EDUCATION
THE WILDS OF LAWRENCE AT PRAIRIE PARK
FITNESS
FOOD + BEVERAGE FARMERS' MARKET RECIPES
ENTERTAINMENT EXPLORING THE CITY ON AN E-BIKE
SUMMER READS
Explore and Feel the Vibe
RETIREMENT PLANNING
Stay Curious
I love going behind the scenes to see how things work. Maybe that's why I'm a writer--a strong sense of curiosity is a must! Thanks to my work, I've explored places like a NASCAR track's garage and pit area during race week, numerous galleys on cruise ships, a preschool in Jamacia, and more restaurant kitchens than I can count.
Even in my everyday life, I'm constantly researching the “why” behind something that catches my attention. Thank goodness for Google! Growing up, I would explore the volumes to the encyclopedia set we had in the living room, and I brought home my social studies and science books on the first day of school to look through the pages.
I also dreamed of exploring the world, and I've been lucky to do that to a large extent. (The photo above was taken at Waimea Canyon State Park on Kaua'i, Hawaii.) But how many of us have explored where we live? Thanks to being the editor of this magazine, I'm constantly introduced to new places to explore in Lawrence.
The Prairie Park Nature Reserve was one of those places. I was enchanted when I walked into the Nature Center and saw all the animals. I thought, "Everyone needs to know about this place!" This is why we included an article about what goes on at this Lawrence gem in this issue.
Our publisher, Denise DeTommaso, wrote a piece about her favorite way to explore Lawrence--on her e-bike! There are also recipes in this issue from some Lawrence Farmers' Market vendors to help you try new dishes in your kitchen. The Raven Book Store also suggested books to help you explore new worlds without leaving home.
This magazine encourages you to make room for exploration in your life. To prioritize time away from the regular schedule. To lose yourself on a trail or in a book. So, stay curious and explore!
LINDA DITCH, EDITOR
July 2024
PUBLISHER
Denise DeTommaso denise.detommaso@citylifestyle.com
EDITOR
Linda Ditch | linda.ditch@citylifestyle.com
ACCOUNT MANAGER
Meredithe McCormick meredithe.mccormick@citylifestyle.com
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR
Nathan Hutchcraft | nathan@fabuluxmedia.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Linda Ditch, Denise DeTommaso
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Kristol Kumar, Anthony Fergola, Linda Ditch
Corporate Team
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Steven Schowengerdt
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER Matthew Perry
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF HR Janeane Thompson
AD DESIGNER Mary Albers
LAYOUT DESIGNER Emily Lisenbee
ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH | PHOTOGRAPHY BY KRISTOL KUMAR
of Lawrence The Wilds
EXPLORE THE PRAIRIE PARK NATURE PRESERVE THIS SUMMER
Have you ever seen an opossum cross your backyard, a crow cawing on the fence post, or an eagle soaring overhead? Wildlife abounds in the city, and the Prairie Park Nature Preserve is the perfect place to learn more about the creatures and fauna living around us.
Prairie Park is a 100-acre nature preserve on the east side of Lawrence. The area includes wetlands, woodlands, prairie habitats, and a seven-acre lake. The Nature Center, established in 1999, is a place where kids and adults can learn about the local environment through live native animal exhibits, habitat dioramas, and educational displays.
Nature Center supervisor Dara Wilson is often found holding Phoebe, an opossum trained to be around people. The furry, sweet animal behaves more like a family cat than a wild animal.
“A lot of people think it’s a scary animal when they see one in the backyard,” Wilson says. “And then they come here and meet our opossum, which we call an ambassador animal because she’s like the representative of her species. It makes it less scary when they do come across one. They’re not afraid, especially when we tell them they rarely ever have rabies and eat a lot of ticks. Their defense mechanism is to play dead, so they won’t lunge at them.”
Visitors can stroll through the exhibits to learn more about Lawrence native wildlife. Sometimes, they wonder if the animal they’re looking at is a display or alive, watching until they see the statue-like turtle breathing or the skink move under a rock. Prairie dog sisters Pip and Squeak spend time eating breakfast in their enclosure while snakes snooze in their cages.
A black crow caws a greeting. He was raised by humans and cannot be released into the wild. The same goes for the vulture housed outside the center’s
Pip the prairie dog
Nature Center Supervisor Dara Wilson with Phoebe, the opossum
back doors. A great horned owl named Sova, a barn owl, and golden and bald eagles also live there. They were injured and can no longer survive in the wild.
The center also houses animals not native to Kansas but needing a home. A scarlet macaw named Ms. Tino arrived in the early 2000s when a KU student left her behind, and Gandalf, an African grey parrot, came after his owner died. There is also a large python brought there by animal control when there was nowhere else for him to go.
Wilson points out, “This is all free to the public. There are a lot of interactive displays in the building. A new one we just added is the bison button. Do you know what a bison sounds like? If you push that button, you’ll hear it sounds a bit like a dinosaur. So there’s interactive science just for kids and adults to learn about the animals you could find in Kansas or who used to live in Kansas.”
Outside the center, the park features a one-and-a-half-mile paved trail and numerous hiking trails through the various ecosystems. Mary’s Lake is stocked twice yearly with native fish such as big-mouth bass, blue gill, crappie, and catfish. The Douglas County Heritage Conservation Council recently granted $71,000 to support improvements throughout the park. Upcoming projects include signage updates, construction of a 360-square-foot fishing/wildlife observation dock, ecological restoration along the lake’s shoreline, and interactive educational opportunities for students and visitors.
Special programs are offered for both kids and adults. Some more popular ones include turtle yoga, wild nocturnal hikes, archery, and canoeing. The kids enjoy breakfast for dinner
Slova, the great horned owl
Ms. Tino, a scarlet macaw
“...it helps connect with why this is important and why we need to conserve our natural spaces for future generations.”
with the animals while teens and adults have fun with Animal House Game Night, where they stick their hands inside a box and guess what’s inside. (Is it a living creature or a slimy cucumber?)
“We’re all aware there are environmental issues that are happening,” Wilson says. “The tall grass prairie is the most endangered ecosystem in North America. And plants aren’t the easiest thing for a kid to connect with. But if you use a great animal like our redtail hawk to talk about the importance of the prairie for its survival, it helps them connect with why this is important and why we need to conserve our natural spaces for future generations.”
To learn more about Prairie Park Nature Center and see a park map, go to LawrenceKS.org/LPRD/PPNC
4106 W 6th St, Suite C Lawrence, KS 66049
Phone is 785-841-6776
jmoravec@amfam.com
Summer Reads
Books to Help You Escape from Where You Are
ARTICLE
AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY
LINDA DITCH
Books and summer make a perfect combo.
The Raven Book Store co-owner Kelly Barth says, “There’s this sweetness to summertime. Even if you don’t have more time, you make more time because there’s a memory of those long summer days when you had a break from school. You just cuddled up somewhere outside or inside and read to your heart’s content.”
Barth recommends these titles for your summer to-read list. There is something for all ages and interests.
TOM LAKE
By Ann Patchett
In the spring of 2020, Lara’s three daughters return to the family’s orchard in Northern Michigan. While picking cherries, they beg their mother to tell them the story of Peter Duke, a famous actor with whom she shared both a stage and a romance years before at a theater company called Tom Lake. As Lara recalls the past, her daughters examine their own lives and relationship with their mother and are forced to reconsider the world and everything they thought they knew.
PAY DIRT: A V.I. WARSHAWSKI NOVEL
By Sara Paretsky
This latest edition of the series takes place in Lawrence! V.I. Warshawski is famous for her cool under fire, intelligence, humor, unflinching courage, and love of good coffee. But even the strongest people sometimes need a break to recharge, so her friends send her to Kansas for a weekend of college basketball where Angela, one of her protégées, is playing. And that’s where trouble finds V.I.
SEED TO DUST: LIFE, NATURE, AND A COUNTRY GARDEN
By Marc Hamer
The author paints a beautiful portrait of the garden he’s nurtured for more than two decades. He describes a year in his life as a country gardener. As he works, he muses on the unusual folklore of his beloved plants. He observes the creatures who scurry and hide from his blade or rake. And he reflects on his own life: living homeless as a young man, his loving relationship with his wife and children, and— now—feeling the effects of old age on body and mind.
ORIGIN: A GENETIC HISTORY OF THE AMERICAS
By Jennifer Raff (Local Author)
A KU professor of anthropology has written the story of who the first peoples in the Americas were, how and why they crossed, how they dispersed south, and how they lived based on a new and powerful kind of evidence: their complete genomes. ORIGIN provides an overview of these new histories throughout North and South America and a glimpse into how the tools of genetics reveal details about human history and evolution.
BLOOD & FURY
By Tessa Gratton (Local Author) and Justina Ireland
This young adult sequel to “Chaos & Flame” picks up months after betrayal transformed Darling Seabreak into the long-lost Phoenix and every House regent into their empyreal form. Darling struggles to make sense of her destiny as a legendary creature. How can she, an orphan with no family, be the one to reunite the fractured houses and bring about peace, if she can’t control the magic of her new Phoenix body?
BELITTLED WOMEN
By Amanda Sellet (Local Author)
Sharp and subversive, this delightfully messy YA rom-com offers a sly wink to the classic Little Women , as teenage Jo Porter rebels against living in the shadow of her literary namesake.
THE BIRCHBARK HOUSE
By Louise Erdrich
Omakakiins and her family live on an island in Lake Superior. Though there are growing numbers of white people encroaching on their land, life continues much as it always has.
But the satisfying rhythms of their life are shattered when a visitor comes to their lodge one winter night, bringing an invisible enemy that will change things forever—but that will eventually lead Omakakiins to discover her calling. This is the first installment in a series chronicling one hundred years in the life of one Ojibwe family and includes beautiful interior black-andwhite artwork done by the author.
VIOLET & JOBIE IN THE WILD
By Lynne Rae Perkins
Brother and sister mice Violet and Jobie live a cozy and comfortable life in a humans’ house, where food is plentiful, and the television is both educational and entertaining. When Violet and Jobie are caught in a trap, the young boy pleads with his mother to release them, and she agrees. Now Violet and Jobie find themselves in the wild. How will they survive?
OUTDOOR FARM, INDOOR FARM
By Lindsay H. Metcalf (Local Author) and Illustrated by Xin Li
With energetic, enchanting verse and sunshiny, colorful illustrations, discover how your food is sustainably grown both outside—and inside. Join two children as they explore the inner workings of outdoor and indoor farms. You’ll see how a variety of amazing machinery like tractors and drones, along with innovative farming techniques, yield the wonderful food we all love to enjoy.
Exploring On An E-Bike
ARTICLE BY DENISE DETOMMASO
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANTHONY FERGOLA
Tips, Trails and Freedom
With its scenic trails, rolling hills, and charming countryside, Lawrence is the perfect place to explore on an e-bike. Whether you’re an experienced cyclist or a casual rider, e-bikes provide the ideal blend of ease and excitement. Lawrence City Lifestyle spoke with the Sunflower Outdoor and Bike shop team to learn what to consider when testing an e-bike and about the trails and rides available to us in Lawrence.
E-biking offers a sense of freedom and adventure that is hard to match. One of the most liberating aspects is the ability to climb hills and tackle challenging terrains effortlessly. With the pedal-assist feature, e-bikes provide a boost when you need it most, making uphill climbs and long distances more manageable and enjoyable.
DETERMINE YOUR NEEDS
When purchasing an e-bike, consider where and how you’ll be riding. A more upright commuter version is ideal for city commutes and paved trails. A mountain e-bike with durable tires and suspension is a better fit for more rugged adventures. Also important to consider is service. Per the team at Sunflower, some e-bikes just cannot be worked on in their service department because parts are unavailable or the build is unfamiliar. This can be an important consideration in the purchase decision. Bikes purchased at Sunflower assure that you have service options available locally.
TEST RIDE DIFFERENT MODELS
Sunflower Outdoor and Bike Shop offers test rides, allowing you to experience the comfort and performance of various models. Pay attention to the bike’s handling, the power of the motor, and the ease of shifting gears. Ensure the e-bike is comfortable and fits your body type. Adjustable seats and handlebars can significantly improve your riding experience.
“With the pedal-assist
feature, e-bikes provide a boost when you
need it
most, making uphill climbs and long distances more manageable
and enjoyable.”
BATTERY LIFE AND RANGE
Evaluate the battery life and range of different e-bikes. If you plan on long rides or exploring extensive trails like the Lawrence Loop, opt for a bike with a longer battery life and greater range.
DELIGHTFUL TRAILS IN LAWRENCE
Exploring Lawrence on an e-bike allows you to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of the Kansas countryside. Here are a few of the more popular bike trails to try around the city.
LAWRENCE LOOP
The Lawrence Loop is a 22-mile multi-use trail that circles the city and offers a diverse riding experience. It takes you through parks, along the Kansas River, and
into bustling neighborhoods. It’s well-paved and perfect for e-bikers looking for a leisurely ride or a more challenging workout.
RIVERFRONT HERITAGE TRAIL
Starting in downtown Lawrence, the Riverfront Heritage Trail follows the banks of the Kansas River. This scenic route is ideal for those who enjoy water views and the tranquility of riverside riding. The trail connects to various parks and provides opportunities for bird-watching and picnicking.
CLINTON LAKE TRAILS
The Clinton Lake Trails offer a mix of terrains for a more rugged adventure, from paved paths to dirt trails. E-bikers can explore the scenic beauty of Clinton State Park, with its dense woodlands, open fields, and breathtaking lake views. The trails range in difficulty, catering to both beginners and seasoned riders.
BURROUGHS CREEK TRAIL
This 1.7-mile trail is a local favorite for its easy accessibility and peaceful ambiance. Running through East Lawrence, Burroughs Creek Trail is a short yet enjoyable ride, perfect for a quick escape into nature. It’s an excellent spot for families and those new to e-biking. For more information about e-bikes, visit SunflowerOutdoorAndBike.com. Find a complete list of trails at LawrenceKS.org/lprd/parks/
Photo by Jenny Jolley Photography
Road Trip Checklist
ARTICLE BY LINDA DITCH
Create a road trip activity kit for each child with their favorite books, colors, pencils, paper, cards, and games.
Summertime is road trip season. Before you head out on one of Kansas’s many open highways, look at this checklist of ideas to get you ready to ride. It will help prevent time lost on the side of the road, a car full of bored kids, and worry about the home you left behind.
CAR MAINTENANCE:
• Take your car to your mechanic for a maintenance check, including an oil change and other necessary services. Also, check the wipers, fluid levels, tires, lights, belts, hoses, breaks, and battery.
• Check your spare tire to make sure it is full of air. Plus, break out the jack to make sure it still works. If you don’t know how to change a tire, practice before you go.
• Assemble an emergency kit in case of a breakdown, accident, or other emergency event. Include a flashlight, blanket, essential tools and a first aid kit. Jumper cables, duct tape, and a knife are also good additions. Water and snacks should be included, separate from road trip treats, and only used for emergencies.
• If children will be along for the trip, consider packing a portable potty and a plastic bucket with a lid (for carsickness). Also, don’t forget toilet paper, paper towels, and plastic bags
HOME SAFETY:
• Lock all doors and windows, including garage and upstairs windows. If you have an attached garage, make sure to lock the door leading from the garage to the house.
• Stop all mail and newspaper delivery, or ask a friend, neighbor or family member to bring it into your home each day.
• Close all the curtains and blinds. To give your home a lived-in appearance, set timers on at least one light and television.
• If you have an alarm system, let someone on your callback list know you will be gone. If the alarm sounds, they will know to meet the police at your home.
• Ensure the grass is mowed, and ask someone to keep up with these tasks while you’re away.
• If you’re leaving a vehicle at home, remove any valuables and lock the doors, even if it is in the garage. Another good idea is to ask a neighbor to park in the driveway while you are gone.
• If you miss trash collection day, have someone take your cans to the curb and then return them once the garbage is picked up.
• Unplug computers, televisions, and any appliance that a power surge could damage. Shut off the water to your washing machine. (The hoses are notorious for breaking and causing a flood.) Also, clean out your refrigerator.
HAPPY FAMILY
• Create a road trip activity kit for each child with their favorite books, colors, pencils, paper, cards, and games. Buy all the items new so opening it is part of the fun.
• Remember the snacks: cereal in zipper bags, protein bars, trail mix, and crackers. Pack yogurt, juice, mini bags of veggies and fruits, and string cheese in a cooler. Also, remember bottled water.
• Avoid driving for more than two or three hours at a time before taking a break. Instead, stop at a fun roadside attraction, such as the local tourist trap or a playground, park, or pick-your-own orchard. Also, pack a ball to play with at rest stops.
Farmers’ Market Recipes
FAVORITE DISHES FROM LOCAL GROWERS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY
ANTHONY FERGOLA
One of the joys of summertime is the weekly visit to the Saturday Lawrence Farmers’ Market. The bounty of fresh produce is the perfect way to enjoy the season’s flavors without planting a garden.
Four market regulars shared a favorite recipe to try at home: Gumbo is a mealtime hit at Peters Family Farm, and the Potato, Zucchini and Tomato Gratin recipe utilizes Pendleton’s famous hydroponic tomatoes. Mellowfields Farm puts a unique spin on beets with a chutney recipe, and Pinwheel Farm pan-fries their fresh lamb chops for a quick summer meal.
Mellowfields
ingredients
Simmer together for 1 hour:
• 1 1/2 quarts water
• 8 ounces red wine
• 1 whole onion cut into eighths
• 2 stalks of celery, chunked
• 1 cup carrot chunks
• Fresh parsley
• 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon whole peppercorns
• 2 bay leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon oregano
• 2 garlic cloves
• 1 cup chopped bell pepper
• 2 andouille sausage links from Flory Family Farms
• 2-3 bone-in chicken thighs or breasts
directions
While the stock is cooking:
Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Chop up to 6 cups of okra, toss with olive oil, and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 for at least 15 minutes or until it is not slimy. Set aside.
After stock has simmered for 1 hour, remove meat and set aside. Strain out remaining solids so you have a good, rich stock.
Make roux:
In a cast iron skillet melt ¼ cup butter, add ½ cup oil and ¾ cup flour. Cook over low heat 45 minutes or until a medium brown color (milk chocolate), stirring constantly. Add 1 chopped onion and 1 chopped bell pepper. Sauté until soft. Season with 1 teaspoon Creole seasoning. Add okra, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon celery seed and parsley. Sauté 2 minutes.
Transfer the roux to an 8-quart Dutch oven. Add one 8-ounce can of tomatoes and let thicken. Add stock one ladle at a time until smooth and desired thickness (liquid should be about 1 inch above vegetables). Chop meat and add to the pan along with 2 teaspoons hot sauce, 2 teaspoons Worcestershire, and a handful of chopped green onions. Simmer for about 30 minutes, adding stock as needed to make it your preferred thickness. Add seafood now if desired, and bring heat back up until cooked.
Remove from heat, cover, and let set for 15 minutes.
Serve over rice in a bowl.
PETERS FAMILY FARM GUMBO
Serves 4
Galen and Marcia Peters of Peters Family Farm
PENDLETON’S POTATO, ZUCCHINI AND TOMATO GRATIN
ingredients
• 5 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 pound Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
• 2 tomatoes, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
• Freshly ground pepper
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 ounces finely grated cheddar cheese
• 1 medium zucchini, thinly sliced
• ¼ teaspoon coarse salt
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh thyme
directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees with rack in upper third. Coat a 9 x 13-inch gratin dish with 1 teaspoon oil, and sprinkle with garlic. Arrange potatoes, zucchini, and tomatoes in overlapping layers around the prepared dish, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle with remaining oil and sprinkle with thyme and cheese.
Cover with foil. Bake until potatoes are tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove the foil and bake until top is golden brown, about 25 minutes more. Serve immediately.
ingredients
Adapted from the Bon Appetit website.
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 3/4 cups chopped red onion
• 1 2-inch-diameter beet, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
• 3 tablespoons raisins
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons chopped peeled fresh ginger
• 1 teaspoon yellow mustard seeds
• Pinch of cumin seeds
directions
In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the onion and beet cubes. Cook until the onion is tender but not brown, about 8 minutes, stirring often. Add 1/2 cup water and bring to a boil until the mixture is thick, about 5 minutes. Add vinegar, raisins, sugar, ginger, mustard and cumin seeds. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook until beet cubes are tender, and the chutney is thick, about 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Season with salt and pepper. Allow the mixture to cool, and then cover and refrigerate. Lasts for 1 week.
Pendleton's Country Market
Mellowfields Farm
ingredients
• Olive oil or butter
• Lamb chops
• dried rosemary
• granulated garlic directions
Thaw chops in the fridge overnight or in cool water if you're doing this last minute.
Grease sauté pan with small amount of olive oil or butter. Heat on medium/medium-low heat. Add lamb chops, quickly season with salt, pepper, dried rosemary and granulated garlic. Turn over the chops and season second side. Put a lid on slightly a-kilter so heat stays in, and steam gets out. Cook until the desired doneness. Cooking lamb gently keeps the lean meat tender.
The etiquette rule for fried chicken applies to lamb chops. Take the first bite or two with a knife and fork, just to show you know how to use them. Then you can pick them up with your fingers to be sure you get every possible delicious morsel off the bone! "Finger bowls" containing water and a squeezed wedge of lemon help degrease fingers during the meal
PINWHEEL FARM QUICK
LAMB CHOPS
Pinwheel Farm
