Fusing an artist’s passions
Preserving a historic estate
Winter 09/10
Family Children’s Theatre
Casting Call Winter 09/10
$3.00
Coming Home paints the holiday
Hutchinson Volume 02 / Issue 03
Magazine
dear readers, My childhood memories are filled with countless road trips, vacations and weekend excursions that involved enjoying an ice cream cone or taking a seat at an old-fashioned soda fountain counter. Whether it was a serving of mud pie or a double scoop of mint chocolate chip ice cream, my father was by my side handing over a buck or two to be gobbled up by an old cash register. This became such a norm that even to this day, I scour the streets for ice cream or a sweet shop where I can get a delectable little treat. I was reminded of this treasured memory as I read through the story on Fraese Drug in this winter’s Hutchinson Magazine. America’s nostalgia is slowly slipping away, so I would like to give a tip of the hat to those that are preserving it. Of course, the ice cream is always a bonus. Fraese Drug sets the tone for us this winter as we explore a few more historical cornerstones. The Hutchinson Town Club carries a storied past, from the end of World War II to today’s Egyptian-born manager who makes sure the club is everready for its guests. The club offers a special community for its members and continues to explore innovative events and menus in an atmosphere that 62 years ago served as an officers’ club. Likewise the Dillon Lecture Series celebrates another milestone as it enters its 28th year. Part continuing education and part community service, the series has enlightened and captivated residents of Hutchinson through the years. With a colorful past of so many famous speakers, we take some time this winter to remember their visits. As many of us know, some of Hutchinson’s historical architecture is the quickest link to the past. Doc and Teddy Gingerich would gladly support this claim with their East Avenue A home. The once run-down home was rescued by Doc more than 25 years ago, and the couple have since restored it to its original luster—a tribute to the past, if you will. And for those devoted to America’s past, with or without the soda fountain, consider our weekend guide to Charleston, South Carolina, a jewel in one of the original 13 Colonies. Tour the museums, enjoy Lowcountry fare and revel in the rich history that was so prominent in early America. With hopes of an unexpected visit to the soda fountain counter this winter, I savor the remnants of the past that still surround all of us, sometimes even on the pages of a magazine.
Katy Ibsen, Editor
Publisher John Montgomery Advertising Director Leslie Shea Advertising Sales Manager Darren Werth For Advertising Rates and Information
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
The Hutchinson News Circulation Department Elizabeth Garwood 300 W. Second | Hutchinson KS 67501 (620) 694-5700 ext. 115 | (800) 766-5730 ext. 115 egarwood@hutchnews.com
Contents
Departments
Winter 09/10
hutchinson living
6 Dinner is served The
Hutchinson Town Club boasts history and class
10 Standard of cabin
Features
living One couple’s log home becomes a sanctuary for all that they love
hutchinson business
14 Coming Home for the
28
High-style recovery
One antique home is restored with care
holidays One Hutchinson business
nearly outdoes Santa Claus
18 The old soda fountain Fraese Drug continues to offer a taste of nostalgia amid a modern pharmacy business
22 From the desks of
Hutchinson We visit with
area professionals to get a peek at their busy workspaces
local profiles
34 An artist of bounty
Gino Salerno’s skills vary and his passion runs deep
36 Stitching a path
Crochet Thoughts become a small business
38 Dillon Lecture Series
58
From creation to celebrations, the series continues to wow Hutchinson
Art-centric
The Hutchinson Art Center continues to celebrate inventive work
health & fitness
40 A fitness queen
This matriarch continues
to find rewards in staying active while motivating her daughters to do the same
42 Vegan in beef country Meat-free by choice, these health-conscious diners find more acceptance and options than ever
travel ideas
46 Southern comfort
In Every Issue On the Cover
Family Children's Theatre member, Simon Hill, gets in character for James and the Giant Peach (Photography by Brian Lingle)
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2 dear Reader 44 Q&A 64 best Bets
Time marches on in everyday life. But in Charleston, it seems to stand still
family
52 Setting the stage Families come together to dabble in the arts and act as one
hutchinsonliving
Dinner is Served
The Hutchinson Town Club boasts history and class Story by R ichar d Shan k Photography by B r ian Li ng le
A
local landmark was born in 1947, when the Secretary of the Navy announced the closing of a Naval Air Station in rural Reno County near Yoder. The base was hastily constructed in 1942 in the days following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Its closing was expected after Japan’s surrender, which ended World War II. Soon, there was talk in Hutchinson about possible uses for the naval facilities. At the same time, a group of business leaders in Hutchinson
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Member Julia Ehling prepares a plate at the Hutchinson Town Club’s monthly shrimp peel.
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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hutchinsonliving
expressed an interest in acquiring the officers’ club, which had been a spot for socializing at 110 N. Poplar St. in Hutchinson. Local veterans, including Nation Meyer, returned home from the war as heroes, and most would find their way to this downtown destination known as the “O Club.” “The O Club was a popular watering hole and was attractive with a big horseshoe bar, slot machines, with live dances on Friday night,” says Meyer. Soon, the Hutchinson banker and a group of civic leaders were seated in the base captain’s office with a proposal that the space be converted to a downtown private club. In turn, the captain would make the locals an offer they could not refuse. “As I recall, the captain offered to give us the booze, the slot machines and the fixtures with the agreement that we form a club,” Meyer says. “And if the club failed, he asked that we give any remaining funds to the Army and Navy relief efforts.” They accepted on the spot and within days formed a nonprofit corporation. At first the O Club’s only offering was liquid refreshments. The new organization decided early that dining would be a part of the private club, and plans were made to expand the Poplar Street location. After moving forward, the group then turned its attention to fundraising. Hutchinson News publisher Jack Harris pledged the hefty sum of $100, while others pledged lesser sums, and more than $11,000 was raised. By the 1950s, the club had gained a new identity and the Board of Directors voted to change the name to the Hutchinson Town Club. Then, as the membership rolls grew, plans were put in place to construct a new building at 200 E. Sherman St. In December 1963 it seemed that all of Hutchinson turned out to dedicate the new Town Club, which has served its membership in the 46 years since. Today the Town Club boasts a membership of 400, including about 15 who joined as charter members in 1947. In 1988, some say that the Town Club, a private Class A dinner club, reached a new level of excellence with the hiring of Hassan El Khatib as general manager. The Egyptian-born El Khatib would prove to be more than just a general manager. Now, 21 years into his tenure, his job description includes world-class chef, ice sculptor and perhaps ambassador.
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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
An ice sculpture lures members to the popular shrimp peel dinner. A view of the dining room captures members during dinner. The club’s exterior is reminiscent of its beginnings. The carved door and formal entry welcome guests. From left, General Manager Hassan El Khatib and chefs Brad Neuway and Brian Petering are instrumental in making the club a success.
hutchinsonliving
“The atmosphere that we strive for at the Town Club is crisp; it’s casual but comfortable.” – Tami Rife
With his impeccable European manners, El Khatib greets women with a kiss on the hand. And it seems he knows all members by their first name. “My philosophy is that every member is your boss,” El Khatib says. Parties of 100 or more arrive to fine dining and an ice sculpture prepared by El Khatib. If diners like, he will even appear tableside to prepare dinners or mix a flaming cherries jubilee or bananas foster. A look at the club’s monthly schedule confirms that there are plenty of dining options for members. Every Monday night, guests feast on a family-style chicken dinner. A must for many members is the shrimp peel on the last Friday night of the month. Members are wise to make their reservations early for the monthly Travelogue that features worldly cuisine. But, as El Khatib points out, there are specials every day for noon and evening dining. A tradition that began with the club remains to this day. On any weekday, 30 or more businessmen will take their seat at a long table for lunch in what is called the Card Room. Here it is said that at least a few world problems are solved and all enjoy a good time. For Tami Rife, president of the Hutchinson Town Club Board of Directors, the Town Club is more than a volunteer job—it is a passion. “I just love this place,” she says. “When our members arrive, they will not be rushed through their meal and they are going to dine with someone they know. “The atmosphere that we strive for at the Town Club is crisp; it’s casual but comfortable, where we are able to cater to the needs of our members without being too formal or stuffy,” Rife says. With 62 years of continuous service to Hutchinson, the Town Club holds the distinction as the longest active business serving food in the city of Hutchinson. A visit to this Hutchinson landmark leaves little doubt that the Town Club, like its fine wine, gets better with age. MORE INFO
The Hutchinson Town Club 200 E. Sherman (620) 662-0209 www.hutchinsontownclub.com
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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hutchinsonliving
Standard of Cabin Living
One couple’s log home becomes a sanctuary for all that they love Story by E di e Ross Photography by De bor ah Walke r
A
s a young couple, Bill and Margie Barron stumbled upon a real estate listing for a log cabin. While they had always liked log homes, they weren’t necessarily in the market for one. Nevertheless, they decided to drive by and look at it—for curiosity’s sake. Seeing the home, sitting on a hill north of Hutchinson on just more than two acres, only deepened their interest.
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“We decided to just pretend we were interested in buying it so the Realtor would let us see the inside,” Bill says. “We get inside and it’s, ‘Oh my goodness. How are we going to do this?’” Margie says, picking up the story. “Bill keeps telling me not to act excited so they won’t think we’re too eager. We ended up selling our boat and camper. We bit the bullet and just did it.” Twenty-five years later the Barrons, now in their 60s, are still in love with what has become their dream home—so much so that they say if they were to ever move, they’d have to take the house with them. And that seems surprising, considering the Barrons are hardly ever home.
(1)
Busy lives
The Barrons, married in 1975, are not known for standing still. Their involvement in hobby sports includes deer hunting, coyote calling, competitive shooting, motorcycling and hot rod car restoration. Bill and Margie also have raised three children and now enjoy eight grandchildren. They both work full time, and Margie even dabbles in a successful painting career, displaying her works at art shows. “We’re never here,” Margie says. “But when we are home, we love it. We love the rustic feel of it.” The home, it seems, has become a part of the family, and the personal décor almost makes the cabin an extension of Bill and Margie themselves.
(6)
Cabin living
The two-story log home includes three bedrooms, two bathrooms and two hobby rooms in the basement. An open kitchen with distressed oak floors and a living room anchored by a large wood-fire stove round out the cabin, which was built in 1976. The couple take advantage of the living room’s high ceilings to feature mounted game on the walls. Four bucks, two with interlocking antlers, are the spoils of Bill’s longtime love for hunting. And a mounted 36-pound striper fish belongs to Margie, who caught it at Beaver Lake in Arkansas. Margie’s watercolor paintings are among the room’s main attractions. One of Bill’s favorites is a detailed depiction of a saddle resting on a fence. Oversize suede furniture decorated with Southwest-themed pillows and throws creates a rustic feel in the living room, where stairs wind up to the second floor amid exposed log beams.
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THE DETAILS
Clock
Margie's painting
Antiques
A unique clock reminds them to take time to fish.
Her depiction of a saddle is Bill’s favorite.
Items from the past punctuate the decor.
hutchinsonliving
(3)
(2) (1) The kitchen of Margie and Bill Barron’s log home is a popular gathering spot for family and friends. (2) Many rooms in their home take on the feel of a log cabin, which the Barrons love. (3) Bill's hobby room is a favorite retreat. (4) Many details of the log home captured the couple’s interest when they first saw the home more than 20 years ago. (5) Wild game caught by Bill adds to the home’s rustic décor. (6) Motorcycles are a favorite among the Barrons' many hobbies.
“We decided to just pretend we were interested in buying it so the Realtor would let us see the inside.” – Bill Barron
(4) (5)
Toys
Antiques
Recognition
A rocking horse is ready for their eight grandchildren.
Antique photographs of Bill’s parents flank a pitcher and basin.
Bill has won numerous hunting medals.
Upstairs, where the ceilings follow the roofline of the home, the light color of the pine logs turns golden in the afternoon light. As a result, the upstairs guest bedroom is one of Margie’s favorite places to take a nap. Another upstairs bedroom is filled with toys, both old and new, for the grandchildren when they come to visit. The kitchen and dining area, off the living room, seems to unfold from a heavy wooden table-and-chair set arranged near a bank of windows. The kitchen—more specifically the table—also serves as Margie’s art studio. The light coming through the windows, as well as the view, is especially beautiful in the fall when an Autumn Blaze maple lives up to its name. Stairs just off the kitchen lead to the basement. To the right is Margie’s hobby room, filled mostly with her art and the equipment needed to frame it. Across the hall is Bill’s hobby room, boasting more mounted animals and the gear needed for the various pastimes he loves. Trophies, medals and plaques won in those activities overflow out of one corner of the room with just a few officially on display. “I only put out my first places,” Bill explains with a shy grin. In a few years the Barrons will both be retired, and they look forward to spending more time with their grandchildren and being free to pursue their hobbies to an even greater degree. They hope that in the midst of that, they’ll be able to update their kitchen and even spend a bit of time on the front and back porches that flank the home. “Right now we’re too busy to sit still very long,” Bill says. “We do like the porches, though. Maybe when we get older, we’ll get a couple of rockin’ chairs out there.”
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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hutchinsonbusinesses
IN THE SPIRIT
Coming Home for the Holidays
One Hutchinson business nearly outdoes Santa Claus
Story by Amy Con kli ng Photography by L arry Caldwe ll
L
ong before trick-or-treaters find the bottoms of their candy sacks, Kim Scott has Coming Home laid out for the upcoming Christmas season. Scott and her staff finish their October with all-nighters and plenty of caffeine as they turn the popular Hutchinson home décor store into an inviting holiday showcase. “It’s definitely a crazy week,” Scott says, “filled with a lot of trips to Starbucks.” And she knows it’s well worth it, as hundreds of customers flock to the store throughout November and December to get home décor ideas and inspirations and holiday gifts. The store is in its 14th year of operation. Aside from gifts and décor items, Coming Home provides interior design services. Prepping (way) ahead
Once most people begin taking down their Christmas trees and boxing up their holiday décor for another year, Scott and her team are attending market to get ideas for the next Christmas. It’s a season Scott knows well. Prior to purchasing Coming Home, with her husband David, from former owner Bev Dick in June 2007, Scott worked in the store and helped decorate clients’ homes throughout the holiday season. Through the years, she’s seen it all—from the traditional Santa Claus, holly berries and crisp greens and reds to the whimsical hot hues of lime green, cranberry and other modern holiday décor. “We find all the trends during market in January. And by the time we leave there, we have our store pretty much laid out
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hutchinsonbusinesses
Angie Ontjes decorates Coming Home’s main tree for the holiday season, which is fast approaching. Small items can make a big impact in a home's dÊcor. above RIGHT Owner Kim Scott says holiday items this year feature traditional reds and greens. TOP
above LEFT
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hutchinsonbusinesses
What’s
Hot
“We find all the trends during market in January. And by the time we leave there, we have our store pretty much laid out for the next Christmas season.” – Kim Scott
With an insider view of top gift items available in the store, owner Kim Scott and interior designer Mary Hoover give Hutchinson Magazine a sneak peek.
—
1 WoodWick Candles
for the next Christmas season,” Scott says. Decorating cents Not all customers are able to hire an inteItems arrive as early as May and go directly to storage, where they remain until late rior designer to decorate their home for the October. holiday, but Hoover and Scott say a few tips In the past the store has showcased the can help make homes shine during the holiholiday trends with color-themed rooms. day season. “We’ve had a red room, a gold room, a Scott encourages her clients to maintain green room,” says consistency when Mary Hoover, Comdecorating. If they ing Home’s new inteuse garland, use the MORE INFO rior designer. “It’s a same style of garland unique way to show Coming Home throughout the home. 1716 E. 30th Ave. what we have.” The same goes for rib(620) 663-4672 And it works. bon, berries and other 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday While some cusfinishing touches. www.shopcominghome.com tomers ask Scott to “Any kind of wreath decorate their homes, works well because others simply stop by you can make a festo see ideas and purchase odds and ends tive series of it,” Hoover says. “Use berries to complete their holiday décor. as an accent, and it can last you throughout This year’s trends include plenty of tradi- the winter.” tional fare, Scott says, instead of the whimsiHoover also suggests using vases and cal looks of years past. “The lime green color different colors of ribbon to decorate the is coming through, but we’re seeing lots of home. Place flowers or different beads and basic items with the garlands and the true ribbon inside the vases to create instant reds and greens that many people think of décor without a lot of cost. “Try to use the same colors for Christduring the holidays.” Hoover says a bright, fire engine red color mas and winter to make décor last through complements many of the lime green items. the entire season,” Hoover suggests. “Or As for traditional, she says, the deep cran- use a mainstay item such as a vase and berry reds, creams and other off-white items change its accessories between Christmas are also popular. and winter.”
“It’s our number one seller,” Scott says of the brand-name candles featured in the store. And with seasonal scents such as holiday hearth, holly berry and cranberry fig, it’s hard to resist purchasing a few for friends—or yourself.
—
2 Food/gift baskets and
items Scott says the store features plenty of baskets that include several food items perfect for hostess or neighbor gifts. Popular food items include sweet treats from the South Bend Chocolate Co., including chocolate-covered cherries, pretzels, white chocolate and other decadent snacks, Hoover says.
—
3 Silver costume jewelry
“The ladies love it,” Hoover says, and the empty shelves prove it. Hoover says the chunky watches, bracelets and other silver jewelry always are a hit. The store orders extra for the holidays to keep up with demand.
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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hutchinsonbusinesses
HISTORIC
The Old Soda Fountain
Fraese Drug continues to offer a taste of nostalgia amid a modern pharmacy business
Story by Amy Bicke l Photography by A aron East
L
ife was simpler back when youths still darted into the local downtown drugstore and soda fountain, plopped down on shiny swivel stools and requested a Green River or chocolate soda. Modern drugstores claim to have everything from flu symptom relief to facial creams to greeting cards. Few drugstores, however, still serve up those old-time soda fountain concoctions—chilling sweets that hit the inner soul. But in Hutchinson, folks can belly up to the counter at Fraese Drug. The downtown store, in the historic Wiley Building, features ice cream desserts and cherry cola, along with a hot meal or homemade pie. That’s the way it’s been for 70 years. “I remember it well,” Mark Hukills says of his first time in the shop. “I could smell the hot beef sandwich when I walked into the door.” Hukills is a UPS driver who has eaten lunch at the fountain, on his break from deliveries, almost daily for the past 25 years. Kenny Conner roller-skates to Fraese around lunchtime every day for the daily special and a cup of joe. “It’s a great atmosphere and definitely good coffee in my opinion,” he says. Days gone by
In the first half of the 20th century, most Kansas towns claimed at least one soda fountain. A century later, just 38 remain, according to the Kansas Sampler Foundation. Pharmacists and Fraese Drug owners Jan Ellis and Don Kaufman have enjoyed preserving the old-fashioned drug store and soda fountain.
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hutchinsonbusinesses
FAR RIGHT Cook Sandy Brooks knows exactly what keeps customers coming back: homemade pie. RIGHT A view of the soda fountain entrance. BELOW The popular lunch spot moved to Wiley Plaza in 1988.
Fraese Drug is one of those longtime staples—a full-service independent pharmacy with soda fountain offerings on the side, says pharmacist Don Kaufman, who owns the Hutchinson business with pharmacist Jan Ellis. In 1939 Walt Fraese opened the drug store and soda fountain in the Wolcott Building at Second Avenue and Main Street. He owned the business until 1961 when he sold it to Sid Trebilcock. In 1988 the store moved to the Wiley Plaza, and Ellis and Kaufman purchased it in 1989. Kaufman graduated from Buhler High School, and Ellis from Hutchinson High School. The two were University of Kansas pharmacy school classmates and, after graduating in 1978, found their first jobs at Fraese Drug. “I just knew I wanted to be in health care,” Kaufman says. “But I am glad I chose pharmacy because it has turned out to be very rewarding.” Both admit they’re part of a diminishing breed, as only a handful of independent pharmacies remain in an era of large, chainstore operations. “It is a great feeling when customers come back the next day or the next week and tell you the advice you gave them or the prescription you dispensed made them feel better,” says Kaufman. Being locally owned and independent has its benefits, he says. “I think the main advantage is being able to be more competi-
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
tive and flexible with prescription pricing without having to go through a lot of corporate decision-making,” says Kaufman. Here, however, is the cherry on top: No other Hutchinson pharmacy has a soda fountain. It’s “what makes our pharmacy unique and helps to provide a link to the past,” he says. Dwindling piece of Americana
When full-time cook Sandy Brooks arrives at work just before 8 each morning, a group of regulars is waiting at the door. Some want coffee. A few want pie. All come for good conversation. Ellis admits little of the infrastructure is original from the 1939 business. The name is the same and the old-time spigots still sit at the counter, though they are no longer hooked up. The old bar is gone, as well as the mirrored backdrop. One mainstay is the crowd, of course. Besides a roomful of morning coffee drinkers, it’s standing room only at lunchtime, Ellis says. Grandparents come with grandchildren, colleagues meet for camaraderie and friends come to catch up over a meal amid the lively atmosphere. “It’s sort of a gathering place,” Ellis says. “People come in and sit and chat.” Homemade food draws in the crowd, as Brooks makes everything from scratch, including soups, pies and hot daily specials. Kaufman says while his and Ellis’ spouses and children have helped at the business, managing the books, scooping up ice cream and running the register, he sees Fraese Drug customers as his extended family. “I can’t imagine coming to work without all the friends and characters we have at our soda fountain every day,” Kaufman says. “We call them regulars, but I think a better description is just good, friendly people who make coming to work enjoyable and sometimes very entertaining.” MORE INFO
Fraese Drug 100 N. Main St. (620) 662-4477 www.fraesedrug.com Pharmacy is open 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Saturday. Soda fountain is open 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Saturday.
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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hutchinsonbusinesses
THE WORKPLACE
From the Desks of Hutchinson
We visit with area professionals to get a peek at their busy workspaces
A
Story by Amy Bicke l Photography by De bor ah Walke r
desk can say a lot about someone’s personality— including whether they are organized or cluttered or outgoing or introverted. Some desks show one’s creativity. Others display a few of the things that make each job unique. That includes two of Hutchinson’s successful professionals—one who writes for a music-based magazine, and another who runs a world-class museum.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
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hutchinsonbusinesses
Scot Prilliman
—
Writer Scot Prilliman says he's not the most outgoing person.
Sitting in his home office on Hutchinson’s 14th Avenue, he says his only live interview, a two-hour phone conversation with Frank Zappa’s son Dweezil, was a near disaster. “Maybe it’s that you get in front of someone famous and you get tongue-tied,” Prilliman says with timid laugh. Not that it matters in the grand scheme of life for this international journalist. In his early career, Prilliman was a professional illustrator and screen printer, designing covers for record-label artists. These days, he makes his living writing about and recording computer-generated music from one of his two desks. Using the pen name Scot Solida, his articles have appeared in two British magazines: Computer Music and Future Music. He also co-wrote a book for Billboard, The Billboard Illustrated Home Recording Handbook, as well as a book on how to use the Apple music program GarageBand. He finds much of his musical inspiration in his basement office, a recording studio where, surrounded by synthesizers and keyboards, a computer rests on top of a sound mixer. But most of his writing happens in the upstairs office. Call it fortuitous when a friend dropped off an old computer at Prilliman’s doorstep eight years ago and told him they could make music with it. “I hate to admit I didn’t even own a computer,” Prilliman says somewhat embarrassedly. He says he is known in the music world for his knowledge of synthesizers. He has even made his own computer-generated psychedelic underground rock music under the name Christus and the Cosmonaughts. It’s all done online with the help of someone he has never met. Writing, however, is one of Prilliman’s true passions. “Writing is the single most powerful art form,” he says. “I’m a middle-aged man, and music is a young person’s world. This is a good place for someone like me.”
Found on Scot Prilliman’s desk
—
From the iMac: “I’m writing a basic
introductory guide to synthesizers for people who want to make music using their computer,” he says. Science fiction toys: These include
King Kong and a Dalek from the BBC television show Doctor Who. “I just love old science fiction and horror movies. My grandfather was hooked on the show, and he got me hooked too,” he says. Model of a head: The black faceless silhouette almost seems like part of Prilliman’s sci-fi collection, but he swears he doesn’t know where he got it. “I’ve thrown this thing out countless times, and it always finds its way back,” he says. A Wacom pen screen: The technology is
like a drawing tablet, allowing someone to illustrate without the messiness or fumes of paint, Prilliman says. “I was watching a documentary on how they did Star Wars or Star Trek and they showed someone drawing on one of these screens. … I had to have one,” he says. Clay mask from Mexico: “My wife
thought it was something creepy and I would like it.” Keyboard: “It’s not anything expensive,”
Prilliman says of the footlong keyboard that fits nicely on his desk. However, it comes in handy when he is writing upstairs away from his sound studio.
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Found on Chris Orwoll's desk
—
CHRIS ORWOLL
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A small placard on Chris Orwoll’s desk reads, “It can be done.”
Former President Ronald Reagan lived by those words, Orwoll says from his stately office on the second floor of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center. Orwoll, the museum’s president and chief executive officer, takes those four simple words to heart when he sits behind his large pine desk filled with artifacts ranging from the far depths of the ocean to outer space. Noting that man made it to the moon 40 years ago, Orwoll says, “That’s a lot of my attitude … there is a way to do everything.” For about two years, Orwoll has done his job from this vast office with oceans of desktop and plenty of space memorabilia. It’s a change from his first career as an executive officer on a Navy submarine when Orwoll’s desk was barely 2 feet in length. “I have a great view,” he says of his Cosmosphere desk and office. “Who else can look out their office window and see the cockpit of a space shuttle?” His office also contains evidence of his early interest in space. He grew up in Downey, California, where the Apollo command module and shuttle were built. His family took him to all the events when the astronauts came to town. A newspaper clipping on his desk shows a young Orwoll shaking hands with Apollo 16 astronaut John Young. He admits his collection is eclectic. “It’s kind of a mixture of space, personal life and the Navy,” he says. “Not many have a baseball signed by Neil Armstrong, a piece of a hull of the USS Constitution and an autographed KU basketball” in their offices. However, Orwoll says, “It describes me.”
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Plank owner: Orwoll has pieces of the hull from the USS Tuscan because he worked on its construction. Navy relics: Framed documents on the wall by his computer show Orwoll is a member of the Order of the Ditch, for sailors who’ve passed through the Panama Canal, and the Order of the Blue Nose, for sailors who have crossed the Arctic Circle. His inbox: It includes a copy of the National Geographic Space Edition. Odds and ends: One second of IMAX film, sand from Iwo Jima, a piece of Liberty Bell 7. Personal mementos: Orwoll keeps a Bible on his desk for occasional reading through the day. There are pictures of his wife and nine children, and a fire helmet from when he was a volunteer with the Eudora Fire Department. Books: Resting on his desk is a copy of The Unbroken Chain, Guenter Wendt’s space autobiography. Calligraphy: Long hours on a Navy submarine provide plenty of time to hone a skill, according to Orwoll. He taught himself calligraphy. One of his works, the lyrics to the folkrock song “Cat’s in the Cradle,” hangs on the wall next to his computer. University of Kansas autographed basketball: Orwoll, whose previous job
was as a University of Kansas professor and commanding officer for its ROTC program, purchased the basketball at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season because he “had a hunch.” The KU men’s basketball team went on to win the NCAA tournament that year. Bottle of Louisiana hot sauce: It’s
just like what NASA sends into space for the astronauts at the space station. “They want a little flavoring,” he says.
Story by Amy B icke l
Photography by Br ian Li ng le
High-S t yle
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
Recovery
One antique home is restored with care
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The foyer and sitting room of Doc and Teddy Gingerich’s home has period furniture and elements such as the various light fixtures.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
A powder room off the entrance has been restored with modern updates, like much of the house. above right Mosaic tiles decorate peaks on the exterior for a little flair. above left
t
he kitchen ceiling was collapsing, the plumbing was
broken and pigeons had taken over the thirdstory attic. Moreover, neighbors wanted the dilapidated home torn down. Several years of neglect had worn the once stately Gano Estate on East Avenue A. Yet Ralph “Doc” Gingerich, a young bachelor in his early 30s, saw faded beauty, not an eyesore. He bought the home in foreclosure and figured he could fix it, sell it and make a little extra money. That was 25 years ago. On a recent crisp fall day, Doc and his wife Teddy sit in the parlor with its original marble fireplace. Manicured hardwood floors and intricate woodwork punctuate the room. Doc, who co-owns Real Estate & Investment Brokers Inc., just never could bear to give up the home. “I fell in love with this house,” he says. “I couldn’t bring myself to sell it.” A Historic Avenue
Homes of grandeur still grace Hutchinson’s Houston Whiteside Historic District. Many still have the horse and buggy hitching post in front and a carriage house out back. These two- to three-story dwellings were built in a time when Hutchinson was just a fledgling new city.
“The house is a work in progress. We’ve been working on it all these years.” – Teddy Gingerich
Residents used to call it the Silk Stocking District, according to LaVerle Pounds, a neighbor who has renovated a home a few houses down from the Gingerich house. “These were people with a little more money,” Pounds says. “It was a wealthier neighborhood.” But the estate, built in 1900, seems to overshadow its surrounding structures. A doctor originally owned the home but never lived in it. Instead, grain merchant George Gano bought the home and stayed there for more than five decades. Gano was one of the city’s more influential entrepreneurs. He owned several grain elevators throughout Kansas and eastern Colorado and was elected mayor in 1921. His empire was so vast that in the late 1920s the Kansas State Fair Board appealed to him to help with improvements. Gano gave the board a loan for construction of a new, fireproof cattle barn. “He was a town leader,” says Doc, who adds that Gano’s home was just as influential on the neighborhood. “He lived here 55 years until he died.” The elaborate, high-style pale yellow Queen Anne house features a wraparound porch on the eastern side, a distinctive hipped roof with lower crossed gables and a circular tower with a spire on the west side. Other accents include an oval window on the thirdfloor attic area, Corinthian porch columns, decorative swags on the tower, stained-glass windows and glass mosaics in the pediments. The Houston Whiteside District is on the National Register of Historic Places; and the home, in the neighborhood, was one of the first residences in Hutchinson to have air-conditioning.
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“I fell in love with this house. I couldn’t bring myself to sell it.” – Doc Gingerich
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Fixer-upper
Their own style
However, the house Doc bought a year before he married his wife wasn’t that same imposing structure. Gano’s grandson, Nelson Hobart, purchased the home from the Gano estate in 1952. The Hobart family moved in 1961 and the house changed hands several times that decade. It was turned into apartments and even used as a nursing home. One rumor is that a previous owner even worked on motorcycles in the dining room. As a new bride, Teddy admits she didn’t know if she wanted to own a fixer-upper. Nevertheless, she says with a grin, “you grow fond of it.” They lived upstairs, which was in decent shape, while they began the process of mending the old house. “I think [Doc] hauled half a dozen pickup loads out of the basement,” Teddy says of the junk. Priority projects included replacing the rotting exterior wood siding and adding a new coat of paint on the house. The work didn’t stop there. The couple tore up worn carpet that covered the original hardwood floors. They stripped paint from the woodwork and ripped wallpaper off the walls. Broken and rotting windows were fixed and the plumbing repaired. More cabinet space was added to the kitchen. They replaced the old airconditioning with something more modern and efficient, rewired the house’s electricity and replaced light fixtures. “The house is a work in progress. We’ve been working on it all these years,” says Teddy.
The couple raised their two daughters in the 10-room home, which now has a décor that reflects the couple’s interest in antiques and Teddy’s love of art. She is an art teacher at McCandless and Avenue A elementary schools. “I’d call it eclectic,” Teddy says of the interior design, which features everything from blown glass pieces displayed on antique tables to abstract paintings and jewelry hanging from the walls. Gano’s eloquent home serves as an unexpected showplace for Teddy’s modern art. In the kitchen, colorful Fiestaware dishes are accented in the glass-window cupboards that line one wall. And what originally was a servant staircase now leads to Teddy’s studio on the second floor. In the formal dining room, the original chandelier hangs above the wooden table. Antique chairs and tables fill the parlor. A sitting area by the front door features the intricate staircase and a circular window seat for callers. It’s these elements that make it home, Doc says. It’s why he could never sell it, although now just the couple live in the spacious historic house where their love of the past continues to flourish. “We both love old furniture, old cars, old music, old baseball players,” Doc says. “And we both love old houses.”
Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
Teddy, an elementary art teacher, has found many ways to brighten the kitchen.
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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localprofiles
An Artist of Bounty Gino Salerno’s skills vary his passion runs deep
story by R ichar d Shan k Photography by De bor ah Walke r
Gino Salerno enjoys pursuing his interest in various arts. A photograph taken by Gino received a Merit Award at the 2009 Prairie Art Exhibition. TOP
BOTTOM
M
any adjectives have been used to describe Gino Salerno, but all who know him agree he is as multitalented as a jack-of-all-trades. As a physician’s assistant at PrairieStar Health Center in Hutchinson, the 47-year-old father of five may treat as many as 25-30 patients during a typical 12-hour shift. This barely touches on Gino’s true personality. The Peruvianborn artist pursues a dozen other interests, which include sculpting trees, producing short films, serving as an advocate for the homeless and playing the guitar. Gino’s PrairieStar supervisor, Jerome Spitzer, has dubbed him the Renaissance Man. “Gino is hardworking and serious about everything that he does,” says Spitzer. “He is, without question, a humanitarian.” Gino leaves little doubt that the most important thing in his life is his wife, Marsha, a librarian at Hadley Middle School in Wichita, and his five children, Vincent, 17, Martina, 15, Marco, 14, Elvin, 13, and Serena, 7. Gino is quick to share that his creative talents were encouraged early. He remembers how his mother enjoyed working with her hands and visiting museums; as a result, Gino has continued to explore the arts. Sculpture
When a devastating tornado struck Wichita in the late ’80s, Gino was asked by the parks department to convert a number of dead or dying trees into works of art. He sculpted everything from circus characters to servicemen in uniform. He even carved several members of the animal kingdom. The tools of his trade are nothing fancy: a chainsaw, grinder, chisel, sander and hand tools. “The amount of time required to complete a wood sculpture project depends on the size of the wood and the amount of detail needed, so the actual project might take anywhere from three hours to two weeks,” Gino says. Gino later would use his talents for projects at Hutchinson Community College and the Hutchinson Zoo. However, a quick chat with the artist suggests there is more to him than his work as a sculptor.
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localprofiles
“Gino is hardworking and serious about everything that he does. He is, without question, a humanitarian.”
left Gino works on one of his wood sculptures, which can be found around Hutchinson and Wichita.
– Jerome Spitzer Advocate
He also is a passionate advocate for the homeless worldwide. While working at a clinic in Wichita and serving patients without health insurance, he gained a new appreciation for the homeless. “I met literally hundreds of homeless men and women,” Gino says. Soon after, he took the first of seven trips to Haiti where he joined several doctors who volunteered their time to serve the medical needs of this impoverished country. “We set up clinics, and during our seven- to 10-day stay will work with several doctors in treating as many as 60 patients per day,” Gino says. “At the end of our visit, it is often hard to leave.” In subsequent trips to Africa, he treated patients with river blindness, a disease requiring treatment similar to that used for malaria. “In Africa, many suffer from infections where a small cut can necessitate an amputation,” he says. Filmmaking
Along the way, he developed a passion for filmmaking that he would soon combine with his commitment to the homeless. Although he has no formal training in video productions, Gino had friends in the business. “I learned pretty much everything from watching films, reading articles on the subject, getting film-editing software and watching online tutorials,” he says. Soon, he was ready to test his newfound skills as a filmmaker. Gino hit the road in 2004 for what would become a two-year project interviewing homeless people wandering the streets of Wichita, Lawrence, Emporia and Kansas City. Gino wrote, directed and produced a documentary that gave a greater perspective of this growing national problem. As a part of the project, for one year he documented the travels of one homeless man. A Year in the Life of John Matthews was just the beginning of his film endeavors. He then was ready to tackle other issues. These include A Forgotten Man, a film that depicts the steps in the grieving process of a man who’s lost his wife. Barbara Bartel, who played a role in the production, gives Gino high marks for his moviemaking skills. “Gino does everything precisely, and he can do everything,” Bartel says. “When he makes a movie, he handles everything from the lighting to the directing. “He is a very caring person and everyone feels very comfortable to be around him,” she says. Even though his projects consume time and resources, profit is not his motive. “If you are doing anything to make money, there is almost an unspoken pressure to produce stuff that will make somebody else happy,” says Gino. “There is more freedom if you don’t have to deal with that, but it does help if you have another source of income.”
above A family man first, Gino values family time with, from left, Elvin, Vincent, Serena, wife Marsha, Martina and Marco. left Gino, a physician’s assistant, consults with Jerome Spitzer at PrairieStar Health Center.
left Salerno’s prairie dog sculptures are seen at the Hutchinson Zoo. above Gino and his daughter Martina perform Latin guitar at Adrian’s restaurant in Wichita.
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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localprofiles
Stitching a Path Crochet Thoughts become a small business story by Amy Con kli ng Photography by A aron East
M
arcia Harris made her first crochet stitch as a teenager more than a decade ago. Keep up with Thousands of stitches later, Marcia Harris through Harris—now a 31-year-old sinher blog and Etsy site. gle mother of four who lives in Inman—is making a business out of the craft her www.crochethoughts. mother introduced to her. blogspot.com www.crochethoughts. Harris runs her crochet business through the popuetsy.com lar crafty website Etsy.com, where artists from across the nation, specializing in handmade items, sell their wares. She also writes about her life and crochet experiences on her blog, Crochethoughts.
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Self-taught
TOP Marcia Harris with her inspiring children, from left, Alexix, Jacob, Zada and Moriah. ABOVE Marcia has turned her love of crocheting into a business, Crochet Thoughts, with the help of the online craft community Etsy.
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Harris remembers when her mother showed her the fundamental crochet stitches. “She taught me the basics, but I self-taught myself everything else,” Harris says. “Growing up, I tried other crafts and lots of other things, but for some reason I stuck with crochet.” In the years to follow, Harris’ crochet talents slowly faded. She had four children—Alexix, 12, Jacob, 8, Zada, 7, and Moriah, 5—and became busy chasing them around. She moved from her home in Medora to Texas. “I crocheted a bit when the kids were younger, making them the typical baby blankets and scarves or hats,” she says. But a return move to Kansas in 20026 spurred her crochet talents. Harris was working at an Inman nursing home when she hurt her back. The injury eventually caused her to quit the job, leaving her with no income. That’s when she turned to her old staple of crocheting. “I was bored and needed something to do,” Harris says. “But I also needed to provide for my family. Crocheting is nice because I do small projects that don’t take long to do and can be transported wherever I go: to the park, in the backyard, anywhere with my kids.” Moving for a job wasn’t an option because she enjoyed living in a small town where her kids could “bike and play in the front yard and walk to school without having to worry about them,” she says.
So Harris combined her crochet talents and innovative business ideas to create a website where she sold her crochet items. It proved to be a lot of work for no return. “I wasn’t getting hits or sales and had to constantly update the site myself,” she says. Instead she downloaded a tutorial on Etsy and created her shop on the site. Etsy does the maintenance and update work, so she just has to worry about uploading her creations to the site. Her shop includes a variety of items, from burgundy and cream-colored wraps to gray wrist warmers, black hats, colorful scarves, trendy buttons and bright purses with brooches. She even crochets necklaces and coasters. “I’ve tried to crochet just about anything,” Harris says. And the best part for customers? Prices are reasonable, ranging from $8 to $25. She’s sold items to people across the United States and recently sold her first item to a Canadian resident. “It’s neat to think that my crocheted items are being used by people all over,” Harris says. Her scarves tend to be her top sellers. “They’re obviously not scarves that are bought in a large store,” she says. “They’re definitely handmade, and people like that style and the fact that it’s something unique.” Creative stitches
Harris is proud that she doesn’t use patterns while creating her scarves and other items. Instead, the designs simply come to mind as she’s clicking away on her needles. Aside from her scarves, Harris enjoys stitching wraps or shawls used by nursing home residents. She also enjoys stitching items for each of her children, who continue to wear their mother’s creations years later. “I’ve made the girls ponchos and purses, and my son has a hat he still likes to wear,” Harris says. But what her children enjoy most, she says, is learning the trade that has given their mother the chance to be a self-employed businesswoman. “They like to watch me work at night, but also like learning how to crochet and the different stitches,” Harris says. “And I like teaching them. It brings back memories from when I learned how to do it.” Beyond crocheting, Harris would like to do something with another hobby she’s found in recent years—photography. “I’ve tried all kinds of crafts—knitting, drawing and others,” Harris says. “I’ve always been drawn to crochet and photography. I just need to put them together somehow. I want to make this my business, my career.”
Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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localprofiles
Dillon Lecture Series
From creation to celebrations, the series continues to wow Hutchinson Story by R ichar d Shan k Photography by B r ian Li ng le
I
above These pictures represent speakers at the Dillon Lecture Series since 1982. below Patron members of the series are treated to a luncheon with the speaker following a lecture.
n 1981, Barbara Peirce and Jeanette Mull had a desire to create something educational for young and old residents of Reno County. That something would lead to the establishment of what has become a nationally respected lecture series. This came as no surprise to those who knew Peirce and Mull. The close friends and neighbors were known throughout Hutchinson for their community spirit and civic involvement. Peirce and Mull first made their case for such a series to Ed Berger, dean of continuing education at Hutchinson Community College. He pledged his support, as did Jim Stringer, the school’s president. To find a namesake for the series, the two women merely walked around the corner in their Hyde Park neighborhood to visit with Ray and Stella Dillon. Ray, a longtime civic activist himself, had spent a career with his father and family in establishing Dillons, the state’s largest chain of grocery stores. “Ray liked the idea and thought the series would give The annual young people an opportunity to learn from nationally membership drive for the known speakers,” says Mull. Dillon Lecture Series is under Soon, the Hutchinson Community College Board way. Patron memberships can of Trustees put its stamp of approval on the series be purchased for $125 each. For to be administered through the college and named more information, call the Office it the Ray and Stella Dillon Lecture Series. of the President at Hutchinson Peirce, according to Berger, believed strongly Community College at that the series should be patterned after the Landon (620) 665-3387. Lecture Series at Kansas State University “Barbara felt very strongly that a series set up on the model of the Landon Lecture Series would be very good for Hutchinson,” says Pierce’s husband Ken. “Everyone seemed to agree that the series should be funded through private dollars,” Berger says. Within days, the Ray and Stella Dillon Foundation approved a contribution to assist with startup costs. On March 29, 1982, the series was launched with a presentation from Richard Morefield, one of 52 Americans held hostage for 444 days during 1979-81 by Iranian extremists. Berger was named the school’s president in 1991. Two years later Alice Tritsch transferred into the position as administrative
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David Dillon was a recent speaker who also received a large homecoming
“This visit meant a great deal to me to return home to speak at a lecture series named after my great-uncle and aunt.” - David Dillon
assistant to the president and assumed responsibility for coordinating the lecture series. Tritsch retired in 2008 but continues as the series coordinator. Today’s Dillon Lecture Series Board of Directors is made up of 10 community leaders who meet several times throughout the year to consider speaking prospects. After Peirce’s death in 1995, Ken joined the Board of Directors and continues to serve. Annually, one of the lectures is designated the Barbara Peirce Memorial Lecture in honor of her efforts in establishing the series. Patron members are invited to a private luncheon with the speakers and participate in a separate question-and-answer session. Area high school students are also invited to attend the lectures at no cost. Gloriana Valverde, Hutchinson Community College Student Government Association president, has enjoyed the privilege of being a part of the lecture series. “I think that the Dillon Lecture Series is a great opportunity for students to expand their knowledge to be able to hear from well known experts and speakers,” she says. To date, the 112 speakers—including a former head of state, a Major League Baseball manager and the Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff—have visited Hutchinson as Dillon lecturers, and all seem to leave a story or two worth repeating. When the agent for a former head of state requested that he be driven into the city in a limousine in 2006, Hutchinson funeral director Tom Elliott came to the rescue. Passersby were puzzled to see Tom driving around Hutchinson in a funeral car with the former president of Poland riding in the back seat.
St. Louis Cardinals Manager Whitey Herzog spoke in 1990 and for 50 minutes enthralled his audience with 40 years worth of baseball stories. Retired Washington Post Editor Ben Bradlee, whose reporting team broke the Watergate scandal, arrived in Hutchinson on a wintry night in 2001. A socializer by his own admission, he was hosted for a late-night dinner at the Hutchinson Town Club where he gave a lighthearted analysis of events in the nation’s capital. Dr. Red Duke, known for his folksy style and televised health tips, holds the record for drawing the largest audience in the 27-year history of the series. He spoke in 1990 to 5,500 people. But September 30, 2009, will long be remembered as a special day in the history of the lecture series. On that day, the series hosted its first Dillon: David Dillon who, like his great-uncle Ray Dillon, remains involved in the grocery business. For David, the CEO of Kroger, it was a real homecoming, as family and a host of friends greeted him on his return to his hometown of Hutchinson. David didn’t disappoint his many fans in the city. In a 45-minute address, he spoke of the principles that have guided him personally and professionally. In a question-and-answer session following the luncheon, he left many patrons in awe of his straightforward way of dealing with business issues, including stories of walking the aisles of stores and introducing himself to customers. Following the luncheon, one patron summed up the event as a historic day for the Dillon Lecture Series—and that it was. “This visit meant a great deal to me to return home to speak at a lecture series named after my great-uncle and aunt,” says Dillon.
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health&fitness 2 | HEALTH NUTS We continue our series of articles on “Health Nuts” from Reno County
Teresa Robinson rides the open road as part of her continued training to be healthy and fit.
These individuals, young and old, seek a healthier lifestyle through many forms of well-being and exercise. Our second installment focuses on Teresa Robinson, the trainer turned triathlete.
A Fitness Queen This matriarch continues to find rewards in staying active while motivating her daughters to do the same Story by Amy Con kli ng
Photography by A aron East
T
eresa Robinson’s love of exercise was born in the simplest of forms years ago. Always an active person, Teresa’s love for movement took a different turn in the early 1980s. “I was about 15 pounds overweight after having my oldest daughter, so I got four to five ladies from church and we formed an exercise group,” Teresa says. It was the days of Jane Fonda, aerobics and boom boxes, and Teresa fell in love with it all quickly. “I lost the weight and had a good time doing aerobics,” she recalls. “It was something fun to do as a stay-at-home mom.” She soon progressed from her small group of five to teaching aerobics through the Hutchinson Recreation Commission for a class of 70-80 people while on the stage of a local elementary school.
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health&fitness
Those humble beginAs they entered high nings drove her to the school, her daughters opted out of long bike rides or runs competitor and trainer until their late college years, she is today. The 54-yearold trains for various bikwhen they had finished their softball careers. ing, running and triathAnna raced alongside her lon events. She is a wife to husband Gary, a mother mom for the first time in 2003 and grandmother, as well when they both competed in as a busy personal fitness the Salty Dog. Kate followed their footsteps a couple of trainer at the Hutchinson Clinic. Teresa also spends years later and joined them time helping train athletes in the same event. at Buhler High School and Since then, the Robinson teaches a Silver Sneakers fitwomen have participated ness class to senior citizens together in multiple triathat the Hutchinson YMCA. lons, biking events and run“I enjoy the mental and ning events. They come from physical parts of exercise. different areas of the state— It’s a great stress reliever,” above LEFT Teresa encourages athletes at Buhler High School and members at the Teresa from Hutchinson, Teresa says. “But I really Hutchinson YMCA to stay in shape. Kate from the Wichita area like the sense of accomplish- above RIGHT Getting in a good run, Teresa enjoys competing in triathlons and has even and Anna from Hillsboro— ment I have doing races, and sparked the interest in her two daughters. but enjoy uniting at races and sharing the memories I meet the neatest people at that follow. each event I go to.” “We have so many stories Better yet, she knows her love for physical fitness has been passed down to her two daugh- and pictures of everything we’ve done together,” Anna says. “We ters: Anna Woods, 27, and Kate Robinson, 24. may not remember our overall times in the events, but we definitely remember the funny stories that come from it.” Like those early Developing a love days of training, when Anna would be the one complaining on long Teresa didn’t get into her current running, biking and triathlon bike rides and Kate would be the one grumbling during long runs, training regimen right away. An old softball injury kept her from Teresa recalls. running for years, but it allowed her to experiment with biking Now, thanks to her mom, Anna is passing the exercise bug onto and weightlifting. her 3-year-old daughter, Leah. Anna runs a wellness program from As her knee became stronger, Teresa slowly introduced running her home in Hillsboro and is a personal trainer, while Kate teaches into her workouts. She recalls running several 5Ks and 10Ks in the physical education for the Circle school district. It’s all the norm area, even participating in one of “the first River Runs in Wichita, for this family. when there were probably only about 50 people,” she says. “People think we’re crazy. We spend our holidays or vacations In 1992, she added biking, which complemented her running rou- training together, but we know nothing different,” Anna says. “I look tine. Teresa soon became friends with other cyclists and a group of them forward to summer now, because some of our best conversations has since conquered the Bike Across Kansas challenge 10 times. come from our long runs or the car rides to races.” When the Hutchinson Recreation Commission launched the Salty Dog Triathlon in 2002, Teresa became interested in that event, which combined two of her loves—running and biking— with swimming. “I wasn’t a swimmer, and I was so worried about the swim part of it,” Teresa recalls. “I didn’t know if I could do it.” Seven years later, Teresa makes her summer triathlon circuit of races and maintains her training with several offseason winter indoor triathlons in the area. Her summer triathlons take her to Topeka, Derby, Olathe and Lawrence, and cities in Oklahoma. “The women’s-only triathlon in Olathe is one of my favorites,” she says. “You see all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities.” Female bonding
Teresa’s daughter Anna has early memories of her mom’s fitness endeavors and how she would include Anna and Kate in the races.
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health&fitness
Mark Harris shops the health food aisle at Dillons in search of vegan-friendly products.
Vegan in Beef Country Meat-free by choice, these health-conscious diners find more acceptance and options than ever Story by E di e Ross
B
Photography by L arry Caldwe ll
ill Davis stopped eating meat on August 15, 1971. It just happened to be the same day he went into the U.S. Army. The lifestyle change was one the Hutchinson native had been thinking about for some time, as he considered the health benefits as well as philosophical reasons. His enlistment to the Army was not representative of the lifestyle change. Instead, it was a matter of timing. “No one knew me in the Army,” Bill says. “I didn’t have to explain a lot. I didn’t have to explain anything to anyone.” More than three decades later Bill—now William D. Davis, a family practice physician at The Medical Center—carries on his lactovegetarian lifestyle. Lacto-vegetarians do not eat animal products or eggs. But unlike vegans, they do consume dairy products such as milk or cheese. Bill’s wife, Kris, has joined her husband in this lifestyle, and they are among a handful of people living a no-meat existence in Hutchinson. This includes Mark Harris, who nine years ago made
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an “ethical, health-conscious and environment-conscious” decision to become a vegan. Changing times
When the Davises began their lacto-vegetarian diet, it was tough to find the right kind of food to replace meat and eggs. It was often more difficult to explain their decisions. “Thirty-eight years ago people were going, ‘Huh? You’re a what? What does that mean?’” Kris says. But now it just seems normal. “When we first came to town, people were asking about it and making jokes,” Bill says. “A few years later they were coming up and asking for recipes. It hasn’t been a major thing.” Shopping also has become easier since the 1970s, as the options have increased. “My gosh, things have changed a lot,” says Kris. “Now there is a whole section in Dillons with all kinds of stuff— phony bologna and soy products.”
health&fitness
Going
Bill and Kris Davis adopted a Lacto-vegetarian lifestyle awhile ago and continue to make alternative dishes such as lentil soup, quinoa and salad.
Vegan 1 Be easy on yourself.
That’s the key to living the vegetarian, lacto-vegetarian or vegan lifestyles.
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2 “Just take it a step at a
time,” Kris Davis says. “If all else fails, there is always phony bologna.” (Meatless bologna is a soy product.)
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3 The easiest way to cook
without animal products is to substitute, Kris says. “If it calls for hamburger, use a soy product. If it calls for chicken or steak, use tofu. In fact, tofu can take on any flavor.”
Adaptation
To meet their lifestyle and dietary needs, vegans often use a strategy known as food replacement. For example, a recipe for chicken cacciatore might become tofu cacciatore. To help with the sometimes-uninspiring texture of tofu, Kris will brown it on both sides and spice it with garlic salt. Instead of eggs, a vegan might use egg substitute or mashed flax seed. The vegan or lacto-vegetarian diet doesn’t require every meal to be meticulously prepared, though. “You can get soy hot dogs or veggie burgers,” Bill says. “There are even TV dinners.” People often mistakenly assume that vegans are not getting the correct nutrition to live a healthy lifestyle, Mark says. These diets, however, do include protein—it just comes in the form of beans, soy, vegetables or legumes. For Mark, the diet has made him feel better physically and emotionally. “It has helped me maintain my weight and my health very well,” he says. “Everything from my energy levels to my mood seems to have improved.” Acceptance
A no-meat lifestyle would seem likely to make waves with families and friends. Before their change in diet, Bill and Mark were raised in the middle of beef country—Bill in Hutchinson and Mark in Haven. Kris is a St. Louis native, but both of her grandfathers worked as butchers. “Everyone has a point of view,” Kris says. “For us, this is what works. People are very understanding, I find, and very generous.” Although Hutchinson society seems respectful of the no-meat lifestyle, it is not necessarily set up to accommodate it. “If there was a drawback, it would be that there isn’t a lot of choice, particularly when you want to eat out,” Mark says. “Your choices in terms of restaurants are limited. It is getting much better, but it is still far from adequate.” Then there are social events, whether at a friend’s home, a corporate party or civic function. “If we’re going to someone’s house, I’ll usually call ahead and let them know that we are vegetarian, and I usually offer to bring something to share with the whole group,” Kris says. All three say the benefits of their lifestyle choice outweigh any challenges. “I feel better, my mind is more clear and I just don’t have that heavy feeling as much,” Bill says. “I’ve never missed eating meat."
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4 Bill Davis suggests
checking out a cookbook or two. His recommendation is The Soy of Cooking.
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5 Mark Harris suggests
finding restaurants that will cater to your lifestyle. “Seek out places that offer alternatives or allow adjustments,” he says.
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6 In Hutchinson, Chinese
restaurants typically have good options as well as Brooks on Main St., Marcella's Continental or Jillian's Grill & Wine Bar in Hutchinson, Mark says.
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7 Finally, remember you’re
not alone. “Vegetarians are all around,” Kris says. “Just take it easy and call someone if you have questions.”
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Q&A Photograph by B r ian Li ng le
Q&A with the Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives
Mike O’Neal “The politics isn’t what really floats my boat; it’s public policy.” HM: For someone rooted in
Kansas, what do you appreciate about the Midwest state? mo: I have always loved the fact that Kansas
F
amiliar face Mike O’Neal is the
state representative for the 104th District of Kansas, which includes part of Hutchinson. In January of 2009 he was sworn in as Speaker of the House after 24 years in the Kansas Legislature. O’Neal, who grew up in western Kansas, fondly remembers Hutchinson as the big city to the east. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Kansas, he obtained a law degree from KU in 1976. Soon after, he decided to move to Hutchinson. “I was pretty sure that I was not going to go back home, meaning out in western Kansas, and practice ’cause that’s not really the type of practice I was interested in,” he says. Since 1988 he has been with Gilliland & Hayes law firm in Hutchinson and has pursued political endeavors he’d hoped for since college. Today, O’Neal and wife Cindy enjoy visiting their kids, Haley and Austin, who are pursuing their own endeavors—Haley at Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri, and Austin at KU. We caught up with the speaker.
has four very distinct seasons, and I love every one of those seasons, including the hottest of summers and the harshest of winters. I guess I like living in the Midwest. I love living in an ag state and one that is—we’re kind of in exciting times. In the eastern part of the state, we’ve attracted a world-class national bio-defense facility. And we are going to become the Silicon Valley of animal and health research with KU and K-State. So there are some exciting things going on. HM: What do you enjoy most about politics? mo: You know, it’s funny you should ask the
question that way. … I don’t really enjoy the politics that much. … It’s what I do as an elected official. The politics isn’t what really floats my boat; it’s public policy. I like lawmaking, and I love state government. HM: What do you despise? mo: Politics!
I am not sure I would ever say that I despise anything, but it does get disappointing sometimes when the partisan nature of what we do sometimes colors public policy. HM: What do you consider one of your greatest achievements? mo: Being a dad of two students right now.
HM: Do you think they will follow in your footsteps? mo: Oh, I think they probably won’t.
And if you’re talking about politics and law, they probably won’t, and I have not tried to steer them in any particular direction. I have let them pretty much find their own interest, steer their own course. I am [also] very proud of the fact that I was able to obtain the office of Speaker of the House; that’s a huge honor. That’s something that I kind of wanted to do before I retired from the Legislature, and the opportunity to be able to do that has been really thrilling and rewarding for me. HM: When you are away from the Legislature, what do you do for fun? mo: My wife and I vacation each year between
Christmas and New Year’s in Puerto Vallarta. It’s one of our favorite places ever, so we like to travel a bit. I like to get to NYC at least once a year to hit Broadway—we both enjoy the Broadway shows. And of course [we are] KU basketball and football season ticket holders, [so that] is where we spend a lot of our time. HM: Who is your mentor or what is your inspiration? mo: Probably I would say Ronald Reagan. I am a
Reagan Republican. I really admired somebody who knew that in order to get a good job done, it wasn’t so much what you did but more about [what] the people you picked to surround yourself with did. So that has sort of been my leadership style—to try to surround myself with good people—because if you have good people doing good things, it reflects good on you. HM: What did you least expect as an experience when you became Speaker of the House? mo: I suppose it was somewhat expected, but I
had been warned that it was a little bit like being in charge of herding cats. And to a large extent, there has been some truth to that.
Interview conducted, condensed and edited by Katy Ibsen.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
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Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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travelideas story by G lor ia Gale Photography courtesy of Char leston Ar ea Conve ntion an d Visitors Bu r eau
Southern Comfort Time marches on in everyday life. But in Charleston, it seems to stand still A Marion Square Christmas tree lights up the holidays.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
ith architecture and atmosphere that appear to be straight from Gone with the Wind, Charleston, South Carolina, does its best to prolong our romantic notion of 19th century elegance.
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travelideas
Charleston, SC
This destination is not a fast-paced urban scene—or anything cutting-edge.
Skyscrapers and sleek facades are nowhere to be found. Instead, look for wisteria-draped colonnades, worn cobblestones and wrought-iron curlicues lining pastel-colored homes. Meander past stately antebellum mansions throughout the historic peninsula amid the clip-clop sounds of horse-drawn carriages. Charleston is more gardenlike than cityscape with vividly subtropical lush plantings weaving among timeworn nooks and crannies. Spanish moss drips from gnarled live oaks as the scents of tea olive, jasmine and ginger lilies fill the air. Charleston is a city steeped in sensory charm.
A Storied Past A walking tour in the historic downtown district is the best way to learn about this intriguing city. You’ll encounter unparalleled
architecture that has earned Charleston accolades as one of the best-preserved cities in America. Begin at The Battery/White Point Gardens, an expansive park on a peninsula between the Ashley and Cooper rivers with one of the finest observation points of the city. From this waterfront promenade, you can view historic Fort Sumter facing the harbor and on the other side of the promenade stroll past two blocks of palatial mansions. Visions of Charleston’s early glory days abound as exclusive structural design continues along East Bay Street, where 13 vibrantly painted 18th century Georgian townhouses make up Rainbow Row. Between North and South Market streets is Charleston’s historic city market. Four buildings dating from the early 19th century are filled with merchants selling indigenous wares from sweetgrass baskets to rugs to Charleston souvenirs.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
Break Time Charleston is packed with opportunities for leisure activities. Between
attractions, indulge in the celebrated culinary culture at one of the numerous restaurants featuring Lowcountry food crafted by world-class talent. Hank’s Seafood Restaurant is the decades-old neighborhood fish house overlooking the historic market. Executive Chef Frank McMahon crafts Lowcountry classics with local, sustainable ingredients in this turn-of-the-century warehouse modeled after the great Charleston fish houses of the l940s. McMahon’s bouillabaisse ranks nearly as high with the regulars as his She-Crab soup, Oysters Casino or roasted grouper. Indelibly Southern, Poogan’s Porch— named after a dog—has been garnering raves since opening in l976. This Charleston institution is tucked away on a charming downtown street. Savor the buttermilk biscuits, crawfish mac ’n’ cheese or shrimp and grits. Finish with the awardwinning bread pudding. How Fig (Food is Good) manages to combine elegant bistro, retro diner and neighborhood café remains a conundrum. Delightfully, it pulls it off with absolute savoir faire. Credit local farmers who provide Carolina gold rice or heirloom potatoes that chef Mike Lata incorporates into his honest menus with a distinctive regional flair.
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travelideas Museum Mile Downtown Charleston is a gold mine of history and culture. A one-mile stretch of
Meeting Street includes a cache of museums, historic homes, a Revolutionary War powder magazine and numerous houses of worship. The historic A i ken-R hett House, built in 1818, stands as The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge the city’s most intact antebellum urban villa. The house has been virtually unaltered since 1858, when it was owned by William Aiken Jr., a successful businessman, rice planter, politician and governor of South Carolina. He and his wife traveled to Europe and often returned with magnificent fine art and furnishings. Today, visitors will find many of these objects in the same rooms for which they were purchased. Since 1995 the Historic Charleston Foundation has owned and operated the Aiken-Rhett House. The Powder Magazine is Charleston’s first armory established in 1713. This National Historic Landmark is one of only two surviving fortified structures of its kind in the original 13 colonies. It stands as the oldest public building in the Carolinas. This small brick building, now restored to its original appearance, formerly stored loose gunpowder and was designed to implode after an explosion—by accident or attack. Lessons of the past are found at the Old Slave Mart Museum. The story of domestic slave trade between the 15th and early 19th centuries is recounted at the building known as Ryan’s Mart, once used as a slave auction gallery. Part of a former complex containing an enclosed yard, slave jail, kitchen and morgue, the museum focuses on Charleston’s role in the interstate slave trade that took place here until November l863. Magnolia Plantation is the 17th century ancestral home of the Drayton family and a centerpiece of Charleston history. The plantation boasts 30 acres of gardens that make it the oldest major public garden in America.
Full-Time Fun In a city that is a living time machine, take advantage of Charleston’s unique experiences on land and water.
Swim and sun on the islands surrounding Charleston. Kiawah, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s and Isle of Palms beckon with brilliant ocean views and wide, expansive beaches. Or dive into dazzling displays from the Piedmont to Saltmarsh Aviary at the South Carolina Aquarium. Charleston remains as sultry, gracious and historically relevant as ever.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
MORE INFO Hank's Seafood Restaurant www.hanksseafood.com
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Poogan's Porch Restaurant www.poogansporch.com
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Fig Restaurant www.eatatfig.com
Historic Charleston Foundation www.historiccharleston.org
— — — —
Powder Magazine www.powdermag.org
city of Charleston www.charlestoncity.info
Drayton Hall www.draytonhall.org
Magnolia Plantation & Gardens www.magnoliaplantation. com
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Middleton Place www.middletonplace.org
family
Setting the Stage Families come together to dabble in the arts and act as one STory by Jan et Hallfor d
Photography by B r ian Li ng le
Sarah DaMetz plays a glowworm in the Family Children’s Theatre production of James and the Giant Peach. Director Dana Ediger adds some finishing touches.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
family
T
upcoming Shows
hanks to more than 20 years of the Family Children’s Theatre, families in the Hutchinson area have seized the opportunity to perform under the lights or simply enjoy live theater together. Executive director Patrick McCreary created the theater in 1988 under the name Hutchinson Children’s Theatre. Today it is known as Family Children’s Theatre (FCT) in its role as a regional nonprofit educational/ arts organization.
It’s A Wonderful Life November 19-22 and 27-29 Cotton Patch Gospel January 14-17 Peter Pan February 18-21
The family cast
Emperor’s New Clothes April 15-18 If You Give A Mouse A Cookie June 10-13
Productions are staged at the Flag Theatre. BOTTOM right From left, DaMetz, Chelsea Base and Simon Hill marvel at their transformations.
TOP right
“Our first goal is quality entertainment suitable for families with children.” - Craig Williams
Opposite page, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT
Makeup helps the cast members assume their roles: Tracy Geddes, shark. Rachael Thompson, shark. Candice Miller, cloud person. Spencer Nowlan, centipede.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
As Hutchinson’s Chris and Linda Orwoll sat in the audience, five of their nine children acted in a summer performance of Life with Father. Just as paintings of real and fictional characters enliven the theater walls, the Orwoll children bring life to the characters they portray. Daughter Caroline was 14 when she was cast as young Corrie Ten Boom in The Hiding Place, performed in September of 2008. Her sister Katerina was 12 when she was cast as young Jo in Little Women four months later. “We just love and appreciate that little theater,” says Linda. “Acting helps the children store a character in their imagination. If it is a good-quality character, then they are putting good stuff in there.” The Orwoll family’s interest in live theater continues to grow. “Our family is waiting with bated breath for Peter Pan. Not only are some of the children interested in roles, but my husband hopes to audition for Captain Hook if his schedule permits. And our oldest son, Nate, has already asked to serve as an apprentice and gofer for the director,” she says. Director’s cut
Craig Williams, president of the FCT board of directors, has been involved since the theater’s inception in December 1988. Like so many other parents after him, Williams’ involvement started when he took his daughter to audition for a play. As it turned out, they were both cast in the February 1989 debut production, Oliver. “I enjoyed that opportunity to be in the show with my daughter,” he says. “It’s been a lot of fun for me just to do something a little different from being a principal at Prairie Hills Middle School.”
family
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family
“Acting helps the children store a character in their imagination. If it is a good-quality character, then they are putting good stuff in there.” - Linda Orwoll
Accidental actor
A shot of the cast from James and the Giant Peach gathers to celebrate a successful show.
Fellow board member Ivan Torres has been involved with FCT for nearly 10 years. He began when his wife, Terri, decided to audition for the 2000 production of Oliver. “She basically tricked me into going on stage and auditioning with her,” he says. That first audition resulted in Ivan being cast as Fagin in Oliver and Terri and their daughter Jordan as singers and dancers the Williams has continued acting and work- same year. He has since played everything ing backstage; eventually he began direct- from a crow in The Wizard of Oz to Quasiing and volunteered to serve on the board. modo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He directs one or two of the eight shows Their son, Spencer, also joined them on stage produced each season and often directs the from time to time. annual musical, which involves more than “It was just a wonderful joy to be able to 100 cast members and is performed at the be in a play with our children because that Convention Hall. just doesn’t happen too often,” says Ivan. “It’s His love for the FCT is evident as he just a different avenue for families to particidescribes the board’s efforts to remain pate in as a group, away from education family- and children-friendly. “Our and sports.” first goal is quality entertainment Actors are selected based suitable for families with chilon who best fits a role. “The Family dren. The subject matter may auditions are very competiChildren's Theatre be deeper than a young pertive. You might end up being son might understand or find www.familychildrens a crow when you wanted to theatre.com enjoyable, but they’re not going be a lion,” says Ivan. to come in here and be embarAlthough their children are rassed by it,” he says. now grown, Ivan and Terri still Williams has seen children and try to get involved in the annual adults build their confidence, leadership musical. Today, a new generation of the and social skills as they take to the stage. Torres family looks forward to participatThe theater also strives to educate the audi- ing. “My granddaughter is about to turn 5, ence by presenting a play each season that and she is so excited to try out for Peter focuses on a thought-provoking topic. Pan,” says Ivan. “We’ll do shows that we hope will help Except for the annual musical, producpeople to think,” he says. This educa- tions take place at the Flag Theatre, which tional show is a version of Methuselah’s has been the FCT’s home since 1993. Children written by Jeanette James of “[FCT] is somewhat unique,” says WilHutchinson. “This historical drama is liams. “It’s not something that’s available about the freed slaves in the South mov- except perhaps in larger cities. It’s an opporing to Kansas.” He hopes it will challenge tunity for our community to see quality live theater that is geared for the family.” the audience’s thinking.
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Hutchinson Magazine | Winter 09/10
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Winter 09/10 | Hutchinson Magazine
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Artcentric St
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The Hutchinson Art Center continues to celebrate inventive work
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W
hen Mark Rassette switches on the lights in the brick building on the corner of Fifth and Washington, it’s not only his first task every morning, it’s also his favorite part of the day. Once the lights come up against the neutral tones of the gallery walls to reveal colorful oil paintings and other artistic creations, it’s easy to see why Rassette, director of the Hutchinson Art Center, finds pleasure in this simple task. “To come in here, turn on these lights and see this,” Rassette says, as he motions toward the center’s main gallery, “it’s a special place to be.” The art center has existed in Hutchinson since 1949. Although it has changed locations, the center has stayed true to its goal of supporting and promoting art to the community. “We want [residents] to have exposure to things that they wouldn’t have otherwise,” Rassette says. While the center has a solid base of supporters, Rassette— who also serves as director of the Hutchinson/Reno Arts & Humanities Council—would like to see more visitors enjoying it. While some may be uncertain on how to thoughtfully view art hung against wide gallery walls, he says everyone can enjoy the creations borne from an artist’s hand. “We are trying to get more people through here to see what a special place it is,” he says. “And it is special … but it is not exclusive.”
“Good art is the art you like; it’s simplistic but true on a personal level.” – Mark Rassette A perfect example of Rassette’s belief is found on one of the gallery walls. An intriguing storyboard, With, depicts two birds created from black wire casting shadows that tell the story of their life together. “People stop and look at this, see it, and they understand it’s the story of a family,” he says. The main gallery hosts various exhibits throughout the year featuring regional and local artists. Works in the center’s permanent collection are rotated in another area of the facility. This includes paintings and photographs created by regional and internationally recognized artists such as Birger Sandzen, Georges Rouault and Romeo Tabuena. Art is created as well as promoted at the center. Conversations peppered with laughter can be heard behind a partition as an adult life-drawing class meets. Artist Peg Stephens has enjoyed classes at the center for nearly 15 years. “It gives us a venue to display and sell work that we wouldn’t have otherwise,” she says. “It gives us a chance to show what we have to offer and encourages us to proceed and paint more.
CLOCKWISE FROM left
Outside the Hutchinson Art Center, visitors are welcomed with inviting bold colors. Mark Rassette, the center's director, is on a mission to get the community looking at art. Local artist Mike Livingston crafted this chest that sits in the center's lounge. The intricate wire sculpture With by Tina and David Munrano is a part of the center’s permanent collection.
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A gallery holds the Hutchinson Art Center’s permanent collection.
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“W e e w xp wa o os n u u t ld r n e t [re ’t o s ha th ide v in nt e o gs s] th to that erw ha – th ve M is ar e . ey k Ra
The art center's gift shop displays various creations, including these ornaments.
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“I really don’t care whether you’re talking about performing arts or two- or three-dimensional arts. It’s an important part of a culture. If we are going to be able to fully experience a community and have that community be able to express itself accordingly, we have to have the arts to do that,” says Stephens. Programs are not limited to adults. The center hosted more than 30 tours for school children last year, including a guided look with a trained docent and a craft project that allowed students to reflect on what they saw, enhancing their learning experience. Art education and appreciation classes introduce children to art and help them to value works of art in their community. The insight and instruction children receive from professional artists is invaluable, according to Gregg Wamsley, whose two sons take classes at the art center. “My oldest child loves to paint, draw pictures, and it has given him an opportunity to experience that in a wider way,” Wamsley says. “He’s been able to see other people’s perspective and picked up on new ways of doing things.” Wamsley’s younger child enjoyed arts and crafts class. “It’s an opportunity they don’t get enough of—I don’t think—in
the schools,” he says. “This fills a need that’s not being met in other places.” With free admission and a convenient location, the art center provides a place for families to grow and learn. Guided tours are available, but Rassette notes it’s important to remember the basic rule of art. “Good art is the art you like; it’s simplistic but true on a personal level,” he says. For those who fall in love with what they see, the sales gallery features pieces ranging from $15 to several hundred dollars. Jewelry, glassworks, pottery, oil paintings and prints are all available. Members of the center pay $35 each year to display and sell their work. Rassette says there’s nothing like being able to give an original gift, created with a specific intent. Popular annual events at the center include the Christmas program and the Outdoor Art Fair done with the Hutchinson Art Association. While these events are gateways to the center, they should help it reach 15,000 visitors in the coming year. Rassette, however, would like to expand adult programs and introduce more people to this community jewel. As Rassette says, “It’s too important and it’s too fun for them to not know this is here.”
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above left Many local artists take advantage of the sales gallery where they can display their work. above right From oil painting to sculpture to photography, the art center features various media. left Art education is popular at the art center, even for adults.
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bestbets
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dec-mar 09/10
december December 5 | Arts and Crafts Boutique. Hutchinson Recreation
Commission’s second annual Christmas Arts and Crafts Boutique at Trinity United Methodist Church will offer more than 20 area vendors with ideas for the perfect gift for everyone on your list. $1 admission includes entry for door prizes. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. 1602 N. Main St. (620) 663-6179. www.hutchrec.com
December 7 | 50 Plus Dinner and Dance. The annual Christmas dinner
and dance hosted by the 50-Plus Center will be in the Encampment Building at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Dinner begins at 6 p.m., followed by a visit from Santa Claus and a dance with live music from the Reno County Band. Admission $6. 6 p.m.-10:30 p.m., 2000 N. Poplar St. (620) 663-2811.
December 11-13 | Prairie Nutcracker. Artistree presents Prairie Nutcracker
at the Fox Theatre. Set in 1869 Kansas, this new holiday tradition features music by composer Rick Kuethe adapted from Tchaikovsky’s original Nutcracker score. Adult tickets from $15; children’s tickets from $10. 7:30 p.m. 18 E. First Ave. (620) 663-1981. www.hutchinsonfox.com
December 19 | Hyde Park Luminaria. Hutchinson’s Hyde Park
neighborhood will glow with the light of more than 17,000 luminarias lining the streets and sidewalks of Hyde Park Drive. Event also includes hay rack rides and carolers. 6 p.m. (620) 662-1517.
january January 14-17 | Cotton Patch Gospel. Kicking off its 21st season, the Family Children’s Theatre presents this musical retelling the story of Jesus in modernday Georgia. 7:30 p.m. 310 N. Main St. www.familychildrenstheatre.com
January 15-17 | Bridge tournament. The Hutchinson Duplicate Bridge
Club hosts its annual three-day tournament in Dillon Hall at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. 2000 N. Poplar St. (620) 669-3600.
January 15 | Thank You, Gregory! The Fox Theatre presents a tribute
to Gregory Hines, the late tap legend. Eight world-class tappers and three musicians will highlight the tap star’s work through the years. Tickets start at $25. 8 p.m. 18 E. First Ave. (620) 663-5861. www.hutchinsonfox.com
february February 11 | Hutchinson Symphony Concert. The Hutchinson
Symphony Association presents its “Forever Young! Anderson Concerto Winners” concert at the Fox Theatre. Lectures begin at 7 p.m. with the concert at 7:30 p.m. 18 E. First Ave. (620) 663-5861. www.hutchsymphony.org
February 13 | Reno Roundup and Auction. Annual Western-theme fundraiser benefits the Cancer Council of Reno County and includes a barbecue dinner, live and silent auctions, and live entertainment. 6 p.m.midnight. Sunflower North Building at the Kansas State Fairgrounds. 2000 N. Poplar St. (620) 665-5555.
February 18-21 | Peter Pan. Family Children’s Theatre presents Peter Pan, the
musical story of a boy who never wants to grow up. Enjoy music, pirates, fairies, flying and more at Memorial Hall. For more information, call (620) 662-7469. 310 N. Main St. www.familychildrenstheatre.com
February 27 | Late Nite Catechism. Running for 14 years, Late Nite Catechism brings laughter to all. Tickets $27-$32. 7:30 p.m. Fox Theatre, 18 E. First Ave. (620) 663-5861. www.hutchinsonfox.com
march March 16-20 | NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Enjoy five days and 26 games of junior college men’s basketball. Games begin 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and noon-6 p.m. Saturday. The Sports Arena, 700 E. 11th St. Reserve and game day tickets available at www.njcaabbtrny.org.
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Please submit event information to: hutchinsonmagazine@sunflowerpub.com (Dates and times subject to change)