December 2015 - 2
I INSIDE
Volume 32 • Issue 12 December 2015
ON THE COVER Merry Christmas! Decorations hang from the Christmas tree on display at Bradley Fair in East Wichita. See DATELINE, Page 9, for more on carriage rides at Bradley Fair as well as holiday light displays in Wichita.
Eastsider combines love of trees and music | 4
Features
East High students write letters to France | 12
Performing Arts Calendar.....................................8
Marching band to perform at Holiday Bowl | 15
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East Wichita News Editorial
Publisher Paul Rhodes Managing Editor Travis Mounts Production Abbygail Wells Reporters/Contributors Sam Jack, Amy Houston, Philip Holmes. Jim Erickson
Sales & Billing
Sales Paul Rhodes, Valorie Castor, Briana Bade Billing/Circulation Tori Vinciguerra A Division of Times-Sentinel Newspapers 125 N. Main • P.O. Box 544 Cheney, KS 67025 Phone: (316) 540-0500 Fax: (316) 540-3283 © 2015 Times-Sentinel Newspapers LLC
From the Publisher’s Files ..............................................6
Dateline......................................9 People and Places ............... 10 Eastside Homes .................... 11 Focus On Business............... 18 Cinema Scene ....................... 20 Movie Review........................ 22 Now in our 32nd year! The East Wichita News is a monthly newspaper focused on the people and places on Wichita’s East Side. It is delivered free to most homes within our coverage area, although distribution is not guaranteed. Guaranteed home delivery by mail is available for $10 per year. Single copies are available in a variety of Eastside locations. Visit our website for more - www.eastwichitanews.com. Email story ideas and photographs to news@tsnews.com. Visit us on Facebook.
Compassion at the top of holiday wish list I’m feeling a bit conflicted as we head into the heart of the holiday seasons. Personally, things are great. I spent Thanksgiving Day with my boys and my parents. The rest of my immediate family – consisting of two brothers, one sisterin-law, three nieces and two nephews – were kept away by distance or commitments to other parts of their families. But we will have a chance to be together at Christmas time, and I’m already having a hard time containing my excitement. But as I look at the greater world around me, what I see is a mixed bag of emotions, feelings and actions. This time of year, Americans do seem more compelled and more motivated to help others. We pull tags of Angel Trees and similar things to buy gifts for people less fortunate, and we put food into boxes to help food pantries. For some of us, the effort gets a little more personal. We deliver the food and gifts, and we serve others at dinners for the needy. Maybe we reach out to someone we know personally in need – a friend who is out of work, a co-worker who can’t be with family this year, an elderly neighbor who has no family. But when people in need are more removed from us, it’s more difficult to show compassion. When barriers such as language, culture or religion come up, it is easer to turn off the compassion we’ve been showing to people closer to us, more similar to us. Fear drives some of that. The recent attacks in Paris scared a lot of us, especially those of us who have memories of 9/11. As people started showing their solidarity, often by posting French flags on social media, there was some push-back. There were people who asked about Lebanon and other places that suffered attacks the same day. It’s alright to show support for France. The French have long been a friend of America. They figure into our history as much as Great Britain. We feel for France because we have a connection. We reacted less to bombings in Beirut that claimed 44 lives. But Lebanon is less like America. That country has a significant Christian popu-
Travis Mounts | Managing Editor
lation that wields political power, but it’s more diverse than here. It’s part of the Middle East, a place we just don’t identify with the same way we do with people in Europe.
When people in need are more removed from us, it’s more difficult to show compassion. Our fear has us suspicious of Syrian refugees. Yes, it appears at least one or two of the Paris attackers got into Europe by embedding themselves with refugees. That’s one or two out of hundreds of thousands, and getting to America is a much more difficult proposition. As Christmas nears, I hope we can set our fears aside and reach out to others in the spirit of the season. If “Jesus is the reason for the season,” then we should embrace his words and then embrace those in need. That includes native Wichitans, immigrants from south of our border, and even Syrian refugees should any come our way. I’m no biblical scholar but I believe Jesus, Mary and Joseph were Middle Eastern refugees themselves. I’ll even go so far as to hug someone from Missouri and welcome a Dallas Cowboy fan into my home. ‘Tis the season, right? I’m not asking anyone to change their political views. I’m just making my Christmas wish – a little compassion from each of us and for each of us. And maybe that feeling of caring for each other will carry on into the new year.
3 - December 2015
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December 2015 - 4
Wichita man combines love of trees, music STORY
BY
Craig “Twister” Steward is a renowned musician who has performed internationally, played in Frank Zappa’s band and was named to the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. The East Wichita resident plays electric guitar and sings, but his primary instrument is the harmonica. “The harmonica was my God-given instrument,” he said. “There’s no way to explain why I can play it the way I do. … For some reason, it all made sense to me. It was like a language that I already knew.” Steward has a deep love for music and nature, and he has intertwined his music career with ongoing work as an arborist. Steward grew up in Wichita, where his schooling included playing cornet in band and singing in choir.
AMY HOUSTON “I was influenced in school by some classmates who played band instruments,” he recalled. Like many in his generation, Steward also was impacted by The Beatles’ debut in the United States. Steward graduated from Wichita North High School in 1967, when the country was experiencing turmoil over issues such as civil rights, women’s rights and the Vietnam War. Steward described some of the music in that era as activism, and that affected him. “That was very motivating to try to speak to the time’s challenges and problems, and music was probably the most powerful,” he said. The two major musical influences on Steward were Jack Bruce, who played harmonica and other instruments in the
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Craig “Twister” Steward, who played in Frank Zappa’s band, performs last year in Germany at Zappanale, an annual festival that honors Zappa, who died in 1993.
Craig “Twister” Steward performs in Wichita. The musician is a member of the Kansas Music Hall of Fame. Contributed photos
band Cream, and blues musician Alan Wilson, who also played harmonica. Steward attended college for one year at Wichita State University and one year at the University of Kansas. He also traveled to Europe, where he received his nickname from musicians in Amsterdam. “None of these people had ever met anybody from Kansas, so they were
really intrigued,” Steward said. “They knew who (track athlete) Jim Ryun was and they loved ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ and since I huffed and puffed and played the harmonica, they called me Twister.” In 1970, Steward had returned to Wichita and was sitting in with other musicians one night at Caesar’s Palace, now located on West Central. Zappa was in town and visited a couple of
See TWISTER, Page 17
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“We used to play five to six nights a week, 10 to 11 months out of the year,” Steward added. “He (Salyer) really helped me for the next five years to mentor me and help me improve my confidence and know-how.” Steward reunited with Zappa and played on the album “Joe’s Garage,” which was released in 1979. Steward and his wife, Vickie, moved to Los Angeles and remained there for 20 years. Steward played on Zappa’s “You Are What You Is” double album, released in 1981, and on Zappa’s “The Man From Utopia” album, released in 1983. “I once told Frank, ‘You never needed to hire a harmonica player, least of all me,’” Steward recalled. “I told him, ‘There are a lot of great players – why did you choose me?’ He said, ‘Well, you put the notes together differently.’” Steward played with Zappa’s band during two live shows: one at the Santa Monica Civic Center and one at the Kansas Coliseum. Steward continued to work with trees during his decades in California. “I knew, going out there, that the trees were out there – and that music was very fickle,” Steward said. “And I was newly married. “It was something the musicians that I played with always enjoyed – that I was working with trees,” he added. “They thought, ‘Wow, that’s interesting.’ Because most of them are very conscious of nature.” Steward played on the movie soundtrack for “Men Don’t Leave,” a 1990 movie starring Jessica Lange. Steward and his wife, who have been married 38 years, returned to Wichita in 1999 so Steward could work as a city arborist. He is part of a band called JukeRoots, which he described as a power trio. “We’re eclectic,” he remarked. “We play a variety of music. But the base is roadhouse/rock.” Steward was named to the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in 2012. Other inductees throughout the years include Finnigan, Martina McBride and Melissa Etheridge. Last year Steward played in a “Joe’s Garage” reunion in Germany during an annual festival, which honors Zappa, called Zappanale. “That was really wonderful going
5 - December 2015
clubs, Steward said, but he asked to check out “someplace a little more avant garde.” When Zappa arrived at Caesar’s Palace, he was with a girl who had previously dated Steward’s brother. “I don’t know where they met,” Steward said of Zappa and the girl. Even so, the girl recognized Steward and Zappa heard him play with the band. “That’s how I met Frank Zappa,” Steward said. “He told me that he would get in touch with me and fly me out to L.A. for an audition with Frank Zappa and the Mothers.” Steward had been working as a tree surgeon. He said he climbed trees and pruned, repaired or removed them. He didn’t hear from Zappa for six months, but a girl he knew returned from California and told him Zappa had lost his number and was looking for him. “I found a way to contact him, and he sent me a telegram from Honolulu and told me to call him as soon as possible,” Steward said. “I did. He was on vacation, and he said call collect. We talked for over an hour then he flew me out to Los Angeles for an audition.” Steward described himself as a selftaught harmonica player whose lessons had been minimal. “Mike Finnigan gave me a five-minute lesson once,” Steward said. “Mike was a very good harmonica player and still is.” Steward admitted that he felt a little intimidated auditioning in front of Zappa and his band. Steward said he didn’t have his own equipment. “I remember the first solo I played in this audition as having to follow JeanLuc Ponty, who had his million-dollar violin set up,” Steward said. Three days later, Zappa asked Steward what he thought. Steward said he thought he should go home. “He kind of stepped back and said, ‘Well, nobody’s ever said that to me before,’” Steward recalled. “He told me to go home and practice and when I was be able to hear something and play it back, give him a call – which I did, five years later.” Steward, who had worked for the city of Wichita’s tree department, decided to focus on his music full time. He joined Don Salyer’s band, which was part of “a supper club circuit here in Wichita,” Steward said.
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Dancing for all the right reasons I really enjoy dancing…real dancing, not just moving my feet on a crowded barroom dance floor. I first started taking ballroom dance lessons several years ago, and it has been an on again, off again activity ever since. These days it’s on again, and I hope it stays that way. I say that with all seriousness because of the opportunity I had recently to help cover a fascinating story for our newspaper group. The focus of the story was on Wichitan Ron Hovan, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease but is showing remarkable improvements through ballroom dancing. Ron was our cover story for the East Wichita News last month, and also was featured in the WestSide Story. Ron lives in a memory care facility in Wichita, and his sister was hoping that dancing – a former passion for her brother – might help him in some way. As fate would have it, she contacted Chie Cline, who also has been my dance instructor for some time. What Chie witnessed as she started working with Ron was nothing short of a miracle. Here’s how she described that miracle: “He said, ‘I don’t remember anything. Not only dancing, but I don’t remember how to drive a car, and a lot of important things that I need to remember to live.’” Chie acknowledged Ron’s hesitance that day, but went ahead and turned on her stereo, cuing up a waltz. Hearing the music, Ron held out his hand. “That was an amazing moment. He started with a couple of basics, then twinkle, pivot, oversway... He started an amazing silver (intermediate level) waltz, with beautiful rise and fall.”
From the Publisher’s Files
Paul Rhodes | Publisher
When Chie told me about the experience and wondered if our newspaper group would be interested in documenting this remarkable transformation, we jumped at the opportunity. On Oct. 22, I handled the photo assignment, and our lead reporter Sam Jack did the interviews and wrote the story. We also helped promote a benefit dance for the Alzheimer’s Association that was held last month. And yes… my girlfriend Kim and I were there, dancing away the evening with fellow students from the studio, supporters from around the community…and special guest Ron Hovan. The event raised nearly $3,500 for Alzheimer’s research, and was a wonderful way to highlight some of the benefits of ballroom dancing…besides being wonderfully fun and a great fitness activity. Studies have shown that ballroom dancing can decrease the risk of developing dementia, so that’s just one more reason for me to keep dancing. No, it didn’t keep Ron Hovan from falling prey to Alzheimer’s, but it is helping him get some slices of his life back again. And that, in and of itself, is pretty remarkable.
Contact publisher Paul Rhodes at prhodes@tsnews.com
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Drop Off Your Letters to Santa
The City of Wichita, Cambridge Market and Starkey, Inc. are teaming up with the North Pole to collect Letters to Santa. Letters may be dropped off until December 11 at the following locations: * City Arts, 334 N. Mead * Cowtown, 1865 W. Museum Blvd. * Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca * Century II, 225 E. Douglas * Cambridge Market, 9747 E. 21st St. N. * Starkey, Inc., 4500 W. Maple Remember to put your return address and age on your letter to receive a response from Santa! Every participating child 12 and under will be entered automatically into a prize drawing!
7 - December 2015
Photos with Santa and the Gingerbread Boy!
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December 2015 - 8
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Wichita Community Theatre’s next production is a fundraiser to improve lighting. The original script, “Goldie’s Bar,” runs Dec. 16-20. The original script was written by Mary Lou Phipps-Winfrey, a local actor, director and playwright. “I wrote ‘Goldie’s Bar’ to remind myself of all the warm, funny folks I’ve met over the years in small towns. Some are relatives who were delightful characters.” In small towns people often have nicknames such as “Squirrel,” “Sweet Pea,” “Silk Hat” and many more. Phipps-Winfrey added some of the characters she developed when she lived and performed improvisation with Shock of the Funny in New York City. Glenn Williams, a local actor, is co-starring with Mary Lou. All in all, “Goldie’s Bar” is slice of life from a small town tavern in Waverly (where there’s a sign of a hand waving at motorists). There is audience participation. But don’t worry, what happens at Goldie’s stays at Goldie’s. Fundraiser performances are at 8 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday, Dec. 16-19, and 7 pm. Sunday, Dec. 20. Tickets for this fundraiser are $30 per person (sales tax included). Beer and wine will be served. You must be 18 to enter and 21 to drink. Call for reservations, 316-686-1282. Wichita Community Theatre is located at 258 N. Fountain.
Performing Arts Calendar
December 2015 • Through Dec. 13, “A Christmas Story,” Wichita Community Theatre. Shows: 8 p.m. Dec. 2-5, 7 p.m. Dec. 6, 8 p.m. Dec. 9-12, and 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Tickets $14, $12 for students, military and seniors 60 and older. Call 316-686-1282. • Dec. 4-5 and Dec. 18-19, “The Runaway Snowman,” performed at Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center, 201 Lulu. The show is recommended for youth 2-8 and for families. Showtimes: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 12 p.m. Dec. 5, 6:30 p.m. Dec. 18, 12 p.m. Dec. 19. Pizza served 30 minutes before. Weekday school performances Dec. 2-4. For tickets, call the Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center, 316-262-2282. • Dec. 8-13, “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,” performed at the Irene Vickers Baker Theatre, The Wichita Center for the Arts, 9112 E. Central. Showtimes: 6:30 p.m. Dec. 11, 1 and 3 p.m. Dec. 12, 2 p.m. Dec. 13. Weekday school performances are Dec. 8-11. For tickets, call the Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center, 316-262-2282. • Dec. 11-13, “A Christmas Story, The Musical,” Music Theatre for Young People, Century II’s Mary Jane Teall Theater. Shows: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11-12, 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Tickets $12 in advance, $15 at the door, $10 students. Call 316-3038100 or www.wichitaTIX.com. More information at www.mtypks.org. • Dec. 12-13, “The Nutcracker,” Ballet Wichita, Century II Concert Hall. The show features guest dancers from Dance Theatre of Harlem and a cast of more than 140 Ballet Wichita company dancers. Shows at 7 p.m. Dec. 12 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets $12.50 to $40 at the Century II box office or www.wichitatix. com. There will be a Dec. 6 performance at the C.L. Hoover Opera House in Junction City.
• Through Dec. 31, Illuminations, 5:30-8:30 p.m. nightly at Botanica Wichita (closed Christmas Eve and Christmas). Tickets $8 adults and $6 children. Tickets at the door, online at www.botanica.org or at Wichita area QuikTrip locations. Tour themed gardens, hear live music and visit Santa in his cottage. • Through Jan. 2, Gifts in the Gallery, at CityArts in the Main Gallery. This boutique-style art show invites shoppers to pick out their favorite handcrafted art pieces and take them home for themselves or as holiday gifts. Items include paintings, jewelry, pottery and more made by more than 60 local and regional artists. Admission is free. For more information call 316-350-3245. • Through Jan. 3, Kansas Watercolor Society National Exhibition, Wichita Center for the Arts, 9112 E. Central. Gallery open 1-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, free admission. Visit wcfta.com or call 316-634-2787 for more information.
• Dec. 4-5, 11-12, 18-19, free horsedrawn carriage ridges, Bradley Fair Plaza, 21st and Rock Road. Rides available 6-10 p.m. • Dec. 5, “Indians in Aviation,” a special screening in commemoration of Pearl Harbor Day. Events run 1-3 p.m.
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at the Mid-America All-Indian Center. Q&A with filmmaker Douglas Robertson follows the film. Event is free and museum admission is free to veterans. “Indians in Aviation” tells the stories of American Indian families that moved to the Wichita area during World War II to help build airplanes for the war effort. The migration helped develop Wichita’s Indian community and led to the creation of the Indian Center. For more information call 316-350-3340 or visit www.indiancenter.org.
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• Dec. 11-12, Living nativity, Madison Avenue United Methodist Church, 900 E. Madison Ave., Derby. 6:30-8 p.m. both nights. Drive-through, free admission. Live animals. Donations will benefit missions and ministries. Dec. 26-27, “Rock the Dome,” Pink Floyd cosmic light shows at Exploration Place. www.exploration.org. Blood donation opportunities: • Dec. 3, Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, 430 N. Broadway, 1-5 p.m. • Dec. 4, Wesley Medical Center, 550 N. Hillside, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. • Dec. 4, Bostic Elementary School, 8103 E. Gilbert, 3-6 p.m. • Dec. 6, East Point Church of Christ, 747 N. 127th St. East, 8:3011:30 a.m. • Dec. 6, Dillons, 3211 S. Seneca, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. • Dec. 6, Blessed Sacrament Church, 3801 E. Douglass, 9 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. The Wichita Blood Donation Center, 707 N. Main, is open Monday-Saturday. Visit redcrossblood.org to learn more about hosting a blood drive. To make an appointment to donate blood, download the free Red Cross Blood Donor app from app stores, visit www. redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).
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• Through Jan. 5, “Design Zone,” traveling exhibit at Exploration Place. Find out how architects, engineers, video game developers, music producers, roller coaster designers and more use math and science to create their crafts. www.exploration.org.
Dateline
9 - December 2015
• Through Dec. 24, The Arc’s Lights (formerly known as the Lights on St. Paul), fundraiser to support The Arc of Sedgwick County. Drive-through light display open nightly (weather permitting) through Christmas Eve. Hours are 5:30-9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and until 11:30 p.m. Christmas Eve. A $5 donation per car is requested. The display includes 1.4 million lights and more than 200 displays. Enter at the intersection of Douglas and St. Paul. Pictures with Santa are available on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and Dec. 21-23 (not on Christmas Eve).
December 2015 - 10
East Wichita News People and Places • Brianna Lowden of East Wichita was recently inducted into the Eta Chapter of Alpha Chi Honor Society at Belmont University. Alpha Chi is the oldest and most prestigious honor society at Belmont, and induction into the society is the university’s highest academic honor awarded. Membership, by invitation only, is determined by a faculty member’s endorsement of character quality and intellect of junior and senior students ranking in the top 10 percent
of the university, academically. • Wesley Healthcare has named Jennifer Krier its new vice president of human resources. A Wesley human resources veteran of 10 years, Krier left for six months for another job opportunity before coming back to Wesley in October. Krier graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in human resources management, and she received a master’s degree in human
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Construction training offered
resources development from Webster University in Wichita. • Eric Jensen of East Wichita was recently initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Jensen is pursuing a degree in architecture at Kansas State University. Jensen is among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni
KANSEL is offering a construction job training program starting in January. KANSEL, a non-profit organization providing adult education in the Wichita area, works with the Kansas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration to provide a sevenweek construction training program several times a year. The program is for adults age 18 or older. Minorities and women are encouraged to participate. The program teaches basic skills in construction
to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.
using the National Center for Construction Education and Research core curriculum, which includes instruction in power tools, hand tools, construction math, materials handling and construction drawings. The program also provides physical fitness training and life management skills. The first session runs Jan. 25 to March 10. Information sessions will be held on Jan. 11 at 2 p.m. and Jan. 13 at 10 a.m. Graduation will be March 10. The program is free. To register, call 316-263-9620.
Eastside Homes
Philip Holmes | Interior Designer
home office looking like a real office. This usually comes down to organization. The lesson here is to have proper storage (and plenty of it) for all of your stuff. Even though we are living in the digital age, paper tends to accumulate over time. You need to have enough storage for now and later. Lighting will be a key component of a productive home office space. Natural light is ideal as long as you can control the glare. Well-placed general and task lighting is essential. Soft and controlled lighting should be the goal. And, please, no cool fluorescent bulbs. The colors you use are really a matter of personal preference. Some design experts suggest neutral colors are best for productivity, the premise being that these colors do not distract. Other experts recommend using certain colors to boost productivity. Both red and yellow are energetic colors, but should only be used as accent colors. The point is that all experts agree about the psychology of color. How you use color in your home office is an individual matter. The same could be said for the style of your home office. Your office should command productivity, so you don’t want to clutter it up with a lot of personal items. On the other hand, a few pictures or mementos will add a little soul to your workspace. Regardless of how you decide to set up your home office, it should be a place that is comfortable and that you enjoy. By setting up your office to be a productive place, you hopefully will be able to eliminate frustrations and distractions that simply don’t need to exist. In turn, you will have improved your own job satisfaction index.
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In setting up a home office, there are many things to consider. For the purpose of this article, it is assumed that you have worked through the “is this right for me?” aspects of having an office at home and are ready to get right to the meat and potatoes of how to make it happen. How you furnish your office will differ depending on if you are actually running your business at home or if just need a space to keep your household organized. The underlying design principles, however will be the same. In the real estate business, it’s “location, location, location.” The same is true when staking out real estate for your home office. This may be dictated by available space. Ideally, the decision will be based on how you will be using your office. Evaluate your prospective office space in terms of your need for privacy, access for clients and co-workers, or other use-specific criteria. Once you have identified your territory, it’s time to consider your budget. Decide what items are your biggest priority. Besides the furnishings and equipment, there may be a need to get the room itself “office ready.” Compared to other rooms in the home, offices have unique needs in terms of electrical and lighting. Be realistic about your expected costs but do not take short cuts on the items that will make your office perform at maximum efficiency. Be sure that your homeowner’s insurance covers these additional assets and improvements. When evaluating your potential home office equipment, get the best that you can afford and that is appropriate for your actual needs. You may not need the mega-huge office printer but you should select items that will allow you to be as efficient as possible. If you are going to spend a good part of your time at a desk, don’t skimp on the right desk and chair. If you are not comfortable, your productivity tends to suffer. Also, look into ways to organize and hide your cords. A little planning upfront will save a lot of frustration later. One major challenge is keeping the
11 - December 2015
The home office: Designing space for your individual needs
December 2015 - 12 w w w . e a s t w i c h i t a n e w s . c o m
Around 30 East High students filled the Donut Whole Nov. 24, writing dozens of letters of support to Parisian middle- and high-schoolers. Freshman Shabria Pelia organized the community service activity.
East students write letters to France After school on Tuesday, Nov. 24, around 30 Wichita East High School students gathered at the Donut Whole to participate in the school’s Paris Attack Support Project. “We’re writing letters to middle school and high school kids in Paris,” student organizer Shabria Pelia explained. “We saw this terrible incident unfold in
Story
and
photos
by
Sam Jack
Paris, and we as peers, and as the future of our society, wanted to reach out.” Students took a variety of approaches. Some wrote long, earnest letters in English, while others wrote simple missives in French.
French teacher Betsy Stranahan was on hand to help with French grammar. She suggested phrases such as “Mes sincères condoléances” and “Nous sommes très tristes avec vous. (Translations: “My sincere condolences” and “We are very sad with you.”) The Monday after the Paris attacks, it was difficult for Stranahan to discuss them with her students.
Sydni Wagner also thought to connect with Parisian students through common hardship. “I’ve felt loss before, and I know how it feels. People that lose family members and friends at that age, it’s really hard, especially if you’re in high school and dealing with the stress of that. I’m saying that I know how loss feels, and it gets better. Just keep hoping,” she said. East High School’s International Baccalaureate Program includes a community service component, and many of the students in attendance were members of that program, though all ages and school affiliations were invited, according to Pelia. Pelia is considering ideas for further Paris Attack Support Project events and activities.
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13 - December 2015
“Because I have friends who live in France – they were all safe, because they did not live in Paris at the time,” said Stranahan. “I did see a lot of my students posting on Facebook and showing solidarity. I think a lot of them realize, when something like that happens, that terror isn’t just somewhere else, it’s everywhere, and that maybe it could be here.” Student Neal Lybarger wrote several letters. “My first was just a whole bunch of different quotes that fit the purpose. This one, I’m putting some of the struggles I’ve been through and how I got through them, hoping that maybe it can help them get through their struggles the same way,” he said.
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Neal Lybarger, left, and Tavian Mounivong were among the Wichita East High School students who wrote letters to Parisian schoolchildren Nov. 24. Lybarger included some inspirational quotes in one of his letters.
December 2015 - 14
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The City of Wichita, Starkey, Inc. and Cambridge Market are once again teaming up to spread holiday cheer through the Letters to Santa project, with new incentives for classrooms to participate. Through Dec. 11, children in Wichita and the surrounding area ages 12 and under are invited to drop off their letters to Santa Claus at one of six locations. Every child who participates will receive a reply from Santa himself and be entered into prize drawings. To receive a reply, the letter must include the child’s age, phone number or e-mail, and a return address; return postage is not necessary. The two grand prizes are: • A guest appearance on KAKE News at 11 a.m. with Jemelle Holopirek to read his or her letter on live TV; and, • A ride on a Wichita Fire Department fire truck. Other individual prizes
Letter drop-off locations: • CityArts, 334 N. Mead. • Cowtown, 1865 W. Museum Blvd. • Mid-America All-Indian Center, 650 N. Seneca. • Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center (Concert Hall entrance), 225 E. Douglas. • Cambridge Market, 9747 East 21st Street N. • Starkey, Inc., 4500 W. Maple. include family memberships to Cowtown and the Indian Center, a youth art class at CityArts, gift certificate for four to attend an upcoming performance at Century II and $50 in Cambridge Bucks that can be spent at any store in Cambridge Market. New this year are the addition of classroom prizes including pizza parties for two classrooms courtesy of Little Caesars and Pizza Hut; and field trips for three classrooms to CityArts, Cowtown and the Indian Center (transportation is not provided). Teachers may deliver their students’ letters at any drop-off location in a large envelope with their school’s name on the outside. The individual letters should include the child’s age, phone number and/or e-mail so they can be eligible for individual prizes as well. Santa’s responses will be sent to the students via the schools’ addresses. Class letters are due by Dec. 4 with the drawing scheduled for Dec. 7 to allow enough time for the pizza parties to take place before winter break. For more information, e-mail Angela Cato, marketing director, City of Wichita Division of Arts & Cultural Services, at acato@wichita.gov or call 316-303-8639.
STORY
BY
SAM JACK
Andover High School fields one of Kansas’s largest and most accomplished marching bands. The group includes 190 performers – a quarter of the student body – and it has received “superior” ratings at more than 40 festivals in the past decade. That combination of size and skill garnered an invitation for the Trojans Marching Band to perform at the Holiday Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 30. Led by director Ray Linville, the band will march in the Holiday Bowl Parade and perform in a mass band at halftime. “It’s a very neat parade,” said Linville. “They have balloons throughout the parade, and they have huge turnouts.” As the band marches, it will play “I Want You Back,” by the Jackson Five. The song is excerpted from this season’s halftime show, which included songs featured in the soundtrack of “Guardians of the Galaxy.” The size and ambition of Andover’s band has grown a lot over the past 13 years under Linville. In 2002, the band had only 43 members. Now it has nearly 200, and the trip to the Holiday Bowl will be its third major travel opportunity in nine years. “Once you get the ball rolling, students see that, ‘Hey, this is a group that I can belong to.’ The students talk to each other, parents talk to parents, and they make the decision that this is something that is a good way to represent our school,” said Linville. Students started fundraising for the trip back in May. “Now that they’re seeing the events that will be going on, there’s more and more excitement,” said Linville.
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15 - December 2015
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radio personality: Tune-in in the evenings to listen to your favorite “Classic Country”! Andover High School’s marching band competed at the Kansas State Fair earlier this season. The band includes nearly 200 members. The Trojans will march in the Holiday Bowl Parade, a televised spectacle that draws more than 100,000 San Diego spectators.
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December 2015 - 16
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MTYP’s ‘A Christmas Story’ coming to Century II Music Theatre for Young People will stage “A Christmas Story The Musical” Dec. 11-13 at Century II’s Mary Jane Teall Theater. Show times are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 and 12, and 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, $10 for students. For tickets call 316-303-8100 or visit www.wichitaTIX.COM. For more information call 316-262-6897, email mtyp@mytpks.org or visit www. mtypks.org. Eastsiders in the production include: Melissa Reida, Alyssa Linhardt, William Compton, Topher Cundith, Pandora Freeman, Ava Graves, Tyler Treat, Abby Hoglen, Elise Mendoza, Derick Alcord, Killian McGaffin, Grace Heinrichs and James Heinrichs.
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“Lt. Kanaga’s efforts resulted in saving the life of the victim,” said Blackwell. “His selflessness and compassion portray the image of a true public servant.” The Tom McGaughey Fire Service Award recognizes exemplary accomplishments and acts of heroism by firefighters and other persons at fire-related incidents in Kansas. The individual is recognized for their acts above and beyond their basic duties and responsibilities, and for exemplifying the finest traditions of the fire service. The award is named in memory of Wichita Fire Chief Tom McGaughey, who perished in a fire, along with three others (Chief Fire Inspector Merle O. Wells, firefighter Jimmy L. Austin and firefighter Dale J. Mishler) at the Yingling Auto Dealership on Nov. 21, 1968. Kansas Fire Marshal Doug Jorgensen presented Kanaga with the award at the Nov. 17 meeting of the Wichita City Council.
Twister
given.” One of Steward’s favorite memories of his time with Zappa was that Zappa would refer to him as “my little Christian.” He said Zappa once asked how Steward could be a Christian and play with him. Steward replied by asking Zappa how he could allow a Christian to play with his band. “He said, ‘Well, I don’t have any problem with that,’” Steward said. “There’s a lot of Frank I don’t approve of, and there’s a lot of him I do approve of,” Steward continued. “I just know this: He never needed to hire a harmonica player. He opened all kinds of doors up for me. … It’s about honoring someone who took the time to recognize you.”
Continued from Page 5
over,” Steward said. “I hadn’t seen some of the players in 37 years.” In 2016, Steward will tour with Zappatika, a band that covers Zappa music. The group includes some musicians who performed with Zappa. Zappatika will visit England, Germany, France and the Netherlands. “I’m really happy to see Frank receiving so much more notoriety today than he was for years,” Steward said. “It seems that people have become more aware of the contribution that he’s
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Each year, the Office of the State Fire Marshal joins with the Kansas State Association of Fire Chiefs and Kansas State Firefighters Association to honor a firefighter for heroic actions above and beyond the call of duty. This year, the agencies bestowed the 2015 Tom McGaughey Fire Service Award upon Lt. Rob Kanaga of the Wichita Fire Department. Kanaga was nominated for the award by Wichita Fire Chief Ronald Blackwell for Kanaga’s lifesaving actions at a multi-story apartment building fire on March 15. Kanaga was among the first responders to arrive at the scene and commenced extinguishing the fire in one of two apartments that were ablaze. Upon hearing an announcement that an occupant remained inside the adjacent apartment, Kanaga entered the apartment through heat, smoke and reduced visibility, located a barely conscious person and was able to successfully remove the victim to safety.
17 - December 2015
Firefighter’s actions earn award
December 2015 - 18
Featured this month
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FOCUS ON BUSINESS
Auburn Family Dental................... Page 18
Focus On Business is a monthly feature offered to area advertisers. If you would like your business featured here, please contact our sales office at (316) 540-0500.
Independent Living Resource Center/Autism Avenue.................. Page 19 Professional Home Buyers............ Page 21
New dentist in town
Wichita native returns to launch her solo practice There’s no place like home…just ask Dr. Behnaz Raisdana, DDS. Born and reared in Wichita, Dr. Raisdana knew she wanted to be a dentist ever since she was in middle school. Don’t laugh, but she actually liked going to the dentist. “It just feels like I always wanted to be a dentist,” she said, as she reflected on those childhood memories. “I was sitting in my dentist’s office one time and thought, ‘this would be a good job.’ From then on, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.” After graduating from The Independent School, Dr. Raisdana earned her B.S. degree from Wichita State University in chemistry and business. She attended dental school at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, and then did her residency work at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill. With her schooling and training complete, Dr. Raisdana moved to Denver, Colo., where she worked with a general
dentistry practice for the next two and a half years. It was an excellent way to get started in her career, but she also knew there was something important still waiting for her. She wanted to launch her own solo practice back in Wichita. “This was a huge decision for me, but I know it’s the right move at the right time,” said Dr. Raisdana. “I’m ready to build my own practice from the ground up.” Dr. Raisdana is married and her husband is a former employee of the Office of Economic Development in Denver. He is currently working for the Navy in San Diego. “He was very supportive of this move for me, and we’re both excited to make our home here in Wichita,” said Dr. Raisdana. Right now, Dr. Raisdana is focused on getting her new facility completed at the corner of 135th and Maple in West Wichita. The address is 13605 W. Maple, in the same shopping center where
Dr. Behnaz Raisdana, DDS
Kanza Bank is located. “I like the opportunity that I will have on the west side to get a solo practice up and running,” said Dr. Raisdana. “And of course I’m hoping to draw patients from all across Wichita.” The new practice, Auburn Family
Dental, will provide general dentistry services for patients of all ages. Dr. Raisdana has a passion for cosmetic dentistry, and will be sharing that area of expertise with patients, as well. The dental office will be set up to help patients with all types of insurance. The new dental office will be equipped with the latest in dental technology, and Dr. Raisdana’s cheerful and easy-going personality will help new patients feel at ease right from the start. “This is such a great city and I’m so excited to be back in Wichita,” said Dr. Raisdana. “The people here are fantastic, and it will be wonderful to be of service to them.” For more information about Dr. Raisdana and Auburn Family Dental, visit www.auburn-familydental.com, or call 316-201-6323. The new dental office will be open in just a few weeks, and appointments are being scheduled now. Hours for Auburn Family Dental will be Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
New flower and gift shop in Delano will break down employment barriers ruh, the director of Wichita’s Independent Living Resource Center. “We quickly realized that this was something we wanted to pursue under the umbrella of the Independent Living Resource Center,” said Unruh. As the concept of creating a new program for autistic adults unfolded, the new Greater Expectations program was launched at the ILRC. Through this program, supporters hope to provide the foundation for future independence and successful employment. Erbert believes that through a structured teaching model coupled with real-life work, individuals with disabilities – including autism – can learn to manage their daily routine just like other adults. “We’re a family and community-centered program that involves a change of mindset and behaviors,” said Erbert. “Inclusion and understanding of adults with disabilities is the goal.” From there, Erbert and supporters
at the ILRC believe that launching a business where skills and self-esteem can abound will be a powerful experience – for staff members and shoppers, as well. “This was always my dream,” said Erbert. Autism Avenue will open its doors on Friday, Dec. 18, with a grand opening celebration. Special hours that day will be 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with lots of giveaways and prizes throughout the day. Single wrapped roses will be presented to the first 50 shoppers. Several drawings will be held at the store. And, a Facebook giveaway also is planned. Autism Avenue is opening at 2514 W. Douglas Avenue in the Delano District. Through their work experience, staff members will learn social skills that are important for the workplace, and that growth will help participants in the Greater Expectations program excel in other ways, as well. “At Autism Avenue, we will do our part to support the community,” said
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2514 W. Douglas, Wichita http://autismavenue.org
Erbert. “The power of giving back to the community is an integral part of what we do.” Participants will build confidence, and valued friendships. Business relationships also will be forged with local retailers who might want to take advantage of consignment opportunities. The shop’s gift items will include an eclectic blend of jewelry, home interior décor and specialty pieces. The flower shop will feature signature arrangements, as well as fresh flowers and regular specials. Autism is a prevalent issue in the U.S., where 500,000 teens with autism will leave school and enter adulthood over the next decade. One of the most critical needs is adequate employment opportunities. For more information on Autism Avenue and opportunities to volunteer or donate through the ILRC, contact marketing director Diane Belden at 316-942-6300 or dbelden@ilrcksorg.
FOCUS ON BUSINESS
When Autism Avenue opens its doors in the Delano District later this month, the goals for the new flower and gift shop will reach well beyond its retail sales targets. In many ways, organizers want the shop to blend in with other retailers in the vibrant Delano business area of midtown Wichita. Simultaneously, though, Autism Avenue will be pushing to make a statement for its workers. “We want this shop to be a model to teach and inspire other businesses how they can benefit from the employment of autistic adults,” said Connie Erbert, who will be managing the new flower and gift shop. The idea for Autism Avenue was born out of Erbert’s work with autistic children, and her desire to start something positive and productive to help autistic adults. That spark lit a fire when Erbert, who had years of experience working with autistic children at Wichita Public Schools, started talking with Cindy Un-
19 - December 2015
Autism at work
December 2015 - 20
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Faces wanted. At East Wichita News, we’re already working on feature stories for upcoming editions. If you know of someone whose face (and story) should appear on these pages, please let us know! ewn@eastwichitanews.com 316-540-0500 www.facebook.com/EastWichitaNews
Final thoughts on ‘Citizen Kane’ Well, I think it’s time to put a deadline on “Citizen Kane.” You wouldn’t believe how much I’m passing over. For example, the book that lies on Kane’s mother’s table exactly square with the table edge, compared to the sloppiness of Kane’s scribblings, implies some of the differences between the two, whether they loved each other or not (maybe part of their trouble was they both had a little Mr. Kane in them after all). And I have said almost nothing about the dialogue. Writer-director Orson Welles was basically a radio man, remember, and he appreciated what words can do. But if go at this present rate, we’ll finish with Part 15. Anyway, if I get such a kick out of this kind of thing, why not leave some of it for you to play with on your own? You must have noticed that it takes no particular knowledge. Have fun with it. And one question I’d like an answer to, if you can find it – don’t worry, I and 30-plus years of student couldn’t – why, in a movie so careful with its sets and props and costumes, is child Charles’ snowman such a miserable fake? I grew up in Minnesota and can guarantee you, no snowman was every as spherical as that. Remember the blank page with writing on it that began the Thatcher part of the movie? Well, we return to it at the end as if to accompany us to the five-narrator structure of the move as a whole. Each narrator presents Kane from a particular point of view, as well as regarding a particular aspect of his life. Welles has been criticized for his failure to show Kane using the peak of his power, and Thatcher’s story is as close as we get to showing that, from Thatcher’s disapproving view. But about all we see of it is represented by a series of headlines of newspapers being read by a succession of riders on the interurban train. The movie goes down the central aisle, revealing huge-type frontpage stories about Kane’s triumphs over the slumlords, “copper robbers” and, especially, the Traction Trust Transit Company. But lest we start thinking of Kane as a people’s hero, we have already heard him as thinking “it would be fun run a newspaper,” (an opinion scorned repeatedly by Thatcher) and saying it is his “pleasure” to take on the
Cinema Scene
Jim Erickson
causes of the common man. Still later, his determination to make his second wife an opera star is obviously more an ego trip than an effort to serve her or the world of art. Both his best friend and his second wife say all he wanted was the love of people, which he could never get because he had none to give. It’s as close as we ever get to an explicit statement of theme for the movie, though at the very end the reporter, who is trying to find out who Kane really was, says that is perhaps something we can never know about anybody. That’s what I think the movie’s point is. But Welles is not simple; even the best friend admits there may have been love between Kane and his mother, and there are a number of indications of that, which we’ll get to later. For the moment, Kane’s prosperity is brought down by the crash of 1929, and he removes himself from the newspaper in one of those cold, cavernous rooms that are almost always associated with the powerful. But Welles is never that simple. Consider the Colorado mountains of Kane’s childhood and his Xanadu at the end, a manmade mountain containing in its cellars reminders of all aspects of his life. And Bernstein, the next narrator and Kane’s only lifelong associate, will immediately go on to show us all we will see of Kane at work, and his attitude toward the “decent, hard-working people” he supposedly likes to serve. The fact that Bernstein is the only major character to be alive and functional at the end may be worth contemplation. He is the only major character who never showed any personal ambition and who remained an unquestioning admirer of Kane until the end. See CINEMA, Page 22
Making life easy for Sellers and Real Estate Investors
Javier is a Wichita native who graduated from Kapaun-Mount Carmel High School and then attended Wichita State University. While at WSU, he became interested in buying properties with no money down. “I really wanted to make this work,” said Javier. He launched Professional Home Buyers in 2001, and recently was recognized by Inc. 5000 as the fastest growing company in Wichita. The company tripled revenues that year from the previous year, and Javier hasn’t looked back since then. Today, Professional Home Buyers continues to concentrate its efforts in Wichita, but also is expanding into Tampa, Fla. “In my opinion, any market is a good market,” said Javier. “The market doesn’t matter to me, as long as we can carry out our key strategies for sellers and investors.” A typical seller who can benefit from the services of Professional Home Buyers is a long-time homeowner who hasn’t done a lot of maintenance on his or her property, or has inherited a property that needs work. In those cases, the prospects aren’t good for the home to sell on the open market due to deferred maintenance that usually turns off picky buyers. And that’s where Professional Home Buyers can make things happen for the homeowner.
“We pay cash, we close quickly, and we aren’t asking the homeowner to do anything to the property,” said Javier. “In fact, it’s better if they don’t try to fix up the property before contacting us. They might end up putting money into the home that they can’t get back out.” In almost all cases, Professional Home Buyers completes a major renovation of a home it has acquired. Upgrades often include hardwood floors, new appliances, and kitchen and bath makeovers. Javier credits much of his success to a great staff. “A game changer for me has been having great people on board,” he said. “When you do business with us, you get a team – It’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.” Javier emphasized that “hard sell” is not an approach utilized by the Professional Home Buyers team. “We always want this to be a good deal for our clients, too,” said Javier. “Our efforts aren’t forceful…this is always about what’s right for everyone involved.” For more information about Professional Home Buyers and the services offered for both sellers and investors, visit www.ProHomeBuyer.com, or call 316252-0059.
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Tony Javier is the founder and CEO of Professional Home Buyers
Professional Home Buyers can help sellers reduce the time and hassle of selling their homes. The company also offers rent-to-own homes and assists real estate investors
FOCUS ON BUSINESS
Tony Javier knows a good deal when he sees it, and every day he smiles about the real estate opportunities right here in Wichita, Kansas. And with that insight, Javier – the founder and CEO of Professional Home Buyers – is ready to help make good deals happen for the right sellers and real estate investors. “I knew from the start that Wichita was a great opportunity,” said Javier. “There’s a lot of affordable housing in this market, and we’ve had good, continual growth every year.” Professional Home Buyers was founded in 2001 to provide real estate services to home buyers and home sellers in need of alternative services that most companies do not offer. “We help sellers by buying their home as-is, while offering quick closings and cash offers,” said Javier. “We can reduce the time and hassle of selling. “We also offer rent-to-own homes to buyers who may not qualify for traditional financing.” The company’s second key area of expertise is helping investors in the real estate market. “We have great programs for investors who want to be hands off,” said Javier. “We can provide turn-key operations for people who want to invest through us. We can come up with the right property, have a renter in place, rehab the property to like-new condition and manage the property for the investor so they can just receive a monthly check. After the investor buys the property it is truly turn key!”
21 - December 2015
Professional Home Buyers
December 2015 - 22 www.eastwichitanews.com
‘Spotlight’ may not be profitable but is worth seeing “Spotlight” was the name of the Boston Globe’s team of investigative reporters that brought out the Catholic Church’s policy of defending child-molesting priests back in 2003, and “Spotlight” is the title of the new movie about the considerable reporting achievement, and a very good movie it is. I’m no such historian as to testify as to its accuracy, but it is 100 percent convincing. I only wish it were more complete. Because “Spotlight” is so concentrated on the reporters – played by Michael Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Brian D’Arcy – we see very little of the church officials who covered up for the guilty priests or the civilian officials who helped cover things up. We do meet several of the victims, but only after many years have passed and the cases have gone cold. Nobody represents the rare but not unknown position that child molestation is not in itself as much of a problem as the public reaction to it; about the only defense of the coverups is a few remarks about how much good work even a corrupt church does and how many people need the church in any case. And the characters, while excellently acted and clearly defined, are shown so strictly in terms of their jobs
Movie Review
Jim Erickson
that we are almost unawared of the personal costs they might have to pay for their professional development. And their jobs are limited, convincingly, to endless telephone calls and footwork and reading old files, tracking down even the most unlikely leads among people who are far from in a hurry to revive the unpleasant past, often at considerable risk to themselves. There are no Rambos and James Bonds here; no car chases, shootouts, big orange explosions. This is what real police work, and a lot of other work, is really like – everybody doggedly doing his unglamorous
bit and then consolidating with others to achieve the final goal. “Spotlight” is often compared to “All the President’s Men,” the only other movie I can think of that is so focused on the regularities of investigative work – certainly the only one that was a big hit. And it will remind you how time-consuming and expensive big investigations have to be. Dialogue points out that few private organization can afford efforts like this, and you may find yourself thinking about “Truth,” which made the same point about television programs like “60 Minutes.” And you might be anticipating “Concussion,” about football injuries. There is a lot to be said about the need for organizations that can look in depth at big issues like whether the battle of Tonkin Gulf ever took place and whether the arguments of climate change deniers have any substance. But there is a good edeal of good old-fashioned entertainment in “Spotlight.” Suspense and aggravation are about equal as Keaton, McAdams, Ruffalo and D’Arcy – not to mention lesser characters like Stanley Tucci, Liev Schreiber, John Slattery and Billy Crudup – struggle against odds to bring the public the facts. There’s inspiration, too, in the convincing proposition that we don’t need Edward Snowden and Danial Ellsbergs and Deep Throat from “All the President’s Men,” not to mention Rambos, James Bonds, comic-book superheroes and honest, ordinary people who believe in their work and are allowed to do it, to handle a lot of problems in the world. I hope “Spotlight” finds enough audience to make a profit. “Truth” about Dan Rather and “60 Minutes” with a comparable problem, apparently did not. Realist movies like “The Hurt
Locker” and “American Sniper,” with their rather unattractive pictures of certain psychological types we need during war but can’t quite accommodate during peacetime, did well. But there is a risk in making movies like these in a time of special effects and superheroes. I tip my hat to people like writer Josh Singer and writer-director Tom McCarthy and anyone else promoting this kind of serious social-content movies. And I wait nervously to see whether anybody will really dare to take on the business of football in “Concussion.
Cinema Continued from Page 20
Lelan (Joseph Cotten) is in the oldage hospital. Susan (Dorothy Comingore) is the alcholic owner of a rundown night club. Thatcher (George Coulouris) and the rest are dead. But Bernstein (Everrett Sloane) … “Me? I’m chairman of the board. I got noting but time.” He seems to have been totally unaffected by a lifetime of working with Kane, though he’s sitting in an enourmous office under a heroic-size portrait of Kane. I’ve always wonder whether Orson Welles, egomaniac that he was, was trying to make up to the common people with that. Author’s note: Serious study of “Citizen Kane” should start with “The Citizen Kane Book,” with introduction “Raising Kane” by Pauline Kael. But be careful not to confuse the shooting script, pp. 128-306, with the movie as released, pp. 309-446.
The Sedgwick County Zoo, Westar Energy and the City of Wichita are teaming up to give away firewood and mulch this winter. The firewood and mulch is provided from Westar Energy’s ReliabiliTree tree trimming program and the City of Wichita’s forestry tree pruning and removal operations. The public can pick up the free firewood and wood chips, to use as mulch, now through February 2016 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the north parking lot of the Sedgwick County Zoo. The wood is normally delivered between 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. daily. The Sedgwick County Zoo, Westar Energy and the City of Wichita ask that anyone picking up firewood refrain from using chainsaws, splitters or any mechanical equipment. Those with questions about wood delivery may call 1-855-937-8275.
23 - December 2015
Free firewood, mulch available
Game wardens seek assistance in poaching cases
FACES WANTED. At East Wichita News, we’re already working on feature stories for upcoming editions. If you know of someone whose face (and story) should appear on these pages, please let us know! ewn@eastwichitanews.com 316-540-0500 www.facebook.com/EastWichitaNews
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If you’ve ever seen a photo of a poached deer, chances are you wish you hadn’t. The sad reality is countless numbers of big-game animals are illegally killed in Kansas each year. While Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism game wardens make every effort to solve these cases, lack of evidence often leaves criminals unpunished. The good news is, you don’t have to be a game warden to play a significant role in helping solve a poaching case. Operation Game Thief (OGT), 1-877-426-3843, is a toll-free line available 24/7, 365 days a year, where citizens may anonymously report wildlife-related crimes. Once a call has been placed, the message is relayed to the game warden nearest the violation. If you suspect you are witnessing a wildlife crime, do not confront the suspects. Pay attention to detail so you can provide as much specific information as possible when you call OGT. Information such as vehicle model and color, license tag numbers, descriptions of people involved, location and the time the incident occurred will help game wardens find the poachers. OGT calls have resulted in numerous arrests and convictions on violations ranging from deer poaching to public lands vandalism. In many cases, poachers have been arrested within minutes of the call. If you think picking up the phone can’t make a difference, think again. Those who commit wildlife crimes aren’t just stealing from the land, they are stealing from us all. Help bring them to justice by calling OGT at 1-877-426-3843.