Sunset paddling
Slots are filling up fast for the city of Wichita’s last sunset kayaking tour of the season, to be held Sept. 22. The $35 tour includes photos at the Keeper of the Plains and a barbecue dinner. Single and tandem kayaks can also be rented at O.J. Watson Park for $10 an hour. For more information, visit wichita.gov/parksandrec and follow the “Recreation” tab to “River Recreation.”
Open Streets ICT returns
Pedestrians and bicyclists can claim Douglas Avenue as their own when Open Streets ICT returns for its fourth year this month. Four miles of Wichita’s “main drag” will be closed to motor vehicles from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, from Delano to College Hill. Businesses on Douglas and food trucks will offer food and drink. Organizers encourage participants to follow COVID-19 precautions.
Butler CC Life Enrichment back
EL DORADO — Butler Community College’s Life Enrichment program will meet in person this month for the first time since early 2020. On Tuesday, Sept. 7, Tyler Nordman, associate athletic director at Butler CC, will discuss the Grizzlies’ fall sports outlook. Nathaniel Johnson, an attorney with Kansas Legal Services, will also speak. Life Enrichment meets at 9 a.m. on the first Tuesday of each month for speakers, a light breakfast and coffee. There is no charge. For more information, call Trisha Walls at (316) 218-6355.
See Spot swim
Dog owners can bring their pets for a dip at College Hill Pool during the annual Dog Days of Summer event Sept. 7. Small dogs are welcome from 5:30-6 p.m., large dogs from 6-7 p.m. The suggested donation is $10 per dog, with a limit of two dogs per owner. Most proceeds go to the Kansas Humane Society.
Medicare options explained
DERBY — Sedgwick County’s Kansas State Research and Extension Office is presenting a program on Medicare options in conjunction with Derby Friends Church. There also will be an update on Part D enrollment and changes for Medicare in 2022.
The program will be held at the church, located at 1034 N. Woodlawn in Derby, from 4:45 to 6:15 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5.
Andover book sale
ANDOVER — Friends of the Andover Library will host a book sale Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Proceeds go to the children’s summer reading program and other library activities. Sale hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 30; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Oct. 1; and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday will be a sack sale, $5.00 per sack. A sneak peek for Friends of the Library takes place 6-8 p.m. Sept. 29. The sale will be held in the library at 1511 E. Central Avenue in Andover. For more information, contact the library at 316-558-3500.
Evergreen gets disc golf
The city of Wichita has installed a new 9-hole disc golf course at Evergreen Park, 2700 Woodland. The course is open daily and free to play.
Orchard concerts
ROSE HILL — Meadowlark Farm Orchard & Cidery is hosting concerts every Saturday from 5-7 p.m. this fall. The schedule features Kaw Creek, Sept. 4; Half-Home Rangers, Sept. 11; Just Tori, Sept. 18; Dennis Hardin, Sept. Sept. 25; Made from Scratch, Oct. 2; Tom Page Trio, Oct. 9; Mostly Good, Oct. 16; and Grody Riggins, Oct. 23. The orchard is located at 11249 SW 160th St.
Wellness centers reopen
NORTH NEWTON – Bluestem Wellness Centers, with locations at Schowalter Villa’s Lakeside Village in Hesston and Kidron Bethel Village in North Newton, reopened to the public last month. The centers had been restricted to residents during the pandemic.
There have been some changes in operating hours and some restrictions imposed due to COVID-19. For more information, visit bluestemcommunities.org/amenities/wellness.
Derby center in fashion
DERBY — The Derby Senior Center is selling t-shirts to celebrate its 50th birthday. Sept. 30 is the deadline to order the shirts, which cost $16 each and are available in sizes from small to 4X. To order, call new activity coordinator Amy Bruso at
(316) 788-0223.
Saturday, September 25
Terry Evans’ Spring Bur Oak
An exhibit of Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt’s work (right) opens at the Wichita Art Museum with a festival paying tribute to his Swedish heritage. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 25, visitors can walk the gallery and enjoy Swedish food, music and dancing in the Family Plaza outside.
At 1 p.m., curator Barbara Thopmson will discuss Nordfeldt, who made frequent trips to Wichita to see artist friends.
Environment explored at Ulrich
Two exhibits built around environmental themes have opened at the Ulrich Museum of Art. Love in the Time of the Anthropocene, which looks at how humans shape the earth, and Look, its daybreak, dear, time to sing, which portrays human-bird interactions, are showing through Dec. 4. The museum, located at Wichita State University, is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday. Admission is free.
