Chase County Doin's by Sue Scott Smith - October

December 16, 2010 - Got a major infusion of Christmas lights last week, and the promise of more to come this week. Life is good!

Speaking of which.....have you driven up Vine Street yet? We'd suggest that you enter at 2nd and Mulberry, traveling west on Second 'till you turn the corner south onto Vine. The display is "directional". There are a couple of units which need some TLC, but that'll have to wait until after the weekend. One thing we're learning about the displays, is that they ARE temperamental!! The displays are lighted from 6 to 9:30 each evening/afternoon. We hope you will enjoy it. And Merry Christmas from the folks on Vine, (plus a few good neighbors and friends).

The Chase County Ministerial Alliance ANGEL TREE is up at the Emma. There are still MANY tags which need your attendtion this year. The need is great!

And speaking of the Ministerial Alliance - they will host the Grand Opening of their new Food Pantry this Saturday, December 19 at the former Methodist Parsonage in Strong City. Might we suggest that as you stop by to appreciate their efforts, that you carry a can or two of foodstuffs or paper products to add to the collection.

Friday, December 16th is TALLGRASS GOSPEL.........and definitely CHRISTMAS CAROLS!

There will be no jam session on Christmas Eve.

Even though the Emma will not be open for dinner on the evening of the 31st so that staff can spend that time with family, there WILL be a jam session New Year's Eve at 7:30, and ya'll are invited.

And it's another year gone pfffffut! In our darned-near-to-the-end-of-2010 Community of Chase County, Kansas.

December 9, 2010 - So, this week, it's "Greetings from Branson". Isn't this globe-trotting fun? Gotta have a major infusion of Christmas Lights!

Speaking of which.....have you driven up Vine Street yet? We'd suggest that you enter at 2nd and Mulberry, traveling west on Second, 'till you turn the corner south onto Vine. The display is "directional". There are a couple of units which need some TLC, but that'll have to wait until after the weekend. One thing we're learning about the displays, is that they ARE temperamental. The displays are lighted from 6 to 9:30 each evening/afternoon. We hope you will enjoy it. And Merry Christmas from the folks on Vine, (plus a few good friends & neighbors).

The Chase County ANGEL TREE is up at the Emma. As always, there are youngsters who are hoping that you'll stop by the pick up a tag to fill........to make somebody's Christmas bright. Gifts may be returned (not wrapped) by December 19th. Gifts will be distributed by the Chase County Ministerial Alliance.

Friday night, December 10th is K-177 BLUEGRASS PICKIN'. And maybe a Christmas Carol or two.

HANK the COWDOG! Make plans to join us at the Emma on Saturday evening, December 11th for this year's Dinner Theatre with the Community Theatre of Emporia. The evening is by reservation - Dinner is served at 6:30, and the performance is at 7:30. And this year's performance is.....yes, it is.....HANK the COWDOG! The Readers' Theatre Group did a different HANK presentation a couple of years ago, and we laughed till we cried! Dinner and Theatre is $15.00. For reservations, call 273-6020. We'll see ya' there.

Friday, December 16th is TALLGRASS GOSPEL.........and definitely CHRISTMAS CAROLS!

There will be no jam session on Christmas Eve.

But we WILL be makin' music on New Year's Eve.

And it's another year in the bag! Wow! In our darned-near-to-the-end-of-another-year Community of Chase County, Kansas.

December 2, 2010 - Greetings from balmy Austin, Texas. The new baby is a hum-dinger!

Guess the next event on the calendar is TALLGRASS PICKIN' on Friday evening, December 3rd.

The next evening, join the Cottonwood Falls United Methodist Church SOUP SUPPER and AUCTION on Saturday, December 4th at the Masonic Temple.

Friday evening, December 10th is K-177 BLUEGRASS PICKIN' jam session.

Followed by The EMPORIA COMMUNITY THEATRE performance at the Emma Chase Cafe on Saturday, December 11th. The evening is by reservation only - (620) 273-6020.

CHRISTMAS ON VINE will be lighted every evening from 6 to 10 p.m., through January 6, 2011. (That's appropriate for the Twelve Days of Christmas).

For your long-range calendar.....mark the 3rd Saturday night of every month during 2011.....The TALLGRASS EXPRESS will be performing for all of us. (Except March......and we'll announce the March group as soon as they're signed!) But we'll drop a hint..........it will probably have something to do with Jeff Schaefer!

And DO remember Saturday, January 29th. That's Kansas Day, and it will be the occasion of a FINE Sesquicentennial Celebration for Chase County, Kansas......featuring the PRAIRIE ROSE RANGERS, here in Cottonwood Falls!

The year 2011 promises to be a boat-load of fun. We hope you'll find enough to keep yourselves busy - in our Entertainment-rich Community of Chase County, Kansas!

November 25, 2010 - This weekend is a BIG 'un. Assuming that you've had your fill of Turkey & Dressing, plan to join us at 7:30 Friday evening for OLD TIMEY ROCK & ROLL and VINTAGE COUNTRY jam session. We'll plan to stop a little early Friday night.........BECAUSE.......

Saturday is CHASE COUNTY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS Day, beginning at 8:00 a.m. with the LIONS CLUB BISCUIT & GRAVY BREAKFAST at the Emma....until 10:00. Throughout the day.....Remembrance Celebration, Tour of Homes, Silent Auction Baskets, Arts & Crafts Fair, Meet the Artists at Prairie PastTimes, Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, Children's Craft Workshop, Fabulous Fruitcake Toss, Lighted Christmas Parade, Visits with Santa, and Christmas on Vine Street. Plan to attend the CHRISTMAS CONTRA DANCE at Prairie PastTimes, and CHRISTMAS CAROLING at the Emma, following the CourtHouse & Bridge Lighting Ceremony. Whew! Check www.chasecountychamber.org for times and places.

And you KNOW, don't you.......that these Saturday events signal the beginning of the Christmas Season all over the World! Yup!

And then, one more blink of the eye, and it's December!

Friday, December 3rd, TALLGRASS PICKIN'.

Saturday, December 4th, Cottonwood Falls United Methodist Church SOUP SUPPER & AUCTION.

Friday, December 10th, K-177 BLUEGRASS PICKIN'.
Saturday, December 11th, The EMPORIA COMMUNITY THEATREDinner Theatre at the Emma.

Friday, December 17, TALLGRASS GOSPEL Jam Session.

There will be no music session on Christmas Eve.

But there WILL be Music on New Year's Eve. Plan on it......in our Festive Thanksgiving Community of Chase County, Kansas!

November 18, 2010 - We had a fun evening last Friday night. It was BlueGrass night. There were more musicians than "listeners", which only proves this: A "listener" is a more or less normal person, who would think twice before going out in the rain and cold. A BlueGrass Musician is somebody who would have walked to the jam session barefooted in order to play music, and didn’t REALIZE that it was raining!

And another FUN thing to report: The bandmembers of CEDAR CREEK CROSSING, a band with whom we are working to plan a Saturday night performance sometime in the late Winter, joined us for the jam session. They do some really nice BlueGrass Gospel that we’ll try to bring you.

The Mustangs on Saturday evening were delightful - as were the Horseless Carriages on Sunday!

So, it appears that the next big event on the calendar is Thanksgiving, closely followed by Chase County Country Christmas! Liberally sprinkled with Friday night music in between......

Friday evening, November 19 will be TALLGRASS GOSPEL Pickin’.

And Friday night, November 26 will be OLD TIMEY ROCK & ROLL and VINTAGE COUNTRY. And then, November is OVER! Oh, My! How’d this happen so quickly?

The Emporia Community Theatre performers are planning to return to Dinner Theatre at the Emma on Saturday, December 11th.

Is there such a thing as track shoes with mud treads? In our So Extra-Busy Community of Chase County, Kansas!

November 11, 2010 - Ah, there are GRAND things to report this week: With the pledges yet to be collected, and the checks and cash in the bank......we have made it over the top of the CourtHouse Clock Repair Fund Goal. With a few bucks extra, if necessary. Contributions came from as far away as New York, Oregon, Oklahoma, Missouri and California, and who knows where the folks were from who contributed at a couple of Pickin’ evenings. And, of course, from you folks right here at home. Thanks so much. We’ll try to be at the Commissioners’ next meeting to ask them to get the clock ticking!

And a FUN thing: We have heard from the bandmembers of CEDAR CREEK CROSSING, who plan to join us for BlueGrass Pickin’ this Friday evening. Cedar Creek Crossing band is going to perform on a Saturday evening sometime after the first of the year. And they want to meet you and give you a taste of their wonderful music before then!

THEN.......on Saturday afternoon, weather permitting, we are expecting some awesome Mustang automobiles from the South Central Kansas Mustang Club to join us in CWF for the afternoon/evening. Ya’ll are invited to come to town to admire the rides!

We had a great time with Mary and Dena in town this past weekend. The Bazaar Bazaar was so much fun!

So, it appears that the next big event on the calendar is Thanksgiving, closely followed by Chase County Country Christmas! Liberally sprinkled with Friday night music in between......

THIS Friday night, November 12 will be K-177 BLUEGRASS PICKIN’.

Friday evening, November 19 will be TALLGRASS GOSPEL Pickin’.

And Friday night, November 26 will be OLD TIMEY ROCK & ROLL and VINTAGE COUNTRY. And then, November is OVER! OH, for heaven’s SAKE!

The Emporia Community Theatre performers are planning to return to Dinner Theatre at the Emma on Saturday, December 11th.

More vitamins, folks - more vitamins! In our Busier-than-anything Community of Chase County, Kansas!

November 4, 2010 - Alright, now.........THIS is the weekend that we welcome Mary Kleinsorge and her Mother, Dena back to town for a visit. Mary will join us at TALLGRASS PICKIN’ Friday evening at 7:30 p.m. And Dena will be at the Emma from 10:00 to 1:00 on Saturday to visit.

Then, they will BOTH attend the BAZAAR BAZAAR on Saturday evening at the Bazaar SchoolHouse. Dinner at 6:00, with the Auction following. We may have a surprise or two in store for you there! Ya’ll come!

Friday evening, November 12th will be K-177 BLUEGRASS PICKIN’.

And on Saturday, November 13th, if you’re in the neighborhood, plan to stop by downtown Cottonwood Falls for a moment. The South Central Kansas Mustang Club are planning a run to CWF on Saturday afternoon. Weather permitting, we might get to see some pretty fancy rides!

Friday, November 19th will be TALLGRASS GOSPEL PICKIN’.

There will be no MENS’ PRAYER BREAKFAST on Thanksgiving Thursday morning.

Friday night, November 26th will be OLD TIMEY ROCK & ROLL and VINTAGE COUNTRY.

And Saturday, November 27th will be CHASE COUNTY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS. Again - already! The day will begin with the Twin Cities Lions Club Biscuit and Gravy Breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m. at the Emma.........And we know about Remembrance Celebration; the Tour of Homes; the "Meet the Artist" at Prairie PastTimes; the Christmas parade; the Lighting of the CourtHouse; the Christmas Carol Singing at the Emma afterwards; and the Christmas Contra Dance at Prairie PastTimes. We’ll be sure to find out about everything else, and get it to you between now and then.

And for your long-range social calendar - the Emporia Community Theatre performers are planning to come to the Emma on Saturday, December 11th, with another edition of Community Dinner Theatre .........and we’ve heard rumors of "Hank the Cowdog". We’ll bring details later.

Remember to set your clocks BACK Saturday evening before you go to bed, so that you’ll be on time for whatever it is you have to do on
Sunday!

And so begins the Holiday Frenzy - in our Crispy FallTime Community of Chase County, Kansas.

October 28, 2010 - This Friday night is the 5th Friday of the month, so we’ll get together for OLD TIMEY MUSIC jam session at 220 ½ Broadway at 7:30 p.m.

The Childrens’ HALLOWEEN PARTY is at the Strong City Fire Station in Strong, Saturday, October 30th at 5:00 p.m.

The MASQUERADE BALL is Saturday, October 30th at 7:30 p.m. at 220 ½ Broadway.

The TRICK or TRUNK for all the little ghosties & goblins is scheduled for downtown Cottonwood Falls, Sunday afternoon, October 31st from 4 to 6 p.m.

On Friday evening, November 5th, we’ll gather for TALLGRASS PICKIN’. A special guest that evening will be Mary Kleinsorge from Delta, Colorado.

The BAZAAR BAZAAR will be Saturday evening, October 6th at the Bazaar SchoolHouse at 5:30 p.m. Mary Kleinsorge and her Mother, Dena, will be there with a special treat for all of us.

And then, it’s not too far away from Chase County Country Christmas! Big things are a’ brewin’ for THAT!

Does anybody have more fun than we do here in our VERY busy Community of Chase County, Kansas?

October 21, 2010 - This is neat.........we’ve been beseiged by requests from music groups who want to perform in Cottonwood Falls. Seems that they’ve been inspired by "RoundAbout" and "TallGrass Express". Whatever.......we’ll bring as many of ‘em to you as we can.

Met another new musician at TallGrass Gospel Pickin’ last Friday. What a beautiful voice - we hope he can come back often. He’s from Marion, and he did say that his choice of music would be Gospel Pickin’ night.

This week we have options - again. On Friday night, we’ll enjoy OLD TIMEY ROCK & ROLL and VINTAGE COUNTRY Music. Music at 7:30 p.m.

Then, on Saturday, plan to toot on out to Saffordville for the SAFFORDVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH HARVEST DINNER.

Eat fast, then get back to CWF for the October session of CONTRA DANCE. Beginner lessons at 6:30, and the dance begins at 7:00. Wear clean, soft-soled shoes for the wooden floor, please.

There’s five Fridays this month, so plan to attend the OLDE TYME MUSIC acoustic jam session on Friday, October 29th at 7:30 p.m.

And the 1st MASQUERADE BALL on Saturday, October 30 at 7:30 p.m.

TALLGRASS PICKIN’ on the 1st Friday night of November (that’d be the 5th).

And the BAZAAR BAZAAR will happen on Saturday evening, November 6th at 5:30 p.m. Remember - this is the turkey & dressing dinner with all the trimmings, followed by the Bazaar Ladies’ Aid Auction. Time to do some Christmas shopping!!!!!

Oh, yes - thought we should mention - that the PRAIRIE ROSE RANGERS are scheduled to be part of the entertainment for the Kansas Day Sesquicentennial Celebration here in Chase County, Kansas, on Saturday, January 29, 2011. Every time we hear of additional details for the 150th Kansas Birthday Party, it sounds more and more exciting!

Branson was fun, but it was good to get home to Friday night pickin’.........in our nearly-no-traffic Community of Chase County, Kansas!

October 14, 2010 - Oh! My! I can’t imagine that we could have heard BETTER BlueGrass Music than we heard right here in Chase County, Kansas last Saturday night! All we can do for you at this moment - is to say - that if you EVER heard that "RoundAbout" is performing anywhere near you - GET THERE!!!

Okay - back to reality, now. Got lots comin’ up. There’ll be TALLGRASS GOSPEL Pickin’ on Friday night this week.

And there’ll be OLD TIMEY ROCK & ROLL and VINTAGE COUNTRY Pickin’ on the 22nd.

And on Saturday night the 23rd, plan to enjoy the SAFFORDVILLE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH DINNER.

Then, you can make it back to town for the CONTRA DANCE at 7:00. (Beginner instruction at 6:30.)

There’re be OLDE TYME MUSIC jam session on Friday, October 29th.

And the MASQUERADE BALL on Saturday night the 30th.

The first Friday night in November will be TALLGRASS PICKIN’.

And the first Saturday night in November ( the 6th) will be the famous BAZAAR BAZAAR!

Then, CHASE COUNTY COUNTRY CHRISTMAS on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

And on and on it goes!

Clear up until Saturday, January 29th, 2011........when we’ll all gather ‘round for the Kansas Sesquicentennial Celebration happenin’ right here in Chase County, Kansas!

We trust that several of you historic gentlemen are growing the prize-winning beard for the beard contest. Shirley has updated us on the presenters who have agreed to participate.........VERY INTERESTING! This should be fun!

Numbers for the CourtHouse Clock Campaign are currently standing at $6,145.00 in donations and pledges.

We were out yesterday for a long drive - couldn’t believe the change in the leaves in just a week’s time. Gonna sneak off for a three-day vacation - where else? To Silver Dollar City - to listen to some more music! Ya’ll enjoy this beautiful weather, now, in our Colorfun Autumn Community of Chase County, Kansas!

October 7, 2010 - Isn’t the weather spectacular? A friend has said that he thought the weather ought to stay just like this until December 24th. At which time, it could snow enough to cover everything. Which should melt off by Noon Christmas Day. Then, it should stay just like this until next Spring. Sounds reasonable to me!

Well, obviously, the excitement for this week will be the "ROUNDABOUT" Concert on Saturday night. Five of the hottest BlueGrass Pickers in this part of the Prairie! Each of whom is a spectacular musician in his own right. Music begins at 7:30 p.m. at 220 ½ Broadway. Can’t WAIT!

And Friday night ought to be somethin’, too. It’s K-177 BLUEGRASS PICKIN’.

Friday night, October 15 will be TALLGRASS GOSPEL PICKIN’.

Friday night, October 22 will be OLD TIMEY ROCK & ROLL jam session.

Let’s see: The Saffordville United Methodist Church HARVEST SUPPER will be Saturday, October 23.....held at the Saffordville SchoolHouse.

The CONTRA DANCE on Saturday evening, October 23rd - at 220 1/2 Broadway.

Friday night, October 29 will be CONTRA Pickin’.

The MASQUERADE BALL will be Saturday, October 30th.

The BAZAAR BAZAAR Dinner and Auction will be Saturday, November 6 at the Bazaar SchoolHouse.

We’ve had reports from the Sesquicentennial Committee - that the 150th Birthday Party plan is shaping up nicely........and that folks seem genuinely excited. We now know that the day (Saturday, January 29th, 2011) will begin with a Twin Cities Lions’ Club Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast at the Emma from 8 to 10 a.m. And we hear tell that Miss Emma has located the recipe for Buffalo Stew for the dinner meal.......prior to the OLD TIMEY DANCE which will finish the evening. We trust that the Gentlemen have put the shaving equipment away for the duration. We’ll need lots of participation in the Beard Growing Contest. The first time we ever heard of a beard growing contest was Council Grove’s Centennial Celebration.......and that was more than 50 years ago. Good Grief! Little Jimmy Dickins was the featured performer there. And a bunch of us 6th or 7th graders square danced in their parade. Ooooh!

So it is.......in our Crispy Fall Community of Chase County, Kansas!