Hutchinson Winter 2012
Magazine
Brendan Martinez Paints The Town
welcome to
smallville
Gettin’ groovy with
cool beans
Hutch pros
“grow up”
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Hutchinson
dear readers,
Volume 05 / Issue 03
Magazine
Publisher John Montgomery Advertising Sales Manager Dave Marketing Director Leslie Shea
Gilchrist
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 Deb Hagen Brian Lingle Deborah Walker
Contributing Writers
Amy Bickel Amy Conkling Kathy Hanks Anne Maxwell Richard Shank Patsy Terrell This season we’ve prepared two features that explore the “what could have been” and “what has become” of Hutchinson’s professionals.
While we know familiar faces around town, their contributions and professional endeavors, we aren’t often aware of what they once dreamed of being. A firefighter, astronaut, doctor? Writer Richard Shank explores this notion in our “When I Grow Up” feature. Molly McVicker, community philanthropist; Rion Rhoades, Hutchinson Community College head football coach; and Dan Deming, former radio personality and local politico, all share their childhood dreams of the “future.” With the help of photographers Aaron East and Deb Hagen, we give these three the chance to play the part. Our other feature this season exposes three women who are play hooky—sort of. Their home offices have become a dream come true for their careers and their families. Lori McBride, Dana Regehr and Christine Pechstein open their front doors for writer Amy Conkling, allowing Hutchinson Magazine to step into their office. Find out what their employee handbook entails and why it’s the best move they’ve ever made. You will enjoy this and much more this season and, as always, thank you for reading.
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 | Winter 2012
Send your comments and suggestions to hutchinsonmagazine@sunflowerpub.com
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Winter 2012
contents Features
38 When I grow up …
Three well-known Hutchinson professionals share their childhood dream jobs.
46 All in a day’s work … at home The home office is quickly becoming a standard in modern times. Here are a few locals who find it a dream come true.
Lifestyle
Profile
Travel
One couple builds their third home after returning from the Flint Hills
One teen sets her sights on a future of dance
A destination where the Colorado attractions are unexpected and enjoyed
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Built to last
14 Farm to city
One couple finds their retirement home in town, near the hustle and bustle
20 Take the Lead
24 Angel’s Brew
Cool Beans goes from a homey lunch stop to a groovy eatery that is a must in Hutch
28 Big vision
Brendan Martinez soars to new artistic heights with local mural
54 COLORADO SPRINGS
In Every Issue: 2 dear readers 64 Calendar
Hutch Talks
60 Bill Sheldon author, professor
62 Trish Rose Preston District judge, Reno County
32 Welcome to Smallville
Three fan boys dedicate themselves to seeing Hutch as Superman’s hometown
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
On the Cover Artist Brendan Martinez stands with his recent work in Hutchinson. (Photography by Deborah Walker)
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departments 8 Lifestyle • 20 profile Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Built to last One couple builds their third home after returning from the Flint Hills
Sto ry by Amy Co nklin g
•
Ph otog r aph y by A aro n E ast
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Lifestyle
The Clark Home
R Ron and Mary Anne Clark returned to Hutchinson to build their dream house.
etirees Ron and Mary Anne Clark are making Hutchinson their home for the second time in their lives—but on much different terms than when they left several decades ago for the Flint Hills area. Ron, who grew up in the Pretty Prairie area, and Mary Anne, who lived in Hutchinson during her adolescent years, decided to return to Reno County for its health services, dining, shopping and the appeal of other attractions in the area. Such attractions include the two-thirds acre they stumbled upon while looking for land. Nestled in a northeast Hutchinson neighborhood, the site suited the retired couple perfectly–plenty of space to build, have a lawn and a detached garage/shop, but not so large that they would spend hours taking care of it.
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It’s the third home the couple have built, and it’s definitely a charmer. Unique to this building experience, they kept things simple by hiring Jim Gruver to build the perfect home.
Building from afar
Mary Anne scoured pictures of Craftsman-style homes, which she admired, to show Gruver, who then combined with some his own designs. The 1,600-square-foot sprawling ranch includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a full basement, an enclosed patio, a three-car garage and detached shop for Ron. “That’s my toy box—my sanctuary,” Ron says. The couple took a leap of faith as they had Gruver construct and build a majority of the house while they were miles away, though they had a hand in deciding every detail—from the wall colors to the floor tiles, the kitchen countertops and drawers. “It was difficult to imagine the spacing of things, but we drove around and looked at [Gruver’s] homes for ideas and examples of what he could do,” Mary Anne says. “Nothing was a real surprise when we saw our completed house for the first time.” Perhaps the only surprise, both say, was a pleasant one as Gruver worked with the couple to enclose the patio area they originally wanted left open. Now it’s their favorite room in the house, as they enjoy their morning coffee while watching the deer, turkey and other wildlife from the large, wrapped windows that provide picture-perfect scenery.
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family decor
Mary Anne says it may not be of much value to others, but to her and Ron, family heirlooms are much more—they are memories and home décor. Here’s just a snippet of how Mary Anne incorporates her family treasures into her home. Scarf: Above the guest bed is a framed handmade dresser scarf Mary Anne’s great-greatgrandmother crocheted in the 1800s. Included in the frame is a handwritten note from her great-grandmother that reads: “Grandma Winters crocheted this in 1886.” Mary Anne says, “Grandma always wrote reminder notes.” Great Room: Mary Anne’s great-grandfather’s tool trunk is used as a coffee table, while her grandmother’s table and chairs serve as the Clarks’ dining room set. “We played many card games and ate many a meal on that oak table,” Mary Anne says. Gallery: An old dresser from Mary Anne’s grandmother serves as a place to showcase old family pictures and memories. But what’s inside the dresser provides more special memories. “Every time I open it up I still smell the powder my grandmother used,” Mary Anne says. “It brings back memories of using her powder puff after baths at her house.”
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Porch Swing: The front porch includes a white bench that used to be Mary Anne’s grandmother’s front porch swing at her house, with some modifications. The back porch includes dark wooden wicker-style chairs that Mary Anne’s grandmother purchased in the 1930s or ’40s. “She saved enough stamps then to buy them, “ Mary Anne says. To make the home spacious for entertaining, the couple incorporated a sitting nook in with the kitchen.
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Happy homeowners Ron and Mary Anne.
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The custom home was built by local builder Jim Gruver.
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Even the Clark’s french bulldog found comfort in the new home.
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Lifestyle
The Clark Home
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Simplistic Style
Mary Anne opted for beiges and neutralbased colors so she could decorate with bolder, more colorful hues through her floral love seats, bright throw pillows and other decorative touches. The bedroom walls are a shaker beige color, while the grand room and bathrooms are lighter, creamier colors. The remainder of the home is the perfect blend of old-fashioned meets modern. Kitchen countertops are a unique quartz blend with specks of black, white and copper mixed in. The real-wood floors are purposely seasoned with a worn, weathered look. Black-rod light fixtures with square lights give the dining area and kitchen island a touch of contemporary flair. Downstairs, the basement “doesn’t feel like you’re in a basement,” according to Ron, with its 8-foot ceilings, bright lights and window that streams in sunshine during the day. Outside, the couple opted for a thick, “nondestructive” grey siding and stone walls. Greeting visitors is a charming, farmhouse-like wooden front door. Mary Anne enjoys her outdoor landscaping as she traded in the tough sands of the Flint Hills for better soil to accommodate her mums, farm plants and flowers that line the sidewalks and backyard. “We had to be selective when we were looking for land to build, and this neighborhood really seemed to work for us,” Mary Anne says.
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Farm to city One couple finds their retirement home in town, near the hustle and bustle
Sto ry by Amy B ic kel
• Ph otog r aph y by D eb o r ah Walker
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Lifestyle
The Hawver Home
F
or nearly two decades, Jerry and Nan Hawver lived in a country farmhouse they loved. They remodeled the twostory, 1890s-era home over the years, and it wasn’t far from Jerry’s job as an elevator manager in the western Reno County town of Sylvia. But Nan can’t forget the question her husband asked her on their 30-mile trip home from Hutchinson on a Sunday afternoon where they had toured a repossessed house in the middle of town. She had visited the residence during an open house earlier in the week after a suggestion by her daughter, merely for curiosity. The next Sunday after church, Nan suggested her husband take a look as well, because she knew he would appreciate the exquisite craftsmanship of a lavish home built in the 1930s for a businessman and his family. They were nearly 10 miles from their farmhouse when Jerry popped the question. “He said, ‘You really love that house, don’t you?’” Nan recalls, but added, “I did like it, but I wasn’t thinking of it to move into—I didn’t really think we’d ever move from the farm.”
Jerry and Nan Hawver found themselves falling in love with a Hutchinson gem, and they didn’t even know it.
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City living
Now, more than five years later, the couple reside in their dream house, a 3,700-square-foot home in Hutchinson that sits on half a city block. A black wroughtiron fence outlines the spacious house and sizeable property, creating a resonant presence that towers above the other homes along Washington Street. On this evening, Nan and Jerry sit in the large living room on the first floor, pointing out everything they love about their home. They admire the architecture and open layout, which features five bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a finished basement with a recreation room and bar, as well as a built-in sunroom and screened-in sun porch on the lower level. The pair marvel at the modern novelties of a home built during the Great Depression, and their eyes brighten as they talk of the work they did to restore the structure to its original grandeur.
It was easy for Jerry and Nan to see past the redflocked wallpaper that was in the process of being stripped, as well as half-remodeled rooms, unfinished floor and small kitchen. Nan found some of the home’s original shutters in the garage and the elegant crystal chandelier in a closet, which she hung over the winding staircase. “It just has character,” Nan says. “There’s just something about it—like when we lived in our farmhouse—when we walked into this home, we had a good feeling.” Jerry knew the house was special after walking through the front-door threshold and seeing the openness of the entry, along with the original crown moldings and brass doorknobs and fixtures. Crown moldings are unusual for the time period, Jerry says, especially in a home built during such a poor economy. “This home was just our taste,” Jerry says. “I liked everything about it.”
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history
It took four years for C.M. Scruggs, owner of Hutchinson’s Coca Cola Bottling Co., to built his new two-story home on what was then the outskirts of Hutchinson. He and his family moved in to the residence in 1938. The Washington Street home was considered a luxury, state-of-the-art residence of its time, even winning a $300 second-place prize in a state building contest sponsored by Kansas Power and Light, according to an article in a 1939 edition of The Hutchinson News. Judging consisted of the location, architecture, sound construction and skilled labor, landscaping, interior decoration, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, sound deadening and electrification. 3
The Scruggs didn’t cut corners when building their grand home—even with the ongoing Depression of the 1930s, according to Jerry Hawver, current homeowner.
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In fact, Nan says, the homebuilders were ahead of their time: A light turns on in the entry coat closet when the door opens; the upstairs includes a cedar-lined closet; the recessed master bath still has the original diamond-shaped tub and deep-red sunflower trimmed in coral tiles. Meanwhile, a clever dressing room/makeup area connects the master bedroom with the master bath. The space also has a walkout deck overlooking the couple’s large side yard.
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1 The historic home includes many unique, architectural features including beautiful craftsman molding.
“We spend a lot of time out here in the evenings,” Nan says. “I think it is just looking out at the trees and listening to the sounds of the city—the crickets, the birds. We enjoy the open air.”
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2 Whimsical décor is found throughout the house, even in the kitchen.
3 Sentimental heirlooms are treasured items for the Hawvers.
4 Nan’s favorite spot is on the screened porch.
5 A view of the stately Hutchinson home.
6 Antiques from Nan and Jerry’s family pepper the home.
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
The Scruggs family also built a dark room in the basement, as well as a recreation room with a wet bar for entertaining. The home also still has a milk delivery door and a carriage house/garage behind it, which the couple’s grandson jokes he will live in when he goes to college.
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Lifestyle
The Hawver Home
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Unique features
Guest bedroom treasures The Hawvers’ family heirlooms and antiques decorate much of the home. That includes gems found in one of the home’s guest bedrooms. Nan’s great-grandfather’s four-poster bed is the centerpiece, along with Jerry’s grandparent’s chest of drawers and a desk belonging to Nan’s grandfather. “He probably did his homework on it,” she says. Barn-wood table Nan says she found the dining room table in Hutchinson’s downtown antique district. The antique dealer constructed the table using barn wood, then put legs underneath it. “My husband hates it,” Nan says with a laugh, but adds that it serves its purpose. The table can seat all 11 members of her immediate family. “We can seat 14 if we scoot in,” she says. Unique basement bench The Scruggs family did a lot of entertaining in their basement recreation area. A wooden built-in bench that takes up one wall features the wood-burned signatures of their visitors from the late 1930s and early 1940s. Practical joke Another notable feature is hidden in the upstairs sunroom—a 10½foot, real stuffed alligator that Jerry received as a joke. Favorite spaces Nan says her favorite place to relax is the screened-in sun porch. For Jerry, it’s the home’s smallest space, the library, which includes his great-grandmother’s medical books she used while studying to become a doctor. Nan also has on display the framed flag her family received when her World War II veteran father died.
The wooden hutch was built by the former homeowner.
The home needed a little love and effort to bring it back to its original charm. “It needed a lot of work, a lot,” Nan says. “But all it took was just some tender loving care.”
A family gathering spot While the couple loved the country, one reason for the move was to be closer to their son, Chris, and daughter, Jill, and their five grandsons. It doesn’t take long for the family to fill the large home. After a Sunday dinner at the long table in the dining room, the boys and their fathers like to play a game of football in the large side yard. Or, they all head to the recreation room in the basement to watch a movie or a ballgame. There are only a few things the Hawvers miss about their country farmhouse. “I miss the quiet,” Jerry admits, but he adds he loves their new home’s unique personality and the convenience of city living.
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Shelby Queal has her sights set on a life full of dancing, and so far, she’s made quite a leap.
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Profile
Shelby Queal
Take the Lead One teen sets her sights on a future of dance
S
helby Queal may be in her room, but that doesn’t mean she’s relaxing, studying or texting her friends. Instead, the Hutchinson teen can be found in front of her mirror, doing what comes naturally—dancing. The lithe, athletic 17-year-old has always been alive with movement, starting with dance classes at the age of 3. Her first competition was at age 8, and she followed with her first solo performance at age 9. “It’s something that I’ve always known,” says Shelby, her face breaking into a wide smile. “When I’m stressed, I can just turn on music and dance. It has become something I love so much,” she says of her weeknight solo practice. No matter what’s going on, or what kind of a mood she’s in, Shelby’s ready to dance. “I truly feel like myself.”
Twirling accomplishments
It’s a feeling Shelby has shared on competition stages throughout the Midwest region—from Dallas to Denver and from Oklahoma City to Chicago. During the past year, Shelby was selected as the prodigy for NRG Dance Convention, which offered the chance to travel with the troupe and serve as an onstage assistant. The stage became even bigger when Shelby was selected to compete in New York City against nearly 500 other dancers from nine different countries. While there, she was able to visit Juilliard (a bucket list item for the teen) and dance at Broadway Dance Center— where the dancers who grace the Great White Way train. “There was so much talent,” Shelby says.
While her efforts did not merit a top 10 finish, Shelby recognized the experience for the amazing opportunities it afforded. “It helped me want to come back and work harder,” she says. “There were so many people there who inspired me.” While Shelby has studied all forms of dance, from ballet and tap to jazz and hip-hop, her real love is contemporary. Her performance in The Big Apple was set to “Crash This Train” by Joshua James, and it was choreographed by a dancer associated with a Los Angeles company. With a theme about the unrest that comes from war, Shelby’s performance to the music took the audience through the story with rapt movements and impressive series of graceful yet powerful turns, known as fouettés. The emotive effect the dance has on the audience is not happenstance, and the dancer is caught up in the moment as well. “I can make myself cry,” Shelby says. “I get lost in the story … I don’t even feel like I’m just dancing.” “We always tell her, ‘Go live it,’ when she dances,” says Shelby’s mother, Wendy. Shelby’s dedication onstage is not the only activity for the teen. As a junior, she competed on the varsity tennis team at Hutchinson High School this past fall and is also on Student Council while taking a full load of International Baccalaureate classes and earning a 4.0 GPA. She was a member of the varsity cheer squad her freshman and sophomore years. It’s the success on stage that has made a difference in the other areas of her life.
Sto ry by An ne Ma x well • Ph otog r aph y by B r ian Ling le
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“When I’m stressed, I can just turn on music and dance. It has become something I love so much.” –Shelby Queal
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Profile
Shelby Queal
“Dance has made her very goal-oriented,” Wendy says. “She follows through in school, in everything. It’s how she functions in the world. I love that when she sets a goal— she reaches it.”
“We have something for everybody – some girls who don’t compete but just want to dance,” Hamilton says. “It’s up to them … it’s individual as far as what their desire is to make it work for them.”
Poetry in Motion
The future
Valerie Hamilton, who owns Poetry in Motion dance studio, has witnessed Shelby’s focus and intensity since purchasing the studio in 2006. While not all her students will reach the levels Shelby has, Hamilton says there is value in all areas of life from the dedication derived from dance. “The most important thing for them to learn is selfconfidence, self-awareness, respect, discipline,” Hamilton says. “We find what is best for each individual—we have several (students) because of being involved in dance, they were able to be a part of college dance or cheer and helped pay for some of their education—even if just that way, dance can work in their future. “You don’t have to go and throw all your dreams into a basket and hope to dance always, but dance can help you get there.” The studio has students ranging in age from 2 to 18, with about 25 teens.
But for Shelby, there’s no question dance will factor somehow into her future. While she aspires to pursue a career in the medical field, the curtain won’t drop on her stage. Shelby hopes to visit California this summer to look at prospective colleges—and get a peek at the dance scene in Los Angeles. “If I was in the LA area, I could audition and still be in school,” Shelby says. With little surprise she adds that someday she’d like to try out for the hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. Until then, Shelby will continue to hone her skills and share her experience with a new generation of dancers, choreographing for younger students. “I like to see how they improve each year,” she says. And knowing that perhaps someday, they will enjoy dancing as much as she does.
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Angel’s Brew Cool Beans goes from a homey lunch stop to a groovy eatery that is a must in Hutch Sto ry by K athy Han ks
• Ph otog r aph y by D eb o r ah Walker
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Profile
Cool Beans
T
om Dooley loves the grilled salmon sandwich served Tuesdays at Cool Beans. But, he also loves Wednesday’s spinach wrap. This leads him to thoughts of Thursday’s meatloaf sandwich, which he describes as mighty tasty. “I just flat-out like their food,” says Dooley, whetting his appetite for Friday’s open-faced roast beef sandwich as he speaks. Dooley is glad that Angel Stoughton came to Hutchinson and turned the desolate Amtrak depot off the corner of Third and Main into a lively coffee house and deli.
Cool Sign
Cool Beans and Angel Stoughton serve up groovy fare. INSET Tom Dooley visits often for lunch and an enjoyable read.
Stoughton had been operating a Cool Beans coffee shop in Sterling for several years, wishing she were somewhere else instead. “I would think, if I could just move this building to Hutchinson,” she says, believing there would be more of a clientele in a bigger town who would appreciate freshly baked whole-grain breads and alfalfa sprouts. “I talked about it to friends. Just for kicks I wondered what was for rent and opened the classifieds and looked down and saw an ad: ‘Train depot for rent, perfect space for small coffee shop and deli.’ If I was a person who believes in signs I would believe that was my sign,” she says. The red brick building had been sitting idle except between 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. for train arrivals and departures. “It was dark and dingy. A pretty scary place to wait for a train,” Stoughton says. “But I fell in love with the building.” What she did was transform the place to her favorite era, the 1960s and ’70s. Never mind that Stoughton wasn’t born until 1968; it’s a period of time that brings back good feelings for her.
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“I just flat-out like their food.” – Tom Dooley
Cool Style As Chicago sings “Beginnings” through the stereo speakers, Stoughton pauses and smiles. “My parents listened to this music,” she says. “It was a safe time, the whole peace and love concept. I am totally— make love not war—and I want people to feel that they are stepping into a much simpler time.” With her long dark hair tied back, her flowing, romantic, gypsy-styled shirt over a lacy T-shirt and her big, dangling earrings, Stoughton appears as though she, too, has stepped out of different era. From dawn until well past dusk, she worked to transform the depot, recycling and repurposing tables and chairs, and painting everything the colors of the era, tangerine, mellow yellow and gold. She covered the walls with favorite quotes from Mohandas K. Gandhi, Albert Einstein and Malcolm X, and photos of Paul McCartney and Che Guevara. Each table has some variety of vintage mushroom salt and pepper shaker and napkin holders. Instead of baskets, sandwiches are served in reconfigured long-playing vinyl record albums.
Cool Flavors For those eating alone or sipping a latté brewed of coffee beans from Blacksmith Coffee in Lindsborg, there are Life and Time magazines from the era to peruse. The menu flows with Stoughton’s theme, “Come in and get your groove on!” Sandwiches served on fresh-baked whole-wheat breads have such names as “Paradise,” “Ecstasy” and “Nirvana.” Dooley’s favorite meat loaf sandwich is called “Anything for Love.” Stoughton admits she sometimes has fun with customers who mumble they want a meat loaf sandwich. “I make them say, ‘Anything for Love,’” she says, laughing. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee and five different types of whole-grain breads baking in the kitchen permeate the restaurant. Daily they bake cinnamon rolls, cookies and different pastries, as well as preparing various coffees and smoothies. Stoughton also believes in shopping locally for vegetables and meats.
RIGHT Stoughton took inspiration, from her parents when designing the restaurant.
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Profile
Cool Beans
Cool Beans
209 N. Walnut St. (620) 662-2030 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Monday-Friday Closed Saturday and Sunday
Cool Business Stoughton was raised by a self-employed family; her grandfather had an orchard north of town, and her father had a foreign car service. “I always knew I would like to make my own way,” she says. After putting in 15- and 16-hour days doing everything herself, she has come to appreciate her staff, including Cassie Mott, manager, Natasha Valentine and Molly Sundquist. “At first I had a hard time letting go. But they are doing a great job, and I am very proud of them. We’re family,” Stoughton says of her crew. Dooley agrees. “They are all personable and seem to enjoy what they are doing,” he says. “I appreciate their good service. Every time you go in there, it’s service with a smile. It seems genuine.” Unique to Cool Beans, Friday are filled with the sounds from local jazz trio Drum Sax Axe. “They play for tips and food,” Stoughton says of the regular fixture. On a recent Friday the band played by the fireplace area as the lunch crowd ranging from young children to grandparents gathered at tables. “There isn’t one demographic here,” she says of her noon crowd. Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Brendan Martinez works on pieces during Third Thursday in downtown Hutchinson. Over the summer, Martinez created a mural after being commissioned by fellow artist Jennifer Randall.
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Profile
Brendan Martinez
Big vision Brendan Martinez soars to new artistic heights with local mural
Brendan Martinez is a man with a vision, and it’s a bright, colorful one. At 23, the Hutchinson native is a graphic design student at Bowie State in Maryland and a professional artist. This summer he added to the art scene in Hutchinson by painting a mural at 11 W. Ave B. Although he had been creating murals for about a year with his friend and mentor, Erok Johanssen of Lost Art Space in Lawrence, this was his first solo mural project. “It was very overwhelming at first,” he says. “I was on my own, and I was either going to make a good mural, or I was going to flop.” Artist and local art advocate Jennifer Randall commissioned Martinez for the mural. “I got excited and said ‘yes.’ A couple of days later I went down to see the wall and thought, ‘Whoah, that’s a huge wall,’” he says. “But the first day I got the sketch done and painted a little bit on the face, and I thought, ‘OK, I know what I’m doing.’ It was a breeze after that.” Randall was thrilled with the outcome. “He was completely unique and true to his art,” she says. They hadn’t met until he started planning for the mural. “He showed me a sketch through texting or on Facebook,” she says. “He asked me if I wanted to suggest anything for the site and at first I thought maybe, but realized no, that can’t be, this is his piece of work. I totally trusted him and let his own ideas completely guide the project. He had free rein to do anything, really.” “I love painting murals,” Martinez says. “It’s almost overwhelming to see a whole wall painted and think, ‘Wow, one person did that.’”
Sto ry by Patsy Ter r ell • Ph otog r aph y by D eb o r ah Walker
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The Tnezarts Process Asked about his process for a painting, Brendan Martinez says he always starts with a sketch. “When I’m riding the bus and the train to school, I’m always sketching. I’m sketching figures and positions. I can go back into my book and think, ‘in this painting, I want a lot of movement,’ and find something. I always start with a sketch process.” Next, he considers what he wants that piece to evoke and selects a word to sum it up. “I think of something positive,” he says. “I choose a word or phrase, and then it usually ends up being a freestyle from there. After that I just paint. When people look at my paintings I want them to feel that one word. I want people to get that message right away.” Considering his love of poetry, it’s not surprising to see the overlap between words and painting, although it’s not a common technique. “I don’t know how I came up with it,” he says. “When I paint I’m always excited. I always feel something. There’s a burning in my chest, in my heart. I’m so excited about expressing this painting that I’m doing.”
“Like a farmer, you’re never caught up. There is always something to look forward to in the future.” –Mark Nissley
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Profile
Brendan Martinez
Now attending school in Maryland, the young artist is studying graphic design and looking forward to a future as an artist.
Mural location: Alley at II West B Avenue www.tnezarts.com
The result is boldly graphic, and Randall says it’s perfect. “He chose images and colors that were sitespecific and inspirational,” she says. Martinez also creates paintings and graphic design work, and he writes poetry. “Poetry helps me think more creatively,” he says. “With poetry you have to be really creative with metaphors you use, and sometimes I’ll make a painting off a piece of poetry.” Looking at his work, it’s hard to believe Martinez did only black-and-white drawings when he was growing up, and was resistant to working in color. His Hutchinson High School teacher Johnita Becker encouraged him, and he says, “I finally caved in, and the first painting I did, I was totally in love with painting.” He played football at Hutchinson and Buhler high schools and earned a track scholarship, but he used the artwork as a way to get away from the pressures of everything else. In college he started sharing his art more.
Martinez has a drive to encourage other young people to do the same. “Whatever anyone’s passions are, I want them to really acknowledge it,” he says. “That’s a theme I’m working on, really trying to live my life. I want younger people to see if you work hard, and believe, and keep at it, you can make your dreams come true.” The oldest of five children in his family, and the oldest grandchild, Martinez doesn’t shy away from the idea of being a role model. “I want to take that responsibility,” he says. “From my mom’s side they’re from Mexico. I’m the first grandchild born here in the states, with a real opportunity. I don’t want to throw that opportunity away.” He wants his life as an artist to be a message. “Anybody can be who they want to be,” he says. “They just have to imagine themselves there and work hard. That’s what I’m doing with my art.”
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Welcome to Smallville Three fan boys dedicate themselves to seeing Hutch as superman’s hometown
Sto ry by Patsy Ter r ell
• Ph otog r aph y by A aro n E ast
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Profile
Welcome to Smallville
H
utchinson bears the name of early settler C.C. Hutchinson, but there’s a movement afoot to associate the town with a different man—Clark Kent, aka Superman. Chris Wietrick, KC McNeely and Ben Eisiminger hope to have Hutchinson recognized as Smallville, the Kansas town from which the Man of Steel hails. Although they realize it’s a long shot that Hutchinson would permanently change its name to Smallville, they think there are some possibilities. “The way we see that being done is for the world to recognize it,” says Eisiminger. “We want DC Comics and the fans to recognize Hutchinson as Smallville.” Hutchinson and Smallville have similar populations, they’re both on the Arkansas River, and the Kansas Underground Salt Museum is the perfect location for some kryptonite. And where might a spaceship be stored? At the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, of course. To top it off, a map with an area affected by an explosion on the Smallville television show also has Smallville starred right where Hutchinson is. The self-described “fan boys” are all from Hutchinson, although Eisiminger and McNeely live in Lawrence now—across the yard from each other. While Wietrick was visiting Eisiminger earlier this year, he met McNeely For the guys and they realized behind the that they had much in movement to honor Hutchinson common. Conversation as Smallville, led to the discovery finding kryptonite that independently they is easier than had noticed references anyone thinks. to Superman’s Kansas OPPOSITE Chris roots that made them Wietrick, left, Ben think Hutchinson was Eisiminger and KC McNeely are the perfect real-world the proclaimed town for the mythical fan boys. town of Smallville.
34 On July 15, McNeely made a Facebook page titled: “Hutchinson, KS should be named ‘Smallville.’” They started posting notes about the similarities between the two places.
On the site, the friends note three similarities they believe seal the deal: 1 Hutchinson’s population is around 42,000, while Smallville’s is 45,001 (based on the television show). 2 In the graphic novel, The Kents, Smallville is on the Arkansas River. There are only five towns with over 20,000 people on this river. 3 The panel from Action Comics #822, plus a real map. Looking for a city that size and on the river? Welcome—at Smallville (Formerly Hutchinson, Kansas). Within a few weeks they had garnered more than 2,200 likes to the Facebook page, as well as some media attention, including a mention on actor/writer/producer Kevin Smith’s podcast. Comments on the page have come from Superman fans as far away as Brazil and the United Kingdom. Although they’ve not yet had any positive feedback from DC, which owns Superman, McNeely says with a laugh that, “The fact that we haven’t got a cease-and-desist order is a good sign.” Wietrick is an artist and created The Hutchinson Torch, an original comic designed to show the similarities between Hutchinson and Smallville. He premiered it at the September Third Thursday event and plans to have a new issue at each month’s Third Thursday. Right after Third Thursday, The Giant Laundry at Fifth and Adams changed its marquee to read “Smallville Laundry—Home of Clark Kent,” which found its way onto Facebook.
Order your own copy of
The Hutchinson Torch
at www.etsy.com/shop/HutchIsSmallville
An Honor Superman is popular, and many people can relate. After all, he stands for truth, justice and the American Way. Any town could do worse for itself. “Superman is iconic,” McNeely says. “That’s the important thing about
“We’re not trying to change its history. We understand everyone is going to know it was called Hutchinson. We think it’s all about being positive and creating the future of Hutchinson, not changing the past.” – Ben Eisiminger superheroes—they’re icons. They represent things—they’re the modern mythos. They are old gods pushing their way into our new reality. Superman is the best of all of us. He’s the most important of all the superheroes. He stands for all of us. Everyone has a little bit of that in them. We’re all good at something.” This trio has proven to be good at seeing possibilities. There is precedent for a city in Kansas to change its name temporarily, as Topeka did when it became Google for a day. “If we can get all the comic fan boys around the world to recognize it, then the name change wouldn’t necessarily have to happen,” says Wietrick. “However, my personal goal is to get a name change, at least for a day.” They believe, and it would seem they’re right if the comments on their page are to be believed, that if Hutchinson were recognized as Smallville it would mean Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
increased tourism. After all, “Every fan boy would want a photo in Smallville,” says Wietrick.
Big Tourism They’re in the early planning stages for a three-day festival next March to celebrate Superman. The working title is “Springtime in Smallville.” They are brainstorming an event to coincide when a new Superman movie will be out. Man of Steel focuses on Superman’s early years. What better place to show it than in Smallville? In the 1961 pilot episode of The Adventures of Superboy, a movie premiere happens in downtown Smallville. Wietrick thinks a Midwest premiere of the 2013 Superman movie in downtown Hutchinson/Smallville would be a wonderful thing. Conveniently, there are two theaters in the downtown area.
Did You Know? • Smallville hosts the annual Harvest Festival, which celebrated its 100th year, just like the Kansas State Fair, which is in its centennial year. • Smallville’s and Hutchinson both won state football championships in 2004. • Smallville population is 45,001, which is very close to Hutchinson’s population of 42,080 noted in the 2010 Census. • Smallville’s downtown has a park with a gazebo, just like Hutchinson’s Avenue A Park. • White kryptonite prevents plants from growing, it doesn’t harm humans—just like the salt underneath Hutchinson.
“The Fox most closely resembles The Talon, as seen in the television series. Not sure that the movie focuses too much on the early years, but we do know that Smallville will be mentioned in the movie,” says Wietrick. They’ve spoken with some Superman collectors who are excited about the possibilities of sharing these items. McNeely, Eisiminger and Wietrick see this as another reason for people to visit Hutchinson year-round. Superman has a far-reaching appeal, they say. “Superman is an idea. You can’t pin that down,” says McNeely. The Kansas Underground Salt Museum has had a Superman
costume on display since shortly after opening, which is another draw. All three of them are positive about Hutchinson. Eisiminger says they don’t allow any negative comments about Hutchinson on the Facebook Page. “I love the town I come from,” says McNeely. For Wietrick, the new comic has created some excitement in his work. “I’ve found my reason to stay in Hutchinson.” Although he has moved a few times, he has always returned. He says they know they’re only going to get one shot at this but hope they’re going to be able to say, “I grew up in Smallville.”
Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/HutchinsonKsShouldBeNamedSmallville
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Profile
Welcome to Smallville
features 38 When I grow up … • 46 All in a day’s work … at home
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Did you make it, or have you found yourself in a more rewarding endeavor? That’s exactly what three of Hutchinson’s professionals would claim. Story by Richard Shank Photography by Aaron East and Deb Hagen
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Molly M c Vicker … wanted to be a writer when she grew up. During her formative years, Molly traveled the circuit of three Kansas towns as the daughter of a schoolteacher. At an early age she developed a flair for writing—making it her dream career. “As a child I loved to read, and that motivated me to write,” says Molly. “My family and teachers encouraged me, and I am still excited when I find just the right words to express my thoughts.” Molly aspired to write magazine articles and pieces that allowed her the opportunity to research and develop a story. Mol ly later attended Kansas State University to study family and child development and journalism. While completing her degree she met her future husband, Earl McVicker, and managed to graduate despite spending a year traveling as the 1969 Miss Kansas. While she never became a professional writer, her careers and volunteer activities have included an abundance of writing that has been an invaluable asset. Molly laughs about her first job offer after college, which was for a position working in a hardware store in this small western Kansas town, but she instead accepted an offer as an administrative
assistant to the CEO at the Ness County Hospital in Ness City. In 1984 the McVickers settled into life in Hutchinson after a period in Glenwood Springs. Molly served a sevenyear stint in the education department of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center followed by 10 years as the foundation director for Hutchinson Regional Medical Center.
“My life experiences led me to write grant proposals, educational presentations and planning guidelines. This allowed me to develop leadership skills as I moved on to consulting with educational and charitable organizations.”
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
– Molly McVicker
Molly’s accomplishments both professionally and philanthropic have explored various endeavors. Today she continues to serve the Kansas 4-H Foundation, a century-old organization whose motto “To make the best better” is a goal Molly is committed to help make happen. She especially identifies with the foundation’s latest campaign, Growing Kansas Leaders. Molly also kicks up some dust at the Kansas State Fair, where she serves on the Fair Foundation’s board of directors.
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Rion Rhoades … wanted to be a veterinarian when he grew up. Rion had all the makings for following the dream of becoming a veterinarian while growing up on a farm near Liberal. “I grew up around animals ... we always had horses and cattle. I enjoyed roping in junior rodeos and jackpots as well as showing horses in 4-H. We trained horses and had a small feed yard,” says Rion. He began helping his parents at age 7, processing cattle, doctoring sick cattle and vaccinating horses. “I wanted to be a large animal vet so I could help people like my family that had horses and cattle to care for,” Rion says. In 1993, he embarked on the opportunity to play football at Hutchinson Community College. Coaches Sam Pittman and Andy Hill had a great impact on Rion’s life prior to sending him on to Western Illinois University before
a final stop at Northwestern Oklahoma State University, where he graduated in a degree in physical education. Rion went on to obtain his master’s degree in exercise science and sports administration from Fort Hays State University. His journey back to Hutchinson came by way as assistant coach at Coffeyville
Rion arrived in Hutchinson as head coach at a low point in Hutchinson Community College football fortunes, inheriting a winless team from the previous campaign. Today the 37-yearold coach seems totally at peace with life and the school’s football program that he took charge of in 2007. The husband and father of three still loves animals, but with his boyhood dream of being a doctor of veterinary medicine is on the shelf, he talks like a man whose professional goals are on the gridiron. – Rion Rhoades “I enjoy what I do and my family, and I like very much living in Hutchinson,” Rion says. Community College (2004-2005) and “I feel like am doing what I am supposed to be doing at the present time; however, Northwestern Oklahoma University (20002003) before a single year as head coach my happiness is not based on coaching at Fort Scott Community College (2006). football.”
“I wanted to be a large animal vet, so I could help people like my family that had horses and cattle to care for.”
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Dan Deming … wanted to be a highway patrolman when he grew up Dan Deming grew up in Hutchinson knowing he wanted to work in law enforcement or radio broadcasting, and events early in life would chart a course leading to the fulfillment of both dreams. As a young elementary school student, Dan set up his own imaginary radio station in his bedroom and would spin 45 records and deliver mock newscasts. Meanwhile he also talked his way into the Reno County Sheriff’s office and courthouse, where he would dispatch officers to crime scenes. When he was a high school senior, radio station KWHK introduced their newest radio personality, Dan Deming, for the 8 p.m.-midnight shift. When time permitted, he was even a DJ for teen dances at Memorial Hall. During his studies at Hutchinson Junior College, Dan applied for an opening in the Kansas Highway Patrol, passed the entrance examination and passed a one-on-one interview with the agency’s
superintendent. The final step—a physical examination. At the time, during the 1960s, the Kansas Highway Patrol required patrolmen to be at least 5 feet, 8 inches tall, but Dan came up one-quarter of an inch short and was disqualified.
personalities, approaching celebrity status, and won the first of two terms on the Hutchinson City Council, including two years as Hutchinson’s mayor. As he delivered his last radio broadcast, he was already contracted for a tour of duty with Disney World’s security division followed by two years of in-store security for Wal-Mart. By 2010, he was walki ng door-todoor campaigning for a spot on the Reno County Commission, a seat that he won – Dan Deming and holds to this day. His current endeavors include leading an (Coincidentally, the height requirement effort to construct a new jail, a proposal was abolished several years later as being that comes up for a vote in the April 2013 discriminatory.) election. So he turned to radio. Dan worked “First, I want to help see the jail project with KWBW Radio for 38 years as an through to completion and to make as on-air newsman and retired in 2008 as many contributions to the Hutchinson the station’s general manager. While there community as I can for the remainder of he became one of the city’s best-known my lifetime,” Dan says.
“Hutchinson, to me, seems like a perfectsized town with a lot of good people, with a multitude of opportunities to become involved in a number of good causes.”
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Dana Regehr is just one professional who has turned her passion into a business at home.
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All in a day’s work …
at home Forget about the typical nine-to-five work schedule, the water cooler chitchat and trying to concentrate in a small cubicle space with a dozen or so colleagues. These three Hutchinson women have tossed the traditional office routines aside and traded them for their own environments as they successfully work from home.
Story by Amy Conkling • P hotography by Deborah Walker Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Lori McBride Manager of Sandhill Properties Nearly a decade ago, Lori McBride left the traditional office environment and never looked back. In 2005, her brother and sister-in-law, who live in Florida, approached her with the idea of starting a business—she chose the opportunity to manage and operate rental units in South Hutchinson and Hutchinson areas. McBride runs her business out of her home in an office with calming green-grey walls, a spunky zebra-striped chair. The space is peppered with personal touches and mementos tucked among her office essentials such as the computer, phone, printer and paperwork. “I love having the music on whatever I want, the kitchen is close—a good and a bad thing—and when I need to take a break, I go out on my deck, light the chiminea and work outdoors,” she says. Most people she works with don’t realize McBride works out of the home, and she likes it that way. She visits her tenants’ units when they report problems, and they have an understanding not to call her after hours unless it’s an emergency. McBride does try to structure her day by working “normal” hours from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays. However she enjoys the flexibility, especially when her son Blazik, now a sophomore at Kansas State University, was involved in after-school activities. “It was a bit difficult at first not having to clock in anywhere, but it didn’t take long to adjust,” McBride says. “There’s just something about going to an office and doing the same thing every day. I won’t go back to working in the traditional office environment, as I’m pretty lucky here.”
The Employee Handbook
Office Hours: McBride works regular business hours;
however, she says she does struggle from time to time wanting to answer e-mails and phone calls off-hours, on weekends and on vacation.
Office At tire:
“I always am dressed as if I were working in a casual office and try to avoid wearing loungewear,” McBride says.
Continuing Education: McBride’s brother and sister-in-law may have helped land her the dream job, but it was a purchase she made early in her life that jump-started her career. She bought a house when she was 20 years old and started renting it after she moved out. “I knew that I wanted to do property management then,” she says.
One-Person Show: While working from home Lori McBride enjoys the freedom of working from home but sometimes struggles with turning work off at five o’clock.
has its myriad of perks, McBride does admit it can be overwhelming at times—namely because she’s the only employee for her home rental business. Her roles include project manager, finding places for people, taking applications, screening applicants, collecting rent and communicating constantly with her tenants. “Sometimes the only calls I get all day are for a broken furnace or something needs fixed,” she says. Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Dana Regehr Owner of Janie Lane Studio Dana Regehr launched Janie Lane Studio and later took it fulltime to be with her family.
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
51 When Dana Regehr found out she was pregnant four years ago, she knew she didn’t want to continue working full-time. Her employer, the Hutchinson/ Reno County Chamber of Commerce, kept her working on a contractual basis, allowing the flexibility she needed. But when her youngest son was born two years ago, the work had slowed down at that time. That’s when she put her sewing skills and talents to work and slowly began her own business, Janie Lane Studio, while still working a few weekly hours for the Chamber. This fall, however, she decided to fully dedicate her time to her business, which allows her to spend more time with her husband and sons. “I just couldn’t train my boys or make robots or build forts or read stories in any other job,” Regehr says. “Those are precious times I don’t want to miss, and I needed the flexibility.” Regehr designs and creates handbags, camera bags, diaper bags, et cetera, as well as headbands and accessories. The talented seamstress works around her family’s schedule—the humming of her sewing machine is hard at work during nap times and evenings when her boys are in bed, as well on the weekends when her husband, Randy, is home more. “I’ve learned to completely ignore a dirty house,” Regehr says. “I love the ability to use my creativity to bring in extra income for my family.”
The Employee Handbook
Office Hours: Sporadic and dependent on children’s sleep/play times,
evenings and weekends. She uses every available minute in her day, as often times when her oldest wakes up from his nap, he’ll join her at the sewing table with his Legos and build towers while she works hard to wrap up a project before her youngest son wakes up. “I love being with my boys and having the ability to be involved in activities and ministries that I wouldn’t be able to participate in if I were working full-time,” Regehr says. “But there are days when it feels like it never stops. I have to purposefully choose to leave the work alone and take time to rest.”
Co-Worker Support:
Regehr says her husband, Randy, is her biggest support system—and creative. Randy Regehr has his own Etsy shop, Regehr and Sons Woodcraft, where he turns a hobby into a profit selling exotic wood boxes and other items with his father and brother. “We love to listen to each other and inspire each other’s creativity,” Dana Regehr says. “He’s got a great eye for pattern and color, and to be honest, he’s my favorite person to go to a fabric store with.”
Future Goals: Regehr says once her boys head off to school, she hopes
to grow her business and offer an inventory of pre-made items. For now her customers can find fabrics and samples of what she does on the Janie Lane Studio Facebook webpage.
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Christine Pechstein Move Into Action, life management Christine Pechstein helps people eliminate chaos and reduce stress in their busy lives by learning how to prioritize and find focus. So it’s no surprise that the busy, single mother of three teenage children literally practices what she preaches, and it all comes down to working from home—a place where she’s had an office on and off again since 2008. “Gone are the days of traditional office space,” Pechstein says. “These days most of my time is split between home and community, as I’m always on the go unless I’m recording video segments.” Pechstein’s career path began in 2004 when she moved to Hutchinson and was working as an employment specialist. It was then she knew there was more to life than just work. Fast-forward four years, lots of note taking, research and self-development, Pechstein started her own faith-based life management coaching business, Move Into Action, in January 2008. While she chooses a home office, she hardly ever uses it. In fact, she’s often times seen in local coffee shops penning life management books, assisting clients via e-mail or is out and about in the community, taking her work to the people. Her focus and discipline gives her the edge with a flexible schedule. “I am much more productive and have the flexibility for spontaneity and my creative drive,” she says. “Because of that, it really doesn’t feel like work since I’m able to balance work and family and eliminating the stress from a strict work schedule.”
The Employee Handbook
Office Hours:
Pechstein works whenever, from wherever. “I have clients as far away as India, and it doesn’t cost them any more than what it does a client here in Kansas. Working from home and harnessing the power of technology allows me to work all hours of the day and in various time zones around the world with minimal disruption to the rest of my life.”
Office Technology:
Overhead costs are extremely low in Pechstein’s business, as she doesn’t have to pay office rent or other costs since she can work from home. “Working from home and harnessing the power of technology allows me to work all hours of the day and in various time zones around the world with minimal disruption to the rest of my life,” she says. “It’s a winwin.”
Christine Pechstein considers her office on the move, working from many locations to best serve her work in life management.
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Colorado Springs A destination where the Colorado attractions are unexpected and enjoyed
Sto ry by R ic har d S hank • Ph otog r aph y co u rtesy o f Vi s itCOS .co m / SHUTTERSTOC K
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Travel
Colorado Springs
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Must-See Attractions In 1859 when explorers were within sight of a 300-million-year-old formation of red rocks, one was so taken that he proclaimed the site would be a great meeting place for the gods. Soon thereafter, an explorer coined the name Garden of the Gods. Visitors can drive through a 1,350acre park, and nearly everyone stops to study a rock formation that seems barely attached to its base and is leaning forward as if ready to fall— Balance Rock is a must stop for further study and photographs. The downtown area of Manitou Springs has no shortage of shops that market everything from wind chimes to fine clothing and a few eating establishments thrown in to accommodate those in need of a home-cooked meal. On Cheyenne Canyon Road on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, it is worth a stop to see Seven Falls. Here, for millions of years, a constant stream of water has flowed down seven separate steps of a mountain before reaching the ground. Tourists can also ride a 14-story elevator to the summit of the mountain to observe the seven falls from top to bottom. Or, if you chose, one can walk a steep stairway to the top and look down.
Garden of the Gods
Photograph Shutterstock
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
F
ifty years ago, Colorado Springs was no more than a medium-sized Colorado town, but a half-century of growth has changed that.
Pikes Peak Amid the mighty Rocky Mountains, most tourists key in on the well-known Pikes Peak. In 1806, Zebulon Pike, who followed explorers Lewis and Clark to America’s new Frontier, crossed what is now Colorado and while camping on the site of modern-day Pueblo became fascinated by a mountain across the horizon to the north. He invited his group of nine to join him on a climb to the mountain summit but was thwarted by waist-deep snowdrifts. Fourteen years later, Dr. Edwin James reached the summit on July 14, 1820, and out of respect for Pike, proclaimed the site Pikes Peak. It ranks 32nd among Colorado mountain ranges with an elevation of more than 14,000 feet above sea level. The legend of Pikes Peak was sealed in 1893 when schoolteacher Katharine Bates was so overwhelmed with the view from the top of the mountain that she penned a poem, which was later was adapted to music for the song “America the Beautiful.” To reach the summit, visitors have two options, a cog rail that saw its origins in 1890, or a 19-mile paved road, which has no less than 114-hairpin curves. The summit of Pikes Peak has three distinguishing features: a breathtaking view, a fast-food restaurant and a souvenir store that markets anything one might want but few items you would need.
Wild Blue Yonder In 1954, Colorado Springs beat out 183 other communities as the location for the Air Force Academy. Before signing off on Colorado Springs, famed aviator and selection committee member Charles Lindbergh took to the air to test the wind currents needed for cadet flight training. The academy covers 30 square miles at the base of the Rocky Mountains, north of Colorado Springs. Although the academy in some ways resembles a typical college campus with dormitories and classroom buildings, along with a 50,000-seat football stadium and fieldhouse for basketball, many visitors migrate to the Cadet Chapel. Standing 150 feet into the air with 17 spires, the aluminum, glass and steel chapel is, perhaps, the most unique house of worship in the nation. Included are separate chapels for Catholics, Protestants, Buddhists as well as members of the Jewish faith and an All Faiths Chapel.
Cheyenne Mountain
Photograph courtesty VisitCOS.com Cadet Chapel, Photograph Shutterstock
The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo has everything an animal lover wants to see including a herd of 13 giraffes that are only too happy to raise their long necks high enough in the air to gently take food from children who are standing outside a fence. Perhaps it is the ultimate petting zoo. Other residents include everything from a flock of chickens to gorillas to crocodiles. Behind a secure fence, grizzly bears and mountain goats peer at the visitors—wondering what they had done to deserve so much attention.
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Travel
Colorado Springs
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Broadmoor guests need only walk through the grounds for a game of golf on several courses offered.
Broadmoor Hotel
Photograph Shutterstock
Opposite: Cheyenne Mountain Resort Photograph courtesty VisitCOS.com
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
High atop Cheyenne Mountain is the Will Rogers Shrine of the Sun, a 60-foot observation tower constructed in the 1930s by Colorado Springs businessman Spencer Penrose. The fivestory structure includes a museum on Rogers who, 77 years after his death, maintains his hold on American life and humor. From the fifth level, all of Colorado Springs and surrounding communities can be seen.
Life of Luxury The beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Resort is a favorite among visitors looking for a relaxing Colorado experience. The grounds include a golf course, swimming pools, tennis course and indoor and outdoor dining. The famed Broadmoor Hotel is another favorite; larger than life, the historic hotel has retained its claim as the area’s undisputed finest lodging, meeting and eating establishment. It has been updated and renovated several times in the 94 years since its opening, but it retains its original features including a curved marble staircase, chandeliers out of this world, a carved marble fountain and a pink stucco façade. A 12,000-square-foot ballroom added in 1994 has been the scene of social events and annual meetings. When, in 2005, the owners saw a need for more meeting space, they opted to add 60,000 square feet of meeting rooms. For those interested in hitting the links, Broadmoor guests need only walk through the grounds for a game of golf on several courses offered as a part of the Broadmoor package. At the end of any visit to the Colorado Springs area, there are more caves to explore, ghost towns to visit and even a cliff dwelling or two to see, but most visitors who leave here have a yearning to return. Hats off to our neighbors to the west for transforming thousands of acres into a worldwide tourist destination. Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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BILL
SHELDON author, professor
4} Do you have a favorite author? Many, but I don’t think there’s one that I hold out above all others, except maybe Shakespeare. In the spring, I often teach an Introduction to Shakespeare class, and by the end of the semester, after we’ve read several plays and sonnets, part of me wonders, “Why bother?” But unless you’re Ernest Hemingway, most people don’t write as competition, so I concede the field and just keep writing my own things. I do find myself coming back to the books of some other Kansas writers quite often, those of Steven Hind (Hutchinson), Harley Elliott (Salina) and Denise Low (Lawrence). We share a love of this place, and they were all instrumental in my finding a way to talk about our state. 5} What rewards do you get from teaching young writers? Well, the best part about teaching writing or literature, as opposed to many other disciplines, is that young writers and readers often show me ways to re-see my approach to writing or to a piece of literature. That probably doesn’t happen as much in, say, math or biology (although I haven’t the slightest bit of evidence to support that statement). And then there’s that moment that all teachers work for: When I can see a student make an idea his or her own. It’s almost like a light goes on behind a student’s face, or a paper I’m reading suddenly glows. That’s pretty cool.
B
ill Sheldon was born in Colorado and, through his upbringing, made it to Montana, Emporia and Dodge City. After he and his wife met at Emporia State University, they moved west to teach. “We taught in California for a year, and I wrote for a paper there. However, we missed family and the change of seasons and moved back to Kansas,” he says. In 1991 Sheldon took a job at Hutchinson Community College, and they’ve been there ever since. “I’ve always been grateful that we did. I hit HCC while the poet Steven Hind was still teaching there, and he really re-focused my poetry writing,” says Sheldon. “It’s been a great place to teach as well. My colleagues have been top-notch.” 1} When did you learn that you wanted to be a writer? If I can steal something that Salina poet Patricia Traxler said, the subject of writing was in our house like malaria. My father and mother are both voracious readers and read daily to my sisters and me when we were young. When I was 3 and 4, my father (who was a journalist and then a college writing instructor) read things like Huck Finn and “Gunga Din” to me before bed. As soon as I could read, I wrote things, so I don’t remember not wanting to write. I remember plenty of times, though, of not doing as much of it as I should have. 2} What are you working on now? I welcome whatever comes. I have tended to write poetry more than anything else over the years, but I find myself recently writing more prose, both fiction and nonfiction, and I’m slowly building
a manuscript for what I hope will be another collection of poems. But as I said, whatever comes along makes me glad. 3} What do you find inspiring about Kansas? I know our friends to the west and on the coasts will find this hard to fathom, but I’m always taken by the landscape. I love open places, places where I can see into the distance. I like big skies and expanses of natural grasses. I also like the variety that those who adhere to I-70 sometimes miss. I really enjoy the people here, too. Historically it took a kind of stoic hardheadedness to make a go of Kansas. I think that’s something that is a birthright if you’re born here and something you adopt if you’re not. There’s a kind of “stick-to-itiveness” that’s expected of Kansans. I like that.
6} How would you describe the community of Hutch to a newcomer? It’s the kind of place that my relatives from Kansas City and Colorado Springs come to and tell me that they sometimes wish they lived here. They always mention how friendly folks are. I would have to agree with that, and add that we continue to develop a community here that values the arts and cultural activities. We also have a livelier downtown than many places, and of course we have the college. These are all things that contribute to a kind of vibrancy not always found in other communities the size of Hutchinson. 7} Do you have any words to live by? William Stafford (the great American poet who was born and lived here in Hutchinson) said something I really like. When asked if he ever suffered from writer’s block, he said something to the effect that when he felt close to that happening, he just lowered his standards. At first that seemed contrary to everything my teachers and coaches had instilled in me, but I realized that I don’t just get to write the good stuff; I have to write it all, as Stafford said. His way keeps a person writing, which is, after all, the job at hand. 8} If you had a magic lamp, what would your three wishes be? Probably, I’d wish for the wisdom to make two really killer wishes.
I nte rvi e w co n d u cte d an d e d ite d by k at y ib s en • Ph otog r aph by B r ian Lin g le
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
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Trish Rose
Preston
District Judge, Reno County knows my mother or a high school classmate. That sense of continuity and connectedness enriches my life. 4} What hobbies do you enjoy when you’re not on the bench? I’ve played piano all my life and take weekly lessons. I practice yoga. I love to read. I’m always open to new interests and appreciate when friends expose me to new activities that just might grab me and become a new hobby. 5} Looking back on your legacy, do you have a particular memory you will always cherish? The night of the November 2010 election I was at the courthouse watching the returns. When I was declared the winner my loyal supporters and I went up to Judge Richard Rome’s courtroom, the courtroom that would be mine in two months, and had a celebration complete with photos of me in the judge’s chair. I didn’t think Judge Rome would mind as he has been supportive from the day I first practiced law in Hutchinson. 6} Who was one of your mentors? My older sister Janet has been a mentor all my life. She has big ideas and big expectations. In her mind my next position will be on the United States Supreme Court. Of course she is totally unrealistic, but she has prodded me to push myself to the next level at critical times in my life.
D
istrict Judge Trish Rose was born and raised in Hutchinson, and she confidently declares today that she still enjoys two of her favorite childhood hobbies. “Riding my bike and going to the library were my favorite things to do as a child growing up in Hutchinson. Those are still my favorite activities,” she says. Rose has had quite a career in Hutchinson, starting as a English teacher. She has served as the city mayor, practiced a long career in law and has served on multiple boards in the community. She is still full of energy. 1} What reflections do you have on your accomplished career and civic engagements? I am action-oriented. When I ran for city council I didn’t want to be just a placeholder, approving budgets and showing up for meetings. My focus was on helping downtown thrive and improving our parks and trails. The decline of housing in many neighborhoods became a concern during my term. I led a task force on housing, and many of the ideas from that group are now in place with visible improvements in our housing and plans for new developments. I appreciate the confidence shown in me by the voters in electing me to the council and to my current position as district judge.
2} What do you enjoy most about being a judge? I spent 30 years as an attorney in private practice, and I use every bit of that experience in my new role as judge. Building on that experience and continuing to read and study the law provide a daily challenge, which I enjoy. The law affects every day lives. In criminal cases I often have to dole out punishment, but I also have the opportunity to impact lives in a positive way. 3} What do you enjoy most about serving the community of Hutchinson? On any given day I can run in to my second-grade teacher, one of my sons’ teachers, someone who
7} How would you describe the community of Hutchinson? Hutchinson is child-friendly, and I am rediscovering that with my 1½-year-old grandson. We have parks, the zoo, Dillon Nature Center, the library, all places that are fun to take children. We never run out of places to go when he visits. I’ve always thought the health of a community can be seen in the number of kids you see playing, riding bikes, walking to school. Hutchinson scores high marks. 8} What’s on your bucket list? I struggle with making a bucket list because I want to go back to every place I have traveled, and I assume that would be true with every new place. I do want to go to the Olympics someday, and I’m thinking once will be enough. 9} Do you have any words to live by? I like Henry Thoreau’s words, “Beware of enterprises that require new clothes.” Be yourself. Bring the true, unique you to every experience and interaction.
I nte rvi e w co n d u cte d an d e d ite d by k at y ib s en • Ph otog r aph by B r ian Lin g le
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
Hutchinson Magazine: Winter 2012
64
best bets
December
8
December
Happy Holidays at the Hutchinson Zoo
HCC Instrumental Jazz Fall Concert
10 a.m. Hutchinson Zoo, Carey Park Celebrate the holidays with train rides, pictures with Santa, Christmas Tree Lane voting, animal programs and much more. (620) 694-2672
7:30 p.m. B.J. Warner Recital Hall Enjoy the sounds and riffs of the HCC music department. (620) 665-3442
january 17
December
8-25
Christmas Tree Sale at the Kansas State Fairgrounds
Delos V. Smith Film Premiere Ice Age Continental Drift 7:30 p.m. FridaySaturday 2 p.m. Sunday The “State Movie Palace of Kansas,” The Fox Theatre is offering a 10week winter film series. Tickets available 30 minutes before showtime. www.hutchinsonfox.com
December 14-16
Noon-7 p.m. Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday Noon-5 p.m. Sunday More information, contact Bornholdt Plantland, (620) 662-0544
December
22
Hyde Park Luminaria 6-10 p.m. Partridge Community Church parking lot Hutchinson’s Hyde Park neighborhood will be aglow with 17,000 Christmas luminaria lining the streets and sidewalks of their homes. The festivities also include hayrack rides, carolers and Santa.
Sherlock Holmes 7:30 p.m., Thursday-Saturday 3 p.m. Sunday Flag Theatre, 310 N. Main Family Community Theatre presents its 24th season, “A Season of Discover,” which includes Sherlock Holmes. Join the famous sleuth as he seeks to solve the mystery in this actionpacked stage production of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle classic. (620) 662-1601
january
29
Dillon Lecture Series: J.R. Martinez 10:30 a.m., Hutchinson Sports Arena, 700 East 11th The Dillon Lecture Series welcomes J.R. Martinez, who required 33 surgeries and 34 months of hospitalization after he was burned during deployment in the Iraq. More recently, he appeared on and won Dancing With the Stars.” Tickets are $10 at the door. For more information, (620) 665-3505
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 2012
Hutchinson Symphony Presents Great Love Themes Across Time
February 7
31
7:30 p.m., Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre The Symphony continues the tradition of celebrating local Anderson Concerto Winners. The symphony will include works by Giuseppe Verdi, John Williams, Sergei Prokofiev, Nino Rota and Richard Wagner. Tickets are available at the Fox Box Office, (877) FOX-SHOW www.hutchsymphony.org
February
22
Mennonite Manor Liverwurst 5 p.m.-8 p.m., Yoder Activity Center This Mennonite Friendship Manor fundraising dinner offers a unique ethnic experience, serving fried mush, tomato gravy, cream gravy, syrup, liverwurst, sausage and more. Open to the public, advance tickets are recommended but not required. Call (620) 663-7175 for information. Please submit event information to: hutchinsonmagazine@ sunflowerpub.com (Dates and times subject to change)