You’ve heard of the blues, jazz, and ragtime. Barrelhouse Piano shares origins with those styles.

Pat O'Connor, Wichita bluesman and historian, will take participants down to the turpentine camps and railroad towns where that music began in the early twentieth century. 

This two-hour presentation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 5 in the Watson Room of the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.&nbsp;Admission is $20.

O'Connor will share the history of barrelhouse with examples from major players. You need not be a pianist to attend, but keyboard players can see the chord charts and exercises to come up with their own arrangements. The Stiefel has several keyboards for those who want to try it out that day.&nbsp;

Named for the houses where the barrels (probably of whiskey) could be found, barrelhouse piano is a two-handed style of playing early jazz, ragtime, and blues. 

“Each hand acts separately, but the two hands come together just in time,” O'Connor said.

O’Connor will include a brief history of Black music in Kansas, showing the importance of Black performers in the state. This will give a feel for the people behind the barrelhouse music and highlight their influence and contributions.

O’Connor has played piano and Hammond B-3 organ in rock bands and solo from L.A. to London since the late 1960s and has a forthcoming book on Wichita Blues from University Press of Mississippi.

This event is a presentation of the Stiefel Theatre’s Mike Finnigan School of Music. Register in advance at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/classes/barrelhouse-piano">www.stiefeltheatre.org/classes/barrelhouse-piano</a> or at the door.

The Mike Finnigan School of Music – named for late Hammond B-3 master Mike Finnigan whose legacy helps support the school – also offers summer classes in beginning and intermediate guitar, beginning piano, African-American church piano, vocals, songwriting, brass instruments and more. Enroll at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/school-of-music">www.stiefeltheatre.org/school-of-music</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1685290813672.jpeg" alt="Pat O'Connor.&nbsp;Photo by Phil Scalia courtesy Stiefel Theatre's&nbsp;Mike Finnigan School of Music" />
 <figcaption>Pat O'Connor.&nbsp;Photo by Phil Scalia courtesy Stiefel Theatre's&nbsp;Mike Finnigan School of Music</figcaption>
 </figure>Mike Finnigan School of MusicYou’ve heard of the blues, jazz, and ragtime. Barrelhouse Piano shares origins with those styles.Pat O'Connor, Wichita bluesman and historian, will take participants down to the turpentine camps and railroad towns where that music began in the early twentieth century. This two-hour presentation is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 5 in the Watson Room of the Stiefel Theatre, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue.&nbsp;Admission is $20.O'Connor will share the history of barrelhouse with examples from major players. You need not be a pianist to attend, but keyboard players can see the chord charts and exercises to come up with their own arrangements. The Stiefel has several keyboards for those who want to try it out that day.&nbsp;Named for the houses where the barrels (probably of whiskey) could be found, barrelhouse piano is a two-handed style of playing early jazz, ragtime, and blues. “Each hand acts separately, but the two hands come together just in time,” O'Connor said.O’Connor will include a brief history of Black music in Kansas, showing the importance of Black performers in the state. This will give a feel for the people behind the barrelhouse music and highlight their influence and contributions.O’Connor has played piano and Hammond B-3 organ in rock bands and solo from L.A. to London since the late 1960s and has a forthcoming book on Wichita Blues from University Press of Mississippi.This event is a presentation of the Stiefel Theatre’s Mike Finnigan School of Music. Register in advance at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/classes/barrelhouse-piano">www.stiefeltheatre.org/classes/barrelhouse-piano</a> or at the door.The Mike Finnigan School of Music – named for late Hammond B-3 master Mike Finnigan whose legacy helps support the school – also offers summer classes in beginning and intermediate guitar, beginning piano, African-American church piano, vocals, songwriting, brass instruments and more. Enroll at <a href="http://www.stiefeltheatre.org/school-of-music">www.stiefeltheatre.org/school-of-music</a>.

Barrelhouse Piano focus of presentation in Stiefel's Watson Room

By ADAM KEALOHA CAUSEY Associated Press

DALLAS — When Tina Turner died at age 83, I found myself drifting back to the fourth grade, to the day I truly discovered her voice.

I was on Thanksgiving break — bored — when I decided to rummage through my parents' old cassette tapes in search of entertainment.

What I found was astonishing: an album called "Private Dancer."

"I look up to the stars with my perfect memory. I look through it all and my future's no shock to me."

"Who was this magnificent woman?" I thought as the lyrics of the song "I Might Have Been Queen (Soul Survivor)," flowed through the headphones of my Walkman. "What had she been through?"

I quickly consulted an expert on the matter: my mom, who as a teenager in the '60s, had been listening to Tina since she first made hits with her then-husband Ike.

Mom, like Tina, didn't sugarcoat the superstar's history: Off-stage, Ike was beating her. It was something she herself — and most others — didn't know when she and Dad first went to see her live in the '70s.

It was shocking and sickening to hear. But Mom also shared Tina's triumphs, how she continued to mesmerize and dazzle fans despite the hell she endured. She recalled seeing Tina and her backing vocalists and dancers, the Ikettes, go so hard onstage that the ribbon ties of Tina's sandals, starting out near her calves, ended up around her ankles. The concert was wild. Rapturous.

I wanted to experience this. Five years later, I did.

In 1997, Mom and Dad loaded my siblings and me into our 1987 Chevy Suburban and made the five-hour drive from our home in Doyline, Louisiana, to The Woodlands, Texas, to catch Tina on her "Wildest Dreams" world tour.

I was hypnotized. The burst of sparkling, silver sequins onstage. The voice that could go from the deepest growl to a tender coo. The infectious smile and air kisses to the audience that made it seem like she really was happy we were all there. The kicks. The shimmies. The staccato steps as she worked the entire stage. As my uncle who had waited in line for hours to buy the tickets for our lawn seats would say after the show: "Kids, tonight you've been in the presence of greatness."

That night was also a moment of personal awakening. It wasn't just an incredible performance from a Grammy winner and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; it was the crowd of thousands of fans of all ages, bigger and more diverse than any a young teen from a small, Southern town had ever seen. The fans were Black, white and even hapa (mixed-race) Hawaiians like us. Some were gay. Some were straight. I bet there were also both Republicans and Democrats, singing and twirling together in harmony to "Proud Mary."

The experience, I realized years later, was part of my parents' design to broaden my worldview. Tina helped them to do that.

In 2008, I was able to repay my parents for the gift they had given me: I got us tickets to a San Jose, California, stop on Tina's farewell tour. Tina was nearing 70 at that point, but she still had the moves and the energy. Earlier this year, I took Mom and Dad to see "Tina: The Musical" in New Orleans during its post-Broadway run across the U.S.

As a mega-fan enamored by Tina the artist, I have also had to come to grips with the jolting reality of Tina the woman — a real flesh and blood person who had a violent upbringing in a home with fighting parents and later endured the physical abuse of her own husband.

I was awed by the story of this woman who was brave enough to talk, with grace, about domestic violence long before the rest of society did. How she snuck out of a Dallas hotel room one night in the late '70s while Ike Turner was sleeping, hurried across a nearby highway and checked herself into a Ramada Inn with a Mobil credit card. She had 36 cents to her name.

Watching the 2021 documentary that Tina called her goodbye to the public, I also understood how she was retraumatized over the decades by interviewers who asked her to describe, again and again, how she got away from Ike, while overlooking greater career accomplishments that were disconnected from her ex-husband. And that was on top of the racism and sexism she faced in the music industry.

As Angela Bassett, who played the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" in an Oscar-nominated turn in "What's Love Got to Do With It" said in the documentary, "It's hard when the worst parts of your life have been an inspiration."

Bassett is right, and that's complicated.

I live in Dallas. So, it felt not only right, but necessary, after I heard about Tina's death, to make my way to the old Ramada Inn where she famously and heroically reclaimed her life.

I strolled into the lobby of what is now the boutique Lorenzo Hotel, said hi to a handful of other fans who were passing through, and approached the giant, arresting photo of Tina that hangs there, exuding all the confidence and attitude she's earned: fishnet stockings, big hair and a look that says, "Don't test me."

I reflected on the many moments of my life when Tina had inspired me, including this year when I ran a marathon and cranked up "Proud Mary" on my phone as my energy was draining during the last 2 miles.

In my hand was an orange-and-yellow rose — the shade that one of Queen Elizabeth II's rose growers had famously named after Tina — that I had plucked from a bouquet a thoughtful friend bought me when Tina died.

I smiled and tucked the bloom into a cleft in the portrait's ornate frame.

At 40, I had finally answered the burning question my 10-year-old self had asked and that Mom had tried to answer: I knew who that magnificent woman was, and what she had been through. And I knew that the lyrics to "I Might Have Been Queen" not only spoke to her ability to endure, but her belief in reincarnation.

Beautiful, Tina. For me, you will always live on.

By ADAM KEALOHA CAUSEY Associated PressDALLAS — When Tina Turner died at age 83, I found myself drifting back to the fourth grade, to the day I truly discovered her voice.I was on Thanksgiving break — bored — when I decided to rummage through my parents' old cassette tapes in search of entertainment.What I found was astonishing: an album called "Private Dancer.""I look up to the stars with my perfect memory. I look through it all and my future's no shock to me.""Who was this magnificent woman?" I thought as the lyrics of the song "I Might Have Been Queen (Soul Survivor)," flowed through the headphones of my Walkman. "What had she been through?"I quickly consulted an expert on the matter: my mom, who as a teenager in the '60s, had been listening to Tina since she first made hits with her then-husband Ike.Mom, like Tina, didn't sugarcoat the superstar's history: Off-stage, Ike was beating her. It was something she herself — and most others — didn't know when she and Dad first went to see her live in the '70s.It was shocking and sickening to hear. But Mom also shared Tina's triumphs, how she continued to mesmerize and dazzle fans despite the hell she endured. She recalled seeing Tina and her backing vocalists and dancers, the Ikettes, go so hard onstage that the ribbon ties of Tina's sandals, starting out near her calves, ended up around her ankles. The concert was wild. Rapturous.I wanted to experience this. Five years later, I did.In 1997, Mom and Dad loaded my siblings and me into our 1987 Chevy Suburban and made the five-hour drive from our home in Doyline, Louisiana, to The Woodlands, Texas, to catch Tina on her "Wildest Dreams" world tour.I was hypnotized. The burst of sparkling, silver sequins onstage. The voice that could go from the deepest growl to a tender coo. The infectious smile and air kisses to the audience that made it seem like she really was happy we were all there. The kicks. The shimmies. The staccato steps as she worked the entire stage. As my uncle who had waited in line for hours to buy the tickets for our lawn seats would say after the show: "Kids, tonight you've been in the presence of greatness."That night was also a moment of personal awakening. It wasn't just an incredible performance from a Grammy winner and member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; it was the crowd of thousands of fans of all ages, bigger and more diverse than any a young teen from a small, Southern town had ever seen. The fans were Black, white and even hapa (mixed-race) Hawaiians like us. Some were gay. Some were straight. I bet there were also both Republicans and Democrats, singing and twirling together in harmony to "Proud Mary."The experience, I realized years later, was part of my parents' design to broaden my worldview. Tina helped them to do that.In 2008, I was able to repay my parents for the gift they had given me: I got us tickets to a San Jose, California, stop on Tina's farewell tour. Tina was nearing 70 at that point, but she still had the moves and the energy. Earlier this year, I took Mom and Dad to see "Tina: The Musical" in New Orleans during its post-Broadway run across the U.S.As a mega-fan enamored by Tina the artist, I have also had to come to grips with the jolting reality of Tina the woman — a real flesh and blood person who had a violent upbringing in a home with fighting parents and later endured the physical abuse of her own husband.I was awed by the story of this woman who was brave enough to talk, with grace, about domestic violence long before the rest of society did. How she snuck out of a Dallas hotel room one night in the late '70s while Ike Turner was sleeping, hurried across a nearby highway and checked herself into a Ramada Inn with a Mobil credit card. She had 36 cents to her name.Watching the 2021 documentary that Tina called her goodbye to the public, I also understood how she was retraumatized over the decades by interviewers who asked her to describe, again and again, how she got away from Ike, while overlooking greater career accomplishments that were disconnected from her ex-husband. And that was on top of the racism and sexism she faced in the music industry.As Angela Bassett, who played the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll" in an Oscar-nominated turn in "What's Love Got to Do With It" said in the documentary, "It's hard when the worst parts of your life have been an inspiration."Bassett is right, and that's complicated.I live in Dallas. So, it felt not only right, but necessary, after I heard about Tina's death, to make my way to the old Ramada Inn where she famously and heroically reclaimed her life.I strolled into the lobby of what is now the boutique Lorenzo Hotel, said hi to a handful of other fans who were passing through, and approached the giant, arresting photo of Tina that hangs there, exuding all the confidence and attitude she's earned: fishnet stockings, big hair and a look that says, "Don't test me."I reflected on the many moments of my life when Tina had inspired me, including this year when I ran a marathon and cranked up "Proud Mary" on my phone as my energy was draining during the last 2 miles.In my hand was an orange-and-yellow rose — the shade that one of Queen Elizabeth II's rose growers had famously named after Tina — that I had plucked from a bouquet a thoughtful friend bought me when Tina died.I smiled and tucked the bloom into a cleft in the portrait's ornate frame.At 40, I had finally answered the burning question my 10-year-old self had asked and that Mom had tried to answer: I knew who that magnificent woman was, and what she had been through. And I knew that the lyrics to "I Might Have Been Queen" not only spoke to her ability to endure, but her belief in reincarnation.Beautiful, Tina. For me, you will always live on.

Mega-fan's tribute to Tina Turner's limitless energy, survival lessons

Prisoner of war camps in Kansas during World War II will be the focus of the next First Thursday presentation by the Smoky Hill Museum.

The presentation is scheduled for 5:30-6:30 p.m. June 1 in the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina. The presentation is open to the public at no charge.

Additionally, those interested can register to watch the presentation via Zoom at www.smokyhillmuseum.org.

About the presentation courtesy Smoky Hill Museum

During World War II, there were hundreds of thousands of German prisoners of war to feed, house and guard. This job went to the more than 600 camps in 47 of the (then) 48 states. Kansas pulled its weight with 16 camps. 

Join Lowell A. May, as he talks about the camps, their size, where they were, how they impacted local life as well as the men inside them. He’ll also touch on what became of some of the camps and bring a camp model to display. May is an independent researcher, author, popular speaker and member of the POW Camp Concordia Preservation Society.

For needed accommodations, please call Nona Miller at 309-5776 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.  Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684982093663.jpeg" alt="Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Smoky Hill Museum</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTPrisoner of war camps in Kansas during World War II will be the focus of the next First Thursday presentation by the Smoky Hill Museum.The presentation is scheduled for 5:30-6:30 p.m. June 1 in the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue in downtown Salina. The presentation is open to the public at no charge.Additionally, those interested can register to watch the presentation via Zoom at www.smokyhillmuseum.org.About the presentation courtesy Smoky Hill MuseumDuring World War II, there were hundreds of thousands of German prisoners of war to feed, house and guard. This job went to the more than 600 camps in 47 of the (then) 48 states. Kansas pulled its weight with 16 camps. Join Lowell A. May, as he talks about the camps, their size, where they were, how they impacted local life as well as the men inside them. He’ll also touch on what became of some of the camps and bring a camp model to display. May is an independent researcher, author, popular speaker and member of the POW Camp Concordia Preservation Society.For needed accommodations, please call Nona Miller at 309-5776 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Every effort will be made to accommodate known disabilities. For material or speech access, please call at least five working days prior to the event.

World War II POW camps in Kansas topic of Smoky Hill Museum program

ABILENE - Mark your calendars! The annual Symphony at Sunset D-Day Commemoration event is June 3.

Located on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, the outdoor event will feature live music from the Salina Symphony, the Fort Riley 1st Infantry Division Band, and local band Everyday Lights.

The free event is open to all ages and pays tribute to members of the Greatest Generation and their sacrifices during World War II. 

Seating will not be provided. Those attending are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.

The schedule for the day's activites is as follows.

10 a.m.: Free entry into museum begins

4 p.m.: Food vendors and educational activities begin

5 p.m.: Second annual Thank a World War II Veteran reception begins in the Visitor's Center.

6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.: The Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard is scheduled to perform their cavalry tactics demonstrations.

The full list of D-Day commemorative activities including the Symphony at Sunset and the WWII Emerging Scholars Symposium can be found on the eisenhowerlibrary.gov website.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684892663199.jpeg" alt="A previous Symphony at Sunset event. Photo courtesy Eisenhower Presidential Library" />
 <figcaption>A previous Symphony at Sunset event. Photo courtesy Eisenhower Presidential Library</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTABILENE - Mark your calendars! The annual Symphony at Sunset D-Day Commemoration event is June 3.Located on the grounds of the Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum in Abilene, the outdoor event will feature live music from the Salina Symphony, the Fort Riley 1st Infantry Division Band, and local band Everyday Lights.The free event is open to all ages and pays tribute to members of the Greatest Generation and their sacrifices during World War II. Seating will not be provided. Those attending are asked to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets.The schedule for the day's activites is as follows.10 a.m.: Free entry into museum begins4 p.m.: Food vendors and educational activities begin5 p.m.: Second annual Thank a World War II Veteran reception begins in the Visitor's Center.5:30 p.m.: Music begins6:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.: The Commanding General's Mounted Color Guard is scheduled to perform their cavalry tactics demonstrations.The full list of D-Day commemorative activities including the Symphony at Sunset and the WWII Emerging Scholars Symposium can be found on the eisenhowerlibrary.gov website.

D-Day commemoration event set for June 3 at Eisenhower Library

Theatre Salina and the Center for Theatre Arts have scheduled an audition workshop open to potential new auditionees for the upcoming season. 

The purpose of the workshop is to make attendees comfortable with the audition process, whether this is their first audition or they’ve auditioned many times, according to Michael Spicer, executive director of Theatre Salina. 

The free workshop is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 3 and is limited to persons age eight and older. Parents of young auditionees are encouraged to stay and have their questions answered as well. The clinic will be led by Spicer, Tyler Breneman, and Maggie Spicer Brown.

Spicer Brown is the education director at Theatre Salina and has directed and choreographed such shows as Mamma Mia, Freaky Friday, Something Rotten. She will choreograph the Matilda to open the next season. Brenaman has been musical director for a number of shows including The Addams Family and Fiddler on the Roof. He is part of the creative team for Matilda. Spicer has directed more than 90 shows at Theatre Salina.

The workshop is limited to the first 25 registrants. To register, email Spicer Brown at <a href="mailto:maggie@salinatheatre.com">maggie@salinatheatre.com</a> or call 785-827-6126.

By SALINA POSTTheatre Salina and the Center for Theatre Arts have scheduled an audition workshop open to potential new auditionees for the upcoming season. The purpose of the workshop is to make attendees comfortable with the audition process, whether this is their first audition or they’ve auditioned many times, according to Michael Spicer, executive director of Theatre Salina. The free workshop is scheduled for 10 a.m. June 3 and is limited to persons age eight and older. Parents of young auditionees are encouraged to stay and have their questions answered as well. The clinic will be led by Spicer, Tyler Breneman, and Maggie Spicer Brown.Spicer Brown is the education director at Theatre Salina and has directed and choreographed such shows as Mamma Mia, Freaky Friday, Something Rotten. She will choreograph the Matilda to open the next season. Brenaman has been musical director for a number of shows including The Addams Family and Fiddler on the Roof. He is part of the creative team for Matilda. Spicer has directed more than 90 shows at Theatre Salina. The workshop is limited to the first 25 registrants. To register, email Spicer Brown at <a href="mailto:maggie@salinatheatre.com">maggie@salinatheatre.com</a> or call 785-827-6126.

Theatre Salina offering audition workshop in June

GLEN ELDER STATE PARK - Rob Boeve will headline a free concert at Glen Elder State Park Sunday.

Organized by the Waconda Camping Club, the concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at the Osage shelter house in Glen Elder State Park at Waconda Lake.

"The event is free with a state park pass and all are invited to attend. Bring your lawn chairs, tents, yard games, picnic and dancing shoes. Rob Boeve, a local Beloit resident, will be acoustically entertaining the summer kickoff event. Boeve has graced the stage at Tootsies and several other local venues," the Waconda Camping Club noted in a news release.

The concert is free, thanks to sponsors Schoen Funeral Home and Monument, Schoen Auto Repair and Expressions, LLC. The sponsors also will be selling Waconda Lake t-shirts, funds from which will be donated to the Waconda Cultural Association for lake and camping improvements.

Additonally, members of the Waconda Cultural Association will be on site to pre-sell LakeFest t-shirts.

LakeFest is scheduled for July 1 and is to include fun and activities to help raise money for the Waconda Cultural Association for lake improvements. Fun and activities planned include the following, according to information from the Waconda Camping Club.

●Live music, food vendors and a beer garden will begin at noon.

●The TreeSlayor, a talented chainsaw carver, is scheduled to entertain at the event.

●Musical entertainment is to include Henry Tice, Chey Knoll, and Back2Back, and Marzolf Trucking will sponsor DJ Bridwell for the headlining entertainment that night. 

●The Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce's firework show over the lake is scheduled for dusk.

“It’s so exciting to be a part of these events at the lake! The people involved whether it be sponsors, volunteers, campers or attendees all come together to make these awesome events possible. It’s great that the money raised comes right back for lake and camping improvements! I’m super excited for some big announcements this year!” said Lydia Housh, with the Waconda Camping Club.

To help volunteer or sponsor or for more information on this event or upcoming lake events, contact Housh via text/call at Becker Autos &amp; Trailers in Beloit at 785-534-1227.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684876354705.jpeg" alt="Rob Boeve. Photo courtesy&nbsp;Waconda Camping Club" />
 <figcaption>Rob Boeve. Photo courtesy&nbsp;Waconda Camping Club</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTGLEN ELDER STATE PARK - Rob Boeve will headline a free concert at Glen Elder State Park Sunday.Organized by the Waconda Camping Club, the concert is scheduled for 7 p.m. Sunday at the Osage shelter house in Glen Elder State Park at Waconda Lake."The event is free with a state park pass and all are invited to attend. Bring your lawn chairs, tents, yard games, picnic and dancing shoes. Rob Boeve, a local Beloit resident, will be acoustically entertaining the summer kickoff event. Boeve has graced the stage at Tootsies and several other local venues," the Waconda Camping Club noted in a news release.The concert is free, thanks to sponsors Schoen Funeral Home and Monument, Schoen Auto Repair and Expressions, LLC. The sponsors also will be selling Waconda Lake t-shirts, funds from which will be donated to the Waconda Cultural Association for lake and camping improvements.Additonally, members of the Waconda Cultural Association will be on site to pre-sell LakeFest t-shirts.LakeFest is scheduled for July 1 and is to include fun and activities to help raise money for the Waconda Cultural Association for lake improvements. Fun and activities planned include the following, according to information from the Waconda Camping Club.●Yard game contests●Kids’ activities●Contests●A live auction and raffle●Live music, food vendors and a beer garden will begin at noon.●The TreeSlayor, a talented chainsaw carver, is scheduled to entertain at the event.●Musical entertainment is to include Henry Tice, Chey Knoll, and Back2Back, and Marzolf Trucking will sponsor DJ Bridwell for the headlining entertainment that night. ●The Beloit Area Chamber of Commerce's firework show over the lake is scheduled for dusk.“It’s so exciting to be a part of these events at the lake! The people involved whether it be sponsors, volunteers, campers or attendees all come together to make these awesome events possible. It’s great that the money raised comes right back for lake and camping improvements! I’m super excited for some big announcements this year!” said Lydia Housh, with the Waconda Camping Club.To help volunteer or sponsor or for more information on this event or upcoming lake events, contact Housh via text/call at Becker Autos &amp; Trailers in Beloit at 785-534-1227.

Boeve headlines YOLO Summer Kickoff at Glen Elder State Park Sunday

A veteran of the Smoky Hill River Festival Medallion Quest has won the 2023 quest.

Salina Arts &amp; Humanities announced this morning that Sheri Chase Jones had found this year's medallion. Her win was confirmed on Sunday.

According to information from Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, this year's medallion is a "three-ounce artificially aged, rectangular glass bottle with a metal cap sealed with wax. Inside the bottle was a rolled piece of paper with the medallion information and the message 'You found it' inscribed so it could be seen through the glass. An artificially aged wire was wrapped around the neck of the bottle and used as a hook to hang from the grate."

The medallion was hung in a storm drain in the alley of the 100 block of N. Santa Fe Avenue between the rear entrance of Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee House and the Townsite building.

How Chase Jones found the medallion courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities

On Sunday morning, Chase Jones waited for clue No. 8 to be released and then headed to the City Lights Stage at N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street. The clue, "A great location" had her looking at grates and "Hanging down" directed her to downtown Salina. As she searched the alley behind Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee House for the first time, she found a grate with a chain and pulled it to discover the medallion around 10 a.m. 

Chase Jones is no stranger to the Festival Medallion Quest and has participated for 11 years. She is the former director of finance for Global Spectrum and lived in Salina from 2012-2015. This year, her strategy was to stay calm and focused, "more thinking and less walking," she said.

Her son, Logan Jones, lives in Salina and was her partner in the search this year. She drove into town on Friday night, and they headed downtown to the intersection of N. Santa Fe Avenue and Ash Street. Chase Jones looked around Lakewood Park but kept heading back downtown. She used a mirror on an extending stick to aid her search.

Chase Jones is the 17th winner of the Festival Medallion Quest, which was started in 2009 by the Smoky Hill River Festival. 

"Never take the clues for face value," she said, sharing that she believes some clues describe the medallion itself. 

"Is this a thing or a place?" she asks herself. Or, "how can I twist this [clue] to be something different from what it appears to be?"

Chase Jones thinks about the FMQ all year long and counts down the weeks as she prepares in advance by working on word puzzles. She is a frequent art patron at the Smoky Hill River Festival and is excited to buy art with a larger budget than usual this year.

Chase Jones received a prize package of $1,000 in cash and $2,000 in gift certificates for shopping at the reiver festival Fine Art and Craft Show. Additionally, she received four festival admission wrist bands, a complimentary on-grounds VIP parking pass, an invitation for four to the Thursday evening PREMIERE Art Patron Party, and four 2023 river festival t-shirts.

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/24e08350-739b-45d4-9b4e-deafa18a4de8">Smoky Hill River Festival set for June 8-11 in Oakdale Park</a>

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/98ad285d-2e1d-48d9-8ffd-673f5cbf58e6">Smoky Hill River Festival admission wristbands go on sale Monday</a>

READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/80c1c0cb-3ae8-4cd4-afba-5fb54db6985d">Smoky Hill River Run expands food, fun offerings; registration now open</a>

The 2023 quest took nearly five days. To view the complete set of this year's&nbsp; Festival Medallion Quest clues, go to <a href="http://festivalmedallionquest.com">festivalmedallionquest.com</a> and click on the Clues page.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684777254974.jpeg" alt="Sheri Chase Jones with the 2023 medallion she found. Photos courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities" />
 <figcaption>Sheri Chase Jones with the 2023 medallion she found. Photos courtesy Salina Arts &amp; Humanities</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTA veteran of the Smoky Hill River Festival Medallion Quest has won the 2023 quest.Salina Arts &amp; Humanities announced this morning that Sheri Chase Jones had found this year's medallion. Her win was confirmed on Sunday.According to information from Salina Arts &amp; Humanities, this year's medallion is a "three-ounce artificially aged, rectangular glass bottle with a metal cap sealed with wax. Inside the bottle was a rolled piece of paper with the medallion information and the message 'You found it' inscribed so it could be seen through the glass. An artificially aged wire was wrapped around the neck of the bottle and used as a hook to hang from the grate."<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684777318230.jpeg" alt="This year's medallion" />
 <figcaption>This year's medallion</figcaption>
 </figure>The medallion was hung in a storm drain in the alley of the 100 block of N. Santa Fe Avenue between the rear entrance of Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee House and the Townsite building.How Chase Jones found the medallion courtesy Salina Arts &amp; HumanitiesOn Sunday morning, Chase Jones waited for clue No. 8 to be released and then headed to the City Lights Stage at N. Santa Fe Avenue and W. Ash Street. The clue, "A great location" had her looking at grates and "Hanging down" directed her to downtown Salina. As she searched the alley behind Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee House for the first time, she found a grate with a chain and pulled it to discover the medallion around 10 a.m. "It happened so quickly!" she said.Chase Jones is no stranger to the Festival Medallion Quest and has participated for 11 years. She is the former director of finance for Global Spectrum and lived in Salina from 2012-2015. This year, her strategy was to stay calm and focused, "more thinking and less walking," she said.Her son, Logan Jones, lives in Salina and was her partner in the search this year. She drove into town on Friday night, and they headed downtown to the intersection of N. Santa Fe Avenue and Ash Street. Chase Jones looked around Lakewood Park but kept heading back downtown. She used a mirror on an extending stick to aid her search.Chase Jones is the 17th winner of the Festival Medallion Quest, which was started in 2009 by the Smoky Hill River Festival. "Never take the clues for face value," she said, sharing that she believes some clues describe the medallion itself. "Is this a thing or a place?" she asks herself. Or, "how can I twist this [clue] to be something different from what it appears to be?"Chase Jones thinks about the FMQ all year long and counts down the weeks as she prepares in advance by working on word puzzles. She is a frequent art patron at the Smoky Hill River Festival and is excited to buy art with a larger budget than usual this year.Chase Jones received a prize package of $1,000 in cash and $2,000 in gift certificates for shopping at the reiver festival Fine Art and Craft Show. Additionally, she received four festival admission wrist bands, a complimentary on-grounds VIP parking pass, an invitation for four to the Thursday evening PREMIERE Art Patron Party, and four 2023 river festival t-shirts.READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/24e08350-739b-45d4-9b4e-deafa18a4de8">Smoky Hill River Festival set for June 8-11 in Oakdale Park</a>READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/98ad285d-2e1d-48d9-8ffd-673f5cbf58e6">Smoky Hill River Festival admission wristbands go on sale Monday</a>READ: <a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/80c1c0cb-3ae8-4cd4-afba-5fb54db6985d">Smoky Hill River Run expands food, fun offerings; registration now open</a>The 2023 quest took nearly five days. To view the complete set of this year's&nbsp; Festival Medallion Quest clues, go to <a href="http://festivalmedallionquest.com">festivalmedallionquest.com</a> and click on the Clues page.

Medallion Quest winner finds medallion hanging in a storm drain 

SM Hanson Festival Jam aficionados are in for a treat when the 37th annual jam takes the Eric Stein Stage June 8.

SM Hanson Music has added a 17th band to perform this year, according to Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music, Inc. The new spot is by invitation, he said.

This year's invitation band is a group of musicians from Salina Central High School: Downtown Funk. The funk/pop group has 10 performers under the guidance of Guillermo Rodriguez, Central band director. The musicians include the following.

Downtown Funk is scheduled to kick off Festival Jam at 5:45 p.m. June 8.

"One more reason to arrive early on Thursday, June 8, for the SM Hanson Festival Jam – gates open at 4 p.m.," Hanson said.

The SM Hanson Festival Jam is a fast-paced evening of live music for all that opens the Smoky Hill River Festival.&nbsp;The Smoky Hill River Festival is scheduled for June 8-11 in Salina's Oakdale Park.

Last year, more than 13,000 people attended the SM Hanson Festival Jam, Hanson said.

Admission is by Smoky Hill River Festival wristband. The wristbands are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Additionally, daily wristbands will be sold at the gate for $10 per person per day. Children ages 11 and under get in free.

To see the specific locations for wristband sales, including SM Hanson Music, Inc.,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/participating-retailers/">click here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/24e08350-739b-45d4-9b4e-deafa18a4de8">Smoky Hill River Festival set for June 8-11 in Oakdale Park</a>

Following is the rest of the lineup for this year's Festival Jam, courtesy SM Hanson Music, Inc.

6 p.m. Keep the Change This band opened the show last year. A project of Steve Hanson – Abilene high school students of Steve Hanson and Dean Kranzler, this six-piece band will play rock to start our show.

6:15 p.m. FedUp A four-piece band from Salina playing rock. This band played the Jam in 2015 and 2022. The Salina-based band has been together for 10 years.

6:30 p.m. The Radicles A Salina band playing a mix of eclectic rock. A four-piece band you will enjoy.

6:45 p.m. Don Wagner &amp; Friends Don and friends have played the Jam previously – always entertaining with a mix of country, rock, blues, and folk music.

7 p.m. Jon’Nea Soul New to the Jam – this Wichita-based four-piece band will play R&amp;B and soul music. There is a local connection to Salina. We are excited to hear them play at the 37th SM Hanson Festival Jam.

7:15 p.m. Ghost Town Revival First time at the Jam for this five-piece band. A Salina band playing classic rock and blues. Some of these guys have done this before.

7:30 p.m. Lix A band from the past – older now and yet... This original Salina three-piece band has added a bass player – so make that four-piece. These guys will play classic rock and blues.

7:45 p.m. The Opinions Forty years ago (so they say), these guys formed their band in Salina. Now, they have real jobs and live mostly in the Kansas City area. They played last year and we are glad to have them again.

8 p.m. Soul Preachers A Salina three-piece band – they have played the Jam previously, but it has been a few years. They play Roger Miller death shred metal – with Eric Copeland on drums.

8:15 p.m. Hey Radio A Wichita-based band – these guys lit it up in 2019 and 2022. We look forward to their mix of skate punk and pop (with a little energy).

8:30 p.m. Starslinger New to the Festival Jam, this three-piece band from Hays America has been playing dates around the Midwest for seven years. Get ready for alternative/psych/space rock – that’s right!

8:45 p.m. Dune Buggy These guys have played before. This Pet Project consists of five members playing together for several years. Their quick set will include rock and pop.

9 p.m. Northcutt A crowd favorite – five-piece Salina band playing red-dirt country/rock/blues.

9:15 p.m. Bootleg Mercy This four-piece band rocks! One magazine said “Kick-A__-Rock” from Kansas. These guys have multiple rock music award nominations. Revamped lineup since their last Jam in 2016 – something to see!

9:30 Steve Hanson &amp; Co. The founder – this is their 37th time at the Jam. Always a variety – always great.

9:45 p.m. The Blades This band has so many great players – it is really hard to count all of the people on stage! We hope to have enough room on stage.

READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/7fc84870-1a07-40ac-a33b-4a05149abeee">S.M. Hanson Music: A family tradition for 50 years</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684811197332.jpeg" alt="Photo courtesy SM Hanson Music, Inc." />
 <figcaption>Photo courtesy SM Hanson Music, Inc.</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTSM Hanson Festival Jam aficionados are in for a treat when the 37th annual jam takes the Eric Stein Stage June 8.SM Hanson Music has added a 17th band to perform this year, according to Rick Hanson, CEO and president of SM Hanson Music, Inc. The new spot is by invitation, he said.This year's invitation band is a group of musicians from Salina Central High School: Downtown Funk. The funk/pop group has 10 performers under the guidance of Guillermo Rodriguez, Central band director. The musicians include the following.Zack Tibbits- TromboneMiguel López Gonzalez- TrumpetSam Cusick- SaxBrock Dolton- SaxJackson Angell- SaxJasmine Kassem- PianoCorbin Banninger- DrumsJulian Lund- BassMaddie Craft- PercussionPaige Hinca- PercussionDowntown Funk is scheduled to kick off Festival Jam at 5:45 p.m. June 8."One more reason to arrive early on Thursday, June 8, for the SM Hanson Festival Jam – gates open at 4 p.m.," Hanson said.The SM Hanson Festival Jam is a fast-paced evening of live music for all that opens the Smoky Hill River Festival.&nbsp;The Smoky Hill River Festival is scheduled for June 8-11 in Salina's Oakdale Park.Last year, more than 13,000 people attended the SM Hanson Festival Jam, Hanson said.Admission is by Smoky Hill River Festival wristband. The wristbands are $15 in advance and $20 at the gate. Additionally, daily wristbands will be sold at the gate for $10 per person per day. Children ages 11 and under get in free.To see the specific locations for wristband sales, including SM Hanson Music, Inc.,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.riverfestival.com/participating-retailers/">click here</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/24e08350-739b-45d4-9b4e-deafa18a4de8">Smoky Hill River Festival set for June 8-11 in Oakdale Park</a><figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/4/1682709122168.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the rest of the lineup for this year's Festival Jam, courtesy SM Hanson Music, Inc.6 p.m. Keep the Change This band opened the show last year. A project of Steve Hanson – Abilene high school students of Steve Hanson and Dean Kranzler, this six-piece band will play rock to start our show.6:15 p.m. FedUp A four-piece band from Salina playing rock. This band played the Jam in 2015 and 2022. The Salina-based band has been together for 10 years.6:30 p.m. The Radicles A Salina band playing a mix of eclectic rock. A four-piece band you will enjoy.6:45 p.m. Don Wagner &amp; Friends Don and friends have played the Jam previously – always entertaining with a mix of country, rock, blues, and folk music.7 p.m. Jon’Nea Soul New to the Jam – this Wichita-based four-piece band will play R&amp;B and soul music. There is a local connection to Salina. We are excited to hear them play at the 37th SM Hanson Festival Jam.7:15 p.m. Ghost Town Revival First time at the Jam for this five-piece band. A Salina band playing classic rock and blues. Some of these guys have done this before.7:30 p.m. Lix A band from the past – older now and yet... This original Salina three-piece band has added a bass player – so make that four-piece. These guys will play classic rock and blues.7:45 p.m. The Opinions Forty years ago (so they say), these guys formed their band in Salina. Now, they have real jobs and live mostly in the Kansas City area. They played last year and we are glad to have them again.8 p.m. Soul Preachers A Salina three-piece band – they have played the Jam previously, but it has been a few years. They play Roger Miller death shred metal – with Eric Copeland on drums.8:15 p.m. Hey Radio A Wichita-based band – these guys lit it up in 2019 and 2022. We look forward to their mix of skate punk and pop (with a little energy).8:30 p.m. Starslinger New to the Festival Jam, this three-piece band from Hays America has been playing dates around the Midwest for seven years. Get ready for alternative/psych/space rock – that’s right!8:45 p.m. Dune Buggy These guys have played before. This Pet Project consists of five members playing together for several years. Their quick set will include rock and pop.9 p.m. Northcutt A crowd favorite – five-piece Salina band playing red-dirt country/rock/blues.9:15 p.m. Bootleg Mercy This four-piece band rocks! One magazine said “Kick-A__-Rock” from Kansas. These guys have multiple rock music award nominations. Revamped lineup since their last Jam in 2016 – something to see!9:30 Steve Hanson &amp; Co. The founder – this is their 37th time at the Jam. Always a variety – always great.9:45 p.m. The Blades This band has so many great players – it is really hard to count all of the people on stage! We hope to have enough room on stage.READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://salinapost.com/posts/7fc84870-1a07-40ac-a33b-4a05149abeee">S.M. Hanson Music: A family tradition for 50 years</a>

SM Hanson Music adds 17th band to this year's Festival Jam

The Salina Art Center is hosting later this week an opening night reception for its summer exhibition: Point of View.

The reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Thursday in the Salina Art Center, 242 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Several artists are scheduled to be in attendance and offer brief comments beginning at 6 p.m.

Curated by Christine Olejniczak of Lawrence, Point of View features the works of four artists: Alicia Kelly of Lawrence; Becky Hyberger of Salina; Candace Hicks of Nacogdoches, Texas; and Mandy Bernard of Homer, Ark.

Point of View is scheduled for Wednesday through Sept. 3. Salina Art Center gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.

Point of View takes a cinematic look at dream fragments, crop circles, surveillance, and a world of light and shadows, according to information from the Salina Art Center.

About the exhibition, courtesy Salina Art Center

Point of View takes a cinematic look at dream fragments, crop circles, surveillance, and a world of light and shadows. Kelly presents an environment that welcomes visitors with a first-person experience, a reminder to call home, an invitation to pass through a patterned canopy of light - to feel small - to experience being out of scale with your surroundings. Wearable pieces, done in collaboration with Bernard, wrap the body inside the sculpture. The relationship with sculpture is personal.

In another gallery, Hicks suggests a story revealing that a fluffy, cumulus cloud is the main character of an inept plot of cover-up and violence. You are part of the surveillance team. You are outside of the action but an essential witness to the crime. Other narratives throughout the installation are scenes and objects based on information from unreliable sources that may or may not be true. Is that actual video of a crop circle being formed? It makes you wonder. Who is providing the information? How do you know what is true and what are the stories we tell ourselves? 

Hyberger shares a perspective gained through years of journaling her dreams. She is showcasing a piece that imagines that pillows can be storage containers for dreams. The dream fragments are created in miniature, at architectural scale so that we can look down on them. A transformation has occurred, and we are giants in the room. We are large and the dreams are small, fragile, easy to examine. We can talk about it now. We’ve changed our point of view and that story seems like a long time ago.

By SALINA POSTThe Salina Art Center is hosting later this week an opening night reception for its summer exhibition: Point of View.The reception is scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Thursday in the Salina Art Center, 242 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Several artists are scheduled to be in attendance and offer brief comments beginning at 6 p.m.Curated by Christine Olejniczak of Lawrence, Point of View features the works of four artists: Alicia Kelly of Lawrence; Becky Hyberger of Salina; Candace Hicks of Nacogdoches, Texas; and Mandy Bernard of Homer, Ark.Point of View is scheduled for Wednesday through Sept. 3. Salina Art Center gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday; 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday; and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.Point of View takes a cinematic look at dream fragments, crop circles, surveillance, and a world of light and shadows, according to information from the Salina Art Center.About the exhibition, courtesy Salina Art CenterPoint of View takes a cinematic look at dream fragments, crop circles, surveillance, and a world of light and shadows. Kelly presents an environment that welcomes visitors with a first-person experience, a reminder to call home, an invitation to pass through a patterned canopy of light - to feel small - to experience being out of scale with your surroundings. Wearable pieces, done in collaboration with Bernard, wrap the body inside the sculpture. The relationship with sculpture is personal. In another gallery, Hicks suggests a story revealing that a fluffy, cumulus cloud is the main character of an inept plot of cover-up and violence. You are part of the surveillance team. You are outside of the action but an essential witness to the crime. Other narratives throughout the installation are scenes and objects based on information from unreliable sources that may or may not be true. Is that actual video of a crop circle being formed? It makes you wonder. Who is providing the information? How do you know what is true and what are the stories we tell ourselves? Hyberger shares a perspective gained through years of journaling her dreams. She is showcasing a piece that imagines that pillows can be storage containers for dreams. The dream fragments are created in miniature, at architectural scale so that we can look down on them. A transformation has occurred, and we are giants in the room. We are large and the dreams are small, fragile, easy to examine. We can talk about it now. We’ve changed our point of view and that story seems like a long time ago.

Opening reception for new exhibition Thursday at Salina Art Center

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:

See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:

*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-505&amp;fbclid=IwAR2-2Xq5C1-9wMewY3GYpu-5J00syn3eua_4LT7cuHsNG7j-9tpT99wxLFM" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-505</a> ***

There are 11 new bestsellers, 43 new movies, 31 new music CDs, and 185 other new books. The new bestsellers this week include "Fourth Wing," "The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic," and "Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself." The new movies this week include "John Wick: Chapter 4," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant."&nbsp;&nbsp;

From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/salinapubliclibrary">Salina Public Library Facebook page</a>:See what's new this week at the Salina Public Library at:*** <a href="http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-505&amp;fbclid=IwAR2-2Xq5C1-9wMewY3GYpu-5J00syn3eua_4LT7cuHsNG7j-9tpT99wxLFM" target="_blank">http://wowbrary.org/nu.aspx?fb&amp;p=5578-505</a> ***There are 11 new bestsellers, 43 new movies, 31 new music CDs, and 185 other new books. The new bestsellers this week include "Fourth Wing," "The Shadow Docket: How the Supreme Court Uses Stealth Rulings to Amass Power and Undermine the Republic," and "Look for Me There: Grieving My Father, Finding Myself." The new movies this week include "John Wick: Chapter 4," "The Super Mario Bros. Movie," and "Guy Ritchie's The Covenant."&nbsp;&nbsp;<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684591604077.jpeg" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>

Check out what's new at Salina Public Library

The 2023 Smoky Hill River Festival season begins Wednesday afternoon when the first clue for the Medallion Quest is revealed.

The Medallion Quest marks the official countdown to the Smoky Hill River Festival, which is scheduled for June 8-11 in Salina's Oakdale Park.

The first Medallion Quest clue reveal by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities Arts Commissioners is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday on the front steps of the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue, according to information from Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.

After the Wednesday launch, two different Medallion Quest clues will be revealed each day - at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. - until the medallion is found. The clues will be revealed on the <a href="https://www.festivalmedallionquest.com/">Medallion Quest website</a>.

The Medallion Quest is open to the public at no charge, however, participants must be 18 years of age to claim any prize. See all the Medallion Quest Rules at festivalmedallionquest.com.

The prize package for this year's Medallion Quest includes the following, according to Arts &amp; Humanities.

●$2,000 in festival gift certificates, to be used for purchases in the Fine Art and Craft Show or Art/Craft Demonstration Area during the festival weekend

●Four complimentary festival admission wristbands

●One on-grounds festival parking pass (weather permitting)

●An invitation for four to attend the evening PREMIERE Art Patron Party on June 8

●Four Smoky Hill River Festival t-shirts

"The medallion is a unique object designed each year by an artist. The custom-designed medallion looks different each time. It has been made from wood, paper, clay, resin, or plastic, designed by an artist to resemble a wide variety of objects to ensure a challenging hunt," Arts &amp; Humanities noted in a news release.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684127131010.jpeg" alt="The first 2023 Smoky Hill River Festival Medallion Quest clue will be revealed on the steps of the Smoky Hill Museum at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Salina Post file photo" />
 <figcaption>The first 2023 Smoky Hill River Festival Medallion Quest clue will be revealed on the steps of the Smoky Hill Museum at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Salina Post file photo</figcaption>
 </figure>By SALINA POSTThe 2023 Smoky Hill River Festival season begins Wednesday afternoon when the first clue for the Medallion Quest is revealed.The Medallion Quest marks the official countdown to the Smoky Hill River Festival, which is scheduled for June 8-11 in Salina's Oakdale Park.The first Medallion Quest clue reveal by Salina Arts &amp; Humanities Arts Commissioners is scheduled for 4 p.m. Wednesday on the front steps of the Smoky Hill Museum, 211 W. Iron Avenue, according to information from Salina Arts &amp; Humanities.After the Wednesday launch, two different Medallion Quest clues will be revealed each day - at 7:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. - until the medallion is found. The clues will be revealed on the <a href="https://www.festivalmedallionquest.com/">Medallion Quest website</a>.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1684127462947.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>The Medallion Quest is open to the public at no charge, however, participants must be 18 years of age to claim any prize. See all the Medallion Quest Rules at festivalmedallionquest.com.The prize package for this year's Medallion Quest includes the following, according to Arts &amp; Humanities.●$1,000 in cash●$2,000 in festival gift certificates, to be used for purchases in the Fine Art and Craft Show or Art/Craft Demonstration Area during the festival weekend●Four complimentary festival admission wristbands●One on-grounds festival parking pass (weather permitting)●An invitation for four to attend the evening PREMIERE Art Patron Party on June 8●Four Smoky Hill River Festival t-shirts"The medallion is a unique object designed each year by an artist. The custom-designed medallion looks different each time. It has been made from wood, paper, clay, resin, or plastic, designed by an artist to resemble a wide variety of objects to ensure a challenging hunt," Arts &amp; Humanities noted in a news release.

Medallion Quest first clue reveal Wednesday at Smoky Hill Museum

Summer reading has long been a staple of public libraries across the country. At Salina Public Library, one of our most frequent fond recollections from adult patrons is participating in summer reading as a child. Efforts to promote reading, especially during the summer, are central to the library’s calendar with our first inter-departmental planning meeting held in the fall the year before.&nbsp;

There is a reason we put staff time and resources into the summer. The “summer slide” refers to children’s risk of losing reading and math skills gained over the course of the school year during summer break. This is especially true for younger children and disproportionally affects children from low-income families.

The good news is that helping children retain what they learned over the school year doesn’t have to involve long days in a classroom or expensive learning tools. Simple things like encouraging reading and making time for educational play can make a big difference. That’s why the library sets a summer reading goal with prize incentives and offers about 100 free educational youth programs over the summer. A traditional summer reading program has evolved at the library to include STEM programs, Moby Max and book club sessions with a certified teacher and learning packets that include math and reading worksheets.

The goal is for the community to read 15,000 books over the course of nine weeks. Participation in the library’s summer reading goal is simple and no registration is required. Each week beginning May 19 through July 20, readers of all ages can submit the number of books they have read online at <a href="http://salinapubliclibrary.org/" target="_blank">salinapubliclibrary.org</a> or by completing a paper form at the library. We encourage adults to participate in the reading goal as well because children who have adults who read in their lives are more likely to be readers themselves. At the end of the week, 10 winners will be drawn from the submissions. Prizes will include gift certificates, toys and books.&nbsp;

Summer at the Library will start with a kickoff celebration from 5-7 p.m. May 19 in Caldwell Plaza. There will be games, a prize drawing, and hot dogs. 

The summer will wrap up with a pool party for youth on July 23 and a gathering for adults at Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee on Aug. 4. 

The Friends of the Salina Public Library has provided support for summer prizes and parties. 

A full listing of events can be found at <a href="http://calendar.salinapubliclibrary.org/" target="_blank">calendar.salinapubliclibrary.org</a> or by picking up a library calendar at the library or around town.

Additionally,&nbsp;health and nutrition are impacted by the summer months with students who rely on school lunches needing to fill the gap. To help our community with this issue over the summer, the library partners with St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church to be a summer lunch site by handing out meals from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at the McKenzie Center, 308 W. Elm Street. Priority is given to youth 0-18. 

The library also is continuing its partnership with Salina Family Healthcare Center which will have personnel at the library from 1:30-3:30 p.m. June 1 and July 6. They’ll provide health screenings and education.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683944970754.jpeg" alt="A previous Salina Public Library summer kickoff event. This year, the kickoff celebration is scheduled for May 19. Photo courtesy Salina Public Library" />
 <figcaption>A previous Salina Public Library summer kickoff event. This year, the kickoff celebration is scheduled for May 19. Photo courtesy Salina Public Library</figcaption>
 </figure>Salina Public LibrarySummer reading has long been a staple of public libraries across the country. At Salina Public Library, one of our most frequent fond recollections from adult patrons is participating in summer reading as a child. Efforts to promote reading, especially during the summer, are central to the library’s calendar with our first inter-departmental planning meeting held in the fall the year before.&nbsp;There is a reason we put staff time and resources into the summer. The “summer slide” refers to children’s risk of losing reading and math skills gained over the course of the school year during summer break. This is especially true for younger children and disproportionally affects children from low-income families.The good news is that helping children retain what they learned over the school year doesn’t have to involve long days in a classroom or expensive learning tools. Simple things like encouraging reading and making time for educational play can make a big difference. That’s why the library sets a summer reading goal with prize incentives and offers about 100 free educational youth programs over the summer. A traditional summer reading program has evolved at the library to include STEM programs, Moby Max and book club sessions with a certified teacher and learning packets that include math and reading worksheets.The goal is for the community to read 15,000 books over the course of nine weeks. Participation in the library’s summer reading goal is simple and no registration is required. Each week beginning May 19 through July 20, readers of all ages can submit the number of books they have read online at <a href="http://salinapubliclibrary.org/" target="_blank">salinapubliclibrary.org</a> or by completing a paper form at the library. We encourage adults to participate in the reading goal as well because children who have adults who read in their lives are more likely to be readers themselves. At the end of the week, 10 winners will be drawn from the submissions. Prizes will include gift certificates, toys and books.&nbsp;Summer at the Library will start with a kickoff celebration from 5-7 p.m. May 19 in Caldwell Plaza. There will be games, a prize drawing, and hot dogs. The summer will wrap up with a pool party for youth on July 23 and a gathering for adults at Ad Astra Books &amp; Coffee on Aug. 4. The Friends of the Salina Public Library has provided support for summer prizes and parties. A full listing of events can be found at <a href="http://calendar.salinapubliclibrary.org/" target="_blank">calendar.salinapubliclibrary.org</a> or by picking up a library calendar at the library or around town.Additionally,&nbsp;health and nutrition are impacted by the summer months with students who rely on school lunches needing to fill the gap. To help our community with this issue over the summer, the library partners with St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church to be a summer lunch site by handing out meals from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Monday-Friday at the McKenzie Center, 308 W. Elm Street. Priority is given to youth 0-18. The library also is continuing its partnership with Salina Family Healthcare Center which will have personnel at the library from 1:30-3:30 p.m. June 1 and July 6. They’ll provide health screenings and education.

Summer at Salina Public Library: Books, food, fun, and health

Wendy Stein likes music, almost all kinds of music.&nbsp;

She played principal clarinet with the Salina Symphony from 1972, when she was a student at Marymount College, until 2005.

Her favorite composer is Maurice Ravel, but her favorite genre to play?

“I love saxophone because I can play jazz and the sound of the saxophone is very versatile,” Stein said.

That’s fortunate for Kansas Wesleyan because Stein has agreed to come back to teach woodwinds and direct the Wind Ensemble.&nbsp;

“My experiences performing in various wind ensembles have been some of my absolute favorite musical memories!” Stein said. “Wind ensemble is the perfect challenge, to help KWU musicians move them from where they are now to where they need to go as members of an ensemble.”

When she taught at Kansas Wesleyan previously, the spring of 2017 through the fall of 2018, she directed the jazz band.

“It was really fun,” she said. “The kids had a good time and responded well to my teaching. It was a great experience and I enjoyed the kids. Retirement didn’t suit me, and I needed something creative to do.”&nbsp;

Musical creativity runs rampant through Stein’s family. Her late husband was Eric Stein, founder of the Salina Symphony and a major force in Salina’s music scene. Eric taught for years at Marymount College, moving to Kansas Wesleyan when Marymount closed in 1989.

Her children, Adele and Derek Stein, are both professional cellists and were the guest artists at Salina Strings Day in February.&nbsp;

Derek lives on the West Coast and plays with Wild Up, a modern music collective nominated for a Grammy this year and in 2020. His most recent high-profile gig was backing up The Who at the Hollywood Bowl.&nbsp;

Adele lives in Chappaqua, New York and plays in the pit for Broadway musicals, currently “&amp; Juliet.” One recent high-profile gig was at the Met Gala on May 1.

Wendy Stein was the band director for 35 years at St. John’s Military School. She is, in fact, working on a musical based on her experiences at St. John’s.&nbsp;

Before St. John’s, Stein taught in the Solomon public schools for five years.

Stein said she’s “just really excited to join the team.” She knows the other team members already. In a town the size of Salina, all the musicians know one another, she said. She went to Marymount with Dean Kranzler, percussion instructor, and is a friend of Michelle Dolan, who is part of the department, as well.

“Gustavo (do Carmo) and Leo (Rosario) are super in their individual fields, no airs at all, and that makes it better for the kids,” she said.&nbsp;

Do Carmo is the collaborative pianist and Rosario the director of strings at Kansas Wesleyan.

While she hasn’t yet worked with Jake Montoya, newly hired director of the jazz and athletic bands, she knows him.

“Jake should be just perfect with the bands and recruiting,” Stein said. “I’ve known Jake for a long time. It’ll be great working with him.

“I feel good about the direction the Music Department is going. I’m happy to be a little piece of the puzzle.”&nbsp;

The size of Kansas Wesleyan is ideal, Stein said.

“The college itself meets the needs of all the students because it’s a small school and gives them more a sense of home. I think that’s what Wesleyan is all about, giving them a sense of home and college, being not just a number. It gives students a chance to shine and puts the kids right at the forefront.”

In some ways, this will be a tough year to teach, with the renovations going in the music classrooms and practice rooms, Sams Chapel and Pioneer Hall. Some of the performances will be back at the former Marymount College, in the Gov. Joan Finney Auditorium at the Kansas Highway Patrol Academy.

“Remodeling where we perform, that’s going to be great,” she said. “We’ll just roll with punches.”

Coming to KWU, “It feels like coming home, a little bit,” she said. “It’s nice to have a way to come back.”

Stein’s work officially begins in August.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2023/5/1683856041701.jpeg" alt="Wendy Stein. Photo courtesy KWU" />
 <figcaption>Wendy Stein. Photo courtesy KWU</figcaption>
 </figure>KWUWendy Stein likes music, almost all kinds of music.&nbsp;She played principal clarinet with the Salina Symphony from 1972, when she was a student at Marymount College, until 2005.Her favorite composer is Maurice Ravel, but her favorite genre to play?“I love saxophone because I can play jazz and the sound of the saxophone is very versatile,” Stein said.And she loves teaching.That’s fortunate for Kansas Wesleyan because Stein has agreed to come back to teach woodwinds and direct the Wind Ensemble.&nbsp;“My experiences performing in various wind ensembles have been some of my absolute favorite musical memories!” Stein said. “Wind ensemble is the perfect challenge, to help KWU musicians move them from where they are now to where they need to go as members of an ensemble.”When she taught at Kansas Wesleyan previously, the spring of 2017 through the fall of 2018, she directed the jazz band.“It was really fun,” she said. “The kids had a good time and responded well to my teaching. It was a great experience and I enjoyed the kids. Retirement didn’t suit me, and I needed something creative to do.”&nbsp;Musical creativity runs rampant through Stein’s family. Her late husband was Eric Stein, founder of the Salina Symphony and a major force in Salina’s music scene. Eric taught for years at Marymount College, moving to Kansas Wesleyan when Marymount closed in 1989.Her children, Adele and Derek Stein, are both professional cellists and were the guest artists at Salina Strings Day in February.&nbsp;Derek lives on the West Coast and plays with Wild Up, a modern music collective nominated for a Grammy this year and in 2020. His most recent high-profile gig was backing up The Who at the Hollywood Bowl.&nbsp;Adele lives in Chappaqua, New York and plays in the pit for Broadway musicals, currently “&amp; Juliet.” One recent high-profile gig was at the Met Gala on May 1.Wendy Stein was the band director for 35 years at St. John’s Military School. She is, in fact, working on a musical based on her experiences at St. John’s.&nbsp;Before St. John’s, Stein taught in the Solomon public schools for five years.Stein said she’s “just really excited to join the team.” She knows the other team members already. In a town the size of Salina, all the musicians know one another, she said. She went to Marymount with Dean Kranzler, percussion instructor, and is a friend of Michelle Dolan, who is part of the department, as well.“Gustavo (do Carmo) and Leo (Rosario) are super in their individual fields, no airs at all, and that makes it better for the kids,” she said.&nbsp;Do Carmo is the collaborative pianist and Rosario the director of strings at Kansas Wesleyan.While she hasn’t yet worked with Jake Montoya, newly hired director of the jazz and athletic bands, she knows him.“Jake should be just perfect with the bands and recruiting,” Stein said. “I’ve known Jake for a long time. It’ll be great working with him.“I feel good about the direction the Music Department is going. I’m happy to be a little piece of the puzzle.”&nbsp;The size of Kansas Wesleyan is ideal, Stein said.“The college itself meets the needs of all the students because it’s a small school and gives them more a sense of home. I think that’s what Wesleyan is all about, giving them a sense of home and college, being not just a number. It gives students a chance to shine and puts the kids right at the forefront.”In some ways, this will be a tough year to teach, with the renovations going in the music classrooms and practice rooms, Sams Chapel and Pioneer Hall. Some of the performances will be back at the former Marymount College, in the Gov. Joan Finney Auditorium at the Kansas Highway Patrol Academy.But the inconvenience will be worth it.“Remodeling where we perform, that’s going to be great,” she said. “We’ll just roll with punches.”Coming to KWU, “It feels like coming home, a little bit,” she said. “It’s nice to have a way to come back.”Stein’s work officially begins in August.