By Terry Butler
Junction City Main Street, Live Well Geary County (LWGC), Geary County Food Pantry, and Wheels of Hope all have a desire for healthy living for the citizens of Geary County. On Saturday, October 14, all these nonprofit organizations will Come Together to celebrate special moments.
The day begins downtown at Junction City Main Street Market which is held each Saturday morning, from 8:30 AM -1:30 PM, across from the Fire Department at the intersection of 8th and Jefferson Streets. Main Street Market is a great opportunity to shop locally and shop healthy.
Be ready for the unveiling of the 7th Junction City Main Street JC Statue unveiling with the theme of Geary County – Outdoors. The unveiling starts promptly at 9:00 AM, on 7th Street, midway between Washington and Jefferson Streets. Geary County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau sponsored the limestone base and Chase Hunter was the muralist.
While at the unveiling, you will be able to view Mural Mania. Local muralist, Mindy Allen, has recruited numerous local artists to begin “activating the alley” connecting Washington Street to Junction City Main Street Market. They will be painting multiple murals on the south side of the Spin Fitness Studio, JC Taekwondo, and JC GymTastics building and part of the north side of D’z Lounge building.
From there, plan to move one-half block west to the intersection of 7th and Jefferson Streets for the 9:15 AM official opening of the 7th Street Bike Boulevard. Live Well Geary County (LWGC), using funding from BCBSKS Pathways to a Healthy Kansas grant and Kansas Department of Transportation, has partnered with the City of Junction City and Flint Hills Metropolitan Planning Organization for the development of the new 7th Street Bike Boulevard. This pathway is a shared roadway with vehicles and is well-marked by new sharrows and signs.
The Junction City Chamber of Commerce is inviting the community to the 7th Street Bike Boulevard Ribbon Cutting. Be sure your family brings their bikes and helmets, or walking shoes, that day to enjoy a leisurely trip up and down the new 7th Street Bike Boulevard.
Directly after the ribbon cutting at 9:30 AM, you can go to the site for the future new Geary County Food Pantry and Wheels of Hope building at 7th and Clay Streets. Learn about the kickoff of their building campaign. Enjoy food, a car show, pumpkin decorating contest, and more. Enter a free raffle contest for a chance to win an adult bike provided by LWGC. You need not be present to win.
Throughout the course of the morning until noon, you can move between the Food Pantry/Wheels of Hope event and Mural Mania at Main Street Market. Then settle down at the Market, watch the Murals unfold before your eyes, and invite your children, grandchildren, and art students of all ages to “paint” with sidewalk chalk at the Market.