October 1, 2022 | By Joe Stumpe
Bill Reagan’s years at West High School were some of the best of his life. “All I remember are positives,” said Reagan, a member of the Pioneer class of ’64. “The teachers were great.” So when Reagan learned that the school’s graduation rate was languishing behind other Wichita schools, he decided to do something about […]
| By The Active Age
The sixth annual “Live Well With Diabetes” event next month brings together people dealing with the disease along with doctors, nurses, nutritionists and pharmacists who help them care for it. Sponsored by Great Plaines Diabetes, the free Nov. 5 event runs from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Wichita State Metroplex, 5015 E. 29th […]
August 31, 2022 | By Joe Stumpe
Dr. G.G. Brown moved his medical practice to Wichita in 1908 to serve the city’s black community. Although the days of segregated medicine are long gone, the need for black physicians such as Dr. Brown has never been more acute than it is now. “We really need to figure out how to get more minority […]
| By The Active Age
A small slice of the 2023 Sedgwick County budget set aside for senior-related services generated the longest and most contentious debate of any section before county commissioners approved the spending plan Wednesday. The back-and-forth came after 5th District Commissioner Jim Howell suggested adding $125,000 to the Department on Aging budget, a move seconded by 4th […]
| By Bob Rives
There’s a lot of wow factor in Wichita’s newest museum. Now open as part of the Riverfront Stadium complex is the Wichita Baseball Museum, a 3,000-square-foot, $1.8 million showcase that not only is exciting but free to visit. Jordan Kobritz, a part owner and chief executive officer of the host Wichita Wind Surge minor league […]
| By Donald Willis
Editor’s note: This is the longer version of Donald Willis’ article on the World War II era Beechwood housing project that appeared in our September issue. I have enjoyed reading the articles in The Active Age from the “Wichita Old Neighborhood Project” overseen by Patrick O’Connor. I would like to tell of my old neighborhood, […]
| By James Bower
Recently, I called my local VA Medical Center to see about getting in to see my primary care doctor. Imagine my surprise when a real person not only answered the phone but was ready to help. As I spoke with Cindy, the nurse that answered my call, it became evident that the VA had launched […]
| By Janice Van Sickle
Do you know that we have a nationally recognized film festival right here in Wichita? The Tallgrass Film Festival has been named one of the “Top 50 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee” by MovieMaker magazine seven times. The festival’s motto — “Stubbornly Independent” — seems to be working. This year, the festival celebrates its […]
| By Nancy Carver Singleton
FURLEY — A program that introduces children to the responsibilities and rewards of caring for calves is back after a two-year hiatus caused by the pandemic. Kid-n-Calf provided six children between the ages of 8 and 12 with calves this summer. On Saturday mornings from late May through mid-August, they learned to take care of […]
| By Tammara Fogle
The Lifelong Learning program at Wichita State University shows that a lot of people love that back-to-school experience. The program, which is free for residents 60 years and older, started eight years ago with 68 people enrolled in one class. This fall, 10 courses are being offered, and enrollment totaled 1,364 through Aug. 17, according […]
| By Tammara Fogle
Learn how you can help prevent suicide and raise community awareness of the issue during a workshop at the Advanced Learning Library from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 13. Dr. Jessica Provines, a psychologist and assistant vice president for wellness at Wichita State University, will present evidence-based suicide prevention training. The workshop is […]
| By Ted Blankenship
I wasn’t a great athlete in school. I wasn’t even a bad athlete. So, I never imagined that years later I would play in an actual game. Football with a bunch of gridiron hunks? Basketball in an arena full of adoring fans? No, softball in a back yard full of chiggers and fox tail grass […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
1. What famous young outlaw fought in the Lincoln County War before he was fatally shot at the age of 21 by Sheriff Pat Garrett? 2. What Army scout and Pony Express Rider took part in California’s Gold Rush before he launched his colorful cowboy-themed Wild West show in 1883? 3. What hunter, soldier, and […]
| By Diana Morton
Crown Uptown Theatre, 3207 E. Douglas. Calendar Girls, a musical by Gary Barlow; book by Tim Firth. Based on the true story of eleven older women who posed nude for a calendar to raise money for the Leukemia Research Fund. 8 pm Fri, Sat; 2 pm Sun, now-Sept 18. Tickets, dinner & show, $40-45; Show […]
| By Ted Ayers
“The Lethal Elixer,” by Dennis Ross (Archway Publishing, 2021, 273 pages, $18.99) Dennis Ross is a Wichita nephrologist and clinical professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center who has written one previous novel, “The Perfect Match.” “The Lethal Elixer” is a sequel to that book. This book is certainly topical as it includes references to terrorism, global […]
| By Tammara Fogle
Symphony on the lawn The Wichita Symphony will play a concert Friday, Sept. 30 on Botanica’s Grand Lawn in what’s envisioned as a new annual fall event. The concert’s first half will feature symphonic music on botanical themes, while the second half covers music from Broadway and Hollywood shows including The Phantom of the Opera, […]
| By Tammara Fogle
In response to inflation and an increase in our postage costs, The Active Age has raised its 2022 fundraising goal to $100,000. Last year, readers generously donated $95,358. Please help us reach or exceed our new goal if you can. We are doing all we can to keep down the cost of producing and distributing […]
| By Monica Cissell
Hearing loss is a common problem that many people experience. It interferes with communication with friends, family and others with whom we interact. Studies have also shown a link between hearing loss and other health issues, including cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s Disease, depression and falls. Common signs of hearing loss may include difficulty following conversationss, […]
| By Jim Miller
How to choose a 55-plus active adult community Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend for choosing a good active adult housing community? My husband and I, who recently retired, are planning to relocate to an area closer to our grandkids and are interested in buying a house in an age-restricted 55-plus housing community. […]
August 30, 2022 | By Joe Stumpe
Dr. G.G. Brown moved his medical practice to Wichita in 1908 to serve the city’s black community. Although the days of segregated medicine are long gone, the need for black physicians such as Dr. Brown has never been more acute than it is now. “We really need to figure out how to get more minority […]
August 1, 2022 | By Joe Stumpe
More mornings than not, Bill and Carrie Van Sickle can be found gliding along the Little Arkansas River in one or two kayaks, enjoying the exercise and scenery. They usually cover between four and seven miles, their oars and sleek craft barely rippling the mirror-like surface. “This river is basically a hidden gem,” Carrie said. […]
| By Joe Stumpe
If you own a painting by Ernest Aspinwall, Bob Bayer wants to talk. Aspinwall is hardly a household name, but he was something of a criminal celebrity in Wichita in the 1940s and ’50s. Charged with kidnapping a Wichita taxi driver in October 1940, Aspinwall escaped from the Sedgwick County Jail three months later and […]
| By The Active Age
Spending by Sedgwick County’s Department on Aging won’t keep up with the current level of inflation under a proposed budget for 2023. The department, which is the primary provider of senior-related services in Wichita and the rest of the county, would see its budget rise 3.2 percent to $13.95 million next year. Commissioners David Dennis […]
| By Debbi Elmore
A recent transplant to Wichita, Odean Moore didn’t know anyone prior to joining the Linwood Senior Center. “I made a lot of friends,” she said. She takes part in exercise classes, outings, Bible study and more offered by the center. “It’s like another home when you’re by yourself,” she said. Sue Bechtel, a long-time member […]
| By The Active Age
NORTH NEWTON — Growing up in western Kansas, Diane Sorensen’s first experience with chickens was at her grandparents’ house. While it was fun to gather the eggs, she said, “What I remember is how scary the rooster was.” Today, she not only raises chickens, she’s made one the title character of a children’s book — […]