A DRONE’S-EYE VIEW of the Cap it ol CRAFT COCKTAILS FOR THE WARM MONTHS
A PERFECT SUMMER RUNNING ROUTE
THE CUEVAS GARDEN: MADE FOR THE SHADE
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
FROM THE EDITOR SUMMER 2019 | VOLUME 13, NO. 3
Editor Nathan Pettengill Art Director Jenni Leiste Designer Alex Tatro Copy Editor Leslie Andres Advertising Representatives Sunflower Publishing Joanne Morgan jmorgan@sunflowerpub.com (785) 832-7264 Peterson Publications, Inc publish@petersonpublications.com (785) 271-5801 Ad Designer Alex Tatro Photographers Nick Krug Katie Moore Bill Stephens Photograph by Thomas Hall
Welcome to the summer issue of Topeka Magazine. In these pages, we bring you three warm-season cocktails, a U.S.-troopsapproved brownie recipe, a tour of a garden created from the circumstances of a daughter’s marriage and the influence of a giant oak tree, the first leg of a year-long series on perfect seasonal running routes, an overview of recommended summer events and more. Like many Topekans, we are excited about the new beautification projects in the community, such as the groundbreaking of NOTO’s Redbud Park and the beginning of the new ARTSConnect mural on the downtown police garage building. But, as our cover story on Thomas Hall’s drone photography suggests, Topeka is already looking good. Sometimes, as we strive to be better, we lose focus on being grateful for what we have. We just need reminders or a new (drone-powered) angle on life to remember the beauty around us. In a sense, that gratitude is also at the heart of our second feature story, a history of Topeka Correctional Facility’s writing program and the role it has played in the lives of people confined inside the space and visiting from beyond the bars. We’re grateful to you for choosing to spend some of your summer leisure time reading and enjoying our magazine. Hopefully we’ll see you at some of the summer events mentioned in these pages, out at Lake Shawnee or elsewhere in the city before we meet again for our fall issue in September.
Writers Linda A. Ditch Kim Gronniger Susan Kraus Katie Moore Christine Steinkuehler Bill Stephens Michelle R. Terry Subscriptions $27 for a one-year subscription, including Topeka SR; order at sunflowerpub.com
Please contact us at topekamagazine@sunflowerpub.com for all comments, subscription and editorial queries.
Topeka Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of Ogden Publications. Production Manager: Jenni Leiste Director: Bob Cucciniello Ogden Publications 1503 SW 42nd St Topeka, KS 66609
— NAT H A N P E T T E N G I L L , E D I T O R sunflowerpub.com topekamag.com
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
WHAT’S INSIDE SUMMER 2019 | VOLUME 13, NO. 3
APPETITE 08 SUMMER DRINKS
Classics with twists take center stage in these Topeka-original creations
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REVISITING THE SWEET LIFE
After a career with the state (and years of sending packages to the troops), Martha Smith returns to the business of baking
TOPEKANS 14 THE MASTER CRAFTSMAN’S GARDEN
A daughter’s wedding spurs a major renovation project and a new outdoor space that became a central feature of summer living
PLACE 18 A PERFECT SUMMER ROUTE
Runner and fitness trainer Michelle Terry opens a year-long series on the city’s best seasonal running routes with a summer jog through Lake Shawnee
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KANSAS GETAWAYS
Travel writer Susan Kraus shares her top picks for short, in-state summer 2019 vacations
I N E VE RY I S S U E 26 WHAT’S HAPPENING
Selected Topeka events for the summer
F E AT U R E S 30 ABOVE US
Photographer Thomas Hall uses the latest drone technology to execute one of the oldest, most fundamental principles of photography—put your camera at the best location for the shoot
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ONCE EVERYTHING COMES OUT ON PAPER
For a group of dedicated writers, a prison program offers meditation, escape and catharsis
On the Cover
A DRONE’S-EYE VIEW of the Capi tol CRAFT COCKTAILS FOR THE WARM MONTHS
Photograph by Nick Krug
A PERFECT SUMMER RUNNING ROUTE
THE CUEVAS GARDEN: MADE FOR THE SHADE
The northern entrance of the Kansas Capitol, as seen from a drone piloted by photographer Thomas Hall. Photograph courtesy Thomas Hall.
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TOPEKA TALK
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
Looking Ahead The fall issue of Topeka Magazine arrives in early September. If your neighborhood is not included in our routes, remember that we distribute complimentary copies through the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and other locations. Subscriptions for family and friends outside Topeka (or to ensure you always get a copy at your house) are also available through our publishing company website, sunflowerpub.com.
Topeka SR Our expanded winter issue will include a special section on senior living, Topeka SR. In these pages, we bring stories about opportunities for seniors across the city and highlight inspiring lives of Topeka seniors. Look for the winter issue to release in the beginning of December.
Detail from planning sketch of TPD mural
This Spring
Police History The team behind the amazing Brown v Board of Education mural, including ARTSConnect and lead artist Michael Toombs, has begun a new project, a mural depicting the Topeka Police Department’s history, values and achievements in the community. Look for the 330-foot creation this summer on the exterior of the police garage at SW Third Street.
the Topeka photography community lost an influential member, Cherie Cherie Wasson Wasson. From Cherie Wasson’s MVP veteran portraits series her home in Berryton, Wasson was a portrait photographer for animals and people and specialized in capturing images of horses and the riding community. She also worked with Topeka-based Military Veteran Project to document veterans and the work of the veteran-advocacy organization. Our condolences to her family and our gratitude to Cherie for her life of art.
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“Having a flexible alliance has been a great asset for my yoga business.” We don’t know downward dog from a hot dog, but we do know about having faith in people. While other banks wouldn’t listen to Leigh and Beth Gardner, we were all ears when they asked for help starting a yoga studio.
After all, the sisters had a solid business plan and yoga expertise. We had every reason to believe in their success. And we were right. We’re all about flexibility (at least when it comes to loans). So, how can we help finance your dreams?
Leigh Granada, Co-Owner, Lava Yoga www.lavayoga.com
3001 SW Wanamaker Road & 6th & MacVicar - 2620 SW 6th Avenue lava yoga print 4.25.19 half-page.indd 1
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
APPETITE STORY AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Katie Moore
Summer
DRINKS Classics with twists take center stage in these Topeka-original creations
S
ummertime living is made easier by sipping a drink (or two) at one of Topeka’s spots offering seasonal specials. Here are three drinks from local bartenders representing different flavors and different parts of the city, but all created to beat the hot and humid days before us.
The Rosebud at The Weather Room In burgeoning downtown Topeka, Cyrus Hotel is focused on creating one-of-a-kind experiences and offering hand-crafted cocktails at its flagship restaurant and bar, The Weather Room. Here, the staff puts a spin on The Roseberry, a concoction of rose liqueur, gin, simple syrup and aquafaba (the residual water from cooking chickpeas). The mix is shaken and poured into a chilled glass, then topped with sparkling wine. The aquafaba provides a frothy layer, allowing bartenders to float a rose petal delicately at the top of the drink. “We took a classic roseberry and made it our own,” says Ray Alexander, director of food and beverages at the Cyrus Hotel. And, he adds, “It has a very unique taste.”
Sarah Mills, lead bartender at Cyrus Hotel’s The Weather Room Sarah Mills has been bartending in Topeka for eight years, but she says The Weather Room has given her an opportunity to create “eclectic” drinks with specialty tools like infusers and smokers. She describes the chance to develop her own drinks as a “really good experience” that leads to exclusive creations. The Weather Room seeks out products from local businesses such as PT’s Coffee and Hazel Hill Chocolate to incorporate into its drinks and menu and is proud of its location in historic downtown. “People are experiencing downtown a little differently,” says Mills, a native Topekan. “It’s like a second chance. The scene is changing.”
APPETITE
Summer 2019 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
“Lemon Drop” at Topeka Country Club
Matt Hughes, bartender at Topeka Country Club
This classic cocktail is made with Ketel One Citroen, agave and fresh lemon juice. Finishing touches include pouring it into a chilled, sugar-rimmed glass and garnishing with a lemon wedge and a lemon twist, freshly peeled for an extra citrusy punch. “It’s an enjoyable drink for a nice, hot summer day,” says bartender Matt Hughes, who adds that the most fun part of making the drink is adding the lemon twist.
Matt Hughes has worked the bar of the Topeka Country Club for two years and witnessed the 400-member club’s multimillion-dollar expansion with a new grill room and lounge opened in January. These additions will be particularly welcome during one of the club’s biggest days of the year, the Fourth of July celebration. This all-day affair entails couples’ golf, a pool party, food and fireworks. Hughes says he doesn’t mind the crowd and that meeting new people as he pours drinks is one of the perks of his job.
“Chai Your Luck” at PT’s
Sarah Kietzman, manager at PT’s at College Hill
In creating this drink, café manager Sarah Kietzman says she began with the goal of featuring the caffeine, and bringing it in the form of chai to spice up the cocktail. The result is what she describes as a “warm sipper” based in almond milk and chai poured over bourbon to give the drink additional depth. A dollop of maple syrup adds to the drink’s sweetness and complexity, and a garnish of a cinnamon stick provides some spice and decoration. “It’s “not a straight-up drink,” Kietzman says, “but it’s a really easy-to-drink drink.”
While PT’s coffee shop is known for, well, coffee, it also has a strong reputation for offering alcoholic drinks with a different kind of kick. Sarah Kietzman, a native Topekan who graduated from Washburn University after studying graphic design, has worked as PT’s barista for four years. She said she takes pride in creating drinks that bring joy to her customers. “People love their beverages,” Kietzman says. “If I can make their day a little better, then I’ve done my job.”
About the Writer: Katie Moore grew up in Topeka and works as a crime reporter with The Kansas City Star. Her favorite drink this summer is the blueberry mojito.
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Don't Let Sunburn Derail Summer Fun A word of summer advice from your friends at Jayhawk Pharmacy Sponsored by Jayhawk Pharmacy & Patient Supply
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any people find it impossible to think about summer without conjuring visions of spending endless hours outdoors from morning until evening, whether beachside, on the open water or even floating in a backyard pool. Although a certain measure of sun exposure is required for some natural functions of the body, it’s well documented that too much time in the sun can be hazardous to one’s health. That’s why summer frolickers need to exercise considerable caution each time they step outside. Taking sunburn for granted can be a big mistake. Many people wouldn’t risk burns from a hot stove or open fire, but they won’t think twice about being unprotected under the very hot rays of the sun. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says more than one-third of adults and nearly 70 percent of children admit to suffering from sunburn within the past year. Depending on the intensity of the sun and the amount of time spent outside, sunburn can be a first- or second-degree burn. In first-degree burns, damage affects the topmost layer of skin. However, sunburn can even affect deeper layers and cause blistering in addition to redness and pain. Sunburn also can cause some irreparable damage that goes unseen. According to WebMD, ultraviolet light from the sun can alter DNA, prematurely aging skin or even contributing to skin cancers. It can take years before symptoms become noticeable. Therefore, it is best for people of all ages to exercise caution when spending time in the sun. Sunburn is one of the most easily prevented summertime ailments. It’s also important to note that sunburns are not just limited to the hot weather or when it is sunny outside. Ultraviolet damage can occur at any time of the year, and also from artificial UV sources, such as tanning beds. Preventing sunburn is simple...
The Mayo Clinic says the sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so schedule outdoor activities for other times of day. Otherwise, limit exposure to the sun and take frequent breaks in the shade. Wear protective clothing that covers the arms and legs. Some outdoor gear is designed to offer sun protection. Tightly woven fabrics tend to help the most. Base tans do not protect the skin. Research does not support the habit of getting a tan to prevent subsequent sunburn. Protect the face and eyes by wearing a wide-brimmed hat and highly rated UV protection sunglasses. Apply - and reapply - sunscreen. Look for products that offer an SPF of 15 or greater. The American Academy of Dermatology actually recommends an SPF of 30 or greater. Make sure the product is broad-spectrum, meaning it protects against UVA and UVB rays. Apply sunscreen thoroughly, paying attention to the tops of feet, hands and other places that tend to go untreated. Reapply every two hours or more frequently, if necessary. The Skin Cancer Foundation says a person’s risk for melanoma doubles if he or she has had five or more sunburns. Use protection, stay hydrated and play it smart to enjoy summer to the fullest. Jayhawk Pharmacy and Patient Supply offers a full range of cosmeceuticals and safe sun care products including the Vanicream sunscreen products that many of the dermatologists recommend. Ask us for the best ways to care for your skin this summer. At Jayhawk Pharmacy & Patient Supply we care about your whole health.
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We know what’s good for you. Healthcare can be overwhelming and complex. At Jayhawk Pharmacy & Patient Supply we look at your whole health picture and then help you simplify. We provide guidance and expertise on: • Traditional and custom compounded prescriptions • The right medical equipment to fit your needs • Outfitting your home for safety and accessibility We deliver 360 Degree Patient Care so that you can live your healthiest with confidence and comfort. Jayhawk makes all the difference.
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Traditional Pharmacy 785-228-9700 Patient Supply 785-235-9700 Custom Pharmacy 785-228-9740
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APPETITE
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019 STORY BY
Linda A. Ditch |
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Bill Stephens
Revisiting the
SWEET LIFE After a career with the state (and years of sending packages to the troops), Martha Smith returns to the business of baking
About the Writer: Linda A. Ditch is a Topeka-based writer and writing workshop leader who specializes in culinary stories.
APPETITE
E
ach Saturday morning in the summer, Martha Smith opens her “Martha’s Homemade Munchies” stall at the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market and lines up bags of cookies—snickerdoodle, M&M, peanut butter, chocolate chip, lemonade, and cherry Kool Aid flavors—next to her peach, banana, and blueberry breads as well as spiced pretzels and peanut butter-chocolate covered treats. “What I tell people is, ‘I have healthy over here, I have comfort over her, and I have snacks over here. What category would you like?” says Smith. Smith began combining baking and business as a teenager when she sold cinnamon rolls to teachers and classmates at Lyndon High School. Smith went on to work 33 years for the state of Kansas, including 28 years with the Department of Corrections. She honed her baking skills after her sons enlisted in the military; while both are now stationed in Kansas, they received mom’s packages of homemade goodies wherever they went, including Germany, Kuwait, and Poland. Jeremy, who is in the Army, always requested chocolate no-bake cookies. Gregory, who serves in the Kansas National Guard, liked M&M cookies. Their buddies would also make requests, which Smith was happy to oblige. Once Smith retired in 2014, she realized she had time to return to activities she loved. “I thought ‘what is it that I want to do that I haven’t got to do because I was working all those years?’ It’s baking!” Smith says. Now, her home kitchen is filled with baking sheets, loaf pans and mixing bowls. While cutting up a pan of her fudgy mint brownies, Smith talks about how she likes to tinker with recipes until she gets the taste just right. And sometimes that tinkering involves chance, or even a fortuitous goof-up. The original recipe for her signature brownies, for example, came in a magazine advertisement and called for two ounces of unsweetened chocolate. Smith thought it read unsweetened cocoa powder, baked them that way and liked the taste of the butter-rich cocoa variety. When she tried them a second time, this time by the recipe, she noticed a difference. “When I tasted it, I thought, ‘Oh this is not my brownies!’” she recalls. Now Smith continues to bake the recipe according to her “mistake” version, now an awardwinning variation after she entered it into the 2016 Kansas Chocolate Festival baking contest and won second place. Smith is happy to share the recipe with others so they can make their own version at home. But remember, as Smith has proven, the best results sometimes emerge spontaneously in the baking.
Summer 2019 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
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Martha’s Fudgy Mint Brownies
Ingredients Preparation time: 30 minutes Yield: 12-16 brownies • 1/2 cup salted butter • 2 ounces and 1.5 tablespoons cocoa powder, divided • 1 ounce chocolate chips • 2 large eggs • 1 cup granulated sugar • 1 teaspoon vanilla • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour • 14 chocolate-mint candies (such as Andes)
Instructions 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8-inch square baking dish with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Place the butter, 2 ounces of cocoa powder, and chocolate chips into the top of a double boiler over simmering water. Stir until the chocolate is melted. Let cool slightly. (Microwave variation: Place butter, 2 ounces of cocoa powder, and chocolate chips into a microwave-safe bowl. Melt for 1 minute, stirring after 30 seconds, until the chips are melted.) 3. Add eggs, sugar, remaining cocoa powder and vanilla to the chocolate mixture and mix with a spoon until blended. Add the flour and mix until blended. Pour mixture into the prepared baking dish. 4. Bake for 22 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. Remove from the oven and immediately place the mints in a layer over the top of the brownies and let stand for 1 minute until the mints melt. Lightly spread the mints over the top. Let cool completely.
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TOPEKANS
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019 STORY BY
Christine Steinkuehler |
The Master Craftsman’s
GARDEN A daughter’s wedding spurs a major renovation project and a new outdoor space that became a central feature of summer living
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Nick Krug
TOPEKANS
I
gnacio Cuevas, “Cuevas” to his friends, is a master craftsman. A carpenter by training, Cuevas takes pride in having worked in all aspects of the building trade: concrete work, roofing, sheetrocking, foundation work; you name it, if it has to do with construction or rehabilitation, he has done it. Cuevas fell into his trade as a teen. His father was a carpenter, and even though Cuevas never wanted to follow in his dad’s footsteps, he was made to work every weekend throughout high school on the New England building and Merchants National Bank construction project. It was a different era with different approaches; Cuevas would perch on the edge of the building’s roof and use the hand-operated wenches known as “come-alongs” to haul materials up four or five stories to him. He also remembers taking materials to the top stories of downtown buildings by putting them on top of the elevator and stopping the elevator just as the top exterior of its roof would reach his floor. After graduating from high school at Seaman, Cuevas went to work at Goodyear and tried real estate before realizing he wanted to return to the trades. He worked for construction companies before establishing and running his own service for many years. Now retired at 75, Cuevas has slowed down, but he still enjoys doing it all and focuses much of his work on his home. One of Cuevas’ biggest recent home projects began in preparation for a daughter’s wedding. When it was decided
Summer 2019 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
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that a post-wedding brunch reception would be held at Cuevas’ home, he got busy creating a new kitchen (a project that included making new cabinets from scratch) and outdoor space for entertaining. For the outside of the house, Cuevas and his wife, Karen, tapped expertise and muscle power from neighbors and relied heavily on John Riordon of Greenscape. With the addition of a brick courtyard, decorative plantings, and a centerpiece water fountain, they created a beautiful space for entertaining family and friends. Cuevas, who has a natural affinity for the process of a project, regrets not taking more before-and-after photos because he was pleased with the results and enjoys telling people about the drastic transformation. The renovations in the yard and creation of the garden worked around a large oak tree that Riordan describes as “a forest of one tree.” Because the oak canopy covers a large part of the yard, shade-loving hydrangeas and hostas thrive as some of the garden’s main features. Potted peonies and irises from Karen’s family farm outside Hillsdale add color and variety in the sunny spots of the yard. And there is, of course, a large benefit to the tree’s protection. Particularly in the summer, the garden has become another room of the house as the family often gathers for dinner under the shade of a giant oak tree where they listen to the sounds of a the water fountain and to one another as they eat.
Focused on Kansas health. Our goal has always been to offer access to a better quality of life. By working together, we can lay the foundation for a healthier future.
bcbsks.com An independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. TOPEKA MAG 05/19
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
TOPEKANS
Taking Root
About the Writer: Christine Steinkuehler is a Topeka educator who frequently contributes articles on gardening.
Ignacio Cuevas grew up in his parents’ first house on Second and Burr streets, where they had cows and pigs and he and his siblings played in the Shunga creek. The children had more room to explore when the family moved to the country on North 62nd Street, though the family faced difficulties. Shortly after moving in, a neighbor told them that “their kind” didn’t live in the area and that they were not welcome. Nothing happened to the family, but they were careful about their connections and did not “neighbor” with several people around them. During these years, Cuevas would often visit his grandparents who lived at Fourth and Kansas (where the police station is now; the house is long gone). The couple had connections across the city because his grandfather was, somewhat incongruently, both a bootlegger and a founder of a MexicanBaptist church in East Topeka. Their home was several blocks to the west of the Bottoms, the area that extended to the Santa Fe rail yards and where most Mexican immigrants in Topeka lived at the time. The neighborhood was also a cultural crossroads. Cuevas recalls walking to Fourth and Quincy to the original Prize Package, a beer wholesaler at the time, to buy Top Hat potato chips and soda and strolling by the Ritz Theater, the largely segregated town’s movie house for black patrons. At home, Cuevas’ mother was a talented violinist who filled the house with mariachi music. Later in her life, in the 1970s, she joined the Mariachi Estrella band, and she taught Cuevas’ daughters, Tess and Maria, from the time they were toddlers, to play along with her. Following in their grandmother’s footsteps, Tess and Maria formed the band “Maria the Mexican” while they were in high school. It continues to this day as a highly successful Kansas City regional group, playing a mix of mariachi with rock and some blues. And, of course, Cuevas is their biggest fan.
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PLACE
TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019 STORY BY
Michelle R. Terry |
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
Bill Stephens
A PERFECT Summer Route Runner and fitness trainer Michelle Terry opens a year-long series on the city’s best seasonal running routes with a summer jog through Lake Shawnee
PLACE
T
ucked in the southeast side of Topeka, the public recreation grounds of Lake Shawnee feature a 6.8-mile, moderately trafficked trail that I’ve found to be one of the city’s best summer running routes for athletes of various ages and abilities. At the scenic heart of the trail is Lake Shawnee, the artificial lake created by Works Progress Administration crews from 1935–1939. Completed in 2009, the paved trail wraps around the lake and brings visitors by a botanical garden and waterfall. The west side of the trail at Ted Ensley gardens offers an ideal rest stop. This 37.5-acre garden features a panoramic view of the lake and seating areas. The scenic and safe environment attracts runners, hikers, walkers and bikers, who appreciate the ample water fountains and accessible restrooms. In the summer, the Lake Shawnee complex draws thousands of visitors; the trails are particularly busy during the annual Sunflower State games when Lake Shawnee hosts competitions in rowing, disc golf, golf and more. The area will also be the site for the 39th annual Topeka Tinman, one of the nation’s longest-running triathlons. Hosted each summer by Legend Endurance, the event brings sponsors and athletes from across the nation. Outside of race days, the trails are busy but rarely feel crowded.
Summer 2019 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
“I don’t run to just keep in shape; I do it for my mental health” — Paul Wagner
Our Route Guides Longtime long-distance runner and Shawnee Lake trail fan Paul Wagner is a Washburn University professor who looks forward to putting one foot in front of the other each day as a way to decompress after a day’s work. “I don’t run to just keep in shape,” says Wagner; “I do it for my mental health.”
The Dog Factor Lake Shawnee is generally a great place to run with your dog. The trails are petfriendly with low fountains, waste baggies and disposal stations. It’s easy to share the wide, paved path with families with strollers or wheelchairs, but always keep your dog on a leash.
Ashley Evans recalls counting down the six weeks after she gave birth to her first child to the day her doctor cleared her for running again. “So many people see running as a punishment,” she says. “It doesn’t have to be that way.” A member of Topeka-based Sunflower Strider’s running group, Evans continues running for her health and to relieve stress. “I have to run,” she says.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
PLACE
The Rundown • Location: 3137 SE 29th St. Topeka • Trail distance: 6.8 miles • Route type: Paved loop • Elevation gain: 331 feet [1 on a 1–5 scale with 5 being most difficult] • Difficulty: Easy [1 on a 1–5 scale with 5 being most difficult] • Parking: Multiple locations • Water fountains: Multiple fountains • Restrooms: Multiple stations • Pets: Dogs allowed on leash • Safety: Park police patrols; recommend to exercise with buddy • Hours: 6 a.m.–11 p.m.; accessible year-round • Other activities available: Camping, biking, boating, golf, fishing, baseball fields, restaurants and wheelchairaccessible paths
Planning the Run Summer runs or walks at Lake Shawnee are made safer by following these suggestions. Start slowly. Give your body time to adjust to the higher temperatures and humidity by starting with shorter periods of exercise. Begin the intense and lengthy workouts after your body has acclimatized to the season. Avoid the midday heat. Pavement warms up as the day progresses and reflects the sun’s heat back onto you. Lake Shawnee is a very green area and escapes the worst of the reflected heat, but early morning workouts allow you to enjoy cooler temps and watch the sunrise reflected over the lake’s surface. Dress for success. Try to wear light-colored, loose-fitting, moisturewicking materials to prevent heat from building under your clothes. Use sunscreen in the amounts that your body requires; wear glasses and a hat to shield your face. On extremely hot days, soak a cloth or handkerchief in water and wear it around your neck. Hydrate. Drink water before, during and after a run. Competitive athletes should drink plenty of water or electrolyte beverages the day before an event. If you exercise for more than an hour, keep a water bottle close and locate the fountains at Lake Shawnee before you run. Be wise. Before you run, familiarize yourself with signs and symptoms of heat stroke. Listen to your body. Immediately stop running and look for shade if you experience headaches, intense thirst, dizziness, muscle cramps or nausea. If you experience heat-related symptoms, stop running, find and drink some water and call a friend if necessary.
Lake
nee
Shaw
About the Writer: Michelle Terry is a writer and registered dietitian. When she’s not working or wrangling her family, she is running, doing yoga, or managing an unruly garden.
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SCOTT HUNSICKER, LUTCF, ChFC, CLU
TODD ZIMLICH, LUTCF, ChFC, CLU
3311 SW Van Buren | Topeka, KS 66611 | 785.266.1200 | www.KFRtopeka.com S
Kansas Financial Resources, Inc. and Securities America are separate companies.
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
PLACE STORY BY
Susan Kraus
KANSAS Getaways Travel writer Susan Kraus shares her top picks for short, in-state summer 2019 vacations
Photograph by Mickey Shannon
About the Writer: Susan Kraus is an award-winning travel writer and the author of a Kansas-based mystery book series.
PLACE
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he patio at Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar is crammed, with a line out the door. The live music, a retro duo, can be heard a block away. When the band launches into “Sweet Caroline,” everyone abruptly stops talking and starts singing along, punching the air, “ba-ba-ba,” at every refrain. It’s a Monday night at Mort’s, their ‘Half-Price Martini’ night. So all I can think is, “If this is a Monday, what happens on the weekend?” I’ve never put Wichita and “renaissance” in the same sentence. But here goes: Wichita is having a cultural, musical, brewery, art gallery and foodie renaissance. It’s a hopping place. If you’re looking for a couple’s weekend escape, a girlfriend getaway, or a family mini-vacation this summer, put Wichita on the list.
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Family Fun Exploration Place: This interactive museum focuses on aviation, science and the natural world. Test landing gear, design plane parts, climb, build, run and play. Sedgwick County Zoo: The Zambezi River Valley boasts one of the nation’s largest elephant exhibits. Tanganyika Wildlife Park: The entire family can meet and feed ring-tailed lemurs, lorikeets, pygmy hippos and kangaroos. Old Cowtown Museum: This living history of the Old West of 1865–1880 offers several interactive exhibits. Botanica: The expansive gardens feature play areas integrated throughout and a special children’s section with activities. Stearman Field: Lunch at the Grill alongside an air strip as small planes land and take off. Q-Line Trolley: Swinging through Old Town, Downtown, Delano and Clifton Square, this trolley is also a great way to get oriented to the city. Stop at the Nifty Nut House, a Wichita tradition since 1937, or slurp classic malts at the Old Mill Tasty Shop or Jimmie’s Diner (where poodle-skirted wait staff serve breakfast for dinner). Field Station Dinosaurs: The more than 40 life-sized, moving, realistic dinosaurs (robotics in action) are the highlight, but also explore trails and over thirty shows and activities. Have more time? Check out Kansas Aviation Museum (40 historical planes, control tower you can tour), WichitaSedgwick County Historical Museum, Mid-American AllIndian Center, Kansas African-American Museum (focus on art representing culture and life, housed in historic Calvary Baptist Church), Museum of World Treasures.
Photograph courtesy of Downtown Wichita
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PLACE
Other Kansas Getaways for Summer 2019
Art, Art and More Art Wichita Art Museum: Featuring American art over three centuries and a massive Chihuly glass piece in the upstairs lobby.
Abilene: Rich in Old West heritage with museums, unique shops and even its own touring railroad line, Abilene is always a great choice. But this summer is a particularly good time to visit as the Dwight D. Eisenhower Museum (the main portion of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum complex) is set to reopen in June after a long renovation (and 75 years since General Eisenhower led Allied troops in the D-Day invasion). eisenhower.archives.gov | abilenekansas.org
Ulrich Museum of Art: Based at Wichita State, the galleries feature mostly modern and contemporary works, as well as a 76-piece outdoor sculpture garden. Karg Art Glass or Infinity Art Glass: Watch artisans create hand-blown pieces.
Music Music Theatre Wichita: This quality regional theater offers first-rate productions! Wichita Symphony, Wichita Grand Opera, Ballet Wichita, Theater League (national Broadway touring companies at the Century II Convention Center). Or cowboy-western music at Prairie Rose Chuckwagon Supper, or intimate-yet-informal concerts through Chamber Music at the Barn.
Little Jerusalem Badlands State Park: These stunning chalk formations are expected to open to the public this year, possibly during the summer. Combine your badlands pilgrimage with an overnight stay to the prairie oasis of Lake Scott (a spring-fed freshwater lake with historic ties to the Navajo nation) for an appreciation of the state’s rich ecological diversity. travelks.com/little-jerusalem | visitscottcity.com
Roxy’s Downtown, Crown Up-Town, The Cotillion, and The Orpheum bring in national talent of every type of music. Mort’s Martini and Cigar Bar and Public at the Brickyard host bands most nights. Kids love the “liquid fireworks” at WaterWalk, with choreographed fountains à la Disney.
Lodging My favorite overnight is to score an Airbnb at The Flats 324 (condo units in a renovated old high school) with pool and gated parking.
Hays: Dinosaur enthusiasts will always welcome a visit to the Sternberg Museum of Natural History, and this summer is your last chance to see the special exhibition of the megalodon (the largest shark known to have lived in Earth’s oceans). Chomp! sternberg.fhsu.edu | visithays.com
When to Go? Combine a visit with a festival to get the biggest bang for your buck. For more info, go to wichitaonthecheap.com (summer festivals and concerts listings), wichitariverfest.com and visitwichita.com.
ABOVE: Migrant Mother, II, 2016, oil on canvas by Hung Liu; from a private collection, this work is on display during the summer 2019 at the Wichita Art Museum as part of the Hung Liu: Migrant Stories exhibition.
TOP: U.S. Coast Guard | MIDDLE: Jason Dailey | BOTTOM: Sternberg Museum
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OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SUMMER
JUNE FEATURED EVENT
KANSAS CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL
June 15
In its fourth year, the Kansas Chocolate Festival is expected to once again draw thousands of people to downtown Topeka for a celebration of chocolate treats and culinary feats. Following previous years’ formats, the 2019 one-day event includes two separate portions running from 10 am–5 pm. The outdoor street festival, which is free to enter, closes off portions of Kansas Avenue to create a pedestrian avenue of music, food vendors, entertainment and more. A gathering at the Topeka Performing Arts Center is accessed by ticket purchase and includes gourmet cooking demonstrations, a chocolate fondue bar and more. New this year is a baking contest with $475 in cash prizes for the best original creations. A full lineup of events, as well as information on purchasing advance tickets or entering the baking contest, can be found online at kansaschocolatefestival.com.
June 1–15
The Explorers’ Club Topeka Civic Theatre presents a comedy of an imperial-era British gentlemen’s club faced with the prospect of admitting (gasp!) a talented female candidate. For performance times, dates and ticket options, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
Photography courtesy (from top) Shutterstock, Studio 831 and Shutterstock.
June 7 (and the first Friday of each month)
First Friday Artwalk Topeka’s galleries, studios, event spaces and businesses open their doors for curated exhibitions and new showings, often with entertainment or other events. For a full listing of participating venues, go online at artsconnecttopeka.org.
June 7
Cactus Flowers Studio 831 hosts the opening of a month-long exhibition of cactus flowers paintings by artist Hi Stockwell. The exhibition continues through July. For more information, look for the Studio 831 Facebook page online.
June 8
Knit in Public Day The big holiday you might not know you needed. Knitting enthusiasts gather to do what they do best in public spots across the nation. In Topeka, knitting central is the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library where like-minded crafters are invited to congregate from noon–4 pm. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
June 8
Heartland Military Day The Kansas National Guard Museum invites guests to celebrate the 75th anniversary in the WW II liberation of Europe. Events will include a pancake feed, band concert and more. Access is free with donations to the museum accepted. For more information, go online at kansasguardmuseum.com.
June 14
Woman Suffrage in Kansas Part of the “Museum after Hours” program, a series of free lectures and events hosted by the Kansas History Museum, this presentation of “Politics on the Platform: Woman Suffrage at the Chautauqua” explores the history of events such as the Chautauqua programs and women’s councils that advanced the right of women
to vote in Kansas. For more information, go online at kshs.org.
June 15
Father’s Day Make-and-Take Crafts The Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library hosts a makers’ space for young children to create personalized Father’s Day gifts to take home for a dad or anyone they wish to honor. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
June 21
Murder on the Plaza Topeka Civic Theatre presents its annual interactive murder mystery. This year’s event takes guest through five locations throughout Fairlawn Plaza where they gather clues (along with drinks and snacks) in order to solve the crime by the end of the tour. For more information or ticket reservations, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
June 21–29
Sunflower Music Festival A Topeka/Washburn University tradition since 1987, the Sunflower Music Festival presents 10 days of free jazz, chamber ensemble and chamber orchestra concerts from the White Concert Hall. For a full schedule of events and performances, go online at sunflowermusicfestival.org.
June 29
Sunshine Reggae Roots Festival It’s a reggae festival hosted in an Irish bar—an unexpected but winning combination now in its fourth year. NYC-based band The Slackers headlines a lineup of performers that will groove guests from 5 pm–1 am as they enjoy food trucks, beer gardens and street dancing. For more information, look for Sunshine Reggae Roots Festival on Facebook.
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OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SUMMER
JULY FEATURED EVENT
FIESTA MEXICANA
July 13, 16–20
Every year it happens. And every year it’s a big deal. The Midwest’s most successful celebration of Mexican-American heritage features a week of events including religious services, a parade, a race, dancing, music, food vendors and carnival rides. And the best part—the entire celebration is a volunteer-powered fundraiser to benefit educational scholarships and needs at Holy Family School, the Catholic elementary institution serving the parishes of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Sacred Heart-St. Joseph. The summer culmination of events is part of a longer calendar for the festival, beginning as early as late April as Fiesta Royalty candidates compete through tamale sales to raise money for the festival. A 5K run and parade through the Oakland neighborhood are held in the days before the official opening, marked by a Holy Mass service. From that point, the fiesta becomes a daily celebration with two-stages of free musical concerts, food vendors and a nightly carnival plaza. For a full lineup of confirmed musical performances and a schedule of daily activities (as well as times and locations for buying the pre-fiesta tamales), go online at olgfiestamexicana.org.
July 4
Spirit of Kansas Blues Festival This annual Lake Shawnee celebration of blues music, barbeque and fireworks is the city’s largest public Independence Day celebration. Music and food vendors begin at noon and continue until the nighttime fireworks display ends. For more information, go online at topekabluessociety.org.
Photography courtesy (from top) Kansas State Historical Society and Shutterstock.
July 5–August 10
Singin’ in the Rain Topeka Civic Theatre stages the classic dance and song film. For ticket reservations or more information, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
July 12
HIdden History of Kansas Author Adrian Zink presents lesser-known anecdotes from the state’s history. This is a free event as part of the Kansas Museum of History’s “Museum after Hours” program. For more information, go online at kshs.org.
July 12–28
Sunflower State Games Top amateur athletes from across Kansas gather in Topeka to compete in events including archery, dodgeball, clay shooting and weightlifting at locations across the city. For full schedule, go online at sunflowergames.com.
July 13
The Dockum Drug Store Sit-in Dr. Galyn Vesey, director of Research on Black Wichita, presents a talk about one of the nation’s first restaurant counter sit-in demonstrations held in 1958 at a popular Wichita eatery. The free presentation is part of a traveling exhibition on the Dockum sit-in that is on display in Topeka from July 1–31 at the Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
July 13
Cauldron Run The Sunflower Striders Running Club (see story on page 18 featuring its members) hosts a relay format 5K, 10K run and 5K walk contest (along with a 1K fun event for children) as part of the Sunflower Games. For more information, go online at sunflowerstriders.org.
July 18–21
Mustang Show The Mustang Club of America hosts “Stampede to the Heartland” at the Heartland Park Raceway to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the release of the iconic American sports car. For more information, go online at heartlandmotorsports.us.
July 20–21
Say What, Say Wiz! It Takes a Village dance troupe stages the 1978 musical funk film sensation, The Wiz. For more information or ticket reservation, go online at topekaperformingarts.org.
July 20–28
Shawnee County Fair Kansas native and country musician Rusty Rierson returns to headline the fair with a free concert on July 26 while 4-H demonstrations and competitions, along with carnival rides, fill the week. For more information, go online at shawneecountyfair.org.
July 27
Rock and Food Truck Festival House of Lords headlines an evening of free concerts, street dancing and food truck vendors in downtown Topeka. For a full lineup of events, go online at visittopeka.com.
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OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE SUMMER
AUGUST FEATURED EVENT
TOPEKA JAZZ WORKSHOP BAND
August 18
Topeka’s hometown big band of jazz opens the 51st annual concert season of the Topeka Jazz Concert Series. Hosted by the Topeka Jazz Workshop, this concert series includes a star lineup in the 2019–2020 season with Aaron Weinstein and the KC Strings, trumpeter Warren Vaché and the Jeff Hamilton Trio. The season closes with a muchanticipated appearance by Laila Biali, vocalist and keyboard player who has taken top honors at Canada’s National Jazz Awards and performed across musical genres with a range of artists such as Sting, Chris Botti and Suzanne Vega. Because the Topeka Jazz Concert Series operates as a membersonly series of concerts, tickets for individual shows are not available. To browse the full lineup of performances, schedule and membership rate options, go online at topekajazz.com before the season begins.
August 2
Story Slam Ten storytellers compete with 5-minute original stories on the theme “Stranger than Fiction.” The free event is hosted jointly by NOTO Arts Place and Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
August 3
August 17
If you haven’t been dropping by the Saturday Downtown Farmers Market yet, this Saturday (and the following Saturdays in August) is your chance to catch the end of the summer growing season and the beginning of the fall harvest from dozens of local and regional growers. For a full listing of vendors and in-season updates, go online at downtowntopekafarmersmarket.com.
Topeka Civic Theatre’s resident old-time radio revival troupe presents an on-stage, live performance of popular radio melodramas from the 1930s–1950s. For ticket reservations and more information, go online at topekacivictheatre.com.
Downtown Farmers Market
August 5
Kansas Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Meeting Kansas Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society Meeting Quarterly meeting of group dedicated to assisting amateur and professional researchers in documenting and exploring Afro-American family heritage. For more information, go online at tscpl.org.
August 10
Topeka Highland Games Swagger out in that kilt of yours and get ready to toss some rocks and logs—it’s Topeka’s annual festival of Highland culture and competitions of raw strength and grit. For more information, look for “Topeka Classic Highland Games” on Facebook.
August 14–25
Capital City Classic Dog Show The Topeka Kennel Club hosts this regional competition at the Kansas Expocentre, free for public to attend. For more information, go online at ksexpo. com or topekakennelclub.org.
August 16–17
Big 94 Country Topeka Rodeo The North Topeka Saddle Club hosts this summer outdoor rodeo competition. For more information, look for event page link from the North Topeka Saddle Club’s Facebook listing.
Photography courtesy (from top) lailabiali.com, Shutterstock and 24 Hours of Lemons.
WTCT Radio Players
August 24
Balloon Crew Training Learn how to assist with a hot air balloon launch and recovery ahead of the city’s annual Huff ’n’ Puff hot air balloon rally. This is hands-on instruction that leads to actual launch-day crewing. For more information, go online at huff-n-puff.org.
August 24–25
24 Hours of Lemons Show some love for the clunkers! Heartland Motorsports Park hosts the endurance racing tour for cars that cost $500 or less (not counting safety features). There are cars with better engines. There are cars with more power. But these cars have the biggest hearts. For ticket information, go online at heartlandmotorsports. us. For more information on the tour, go online at 24hoursoflemons.com.
August 31
Topeka to Auburn Half-Marathon It’s traditionally held in January, but severe weather has moved this popular racing event to August. Don’t worry—the hills will be just as challenging, which is part of the appeal of this difficult course that also manages to attract runners of all levels. For more information and links to registration pages, go online at sunflowerstriders.org.
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Once Everything Comes Out On Paper
Photograph by Thomas Hall
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Photographer Thomas Hall uses the latest drone technology to execute one of the oldest, most fundamental principles of photography—put your camera at the best location for the shoot
Photograph by Thomas Hall
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There is a reason that professional sports photographers shoot from the sidelines and not from the stands. A box seat gets you beer and pretzels, but the sidelines get you the best angles on the action. The same holds true for making outstanding photos of buildings or outdoor areas—closer is almost always better, and the best images combine proximity with unique angles. Photographer Thomas Hall has combined today’s cutting-edge technology with his innate sense of composition and lighting to accomplish unique views. Radio-controlled drone cameras bring him closer to his subjects, and his artistic eye does the rest. Hall grew up in central Kansas, going to a small school in Goessel (near Newton). He took his first photographs there as part of a 4-H program, but he never did any photography beyond hobby shots until he got his first drone, a Yuneec Typhoon H, in December 2016. The Yuneec was touted for its ability to avoid obstacles, but somehow obstacles found a way. “It crashed more than eight times in the year that I had it,” Hall says. But things took off after that first year of bumpy rides. In the fall of 2017, Hall was one of ten successful grant applicants through a program sponsored by Washburn University and the Kansas Department of Commerce.
With the grant money, he purchased a DJI Spark minidrone and a DJI Inspire 2. The Inspire 2 has a Zenmuse X7 camera that takes 24-megapixel photos with 14 stops of dynamic range and the ability to record video up to 6k. In geekspeak, the number of megapixels (MPs) is one of the measures of a still camera’s ability to display detail. The more MP, the more detail. The number 6k refers to the number of thousands of horizontal pixels in each line of a video image; 4k is the current standard. In short, Hall had a super camera and was becoming a professional eye-in-the-sky. With his large dynamic range capabilities, Hall was able to photograph images with a contrast of extremely bright and extremely dark areas, with detail showing up in both ends of the range. In practical terms, he could photograph looking into the sunset without the sun’s light overpowering the image, all the while recording fine detail in the deep shadows as well. The DJI Inspire 2’s camera is linked to the Inspire 2 drone, and the image processor is part of the drone itself. This removes weight from the camera and distributes most of the weight throughout the drone, rather than
Summer 2019 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
Rules Regulations There was a time when being a drone pilot meant opening your holiday gift drone, plugging in batteries and heading out to the flight field (or simply your backyard). Now, a range of rules and regulations governs drone flights in Kansas and much of the United States, particularly for commercial pilots. “In order to operate drones for any commercial purpose, you have to be certified with the FAA,” Hall explains. In Topeka, certification is not enough. You also must have a certificate of authorization from the FAA for each airport. The two airports in Topeka are Class D, which means that the airspace is controlled from the ground up to 3,400 feet for Phillip Billard Municipal and 3,600 feet for Topeka Regional. A pilot must communicate with airport officials and sometimes law enforcement before flying a drone.
“Time of day is important too because a normal commercial operator can only fly from 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset without obtaining a waiver,” Hall explains. “A waiver is more difficult to obtain than an airspace authorization. To perform a flight downtown or in the vicinity of the Capitol, I notify Billard of the flight. This includes the altitude, the time of the flight, and the duration of the flight. I also let them know when I am done. Another phone call is made to the Capitol Police dispatch so that no law enforcement interruptions occur when battery time is critical,” Hall adds.
Photograph by Bill Stephens
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Photograph by Thomas Hall
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Hall Force Every artisan has a range of tools at their disposal. For drone pilot Thomas Hall, this means a range of drones for different jobs. Photograph by Thomas Hall
concentrating it in the camera. Professional drones of this caliber are expensive because of the camera’s 3-axis gimbal (pan, tilt, rotate), the different lenses available, and the light-weight carbon-fiber bodies. In terms of Topeka landscapes, the combination of camera power and mobility has allowed Hall to create a portfolio of stunning images of the Statehouse, Cedar Crest and Downtown Topeka. In these pictures, Hall combines the aerial angle with late afternoon or even sunset or sunrise lighting.
with a joystick. It hangs there until he commands it to move. This is a very windy day, but the drone is easily able to hover within a few inches for over ten minutes while Hall takes a series of photos. In the monitor on his operator’s console, Hall can see live video stream from the drone and also a preview of the still images he has taken. Hall is free to concentrate on taking the images because the drone self-adjusts its position using GPS technology.
“[Y]ou take what you learn and put it into play.”
Inspire 2 • Zenmuse X7 Camera • 16mm lens • Photographs images up to 24 megabytes • Capable of capturing 6K video DJI Mavic Pro • Fastest of three drones • Can fly for almost 30 minutes without recharge DJI Spark • Smallest of three drones • Made from 2-axis gimbal (others are 3-axis) • Records in HD video • Limited 14-minute battery life
— Thomas Hall
At a recent photo shoot, Hall arrives early, unloads his cases of drones and supplies, snaps in fresh batteries (keeping several spares in his pockets), puts on a safety vest that displays “FAA Licensed Commercial Drone Pilot,” and checks the light angle, shadows and wind direction. Finally, he calls the control tower at the airport to let them know of his plans. Cleared by the control tower, Thomas flies his drone into place
Hall has chosen a particularly difficult segment of photography to tackle—and he has been primarily self-taught for everything from learning how to fly the equipment to mastering how to edit his images with post-production programs. “The key for me has been practice,” Hall says. “You imagine something you want to do, and then you research how to do it, and then you take what you learn and put it into play.”
Hall selects a drone and camera lens for each flight based on flying conditions, the object he is photographing, levels of light and other conditions. “Each piece has its purpose, and each job is different,” Hall says.
Photograph by Bill Stephens
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Love Stories. A collection of wedding day memories, both beautiful and unique—just like the two people who fell in love.
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Langley Blanton Tate Patrick Blanton and Hannah Michele Louise Langley were married at half past five in the evening on June 2, 2018. Noah’s Event Venue in Wichita was the perfect backdrop for their elegant wedding. The bride was escorted down the aisle by her father, wearing a custom-designed Justin Alexander dress, accompanied by “Canon in D” performed by a string quartet. The bride’s mother further customized her gown with beading of the plunge back, handmade her cathedral-length beaded veil and garters, and even embroidered her new name on the inside of her dress. Hannah carried a stunning bouquet of blush peonies, ivory roses and baby’s breath, complementing beautiful floral arrangements and crystal chandeliers at the altar. The couple exchanged their vows in a traditional Episcopalian ceremony that included a unity box filled with a bottle of wine and a letter, both of which they will open on their first anniversary. After the ceremony, guests attended a cocktail hour, which included a display of hors d’oeuvres, napkins with fun facts about the couple, and a piñata to be filled with well-wishes and advice for Tate and Hannah to pop open on their first anniversary. The plated dinner was followed by champagne toasts and the cutting of a five-tier cake, Hurt’s donuts, and a Swedish wedding cake homemade by the bride’s godmother. The couple danced to “Sweetheart” by Thomas Rhett, and then family and friends enjoyed drinks and dancing atop a lighted floor monogram. As the night came to a close, the couple was showered with confetti as they made their way to the 1962 Rolls Royce awaiting them. Tate and Hannah are enjoying the memories of their special day (through the incredible work of Sara Rieth: Romantic Storytelling Photographer and Jenkins Cinema) and loving life as Mr. & Mrs. Blanton.
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STORY BY KIM GRONNIGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY NICK KRUG
ONCE EVERYTHING COMES OUT ON PAPER FOR A GROUP OF DEDICATED WRITERS, A PRISON PROGRAM OFFERS MEDITATION, ESCAPE AND CATHARSIS
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“Writing is like meditation for me. It keeps me calm and out of trouble instead of getting angry and lashing out.” —Hilary C.
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wice a month, inmates at the Topeka Correctional Facility gather to write. “Writing is like meditation for me,” says Hilary C. “It keeps me calm and out of trouble instead of getting angry and lashing out.” Currently serving time at the state’s women’s prison, Hilary has reconnected through her writing to her childhood, to the girl who grew up in Wyandotte County and kept a journal. Her work often contains rhymes that echo her childhood literary idol, Dr. Seuss, and she looks forward to one day teaching poetry to her children. “I like that I can share my work and not be judged for it,” she says. “I write about my kids a lot, and I’ll share the pieces with them when I get out.”
CREATIVE OUTLET
The beginnings of this program can be traced to around 2008, when retired journalist Dave Ranney volunteered through the national Reaching Out from Within program. The women he met inside prison persuaded him to help them stage a play for other inmates, legislators and guests. One of these guests turned out to be Washburn University professor and theater chair Sharon Sullivan. At Ranney’s invitation, Sullivan soon produced a second play with the group and agreed to lead a writing class. “There aren’t a lot of creative outlets like this in prison where women can work through their feelings in a safe place,” Sullivan says. “The first participants named the group ‘Sisters of Survival’ and welcomed the chance to process their experiences and tell their stories.” The group’s name reflected some of the members’ priorities for what they wanted to explore in their work. “They’ve all been through trauma—sexual and child abuse, poverty, neglect, multiple foster care placements and/or human trafficking,” Sullivan says. “Although they’ve broken the law, we’ve let them down as a society by not providing therapy and rehabilitation services to give them a better skill set and coping abilities. I’m humbled by their strength and perseverance and astounded by their resilience.” Louise Krug, Washburn University assistant professor of English and author of two memoirs, has been teaching in the program for three years. Each class, both in the maximum and minimum security sides, has approximately 15 participants, each who must apply and be accepted into the class. A waiting list of approximately 45 women underscores the program’s popularity.
“HEARTRENDING & INSPIRING”
Once in class, the writers create works about loss and love, drugs and deprivation, murder and motherhood, remorse and resilience, heartache and hope. Taking turns, they share poems written during class exercises using prompts provided by the facilitator and other participants or pieces they’ve polished on their own.
Although they’ve broken the law, we’ve let them down as a society by not providing therapy and rehabilitation services to give them a better skill set and coping abilities. I’m humbled by their strength and perseverance and astounded by their resilience. —Sharon Sullivan
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AFFIR MATION & ACCOLADES Many of the works written by inmates of the Topeka Correctional Facility have been printed in a small volume of poetry, Sisters of Survival, which is sold at the Washburn University bookstore and has been donated to women’s prisons in other states. Washburn University professor and prison writing program instructor Sharon Sullivan helped gather material for the book and describes it as “a huge boost” to the “confidence and self-esteem” of the contributors, many of whom never finished high school. “Through their creative writing, I want them to see themselves differently,” Sullivan says. Amie R., a writing group member from Pittsburg, Kansas, and mother of three, contributed her favorite poem, “Strength? Courage?” A fan of Maya Angelou, Amie says, “Writing poems and being part of this uplifting group has taught me that I can do something better, that I can use writing to heal from my childhood. For years, I wasn’t able to talk about my trauma or even acknowledge it, but now I write about it.” The affirmation and accolades apply to the facilitators too. Participants are grateful not only for the time the volunteers give them but also for their unconditional acceptance of their words and their worth. Tredessa D., a writing group participant and former co-editor of her Wichita South High School newspaper, says the program brings more than the chance to express oneself. “The best thing about this class, besides actually getting to write, is the people I’ve encountered, people who make us feel real and relevant and give a voice to those of us who aren’t thought about or who are looked down upon.” Barb S., a Topeka native participating in the writing group, agrees. She’s crafted roses from Jolly Rancher candies and created certificates of appreciation for volunteers to let them know how much the program has meant to her. “Writing helps me get the stress out, and this is a tremendous experience,” Barb says. “I’ve shared things with my grandma and my kids that I’ve written, and it’s helped me form a stronger connection with them.”
Writing helps me get the stress out, and this is a tremendous experience. —Barb S.
Ranney says participants often ignore his “softball writing prompts” about favorite pets, meals, or recipes, choosing to write instead about difficult things that matter deeply to them. “I’ve learned that incarcerated women have emotions, feelings, thoughts, and concerns inside that they need to get out, so I give them paper and a pen and see what they create. It’s heartrending and inspiring.”
Summer 2019 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
The classes Krug and Sullivan oversee consist of two rounds of writing and reading with participants. Other class members can offer comments, or snap their fingers as a way of showing admiration for a work. “They’re not afraid to be vulnerable,” Krug says. “They just lay it all out there and trust their peers to be accepting, and they are.” Lyndsey G., a writing group member and native of Pryor, Oklahoma, says, “I was never able to express myself when I was younger, but I was a big reader. The first night of class when I had to write something and read it out loud, I was so overwhelmed by the finger snapping and people telling me I did a good job that I went back to my room and cried. Now I reflect on what I’ve written and I don’t worry if the words don’t rhyme.” Writing group member Keaire B. grew up keeping journals and earned “A” grades in writing classes as a young student in what she recalls as “rough areas” of
Kansas City, Kansas. “I had to be closeted about being gay, so writing in journals was my release and I was passionate about it.” Keaire has returned to writing inside the facility. “Now I write about the harsh side of life, the sides people don’t like to think about, like poverty and the struggle of being black in America,” she says. “We think we’re all different, but we’re all more similar than we think.”
“MY ESCAPE”
As a facilitator, Krug says she’s constantly learning too. Her perspective has broadened through her exchanges with the writers. “One night as a prompt I asked what they liked best about grade school. I shared that art was my favorite subject, but for many of the women, the free lunch was the highlight of the school day. Another time I made
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TOPEKA MAGAZINE | Summer 2019
CATHARTIC CONNECTION a comment about how nice the prison playground was for kids and how much they must enjoy it when they visit their moms. The women reminded me that a lot of mothers don’t see their kids that often because their family members can’t miss work to bring them or don’t have access to a car to get them here.” The writers have also inspired Sullivan, who is leaving the writing class this fall to create a 16week empowerment program to equip inmates with skills and a safety plan so they can continue making positive strides upon their release. “As volunteers, we’re replaceable,” says Sullivan. “Anyone can replicate what we’ve done to give more women here a chance to participate in the writing program. These women have opened their hearts and their histories to me, and it’s been a great gift, moving me to do more.” And for the writers remaining in the prison, doing more means continuing to create through poems or prose. “When I get angry or upset, I get my pen and start writing and once everything comes out on paper, I’m done,” says Raychel L., a Kansas City, Kansas, mother of three and grandmother of one with two-and-a-half years left to serve. “Writing is my escape.”
This May, the writers in the Topeka Correctional Facility program held a graduation ceremony where they read their poems in front of peers, staff and invited inmates (two guests per writer). In addition to a dinner of Arby’s sandwiches and ice cream, each writer also received a certificate and a gift bag with donated items such as journals, pens and writing resources like a rhyming dictionary or a thesaurus to continue their creative pursuits. Heather S., a former Erie, Kansas, basketball player who aspires to be a drug and alcohol counselor for teens, likens the public reading to the time when she first walked out on the court to compete in a state basketball tournament feeling “nervous and scared but also validated and accomplished.” Heather shared work that reflected her life priorities. “I write to my kids about how I’ve let them down and express to them through my words how sorry I am and how much they mean to me.” Tynisha S. gave her first public reading with the program in 2012. The Kansas City, Missouri, native recalls that day as a cathartic connection with her mother, who came to hear the reading. “I write a lot about my case and my remorse and how I wish I could bring my victim back,” she says. “I put it all out there so my mother could feel what I was going through. She was proud of me, and my reading made her cry.”
Summer 2019 | TOPEKA MAGAZINE
Anyone can replicate what we’ve done to give more women here a chance to participate in the writing program. These women have opened their hearts and their histories to me, and it’s been a great gift, moving me to do more. —Sharon Sullivan
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Volunteers at the Topeka Correctional Facility are needed not only to facilitate additional creative writing sessions but also to provide GED and tutoring services and assist with a running program, yoga classes, classes on budgeting, life skills and other needs. Contact Deana Webb, volunteer coordinator at (785) 559-5189 or Deana.Webb@ks.gov.
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