September 30, 2025 | By The Active Age
If you’re one of the 16,600 serious or casual history buffs who are members of the popular Facebook group Wichita History from Our Perspective, the name Mike Maxton will likely sound familiar. Maxton, 70, is one of the most active members of the group, and he regularly authors posts about Wichita history, sharing old newspaper […]
| By The Active Age
Tom Frye was a senior in high school when he took part in his first theatrical production — a Christmas show — at the suggestion of a teacher. “That very first show, I wrote, starred and directed,” he recalls. “I don’t recommend it.” Luckily for audiences here and elsewhere, Frye didn’t follow his own advice. […]
| By Joe Norris
Now is the time of year when thousands of leaf peepers invade New England, where forests of maple trees turn vibrant reds and oranges. The emergence of fall colors is spectacular. But a fascinating process is underway here in Kansas, too. Our fall corals are emerging. That’s right. Corals. The fossils of corals and other […]
| By Pat Melgares K-State Extension News Service
A hands-on program led by volunteers in Sedgwick County to teach youngsters about the vital role trees play in Kansas communities has been named one of the top Master Gardener programs in the world. The project — “‘How Trees Drink, Breathe and Grow” — won first place in the youth program category at the International Master Gardener conference in August, […]
| By Anne Walling
Growing up in Scotland in the 1950s, Halloween was all about guising — as we called trick or treating. This neighborhood event was strictly for children. Any teenager or adult attempting to muscle in on the activities would be resolutely mocked as acting like a bairn (baby). I don’t remember any outside guisers attempting to […]
| By The Active Age
Candidate forums scheduled The Wichita Journalism Collaborative is holding three candidate forums for City Council and District 259 School Board candidates. The events are free and open to the public. The schedule is: District 3 — 6-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 2 at the Alford Branch Library. Council candidates Mike Hoheisel and Genevieve Howerton will appear. […]
| By The Active Age
A group organized as Seniors Exploring the Cultural Arts in the 1980s is being revived. Seniors on the Go, as the new group is known, has two main purposes: to support local cultural organizations and to help older adults take part in their events and programs. The only requirement for members is that they be […]
| By The Active Age
Nile Dillmore has joined the board of directors of The Active Age. Dillmore was raised in Wichita and graduated from Wichita South High School in 1965. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wichita State University. He has been married to past two-term City Council Member Janet Miller for 35 years, has three children […]
| By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, With a longtime vaccine critic leading the nation’s health departments, can you give me updated information on which vaccines are recommended for Medicare seniors this fall? —Medicare Mary Dear Mary, Even though the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is undergoing major cultural changes and upheaval, the overall fall vaccine recommendations […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
The answers to these clues all have the “ick” factor —that is, they have the letters I-C-K in them. The answers appear on page 16. 1. Lyme disease is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected blacklegged arachnid called what? 2. What candy bar, allegedly named after a horse, was first manufactured in […]
| By Diana Morton
ICT Rep, Amadeus. Fictionalized story of the boy-genius Mozart and his musical contemporary, the court composer Antonio Salieri, whose life’s work is threatened by his jealousy of Mozart’s brilliance. Oct 10-26. Call 316-612-2543 for information and tickets. Kechi Playhouse, 100 E. Kechi Road, Copper Moon by Misty Maynard. Fri-Sat, 8 pm, Sun matinee 2:30 pm. […]
| By The Active Age
Donate at least $50 to The Active Age, and you could win a family membership to Botanica. The Active Age holds a drawing for a family membership each month from among people on our Honor Roll list of donors. This month’s winner is Helen Smith. Donations may be made by calling 316-942-5385; through our website, […]
| By The Active Age
Museum director hired Candy Taylor has been hired to serve as the Executive Director of the Mid-America All-Indian Museum. Taylor brings 17 years of experience in the museum industry, most recently having served as the Director of the Comanche Nation Museum and Cultural Center in Lawton, Oklahoma. Pool is historic The Charles F. McAfee Pool at 1240 East 14th Street North has been listed on the National […]
August 29, 2025 | By Joe Stumpe
It took Carol Cole a while to appreciate all that makes St. Paul A.M.E. Church special. Sure, the church seemed grand and even a little intimidating to her as a child, its sanctuary filled with beautiful music and stirring sermons. But maybe she didn’t pay enough attention to who was filling the pews. “As I […]
| By The Active Age
In these days when brides don’t necessarily wear their wedding dresses to their own wedding receptions — they have a second or possibly third dress for that— Jeanie Tade is an exception. She’s a bride who almost seven decades after her 1956 wedding is still getting use out of her bridal veil. In 2021, Jeanie […]
| By Jacinda Hall
Just a few steps away from a playground for children, Sedgwick County Park will soon have an outdoor fitness center designed for older residents. The Sedgwick County Department of Aging and Disabilities/Central Plains Area Agency on Aging is building an outdoor fitness center geared toward adults aged 60 and older. The $180,000 center was funded […]
| By Joe Norris
CHERRYVALE — On Sunday, Feb. 27, 1910, the Union Electric Railway tried to sneak its first trolley car into this southeast Kansas town. They wanted to do a test run, without attracting a crowd. But word spreads fast in a small town. And although Cherryvale was already home to a glass factory, a bicycle factory, […]
| By The Active Age
A bi-partisan group of Wichitans who took upon themselves the task of finding ways for city government to operate more efficiently has scored at least a couple of victories. Whether their other recommendations are implemented remains to be seen. The group calls itself the Wichita Organization for Government Efficiency Exchange, or The Exchange. It came […]
| By The Active Age
Congratulations to Lisa Van Arsdale-Hansen of Wichita, winner of our drawing for a 14-carat white gold diamond necklace. Thank you to all readers who donated for a chance to win and to Mike Seltzer of Mike Seltzer Jewelers, who donated the necklace valued at $2,000. The money raised will help us keep bringing readers The […]
| By The Active Age
The Active Age thanks the family of Lynda Anne Connell, who made a generous bequest to our organization in her honor. Born Lynda Anne Igel, Connell grew up in Kansas and Oklahoma and graduated from Ottawa High School. She earned a teaching degree from McPherson College, where she met her husband, Harold. They married in […]
| By The Active Age
Editor’s note: A couple of months ago, while calling attention to a new book about Kansas birds, we asked readers to tell us about any interesting experiences they’ve had with them. Here are two we received, lightly edited for clarity. We will print more as space permits. Red Tails’ tale Working in a grain elevator […]
| By The Active Age
Tour College Hill and Downtown Get a little exercise while learning about architecture and history during walking tours planned for September and October. The College Hill Walking Tour will take in the homes of a movie star, an oil baron, a Kansas governor and more. It lasts about 1 ½ to 2 hours and participants […]
| By Nancy Wheeler
With school back in session, it’s time to test your memory of scientific discoveries and inventions you probably first learned about in a classroom. The answers appear below. 1. What did Alexander Fleming accidentally discover in 1928 when he returned from vacation to find mold growing in a petri dish? 2. Who laid the groundwork […]
| By Diana Morton
El Dorado Elks Lodge, 121 East Pine St., El Dorado, Cafe Murder featuring the Act 1 Players. A strange murder occurs at Cafe Murder; the audience votes on whodunnit and a prize goes to the winner. Sept. 26-27. Doors open at 6:15 p.m., dinner served at 6:30 and performance begins at 7 p.m. Dinner and […]
| By Meg Britton-Mehlisch KMUW
The Sedgwick County Zoo is in the midst of a baby boom. The majority of the African elephants born in North America this year were delivered there. Three have been born to the herd since April and a fourth calf is due any day. Dr. Hannah Arens, the zoo’s director of animal health, said there’s […]