News

Welcome to my interview series, THE SUNFLOWER SEVEN, highlighting Kansans who have made exceptional strides in their chosen vocations and avocations. Since there are so many talented Kansans and there is so little time, I am limiting our talks to SEVEN QUESTIONS.

Fort Hays State University held their Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony Tuesday evening within Beach Schmidt Auditorium. Complete with cookie decorating, letters to Santa and holiday train rides, children, families and college students gathered around the stage awaiting Saint Nick’s arrival.

Kathy Reed, PharmD at HaysMed, recently earned her Board Certification as an Oncology Pharmacist, BCOP, from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties (BPS), the premier post-licensecertificationorganization serving the pharmacy profession. She is 1 of only 44 pharmacists in Kansas that have this certification.

Cooking with children can be fun and exhausting! However, taking the time and patience to cook with children has many benefits. Just about every developmental domain can be strengthened through having your child help in the kitchen. Skills children learn in the kitchen include math, reading, fine motor, following directions, sequencing, cultures, language, basic chemistry, and nutrition. Cooking is a life skill that they will need when they become adults. That is quite a list! Cooking also stimulates all five senses and that is how children learn! When children help in the kitchen they are more likely to try new foods because they helped to make them. Have your picky eater choose a recipe and make it together.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 (KJV) Last night, upon viewing the movie “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” for the umpteenth time, I thought that the writers of this movie must have had influence from Biblical origin.

“On Christmas night, all Christians sing to hear the news, the angels bring!” (“Sussex Carol” —song). It is said that Charles Dickens chose to call his classic tale “A Christmas Carol” because he hoped it would be shared together with friends and family for years to come, just like singing familiar carols around the fire.

When I saw the topic for this month’s “ONE,”I knew right away which movie I wanted to write about. I’m all about a good Christmas movie, but I’m even more about a hilarious comedy. Our family rule has always been to read a book before watching something in movie-form.That being said, my chosen movie is “Christmas with the Kranks,” based on the John Grisham novel, “Skipping Christmas.”

When asked to write about my favorite Christmas movie, the choice was an easy one. I have been a fan of actor Jimmy Stewart for as long as I can remember. My mom liked him too. She introduced me to him one evening, asking me to watch “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” with her. I was hooked. I even bought postage stamps with his picture on them.