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Volunteers restoring first Learjet ever sold to flying condition
By Joe Stumpe
Allen Goodwin remembers the thrill of piloting a Lear Jet Model 23 made in Wichita during the 1960s.
“Those of us who flew 23s for a living — it was a beautiful piece of engineering,” said Goodwin, a former test pilot for Learjet. “You either wanted to fly this one or a G2 (Gulfstream II). They went faster than anything else and went higher than anything else.”
To be precise, 80 percent of the speed of sound and 41,000 feet. Referencing the handling and sleek design of the aircraft, Goodwin added, “This one, you wore it.”
Memories like that are driving Goodwin and other volunteers to restore a 62-year-old Lear Jet Model

23 — the first Learjet to be delivered to a buyer — back to flying condition.
A couple of days each week, volunteers work on the restoration in a former paint shop on the edge of Eisenhower National Airport, across the street from the plant where it originally was put together.
It won’t be easy, fast or cheap.
The twin-engine, eight-seater has barely been flown in 30 years, spending most of that time deteriorating in an airport in Bartow, Florida. Restoration costs are estimated at $3 to $5 million.
The volunteers say the plane is significant enough to warrant the effort:
The Lear Jet Model 23 changed business and culture around the world by getting people of certain means where they wanted to go faster than had ever been possible.
Not to mention making good paychecks possible for thousands of
See Learjet, page 6
By Sherry Howerton
For more than 40 years, Wichita psychiatrist Ralph Bharati has used his expertise to help unlock the doors of the minds of those experiencing mental health issues, helping thousands of patients over the decades. So after a long and successful career, what were his thoughts when he turned 80 last year?
It wasn’t of vacations, afternoon naps or watching sports all day as a retired person. He wasn’t even thinking about retirement.
“I’d like to work another five years,” Bharati said. “Then I might retire or go to part time.”
From his office in east Wichita, Bharati spoke of all the reasons he doesn’t want to retire.
See Retirement, page 8

Nalini and Ralph Bharati work together in Ralph's psychiatry practice.


By Paige Feikert
DERBY — Once an older person falls, the chances of it happening again are almost twice as likely.
But an innovative fall prevention program here is bucking that statistic. So far, none of the Derby seniors who’ve been helped by the Fall Prevention Coalition have experienced a second fall.
“When we started this whole thing, I was skeptical, but we’ve had such great success so far that now I’m calling it magic,” said Derby Fire Marshal Jonathan Marr.
The Fall Prevention Coalition, made up of the Derby Fire Department, volunteers and community partners, came about after Marr realized just how much time Derby firefighters spend responding to falls by older residents. Those falls account for about 25 percent of all emergency runs handled by the department.
See Falls, page 10
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.
You can mail 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.

The Active Age publishes more than just once a month. Check out our website, theactiveage.com, and facebook page for news, features and events throughout the month.



by J. Richard Coe
“I have known Richard Coe for almost 50 years. Others can now benefit from his thoughts and his example of growing in the love and grace of Christ . ” Al Ewert I International Partnerships, World Impact
“ This is a well - constructed masterpiece of reflections of Richard’s life! I’m privileged to have known Richard and learned from the successes and failures of his life This will prompt anyone who reads it to review their own life in a much more thoughtful manner.”
Jerry Jonker I Partner, Vintage 38 Capital
“Not only does Richard Coe af ford us the rare and special opportunity to learn some of the deeper aspects of another ’s life, he has blended the visibility of the work of Christ in his life by decade.”
Dr. Richard Spann I Retired pulmonologist , former leader of Kansas Communities Ministry for The Navigators
“ This has uplif ted me in my walk with God and inspired me to anticipate th ongoing journey with joy and hope. I encourage anyone seeking to strengthen their faith or struggling to find it to take the time to read this book . This book is a true gif t to read.”
Ian Fletcher I Fellow Believer & Friend


1982. The have 2 married sons and five grandchildren.
The city of Wichita will hold a special 1% sales tax election March 3. Voting is open to voters who live within the city limits. Registration to vote in the election runs through Feb. 10.
Voters can vote from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on March 3. Early in-person voting is available at the Sedgwick County Election Office, 510 N. Main, during regular business hours from Feb. 17 through noon on March 2. Voters who wish to vote by mail must submit applications by Feb. 24. Applications can be found at sedgwickcounty.org/elections.
Here is the ballot question:
PROPOSITION NO. 1 - CITYWIDE RETAILERS’ SALES TAX
Shall the following be adopted?
1. Shall the City of Wichita, Kansas, be authorized, pursuant to S.A. 12-187 et seq., to impose a one percent (1.0%) city-wide retailers’ sales tax to be effective July 1, 2026, and which will terminate no later than June 30, 2033, the revenues derived therefrom to be applied as follows?



a. An amount not to exceed $225 million dollars of such tax applied to Public Safety costs for support of City police and fire facility construction and maintenance, the acquisition of vehicles, apparatus and equipment and other purposes related to providing Police and Fire Services for the City;
b. An amount not to exceed $250 million dollars of such tax applied to pay the costs for Revitalization of Century II (not to exceed $25 Million) and Upgraded and Expanded Convention Center Improvements (not to exceed $225 Million);
c. An amount not to exceed $150 million dollars of such tax applied for Property Tax Relief;
d. An amount not to exceed $150 million dollars of such tax applied to establish a restricted-special fund, with earnings from such fund to be reinvested into this special fund, to support Homeless and Housing Services by funding affordable housing projects and programs, shelter facilities, a multi-agency center and its operations and related services for




people experiencing homelessness; and An amount not to exceed $75 million dollars of such tax applied for Development and Construction of a New Downtown Public Performing Arts Center.
Polling places changed
Eleven polling sites have been temporarily reassigned for the special election. The original polling sites, reassigned precincts and temporary polling locations are:
Calvary Baptist — 246 precinct to Southeast High, 338 precinct to Colonial Heights Church
First Baptist Haysville — 317 precinct to Colonial Heights Church
Goddard Pathway — 544 and 549 precincts to Evangel Presbyterian
Maize City Building — 528 precinct to Life Church
Westlink Church of Christ — 402 precinct to Westwood Presbyterian, 519 precinct to West Evangelical Free, 522 precinct to St. Elizabeth Ann
Seton
Heart of Christ Church — 104, 105, 129 and 130 precincts to Linwood Recreation Center, 339 precinct to New Hope Church
St. Anne’s Catholic Church — 418 precinct to Alford Branch Library, 419 precinct to Machinist Building
Girl Scouts Office — 102 and 137 precincts to Edgemoor Recreation Center
Grace Presbyterian — 110 precinct to Plymouth Congregational and 128 precinct to Edgemoor Recreation Center
New Life Covenant — 103 precinct to West High, 601 precinct to Riverside Christian, 614 precinct to Ability Point
Holy Cross — 220 and 223 precincts to East Point Church of Christ, 228 precinct to Church of the Magdalen













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From Page 1

Wichitans.
When restored, they hope the jet will be as much of the city’s aviation legacy as the Kansas Aviation Museum and “Doc,” the B-29 Superfortress built by Boeing during World War II and put back into flying shape decades later by another local group of volunteers.
“There’s no shortage of topics this airplane can segue into,” said Bill Kinkaid, president of the Classic Lear Jet Foundation.
Learjet’s beginnings
Learjet was started by Bill Lear in Switzerland in the late 1950s and moved to Wichita in 1962 (the company name started as two words and later became one). For Lear, the draw was Wichita’s aviation workforce, forged in the early days of flight and massively expanded during World War II.
Lear based the Model 23 on a Swiss military aircraft. The prototype crashed and burned shortly after taking off on a test flight from Wichita in June 1964. Its pilots escaped unharmed, and the insurance money actually helped Lear move forward. The second Model 23 became the program’s experimental test airplane and is now part of the Smithsonian Institute’s collection.
The one being restored — bearing serial number 23-003 — was delivered to the Chemical and Industrial Corp. of Ohio in October 1964. It proved so successful that the buyer acquired more and went into the charter jet business.
It also became a favorite of Hollywood celebrities. A video on the foundation website shows Frank Sinatra, Johnny Carson and others with Lear Jets.
Lear, a serial inventor (he’s also credited with creating the 8-track player) of mercurial nature, sold his stake in the company in 1967. But Learjets continued to be produced until Bombardier Aerospace, which acquired the company in 1990, announced they would be discontinued


in 2021. By then, more than 3,000 had been produced, making Learjet a synonym for private jets at one point. After its initial sale, the third Lear Jet ever produced changed hands several times, flying a bit around Alaska and elsewhere before a Florida beer distributor bought it. Its last owner was a Florida family involved in air shows.
Other than a two-hour flight to Bartow from another Florida airport, it hadn’t been flown in decades. Members of the restoration effort say none of the 99 Model 23’s produced are currently in use, although some 24s and 25s are still flying.
In 2022, the plane’s owner contacted Dick Kovich, considered the unofficial historian of Learjet, to see if there was interest in acquiring it. According to Kinkaid, there wasn’t, at least not at the original asking price of $250,000.
‘Not physically possible’
Another obstacle was the desire of the plane’s owners to see it restored to flying condition, not just displayed somewhere. Kinkaid and others were skeptical that could be done.
Bart Gray, a Florida businessman and pilot involved in the restoration, said his initial thought was: “That’s not physically possible.”
Gray, who runs an international air ambulance service, had earlier approached the plane’s owners about acquiring it to put on a pole outside his business.
Many of the plane’s parts had deteriorated in the harsh Florida environment; others had been damaged in a hurricane.
Replacement parts would have to be custom made because they aren’t being manufactured anymore. The degree of difficulty was upped because the object isn’t simply to get the plane flying again. Instead, it is to “restore it to the way it was delivered in 1964,” in Kinkaid’s words.
A turning point came when Kinkaid and others met with the group that spearheaded the restoration of Doc.
“They told us we were setting our sights too low,” Kinkaid said.
Doc had been found rotting in the Mojave Desert in 1987. With help from a group called Doc’s Friends, volunteers restored it to air worthiness in 2016. Today, it’s flown at air shows and other events and, when not in use, is housed in the 42,000-squarefoot B-29 Doc Hangar, Education & Visitors Center at the airport.
After Doc’s Friends explained the business plan that made that happen, Kinkaid and others flew to Florida to check out the Model 23.
“It was essentially all there in one piece,” Kinkaid said. The electrical systems “powered up without any smoke or anything like that.”
The plane’s owners agreed to take $90,000 for it. More than half the price was donated by Clay Lacy, a legendary figure in Wichita aviation, and Lynn M. Krogh, founder of Colorado-based International Jet Aviation Services. ‘Good time to get involved’
The plane was partially disassembled and trucked to Wichita in February of 2023, originally parked in a hangar — now part of Bombardier — near where it was built. Restoration began the next year. To date, volunteers have put in about 2,000 hours working on the aircraft.
“There are lots of hard parts,” Kinkaid said when asked about the work. “In the top three are corrosion repairs, the rewiring of the plane and CRO — component repair and
overhaul.”
The aircraft contained 2.3 miles of wiring which will be re-manufactured.
Dan DeMott, who worked at Learjet for 32 years, said he’s been happy to donate his time and experience to the project.
“I know most of the guys who are involved. I’m kind of a history buff, and I retired a year ago, so it was a good time to get involved.”
On a recent day, the volunteers were readying the aircraft for x-ray photography that would be used to detect any structural defects not apparent to the naked eye.
Gray, whose company owns several Lear Jets, has completed an aroundthe-world flight in one of them — and another flight circumnavigating both poles —to raise money and awareness for the project.
Several aviation-related companies with links to Learjet have made inkind donations of material, equipment and labor. The engines, for example, are being overhauled by a Michigan company.
Kinkaid hopes it can be done in five years. The foundation has been set up as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to raise funds.
“The project will go as fast as donations occur,” Kinkaid said. “At the end of the day, we want to operate it like Doc.”
To make a donation or get more information, visit https://ClassicLear.org.


she contracted cholera herself, and died when she was just 24. According to the legend, she still walks the hills outside of Hays with her blue lantern, searching for soldiers to comfort.
Elizabeth Polly might have been completely forgotten by now, if not for the limestone sculpture of her that stands in, appropriately, Elizabeth Polly Park. It’s one of the smaller parks in Hays, out behind the Dairy Queen. And Elizabeth Polly is one of the lesser-known historical figures that Hays sculptor Pete Felten has immortalized in limestone.
Pete Felten started teaching himself how to carve in 1957 when he was 24. He turned out to be an excellent teacher and a dedicated student. His sculptures of Amelia Earhart, Dwight Eisenhower, Arthur Capper and William Allen White stand in the rotunda of the Kansas Statehouse. Other Felten sculptures can be seen in Atwood, Oberlin, Victoria and elsewhere. But Hays is Pete’s hometown, and it’s also home to the majority of his distinctive stone art.
By Joe Norris HAYS
— For as long as teenage boys’ bedrooms have had windows, young gentlemen have been sneaking out at night to meet up with a girl. Hays isn’t the only Kansas town where that’s happened. But it may be the only town in America where multiple generations have all attempted to hook up with the very same young lady.
Sons, fathers and grandfathers of Hays have all tried to catch a glimpse of the same elusive young woman for more than a century. Some say they’ve seen her walking the hills at night, wearing a blue dress and carrying a lantern. They call her The Blue Light Lady. But her real name is Elizabeth Polly, and she’s a ghost.
Back in 1867, Elizabeth was a hospital matron, caring for the soldiers at Fort Hays during the cholera epidemic. She was completely devoted to her patients during the day. But at night, she’d go for long walks outside the fort to rest her mind and recharge for another stressful day. Elizabeth was able to nurse several desperately ill soldiers back to health. But then
Kansas Supreme Court talk
Wichita attorney Gloria Farha Flentje will discuss the selection of Kansas Supreme Court justices in a Feb. 28 talk hosted by the Wichita branch of Women for Kansas.
A constitutional amendment on the Aug. 4 primary ballot would make justices an elected position. Currently, they are appointed by the governor from a list of attorneys approved by the Supreme Court Nominating
Felten’s sculpture of former Hays city marshal and sheriff Wild Bill Hickok stands downtown in Union Pacific Park. His bust of Buffalo Bill Cody, who served as an army scout and buffalo hunter here, sits in front of the library on Main Street. And one of Pete’s favorites, The Lawman, keeps watch in front of City Hall, coat tucked behind his Colt revolver for quick access. “It’s across the street from my house, so I can see it from my kitchen window,” Pete says.

Commission. The commission consists of five lawyers and four non-lawyers from across the state.
Flentje has served as a member of the nominating commission as well as president of the Wichita and Kansas bar associations. Her talk will be held at 10 a.m. at Pine Valley Christian Church, 5620 E. 21st St. N. For more information, visit womenforkansas.org.
Comfort Care endowment
Comfort Care Homes has completed a $25,000 endowed fund with the University of Kansas School
His largest creation is the massive Monarch of the Plains that stands outside Hays, overlooking Highway 183. It started as a 24-ton slab of limestone. Pete began chiseling away at it in 1965. Two years later, an 18-ton Kansas bison emerged from the enormous rock. Pete completed the project in 1967, in time for the Hays Centennial. My wife and I were students at Fort Hays State at the time, and we often saw Pete hurtling through town in his battered old jeep.
He’s not mashing the accelerator down quite as hard now. But until just recently, Pete was still carving every day. He told us he first started thinking about working with limestone when he was a kid, spending summer days at the old swimming pool in Hays. “Some kids had carved their initials into the old limestone building,” he said. “I saw that it was easy for them to do because limestone is pretty soft. So I decided to try making some sculptures out of it.”
He had no trouble finding enough stone to practice on. Farmers had used limestone posts to build fences for a century in that part of Kansas. Many of the old fences had fallen into disrepair, so farmers were happy to let Pete wrestle the heavy posts out of the ground and haul them off. He practiced until he became proficient. Pete Felten had found his profession.
There are more than two dozen Felten sculptures in his hometown, but they aren’t the only reason why Hays makes a great day trip destination. The
of Medicine-Wichita to support ongoing Alzheimer’s and dementia research.
The fund grew out of a partnership between the school and Comfort Care which includes having medical students work directly with people living with dementia in real-world care settings.
“Supporting research and medical education is part of our responsibility to the community we serve,” said Micala Gingrich-Gaylord, CEO of Comfort Care Homes.
Comfort Care Homes has provided dementia care in Wichita for more

of
Sternberg Museum of Natural History houses some three million fascinating exhibits, including their popular fishwithin-a-fish fossil and some animated dinosaurs. And at the old Fort Hays State Historic Site, you can step into the officers’ quarters where General Custer and his wife Elizabeth lived while he was stationed at the fort here. After you’ve immersed yourself in enough history, Hays also has a couple of award-winning microbreweries where you can cut the trail dust with a tall cold one.
But before leaving town, be sure to search out as many of the Pete Felten sculptures as you can. You’ll marvel at the way he’s skillfully recorded history with his chisel. And like me, you may wonder if he ever made a mistake.
“Did you ever work on a big sculpture for a year or two, have it almost finished, then give the chisel one last little tap and have an entire arm fall off?” I asked him.
Pete looked at me for a minute before answering. “No,” he said. “I try to avoid that.”
Joe Norris is a retired Wichita marketing executive. He can be reached at joe.norris47@gmail.com
than 33 years.
America 250 celebration
The city of Wichita has unveiled a logo and website to be used in conjunction with celebrations of the 250th birthday of the United States this year. According to a news release, “A local America 250 committee made up of Wichita leaders, organizations and partners is guiding the celebration to ensure it reflects Wichita’s voice and brings people together through shared experiences.” The website is Wichita250.com.
From Page 1
“I feel good. As long as I am physically and mentally able, I will work,” Bharati said.
From a career that started as a veterinarian in his native India, Bharati today is the medical director of PsychCare KS, where he still sees 30 to 40 patients a week, often spending weekends on call to address emergencies. His office database contains the names of more than 30,000 current and former patients, and he estimates he’s seen 100,000 patients throughout his career. On top of the individuals he sees in private practice, in previous years Bharati spent his evenings calling on patients in area hospitals where he would often make rounds until 10 p.m. at night.
He continues to enjoy the challenges of his work and the everchanging scientific side of medicine and therapy.
“I am still learning every day,” Bharati said. “It’s a mix of science and art, and I feel like I am still contributing to people's lives and to society. It’s rewarding to see my patients getting better.”
Contributing to society
Bharati is not alone. While the
average age of retirement in Kansas is 65, more workers are choosing to work later into their years because of the personal fulfillment their careers provide, including a sense of purpose, social connection, enjoying the work itself, better health and more options for flexible and remote work — a trend that increased during COVID. For these individuals, work provides meaning, a sense of identity and a structure to the day, and studies show that work can help maintain mental sharpness and helps combat isolation. According to a report from the University of Michigan Nation Poll on Healthy Aging, two thirds of those who work after age 50 say that working boosts their physical and mental health and their overall wellbeing.
Growing older does not necessarily lessen an individual’s value in the workforce either, and in fact, the skills of an older employee can enrich an office. Contributions such as years of experience, mentoring younger workers — Bharati still welcomes interns into his office to get hands-on experience — and a committed work ethic are values sorely needed in the business climate today.
There are other reasons why older adults choose to stay in the workforce longer. Financial readiness for retirement is key, including an individual’s savings, debt and the cost
of living. Events over the past several years have directly influenced the amount of time spent in the workforce: The recession of 2008; the COVID crisis and recent inflationary trends have taken a direct hit out of many people’s savings and changed their retirement timelines. Many people will spend more years in retirement, which will require greater savings if they don’t want to outlive their money.
Today’s workforce also expects to work longer based on Social Security eligibility. For most of Social Security’s history, the full retirement age was 65, but that is gradually rising. In 2022, the full retirement age was set at 67 for those born in 1960 or later. And while 62 is the starting age of eligibility for Social Security benefits, age 65 is the milestone for receiving health insurance.
In his younger years, Bharati said he did not have a specific retirement age in mind but knew he would likely be working past his 60s.
“When I started my practice, I had loans and debts to worry about,” Bharati said.
For married workers, joint spousal decisions also affect retirement timing, and the goals of a couple or an individual must be considered: Will you stay in your current home, and is it paid off? Move to a resort location where costs may be higher? Plan on
“I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.”
—Blanche DuBois in “A Streetcar Named Desire”
By Joe Stumpe
The Active Age is more fortunate than Tennessee William’s famous character, Blanche DuBois.
This publication has depended on the best kind of friend — its readers — for support since its inception in 1979.

Early last year, even that seemed like it might not be enough.
Rising postage costs and a temporary downturn in advertising were causing us to rack up monthly operating deficits that had our small staff and board of directors wondering
A nonprofit organization like ours isn’t supposed to make a lot of money, but it can’t lose money forever, either.
Two things happened to reverse the trend. Working with the U.S. Postal Service, we figured out a way to tighten our distribution and make sure The Active Age is only mailed each month to readers who want it. I’m thankful to a savvy local businessman for pushing us in that direction.
And readers donated as never before: a record $175,827 to be exact. At year’s end, we were a few thousand dollars in the black.
This support has left us thankful, humbled and determined to keep
A free digital copy of The Active Age is now available. The digital copy can be “flipped through” like a regular newspaper, and the type can be enlarged on your phone or computer. To have the digital version emailed to you each month, call (316) 942-5385 or email joe@theactiveage.com

extensive travel or costly hobbies? Will health concerns dip into your retirement funds?
Bharati’s wife Nalini, 69, works alongside him in the practice. She will retire when he does.
For now, Bharati says he feels well and wants to continue helping others get better.
“Physically and mentally, as long as I can do the work, I will do it,” he said. “What else would I be doing?”
Contact Sherry Howerton at sgaylegraham@hotmail.com
Retirement by the numbers
*The average age of retirement in the United States ranges from 62 to 65; in Kansas, it is 65.
*Average retirement age for men hovers around age 65; for women, it is slightly lower at 63.
*Retirement ages have increased from 1991, when the average age was 57.
*Common reasons for this delayed retirement include people living longer and facing greater financial challenges.
*Some choosing to stay in the workforce are interested in personal fulfillment, saying that working boosts their physical and mental health and their overall wellbeing.
bringing you the best publication we can, for as long as we can.
If you enjoy The Active Age and want to see it continue, there are a couple of ways you can help:
• Let us know what you like and don’t like about the publication, call or email me with story ideas, encourage others to subscribe if you think they’d benefit. All these things help us fulfill our mission.
• Support our advertisers and tell them you saw their ads in The Active Age. Advertisers provide about twothirds of our revenue in a typical year. As the largest print publication in
Kansas, we think we provide them a good value. But they’ll believe it even more coming from you.
• If you’re able, consider making a contribution to The Active Age. Help from friends is vital to The Active Age. After all, if you recall "Streetcar," Blanche’s reliance on strangers doesn't work out too well.
For all the staff, board and volunteers at The Active Age, thank you for an amazing 2025, and here’s wishing you the best in 2026. Contact Joe Stumpe at joe@ theactiveage.com or (316) 942-5385.

“Deadbeats, Dead Balls, and the 1914 Boston Braves,” by Martin H. Bush (The Kent State University Press, 2025, 373 pages, $32.95)
By Ted Ayres
Serving as vice president of academic resources at Wichita State University, Martin H. Bush was largely responsible for creation of the Edwin A. Ulrich Museum of Art, which opened on the WSU campus in 1974. Bush was also instrumental in beginning the well-known outdoor sculpture collection at WSU that is now named in his honor.
During the Ulrich’s 25th anniversary celebration of the founding of the Ulrich, I had the opportunity to spend time with Bush, who had returned to Wichita from New York for the occasion. He mentioned to me, with some excitement, that he was working on a book about baseball. “Deadbeats, Dead Balls, and the 1914 Boston Braves” has now come
to fruition.

A historian by training, Bush was introduced to the 1914 Braves through his purchase of the photo archive of Baseball magazine. The franchise left Boston for Milwaukee in 1953 and then in 1966 moved on to Atlanta, where it remains today.
Wanting to know more, Bush studied Boston newspapers on the era in the microfilm room of the New York Public Library and found the team “strangely likable. Ordinary and wonderful. They demanded attention,” in his words. He also pored over magazine articles, interviews, court records and clipping files of the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He visited cities and ballparks the team played in and hotels the players
stayed in. First-person players’ accounts enabled him to write scenes with immediacy.
Bush writes about the game of baseball as it was in 1914, when a world war was looming in the background and the United States was still finding its place in the world.
The 1914 Braves were struggling in last place in the National League on July 4 (at the time, there were eight teams in the National League, eight teams in the American League and eight teams in the Federal League, a short-lived third league). Under the leadership of manager George Stallings and team captain Johnny Evers (as in “Tinker to Evers to Chance”), the Braves stormed back to win the pennant and advance to the 1914 World Series.
During the Series, the “Miracle Braves” defeated the American League Philadelphia Athletics, who had won three of the previous four World Series championships. Bush’s research
Editor’s note: Our quiz master Nancy Wheeler gave us two love-themed quizzes to pick from for February. We liked both too much to choose, so here they are. The answers appear on page 23.
By Nancy Wheeler
romance
What movies gave us these memorable lines about love and which actors delivered them ?
1. “You had me at hello.”
2. “We’ll always have Paris.”
3. “Nobody puts Baby in a corner.”
4. “I’ll never let go, Jack. I promise.”
5. “I wanted it to be you, I wanted it to be you so badly.”
6. “Listen to me, mister. You’re my knight in shining armor. Don’t you forget it.”
7. “I’m not a smart man, but I know what love is.”
8. “I’m just a girl, standing in front of a boy, asking him to love her.”
9. “You should be kissed and often, and by someone who knows how.”
10. “You want the moon? Just say the word, and I’ll throw a lasso around it and pull it down.”
11. “You make me want to be a better man.”
12. “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.”
By Diana Morton
Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas, cabaret-style theatre. The Golden Girls. The girls are back for their ninth season. Join Tom, Scott, Kyle, Monte and Christine for all-new episodes of The Golden Girls where zaniness abounds. Jan 23 – March 7. Doors open at 6:30 pm; show begins at 7:30 pm Wed-Sat. and Sat. matinée 2 pm. Tickets $40. 316-265-4400

Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain. The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 by John Bishop The creative team responsible for a recent Broadway flop (in which three chorus girls were murdered by the mysterious “Stage Door Slasher”) assemble for a backer’s audition of their new show at the
and vivid writing allow the reader to experience the ups and downs of a Major League baseball season as if in real time.
While most of the focus is on the Braves and especially Stallings and Evers, Bush also depicts owners, umpires, newspaper reporters, fans and managers and players from other teams. All-time greats Grover Cleveland Alexander and Ty Cobb are two who make appearances.
Bush’s book was worth the wait. If you appreciate the game of baseball, enjoy American history or just have a place in your heart for the underdog, I think you will enjoy it.
Ted Ayres is a former vice president and general counsel at Wichita State University. He can be reached at tdamsa76@yahoo.com
Famous lovers
Match the men and women who made up these famous couples:
___ 1. King Edward VIII
___ 2. Diego Rivera
___ 3. Robert Browning
___ 4. John Adams
___ 5. Shah Jahan
___ 6. Lancelot
___ 7. Napoleon
___ 8. Prince Albert
___ 9. Paris of Troy ___10. Mark Antony ___11. King Henry VIII ___12. Johnny Cash ___13. Paul Newman ___14. Clyde Barrow ___15. Pierre Curie
Westchester estate of a wealthy backer. As the composer, lyricist, actors and director prepare their performance, and a blizzard cuts off any possible retreat, bodies start to drop in plain sight as the infamous “Slasher” makes his reappearance. Now – Feb 1. 8 pm with Sat and Sun matinees, 2 pm. Tickets $18 for adults, $16 for military/senior/ students. 316-686-1282.
a. Guinevere
b. Josephine
c. Joanne Woodward
d. Helen of Sparta
e. Wallis Simpson
f. Bonnie Parker
g. June Carter
h. Frida Kahlo
i. Marie Sklodowska
j. Mumtaz Mahal
k. Anne Boleyn
l. Cleopatra
m. Abigail Smith
n. Queen Victoria
o. Elizabeth Barrett

From Page 1
Department data also showed firefighters returning to the same homes again and again. That’s because the risk of a second fall is doubled after the first fall, and the risk continues to increase with each fall, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Firefighters would respond to falls by assessing for injuries, and if no injuries were incurred from the fall, they’d help the caller back up and get them seated in a comfortable position, and ultimately leave.
“When we pulled the lens back a little further, we realized that by picking them up and putting back where they were, and then leaving, we were actually participating in this statistical cycle of falling, and I think I knew then that we needed to find a way to disrupt it or intervene in that cycle,” Marr said.
Marr held a town hall meeting, and with the support of community members, the Fall Prevention Coalition was formed last June. Firefighters who respond to a fall by an older person can refer that person to the coalition. Within 24 to 48 hours, volunteers from the program reach
out and schedule a home assessment. Fall risks are assessed and eliminated, whether that’s simply by removing trip hazards, improving lighting or installing grab bars. The program is free to participants.
“We find ways to buffer out the fall risks that exist within the way they’re living, and so far, 100 percent of the people that have received intervention have not had a repeat fall,” Marr said.
“As we age, we slowly lose physical capability without us even realizing it, and as we lose that capability, our house has to change with us.”
While some home environments pose risks, the danger of falling for older adults also increases with lower body weakness, difficulties with walking and balance, impaired vision and hearing and foot pain, among other factors. The coalition’s effort has now grown to include a lecture series at the Derby Public Library with topics geared toward older adults as well as an exercise program at the Derby Senior Center called “A Matter of Balance.”
“We’re trying to tackle this from all different angles, not just home safety,” Marr said.
The ultimate goal of the program is to help older adults remain independent and in their homes as long as possible. An estimated one out of 10 falls results in an injury

significant enough to restrict activities for more than a day, and falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in this population, according to the CDC. Marr and other firefighters in Derby have witnessed the damaging effects of falls, particularly repeat falls.
“There would be times that we respond to a fall where someone is injured, and we knew it would be the last time they would see their house,” Marr said. “We knew they wouldn’t return home again because they would go to rehab, and then they wouldn’t be able to fully rehab enough to return home, and they would end up in nursing care. That person wouldn’t know it was the last time they’d see their home. It was sad. It was really sad.”
“What’s ultimately happening is we’re not just preventing falls; we’re prolonging a person’s independence by allowing them to live in their home more safely.”
The Derby Fire Department has gotten inquiries from the Sedgwick County Fire Department to expand the program, but for now the Fall Prevention Coalition serves only the Derby area. If you live in the Derby area and you’d like to schedule a home evaluation, you can do that from the Fall Prevention Coalition’s website at www.fallpc.org. You can also donate on the website and subscribe to the coalition’s newsletter. If you’re interested in volunteering, send the Fall Prevention Coalition an e-mail at Info@fallpc.org.

County offers balance training
The Sedgwick County Health Department is offering fall prevention training called A Matter of Balance this spring and early summer. It’s a free, four-week group training program that “emphasizes practical ways to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels.”
The sessions will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Sedgwick County Extension Center, 21st and Ridge, on these dates: April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29, May 6, May 20, May 27 and June 3.
Falls: Four big factors
Four factors significantly affect the likelihood an older adult will suffer a fall, according to the National Institutes for Health. They are:
Physical activity: Regular physical activity and balance training reduce the risk of fall.
Medications: Falling is a common side effect of certain medications and combinations of drugs.
Vision: People with visual impairments are two to three times more likely to fall.
Home safety: Hazardous environments that can cause falls are widespread in the homes of older adults and particularly those of frail older adults.


By Eric Thomas Kansas Reflector
Most coverage of the Kansas City Chiefs’ new stadium on the Kansas side of the state line has focused on either the competition between Kansas and Missouri or the financing of the stadium with public funds.
The transition from an outdoor venue at Arrowhead Stadium to a domed stadium has attracted less attention. When people have written about the dome, they have spotlighted the likelihood that a Super Bowl might come to Kansas City.
But the Super Bowl is just one game. How will a domed stadium change games at the most vital stadium in our state and region?
The NFL preseason begins in early August, meaning that players and fans can swelter, with temperatures routinely reaching the mid-90s. Hermetically sealed stadiums offer more certainty of a pleasant game. But that doesn’t mean that they deliver

dramatic contests.
Consider the Chiefs’ frigid playoff win against the Miami Dolphins in 2024. Temperatures dipped so low that quarterback Patrick Mahomes shattered his helmet on a run near the goal line, producing an iconic photo and a memorable game.
The cost of gathering people on such a tundra became clear in the following weeks, when local hospitals reported that they performed several amputation surgeries on frostbitten fans.
The Chiefs’ new stadium, scheduled to open in 2031, will certainly be the most important in the heartland. The next closest major domed stadium is in St. Louis: The Dome at America’s Center. Ask St. Louis locals, and they will tell you how the dome has descended into disrepair and languor since the Rams left for California.
The next closest domed stadiums are seven hours away by car; the new Chiefs stadium should become a destination for mega-concerts and more.
Let’s hope that the best parts of Arrowhead Stadium aren’t lost with the move to a dome. Many of my best Chiefs memories come from the tailgate culture of the parking lot — a mix of smoked meats, light beers and elaborately retrofitted school buses.
Volume is another Arrowhead signature. Perhaps the building plans will call for noise reduction to ensure sound in the dome doesn’t become uncomfortable. Or perhaps the new dome will be even louder than the Chiefs’ record for an outdoor stadium: 142.2 decibels, according to



the Guinness Book of World Records
Our central worry in building should be longevity — because few stadiums are as gray and miserable as old domes. Can the Chiefs build a dome that lasts? The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans suggests so. Built in 1975, the stadium hosted the most recent Super Bowl.
If you are already nostalgic for Arrowhead, there’s good news. The move won’t come for a handful of seasons, so plan your trip to Missouri.
Eric Thomas teaches visual journalism and photojournalism at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.













By Jill Wilson Personal Legacy Memoirs
“My life hasn’t been that interesting. No one would want to hear my stories.”
I hear this often; it’s a common misconception. Preserving life stories isn’t just for celebrities, politicians, or other “important” people. Every life has stories worth saving.
I’m privileged to hear the life stories of people I work with — to benefit from their insights and wisdom, and from their reflections on how the world has changed over the course of their lives. And yet, some of my favorite stories are those of everyday life. Descriptions of a typical day, chores at home, time spent with friends and early dating adventures. Those details may seem ordinary to you, but they don’t seem that way to younger generations. So much has changed during your lifetime that those simple stories are windows into another world.
The first legacy book I completed was my grandmother’s story. She told me about her childhood growing up
on a dusty Texas farm, working on an aircraft assembly line during World War II, her second career as a stained-glass artist, and traveling the world after retirement.
As I learned more about her life, something changed in the way I viewed her. She was no longer just my grandma—I began to know and understand her in a completely different way. Her stories captured, like nothing else could, who my grandmother was. Some stories were tinged with disappointment or regret, but I also saw her determination, creativity and sense of adventure.
“When an elder dies, a library burns to the ground.”
— African proverb
Many people intend to write down their stories. But for one reason or another, they put it off. Unfortunately, many wait until it’s too late. I’ve spoken with families who share how they wish they’d encouraged a parent or grandparent
to record their stories. Part of their family history — and the wisdom gained through a lifetime of experience — has been lost.
You may not think you’ve led an especially remarkable life, but your family will cherish your story because it’s yours. Your life has been filled with experiences, lessons and perspectives that make up your own unique legacy.
Capturing your stories creates an heirloom that brings your family tree to life in a way that nothing else can. It is a gift to your children, grandchildren and future generations who will treasure the opportunity to connect with you.



Times are uncertain. Your funeral plans don’t have to be. Call 316-682-4553 for information about pre-planning a funeral. www.dlwichita.com











The Northwest Lions Club will host its annual chili feed from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 7, at Ability Point, 2919 W. 2nd St. Tickets are $10; it’s $5 for kids ages 5-10 and free for 4 and under. The meal includes allyou-can eat chili, dessert, chips and coffee or tea. There will also be a silent auction of items donated by local businesses.
The Thursday Afternoon Music Club has three concerts scheduled for upcoming months. The events are free except for the club’s March luncheon, which requires a reservation and fee. Contact Kathy Baker at (316) 3938642 for more information.
The performances are:
• Recital of 2025-26 TAMC
scholarship recipients — 1:30 p.m. Feb. 12, Larksfield Place, 7373 E. 29th.
• Spring Hat Day Luncheon with samba by Joseph Peck — noon March 12, Rolling Hills Country Club, 223 S. Westlink.
• Graduate Piano Fellowship Recital with Helena Kopp — 1:30 p.m. April 9, Larksfield Place. Kansas Day celebration
The Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum will celebrate Kansas in song and verse during its annual Kansas Day celebration at 2 p.m. Feb. 1. Host Orin Friesen will be joined by members of the Diamond Wranglers, Jennylou and the Buckaroos and the Home Rangers for the event, which is free. The museum is located at 204 S. Main St. For more information, visit wichitahistory.org.





Limited 2-bedroom and 1-bedroom apartments available — Call now to secure your spot.
Wednesday, February 11 at 11:30 a.m.
Thursday, March 12 at 12:30 p.m.
Now is the time to secure your future at Larksfield Place — whether you’re ready to move into one of our limited 2-bedroom or 1-bedroom apartments this year, or you want to reserve your place in the few remaining homes in the Larksfield Landing expansion.
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.
*Availability subject to change.








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 6100 N Hydraulic, 744-1199
VALLY CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER 314 E Clay, 755-7350
Feb 4
10:30 am Wichita Art Museum 1400 W. Museum Blvd., $2 admission. Info not available.
1:30 pm Museum of World Treasures 835 E. 1st St. The 1st Kansas Colored Infantry and the American Civil War Collections.
Feb 11
10 am Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. (316) 266-8213, $4 Exotic Enamel Expertise.
1:30 pm Advanced Learning Library, 711 W, 2nd, (316) 261-8500, Free. Short Films with Fletcher Powell.
Feb 18
10 am Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 Fairmount St. Curating the Spring Exhibitions with James Porter, Jo Reinert, and Vivian Zavataro.
1:30 pm Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E 29th St N. Life in Kansas During the Dust Bowl.
Feb 25
10 am Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main. Kansas Day Celebration!
1:30 pm Mid American All-Indian museum. 650 N Seneca (316) 3503340, $2 + tax admission; free for MAAIM members. Info not available.
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
ANDOVER 410 Lioba Dr, 733-4441 www.andoverks.com
AUGUSTA 640 Osage, 775-1189
BENTON Lion’s Community Bldg, S Main St
CASSODAY Cassoday Senior Center 133 S. Washington, 620-735-4538
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
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
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.
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 FEB. 2
Mon:: Turkey cacciatore, buttered whole grain, elbow pasta, baby carrots w/ oregano, whole wheat roll, peaches and yogurt parfait.
Tue: Parmesan crusted tilapia, potato wedges, yellow squash, biscuit, cinnamon applesauce.
Wed: Lasagna w/ meat, green beans, almondine, garlic bread, pineapple chunks
Thu: Apricot glazed pork loin, rice pilaf, steamed broccoli w/ lemon, whole grain roll, diced peaches
Fri: Chicken carnitas, fajita blend vegetables, corn tortilla, apple cobbler.
WEEK OF FEB. 9
Mon: Salisbury steak over mashed potatoes, whole wheat roll, blushing pears, tossed salad w/ dressing.
Tue: Smoked pork, macaroni & cheese, corn on the cob, garlic knot, fluffy fruit cup.
Wed: Honey mustard chicken, wild brown rice, collard greens, wheat dinner roll, hawaiian fruit cup
Thu: Turkey & brown gravy cornbread dressing, parsley buttered carrots, apple strawberry bar.
Fri: Breaded fish sandwich on whole wheat buns, red beans & brown rice, peas, tartar sauce, apricots
WEEK OF FEB. 16
Mon: CLOSED
Tue: Hawaiian beef meatballs, cubed roasted sweet potatoes, roasted cauliflower, garlic bread, mixed fruit
Wed: Chicken chili w/ avocado, corn, wheat dinner roll, tortilla chips, strawberry parfait
Thu: Lemon garlic cod, Mediterranean brown rice, Caribbean vegetables, mini croissant, fruit cup
Fri: Chicken cordon bleu, scalloped potatoes, roasted broccoli, wheat dinner roll, fruit fling
WEEK OF FEB. 23
Mon:Breaded shrimp pasta cavatappi alfredo, roasted asparagus, whole wheat roll, tropical fruit
Tue: Chicken aloha, potatoe wedges, caribbean vegetable blend, whole grain roll, crushed pineapple
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.
Wed: Beef country fried steak, mashed potatoes, country gravy, whole grain roll, mandarin oranges
Thu: Chicken salad croissant, cucumber sour cream salad, spiced apricots
Fri: Wheat Spaghetti and meat sauce, garlic knot, blackberry cobbler, carrot & Raisin salad.
* 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 MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT, KDADS AND CENTRAL PLAINS AREA AGENCY ON AGING

Resthaven Garden of Prayer. Lot 11A, Plots 1&2. $5,000 plus transfer fee buys both plots. 316-978-0743
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.
4 plots White Chapel cemetery located in Good Shepherd Section. Lot 91a spaces 1,2,3&4. $3,000 each. Can sell separately. Buyer pays transfer fee of $499. 316-640-0480.
Single Plot – Resthaven Cemetery – Garden of the Cross 46A1 $5000 OBO Email: arkpegram@cox.net OR 479-644-6680 Serious inquires only
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.
2 adjoining plots at Lakeview Cemetery (Garden of Gethsemane, Lot 3). $5,000 total (includes transfer fee). Call Greg 303-518-2505
Wichita Park Cemetery Lot 23 spaces 1&2 in the old Roselawn section. New lots sell for $4,949 each. Asking $6,500 for both. Seller pays transfer fee of $499. craigasmiley52@ gmail.com
One plot in Old Mission Cemetery, Section H - Lot 213 space 1A Seller pays transfer fee, valued at $4100, asking $2500 316-2063322
Lakeview Cemetery Garden of Meditation, Lot 201A, Sp 5 & 6. $6,500 for pair. Market value $9,190. Seller pays transfer fee. 615572-9257
2 plots at Lakeview Cemetary in the Meditation Garden, lot 301B space 2 & 3 valued at $5,000 each, asking $6,000 for both. 316-943-5899
White Chapel. Garden of Gethsemane. 2 plots. 1 open/close, 1 vault and 1-48in base. Asking $5,900. Call 918-791-4706
2 spaces side by side at Lakeview in Garden of Gethsemane. 1 two-piece vault. Seller Pays transfer fee. Was $10,000 Now Asking $8,000. 316-522-1659
2 Plots & vaults, White Chapel, Sermon on The Mount, Value $8,000 asking $5,500 plus transfer fee of $299 316-644-3312
RESTHAVEN, Rock Bottom!, Less than 1/2 price! Current Value - $32,500. FAMILY PKG in GARDEN of DEVOTION. Beautiful Location near Large Tree, with view of the Cross. 4 Plots, 2 Vaults & Dbl Bronze Memorial. $12,500. Call/Text for Details & Photos. 316259-7660.
Resthaven. Double depth lawn crypt in Garden of Gospels. Lot 102-D space 2. Comes with Marker. Current Value $12,000, Asking $6,000 OBO. Seller will pay transfer fee. 317-625-0556.
2 plots available in Old Mission/Wichita Park located in Section 5 $2000.00 each (half price). Contact Mrs.Beach 918-520-8565.


& Appliance
Brush / Yard
Private Duty Aide with light house keeping. Availability evenings and weekends. References upon request. Cynthia CNA/HHA 316-992-6711


•
Caregiver over 50 yrs experience with refrences Hours and Days negotiable Call Kathy 316-516-2149
• As-is cash offers for homes in any condition
• Downsizing/Donations of unwanted items • Moving Josh 316-350-9775
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By Starla Criser
Seniors on the Go is growing. The group was formed to support local cultural organizations and to help older adults take part in their events and programs. Its next monthly meeting is at 1:30 p.m. at Linwood Senior Center. Here are four upcoming events members plan to attend:
• “Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” 8 p.m. Feb. 1 at Wichita Community Theatre
• “Shrek the Musical,” 2 p.m. Feb. 15 at Friends University
• “Old Time Radio: The Case of the Careless Victim,” 2:30 p.m. Feb. 22 at the Westlink Branch Library
• “Birthday Candles,” 2 p.m. March 15 at Wichita Community Theatre
And here are many more events happening this month:
SENIOR DAYS/COFFEE CONNECTIONS
Feb2 Mo
9a.m.–Coffee Connection:“Veldt”@ Sedgwick County Zoo - Free Feb12Th
10a.m.–Senior Thursday@ KansasAviation Museum - Free Feb25 We
10 a.m. – Senior Wednesday: “Life in Kansas During the Dust Bowl” @ Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum–Members free,non-members $2 Mar2 Mo
9 a.m. – Coffee Connection: “Australia & South American Mammals” @ SedgwickCountyZoo- Free THEATRE/SHOWS/CONCERTS
Feb1 Su
3 p.m. – Delano Chamber Orchestra – “Mozart’s Wintery Mix”@ The District Church–donations
3 p.m.– Cristina Castaldi, soprano @ WSU Wiedemann Hall - $6-$12
Feb5 Th
7:30p.m.– SingIt! Vocal Festival Concert @ Friends Univ. – Sebits Auditorium - $3
Feb6 to Mar21
7:50 p.m. (show start) Fr & SaLittle Miss Moonshine @ Mosley Street Melodrama-$41 to $44 (dinner & show), $30 to $33 (show only) 1:50 p.m. (show start) Sa - Little Miss Moonshine @ Mosley Street Melodrama-$41to $44 (dinner & show), $30 to $33 (show only)
Feb13 & 14 Fr & Sa
7:30 p.m.Shreck the Musical @ Friends Univ.– Sebits Auditorium - $12
Feb14 Sa
7:30 p.m.–Pops:Tango Caliente–Wichita Symphony @ Century II Concert Hall- $29
Feb15 Su
2 p.m.Shreck the Musical @ Friends Univ.–Sebits Auditorium - $12
Feb17 Tu
7:30p.m.–Wind Ensemble Concert @ Friends Univ. – Sebits Auditorium - $3
7:30p.m.–Wind Ensemble @ WSU MillerConcert Hall - $6-$12
Feb19 &20 Th & Fr
7:30p.m.–Jazz Festival Concerts @ Friends Univ. – Sebits Auditorium - $5
Feb20 to 21 Fr& Sa
All day – Winterfest Bluegrass Festival – old-time music@Wichita Marriott-$44 Fr evening,$54 Sa all day
Feb22 Su
2:30to 3:30p.m.– Old Time
Radio:TheCase of the Careless Victim performance by Wichita Community Theatre as broadcast by radio @ Westlink Branch Library
7:30p.m.–Jazz Program
Performances–WSU Walker’s Jazz Lounge
252 N Mosley - $10
Feb23 Mo
7:30p.m.–Concert Choralewith WSU & Shocker Choirs @ WSU Wiedemann
Hall - $-$12
7:30p.m.–Jazz Program
Performances–WSU Walker’s Jazz Lounge
252 N Mosley - $10
Feb24 Tu
7:30 p.m. – Pre-KMEA Flute Choir Concert @ FriendsUniv.–Chapel,Riney Fine Arts Center– Free
Feb26 Th
7:30p.m.–Jazz Program
Performances–WSU Walker’s Jazz Lounge 252 N Mosley - $10
Feb26, 27 & 28
7:30 to 10p.m.–SPARK Spring Dance Concert @ WSU Wilner Auditorium - $12$20
Mar12 to 22
8p.m.Th to Sa 2p.m.Su–“BirthdayCandles” @ Wichita Community Theatre - $18 seniors
OTHER LECTURES
Feb5Th
6:30 p.m. – The World of Wine –Expand Your Palate andKnowledge @ Westlink Branch Library
Feb14 Sa
2p.m.–VictorianValentineTraditions and Courting @ Old Cowtown Museum - $3
Feb21 Sa
1p.m.–Daughters of the American Revolution-with Linda King @ Advanced Learning Library
Feb28 Sa 2p.m.–Bluecoats and Braves:The7thCalvaryand the Plains Indian Wars in Kansas @ Old Cowtown Museum - $3
OTHEREVENTS
Feb1 Su
2p.m.–Kansas Day Celebration @ Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum-Free Feb3Tu
10a.m.to5p.m.–150 Years of YourLibrary–add your voice,share a
Millions of Americans are living with low vision, a visual impairment that can turn everyday moments –recognizing a friend’s face across the street, reading a recipe or checking a text message – into unexpected challenges.
Low vision isn’t a natural part of getting older, though the conditions that cause it do become more common with age.
Diagnosing low vision
Your doctor can check for low vision as part of a simple, painless comprehensive dilated eye exam. He or she will ask you to read letters that are up close and far away and will check whether you can see things in the center and at the edges of your vision. Then eye drops are used to widen your pupils and check for other eye problems – including conditions that
could cause low vision.
Low vision is usually permanent, but glasses, medicine or surgery may help with daily activities or slow progression.
Living with low vision
If you have low vision, you aren’t alone. There are steps you can take to make life easier.
For minor vision loss, simple adjustments like using brighter lights, wearing anti-glare sunglasses and using magnifiers can help. Changing the settings on your phone and computer to increase contrast, make text larger or have the device read out loud may also help.
If your vision loss is getting in the way of everyday activities, ask your eye doctor about vision rehabilitation. These services can give you skills and resources to help manage your daily life and keep your independence. Examples
favorite memory or hopefor the Library’s future @ Advanced Learning Library
Feb7 Sa
1p.m.–Bosin Bingo @ MidAmericaAll-Indian Museum - $10 set of 6 cards – RSVP
Feb7 & 8 Sa & Su
9a.m.to 4 p.m.–Wichita Cat Fancy CatShow @ the Cotillion - $10
Feb13 to 15
12-7 p.m. Feb 13; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Feb 14; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.Feb15–WichitaBoat,Fishing&Hunting Show @ Century II - $11.97
Feb14 Sa
10:30 a.m.– Paint A Keeper forValentines Day @ Mid-AmericaAllIndianMuseum-$40members,$50 nonmembers
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Broken Hearts Festival and Oddities Market (unique treasures, quirky gifts, etc.) @ Westlink Church of Christ10025 W Central Ave 1 to3 p.m.–Heart Cooking Decorating–hands-on baking, tips for piping and decorating cookies @ Sur La Table - $69-$79
Feb19Th
2p.m.–Writing Your Family History @ Advanced Learning Library Feb20 to 22
Wichita RV & Travel Show @ Century II Convention Center - $11.97
Feb21 Sa 12:30 to 3p.m.–Chinese New Year Celebration @ Botanica – included with general admission
ONGOING EVENTS
Exploration Place – Dome Theater Membership: $100 year individual. Dome shows without membership:$15 Now to Feb 5 – daily “Sea Otters” FOODIES/EATINGWITHFRIENDS
Feb7 Sa
10a.m.to1p.m.– Chocolate Bazaar @ Hubbard Arts Center, Derby - $5
Starla Crier helped start Seniors on the Go. For more information, contact her at starlacriser@gmail.com
include:
• Employment and job training
• Environmental modifications, like improving lighting and contrast
• Assistive devices and technologies, like magnifiers, filters and screen readers
• Adaptive strategies for daily living and independent living skills training
• Emotional support, like counseling or support groups
• Transportation and household services
Finding the right vision rehabilitation services and support may take time, but working closely with your eye doctor or care team is an important first step. Discuss your needs and goals for living with your visual impairment so they can help identify the best services for you.
For additional resources and

information on vision rehabilitation, visit nei.nih.gov/VisionRehab

By Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior,
What are the most popular ages that people start taking their Social Security retirement benefits? I’m turning 62 later this year and trying to decide when to start taking my benefits.
— Born in 64
Dear 64, You can sign up to begin your Social Security retirement benefits any time after age 62. However, your monthly payments will be larger for each month you delay claiming them up until age 70.
To get a breakdown on exactly how much your claiming age affects your benefits, visit Social Security’s Retirement Age Calculator at SSA. gov/benefits/retirement/planner/ ageincrease.html. This tool provides your full retirement age (FRA) – which is 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later –and shows how much your benefits will be reduced by taking early payments or increased by delaying them.
In the meantime, here’s a rundown of when people start receiving retirement benefits, and how signing up at each age impacts your payout.
Age 62: This is the earliest possible


age you can sign up for Social Security. According to the SSA, in 2024, 23.3 percent of women and 22 percent of men signed up for Social Security at 62. But if you sign up at this age, you’ll get a 30 percent smaller Social Security payment if your FRA is 67.
Age 63: Age 63 is one of the least popular options for choosing to start Social Security benefits — 6.2 percent of men and 6.4 percent of women began claiming their benefits at this age in 2024. A worker with a FRA of 67 will get a 25 percent pay cut by signing up at this age.
Age 64: This is another relatively unpopular age to begin collecting Social Security benefits — just 6.5 percent of men and 7 percent of women started collecting at age 64. Social Security payments are reduced by 20 percent for those with a FRA of 67.
Age 65: In 2024, 15.3 percent of men and women decided to collect Social Security at age 65, which is also


the enrollment age for Medicare. By starting at this age, you’ll see you monthly payments reduced by 13.3 percent if your FRA is 67.
Age 66: This is FRA for people born between 1943 and 1954, which has made this a very popular age to begin collecting. In 2024, 27 percent of men and 25.3 percent of women sign up for benefits at 66. But since your FRA is 67, you’ll get a 6.7 percent pay cut if you sign up here.
Age 67: People born in 1960 or later will be able to claim unreduced Social Security payments starting at this age. In 2024, 14.5 percent of men and 13 percent of women did this.
Age 68: In 2024, 12.5 percent of men and 12.3 percent of women delayed their Social Security benefits until age 68. Waiting one extra year beyond your FRA of 67 will increase
Quiz Answers from page 9
Movie romance:
1. Jerry Maguire, Rene Zellweger
2. Casablanca,Humphrey Bogart
3. Dirty Dancing, Patrick Swayze
4. Titanic, Kate Winslet
5. You’ve Got Mail, Meg Ryan
6. On Golden Pond, Katharine Hepburn
7. Forrest Gump, Tom Hanks
8. Notting Hill, Julia Roberts
9. Gone with the Wind, Clark Gable
10. It’s a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart
11. As Good As It Gets, Jack Nicholson
12. Love Story, Ali MacGraw


your benefit by 8 percent.
Age 69: In 2024, 14.5 percent of men and 13.2 percent of women claimed their retirement benefits at 69, which increased their benefits by 16 percent.
Age 70 and older: Waiting to age 70 offers the biggest possible payout –a 24 percent increase over your FRA of 67. In 2024, 8.4 percent of women and 9.1 percent of men held out until this age.
For more Savvy Senior tips, visit theactiveage.com. Topics for March include:
• What You Should Know About Prepaid Funeral Plans
• How To Turn Down the Volume on Tinnitus
• What Medicare Won’t Pay For in 2026
By Bob Rives CASSODAY —
Ever drive the Kansas turnpike and long to stop and walk across the Flint Hills, at least part of them?
There is a new way to do just that. It’s a series of walking trails through a three-and-a-half square-mile area east of Cassoday known as the Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie Preserve (not to be confused with the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve near Strong City, Kan.). Here the Nature Conservancy has opened the trails to the public, and it’s delightful, easy walking.
The trails range from a half-mile stroll to routes of 2.5 and 4 miles. The trails are mowed short of the natural Bluestem prairie, the uphill grades are not hard, and the two hours or so it takes to do the entire route pass quickly.
I was lucky in doing it the day after Christmas. The wind was still, and the temperature an unseasonable 70 degrees. As for obstacles, there are a few small streams that require wading or stretching a bit to cross. If you choose to wade, you’ll want shoes that withstand the water. But — at least in dry seasons — the creeks are narrow and shallow.
It may be the overwhelming silence of the trail that is a major
part of its beauty. Like all the Flint Hills, there is natural prettiness for the eye. But except for the occasional sharp caw of a crow and the prettier sound of a meadowlark, the silence is overwhelming. I felt a bit perturbed when a small plane droned overhead and broke the spell.
The other sound was that of a startled doe who gave the loud snort that to deer means danger. The danger was me. She and a buck were grazing beside a tree-lined creek when she saw me and bolted to the south. Her mate, apparently ignoring the “until death do us part” part of the vows, raced north. I didn’t see him again. But she stopped atop a distant ridge and watched me for several minutes before jogging away.
The deer were among trees along the area’s major waterway. That stream is the headwaters of the South Fork of the Cottonwood River. It has banks that sometimes are a dozen feet high and many rapids. It also is home to the Topeka Shiner (a small, endangered minnow, not a state legislator). Prairie chickens and deer are the area’s other major inhabitants.
The preserve was purchased in the early 1970s and opened to the public in 2023. Its well-maintained trailhead is easy to find and a good place to leave
By Suzanne Perez
As our #ReadICT Challenge celebrates a double-digit anniversary, we could not be more excited to announce a new slate of challenge categories.
We’ve kept the concept the same. Just read 12 books from these 12 categories over the next 12 months.
The challenge is a partnership of KMUW, The Wichita Eagle and the Wichita Public Library, and it’s designed to help you expand your reading comfort zone.
Ready to see the 2026 categories? Here we go:
1. A book with 10, ten or X in the title
2. A book of poetry or a novel in verse
3. A book about independence
4. A book with an academic setting
5. A book about a race or competition
6. A book with food on the cover
7. A book that inspires you
8. An award-winning children’s book
9. A first book in a series
10. Author from the Southern
the car. There are explanatory signs nearby and across the road north as you near the trails themselves. Getting lost would be almost impossible, but in a real emergency it’s possible to look south from almost any place on the trails and see the tops of an electric transmission line along the road.
Open from sunup to sundown year round, the preserve is about an hour’s drive from Wichita. To reach the area, turn south off the Kansas turnpike at the Cassoday exit, turn east (or left) on
By Joe Stumpe
Call it strategic eating. When one reaches a certain stage of life, and one’s metabolism is no longer that of a teenager, but one still enjoys the occasional indulgent meal, some strategizing comes into play.
One eats lightly for lunch, say, and not-so-lightly later. Or vice versa.

Hemisphere
11. A book about prehistoric or ancient history
12. A book about community The Wichita Public Library offers personalized book recommendations, staff picks and everchanging displays of new and backlist titles.
Our #ReadICT Challenge group on Facebook has more than 8,300 members from all over the world, and it’s a wonderful place to chat about the challenge and get book recommendations.
But, of course, the light meal must be delicious, or what’s the point?
That’s where the accompanying recipe for Chile Verde — pretty traditional except for lacking pork —

comes in. I have it on good authority that it would qualify as a ZeroPoint meal under the Weight Watchers system. Meaning that having eaten this for one meal, you’d still have all your daily allotment of calories, fat grams and other good stuff available for another meal.
On the other hand, if you want to make this your splurge meal of the day, just toss in some cooked chicken or pork and serve it with corn chips, grated cheese and sour cream.
Chile Verde
Four poblano chiles, roasted (see directions and notes below) and chopped
Olive oil
1 cup onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
4 cups chicken broth
1 large russet potato, peeled and chopped
5 or six tomatillos, peeled and chopped
1/2 can Mexi corn, drained
1 teaspoon each: cumin and chile powder
Salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:

To roast poblanos, set oven to broil. Place chiles under broiler, using tongs to turn as needed, until blistered all over. Remove from oven and place in paper sack for 10 minutes, then remove outer skin under running faucet. Discard stem and seeds. Chop chiles.
Heat oil in pot and saute onion until soft, adding garlic near end of sauteing time. Add broth, chopped chiles, potato, tomatillos, corn, cumin and chile power. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer about 15 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper, adding more cumin and/or chile powder if desired.
Notes: 1 cup prepared roasted green chiles (such as the 505 brand) can be substituted for the poblanos.
By Dale Goter
When my neighbor recently informed me that Kansas residents 75 years and older can hunt and fish for free without a license, I decided it was time to take up fishing.
At 78 years of age, it’s useful to find things to do, so I went to the website of the Kansas Department of Parks and Wildlife to make sure my neighbor knew what he was talking about.
Now, remember that as we get older, it gets harder and harder to remain relevant, to remain noticed and taken seriously. So I was a little disturbed to find no mention of the free licenses for seniors 75 years and older.
Every other age group was defined on the KDPW webpage, including the following: Kansas residents age 65-74 are required to have a hunting and/or fishing license.
OK, that’s good to know, but what about those of us OLDER than age 74. Not a word, not a mention.
So, having reached curmudgeon status, I can’t let this go, and I call the KDPW state headquarters in Pratt. A nice woman tells me she’s sure the free license for us super-seniors is published elsewhere in the department’s literature. We keep checking, and, nope, there is no mention anywhere in

for those 75 and over had been enacted in 2013. Great, so why isn’t it mentioned and verified anywhere on the KDPW website?
Finally, after a weeks went by, I got some satisfaction. In a Jan. 20 email, Ms. Clausen explained:
the various brochures.
Ok, maybe this isn’t a big deal to most folks, but, again, getting old shouldn’t mean getting forgotten. And, besides, this is a really good deal for oldsters like me, and senior discounts are a big deal to us on fixed incomes.
Pressing on, I tried to contact the head guy himself, Chris Kennedy, the secretary of KDPW, at his office in Topeka. I started with his press secretary, Laura Rose Clausen, chief of public affairs.
She was most sympathetic and cooperative, assuring me this problem could be solved with a simple change to the webpage. She also provided me with tons of information about the history of senior licenses, none of which addressed the issue I was raising.
The information included the documentation that the free licenses


"The law simply does not require a license after age 75, so there was no license to list for that age. When you reached out with your questions about that age group, we added a clarifying line to ensure the information was easily understood: 'Kansas residents 75 years of age or older are not required to purchase a hunting and/or fishing license. All other permits, tags, stamps, and other fee requirements apply.'”
I’m satisfied with that solution, but the episode is still a reminder that senior citizens have to fight for recognition.
I understand how easy it is to dismiss old folks as irrelevant. I was an offender myself, as a Topeka Statehouse journalist for a couple of decades.
I remember when the Silver Haired Legislature would convene in the summer months after the regular legislature adjourned. They were so


cute, acting like real legislators as they filled the Kansas House chamber and talked about issues important to the aging.
Now that I’m part of that demographic, I see things differently. It ain’t so cute, and I was pretty ticked off about this fishing license business. How hard can it be to put it in writing that we are entitled to free fishing (and hunting) licenses? Maybe it’s because we weren’t kicking any money into the pot anymore, so we’re not worth mentioning.
The state should be proud of the fact that it’s providing this late life benefit to those of us lucky enough to get this far. Not only should it be mentioned on the webpage, but it should be highlighted in boldface enlarged type, screaming from the top of the page.
In the end, I’m grateful that Secretary Kennedy and his staffer, Clausen, did the right thing and corrected the problem.
It was bad enough that the fish were avoiding me. Now that KDPW has finally put it writing, maybe I’ll finally catch something.
Dale Goter is a media consultant, former journalist and former state Capitol lobbyist for the city of Wichita. He can be reahced at dgoter@cox.net.




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