Around The Block

On Friday, Nov. 6, another exciting chapter of the Block22 story begins, as we officially open The Pitsco Idea Shop.

On this episode of Around the Block, we talk to Pitsco CEO  Harvey Dean and Vice President for Education Matt Frankenbery about The Pitsco Idea Shop and how it will help shape the future of education in our region. 

Also, Shawn plays the role of both host and guest on this episode, as he has played a vital role in the development of the Block22 project. 

One of the most pivotal goals in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic is to make sure the hospitals and health care systems do not become overwhelmed with patients. And for a long time, Crawford County and the surrounding region did a great job of that. 

But things are changing. As the virus finds its way to the older populations, local and regional hospitals are seeing a substantial increase in patients and are close to reaching capacity. 

On this episode of Around the Block, we talk to Ascension Via Christi - Pittsburg CEO Randy Cason and Girard Medical Center CEO Ruth Duling about the hospital situation here in Crawford County, Kansas. 

When COVID-19 began spreading around the United States this spring, seemingly everything shut down. That included schools. 

Teachers and students went home, but education continued online. 

On this episode of Around the Block, we talk to three local K-12 teachers about how online learning worked. What were the challenges? What lessons can we take from that experience? 

How serious is COVID-19?  

Do masks work? 

With the number of cases increasing in Southeast Kansas and the surrounding region, will schools be able to stay open this fall?

On this episode of Around the Block, we talk to Crawford County Health Officers Dr. Linda Bean and Dr. Tim Stebbins about these questions and more. 

SPOILER ALERT: When it comes to this pandemic, there are always more questions than answers. 

Black Lives Matter.

It has been said before in response to senseless killings of unarmed black people. 

But the reaction to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has been different. It's been louder, more intense, and on a larger scale than perhaps ever before. 

Could this be the time when real change comes to America? 

On this episode of Around the Block, Brett and Shawn talk to two people at the forefront of the BLM movement here in Southeast Kansas. 

D'Andre Phillips is the president of the Black Student Association at Pittsburg State University, and Deatrea Rose is the director of Student Diversity Programs at Pitt State. 

A day after they both spoke at a peaceful rally in Downtown Pittsburg, they sat down with us to talk about this moment in our history and what we can all do to make sure things finally change for the better. 

Let's go back in time to an age of social distancing, school closures, and global health fears. 

Sound familiar? 

A century before this current coronavirus pandemic, the world dealt with another major public health crisis. 

Though it's known to history as the Spanish Flu, there are many reasons to believe the Pandemic of 1918 began right here in Kansas. 

We discuss that and much more about the so-called Spanish Flu with our guest, Randy Roberts, historian and dean of library services at Pittsburg State University.  

The global coronavirus pandemic threw off many of our normal habits and routines, including our morning visit to the coffeeshop.

In this episode, Shawn and Brett talk to the owners of two local coffeeshops to discuss how they've managed during this unique time, how they plan to move forward, and why local coffeeshops are essential to communities like Pittsburg. 

Our guests:
-- Leah Posterick, Signet Coffee Roasters
-- Taylor Whiteley, Root Coffeehouse and Creperie

On May 13, 2020, Shawn Naccarato hosted a virtual town hall discussion with Rebecca Adamson, Crawford County Health Department Director.

They discussed the updated state and county guidelines and plans for re-opening, focusing primarily on a move from Phase One to Phase Two under Gov. Laura Kelly’s Ad Astra: A Plan to Reopen Kansas.

After the recording of the live town hall, Gov. Kelly announced a move to Phase 1.5 which retains most aspects of Phase One, including a 10 person limit on mass gatherings, a continued prohibition against the re-opening of bars and night clubs, non-tribal Casinos, theaters, museums, and other indoor leisure spaces, community centers, etc.

This new phase does allow reopening on May 18, 2020 of fitness centers and health clubs (without in-person group classes) as well as personal services businesses with pre-scheduled appointments or online check-in.

Details of Phase 1.5 can be found at this link https://governor.kansas.gov/governor-kelly-adds-new-phase-to-ad-astra-plan/

Before the global coronavirus pandemic, Pittsburg was enjoying a renaissance in the downtown district. New shops and restaurants were popping up, driving more and more traffic to the heart of the community. But once the stay-at-home orders began, everything changed. Shops had to close their physical locations, leaving many to rely on online sales and change how they market to their customers. 

On this episode of Around the Block, Shawn and Brett talk to owners of three downtown retail businesses about how they've adjusted their business methods during this unique time. They also discuss how they plan to move forward as restrictions begin to loosen. 

Guests: 
Sydney Anselmi, Audacious Boutique
Brittan Brenner, Sonder and Co.
Davey Froman, Miners + Monroe

The Foundry @ Block22 typically houses a variety of small businesses that often work collaborate on various projects. The coronavirus pandemic, however, has forced many people to work from home, and with that comes a variety of challenges. 

Brett Dalton talks to two small business owners, Brandee Johnson of LimeLight Marketing and John Kuefler of DevSquared, about their experiences running a small business during a global pandemic.