Topeka Magazine Fall 2009 by Sunflower Publishing

TOPEKA

TOPEKA’S PREMIER MAGAZINE ON PEOPLE, PLACES & STYLE

MAGAZINE

Fall 2009

Wild Women Heartbreakin’ horse riders of the frontier

$3.00

Reinisch Rose Garden in full bloom

Get away on the byway

The Rowing Association’s winning strokes

TOPEKAMAGAZINE

Vol. III / No. 1V

from the editor

publisher / Art Director

Darby Oppold Editor

The Kansas Native Stone Scenic Byway curves and bends across a landscape just outside of Topeka where forested mounds give way to the Flint Hills. Covering a distance less than 50 miles, it leads you by prairie flowers, restored limestone homes, ranches, cliffs, rivers and several chances for good eating. When I first traveled down Native Stone on an evening cool and damp with the smell of autumn, the leaves had not yet changed but the soybean plants were already taking on shades of gold. When I think of this road, I always recall that color and imagine the byway as a trail that leads somewhere between Topeka and an early fall evening. This byway, the nearest of nine such scenic routes in Kansas, is featured by Debra Guiou Stufflebean and Jason Dailey on page 30 of our fall issue. Debra and Jason began planning and photographing the story last autumn. Since then, the byway has rightfully received a great deal of attention, notably a project spearheaded by Topeka’s SouthWind Gallery and state organizations that commissioned Kansas artist Stan Herd to create his own painting of each byway. Four of those paintings, including the one of the Native Stone byway, are actually being featured on Kansas Lottery tickets—an unusual and successful merger of high art and high stakes. What I personally like most about Stan Herd’s picture of the Native Stone byway is that it is entirely different from my conception of the road. Herd chose a portion of the byway a few miles south of Alma, and then about one-fourth of a mile off the road to the west, on a property “that wasn’t marked not to go in.” Here, he brought an artist’s eye to the landscape and focused on the bright red butterfly milkweeds, the range of green and browns of the grass, and the sky with

Fall 09

clouds in tones of steel blue and peachtinted oranges. But I think anyone standing at this point, even without the benefit of Herd’s nationally celebrated vision, would agree that it is a magnificent view. Now my image of the Native Stone byway is somewhat blurred between my first impressions from that fall drive and Herd’s framing of the landscape. I imagine that because you are reading this magazine, you probably already have a strong connection to Topeka and the regions around it. I imagine, like me, you have an image in your mind that you associate with the byway region or with any of the other local themes in this issue: homes, gardens, businesses, people and neighborhoods. However long and strong our connections might be to one area, there is most always a reward in seeing what we know through a different framing, and that is what we try to bring with each issue of Topeka Magazine. With this fall issue, we present not only a scenic byway from our perspective but also Lake Shawnee from the perspective of a champion rowing squad, a busy intersection from the perspective of a tranquil garden, a high-density area of west Topeka from the perspective of an Italian lizard and the idea of a tree house from the perspective of a noted musician. None of these perspectives, of course, is the authoritative view on our city—but they are angles to complement your own memories and to work into your own idea of Topeka and everything around you. Best wishes as you travel your own byways this fall. Nathan Pettengill Editor

Send your comments and suggestions to topekamagazine@sunflower.com

Nathan Pettengill COPY EDITOR

susie fagan advertising representative

Sandi Wilber (785) 220-9938 alice brewer (888) 497-8668 Designer

Tamra Rolf Ad Designers

shelly kemph Tamra Rolf Photographers

daniel W. coburn Jason Dailey ashton martin Contributing Writers

julie k. buzbee anita miller fry stacey jo geier KIM GRONNIGER CAROLYN KABERLINE vilay luangraj vernon mcfalls FRANCIE FORRESTT RILEY christine steinkuehler debra Guiou stufflebean GENERAL MANAGER

BERT HULL marketing assistant

faryle scott

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Topeka Magazine is a publication of Sunflower Publishing, a division of The World Company.

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TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

Topeka. A Great Arts Town.

Contents

Fall

on the cover

Wild Women of the Frontier {Photography by Jason Dailey}

42 Reinisch rose garden in full bloom 30 Native Stone Byway 50 The Rowing Association’s winning strokes

Features 24 Wild Women

Talented, tough and jaw-droppin’, these riders know their horses and their herstory just like they know the back of their guns

42 The Reinisch Roses

Writer Christine Steinkuehler offers a close-up look at some of the outstanding roses in Gage Park’s Reinisch Rose Garden

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In Every Issue

01 From the Editor 64 events calendar

DEPARTMENTS .............

.............

topeka businesses

Home LIfe

8 Gallery of Delicate

30 Your Way on the Byway

Creations National and local artists craft colorful glass pieces that catch the eye and capture the imagination

12 The Sharp Sounds

34 Architecturally Positive Addition

A drummer boy and his tree house are the force and inspiration behind a store’s musical offerings

The legacy of a pioneering developer, the Country Club Addition features some of the city’s most diverse and unusual architecture

.............

notables

local flavor

16 Conserving

38 Farm-Fresh Eggs

of Supersonic

What She Loves

A professor with a knapsack, Joanne Altman focuses on guiding her Midwestern students through other cultures and figuring out what makes a chimpanzee or lion tick

20 Civilians in Blue

A police academy brings the civilian and law enforcement worlds closer with flashing sirens and mutual respect

One of the best trips this fall is just down the road

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

From the shell to the flavor, local farm eggs are most often all that they are cracked up to be .............

living well

48 Postpartum Pilates

Once a trendy exercise program, Pilates has made inroads in Topeka as a practical regime with particularly strong benefits for new mothers

50 Grace and Strength Topeka’s rowing club creates champions with hard work, early mornings and the occasional dip in cold water .............

grow

54 The Nonsecret Garden

How do you blend privacy and a very public space? One Topeka resident has created a beautiful garden that does exactly this .............

For the Family

58 Run, Run, Lizard

The annual Running of the Lizards celebrates and investigates an accidental reptile population that has flourished in Topeka

60 Nothing Trivial About It

Library trivia night competitions draw in the crowds, but it takes a special mix of young and old to walk away with the crown

8 TOPEKA BUSINESSES Glass Expressions

Gallery of delicate

Creations

National and local artists craft colorful glass pieces that catch the eye and capture the imagination

Margie Weidenbaker’s gallery features works by local and national artists, such as these vases by California-based artist Tim Lazer.

lass Expressions, the only gallery in the region to specialize in colored glass jewelry and art, came about when Margie Weidenbaker and her late husband, Larry, visited a similar gallery in San Antonio, Texas, in 1997. “The glass really intrigued me,” she recalls, “and since I have a background in retail, I decided this was something I could do.” She persuaded the owner to give her a list of the artists whose works she carried and opened the Topeka store at its first location on 32nd Street Terrace that year, eventually moving to Westboro in 2003. Vibrantly colored glass pieces crafted by artisans across the country delight those who enter Glass Expressions seeking an uplifting diversion, a distinctive gift or an intriguing conversation piece for their home or office. “Most of our customers are just in awe when they see all the color, and they appreciate the uniqueness of the art,” says Weidenbaker. “Glass is something a lot of people don’t buy for themselves very often, so when they receive a piece as a gift or do buy it, they tend to remember where and why they got it because it’s special.” Although her mother collected antique glass, Weidenbaker didn’t fully appreciate the art form until she became acquainted with the artists whose work she features at the store. “It’s truly a labor of love for them,” she says. “They work with ovens that reach temperatures of up to

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

STORY BY Kim Gronniger | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Daniel W. Coburn

TOPEKA BUSINESSES

10 Glass Expressions

Dick Wentzel’s marble creations take inspiration from nature. The once-amateur artist continues his artwork and education in Topeka.

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Paperweights from Glass Eye Studio in Seattle are some of the most popular items at Glass Expressions.

2,300 degrees, and they have to be patient because weather conditions and other factors can affect the outcome when they’re melting and swirling the little rods of glass they use in their designs.” The inventory at Glass Expressions constantly changes as artists hone their craft. “They don’t like to do the same thing all the time; they’re always experimenting,” explains Weidenbaker, who continues to look for new artists, selecting a blend of professionals renowned for their kiln, fused glass or flat work techniques. Various local and regional artists are sometimes featured in trunk shows at the gallery, and Glass Expressions serves as a popular venue during the city’s First Friday Art Walk events. “Selling glass pieces is a lot different than selling screwdrivers,” laughs Weidenbaker. “We may have similar pieces, but no two pieces are exactly alike because everything is created free form from the end of a blowpipe and then shaped by a team of three or more artisans.” Exquisite creations at Glass Expressions range from an affordable $25 splurge for a set of handcrafted earrings to high-end purchases such as collectible paperweights

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

or large, woven glass decorative pieces worth thousands of dollars. Every glass purchase, from a whimsical wine stopper to a collector’s item, includes biographical information about the artist to enhance the buyer’s appreciation of the piece. “Some of our artists have always been artists and others are former business people who got tired of working with paper and people and found a different outlet,” says Weidenbaker. “They took a class and got hooked on the process of making delicate creations.” The store’s most frequently purchased items are friendship balls, a traditional ornament historically created from glass bits left over at the end of the day that an artist would then give to friends and family so as not to waste any resources. Paperweights in various shapes reflecting natural elements like fish and flowers or featuring ribbons of color swirled in patterns are also popular. “If people see our glass pieces in the gallery or in a home or business and say ‘ah,’ then we’ve done our job. It’s a very pleasing thing to surround yourself with so much beauty, and I feel lucky that I get to work here every day.”

Marble Maker Creates Botanical Balls of Beauty Four years ago Dick Wentzel, an insurance agent, became enamored with marble making after watching Bruce Breslow of Moon Marble Co. fame create the beautiful glass balls that would fire his imagination and spark his avocation as an artisan. “There were eight Cub Scouts and me standing with our mouths open,” laughs Wentzel, recalling his epiphany at the Bonner Springs attraction. “I was hooked.” He spent three and a half years making “bad-looking” rocks in his Topeka garage while learning patience and perfecting the painstaking process of creating ornate, one-of-a-kind flowers immersed in clear glass. “I use different ribbons and strips and make each petal, pistil, leaf, stem and stamen from glass,” he said. “People sometimes ask where I buy my flowers, and that’s a great compliment.” A year ago he worked up the nerve to place two marbles in the pockets of his Levi’s and visit Margie Weidenbaker at Glass Expressions to have her assess his handiwork. “She placed the marbles on black velvet to look at them better, and she really encouraged me,” marvels Wentzel. Each marble, fashioned from glass imported from Germany or acquired through Moon Marble, takes about two hours to create. “People may think I’ve lost my marbles, but I can always make more,” jokes Wentzel. “I work with a small torch and get right inside that marble, and the rest of the world just melts away. It’s a totally addictive hobby.”

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12 TOPEKA BUSINESSES Supersonic Music

The Sharp Sounds of

Supersonic

A drummer boy and his tree house are the force and inspiration behind a store’s musical offerings

Businessman and musician Derek Sharp is also master of the “Drumgeon,” which is his name for the basement workshop where he produces his customized drums.

or Derek Sharp, life has come full circle since he made his very first tree house. That project began when he was 12 years old and looked across the street at a neighborhood girl who was dragging a couple of boards across her yard. “I went, ‘Girl, what are you doing?’” recalls Sharp. “I walked over. ‘I’m gonna build a tree house,’ she said. She didn’t know what she was doing. I didn’t either, but I grabbed a hammer and saw and nailed a bunch of wood into the tree and kind of made us a little tree house.”

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business marketing focuses Sharp’s

one-on-one interaction.

They married, of course, and after 26 years and five children later, Sharp has continued the tree house tradition at home and at work. “I built my kids a tree house in the backyard that’s sturdier than our house,” he says. “I’d go under the tree house if there’s a tornado.” Sharp’s business tree house is TreeHouse Custom Drums, a line of handmade drum instruments that he features along

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

STORY BY Julie K. Buzbee | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Daniel W. Coburn

TOPEKA BUSINESSES

14 Supersonic Music

with guitars, harps, custom-made didgeridoos and other musical creations at Supersonic Music, the downtown music store he has owned and managed since 1998. For Sharp, the TreeHouse name has several meanings. “I thought ‘tree house’ kind of fits. You can play in a tree house. A tree house can be whimsical or it can be some amazing, sturdy thing.” Amazing and sturdy things are precisely what Sharp tries to create from his drum work center in Supersonic’s cavernous basement, a place Sharp calls the “Drumgeon.” From floor to ceiling, the basement is lined with wooden drum shells of all colors and sizes. No two shells look alike—indeed, that would be the idea behind owning a custom instrument. “These are all snare drum shells,” Sharp says as he begins to rattle off the types of wood he uses to create the unique percussion instruments: maple, mahogany, South American curly red heart, black walnut, cocobolo, oak, maple, curly red oak, birch, bird’s-eye maple and zebrawood. He also works with any wood that a customer provides. If you want to take the pine siding from a defunct, antique piano and turn it into a snare drum, Sharp’s your man. One of his current projects involves transforming a building into an instrument. “This is bullet-hole pine,” Sharp says, holding up a cylinder. “This was a 120-year-old barn that was taken down. And that hole right there is where an iron square-headed nail was. When it rusted, it left a hole—and that hole will be the drum vent.” Sharp also promotes traditional methods in finishing his drums. He avoids stains, preferring instead to use aniline dyes, which are hand-mixed and colorfast. The finishes also are more organic than those used on factory-made drums, Sharp says. “I use beeswax and carnauba wax,” he notes, “instead of the high-gloss, shiny, slick, kill-your-fish, automotive finishes that most everybody else does. It smells

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

like honey when you’re rubbing the stuff.” As the son of a high school band director, Sharp has always been musically inclined. But it took him time to go through his roundabout route back to TreeHouse drums and the music industry. After two years of working 80-hour weeks with no benefits as manager of a previous drum store in Topeka for some Kansas City owners, he tried but didn’t like a state government job. Fortuitously, he learned at that time that the music store he formerly managed was for sale. “The seventh banker said yes,” recalls Sharp, who now has complete control of the business, including a thriving online operation and a satellite shop in Lawrence. In fact, these operations are almost drumming up more business than the Washburn University music arts graduate can handle—a good gig for any business owner. Sharp’s Topeka store, which has two full-time and three part-time employees, is a constant beehive of activity, with patrons from the youngest grandchildren to aging musicians who are trying to achieve something new technologically. Drum and guitar lessons take place in five or six small studios, also in the store’s basement, where several Topeka musicians teach. Sharp says these music lessons and his work fit with a mission defined by his religious faith and belief in providing role models. “If there’s a troubled dorm kid, I want to be able to show him what it’s like to be an honorable young man by being a mentor for him,” he says, adding that his best character traits can be modeled through the work he does making drums. Sharp’s business marketing focuses on one-on-one interaction. He literally takes his show on the road, where he sells hand drums to folks at fairs and festivals and lends and repairs musical instruments to students and band instructors. “I provide the drum sets to jazz festivals at various colleges and different educational things,” he says, ticking

Authentic Derek Sharp TreeHouse drums have two marks: Sharp’s signature on the interior cylinder and a TreeHouse logo such as these on the exterior.

off some of the places he and his drums visit regularly: Washburn University, University of Kansas, Kansas State University, Penn Valley Community College and Pittsburg State University. “That’s one of my main marketing expenses, is the logistics of driving and putting on new heads and repairing stuff that kids steal or break. I like to get in front of the kids and some band directors to let musicians hear them and try them,” he says. For Sharp, who signs each of his drums with a D-sharp note and a musical staff, the constant traveling and performing reflect his approach to being involved in all the details. “It’s an obsessive issue,” he says with pride. “It makes me interested in doing things as well as they can be done, and that is a virtue that’s dying in this culture.”

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Supersonic Music 117 SE Sixth Ave. (785) 235-3786 www.supersonicmusic.com

16 NOTABLES Joanne Altman

conserving what

She Loves

A professor with a knapsack, Joanne Altman focuses on guiding her Midwestern students through other cultures and figuring out what makes a chimpanzee or lion tick

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specializes in the psychological wellbeing of captive wildlife, animal-human interaction and joanne altman

animal cognition.

t is in Tanzania with a group of her students from Washburn University watching a demonstration dance by a group of Masai tribesmen that Joanne Altman starts her story. “The men are very tall. They were all warriors taking pride in their skills emulating the really high jumping of the crowned crane, a virile manly demonstration. The women came out, dancing and singing, beginning to encircle us. We were totally encircled and we felt astoundingly awkward and uncomfortable, unsure of what to do,” she recalls. Later, as the students trek to a local water hole with the warriors, both groups begin to relax and the awkwardness melts away. Altman asks the Masai about their characteristic elongated earlobes, which some of the warriors had. The chief explains that some warriors did not have the marking because they had attended missionary schools where this tradition was frowned upon and discouraged. And, he adds—perhaps bringing out a reason that would be more apparent to his foreign guests—it hurt. .............................................................................................................................................................................

path to conservation is to care and to understand.” “The true

– Joanne altman

Photograph by Jason Dailey.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

With that story, and with the long road to share, the groups found it easier to converse, and Altman realized she was conducting another successful trip. In her work as a psychology professor at Washburn University, Altman values opportunities to expose her students to varied ideas and people. In that respect, the encounter with the Masai was a breakthrough because it helped her students to empathize with and create a connection to a culture beyond their shores.

STORY BY Vernon McFalls | PHOTOGRAPHY courtesy of Joanne altman

Joanne Altman

18 NOTABLES

Joanne Altman’s frequent trips to wildlife regions enable her to understand animal behavior in nature. This knowledge is crucial for her study of how these same species behave in captive environments.

But Altman’s trips to natural habitats in South America, Australia and Africa—she will lead her sixth group of students to the region this year—are also a chance for her to share her particular area of expertise: animal psychology. In particular, Altman specializes in the psychological well-being of captive wildlife, animal-human interaction and animal cognition. And to understand animals in captivity, she must also understand their habits in their native environments. For that reason, Altman takes frequent research trips on her own for intensive observation of species. Topeka seems, at first, an unusual base for a wildlife psychologist, but the Long Island, New York, native points out that doing research with captive animal populations is often dependent on the availability of zoo animals— and in this respect, she has struck gold. Altman describes the Topeka Zoological Park as being incredibly accessible and lists numerous animal populations she has studied within its walls. One of her first projects in the early 1990s involved figuring out what was bothering some apparently lazy lions. Drawing on her knowledge of the lions’ wild eating habits, she hypothesized that the kings of the Topeka Zoo would be more energetic if their feeding schedules were more closely aligned to their natural “gorge and fast” rhythm. Once this procedure was adopted, the lions began to show more energy and behave more naturally. Being able to apply knowledge for preservation and improvement is a theme that runs through Altman’s teaching and research. “The true path to conservation,” Altman explains, “is to care and to understand.”

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

20 NOTABLES Topeka Citizens’ Police Academy

Civilians

............................................................................................................................

in blue

Topeka Citizens’ Police Academy classes are offered each spring and fall. To apply or obtain more information, contact Sgt. Lance Feyh:

Citizens’ Academy Director

A police academy brings the civilian and law enforcement worlds closer with flashing sirens and mutual respect

320 S. Kansas Ave., Suite 100 (785) 368-9497 www.topeka.org/tpd/citizens_acad.shtml

ith a civilian at the wheel, the black-and-white police cruiser races across the Forbes Field runway. Coming in at 45 mph, the car veers toward a lane of orange traffic cones when a voice comes over the radio. “Lane 2.” The car immediately slides into the second lane and speeds between the lines of cones without slowing or braking. The voice broadcasts again. “Lane 4.” Without changing speed, the car dashes toward the fourth lane—scattering several cones in its path. “You’ve just run over a line of little orange people,” the voice on the radio deadpans. ............................................................................................................................................................................

see things firsthand, to know why we do what we do.” “we like for them to

– Sgt. lance feyh

Twice a year, the Forbes Field runway is turned over to civilians learning to drive police cars in one of the most popular lessons of the Topeka Citizens’ Police Academy.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

Before the day is over there will be plenty of tossed cones, groans and laughter, as at least 25 drivers will careen through the official police Emergency Vehicle Operator Course. They haven’t hot-wired the cop cruisers and taken them for a joyride—these are actual lessons provided by the Topeka Police Department as part of the Topeka Citizens’ Police Academy. The academy has been designed to give participants a view of the inner workings and demands of what Topeka Chief of Police Ron Miller describes as “the most visible form of government.” Founded in 1996, the academy has graduated more than 600 students. Each year, two 13-week sessions are taught, usually start-

STORY by Carolyn Kaberline | PHOTOGRAPHY BY jason dailey

22 NOTABLES Topeka Citizens’ Police Academy

Academy members go through many of the same drills that a regular law officer would experience—from a tense, shoot-don’t-shoot scenario to a fast-paced obstacle course at the wheel of a patrol car.

ing in March and September. Students attend lectures and demonstrations by everyone from the K-9 division to the coroner’s office. In addition to racing patrol cars, the students go through hands-on shoot-don’t-shoot scenarios, bomb disposal lessons, firearm training simulations and dispatch scenarios. “We say, ‘This is your Topeka Police Department,’” says Sgt. Lance Feyh, who coordinates the academy. “We like for them to see things firsthand, to know why we do what we do. It’s an eye-opening experience for most people to see what we can and can’t do.” Feyh says there are a lot of misconceptions about law enforcement thanks to all the crime shows on television. “The average citizen believes we’re always 100 percent successful, that we track the suspect, get the evidence sent back to us immediately with a court case that always ends in a conviction.” However, he says, in real life that doesn’t always happen, and most people change their perspective to a more realistic understanding by the end of the academy. Over the years, the department has adapted the academy to reflect the force’s changing role. Feyh, a 19-year police veteran who is now in his third year of overseeing the academy, says the curriculum is reviewed each year. Sheila Flory, a volunteer who has helped with 13 of the academies, notes that recent additions to the program are sections on gangs, community officers, the volunteer program and code enforcement. In addition, sessions on the coroner’s office and the K-9 demonstrations have been lengthened. “By far and away, the most popular session for the last few years has been the Emergency Vehicle Operations Course—what we like to call the ‘Fun Day,’” she says. “Everyone comments how it’s really a once-in-a-lifetime experience to be able to actually drive a patrol car with lights flashing

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

and sirens blaring. Sometimes I think the officers enjoy that day just as much as the citizens.” The police department sees benefits to keeping the academy relevant and interesting. “One of the most rewarding parts is to see someone who may have had a bad experience with a law enforcement officer at least be able to understand a little more about why and how things work,” adds Flory. “It’s also nice to see the officers get a better understanding of public opinion that’s not from an anonymous newspaper blogger or radio caller.” Flory, like Feyh, thinks the academy helps participants “realize they can’t believe everything they see in movies and television.” She also says the variety of people who take the academy “helps educate everyone because we all have different experiences and perspectives.” And ideally, those perspectives will change on both sides of the course during the academy. “Doing the simulations teaches you about yourself as well as [about] the training officers go through,” says Brigette Hayes, a member of the spring 2009 academy and a program consultant when she isn’t fighting crime. “The real benefit is you get a better idea of what your relationship is with the police. Knowing something better takes the mystery out of it and lends you ownership.” “The best benefit [of the academy] is that people from all walks of life and various points of view get a chance to better understand the difficulties officers face on a daily basis,” explains Stephen Imming, also a graduate of the spring 2009 academy. And while he says the class may not change anyone’s attitude toward police officers, it should at least give them an understanding of “what happens on a daily basis for everyone involved in law enforcement.” Bring on the orange cones.

The postgraduation call to duty Police work does not necessarily end at graduation for participants of the Topeka Citizens’ Police Academy. Graduates are encouraged to contribute through Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) or Citizens’ Academy Ambassadors (CAA). The VIPS program is actually a national program that started in response to the 9-11 attacks. VIPS are highly trained volunteers who may work on patrol units or provide administrative services. Those working on patrol units may help with traffic control, perform vacation house checks, staff DUI and driver’s license check lanes, and help with crowd control or missing children searches. Administrative duties include clerical work, recordkeeping, research, patrol car maintenance or a variety of special assignments. The newly formed CAA group is designed for those who seek to continue the training started in the academy. “If a person enjoyed their time in the academy, they would enjoy the ambassadors,” explains Ben Clay, volunteer coordinator for the Topeka Police Department. “A more in-depth training program based on the training that new recruits go through will be provided. Ninety percent of the group’s meeting time will be spent in training, education, community awareness for law enforcement and safety.” VIPS are required to volunteer a minimum of four hours a month, though the average contribution is approximately 22 hours per month. Ambassadors are asked to attend monthly meetings. Other volunteer positions are filled by specific need. In all, the volunteers create contributions noticed at the bottom line of operations. “The more than 1,500 volunteer hours during the month of June alone were the equivalent of a $29,000 monetary contribution,” says Clay. More information about VIPS and CAA can be obtained by contacting Clay at (785) 368-9237. An application for the VIPS program can be found on the Topeka Police Department’s website, www.topeka.org/tpd.

•• •• •• •• •

w ild women

•

Ta l e n t e d , t o u g h a n d j aw - d ro p p i n ’ , t h e s e riders k n o w t h e i r h o rs e s a n d t h e i r h e rs t o r y j u s t like t h e y k no w t h e ba ck o f t h ei r g u n s Story by Stacey Jo Geier

Photography by Jason Dailey

Th o u g h t h e y ra i s e m oney for charity, sell cookbooks a n d o f t e n we a r we dd ing dresses to authenticate the l a c e a n d t a s s e l fa s h i ons of the late 1800s, there is n ot h in g p ri s s y ab o u t t he Wild Wo men o f the Fr o ntier.

•

They’re likely to call you a “skunksmelling cactus face” or, if they take a particular interest in you, a “possum-faced scallywag.” They whoop and they holler and they’ll warn you to keep an eye on your menfolk, your women and your wallet when they storm into town. Their paths often meander on the wrong side of the law and are littered with ex-husbands and fools who should have known better. These gals are reincarnates of outlaws, gun slingers and madams storming back from the past to remind us and themselves of the famous phrase from historian Laurel Thatcher Ulrich that “wellbehaved women seldom make history.” Unrepentant heartbreakers, they do have one true love: their horses. They coax and pamper their steeds through rigorous training to condition them to the roars of firecrackers, guns and cowgirls. And then they ride them hard. Founded in 1996 by a group of 35 local women who shared an interest in horses and history, this nonprofit group saddles up for parades, arena performances and even the occasional wedding reception— with no prior promise they won’t abduct the groom. “During parades we ride down the street making as much noise as we can.

We like to flirt with people and get them into a hee-haw yelling contest from one side of the street to the other,” says Jane Pennington, a Wild Women rider for the past three years. Their one big secret—though don’t let them know that we wrote this—is that they all lead secret lives. The cowgirl characters are all unruly personas portrayed by shockingly respectable modern-age businesswomen, community leaders and kind souls with—are you ready for this?— somewhat bookish dispositions. Each real-life cowgirl is required to choose a historical figure and write a biographical sketch of her character. There are even rules for cultural authenticity. The cowgirls create their own historically accurate costumes before riding out with the pack. During the performances, they tell people about their characters and impart some pioneer history. “We strive to preserve history through education,” explains Pennington. But all that sensitive book-smart business doesn’t mean they aren’t the most hellacious riders to ever put on a pair of bloomers. And if you have a problem with that, the Wild Women will probably let you know you’re just a lily-livered coward.

Modern-age identity: Sheryl Tasker, founding member of Wild Women of the Frontier Wild Woman identity: Mary Katherine Haroney, or “Big Nose Kate” About her character: “She got her name from always meddling in other people’s business. Big Nose Kate had six siblings and her parents died in a flu epidemic. She was sent to an abusive foster home and ran away when she was 15. She ended up in St. Louis after hiding away on a whiskey boat. As an adult, she led a notorious nightlife. She had a ‘relationship’ with Doc Holiday. It was rocky. She tried to settle down and be a domestic wife, but she was not into domestic duties and was hot-tempered. They would fight and kick each other around. One time, Doc killed a local poker player, and while he was locked up in a hotel room, she set the town on fire. While the townspeople were fighting the fire, she and Doc fled to Dodge City.” The costume: “Once we put our costumes on, we forget who we really are,” says Tasker. “I become that other person. I can go from Sheryl to Kate in a very short time.” As Big Nose Kate, Tasker wears saloon-girl attire with bloomers underneath her dress. She made the bloomers herself and modified the dress from an old prom dress. The horse: Kota, a blue-eyed Paint. “He is nice, calm and gentle,” says Tasker.

Modern-age identity: Janice Elder, Wild Women member since 1997 Wild Woman identity: Sarah Jane Newman, or “Sally Skull” About her character: “Sally had a weakness for men. She married six times. She supposedly killed four of her husbands. Her favorite husband was George Schull. She changed the spelling of his name to ‘Skull’ to give herself a more ominous reputation. She was a champion cusser and two-gun terror. Sally was a horse trader, and she took the men on trails by herself. Her men said they didn’t know which was worse, her black-handled whip or her harsh language. She ruled her men with an iron hand and worked from sunup to sundown.” The costume: “I wear men’s clothing: a period 1940 shirt and old canvas-type pants with suspenders and a gun. At times, Sally wore men’s clothing, and sometimes she wore women’s clothing, so I sometimes wear a split skirt.” The horse: Holly, a registered Quarter Horse. “She is just a one-of-a-kind, full-of-energy horse,” says Elder. “I’ve had her for 14 years, and she is my original Wild Women horse. She loves to perform and gets into character right along with me.”

Modern-age identity: Jill Greer, Wild Women member since 1996 Wild Woman identity: Rose Pearl Reed, or “Pearl Starr” About her character: “When Pearl was growing up, her mother, Belle Starr, was an outlaw who wanted her girl to be prim and proper. Pearl learned to play piano, sing and entertain. So these outlaws would pop by her mom’s home, and she would make Pearl entertain them. At age 21, Pearl opened her own bordello. That was not the kind of entertaining that her mom intended her to do. … The ladies in the neighborhood knew what she did and wanted her out. They went to their husbands, who were the local politicians, to have Pearl shut down. But those husbands were her best customers.” The costume: “This is a wedding dress from a Topeka bridal shop. I bought it on sale and dyed it green. It gets used a lot more this way than if it had just stayed a wedding dress.” The horse: Bobbi, a registered American Paint. “Bobbi is a mare and her registered name is Titans Bobbi Socks. I’ve had Bobbi since she was born 19 years ago, and I took a week of ‘maternity’ leave after she was born to be with her. When she was little, she had four white socks. It was like she stepped in a paint bucket evenly with all four legs.”

•• •• •• •• Re a dy to ride ? Wild Women of the Frontier accepts gre e nho rn ride rs into the po sse, providing training for new members a nd the ir ho rse s. The gro up is a lso ava ilable fo r e v e nt s. To contact the group, walk into the saloon and tell the bar tender you’re lo o king fo r ’e m, o r use the wo rld wide te legra ph a nd go to the “ Co nta ct Info ” se ctio n a t www.wwf ro ntie r.co m.

R iding in hon o r o f G e n n a G i an n at t i

Photograph courtesy Jerry Liles

•

Fo r the near fu ture, the Wild Wom e n of t h e Fron t i e r wi l l we ar m aroo n armbands in hon or of fe l l ow ri de r Ge n n a Gi an n at t i . Gi ann atti, wh o perform e d as t h e ch arac t e r M at t i e Si l ks, suffe re d a d e b i l i tating illness in Jul y an d i s i n a di ffi c ul t re c ove ry p roc e ss. Topeka Mag azine wish e s Gi an n at t i a swi f t re t urn t o f ul l h e al th a nd hopes that Mattie Si l ks ge t s b ack i n t h e saddl e ag ai n .

ASTLEWOOD CONSTRUCTION 233-5480

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30 HOME LIFE Native Stone Scenic Byway

Your Way

on the Byway

One of the best trips this fall is just down the road

n my opinion, communities don’t get more Americana than those found southwest of Topeka along Kansas Highways 4 and 99. Traditional illustrations done by Norman Rockwell might well depict scenes still found in this area of rural Kansas. Pioneers that traveled this route cut their paths and laid claim to the land by clearing it of limestone. They used these rocks to build barns, homes and fences. The stone was so useful and beautiful that city slickers bought the limestone to border their flowerbeds and yards. Both the rural and gentrified stone structures created a look that became part of Kansas history. For that reason, when a name was being chosen for this stretch of road, Native Stone Scenic Byway seemed appropriate for a landscape teeming with limestone where the buffalo roamed and the deer and the antelope played. Laid out in a rough U shape from Dover to Alma, this 48-mile stretch of highway is one of the Topeka area’s best autumn drives. It offers a short road trip with several possible excursions for a

........................................................................................................

laid out in a rough from dover to alma, this stretch of highway is one of the topeka area’s

u shape Volunteers have worked to restore portions of native stone fencing along the byway.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

48-mile

best autumn drives.

story by Debra Guiou Stufflebean | photography by Jason Dailey

refreshing jaunt or a relaxing day away. However you travel it, the byway takes you past fall colors, beautiful vistas, good food, good people and a rich heritage. The route

Head out in the morning, leaving Topeka with the sun at your back. I like to go west on 21st Street past West Ridge Mall to Auburn Road, and take K-4 to access the byway. You can also get to it by taking exit 350 (Valencia Road) off Interstate 70 and going south until Glick Road intersects with K-4, which is the east end of the byway. The twists and turns of K-4 have been a source of pleasure for bicyclists for many years. Before you get to Dover, you’ll start noticing rock cliffs. At one point, a rock wall shores up a curve once traversed by stagecoaches en route to Council Grove. Dover/Keene

The small town of Dover was home to the Sage brothers, who settled here just before the Civil War and became two of the region’s best stonemasons. Not only did they construct many of the farmsteads, barns and bridges found along the Native Stone Scenic Byway, but they also worked on some Topeka landmarks such as the east wing of the state Capitol and the caretaker’s building at the Topeka Cemetery. Time stands still for the unincorporated town of Dover. However, the Sommerset Hall Café (where Norma Grubb bakes the pies that won her America’s Best Slice, according to ABC’s Good Morning America), the Historic Sage Inn bed-and-breakfast and the Schwant Tractor and Service dealership still bring their share of business and new people to the community. The same is not true for the ghost town of Keene a few miles down the road, but for anyone who enjoys sleuthing, the grave markers in the old Keene cemetery can yield some insights into the past. Eskridge/Lake Wabaunsee

The highway takes a sharp turn to the south over rolling hillsides as it approaches Eskridge, where a welcome sign states:

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

32 HOME LIFE Native Stone Scenic Byway

Fall colors show up in the streams and hills around the Native Stone Scenic Byway.

.......................................................................................................................................................................

POINTS OF INTEREST Dover/Keene area

Kathy and Bill Hogue, Mission Valley Ranch, enjoy showing their working cattle ranch seven miles northeast of Dover on Kansas Highway 4. They are also experienced in restoring stone buildings and fences. (785) 256-6555. www.missionvalleyranch.com

“Gateway to the Flint Hills.” Indeed it is! Breathtaking vistas open as you are leaving Eskridge. It’s something you must experience to appreciate because the vastness is difficult to capture with a camera. The Flint Hills cowboy culture comes out in full force for annual rodeos in Eskridge, although it is common to find cowboys on horseback herding cattle along this stretch of the byway throughout the year. Glistening in the heart of this countryside, five miles west of Eskridge, is the “Gem of the Flint Hills,” Lake Wabaunsee. Created through civic funds and federal work projects in the 1930s, Lake Wabaunsee boasts a swimming beach, picnic shelter and grills that are open to the public, making this a great location to stop for a picnic lunch. Alma

After Lake Wabaunsee, the byway intersects Kansas Highway 99 and then follows this road sharply north. Near this junction is a historical marker that explains the government incentive given to earlier settlers to erect stone fences and claim part of the open range. Many of these fences remain, and some are being restored. Alma, called the “City of Native Stone,” has several stone buildings on the National Register of Historic Places. Some downtown buildings to explore include the Flint Hills Trader, Antique Emporium and Alma Bakery and Sweet Shoppe. You can also sample varieties of cheese curds at the Alma Creamery. Back to Topeka

Stocked up on cheese, sweets and images of native Kansas, you leave the byway as K-99 intersects I-70 and allows you to turn east, back to Topeka. Heading home with your spirit renewed from a day in the country, you may find yourself automatically giving other drivers the same wave that greeted you all along the byway. Hand positioned at 12 o’clock on the steering wheel, your index finger shoots out just in time to acknowledge another driver sharing the road. It’s a wave common in rural areas, and one of the subtle nuances that makes the Native Stone Scenic Byway special. Here’s waving at you.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

Folks eat family style at the Friday night buffet served at the Sommerset Hall Café in Dover, 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Other café hours are 7 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. (785) 256-6223. Across the street is the Historic Sage Inn, (888) 466-1878. www.historicsageinn.com Echo Cliff, the cover photograph for the Native Stone Scenic Byway brochure, is a mile west of Dover and a mile south of the byway on Echo Cliff Road. Artifacts from the Woodland Indians have been found here and date to what is known as the Grasshopper Falls phase of 1000 A.D. Neighboring farmers often find arrowheads and flint tools used by later tribes. Mission Creek Township Cemetery at Keene contains graves placed from 1873 to 1973. Keene cemetery is a personal favorite because it is where I discovered the grave of Mary Ann Dennitt Sage, the heroine of my novel Good Night, Mary Ann.

Lake Wabaunsee Area Camping, fishing and boating can be done at Lake Wabaunsee. www.lakewabaunsee.com West of the intersection of K-4 and Kansas Highway 99 (Alta Vista) is the Flint Hills Prairie Bison Reserve owned by George and Denise LeRoux. Tours are available. 18985 N. Munkers Creek Road, (785) 499-5372. www.visitflinthills.org/members/leroux. html

Alma Area Antiques shoppers will enjoy The Flint Hills Trader, 306 Missouri Ave., (785) 765-2666, and the Antique Emporium of Alma, 322 Missouri Ave., (785) 765-3332. Satisfy your urge for a treat at the Alma Bakery and Sweet Shoppe, 309 Missouri Ave. It’s open “mornings and a little longer” MondaySaturday; (785) 765-2235, www.almabakeryandsweetshoppe. com. Or visit the Alma Creamery, 509 E. Third. Labor Day-Memorial Day schedule, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday. (785) 765-3522; www.almacreamery.com Beecher Bible and Rifle Church, Wabaunsee, is grounded in abolitionist history. It’s approximately six miles north of the K-99 and Interstate 70 junction on Kansas Highway 18.

34 HOME LIFE Country Club Addition

Architecturally Positive Addition

The legacy of a pioneering developer, the Country Club Addition features some of the city’s most diverse and unusual architecture

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

nbeknownst to most Topekans, an architectural treasure trove lies behind the Quinton Heights area in the heart of the city. The Country Club Addition neighborhood, nestled in the hills overlooking the Capitol, features a diverse range of house styles: French and Spanish Eclectic, Georgian and Colonial Revival, Tudor and International. Among the city’s wide range of residential styles, this small neighborhood represents some of the most diverse and interesting home architecture. Developed in the 1920s and 1930s by Ruth McClintock Mohler, the Country Club Addition is bordered on the north by 25th Street, on the south by 27th Street, on the east by Kansas Avenue and on the west by Western Avenue. Mohler, who also acted as general contractor on many of these homes, worked in conjunction with architects W. E. Glover and Ted Geist and builder Clyde Smalley. It is no coincidence that parts of the Country Club Addition resemble Westboro, where the Glover/Smalley team was also hard at work during the same time period. In fact, the Country Club Addition and Westboro were, to an extent, rivals in the world of architecture and high society. The Country Club Addition fought for the mantle of the elite housing region and was known among some circles as the “Silk Stocking District” because its influential developer continDeveloper Ruth Mohler chose the Country Club ued wearing expensive silk stockings as Addition location because the city struggled (and the neighborhood she liked the views, the flourished) through the tough economic trees and the rocks, and because the site lent times of the 1930s. itself to the gentle wind Today, the Country Club Addition ing roads and the English neighborhood stands as a comfortable, Country style architecture that she preferred—but tree-lined residential area near the heart she filled the area with of Topeka, offering its architectural many styles, including delights and interests to residents and this Spanish Eclectic. anyone passing through this almost-forgotten gem.

story by Christine Steinkuehler | photography by ashton martin

The Georgian Revival Like most Georgian Revival homes in this part of the country, this home is brick. Arched dormer windows, which flank columns supporting a pediment, cover the front entry. Keystones over the windows typify the style. Unlike the other houses in the neighborhood, this Georgian Revival was not built as a single-family home but as a home for unwed mothers. Designed by Frank Squires and built by L.K. Bowers in 1931, its construction cost $31,000.

The Southern Colonial Revival

This home was the original farmhouse and sole structure on the Country Club Addition when Mohler bought the property in 1927. At that time, the street running past the home was known as Grantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Road and this was Grantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s house. It was remodeled to its present appearance as a Southern Colonial in the 1930s. Still standing as a romantic Southern Colonial, this painted brick home is only one room wide and features elegant two-story columns, a covered veranda and a fanlight above the front door.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

36 HOME LIFE Country Club Addition

Colonial Revival Built by Mohler for a railroad executive, this Colonial Revival was featured in several house plan books by the nationally acclaimed Topeka publisher L.F. Garlinghouse. Elegant fieldstone and pediment windows distinguish this home, which has been lovingly maintained. The interior features a cut stone fireplace, basket-weave tile, Art Deco hardware and many other period details.

Spanish Eclectic Mohler built this Spanish Eclectic style house for her sister Helen McClintock. This multilevel stucco homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Spanish influence is seen in the tile surrounding the arched front door, a second-story balcony and exposed beam ends.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

Ruth Mohler,

a topeka business pioneer

Ruth McClintock Mohler was one of Topeka’s first female property speculators, developers, real estate agents and builders. She began her career in 1923 when she sold three lots at 13th and Fillmore across from her family’s home and used the proceeds to build a speculative house in College Hill. The Dutch Colonial led to commission after commission. She was a hit. In 1925, Mohler bought the 130-lot Sells estate at Huntoon and High streets. She sold 31 of these lots to the Topeka Board of Education, which used the land to build Randolph Elementary School. Another 61 lots were sold to others, and Mohler built houses on the remaining lots. Mohler began the Country Club Addition in 1927. She chose the hillside location because she liked the views, the trees and the rocks and because the site lent itself to the gentle winding roads and the “English Country” style architecture that she preferred.The first house she built was her own. Merging hospitality with marketing skills, Mohler held an open house for 2,500 when her home was complete. The event marked the beginning of the Country Club Addition’s runaway popularity in Topeka. Ted Geist was the architect for most of Mohler’s houses, though W.E. Glover, known for many Westboro houses, did the designs for several of the early models. Mohler herself oversaw the building sites every day, watching the details and making sure that the homes featured amenities she would want in her own residence. Married to Jacob Mohler (secretary of the Kansas Board of Agriculture from 1914 to 1950) and raising three children, Mohler continued her career as a pioneer businesswoman. In the 1930s, Mohler developed most of Quinton Heights hill, the adjacent slopes and east of Topeka Boulevard. Though the Great Depression failed to stop her building plans, the transformed war economy did. As building stalled during World War II, the real estate mogul turned home entrepreneur, making and selling clothing from her home. After the war, Mohler picked up where she left off with real estate, building in the Prospect Hills region and leaving her legacy in Topeka.

Local Flavor

Localflavor

farm-fresh eggs

Farm-Fresh Eggs From the shell to the flavor, local farm eggs are most often all that they are cracked up to be

CaCO3 –

that’s what eggshells are made of. It’s the chemical formula for calcium carbonate, one of nature’s perfect packages. In an age of shrink-wrap and tamperproof plastic containers, eggs still come in CaCO3, just as they have for many millions of years. Why change what works? Personally, I like eggs— and chickens by default. Chickens are strange, but funny and cute. Their round, tasty, energy-packed oblongs are even better. The egg has now been freed from its earlier onus of packing mega levels of cholesterol. It’s a natural food with health appeal. I think it’s best when it’s fresh off the farm. In the Topeka region, we are blessed with a number of people devoted to raising, nurturing and delivering farm-fresh eggs. You can drive up to their homes and purchase eggs directly. The only problem that I can see with picking up eggs from their chicken coops is that all too often the owners have to hang the “Sold Out!” sign. I’d say that’s a powerful testimony to the goodness and popularity of farm-fresh eggs.

Margaret and Tad Kramar

Ed and Leah Shaw

Where:

Hidden Hollow Farm, Big Springs (sells through Topeka Natural Food Co-op and Downtown Topeka Farmers Market)

Egg philosophy: “I always wanted chick-

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

Egg philosophy: “This

began as a 4-H project for our grandkids. They enjoy it and we do too. We’ll keep on doing it while we can,” says Ed.

ens, ever since I was little. A chicken is a sentient being,” says Margaret. “They have intelligence [and] their own personalities. They are too high on the evolutionary scale … to spend their entire lives in a little cage.”

Benefits: “When they come down here, they’re right fresh from the hen house,” says Ed. “They have a much better flavor.”

Benefits:

Gustatory experience: “When you use a

“Eggs are an inexpensive protein source,” says Margaret.

Gustatory experience: “I think it’s really exciting to be growing healthy food for people. I hope more people take control, growing food for themselves,” says Margaret.

Silver Lake (the Shaws sell through various local markets, but not from their house)

fresh egg in a skillet, they don’t run all over,” says Leah. “They hold their shape.”

Egg wisdom: “People seem to appreciate that you bring the eggs down here,” says Ed. “They know what kind of work it is— especially my grandson when he has to clean out the chicken house with me!”

STORY BY Vernon McFalls | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jason Dailey

Susan Warriner Where: David’s Herbs, 3328 Linn Road, Perry (sells from home and through the Downtown Topeka Farmers Market)

Egg philosophy: “People want things that are natural. They want to know where they came from. They want to know what [the hens] have been fed. When they get the eggs from somebody who believes the way we do, they know what they are getting.”

Benefits: “My chickens are happy chickens. The customers know they’re supporting the local culture. They’re doing something that’s healthy, organic and natural.”

Gustatory experience: “You can actually tell you’re eating an egg versus something that comes out of the shell of store-bought eggs. With farm-fresh eggs, the whites stand up nice. The yolks, if you poach them or eat them hard-boiled, are a nice, golden yellow.” Egg wisdom:

“There really are green eggs and ham! My hen, Cheeks, lays green—or a pale tint of something like blue-green turquoise—eggs.”

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the center of it all Downtown Topeka Explore it at www.downtowntopeka.com

DTI Shopping Dining Work Entertainment Living

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www.downtowntopekainc.com

Downtown Topeka calendar

september, october, november Farmers Market

Every Saturday (until Nov. 21)-7:30am to 12pm Harrison and 12th St.

Classic Film: The Young Philadelphians September 11 2pm-Topeka & Shawnee County Public Library, Main Marvin Auditorium.

Merle Haggard

September 24 7pm-Topeka Performing Arts Center.

4th Annual Aaron Douglas Art Fair

September 26 10am to 5pm-Aaron Douglas Art Park, located at the southwest corner of 12th and Lane. Free event with local artists, musical entertainment and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s activities.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

October 15-Topeka Performing Arts Center.

The Oak Ridge Boys

November 22 7pm-Topeka Performing Arts Center.

Miracle on Kansas Avenue Parade November 28 5pm-Caroling and tree lighting at 5:30 p.m. Parade at 6 p.m.

DeBackerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Inc. $1,307

It may not look any different than your existing air conditioner, but install a high-efficiency heat pump system (15 S.E.E.R. or higher), and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll definitely see the difference when lower energy bills arrive.

ANNUAL HEATING & COOLING COSTS:

Calculations based on a 1,400-square-foot home using current Westar Energy rates, average natural gas rates and gas furnace with an 80% annual fuel utilization efficiency (AFUE) rating. Heating and cooling costs vary based on home size, the number of occupants and a variety of other factors.

$1,087 $879

Existing gas furnace and 8 S.E.E.R. A/C

Existing gas furnace with new 15 S.E.E.R. A/C

Existing gas furnace with new hybrid (add-on) 15 S.E.E.R. heat pump

$747 New full (all-electric) 18 S.E.E.R. heat pump

$573 New full geothermal 18 S.E.E.R. heat pump

www.downtowntopekainc.com

YEAR-ROUND COMFORT. YEAR-ROUND SAVINGS.

Install a full heat pump system, or team a hybrid (add-on) heat pump with your existing furnace, for comfort, efficiency and economy at all outside temperatures. In the summer, the heat pump system works just like an air conditioner, taking the heat from inside your home and pumping it outside. In the cooler months, the heat pump is your primary heating source, drawing heat from the outside air and pumping it into your home. On extremely cold days, a full heat pump, along with electric heating strips comfortably warms your home. When a hybrid heat pump needs assistance to warm your home, it automatically switches over to your furnace.

FULL OR HYBRID?

If you existing furnace needs to be replaced, consider upgrading your A/C at the same time with a full heat pump system. If your existing furnace doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need to be replaced, but your A/C is old and inefficient, consider replacing it with a hybrid heat pump, which can work with a gas or propane furnace.

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the

r e i n i sch roses •

W r i t e r Ch r i st i n e St e i n ku e h l e r o f f e r s a clo se-u p lo o k at so m e o f t h e o u tsta n d i n g ro se s i n G a g e Pa r k’s R e i n i s ch Ro se G a r d e n Blooming throughout the summer and into the fall, the Reinisch Rose Garden at Gage Park delights and easily overwhelms the senses with more than 400 varieties and approximately 6,500 plants. Each bloom is resplendent in its beauty, making it difficult to choose standouts. But the six roses highlighted here are examples of spectacular beauty. Their portraits allow us to see why roses make such an impact when grown together and why, individually, they are so often the most beloved of garden flowers.

sto ry by c h r i st i n e st e i n ku e h le r

medallio

p h oto g r a p h y by jason d a i le y

‘Medallion’ is one of my favorite roses; over the years I have grown it in many of my gardens. Giant creamy apricot blooms matched by a sweet fragrance make ‘Medallion’ the rose’s equivalent of a Rubenesque beauty. The blooms are so full and multilayered that they conjure the image of a southern belle’s petticoats. Set off by a background of dark, leathery foliage, the showy pale blooms can add depth of field when placed at the back of a border.

st. Patrick

abraham darby

Chartreuse buds slowly spiral open to reveal the yellow flowers of this hybrid tea. But as the summer heat bears down on the rose, its yellow petals become tinged with green and reveal the reason for its appropriate name. The long-lasting flowers with sturdy stems and dusty gray-green foliage make the ‘St. Patrick’ a beautiful treat to bring inside.

‘Abraham Darby’ is a modern English Rose that’s sometimes called a “David Austin rose” in honor of the flower’s hybridizer, who created this variety by crossing old and modern roses. Covered with large pinkpeach cabbage roses, ‘Abraham Darby’ features sprawling canes and a strong fragrance. It is a delight for training on an arbor and enjoying while taking a stroll through a garden.

cherry parfait

yeter bp t rm au dr

An absolutely stunning bicolor, ‘Cherry Parfait’ boasts blossoms that are creamy white in the center with shading graduations from pink to lipstick red at the tips. As with many bicolors, the shading changes with time; the more open the bloom becomes, the more delicate and subtle the color becomes. ‘Cherry Parfait’ is a stalwart grandiflora with prolific blooms that make it an easy-to-maintain showstopper for any garden.

Named in honor of the great trumpet player Louis Armstrong, this rose is a classic floribunda featuring bouquets of small, loosely cupped flowers with full petals. Drawing attention to itself in the garden with bright red flowers and contrasting dark green foliage, the ‘Trumpeter’ is a great addition to any planting and can be paired with plants such as ‘Johnson’s Blue’ hardy geranium, which blooms around the same time.

playboy

A multicolor rose, ‘Playboy’ has beautiful orange blooms with hints of yellow and red. As with many roses, its colors tend to change as the blossoms age, making it reminiscent of the classic climber ‘Joseph’s Coat.’ Heat brings out the color, so this rose is great for areas with plenty of reflected light, such as the border of a concrete sidewalk. ‘Playboy’ is one of the larger floribundas and serves as a stunning accent for the back of a border. For a dramatic statement, pair ‘Playboy’ with a complement such as annual blue salvia or clematis. Or use it in a hot-colored planting with yellow and orange cannas, dahlias, cosmos and salvia.

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48 LIVING WELL Postpartum pilates

Postpartum Pilates

Once a trendy exercise program, Pilates has made inroads in Topeka as a practical regime with particularly strong benefits for new mothers

woman’s body undergoes many changes during pregnancy and the birthing process. It is difficult to know what to expect with the body during these stages and afterward. For most women, getting back their figure after

birth is a priority, but there is more to postpartum than weight loss. More importantly, postpartum exercise helps a woman regain her fitness, nurtures a positive mental attitude and strengthens her abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Ultimately, each woman’s body is unique and will benefit from an individualized exercise regime, but one approach is postpartum Pilates. In some ways, Pilates (pronounced puh-lah-teez) is the victim of its own success. Celebrities have equipped themselves with personal Pilates trainers and sometimes, through the star-struck filter, it seems all glitz and glamour. But the exercise and fitness program developed in the beginning of the 20th century has many practical benefits with respect to posture, muscle strength and general fitness, including postpartum fitness recovery. Kathleen Hunter Levy, owner and Pilates instructor at A Healing Place (located at both Topeka Maximus Fitness and Wellness facilities), says she has seen a remarkable growth in awareness during the past decade—but within limitations. Pilates, common on the coasts, still has name recognition issues in Topeka. “We still have people phoning in and asking about ‘pie-layts,’ and who say they have never heard of it. But more and more people in Topeka have at least read about it or heard of it,” says Levy. “For postpartum, however, we tend to attract people who are already aware of Pilates, people who are generally active and health conscious before pregnancy.”

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

Kim Hoobler consults with individual clients to teach them which muscles to work more extensively after birth.

Typically, a Pilates regime can begin or resume four weeks after normal delivery or a few weeks longer if a woman had a cesarean section or medical complications at birth. It is important that the body has time to recover from the birthing process before any exertion. “Generally, we ask for a physician’s release before we do an assessment of conditioning and flexibility to determine our client’s needs,” explains Kim Hoobler, director of physical therapy at Pilates Performance & Rehab, 2909 SW 37th St. And Levy advises that, in general, postpartum Pilates should be limited to women who were in good shape before they become pregnant.

STORY BY Vilay Luangraj | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jason Dailey

Kathleen Hunter Levy

Desima Dawdy

A strong Pilates program starts by assessing a client’s muscle strengths, weaknesses and any imbalances before beginning core training. At Pilates Performance & Rehab, clients are given one-on-one attention during their first five visits with a Pilates physical therapist to learn about their bodies’ anatomy so they can find the appropriate muscles to exercise and how to work various muscles. Then postpartum exercise can begin. Postpartum Pilates involves many of the stretching and breathing exercises included in core training. Ideally, each Pilates regime should be individualized; new mothers will have particular demands on their body and particular exercises that will benefit them. Levy says postpartum Pilates generally overlaps with regular core Pilates work but emphasizes pelvic floor work and deep abdominal work. An important postpartum exercise is the Kegel, which strengthens pelvic floor muscles to prevent urine leakage problems. The pelvic floor muscle surrounds the urethra, vagina and anus. It tends to weaken during pregnancy as the baby sits on the pelvic muscles and during vaginal delivery when the baby pushes through. Like any exercise program, postpartum Pilates should be part of a general fitness regime that includes healthful eating. There are also new aspects of life to consider in the general health picture for new mothers. “We also educate the mothers so they can apply what they learned in their day-to-day lives,” says Desima Dawdy, owner and director of Pilates Performance & Rehab. “We teach them about posture while breast-feeding, carrying their baby and putting their baby in the car seat.” Levy advises a new mother not to let her new tasks overwhelm her—and part of this involves concentrating on her own health, whether that be through Pilates or another exercise program.

Jen Nichols with Kim Hoobler

“Things get out of balance when a new baby comes aboard,” says Levy. “Things should be all about the baby to a certain extent, but anything that focuses on a new mom and helps her focus on her energy and strength will help her relax and adjust to bringing a new baby into the home.”

Other courses Both health care centers in Topeka provide postpartum exercise classes.

St. Francis Health Center Body Benefits This prenatal and postnatal program includes aerobics and stretching exercises. It meets 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays One-time cost $10; pre-registration required (785) 295-5498 or www.stfrancistopeka.org

Stormont-Vail HealthCare, Pozez Education Center Healthy Bodies/Healthy Babies This prenatal and postpartum program focuses on stretching and conditioning exercises. 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays One-time cost $10; doctor’s permission slip required (785) 354-5225 or www.stormontvail.org

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

50 LIVING WELL Rowing club

Grace and strength Topeka’s rowing club creates champions with hard work, early mornings and the occasional dip in cold water

he rowers glide swiftly across the lake. Amid the quiet strokes, barely a splash can be seen. In the silence, an innate rhythm produces what appears to be an effortless advance. Rowing, an ancient task, was one of the original sports in the modern Olympic Games. Some row for competition and some for recreation, but either way it is not as easy as it looks. Don Craig, coach for the Topeka Rowing Association, believes rowing requires more than just power. “Rowers need the grace of a ballerina and the strength of an offensive lineman,” says the 63-year-old sportsman. As a student, Craig captained the Kansas State University crew, but it was his involvement with the Washburn University team that led him to found the Topeka Rowing Association 40 years ago. “I coached for the Washburn rowing team, and when the men graduated they wanted to continue rowing because they hadn’t yet hit their prime,” says Craig. The first women joined Craig’s group in 1972. The Topeka Rowing Association is housed at the old bathhouse at Lake Shawnee, where members meet to practice and compete on waters that Craig describes as “the finest stretch of rowing water in North America,” because, he says, the placement of the lake and the wind direction are conducive to speed and to practicing “nearly every doggone day of the year.” Craig says he starts members on the ergometer— or, as rowers call it, an “erg.” This workout device approximates the actual rowing motion and measures strokes per minute and distance covered. Practicing on dry land gives rowers the opportunity to develop their strength and balance without falling into the drink. Rowers must develop the art of proprioception, or the ability to sense the position, location, orientation and movement of all the body’s parts. Attaining awareness of the body’s movements helps in strengthening the body core. A 2,000-meter rowing race (1.25 miles) requires the same strength used while playing back-to-back basketball games, so core strength is imperative.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

The Topeka Rowing Association’s morning workouts combine intense training with the chance to see brilliant sunrises over Lake Shawnee.

Once rowers are proficient with the rowing machine, they take a maiden voyage with Craig and then advance to the recreational single boat. “It’s user-friendly and wider than boats for racing,” says Craig, adding that he has seen this boat hold rowers who weigh as much as 450 pounds. Topeka Rowing has about 60 members, but only about 10 travel for competitions. Craig says rowers practice 10 months a year on the water and work inside on conditioning during the other two. “We’re top-heavy on the recreational rowers,” says Craig. “But we have two national champions and have had 10 national champions over our career.” Craig says he asks for a 60-day commitment before a meet to prepare for competition. “We practice at 5:30 in the morning and again at 5:30 in the evening,” says Craig. “We have about 100 practices. It takes that long to be a champ.” STORY BY Francie Forrestt Riley | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Daniel W. Coburn

Anatomy of the Boat

The Topeka Rowing Association competes with several classes of fiberglass boats. The single-rower boats are 27 feet long and approximately 10 inches wide, doublerower boats are 34 feet long and 12 inches wide, and quad boats are 44 feet long and 14 inches wide. The largest boats hold eight rowers and one nonrowing team member, the coxswain. These “large boats” are 60 feet long and 14 inches wide.

Rowing terms

Button: A wide collar on the oar that keeps it from slipping through the oarlock. Coxswain: Person who steers the shell and serves as the on-the-water coach for the crew. Gate: The bar across the oarlock that keeps the oar in place. Lightweight: Refers to the rowers, not the boats; there is a maximum weight for each rower in a lightweight event as well as a boat average. Oar: Used to drive the boat forward; rowers do not use paddles. Rigger: The triangular-shape metal device bolted onto the side of the boat that holds the oars. Sculls: One of the two rowing disciplines. In this version, scullers use two oars, or sculls. Shell: The body of the craft. This term can be used interchangeably with “boat.” Slide: The set of runners for the wheels of each seat in the boat. Stretcher or Footstretcher: Where the rowers place their feet. The stretcher consists of

The senior oarsman

Steve Thomas, 62, was lured to the sport two years ago while living an active retirement from his position as commander of the 190th Air Refueling Wing of the Kansas Air National Guard. “I was always exercising, and my knees and hips started bothering me,” says Thomas. “I was looking for something to replace running.” Rowing provides a low-impact form of fitness. Thomas points out that in contrast to what most people believe, rowing is about 75 percent leg strength and 25 percent upper body strength. “You slide in the boat and push off with the legs, then pull back with arms,” says Thomas. All that work, Thomas believes, helps counter the adverse physical effects of aging. “Rowing is an exercise to keep aging muscles strong and flexible, and enjoy an active life,” says Thomas.

two inclined footrests that hold the rower’s shoes. The rower’s shoes are bolted into the footrests.

The young sculler

Bailey Atkinson, one of the club’s youngest rowers at just 16, began rowing despite the 5:30 a.m. practice sessions. “I’m not a morning person, but I like being the best, and everyone I practice with makes it more fun,” says Atkinson. “I’ve even brought my family into it. My father likes to come to practice before work.” Atkinson has rowed for more than two years and competes in single and double competitions. She won the gold medal in the Women’s Open Dash at the 2009 USRowing Club Nationals. “I made my best time ever,” says Atkinson. Rowing is a sport that depends on strength, but it also incorporates balance and finesse—especially when rowers try to achieve the ideal 90-degree angle with the oar as it goes into the water to create optimum drag and minimum splash. That last element is where Atkinson thinks women have an advantage. “Women are better at getting their 90s into the water,” says Atkinson.

The Topeka Rowing Association offers introductory classes and workout sessions for new rowers throughout the year. For more information, call (785) 266-3939, e-mail TopekaRowing@ks1stop.com or visit the club’s website at www.topekarowing.com.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

54 GROW Gage & Drury garden

The Nonsecret Garden How do you blend privacy and a very public space? One Topeka resident has created a beautiful garden that does exactly this

he gardens that surround the home on the corner of Gage Boulevard and Drury Lane are some of the most striking and most recognized private plantings in Topeka. You’ve probably driven by the home countless times and found yourself glancing over at the rows of bright, lively color. Perched on top of a small hill, the house on the corner of Drury Lane uses terraced gardens, mixed borders and water features to create privacy for the homeowner while deadening street noise and beautifying the neighborhood. This well-known garden is the work of a very private individual who prefers not to be mentioned in print but generously, ...................................................................................... daily shares the garden’s bounty with thousands of passersby. The owner also opened the garden so Topeka Magazine could take a closer look across the garden and share the secrets of this delightterraces to provide ful yard. Perhaps the most important feaanother tures that make this garden successas well ful are the terraced levels that cut as to create a feeling of the sloped yard into multiple tiered plateaus. The first of these plateaus wraps around the house and envel-

Water features sprout up

unifying element serenity.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

ops it in a mixed border whose structure is formed with Knock Out roses, Russian sage, yews, butterfly bush, miscanthus and annual castor beans. The foreground plantings for this border are poppies, black-eyed Susan, ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum, lilies and coneflower. The mixed borders are made of three layers of plantings, which convey a sense of depth while providing more surface area to diffuse sound. The next terrace level is hardscape. Walks, patios and discreet seating areas circle the house, providing opportunities to maintain the beds and enjoy the garden without being in the public sphere. The last tier of terracing is what would traditionally be called foundation planting, although this home’s plantings are a far cry from the typical static shrubs. More butterfly bush, blue mist spirea, purple-leaf peach trees and elderberry are some of the myriad of flowering plants that join the house and garden in a seamless, organic pairing. Water features sprout up across the garden terraces to provide another unifying element as well as to create a feeling of serenity. The water not only attracts butterflies and birds to the garden, but its soothing noise dulls the background sounds from the street. Commonly joining the butterflies and birds around the water are several Italian wall lizards who relish sunning themselves on the rock walls and garden paths.

story by Christine Steinkuehler | photography by Jason Dailey

The animals, the sounds, the scents and the colors are unexpected pleasures to find so close to the street, and they are evidence that almost any corner lot or yard near heavy traffic can be turned into a relaxing, private oasis.

For the Family

running with lizards

Run, Run,

Lizard

or Chase Middle School student Zach Lake, the thrill of the hunt is topped only by the prize of the catch. After excitedly scrounging under bushes and turning over rocks in a southwest Topeka neighborhood, he ultimately captures the largest beast of the day, a 6-inch adult Italian wall lizard, from underneath a large concrete slab. Zach isn’t shy about sharing it either. He holds up his plastic container so others can “ooh” and “ahh” over the slithery citydwelling lizard with green stripes. “It bit my finger when I caught it,” he brags to those admiring his catch.

The annual Running of the Lizards celebrates and investigates an accidental reptile population that has flourished in Topeka Zach is one of about 30 people who ventured out on a Sunday afternoon last September for Running of the Lizards— the only event of its kind in the world. “No one has the Running of the Lizards except Topeka,” says Joe Collins, who organizes the annual event. “We got it first.” Collins, a herpetologist with the Kansas Biological Survey and an instructor at

Washburn University, developed the event 11 years ago as a “warm-up” field trip for his students. The idea was to practice capturing city lizards before going on a real hunt for amphibians, reptiles and turtles with the Kansas Herpetological Society. But over the years, the festival—and the lizards themselves—have gained an unexpected importance.

September 2009 marks the 12th annual Running of the Lizards, an event created to study Italian wall lizards such as these who have established vast colonies in Southwest Topeka.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

STORY BY Anita Miller Fry | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jason Dailey

Professor Joe Collins, left, leads college students and young enthusiasts in capturing the lizards. The college students gain experience for future wildlife studies while some of the younger lizard enthusiasts often go home with a new pet.

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Lizards of Topeka Italian wall lizard: Podarcis siculus Native to Italy Green with a brown or black

spotted line that runs down the center of the back to the tail.

Youngsters are about 2 inches long, while adults can be up to 6 inches Western green lacerta: Lacerta bilineata Native to Europe Dark green and about 18 inches long The tail makes up half to two-thirds of the body length

vived: Western green lacertas and Italian wall lizards. The Western green lacertas, more commonly referred to by their genus, Lacerta and whom Collins describes as “shy and secretive,” were always more rare and seem to be dying off. The Italian wall lizards, on the other hand, have thrived. Land of the lizards Lizard lore

Running of the Lizards would never have been possible if not for an unusual— and still partly unclear—series of events involving cross-oceanic migration and adaptive evolution. Collins and Larry Miller, a semiretired teacher who joins Collins for each lizard running, explain the mystery by pointing out an important piece of lizard history in west-central Topeka: a declining single-car garage with boarded windows and weeds around the edges. In the 1950s and ’60s, the garage belonged to Quivira Specialties Co., a worldwide wholesaler of live animals. Somehow, the animals broke loose. It could have happened gradually over the years. It might have been as part of a massive animal breakout. Or, it could have been intentionally, after the death of the store owner. Jim Gubanyi, a Running of the Lizards veteran who worked for Quivira Specialties as a teenager, says any or perhaps all of these scenarios are a possibility. There is little doubt, however, about the animals’ fate. Most of the runaway creatures died off in the urban jungle, but two species sur-

The area just west of SW 21st and Gage Boulevard is the cradle of civilization for the nation’s largest colony of Italian wall lizards. Spreading from this point in all directions, they can be found along the cracks and crevices of sidewalks and parking lots of the businesses up and down 21st Street, from doughnut shops to bars to automotive repair and service stations. The more overgrown the area, the more likely that it contains lizards. The lizards have been seen as far west as Fairlawn and east to Oakley. There have been sightings as far north as the Topeka Zoo near SW 10th and Gage. No one knows for sure how many are living in the city— the number is estimated at tens of thousands—but they don’t commonly survive outside city limits. “There are a lot more predators outside the urban area,” Miller says, noting the lizards would be especially fine dining for the Great Plains skink, a creature plentiful in rural areas. Lizardology

“The lizards are really one of the few invasive animals around that are not causing problems,” he explains. In fact, the lizards are actually contributing to science in their own way. Some of the lizards caught in the annual running are taken for DNA testing to determine their true origins. Collins says researchers in Europe especially are hot to get data on the Topeka lizards and determine their origins and any divergence or change. Their species, Podarcis siculus, made news in 2008 when researchers found that introducing the small green-backed lizards to a new environment caused them to undergo rapid and large-scale evolutionary changes. Barring any unforeseen changes, the Topeka lizards seem to have successfully evolved while adapting to their new conditions. And their numbers are hardly diminished by the running. Even in a “good year” for the catchers, only about 25 lizards are rounded up in the two-hour period. Some are released and others are taken to homes as pets. Collins believes that exposing children, students and enthusiasts to the lizard population is beneficial no matter what the final tally. “Even if we only catch five, it’s a good hunt,” he says. “Now they know there is something biologically unusual about 21st and Gage.”

As a biologist, Collins says he wouldn’t encourage the spread of the Italian wall lizards, but he doesn’t see a need to eradicate this foreign species.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

For the Family

library trivia night

nothing trivial

about it I

t’s almost 6:30 on a Friday evening and the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library’s Marvin Auditorium is packed. A few people stand at the doorway. They scan the crowd for their teammates and scurry to their seats. Scratch paper and pencils circulate among the players as the rules are explained: Ten rounds of 10 questions each will be asked with each round having a different category or theme covering such topics as sports, music, science, pop culture, literature or even children’s books. Each team is asked to estimate its final score—to be used as a

Library trivia night competitions draw in the crowds, but it takes a special mix of young and old to walk away with the crown

tiebreaker. Then the first question is read. Trivia Night has begun. Meet me in St. Louis

Topeka’s trivia nights began when librarian Lissa Staley was visiting her family in St. Louis and somehow found

herself rounding out a trivia team for a charity fundraiser. “It was a great event, and I saw a group raise $2,000 for a girl’s medical expenses in one night,” says Staley. Coming back home, she took the idea to the library, which incorporated it in March

The hundreds of participants at the library Trivia Nights divide into teams for competition.

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

STORY BY Carolyn Kaberline | PHOTOGRAPHY BY Daniel W. Coburn

2003 as a free public event. By January of 2004, trivia night had grown to about 170 participants. “Ever since then we’ve maxed out our room capacity with 30 teams of around 200 [total] people each time,” Staley says. Because of the event’s popularity, the library started offering Saturday afternoon competitions in July 2008. That event is also growing in numbers. There is a diverse range of participants, including several regular teams of work colleagues, church groups, biker bar friends and families. “I have seen people that I haven’t seen in years make connections on new levels with people,” says trivia regular Amy Kinney-Mullins. “And I get quality time with husband, who amazes me every time.” Who would have known that trivia would be good for romance? Of course, it also provides the competition buzz. “I’m competitive and I love playing trivia,” says Pam Mullins, Kinney-Mullins’ mother-inlaw and teammate. “It satisfies my competitive needs and challenges my mind.” Questions, anyone?

There’s a rather open secret about the library trivia nights: The deck is stacked each and every time, but by librarians and in a good sort of way. Trivia questions are compiled so that some might be easy for teenagers, others for their parents and others—such as those focusing on blackand-white film legends—for baby boomers.

The library trivia nights are not just family-friendly; they in fact require knowledge from a range of eras for any team that wants to be in serious competition. “We like the variety of categories they have and the fact that we can work together as a team to find out what we know,” says longtime trivia player Kathy Kotsch. “It’s a good exercise in teamwork.” “It takes a really balanced team to win,” adds Staley. “We’re glad we cater to many different age groups.” Coming up with questions that draw across the generations is not an easy task. That job falls to Staley and fellow librarian Thad Hartman as they use books, magazines and the internet to find possible questions and confirm the answers. “We do ask for categories and ideas on evaluations too,” Staley explains. Because it’s tricky to define trivial information, she says they try to go “broad and diverse” in hopes of appealing to as many people as possible. “We each write half the questions, then test them—usually on other library staff—to make sure they read well out loud and only have one unique answer,” Staley says, explaining that “the questions need to be fair but still hard enough for a team of eight to not always get right. We try to make sure that people will be excited to learn the answers. People love to see what they know—or don’t know.” Making know-it-all-ism respectable

All those questions, all those teams add up to a lot of answers. By the end of the night, the two presiding trivia-master librarians will check through approximately 3,000 answers in order to announce the top three teams. Once the count is complete, winners are announced and prizes are awarded. Generally, the prizes are library goods—jar openers, pens and pencils, and canvas bags—all with the library logo. Winners might also receive gift certificates for the library café or the bookstore. The real trophy, of course, is glory. Library trivia night makes know-it-all-ism respectable. “That’s a really big thing,” says Staley. “The winners are pretty proud of their accomplishments.” “We do it for fun as much as anything,” Kotsch says, “but try to be as serious as we can.” .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

Family Trivia Night

Alexis Griffiths shows off her team’s answers. Organizers say teams do best when they include teenagers, seniors and people of all backgrounds.

Who was grandma’s first love? What was the name of Uncle Jesse’s first pet? How many goals did Heather score at her latest soccer game? Take some personalized questions, mix in a few general queries, divide into teams, tap someone to be the emcee and have a family trivia competition. It’s ideal for any family gathering or for a memorable night at home. Good sources for general questions include social family games such as Trivial Pursuit, Scene It?, Scattergories, Catch Phrase or 20 Questions, says Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library trivia night host Lissa Staley. Using these sources as a base, move on to personalize the game with questions that appeal to the interests of all family members and add categories such as vacations, pets and family history. Of course, you might be able to brainstorm enough personalized questions for the entire game. According to Michael R. Boyter of the website www.oldfashionedliving.com, good sources for original family trivia are high school yearbooks, journals and old home movies. Interviews with family members—including aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents—can yield good results as well. Boyter also suggests making a video or audio recording of the interviews because “many stories will be told that may never be told again.” A family trivia night can be one of the most fun and simple ways to preserve and unearth family history—and you might catch grandma blushing as she tells about her first beau. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009

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How smart is a library trivia champion? Topeka Magazine puts the title to the test in this four-way, no-holds-barred trivia showdown!

The Rules: Each contender has five minutes to answer seven questions. No reference sources are allowed (with the exception of the Blue team members). One point is given for each correct answer for the first five questions; points for the last two questions are awarded for the best single answer as judged by TM. .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The Contenders: IN THE RED CORNER: John Heffren “Trivia John” is a highly skilled scientist and a key player on a repeat library Trivia Night title-winning team! But will this New York transplant know local lore? IN THE blue CORNER: Topeka natives Rachel Burchfield and Matt Enriquez They are now students at the University of Kansas and part of the brain trust behind the university’s KU Info service, a one-stop reference and research center with access to online databases and electronic search engines. John Henry could beat a machine, but can the trivia champ top these book-smart, cyber-savvy students? IN THE green CORNER: A Magic 8 Ball A mysterious piece of plastic with uncanny insight, Magic 8 Ball might be a contender if “yes,” “no” and “maybe” answers are in the mix. IN THE gold CORNER: Ben Bauman Channel 49 news anchor and host of the program Ben’s People, Bauman is a secret trivia fiend! .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

The questions: Question 1: Who was the first mayor of Topeka, Kansas? Question 2: What is the only Kansas county named for a woman? Question 3: What was the name of George Jetson’s dog? Question 4: Who built the Gage Park carousel? Question 5: What film won Best Film for the 1939 Oscars? Question 6: What is the difference between a trivia champion and a smart aleck? Question 7: Should mothers let their babies grow up to be Wild Women cowgirls? The answers: Question 1: Loring Farnsworth Question 2: Barton County

•

••

Question 3: Astro

•••

Question 4: Herschell-Spillman Co. Question 5: Gone with the Wind

•••

Question 6: “The level of humility.” Question 7: “Don’t count on it!”

• •

•

The tally: Hometown College Kids

• 4 points John Heffren • 2 points Magic 8 Ball • 1 point

Ben Bauman The cyber-powered duo takes this round. But remember, you can’t take a computer into library Trivia Night—and you wouldn’t want to. We recommend search engines for research and good friends for Trivia Night (ideally friends with a mix of humor, humility and an encyclopedic knowledge of 1980s pop music … or the names of rare automotive parts … or organic chemistry … or whatever obscure theme is tested that day). .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... .......................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

• 5 points

Fast. Focused. Always local.

Matt Miller

Ben Bauman

Marshanna Hester

Nic Hoch

Chief Meteorologist

Anchor

Sports Director

ktka.com

Events Calendar

BEST BETS in Sept-Nov 2009 September ARTSCONNECT! FIRST FRIDAYS ARTWALK September 4 (and the first Friday of every month): Topeka’s galleries, studios and public venues open to display art in a social setting; for a complete venue listing see www. artsconnecttopeka.org 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Running of the Lizards September 6: Meet at noon by Dimple Donuts, on SW 21st west of Gage. Wear sneakers and bring gloves for an educational lizard chase. Huff ‘n Puff Hot Air Balloon Rally September 11-13: Held at Lake Shawnee, this is the region’s leading hot air balloon festival. www.huff-n-puff.org

October Old Prairie Town’s 30th Annual Apple Festival October 4: Living history demonstrations and edible apple creations are available at this city-hosted festival. www.topeka.org/ parksrec/wardmeade_events.shtml

November Northern Cherokee Nation Veterans Pow Wow November 6: Free admission; opportunity to see gourd dancing and traditional songs. Gage Park shelter area, 6 p.m.-11 p.m. www.awiatka.org Veterans Day at the Museum November 11: Veterans honored at Great Overland Station. www.greatoverlandstation.com

Great Topeka Duck Race September 12: Approximately 10,000 rubber ducks are dropped into Lake Shawnee to race for fun and charity. Adopt your duck before the race and you might win a big prize. www.topekaduckrace.org Topeka Jazz Workshop, Monthly Concerts September 13: Local and national jazz artists provide free concerts at the Topeka Downtown Ramada Hotel. All concerts begin at 3 p.m. unless noted otherwise www.topekajazz.com Cider Days Fall Festival September 26-27: The Kansas Expocentre hosts celebration of crafts, music and cider. A benefit for the American Lung Association. www.ciderdaystopeka.com

Old Prairie Town’s Scary on the Prairie October 24: Treats and spooky stories for elementary-school age children and their parents or guardians. 4 p.m.-6 p.m. www.topeka.org/parksrec/wardmeade_ events.shtml Boo at the Zoo October 24: Lions, and costumes, and bears! Safe trick-or-treating at the zoo. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. www.topeka.org/zoo

TARC Winter Wonderland November 20–December 31: The city’s biggest display of homes decorated for the holidays. 6 p.m.-10 p.m. nightly. www.tarcinc.org GINGERBREAD HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAYS November 20-22: Gingerbread home contest for the Topeka Performing Arts Center. www.tpactix.org Miracle on Kansas Avenue, annual holiday parade November 29: Holiday season kicks off with the city’s big downtown parade. 6 p.m. on Kansas Avenue. www.miracle-on-kansas.blogspot.com

All events are subject to change. Listings Courtesy of www.topekachamber.org & www.visittopeka.travel. E-mail your upcoming events for the calendar to topekamagazine@sunflower.com

TOPEKAMAGAZINE Fall 2009