It's Unbound Gravel week! Welcome the athletes, make plans to come to the Finish Line festivities on Saturday, and cross your fingers for good weather!

Hello Casey,

Unbound Gravel week is here! Make sure you invite family and friends (especially out-of-town guests) to the Finish Line Party on Saturday!!!!

We still have a few shifts that we are looking for Volunteer HELP this Saturday! Please join us if you can. Click HERE!

Lots of new Emporia shirts in stock!! Stop by the Emporia Main Street Office at 727 Commercial Street or buy online HERE!

There are several PRIDE activities happening in Emporia this month! For a complete list, visit our website! If you or your organization has an activity to share, please contact the office!

Pride Shirts Now Available at 727 Commercial Street or online at emporiamainstreet.com

Hey Main Streeters! In celebration of PRIDE month (June) we want to spread good vibes to our community members and visitors! If you would like one of these posters for your business or organization, stop by our office at 727 Commercial Street! The posters are 17x12 and were created in our Fab Lab. No charge - just be a good human! Everyone is Welcome in Emporia!

For immediate release:

Emporia Art Center to Present 

Nature Of Things an Art Exhibition by Jim Sallenbach

Emporia, KS – The Emporia Arts Center will host an Artist’s Opening Reception for Jim Sallenbach in the Trusler Gallery, 815 Commercial St, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm on Thursday, June 1st, 2023. The exhibition will be on display June 1st – 30th, 2023.

Jim Sallenbach takes ordinary discarded objects and turns them into thought provoking pieces of art. He deconstructs the past and rebuilds pieces to suit his concepts. Using all his experiences and all the places he has lived and learned he puts forth a brilliant exhibition that showcases his unique voice. One that speaks to what influences him and all his ideas for the future. 

Jim has shown nationally and internationally - with some of his pieces being in private collections across the country and in Europe.

Come see Nature of Things June 1st and meet Jim! He will also have an artist talk during the reception at 5:15.

For additional information, contact:

Sarah Bulinski

Gallery Coordinator

Emporia Arts Center

620-343-6473

sbulinski@emporiaksarts.org

Are you hiring? Are you looking for a new opportunity? CLICK HERE to list your jobs & to view listings!

Now is the time to get your applications in for the Veterans Banner Program. Submitting an application gets your name/app into the lottery drawing that will take place on Monday, July 3rd at 10 am. If you have already submitted an application (previous years) we have it on file. If you want to confirm, please call the office at 620-340-6430. If you would like to submit an online application, click the link below. Sponsorship payment and pictures not needed at this time. CLICK HERE.

Our volunteers are gearing up for the Adopt-A-Garden program this season! We have a few beds that need adopted. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Jess at community@emporiamainstreet.com

Unbound Gravel Finish Line Celebration - June 3, 2023

SOLD OUT

The Dynamic Disc Open Block Party & Food Truck Fest - June 17th, 2023

We Love Disc Golf in Emporia! The Dynamic Disc Open & Food Truck Fest is another opportunity to hang with professional disc golfers, disc golf vendors, spectators and the Emporia community. We estimate 3,000 plus attendees for this event. To register, visit  https://emporiamainstreet.com/events/ddo/

For more information on the Disc Golf Tourney, visit: https://www.dgpt.com/event/dynamic-discs-open-2023

The Great American Market - September 9th

For the past 20 years, the Great American Market has been bringing thousands of shoppers to downtown Emporia. This event welcomes vendors of all kinds (must be family friendly) from all over Kansas and the region. It is an early morning, but we anticipate over 7,000 shoppers if the weather is nice. For more information on the event and to register, visit https://emporiamainstreet.com/events/great-american-market/

Events like the Dynamic Discs Open have a significant positive impact on our local community! These events are so successful in part due to the fantastic community members who volunteer their time during these events. Disc golf knowledge, while beneficial for some tasks, is not required! Volunteers receive Event Staff T-shirts, a commemorative disc, opportunities to spectate, and vouchers which can be redeemed at our Pro Shop in downtown Emporia! More info here: https://dynamicdiscsopen.com/volunteer-sign-up, or contact Scarlett Lowery at scarlett@dynamicdiscs.com.

The Dynamic Discs Open Sponsorship greatly benefits the Emporia community and relies on your support. With events of this scale, it takes a collective effort to ensure its success. Dynamic Discs provides sponsorship packages ranging from $250 to $2,000, and for more details, you can reach out to Jackie Morris at jackie@dyamicdiscs.com.

Upcoming Activity Listing

June 3- Unbound Gravel Finish Line Party

June 17- Dynamic Discs Open Block Party and Food Truck Festival

July 25-26- Kansas Main Street Economic Vitality Training in Newton

August 21- Welcome Back Block Party

September 7-8- Kansas Main Street Organization Training in Salina

September 9- Great American Market

September 22-23- Apella

October 16-18- Kansas Main Street Promotion Training in Dodge City

October 28- Downtown Trick or Treat, Dia de los Meurtos, ESU Homecoming

April 13 (2024)- The Taste

We have a lot of international visitors in town this week for the Unbound Gravel activities, and we will have additional international guests in town for the upcoming Dynamic Discs Open. International visitors pose some unique opportunities and challenges for the region. It's awesome that we have people from around the world that want to visit Emporia, but to capitalize on international tourism we need to remember a few basic concepts:

Provide clear and concise information. Make sure this information is available in multiple languages. Remember that programs like Chat GPT and Bard have contextual translation built into their AI. Use your tech options to facilitate communication.

Suggest in-town routes for transport. Cyclists bike to different places, and many nations around the world are much less auto-dependent than the United States. It may seem weird to an international rider to avoid Highway 50 (6th Avenue) or the Interstate when traveling. Suggesting in-town routes to downtown could be appreciated and enhance local safety.

Help athletes to connect with the local community. Many international citizens have a distorted view of the Midwest, and the United States in general. Engaging in conversation can create advocacy for Emporia on a much broader geographic scale. For example, we've been asked in the past what we "do with the gravel roads when we aren't riding on them", or we have to dispel that we are still like the old westerns that international folks see on their televisions. Talk about our unique attributes and get to know the participants and where they are from. Become a positive community advocate by engaging visitors.

Be welcoming and friendly. Athletes will be grateful for your hospitality and support. Make sure they feel welcome and appreciated during their stay. A smile and a "thank you for coming to Emporia", "we hope you enjoy the Flint Hills", or "good luck with your race" can mean a lot to visiting athletes.

Be mindful of cultural differences. Different cultures have different customs and expectations. Be sure to research the cultures of the athletes who will be attending your event so that you can make them feel comfortable.

Be patient and understanding. Athletes may be tired and stressed from traveling. Be patient with them and understanding of their needs. Unbound Gravel is now part of a series of events that, when coupled with sponsorship opportunities, could impact the livelihood of professional cyclists. Nerves may run a little high this week. Try and show some grace.

Make plans to come downtown this Saturday and welcome riders into the Emporia Main Street Finish Line Party! Nothing hypes a rider up like cheers (and more cowbell) from a crowd of people after an epic race!

#Promotion

1. "What will you do if it rains during the Unbound (Gravel)?" From a few locals. The Unbound Gravel Finish Line Party is a "rain or shine" event. The event will still occur, just like it did last year when we had periods of intermittent rain.

2. "When can we expect riders to hit town?" From a local volunteer. A lot of riders are already here. You should see a significant influx on Thursday and Friday of this week.

3. "Are all these people coming to town going to obey the rules of the road?" From some local internet chatter. Everyone should obey the rules of the road, regardless of whether they are a visitor or a local citizen. However, when we have people that are new to the community and don't quite know their way around, showing a little grace and courtesy is important. Drive defensively and pay extra attention to your surroundings this week.

4. "Why don't you promote Memorial Day activities?" From an online question. Memorial Day (originally known as Decoration Day) is a federal holiday in the United States for honoring and mourning the U.S. military personnel who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Those that work with Emporia Main Street know that we are big supporters of our men and women in the armed forces, and we show that support through the veterans banner project, Freedom Fest, soldier care package drives, scholarships for the children of local enlisted men & women, and "Beyond the Banners" programming which supported mental health training to combat PTSD. However, we can only promote what we are aware of. If you have something occurring that you would like to partner with Emporia Main Street on to benefit the community, contact Emporia Main Street and we can talk through options.

5. "Why are you giving away (Everyone is Welcome in Emporia) posters when we had to pay for Covid (yard signs)?" From an online comment on one of our social media accounts. During the early stages of the pandemic, Emporia Main Street worked with a small group forming the Greater Emporia Area Disaster Relief Fund. Business shutdowns and recalibrations were a shock to our entrepreneurial community, and while the state and federal governmental entities worked to get necessary resources out, that process took time (time our businesses didn't have). So, we engaged in mask production (with a lot of volunteers), direct donation solicitation, and yard sign sales for fundraising. The funds raised were granted to several businesses over a multi-county area.

The "Everyone is Welcome in Emporia" initiative isn't a fundraiser. As locals, we consider ourselves "nice people" and our pleasant personalities are often cited as one of the most beloved aspects of our area by visitors. However, we need to understand that the outside perception of rural America isn't always positive. Conventions, visitors, and businesses are sometimes hesitant to travel or locate in rural communities because they think that they (or their family/friends) won't be accepted in a community for a variety of reasons. You would be surprised how a small sign or gesture letting people know they are welcome makes a huge difference. Given the nature of the post in question, I guess I would ask: is the statement "Everyone is Welcome in Emporia" untrue? Are there people that are unwelcome in rural communities? If so, who are those people? If rural communities expect to grow and thrive, we have to remain open and welcoming to diversity in our population. We've said repeatedly "downtown belongs to everyone" and we mean it. Everyone is welcome in Emporia.

Pay your City of Emporia water bill online by visiting https://bit.ly/EmporiaOnlineBillPay

With online services, you can pay your City of Emporia utility bill by credit card, debit card, or check and manage your account.

If your account is past-due or if your water service has been disconnected, you will need to contact Customer Service for assistance with your account at 620-343-4244. Our Customer Service Representatives are available to assist you from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday thru Friday.

NEW YORK, NY: The hit DreamWorks animated franchise, Madagascar, is now a live stage musical that will “Move It, Move It” to WLW Civic Auditorium on June 4^th at 6:00pm, as part of the 12-week national tour. Join Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip-hop Hippo, and those hilarious, plotting penguins as they bound out of the zoo and onto the stage in this live musical adventure. The family-friendly musical features new original music and a colorful cast of larger-than-life characters from the iconic film.

June 4^th, 6:00pm at WLW Civic Auditorium. Tickets can be purchased at emporiaksarts.org/performingarts



Madagascar the Musical features everyone’s favorite crack-a-lackin' friends as they escape from their home in New York's Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien's Madagascar. Complete with high-energy dance numbers and plenty of comedic shenanigans, this story of friendship, hope, and adventure will leave audiences with no choice but to "Move It, Move It!" With a book by Kevin Del Aguila and original music and lyrics by George Noriega and Joel Someillan, the musical features songs “I Like to Move It,” “It’s Showtime,” “Wild and Free,” “Best Friends,” “Relax, Be Cool, Chill Out,” “Living in Paradise,” “Together Forever,” and more.

With original direction by Kirk Jameson, the cast features Gary Paul Bowman (Alex), Sterling McClary (Marty), Maria Norris (Gloria), James Silverstein (Melman), Steven Makropoulos (King Julien), Jordan Taylor (Rico/Lyn/US Gloria), Katie Whittemore (Private/Mort/US Candy), Alex Burnette (Skipper/Maurice), Randy Campo (Mason/Lars), Anna Telfer (Candy/Kowalski/US Gloria), Niko Kaim (Swing), and Ryan Koch (Swing).

Fans are encouraged to follow the tour on Facebook and Instagram (@madagascarthemusicaltour). For more information, visit the tour’s official website at www.madagascarontour.com.

The Street Cats Club is throwing a street party! Join us for Lolapalooza, an awesome fundraising event in support of the Lola Love Fund, a grant providing free spay/neuter services for low-income cat owners.

This event will start at 10:00 AM and run until 2:00 PM. This event is open to all ages. Tickets for activities can be purchased at the gate. The party will take place on 7th Street between Commercial and Merchant. All money raised will go towards the Lola Love Fund. Learn more about the Lola Love Fund here: https://www.streetcatsclub.org/lolalovefund

WANNA BE A VENDOR?

This is the perfect event to sell your cat-themed items! Not cat-themed, but still want to sell your stuff? That's cool too! Email Ryann Brooks at ryann.brooks@gmail.com



WANNA BE A SPONSOR?

Enjoy some sweet perks by sponsoring this event. Sponsors are welcomed at a variety of levels. Contact Ryann Brooks at ryann.brooks@gmail.com for more information.

Questions? Email us at info@streetcatsclub.org.

Welcome to the Street Cats Club 3rd Annual Auction: Feral & Fabulous!

The 2023 Auction will go live at 12:01 AM on Saturday, July 15, and run until midnight on July 22.

RSVP to stay in the loop for when the auction link is released to get a sneak peek at our available items!

We will have around 100 items available to bid on, including themed baskets, awesome experiences, and (of course) cat-themed stuff.

By supporting the Street Cats Club, you are improving the lives of stray cats. Each year, hundreds of thousands of cats are born outside. Of these, 80% will live within the first year. We control the population through trap/neuter/return (TNR). Additionally, we foster sick, injured, and orphaned stray cats. We provide spay/neuter services for 500+ cats annually while bringing approximately 200 into our foster program.

We are a fast-growing, volunteer-run organization. Donations, grants, and fundraisers like this auction entirely fund us. Thank you for your support and for being a friend to street cats!



Questions? Email us at info@streetcatsclub.org