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...Women of the Mo-Kan
ALady Holiday issue
Winter 2012
Volume 3, No. 4 FREE
Shop smart this season
One-stop pop
The Iron Woman
A festival of lightsPLUS
❄ Making your own Christmas gifts❄ Battling seasonal influenza
LadyA
...Women of the Mo-Kan
Loving your skin
Weddings Spring 2011
Volume 2, No. 1
FREE
Vintage to mini
Bridal issueWhat dress fits
Plus, the latest
makeover!
AALady
LLoving your
k
o-Kano
didi
g 2011
Volume 2, No. 3 FREE
...Women of the Mo-KFall 20
Th e talking tangoCommunicating with your teen
LadyLadyAAPotty training 101
Building a legacyVolume 2, No. 3 FREE
Breast cancer prevention
In the uniform
A Magazine for Women of the MoKan
Volume 2, No. 1
FREE
Vintage to mini
BrBriWhat dress fitsfitfitsts
Plus, thelatest
makeover!
skiniy
kEach edition offers tips on gardening, cooking, health and more.
Special features about real women of the MoKan.Don’t miss another edition.
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4 • WINTER 2012
A
About the Cover
Features
Departments7
14
Model: Colton Robinson is the son of Heather and Wade Rob-inson, Troy, Kan. Colton turns one year old this De-cember, and enjoys playing Pat-a-cake and Peek-a-boo, and loves spinning the wheels on his toy trucks. He is also learning to walk, and will very soon be running all over the house!
7 One-stoppop Homegrown and handmade — this local family’s fluffy treat is enjoyed across the nation.
9 Togetheronturkeyday One couple finds the true meaning of giving thanks in their community.
11 Shopsmartthisseason Want to find the best deals and fill your Christmas lists all without leaving town? Here’s how.
14 TheIronWoman She’s got big talent, and she’s showing the world that “women can do it, too.”
20 Comp,Coupon,Celebrate! Feeling like your grocery bill is a bit high these days? Never fear, the Atchison Couponers can help you keep your cash!
25 Festivaloflights Atchison’s Christmas festival is sure to delight the senses!
29 Losingthebattleofloss Are you grieving the loss of a loved one this holiday season? Find out how you can start enjoying the festivities once more.
6 Fromtheeditor17 HelpYourself Battling the bug — Dr. Stone talks the basics of seasonal influenza, and what you can do to avoid it this winter.
27 GardeningwithMikey Make the holidays extra special this year with homemade gifts.
31 Theholidayspirit This season’s calendar is packed with exciting events for the family, so don’t miss a thing!
308 Commercial St.Atchison, KS 66002
(913) 367-0583
Mailing address:P.O. Box 247
Atchison, KS 66002
To Advertise(913) 367-0583, Ext. 20206
PublisherJoe Warren
Editor/Art DesignerKaty Moore
Advertising DirectorChristy McKibben
Advertising RepresentativesBobi DozierJim Ervin
Melodye Hathaway
Contributing WritersAudrey EdwardsAdam Gardner
Erin HunninghakeAlice Johnson
Joey MayLeia Lemons-McGahee
Faye MillerJenalea MyersMikey Stafford
Advertising DesignersSara HaughtJackie Dix
Sarah HeerbothHolly LyonsJudy McCoy
Jacqui OnkenLynsie Steele
Produced byAtchison Globe
women of the Mo-Kan
Lady A is a quarterly publication. All con-tents copyright 2011 of the Atchison Globe. All rights reserved.Reproduction or use in whole or in part of the contents, without prior
written permission, is strictly prohibited.
Lady A and the Atchison Globe are News-Press & Gazette Company properties.
If you fi nd yourself short on cash at Christmas
each year, stop in and see Sandy at Exchange Bank to fi nd out how you can
SAVE NOW for 2012 Holiday Shopping!y pp g
913-367-6000 • myexchangebank.comMain Bank: 600 Commercial, Atchison, KS
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6 • WINTER 2012
From the editor...
For the staff of this magazine, Lady A holds a special place
in our hearts and minds. As the letter A can stand for a number of things our women hold dear — agriculture, athleticism, ambition, even our hometown of Atchison — it also stands for Adelaide. This magazine was named to honor Adelaide Howe, niece of the Atchison Globe’s founder, E.W. Howe. Adelaide was one of E.W. Howe’s closest relatives, living many years with the Howe family and serving as a travel companion for E.W. later in life.
“Letters to Adelaide” is a compilation of written cor-respondence between E.W. and Adelaide, as well as other letters, manuscripts, Atchi-
son Daily Globe clippings, photographs and many of E.W.’s own draft novels that he shared with Adelaide, which are now housed at Harvard University. As Adelaide played a large role in E.W.’s life, so she plays a large role once again in Atchison through Lady A.
To celebrate the Howes’ contributions to journalism, Lady A brings together women of the Mo-Kan area, spanning from our Jackson and Jefferson county neighbors to the west and south, to the northern women in Brown and Doniph-an counties, and our women of the east in Platte and Bu-chanan counties. If you are a proud woman of the Mo-Kan, this magazine is for you!
The holidays are here! It’s time to break out the fuzzy socks, make some hot choco-late, and watch as
those cool fall breezes inevita-bly turn into Siberian-frigid whirlwinds in less than a day. (All from the toasty warm side of the window, of course). Love that unpredictable Kan-sas weather!
It’s also time to get your shop-ping in gear. Check out page 11 for some ideas on what to buy, and where to get it. Supporting local business
is important for any community’s pros-perity, so don’t forget to shop local
this year. If you’re crafty, there’s
nothing better than receiv-ing a gift made with two hands and lots of love. Read Mikey’s story on page 27 for ideas on some great gifts to make and share.
They just might save you some hard-earned money,
too. And if you’re still check-ing under the couch cushions for
spare change to put Christmas dinner on
the table, the Atchison Couponers have a solution for you.
This time of year can be hard on more than just your wallet, though. If losing a loved one has made the season of cheer difficult to get through, we might have some help for you. Flip to page 29 for advice on how to overcome your grief and start enjoying the holidays once again.
And check back in the spring as we bring you our next bridal edition, stuffed with advice for brides and grooms to get prepared for their big day.
From everyone at Lady A, have a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
What is Lady A?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lady A Magazine P.O. Box 247
Atchison, KS 66002(913) 367-0583
Questions? Comments? Story suggestions?
Katy MooreEditorLady A Magazine
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ew people can resist the smell of freshly popped corn.
Whether in a movie theater, a ball game or at home, popcorn is one of America’s snacks
of choice. And that’s good news for one Kansas busi-ness.
Schlaegel’s Homegrown Popcorn in Whiting, Kan., is well into its fourth decade of business, selling every-thing from 50 pound bags of popping kernels to bags of glazed popcorn in a variety of flavors. This year they harvested 600,000 pounds of corn from their 18 acres.
“We believe ours is the best popcorn you will ever have and our customers seem to agree,” said co-owner Gary Schlaegel. “We ship to every state in the union.”
Gary Schlaegel, wife Marian and business partner Mike Tanking are very busy right now, popping, glazing and bagging 75 pounds of popcorn a day. A wall of bins store their more than 20 flavors of corn, which includes amaretto, caramel, chocolate drizzle caramel, rainbow, kettle korn, bacon and cheese and cheddar.
And while they are putting in long days right now, Gary explained that this little gourmet popcorn busi-ness had a rather modest beginning.
“When we started in 1970, we planted two rows of
We buy our seed from Idaho, plant it
ourselves, harvest it, clean it, bag it and pop it.“
POPOne-stop
By Faye Miller
corn,” Gary explained. He and his wife also offer tax services,
running both businesses out of their rural Whiting home.
“We used to have the tax office in our bedroom, popped corn in the basement, and our living room was the client waiting room,” said Marian, a retired registered nurse.
But as both businesses grew, they built an office and popcorn production area between their home and barn. They are proud of the fact that they control the quality of the corn from seeding to eating and theirs is not a genetically altered seed.
“We buy our seed from Idaho, plant it ourselves, harvest it, clean it, bag it and pop it,” Gary explained.
The business is a Schlaegel family tradi-tion.
“When I was a kid, we harvested and shelled by hand. When I came home from school that is what I did,” he explained, adding that in his childhood home, they ate popcorn almost every night. “And our caramel popcorn is my grandmother’s recipe.”
In 1996, Mike Tanking began working for the Schlaegels during summers and after school. After completing a business degree from Ottawa University, he was offered a partnership, and also provides tax services.
Popcorn has increased in popularity across the decades. During the Great De-pression, vendors sold it in five-cent bags on street corners and at theaters. When microwave energy was developed in the 1940s and 1950s, microwave and pre-packed corn for popping became popular.
Today it is touted as one of the most nutritious snacks avail-able.
“About the time microwave popcorn became popular and people weren’t buying plain corn, we introduced our flavors,” Gary said, citing one woman’s loss as their gain. “I was collecting a debt from a customer in downtown Law-rence who had a gourmet pop-corn business. She was closing so I was able to purchase pop-ping and glazing equipment
and her flavors.”In addition to selling the glazed and
flavored popcorn in several sizes, Sch-laegel Popcorn can be shipped in boxes, decorator pails and in its dry form, ready for popping. They also customize and print labels for banks, businesses, schools and service clubs to sell or give them away at holiday time.
“Every time a bag lands in the hand of a new person, it’s a potentially new custom-er,” Gary said.
As the smell of freshly popped corn and grape flavoring waft the though of-fice, Gary helped himself to some of his product.
“I never get tired of popcorn,” he said, smiling.
“Me neither,” Mike added.And Marian?“Well,” she said, “I just know that I don’t
cook on Sunday night and it’s always pop-corn for dinner.”
LEFT: Marian dumps a fresh batch of caramel corn into the basin, where she will break up clumps before bag-ging. This batch will make about 50 small bags of glazed popcorn. BELOW: Mike’s father Kenny helps out with popcorn duty during the holiday rush, popping, glazing and bagging a batch of toffee. The team typically pops corn once a week throughout the year, but as the holi-days approach, they will prepare corn at least five days a week to keep up with the influx of orders.
One bin of Schlaegel’s speciality popcorn, designed with KU fans in mind. They also make the colors of the Wildcat clan.
Lady A • 9
This year marks 30 years for the Com-munity Thanksgiving Dinner in Hi-awatha.
That first year was at Maple Leaf Res-taurant, owned by Toby Sr. and Helen Melster.
“When we had the restaurant, it was un-believable all of the people who came in and ate alone,” Helen said. “The commu-nity had been so good to us, so we wanted to do something for them.”
That first year — 1982 Helen said if she remembers correctly — around 100 people came in to the restaurant for the
home-cooked traditional Thanksgiving meal.
“I don’t keep real good track of the years,” she said. “Just every year I say, ‘Thank you Lord.’”
There was no charge, and the Melsters, along with a few other family and com-munity members, covered the cost. But after those first couple of years, people came out of the woodwork to help out.
Helen’s parents and siblings came to help, along with other family members and friends. The Melsters’ children, Toby and Allison, were always part of the tradi-
tional meal as well.
“I’ve really got to thank my kids too,” Helen said. “All these years, they have given up their Thanksgiving day at home to help out.”
Helen said at this past year’s dinner, there were 150 carry-out meals, and vol-unteers served 175 people at the Hiawatha First Baptist Church Family Life Center, 210 Lodge Rd., where it has been held since 2005.
The Melsters hosted the community dinner in the restaurant for many years until they sold it in the mid to late 1980s. The next several years the meal was still sponsored by the Melsters and other fam-ily and community volunteers but held at the Hiawatha National Guard Armory.
“We really couldn’t have made it hap-pen without all of the volunteers and the people who have helped us host it,” Helen said.
For a year or two, Farm Bureau Associa-tion helped sponsor it, as did Rob Lowe and his family for one year. But the Mel-sters always had their hand in it — Helen said she can’t give it up and would be crushed if the Community Thanksgiving
Together on turkey dayOne couple pays it forward to an entire
communityBy Joey May
The Melsters had no idea what one little mustard seed of hope would turn into.
One of the first Community Thanksgiving Dinners in 1985 at the Maple Leaf Festival. Helen Melster’s father Charlie (brown jacket) and to his left, Maude Burnett, both of Hiawatha, sat at the head of the table, joined by family members and friends.
10 • WINTER 2012
Dinner ever were to end.She credited the First Baptist Church
Mission board for stepping in back in 2005 and not only offering the use of the Family Life Center for the dinner, but also for helping co-sponsor the event.
Mary Finley, chairwoman of the Mis-sion Board, said the church was happy to step in. She said it is important to the community — not just in Hiawatha, but all of Brown County. She said they have served people from not just Hiawatha, but Hamlin, Morrill, Everest, Horton, Reserve and others from rural areas.
This year’s dinner is planned for Thurs-day, Nov. 22 with delivery service begin-ning at 11 a.m. and the dinner at the church from noon to 1 p.m.
Donated turkeys are all cooked by volunteers and deboned in the church kitchen on the Wednesday before the din-ner.
Helen said Debbie Roland is a volunteer who has worked several years calling vol-unteers to help prepare the turkeys, and she is also the contact number to make
reservations.Reservations are taken
right up to the day. Helen said she hates to turn people away.
“I always plan for more,” she said. “I never want to
turn people away.”Toby Melster agreed. He said sometimes
weather can halt holiday plans and then sometimes people are left with nowhere to go at last minute.
“One year sticks in my mind,” Toby said. “I had gone outside in the parking lot of the restaurant and this car pulls up and a couple asks if we were open, said they had gone for a drive. I told them no we weren’t open, but welcomed them inside for the Thanksgiving dinner. They were from Lawrence, I think, and ended up coming back again several years after that. It meant something to them, so they kept coming back.”
Helen emphasized the Community Thanksgiving Dinner is more than about providing a holiday meal for someone. It’s about friendship and fellowship. She said the people who deliver meals to homes sometimes may only have a couple of deliveries, but they like to stay and visit a while.
The church is decorated Tuesday night
with a harvest and Thanksgiving theme, usually done by Sandy Farley of the Mis-sion Board.
Helen said the kitchen is filled with vol-unteers all day Wednesday preparing the food. In addition, some local restaurants have donated the use of their cooler space if needed.
Donations of money are used to pur-chase food, but Helen stressed that none of it is held over from year to year. If there is anything left, it goes directly to NEK-CAP’s Christmas Bureau to help with the Christmas store or food baskets.
The Melsters hope the Community Thanksgiving Dinner continues to be a blessing for people in Brown County, long after she and her husband are unable to continue to help.
Helen said the need is out there and there are people alone.
“One of the things my Dad instilled in me was we didn’t have a lot of money, but we had a lot of love, so why not share it?” Helen said.
For questions about donations, or to volunteer, contact Debbie Roland at (785) 742-7201 or Sandy Farley at (785) 740-0488.
Toby and Helen MelsterA packed house during one of the more recent Community Thanksgiving dinners.
Shop smart this season
Saving your wallet — and your communityBy Adam Gardner
Is your holiday shopping list organized yet? Are you planning on driv-ing to Kansas City to
visit some giant mall where you’ll have to use your wits and elbows to fight through large crowds?
Before you go through the hassle, before you burn a tank of gas, ask yourself one ques-tion: What can I get right here at home?
12 • WINTER 2012
In Atchison, Kan., there are several lo-cally owned shops and stores that might fit your holiday gift needs.
Young or old, male or female, Atchison retailers have something for everyone. They also give shoppers the chance to support local businesses — which then supports the local community.
According to a Civic Economics report, for every $100 spent in locally owned businesses, $68 returns to the community. At a national chain, only $43 returns to the community. Shopping online brings nothing back to the community.
The 3/50 Project encourages shoppers to re-evaluate where they spend their money, asking them to pick three local businesses a month at which to spend $50. According to their website, www.the350project.net, if half the employed population did this, $42.6 billion would be generated in revenue.
“Consumers today are going to shop at big box stores — we know that,” said Jacque Pregont, president of the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce. “But look around at the wonderful independent merchants in our community and make the decision to support (them). Their survival depends on each of us.”
Derek Franklin, owner of The Hardware Store, said local businesses just need a chance.
“Try us first,” he said. “If we don’t have it, give us the opportunity to get it. We’re competitive.”
Nancy Runyan pointed out that local businesses provide good, personalized service to customers and said, “We all count on repeat business, so it’s impor-tant customers feel satisfied when they’ve
made a purchase.”So what can you find in Atchison?“There’s a misconception that hard-
ware stores are only geared around men,” Franklin explained. “We work very hard to try to take that misconception out of here.”
He said there is a wide variety of possible gifts, including tools, household
products and automotive items. Franklin credits information available online for making these types of gifts appealing to women as well as men.
“We always have the one thing that’s the right color, the right size and always fits,” he said. “We always have gift certificates, and they fit everybody.”
A shop that may be the exact opposite of The Hardware Store, Cottage of the Seasons also has an assort-ment of possible gifts, highlighted by the extremely popular Vera Bradley collection.
“It’s anywhere from purses to travel bags to paper goods,
blankets and bedspreads,” said Melissa Noll, Cottage of the Seasons owner about the Vera Bradley products. “It’s going like crazy, it always sells.”
She said the items are in demand from people 10 years old all the way to 80 years old.
Besides Vera Bradley, the shop has clothing, stationery and everything be-tween that would be perfect for holiday gifts. Christmas decorations are also available.
There are gifts for guys, too, including flasks and items with sports and hunting themes.
When it comes to footwear and athletic apparel, Hilligoss Family Shoes is the place to go. Sarah Biechele, co-owner, said customers can find the latest Nike,
New Balance and other top shoe brands and styles.
“The Nike Free is probably the most popular casual shoe right now,” she said. “They’re real flexible, lightweight shoes.”
More than just athletic shoes, Hilligoss offers hiking boots and outdoor boots designed to withstand the elements. Men and women in need of something dressy can also stop in and check out a variety of
Atchison
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Lady A • 13
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fashionable footwear at a fair price.If picking out the right shoe size seems
daunting, there are athletic bags, hooded sweatshirts, T-shirts and sweat pants that will also make great gifts. Socks, once an afterthought in the gift-giving world, has become a favorite among teens. Specifi-cally, Nike Elite crew socks have become extremely popular.
“Last year, if I had put them out on the back porch, no one would have stolen them,” Biechele said, explaining how demand has changed. “It’s amazing.”
For more formal gift-giving needs, Runyan Jeweler’s Inc. has a selection of jewelry for women and men, as well as home decor items.
“Sterling silver is very, very popular,” according to Nancy Runyan, citing the difference in cost of gold compared to sterling silver. “Diamonds mounted in sterling — that’s been a very big item.”
Another popular item to choose from is their assortment of clocks. She said a beautifully crafted clock can be an heir-loom handed down from generation to generation.
Runyan pointed out that her store does engravings, which personalize any gift. Engravings and jewelry work are all done in-house. For everyone’s convenience, especially those who may be all thumbs, she said complimentary gift wrapping is available.
At Runyan Jeweler’s, like most shops, gift certificates are available for customers who just aren’t sure what to buy.
For the hunter in your life, check out Atchison Outfitters for gift ideas. Owner
Rick Dillon said firearms are popular every year, as are hunting related items such as spotting scopes, range finders and binoculars. Atchi-son Outfitters also has you covered after the kill with sausage and jerky seasoning.
When is the best time to visit local businesses? While there isn’t a bad time, there is a new designated day to shop lo-cally. Saturday, Nov. 24 is “Small Business Saturday.”
The designation was started by Ameri-
can Express and began in 2010. Small Business Saturday is designed to remind holiday shoppers to think locally, instead of just visiting big chain stores on Black Friday and online retailers on Cyber Monday.
Before hitting up the big retailers, give
your local shops a try. You might be amazed at what you can find in your own community.
Runyan Jeweler’s
$144.95
Cottage of the Seasons$12-$120
A
Lancaster, Kan. native and Atchi-son County Community High School graduate Stacey Rathert has been sculpting with cast iron for four years, but her interest first started when her dad taught her how to weld when she was about eight years old.
“I always knew that I wanted to make art or be involved in art some-how,” Stacey said. “I enjoyed working in the shop with my dad and being able to tell all the boys that I knew how to weld, too.”
At the end of her freshman year at Fort Hays State University, Stacey saw her first iron pour and knew she had found the direction she wanted to take her sculpting.
“I was like, ‘OK, this is it. This is what I want to do,’” she said.
Stacey said she was also enticed by the fact that cast iron steel sculpting is a predominately male field.
“It’s definitely a boys club,” she said. “That’s part of the reason why I chose it. So I can say, ‘Girls can do it, too. Just watch me!’”
Charlotte Rathert, Stacey’s mother, said she has loved seeing her daughter
Stacey, center, surrounded by her undergraduate studio mates from Fort Hays State University. Towering behind them is her pride and joy Rosie, the furnace Stacey built with her own hands. These five women comprised the all-girls cast iron sculpting crew for the Western Cast Iron Art Conference this past spring at the university.
In a sculpting world primarily dominated by men, one girl is stepping up to prove
girls can do it, too.
By Erin Hunninghake
Lady A • 15
be successful in this male-dominated craft.
“She’s this little 4-foot, 11-inch girl right in there with all the boys,” she said. “It’s pretty interesting to see what comes out of that little thing. Her dad said one time, ‘Could you ever imagine someone this little would be doing this kind of work?’”
Being one of the few women in this area of sculpting is what inspired the name of Stacey’s proudest piece of work, a cast iron furnace that she built herself.
“I named it Rosie, after Rosie the Riv-
eter,” Rathert said. “She was an icon in a time that women were in a predomi-nately male workforce. They wanted everyone to know that women can do it, too.”
Stacey graduated Cum Laude from Fort Hays with a degree in art and education. She then went on to gradu-ate school and is currently earning her master’s degree at the University of Mississippi, focusing most of her time on the sculpting she loves.
“I had no idea that my sculpting would become metal,” Stacey said. “The three-dimensional form is just
The protective jacket Stacey wears while working is adorned with a patch from every state she has poured iron in, her personal celebratory ritual.
Rosie, Stacey’s cast iron furnace, and one of her landmark solo achievements to date.
It’s definitely a boys club. That’s part of the reason
why I chose it. So I can say, “Girls can do it, too. Just watch me!” “
16 • WINTER 2012
more attractive to me. I enjoy making tangible objects that people have to walk all the way around to appreciate.”
Stacey said her schoolwork and sculpting keep her busy, leaving her little time for other things.
“I’m working all day every day,” she said. “Sleep isn’t really an option.”
Traveling has also kept Stacey busy, pouring iron and sculpting in 13 different states over the years. She said travel-ing to different art conferences around the country has been worth the time because of the great learning experiences they provide.
“It’s a great opportunity to pour iron with different groups of people and talk about the process with a collaborative community with the same interests,” Stacey said. “They’re like an extension of my family. They’re my iron family.”
Stacey said the highlight
of her travels was in October 2010 when she was invited to Detroit, Mich. to work for famous performance artist Matthew Barney, who wanted 30,000 tons of iron poured during one of his shows.
“I was only a small part of a huge operation, but it was such an amazing experience,” Stacey said. “It’s all about the commu-nity and interaction with other people.”
Now that she’s living so far from home and traveling so often, Stacey is using her home state as her current muse.
“Moving to a new state has been an interesting transition, getting used to a new culture,” she said. “I’m focusing my sculpting on the things I miss from home. I’m telling my story of Kansas.”
Stacey hopes to take her sculpting to the next level after graduation by teaching art at a university.
Capture the Magic at
ExpressionsA Wonderland of sparkling gifts,
holiday decor and beautifulChristmas centerpieces!
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LEFT: The barbecue grill Stacey made during her last days at Fort Hays State University.BELOW: Foundry Barbie, one of Stacey’s undergraduate projects, comes with her very own furnace, anvil and iron pourer, as well as a set of tools, equipment and safety gear. Everything she needs to start creating! BOTTOM: Stacey’s more recent graduate work includes pieces inspired by her home. This sculpture is titled, “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.”
A
Lady A • 17
Dr. Jessica Stone, MD, internal medicine, Atchison Hospital, re-veals what you need to know about seasonal influenza, and how to protect yourself this flu season.
Lady A: How early does flu season usually begin?
Dr. Stone: Flu season usually begins in October and runs through March. That isn’t to say that people can’t contract the flu at other times, but that is when it is in its peak. Usually, the flu vaccine is available and offered late September to early spring. It seems that the time span for influenza has broadened in the past few years and people need to start thinking about flu protection earlier and for a longer period.
Lady A: How can I ward off the flu?Dr. Stone: More people are getting the
flu vaccine, most likely due to easier access. The clinics are focusing on patients getting their vaccines early, and pharmacies and other venues are also carrying the flu vaccine. This is great because the more convenient it is, the more people will get their vaccine. The CDC recommends everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine each year, especially people with a higher risk of flu complications, such as those with medical conditions like asthma, diabetes and chronic lung disease, pregnant women, and seniors ages 65 and over.
Lady A: I feel good and always stay healthy during the winter, do I really need a flu shot?
Dr. Stone: There is a large number of people we recommend receive the flu vac-cine who don’t get it. There are a number of reasons for this. The most common reason people choose not to get the flu vaccine is because they think they will contract the flu. This is a myth. No cases have ever been docu-mented where a person has contracted the flu from the vaccine.
Another reason is that a person doesn’t think that they need the vaccine or they don’t really get that sick from the actual illness. That might be true; however, any person who is around young children, elderly or immu-nocompromised people can give them the flu. A person may feel just fine and be carrying around the influenza virus and actually spread this to a person. Depending on the person who contracts the flu virus, it can cause them to be hospitalized and can even lead to death.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that annually, 5-20 percent of Americans are infected by seasonal influenza, a viral respiratory infection accompanied by fever, cough, sore throat, run-ny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue.
Typically referred to as the flu, it hospitalizes more than 200,000 Americans each year for severe and life-threatening complications of sinus and ear infections, pneumonia, and bronchitis.
Influenza is commonly mistaken for the “stomach flu,” or viral gastro-enteritis, which typically causes abdominal cramps, nausea, vomit-ing and diarrhea, and is considered a less dangerous viral infection than seasonal influenza.
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Lady A: How does the flu shot work?
Dr. Stone: The inactivated flu vac-cine, which is the most common one given — the one that is a shot — is not a live vaccine. This means that because it is not a live vaccine, a person cannot contract the actual infection from the vaccine. This vac-cine works by promoting immunity by in-ducing a specific antibody production. The vaccine actually protects against sev-eral types of influenza, because there are many. The formulation is made standard each year by the U.S. Public Health Service and is different every year. The reason swine flu became so rampant one year is because it wasn’t included in that year’s formulation. There is also a nasal spray flu vaccine that can be offered to certain populations.
Lady A: Should I be worried about any side effects after receiving the shot?
Dr. Stone: Most people have no reaction to the flu shot. Some people have some pain and skin irritation at the injection site. Usually time and some
acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help this improve quickly. A small percentage of people can have other reactions, such as chest tightness, swelling, joint pain, fevers, cough, nausea, diarrhea. An even smaller number have had a severe reaction, such as anaphylaxis or Guillain-Barre syndrome. If a severe reaction has ever occurred in the past for any vaccination, it typically isn’t recommended to receive the flu vaccine.
Lady A: What are my other op-tions to treat the flu?
Dr. Stone: There are actually several antivirals that can be used to help treat the flu. Usually the symptoms should be present for less than 48 hours for an antiviral to be effective. However, not all people with the flu require an antiviral medication. This is something to discuss with your physician to see if you might benefit from it. Knowing that the symp-toms should be less than 48 hours, you would want to see your physician soon after symptoms develop. The antivirals don’t necessarily shorten the infection period, but can by up to a day. The symp-toms are usually still present after therapy, but can be lessened with antivirals.
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Lady A: Do antivirals cause any side effects?
Dr. Stone: A lot of the reactions from antivirals are similar to flu symptoms, so it’s difficult to say. Certainly, if symptoms worsen after taking an antiviral, you would need to go see your physician to discuss this. The most common reaction is vomiting. This can be seri-ous as sometimes it is already difficult to stay hydrated during a flu infection. As with any medication, there is always a risk for a severe allergy to the med and you would need to stop it immediately and be evaluated by a physician.
Lady A: What are some natural or alternative remedies to prevent or treat the flu?
Dr. Stone: The best way to help prevent the flu is regular hand washing, covering your cough and sneezes, and getting vaccinated. People don’t realize that you can carry the flu virus without knowing it and then spread it to many people who can become very ill. It is important to not be around young children or the elderly, or those who have poor immune systems, while you have symptoms of a cough, fever and other symptoms of a viral infection.
If you do contract the flu, it is important to stay hydrated and take something to alleviate the fevers. If you don’t improve, you should see your physician for evaluation and discuss ways to treat yourself and those around you. Most anyone can receive the flu vaccine if they wish to have it. Also, there are several recom-mendations for certain groups to receive the flu vaccine every year and you should talk with your physician to see if you would fit into one of these categories.
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A
20 • WINTER 2012
Those are just a few words some have used to describe people who spend hours clipping coupons, perusing advertise-ments and contemplating the “best deals.” But no matter how these penny pinchers are portrayed on TV shows like “Extreme Couponing,” members of a local group, the Atchison Couponers, will be the first to say the process works and the savings is well worth the effort.
“I hear a lot of ‘I don’t have time to do that,’” Kim Bottorff, who organized the group in January, said. “It does take time, but the money that is saved is worth the time, in my opinion.”
The group gathers every Wednesday to look through ads, share coupons with one another and determine which items can be comped — or price matched — at an-other store. Bottorff said some of the more popular ads for searching through include Country Mart, Alps, Van Dyke Grocery, Walmart, Price Chopper, Hy-Vee, Dillons,
Walgreens, CVS, Kmart, Menards and Target.
“On Wednesday we sit down with all the ads and go through each ad item by item and make a list of ‘the good deals,’” she said. “There are two of us that go through the ads to make the list, which consists of items we think are a good deal. That doesn’t mean that all deals are on the list. If it’s an item I don’t typically buy, I may
not realize it’s a good buy, so that’s why all the ads are on the table on Wednesday night and everyone can get our list and then go through them on their own and add things we may have missed.”
Many of the coupons are available through inserts in larger newspapers like The Kansas City Star, Bottorff said.
“I found a website that I could order bulk inserts from out of Florida, and they
are basically the same inserts as those that come in the Kansas City paper,” she said. “We order 130 sets of inserts every week. Some people buy one set, and some buy 15 sets. This saves from everyone buying all the Kansas City papers when all they want are the coupons.”
Frugal. Extreme. Economical. Obsessive. Story and photos by Jenalea Myers
Comp
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oupon
Bottorff said coupons that aren’t used one week are saved for use in the future until their expiration date.
“We have a table of sorted cou-pons that individuals aren’t going to use that we share or swap,” she said. “We ask if you have coupons you aren’t using to bring them and share. Expired coupons are good for six months overseas, so we save all of our expired coupons and the VFW Auxiliary sends them overseas for us.”
When it comes to purchasing multiple everyday items, Bottorff said she doesn’t stockpile the items beyond her need.
“Everyday items such as tooth-paste, shampoo, deodorant, laundry soap, etc. are on sale regularly, and there are coupons regularly for those items,” she said. “When I can get those items for 50 cents or less, I stock up — usually 10-plus of each item. I don’t have a huge stockpile of items but enough to get me by until the next good sale.”
It’s the everyday items Jody Buster said she’s after.
“I enjoy getting products I would use every day for less than regular price, but is it for everyone? No,” she said. “Lots of people are over-whelmed with just the idea of it, let alone putting forth the effort to comp and coupon.”
Buster said she’s always been a
price watcher.“When comping came along, it
seemed only natural,” she said. “I had to learn to coupon and comp together, mostly from the Internet, and I refined it by learning from others.”
Besides getting organized with a binder, Bottorff said doing the couponing process with a group has been a big help.
“We talk out a lot of things,” she said. “We are there to answer ques-tions, share experiences and have fun. One of the best conversations was a night we figured out the best price on coffee per ounce. We’ve also done this on cat food. It’s not always the best deal to buy the smaller container for less money and use a coupon on each container.”
Bottorff admits that in the begin-ning, the process seemed daunting.
“Initially, I was overwhelmed and not sure I could do it,” she said. “It does take time, and couponing seemed exhausting — how many pa-pers do I buy, how do I store them, how do I sort them? It seemed like an organizing nightmare.”
However, with practice, it got easier.
“By the next week, I had bought a notebook — a binder we call them — and started out with about 10 pencil bags,” Bottorff said. “I bought two or three Sunday papers and started clipping. I put all pet
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coupons in one bag, all health and beauty aids in one bag, frozen food in one, paper products in one and so on. I was so proud of myself by the next week. We came up with a form to make our comp list on. It did seem to get easier.”
Not only easier but worth the time and effort put into it.
“Typical savings after comping and using coupons is about 50 percent off everyday retail price,” Bottorff said. “There are times when you get items for free or save more than 50 percent off the retail price, but not all the time. I have said many times, if I could have done this when my two old-est daughters were home, oh, the money I would have been able to save.”
Couponing tipsInvest in a binder or some type of organizer.Shop with a buddy. It helps to have someone with you at the checkout. Someone can put your items on the belt or your bags in the cart so you can watch and give informa-tion to the cashier.
Make time and take your time.Always try to comp and coupon together for the largest savings.Be consistent and don’t give up. Some weeks you might not find anything in the ads, while other weeks might be overwhelming.
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If you are interested in learning more about the Atchison Couponers, or care to join the group, visit their Facebook page at
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Festival of lightsBy Audrey Edwards
We know Christmas is the season of giving, peppermint candy canes, warm cocoa,
thickly knitted mittens; tidings of great joy. In the very words of Andy Williams — “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.”
In Atchison, Kan., Christmas means “Sights & Sounds,” the second annual Christmas festival presented Saturday, Dec. 1 by the Atchison Area Cham-ber of Commerce. Speckled along the Commercial Street Mall, spectators can indulge in hot chocolate, tasty cider, kettle corn, candy apple, funnel cakes, and free events for the kids, in addition to the grand finale — a lighted float parade.
“We wanted to increase activity and events in Atchison,” Mary Jane Sowers, project coordinator, said of the creation of the festival. “We wanted to launch something that would promote com-munity as well as customer traffic for our local venders.”
The Christmas fest is a great way to get out and bond with your family, as
well as with the family of Atchison. Sowers commented on how universally loved Christmas is, and what better way to draw together the people of Atchison than by way of a seasonal Christmas event; one which has now become an annual tradition.
All sorts of fun activities will be tak-ing place on the stretch of the mall, she added. It’s the perfect opportunity to take part in everything from crafts to free music. The Chamber wants every-one to feel welcome.
Sowers noted on several activities guests can indulge in. From noon to 5 p.m. the strip will be bursting with delicious finger foods and free events such as train rides for the toddlers, Ms. Cindy’s story time on the trolley, Clem-ent McCrae’s puppet shows and the
Elves’ workshop, offering free crafts and do-it-yourself projects for the children to make-and-take as part of touring the festival.
Also, strolling among the mall festivi-ties will be carolers in costumes, Santa at the Santa House, and the Grinch in his classic grumpy green. “Sights & Sounds” will also include Atchison’s High School After-Prom Committee’s display of handmade candy to sell to customers, as well as Exchange National Bank’s bake sales featuring goodies hot from home.
During this year’s “Sights & Sounds,” the parade is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m. starting at the mall and ending at Atchison Family YMCA. Float par-ticipants can enter under part of one of the three categories: Family, busi-ness, church and/or youth groups. The
Crowned Mr. and Miss Wonderland, Carter Owen Potts and Gabrielle Pickman pose with Santa during the 2011 Sights & Sounds Christmas pageant.
26 • WINTER 2012
Chamber will also be selling vibrant hats with light-up features — a perfect touch to add to your parade attire.
To get the youngsters involved, ages 4-8, a Mr. and Miss Wonderland pageant starts at 3 p.m.
“Four boys and four girls will be selected to enter the competition,” said Joe War-ren, pageant director.
The pageant has been constructed to get children more involved, as well as the parents. Warren said it was a great hit this past year and will continue as a featured competition in Sights & Sounds.
At the end of the pageant, judges will chose the win-ners based on three criteria. Following an interview with Santa, the winners will be chosen based on best answers to Santa’s ques-tions, who struts the best Christmas attire and overall cuteness, said Warren. The winners get to ride along-side Santa in the parade atop one of the festive convert-ibles, as well as take part in a free holiday photo shoot which will be featured in the Atchison Globe.
For the tiny tots, ages 8-18
months, a Mr. and Miss Snowflake competition will be decided based on the cut-est picture entry. Any and all qualifying cuties dressed up babies to adorable toddlers are encouraged to enter in the contest. Entry forms can be found at the Globe, 308 Commercial St., Atchison, Kan.
If you’re craving grandma’s goodies, classic carols, wool socks and warm milk mus-taches, Atchison’s freshly backed tradition of “Sights & Sounds” is the place for you and the whole family.
For any questions re-garding float specifics and pageant participation, give a ring to (913) 367-2427. Please fill out and return your completed entry form to the Atchison Area Cham-ber of Commerce, located in the Santa Fe Depot at 200 S. 10th St., Atchison. You can find the Parade of Lights entry form at www.atchi-sonkansas.net by looking under the “Events” tab and selecting “Sights & Sounds of Christmas.” Other details concerning locations and times of partnering events are also available.
A
This year, consider making some holiday presents yourself. There are many good craft ideas for you to make — all under $20 per item — and can be made in within one day or evening. It may sound too good to be true, but it isn’t.
For the person who loves home deco-rating, make a homemade wreath out of paper. For the musically gifted teen, fash-ion your wreath out of an old music book. For the seasoned traveler, use a book of maps. Any book can become a beautiful wreath — even more so when you person-alize it with their initials.
Burlap wreaths are also popular home-made decor. Burlap comes in various colors and can be found at your local box store. All you need is a wreath form, burlap, scissors, a glue gun with glue, and time. An easy fix is to take an older wreath and give it another life with a new bow and decorations.
There isn’t anyone who doesn’t like food. This is a gift that the kids can help with, too. Men are notorious for being hard to buy for, but you won’t find many who will turn away a home-baked cherry
pie. You can make one for $10 or buy one from a bakery for under $20.
Food items are sometimes more costly to make but they are always sure to please someone, and you can make enough at one time to fill plenty of gift packages. Some of the easier favorites are peanut clusters, peanut brittle, fudge, chocolate covered pretzels and sticks, peanut butter balls, divin-ity, cherry mash, gingerbread, and of course the all time fa-vorite — cookies. Using a micro-wave makes these time-honored favorites that much quicker and easier to make. Short-breads such as banana nut, blueberry, lemon and pineapple are also favorites, and can be baked, frozen, and saved for when you need a quick gift.
Additional food items that take more time but are also loved are jams, jellies, apple butter, apple sauce, salsa, or even pickles. You can either can, preserve or make refrigerator jars to give away to teachers, friends, relatives or even as host-ess gifts. A jar of hot pepper jelly and a
package of cream cheese with crackers will always be welcomed as a hostess gift.
There are other simple handmade
items that your friends and fam-
ily will love to
Handmade ChristmasBy Mikey Stafford
Holiday times can be stressful because of the expectations we
put upon ourselves to make this holiday season the “best” and “most perfect” ever. For many reasons — be it finan-cial or just not having any idea what to buy for someone — we look for ways to make our choices simpler.
Lady A • 27
28 • WINTER 2012
receive. Sewed items like lap throws, or pillows, which even include no-sew pat-terns for the crafter who just can’t sew. Neck scarves are good for all ages, and you can sew, crochet, knit or even no-sew these, as well. Other no-sew items are hair ribbons, head bands and slippers. If you are really ambitious, try the no-sew skirts and tops.
Some of today’s other popular hand-made gift items are microwave potato packs — they are wonderful, especially for those college students. How about a microwave bowl holder that keeps you
from being burned? During the holiday season, unique hostess gifts are sometimes hard to come up with. If you would like to bestow your hostess with a bottle of wine or liquor, place it in a wine tote bag that can be re-gifted or used as a gift bag to make it even nicer.
Children love to make gifts, and they are the favored gift of choice of any par-ent, grandparent, aunt and uncle. Some possibilities are salt dough ornaments or tiles. These are easy to do and so personal. Every cook needs an apron, so try buying a plain apron and letting the
kids decorate it for a loved one. Or, for the thrifty shopper, pick up an inexpensive picture frame that the kids can repaint and decorate for a specific photo you would like to gift.
That reader in your family can always use a new book mark. All you need is cardstock, paints, crayons, pens, ribbons and a paper clip. Design it, have it laminated, punch a hole and add a ribbon or yarn for a tassel. How about the gardener in the family? Have the kids put their handprints on a clay pot, fill it with a pair of gardening gloves, magazines, seed packets and tools. You can also try decoupaging a clay pot, using the kids’ art projects and some mod podge.
You can’t go wrong with personalized mugs, plates or bowls made with just a blank porcelain dish and a sharpie — a simple, inexpensive and thoughtful gift for any occasion.
There are many websites you can go to find the perfect project to simplify your life this holiday season.
◆ www.pinterest.com/◆ www.diylife.com/category/crafts/◆ www.craftbits.com/◆ www.diynetwork.com/topics/craft-
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Lady A • 29
Losing the battle of LOSS
By Alice Johnson
When you are grieving the loss of a loved one, the hustle and bustle and sounds of holiday cheer may be an insult — encroaching upon your sadness, demanding that you, too, must
join in the celebration. Mourners are often exhausted — or even fall ill — just trying to understand and cope with the changes in their lives, struggling with confusing and conflict-ing emotions of anger, sadness, uncertainty and guilt. But where there is help, there is hope.
30 • WINTER 2012
Forgiving yourselfPeople who have suffered a recent
loss are often tortured with what they think they should do, what they think others expect of them, and what they re-ally feel like doing.
“First, don’t judge yourself too harshly,” said Cindy Whitmer, executive director of All Faith Counseling Center, Atchison, Kan. “There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Grief is very personal, and each individual grieves differently.”
When it comes to the holidays, Cindy advises a grieving individual to go at their own pace.
“You should do what you feel comfort-able doing,” Cindy said. “Keep the tradi-tions you want and say no to those you don’t want to do. Choose what you feel is most important and necessary.
“And if you want to do something dif-ferent for the holidays, that is OK, too.”
If you aren’t up to cooking a lavish Christmas dinner, Cindy suggested invit-ing close family members and friends to join you at a restaurant to share a meal, or for dessert and coffee. Exchanging gifts can be a way for everyone to enjoy themselves, but if your heart isn’t in it, simply take comfort in good company. If you tend to host the annual event and still want a homey atmosphere, let another family member take on the responsibili-ties this year, and stay as long as you feel comfortable.
Perhaps you want to continue giving gifts, but you may find the thought of shopping too exhausting.
“Buy everyone the same thing or give them a gift certificate or money,” Cindy suggested. “You might want to make a donation to a charity in memory of your loved one. Also, you might want to buy a special ornament in memory of them.”
Grieving togetherRemember that the empty chair at the
family gathering can be very painful to all members in a grieving family.
“You can ease the pain by reminiscing about the missing one,” Cindy said. “Re-calling happier times can bring laughter,
joy, and even tears while still including the missing one. It can be very therapeutic. Remembering them says that their life mattered to all present and gives assur-ance that they will always matter.”
Patty Field — who lost her only child Curtis in the Bartlett Grain explosion October 2011 — said that this second Christmas without her son will be easier than the first, but it will still be hard.
“Being with family helped me a lot the past year and even with his girlfriend Laura,” Patty explained. “ Fortunately, we are a close-knit family. Curtis was the youngest of the cousins and they were all close, so Christmas was hard on them too, and we were all mourning together.”
Patty said the family shared their grief by remembering Curtis through their gifts to one another. Her nephew Gus gave everyone a crystal ornament engraved with Curtis’ name and the date of his birth and death.
Her sister also gave Patty a poem, “Christmas in Heaven” by Wanda Bencke, which she said was comforting to them both.
“My good friend and I ride our horses together some-times and we can talk,” Patty continued. “She calls me about every two weeks and she really listens to me, and talking to her really helps
me.”Patty also relies on her faith to carry her
through her grief. “I know that Curtis will be there when I
get to heaven,” she said. But she stresses that it is family that is
helping her get through it — a caring fam-ily to support, and a kind ear to listen.
“The task of grief is to help you adjust your life without your loved one,” Cindy explained. “People need to cope how they need to cope, and friends and family should let them as they, too, adjust to the new reality.”
Seeking helpCindy said that speaking with a coun-
selor can be helpful in the grieving process, but is not for everyone. Whether seeking professional help, or grieving on your own, she stresses that a support system is vital in the process of overcom-ing a loss.
“When people have close friends or family who allow them to repeatedly vent about their grief or the deceased loved one,” she explained, “that in itself can be therapeutic enough for many.”
If you have experienced a loss and would like to speak to a professional, con-tact Cindy at (913) 367-0105, or search phone book or Internet listings for local psychologists, mental health services, counseling services, or hospices. Cindy also recommends speaking with your physician, pastor or funeral director to seek help with grief.
There is no right or wrong way to
grieve. Grief is very per-sonal, and each individual grieves differently.”
“__________________________________________
A
Jeremy’s CryA true story of loss, faith,
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Available for book talksat libraries, schools and clubs
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download from Amazon.com204 Oregon Street
Hiawatha, Kansas 66434785.741.2248
Lady A • 31
NovemberCapture the Season on Main
StreetAnnual Christmas lighting event
Nov. 23 on the Holton downtown square. Santa will arrive at 5:30 p.m. Free covered wagon rides, businesses unveiling secret window displays. (785) 305-0633.
Santa HouseSanta Claus arrives in Atchison
Nov. 24 to begin the 2012 holiday season. Santa will visit with children and take photographs 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. while singers and hot chocolate are enjoyed by all, every Saturday through Dec. 15 at the Santa house on Commercial Street Mall. (800) 234-1854, www.atchisonkansas.net.
Homespun TraditionsWeekly craft demonstrations begin
Nov. 24 at Roebke House Museum, 216 New York Ave., Holton. Quilting, weaving, spinning, tatting, bobbin lace, embroidery, bedwork, redwork, crocheting, knitting and more, every Saturday through Dec. 22. (785) 364-4991.
Holiday lighting celebrationPlatte County’s 18th annual holiday
lighting event 5:30-8 p.m. Nov. 21 at Platte County Courthouse. Free admission. www.plattecitymo.com.
Candlelight Homes TourHoliday homes tour in Weston
Nov. 30 through Dec. 2. For times, cost and selected homes, www.we-stonmo.com. December
Sights & Sounds of
ChristmasAtchison’s second annual Christ-
mas festival Dec. 1, featuring a lighted parade, baking contest, Little Mr. & Miss Snowflake contest and more. Parade begins at 5:30 p.m. (800) 234-1854, www.atchisonkansas.net.
Night of the LightsHorton’s Christmas kickoff with
Santa Claus Dec. 1 in downtown Hor-ton. Lighting of the tree and gifts for children and adults. (785) 486-3321.
Holiday bazaarAtchison United Methodist Church
soup and chili meal, church bazaar and nativity viewing 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Dec. 1. More info, Ginny Bailey (913) 367-4785.
Parade of LightsChristmas parade in Holton Dec. 1.
All clubs, churches and area organiza-tions invited to participate by having a float in the parade. More info, David Powls, (785) 364-3141.
Delia BazaarHolton’s Delia Presbyterian Church
to host a soup supper from 4:30-6:30 p.m., bazaar and auction to follow at 7 p.m. Dec. 1. (785) 771-3600.
Christmas programFirst Christian Church presents
“Twas the Night Before Christmas” and other seasonal favorites, 4 p.m. Dec. 2. More info, (913) 367-3036.
21st Annual LuminariesAnnual luminaries tour Dec. 2 in
Horton. Twenty different living scenes illuminated by more than 1,400 candles. Enjoy at your own pace 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Ladies Night OutAnnual shopping event just for
ladies Dec. 6. Atchison’s collection of shops and eateries to have specials, samples, tastings, giveaways and other events for the holiday season. (800) 234-1854, www.atchisonkansas.net.
Early Morning SalesRetail event Dec. 14 in downtown
Holton, sales for holiday season. (785) 364-3321.
The holiday spiritDon’t miss Theatre Atchison’s upcoming productions of:
“A Christmas Story” 8 p.m. on Nov. 30, Dec. 1, 7, 8, and 2 p.m. on Dec. 2, 9.
“Factory Series” 8 p.m. on Feb. 8, 9, 15, 16, and 2 p.m. on Feb. 10, 17.
Fore more information, 913-367-SHOW (7469) or [email protected].
