December 30, 2025 | By Joe Stumpe
Two Sedgwick County residents in their 60s learned recently that online dating can be expensive — when the other party is a scammer. After meeting the victims separately through a legitimate online dating platform, this fraudster began texting them and eventually persuaded them to send money in the form of cashier’s checks to various banks […]
| By Joe Stumpe
ANDOVER — Neighbors were skeptical when Tom Hanson said he’d like to join their bridge group. “In the beginning, they thought it would be too difficult, too much to remember, and they just didn’t see how somebody without sight could do that,” said Hanson, who’s been blind since he was 6. That was all the […]
| By The Active Age
Cheryl Adkisson won The Active Age’s drawing for a diamond necklace generously donated by Mike Seltzer Jewelers. “Merry Christmas!” Adkisson said after the news sunk in that she’d won. “I’ve never won anything.” The Active Age thanks Mike Seltzer and everybody who donated at least $25 for a chance in the drawing. Adkisson’s name was […]
| By The Active Age
Peterson Elementary School celebrated 150 years of educating youngsters with displays, refreshments, a history lesson (naturally) and tours of Little Red, the best-known building on campus. Peterson, at 9710 W. Central, is the oldest school in Wichita USD 259 operating at its original location, although it started out as a county school known by another […]
| By The Active Age
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging has found two providers to take over congregate meals and home-delivered meals previously provided by Everfull, a Hutchinson-based nonprofit. One is Senior Services, Inc., which already operates Meals on Wheels in Wichita, delivering about 700 to 750 meals to homebound seniors daily. Senior Services will begin providing congregate meals […]
| By The Active Age
Three new members have been added to The Active Age’s board of directors, bringing with them backgrounds in law, business, public policy and senior-related services. Laurel Alkire is the former executive director of Senior Services, Inc., which operates the Meals on Wheels program in Wichita, four senior centers (Downtown, Linwood, Orchard Park and Northeast) and […]
| By The Active Age
Three Kings’ Day celebration Wichitans can take part in an event modeled on Three Kings’ Day, celebrated in Hispanic culture as the end of the Christmas season. “And, by the way, we will have three live camels,” said Elizabeth Brunscheen-Cartagena, family life and resource management agent with K-State University Extension. The free event is from […]
| By Joe Stumpe
The results are in, and the McCormick Spice Flavor of the Year for 2026 is black currant. While buttered toast is probably where most of the berry winds up — in the form of jam — that jam has a few more tasty uses as well. For instance, it can be turned into a glaze […]
| By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been hearing a lot about chair yoga lately. My New Year’s resolution is to improve my health and get moving again, but I have trouble getting down on the floor. What can you tell me about this type of yoga? Arthritic Abby Dear Abby, If you’re looking for a safe way […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
Last year saw the passing of many prominent figures. Use the clues below to identify people we’ll remember for years to come. The answers appear below. 1. What American actress rose to prominence as Kay Adams in “The Godfather” (1972) and won an Academy Award for her role in “Annie Hall”? 2. What American heavyweight […]
| By Diana Morton
The American Theatre Guild – Broadway in Wichita, Century II, “Water for Elephants.” Musical adapted from a popular novel about a young man who jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him, only to find love and a new home with a traveling circus. Mon – Wed, Jan 12 – 14, […]
| By Starla Criser
Seniors on the Go is a new group formed to support local cultural organizations and to help older adults take part in their events and programs. It meets from 1:30-3:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month at Linwood Senior Center. The only requirement for members is that they be a member of an […]
| By The Active Age
At right, Kansas State Sen. Oletha Faust-Goudeau reads a proclamation honoring Balbir Mathur, standing with cane, as his wife, Treva, and Mayor Lily Wu look on. Friends, family and art lovers came out to celebrate Mathur’s 90th birthday at the Advanced Learning Library on Dec. 13. Mathur, who founded the international anti-hunger Trees for Life […]
December 8, 2025 | By Family Features
When it comes to holiday meals, good hosts know the main dish isn’t the only star of the show. Appetizers set the tone. These recipes come from the European Union’s Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) certification program, which promotes products such as Prosciutto di Parma, produced only in Parma, Italy, and Grana Padano, produced only […]
| By The Active Age
The provider of nearly 11,000 meals per month for the elderly and homebound in south-central Kansas is getting out of the business. The Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) will transition services provided by Everfull, including Friendship Meals and Meals on Wheels programs, to a new provider in 2026, it was announced Nov. 21. […]
December 1, 2025 | By The Active Age
The Active Age will celebrate its 46th anniversary in December. To mark this milestone, we’e holding a drawing for a stunning 14k yellow gold diamond cluster necklace generously donated by Mike Seltzer Jewelers. The necklace is valued at $3,500. Everyone who donates at least $25 to The Active Age between Nov. 1 and noon on […]
| By Jacinda Hall
Following a heart attack and surgery, Sandra Howard sometimes struggled to obtain all the medications she’d been prescribed. She was being seen by more than one medical provider, and it wasn’t unusual for them to use different pharmacies. Howard’s daughters were tasked with rounding up the medications. “My daughters always complained because at the time, […]
| By Bob Rives
To keep the pounds off after losing weight in 2010, Lisa Land started running. And racing. And running and racing some more. This fall, the Andover resident reached her goal of running a race in all 50 states. “I ran my first race in the nation’s largest state and finished it in Rhode Island, the […]
| By Carrie Rengers The Wichita Eagle
Anyone who has lived nine decades probably has a good story to tell, but Al Higdon’s is particularly packed. From a high-flying career in public relations in the early days of jets to starting his own ad agency, Higdon was Wichita’s original Mad Man. His former employer, Learjet, even was a story line on the “Mad Men” television series. […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
It’s not surprising that practically everybody’s favorite holiday has produced some of our favorite entertainments as well. See if you can identify the fictional characters featured in these stories, movies, TV shows and songs. The answers appear on page 20. 1. What was the name of the blanket-carrying Peanuts character whose idealism and hope were […]
| By Diana Morton
Act 1 Players, El Dorado Elks Lodge #140, 121 E. Pine Ave., El Dorado. The Cowhand’s Christmas Carol (italics). Comedy erupts when mountain folk come to the big city to help their daughter with dinner. Dec. 12-13, dinner & play, $25, play only, $15. 316-321-9393 Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley. Holidaze of our Lives […]
| By Joe Stumpe
An article in last month’s issue about seniors leading political protests in downtown Wichita generated phone calls and emails from some readers who thought it was biased against President Trump. In case other readers felt the same way, I thought I’d let you know my thoughts on the subject. First off, I appreciate and take […]
| By The Active Age
McCormick Museum holiday fun The McCormick School Museum, 855 S. Martinson, will host several holiday events this month, including its annual holiday open house from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 5, featuring musical performances by USD 259 students; holiday open house weekend from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 6-7; and carol singing, hot cider […]
| By The Active Age
Share the Season is a community program that assists people during a time of hardship in their lives. The program offers hope and help to working families who have experienced difficult circumstances resulting in financial strain and emotional stress. Often an illness, car accident, layoff or other unexpected situation can put a family into crisis. […]