November 29, 2023 | By Joe Stumpe
Julie Mason-Comitini was working the day shift at Merle’s Place in the 1980s when she started picking up a pool cue to pass the time. “I would just shoot pool by myself,” she remembers. “One of the guys said, ‘Hey, you play pretty good. Why don’t you play on our pool team?’” Mason-Comitini didn’t just […]
| By Ted Blankenship
At a recent dinner party, I mentioned that when Dorothy and I lived in Coffeyville, we not only had to contend with copperhead snakes but large, hairy spiders, too. I was referring to tarantulas. “Ah, we don’t have tarantulas in Kansas,” said someone at the table. Well, it turns out that we have lots of […]
| By Jim Miller
Misleading Medicare Advantage Ads: What to Look Out For How Seniors Can Get Help Paying for Everyday Needs How an Incentive Trust Can Influence Your Heirs How a Health Savings Account Can Boost Your Retirement Savings Misleading Medicare Advantage Ads: What to Look Out For Dear Savvy Senior, I’m currently enrolled in original Medicare but […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
Answer the following questions that all have the word “king” embedded in them in some way: 1. What American Baptist minister was a prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement and was assassinated in 1968? 2. What American singer and jazz pianist is perhaps most famous for his rendition of “Unforgettable?” 3. What Saturday morning […]
| By Diana Morton
Forum Theatre, at the Wilke Center, 1st United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway. Elf, The Musical. Back by popular demand, this production is becoming a holiday tradition. Buddy, a young orphan, mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported to the North Pole. The would-be elf is raised, unaware that he is an […]
November 20, 2023 | By The Active Age
A professional women’s softball league is coming to Wichita for the first time. According to a news release from Visit Wichita, Wilkins Stadium, home of Wichita State Softball, will play host to AU Pro Softball’s AUX competition next summer. The competition will feature 18 games across two weeks with the world’s best athletes competing to […]
November 9, 2023 | By The Active Age
Oxford Senior Living has entered into a contract to purchase the former Kansas Masonic Home. According to a news release, the transaction is expected to close by the end of 2023. The campus, located in Wichita at the intersection of Maple and Seneca, will be rebranded Oxford Vista. “We see an unmet need in the […]
November 3, 2023 | By MATTHEW KELLY
After a month of searching, a temporary location for Wichita’s emergency winter shelter has been identified. The City Council will vote Tuesday on a $685,000 package to support a no-barrier 24/7 shelter for up to 250 people at 2220 E. 21st St., a city-owned property that used to house the Fundamental Learning Center. The facility […]
November 1, 2023 | By Melanie Jenney
Eighty years after enlisting to fight in World War II, Ralph Hall is still on the move. Well, in a manner of speaking. He goes bicycling just about every day, but these days he rides a stationary bike at the Downtown YMCA. His motivation? “Stay strong and healthy,” Hall, 97, said. For those who regularly […]
| By Mary Clarkin
Property tax refund options for older homeowners are growing thanks to new state and local programs. But homeowners must know about the programs and fill out the correct paperwork to take advantage of them. This year marked the rollout of Kansas’ property tax “freeze’’ for qualifying homeowners. Called the Seniors or Disabled Veterans Refund (SVR), it is designed to keep an eligible homeowner’s […]
| By The Active Age
As the new volunteer state president of AARP Kansas, Tracee Adams plans to spread the word about all the organization has to offer. “AARP has, gosh, so many benefits,” Adams, of Wichita, said. “I know a lot of people just see the discounts, which are a benefit, of course. But we would like to make […]
| By Beth Bower
When I got married to an officer in the U.S. Air Force — I was enlisted personnel — I don’t know how many times I was asked, “Do you have to salute him in bed?” No. But if I met him anywhere on base, I did. You might think that’s funny, but for many dual-military […]
| By The Active Age
Can you spell fun? The Wichita Public Library will hold its first adult spelling been from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3 at the Advanced Learning Library. Teams of one to four contestants will compete in single-error elimination rounds of increasing difficulty, with the top three teams earning prizes. Teams are encouraged to coordinate their outfits […]
| By The Active Age
Wichita State University has announced the creation of the WSU Retirees Association (WSURA). According to a news release, anyone who is officially retired from WSU is automatically a member of the association. Retiree benefits include free campus parking, a discount on community education programs and free access to lifelong learning and regular academic classes, a […]
| By The Active Age
Rodrick Pocowatchit is known for his movie reviews in The Wichita Eagle and for making his own films locally, such as “The Dead Can’t Dance” and “The Incredible Brown NDN.” He wouldn’t mind, though, being known as the man who helps Wichitans learn more about Native American culture while also being entertained through his AlterNative […]
| By Sue Roberts Nispel
My older brother and I attended Fairmount elementary school in Wichita. The sixth-grade teacher was Miss Hackett, who also served as the music teacher. When my brother, Ron, was in her class, she talked to my mother about having him play violin and offered to sell an old one she owned. After some thought and […]
| By Joe Stumpe
Here’s a deliciously different take on an old favorite — pizza — that’s also a cinch to make. Called Schiacciata in Tuscany, the region of Italy where it originated, it’s technically a flatbread rather than a pizza. But many recipes call for starting with pizza dough. It’s pronounced “ske-chada.” What makes it different are the […]
| By Ted Blankenship
I try not to disparage our animal friends, but just between you and me, I don’t care much for mice. We now live next to an open field of native grass in Bel Aire, and so far, we haven’t had serious problems with them. But when we lived north of Rose Hill, we had a […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
Challenge your Thanksgiving dinner guests with this quiz. The answers appear on page 18. 1. In what year did the Pilgrims depart England for America? a.) 1420 b.) 1620 c.) 1820 2. What was the name of the ship that the Pilgrims sailed on to America? a.) Mayflower b.) Santa Maria c.)Nina 3. What world-famous […]
| By Diana Morton
Forum Theatre, at the Wilke Center, 1st United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway. Ain’t Misbehavin’. Tony Award-winning musical celebrates the music of legendary Fats Waller and other great artists of the Harlem Renaissance. 8 pm Thu-Sat, 2 pm Sun, Nov 2-19. Tickets $23-$25. Opening night ticket $18. 316-618-0444 Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley. Derbysville: […]
| By Charles Frodsham
A recent essay in The Wall Street Journal entitled “It’s Time to Bring Back Asylums” provides food for thought about the mentally who now roam about freely and in too many cases attack members of the public going about their everyday lives. The essay notes that a growing number of scholars believe that deinstitutionalizing the […]
| By The Active Age
We all desire a place to call home, but is attainable quality housing too far out of reach for many Wichitans? The Wichita Journalism Collaborative is setting out to answer that and other questios surrounding housing here. As a collaborative, we hope to elevate the conversation on housing by informing citizens, encouraging civic engagement, and […]
| By The Active Age
Donate at least $50 to The Active Age, and you could win a family membership to Botanica. The Active Age will hold a drawing for a family membership each month for the next six months from among people on our “Honor Roll” list of donors. This month’s winner is Carol Flower. Donations may be made […]
| By Jim Miller
Top TV Remotes for Elderly Seniors Do You Need Life Insurance After You Retire? Protecting Your Pets After You’re Gone How to Find a Medical Escort After a Procedure Three Vaccines Seniors Should Consider Getting This Fall Savvy Senior: Top TV Remotes for Elderly Seniors Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some […]
| By Dr. Liz Peterson
As a physician, the last thing I want is for a patient to make decisions about their health and well-being based on the cost of care and medication rather than their actual care needs. Right now is a critical time for the over 500,000 individuals in Kansas who rely on Medicare for their health insurance. Evaluating your […]