April 29, 2026 | By Joe Stumpe
ANDOVER — A real estate development that’s changing the face of Andover might not have happened if Mike Lies hadn’t taken the long view. The retired periodontist didn’t get discouraged when his first attempts to buy some well-positioned agricultural property on the city’s east side failed two decades ago. He was patient […]
| By Amy Geiszler-Jones
DERBY — One of the area’s most active senior centers is likely to become even more so now that it’s moved into a new $7.3 million, 13,750-square-foot home. That’s the consensus of those who’ve checked out the Derby Senior Center, which opened April 20 at 1315 S. Rock Road. “This is a premier senior center […]
| By Joe Stumpe
For an organization called Wichita Community Gardens, Inc., community seems just as important as the thriving garden they’ve created in Riverside. Yes, the tomatoes, peppers, lettuces, cucumbers, fresh herbs and more are a mouth-watering sight along Amidon Avenue during the growing season. Not to mention the beautiful flowers. But the group has a handful of […]
| By The Active Age
The Active Age is giving away two pairs of VIP tickets to The Jacksons show at Riverfest 2026. To enter our drawing for tickets fill out the entry form below or email your name, address and telephone number to joe@theactiveage.com; put “The Jackson” in the subject line. We will hold a drawing for the tickets […]
| By Joe Norris
In 1917, a young Kansas couple found themselves on a South Sea island 7,000 miles from home, surrounded by cannibals. Martin and Osa Johnson had been taken prisoner by a tribe called the Big Nambas. The natives gathered in a tight circle around the strangers, staring intently at them. Martin and Osa feared that by […]
| By Ted Ayres
“In True Face: A Woman’s Life in the CIA, Unmasked,” by Jonna Mendez with Wyndham Wood (Public Affairs, 2024, 295 pages, $30.00) Jonna Hiestand graduated from high school in Wichita and attended Wichita State University, majoring in English literature. She spent most of her childhood in a large house on 20 acres that butted up […]
| By Beth Bower
“What do you get when you drop a piano down a mine shaft?” Jerry Gillespie asks. “What?” you say. “A-flat miner,” he responds. If you don’t laugh, that’s okay. Gillespie will just tell you another joke. He has at least one for every occasion: get-togethers of retired U.S. Air Force pilots, church meetings, vacation lunches […]
| By The Active Age
Donna Rae Pearson feels like she’s just scratched the surface of a topic that doesn’t get much attention: the history of black leisure in Wichita. “Yes, we enjoy recreation and leisure activities,” said Pearson, a Wichita native and museum curator at the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka. “That’s not what you ordinarily hear about when […]
| By The Active Age
Vedrana Barbir’s trips to Croatia follow a tasty theme. “When we go back home, all we do is eat,” she said. There’s time for family and friends, of course, but it’s easy to see why food plays such a prominent role. For one thing, Barbir worked as a chef in Croatia and still has friends […]
| By The Active Age
The Active Age won several awards in the 2026 Kansas Press Association contest for work done last year. The Active Age 55+ Resource Guide won first place for special advertising sections. The guide, which contains information about hundreds of businesses, nonprofits and other organizations that serve seniors, is distributed throughout the year through senior centers, […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
World Heritage Sites are cultural and natural landmarks designated by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization as among the most important for preserving around the globe. See if you can use these clues to identify 15 of the best-known ones. The answers appear on page 20. 1. What massive structure stretches thousands of […]
| By The Active Age
Rosie was riveting until the end. Real-life Rosie the Riveter Connie Palacioz died April 19 at age 101. During World War II, Palacioz worked for The Boeing Company on a production line for the B-29 Superfortress. Decades later, she helped drum up support for the restoration of the B-29 known as “Doc” that now serves […]
| By The Active Age
More than 175 members of the Wichita Area P.E.O. attended its annual Spring Social last month. In addition to awarding scholarships to nine high school and college students, the group recognized nine members who’ve been members for 50 years: Penny Moss, Mary Ruth Byerley, Barbara McClellan, Jane Spurrier, Celinda Graham, Sarah Hastings, Susan Holmgren, Emily […]
| By Starla Criser
Seniors on the Go holds its monthly organizational meeting at Linwood Senior Center at 1:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month. Highlighted events are ones that SOTG members have expressed special interest in attending. SENIOR DAYS/COFFEE CONNECTIONS May 4 Mo 9 am – Coffee Connection: Amphibians and @ Sedgwick County Zoo – Free […]
| By Diana Morton
The American Theatre Guild, Broadway in Wichita, Century II, Clue, Live on Stage! Murder, blackmail and humor are on the menu when six mysterious guests assemble at Boddy Manor for a night they’ll never forget. Based on the 1985 movie and inspired by the classic Hasbro board game. May 15-17. Call for times and tickets, […]
| By The Active Age
Memorial and Celebration announcements can be emailed, sent by regular mail or delivered by hand. The email address is tammara@ theactiveage.com, and we are located at 125 S. West St., Suite 105, Wichita, KS, 67213. Information should be submitted on or before the 15th of the month preceding publication. The Active Age is published on […]
March 30, 2026 | By The Active Age
If you like playing cornhole, you could represent The Active Age in a cornhole tournament during Picklepalooza, the annual fundraiser for Senior Services, Inc. of Wichita and the Wichita Cancer Foundation. Picklepalooza will be held Friday, June 5, at Chicken N Pickle. The Active Age is giving away two tickets to a cornhole team. In […]
| By Joe Stumpe
PARK CITY — If there’s such a thing as senior center envy, the new one here is likely to induce it. The $5.7 million, 13,000-square-feet Park City Senior Center opened in late February at 1811 Stuart Dr., near the intersection of 61st and Hydraulic. It’s about three times larger than the city’s previous senior center, […]
| By Joe Stumpe
Twirling a long, curved sword in each hand, Grace Wu-Monnat spins and traces a swift figure eight in the air with the blades. A safe distance away, Pat McCoy tries to follow along with his own pair of broadswords. “They kind of travel together,” Wu-Monnat tells McCoy, a retired physician who is her student, adding […]
| By Tammara Fogle
World War II center seeks stories EL DORADO — The World War II History Center has a couple of projects underway in preparation for the United States’ 250th birthday. The center is accepting stories of Kansas World War II veterans and volunteers from the battle and home fronts. They will be used to create a […]
| By Joe Norris
CALDWELL — One morning in 1885, Wichita Eagle subscribers may have choked on their coffee when they read news of a nearby cowtown: “As we go to press, hell is again in session in Caldwell.” The statement was deadly accurate. Between 1879 and 1885, the small town of Caldwell had the highest murder rate in […]
| By Karlene Karst
When you’re under the weather, your body craves rest, hydration and most importantly, comfort. During these vulnerable moments, food becomes more than just nourishment; it transforms into care, warmth and healing. Here are my favorite comforting foods to turn to when illness strikes. Start with easy-to-digest foods Oatmeal is one of my top picks. It’s warm, […]
| By Ted Ayres
“1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in Wall Street History — and How It Shattered a Nation,” by Andrew Ross Sorkin (Viking, 2025, 592 pages, $35.00) My father was in his tenth year when Oct. 29, 1929 — Black Tuesday — set in motion the Great Depression. My mother had turned six two years before. While their […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
Each of the answers to these questions contains the letters “l-a-n-d.” The answers appear on page 21. 1. What is the name of the new TV series about roughnecks and wildcat billionaires that stars Billy Bob Thornton? 2. What is the name of the area in the Netherlands that has become synonymous with tulips and […]
| By Joe Stumpe
Journalists are great givers of advice. It’s a fairly regular part of the job that we pore through a report or interview an expert on some topic — say health or finances or gardening — then crank out an article that we hope readers will find useful. In March’s issue, for instance, I wrote an […]