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04/26/2003 Archived Entry: "Navigation Bar, Sterling, Music and Orphan Trains"

NAVIGATION BAR, STERLING, MUSIC, ORPHAN TRAINS AND IDEAS

We've added some new things to my website navigation bar. The navigation bar is that list of stuff on the left of the splash page such as "Home", "Prairie Introduction", "Mom and Pop Shops"...the first page that comes up when you access my website.

If you run your cursor up and down that area, you'll see the new additions under "Kanopolis" and "Odds and Ends".

If you run your cursor over the Ellsworth County map, also on the left right under "Contact Peg", you'll see some new additions for the "Ellsworth High School" and "Ellsworth County" websites. When you slide your cursor over Ellsworth County link, you'll see stair step links to "City of Ellsworth" and "Ellsworth Heritage". Isn't that neat?

Those are the only recent additions, but check back frequently as we're always adding new material.

Yesterday I was in Wichita for an all-day meeting of facilitation boards across the state. It was very informational, interesting and fun. I went with a good friend from Sterling, Renee Lippincott, who is the director of their Main Street program. When you drive down the Main Street of Sterling you just feel good. It looks like a town where you'd like to live, visit, shop and own a business. A Main Street town since 1997, the effect of the state program has instilled an attitude in Sterling leaders about doing things well and being sensitive to appearances. They have also shown their support through funding.

A clean town with restored historic downtown buildings, old-fashioned street lamps and street signs, trees, benches and nice sidewalks give people a favorable reaction to the town.

A fire in February of 2002 destroyed some historic buildings in the 200 block. The owners were adamant that the new building fit the historic look of downtown. Getting an architect who had a sensitivity and appreciation for downtown architectural design was key. Look at the new home for Ben Marshall's Sterling Bulletin. It is a tremendous asset in the visual attractiveness of downtown Sterling.

Renee Lippincott is the sparkplug behind the Main Street Sterling program and full of wonderful ideas and enthusiasm.

I've been thinking about how nice it would be to have a city appreciation gathering for all our teachers and staff. I think it would be great if we could have a big picnic in Preisker Park, have town people buy up enough tickets for a catered BBQ to treat all the teachers...maybe have some homemade ice cream and cake. A town appreciation picnic. That sounds like a great idea to me. We do owe our teachers so much and rarely thank them enough.

Which reminds me of something I've blogged before...

Long ago we had a city band and city band concerts in the summer time in Preisker Park. It was great fun to go listen and either clap your hands or honk your horn in appreciation, depending on where you were sitting to listen to the music. If you forgot the Friday night concert and were still at home...no problem, you could hear faint strains of the music and the horns honking in unison did not go unnoticed. It always brought a smile to my face.

I think it would be wonderful if we could revive a city band and have concerts one night a week in one of the parks maybe occasionally in downtown Ellsworth...where people would gather for that and maybe have some other things to go along with it. Our stores could stay open and perhaps we could draw in some shoppers and listeners from other towns. We have a lot of musical talent, both young and old, and it would be wonderful if they would share that with the rest of us during those long summer evenings. They could be evenings of fun for everyone, including the musicians both experienced and beginners.

Concordia has been picked to be the home of the Orphan Train Museum. The Orphan Train Heritage Society of America recently selected Concordia to be the home of their national museum and research center. The museum will be in the 1917 Union Pacific depot that will be restored. The depot will also be used as a community center. In June they will host a five-state reunion of those who rode the orphan trains. Cloud County Community College is writing a play about the Orphan Train Experience. This major attraction will give people yet another reason to visit Concordia, along with the restored Brown Grand Theatre. You'll have a wonderful experience touring the Brown Grand with Susie Haver or Holly Andrews (Jan's daughter) showing you around.