Hutchinson Magazine Spring 2015 by Sunflower Publishing

Hutchinson M aga z i n e

ures

SPRING 2015

ir G & s y Bo

$4.00

March

Madness

A Family Affair

Introducing Hutch Illustrated

r a t s

b u l

tu F t a e r G th

Sailing the

Danube River

Hutchinson Volume 07 / Issue 04

Magazine

dear readers Publisher John Montgomery Advertising Director Dave Gilchrist Marketing Solutions Manager Anita Stuckey For Advertising Rates and Information

(620) 694-5700 ext. 222 sales Executives

Tammy Colladay Jade Piros de Carvalho Kyle Flax Rachel Hixson Lacie Nash Kevin Rogg Tom Sullivan ad designers

Curtis Copley DeRay Gamble Kim Hoskinson Jessica Price Nate Weaver Photographers

Aaron East Kristen Garlow Piper Deborah Walker Contributing Writers

When sunny spring hits, many of us finally start to come out of our winter cocoons and dive into our most prized work. In this spring edition, we’re highlighting community members who have that energetic drive year-round. We feature one of our contributing photographers, Kristen Garlow Piper, who committed to a full year of documenting the restoration of the Wiley. Despite encountering many obstacles—no power, no heat and minimal lighting— Piper came out on the other end of the project with a beautiful collection of photographs and a time capsule of sorts. Kris Sallee and Debbie Gerard of Sticky Spoons remind us of the love that goes into local products, as their 20-year jelly-making business gains more traction with each Sandhill Plum jelly sale. Also continuing to make a mark on the community is the Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson, which gives young people a reliable after-school spot to grow and learn from local mentors. We applaud their 25th anniversary in this issue, and thank all volunteers involved. Talented illustrator Brady Scott also helps us kick off a new column, Hutch Illustrated, where we combine his artistic talents with the literary prowess of poet William Sheldon. We hope you enjoy these driving forces of Hutchinson— and so much more in this issue!

— nadia, Editor

Amy Bickel Amy Conkling Gloria Gale Kathy Hanks Richard Shank Patsy Terrell

Production and Editorial Services for Hutchinson Magazine provided by:

Editor Nadia Imafidon Designer Jenni Leiste COPY EDITOR Deron Lee GENERAL MANAGER Bert Hull Publishing Coordinator Jenni Leiste Editorial comments (866) 655-4262 Subscriptions

$25 (tax included) for a one-year subscription to Hutchinson Magazine. For subscription information, please contact:

The Hutchinson News Circulation Department Jenifer Sterling 300 W. Second | Hutchinson KS 67501 (620) 694-5700 ext. 115 (800) 766-5730 ext. 115 jsterling@hutchnews.com

Hutchinson Magazine

Send your comments and suggestions to hutchinsonmagazine@sunflowerpub.com

Spring 2015

contents Features 34

garden & Fun

Mad About March

‘When I grow up’

Navigating the Hutchinson Garden Tour.

March may bring visions of basketball and bracket busting in sports fans’ dreams, but to local fanatics, basketball is just one sport and madness is year-round.

Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson helps children reach their full potential in after-school program.

departments Lifestyle

Art and Whimsy

Sticking together

Preserved farmhouse offers handcrafted features. Two women form a jelly-making business and an unbreakable bond.

Profiles

Getting Lost in the Wiley

Hutch Illustrated

Behind-the-scenes of ‘From the Archives’

Photographer Kristen Garlow Piper documents the renovation of the Wiley in yearlong project. William Sheldon shares two poems, “Small Bill of Rights” and “Through Difficulty.”

Investigating the preservation efforts of the Reno County Museum.

from the archives

Gone fishin’ and retro kitchen

Travel

Melodies on the Danube

Smooth sailing prevails when cruising one of Eastern Europe’s most iconic waterways, the Danube River.

Hutch Talks

Karrie Ruebke

Owner, Brewed Awakening

61 Tony Finlay

Executive Director, Hutchinson Recreation Commission

In Every Issue: 2 dear readers

the end quote

best bets

Hutchinson Magazine

departments

8..................................... Lifestyle 18................................... Profiles 52.....................................travel 58............................hutch talks

Hutchinson Magazine

Lifestyle

Art and

Whimsy Preserved farmhouse offers handcrafted features

Story by Amy Bickel

Photography by Deborah Walker

A tree-lined road leads to a desolate parcel of rolling prairie where two homes sitâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;one a nearly century-old sculpture, the other a modern masterpiece. Both are owned and adored by the Murphys.

Hutchinson Magazine

There is nothing more serene than this little 12-acre plot near the Reno County town of Sylvia, says retired airline pilot Michael Murphy. But, Michael says as he watches a group of hunters bring back a limit of ducks on an autumn morning, for him and his wife, Janis, this wasn’t their dream property. At least, not at first. Their retirement plan had always been to build a cabin in the woods, situated with a scenic mountain backdrop on land they owned in New Mexico. But the allure of a creative farmer’s empty farmhouse, with unique artisan features, nestled on this expansive grassland acreage near Sylvia on Greenfield Road, helped change the Murphys’ plans. “I couldn’t be happier that we decided to stay,” Michael says. Rescuing one home, building another Reno County farmer Don Brownlee’s lifelong home had long piqued Michael Murphy’s interests. Over the years, Michael had heard the stories about the inventive farmer who was also a sculptor, carver and musician. Don Brownlee was born in the house and eventually moved in with his bride, Mary Jo, shortly after they married in 1957. Over 40 years, he farmed and created art, some of which he gave away and some of which is still imprinted through the old farmhouse. Michael and Janis Murphy (pictured above) are the proud owners of an ornate farmhouse, now open to the public as a museum. Throughout the home, you can find numerous organ pipes and creative wall carvings, among other “surprises” handcrafted by the previous owner.

Lifestyle Cabin on the prairie

The Murphys’ capacious cabin sits on the edge of a pond they built. Situated nine miles south of Quivira National Wildlife Refuge, the Brownlee property is itself a natural wildlife habitat that draws in deer, turkey and pheasant, along with waterfowl that find a haven on the pond. Wanting to build the perfect dream cabin, Janis says she and Michael saw the endeavor as an opportunity to develop the property into a business for others who enjoy the outdoors. They call it Prairie Oaks Inn. “This is nice, the kind of natural place we wanted to end up being at,” says Janis, who has worked at Reno County EMS for the past 20 years. “We both love the outdoors and the country.” A f e w d e ta i l s : • 8 , 0 0 0 s q u a r e f e e t: The expansive cabin features an open first level, which includes a dining area, kitchen and two sitting nooks. • S creene d - in b a c k p o r c h : The porch, with a scenic view of the prairie grasses and a pond, is a perfect spot for breakfast, says Janis. • O a k s ta i r c a s e : The open staircase leads to the upstairs bedrooms, largely used by guests and sometimes the couple’s four children and 14 grandchildren when they visit. • G u e s t rooms a p l e n t y: In all, there are five bedrooms and three bathrooms for visitors. Meanwhile, the home also has a suite for the Murphys, as well as a small apartment area in the basement for Janis’ mother. • D e s t i n at i o n b e d - a n d b r e a k fa s t: Prairie Oaks Inn often hosts weddings, reunions and retreats, along with visitors who just love the great outdoors. • S l e e p s 4 0 : Besides the cabin, the couple also use their old home in Sylvia, where they raised their family, to accommodate guests. Between the Sylvia property and the cabin, they can house up to 40 people, Michael says.

Hutchinson Magazine

Original homeowner Don Brownlee carved images in any nook and cranny he could, often spending evenings making new creations while his two young sons watched. Don made his first carving of an elephant into a crate as a young boy in the ‘20s.

3 fast facts

After he died in 1995, the Brownlees’ home was put on the sale block. One prospective buyer planned to gut the entire home, stripping it of its folk-art character. That would have been a terrible loss, Janis says. For some reason the sale didn’t go through, and the Murphys quickly made an offer. “We bought the Brownlee home to save the Brownlee home,” Michael says. Today, the Murphys’ dream home— an 8,000-square-foot log cabin that Michael built mostly himself—stands just a few hundred yards from the old Brownlee house. They decided to turn their log cabin into a bed-and-breakfast to share with others, and open the Brownlee home as a museum, giving tours by appointment to the public. To keep the integrity of the home, the couple also decided not to allow guests to sleep in it. “We’re protective of the place,” Janis says. “We really like it, and it is a neat, fun place to have grandkids come out and play.” They enjoy the solitude, scenery and wildlife, she says. “This place is our cabin in the mountains.”

Eagle As the story goes, the eagle that greets guests at the entrance of Prairie Oaks Inn once frequented the complex of the 1932 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. Michael’s father bought it at an auction. A l pa c a s Guests can roam the Murphys’ expanse, an excursion that may include getting a close look at the alpaca business. The Murphys’ Flying M Ranch includes about 50 alpacas, which they raise for their fiber. Tours Janis and Michael offer tours of the Brownlee home for a small fee. Guests staying at the bed-andbreakfast are given free tours. For more information, contact the Murphys at prairieoaksinn@gmail.com.

Artful finds “You just can’t describe this house,” Janis told Michael after she had seen the interior of the Brownlee house for the first time. “You’ll just have to see it for yourself.” It is hard to describe an eccentric artist’s residence where artwork can be found in almost every nook and cranny. A ship at sea is carved in one of the plaster walls, and carvings of flowers, knights and various creatures are detailed in woodwork. And more than 500 organ pipes echo music throughout the home. It was these unique attributes that Janis and Michael Murphy wanted to preserve. Spring 2015

Lifestyle

A piano sitting atop an old pipe organ from Sterling Presbyterian Church greets guests as they enter the Brownlee home.

Odds and Ends For instance, not many have a home with a player piano Mary Jo says Don came up with whimsical ideas for atop an old pipe organ. Don Brownlee obtained the organ from the Sterling Presbyterian Church, Michael says. Don home redesign; he’d always ask her for her opinion, trying then found the player piano, which supposedly had graced to explain the ideas filling his head. But Mary Jo admits the Long Branch Saloon in Dodge City. she never understood them until she “It ended up in a ‘house of ill repute’ actually saw the completed project. in Hutchinson—I don’t know the timing For instance, flush the toilet in of all that,” says Michael with a chuckle, bathroom off the master suite and repeating a story from the Brownlees’ water flows out of the mouth of a duck to fill the tank. Meanwhile, turn son David. Don Brownlee’s natural artistic gifts the bathtub faucets and a statue of were apparent at an early age, says his a boy holding a jug pours water to wife, Mary Jo. In the mid-1920s, young fill the tub. Don was lonely at home without a Don also designed the unique playmate, and he took to carving into master bed, with its medieval canopy a crate, which was hard as a rock, she and red curtains. says. One room houses Don’s loom, “When his brother went to school, which he used to weave his own he felt so lonely that he took a butcher rugs. knife and carved an elephant,” Mary Jo A hidden room is also located says. “His mother did not know he had somewhere in the home; it can be the butcher knife.” found only if you know what picture Don also invented tools that the to remove to find the hidden latch. family used daily on the farm. When There are plenty of other secrets, as —Michael Murphy Mary Jo married Don and moved in, the well, but the Murphys like to keep two-story farmhouse was just that—an them secret to surprise guests, Janis ordinary country residence. But winter says. evenings became her husband’s chance The whimsy isn’t confined to the to hone his hobby, she says, and he’d carve as his two interior of the home. One winter, Don took a 9,000-pound young sons watched. slab of stone and turned it into an outdoor sculpture he “He just blossomed with his sculptures,” she says. “He called Cowboy. had a big furnace and he did castings.” “It’s an Easter Island-looking thing,” Michael says.

Hutchinson Magazine

“We bought the Brownlee home to save the Brownlee home.”

Kris Sallee (left) and Debbie Gerard recently celebrated the 20th year of their local jelly-making business, Sticky Spoons. The two women created not only a successful product, but a lifelong friendship, too.

Hutchinson Magazine

sticking

together

Two women form a jelly-making business and an unbreakable bond Story by Kathy Hanks

Photography by Aaron East

When Debbie Gerard and Kris Sallee became friends more than two decades ago, they had no idea they were creating a bond that would stick. Like boiling juice with pectin to make jelly, the two women learned what it meant to hold tight. Their friendship began 25 years ago, when they met at a church and started cooking wholesome foods together for their families. Learning to can applesauce and making their own pie fillings together led to jelly-making, which impressed their friends so much they were willing to pay for the product. This evolved into Sticky Spoons, a full-blown local business that recently celebrated its 20th year. Through it all, the two women have become what they describe as “sticky buddies.” Making it stick Mary Gerard, Debbie’s mother-in-law, had deep pioneer roots; Mary taught Debbie how to can fruit shortly after Debbie married her husband, Roy. “When our first child was born, she came to help me,” Debbie says. “I had fruit juice in the refrigerator and she said, ‘Let’s make jelly.’ And I have been canning ever since.” Now Debbie and Kris are producing 20 varieties of jelly, everything from Beauteous Blackberry to spicy Pyro Peach. They also offer six different quick bread mixes, gift boxes and handmade aprons. They launched their business in 1994 at the Kansas Sampler Festival at Inman. They had to come up with a name in time for the event; when they looked around the kitchen and noticed everything was sticky, it was a no-brainer. “I’m so proud of those Sticky Spoon women,” says Marci Penner, executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation. “I’m proud and pleased to say that the Kansas Sampler Festival played such a role in getting them started, giving them confidence and leading to all their recent growth.” Penner says their longevity is due to their passion for jelly-making, dedication to creating new jelly flavors and the relationships they have built with their customers.

Spring 2015

Lifestyle 4,500 to 5,400

jars

15 - 18 pints

of jelly were made.

of jelly are in each batch.

in 2014

300

batches of jelly were

sugar-free.

830 four-pound packages of sugar were used.

batches of jelly were made at sticky spoons

Note: Sticky Spoons saves every sugar sack and recycles by using them as bags for those who purchase their jelly at craft shows.

100 pounds

of strawberries, cherries, grapes and peaches were used.

120 batches were

Sandhill Plum.

Hutchinson Magazine

And the winner is…

For the 20th anniversary of Sticky Spoons, Debbie and Kris decided to offer a 20th variety of jelly for sale: a mixed-fruit creation using apples, blueberries, cherries and grapes. For a year, this jelly has been labeled with question marks, inviting customers to come up with their own name for newest combination. The wait is over. The winner is—Berrylicous.

Plum good idea

Sandhill Plum jelly wasn’t always one of Sticky Spoons’ products. At first they focused on apple, grape and peach jellies. Back in the 1990s at the Reno County Farmers’ Market, someone asked why they didn’t include sandhill plums in their selection. They decided that if a customer wanted it, they would make it. Now, come mid-June when the Kansas earth is heating up, the two women scout out blooming plum thickets across the region.

“I don’t know if we could do the festival without them,” Penner says. Along with the Kansas Sampler and regular craft shows, Sticky Spoons sell their jellies wholesale at several Hutchinson businesses. Currently their most popular item is Sandhill Plum jelly. “People have ordered it like crazy,” Debbie says. In 2014, 42 percent of their batches of jelly were Sandhill Plum because of the high demand. There is something about lathering a slice of bread with the wild plums that takes a Kansan with rural roots down memory lane, Kris says. “It reminds them of Grandma,” she says. “That’s the fun part—when they tell us it tastes just like Mom or Grandma made.” Preserving a friendship After two decades of jelly-making, the women no longer need a thermometer to tell when the jelly concoction is ready. They just watch for the liquid to hold tight. That’s when the two swing into action with their steaming sterilized jars. They can fill 20 pints of jelly in no time, working as a team in the commercial kitchen in the backyard

of Debbie’s Hutchinson home. It was originally the front half of the garage before Roy Gerard and Kris’s husband, Dale, converted it into a state-certified jelly factory. Their husbands also help load the van for shows. And while they don’t stir the jelly pots, they have become expert taste-testers. The friendship between Debbie and Kris has grown just like their jelly list. They work hard, driving across several states to bring back a trailer loaded with pallets of jelly jars, just to save the shipping cost. Jelly-making is in full force yearround, with summers extra busy, and though the kitchen is air-conditioned it can become pretty humid. “Our jelly pots make a lot of steam,” Debbie says. It has become a labor of love. They continue to make jelly for the customers they have bonded with over the years at craft shows, from the Whimmydiddle in Scott City to the Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin City. There’s nothing like a happy customer. “The best part is the expression on their faces when we have a flavor they like,” Kris says.

Debbie and Kris start early in the morning picking their way through the scratchy branches. They scour the state— wherever someone reports spotting the blossoms or plums. This year they had good luck in Reno County— thanks to the kindness of local landowners who let them pick in their pastures—and found the harvest further west patchy. Other years they travel to western Kansas, sometimes even getting a motel room so they can spend every second of sunlight picking plums. For more information: www.stickyspoons.com

Spring 2015

profile

Getting Lost in the

Wiley

Editor’s Note: In honor of the newly restored Wiley Building, we’re featuring the incredible work of one of Hutchinson Magazine’s dedicated photographers, Kristen Garlow Piper, in this gallery. I approached Wiley developer Jack Manske in the spring of 2013 with a proposal to photograph the entire Wiley Building restoration project. By December I was able to access the building as demolition was beginning in the basement. I made four more visits before Christmas that year, photographing the entire building while carrying two large flashlights, two cameras and a tripod. There wasn’t any power on in the building, so there was no elevator, light or heat. It was 10 degrees outside but, to be honest, I was having so much fun it didn’t matter. The building had stopped in time and remained just the way it had been since the 1980s, which made for some interesting photographs.

Since work began, I’ve photographed demolition crews, electrical and plumbing teams, painters, sheetrockers and anything “in motion.” My favorite period was during April and May, when all of the windows on the upper floors had been removed and the floors were almost entirely gutted. Photographically it was perfect, because there was so much action, texture and light that— when combined—made for some beautiful shots. Growing up in Hutchinson, we shopped for shoes and clothes, went to the dentist, ate at the Tea Room and bought our first album at the Wiley. We all contributed to the history of the place just as our grandparents and parents did. —Kristen Garlow Piper

www.ge t ti nglosti nk an sas.com kri ste ngarlowpi pe r.com

Hutchinson Magazine

Spring 2015

profile

“The building had stopped in time and remained just the way it had been since the 1980s, which made for some interesting photographs.” —Kristen Garlow Piper

Hutchinson Magazine

Spring 2015

profile

Hutchinson Magazine

“Photographically, it was perfect, because there was so much action, texture and light that—when combined—made for some beautiful shots.” —Kristen Garlow Piper

Spring 2015

Hutch Illustrated

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Hutchinson Magazine

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THROUGH DIFFICU LTY In the raking light of a western sun, the flowering crab—a Thunder Child—sits just outside the shadow of the Bradford Pear, which lost a third of itself to the ice that turned out our lights for six days. We cooked soup on the wood stove, read by candles, showered at the Y. Logs from that tree rise from that stove, on days the weather dips. But now is July. 102 the bank’s sign claims. Our Labrador, young and froggy, drags a Maple limb fallen from the neighbor’s tree into our yard. Her predecessor’s ashes mix in our garden where tomatoes fail to redden. Flies hang on the screen, signaling a storm. The hen, with the foot hurt by hail, crow-hops to the water font. The sun drops below the line of Cottonwood two fields over. A fingernail moon rises cradling the first star. Kansans all, we make our narrow way.

e’re n, w r iter m u l co aw new t t with nson. s i h nt S co ch i Hu t e p t i n g te: I B rady f o o N cc on or’s st rator rat i wa rom Ed i t i l lu xplo e is no ems) f ns g e n i c n r i o i i t z p s a i a r atio m). p rt ag ys o bl ic na o in a inson M s (es sa u re pu r pub.c e ut r ie f ch t t w r n u o o f e H nfl a r y l wr iter s @ su l iter l ive z i ne ca a o l g don e l y a h e n m h e a son n: S , w h e r n o i on d h l tc on hins e he (hu hins t Hutc mS c a ro s i t l l p u sh a y and t Wi i ly in H i l u r l y, g o Ab a r te n s En poetr am f u e s h i Q c h t o is tea wes . Sheld e. H w ith Mid a n d Co l l e g er s es. n n i s e o t u i d y o c wr u n it u b l i s h e r i e Sch T h e E x m i Co m b e e n p n d P r a and a he b e t s v r r a e o h f Let t ass New plays b a l so Spring 2015

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B e h i n d -t h e -s c e n e s of

‘From the Archives’ Story by Richard Shank Photographs courtesy of Reno County Museum

The Reno County Museum is not intended to be a warehouse for old stuff. It’s a gatekeeper of stories past, says Linda Schmitt, executive director of the Reno County Historical Society. “The museum is where we keep, safeguard and retell the stories of our lives and common history,” Schmitt says. “We keep the stories alive through exhibits, programs and special events by providing accessibility to researchers and the public.” No two days of digging through historical treasures in the museum’s archives are alike, and the most uncommon discoveries are common occurrences, Schmitt says. Chief curator Ashley Maready says the museum annually receives about 50 research requests, most relating to personal history. One individual sought assistance to verify his Native American ancestry, says curatorial assistant Lynn Ledeboer. “Many of the requests are for information on the history of the home where they are residing or may have grown up,” Maready says. In honor of our regular historical snapshot column, “From the Archives,” written by Maready, we decided to investigate what it takes to preserve Hutchinson’s history. Information gatekeepers Any number of questions might lead to the Reno County Museum, where the staff works tirelessly to find answers for the community. A California-based author once called to inquire about “Rattlesnake Pete,” a 19th-century figure famous for riding in the 1893 Great Cowboy Endurance Race. He was reputed to have a Hutchinson connection, but Reno County Museum staff started their research with only a hint of information. While perusing the archives, they found that James Stephens, known as “Rattlesnake Pete,” had indeed left a part of his legacy in Hutchinson. As it turned out, Stephens did participate in the 1893 horse race from Chadron, Nebraska to the World’s Fair in Chicago—and, sometime later, found his way to Hutchinson, where he spent his twilight years as a barber.

A photograph from the Pat Mitchell collection of the Wiley Building, with a silhouette shadow of the old courthouse from the 1920s.

Spring 2015

These two photos of famous Hutchinson-born actor, Delos V. Smith Jr., were donated to the Reno County Museum along with other photographs, posters and memorabilia in 2000. The top photo was part of his acting portfolio and the bottom photo was taken at the zoo.

Hutchinson Magazine

“We have a testimonial write-up from a former that few were aware even existed. Such was the case customer—who was a little boy at the time—of his, with Pat Mitchell, whose collection made its way to along with photographs,” Maready says. RCM and was transported to Underground Vaults “It was exciting to determine in a short period and Storage for safekeeping after she died in 2001. of time that Rattlesnake Pete had a history in Mitchell is best remembered to Hutchinson residents as a radio personality, writer, sculptor and collector Hutchinson, and there were several items in the of Reno County artifacts and memorabilia. archives to confirm his residency in this area,” Ledeboer says. During her lifetime, Mitchell collected local But the museum is not just a resource for familyhistory in 39 oversized boxes and 13 file cabinets with tree finds and historical tidbits. In cases of disaster, for all drawers bulging to maximum capacity. Included example, it’s proven beneficial to within the meticulously have access to museum records. filed artifacts are postcards, When a natural-gas explosion newspapers, photographs, shattered the community maps, slides and scrapbooks, on January 17, 2001, federal all revealing Reno County and state officials soon found history. themselves in the offices of the “From the assorted Reno County Museum asking for matchbooks from local historical data to pinpoint the businesses to 100-year-old exact location of gas wells and college diplomas, Pat was interested in everything all else that was located beneath the surface of the city. Hutch,” Ledeboer says. “We “In the days that followed are grouping the collection the gas explosion, RCM staff into six major categories: spent long hours researching old bottles, memorabilia, glass solution salt-mining operations plate negatives, photographs, using books and historical research documents and records available in the archives miscellaneous items.” —Linda Schmitt, executive and research library,” Maready In 2013, the museum staff director of the Reno County says. “Also of immense help began moving parts of the Historical Society collection topside, and during were Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps and early plat maps of the past 13 months, curators Hutchinson and Reno County.” Maready and Ledeboer have been sorting the artifacts. Building the time capsule “Now, we are able to grasp the massiveness of this In 1960, 100 historical enthusiasts crammed into a collection,” Ledeboer says. meeting room at the Hotel Leon, with a single purpose Then there is Delos V. Smith Jr., who grew up in mind: to preserve the history of a community in Hutchinson and went off to Hollywood and New that had played an active role in the early history York to pursue acting; he returned home to live out of Kansas. This is when the Reno County Historical his final years. Today, the Reno County Museum Society was created. is the repository for the papers, posters and other A small museum was then built, and after several memorabilia from his celebrated career. The moves around Hutchinson and Reno County, a collection was donated in 2000 by local attorney John fundraising effort netted more than $1 million to make Shaffer on behalf of the Delos V. Smith Foundation. the Kline and Rosemont Building, at 100 S. Walnut “The Reno County Museum is where the stories St., the permanent repository of Reno County history. live,” Schmitt says. “Those who donate to, support The Reno County Commission and Hutchinson City or visit the museum are story keepers.” Council also stepped up with a guarantee of longWhen asked why an organization should expend so term support for Reno County Museum. much effort to preserve its history, Maready answered Today, more than 36,000 artifacts are housed at elegantly and simply: the museum, with 557 on display. About 90 items “Those who can’t learn from the past are doomed are donated to the museum each year, with a special to repeat it.” quarterly committee meeting to decide which new The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday artifacts should be accepted into the collection. through Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Occasionally, the passing of a person with local ties Admission is free. may generate a major trove of historical information

“The museum is where we keep, safeguard and retell the stories of our lives and common history.”

www.renocomuseum.org

Reno County Museum by the numbers The reno county historical society originated in 1960 when

100

historians met at the Hotel Leon.

Today more than

36,000

artifacts are housed at the museum.

557 artifacts are currently on display.

90 About

items are donated to the museum each year. The museum attracts about

10,000 visitors each year.

The museum receives approximately

research requests each year.

Spring 2015

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Hutchinson Magazine

from the

Archives Text by Ashley Maready Images courtesy Reno County Historical Society and Reno County Museum

(Left) This photograph was taken in March 1959 in the kitchen at Proctorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Fairmont Restaurant, which stood at 1300 E. Fourth in Hutchinson during the 1950s and 1960s. The restaurant served diner food and had tiny jukeboxes on every table. It also had an unusual ordering feature: telephones at each seating booth. Customers would pick up the phone to call in their order to the kitchen, allowing them to look over the menu and order at their convenience. Three out of the four women in this photograph are unidentified; the one furthest away from the camera is identified as Mrs. Henry Guthrie. (Above) In this cheerful photograph from the mid-1940s, a young man, Rodney Fred Krey, shows off his prowess as a rookie fisherman. Rodney looks rather pleased with his fishing pole in one hand and stringer of fresh-caught fish in the other. According to the caption written on the back of the photo, this was his very first fishing trip. Rodney, son of Fred and Maxine Krey, is pictured at the home of his grandmother (surname Lavielle) in Sylvia, Kansas. What a successful first trip out with rod and reel!

Spring 2015

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34.......................................Garden & Fun 40...............................Mad About March 46................................. ’When I Grow Up’

Spring 2015

& Fun

Garden Navigating the Hutchinson Garden Tour S t o ry b y K at h y H anks | P h o to graph y by D e bo rah Walke r

Hutchinson Magazine

Spring 2015

The blooming cactus put on a show, as if it knew the Hutchinson Garden Tour was scheduled for that day. But that’s what happens in the magician’s garden. “I couldn’t believe it,” says Helen Bornholdt, whose mid-century-modern garden was one of six stops on the 2014 Garden Tour. The cactus blooms only once a year, and like magic, it appeared that day in June full of raspberry blossoms, just in time for the sightseers. This will be the sixth year that the Reno County Extension Master Gardeners have hosted the tour, a summertime exploration of various unique gardens in Hutchinson. An itinerary with the address and a description of each garden is given to attendees who want make the rounds on the tour. The gardens, located all over town, can be viewed in any order. H elen Bo rn ho ldt’s garden, one of s i x s t ops on t he 2 0 1 4 H u t c h i n s o n G a rd e n To u r, w a s f i r s t p l a n t e d i n t h e ‘ 5 0 s by h e r father. It h osts an ec le c ti c bl end of As i a n l a nds c a pi n g a n d n a t i v e p l a n t s .

Hutchinson Magazine

Seeds of knowledge Sheer curiosity sent Jane Wagler on her first garden tour in 2014. She felt most comfortable in a garden full of native plants, most appropriate for central Kansas. “It’s always interesting to see how people arrange their flowers,” says Wagler, who gardens with her husband, Eldon, in the country near Partridge. “I hadn’t anticipated seeing so much Asian influence in Hutchinson gardens.” Wagler was referring to Helen Bornholdt’s magical and immaculate garden, first planted in the 1950s by Bornholdt’s father C.A. Frank, known as “Zogi the Magician.” The blooming cactus was his selection. He loved growing

unorthodox things, including a ginkgo tree from China and a huge fig bush. On the other side of the house is Japanese landscaping. The magician died, but his landscaping remains well-nurtured today thanks to Bornholdt, who has lived at the home since 2000. Over the years she has tended to the oriental landscaping Frank designed. Her daughters, Chris Armstrong and Kathy Smith, help out whenever she needs it. “It’s a different kind of garden, and easy for me to care for,” Bornholdt says. This is the kind of information garden lovers glean when they attend the annual tour, held annually on the second Saturday in June. Stories are told about each garden’s

creation, and takeaway tips offered on plant care. Bornholdt’s key piece of advice was to “start out small and always add color to the yard.” Bob and Michelle Capp’s home on the western edge of Hutchinson features waterfalls that create a sanctuary. At this location, the art of hardscaping—or the use of inanimate elements to landscape, like masonry work or woodwork—was the lesson for passersby. At another stop, tour-goers watched a demonstration about pruning from an arborist and toured a cottage garden. The owner had created garden rooms, walkways and even a meditation garden.

T hom Etzler, o f Waters c a pes L L C, s how s off t he w a t e r f a l l s a n c t u a r y a t Bo b a n d Mi c h e l l e C a p p ’s h o m e o n t h e we ste rn ed g e of Hutc hin son. The a rt of ha rds c a pi ng w a s a t a k e a w a y f ro m l a s t y e a r ’s t o u r.

Spring 2015

Plot your patch While every year brings new gardens to tour, the Master Gardener Demonstration Garden on the Hutchinson Community College campus is always one of the stops. During the 2014 tour, a crowd gathered to listen to local garden expert Dianna Beasley, of Benton’s Greenhouse, talk about the care of some unusual annuals. Nearby was a showcase of “Prairie Star” annuals and “Prairie Bloom” perennials, as well as other plants and shrubs that thrive in the Kansas climate. “We do it as a fundraiser to support our demonstration garden and as an education outreach,” says Margie Lundmark, Garden Tour chairperson. “I think a lot of people enjoy sharing their yards and gardens with others. It’s very nice for other people to see what they have done.”

At every garden on the tour, many of the plants are labeled. This makes it easy for those who are on the lookout for something new to jot the name down, and head to the nearest nursery to purchase the item. “The public loves it,” says Lundmark. “It’s a great opportunity to get ideas for their yards.” It has become a popular annual event because the tour-goers learn, through every gardener’s trial-and-error story, which formulas work and which don’t. This past year was the first time Millie Reed opened up her garden, which spreads across three city lots, to the public. Her space has evolved into a whimsical blend of native plants, ornamental grasses, daylilies coleus, clematis and trumpet vines, as well as garden art.

IF YOU GO

Gard en To ur c hair Ma rgi e L undm a rk a nd ma s t er ga rd e n e r H a ze l Z i n k s t a n d a m o n g t h e f l o w e r s i n t h e H u t c h i n s o n C ommun ity College demons tra ti on ga rden tha t a re l a b e l e d f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f a d m i re r s w h o m i g h t w a n t t o b u y th e se varietie s at lo c al gree nhous es .

Hutchinson Magazine

The 2015 Hutchinson Garden Tour will be on Saturday, June 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entry is $8 for advance tickets and $10 at the garden. This year’s stops will include a cottage garden, a backyard vineyard, a hillside retreat and a rose garden, along with the HCC demonstration garden. Educational programs are offered at every location, according to Pam Paulsen, horticulture agent for K-State Research and ExtensionReno County. This year’s programs include: Using the Right Tool Herb Gardening Container Gardening Dealing with Deer Plants for Shade For more information:

hutchg a rde n t o ur . c o m

Reed plants items where she thinks they will thrive. Then if it doesn’t look right, she simply moves it somewhere else. She turned an old hand pump and a wooden barrel into a rustic fountain that circulates water and brings a soothing, trickling sound to the backyard. Reed advised visitors on the practice of gardening as a stressreliever, saying there’s no better stress-buster than working in the dirt to complement a hectic work schedule. Along with the work, she suggested gardeners take time to enjoy the fruits of their labor. “There’s no game plan,” Reed says. “I let things grow where they want to grow.”

Millie Ree d’s garde n i s ful l of w hi m s i c a l na t i v e pl a n t s and garde n art. Ree d fi nds t ha t there’s nothi ng b e t t e r t o relieve stress than w ork i ng i n the di r t on her thre e l o t s .

Hutchinson Magazine

a b o u t m a r c h Story by Amy Conkling P h o t o g r ap h y b y K r i s t e n Ga r l o w P i p e r

March may bring visions of basketball and bracket-busting in sports fans’ dreams. But to local fanatics, basketball is just one of the many sports they enjoy watching their beloved teams play, and the madness is year-round. Their faithful cheering— whether it’s for the Wildcats, Jayhawks or Shockers—spills on to the football field, baseball field and everywhere in between. So just what does it take to be considered “mad” in March Madness and beyond?

Spring 2015

Black & gold never gets old Most people in Hutchinson know that the Palacioz family loves the Shockers. And if they don’t, it’s because they’ve never met Joe Palacioz, who served for years as Hutchinson’s city manager before his retirement in 2005. Joe’s main wardrobe consists of Shocker apparel, or at the very least, the school colors of black and gold. He’s also partial to driving vehicles that are black or gold and trimmed with Shocker accessories. Joe has passed down his Shocker love to his wife, Cris, and their four grown children—who all graduated from Wichita State—including son Joe Jr., who also lives in Hutchinson with his wife and two daughters. The Palacioz family have been season ticket-holders for decades and rarely miss a home basketball game. They’ve also been known to travel with the team on special occasions, including holiday tournaments in Puerto Rico and during March Madness. It’s the out-of-state trips that connect the loyal fans with the players and coaches, Joe Sr. says, as they have often had dinners with the team on these occasions. Cris says some of her best moments as a Shockers fan have been with coach Gregg Marshall’s wife, Lynn, who has invited Cris to sit with her at the holiday tournaments. “She gets wild during the games, but knows her basketball,” Cris says. Through the years, they’ve seen the good, bad and ugly of Wichita State basketball— and have quite a few memories to show for it. Joe Jr. recalls when he and his wife, Katie, would attend games in college in the late 1990s. “We had our pick of seats,” Joe Jr. says, recalling that they were among the few people in the student section in those days. “That just doesn’t happen anymore.”

WEIRD RITUALS Joe Palacioz admits that he’s superstitious when it comes to cheering on his beloved Wichita State Shockers. The father of a big family of Shockers owns a pair of black and yellow shoes that he breaks out only for basketball season. The Shockers are 47-1 when he wears them, and he vividly remembers that disappointing lone loss while sporting the shoes. “We lost to Louisville in them,” he says. “I remember debating before the game if I should wear them or not.” Joe Palacioz Jr. says the family’s seating arrangement while watching games at home ultimately depends on how the Shockers are playing. For example, if they’re winning, everyone stays put—sometimes missing trips to the bathroom if necessary. If the Shockers are losing, however, the family switches up their seats—anything to “help the team out,” he says.

Hutchinson Magazine

Purple power

Karl Matlack may as well bleed purple. “Karl has had purple in his veins forever,” says Lesley, Karl’s wife. She says her husband, a K-State alumnus, has always gone to as many games as he could, but she took some convincing. “I grew up in a house where we cheered for whoever, so it took some getting used to cheering for one team only.” Now the Burrton-based couple are passing their Wildcat love onto their five children. The Matlacks take Karl’s parents’ motor home to several sporting events, notably the spring football game and first home football game of the season. They purchased a family brick outside of Bill Snyder Family Stadium. And four of their five children—the ones who are old enough—are Junior Wildcats, part of K-State’s exclusive club for young Wildcat fans ages 4 to 12. “It’s a lot of fun to see the kids’ faces light up when the band marches into the stadium or Willie comes close to our seats,” Lesley says. “They love the game-day experience and everything it brings.” Karl and his son Kyler, 11, have been to men’s basketball coach Bruce Weber’s father-son basketball camp. Kyler says he enjoyed watching his dad go up against the likes of Thomas Gipson and other Wildcat players, adding that he feels like he’s part of the team now when the family attends basketball games at “the Octagon of Doom.” And then there’s the fun of reliving Karl’s college days with the kids. He enjoys walking around the campus on game days, showing the children his old stomping grounds, talking about the glory days and sharing amazing memories along with it. The football team’s long-anticipated 1998 win against the University of Nebraska is one of his favorites, Lesley says. “He’s very proud to tell them the story of tearing down the goalpost and carrying it to Aggieville with the rest of that mob of people.”

Spring 2015

Crimson and blue all the way through It was a sunny afternoon on March 8, 1992, when the top-ranked KU men’s basketball team hosted “those villain Tigers from Missouri” at Allen Fieldhouse for Senior Day in a matchup of No. 3 vs. No. 11. Hutchinson resident Mike Smith remembers it well— so well, the game could have happened just last week. Mike says he decided to go to the game at the last minute, and as a result, he had to settle for a seat on the last row of the bleachers in the corner. “We closed out another Big 8 Championship and sent our seniors out with a Border War victory,” Mike says. “I just remember it had to be 120 degrees in the ‘barn’ and we stood for the entire game.” He grew up loving the Jayhawks, thanks to his parents, who both graduated from KU. He has several fond memories of sitting with his dad, listening to basketball and football games on the radio with legendary KU broadcasters Bob Davis and Max Falkenstien. An unforgettable memory, in particular, is listening to the national championship game when KU played Oklahoma in April 1988. It was the first KU championship win of his lifetime. “I’ll never forget Bob and Max stating that ‘Danny and the Miracles’ had won the national championship,” Mike says. He still smiles and gets a kick out of thinking about KU putting up 150 points against Kentucky a year and a half later. While Mike says there’s nothing like sitting in the “old barn of Allen Fieldhouse” for a basketball game, he can’t help but love being outside for the pageantry of college football as well. He and his wife, Nancy—whom he’s also converted into quite the Jayhawk fan—have had season tickets for decades and have been going to games at Memorial Stadium since 1970. There have been plenty of long Saturdays in Memorial Stadium, he says, but the experience of walking out of the venue on a day in 2007 when the KU football team was 11-0 made it all worthwhile. “I never thought I’d ever see that, and probably won’t again,” Mike says. Having a powerhouse basketball team helps, though. “I hope for as long as I live I will still get that childish feeling when I see Big Jay, hear the KU Fight Song, sing the Alma Mater, and chant the most famous chant of all times: Rock Chalk Jayhawk,” Mike says.

Hutchinson Magazine

F a n ati c C h e c k list •

Initiate Rivalries: KU fan Mike Smith adores his Jayhawks, but he has other teams he cheers for. Two, in particular: Whichever team is playing K-State or the University of Missouri. On the flip side, young Wildcat fan Kase Matlack, age 3, shrieks “Ew!” whenever he sees a Jayhawk, whether it be on television or on someone’s clothing. • Take it to the Grave: Joe Palacioz has told his family that when he passes away, he wants a black and gold casket. • Make Friends With the Coaches: On more than one occasion the Palacioz family has met Wichita State basketball coach Gregg Marshall and his wife, Lynn. Cris Palacioz chats with Lynn Marshall during games, and Cris’s granddaughter Abby Palacioz has lent Lynn scarves. • Enjoy More Than One Sport: All three of our fanatics had their ultimate choice of sport when it came to cheering for their schools. They support the other sports, too, however. The Matlacks enjoy catching Wildcat volleyball games, while the Palacioz family has been known to catch a few baseball and volleyball games in basketball’s off-season. • Remember Everything: Win or lose, these fanatics know all of the details of their teams, whether it be statistics, the score of a memorable game, a last-second play, or the sights, smells and sounds around them while taking in a game. • For Better or Worse: Mike Smith’s wife, Nancy, isn’t a huge sports fan. Likewise, Karl Matlack’s wife didn’t really love the Wildcats until they married. Both husbands, however, have converted their wives to ultimate-fan status. “Sharing the journey with my family is what has made it all worth it,” Mike says. • Collect the Goods: Amidst the numerous cups and wall hangings, Mike also has some unique pieces of memorabilia. Years ago he purchased an old high school scoreboard and refurbished it to make a KU scoreboard, placing it in his yard. He also has a maple wood mural that’s a replica of the floor at Allen Fieldhouse, as well as a display with the score sheets of the KU’s two most recent national championship basketball games.

Spring 2015

M akeup by Ni c ol e L anae M akeup Ar t is t r y

The Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson implemented Career Launch last year. The national program aims to strengthen the work ethic of young people by allowing them to shadow various community jobs. From left: Taysha Rideaux wants to be a dentist; Dylan Atkisson wants to own a construction company; and Naomi Gomez hopes to grace the stage as a singer.

‘ W h e n

grow up’ STO RY BY Patsy T e rre ll | P HOTOG RA P HY BY D e borah Wal k e r

B oys & G i rls C l u b h e lps ch i l d r e n r e a ch th e i r f u ll pot e n t i a l i n a ft e r - school progr a m Doreion Shaw got involved in the Boys & Girls Club when he was about 10. Initially his parents wanted a safe place for him to go after school— but it became much more than that. “It influenced my life by instilling a place in my heart that there was always someone to talk to, always a place for me to go when I was in need and always people who would assist me,” Shaw says. Now a welder at Kuhn Krause, Shaw, among many other club members, credits the Boys & Girls Club with helping him become who he is today.

Visionary experience For the past 25 years, the Boys & Girls Club has been an after-school refuge for Hutchinson’s schoolchildren. More than 1,000 young people in town engage in a variety of programs through the club, get extra help with their homework and, most importantly, develop relationships. “Vision leaders,” adult mentors for the Boys & Girls Club, establish reliable relationships for the children that can be a stabilizing force in their lives, says Lance Patterson, director of operations at the Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson. The number one reason the kids come back each day and want to stay connected as they get older is because of the relationships that they form with the vision leaders, he says. They know their mentors will be there no matter what. “It doesn’t matter that a child might have to move to a new house every couple of months, causing them to change schools, or that their mom or dad have to work crazy hours or have more than one job, or that they might not have a place that they can call home,” Patterson says. “The Boys & Girls Club will be there.” Seventeen-year-old Nicholas Royse was involved with the program from kindergarten until sixth grade. He played football at the club and coached for two years, which he says was his most memorable experience. His vision leader, Reggie Johnson,

led each practice, and Royse says Johnson’s guidance has made a considerable difference in his life. “Reggie became my mentor and a good friend over the years,” Royse says. “He taught me a lot about myself, pushed me outside my box and gave me a sense of purpose.” Royse’s mother, Heidi Chiles, says both he and his 14-year-old sister, Morgan, benefitted from Boys & Girls Club by learning skills they still use today. They participated in everything from playing sports to taking advantage of library resources. It’s not an experience she could have offered on her own, Chiles says. “As a single parent I found it affordable, reliable and safe,” she says. “My kids were picked up at school and kept safe until I got off work. The hours were very good for parents who work, and the rates could not be beat by anyone in town. My kids were given tons of opportunities and activities for free or very cheap that they would not have received anywhere else.”

Making it official The idea for an after-school program grew from a survey done by Hutchinson Community College, which showed that 600 grade-school-age kids in town would leave school every day to arrive at an empty home without parental supervision.

First-grader Chris Childs wants to be just like Officer Nic Smith of the Hutchinson Police Department when he grows up. Eleven-year-old Catelyn Washington dreams of being a famous actress.

Butch Dillon was involved from the beginning with discussions about developing an after-school program. The resulting program, Kids After School, was set up in 1990 for students at local elementary schools. A site for students with developmental disabilities, one of the first of its kind in the nation, was implemented at Hutchinson High School. “I saw how meaningful, important and exciting this could be for the children and families of Hutchinson, and for all of us,” Dillon says, now a Boys & Girls Club board member. In 1994, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America approached the City of Hutchinson about forming an official program. The result was a merger with the existing Kids After School program. Dillon is still passionate about what the program offers for students K-12. “There are more pressures on a family’s time and resources than a lot of them can handle,” he says. “Boys & Girls Club is there to help fill in the gaps and make sure the kids

are not missing out on things they need to be a success and add to society.” Most students arrive at one of the four locations in town on the bus from school at 3:30 to start on homework, with volunteers around to help them with further instruction if needed. After that, kids join their age groups for physical activity in the gym, and they later take part in other education-based programs. Students also participate in activities that embrace the “six pillars of good character”: trustworthiness, responsibility, respect, fairness, caring and citizenship.

Launching great futures A Hutchinson/Reno County Chamber survey a few years ago indicated that employers in Reno County were looking for a more dependable workforce. In response to this survey, a national program called Career Launch was implemented into the Hutchinson after-school program last year. With eight local businesses as partners, they have created a

suite of programs focusing on leadership, life skills and education-based programming with focuses on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM). The Junior Staff program is designed to help teens age 13-18 to develop interpersonal skills, a strong work ethic and a sense of community engagement while they get on-thejob training. Students get to participate in job shadowing and internship opportunities, helping them learn early how to secure a job and handle the responsibility. Younger children work on character development to increase their understanding of leadership structures and life skills such as responsibility and financial literacy. Susan Buttram, president of the 2015 Board of Directors, says she is particularly impressed with the STEAM programming offered to students from before kindergarten all the way through eighth grade. In high school, members tend to graduate to vision-leader positions and teach STEAM programming.

“Club members are being exposed to and given experience in real-life skills training,” Buttram says. Activities include “Club Tech,” where members learn about robotics, woodworking and graphic arts. Young people can also participate in a program that teaches gardening, emphasizing the importance of eating healthy. Another program celebrates creativity and self-expression through all forms of art. In Buttram’s five years of involvement, she has seen how the club inspires kids. “Club exposure gives all kids a happy, safe and productive place to go after school and during the summer,” she says. “All kids deserve to be happy, safe and productive.”

Making friends, and a difference Jon Powell, whose grandson is in Boys & Girls Club, says that when the 10-year-old boy was in the hospital recently, he received get-well cards from friends he met at the club, and this really lifted his spirits. Powell loves that the kids come from diverse backgrounds but can find common ground when they’re all together. “These kids become friends at Boys & Girls Club, and then they make a lasting friendship throughout high school,” Powell says. Gilbert Galindo, Hutchinson’s 2014 Youth of the Year, has been involved in the Boys & Girls Club since kindergarten. Now 18 years old, Galindo credits his involvement in the club with boosting interpersonal skills that will carry over to future success. It helped him get over his shyness and become more social, he says. “Here at the club, there’s so many different people and you get to develop social skills and how to be around others,” Galindo says. “It helped me become a leader, which will always help in life.”

fo u r

locations Main location: Shadduck Park 600 W. Second Ave.

Avenue A Community Center Site: Avenue A Elementary 111 S. Madison St.

South Hutchinson Elementary KidzLit Site: South Hutchinson Elementary 405 S. Poplar St.

Faris Elementary KidzLit Site: Faris Elementary 301 E. 10th Ave.

Note: During the summer months there are two sites—Shadduck and Avenue A—instead of four.

s a v e

th e

dates! March 22-28: National Boys & Girls Club week

Happy 25 Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson! th

March 29-April 4: 25 for 25 Campaign: Get 2,500 people in the community to donate $25 to the organization. September 27: Judy’s Mile & Run for the Rocks: In honor of late board member Judy McCool, the Boys & Girls Club will be hosting a family onemile fun run in conjunction with Run for the Rocks. This year, the Boys & Girls Club of Hutchinson and the Hutchinson Recreation Commission have added a 5K to the event! December (first or second Thursday): 25th Anniversary Steak ‘n Stake Celebration: A celebration of successes for Hutchinson’s young people over the past 25 years, a silent and live auction, and program highlighting the young participants. Date TBA. For more information, contact Ryan Corwin at 620.665.7171.

travel

Melodies

on the Danube Smooth sailing prevails when cruising one of Eastern Europe’s most iconic waterways, the Danube River Story by Gloria Gale Photography courtesy of WienTourismus, Österreich Werbung and AMA Waterways

Images of the Eiffel Tower, fashion and food instantly come to mind when you think of Paris. It’s a bit tougher, however, to conjure up images of Eastern Europe. But Eastern Europe is flourishing, with medieval towns and majestic cities brimming with storied history and engaging local culture. This is especially apparent onboard a cruise slowly gliding along the Danube. This trip is a step back in time.

Hutchinson Magazine

Hohenwerfen Fortress above the Salzach Valley in Austria

Volker Preusser/ Ă&#x2013;sterrich Werbung

Spring 2015

travel

Budapest is the largest city (top) in Hungary, divided in two by monumental bridges. The twin-towered Széchenyi Chain Bridge is the oldest bridge that lies over the Danube. Enjoy several cafes along the Danube in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava (bottom). Inside the city, take in impressive architecture and enjoy romantic outings to the opera.

Hungarian Rhapsody Beginning in Budapest, it’s difficult to imagine the onslaught of invasions dating from the 10th century that plagued this city. Today the capital exists within Hungary as a free-market economy resplendent with a fusion of Gothic, baroque and art nouveau architecture; thermal baths; and a colorful folk culture. The city of nearly 2 million people reveres its Old World traditions while embracing the future. Linked by a dramatic series of monumental bridges, the city is divided geographically in two by the Danube. Buda lies on the right bank and Pest on the left bank. Buda commands attention from the panoramic views afforded by Castle Hill. This attraction features the Hungarian acropolis, Halaszbastya (Fisherman Bastion), plus the Gellert Turkish bath complex. Along with sightseeing, you can capture the essence of Budapest with a taste of world-famous goulash laced with paprika, cabbage, sour cream and meat. Small cafes with excellent food— like Szimpla Café and Klauzal Café—are abundant. Pest is on the opposite side of the river, graced by the stately Parliament building housing the crown jewels. It’s one of the most iconic buildings adorning the embankment, and a stellar photo op. Equally impressive is Heroes’ Square and the Museum of Fine Arts. No trip to Pest is complete without visiting the regal Dohany Street Synagogue, the largest in Europe, whose complex features a moving memorial devoted to the Jews who perished in the Holocaust. May I have this waltz? As the boat sails past Slovakia’s charming capital of Bratislava, the democratic republic of Austria comes into view. Known as a land where every day is a celebration, Austria is a favorite vacation destination for Europeans. The Tyrolean Alps serve as picturesque backdrop.

Hutchinson Magazine

Spring 2015

travel

Hutchinson Magazine

It’s not hard to imagine why Austria, and Vienna’s musical legacy in particular, inspired classical geniuses from Mozart to Beethoven. The romance and stately elegance of Vienna endures, prompting a cultural outing to a concert, the opera or Heuriger (wine tavern). Follow with dinner to sample Wiener schnitzel (breaded veal cutlet) and the sinfully rich chocolate Sacher Torte. No trip is complete without a stop at a coffeehouse, a unique Viennese experience that easily puts Starbucks to shame. Vienna is responsible for the modern coffee drink we know today, as its coffee houses were first to make the beverage more palatable with the addition of milk and sugar. Continue the journey by sailing through the picturesque Austrian countryside known as the Wachau Valley. This verdant region is known for its apricot orchards and steeply terraced vineyards. This is winemaking country par excellence, producing some of the most revered white wines in Austria. The “Pearl of Wachau” is the 12th-century fairytale town of Durnstein, with its medieval castle fortress perched high above the city. Between the ruins of the castle, linked to the Crusades, and the ancient cobblestone street, it feels a like scene right out of a movie. Not far beyond Durstein is the small town of Melk, home of the Benedictine Abbey. One of the most celebrated cultural sites in all of Austria, this 18th-century monastery holds a series of splendid baroque buildings, the collegiate church and a magnificent cloistered library.

Top left: Wachau Valley is known for its beautiful vineyards, producing some of the finest white wines in Austria. Top right: The 17thcentury Mirabell Gardens in Salzburg are a horticulture wonderland, perfect for midday photos. Bottom left: The Viennese café experience puts Starbucks to shame. Bottom Middle: Statue of Archduke Charles on the Heldenplatz in Vienna.

Top and bottom left photos by: Peter Rigaud

Bottom right: Cruise from Austria into Passau, Germany, known for its historic buildings.

Up tempo Inland, a bus excursion to the idyllic Lake District leads straight to Salzburg—home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and the site where The Sound of Music was filmed. Today, Salzburg is dominated by the baroque majesty of the 17th and 18th century’s old city, populated with more than 100 churches, castles and palaces in its historic core. Don’t forget to stop for chocolate and visit the exquisite Mirabell Gardens. Onboard the boat once again, you can cruise from Austria into Germany. A short visit to Passau, home of the imposing St. Stephen’s Cathedral, is jaw-dropping. The boat will anchor in its final destination of Vilshofen. At the edge of the Bavarian Forest, the Old Town rises up in a densely constructed peninsula between the Danube and the Vils River. Reigning over the town are the twin spires of the Benedictine monastery of Schweiklberg. Vilshofen is known for its diverse cultural offerings, gastronomic delights—and beer! As an attraction in its own right, a cruise up the Danube provides an intimate tour of four countries’ picturesque ports of call—all imparting a lasting impression of Eastern Europe’s remarkable grandeur.

Spring 2015

hutch talks

Tell us about the moment you fell in love with coffee. I have very fond memories of making my grandma and grandpa their instant Folgers when I was young. They both liked it a very specific way, and I loved the smell of it, and I’d usually secretly take a small sip of each one before I would take it to them. That’s where my love of coffee began—although I must admit that now my palate has matured a great degree and I can’t imagine the thought of drinking instant coffee, much less that brand.

How did you get into the coffee business? (Because we think that sounds amazing.) I have always worked for someone else, but have always dreamed of owning my own business and sharing my family’s recipes with everyone who entered my shop. After my divorce, I wanted to do this more than anything, and fortunately, I finally had the right people in my life that encouraged me to follow that dream and support me daily in doing what I love.

What makes Brewed Awakening special? Most of my recipes are from my grandma’s collection, and everything is made from scratch every morning right here in my shop. You simply cannot imitate homemade goodies, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. We also have a very relaxed, rustic atmosphere, and people are genuinely happy to see you here. I’ve worked very hard to create an environment where all people feel at home, because that’s what Brewed Awakening is to me—a second home.

What do you find most rewarding about your job? I have met some of the most wonderful people here in the shop. I have had the pleasure to meet a woman who reminds me so much of my grandma, and who reminds me every time she is in the shop that my grandma would be proud of what I’ve accomplished. Although endless pots of coffee don’t hurt either!

What’s your caffeinated beverage of choice? The Brewed Awakening—my very own high-maintenance Americano, which took me almost two years to perfect. I will say this about it: If you’re not awake when you finish it, you should probably seek medical attention.

We’re looking for the ultimate cup of coffee. What’s your best seller? Come in and enjoy a caramel macchiato in a glass mug. You can’t beat the look of this creamy, sweet, richly layered espresso drink.

Karrie

What’s on your bucket list? Travel to a warm place. Winter in Kansas is for the birds. But seriously, I would love to travel abroad to a place with impeccable coffee in quaint cafes on cobblestone streets, and if they happen to have terrific food to boot? Fantastic!

owner, Brewed Awakening

Besides drinking/making/serving coffee, what keeps you busy? I have kids in

Ruebke Having spent much of her childhood in Paola, Brewed Awakening owner Karrie Ruebke remembers her move as a teenager to Hutchinson. “My family moved here when I was 14, and I was sure that my life was over,” Ruebke says. “Looking back, that move has afforded me a lot of chances in life that I probably wouldn’t have had in that small little town.” Hutchinson offered her one major novelty in particular: “In my hometown,” she says, “we didn’t have coffee shops.” Originally a cosmetologist by trade, Ruebke found her job unsatisfying, and she left the field to take a part-time job at Starbucks for about three years. “It validated my love for coffee and taught me quite a lot about working in a coffee shop,” she says.

Hutchinson Magazine

three different schools whose activities keep me very busy, so I don’t have a lot of time to get into trouble; that’s for sure. But when I do have a little free time, I enjoy knitting. It makes my mind focus on the one task for just a little bit, and brings me back to center. Other than that, I’m a sucker for the Food Network. I always love to watch other people cook!

Interview conducted by Nadia Imafidon Photography by Deborah Walker

Spring 2015

Hutchinson Magazine

hutch talks

Tony

Finlay Executive Director, Hutchinson Recreation Commission After 15 years living in the two major metro areas of Missouri—Kansas City and St. Louis—moving to Hutchinson to become the executive director of the Hutchinson Recreation Commission gave Tony Finlay the slightest pause. “Honestly, I was worried about moving back to small-town Kansas three years ago,” Finlay says. “But after two months it was clear to my wife, Andrea, and me that we were home.” The Kansas-born, Fort Hays State University graduate can sum up his life in Hutchinson with one word: active. For a community of this size, he says he is impressed with the events, activities and volunteer opportunities available to residents. “I challenge anyone to show me a seven-day period where there are not, at a minimum, three community events to support—either by attending or volunteering,” he says. Why is it special to belong to the Hutchinson Recreation Commission? The work we do and the positive impact we have on the quality of life in the community. We talk a lot about serving the residents of Hutchinson for their entire life span—from “cradle to grave.” Not many industries are with their customers for their entire lifetimes.

As it warms up in the spring, what kinds of activities do we have to look forward to? Spring is one of our favorite times of the year, and naturally so. Everyone is looking forward to the warmth, sunshine and longer days. People want to get out and about, and we want to help them out by providing fun, entertaining and affordable activities and events. All ages can enjoy our Dillon Nature Center, a free facility that includes nature trails, fishing ponds, a family playscape area, picnic areas and the Visitor Center that includes our newly renovated indoor exhibits. In April, our staff sponsors Get Everyone Outdoors [GEO] Month, filled with free or lowcost activities that encourage families to head outdoors and enjoy nature at its finest. New to Hutch Rec is our programming of Fun Valley and Hobart-Detter baseball and softball complexes. Both complexes will be hopping all spring and summer with weekend baseball and softball tournaments, as well as weekly games and sand volleyball. Biking enthusiasts will enjoy the Sand Plum Bicycle Classic and new Salt City Criterion races, going on in May.

Running enthusiasts, meanwhile, can register for our Hutch Rec Race Series running and triathlon events that start in June.

What’s on your plate for the spring? We spend part of our spring prepping for summer. Most parents use spring break as the time to register and schedule their children’s activities for the coming months of vacation ahead, such as participation in our popular Dillon Nature Center Adventure Camp, our weekly Stay to Play Summer Camp, leisure arts and crafts classes, youth sports and swimming lessons at Salt City Splash. Speaking of, Salt City Splash, the outdoor aquatic center, opens on Memorial Day weekend, which officially kicks off our summer season.

What do you love to do in Hutchinson to stay active? I enjoy biking and running along the trails in Hutchinson, as well as working out at Hutch Rec’s Elmdale Wellness Center and playing in Hutch Rec’s volleyball and kickball leagues. My wife Andrea likes participating in our Hutch Rec Race Series events, and we both enjoy staying active with our two sons, Brant and Deven, who like playing basketball, tennis and golf.

What’s on your bucket list? To spend a month in Italy. I don’t want to just see the sights; I want to experience the culture, learn the heritage and of course, have more than my share of the pizza and wine. Interview conducted by Nadia Imafidon Photography by Deborah Walker

Spring 2015

the

end quote

300 number of batches of jelly made by Sticky Spoons in 2014

More than

“Start out small and always add color to the yard.” —Helen Bornholdt, on starting a garden

1 illustrator added to the Hutchinson Magazine contributors. Welcome to the team,

Brady Scott!

36,000 artifacts are housed at the Reno County Museum.

found on

on The Wiley:

“My husband’s Granddad was a dentist there!” —Lisa Arnette Saylor

Number of poems in this issue:

two

“We all contributed to the history of the place just as our grandparents and parents did.” – Kristen Garlow Piper on the Wiley

by William Sheldon

“I’ll never forget Bob and Max stating that ‘Danny and the Miracles’ had won the National Championship.”

number of basketball fanatics (that we know of) in this issue

Hutchinson Magazine

More than

—Mike Smith, on listening to the national championship basketball game when KU played Oklahoma in 1988.

organ pipes echo through the Brownlee home.

best bets

march

Hutchinson Symphony The Hutchinson Symphony presents Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, a favorite of musiclovers across continents throughout many generations. This special concert and finale of the season will feature the combined choirs of Hutchinson Community College and Sterling College at Hutchinson’s Historic Fox Theatre. Begins at 7:30. www.hutchsymphony.org

march

1621

NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament Game on! The 2015 NJCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Tournament features the best junior college men’s basketball in the nation. Reserved and game-day tickets available at www.njcaabbtrny.org.

Hutchinson Magazine

Kansas Antique Bottle and Postcard Show Bring in your old bottles, postcards, and tokens for free appraisals. The annual Kansas Antique Bottle and Postcard Show will be held at the Sunflower South Building on the Kansas State Fairgrounds. Free admission. Begins at 9 a.m. For more information: (620) 728-8304

may 2 Auction Underground Strataca is hosting an auction to raise funds for a new geology exhibit. The theme is “A Night at the Movies,” so dress up as your favorite movie character, actor or actress. There will be a live auction of about 15 bid-worthy items and a silent auction for 50+ items. www.underkansas.org

may 3

Enjoy a self-guided tour through the town of Yoder highlighting many quilts on display at participating merchants. Soak in the quilting tradition of this Amish community. No admission fee. www.yoderkansas.com

Dillon Lecture Series

April 7

15th Annual Parade of Quilts

april

march 2-31

spring 2015

The Dillon Lecture Series welcomes J.B. Bernstein, a sports agent and marketing professional with experience in nearly every professional sport in the United States. His work as a baseball agent recruiting in India was made into the Walt Disney film Million Dollar Arm starring Jon Hamm. Begins at 10:30 a.m. Tickets are $10. www.hutchcc.edu

April 17, 18 47th Annual Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale Visit the Kansas Mennonite Relief Sale, a family event with food, crafts, and general and quilt auctions. Held at the Kansas State Fairgrounds, proceeds go to relief, development, and peace programs of Mennonite Central Committee. Begins at 4 p.m. on April 17. Admission is free. For more information call, (620) 665-7406.

6th Annual Sand Plum Bicycle Classic Riders will chose between a 50-, 25-, or 12-mile route, or a 5-mile family route. All proceeds benefit the Friends of the Trail Fund, which contributes to Reno County’s expanding trail system. Event begins at 8 a.m. Don’t forget your helmet or water bottle to stay hydrated on the trail. For more information: baileys@ hutchchamber.com

May 14-16 2015 NJCAA Outdoor Track & Field National Championship

Hutchinson’s Gowans Stadium is hosting the National Junior College Athletic Association Division I Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. The Championships here will undoubtedly feature future national and international standouts in the potential field of over 1,900 student athletes. www.njcaa.org

May

Reno County Farmers Market

The Farmer’s Market is back! It’s time to scour for fresh produce sold by gardeners who live right in the community. The Market hours are 7:30 a.m-12:30 p.m. on Saturdays. www.renocountyfarmersmarket.com