Sunflower Bank Support Bigbrother Big Sister

Sunflower Bank sets a goal to donate $50,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters®

Sunflower Bank is going big to raise funds and gain volunteers for Big Brothers Big Sisters. From July 1 through September 30 Sunflower Bank and local Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters are teaming up to increase the number of adult volunteers, help children in need find a mentor, and raise $50,000.

“Partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters is a great opportunity for us to fulfill our mission of Creating Possibility for people right here in our communities,” said Mollie Carter, president and CEO of Sunflower Bank. “Helping children in need find mentors to guide them into a successful adulthood is important. We are proud to help and support such a worthy program.”

To reach their goal of $50,000, Sunflower Bank will donate 5¢ for every swipe of a Sunflower Bank debit card, now through September 30th. Additionally, representatives and volunteers from Big Brothers Big Sisters will team up with local Sunflower branches to host educational events for their communities. Customers and non-customers can also make donations to specific Big Brothers Big Sisters chapters by clicking here.

Big Brothers Big Sisters strives to create and support relationships that provide consistent, positive, one-to-one interaction between a single-parent child and an adult volunteer who will be an advisor and friend on the journey from childhood to adulthood. Both the adult and child receive great mutual benefit as they learn from each other and together help create a more positive future.
For more information about Sunflower Bank and Big Brothers Big Sisters please visit Go Big with BBBS.

About Sunflower Bank

Sunflower Bank is a $1.7 billion community bank, offering a complete line of personal checking, saving, mortgage and loans options, as well as business deposit, loan, and treasury management services and trust and wealth management services. Sunflower Bank is based in Salina, Kansas, with other locations throughout Kansas, Colorado, and Missouri. For more information, please visit www.SunflowerBank.com.

Keep up-to-date with everything in the Abilene Kansas Community!!

GET The Free Mobile App HERE. 

 

Little Peeps Make Big Masterpieces at Chaffee-Bradshaw Exhibit

Little Peeps Make Big Masterpieces at Chaffee-Bradshaw Exhibit

 by Dr. Michael Hernandez

Photo by William Snyder

At 5:00pm Friday, July 17, 2015 the doors opened to the annual Chaffee Bradshaw Exhibit.  The Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home hosted this year’s exhibit in the lobby of the library building.

The Chaffee Bradshaw exhibit features the work created by students who participated in this year’s summer Arts Council of Dickinson County arts program.  The children learn several art techniques including painting, and drawing.  This year’s class was instructed by Karen Cooper and Alyshia Anguiano..

Photo by William Snyder

The exhibition greeted a large number of art lovers at its opening.  Although the student masterpieces were the main focus, the visitors were also treated to table centerpieces made by the students using dry gourds and paint.  It was an evening of expression and TALENT!!!

Photo by William Snyder

The Chaffee Bradshaw can be seen through August 16^th 2015.  The exhibit can be seen at the Eisenhower Library’s lobby – 200 SE 4^th St., Abilene, Kansas – during regular visitation hours and there is no charge for the exhibit.

For more details about the exhibit or about the Arts Council of Dickinson County, please call 785-263-1884.

Keep up-to-date with everything in the Abilene Kansas Community!!

GET The Free Mobile App HERE. 

 

Red Banadana RUN

Keep up-to-date with everything in the Abilene Kansas Community!!

GET The Free Mobile App HERE. 

 

Learn How to Land a Government Contract!!!

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Government Contracting Informational Meeting

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

1:30pm - 4:00 pm

Learn how your company can benefit from government contracts.

Services needed at lakes across South Central and Southeast Kansas include construction, mowing, janitorial, tree
maintenance, building maintenance, fencing, debris removal, equipment maintenance, and electrical.

Location: NCAT Auditorium, 4004 N. Webb Rd, Wichita, Kansas Map:http://bit.ly/1MhVL9x

Register: http://bit.ly/1CrJ7Vf Registration begins at 1:00 PM

For more information or if you have questions please contact Kansas PTAC kansasptac@wichita.edu or 316.978.6788

The U.S. Department of Labor - Wage & Hour Division will host a Prevailing Wage Survey briefing in Wichita on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 from 1:30 - 4:00 PM. This informational meeting will discuss the Davis-Bacon wage survey process taking place in Kansas.

The Davis-Bacon and related Acts require payment of locally prevailing wage rates and fringe benefits to employees of contractors and subcontractors performing work on federally financed or assisted construction projects. A survey that covers Residential construction was recently initiated for the entire State of Kansas. The purpose of this survey is to solicit information on wages and fringe benefits paid on projects that were active and ongoing between 01/01/2014 and 05/31/2015.

Location: Kansas Small Business Development Center (WSU Metroplex), 5015 E. 29th St North, Wichita, KS 67220.

Please reserve your seat at the briefing by the close of business Friday, July 24, 2015 by emailing the Wage Analyst, Nolan Fine: fine.nolan@dol.gov, or call at (312) 596-7089 should you have questions or require additional information.

Keep up-to-date with everything in the Abilene Kansas Community!!

GET The Free Mobile App HERE. 

 

A Traditional Farm Life - Kosher Dill Pickles

A Traditional Farm Life

By Shasta Hamilton

Greetings from Enterprise, dear friends!  My daughters triumphantly ushered in the first red, ripe tomato from the girl’s garden this morning.  It was a mere 2 inches in diameter, so everyone present had to be satisfied with a thin slice of the first fruits of high summer.

The current abundance of cucumbers in the garden brings back to mind the joy of making pickles.  Since I’ll be teaching some folks on Saturday about canning pickles, a practice run after a two-year hiatus from pickling seemed in order. 

As a result, Thursday we took a “refresher course,” and got out the water bath canner, found the jars, lids, bands and assorted paraphernalia, and set to work.  It was with the fond recollections inspired by a visit from an old friend that I washed up those familiar canning utensils for use once more.

The last summer I actively canned was 2013, as summer 2014 was consumed by our baking for the Abilene Farmer’s Market.  According to our records, that summer we canned over 100 quarts of assorted pickles, 119 quarts of tomato products, 36 quarts of apple pie filling, plus 27 pints of “Mockberry Jam”—an unusual spread for bread composed of blended tomatoes, strawberry gelatin, and sugar. 

I don’t expect we will duplicate our “personal best” canning record of 2013 anytime soon, as the restaurant requires so much of our time these days.  Looking back, the more than 250 jars we processed seems a pretty amazing feat, but it was the end result of four months of canning several days a week—one canner load at a time. 

After all the washing, cutting, packing, and canning were over Thursday afternoon it was a delight to see those perpendicular pickle spears in the jars—even if there were only 4 quart this time around.

The following Kosher Dill Pickle recipe comes from an old Better Homes and Gardens Home Canning Cookbook. I’ve added additional instructions for folks these days not as familiar with the water bath canning process. 

With no brining involved, Kosher Dills are great first pickling project.  There are several tips we’ve picked up over the years to help make sure your finished pickles are crisp rather than soft. 

First, make sure your cucumbers are as fresh as possible.  We like to pick in the morning and pickle in the afternoon.  If you don’t have your own garden, Farmer’s Market cucumbers will probably have been picked the day of the market, so pickling the next day should be just fine.

Second, be sure to trim a thin slice off the blossom end of the cucumber.  This step removes an enzyme that causes soft pickles.

Third, do not over process the pickles, which cooks them and—understandably--softens them. 

Historically, pickles were fermented naturally in cellars without any heat processing at all.  In time, many were done by the ”open kettle” method, meaning the cucumbers, dill, spices, etc. were packed in the jars, a boiling brine poured over, and one at a time the jars were closed and left to seal at room temperature. 

The next progression was a 5-minute processing time in a boiling water bath.  The process was just like the “open kettle” method,” but the closed jars were placed in rapidly boiling water, covered, and processed for 5 minutes before removal to cool and seal.  Although this method is still widely used in rural communities today, it no longer conforms to modern recommendations.

Personally, I find it interesting to note that over the years “official” canning sources like “The Ball Blue Book” have gradually increased the processing time from 5, to 10, then 15 minutes. These days, a processing time of 15 or even 20 minutes is often recommended for pickles. 

If you’d like more information on current recommendations for home canning, please give Chelsi Myer at the Dickinson County K-State Research and Extension Office a call.  As a family we have benefited much over the years from K-State Extension literature.

Kosher Dill Pickles

2-1/2 lbs. pickling cucumbers

    (3 to 4 inches long)

  --larger cukes may be cut into spears

10 heads fresh dill

    (or 2-1/2 tablespoons dill seed)

5 large garlic cloves

5 tablespoons pickling salt

5 hot peppers (optional)

1 quart (5% acidity) apple cider  

    vinegar

    (do not use apple flavored vinegar)

3 quarts water

1.   Check 5 wide-mouth canning jars for cracks or nicks on sealing surface; wash in hot, soapy water and rinse thoroughly.  Wash ring bands as well.  Sterilize jar lids according to package directions, or by pouring boiling water over lids in a heat-proof container.

2.  Fill water bath canner about 2/3 full, cover, and begin heating on high heat.

3.  Thoroughly rinse the cucumbers.  Remove stems and cut off a very thin slice from the blossom end.

4.  In a large pot, combine the vinegar and water; bring to a boil.

5.  Place 2 heads dill (or 1/2 tablespoon dill seed), 1 clove garlic (peeled), and 1 tablespoon salt in the bottom of each jar.

6.  Tightly pack cucumbers into the jars, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace at the top of the jar.  (For larger cucumbers, slice into spears and pack vertically.)

7.  Ladle hot brine over cucumbers, leaving a 1/2-inch headspace.  Wipe rim clean with damp paper towel.  Place lid on top, and screw band on fingertip tight.  Place jars in rapidly boiling water with 1 to 2-inches above the jar lid.  (Add boiling water if necessary.)  Cover and process 15 minutes.  Carefully remove from boiling water and place jars upright 2 or 3 inches apart on a thick, dry towel, away from drafts.  Let cool undisturbed 12-24 hours.  When cool, test seals, wipe jars clean, and store.  For best taste, let stand at least one week before serving.

Copyright © 2015 by Shasta Hamilton

Shasta is a fifth generation rural Kansan now residing in Enterprise, Kansas.  She and her husband own and operate The Buggy Stop Home-Style Kitchen with their six home-schooled children.  You can reach The Buggy Stop by calling (785) 200-6385 or visit them on the web at www.thebuggystoprestaurant.com.

Keep up-to-date with everything in the Abilene Kansas Community!!

GET The Free Mobile App HERE. 

 

President Eisenhower Dealt A Mean Hand of Cards!!! And Bridge was his Game-O

Eisenhower Bridge Benefit

Duplicate Bridge players are invited to the second annual Dwight D. Eisenhower Bridge Benefit from 1 to 5 p.m. July 25 at the Eisenhower Presidential Library Courtyard, 200 S.E. Fourth Street

"Join us in celebrating and preserving the legacy of the 'Bridge Player in Chief, 'Dwight D. Eisenhower," invites Carol Sunde, Benefit director and member of the Abilene American Contract Bridge League that sponsors the event with the Eisenhower Foundation. "We wanted to have an event at the Eisenhower Presidential Library because Eisenhower was such a bridge player."

Benefit co-chairwoman and fellow bridge player Georgia Reynolds says Eisenhower learned to play bridge while attending West Point and continued to play the game throughout his life.

"Dwight D. Eisenhower played with some very big bridge players of his time," Reynolds says. "He was very strategic-minded, and duplicate bridge is very strategic."

Proceeds from the event benefit the K-12 educational programs, Ike EDucation, according to Reynolds.

"Ike EDucation is working hard to educate people about President Eisenhower and he is more popular now than he ever was,"she says. "He was a man that stood up for principles that matter."

Promoting the Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home is also a goal of the Bridge Benefit, and players and their spouses receive free passes to the museum.

Those interested in attending the event are encouraged to pre-register by emailing ikeed@eisenhowerfoundation.net or phone (785) 263-6791; the registration fee of $10 can be paid the day of the event. For more information, contact Sunde at (785) 263-0582.

The Abilene American Contract Bridge League, active for about 50 years, organized the first Eisenhower Bridge Benefit at the Eisenhower Library last year with 10 teams participating from Abilene, Salina, Concordia, Wichita, Hutchinson and Great Bend, according to Sunde. The winners took home a traveling trophy featuring a bust of Eisenhower with a plate inscribed with their names; that trophy will be passed on to this year's winners.

Duplicate Bridge, the most widely used variation of contract bridge in club and tournament play, features the same bridge deal replayed by different sets of players.

"The object of the game is to score more than everyone else playing with the same cards,"Sunde says. "It's a game of what you do with what you have, and it's the best card game I've ever played and I've played a lot of card games."

About the Eisenhower Foundation
To honor and champion the relevance today of the life and leadership of Dwight D. Eisenhower through compelling programs and events that celebrate his legacy.

 

Keep up-to-date with everything in the Abilene Kansas Community!!

GET The Free Mobile App HERE. 

 

State Farm Course on Long Term Care

State Farm Course on Long Term Care

Keep up-to-date with everything in the Abilene Kansas Community!!

GET The Free Mobile App HERE.