Lawrence Kids / Summer, 2013

LK

LAWRENCE KIDS

SUMMER, 2013

Thanks to all who entered our Summer Cover Contest.

Congratulations to winner Amber Temple and these four finalists!

Sarah Clark

Michaela Rodriquez

Katherine Urban

Emily Proffitt

CONTENTS 12 18 22 24 28 32 34 37 64 66

SEASONAL ESSENTIALS VIEWPOINT SEASON’S READINGS HEALTH MAMA D’S FUNNIES THINGS WE DIG AT WORK FROM THE BLACKBOARD SUMMER MUST DOS REUSE

FOR THE KIDS: COMMUNITY SHELTER BIG DADDY DUB EASY ADVENTURES A N A M E R I C A N F A M I LY A B R O A D

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contributing photographers Emmalee Schaumburg schaumburgphotography.com Tasha Keathley-Helms facebook.com/tashakeathleyhelmsphotography Blue Dandelion Summer Cover Contest Winner Amber Temple

a project of

Four Birds Media

info@lawrencekidsmagazine.com (785) 766-5669

Thank you for reading.

photo by Tasha Keathley-Helms

Alvamar Country Club The Place to Play this summer

From Summer pool parties to Sunday Brunches, Alvamar Country Club will keep your calendar full with endless fun activities. For more information or a club tour, please give J. Taylor a call.

(785) 842-7767 or email: jtaylor@alvamar.com

Because you want to remember your

best year yet photography

TASHA KEATHLEY HELMS

(785) 766-9989 facebook.com/TASHAKEATHLEYHELMSPHOTOGRAPHY

Jean Anderson’s

Seasonal Essentials

photos by Emmalee Schaumburg

Jean Anderson’s S L A I T N E S S E R E M SUM nd Josh (9) and sons Jack (12) a

with husband Justin

in b a c r u o t a e im t 1. Spendingne Star Lake on Lo rk a p g o d e h t o t g 2. Goin p o t S e ic u J o t s e ik 3. Riding b POOL R U O N I G N I M M 4. SWI t Wa a e id ts u o l a e m 5. Enjoying a

d’s a T t a f f o g n li o o 6. C es n o C w o n S l a ic p o Tr eet r t S s s a M n o g in 7. Shopp t a m a e r c e ic g in t 8. Ea ddy ’s Silas and Ma

s at e d li s e h t f f o g in 9. Go ol o p n w o t n w o d e th cme A t a t ir h s t a g 10. Makin

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Viewpoint / To The Dogs...

by Eliza Nichols I always pictured a dog as part of my family. My daughters and I discussed getting a four-legged friend, but there was a major obstacle we had to overcome before we could make the leap. My daughter Tess (7.5) was deathly afraid of dogs.

Because of her sister’s fear, Maeve (6) thought she was also supposed to fear dogs.

Our first neighbors had two hound dogs. They would bark through the fence at Tess, who was just saying hello. The deep bellowing sound would literally scare her out of her sandbox. She was chased and knocked over more than once.

At the sight of a dog, she would be in my arms so quickly she earned the nickname ‘Bird Dog.’ We often talked about how dogs can sense when someone is afraid and that makes them more curious. Tess worked on that. She really hated being afraid, and I hated it too. It limited playdates and outings if a dog was going to be present.

It took years to help Tess overcome her fear of dogs. I am proud to say, however, we triumphed.

Tess really started to turn a corner when another of our other neighbors had dogs she couldn’t avoid. The girls watched our neighbor Lily’s two Havanese grow up. They were unintimidating fluff balls that the girls could totally handle. Other neighbors, Ashley and Nick, had a Great Dane and two Boxers, but their house was so fun to hang out at that Tess eventually learned to be at ease around them. Ashley and Nick’s kids were so comfortable with the dogs and modeled great dog-kid behavior.

So here we are. Tess is now totally comfortable around dogs. Not a small feat for my little lady.

I equate a dog to the security blanket of a family. They are excited to see you;, they listen to you, cuddle with you, protect you and are relentlessly loyal. Sign me up!

We adopted Hope this spring. We were just beginning the research phase of adopting a pup when we visited the Kansas Humane Society in Wichita. Having never owned a dog myself, I enlisted my aunt (who volunteers there, and shelters pups herself) to show us the ropes, and introduce us to the process. She helped us identify person-

ality traits and activity levels, too. Her concierge services proved fruitful - we took Hope home that night. She is a 3-year-old lab ‘mix.’ I think the ‘mix’ part is hound dog because of the way she follows a scent and gazes at us with her sad eyes.

I probably would have chosen a different name, but Hope is the name she was given at KHS, and since she was a stray, it stuck.

Hope has an important role in our family and is treated as such. Tess covers her in kisses and reads to her during middle-of-the-night thunderstorms. I’ll often find Maeve laying her blankie over Hope, and then curl up next to her, as if to tuck her in. Tess created a chart for poop pickup duty (I seem to get that job more than anyone else in the family). Maeve is thrilled that she is no longer the baby of the family, and has secured her spot as a middle child.

One of our favorite activities is taking Hope to the dog park. Our first trip was two weeks after her adoption and I wasn’t sure she would even come back to me if I took her off her leash. I walked her around the dog park, letting her get the lay of the land while I fed my insecurity by keeping her on the leash. I felt like such a helicopter parent that day.

Our next trip was a different story. It was after one of our big spring rainstorms and puddles and mud were everywhere. We met some friends there and the dogs and kids went to town! It filled my heart with joy too see the kids and dogs running and playing and splashing in tandem. The mud made for slippery hills the kids could barely maneuver, and once one kid fell in a puddle, it was a voluntary domino effect. The dogs and kids were all mixed up, frolicking in delight. We made our way to the creek where probably 20 dogs were wading in the water. The next thing we knew the kids were swimming in their clothes with the dogs. Barefoot and shirtless, covered in mud and dog hair. It was one of my most stellar parenting moments. For a moment, because of Hope, I really felt like I had free-range kids.

Eliza is the Development Director at Van Go, Inc. photo by Tasha Keathley-Helms

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For Every Pawsh Wash 8 Great Steps to a Pawsh Wash Clean Dog from company training manual

“All full-service baths and grooms will follow this procedure to ensure consistency and excellence in our final product.”

Step 1: Check In: Speak with the owner • Feel the coat for mats • Check for fleas • Ask if there is anything

we should know, do, or not do • Any special needs we can help with (Shedding, stinky, itchy skin)?

Step 2: Brush: Take back to wash room and brush through coat Step 3: Ears: Put dog in tub • Clean out the ears • Place clean cotton balls in ears to protect during bath Step 4: Wash: Rinse dirt and debris off with room temperature on Rinse • Apply shampoo and scrub every inch

of dog including: rear end, arm pits, bottoms of feet, between toes, head (avoid getting shampoo in eyes) Rinse • Apply conditioner • Rinse

Step 5: Towel Dry: Use chamois and towels to get as dry as possible in tub to reduce time at blow dryer Step 6: Nails: Trim nails before blow drying Step 7: Blow Dry: Dry Completely - Rear end, feet, arm pits, behind ears, face: Entire Dog Step 8: Finish: Brush again • Take a finishing comb and to make sure you can brush through entire coat • Apply bandana • Put dog in kennel • Call parents • Fill out report card

www.pawshwash.net / (785) 856-7297

Books Preschoolers Heed to Hear

These books are all in the picture book collection and are especially good for rhythm and rhyme, which studies have shown is essential for reading preparation.

May I Bring a Friend? by Beatrice de Regniers If All the Animals Came Inside, by Eric Pinder, illus. by Marc Brown One Duck Stuck by Phyllis Root, illus. by Jane Chapman Bunnies on the Go by Rick Walton Down by the Station by Will Hillenbrand Down by the Station by Jennifer Riggs Vetter, illus. by Frank Remkiewicz

Picture Books The Dark by Lemony Snicket by Jon Klassen Laszlo is afraid of the dark which lives in the same big, creaky house as him, until one night the dark pays him a visit.

Flora and the Flamingo by Molly Idle A friendship develops between a girl named Flora and a graceful flamingo, as they learn to dance together. This is wordless book, great for discussion of story and emotions.

Chapter Books for Younger Readers Tumtum and Nutmeg: Adventures Beyond Nutmouse Hall

by Emily Bearn Sweet and funny stories about two well-off, married mice who look after the not-so-well-off human children in the tumbledown house where they live.

Toys Go Out by Emily Jenkins This would be a great bedtime read-aloud. Six stories relate the adventures of three best friends, who happen to be toys.

Chapter Books Genie Wishes by Elisabeth Dahl The stresses of being a fifth-grader: Genie Kunkle moves through a tumultuous year at Hopkins Country Day School, as a new girl tries to take Genie’s place as Sarah’s best friend, and Genie learns that expressing her opinion in public can be scary when she is elected class blogger.

Mistakes Were Made by Stephan Pastis Meet Timmy Failure, the founder, president, and CEO of the best detective agency in town, probably the nation.

And his lazy sidekick, Total, a 1,500-pound polar bear.

This is the beginning of a new series.

The Cats of Tanglewood Forest by Charles de Lint Twelve-year-old Lillian, an orphan who loves roaming the woods looking for fairies when her chores are done, is bitten by a deadly snake and saved by the magical forest creatures. This is an expansion of de Lint’s previous illustrated work, A circle of cats.

Bot Wars by Jennifer Rush In a futuristic world where humans and robots are at war, a boy goes on a search to find his missing military father, and find himself involved in a revolution.

Ghost Dog Secrets by Peg Kehret Sixth-grader Rusty, determined to help an injured dog that is chained outdoors in frigid weather, takes matters into his own hands, aided by his best friend and a ghost collie that leads Rusty to an even deeper secret. Includes instructions for knitting cat blankets! Nice story with a positive message, and the 2013 William Allen White Award Winner for the 6th -8th grade category.

Return to the Willows by Jacqueline Kelly Wonderful continuation of Kenneth Grahame’s classic The Wind in the Willows. Toad, Mole, Rat, and Badger continue their escapades along the river.

May Bird and the Ever After by Jodi Lynn Anderson Great for those who like ghosts and other creatures.

Lonely and shy ten-year-old May Ellen Bird falls into a lake and enters The Ever After, home of ghosts and the Bogeyman.

Nonfiction Bridges and Tunnels: Investigate Feasts of Engineering by Donna Laham, illustrated by Jen Vaughn Illustrated step-by-step instructions for twenty-five projects! Learn about engineering and thinking big; the physics of bridges, the physics of tunnels; and disasters when bridges and tunnels collapse. This is part of the “Build it yourself” series.

Graphic Novel Squish Game On by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm This is the newest in the Squish series. Squish, a meek amoeba who loves the comic book exploits of his favorite hero, “Super Amoeba,” tries to emulate him when his best friend is threatened by a bully.

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Summer Reading Suggestions from the Librarians at the Lawrence Public Library

THE SUMMER BUMMERS Seasonal Health Issues by Dr. Kirsten Evans / Lawrence Pediatrics

Tis the season to get outside and get wild. The park and the lake and the pool are calling. Turn off the television and answer that call.

Summer memories are made outside, so take the kids, get grandma and hit the great outdoors all season long. Before you spend your days making memories, take note of a few summer health issues cont. that, if ignored, can really put a bummer in your season.

Insect Bites

Ticks: Ticks carry a number of illnesses, including Lyme, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and erlichiosis. Ticks are prevalent in our area, and some of them do carry diseases.

If your child has a tick, it is important to remove it carefully.

Using either tweezers or a tick removal kit, carefully grasp the tick by the body and pull straight out, without squeezing the body. You can also use a credit card with a notch cut into it.

You can then dispose of the tick and wash your hands and the bite area with antibacterial soap. You may also treat the area with antibiotic ointment. If the area becomes red or a rash or fever develops, contact your pediatrician.

Prevention of tick bites includes treating your yard and animals with repellents, avoiding long grass and weeds where ticks hide, wearing light protective clothing and insect repellent, and carefully checking your child for ticks after he has been outside. Be sure to check behind the ears, in the hair, and in the groin area. Ticks like to hide in those areas.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes also carry disease like encephalitis, which is the inflammation of the tissues around the brain. Symptoms include fever, still neck, confusion, weakness and headaches.

There is no treatment for encephalitis, so prevention is the best cure. Strong repellents include DEET, Skin-so-soft and Ecosmart. It is best to remove standing pools of water and to

treat your yard as well. Birds eat mosquitoes, so a bird house may be helpful.

If your child does get bitten, clean the area with soap and water, and if the bite is itchy or red you can apply hydrocortisone ointment to the area. If the bite swells a lot or the red area is larger than the bite, call your pediatrician.

Spiders

We have a lot of spiders in Kansas, most of which are harmless. The two types that can cause harm are the brown recluse and the black widow.

Black Widow Black widows are more rare in Kansas but they can be found and if disturbed will bite. Their venom is neurotoxic, and while most people will not react significantly, a some people can be very affected by a bite. The bite is usually followed by intense pain within 20 minutes, and then affected people can feel nausea, chest and abdominal pain, tremors and even respiratory difficulties. If any of these occur, seek immediate medical care for your child. Treatment for sever bites includes narcotic pain medication and antivenom.

Brown Recluse Brown recluse spiders are plentiful, but as their name suggests, they prefer to avoid people, hiding in corners, boxes and attics. Once disturbed, however, they can bite, and their

bite can cause the skin in the area of the bite to die. This can be very severe and, in rare cases, can require skin grafting.

If your child gets bitten by a spider, wash the area with soap and water and apply antibiotic ointment. If you don’t know what spider bit your child, monitor the area for redness, swelling, or other signs of infection. If you know that the spider is a brown recluse, still just watch the area. If the center becomes dark, contact your pediatrician immediately.

Sunburns

Kansas is a sunny state, and the summer months can be hard on a child’s skin. The best way to avoid a sunburn is to stay out of the sun. Children, however, need to be outside in the summer, so the next best plan is to apply sunscreen, preferably thirty minutes before exposure. The sunscreen should have a relatively high SPF, at least 30 or higher.

Babies should not be in the sun for any length of time, as their skin is so delicate. If they will be in and out of the sun, they should wear sunscreen as well. Awnings and umbrellas can offer protection, as can tents and hats. Sunscreen should be reapplied after immersion in water or every two to three hours. Don’t forget sunscreen on your young athletes!

If, despite your best efforts, your child does get a sunburn, there are several home remedies that are effective. A cool bath, with a cup of either baking soda or oatmeal, is wonderfully soothing. Aloe vera can be applied every two to three

hours for relief and moisturizing, as can other lotions like Lubriderm or Aveeno. A cool compress can relieve the sting and heat of a burn. Ibuprofen or Tylenol can also relieve discomfort. And don’t forget to have your child drink plenty of water!

Swimmer’s Ear

Swimming is one of the best ways to spend the summer days, but it presents its own hazards. Water safety is first and foremost in importance, followed by sunscreen. A problem encountered by many children when swimming is otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear.

Swimmer’s ear is inflammation and drainage in the ear canal, not behind the tympanic membrane, where the usual childhood ear infection is. Swimmer’s ear happens when the ear is immersed in water for long periods of time. The symptoms include pain, drainage and swelling of the canal. It is usually treated with antibiotic drops and steroid drops. It can be prevented by keeping the ears dry or drying them thoroughly after swimming or bathing. Also, avoid putting things into the ears, as this can scratch the canal and predispose to infection.

Dr. Evans has practiced pediatrics in Topeka, Kansas City, and Virginia. As apediatrician who has worked in private practice, a faculty member at The University of Kansas Medical Center, and a pediatric hospitalist at Stormont Vail Health Care, she has treated children of all ages with a wide variety of illnesses. She also serves as djunct faculty for Saint Louis University and is a board member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tiny-k and Safe Kids.

Patrick Jankowski, DDS DDS

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Mama D’s Funnies

by Julie Dunlap

“How come I never had a pet?” Caroline, our 10-yearold asked during dinner.

I knew the question stemmed from our fostering of a red betta fish named Baby Jay, in transition from living in the dorm with a college student until he(?) settled into his new home with my nephew, Charlie, in Kansas City.

Still I was baffled by her asking.

“Uh, we have a dog,” I answered, pointing to the white mutt waiting for one of us to drop food onto the floor for him. “And you’ve been through two hermit crabs.”

“Yeah,” she replied, “but how come I never had a betta fish?”

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair.

The truth is, I am the mother of fish-killers. Betta fish after betta fish has glubbed its final glub in our house.

We are the Bates Motel of betta fish. They all check in, but none check out.

“We don’t exactly have a good track record,” our oldest daughter, Ellie, tried to explain. I looked over to make sure our foster betta fish didn’t hear. I didn’t want Baby Jay to get nervous about his temporary hosts.

“I had one once,” daughter number two piped in, “but Ellie overfed it and it died.”

“I didn’t over feed it,” Ellie clarified. “It died mysteriously after I cleaned the fish bowl once. Just once! The bowl was a mess. I was trying to do you a favor.”

In Ellie’s defense, I did a similar thing to my sister’s goldfish, Goldie. Kari won the fish at a school carnival, a terrible thing to do to fish, I recall thinking even back then. The two bonded early, but my intervention proved deadly. Within two weeks, Goldie was out and I was back in as Kari’s best friend. She obviously did not know I’d had a hand in Goldie’s demise.

Apparently Ellie takes after her mother in her ability to nurture marine life.

“Richard overfed it,” our 12-year-old, Luke, said of his buddy, whose name is not actually Richard, but whose parents I did not seek permission from to use their son’s real name.

“Wait,” Ellie jumped back in, “I thought yours died when you poured shampoo into the fish bowl?”

“No,” Luke confessed. “That was the second one.”

“Blue?” Amelia asked.

Until this point I was questioning whether or not I had actually been raising these kids all these years, as I had no idea we had owned (and slaughtered) so many betta fish. How does a mother forget flushing three fish down the swirling, watery grave?

I did remember Blue, though. God rest his(?) soul, Blue was the first experience with the death of a pet Luke ever had.

He was in Kindergarten (Luke, not Blue), when he woke to find Blue floating on top of the water belly-up.

Luke was devastated. I could hardly get him dressed for school, much less out the door. I walked him into the building 20 minutes late, his bottom lip still quivering, and ran into the principal. She kindly brought Luke right into her office to draw her a picture of Blue and write Blue a letter.

Oprah calls that “closure.” I called it “genius.”

It worked, and Luke managed to get through the day without any more tears.

“I was just trying to clean his fish bowl,” Luke replied.

“I saw plants on the shampoo bottle and thought it was fish bowl cleaner. I poured some into the bowl and…”

His voice trailed off. His sisters laughed. And across the kitchen, Baby Jay shook his scaly head.

Still at least a week away from moving out, Baby Jay seemed to know every day he would spend here alive was nothing short of a miracle.

He wiggled his frail-looking fins and tried not to make eye contact.

“Never mind,” Caroline sighed. As the fourth child, Caroline is all-too accustomed to her siblings ruining certain life experiences for her. The betta fish joins a long list of things she will never personally enjoy, including Moon Sand, Lite Brites, Go-Gurt and any recipe that requires me to sift flour.

“It will be okay, Caroline,” I assured her, “those fish are better off exactly where they are.” **As of this issue’s deadline, Julie is happy to report that Baby Jay is still alive and swimming. As a precaution, however, she has also identified a back-up red betta fish should Baby Jay meet his maker sooner than expected.

LK photo by Emmalee Schaumburg

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Things We Dig Summer, 2013 / The Clinton Store

The best last stop before hitting the beach at Clinton Lake

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We’re not necessarily nostalgic, we just appreciate simple things (remember the notebooks in the last issue?).

Summer means trips to the lake. What is a trip to the lake without stopping at the shop for a bag of ice?

The Clinton Store in Clinton is the exact type of store we remember from our youth.

Our family would head to the lake for a day of fun in the sun, but we always had to get those last minute supplies at the lake store. Maybe it was a bag of ice or buns for the hot dogs. Sometimes dad just needed to get some minnows or a six-pack of beer.

The Clinton Store is a quaint shop about a half-mile before the entrance for Bloomington Beach. The gas pump hasn’t worked in years. The beautiful signs are hand-painted and the minnow shack is stocked. The understated shelves stock lake essentials, and that is it. That means you can almost always get what you need, as long as you’re not too picky.

Next time you plan a trip to the beach (and you should plan a couple this season!) skip the picnic basket and grab a handmade sandwich, a cold Coke and an ice cream treat from The Clinton Store. The ladies at the counter are friendly and always happy to help. Remember your cash - the store isn’t technologically equipped to accept credit cards.

When you get back in the minivan, roll the windows down, turn the radio up and enjoy the trip to a more simple time.

LK

Cash loves dogs and hates dog hair, just like his Mama. Once he could walk, we handed him the shop vac and he got to work!

Amber Nickel, Pawsh Wash owner At Work, with Cash (4)

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FROM THE BLACKBOARD

by Vanessa Sanburn, USD 497 School Board President

Our school district’s greatest challenge, and core mission, is to raise student achievement so that every student graduates from our district prepared for a successful future. Despite eroding state financing for public schools, we’ve made impressive gains toward achieving this goal. We’ve also made recent dynamic changes in our grade configurations and engaged in a lively debate about the future of Lawrence’s elementary facilities.

Our district is in the midst of preparing for another major change that you’ve probably heard something about in the news-- implementation of the Common Core Standards. In October 2010, the Kansas State Board of Education adopted the Common Core State Standards, changing the reading, writing and math knowledge and skills that are expected to be learned at each grade level. These new standards represent a shift in requirements from previous years, putting greater emphasis on academic rigor, critical thinking, and depth of knowledge. These standards are less about breadth of knowledge and more about depth, expecting students to do more than memorize dates and formulas, by instead focusing on conceptual understanding. The new standards, now called Kansas College and Career Ready Standards, will be fully implemented in the 2014-15 school year.

Public school curriculum is regularly updated. For the Common Core update, multiple states shared the work of developing core standards that participating educational professionals from around the country agreed were important to prepare young people to go to college or enter the workplace. From there, officials at the Kansas Department of Education, with oversight from the Kansas Board of Education, customized the

standards for our state and began offering professional development to individual districts to prepare for full implementation.

Teachers in our district, with the support of Teaching and Learning administrators, are hard at work preparing their classrooms for this shift. In the last couple of years, at school board lunches and board meetings, I’ve heard many teachers express excitement about these changes, because they believe the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards will better prepare their students to be successful. I know that preparing for this shift has not been easy, and thank all of our teachers and support staff for their commitment and passion to simultaneously meet the requirements set by our state and local boards of education while enthusiastically engaging their students in learning new concepts everyday.

I also want to thank our community for the overwhelming support of the April 2nd school bond issue, which will improve our facilities, enhance technology and expand career and technical educational opportunities for students. Of course, these bond initiatives were important for our district regardless of the curriculum adopted. That said, these changes equip teachers with the tools they need to meet the individual needs of our students, while addressing the shifts in content delivery necessary for our students to get the most they can out of the Kansas College and Career Ready Standards.

For those interested in learning more, I’d advise you to check out Lawrence Public School’s website http://commoncore.usd497.org/.

LK

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FOR THE KIDS / SUMMER, 2013

LAWRENCE COMMUNITY SHELTER The Lawrence Community Shelter provides temporary housing and support for individuals and families experiencing homlessness.

photos by Emmalee Schaumburg

“We are working for the future. If we do this right, the kids at our shelter can be the last of their family to experience being homeless.”

- Elizabeth Stephens

For most Lawrence families, the idea is unthinkable.

“Nobody, certainly no families, plan on being homeless,” explains Loring Henderson, Executive Director of the Lawrence Community Shelter. “But unfortunately, it happens. We’re here to help.”

The Lawrence Community Shelter (LCS) provides safe shelter and comprehensive services and programs that provide a path to a positive future for people experiencing homelessness and are at risk for homelessness. LCS is the only emergency homeless shelter serving Lawrence and Douglas County.

From the first day a guest comes to LCS, they begin participating in activities to address the core issues causing their homelessness or risk of becoming homeless. Each guest is engaged by caring, informed people concerned with meeting their specific needs and offering a partnership to develop a plan to find solutions. These solutions may include employment, counseling, locating a home, or entering a recovery program for substance abuse and/or mental illness treatment. Night shelter guests are provided a secure environment and a sense of community, and referral to crisis assistance or day shelter programs.

“We serve the least fortunate among us,” Henderson says. “We generally see people when they are at their lowest point. We deal with a lot of alcohol and drug dependencies and untreated mental illness.

People need to understand the people do not chose to become homeless. Often it is completely out of their control.”

For years, LCS was located in a small, outdated building downtown at the corner of 10th and Kentucky Streets. At the end of 2012, the organization relocated to a large facility just east of town. Though the location may be less convenient for those using the services, Henderson says the benefits far outweigh the problems. The new location can serve 125 people a night.

“For starters, we can help more people here,” the soft-spoken Henderson says. “We can accommodate

more beds, provide more lockers, offer more meals, we have more storage and can provide more appropriate services in this new location.”

On a tour of the building, Henderson beams with pride when showing off the offices for staff (“We’re no longer 2 or 3 or 4 to an office.”), the larger sleeping quarters, the kitchen and the brand new classroom.

“This classroom can be a life changer,” Henderson says. “The skills someone learns in the classroom could be what they need to get a steady job and help them get back on their feet and into a stable living situation.”

For families experiencing homelessness, the new shelter itself might be a life changer.

Elizabeth Stephens, Family Programs Director, says the new location provides families with more privacy and a small sense of security.

“Previously, in the old location, families really didn’t have any type of privacy or space for themselves,” Stephens explains. “In this new facility, we can offer families a little privacy, a little stability and a little more hope.”

Stephens is a tall, energetic lady. She smiles a big smile when anyone walks into her small office and listens intently to others speak.

Her job might be the most difficult at LCS. As the Family Programs Director, Stephens is taxed with working with homeless families. She has to learn the reasons that led to a family being without a home, and work alongside the family to get them in a more stable living situation.

“Yeah, at times it can be heartbreaking,” Stephens admits. “I have a hard time separating work from the rest of my life. Being here, hearing these stories, it makes me appreciate what I have with my family. I hug my kids a lot.”

When a family enters LCS, they are required to meet with Stephens. She is in charge of the intake process.

Stephens says a family must be willing to communi-

cate with her and work toward bettering their lives in order to use the LCS services. The road from homelessness to stability is often a long one, and Stephens and her crew work with every member of the family.

“The parents must work with a counselors to figure out what steps they need to take to be better parents,” Stephens says.

“That might be getting substance abuse help, or earning a G.E.D. or even learning how to balance a checkbook. We are here to help however we can.”

Stephens’ focus is always on the kids. Homelessness is generational, she says, and she works hard to help every child she sees.

“These kids are victims,” she says. “They have not chosen to live their life like this. Some of these kids have been abused.

Almost all of them have some emotional scars. It’s sometimes hard to listen to their stories and to hear what they’ve experienced. The kids motivate us to work harder and help them more.”

Stephens is spearheading a fundraising campaign to help finance the purchase of new playground equipment. Currently, LCS has a few donated toys and a rusted swing set for the kids. The toys are on a grass patch that sits in the shadow of the Douglas County Jail.

“We really want to provide some outlets for our kids,” Stephens says. “These kids have almost nothing. When they come outside to play, they see the jail and these ratty old toys.

That’s not a very inspiring play area. We can do better for these kids.”

The cost of a new playground is staggering, Stephens said.

Though no formal plans have been announced, LCS does have some limited grant funds to help offset the cost of new playground equipment.

“We are working for the future,” Stephens says with a big smile. “If we do this right, the kids at our shelter can be the last of their family to experience being homeless.”

LK

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New Pediatric Practice

Lawrence Pediatrics believes in complete preventive care and Dr. Kirsten Evans has lived in Lawrence since 1989. healingschool for children from birth She completed medical and residency at Theto ageMedical 21. Center and has practiced University of Kansas

pediatrics in Topeka, Kansas City and Virginia, treating children of all ages withmission: a wide variety of illnesses. Dr. Our Evans has workedprovide in private practice, as faculty at The comprehensive pediatric KU Med Center and as a pediatric hospitalist at Storcare for your child’s lifelong mont Vail Health Care. Dr. Evans serves as adjunct fachealth. ulty for Saint Louis University and is president Welcome ofWelcome the to toour ournew newpractice. practice... ..open .opento toall! all!

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BIG DADDY DUB Wayne Simien made a name for himself on the basketball court.

Now he makes a living helping young people be their best. photo by Dustin Galyon, Galyon Bartel Photography

Wayne, wife Katie and kids Selah (5), Rael (4), Simon (3) and Shepherd (1)

photo courtesy of Kansas Athletics

In college, Wayne Simien was known as Big Dub. Since his playing days ended, Big Dub has taken on new roles: husband, dad and faith leader.

There’s a scene in the short film that plays before the University of Kansas Men’s Basketball team is introduced at games in Allen Fieldhouse. In the scene Wayne Simien thrusts his fists in the air, screaming in exaltation while his teammates grab him and slap him on the back. Simien’s head is back and his eyes are shut. His arms show slabs of muscle and are wet with sweat. Simien looks nearly like a man possessed.

That was almost 10 years ago.

Sitting in his driveway on a beautiful early summer evening, there are no signs of that man (well, no sign other than the KU Basketball t-shirt and shorts). Wayne lounges on a wooden bench and rests his hand on his wife’s knee.

Wayne is a confident man, comfortable in his skin and happy with the life he is building. On this summer evening, basketball is far from the conversation.

“Rael baby,” he calls across the driveway to one of his daughters. “Can you please put your helmet on if you are going to ride your bike? We’ve talked about this.”

Katie Simien smiles her bright smile and shakes her head.

“He’s always watching them,” she says with a sigh.

“Whether they know it or not.”

In Lawrence, Wayne Simien the basketball player is an icon and his story is well known. A Kansas-born beast on the basketball court, Simien was an All-American while playing for the Jayhawks. He was recruited by and played for Coach Roy Williams. When Coach Bill Self took over, he inherited a team led by Simien.

“Wayne was arguably as good as any college player that I have coached,” Coach Self says without hesitation.

“He was an absolute beast.”

Simien was drafted with the 29th overall selection in the 2005 NBA Draft by the Miami Heat, with whom he won a NBA Championship in 2006.

A series of injuries and a time oversees later, Wayne officially retired from professional basketball in the Spring of 2009. That’s where our story begins.

“We always knew we’d end up in Lawrence,” Wayne

says. “When we got married we bought our house here, and we spent the off seasons here. And I’m a Kansas kid.

It’s in my blood.”

Wayne and Katie met on New Year’s Eve in Miami through mutual friends at their church. Katie didn’t follow the NBA (or college basketball – “She went to Florida State” Wayne jokes) so she didn’t know what to expect when she met Wayne for the first time.

“My friends told me he was tall,” she laughs. “My first thought when I met him was ‘Well, he’s not that tall.”

The two dated for 6 weeks before Wayne asked Katie to marry him.

“Hey man, when you know, you know,” Wayne says with a confident nod.

Katie had never been to Lawrence prior to her engagement to Wayne. Her first trip to the basketball-crazed town was a bit of an eye-opener. In Miami people would occasionally stop Wayne and talk. In Lawrence, it was an entirely different story.

“The first time I walked into Allen Fieldhouse with Wayne was a surreal experience,” Katie says with wide eyes and a big smile. “We hadn’t even gotten into the gym; we were just in the hallway and it was amazing. Every person we saw wanted to talk to him or get a picture. I turned to Wayne and was like ‘Who are you?”

For most of Wayne’s adult life, his faith in God was the leading charge in his life. It lead him to end his basketball career and focus on his faith. Wayne knew that when he stopped playing ball, he wanted to focus on his faith, and helping young people in their journey through life.

In 2007, Wayne hosted his first Called To Greatness Summer Basketball camp. At the time, he thought it would be a nice way to give back to the Lawrence community and help guide young people in their faith journeys.

“I wanted to help supplement what the great people in the Lawrence Parks and Rec department are doing for kids,” Wayne says. “I saw a need in Lawrence for the kids that maybe aren’t on the cool team or the don’t have the resources to attend basketball camps. I wanted to help them develop, not just as athletes, but as people.”

The first camp has blossomed into an organization with a large presence not just in Lawrence, but also in the state of Kansas.

“Never, I mean never did I think it would grow into what it has become,” Wayne says with a disbelieving shake of his head. “I mean, we have a President and Directors. We’re on multiple college campuses and we are expanding. It has really become more than I could imagine. It started as a basketball camp and now it’s my full-time job. We’ve been blessed.”

Called to Greatness is a ministry committed to equipping youth to fulfill their calling in life through encouragement, fellowship and discipleship. They are a group of passionate followers of Jesus Christ working together to help young men and women discover their unique gifts, live life to the fullest, and become everything God intends them to be. They focus their ministry on youth and college students and have gatherings and fun events every week.

In Lawrence, the organization operates basketball leagues, touch-football leagues, basketball camps and baseball teams. All events are focused not just on building athletic abilities, but enhancing the person and their faith.

In addition to their work with Lawrence youth, Called to Greatness works on the KU campus, Kansas State, Baker University and the University of Missouri Kansas City.

Wayne also serves as the team chaplain for the KU Men’s Basketball team and helps with other Jayhawk athletes looking for spiritual guidance.

“I know how important having someone there to speak with is,” Wayne says. “I don’t want to oversell what I do with the

athletes, but I’m here for them if they want to talk.”

Wayne’s work with the Men’s Basketball team goes well beyond acting as a chaplain, says Coach Bill Self. Wayne is an example of how to become a man, a husband and a father.

“Wayne is as good of a man and father as I have ever been around,” Coach Self says. “He’s a great role model for our players serving in the capacity as our team chaplain. He’s used his athletic platform to assist kids in a way that no other person in our community can possibly do. I’m very proud of him.”

Spending time with Wayne, Katie and their 4 impossibly polite kids Selah (5), Rael (4), Simon (3) and Shepherd (1), one thing becomes very clear. Wayne and Katie love their not-so-little family.

“We are blessed beyond our wildest dreams,” Katie beams as she wipes Shepherd’s nose. “This is what we both dreamed about.”

Wayne praises Katie for managing the hustle and bustle of raising the young.

“She’s the boss here,” Wayne says with no hint of sarcasm.

“My lady is so great. She keeps these kids in order and lets me go fishing.”

Fishing has long been another passion in the Simien family.

Wayne’s dad was a professional bass fisherman and passed his passion and knowledge to Wayne. Most Saturday mornings the father and son head out onto the lake “looking for dinner.”

“I love bringing home some fish,” Wayne says. “I clean them in the garage, get ‘em in some bags and we stock the

“Wayne is as good of a man and father as I have ever been around,” Coach Self says. “I’m very proud of him.” freezer. Like I said, I’m a Kansas kid. I hunt and fish and love it.”

As Wayne shows off the pictures on his phone, photos of Wayne, his dad and fish interrupt shots of the kids.

“Oh, look at this one,” Wayne says excitedly. “Got this off the coast of Miami. This one was out on Perry Lake. Ha, here’s Simon and Selah playing volleyball. Oh, this was our catch a few weeks ago…”

Wayne and Katie are clearly proud of their kids. They have a constant grin whenever they talk about the four. If things go as they hope, number five won’t be too far behind.

“Oh yeah,” Wayne says. “We just talked the other night about growing our family. We’d love to see what God has in store for us.”

As the kids grow, Wayne and Katie are aware of the pressures they may face in Lawrence. Both Wayne (obviously) and Katie are accomplished athletes (Katie was a cheerleader at

Florida State – no small feat). The couple has already started talking to their kids about expectations.

“Well, I won’t let the girls be cheerleaders,” Katie says.

“And we really don’t, or won’t, pressure them into any activity. If they decide they want to play basketball or volleyball or something, of course we’ll be behind them 100 percent. That being said, our hopes and dreams for our kids are not built around sports.”

Wayne says he already tries to squash any sort of expectations.

“Selah will ask if I’m proud of her when she plays basketball,” Wayne explains. “I tell her I’m proud of her when she is a good sister and when she listens to her mom and when she does her homework. I tell her I’ll be proud even if she never touches a basketball. It’s really important to me that my kids understand we don’t care if they are great athletes. We want them to be great people.”

Wayne’s stature in the community has gone unnoticed by the kids. At this point, they just don’t seem to care about what dad might have accomplished.

Katie says the kids don’t yet understand that their dad is a legend in Jayhawk land. When they go to games, they don’t notice their old man’s jersey hanging in the rafters. They have more important things on their mind.

“Hey, where’s Big Jay,” Katie says with a big laugh. “It’s the first thing out of their mouth every time we go to a game. I guess he’ll just have to settle with being the second coolest Jayhawk in our kids’ minds.”

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EASY ADVENTURES Summer is the time for adventure. We’ve picked 3 easy adventures that any family can enjoy. None are more than 30 minutes away and all will be memorable.

Bloomington Beach / Clinton State Park So maybe Lawrence isn’t known for it’s sandy beaches. That doesn’t mean you can’t spend a hot summer day digging your toes into the sand. Bloomington Beach is on the West side of Clinton Lake, about a 20-minute drive from Lawrence. The beach features a swimming area, sand volleyball courts and acres of soft sand. Bring a lunch (or stop at the Clinton Store), some buckets and load up on the sunscreen. photo by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

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Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site There are few things more adventurous than learning about our country’s history. Just down the road in Topeka is the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site. The 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision ended segregation in public schools. On May 4, 1987, Monroe Elementary School in Topeka achieved National Historic Landmark designation for its significance to the case. On October 26, 1992, President George Bush signed the Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site Act, establishing the school as a national park. Spend a day there with your kids. They need to learn the history. photo by National Park Service

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National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame We live in Kansas and we use the land to grow food. It’s that simple. The purpose of The National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame is to educate society on the historical and present value of American agriculture and to honor leadership in Agri-Business and Academia by providing education, information, experience and recognition. Take a drive to Bonner Springs and check out the old farm equipment and let your children’s imagination go wild.

LK photo by Heather Krejci

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AN AMERICAN FAMILY ABROAD One Lawrence family’s adventure living in France for a semester and their 3.5 week train journey through 15 European countries. photos by Rachel Dobbs

I’m sure they don’t understand how fantastic the entire experience was. Jet turned 3. Persephone was 8. Finn was older, so I think he understands how much he saw and how much he experienced. There were times we all got our fill of each other, but I wouldn’t trade our time in Europe for anything.

We lived out of our backpacks and really learned what we need and don’t need as a family. ~ Rachel Dobbs

Some Lawrence families have fun adventures: a weekend at the lake, driving to the Rocky Mountains in Colorado or even a week in Disney World. Lawrence mom Rachel Dobbs, along with her husband Kevin and three youngest kids Finn, Persephone and Jet did things a little bit different. The five of them spent a semester living in France, followed by a 3.5 week, 15-country European adventure.

Rachel, a slender brunette, sits on the porch of her Old West Lawrence home and fiddles with her toes. Behind her, Jet, her 4 year-old son jumps on and off the porch swing. The front door opens and closes as Persephone, Finn and their cousin go back and forth from the living room to the porch and toward the backyard.

Rachel’s calm demeanor is a learned trait, she says. Spend 3.5 weeks with your family traveling in Europe and you can use to the finding calm in the storm.

“It really was a great time in our lives,” Rachel says with a smile.

Rachel was planning to study abroad while finishing a degree from the University of Kansas. She was headed to France and her and husband Kevin, a Project Coordinator with the Kansas Biological Survey, discussed their options. It didn’t take long to decide the entire family would be going abroad.

“I’m not sure we ever really discussed other options,” Rachel says. “Once we decided, we got to planning.”

The idea of spending an entire semester, and the following Summer, on another continent is daunting, Rachel says. She had to first organize her study abroad projects, including enrollment and credits, and plan on moving her family to France.

Because Rachel was a ‘non-traditional’ student, with a family, the process of enrolling and transferring credits with the French university was more of a challenge than antici-

pated. Finding living quarters for her family was one of the easiest parts of the planning process. When things were set in France, the Dobbs concentrated on their life in Lawrence.

What would they do with their house?

“We actually went on Craiglist,” Rachel says with a smile. “I was really nervous about finding a house sitter online, but we really lucked out and found a great girl to stay in our home the entire time we were gone.”

While Rachel was studying in France, Kevin worked remotely; Finn and Persephone enrolled in French schools and Jet attended a French daycare. The family immersed themselves in the daily life of Lyon, France. The kids made friends and the family adjusted to their new life.

“We got to know each other very well,” Kevin says with a wry smile.

“Spend that much time with your family on a train, and you learn a lot.”

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Finn and Jet seemed to integrate into French life well. Finn is fluent in French, so having him help at food markets and asking for directions was invaluable. He is a bright, quiet teenager that seems to adore his siblings. While talking to him, both Jet and Persephone jump on him and hug him.

Jet was only 3, so the language barrier wasn’t a problem for him. In fact, he began speaking some French; though he now insists he doesn’t know any French words.

Persephone’s transition to life in France seemed to be the most difficult. Rachel sensed her beautiful girl’s trip would be a little rough, at first. “She has such great friends here in Lawrence,” Rachel says. “I knew she would miss them terribly.” Not long after starting school, she made a friend and her smile came back. In fact, Persephone still exchanges letters with her French pen pal.

While living in France, the Dobbs learned to do without.

It wasn’t that they struggled financially, it was that they just didn’t have much.

“We took to Europe what we could fit in our backpacks,” Rachel says. “If it didn’t fit, we didn’t take it. If we didn’t take it, we couldn’t use it. We lived out of our backpacks. It became a very strong lesson in what we need as people and what we need as a family.”

The family began exploring French life and the kids began speaking French. Kevin worked in the quaint coffee shops along the narrow city roads and Rachel excelled at her studies. Weekends were filled with day trips to nearby landmarks and towns.

“We tried to see and do as much as we could,” Kevin says.

“We used our EuroRail passes almost every weekend. After a couple of weekend trips, we decided day trips were the best for us, because we could see more, and not spend as much time on the train.”

The real adventure began when Rachel finished her course work. That’s when the family hit the road, or, hit the rails.

For 3.5 weeks the family traveled across Europe, visiting 15 different countries. They slept on trains and in family hostels.

They ate exotic food, swam in exotic water, saw countless artistic treasures and got to know each other very well.

“I’m sure they don’t understand how fantastic the entire experience was,” Rachel says in retrospect. “Jet turned 3.

Persephone was 8. Finn was older, so I think he understands how much he saw and how much he experienced. There were times we all got our fill of each other, for sure, but I wouldn’t trade our time in Europe for anything.”

Rachel kept a blog of the travels for her friends and family in America (http://studyingabroadfrance.blogspot.com). The blog chronicles their daily travels and is full of great photos of the kids, Kevin and occasionally Rachel. Shots show the kids swimming in the Mediterranean Sea and eating octopus tapas in Barcelona. Between the shots of sight seeing and beautiful European meals are the photos of kids sleeping on trains and Rachel and Kevin hauling backpacks through alleys across the continent.

“The travel was difficult at times,” Rachel admits. “We tried to get as much in each day as we could. That often meant walking and walking. In the end, it was definately worth it.”

The family’s European adventure was such an experience, they are spending this summer across the pond. Rachel won’t be studying, but Kevin has work in Switzerland. Once again, they found someone to house sit, booked their tickets and got on a plane.

“This summer will be completely different,” Rachel says.

“We’ve been there and know what to expect. Our kids are older and they know what to expect. I’m excited because I’m not stressed out enrolling in a university and making sure I have the credits to transfer and so on.”

This summer, the family has friends to greet them and specific plans. For instance, Rachel and Finn have an all-day cooking class planed in Tuscany.

“Finn really enjoys cooking. So he and I are taking a course in the Tuscan hills where they teach students to use all the local Italian ingredients, develop a meal, cook it in an old kitchen and then we eat it that evening. How perfect does that sound?”

Persephone is excited to see her good friend in France and Jet can’t wait to get some more authentic gelato.

“We are very lucky to be in a position to do this,” Rachel says. “Kevin and I have talked a lot about how time goes so quickly. If we plan too much or think things through too thoroughly, we may decide not to take these trips. As our kids get older, they won’t be as willing to hop on a plane and head to Europe for a few months. So we are really trying to take advantage of right now. The memories from these trips will last a lifetime.”

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Spring 2013 Must Dos 1. Lawrence Busker Festival Of all the great events in Lawrence, the Busker Festival is one of our favorites. For three days, the streets of downtown Lawrence are filled with fantastic street performers. This isn’t dudes with a guitar strumming a few chords. No, these are fire breathers, acrobats and dudes on pogo sticks 30 feet in the air. Richard Renner and his crew do a great job organizing and recruiting the talent. All shows are family friendly, and many performers ask for volunteers from the crowd. Plan a night around it - grab some dinner, some cash and enjoy the show!

August 23-25 / Downtown Lawrence

2. Tour of Lawrence / Mass St. Mile We love the Tour of Lawrence weekend. The event isn’t just a couple of bike races (though watching the peleton race by is awesome!). The weekend is built around bikes, but also features a concert, kids play zone, street party and races for the kids. Sunday morning kids of all ages and abilities can participate in both the Mass St. Mile (a great little run through downtown Lawrence) and the Kid’s Bike Race. Each year we get a kick watching little athletes smile from ear to ear as the crowds cheer for them as they cross the finish line.

June 28-30 / Downtown Lawrence & University of Kansas Campus

3. Eat Fresh Food Almost every season we talk about the Lawrence Farmers’ Market. Well, we think it is a Lawrence treasure, and Summer might just be the best time to visit. Farmers from throughout the region show off the best of their produce and it’s all for sale! Saturday mornings in the Summer are best spent strolling through the market, sampling the fresh fruit and vegetables. Then stock up for the weekend’s picnics and pies!

Every Saturday, 7-11am / 800 New Hampshire Street

4. Douglas County Fair Is there anything more Kansan than heading to the County Fair? The Douglas County Fair is a small slice of what’s great about living in the Midwest. A community coming together to celebrate what they can produce. The fairgrounds are always bustling with families anxious to show off their livestock and photography and art. The food is fantastic, the nightly concerts are fun and the Demolition Derby is an absolute must see.

July 26 - August 3 / Douglas County Fairgrounds

5. Lay in a Hammock The Summer in Lawrence can be, at times, unbearably hot. Pour some lemonade and relax.

SUMMER MUST DOS

REUSE LAWRENCE KIDS / PARTY LANTERNS Looking for something for the kids to do while you prepare for a backyard get together? Using your Lawrence Kids, make these simple party lanterns, and adorn your summer barbeque a splash of crafty fun.

1. Tear out a magazine page and trim the ripped edge.

2. Fold in half lengthwise.

3. On the folded edge, cut slits equal in length and size, but do not cut all the way to the open end.

4. Unfold and secure ends together with tape.

5. Cut a thin strip from a different magazine page and fasten each end of that strip to the top of the lantern.

6. Make multiple lanterns and string together on yarn or string.

By Rebecca Dunn / Full-time stay-at-home-mom by day, part-time youth librarian by night and on weekends, Rebecca has pages of creative ideas for seasonal fun on her beautiful blog www.sturdyforcommonthings.com.