Fall 2011
Salthawk Football Moms
huddle up Fall 2011
$3.00
Hutchinson Volume 04 / Issue 02
Magazine
dear readers, This fun-filled issue of Hutchinson Magazine highlights the many original story ideas from our accomplished writers. For every issue, we scour the community, looking for willing subjects to participate in our home features. We love sharing homeowners’ stories of renovating, raising families and decorating their humble abodes—from big and flashy to small and artsy. This season, our Amy writers—Bickel and Conkling— tell the history behind two homes that have genuine stories of making anew and remaking the old. Over in the business department, Patsy Terrell first presented an idea to write about Polk’s Market, the unassuming, bountiful produce stand in Medora. Few people realize it’s a family business, that Earl Polk has managed for more than 50 years. However, the cider slushy ensures Earl’s celebrity status. Second, Patty piqued our interest with a video game—yes, a video game. This computer game is more about killing pests than bad guys and features Jeff and Jolene Wells of Advance Termite and Pest Control. After I spent a good hour in cyberspace killing roaches, I agreed that this could be a fun story, and Patty got to work learning more about the wildly fascinating, creepy-crawly career of pest control. Richard Shank contributes two stories to our fall issue. One in particular—a travel piece—presented a new challenge for him. As Richard was headed to Cleveland, he began to tap his feet to the idea of a piece on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. With a music lover’s perspective, this story may have many readers packing their bags for this distinctive city. Richard’s other story introduces us to former CFO Frank Remar, who has nurtured his hidden talent for photography. Thanks to his keen eye for beautiful images, Frank’s photos are popping up in homes and galleries across Hutchinson. Finally, Amy Bickel shares the wonder of Ten Thousand Villages and highlights the efforts of Kansas native Edna Ruth Byler to launch this fair-trade movement. The stories and photos that fill this issue show just how connected our contributors are to the people and places in Reno County.
Publisher John Montgomery Advertising Director Leslie Shea Advertising Sales Manager Darren Werth For Advertising Rates and Information
(620) 694-5700 ext. 210 sales Executives
Abby Brown Tammy Colladay Shelby Dryden Tyler Goertzen Mitch Hixson Heather Howard Anita Stuckey ad designers
Kim Hoskinson Scott Oswalt Jessica Price Rebekah Starkey Photographers
Aaron East Brian Lingle Deborah Walker Contributing Writers
Amy Bickel Amy Conkling Pam Lyle Richard Shank Jeanette Steinert Patsy Terrell Production and Editorial Services for Hutchinson Magazine provided by:
Katy Ibsen, Editor
Editor Katy Ibsen Designer Shelly Bryant COPY EDITORs Susie Fagan and Claire Caterer GENERAL MANAGER Bert Hull Publishing Coordinator Faryle Scott Editorial comments (866) 655-4262 Subscriptions
$15 (tax included) for a one-year subscription to Hutchinson Magazine. For subscription information, please contact:
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
Send your comments and suggestions to hutchinsonmagazine@sunflowerpub.com Follow us on Twitter @HutchinsonMag find us on Facebook: facebook.com/HutchinsonMagazine
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Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2011
Pam and Earl Polk
Contents
Departments
Fall 2011
Features
hutchinson living 6 Home Work
The new Hutchinson Public Schools superintendent and her husband add plenty of personality to their residence
22
A family affair: From farm to market
12 Finding the
Unexpected
E arl Polk knows the history of truck farming in the area— and then some
One couple discover their dream home on a whim
hutchinson businesses 18 The Bug Men
42
Take a hike!
Fall is the perfect time to discover nature’s hidden treasures while hitting the trails
Advance Termite and Pest Control is leaving its mark on Hutchinson’s creepy, crawly underbelly
local profiles
30 Lessons learned, lessons taught Chester Horse’s lifetime
experiences help create a big heart and guided spirit
34 Photographing passion Frank Remar finds joy
in sharing images from his worldly travels
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38 More than mementos Ten Thousand Villages shares
Meet the Mighty Moms
the wonder of worldwide crafts
The Salthawk Football Moms huddle up to support their team
travel ideas
52 Cleveland rocks
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ranks among the most intriguing musical attractions
In Every Issue On the Cover
Kendra Munds, a Salthawk Football Mom. (Photography by Brian Lingle)
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2 dear Readers 50 Q&A 64 best Bets
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hutchinsonliving
Home Work
The new Hutchinson Public Schools superintendent and her husband add plenty of personality to their residence Story by Amy Bicke l Photography by De bor ah Walke r
T
he new Hutchinson Public Schools superintendent should have known she’d have her work cut out for her—not in the classrooms, though, but at home. When searching for a house last spring, Shelly Kiblinger and her husband, Bob, had a list of musts. They wanted a home in a friendly neighborhood where they could be active. They wanted a home with a big backyard where they could build a garden and fishponds. And they wanted a home where they could add their identity and make it their own. After Shelly accepted the position with USD 308 in January, the Kiblingers looked at more than a dozen homes, many of them move-in ready. However, it was a home with paisley blue wallpaper, yellow countertops and aging linoleum that the couple decided to buy.
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The Kiblinger home is a testament to the phrase, “hard work pays off.” The couple updated a stale home into their now cozy abode.
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hutchinsonliving
“The house was a 1980s time capsule with floor-to-ceiling wallpaper,” Shelly says with a laugh, noting the house had been on the market for about five months when they made an offer. “I think people thought it was an eyesore—looked at the wallpaper and ran.” However, she and Bob couldn’t imagine buying a home without being able to put their stamp on the place. “We knew it would be a monumental task. But when you looked past the cosmetics, this was the home we wanted,” she says. Brightening up
The two-story brick and wood siding home with the blue shutters on Tartan Trail is still a work in progress. However, the couple have been revamping it since late February. Built in 1987, the conventional four-bedroom, two-and-ahalf-bath home was previously owned by a Hutchinson corporation that used it to house out-of-state employees. “Neighbors said they’d stay here a few months, then the house would sit empty for months,” Shelly says. It was a home they could renovate to their liking. Picture windows that scanned the expansive backyard and cabinetry throughout the home sold the couple. “We also liked the neighborhood,” says Bob, a retired superintendent, adding it was the place they had originally envisioned when searching out an area of town. With Shelly employed at the Garden City school district through June, the Kiblingers drove to Hutchinson many a weekend during the spring to work on renovations, stripping off wallpaper and tearing up carpets. Little of the work was contracted. Shelly says, “I’m a do-it-yourself kind of person.” They quickly opened an isolated formal living room off the main entrance. The doorway now leads to the family room, allowing more space for entertaining. “Opening the room up totally changed the flow of things,” says Shelly. Here Bob hosts his collection of family heirlooms and antiques, which include an old buggy seat and a century-old child’s wagon. “It was in my parents’ garage growing up,” Bob says. In the family room, the Kiblingers stripped plenty of wallpaper and painted the walls in earth tones to complement the brick fireplace and a wall of bookcases and cabinetry. Replacing older dim lights with recessed lighting also brightened the room, which features large windows overlooking the garden.
TOP Shelly and her niece Ashley Chandler remove wallpaper, the most tedious of all tasks in the home renovation. ABOVE After Shelly accepted the position as superintendent with the Hutchinson Public Schools, she and Bob spent many weekends traveling from Garden City to work on the home. OPPOSITE The kitchen was less than desirable; plain countertops, outdated appliances and linoleum flooring were all replaced.
THE DETAILS
8
wishes
baby steps
antique
display
flag
sea breeze
A sly happy birthday classified for Bob
Little baby shoes are among family treasures
An old buggy seat was inherited from Bob’s family
Plates are displayed in the formal dining room
The stars and stripes hang in the front room
A unique island print is part of the art collection
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hutchinsonliving
after
Kitchen
before
Kitchen
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6.
TOP The magnificent view of the backyard includes multiple ponds that Shelly and Bob created themselves. LEFT Shelly’s passion for their backyard ponds involved moving aquatic plants and fish from their Garden City home to Hutchinson.
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Kitchen makeover
The oak cabinets and line of windows that floods the room with natural light were the only amenities that remained in the large kitchen. “It’s what sold the house,” Bob says. Other aspects were scrapped, such as yellow countertops, outdated appliances, linoleum flooring and the 25-year-old wallpaper. “It was that nice paisley blue,” says Shelly. “It was very dark and overpowering. It had to go.” They added cream-colored tile on the floor and black, gray and white-speckled granite countertops. They even extended the kitchen island to create a space for a quick snack. Sleek new black appliances replaced the almond fridge and harvest-gold dishwasher. Most tedious of all was removing the wallpaper. Today, a few rooms still need fixing, such as putting in a tile floor in the master bathroom and renovating the dining room—both future projects. “I have a list of things to work on for the next four years,” says Bob with a laugh. The oasis
Transforming the barren backyard into a lush retreat was one of the biggest items on the list. Here they added several water features. “I think I just like the sound of running water,” Shelly says. For Shelly, who grew up on a hog farm near Independence and enjoyed having fishponds at their Garden City home, this is nothing new. It “brings a little country to the city,” she says.
“We knew it would be a monumental task. But when you looked past the cosmetics, this was the home we wanted.” – shelly Kiblinger
Shelly knew when choosing the perfect home it would have to have established ponds or a yard large enough for them to build some. The Tartan Trail house had plenty of space for Shelly to design the landscaping, and her father, Dale Springer, helped accomplish it. “It will take a few years for it to really develop,” Shelly says of the backyard’s growth and beauty. However, the area already serves as a tranquil place for the couple to relax after a day’s work. In all, they installed three ponds, which are bordered by rocks and plants. They even brought the fish and aquatic plants from their old ponds. Thanks to all the work, they are beginning to feel at home. “You bond with your house,” she says. “This house had hidden potential, and we’re bringing it all out.”
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hutchinsonliving
Finding the Unexpected
One couple discover their dream home on a whim Story by Amy Con kli ng Photography by De bor ah Walke r
o
n a whim nearly a decade ago, Jodee Elliott Bowen and her husband, Kevin, stopped by a house in the northeast part of Hutchinson to view its open layout. The couple had just purchased land in the up-andcoming Woodlands neighborhood and planned to build a home soon. In search of architectural inspiration, they wanted to see the floor plan of a Spyglass home, which coincidentally was for sale. In a matter of hours, they found themselves making an offer on the home. “We fell in love with it,” Jodee says. “We didn’t think we could build a house like this for what we could buy it for. Plus our kids were active, we were working full time and it helped with our crazy schedules.”
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Jodee and Kevin Bowen in their Hutchinson home.
hutchinsonliving
The Bowens moved into the home in March 2003 and have been hosting family, friends, coworkers and even nonprofit organizations ever since. It’s survived the wear and tear through the years with their active children—Elli, 20, a junior at the University of Kansas; and Trace, 17, a senior at Hutchinson High School. “We have lots of family in town, and this is usually the meeting spot,” Jodee says. “Our kids have their friends over all the time, and we like having impromptu get-togethers with other couples after football games in the fall or on the weekends. We always say, ‘If the front door is open, we’re home and to come on in.’” Comfort and charm
The 6,000-square-foot home sits on three acres and boasts five bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, a full basement, and a bath and pool house area. The property’s original inclined driveway at first intimidated the Bowen family and guests, causing them to add a second cascading drive on the other side of the front yard that feeds into the main neighborhood road. “We would have friends who wanted to come over, but they couldn’t get over getting into our steep driveway,” Jodee says. “We had several winters where we’d definitely put our four-wheel drive to good use.”
“We do a lot of entertaining out here, especially in the fall after football games when the weather is nice.”
– jodee elliott bowen
After stepping into the chocolate-brick home, guests’ eyes are drawn to the high, vaulted ceilings. Warm, inviting colors complement the Bowens’ fun and stylish ways of entertaining. A library-turnedsitting room draws attention right away with a slatecolored bar area and fiery red and orange drop lamps. The space’s modern flair creates a nice contrast to the rich olive tone on the wall. “We wanted to convert the meeting space of the room into more of a comfortable place where people can sit and talk,” Jodee says. Equally as welcoming, the formal dining room is dressed in a swirling mix of gray and neutral colors that blend well with the black granite tile underneath the dining room table. Nearby, a trendy powder room sparkles with a chic chandelier and leopard-print wallpaper along brick-red walls. “I never thought I’d have a chandelier in the bathroom, but it turned out nice,” Jodee says.
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TOP The grand staircase welcomes visitors to the Bowen residence, a space that is always busy with activity. ABOVE The formal dining room is a calming space with natural hues. OPPOSITE PAGE TOP The sitting room features a Pat Patucek painting of the Bowen children. BOTTOM LEFT The kitchen is a study in design with its unique angles and pops of color. BOTTOM RIGHT The chic breakfast nook is playful with mismatched chairs.
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A master bedroom and bathroom on the first floor overlook the deck and the pool area. “We have a great view of everything in the backyard,” Kevin says. The couple recently updated their master bathroom to include a seated vanity area and two walkin closets—“a key to a happy marriage,” Kevin jokes. Caramel and honey colors fill the relaxing space, bolstered by deep red and gold hues in bedding, throw pillows and wall décor. Perhaps the highlight of the first floor, though, is the great room that includes the family area, kitchen and a warm nook where casual family dinners take place. The kitchen holds fun pieces of décor such as a speckled lamp, the breakfast table with colorful chairs and a blue hand-blown glass plate highlighted on the dramatic fireplace. The children’s rooms, along with a third bedroom and two bathrooms, are on the second level. Two levels down, the full basement is home to an air hockey table, a weight room with cardio machines, a guest bedroom and bath, and Kevin’s home office. “This is where the kids tend to go to with their friends,” Jodee says. “It’s nice to be able to have them all here.” Perhaps the home’s gems aren’t actually inside. Beautiful landscaping lines both driveways with a sprawling lawn, trees, shrubs and rocks providing a simple yet classy look. A wooden deck off the kitchen and living area is the go-to spot for celebrations, get-togethers or just a quiet relaxing evening. Large trees provide shade for the manicured lawn that also features wild prairie grasses and sand dunes a few hundred feet away. “We do a lot of entertaining out here, especially in the fall after football games when the weather is nice,” Jodee says. The deck stairs lead to the lower level, where the pool provides hours of entertainment for guests in the summer and early fall months. The pool house is complete with a kitchen, bath, built-in stainlesssteel grill and beverage cooler. “It’s a nice, separated house that complements the pool but is also used for barbecues and other get-togethers without swimming,” Kevin says. “It’s another feature we love about this house.”
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THE DETAILS
woof
art
Lacey Bell Bowen, the family pet
Treasured paintings made by Elli and Trace
shine
wild
Obscure lighting fixtures pepper the home
The elephant was a gift from Kevin
praise
chic
An artistic cross adds punctuated color
Powder-room pretty
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hutchinsonbusinesses
creepy-crawly
The Bug Men Advance Termite and Pest Control is leaving its mark on Hutchinson’s underbelly
Story by Patsy Te r r e ll Photography by aaron east
A
t times, Jeff Wells finds himself in somewhat stick y— or sti n k y— situations. “When you’re the guy putting on coveralls and going belly-up in a crawl-space to retrieve a dead skunk, it’s hard not to just laugh and say, ‘Man, I went to college to do this,’” Jeff says. Jeff, of Advance Termite and Pest Control, received his degree in literature and secondary education—not skunk extraction. In fact, after college he followed in his father’s initial career footsteps and became a teacher. But now they both work in the family business that Al and Helen Wells, started more than 26 years ago. Jeff finds humor in the career move. “The joke is that we went from one form of pest control to another,” he says. “There are days I’m crawling under a house when I wonder why I do what I do. But I really love my job. It’s a job about people and their concerns. We’re problem solvers.” Willis Esau called Advance Termite and Pest Control about a problem at his hunting cabin. “I had termites eat pictures right off the wall. I used corrugated cardboard to back some photographs and then hung them against a wood wall. Termites loved that cardboard. It was like dessert for them. I came in after not being in the cabin for a month and they had eaten the pictures,” he says. Willis tried four or five companies with little success. “We dumped gallons of poison into the ground to no effect. The termites just seemed to thrive on it,” he says. But since Advance treated Jeff Wells, of Advanced Termite and Pest Control, is a schoolteacher turned rodent wrangler.
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hutchinsonbusinesses
RIGHT Pests and wildlife management are Jeff’s area of expertise, but customer service comes first. BELOW Behind every great exterminator is a team of organized women: Helen Wells, left, Kim Humiston and Jolene Wells.
“There are days I’m crawling under a house when I wonder why I do what I do. But I really love my job. It’s a job about people and their concerns. We’re problem solvers.”
– jeff wells
the cabin, the termites are gone, and Willis has replaced the damaged wood. The termite bait system Advance used at Willis’ cabin is just one of the newer options for pest control. While some chemicals are no longer available, new products are being developed. “We’ve been known for so long as spray jockeys, but the business has evolved,” says Jeff. The company’s service providers are all certified and receive continuing education credits from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. A significant portion of Jeff’s work is wildlife management. He is the one who goes out to trap a beaver or shoo the muskrat that’s running through a bank parking lot. Jeff says he and his coworkers often discuss if they want to be known as the company that crawls under trailers to find the dead opossum. “Who else does that?” he asks. “That is definitely a niche we have carved out in our market. We’re the guys who are going to go ahead and do that for you. It’s not always a pleasant thing, but we’ll get you taken care of.” Dead rodents aside, Jeff knows the business is about people. “If you get a snake in your basement, it doesn’t matter if it’s a 6-inch garter snake or a 6-foot rattlesnake—it’s traumatic,” he says. “There just aren’t many places you can call for help. You
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hutchinsonbusinesses
develop some pretty strong relationships when you help people out in those scenarios.” Mike and Jill Chisam have been customers for more than 15 years. They’ve had no pest issues, but the kindness of the employee who assisted in their home inspection made them customers for life. “Obviously they do good work, and what they do is effective. But they’re always very pleasant and very helpful, and that relationship helps seal the deal,” Mike says. In Jeff’s line of work, it’s easy for these things to become routine. “People need to be comforted, and they need you to understand them,” he says. “We recognize it’s really more about what the customer’s threshold is than what the pest population is. For some people, one spider is just way too many.” Jeff says he would love for people to see Advance and its 14 employees as purveyors of public health and safety. “We just don’t take ourselves that seriously. People call us ‘the bug man.’ That’s what we are. We’re the bug man.” He pauses for a moment and laughs as he says, “Frankly, I’d rather be the bug man than the roach guy.” Whether a customer has found spiders in a bed or critters in the basement, Jeff acknowledges that to the person calling, it is an emergency and he tries not to minimize anyone’s trepidations. “That goes not just for the insect or the pest we’re dealing with, but you can’t minimize their chemical concerns either,” he says. “They’re genuine concerns. People have to trust us an awful lot.”
THE BUG GAME Jeff Wells and his wife, Jolene, have been immortalized in a computer game called The Pestinator, created by LogicMaze, a Hutchinson tech company. “I probably played it a little more than I should have,” Jeff says. “To be really honest, I think they were trying to figure out how to get it off my computer. But it’s kind of neat to see your head running around on someone’s body on a video game smashing stuff. That was fun.” Search Advance Termite and Pest Control at www.whatsuphutch.com to play the game.
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knows the history of truck farming in the area— and then some
Earl Polk of Polk’s Market.
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A family affair: from farm to market
story by
photography by
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Left center: Photograph courtesy of Patsy Terrell
Pam Polk, right, helps Marissa Olson and Niki Pitts select peaches at the market.
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E
arl Polk is in his 53rd year of truck farming. He and his wife, Pam, share the bounty of their land at the Reno County Farmers Market and at Polk’s Farm Market in Medora. Like clockwork, the Medora market opens the first week of August every year. This is the perfect business for Earl, who learned the ropes of growing fruits and vegetables from his grandfather. “I like growing it and I like selling [produce],” he says. He enjoys talking with customers about the growing process and how to select good produce. “A lot of people buy with their eyes,” he says. But, he advises, “some of the ugliest watermelons are the sweetest … [or] when you see a crack on the stem end of a tomato, that means it ripened on the vine longer.” The Polks grow almost everything they sell, and they understand fruits and vegetables. This year, Earl had 32 varieties of tomatoes, highlighting his enjoyment of experimenting with the plant, though the heat has taken its toll. When the weather doesn’t cooperate, Earl taps into a network of growers he’s developed over the years—for example, a peach farmer from Ottawa. So if he loses a crop, he can still provide to customers. His farming success comes from experience and good teachers. “My granddad taught me the common sense stuff, and in college I learned the ‘why’ [the science] happened,” he says. Earl inherited his grandfather’s journals, which detail what he did every day from 1924 to 1975 and provide useful information about crops and farming through the decades. Earl has continued the tradition, although he says, “I don’t keep diaries as well as he did.”
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Left: Photograph courtesy of Patsy Terrell
Regular customer and family friend Steve Dillon.
Bountiful heritage
Those who have visited Polk’s Market know the apple cider slushy—a local favorite—all too well. Hutchinson customer Amber Aden says, “They’re amazing! A cider slushy is a must.” The 20-year-old is engaged and already looks forward to bringing her future family to Polk’s. In fact, Earl says he’s now seeing the third generation of customers coming to the market. They come to choose pumpkins, buy watermelons, select peppers or tomatoes and get freshly pressed apple cider. Steve Dillon of Hutchinson, who has known Earl all his life and worked for him at Riversbank Orchard years ago, purchased 30 gallons of cider last year to hold him through the winter, but it wasn’t enough. Cathy Forbes went to Polk’s with her mother when she was younger and now takes her own children. “We’ve been going to Polk’s for as long as I can remember,” she says. “We always went for apples, cider, and now with my own kids we go for the pumpkins too.” Hesston resident Jeannene Mast visited Polk’s regularly when she lived in Hutchinson. Now she makes a special trip to “get bushels of apples and gallons of cider.”
“One thing can go right and 1,000 things go wrong.”
– Earl Polk on farming
The mercy of weather
“My grandfather farmed 52 years and had two years without hail,” says Earl. “He never showed disappointment in what the Creator handed him.”
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Trying to beat the odds, Earl leases two orchards: one in Kingman and one in Medora. “If we get hail, one of them is not going to get it,” he says, adding that a five-minute hailstorm can wipe out a year’s crop of apples. It’s not just about hail. The Polks also own 80 acres in Burrton, where they raise everything from apples to zucchini and plant by the moon signs. “One thing can go right and 1,000 things go wrong,” he says. The Polks’ farms lack irrigation, which is a convenience many farmers wouldn’t live without. For Earl, however, it would be an affront to his American Indian heritage. “We depend on the Creator to water the crops,” he says. “When you irrigate, you don’t trust the Creator. Mother Earth gives us everything.” homegrown originals
In the last few years Earl has noticed that people have grown more conscientious about chemical use and more concerned with eating locally grown food. “In the ’50s and ’60s, you could get people to come out just for fruits and vegetables. Now everything else has expanded,” he says. Earl doesn’t know what the future will bring for him and his wife, whom he met while working in the applepicking shed at Riversbank. Their daughter, Sparkle Faidley, will be the sixth generation to run the family farm—if she chooses. Now, at age 30, she is beginning to make jams and jellies, just like Earl’s mother is still making at age 85. “We love doing what we’re doing,” Earl says. “Our true native language is nature.”
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localprofiles
Lessons learned, lessons taught Chester Horse’s lifetime experiences help create a big heart and guided spirit
Story by Pam Lyle Photography by A aron East
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localprofiles
C
hester Horse recalls being a young boy when his grandfather told him to head out to the mountain and shoot a buffalo or elk for the family. Meanwhile, his grandfather prayed for a successful kill. This period of his life ignited a value in prayer. “This world would be better, and so simple, with prayer and helping others,” says Chester, discussing his philosophy of life. Such beliefs have taken him to many destinations despite challenges, all shaping the man he is today. Chester was raised in a large family on 160 acres of an Indian reservation south of Carnegie, Oklahoma. His grandfather was a Methodist minister, which had them on the move as he changed churches. The family would look for seasonal work, picking cotton and threshing wheat. He remembers being poor, living in tents along the creek and attending one-room schoolhouses. As a child, Chester was a skilled hunter and regularly provided food for his family.
“My life is simple. Read your Bible and do what you can for others. I wish I could do more to help people.”
– chester Horse
Pride and admiration come through as Chester reminisces about his grandfather and great-grandfather. He describes them as the elders who commanded respect. Everyone lived together, and Chester remembers good times—that was the “Kiowa Indian” way. Though his memories of family are good, his struggles to fit in aren’t as endearing. He did poorly in the classroom, and even though he learned English, he was confused by it. In 1949, at the age of 19, Chester enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a skilled paratrooper. During his seven years in the military, he served in the Korean War and jumped twice into enemy territory, where Koreans hid him from the Chinese. His reflection is simple. “I was protected. How come?” he asks. “God will take care of you, just ask.” While in the military, Chester went on to spend time in Germany and Japan, rebuilding those countries.
ABOVE Small pieces of gemstone and rock are used by Chester Horse to make jewelry. By watching his elders, Chester learned how to make jewelry with only a few tools.
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localprofiles
His first wife was from Hutchinson, and they moved to the area after his military service. Despite his courageous efforts in the service, he had minimal skills and eventually obtained a job at Midwest Iron and Steel. One day the junior college football coach and athletic director approached Chester and talked to him about going to school at Hutchinson Community College and playing football. “I didn’t want to. I didn’t like school; it would be confusing,” he says, recalling his hesitation. Eventually, he relented and enrolled. Sam Butterfield, retired basketball coach and athletic director at Hutchinson Community College, met Chester during that time. “I came to Hutchinson in 1957 to coach basketball at the college, and I taught at Sherman Junior High,” he says. “I remember Chester playing football at the college, and then he later taught at Sherman. I really liked him. He was very interesting and kind.” After Chester graduated from the junior college with a degree in physical education, a professor at Sterling College whom Chester describes as “a God-fearing man who really touched me” talked with him about his faith and the possibility of going to college at Sterling. There, he played football and received a degree in social studies. Chester went on to teach at what’s now known as the Hutchinson Correctional Facility and later at Sherman Junior High. Chester’s wife, Kay, says, “People come up to me to this day and tell me that Chester was the best teacher they ever had and how he changed their lives.” Chester loved teaching and working with kids. “All you need is a heart that can touch kids to be a good teacher,” he says. His career in education continued in an unexpected way. He began working with American Indians as they came off the reservation, helping them with training and job placement in Oklahoma. “This was perfect for me as I, myself, struggled so much with that part of my life. I knew how to help them,” he says. Helping others and being true to himself have become Chester’s strongest characteristics, and he’s grateful for that. As he notes, “My ways are easy. I was taught them as a little boy.”
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Chester’s story is a lot like his jewelry, from raw rock to beautiful art. His experiences in life have shaped many friends and relationships over the years.
chester’s jewelry For the past 50 years Chester Horse has designed and created authentic Indian jewelry in his spare time. “As a child, I looked at the young Indian fellow pounding on the coins and crafting the small pieces of jewelry. He really had no tools, and I thought, ‘I can do that,’” he says. Chester’s tools are old and primitive—basic files, a tree stump and smoothed-down railroad iron. He places a small, flat piece of silver next to beautifully crafted turquoise bracelets, necklaces and rings. The process seems akin to alchemy. “I don’t do it to make money, I just do it,” he says. “I have some of my jewelry in the Indian Museum in Wichita; I wanted them to have authentic Indian jewelry. I have customers that call me and tell me what they want, and I make it.” Ivan Torres of Hutchinson recalls walking in the mall several years ago and seeing an Indian designing jewelry. Ivan spoke to him in Navajo and Chester replied, smiling, in his native tongue of Kiowa, acknowledging he was fine. It was the beginning of a long friendship. “We have coffee on a regular basis, and Chester has designed beautiful jewelry for me that I’ve never found elsewhere,” Ivan says. “He’s taught me the ways of the Kiowa Indians.” Ivan wears a piece of his jewelry every day, noting it will become a part of his collection. “I truly believe he only wants his jewelry to go to people who have a love for it.”
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localprofiles
Photographing passion Frank Remar finds joy in sharing images from his worldly travels
story by R ichar d Shan k Photography by De bor ah Walke r
F
rank Remar took his first picture with an inexpensive Polaroid—a gift from his parents for his eighth-grade graduation. He never thought 50 years later he would be an accomplished fine art photographer. Frank’s story begins in Omaha, Nebraska, where he graduated from Creighton University in 1970 with a degree in accounting. In his English Composition class, he met his future wife, Sheryl Grout, and they married in 1969. After graduation, Frank settled into a job with an Omaha accounting firm. Three years later, Harold Ryan from Dillon Companies, Inc. came to town, interviewing applicants for a pair of accounting positions in the Hutchinson office. It wasn’t long before Frank accepted the position as controller of the Kwik Shop division and relocated to Hutchinson. Eventually Frank advanced to the position of executive vice president and chief financial officer for Kroger, retiring in 2006. During this time, Frank was developing his love for photography, though it wasn’t apparent. By the mid-’70s, the Remars were enjoying vacations with their young family and decided to preserve a permanent record of those trips with Frank’s first SLR camera. On an Alaskan cruise, the sight of a glacier intrigued him. When the picture was developed, he noticed a bearlike feature in the ice. After a trip to Zion National Park, Sheryl surprised him with enlargements of some of his photos from that vacation. Frank was hitting his stride with photography. The more pictures he took, the more hooked he became. His day job took him throughout the country, where he often Frank Remar is a photographer who unleashed his passion to become more than just a hobbyist.
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localprofiles
“Now, I can compose the picture and let the camera do most of the heavy lifting on the technical aspects of the shot.” – Frank remar
found himself in museums and galleries admiring the work of photographers. On occasion he purchased some of their work. “I was always intrigued with other people’s pictures,” he says. His mode of operation is to shoot fast in what he jokingly calls “walk-by shooting.” He adds, “I don’t wait for the light to be perfect. I shoot quickly to catch the image.” Sheryl claims photography brings out Frank’s creativity and zest. “I once asked Frank why he didn’t shoot people, and he responded that he doesn’t want to invade their privacy. His main motivation is to share beauty,” says Sheryl. “We do a lot of starting and stopping when we take pictures,” she says with a hearty laugh. A major turning point for Frank came in 2004 with the purchase of his first digital camera. “I am a self-proclaimed computer nerd, so the digital camera really opened the floodgates for me,” he says. He could take 1,000 images and chose the top 10 to 15. “As a kid, it seemed like I was always composing pictures in my head,” he says. “Now, I can compose the picture and let the camera do most of the heavy lifting on the technical aspects of the shot.” These days, the basement of the Remars’ home resembles a photography studio. The digital photo printer allows him to create images up to 44 inches wide and virtually any length on a variety of fine art media, including canvas. On three trips to Europe during the last five years, Frank found himself photographing everywhere from Spain to Athens, Berlin to Prague, and London to Stockholm.
TOP Swans swim along a canal in Bruges, Belgium. ABOVE Our Lady of Victory Church, built in 1688, in Old Town Quebec City, Canada. Courtesy of Frank Remar
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localprofiles
During a 10-day trip to Italy, Frank explored the Vatican with the Catholic bishop of the Wichita Diocese who, early in his priestly career, had resided in Rome. Last year the Remars traveled closer to home, visiting the Hudson River area of upstate New York. Frank was almost overwhelmed with the opportunity to photograph one of the nation’s most beautiful river valleys. A final stop was at Niagara Falls, and Frank lost no time in photographing the site. Most recently he has explored the Flint Hills. When asked to draw comparisons between his former job as CFO and his current interest in photography, Frank pauses. “In both accounting and photography, one must have attention to detail,” he says. “In accounting, you need a balance in numbers, and in photography, one needs a balance in nature.” Frank’s work can be seen on display at Hutchinson’s First National Bank, Brigman Studio and in countless homes throughout Hutchinson. Donna Brigman, of Brigman Studio, describes Frank as an artist with a camera. “Frank has an eye for composition and picks the most unusual angle for his photography,” she says. “I love his work.” Darren Wicks, a well-known community member, says with certainty that he will be a repeat customer. “Frank has such a talented eye, and his photographs capture some of the most beautiful places in the world with eyecatching contrasts,” he says. Grateful for the praise, Frank finds photography rewarding on many levels. “I enjoy all of this more than anything that I have ever done,” he says. “It gives me a great deal of satisfaction to capture and reproduce some degree of that beauty for myself and others to enjoy beyond the instant when you spot and take in that beauty.”
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LEFT Old Town of
Tallinn, Estonia, developed in the 13th to 15th centuries. BELOW An old barn near Z Bar Ranch off Highway 177 in the Flint Hills. opposite Glama Stan (Old Town) in Stockholm, Sweden. The town dates back to the 13th century. Courtesy of Frank Remar
localprofiles
“In accounting, you need a balance in numbers, and in photography, one needs a balance in nature.”
– frank remar
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localprofiles
More than mementos
Ten Thousand Villages shares the wonder of worldwide crafts story by Amy B icke l Photography by De bor ah Walke r
I
t’s a lot like Christmas morning when the boxes arrive at Ten Thousand Villages. Volunteers at the downtown store open the shipments to find magnificent gifts crafted with care: chocolate made from beans harvested in the cocoa fields of Ghana, Kisii stone nativities from the Tabaka Hills in western Kenya, chic clothing sewn in Nepal and pottery from Vietnam. This isn’t your average store. Manager Jane Emile-Wagler explains that items found at Ten Thousand Villages have a purpose. For more than 30 years, the store has sold fairly traded objects handmade by artisans from 39 countries. Many of these artisans live in Third World countries, and the income from their talents helps send their children to school, provide housing and put food on the table. “I like to say [here] you can walk around the world in five minutes,” the Egyptian-born Jane says with a smile. Fair-trade movement
A bounty of worldly artistic, handmade items are sold at Ten Thousand Villages in support of fairly trade items.
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Knowing that people in Third World countries can barely make ends meet, Ten Thousand Villages was created to aid these individuals. “The places Ten Thousand Villages likes to go to, the artisans make less than a dollar a day,” says volunteer Melody Wagler. In 1945, Edna Ruth Byler, a Mennonite volunteer and Kansas native, began to see this concern. Byler began selling crafts made by Puerto Rican artisans from the trunk of her car in her Pennsylvania hometown after witnessing the poverty. Just 17 years later, the Mennonite Central Committee—a worldwide ministry focused on disaster relief, community development and peace—officially adopted Byler’s fair-trade program. Today there are nearly 100 nonprofit Ten Thousand Villages fair-trade retail stores throughout the United States, including
localprofiles
the one in Hutchinson. This store opened in 1978, according to longtime local volunteer Cloris Enns, who helped establish the Hutchinson movement. Roughly 150 volunteers, largely from 15 area churches, help run the volunteer-based nonprofit shop. Unique to Hutchinson, however, the store offers fair-trade items on one side and a thrift store, The Et Cetera Shop, on the other.
“We’re helping provide the basic needs that many of us take for granted.”
From pottery to jewelry, clothing to paper goods, items arrive from around the world, helping artists receive appropriate compensation for their crafted goods.
– cloris enns
Cloris explains that locals wanted to start the thrift store to aid in improving the livelihood and well-being of the underprivileged by paying a fair wage for their products. “We’re helping provide the basic needs that many of us take for granted,” says Cloris, who managed the store for 15 years and still volunteers. “Starting the Ten Thousand Villages store, our goal was to help the [crafter] in these developing countries to make a living,” she says. “On our thrift store side, we could recycle while helping the community.” The efforts include donating funds and gently used items to local organizations. Part of the store’s profits go to local charities and some goes to MCC relief efforts. a bigger effort
Melody finds satisfaction knowing she is part of a bigger effort—one that helps people from all over the world.
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localprofiles
TOP Connected to Ten Thousand Villages is the Et Cetera Shop, re-selling gently used items to support the local community. ABOVE Cloris Enns shows off a bag, noting that the jewelry is her favorite thing in the store.
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“For some people, it’s being able to pay for medical expenses,” Melody says. “For some, it is sending kids to school. For others it means a second meal a day for their families.” These reasons are why Hutchinson resident Catherine Green and her daughter Christina shop at the store. One of the items she purchases regularly is fairly traded coffee. “Coffee is just a luxury item to us,” Catherine says. “But to the farmer, a fair price for his coffee makes the difference in whether he can afford to send his kids to school.” Catherine also buys many of her Christmas decorations at the store, noting it helps her get away from the glitzy commercialization of the season. “I have a carved and painted African hoopoe bird Christmas tree ornament—it’s from Tanzania,” she says. “It’s beautiful. And when I put it on our tree, I know I’ve helped the artist make a living. My tree topper is a partridge made in Bangladesh. “I think each of us can work together to make the world a better place,” says Catherine. “If you’re looking at your stewardship of treasure, it’s not just what you give on Sunday or to charitable groups, it’s also sometimes what you buy.” When Christina Green buys gifts for friends, she looks for something meaningful. She has purchased earrings and purses for birthdays and nativity scenes from all around the world. “I like knowing that when I shop at Ten Thousand Villages and Et Cetera, my dollar is going to do something good somewhere,” she says. “I also just love their stuff.”
localprofiles
RIGHT Melody Wagler, left, and Jane Emile-Wagler help manage the store.
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take hike Story by
Amy Conkling Photography by
Deborah Walker
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Fall is the perfect time to discover nature’s hidden treasures while hitting the trails
L
ace up and hike—or walk, run, ride or jog— Hutchinson’s trails this season. You’ll find some
hidden outdoor treasures tucked inside the city, just waiting for your feet.
These featured trails are within minutes of your doorstep and will provide the perfect recovery for outdoor enthusiasts after a scorching summer.
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www.dillonnaturecenter.com
website
Dogs are welcome on a leash. Trails are stroller-friendly, though some terrain is a bit rocky for non-jogging strollers.
good to know
Easy to moderate
trail difficulty
0.29-mile loop 0.66-mile loop 0.75-mile loop 0.86-mile loop
trail Length
Northeast Hutchinson, off Kansas Highway 61 and 30th Avenue
location
dillon center Dillon Nature Center’s system has been recognized as a National Recreation Trail by the U.S. Department of Interior—and for good reason. All of the trails are rated easy to moderate for walking, hiking, jogging or running. The terrain varies, although parts of the paved trail are conducive to wheelchairs. The longest trail, the 0.86-mile Outer Loop, gives trail-goers a glimpse of the entire center. This trail is deemed the center’s best for running or jogging thanks to its mostly even surfaces of grass and dirt. For the hiking enthusiast, the Woodard Interpretive Trail, a 0.75-mile loop, provides more of a challenge with varied surfaces of crushed rock, slopes, steps, grass and dirt. Its serene snapshots include ponds, marsh, a small stream, prairie, thickets, woods and gardens. For those wanting a true adventure on the prairie, opt for the Prairie Hills/Westar Energy Trails section, a 0.66-mile path that takes a runner, hiker or walker through the sandy tallgrass area. It includes a prairie dog town, thickets and a wide expanse of native grasses and beautiful Kansas wildflowers.
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Rates and more information are available at www. kdwp.state.ks.us/news/ State-Parks/Locations/ Sand-Hills
website
Trails are designated for hiking, running, walking and horseback riding but also include bird watching, wildflower walks and country relaxation. There are four restrooms along the trails. Be prepared for bugs. Vehicle permits are required at Sand Hills State Park parking lots.
good to know
Easy to moderate
trail difficulty
Varies. There are eight trails for hiking, walking, running and horseback riding.
trail Length
Northeast Hutchinson, off K-61 and 56th or 69th Avenue
location
sand hills Avid runner Steve Mullins loves hitting the trails. What sets Sand Hills State Park apart, though, is the fact that the Hutchinson resident travels only a few miles to get to his destination. “I go there for the fresh air, varied terrain, no traffic, and more often than not, you’re going to see wildlife,” Mullins says. “Sand Hills State Park is very scenic, and it’s a great place to run.” The park sits near a major highway, but you’d never know it while perusing the 1,123-acre preserve’s sand dunes, grasslands, wetlands and woodlands. Eight trails that cover 14 miles take visitors through 10- to 40-foot-tall sand dunes, grasslands, trees and ponds. Mullins suggests bringing water, insect repellant and a cell phone when visiting the park. Be cautious of the uneven surfaces on these kinds of trails. “And please follow the trail-running mantra of ‘Leave nothing behind but footprints,’” Mullins says. “You pack it in, you carry it out.”
Steve Mullins
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A map with more trail information is available at www.hutchgov.com/egov/ docs/1186599349_22827. pdf.
website
Most of the trails are paved and flat for walking, running, biking and roller blading.
good to know
Easy to moderate
trail difficulty
Varies Hendricks Trail Head to First Avenue: 1.9 miles First Avenue to Trail Loop: 1.98 miles Trail Loop: 3.03 miles First Avenue to Avenue A Park: 0.97 miles Total trail length is just less than 8 miles
trail Length
Throughout Hutchinson, with main access points in Rice Park and Carey Park
location
ABOVE Chris Brummer
jim p. martinezsunflower
and Freckles take a walk. below Becky and Jess Crockford ride the trails.
Hutchinson fitness enthusiast Becky Crockford and her husband, Jess, enjoy frequent bike rides along the Jim P. Martinez-Sunflower Trail. Jess likes the safety of the trail, while Becky thinks it’s the perfect length for a nice workout or a leisurely ride. “The trail is a nice view with up-and-down terrain, and it’s the perfect length for novices to build on when exercising or training for an event,” Becky says. She also likes the various scenery; from the winding river and prairie grasses to the views that Rice Park and Carey Park have to offer. There’s a little bit of everything, which keeps Becky entertained as she’s pedaling along one of her favorite routes in town. Eventually the Martinez Trail will connect with other trail sections that have been developed in the northeast part of town, creating one large loop outlining the city oftheHutchinson. Oddly enough, doctor’s office is a popular attraction at the Kansas Kids Museum.
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Q&A
Photography by A aron east
TECH Inc. CEO
Brenda Maxey
B
renda Maxey’s original plan was to work two years at the Training and Evaluation Center of Hutchinson Inc. (TECH). But 23 years later, Maxey now serves as CEO of the organization that assists people with disabilities. Maxey’s commitment to TECH began with a letter of interest. During her time with the organization, her efforts to help people with disabilities in Hutchinson are unmatched. “TECH has become a part of my family,” she says. “I love this organization, the individuals we serve and the TECH staff that I am privileged to work with.” HM: Tell me a little bit about
TECH and its mission. BM: TECH is committed to assisting individu-
als with disabilities of all ages to live full and productive lives through advocacy, education and quality supports. Our goal is to assure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to be a part of their community, to live, work, play and worship in their community, not to just live in their community. HM: what memorable stories of TECH stand out to you? BM: The most memorable one is from the early
’90s. TECH planned to open a new group home that would [be for] six individuals with disabilities. A lot of work and research went into making sure the new house would “fit” into the neighborhood and not stand out. Everyone at TECH was surprised when we learned a petition was being circulated, a petition to keep TECH from building a home on the vacant lot. Long story short, the petition died. … The six individuals who had moved into their new home wanted to get to know the neighbors,
no matter how hard I push, the river will not flow any faster … but it will flow. HM: Thirty years
from now, what do you want to see? BM: I would want to see a
so they chose to host an open house and invite the entire neighborhood. [They] had no idea there had been a petition to keep the house from being built. [They] made invitations, handdelivered each invitation and asked each person who answered the door to please come and see their new home. The day of the open house came and the neighbors filled the house, many spilling out onto the patio and the lawn. Many brought housewarming gifts, homemade cookies and flowers. The open house was a huge success. … I was approached by several of the neighbors. They all had the same comment: “Had they known,” the petition never would have existed. My response that day: “A petition? I did not know there was a petition. But thank you for coming, welcoming TECH into the neighborhood and blessing this new home.” This by far is my favorite TECH story—we all learned a great lesson that day. HM: What have you learned from working with TECH?
thriving business that has financial security—a business that is serving every child and every adult in Reno County that needs a support or a service. No one would be on a waiting list for needed services. … I would want to see people with disabilities living, working, playing and worshipping alongside all the other members of our community. … I would want this to be the standard, not the exception. HM: Who have been your mentors? BM: Maurice [Cummings, former CEO of TECH]
taught me so much. … It was his belief in me and his willingness to allow me leadership opportunities both within the organization itself as well as at the state and national advocacy levels. Mark [Elmore, former CEO of Johnson County Developmental Supports] taught me that it is important to be able to laugh at yourself, even when you goof up in front of the Board of Directors. He also taught me to eat dessert first and live life for today, as life is short. HM: Why do you think community
is important? BM: A community, as with a family, supports
each other in the good times and the not-sogood times. Hutchinson has demonstrated this with TECH over the 37 years of our existence. HM: How would you like your
BM: TECH has taught me patience, compassion,
business card to read?
humility, determination and tenacity. I have learned to laugh at silly things, cry with joy over what some people would deem to be small accomplishments by others. I have learned that
BM: This is a tough question ... it is, after all,
a small card. But if I could put one thing, it would have to be, “People matter. All people matter.” Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Katy Ibsen.
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travelideas
Cleveland rocks
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ranks among the most intriguing musical attractions
story by R ichar d Shan k
View of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at dawn
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Photography courtesy of the Rock an d Roll Hall of Fam e an d Museum
I
f you have the itch to boogie, consider a trip to the iconic city of Cleveland, where the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum attracts visitors to 150,000 square feet of music memorabilia. In 1951 Cleveland disc jockey Alan Freed coined the phrase “rock ’n’ roll” to describe upbeat rhythm-and-blues music. Little did Freed know that 44 years later, a world-class museum would open to preserve a heritage left by performers who have had a monumental effect on our life and culture.
Roc k Hal and R l o o ww w.ro f Fam ll ck e hall .com
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travelideas
Pink Floyd the Wall exhibit
Finding a beat
The idea to create the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum was conceived during a 1983 meeting in New York City, where leaders of the music industry met to establish a foundation and draw plans for a museum to house the history of this genre of music. The efforts moved quickly, and in 1986 the Hall of Fame inducted its charter class, which included Elvis Presley, Ray Charles, James Brown and Buddy Holly. The following year, renowned architect I.M. Pei was contracted to design the seven-story pyramid-like, glass museum. Then USA Today conducted a nationwide poll on the country’s preference for the city to house the hall of fame, and Cleveland emerged as the clear winner. In 1993, ground was broken in Cleveland. Two years later, it seemed that the entire rock ’n’ roll world was on hand for the dedication. The high notes
Visitors can see more than 4,000 individual exhibits depicting the careers of the nearly 600 Hall of Fame inductees, and each seems to tell a story worth repeating. It’s suggested to allow four to six hours to visit the museum, but based on this firsthand experience, two or three days might be better. Only 16 years after opening, the Hall of Fame is bursting at the seams with what is billed as the world’s most comprehensive collection of written and
The Runaways’ “Cherry Bomb” lyrics, 1976
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audiovisual materials of rock ’n’ roll. To aide in housing the bounty, a 22,500-square-foot library and archive on the Cuyahoga Community College campus is slated to open in late 2011. It’s proposed to enhance the Hall of Fame’s education program at the university level—a fitting homage. Turn it up
Here we share a few highlights of what you’ll encounter. Two recent exhibits required around-theclock security: Michael Jackson’s white glove, worn during a 1992 performance of “Billie Jean,” and Lady Gaga’s raw meat dress, which she donned for the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. Hundreds of entertainer outfits are on display in the museum, including one of Hank Williams’ suits, Bill Monroe’s hat and T. Bone Walker’s belt. Howlin’ Wolf, who didn’t believe in banks or apparently trust his handlers, kept a close eye on his cash in a money case that he
travelideas
more information Admission to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is $22 for adults, $13 for children 9-12, and free for children 8 and under. More information is available at www.rockhall.com.
Elvis Presley’s 1975 Lincoln Mark IV Coupe
would carry on stage during his performances. It ranks as one of the more unique items on display. There is no shortage of high-tech exhibits, including interactive listening stations where the visitor can pick from a list of singers and select favorite songs. Early in the history of rock and roll, there were detractors who considered this type of music obscene and immoral. In one display, you can even hear the rants of politicians and evangelists predicting gloom, doom and the nation’s decline, courtesy of the Beatles and Elvis. The largest collection of Beatles memorabilia and artifacts is shown here thanks in part to John Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, who on a mid-1990s visit to the Hall of Fame donated his vast collection. In 1975, Elvis Presley appeared at a Memphis car dealership to purchase 13 new cars for his family and friends. A 1975 Lincoln from that batch is now enshrined at the museum. It is just part of the most extensive collection of Elvis memorabilia in the world—besides what’s on display at Graceland in Memphis, of course.
Rockin’ All Over the World exhibit cases
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travelideas Elvis’ wheels aren’t the only ones parked in the museum; Bruce Springsteen’s 1960 Corvette is also there.
Read more about a Cleveland getaway at: facebook.com/
HutchinsonMagazine It comes as no surprise that songwriters compose music in spiral notebooks, on the backs of envelopes or on napkins. But unlike many other celebrities, these artists have legible penmanship, as seen in a telling exhibit.
There was a time in America when entertainment was inexpensive. A 1973 concert poster advertising Rick Nelson’s performance at Carnegie Hall for less than $7 brings back fond memories of the good ol’ days. When you arrive
A clever wall inscription at Cleveland’s Hopkins International Airport sums up the attraction nicely: “Some have worked their whole lives to get here; you’re only 15 minutes away.” A visit to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum will convince any tourist that this attraction solidifies Cleveland as a music lover’s destination. The Beatles exhibit
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Kendra Munds
Mighty Moms Meet the
The Salthawk Football Moms huddle up to support their team story by Jeanette Steinert
photography by Brian Lingle
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The fierce lineup of the Salthawk Football Moms.
It’s mid-July, and a group of 21 women sporting Salthawk T-shirts are meeting to tackle a big job. The Hutchinson High Salthawk Football Moms, a dedicated group, assist coaches season after season by providing behind-the-scenes nourishment and encouragement for the players. Sharing the role of captain, three senior moms will lead the organization this year, although it appears to be down to a science. A sacred three-ring binder, with timelines and detailed instructions honed through the years, is handed down each year. Senior mom Lori Blakesley consults it religiously as she leads the meeting. First on the agenda is the August 12 steak night for Gold Club members—the athletes who completed the three-day-a-week summer workout program. Enthusiastic dads grill steaks while moms provide sides and desserts as a reward for a task well done. The following week involves two workouts a day, with moms providing sack lunches in between. During the season, players leave directly after school for games, resulting in up to 200 meals a week sent to all away games. Each member of the Salthawk Football Moms has specific duties. Shopping mom Mel Dower orders the food to be picked up the day before a game. Paper product mom Shelley Brower makes sure all other necessities are in supply. Many moms work, so they use their lunch hours to put together the sacks on game day. A ham or turkey sandwich, banana, granola bar, fruit snack and bottle of water are all typical. Little-known fact: It takes about 30 pounds of lunchmeat a week to feed the Salthawk Football team. “I’m telling you what, those boys love the lunches,” Blakesley tells the new freshman moms as she gives them tips for an efficient sack lunch process. 60
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“I was beginning to wonder why I was doing all this, but when my son brought home his football [gear] yesterday and I saw the look on his face, that’s all the validation I need.” – Freshman mom Kim Steinle
Behind every strong football player is an even tougher mom. From left, Lori Rose and son Kane, Margie Barnes and son Quinton, Jodee Elliott Bowen and Trace, Ann Roehm and son Jermoe, Kendra Munds and son Lucas, Lori Blakesley and son Tanner and Crystle Westmoreland and son Jess.
Attentive moms jot down notes, volunteering for duties that range from acquiring 12 dozen cupcakes to scheduling photographs for individual player pictures. The group is open to any parent or family member who wants to help. Salthawk grandmother Maxine Hoover made 12 dozen cinnamon rolls last year for the chili meal, which is just one of the many dinners provided Thursday nights after practice. It’s a way to connect and bond before the big home games. Sometimes the meal features three to four roasters of rigatoni or taco crunch with accompaniments. Blakesley’s husband, Rick, was designated the Gatorade dad after a cooler proved too heavy for the moms and cascaded all over the gym floor a few years ago. That was one of the few times things went awry. She claims they are pretty organized, so “we don’t usually get frazzled.” Funds to help support the group and their efforts come from a variety of sources, such as donated bottle water from Sonic Drive-In. The moms earn $1,500 a year working at youth basketball tournaments, and Salthawk football T-shirt sales earned $3,000 last year. The Booster Club also chips in, as they do for all 25 sports offered at Hutchinson High. A new fundraiser last year, the Ultimate Tailgate Auction, earned a whopping $10,000. It’s hard to know exactly when the Salthawk Football Moms began. Meals before home games had occurred off and on through the years, recalls Claire Foy, one of the committee members who hired Coach Randy Dreiling in 1997. At the time, Foy had a son on the football team. Dreiling suggested that the moms, under Foy’s leadership, start providing lunches for the players. “The coach wanted parental involvement, and the parents started stepping up right away,” she says.
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Over the years the group has blossomed into an impressive organization, fueled by scores of enthusiastic moms and the added leadership of women like Stefani Dreiling, Vicki Hemmerling and Starla Wells. “As parents, we can’t be on the football field with the boys, and I think it gives them a strong feeling of support and community,” says Foy. The football program has rewards that go beyond the six state titles the Salthawks have earned. “What amazes me in serving over 100 boys is that everyone will say ‘thank you,’” says senior mom Jodee Elliott Bowen. “The coaches have trained the kids to be very appreciative of what is done to help them.” The coaches give special recognition to the Salthawk Football Moms at the end-of-the-season banquet, but the moms are modest about their contribution. Blakesley says, “What we do is nothing compared to the time the coaches and boys put into their program.”
The moms meet regularly to plan meals, events and support for their team.
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bestbets
|
sept-nov 2011
september September 9-18 | Kansas State Fair. The annual state fair in Hutchinson
features 10 days of agriculture, industry, commerce, exhibits and entertainment. Grandstand entertainers this year include Kenny Rogers, REO Speedwagon and Daughtry. (620) 669-3600. www.kansasstatefair.com
September 20 | Small Town 140 Characters Conference. A small-
town version of the popular 140 Characters Conferences in major metro areas comes to the Historic Fox Theatre. The event focuses on Twitter’s influence in advertising, politics, agriculture, education and other topics. Registration available at http://smalltown.140conf.com.
September 23 | Kansas Maze. Enjoy a 4½-acre corn maze day or night as well
as concessions, a 24-foot bridge and a pumpkin patch . The Gaeddert and Martisko Farms Corn Maze and Family Festival near Buhler are open weekends September 24-October 30. Weekday visits are available for groups of 20 or more by reservation. (620) 543-3073. www.kansasmaze.com
September 24 | Harvest Farm & Pumpkin Patch. Enjoy family fun
including a petting zoo, hayrack rides, pedal tractor track, pumpkin cannon and “The Punkinator.” Harvest Farm & Pumpkin Patch near Turon is open weekends September 24-October 30. (620) 497-6715. www.harvestfarmks.com
September 25 | Salt City Run for the Rocks Half-Marathon.
Participate in the inaugural Run for the Rocks 13.1-mile race. The course will take runners through Carey Park, Rice Park and the Kansas State Fairgrounds and end in Gowan Stadium. Race starts at 8 a.m. Registration available at www.runfortherocks.com.
September 30 | Downtown Hutchinson Rod Run. The Fourth Annual
Downtown Hutchinson Rod Run and Classic Car Show features events September 30-October 2. Friday includes the Rod Run Golf Tournament and a citywide cruise and street dance in the evening. Saturday adds a live car auction and an evening barbecue. Sunday concludes the weekend events with Hot Rod Church and an awards ceremony. All three days include a Show and Shine of hot rods, street rods, classic and antique cars and trucks, motorcycles and wrapped vehicles. (620) 966-3315. www.hutchrodrun.com
october October 8 | Cause for Paws Second Annual Mutt Strut. Cause
for Paws is committed to ensuring the well-being of all cats and dogs as well as supporting the Hutchinson Animal Shelter. The Second Annual Mutt Strut is a walk, wag and run with or without your dog at the Hutchinson Dog Park. Events start at 9 a.m. (620) 728-2906. www.causeforpawshutch.org
October 8 | Haven Fall Festival. Travel to downtown Haven for the
annual festival. This year’s theme, “Happy birthday to us!” celebrates the Kansas sesquicentennial and Haven’s 125th birthday. Events start at 7:30 a.m. and include breakfast at the Community Building, crafts, a parade, a barbecue cookoff and fireworks. (620) 465-3636. http://havenchamber.com/fall-festival.html
October 20 | Coffee at the Cosmosphere. “Weird Science: Unusual in
Space” is the topic for this free monthly event. Artifacts from the Cosmosphere’s collection will be on display. 9 a.m. (800) 397-0330. www.cosmo.org
October 29 | THE HUTCHINSON NEWS MONSTER GARAGE SALE. Find a
little bit of everything at this large sale. 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Kansas State Fairgrounds, Meadowlark Building. (620) 694-5704
november November 19 | Hutchinson’s Holiday Parade. Usher in the holidays with the annual Christmas parade in downtown Hutchinson. 10 a.m. (620) 665-5758. www.hutchgov.com
November 19 | TECH Holiday Festival. Enjoy refreshments, music, and a
live and silent auction at this annual fundraiser for TECH Inc. Tickets are $40 per person or $400 for a reserved table of eight. For a preview of auction items, make your way to Cottonwood Court on November 18 for the TECH Wassail Party. Tickets for the preview event are $2 but are included with festival ticket purchase. (620) 663-1596. www.techinc.org
November 20 | Reno County Toy Run. Bikers on their street-legal bikes will
line the streets near Hobart-Detter Field in Carey Park starting at 1 p.m. Meet at The Moose prior for toy dropoff, chili feed and auction. (620) 204-8018. www. hutchgov.com
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Hutchinson Magazine | Fall 2011
Please submit event information to: hutchinsonmagazine@sunflowerpub.com (Dates and times subject to change)