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Spectacular Hutch Teens
Behind the Race Scene
Get on board with the RV
summer 2012
Hutchinson
Magazine
Bulls and Blood, Dust and Mud
They call the thing Pretty Prairie Rodeo $4.00
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Hutchinson
dear readers,
Volume 05 / Issue 01
Hutchinson Magazine has taken on a life all its own. We editors and contributors are merely players in its production—and for that—we celebrate! As we begin our fifth year in print, we can step back and appreciate how the publication has evolved. What stories were most talked about, what were the memorable covers, and where do we go from here?
Publisher John Montgomery Advertising Director Leslie Advertising Sales Manager
Magazine
Shea Darren Werth
For Advertising Rates and Information
(620) 694-5700 ext. 210 sales Executives
Tammy Colladay Shelby Dryden Tyler Goertzen Mitch Hixson Anita Stuckey Thomas Sullivan ad designers
Kim Hoskinson Marcos Medranos Jessica Price Sam Wilk Photographers
Aaron East Brian Lingle Deborah Walker
From concept to today’s issue, Hutchinson Magazine has shown us what it can achieve and what our readers love. So with an evaluation on editorial and a small re-design, we enter into the next five years. As we’ve covered the community, businesses and families, I’ve learned one thing about Hutchinson—it’s always about the people. No publication would thrive as Hutchinson Magazine has had it not been for the people. As a result, we’ve reworked the publication to focus more on people. You’ll see our new departments allow us to incorporate more people profiles throughout the publication, and our features give us an opportunity to put some under the spotlight—or more appropriately—in the centerfold. With the help of our new graphic designer, Jenni Leiste, she was able to update the appearance of our content and art. Bravo! I have no doubt you’ll like what you see and agree that we’ve once again elevated the community to its true character. As we move forward, I would encourage all readers to send us your story ideas. It’s your friends and neighbors we want to feature, and it’s their goodwill we want to highlight. Feel free to email me directly at kibsen@sunflowerpub.com. I look forward to hearing from you and sharing more over the next five years.
Contributing Writers
Amy Bickel Amy Conkling Gloria Gale Kathy Hanks Richard Shank Patsy Terrell
Production and Editorial Services for Hutchinson Magazine provided by:
Editor Katy Ibsen Designer Jenni Leiste COPY EDITOR Christy Little GENERAL MANAGER Bert Hull Publishing Coordinator Jenni Leiste Editorial comments (866) 655-4262 Subscriptions
$25 (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
— Katy, Editor Follow us on twitter @hutchinsonmag find us on facebook: facebook.com/HutchinsonMagazine
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Send your comments and suggestions to hutchinsonmagazine@sunflowerpub.com
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Summer 2012
contents Features
36
The Roar of the Crowd Pretty Prairie Rodeo celebrates 75 years
Lifestyle
Profile
One couple restores a treasured home
One woman’s quest to with the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest
14 The treasures underneath
22 Where everybody knows your name
8 A Victorian love affair
The Becks have made a hobby of flipping homes to high-function style
18 Denise’s Dough
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54 Cape Cod of the Midwest
Door County’s finger of land points the way to cultural diversity, history and outdoor adventure
In Every Issue: 2 dear readers 64 Calendar 3
Hutch Talks
26 Hutchinson’s Teen Scene
Cash Mob
30 Running behind the scenes
RV travel is a popular summer activity in Reno County
Travel
Clic’s is the come-as-you-are neighborhood bar
Three teens who are making a difference
King of the road
spectacular HutcH teens
BeHind tHe Race Scene
Get on Board witH tHe rV
summer 2012
Hutchinson
Magazine
60 Bob Colladay 62 Teresa preston Art instructor, Hutchinson Community College
One race director’s reflection on Hutchinson’s largest race
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Bulls and Blood, dust and Mud
They call The Thing PreTTy Prairie rodeo $3.00
On the Cover Pretty Prairie Rodeo
(Photography by Aaron East)
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Where to bee.
Every Thursday
departments 8 Lifestyle • 18 profiles • 30 wellness Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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A Victorian
love affair one couple restores a treasured home
Sto ry by Amy B ic kel
• Ph otog r aph y by D eb o r ah Walker
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Lifestyle
The Miller Home
J
oe and Georgeann Miller had long been smitten by the historic Victorian home that sits along a tree-lined brick street in one of Hutchinson’s first neighborhoods. The affair started more than 20 years ago when friends—also the home’s owners—put the two-story home on the market. The Millers, however, couldn’t get their home at the time sold quickly enough, and they lost it to another buyer. “It was disappointing,” Georgeann says. “For another 12 years, Joe and I would drive by and look at it.” That is, until one day when a For Sale sign went up in the yard. This time the Millers wouldn’t let their dream home get away. Since 2000 the East Sixth Avenue residence, built in 1887, has been home. What the Millers love about the house is its detailed architecture, such as the ornate hardwood floors from Italy, as well as a wooden banister brought in from Pennsylvania (out of another home) and incorporated when the house was first built. “We’ve always been attracted to old Victorian homes because they have so much character,” says Joe, an investment adviser.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
OPPOSITE Joe and Georgeann Miller on the front porch of a prized possession—their Victorian home. ABOVE Keeping much of the home’s original character, the Millers have decorated the interior to match the home’s charm.
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More than good bones
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History: Joe and Georgeann Miller researched the home’s history at the library where they found it featured in an 1892 tabloid that promoted Hutchinson. They had hoped to learn more about the home’s past residents and stories. Two years after they moved in, they received a letter on stationery that depicted a print of their home. It was from former resident Barbara Awbrey, 90 at the time, who was the granddaughter of Frank and Nellie Martin, original owners. The Parlor: Awbrey came to the home several times before she died, describing to the couple what she remembered from her childhood. Her grandfather performed more than 40 weddings in the home’s parlor, and the fireplace still features the original wood hearth. “You can still see where the candles he lit for the ceremonies burned above,” Joe says, pointing to the stained wood. The Staircase: A staircase off the kitchen was built for a maid and led to the servant living quarters. However, Nellie liked to do the housework. “She had the area opened up,” Georgeann says of the upper room and bath that once was blocked off from the rest of the home. Today, the bedroom serves as an office.
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Wood Floors: Nellie ordered the home’s hardwood floors from Italy out of a catalog. “Her grandma wanted fancy floors,” Georgeann says. “They were put down piece by piece.” Mementos: When the house sold in 1960, relatives were told to take what they wanted. “Some apologized for taking a few of the door knobs and removing the fireplace tiles,” Joe says of the ornate fixtures. Family members also took the pictured tile from the fireplaces.
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“We were hoping we’d get those back,” he says, but noted that Awbrey herself had the tiles made into end tables.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Historic residents For 70 years the Martin family, one of Hutchinson’s early leaders, owned the home. Frank Martin, a district judge who also served as a Hutchinson mayor and a Kansas legislator, purchased it with his wife, Nellie, in 1894. Frank died in 1929, and over time the home began to deteriorate. By 1960, the Martin children and grandchildren were considering tearing down the structure. “They thought it was the best thing to do,” Joe says, adding that the home had become a liability. Fortunately a local businessman saw it as a rare jewel and deemed it worth saving. The house changed hands a few times over the years. However, with the same passion as the Millers, these owners continued the process of refurbishing it to its former glory. Today, the residence features 13 rooms, including two baths and four bedrooms. The Millers kept to the home’s original blueprint and have decorated it in a Victorian style. “This is not just an old house, it is a home,” says Joe.
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Despite ailing Victorian-style homes along the block, the Millers’ home has been preserved as a piece of Hutchinson history. Many of the owners after the Martin family spent time and money refurbishing the structure. When the Millers moved in, much of the changes they made were cosmetic. Carpet was removed from the stairway, and many of the rooms were repainted. They renovated bathrooms, which included the addition of a shower to the original castiron claw tub. Joe built the tiled island in the kitchen, and he fixed woodwork and decorative molding in the living room. His current to-do list includes repairing the wrap-around front porch. The Millers have also found their own treasures in the home. The antique stairway includes a hidden door to stash valuables that even the Martin family didn’t know existed. It was discovered during renovations in the 1960s.
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“The secret panel is where I keep the Christmas decorations—no jewels,” Georgeann says with a laugh. One of Joe’s favorite rooms is the front entry with its sliding wood door and old fixtures. Georgeann likes how the house is open, which gives her a glimpse of three rooms at one time.
The beautiful foyer and parlor with its imported floors.
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Joe built the kitchen island to fit in with the space’s other details.
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Antique furniture in the dining room adds to the home’s style.
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A secret storage closet was found underneath the stairs.
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Original moldings and fixtures remain in the home, such as the wood hearth.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
The elegant guest bedroom.
“In the evenings I like how I can sit in the living room and see the front room,” she says. “It is such a warm and comfortable home.”
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Lifestyle
The Miller Home
12
by the numbers
An old image of the home, built in 1887.
Victorian dollhouse used by the couple’s two daughters, Tian and Raegan, when they were growing up, stands on the upper level landing.
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Fireplaces, one upstairs and one downstairs.
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The number of Weddings grandchildren in the home since the Millers the Millers have who like to have owned it. romp around That includes the home. renewing their own vows in the parlor for their 30th anniversary in 2005.
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Number of rooms in the home, including four bedrooms and two baths.
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The number of weddings Judge Frank Martin conducted in the home.
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The number The Millers’ of nails in home marks a each square milestone since it was built in of the parlor’s 1887. wood floors. A grandchild once told Georgeann he knew the number of nails “because when he’d get in trouble, he’d have to count them,” she says.
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72 Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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The treasures underneath The Becks have made a hobby of flipping homes to high-function style
Sto ry by Amy Co nklin g
•
Ph otog r aph y by A aro n E ast
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Lifestyle
The Beck Home
W
hen Rex and Rae Beck went to make an offer on their northeast Hutchinson home, their realtor wanted to make sure they were serious. Really serious. “Our realtor asked us if we were sure we wanted to take it,” Rae says with a laugh. “It seemed like she was almost talking us out of it.” The outdated house had stood vacant for more than 18 months. Its 1970s décor—complete with the era’s popular brown and gold disco colors—and cramped layout intimidated any interested buyer who took a tour. Everyone except the Becks; both Rex and Rae saw potential and profit. They purchased the 2,200-square-foot, fourstory house for $106,000 and in January 2005, they moved in along with their four children, three of whom still live with them. Seven years later, they’ve turned a repo house into a home with a top-to-bottom renovation, adding about $50,000 to the value of the home for less than $10,000.
The Becks have renovated their current home after snatching the home for a steal. INSET Chickens are just part of the colorful ambiance at the Beck home.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Total creativity When interested buyers walked through the outdated house, they couldn’t see past the boxed-in rooms and maze of walls. Rex looked beyond the walls. He gutted the first level, tearing down walls and making three rooms into one great room where Rae and the kids could make dinner, do their homework, lounge, eat and play all in the same place. He continued throughout the kitchen, building an island with inspiration from a drawing that Rae gave him. The island’s countertop is twice the size as typical ones found in the kitchen, as Rae requested a large space to “roll out plenty of pie dough.” Underneath, it serves as storage for pots and pans, with openings on both ends to utilize the maximum space. Rex’s space-saving construction continued with the dual pantry-laundry area. The washer and dryer sit behind doors off of the kitchen surrounded by pantry shelves. “With a large family, we’re using every inch we can,” Rae says.
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Home Improvement on the Cheap It’s a family joke that Rae Beck’s Mennonite mother taught her how to be frugal. But that mindset helped save the Becks thousands of dollars in renovation costs. Here’s a look at how they renovated their home from top to bottom with a budget of less than $10,000.
Self-improvements: A painter by trade, Rex Beck expanded his skills and did all of the renovations himself. It took longer but cut out the middleman—and a big chunk of cost. The family also opted to stay in the house while doing the room-by-room improvements to save money on a rental and to expedite the process. The sooner they were finished, the sooner they could all live in their own rooms. Experience in home improvement also helped; this was the Becks’ fourth home renovation project. The previous three homes were renovated and later turned into a profit for the couple and their children.
Neutrals with a touch of color
Rex, a contracted painter, wasn’t afraid to use a bold, dark green olive color in the main living area. However, he opted for the more calming hues of beiges and yellows for the master suite and the kids’ bedrooms upstairs. Rae, who left a teaching career to sell antique wares and her handmade quilts, provided the splashes of color throughout the bedrooms with her colorful patchwork quilts. Rae’s antique treasures make the perfect décor accents. Green and white pitchers are placed throughout the kitchen and dining room. Other trinkets provide the perfect inspiration in her downstairs workspace. Despite her love for collecting and selling antiques, Rae makes it a point to keep the house looking uncluttered. “We don’t buy a lot of stuff,” she says. “I was taught to waste not, want not, and what the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t want.”
Scan the sales:
The Becks took an inexpensive risk with the unique piece-by-piece, colorful lower-level carpet flooring. They caught a sale online in a grab-bag fashion—they didn’t know what they were going to get, but they figured it was a fun and inexpensive way to create a unique floor. “The shipping was more expensive than the carpet,” Rex says. They also purchased their laminate wood floor for a fraction of the cost due to holiday sales at the home improvement store.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Barter & trade:
Rex oftentimes traded wood and other carpentry materials for painting services with friends. Most of the molding and woodwork came from a colleague in Burrton.
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Quirky Highlights Dining Room Table: Visitors may miss it, but the dining room table legs aren’t the originals. In fact, they’re black legs from an antique treadle sewing machine that was out of commission. Instead of pitching the entire machine, Rae creatively found a way to save its sturdiest part and transform it into the meeting place for family meals. No Kitchen Cabinets: Rex couldn’t believe his wife’s request of no upper kitchen cabinets to store the family’s colorful dishes and tableware. “I didn’t want to hide my colorful dishes behind cabinet doors,” Rae says. Instead, she opted for white shelves where she could stack and showcase the dishes.
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Chicken Coop & Clothesline: Take a step outside, and visitors forget they’re in the city. The wide-open, halfacre backyard emulates a farmhouse yard as it includes a nice wooden clothesline and the main attraction, a chicken coop. Rex built the beautiful white and black trim chicken coop, complete with antique windows, last summer after Rae received chicks from a kindergarten teacher at the school where she worked. “They had the chicks as part of a class project, but of course at the end of the year nobody wanted the chicks. I’ve always wanted to raise them, so it was the perfect opportunity,” Rae says. “The neighbors love the chicks and come by asking for eggs.” A beautiful garden complete with tomatoes, peppers and rhubarb surround the coop. “Anything we can grow and can for the winter,” Rae says.
The custom island with large granite counter top.
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The Beck family at home. Allen, Garret, Daisy, Rex and Rae.
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Rae incorporated treasured furniture into the home’s design.
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Daisy and her brothers help with the chickens.
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The dining room table legs came from an old sewing machine.
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Rae kept cabinets open to display her colorful dishes.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Four-Level Home: Most people don’t believe the Becks when they say their house is four levels. Their home is a standard split-level home with a twist, as the lower level extends to an even lower level that serves as a storm shelter, a pantry, storage space and the perfect place for their ping-pong table. “We’re pretty competitive, and it can get a little loud down here when we’re playing,” Rae says.
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Lifestyle
The Beck Home
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denise’s dough One woman’s quest to win the pillsbury bake-off contest
Sto ry by K athy Hanks
• Ph otog r aph y by A aro n E ast
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Profile
Denise Pounds
D
enise Pounds’ kitchen smells delicious with the scent of hot, crusty French bread mingling with a warm nutty aroma. She’s baking yet another batch of multi-grain cheese crostinis in preparation for the 45th Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest. As one of 100 finalists, and the only person selected from Kansas, she is preparing for the March 26 competition at the Peabody Hotel in Orlando.
So close you can taste it
Denise Pounds of Hutchinson was the only Kansan represented at the Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest in 2012.
Denise is striving for perfection with a $1 million first prize looming in front of her. While achieving nirvana in a crostini was her goal, Denise had to stick with the original recipe she submitted to the judges. The No. 1 rule of the competition is to use a Pillsbury product. Denise chose Pillsbury’s French bread in a can. Then her creativity flowed as she put together seeds, nuts and shredded Gruyere cheese. “I took a product that was meant to be a used as a loaf of bread and gave it a whole new dimension,” she says. “It’s a good appetizer or good with salads and soups.” Since learning in September that she was a finalist, Denise worked like a lab scientist, counting on three different test groups to help her reach perfection with the recipe. They included her husband, LaVerle, her knitting group at Hutchinson’s Yarn shop and members of her weekly Bible study group. From the first days of marriage, LaVerle has always been his wife’s No. 1 fan in the kitchen. He encouraged her love of cooking, which in turn kept him happily fed.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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“Denise takes her cooking very seriously. It’s not a pastime, it’s a passion with her.” – LaVerle Pounds
He is always reassuring her, even when she cooked their first Thanksgiving turkey upside down and it came out of the oven appearing in flight. “My husband was so impressed that I cooked the dinner for him that he didn’t laugh,” she says. Over the years he has encouraged her culinary attempts, always promising to be the guinea pig. “LaVerle has been a good sport,” she says. “He has tried some bad things.”
Kitchen veteran Through the years friends and family have reaped the benefits of Denise’s experiments in the kitchen. “My cooking passions changed often,” Denise says. “For the past few years I have been especially interested in creating the perfect loaf of bread.” In the kitchen there’s a closet filled with aprons for her award-winning entries in many Kansas State Fair cooking contests for everything from Spam to Fleischmann’s Yeast. She also won the National Pillsbury Pie contest one year for a Merry Cherry Plum Berry Tart. Plus, this was her third year to enter the Pillsbury Bake-Off, but the first to be a finalist. One might say her ideal job would be working in a test kitchen. But, for now, she is content to work as an aide in the Family and Consumer Science class at Hutchinson Middle School 7.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Making the most Following the Cook-Off, which was won by a Pennsylvania woman for a pumpkin ravioli creation, Pounds was not defeated. Back in her 100-year-old home’s wellequipped kitchen, she says the contest was an experience of a lifetime. Despite missing out on the $1 million first prize, she was more determined than ever to win the next competition in 2014. “It was phenomenal,” she says. “We were there as winners, to show off our stuff. We were honored and treated like royalty.” Contestants learned from the director of Pillsbury Kitchens that they began with tens of thousands of entries narrowed down to the 100 chosen. Each of the finalist’s recipes were placed in the Pillsbury Bake-Off recipe book.
“We were told we were each a part of the Pillsbury Bake-Off history,” Denise says. “I felt like a true winner with that comment.” Even before heading to Orlando as a finalist, Pounds won a GE microwave, $125 in cash, two designer aprons, a plane ticket to the event and free accommodations. Plus, she was feted at several lavish banquets and presented cookbooks, kitchen utensils and even a giggling, albeit stuffed, Pillsbury Doughboy. Moreover, just participating with 99 other contestants, in the convention center, with Martha Stewart back behind the ropes with LaVerle and a couple hundred invited viewers, was an amazing experience. “I was very proud of my wife,” says LaVerle. He served as her personal photographer, snapping photos of the four-hour cooking contest. “Watching the contestants parade into the convention center for the start of the contest, with the music playing was like watching the start of the Olympics.” Since returning from Orlando the wheels have been spinning in Denise’s head. She took pages of notes on the flight home. Back in her Hutchinson kitchen she is determined to be a finalist again and this time make it all the way to the top.
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Profile
Pounds of Pie
Denise was selected among thousands of entries for her multigrain cheese crostinis.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Where everybody knows your name Clic’s is the come-as-you-are neighborhood bar
Sto ry by R ic har d S hank
• Ph otog r aph y by D eb o r ah Walker
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
23
Profile
Clic’s
C
lic’s could best be described as a pool hall, watering hole or downtown hangout, but the bar’s legion of customers is unanimous when they say that Clara Mitchell, affectionately known by her customers as Claire, cooks the best hamburger in town.
The trademark Claire and her husband of 48 years, Vic, cut their teeth in the bar business in 1983 when they opened Vic’s Place. For 18 years, they ran the bar and restaurant. At Vic’s, Claire put her culinary skills to work and began, as the old expression goes, flipping burgers. Her hamburger became so popular that customers were calling from afar to place advance orders. As the customer base grew, so did the OPPOSITE Monte menu. Claire added more options, including Hertach starts cheddar jalapeno poppers, flour chips with another round of cheese, hot dogs and sanchos, beans seasoned pool at Clic’s. with ground beef, lettuce and cheese, wrapped ABOVE Vic and in a large tortilla and topped with red sauce Claire Mitchell, and cheese. However, the burger remained the proprietors of the bar and grill, know a thing most popular. or two about running What makes Claire’s hamburgers so juicy? a bar business. Prior “I don’t smash the hamburger,” she says. to Clic’s they were known as the couple “Instead I roll the meat into a ball, place it on behind Vic’s. the grill and let it cook naturally.” By 2001, the Mitchells tired of the long hours of running a neighborhood establishment and felt the tug to retire and travel the country, so they sold Vic’s Place. Just three years later, the couple concluded that retirement wasn’t all it was made out to be. They made a joint decision to rejoin the ranks of the fully employed by starting a new bar business.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Clic’s A drive through downtown Hutchinson found a vacant building for sale. Soon, Vic, who according to Claire can build or fix anything, found himself swinging a hammer and building a wraparound bar. The Mitchells needed a name for their new venture, and they decided to combine their names and open shop under Clic’s. According to Vic, his goal from opening day was for Clic’s to be the type of place that he would be happy to take his wife for an evening. As the clock strikes 5:30 p.m. most afternoons, Claire unlocks the front door and is at work preparing for a long night that may last until 2 a.m., despite closing down the grill at 10 p.m. on weekdays and 9 p.m. on weekends. Health issues have slowed Vic’s involvement in the business. “Vic is still the one who keeps everything running and stops by several times throughout the week,” Claire says. On any given night, Clic’s is the scene of spirited pool games, a few tosses at a dartboard and maybe a round of singing on Karaoke Night. When time permits, Claire has been known to take a pool cue in hand and teach the youngsters a thing or two about the game of pool. Depending on the evening, as many as four employees will be serving tables or monitoring the other activities under way. Claire remains the head cook, taking inventory of her customers, whom she knows by name along with details of their family or work.
A following As the word spread about Clic’s, it became a venue for social events, including birthday and graduation parties, wedding receptions, class reunions and company Christmas parties. Frankie Burdette, a family friend of the Mitchells, says that a stop at Clic’s is like coming home. While he enjoys the food, Monte Hertach thinks the pool tables are the best in town. “Clic’s provides a comfortable, relaxing atmosphere,” he says. “I have eaten every menu item offered, and they are all great, but I would have to rate the pork tenderloin number one.” Van Johnson and his wife, Joanna, have never eaten at Clic’s, but they enjoy stopping by on Friday or Saturday night to play pool with friends and enjoy a beer. “Clic’s is a nice and quiet place that feels sort of like home,” says Van. If Clic’s had a motto, it might be “come as you are.” Customers should find it no surprise to see folks arriving for dinner in work clothes after an evening of yardwork or across the bar from a business executive in a suit and tie. For those nostalgic for an old-fashioned bar top Clic’s offers and the good old days, there is no better place to pool leagues, which find both in Hutchinson than at Clic’s. Vic helps manage. “My greatest joy of coming to Clic’s is to see bottom Claire and visit with people that I have gotten to know keeps a tight ship on over the years,” Vic says. the kitchen, as she is known for making a stellar burger.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Profile
Clic’s
Clic’s Entertainment Karaoke
Friday and Saturday nights
Pool tournaments
Friday and Saturday nights
Pool League
Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights
Darts
available anytime Clic’s is closed on Sunday and Wednesday
Clic’s
117 East Second Avenue (620) 669-0938
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Hutchinson’s teen scene Three teens who are making a difference
R
eno County has a number of extraordinary teens. They’re involved in athletics, they’re smart, they’re role models, and they give back to their community. These teens have drive and dreams. Moreover, through their leadership skills, they’re preparing for their future. Hutchinson Magazine found a few youths readers should meet.
Charlie Garcia
Age 16 | Trinity Catholic High School
Charlie Garcia has his future career path narrowed down to three occupations: an astrophysicist, engineer or lawyer. Wherever his aspirations lead him someday, he credits his skills and leadership abilities to the years he has spent in Boy Scouts and at the Kansas Cosmosphere’s annual space camp. The 16-year-old is combining space and scouting to create his Eagle Scout project, which transformed an area at the Cosmosphere once filled with junk and moldy carpet into a simulated Mars landscape.
Sto ry by Amy B ic kel • Ph otog r aph y by B r ian Ling le
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
“I spent hundreds of hours planning this,” Charlie, a sophomore at Trinity Catholic High School, says as he stands amid his masterpiece. Fewer than 5 percent of boys who enter scouts receive the Eagle Scout honor, according to the National Eagle Scout Association. In addition to the 21 life skills merit badges required to reach the Eagle Scout rank, of which Charlie has earned all but four, each scout must complete an extensive selfdirected service project. Work on the Mars model began in March. As part of the Eagle Scout project guidelines, Charlie guided younger scouts in the effort, which included making papiermaché craters and valleys and foam rocks. Contributions in time and money came from family and local businesses, such as donated paint from the Hutchinson Lowe’s. Charlie worked with Gregory Inc. in Buhler on a Mars skyscape graphic that surrounds the project. Charlie completed the project in April 2012. This summer space camp students will be able to remotely operate robot rovers through the simulated landscape. Meanwhile, Charlie’s scouting peers recently elected him senior patrol leader for his Scout Troop 303. In the top youth leadership position in a Boy Scout troop, he’ll guide development of the troop’s plan for the next six months and lead troop meetings. “Charlie is always thinking, searching for new ideas to make the troop more active and fun,” says Scoutmaster John Green. “Though he’s just stepped into the leadership position, I anticipate great things during his tenure. “Many scouts step away from the leadership roles as they approach or achieve Eagle Scout status, so I’m proud of Charlie for seeking the post despite his tenure in the troop,” Green says.
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Profile
Teen Scene
maddie page
Age 15 | Hutchinson High School
If there is one thing that Maddie Page doesn’t like, it might be idle time. Maybe it is part of her competitive side, which she contributes to growing up in a large family. One of eight children born to Jeff and Dr. Ann Hentzen Page, Maddie says she learned quickly not to be shy.
“Growing up in a big family, you have to be a strong leader,” she says. “You have to do more to be heard.” The Hutchinson High School sophomore competes in volleyball, basketball and track. She serves on student council, is in Key Club, and this summer, she will travel to Europe as part of the national People to People ambassador program, which was begun by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Oh, and she’s the top scholar in her class. These activities are just part of Maddie’s personality. Today, she is trying to deliver her message of saying no to alcohol, drugs and tobacco in elementary and junior high classrooms across Hutchinson. Maddie is among 60 other youth in the Reno County
Communities That Care youth leadership group, which focuses on a youth antitobacco, alcohol and drug campaign. Teen leaders work to inform youth about peer pressure with an aim to reduce teen substance use in Reno County. “One of the biggest problems is kids who get involved in these things, they can’t get out of it,” Maddie says. “Once you get into high school there is a lot of peer pressure to do it.” According to the Kansas Communities That Care 2011 Reno County survey, 8 percent of sixth-graders and 31 percent of sophomores have smoked tobacco. In addition, nearly 16 percent of sixth-graders and 60 percent of 10th-graders reported they had drank more than a few sips of alcohol.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
The prevention measures, however, include fun activities. Last winter, Maddie was a big part of the efforts to put on the county’s first-ever youth summit for middle school students. Here they learned about the importance of graduating from high school and staying away from drugs and alcohol. Maddie wants to be a teacher someday, which doesn’t surprise CTC Executive Director Sondra Borth. “She’s just a very positive, wonderful youth that is involved with everything and makes really great choices,” she says. “We want kids to know it can be cool not to do it,” Maddie says.
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Briana starks
Age 17 | Hutchinson High School
“A lot of things have changed in my life, but the Boys and Girls Club, that’s the one constant for me.” – Briana Starks
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Profile
Teen Scene
At age 6, Briana Starks hated change. She hated the fact her mother had a job. She hated the idea of sharing attention with the other dozens of children who frequented Hutchinson Boys and Girls Club. Not wanting any part of the after-school program, she hid under a desk and screamed. Briana, now 17, laughs at this story as she tells it, then says with sincerity, “A lot of things have changed in my life, but the Boys and Girls Club, that’s the one constant for me.” The Hutchinson High School graduate and daughter of Kim Starks has become a role model and a leader. She credits the Boys and Girls Club for her evolution. Today she has remained involved as a vision leader for the organization—working with third- and fourth-graders in the program. As the club’s art director this summer, she plans to have students paint old furniture, then sell the pieces during an art show for a club fundraiser. This is just part of the leadership role she has taken at Boys and Girls Club. She’s president of the Boys and Girls Clubs’ Keystone Club, which maintains projects like serving dinner at Hutchinson’s Christian Soup Kitchen. Beyond club activities, Briana is part of the Reno County Youth Prevention Coalition and, on the state level, the Smoke Free Kansas Youth Board. At 5 foot 10, she was the starting forward on the Hutchinson High School girls’ basketball team, and she has lettered in the sport since her freshman year. This fall she will attend Hutchinson Community College on a basketball scholarship. Other awards include the Kansas Scholastic Art Gold Key award, the highest honor at the state level. In March she received Reno County Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year—an honor given to youth for their contributions to family, school and the community and for overcoming personal challenges. This award resulted in eligibility to be recognized on the state level, an honor Briana values, despite not being awarded the honor. “It was a bummer that I didn’t win,” she says. “I was a little down, but I realized I don’t have to have a title to do the things I’m doing.”
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Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Running behind the scenes One Race director’s reflection on Hutchinson’s largest race
Sto ry by Amy Co nklin g • Ph otog r aph y by D eb o r ah Walker
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Profile
Wellness
I
t’s a sight for sore, tired eyes. After being up for several hours, volunteers start arriving, armed with smiles and warm coffee as they take on the 367 runners who are about to bombard them with questions. I assist them, prepared with a notebook that’s jam–packed with maps, permits and several to-do lists. The to-dos—plan course, get volunteers, advertise the event, et cetera, are crossed off—all except one—to hold the best half-marathon Hutchinson has ever seen. Let’s just hope the participants, who are jittery with nerves, don’t see my own butterflies that are welling in my throat and stomach. This is harder than the two marathons or slew of half-marathons and 10Ks I’ve completed in the last seven years of running. Let’s just say I love seeing Hutchinson fit and healthy—and I love that I get to do it for my job as the marketing and special events director for Hutchinson Recreation Commission. What began as coordinating the largest special wellness event in Hutchinson, the Salty Dog & Salty Pup Triathlon, has grown into another large wellness event, the Salt City Run for the Rocks Half Marathon. This event attracted more than 360 runners and walkers in its first year in 2011.
Roped in Thankfully there is tremendous help from co-workers and volunteers, including Ted Nelson, superintendent of wellness and aquatics at Hutch Rec; and fellow race coordinator and running mom, Amanda Buoy from the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hutchinson. Buoy is the one who set the race Runners Amy into motion as I remember the two of Conkling and us dreaming and talking about how Amanda Buoy have traded fun a half-marathon in Hutchinson in their race would be. numbers for “My appreciation for race a chance behind the coordinators has grown tremendously, scenes as but so has my determination to learn race directors from every one of them,” Buoy says. for the Salt City Run for “Runners deserve the best that we the Rocks Half can give them, every time.” Marathon.
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Upcoming Events Hutch Rec’s Firecracker 5K Run/Walk
Saturday, July 7 www.hutchrec.com
Hutch Rec’s Salty Dog & Salty Pup Triathlons
Saturday, August 11 www.hutchrec.com
Hutch Rec & Boys and Girls Club’s Salt City Run for the Rocks Half Marathon
Sunday, September 23 www.runfortherocks.com
To get involved in these wellness events in Hutchinson call (620) 663-6179. You can also view area races and see how to get involved by visiting the Hutch News calendar at www.hutchnews.com or the Run Wichita Website at www.runwichita.org.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Most competitors aren’t aware of the details that go into stuffing race packets or the course map they’ll glance at. The few who do are seasoned veterans who we, as race coordinators, cling to for input. On average, the event requires 65 volunteers who will commit to roughly 2-6 hours of assistance on race day. One of those veterans is Darren Keller, a native Hutchinson runner and triathlete who was the overall male winner of the 2011 half-marathon. He fully supports Hutchinson’s wellness events. “I have a great deal of appreciation for the planning and orchestration that is required for a successful event,” Keller says. “Race directors have to pay acute attention to detail and organization, have a high energy level, a support staff and know how to balance patience with high expectations and a low tolerance for failure.” Collaboration is something we thrive on. It’s the make-it, break-it part of the event. Without cooperation among volunteers, police and a myriad of other entities, the event doesn’t go off. “It’s the volunteers who keep the participants on the course, ensure their safety and encourage them,” says Nelson. “Participants’ feedback confirms the fact that what really makes an event special is the quality of the volunteers.”
Planning After the start gun sounds I race around Hutchinson in my car, making sure volunteers are in their spots. It speaks volumes that so many individuals would want to come out and help a local event on an early Sunday morning. Buzzing between volunteer posts, I can’t help but pull over and wave to police officers. It wasn’t long ago we were in the police station basement, fine-tuning a 5-foot-tall map and making sure every detail was covered in the traffic department. Runners wouldn’t have to worry about traffic because of these officers. When you participate in races, you don’t focus on the others around you, but your own goals and times. Being a race director allows one to step back and see the big picture. “These events provide local residents with an event goal to shoot for, many of whom will not participate in events requiring travel and related expenses,” Keller says. “They promote healthy living and social bonding within the community.”
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Profile
Wellness
Jobs may change. Retirement dreams don’t have to. If you’ve left a job and have a 401(k) or other retirement accounts, don’t forget about them. Rolling over assets you have with former employers or other institutions to an Ameriprise IRA can be important in making your retirement dreams a reality. Consolidate your accounts today and put a confident retirement more within reach. To start a conversation, call our office today.
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13 West 11th Avenue Hutchinson, KS 67501 (620) 663-9505 or (888) 663-9505 kimberly.a.madsen@ampf.com
Lee Ann Penick, CPA
Financial Advisor
2808 North Main Hutchinson, KS 67502 (620) 728-2639 or (866) 328-2639 lee.a.penick@ampf.com
Michael K. Link, CFP®, CRPC®
Financial Advisor
13 West 11th Avenue Hutchinson, KS 67501 (620) 663-2861 or (800) 279-5735 michael.k.link@ampf.com
through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. Some products and services may not be available in all jurisdictions or to all clients. © 2010-2011 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.
features 36 roar of the crowd • 46 king of the road Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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d w o r c e h t of rates 75 eo celeb
e Rod
rairi Pretty P
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Story by
Richard Shank Photography by
Aaron East
s the hot summer sun sets over Reno County on July 18, the grand entry for the 75th edition of the Pretty Prairie Rodeo will be under way. The event was billed as Kansas Largest Night Rodeo during its early years; now, it is one of the state’s largest rodeos. It saw its origins during the Great Depression and has continued without interruption for three quarters of a century. No war, drought, depression, recession or natural disaster has curtailed the annual enthusiasm in this tiny burg 20 miles southwest of Hutchinson.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT
Bullmania is a popular event at Pretty Prairie Rodeo, which is a PRCA rodeo. Leo Krehbiel volunteers as a ticket vendor. The sights and sounds of the rodeo evoke nostalgia among the crowd. Julie Graber welcomes spectators to the 2011 rodeo.
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Harry Graber hosted the first rodeo on his farm in 1934 on what is recollected to have been a cold winter day. Two years later, in 1936, the rodeo was moved to a permanent home in Pretty Prairie, where it remains today. According to the history, there was no rodeo in 1939, but it’s been going strong ever since. “The Pretty Prairie Rodeo is an incredible and unique event,” says Julie Graber, Booster Club president and Harry’s niece. “Rodeo embodies the country’s western heritage and, with the passage of time, has evolved into a professional sport. Being a small community with a large contingency of volunteers, we can provide a first-class sporting event without losing the small-town hospitality.” From its inception, the Graber family has been instrumental in organizing the rodeo. Harry and Merle “Smick” Graber, along with Harry Kautzer, organized the first rodeo, and two years later, W.W. “Sprig” Graber started a long-term association with the event. “During the rodeo, our little town of 680 hosts as many as 18,000 people in four days,” says Julie. “It can only happen with a huge commitment of volunteer effort.” Attendance at the 2011 rodeo confirms one’s perception that even though this town may be smaller than the normal rodeo venue, it still has all the bells and whistles of the big cities and is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA), the most prestigious organization in the rodeo world. Today, there is a big screen to enlarge the action in the arena, a professional rodeo clown to entertain the masses, and Randy Corley, an 11-time announcer of the year in the PRCA. The rodeo is renowned for competitors and spectators. Last year, the rodeo welcomed a contestant who traveled from France to compete. Meanwhile, seated in the stands was the governor of Kansas and his family. Nearly 400 volunteers sign up each year to make the event happen. The conclusion of one rodeo signals the start of preparations for the next. “Our volunteers who are unable to work during the rodeo can do so at other times during the year,” Julie says.
Hole 10
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Rodeo clown Dusty Tuckness.
LEFT
The Pretty Prairie Rodeo features various events throughout the weekend.
RIGHT
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FOR THE KIDS
When the March clocks signal The greats and near greats of the the start of Daylight Saving Time, rodeo world including Jim Shoulders, volunteers are hard at work every Carey Tibbs and Ty Murray, have found Tuesday evening, manicuring the their way to Pretty Prairie to compete. rodeo grounds and performing other Age is no barrier when competing routine maintenance projects. at the Pretty Prairie Rodeo. June Holeman in Like all events, some years are 2005 competed more memorable in the barrelthan others. In racing event 1945, the Japanese at the Pretty surrender in World Prairie Rodeo War II, known as on her way V-J Day, coincided to becoming -Julie Garber with the Pretty the oldest Prairie Rodeo. More competitor— than 7,000 jubilant spectators found at age 62—to compete in the National themselves wedged in to their seats Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas. All Pretty on the rodeo’s second night, then an Prairie competitors must be members all-time attendance record.
”
During the rodeo our little town of 680 hosts as many as 18,000 people in four days.”
of the PRCA or WPRA in order to compete. Helen Unruh, whose father, W.W. (Sprig) Graber, was a founder and long-time supporter of the rodeo, recalls growing up in Pretty Prairie and the excitement that engulfed the small town every year as the time approached for the annual rodeo. “My two sisters and I often rode in the grand entry,” Unruh says. “Many of the locals opened their homes for the cowboys who were competing, and when they returned on the following year, they asked if they might stay in the same places.” Unruh’s mother, Jean, now 100, has the distinction of attending the first 73 Pretty Prairie rodeos.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Wednesday and Thursday nights are family nights, and children under age 12 are admitted free. Pony rides are available those evenings for the children. Also, one hour prior to the start of the rodeo, the bullfighters and rodeo clowns are available to sign autographs for children at tables near the main entrance. And there are plans to provide a mechanical bull on the rodeo grounds for children to ride during the rodeo.
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”
Rodeo embodies the country’s western heritage and, with the passage of time, has evolved into a professional sport.”
-Julie Graber
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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There are not just a few people that volunteer in Pretty Prairie but the entire community.� - Kansas Representative Joe Seiwert
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Monty Goodwin
When the dust settles over the arena, signaling the conclusion of another rodeo, Julie and the other members of the Booster Club meet to count the profits, knowing that some years are better than others. On most years, a portion of the profits is earmarked for routine maintenance of the rodeo grounds. What remains goes to a multitude of worthwhile community projects in Pretty Prairie. Many claim that the community is perhaps one of the most uniquely named Kansas towns. Local legend says that Mary Collingwood, a pioneer settler in the area, gazed across the terrain surrounding the developing town and reputedly said, “My, what a pretty prairie.” Still, at the end of the day there is more to Pretty Prairie than its famous rodeo. In 1936, while the locals were working hard to establish the rodeo, the Booster Club was laboring to build a civic theater. Years later, they established a roller skating rink and more recently a nine-hole golf course appropriately named the “Links.” Hutchinson residents have supported the rodeo since it began. Oleta Lett, local realtor, has attended the rodeo on multiple occasions to host her children and grandchildren. “The Pretty Prairie Rodeo is very affordable and is great family entertainment with lots of good food options,” she says. Kansas Representative Joe Seiwert, a Pretty Prairie farmer, grew up in the area and recalls attending more than 40 rodeos in his hometown. Each year, he sheds his farm attire and legislative duties to volunteer as a ticket taker. “The rodeo is an outstanding community event that is run by volunteers and seems to be getting better with age,” Seiwert says. “There are not just a few people that volunteer in Pretty Prairie but the entire community.” Words published in the program for the 1941 Pretty Prairie Rodeo remain applicable even today. “You are our guest, and we want you to feel at home. You may be a stranger to others, but to us Pretty Prairie folks, you are a friend. The days of the buffalo are gone, but there are a few among us who have watched this land of gently rolling beauty develop into the garden spot of our state. Pretty Prairie gives you not only the biggest but one of the fastest night rodeos in the state. Forget your cares and be one of us.”
Pretty Prairie Rodeo
The rodeo is four miles west of Highway 17 on Pretty Prairie Road (800) 638-2702 8 p.m. July 18-21 Tickets range from $8 to $25 www.pprodeo.com
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Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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RV travel is a popular summer activity in Reno County Story by Patsy Terrell • Photography by Aaron East
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Summer inspires people to pick a destination, book hotel rooms and head out. But some summer travelers are not limited by one carry-on bag or even one destination. RV fans take all the comforts of home along and can change directions at any moment. “We can just load up with all the clothes and food we want, sleep in the same bed every night, and if we’re not happy with where we are, we can move,” says Ron Barnhart of Hutchinson. He and his wife, Sherry, have been traveling in an RV for about 10 years. “It’s something we truly enjoy doing,” says Sherry. That’s the case for Harry Newquist of Hutchinson, who uses a fifth wheel. “I’m an outdoors person, and back in 1975 I started camping in a popup and just worked my way up.” He and his wife, Maxine, head to south Texas for the winter, spend some time in Iowa at the Sprint Car Nationals and travel to Kanopolis each year. Traveling in an RV eliminates the need to find lodging and amenities when attending large events like the Sprint Car Nationals.
Modern amenities RVs come with full kitchens, queen-sized beds, laundry facilities, computer centers and almost anything else you can think of. Today’s RVs also have a tremendous amount of storage, not only for travel, but also to keep the vehicle stocked when not traveling. Cameras on the sides and back of the RV help with maneuverability, including connecting to the towing hitch. Ron says, “You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times when operating a vehicle that large.” A popular feature of the modern RV is the slideouts, which expand the living space. RVs come with as many as four slideouts. Some include built-in garages for hauling ATVs, motorcycles or even a small car—complete with a ramp. “We got everything we got at home except the work,” says Harry. “You’re in your own bed every night. You don’t have to pack your suitcases in and out, and you’ve got the scenery you want.”
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the Barnharts
RV Defined
Recreational vehicles, commonly known as RVs, fall into two major categories: motor homes and fifth wheels. Motor homes are self-contained vehicles. People who drive motor homes often tow a car behind, which they use at the destination. Fifth wheels are pulled behind a truck and require more setup in order to use the truck for transportation and leave the camper parked upon arrival. Those who want to enjoy boating and fishing often tow a boat behind their fifth wheel.
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP Sherry and Ron Barnhart in their luxurious motor home. The spacious rig has enough room to welcome guests. The master bedroom is as cozy as home. With a near complete kitchen, meals can easily be made on the road. PREVIOUS PAGES The Barnhart Mountain Aire motor home.
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Family Motor
Coach Association
Veteran RVers Ron and Sherry Barnhart have been traveling in a motor home for about 10 years. They travel to a number of events hosted by Family Motor Coach Association, a membership organization for those who love traveling in RVs. The FMCA hosts annual conventions, provides information about RV parks, offers online forums where people can share information and publishes a magazine. The organization’s goal is to enhance the “motor home lifestyle.” www.fmca.com
“It’s our home on wheels.” – Ron Barnhart
Exclusive Destinations
A benefit for those who love the outdoors is that RVs can be taken into areas where there are no hotels. The big rigs serve as a substitute for state parks and recreation areas that offer limited lodging or are without cabins. Most of these venues have hookups for RVs, or there’s an RV park nearby. Sandy and Gene Rutherford, Hutchinson, always camp at lakes and parks where there’s water for boating and fishing, and trails for walking and riding bikes. Their dog, McGuire, is no stranger to the RV lifestyle. His bed is always on board, and he recognizes the word “RV.” Most RVs get between 7-12 miles per gallon and do not require a special license. “The cost of the travel is high with the way fuel is,” says Sandy. “But the overnight cost is so small that it often evens out.”
Staying put
Lakeside Boating and Camping Association in Nickerson caters to people who want their RV to be in a stationary spot, as a second home, instead of being on the road. According to Brian Rife, president of the association, as gas prices have increased, the number of people choosing Lakeside for their RVs have increased, because they lease a spot annually, which has fishing, boating and other recreational opportunities. “When you go to the lake for holidays, it’s crowded, and it’s hard to find a good place. Here it’s already set up,” he says. Kanopolis remains a popular stop in the state where prime spots can fill quickly on holiday weekends. Many savvy RV travelers will take their RV to the lake and park it, leaving it all week and returning for the holiday. This assures them spots next to friends and family.
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
Lakeside Boating and Camping www.lakesiderec.com
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The RIFES
Teresa and Brian Rife, of the Lakeside Boating and Camping Association, have enjoyed meeting RV enthusiasts over the years. Aerial view of the recreation area.
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the rutherfords
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Neighbors
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT Gene and Sandy Rutherford enjoy taking their fifth wheel to lakes and parks. The fifth wheel allows the Rutherfords to park the RV and leave their campsite. McGuire enjoys the RV so much he recognizes the sound of the word.
That sense of community is important to many RV folks. The Rutherfords connect with the same people every year in Texas, and the Barnharts stay in touch with people they’ve met along the way. “You hardly ever run into a bad RVer. Most of the time they’re pretty friendly, and you got a lot to talk about,” says Harry. For those new to RVing and uncertain of how to meet new people, Lakeside is a good solution. “Here you get to be a second family because this is a second home,” says Brian. Gene likes the safety of Lakeside. “We don’t have to be there 24/7. It’s quiet. We can set our camper up over there, and it’s our place,” he says. Lakeside has been around for more than 50 years and the history is evident, speaking to the enjoyment of RVing. “There’s several generations out there that have carried on in spots they lease. As people retire and don’t want to be involved, their kids take over,” says Brian. “It goes from generation to generation.”
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Cape Cod of the Midwest Door County’s finger of land points the way to cultural diversity, history and outdoor adventure
Sto ry by Glo r ia G ale • Ph otog r aph y co u rtesy o f th e D o o r Co u nt y Vi s ito r s B u r e au
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Travel
Door County
A
ny place named after a treacherous channel of water called Death’s Door has to have an intriguing backstory. The peninsula, now known as Door County, juts abruptly into Green Bay and Lake Michigan and owes its maritime legacy to harrowing tales of passage between the mainland and 34 outlying islands. Nonetheless, it was still settled by sturdy European and Scandinavian seafarers, trappers and farmers in the mid-18th century. Today Door County’s immigrant heritage thrives in the small communities of Sturgeon Bay, Fish Creek, Baileys Harbor, Ephraim and Jacksonport with a distinctive nod to the past. Though the peninsula is only 70 miles tip-totip, the landscape captures the hearts of 2 million visitors who trek to the Northwoods annually. After a sleepy winter season the communities awaken and visitors come for all sorts of reasons, in particular, the abundance of recreation and culture in this bucolic community. The performing and cultural arts abound; fish boils celebrate the area’s character, and an affable Midwest attitude is always in motion. Outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy the quiet sports— bicycling, hiking, bird watching and camping—will find dense stands of birch, maple and pine threaded among limestone bluffs. The outcroppings and rolling hillsides, many filled with stretches of cherry orchards, eventually segue down to soft sand beaches and towering dunes. Hugging 300 miles of lakeshore, harbors swell with watercraft waiting to sail by cliffs, caves, shipwreck sites and lighthouses. Unlike many waterfront communities, Door County isn’t commercialized—quite the opposite—it’s easier to find a unique piece of art than it is to find a fast food restaurant.
Sunscreen, fishing gear and binoculars in tow, here’s a weekend agenda to consider in the Cape Cod of the Midwest.
Kayakers near the Cana Island Lighthouse.
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1
3:30 p.m. Friday
Land ho!
Sturgeon Bay, dating back to 1835, is bound by Green Bay to the west and Lake Michigan to the east. As the largest community in Door County, this area is the gateway to the upper peninsula with a variety of parks, exceptional lodging and diverse water activities. Jefferson and Third Street is boutique heaven, while history buffs will find a trove of information at the Maritime Museum. It’s perfect for those looking to explore, charter a fishing boat, visit a winery or stop at a cherry orchard. Finish the day with dinner at the Inn at Cedar Crossing or Stone Harbor Resort.
9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday
Beach bumming
6
Perk up with a hearty breakfast in and around Sturgeon Bay at either Mel’s Diner or Door County Coffee Company. Mid-morning take a kayak tour to Cave Point and explore the shoreline eroded by Lake Michigan. This rocky coast merges quickly into 865-acre Whitefish Dunes State Park, featuring a 1.5mile stretch of beach, interpretive nature center and a 93-foot high sand dune called Old Baldy. After lunch tour nearby Cana Island Lighthouse, one of 11 across the county, which is one of the area’s most identifiable and photographed landmarks. Climb to the top for an outstanding view of Lake Michigan and Baileys Harbor. 5
Clockwise from top left: 1} Sturgeon Bay Canal North Pierhead Lighthouse 2} Cana Island Lighthouse 3} The White Gull Inn
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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3
6 p.m.
downtime
Grab some downtime, then plan on dinner at the White Gull Inn or Pelletier’s in Fish Creek for an authentic fish boil. Resident theater professionals the Peninsula Players take the stage at 8 p.m. Other theater options include Shakespeare performed in Baileys Harbor or the cast of American Folklore Theater taking a bow in beautiful Peninsula State Park. If you just want a little night music, check out the numerous taverns, restaurants and harbor side locations.
4} A Door County sunset 5} Whitefish Dunes State Park 6} Door County Maritime Museum in Sturgeon Bay
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Travel
Door County
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Door County
7 a.m. Sunday
Ode to joy
Coffee in hand, take in the mornings bayside. For a spectacular start, mosey down to Sunrise Beach in Fish Creek. Sit on the rock ledge fronting the shore and watch the dawn break. Al Johnson’s Swedish Restaurant, a tradition in Sister Bay, is known for the goats manicuring the sod roof. Try the authentic Swedish limpa bread and square pancakes. Hike, bike or golf in Peninsula State Park to burn some calories. As the third-largest park in Wisconsin, it boasts a rich biodiversity with numerous meadows, bluffs, coastal wetlands and forests. In the afternoon, Egg Harbor beckons with unique shops for those seeking one-of-akind gifts. Maybe try a cooking, art or music class, or take a scenic road trip around the peninsula to visit the small villages, each with their own distinct character. The adventurous can travel to the northern tip and catch a 30-minute ferry across the channel, otherwise known as Death’s Door, to unspoiled Washington Island. Spend the day exploring smooth stone beaches, forests and miles of trails. Just as the Ice Age carved out an indelible landscape on this peninsula eons ago, Door County will make a lasting impression for years to come.
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1} Peninsula State Park, Eagle Trail 2} Sailboat charter near Egg Harbor 3} Peninsula State Park, Eagle Bluff Lighthouse 3
For detailed information
www.doorcounty.com Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Travel
Hutch talks
60
Bob
Colladay Cash Mob
B
ob Colladay started Hutchinson’s first Cash Mob in February by inviting 20 friends to join a Facebook group. The first Saturday in March a group of about 50 people shopped at Back to Nature and then went to lunch at Sushi Miso, which they voted on. Cash Mobs began in Buffalo, New York, last August and have sprung up in cities across
the country since then, including Hutchinson. The idea is to encourage people to shop at small, local businesses as a group. It gives the business owner some economic stimulus and introduces people to businesses they might not otherwise shop. Afterward, members gather at a local restaurant or bar to share their treasures. When Colladay isn’t organizing a Cash Mob he is working with the Hutchinson Theatre Guild, acting, directing and serving on the board of directors. He also plays in a band, Simone du Garfunk, with his wife, Tammy, and friend Matt Parks. By day he is a software developer at Professional Data Services.
1} What prompted you to start the Cash Mob? I heard a story on Here and Now about cash mobs and thought it sounded like a fun idea that would be great for Hutchinson. 2} Was it what you expected? Almost entirely so far. The first one we did far exceeded my expectations. I am glad to have so many people in town willing to do this. 3} What are you passionate about? Music, theater, arts and the community. 4} What’s the best thing about living in Hutchinson? It is a good-sized town, quiet, yet it is developing a more lively arts and entertainment culture. 5} What’s the oddest job you’ve ever had? Bicycle Ice Cream Sales. Technically it was a tricycle, with an ice box mounted to it. I did it for two months. 6} Name four people, living or dead, you’d invite to a dinner party, and tell us why. Frank Sinatra because he’s my favorite entertainer. Bruce Springsteen because he’s great and I think he would be fun to be around, plus Sinatra needs someone to talk about Jersey with. Johnny Cash because we need balance in our dinner conversations, and hey, it’s Johnny Cash and William Howard Taft because he seems like a fun president to have around. 7} Do you cook a signature dish? Pasta with some kind of improvised sauce, usually start with olive oil, onions and garlic. Then maybe some peppers and probably mushrooms and spinach. Then some kind of wine or cream sauce based on what is available. 8} Who would play you in the movie of your life? Michael Cera or Anthony Michael Hall. 9} What song sums up your approach to life? “That’s Life” comes about as close as anything. 10} What motto do you live by? “It’s Frank’s world, we just live in it.”
I nte rvie w co n d u cte d by Patsy Ter r ell • e d ite d by k at y ib s en • Ph otog r aph by B r ian Lin g le
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Hutch talks
62
Teresa
Preston art instructor, Hutchinson Community College
E
ven back in grade school Teresa Preston knew she would be an art teacher when she grew up. Although she was bullied for being the only red-haired child in her Union Valley Elementary School classroom, students suddenly respected her when she received accolades for illustrating a book report in fourth grade.
Today Preston is that art teacher she dreamed of becoming. She has taught all grade levels; however, for the past 16 years she has been an art instructor at Hutchinson Community College with a passion for teaching future educators. She plans to retire in December and work full-time at creating jewelry, sculpture and other media in her home studio.
1} How did art education become your passion? I never thought of myself as an artist. I just knew I was going to be an art teacher. I don’t do anything or go anywhere without thinking how I might use something in the classroom. In my art education class I teach elementary education majors how art can be used across the curriculum and be integrated into the sciences and math classes. For example, art can teach metamorphosis of a butterfly through illustrating the developmental stages, or drawing different types of cloud formations helps students remember the names of each formation. 2} How is creating therapy? When I am creating I am in a completely different zone. I am only concentrating on the piece I am working with. It takes me away from my day-to-day worries, and I am not thinking of anything else. 3} How have your summers studying the work of West African artisans influenced your work as an artist and teacher? When I was working on my master’s of fine arts degree I wrote about the adornments of Africa and became intrigued with the Asantes’ hollow gold beads that were cast for their chiefs. I traveled to the Ivory Coast one summer and then to Ghana several times to work with bronze and gold casters. I traveled to Mali to learn how to make Bambara mud cloth. It was exciting to be in Timbuktu. People think it’s just an expression; I’ve been to Timbuktu and back. But I was really there. 4} Are adventures important in your life? There are things I’m scared of like heights, and I am claustrophobic. But I still took the canopy walks, which was walking on little planks 150 feet off the ground over a canopy of trees in Africa. I still climbed to the top of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, and I went up to the top of the Eiffel Tower, in Paris, but I had to hold someone’s hand. I will never let fear stop me, not if it has to do with art or history. 5} If you could be any animal what would it be? I definitely would be an African animal. I’m not fast, so maybe a mellow leopard. I am known for my leopard print shirts, purses and glasses. Even my grandkids will see the print somewhere and say, “That looks like Grandma T.” 6} If you had a magic lamp what would your three wishes be? I would wish there were no sick, starving kids, and they were all healthy, happy and had opportunities. My second wish would be to live long enough to travel every place I want to visit. The third wish would be to win the lottery so I could give it away. I would make so many people happy. Wouldn’t that be fun?
I nte rvie w co n d u cte d by Patsy Ter r ell • e d ite d by k at y ib s en • Ph otog r aph by B r ian Lin g le
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
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Hutchinson Magazine: Summer 2012
64
best bets
August
11
June
6-10 June Kansas
High School Rodeo Finals
Kansas State Fair Expo Center Kansas High School Rodeo Finals featuring Kansas’ finest rodeo youth will take place at the Expo Center on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. www.khsra.net
June 29-
July 4
HutchFest 2012
Downtown, Carey Park & Fairgrounds Annual community festival to celebrate Independence Day. Activities include a talent show, beer garden, mud volleyball, motorcycle event, Breakfast with Chris Cakes, Kiwanis at the Zoo, fireworks and much more. Buttons to attend are $4. www.hutchfest.com
July
14
21
July 18
Third Thursday Art Tour
5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Downtown Hutchinson Third Thursday, originally centered in the downtown area of B & Main, has grown to include many locations throughout the downtown area. The monthly “Third Thursday” event features local artists and musicians as well as great shopping and dining. www.thirdthursdayhutch.com For more on the arts, see our Hutch Talks with Hutchinson Community College Art Professor Teresa Preston. page
Pretty Prairie Rodeo
8 p.m. Pretty Prairie Rodeo Arena The Pretty Prairie Rodeo, Kansas Largest Night Rodeo, takes place in the Booster Club Arena and is sanctioned by the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. The event is a 75-year tradition for this extraordinary small community. www.pprodeo.com See our commemorative feature on the Pretty Prairie Rodeo. page
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THIS
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SUMMER
CASH MOB
Upcoming Cash Mobs will be on the first Saturday of the month at noon. To keep up with the spending action, join the Cash Mob Facebook Group. http://www.facebook.com/ groups/297322303665608 For more on the arts, see our Hutch Talks with Cash Mob organizer Bob Colladay. page
Second Saturdays at the Cosmosphere
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Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center The second Saturday of each month the Cosmosphere offers guided tours in the Hall of Space at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. These tours are free with your paid admission to the museum. www.cosmo.org See what Charlie Garcia, one of Hutchinson’s spectacular teens, accomplished at the Cosmosphere as part of his Eagle Scout project. page
Hutchinson Magazine | Summer 2012
26
2012 Salty Dog & Salty Pup Triathlons
Carey Park Join the 11th annual Salty Dog Triathlon and 6th annual Salty Pup Triathlon. This family-friendly event is a Hutchinson fitness staple. Registration opened March 1 and can be completed online. www.hutchrec.com See our story on Race Director Amy Conkling. page
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August
25
Yoder Heritage Day
6 a.m.-10:30 p.m. Downtown Yoder Join thousands of people as they flock to the small community of Yoder to celebrate Yoder Heritage Day. Visitors and locals are entertained by tractor pulls, horsedrawn events and the annual parade down Main Street as well as the quilt auction, buggy races, great food and entertainment. www.yoderkansas.com Please submit event information to: hutchinsonmagazine@ sunflowerpub.com (Dates and times subject to change)
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