July 1, 2019 | By Joe Stumpe
While promoting Wicked Wichita, my book on the city’s early criminal history, I’ve been asked one question more than any other. And no it’s not : “will there be a sequel?” The question I get is: Is there anything in it about tunnels? At the risk of hurting sales, the answer is no, for the […]
| By The Active Age
Solve the word puzzle at right and qualify for a drawing to win four free tickets to Music Theatre Wichita, courtesy of the active age. To solve the puzzle, find and circle the names of the 15 Wichita streets listed below. The words can be found in any direction, including diagonally. Once you’ve completed the […]
| By Jim Mason
Editor’s note: Jim Mason wrote about preparing for his first BAK in the June issue of the active age. In this article, he tells what it was really like. A truck filled with bicycles and a bus loaded with bicycle riders left Wichita on June 7 at 8:00 a.m. headed for Goodland. A similar convoy […]
| By Joe Stumpe
Even experienced cooks can be intimidated by large, expensive cuts of meat like prime rib. It’s not just the cost. Because prime rib is usually a special occasion dish prepared for a group, the fear of failure can be daunting. The truth is that preparing prime rib is a cinch. All you need is an […]
| By The Active Age
Go Fourth A new memorial to the American Revolutionary War will be dedicated Thursday, July 4, at Veterans Memorial Park, 329 Veterans Parkway(west of Second Street and North Waco). The event begins at 10 a.m. with a presentation of colors by the Kansas Army National Guard. U.S. Rep. Ron Estes and others will speak. Connect […]
| By The Active Age
Fran Kentling, former editor of the active age, died in the same way she lived her life: without fear or fuss and absolutely ready for the next adventure if there happens to be one. In the short time since she received a terminal lung cancer diagnosis, Fran took to answering the phone, “Hello, I’m dying,” in […]
| By Martin Mendoza
I ran across a YouTube video of LGBT elders writing to their “younger selves” for National Coming Out Day, so I thought I would write one to myself. Dear Martin, Was that the last of the pills? Good, now sit down while I tell you why they won’t work. I know you’re hurting. I know […]
May 30, 2019 | By Ted Blankenship
Floodwaters detour but can’t dampen fun on steamboat cruise If you’re thinking about a steamboat river cruise, I suggest doing it when the river isn’t at flood stage. A large river boat will float well enough in high water, but if it has tall stacks to dispose of engine fumes (and most do) the craft […]
| By Nancy Carver Singleton
NEWTON —In a world full of change, Newton shoppers have been able to count on one thing: Phil Anderson III will usually be there to greet and assist them at Anderson Book & Office Supply as he has since joining the family business in 1958. “Customers ask me how long I’ve been here and […]
| By Amy Geiszler-Jones
Before there was Joyland, there was Wonderland, Wichita’s first amusement park built on a now long-gone island in the Arkansas River near downtown Wichita. If you’d love to go back in time to visit it—like independent filmmaker Sara Harmon did when she first heard about the park three years ago—you’re in luck. Harmon’s 20-minute documentary […]
| By Jim Mason
For years, I dreamed about participating in Biking Across Kansas (BAK), an organized, annual group ride that spans our state from the west border to the east each June. Last winter, I moved BAK off my bucket list and actually signed up. Since then, I’ve been riding as much as possible to increase my stamina, […]
| By Joe Stumpe
The Sedgwick County staff has presented a 2020 budget that would cut spending on aging programs and services by 2.3 percent, from about $10.9 million to $10.7 million. It’s unclear what, if any, programs would be affected. About half the reduction would be the result of personnel turnover and a one-time bonus pool that employees […]
| By The Active Age
Kansas seniors experience food insecurity at a rate greater than the national average, according to a new report. The report, by an organization called Feeding America, found that across the United States, 7.7 percent of seniors are food insecure and 3.1 percent are very low food secure. In Kansas those numbers are 9.4 percent (ranking […]
| By Janice Sroufe
I saw this cartoon on Facebook about Nature Astonishment Syndrome: the process where one by one, plants, soil, fungi, insects and bacteria become amazing to a gardener. Gardeners are notorious for spending hours being astonished in a garden. If this is a real thing, it might be the reason I like bugs so much! I […]
| By Joe Stumpe
Ken Atnip used to catch bad guys for a living. But no, those magnificent whiskers he sports weren’t some kind of undercover disguise. Nor did he grow them for his current gig as Admiral Windwagon for the 46th annual Riverfest. The retired Wichita police captain gave up shaving a couple years ago while taking part […]
| By The Active Age
Photo by Joe Stumpe Hundreds of seniors took part in a shredding/food donation event sponsored by AARP at the Sedgwick County Extension Center last month. Here, volunteers Lana Murphy and George Dean ready papers for the shredder. Library serves up history History of all sorts is on the agenda for the Wichita Public Library in […]
May 2, 2019 | By Joe Stumpe
You could get tired just watching Claire Overstake at a track meet. Her specialty is running – especially sprints and hurdles – but she also throws the shotput and javelin, competes in the 200, 400 and 800-meter events and learned to pole vault when she was 50. “Everything, I guess,” Overstake said when asked to […]
| By Joe Stumpe
A group of seniors charged with advising Sedgwick County commissioners is embracing another role – advocacy. Whether they can persuade the county commission to increase funding for aging services after years of flat budgets or small increases remains to be seen. At the last two monthly meetings of the Sedgwick County Advisory Council on Aging, […]
| By Teresa Bachman
LEON – What can a handful of senior citizens with a small budget in a tiny town do? They can mobilize a whole community and revitalize a local resource. Leon sits in southeast Butler County just off US 400. As with most small towns, it struggles to make a positive impact in the lives of […]
| By The Active Age
Dr. George Tiller’s murder shocked Wichita and the world 10 years ago this month, not least of all because the controversial abortion clinic operator was gunned down in church. Lori Lohrenz was one of many Wichitans who felt the killings personally, although she wasn’t personally acquainted with Tiller. The retired microbiologist and mother of three […]
| By Mitzi McFatrich
TOPEKA – The 2019 Kansas legislative session began with older Kansans facing a number of serious issues. Progress was made on a scarce few of them, although there is the possibility that more will be done when lawmakers return for the May wrap-up session. Many important legislative protections for older adults did […]
| By Leslie Chaffin
Two sure signs of spring: we get that “itch” to re-organize and garage sale signs start popping up on street corners. Pick a Date—Not only does this give you a goal for your re-organizing efforts, it also allows you to advertise ahead of time. Dozens of communities have citywide garage sale days. Take advantage of […]
| By The Active Age
Volunteers with the RSVP were honored April 11 at the Sedgwick County Extension Center. Last year the program placed 320 volunteers at 45 different sites in Sedgwick County (including the active age). They put in a total of 71,206 hours – saving nonprofit organizations an estimated $1.7 million. Ten volunteers were recognized for individually logging […]
March 29, 2019 | By Amy Geiszler-Jones
African American history mapped across Kansas From stops on the Underground Railroad to the headquarters of abolitionist John Brown, a new history trail in Kansas spotlights sites that shaped history in Kansas and the nation. The Kansas African American History Trail launched earlier this year at its Wichita site: The Kansas African American Museum (TKAAM), […]
| By Joe Stumpe
NEWTON – When Marlis Nickel was growing up, schools didn’t offer much in the way of sports for girls. So she’d jog to school carrying her trombone and books. Fast forward about seven decades and Nickel hasn’t slowed down much. At least four mornings a week, she and friend Sue Olsen can be found at […]