This message is for those of you out there who may not be from Arizona State University, but have picked up this blog as Newton is in the title. It is hoped that you still share in a love for our community. Barb Burns, Newton's Coordinator of Community Advancement, has taken on the task of rejuvenating our beloved historic Fox Theatre. As you may know, the Class of 1965 valiantly struggled to restore the Fox Theatre to its former splendor. Mike Penner spear-headed the efforts, but with the death of Dan Suderman and limited funding, this became an insurmountable task. A non-profit group now owns the Fox so any contributions would be tax deductible and results in an asset for the community. I am hoping that other Newton High School classes and the community as a whole will support this effort and support it financially whenever possible. The restoration of the Fox is an extension of Newton's long-term planning process or ReNewton 2030 which was made possible through the efforts of 1,700 local community members. During the process, the Fox Theater was lifted up as a key element in the plan and considered instrumental in the promotion of our community's vibrancy.
I was with Barb when she met with Brenda Hague (Hague Paint and Decorating) and Patrick Johnson to discuss remodeling ideas. Although I am not artistic, the ideas being bantered around were inspirational. As I see it, the community has no option other than to restore the Fox Theatre unless they wish to see it decay in front their eyes or demolish it leaving an enormous hole in the buildings along Main Street. For those of you who may be interested in assisting with this project, you may contact Barb at City Hall or e-mail her at BBurns@newtonkansas.com.
If you are wondering who shares these concerns, my name is Vivian Spencer but you may remember me as Vickie Benton. Currently, I am doing an internship with Newton's City Hall while completing my Masters of Public Administration from Arizona State University. You will be pleased to know that "our little town" is being well-managed by a team of caring professionals. Due to their efforts Newton has prospered even during this financial downturn while being poised for the next economic upswing. Although there have been changes, there are still many things in Newton that will trigger special memories of our youth. Come for a trip down memory lane, come on home.
This is really interesting! I think its so important for us to try to protect our historical buildings. Whether the building is in NYC or Newton, Kansas all of these buildings have a store. I hope you're able to raise enough money to complete the project!
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