Wichita Family Magazine July 2016

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘FINDING DORY’ pg. 10 july 2016

BUILDING LIFE-LONG FRIENDSHIPS pg. 6 4TH OF JULY BBQ RECIPES pg. 4 Wichita Family • July 2016 - 1

Follow us on Twitter @wichitafamily

Published By:

Publisher:

Advertising Inquiries Contact:

Lucky 7 Publishing LLC 316.295.8465

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 2016 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. 2 - www.wichitafamily.com

Message from the Publisher So it’s over. The 79th session of the American Legion Boys State of Kansas Leadership Academy is over.

The program wrapped up nearly a month ago, and it’s always difficult to accept that. We refer to it as the “Boys State Hangover.” There is such energy weaving in and out of the week and activities making up each session of Boys State. It can be rather jarring for the energy to suddenly dissipate.

It takes time to readjust to non-State life. Each year my fellow counselors, coordinators and advisors spend countless hours in preparation. Then, a mere week after we officially start the session, it is over.

But it never truly ends. Those involved in the program such as myself simply begin anew and start the preparations for the next session. In this case it will be our 80th session, so it is a milestone year.

For the delegates, whom we refer to as Staters, it is over, but it doesn’t have to be. If we’ve done our jobs, the program ignited a fire within. A fire inextinguishable by mere time.

That fire consists of civic responsibility and Todd Vogts publisher@wichitafamily.com leadership.

It is my sincere hope our delegates use that fire to accomplish good in their communities and our state.

That fire needs to be fed, though.

The month of July is a great time to toss a few more sticks of kindling on, especially this year since it is an election year.

With the 4th of July comes a national swell of patriotism. Everyone feels more American as they celebrate our country’s independence under the flashes of fireworks exploding in the sky.

Much like fireworks, a fuse must be lit to see the shower of light illuminating the night sky.

For Boys State and its goal of creating leaders instilled with civic responsibility, the fuse was lit when the Stater applied to be a part of the program, and the fire racing its way up the fuse is the experience of State. All we have to do is wait for the payoff and enjoy the show.

A lot of factors can get in the way of that fire and the resulting explosion of action, so I urge you to help keep that fire burning in any fashion you can.

Talk politics with your children, and urge them to research and explore where they stand on any given issue.

Guide them through this journey, but let them come to their own conclusions.

It may be difficult to accept should your son or daughter end up disagreeing with you politically, but for the

sake our country’s democracy, we have to have knowledge and engaged citizens who can stand up for what they believe. If the only rationale your son or daughter has for believing something is, “that’s what my mom and dad said,” then they don’t truly believe in anything.

They need to understand and be able to support their stance, and, more importantly, they need to be able to understand the beliefs of those who disagree with them. They don’t need to think the same as everyone else, but they need to be able to listen to dissenting views and work with those individuals.

Reaching a belief system is only the first step. They then need to go out and do something with it. Getting involved at the local level is a great start. Believe in them and support them as they take steps to make positive impacts within their communities.

That is the goal of Boys State, and it is something we are so passionate about that we want everyone to do it. We want to see the beauty of the fireworks as the fire ignites something larger than themselves.

Want to help light a fuse for a young man you know? Then please visit www.kansasboysstate.com and nominate him, or, better yet, have him fill out the application to truly get the fuse burning.

Together, we can help light up Kansas with smart, engaged civic leaders.

Wichita Family • July 2016 - 3

T

his Fourth of July, take your backyard barbecue staples from basic to bold with knock-out burgers, grilled fruit “steaks” and festive red, white and blue-colored desserts.

Opt for burgers with a brazen rub that creates a caramelized outer layer.

Make the meal an epic Fourth of July feast with a side of grilled watermelon

steaks, marinated in white balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and rosemary, and topped with walnuts, lemon zest and fresh parsley.

“Burgers are an Independence Day mainstay, but that doesn’t mean they have to be boring,” said McCormick Executive Chef Kevan Vetter.

“Pick a flavor combo that packs a real punch for the rub, then build out the

burger with toppings and condiments to match that taste. For example, use Smoky Montreal Steak Seasoning, chili powder and brown sugar to make a sweet and smoky rub, then top with a rich BBQ mayonnaise, melty cheddar, grilled pickle slices and crispy onion straws.”

— Family Features

Cowboy Burger with Grilled Pickles and Crispy Onion Straws Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Servings: 4 BBQ Mayonnaise 1/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons Stubbs Original Bar-B-Q Sauce Crispy Onion Straws 1/2 cup flour 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon McCormick Ground Black Pepper 1 medium onion, very thinly sliced and separated into rings * vegetable oil, for frying Cowboy Burgers 4 teaspoons McCormick Grill Mates Smoky Montreal Steak Seasoning 1 tablespoon McCormick Chili Powder 1 tablespoon packed brown sugar 1 1/4 pounds ground beef 4 slices mild Cheddar cheese 1 dill pickle, sliced lengthwise 1/4-inch thick 4 Kaiser rolls 4 lettuce leaves For the BBQ Mayonnaise, mix mayonnaise and Bar-B-Q Sauce in small bowl until well blended. Cover. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

For the Onions, mix flour, salt and pepper in large resealable plastic bag. Add onion; toss to coat well. Pour oil into deep fryer, large heavy skillet or saucepan, filling no more than 1/3 full. Heat oil on medium-high heat. Carefully add onion rings to hot oil. Fry 4 to 5 minutes, turning once to brown evenly, until onions rings are golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Set aside.

For the Burgers, mix Seasoning, chili powder and brown sugar in small bowl. Shape ground beef into 4 patties. Coat surface of each patty evenly with the rub mixture. Grill over medium heat 4 to 6 minutes per side or until burgers are cooked through (internal temperature of 160ºF). Add cheese slices to burgers 1 minute before cooking is completed.

Grill pickle slices 2 to 3 minutes per side or until grill marks appear. Toast rolls on the grill, open-side down, about 30 seconds, if desired.

Serve burgers on rolls topped with grilled pickles, Crispy Onion Straws and lettuce. Serve with BBQ Mayonnaise.

4 - www.wichitafamily.com

Grilled Watermelon Steaks with Walnut Gremolata Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 8 minutes Servings: 8 1/2 1/2 2 1 1 1/2 1/2 1/4 1/4 1

small seedless watermelon cup white balsamic vinegar tablespoons olive oil tablespoon lemon juice teaspoon McCormick Gourmet Crushed Rosemary teaspoon Sea Salt from McCormick Sea Salt Grinder teaspoon McCormick Coarse Ground Black Pepper cup finely chopped toasted walnuts cup finely chopped parsley teaspoon grated lemon peel

Cut 4 (1-inch thick) half-moon slices of watermelon. Reserve any remaining watermelon for another use.

Mix vinegar, oil, lemon juice, rosemary, salt and pepper in small bowl. Reserve 2 tablespoons for drizzling grilled watermelon.

Place watermelon steaks in glass dish. Add remaining marinade. Refrigerate 20 minutes, turning watermelon halfway through marinating time.

Meanwhile, for the Walnut Gremolata, mix walnuts, parsley and lemon peel in small bowl. Set aside. Remove watermelon steaks from marinade. Reserve leftover marinade for brushing watermelon during grilling.

Grill watermelon steaks over high heat 2 to 4 minutes per side or until grill marks appear, brushing with leftover marinade.

To serve, cut watermelon steaks in half. Drizzle with reserved 2 tablespoons marinade. Sprinkle with Walnut Gremolata.

Red, White and Blue Mousse Parfaits Prep time: 30 minutes Servings: 12 Serving size: 1 parfait 3 1/2 cups heavy cream, divided 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar, divided 2 teaspoons McCormick Extra Rich Pure

Vanilla Extract 2 teaspoons McCormick Red Food Color 1 teaspoon McCormick Pure Lemon Extract * McCormick Assorted NEON!

Food Colors & Egg Dye 2 tablespoons white chocolate chips Beat 1 1/2 cups of the heavy cream, cocoa powder, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and vanilla in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until stiff peaks form.

Add red food color; stir gently with spatula until evenly tinted.

Beat remaining 2 cups heavy cream, remaining 1/2 cup sugar and lemon extract in large bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Remove 1 cup. Add 3/4 teaspoon neon blue and 5 drops neon purple food colors; stir gently with spatula until evenly tinted.

To assemble parfait, alternately layer red and white mousses in dessert glasses. Top with blue mousse and white chocolate chips. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Fall application deadline is July 26.

Call (316) 202-2500

MaizeVirtualPrepSchool.com Wichita Family • July 2016 - 5

Best Friends Forever Providing Children Tools To Build Life-Long Friendships

BY LINDSAY ROTHER The digital age is among a number of factors that have transformed our culture over the last several decades. The invention of air conditioning has eliminated front porch sitting.

The addition of garages has omitted the walk from your car to your house, and the advent of television has pulled people inside, away from the great outdoors. This list of conveniences continually grows, and we’ve now added social media and Internet access to the ranks.

Today, fast friends are too often made from the comfort and security of a digital screen. Yet, instead of conversing with others in the line or lobby, we pull out our phones and scroll. Restaurants fill with tables of people engaging others through a screen rather than enjoying the people right in front of them. Kids watch this behavior, pick up the same tendencies and struggle to navigate real, face-to-face conversations. No, the digital age isn’t the only factor — but it’s a significant one.

Teaching Healthy Social Media Practices The best way to teach a child anything is to model it. A child learns to say sorry to a friend after seeing dad apologize to mom. A child learns discipline and positive habits by watching parents who are balanced in health, work and commitments. This principle is no different with relationships.

The primary way children will learn to develop friendships is by watching parents engage with the people in their lives.

Creating a culture of unplugged conversation, like mealtimes or carpools, will naturally develop kids who are able 6 - www.wichitafamily.com

to better conduct themselves in face-to-face conversation.

Parents, your greatest tool is to epitomize healthy and lasting relationships with and for your kids.

What is Healthy Friendship?

True friendships can look different depending on age and life stage, but the core principles are the same.

A healthy friendship is centered on trust and should be mutually beneficial. A true friendship cultivates fun and laughter, as well as topics of substance and depth. Genuine friends encourage and challenge one another to grow. There are times when one friend’s needs are greater, but eventually the roles reverse. Healthy friendship can survive hard times because challenges strengthen the relationship rather than break it.

For children, a healthy friendship can be found in kids with similar interests that allow them to relate while developing a deeper bond. From there, they learn to appreciate who God has made them as individuals and celebrate their similarities and their differences. They should be able to laugh and play together while still maintaining their own identities.

Summer Camp Friendships Everything about summer camp helps children form strong bonds. This starts when kids are required to navigate life without mom or dad present to assist. Campers gain confidence in their abilities to engage in friendships in a safe environment like Kanakuk.

Kids are wrestling with some of life’s greatest questions, and few people take the time to actually come alongside them

to help. At Kanakuk and summer camps in general, distractions are limited and value is placed on intentionally pursuing face-to-face friendship. Because of this, summer camp friendships are often close and long-lasting.

One of my favorite moments at Kamp is when a camper sees one of her camp friends for the first time since the previous year. Sheer joy ensues. You can see the value of those few days or weeks and the impact it has on their entire year.

For example, we have two Kampers currently, one in Arkansas and the other in Colorado, who are best friends.

They only know each other from Kanakuk, but their care for one another is so evident. They pray for and encourage each other year round, yet they only see each other at Kamp for two weeks each summer. It’s such a fun picture of the strong bonds that can form at summer camp!

Unplug to Connect Another way summer camp allows friendships to blossom is by providing a much-needed escape from technology. At Kanakuk, we don’t participate in technology during the term.

It is one window of the year where our campers aren’t consumed by handheld devices and are instead running around, playing, laughing and having meaningful conversations.

There is great value in helping them realize the dependence technology can present. We have countless kids and staff tell us that they would rather just leave their phones with us at the end of their time at Kamp. The extended, unplugged time helps illustrate the freedom that comes with creating boundaries concerning social media and technology.

Lifelong Tools for Cultivating Friendships There are many reasons strong bonds are formed at camp, but if I had to simplify it I would say this: in the midst of having fun, children have the opportunity to develop relationships based on trust and conversations that matter.

I firmly believe children who actively pursue face-to-face relationship will be more confident, kind and happy as they move into adulthood. When kids learn to do offline relationships well, they will be better prepared for adult life, while kids who would prefer to type their feelings rather than share them verbally tend to struggle interpersonally.

We often see this difference among our college-age staffers at Kanakuk. Many staffers send texts to communicate important information because in their world that’s sufficient.

To teach this lesson, I regularly pick up my phone after receiving such a text, call the staffer and make him or her communicate their needs over the phone. I explain that this will be an area to separate them from their peers as they go on to pursue jobs, handle relational conflict and more. Summer camp doesn’t just teach kids the value of offline communication, but staff as well!

A key to raising healthy adults is to model healthy, appropriate behavior. Hang up and hang out! Send your kids out into the front yard to play device-less. Create a culture where mealtime is used to engage in conversation. Allow your kids to attend summer camp where they will make friends from all over the country and learn from older role models who care. I guarantee this will set your children on the road to success in every facet of their lives.

Dare to Experience a

National Traveling Exhibit

Summer Camps

Now Open!

Including New Preschool Edventures

DINOSAURS IN MOTION is sponsored by

The Shaw Family Foundation Squid Ink Creative Westar Energy

e Film New Dom ing!

Now Show

Produced by

AND TWO SPECIAL EVENTS

Radio Sponsor

Sleep with the Dinos

Drinks with the Dinos

Ages 7 - 11

Adults-Only Evening

Friday, July 15 - Saturday, July 16

300 N. McLean Blvd., Wichita, KS • Details:

Friday, Aug. 12

www.exploration.org Wichita Family • July 2016 - 7

~ A Summer Vacation Essay ~

What to Do?

By Kendall Vogts

What to do? As a teacher, enjoying his or her summer break, that seems to be a question that comes up often and is usually followed by a smile or smirk and glazed over eyes as they wander off into the world of beautiful, student-free possibilities.

From the months of August through May, teachers are busy with everything school, but in June and July, things are different!

Now, as an auntie of young and school-aged children, I understand perfectly, have seen and have experienced summer activities for children. The goal is to keep the kids busy with fun, adventurous, silly, outdoorsy, educational and time-consuming activities. This list might include trips to the pool, the zoo, children’s museums or the park.

Parents or caretakers plan crafts like painting, sidewalk chalk and making your own silly putty. There might even be that carpooling parent, like my oldest sister, who spends time shuttling kids to library time, swimming lessons, dance lessons and gymnastics.

Needless to say, painting a picture of what students do during summer break could be pretty easy.

But what about the educators? What do we do? For some non-educators, I think they picture us sleeping in, shopping, eating out and watching TV. While those things might happen a smidge of the time, there are many other things we enjoy doing or must do in order to prepare for the next school year.

To start out, on our time off, we travel! We plan vacations with our loved ones, and we let loose a bit.

My husband and I will be heading to Kansas City to Schlitterbahn with friends and will take an anniversary vacation. We also hop in the car and visit our family members. By the time summer is over, I will have visited my oldest sister and her family in Minnesota. I will have driven south to Oklahoma to visit my middle sister’s family. And I will have made it to my hometown to see all of the family that live there.

Also, we work on our homes. During the school year, there is a lot of time spent away from our houses.

I don’t think people realize this, but most days, I spend more time at school than I do my own home! Sometimes, educators are lucky just to make supper for our families and spend a couple hours with them before we head to bed, only to start the routine over again.

So during the summer, we garden, paint walls, re8 - www.wichitafamily.com

arrange furniture, finally complete that Pinterest craft we’ve had our eyes on, de-clutter and enjoy being able to live in our own space and not our classrooms.

Next, we prepare for the next school year. While at the beginning of our summer vacation, we want to be as far away from anything school related as possible; however, we eventually have to bite the bullet in order to be fully ready for our next round of kids. We meet with our partner teachers to plan lessons, we set up our classrooms, we copy notes and forms that each student will need, number our books, set up our progress monitoring tools and so much more.

Finally, this year especially and in the state of Kansas, teachers on their summer vacations have worried about their jobs and the future of education. Teaching is my and my husband’s job. We need our jobs to pay off student debt (which will increase because to make gains in this profession, you must continue your education), to pay for our cars, insurance, our new home and the other means by which we live.

I can see how, looking from an outsider’s perspective could be considered selfish. “They are only teaching for the money.” At that I might give a chuckle because of the amount on the paystub I get each month.

But the questions remain: Didn’t I get into education for the kids? To teach them English, as well as how to be contributing, awesome members of society?

And the answer to all those question is yes! And that is why as teachers during this summer vacation we are concerned about the future of education in the State of Kansas. We are required to do so much, with students who may or may not even what to be there, with so, so little in the way of support and supplies. Public education is important. School is the safest, most consistent place for a majority of students out there.

Parents and guardians, think about those things while our kids and teachers are on summer vacation.

Regardless of the role — parent, student, or educator — summer vacation is a special time. It gives everyone the opportunity to relax, decompress, make memories and prepare for the upcoming school year.

As you are helping your student get ready for 201617 school session, remember their teachers. Their summers are spent doing much more than wondering, “What to do?”.

Kendall Vogts lives and teaches in Central Kansas.

She is married to WFM publisher Todd Vogts.

~ A Relationship Essay ~

In the Asking

By Ian Anderson

Yesterday morning I watched as my sons played Chutes and Ladders. All seemed well in their world: they laughed at the thought of doing the “naughty” things that made them slide, counted how many more spaces they needed to win, and argued about whose turn was up. And then the youngest screamed the scream that makes his oldest brother cover his ears and look at me like, “Are you going to do something here?”

Right before the scream to end all screams, I heard their conversation, which was quickly urgent on all fronts. The older brothers were making the little one understand, in gentle tones of course, that he needed to move his piece to a certain spot on the board. I heard something like, “No! Give me that! It goes here!”

Then, as previously stated, the scream happened.

I talked quickly and simply, and the game resumed.

Because of the frequency of this kind of situation, I knew what the little one needed — he had to be asked.

It took me a long time to realize that to ask is to create relationship, to draw another person toward me. The opposite of asking is demanding, and it is the same as pushing away; when I demand, I step on the personhood of whomever I demand from.

Both asking and demanding are powerful, and it may be that our demands are often granted, but we should know the price. Implicitly, we bind one to another or we cast away.

I’ve observed the power of the request in the classroom, too. I talk openly with my students about the authority I’ve been given as their teacher, especially about how easily that power could go to my head.

And it’s because of that authority that my requests, my genuine pleases and thank yous, are even more powerful. By asking instead of demanding, I silently acknowledge the independence and personhood of my students, and I have seen in their eyes a willingness to listen — even when they disagree or would rather

resist.

Foolproof? Not even close. Yet, if we really respect the people around us, we give them room to carry out their resistance, to say no. As a teacher, I explain the consequences simply.

And what about more intimate relationships?

We’ve all seen marriages in which it’s common for the request to be absent. Inserted is the demand, and with it the attitude that each should know the other so well that asking becomes a sort of an insult — or the idea that each has the right to demand what is due. Maybe too many requests went unfulfilled and demanding was the only way to carry on. Maybe.

However, earnest requests are hard to deny, no matter the situation. This is why we instinctively avoid the friend or neighbor who we know will ask to borrow from us. How can we say no? Asking is so powerful, we are often angry that we’ve been asked because the pull of the request is so strong, even from someone who “overasks.”

As a parent, it’s difficult to balance my authority with a clear eye on building up my sons. But with an understanding that relationship is more important than getting my way, even as a dad, I’m at least headed in the best direction.

Chutes and Ladders continued without bloodshed because I explained — over the ear-splitting, tonguewagging, scream — that instead of trying to rip his piece from his hand while forcing their way on him, their brother needed to be talked to like one of them.

Once they drew him closer with a request, he gleefully accepted their help.

Perhaps before we learn anything about relationships, we must first learn how to ask.

It took me a long time to realize that to ask is to create relationship, to draw another person toward me.

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 • July 2016 - 9

Movie Musings with Todd Vogts

‘Finding Dory’ struggles to find its way Pixar/Disney’s latest underwater animated tale, “Finding Dory,” is the much-anticipated follow-up to the 2003 hit “Finding Nemo,” but audiences will leave the theater in disappointment.

The movie fails to match the wave of novelty it’s predecessor surfed as it broke ground in animation and enamoured audiences.

Instead, it recycles the same premise and story line of “Nemo” and struggles to be original. From the opening scene on, you feel like you have already seen this movie. You can easily guess what is going to happen next. It is familiar, but not in a comforting way.

The movie starts off with flashback of Dory, the memoryimpaired blue tang (voiced by Ellen DeGeneres), as a child.

It sheds interesting light on the backstory of how she lost her parents due to her short-term memory issues, but it is so formulaic that you know what is coming next.

The storyline begins a year after “Nemo,” and through a series of flashbacks, Dory begins to remember her parents.

Predictably, Dory decides she has to find them.

With the help of her clownfish friends, Marlin (voiced by Albert Brooks) and Nemo (voiced Hayden 10 - www.wichitafamily.com

Rolence), she sets off across the ocean to find parents.

Along the way she gets more help from a cadre of sea creatures, especially an octopus named Hank (voiced

by Ed O’Neill) who might be short one tentacle but more than makes up for it in cunning and his ability to change color like a chameleon.

The bulk of the film takes place at the Monterey Bay-based Marine Life Institute, which is a rehabilitation center for injured animals and the birthplace of Dory.

anticipated conclusion with an added twist for all the characters.

It is this twist that redeems the movie a bit. With it being so predictable, I was pleasantly surprised with the ending.

I appreciated how Dory swam out of the realm of sidekick into main character, and I appreciated how the title contained a deeper meaning. It wasn’t just about Dory finding her parents. It was about Dory finding herself and finally becoming a self-sufficient fish.

“Finding Dory” is rate PG. It contains some scary moments, perceived danger, mild bullying and the grieving of lost loved ones. It has a run time of 1 hour and 37 minutes.

Adults and older Courtesy Photo children who are fans of “Nemo” won’t be blown away as the story meanders its This allows for characters such as way through an attempt to recreate the Hank, who are handicapped, to easily magic of 2003, but uninitiated viewers become part of the story, and it allows for laughs as the damaged sea creatures will enjoy it. In fact, in a theater full of children, the noise level was low as try to function properly. they were transported to Dory’s underHowever, this was one point that water world. made me cringe a bit. A lot of the huI just wish the creator’s would have mor was derived from the plight of the ignored Dory’s mantra of “just keep handicapped, and that didn’t sit well swimming” and let the movie end . . . with me. or even better, not tried to cash in on The movie seemed to reach several the success of “Nemo” and make this natural ending points, which was a bit tiresome, before it finally came to the sequel.

Wichita Family • July 2016 - 11

12 - www.wichitafamily.com