Hutchinson Magazine Fall 2010 by Sunflower Publishing

Fall preview with Reno Countyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier mascots

Foodies rejoice at Jillianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian Grill

When Old World meets French Country in Hyde Park

Fall 2010

Honoring our

Veterans

Fall 2010

$3.00

Hutchinson Volume 03 / Issue 02

Magazine

dear readers, I remember the day my family and I drove to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. My older brother had just completed his basic training, and it was the first time we’d seen him since he entered the academy. My father drove the car up the winding lanes of the grounds, shaded by Rocky Mountain landscapes and picturesque pines. As we arrived on the main terrace near the iconic chapel, my mother began to tear up. Her firstborn was on his way to serving our country and following his dreams. Meanwhile, I took it all in, weary from the drive and tired of the heat (as only a younger sister could be). Nevertheless, I too was transitioning right then and there as I watched my brother march in formation, courageous at the start of his service in the military. I began to understand patriotism. Today my brother is a captain in the U.S. Air Force. He’s flown a number of aircraft, embarked on a number of adventures, both challenging and rewarding, and absolutely loved the ride. Through his service I have found my own ability to serve our country—by thanking every single soldier I meet! I am serious. Sometimes it may seem overboard or gracious or silly. But I am just compelled to tell them what their sacrifice means to me. Therefore, it is truly an honor to recognize a few Hutchinson veterans this fall. When the story was first presented to me, I was unsure how to approach it. Though, like all strong stories, it fell into place with the help of writer Richard Shank and photographer Aaron East. Most important are the stories and memories these veterans have shared with us—and you. Three men, who’ve served in different wars, experienced different emotions and battles. But all agree that friendships are the No. 1 thing they have taken with them from the experience. Their stories are tokens of history and symbols to share with future generations. For all families of servicemen and women, and those who’ve chosen to join the military, I thank you for your service and hope you are duly recognized on November 11.

Publisher John Montgomery Advertising Director Leslie Shea Advertising Sales Manager Darren Werth For Advertising Rates and Information

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Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

The Hutchinson News Circulation Department Elizabeth Garwood 300 W. Second | Hutchinson KS 67501 (620) 694-5700 ext. 115 | (800) 766-5730 ext. 115 egarwood@hutchnews.com

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

Contents

Departments

Fall 2010

hutchinson living

6 Hyde Park’s divine look The Graveses remain passionate about their humble abode

Features

10 The Painted Garden

B&B Decked in florals and

ruffles, this historic home welcomes guests

14 Quilts galore

Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop welcomes stitching enthusiasts from the Sunflower State and beyond

hutchinson businesses 24 A woolly endeavor

The Mid-States Wool Growers are keeping it warm

28 A business built

on kindness The Dutch Kitchen continues to serve down-home attitude

18 Mamma Mia!

local profiles

32 Performing arts

The Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra returns for another year of wowing audiences

Jillian’s Italian Grill sets the scene for foodies

36 Eternal salute

34 One for the team

Merritt and Sandy Wright see red every day as zealous fans of the Kansas City Chiefs

As Veterans Day nears, we honor three men who have served our country

60 One for all and all for one

Filling a mascot’s shoes requires school spirit, dedication and a sizable sense of humor

health & fitness

44 Health Nut:

Brian Mencl From

pitching with dad to finishing triathlons

46 Spiking in popularity

At the Hutchinson Recreation Commission, volleyball serves as an all-ages favorite

travel ideas

50 Sun City Drenched in a

mantle of sand and shimmer, San Diego is a first-rate family destination

family

In Every Issue On the Cover

World War II veteran Bob Adams, 93. (Photography by Aaron East)

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

2 dear Readers 48 Q&A 64 best Bets

56 Living family chic For these two families, style is a means of expression

Correction

In our winter 2009 issue, Betty Hayes, member of the Hutchinson Town Club, was incorrectly identified as Julia Ehling in our opening photograph.

hutchinsonliving

Hyde Park’s Divine Look The Graveses remain passionate about their humble abode Story by Amy Bicke l Photography by De bor ah Walke r

walkway leading to a home is more than a trip from here to there. It’s a greeting, the first impression—it’s a home’s handshake. This is why strolling up the winding brick path to the 72-yearold wooden front door of Jeff and Dr. Kathy Graves’ Hyde Park home might seem so inspiring and notable. It was once a walkway traveled by guests of Willis Kelly, a former Hutchinson mayor who owned Kelly Milling Company. Guests also traipsed upon it to visit John P. Harris, former publisher of The Hutchinson News who helped lead the paper to a Pulitzer Prize in 1965.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

hutchinsonliving 1.

The history, matched with an elaborate Cape Cod-style home, first caught Jeff’s eye in the 1980s when he and friend Ron Shaffer stopped by the house owned at the time by Ron’s parents, Bud and June. “I told him, ‘This place is really cool. If your mom and dad sell this house, I’m going to buy it,’” Jeff recalls while sitting at his dining room table, surrounded by old blueprints and plans for the home. “He told me, ‘Not if I buy it first,’” he says. Ron, however, moved to Arizona, and his parents followed, putting the stately two-story white home on the market in 1998. Fresh pallet

When Jeff and Kathy purchased the Kelly/Harris house that fall, its character was hidden amid an overgrown landscape and dated interior. Yet, says Jeff, “I saw it as a palate that had new potential.” They hauled 17 truckloads of debris from the yard. While the couple redesigned and replanted portions of the yard, work continued inside the two-story home that has nine rooms and four and a half baths. For starters, they raised the entryway’s ceiling, creating a tray ceiling with lighting. The L-shape room off the right of the entry now serves as three spaces: the couple’s formal living and dining room as well as an informal family area with a television. They refinished the walnut floors and had recessed lighting installed. A gas-powered, Frenchstyle fireplace “that looked too small for the room” was enlarged and enhanced with white plaster and stone. The walls are finished in a golden taupe, which is highlighted when the sun comes through a row of windows that make up much of the north wall. Kathy calls the space a mixture of Old World and French country. She admits she didn’t like the galley kitchen much when they first moved in. However, she says, “I’ve grown to love it.” They do plan to update the kitchen, she says, and already have stripped the greenish paint from the walls and metal St. Charles cabinets. They transformed the kitchen’s fireplace to gas power and use the old brick wood box compartment as a place to store their collection of wines. Three bedrooms remain on the first floor, all with private baths. Kathy and Jeff’s master bath was expanded with a double sink, Jacuzzi bath and enclosed glass shower with double showerheads. Kathy, a dermatologist at Hutchinson Clinic, shows her artistic side through her silk flower arrangements throughout the home,

THE DETAILS

Country Décor

history

Mallard

music

Garden

French country

The rec room, among other things, is punctuated with high country décor.

Willis Kelly built the home during the Great Depression. He also inherited the Kelly Milling Company from his father, William Kelly.

A stuffed mallard signifies Jeff’s love of the outdoors.

A grand piano greets guests in the formal living room.

Whimsical elements pepper the garden, including ceramic insects.

A wine label complements the French country décor in the dining room.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

hutchinsonliving CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT (1) The classic Hyde Park home of Jeff and Kathy Graves features wellmaintained landscaping and beautiful outdoor arrangements. (2) The warm dining room is a delicate mix of Old World and French country. (3) Jeff Graves is the mastermind behind the luxurious garden; their dog Buffy finds it quite peaceful. (4) The home’s Cape Cod style is highlighted in its graceful foyer. (5) The rustic rec room is more than a “man cave” as the couple often entertain in the space. (6) The attached tennis court is hidden from onlookers as hedges and trees surround the active retreat.

including a wreath on the front door. She also worked with a Wichita company to design a bed crown in the master bedroom, keeping to her French country theme. A recreation room and a bathroom are upstairs. The Graveses kept the original pickled-pine woodwork as well as a woodburning fireplace against the west wall. The rustic-theme room includes a pool table, bar/ kitchen and comfy leather couches that surround a big-screen television. The floor also is concrete with wood flooring atop, which keeps the noise of the rec room from traveling downstairs, probably typical of what a milling man would design. Jeff, a metal trader, uses a nook area in this space as his office, where his love of the outdoors is evident. A Boone and Crocket pronghorn antelope hangs on one wall. A stuffed Canada goose, wood duck, mallard and pheasant also serve as décor. The couple spend a lot of time in the rec room when their three children—Jeff, 31, Jonathan, 28, and Katy, 25—come home to visit.

Finding the exterior 3. 3.

Jeff says a painter spent nearly two years painting, fixing siding and repairing woodwork at the home. He stripped the paint off the entire house, as well as the original frame around the front door. Kathy says it was coated so thickly that the intricately carved flower medallions on each side were no longer visible. They discovered an old copper porch light underneath layers of paint as well. A doubles tennis court remains, kept private by hedges, and an outdoor patio and fireplace reside on the west end of the home. The single-lane driveway with white concrete edging still leads to a two-car garage. A secret garden on the front of the home is surrounded by white walls of brick and a picket fence yet is accessible from the master bathroom. It’s original to the Kelly design, as well as the screen porch on the east side, where a table and chairs rests atop terracotta tile. “The breeze moves beautifully through this porch,” Kathy says. Jeff says he has more plans for the lawn, such as adding a pergola over the west patio with the fireplace and an outdoor kitchen in the backyard. Other details will stay the same. The brick walk still leads guests to the Graveses’ doorsteps.

Historic Residence From 1906 to 1969, Kelly Milling

Company was a significant milling business in Hutchinson and Kansas. Founded and operated by William Kelly until his death in 1936, the company was eventually operated by his sons, Willis and Cliff. Amid the Great Depression, Willis had architect Ortho McCracken draw up plans for a home in Hyde Park, says June Shaffer, who owned the house for 28 years. Curtis Peugh, who also built Trinity United Methodist Church, was the home’s contractor. Shaffer’s father, Jack Lowrey, who was known for his woodworking and flooring skills, helped with construction. The Kellys moved into the home in 1938. The Harris family purchased the home about a decade later, Shaffer says. In the early 1950s, despite pleas from his architect, John Harris removed half of the upper story, as well as the entryway’s elegant staircase leading to that area of the home, Shaffer says. Her father carved the spindles of the staircase railings. Harris said he and his wife didn’t need the space, according to current owner Kathy Graves. “It’s really too bad,” she says. “It was beautiful.” The Harrises also turned a singles tennis court on the home’s west side into a rose garden, Shaffer says. When she and Bud purchased the home from Harris’ second wife, Rosalie, they put a full-size court back in its spot.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

hutchinsonliving

The Painted Garden B&B Decked in florals and ruffles, this historic home welcomes guests

Story by J ean et te Ste i n e rt

Photography by De bor ah Walke r

haron Mattas’ love of decorative painting has brought her years of pleasure. It’s especially been a catalyst in transforming a historic home into a veritable “Painted Garden,” which she and husband Clair run as a bed-and-breakfast. “Thirty-seven years ago, I thought I would take a little eight-week class on decorative painting and know everything I need to know,” Sharon says. After taking classes from Doxie Keller at the Keller Leisure Arts Center in Hutchinson, she was hooked. Today Sharon still takes painting lessons and teaches classes.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

As one of Hutchinson’s cozy B&Bs, the Painted Garden welcomes guests into a world celebrating English gardens.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

hutchinsonliving

“I’m very lucky. I have a husband who isn’t intimidated by flowers and ruffles. And he likes blue, too. We make a good team.” – Sharon Mattas

When Hutchinson natives Sharon and Clair returned to the area from Lawrence in 1989, they wanted an old house with rich quality. They soon found the James Nelson house in the Houston Whiteside Historic District. When they bought the two-story Colonial Revival home in 1991, it had been empty for eight years. It took two years to refurbish the almost 3,000-square-foot home. Fortunately, Clair was well-versed in heating, plumbing and airconditioning and even had woodworking skills. “There are two ways to refurbish a house: You either have the money to hire it all done or you do it yourself. We did it ourselves,” says Sharon. “When Nelson built this house, he built it right,” says Clair, referring to the steel I-beams in the ceiling of the spacious 17- by 24-foot front room, plus the parlor and basement. The maple front door under the columned portico opens into a foyer, which branches off to the front room, kitchen and three upstairs bedrooms. Above that is an attic tall enough to store 11 upright Christmas trees, which they display during the holidays. The home is decorated in country blue, Sharon’s favorite color, with rose, gray and white accents. “However, these days it’s hard to find that color for decorating,” she says. “I guess it’s not ‘in’ anymore. But it’s the ‘in’ color here—we’re not changing it.” A mix of pastel florals, both boisterous and demure, is found on the wallpaper, borders, carpeting, upholstery, bedding and wall hangings throughout the house. They create the peaceful feel of an English garden and provide a delicate balance of color and pattern. “Our house is not fancy, just comfortable,” Sharon says, moving into the crisp blue and white kitchen with delicate floral-patterned carpet, wrought-iron ice cream table and triple windows with floorlength unbleached muslin curtains. These same ruffled Priscilla curtains with tiebacks are found on all of the home’s 30-plus windows. “I’m very lucky. I have a husband who isn’t intimidated by flowers and ruffles,” she laughs. “And he likes blue, too. We make a good team. I just tell him what I need, he builds it and I paint it.” They opened the bed-and-breakfast in 2002 as a way to help pay housing costs upon retirement, Sharon says. Though Clair retired three years ago, Sharon works part-time at Central States Recovery. In the meantime, Clair restores cars. He has finished work on a 1958 Impala and started refurbishing a 1955 Bel Air convertible. “When he gets his cars done, I’ll retire,” Sharon jokes. Dee and Terry Bisbee of Albuquerque, New Mexico, both Hutchinson natives, have stayed at the bed-and-breakfast numerous times. “Now that we don’t have family in the area any more, the Painted Garden is like our home base,” says Terry. “Clair and Sharon are

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

4. (1) Sharon and Clair Mattas believed that running a B&B would help with their retirement. (2) Sharon wanted to include certain colors and details in the home; country blue was a must. (3) Antique hatboxes with decorative floral painting, are found throughout the house. (4) Groucho rests in the master bedroom. (5) The ice cream parlor table greets visitors in the kitchen. (6) The Roses and Lace guest room includes the floral décor and blue tones seen throughout the home.

THE DETAILS

Antique

Bunnies

Floral

Treasures from Sharon’s antique perfume bottle collection.

Floppy-eared bunnies take a load off in the upstairs hallway.

A detailed floral lampshade is found in the master bedroom.

hutchinsonliving

MORE INFO 2.

The painted Garden Bed & Breakfast 408 E. First Ave. (620) 665-6100 www.paintedgardenbnb.com

Restored

Antique

innkeeper

Parked out front is one of Clair’s restored cars.

An antique iron is kept in the kitchen for sharing with guests.

Groucho the cat rules the house.

really nice people, the house is interesting and comfortable, and we always feel at home.” Usually the Bisbees stay in the Roses and Lace bedroom. Once the maid’s room, it has an expansive window overlooking a well-manicured lawn. Bouquets of dusky blue roses bloom in the wallpaper, and hurricane lamps and wicker furniture rest next to the brass king-size bed with its white eyelet comforter. An alcove features that same dusky blue in broad-striped wallpaper. In the downstairs bath, a curly haired, papier-mâché cherub created by local artist Pat Potucek is reflected in a set of eight face-sized mirrors in dusty blue and white lace frames painted by Sharon. A couple of dozen jeweled perfume bottles sparkle on shelves. “I just like unique things, things that not everyone has,” she says. Many items have sentimental value to Sharon, especially in the dining room where a shelf of her grandma’s dessert dishes and an antique child’s bowl, passed down in the family, are display. Her collection of teacups and saucers also started with her grandma’s pieces. The dining set was bought at a garage sale for $150, then stripped and painted a creamy white. Sharon’s artistry added cabbage roses, daisies and lavenders to the tabletop. On the chairs, a tiny floral print complements the set. “These chairs had a horrible purple velvet on the cushion. I pulled them and re-covered the seat. I didn’t think I’d ever get it done,” she says. Returning guests are common for the Painted Garden, such as the fair exhibitor who stays every year or the woman who comes from out-of-state regularly to visit her mother in a care facility here. “So many of these people are just like family. I don’t know what we expected when we started the bed-and-breakfast, but we’ve met a lot of wonderful people. It’s been fun,” says Sharon.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

hutchinsonliving

Quilts Galore

Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop welcomes stitching enthusiasts from the Sunflower State and beyond Story by E di e Ross

Photography by de bor ah Walke r

heerful fabrics line the shelves of Cottonwood Quilts in downtown Hutchinson like so many books in a library, overflowing into tidy floor displays. A low hum of conversation fills the shop and is peppered with the laughter of women perusing the merchandise and feeling the fabric between their fingers. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a scene that could happen at any time over the course of a year, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s especially frequent during a three-day span in early October.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

hutchinsonliving

TOP right Suandra Grimm, a clerk at Cottonwood Quilts in Hutchinson, displays a t-shirt for the 2010 Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop next to this year’s fabric. Cottonwood Quilts is one of 10 shops participating in the annual event.

That’s when the annual Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop pops up again. The three-day event features nine regional quilt shops, including Cottonwood Quilts, which offer the opportunity for quilters to get new ideas and see old friends. Nancy Parker, of Overland Park, and Jeanne Brooks, of Wichita, say the Quilt Shop Hop is their annual excuse to socialize. The 2009 hop marked the friends’ sixth year in attendance. “It’s fun to get to spend time together, and we love seeing the new ideas that are out there,” Parker says. “It helps us get out of our own rut with color,” Brooks says. “I like to see what people are doing that is new.” Quilts to covet

It takes nearly a year to plan the annual event. The process begins with choosing a fabric design to be sold exclusively at the next year’s event. This detail is one incentive that sets the Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop apart from other quilt events in the nation. Shop owners come up with some concepts, like colors and shapes, then choose a fabric company to put together a design. In past years

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

the exclusive fabric has included a Kansas theme—sunflowers, wheat stocks, hedge apples or cottonwood trees. Each store will design an individual quilt from beginning to end. “Shop hoppers,” as participants are affectionately known, have the option of purchasing fabric kits from one of the 10 participating stores. With this they can design their quilt or select a “setting kit/pattern” from a particular store by replicating the store’s sample quilt. “All the quilts are totally different, and that gives the shop-hoppers some inspiration as to what they can do with the blocks we have come up with,” says Janeen Miller, owner of Sunflower Quilts in Derby and chairwoman of the 2010 Shop Hop. “They may even take ideas from each of our quilts and put them all together to make their own.” During the hop, participating customers receive a free pattern for each shop’s quilt block and can buy kits that include the fabric needed to make the blocks. But shop-hoppers get more than a creative boost from the event. They also have the chance to win prizes. Everyone receives a passport at their first stop, which helps them to identify and differentiate the shops via stamps.

hutchinsonliving

The names of participants who have stamps from all nine shops go into a drawing for a grand prize, which will be a Hinterburg cutting table and caddy. Other prizes will also be given to eligible participants.

similar events in Texas and California. Over the years, the shops participating in the event have changed, but the spirit of the Shop Hop has remained the same. “One of the reasons, I think, that it is a popular event is because the shops themselves really differ from each other, so there is a Longevity nice variety within our group,” Wolfe says. “And Since the Shop Hop began in 1998, it has something else that we are told over and over MORE INFO grown in popularity with many participants again by people who come from outside of Kanfinding it to be the perfect fall getaway. sas is that Kansans are just friendlier. The 2009 hop was the sixth for April Hazel“We like that and try to perpetuate that by The 12th annual wood of Wichita. “I enjoy going to the different Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop being friendly.” October 1-3, 2010 shops and seeing the differences in atmosphere, But the thing that sets the Central Kansas For more information visit the different fabrics and quilts, and meeting difQuilt Shop Hop apart the most is the manner in www.centralkansasquiltshophop.4t.com. ferent people along the way,” she says. which participating shop owners work together. For the past several years the Shop Hop has “I’ve been told that this spirit of cooperation is drawn anywhere from 1,200 to 1,400 people to central and south- unique to our event and gives it a different feeling,” Wolfe says. “We central Kansas, infusing thousands of dollars into the regional recognize that as shop owners we are competing on a certain level, economy. Shop hoppers come from Kansas and surrounding states but also that getting along is really a benefit to our customers.” and from as far as Washington, California and West Virginia to parBobette Siemens, owner of Cottonwood Quilts, agrees that the ticipate in the annual event. Shop Hop has created camaraderie among shop owners. “You can’t Charlotte Wolfe, owner of Charlotte’s Sew Natural in Newton, carry everything,” she says. “It’s nice to know that if I don’t have it, says the idea for the Central Kansas Quilt Shop Hop originated from I can send my customer to someone who does.”

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

M amma M ia ! Jillianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian Grill sets the scene for foodies

At Jillianâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Italian Grill, the owners know Italian cuisine is more than just lasagna. Jill and Gary Brown arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just standing on the laurels of authentic Neapolitan pizza made in a wood-burning pizza oven. The Hutchinson restaurant owners are looking into the possibility of a hosting a guest

Santa Fe, New M exico, a guest sommelier to educate on wine pairings. chef from

S to ry

Geronimo

J e a n e t t e S t e i n e rt

P h o to gr a ph y

as well as bringing in

D e b o r a h Wa l k e r

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

“Gary and I are believers in not being stagnant, in moving constantly forward while keeping the core idea,” Jill says of the business philosophy that is making 1-year-old Jillian’s Italian Grill one of Hutchinson’s well-known restaurants. The Browns also back that up with something else: passion. “If you don’t have that, it’s a long haul,” says Gary. “Gary’s passion is the creating, the thinking, the building, the giving of his whole heart and soul into something and then watching it flourish,” says Jill, whose first and middle names are used for the business. Jill’s passion is the business side—the organization, staff management and customers. “She is the captain of the ship as far as day-to-day operations go,” says Gary. Passion aside, the Browns have a history in the restaurant business. “We had done it before and know how to make it work. A restaurant is a risky business, but we’ve never ever been afraid of a challenge or to follow things through,” says Jill. A new menu

Their idea was to create an upscale, inviting environment with a pizza oven as the focal point. “Also to keep the element of family,” says Jill, who grew up in South Hutchinson, where her father was the city engineer for many years. When the former Blue Duck Bistro building on Main Street became available, they knew they had found the right place—rich with history—for Jillian’s. Gary recently found a rusted Pegues Place street sign, circa 1968, that once marked the drive off the alley behind the store. “We always had the goal to maintain the integrity of the building,” says Gary, also a Hutchinson native. The new custom oak bar, with fluted accents, retains the original centerpiece from the old back bar. Brazilian cherry wood floors warm the bar area, and soft recessed spotlights glow against the original brick walls and fireplace; even the pine staircase remains. An old brick alcove on the west wall is celebrated with a 5-foot photomural that looks deep into the arched vault of a wine cellar. “When we had the photo blown up, we wanted as much of the wall’s brick as possible to show through when we applied it to the wall,” says Jill.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

TOP LEFT Jillian’s Italian Grill brought a new flavor to Hutchinson’s dining scene in 2009. TOP The Pegues Place street sign is proudly displayed in the restaurant with other bits of local history and antiques. ABOVE The bar is a hot spot as it surrounds the woodburning pizza oven. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT Executive chef Dawn Worley prepares a plate for service. A light salad is combined with pasta noodles for a unique touch. Maya Lopez shares a glimpse of the pizza and a chicken salad.

“The key is the atmosphere. It’s a nice facility, tastefully done. On the other side of the coin, there’s enough variety in the menu to expand the palate.” – Robert Ross

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

“Gary’s passion is the creating, the thinking, the building, the giving of his whole heart and soul into something and then watching it flourish.” – Jill Brown

Jillian’s Italian Grill 216 N. Main St. (620) 663-8466 www.jilliansitaliangrill.com

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

For starters

BELOW The spacious patio was part of Jill and Gary Brown’s master plan for their restaurant. BOTTOM The spacious dining room and unique interior create an inviting atmosphere for diners. OPPOSITE PAGE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT

Delicate desserts are a tempting endeavor. Shrimp Diavolo is sure to please those with a fiery appetite. The unique J logo adorns the popular pizza oven.

The Browns owned 21 Santa Fe many years ago and Finnigan’s Jazz, now Danny Boy’s, for eight years. Taking a hiatus from business, Jill became the Christian education director at First Presbyterian Church and Gary was a sales executive for Feist Publications. Minds ever active, they had been mulling a new idea for about five years. “We wanted to bring a different concept. The idea of a wood-fired pizza oven, Italian cuisine because it is so universal and uses such a variety of foods, and an extensive wine menu—it just all fit,” says Gary of the Jillian’s concept. The Browns turned to Jon and Chris Hershberger for help on the menu. Jon, the owner of Sweetwater Sprouts, is also a chef known for the exclusive private dining at his villa north of town. His wife, Chris, is from Italy, where her family still resides, and with their mentoring, first-generation Italian recipes were developed. Not much later, Dawn Worley, a graduate of the Scottsdale Culinary Institute in Arizona and its Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Arts program joined as executive chef. Pizza pie

The rustic wood-burning pizza oven came from California, burns only oak and reaches 600-700 degrees with the oven ceiling topping out at 1,200 degrees. The thin-crust pizza is in and out in two minutes. “That’s the only way to create a true Neapolitan pizza,” says Jill. A bar with stools around the pizza area creates a show as diners can watch the oven-tending skills of Devin Storm, 24, son of the Browns. “Gary has always wanted to set him up with a little pizza place. With Jillian’s, we feel we are building a future for ourselves and for our son,” Jill says of Devin, who has worked with pizza since age 15 when he was a Ken’s Pizza employee. Though Devin has worked at Kansas Grain Inspection and Underground Vault and Storage, the idea of being part of a family business appealed to him. Their daughter Paige, 16, also works sometimes as a hostess. Robert and Mary Ann Ross are frequent Jillian’s customers. “The key is the atmosphere. It’s a nice facility, tastefully done. On the other side of the coin, there’s enough variety in the menu to expand the palate,” says Robert. Having lived in Seattle, Houston and Phoenix, Robert says he finds elements of that metro cuisine at Jillian’s. The oven-fired pizza ties in with gourmet pizzas he seen in other areas. “They make a tomato bisque soup that is really tasty, and the soup and sandwich or salad choices are just the right size. The service is exceptional,” he says. The Browns just completed the third of their four-phase plan. In May the 2,000-square-foot patio was finished. There is now seating for 40 under the stars next to potted plants, a three-level fountain, quaint lighting, metal artwork and a small stage area. With a 30-foot-long brick fireplace, the patio is expected to be in use as late as November. Phase four will be Sunday brunches. They’ve already been approached about franchising but are reticent. “It’s such a long race, the restaurant business, so for now we’re just focusing on being the best we can be,” says Gary.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

hutchinsonbusinesses

SHEEP

A Woolly Endeavor The Mid-States Wool Growers are keeping it warm

Alex McClure helps manage the flow of wool at Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative in South Hutchinson.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Story by Amy B icke l Photography by A aron East

lex McClure stands on a platform grading wool at MidStates Wool Growers Cooperative in South Hutchinson. Although it’s hot, he doesn’t mind—he can’t imagine doing anything else. The warehouse manager knows the wool industry like the back of his hand after being involved for more than five decades. McClure grew up on a sheep farm near Hesston where he began shearing sheep with a hand blade as a young boy. Mid-States Wool, one of the oldest wool cooperatives in the United States, is in the throes of its busy season as winter approaches. Wool, sheared from the sheep in the spring, is shipped by the truckloads to Hutchinson’s co-op for storage. Plastic bags of wool weighing 100-150 pounds are stacked on the concrete floor, while wool packs twowheeled wooden carts and lines a conveyer that leads up to where McClure is grading. He sifts through the piles of fluffy white wool in a warehouse nearly filled to the brim with thousands of pounds of wool. Here, he envisions a future of wool socks, wool sweaters, wool scarves and, for those who can afford it, an expensive wool suit. The wool is reserved for vendors, and some is shelved in a retail store at the warehouse that remains relatively unknown. It offers unique items such as wool dusters, fleece baby blankets and wool slippers, plus many tools of the trade like halters, lead ropes and items used in caring for sheep. In a year’s time, nearly 1 million pounds of sheared wool—a majority harvested from farms between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains—will pass through the facility, according to McClure.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

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“I’ve been doing this, around this, all my life. My dad sold wool to them when I was a kid.” – Alex McClure

right The 3,000 co-op

members send their wool to Mid-States to be included in one marketing pool. BELOW In one year, about 1 million pounds will be processed at the Kansas warehouse.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Warm production

Mid-States Wool strives to add value for the cooperative’s 3,000 members by combining the wool into one marketing pool. Many farmers have small flocks of only 40 or 50 sheep. Nevertheless, McClure says the changing face of agriculture has taken a toll on the industry. “It’s not the same as it once was,” says McClure, who is one of two full-time employees. “We’re handling about half the wool we used to handle.” At the turn of the 20th century, U.S. producers raised an estimated 45 million head of sheep; McClure believes that is when the cooperative’s roots began. In 1974, an Ohio co-op merged with a Kansas City co-op to form Mid-States Wool Growers Cooperative, which today has locations in South Hutchinson and Ohio. Over the years, the industry began changing with fewer farmers and larger farms, says Dallas Hiebert, a sheep producer from Rozel who serves on the cooperative’s board. “We used to have 50 to 60 members alone in our county sheep association,” Hiebert says. “Now there is just me and another guy.” Wool hardships

Today’s national numbers illustrate the declining industry, with just 6 million sheep now being raised. With fewer government incentives to raise sheep, prices aren’t as lucrative either. Countries like China are inundating the market with cheaper wool while synthetic fabrics are reducing the need for wool. Even if the industry were to rebound, getting things back to “normal” would be difficult. “It’s not like the infrastructure is still there,” says Hiebert of the East Coast companies. “When the businesses shut down, they scrapped all the looms and weaving machines, cutting them all down for scrap iron.” Yet Hiebert and McClure see promise. Retail for local customers and merchandisers still caters to growers and has helped keep the warehouse afloat in recent years with sales on the internet, from the catalog and by phone. According to Hiebert, the

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cooperative’s retail section does about $1 million in sales a year. Despite challenges, the cooperative continues to chug along. An ageless process

McClure learned about the wool industry from his father. He loved being around the sheep on the family farm. He attended a sheep-shearing school in his teens and for years traveled Kansas, going from farm to farm as a sheep shearer. “I’ve been doing this, around this, all my life,” McClure says. “My dad sold wool to them when I was a kid.” About a decade ago, he took the job at Mid-States Wool, where he finds the different qualities of wool fascinating. He pulls a piece of wool from the Rambouillet breed of sheep that he calls a fine product. Raw wool comes into the facility in plastic or burlap bags. It’s weighed and separated by hand into wooden carts by grade, which depends mostly on sheep breed and quality of care. While grading, McClure looks at the wool’s crimp, length, strength, color and fiber fineness. He typically grades the wool into three categories: coarse wool, a poorer quality used in carpet and upholstery; mediumgrade wool, turned into sweaters, undergarments and socks; and finer wools, for nicer clothes such as suits and dresses. After separating the wool, McClure sends the product to the East Coast to be scoured. The scoured wool is dried and spun onto tops for further wool manufacturing. Wool typically is exported to China, where it is turned into fabric before being shipped back to the United States. “Wool is more durable than cotton,” says Michael Hoskinson, Mid-States supply clerk. “Wash it out right and hang it up, and you won’t have wrinkles the next day.” Hoskinson wouldn’t go without his wool socks during the winter, boasting that wool also has the ability to absorb 30 percent of moisture when wet but still keep the feet warm and dry. Wool clothing is useful year-round, he says. “It’ll keep you in the cool in the summer and warm in the winter.”

ABOVE A retail shop at Mid-States Wool features unique wool items and products for farmers. LEFT Nick Moreno is the only other full-time employee assisting McClure in warehouse operations.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

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HOME COOKIN’

A Business Built on Kindness

The Dutch Kitchen continues to serve down-home attitude

Story by Amy Con kli ng Photography by De bor ah Walke r

egulars at the Dutch Kitchen feel right at home on any given Saturday morning. Just as if they were in their own kitchen, they shuffle into the dining room area to grab a mug and pour themselves a cup of coffee. Off to the right, a help-yourself pastry bar greets them with the sweet smells of cinnamon and vanilla that blanket the homemade sugar-glazed doughnuts, spicy coffeecake and jumbo iced cinnamon rolls. For these regulars, the Dutch Kitchen is more than a restaurant; it’s a home away from home in the heart of Pleasantview. Dorothy Fisher, the longtime Amish waitress, greets visitors with a shy smile and warm giggle, while owner Kevin Hall doesn’t think twice about jumping in on busy mornings to seat guests and end their wait for biscuits and gravy. The generous portions and secret family recipes continue to leave customers satisfied with warm hearts. Saturday splurge

Celina and Kevin Hall are settling in as the next generation at the legendary Dutch Kitchen.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Bernie Grossardt makes the 20-minute trip from Hutchinson almost every Saturday morning for an easygoing breakfast. Bernie and his wife, Marge, have made the Dutch Kitchen part of their weekly routine for the last decade. They usually arrive midmorning, he says, around “8:30 or 9 a.m. because we’re in no hurry.” Cinnamon rolls top their list of favorites, but they like to vary their order each week. They consider themselves fortunate to be able to order pie if they arrive late enough in the day and extremely fortunate if they see coconut cream in the pie display.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

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“Most of our recipes come from the Amish, especially our pies and bread recipes. But no matter who asks for the recipes, we don’t give them out.”” – Kevin Hall

— Did you know? —

“My wife especially likes that coconut cream pie,” Bernie says. “She doesn’t always have it but will usually pick up a piece if they have it available that day. It’s hard to resist.” The couple enjoy the people they’ve met at the Dutch Kitchen throughout the years. And they appreciate the comfortable, familiar feeling that remains after they walk out the restaurant’s doors. “We’ve gotten to know great people there,” Bernie says. “The wait staff does a good job, and the owner Kevin is such a down-home type of person.”

The Dutch Kitchen is five miles west of South Hutchinson on Kansas Highway 61/U.S. Highway 50. The restaurant opened more than 35 years ago and features homemade recipes from the Amish culture. A handful of women come in just after midnight several times a week to bake pies. Owner Kevin Hall says most of the meat comes from area distributors while the produce mainly comes from Smith’s Market.

—

Family style

MORE INFO The Dutch Kitchen 6803 W. Kansas Highway 61 (620) 662-2554 www.dutchkitchenrestaurant.com 6 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday, closed Sunday

TOP

Fried chicken is a customer favorite.

CENTER Waitress LeAnn Dick is a hungry

patron’s best friend. LEFT Pie is a must at the Dutch Kitchen and often just the thing to keep customers coming back for more.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Kevin and his wife, Celina, purchased the Dutch Kitchen from longtime owner Joe Miller in April 2007. Kevin’s first year of work at the restaurant was in 1998 as the dishwasher. He later became a waiter and then manager of the restaurant, which has been open for more than 35 years. Truth be told, Celina was responsible for getting Kevin the dishwashing gig when he was in high school. Today they still work alongside each other. “I never thought I would own the restaurant,” 29-year-old Kevin says with a chuckle. Celina manages the restaurant at least one day a week while Kevin oversees the operation. On Saturdays, the entire family—including the Hall children, Kaylee, 8, and Carson, 5—can be seen eating breakfast while Kevin splits time between stopping at his family’s booth and seating the hundreds of customers who come through the doors. Kevin didn’t see a need to make many changes to the menu or restaurant. Recipes remain a secret, while fried chicken, baked goods and mashed potatoes still top the menu requests. The restaurant’s Amish cooking tradition continues to blend harmoniously with the modern way of life.

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“A lot of our customers come because they like the Amish culture the restaurant provides,” Kevin says. “And many of them are repeat customers.” Breakfast customers opt for the homemade biscuits and gravy, omelets made with fresh eggs and pastry selection. Lunch and dinner customers, meanwhile, enjoy the daily specials of hand-breaded fried chicken, chicken fried steak, hand-cut roast beef and made-from-scratch mashed potatoes. Above all, the fresh baked pies remain a favorite. Available by the slice or whole, their 70 flavors include fruit, specialty, cream and sugar-free. “Most of our recipes come from the Amish, especially our pies and bread recipes,” Kevin says. “But no matter who asks for the recipes, we don’t give them out.” Comfort First

Donna and Lloyd Schroeder frequent the Dutch Kitchen four to five times a week, usually at dinnertime. “It’s our favorite place to go, and it’s been that way for a long time,” says Donna, who recalls her first trip to the restaurant during the ’70s. Decades later, Donna still enjoys the good food and friendly people found in every visit. “It’s comfortable for us to go there,” Donna says. “We don’t need to get dressed up and can just come as we are. It’s nice to be able to go somewhere and just relax, like home.” Lloyd likes the quality service. He opts for chicken fried steak, fried chicken and pecan pie during his visits. Their ultimate favorite, though, comes in the form of fried mush. “We’re older and were raised on fried mush,” Donna says. “We like it, and it’s neat they offer it. It brings back memories each time we order it, like most of the food.”

ABOVE LEFT A gift shop at the Dutch Kitchen sells a number of items for celebrating family and friends. LEFT Donna and Lloyd Schroeder join Bernie and Marge Grossardt for a bite.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

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Performing Arts

The Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra returns for another year of wowing audiences story by R ichar d Shan k Photography by De bor ah Walke r

his October, 55 musicians will take to the Fox Theatre stage as they open another season of the Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra. “We are anticipating a terrific season with the orchestra sharing the brilliance of human creativity,” says conductor Richard Koshgarian. “Surprises are waiting for those seated in the audience.” The symphony’s poised performances, hours of rehearsal and intense practice are all part of a hearty tradition that took merely 24 years to get started. Historic efforts

ABOVE Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra conductor Richard Koshgarian leads the 55 musicians. BELOW Lisa Mitchell, Jim Phillips and Ellen Neufeld are accomplished members of the orchestra.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

The Hutchinson Symphony’s start was trying at best. Original symphony members performed for the first time on February 25, 1940, in Buhler, not Hutchinson, and on the following night brought down the house with an encore production in Sterling. On April 7, 1940, the symphony played for a standing-room-only crowd of 1,000 at Hutchinson High School’s Richardson Auditorium for the orchestra’s first performance in the Salt City. A performance on March 15, 1942, occurred shortly before the group was forced to disband as a result of gasoline rationing during the early days of World War II. By the late 1940s there was talk of reviving the symphony, and on January 16, 1949, a group known as the second symphony performed to an audience of 1,300 at Convention Hall. Hutchinson News reporter Stuart Awbrey, who attended a 1950 performance, was so impressed with what he saw that he wrote, “It is amazing that a city the size of Hutchinson has an orchestra the caliber of this symphony.” The second coming of the Hutchinson Symphony would prove to be short-lived when the conductor announced in April 1950 that he was leaving town to accept a similar position in Wichita; soon the symphony announced its own demise. A third symphony orchestra was formed nine years later, and 300 attended its maiden performance on February 19, 1959, at Hutchinson Junior College. Three years later, the symphony disbanded when one performance had more musicians on the stage performing than audience members. Success finally came with the fourth attempt to form a symphony. On February 23, 1964, Conductor Roland Gunn walked to center stage at the Hutchinson High School auditorium to direct an orchestra that has endured for 46 years.

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Modern sounds

Today, two thirds of the orchestra’s members reside in Hutchinson, while others join from neighboring communities including Salina, Wichita, Inman, Lindsborg and Sterling. Koshgarian modestly attributes the success to a passionate board of directors and a fantastic group of musicians. “The orchestra is like a family serving up a Thanksgiving dinner for our special guests,” says Koshgarian. “We love to share our love of music on both a spiritual and emotional level.” Koshgarian notes that the symphony may not be for everyone, but it’s critical for the well-being of the community. “To plan for the season, we put out feelers throughout the community to determine what type of programming the city would like to hear,” he says. The 2010-2011 season will open with “Hats off to Broadway,” a show with heavy emphasis on Broadway musicals and performances by soloists Kevin Borger, Amy Bretz, Dane Frazier and Amy Frederick, to name a few. Hutchinson State Farm agent Chris Corey, who has a minor in voice from the University of Kansas, is well-known in the area for performances at his friends’ weddings. He will make his debut with the symphony on opening night with a solo vocal performance. “I have sung everything from Italian opera to Neil Diamond,” he says with a laugh. “It is an honor and thrill to perform with the symphony at the Fox Theatre.” Regular performers

Ellen Neufeld, of Inman, holds seniority among the 55 musicians in the Hutchinson Symphony. Neufeld joined the symphony in September 1980 while playing the oboe and has performed at every concert since. An attorney by profession, Neufeld describes the Hutchinson Symphony as a fulfilling hobby that offers something beyond her normal day job. “The symphony provides reasonably priced entertainment for the residents of Hutchinson,” she says. Jim Phillips, who describes himself as a classically trained trumpet player, is not far behind Neufeld in years playing and returns this fall for his 21st season. “The symphony is a real gem in a community this small,” Phillips says. First National Bank Vice President Will Tobin arrived in Hutchinson by way of Cincinnati in 2005. After attending his first symphony performance, he was hooked. He now serves as president of the symphony’s board of directors. “It was an unexpected surprise to find an orchestra that performs so well,” Tobin says. Seven decades after the first Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra performed its first concert, people like Neufeld, Phillips and Tobin help make the symphony a success.

TOP 2011 soloists include, clockwise from top, Dane Frazier, Chris Corey, Amy Bretz and Amy Frederick. BOTTOM President of the symphony’s board of directors, Will Tobin.

Anderson Concerto Young musicians contend annually for the opportunity to perform with the symphony as a soloist

through a competition known as the Anderson Concerto Auditions. Since 1968, approximately 80 young area musicians have been named winners. The competition is limited to students who reside in a 50-mile radius of Hutchinson, excluding Wichita. One pianist in the advanced division (grades 10-12) will win an opportunity to perform with the symphony during one performance of the 2010-2011 season. Meanwhile, 11th- and 12thgrade musicians compete with Hutchinson Community College students for the same in the instrumental division. Those interested in the competition should contact Judy Blauer at judyblauermusic@gmail.com.

A Season’s Glimpse December 16

The annual holiday performance will feature sounds created by doubleneck guitjo and a cello based on a 1739 Montagnana model with enhanced acoustics. February 5

The symphony will act as a backup for the Diamond W Wranglers, a country group performing as a part of the Fox Theatre’s 2010-2011 lineup. (This show is not included in the symphony season-ticket package.) February 10

The symphony teams with the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center for a show titled “The Planets.” It will include a video backdrop transporting the audience into outer space. Anderson concerto winners will perform with the symphony that evening. April 7

The season concludes when the Hutchinson Symphony Orchestra presents Tchaikovsky’s Fifth Symphony and Mozart’s Sinfonia Concertante. MORE INFO

Tickets may be purchased at the Fox Theatre, 18 E. First Ave., (620) 663-1981, or online at www.hutchsymphony.org. Season tickets are $55 for seniors (65 and older) and $65 for adults. Student tickets are $10. At the door adult tickets are $20 for each performance. All performances are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

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One For the Team

Merritt and Sandy Wright see red every day as zealous fans of the Kansas City Chiefs story by Pam Lyle Photography by A aron East

Sandy and Merritt Wright are enthusiastic Kansas City Chiefs fans—nothing comes in the way of rooting for their team.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

s Merritt Wright hurries down his driveway, past the beautifully shined “Chiefs Mobile,” grinning all the way, it’s clear that this man is full of life and enjoys it to the fullest. The open garage doors display Kansas City Chiefs paraphernalia that attracts interest and inquiry. Posters, calendars, towels, hats and pictures fill the walls and shelves in the garage—each a piece of history, each highlighting moments in the lives of Merritt and his wife, Sandy. Thirty-two wigs are just a part of Merritt’s Chiefs attire. “I wear something representing Kansas City Chiefs every day,” he says. Framed pictures throughout the house show him with his face painted and body decked out in various outfits for the games. Merritt, 58, dances from item to item with excitement and stories, laughing and reliving the past 21 years he and his family have been avid Chiefs fans. Since 1989, the family has only missed eight home games due to illness, weddings or other family needs. The Wrights also enjoy traveling to road games and have visited Dallas, Baltimore, St. Louis, Denver and many other venues. In 2011 their goal is to attend a Packers game in Green Bay. Why the commitment to football and the Kansas City Chiefs? “I was living in California as a child, and at the age of 7 my grandfather took me to see the Rams and Cleveland Browns play,” Merritt says. “Wow, they were big, powerful. I loved it. Football was my game after that, and I started playing.” Later in life, after meeting Sandy and starting a family, the Chiefs became a bonding factor. “We wanted it to be a family thing, something our kids would enjoy and come back home to do with us. It was a drawing card to bring them back.” Sandy has become the matriarch of the tailgate. It consists of about 30 or 40 people, who sign up if they plan to attend. Sandy prepares the ribs, chili, chicken or whatever they’ll be having for that game at home in Haven and packs it up for the trip to KC. “Every game has a theme meal: Bronco Burgers, Raider Hater Chili, San Diego Chicken, Buffalo Wings. It’s just fun,” says Sandy. They agree that Arrowhead has the best parking lot setup for

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“We wanted it to be a family thing, something our kids would enjoy and come back home to do with us. It was a drawing card to bring them back.” – Merritt Wright tailgating due to its proximity, making it handy for cooking and socializing. The Wrights love the “smell and feel” of tailgating. “It is tradition to invite guests of the opposing team to eat and socialize with us at our tailgate at each game,” Sandy says. Stories and descriptions flow as the couple discuss their favorite Chiefs coach, Marty Schottenheimer. Plays are demonstrated in detail as they describe their favorite players, Tony Gonzales and Derrick Thomas. A large poster of Thomas that he autographed with a personal note proudly hangs in a prominent place at their home. “He really was the best defensive player ever,” Merritt says. While following the team and sport year-round, the Wrights have studied magazines and opinions on the future of the Chiefs. They traveled to Kansas City this year for NFL draft weekend to witness the team’s decisions. Merritt reports that the Chiefs “are drafting players with good character and morals that will bring something good to the table.” Merritt’s co-workers are familiar with his fanatical ways. “The Chiefs are Merritt’s life and pride and joy,” says Lee Spence, president of Underground Vaults and Storage, where Merritt has worked for eight years. Lee also is a Chiefs fan, so he finds it difficult to pass up Merritt’s tailgate invitations. “[It’s] hard to miss with his great outfits and that vehicle that stands out,” says Lee. When they’re not on the road, Merritt and his family attend local high school and college football games. “We have the best football in the Midwest right here,” says Merritt. During the summer the Wrights, along with their son Adam, 26, run the Haven Recreation Commission. This program serves nearly 400 kids, from kindergarten through eighth grade, who participate in baseball, softball, arts and crafts camps, basketball and more. Merritt says he always wears Chiefs attire when working with the kids at the program. As loyal fans, the Wrights keep their sights on what is most important. “Family, friends and good food—that’s really what it is all about,” Merritt says.

TOP Since 1989, the family has only missed eight home games. Sarah, Adam and Merritt at Arrowhead Stadium. CENTER The Wrights have been season ticket holders for 21 years. ABOVE Merritt’s fanatic costume won first place in a contest.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

ESternal alute As Veterans Day nears, we

honor three men who have served our country

story by R ichar d Shan k

Photography by A aron East

At Hutchinson Magazine, we salute our Reno County veterans. Jake Stuckey, Buck Lyle and Bob Adams are just a few who have served their country in war and peace. In doing so, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve reaffirmed America as the bastion of freedom with a centuries-old commitment to fight tyranny and, more recently, terrorism. On November 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I, America will observe Veterans Day. Until then, we express our gratitude to these three brave servicemen who did their part to preserve the freedoms that Americans have enjoyed since the founding of our nation more than two centuries ago.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

The Young Gun

s Jake Stuckey sat in his freshman English class at Nickerson High School on the morning of September 11, 2001, the teacher announced that two airplanes had struck the World Trade Center towers in New York City. “I was angry and took it as a personal attack,” says Jake. On the fourth anniversary of a day forever immortalized as 9/11, Jake stood at attention and was sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps. One year later, he was on the ground in Iraq handling radio communications for allied patrols as they searched out the enemy with an eye for roadside bombs. A return to stateside in May 2007 preceded a second tour just four months later. Jake, 24, was discharged from the Marines in August 2009. Now his days are busier than ever as he pursues a degree in agriculture business at Butler Community College in Wichita with hopes of one day managing a grain elevator or marketing seeds to farmers. Soon, he hopes to join a veterans service organization, and he may at some point enlist in the Marine Corps Reserves. “One of my lifetime goals was to serve in the military,” Jake says. Through his military service, Jake treasures friendships that may last a lifetime. “The Marines are a group of guys just being guys, and when we served together, we were family—much like brothers,” he says. “The Marines taught me to think and plan ahead, something my mother says that I never did,” he says with a hearty laugh. “When high school seniors ask me about serving in the Armed Forces, I urge them to keep their options open and consider the military.” Jake is the son of Anita Stuckey, Hutchinson, and Brent Stuckey, Abbyville.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

Wise with Experience

or Buck Lyle, a coal miner’s son from Wellsburg, West Virginia, a major turning point in his life came in 1962 when he chose service in the Armed Forces over an offer to play professional baseball with the Cincinnati Reds. On June 25, 1962, Buck was sworn in as a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Four years later, he graduated and went to serve as a navigator and bombardier on the first of four tours of duty, including 161 combat missions, in the Vietnam War. “A navigator tells the pilot where to go, and the bombardier directs the path of the bombs that are dropped,” Buck says. His retirement from the Air Force in 1971 was short-lived as one year later he joined the National Guard. Later that year, his then future wife suggested that he might want to fulfill his dream of becoming an attorney by pursuing a degree at the University of Kansas. After graduation in 1973 he relocated to Hutchinson, and eight years later Governor John Carlin appointed him district judge for Reno County. In a 2 a.m. phone call in August 1990, Buck was ordered into active duty following the Iraq invasion of Kuwait. Six months later, acting as commander of the refueling unit, he was flying in missions in a war that the military dubbed Desert Storm. Buck retired from the National Guard in 1993 and as district judge in 2002, although he remains on senior judge status. “The Air Force is the best thing that ever happened to me and instilled in me a love for my country,” he says. These days, Buck’s volunteer activities for veterans are almost more than a full-time job. He gives time at the American Legion-sponsored National Junior College Basketball tournament held annually in Hutchinson. He is no stranger at the local Red Cross headquarters, where he helps with military-related matters, such as contacting servicemen and women who may have a family member with a medical emergency. Buck even makes time to drive veterans to and from doctor’s appointments at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita. As an accomplished public speaker, Buck is highly sought after for presentations on his military career to local schools and for talks at cemeteries on Memorial Day. About six times a year, Buck visits the Air Force Academy to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones. “Service in the military has given me some great friends,” he says. “I wish that I was 18 years old and could do it all over again.”

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

FEATURE Veterans

Storied Past

utchinson’s retired chief of police, Bob Adams, 93, is a card-carrying World War II veteran and part of what journalist Tom Brokaw calls “The Greatest Generation.” Bob, who is soft-spoken, jokes that he was “selected,” not drafted, to enter the U.S. Army on February 15, 1941, 10 months preceding the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. On July 7, 1944, Bob and the rest of the 35th Infantry Division landed on Omaha Beach in France during the Invasion of Normandy to establish the inland march to relieve American troops who arrived 31 days earlier. Dodging sniper fire while sleeping in foxholes and hiding in hedges, the men accomplished the stated mission; Bob survived without even a single scratch. The following spring, as first sergeant, Bob led his squadron of soldiers in the Battle of the Bulge and, in doing so, survived a brutal German winter. Always a man of meticulous detail, Bob returned home and penned a two-part series of daily wartime experiences and memories he titled Combat Recollections. In 1952, the Sun City native was hired as a police officer in Hutchinson. He eventually rose to the rank of police chief before his retirement in 1983. “The military helped me develop discipline,” Bob says. “It helped me recognize what the public needs are.” Once the war was won, the veterans of the 35th Infantry Division established an annual reunion. Bob is proud to say that he has missed few of these gathering during the past 65 years. “In the military, one makes a lot of friendships,” he says. “We don’t talk about the war and instead visit about our lives,” Bob says. “My closest friends are military people in that we shared life and death experiences.”

The Bob Campbell VFW Post 1361, 328 N. Van Buren St., will host a luncheon for veterans on Veterans Day, November 11. Time and other details will be announced closer to the event. Also, the American Legion Riders, a group of veterans who ride motorcycles, plan to visit veterans who reside in nursing homes in early November.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

health&fitness 5 | HEALTH NUT We continue our series of articles on “Health Nuts” from Reno County

These individuals, young and old, seek a healthier lifestyle through many forms of well-being and exercise. Our fifth installment focuses on Brian Mencl, firefighter.

Health Nut: Brian Mencl From pitching with dad to finishing triathlons

Story by Amy Con kli ng

Photography by A aron East

rian Mencl can’t remember a time when he wasn’t kicking soccer balls, shooting layups or taking batting practice. The Hutchinson resident grew up absorbing any and every sport he could—first thanks to his parents, and later thanks to his interest in competition. “I may not always have excelled in every sport I did, but I developed the athletic traits of balance, speed and strength that have helped me in life,” he says. It’s those traits that carried on through his high school and college years and eventually led him to fall in love with the sports of running and triathlons. Now, the 31-year-old has completed a Half Ironman triathlon, a marathon and several sprint triathlons, among other races—all while balancing life as a husband, new father, part-time high school pole vault coach and the demanding job of a full-time firefighter.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

health&fitness

LEFT Brian Mencl has slowly evolved into a triathlete from his many other athletic endeavors, including pole-vaulting. below Brian and his wife Jenny look forward to raising their daughter to be just as motivated.

“I may not always have excelled in every sport I did, but I developed the athletic traits.” – Brian Mencl

Healthy from the beginning

As a youngster, Brian competed in a lot of sports: soccer, flag football, basketball and baseball. The variety continued in high school as he found new sports: swimming, wrestling and the pole vault in track and field. Brian later competed in the pole vault on Hutchinson Community College’s track and field team. By the time he moved to Kansas State University, he got into weightlifting. “I was always skinny and lanky growing up, but I bulked up when I started to lift weights,” he says. While working as a lifeguard in 2000, Brian learned of another lifeguard’s goal to complete an Ironman triathlon, where participants swim 2.4 miles in open water, bike 112 miles and run 26.2 miles. The grueling task intrigued Brian. Competition and structure

He started small with a sprint triathlon that summer and fell in love with the sport soon afterward. “I enjoyed the competition and the structure that training for a triathlon required,” he says. “After my first triathlon, I knew I could do better and shave minutes off of my time, so I started training and competing in more of them.” Brian eventually made his way through the sprint triathlon circuit, competing in Hutchinson, Topeka, Emporia and the Kansas City area. In the back of his mind, though, he wanted to do more. In 2004, Brian trained to complete in the Hotter than Hell Half Ironman at the Kansas Speedway race track. “It lived up to its name, with the temperature at 88 degrees and a 95 percent humidity during much of the race,” Brian says. “My legs were cramping and I had to do a walk-run pace by the time I got to the run, but I finished.” In 2007 Brian began to work on his weakest part of the triathlon—running. That March, he finished the Olathe Marathon, an event he wants to try again, only next time with better results.

“I didn’t taper or study the course and do necessary hill workouts like I should have,” Brian says. “I didn’t give respect to the race that it deserved, which makes me want to do another one better.” Training squeeze

These days, Brian’s first focus is on family. His wife, Jenny, gave birth to their first daughter in July. Ironically, her original due date was August 14—the same day as the Salty Dog Triathlon in Hutchinson, which Brian planned to do. “When the doctor first told us August 14, I just turned to Brian and told him how sorry I was, because I knew that it was on the same day as the Salty Dog,” says Jenny. Their family addition creates a new consideration for Brian’s training regimen, but it’s something he’s used to. As a firefighter, he admits he has to sometimes get creative with his workout routine during a 24-hour shift. “We have a block radius that I can run around, and I’ll bring my bike and put it on the stationary trainer,” he says. “Swims come on off days, when I can go to the pool.” His fitness definitely has given him a leg up when fires arise. “When you show up at a house fire, the adrenaline is running high,” Brian says. “Adrenaline helps for the first 15-20 minutes of a fire. But I have found out the longer the fire goes on, the more endurance training comes into play.” When he’s not working at the fire station, Brian spends the springtime coaching the pole vault for Hutchinson High School’s track and field team. Brian has even passed on his love for exercise and fitness to Jenny, who did her first triathlon last summer. “He was such a good supporter to me. As soon as he finished, he came back on the course and ran with me the entire time to keep me motivated,” Jenny says. And, she says, their daughter will benefit from her fit daddy as well. “I’m sure he’ll run with her and maybe even bike with her eventually,” Jenny says. “He’ll definitely be one to get her started as soon as possible.”

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

health&fitness

Spiking in Popularity

At the Hutchinson Recreation Commission, volleyball serves as an all-ages favorite Story by B r ad Eve nson Photography by A aron East

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

ttack, block, bump, cut shot, joust, power alley and spike sound scary enough to warrant against this game. Worry not—there are plenty of individuals who see the saner side of it. For decades the Hutchinson Recreation Commission has provided sports, nature, aquatic, wellness and other opportunities to area enthusiasts. Even with such a broad range of active offerings, there appears to be a favorite: volleyball. “Our volleyball numbers have been steadily growing while other leagues have remained fairly consistent,” says Marc Trent, sports director at the Hutchinson Recreation Commission. “For some reason, volleyball has captured the imagination for those in the area.”

health&fitness

All ages tend to join the Hutchinson Recreation Commission volleyball leagues for camaraderie and fitness. BELOW Marc Trent, sports director at the Hutchinson Recreation Commission, keeps up with the volleyball leagues and supports its positive results. RIGHT

Tips For New Volleyballers: Be a good sport

“It’s best when you take it competitively, but just treat others fairly and don’t take it overboard.” – Marc Trent If you don’t know, ask

“In these leagues, we are blessed to have so many great people that are more than happy to help teach you about the game.” – Marc Trent “Don’t be scared to give it a try. I can’t think of anyone that

wouldn’t be happy to help, and I’ve been in the leagues for years.” – Rick Arnhold

so well-received,” says Zeka. “We had a women’s Tuesday morning Reasons for enjoying this popular sport vary from player to league that played in the late ’80s and into the ’90s.” player. Rick Arnhold likes sharing a passion for the game with his While the game remains the same, times have changed for Zeka. daughter as well as the friendships that are created from compet- In the beginning she had to craft and hand-type the schedules for ing with others. the league, then post them for all to see. Now Trent is tasked with “There have been a lot of good people we’ve had in the leagues creating the league schedules, and with a wry smile he admits that that have lived in Hutchinson,” says Arnhold. “It gives us all a start- technology has made the league scheduling a bit easier. ing point for getting to know each other.” “We have some great software that, once I input the team data, Arnhold also enjoys watching others benefit from the game. “It’s it generates a schedule and I can then post it to the web where our fun to see how volleyball has taken people different places and the players can have access to it all the time,” he says. exposure they have gotten due to their talents and abilities,” he says. Active bodies, healthy outlook One example is Brandi Hood and her father RueThe health benefits of volleyball are not to be MORE INFO ben, who have played in Hutchinson’s rec leagues. overlooked. Hood excelled as a hitter for Hutchinson Community Visit www.hutchrec.com or “Volleyball is great for many ages to stay out of call (620) 663-6179 College until she transferred to Texas Tech Univerthe La-Z-Boy and keep playing and having a good to join a volleyball league. sity in 2007. While her success has been a product of time with friends,” says Trent. “We have a good dedication and hard work, the local volleyball leagues number of people in their 40s and 50s that get the were instrumental in bringing her into the game. same amount of enjoyment out of playing as our high “Growing up you always played rec ball,” she says. “That’s just school- and college-aged kids, and that’s great to see.” where you started out at to improve.” Specifically, volleyball is a sport that is better than others for Hood explains why she and others came to enjoy the sport. “It’s avoiding injuries, which is reassuring for players of all ages. “The just a very fast game with not too many players,” she says. “That movements aren’t too strenuous, and one of the main factors is allows you to feel like a big part of the team. It’s just a great game that it is easy on the knees,” says Trent. Of course this wear and and I enjoy it.” tear on knees is related to the effort and form used to dive or dig for the ball. Volleyball evolution Hood says volleyball fuses fun and competition. “It’s all about Betty Zeka, assistant director of the Hutchinson Recreation having an open mind out there. You’re going to get frustrated when Commission, has been on staff since 1980 and recalls volleyball as you start out, but just remember to have a lot of fun because that’s always having a faithful following in the area. “Our leagues were what it’s all about.” Finding friendships

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

Q&A Photography by aaron East

Q&A with Hutchinson Community Foundation President and Executive Director

Aubrey Abbott Patterson

seeking their help. The Community Foundation responded quickly with a $10,000 seed to the Emergency Services Fund and a call to the community to help build the fund to $75,000. Within a few short weeks, we met the goal and were able to distribute funds to the agencies. The quick turnaround was possible because the Community Foundation was able to connect the human service agencies to donors who have the means and interest to help.

ubrey Abbott Patterson, president

and executive director of the Hutchinson Community Foundation, holds a lot of responsibility at work and at home. It’s no small feat to manage family (with three kids, ages 4 months to 6), philanthropic endeavors and a foundation that “connects donors to the community, inspires philanthropy and provides leadership on key community issues,” according to its mission statement. Prior to finding herself in the Reno County area in 2004, Patterson, 35, grew up in Larned. She received a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a graduate degree from the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University in Indianapolis. She served as a program assistant at the Central Indiana Community Foundation and later returned to K-State as the assistant director of Leadership Studies and Programs. Her role at the Hutchinson Community Foundation has also helped her to coordinate the launch of the Kansas Association of Community Foundations. But her heart lies with Hutch. “My goal is for more people in Hutchinson and Reno County to understand the community foundation and how they can get involved in collective giving that makes a true difference for our families and our neighbors,” says Patterson. HM: The foundation met a remarkable milestone last year (20 years). What has this meant to you?

HM: What would residents be surprised to learn about community foundation? AAP: People will be surprised by three things.

HM: How can residents get involved in the community foundation? AAP: Anyone can be a donor with $5 or $5 mil-

lion. Those gifts can be made today or as an estate gift for the good of Reno County. There are over 350 funds to which people can give, like the Fund for Hutchinson, Cause for Paws, Friends of the Trail, Tree Board—almost any community effort you can think of. Nonprofit organizations can apply for grants, and students can serve on the Youth Philanthropy Council.

AAP: I am very proud and thankful to be a part

of this organization. The Community Foundation has a strong history of excellence in board and staff leadership and in its role as a grant maker and community leader. … Since 1989, we have consistently provided high-quality services to donors and to our community. We are flexible enough to respond to community needs and stable enough to be here for the long term.

One: The breadth and depth of our work. We have provided community leadership very quietly in Reno County for 20 years—maybe too quietly. Two: People can give “to” the Foundation or “through” it. The Fund for Hutchinson provides a fund to give “to” and allows the foundation board to decide which needs are greatest in Reno County. But a gift to a nonprofit organization fund or the creation of a fund in your family’s name is a way to give “through” the Community Foundation to the charitable cause of your choice. Three: The foundation is situated for perpetuity. The Dick Dillon Legacy Endowment Fund ensures that the Community Foundation has the administrative funds necessary to sustain it for many generations. For that reason, we can promise to be the steward of a donor’s gift today and well into the future. HM: What about Kansas inspires you?

HM: Do you have a memorable

AAP: The people. Strong, well-grounded people

story from your work with the foundation?

who love their families and their communities.

AAP: In the summer of 2009, human service

HM: If you could have lunch with a famous individual, whom would you dine with? And where?

agencies that provide basic needs like emergency housing, rental assistance, medication and utility assistance experienced an overwhelming growth in the number of people

AAP: The late Tim Russert of Meet the Press. On

set.

Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Katy Ibsen.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

travelideas story by G lor ia Gale Photography courtesy of San Di ego Conve ntion & Visitors Bu r e au

Sun City Drenched in a mantle of sand and shimmer, San Diego is a first-rate family destination

n the not-too-distant past, conjuring up an image of San Diego wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t easy. With a naval base dating as far back as l846, the city was known mostly for its deepwater harbor, retired military and little else. Funny thing happened on the way into the 20th century. San Diegoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boom began as folks discovered that a temperate year-round climate and 70 miles of crystalline beaches were the perfect antidote for frigid winters. Today this city has a sunny disposition bolstered with plethora of nonstop activities that engage die-hard landlubbers and beachcombers alike.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

70 miles of beaches

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;

300 days of sunshine

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

travelideas Spectacular safaris

Surf’s up in So Cal Three hundred days of sunshine a year and temps rarely below 60

degrees deem the beach as a lifestyle in this slice of heaven. Waves and people watching are legendary at any of the 33 beaches, including Del Mar, Mission Bay, La Jolla, Pacific, Solana and Coronado, named the best family beach in North America by the Travel Channel. Claim your turf and soak in a sunset while the children frolic in the foam—the best part is it’s free. Two bays, Mission and San Diego, are aquatic playgrounds at their best. Mission Bay boasts 4,600 acres featuring designated areas for sailing, power boating, fishing, swimming and water skiing. It’s a favorite spot for families taking advantage of the bay or traveling along the shoreline dotted with 20 miles of paths for runners, bikers and skaters. Picnic at parklike Tecolote Shores or meander over to San Diego Bay, which serves as a home port for Navy ships, sport-fishing fleets and cruise ships. Catch a harbor tour, dinner cruise or whale-watching expedition from this exceptional natural vantage point.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

tropical garden of landscaped habitats housing 4,000 animals. Roaming a zoo of this caliber—whether by three-mile guided bus tour, sky tram or foot— promises to astound and amuse. Highlights include the Polar Bear Plunge, Elephant Odyssey and Gao Gao and Bai Yun, mom and pop of the largest giant panda population in the United States. Never been to Kilimanjaro or the heart of Africa? San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park 30 miles northeast of downtown gives you an opportunity. These 1,800 acres mimic the native habitats of Asia and Africa and provide visitors with an opportunity to see exotic wild animals like white rhinoceros, Cape buffalo, Roosevelt’s gazelles and African crowned cranes. Visit the vast expanse of preserve via an open-air tram, balloon, Segway or even a new zip line that flies guests about two thirds of a mile across the park. Penguins, sharks, manatees, dolphins and Shamu welcome you to SeaWorld on Mission Bay. Six major shows and numerous exhibits feature marine life from around the world. Interactive fun is the attraction at LEGOLAND, where 128 acres of imagination and entertainment collide. Be sure to start with Miniland where more than 20 million LEGO bricks star as the ultimate expression of the LEGO art form. Balboa Park is often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West.” Known as the largest urban cultural park in the United States, this 1,200-acre park sits only a few blocks from downtown San Diego and boasts 15 museums, eight gardens, the San Diego Zoo, a variety of art galleries and the Old Globe Theater. Enjoy free events such as Spreckels Organ Pavilion featuring organ concerts at 2 p.m. every Sunday or the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, where huge telescopes offer guests a chance to stargaze on the first Wednesday of each month.

Photography courtesy, clockwise from top left, ThinkStock, San Diego Zoological Society, LEGOLAND California, ThinkStock

World-famous San Diego Zoo is a 100-acre

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

travelideas •

Where to Stay These hotels will satisfy the most discriminating families with a host of kid-centric amenities.

Mission Bay Paradise Point Resort

www.paradisepoint.com Catamaran Resort Hotel

www.catamaranresort.com

Snippets from the past

Great eats

San Diego’s rich heritage

on the Oceanside Pier (www.rubys.com). This hip Carlsbad diner is one location families will appreciate where black and bleu sliders, omelets, corned beef hash and zillions of sides are favorites. Sammy’s Woodfired Pizza (www.sammyspizza. com) treats you to the innovative West Coast pizza. These delicious pies please a variety of appetites. At Café Coyote (www.cafecoyoteoldtown.com), strolling mariachis, floral-scented air and exceptional traditional Mexican fare welcome all. This family-friendly, fun cantina is in historic Old Town, the birthplace of California. A slew of accolades has kept Brigantine (www. brigantine.com) fish house, where fresh is the operative word, buoyant for more than 30 years. Catch the view while on Coronado Island. San Diego is far from being just a beach town. Opportunities and world-class attractions appeal to all ages, interests and budgets. This relaxed friendly spirit characterizes the best of the Southern California lifestyle. Grab your shades: San Diego is the family-friendly natural vacation destination.

comes alive with a visit to Cabrillo National Monument and park, as well as the Old Point Loma Lighthouse. Both offer panoramic views of the city’s coastline and harbor. Old Town marks the site of the Spanish settlement and plays host to six blocks filled with historical sites, shops, museums and a preserved town including a schoolhouse, blacksmith shop and stable. Gaslamp Quarter is a thriving 16-block historic site in the heart of downtown. Founded in l867 and featuring beautiful Victorian buildings, this once notorious red light district is now revitalized with shops, restaurants and walking tours.

Start the day with breakfast at Ruby’s Diner

Bahia Resort Hotel

www.bahiahotel.com

Coronado Hotel del Coronado

www.hoteldel.com Loews Coronado Bay

La Jolla La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club

www.ljbtc.com

Downtown San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina

www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ sandt-san-diego-marriottManchester Grand Hyatt

http://manchestergrand.hyatt.com Hotel Solamar

www.hotelsolamar.com

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Photograph courtesy of photographer John Bahu, San Diego Scenics

www.loewshotels.com/en/hotels/sandiego-resort/overview.aspx

family Fashion-forward 6-year-old Raleigh Jarrett strikes a pose.

Living Family Chic

For these two families, style is a means of expression STory by Amy Con kli ng Photography by De bor ah Walke r

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

family

or some girls, frills and flowers, buttons and lace, bright, bold colors and party dresses are for dress up. For a couple local moms, they are a form of expression and a way to share a passion for creativity.

family, Harper, who’s now 6 months old and already wearing pretty pinks, pastels and colorful ensembles her mom creates. For Melissa, it’s a dream come true to dress three little girls, and she has several years to continue making the frills, flowers and flair only she can provide in her unique style.

Pretty in pink

Melissa Newcome, with daughters Ava and Shaelin, creates outfits that speak to who her girls are. ABOVE Dave and Archer Jarrett encourage their daughters to express their individuality.

TOP

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Melissa Newcome loves the sugar, spice and everything nice her three daughters bring to her life. However, when shopping for her little ones, she often finds children’s outfits that are mere replicas of adult clothes. “I want my daughters to look like little girls, because they’re only little once,” she says. As a result, Melissa began making dresses for her two older daughters, Shaelin, 5, and Ava, 3. It’s what drove her to eventually start her own boutique-style children’s clothing business, Ava Claire’s Closet, two years ago. Melissa says a crop of new, young designers often give her a dose of inspiration, such as Pink Fig and Wichita designer Jackie Clark. Her main inspiration, though, is Sandi Henderson, a textile and pattern designer. “I bought a Sew Beautiful magazine, and she was featured in that magazine,” Newcome says. “I knew I had to sew even more after seeing her designs. “I really like the unique look that boutique-style clothes offer. I love vintage style prints, fabrics and buttons,” Melissa says. These special touches make her clothes a hit with her own children and several moms in the Hutchinson and Wichita area who line up to place orders throughout the year. “A lot of times I’ll add homemade flowers to my outfits and love to use things like rickrack, ribbons and antique buttons to create special details,” Melissa says. “I really love bright colors, floral prints and mixing antique with more modern prints. I also love putting together outfits with patterns and fabrics that may look like they don’t match.” Ava usually plays the model as she prances around in her outfits saying, “I pretty.” She’s the spunky one with a pinch of sweetness and is definitely Melissa’s “twirler.” Shaelin, meanwhile, is the sweet, shy daughter who loves to please people and just be pretty in the dresses and outfits her mom makes. Melissa, along with her husband, Gary, recently welcomed their third daughter to the

Rock star style

Raleigh, 6, and Sydney Jarrett, 4, have wild imaginations when it comes to fashion. Once a week, the sisters come tromping out of their rooms dressed in costumes with their personal touches. Raleigh may sport a Wizard of Oz Dorothy look complete with the infamous blue-checkered dress as well as pinkand black-striped leggings. Sydney, meanwhile, will fashion a Little Red Riding Hood look with a red cape, black dress and some of her own brightly colored leggings. Since they began toddling around, the Jarrett girls knew how they wanted to dress. “They have a one-of-a-kind look and are totally creative with it, mixing colors and patterns that don’t look like they’d go together, but it works,” says mom Archer. “I wish I had their sense of style—and their boldness to pull off the look.” Archer recalls a day when she took then 2-year-old Raleigh to Dillard’s. The toddler beelined to the children’s clothes before hitting the dressing room, directing an entire fashion show for herself. Archer says Raleigh is the observant and reserved one who likes to sit back and watch while Sydney is gregarious one and always dives right into whatever she’s doing. “They’re not interested in what everyone else is doing,” Archer says. “They’re comfortable being themselves, and we support that.” Support may be an understatement, as most of the their creativity comes with help from their parents. Archer and her husband, Dave, are renovating a building in downtown Hutchinson near Avenue C and Main Street. The family will move Archer’s Red Zebra Salon to the building and hopes to someday live in a loft above the business. But for now, the family resides in a one-of-a-kind northeast Hutchinson home, complete with bright red trim, a flat roof and one-of-a-kind finishing touches. Archer’s diverse style has inspired her daughters’ tastes in fashion and life. “We’re not the typical, old-fashioned family,” Dave says. “We’re definitely eclectic.” Opposite page CLOCKWISE FROM TOP left Originality is the name of the game when it comes to style for Shaelin Newcome. Groovy Newcome sisters rock out their fashion at Cool Beans coffee shop. Princesses of cool, the Jarrett girls are always shabby chic. Raleigh and Sydney Jarrett have no problem channeling their Wizard of Oz roots.

family

“They’re not interested in what everyone else is doing. They’re comfortable being themselves, and we support that.” – Archer Jerrett

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

One for All and All for One Filling a mascotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoes requires school spirit, dedication and a sizable sense of humor STory by Faryle Scot t Photography by De bor ah Walke r

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

or certain high school students in Reno County, donning their school colors, standing in subfreezing

temperatures during football season, donning a crazy costume for basketball tournaments or just cheering on their classmates at a wrestling meet is their way of showing school spirit. But every team needs a leader—someone to run through the crowd, pumping up fans and giving out high-fives after a great play. Every team needs a mascot.

At Hutchinson High School, the mythical Salthawk is named in honor of the area’s salt mines. At Nickerson High School, the Panthers strike fear in their opponents. And at Buhler High School, a lack of a Crusader costume doesn’t slow the Maroon Cru. Picking the person to portray Sammy the Salthawk at Hutchinson High is left up to the students. “Each year our senior cheerleaders are responsible for finding someone who’d be interested in being our mascot for the upcoming year,” says cheerleading sponsor Ashleigh Vieyra. Sammy spends most of his time along the court

Nickerson High School Panther, Keelan Jackson

Whether you’re wearing the blue and gold of Hutchinson and Nickerson or the maroon and white of Buhler, stand up and cheer with these hardworking mascots as they help their teams toward victory this year.

What really makes a mascot? Nickerson: “They need to be outgoing and willing to work with the fans to build spirit,” says Smith.

If you had to pick one song to be your mascot’s theme song, what would it be? Nickerson: “‘Let’s Get Ready to Rumble,’” says Smith. Buhler: “Definitely ‘Eye of the Tiger.’ Our pep band plays a great rendition of this,” says Wahlgren.

What makes your mascot the best in the area?

Hutchinson: “We need a person who is outgoing, loves to have fun, not shy and is available to be at all home events,” says Vieyra.

Nickerson: “The enthusiasm and freshness of each person that puts

Buhler: “You have to have self-assurance for sure. Your

says Vieyra.

peers can be pretty tough on you. If you play it safe and just kind of act like a mascot, you will never sell it. You gotta be all in,” says Wahlgren.

Buhler: “A Crusader is a ruthless, sword-bearing fighter with a passionate cause. Tough to beat that,” says Wahlgren.

the suit on,” says Smith. Hutchinson: “They are fun and love to support Salthawk activities,”

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

or field with the cheerleaders but also can be found in the stands taking pictures or throwing out free T-shirts. Mascot fate is in the hands of student and parent volunteers at Nickerson High as well. “I’ve had them run up and down the field with the flag after a touchdown or enter the basketball court before the players,” says Lori Smith, former Nickerson cheer sponsor. But things don’t always go as planned, says Smith. “We had a parent try to do a cartwheel at a football game once and the [costume] head came off.”

Chad Wahlgren, faculty sponsor at Buhler High, and fellow teacher Curtis Morgan established the Maroon Cru a couple of years ago when the old Crusaders costume started to fall apart. “We’ll pretty much take anyone who wants to have some fun and is willing to show some school spirit,” he says of the group. The students orchestrate pep rallies, publicize athletic events, maintain school traditions and will even throw on a gorilla suit until a new Crusader costume is purchased.

Hutchinson High School Salthawk, Victoria Hamilton

What’s the craziest thing a student has done to show their school spirit? Nickerson: “We have a very enthusiastic homecoming spirit week. One time they were to dress up as their favorite celebrity. We had a boy dress up as Paris Hilton complete with puppy and fishnet hose,” says Smith. Hutchinson: “We often have students paint

Buhler High School Maroon Cru Gorilla, Gabe Dick

In a showdown between your mascot and the Kool-Aid Man, who would win? Nickerson: “Panthers are fierce and can take that little pitcher of Kool-Aid in a minute!” says Smith.

their bodies in school colors with their friends’ jersey numbers on it to support them at a game,” says Vieyra.

Hutchinson: “Our mascot because he is bigger and stronger,” says Vieyra.

Buhler: “We’ve had some pretty hysterical costumes over the past few years. One guy showed up at our girls’ game in the McPherson basketball tournament in an outfit resembling something that Will Ferrell might have worn in Blades of Glory. It was definitely too tight and really distracting,” says Wahlgren.

Buhler: “We’ve got the weapon



Vote for you r

f avorite Reno County mas

cot at Facebook.co m/ HutchinsonM agazine

advantage, but Kool-Aid Man is tough. He’s always busting through brick walls, yet that glass never breaks. So if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em … for a glass of Kool-Aid and call it a tie,” says Wahlgren.

Fall 2010 | Hutchinson Magazine

bestbets

sept-nov 2010

september September 10-19 | Kansas State Fair. Ten days of exhibits, agriculture,

entertainment and concerts for the family. Grandstand tickets range in price. (800) 362-3247. www.kansasstatefair.com

September 16 | Coffee at the Cosmosphere. Make your way to the

Cosmosphere each third Thursday of the month for some morning coffee. This month’s presentation is “Like an Old Pair of Slippers,” focusing on in-flight space clothing. 9 a.m.-10 a.m. (800) 397-0330. www.cosmo.org

September 18 | Monarch Mania. Learn about gardening for butterflies,

watch a slideshow showcasing the varieties of butterflies in Kansas and bring the kids to enjoy the arts and crafts table at the Quivira National Wildlife Refuge in Stafford. Pre-registration appreciated. 8:00 a.m. (620) 486-2393.

September 23-26 | To Kill a Mockingbird. Hutchinson’s Family Children’s

Theatre presents the classic at the Flag Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. (620) 662-7469. www.familychildrenstheatre.com

September 25 | Downtown Hutchinson Chili & Soup Festival.

Sample chili and soup recipes and vote for your favorite while shopping and taking in the downtown entertainment. Festival takes place between Avenue C and Fourth Street on Main Street. Events start at 11 a.m. (620) 694-2611.

october October 2 | Buhler Frolic 2010. Celebrate fall in Buhler with breakfast

starting at 7 a.m. Enjoy activities including games, food, chili cook-off, carnival, antique tractor pull and parade. For more information, call (316) 215-4749.

October 2 | Celtic guitarist Jerry Barlow. The Civic Theatre in Pretty

Prairie presents Barlow, a Celtic finger-style guitar player. Learn the history, humor and legends behind the music. Tickets $10. 7:30 p.m. 105 W. Main, Pretty Prairie. (620) 459-4600. http://prairiestage.com/Civic/Civic.htm

October 23 | Talking Tombstones. Support the Hutchinson Theatre Guild at its fourth annual fundraising event at Eastside Cemetery. Tours start at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at Hayes Sight & Sound in downtown Hutchinson. (620) 663-3241. www.hutchtheatre.com

november November 9 | Dillon Lecture Series, Michael Josephson. Dillon

Lecture Series speaker is ethicist and author, Michael Josephson, who is the founder and president of the Josephson Institute and the “Character Counts!” project. General admission is $5 at the door. For more information call (620) 665-3387. 10:30 a.m. Hutchinson Sports Arena, 700 E. 11th St.

November 13 | The Texas Tenors at the Fox Theatre. The Texas Tenors are friends who combine their talents to delight audiences with their vocal abilities, larger than life personalities and humor. Last year the Texas Tenors become the No. 1 vocal group in the history of America’s Got Talent. Tickets range from $29 to $33. (620) 663-5861. www.hutchinsonfox.com

November 18-21 | A Christmas Carol. In its 22nd season, the Family

Children’s Theatre presents A Christmas Carol. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. (620) 662-7469. www.familychildrenstheatre.com

November 20 | Hutchinson’s Holiday Parade. Ring in the holiday

season with downtown Hutchinson’s annual Holiday Parade. Don’t forget to bring your list for Santa. Events start at 10 a.m. (620) 665-5758.

Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2010

Please submit event information to: hutchinsonmagazine@sunflowerpub.com (Dates and times subject to change)