East wichita news january 2015 by Travis Mounts

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January 2015 - 2

ON THE COVER On record and on tour, the band Soleb Theory draws inspiration from many sources. | 12

3 - January 2015

I INSIDE

Volume 32 • Issue 1 January 2015

Drew Colcher, right, and Andrés Alamos play during a recent gig at Kirby’s Beer Store.

Monica Flynn has headed up Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center for 30 years. | 4

Features People and Places ........ 6 Movie Review................. 8 Cinema Scene ................ 8 From the Publisher’s Files ............. 9

City launches snow plow tracking. | 11

Dateline..........................10 Focus On Business......14 Performing Arts Calendar.........................17 EastSide Homes ..........21

East Wichita News Publisher Paul Rhodes Managing Editor Travis Mounts Production Abbygail Wells Reporters/Contributors Sam Jack, Jim Erickson, Philip Holmes

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Editorial

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Building kids’ confidence to speak, sing and dance Monica Flynn marks 30 years at Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center

“Having theater in town for children is something that Wichita has come to value over many years,” said Flynn. “It’s been in a few different forms, but there is a lot of continuity of the mission, what we’re trying to do.” When Flynn took charge of the newly incorporated Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center in 1984, the first Story by Sam Jack challenge was finding a suitable home for the wide range of activities she and her Reminders of Monica Flynn’s more colleagues wanted to than 30 years as director of Wichita conduct and facilitate. Children’s Theatre and Dance Center “At first we had no can be found throughout the nonprofit’s place to go, really,” Lulu Street location. Flynn recalled. “I negoThe cavernous, steel-frame south wing tiated with the Wichita served as a gymnasium when the buildpublic school system ing was a Christian school but is now so that we had a place divided into a theatre, dance studio and to hold our summer scenery shop. Backdrops and sets from classes, and then we many shows are stored in pseudo-orderly started looking for fashion, ready for re-use at some future empty places that could date. Lucy’s storefront offers “Psychiathouse us.” ric Help - Five Cents.” Early supporters of A mural by artist John Hammer covers Flynn’s efforts included three walls of the main entrance lobby, Emprise Bank, Boeing, commemorating fondly remembered Pizza Hut and many musicals and dance recitals, including individuals. “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Joseph and the In 1986, the group Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “Pin- found what turned occhio” and, front and center, “The Best out to be a temporary Christmas Pageant Ever,” a WCT&DC home: the disused St. Christmas tradition, performed every Anthony’s School, year since Flynn took the helm. across the street from Flynn didn’t plan to spend decades St. Anthony’s Catholic building and sustaining WCT&DC’s Church, at Ohio and mission of teaching the performing arts Second. and bringing performances to young “We negotiated with people across Kansas. As she tells it, she the diocese, moved was asked, she said yes, and things snow- in there, started a few balled from there. classes and turned “My children got involved in Chilthe gymnasium into a dren’s Theatre, which was a division of space that was approMusic Theatre of Wichita at the time. priate for children’s They did ‘Oliver!’ and ‘Mame’ and ‘The theatre,” said Flynn. King and I.’ So that’s how it all began. I “We had our dance started volunteering at the children’s divi- studio in another area sion of MTW, and the board of direcof town. tors decided that the division needed to “It was much smaller stand on its own. I was back the happy volunteer in then; there were probacharge of that division, bly three or four classes For more information so basically it became with maybe eight or on Wichita Children’s my quest to make sure ten in each class, so that Wichita Children’s probably 30 or 40 at Theatre and Dance Theatre continued on,” the beginning of time. Center’s programs and said Flynn. That’s compared to There has been a today, where we have events, visit wctdc.com children’s theatre in at least eight or 900, or call 316-262-2282. Wichita, in one form almost 1,000 a year or another, since 1947, coming through our when Irene Vickers doors, plus thousands Baker started the first group, according more reached by traveling programs.” to Flynn. Flynn drew on her background as a

schoolteacher, one who had also studied theater as a college student. “The experience of working with children of all ages was a great help to me. To take a child who was very shy at that point in time and enable them to enact the part of Pinocchio or Cinderella up on the ‘Fairy Tale Theater’ stage in front of their parents – that was very rewarding. That’s what we still do every day, just give kids the confidence that comes

and all the classroom space, which was perfect for us. We could get our dance studios in and get all the elements under one roof,” said Flynn. Thanks to many donations of money and work, the Lulu building was repaired and modernized considerably in the years that followed. A steeple tower that had become a roost for hundreds of pigeons was cleaned out and sealed off. Repairs and upgrades to dance studios

Monica Flynn sang Christmas tunes at the Wichita Art Museum as a participant in Wichita Children Theatre’s Young at Heart glee club. The group sings at area nursing homes as a community service.

from being able to perform, whether in front of a small group or in front of 500 people,” said Flynn. In 1991, the Catholic diocese found a renewed religious use for the school, converting it into a center for the sizeable Vietnamese community that attended St. Anthony’s. Fortunately, WCT&DC did not find itself homeless again; it moved into its current Lulu Street building, a marked improvement on St. Anthony’s. “It had the nice big gymnasium that we could envision turning into a theatre,

and classrooms were sponsored by the Shannon family and others, and the education wing was dubbed the Shannon School of Performing Arts. In 2006, friends of Heather Muller – a Wichita pre-school teacher who had been an enthusiastic Children’s Theatre participant during her childhood and teen years – commemorated her life by starting the Heather Muller Black Box Theatre under the WCT&DC umbrella. A former classroom on the second floor serves as a flexible theater space, allowing teens to exercise control over

youngest of the tough kids who discover the Christmas story in the show, and nobody knew I was coming out there until I stepped out on stage. That was a blast.” A few WCT&DC alumni have gone on to pursue theater and dance professionally. Flynn recently became a co-owner of Roxy’s Downtown, formerly Cabaret Oldtown, and last month she invited her former dance and theater student Ari Simon to present an evening of songs and stories about trying to make it in New York City. “He credited Wichita Children’s Theatre with getting him his start in music, dance and theater,” said Flynn. “He is in an internship with BMI, writing music for them now.” In addition to the theater and dance classes that provide direct training, WCT&DC’s traveling troupe reaches thousands of Kansas students each year with age-appropriate live performances. Hundreds more attend shows in Wichita, presented both by professionals and by other children. On the other end of the age spectrum, the recently formed Young at Heart Glee Club provides a service opportunity for parents and grandparents, performing popular favorites at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. “We have outreach programs for all ages, three to 103,” said Flynn.

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Monica Flynn stands in front of the Wichita Children’s Theatre location on Lulu shortly after the theatre moved into the building that still serves as its home.

Saturday Bridge Seminar

5 - January 2015

many aspects of production, set design and performance. Entercom Radio coordinated donations of supplies and labor to improve the space. “Through the theatre, we’ve made a living memorial to Heather. Her memory lives on in a very positive way,” said Flynn. A few years after the black box’s dedication, grants made it possible to install an elevator, improving accessibility for both the second ﬂoor and the basement. An ambitious million-dollar renovation to turn the south wing into a fully featured modern theatre has long been on hold, but Flynn is hopeful that grantors will one day step forward. Flynn feels very blessed by the friends she has made and the impact she has been able to make, she said, and she has never been shy about showing her emotion. Now that many of her students have grown up, had children of their own and moved around the country, reunion shows and events are particularly meaningful. “Tremendously so,” said Flynn. “We had a reunion for the 25th year of ‘The Best Christmas Pageant Ever,’ and so many of the people who had played the parts over the years came back. They played parts that they had always wanted to play, or parts that they had played in the past, but now again as grown-ups. I was Gladys, the

January 2015 - 6 www.eastwichitanews.com

East Wichita News Ellery Glenn Wadman-Goetsch of East Wichita was among nearly 1,500 graduates who received degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in ceremonies Dec. 19 and 20. Wadman-Goetsch earned a bachelor of arts with high distinction from the College of arts and sciences. The graduates are from 39 states and 27 countries. For a complete list of Dec. 19-20 graduates, go to http://go.unl.edu/of44. Hats off to the more than 500 candidates for December graduation at Emporia State University. Students could graduate with these distinctions: With honors, completing at least six honors courses or activities through participation in the university honors program and had an overall grade point average of 3.5 out of 4.0; cum laude, with an overall GPA of 3.5 out of 4.0; magna cum laude, with a 3.7 GPA; and summa cum laude with a 3.9 GPA. Eastside students who were candidates for degrees: • Jennifer Leigh Asbridge of Wichita, magna cum laude with a B.S. in business in accounting with a minor in modern language. • Catherine Breen Pinnell of Wichita with a B.S. in education in elementary education. • Kelsey Rae Prince of Wichita with a bachelor of interdisciplinary studies. • Brantrel Graham of Wichita with a bachelor of science in psychology. • Laura Denise Parker of Wichita with a master of arts in teaching English to speakers of other languages. • Rachel C. Mcfadden of Wichita with a master of library science. • Evelyn Wright of Wichita with a master of science in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in effective practitioner PreK-12. • Micah Brown of Wichita with a master of science in curriculum and instruction with a concentration in effective practitioner PreK-12. Michael L. Ehrstein of Andover with a master of science in instructional design and technology. Wesley Medical Center has promoted Cheryl Bolton to market director of oncology services and clinics. She currently oversees Wesley’s ﬁve primary and specialty WESLEYCare clinic locations and will now add oversight of Wesley’s cancer

prevention and treatment services to her responsibilities. Bolton began her career with Wesley in 1992 working as a patient accounts manager. Since 2010, she has served as the director of Wesley’s WESLEYCare clinics. Prior to joining Wesley, Cheryl was the business ofﬁce coordinator for Wichita’s KU School of Medicine. Bolton graduated from Wichita State University and received her master’s degree in healthcare leadership from Friends University in Wichita. A number of Eastside students have received Emporia State University scholarships. More than $3.72 million in scholarship funds are helping more than 1,600 Emporia State students from Kansas, 17 other states and 16 foreign countries realize their educational dreams during the 2014-15 academic year. Students from this area who received scholarships are: • Hannah Hewett of Andover, American Association of University Women Scholarship; and Hornet, Foundation, Presidential, Transfer Scholarship. Amy Fugit of Andover, Empowering ESU Scholars; and Hornet, Foundation, Presidential, Transfer Scholarship. • Bailey Cradduck of Andover, Empowering ESU Scholars; Teacher Education Promise Scholarship; and Truman and Mary Lou Hayes Scholarship. • Alexis Mastrobuono of Bel Aire, ESU Hornet, Presidential, Foundation, Transfer Scholarship; and Teacher Education Promise Scholarship. • Tyler Franssen of Andover, Hornet, Foundation, Presidential, Transfer Scholarship. • Chandler Payne of Andover, Hornet, Foundation, Presidential, Transfer Scholarship. • Johnny Yelverton of Andover, Hornet, Foundation, Presidential, Transfer Scholarship. • Calvin Lies of Bel Aire, Hornet, Foundation, Presidential, Transfer Scholarship. Chase Johnson of Andover, Lillian M. Dudley Memorial Scholarship; and Minnie M. Miller Scholarship. Derek Parris of Andover, Richard and Inez Owen Business Scholarship. Jaden Strobel of Andover, Ruth Schillinger Scholarship. Abigail Timmermeyer of Andover, Theatre Department Enhancement. Two local students have been named to the fall 2014 dean’s list at Belmont University. They are Brianna Lowden and Thomas Warner, both of East Wich-

Wesley Medical Center has named Tim Barker its new rehabilitation services director. Barker began his career with Wesley in 1999, serving for 10 years as an outpatient occupational therapist. His most recent position was as an

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Two local residents recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Lauren Haag of Andover was initiated at The University of Kansas. Frederick Schwarz of Wichita was initiated at Kansas State University. Haag and Schwarz are among approximately 32,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni 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. Jessica Hauschild of Andover has been named to the fall 2014 dean’s honor roll at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. Full-time students with a semester grade point average of 3.25-3.74 and no incompletes are listed on the KWU Dean’s Honor Roll. The Regional Economic Area Partnership (REAP), a voluntary council of governments in a nine county region in South Central Kansas, has announced the appointment of Kelly Bergeron as executive director and Keith Lawing as senior advisor. The two led REAP through an organizational restructure in 2014 with plans to expand membership and activities in 2015. Lawing previously served the organization as the chief executive ofﬁcer from 1999 through 2005 and again as the executive director in 2014. Bergeron served as the assistant director in 2014. Both Lawing and Bergeron have backgrounds in city and state government and nonproﬁt administration and hold masters of public administration degrees.

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Wesley Medical Center has named Angela Gragg its new director of pediatric services. Gragg began her career in 1983 working as a hospital pediatric nurse. Since then, she has held a variety of nurse management positions in different clinical areas, including home health, hospice, case management, patient services and pediatrics. Her most recent position was as a consultant for the American Case Management Association, and she has been an adjunct nursing instructor at Tabor College since 2011.

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Goodwill Industries of Kansas, Inc., has announced that Angela Bascue has joined the organization as vice president of retail operations. Bascue comes to Goodwill with more than 30 years of retail and staff development experience. She spent the past 17 years as a regional sales manager for Claire’s Accessories, overseeing 155 retail stores in eight states. Bascue attended Chadron State College, in Chadron, Neb., and majored in Fashion Merchandising and Psychology; she is also a graduate of Brown Mackie College, Salina. Bascue joins Goodwill to oversee and grow the operation, which currently has 18 physical store locations across the state of Kansas, along with an online store, shopgoodwill.com. All sales of donated goods are used locally to educate and employ Kansans with disabilities and other barriers to employment.

“We treat them like our own.”

BROADMOOR

Two local students have been named to dean’s lists at Arizona State University. Matthew Martin of Andover and Taylor Shaw of Wichita were named to the spring 2014 dean’s list. Shaw also was named to the fall 2014 dean’s list. Undergraduate students who earn 12 or more graded semester hours during a semester in residence at ASU with a GPA of 3.50 or higher are eligible for the dean’s list.

occupational and physical therapy rehabilitation services manager for Wesley. Barker graduated from Wichita State University with a bachelor’s degree in pre-physical therapy, and he also earned a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from Newman University in Wichita.

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CINDY’S DOG GROOMING

7 - January 2015

People and Places

January 2015 - 8 w w w . e a s t w i c h i t a n e w s . c o m

‘Wild’ is latest of the ‘short walk’ movies “Wild,” starring Reese Witherspoon, is the latest in a minor genre series of movies that includes last year’s “Nebraska,” this year’s “Redwood Highway” with Shirley Knight and Robert Redford’s forthcoming “A Walk in the Woods.” Let’s call these the “short walk” movies (although “Nebraska” was by car to keep Bruce Dern from attempting to go on foot), in which one or two people go on relatively brief journeys for personal motives, in contrast with travel movies like “The Grapes of Wrath” which involved a small group as representatives of a large movement, or “quest” movies like the “Lord of the Rings” series, which involved a social purpose. Other “trip” movies range from “The Wizard of Oz” to “Easy Rider” to “It Happened One Night.” Americans are supposed to have a weakness for “movement” movies like these. In “Wild,” Reese Witherspoon acts out Cheryl Strayed’s memoir of her 1,000 mile hike along the Pacific Crest Trail – from the Mojave Desert through Oregon, to Washington State – in an attempt to get over the ravages of losing her mother, Laura Dern, and what flashbacks gradually reveal to have been a pretty shabby mess of a life.

Movie Review

Jim Erickson

She apparently just drifts with whatever tide carries her, dealing with problems by escaping them through alcohol and drugs, until she needs to “walk myself back into the woman my mother thought I was,” presumably by putting herself into situations where she can’t escape and has to struggle through mostly on her own. I think she also learns that the world is full of people who, while hardly in the heroic mold of Dern, are better than the pretty scummy ones in her life so far. And that’s really about all “Wild” consists of – a series of encounters with problems the protagonist has to solve either entirely on her own, or with what help she can get from strangers on the trail or at the prepared stops along the way, which range from mere camping

grounds to little cities. A young woman like Witherspoon ought to know better than to wander off into the wilderness alone, and there is a continual sense of danger that I’m not going to elaborate on, because I don’t want to ruin the suspense, which is considerable enough that I didn’t finish either my large buttered popcorn or my medium soda pop, the first time that has happened in I don’t know how long. Witherspoon’s immaturity and amateur status in the beginning are revealed by such foolishness as throwing her hiking shoes away in a fit of temper, and by her comical struggles with her over-heavy pack. Her most obvious development is in simple physical strength and ability to handle her tent and other equipment; these are not huge matters, but she is learning to take care of herself and nobdy is helping her. Even such a simple matter as camp-cooking her porridge is subject to improvement and personal satisfaction. Closing narration tells us what the future will hold for her, presumably as a result of what her long walk has taught her. Her unhappy past is revealed very gradually, in tiny memory flashes so short that they hardly suggest memory at

work; the intention may be to avoid the impression that she is brooding over her past. The flashes are out of chronology and not always clearly relevant to her present situation. I suspect that “Wild” is closer to Strayed’s real experience than is artistically desirable, but the slow development of the picture of a messed-up life has narrative interest and does not take the emphasis away from the story of the trip. The people along the way can hardly be deep studies, but they are all individualized, and some offer surprises. Scenery is beautiful, but kept subordinate to the walk itself: “Wild” does not indulge in extraneous elements. There is a fair amount of humor, mostly of the chuckle variety. The struggle with the pack verges on slapstick, and Witherspoon’s determination not to be taken for a hobo is one of my favorite bits, perhaps because it’s based on character. Witherspoon is totally convincing throughout, letting the situations carry the movie instead of indulging in acting tricks, glamorization or melodrama, even in flashbacks. And let me repeat: “Wild” is the only movie I’ve reviewed that kept me so involved that I didn’t finish my popcorn.

Reviewer admits he may be obsessed about ‘The Theory of Everything’ I have been forewarned of a cold reception to my supposed obsession with the sex life of Stephen Hawking, as represented by Eddie Redmayne in “The Theory of Everything.” My suspicions were based largely on Hawking’s physical position in his chair, the same in every picture I’d seen of him, which seemed to preclude normal intercourse. There were a number of shots and episodes involving his nurse. There was also a man I will call the Music Man because I don’t know the name of the actor (nor do I know the actress who played the nurse). Why was the nurse so consistently played as flirting with Hawking, and why was Hawking always shown to be appreciative of it? Why were they shown reading “Penthouse” together? I could imagine that we had four sympathetic characters trying to arrange a lifestyle allowing maximum happiness all around, with Hawking needing special attention because of his dreadful condition and his wife (Felicity Jones: I am not likely ever to forget about her) allowed consolation with the Music Man due to the inadequacies of her physical relationship with Hawking.

Cinema Scene

Jim Erickson

The movie, despite its deceptive title, is not about Hawking’s theories, and I’m thankful for that; I can’t read Hawking’s “A Brief History of Time,” or even “Scientific American,” and no two-hour movie could make me understand modern physics. The movie is about Hawking and his wife, and my questions arose naturally from it. But they kept nagging at me, and I got that one response to my review. And the movie had included a very unusual credit, to the effect that it was based on “Travelling to Infinity: My Life with Stephen Hawking,” by Jane Hawking, but that details had been “fictionalized” to the point that resemblances to real life might be purely coincidental.

I have never seen an end note like that before. My suspicion was that the movie had been censored, certainly after being written, maybe after being shot. So I finally bought the book, and while the line “our three handsome, well-adjusted, very loving children” pretty well eliminated my suspicions about paternity (a man in the audience suspected artificial insemination), most of my suspicions proved out. The wife did have a prolonged affair with the man corresponding to my Music Man. Hawking did have an affair with, and eventually married, his nurse, and, quoting Jane Hawking’s book, “I thought that we had achieved a balance whereby everyone could flourish.” “The Theory of Everything” would have been far more original, though far more difficult to make, if it had stuck to the facts of the book. ••••• The changes to “Theory” were probably intended to make the movie more inspirational. I’ll not venture into disputing historical facts, but what “Exodus: Gods and Kings” does to the details of its original is harder to understand. The story of Moses is well enough

known that little gaps in the telling may not be noticed. And I am familiar with efforts to explain the Bible’s several miracles in naturalistic terms, though I have never seen that these are contributions to Christianity, because they remove God from the picture. “Exodus” does not eliminate the supernatural; it even shows God as a human being. But a nine year old boy? I can’t see what that adds to Christianity or historical credibility or anything. And a plague of crocodiles? Moses doesn’t cause the parting of the Red Sea or warn the pharaoh about the plagues, at least before they are well under way. He also scratches the Ten Commandments onto a slab of stone while the nine-year-old God just sits in the background and watches – and that’s about where the story ends: no golden calf, no forty years in the wilderness. There is no interest in Moses or his story here; director Ridley Scott is only interested in visual spectacle. He prefers a pack of tornados to Charlton Heston waving a staff and commanding the water to recede, but he stills get the See ERICKSON, Page 9

By the time you read this column, the New Year will be upon us. Some would say it couldn’t have arrived soon enough, but I can honestly say this was a Christmas season to savor. I didn’t get into the holiday spirit until well into December, but that wasn’t an issue. Once the Christmas music started playing, so to speak, it never stopped. My holiday consisted of ample time with friends and family, some comfortable travels, and some gift exchanges that made me glow from the inside out. My immediate family found me to be a generous gift-giver this Christmas, but I also hope they found me to be a thoughtful shopper this year, as well. This was a year where my holiday travels put me into contact with lots of extended family members and friends, and I tried to be more of a mindful giver this year than an extravagant one. I am guessing that you probably know what I mean. If you truly spend even a few minutes thinking about a person upon whom you want to bestow a gift, and have been a halfway decent listener in terms of their lives, you can come up with a gift that matches either a lifestyle or an interest connected with that person. The resulting smiles can be very heartwarming. I got to experience that a few times on the giving end this Christmas… and on the receiving end, as well! Several thoughtful gifts were delivered my way this holiday season, and I am truly appreciative of those efforts. My daughters, cognizant of my healthy

Erickson spectacle and the widescreen masses of people he so adores. “Exodus” is about hugeness of crowds and buildings and statues and whateverall. The credits include an endless list of graphic artists who created it. ••••• “Interstellar” handles the extraordinary more sensibly. Just drop in a few words about the effect of gravity on time and then do what you want to; the audience

By Erin PErry O’DOnnEll

Paul Rhodes | Publisher

cooking efforts following my heart attack earlier this year, gave me infused olive oils and no-salt spices that already have been used in my kitchen. A copy of a caricature I had done this past fall for my grandson, and loved, came back to me as a framed copy and as a Christmas ornament. And a friend who knows I like to wear leather bracelets gave me a new one to wear on special occasions. All of these gifts, and others, will be treasured…and remembered. Gifts that help create lasting memories just keep on giving, as they say, and I love it when that happens. Almost always, it has nothing to do with the amount of money spent on the gift. It’s all about the thought that went into designing, acquiring or crafting the gift. I hope your holiday season was ﬁlled with similar joys. And just as importantly, my wish for the New Year is that all of us can ﬁnd the freedom, joy and happiness in our lives that we so richly deserve. May 2015 be your happiest New Year ever!

will go along with you. Windy explanations won’t persuade anybody, so just give imaginations an excuse to go crazy and keep the action moving. Say that in another galaxy the laws of Earthly physics don’t apply and let it go at that, with a planet orbiting a black hole with gravity so powerful that light itself cannot get out. Picture a wormhole in space as big as the Holland Tunnel, but don’t discuss it. Audiences will accept anything in fantasy; don’t insult their intelligence by calling it science ﬁction. There’s no already-accepted story to get in your way, so enjoy your freedom.

Family medicine means caring for patients across the spectrum of life, and also across the spectrum of needs. That’s the focus of Spectrum Family Medical Clinic in Wichita. Dr. Joseph Sack has operated the clinic in the Reflection Ridge Office Park since 2001. Janet Johnson, certified physician assistant, joined the practice five years ago and has already developed a reputation for listening to patients with compassion and insight, said office manager Debi Abood. “She wants what the patients want. She’ll listen to them.” The addition of Johnson has broadened the practice’s appeal to more women and families, Abood said, because sometimes women simply feel more comfortable seeing a female healthcare professional. Johnson said she and Dr. Sack make a good team with mutual respect for each other’s professional experience. “I liked the fact that when I came here he asked for my opinion,” Johnson said. Nearly every day, Dr. Sack’s schedule covers the spectrum of care that the clinic provides. He may see newborns on hospital rounds in the morning, and then help a family admit a loved one to hospice in the afternoon. Dr. Sack’s service to families extends beyond the clinic. He specialized for many years in geriatrics, and recently retired as medical director of Hospice of Kansas to better serve his practice. He has also traveled on medical missions, providing medications and surgical instruments to Chinese doctors and helping people injured in the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Johnson said her background has served her well in a family practice. She was medical assistant and x-ray Joseph M. Sack, M.D. technician for about 20 years before becoming a physician assistant. (Some patients have even stayed with her since her medical assistant days.) In a typical day she might treat a child sick with the flu, a young woman seeking birth control, or a woman in menopause who wants information on hormone replacement therapy. Heading off problems in illnesses before they occur is especially important to Johnson, who said she tries to include a preventive element at each visit. She also tries to create a supportive environment that cares for the patient’s emotional and spiritual needs. Physician assistants like Johnson work under the supervision of a licensed physician, but are trained to examine and diagnose patients independently, as well as prescribe medication. Johnson has been a physician assistant for 10 years, graduating with a bachelor’s degree from the PA program at Wichita State University in 2001. PAs are licensed by the Kansas State Board of Healing Arts and must: • Take state board examinations every six years and • Complete 100 credits of continuing education every two years. It was another physician who inspired Johnson to make the professional leap from nursing. He told her she should have been a doctor, not knowing that had been her childhood dream. Johnson, in her 40s at the time, said she couldn’t Janet Johnson, PA-C possibly go to medical school. So the doctor recommended she check out the PA program. It was a perfect fit. “You need someone to see your worth, and with those words of affirmation, you can do anything,” Johnson said. “He saw the potential in me, and it restored my dreams.”

Spectrum Family Medical Clinic 7570 W. 21st St., Suite 1006A Wichita, KS 67205 • 316-462-0460 www.spectrumfamilymedicalclinic.com

www.eastwichitanews.com

Continued from Page 8

From the Publisher’s Files

SPECTRUM FAMILY MEDICAL CLINIC

9 - January 2015

Delivering smiles through the holiday season

January 2015 - 10

Dateline January 2015 Jan. 10 – Genealogical DNA program, 1 p.m., Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Library, 1203 N. Main. Discover the latest news in this field of study and testing. Programs held at the MGHS library are free and open to the public. Jan. 13 – The Mid Kansas Texas A&M Club and Chancel Choir of East Heights United Methodist Church will host the “Voice of Aggieland,” the Texas A&M Singing Cadets. The Texas A&M Singing Cadets Concerts will be at 7 p.m. in the East Heights United Methodist Church Sanctuary. Free will donation. Jan. 17 – Discovering your family on the Internet, 10 a.m., Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Library, 1203 N. Main. Discover the most efficient way to find and organize your family data, and the quickest way to access historical records. On-going digitization of documents makes it economical and immediately available for the researcher.

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Jan. 17 – Ancestors in the American Revolution, 1 p.m., Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Library, 1203 N. Main. Finding your family who was in

Dateline

Upcoming events in and around Wichita

the military or provided other support in the American Revolution? Sandi Bush and Lucille Williams of the Daughters of the American Revolution will help you ﬁnd your ancestors. Maybe one of your family members worked to provide wadding for the guns, or food and laundry services for the soldiers, or fought on the front lines. Jan. 24 – Afro-American special interest group, 1 p.m., Midwest Historical & Genealogical Society Library, 1203 N. Main. A historical/genealogical study of families of any ethnic group, special interest of Afro-Americans, led by Jozel Smith Eckels. Learn to research the family tree and discover stories using public records

or interviews, and learn to preserve the information. Jan. 27 – Tuesdays Together, a benefit for LifeVentures, makes its debut this month in time to celebrate Kansas’ 154th birthday. Discover the uniqueness of Kansas historically, along with who and what makes up this country’s heartland. Ken Spurgeon, local historian, author, filmmaker, popular speaker and educator, will be the featured presenter. The luncheon menu includes smothered chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, homemade rolls and birthday cake. After-lunch entertainment will be provided by Northfield School’s Mixed Ensemble, directed by music director Lauren Johnson. Hours for the event, sponsored by LifeVentures, are 9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., in Hedrick Hall inside East Heights Methodist Church, 4407 E. Douglas. Tickets, available to the public, are $12.50 and need to be purchased by Jan. 21. Call event coordinator, Sara Jones at 316-682-5209 for ticket sales and additional information. Now in its 25th year, LifeVentures is a nonprofit organization providing educational programs and enrichment activities for

active seniors in the greater Wichita area. Jan. 30 – The Women’s Association of the Wichita Symphony will hold its winter luncheon at 11:30 a.m. at Wichita Country Club, 8501 East 13th Street N., Wichita. Following lunch at noon, a musical program will be presented by Time for Three. Before the luncheon at 11:30 a.m., the Wichita Youth Repertory Orchestra will perform. The cost of the lunch is $17. Call Janet Elliott at 316265-4492 by Jan 26 to make reservations. Guests are welcome. Jan. 31 – Spring gardening classes, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Sedgwick County Extension Center, 21st and Ridge. Sponsored by Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardeners. $10 registration fee covers ﬁve classes. Register online at http://2015springgardenclasses. eventbrite.com or register by mail by sending name, contact information and fee to Sedgwick County Extension Center, 7001 W. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67205. Make checks payable to Sedgwick County Extension Council. To register by phone, call the EMG program coordinator at 316-660-0138.

City of Wichita officials have announced a new interactive website that allows citizens to track the location of the city’s snow plows. All 50 of the city’s snow plows are equipped with GPS and will provide real-time data to citizens to determine which streets and areas have been treated. “This is our latest effort to improve how we respond to snow events and also provide citizens with the information they need to travel safely during these events,” said Alan King, the Director of Public Works & Utilities. Residents can follow the plows during winter events at www.wichita.gov/snowremoval. Should significant accumulation occur, city crews will operate all 50 snow plows roundthe-clock in an effort to clear the streets. Around 100 city truck drivers and equipment operators will be on standby to work 12-hour shifts should accumulation occur. These crews will first focus on 1,500 lane miles of emergency priority routes, and then will transition to secondary and school routes.

11 - January 2015

City launches snow plow tracking

Follow the city of Wichita’s snow plows online at www.wichita.gov/snowremoval

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January 2015 - 12

Ecstasy of Influence

Drew Colcher sang lead vocals and played guitar during a recent set at Kirby’s Beer Store. The venue’s new house label released Soleb Theory’s self-titled debut album.

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On record and on tour, Soleb Theory draws inspiration from many sources Drew Colcher reached for a variety of references to describe the sound and ambition of Soleb Theory, the Wichita-based rock trio for which he provides vocals and guitar. “Early ‘90s funk rock bands like Jane’s Addiction, Mr. Bungle and the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and also third-wave ska music, kind of a mixture between punk and early Jamaican ska – that was a big thing for me, and it really comes through in the songs. There’s some blues going on, and a fair amount of metal, and a decent amount of Latin beats,” said Colcher. Having listened to Soleb Theory’s self-titled debut album, I can verify parts of that description, but other references elicited a blank stare from me – one that was familiar from the looks on other people’s faces when I start going on about total serialism, spectralism or post-minimalism, to name three relatively recent ﬂavors of classical music. Put aside the vast gulf in popularity that now separates rock and classical, and those reciprocal blank stares can be instructive. While most top-40 pop tunes

STORY

SAM JACK

CONTRIBUTED burble along in their merry, radio-ready way as ever they did, rock music is steadily growing family trees of inﬂuence that rival or match the arcane convolutions of the more familiar (to me) lineages of classical. With the growth of an artistic tradition, it becomes more and more the case that artists interested in working in the tradition must be masters of according with, rebelling against or transforming the past. Critic Harold Bloom called this “the anxiety of inﬂuence.” But when the anxiety dissipates, it leads to something more like what Italian composer Ferruccio Busoni called “young classicism.” “By ‘young classicism’ I mean the mastery, examination and exploitation of all the gains of previous experiments and their inclusion in solid and beautiful forms. This art will be old and new at the same time,” Busoni wrote in 1920. Like all forms of classicism, Busoni’s

PHOTOS

“young” variety demands rigor. But Busoni calls at the same time for cheerfulness, freedom and total disregard for the borders erected by genre, propriety, or what most people think of as good taste. “The measure of what is artistic does not rely on proportions, on boundaries of what is beautiful, or on the preservation of taste,” he wrote. Soleb Theory has the freedom and selective disregard for expectation, along with the rigor, which Busoni advocates. With only three members – currently Colcher, bassist Brody Wellman and drummer Andrés Alamos (the drummer’s brother, Alejandro Alamos, played bass on the album, while Wellman was the recording engineer) – there is no way to conceal any technical weakness in the playing. “Musically, there is something more intimate about being in a trio. It is limiting in some ways, but it also helps us expand in a certain way, operating with that con-

straint,” said Colcher. The band spurns all but the simplest extra effects; there is no leaning on Auto-Tune, synthesizers or brass choirs to add superﬁcial novelty. The rapid juxtaposition of styles and affects produces much of the musical interest. The togetherness of the group through hairpin changes is another big part of what compels. They swerve in tight formation through ska, punk, metal, funk and Latin. Accelerations in tempo initiate at unexpected times and are executed with unison and clockwork pace that would be difﬁcult to achieve in a larger or less skilled ensemble. Chord changes may fall just a bit early or late, while verse and chorus structures are subverted or omitted entirely. Analogous to the instrumentals, the band’s vocals unsystematically alternate between more or less conventional rock singing, metal’s throaty roar and something closer to speech, a rap-like patter. . The majority of the band is bilingual, and Alejandro Alamos wrote four songs that incorporate Spanish (the rest of the album was penned by Colcher).

“Soleb Theory” is available at Kirby’s, at Spektrum Muzik (the record store where Colcher works), at mkt.com/ solebtheory, and for streaming or download at iTunes and several other popular services.

See SOLEB, Page 23

Looking for the Perfect Rug?

13 - January 2015

The lyrics don’t strive for, or achieve, any uniﬁed effect, but hold up and discard a variety of familiar rock postures: aggressive, meditative, goofy and mystically unhinged. “There are certain points where it’s more about creating a feeling with the words than driving at some speciﬁc meaning,” said Colcher. “You have to consider what pleases people, and we’re certainly not trying to make bad music that nobody likes. But I’d have to say that our prime motive is not to get bored with what we’re playing. That’s why the variegated musical styles come in, with each song having its own gist and general thrust. We try to maintain an overall aesthetic that ties the songs together, while making each song different than the one before it,” he said. Instead of a heavily mediated production style, Soleb Theory opts for a balanced mix, allowing bass, drums, guitar and vocals to speak clearly. “Often albums will tilt the mix in favor

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Bassist Brody Wellman recent joined Soleb Theory’s lineup. He was recording engineer for the group’s debut album.

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January 2015 - 14

Featured this month Kitchen Tune-Up........................... Page 14

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FOCUS ON BUSINESS

Angels Care Home Health............ Page 15

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.

New year, new kitchen! You’ve wanted it for years but just couldn’t pull the trigger. But now is the perfect time of year to get that new kitchen you’ve always wanted. Maybe it’s just a few updates, or maybe it’s a whole new remodel. Whatever you want, get it done now so you can be ready to enjoy it all year long. Kitchen Tune-Up has remodeled hundreds of kitchens and baths since Jim and Arlene Phillips started the business in 2005, and the company’s services range from One-Day Restoration “Tune-Up” of cabinets or any interior wood surfaces, to cabinet refacing projects, to complete custom kitchens and bathrooms. This beautiful kitchen from Kitchen TuneUp (pictured at right) could be the new look for your new year. Classic, dark glazed-maple cabinets are accented with a distressed black island and hood. Furniture legs and unique Lapidus granite give this space a high-end feel while the over hang on the expansive island makes a perfect cozy spot for homework or a cup of coffee. State-of-the-art appliances like the gas cooktop, convection oven, microwave and double dishwasher drawers make cooking and cleaning a breeze. Ready to make your kitchen life even better? Organizational cabinets like the recycling bins, appliance garage, Lazy Susan, cookie

sheet drawers and extra deep drawers for pots and pans make finding things a snap. A custom travertine backsplash, pot rack over the island and apothecary drawers on the buffet finish off the space with outstanding detail. Whether you are looking for classic traditional, cool contemporary, shabby chic or somewhere in between, Kitchen Tune-Up can help create the kitchen you deserve this New Year. Tune-Up or reface your existing cabinets for a fresh new look. Switch out your laminate for a maintenance friendly quartz or granite. Cook in comfort with quality built custom cabinets. All of Kitchen Tune-Up’s refacing and new construction options can now come to life at the company’s new design workroom at 4057 N. Woodlawn, Suite 1. Inside the design workroom, dreams become a reality as clients share their ideas. Designer Rachel Phillips helps match up those ideas with the right materials and products to get the job done. Kitchen Tune-Up has the solution for your space and your budget to get 2015 off to a great start. Consultations are free, so call 316558-8888 to schedule today! You can check out the company’s extensive BEFORE/AFTER portfolio on Facebook. When you visit the local Kitchen Tune-Up Facebook page, be sure to ‘LIKE’ Kitchen Tune-Up, Wichita (Jim and Arlene Phillips)!

This beautiful kitchen from Kitchen TuneUp could be the new look for your new year. You can check out the company’s extensive BEFORE/AFTER portfolio on Facebook.

Home Health. Angels Care Home Health provides skilled nursing care, restorative therapy and medical social services to patients in their homes or wherever they may reside, including assisted living facilities and retirement communities. Under the direction of the physician, Angels Care administers medical services to the patient while strictly adhering to the physician’s plan of care. “Angels Care’s services are beneficial because we create a continuum of care throughout the disease process,” adds Deffenbaugh. “We emphasize patient and family education, which empowers the patient to take an active role in the management of their condition.” Through its disease management and other specialty programs, Angels Care provides supportive care education of the disease process to the patient, family and caregivers. Education is a powerful tool in helping patients modify their lifestyle behaviors and optimally manage their condition. The goal of Angels Care Home Health is to make it possible for seniors to receive quality health care at home so they can remain independent and continue to lead safe, healthy and productive lives. Angels Care’s skilled nursing and therapy staff is comprised of Registered Nurses, Licensed Vocational/Practical Nurses, Physical and Occupational Therapists and Speech Language Pathologists.

Angels Care strives to not only deliver its core services, but to teach its caregivers and patients about their disease. This approach empowers them to take control of the disease, reducing the need for emergency care. “Home health care is a cost-effective method of receiving health care services and patients have a choice,” said Deffenbaugh. “When given a choice, the seniors in our communities want to age in the comfort of their homes where they can

enjoy the support of family and friends – and feel confident with the skilled care they receive from nurses and therapists dedicated to helping them live better and more independently.” To schedule an evaluation or learn more information about the benefits of Home Health care, contact Angels Care Home Health in Wichita at 316-6364000 or visit www.angelscarehealth.com/ Wichita. At Angels Care Home Health, we serve patients! Angels Care Home Health is a Medicare-certified home health agency that is owned and operated by AngMar Medical Holdings, Inc., a privately-held family company with a network of 64 locations in nine states.

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Physical therapy is one of the many services offered by Angels Care Home Health.

The staff at Angels Care Home Health is ready to admit patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

FOCUS ON BUSINESS

Angels Care Home Health is a Medicare-certified home health agency that is owned and operated by AngMar Medical Holdings, Inc., a privately held family company based in Mansfield, Texas. AngMar operates a network of agencies with 64 locations in nine states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. The companies that serve patients under the AngMar umbrella include: Wichita’s Angels Care Home Health, Angels Above Us, Angel Care Health Services, Family Care of Texas, Crown Health Services and Specialty Nurses. Since 2000, AngMar’s team of health care professionals has served an estimated 88,000 patients. Those numbers continue to grow, fueled by the specialized, patient-centered care that the company provides and by its commitment to excellence in serving its local communities. Angels Care Home Health admits patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. When its patients are first admitted onto service, they receive more visits from nurses and therapists in the first two weeks than is typical of the average home health agency. This extra support in the initial healing process is crucial in assisting the patient to quickly regain their confidence and independence. Education through its disease management programs also distinguishes Angels Care from other home health agencies. Whether patients are coping with chronic illness, healing from an injury or relearning lost skills, they have the resources to help them manage their condition and enjoy quality living at home. “Receiving medical care at home from Angels Care allows our senior patients to become more involved in the management of their condition, experience a higher level of independence, and recover more quickly,” said Carmen Deffenbaugh, Administrator of Angels Care

15 - January 2015

Angels Care Home Health puts patients first

January 2015 - 16

HEALTH outlook Your directory of wellness services, care providers, and products.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

MEMORY CARE

Prairie View

Comfort Care Homes

9333 E. 21st St. North • Wichita 1-800-992-6292 www.prairieview.org Behavorial healthcare for all ages. Transforming Lives.

NorthStar Therapy Center 572 S. Oliver • Wichita 316-260-1127 Northstartherapy13@gmail.com Specializing in ADHD, Depression & Anxiety Spanish Bi-lingual Therapist

HOME CARE

w w w . e a s t w i c h i t a n e w s . c o m

Ancaire

155 N. Market #420 • Wichita 316-927-2623 www.Ancaire.com Exceptional people. Extraordinary care.

7701 E. Kellogg, Ste 490 • Wichita 316-685-3322 www.comfortcarehomeswichita.com The alternative to nursing home placement. 20 years dementia care experience.

DENTIST Bhargava Family Dentistry

1230 N. Broadmoor Ave. • Wichita 316-630-0002 www.BhargavaDDS.com We are a family dental practice — entirely digital, kid friendly, and we would love to be your dentist.

HOSPICE CARE Interim Healthcare & Hospice

333 S. Broadway Ste. #104 • Wichita, 67202 316-265-4295 www.interimhealthcare.com/wichitainterim When it matters most, count on us!

WELCOME to a new feature in East Wichita News

Comfort Care Homes: Dementia care in a home setting Two decades ago, Charles and Mary Lou Stark had no idea they would be setting a new standard for dementia care in Kansas. The family was diligently working to care for Charles’ parents, both of whom were needing care because of dementia. They wanted to create a different kind of long-term care environment, and those efforts eventually led to the state creating the designation of HomePlus. The 219 Home established by the Stark family eventually became the first HomePlus in the state of Kansas, and the concept they pioneered has grown dramatically over the past two decades. ComfortCare Homes now has eight homes providing care to residents with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The homes are all on the east side of Wichita and serve residents with early to late stages of dementia. “Twenty-one years ago, the Starks said there had to be a better way, and now the HomePlus concept is very popular,” said Robert Miller, Vice President of Company Development for ComfortCare Homes, Inc. “It is the alternative to a nursing home for people with dementia.” In 1997, son Doug Stark took over as president of ComfortCare Homes, and

today the company sets the standard for dementia care in a home setting in Wichita. The company operates seven private homes that have been converted to dementia care – as well as Founders Crest, a larger home built in 2014 – that provide a higher level of care for Residents with advance dementias. “What continues to set ComfortCare Homes apart is the wide range of personalized services offered,” Miller said. Those services include varying levels of care for earlier stages of dementia to complete care as needed. “We can change our level of care as someone’s needs change,” said Miller. “We work with all types of dementia, and at all phases. It’s a very wide range of care.” This year marks an important milestone for ComfortCare Homes. Its first home in Wichita has now gone through a complete renovation and will be featured during an open house on Jan. 14. For more information on the open house or a private tour, call 316-6853322. For more information on ComfortCare Homes and the services offered in Wichita, visit www.comfortcarehomeswichita.com.

For information about listing your health-related business, product or service, contact East Wichita News at

316-214-3278 or ewn@eastwichitanews.com

Comfort Care Homes specializes in dementia care provided in a home environment, like the home pictured here.

Intrust Bank Arena – Cirque du Soleil presents “Varekai.” Jan. 14-18. Tickets $42-$152. Visit www.intrustbankarena. com. The Forum Theatre Company – “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner,” Jan. 15-31. Shows at 8 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday. $25 for Friday and Saturday shows, $23 for Thursday and Sunday. The regional premiere of a new play by Todd Kreidler based on the screenplay by William Rose. The beloved ﬁlm of the 1960s starring Sidney Poitier, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn has now been adapted for the stage. A progressive couple’s proud liberal sensibilities are put to the test when their daughter brings her ﬁancé home to meet them. Personal beliefs clash with the mores of the late 1960s in this poignantly funny and profoundly moving adaptation which challenges us to not only believe but to act. Starring Tom Frye, Gina Austin, Karla Burns, Robert Barnes, Chelsey Moore, Lando Hawkins and Sheila Kinnard. Tickets: www. forumwichita.org or 316-618-0444. Wichita Symphony – Tchaikovsky’s Second, 8 p.m. Jan. 17 and 8 p.m. Jan. 18, Century II Concert Hall. The melodies of Borodin, Saint-Saëns, and Tchaikovsky will warm your heart in this concert of romantic masterpieces. Pianist Andrew Russo takes center stage to dazzle with

Performing Arts Calendar

17 - January 2015

Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center – “The Wizard of Oz.” Shows Jan. 14 at noon (pizza at 11:30 a.m.); Jan. 15 at 10 a.m. (no pizza) and noon (pizza at 11:30 a.m.); Jan. 16 at 10 a.m. (no pizza), noon (pizza at 11:30 a.m.) and 6:30 p.m. (pizza at 6 p.m.); Jan. 17 at noon (pizza at 11:30 a.m.). Dorothy, with help from Glinda the Good Witch, Scarecrow, Tinman and the Lion, must defeat the Wicked Witch so that the Wizard can help her get back to Kansas. This adaptation is based on the original novel, not the MGM ﬁlm. Tickets $6 for show only, $7.50 for pizza show. Group rates available. Evening performances are PJ performances. Children are encouraged to wear their PJs and bring their favorite stuffed animal. Call 316-262-2282. 201 Lulu.

February 2014 Saint-Saëns’ Fourth Piano Concerto. Time For Three, 8 p.m. Jan. 30 (blue jeans concert, general admission), 8 p.m. Jan. 31 and 2 p.m. Feb. 1, Century II Concert Hall. Time for Three is back in Wichita by popular demand. Hear TF3 on a work written for the guys by Jennifer Higdon, her “Concerto 4-3.” For the rest of the program, hear high-energy ﬁddle, bluegrass, pop, and tunes from many genres listeners have come to know and love. Tickets $25-$67 ($25 only for the blue jeans concert), www. wichitasymphony.org. The Orpheum – The Fab Four, a Beatles tribute, 7:30 p.m. Jan. 21. Advance tickets $29.50-$42.50. Ricky Skaggs, 8 p.m. Jan. 23. Tickets $35-$45. School of Rock triple header, 4 p.m. Jan. 24, featuring the music of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Guns ‘N Roses vs. Motley Crue, and a progressive rock mix. Tickets $12. www.wichitaorpheum. com or 316-263-0884. Roxy’s Downtown (formerly Cabaret Oldtown) – “Always…Patsy Cline” opening Thursday, Jan. 29, running through March 28. Shows at 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. Based on the true story of Patsy Cline’s friendship with Houston housewife Louise Seger, the show combines humor, sadness and reality. It offers fans who remember Cline while she was alive a chance to look back, while giving new fans an idea of what seeing her was like and what she meant to her original fans. Tickets $25, advance reservations suggested. Call 316-265-4400. 412-1/2 E. Douglas.

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

OFF

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EXPIRES: 01/31/15

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January 2015 - 18

Great Plains Nature Center has a new director

Before

After

The City of Wichita has announced the promotion of Jim Mason as the director of Great Plains Nature Center (GPNC), effective Friday, Dec. 19. Mason replaced Lorrie Beck, who is retiring after two years in the post. Mason, a Wichita native, earned a bachelor’s in science degree in biology in 1975 from the University of Kansas. He has worked for Wichita’s Park & Recreation Department since 1978. He began working as a naturalist with the Wichita Wild program in 1988. Jim is the author of two local history books, published by Arcadia Publications: “Wichita’s Riverside Parks” in the “Images of America” series and “Wichita” in the “Postcard History” series.

He is co-author of the Great Plains Nature Center “Pocket Guide to Kansas Freshwater Mussels” and author of the GPNC “Pocket Guide to Common Kansas Butterﬂies.” He has written articles for the Kansas Sportsman and the Kansas Wildﬂower Society newsletter. GPNC, located at 6232 E. 29th Street North, is a partnership between the City, the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism and the United States Fish & Wildlife Service. It provides programs, tours and other opportunities for residents to learn about natural resources, especially the wildlife and plant species inhabiting the Great Plains region. Mason will oversee seven staffers in addition to volunteers.

Resolve to give blood this year BETTER SKIN HEALTH...

through Science & Caring

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Treatment for Diseases of the Skin, Hair & Nails

Mid-Kansas Dermatology Clinic, P.A. Steven M. Passman, MD Shanna Suderman, PA-C • Crystal Do, PA-C

8526 W. 13th, Suite 130 • Wichita Additional locations in East Wichita, Newton, El Dorado and Wellington For Appointments call

316.612.1833

or toll-free 1.866.294.7546

The American Red Cross is asking eligible blood donors to make a resolution to give blood regularly in 2015, beginning with National Blood Donor Month in January. National Blood Donor Month recognizes the importance of giving blood and platelets while honoring those who roll up a sleeve to help patients in need. It has been observed during January since 1970, and that’s no coincidence. Winter is an especially difﬁcult time to collect enough blood to meet patient needs. Unpredictable winter weather can result in blood drive cancelations, and seasonal illnesses, like the ﬂu, may cause some donors to be unable to make or keep blood donation appointments. Donors of all blood types are needed, especially those with O negative, A negative and B negative. With a shelf life of 42 days, red blood cells must be constantly replenished to maintain an adequate supply for patients. Individuals who come out to give blood Jan. 1 through Jan. 4 will receive a long-sleeve Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. To learn more about donating blood and to schedule an appointment, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Upcoming blood donation opportunities include: • Jan. 12, 1:30-5:30 p.m., Pathway

Church, 2001 N. Maize Road. • Jan. 12, 3:45-6:45 p.m., Calvary United Methodist Church, 2525 N. Rock Road. • Jan. 14, 3-7 p.m., St. Patrick’s School, 2023 Arkansas. • Jan. 14, 2-6 p.m., Maize Recreation Center, 10100 Grady Avenue in Maize. • Jan. 18, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., St. Catherine of Siena, 3636 N. Ridge Road. • Jan. 18, 12:30-3:30 p.m., Wichita Church of Christ, 4100 W. Memory Lane. • Jan. 24, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Francis of Assisi, 861 N. Socora. • Jan. 25, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., St. Margaret Mary Church, 2635 Pattie. • Jan. 25, 10:30 a.m.-1:45 p.m. Bethany Lutheran Church, 1000 W. 26th St. S. • Jan. 25, 11:15 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Northside Church of Christ, 4545 N. Meridian. • Jan. 26, 3-7 p.m. Church of the Magdalen, 2221 N. 127th Street E. • Jan. 27, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wichita State University Rhatigan Student Center, 1845 Fairmount. • Jan. 28, 3-7 p.m., St. Patrick’s School, 2023 Arkansas. The Wichita Blood Donation Center at 707 N. Main Street is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays: 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

19 - January 2015

Would your kitchen pass a restaurant inspection? A Kansas State University food safety expert has cleaning tips on how your home kitchen could pass a restaurant inspection. When it came to inspecting a kitchen, Bryan Severns, food programs and services director at Kansas State University Olathe, said he looked at cleanliness, sanitation, food preparation and storage. One cleaning mechanism that causes confusion: soapy sponges. They may clean dirt off your dishes, but they won’t keep away the bacteria. “Soap is a surfactant, which means it loosens dirt,” Severns said. “A soapy sponge and water help pick up the dirt and carry it away, but the sponge does not kill anything. Unless you are replacing your sponge constantly or sanitizing it, it is an incubator for bacteria and dirt.” You can sanitize a sponge by boiling it, microwaving it or sanitizing it in the dishwasher on the sanitize setting. Instead of using a sponge, Severns suggests using dishcloths, which need to be changed daily. Another important tip: Wipe down all counters, handles and surfaces with a disinfectant — even the cutting board. “Cutting boards often have cracks and grooves that will hold bacteria,” Severns said. “The board needs to be disinfected after every use and let it air dry so the sanitizer sets in.” As for storing your food, where you place your raw meats could be a critical violation. Raw meats need to thaw on the bottom shelf to avoid dripping meat juice onto other foods and potentially contaminating ready-to-eat food. When it comes to putting leftovers from a meal in the fridge, allow time for them to cool ﬁrst. “A lot of people will take their spaghetti, for example, put it in the container, put the lid on and pop it in the fridge,” Severns said. “That lid and plastic container acts as an insulator and the food will stay warm longer than it should and start to get bacterial growth. Cooling the food off as fast as possible is safer and will improve the shelf life of the food. If the food is above room temperature, put the leftovers in the fridge without the lid, then cover when cool.” Meat and poultry products typically have a shelf life of about four days, while fruits and vegetables last longer. Leftovers should be eaten in three to four days to avoid bacteria growth, and always label your leftovers with the date it was made and the date it needs to be thrown out. “We have to build that culture of food safety where everyone is thinking about taking care of each other and their food,” Severns said.

FACES WANTED.

ewn@eastwichitanews.com 316-540-0500 Wipe down all counters, handles and surfaces with a disinfectant – even cutting boards. The cracks and grooves can hold bacteria.

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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!

Thank you, East Wichita. From everyone at Times-Sentinel Newspapers, LLC, publisher of East Wichita News, we want to say “thank you.” Our ﬁrst year as owners of your neighborhood newspaper has been ﬁlled with great opportunities, a few challenges and many, many rewards. The year 2014 was everything we hoped for and more. We could not have done it without the generous support of our advertisers and the loyal following of our readers. We have great expectations for the new year and look forward to your input for what you want to see on these pages during the next 12 months. Thank you, and best wishes for a happy and prosperous new year!

Lamps not only provide lighting, they also are a very important decorative accessory. The lampshade will determine the lamp’s overall appeal, so avoid making a big design mistake by pairing up a really nice lamp with a cheap looking or ill-fitting shade. The perfect lampshade is not always easy to go out and find. The process can be really frustrating. For one thing, your shade is going to have very specific requirements. It is not like buying batteries, where you have relatively few sizes to choose from. You need to start by knowing the technical requirements for the lampshade. This involves actually measuring and taking note of the lamp’s unique features. From that point, there are basic guidelines to help. You will need three measurements to begin with if you are replacing a shade: the diameter of the top, the diameter of the bottom and the height along the side. It also is important to know the height from the lamp base to the socket. As a rule of thumb, the bottom of the shade’s diameter should be approximately equal to the base height of the lamp (plus or minus 2 inches). The height of the shade really be-

Eastside Homes

Philip Holmes | Interior Designer

comes a function of the harp that holds the shade. The shade should cover the harp and socket completely at eye level. This definition is a little tricky because it may imply a person standing. You also need to consider eye level when sitting. Nobody wants to sit on your sofa and look at the inner workings of your lamp. As important as the size of the lamp is the lampshade fitting. You need to know how the shade attaches to the lamp. There are many ways that shades are attached to lamps, so it is important that you know what you are looking for, because they are not interchangeable. Some of the more common means of attachment include a clip-on, a harp, and those that attach at the base of the socket. Keep in mind the wattage you would

prefer because it is the shade, not just the lamp, that determines how high your wattage can be. Personally, I go for the highest wattage possible and then use a dimmer device to control the light as needed. It is better to go with a shade that is a little bigger than one that is too small. The color and fabric will also affect how the light is diffused, so keep that in mind when you consider your lighting requirements. And finally, as a safety precaution, the shade should rest at least a couple of inches from the bulb. Once you have determined the technical requirements of your needed shade, the search narrows to finding the best style and color to complement your lamp. Lampshades are constructed from a variety of materials. Don’t settle for a plastic or paper shade that could cheapen the look of your lamp. The shade needs to be in the same style as your home’s interior, and therefore the same genre as the lamp base. The shape that you select should primarily be determined by the characteristics of the lamp base. And it should compliment the shape of the lamp. In most cases it should imitate the same shape as the base: for example, a square base is complimented by a square shade.

As a general rule, the more basic the lamp, the more varied the shade can be. Having said that, it is also good to experiment a little bit. Rules of thumb are good guidelines, but creativity paired with good taste can develop ingenious alternatives. In the final analysis, the criteria are how the shade works with the lamp and how the shade performs its role of diffusing light.

There are many factors for making sure that a lamp shade matches a lamp.

2 1 - J a n u a r y 2 0 1 5

Made with a shade

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January 2015 - 22

East Wichita 2014: Year in review February 2014

After more than two decades at the helm of the East Wichita News, owners Cathy and Mike Feemster have sold the long-running monthly newspaper to Times-Sentinel Newspapers LLC, which owns and operates four other community newspapers in and around Wichita. Times-Sentinel Newspapers publishes another monthly newspaper in west Wichita, the WestSide Story, and three weekly newspapers: The Times-Sentinel, serving western Sedgwick County and the communities of Cheney, Clearwater, Garden Plain and Goddard; the Conway Springs Star and Argonia Argosy, serving northern Sumner County; and the Haysville Sun-Times. The Sedgwick County Extension Center in Wichita has been reworked, remodeled and repainted, but Kansas State University Research and Extension’s Sedgwick County director Bev Dunning won’t be hanging around to enjoy it much longer. On March 1, Dunning, a long-time East Wichita resident, retired from the Extension Service after 50 years of employment with the agency, and almost 18 years as director. March 2014

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Young Parvan Bakardiev helped the youthful Margaret Pent carry her luggage into the dorms at the University of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna, Austria. They did not share a common language, but they shared a mutual attraction. Bakardiev and Pent’s opera careers carried them around the world, but Wichita has been their home since 2000, when a family health crisis brought them to Wichita. They were no strangers to entrepreneurship before they founded the Wichita Grand Opera in 2000. They had already started two successful art festivals in the United States, the San Antonio Opera and Music Festival in San Antonio, Texas and the Festival of the Continents in the Florida Keys.

Former Wichita State baseball head coach Gene Stephenson was part of the 2014 College Baseball Hall of Fame induction class. Stephenson, who coached the Shockers from 1978-2013, was one of seven inductees in this year’s class. April 2014

Eastsider Ron Ryan, retired owner of Ryan International Airlines, was announced as Admiral Windwagon Smith XLI for the 2014 Wichita River Festival. Ryan attended the ﬁrst Wichitennial Celebration, which later evolved into what is known as the River Festival. May 2014

In his heart, EastSider Randy Mijares carries a deep passion for competitive running. However, it is his heart that keeps him from running professionally. Mijares began running competitively in high school in Miami. Later, he ran at Ottawa University before joining a post-collegiate team in Wichita in 1984. After two years with the Wichita team, Mijares developed an issue with his heart, bringing his competitive running career to an end. He quit running and focused on becoming a doctor, but slowly, Mijares was drawn back into the world of running through coaching young athletes. While attending medical school at the University of Kansas, he coached middle and high school students on the side. EastSide students Vlada Korsun, of Russia, and Laura Breitwieser, of Germany were two high school students who spent the school year studying in America. June 2014

Many people have found themselves facing a clothing rack, overwhelmed with indecision and uncertainty while selecting a gift for a friend or family member. However, Wichita State graduate Yola Robert hopes to make such stress a thing of the past with her app Pocket Clos-

et. Robert won the 2014 Shocker New Venture Competition on May 2, earning the $10,000 top prize to help launch the development of her app. July 2014

A lone, pink silk rose rises out of a slender translucent vase on the counter. EastSider Betty Qualls has been here and left her mark. Qualls, a breast cancer survivor, leaves the single roses in local doctors’ ofﬁces to remind other cancer patients to keep their hope. Diagnosed six years ago with Stage III breast cancer, Qualls’ signature is relatively new. She is perhaps better known around town as the “lip balm lady.” Qualls has been a local Avon representative for 40 years, a hobby she picked up during her battle with cervical cancer in the mid-1970s. August 2014

When Lydia Crownover made a Christmas present for her big sister, she hit the jackpot. Her sister Megan was off at college studying music therapy, and Lydia decided to do an acrylic painting featuring her sister’s ﬁve favorite composers. Beethoven was pictured in the center, ﬂanked by four other great composers. The gift left her sister speechless. As the Sedgwick County Fair approached, Crownover hit the jackpot again. The Eastsider’s artwork was awarded a purple ribbon and then was selected for advancement to the Kansas State Fair. September 2014

Generally, when Bob Bayer gets ready to paint a new picture, he doesn’t know what the ﬁnished product will look like. That may go against some basic artistic principle or violate a basic tenet of Painting 101. Then again, the 81-year-old painter and East Wichita resident has yet to take an art class. Bayer did not take up painting until after his 75th birthday.

October 2014

At age 81, David Arst is more active than many people half his age. He’s a fulltime attorney in Wichita, and he recently won his age group in the ITU Triathlon World Championships in Canada. However, ﬁtness wasn’t always a priority for Arst. He became a runner in the 1970s, when he was overweight and had high blood pressure. Arst said he couldn’t have predicted a world title in the triathlon when he ﬁrst began exercising.

November 2014

When Bill Hall joined the Air Force, he planned to spend his career serving his country. His father didn’t believe that, but Hall was true to his word: He enjoyed a 27-year career in the military. Hall worked with missiles, spent some time at Cape Canaveral and watched history unfold. His tenure in the Air Force included Russia’s launch of Sputnik, the Cuban missile crisis and the Apollo 11 moon landing.

December 2014

Tim Ladwig, who works out of his home studio in east Wichita, has illustrated books for Zondervan and HarperCollins. His ﬂair for art and design is especially impressive since he is blind in one eye. When Ladwig was 8 years old, he wanted to turn a cardboard box into a fort, and he used a leather boot lace to lower the drawbridge. When he tried to cut the boot lace, he accidentally cut the white part of his right eye, which became infected. As a result, his eye was removed and he received a prosthetic eye. During his recovery at home, his father brought him a canvas and a small set of oil paints. He recalled his attempt to paint a clown, which he said was “awful,” but his father displayed his painting on the wall. Editor’s note: There was no January 2014 edition of the East Wichita News.

Continued from Page 13

of whatever is the selling point of the group, whether that’s a bass beat, guitar licks, or the lead singer,” Colcher noted. “But Brody and I tried to keep the mix as faithful to the actual sound of the band as we could.” “Soleb Theory” is the ﬁrst release on a new house label for Kirby’s Beer Store, a well-known Wichita music venue for more than 40 years. “I was really impressed with Drew as a musician and wanted to assist and advise with promotion and resources,” said Alex Thomas, the Beer Store’s owner for the past six years. “We helped ﬁnancially to put it out, and hopefully they can use the Kirby’s name to help gain some recognition, regionally and nationally. We really enjoy the band.” In the wake of their July 31 album release, Soleb Theory has been ramping up their schedule of touring. Their most recent jaunt took them through 11 states and 30 cities in just over a month, playing almost every day. By the time they were done, in mid-September, they had played 74 shows in nine months and logged 13,580 miles in their car, accord-

23 - January 2015

Soleb

ing to a Facebook post. “It’s a lot of fun, but it’s also a big toll personally,” said Colcher. “You have to put a lot of things on hold, and you have to put a lot of work into it. We book all the shows ourselves, we don’t go through a booking agent.” The group kicked off a nine-day mid-western tour in early January. They plan to return in time for their next scheduled Wichita gig, a Sunday, Jan. 18 appearance as the closing act for Kirby’s four-day, 28-band “Meat Fest.” “They set up a big grill, and it’s always free to get in,” said Colcher. “People bring food and cook together all day. Kirby’s has been here for a really long time, and it’s gotten some national notoriety. It’s really the place where we honed our skills.” Colcher now handles some of the booking for the venue, in addition to working at Spektrum Muzik, playing with the longer-established band Ophil and juggling a variety of side jobs and gigs. “I would love to eventually be a fulltime musician with Soleb Theory. We’ve got a chance for that, but the likelihood is, well, who knows? So I’ll occupy myself with as many projects as I can. It’s pretty nice to be in a position where most of my livelihood is gained from music-related activities,” said Colcher.

Drummer Andrés Alamos, pictured, and brother Alejandro formed Soleb Theory while Colcher was living with them in Chile, before relocating with the group to Kansas, Colcher’s home state.

Try someThing new for The new year!

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15 questions for you in 2015 1) Do you believe you will live to see another major stock market downturn?

8) If you want protection for your portfolio if the market crashes, how will you know when to take defensive steps to protect your investments?

2) Do you remember: a) when the technology bubble burst and we had a three year bear market (2000 – 2003)? b) when the housing bubble burst and we had a ﬁnancial crisis and a two year bear market (2008 – 2009)?

9) If you use a ﬁnancial advisor, are you conﬁdent that your advisor has both the metrics and the mindset to make timely defensive moves? Did your advisor do so in either 2000 or 2008? If not, what do you think will be different the next time?

3) Do you understand that Federal Reserve monetary policy was the primary contributing factor for these bubbles?

10) Can you imagine how much money is typically left in harm’s way when markets crumble?

4) Do you realize that since 2008 the Fed has massively increased the size of its balance sheet from roughly $850 billion to about $4.5 trillion today and that these actions dwarf what the Fed did prior to the other bubbles?

11) Would an investment approach (not annuities!) that allows occasional modest declines but actively seeks to protect your portfolio from major drops appeal to you?

5) Can you accept the premise that the vast amount of “quantitative easing” and the extended artiﬁcially low interest rates may ultimately herald either a bubble-producing liquidity buildup or rising interest rates, either of which could derail the economic recovery?

12) Do you know your own risk score, the implications of your risk score, and how to compare it to the risk score of your portfolio? 13) Do you want your portfolio decisions to be made in the context of a personal ﬁnancial plan which reﬂects your goals and concerns and is updated annually?

6) Have you noticed that when the stock market is doing reasonably well, many investors and advisors can feel comfortable and be complacent?

14) Are you interested in learning how the tools and techniques of Coe Financial Services might work for you?

7) When you think about what the Fed and other major central banks around the world have done (a very dangerous and massive experiment of unprecedented magnitude), do you think there is any realistic chance that this party will end well?

15) Would you be willing to invest an hour of your time for a no obligation meeting to learn more about what we do and why? If so, this is your opportunity to call Richard Coe at 689-0900 or email him at jrcoe@CoeFinancialServices.com.

Financial advisors Jim DeKalb, left, and Richard Coe help build strong and lasting relationships with their clients. The keys to maintaining those relationships are communication and service.