Riding to the rescue
Ande Armstrong leads equine sanctuary
By Tammy Allen VALLEY CENTER — Ande
Armstrong speaks softly to the frail red mare as she slips a halter over her head, slowly walking her to a trailer. The emaciated horse’s spine and hipbones jut out sharply as she hesitates, then, with Armstrong’s encouragement, steps in for a ride to the vet.
The horse — Dolly — has just been brought to Armstrong for care, and it’s the start of another day at Hope In The Valley Equine Rescue and Sanctuary.
Armstrong, who founded the operation more than 20 years ago, has been a lifesaver for both humans and horses, donkeys and mules.
Born to animal-loving parents, Armstrong describes their home in Valley Center as “the neighborhood Humane Society,” where injured or lost animals were brought for help. On weekends with her grandparents, she insisted on visiting Kiddieland for
pony rides. Finally, on her 13th birthday, her grandparents bought Armstrong her first horse, a Welsh pony.
Horses remained part of her life as she earned her paramedic’s license, rode the ambulances with Sedgwick County EMS and graduated with a nursing degree from Butler Community College. Recruited by Wesley Medical Center’s air ambulance service, LifeWATCH, Armstrong flew with medical crews in fixed-wing planes and helicopters, responding to major accidents, medical emergencies and other traumas.
Adopting two girls convinced
her to step away from LifeWATCH’s 24-hour shifts, and she moved into emergency room and cardiac nursing’s more stable schedules. She was drawn
See Rescue, page 6
Martial artist carries on legacy
By Joe Stumpe
Twirling a long, curved sword in each hand, Grace WuMonnat 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,” WuMonnat tells McCoy, a retired physician who is her student, adding a quick “Good!” as he comes closer to catching on.
opened 40 years ago.
“Okay, something to work on,” McCoy says.
A few minutes later, Wu-Monnat leads three more students through a series of quick thrusts and pivots
See Martial, page 8
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-squarefeet 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, which was built in 1997.
“It’s a pretty fantastic building,” center director Madison Pfluger said.
A large gathering space topped by a mural of a Kansas wheatfield greets visitors. It’s connected to a spacious catering kitchen. There are craft, game and conference rooms; a billiards room with three new regulation-size tables; a fitness studio for group classes and an exercise studio with four new cardio machines; a library and offices for staff.
“I’d say everything is an upgrade,” Pfluger said. “We essentially got everything new and improved.” There’s also a large space that can be rented for birthday parties, wedding and other events. It will generate revenue and can be used by the senior center when not reserved.
Pfluger and assistant city administrator Dana Walden said a couple of factors came together to make the new senior center a reality.
In 2023, Park City voters overwhelming approved a 1-cent sales tax increase. A chief selling point was that much of that tax would be paid by nonresidents patronizing Park City businesses such as the QuickTrip at 61st Street and U.S. 135 — one of the busiest in Kansas — a nearby
See Park City, page 12
Photo by Kelly Benton
Ande Armstrong walks Stormy, who came to Hope in The Valley so emaciated he could not stand. Today he is healthy, happy and, according to volunteers, bossy.
Grace Wu-Monnat leads students in a weapons class at her martial arts school, which she
Find yourplace.Landing
LUNCH WITH LARKSFIELD
Thursday, April 16 at 11:30 a.m.
Now is the time to secure your future at Larksfield Place and reserve your place in the few remaining homes in the Larksfield Landing expansion. Construction has begun and pre-opening benefits are still available to secure now.
Join us for lunch, meet our team, and discover how we offer the perfect opportunity to start planning.
To RSVP, scan the QR code or call 316-202-4074. Stay informed about upcoming events and expansion updates.
*Availability subject to change. Just 2 one-bedrooms remain and only 9 two-bedrooms! Call for an appointment to view floor plans and details.
Last chance to win a Mother’s Day diamond!
Readers have just over to month to enter our drawing for a Mother’s Day diamond.
The Active Age will celebrate Mother’s Day by giving away a stunning diamond necklace donated by Mike Seltzer Jewelers.
Everyone who donates at least $25 to The Active Age between now and May 5 will be entered in our drawing for the necklace, which is valued at $500. Each $25 donation gets you another chance at the necklace. We will hold the drawing May 6 and notify the winner immediately.
You can mail or bring your donation to The Active Age, 125 S.
West St., Suite 105, Wichita, KS, 67212, or call us at (316) 942-5385 to donate by phone. The drawing will be held on May 6 and the winner notified shortly thereafter. Proceeds will help us keep bringing The Active Age to subscribers in Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick counties each month.
Briefs
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 display to be unveiled on July 4. Stories should be no more than 500 words and, if possible, accompanied by one or two photographs. Submission criteria can be found at wwiihistorycenter.org.
Stories can be submitted by email at dmcnemee@wwiihistorycenter.org or in person at the center, which is located at 119 W. Central in El Dorado. The center is open Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m., and stories will be accepted through June 1.
The center is also holding monthly coffee chats. Upcoming subjects are Concentration Camp Money, noon Saturday, April 25; and Women in War, noon Saturday, May 23. A $2 donation for admission is suggested.
Walking tour of Belmont added Frank Lloyd Wright’s Allen House is presenting three walking tours this
spring, including a new one called “Belmont Place: Between the Arches Walking Tour.”
“During the 1920s and into the early 1930s, Belmont Place was Wichita’s most affluent neighborhood and home to its movers and shakers,” a news release from the museum states. Among homes to be highlighted during the outdoor tour are those that belonged to Walter and Olive Beech
(founders of Beech Aircraft), William Coleman (founder of the Coleman Company), Al Derby (owner of Derby Oil Company) and Jack Vickers (owner of Vickers Petroleum).
The Allen House is continuing its popular “College Hill Walking Tour” and “Downtown History & Architecture Walking Tour.”
See next page
The cost of each tour is $22 per person. For a schedule of walks, tickets and more information, visit flwrightwichita.org and click on “Book a Tour.”
Pollinator Project get-together
Free plants and seeds, a ribboncutting, gardening information and more are on the agenda when Riverside Garden holds its annual Riverside Pollinator Project get-together from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 25. The community garden is located at 802 Amidon, across the street from Botanica and Sim Park Golf Course.
More information and tickets can be found at wichitajazzfestival.com.
Blue Moon shines again
Free trees offered by ICT Trees
Prime bird watching at Cheyenne GREAT BEND — This spring, the Kansas Wetlands Education Center is offering 2-hour birdwatching van tours through the Cheyenne Bottoms wetlands, which are on a bird migration route that connects Canada to South America. The migration usually peaks around the last two weeks of April through the first two weeks of May, and birdwatchers will get the chance to see a variety of ducks, shorebirds and wading birds plus pelicans, cormorants and grebes.
Tours are being offered from 9-11 a.m. on Saturday, March 28; Saturday, April 18; Monday, April 27; Wednesday, April 29; and Saturday, May 9. The cost is $5 per person. Tours are limited to 11 people, and participants must be 12 and older. To pre-register, call KWEC at 877-2439268.
The Cheyenne Bottoms are located about 10 miles northeast of Great Bend.
Free native pollinator plants from Hidden River Prairie Nursery and free vegetable starts and seeds from ICT Farms and the Kansas Native Plant Society will be given away. The garden will formally open its new Unity Garden, an accessible garden area funded by AARP. And experts from Bee City Wichita and the Sedgwick County Master Gardener program will be on hand to answer questions. If rained out, the event will move to 2-4 p.m. Sunday, April 26. For more about Riverside Garden, visit riversidegarden.org.
Wichita Jazz Festival line-up set
Four venues will host shows during the Wichita Jazz festival this month. The schedule: April 22, Stan Kessler Quartet at Walker’s Lounge; April 23, KC Connection Quintet at Wichita Art Museum; April 24, Nick Finzer at Wichita State University; and April 25, Kelly Hunt and The 5 at Wave.
The Blue Moon Night Club, once a staple of Wichita entertainment, returns for one night during the Blue Moon Party at the Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum. Jazz singer Donna Tucker and her quartet are headlining the April 18 event, which also includes dinner and refreshments. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased at wichitahistory.org/ store or by calling (316) 265-9314.
ICT Trees will provide 100 trees this month to low-income homeowners in North-Central Wichita and Midtown. The free distribution is scheduled for Saturday, April 11 at Emporia Park, 1143 N. Emporia. Residents must register at get.arborday.org/icttrees to be eligible for a tree. Staff from the forestry department of Wichita Park & Recreation will conduct a tree planting demonstration at 1 p.m. and be available to answer questions.
ICT Trees is a nonprofit dedicated to restoring Wichita’s urban tree canopy.
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Rescue
From Page 1
to livestock auctions. “I was seeing those sad, skinny horses at the auctions, and I’d think, ‘I could take that horse home and take better care of it.’”
One day she went to the Kansas State Fair with farrier and friend Lisa Allen. Severeal hundred horses were to be auctioned. Horses not purchased for riding or other work typically take their last ride from the auction to slaughter in Mexico or Canada. “In the first pen, I saw a horse standing by himself with his head down,” she recalled. “He was a walking skeleton, so weak. I couldn’t get that horse out of my mind. I said, ‘Lisa, I don’t care if he dies in my pasture tomorrow. I’m taking him home.’”
That first horse was Jim, who lived five more years after Armstrong nursed him back to health. “That’s how we got started,” she said. “We’d go to the sales and do what we could.”
At the start, Hope In The Valley was just Armstrong, feeding the horses every morning and evening, learning from veterinarian and longtime Hope medical director John Speer how to give medicines and watch for symptoms of horse health problems.
Over time, a small core group of volunteers grew, and as word spread of Hope’s work, donations began to trickle in. Finishing her medical career with 15 years as a radiology nurse, Armstrong retired in 2015 after injuries required multiple surgeries. Retirement meant exchanging fulltime health care and part-time horse
AARP driver safety classes scheduled
If you’ve got four hours, you can lower your car insurance. That’s how long it takes to attend an AARP Driver Safety class.
Under Kansas law, insurers must give a premium reduction for three years to anyone who completes an
also serves as adoption coordinator.
younger horses comfortable with being saddled and then ridden.
Two former Hope horses — Chancer and Gem — have become part of the Wichita Police Mounted Unit, ridden by officers for crowd control and meet-and-greet opportunities. Horses are rigorously screened for these duties, being exposed to smoke, gunshots and fire to see how they react.
While the volunteer team at Hope is larger these days, a 70th birthday and a full head of gray hair haven’t slowed down Armstrong. Whether she’s wrestling a foal desperately ducking a syringe full of medicine, slinging heavy bags of horse bedding or hooking a stubborn trailer hitch to her truck, her energy and passion are evident.
care for full-time, unpaid horse care.
Hope In The Valley marked its 20th anniversary in 2025. The organization operates with no paid staff and more than 60 volunteers, about half of them 60 or older, including trainer Chuck Scott, who’s 81. This team handles the daily feeding and care of a herd of 50 to 60 horses, donkeys, mules and minihorses on Hope’s 80 acres. They also schedule vet visits, vaccinations, deworming and farrier care, order grain and medications and log every horse’s history and medical treatments.
Equine manager Peggy Johnson oversees equine operations, while Kelly Benton directs the rescue’s marketing, development, finance and administrative functions. Kelly’s husband, Rob Benton, is ranch manager, mending fences, buying hay, keeping equipment operating and installing new sheds for the horses. He
approved accident avoidance course, although the amount varies by company. The cost of the class is $20 for AARP members and $25 for nonmembers. The course is conducted in a classroom and no driving is involved.
The schedule of upcoming classes includes: April 9, Downtown Senior Center; April 10, Park City Senior Center; April 16, El Dorado Senior
The 'rescue' part of Hope's name refers to preparing horses for possible adoption, while the 'sanctuary' part is for horses who will end their days there.
Horses come to Hope with experience ranging from being completely unhandled to former champion performance and racing horses. Scott and a few other volunteers with horse training and riding experience spend time with Hope’s herd to help make horses more adoptable. That may include teaching ground manners, such as familiarizing a horse with standing for the farrier or loading in a trailer.
For horses whose health, age and level of training are suitable, Scott or Johnson may work with them in the round pen to reintroduce them to being ridden, refresh training cues for walking, trotting, and loping, or make
Center; April 29, Andover Senior Center; April 30, Hesston Senior Center; May 18, Derby Senior Center; May 26, Haysville Senior Center. Contact the hosting centers for times
That passion has saved the lives of more than 800 horses, donkeys and mules — animals who came from situations of neglect, abuse, owner surrender, law enforcement seizure and the occasional stray. Armstrong says her goal is to give them a better life through rehabilitation and rehoming. And now, one more horse is safe at Hope. After her vet visit, Dolly returns to a pasture to quietly enjoy the fresh green brome hay that will start her healing.
Tammy Allen is chief marketing officer for Foulston Siefkin LLP and a volunteer at Hope In The Valley. About Hope In The Valley Hope In The Valley Equine Rescue is a local 501(c)3 nonprofit organization founded by lifelong Valley Center resident Ande Armstrong. To learn more, visit hopeinthevalleyequinerescue.org.
and a class reservation.
For questions, email AARP Driver Safety Instructor Tom Gibson at tgibson12@cox.net
Photos by Kelly Benton
Above, Hope in the Valley equine manager Peggy Johnson gives Mr. Majestic medicine. At right, ranch manager Rob Benton takes Tomahawk for a ride.
The wildest and wickedest Cowtown in Kansas
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 Kansas. In just those six years, violence claimed the lives of 18 Caldwell lawmen. Drunken brawls were a nightly occurrence and the sound of gunfire on Main Street was commonplace. The trouble all started when the railroad came to town.
Caldwell had been a quiet little farming community. But when the Santa Fe Railroad extended its line to Caldwell, the town became the final destination for the cattle herds coming up the Chisholm Trail from San Antonio. After eating trail dust for weeks, Texas cowboys finally had money in their pockets and were looking for places to spend it. They didn’t have to look far.
Saloons, brothels and gambling dens in Caldwell far outnumbered general stores. Because the town was just a cow-chip throw from the Kansas state line, cowboys began calling it “The Border Queen.” But the only ladies living like royalty in Caldwell were the ones marketing their wares to the men on the Chisholm Trail. Topsey Bradley, Birdie Miller and “Mrs. Bright #2, the sick one” were among the 120 prostitutes listed in the Caldwell police dockets between 1880 and 1885. Sporting ladies and soiled doves accounted for nearly 10 percent of the town’s population.
“People think that Dodge City and Abilene were the towns where the Wild West was wildest and wickedest,” Michelle Schiltz says. “But neither of them could hold a candle to Caldwell.” Most infamous of all
Michelle and her two sisters are docents at the Border Queen Museum in Caldwell. Their father, Dave Williams, was a local historian who did
extensive research on Henry Newton Brown, the most infamous of all the Caldwell city marshals.
Brown rode into Caldwell in July, 1882, when he was about 25. He didn’t smoke, drink, chew or gamble, and regularly attended church. But Brown was no shrinking violet. “He had a square set jaw, not unlike that of a bull dog,” a contemporary wrote. “His face indicated firmness and a lack of physical fear.” He also wore two six guns and knew how to use them. So Brown was quickly appointed Assistant Marshal of Caldwell, then promoted to Marshal five months later.
Brown wasted no time in cleaning up the town. When he killed two outlaws in the streets, the Caldwell Post gushed that Brown was “one of the quickest men on the trigger in the Southwest.” The town was so grateful that they presented him with an engraved Winchester rifle. For a brief time, Brown was the most eligible bachelor in Caldwell. Then he got married.
The bills began piling up when his new bride began furnishing their new house. The debt quickly became more than Brown could handle on a marshal’s salary. But fortunately, he had previous experience in another
profession. Before coming to Caldwell, Brown had ridden with Billy the Kid. So, he recruited his assistant marshal and two cowboys, then rode off to rob the bank in Medicine Lodge, a town far enough away that nobody would recognize them. He took along his new Winchester.
The robbery was a disaster. Brown and his gang couldn’t get into the vault, and two bankers were killed. The gang was captured and jailed. As a lynch mob formed outside, Brown wrote a letter: “Darling Wife: I am in jail here. Four of us tried to rob the bank… I will send you all of my things and you can sell them. But keep the Winchester.”
Killed escaping lynch mob
The lynch mob stormed the jail and Brown was killed trying to escape. But the Winchester made it back to his wife, and she didn’t sell it. It’s now in the Kansas Historical Museum in Topeka. Caldwell would love to bring it back home to the Border Queen Museum.
There’s a lot to see in Caldwell. The museum displays everything from outlaw Belle Starr’s saddle to a creepy antique floral wreath made of human hair. And out on the street, there are historical markers that tell the stories
of The Talbot Gang Shootout, The Last Chance Saloon, Murder of Marshall George Flatt, The Red Light Saloon, Shooting Up Main Street and more. Henry Newton Brown gets an entire plaque all to himself.
Bill O’Neal, author of “Henry Brown, the Outlaw Marshal”, described downtown Caldwell like this: “In just the right light, it is not difficult to imagine the sounds of a frontier saloon, of cattle hooves and gunfire.” Chishom Trail Festival
That imaginative light will be perfect May 1-2, when history will be recreated on the streets of Caldwell during the Chisholm Trail Festival. Realistic gunfights will be staged on Main Street as saloon girls dance the can-can, food trucks cook up delicious vittles and live bands get all the cowboy boots shuffling. There will even be a cattle drive through the downtown streets.
Just 60 miles south of Wichita, Caldwell makes a great day trip. You’ll spend only an hour in the car. But you’ll be transported back 140 years in time, back to the days when Caldwell was the wildest and wickedest town in Kansas.
Joe Norris can be reached at joe. norris47@gmail.com
Caldwell city Marshall Henry Newton, wearing white kerchief in photo above, is shown with fellow outlaws after their capture for robbing the bank in Medicine Lodge. Above right, one of 22 historical markers that line the streets of Caldwell. This one tells the story of The Last Chance Saloon.
Eleventh
Martial
From Page 1
with straight swords. “Thrust and turn, thrust and turn,” she says. “That’s good!”
Wu-Monnat has been teaching martial arts to students like McCoy for 40 years in Wichita, carrying forward a family tradition that started four generations earlier in her native China. Along the way, her patient approach has made her something like family to students of the Grace Wu Kung Fu School in downtown Wichita.
“A lot of people have started here, gone to college, got married and come back down here with their kids,” said Ken Crouch, who started studying kung fu and other martial arts with Wu-Monnat 30 years ago.
Another student and part-time assistant, Doug Gleason, has been studying kung fu with Wu since his 20s. Today, his grandchildren do the same.
Wu-Monnat grew up in Shanghai, China’s largest city. Her great-grandfather and great-greatgrandfather were both kung fu masters; her grandfather was one of the most famous kung fu masters in China. WuMonnat’s father, an orthopedic doctor, and mother, a university teacher, were also kung fu masters.
Wu-Monnat started studying kung fu at the age of three and competed in tournaments as she grew up. But China’s Cultural Revolution, launched in 1966 to rid the nation of traditional elements of society, frowned on kung fu and urban professionals such as WuMonnat’s parents.
“They sent my mom to the countryside, to a ‘re-education camp,’ and my dad was sent to the countryside to become a barefoot
doctor for a while,” Wu-Monnat said. After her graduation from high school, she said, “They sent me to the farm, too.”
The Cultural Revolution ended in 1976, and Wu-Monnat earned a degree in martial arts form Shanghai Teachers University. Relatives living in the United States urged her to continue her education in this country and she came here in 1985 to do so. But first she had to learn English.
Wu-Monnat moved to Wichita based on the reputation of the Intensive English Language Center at Wichita State University. She took five classes a day for two and a half years. Then she completed her master’s degree in sports administration at WSU.
Wu-Monnat opened her school in 1986. Located on the second floor of an office building at 122 N. St. Francis, the space looks like the lodge hall it once was, updated with exercise mats and Chinese decorations. The walls hold photographs of students, newspaper clippings and magazine covers featuring Wu-Monnat and her family. A table of snacks and bottled water sits outside the two long rooms used for classes.
Wu-Monnat teaches a form of kung fu known as the northern Shaolin style. It includes kicks, blocks and punches and builds strength, flexibility and speed with enough practice. Tai Chi employs the same moves in a slow, meditative manner that can significantly improve balance and strength. Baguazhang is a lesser-known discipline built around circular gliding movement. The school’s weapons classes teach students to handle swords, spears, staffs and more in kung fu and tai chi styles. Its children’s kung fu class stresses discipline and confidence in addition to self-defense.
Students span a wide range of
ages and experience, from teens and tweens to young parents, middle-agers and octogenarians such as Crouch. A 20-year-old who’s been taking classes with Wu-Monnat since he was a child soars through the air and lands in a full split, while a newer student focuses on centering herself between the slow movements of tai chi.
“It’s kind of challenging sometimes because everybody is at a different level, different age,” Wu-Monnat said. “So you try to teach in a way that will help everybody. But I have great students."
Students who've received proper training are given the option of controlled sparring once a week. Weapons training is designed for skill development and self-defense.
Crouch joked that Wu-Monnat is “too soft” on students, comparing her to her sister, who once taught a class while visiting Wichita. Both of WuMonnat’s sisters immigrated to North America, one teaching martial arts in Houston and the other in Toronto. Her parents, now deceased, relocated to the United States as well, becoming prominent promoters of Chinese martial arts in the United States.
“I’m not a ‘no pain, no gain’ kind of teacher," Wu-Monnat said of her approach. “The students, when they’re ready, you lead them to the next level.”
McCoy called Wu-Monnat “one of those teachers who make students want to improve.”
Wu-Monnat met her husband, Dan, when he showed up for one of her classes. They have been married 33 years, and she’s served as office manager of his law practice for 28 of those.
“Besides the general office work, I help with the trial work,” she said. “Criminal defense, it really helps individuals.”
The couple developed a continuing legal education program for lawyers called “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Kung Fu Strategies for Trial” that was based on Sun Tzu’s classic “The Art of War,” and presented it to legal conferences around the country.
“She is a fascinating person on every level,” Monnat said of his wife.
And a busy one. She teaches martial arts on weeknights and weekends, and it’s not unusual for students to beat her to the school for class. To Wu-Monnat, the chance to share her passion for martial arts and Chinese culture is worth the juggling of responsibilities.
Her students regularly perform for school field trips and at the popular Wichita Asian Festival, and Mayor Lily Wu — no relation — recently presented her with a Certificate of Appreciation from the city for four decades of “teaching, inspiring and building community.”
“I just want to do what I can do,” Wu-Monnat said.
Above left, Grace Wu-Monnat at the time of her school's opening. Above right, she recently received a certificate of appreciation from Mayor Lily Wu. Grace's husband, Dan, attended the ceremony.
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 addition to competing, participants receive lunch, two drink tickets and admission to the after party. The Active Age thanks Dave Gear, a Senior Services board member, for donating the tickets.
To enter our drawing for the tickets, please visit theactiveage.com or return this form to The Active Age, 125 S. West St., Wichita, KS, 67213. Entries will be accepted through May 15.
Do you suffer from leg pain, heaviness, swelling, fatigue, bulging veins??
Do you suffer from leg pain, heaviness, swelling, fatigue, bulging veins??
Dr. Cheatum and Sean Prolago, PA, take a comprehensive, nonsurgical approach to treating varicose veins. This includes using Duplex Ultrasonography for diagnosis and guiding treatment, as well as
Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), Radiofrequency Ablation (RF) (Venclose), Varithena ablation, and Injection Sclerotherapy. By combining these therapies, they can effectively address the needs of all their patients, from small spider veins to larger, rope-like varicose veins.
Schedule a consultation at one of our 3 locations by calling 316-425-7980 to schedule at the Main Office or 316-213-7327 for Dodge City or West Wichita offices
Main Office: 10523 E 21st St N. Wichita, KS 67206
Dr. Paul Cheatum, MD, RVT, DABVLM
Sean Prolago, PA
Free cancer survivor retreat May 7
The Greater Wichita YMCA will hold its sixth annual cancer survivor retreat from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 7 at
YMCA Camp Hiawatha, 1601 W. 51st St. There is no cost to attend but registration is required by April 27
Call for an Appointment with Wichita’s most experienced fitter today. We file insurance!
Call for an Appointment with Wichita’s most experienced fitter today. We file insurance!
• Fashion & Mastectomy Bras • Breast Prosthesis • Swimwear
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(3 blocks N of Lincoln between Hillside & Oliver) By Appointment Only • 316-260-9608
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at ymcawichita.org/survivor-retreat. A light lunch will be served. This year’s focus is strengthening physical, cognitive and emotional
health. The retreat is open to any cancer survivor. For questions, contact Debbie Cruz at (316) 776-8178 or debbie.cruz@ ymcawichita.org
Dr. Weaver looks forward to serving his patients from all across our region for many more years to come. Providing the best foot care in our region for 24 years in the most state of
Park City
From Page 1
Cracker Barrel and the Crosswinds Casino. The recent opening of Gilley’s entertainment and gaming center has added to the tax revenue.
The city surveyed residents and found that a new senior center was a priority. About the same time, the city received an offer on the former senior center, which had been located at 6100 N. Hydraulic, from a buyer who didn’t need the property right away. That allowed the city to build the new center without disrupting operations of the existing one.
The city broke ground last May and, as Mayor John Lehnherr noted at the center’s dedication, the project came in $100,000 under budget. “It all just kind of worked very well for us,” Walden said.
The new center is located in the heart of Park Centre, a mixed-used development designed to be the city’s first real downtown. Mennonite Housing is currently building a 50unit affordable senior housing complex to be called Lancaster Square within
walking distance of the new senior center. It’s expected to open next spring.
Another resident priority to be funded by the sales tax — an aquatic center, the city’s first pool since 2012 — is slated to open on Memorial Day.
“There’s just so much going on in Park City right now, it’s truly amazing,” Walden said.
The old center was visited by about 750 seniors at least once last year, and city officials expect that number to grow. The center is open to anyone who is 55 or older, including nonresidents. There is no membership fee.
Lori Young, a part-time Park City resident, visited the center to work out on an elliptical exercise machine and was impressed.
"It's nice,' Young said. "There are a lot of different rooms where they can do different activities." Park City budgets about $100,000 per year for
center operations. It receives $35,000 from Sedgwick County.
In addition to daily Friendship Meals served at noon, there are numerous recreational activities and educational programs offered.
“We really encourage people to come to our center,” Walden said. “We’re really hoping to be able to offer some more programming. She (Pfluger) has done a fabulous job of bringing in programs, but just with limited space.
Pfluger, though, will soon only be an occasional visitor to the center. She’s resigning to become a stay-at-home mom. Her last day is April 3.
“I’ve been with the city almost 12 years,” she said. “It’s been my dream since the beginning to have a new
center. We’re just very lucky to have the support of the city of Park City and Sedgwick County.”
About the center
The Park City Senior Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday. For more information, visit parkcityks.gov or call (316) 744-1199.
The Active Age is made possible by readers just like you. Please consider donating today by calling (316) 942-5385.
Nancy Pickler, standing, teaches mahjong to Bonnie Yowell (in red), Jannel Mallernee and Tim Rock last month at the new Park City Senior Center.
Madison Pfluger
Purple Line Project means living with dementia doesn’t have to mean staying home
By Suzanne Perez KMUW
Micala Gingrich-Gaylord traveled to Japan about two years ago and immediately noticed something different about the way that country treats its older generation.
“In the entire community of Tokyo, which is massive, you could see it everywhere,” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “This reverence for elders, and support.”
As CEO and president of ComfortCare Homes in Wichita, Gingrich-Gaylord returned home thinking Wichita could do more to welcome older citizens — and, in particular, people living with dementia, and their caregivers.
She launched the Purple Line Project. It’s named for the Tokyo trains that are painted purple to designate them as elderly-friendly. Purple is also the color for Alzheimer’s awareness.
As part of the project, GingrichGaylord trains Wichita-area businesses and attractions on things they can do to better accommodate people living with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. One goal is to guard against the loneliness that can accompany those diagnoses.
by Suzanne Perez/KMUW
Micala Gingrich-Gaylord, president of Comfort Care Homes, leads an information session about the Purple Line Project for leaders at the Wichita Symphony.
“Aging processes can isolate folks,” she said. “We want to think about: How can we expand the community around them, and it not just be, ‘This is where they live, and that’s the only place they can be.’”
Changes don’t have to be huge or costly. The Monarch restaurant in Delano developed a simplified “Purple Line” menu that helps customers with dementia order without feeling overwhelmed.
The Wichita Public Library started offering memory kits that feature games, puzzles and other activities caregivers can use to engage with
loved ones experiencing memory loss. The Wichita Art Museum planned to stock magnifying glasses to give visually impaired people a closer, clearer look at the art.
“This is just, what are the two or three things you can do to elevate your practice so that you’re more compassionate (and) accessible?” Gingrich-Gaylord said. “And then these folks who need our resources and want to be in community can still do that.”
Businesses that take the training get a “Purple Line” sticker to put on their door, and their names are added to the Purple Line Project website. So far, there are more than a dozen, including Botanica, Old Cowtown and the Wichita Wind Surge and Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers.
During a recent training with members of the Wichita Symphony, Gingrich-Gaylord reviewed the basics of memory loss and urged the group to think about what caregivers face.
“It is not easy to take a person with dementia — who is really struggling, maybe, with symptoms or behaviors — to even lunch, let alone to a symphony
performance,” she said. “But the benefits of it are astronomical.”
For infromation about joining the Purple Line Project, call (316) 2720655 or visit comfortcarehomes.com/ purple-line-project.
Suzanne Perez is news director at KMUW at host of its show The Range, where this story first appeared.
Photo
Comforting foods when you are sick
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, soft and endlessly customizable. You can stir in a little grated apple or mashed banana, add a spoonful of almond butter and drizzle with honey.
Rice porridge, or congee, is another soothing option. Made with white rice slowly simmered in broth or water until creamy, it’s simple, hydrating and incredibly calming to the gut. Bananas deserve a spot on this list, too. They’re soft, naturally sweet and full of potassium, which helps replenish electrolytes when you’re dehydrated from a fever or upset stomach.
Hydrate with nourishing broths and soups
My ultimate go-to is homemade vegetable or bone broth. Rich in minerals and gelatin, it helps restore
electrolytes, supports digestion and keeps you hydrated. You can sip it straight or use it as a base for more substantial soups.
A classic chicken soup — whether homemade or clean store-bought — offers protein, warmth and comfort. Its steam can help ease congestion. Eat soft fruits and stewed vegetables
When chewing or swallowing feels like a chore, go for soft, stewed produce that’s easy to enjoy and packed with antioxidants.
Stewed apples or pears with cinnamon are gentle on the stomach and naturally sweet. They offer fiber and immune-boosting polyphenols. Serve them warm for a soothing treat.
Mashed sweet potatoes or butternut squash puree are also excellent choices.
Include immune-supportive enhancements
Raw honey is soothing for sore throats and boasts antibacterial properties. Stir it into warm tea or drizzle it over oatmeal.
Ginger tea or warm lemon water with a pinch of cayenne and honey can ease a scratchy throat, boost circulation, and support digestion.
Greek yogurt with live cultures (if
your digestion is up for it) can help restore gut balance after illness or antibiotics thanks to its probiotics and protein content.
Pro wellness tip: When appetite is low, focus on mini meals every 2 to 3 hours rather than large portions. This supports your energy needs without burdening your digestion and helps you stay nourished as your body works hard to recover.
Karlene Karst is a nutritionist, author and TV personality.
Ginger-Chicken Congee
Congee is a Chinese porridge dish made by cooking rice slowly in water or broth. A meatless version can be made by substituting 6 eggs for the chicken thighs. When they are cooked, remove and allow to cool, then peel and serve with the congee.
1/2 cup jasmine or other long grain white rice
4 cups water
3 bone-in chicken thighs
1 piece of ginger about 1 inch by 1 inch, peeled ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a stock pot. Bring the water to a boil, then turn down the heat and simmer, covered, for about 1 hour, or until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid and has started breaking apart. Stir only as necessary to keep the rice from sticking to the bottom.
Remove the ginger and chicken thighs to a bowl. Discard the ginger. When the chicken thighs are cool enough for you to handle, discard the skin and bones and shred the meat. Add the shredded chicken back into the congee and mix well.
What professional locksmiths say homeowners get wrong about security
Family Features
A thief who wants to gain access to your home may do so by any means possible, including breaking windows or kicking in doors. However, those methods are loud and may attract attention. Instead, thieves will look to find the easiest house to enter. Consider these small changes you can make to deter thieves from your home.
Close the Garage
Leaving your garage door open may seem harmless, but it can signal easy access to thieves. An open garage suggests relaxed security habits and can make burglars assume doors or windows might also be unlocked.
Make Your Home Look Lived-In
Burglars often target homes that appear empty. Dark houses — especially after nightfall — can stand out as easy opportunities. Leaving a light or two on helps create the impression someone is home. If you want to level up, use light timers or smart bulbs to automatically turn lights on and off, even when you’re away.
Keep Your Home Visible from the Street
Thieves prefer to work unnoticed. Overgrown trees, tall bushes or dense landscaping near entrances can provide cover for someone trying to break in.
Upgrade Entry Points to Improve
Security
Start by assessing all home entry points, including secondary points like sliding doors, garage entries and basement doors. In addition to checking door frames, homeowners should examine strike plates, hinge security and whether existing locks are outdated.
Add Eyes to Your Front Door with a Doorbell Camera
Doorbell cameras are an affordable way to boost your home’s security. Visible cameras can stop many wouldbe thieves as they don’t want to be seen or recorded.
Seniors on the Go schedule for April
By Starla Criser
Seniors on the Go continues to attract new members who know how important it is to stay active as we grow older. The group is designed to bring people together to attend events they might not want to attend alone, and also to support senior centers, museums and other organizations and places that make our community a better place to live.
Seniors on the Go’s next monthly meeting is at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 1, at Linwood Senior Center, 1901 S. Kansas St. Here are some events happening during April. The bold faced events are ones that SOTG members have expressed special interest in.
SENIOR DAYS/COFFEE CONNECTIONS
Apr 6 Mo
9 am – Coffee Connection: The SSA Group General Manager @ Sedgwick County Zoo - Free
Apr 9 Th
10 am – Senior Thursday: @Kansas Aviation Museum – Free
10 am – Empowered Seniors: The Untold Weight of Clutter @ Botanica - Free OTHER LECTURES
Apr 3 Fr
4 pm – Big Read: Poetry Workshop for Beginners @ Advanced Learning Library – Free Apr 11 Sa
2 pm – Speaker Series: Civil War Union Veterans and the Influence of the G.A.R. Locally @ Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum – Free
Apr 12 Su
2 to 4 pm – Let’s Talk Shop: Story of Innes and Henry’s Department Stores @ Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum - Free THEATRE SHOWS/CONCERTS
Apr 2-19 Th-Su weekly
8 to 9:30 pm - Million Dollar Quartet @ Forum Theatre – $37-$45 (Su shows 2 to 3:30 pm)
Apr 7 Tu
12 to 1 pm – Bloomfield Carillon Concert Series: Lynne Davis @ Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum, Clock Tower - Free
7:30 pm – Opera Workshop Showcase @ Friends Univ, Sebits Auditorium - Free
Apr 9 Th
7:30 to 9:30 pm – Bored Teachers – Is It Friday Yet? Comedy Tour @ Crown Uptown$41-$107
7:30 pm – Kenny G Live @ Fox Theatre (18 E 1st Ave, Hutchinson) – $73.50-$104.50 (online)
Apr 9 to 11 Th-Sa
Student Directed One-Act Plays @ Newman Univ
Apr 10 Fr
7:30 pm – Concert Choir Spring Concert @ Friends Univ, Sebits Auditorium - $6 (also Apr 11 Sa @ 2pm)
Apr 11 Sa
7:30 pm – Verdi Requiem: Wichita Symphony Orchestra @ Century II - $29+
Apr 12 Su
3 pm – Delano Jazz Orchestra @ The District Church – Donations
4 to 6:30 pm – Rachel Sumner & Traveling Light, string band @ Dyck Arboretum - $25
Apr 14 Tu
7:30 pm – Symphony Orchestra Concert @ Friends Univ, Sebits Auditorium - $6
7:30 pm – Wind Ensemble @ WSU, Miller Concert Hall - $6-$12
Apr 16 Th
7:30 pm – Wind Ensemble Concert @ Friends Univ, Sebits Auditorium - $3
7:30 to 9:30 pm – Mid-America Dance Theatre Student Choreography Showcase @ WSU, Heskett Center – cost TBA (also Apr 17)
Apr 17 Fr
Classic Stones Live @ McPherson Opera House (219 S Main St, McPherson)- $43.90$85.90
Apr 17 to May 10
7:30 pm (show) 7 pm (dinner) - Wait Until Dark @ Prairie Pines Playhouse - $44.95 (show/ dinner)
Apr 18 Sa
7 pm - Girl of the Golden West: Wichita Grand Opera @ Century II - $20-$85 (also Apr 19 @ 3 pm)
Apr 19 Su
3 pm – Delano Chamber Orchestra @ The District Church - Donations
7 to 9 pm – Music for People @ Bethel
College, Krehbiel Auditorium (300 E 27th St, North Newton)
Apr 20 Mo
7:30 pm – Impulse Percussion Group @ WSU, Miller Concert Hall - $6-$12
Apr 22 We
7:30 pm – Time Stands Still (drama) @ WSU, Hughes Metropolitan Complex - $12$20 (also Apr 23-26)
Apr 26 Su
3 pm – Delano Brass Ensemble @ the District Church - donations
Apr 29 We
7:30 pm – Symphonic Band @ WSU, Miller Concert Hall - $6-$12
OTHER EVENTS
Apr 3 Fr
10 am to 4 pm – America 250: Declaration 1776 Exhibit @ Advanced Learning Library –Free (also Apr 3-17)
10 am to 3 pm – Spring Native Art Market @ Mid-American All-Indian Museum - $7 (55+)
Apr 4 Sa
9 am to 8 pm – Easter Bunny @ Botanica – Adm (also Apr 11, 18; also Apr 5, 12, 19 @ 9 am to 2 pm)
9 am to 4 pm – Easter Eggstravaganza @ Sedgwick County Zoo – Zoo adm.
10 am to 5 pm – Season Launch Commemorating the Nation’s 250th Anniversary @ Old Cowtown Museum - $13
seniors
7:30 pm to midnight – Public Paranormal Investigation @ Kansas Aviation Museum - $40
Apr 9 Th
7 am to 7 pm – First Americans Trip with Linwood - $160 members; $175 nonmembers
Apr 10 Fr
10 am to 4 pm – Strong Neighborhoods Conference @ Advanced Learning Library –Free
Apr 11 Sa
7:30 pm - Dancing With The Stars: Live! @ Intrust Arena – reserved seating $75-$226
Apr 17 Fr
6:30 to 8:30 pm – Adult Spelling Bee @ Advanced Learning Library – Free
Apr 18 to 19 Sa-Su
music, vendors
Apr 20 Mo
10 am – National Weather Service Station field trip with Linwood
Apr 24 Fr
12 to 7 pm - Women’s Fair @ Century II Expo Hall - $14.55 (also Apr 25 @ 9 am to 6 pm; Apr 26 2 aa am to 5 pm)
Apr 24 to 27 Fr-Mo 8 am to 7 pm Apr 24 – FloraKansas Native Plant Days @ Dyck Arboretum (Apr 25, 8 am to 5 pm; Apr 26, 1 to 5 pm; Apr 27, 8 am to 5 pm) ONGOING
Exploration Place – Dome Theater (Free if member; $18, online discounted 65+ $13) Kansas: An Immersive Experience – 11:45 am The Stellars – 11 am, 12:30 pm Laser Shows – 2 pm, 4:15 pm
Penguins A Love Story –1:15 pm, 3:30 pm Backyard Wilderness – 10:15 am, 2:45 pm
FOODIES/EATING WITH FRIENDS
Apr 3 Fr 9:30 am – First Friday Coffee at Downtown Senior Center
Apr 6 Mo Easter Celebration at Downtown Senior Center
Apr 8 We 11 am – Linny Llama’s Eating Around the World with Linwood @ Meddys (120 S Washington)
Apr 16 Th 9 am – Egg-cellent Breakfast Club with Orchard Park @ Riverside Cafe, 9125 W. Central Apr 13 Mo 12:30 pm – Let’s Crock It! – Food Fest @ Linwood Senior Center - $3 eating only; free if bringing something to share Apr 20 Mo 1 pm – Lunch Bunch Social Club at Downtown Senior Center
All day - Spring Great Plains Renaissance & Scottish Festival @ Sedgwick County Park$13
Apr 19 Su 12 to 4 pm – Open Streets ICT – WSU & Shocker Neighborhood – food trucks, live
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 Peggy
Apr 21 Tu 10:30 am – Coffee Chat @ Orchard Park Apr 30 Th 11 am – Good Grub Lunch Club with Orchard Park @ Deanos, 7337 W. 37th N Apr 23 Th 5:30 to 8 pm – Old Town Walkabout Winefest @ Old Town Square and Farmers Market Area - $75 unlimited wine and food sampling
Starla Criser helped start Seniors on the Go. For more information, contact her at starlacriser@ gmail.com
Donate for chance to win Botanica membership Smith.
Donations may be made by calling 316-942-5385; through our website, theactiveage.com; by mail to The Active Age, 125 S. West St., Suite 105, Wichita, KS, 67213; or in person.
seDgwick counT y senior cenTers
BEL AIRE
7651 E Central Park Ave 744-2700, ext 304 www.belaireks.org
BENTLEY/EAGLE 504 W Sterling, 796-0027
CHENEY 516 Main, 542-3721
CLEARWATER 921 E Janet, 584-2332
DERBY 611 N Mulberry Rd, 788-0223 www.derbyks.com
DOWNTOWN
200 S Walnut, 267-0197 www.seniorservicesofwichita.org
EDGEMOOR 5815 E 9th, 688-9392
GARDEN PLAIN 1006 N Main, 535-1155
GODDARD 122 N Main, 785-398-1255
HAYSVILLE 160 E Karla, 529-5903
KECHI Kechi City Building, 744-0217, 744-1271
LA FAMILIA 841 W 21st, 267-1700
LINWOOD 1901 S Kansas, 263-3703
MCADAMS GOLDEN AGE 1329 E 16th, 337-9222
MT HOPE 105 S Ohio, 667-8956
MULVANE 632 E Mulvane, 777-4813
NORTHEAST 2121 E 21st, 269-4444
OAKLAWN 2937 Oa klawn Dr, 524-7545
ORCHARD PARK 4808 W 9th, 942-2293
PARK CITY 1811 Stuart Dr, 744-1199
VALLY CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER 314 E Clay, 755-7350
senior weDnesDays
www.seniorwednesday.org
April 1
10:30 am Wichita Art Museum 1400 W. Museum Blvd., $2 admission. Donna Rae Pearson presenting "A More Joyful Place: Black Recreation and Leisure in Wichita".
1:30 pm Museum of World Treasures 835 E. 1st St. Russian Artic Exploration.
April 8
10 am Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. (316) 266-8213, $4 Whiskers in the Wilderness. 1:30 pm Advanced Learning Library, 711 W, 2nd, (316) 261-8500, Free. Cat Poetry with Paul Klusman.
April 15
10 am Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 Fairmount St. Ulrich Interns takeover.
April 22
10 am Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main. “Service Beyond Barriers”: WSU Museum Studies Students Present on Their Exhibit 1:30 pm Mid American All-Indian museum. 650 N Seneca (316) 3503340, $2 + tax admission; free for MAAIM members. Info not available.
April 29
10am The Kansas African American Museum, 601 N Water. $3. Doona Rae Pearson presenting the "Women of Brown".
1:30 pm Old Cowtown Museum. 1865 Museum Blvd $2 + tax; bers. Info unavailable
Dances
Derby Sr Center, 611 Mulberry. 3rd Tuesday 7pm-9:30 pm.
El Dorado Jam & Dance, Senior Center, 210 E. 2nd.
Linwood Golden Age, 1901 S Kansas. Every Saturday 7pm-9:30pm. Call Jim 316-945-9451
Minisa Golden Age, 704 W 13th. Info 617-2560. Every Thursday 7pm9:30pm. Call Rita 316-364-1702 Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S. Clifton. Contra Dance1st Saturday of each month. 7pm-9pm. Call Amanda at 316-361-6863. Orchard Park Golden Age, 4808 W 9th. Every Friday 7pm-9:30pm. Call Casey 316-706-7464
BuTler counT y senior cenTers
ANDOVER 410 Lioba Dr, 733-4441 www.andoverks.com
AUGUSTA 640 Osage, 775-1189
BENTON Lion’s Community Bldg, S Main St
DOUGLASS 124 W 4th, 746-3227
EL DORADO 210 E 2nd, 321-0142
LEON 112 S Main, 745-9200 or 742-9905
ROSE HILL 207 E Silknitter, 776-0170
TOWANDA 317 Main, 316-536-8999 Open 10:30 am-5 pm Mon, Wed, Fri
WHITEWATER Legion Hall, 108 E Topeka
Harvey counTy
BURRTON 124 N Burrton, 620-463-3225
HALSTEAD 523 Poplar, 835-2283
HESSTON Randall & Main, 620-327-5099 www.hesstonseniorcenter.com
NEWTON AREA SENIOR CENTER 122 E 6th, Newton, 283-2222 www.newtonseniorcenter.com
SEDGWICK 107 W. Fifth, 772-0393
TransporTaTion
Sedgwick County
Sedgwick Co Transportation, 6605150 or 1-800-367-7298. Information: 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri; closed most holidays. www.sedgwickcounty.org/ aging.
Community Meals
Here are the menus that will be used for Meals on Wheels and congregate meal sites at Huston, Linwood, Orchard Park, Northeast, Sheridan Village, Maple Gardens, Oaklawn and La Familia.
WEEK OF APRIL 1
Wed: Lasagna w/ meat, green beans, almondine, garlic knot, mixed fruit
Thu: Pork Carnitas, Spanish rice, fajita blend, vegetables, spiced peaches
Fri: Chicken Drumstick, scalloped potatoes, roasted broccoli, whole grain roll, mandarin oranges
WEEK OF APRIL 6
Mon: Chicken tenders, macaroni & cheese, green beans, whole grain roll, apple/strawberry bar.
Tue: Hamburger on whole wheat bun, BBQ baked beans, corn on the cob, fruit cup
Wed: Tuna Salad on wheat pita, garden pasta salad, tangy coleslaw, mandarin oranges
Thu: Italian Chicken breast, wild brown rice, mixed vegetables, whole wheat roll, tropical fruit cup.
Fri: Ham & Beans, mixed vegetables, corn bread, apricots
WEEK OF APRIL 13
Mon: Apple Smothered pork chop, black eyed peas w/ pearl onions, blackberry cobbler, salad cup w/ dressing
Tue: Sweet & sour chicken, fried rice, steamed broccoli w/ red peppers, fortune cookie, tropical fruit
Wed: Turkey Sandwich on whole grain bread, three bean salad, pineapple chunks, mayo
Thu: Breaded fish sandwich on whole wheat bun, red beans & rice, buttered carrots, pears
Fri: Beef country fried steak, mashed potatoes w/ creamy gravy, green beans, whole grain roll, tropical fruit
WEEK OF APRIL 20
Mon: Beef hot dog on whole wheat bun, tater tots, mixed vegetales, peaches
Tue: Ham Salad sandwich on whole wheat bread, cold pea salad, pasta salad, diced mango
Wed: Cilantro lime chicken on wheat pasta, vegetable medley, blushing pears
Thu: Biscuits & Turkey sausage gravy, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, assorted yogurt
Fri: Battered Cod, rice pilaf, green peas, corbread, strawberry applesauce.
WEEK OF APRIL 27
Prairie Wind Dancers: Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N Clifton. Joyce, 683-1122.
Village Steppers Square Dance, Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S Clifton. 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month September through May 7:30 - 10:00 pm. Info: Mike Huddleson 316-650-2469
Westside Steppers Square Dance, 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, 6-8:30 p.m., West Heights United Methodist (entrance "D"), 745 N. Westlink Ave. Info: Sheldon Lawrence (316) 648-7590.
Butler County Transit Weekday transportation in El Dorado, Augusta and Andover. Rides to Wichita on Wed, Thu. Information: Augusta, 775-0500; El Dorado, 3224321; toll free, 1-800-279-3655. 48-hr notice required.
Harvey County Transportation reservations or information: 316-284-6802 or 1-866680-6802. Round-trip: $8 Newton (wheelchair only), $12 Harvey County, $20 outside Harvey County. AVI to Newton: Tue, 12:30-4:30 pm from Burrton, Sedgwick, Halstead, Hesston, Walton.
Mon: Chicken salad on croissant, cucumber sour creamed salad, spiced apricots
Tue: Fish sticks, potato wedges, buttered carrots, whole grain roll, peaches
Wed: Smoked pork riblet, scalloped potatoes, buttered corn, whole grain roll, diced pears
Thu: BBQ beef meatballs, sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower, garlic knots, tropical fruit cup
* Milk or grape juice is served with all meals. Meals fall within the following ranges: Calories 650-750; protein 25 grams or higher; fat 20 to 30 percent of calories; calcium 400 mg or higher; sodium 1,000 grams or less; fiber 9 grams or higher.
FUNDING
Classified advertising
Lakeview Cemetery Garden of Memory. 6 plots: 2 spaces in Lot 60 adjoining 4 spaces in Lot 80. One companion marker with vase and 3 vaults. Valued @ $36k+ will sell for $25k OBO. Contact Nathan Howard at ndh74@icloud.com or 704-519-9552
4 cemetery plots together at Rest Haven in the Garden of prayer, next to the road. Will sell for $2,000/pair. Call 316-641-3538 Lakeview, Two side by side plots. Located in the Memory Garden. Lot 94, spaces 1&2. $6,500 for both. Seller pays transfer fees. 608-408-9252.
Resthaven Garden of the Last Supper. Single plot 60-D-4 in this original garden. $4500 plus transfer fee. rmarzell@comcast.net or 901-848-6593
Resthaven Garden of the Good Shepherd Family Plot #70-D, Spaces #1-4. Highly desirable easily accessible plot. Valued at $21,000+. Will sell for $12,500 with Seller paying transfer fee. Contact Dale @ dadpe@comcast.net.
Resthaven Garden of Freedom, space 4. Double depth lawn crypt, Vault included. Retail $9,795, Sell $7,000. Buyer pays transfer fee. Email mterry27@gmail.com.
Resthaven. Single Space. Garden of the Lord’s Prayer. Space 157 C2. Bronze Marker & Air seal vault. Seller split transfer fee. $5,400. Leave message. 316-285-0607
White Chapel Memorial Gardens, Wichita, Kansas – 2 adjacent grave sites located in a lovely shaded area. The Garden of the Good Shepherd site, 264 B, lots 3 and 4. $1600.00 each. Photographs & informationBarbara Thompson 303 378-8445, bthomdes@gmail.com.
Resthaven. Double depth lawn crypt. 1 opening/closing. 1 marker. Retail value $13,495. Sell for 30% off at $9,500. Seller pays transfer fee. 316-252-9779 or 316-821-5109.
Resthaven Cemetery. Garden of Faith. Prime Location. 2 Lots on Center Aisle 40 B spaces 3&4. Sold together. 1Granite Base, 1Marker, 1 Opening/Closing. $7,750. 316-617-8581
Two plots at Resthaven, Garden of the Cross, valued at $11,000 asking $6,000 for both.Seller pays transfer fee. 316-993-6105
Single Plot – Resthaven Cemetery – Garden of the Cross 46A1 $5000 OBO Email: arkpegram@cox.net OR 479-644-6680 Serious inquires
DERBY RENTAL
Finished basement for rent in shared home in Derby. One bedroom one bath, living room partially furnished. Shared kitchen, laundry room and 2 car garage. $700/month utilities included. Single Woman. No pets. Call Jill 316807-8342
Retiree wants roommate. South Wichita. No Smokers/heavy drinkers. Carport. Wi-Fi. $400/ month plus shared expenses. Proof of income required. 316-241-7456
Golden Buzz Around Carry on Travel Scooter. 4 wheels. Includes battery that came w/ the scooter plus 2 additional batteries that are FAA approved for flight. Sell for $2,000. 316-258-0248.
Spring clean-up * Aeration * Over Seeding Gutter cleaning * Fencing * Landscape install/maintain * Shrub/tree trimming/ removal
Call for a free estimate!
316-737-3426 or 316-631-5984
WWW.JESUSLANDSCAPINGKS.COM
Soto Landscaping
* Full Lawn Services
* Plants & Flowers
* Tree Removal
* Weed Control …and More
316-312-2195 or 316-260-0397
Text or Leave a Message
Tree Trimming, clean ups & clean outs, haul offs and snow removal. Call L. Hayden 316-806-2591.
Sharp Edges Lawn Care Service
• Mowing
• Trimming
• Edging
• Rake Leaves
• And MORE Call/Text 316-640-6327
JD’s Handyman Services 25+ Years’ Experience Home Repairs Done Right Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrical Tv Mounting, Lock Changes Assembly Services Give me a call! 316-768-7080 FREE Estimates
ROBERT'S GARDENING YARD & GARDEN CLEAN UPS
Please call Robert for leaf and garden bed clean up or any other gardening needs. Also does Interior Painting 316-932-4225
Molina’s Residential Yard Cleaning Weekend Availability Debris, Brush, Over grown vegetation, Cutting, trimming removal Will haul for extra fee Extra Services upon request 316-932-4011
Call for Free Estimates
WEST SIDE LAWN
Mowing
& Gutter Cleaning * Hauling/ Branches/ Junk Free estimates.
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Mary Halsig, Ind. Agent, Veteran HalsigInsurance.com
Felipe Tree Service
Evergreen trimming. Tree removal. Brush hauling. Splitting. Deadwooding. Free estimates. 12 years experience. 316-807-4419
STUMP GRINDING TREE TRIMMING Brock 316-765-1677
way.
You don't have to walk this journey alone.
& RURAL AREAS Snow Removal Call 316-207-8047
‘1929’ sets out lessons from the Great Depression
“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)
By Ted Ayres
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 parents were Midwest farmers who managed to keep food on the table, the stock market crash and its aftermath ingrained in them a profound frugality, and that in turn influenced many of the decisions I made as a youth and young adult. It was with this background that I opened “1929,” by Andrew Sorkin, and devoured it in a matter of days.
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 windmills?
3. Princess Diana’s courageous
Sorkin is a financial analyst for The New York Times and the author of the best seller “Too Big to Fail,” (2009), about the financial crisis of 2008. “1929” is the product of more than eight years of research built on private letters, diaries, memos, notes, oral histories, court records, board transcripts, depositions and lawsuits. In addition to its primary focus, there are fascinating asides on New York City history and the lifestyles of the era’s rich and famous.
Sorkin writes that during the Roaring — and seemingly prosperous — Twenties, there were
underlying financial imbalances and a massive bifurcation of American society. The U.S. government under President Calvin Coolidge engaged in an extreme form of laissez-faire. Coolidge was proudly committed to slashing taxes and restoring the federal government to its pre-World War I size and capacity.
Presidents Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt would preside over the Depression. Other figures portrayed in the book include politicians lower on the pecking order, bankers, businessmen such as Henry Ford and speculators ranging from Joseph Kennedy to Groucho Marx, who had to mortgage his home to cover losses from an investment in RCA.
Sorkin concludes that with a couple of exceptions, the era’s major
financial figures did not do anything appreciably worse than what most individuals would have done in their positions and circumstances. However, by encouraging speculation and promising outsized returns to inexperienced investors, the titans and bankers of Wall Street helped magnify the damage when the collapse finally came.
“Temptation has driven human folly for centuries, whether the serpent in the garden of Eden or the market manias of cryptocurrency or artificial intelligence,” Sorkin writes. “Each wave seduces us into thinking that we have learned from history and, this time, we can’t be fooled.”
Sorkin’s book is a reminder of how easily we forget.
Contact Ted Ayres at tdamsa76@ yahoo.com
April quiz: Search for the promised ‘land’ in these clues
walk in Angola was just part of her efforts to raise awareness about what explosive device?
4. What actor starred as Little Joe on Bonanza and as Pa on Little House on the Prairie?
5. What famous home of Elvis Presley can be visited in Memphis, Tennessee?
6. What fictional world included the characters Captain Hook, Peter Pan, and the Lost Boys?
7. What country is divided into 26 cantons, including Ticino, Geneva and Luzern?
8. What vehicle was often driven by Queen Elizabeth and served as a hearse for Prince Philip?
9. When Alice falls down a rabbit hole, she finds herself in what fantasy world?
10. What is the name of the national park in South Dakota that features dramatic, eroded landscapes and colorful buttes?
How to prepare to be an executor of an estate
Dear Savvy Senior,
My uncle recently asked me to be the executor of his will when he dies. I feel honored that he asked me, but I’ve never done this before, and I’m not exactly sure what the job entails. What can you tell me about it?
--Helpful Nephew
Dear Helpful,
Being named executor is indeed an honor. It shows your uncle trusts you. But it can also be a significant responsibility, especially if his estate or family situation is complicated. Here’s a look at what the role involves so you can decide if it’s something you’re comfortable taking on.
Executor Duties
As executor, you’ll be responsible for settling your uncle’s affairs after his death. Depending on the estate, your duties may include:
• Filing paperwork with the probate court to validate the will and officially open the estate.
• Locating and taking inventory of all assets.
• Paying outstanding bills, funeral expenses, and any taxes owed using estate funds.
• Notifying banks, government agencies (including Social Security), credit card companies and the post office of his death.
• Preparing and filing his final income tax return.
• Distributing remaining assets to the beneficiaries named in the will.
Keep in mind that executor responsibilities and deadlines vary by state. Most state bar association websites offer probate guides or checklists that outline the rules where you live.
Get Organized
If you agree to serve, one of the best things you can do now is help your uncle get organized. Make sure his will is up to date and find out where important documents are stored — such as deeds, financial account statements, insurance policies, passwords and contact information for advisors. Having quick access to these items will save you time and stress later. If the estate is complex, you don’t have to handle everything alone. An estate attorney or tax professional can guide you through the process, and their fees are typically paid by the estate. To find qualified help, you can search directories at the National Association of Estate Planners &
Councils (naepc.org) and the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org).
Prevent Family Conflicts
One of the biggest challenges executors face is family tension. Ask your uncle to clearly communicate his wishes to beneficiaries ahead of time, including who will receive personal belongings and family heirlooms. Wills often leave these decisions to the executor, which can create unnecessary friction.
If he hasn’t already, suggest he create a written list outlining how personal property should be distributed. Clarity now can prevent conflict later.
Executor Fees
Executors are generally entitled to compensation, which is paid by the estate. In many states, fees are based on a percentage of the estate’s value, often ranging from 1 to 5 percent, depending on size and complexity.
However, if you’re also a beneficiary, you may choose to waive the fee. Executor compensation is
Quiz Answers from page 20:
1. “Landman” 2. Holland
3. Land mine
4. Michael Landon
taxable income, while inheritances typically are not subject to income tax. If you’d like a step-by-step resource to guide you through the process, “The Executor’s Guide: Settling a Loved One’s Estate or Trust,” from Nolo, is a helpful reference and costs about $32 at nolo.com
Serving as executor can be time-consuming, but with good organization and clear communication, it’s a manageable responsibility and a meaningful way to honor your uncle’s trust.
Send your questions or comments to questions@savvysenior.org, or to Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070.
Get More Savvy
Find more Savvy Senior tips at theactiveage.com. Topics this month include:
• Where to Get Help with Medicare Decisions
• Low-Cost Smartphone Plans for Budget-Minded Seniors
• Understanding the Social Security Breakeven Age
• The Silent Warning: Understanding Prediabetes
Graceland
Neverland
Switzerland
Land Rover
9. Wonderland 10. Badlands
Mabye I should listen to myself
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 article about the increase in pickleball injuries among older players and some common-sense steps to avoid them — things like warming up, using the right equipment and, most of all, treating the sport like a game to be enjoyed rather than a must-win-at-allcosts contest.
I knew the article wasn’t relevant to me. I pride myself on getting to the gym regularly, haven’t even enrolled in Medicare yet (four months to go!) and have played enough sports to consider myself above average in physical coordination.
Plus, I don’t play pickleball.
Then I visited my niece’s ritzy athletic club in downtown Chicago and we decided on a friendly game of — you guessed it — pickleball. Not to brag, but I was beating her like a drum
From the Editor
when I lunged after a ball and crashed to the ground. I popped back up and for a time, felt no ill effects.
But in one fell swoop (an excellent description of my tumble), I had actually turned my ankle, sprained my wrist and skinned one knee.
I’d like to blame the new brand of athletic shoes I was wearing at the time, but in truth, I should have just let my niece’s shot go by.
As it turned out, the fall wasn’t the most traumatic episode of our trip to Chicago. Later that same night, as I hobbled across a dark street, I heard a loud “whoa,” felt a rush of air and then had the back of my turned ankle clipped by one of those motorized bicycles tearing down the street without its lights on. Had I left the curb a half-second later, I believe I would have been hospitalized or worse.
So I’d like to offer a little more advice: Look both ways before you cross the street. Seems like I’ve heard that before.
In
praise of Libby, the app that brings parts of Kansas libraries
By Eric Thomas Kansas Reflector
Libby is an app that for many Kansans brings their public libraries’ books and audiobooks to their phones. Since September when I installed Libby on my phone, I have blazed through audiobooks at a pace that would have cost me a small fortune if I purchased each title.
All that was required? My public library card.
Using Libby, my Johnson County Library card allows me to access 53,000 books and 32,000 audiobooks. (Editor’s note: Libby works with the Wichita Public Library as well). While some popular titles might be checked out, most of those are listed as being available now. The app pairs with my Kindle reader, or I can read directly through my iPhone.
In addition to the virtue of being free, Libby has a smart interface. After logging in, you can filter for books
that are “currently available” as you search. You can also tag books however you like, so that you can return to a promising title later and create customized lists.
For audiobooks in particular, anywhere you play music — in your car, in your earbuds, through your laptop — you can listen to audiobooks easily with Libby. That simplicity has pushed me to finish at least 12 audiobooks during the past six months on the platform.
The most surprising thing about my reading list since using Libby is how much more diverse it is than my previous listening. My family has groaned about my recent obsession with shipwreck books. From our landlocked state, I have bored them with antiquated tales of scurvy, icebergs and mutinies on the high seas. Over and over, my listening (and dinner table chatter) was shipwrecks and sea voyages.
Sorry, kids. With Libby, I have tackled longer titles, returned to long-lost favorite
April Theatre
By Diana Morton
The American Theatre Guild, Broadway in Wichita. The Music Man. Tony Award-winning musical follows fast-talking salesman Harold Hill as he cons the people of River City. April 24-26. Call for times, 316-755-7328
Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley. My Big Bad Rad 80’s Wedding by Ryan Schafer and Molly Tully, followed by a new musical comedy revue. April 3 – May 15. Tickets, dinner, and show $44; show only $33. 316-263-0222
Prairie Pines Playhouse, 4055 N Tyler, Wait Until Dark, a murder mystery dinner theatre production. April 17-May 10. For tickets and more
authors and … well, yes, there was one shipwreck book.
My ears are hungry, and this is the best meal they’ve ever had.
Eric Thomas teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.
info, visit prairiepinesplayhouse.com or call (316) 303-2037.
Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas, cabaret-style theatre. Jesus Christ Superstar. Rock opera based on the last week of Jesus’ life, Jesus Christ Superstar has wowed audiences for over 50 years. Now-April 25. 316265-4400
Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain. Medea by Euripides; translation by Robin Robertson. Grief-stricken Medea seeks solace by destroying Jason, her unfaithful husband, and his lineage. April 23 – May 3, at 8 pm with Sat and Sun matinees, 2 pm. Tickets $20 for adults, $18 for military/senior/students. 316686-1282
Contact Diana Morton at dianamorton12@sbcglobal.net
