july 2015
CELEBRATING INDEPENDENCE DAY
Wichita Family • June 2015 - 1
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july 2015
Inside: 6
News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools
8 10 12
Dazzle guests with a July 4th feast
Derby-native and Wichitanative both serve the country in the U.S. Navy Tips for surviving summer and travel
Wichita Family • June 2015 - 3
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Todd Vogts
Publisher Todd Vogts publisher@wichitafamily.com
Wichita Family Magazine is published 12 times a year by Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. Wichita Family Magazine is available free, at schools, stores, restaurants, libraries, retailers and local attractions, as well as other places families frequent. For a complete list of where to find Wichita Family, or for subscription rates, email us at publisher@wichitafamily.com or visit our website at www.wichitafamily.com. Copyright 2015 by Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. All rights reserved. Wichita Family Magazine is not responsible for errors, omissions or contest fulfillment from third parties. Reproduction in part or in whole without written permission is strictly prohibited. Wichita Family is distributed free of charge. The magazine’s advertisers make this possible, so support them! We reserve the right to edit submitted material. All submissions will be considered for publication, but we reserve the right to refuse material. Materials will not be returned. Any editorial content or advertising published is the property of Lucky 7 Publishing LLC. 4 - www.wichitafamily.com
Message from the Publisher The first weeks of June are always a special time for me, and June 2015 was no different. It is when the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy takes place, and I am honored and lucky to be one of the people involved in supporting this program, which is a week-long leadership camp using government as a laboratory for experimenting with various leadership styles and positions. When young men, who we call Staters, come away from the program, they go back home with a newfound sense of civic duty and thoughts on how to Todd Vogts publisher@wichitafamily.com lead others.
In order to attend, a young man must be a junior going into his senior year of high school. For the past few years I have been a coordinator, which means, in the most simplistic terms, I am in charge of helping oversee the entire week. Specifically, I am in charge of the media department of Boys State, which. The media is a more behind-the-scene entity within the scope of Boys State. We produce, with the help of Staters, a daily newspaper and a daily news broadcast. We also post pictures to our Flickr account, update social media pages, maintain the website, and, new to this year, post news stories to a media website, among other duties. After the close of each year, we also produce a yearbook, which we give to each person who attended State. I was personally a Stater in 2003, and I have been involved in various capacities ever since, minus a few-year hiatus.
I am often asked why I give up nearly two weeks of summer to volunteer with this program. That answer is simple. It gives me the opportunity to affect the lives of the youth in our state. I feel it is one of the most important activities I do with my life. I get to work with some of the greatest people I know, and we are all working for the same goal, increasing civic leadership and involvement within our State. I treasure each person I get to work with, and it is beyond rewarding to see the change that takes place in the Staters. I could go on and on about this program. It is truly transformative for the Staters who dive in and give it their all. If you are interested in this program, I urge you to visit www.ksbstate.org to learn more, and if you are interested in sending your young man or another young man to this program, please drop me an email. Wichita Family • June 2015 - 5
News and Information from our partners at Wichita Public Schools
Making healthy reading habits
C S S
White Elementary students in Lara Dodson’s class read the most books in the Read with Wu program.
White Elementary students got to read with Wu
Kindergarten students in Lara Dodson’s class had a special visitor on the last day of school. WuShock brought a pizza party for the students for being good readers. The class participated in the Read With Wu reading incentive 6 - www.wichitafamily.com
programs and read the most books out of all the classes who participated in the program. The Read With Wu program encourages children to read on their own and develop great reading habits.
Chisholm Life Skills Center received the Spring 2015 Red Carpet Award for Excellent Customer Service, presented by the Parent and Community Support Office and sponsored by Midwest Single Source.
Chisholm Life Skills receives Red Carpet for customer service Chisholm Life Skills Center received the Spring 2015 Red Carpet Award for Excellent Customer Service, presented by the Parent and Community Support Office. The school staff and students received the award on May 19. Chisholm Life Skills received the award for the great communication between staff and families, parent connectedness involving families in all aspects of their student’s activities and events as well as their many
community partnerships that the school relies on heavily to make their school rewarding and successful to all students. Chisholm Life Skills was presented a check for $1,000 from Midwest Single Source, who partners with the district on the award. Midwest Single Source has given schools $18,000 over their ten-year sponsorship of the Red Carpet Award.
Online enrollment for 2015-16 will begin July 15 Online enrollment for the 2015-16 school year will be available Wednesday, July 15. All parents with a ParentVue account will be able to complete standard enrollment forms, pay for enrollment fees and school meals, and fill out free and reduced price lunch forms from a computer. Parents are encouraged to use this service in order to streamline the enrollment process. Returning parents who have not yet set up a ParentVue account should contact their child’s school for more information. Enrollment information is online at www.enroll.usd259. org. Parents can find information about online enrollment, school supplies, immunizations, and other enrollmentrelated items. Parents new to the Wichita Public Schools can download and print out forms before they go to their child’s school to enroll.
Enrollment for the 2014-2015 school year is July 30 – 31, and August 3 – 4, 2015. The Wichita Public Schools will have consistent enrollment times at all schools to make it more convenient for parents who enroll multiple children at different schools. The enrollment times are: • Thursday, July 30: Noon - 7 p.m. • Friday, July 31: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. • Monday, August 3: Noon - 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 4: Noon - 7 p.m. The first day of school for all students is Tuesday, August 18 with a half-day orientation for 6th and 9th grade students on August 17. Wichita Family • June 2015 - 7
Photo Courtesy of Getty Images
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elebrate warm weather, abundant outdoor activities and all the fun of July Fourth with a flavorful and festive gathering. Independence Day only comes once
a year, so make it count and invite your favorite guests over for a memorable event. You’ll go out with a bang when you serve up these palate-pleasing dishes at
your patriotic party. Patriotic and Perfectly Sweet This July Fourth, serve watermelon. This yummy fruit boasts sweetness and nutrition at a great value. Loaded with vitamins A, B6 and C, as well as antioxidants and hearthealthy amino acids, it’s a welcome addition to your summer spread. For more recipes, visit www.watermelon.org. Red, White and Blue Watermelon Cake Servings: 6-8 1 seedless watermelon 1 cup low or no fat natural vanilla flavored yogurt 1 cup sliced almonds 1 cup blueberries 1 cup sliced strawberries
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minutes. Remove burgers from grill and place patties on toasted buns. Top each burger with slice of red onion and 1/4 of arugula. Serve. Star-Spangled Dessert Add color and crunch to your cones with a dip in red, white or blue melted Candy Melts candy and a variety of patriotic sprinkles. The Cone Cakes baking rack holds the cones for drying and serving. For more recipes, visit www.wilton.com.
Place watermelon on side on cutting board. Cut 3-5 inches off each end to create large center slice between 3-5 inches in depth. Trim off outer rind. Cut watermelon slice into 6-8 pieshaped wedges. Blot edges with paper towels to absorb excess moisture. Dip the back (curved) side of each slice in yogurt and then almonds, reassembling pieces on serving platter as each piece is completed. When finished, it will look like pie crust of almonds around watermelon slices. Frost top of reassembled watermelon with remaining yogurt and decorate top with berries. Serve cold.
into burger patties 4 slices Castello Burger Blue cheese 4 brioche-style soft hamburger buns, toasted 1 small red onion, very thinly sliced into rings 1 cup arugula Heat your grill to medium-high heat. Season burgers with salt and freshly ground black pepper on both sides. Drizzle with olive oil, then place on grill. Cook 3 minutes, then flip. Add slices of blue cheese (1 slice per burger), and let cook another 1-2
Dipped Ice Cream Cones Yield: 12 ice cream cones 1 bag (12 ounces) Bright White Candy Melts Candy Sugar ice cream cones Jimmies 6-Mix Sprinkle Assortment Rainbow Jimmies Melt candy in microwave safe bowl. Dip cones about 1 inch deep around opening of cone. Cut small hole in tip of bag and drizzle melted candy 1 inch deep around opening of cone. Tap cone lightly to smooth, and sprinkle with jimmies. Position cone in cone rack. Let chill, about 10-15 minutes. Add ice cream scoops at party and serve in cone rack. — Family Features
Fresh Off the Grill “For a red-white-and-blue burger that tastes as good as it looks, I use ground bison on a brioche bun, topped with Castello Burger Blue Cheese,” says celebrity chef Michael Symon. For more recipes, visit castellocheeseusa.com. Bison Burger with Blue Cheese Recipe courtesy of Michael Symon Servings: 4 Kosher Salt Freshly ground black pepper 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound ground bison, loosely packed Wichita Family • June 2015 - 9
~ S alute
to our
T roops ~
Derby-native Chris Brown serves aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt
ATLANTIC OCEAN (March 28, 2015) – Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Chris Brown, a native of Derby, briefs military leaders from France, Morocco and Portugal on artifacts in the Theodore Roosevelt museum onboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) March 28, 2015. The group visited TR to observe daily shipboard operations as part of the distinguished visitor program. Theodore Roosevelt deployed from Norfolk and will execute a homeport shift to San Diego at the conclusion of deployment. Theodore Roosevelt is conducting naval operations in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Anna Van Nuys/Released)
Wichita-native Justin Albert serves aboard USS New York
RED SEA (June 1, 2015) - Boatswain’s Mate 2nd Class Justin Albert, from Wichita, Kan., assigned to the amphibious transport dock ship USS New York (LPD 21), participates in an M-16 assault rifle qualification course. New York is a part of the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) and, with the embarked 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), is deployed in support of maritime security operations and theater security cooperation efforts in the U.S. 5th Fleet area of operations. 10 - www.wichitafamily.com
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Wichita Family • June 2015 - 11
Tips ‘n Tricks for Surviving Summer W
hether you are planning staycations or hitting the road for a longer journey, summer is a time of festivities and gatherings. When getting together with family and friends, take advantage of these tips and tricks for surviving summer. Be a Summer Shenanigan Prepper Admit it...music festivals, backyard barbecues and summer outings can get a little messy. Fortunately, with just a little preparation, you’ll be ready for whatever you choose to do this summer. Keep a back-up party kit on hand with necessities like suntan lotion, water, snacks and towels, as well as baby powder to help remove sand from your skin quickly and easily. Also consider buying a pack of inexpensive white T-shirts so you have a low-cost change of shirts that can easily be turned into a rag if the event and your shirt get too messy. Reward Yourself for Summer Travel You should be rewarded for your summer travel. However, you aren’t a magician, so avoid the smoke and mirrors and don’t fall for points-based rewards programs that create an illusion of loyalty. Points programs often require complicated redemptions and limited ways to collect. A simpler way to save is participating in rewards programs that offer cash back and automatic discounts that consistently put money back in your wallet. For travelers hitting the road this summer, BP’s refreshed Driver Rewards program gives drivers three choices for saving - for every $100 they spend, they can earn .25 cents per gal12 - www.wichitafamily.com
Photos courtesy of Getty Images
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lon on future fill-ups. Plus, BP allows participants to enter their phone number at the pump to make earning and redeeming rewards easy. Learn more at www.mybpstation.com. Live Like Locals Skip the touristy restaurants on the main drag and look for the diners and dives that locals prefer for a real taste of the area. Make a point to find out what the locals do for fun at night. Expand the activities you can choose from by inserting yourself in the action for memorable experiences that you can boast about for years to come. Avoid Letting Money Melt Away During hot summer days, purchasing multiple bags of ice can melt your money away. Plus, why waste time on extra store trips? Avoid the mess by adding salt to ice water. Doing so will decrease the melting rate of your ice, making it a great way for keeping things cooler longer during road trips or outings. For the more adventurous, consider using dry ice to keep
food and drinks dry and cold for long periods of time. Eliminate Bugs, Not Cash Planning a picnic or barbeque at the park or in your backyard? Rather than buying costly bug sprays or insect repellent gadgets, mix water and soap in a spray bottle and spritz it on a picnic table and clothes to help keep bees away. There’s no vacation experience quite like a road trip. Pack your bags (lightly so there’s room for plenty of souvenirs), embrace the simplicity of a trip that sets your inner explorer free and put it in drive. Note: All rewards are valid for a single use only, up to 20 gallons. Any unused rewards are forfeited. May not be valid with other offers. Rewards expire 365 days after the end of the month they are earned. Rewards are earned and redeemable at participating locations with operable transaction networks. Not valid where prohibited by law or in AL or CA. See our Terms and Conditions for further details and our Station Finder for participating locations at mybpstation.com. — Family Features
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Questions? Email: info@makerfairewichita.com Wichita Family • June 2015 - 13
~ A Freedom To Consume Books Essay ~
Re(a)d, White, and Blue
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By Ian Anderson
f you read the June issue of Wichita Family, you know my family and I enjoy the game of baseball. However, the recent rains have put a bit of a damper on the usual baseball activity, at least the backyard baseball games. Many of our June days were spent inside watching the clouds pile themselves and dump their contents on us. When the storms canceled our plans, we exchanged baseball for reading. Even though it feels like we just escaped the trappings of school days, something about summer reading feels different. As a teacher, I spent the school year pleading with my students to read, and I remember my own school days — even in college — when my teachers pleaded their own cases for classroom books. One specific moment stands out. I was supposed to read selected chapters from one of the most imposing American novels ever written: Moby Dick. Throughout the spring semester I resisted the reading, every once in a while grinding through a passage, and somehow still passed. However, with the dread of the white whale fresh in my mind, I spent the rest of the summer reading the whole story, cover to cover. What had seemed insurmountable had become enjoy-
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able; I look back on that summer with affection, and I have distinct memories that will forever be associated with Herman Melville’s classic. So what was the difference? Why did I resist the small portions of the book in the spring, only to embrace the whole work in the summer? The June rain reminded me. It may have stopped our baseball games, but when we pulled our books out, my gratitude was renewed for the ability to choose what I read. It’s so simple, but reading becomes a relaxing activity, one that refreshes and grows us, when we are loosed from the bonds of compulsion. I often tell my students that the summer is the best time to read; many of them agree, but I get plenty of loaded stares as well. But reading goes hand in hand with time off, and the same goes for shorter vacations and weekends. It’s the independence. This is the month our nation celebrates not only the freedom to speak our minds or own our own land, but also the freedom to read and think for ourselves. May we never take that for granted. Ian Anderson is a teacher, a husband, and a dad. He lives with his family in Central Kansas. Occasionally, he tweets here: @ian_writes.
Wichita Family • June 2015 - 15
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