Westside story june 2015

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June 2015 - 2

I INSIDE

Volume 30 • Issue 8

ON THE COVER

50 years and counting | 16 The Ninnescah Sailing Association is celebrating its golden anniversary. Many members, like Gregg Greenwood, come from West Wichita.

‘Candy Bomber’ visits local school | 11

Features Wichita Homes.............................6 From the Publisher’s Files...................................................7 Pet Smarts......................................8

W e s t S i d e S t o r y

People and Places.......................9 Dateline........................................13 Cinema Scene............................14

Win free tickets to Tanganyika Wildlife Park! See Pages 24-25

Performing Arts Calendar......15 Summer Activity Guide..........18 Movie Review.............................22 Focus On Business....................27

WestSide Story Editorial

Publisher Paul Rhodes Managing Editor Travis Mounts Graphics Abbygail Wells Reporters/Contributors Sam Jack, Dr. Ron Helten, Jim Erickson, Amy Houston, Philip Holmes

Sales & Billing

Sales Valorie Castor, Sherry Machek Billing/Circulation Tori Vinciguerra A Division of Times-Sentinel Newspapers 125 N. Main • P.O. Box 544 Cheney, KS 67025 Phone: (316) 540-0500 Fax: (316) 540-3283

Now in our 30th year! The WestSide Story is a monthly newspaper focused on the far west side of Wichita. It is delivered free to most west Wichita homes within our coverage area, although distribution is not guaranteed. Guaranteed home delivery by mail is available for $10 per year. Single copies are available for free in west Wichita Dillons stores and at Times-Sentinel Newspapers. Email story ideas and photographs to news@tsnews.com. Visit us on Facebook. © 2015 Times-Sentinel Newspapers

With so much going on, time flies by Take a deep breath and grab something that floats. The month of May has gone by faster than rain water flowing past the end of my driveway on any given day recently. It’s always the busiest time of the month at our family of newspapers, and there are so many things to do. Graduation season was a complete blur to me. We always attend several of these for our three weekly newspapers. I went to three of about 10 that we cover. But one of them was a bit different, as my oldest son, Isaac, earned his diploma. Now, I know what your’re thinking – how am I old enough to have a kid graduating from high school? Alright, maybe you aren’t asking me that question, but for anybody who has been through this, you ask yourself that question a lot. It seems like it’s been just a couple years since he started middle school and my youngest was still in grade school. Aaron, my other son, just completed his freshman year. Even he has remarked that he can’t believe that he’s 25 percent of the way through his high school career. Let me tell you, boy, you don’t know anything yet about how quickly time flies. As a teen, you haven’t been around long enough to gain that perspective. To all you parents of graduates this year, congratulations for surviving, and no, I still don’t know how we got to this point already. • • • • • Speaking of time, there are a lot of choices right now for passing some time. Of course, the Wichita River Festival is in full swing. In many ways, it’s a chance to see our city at its very best (and in a few cases, maybe its worst, but try not to dwell on those moments). Music has always been one of my favorite activities, whether as part of RiverFest or otherwise. I’m a big fan of the Cajun food fes-

Travis Mounts | Managing Editor

tival, so I highly recommend that. But then I tend to recommend Cajun food just about anytime. Hopefully, the weather will be more cooperative than it has been recently. Don’t be surprised to see an ark or two entered in the raft race on June 6. Arts AMaize continues, with more concerts this month at New Market Square. I missed the first one but will be making every effort to make it out before June gets away from me. See our Performing Arts Calendar on Page 15 for details on that and other events taking place in Wichita. And baseball season is underway locally. As I write this, the Wichita Wingnuts are in the middle of their first homestand of the season. Further up Interstate 35, the Kansas City Royals are the best team in baseball. It’s been a lot of years since we’ve been able to say that. My kids have no idea what it’s like to see the Royals have a sustained run of success. • • • • • Time is definitely a theme with a couple of this month’s feature story. Our cover story is about WestSiders involved with the Ninnescah Sailing Association, founded 50 years ago at what was then a brand new Cheney State Park and Reservoir. The number of folks who remember life before the lake was created gets smaller each year. And read about Col. Gail Halvorsen, who in the late 1940s was dropping candy to German children during the Berlin Airlift. He recently met one of the recipients of his efforts.


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Grace Eilert, left, and Jenae Maley completed community service projects and other requirements to earn the Gold Award, which is the highest recognition in Girl Scouting. Contributed photo

Local Girl Scouts earn Gold Award “My goal in this project was to establish better communication between these two age groups and help them form relationships through the lost art of writing letters,” Maley said. “It was nice to see the seniors in high school get so enthusiastic and involved with their senior citizens. They were always walking up and asking questions about when the next letter exchange would be and when they would finally get to meet them. And it was nice to see the senior citizens bridging that gap, to see how much they really cared for their senior in high school.” Eilert, who just finished at Goddard High School, took action by organizing and cleaning the instrumental music trophy case. She installed a digital photo display and catalogued awards from decades past that were being stored in drawers and other areas at the school. Eilert enlisted the support of the Goddard Instrumental Music Booster Club to budget for storage and determine which trophies to display.

“The Gold Award is kind of more prestigious, because not many girls do it,” said Eilert. “You spend so much time on it that it kind of becomes your thing, and once it’s done you’re really glad you did it. “The cool part is that the award projects are meant to be self-sustaining. There’s a new position in the booster club for Goddard, so someone will always be cleaning out the trophy case and keeping it current.” Liz Workman, Girls Scouts of Kansas Heartland chief executive, praised the efforts of Gold Award recipients. “Earning the Girl Scout Gold Award designation is truly a remarkable achievement, and the young women who earn this award exemplify leadership in all its forms,” said Workman. “They saw a need in their communities and around the world and took action. Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership are making the world a better place.”

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Girl Scouts Jenae Maley and Grace Eilert of Goddard received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. In order to receive the award, Maley and Eilert demonstrated leadership by completing sustainable and measureable “Take Action” projects. Maley, a recent graduate of Eisenhower High School, started a pen-pal project called “Senior to Senior: Writing the Generation Gap,” to connect high school seniors with senior citizens. Through this project, Eisenhower High School students have corresponded over the past year with senior citizens at Avita Senior Living Center in Wichita. Maley developed surveys to match “senior to senior” and hosted a pen-pal party for the seniors to meet each other. She said she wanted to “change the perceptions each group has about the stereotypical teenager or senior citizen.” The project also inspired Koinonia Senior Care to establish an annual scholarship for high school students.


June 2015 - 4

Jungle makeover

W e s t S i d e S t o r y

Tropics exhibit now open at the zoo

ABOVE: Plumeria, a plant used in making Hawaiian leis, is just one of the many species of plant in the new Tropics exhibit. RIGHT: A bird takes a grape from Chery Rice, curator of birds at the zoo. BELOW: The entrance to the Tropics still looks familar. TOP OF THE PAGE: A panoramic view of the new Tropics exhibit.

As a mid-40s native of Wichita, I have great memroies of the jungle exhibit at the Sedgwick County Zoo. It was a great place to be in the winter, and during the summer it often merely replicated the heat and oppressive humidity that could be found in the south-central Kansas air just outside the walls. The jungle always brought a change in scenery, however, with fauna, foul and other creatures that have no business being in Kansas. Now, after a year’s worth of renovations, the jungle has reopened as the Tropics exhib- S t o r y a n d p h o t o s it, and visitors will be able to see the new and b y T r a v i s M o u n t s improved exhibit in a new light – literally. “What started as an update to the roof system kind of grew,” said Scott Newland, curator of birds at the zoo. The original roof was replaced in 1992. With a projected 20-year lifespan, it was about 25 years old, the replacement roof had faded to the point of being almost opaque. The exhibit always had the look and feel of dusk, even as the midday sun shone unobstructed outside. As zoo personnel began planning for a new roof, it quickly became apparent that a new HVAC (heating and cooling) system was needed. From there, the jungle exhibit took on a broadened mission, as well. The new Tropics exhibit now educates visitors about all types of ecosystems in the tropic zones – rain forests, tropical deserts, island life…anything that’s found in the tropical zone. The Tropics opened to the public on May 22, and I got to take a peek the week before during an intimate media tour. The first that struck me was the difference in lighting. The new roof system lets in some UV-A and UV-B light. These types of ultraviolet light are bad for us in moderate or large amounts, but a certain amount is better for the plants and animals. The new HVAC will offer better temperature and humidity controls. The goal is 80 degrees with 60 to 70 percent humidity. “It will still feel warm and misty, but now it’s a controlled system,” Newland said. The plants already are responding. “Now you’ll see them flowering. It will be a natural process,” said Cheryl Rice, curator of horticulture. The exhibit was stripped down in many ways, and then built back up. There are more plants and animals. Today, the Tropics features 175 birds from 57 species. About 100 animals were held in temporary locations on the grounds. They are back, along with other newly acquired animals. Rice said they kept as many plants as possible and added new ones. The roof came off in March 2014. The weather still had a wintery feel,


The waterfall, one of the most popular parts of the old jungle building at the Sedgwick County Zoo, continues to be a key part of the new Tropics exhibit.

Yes, the birds know the roof is there

When you visit the new Tropics exhibit at the Sedgwick County Zoo, don’t be alarmed if you see a bird flying at the roof. They know it’s there. Scott Newland, curator of birds, said a number of the birds did bang into the new – and much more transparent roof – at first. They quickly learned it was there, he said. Now when you see

them heading upward, it’s for a quick bite. Now that the old, nearly opaque roof is gone and a new one is there that let’s in plenty of sunshine, staff have noticed that insects like to gather on the inside of the roof. Many of the birds have noticed, too, and they like to swoop up and have a snack.

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The rain god has been relocated from the foyer of the Tropics exhibit. It is now part of a new pond that was built as part of the remodeling. The former jungle building was closed for a year while a new roof was built, a new heating and cooling system was installed and other changes were made. The exhibit reopened in late May.

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and plants went dormant. But they came back as the weather warmed. As the exhibit was improved, staffed added 3,000 new plants representing 300 species. The plants are already responding to the improved lighting. “We kept as much as we could and added a lot more,” Rice said. “The plants are finally going through real life cycles. They’re flowering, fruiting and seeding. They’re doing what they’re supposed to do. Before, they were just in survival mode. “We’re trying something new. We’re growing new plants to feed to other animals.” The gorillas, for example, are fond of Aframomum, a type of ginger that’s good for their hearts. Other plants go to the invertebrates. The path through the exhibit is mostly the same, although it has changed some. The rain god that had been in the lobby now sits at the far end of a new pond that was added. It feels a bit like something out of an “Indiana Jones” movie, or something the Brady kids would have found in Hawaii on “The Brady Bunch.” “It’s a complete immersion exhibit,” Newland said. “People can get right in there with the animals and plants.” The changes have presented new challenges. The plants are growing in a way they didn’t before. Some will need to be trimmed over time. Others will grow and change visibly, Newland said. “I want to encourage people to visit now and come back in a couple years. It will look completely different,” he said. And if you remember the old jungle house, a visit today will tell you that it already does look completely different.


June 2015 - 6

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The summer months are typically the most active for burglaries. One reason is that people are usually out more, and many are taking extended vacations, thus leaving their homes unoccupied. Not only that, but when the weather is nice, people tend to get a little lax by leaving open their doors and windows. So, how do you keep your home safe? There are some basic things you can do. You don’t need to be paranoid, but you should be aware of your personal safety. You can gain a lot by focused observations around your house. It is also helpful to know how a burglar thinks. In fact, a good place to start is with a virtual break in of your own home: simply walk around your home and figure out how to get in. If it is easy for you to gain access, imagine how fast a professional could get in to your home. Most burglars come right in through the door. No Mission Impossible-type suspended cables or suction gloves needed. The easiest deterrent is to simply keep your doors locked. Statistics reveal that 40 percent of all burglars gain access through an unlocked door. Even if you do lock your doors, make sure that your doors are strong enough to prevent them from being kicked in when you are away. Burglars also dislike well lit houses. Make sure you have effective security lighting outside. And, it costs very little to leave a few strategic lights on inside. If your house is well lit, inside and out, the bad guys will probably move on to an easier target. Security experts suggest you vary routine. You may not be able to vary your schedule but you can vary the way your home appears when you are gone. If your house is being watched, the burglars will know the right time to come visit. As with lighting, it is relatively inexpensive to leave a radio or television on to give the impression that someone is home, even when they are not. The good news is that most burglaries are random and opportunistic. The key is to never let your home appear unoccupied, in case you are being scoped out.

Wichita Homes

Philip Holmes | Interior Designer

When possible, enlist someone to look after your house, the mail, and other indicators of occupancy. And when you are home, be mindful of your trash. Do not advertise your purchases by setting the box of your new plasma TV on the curb for all to see. On the topic of curb side robbery, thieves can be sorting through your mail, looking for renewal credit cards and checks. Don’t think that they are above checking out your trash for useful information, including account numbers. The incidence of fraud and identity theft is on the rise. The criminals are finding new ways to steal all the time. Incorporating an alarm system in to your home security decreases the chance that you will be a victim of burglary. Just the fact that you have a system is a deterrent. Signs in the yard and on the windows will deter most would-be thieves. A good home monitoring system makes your system more effective. The alarm can make a lot of noise, but it is the monitoring that will ensure a response. Just think about how many car alarms are simply ignored: they make noise but people go about their business. Alarm systems come as basic or as advanced as you could want. There are even do-it-yourself kits, running around $200, available. You have to decide what level of protection you want. Your best option is to talk to a security expert. Not just a sales person, but someone who can analyze your home’s unique characteristics and security needs. The end result should See HOMES, Page 31


It was supposed to be a quiet Monday afternoon at the office, and for the most part it was…until my phone started buzzing beside my laptop computer. It was my daughter Abby, and recognition of the incoming call made me stop in my tracks. My kids call me regularly, and sometimes they will even call me at work if they need something in a hurry or have important information to share. This, in the world of information, was very important news. My first granddaughter had arrived. I was in shock, because frankly this birth was scheduled to happen a couple of weeks later. Abby’s due date was early June, and even she had estimated the earliest arrival date to be somewhere around the end of the month. So much for plans. If I was dumbfounded and speechless, I can only imagine how my daughter and her husband must have been feeling when my new grandchild decided it was time to come out and see the world that was awaiting her. No email confirming her travel plans. No call ahead to say she was headed our way. Just a text message, so to speak, saying she was here. My daughter didn’t even have time to call and say she was on the way to the hospital. She barely had time to call her husband, Eskil, and divert him from work. And a few short hours later, after a relatively uneventful delivery, the guest we had anticipated in early June was here.

From the Publisher’s Files

7 - June 2015

New granddaughter arrives early

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Mom and daughter are happy and healthy, and my son-in-law is catching his breath…as am I. Now it’s time to plan my visit to Columbia, Mo., to meet this precious new family member. I was just there a couple of weekends ago to help my kids install a new kitchen floor, which was part of the nesting process for my daughter. She had a pretty solid list of projects that needed to be accomplished before their new daughter came home, and was determined to get them done. Eskil, bless his heart, was determined to keep Abby smiling, and I was glad to help out for a weekend. And for the most part, the kitchen remodeling got completed. Any other projects that were slated for the next couple of weeks might just have to find a new schedule…and that’s OK. Now that the new baby is here (no, she doesn’t have a name as of this writing), a whole new focus can be applied to their lives. And that new focus will bring lots of joy to our growing family.

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At the WestSide Story, 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! news@tsnews.com 316-540-0500 www.facebook.com/TheWestSideStory

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June 2015 - 8

An itchy pet could be the sign of allergies, external parasites for fleas and ticks...or any combination of those.

Itchy pets are common this time of year As we enter the warmer spring season pets start to scratch. The front feet get licked excessively and ears are sore. Some pet will bite at their rump. Allergies cause some of those signs but

Pet Smarts

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also adding to the problem. Plants are blooming. Pollen is in the sneeze, pets itch from these airborne particles. Ninety percent of pets with allergies lick their front feet. It may appear like our pets are grooming to keep themselves clean, but some pet’s paws are so itchy that they will chew on their toenails. Pets with white hair may lick enough that their hair is discolored brown from the saliva. Fleas and ticks like warm, moist temperatures. The most itchy region around the tail or back legs. Cats can get many small “bumps” or scabs

Dr. Ron Helten | Veterinarian

eggs in the pet’s hair coat. These are too small to see, but when they drop the carpet. Itch can be treated with antihistamine are a part of the itch problem, once a month drops applied to your pet’s skin or once a month pills are effective at controlling these itchy parasites. Your veterinarian can determine the best treatment options.


The Wichita River Festival is underway and several WestSiders are helping promote the event by volunteering as Prairie Schooner Mates. The students are: Cody Adams, Maize High; Katy Aycock, Bishop Carroll; Kaylee Clark, Northwest High; and Dillon Engelbrecht, Eisenhower High. Jessica Johnson, a senior English major from Wichita, presented a paper at her senior novel panel at the University of Dallas. The senior novel panel is the culmination of the English major at UD. Students present papers on a novel of their choosing to a panel of faculty members from the English department. Johnson presented her paper on “Death Comes for the Archbishop,” by Willa Cather. Several WestSiders 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. They are Kylee Stuever, who was initiated at Kansas State University, and Carson Guinn, Mitchell Meyer and Ryan Minear, all of whom were initiated at Oklahoma State Univeristy. They 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.

WestSider Kimya Cartledge was among 3,500 prospective candidates for degrees attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commencement exercises Sunday, May 17, in Milwaukee.

Jessica Miller of Wichita was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2015 semester at Maryville University in St. Louis. Miller is currently working toward a bachelor of science in science. MidAmerica Nazarene University recently announced its president’s list, dean’s list and honor roll for the spring 2015 semester. A total of 338 students dents in traditional programs carrying 12 semester hours or more with a term GPA from 3.2 to 4.0 may qualify for one of these academic honors. Neutral credit hours are excluded from the calculation and reduce the course load dent’s List is a 4.0 grade point average for the semester; Dean’s List ranges from 3.5 to 3.99; and the Honor Roll is 3.2 to 3.49. WestSider Luke Friesen was named to the president’s list. Madison McKay, Blake Owings and Thomas Ticum were named to the dean’s list. Cloud County Community College commencement ceremonies were held in Arley Bryant Gymnasium at the Concordia campus on May 15. WestSiders earning degrees include Wichitans Taylor Herrington, Cameron Zane and Anika Ricks, and Maize resident Trevor Reid. Kara Buck of Wichita, Kansas, was inducted into the SPURS honor society at Emporia State University during the spring 2015 semester. Buck is a sophomore majoring in elementary education. SPURS (Service, Patriotism, Underan honorary group for students with a minimum GPA of 3.25 and an interest in providing service to the campus, community and nation. Taylor Elkinton of West Wichita has been named to the spring 2015 president’s honor roll at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. Full-time students with a semester grade point average of

at least 3.75 and no incompletes are listed on the president’s honor roll at the end of each semester. One hun-

day serve children with special needs by becoming a developmental pediatrician or a pediatric neurologist.

University students were named to the dean’s honor roll. Full-time students with a semester grade point average of 3.25-3.74 and no incompletes are listed on the dean’s honor roll at the end of each semester. WestSiders Shelby Craig and Tandee Jasnoski were named to the dean’s honor roll.

Laura Shine, a 2015 graduate of Wichita Northwest High School, has been selected as a Cardinal Newman Scholar by Newman University for fall 2015. Shine is interested in studying biology and becoming a public health

WestSider Kelsy Reynaga will receive the Florence Ritchie Scholarship from the Iowa State University College of Human Sciences. Reynaga is a senior studying child, adult, and family services at Iowa State. were inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma honor society at Emporia State University during the spring 2015 semester. WestSiders Kara Buck and Madelyn Kohlman were among the inductees. Phi Eta Sigma is the national scholastic honor society for students with an average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. It is the greatest scholastic distinction a

Taylor A Elkinton of Wichita is from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina with a bachelor of arts in health, physical education and recreation education, magna cum laude, as recognized during the KWU Spring Commencement on May 9. Alaina Shine, a 2011 graduate of Wichita Northwest High School, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City on May 16. Shine earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis in cellular and molecular basis of health and disease, along with minors in chemistry and psychology. Shine was co-president of the honors program and the Honors Student Advisory Council while at UMKC. She will begin medical school at the end of July at the KU School of Medicine at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. She hopes to one

Disease Control and Prevention. She participated in volleyball, marching band, jazz band and student senate while at Northwest High. The scholarship is Newman’s highest valued award, providing full tuition and fees for four years to each of the 10 students selected. To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.85 cumulative high school GPA and a 29 composite ACT score. The scholarship is named for Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, namesake of the university. More than 150 Bethany College students have earned semester honors for their academic performance during the spring 2015 semester and have been named to the dean’s list. To qualify for the list, students must be enrolled fulltime and earn a semester grade point average of 3.5. The students are Janae Evans, theatre and communication major; Mikaela Harmon, psychology major; and Michael Stout (no major Daniel Douglas of Wichita was named to the Cloud County Community College spring 2015 presidential honors list. To be named to the honors list, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours of college coursework and achieve a minimum 3.6 grade point average. Nicholas Heald, a junior Christian ministries major of Wichita, was among approximately 480 Bob Jones University students named to the spring 2015 president’s list. This president’s list recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher GPA. See PEOPLE, Page 10

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West Wichita resident Angelea Hughes was among the more than 700 students who graduated from Bob Jones University Friday, May 8. Hughes graduated with a B.S. in early childhood education.

UWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin. Carledge earned a master of business administration from the Lubar School of Business.

9 - June 2015

WestSide Story People and Places


The Wichita River Festival is underway and several WestSiders are helping promote the event by volunteering as Prairie Schooner Mates. The students are: Cody Adams, Maize High; Katy Aycock, Bishop Carroll; Kaylee Clark, Northwest High; and Dillon Engelbrecht, Eisenhower High. Jessica Johnson, a senior English major from Wichita, presented a paper at her senior novel panel at the University of Dallas. The senior novel panel is the culmination of the English major at UD. Students present papers on a novel of their choosing to a panel of faculty members from the English department. Johnson presented her paper on “Death Comes for the Archbishop,” by Willa Cather. Several WestSiders 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. They are Kylee Stuever, who was initiated at Kansas State University, and Carson Guinn, Mitchell Meyer and Ryan Minear, all of whom were initiated at Oklahoma State Univeristy. They 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.

UWM is the second largest university in the State of Wisconsin. Carledge earned a master of business administration from the Lubar School of Business. Jessica Miller of Wichita was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2015 semester at Maryville University in St. Louis. Miller is currently working toward a bachelor of science in science. MidAmerica Nazarene University recently announced its president’s list, dean’s list and honor roll for the spring 2015 semester. A total of 338 students qualified for one of the honors. All students in traditional programs carrying 12 semester hours or more with a term GPA from 3.2 to 4.0 may qualify for one of these academic honors. Neutral credit hours are excluded from the calculation and reduce the course load used to figure the honor. The President’s List is a 4.0 grade point average for the semester; Dean’s List ranges from 3.5 to 3.99; and the Honor Roll is 3.2 to 3.49. WestSider Luke Friesen was named to the president’s list. Madison McKay, Blake Owings and Thomas Ticum were named to the dean’s list. Cloud County Community College commencement ceremonies were held in Arley Bryant Gymnasium at the Concordia campus on May 15. WestSiders earning degrees include Wichitans Taylor Herrington, Cameron Zane and Anika Ricks, and Maize resident Trevor Reid.

WestSider Kimya Cartledge was among 3,500 prospective candidates for degrees attending University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commencement exercises Sunday, May 17, in Milwaukee.

Taylor Elkinton of West Wichita has been named to the spring 2015 president’s honor roll at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. Full-time students with a semester grade point average of

WestSider Kelsy Reynaga will receive the Florence Ritchie Scholarship from the Iowa State University College of Human Sciences. Reynaga is a senior studying child, adult, and family services at Iowa State. More than 80 first-year students were inducted into the Phi Eta Sigma honor society at Emporia State University during the spring 2015 semester. WestSiders Kara Buck and Madelyn Kohlman were among the inductees. Phi Eta Sigma is the national scholastic honor society for students with an average of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. It is the greatest scholastic distinction a first-year student can attain. Taylor A Elkinton of Wichita is confirmed as having officially graduated from Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina with a bachelor of arts in health, physical education and recreation education, magna cum laude, as recognized during the KWU Spring Commencement on May 9. Alaina Shine, a 2011 graduate of Wichita Northwest High School, graduated summa cum laude from the University of Missouri-Kansas City on May 16. Shine earned a bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis in cellular and molecular basis of health and disease, along with minors in chemistry and psychology. Shine was co-president of the honors program and the Honors Student Advisory Council while at UMKC. She will begin medical school at the end of July at the KU School of Medicine at KU Medical Center in Kansas City, Kan. She hopes to one

day serve children with special needs by becoming a developmental pediatrician or a pediatric neurologist. Laura Shine, a 2015 graduate of Wichita Northwest High School, has been selected as a Cardinal Newman Scholar by Newman University for fall 2015. Shine is interested in studying biology and becoming a public health official, possibly for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She participated in volleyball, marching band, jazz band and student senate while at Northwest High. The scholarship is Newman’s highest valued award, providing full tuition and fees for four years to each of the 10 students selected. To qualify, a student must have at least a 3.85 cumulative high school GPA and a 29 composite ACT score. The scholarship is named for Blessed John Henry Cardinal Newman, namesake of the university. More than 150 Bethany College students have earned semester honors for their academic performance during the spring 2015 semester and have been named to the dean’s list. To qualify for the list, students must be enrolled fulltime and earn a semester grade point average of 3.5. The students are Janae Evans, theatre and communication major; Barry Garfinkel, management major; Mikaela Harmon, psychology major; and Michael Stout (no major provided). Daniel Douglas of Wichita was named to the Cloud County Community College spring 2015 presidential honors list. To be named to the honors list, students must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours of college coursework and achieve a minimum 3.6 grade point average. Nicholas Heald, a junior Christian ministries major of Wichita, was among approximately 480 Bob Jones University students named to the spring 2015 president’s list. This president’s list recognizes students who earn a 3.75 or higher GPA. See PEOPLE, Page 10

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West Wichita resident Angelea Hughes was among the more than 700 students who graduated from Bob Jones University Friday, May 8. Hughes graduated with a B.S. in early childhood education.

Kara Buck of Wichita, Kansas, was inducted into the SPURS honor society at Emporia State University during the spring 2015 semester. Buck is a sophomore majoring in elementary education. SPURS (Service, Patriotism, Understanding, Responsibility, Sacrifice) is an honorary group for students with a minimum GPA of 3.25 and an interest in providing service to the campus, community and nation.

at least 3.75 and no incompletes are listed on the president’s honor roll at the end of each semester. One hundred and fifty-six Kansas Wesleyan University students were named to the dean’s honor roll. Full-time students with a semester grade point average of 3.25-3.74 and no incompletes are listed on the dean’s honor roll at the end of each semester. WestSiders Shelby Craig and Tandee Jasnoski were named to the dean’s honor roll.

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June 2015 - 10

People Continued from Page 9

Adrian Fox has joined Baseline Creative Inc., a full-service graphic design, advertising and web development agency, as an architect/developer. As part of Baseline’s development team, Fox will facilitate both front- and back-end web development along with custom-code functionalities. Fox is a 2007 graduate of Andale High School. He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from Wichita State University. His thesis, “The X’s and O’s of High School Football: A Look at How High School Football Coaches Reinforce and Motivate Their Players,” examined different methods of motivation among high school head football coaches. He joins Baseline from the Kansas Humane Society, where he was a marketing and communications specialist.

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“Patchwork Family,” a novel by Wichita native and WestSider Bonnie Tharp, has won first place in the Kansas Professional Communicators annual competition. The book won in the Novels for Adult Readers category. The book is a follow-up to Tharp’s award-winning debut, “Feisty Family Values,” published in 2010 (under the name B.D. Tharp). The book, set in Wichita’s Riverside neighborhood, is a story about ordinary people handling life challenges. For cousins Annabelle and Regina, growing older is easy; handling it with grace is the hard part. And chaos ensues when Peggy, Annabelle’s eldest granddaughter, seeks answers from her absentee father and struggles with adolescence. Tharp graduated magna cum laude from Wichita State University with a bachelor of arts degree in communications, women and minority studies and Fine Arts. Tharp has written for several

publications, including Active Aging, Generation Boom, Women’s Focus, the Wichita Register and East Wichita News. Tharp’s books are available through bookstores and online. Visit www.bdtharp.com for more information. Area students were among 35 nominees for the Dwight and Ida Curry Newberg Outstanding Senior award. Newberg Outstanding Senior nominations are solicited from across the Emporia State University campus, and nominees must have a 3.5 grade point average and be graduating in spring, summer or fall of 2015. Local nominees are Lindley Piper of West Wichita, a music performance major, and Mallory Walden of Wichita, who is studying business. During the 31st annual Teachers College honors banquet held the evening of May 8, 72 Emporia State University students received special recognition. Twenty-six received outstanding student awards and 50 students were honored for achievement of a 3.8 grade point average or higher. Local students honored include Dana Evans, named outstanding graduate student in experimental psychology; Taylor Gould, named outstanding graduate student in education administration; and Kaitlynn M. Grube, named outstanding undergraduate student in elementary teacher education. All three are from West Wichita. Benjamin Maier of Goddard was recognized by the Department of Theatre and Dance at its annual Players Banquet at the University of Central Missouri May 1. The banquet included the presentation of departmental, technical, acting and scholarship awards. Maier, son of Jessica States of Goddard and Michael Maier of Wichita, received the Theatre Ambassador Award. He is a freshman at UCM majoring in theatre design/technology and a 2014 graduate of Goddard High School.

Have an item for next month’s People and Places? Email it us by June 20 at news@tsnews.com.


Story

and

photos

by

Sam Jack

Col. Gail Halvorsen, a hero of the Berlin Airlift, spoke at Goddard’s Eisenhower Middle School and High School on Thursday, May 14. In 1948 and ‘49, Halvorsen was one of many pilots that airlifted supplies to West Berlin. His and his comrades’ efforts were an essential lifeline, since the Soviet Union had blocked all land routes to the city. Even with continuous air shipments coming in, it was a time of deprivation, felt in particular by the city’s children. Last year, WestSider Julie Campa’s Eisenhower Middle School eighth-grade reading class read a book about Halvorsen’s response to the situation. Halvorsen attached pieces of chocolate and candy to small parachutes and dropped them from his cargo plane, to the delight of young people congregated near the airstrip. Soon, other pilots followed suit, and Halvorsen, the “Candy Bomber,” became an international hero and symbol of goodwill. “My class put together a scrapbook, and we mailed it to Col. Halvorsen, thanking him for what he did for the children of Berlin,” said Campa. “He left a voice message that I still have on my computer, and I’ve played it for every neighbor and friend that will listen to it.” When Campa returned Halvorsen’s call, it was the beginning of what became a close friendship between her family and the 94-year-old Halvorsen. “We actually got to meet them last summer; we spent three days with them in Arizona,” said Campa. “We’ve just kept in contact ever since, on the phone, through emails, through letter writing, and I do consider he and his wife Lorraine friends of our family.” Campa first made plans for Halvorsen’s visit last year, but those fell through when Halvorsen took ill. “It was well worth the wait to bring him here, because I thought it was still as important today as I did a year ago,” said Campa. “Several of the kids have come to me and thanked me for it, so I know that it was worth it.” Halvorsen addressed the middle-schoolers for nearly See BOMBER, Page 12

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‘Candy Bomber’ visits Goddard

Julie Campa, right, followed Col. Gail Halvorsen’s lead and flashed a thumbs-up following his presentation Thursday. Campa became friends with the Berlin Airlift hero over the course of nearly two years leading up to his visit.

Holy Spirit Catholic Church And St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Knights of Columbus Present our 8th Annual

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June 2015 - 12 W e s t S i d e S t o r y

Col. Gail Halvorsen signed a book for Wichitan Dagmar “Dagie” Snodgrass following the Eisenhower Middle School assembly. As a child, Snodgrass caught candy Halvorsen dropped over Berlin. She met the colonel for the first time May 14.

Bomber Continued from Page 11

an hour, wearing the same jumpsuit he wore as a pilot years ago, with the addition of a Congressional Gold Medal he received last year. He told the story of his Candy Bomber days and emphasized the value of service and kindness. “On the other side of the (airstrip) fence were these children, a lot of them your age,” Halvorsen told the students. “The uniform I was wearing represented bombing, killing their parents and killing their brothers and sisters. Why wouldn’t they be angry with me? But

they weren’t. Because they knew the alternative. “They’d say, ‘Just don’t give up on us. Someday we’ll have enough to eat, but if we lose our freedom, we’ll never get it back.’” Halvorsen said the conduct of those hungry Berlin children impressed him deeply. While it is common around the world for kids to ask American soldiers for candy and chocolate, the children he saw in Berlin did not say a word or even put out a hand. “When people don’t ask for things that they need, and you can recognize that and can do something about it, that’s a true fulfillment in life,” said Halvorsen. Halvorsen saluted Campa and her

husband, EMS math teacher Tom Campa. “They make a grand couple, helping young people sort out their lives and decide what they want to do. The teachers of America are going to determine the future of America,” said Halvorsen. Dagmar “Dagie” Snodgrass, a Wichita resident who was among the West Berlin children that caught Halvorsen’s candy, met him in person for the first time earlier that morning. “It was miraculous. I don’t have words to explain what it was like; it was amazing,” said Snodgrass of the encounter. Snodgrass went on to salute Halvorsen’s service in remarks that concluded the school assembly. “In our lifetime, we come across peo-

ple that stand out, that are unforgettable. They do things that no one else would do. And Col. Halvorsen, you have done this for me,” Snodgrass said. “When you reached out to us young ones, you reached our parents and grandparents. Out of enemies, we became friends. You taught us to trust again. “I’m very grateful,” Snodgrass continued. “Col. Halvorsen will never be forgotten. You can’t forget a person like that, because, from head to toe, he is love. And he had partners, partners that helped him in this mission. So Col. Halvorsen, to you and all the military – I am not a military person, but I salute you.” Halvorsen stood and returned Snodgrass’s salute.


Recent heavy downpours and flood warnings issued this spring should serve as reminders to everyone spending time outdoors to be cautious around rising or moving water. A sudden influx of water from a severe thunderstorm can make peacefully flowing streams dangerous, flood roadways and create hidden washouts. Rising water levels in lakes can hide obstacles from boaters and drop-offs from swimmers and waders. However, a few simple safety rules can keep everyone safe. When boating, observe all Kansas boating regulations, including having properly fitting life jackets in reach for everyone onboard. Boating laws require all youngsters 12 and younger to wear life jackets while on the water, and it’s smart for everyone onboard to wear life jackets. If the lake level has recently risen, boaters must be aware that obstacles hidden just beneath the surface can cause damage and serious accidents. Be cautious and operate at safe speeds near shore. For those swimming or wading in lakes and streams, be aware that moving water

can be much more powerful than it appears, and undercurrents near low-water crossings, low-head dams and logjams can create death traps. Remember that swift-moving water can soften or undercut stream banks, so keep well back from the water’s edge. Swim only in designated areas on reservoirs and avoid jumping, diving or wading into unknown waters. Children should be kept in sight at all times near water, and it’s a good idea to strap a life jacket on them if they’re going to be near water. If you’re driving and waters suddenly rise, remember that just six inches of water will reach the bottom of most cars, and many vehicles will start to float in just one foot of water. Two feet of moving water can easily sweep even a large SUV off the road. When you encounter water over a roadway, heed the warning “Turn around, don’t drown.” After the long-term drought much of Kansas endured prior to 2014, we can’t complain about rainfall. However, there can be too much of a good thing, especially with water. Just remember to use common sense and err on the side of caution.

June 14 – Hope In Dateline Spring Gala 2015, a benefit for victims of impaired driving and increase community awareness. Dinner, a concert and live auction will be held 5-8 p.m. at the Abode Venue, featuring jazz music by Craig Owens. The event is sponsored by the KanUpcoming events in and around Wichita sas DUI Impact Center. For ticket information, call 316-262-1673 or visit www.KSDUI.org.

to

June 27 – River City Roll, an event to benefit the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation (CPRF). On Saturday, June 27, the Wichita Country Club’s indoor tennis facility will be transformed into a funkadelic discotheque for an evening of 1970s signature cocktails, exclusive auction items, a delicious dinner and dancing to your favorite hits. The event will run from 6:30 to 11 p.m. Find more details at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/ cprf-river-city-roll-2015-disco-for-dreams-tickets-16008155825. CPRF is a nationally recognized leader in the development of rehabilitation engineering, specialized services, advocacy, employment research, training, and job placement for people with all types of disabilities. River City Roll provides vital funding to the CPRF Equipment Fund, which provides Kansans of all ages, with many disabilities, with the adaptive equipment they need such as power wheelchairs, ramp materials, van lifts, prosthetics, and more.

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June 2015 - 14

Taking a look at why ‘Citizen Kane’ is so great After voting “Citizen Kane” the best movie ever made for 50 years of its every-10-year poll of reviewers and scholars, Sight and Sound magazine voted Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” the best, sparking a debate that promises to go on forever. I have no desire to join in the argument as to what is the greatest movie of all time, because I don’t see how one can compare “Pinocchio” with “Bicycle Thief ” or “City Lights” or “The Bank Dick” or “Birth of a Nation.” But I’m going to devoted the next few Cinemascene columns to what I regard as the prime quality of “Citizen Kane” – its consistent and continuous use of film potentialities in service of its central theme. That theme is not the search for the famous Rosebud, except in Rosebud’s revelation of the central tragedy of Kane’s spectacular but ultimately unsuccessful life. As dialogue at the end of the movie says, no single detail can explain anything as complicated as a human being. And that theme is clearly implied by the “No Trespassing” sign that both introduces and closes the movie, as well as by the repeated questions by the investigator who is investigating Rosebud and who finally concludes that the search is futile because Rosebud could have proved nothing. And the shots as the camera climbs upward from the sign at the beginning reflect the disorganized and ultimately futile efforts of Kane to find a satisfactory life – the decaying remains of Roman and Venetian structures, a zoo, a golf course, leading

Cinema Scene

Jim Erickson

to a fantastic Cinderella castle at the top of the hill. The obituary newsreel that follows the calls the castle and the hill manmade, both achievements the movie will show as failed efforts, and serves as a plot outline of the story of Kane. This spares writer-director Orson Welles a lot of exposition and transition, and directs the viewers’ attention away from mere plot (what happens) to theme (why it happens, what kind of person Kane is). It also, by its very existence as a newsreel, emphasizes the power of Kane and largely forestalls any later feeling that we never see a lot of what Kane did accomplish in his public career. The parody of the “March of Time” news shorts moviegoers could not escape in the late 1930s and 1940s enforces both points. It’s hard to see how all this could be put across in a more entertaining way. As usual, form (“The March of Time”) and content support each other. Passing over a great deal, such as the details of the newsreel with its quotations of William Randolph Hearst and snapshot of Kane’s home, we skip

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to the investigator’s first significant The symbols in “Citizen Kane” interview, converging the memoirs of do not require cultural background. the man who raised Kane. But despite The mountain of snow, for example, the fact that at this rate of progress, I is contrasted by Xanadu, the white will not complete this analysis in this palace Kane builds on a mountain that incarnation, I must linger over a transithe newsreel tells us he built himself tion here. (Hearst’s San Simeon, the inspiration Seventeenth-century philosopher John for Xanadu, was gaudy with color). The Locke is remembered for his theory of symbol of life and innocence becomes the “tabula rasa,” by which the human a symbol of death. being is born a blank page on which At which point I run out of space. experience writes, in order to produce This is going to take a long time. To a complete human being. No movie be continued. Or in journalistic terms, audience member is required to know more to come. anything about John Locke. But it is not surprising that an intellectual snob such as the young Orson Welles, fresh from triumphs on stage and radio, would want to show off a little. And the first developed section of the investigator’s search, covering the childhood and early newspaper career of Kane, begins with a blank white screen (Kane’s snow-covered home in the Colorado mountains merged with a page of his guardian’s memoirs) on which the guardian’s handwriting begins the story of the development of Kane – almost a parody of Locke. But if you don’t get it, it’s a logical transition from narration to re-enactment. One of the glories of “Citizen Kane” is that you don’t have to detect the devices to feel the nuances. A blank white screen with a tiny dot representing a little boy suggests loneliness and innocence, both of which fit the “Citizenkane” by Source. Licensed under Fair use via Wikipedia. situation, Locke or no Locke.


Arts AMaize community concerts, June 11, June 25 and July 2 at New Market Square. The last of four performance-based mini-festivals designed to activate the community along and near its Maize corridor, Maize Road. Featuring the Jake Schepps Quintet (crossover music) on June 11; Brazillian choro group A Terra Plan on June 25; and an American-Sousa band on July 2. Concerts are free, bring blankets or chairs. Events will feature interactive artist installations by Mike Miller, Marc Durfee and Linennbur & Miller. Event runs 7:30-9:15 p.m. Arts AMaize is sponsored in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries and the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with New Market Square, Chamber Music at the Barn and the city of Maize.

Elton John’s and Tim Rice’s “Aida,” June

Performing Arts Calendar

June 2015 10-14, and Disney’s “My Son Pinocchio,” June 24-28, Music Theatre of Wichita. Shows at Century II Concert Hall. Tickets $28-$64, $26-$56 for matinees. Visit www.mtwichita.org for tickets and show information. “The Foreigner” by Larry Shue, Wichita Community Theatre. Shows June 11-28. Directed by Michael Webber. Tickets $14, $12 for seniors/students/military. For tickets call 316-686-1282. For more information, visit www.wichitact.org. “Cougar: The Musical,” June 11-July 18 at Roxy’s Downtown. Tickets $40 for dinner and show, $28 for show only. Call 316265-4400 to reserve your tickets.

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Chamber Music at the Barn, Concert One-Contrasting Rhapsodies and a Classic Quintet, June 18-20. Stunning rhapsodies by Bartók and Loeffler are paired with the adventurous songs of Vaughan Williams based on poems of Blake and performed by tenor and oboe alone.The beloved Mozart Clarinet Quintet will finish the evening with the beauty and exuberance only Mozart can create. Tickets $12-$47. Visit www.cmatb.org. Ballet Wichita presents “Snow White,” with five free performances. June 11, 7 pm. Main Street Park, 400 E. Main, Mulvane; June 12, 7 p.m. Sedgwick County Park Shelter One, off 13th Street entrance in Wichita; June 13, 11 a.m., Garven Park, 1898 Washington Lane, Augusta; June 13, 7 p.m., Udall City Park in Udall; June 14, 2 p.m., Riggs Park, 706 Sarah Lane in Haysville. Bring a blanket or lawn chairs. All performances are outdoors and weather permitting. For information or schedule changes, visit Ballet Wichita’s Facebook or Twitter pages. Wichita Orpheum. Brit Floyd: Space and Time World Tour, 7:30 p.m. June 8. Tickets $29.50 to $49.50. Pianist Steve Rue with violinist Alexa Blackburn, 8 p.m. June 27. Tickets $27.50 to $57.50. Visit www.wichitaorpheum.com.

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“Anchorman of Steel,” playing through July 18 at Mosley Street Melodrama. Written by Carol Hughes and directed by Cindy Summers. Also featuring “Totally Rad” musical comedy revue. Starring: Craig Green, Dylan Lewis, Briley Meek, Jenny Mitchell, Megan Parsley and Kyle Vespestad. Tickets $28, $18 for show only. Call 316-263-0222.

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The Wichita Chamber Chorale announces its annual cabaret concert and fundraiser Friday, June 5, at Prairie Pines, 4055 N Tyler Road. Cabaret has been the chorale’s signature end-of-season fundraiser since 1983. The evening will include Broadway and popular tunes sung by soloists and small groups as well as the whole ensemble. A house band will accompany the singers in a fun, relaxed show for music lovers of all ages. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with a 7 p.m. preshow featuring the Lower Room Band. The Cabaret performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Throughout the evening, guests will be able to view and bid on silent auction items. Tickets are $25 for general admission and $15 for students. This price includes the evening’s music, a party food buffet and beverages. A cash bar will be available. The Wichita Chamber Chorale is lauded as Wichita’s premier choral ensemble. They recently completed their 37th season with a concert on March 27th, performing Haydn’s “The Creation.” Tickets are available in person at Senseney Music, 2300 E Lincoln; by mail to the WCC, P.O. Box 20744, Wichita 67208; online at www.wichitachorale.com; or at the door. Seating is limited to 125 persons, so advance reservations are recommended. Call Gretchen at 316-708-1834 for further questions and seating requests.


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Sailing in Kansas wind

Ninnescah Sailing Association marks 50 years STORY

AND

PHOTOS

Sailing is a human activity of long standing. The forms of sailing vessels and the behaviors of those that sail them have been shaped by wind, water, tide and storm. Insofar as those forces are basically the same anywhere, sailing is the same. So it shouldn’t have felt surprising to round a corner in Cheney State Park and come upon a forest of masts that would not have looked out of place in the island tropics, or anywhere water and wind meet. WestSider Gregg Greenwood, commodore of Cheney Lake’s Ninnescah Sailing Association, was there to greet me and show me around the group’s impressive lakeshore facility. This being Kansas, NSA almost always has wind in abundance. Everything else, including even the lake itself, has been dredged, bulldozed, hammered and poured into place over the course of the group’s history, Greenwood said. “Cheney Lake water was impounded for the first time in 1964, and on June 14 of 1965, a group of people met, with 41 people attending at Mt. Vernon to form our sailing association. They had 38 members join that first year. Since that time, we’ve grown to over 180 members,” he said. Historical pictures from the group’s early days show the lake’s origins as a massively artificial Bureau of Reclamation project much more clearly. Hardly any trees dot the shore, and it’s easy to imagine how the drowned farm fields would have once looked. “At the beginning, it was just no trees or anything,” Greenwood recalled. “The state did put campgrounds out there, and for a number of years the people congregated in shelter structures that were kind of like concrete tents. They put these in a lot of different places throughout the park.” Greenwood started sailing small boats at Cheney Lake in 1967, as a high school student. After earning a degree at K-State, he returned to Wichita and has been an association member ever

BY

SAM JACK

since. His sustained interest, combined with that of many others, led to rapid expansion and improvements. “Members actually put their personal money up and got the bank to give us a loan to put wet slips in, and then those slips filled up, and with the money generated from that, we were able to put more slips in as we went,” said Greenwood. Members also partnered with state and federal agencies to build jetties to protect the harbor area and dredge as needed to ensure adequate depth at slips and in the inner cove. “They were pretty committed to building this place up,” said NSA historian Patrick Coulter. “We’ve negotiated a lot of things with the state of Kansas that have been mutually beneficial, for us as a sailing association and that also enhanced the attraction and usefulness of the lake and of Cheney State Park.” NSA includes sailors with a variety of interests, both recreational and competitive, Greenwood said. Boat owner Tom Olsen and his competitive sailing crew were at their slip recently, preparing the Screamin’ Eagle for a weekly Wednesday evening race. “You have to have a lot of prior experience and boat preparation and crew work,” said Olsen. “As for the boat, you need good sails and a fair bottom. And you have to be familiar with the racing rules, so it’s pretty complicated.” To keep that “fair bottom,” the Screaming Eagle spends its time when not in use elevated out of the water on floats. The wind itself is a factor not so easily controlled. “You can be familiar with the wind, but it does what it wants to. You know generally what it’s going to do, but you can never totally figure it out until you get on the water. That’s the fun of sailboat racing. You have to adapt to the situation,” said Olsen. Greenwood’s own approach to sailing is now a bit more sedate – though, as Coulter noted, sailing is always a more active form of entertainment than making a trip to the multiplex.

TOP: Ninnescah Sailing Association members gather for an event in 1976, 13 years after the formation of the NSA. Contributed photo

ABOVE: Trophies await the winners of the 1970 national regatta at Cheney State Park. Contributed photo

LEFT: NSA members raised the money to put in wet slips, seen in this May 2015 photo.


Public invited to “Blessing of the Fleet” On June 20, the Ninnescah Sailing Association will hold its annual “Blessing of the Fleet” ceremony. Club historian Patrick Coulter described the event: “Many people have traced the Blessing of the Fleet back to Portuguese sailors. Many of them were fishermen, and they’d go to sea and often wouldn’t return. Some calamity would come up. “So the blessing is a solemn event where you ask God to reach out and protect the people that are sailing, or anyone out on the water – fishermen, jet skis, boys on the shore. “We have it every year here, and we join literally thousands of clubs and city marinas all over the United States. “I attended one on Nantucket Island with almost 450 boats registered, including Navy and Coast Guard. The Navy and Coast Guard take it very seriously; everything is polished to the hilt, and they wear dress uniforms. “Here, we start out by the shelter house, with ministers saying a few words and Boy Scouts doing the flag salute. Everyone remembers the people who have died that are important in our lives or were members of this club, and then we cast a wreath out onto the water. Then we have a boat parade, where sailboats, motor boats, whoever wants to participate goes past an anchored boat with the ministers and the commodore and get a blessing as you go by. “It’s a great tradition, and it really means a lot.” The Blessing of the Fleet begins on shore at 1 p.m., and the boat parade begins at 2 p.m.

ABOVE: Skipper Tom Olsen, left, and John Mosley and John Cornett prepare the Screamin’ Eagle for a Wednesday afternoon boat race.

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“There are a number of coves around the lake that, if a person wants to, they can anchor in and have dinner, or even spend the night out on the water,” said Greenwood. “I can think of at least half a dozen coves that are really great for anchoring. You can go swimming off your boat, whatever you want.” Greenwood’s 27-foot craft, dubbed Ragtime, includes a snug cabin with air conditioning, restroom and galley facilities. Each slip includes an electrical hookup, allowing boats to charge batteries and operate electrical equipment while on the water. Though it is possible to spend tens of thousands on a sailboat with exquisite craftsmanship and all the comforts of home, it is also possible to spend way less and have a great time, Greenwood said. “You can get in at an entry level, and stay at an entry level, or gradually put in whatever you want to put in. It’s really not a very expensive sport. And it’s relaxing, it’s rewarding. My father got me into sailing in junior high, in Boy Scouts, and I’ve just kind of fallen in love with it and have done it ever since.” Giving youths and adults the same sort of experience Greenwood had is a big part of NSA’s mission. The association offers junior sailing camps for children ages 8 to 17, and adult classes as well. Sailboats and other needed equipment are provided, and safety is an emphasis. Visit ninnescah.org for more information on classes, membership, events, the Afterdeck activity center and facility rental. Fifty years of the Ninnescah Sailing Association is not just a number to Greenwood. It represents 50 years worth of connecting with members, sharing a passion, and sharing the joy of getting out on the water. Before the creation of the reservoirs, there was not much of a sailing tradition in Kansas, so NSA has created one from scratch, he said. To renew that tradition, NSA is inviting past members who have drifted away or moved out of town to join in a reunion celebration on July 25. “People can come back, say hello to old friends, have some fun sailing, and we can prepare for the next 50 years,” said Greenwood.

LEFT: Bruce Greenwood stands at the wheel of his 27-foot craft, Ragtime.

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June 2015 - 18

Summer Activity Guide

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SUMMER ACTIVITY GUIDE

Special Section Pages 18-21 The WestSide Story


19 - June 2015

SUMMER ACTIVITY GUIDE

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,

and Acrobats

SUMMER ACTIVITY GUIDE

June 2015 - 20



June 2015 - 22

Come & visit our large decking room! Check out our large selection of cabinets & countertops!

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‘Far from the Madding Crowd’ overcomes its issues “Far from the Madding Crowd” is a grown-up movie about grown-up people behaving in grown-up ways in relatively ordinary situations, and the fact that it is all taking place in the later 1800s in England makes very little difference in terms of our understanding what is going on and sympathizing with it. At no time does Carey Mulligan talk or act like a 20th-century feminist, and nobody bothers to orate anti-feminist theories, because nobody, in theory, doubts the standard conventions of Victorian England. Mulligan simply goes her own way, and surprisingly little opposition results. Nobody, apparently, has read Mary Wollstonecraft or event John Stuart Mill, at least not out in the sticks 200 miles from London. When Mulligan inherits a big farm and the very big manor house that goes with it, she simply announces to her farm workers that they now have a mistress instead of a master and that she expects to surprise them with how well she will learn to manage the business. Shepherd Matthias Schoenaerts doesn’t deal with social theories. He just thinks she’s wonderful and asks her, “Would you like to marry me?” and Mulligan gives him quite rational reasons that no, she would not. Later, Michael Sheen tells her, “I would like very much to have you for my wife,” and she tells him “I do not feel what would justify me” in accepting him. She has her own farm and, therefore, no need for a husband. Such lines are not taken by the movie audience as comical. We are in another time and quickly recognize that our standards of speech and behavior are not to be brought into it. It’s surprising how frank Mulligan and Sheen can be about sex without violating standards of propriety, and I admired both of them for their realism and honesty. But this led me to my first serious problem with the movie. When the glamorous soldier, Tom Sturridge, comes on the scene, he sparks something I had never suspected in Mulli-

Movie Review

Jim Erickson

gan, and despite the movie’s efforts to maintain the antiromantic strain, the plot betrays us just a little. Maybe modern audiences won’t question the power of passion, but a new tone increasingly intrudes, more melodramatic than realistic, not far-fetched but a long way from inevitable. I’m leaving out the last 20 minutes or so out of consideration to prevent spoilers. But even acting as good as Mulligan’s can’t fight upstream against the plot. These are not the days of cinematic subtleties. I doubt that box office will suffer much from anything referred to so far. There are problems caused by that rare problem, a movie that is too short. The Julie Christie version of 1967 was half an hour longer than this one, although I don’t recall it as being better (Leonard Maltin calls it “shamefully underrated”). It may not be important that there are only hints of an interesting relationship between the rival unsuccessful lovers, but it does matter that Mulligan’s instant attraction to Sturridge is so unprepared for that it suggest cliché meets stereotype, especially because Sturridge is almost pretty in comparison to such a convincing peasant-type as Schoenaerts. His change from clean-shaven to not-quite-so seems like a rather desperate attempt to escape the kind of good looks that plagued Tyrone Power. Again, a minor problem: One would expect a soldier in uniform to be clean-shaven, after all. But I would also like to see more of Sheen, and for once we lack sufficient detail in a backstory – that of Sturridge and Juno Temple,


23 - June 2015

which is clearly intended to have more emotional effect than its sketchy presentation can provoke. The episode of the fire doesn’t do much to push the story along, though it does provide some physical action in a movie that doesn’t offer much. The storm scene is too obvious a counterpart to the fire and does do something for both characters and plot. Structurally, patterns are perhaps too obvious, perhaps because of compression of time bringing things too close together. But details like scruffy peasants scruffy, aristocrat trimly bearded and soldiers clean-shaven are unsubtle, and Mulligan keeps throwing people off her farm and then calling them back. These are quibbles. “Far From the Madding Crowd” is interesting for historical sets, props, costumes and – most importantly – attitudes which are neither parodied nor condemned by either moviemakers or characters. Screen writer David Nichals and director Thomas Vinterberg seem to respect older times more than one usually suspects.

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601 W. Douglas · Wichita, KS 316-264-4881 1-800-347-4287

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At the WestSide Story, 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!


June 2015 - 24

Win 4 FREE tickets from any of these businesses to Tanganyika Wildlife Park!

W e s t S i d e S t o r y

Stop by one of these participating businesses and sign up to win 4 FREE admission tickets to Tanganyika Wildlife Park! One winner drawn from each business! Home Bank & Trust 10421 W. Central Wichita 316-773-6000

Goddard Veterinary Clinic 19912 W. Kellogg Dr. Goddard 316-794-8022

Horsch Trailer Sales

SSI Sprinkler Systems

6901 S. 183rd W. Viola 620-545-7292

7330 W. 13th St. Wichita 316-722-9631

Sandpiper Health Care & Rehabilitation Center

Dental Associates

GK Tire & Auto

Brady Nursery

444 N. Ridge Rd. Wichita 316-942-5358

810 N. Tyler Wichita 316-729-7822

11200 W. Kellogg Wichita 316-722-7516

5808 W. 8th St. Wichita 316-945-3606


1. Must be 18 or older to enter. 2. Individuals may enter as many times as they wish, but only one entry per visit to a participating business. 3. Individuals may enter the contest at more than one location. However, winners will be limited to one per household. 4. Entry deadline is Monday, June 22. Entries will be drawn on June 23, and notified afterward. Each

winner will be mailed 4 general admission tickets to Tanganyika Wildlife Park. 5. Any incomplete entry form may be disqualified. All entries must contain entrant’s first and last name, age, full address and daytime phone number. 6. Employees of Times-Sentinel Newspapers LLC and their immediate family member may not enter the contest. Employees of participating businesses may enter at other participating businesses but not at their place of employment.

Mies Auto Repair

Hair Solutions

Knuckles Automotive

27400 W. 21st St. N. Garden Plain 316-531-2517

244 S. Maize Rd. Wichita 316-722-3633

705 N. Goddard Rd. Goddard 316-794-2411

Prairie Ridge Animal Hospital

Holmberg Wellness Group

Nordhaus Dentistry

12506 W. Kellogg Wichita

5846 W. 21st St. N. Ste. #100 Wichita 316-945-3200

McDonald’s 20019 W. Kellogg Goddard 316-794-3434

M-F 7:30-5:30 p.m. Sat. 9:00-12:00 p.m.

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New Market Square (Next to Panera Bread)

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Williams Ace Hardware 19950 W. Kellogg Goddard 316-550-6147

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A Doggie Boutique 108 N. Main St. Goddard

Open Mon. & Tues. Thurs.-Sat. Closed Wed. & Sun.

316-249-3488

Indian Hills Ace Hardware 2439 W. 13th St. Wichita 316-942-9059

Wichita Body & Equipment 6701 S. Broadway Haysville 316-350-8077

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Sports Time Fan Shop

11940 W. Central Ave. Ste. 100 Wichita 316-721-6730

2 5 - J u n e 2 0 1 5

Official rules:


June 2015 - 26

A spelling bee for the senior set

FARMERS MARKET

Extension Center Saturday Sampler Purple Pancake Day

Farmers Market Kansas Grown! Inc. 21st St. North & Ridge Road

Saturday, June 20th 7 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

316-667-2429 www.mounthopedental.com HELTEN VETERINARY CLINIC WestSide Story

New Clients Welcome!

10% Discount On First Visit Helten Veterinary Clinic announces that Dr. Heather Albertson and Dr. Jason Albertson will be joining the practice. Please Call For An Appointment

942-1002

Mon-Fri 8am - 5:30pm Sat 8 - 11:30am

6630 W. Central

www.heltenveterinaryclinic.com

The eighth annual Greater Wichita Senior Spelling Bee will take place Tuesday, Aug. 4, at Holy Cross Lutheran Church, 600 N. Greenwich from 9 a.m. to noon. The bee is open to all seniors aged 50 and older, and the entry fee is $5. Forms are available by calling the sponsor, LifeVentures, at 682-0504, or call chairman Marge Gilbertson at 6189651. The deadline for completing an entry form and sending it, along with a check for $5, is July 24. Entries must be sent to LifeVentures, 4407 E. Douglas,

Wichita, KS 67208. At the bee, two rounds of written words, 25 each, will be given. The top 15 winners will then participate in the oral spelldown. Pronouncer will be Mary Ann Fenske, who won both the local and state spelling bees and was a finalist at the national spelling bee several years ago. Guests are welcome to be part of the audience, and admittance is free. For questions or further information, call Gilbertson or publicity chairman Nancy Avery at 682-2676.

Man discovers rare tropical bird in Scott State Park Chris Lituma, a post-doctoral research associate at the University of Tennessee’s Institute of Agriculture, had no idea a fleeting trip to Kansas would result in a monumental discovery. Lituma was leading a group of students through a multistate field study, including a stop in Scott City. Friend and Kansas native Mike Hudson had recommended Scott State Park just north of Scott City to Lituma as a good place to go birdwatching – a hobby of Lituma’s for the past 11 years. Upon arrival, Lituma began helping students identify the various birds, but one bird in particular was no ordinary migrant. “The students asked me, ‘Hey, what’s this bird?’ and I briefly looked at it and assumed it was a black-headed grosbeak,” said Lituma. Students then looked up the grosbeak in a field guide to find it was not the same bird they were looking at. “At that point,” Lituma said, “I took another look at the bird and almost immediately realized this was no grosbeak, this was something very special – something rare.” Lituma thumbed through one of his field guides but was unable to find the

family of birds he thought the bird belonged to. He then grabbed a National Geographic field guide and managed to narrow his identification down to three birds. After a brief discussion with the students, everyone was in agreement that they were looking at a piratic flycatcher. Hailing from as far as Argentina, piratic flycatchers are tropical birds belonging to the genus Legatus and are the only species to hold this classification. They are strongly migratory birds and have been known to fly out of range, but they rarely travel as far as North America. According to the American Birding Association (ABA), fewer than 10 of these birds have been recorded in the United States. If Lituma’s sighting is accepted by the ABA, it will be the first record for Kansas, and the farthest northerly record of the bird as well. Scott State park manager Greg Mills said the sighting has brought in nearly 75 birders from 13 states, including Virginia. Although the bird has yet to be seen at the park again since its last sighting at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 10, experts believe the bird could still be in the Sunflower State.


27 - June 2015

Featured this month Helten Veterinary Clinic................ Page 27 Kitchen Tune-Up........................... Page 28 China’s Bar & Grill........................ Page 28

Helten Veterinary Clinic expanding and adding a third veterinarian tist Church where Jason teaches Sunday school and plays the trombone in the orchestra. Heather is also active in the music ministry at church. The Albertsons are pet parents to two dogs and two cats. Both doctors are members of national, state and local veterinary organizations. Helten Veterinary Clinic opened in 1984 at 6630 W. Central and was a member of the American Animal Hospital Association for 25 years. Although no longer AAHA certified, the practice continues to strive at maintaining the high medical standards and protocols recommended by the association. HVC recently took over operation of Wichita Dog and Cat Hospital when Dr. Randy Whitcomb retired. Dr. Ron Helten welcomes the two Dr. Albertsons and invites you to stop by to meet them. “We would enjoy caring for your pets and would be proud to give you a tour of our clinic,” said Dr. Helten. For more information, call 316-9421002, or visit www.heltenveterinaryclinic. com.

The staff at Helten Veterinary Clinic now includes Dr. Ron Helten, left Dr. Heather Albertson and Dr. Jason Albertson.

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Helten Veterinary Clinic would like to welcome Dr. Jason Albertson to its staff. He will be joining his wife, Dr. Heather Albertson and Dr. Ron Helten. He will be working part-time at HVC and part time at the Wichita Veterinary Emergency Clinic. Jason was born in Newton, Kan., and reared in Kansas City, Kan. He received his DVM degree from Kansas State University in 1989 and has practiced in Texas and Idaho before moving to Wichita. His areas of special interest include internal medicine, dentistry and ophthalmology. Dr. Heather Albertson has been working at HVC part-time for the past three years. She also home-schooled her four sons for the past 15 years. After sixth grade, the boys, Ben, Dan, Josh and David, now attend public schools, allowing her to devote more time to veterinary medicine. They range in ages from sixth grade to a college freshman. Dr. Heather Albertson attended Goddard schools and graduated with a DVM degree in 1990 from KSU. The Albertsons are active at Immanuel Bap-

FOCUS ON BUSINESS

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.


June 2015 - 28 FOCUS ON BUSINESS WestSide Story

Kitchen Tune-Up to the rescue!

Transform your kitchen or bath into a functional, beautiful space When clients start envisioning a new kitchen or bath, the Kitchen Tune-Up team is ready to step in and turn those visions into reality. Kitchen Tune-Up has remodeled hundreds of kitchens since Jim and Arlene Phillips started the business in 2005, and the company’s services range from One-Day Restoration or “Tune-Up” of cabinets or any interior wood surfaces, to cabinet refacing projects, to complete custom kitchens and bathrooms. That range of services has made Kitchen TuneUp a remodeling leader in the Wichita area. For some clients, the goal is to keep costs down and get the transformation done quickly. That’s where the One-Day Restoration services, as well as the cabinet refacing projects, can produce big smiles on a smaller budget. And when budgets and time can allow it, Kitchen Tune-Up’s total remodeling projects have set the standard for beauty and function. Clients love the finished results and can’t believe they didn’t jump in sooner to have the kitchen or bath of their dreams. “Our goal for each customer is to design the most amazing space possible for the budget and

then make the whole remodeling process as relaxing as possible,” said Arlene. “Great customer service is the cornerstone to our success. Our clients know we will take care of them, and their space won’t look like everyone else’s on the block.” At the new Kitchen Tune-Up design center/ showroom, located at 4057 N. Woodlawn, Suite 1, clients can look at samples of the new cabinet structure, door styles for custom remodels/refaces/redoors, an example of a reface project, tile, and many different kinds of countertops, including granite, quartz and laminates. “In addition to kitchens, we do bathrooms along with countertops, back splashes, floors – anything to do with a kitchen or bath project,” said Jim. “And when the work is done, clients can rest assured that they’ve gotten the best possible results.” For more information or to schedule a free in-home consultation, call Kitchen Tune-Up at 316-558-8888. Be sure to check out the Phillips 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)!

ABOVE: This refaced kitchen was the result of Jim and Arlene Phillips working with their customer to make the most out of the space within the customer’s budget. LEFT: The kitchen before its Kitchen Tune-Up refacing.

Time to celebrate! Popular Chinese restaurant to mark 8th anniversary By Paul Rhodes Hey…are you ready to party? Mary Beal is ready for you to come join the fun and excitement every weekend at China’s Bar and Grill in downtown Cheney. No, you wouldn’t normally expect to find a Chinese restaurant in a small, rural community. And, you wouldn’t expect that same restaurant and bar to become a party destination on Friday and Saturday nights. That’s all right, says Mary, who is good at changing attitudes and making a name for herself. China’s Bar and Grill has done well in its quiet setting just 15 minutes west of Wichita. With that success, Mary will be celebrating her eighth anniversary with the restaurant and bar on June 20. Mary, who was born in China and came to the United States just 13 years ago, attributes the restaurant’s success to the variety of foods she offers, well beyond the extensive Chinese menu. She gained experience at Chinese restaurants in Wichita, and in 2007 she decided to

open her own business at 127 N. Main St. in downtown Cheney. “People didn’t think I could make it with just Chinese food in a small town, and I listened to their advice,” she said. She added hamburgers and sandwiches to the menu, and those grill items have been a big hit, especially with the restaurant’s focus on fresh meats, breads and other ingredients. All of that complements her full Chinese menu and the daily Chinese buffet from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Fresh ingredients and a very clean restaurant is so important – I am very picky. It makes all the difference,” Mary said. A willingness to try new things also is important. New specialties that have been popular include chicken fried steak and chicken, catfish, mountain oysters and tacos (Tuesday only for the tacos). “The chicken fried steak has been very popular,” she said. “People come from Wichita just for that.” And, they come for the party atmosphere on Friday and Saturday nights. The restaurant and bar features special karaoke nights, as well as DJ nights and

dancing. “Our DJ’s have been doing a great job,” she said. “Everybody loves those nights. There’s no cover charge, and we have lots of drink specials.” On weekend nights, the restaurant’s full menu is available until 10 p.m. After 10 p.m., appetizers are available until closing. “You can come early and eat, then stay for the party,” said Mary. “You’ll be glad you did!” In addition, the facility can be booked for all kinds of special events, like weddings, birthdays and any kind of party imaginable. China’s Bar and Grill also does catering for special events. The eighth anniversary celebration at China’s Bar and Grill will be happening on Saturday, June 20. Stop by anytime and help Mary celebrate! There will be many prize giveaways, including a big screen TV. For more information, visit China’s Bar and Grill on Facebook/China Bar (Cheney, KS) or Facebook/China’s Bar & Grill, or call 316-540-6013.


Wichita Grand Opera celebrates 15th anniversary reviewed as far away as Japan. Fifteen years later, Wichita Grand Opera still operates out of those same converted storage rooms in the Century II Concert Hall, now with personnel and cast numbering as many as 100, producing grand opera and ballet. The WGO has produced more than 60 operas and ballets, including the only U.S. production of Rossini’s notoriously difficult “William Tell” in 2014. Numerous opera educational programs have been introduced as well, including the Young & Resident Artist Programs; a Children’s Coloring Book Competition that distributed 5,000 opera-themed coloring books to students across Wichita; and the Day at the Opera program, which allows students from Wichita and the surrounding areas to attend productions for $15, thanks to a generous 3-to-1 matching grant by several WGO donors. WGO has also performed in historic theaters throughout the state of Kansas. “I am gratified to have been able to help bring great performances of Opera to Wichita and Kansas,” said Italian soprano Annalisa Raspagliosi. “WGO has brought the highest art form of Western culture to Wichita, and the Wichita Grand Opera has had the opportunity to bring an array of international artists to Wichita throughout its 15 years. Luciano Pavarotti, myself, Plácido Domingo, Maestro Eugene Kohn, Samuel Ramey, Joyce DiDonato, Marcello Giordani, Veronica Villaroel, Evgeny Akimov, Michael Spyres, Maestro Steven Mercurio, Maestro Leone Magiera and many others have come together to bring the world to Wichita.” Raspagliosi starred alongside Pavarotti in the Inaugural Pavarotti Gala Concert in 2002. WGO’s 2015 season marks one of its most extensive seasons to date, with five full productions at Century II: “Cinderella,” which was performed April 25; “Swan Lake,” May 3; “Turandot,” Aug. 28; “Don Carlo,” Sept. 25 and 27; and See WGO, Page 32

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This year, Wichita Grand Opera will celebrate the 15th anniversary of its founding with a Season of Royalty. The season officially opened on April 25 at Century II with Prokofiev’s immortal vision of Cinderella. Through the year, every production this season will revolve around a royal figure, from the Swan Queen and Cinderella’s Prince, to the icy Princess Turandot, the saucy Grand Duchess, or King Philip and his femme fatale, Princess Elisabeth. It all started as a dream, to bring opera to one of two states in the U.S. without a professional opera company. Wichita Grand Opera became a reality in November 2000, created by American soprano and stage director Margaret Ann Pent. Starting with a board of directors of five, and operating out of two converted storage rooms in the Century II Concert Hall, WGO quickly rose to prominence around the nation. The late and great Luciano Pavarotti became WGO’s inaugural artist in 2002, starring in the Pavarotti Gala Concert and Opera Ball with the newly formed WGO Orchestra; more than 200 newspapers covered the event. Later that same year, WGO launched its second major production and another major coup for Wichita: Plácido Domingo starred in the Domingo Gala Concert and Opera Ball. This production marked the debut of the WGO Chorus. Following the successes of bringing two great artists, Domingo and Pavarotti, to Wichita in the same year, WGO also set its sights on creating a brand-new opera experience in the Midwest. With the aid of seven construction companies, a battalion of construction workers and even some additional manpower from the inmates of the Sedgwick County Department of Corrections, Wichita Grand Opera mounted the largest flash mob seen to date in Wichita with 2003’s outdoor “Carmen on the Lake” at Bradley Fair – a performance with an impact felt across the nation and beyond, being

29 - June 2015

A grand season


June 2015 - 30 W e s t S i d e S t o r y

Local athletes commit to area colleges

Bridget Lagana signed to bowl for Newman University next year. On hand to celebrate with her were mother Krissie Lagana and grandmother Karen Richards, seated left and right, and, standing from left: great-grandmother Ruth Selvidge, grandmother Patsy Terrill, brother Zane Lagana, father Keith Lagana, bowling coach John Stockstill and grandfather Todd Richards. Contributed photo

Bishop Carroll Catholic High School senior Taylor White signed a letter of intent to play soccer at Pratt Community College. White’s parents are Aron and Monica White. He is pictured with BC coaches Greg Rauch, left, and Mike Skaggs. His Pratt coach will be Kevin Kewley. Contributed photo

Eisenhower High School senior Brent Smith, seated center, signed a letter of intent to play basketball at Winfield’s Southwestern College. Joining him were parents Earl and Heather Smith and coaches from Southwestern College. Contributed photo

Maize High School senior Justin Navrat signed to play baseball with the Pratt Community College Beavers on May 13. Navrat is a right-handed pitcher for the Maize Eagles. He is pictured with his parents, Jamie and Tony Navrat. Contributed photo


Continued from Page 6

be a customized plan that addresses the most likely potential threats, given your budget. The initial focus should be on the ground floor and basement, since that is where most burglars enter. The basic components will include, but are not limited to, door contacts, glass break detectors and motion detectors. Beyond the basics, many companies offer smoke, fire and carbon monoxide detection in addition to other environmental sensors. Regardless of the features that you select, wireless systems are the way to go. Wireless components are especially good for existing homes where wires would otherwise need to be run all through the house. In addition, wireless components work well for detached garages and sheds. Wireless monitoring will enable

The WestSide Church Directory

you to be notified of trouble on your mobile device. Landlines becoming less used less, and burglars can cut the lines from outside. There is simply more flexibility and more levels of protection when you are able to use phone, computer, and cellular. Home security doesn’t have to doesn’t stop there. The basic home alarm has evolved insdto a total home protection system. They are more interactive and new systems geared toward home automation than ever before. For example, the cost of employing video cameras has decreased, while the sophistication of the technology has increased. You can activate your alarm, turn on your lights and adjust your thermostat from whereever you might be. The trend in automation is expected to continue alongside ongoing developments in both cellular and computer pad innovations. The house of the future is here, as far as security is concerned. Improved technology does a good job of helping to keep the bad guys away. But you still have to lock the door.

Worship at the Church of Your Choice Aldersgate United Methodist Church - 7901 W. 21st St. N. (west of Ridge Rd.), (316) 722-8504, www.aldersgatechurch.org. Sunday morning services at 8:15 a.m. (traditional), 9:30 a.m. (blended), and 11 a.m. (traditional). Wednesday night activities. Nursery available for all services. Sunday school each week at 8:15 a.m. for adults and at 9:30 a.m. for all age groups. Youth group and youth worship on Sunday evenings. Bible studies, children’s activities, and different fellowship events available throughout the year. Asbury Church – Administrative Offices - 2810 W. 15th St., Wichita (one block north of 13th on St. Paul) (316) 942-1491. Two locations across the Wichita Metro Area. Sunday Services: Central Campus – 15th & St. Paul. Traditional Service at 8 a.m., a Praise Service at 9:15 a.m. and a Blended Service at 10:45 a.m. West Campus – 119th & Pawnee. An Upbeat Praise Service suited for the whole family at 10:45 a.m. Visit www.asburychurch.org to learn more about Asbury’s many familycentered ministries. Asbury Counseling Center information can be found at www. AsburyCounselingCenter.com Beacon Community Church - 810 N. Casado, Goddard; 794-2424; 10:45 a.m. Sunday Service; Sunday School at 9:25 a.m.

…is for you and your family

Goddard United Methodist Church – 300 N. Cedar, Goddard; (316) 794-2207 • 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. Worship • Children’s church during both services • Nursery Available • 10 a.m. Sunday School • Steve Morgan, Pastor • Eric Wilson, Youth Pastor • Children’s Pastor, Kassie Taylor Good Shepherd Episcopal Church – 8021 W. 21st St. N., Wichita; (316) 7218096; Saturday 5:30 p.m. Spoken Worship; Sunday 8:45 a.m. Contemporary Worship; 11 a.m. Traditional Choral Worship; Church School - Children 9:50 a.m., Adults 10 a.m.; Children’s Chapel 8:45 & 11 a.m. Harvest Community Church – Worship at 8340 W. 21st in Wichita Sunday at 10:30 a.m.; Senior pastor Rev. Dr. Dave Henion; www.wichitaharvest.com.

Heritage Baptist Church – Corner of 135th St. & 13th St. N., Wichita; (316) 7292700; Sunday School 9:45 a.m.; Morning Worship 10:45 a.m.; Evening Worship 6 p.m.; Wednesday Adult Bible Study/Prayer Time 7 p.m.; Wiseguys 3 yrs.–6th grade 7 p.m.; Nursery provided at all services. “Your neighborhood church just around the corner.” Email: swede132@sbcglobal.net; Website: heritage4u.net. Hope Christian Church – Meeting 10:30 a.m. Sunday mornings, NEW LOCATION - 1330 E. Douglas. Worship is casual and encouraging. Online at www.hope4wichita.org and on Facebook. Pastor Mark McMahon. markm@ hope4wichita.org. 316-648-0495. West Heights UMC – 745 N. Westlink Ave. (Just north of Central on Westlink); (316) 722-3805, Email: westheights@westheightsumc.org. Sunday services 8:15 and 10:30 a.m. (Traditional/Blended); Sunday school 9:15 a.m.; Wednesday meal (during school year) 5:30 p.m. fun classes and study for all ages; nondenominational preschool, host to the Shepherd’s Center of West Wichita providing dynamic activity for the Classic Generation, full children’s programming, and an active youth program challenging today’s generation, website: www.westheightsumc.org. Pathway Church – Following Jesus/In Community/For Others • 316-722-8020 • www.pathwaychurch.com • Westlink Campus, Saturday at 5pm, Sunday, 9:30 & 11am • Café Campus, Sunday, 11am, 2001 N Maize Rd (21st & Maize), Wichita • Goddard Campus, Sunday, 10:30am, Goddard High School (2500 S 199th St W). Trinity Reformed Church (RPCNA) – Come glorify and enjoy God with us. 3340 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67203 • Sunday worship 9:30 a.m. • Sunday School 11 a.m. • Evening services 5 p.m. • Pastor Adam King • www.trinityrpcna.org • 316-721-2722 Westlink Church of Christ – 10025 W. Central, Wichita; (316) 722-1111; Sunday 9:30 a.m. Bible Classes, 10:30 a.m. Worship, 6 p.m. Devotional; Wednesday 6 p.m. Meal (during school year), 7 p.m. Bible Classes; Gary Richardson, Minister; Nick Miller, Youth Minister; Website: www.westlinkchurch.org. Westwood Presbyterian Church – 8007 W. Maple, Wichita; (316) 722-3753; “Simply making disciples who walk with Jesus, grow to become like Jesus, and live for Jesus by loving others.” Worship Sunday 9 a.m. with Praise Team, 10:30 a.m. with Choir; Fellowship and coffee between worship services; Sunday school for all ages 9 a.m. Nursery open 8:45-11:45 a.m.; www.westwoodpc.org.

WestSide Story

This empty seat…

For HIS Glory Church – 2901 W. Taft St., Wichita • (316) 794-1170 • Worship Sunday 11:00 a.m. • ChurchForHISGlory@gmail.com • Family integrated full Gospel church where all ages worship and study God’s word.

31 - June 2015

Homes


June 2015 - 32 WestSide Story

WGO Continued from Page 29

“The Grand Duchess,” Oct. 16 and 18. The season also includes WGO’s annual Opera on the Lake production at Bradley Fair and the annual Chairmen’s Opera Ball, this year featuring a “Casino Royale” theme. In addition to the productions in Wichita, WGO also will have two productions at the restored McPherson Opera House, and productions at Salina’s Stiefel Theatre, and new this year, at Overland Park’s Carlsen Center.Another ambitious addition to the season during the 15th anniversary is the formation of the Opera Academy of the Midwest, sponsored in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, National Endowment for the Arts, City of McPherson, Ross & Marianna Beach Foundation, Charlotte Brickler Trust, Naftzger Fund for Fine Arts, McPherson Opera House in cooperation with Central Christian College, and Newman University. The academy will become a training ground for young opera singers from

Kansas, the region and beyond. All academy singers receive private voice lessons, coaching sessions, master classes, stage movement and interpretation, foreign language diction, choral preparation, dance choreography, and performance opportunities. The faculty includes artists such as internationally renowned bass-baritone Alan Held; William Powers, a star of opera houses around the world for more than 30 years; Brian Frutiger, a frequent guest at the Metropolitan Opera with a repertoire of more than 100 roles; WGO’s founder, stage director and soprano Margaret Ann Pent; Nyle Matsuoka, an opera coach also on staff at both Arizona Opera and Wolf Trap Opera, and more international and regional voice teachers, coaches, conductors, directors and choreographers. Some academy students will sing at WGO’s annual operatic spectacular Opera on the Lake, set against a backdrop of stars in the Kansas sky and the picturesque setting of the lake at Bradley Fair, while some will sing at special gala performances in McPherson and Salina. Meanwhile, technical apprentices will gain valuable on-the-job experience at Newman University under the supervi-

sion of WGO’s experienced technical department heads and renowned European scenic artist Stefan Pavlov, as they help create the magnificent productions you see on the WGO stage. For complete season and ticket infor-

mation, visit www.wichitagrandopera. org. To purchase tickets for the WGO season the Opera Ball or Opera on the Lake, call the Wichita Grand Opera Box Office at 316-262-8054, or go online at www.selectaseat.com.

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake by the Russian National Ballet was performed in May. Photo courtesy Columbia Artists Management


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