News and Notes 08/20/2018

​Difficult to top the fun of last weekend, yes?  Unless, of course, it’s the fun planned for the coming weekend in our town.
      Let’s check the rear view first. Ad Hockers gave several hearty three cheers for the businesses, organizations and people that supported and sponsored last weekend's events.
      •  Community Water Fight: Fuqua Insurance, The Good Merchant, Lindsborg Realty, Hemslojd, People’s Bank and Trust, Lindsborg Arts Council, Scott’s Hometown Foods and the Lindsborg Volunteer Fire Department, among others
      •  Lindsborg Landmark Concert featuring "Everyday Lights”:   sponsored by First Bank Kansas with the Lindsborg Arts Council and Smoky Valley Community Foundation (and Loren Banninger and Jason Hooper on sound, Officer Eric Kruckenberg for impromptu traffic control, and Karmon Almquist for bridge lighting).  Not to mention concert series hub and chief organizer Mike Dreier of Fuqua Insurance.   
       •  children’s art projects to rehab the Viking Valley dala horse and tiles:  city recreation director Beth Ferguson, USD 400 art teacher Courtney Friesen, Lindsborg Arts Council president Amy Dreier, everyone at the Hemslojd, and Lindsborg CVB director Holly Lofton.
      There’s gobs of good community energy represented in just those three bullet points, friends. Now add that to the incredibly detailed, multi-day plan hatched over the past year and carried out by Bethany College staff, faculty and administration with help from the community and alums to orient and welcome a record-smashing 358 freshmen (including 96 freshmen in The Good Life Scholarship program).  Orientation period ends tonight with a “glow party” replete with music and glowing wearables and washable glow paint from 8-10 p.m. on campus. 
      It’s worth taking a moment to appreciate the scope and meaning of all that work and shared effort in just. one. weekend. in Lindsborg.  Hats off to all.
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     Among those enjoying the community water fight, Old Mill Bridge concert, and children’s art projects was the irrepressible Matt Landau, international spokesman for the fun of “living like a local” in vacation rentals all over the world.  Matt and his two-person video crew, Tammy and Stu, were, yes, impressed.  Matt told CVB director Holly Lofton that everyone he talked with during his week-long stay “sang about Lindsborg with one voice.”  After a few rest days, they will head to Lisbon, Portugal, to being work on a program there.
      Matt came to Lindsborg at the invitation of Lindsborg historic property owner Jim Prugh, whose new vacation rentals and other high-quality redevelopment projects have attracted new investment, businesses and people to the community over more than a decade. Jim told Holly that he appreciated Lindsborg trusting him and swinging into action when he said Matt’s visit was important.  “I could only have asked this of Lindsborg because I trust Lindsborg,” Jim said.
     We are grateful to Jim's confidence in making this invitation to Matt.  We are grateful to the “Sense of Place” host and crew for being open and able to experience to what Lindsborg and its neighbors in rural Kansas offer. And we are grateful to CVB director Holly Lofton for organizing an incredible range of options for and gently shepherding Matt, Stu and Tammy.  The Lindsborg episode of “Sense of Place” may be available for viewing later this year. We’ll keep you informed.
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      In celebration of the start of its sixth year, Ad Hockers looked back this morning at past and current priorities as well as the vibe and connections that make Ad Hoc work. We also began to look ahead — to reaffirm some priorities and seed some new.  We’ll have recap these discussions in next week’s News and Notes.  For now, suffice to say that 8 a.m. Mondays should remain on your calendars.
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       Now about the coming weekend:
       •  Smoky Valley School supporters will hold a benefit BBQ competition and frisbee feed on Saturday, Aug. 25 Proceeds of entry fees and food sales go to Smoky Valley After Prom Fund. Competitors’ meats go on their barbecues early in the downtown area. The winner will score a Green Mountain tailgate grill donated by Anderson Body Shop of Lindsborg.  Sandwiches, beans and chips will be served on frisbees on the 100 block of South Main starting at 6 p.m.  That’s $7 a plate as long as it lasts, folks.
       •  How many years has Lindsborg had a back-to-school season street dance?  It’s been so many years we can’t remember, but Lindsborg’s Street Dance has become a community and visitor fave.   Singer/guitarist Sam Unruh serenades from 6:30-7:30 p.m. on Main Street, then the band “Free Range Chicken” takes the stage from 8-10 p.m.  It’s free to all, thanks again to generous sponsors, and geared for all ages.  Children’s activities will be available, as will cotton candy and popcorn for purchase from the Kiwanis Club of Lindsborg and Lions Club of Lindsborg. And here’s something new. Ice cream will be served by our friends at the Swedish Country Inn!   
        It’s a summer trifecta — food, free open air music and family fun.  Spread the word and bring your lawn chairs for another great weekend in The Borg.