September 1, 2023 | 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 […]
August 10, 2023 | By By Andrew Lopez, KMUW
LIBERAL — A white Dodge Caravan pulls up in front of the Dillons grocery store in Liberal, Kansas, and Floyd Coleman steps out to help his next passenger into the minivan. Coleman, a 63-year-old retired truck driver, shuttles people around town for Liberal’s senior center. He has a few pickups and drop-offs throughout the day […]
July 31, 2023 | By David Kamerer
You may not know it, but you’ve probably benefited from some recent advances in artificial intelligence, or AI. AI powers your Siri and Alexa, those cheerful personal assistants that answer your questions about the weather or who won the big game last night. AI controls self-driving cars and the maps we use to navigate when […]
| By Joe Stumpe
MOUNT HOPE — As the coronavirus pandemic decimated many nursing homes in 2020, Mary Schmidt felt pretty good about the situation at the Mount Hope Nursing Center. “We didn’t get COVID until November (of that year),” Schmidt, chair of the nonprofit community group that owns the center, remembered last month. “Staff and everybody did a […]
| By Joe Stumpe
In her job running the Catholic Care Center, Cindy LaFleur knows it hasn’t always been possible to get immediate psychiatric care for residents needing it. Wichita’s only geriatric psychiatric unit, located in Ascension Via Christi St. Joseph on Harry Street, sometimes has a waiting list, which means an elderly person might be admitted to the […]
| By Joe Stumpe
Being cute and fluffy makes rabbits a natural as therapy animals, Joyce Gedraitis says. Unfortunately, those same traits don’t stop some people from tiring of them — or their rather prodigious offspring — as pets. Gedraitis, founder of a nonprofit called Bunny TNT (for training, nurturing and therapy), has been trying since 2006 to save […]
| By The Active Age
With some 6,000 ghost towns in Kansas to choose from, it’s no wonder that the makers of a 2022 documentary on the state’s faded villages and towns have now produced a second episode. “Kansas Ghost Towns, Part 2,” will air on PBS Kansas at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 and again at the same time on […]
| By Amy Geiszler-Jones
Breaking bread together symbolizes sharing and the forging of personal connections. But it was an afternoon of baking bread together that connected two natives of Kenya with members of the Bread Club of Wichita. David and Lillian Kapten, who came to the United States as college students, were the featured presenters at a recent gathering […]
| By The Active Age
The Wichita Journalism Collaborative has launched a pop-up newsroom called News Connect at the Advanced Learning Center Library. The collaborative, which includes The Active Age and 10 other media outlets and community partners, hopes News Connect will give members of the public an opportunity to interact with local journalists. In that way, they can contribute […]
| By Niki Lewis Shepherd
During these weeks of severe heat and drought when it is easy to complain and feel justified in doing so, I think of my growing-up years. They were the dry ’50s. The location, a western Kansas cattle ranch. Each day ended with a prayer for rain. My favorite game was mirage, where my siblings and […]
| By The Active Age
Local Author Day back at Advanced Library Wichita Public Library’s Local Author Day returns Saturday, Aug, 12 at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St. “Wichita has a vibrant writing community and this annual program helps bring their talent to the spotlight,” said Sara Dixon, adult programming manager at Wichita Public Library. “One of […]