World War II center seeks stories
EL DORADO — The World War II History Center has a couple of projects underway in preparation for the United States’ 250th birthday.
The center is accepting stories of Kansas World War II veterans and volunteers from the battle and home fronts. They will be used to create a display to be unveiled on July 4. Stories should be no more than 500 words and, if possible, accompanied by one or two photographs. Submission criteria can be found at wwiihistorycenter.org. Stories can be submitted by email at dmcnemee@wwiihistorycenter.org or in person at the center, which is located at 119 W. Central in El Dorado. The center is open Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m., and stories will be accepted through June 1.
The center is also holding monthly coffee chats. Upcoming subjects are Concentration Camp Money, noon Saturday, April 25; and Women in War, noon Saturday, May 23. A $2 donation for admission is suggested.
Walking tour of Belmont added
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Allen House is presenting three walking tours this spring, including a new one called “Belmont Place: Between the Arches Walking Tour.”
“During the 1920s and into the early 1930s, Belmont Place was Wichita’s most affluent neighborhood and home to its movers and shakers,” a news release from the museum states. Among homes to be highlighted during the outdoor tour are those that belonged to Walter and Olive Beech (founders of Beech Aircraft), William Coleman (founder of the Coleman Company), Al Derby (owner of Derby Oil Company) and Jack Vickers (owner of Vickers Petroleum).
The Allen House is continuing its popular “College Hill Walking Tour” and “Downtown History & Architecture Walking Tour.”
The cost of each tour is $22 per person. For a schedule of walks, tickets and more information, visit flwrightwichita.org and click on “Book a Tour.”
Prime bird watching at Cheyenne
GREAT BEND — This spring, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center is offering 2-hour birdwatching van tours through the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands, which are on a bird migration route that connects Canada to South America. The migration usually peaks around the last two weeks of April through the first two weeks of May, and birdwatchers will get the chance to see a variety of ducks, shorebirds and wading birds plus pelicans, cormorants and grebes.
Tours are being offered from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28; Saturday, April 18; Monday, April 27; Wednesday, April 29; and Saturday, May 9. The cost is $5 per person. Tours are limited to 11 people, and participants must be 12 and older. To pre-register, call KWEC at 877-243-9268.
The Cheyenne Bottoms are located about 10 miles northeast of Great Bend.
Pollinator Project get-together
Free plants and seeds, a ribbon-cutting, gardening information and more are on the agenda when Riverside Garden holds its annual Riverside Pollinator Project get-together from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25. The community garden is located at 802 Amidon, across the street from Botanica and Sim Park Golf Course.
Free native pollinator plants from Hidden River Prairie Nursery and free vegetable starts and seeds from ICT Farms and the Kansas Native Plant Society will be given away. The garden will formally open its new Unity Garden, an accessible garden area funded by AARP. And experts from Bee City Wichita and the Sedgwick County Master Gardener program will be on hand to answer questions.
If rained out, the event will move to 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 26. For more about Riverside Garden, visit riversidegarden.org.
Wichita Jazz Festival line-up set
Four venues will host shows during the Wichita Jazz festival this month. The schedule: April 22, Stan Kessler Quartet at Walker’s Lounge; April 23, KC Connection Quintet at Wichita Art Museum; April 24, Nick Finzer at Wichita State University; and April 25, Kelly Hunt and The 5 at Wave.
More information and tickets can be found at wichitajazzfestival.com.
Blue Moon shines again
The Blue Moon Night Club, once a staple of Wichita entertainment, returns for one night during the Blue Moon Party at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. Jazz singer Donna Tucker and her quartet are headlining the April 18 event, which also includes dinner and refreshments. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at wichitahistory.org/store or by calling (316) 265-9314.
Free trees offered by ICT Trees
ICT Trees will provide 100 trees this month to low-income homeowners in North-Central Wichita and Midtown. The free distribution is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at Emporia Park, 1143 N. Emporia. Residents must register at get.arborday.org/icttrees to be eligible for a tree. Staff from the forestry department of Wichita Park & Recreation will conduct a tree planting demonstration at 1 p.m. and be available to answer questions.
ICT Trees is a nonprofit dedicated to restoring Wichita’s urban tree canopy.
AARP driver safety classes scheduled
If you’ve got four hours, you can lower your car insurance. That’s how long it takes to attend an AARP Driver Safety class.
Under Kansas law, insurers must give a premium reduction for three years to anyone who completes an approved accident avoidance course, although the amount varies by company. The cost of the class is $20 for AARP members and $25 for non-members. The course is conducted in a classroom and no driving is involved.
The schedule of upcoming classes includes: April 9, Downtown Senior Center; April 10, Park City Senior Center; April 16, El Dorado Senior Center; April 29, Andover Senior Center; April 30, Hesston Senior Center; May 18, Derby Senior Center; May 26, Haysville Senior Center. Contact the hosting centers for times and a class reservation.
For questions, email AARP Driver Safety Instructor Tom Gibson at tgibson12@cox.net.
Free cancer survivor retreat May 7
The Greater Wichita YMCA will hold its sixth annual cancer survivor retreat from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 7 at YMCA Camp Hiawatha, 1601 W. 51st St. There is no cost to attend but registration is required by April 27 at ymcawichita.org/survivor-retreat. A light lunch will be served.
This year’s focus is strengthening physical, cognitive and emotional health. The retreat is open to any cancer survivor. For questions, contact Debbie Cruz at (316) 776-8178 or debbie.cruz@ymcawichita.org.
