Das Haus (Oct.-Nov. 2014)

1

DasHaus OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014

Dazzling near Damar Country home is the perfect place for family.

Schoolhouse twist

Hopes of a garden shed take a backseat for couple.

2

Simple Plans, Great Devices, Freedom to Choose... $300 Sell u Sell uss yyour our o old ld p phone, hone, ffrom rom a any ny provider, and provider, and receive receive up up to to

with the with the NNex-Tech ex-Tech Wireless Wireless BuyBack BuyBack ack Program!

Proggrram!*

FREEDOM from Service Contracts FREEDOM to Upgrade as Often as You Choose

Samsung Galaxy S 5 ®

FREEDOM with No Money Down

877-621-2600

www.nex-techwireless.com Credit amount is dependent upon the type and condition of phone. Customers must purchase a new Nex-Tech Wireless device. This program is not available for WOW. Nex-Tech Wireless is eligible to receive support from the Federal Universal Service Fund in designated areas. As a result, Nex-Tech Wireless must meet reasonable requests for service in these areas. Questions or complaints concerning service issues may be directed to the Kansas Corporation Commission Office of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-662-0027.

That Really Makes a Difference In Your Life…

• Internet service that truly is the fastest and most reliable • Phone service with convenient features • Digital TV with more than 100 channels, On Demand, Whole-Home DVR and HD

Save more than $165 per year when you bundle with Nex-Tech.*

here for you Amanda 2418 Vine St • 625 625-7070 7070 • www www.nex-tech.com nex tech com *Prices valid when bundled with one additional Nex-Tech service.

Nex-Tech is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Sales Representative, Representative Hays

3

CONTENTS

Treat tricks........4 Try an alternative to the usual Halloween candy this year.

At home8

Fun Fall crafts......10

Make your own hat-check area for those visiting witches.

Home dazzles a short distance from Damar.

Das Haus is published and distributed by The Hays Daily News, 507 Main, Hays, KS 67601. Find it online at www.HDNews.net/DasHaus.

Copyright Š 2014 Harris Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Das Haus is a registered trademark of The Hays Daily News.

Printed by Northwestern Printers, 114 W. Ninth, Hays, KS 67601, northwesternprinters.com.

Publisher, Patrick Lowry, plowry@dailynews.net Advertising Director, Mary Karst, maryk_ads@dailynews.net Designer, Nick Schwien, nschwien@dailynews.net Account Executives: Joleen Fisher, Ashley Bergman, Eric Rathke Creative Services: Juno Ogle, Tiffany Reddig

Playing school.....12 She wanted a garden shed. He found a schoolhouse.

4

FOOD FOR THOUGHT Linda Beech is a family and consumer science agent with K-State Research and Extension in Ellis County.

Consider TREATS

alternatives for Halloween

H

alloween is the

No. 1 holiday for candy sales. Overall, Americans eat approximately 24 pounds of candy per person every year.

The spooky truth about all this sugar? Recent studies looking into the dietary habits of children show they are consuming more sugar than ever before. Dental decay and childhood obesity are a few real consequences of a diet containing too much sugar.

Before the holiday, plan with your children how the candy cache can be enjoyed.

Children usually have a favorite or two.

After sampling a bit, consider freezing candy for future use and storing hard candy in an airtight

4 DAS HAUS October/November 2014

5

container for another day. Incorporating holiday candy as a dessert or occasional treat through several weeks can spread out the candy and the calories — and also extend the holiday mood.

What if some or all of your child’s Halloween candy disappeared after trick-or-treating? Meet the Sugar Fairy — a creation of an imaginative mom.

The Sugar Fairy collects candy at nighttime and trades toys, books, money or trips to the library in its place.

Gifts from the Sugar Fairy might vary, but always should be something kids want and enjoy. Just have the kids leave the candy on the kitchen table, and the Sugar Fairy visits while everyone is asleep.

Children might want to exchange all or part of their Halloween candy for Sugar Fairy surprises, which means less sugar for kids and less headaches for parents.

There isn’t any reason why Halloween treats must be high in sugar, calories or fat.

Researchers from Yale University’s Center for Eating and Weight Disorders investigated whether children would choose toys over candy when offered both on Halloween.

They observed 284 kids between the ages of 3 and 14. Guess what?

The children were just as likely to choose toys as candy, regardless of gender.

Maybe this is the year to step away from the candy aisle and offer some non-candy alternative treats for your Halloween visitors.

Here are some tricky ideas to consider: pencils, erasers, stickers, whistles, Mardi Gras beads, temporary tattoos, novelty Band-Aid bandages, restaurant coupons, small bottles of bubbles, small packets of raisins, pretzels or popcorn, crayons, party-favor rings, plastic spiders, eyeballs, skeletons, etc.

Any of these are treats apt to please Halloween visitors, without over-doing the sugar.

Green Energy Pays More efficient.

Geothermal taps into solar energy stored in the ground instead of burning fossil fuel to generate it, making geothermal more energy efficient.

Cheaper to operate.

Geothermal saves up to 60% on operating costs compared to ordinary systems.

Serving Kansas for Over 68 years

Eligible for tax credits.

Residential Geothermal systems are eligible for federal tax credits up to 30% of their cost of installation through December 31, 2016.

Call Glassman Corporation today for a free no-obligation energy analysis, or for more information about the special Geothermal rebates available from manufacturers and utility providers.

900 Commerce Parkway Hays, KS

785-625-2115 www.glassmancorp.com

With Quadra-Fire®, performance comes standard. These fireplaces, stoves and inserts burn gas, wood, pellets and other alternative fuels. Building on its strong legacy, Quadra-Fire creates products with performance, easy operation and durability in mind. Rugged construction and proven technologies highlight why “Nothing Burns Like A Quad.”

Stockton 918 South Cedar 785-425-6715

Hays 2510 Gen. Hays Rd. 785-625-6554

Russell 86 South Fossil 785-483-2161

6

AT HOME

After years of work, Tim and Brenda Benoit turn a country home into the perfect place.

Dazzling near DAMA T

he desire to build an attached garage to their modest farm home turned into an addition that features a large, spacious upstairs family room and two bedrooms on the second floor.

Tim and Brenda Benoit started making some restoration plans 10 years ago for their home where they raised five children.

The more they planned, the better ideas they came up with.

Now completed, the Benoits’ home near the Rooks-Graham county line 2 miles northwest of the small town of Damar is a work of art sitting on a hill overlooking Dusty Creek.

From the original 725-square foot, two-story house built in 1906 by Tim’s great grandfather, Joe Brin, the home now totals 3,236 square feet in all.

The process that evolved during the past decade now features a vintage house with a wrap-around porch with a three-car attached garage.

The Benoits, both in their mid-50s, had a set budget for the project — at the start, at least.

6 DAS HAUS October/November 2014

story by diane gasper-o’brien

photos by jolie green

7

A large island/bar is the centerpiece of the home’s remodeled kitchen.

The upstairs living room spans the entire width of the three-car garage below.

MAR “We ended up going over budget,” Tim said with a smile.

“This house is more than a hundred years old,” added Tim, whose mother grew up in the home, then raised her family of three there. “I thought I’d like to build something that will stay another hundred years.”

So the couple began a venture that saw Brenda taking charge of texturing and painting and choosing accessories.

They called on the expertise of their daughter, Rene Stremel — an interior architect in Denver

— to draw up some plans.

They took out a wall in their small kitchen — an addition many years ago to the original structure that measured 25-by-25 feet — to make a much larger, visitor-friendly open area.

“At family gatherings, people always seemed to end up in the

kitchen,” Tim said. “You’re all right there together, so we thought, ‘Let’s make it bigger.’ ” Now, the quartz counter-top of a large island houses the kitchen sink, and one side provides room for four stools at a bar with cupboards underneath.

A 5-foot hammered copper clock on the wall of the living room tells the time, and a tour through the house takes visitors back in time several decades.

Tim called the project a renovation rather than restoration.

“It’s been added on several times, and it would be so tough to restore it to the original,” Tim said. “So we just fixed it up the way we like.”

>>>>>>>>>

8

Brenda ordered five-panel doors to match the only original door in the house, the one in a corner of the kitchen that leads to the basement.

The Benoits ordered dormers to match the only one on the original house, and gables on the east and west sides of the upstairs.

Original bedrooms were transformed into bathrooms.

By the time it was finished, they had an L-shaped second floor that stretches 70 feet across the top of a three-car garage and the original house.

The Benoits did a lot of the work themselves, allowing them to change their minds along the way.

“We really didn’t have any blueprints,” Tim said.

The only original room upstairs is dubbed “the girls’ room.” They covered the original birch floor with gray paint, added three beds, and it now is one of Brenda’s favorite rooms.

“I love the girls’ room upstairs, especially when it’s raining,” she said.

“When it’s lightning, with the different angles of the walls, the light flashes coming through the windows are really cool.”

The Benoits already had plenty of antique furniture.

“My mom collected antiques, and we had a few pieces,” Tim said of

A large limestone marker welcomes visitors to the Benoit farm. the variety of old furniture scattered throughout the house — a school desk, numerous dressers and chest of drawers, tables and kerosene lamps.

“What I like about antique furniture

is that it never goes out of style,” Tim said.

Brenda, however, let her mother and sister from Hays — Rosie and Chris Werth — go shopping for them

SeeHome Us atImprovements Our Let us Come Make Your New Location: STRESS FREE

��������������������� Over 35 Years Experience Just 3 miles north of Interstate 70 on 183 Now In Our New Location 1846 250th Ave. • Hays Just 3 miles North of Interstate 70 on 183

���������������������������������������������

LAUNDRY GROUPS

Used in Europe for over 80 years

785-625-3278 1-800-248-3270

The wraparound porch is visitor-friendly with benches along the walls.

1224 E. 27th Hays, KS

No other washer gets clothes cleaner

9

and choose furniture for the family rooms upstairs and down.

The large, spacious open area upstairs features a plush couch and chairs in front of a large flat-screened TV. Although there is plenty of space, the Benoits used the extra areas under the roof for storage and for a lengthy play area for young family members who visit.

Tim shakes his head at the changes he’s seen in the house during his lifetime.

He unexpectedly took up farming as a career when he was a junior in high school. His brother, Terry, the oldest of three children of Gilbert and Barbara Benoit, died in a car accident in February 1977, and his dad died four days later of a heart attack.

Tim’s parents already had moved to town and were renting out their farm house. Tim decided to buy the house in which he grew up in the early 1980s when he returned home from vo-tech school in Salina after graduating from Palco High School in 1978.

A dresser and bed in the master bedroom are just two of several pieces of antique furniture throughout the Benoits’ home.

He said he had no idea the way his home, his career and his life would materialize. But he’s pleased with the way it all worked out.

The couple says they plan to re-

main on the farm long after they retire.

“It’s not only a neat home, but it’s such a pretty setting,” Brenda said.

“It’s so cozy … warm and inviting. We love it here.”

A wide wooden staircase leads to the spacious living room above the garage and house.

Shop In Store or Online We carry a full line of Ink Cartridges and Office Supplies.

We Service Most Makes of Office Machinery.

IMPROVE YOUR HOME’S

ENERGY EFFICIENCY • Get money for insulation, sealing, and heating and cooling systems • Repay funds through energy savings on your monthly utility bill • Call today to learn how How$mart can improve safety, efficiency, and lower your bills with no out-of-pocket money up front!

1101 Main • 785-625-5666 • Hays, KS 1-800-794-4626

800-222-3121| www.mwenergy.com

10

Berry Berry Quite Contrary Kayla Berry is a stay-at-home mom who enjoys creating, decorating and re-purposing old furniture and decor.

Hello,

Fall H

ayrides, autumn leaves, pumpkins, cider, Halloween, football, bon-fires and apples all come to mind when the air gets a little cooler and the leaves start to change. Fall is my favorite time of year, and decorating for fall can be a real treat.

Polka-dot pumpkins Everyone correlates pumpkins with fall. It’s like peanut butter and jelly, bread and butter, spaghetti and sauce; they just go together. This easy pumpkin craft will take you no time at all.

10 DAS HAUS October/November 2014

What you need: • Pumpkins.

• White spray paint.

• Black paint.

• Foam circular brush.

• Hot glue gun.

• Ribbon to decorate the tops.

• Spiders, crows, etc., to put on top of pumpkin (optional).

Spray paint a pumpkin white in a well-ventilated area. Follow the directions on the can of paint. After the paint is dry, use a foam circular brush and stamp dots all over the pumpkin.

Let dry completely. Tie the ribbon around the tops of the pumpkin.

11

If you want to give your pumpkin a more Halloweenish vibe then simply place your spider or crow on top of the pumpkin and adhere it with your hot glue gun.

Witches hat check station Growing up, my memories of holidays always include my mom’s decorations. My mom always has and continues to decorate for every holiday. Her decorations make the holiday seem more special, more real and more alive. I’ve always loved that. Here is a simple way to decorate for Halloween.

What you need: • Small frame.

• A variety of witches hats (check your local thrift stores).

• Paper.

• Computer.

• Command hooks or nails.

• Safety pins.

Using your computer, print out a sign that reads, “Witches’ Hat Check.” Place in your small frame.

Hang your hats wherever you like; on a wall, hutch, a large window, etc. Use command hooks or nails, depending on which area you want them hung.

Print out little tags for the hats and attach them to the hat using safety pins. It’s the small details that really make something stand out.

Hang orange lights around the display to add more magic to the area.

And you have yourself an adorable witches’ hat check station.

Check out my blog: berryberryquitecontrary. wordpress.com or my Facebook page: facebook.com/berryberryquitecontrary for more ideas on decorating for fall.

12

Playing Schoolhouse

Gloria Dinkel and her husband, Allen, find a unique playhouse.

Twist of fate

By DIANE GASPER-O’BRIEN dobrien@dailynews.net he wanted a garden shed and sent her husband to look at an 8-by-10-foot shed she spotted on 41st Street in Hays.

Was Gloria Dinkel ever surprised when Allen told her the building wasn’t exactly what she had envisioned.

“It’s not a shed,” Allen told his wife.

“It’s a schoolhouse!”

At first, Gloria was a little bummed.

She really was hoping for a place to store her garden tools and supplies.

“I was excited it was a schoolhouse,” Allen said. “I thought it was very unique.”

And, he added with a big smile, “I thought, ‘Wouldn’t the grandkids love this!’ ” Gloria soon got over her disappointment once she saw the building.

“This would be perfect for the grandkids,” Gloria thought, especially since their former playhouse had taken a hit in a windstorm earlier this summer.

S

12 DAS HAUS October/November 2014

“It’s not a shed,” Allen told his wife.

“It’s a schoolhouse!”

13

Numbers and letters dot the wall near the peak of the schoolhouse.

“The wind blew it into smithereens,” said Gloria, who said she liked the looks of the solid, wooden structure before her.

The couple bought the schoolhouse this summer and moved it to their country home outside Yocemento.

It didn’t take long to get it ready for visitors after a fresh coat of bright red paint.

Now, their eight grandchildren — including seven boys ages 8 months to 8 years — were enjoying playing school this summer long before the start of the 2014-15 school year.

“I came in one day, and they were using their scissors, cutting paper,” Gloria said.

The schoolhouse came complete with a front porch and a bell atop the roof that still works, and gets used a lot.

“They really get a kick out of this,” Allen said as he pulled the cord to ring the bell.

“We do everything for the grandkids,” Gloria said of the crew, six who live in nearby Hays. “We have the room out here, so this was perfect.”

Inside, two small wooden desks, each with their own small world globe attached, hug the walls on both sides of the building.

A red and white bookshelf just inside the door holds supplies. Above a huge old-fashioned green-colored chalkboard that covers most of the front wall hang the numbers one through nine and, of course, the ABC’s.

A large poster of the United States hangs on the sloped ceiling.

“This is just like it was when we got it,” Allen said. “Everything was just like this inside.”

>>>>>>>>>

An American flag flies above artwork drawn by the Dinkels’ grandchildren.

14

Handprints of the Dinkels’ grandchildren are displayed in concrete near the schoolhouse.

“I liked everything that was in here, so we left it,” added Gloria, who painted the desk legs red and stained the tops of the desks, their benches and the wood floor.

“I left everything original, just spruced it up a little bit with new paint.”

An American flag hangs on either side of the chalkboard, one in front of a bulletin board that shows some artwork, compliments of the Dinkels’ grandchildren.

The new owners did add some of their own personal touches, too.

A slab of concrete just outside the front door of the schoolhouse is dated Aug. 2, 2014, and bears the names and handprints of five grandsons and “Papa” Allen.

Another slab will be poured for the rest of the grandkids.

“Oh, yeah, we have to get all their handprints here,” Allen said.

The six grandchildren in Hays visit at least once a week, and the two who live in the Kansas City area also frequent their Grandma and Grandpa Dinkel’s home.

Now, they can enjoy going to

school even on weekends, holidays and summer breaks.

The schoolhouse originally was built as a project for CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children organization in Hays, in the early 2000s.

One of the builders, Hays resident Lance Smith, said they built it with the idea it could be used for a garden shed once the owner’s children grew up.

Instead, it had three previous owners before making its way to the Dinkels’ yard, providing entertainment for a lot of children through the years.

It will continue in that capacity for many more years, Allen said, adding Gloria will have to find another storage area for her garden tools.

“It definitely will be put to good use out here,” Allen said.

“I think it’s awesome that it’s still a schoolhouse,” said Smith, who also helped build a dump truck sandbox and a firehouse for CASA, “and that it’s still around Hays.”

A chalkboard hangs on one wall of the schoolhouse.

15

SERVICE DIRECTORY

Keep the numbers of these businesses on hand for all of your service & shopping needs.

Damar Café

Friendly Atmosphere

Daily Lunch Specials

210 N. Main St. Damar, KS 785-839-4025

Tues.-Thurs.: 7-2;5-8 Fri & Sat.: 7-2;5-9 Sun.: 7-2 Sun. Buffet: 11 am

For All Your Service Needs..

Call one of these professionals

APAC-Kansas, Inc., Shears Division

State Approved Ready Mix

Located at: 503 E. 10th Hays, Kansas

BACONRIND APPRAISING SERVICES, INC. Patty Baconrind, PhD

Dispatch: 785-625-3216 Office: 785-625-3459

Certified General Appraiser

RESIDENTIAL COMMERCIAL MANUFACTURED HOUSING APPRAISALS RELOCATIONS EVALUATIONS P.O. Box 294 • Hays, KS Office: 785-625-7401 • Fax: 785-628-0850 Cell: 785-635-7533 bulletteb@aol.com

CALL 785-625-3216

The Highest Quality and the Finest Service around

Safety First Always

16