, fruits, and other consumable crops.”
“The grant allows the producer to choose the company, the size, the style, and method of installation for their high tunnel kit.”
How much was the grant for?
“When we applied, we received a grant for $6,732 for our high tunnel system.
However, in order to adhere to the Shead-Spread Farm’s organic standards and future plans, we added to the grant with our own money so that we could comply to organic certification we wish to obtain in the near future. The additions included: metal framework instead of treated lumber, roll down sides and fans to increase ventiation, end walls with big doors, and shade cloth for temperature control and insect cloth (50% shade cloth) to lessen insect invasion. These additions have proven to make a wonderful growing environment that we fondly call ‘The Garden of Eden’.”
When did you get it? When did you get it up?
“The grant was received in the fall of 2016. The 60 x 30 feet Gothic Style High Tunnel wasn’t erected until July of 2017, so this is the Shead’s first growing season. We classify this as the learning season!
It is an on-going project far from finished.
We have yet to add permanent plumbing, electrical wiring, and rainwater irrigation system, all of which are awaiting financial resources.”
Why did you seek the grant?
“For many years, the Shead-Spread Farm has provided fresh, organic, nutrient-packed produce from our gardens and orchards.These fruits and vegetables have fed four families (their children and grandchildren) and are used either fresh, canned, frozen, or dried. We hope to expand the growing season of our organic crops in order to sell our quality fruits and vegetables, along with our dried and powdered products through the local Fort Scott Farmer’s Market, at the farm, and through the internet. “
The Shead’s call their farm The Shead Spread.
“However, we found that because Kansas abounds in insects, growing organic vegetables and fruits is tedious and time-consuming and next to impossible. We needed a more controlled environment for improving plant quality and climatic conditions.”
“The NRCS High Tunnel Initiative was just what we needed because it helps producers raise crops in a more controlled environment, which reduces insects, protects the plants from wind and storm damage, and lengthens the growing season. “
Who is involved in your work in the high tunnel?
” I am the instigator of the project with my husband, Larry, as the main support and muscles. However, other family members also help, including many of our 17 grandchildren, who are often by my side as I work.”
The Buffalo Grill, 3 W. Oak, was purchased in May 2018 by Al Niece.
Al Niece, the owner of Niece of Kansas Inc., purchased the Buffalo Grill, 3 W. Oak in May 2018 from Dean Mann.
“It’s a fantastic building, lots of options are open” for the development of the property, Niece said.
“The building looked too good a building to be left unattended,” Niece said. “In talking with people in the community and the city, there are not many large eating facilities in the town.”
“When I walked in earlier this year, I was amazed at the condition,” he said.
Conventions, graduations, weddings, Christmas parties “and who knows what else” can use the River Room on the second floor of the building, Niece said. “We’ve already booked events for fall, two weddings and Christmas parties.”
The River Room name will stay the same for the second-floor event space, he said.
“The restaurant will be an additional component to it,” Niece said. “There are a lot of options for that. We don’t know whether we will keep the name Buffalo Grill or not.”
“We are talking to a couple of franchises,” Niece said.
In addition, the business suite on the north-west side of the building is up for rent, with 2,400 square feet of space.
The restaurant will likely be open in the third quarter of 2018 he said.
Jared Leek is the manager of the facility for Niece and can be reached at 620-224-9787.
In May, Walmart announced a new associate education benefit program designed to help employees to enroll in college and graduate from college in certain fields of study, according to a press release.
Benefits include free college credit for Walmart Academy training and options for employees to earn a college degree without student loan debt.
Walmart employees will be able to access affordable associate’s and bachelor’s degrees in business or supply chain management.
These programs are available to full-time, part-time and salaried Walmart U.S. store, supply chain, home office and Sam’s Club employees.
Degrees will be offered through the University of Florida at Gainesville; Brandman University, Irvine, California; and Bellevue University, Bellevue, Nebraska. These schools were selected for their focus and strong outcomes on serving working adult learners, according to the press release.
Program highlights include:
AFFORDABLE
The associate contribution toward a college degree would be just $1 a day. Walmart will subsidize the cost of tuition, books, and fees, which helps get rid of student loan debt, according to a press release.
Also, associates can start their path by earning college credit for paid training at Walmart Academies. Hundreds of thousands of associates have already undergone skills training equivalent to more than $210 million in college credits. This will save associates both time and money in completing their degree.
RELEVANT
Walmart selected universities with a specialized focus on serving working adult learners and top outcomes for the working adult demographic. Walmart is also collaborating with these universities to tailor the curriculum to relevant skills for jobs and advancement across industries for today and in the future.
ACCESSIBLE
The goal is for all employees who apply for admission to be accepted, and the three selected universities have a dedication to high graduation rates for their students.
SUPPORTED
Employees will receive support from a coach on everything from the application and enrollment process to selecting the appropriate degree. This kind of academic counseling has been shown to help students complete their degree.
Walmart kicked off a scalable approach to creating educational opportunity for America’s workforce, said Rachel Carlson, chief executive officer and co-founder of Guild Education, with whom Walmart is collaborating to provide the program.
Guild Education helps people gain an education through their employer’s tuition benefits which lead to increased employee satisfaction and retention, according to http://www.guildeducation.com
Walmart is also leading innovation in workforce development and higher education to help associates earn college credit for on-the-job training, Carlson said.
The Lumina Foundation has agreed to research and measure the impact and effectiveness of the program and will work with the Walmart team to share findings.
ADDITIONAL EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING OFFERINGS
Walmart’s new education program underscores the importance of education in helping employees prepare for the future with degrees in supply chain management or business. This is part of a broader approach to preparing the workforce to succeed today and into the future.
Initiatives include:
· Developing a broad suite of offerings across roles from frontline to executive levels develop job-related skills for advancement.
· Covering the complete cost for employees and eligible family members for earning a high school diploma or GED.
· Offering employees and eligible family members access to tuition discounts, financial aid assistance, and education coaching across Guild’s broader network of more than 80 accredited, nonprofit university partners, including schools such as The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Columbia University and Purdue University. These institutions are made available through EdX.
· Giving access to professional development courses including college prep, leadership training, and ESL.
Walmart associates can learn more by visiting WalmartOne.
Fort Scott Police are seeking public assistance in details of a robbery of five late model cars in the early morning of Sunday, June 17.
At 4:30 a.m. June 17, 2018, FSPD officers received information on a possible crime in progress at Briggs Automall of Fort Scott, 1819 S. Main, according to a press release from the FSPD.
After arriving, officers discovered several new vehicles were leaving the convenience store across from Briggs Automall. The officers attempted to stop the cars, which were northbound on Hwy. 69.
A high-speed pursuit began.
Officers ended the pursuit a few miles north of Fort Scott.
“Our officers discontinue pursuit when in their estimation, it is dangerous,” FSPD Captain Shaun West said.
Officers returned to Briggs Automall, where it was discovered the building was broken into. Briggs personnel were notified and requested to the scene. The personnel then confirmed that five new vehicles were missing from the dealership.
According to Captain West, the vehicles stolen were:
2018 black Ford Mustang GT Coup
2017 red Mustang Eco Boost Coup
2018 gray Jeep Grand Cherokee
2018 red Dodge Challenger SXT
2018 gray Dodge Challenger GT
Law enforcement agencies were notified in Bourbon, Linn, Miami, and Johnson counties, which lead to the recovery of two vehicles in Miami County and three vehicles in Johnson County.
At this time one suspect is in custody in Johnson County.
This is an ongoing investigation and law enforcement is seeking aid from the public in connection with the case.
If anyone has information, contact the FSPD at 620-223-1700.
All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
In this 2011 photo, Margaret Humphrey is at the left with grandson, Elliott Norman; daughter, Kristen Humphrey Norman; husband, Merle, and grand-daughter, Violet. In front are grandchildren Leo and Meg Norman.
The 36th Annual Burke Street Parade is July 4th on the city’s west side, near Gunn Park.
The event is pretty disorganized, said Margaret Doherty Humphrey, but lots of fun. The Humphreys live at 1024 S. Burke.
The parade starts with patriotic singing led by Phil Hammonds, Jill Gorman, and Susan Foster.
“We started the singing after 9-11 (the terrorist bombings in New York), Humphrey said.
People wear patriotic attire, kids decorate their bikes, scooters or buggies and line up at 10th and Burke streets at 10 a.m.
There is no parking on Burke Street between 10th and 12th streets during the time of the event.
The public is invited to sit or stand on the curbs lining the street during the parade.
And people are invited to don a patriotic outfit and join in the fun.
“Frank Halsey will line them up at 10th and Burke,” Humphrey said.
Frank and his wife, Deb are hosting the cookie social following the short parade at 1222 Burke Street. People may donate cookies for the social the day before the parade, to the Halseys home.
“Every year someone (on Burke Street) hosts the cookies and drinks,” Humphrey said.
“Please no big vehicles and watch for children who are all over the place,” Humphrey said. “It’s very disorganized, they go up and down and back and forth.”
For more information call Margaret Humphrey 223-0388 or Theresa Bahr 223-1582.
“Or Barbara Albright, the official distributor of information,” Humphrey said.
“Severe storms or lightning cancels the parade…but we conquered the rain last year,” Humphrey said.
Fort Scott Manor on Heylman Street was recently closed down by the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities.
A local nursing home was closed by the State of Kansas in May 2018 for deficient practices and conditions that placed its residents in immediate danger, according to court documents found in the Bourbon County Courthouse, District Court.
In April 2018 the Kansas Department of Aging and Disabilities Services (KDADS) surveyed Fort Scott Manor at 736 Heylman and found that “multiple instances of verbal, mental and physical abuse at the hands of direct care staff” had been inflicted on residents, according to court documents.
“The one nurse that was physically abusive was immediately fired,” Connie Willis, a Fort Scott Manor employee at the time, said.
The facility received a “K” rating which indicated that a situation “where the providers have caused or are likely to cause serious injury, harm or impairment or death to more than a limited number of residents.”
A plan to end the practices and conditions was started by the administrator, Jan Kierl, but not completed, according to the court documents.
Employees of Fort Scott Manor contacted the state that payroll checks had not cleared to pay them, according to the documents.
KDADS was also notified by food service, durable medical equipment and rehab vendors that they had not received payment for services rendered as well.
According to court documents, KDADS stated that conditions at Fort Scott Manor were life-threatening to the residents and that Jan Kierl was unable to pay debts that were owed.
By May, all the residents were found homes in other facilities or homes.
A status conference with Judge Mark Ward and other parties in the case is scheduled for July 23 at 9 a.m. in the Bourbon County Courthouse.
Messages left with Kierl and her attorney were not answered.
An employee account of Fort Scott Manor closing
Connie Willis worked at Fort Scott Manor from January 2014 until May 2018 when they closed, she said.
Willis was a housekeeper and kitchen helper at the facility during that time.
Soon after she started in 2014, the owners, Jan and Dan Kierl, had a contentious divorce.
“It was a big public blow-up,” Willis said.
Soon after, the facility administrator and the director of nursing were fired, Willis said.
“We changed DON’s (Director of Nursing) and administrators so much you never knew who was in charge,” Willis said.
In this time period, Jan Kierl cut back hours of employees and purchases for the nursing home, Willis said.
“I was purchasing some of my own cleaning supplies,” Willis said. “I had to buy a vacuum cleaner to do my work. I got it back last month.”
When Willis left Fort Scott Manor on May 13, there were 18 residents left, she said. The facility was home, at one time, to 45 residents.
On May 14, the state started taking over administrator duties, Willis said.
“They were there to do their job, to make the residents safe,” she said. “I applaud them for that.”
“On my last paycheck, the state had taken over and THEIR checks bounced,” Willis said.
“We were there for the residents trying to keep things normal for the residents,” Willis said. “The residents were great, the people I worked with did their best for the residents. It was so sad to see it closed.”
“They were taking people out of their home, one for 20 years,” Willis said. “That was hard seeing them move out. They didn’t want to move.”
Betsy Reichard points to one of the varieties of lavender grown on her farm, The Lavender Patch, 22376 Locust Rd.
Lavender has been a sensory, culinary and decorative herb for thousands of years.
But for Betsy and Davin Reichard, an idea to grow it spawned approximatley ten years ago when they first visited a lavender farm.
They had purchased a property in 2008.
The Reichard’s talked the idea over with family members, and in 2009 did research on the subject and visited other lavender farms, Betsy said
In 2010 the Reichard’s planted their first plants in the ground, half of which died.
Experimenting they planted 800 plants in 2012, 300 of which were mounded, which is planting the lavender in hills.
“The 300 that were mounded, died,” she said.
In 2013 they planted 1000 plants in a different spot and “they all died,” Reichard said.
The Reichard’s enlisted the help of Kansas State University, who told them this loss was due to weather conditions.
The Tri-Valley Developmental Services Horticulture Therapy Program propagates the lavender for the Reichards.
In 2014 they moved to a different pasture.
“It’s been a heck-of-a-lot more work than we imagined,” she said.
But finally, success in 2014.
That year they started making lavender products: lotions, soaps, bath salts, sachets, and spritzes.
“It takes lavender three years to mature, and it’s very labor intensive,” she said. “It’s a Mediterranean plant.”
“People have said lavender is a natural antiseptic, some say it’s a natural flea and tick repellant,” Reichard said of the products made on the farm.
The Reichards children: Jacob, Andrew, Joseph and wife, Tori, Rebecah and Aaron Houser and Levi, have helped through the years with the farm, as have other family and friends, Betsy said.
“For so many years we’ve had many troubles, so it’s finally good to see results,” Betsy said.
In their other lives, Betsy is a teacher in Nevada, Missouri, and Davin is a comptroller at SEKAN Printing Company, she said.
The Lavender Patch Festival
This Saturday is the first lavender festival that the Reichard’s are hosting at their Lavender Patch Farm at 2376 Locust, just east of Fort Scott.
The Lavender Patch Festival is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and costs $5 admission. Children under five years old are free.
Parking will be at 2396 Locust, with signs to designate.
“Bring a lawn chair and comfortable walking shoes, this is a working farm,” Betsy said.
There will be tours, demonstrations, vendors, games, and live music by Bob (Pavey) Lovett and Red Letter Edition playing throughout the day.
You can pick your own bundle of lavender from several varieties for $5, or purchase a lavender plant for $7.
They have converted their garage into a gift shop and will be selling their lavender products.
Lunch will be sold with some lavender recipes featured.
Martha Scott will demonstrate how to make lavender wands and presentations will be by Reichard on lavender products, how to plant lavender, and how to make lavender wreaths.
Vendors will be Bobbie Kemna, featuring her pottery; Black Dog Farms featuring their honey; and Jean Strader spinning wool.
Bourbon County Conservation will give a presentation on wildlife pollinators at the festival.
“It will be a relaxing day so come out with family and friends, listen to some wonderful music, enjoy the craftsmanship of our vendors, smell and touch the lavender,” Betsy said.
The Reichard’s can be contacted at 620-223-1364, www.lavenderpatchfarm.com, [email protected] or on Facebook, The Lavender Patch.
Salette Schlee, 26, is bringing her massage therapy business, Knock Out Massage Therapy, LLC to Fort Scott.
Since graduating from Missouri College, St. Louis, MO in 2015 with a certification in massage therapy, Schlee has worked at Platinum Salon in Frontenac. Schlee graduated from Arma High School.
“I was wanting to serve another community,” Schlee said of her adding a therapy site in Presbyterian Village, 2401 S. Horton.
“I received my Associates of Science (2010-2012) from Fort Scott Community Collete and played volleyball for FSCC,” she said.
She started taking appointments last week at the facility.
Schlee can be reached at 620-249-7479 for appointments on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Schlee uses client specific therapy that includes a mixture of Swedish, sports massage, Trigger Point Release, deep tissue and myofascial release therapies.
A new Arby’s Restaurant will be located at 2101 S. Main Street, the site of the former Kentucky Fried Chicken Restaurant.
“I’m told by our construction and development team that we are on track to open our new restaurant there in September of this year,” said Fred Fleischner, Corporate Communications Vice President for United States Beef Corporation, doing business as Arby’s, Tulsa, Oklahoma. ” And we can’t wait.”
‘This restaurant will feature Arby’s Inspire design,” Fleischner said. “The Inspire design increases energy efficiency and delivers an upgraded guest experience. The design also includes authentic features such as wood tones, white brick, subway tiles, stainless steel finishes, and upgraded lighting and landscaping. We are converting our new restaurant from what was a former KFC/A&W combo restaurant.”
Fleischner said Arby’s can’t share the exact rendering of what the restaurant will look like but the Fort Scott site will be very similar to the Monett, Missouri site, which is featured at the top of the story.
For employment opportunities at US Beef and in Ft. Scott, go to www.work4arbys.com for more information.
About United States Beef Corporation
United States Beef Corporation, dba Arby’s, headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the largest franchisee of Atlanta-based Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., now operating more than 365 restaurants serving Arby’s famous slow roasted beef sandwiches and unique menu items to hungry guests in nine states throughout the Midwest and the Western United States. It is a family-owned and operated business that opened its first Arby’s restaurant in 1969 and has now grown to over 8,000 employees. US Beef also owns six Taco Bueno restaurants in Northwest Arkansas. To learn more about United States Beef Corporation, visit www.usbeefcorp.com.
About Arby’s®
Arby’s, founded in 1964, is the second-largest sandwich restaurant brand in the world with more than 3,400 restaurants in seven countries. The brand is headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. For more information, visit Arbys.com
Norm Conard, the director of the Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes in Fort Scott, will receive an award in a special ceremony in honor of the 10th anniversary of Irena Sendler’s death.
The recognition is for Conard’s work with Life in a Jar: The Irena Sendler Project, which brought Irena Sendler’s name onto the global stage, according to a press release.
The Ministry of Culture and National Heritage in Poland along with Taube Philanthropies will present a special award to Conard at the Royal Castle in Warsaw, Poland, on June 11.
The award is presented in the name of Irena Sendler to Polish citizens who ‘preserve Jewish heritage and help renew Jewish culture in Poland.’
Conard is the first non-Polish citizen to receive the award.
“This is about emphasizing the history of the Jewish people in Poland,” Conard said in an interview with fortscott.biz. “Before the war there were 3,000,000 Jews after the war there were 30,000.”
Conard said he would be attending a dinner Sunday evening with two former presidents of Poland, in addition to the award ceremony.
Following is excerpts from Conards intended speech:
“There are many people who have impacted history, in extraordinary ways. Irena Sendler stands out because of her incredible courage and undying love for children. ‘People caring about others’ was her mantra, understanding the need to ‘repair the world,’ was her motto.
“I salute the Taube Philanthropies and the Ministry of Culture for the Country of Poland, for their wonderful desire to ‘preserve Jewish heritage and to help renew Jewish culture in Poland.’
“Many years ago there was a thriving Jewish life in this country. May that again be the case, as awards like this bring out heritage and history. The two entities involved with this ceremony both believe in the future of the Jewish people in Poland.
“Almost 20 years ago, a project began in Kansas, which would change many lives. It would also lead to a close personal relationship for my students and myself, with Irena Sendler. It was our privilege to travel to Poland and be with Irena on five occasions.
“These times with her would be filled with laughter, with tears, and with a transparency from Irena that would transform everyone in the room. She also would share many, many rich thoughts and wishes. Until her death in 2008, she constantly spoke out for those people who were downtrodden and would say again and again, that we must respect all people, regardless of race, religion or creed.
“As stated many times by Irena, her one regret in life was not being able to rescue more children. She also would want me to say, that these rescues were done by her network of over 25 people, always being humble and giving credit to them. She would always give the names of those in this brave, powerful, and passionate network, who assisted her in the rescue, hiding, and care of these children and adults from the Warsaw Ghetto and the streets of Warsaw.
“… I also stand here representing three high school students in Kansas and many other students and adults who have shared her story with the world.
“For Megan, Liz and Sabrina, I say, ‘Job well done,’ but there is much more in the process of repairing the world. To Bieta, Renata and other child survivors, I say, ‘Your love of sharing Irena’s story has made a tremendous impact on Poland and the world.’ To those presenting this award, I say, ‘Your honoring of courage and valor is so appropriate in our day and time. Her story is needed as much today, as ever before.’
“In the performance of Life in a Jar, there is a line that says, “Irena Sendler was a light, a spiritual light in the darkness. She repaired the world, one child at a time, and made a difference.”
