November 1, 2021 | By The Active Age
Marilyn Alcala suspected she suffered from Parkinson’s disease before she was formally diagnosed with it in May. That would have explained symptoms such as tremors and rigid muscles. But her physician’s confirmation still thrust her into a great unknown. As her husband, Dan Alcala, said, “We are new to Parkinson’s disease, which we knew nothing […]
| By Tammara Fogle
Dave Quick was 10 years old and in for a shock when he developed a photograph he’d shot of a taxi whizzing through Riverside Park. “There’s an older woman in the back looking straight ahead and the cabbie is giving me the finger!” Quick recalled, with characteristic enthusiasm. “That’s when I learned photography is full […]
| By By Debbi Elmore
Being the oldest competitor at this year’s Heartland Games didn’t faze Jerry Reiserer, who has spent a lifetime engaged in physical activity. He was a child when his father first took him along on his job of drilling wells for area farmers. “I remember my dad taking me to the fields and the guys would […]
| By Ted Blankenship
Today I’m writing a column that I hope you don’t read because it’s about how to write a column, and I’m afraid that if you read it, you’ll write a column that’s better than this one, and I’ll be out of a job. Nevertheless, as a fearless journalist, I’m going ahead with it because I […]
| By The Active Age
When the Heartland Jazz Band played back-to-back shows in Wichita last month, one member flew in from Florida and another did the same from Texas to take part. Considering that members don’t get paid, that’s a pretty good indication of how much they love the music. “This group likes to play fun music,” said Dennis […]
| By Mary Corrigan
When I was asked to write the Thanksgiving column this year, I admit to having a few moments of panic. There are so many things I am thankful for, and so few column inches to work with. Though I will be stepping down as president of The Active Age’s board of directors in December, I […]
| By Tammara Fogle
A Wichita woman recently lost more than $100,000 in what’s known as the “Miscrosoft scam,” District Attorney Marc Bennett’s office said. The scam works by fooling people into thinking they need technical support from Microsoft. The scammer telephones the intended victim pretending to be a technician or engineer from Microsoft or a related company, or […]
September 30, 2021 | By Joe Stumpe
NEWTON — The new director of Harvey County’s Department on Aging shares more than just mutual respect with her predecessor. Lona Kelly, who will start Oct. 4, and Robert Carlton, who is retiring, both say it was their personal experience caring for family members that led them into the field of aging services. Carlton grew […]
| By Bob Rives
It was by default that our family visited Iceland in August. My wife and I, our children and their spouses had planned a trip to France to celebrate our 65th wedding anniversary. Covid stopped that as Europe closed its doors. By 2021, though, Iceland was welcoming visitors. Tourism is one of the country’s economic drivers […]
| By Amy Geiszler-Jones
Barry Carroll has been bicycling for seven decades and has no plans to stop. “I grew up in Kentucky on a farm and I had four siblings, and as soon as I could ride one of their bikes — that was probably way too big for me — I have been bicycling, so since about age […]
| By Tammara Fogle
VALLEY CENTER — A half-size replica of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Veterans Memorial will be displayed here Oct. 21-25. There is no charge to visit The Moving Wall, which will be open 24 hours each day. The wall was displayed here in 2012, but local organizers felt it didn’t get the attention it deserved. This […]
| By Amy Geiszler-Jones
It took nearly two years for Victor Rose to complete the vibrant 9-by-17-foot mural he created for Healing Wichita CBD+ shop in a shopping plaza at Harry and Rock Road. Much like Rose himself — a lifelong Wichita resident who has been involved in many creative endeavors — the mural features various elements and layers, […]
| By Ted Blankenship
I don’t know who said it first, but the painter Andy Warhol usually gets credit for the phrase “15 minutes of fame.” I remember thinking mine had arrived in 1945 (long before Warhol became famous, incidentally). I was a senior at Eureka High School and a trumpet player in the marching band and orchestra. I […]
| By Diana Morton
Crown Uptown Theatre, 3702 E. Douglas Ave. Next to Normal. Winner of the 2010 Pulitzer Prize in Drama and 3 Tony Awards, this contemporary and defiant pop/rock musical follows the story of a housewife with bipolar disorder. 8 pm Fri-Sat, 2 pm Sun, now-Oct 3. Tickets $20-30; seniors $18-28; students $10. 316-612-7696 The Rocky Horror […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
Many broadcasters and celebrities develop catchphrases to conclude their programs. See if you can match the phrase to the person who closed with it. The answers appear below. “And so it goes.” “And that’s the way it is.” “Courage.” “Go home.” “Good night, and good luck.” “Good night, and may God bless.” “Good night, Mrs. […]
| By Tammara Fogle
DERBY — A presentation about the historic African American town of Nicodemus, Kan., will highlight the annual Friends of the Library meeting here Saturday, Oct. 16. Angela Bates, executive director of the Nicodemus Historical Society, is the featured speaker. Nicodemus, a small, unincorporated town in Graham County, is the only remaining western town established by […]
| By Jane Hodge
Jane Hodge is the winner of a $25 gift certificate from The Spice Merchant for submitting this Recipe for You or Two. “I liked the bean salad recipe in the last Active Age, so I decided to share one that we make all the time,” Hodge said. “It’s really easy and fresh-tasting.” The blend of flavors, […]
| By The Active Age
Readers of The Active Age watched the Wichita Wind Surge beat the Tulsa Drillers 8-6 in an Aug. 29 game at the new Riverfront Stadium. The newspaper gave away 60 tickets to the game to readers who entered a drawing. “This was a fun time despite the rain delay and later drizzle,” said Jay Hinkle, […]
September 28, 2021 | By Joe Stumpe
As politicians in Washington debate massive new infrastructure spending, it’s interesting to recall how the New Deal programs of nearly a century ago affected Wichita. The impact of those projects spearheaded by President Franklin Roosevelt can hardly be overstated. They are still a big part of the city’s life in areas ranging […]
August 31, 2021 | By Debbi Elmore
By Debbi Elmore A funny thing happened to the funny-sounding game called pickleball. Popularized by older players, pickleball has captured the attention of people of all ages while becoming the fast-growing sport in the United States. The pop-pop-pop of paddles whacking plastic balls around the Wichita area indicates the trend has definitely reached here. So […]
| By Annie Calovich
By Annie Calovich While many Wichitans have recently been battling armyworms that have eaten their front lawns brown, Mui Peng has been oblivious to their upheaval amid a brimming diversity of herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers burying her Midtown front yard in green. In fact, when asked about insects bugging her plants, her daughter Minh […]
| By Minh Peng
Goi Ga (Southeast Asian Chicken Salad) This light and healthy chicken salad is bursting with flavor thanks to the use of fresh garden herbs. It’s delicious served warm, at room temperature or chilled. Fish sauce is available in the Asian aisle of most supermarkets. 2 chicken breasts (1 to 1½ lbs.), cut into thirds 1 […]
| By Bonnie Bing
By Bonnie Bing Remember all those fall and winter clothes you didn’t wear last year? Make room for some new pieces for the season. Looking at the trends it seems there is something for everyone. Dresses with sleeves are here for fall. Pick a subtle print or go wild with a colorful retro […]
| By Tammara Fogle
The Active Age AARP is calling for mandatory vaccinations of Kansas nursing home staff and residents, citing a significant rise in COVID-19 cases among nursing home staff and residents. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has ordered that nursing homes require all employees to be vaccinated or lose federal Medicare and Medicaid funding. “The high COVID death […]
| By Nancy Carver Singleton
By Nancy Carver Singleton NEWTON — Technology made Vernon Overman’s career as a typewriter technician obsolete decades ago. But he’s found his old skill in demand during retirement as people rediscover the joy of typing on something other than a computer. Maybe it’s the clicking, the tactile sensation or seeing what they’ve written come out […]