8 — Tuesday, June 19, 2018


Art in the Wilds 2018 KANE AREA REVITALIZATION ENTERPRISE


by Katie Johnson on behalf of the KARE Board For more than twenty years, the Kane Area


Revitalization Enterprise (KARE), a 501(c)3 non- profit organization, has worked hand-in-hand with residents and businesses throughout the Kane community to ensure Kane continues to be a great place to live, work and play.


Since its inception, KARE has been led by


a volunteer board with diverse backgrounds and occupations, who are focused on tackling


BUILDING COMMUNITY, making a difference


the beginning. Under the direction of its in- augural board of directors, KARE created the Kane Area Community Center and Kane’s first streetscape and façade grant program to bring the community together and improve the aes- thetics of Uptown Kane.


Since that time, KARE worked collaboratively


with the Kane Chamber of Commerce and Kane Borough to install and refresh the “Welcome to Kane” signs at each of the entrances to town. They also worked with the Friends Memorial Public Library team to bring their facade proj- ect vision to fruition. KARE has raised funds to demolish dilapidated buildings that were beyond repair, like the Knights of Columbus building on Chase Street and Anderson’s Bar on Fraley Street. The open lot left by Anderson’s will now be developed into outdoor space for new businesses opening in 2018.


In June 2017, thanks to the funding and


hard work of Kane community members and stakeholders, KARE transformed a vacant lot and local eyesore into the O.G. Crawford Park Amphitheater at 92 North Fraley Street. Today, the amphitheater serves as a space for the community to come together to sing, dance, celebrate and learn, hosting concerts, plays and even weddings. To help support the con- tinuous improvement of the amphitheater and to ensure our seasonal calendar is booked with events, personalized memorial bricks are avail- able for purchase in several sizes.


Recognizing that an active and involved com-


Three-year old Everett Johnson with his dad Royce Novosel-Johnson planting trees in front of Clay Street School.


munity is a vested community, KARE hosted its 8th annual KARE for Kane on Friday, May 11, 2018. The event, which matches volunteers to beautification and restoration projects throughout town and the surrounding area, has continuously drawn more than hundreds of volunteers each year. KARE for Kane 2018 counted over 600 participants! Local busi- nesses donate equipment, funds, food and employee time to help ensure the success of projects in our neighborhoods, parks and up- town space.


Although historically KARE’s focus has been


Group of individuals during KARE for Kane Day sprucing up Southover Park’s Steve Jerman me- morial


blight, re-purposing unused space, supporting local groups, providing opportunities for youth and bringing the community together. KARE made its mark on the community from


on Kane’s central business district along Fraley Street, the organization is now tackling their largest project to date. The Clay Street School, located on Clay Street near the historic Kane Manor Bed and Breakfast, was once one of six schools offering kindergarten through sixth grade in the area. Today, it is the only one of the six school buildings standing. It’s been va- cant and is in need of major repairs. KARE’s vision is to transform the school into an arts and cultural center for local and traveling art- ists to work, collaborate, teach and share their talents.


In the fall of 2017, KARE raised funds and


O. G. Crawford Park Entrance & Amphitheatre


received donations from local benefactors to purchase the school. Now that KARE owns the building, the board is working to tackle its first major task—the replacement of a leaking roof. Over-grown shrubbery and debris was re- moved and trees planted, improving the build- ing’s curb-appeal. As soon as the new roof is in place, a comprehensive work-order and prior- ity list will be compiled to address all necessary improvements and updates within the interior of the building. While the Clay Street School project is the


largest project on KARE’s plate, there are sev- eral other projects the board is working on at the same time. No contribution is too big or too small, and KARE needs the continuing help of the community to make a vision become


reality. Whether you can help with a finan- cial donation, insight into a grant KARE is not aware of or good-old-fashioned elbow-grease, KARE needs and thanks you for your help in our ongoing effort to make this town even greater than it already is. If you have any questions or ideas, or if you’d


like to make a donation, please contact KARE by emailing KaneAmphitheater@gmail.com, or leave a message at 814-621-3090. We will be in touch with you shortly! KARE Board: Tim Robinson – President,


Royce Novosel-Johnson - Vice President, Brandy Schimp – Secretary, Stacy Lindquist – Treasurer, Joe Lanich, Krista Jamerson, Katie Johnson, Katie Smith, Sabrina Depto, Melanie Clabaugh, Mike Merry, Mike Hulings.


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