October 2, 2023 | By The Active Age
The Sedgwick County Health Department is offering the updated Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine and flue shots. The vaccine targets the dominant variant for much of 2023. The updated vaccine can be received at the same time as the flue vaccine. Last month, the first flu cases were reported in Sedgwick County, which is earlier than usual. […]
| By Ted Ayres
“Write for Your Life” by Anna Quindlen (Random House, 2022, 215 pages, $26.00) As a new high school teacher in Long Beach, Calif., Erin Gruwell was assigned students with learning disabilities, disciplinary issues and juvenile records — so-called “unteachables.” After Gruwell had them start keeping journals, they wrote about gang warfare, sexual assault, suicide attempts, apartment […]
| By The Active Age
The Sedgwick County Health Department is offering free training in self-managing disease and wellness. Each 2½ -hour workshop consists of six sessions. Attendance at all sessions is encouraged but not required. Participants need to attend at least 4 of the 6 sessions to receive a certificate of completion. The sessions are: Session 1: Healthy sleep […]
| By Diana Morton
Empire House Players, at Old Cowtown Museum. Dracula: A Comic Thriller starring Shirley Holmes and Jennie Watson. Oct 13, 14, 20 & 21, 7pm; Oct 22, 2 pm. Tickets $15 adults, $7 children. Buy tickets at Buytickets.at/empirehouseplayers Forum Theatre, at the Wilke Center, 1st United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway. Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber […]
| By The Active Age e
The Active Age is now available in a digital edition that allows you to flip through pages and increase the size of the print. It is emailed to subscribers on or before the first of each month. To sign up for it, contact joe@theactiveage.com.
| By Tim Marlar
Print newspapers were long a staple in most homes, providing a source of news, information and entertainment. In recent years, however, the popularity of print newspapers has declined as more and more people have turned to digital news sources. Despite this decline, print newspapers such as The Active Age still play an important role. For […]
September 5, 2023 | By The Active Age
The Sedgwick County Health Department has received reports of influenza (flu) among residents of Sedgwick County with no history of travel. According to a news release, in most years, the first reports of flu begin in October or November. Flu shots are recommended in September or October for anyone 6 months and older, unless otherwise […]
September 1, 2023 | By Joe Stumpe
PBS Kansas chief Victor Hogstrom says there’s a simple reason why the public television station is bringing back the Senior Expo this month. “We knew it was a very popular event,” Hogstrom said. “Our audience is also that audience.” Hogstrom is all about audience engagement, and resurrecting the Expo is just one of many moves […]
| By Joe Stumpe
When Kenneth Simons says he’s been raising watermelons all his life, he’s only exaggerating slightly. He started helping his dad raise them when he was 5 years old, or 85 years ago. “All I could do was walk around and be under his feet,” Simons, of Haysville, recalled. Within a few years, he was driving […]
| By Rose Conlon; KMUW
Before Beck Bright-Samarzia gets down to work, she suits up: back brace, gloves, N-95 mask. Inching through one of her clients’ living rooms, between stacks of boxes and bins, she explains she used to wear an industrial-grade mask here — before they got the dust under control. “It might look like not a lot has […]
| By Joe Stumpe
Like the protagonists in his current film project, Ken Spurgeon faced some challenges while making “Sod and Stubble” this summer. First came the strike by the actor’s union, SAG-AFTRA. Then came the blistering heat. After shutting down for a few days, Spurgeon received a waiver from the union that allowed him to resume filming, as […]
| By The Active Age
Square dancing classes back The Village Steppers club is offering lessons for the next several months in addition to holding its regular dances. Starting Sept. 19 and continuing into early December, the lessons will be held every Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8:30 p.m. in the Oaklawn Elementary school, 5000 S. Clifton. The lessons cost a […]
| By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about green funeral options? At age 80, I would like to preplan my funeral and make it as natural as possible. Old Environmentalist Dear Environmentalist, Great question! Green funeral options are becoming increasingly popular in the United States as more and more Americans are looking for environmentally […]
| By The Active Age
The McCormick School Museum has received a donation that will allow it to move forward on several key projects, including a security system, masonry repair, accessibility, an audio-visual system and a sign to advertise the museum. In a news release, the museum said it had received “a generous donation from the Langel family, who became […]
| By Ted Blankenship
For the most part, I believe horses are noble animals, and I’m sure they had a lot to do with making this country what it is today. Yet, my experience riding them has not always been satisfactory. My first attempt came when I was about eight years old. A neighbor had a sorrel saddle horse […]
| By The Active Age
Congratulations to Annette Van Blaricum of Wichita, winner of a $25 gift certificate to The Spice Merchant for submitting this international recipe. From 2010-2012, Van Blaricum tutored two youngsters from India whose parents managed a hotel in Pratt. She found this recipe for the Indian bread known as naan on the internet and made it […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
Here’s one for music lovers. Name the song titles or colors associated with famous songs using these clues. The answers appear on page 14. 1. Wizard of Oz fans should be familiar with the name of the seventh studio album by English singer and composer Elton John, first released in October 1973? 2. What slow […]
| By Diana Morton
Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E Douglas Ave. Dreamgirls. Inspired by Motown and R&B legends of the 1960s-70s, Dreamgirls follows the rising stardom of the Dreamettes, an all-girl singing trio from Chicago. 8 pm Fri, Sat; 2 pm Sun, Aug 25-Sept 10. Tickets $30-$50. 316-612-7696 Kechi Playhouse, 100 E. Kechi Road, Slow Night. Set in the […]
| By Melissa Reeves Schrag
Are you new to Medicare and want to better understand the program? Do you have questions about eligibility, signing up, Original Medicare Parts A and B, Medigap (supplement insurance), Part D, Medicare Advantage Plans or how to get help paying for Medicare costs? The Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK) Assistance Program can help. […]
| By Monica Cissell
In Kansas and across the nation, Medicaid beneficiaries are at risk for losing their Medicaid coverage and critical services. Safeguards were put in place to ensure that individuals on Medicaid would not lose their coverage during the pandemic. Since the Public Health Emergency ended on May 11, 2023, all states are resuming the regular renewal […]
| By Niki Lewis Shepherd
During the last week in August, I begin to look for them. Reason tells me I am foolish — it’s the hottest time of the year — and so much effort for ten small jars. Economically unsound. Yet, each year I pick wild grapes for jellymaking. After a week of watching the clusters swell through […]
| By The Active Age
Digital Active Age offered The Active Age is now available in a digital edition that allows you to flip through pages and increase the size of the print. It is emailed to subscribers on or before the first of each month. To sign up for it, contact joe@theactiveage.com.
August 29, 2023 | By The Active Age
The Active Age and Crown Uptown Theatre are giving away four pairs of tickets to see Gunhild Carling, a Swedish performer who sings, dances, juggles and plays 11 musical instruments — including three trumpets at once on one song. Backed by a big band, Carling specializes in the classic jazz of 1920s era New Orleans, […]
| By The Active Age
After years of deferred maintenance, the Century II Performing Arts and Convention Center will soon get a new roof structure and membrane to protect it from weather. According to a news release from the city, which owns the facility, the project is expected to begin next month and be completed in the spring of 2024. […]
August 15, 2023 | By The Active Age
A man and woman have been convicted of financial abuse and physical neglect of an 84-year-old Derby woman, according to a news release from Sedgwick County District Attorney Marc Bennett’s office. Tiffany Williams-McCune, 20 of Derby, pleaded no contest to two felony counts of mistreatment of an elder person. One count was for financial exploitation […]