SPLURGE! Magazine

The Next Great Shocker Tradition

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:14:52 GMT

The Next Great Shocker Tradition

Spotlight on Softball Coach Kristi Bredbenner

Written by Paige Feikert

The lore of Wichita State baseball is well-known — the decades of excellence and consistent post-season appearances — but just across the street another team is finding its own place in Wichita State athletics greatness: softball.

“We knew there were a lot of bat and ball fans in Wichita because of their support in baseball. We were able to convert, and not take away fans from baseball, but convert baseball fans into giving softball a try,” said WSU softball coach Kristi Bredbenner. “We’re putting a really good product on the field, and our fans have grown and people are really excited about it.”

The softball program at WSU has grown tremendously during Coach Kristi Bredbenner’s 14 seasons, earning five NCAA Regional appearances and two NCAA Regional Final appearances. Bredbenner is the winningest coach in WSU softball history, and she’s coached the only four All-Americans in school history, including Addison Barnard, Sydney McKinney — the most decorated player in WSU softball history — Lauren Lucas and C.C. Wong. McKinney, Lucas and Wong are graduate assistants with the team this year.

‘We’re putting a really good product on the field, and our fans have grown and people are really excited about it.’ — WSU softball coach Kristi Bredbenner

Bredbenner entered her 15th season with the Shockers this spring, and the lineup looks a lot different than the 2025 team. The Shockers lost nine players from last year’s team to the transfer portal and brought in nine new transfers — two from junior colleges and seven from the transfer portal — as well as five freshmen.

“The landscape of college athletics has changed in a major way, but we needed a refresher a little bit,” Bredbenner said. “Culture-wise we are in a good headspace, and I think that’s going to be important.”

The Shockers played two competitive tournaments to start the season, with most losses coming against teams ranked top 30 in the nation. WSU went on to win the Boerner Invitational in late February — winning every game they played.

In early March, Ausha Moore, a sophomore transfer from North Texas, earned American Athletic Conference Player of the Week honors for her appearances at the plate. The Shockers went on to sweep the University of Alabama at Birmingham in WSU’s first conference play homestand of the season.

“It’s a new group and you can tell that they’re gaining a lot of experience that they’re not coming in with as the games go on,” Bredbenner said.

Wilkins Stadium Renovation

The success under Coach Bredbenner has caught the attention of fans and the University. The WSU softball stadium — Wilkins Stadium — is currently in Phase 1B of a nearly $20 million renovation. So far, the project has contributed to a specified softball indoor facility. Prior to the renovations, the softball team would have to carry their equipment across the street to the baseball indoor facility during unfavorable weather. Phase 1B will enable improvements to office space and locker rooms, and create a classroom and locker rooms for visiting teams. Future phases of the project include renovations to the entrance, fan experience and seating, and the outfield and event pavilions.

“I do think our success and the support of our fans and community allowed our university, Dr. Muma in particular, to say, ‘We shouldn’t make our softball team carry their 150-pound pitching machines across the street when it starts to rain during practice,’ ” Bredbenner said. “The Wilkins Stadium renovation is unbelievable — it’s changed our lives, it’s changed our practices, it’s changed our recruiting.”

Bredbenner signed a contract extension with WSU in 2023, keeping her in Wichita until at least 2028 — a place she has grown to call home, along with her wife and children and several other WSU coaches who have spent more than a decade at the university.

“A lot of what we experience at WSU is a family atmosphere. and when you have that and you’re happy when you go home, and you have the support when you go to work, and you like the folks you work with, it makes you want to stay,” Bredbenner said.

Easy Easter Brunch

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 19:03:37 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Julie Hying

French Toast Bake

1 loaf of Brioche bread torn into cubes

4 large eggs

1 ½ cups whole milk

½ cup heavy cream

1 ½ tsp. cinnamon

1 Tbsp. vanilla

¼ cup sugar

1–2 Tbsp. orange juice

For the Topping

4 Tbsp.butter

2 Tbsp. brown sugar

1 Tbsp. sugar

1 tsp. cinnamon

⅛ tsp. salt

Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Place torn pieces of brioche bread into the baking dish. Set that aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and orange juice; whisk together until well combined. Pour this mixture over the bread cubes and gently fold until well coated. Cover and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours (or overnight).

When ready to bake, remove from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 375ºF. Prepare the brown sugar and cinnamon topping by combining melted butter, brown sugar, sugar, cinnamon and salt in a 4-cup glass measuring cup. Whisk until smooth and pour over french toast mixture. Bake 35–45 min or until a light golden brown or desired crispness. Place on a wire cooling rack for 10 minutes. If desired, top with powdered sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup or both.

Cornbread Bacon Bake

1 lb. cooked crumbled pork breakfast sausage

6 oz. real bacon bits or ½ cup chopped cooked bacon (about 6 thin slices, cooked)

5 cups cornbread, cut into small cubes

2 cups grated cheddar cheese

6 large eggs (for an egg allergy, substitute 1 ½ Tbsp. of softened cream cheese for each egg)

½ tsp. smoked paprika

½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

Few dashes of hot sauce

2 cups canned evaporated milk or whole milk

3 scallions, thinly sliced

Lightly grease a 9 x 13-inch ceramic baking dish or large cast iron skillet with cooking spray or softened butter. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Cut cornbread into small cubes and layer evenly on the bottom layer of the dish or skillet. Next, layer cooked bacon and sausage and sliced scallions over the top of cornbread cubes in an even layer. Whisk together eggs, evaporated milk, hot sauce and spices, pour over top. Top with shredded cheese. Bake uncovered 30–40 minutes, until browned and set, and cheese is melted. Allow to cool for 15 minutes prior to serving.

Baked Ham Pinwheels

2 Puff Pastry sheets, thawed

⅛ oz. thinly sliced ham

8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

4 oz. cream cheese, softened

2 Tbsp. dijon mustard

2 Tbsp. fresh parsley or spinach, finely chopped

1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)

In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, Dijon mustard and chopped fresh parsley. Mix well until everything is smoothly incorporated and the mixture is creamy.

For pinwheel assembly, lightly flour a clean work surface. Unfold one sheet of thawed puff pastry onto the floured surface. Gently roll it out slightly to even it out and make it a bit thinner, about 12 x 12 inches. Be careful not to roll it too thin, and even thickness ensures even baking. Using an offset spatula or the back of a spoon, evenly spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the entire surface of the puff pastry sheet, leaving a small border at the edges. Again, a thin, even layer is best. Arrange half of the thinly sliced ham evenly over the cream cheese layer, covering the entire surface. Then, sprinkle half of the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the ham. Make sure the ham and cheese are distributed evenly to ensure every pinwheel is packed with flavor.

Starting from one edge, tightly roll up the puff pastry sheet into a log, like a jelly roll. Roll it up as tightly as possible to create neat and compact pinwheels and prevent loss of filling. Repeat steps 2–5 with the second sheet of puff pastry, the remaining cream cheese mixture, ham and cheddar cheese to create a second log. Wrap each puff pastry log tightly in plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least one hour to ensure the pinwheel maintains its shape during baking.

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Remove the chilled logs from the refrigerator. Using a sharp, serrated knife, slice each log into ½-inch thick pinwheels and place them on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Place the pinwheels cut-side up on the prepared baking sheet, leaving a little space between each pinwheel to allow for even baking and browning (12–15 per log). Brush the tops of each pinwheel with the beaten egg wash to create a golden color and a slight sheen. Bake 18–20 minutes or until golden brown and the puff pastry appears flaky. Watch closely towards the end of baking to prevent over browning. Cool and serve.

Lemon Blueberry Bunny Bundt

2 ¾ cups flour

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

1 cup butter

2 cups sugar

4 large eggs

3 Tbsp. lemon juice, about 2 large lemons

2 Tbsp. lemon zest, about 2 large lemons

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup sour cream

3 cup blueberries mixed with 2 Tbsp. flour

NOTE: you can use frozen but skip mixing frozen berries with flour

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Grease and flour a bundt pan. Mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. Beat the butter and sugar on medium high for about 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating after each addition. Continue beating, adding a bit of the flour mixture to the egg mixture in intervals, a bit at a time. Add the lemon juice, zest, vanilla and sour cream. Gently stir these into the batter with a spatula or wooden spoon. Gently fold in the blueberries. Spread the batter into the prepared bundt pan. Bake for 60–70 minutes or until a knife comes out clean. (If the top is brown but the center isn’t cooked, cover the top with aluminum foil to keep from burning)

For the Icing

1 ½ Tbsp. butter, melted

2 cups powdered sugar

⅓ cups lemon juice

Pinch salt

1 tablespoon lemon zest

Beat the powdered sugar, lemon juice, salt and zest together. Slowly beat the melted butter into the sugar and lemon combo. Beat until combined well. Let cool a bit until the desired consistency for pouring. Pour over your cake and allow for cooling.

Big Read Wichita

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:49:31 GMT

The Big Read Wichita

A Warm Welcome to Words, Community and Connection

Written by Paige Feikert

A community-wide book club is underway through the public library, and it’s not too late to get involved. The Big Read Wichita kicked off on March 29 — a program designed to encourage community connection and foster a love of reading through the community-wide reading of a selected book. This year’s selection: “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” a collection of poems by Ross Gay.

“The Big Read Wichita is an annual community-wide reading program — the goal is to build more empathy with one another, bring community conversation to the forefront and hone into a specific topic,” said David Garcia, senior communications specialist with the Wichita Public Library.

The book includes 24 lyric poems exploring life and its many seasons, including death, sorrow and loss through the wisdom of nature — the garden, the orchard and the trees, according to the University of Pittsburgh Press.

“Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” a collection of poems by Ross Gay

‘It’s fun to dive in and see yourself through a poem and find connection with one another.’ — David Garcia, Wichita Public Library

“The author is from the Midwest, and a community gardener himself, so all of the meditations of these human experiences are through the lens of an orchard, or an animal, so it’s fun to dive in and see yourself through a poem and find connection with one another,” Garcia said. “There’s this narrative that we have to be gracious for what we have, but not experiencing the pain that we do, and I think this book has great discourse about that.”

The Wichita Public Library has participated in the Big Read program since 2008, and “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude” is the first book of poetry featured in several years. Garcia says even if poetry is not something you typically reach for, this book is a warm welcome for readers who are new to the poetry genre.

“It’s not pretentious for being poetry,” Garcia said. I think some people may have a perception or a fear of not being able to understand poetry or feel immersed by it, but I think this book is a really nice read for poetry and lends itself to a lot of introspection and reflection.

One major consideration in selecting a title for the Big Read Wichita is the programming and activities that the Wichita Public Library can plan around the book to encourage community discourse and exploration of literary themes. This year, the library is hosting poetry-centered writing workshops, mindfulness activities such as gratitude journals and Zen garden workshops, and a live poetry reading featuring local writers.

The seed library enables library card holders to “check out” seed packets to grow their own produce at home. The popularity of the seed library inspired the new community garden at the Maya Angelou branch.

Garden Themes and Fresh Produce

The kick-off for the Big Read Wichita was held at the Maya Angelou branch in north Wichita, where the library also held a grand opening for its new community garden at the location. Not only does the garden fit with the themes of the selected book, it also fills a gap in the neighborhood — one that is designated a food desert. The garden will provide free fresh produce to neighbors and provide opportunities for giving back. Volunteers can help tend the garden and learn how to grow and nurture a garden themselves.

“I think it just comes from addressing what is needed in the community and how the library can step up in that gap. We find ourselves as community helpers and gap fillers,” Garcia said. “It fits with the purpose of the library: you give and you take, but you return, you nurture as well. It’s that constant cycle on one hand of checking out materials like a book or DVD, but also taking some fresh produce and making sure someone after you can get some as well.”

The community garden was developed after the same Maya Angelou branch saw success with its seed library — a place where library patrons could check out seed packets and plant their own gardens at home. It’s one of many unsuspected items that library card holders have access to through the library.

The Library of Things holds a wide range of nontraditional items that library card holders can check out including telescopes, bird watching kits and experience passes for families to visit local attractions for free.

Library of Things

While traditionally the library has been a resource for books and access to computers and other technology, the Wichita Public Library has now developed a “Library of Things,” a non-traditional collection of items. The Library of Things includes experience passes — free passes to various museums and attractions in Wichita — educational components such as blood pressure kits or anatomical models, telescopes, microscopes, radon detectors, bird watching kits, binoculars and more. For most of the items in the Library of Things, library card holders can check them out for 14 days and renew them twice.

The power of your library card doesn’t stop there — the library also provides free access to the Wichita Eagle and New York Times, free movies through the Canopy app, free audio and e-books on the Libby app and free access to the language-learning app, Mango. The Wichita Public Library provides free access to equipment for digitizing old tapes, cassettes, photographs and audio, and offers free resources for caring for loved ones experiencing memory loss.

More Than Just Books: The New Library Experience

“A lot of people have that perception that it’s just books, but we’ve expanded into a different model that’s really inclusive of what’s helpful for people in the community,” Garcia said. “Everyone can learn, be curious — but also feel supported that their library, their community can help them take a little ease on their mind.”

Everything at the Wichita Public Library is completely free to card holders with the exception of printing costs, and the library does not even charge late fees or fines unless a book is lost or destroyed. The library is a place for everyone.

“I think we serve a really unique role here in Wichita — one idea that we’ve been wrestling with is how we can become the great civic equalizer,” Garcia said. “We have great opportunities to meet new people, try new things, hone in on a hobby. At a time where we want to do something, get out of the house, the library is a great place to be.”

Even the experience of the library looks a lot different today — you can find a quiet corner to read, host a discussion in a meeting room, or even bring your children to play at one of the family play spaces.

“You probably won’t get shushed by a librarian these days,” Garcia said. “Every person is different, every library experience is different and we really want to hold space for whatever that looks like for you.”

You can find all Wichita Public Library events — including those for the Big Read Wichita — at wichitalibrary.org/events. You can apply for a library card at any of the Wichita Public Library’s locations, and you can check out all of the non-traditional items the Wichita Public Library offers under the “Books and More” section of their website, wichitalibrary.org.

Wichita Wonder-Pets

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:38:11 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Alexis Evans

In honor of National Pet Month, meet these superpets with their own quirks, perks, personalities and even theme songs!

Betsy Loftin and Tulip

Pet Name: Tulip, 10-year-old Juliana/pot belly pig mix

How did the name come about? I originally wanted a female pig, but my husband prefers male pigs because they have the adorable little mohawk. We compromised and brought home a male pig — which meant I still got to name him Tulip.

Personality in three words: Diva, stubborn, loving

Pet theme song? “Diva” by Beyoncé

Biggest way your life has changed because of your pet: Tulip is a great conversation starter. Over the years, he has become somewhat of a neighborhood celebrity and never disappoints with his big personality.

Robby and Kristin Rose With Moose

Pet Name and Nicknames: Moose Rose aka Moose Goose, Mooser, Moosie Boy, Foofin’-Cute Guy

Age and Breed: 3 years old, Bernedoodle

How did the name come about? We have a friend who has a cat named Mouse, and we thought naming your animal after another animal was just too cute and ironic. One of us said” Moose,” and we both looked at each other like, “Oh that’s the one.”

Personality in three words: Affectionate, sensitive, wily

Pet theme song? For some unknown reason when he was a pup, we started singing the Scooby-Doo theme song, but replaced every word with Moose. Like “Moosie-Moosie-Moose, Moosie Goose, Moosie-Moosie-Moose-Moose”.

Biggest way your life has changed because of your pet: He has helped create a sense of gratitude in our home. Having a happy pup to greet you when you get home never gets old. He is an endless, reliable source of joy that has brought lots of cuddles, laughter and walks into our world.

Justin and Lacey Tisdale With Auggie and Rora

Pet Name: Auggie (short for Augustus), 10-month-old snowshoe cat

How did the name come about? After having to wait a few months, his much anticipated adoption day was August 1. Justin loves Roman history and Lacey loves Taylor Swift’s song “August.”

Personality: Mischievous, attached, food-motivated

Pet theme song? I would have to go with “August” by Taylor Swift, partly because it’s his namesake and also the line “I used to scream ferociously any time I wanted.”

Biggest way your life has changed because of your pet: I love having a talkative, cuddly cat. He certainly required us to be patient and communicate better when he was very young, but I love the way he seeks us out to snuggle up for a nap or get some nose boops.

Aurora

Second pet: Rora (short for Aurora), 9-year-old standard poodle

How did the name come about? She was already used to the name when we adopted her (she was 3-and-a-half years old) but it suits our sleeping beauty perfectly!

Personality in three words: Silly, sweet, particular

Pet theme song? “Everywhere” by Fleetwood Mac because she is happiest when we are all at home together but will follow her momma just about anywhere!

Biggest way your life has changed because of your pet: Rora has a chronic eye condition that affects her sight and requires daily medication and attention. We didn’t know that when we adopted her, but we’re proud to have helped her navigate the world as well as we can. We use a lot of sound cues with her where others might use visual cues, which definitely changed the way I view the world.

Poodle Rora with cat Auggie

Rivals Turned Friends and Co-Captains

Thu, 02 Apr 2026 18:16:51 GMT

Rivals Turned Friends and Co-Captains

Written by Paige Feikert

Tayton Klein and Ashton Barkdull have competed against one another for almost their entire lives. The two grew up on opposite sides of Andover — Klein a Trojan, and Barkdull a Jaguar — from youth sports through middle and high schools, the multi-sport athletes battled on the track and the football field for years. That is until now, where Klein and Barkdull lead the KU track and field team together: co-captains and standout athletes both wearing the blue and crimson.

“Whether it was football or track, we always managed to come across each other and I felt like, growing up, we always were kind of going back and forth — I would get him in this and he would get me in that,” Klein said.

“You never knew which one of us was going to win,” Barkdull added. “There was never an easy or dull moment when we were competing against each other, it was always competitive and we were rivals on top of it.”

Klein cleared 1.94 meters in the high jump as part of the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championships in March.

Ashton Barkdull cleared a personal best 5.80 meters at the NCAA Indoor Championships, earning him the national title. Barkdull is only the third Jayhawk to earn a national title in pole vault.

Clashing on the Field

The friendly rivalry was formed early on. Klein remembers competing against Barkdull in flag football at a young age. That eventually transformed into tackle football, a sport where Klein and Barkdull often clashed — literally.

“I do remember in football there would always be this guy who would hit me out of nowhere, and I’d be like ‘Wow, that hurt,’ and it was always Tayton,” Barkdull said. “I can’t tell you how many touchdowns that guy saved.”

“I may have stopped a few touchdowns, but I definitely didn’t stop all of them, he definitely got a few on me as well,” Klein added.

While the two went to school and practiced their respective sports only about three miles away from each other during high school, it wasn’t until joining the same track and field team at the University of Kansas that they really got to know each other.

“It’s super cool to have someone like this to compete against and now get to cheer each other on,” Klein said.

From rivals to friends, Klein and Barkdull are two of six captains for the KU track and field team this year. The two describe their leadership styles as leading by example and practicing good communication.

Honors and Titles at KU

Both Klein and Barkdull are having incredible success this year at KU. In his senior season, Klein became the first Big 12 Indoor Champion for the Jayhawks in the men’s heptathlon, scoring a school record 5,923 points. His performance in the Big 12 Indoor Championship meet was the ninth best in the country and the 25th best in the world. He went on to finish 12th in the heptathlon at the NCAA Indoor Championship — his first trip to the national indoor meet in his college career — and earned second team All-American honors.

“I’m definitely very happy and proud of the success that I’ve had on a conference and national level, whether it’s in the multi-events or open long jump or relay. I’m just happy that I’m able to help the team out any way that I can,” Klein said ahead of the national indoor championship. “I know I have a lot more to tap into and my sights are always going to be set forward regardless of what I accomplish.”

“I’ve had a great time working with Ashton as a captain. I think both of us have taken leadership upon ourselves.” — Tayton Klein

Barkdull — a redshirt junior — completed the fifth highest pole vault clearance in the country at 5.71 meters at the Thane Baker Invitational in January. He became the runner-up at the Big 12 Indoor Championship behind teammate Anthony Meacham. At the NCAA Indoor Championship, Barkdull cleared a personal best 5.80 meters to claim the title — the second best performance in KU history and just the third Jayhawk to win an indoor pole vaulting national championship title. The title comes after finishing as the national runner-up in the NCAA Outdoor Championship last year. He called this year’s NCAA Indoor Championship “revenge season.”

“After last year I said, ‘It’s not happening again.’ Ever since that moment I’ve been saying, ‘It’s not happening again. I’m winning. I don’t care what people say, I don’t care how I’m jumping, I’m showing up here and I’m doing what I have to do to win,’ ” Barkdull said at a press conference after winning the national title. “I heard a saying not too long ago and it’s ‘DFQ’ — don’t freaking quit — and that’s kind of been my mindset. No matter what is thrown at you, don’t freaking quit. That’s all you got to do is keep your head forward, focus on what you have to do. And in practice I’ve been grinding, I’ve been working hard on the little things and it all lined up.”

Klein and Barkdull will continue to lead the team into the outdoor season, which started March 21.

“I’ve had a great time working with Ashton as a captain,” Klein said. “I think both of us have taken leadership upon ourselves — whether it’s team meetings or on the track. We’ve become vocal leaders. We lead by example.”

Klein earned second team All-American honors at the NCAA Indoor Championships — the third time in his collegiate career.

Climbing Future Mountains

Both Klein and Barkdull hope to continue to pursue track after graduating from college, with ambitions to compete in the Olympics someday. Regardless of where the two end up in the sport that brought them full circle from rivals to teammates, Klein and Barkdull have formed a friendship that isn’t defined by titles and records, but by all of the moments in between.

“That’s ultimately the goal of all of this is to create those lifelong connections,” Klein said. “I can see us five or ten years down the road sitting on a mountain somewhere in Colorado, that wouldn’t surprise me one bit.”

“I could see this friendship lasting way after college — we have similar interests in the outdoors and the world itself, how we ask questions,” Barkdull added. “It’s a great connection. We’ve already had some small adventures, and don’t really know what’s next.”

Guide to St. Patrick’s Day and Night

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:36:27 GMT

Guide to St. Patrick’s Day and Night

Written by Loren Amelunke

We have a special edition of ICT Nightlife this month! Don’t worry, we’re not going to skip out on the regular nightlife ideas — we’re just going to add in events to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. There are family-friendly daytime events and some ideas for the night owls, of course.

Delano Paddy Day Parade

The Delano parade is one of the most popular St. Patrick’s Day events every year. It takes place on March 14 this year. The parade will start at Douglas and McLean and run west to Walnut St. The parade starts at noon, but the street party and food trucks will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and the Kids Zone and drink trucks will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There will be 14 food trucks, three booze trucks and two local tap trucks. Don’t miss D.J. Dugger performing from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl

I’m particularly excited about this one — this is the first year I’m able to participate in a bar crawl. You may just see me there. The crawl will take place on March 14 from 4 to 10 p.m. and then the after party goes until 12 a.m. Venues include The Dive, Emerson Biggins, O’Larney’s Pub, Rain Bistro & Lounge, Fever Night Life, Revolution Lounge, The Depot Pizza & Taps. Tickets range from $7 per person online to $18 per person at the event. You’ll get two to three drinks or shots included with the ticket (that’s a great deal for the price!) and have access to drink specials and food specials at select venues.

Knocknasheega band performs a late-night show at the Artichoke Sandwichbar in Wichita.

Knocknasheega (Cnoc na Síge) Band

Here’s a band that’s perfect for the occasion. Knocknasheega is a local band that ties together traditional Celtic tunes with modern folk from Ireland, Scotland and parts of the United States. In an email they explained, “We throw in selections from the Old Norse, Central and Eastern Europe, and we'll toss in some originals now and then. Some of our tunes are hundreds of years old, and we're proud to carry on the tradition of the music while adding our own personal touch here and there.”

Their music features Brooke Browning on the five-string fiddle; John Browning on guitar; Danna Hotmar on flute, whistle and vocals; Sam Jonker on vocals and spoons; Seth Girton on cello and Jason Miller on bodhrán and vocals. Make sure to catch one of their shows in March!

St. Patrick’s Day 5K

You will NOT be seeing me at this one — I don’t run. But to each their own. It seems like you may be able to walk instead of run. The event will take place on March 15. It starts at 8 a.m. at the Wichita Cowtown Museum. The top three runners in each age category will win an award, but anyone who participates will receive a finisher’s award and pint glass. Don’t forget to wear a St. Patrick’s day outfit to participate in the costume contest.

Shamrock Scramble Golf Tournament

Here’s another event you won’t catch me at — I don’t have the patience for golf. But for those who have perfected the sport, show out in the tournament at Auburn Hills Golf Course. Make sure to register on the Golf Wichita website. Day one is already sold out, but day two will be March 15 at 9 a.m. Tickets are $125 per person and include green fees, cart, balls, a tee gift, lunch, green beer and prizes

Paddy’s Patio Party at Bubbles

Here’s an event for a more laid-back St. Patrick’s Day. On March 14 starting at 10 a.m. Bubbles will offer green bubbles, green booze and cocktail specials!

St. Patrick’s Day Bash at Mort’s

There will be live music playing on the Mort’s legendary patio all day on March 17. The doors open at 1 p.m. Everything will be green — your beer, martini, shots and even wine!

Locals pack in to O'Malley's Irish Pub on a busy night.

PHOCK St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl

The event is led by PHOCK (Parrot Heads of Central Kansas). The group is a non-profit organization that sets up events to meet people and give back to the community at the same time. This year alone they’ve fundraised for Make-A-Wish, HumanKind Ministries, Salvation Army and many more. Their website also says they’re fans of Jimmy Buffet-style music, known as tropical rock. The crawl starts at 1 p.m. at O’Malley’s Irish Pub & karaoke room. Venues will include Dudley’s, Mulligan’s Pub and O’Brien’s Irish Pub.

Knocknasheega March Shows

Paddy’s Parade Party at Brickyard

March 14, 2 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Celebration at the east Artichoke Sandwichbar

March 14, 7:30 p.m.

St. Patrick’s Day at the midtown Artichoke Sandwichbar

March 17, 6:30 p.m.

They also play shows in the greater Wichita region such as Andover, Kechi, Mulvane, Newton, McPherson, Hutchinson, White Water, El Dorado, Augusta, Mulvane, Derby, Marion and Emporia.

Wichita Women Making History

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:24:16 GMT

Wichita Women Making History

Written by Julie Underwood Burton

March is a time to reflect on the contributions of women as we celebrate Women’s History Month. The purpose of this celebration is to highlight progress and contributions women have made in many fields, including science, politics, literature, sports, education and civil rights — and Wichita has an impressive list of women to be celebrated.

In Film

Hattie McDaniel was born in Wichita in 1985 to formerly enslaved parents and became known as a pioneering actress and was also a sing-songwriter and comedian. For her role as Mammy in the classic movie “Gone With the Wind,” she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress and was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award.

Kirstie Alley graduated from Wichita Southeast High School and spent several years at Kansas State University before moving to Los Angeles to pursue her career in interior design and later in acting. She got her start in “Star Trek II” and appeared in other movies and sitcoms, but was most known for her Oscar and Golden Globe award-winning role as Rebecca Howe in the late-80’s sitcom “Cheers.”

In Sports

Lynette Woodard was a four-time Kodak All-America basketball player at the University of Kansas. She led the U.S. Women’s Basketball Team to a gold medal in the Olympics and became the first woman to play for the Harlem Globetrotters. She played professionally overseas and for two seasons in the WNBA. Woodard was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2004 and her alma mater’s court at North High School was named in her honor in 2021.

In the Arts

Maude Gowen Schollenberger was a long-time supporter and president of the Wichita Art Association (known today as Mark Arts) from the 1930s through the 1960s. Olive Ann Beech, Gladys Wiedemann and Mary Robinson Koch were philanthropists who were influential to the organization beginning in the 1960s.

Louise Caldwell Murdock was Wichita’s first interior decorator and brought her cultural flair from New York to Wichita. She designed and built the Caldwell Murdock building on Douglas and was also known for providing the seed money used to start the Wichita Art Museum’s collection in 1915.

Olive Ann Garvey was a philanthropist and businesswoman who co-founded Music Theatre of Wichita. She also helped create the Riordan Clinic, formerly known as the Center for the Improvement of Human Functioning. Both she and Olive Ann Beech were the first women members of Wichita’s Chamber of Commerce.

In Aviation

Mary Chance VanScyoc fell in love with flying in 1935 when she first flew in an airplane with Clyde Cessna. She attended Wichita State University as the first woman aviation student, graduated in 1941 and in 1944 she became the country’s first recognized female civilian air traffic controller.

Connie Palacioz moved to Wichita upon graduation from high school to take a job at Boeing at the age of 18. She helped build military aircraft during World War II and became known as Wichita’s “Connie the Riveter.” She turned 101 this past January and still volunteers at the Friends of Doc Hangar.

In and Around Town

Catherine McCarty was one of the city’s first women entrepreneurs and the only woman to sign Wichita’s founding charter in 1870. She bought land and opened a laundry service. She was also the mother of the famous outlaw, Billy the Kid.

Carrie Nation was not a native Wichitan but was a famous prohibitionist on a crusade against alcohol and quite known in Wichita after she destroyed the downtown Eaton Hotel’s bar with a hatchet in 1900.

Doris Kerr Larkins led an effort to protect Wichita’s Calvary Baptist church and gauge community support to establish a black historical museum within that church. She also helped launch the First National Black Historical Society in 1973.

Helen Galloway , a long-time entrepreneur, opened The First Place over 50 years ago, a beautiful retail store that has offered generations of shoppers hand-picked collections of fine jewelry, gifts and clothing. Helen is also the founder of the Women of Wichita Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Hats off to these and many other fine women who helped shape our Wichita culture and community!

A Voice That Builds Bridges

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:09:28 GMT

A Voice That Builds Bridges

How Jerry Smartt Turned Language and Leadership into Community

Written by Shaylee Gibbs

Dr. Jerry Smartt is not a Wichita native, although many have not known this city without her. She has been in positions of leadership, a consistent attendee of Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, and a friendly face on the Friends University campus for 50 years. The abundance of community around her is one of joy and connection, and one that Dr. Smartt knows was given to her by the Lord.

Dr. Smartt grew up in Corpus Christi, Texas. She studied at the Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico, la Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and the University of Texas at Austin, where she met her future husband, Dan Smartt. Following Dan’s job opportunity in Wichita, she pursued her first master’s degree at Wichita State University. In 1975, she was hired at Friends University with a shrinking Spanish program. She refused to let an opportunity for global education slip through her hands.

“I asked, how could this program grow? Where can I put my energy into supporting this branch of education, instead of letting it slip away? There may not have been an astounding amount of support, but I wanted to try,” said Dr. Smartt.

Dr. Smartt with her 2015 class trip to Mirador Beach

Cultivating International Opportunities

Inspired by the travels of her childhood, Dr. Smartt created study abroad opportunities to Spain, Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela and Cuba. She pursued any opportunity, beyond the classroom, that would grant her students access to bridge cultures beyond university classes. The Spanish program took off, garnering dozens of students interested in seeing the world and learning from Hispanic cultures.

“In my classes, and even in the Latino Leadership program, I always tell my students that they are choosing to bridge two different but similar cultures. They can, and will be, someone who builds bridges through language, friendship and caring,” said Dr. Smartt.

‘I asked, how could this program grow? Where can I put my energy into supporting this branch of education, instead of letting it slip away?’ — Dr. Jerry Smartt

Dr. Smartt began volunteering with the Sister Cities program in Wichita, where she facilitated the establishment of a sister university arrangement with La Salle University in Cancún. Alongside eight different Wichita mayors and City Councils, Dr. Smartt traveled to develop cultural, educational and business ties to bridge two Mexican cities, Tlalnepantla and Cancún, with Wichita. She worked as a translator and interpreter for the city officials, often writing speeches up at the last moment and interpreting live on camera.

“I had to be on my toes. Interpreting is a complicated skill, as is writing speeches in both Spanish and English. I had pride in creating cohesive messages, and it was one of my favorite experiences,” said Dr. Smartt.

She is proud to have served the foreign language teachers of Kansas as president of the Kansas World Language Association (KSWLA). She presently serves on the Board of Directors for the Wichita Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Recently, she created the Latino Leadership program at Friends University, a scholarship program of outreach students with a 2.5 GPA and a desire to develop leadership skills. By building bridges of understanding and respect internationally through Sister Cities, statewide through KSWLA, and locally with the Wichita Hispanic Chamber, she has enriched her life beyond words.

Jerry and Dan Smartt

Family and Faith

Despite a busy professional career, the height of Dr. Smartt’s life was raising three sons and being a part of her grandchildren's lives.

“I am blessed with an amazing family, with my generous husband, talented sons and daughters-in-laws and six amazing grandchildren. They are the light of my life,” said Dr. Smartt.

Even after 50 years of teaching at Friends University, and even more building Wichita into a vibrant multicultural community, Dr. Smartt doesn’t take credit for the lives she touched. While some may call it luck or coincidence, Dr. Smartt called it God’s plan.

“I never expected to work at Friends for this long and never predicted the unsolicited experiences that have come to me,” said Dr. Smartt. “I had the energy and a family that allowed me to pursue this stupendous career and life. But it was not in my hands; I was not in charge of this. God was there and presented me with so many opportunities, and I said ‘Yes, si se puede ’.”

Where Are They Now? Ron Baker

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 20:00:33 GMT

Post-Basketball Life

Ron Baker Still Takes His Best Shot

Written by Paige Feikert

Just ten years ago, Ron Baker’s name was regularly chanted by fans at Koch Arena, and across the globe shortly thereafter, but now the former Shocker and professional basketball player is known by a new name: Dad.

Baker and his wife, Olivia, met at a local yoga studio in 2021, and eventually got married in 2024. They welcomed their first daughter, Scottie, that same year, and just last September the Bakers grew their family once again with the birth of their second daughter, Vivian.

“Needless to say the last few years have been the fastest years of my life,” Baker said.

Baker was part of several successful Shocker basketball teams — including the 2013 Final Four team and the 2014 team which set a record with 35 straight wins and the program’s first ever No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament. At Wichita State, Baker became one of the first Shockers in more than three decades to be named first team All-Missouri Valley Conference in three consecutive seasons. He also earned John R. Wooden and “USA Today” All-American honors.

After a successful basketball career at Wichita State University, Baker joined the NBA, playing three seasons primarily with the New York Knicks. He then played professionally in Moscow for one season. Originally from Scott City — a small town in Western Kansas — Baker said his experiences from moving to Wichita to traveling across the country and the world have shaped his perspectives today.

Ron Baker graced the cover of SPLURGE! in March 2014.

Ron Baker in 2026

“Having to adapt and take on some of that adversity as an individual in environments that you weren’t raised in, and facing that adversity has made me a more transparent person, and better understanding of society,” Baker said. “Getting thrown into those situations in the bigger cities definitely made me see things a little differently.”

‘Everyone wants to remember your key wins and your Final Four and your NBA career, but as I’ve matured as an individual, I’ve learned you want your teammates and coaches to talk highly of you as a person, not only as a player.’ — Ron Baker

After Baker completed his basketball career, he was drawn back to Wichita, a place where many of his friends still live, and his family is only a couple hours drive away. He’s a supporter of all of the major universities in Kansas: the University of Kansas, Kansas State University, and of course, Wichita State University.

“I’ve really supported Kevin Saal (WSU Athletic Director), I enjoy his look on things, he’s very driven and proactive and hopefully that can become sort of contagious. It’s a winning attitude in my eyes, so I want them to do big things and better things,” Baker said. “It is a strange feeling to be a fan of a college that you spent five years playing for — it definitely takes time to watch from a different seat than the bench.”

Just last August, Baker earned his real estate license in Kansas and joined a brokerage in Western Kansas called Hayden Outdoor. Most of the properties Baker works with are rural, something Baker understands well, as he was raised around farmers and ranchers. In fact, Baker’s grandfather continues to raise cattle in Utica, Kansas today. The work feels deeply personal for Baker.

“I think this type of real estate really fits my upbringing and my background: 90 percent of our transactions are rural properties, so you’re dealing with farms, ranches, folks who most likely have a farm or livestock background, and that’s kind of what I grew up with in Western Kansas,” Baker said. “They can be generational pieces of property, so you want to make sure [the people buying them] are taken care of.”

Before making the shift to real estate, Baker worked at Ascension Via Christi. Baker said he has highlights from each of his three distinct careers — those highlights all involving building relationships with people he’s met along the way.

“Everyone wants to remember your key wins and your Final Four and your NBA career, but as I’ve matured as an individual, I’ve learned you kind of want your teammates and coaches to talk highly of you as a person, not only as a player,” Baker said.

Shocker Basketball 2026

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:45:03 GMT

‘Fueling Growth’

Shocker Men’s Program Builds Confidence and Trust

Written by Paige Feikert

It’s no doubt that Wichita State fans feel pretty good when Kenyon Giles gets the ball in three-point territory — Giles feels good too. By mid-February, the senior from Virginia averages just under 40 percent from three-point range and about 18 points per game. His grit and determination on the court — even though he’s just 5-foot-10 — and ability to make shots from the logo, is all fueled by him.

“Kenyon is probably the most confident person when he walks in the room — it’s a tribute to him,” said Wichita State University men’s basketball coach Paul Mills. “He does not live under the darkness of doubt; as I reference sometimes to our players, he elevates an entire room with his confidence, and he always believes.”

Giles grew up playing basketball in Virginia with his three brothers. That’s where his confidence started — fueled by his family and his height, Kenyon always knew he had to believe in himself, or else, who would?

“My family gave me the utmost confidence, they told me at a young age that nobody is going to believe in you like you, so that’s where it started,” Giles said.

‘Whatever metric you want to look at, we’ve gotten better every single year, and progress is made in steps, not leaps.’ — Coach Paul Mills

T.J. Williams, a redshirt freshman from Wichita, said Giles has helped build his confidence, after Williams sat out last season with an injury.

“I just look at those guys as leaders,” Williams said. “Learning from older guys, it’s always a blessing, especially to have a good guy like [Giles] around on and off the court.”

The WSU men’s basketball team has had good success this season — spending time in the top half of the American Athletic Conference with big wins at South Florida in overtime and at home against Memphis.

“Whatever metric you want to look at, we’ve gotten better every single year, and progress is made in steps, not leaps,” Mills said. “The truth is that we’re getting better and I’m well aware of Wichita’s support when you do well.”

As a lifelong Shocker fan himself, Williams sees the fan support growing, and hopes to continue to help fuel that growth.

“We’re trying to get back to that tradition, knowing that this place can get packed out,” Williams said. “For us to keep building trust in our fans, and our fans building trust in us, coming to our home games, supporting our Shockers, it just feels really good when we go out there and have a nice supporting cast.”

T.J. Williams

Abby Cater

Abby Cater: Team Comedian and Record Breaker

Abby Cater etched her name into the record books this season, when the senior scored 42 points against Memphis, setting a new school record for single-game points in the WSU women’s basketball program. The previous record was set by Kareema Williams in 1992.

“It was just a special moment for us,” said WSU women’s basketball coach Terry Nooner. “She provided us with a lot of energy — we were super pumped up.”

The team followed the Memphis win with a huge win on the road at East Carolina — a team that has spent most of the season in the top half of the conference. While Cater is a huge contributor on defense, and at the basket, she takes on another role on the team — comedian.

‘(My mother) was a great person, she was my favorite person, so everything I do, I just do it for her, because I know if I’m doing it for her, I’ll do it to my full best potential.’ — Abby Cater

“She’s going to tell you, for one, she’s the team comedian, she’s the funniest person on the team, the players will tell you that too,” Nooner said. “She just kind of keeps the energy light, never up, never down, just always even-keeled.”

When Cater was only nine years old, she lost her mother. Today she dedicates everything she does to her mother’s memory.

“She was a great person, she was my favorite person, so everything I do, I just do it for her, because I know if I’m doing it for her, I’ll do it to my full best potential,” Cater said.

While the team has struggled this year, Cater is soaking up every minute left of her college basketball career. Her goal is to get into sports broadcasting, but only for a while. Eventually, she wants to become an interior designer. For now, she’s enjoying the rest of her college basketball career — something she’s been playing since she was only six years old.

“I’m actually kind of scared to go to the real world, because basketball is all I know. So I know it will be a drastic change for me, but I think I’m ready to experience that,” Cater said.

Kennedy (left) and Dahl (right) began broadcasting the WSU men’s basketball games together during the 1980-81 Elite Eight season. Dahl is currently Kennedy’s color analyst for WSU men’s basketball home games.

Mike Kennedy: Voice of the Shockers

It’s a warm afternoon in New Orleans on Sunday, February 8, where the Wichita State men’s basketball team is playing Tulane for the first time this season. Shocker Radio listeners can almost hear the Mardi Gras celebrations nearby and feel the sun shining in through the windows of Tulane’s Avron B. Fogelman Arena in Devlin Fieldhouse, because that’s just the kind of image Mike Kennedy is portraying at the beginning of the broadcast. It’s one of hundreds — maybe thousands — of scenes Mike Kennedy has set across his 46-year career as the Voice of the Shockers, and one of only a few dozen more before he retires later this year.

“When you turn on a basketball game and Mike sits down and opens up the broadcast, I’m constantly amazed when I’m sitting next to him how he sets the scene,” said Bob Hull, Kennedy’s color analyst for WSU men’s basketball road games. “I think the listeners describe it as, when they listen to Mike Kennedy, they feel like they’re at the game.”

Kennedy has undoubtedly put hours of preparation into this broadcast, but that’s not outright obvious. He’s smooth, he knows every player on the court and every player on the bench, he knows their statistics both today and all season-long, he can tell you what happened last time these two teams met, even though it was almost a full year ago.

“I have enjoyed just being a part of and observing how thoughtful he is, and how he intellectually approaches the game,” said Dave Dahl, Kennedy’s long-time home game color analyst. “His research is incredible, he doesn’t overlook any facts, he prepares for every game as if it’s his first game.”

It All Started With a Tape Recorder

Kennedy started calling Shocker basketball games during the 1980–1981 season, when Wichita State reached the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament behind legends like Cliff Levingston and Antoine Carr. It was the same year that Kennedy met Dahl, after Dahl was recommended to Kennedy as a color analyst. The two met at a WSU men’s basketball scrimmage and called the game into a tape recorder — they’ve been broadcasting home basketball games together ever since.

“It was uncanny that right from the beginning he had a feel for when to get in and add something and when to get out, which is tough on radio,” Kennedy said. “We’ve always just clicked like that, it’s always been very comfortable and easy.”

Hull joined Kennedy for road games a little less than two decades ago.

Through his 46 years as the Voice of the Shockers, Kennedy has called men’s basketball, baseball, football and volleyball. He’s been with the basketball team through the 2013 Final Four season and the 2014 undefeated regular season. He’s been with baseball when Wichita State was a powerhouse in the 1980’s and 1990’s with seven College World Series appearances, including the 1989 national title. He’s been with WSU volleyball through 11 of their 12 NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Sweet 16 run in 2012.

‘(Mike) is a very easy person to like. He is unassuming; he is modest; he never criticizes anybody; he is appreciative of the opportunities that he has been given in life, and he is thoughtful to just about everybody.’ — Dave Dahl

Kennedy, himself, is a Shocker — growing up a Shocker fan as a Wichita native and eventually attending the university. Yet, through all of the seasons and all of the athletic accomplishments, the best part of the job, according to Kennedy, is building relationships.

“You kind of hope over time that you’ve made an impact, and I’ve found that I was blessed to have that happen,” Kennedy said of building relationships with student athletes. “That’s meant a lot to me, to find out in my later life that they remember those times with fondness and value the time they’ve spent with me.”

Some of the most important relationships, according to Kennedy, are the ones he’s built with Dahl, Hull and many other people he’s worked with through the years.

“He is a very easy person to like. He is unassuming; he is modest; he never criticizes anybody; he is appreciative of the opportunities that he has been given in life, and he is thoughtful to just about everybody,” Dahl said. “I am very lucky to have him as a friend.”

A Living Shocker Sports Encyclopedia

His knowledge of Shocker sports is unmatched, as is his professionalism.

“He is a living, breathing encyclopedia of Shocker sports, not only the sports that he has broadcasted, but other sports that pre-date him as well,” Dahl said. “There will just never be anybody quite like him and we have all been part of history by listening to him.”

The games will certainly sound different next year and for the years to come. A Shocker legend, a college sports legend, and a legendary person, Kennedy will be missed on air, but he is etched into the hearts of Shocker fans, players, coaches and record books forever.

“Wichita State has always been so special to me, so I really feel blessed to have had this opportunity to have this association,” Kennedy said. “I’m proud to have been able to represent them.”

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:49:20 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Loren Amelunke

There’s no shame in needing some gift ideas for your partner. Whether you’re on a budget or ready to splurge this Valentine’s Day, we got you!

Couple Questions Card Games

If your Valentine’s main love language is quality time, a card game with questions to deepen your relationship could be a hit.

• {THE AND} by The Skin Deep

• We’re Not Really Strangers

• Let’s Get Deep

• Drunk In Love

• Connection Cards by The Adventure Challenge

Self-Care Gifts

This year I told my boyfriend that all I wanted for Valentine’s Day is a massage. A good gift doesn’t need to be expensive. Pick a few pamper items to make your partner feel loved.

Bathrobe
Silk pajamas
Matching pajamas
Massage oil
Bath bomb
Foot massager
Aromatherapy diffuser
Beard grooming kit
LED face mask
Perfume gift set from brands like Burberry, YSL and Valentino
Skin care from brands like Glossier, INKEY, The Ordinary
Makeup from brands like Charlotte Tilbury, Fenty Beauty, Nars and Tarte

Drinks and Eats

A little novelty never hurt anyone. I love these types of gifts because

they’re affordable, useful and fun!

Whiskey smoker kit
Espresso martini making kit
Old Fashioned cocktail making kit
Matcha making kit
Tea sampler
Gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar
Artisan chocolate sampler box
Coffee subscription
French press

For Those Who Are Crafty

Honestly, you don’t even need to be crafty. The saying, “It’s the thought that counts,” could go a long way here if you’re on a budget. Last year, my boyfriend made me a newspaper featuring the key moments of our relationship, and I made him a mini art museum of us — seriously, look that one up.

A jar of origami hearts with things you love about your sweetheart written inside each heart
A bouquet of flowers made out of pipe cleaners
A mini art museum of the two of you. You’ll need a shadow box, wallet-sized pictures, mini art frames and mini people figurines.
Handmade card
Dried flowers
Scrapbook with pictures of the two of you

The Most Meaningful

What’s most meaningful in your relationship is subjective, but any of these gifts are sure to warm your partner’s heart.

QR code to a voice recording
Engraved sound waves of “I love you” or a favorite song
Engraved memory box
Custom vinyl record with favorite songs
Polaroid photos for their wallet
Necklace with your initials
Locket necklace with a picture of the two of you
“The Night We Met” star map

Fun Food for the Super Bowl

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:49:18 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Julie Hying

The Super Bowl kicks off this year on Sunday, February 8. Regardless of which two teams will battle for the coveted title, any game-day gathering is sure to be a win with these delicious crowd pleasers.

Jalapeño Popper Twists

1 sheet of puff pastry, thawed

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 cup sharp cheddar, shredded

½ cup sliced jalapeños, fresh or pickled

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 large egg (to brush on top of pastry)

Set your oven to 400ºF and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a mixing bowl, blend softened cream cheese, shredded sharp cheddar, sliced jalapeños, and garlic powder until smooth. Roll out your thawed puff pastry to about ¼ inch thick, then cut it into strips about 2 inches wide. Spoon a generous amount of the cheesy filling onto one half of each pastry strip, fold over and twist each strip. Place the twisted bites on your prepared baking sheet and brush the tops with egg wash. Slide the baking sheet into the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes or until golden brown.

Field Goal Fiesta Dip

1 lb. ground beef

½ lb. Jimmy Dean Sausage (natural)

1 block Velveeta cheese (cubed)

4 oz. cream cheese (sliced)

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 can of Rotel

1 packet taco seasoning

½ tsp. garlic powder

In a crockpot set to low heat, add Velveeta, cream cheese, cheddar and the can of Rotel. Allow to heat and stir occasionally. In a skillet, brown and finely chop ground beef and sausage. When browned, cover with taco seasoning and garlic powder. Cover with one cup of water or beer and allow to simmer and reduce. Once liquid is nearly gone, add to the crockpot. Allow to heat through for at least an hour, and serve with tortilla chips — On the Border brand is a family favorite.

Spotlight Spinach Dip

1 (10 oz.) package of frozen, chopped spinach (thawed, drained and squeezed dry)

Note: Fresh spinach ground down in a food processor also works very well.

1 (14 oz.) can of artichoke hearts (drained and chopped)

3 cloves of garlic, minced

1 Tbsp. butter

⅔ cup Hellmann’s mayo

2 (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese, softened close to room temperature

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

½ cup grated parmesan cheese

½ cup grated Asiago cheese

¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 bag of flat pretzels or your favorite tortilla chips

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Lightly grease a 7 x 11-inch baking dish (or 9 x 13 if doubling the recipe). Set aside. Mince garlic and set aside. Drain can of artichoke hearts, chop them, and set aside. In a large bowl, mix together artichoke hearts, spinach, cream cheese, grated cheeses and mayo until smooth. Set aside.

In a small skillet, melt butter and cook minced garlic for 1 min. Remove from heat, squeeze in lemon juice. Let cool for one minute, and then pour over ingredients in the mixing bowl. Mix well, and spread contents evenly in the prepared baking dish. Cover the baking dish with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the cover, and let the dish bake uncovered for 5 more minutes or until the surface is lightly browned.

Touchdown Chili

4 lbs ground beef (Costco is my preference)

2 cans Williams Chili Beans (medium)

1 can Williams Chili Beans (mild)

(Note: You could add another can or two of either for a larger batch.)

¾ packet Williams Original Chili Seasoning (for 4 lbs)

8 oz. can of Hunt’s Tomato Sauce

⅔ of a 6 oz. can of Hunt’s Tomato Paste

1 16 oz. can of Miller Lite beer

1 ½ tsp. garlic powder

½ tsp. oregano

1 tsp. black pepper

¼ tsp. salt

¼ cup honey

6 Tbsp. (half stick) salted butter

In a large crockpot, pour in the chili beans, butter, honey, tomato sauce and tomato paste. Sprinkle in ½ tsp. garlic powder. Lightly sprinkle salt and ½ tsp. pepper. Stir well, and cook in a crockpot on high for 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to low.

In a large skillet, brown ground beef, chopping finely into small pieces. When almost browned, sprinkle with 1 tsp. of garlic powder, ½ tsp. black pepper, ½ tsp. oregano and chili seasoning (¾ packet). Cover completely with beer. Stir in well and reduce heat to medium low, allowing contents to simmer and reduce. Give the ground beef another chop to fully incorporate seasonings with beer.

Once the beer is cooked in, pour the seasoned ground beef mixture into the crockpot. Mix with the beans, and then add the butter. Cover with the lid, but stir every 5 minutes until the butter is completely melted and incorporated into the chili. Allow the contents to heat in the crockpot for 1–2 hours. Note: extra chile makes a delicious and easy dip: just add hot chili to a pie dish (1–2 cups). Swirl in 2–4 oz. cream cheese. Top with shredded cheddar, and heat through, either in the oven or microwave. Top with crushed Fritos and serve with additional chips for dipping.

Lifestyle Changes After a Major Health Event

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:31:37 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Support and Resources are Available

Written by Paige Feikert

When Dan Allred suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in his front yard on December 8, 2024, his life changed forever.

“My heart turned off — just no warning whatsoever, just stopped beating,” Allred said.

For 13 minutes, Allred did not have a heartbeat. His wife and a neighbor performed chest compressions and called 911. By the time EMS transported Allred to the closest hospital, he was still unresponsive. According to the Cleveland Clinic, brain damage is possible after just five minutes.

But Allred survived without a heartbeat for 13 minutes — no brain damage and feeling mostly back to normal a little more than a year later. He credits life-saving measures by his wife, neighbor and emergency medical professionals as well as his faith, which has gotten even stronger since the incident.

“The odds were not in my favor for surviving and without the grace of God, I highly doubt I would have,” Allred said. “Without Him, I wouldn’t be here.”

Allred with his wife during his recovery following the cardiac arrest he experienced in December 2024.

Dan Allred: Walking the Road to Recovery

Surviving the cardiac event was just the beginning of a long journey to recovery. One of the biggest changes for Allred was a prescription to exercise more often — his doctors recommended he walk at least three miles a day.

Allred started exercising more when he got home from the hospital — walking every day on a treadmill. Now, he tries to find time to go on walks, most of the time at his wife’s suggestion. “My wife is intentional in saying, ‘Let’s go for a walk,’ and I’m not going to say no,” Allred said. “She’s the one who stood over me, speaking life into my body, so I try to be sensitive to that.”

With her help, Allred stuck with it — even working up to a 5K that he completed near the one year anniversary of his cardiac arrest.

‘We start with these really small changes. That’s where we can see this movement.’ — Tara Sharon, health educator

Tara Sharon is the chronic disease health educator with the Sedgwick County Health Department, where she works with people in the community who are managing chronic diseases and their caregivers through the county’s free Disease Management and Wellness workshops and the Hypertension Awareness and Prevention Program (HAPp).

“We make action plans at the end of each class to identify the steps you can take to make lifestyle changes,” Sharon said. “We start with these really small changes. That’s where we can see this movement — when we can make one small change, that’s where we can build those habits and they’re less likely to fall off later.”

The chronic disease self-management class through the Sedgwick County Health Department is a six-week course that focuses not only on diet, exercise and tobacco use, but also on healthy habits — sleep, stress management, medication adherence — and practical skills such as empowerment to communicate with loved ones and medical professionals, reading food labels and problem solving.

“We do problem solving and brainstorming that helps us understand what the barriers are [to lifestyle changes] and we figure out how to get past them,” Sharon said. “We try to just start small — if you’re training for a marathon you don’t go out and run 26.2 miles the first day, it takes little steps to get there.”

In addition to providing tools — both education and real tools such as the free blood pressure cuff included in the HAPp program — the courses at Sedgwick County provide a community to support healthy lifestyle changes and chronic disease management.

Matt Freund with his sister-in-law, Tanya, who donated a kidney on Freund’s behalf.

Matt Freund: Life After Kidney Transplant

Not all lifestyle changes look the same. For Matt Freund, a critically rigid medication schedule became part of his routine after becoming the recipient of a donated kidney.

“The number one thing is the need to take anti-rejection medication twice a day without fail ever,” Freund said. “Think about how many things there are in your life that you do every day, but for most things you can think about a time where there’s an exception — even if you eat breakfast every day, once in a while something gets messed up and you don’t eat breakfast. That can’t happen with this medication.”

As a pilot, Freund is often traveling to different time zones and working various schedules, and has worked to find multiple ways to ensure he doesn’t delay a dose.

“I have alarms on my phone, but the big aspect for something like this is that you have to have somebody else who can keep track of that and remind you, even when you’re not with them, and that’s my wife,” Freund said.

‘For kidney donors, it’s not something that is out of character for them to donate a kidney, it’s just part of their very generous existence.’ — Matt Freund

The path to a kidney transplant can be a long one, and the donation process is complex and rigid. Despite the changes to his lifestyle since receiving a new kidney, Freund’s appreciation of the organ donor community has grown tremendously — a community that includes his sister-in-law who donated a kidney on his behalf.

“For kidney donors, it’s not something that is out of character for them to donate a kidney, it’s just part of their very generous existence,” Freund said. “They’re just incredibly generous, kind and brave people who are literally willing to bend over backwards for the well-being of another person.”

Free Resources

You can find more information about Sedgwick County’s Disease Management and Wellness workshops and HAPp on their website at sedgwickcounty.org/health/services/disease-management-and-wellness-workshops .

For help with smoking cessation, the state has resources through the KanQuit program online at kansas.quitlogix.org for adults and ks.mylifemyquit.org for youth .

If you’re interested in kidney donation, visit kidneyregistry.com to learn more.

Chiefs Moving to Kansas

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 19:13:25 GMT

A Game Changer for Kansas

Written by Julie Underwood Burton

An historic announcement was made in December by Governor Laura Kelly and Kansas City Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt that the franchise’s stadium will be moving from Missouri to Kansas. The agreement was approved by the Legislative Coordinating Council (LCC) with strong bipartisan support and will be a public–private partnership between the state and the Chiefs organization.

The project is estimated to cost $3.3 billion, and the new stadium is slated to open in Wyandotte County for the start of NFL 2031 season. The Chiefs will also move their headquarters and training facility to Olathe in Johnson County.

Working with the LCC, Kansas State Senator Ty Masterson, President of the Senate, was a key leader in facilitating this exciting opportunity for Kansans.

Chiefs CEO, Lamar Hunt, Senator Ty Masterson and Mark Donovan, Chiefs President

Q&A With Senator Ty Masterson

Q. Tell us about the economic impact the new Chiefs stadium project will have for the state of Kansas.

A. The new stadium is anticipated to create 20,000 construction jobs, 4,000 permanent jobs, billions in economic activity, and will bring millions of new visitors to our state. Best of all, this incredible deal will not cost Kansas taxpayers one penny.

Q. One of your requirements for approving the stadium deal was that it would not lead to higher taxes. What is the primary advantage of funding the stadium with STAR bonds?

A. This is a public–private partnership with the Kansas City Chiefs that requires no new taxes and no funding from the current state budget. A portion of the project infrastructure is financed through STAR bonds (which are repaid over time from the growth the project produces) and a portion from the team.

Q. What types of mixed-use developments are planned alongside the new facilities?

A. The Hunt Family is committing $1 billion in additional private development, ensuring that public participation is matched by substantial private investment and long-term accountability. In addition to watching the big games on Sunday, there will be plenty of new restaurants, bars, hotels and entertainment for everyone to enjoy throughout the year surrounding these projects. Also of note — any cost overruns are on the team and there is a cap on the STAR bond portion.

Q. Everyone is asking: What will a domed stadium mean for the Chiefs and for the Kansas City area?

A. A modern NFL stadium positions the region to compete for Super Bowls, college football playoff games, NCAA Final Fours and large concerts. These are events Kansas City cannot host today. This stadium will bring national exposure to Kansas and long-term economic returns for decades to come.

Q. In your opinion, what are the greatest things fans can look forward to on opening day in 2031?

A. The fan experience will be greatly enhanced by this new stadium — and not just the seats and the view, but additional amenities will be available to the fans. Traffic flow in and out of the stadium will be vastly improved along with the overall tailgating environment.

Q. There are lots of emotions about leaving Arrowhead since it has been the home of the Chiefs since 1972. Do you have a favorite memory you can share?

A. I will never forget being there and sharing in the excitement when we won the AFC Championship.

Q. What are you personally most excited about with this move for the Chiefs?

A. I’m just excited to root for the Chiefs right here in Kansas with my family and friends. I’m also excited we were able to bring this historic economic growth opportunity to our state.

“Today, Kansas won the Super Bowl. This is a huge win for Kansas.” — Senate President Ty Masterson

Sweetest Couple

Thu, 05 Feb 2026 18:56:08 GMT

Hand in Hand

Wichita Couple Goes All Out for Community and Home

Written by Paige Feikert

For as long as they can remember, Alicia and Ryan Baty have been part of teams. Alicia grew up playing volleyball in Western Kansas, where she also helped her parents with their cattle business. Ryan played professional baseball and now serves as chairman of the Sedgwick County Commission. But perhaps the most successful team — and the most enjoyable — is the Baty household.

“This is a massive team effort,” Ryan said. “I have roles that I do and she supports me in that, and she has the most important role supporting the home, we cannot be effective if we don’t support each other.”

‘I think most people know that my greatest asset in business and in politics is my wife.’ — Ryan Baty

The Batys balance schedules for four very active kids — Reese who is 13 years old and the only girl of the bunch, followed by 11-year-old Landry, 9-year-old Rhett and two-year-old Bryer. Reese is a competitive volleyball player who often plays games out of town. Landry and Rhett both play baseball and football, and Bryer takes the role of his siblings’ number one fan.

“We have an event or an activity or a practice or a game seven days a week in our house and the baby has to come to all of it,” Ryan said.

“[Bryer’s] ultimately the trouper because he goes to everything — he’s at practices, he’s at games, he’s in hotel rooms in other states for tournaments — all of the things,” Alicia added.

Love Like Remi Foundation 2025 gala. Thirteen-year-old Reese often joins her parents at local charity events.

A Heart for Community

But as often as Alicia and Ryan balance the schedules of their active kids, their kids are also very aware and involved in their parents’ chosen paths. Both Alicia and Ryan are business owners, Ryan serves as Sedgwick County Commissioner for District 4, and has spent years involved in Christian ministry. The Baty kids have witnessed firsthand what service to the community looks like.

“We wanted our kids to experience serving the community, and to see us live as examples in that,” Ryan said. “As much as it serves in our hearts to serve the community, we want our kids to see demonstrations to serve others.”

As is common with business owners and public service careers, the work day doesn’t always have a defined beginning and end. The Baty kids have grown to learn that and embrace it.

“We’re not able to check our work lives at the door, everything that we do is all encompassing,” Ryan said. “Our kids get to witness the highs of business and the highs of community success, but they also get to see the real heartbreak when there’s loss in the community, when there’s challenges in the community — they get a new angle.”

The Baty kids even gained hands-on experience with public service and running a campaign when they helped their dad on his campaign to office with the Sedgwick County Commission.

“When we were running a campaign, or just when there have been different opportunities for our kids to be involved in some fashion, Reese has really latched onto that,” Alicia said. “She loved knocking on doors, and she loved campaigning, but when given the opportunity to go to an event or go visit a local nonprofit with her dad, she has fully embraced it.”

While their kids are their top priorities, the Batys have found their passion in the community largely because their family is part of it. Ryan grew up in Wichita, graduating from Wichita Northwest High School before attending the University of Kansas to play baseball. Wichita is home for Ryan — it’s where he returned after a career-ending injury during his time with the Tampa Bay Rays organization, it’s where he started his business and where his parents still live today. Alicia grew up a few hours west of Wichita in Dodge City but moved here to study nursing at Wichita State University. The couple met at a Genesis Health Club location — Ryan as a patron, and Alicia as a front desk associate.

“We’ll see you at the restaurants, we’ll see you at school events. We’re very involved in the community because we are part of the community — we love this community, we love Wichita, we love the schools, we love getting to do life here,” Ryan said. “There’s not a degree of separation — we do life with people in this community.”

The family cattle sale held annually in Dodge City, KS. Alicia’s family are cattle ranchers in western Kansas and ranch work is a family operation.

A Heart for Family

The Batys want their kids to feel their passion for serving and their passion for the community, but they also want their kids to understand their unrelenting commitment to their family.

“At the heart of it, we have to keep at the forefront what’s truly important. There’s a lot of perspective that comes with that and it’s not always easy to make everything work, but when you know what your priorities are, it certainly works,” Alicia said. “These kids and our family that was given to us to foster. They are 100 percent at the forefront.”

But the Batys have found success in a large part because of one another — working together to run a home, a family, businesses and community outreach — no matter the circumstance, Alicia and Ryan make each other stronger.

“I think most people know that my greatest asset in business and in politics is my wife,” Ryan said. “She’s the one that’s kind of the thermostat in the house — she keeps things level-temperature, she keeps me level.”

The couple finds time to re-connect with one another. After the kids are home from their respective practices, the businesses are closed and calls have quieted, Alicia and Ryan take a few moments to themselves.

“For me, it’s about enjoying the journey,” Ryan said. “There are different seasons in our marriage and it’s really just about understanding the season that you’re in and working hard to enjoy it and enjoy each other and be thankful to God for what he’s given us.”

A Cup of Coffee and a Spot of Tea

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:36:52 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Lysel Maddex

As the brisk January days lead into freezing January nights, stay warm with a steaming mug of cocoa, your favorite latte, or cup of tea. Whatever your drink of choice, it probably pairs best with a friend.

Photo credit: Jami Noone

Aroma Coffee House

Aroma Coffeehouse was started in 2022 by several friends from Ridgepoint Church. In addition to having one of the coziest cafes in town, Aroma also makes some of their own in-house syrups and pastries, and they partner with a local company to source their coffee beans. Becoming a comfortable stop for patrons to relax and stay warm isn't enough for Aroma: They also work with Naomi House and Himalayan Freedom Co to support women in Thailand and Nepal, so buying a warm beverage goes a long way. Their drinks are crafted to perfection and the chic cafe will make it feel as if time is standing still while you enjoy a lazy afternoon.

Coffee Daze

In a word, effervescent. Coffee Daze was started in 2022 by Tiffany Tran in College Hill. It seems to always be filled with patrons and for good reason. They have a variety of coffee options, pastries and sandwiches. Coffee Daze partners with other local businesses to source some of their products. If you’re looking for a joyful and energetic space to hang out with friends and sip a perfectly foamy latte, Coffee Daze is the place to be.

Milkfloat

Taking their name from the history of milk deliveries, Milkfloat in Delano boasts incredible pastries and desserts, crafted coffees and Italian sodas. Rotating through exciting flavors they will always have something new and amazing. Try one of their flavored lattes or, for a nice contrast, pair a perfectly balanced black coffee with a sweet dessert.

Reverie Roasters

Reverie Roasters is one of the few coffee shops that roasts their own beans, and it’s part of what makes their products so unique. Like Coffee Daze and other cafes in town, Reverie partners with local businesses for items like produce, milk, flour — and even kombucha! Reverie’s interior offers a warm, cozy and inviting environment. The only problem is that, once you’re sitting with a deliciously frothy drink and giant croissant, you won’t be able to leave.

Cocoa Dolce

Cocoa Dolce is the pinnacle of chocolate shops; starting 20 years ago in Wichita, it has become a classic in town. The chocolates are all made in a local factory and distributed to their shops across town, Cocoa Dolce truffles are a game changer. It will only stand to reason that with the ability to make the most incredible chocolates, they would make unbeatable hot chocolate. Cocoa Dolce’s hot chocolate is perfectly rich, creamy and frothy, plus a thick and decadent drinking chocolate. The warmth of their three cafe locations, combined with the velvety truffles and hot chocolate always makes it worth the visit.

Photo courtesy The French Tearoom

The French Tearoom

The French Tearoom is unlike anything else in the Wichita area. It provides an elegant yet simple experience to anyone who crosses the threshold of this idyllic house. Founder Mariama Beemer says her intention is for guests to be able to pause, breathe and feel cared for. Beemer visited a teashop in London, and the beautiful life moment she had there inspired her to eventually open The French Tearoom in Wichita. She hopes it allows people to have their own simple, yet meaningful, moment. The French Tearoom is available by reservation for their monthly themed afternoon teas or to rent for a private event.

Paris Bagette

The black-and-white floral tile, the chevron bistro chairs, the rows of glass cases filled with pastries and cakes. It's hard to say what catches your eye first when you step into Paris Baguette, but once you're there, the fresh-baked croissants and sweet smells will immediately lift your spirit. You'll truly feel you left Wichita and stepped into a European cafe. Order whichever pastry catches your eye, a cup of cocoa, and settle in for a deliciously sweet afternoon.

Leaf Teahouse

Leaf Teahouse is another homegrown Wichita establishment. It’s the perfect spot to find milk tea, smoothies, fruit tea and other cold drinks. It started as a dream and a drink stand in a restaurant and grew to the beautiful cafe it is today. Leaf Teahouse has an abundance of flavors to choose from. If you haven’t been in a few months, it’s worth another visit as both the decor and specialty drinks change seasonally.

The Spice Merchant

Not everyone enjoys going out to cafes, some enjoy the simplicity of brewing at home. For those folks, The Spice Merchant & Co is the answer. The Spice Merchant is over 30 years old and resides, in part, in the old Mentholatum Company building from decades ago. The full history behind both the Spice Merchant and Mentholatum are well worth the investigation. For now, an encouragement to go explore the hundreds of options available at The Spice Merchant is enough. They roast their own coffee in addition to providing a large variety of tea, spices and other herbs and food.

Al Higdon: A Reluctant Biography Subject

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:09:58 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Al Higdon

This biography was not my idea. Not at all.

Rather, my long-time friend, Linda Talbott Rupe, a woman never to be denied, decided that my story deserved a telling of sorts. And off, as always, she went.

I introduced her to John Brown, another old buddy whom, I believed, might do a good job of writing such a book. So off they went to lunch. By hamburgers’ end, the two of them had devised a plan, had committed to several suspect conspiracies, had taken away from me any real possibility of negative response.

And there then came the questions, the overwhelming questions about the formative experiences of my personal, professional and civic lives. And the people who had most profoundly affected my days and ways: Judy and the kids; Bill Lear and Russ Meyer; my best friend, Wendell Sullivan; and my long-time partner, Vaughn Sink; my parents, brothers and the great teachers who gripped me strong and hard along the way and showed me the way to go.

It was a wave of information jabbing at deeper feelings of success and loss. Always loss, life an accumulation of happy memories and their slip-sliding away. Judy and Wendell and so many great friends known to so many Wichitans from over the years.

I will be eternally grateful for the entrances afforded me across those decades to the right front seat of one great airplane after another. I’m not a pilot; haven’t once said, “Ready for takeoff.”

Al Higdon with singer John Denver, one of many celebrities Higdon worked with during his time at Learjet.

But I have known other takeoffs, other takeaways that have built toward a life for which I feel an immense gratitude. A humbling knowledge that I was born in the best time, the best place to be a human being in the endless history of our sometimes sad species. I believe in freedom. I believe in capitalism as the most demonstrable, the surest path toward peace and prosperity. I believe in my country and the wondrous people who make it so unmistakably great.

I think John found in my story a bit of his own life. His late wife, Annie, worked with us at Sullivan Higdon & Sink and, through her, he became part of our extended family. His buddies worked with us too, and so many of the miraculous people at SHS found in him a true and lasting friend. Those times together, across twenty years of closeness, gave him particular and detailed insight to the company Wendell and Vaughn and I had tried so hard to build. And, by extension, to me as well. John will tell you that I stand among the most difficult of subjects about whom he has ever, ever written. He refers to the problem as “Al’s humility.” I refer to his difficulties as but the boring life of an old kid who loved baseball and bicycle tag after dark.

A man could do worse, I suppose.

For those of you with little better to do about 6 p.m. on the evening of Thursday, January 15, John Brown and I will be hanging out at Watermark Books, there at Douglas and Oliver, talking about the book, maybe even answering a few questions. Please don’t expect anything profound.

Al Higdon with golfer Arnold Palmer, in front of Palmer’s Learjet.

Book Signing

“Al Higdon: The Power of Two”

6 p.m. January 15

Watermark Books

Author: John Brown

179 pages

Soup Season

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:09:54 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Healthy Winter Comforts With the Pros

Written by Julie Hying

Winter is the perfect time to leave holiday cooking and calories behind. Hearty winter soups can be delicious, nutrient rich and relatively low in calories. Many professional chefs offer recipes chock full of flavor and winter vegetables. Enjoy the slow simmer and marriage of flavors in these inviting winter soups.

Hearty Winter Soup

Martha Stewart

2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

4 leeks, white and pale-green parts only, cut into 1-inch pieces

3 celery stalks, cut ½-inch thick

3 medium carrots, cubed

2 garlic cloves, crushed

2 pinches red pepper flakes

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

5 ¼ cups low-sodium chicken stock

1 to 1 ½ lbs. butternut squash, peeled and cut into cubes

2 Yukon gold potatoes, cut into cubes

1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon juice

2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh mint

2 Tbsp. thinly sliced fresh dill

Heat oil in a 6–8 qt. stockpot over medium-high heat. Cook leeks, celery, carrots, garlic, red pepper flakes and 1 tsp. salt, stirring occasionally, until leeks are translucent, about 5 minutes. Add stock plus 1 ½ cups water and bring to a boil. Add butternut squash and potatoes. Return to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Stir in chickpeas and return to a boil. Stir in lemon juice and herbs. Season with salt and pepper.

Acorn Squash Soup

Guy Fieri

3 whole acorn squashes

6 shallots, 1 cup diced, 3 left whole and peeled

6 garlic cloves, peeled

3 Tbsp. olive oil, plus ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil

1 tsp. salt

1 ½ tsp. pepper, freshly cracked, plus more for seasoning

1 stick salted butter

4 cups chicken stock, low-sodium

1/4 tsp. cayenne

1/4 tsp. white pepper

1 tsp. sage, dry

1 tsp. thyme

1 cup heavy cream

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

⅓ cup grated Parmesan

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Cut the squashes in half on the equator and remove the seeds with a spoon. Cut a flat spot on each end so the squash will sit flat. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and arrange the squashes, cut side up. To 3 of the squash halves, add a peeled shallot and to the other 3 add 2 garlic cloves on each. Drizzle with 2 Tbsp. of olive oil and season with 1 Tbsp. each of the salt and freshly cracked pepper. Roast in the hot oven until very tender and starting to caramelize and collapse, approximately 1 hour. Remove from the oven, and when cool enough to handle, remove the squash from the skin. Reserve the roasted shallots and garlic with the squash. Can be done ahead.

In a large Dutch oven, heat 1 Tbsp. of the olive oil and 2 Tbsp. of the butter over medium-high heat and when the butter is starting to foam, add the raw diced shallots and saute until they are starting to caramelize, about 5–6 minutes. Deglaze with ½ cup of the chicken stock and stir to remove any fond. Reduce the heat to medium low and add in the reserved squash, roasted shallots and garlic and then the remaining chicken stock. Stir to combine, then puree with a stick blender. The mixture will be very thick. Add in the cayenne, white pepper and the herbs. Stir in the cream and Worcestershire sauce and heat slowly over medium-low heat. When the mixture comes to a slow simmer, mix again with the stick blender and stir in ¼ cup of the Parmesan and turn heat to low. Serve with a fresh crack of black pepper, a nice drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a light sprinkle of remaining Parmesan. Ladle into soup bowls and serve.

16-Bean and Pasta e Fagioli

Ina Garten

1 (1 lb.) bag 16 bean soup mix

2 Tbsp. good olive oil, plus extra for serving

6 ounces pancetta, ¼-inch-diced

1 large onion, chopped

1 Tbsp. minced garlic (3 cloves)

½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

1 (28 oz.) can crushed tomatoes, preferably San Marzano

1 cup dry red wine

4–6 cups good chicken stock, preferably homemade

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 cup ditalini

½ cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving

1 Tbsp. red wine vinegar

The day before you plan to make the soup, place the bean mix in a large bowl, add cold water to cover by 2 inches, and refrigerate overnight. The next day, drain the beans, rinse under cold running water, and drain again. Place the beans in a large pot with 8 cups of cold water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 1 hour. Stir occasionally and skim off any foam that rises to the top. The beans should be very tender and the skin will peel away when you blow on a bean.

Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium (10-inch) stockpot over medium heat. Add the pancetta and onion and sauté over medium to medium-high heat for 12–18 minutes, until browned. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for one minute. Add the tomatoes, wine, 4 cups of the chicken stock, 1 Tbsp. salt, and 1 tsp. black pepper, and turn off the heat.

Drain the beans and add two-thirds of them to the soup. Pass the remaining beans through a food mill, discarding the skins. Stir the bean puree and the pasta into the soup, bring to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender. Add up to 2 more cups of chicken stock if the soup is too thick. Stir in the Parmesan and the vinegar. Ladle the soup into large shallow bowls and add a swirl of olive oil, a sprinkle of Parmesan and some basil. Serve hot with extra Parmesan on the side.

New Year’s Resolutions That Last

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:43:09 GMT

New Year’s Boom: Making Resolutions That Last

Written by Alexis Evans

New Years is one of the few truly universal holidays. Every culture, religion and country celebrates or observes the New Year in some way. In most cultures, this important day is largely recognized as a time to create a fresh start. There’s something exhilarating about the anticipation of the unknown new year, and many use this time of year to create a set of resolutions to make changes in their life. However, most drop off of these goals by the end of January. If you truly want to see your goals through to 2027, here’s a few ways to make sure your resolutions stick.

Choose a Goal That Excites You

A surefire way to fail in your goal is to pursue something that you don’t feel truly excited about. A good way to find your joy is to discover your why. Don’t just lose weight because you want to look thinner. Strive to get healthy so you feel better, so you have more energy and feel more vibrant. Don’t look to excel in your career for prestige, do it for the fulfillment of knowing that you are working hard for your family and your future.

Write It Down

Writing down a goal can be half the battle. If you are looking to become more money conscious in 2026, it will never work for you to simply say, “I’ll just save more” or “I’ll just pay more towards this debt.” You must write down your specific goals, in a way that is tangible and measurable. Giving a name to the goal makes it real and helps you wrap your mind around ways you can accomplish it. Once the goal is named, place it somewhere you will see it every day as a reminder of what you want to accomplish for yourself. This can be on your work computer, phone screen saver, bathroom mirror, car mirror — somewhere that will be a constant reminder.

Break Large Goals Into Small Actionable Steps

Once you’ve named your goal and created your reminders, make your plan. Many will use the New Year to take the opportunity to be more intentional in their relationships. If this is you, one way to do this is to schedule a time to see a friend — either the same one or someone different — each month. Especially for those who are introverted by nature, this is a good start in giving yourself time to anticipate the social activity while adding accountability to the action. If you want to lose weight, don’t just join a gym and buy some veggies, find a fitness coach who can help you create a tangible plan that meets your goals.

Find Support

Don’t do it by yourself. Tell someone you love about your newest goals, and ask them to support you through encouragement and accountability. Too often we crash out because we feel like no one cares about what we do, but if you invest in yourself and ask others to walk alongside you, it’s a lot harder to fail.

Create a Routine

One mistake that many make in creating their resolutions is trying to change too much too soon. But even the most disorganized people have some kind of daily routine. The key is to slowly integrate your actions into your daily schedule. If your goal is to work out more, schedule a time for your workout that you know will work with your schedule. Remember, some progress is better than none.

Have Compassion for Yourself

If you ever fall off from your goal, don’t use that as an excuse to quit! Pick yourself back up, adjust your plan, and have grace for yourself. Changing your life for the better isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

Be The You You Love

Tue, 06 Jan 2026 15:27:58 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

One Wichita Woman’s Journey to Strength and Fulfillment

Written by Paige Feikert

It’s a Wednesday at 5 in the morning and Jessica Carey’s playlist is bringing life to the gym at MADabolic in northeast Wichita. In just a few hours Carey will feel that familiar morning chaos in the school drop-off line and the ensuing hustle to her full-time job, but right now is time for herself. To Carey, setting an early alarm and showing up at the gym each morning is an act of self-care.

“I’m a priority no matter how busy my life is, because if I don’t take care of me, who’s going to take care of the people who rely on me,” Carey said.

Carey hasn’t always been the first person in the gym, in fact, the mother of five experienced years of ups and downs with her own weight and finding ways to make time for herself. It started when she was just 19 years old and gained 75 pounds during her first pregnancy. From there, Carey tried every fad diet and trend, but during her first three pregnancies nothing seemed to really work for managing her weight.

‘Food is one of those things that is sometimes under-recognized, because it’s so omnipresent in our lives — we eat when we grieve, we eat when we celebrate, we eat when we’re excited.’ — Jon Meidinger, culinary arts coordinator at the Derby Recreation Commission

“I think there was a time where I didn’t mind. I wasn’t completely miserable because I was overweight, because I was happy: I had three beautiful boys and they were my life, but then something would come up like a wedding or an event and that’s when I was most aware of my weight gain,” Carey said.

When her youngest son was around four years old, Carey picked up an at-home workout program and really liked it. She’d wake up early and complete her workouts before her kids would wake up. She recalls times where she’d join others on a video call where no one would really talk, they’d all just work out on their own, building accountability by logging on.

Carey became a coach with the at-home workout program, eventually working her way up to the top 1 percent of the company. She continued using the program through her final two pregnancies with her daughters.

“My girls will never know a mom who doesn’t work out: I worked out through my pregnancies and I had my babies in bouncers right there in the room,” Carey said. “I’m so grateful that it was built right in front of them and right among the chaos, because it’s just normalized to take care of yourself for them.”

Carey has lost more than 70 pounds through her fitness journey, but she admits that, while the motivation was originally rooted in weight loss, at some point, she wanted something more.

“When you’re on a journey long enough, you go through these ebbs and flows and I just got tired of beating myself up. It’s like always chasing this carrot,” Carey said. “I got to this place where I was like, ‘Do I just do this forever? How small can I possibly get?’ ”

Jessica Carey has lost more than 70 pounds through her health journey. She empowers women to find sustainable routines that work for them.

Size vs. Strength. Finding Balance.

Eventually, Carey attended a class at MADabolic — a gym that uses interval training to focus on building strength and improving fitness — and just a few months later she was asking the owner how to become a trainer there herself.

“I was building more muscle; I was like this different person, because I was more focused on building muscle and getting strong rather than just losing weight,” Carey said. “It felt good to make a switch from trying to be as small as possible to trying to be as strong as possible.”

Her role as a trainer at MADabolic has not only enabled Carey to share her story with others, it’s created deep, meaningful connections with other women who have experienced the same things she has — a journey with its share of shame and unattainable goals.

“I feel this very strong calling to show up for women who struggled with body image and fad diets and fear of carbs and too much cardio and wanting to be as small as possible,” Carey said. “We’re chasing this thing and people think that it is something you need to do to look that way, but those are not sacrifices you want to take.”

Those sacrifices, Carey says, involve a lack of balance: Allowing the desire to lose weight to ultimately win over real life.

“When I was (at my leanest) I was eating in my car at family functions,” Carey said. “I was not able to go out for milkshakes with my kids. Sometimes your goals require small sacrifices, but when you’re talking about your lifestyle I’m not willing to give those up forever.”

Now, Carey is consistently working out at 5 in the morning — something that hasn’t changed much since her at-home workout days. If she isn’t working out, she’s coaching others at MADabolic. Carey recently signed up for a HYROX competition — an intense fitness race where competitors complete eight functional workouts, each separated by a one-kilometer run. She plans on competing in the competition with her 21-year-old son, who was her very first accountability partner.

“He was my workout buddy when he was 10 years old,” Carey said. “It’s pretty cool that we worked out together in my basement, and now we’re going to compete side-by-side in this HYROX race at the end of March.”

Carey is a mother of five children who she credits with holding her accountable and inspiring her to focus on strength while maintaining balance.

Getting Started With a Short List

It’s important to keep in mind that Carey’s journey spans over several years, from focusing solely on weight loss to now understanding balance, strength and nutrition. Getting started — whether as a New Year’s resolution or as a lifestyle change for any other reason — can be overwhelming and extremely difficult. Carey encourages friends and people she trains to have a short list to complete each day. Her goals: 10,000 steps, drinking 100 ounces of water and consuming 100 grams of protein.

“Start there, because when you can check those three boxes every day it feels good, you feel accomplished,” Carey said.

Meredith Osborne, a licensed clinical social worker and yoga teacher, shares a similar sentiment: focus on small goals, no matter what they are, to help make those goals attainable.

“Setting small goals is good to build the habit and to prove to yourself that you can achieve your goals,” Osborne said. “Identify one area to work on at a time instead of making a bunch of changes at once, but also learn how to give yourself grace and let a little bit be good enough.”

According to a 2024 Pew Research Center survey, three in ten Americans reported making at least one resolution that year. In a late 2023 Forbes poll where 1,000 American adults were surveyed, the average resolution lasted just under four months, with only one percent of those polled reporting sticking with their resolutions for 12 months. That same Forbes poll found that only 20 percent of participants tend to keep themselves accountable to their resolutions.

‘Setting small goals is good to build the habit and to prove to yourself that you can achieve your goals.’ — Meredith Osborne, licensed clinical social worker and yoga teacher

“I think being able to notice when you get down on yourself for not achieving your goals and how you talk to yourself — that can often make things worse and some people can get stuck there,” Osborne said. “Instead of telling yourself you didn’t do enough, tell yourself that you’re trying and learning and growing.”

Many resolutions tend to focus on health and wellness, with the top five resolutions from that 2023 Forbes poll being to improve fitness, improve finances, improve mental health, lose weight and improve diet. While those resolutions are some of the most common every year, getting started, finding the right routine and setting realistic goals, is one of the hardest parts.

“It feels really big and overwhelming when you don’t know where to start,” Osborne said. “In a general way, if people want to live a more conscious life or a more aware life, notice on a more consistent basis ‘How does my body feel? Where are my thoughts going? Can I take a few deep breaths?’ and pairing that with some sort of journaling could be really helpful.”

Anchored in Motivation

After setting an intentional goal and making a plan to achieve it, taking the action towards that goal can also present a challenge. Sometimes those actions are encased with fear.

“Honing in on what your intention and what your motivation is, it’s not going to completely erase the fear, but will allow you to move through the fear, so identifying your motivation is really important so you have something to anchor in and know why you’re doing what you’re doing,” Osborne said.

Eliminating the fears associated with stepping into the gym for the first time or cooking healthier foods is something Lianna Fry, wellness support director at the Greater Wichita YMCA, focuses on with the programming and atmosphere at the local YMCA branches. The YMCA focuses on creating spaces that fit every ability level, which also allow people to connect through group exercise and personal training.

New Connections Through Community

“You will really connect with other people who are in that space, you’re going to find other individuals who are pursuing the same goals with you, but you’ll also find common interests and sometimes that’s across generations,” Fry said.

If getting started is the hurdle, group exercise could provide a solution by eliminating the requirement to make a training plan yourself. Group exercise classes also facilitate new connections and become opportunities for maintaining accountability.

“Getting to know the other members, the other class participants, people in a training group or the staff, that just takes the total well-being to the next level,” Fry said. “Community is something we need no matter what stage we are at.”

The community aspect is something that Jon Meidinger, culinary arts coordinator at the Derby Recreation Commission (DRC), also focuses on. Nutrition is another common area of improvement for many Americans, and while the DRC hopes to instill knowledge of nutrition, cooking skills and a curiosity around food to participants in their culinary arts programs, socializing has a tremendous impact in their mission.

‘Be a new food tryer.’

“Food is one of those things that is sometimes under-recognized, because it’s so omnipresent in our lives — we eat when we grieve, we eat when we celebrate, we eat when we’re excited,” Meidinger said. “Stepping back and being a little more appreciative of that and thinking about what we eat and how we eat and watching people just cook and eat together is one of the more pleasurable things we can do.”

Oftentimes, nutrition goals focus on eating healthier, but fad diets and even calorie deficits can be difficult to maintain and often lead to weight gain later. The DRC offers classes from basic cooking skills to the Mediterranean Diet, and even classes that provide instruction for cooking your favorite take-out meals at home.

“We see a lot of folks who have maybe become bored with their usual dietary routine, and so these classes give them ways to branch out a little bit and try different things and different flavors and techniques,” Meidinger said. “I love to see people try new foods — it’s the same thing my mom told me when I was a kid: ‘Be a new food tryer.’ And that seems to be the case for anyone who comes here, from three-year-old kids to 83-year-old adults, is to find some novelty in their diet, and that can be exciting.”

Finding the right fit, whether that’s with exercise or diet, is something Carey knows well.

“Don’t force a square peg into a round hole — if you’re not trying to go lift free weights and run on a treadmill, then find what works for you,” Carey said. “Maybe you’re a Pilates girl, maybe you would thrive in yoga or spin classes, there are so many options, try them all.”

At the heart of Carey’s fitness journey is a simple act of love for herself. What started as a way to lose weight shifted her entire mindset — she is no longer so concerned with the number on the scale or the grams of carbs in the ice cream she shares with her daughters, she is strong and consistent. Carey has found a sense of happiness and love for herself that is not defined by numbers, but rather by emotion, energy and a constant reminder that despite the many roles she’s juggling, she, too, is a priority.

“We need that one person to remind us that you’re worth the time, you’re worth the effort, your wants and needs matter, and when mom is fulfilled and happy, everybody else reaps the rewards,” Carey said. “If we are tired and run down and not fulfilled, we don’t show up as our best selves anyway; if a woman wants to be her best self, she’s got to be the one to put herself at the top of her list.”

Inspiration and Resources

Jessica Carey

Follow Jessica Carey on Instagram at @jessica_careys5.

MADabolic

The gym Carey trains at, MADabolic offers a five-day trial for $5. You can find them online at madabolic.com/ks/ict-east .

YMCA

The YMCA is waiving joiner fees in January and eliminating the first prorated monthly fee if you join before January 12. The YMCA is also hosting a group exercise showcase at their East, West and Newton locations on January 10 where you can learn more about all of their group exercise classes. You can check out all of their offerings at ymcawichita.org.

Derby Recreation Commission

You can find all DRC classes, including cooking classes, at derbyrec.com.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas With These Activities

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 22:12:21 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Lysel Maddex

So much to do in so little time. Welcome to the season of shopping, decorating, family, friends, school break and more. It’s hard to not get lost in the hustle and bustle, but important to still experience the joy that comes with the season. Whether it’s a date night or an activity for the whole family (that won’t break the budget), Wichita is full of the classics, plus fresh new holiday fun that won’t disappoint.

Somewhere in Winter

The same folks that bring you the Somewhere Festival & Conference have ramped it up for the holidays. Somewhere in Winter is new to Wichita this year and is open now until January 4, 2026. It’s a 60 by 90-foot outdoor ice rink in the heart of downtown at 250 N. St. Francis Ave. But the ice rink is just the beginning: Check out the pop-up holiday markets, themed nights and igloos. You can warm up with a cup of hot chocolate from Cocoa Dolce, right across the street. If you want to just explore the space, entry is free, with tickets available for skating.

Holiday Hideaway

Chicken N Pickle is bringing back their outdoor ice rink this year, in addition to having outdoor igloos you can rent for the whole family. It’s the perfect spot to relax with a comforting meal, enjoy the fresh air on the ice and then warm up on the rooftop lounging in your private igloo. The Holiday Hideaway is the over-21 version of the igloos. Enjoy tables for 2, 4, or 6 people and order in a selection of snacks, charcuterie trays and specialty cocktails. Reservations are made in two-hour blocks.

Photo Credit: Exploration Place

Exploration Place

If it’s too cold to go outside and too cramped to stay at home, take the family to Exploration Place’s new traveling exhibit, “Ice Dinosaurs: The Lost World of the Alaskan Arctic.” On display until January 4, you’ll learn about prehistoric dinosaurs that lived in the Arctic, be able to touch fossils, and see real life replicas of creatures from ages ago. Exploration Place also hosts several holiday activities, from gingerbread village building to the 12 Days of Christmas for the over-21 crowd, and even a cookie decorating party. It’s the perfect way to stay warm inside and learn more while still making holiday memories.

Light Displays

Grab a cup of cocoa, your favori te holiday mix tape, toss on some fuzzy PJs and cruise around town enjoying the magic of Christmas lights. Reindeer Road (941 N. Firefly St) and Candy Cane Lane (1004 N. Azure Circle) are some of the best in West Wichita. The Marshall Family (620 N. Stratford Lane) has a light display that syncs to the radio, just park and tune in to 91.7FM.

If it’s an unseasonably warm winter evening, Wild Lights at Sedgwick County Zoo is open from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday–Sunday through December 21. Each year the display varies and has different themes using beautiful displays and brilliant exhibits. Whether it’s warm or cold outside, visiting Illuminations at Botanica is a must. Nationally recognized and including millions of lights throughout the gardens, Illuminations never fails to delight.

Prairie Pines

If you want a Hallmark Christmas experience, Prairie Pines is next level. Explore their tree farm and chop your own, or choose one of their already cut trees. Any extra Christmas decor can be found in their Old-Barn Christmas Shop. Santa will make several appearances throughout the season. You can even make it a date night and attend one of their mystery dinner theater experiences. Whether it’s a tree, a cup of hot cocoa or a carriage ride, Prairie Pines will get you in the Christmas Spirit.

Photo Credit: Fulton Valley Farms

Fulton Valley Farms

A Country Christmas is unlike anything else around. At Fulton Valley Farms in Towanda, you’ll find millions of lights, the kids can meet Santa Claus and have their photos taken, and one of Santa’s reindeer will make an appearance. You can shop at their Jingle Bell Emporium, find a cozy drink or snack, and watch a live nativity vignette. Without a doubt, this one-stop shop for Christmas cheer is well worth the drive. Plus if you’re hosting guests from out of town, take it a step further and rent The Creek House onsite with a view of the Christmas lights. Make memories this year that will last a lifetime.

Holiday Fashion Inspo

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:35:12 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Styled by Jody Klein

FRANK & FIDO, 316.532.5682

ASPEN BOUTIQUE, 316.682.6784

THE LBD, ETC., 316.440.0772

NOUVEAU, 316.634.1711

THE VIOLET CLOSET, 316.612.6988

SAD and the Winter Blues

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:13:01 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Shining Light on a Common Condition

Written by Julie Hying

As the days grow shorter and the opportunity to be in the sunlight fades, the diminishing daylight may feel daunting. For those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD), the flux of fall to winter can be debilitating. Many others just dread the colder temperatures and darker days, feeling the effects of winter. Approximately 5 percent of the population suffers from seasonal affective disorder, yet one in five people experience a milder version or more subtle variations of these symptoms, colloquially known as the winter blues. Either way, there is support and steps to take toward feeling better.

If the end of fall has a person feeling persistently sad, empty, anxious or hopeless, it is prudent to check with a doctor to see if SAD is in play and what specific courses of treatment can be pursued. Some other symptoms of SAD include feelings of guilt or helplessness, physical pain, decreased energy or fatigue, patterns of sleeplessness or oversleeping, even not wanting to live.

Professional Evaluations

For these people, there is hope and help available. A doctor or psychologist may recommend a physical exam to ask in-depth health questions and determine if there are physical health issues linked to the problem. Lab tests such as a CBC and a thyroid test will help determine if the body systems are functioning properly. Vitamin deficiencies, especially vitamin D, can be detected. There may also be a psychological evaluation to check for signs of depression, assess feelings and behavior patterns.

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is another option to treat SAD. A type of psychotherapy known as cognitive behavioral therapy can help someone explore and learn healthy ways to cope with SAD, especially with reducing avoidant behavior and scheduling meaningful activities. It is important to identify and change negative thoughts and behaviors that may be making someone feel worse. Learning how to manage stress and focusing on healthy behaviors, such as increasing physical activity and improving your sleep patterns, can yield positive results.

Whether winter blues or SAD has impacted someone’s day-to-day living, there are productive moves that can be made and help a person feel better.

Light Therapy

Patients diagnosed with SAD can find relief with light therapy (also called phototherapy). Light therapy is one of the first line treatments for fall-onset SAD. It generally starts working in a few days to a few weeks and causes very few side effects. Research on light therapy is limited, but it appears to be effective for most people in relieving SAD symptoms.

Practice Stress Management With Movement

Learn techniques to better manage stress. For example, try relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi and meditation. Unmanaged stress can lead to depression, overeating or other unhealthy thoughts and behaviors. Exercise and physical activity help relieve stress and anxiety, both of which can increase SAD symptoms. Better fitness practices and feeling more fit can lighten a mood and be a confidence booster.

Get outside

Take a long walk, eat lunch at a nearby park, or simply sit on a bench and soak up the sun. Even on cold or cloudy days, outdoor light can help — especially spending some time outside within two hours of getting up in the morning. Make your environment sunnier and brighter. Open blinds, trim tree branches that block sunlight or add skylights to your home. Sit closer to bright windows while at home or in the office.

Socialize

When you're feeling down, it can be hard to be social. Make an effort to connect with people you enjoy being around. They can offer support, a shoulder to cry on or shared laughter to give you a little boost. Fill evenings with family and weekend outings with friends. Schedule date nights and dine at favored restaurants. Dine with friends, and plan things to look forward to like a family movie or game night. Kick off Fridays after work with a new signature cocktail. Start a new series such as “The Diplomat” or “Landman,” or an older one like “Lincoln Lawyer” or “Suits.” So many fun and interesting cooking competition shows are available. Possibly one of these can spark or renew an interest or just serve as a diversion to enjoy alone or in the company of others.

Prioritize Sleep

Normalize good patterns and habits of sleep. Adhere to reliable times to wake up and go to bed each day. Just as little ones have a soothing nighttime routine and preparations, those same concepts can help adults. Bathing or showering, reading, listening to music, meditation — even watching a favorite comedy or show can help lull a person to calm, peaceful sleep.

Take a Trip

If possible, take winter vacations in sunny, warm locations. The warmth and time spent in light can restore relaxed and calm feelings, bringing reminders of warmer spring and summer seasons to come. Even a weekend trip to a nearby city offers a change of scenery and pace that can be beneficial and enjoyable.

Sensory Therapy

Designing serene personal surroundings provides sensory therapy that can add warmth and comfort to our homes. Consider what can be enjoyed through the senses. Create an environment of comfort with plush pillows, bedding, throws and blankets. Allow seasonal scents to fill the air and linger as candlelight dances in the room. Play calming classical music, tunes you love or anything lyrical to enhance the mood. Simmering pots of savory soups and delicious dishes baked or created on the stovetop nourish our bodies and souls. Calming colors or a seasonal pallet provides a backdrop to these sensory comforts.

Gratitude

Last, but certainly not least, begin a gratitude journal — even if only noting one key thing each day that creates thanksgiving. As we reflect on our blessings, our eyes are opened to the many aspects in our lives worth celebrating. Soon a feeling of thankfulness will walk with us through our days.

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” — Melody Beattie

Giving My Columns a Second Literary Life

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 21:02:15 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Bonnie Bing

It’s never too late to learn something new. I have learned what it takes to write a book.

For years people have suggested I put a bunch of my columns in a book. Many would add that “it would be easy because you’ve already written it.” Wrong.

If I’m truthful, I would never have finished “Wait … Now What?” if it hadn’t been for my dear friend Lisa Corbin who is one determined woman.

She didn’t suggest putting it together; it was more of a demand. Full disclosure, we had a blast even though we got the OK from Blue Cedar Press in June and gave them the manuscript at the end of August. We spent many hours with Lisa’s desk (a card table) shoved against mine in my home office.

Columnist and author Bonnie Bing

Digging through columns I wrote from 1980 on, for more than 30 years for The Wichita Eagle was truly a trip down memory lane. As we went through hard copies, some very yellow with time, we put them in yes, no, and maybe piles. When Lisa said, “Wow, we have enough for another book,” my response was “Don’t make me come over there and hurt you.” Then we laughed.

The columns I remembered getting the highest responses from readers are the ones we included first. It made me so happy when someone called or emailed me saying they cut out a column and sent it to someone or taped it on their refrigerator door.

And I really loved it when someone said my column made them laugh out loud. One woman wrote, “Oh thanks, Bonnie, I read your swimsuit column and laughed, spewing coffee all over everything on our kitchen table.”

‘When I would hear something on TV or radio, or read something that made me pause and think, “wait, now what?” I would instantly wonder if it should be the subject of a column.’ — Bonnie Bing

Years ago when I asked Eagle columnist Bob Getz how in the world he could come up with four columns a week, he told me he just looked at life, people and things going on. As I read his book, “A Book of Bob Getz,” I was still amazed.

Several people have asked about the title “Wait … Now What?” When I would hear something on TV or radio, or read something that made me pause and think, “wait, now what?” I would instantly wonder if it should be the subject of a column. I say it out loud frequently and it’s used in several of my columns in the book.

Also, when I would get excited telling an editor about a great story idea, sometimes with flailing arms and using my outside voice, I would finally ask what they thought. The response, many times, was “wait, now what?”

It was fun to ask some very smart, talented people to write blurbs and for my dear friend Denise Neil to write the foreword to the book. Thanks to all of Lisa’s help and guidance from the very patient people at Blue Cedar Press, the book has been nothing but a good experience. And the bonus of seeing friends and meeting new friends in the city I dearly love.

Look for me on various street corners selling — I have boxes and boxes of books to get rid of! OK, I’m kidding. I hope.

But the $25 book is available at Blue Cedar Press, Watermark Books and Amazon. And thanks to Beth Golay, the audio book will be coming out soon.

Bonnie Bing was a staff writer, columnist and fashion editor for more than 30 years at The Wichita Eagle. She now does freelance writing for the Eagle and is a contributor for several local papers and magazines.

“Wait … Now What?”

By Bonnie Bing

Blue Cedar Press

240 pages, $25

Illustrations by Richard Crowson

Now available at Blue Cedar Press, Watermark Books and Amazon

Reach Bonnie at bingbylines@gmail.com

Our Cover, Your Kid

Tue, 02 Dec 2025 20:48:04 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Paige Feikert

Winner: Kemper Grace Mills

Looks can be deceiving when it comes to 18-month-old Kemper Grace Mills.

“Looks-wise she gives you ‘oh she’s so cute,’ but she’s tough and fearless,” said Courtney Mills, Kemper Grace’s mother. “She’s just as tough as her 3-year-old brother.”

While the toddler is surrounded in Wichita by mostly boys — her older brother, Quentin, her seven uncles in their mid- to late-twenties, and many of the neighbor kids — Kemper Grace fits right in. She is fearless — hopping onto scooters and riding through the cul-de-sac and rough-housing with her uncles — her mother says Kemper Grace might just follow in her footsteps as a tomboy.

“I grew up really as a tomboy, a sporty girl, and I played soccer in college, and I was never into the cutesy girl stuff, but it is so fun, it really draws you in, but [Kemper Grace] couldn’t care less,” Mills said. “The funny thing is that, out of the bunch, she’s the one that looks really sweet, but she is tough as nails.”

But Kemper Grace is also an animal lover, or rather, a lover of all soft, fluffy, cute things. Her love started with stuffed animals and has since grown to all animals. When she visits the zoo, she is looking for one thing — baby animals. She loves them so much that Kemper Grace prays for baby elephants from the zoo every night before bed.

“She’s really into babies, and the zoo got four baby elephants and they have a baby monkey and a baby buffalo,” Mills said. “She’ll look at a really fuzzy animal that you shouldn’t pet, like a snow leopard, and she’ll say ‘I pet, I pet.’ ”

In fact, one of Kemper Grace’s most beloved possessions is her Jellycat bunny. She loves this particular stuffed bunny so much that the Mills’ house now has five Jellycat bunnies. Kemper Grace also loves her maternal grandparents’ dog, Bear, who she follows around everywhere he goes, laying on him and petting him and ultimately bringing dog hair with her when she goes back home.

Kemper Grace loves spending time with family — her Mimi and Papa on her mom’s side and her Chewy and Baka on her dad’s side — the names stemming from the Croatian word for grandmother, “baka,” and the complementary name, “Chewy,” as a nod to the Star Wars character, Chewbacca.

Kemper Grace’s dad, Jacob, is one of four boys. After the Mills found out their first child was a boy, the family became superstitious, but Kemper Grace put an end to the long line of boys in the Mills family.

“We had this myth going around like we could only have boys, and when we found out what we were having with our second child, we fooled everyone and said it was a boy,” Mills said. “When we finally told them we were having a girl, they were so surprised.”

Kemper Grace adds the perfect mix to the Mills family — tough, sassy and sweet. Her brother, Quentin, regularly dotes on her. The two will switch from the usual sibling bickering to Quentin loving on Kemper Grace in an instant.

“He says dozens of times a day, ‘I love you, I love you, Kemper Grace,’ and five seconds later they’re fighting, but he loves on her a lot,” Mills said. “They are truly friends and enemies all at the same time, but it’s cute, they have each other and they love each other, and it’s so sweet.”

First Runner-Up: Jewel Cole

It’s hard not to smile and laugh when three-year-old Jewel Cole is around.

“He’s popular when he comes in the classroom — he turns the classroom up, he turns the whole school up, really,” said Terrell Cole, Jewel’s father. “He gets the cool kid awards all the time at school.”

Bringing joy to others is exactly what Jewel likes doing, whether it’s ensuring all of his soccer and basketball teammates are included or greeting a stranger at the grocery store — Jewel is happy when he’s making other people happy.

“Jewel is very charismatic. He’s very kind; he enjoys making people laugh,” said his mother, Raneisha Hunter.

Jewel also brings comfort and care to the people in his life — his parents, his three older sisters, his three dogs, classmates, teammates in his three favorite sports — soccer, basketball and football — and of course so many others who are lucky to meet Jewel.

“He’s the one who asks, ‘Are you doing okay? Are you crying? Do you need a hug?’ He’s very attentive to his own emotional needs and just aware of everyone around him,” Hunter said.

Jewel has spent time in and out of the hospital and continues to cope with asthma, but it doesn’t slow him down. Jewel continues to participate in activities and is growing tremendously in his education. He’s a constant reminder to his parents that anything is possible.

“Jewel has really allowed me personally to remember to dream.” Hunter said. “I see how brave he is and courageous and how nice he is to other people, and it’s taught me how to dream again and step back out there.”

Finalists!

Fiorella Herrera-Perez

Age: 1

Parents: Miguel and Ashleigh Herrera-Perez

Favorite Snack: Shredded cheese

Favorite Hobby: Playing with her toy cows and “Moooo,” and she loves her books

Favorite Show: “Ms. Rachel” and “Plim Plim” (one is English and the other is Spanish — she is learning both languages)

Favorite Song: “Itsy Bitsy Spider”

Favorite Family Activity: Snuggling

Fun Facts: “Fiorella is so incredibly smart, she can say words in both Spanish and English, and she knows how to communicate a couple of things in sign language as well. She is the sweetest girl and loves to snuggle, but she has just the right amount of sass to keep us laughing. Fiorella was a NICU baby, her favorite animal is a cow and she thinks it’s so funny to be tickled.”

Iverson Williams

Age: 3

Parents: Addison Buck and Reggie Williams

Favorite Foods: Chicken, fries and barbeque

Favorite Hobby: Playing football, basketball and T-ball

Favorite Song: Lil Regg “Motto Mix” — he loves watching his dad on YouTube

Favorite Family Activity: Racing his cars on one of his racetracks and driving his convertible red Corvette

Fun Facts: “Iverson is a collector through and through. His ever-growing fleet of Matchbox cars and his lineup of football and basketball sculptures would impress even the most seasoned enthusiasts. Iverson can name every player, recall their teams and rattle off the name and model of each car with the confidence of a mini sports analyst and auto expert combined. Off-field (and off-shelf), Iverson channels his favorite professional athletes by mimicking their iconic touchdown dances. Whether it’s during dinner or in the middle of a crowded store, he never misses a chance to delight an audience.”

Nellie Bastian

Age: 2.5

Parents: Bethany and E.J. Bastian

Favorite Foods: Applesauce, fruit snacks and steak

Favorite Hobbies: Riding her bike and gymnastics

Favorite Movie: “It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”

Favorite Songs: “Baby Shark” and “Doxology”

Favorite Family Activity: Going to the zoo, going to church and eating dinner

Fun Facts: “Nellie is fearless, outgoing and easy-going. She loves her people, especially her little brother.”

Twists on Treasured Classics

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:14:55 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Autumn Spices and Sauces Elevate Seasonal Favorites

Written by Julie Hying

The fall flourishes of gathering and giving thanks make the month of November special. Thanksgiving and Friendsgiving get-togethers are unforgettable with these twists on treasured classics.

Rosemary Apple Cider Chicken

6 bone-in chicken thighs

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. smoked paprika

1 tsp. fresh thyme, chopped

2 Tbsp. fresh rosemary, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

1 red onion, sliced

1–2 Honeycrisp apples, sliced

Additional 2–3 rosemary sprigs

Olive oil

For the Sauce

4 Tbsp. salted butter

¾ cup apple cider

½ cup chicken broth or white wine

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

3 cloves garlic, minced

Preheat the oven to 425ºF. In a large bowl season the chicken thighs with garlic powder, smoked paprika, fresh thyme, chopped rosemary, salt and pepper. Drizzle olive oil into a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the chicken thighs and sear on both sides until golden brown, about 3–4 minutes per side. Note: If you prefer boneless thighs, reduce cooking time.

Remove the skillet from the heat. Scatter the sliced red onions and apples around the chicken in the pan and garnish with a few more rosemary sprigs. Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 20–25 minutes, until the chicken is thoroughly cooked (internal temperature reaches 165ºF).

To make the pan sauce, remove the cooked chicken and apples from the pan and set them aside. Place the skillet on the stove over medium-low heat. Add the butter, apple cider, chicken broth (or wine), Dijon mustard and diced garlic. Whisk the sauce together and let it cook until it begins to thicken. Remove from the heat. Add the chicken and apples back to the pan and spoon the sauce over them. Serve immediately.

Honey and Maple Dijon Roasted Vegetables

1 lb. bag of carrots, chopped

3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped

6 cloves garlic

¼ cup olive oil

3 Tbsp. real maple syrup

3 Tbsp. honey

4 Tbsp. stone-ground Dijon mustard

1 tsp. thyme

½ tsp. salt

½ tsp. black pepper

Chop carrots into bites of ½–¾ inches. Peel sweet potatoes and chop into pieces the same size as the carrots. Peel and finely chop or mince the garlic. In a large bowl whisk together the olive oil, maple syrup, honey, mustard, thyme, salt and black pepper. Add chopped carrots, sweet potatoes and garlic. Toss the mixture to coat thoroughly. Roast the carrot mixture at 425ºF for 15 minutes or until the sides touching the pan begin to brown. Flip the mixture over to brown the other side. Continue cooking for another 15 minutes, or until the carrots are tender when pierced with a fork and the glaze is slightly caramelized. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 4–5 minutes. Transfer to a large serving platter. Note: a cooked protein like turkey or chicken could be tossed with this dish right before serving.

Snicker Apple Salad

6 Honeycrisp apples

1 large pkg. vanilla instant pudding

3–4 Snickers bars

⅔ cup cocktail peanuts (optional)

Smucker’s caramel (squeeze bottle for drizzling)

1½–2 tubs of Cool Whip (extra creamy)

Chop Snickers into small pieces and set aside. Open the pudding package and keep it close. On a cutting board, chop two of the apples and place them in a large mixing bowl. Immediately sprinkle ⅓ of the pudding packet over the apples and stir. Repeat this process two more times until all of the apples are in the bowl and coated with the pudding powder. Give the apples and pudding mix a good stir (this helps begin the pudding incorporation). Next, stir in the Cool Whip until all the apples are well coated. Drizzle with caramel and stir again. Then add in the Snickers (and peanuts if you are using them). Stir until all ingredients are incorporated. Transfer to a serving bowl, and drizzle the top with caramel. Cover and refrigerate for two hours before serving.

Pecan Pie Shortbread Bars

Crust Layer

5 sticks unsalted butter

¾ cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

¾ teaspoon good vanilla

4 ½ cups flour

½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

For the Topping

4 sticks butter

1 cup honey

3 cups light brown sugar, packed

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

1 tsp. grated orange zest

¼ cup heavy cream

2 lbs. chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. To make the crust, beat the butter and granulated sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment until light, approximately 3 minutes. Add the eggs and the vanilla and mix well.

In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix the dry ingredients into the batter with the mixer on low speed until just combined. Press the dough evenly into an ungreased 18 x 12 x 1-inch baking sheet, making an edge around the outside. (Note: The crust dough will be very sticky. To make it easier to work with, dust your hands and the dough with some flour as you work.) Bake for 15 minutes, until the crust is set but not browned. Allow to cool.

For the filling, combine the butter, honey, brown sugar, and zests in a large, heavy-bottomed saucepan. Cook over low heat until the butter is melted, using a wooden spoon to stir. Raise the heat and boil for 3 minutes. Remove from the heat. Stir in the heavy cream and pecans. Pour the filling over the crust, trying not to get the filling between the crust and the pan. Bake for 25–30 minutes, until the filling is set. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate until cold. Cut into bars and serve.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

12 graham crackers

5 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 Tbsp. granulated sugar

16 oz. Philadelphia cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1 (15-oz.) can pure pumpkin puree

2 tsp. vanilla

1 Tbsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice

1 cup heavy whipping cream

Crush graham crackers using a rolling pin and plastic bag or food processor. Mix the crumbs with white sugar and melted butter until well combined. In a greased 9-inch cake or springform pan, press the crust mixture into the bottom, and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Note: You can also bake for 10 minutes at 300ºF).

In a large bowl beat cream cheese, white sugar and brown sugar until smooth and fluffy. Add pumpkin puree, vanilla extract, cinnamon and nutmeg (or pumpkin pie spice.) Mix until fully incorporated. In a separate chilled bowl, whip heavy cream until stiff peaks form. Gently fold whipped cream into the pumpkin cheesecake mixture.Spread the mixture evenly over the chilled crust. Refrigerate for 2–3 hours or until fully set. Overnight chilling is optimal. Optional: Top with additional whipped cream before serving.

The Nailbiters Turn up the Beat

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 21:14:47 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Heating Up ICT With Classic Rock

Written by Paige Feikert

From the halls of Derby High School to the crowds of Riverfest, self-taught Derby band The Nailbiters is making a splash in the Wichita music scene. Members Blayne Albright (rhythm guitar and vocals) Landon Francis (drums) Karter Holinde (bass guitar and vocals) Ellis May (lead guitar and vocals) and Johnny Pernice (keys and guitar) have skillfully crafted a blend that is as undeniably electric as some of the greats that they cover.

What makes their band bond so unique is that it was discovered by chance, during a senior project in their high school music class. During this project, they found they had a synergistic blend that was hard to deny. During their cover of Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues,” the band realized their blend of natural talent and chemistry could be something truly special. Thus, the Nailbiters was born.

Johnny, Ellis, Landon, Blayne and Karter

Though each had been involved in music in their own way, it had never occurred to them to start a band, and so the creation of this group was a surprise to all of them. After this performance, this group of friends was determined to begin pursuing their music on a professional basis. They spent the next two years practicing twice a week in various members’ basements, honing their skills, perfecting their blend, and solidifying their bond as a premier and professional band.

Tight Vocal Blends

Their appealing sound and tight vocal blend is due in large part to individual musical influences for each member. According to their band bio, each member has very specific musical tastes and influences: Blayne prefers classic rock, Landon has a jazzy background with a fascination for classic rock, Karter grew up with exposure to ’50s and ’60s rock and ’90s pop, Ellis has an early love for classic rock that inspired his love of performing, and Johnny has undergone a deep transition from hip-hop to rock. With each member’s diverse background, they come together to create a solid ’70s and ’80s classic rock sound, with a little bit of ’90s flare. The Nailbiters draw inspiration from the likes of Van Halen, The Eagles, Queen and much more.

With member mother Charissima Albright managing, these talented young gentlemen are determined to succeed the right way. Amidst their pursuit of music, each member is enrolled in college classes or working a part-time job, aware that their commitment is to their community as much as it is to each other to succeed in a positive way. In between gigs at events such as the Trowbridge Memorial, Wichita Riverfest (even winning Battle of the Bands in 2024), and various private and public events, the tight-knit group loves to unwind together at some of their favorite Derby spots such as Pizza John’s, Buffalo Wild Wings or Braum’s Ice Cream.

While The Nailbiters electrify Wichita as one the area’s most promising musical groups, their aspirations continue to grow. With endless performance requests, including an invitation from America’s Got Talent, the band shows only one direction in which to move: up.

The Nailbiters Live

To see clips of The Nailbiters live performances, be sure to visit their social media pages:

Facebook: the.nailbiters

Instagram: the.nailbiters

TikTok: @thenailbitersmusic

YouTube: @TheNailbiters

For booking, contact manager Charissima Albright at 316.304.2376 or nailbitersmusic@gmail.com.

Top photograph by Maria Bradley

Remembering Bucky Walters

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:37:32 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Paige Feikert

Every person who walks the earth leaves an indelible mark as they pass. Passion and hobbies, talents and interests, all steer the course of our lives. Some of those are freely shared and enrich the lives of others. This is true for Ronald “Bucky” Walters and is felt in countless connections throughout our community.

Wichita icon and comedy legend Bucky Walters entertained Kansans for many decades during his lifetime. Walters was born in the spring of 1939 and passed away on September 10 of this year. He dedicated his life to bringing laughter and joy to all who encountered him. Known for his charming personality, he exhibited enthusiasm and love for Wichita and all who call our city home. As a student of Wichita State University, his love for The Shockers was ever-present and lifelong.

‘He was always performing.’

Walter’s career choices varied greatly, from the vibrance of beauty salons to the stage where he felt joyful entertaining others and encouraging their laughter. Working at various salons kept him close to others who always shared that time with him. He brought flair and his own sense of fun wherever he went.

Walters featured with photo of The Premiers

In addition to acting and entertaining on stage, Walters was also a talented musician. “Music was a profound part of his life, allowing him to connect with many throughout his journey. As the lead singer for the Premiers, he had the privilege of opening for the legendary acts such as Johnny Cash,” shared Carl Withers, a close friend of Walters.

With a quick wit and a natural bent toward comedy, Walters made it his life mission to bring laughter and smiles to his audiences, colleagues, family and friends. Several folks who knew him well throughout the years said things like “He was always performing,” and “Just to look at him made me laugh because I knew his next words were going to be funny.”

Since he often performed on stage and on talk-radio, Bucky was a popular Wichita personality and was widely recognized and often honored when he frequented local restaurants and other establishments.

‘Just to look at him made me laugh because I knew his next words were going to be funny.’

Known for his comedic timing and unique delivery, Bucky Walters demonstrated that, with some perspective, much of life, its problems and complaints, proved hilarious. He performed at the 2010 Gridiron at the Wichita Orpheum Theatre, his persona on full tilt in “What’s Wrong?” Walters’ skit which he wrote and performed in each year was a staple of the show where actors would call in to pretend to be well-known people and air their grievances. His responses were biting, thought provoking yet always hilarious.

Walters performing “What’s Wrong?” at the Orpheum Theatre

Walters is missed by many patrons of the arts in the community. His involvement with and devotion to the city ran deep. Though he has left this world, Walters’ spirit will live on in the stories of his life and comedy, memories of hearty laughter and love of life that he shared with everyone he encountered.

Bucky is survived by his brother Richard Walters and his nephew Miles Walters. In the hearts of his family and friends, he will be remembered for the joy he shared and the warmth he brought with him everywhere.

Jet Fuel in Their Veins

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:28:50 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

The Early Aircraft Entrepreneurs Who Shaped Wichita

Written by Paige Feikert

Like most people who were born and raised in Wichita, aviation was always a part of Jeff Turner’s life — even when it wasn’t obvious.

“When you grow up here, you have no idea the impact aviation or industry in general has on our community,” said Turner, former general manager of Boeing Wichita and eventual CEO of Spirit AeroSystems until his retirement in 2013. “You don’t realize the good jobs people have had for years is what drives the vitality of your community.”

Jeff Turner’s Story

Turner graduated from North High School at a time when Boeing was laying off tens of thousands of workers nationwide, cutting their workforce in Wichita to just around four thousand. According to a New York Times article from June 1971, the unemployment rate in Wichita grew from 4.3 percent in January 1970 to more than 10 percent in June 1971. As a student at Wichita State University studying mathematics with an emphasis in computer science, Turner was hoping to work anywhere but Boeing. But upon graduation, Boeing was the top job offer, the only job offer as Turner explained, and he was hired as a part time computer programmer.

“I swore I would never work for Boeing, because I had seen the pain from all of the layoffs that had occurred, but when I graduated it was the only job offer I got, so I changed my mind and ended up working for Boeing,” Turner said. “I came to learn about the tremendous depth of knowledge and capabilities of people, and what a great product Boeing made that was necessary for our economy and for humanity.”

Turner went on to work for Boeing for more than 30 years and led Spirit from its inception in 2005 until he retired in 2013. Through his time in the aviation industry, Turner realized just how significant aerospace is to Wichita, and how important Wichita is to the global aviation industry.

“We live with incredible blessings every day and just don’t realize it,” Turner said. “We go ‘Oh there’s Plant Two, that’s where we build fuselages,’ we don’t go ‘Wow, that’s where B-29s were built, this is where thousands of people have worked and it has built our community.’ ”

Turner is referring to Plant Two on Spirit’s main campus in south Wichita — a facility that was built to manufacture B-29s during WWII and is now home to the manufacturing lines that build the Boeing 737 fuselage — something that has called Wichita home for more than 50 years.

B-29 Doc Superfortress built in Boeing Wichita’s Plant 2 in 1944 and restored by the Wichita nonprofit organization Doc’s Friends

ICT Shapes Early Aviation History

But Wichita’s ties to the aviation industry date back much further, more than a century ago, when Clyde Cessna established the first airplane manufacturing facility in Wichita, building The Comet just one year later in 1917. The Comet had a single set of wings, known as a monoplane, and featured a semi-enclosed cockpit. The aircraft set records for airspeed and distance.

By 1925, Travel Air was formed when Cessna teamed up with Walter Beech and Lloyd Stearman, who both started their aviation careers at Laird Swallow Airplane Company — Beech was first hired as a test pilot and Stearman as a mechanic. The three men eventually separated to form their own businesses, but remained connected — a life-changing connection, particularly for Beech, who met his wife and eventual business partner, Olive Ann, through Cessna.

“Clyde Cessna hired her and that’s how Walter and Olive Ann met,” said Jennifer Pitt, granddaughter of Walter and Olive Ann Beech. “Walter was the barnstormer, and Olive Ann was about refinement and class.”

In the late 1920s, the aeronautical engineering department was established at Wichita State University to support the growth of the industry locally. It is now known as one of the oldest aerospace engineering departments in the country.

Through the 1930s, Cessna Aircraft Company and Beech Aircraft Company manufactured well-known aircraft, such as the Cessna C-34, called the Airmaster and considered the world’s most efficient airplane. The Beechcraft 17 Staggerwing made its first flight in 1932 — a biplane with staggered wings known for luxury and high speed.

‘The [Beechcraft] Staggerwing was iconic, it’s like the Model T of airplanes.’ — Jennifer Pitt

By the 1940s, Wichita became a hub for military aircraft. Beech produced several aircraft, including the Beechcraft Model 18, known as the C-45 Expeditor used for military training and Cessna built T-50 Bobcats and the Bamboo Bomber, among others.

By then, the Boeing Company had taken over the Stearman Corporation, and Wichita operations were focused on building the B-29 Superfortress — a four-engine propeller-driven bomber, and the same model of military aircraft that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki to end the second World War.

“We don’t realize how personal it is,” said Turner, who is also the Chairman of Doc’s Friends — an organization responsible for the restoration of the B-29, ‘Doc.’ “If you go back in your personal history and ask yourself, ‘What would happen if there had not been a B-29?’ If the war would have persisted, where would you be today? It’s fascinating.”

By the end of WWII, Boeing Wichita was producing 4.2 Superfortresses each day, ultimately making 1,644 of the 3,888 B-29s built.

The Aircraft Industry Shapes ICT

The military aircraft production completely changed the city. Neighborhoods like Planeview, Hilltop Manor and Beechwood were created to accommodate the thousands of workers moving to the city. Rosie the Riveters stepped in to fill the labor gap, and buses ran routes to help workers commute to Boeing from neighboring suburbs — the first facility of its kind to do so in the United States.

Despite post-war layoffs at Wichita’s aviation companies, the industry continued to thrive and Wichita continued to cement itself in the aviation landscape. In the early 1950s, the United States Air Force established a base in Wichita as a training center for B-47 Stratojet crews, another aircraft manufactured at the then Boeing-Wichita site. In the mid-1960s, Bill Lear built and marketed the Learjet 23 — known for popularizing the business jet industry. Later, in 1985, the National Institute for Aviation Research (NIAR) was established at WSU, now known as the largest aviation research center in the country. In the 2000s, WSU Tech opened the National Center for Aviation Training, a facility used for teaching students aviation manufacturing and composites technology skills.

While the industry has changed throughout the years, one thing has remained the same: a major piece of Wichita’s identity is rooted in aviation, and a major piece of aviation history is rooted in Wichita. As time passes, and the industry continues to fluctuate, and signs on buildings change, Wichita residents must remember that flight as it is known today wouldn’t exist without the Air Capital of the World.

“We have a deep sense of responsibility, because we stand on the shoulders of men and women who gave their lives literally and in the industry to build our community,” Turner said. “It’s something that our community should be very proud of, but also, it didn’t just happen from nothing, it has to be maintained.”

To learn more about aviation history in Wichita, check out the Kansas Aviation Museum and the B-29 Doc Hangar located at Eisenhower National Airport. “I’ve been following Erwin for a quarter century or more because we’re inspired by him, by what he did,” said Greg Zuercher, a board member for the Bleckley Foundation. “It always has, it always will inspire us.”

The Bleckley Foundation was established to share the memory of Lt. Bleckley and his heroic actions during WWI. The group is behind the DH-4 restoration effort, which will include Lt. Bleckley’s 50th Aero Squadron “Dutch Girl” insignia and the tail number 6 — replicating the DH-4 from Lt. Bleckley’s fateful final flight.

Celebrating National Aviation History Month

Honoring a Hometown Hero

Tue, 04 Nov 2025 20:00:36 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Volunteers Rebuilding Classic WW1 Biplane

Written by Paige Feikert

It’s Monday morning and an unassuming garage in Old Town is buzzing with veterans, retired aerospace workers and aviation enthusiasts. Inside, the scent of spruce and coffee fills the air, while volunteers are sanding and assembling, following drawings over 100 years old to rebuild a DH-4 military airplane.

The aircraft is one of only four remaining DH-4 airplanes in the world, and the only American-built DH-4 known to be airworthy and FAA-certified, complete with the original Liberty engine. At the center of the restoration effort is 2nd Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley (1894–1918), an American hero who sacrificed his life during World War I and the only aviation Medal of Honor recipient from Wichita.

“Every Monday morning and every Thursday morning this incredible group of veterans and retired aircraft workers and engineers meet at the Bleckley Hangar, and they just get to work,” said Jonathan Marr with the Bleckley Foundation. “They’re using meticulous care to put this back together in a way that honors its original manufacturing techniques, so that it looks like the exact plane that Erwin Bleckley flew in.”

The First Aerial Resupply Mission

Lt. Bleckley grew up in Wichita near St. Francis and Elm, just north of where the Nifty Nut House stands today. He enlisted as a private in the Kansas National Guard in 1917, and eventually trained as an aerial observer, joining the 50th Aero Squadron in France in August 1918. In October that year, Lt. Bleckley and pilot Lt. Harold Goettler flew a DH-4 biplane with tail number 2 over the Argonne Forest in France in a re-supply mission for the Lost Battalion — hundreds of American troops surrounded by German forces and running out of supplies quickly. As an aerial observer, Lt. Bleckley’s role was to map enemy positions, but the dense fog and rain made visibility nearly impossible.

After taking enemy fire, the crew returned to the airfield with holes blasted through the wooden airframe and doped fabric that covered the fuselage and wings of the DH-4. But Lt. Bleckley and Lt. Goettler were determined to see the mission through — locating the Lost Battalion and re-supplying them with critical supplies. With squadron commander Capt. Daniel P. Morse’s warning that a second pass would be more difficult and hazardous, Lt. Bleckley quickly jotted down his will and boarded a borrowed DH-4 with the tail number 6. Just before taking off a second time again, with Lt. Goettler piloting the plane, Lt. Bleckley was said to tell Capt. Morse “We’ll make the delivery or die in the attempt.”

Lt. Goettler and Lt. Bleckley set off with a renewed effort to locate and resupply the Lost Battalion, this time flying even lower, just above the treetops. As the duo drew fire from German troops, Lt. Bleckley marked a map of where enemy troops were located. The DH-4 and the crew were riddled with gunfire, and the plane ultimately crashed behind allied lines. Both Lt. Goettler and Lt. Bleckley died in the mission, and both were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor — two of the four aviation Medals of Honor awarded during WWI. The Lost Battalion was eventually rescued when German troops retreated the day after Lt. Bleckley’s fateful mission due to the success of American units threatening to outflank the Germans. Lt. Bleckley’s mission is documented as the first mission where aerial resupply was attempted.

’We’ll make the delivery or die in the attempt.’ — 2nd Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley

“I’ve been following Erwin for a quarter century or more because we’re inspired by him, by what he did,” said Greg Zuercher, a board member for the Bleckley Foundation. “It always has, it always will inspire us.”

Wright Brothers Connection

The DH-4 under construction includes the original controls and instruments and the original 1918 manufacturing data plate with Lt. Bleckley’s aircraft serial number 32517. The aircraft will be restored to flight status. During WWI, Dayton-Wright, the company that manufactured the DH-4 in America, built roughly 3,000 DH-4 airplanes, with Orville Wright serving as a consultant on the project.

“The Wright Brothers name is on the shop drawing that [volunteers are] using to rebuild this plane, so the Wright Brothers had a direct connection to this plane, which essentially ties the Air Capital of the World to the Wright Brothers through Bleckley,” Marr said.

The goal behind the restoration is to eventually erect a memorial for Lt. Bleckley in Eisenhower Airport — complete with the restored DH-4, a bronze statue of Lt. Bleckley, a copy of his Congressional Medal of Honor and a signed letter of condolence from General John J. Pershing to Lt. Bleckley’s parents.

“The Medal of Honor is the highest award given by our nation and I think every city has its heroes, and we need to look at what those heroes are doing and try to emulate that as much as possible in our own way,” Marr said.

Bringing History to Life in Bleckley Hangar

For now, volunteers continue to carry a small piece of Lt. Bleckley’s legacy, working bit by bit to restore the DH-4 in his honor.

“They’re all patriotic, they’re volunteering, nobody’s getting paid to do this project, and there’s a passion for it,” said Doug Jacobs, a retired Army lieutenant colonel and Bleckley Foundation board member. “You can see when they come down to work that they come in excited about doing something on this project.”

The Bleckley Hangar is open to the public and free to visit on the second Saturday of every month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 359 N. Mosley Ave. Marr describes the experience of visiting the hangar as a step back into time.

“Every time I go into that hangar and I can put my hands on one of the wings and its wood from 118 years ago that the Wright Brothers had a hand in designing, there’s just a feeling that you can’t describe,” Marr said. “It’s a feeling that connects you to a time you never lived, but it’s a story that you understand.”

Make donations and officially show your support for the memorial on the Bleckley Foundation’s website, bleckleyfoundation.org. If you would like to partner with the Bleckley Foundation or provide additional support, contact info@bleckleyfoundation.org.

2nd Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley (1894–1918)

Giving Every Dog Its Day

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 23:27:16 GMT

Living With ARFID: Rachel Conrad’s Journey to Answers

Spotlight on Local Animal Shelters and Rescue Groups

Written by Paige Feikert

Colson has lived with a foster family for more than nine months under the care of Wichita Animal Action League (WAAL). He’s a six-year-old Alaskan husky and shepherd mix with a handful of health-related challenges, looking for a place that he can permanently call home.

“He’s such a sweet dog,” said Christy Fischer, executive director of WAAL.

Whether it’s his age or his arthritis, hip dysplasia and special diet, Colson has had a hard time finding a home and has spent more than 280 days with his foster. However, Colson seems like the perfect pet — a lover of walks, fetch, afternoon naps and belly rubs — and a good fit for a home with kids, cats or other dogs. Plus, at six years old, Colson is only at middle age, as Alaskan huskies live 10 to 15 years on average according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). But Colson falls into a category of less adoptable pets due to his age and ailments.

“People fall in love with the idea of getting a puppy. They get this idea that ‘I can grow old with it and my kids can grow old with it,’ but I think people forget how traumatic puppies can be,” Fischer said. “Especially for people who are working, people who are not home all day, an older dog is definitely the way to go.”

Pet Overpopulation Crisis

Colson is one of dozens of dogs up for adoption in the Wichita area. Between WAAL, the Kansas Humane Society (KHS), Beauties and Beasts, and Lifeline Animal Placement & Protection (LAPP) more than 230 dogs are available for adoption right now in Wichita. It’s part of a national pet overpopulation crisis — a fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic.

“A recent study came out that said that if pre-Covid spay and neuter numbers resume, which has not happened, it will be 14 and a half years until that population gets back to what it was before Covid,” Fischer said. “The overpopulation right now is the number one thing killing pets.”

Adopt a Shelter Dog Month

October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, a time dedicated to encouraging adoption through shelters and rescues, as opposed to buying a pet from a breeder or pet store. Local shelters and rescues need help from the community to continue supporting their mission of saving the lives of animals. But adopting a pet is not the only way you can participate — volunteering, fostering, donating and fundraising are all ways to support local shelters and rescues.

In light of the pet overpopulation crisis, pet owners can also support the message of Adopt a Shelter Dog Month by getting their pets spayed or neutered — a service that is made affordable through the Kansas Humane Society (KHS).

“Every animal that gets spayed or neutered helps decrease the surplus animal population; it’s really important right now,” said Jordan Bani-Younes, director of communications at the Kansas Humane Society. “We are dealing with too many pets right now, we don’t need more.”

Through their Pets for Life and Animal Care Collective programs, WAAL offers free spay and neuter services to the Planeview and Hilltop communities in Sedgwick County, among other services, including other veterinary services, microchipping, vaccinations, pet food and supplies, and more.

“Two thousand community pets will be spayed and neutered in the community this year,” Fischer said. “We are incredibly excited about that, because we believe that spay and neuter is the number one way to save lives.”

Animal Welfare, Human Welfare

The Pets for Life and Animal Care Collective programs are just two examples of how WAAL has grown beyond its original mission to rescue local animals — the organization is now focused on supporting the community as a whole, including pets and their humans through programs like their partnerships with local food banks and programs to provide veterinary services to low-income neighborhoods.

“I’m a firm believer that human welfare and animal welfare are very closely linked,” Fischer said. “How do you go into a neighborhood and give somebody a bag of dog food and look at their teenage child who hasn’t eaten in 24 hours? Those situations have encouraged us to branch out.”

Other programs at WAAL include the Safe Paws Alliance, a program where WAAL provides a safe home for animals whose owners are veterans who need inpatient care, and owners who are survivors of domestic abuse. Through this program, WAAL can also provide survivors’ pets with veterinary care and pet supplies like dog beds, kennels and more.

The Importance of Foster Families

WAAL does not have a physical shelter for pets — the organization employs a foster-based model, where pets live in foster homes before they are adopted. WAAL has more than 100 foster families supporting their mission to rescue local animals.

“We believe more in the foster model, because it really enables us to know the most about the animal, so it really helps us match up good fits with families, and it also helps us identify behavioral concerns,” Fischer said.

Though KHS does have a physical shelter, the organization also depends on foster families to support animals after surgery, enable socialization, help animals that might feel overwhelmed, and most importantly to expand their reach.

‘The overpopulation right now is the number one thing killing pets.’ — Christy Fischer, executive director, WAAL

“Fostering is super important for a variety of reasons, but the main one is it allows us to help more animals, and that’s what we’re here to do, to help as many animals as we possibly can to the best of our ability,” Bani-Younes said.

Volunteers and donations are also always needed, as both organizations rely heavily on community support. Through KHS, volunteers can do anything from walking dogs to sorting laundry to helping in their store. Volunteers can even sign up to take a dog out of the shelter for a day through the Dog’s Day Out program at KHS.

“It’s a great way to give your dog a break from the shelter, shelters can be stressful,” Bani-Younes said.

Volunteers can start as young as 9 years old with a parent or guardian, and 16 years old to volunteer alone. Local shelters and rescues also rely on donations, both monetary and in-kind. KHS will hold its annual Woofstock fundraiser on October 4 at Sedgwick County Park for its 29th year, with hopes of raising more than $200,000 for local pets.

This October, consider adopting a dog, volunteering, donating, fostering and advocating for local shelters and rescues — an act of love for animals and for the community.

“Any shelter animal is going to love you in a way that, if you haven’t had a shelter pet, it’s something you may have not experienced,” Bani-Younes said. “There is something special about adopting out of a shelter.”

Resources

You can find adoptable pets, volunteer opportunities and ways to donate on WAAL’s website at waalrescue.org , KHS’s website at kshumane.org , Beauties and Beasts’ website at beautiesandbeasts.org and LAPP’s website at lifelineanimalplacement.org .

Catch the Magic of Fall

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 22:47:34 GMT

Living With ARFID: Rachel Conrad’s Journey to Answers

Pick a Pumpkin, Attend a Festival, Take a Drive

Written by Julie Underwood Burton

Pack up the kids and your friends, and experience an array of these kid-friendly events that make October so fun in Wichita and our surrounding communities.

Pumpkin Patches, Corn Mazes and More

P & M PUMPKIN RANCH

311 16th Avenue, Moundridge

Admission: $16.99, free for kids 2 & under

Additional fees for pumpkins

Hours: Wednesday–Thursday, 4–7 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Saturday 10 a.m.–8 p.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

pandmpumpkinranch.com

KLAUSMEYER DAIRY FARM & PUMPKIN PATCH

8135 S. 1919th St. S., Clearwater

Admission:

Corn maze $7 or pumpkin patch $11 on weekends, $9 on weekdays

Corn maze and pumpkin patch:

$15 per person, weekends

$12 per person, weekdays

Free for kids 2 and under

Additional fees for pumpkins and paintballs

Hours: daily, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

Haunted activities on Saturdays, 7–10 p.m.

klausmeyerdairyfarms.com

MEADOWLARK FARM ORCHARD & CIDERY

11249 S.W. 160th St., Rose Hill

Admission: $3.50 per person, ages 10 and older

Produce, cider, snacks and pumpkins extra

Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

themeadowlarkfarm.com

APPLEJACK PUMPKIN PATCH

10007 S.W. Indianola Road, Augusta

Daily admission: $13 per person online, $14 at the gate

$7 military or 65+, free for kids 2 and under

Extra fees are charged for weekend premium add-ons

Hours: Tuesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

applejackpumpkinpatch.com

MARIETTA FARM

1600 E. US-54 Highway, Andover

Admission: Monday–Thursday, $10 per person, $8.50 with military ID

Friday–Sunday admission, $14 per person, $10 with military ID

Free for kids 2 and under

Play activities require coins purchased separately

Hours: Monday–Thursday, 10 a.m.–6 p.m.

Friday–Sunday, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.

mariettafarm.com

WALTER’S PUMPKIN PATCH

10001 N.W. U.S. Highway 77, Burns

Weekday admission: $20.95 at the gate, $16.95 online

Weekend admission: $25.95 at the gate, $20.95 online

Individual Season Pass: $50

Family Season Pass: $175

FREE for kids 2 and under

Additional fees for paintball, pumpkin artillery, mining and animal feedings

The Haunt at Walters is a spooky night wagon ride offered on Friday and Saturday nights from 8 p.m.–11 p.m.

Admission is $31.20 or $46.20 for the fast pass

thewaltersfarm.com

Kid-Friendly Fall Festivals

CLEARWATER FALL FESTIVAL

Friday, October 3–Sunday, October 5

Clearwater City Park, 600 Ross Avenue, Clearwater

Entertainment, live music, car show, magic show, mechanical bull, axe throwing contest, food and craft vendors, BBQ competition, chili cook-off, beer garden, cornhole tournament, talent show, scavenger hunt, bingo, fishing tournament

Hours: Friday 5–10 p.m.

Saturday 7 a.m.–10 p.m.; parade is at 10 a.m.

Sunday 11 a.m.–4 p.m.

Admission: Most activities are free.

Carnival tickets are $33 per wristband or $4 per individual tickets

Family packs of 10 are $35 or Super Saver Packs of 30 are $100.

clearwaterksfallfest.com

BOOTANICA

Fridays and Saturdays, October 10–11, 17–18, 24–25

Botanica, 701 Amidon St., Wichita

Spooky surprises, pumpkin carving, trick or treating, face painting, axe throwing, scarecrow decorating, pooch parade, games, food trucks plus bands, entertainment, shadow dancing and light shows

Hours:

Fridays 5–10 p.m. (evening entertainment at 7 p.m.)

Saturdays 2–10 p.m. (showdowns at 4 p.m., bands at 7 p.m.)

Admission: $16 adults, $14 members

$10 for ages 3–11, free for kids 2 and under

botanica.org

ICT BLOKTOBERFEST

Friday, October 10–Saturday, October 11

Naftzger Park, 601 E. Douglas, Wichita

Live music, food trucks, beer garden with over 100 local, regional and German beers, musical chairs, wiener dog races, vendor market, yard games, Dad Bod contest, beer tasting, kid & dog friendly.

Hours: Friday 4–10 p.m.

Saturday 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Grounds admission: free

Evening Beer Fest is from 6 to 9 p.m.

Tickets range from $60 to $100 and includes entry, glass or stein, drinks and food depending on ticket type.

ictbloktoberfest.com

NEW MARKET SQUARE FALL FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 11

New Market Square, 2441 N. Maize Road, Wichita

Real-life heroes, face painting, temporary tattoos, special character appearances by WuShock, Bluey and Paw Patrol favorites, plus hot dogs compliments of Wichita Wagonmasters (donations go to Wichita Police and Fire Foundation)

Admission: free

Hours: 1–3 p.m.

newmarketsquare.com

FAMILY JAM FEST

Saturday, October 11

Capitol Federal Amphitheater, Andover Central Park, 1607 E. Central, Andover

Mini music festival for families with young children with musical acts, clowns, entertainers, food trucks, vendors

Admission: $15 adults, $5 children

Free for kids 2 and under

$125 VIP tables

Hours: Doors open at 3 p.m.

capitolfedealamphitheater.com

GODDARD FALL FESTIVAL AND PARADE

Friday, October 10–Sunday, October 12

Means Park and downtown Goddard, 118 N. Main St, Goddard

Live music, entertainment, local vendors, carnival rides, festive foods, plus sand volleyball, pickleball and cornhole tournaments

Hours: Friday 6–10 p.m.

Saturday 12–10 p.m. (parade begins at 10 a.m.)

Sunday 1–4 p.m.

Admission: Most activities are free

Carnival tickets are $25–30 per wristband

Individual ride tickets are $4

Packs of 10 tickets are $35, packs of 30 tickets are $100

Tournaments require advance registration with paid individual or team fees.

goddardks.gov

HAYSVILLE FALL FESTIVAL, CAR SHOW AND PARADE

Friday, October 17–Sunday, October 19

Riggs Park, 700 Sarah Lane, Haysville

Live music, entertainment, petting zoo, arts and craft vendors, food court, car show, jump houses, carnival, BBQ contest and parade

Hours: Friday 5–10 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m. –10 p.m.

Saturday’s parade begins at Haysville West Middle School (1956 W. Grand), 9 a.m.

Sunday 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

Grounds admission: free

BBQ tasting, jump houses and carnival rides require tickets or wristbands which will be sold on-site.

hellohaysville.com/fall-fest-car-show

BEL AIRE FALL FESTIVAL

Saturday, October 18

Bel Aire recreation center, 5251 E. 48th St. N., Bel Aire

Pumpkin judging, costume contests, health screenings, face painting, car show awards, scavenger hunt

Wear your costumes!

Hours: 10 a.m.–2 p.m.

Admission: free

belaireks.gov

HALLOWEEN HULLABALOO & DERBY CHILI COOKOFF

Saturday, October 18

Madison Avenue Park, 912 N. Beau Jardin Drive, Derby

Trick-or-treating, spooky music, games, bounce houses, chili contest

Wear your costumes!

Hours: 11 a.m.–2 p.m.

Admission: FREE; tasting kits are $5

derbyks.gov

HAY, HOOVES AND HALLOWEEN

Saturday, October 18–Sunday, October 19

Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 W. Museum Blvd., Wichita

Trick or treating in the streets with ghouls and ghosts, music and dancing, candy

Hours: 2–8 p.m.

Admission: $7 ($2 for Cowtown members)

Free for kids 4 and under

oldcowtown.org

ARKALALAH HAPPY DAYS, CARNIVAL & PARADES

Wednesday, October 22–Saturday, October 25

106 S. Summit Street, Ark City

Carnival, medallion hunt, soap box derby, craft show, fireworks, parade of lights, concessions, pancake feed, kids’ fun run, street games, marching festival

Hours: Wednesday 6 p.m.–10 p.m., parade and fireworks at 8 p.m.

Thursday 1–5 p.m., dodgeball tournament and class reunion at 6 p.m.

Friday 10 a.m.–6 p.m., children’s parade at 3 p.m., Arkalalah Coronation at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., parade at 2 p.m., marching festival at 4 p.m., light show at dusk

Grounds admission: free

Fees are charged for some activities including carnival rides, concessions, tournaments, coronation, 2-mile run and helicopter rides.

arkalalah.com

Happy fall and happy Halloween!

More Ideas

Visit wichitamom.com for a great list of area Trunk Or Treat activities, and go to visitwichita.com for the best haunted houses and other adult Halloween attractions.

Meanwhile, don’t forget to catch some fall leaves throughout the beautiful month of October. Some of the prettiest parks in the fall include College Hill Park, Oak Park, O.J. Watson Park, Riverside Park and Sedgwick County Park. Or stroll the trails along the Arkansas River, Red Bud Botanica’s Woodland Walk and Great Plains Nature Center. And be sure to catch some beautiful fall colors on the campuses of WSU and Friends University.

Living With ARFID: Rachel Conrad’s Journey to Answers

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 22:23:43 GMT

Living With ARFID: Rachel Conrad’s Journey to Answers

Local Help Is Available for Recently Recognized Eating Disorder

Written by Paige Feikert

Rachel Conrad has always struggled with eating.

“As soon as I started transitioning to solids [as a child] I really started to control the narrative,” Conrad said. “I would prefer to eat sticks of butter than regular table foods.”

Conrad’s parents — both speech language pathologists by trade — looked for creative ways to feed their daughter. Some days Conrad would only eat Sunkist fruit snacks — this specific brand and variety. She’d rather eat an entire box of these fruit snacks before eating chicken nuggets, or pasta, common foods that kids reach for.

In social settings, Conrad would tell people she was allergic to certain foods to avoid eating them. She has memories of hiding her food in the trash after her parents left the dinner table.

By her teenage years, doctors turned to well-known eating disorders — suggesting Conrad was struggling with an eating disorder such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia, as she wouldn’t eat for days and showed similar symptoms to both diseases.

“At the time they didn’t recognize that my feeding challenges were because of my relationship with food, they thought it was because of all of the chaos that was happening in our world, that I was just trying to control something,” Conrad said.

By college she started to realize that she was always covered in bruises, and while her friends could cover dark circles under their eyes with concealer, hers always showed through. She went to a doctor and found that she was severely deficient in nearly every marker she could be tested for. She started to isolate herself, skip social events due to the fear that they would be focused on food.

“I quite literally lived off of the chicken ramen noodles in college — not because I couldn’t afford other foods, because that’s the only thing I felt safe putting in my body,” Conrad said. “It became incredibly isolating because almost every social gathering you go to has some sort of food component, which is really, really limiting when food is a stressor in your life.”

Finally Finding Answers

Conrad, who herself became a speech language pathologist, recognized something was wrong. Finally, in 2019 after decades of struggle with eating, she found an answer.

“I was watching continuing education and I was crying and I didn’t realize I was crying until I touched my face and my face was wet and I was like ‘This is me, I’ve found my diagnosis,’ ” Conrad said.

The diagnosis — Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder, or ARFID, an eating disorder where individuals limit the amount and types of foods they consume. According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), unlike many other eating disorders, ARFID is not motivated by body image, but rather a lack of interest in food, sensory sensitivity and fear of adverse consequences to eating, such as choking or vomiting. According to a 2023 study published in the “Journal of Eating Disorders,” ARFID affects up to 15.5 percent of Americans.

Michelle Riggs, a registered dietitian working with ARFID patients in Wichita, understands the frustration, fear and helplessness many caretakers and loved ones feel while seeking an ARFID diagnosis.

“I was a caregiver to a loved one living with an eating disorder, but we weren’t sure if it was ARFID. We kept getting value of care but not quality of care because of the lack of understanding of the illness 10 to 15 years ago,” Riggs said. “I ended up doing a lot of research and thought ARFID was what it might be.”

Through her experience, Riggs found that Wichita did not have the resources to properly support and treat ARFID patients at the time. The experience inspired her to go back to school and become a registered dietitian focusing on ARFID.

“It started from a place of personal lived experience and seeing a space that needed to be filled and wanting to fill that space,” Riggs said. “I could provide care for the patient but also have relatability from a caregiver perspective.”

Picky Eater vs. ARFID

ARFID was not formally recognized as a diagnosis until 2013. Many loved ones might mistake ARFID for “picky eating,” a common behavior of young children, but what parents and caregivers realize — and now medical professionals working with ARFID patients understand — ARFID is much more dangerous than picky eating.

“A picky eater will eventually eat [a less palatable or preferred food] if they get hungry enough, a child with ARFID will not,” said Dr. Melissa Hopper, a psychologist and clinical associate professor with KU Wichita Pediatrics.

Dr. Hopper says a picky eater might choose chicken nuggets over other foods, regardless of the brand or restaurant they come from, whereas someone with ARFID will only eat a particular type of chicken nugget and it must be cooked in a specific way. This becomes incredibly limiting for children and their families.

“Families will avoid restaurants because there is no guarantee there will be a food their child can eat. They may pack their own food or go to several places to find preferred foods,” Dr. Hopper said. “I once had a family who would pack a suitcase of their child’s safe foods for vacation.”

Not only is ARFID limiting, but it is also dangerous. A 2024 study published in the “Journal of Eating Disorders” found that hospitalizations for ARFID are increasing. According to the study, the median hospital stay for ARFID patients was 7 days, and more than 8 percent of patients were readmitted within 30 days. Hospitalizations were often due to malnutrition, in many cases requiring a feeding tube to supply nutrition.

“Picky eaters don’t tend to have nutritional deficiencies, picky eaters will usually grow through it — it might take some time, but they’ll usually grow through it — but there’s not the same drop-off in growth. Some kids with ARFID end up needing feeding tubes,” Dr. Hopper said. “The level of medical intervention is much higher with ARFID.”

The Orange File

Commonly, children with ARFID prefer highly palatable foods, particularly packaged foods, because they are consistent. For example, blueberries can be sweet sometimes, and tart other times depending on their ripeness or where they are picked. Whereas packaged mac and cheese cups or McDonald’s french fries always taste the same. Dr. Hopper describes it as people who aren’t living with ARFID and have a diverse diet have a ”file” in their brain for each food, which describes the flavors, textures, variations and more, however people with ARFID don’t have that file, and that can be scary, overwhelming and anxiety-provoking.

“A kid with ARFID doesn’t have an orange file, so when we’re asking them to try something like an orange, we’re asking them to create an entire new file and that is overwhelming,” Dr. Hopper said. “So kids with ARFID might do better with those packaged oranges, because those are the same every time.”

But professionals working with ARFID patients and their families say those packaged foods are okay — keeping kids fed is the number one priority, regardless of the foods they’re eating. Of course, exposing kids to new foods can also be part of treating ARFID, but the goal is to reduce stress, fear and anxiety around foods.

“I think we should be careful about labeling foods as good or bad,” Dr. Hopper said. “Reduce as much pressure and stress around meals as possible, because so many kids with ARFID also have anxiety, so if we make eating an anxious experience then it’s not enjoyable for anybody.”

A Complex Disorder

ARFID is commonly accompanied by anxiety and other mental health disorders, and common treatment for ARFID includes teams of professionals who can address the complexity of the disorder.

People living with ARFID and caretakers oftentimes have a long road to a diagnosis. ARFID is still a relatively new diagnosis, coupled with the societal pressures and mischaracterization of the disorder as picky eating, often coming with a stigma of parents spoiling their children.

“One of the core tenants of parenting is ensuring that our children are safe and fed,” Dr. Hopper said. “When this doesn’t happen as expected, one can experience a tremendous amount of shame — many parents blame themselves.”

Societal pressure from other kids at school, other parents, even their own extended families only add to the shame and judgement that people living with ARFID feel.

“People living with ARFID get so much judgement out in the wild because of lack of understanding and lack of basic empathy,” Riggs said. “I really wish we could break up with the idea that we can comment on what people are eating or what peoples’ bodies look like.”

Professionals in Wichita are working with people of all ages from as young as three years old to adulthood. Care teams include a range of specialists — speech language pathologists, dietitians, psychologists, pediatricians — teaming up with various treatments from talk therapy to painting with condiments to reduce the fear around food. The primary goals of providers is to reduce fears surrounding food, support families and caretakers, and to reduce the stigma of ARFID.

“You are enough, you are doing enough and sometimes it’s okay for you to ask for help and sometimes it’s okay to say this is too big of a burden to carry and I need someone to support me,” Conrad said. “I want you to remind yourself of how far you have come with your child or with yourself and let that fuel you to reach out for help and be vulnerable in that situation so you can get the right support.”

If you suspect that you or your child are living with ARFID, start with your primary care physician or pediatrician and ask for a referral to a registered dietician. Both Conrad and Riggs are part of a local network of providers called The Village, supporting patients through perinatal mental health and eating disorders. Their goal is to help build care teams to support people in Wichita who are living with ARFID and those who care for them.

‘I once had a family who would pack a suitcase of their child’s safe foods for vacation.’ — Dr. Melissa Hopper, psychologist and professor with KU Wichita Pediatrics

“You are not on your own — it is so stressful, it is so overwhelming and it can be a lot emotionally for a caregiver, not just the person living with ARFID,” Riggs said. “Reaching out and grabbing on to people, it’s like, ‘Oh my gosh this feels so validating. I feel seen; I feel heard.’ Those are foundational steps in helping your person.”

After her diagnosis, Conrad was inspired. She reached out to an organization called Feeding Matters in search for resources for adults living with ARFID. She joined a consortium within the group and was soon voted as the consortium chair. She now dedicates her Fridays to research and advocacy. She’s working on a peer mentorship group for young adults with ARFID. This in addition to her work as a speech language pathologist, where she works with local children with ARFID to reduce fears and anxiety around food, ensuring kids that they are not alone.

“I truly, truly do not want another child to go through what I did growing up,” Conrad said. “If I could do the most in the world to help a child through their journey, I’m going to do everything in my power to do that.”

Now, Conrad recognizes her own growth with ARFID. After a diagnosis decades in the making, she is surrounded by a well-informed support system and continues her work, sharing her voice for others, and finding her voice for herself.

“Now I don’t say I’m allergic, I say I don’t eat that and when people ask why I say because I have ARFID and those foods are very triggering to me,” Conrad said. “It took me thirty years to get there — these last two years are really when I’ve been more comfortable unmasking those long-term lies I would tell to protect myself and keep myself safe.”

Resources: thevillageict.com ; feedingmatters.org

Resources

You can connect with local providers through The Village at thevillageict.com . Find resources for ARFID and Pediatric Feeding Disorder, including a questionnaire to help identify areas of concern through Feeding Matters at feedingmatters.org .

Resources: thevillageict.com; feedingmatters.org

Experimentation and Collaboration at Learning Lab Wichita

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:47:33 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Pioneers in Personalized Learning

Written by Paige Feikert

Learning Lab Wichita has created a cutting-edge space in Union Station that encourages K-12 learners to flourish through community partnerships and expanded educational experiences. The organization serves families, schools and educational organizations that want to inspire a passion for learning.

The Concept

As managing director, Lydia Hampton’s vision for Learning Lab Wichita is to create a space where new, innovative learning models share resources and ideas to best serve kids. “Learning Lab’s concept is providing something missing in a traditional approach. Because kids all learn differently, we need to see a variety of learning models to increase student success. At Learning Lab, we have created a community open to experimentation and collaboration.”

The Team

Hampton works closely with community director Kristin Bogner and program and events manager Molly Brown. Operations and facilities administrator Chris Wise and special projects administrator Lauren Watkins are also integral members of the team. Learning lab is supported by Stand Together, a philanthropic community founded by Charles Koch in 2003.

Memberships

A Learning Lab membership allows families and education entrepreneurs access to its incredible spaces and equipment, including a podcast studio, video studio, makerspace, print lab and computers, and offers discounts for programs and Fun Friday class options. Fun Friday programs focus on kids’ special interests and hobbies and creating enrichment opportunities. Any K-12 learner can register.

Spaces

16,000 square feet on the south end of historic Union Station ties Wichita’s past to its bright future. Learning Lab’s design includes specialty spaces like the podcast studio and makerspace; furnished workshop spaces for groups to meet; common areas with comfortable seating that encourage interaction; and the 4,000-square-foot furnished patio, providing outdoor learning space.

The Schools

Bogner highlights the possibilities: “Schools and organizations innovating in the education space can apply to be resident models at Learning Lab Wichita. Resident models enjoy permanently reserved, private workshop spaces while sharing resources and community with one another and with members who do not have reserved space.”

Khan Lab School Wichita allows its students to set their weekly goals for self-paced learning, and the school provides avenues for investigation and real-world learning through community partnerships as well as on-site projects.

Creative Minds (Wichita Public Schools) has a mixed-grade classroom with a collaborative approach: K-third work together using project-based learning, while fourth- through sixth-grade learners experience projects designed for their ages.

Guiding Light Academy gives students in Buhler School District's online program a place to gather for collaboration and a school community feel.

Wichita Independent Secular Education (WISE) is a homeschool community with the goal of inspiring others to rise together, and its families access Learning Lab to provide a sense of community and a social hub for students.

Other concepts launched at Learning Lab this year:

Arts Partners is an organization that integrates visual and performing arts with their core class curriculum.

Wichita Training Center Academy hosts wrestling club students who begin their school day training for their sport and then move to focused learning time inside the Lab.

Sunflower Learning Community is a Montessori approach to hybrid homeschooling with full-time and part-time students.

The Learning Lab environment invites new school concepts to utilize its spaces to inspire kids and enhance student learning in Wichita.

If your family is looking for a new K-12 education solution or a place to conduct homeschooling, check out Learning Lab Wichita and book a tour at golearninglab.org.

Tailgate For the Win!

Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:39:20 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Julie Hying

When the smell of grilled meats drifts through crisp autumn air, you know it’s time to don your team’s colors. Tackle game day with these supercharged twists on meatballs, sauces, dips and wings. Add flags and face paint to your preference.

Kicked-up Cheese Dip

8 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

8 oz. mild cheddar cheese, shredded

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

¼ cup diced pimentos

½ tsp. kosher salt

¼ tsp. ground black pepper

2–3 tsp. mayonnaise, optional

Cream together cheddar cheese with the softened cream cheese until well combined.

Stir in pimentos and salt and pepper. If you prefer a thinner dip, add in optional mayonnaise, Greek yogurt or liquid from the diced pimentos to preference.

Notes: Pair Kicked-up Cheese Dip with vegetables, crackers or pretzels, or as a spread for sandwiches, burgers or chicken. Optional ingredients: garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper or hot sauce.

Super Bowl Sausage Balls

1 lb. ground breakfast sausage mild or spicy

11.36 oz. Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix, 1 package

1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

½ cup water

¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (for topping)

1 packet garlic herb blend included in biscuit mix

Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it. In a large mixing bowl, combine the raw ground sausage, Cheddar Bay Biscuit Mix (do not prepare the biscuit mix as directed on the package; use it dry), and shredded cheddar cheese. Add ½ cup water to the mixture and mix until well combined. The mixture will be sticky. Form the mixture into 1-inch balls using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, and place them on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the sausage balls are golden brown and cooked through.

While the sausage balls are baking, melt the butter in a small bowl and stir in the garlic herb blend from the biscuit mix. Once baked, remove them from the oven and immediately brush with the melted butter and garlic herb blend. Allow the sausage balls to cool slightly before serving.

Spicy Tight End Dip

2 cups corn (roasted or canned, drained)

1 cup cream cheese, softened

½ cup sour cream

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup diced jalapeños (adjust for spice level)

½ cup chopped roasted red peppers

¼ cup chopped fresh green onions

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. smoked paprika

½ tsp. cayenne pepper (optional, for extra heat)

Salt and black pepper to taste

Drain the canned corn or, if using fresh corn, roast it in a dry skillet over medium heat until slightly charred. Dice the jalapeños, roasted red peppers and green onions. Saute them in a skillet for 1–2 minutes. Shred the cheddar cheese if not pre-shredded.

In a large mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese and sour cream. Stir until smooth and well blended. Add the shredded cheddar cheese, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper (if using), salt and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to ensure even seasoning. Gently fold in the roasted corn, diced jalapeños, roasted red peppers and green onions. Stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the mixture. The dip should be creamy with visible chunks of vegetables. Chill or serve warm.

For a chilled dip, cover the bowl and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. If serving warm, transfer the mixture to an oven-safe dish and bake at 350°F for 15 minutes until heated through and slightly golden on top.

Crispy D-Line Wings

6 lb. chicken wings, trimmed

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. Stone House Seasoning

1 recipe Rushing Buffalo Sauce

Blue cheese dressing, optional

Ranch dressing, optional

Preheat the oven to 425ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and arrange a wire rack on the lined baking sheet. Spray the wire rack with nonstick cooking spray or spritz with olive oil. Pat the chicken wings dry with a paper towel and place in a large bowl. Whisk together the cornstarch and Stone House Seasoning in a small bowl. Pour the cornstarch and seasoning mix over the chicken wings and toss until all are well coated. Remove each coated chicken wing and place onto the prepared wire rack on lined baking sheet. Repeat until all of the chicken wings have been coated.

Place in the oven and bake until the chicken has cooked through and the skin is crispy, 50–55 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare the buffalo sauce according to the recipe. Once the chicken wings have cooked, remove them from the oven and lightly toss in the buffalo sauce until well coated. (If you prefer your chicken wings on the drier side, return them to the oven for another 5–8 minutes once they have been coated in the buffalo sauce and then serve.) Serve hot with the blue cheese dip or ranch dressing.

Rushing Buffalo Sauce

½ cup melted butter

½ cup hot sauce

2 Tbsp. distilled white vinegar

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Pinch granulated garlic

Whisk together melted butter, hot sauce, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and garlic until well combined. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator, shaking to blend well before using, for up to one month.

Tailgating Tips

Make a plan — Plan or prepare dishes the day before. Choose recipes like pimento cheese dip or sausage balls that can be made in advance and easily stored.

Keep it cool — Use a well-insulated cooler with plenty of ice packs for perishable items like deviled eggs, cheese or pork. Store cooked and raw food separately to avoid cross-contamination.

Pack smart — Use leak-proof containers and foil pans to prevent spills. For delicate or individual items, use containers with dividers or trays for secure transport.

Stay warm — Invest in a portable grill and a slow cooker (or several) to keep dishes like pulled pork or dips warm. Insulated food carriers also work well for hot items.

Make it grab-and-go — Opt for some finger food selections like fried chicken nuggets or cookie bars to minimize the need for utensils. Provide napkins and small plates for easy cleanup.

Bring the extras — Pack serving utensils, napkins, toothpicks and dipping sauce cups. Don’t forget a trash bag for easy clean-up.

Make it fun — Add simple fun decorations to create your tailgate setup and serving area. Tablecloths, serving platters and plate stackers make an inviting food display. Think accessible and easy clean-up so you can be a part of the game day fun.

Mums, Trees, Winterizing

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:34:29 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Garden Prep for Fall Before The Leaves Turn

Written by Paige Feikert

As the late summer heat sets in and the transition to raking leaves nears, the focus on your lawn and landscaping needs should also shift gears toward the changing seasons. Whether you are planning on using the transition to fall to make major changes to your landscaping, plant trees or prepare your garden beds for the colder months, Professional Landscaping Services in Wichita can help.

The locally owned and operated landscaping company has more than 35 years experience, offering custom landscaping design and installation, patio design and construction, irrigation and drainage, tree removal and installation, garden bed maintenance, sodding, seeding, pest control and more services.

“We are dependable, we do quality work, the people who work with us have many years experience — many with more than 20 years experience,” said Peter Salmeron, president and CEO of Professional Landscaping Services. “We are honest, get work done on time and we communicate with customers frequently.”

Late summer and early fall are perfect times for preparing your landscape for the late fall and winter seasons. First, refresh your front yard with fall-blooming flowers like mums and ornamental kale, or get a head start on spring by planting bulbs like tulips, irises and daffodils before winter is in full swing. It’s also a good time of year for planting new trees or maintaining current trees. Planting in the fall allows the trees to establish roots during the winter. Pruning and trimming not only dying tree and shrub branches, but also annuals and perennial blooms in the garden is also necessary ahead of the winter season.

‘The people who work with us have many years experience — many with more than 20 years. We are honest, get work done on time and communicate with customers frequently.’ — Peter Salmeron, president and CEO, Professional Landscaping Services

Preparing irrigation systems for the winter is a vital task in the fall season to avoid freezing pipes and potential damage to the system. It is also a good time of year to install new irrigation systems or new insulation to pipes associated with current irrigation systems. This preparation reduces the risk of freezing pipes over the winter, and new system installation prepares your lawn for spring well in advance.

Lawn preparation is also key during the late summer and early fall, with tasks like aeration, overseeding, fall-specific fertilization and weed control being most important. Aeration will help reduce soil compaction and enable better penetration of water and nutrients to the roots of the grass in your lawn. Overseeding will help with patchy lawns, and fertilizing with products that have lower nitrogen levels and higher potassium and phosphate levels will help promote hardiness of grass roots to survive the winter months. Pulling and treating for weeds in the fall will also help reduce the weed growth in the spring months.

Professional Landscaping Services offers solutions for both residential and commercial spaces, including fall planting, cleaning up garden beds, trimming trees and bushes, irrigation system installation and winterization, lawn care, and more, and they offer free consultations. Contact them and see examples of their past work online at plswichita.com .

Where to Find Them

Professional Landscaping Services

1347 S. Washington Ave.

Wichita, KS 67211

316.832.0061

plswichita.com

Nationwide Nod to Peaches

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:19:13 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Paige Feikert | Photography by Nichole P. Conard

Although peaches reach their peak in August, peach season spans the summer months. With over 700 varieties worldwide, peaches — including nectarines, which are a variant of peaches and not a cross between peaches and plums — are enjoyed by many. Peaches and nectarines only differ in their skin texture: peaches feel velvety, while nectarines are smooth. The peach is classified as a drupe, which means it has a hard stone in the center; there are two kinds of peaches, clingstone and freestone. This stone fruit is delicious and coveted during the growing season and throughout the year, as it is featured in countless culinary creations.

Southern Peach Pie

1 pie crust, store bought or homemade

5 cups sliced peaches

⅓ cup melted butter

½ cup sugar

½ cup brown sugar

2 Tbsp. flour

3 Tbsp. cornstarch

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. nutmeg

½ tsp. cinnamon

1 egg

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Roll out the pie crust to the size of your pie tin and place the bottom crust in the pan. In a large bowl, add the melted butter, sugar, brown sugar, flour, cornstarch, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon and stir together. Peel and slice the peaches and add them to the bowl. Stir until the peaches are coated with the seasoning mix.

Whisk the egg in a small dish for an egg wash. Use a pastry brush and paint the bottom layer of crust. This will help create a barrier to prevent the bottom crust becoming soggy during baking — especially if you have very ripe and juicy peaches. Pour the peaches into the pie tin and cover with the top crust as desired. Brush the top of the crust with the remaining egg wash.

Center the pie on a baking sheet to catch any dripping during baking and place in the oven for 60–65 minutes, until the top crust is golden brown. Position a pie crust shield over crust edges. (Foil around the perimeter of the pie works well also.) After baking, remove from oven and let the pie cool before slicing so the inside firms up. Serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped topping.

Skillet Bourbon, Peach and Blueberry Crumble

6 cups sliced peaches

1 cup blueberries

¼ cup (2 oz.) bourbon

¼ cup sugar (You may need to add more depending on the sweetness of your peaches and tartness of your blueberries.)

2 Tbsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

¼ tsp. grated lemon zest

1 tsp. fresh lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla

Crumble Topping

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 cup rolled oats

½ cup sugar

½ tsp. kosher salt

1 ½ sticks (¾ cup) cold, unsalted butter, cut into small cubes

2 Tbsp. heavy cream

Preheat the oven to 375ºF. In a large bowl, combine the peaches, blueberries, bourbon, sugar, cornstarch, cinnamon, lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla. Mix well to coat the peaches and blueberries and set aside. In a second large bowl, make the topping by combining the flour, oats, sugar and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and cut the butter into the flour with a pastry blender or pulse dry ingredients with butter in a food processor. Mix until the texture is coarse and clumps in your palm when you squeeze a handful. Add heavy cream and mix just until the dough comes together a bit more. Pour the filling into a 12-inch cast-iron skillet (or two 6-inch skillets), then spoon the topping mixture evenly over the filling. (I had enough topping left over for another 6-inch skillet, which I put in a freezer bag.)

Place skillet(s) onto a baking sheet to keep the oven clean and to catch any fruit that bubbles over. Bake crumble uncovered in a 375ºF oven, 30–40 minutes. Crumble is done when the fruit is bubbling around the edges and the topping is golden in color. Note: This can be baked in a 9” x 13” pan if you prefer. Spray with nonstick spray before adding filling.

Light Peach Sangria

1 bottle (750 ml) white wine, chilled

3 cups sliced ripe peaches peeled

¼ cup sugar

¼ cup brandy

¼ cup Cointreau liqueur

Ice cubes

Sliced lime for serving (optional)

Add the peaches and sugar to a bowl and toss to combine. Leave to macerate for 30 minutes. Add the brandy, liqueur and wine to a large pitcher and stir to combine. Add the peaches with juices and stir to combine. Refrigerate for a minimum of 8 hours. Serve over ice with lime slices (if using).

Georgia Peach Cocktail

1 oz. peach schnapps

1 oz. Southern Comfort

3 oz. orange juice (freshly squeezed)

1 splash (approximately ¼ oz.) grenadine syrup

Orange slice for garnish

Orange-colored sugar for rimming (optional)

Ice cubes

If you’re opting for the sugar-rimmed presentation, begin by gliding a wedge of orange around each glass rim. On a plate, spread your orange-colored sugar in an even layer. Immediately invert the glass and twist into the sugar, rotating gently to ensure even coverage. Set aside to dry slightly.

Squeeze fresh oranges for juice if using. Cut additional orange slices for garnish. Place a generous amount of ice in your cocktail shaker. Add the peach schnapps, Southern Comfort and orange juice. Secure the top of your cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for approximately 15–20 seconds until cold. Fill a prepared highball or Collins glass about two-thirds full with fresh ice cubes. Using a strainer, pour the shaken mixture over the ice, leaving space for the grenadine.

To create the sunset effect, carefully pour a splash of grenadine down the inside of the glass to create a gradient effect. Fix your orange slice on the rim or float it on top of the drink. Note: For a sweeter variation, adjust the amount of grenadine. Serve immediately for the best flavor and presentation.

Saddle Up for a Slice of History

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 23:08:10 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Written by Paige Feikert | Photography by Nichole P. Conard

It’s a true taste of the Wild West, right in the heart of Wichita. Cowtown is celebrating 75 years of preserving and sharing Wichita’s origin story and the lifestyles of Wichita’s early settlers.

“When people come [to Cowtown] we want them to have an experience they can relate to their personal lives — what’s similar, what’s very different, and how our city as a whole has changed,” said James Quint, executive director of Cowtown Museum.

The city of Wichita was established in the 1870s as part of western expansion in America. Prior to its establishment, a small trading post existed at the site of the city, and Native Americans lived in the area. European settlers moved to the area to participate in cattle drives, growing the city as a contender for the rail line, with the goal of becoming a stop for cowboys.

“That really allowed Wichita to grow, and Cowtown depicts this period,” Quint said. “We look at life in the 1870s, whether it’s trading with the Native Americans or seeing the crafts and trades.”

Those crafts and trades include a blacksmith, printmaker, carpenter, dressmaker and more, with these tradespeople using historically accurate tools to demonstrate their respective expertise.

“We have a blacksmith, and he is actually making items that a blacksmith would have made. Whether it’s working with railroad spikes or making tools, he demonstrates that craft,” Quint said. “Our printmaker will talk about the Wichita Eagle, which was created to promote Wichita so that people would move here, and kids can spin the wheel, see how the ink is put on and the different letter types.”

“History is not static, we always learn new things about the past … So there’s new stories out there and also new exhibits.” — James Quint, executive director, Cowtown Museum

Cowtown also depicts farm life in the 1870s. In honor of its 75th anniversary and efforts to continually grow, the museum is offering new quarterly programs this year — one such program allowed visitors to experience farm life using historically accurate tools — even learning how to plow the land without vehicles, using instead an animal with an attached plow.

A vintage baseball team hosted by Cowtown plays the game without gloves, following 1870s baseball rules in traditional uniforms. There’s also a theatre troupe called The Empire House, and of course most notably, gunfights. The stories depicted in the gunfights stem from dime novels — lower-cost books sold in the 1870s that were popular among settlers.

“There’s a hero, a heroine and a bad guy, and it almost always ends up in some kind of gun fight in these dime novels,” Quint said. “We’re not depicting a gunfight that actually took place, we took the stories from these dime novels and put on a performance based on that.”

If you haven’t visited Cowtown since you were on an elementary school field trip, Quint says the museum has grown and changed tremendously throughout the years, and continues to add new exhibits. The museum contains 40 buildings — either original buildings that have been relocated to Cowtown from the Old Town area, or replicas of original buildings. Cowtown has animals on site, carriages and wagons on display, 150 volunteers depicting life during the 1870s, and new ways to interact with history.

“There’s a misconception that Cowtown hasn’t changed over the years, and we really have,” Quint said. “History is not static, we always learn new things about the past. There are stories we learn that we didn’t know five or ten years ago; new documents are discovered and we debunk myths. So there’s new stories out there and also new exhibits.”

On July 5, Cowtown is hosting its “Celebrate America” event, where visitors will experience Fourth of July celebrations in the 1870s, including displays of patriotism, gunfights, dancing, wagon rides, melodramas, games like horseshoes and sack races, and other performances. You’ll find more information on the Celebrate America event at oldcowtown.org.

Cowtown is a city-operated museum with support from a non-profit group. The museum is open Wednesday through Saturday 10 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sundays noon–5 p.m. with gunfights occurring twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays from April through October, and free admission every Sunday.

Turning Heads and Spinning Chairs

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 15:32:39 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Jaelen Johnston, Derby Native, Lands Second Place on “The Voice”

Written by Paige Feikert

It’s the second episode of blind auditions for the 27th season of the singing competition show “The Voice,” and with the four coaches’ chairs facing away from the stage, a deep, smooth, twangy voice starts singing the lyrics of Luke Combs’ “Where the Wild Things Are.” The lights rise to reveal 21-year-old Jaelen Johnston wearing a cowboy hat and playing the guitar. He hasn’t even reached the chorus before Adam Levine turns his chair around — indicating his interest in the country singer. By the end of the performance, three of the four coaches will turn their chairs around, a sign that Jaelen Johnston will stick around on the show to compete for the grand prize of $100,000 and a recording contract.

Johnston finishes his performance, and the coaches make their respective pitches, asking Johnston to trust them to guide him to success. Ultimately, he chooses country superstar Kelsea Ballerini to lead him through the show — a journey that will take him all the way to the finale and unlock a new stardom for the up-and-comer.

“I love all kinds of music, but I am die-hard country music,” Ballerini said. I’ve had ten years of putting out music in that genre and your voice is unreal — and in range, you’re not just a singer, you’re an artist.”

Just weeks earlier Johnston had been laying concrete in the Derby area where he’s from, but on this night he’s capturing the interest of top names in the music industry, and when the episode airs in February, he gains millions of new fans, many in the heart of the country.

“How Derby rode for me throughout the whole process was one of the most insane things I’ve ever seen,” Johnston said. “For (the Derby community) to come together and step up and throw watch parties and support me was the best thing. The support from them has been great.”

Zoom Audition for ‘The Voice’

Johnston didn’t necessarily plan on auditioning for “The Voice.” While he’s been singing, writing and making music since he was a teenager, Johnston was still trying to break through in the industry. That is, until his mom signed him up for an audition with “The Voice.”

“She asked, ‘What are you doing after work?’ and I said I’m probably coming home and she said, ‘Okay, you have an audition, so be ready for that,’ ” Johnston said.

He first auditioned through a series of Zoom calls, which interested the producers of the show who asked Johnston to fly out to Hollywood where the show is filmed. That brings us to that blind audition at the beginning of the story.

“What’s your end goal?” Ballerini asked Johnston.

“Up until today it was a chair turn,” Johnston replied.

‘You’re not just a singer, you’re an artist.’ — “The Voice” Coach Kelsea Ballerini

From there, Johnston’s presence on the show became consistent. He advanced to the top 20 finalists but was eliminated when the group was cut to the top eight. Then, the show introduced a twist, called a “super save” where Johnston and three other contestants were brought back to round out a field of 12 remaining finalists. Johnston continued to win support and finished the show as the runner-up.

Following his new stardom, Johnston is now able to pursue music as a full-time job.

“It’s been the craziest whirlwind of experiences,” Johnston said. “I thought music was going to be more of a side deal, and then I realized as soon as “The Voice” started and as soon as I started getting more attendance at my shows, I figured out that music was the life path I wanted to take where I could afford to do that full-time.”

It’s a far cry from where he started — playing at local bars to grow a fanbase.

Johnston’s Grandfather a “Musical Rock”

“I’ve been cutting my teeth since I was 15 years old,” Johnston said. “I’ve been singing at every open mic night at any bar imaginable. I was playing three- to four-hour shows for a long time.”

Johnston describes his sound as country blues with a touch of red-dirt outlaw country mixed with rock and a little bit of everything. To his family, Johnston’s talent is no surprise — the now 22-year-old received his first Taylor guitar as a gift from his grandparents when he was just 16 years old. Johnston’s grandfather was himself an entertainer in Canada for many years, and taught Johnston his first cords on the guitar before suffering an aneurysm and a stroke.

“He’s definitely been a musical rock throughout my life,” Johnston said. “Before the aneurysm, he’d come to all of my shows, he’d come to the open mics, he’d work 60 to 70 hours a week and still come home and watch me practice. He’s always been there and that was really something nice to have, that support system.”

Despite his memory loss, Johnston’s grandfather continues to support Johnston. In fact, his entire family consistently showed up to support him during his journey on “The Voice,” often seen cheering him on in the audience.

“They’ve believed in me since day one, and it’s pushed me in the right direction of continuing all of this,” Johnston said.

Since that first chair turn, Johnston’s swoony, rich voice has become unmistakable to audiences across the country. The rising star is now traveling around the region performing for growing audiences, including Wichita’s own Riverfest, with the hope of signing a record deal of his own in the coming months. Something he’s keeping his energy fully focused on.

“It’s definitely a 24/7 thought,” Johnston said.

Jaelen Johnston on “The Voice”

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Fri, 18 Jul 2025 12:51:30 GMT

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

First ICT Boxing Appearance for Several Years

Written by Paige Feikert

Boxing in Wichita is synonymous with the Hernández family: Nico Hernández, who earned Wichita its first Olympic medal in more than 30 years, and his father, Lewis Hernández, who introduced his son to the sport and has coached him ever since. The two not only brought boxing to the forefront during and since Nico’s 2016 Olympic run, but continue to share the sport with the city through Lewis’ gym, Hernández Boxing Academy, and Nico’s career and outreach. In many ways, the growth of the sport locally boils down to a father in his son’s corner.

Passing Down a Sports Legacy

“He’s been my coach since I started boxing at 9 years old. I’m 29 now, so we have a real good connection; he understands me and I really trust him in my corner of the ring,” Hernández said. “I know he’s going to give me the best advice to win, he doesn’t want to see me hurt, he’s my dad.”

The father–son relationship not only paved the way for Nico’s career but also provided the groundwork when Nico himself became a father. His son is now 6 years old, and Nico says the lessons both in and out of the ring have guided him on his own path through fatherhood.

“My pops has always pushed me to encourage me to do the best I can,” Hernández said. “It’s helped me a little bit with my son, because he’s a soccer player, so we go outside and kick the ball around; we go through drills so he can do what he likes to do.”

Wichita united over boxing in the summer of 2016 when, more than 5,000 miles away, the then 20-year-old Nico earned the USA its first boxing Olympic medal since 2008, and Wichita’s first Olympic medal since 1984. Hernández was welcomed home with a parade, celebrations and even a scholarship awarded by Wichita State University. Hernández became a darling of Wichita, and he’s continued to represent his home town since turning pro in 2017 — but hasn’t had a fight in the city for several years due to a management dispute. Hernández is making his hometown comeback at the end of the month for an event called “Legacy Reloaded” at Koch Arena.

“I’m excited to get back in the ring and bring the city back out; it’s been a while,” Nico said. “I’m thankful to put on for Wichita and make the city look good, because I definitely don’t plan on losing.”

‘Legacy Reloaded’

The headline event will feature one of the most famous heavyweight champions in the world, Deontay Wilder. Wilder is also an Olympic bronze medalist, who is known for one of the highest knockout records among heavyweight champions. Wilder, also known as the “Bronze Bomber” will face Tyrrell Herndon in the 10-round heavyweight bout.

“We’re thrilled to bring the Wilder vs. Herndon main event to Wichita, joined by a fight card showcasing our Olympic hero, Nico Hernández,” said Brian Blackman, executive vice president of business development with TicketSocket. “This event celebrates Wichita’s rise as a vibrant hub for major events, where our passionate community rallies to support these incredible moments. It’s an inspiring opportunity to show the world what our city is capable of.”

Hernández is looking forward to fighting on the same card as Wilder: “He’s been a professional longer than I have and he’s a really exciting fighter to watch, one of the most exciting heavyweights to watch,” Hernández said. “I’m looking forward to watching him and also being able to showcase my talent.”

Hernández is one of several local fighters in the event, all of whom come from Hernández Boxing Academy.

“This is more than an event, it’s a celebration of our city’s fighting spirit and unyielding passion,” Blackman said. “Our community is ready to embrace this world-class stage, proving Wichita is a powerhouse for boxing and a home for champions.”

While Hernández is hoping the event will help re-engage his career, his dreams look a little different now.

“I’m really just rolling with the punches, honestly. I just want to be able to make money in the sport of boxing and keep winning, but I don’t want to get punched in the head for the rest of my life,” Hernández said. “I want to take care of my son and give him a better life and everything he needs.”

Engaging Youth Sports in Crossover Collab

Written by Jessika Mayer

Wichita native and Olympic bronze medalist Nico Hernández has expanded his community involvement by partnering with the Wichita Open golf tournament and TicketSocket. This collaboration aims to enhance the tournament experience and promote youth sports in the region. Hernández, known for his dedication to building boxing in Wichita, sees this partnership as an opportunity to give back to the community that supported his journey from local gyms to the Olympic podium. The Wichita Open, a long-standing Korn Ferry Tour event, is committed to impacting the local economy and supporting charitable organizations, aligning with Hernández's mission to uplift his hometown.

Hernández's involvement brings a fresh perspective to the Wichita Open, bridging the gap between different sports communities and highlighting the importance of cross-disciplinary support in athletics. By integrating his passion for boxing with the world of golf, Hernández continues to inspire the next generation of athletes in Wichita, demonstrating that dedication and community engagement transcend individual sports.

Through TicketSocket's platform, the partnership facilitates streamlined ticketing and event access, making it easier for fans to engage with the tournament and other Wichita events such as “Legacy Reloaded.”

‘Legacy Reloaded’

June 27
Charles Koch Arena
6 p.m. — Doors open
7 p.m. — Main card
Purchase tickets at globalcombatcollective.com or in person at Hernández Boxing Academy.

SPLURGE! Photo shoot with Nico HernándezT

SPLURGE! Magazine

The Next Great Shocker Tradition

The Next Great Shocker Tradition

‘We’re putting a really good product on the field, and our fans have grown and people are really excited about it.’ — WSU softball coach Kristi Bredbenner

Wilkins Stadium Renovation

Easy Easter Brunch

﻿ Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring ﻿

French Toast Bake

Cornbread Bacon Bake

Baked Ham Pinwheels

Lemon Blueberry Bunny Bundt

Big Read Wichita

The Big Read Wichita

‘It’s fun to dive in and see yourself through a poem and find connection with one another.’ — David Garcia, Wichita Public Library

Garden Themes and Fresh Produce

Library of Things

More Than Just Books: The New Library Experience

Wichita Wonder-Pets

﻿ Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring ﻿

Betsy Loftin and Tulip

Robby and Kristin Rose With Moose

Justin and Lacey Tisdale With Auggie and Rora

Aurora

Rivals Turned Friends and Co-Captains

Rivals Turned Friends and Co-Captains

Clashing on the Field

Honors and Titles at KU

“I’ve had a great time working with Ashton as a captain. I think both of us have taken leadership upon ourselves.” — Tayton Klein

Climbing Future Mountains

Guide to St. Patrick’s Day and Night

Guide to St. Patrick’s Day and Night

Delano Paddy Day Parade

St. Patrick’s Day Bar Crawl

﻿

Knocknasheega (Cnoc na Síge) Band

St. Patrick’s Day 5K

Shamrock Scramble Golf Tournament

Paddy’s Patio Party at Bubbles

St. Patrick’s Day Bash at Mort’s

PHOCK St. Paddy’s Day Pub Crawl

Knocknasheega March Shows

Wichita Women Making History

Wichita Women Making History

In Film

In Sports

In the Arts

In Aviation

In and Around Town

A Voice That Builds Bridges

A Voice That Builds Bridges

Cultivating International Opportunities

‘I asked, how could this program grow? Where can I put my energy into supporting this branch of education, instead of letting it slip away?’ — Dr. Jerry Smartt

Family and Faith

Where Are They Now? Ron Baker

Post-Basketball Life

‘Everyone wants to remember your key wins and your Final Four and your NBA career, but as I’ve matured as an individual, I’ve learned you want your teammates and coaches to talk highly of you as a person, not only as a player.’ — Ron Baker

Shocker Basketball 2026

‘Fueling Growth’

‘Whatever metric you want to look at, we’ve gotten better every single year, and progress is made in steps, not leaps.’ — Coach Paul Mills

Abby Cater: Team Comedian and Record Breaker

‘(My mother) was a great person, she was my favorite person, so everything I do, I just do it for her, because I know if I’m doing it for her, I’ll do it to my full best potential.’ — Abby Cater

Mike Kennedy: Voice of the Shockers

It All Started With a Tape Recorder

‘(Mike) is a very easy person to like. He is unassuming; he is modest; he never criticizes anybody; he is appreciative of the opportunities that he has been given in life, and he is thoughtful to just about everybody.’ — Dave Dahl

A Living Shocker Sports Encyclopedia

Valentine’s Day Gift Guide

﻿ Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring ﻿

Couple Questions Card Games

Self-Care Gifts

Drinks and Eats

For Those Who Are Crafty

The Most Meaningful

Fun Food for the Super Bowl

﻿ Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring ﻿

Jalapeño Popper Twists

Field Goal Fiesta Dip

Spotlight Spinach Dip

Touchdown Chili

Lifestyle Changes After a Major Health Event

﻿ Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring ﻿

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Choose a Goal That Excites You

Have Compassion for Yourself

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring

Nico Hernández Steps Into Hometown Ring