September, 2018
President’s Message
I encourage you to visit your neighbors along US 24! You’ll be introduced to some very nice people who obviously love their community and are eager to share their warmth with you. It is not artificial, or commercial, but down-home real. I experienced this at the Twine-a-thon, August 17 in Cawker City. Being together to add to the great ball, to sing and dance, to witness the dedication of a new sign with a picture history of the Ball-of-Twine, it was special in ways that defy words. It was an event of the heart.
You don’t sing happy birthday to a 99 year-old very often, or see a 4-year-old dance her heart out while winning yours. This was community in action, welcoming all. The handsome new sign captures the unique history of the sisal ball. Do stop to see it–and be embraced by the town surrounding it.
The museum featured in this issue of the Anthology is a new facility, dedicated to some of the oldest stories in the valley, the new Waconda Visitor and Education Center.
Humanities Kansas is bringing Leo Oliva, a founding member of SV24HA and Solomon Valley Anthology newsletter editor, to our annual meeting to speak on Women Writers on the Santa Fe Trail, sharing the stories of five women who traveled the historic trail and wrote about their experiences. The writings include a diary, letters, articles for newspapers and magazines, and memoirs. There is keen interest in these women writers, perhaps heightened because we have been nourishing voices in the Solomon Valley for 14 years. We have come to appreciate women’s participation in Call for Voices, with many of their writings printed in the newsletter. Please see contest details on our website. The due date for the current Call for Voices is November 1.
The alliance Board of Directors is planning to engage in the Strategic Doings Process with the first event in October. We hope to discover actions and opportunities that help the SV24HA address the needs of our 24 communities on Highway 24. This is a board decision as they seek the path for the alliance’s future. Members interested in attending, please contact me. This special board meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 10, at the Stockton Public Library, located one-half block north of the only stoplight in town.
–Joan Nothern
June, 2018
Dear Friends Along This Way,
Friends are here to support each other, and that is precisely the purpose of the Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance. Our 24 communities on Highway 24 are busy each and every day meeting the needs of their residents and neighbors, and then working to tend the special events that define their community. It is a privilege to lend our support, for theirs is the heritage we have committed to promote.
The community kiosks were one of our first major undertakings. We wanted to recognize both our united Solomon Valley history and the defining characteristics of each town. The two-sided kiosks were the perfect format–allowing us to do both! The Kansas Sampler Foundation had worked to refine how a person might digest the information about a place. They isolated 8 rural cultural elements that captured the past and present. These 8 cultural elements guided the story building for our kiosks.
But why a kiosk at each place? The stories were created by the people living there, for visitors stopping there. They are local voices for listening ears.
The kiosks have just undergone renewal. We hope listening explorers will stop for many years to come.
The museums in the valley are dynamic civic gifts. They engage visitors of all ages, encouraging appreciation for and understanding of the past. We will feature a museum column in the Anthology, updating on special exhibits and activities. Sue McFarland introduces the Rooks County Museum in this issue.
Please consider bookmarking our website on your computer (www.hwy24.org). It is a growing library of local histories, of new writing, of resources, of places to go and things to see! Do try it–you’ll like it!
Finally, we are announcing the 14th annual Call for Voices. Youth and Adults may add prose and poetry to our valley heritage. Our writing contest enriches grassroots culture. You will find entry information in this issue and on our website.
Thank you for being a friend in the Solomon Valley. I hope our paths cross as we travel to enjoy the unique experiences provided by the “24 on 24.”
–Joan Nothern
March, 2018
Dear Friends Along This Way,
We have many things to share with you as we complete our Water/Ways journey and begin again to explore the Solomon Valley together. There were eight special events presented during the course of our wander Water/Ways exhibit, from August 2017 to January 2018. We reported on all of them in the Solomon Valley Anthology, with the final program coverage in this issue. Another special note – the complete exhibit is now on our website! Click Here To View
It is an honor to acknowledge the Kansas Humanities Council for providing the principal funding for our Water/Ways partner site role. The KHC is a nonprofit cultural organization that connects communities with history, traditions, and ideas to strengthen civic life. This project is part of “Water/Ways,” a statewide initiative exploring the ways water shapes our lives.
We say this, write this, read this over and over as we introduce and advertise KHC programs. But as we look back on this past two years, preparing for and presenting our exhibit Living Off the Water: the Challenge to Tame and Sustain Life in the Solomon Valley, the attribution to the KHC does describe our experience! We have benefited as communities connected to each other as well as with history and traditions.
During the year, you will find the Call for Voices 2017 poetry and prose published in the Anthology. Many participants turned to water in their writing. We are pleased that the conversation will continue in this way.
Finally, our website has a fresh look. It is meant to be a useful tool. We hope it encourages you to get on the road to explore our 24 on 24! Take a look!
–Joan Nothern
December, 2017
Dear Friends Along This Way,
This has been a remarkable year for the SV24HA. Working together we continue to bring the heritage of the Solomon Valley to the public. The Water/Ways story of Taming and Sustaining Life in the Solomon Valley was well received at four venues, from August through November. We are indebted to the local researchers and hosts who made this a successful partnership with the Kansas Humanities Council.
At this time, our 24 blue-roofed kiosks along US 24 are being refurbished. New panels will be installed with updated information, formatted on the Kansas Sampler 8 Rural Elements. This project is supported by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Alliance board members Roger Hrabe and Alan LeSage have led the way on this project.
We had a good response to the 13th annual Call for Voices. Our generous reader-judges are reviewing this work. We will meet the winners at the Annual Meeting, January 27, in Osborne.
This is the season of thanks, and as an organization we have many people to thank: all of the board members who ease us along, step-by-step, adding to our cultural resources; the gift of the Solomon Valley Anthology; the judges of Call for Voices; web master Greg German for maintaining <hwy24.org>, a growing record of the Solomon Valley and 24 communities on US 24; and, finally, we thank you, the members, who support our vision and activities. It is time to renew memberships, to give membership gifts, and to encourage others to join us.
I hope you will plan to attend the Annual Membership Meeting, Saturday, January 27. We will recognize the Faye Minium Spirit Award recipient and announce the 2017 Call for Voices winners. A special program by Ron Parks and Leo Oliva will bring our Water/Ways exploration to a thoughtful conclusion.
Let’s continue our journey together!
–Joan Nothern
President’s Message
I encourage you to visit your neighbors along US 24! You’ll be introduced to some very nice people who obviously love their community and are eager to share their warmth with you. It is not artificial, or commercial, but down-home real. I experienced this at the Twine-a-thon, August 17 in Cawker City. Being together to add to the great ball, to sing and dance, to witness the dedication of a new sign with a picture history of the Ball-of-Twine, it was special in ways that defy words. It was an event of the heart.
You don’t sing happy birthday to a 99 year-old very often, or see a 4-year-old dance her heart out while winning yours. This was community in action, welcoming all. The handsome new sign captures the unique history of the sisal ball. Do stop to see it–and be embraced by the town surrounding it.
The museum featured in this issue of the Anthology is a new facility, dedicated to some of the oldest stories in the valley, the new Waconda Visitor and Education Center.
Humanities Kansas is bringing Leo Oliva, a founding member of SV24HA and Solomon Valley Anthology newsletter editor, to our annual meeting to speak on Women Writers on the Santa Fe Trail, sharing the stories of five women who traveled the historic trail and wrote about their experiences. The writings include a diary, letters, articles for newspapers and magazines, and memoirs. There is keen interest in these women writers, perhaps heightened because we have been nourishing voices in the Solomon Valley for 14 years. We have come to appreciate women’s participation in Call for Voices, with many of their writings printed in the newsletter. Please see contest details on our website. The due date for the current Call for Voices is November 1.
The alliance Board of Directors is planning to engage in the Strategic Doings Process with the first event in October. We hope to discover actions and opportunities that help the SV24HA address the needs of our 24 communities on Highway 24. This is a board decision as they seek the path for the alliance’s future. Members interested in attending, please contact me. This special board meeting is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 10, at the Stockton Public Library, located one-half block north of the only stoplight in town.
–Joan Nothern
June, 2018
Dear Friends Along This Way,
Friends are here to support each other, and that is precisely the purpose of the Solomon Valley Highway 24 Heritage Alliance. Our 24 communities on Highway 24 are busy each and every day meeting the needs of their residents and neighbors, and then working to tend the special events that define their community. It is a privilege to lend our support, for theirs is the heritage we have committed to promote.
The community kiosks were one of our first major undertakings. We wanted to recognize both our united Solomon Valley history and the defining characteristics of each town. The two-sided kiosks were the perfect format–allowing us to do both! The Kansas Sampler Foundation had worked to refine how a person might digest the information about a place. They isolated 8 rural cultural elements that captured the past and present. These 8 cultural elements guided the story building for our kiosks.
But why a kiosk at each place? The stories were created by the people living there, for visitors stopping there. They are local voices for listening ears.
The kiosks have just undergone renewal. We hope listening explorers will stop for many years to come.
The museums in the valley are dynamic civic gifts. They engage visitors of all ages, encouraging appreciation for and understanding of the past. We will feature a museum column in the Anthology, updating on special exhibits and activities. Sue McFarland introduces the Rooks County Museum in this issue.
Please consider bookmarking our website on your computer (www.hwy24.org). It is a growing library of local histories, of new writing, of resources, of places to go and things to see! Do try it–you’ll like it!
Finally, we are announcing the 14th annual Call for Voices. Youth and Adults may add prose and poetry to our valley heritage. Our writing contest enriches grassroots culture. You will find entry information in this issue and on our website.
Thank you for being a friend in the Solomon Valley. I hope our paths cross as we travel to enjoy the unique experiences provided by the “24 on 24.”
–Joan Nothern
March, 2018
Dear Friends Along This Way,
We have many things to share with you as we complete our Water/Ways journey and begin again to explore the Solomon Valley together. There were eight special events presented during the course of our wander Water/Ways exhibit, from August 2017 to January 2018. We reported on all of them in the Solomon Valley Anthology, with the final program coverage in this issue. Another special note – the complete exhibit is now on our website! Click Here To View
It is an honor to acknowledge the Kansas Humanities Council for providing the principal funding for our Water/Ways partner site role. The KHC is a nonprofit cultural organization that connects communities with history, traditions, and ideas to strengthen civic life. This project is part of “Water/Ways,” a statewide initiative exploring the ways water shapes our lives.
We say this, write this, read this over and over as we introduce and advertise KHC programs. But as we look back on this past two years, preparing for and presenting our exhibit Living Off the Water: the Challenge to Tame and Sustain Life in the Solomon Valley, the attribution to the KHC does describe our experience! We have benefited as communities connected to each other as well as with history and traditions.
During the year, you will find the Call for Voices 2017 poetry and prose published in the Anthology. Many participants turned to water in their writing. We are pleased that the conversation will continue in this way.
Finally, our website has a fresh look. It is meant to be a useful tool. We hope it encourages you to get on the road to explore our 24 on 24! Take a look!
–Joan Nothern
December, 2017
Dear Friends Along This Way,
This has been a remarkable year for the SV24HA. Working together we continue to bring the heritage of the Solomon Valley to the public. The Water/Ways story of Taming and Sustaining Life in the Solomon Valley was well received at four venues, from August through November. We are indebted to the local researchers and hosts who made this a successful partnership with the Kansas Humanities Council.
At this time, our 24 blue-roofed kiosks along US 24 are being refurbished. New panels will be installed with updated information, formatted on the Kansas Sampler 8 Rural Elements. This project is supported by the Dane G. Hansen Foundation. Alliance board members Roger Hrabe and Alan LeSage have led the way on this project.
We had a good response to the 13th annual Call for Voices. Our generous reader-judges are reviewing this work. We will meet the winners at the Annual Meeting, January 27, in Osborne.
This is the season of thanks, and as an organization we have many people to thank: all of the board members who ease us along, step-by-step, adding to our cultural resources; the gift of the Solomon Valley Anthology; the judges of Call for Voices; web master Greg German for maintaining <hwy24.org>, a growing record of the Solomon Valley and 24 communities on US 24; and, finally, we thank you, the members, who support our vision and activities. It is time to renew memberships, to give membership gifts, and to encourage others to join us.
I hope you will plan to attend the Annual Membership Meeting, Saturday, January 27. We will recognize the Faye Minium Spirit Award recipient and announce the 2017 Call for Voices winners. A special program by Ron Parks and Leo Oliva will bring our Water/Ways exploration to a thoughtful conclusion.
Let’s continue our journey together!
–Joan Nothern