Joplin Arts Fest set this weekend
From the Downtown Joplin Alliance
JOPLIN, MO — The 8th Annual Joplin Arts Fest will be held on Friday, Sept. 16, from 5-9pm and Saturday, Sept. 17 from 10am-3pm at the Joplin Empire Market, 931 E. Fourth St., Joplin, MO 64801. This is the second year for the Downtown Joplin Alliance to spearhead the festival after the Kiwanis Club of Joplin began it.
The festival will feature 30 artists, both local and from farther afield. Seven live musical groups, plus vintage swing dancers, will perform in the market courtyard behind the main building throughout the festival. Live performing arts at the festival is made possible by Connect2Culture.
Food served by market vendors and food trucks will include barbecue, chicken and waffles, Thai cuisine, sandwiches, gourmet hot dogs, and a variety of drinks, including fresh kombucha on tap. A courtyard bar will serve wine, beer, and artisan cocktails.
This year also features a communal art piece — “Mended Hearts.” Festival patrons are invited to create hearts from a variety of repurposed materials and include a handwritten letter expressing their hopes of healing the world within.
Other activities include: a 1980’s themed video store created by The Joplin Toad; the Missouri Southern State University Clay Club performing pottery wheel demonstrations; an art station where children of all ages are invited to make suncatchers with Spiva Center for the Arts.
New to this year’s festival are two scholarship opportunities: a BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) Scholarship, as well as an MSSU Art Major Scholarship. Waiving all festival fees and offering cash stipends to assist with other festival-related costs, the scholarships are meant to encourage greater accessibility and inclusion. The first BIPOC Scholarship is sponsored by EastTown Dreams District and Naomi Gonzales & Sean Hickey; the first MSSU Art Major Scholarship is sponsored by the Post Art Library.
Joplin Arts Fest is a collaborative partnership between Connect2Culture, Downtown Joplin Alliance, Joplin Regional Artists Coalition, Post Art Library, and Spiva Center for the Arts. Joplin Arts Fest 2022 is generously sponsored by Mid America RV, Southwest Missouri Bank, and Visit Joplin.
Economic Development Corporation Announces Award Nominees
From Cherokee County
The Cherokee County Economic Development Corporation is pleased to announce the nominees for its 2022 Recognition Awards. The four awards will be presented at the Corporation’s Recognition Breakfast on Sept. 28.
The Hall of Fame Award recognizes a business that has provided years of unselfish service to Cherokee County. Nominees are: Weston’s Café of Baxter Springs, Baxter State Bank, Mi Torito’s of Galena and Mid America Pipe Fabricating & Supply, LLC.
The Business Growth Award honors a Cherokee County business that has experienced significant growth. The four nominees are: Crossland Construction Company, Inc., D1 Resources, Inc. of Galena and Sweet Creek Diner of Galena.
The Rising Star Award acknowledges a promising young business in Cherokee County. Nominees are: Two of a Kind Boutique, LLC of Baxter Springs, Columbus Nutrition, JBirds LLC ice Cream Shop of Galena, Brea’s Bakery of Columbus and Erickson & Company Mercantile of Galena.
The Community Impact Award recognizes a business or organization that has positively influenced the quality of life in Cherokee County. The nominees are: Riggs Chiropractic, Mercy Hospital of Columbus, Optic Communications of Columbus, Galena Nursing and Rehabilitation and Pinnegar Construction of Columbus.
The Recognition Awards allow us an opportunity to highlight some outstanding local businesses and organizations. Each of our nominees is deserving of their respective award.
Anyone with an interest in local economic development is welcome to attend the Recognition Breakfast on Wednesday, Sept. 28 from 7:00 to 9:00 am at State Theatre Event Center, 104 W Pine St., Columbus. Tickets are $20 each, and a table of eight is available for $125. Please RSVP by Sept. 21 to David Stricklin by calling 620-762-0717 or emailing ds@ cherokeecountykansas.com.
Mark your calendar for the Pierce City Fall Festival
From the Pierce City Arts Council
Saturday, Sept. 24 promises to be a day packed with fun and festivities for the whole family, and it all can be found in Pierce City’s beautiful South Park, 100 S. Elm, from 10 am to 4 pm. Admission is free, and the event is hosted by the Pierce City Arts Council.
Start your holiday shopping early. Along the booth line will be an artist ally featuring Draw Pierce City winner 2022 Linda Hendricks of Joplin. Brooxie Vaughn Photography of Pierce City returns with an elegant booth for photos, a popular draw last year. Handmade items such as jewelry, pottery, crafts, artisan cookies, leather and woodworks, and much more can be found. There will be a farmer’s market complete with pumpkins, mums and other fall produce, homemade bread, and jams.
Made of Clay’s Christina Lorenzen of Joplin will offer a small clay project for all ages. A small fee may apply. The always anticipated “Junk Art Booth,” a Pierce City festival favorite, provides kids the opportunity to get creative in repurposing recyclable items.
Featured guest Ibiyinka Alao, United Nations Art Ambassador of Nigeria, and a recent visitor to PC Elementary will be at our festival this year! Visit www.Ibiyinka.com for more information about this world-renowned artist. Ibi will have a booth with hands-on watercolor painting. Monetary donations for workshops are encouraged.
New is Ozarks Knockerball, where all ages can tumble in a large bubble ball as if in a human foosball game. Pierce City native Gabe Douglas and his wife Bethany bring this thrill to Pierce City, along with a bouncy house; $5 for 5 minutes, or a $15 wristband for all day.
Also new is Gizmo’s Games which will offer a variety of fun challenges for everyone.
Bring your lawn chairs for live entertainment. Robin’s Hood, featuring sounds of soft rock, swing, and the blues, returns to the stage at 12 pm. New this year is a folk band of siblings from Pierce City called Allen Joy Lane. Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Caleb Miller, will take the stage throughout the day.
Indian Springs Brewery of Neoho, Track 94 Brewery of Seneca, and Just a Taste Winery of are planning to come and will prepare samples of their beverages and sell their products in the sampling garden for patrons 21 years and older. A small donation upon entry gets taste enthusiasts a festival souvenir wine glass for their sampling.
Food Trucks attending will be Who’s Hungry BBQ, Meg’s Smashburgers and Frozen Custard (Angus Branch owner), Cherish Cook, Kona Ice, and B & N Concessions.
The Pierce City Arts Council is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization celebrating its 14th year supporting the arts in our community.
Contact Becky Golubski at 417.489.3041 for volunteer opportunities, membership, company or private sponsorship, vendor info (festival booth fee $35), and all other opportunities.
JPL to offer STEAM and phonics kits
From the Joplin Public Library
Joplin Public Library has added 12 STEAM and phonics kits, thanks to a Missouri State Library-funded grant. The kits are geared to children and teens, and library cardholders can check out one kit at a time for three weeks.
Four kits will be housed in the Teen Department and can be checked out at the Teen Desk or Reference Desk, and eight will be housed in the Children’s Department and can be checked out at the Children’s Desk.
The STEAM-to-GO kits contain high and low-tech toys and games from Penworthy books that are designed to foster hands-on learning. Available STEAM kits include: Money, Math, and Economics; Letters and Numbers; Yoga for Mindfulness; Tot Game Night; Green Energy; Building and Design; Explore the Outdoors; and Family Game Night. Available phonics kits include: Ready, Set, Kindergarten; Biscuit Phonics; Pete the Cat Loves Preschool; and Little Critters Phonics.
STEAM-based learning is foundational to help children and teens develop skills including problem-solving, collaborative learning and critical thinking through hands-on learning. Though the Library currently offers select STEAM kits, this grant allows the Children’s and Teen departments to meet the needs of more families in more diverse ways.
This project is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by the Missouri State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State.
For information or to reserve kits, visit the Library’s catalog at https://www.joplinpubliclibrary.org and search “STEAM to go,” or contact the Children’s or Teen Departments (417-623-7953).
NEO partners with Northeast Tech to fast track nurses
From Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College
Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and Northeast Tech have partnered to provide a seamless transition for Licensed Practical Nurse students to pursue the applied associate degree for Registered Nurses from NEO on the Northeast Tech Kansas campus. The application is now open and due Sept 23, 2022.
The NEO Associate Degree Nursing Fast Track program begins January 2023 with a capacity of 10 students. Students attend the Northeast Tech campus in Kansas, Oklahoma each Thursday for skills labs and examinations, and participate in clinicals every Friday at a partnering hospital. The program is offered in a hybrid format with both online and in-person instruction.
NEO’s nursing program dates back to 1975, and offers a traditional nursing program and fast track option at the Miami campus. The Northeast Tech partnership creates a second fast track program and expands our program to the Northeast Tech Kansas campus.
The fast…
