Recently by Michael Bontrager

The best part about Christmas is opening presents. On Christmas morning, children all over the world rush to find gifts under their trees. But not all children are fortunate enough to have presents to open. With the economy in a rut and wallets tightening, many families struggle to give their children something to make their eyes sparkle.

To help those needy children local woodworkers, artists and students in the Wichita area come together for what is known as the Toy Project. The Sunflower Woodworkers' Guild heads the Toy Project by collecting spare wood from local businesses to make handcrafted toys.

A member of the Sunflower Woodworkers' Guild and an original participant in the Toy Project, John Belt makes over 100 toys each year for the project in his backyard workshop.

"One of the things we discovered was that there are an awful lot of poor people in the community," said Belt. "It's an enormous undertaking."

The project started in 1996 as a side project of the Sunflower Woodworkers' Guild partnered with a Boeing employee club, who provided the wood and helped in making some of the toys. During the first couple years, the project produced around 100 toys.

It was a small scale operation and just a fun thing to do said Belt.

It was in 2002 that the project really gained momentum. The 9/11 attacks hit the aviation industry hard and left 18,000 unemployed. The city fathers called for help to save those left unemployed from a bleak Christmas.

 

"We made a goal to make 1,000 toys that year. High quality toys, heirloom quality, something that you could pass down from generation to generation," said Belt.

The toys would go to the families of those who had lost their jobs.

To accomplish such a task the project would need a lot of wood. Belt and others went around to all the millworks in town to beg for spare scraps.

The main contributor of the wood for the project comes from Holtzen Woodwork Inc.

photo by Michael Bontrager

One of the bosses at Holtzen Woodwork, Peggy Buck said that she is happy to provide the wood because her father used to make his own wooden toys when he was young.

"He made tractors similar to the ones that they (the Sunflower Woodworkers' Guild) make," said Buck.

Most of the wood is scraps with knots and other imperfections that the company can't use and would normally be used for firewood.

Bill DeGarmo, president of the Sunflower Woodworkers' Guild, believes this brings a green aspect to the project.

"Wood that would normally be burnt up as firewood can be used to make something that brings joy to people's lives," said DeGarmo. "We find ways around those knots to make a unique, one of a kind gift that lasts a lifetime."

With the wood supply, the woodworkers form an assembly line and piece the toys together, each doing the same task over and over to manufacture the toys.

"There really is no other way to do it if you're trying to make 1,000 toys," said Belt.

Once the toys were assembled, the woodworkers felt that the toys were still missing something. The toys needed some flavor, an element of originality, some paint.

"We started painting them ourselves, which was a total disaster," said Belt. "We needed someone who knew what they were doing."

The woodworkers asked local artists to turn their work into a one of a kind toy. Belt emphasizes that the painters are just as important as the woodworkers and their job is just as difficult.

When the 1,000 toys were complete, the woodworkers gave the toys to the Union to distribute, but this caused problems. The toys were only distributed to those who were in the Union.

 

The following year the Sunflower Woodworkers' Guild made the same goal, to produce 1,000 toys for Christmas. They work year round to achieve their goal said DeGarmo.

The project has grown to include local high schools with art programs around the area to help paint the toys.  Wichita State University and Friends University both help paint as well. This year Larksfield Place, a retirement community, also contributed by painting a large amount of toys.

The toys are now donated to the Salvation Army instead of the Union, as many of the unemployed workers returned to their jobs. The Angel Tree program distributes the toys to needy children 14 and younger.

To find out which toys kids liked most, Belt and others took the toys to a local elementary school to see which toys the kids played with the most. Some of the toys that are most popular are the cradle, locomotive, airplane, and ducks that waddle when you pull them on a string. 

"There's something about a wooden toy that captures the imagination for these young kids," said Belt.

photo by Michael Bontrager

After the program started, Belt worried that the toys would start turning up in garage sales, but this is not the case.

"It's so interesting to watch people play with the toys. Kids don't want to leave," said Belt. "We are making these toys as nice as we know how. They really are something special."

Belt said that he has been offered hundreds of dollars for certain toys before, but has never accepted an offer.

"That's not the point. I mean we could make these toys for a lot of money, but that just isn't the point," said Belt. "But kids get that to; the toy that someone wanted to buy."

Christmas has become very materialistic. Holidays such as Black Friday appear to showcase deals, which demoralizes Christmas down to a matter of how much someone spent on a gift, rather than the importance of giving one.

 "This year we are expecting a lot of needy children," said DeGarmo.

Even in harsh economic times, the Toy Project finds a way to spread the joy of Christmas through the donations of others. From the mills who provide the materials, to the woodworkers and artists who dedicate their time to the project, everyone involved contributes something to make someone's Christmas brighter.

Belt finds the project extremely gratifying and takes great pride in his work, "What sustains people to keep doing this is the idea that on Christmas morning, those who probably wouldn't get anything, they get a really special toy. This is a child that never had anything anyone envied, now has a one-of-a-kind toy that most people would die for."

The crackle of a finished record cues Sam Weber to hit the stop button on his Technic turntable. He flips the record, hits start and places the needle carefully in the groove. A rich array of melody fills the room, followed by the thumps of a bass line.

Weber sits back down and reaches for his pack of American Spirits. The lighter hits the tip of his cigarette and a line of smoke streams out the side of his mouth.

"I think you mean what's unique about my style of DJing," says Weber.

DJs or Disc Jockeys are the new breed of musical pioneers. The newest technology may allow anyone the ability to be a DJ, but to be good takes a certain level of talent and intuition. To those who are a part of the DJ lifestyle, DJing is more than simply picking songs, it's an art form.

Weber, aka DJ Anastacios, DJs at White Chocolate on Fridays for customers. Considering himself a dying breed, Weber refers to his DJ style as classical because he uses turntables and vinyl. To him, DJing is to intuitively feel what the crowd is feeling.  

According to Weber there are three types of DJs: those who mix, those who spin, and those who scratch. A Mix DJ refers to someone who uses mostly electronic music: CDs, Ipods, laptops. Spin DJs combine different genres of music and scratch DJs...well they scratch.

Weber describes himself as a scratch DJ, but he spins for parties.

Video by: Michael Bontrager

"I'm not a club DJ," says Weber. "They want to hear top 40 cuts. I don't have that."

Digging through crates of vinyl, Weber shows off his taste in music. He pulls records of various sizes: 45s, 33 1/3s, and 78s from any genre you can imagine. Punk rock, hip-hop, jazz, funk, reggae, even some soul and R&B are just some of the genres Weber incorporates into his style. Surprisingly, there are hardly any records someone might expect to hear Saturday night at the club.

To Weber, conforming to popular tastes just isn't his style.

"You have to be yourself," says Weber. "Being an individual means doing your own thing."

Punk rock concerts are where Weber first experienced live music. These concerts had a profound impact on Weber and inspired him to create his own music to share with the world. Specific artists that Weber considered influential on his music include: Mix Master Mike, DJ Craze, DJ Qbert, Dose 1, Aceyalone, Art Blakey, and KoRn.

Weber has written and produced two full-length independent albums and is always busy making new music. The rewards of recording music are like taking a picture according to Weber.
   
"When I record a piece of music, I can remeber that time in my life when I created that. I can remember that moment for the rest of my life," says Weber.

Weber feels a sense of accomplishment everytime he listens to one of his own records.

Weber first started DJing while hanging out with his brother who was scratching with one of his friends. When they left to eat, Weber tried out the instrument that would change his life forever.

 "The first time I was addicted," says Weber. "Stronger than any other addiction you know: drugs, alcohol, sex. I woke up the next day and I had the craving to play."

Weber considers the turntables his musical instrument. The turntables have a versatility that no other musical instrument can match. To demonstrate, Weber starts a record which plays a single trumpet note. Moving the needle down a couple grooves lowers the pitch one step. He continues this for a complete octave. An entire trumpet on one record.

Video by: Jordan Tarrant

With such flexibility, turntables could be seen as the ultimate musical instrument. Any record ever made can provide notes for the DJ to play with and alter any way he or she chooses. DJ Swamp even has a machine to makes his own records, offering him infinite possibilities of sounds to manipulate.

Having DJed since he was 13, Weber has DJed for numerous house parties over the years. But being a DJ isn't easy Weber warns, "If I'm doing the music, I'm setting the mood."

While most people are flirting and drinking, the DJ has to be thinking about the next song to keep the party up to pace.

Weber said that any type of DJing has its challenges, even with shortcuts used by big name
DJs. While most DJs rely on digital beats per minute and preplanned playlists, Weber picks all his songs by ear.

"It's pretty amazing to hear," says Jordan Tarrant, a friend of Weber. "He will be playing some funky reggae mix, then break in with some Wu-Tang."

Not all people are crazy about Weber's musical tastes though. He receives constant song requests, most of which he can't fulfill. Most requests are for top 40 songs.

Video by: Michael Bontrager

"People can't believe I don't have this song or that song," says Weber. "People get really upset."

Weber offers to play any song as long as the requestor can bring it to him.

Being a DJ at a party does have some drawbacks. Controlling the party flow means missing out on some of the action.

"My friends are always saying did you see this or man I can't believe you missed that, but I'm DJing you know," says Weber. "That's my job."

The drawbacks of DJing a party are well worth it to Weber. To him the most rewarding part of being a DJ is spreading love. Weber feels the most gratified when people show him genuine appreciation after his shows. Weber considers it his duty to give people a night that they can always remember.

"I do it to see the smiles on people's faces," says Weber.

Tanner Benson and Jake Rivers sit cross legged on Massachusetts street between 8^th and 9^th streets.  The two wear tattered, dirty clothing and smell like a mixture of cigarettes and body odder. Rivers hums away on his harmonica, while Benson asks people passing by for any change they can spare. Most walk briskly by, not turning towards the two. Others drop a few coins or even a dollar into a military style hat in front of them, to which Benson replies, "God bless you man."

Benson and Rivers are panhandlers and a topic of concern to some downtown Lawrence businesses. Jane Pennington, Director of Downtown Lawrence Incorporated, a membership organization of local downtown businesses, said that panhandling has been an issue for years, but many members and visitors have commented that the problem is getting worse.

"I'm not forcing people to give me money," Benson said. "I just want to buy some smokes."

The city of Lawrence is currently investigating possible ways to regulate panhandling. Mike Dever, mayor of Lawrence, said that the issue will be addressed soon by the city council as many local business owners have voiced their discontent with the problem. However, views about what to do and the severity of the problem are mixed.

Panhandling, as defined in city code 14-418. means "any request for or solicitation of an immediate donation" or "a request or solicitation to purchase an item far exceeding its value, in circumstances where a reasonable person would understand that the purchase is in substance a donation."  The city code also includes what is not panhandling, which includes "standing, sitting, or engaging in musical performance or other street performance with a sign or other indication that donations are being sought, without any verbal request for donation other than in response to an inquiry by another person."

In and of itself, panhandling is not illegal. However, Lawrence has deemed it unlawful to aggressively panhandle. This includes threatening, following a person after they have refused solicitation or walked away, blocking a person's path, or touching the person being solicited without consent. It is also illegal to panhandle at a bus stop, on private property, within 20 feet of a bank or ATM, in a public transport vehicle or facility.

Even with these regulations, some local business owners still think the problem needs to be addressed further. Whin Campbell, owner of Winfields, said panhandling has affected his business.

"Customers come in and tell me they are uncomfortable traveling store to store," said Campbell. "We have a venue that we have worked hard to make. When people become uncomfortable, then it becomes a problem."

 Walt Houk, owner of Travellers Inc., wants to see the city address the problem as well.

 "It's always been a problem. Panhandling is not good for retail merchants," said Houk. "Would you be comfortable having to walk over people asking you for money when you just spent $4000 on a cruise?"

"A majority of members would like to see panhandling banned downtown," said Pennington.

However, panhandling cannot be outlawed city wide. Panhandling has constitutional protection under the first amendment. Albuquerque, N.M, tried banning panhandling city wide in 2004, but was deemed unconstitutional after the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit against the bill.

There are some other options to regulate panhandling. Scott Miller, a staff attorney for the city of Lawrence, said that city staff is currently studying the problem. Miller outlined ways the city is considering to deal with the problem.

One solution would be to post collection boxes downtown where people could donate and the money would then be redistributed by social services. Organizations such as the Salvation Army and the Lawrence Community Shelter would give the money to those in need.

Licenses to panhandle would be another way to deal with the problem. The licenses would not cost any money, but would require that the person panhandling wear the license around their neck. This would defer panhandlers from being aggressive. The idea is that if someone has their license around their neck with a picture and name they would be less likely to hassle people on the street and could easily be reported to authorities.

Fraudulent statements could also be outlawed. If a panhandler uses a bogus line about collecting money for an animal shelter, for example, they could then be arrested.

The most likely option is to ban panhandling in certain areas, such as downtown. Cities such as Kansas City have declared places like the Plaza "prohibited locations" which ban street vendors, including panhandlers.

"If I need to eat I can go to a shelter, but sometimes it's nice to have some little things you know," said Benson.

Kimberly Bedient, a Lawrence panhandler, said she only makes around five dollars a day and is her only source of income. Bedient said that if she was required to get a license she would take the oppurtunity.

Still there are those shop owners downtown that worry about whether the new laws will really solve the problem.

"I don't like the idea of police being able to harass people downtown because they don't have permits," said Rod Smith, owner of White Chocolate. "Homelessness is the real issue. It's not going to vanish from the city because they pass a law."

Smith said that he is not bothered by the average panhandler, but some can be out of hand. "One day a guy actually came inside and started bothering customers," said Smith. "I knew exactly what he was going to do when I saw him, but I was busy helping other customers, so I didn't have a chance to say anything."

 Ernie Cummings, owner of Kizer Cummings Jewelry, said the problem is that it depends on the type of panhandler.

"It's hard to tell who is the problem. You can't just tell by looks," said Cummings.

Cummings agrees that panhandling does not help the ambiance of downtown, but feels that efforts should be made to help those in need. After the state has closed mental hospitals, Cummings thinks the community should do something more constructive.

"It's what the community is willing to do, they should be helping people," said Cummings.

Cummings points out that Massachusetts street is located between the Salvation Army and the Lawrence Community Shelter and that is why it is a popular hangout for vagrants. Cummings has doubts whether the new law will really change anything.

Yolanda Loya paces up and down lines of gleaming new cars. Her husband
points at a green SUV and the two take a look inside. The new car smell
fills their noses and the two nod in agreement. This is the car for
them.

Loya's old Ford Taurus wagon wasn't cutting it anymore. She started
looking online and in newspapers for the best deal. By the time she got
to the dealership she knew what she was looking for and it only took
one evening to choose the vehicle that suited her needs.

"It was time for an upgrade," Loya said, "I just wanted something new."

With an economic recession underway, the auto market has suffered
significantly. Sales have been falling month by month since January to
a 16-year low according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of
the Philippines. But despite economic hardships there are still those
in Lawrence who invest in a new vehicle.  

Almost all auto makers are down in sales from last year and total
vehicle sales are down 15.5 percent from last year according to
Autodata Corp.



Lawrence car dealerships, on the other hand, remain steadily supplying cars.

Jack Ellena Honda has seen a 20 percent increase in sales since last
year. While Laird Noller Automotive, Dale Willey Automotive, and Jim
Clark Motors all report around the same sales as last year, these car
dealers don't see this as a downfall.

"We see that as a big success," said Anthony Sanders, general sales manager for Jim Clark Motors.

Sanders attributes his sales to his relationships within the community,
"We have a loyal clientele base even in this economic recession."

Laura Carbrey, new car sales manager at Dale Willey Automotive, said
her sales have kept up because of GM employee pricing. Marc Hauser,
Larid Noller Automotive sales manager, thinks his sales have remained
even because of aggressive pricing by the manufactures.

"Manufactures are taking the hit trying to get people in new cars," Hauser said.

Most of the dealerships said their mid-sized cars where what customers
are buying. However, crossover sales have been doing great according to
Carbrey.

"They carry up to seven people and they have fuel economy of a car," said Carbrey.

When qualities new car buyers were looking for where ranked by dealer
representatives, most put dependability, style and value ahead of fuel
efficiency. Loya agreed, citing style as the major factor when she was
looking for a new vehicle.

However, the one dealership that ranked fuel efficiency first was Jack Ellena Honda. Todd Ellington, Jack Ellena's sales representative, said
a majority of his customers are looking to cut back on gas. Hybrids are
his top sellers with a year long waiting list in place already.

Ellington associates his increase in sales to the internet.

"People do their research before they come in. They know exactly what they want when they get here," he said.

The internet allows customers to compare cars, check depreciation rates, estimate fuel cost,
find dealership pricing and read customer reviews all before setting foot in a dealership.

"The cars sell themselves," said Ellington.

Loya is happy with her new Chrysler Pacifica.

"It's comfortable, roomy, and it rides well," she said.