fall 2009
sHawnee People, places and style defined
magazine
Soy-Zen-Zay: Dipping into edamame
$3.00
On the job at NelsonAtkins
Speaking your baby’s language
Jewels for surviving
Dear
Reader
This season we are celebrating … jobs!
Katy
editor
fall 09
sHawnee People, places and style defined
magazine
Publisher/Art Director Darby Oppold Editor Katy Ibsen Copy Editor Susie Fagan Advertising Sales Mary Hay (913) 631-1611 Manager Bert Hull Designer Tamra Rolf Ad Designers Shelly Kemph Tamra Rolf Photographers Tim Andersen Jason Dailey Contributing Writers Kim Antisdel Ryan Brown Carrie Dvorak Gloria Gale Jaime Netzer Faryle Scott Kimberly Stern Marketing Assistant Faryle Scott
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Subscriptions $22 (tax included) for a one-year subscription to Shawnee Magazine. For subscription information, please contact: Christopher J. Bell 609 New Hampshire St., P.O. Box 888 Lawrence, KS 66044 (800) 578-8748 | Fax (785) 843-1922 Or e-mail comments to shawneemagazine@sunflowerpub.com
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Shawnee Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of The World Company. www.sunflowerpub.com
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sHawneemagazine
That may seem strange to some of you but spot-on to others. In these difficult economic times, plenty of us are doing a double take at the future. And, admittedly, some of us fear what’s around—or not around—the next corner. I give kudos to those who may have had some setbacks in the workplace but still enjoy their jobs and colleagues. I offer understanding to those who find it a bit trying at times to get up and start the day when they’re not sure this position is where they want to be. And to our loyal readers and publisher, worry not—I am right where I want to be. But I have to say I am curious where some of the people featured in this issue of Shawnee Magazine found the diligence, inspiration and encouragement to follow their dreams into interesting fields and unique vocations. In our continued Chef’s Table series, we speak with Greg Roith, who has grown up with the push of his father, a barbecue master. Today Roith collaborates with his father and sister to maintain the swanky Executive Catering event space and delicious 75 Café in Shawnee. His path to this venture was one of trial and error in a variety of kitchens. We also explore the careers of four individuals who can agree their professional outfits are all work and all play. Illustrator Tony Griego, travel agency owner Jay French, Johnson County Museums Director Mindi Love and magician Devin Henderson have followed their dreams and taken risks on lines of work that may not be among the obvious choice of professions to many people. Karen Lampe is an individual who followed through on a promise she made in her younger years. The Shawnee mother and former physical therapist attended seminary later in life to become an inspirational speaker and beloved reverend at the Church of Resurrection—a shift in career that might interest few but serves many. We also pop over to Kansas City, Missouri, to find out which Shawnee locals are “playing” at the Nelson-Atkins Museum and found four individuals who share an enjoyment and passion for the world of art. We even chat with a few who are testing the waters. Anne and Dean Panovich are breaking into the healthy side of snacks with their homedeveloped edamame dip, Soy-Zen-Zay. And Katie Burke offers a sign language program for children that she benefitted from herself, Baby Signs. Now teaching classes to other parents in the Shawnee area, she is finding a big following and enjoys the opportunity to share this innovation with many families. Consider it your job to thumb through our fall issue and read about these bold individuals and their distinctive professions that we find moving and comforting amid so much uncertainty.
Vol. 3 / No. 1
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Departments Contents
2009
fall
shawnee living 06
10
In Every Issue
03 Dear Reader 40 Q&A 46 best bets
The growing recipe
Greg Roith and his Shawnee kitchen are the result of his tasty interest
A magical pool party
One Shawnee backyard serves as a worthy staycation retreat for any season
shawnee Businesses
Features
20
Gone to the dogs …
… and cats, horses, ducks and goldfish
Local profiles 24
28
A different kind of calling
One Shawnee resident makes a midlife change to help others—here and halfway across the world
Fashionable hope
Warrior Wear honors the spirit of unforeseen journeys
health & fitness 38
The zen of soy
Thanks to their entrepreneurial spirit, one couple turn edamame beans into a nutritious, tasty dip
For the Family 42
Sign of the times
Families are learning to communicate with their babies before words
get away 44
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All work & all play
Meet four Shawnee residents who have wrangled their passion into a paycheck BY Jaime Netzer
32
In the business of art
Behind the scenes with Shawnee employees at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
sHawneemagazine
BY Ryan Brown
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on the cover
Anne Panovich, co-owner of Soy-Zen-Zay {Photography by Jason Dailey} 38 soy-zen-zay: dipping into edamame 32 on the job at nelson-atkins 42 speaking your baby’s language 28 jewels for surviving
Peach perfect
Dixie is alive and kicking in a town where golf, history and the leisure arts rule
Shawnee
living
chef’s table
story by
Kimberly Stern
photography by
Tim Andersen
The growing
recipe
Greg Roith and his Shawnee kitchen are the result of his tasty interest
sHawneemagazine
Chef Greg Roith has never met an ingredient he doesn’t like.
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Roith channels his culinary inspiration with a brisk walk through the grocery store as he scans shelves for products to incorporate into recipes and menus at his catering operation and storefront café. He creates tasty dishes that combine unlikely partners—like sugared almonds, dried blueberries and poached chicken for a magnificent salad— much to the delight of his customers. The adventurous chef traces a passion for food back to age 14, when his father suggested he get a job to earn spending money. The youngster spent his first days on a payroll tossing pizza crust and discovered the food business could be his meal ticket for life. At age 18 the industrious Roith became a corAt 75 Café, chef Greg Roith spins his culinary creativity into a packed house at lunch. The cafe and entertainment venue, Executive Catering, has become a popular spot in Shawnee.
Shawnee
living
porate trainer for Benningan’s, the popular grill and tavern chain, and later worked his way up the ranks to day sous chef at the Marriott Hotel on Metcalf Avenue. “From there I went to work in a Westport restaurant, spending my days in a basement kitchen perfecting sauces and making pots of soups and lots of patés,” says Roith. The substantial culinary chops of Roith’s father, Ed, influenced him to pursue a career in the food arena. An award-winning barbecue master, Ed founded the certified barbecue judging program and was vice president of the Kansas City Barbeque Society, known in ’cue circles as the world’s largest organization of barbecue experts. “My dad is a bona fide barbecue guru with proprietary seasonings and steak and chop rubs that he private labels to different retailers,” says Roith.
top left Roith’s sister and pastry chef, Debra Yates, makes delectable cupcakes. above Left The BLT and Cobb Salad is a crowd pleaser.
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right The kitchen at home is a favorite space for the Roith family, from left; Debra, Muriel, Logan and Greg.
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75 CafÉ, Executive Catering (913) 438-3000 www.executivecatering.com
Roith relocated to sunny Florida, where he gained experience managing the front of the house in several restaurants, and moved back to the Kansas City area in 1996 when his mother was diagnosed with ALS. Once he settled into his hometown, Roith worked for the well-known Mexican chain On the Border and later became general manager of a Lone Star Steakhouse. Common elements in the restaurant industry—buckets of hours and a high stress level—prompted Roith to investigate an opportunity to become a partner in Executive Catering, an established and successful catering business. “We grew the business by 400 percent in three years,” he says. Roith is now the sole proprietor of the thriving business and not only caters comfort food with signature flair but also operates the contemporary 75 Café at 75th Street and Quivira Road in Shawnee. He uses knowledge gained from his father’s prolific barbecue experience and smokes meat for sandwiches, like the delicious chipotle pork loin topped with sweet coleslaw, house-made fries and smoked Gouda that’s served in
Shawnee
living
corporate box lunches and in the café. And although Roith’s love affair with the kitchen is still evident, he relies on Executive Catering’s chef Brent Mattison to execute the soups, stocks, sauces and food that satiate customers daily. “I still create new dishes and tweak old ones,” says Roith. “Brent is a great chef, and he adds his East Coast bent to my Midwest training. In the end we actually cook very similarly with lots of balanced flavor and only the freshest ingredients.” Roith’s sister Debra Yates is the company’s world-class pastry chef whose stunning, picture-perfect wedding cakes and tasty desserts wow clients. 75 Café, which Roith opened in March, is filled with area professionals and stay-at-home parents during the lunch hour. At night it transforms into one of two event spaces where corporate meetings, weddings, luncheons, special occasion parties and rehearsal dinners are hosted. When Roith steps away from the hustle of catering and the café, he extends a well-honed creative palate to his home kitchen, where wife Debra, daughter Muriel, 10, and son Logan, 6, enjoy his techniques. “My wife gives me grief,” laughs Roith. “I pilfer the refrigerator and cabinets to put together a terrific meal.” The chef prepares quick and easy food at home, relying on the grill to barbecue juicy medium-rare steaks, a favorite of Logan’s. “My favorite is simple food enhanced with fresh herbs and a bit of olive oil and garlic,” says Roith. “For me, less is definitely more when it comes to good food.” Roith’s wife and children swoon over his cooking—with Logan often requesting his dad’s spinach. Roith says the family enjoys exploring different restaurants in the metro area; a hands-down family favorite is Shawnee’s Pine and Bamboo Garden for the Hong Kong-style dim sum. Although Roith is a few decades removed from his initial kitchen experience, his enthusiasm for food and its delicious possibilities hasn’t waned. Today he choreographs the action for appreciative customers and his family, ensuring the quality of every meal. sm
Customers enjoy lunch hour at the 75 Café.
Here’s an example of how Roith is adept at putting together unlikely ingredients with fantastic results. He stumbled on this combination one day and decided to ramp up a traditional salad. Here’s a version of the recipe for a green salad—the key to which, Roith says, is a chilled salad plate.
Blueberry SugaredAlmond Salad
Sugared almonds Carrots Yellow onion Celery Dried blueberries Shredded Parmesan cheese Kosher salt Freshly cracked black pepper Fresh mixed greens Store-bought dressing like oriental vinaigrette
To make the sugared almonds, moisten sliced almonds with water and toss in granulated sugar. Place on baking sheet and put in 350° oven. Toss frequently to prevent burning; remove when golden and let cool. Finely dice carrots, yellow onion and celery. Toss blueberries with diced vegetables, almonds and cheese; add greens, lightly dress and serve on a chilled plate.
The popular Blueberry Sugared-Almond Salad.
Shawnee
living
striker family backyard
pool party
A magical
story by
Jaime Netzer
One Shawnee backyard serves as a worthy staycation retreat for any season
photography by
Jason Dailey
sHawneemagazine
When Maralee Striker and her husband, Fran, first decided to put a
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pool in their Shawnee backyard, it was supposed to be “a little hole in the ground,” says Maralee. Almost two years, 18,000 tons of rock and one 22-foot waterslide later, the Strikers ended up with a rustic backyard escape that is truly original. Fran first approached Maralee with the idea in November 2007. They’d been living in Shawnee since 2001, and a pool would be a major addition to their 3,500-square foot home. As a triathlete, Fran wanted a pool with a swim jet to help him train. But this wasn’t what convinced Maralee. “I talked to some of my friends, and they kept saying the best thing about having a pool is that your kids will want to be at your house, even as they get older,” she says.
This spectacular backyard retreat in Shawnee is a year-round oasis for the Striker family.
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living
above Left The area is dimensional
with mountain landscapes, reminding the family of favorite mountain destinations.
Above right Large boulders were
sHawneemagazine
brought in from Colorado to create the peaking element.
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Since the pool’s completion, their children Thor, 10, and Abigael, 15, have spent countless hours playing in the water with friends. “My daughter actually wants to stay home,” Maralee says. The finished product is a result of the collaboration of Maralee, Fran, Ed Porras at New Beginnings Landscapes in Missouri and a lighting expert. The centerpiece of the backyard is the pool, which is 45 feet across at its widest point. The Strikers’ home could fit inside it width-wise. “I wanted a pool that looked like a lake or a pond—not a pool,” she says. “The end result is so beautiful that we added three doors and a window to our home so we could see the pool better.” The backyard was terraced into three levels to account for its steep upward slope. Large boulders and rocks shipped directly from the Colorado Rockies boast warm stratified layers of reds, yellows and oranges. The yard’s amenities also include a fire ring surrounded by Adirondack chairs—practically begging for s’more roasting shindigs—a partial in-ground hot tub and a waterfall cascading into the pool.
A screened patio made with a sand finish provides what Maralee calls a “three-season” respite from eager Kansas bugs. “We wanted a rustic look, like a mountain log cabin,” Maralee says. In fact, the backyard escape is a pleasing mix of desert paucity and mountainous rocks. This, Maralee says, is a result of an effort to tie in both of their childhood memories. “When I was young, we used to go camping in Colorado and in this mountain range in Andreas National Park in California,” Maralee says. “We went down this natural waterslide into a pond, and that’s what we modeled our slide after.” The Strikers’ lengthy waterslide has a cascading waterfall at its side. It empties into the pool where, per Fran’s original request, his swim jet serves a dual purpose. “It works for him to train with, but it also has a fun function, because when you come down off the waterslide, it propels you across the pool.” Fran’s family also plays a role in the backyard design. “His grandfather wrote the radio program and book The Lone Ranger series, and they had a lot of episodes in the high desert,” Maralee says. “We tried to bring back that history of both of our pasts in the design.” Another quirk is the 28 hidden Mickey Mouse design features. “I’m a huge Disney World fan. It’s my favorite place in the world,” Maralee says. “So just like at Disney World, we had hidden Mickeys built into our design. There are 28 of them because Mickey Mouse was created in 1928.” “So many people come into our yard—the UPS guy, mailman, strangers who knock on our door—and say, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe this is your backyard.’ We didn’t intend for this to be a big deal. We intended to do it for our family. So to become sort of renowned for it is really flattering.” Maralee is happiest with her backyard escape when people can enjoy it. While she is not a big swimmer, she is thrilled to host her parents for weekly dinners at their home over the summer. And when the weather cools, the family enjoys backyard fires and snowy dips in the hot tub. “We kept the hot tub open all winter last year, and it was utilized a lot,” she says. “The best was when my dad and my husband trudged across the patio in 30-degree weather to hop in. It was snowing lightly, and though I thought they were crazy, they had a great time. “Even though it’s a pool, the backyard’s features really make it be an all-season yard,” she says. “With the windows we built and the amazing lighting scheme at night, you can look out at it and feel like you’re on vacation in your own home. Even when snow hits the rocks, it’s just so beautiful.” sm
“I talked to some of my friends, and they kept saying the best thing about having a pool is that your kids will want to be at your house, even as they get older.” – Maralee Striker
Thor, Abigail, Fran and Maralee agree the pool is a family destination—especially for the kids as they get older.
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all work & all play
Meet four Shawnee residents who have wrangled their passion into a paycheck
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rmed with the knowledge that everyone has a passion, and some people are lucky enough to get paid to follow theirs, Shawnee Magazine set out to find a few neighbors with unpredictable and intriguing ways of paying the bills. An illustrator, travel agent, museum director and magician later, we came to one obvious conclusion: Work can be fun.
Story by Jaime Netzer
photography by tim andersen
Mindi Love
Director of Johnson County Museums
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Visit www.jocomuseum.org to learn more
hen Mindi Love asked the Shawnee community for memories of the 1960s and 1970s, she was rewarded with a wealth of fascinating local history nuggets. “One person wrote in and said they had seen The Who play at Shawnee Mission South (High School),” Love says. “We couldn’t believe it, but sure enough, the band’s website lists every show ever played, and in 1967 they played several high schools around the country.” Love, who grew up in Overland Park, is now the director of the Johnson County Museums. This job encompasses three historic sites: the Johnson County How she got into Museum of History, the job: the 1950s All-Electric House and the Lanes- After my freshman year I field School Historic spent the summer in Boston Site. As director of a with my brother. I went to relatively small museum staff (Love works many of the sites I had learned with 10 other employ- about in school and switched ees), she has a hand my major from journalism to in many aspects of history, with the intention of running the museum, working in a history museum. from strategic plan- My mother thought I was craning to exhibition zy. I started working at this research to marketing museum in 1992 and worked and fundraising. my way up from the being the “The thing that I front desk museum assistant like most is that every single day is differ- to being director. ent,” she says. “That, Her advice to and I love working on would-be museum exhibitions and helpdirectors: ing with that process. That’s my passion.” Love explains the The biggest and most impormuseum has a team of tant thing to do is to volunteer people who help brain- and get a sense of what the storm, research and work is about, what scale you execute exhibitions. enjoy and what the opportuni“Sometimes we’ll get ties are. There are lots of graduideas from the public; ate programs you can get into, other times we’ll get but as a public service kind of ideas sparked from visiting other museums,” job, you’re not going to get rich she says. “I love find- doing it, so you have to really ing that unique object love it. or picture that really illustrates the point.”
“It’s great to be able to work with my family.” – Jay French
Visit www.ucruisevacation.com to learn more Justin
Jay French
Travel agency owner
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hen Jay French goes to Mexico, he ends up feeling like the odd man out. “We’re always the geeky-looking people at the pool with video cameras, still cameras and notepads; fully dressed, with everybody looking at us with bathing suits and umbrella drinks.” On these trips, French does site inspections for six to eight hotels in a single day. Relying heavily on good notes and photos, he says only the best and worst hotels stick out in his mind after such a full day. “The ones in the middle tend to blur, until you come home and lay the pictures side by side with your notes,” he says. French has worked in the business of travel since 1989, and he made the move to open his own company, Ultimate Cruise and Vacation, in April 2002. He previously worked as an agent in wholesale travel, marketing and even as a teacher in travel school. “Back when everybody wanted to be in the business, I taught classes on how to sell travel,” he says. Modern times and technologies, including a How he first got little innovation called the into the gig: internet, have changed the travel industry. “People like to call it I was promoting professional our worst enemy,” French wrestling and traveling a lot; says. “But it’s not. It’s it was time for a change. The 9 another competitor and a.m. to 5 p.m. hours of travel another resource.” agents seemed appealing to French co-owns Ultime. Of course, now that I own mate Cruise and Vacation with his wife, Carol. my own business, the hours Their son Justin was the are anything but 9 to 5. company’s first full-time His advice to employee and still works would-be travel there today. “He’s been agents and with us since the first day business owners: we opened,” French says. “He has quite a large folI encourage people to get into lowing of his own.” “It’s great to be able our industry, especially young to work with my fam- people. It is becoming a slim ily,” says French. “Carol field. Too many people are handles the back end. under the misconception that I’m well-traveled in the ours is a dying industry. Nothstates, and Justin loves ing could be further from fact. Europe, so it works out. He’s here all day and I Sure, there has been attrition love it. It keeps us close.” since the boom of the internet,
but that is the case with many industries: Change with the times or be left behind.
Jay
Devin Henderson
Magician and Entertainer
H
enderson has been a professional magician since he graduated from college. He started out working at restaurants, birthday parties, schools and churches, but now mainly does corporate events where he can showcase his magic and comedy acts. He credits his success today to his perseverance in hunting for those first restaurant gigs. “I went to 40 restaurants and asked to talk to the general manager. I ended up getting gigs at two: the Jazz in Olathe and Copeland’s of New Orleans in Overland Park. These people gave me a chance, and I handed out my business card at every table,” he says. “People are surprised when they hear it’s all I do,” he says. “But there’s actually a very high demand for entertainment, if you can offer a quality product.” Henderson says he thrives off being in front of large groups of people and even presented his shows before audiences of How he got into 1,000 people. the gig: “Those shows are my favor- A magician named L.C. Colite, because lier came to our school at there’s a lot of audience Broken Arrow when I was 11, i n t e ra c t i o n ,” and I thought it was the coolhe says. “It’s est thing ever. I went to the always fun- library, checked out a big stack ny when the of books and taught myself entire audience magic. It was a hobby from knows what’s that point on. going on, but the person I’ve His advice to brought on would-be stage doesn’t.” magicians: A devoted Christian, Be as original and creative as H e n d e r s o n ’s possible. Also, remember that shows are never marked when you are performing, it’s by innuendo or not about you; it’s about your cursing. “It’s audience and the gift of mysa completely tery and excitement you are clean show,” giving to them. he says.
Visit www.devinhenderson.com to learn more
Tony Griego
Illustrator
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hile working at Hallmark Cards Inc., Tony Griego and his co-workers had a saying: “Trying to manage artists is like herding cats.” Today, however, it’s the creative, eccentric crowd that made his 17 years at Hallmark so fulfilling. “They employ the best illustrators in the country there,” he says of Hallmark’s headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. “I was surrounded by really intelligent and great people.” Griego retired from Hallmark as a senior illustrator and art director in 2007. Now working at Andrews McMeel Publishing Co. in its 12-person greeting card division, he has illustrated books, children’s books, educational materials and, of course, greeting cards. He finds inspiration everywhere but keeps a lot of it in three filing cabinets organized alphabetically. “That’s the way I was trained,” he says. “If I’m supposed to make a bear in a rainstorm with an umbrella, I’ll get out my bear files, my rainstorm files and my How he first got umbrella files. I’ll into the gig: look for images I like, pin them up on my board, and that I spent a summer at my grandwill kick-start what I ma’s house with my brother when we were kids, and my need to do.” Griego rarely uncle was an artist. He gave feels an artistic me a pad, pencil and a Walter block, which he attri- Foster book on cartooning. butes to practicing at I was probably in the second an early age. “When grade, and I started drawing I was supposed to right then. be paying attention in school, I would His advice to sit there, doodle and would-be give myself assignillustrators: ments. I’d draw a squiggly line and ask, ‘How many things I would tell a prospective artcan I make out of ist to go into design instead this line?’ I was just of illustration. Illustration is a entertaining myself, really tough way to make a livbut I didn’t realize I ing and getting tougher in the was teaching myself greeting-card world. Graphic how to brainstorm. design gives you so many more Now that I’m 54, it’s options. sm just old hat.”
Visit www.tonygriego.com to learn more
Shawnee
businesses to learn more about bayer go to www.bayer-ah.com
Gone to the dogs... … and cats, horses, ducks and goldfish
story by
Kimberly Stern
photography courtesy
Peter Obetz Photography
sHawneemagazine
A priceless art collection lines the halls at Bayer Animal Health’s North American headquarters in Shawnee. Beautifully framed black and-white photographs feature grinning, laughing and playful employees with their dogs, cats, birds, horses, a duck and even two goldfish. This avant garde approach to a corporate art collection is the brainchild of Joerg Ohle, Bayer Animal
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left Ron Guffey with his boxer. right Kennette Cunningham with her Yorkie mix.
Health U.S. president and general manager. He has helped reshape the pharmaceutical giant’s corporate culture, in part with each photo of an employee and a precious pet. The project launched in November 2006 as part of Ohle’s greater initiative to create a collaborative, passionate and communicative environment—in addition to redesigning a once-sterile cafeteria space, knocking down office walls, adding windows and beautifying common areas.
Ohle envisioned the headquarters as visually embodying the company’s strong connection between humans and animals. A tag by each photo lists the pet’s name, employee’s name, service date and a brief description of the connection between the employee and their pet. Some of the photographs even travel to conventions and trade shows across the country, hanging on a wire mesh wall inside Bayer Animal Health’s booth.
Shawnee
businesses since added another dog to the family. He explains that the offer to capture an employee-pet photograph is one-time only. “So if you add to your menagerie like I did, you can’t have another one taken,” says Walker. “But each employee does receive a complimentary 5-by-7 photograph following the photo session.” Peter Obetz, a Kansas City area photographer, was hired to capture the Bayer employees with their furry or web-footed friends. “There’s an absolute love that each employee has for their particular animal, no matter the breed or species,” says Obetz. “That’s what I wanted to capture.” Obetz, who owns a personable Labrador named Beau, was attracted to the project on a number of levels but especially for the way the photographs ultimately humanized the company’s mission and broke down internal barriers. “Entry-level folks have their pictures side-byside with management, and suddenly there’s a strong, unbreakable common bond,” says Obetz. “Plus, people are interested in their colleagues’ pets: ‘Oh, I didn’t know you had a Yorkie or a collie or a Rottweiler.’ It gives everyone a common launching pad for relating to one another.” Walker says the company’s “Bayer Spirit” is personified in the one-of-a-kind art collection at the Shawnee headquarters. “The employee-pet photos represent a beautiful partnership in illustrating our commitment to employee satisfaction,” says Walker. “It all starts as an inside job.” sm
sHawneemagazine
Bob Walker, director of communications and public policy at Bayer Animal Health, says the collection’s 180 portraits of employees and their pets are displayed throughout the building. “People weren’t sure what to expect when we announced this,” says Walker, a Shawnee transplant from Pittsburgh. “Once the first 80 photos were hung, everyone loved it. We’ve had three rounds of photo shoots, and the program is wildly popular. Employees have a renewed sense of pride in what we do here.” Photos are placed nearest the area of the building in which the employee works. The impact of people strolling past the pictures every day can’t be measured, and the positive comments from clients are invaluable. “The photos have strengthened the employees’ bond with each other and the company,” says Walker. “We get a huge reaction from clients about the beauty of the whole collection … and we do refer to the photos as fine art.” Ohle was in the first photo session and is pictured with his two dogs. His assistant, Pat Progar, was photographed with her beloved Labrador, Chloe. “This concept reinforces why we’re here,” says Progar. “There’s such a strong, unbreakable bond between humans and animals, and the photos illustrate that.” Progar is responsible for the administrative portion of the employee-pet photograph project. She coordinates framing with Jane Solon of Jane’s Frames in Shawnee and even spends weekend hours hanging the photographs. Walker is featured in a photo with his dog, Bear, a rescue dog from the Safe Harbor Prison Dog Program. He and his wife have
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clockwise from left Cristiano von Simson with his Great Dane and boxer-pug mix. Glen Santy with his Jack Russell terrier mix. Bob Walker at Bayer where the portraits line the halls (Photograph by Jason Dailey). Lesley Rausch-Derra with her parakeets. Linda Merrick with her English mastiff. Dale Ecton with his Lab husky mix.
Local
profiles karen lampe
story by
Kimberly Stern photography by
tim andersen
A different
kind of calling One Shawnee resident makes a midlife change to help others—
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here and halfway across the world
24
Friends of Karen Lampe still remember her solemn proclamation made years ago when she was growing up on a wheat and cattle farm in a small western Kansas community near Goodland. Karen Lampe followed through on her promise of attending seminary. Today she is renowned for her work at the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection and her awareness efforts for needy communities in Africa.
Local
profiles “I said early on I would attend seminary,” says Lampe. Lampe, who now lives in Shawnee, always felt a strong call to justice as a young woman growing up in the era of feminism, war protests and racial inequality. “It became very clear to me that society needed to take action in order to help people that fell outside the margins,” says Lampe. During her college years she married Les Lampe, a boy she knew from a neighboring high school and later reconnected with at college. “Les was smart as a whip and a very likeable person,” says Lampe of the good guy, class salutatorian, student council president, National Merit Scholar and quarterback. The couple have been married for 37 years and raised a son and two daughters, all of whom have pursued careers serving others such as medicine, law, seminary and AmeriCorps. With the support of her family, Lampe fulfilled her childhood conviction at age 44 when she left a successful career as a physical therapist to attend St. Paul School of Theology in Kansas City, Missouri. What might appear to some as a radical career change in midlife was actually the realization of Lampe’s commitment to pursue issues where she could make a positive impact. “Paul was in middle school and Jessica was just starting medical school when I decided to enter seminary,” says Lampe. She opted not to go full time but continued to work three days a week as a physical therapist and juggle parenthood with Les. Lampe says her husband is a very engaged parent, even with a demanding career requiring extensive domestic and international travel over the years. The couple strive to be role models for their children
above right Les and Karen raised their children in Shawnee and supported one another when she decided to make a career change at 44. left Karen’s visits to Africa have helped women and children learn more about the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
sHawneemagazine
and as partners stayed connected to them as they grew into young adults and launched their own careers. Today they are a closeknit family, enjoying frequent visits, phone conversations and spirited discussions. Upon completion of her rigorous seminary studies, Lampe initially thought she’d work in justice ministry but instead felt immense peace when she was led to pastoral ministry. Ordained in 2003 as an elder, she was appointed to the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, often regarded among the largest mainstream churches in the country with a roster of more than 16,000 members. As an executive pastor at Resurrection, Lampe leads an integrated team of clergy in congregational care that tends to the needs of the sprawling church. The department consists of 20 people, including nine pastors, two seminary students and a host of volunteers. “We perform weddings, funerals, baptisms and offer services in the arenas of mental health, addiction recovery, spiritual wellbeing and financial ministries,” says Lampe. Lampe says she is able to realize daily her goal of helping others and making a difference in the quality of individual lives and relationships. Issues of social justice, women in transition and broken families present themselves regularly to Lampe, who applies her theological knowledge, intuition and deep compassion to help counsel, solve and resolve.
25
Local
profiles “At Resurrection I feel like there’s a possibility to really make a bigger impact nationally,” says Lampe. “Because of our size we’re asked, ‘What do you think about this issue?’ and ‘How do you care for your congregants?’” Lampe has written a Standards of Care guidebook for her department that is now being used as a model for other United Methodist Churches across the nation as they shape congregational care programs. Shawnee residents and Resurrection congregants Tom and Christy Bradley have known Lampe for six years and say their first immediate impressions of her were ones of caring, giving and nurturing. “It’s easy to have a deep and meaningful conversation rather than superficial talk with Karen,” says Tom. “And her deep passion and joy for serving others is contagious. Christy and I have gone on several Honduran mission trips as a direct result of Karen’s motivation.”
Upon completion of her rigorous seminary studies, karen Lampe initially thought she’d work in justice ministry but instead felt immense peace when she was led to pastoral ministry.
One of Lampe’s best-known projects at Resurrection, and in the community, is the Sacred Steps 5K Run/Walk. The annual event, now in its fifth year, provides funding for ground-level projects in Sub-Saharan Africa to help combat the devastation caused by HIV/AIDS. Since its inception, it has raised almost $500,000. “Our mission in Africa involves education, encouragement and practical care for hundreds of orphans, widows, women and children,” says Lampe. Lampe is working to expand the popular event to a national scale. “The scope of the event is similar to how the Race for the Cure began,” she says. “You start with someone who has a vested emotional interest in it and then work to take it to the next level so people can engage in the experience.” Lampe has made three trips to the Sub-Saharan region of Africa. She leads classes for women, teaching them basis skills, and visits hospitals where she witnesses the ravages of the HIV/AIDS pandemic. There is a multipurpose hall named after Lampe in Malawi, a landlocked country in southeast Africa. She thrives on her calling to help people become cognizant of their wholeness from a theological perspective and how that connects with their everyday lives. “I’m humbled, and I feel like there’s so much responsibility that goes with it,” says Lampe. “But I’ve never looked back when I made that decision to change my vocation.” sm
Local
profiles amy breidenthal thomas
story by
Kimberly Stern photography by
jason dailey
Fashionable
hope
sHawneemagazine
Warrior Wear honors the spirit of unforeseen journeys
28
Amy Breidenthal Thomas is a modern-day warrior with a well-chosen arsenal. She uses laughter, determination and honesty to stay on top of her game as a wife, mother, friend and cancer survivor. Courage under fire is her mantra, and living in the moment is her mission.
Amy Breidenthal Thomas displays her many jewelry designs. The beading of necklaces and bracelets became a sort of healing during her chemotherapy treatment.
For more information on Amy’s jewelry and Warrior Wear home trunk shows, visit www.warriorwearjewels.com Unexpected turn The 37-year-old embarked on a bittersweet road since her breast cancer diagnosis last year. It’s been defined by the unexpected, gnawing ball of fear that accompanies the disease. But an inspirational push through the negative to a positive hope-filled life has helped. Amy was two weeks from delivering her second child in July 2008 when she detected a walnut-size lump in her breast during a morning shower. She kept the discovery to herself for two days and then decided to call her mother, Connie, with the news. The two spoke with Randy Sheridan, Amy’s obstetrician-gynecologist in Shawnee. “Everything about this pregnancy concerned me because previously I had a miscarriage,” says Amy. “Dr. Sheri-
dan and I became good friends during this trial.” Sheridan counseled the anxious young mother to wait until after delivering the baby to have the suspicious lump examined. Amy agreed, thinking it made sense to have tests performed during her hospital stay. She had an easy delivery and welcomed her second healthy daughter, Riley, into the world on July 21, 2008. “The birth was quick,” says Amy. “I think God was preparing me to tackle something bigger.” The lump was still present the evening after Riley’s birth, so a sonogram was ordered. Her family had no history of cancer and many of the nurses and radiologists thought the mass might be a blocked milk duct, which is common
Local
profiles
in pregnant women. Amy was in a positive frame of mind. The next night they learned that the lump indeed required more investigation. Sheridan told the shaking new mother there were several options: They could watch it for a month or she could elect to undergo a biopsy the next day. “I asked Dr. Sheridan if I were his daughter what advice he would give,” says Amy. “We immediately scheduled the biopsy.” Amy was discharged from the hospital and she and husband Jerrold became immersed in parenthood, tending to Riley, 5-year-old Payton and Jerrold’s 15-year-old daughter Bevin. Several nights after their joyous homecoming, the doorbell rang. “It was Dr. Sheridan standing on my doorstep.” The doctor gently told Amy the 2-inch lump was malignant and had invaded a lymph node. “My thoughts ran from ‘I just had a baby’ to ‘Now I have a death sentence,’” says an emotional Amy. “How could I just have experienced one of the happiest moments of my life and then be told I have cancer?” Amy’s breast cancer was aggressive, but Sheridan reassured her it was found early. Within three days of the diagnosis Amy found oncologist Robert Belt of Kansas City Cancer Center and was giving blood and rallying her support system. Jerrold assumed par-
sHawneemagazine
left A violet jade, mother of pearl and freshwater pearl sterling silver necklace with an amethyst pendant. above A red coral and sterling silver necklace.
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An agate, yellow quartz and sterling silver necklace.
e l b a t a e Unb s t r o p s l loca . e g a r e v co Shawnee Dispatch and shawneedispatch.com have the most comprehensive high school sports coverage, period.
enting duties while Amy filled her calendar with chemotherapy appointments. She endured 20 weeks of treatments through mid-December, had a double mastectomy on January 19, 2009, underwent a hysterectomy, mourned the death of her beloved grandfather and was administered a genetics test only to be told she carries the BRCA2 gene that signifies an increased risk for breast cancer. “It also means there’s a 50-50 chance I’ve passed the gene to my daughters,” says Amy.
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Amy’s answer to the rigors of chemotherapy is jewelry— with a purpose. It began when Jill Jenkins, owner of Magnum Opus boutique in Bonner Springs and a family friend, encouraged Amy to string beads during chemotherapy sessions. In November Amy recruited several fellow cancer patients in the sterile room to join her and found the project generated laughter, distraction and camaraderie. “It was like a social club,” laughs Amy. “For a few hours we forgot needles were in our arms.” Today her Warrior Wear: Jewels for the Journey line of bold necklaces, bracelets and earrings are Amy’s designs and a symbol of beauty. “A signature pink pearl is incorporated into each original piece as a reminder that everyone is fighting for something or someone,” says the straightforward Amy. Items are shown at Magnum Opus and Amy arranges home trunk showings, donating 20 percent of the proceeds to breast cancer research through Susan G. Komen for the Cure. To date she’s given $3,500 to the cause and is excited to increase those dollars as word spreads about her unique business. Many people attending parties are cancer survivors or host a trunk show in memory of someone who lost a cancer battle. Shawnee resident Sandra Jenkins, diagnosed with stage II breast cancer in 2004, hosted Amy’s first home event with 40 guests. “There’s no mountain too high or task too big for that young lady,” says Jenkins, a survivor. “Our commonality is laughter and an implicit understanding that a medical crisis demands a level of happiness.” Amy says cancer wasn’t in her plans at 37 years old. “I still have a long journey ahead, but my warrior spirit tells me I’m going to be fine,” says Amy. “Warrior Wear is an important part of my life and allows me to give back.” sm
in the business of
I
t is recognized as one of the finer general art museums in the United States, housing a collection of more than 33,500 works of art and possessing extraordinary galleries of work. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art is truly a treasure of Kansas City, Missouri.
story by
ryan brown
art Behind the scenes with Shawnee employees at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
However, it is not just the art that establishes the Nelson-Atkins identity. The people working behind the scenes at the museum are a vital cog in the museum’s machine of beauty and splendor. Their role within the Nelson-Atkins ensures that all of the 400,000 visitors each year gain a memorable experience. Here’s a look at a few museum staff members who call Shawnee home.
photography by
jason dailey
Margaret Schramm Thompson
Education department – classroom/workshop teacher
S
chramm Thompson is an art teacher in the Shawnee Mission school district. During the summer and weekends she finds rejuvenation working as a teacher at the Nelson-Atkins. “It keeps you fresh to see the different perspectives that artists have on subjects,” says Schramm Thompson. “You think you have seen everything from a point of view, and then I see something totally different and unique and you have to change your vantage point on it again.” A lifelong love affair with art, both as a spectator and a creator, moved Schramm Thompson to work for the museum. Coupled with the opportunity to teach, working there has proven to be a perfect fit. “We have all ages, from 5 years old to adult, who participate in the art classes,” she says. Exposing children to the wonder and beauty of art is one of the greatest benefits to working at the Nelson-Atkins for Schramm Thompson. “We give them a reason to remember the art, to give them some ownership of the Nelson,” she says. “Hopefully make them appreciate it for the rest of their lives.”
Jodi Olson-Kidney
Marketing and communications coordinator
D
uring her eight years at the Nelson-Atkins, Olson-Kidney has seen the museum undergo a literal and figurative facelift. “Everything has changed since I started here,” says Olson-Kidney. “We’ve added on to the building, we’ve brought in some new exhibits and we’re changing the way we market ourselves to the area.” One of Olson-Kidney’s duties is to coordinate the museum’s social networking efforts, specifically Facebook, MySpace and Twitter. “Social
networking was an untapped body that allowed us to access different audiences, to do something a little more informal and a little more fun,” she says. By reaching out to a new audience, Olson-Kidney hopes to expose a new generation of art fans to the treasures the museum contains. “One of the best rewards that I personally have is having someone come to the Nelson who may not have considered visiting us in the past,” says Olson-Kidney. “Bringing in some-
one who’s never been exposed to what we have to offer the people is satisfying to me.” The museum’s website is another new resource that can draw in more visitors. “Our website has a blog where we update the readers about new exhibits that are available and other information they may find interesting. Using these tools has helped immensely in building new relationships that normally wouldn’t have been possible,” says Olson-Kidney.
Toni Wood
Marketing and communications manager
O
ne of the greatest challenges the Nelson-Atkins faces is spreading the museum’s message and news to its intended audience amid all the other people and places vying for their attention. “It’s not easy,” says Wood. “But we want to make sure that people know of our collections and exhibits in the galleries, so it’s providing a steady stream of information to the public.” “I love working for a nonprofit and working for an institution with the history that the Nelson has with Kansas City,” says Wood. One of Wood’s focuses is to remind the audience that the museum serves as affordable entertainment for those who may be feeling pinched in these troubling economic times. “We are trying to continue to spread the word that we are one of the treasures of this city, and we continue to be free of admission charge,” says Wood. “We’re a nice, economically friendly choice to a lot of families who may be struggling financially.” As an avid art lover, Wood says working at the museum is astonishing. “Sometimes, I can’t believe they let me work here,” says Wood. “Being around not just the art but other people who love art—that’s fulfilling to me.” Wood and her team are focused on determining the most efficient and effective way of outreach. “Sometimes we talk about using billboards, where hundreds of thousands of people will see our message. We have discussed a grassroots campaign, too—where we go to farmers’ markets, art fairs and other gatherings to hand out sketchbooks. The sketchbooks have a reproduction of one of our American paintings on one side and an American Indian drawing on the other. It’s just another way of telling people ‘Hey, we’re here! Don’t forget about us.’”
John Hamann Book buyer
I
f the enthusiasm of employees is a sign of positive energy, Hamann is an effective advertisement for why the Nelson-Atkins is the place to be. Hamann is a veteran at the museum, having worked there since 1988. His appreciation for the museum is evident within the first 30 seconds of meeting him. “The Nelson’s an emotion, and it’s always something new,” he says. “The people here are fascinating— the employees, the volunteers and the visitors who come in. What I love most is that we’re always changing. You’re either going into the future or back into the past, and that’s amazing to me.” Today, he still takes pride in telling visitors about the museum. “It’s the best show in town that’s free,” says Hamann. “We have a worldrenowned collection and feel like we are held in high regard in the art community. We have things you can’t see in other institutions. For instance, we have one of only 10 Caravaggios in the country.” Even though he has seen it numerous times during the course of his career, Hamann still enjoys witnessing the reactions of visitors when they walk through the doors. “Seeing the school kids is really exciting,” says Hamann. “Once they come in here, they never forget it. The docents we have are amazing, and they are very clever in how they present the art and make learning about it interesting.” sm
Health &
fitness story by
Carrie Dvorak
the zen
photography by
Tim Andersen
of soy
Thanks to their entrepreneurial spirit, one couple turn edamame beans into a nutritious, tasty dip
sHawneemagazine
“One little bean and a dream” is the slogan
38
The edamame dips have been used on sandwiches, pasta, scrambled eggs, in wraps, as a vegetable or fruit dip— and that’s just a beginning.
Anne and Dean Panovich use to describe their business. The couple, who work out of their Shawnee home, knew even before they were married that they were interested in entrepreneurship. It was just a matter of time before they decided on the business. Dean says one evening in a “moment of corporate stress,” they began discussing various things they liked, including a high-protein soybean called edamame (pronounced eh-dah-MAH-may). The bean is usually eaten straight from its green pod or used in salads and other foods, which led Dean to consider making and selling an edamame dip or hummus. They figured someone, somewhere already had created a dip from the sweet, nutty-flavored bean, so they didn’t do anything with the idea for a couple months. Anne later got on the internet looking for edamame dip recipes. When she didn’t find any, the couple decided they could create some. It took about a year to perfect the dip during the product development. They started with a cucumber dip that was just “OK.” Then Anne found some inspiration from her mom’s cucumber salad recipe. “That was when the flavor and direction turned around,” she says. “The cucumber one really changed it, and the others followed.” Five years later, the dip flavors have expanded to include garlic, spicy Asian pepper, original, ginger wasabi and spicy garlic. The Panoviches wanted to create and sell a nutritious dip that tasted good. Dean says they were not specifically trying to make the dip low sodium but have been able to add that claim along with “gluten free” and “no dairy” to their label. An increase in the size of the batches allows for the lower sodium content. Besides being naturally high in protein, the edamame bean is a good source of calcium, vitamins, amino acids and phytoestrogens (plant-produced estrogens). It is low
The Soy-Zen-Zay edamame dips were created in Shawnee and have taken off in area markets.
Health &
fitness
Creators Anne and Dean Panovich.
visit
www.soyzenzay.com to order, or stop by one of these local markets: ••• Kansas City area Whole Foods Market stores ••• Hy-Vee stores with HealthMarket products in the Kansas City area and Lawrence ••• GreenAcres Market in Kansas City, Missouri, and Wichita ••• Nature’s Pantry in Independence, Missouri ••• Cosentino’s in Brookside and downtown Kansas City, Missouri
in sugar and saturated fat and cholesterol free. Dean says the ingredients they add to the edamame are fresh and have no preservatives, so the product is a good option for people with dietary restrictions, vegetarians, vegans or anyone looking for a nutritious spread and dip. Each tub contains ¹⁄³ pound of edamame plus olive oil, tahini paste made from sesame seeds, lemon juice and other all-natural ingredients and spices. The product is made weekly at the commercial kitchen of 75 Café in Shawnee, Dean says, with fresh produce from local vendors when available. The couple worked with the Food Science Institute at Kansas State University to select ingredients and enhance the product’s shelf life. The institute also helped them through the regulation process as they prepared the dips for retail sale. The dips are sold under the name Soy-Zen-Zay: Soy stands for great-tasting nutritional food, while zen-zay represents living a balanced healthy lifestyle. The couple created Buddha Bean as the company’s mascot. Dean remembers that a lot of people questioned the name at first as well as the product. However, once customers try a sample and find out about edamame and its nutritional value, it’s well-received. Ideas for the dip flavors initially came from foods that family and friends liked. As the couple started testing the product at farmers’ markets and in stores, the ideas for flavors and uses grew. Anne says the spicy garlic was “definitely from customer opinion.” The edamame dips have been used on sandwiches, pasta, scrambled eggs, in wraps, as a vegetable or fruit dip—and that’s just a beginning. They can be used instead of mayonnaise, heated or eaten right out of the container. Along with new flavors and uses for the dips, the Panovichs are developing more food products using edamame and expanding their distribution base. sm
Edamame: In Japanese, “eda” means branches and “mame” means beans. It is also called vegetable soybean and sweet bean. Edamame originated in China more than 2,000 years ago. It is from the same species as grain soybeans but is known for tasting sweeter, having a smoother texture and being easier to digest. Edamame is harvested and eaten in the green stage. The pods are inedible.
sHawneemagazine
• • • •
Facts about edamame
39
Q& A
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Faryle Scott.
with
Kirk Peterson
tion. It helps because you have more conversations about the students and you get to know the students more. It’s just better for the students, and it’s better for your own teaching because they’re constantly sharing strategies that have worked in their classroom that you can use in your own classroom.
In the classroom, Kirk Peterson plays the role of a history detective. The seventh-grade teacher and eighthgrade football coach at Monticello Trails Middle School in Shawnee wants to share the mysteries of the world with his students. The 26-year-old credits his teachers for helping him discover the desire to teach Kansas history, geography and his newest class, History is a Mystery, focusing on the unsolved mysteries of the world. A graduate of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri, Peterson began teaching four years ago. He strives to get his students as excited about history as he is. “I really want to ignite students’ passion for history. I want to change their minds and show them how it’s not boring and that it’s applicable to their lives,” says Peterson. We learn how he focuses on finding projects and assignments that fuse his students’ interests and his lessons into one, to show how everything is a part of history.
What would your students say is their favorite lesson?
sHawneemagazine
Seventh-grade social studies teacher, Monticello Trails Middle School
40
I do a Chautauqua. Back in the late 1880s during the reform movement, politicians would basically just set up tents on the town square in small towns all over the state of Kansas and they would give speeches or put on a concert right on the spot. It usually had to do with politics, kind of a grassroots way of speaking about different political events. What my students have to do is they choose a character that we have been talking about during our unit and they have to give a speech from that character’s perspective. They get to dress up and they can use different accents if they want. I think they probably like it even though they don’t really like to get up in front of people. What inspired you to become a teacher?
I love to learn, and my college professors up at William Jewell showed me that. I want to pass that along to my students. At Monticello Trails, teachers are split into teams at each grade level. How does that help your school?
Each grade—we have sixth, seventh and eighth grade—has two teams. They are divided up into the hallway. You collaborate with your own team. Like I’m a Trailblazer Team and there are three other teachers besides myself. We collaborate as far as our discipline policy and best teaching strategies. We are always talking to each other and planning how we are going to do things. We also collaborate with the other seventh-grade team. So not only are we collaborating with our own team, we are collaborating with what they’re doing in their own hall. We are trying to make it as consistent as possible for students. We are also looking for the best teaching strategies. Maybe there is something that they did better with a student that was having trouble getting motivated and they’re sharing how they did it with us. Basically, it’s an overall collabora-
What kind of secret weapons do you have on hand as a teacher?
I don’t want to give out too many here [laughter]. There’s always “The Look.” Like the kid’s talking and you don’t have to say anything—you just look at them. How would you describe the rewards of teaching?
Even though sometimes it’s difficult to see those rewards, especially in the short term, it’s mostly long term, and the kid gets older and you’re like, “He turned out pretty good” [laughter]. It’s just a good feeling to know that a kid has learned something from you and is now passionate about that topic. What is your advice for young teachers?
Collaborate. Have someone you can talk to. Don’t try to do everything on your own. There are other teachers out there that have great ideas and are willing to help out. Does your classroom have any flair?
I have this weird infatuation with maps and geography. Most of my posters are maps. sm
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For the
family
baby signs
story by
Kim Antisdel
photography by
Tim Andersen
H
ave a conversation with any new parent, and they will likely say for the most part that baby eats, sleeps and goes to the bathroom. They also will tell you that it’s tricky to know which of those activities baby wants to do at any given time. That’s because babies have yet to develop the ability to form words, especially in expressing their needs and wants. To vent their communication frustrations, babies often use tantrums, screaming and crying to explain their needs. Naturally, parents often want to scream and cry right back. Inevitably a guessing game of bottles, toys, diapers and Cheerios is played until the ambiguous need is met. It’s enough to drive any parent just a
Sign
of the times
Sharing signs The Baby Signs program was developed in 1982 by Linda Accredelo and Susan Goodwyn, who were doctors and mothers. The pair conducted two decades of research with the National Institutes of Health to form a simple sign language program intended to help hearing parents connect and communicate better, or at all, with their infants. Locally, Katie Burke is a certified instructor for the Baby Signs Program. While in college, Burke took sign language courses for fun but never dreamed she would eventually use that knowledge to communicate with her own child. When her daughter was born, Burke heard about the Baby Signs program and decided to learn it and become an instructor. She has taught several classes in the Merriam area and is looking to expand to Shawnee and other surrounding areas as well. “It’s amazing what she’s learned,” says Burke. “I really believe her advanced level of development is because of this program.”
sHawneemagazine
Families are learning to communicate with their babies before words
little crazy. Today, however, there is a positive and effective way to better communicate with baby.
42
Practicing Baby Signs are, from left, Aianna Jonson, Kathleen Helmly and her daughter Lilian Seesing, teacher Katie Burke and Laura and Royce Gray.
For the
family
Burke’s primary goal is to teach other parents how easy and rewarding signing with their children can be. In fact, it’s so simple that parents may be doing it inadvertently already, she says. “Babies naturally use gestures to communicate, even without class instruction,” Burke says. “For example, many babies learn to wave to say ‘goodbye.’ This program builds on that basic concept. In the same way babies crawl before they walk, they can sign before they talk.” The course teaches babies and parents the signs for simple nouns and verbs, like milk and eat, but also educates babies to sign emotional words to convey emotions, such as sad or hurt. Signing enables babies as young as 8 months old to articulate their feelings and bond with their parents—a huge step forward in the development process.
Bigger benefit Baby Signs also has been linked to many health benefits with babies, including reduced frustration and aggression, and improved emotional and motor skill development. “When children start to sign at such an early age, they begin to make mental connections to words, feelings and items,” Burke says. “Then those connections continue at a high rate as the child progresses and gets older, and that creates a higher level of learning.” Baby signing doesn’t solely benefit babies. Parents, teachers, grandparents and child care providers notice a change in their interaction with signing babies as well. “It’s so cool when you see two babies actually talk to each other,” Burke says. “One baby might see a ball and make the sign for ‘ball.’ Another toddler will make the same sign, and they understand each other. It’s so rewarding to see that take place.” Babies can begin the Baby Signs program as early as 6 months or as late as 2 years, but parents must be patient and realistic when teaching infant children. “Depending on the child, you should expect to be signing for a good seven to eight months before the baby begins to sign back.” Burke says. “It just takes a lot of repetition and patience, and the reward is to be able to talk to your baby.”
When and where If you’re interested in learning Baby Signs, visit Katie Burke’s Baby Signs website at
www.babysignsprogram.com/withktb. Katie Burke led two Baby Signs workshops for parents in the last year. She invites moms, dads and their babies to participate in the six-week program. For those who prefer a lesser time commitment, Burke hopes to offer individual workshop classes in Shawnee once a month beginning in September. These workshops will be a “come as you are” environment with no sign-up required.
Making the connection
Katie uses a teddy bear to show Aianna different signs. The class helps parents communicate with their children through simple sign language.
sHawneemagazine
Laura Gray, a student of Burke, remembers how the use of only one sign helped during a difficult situation. Gray had been teaching her son signs for several weeks without results and had nearly given up. One day he became extremely fussy after eating, and Gray couldn’t figure out why. “Suddenly I turned around and he was making the sign for ‘more,’” Gray says. “He was still hungry. I was so surprised, because we hadn’t been practicing signs for quite a while, but he remembered what to say all by himself.” Gray says Burke’s teaching abilities are helpful. “Katie is so great with the kids and extremely patient with every child,” she says. sm
43
Get
away augusta, georgia
story by
Gloria Gale
Photography courtesy of
Geiger and Associates
Once you visit
Augusta,
the old battle cry about the
South rising
sHawneemagazine
again will be obsolete.
Georgia’s second-largest city is up and running. Straddling the divide between Atlanta to the east and Savannah to the west, Augusta has polished its image of Southern hospitality while keeping pace with its two lively neighbors. There’s little to remind visitors that Augusta, founded in 1736 by General James Oglethorpe, was once considered the last civilized Colonial outpost before the wild frontier. Underscored by the gracious charm of the Old South, Georgia’s secondoldest city is flourishing. Augusta blends the past with a lively modern pulse from its pillared brick mansions to its magnolialined boulevards.
44
Artists’ Row in Augusta features many galleries and works by local artisans.
Peach
perfect
Dixie is alive and kicking in a town where golf, history and the leisure arts rule Links and legends In 1898, the Augusta Chronicle stated, “To [Northerners] a season without golf is what a barbeque without meat is to a Southerner.” Since then, Augusta and golf have become synonymous. One of golf’s most venerable events is the Masters Tournament, played at Augusta National Golf Club. Surrounded by mystique, the fairways of this celebrated course continue to secure the city’s status as a golfing mecca. After he retired, golf legend Bobby Jones built his dream course in 1932 on what was originally the site of an indigo plantation. Now considered one of the premier events in sports, the Masters Tournament draws crowds during the first week in April, when the azaleas are in
full bloom, and has brought Augusta worldwide recognition. Augusta’s mild climate invites golfers to experience the city’s variety of courses yearround. Golf aficionados can visit a number of public and semiprivate courses throughout the city, including Forest Hills Golf Course and Augusta’s Municipal Golf Course. The area’s rich golf heritage is on display at the Augusta Museum of History, which features an exhibition on the game’s superstars from Jones and Palmer to Nicklaus and Woods.
Historic periods Augusta easily marries its colorful past with an up-to-date attitude that comes alive most
Get
below Explore historic sights along the Augusta Canal during a Petersburg Boat ride. top right Visit the extraordinary Augusta Cotton Exchange building. bottom right The home of President Woodrow Wilson, is a popular attraction for history buffs.
notably in the downtown district filled with historic homes, monuments, canals and churches. Start your journey just south of the Savannah River at Signers Monument. This 19th century obelisk holds the remains of George Walton and Lyman Hall, signees of the Declaration of Independence. Within walking distance you’ll find the Augusta Canal, built in 1845 to harness the power of the Savannah River. You can explore the birth of the Southern textile industry and its relation to the Civil War through two experiences: on a replica Petersburg Boat ride that floats six blocks past 19th century textile mills and the Confederate Powder Works site, and during a visit to the Augusta Canal Interpretive Center at Enterprise Mill. Here, you can experience interactive exhibits and view authentic mill equipment, from vintage looms to power generation turbines. Augusta’s important role as a hub of textile activity is seen at the Augusta Cotton Exchange. On display in this historic high Victorian building, once the second-largest cotton market in the world, are artifacts from the l880s. Augusta State University houses the former Confederate arsenal and guardhouse. Not far away is the 76-foot Confederate Monument featuring statues of four Civil War generals. Nearby Magnolia Cemetery keeps legends alive for 500 Confederate soldiers and seven generals. Walk through the 18th century Italianate boyhood home of 28th President Woodrow Wilson followed by the Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History before visiting the statue of James Brown, the “Godfather of Soul” and one of Augusta’s favorite sons.
Southern hospitality both inside and out
certs and water sporting events make this downtown area a lively gathering place. September’s Westobou Festival, a 10-day showcase of nonstop arts and entertainment, is on the Augusta Common that links with the Riverwalk. The festival attracts visitors and artists from across the country. Plan a visit to Artists’ Row, where a collection of art galleries, boutiques, bistros and cafes are housed in delightful 19th and early 20th century warehouses and storefronts. For lunch, local favorites include Bee’s Knees for tapas, Sconyers barbecue or the veranda at the Partridge Inn historic hotel for a glass of quintessential Southern sweet tea. Finally, no evening will be complete until you cross the 13th Street Bridge and wind your way into the Hammond’s Ferry home of Manuel’s Bread Café. Chef Manuel VerneyCarron dishes traditional French comfort food nightly in his neighborhood bistro. It’s a must before calling it a night in historic Augusta. sm
Masters Tournament www.masters.com Augusta Canal www.augustacanal.com Augusta Cotton Exchange www.nps.gov/nr//travel/Augusta/augustacottonex.html Riverwalk www.augustariverwalk.com
sHawneemagazine
A glimpse of the Old South comes alive in the historic downtown and Summerville neighborhoods dotted with antebellum homes, verandas and lush magnolia trees. The founding fathers designed this city to capture the charm with wide boulevards, sidewalks and walking paths that encourage people to step outside and unwind. Riverwalk, a six-block multilevel brick esplanade, is the perfect place to meander along the levee of the Savannah River. Scores of festivals, farmers’ market, jazz con-
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Sept - Nov 09
September 13
Wheels and Dreams Car, Truck and Bike Show. Featuring more
than 250 entries. Event opens to the public at 11 a.m. Johnson Drive and Nieman Road. (913) 631-2500.
September 16
Bike Rodeo at Shawnee Mission Park’s Walnut Grove Area. The
JCPRD Park Police Department will hold the first annual Youth Bike Rodeo. The event will teach young cyclists the “rules of the road” and cycling skills. Kids age 12 and older are welcome. Reservations are required. Noon-4 p.m. 7400 Renner Road. (913) 764-7759.
September 19
Annual Shawnee Town Arts & Crafts Fair. Do
some holiday shopping or buy some local arts and crafts for yourself. A $1 donation to benefit Shawnee Town will be accepted at the gate. 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Shawnee Town, 11600 Johnson Drive. (913) 248-2360.
September 25-26
Shawnee Great Grillers State Championship. More than 100 teams will compete for prizes and bragging rights during the 15th annual barbecue contest. The event also includes music and activities for the whole family. Join the barbecue judging for just $5. Events start at 6 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. Saturday. Shawnee Town. (913) 248-2360. www. shawneegreatgrillers. org.
BEST BETS will benefit the museum’s current operations and programs. 6:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. 3700 Broadway, Kansas City, Missouri. (913) 287-8888. www. wonderscope.org.
November 14
Pilgrim Pacer 5K, 10K and Half Marathon.
Enjoy a run through paved trails and roads in a beautiful park setting. Races start and end in Shawnee Mission Park near the Theatre in the Park. 9 a.m. www. actioneventsports.com.
November 28 A Very Fifties Christmas. Enjoy
Johnson County Museum’s All-Electric House decorated for the holidays. Tours leave every half hour and run until December 26. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. daily, closed Mondays and Christmas Day. 6305 Lackman Road. Adults $2, children $1. (913) 715-2550. www. jocomuseum.org.
October 24
Historical Hauntings.
Bring the family to Shawnee Town for an evening of not-sospooky stories, hayrides, trick-or-treating, costume contests and more. A canned food donation to benefit Harvesters Community Food Network will be accepted at the gate. Event starts at 6 p.m. (913) 631-5200.
November 28
October 31
Trick-or-Treat through the Johnson County Museum. Historic
interpreters in period costumes pass out candy. Hear scary stories of Johnson County’s past and decorate a pumpkin to take home. Free event starts at 1 p.m. 6305 Lackman Road. Open to all ages. (913) 715-2550. www.jocomuseum.org.
Christmas at Lanesfield. Discover
what Christmas meant to schoolchildren in rural Kansas at the turn of the 20th century. The restored one-room schoolhouse will be decorated for a 1904 Christmas with activities and crafts for everyone. Event is free and runs until December 27. 1 p.m.-5 p.m. daily, closed Mondays and Christmas Day. 18745 S. Dillie Road, Edgerton. (913) 893-6645. www. jocomuseum.org.
November 11
Veterans Day Celebration. Events held
at Veterans Memorial Park. Shawnee will salute our veterans with a ceremony at Johnson Drive and Pflumm Road. 4 p.m. (913) 631-5200.
October 24
A Wonderful Night Out.
Wonderscope presents its annual fundraiser at the historic Uptown Theater. Enjoy a night out with food and beverages while bidding on unique items in live and silent auctions. All funds raised
All events are subject to change.
E-mail your upcoming events for the calendar to shawneemagazine@sunflowerpub.com