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By Beccy Tanner KMUW On a tiny patch of land in Smith County, Brewster Higley wrote a sixverse poem in 1872 that he called “My Western Home.” It was set to music by Dan Kelley of nearby Gaylord, who’d been a bugler Brewster Higley wrote the Kansas state song, during the Civil War "Home on the Range," while homesteading in and had enough this cabin in Smith County. background in music “A Home—A Home—Where the to give it a distinctive deer and the antelope play – where melody. seldom is heard a discouraging word— Kelley then gave the song with and the sky is not cloudy all day.” Higley’s poem to Smith County Judge None of the men attempted to John Harlan and his family, who first copyright the song. played the song publicly. The song soon became famous and The Harlans added a chorus to the song: See State song, page 13
Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage PAID Wichita, KS 67276 Permit 1711
SURPRISING HISTORY, PEOPLE AND RECIPES
ocated a long way from any ports of call, Wichita is perhaps the last place where you’d expect to find a diverse culinary scene. From its early days as a rough-and-tumble cow town on the Chisholm Trail, the city first achieved dining sophistication through the efforts of the Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club, now the oldest such club in the United States. Steakhouses in the north end invented and popularized what some consider the city’s signature dish: garlic salad. Waves of immigrants from three parts of the world—Mexico, Lebanon and Vietnam—stamped the dining habits of residents with dishes such as piratas, shawarma and Saigon Oriental Restaurant’s famous No. 49. Author Joe Stumpe tells these stories and more while providing nearly two hundred prize recipes from restaurants and home cooks.
Oh, give me a song! 'Home on the Range' turns 150
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Substandard senior units get upgrade
The Active Age After years of deferred maintenance and delayed capital improvements, low-income senior housing owned by the city of Wichita is undergoing major renovations. Plans also call for Mennonite Housing to take over management of the 226 units from the Wichita Housing Authority. The four facilities to be improved are the 86-unit Greenway Manor, 315 N. Riverview; 90-unit McLean Manor, at 9th and McLean; 32-unit Rosa Gragg apartments, near 25th See Housing, page 6
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1 al e r 2 r c e 20 ne len inn e l G ce W x d E ar w A
Book dishes up Wichita recipes
Take a hike
Women’s hiking club off to fast start
Cindy Coughenour, left, and Jeri Brungardt celebrate their ascent of Flattop Mountain near Estes Park, Colo. By Joe Stumpe One day, Brungardt asked A pair of Wichita women seem to Coughenour if she liked to hike. “I have unleashed a mini-stampede with said, well, I’m sure I do,” Coughenour a simple question: Anybody want to said. go for a hike? They made several hikes and Cindy Coughenour and Jeri posted photos on Facebook. “Women Brungardt, who started Women would say, ‘Oh, I want to go next time. Hiking KS and Beyond two years ago, Take me!” Coughenour remembers. drew 17 women to the first hike they So they put together a Facebook organized. In October, 106 showed page called Women Hiking KS and up for a hike at Kanopolis Lake State Beyond, describing themselves as a Park. “female monthly hiking group,” and Surprising? Yes. scheduled their first official group On the other hand, Coughenour hike. said, why shouldn’t they? Brungardt expected a few close “You’re moving, you’re outside friends to join them, but she knew having a good time.” only two of the 17 who attended the Coughenour and Brungardt met inaugural hike at Camp Horizon in several years ago when Coughenour Arkansas City. Fifty showed up for was teaching self-defense classes to the next hike, in Elk City, and 60 for female employees of Wesley Medical the one after that, at Pawnee Prairie Center, where Brungardt worked. See Hike, page 14
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging/Sedgwick County Department on Aging: 1-855-200-2372
Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800-279-3655 Harvey County: (316) 284-6880 or 1-800-279-3655
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January 2022
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Local riders helped kick-start all-female motorcycle club By Amy Geiszler-Jones
AUGUSTA — A recent article in The Active Age about the all-female Krome Kitty Motorcycle Club sparked memories for a Butler County family whose motorcycle-riding grandma was part of a similar national club called the Motor Maids in the 1950s. Shawn Davis, owner of Free State Cycle Works in Augusta, has seen photos of the uniform his grandmother, Grace Davis, wore as part of the Motor Maids of America club. “It was a blue top, white gloves and white patent leather boots.” Tucked in a family album filled with photos of the Davis family and their motorcycles are several of Grace in her Motor Maids uniform. There are also photos of at least two of her fellow Motor Maids members from that time: Virginia Starr and Della Mae Davis. All three women lived in the Towanda area at the time. According to a handwritten inscription under one photo, Della Mae won a trophy at a Motor Maids
Grave Davis, left, Della Mae Davis were cousins and longtime members of the Motor Maids. convention the women attended in in the U.S., was relatively new when Jefferson City, Mo. The inscription Grace and her friends were part of the doesn’t indicate what the trophy was organization. According to the club’s for. website, Motor Maids was founded An almost life-sized photo of in 1940. Its second president, elected Grace Davis with her bike also adorns in 1965, was Wichitan Dourine a wall of the Twisted Oz Motorcycle Hamilton. Museum here. Robert Davis, Grace’s son and Motor Maids of America, which Shawn’s father, remembers Grace and continues today as one of the longesther fellow members having a part in running all-female motorcycle clubs the opening ceremonies of the racing
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contests he competed in back in the 1950s. “At the time, I was doing flat tracking (racing on an oval track) and Mom had her bike with the American flag on it, and she and the rest of the Motor Maids would go around the track,” Robert said. He often raced on tracks in Winfield and Hutchinson. Riding motorcycles was a family affair, according to Eddie Davis, another of Grace’s grandsons. Often the entire family would hit the road on motorcycles for vacations. In 1985, Grace earned “Silver Life” recognition from the Motor Maids, signifying 25 years of membership. She rode well into her 60s and remained a Motor Maid until her death in 2000. She also didn’t shy away from playing physical sports like basketball and football with her grandsons, Shawn recalled. “She was not your little old lady sitting around knitting.” Contact Amy Geiszler-Jones at algj64@sbcglobal.net.
Page 4
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January 2022
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The active age, published the first of each month, is distributed in Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick counties. To subscribe, call 316-942-5385, write the active age or visit theactiveage.com.
Editor: Joe Stumpe
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President: Mary Corrigan • Vice President: Tim Marlar Secretary: Linda Matney • Treasurer: Diana Wolfe Board Members: Harry Clements • Shana Gregory • Lona Kelly • Julie Schaar • Sharon Van Horn
Visit larksfield.org or call 316.636.1111. www.theactiveage.com
January 2022
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Growing with the 55+ population is our goal By Tim Marlar This is the time of year when many people review the activities of the current year and refocus their goals for the upcoming year. Many times, we realize the need to re-energize a focus towards some of our previous goals. Sometimes we realize a new goal may be in order. Are you going to set a new goal or refocus on an existing goal for 2022? A fitness goal? A learning goal? A giving back or relationship goal? The list could go on; the key is to decide and make a plan. Here at The Active Age, we too are
Dear Reader setting some goals for the new year. We recognize that thanks to many people we had a wonderful 2021. Donors and advertisers helped us reach our annual goals in those areas. Many of our contributing writers won awards for their work. We are also proud that The Active Age can wear a “badge” on its front page noting its General Excellence award from the North American Mature Publishers Association. If you visit theactiveage. com, you will find that that we have
also revamped out website. One of our stretch goals for 2022 is to increase our readership since we know the 55+ population is constantly growing. We are doing this by reaching into some areas of our circulation area — Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties — that we feel are underserved. Goals are easier to reach when we have lots of hands and helpers. If you know anyone who would enjoy receiving this newspaper, please let them know they can be put on our subscription list at no charge. The easiest way to do so is by calling (316)
Active Age board gets new president and members
Tim Marlar has been elected president of The Active Age’s board of directors. Marlar, of Newton, has served on the board since 2019. He takes over Tim Marlar from Mary Corrigan, who remains on the board. Al Higdon and Tiya Tonn have joined the board. Higdon, a long-time Wichita
resident, in 1971 co-founded Sullivan Higdon & Sink (now Signal Theory), Kansas’ largest advertising, public relations and marketing firm. While active with Al Higdon his firm, Al served as chair of the Wichita State National Advisory Council and the University of Kansas President’s Club, as well as board chair of Music Theatre of Wichita, Wichita River Festival and
Exploration Place. He was on the board of the Wichita Area Chamber of Commerce, Wichita Community Foundation, Salvation Army and other not-for-profit organizations. For seven years he was a volunteer driver for the Red Cross, weekly ferrying people in financial need to their doctor and medical appointments. Al has been married for 64 years to his wife, Judy. They have three grown children, five grandchildren and six great grandchildren. Tonn operates her family’s beef
942-5385, visiting our website or emailing joe@theactiveage.com I will close by saying thank you for being a loyal supporter and reader of The Active Age. Feel free to reach out to our board members or staff members with your suggestions or comments. Many thanks, and here’s to a successful 2022! Tim Marlar of Newton is president of The Active Age’s board of directors. He can be reached at timothy.marlar@gmail.com.
ranch in the Flint Hills near Cassoday, Kansas. The oldest of her four children has joined her in managing the dayto-day operations. She attended Augustana College Tiya Tonn in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and received her Juris Doctorate from Presidents’ College School of Law. She serves as executive director of the Butler County Historical Society/Kansas Oil Museum and county coordinator of the Butler County Farm Bureau Association.
From our archives 40 years ago
Local delegates to the White House Conference on Aging reported that the welcoming buffet was a “fiasco” and that officials of the Reagan Administration got a chilly reception compared to Democratic
U.S. Rep. Claude Pepper of Florida … Sixty-three volunteers in the Foster Grandparent program were handling assignments at the Wichita Children’s Home and 20 other locations around town.
25 years ago
Trudy Flory of Newton recalled how a fellow World War II bride she met at a bus stop in Los Angeles became a life-long friend and Harvey County neighbor after the war.
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Senior advocates worried that Gov. Sam Brownback’s proposed sweeping changes in Medicaid and education would prevent other legislation from being approved at the upcoming session.
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the active age
Housing
From Page 1 and Arkansas; and 18-unit Bernice Hutcherson apartments, 2020 N. Wellington Place. According to the city, both the Greenway and McLean towers received inspection scores of 51 out of a possible 100 in 2019, with at least one life-threatening health and safety deficiency noted. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development considers anything under 60 to be a failing score. The other two facilities, which are comprised of duplexes, received scores of 78 last year, which means there were several areas of concern. Greenway and McLean were considered as one housing project for purposes of the inspection, as were Rosa Gragg and Hutcherson. According to one city document, McLean has not been updated since it was built in 1982. Last year, a resident told a TV station that the building’s air condition system made it feel like “it’s about 100 (degrees) in here." City officials say Congress has not provided public housing authorities with enough money to keep up with needed property maintenance and rehabilitation.
“There’s a difference between cheap housing and affordable housing,” Sally Stang, the city’s director of housing and community service, said during an official groundbreaking for the renovations last month. “It needs to meet a level of quality, and unfortunately, Congress and the Department of Housing and Urban Development have underfunded public housing for decades.” In 2107, the city applied and was accepted into the Federal Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) pilot program, which allows private sources of capital to be used renovating public housing. The Wichita Housing Authority is using a combination of loans, grants and tax credits to pay for the project. The authority has entered a partnership with KBK Enterprises, an out-of-state company selected as the project developer in 2018. The city will retain ownership of the properties. The city is issuing up to $17.3 million in tax-exempt multifamily housing bonds to finance some costs of the work. Affordable Housing Partners, a Berkshire Hathaway company, has purchased low-income housing tax credits to provide equity for the project. Total cost of the project is
Eric R. Yost RETIRED DISTRICT JUDGE
January 2022
estimated at just under $36 million, of which actual construction costs total about $15 million. Renovations include replacing all exterior doors, siding and trim, heating and air conditioning systems, electrical systems, elevators and the Greenway roof; installing new windows, water heaters, building lighting, plumbing and fixtures, kitchens and building fire alarm systems; modifying bathrooms to meet accessibility requirements; and enhancing meeting spaces and landscaping. According to a city document, the renovations are to start on vacant units at Rosa Gragg and Hutcherson. After each construction phase, which is expected to take three to four months, residents will move into renovated units and work will start on newly vacated units. This pattern will continue until all the work is done. Residents of McLean Manor were to be relocated to Greenway Manor during a 10-month construction period, then move back when the work is complete. Once that’s done, Greenway residents will be offered permanent relocation to any vacant unit at McLean, Gragg or Hutcherson, or will be temporarily housed in private housing during renovations. That project is also expected to take about 10 months, after which residents may return. The city is paying all costs of relocation. Management and maintenance of the four properties will be transferred to Mennonite Housing, a nonprofit that’s been involved in housing since
McLean Manor at 9th and McLean failed its most recent inspection. the 1970s, according to its website. Since 1991, Mennonite Housing has also operated a dozen senior apartment complexes such as Central Park, Country Acres and Finch Hollow. Under the RAD program, units become a Section 8 project and must remain affordable to low-income households. Rents should not be affected. Initially, the city expected renovations to begin in 2018, but that date was pushed back as the original tax credit purchaser dropped out. The city also wanted to include 352 singlefamily homes that it owns in the RAD project, but it was not allowed to do so by HUD. About 20 of those have a senior head of household.
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WHY I DONATE
The Active Age was always a nice publication with personal notices and mentions of local events, menus, and services. This past year it has EXPLODED with in-depth views of the pandemic and mental health issues in our area, to cite two examples. Interactive quizzes and recipes and even inviting advertisements abound now. They’re all tailored to us — curious, still-excited people with experience. I look forward to this paper’s arrival. I love the historical articles and I’m always eager to see who finds us cool enough to advertise. When I say “us,” it’s because I feel part of The Active Age. This is a project I support with enthusiasm and money. It’s going places other news sources have left behind, and I want to pay for that quality. Please join me! — Meg Mathewson
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January 2022
Horses made no sense to 11-year-old farmhand
By Ted Blankenship In the late 1930s and early 1940s, we lived on ranch land leased by the oil company my dad worked for. It was about 10 miles west of Madison in Greenwood County. I couldn’t very easily get a job in town because I had no way to get to and from our little shotgun house in the camp provided for people who worked in the gas repressure plant. That’s how I met Speedy Austin’s two-horse team. Speedy wasn’t very fast, and the horses were even slower. Speedy was a bachelor farmer who lived in a two-story farmhouse about a mile and a half west of our house. He had a few cows and sold baled alfalfa and prairie hay to make a living. He would have hired a man or two to help out during hay time but no one was available because of World War II. So he hired 11-year-old me at $2 a day to help him work a stationary baler
that required the hay to be brought to it for pressing into rectangular bales. This was no easy task for a man and a fat kid who probably was equivalent to half a man (in the amount of work he did, that is). Speedy had an old tractor with a limited number of implements such as sickles and rakes. So, he filled in with a team of two horses that he also had implements for. I don’t remember their names but it doesn’t matter because they didn’t pay much attention to what I yelled at them anyway. They had their own way of working — leisurely. To call them a team was using the term loosely. The larger one was white, the other a chestnut. The white horse was stronger and a bit more ambitious.
She pulled the chestnut along. So they slogged down the field at an angle. I don’t know whether they had a hearing problem or just decided not to pay attention to me. When I yelled “git up!” — the command to go — they just looked at me and leaned down to eat grass. When they were ready, they moved at a pace of their choosing. I’m pretty sure they knew that “gee!” means to turn to the right, but they decided which way to turn and when. I found ways to work around these problems, but the command “back!” was always a journey into the unknown. Unfortunately — for me, anyway — backing the team was essential to baling hay with a stationary baler. Here was the routine: Speedy cut the hay with a sickle attachment on the tractor and left it to dry out some. Beginning at sunup a day or two later, I raked the hay into windrows with the
team puling an ancient rake. When it was time to bale, Speedy hooked the baler attachment to the tractor. Meanwhile, I hooked the team to a buck rake, which had long wooden fingers with steel points. The horses pulled the hay from the windrows to the baler. Once we reached the baler, I had to direct the horses with “whoa!” and “back!” commands. They knew what to do but decided to do it when they were ready. I was always glad to see sundown because we then stacked the hay in the barn and I didn’t have to deal with the horses until the next day. The horses were happy because they had shown me that horses don’t always have to do what you tell them to. And, without much effort on their part, they had plenty of hay to eat when the weather turned colder. Contact Ted at tblankenship218@gmail. com.
• How were they trained and do they hold any certifications? • What professional organizations do they belong to? (Some require annual educational training.) Look up the organization online to be sure it is legitimate. • What inspection points do you most care about? • Are there areas of a home they do not look at, such as pools, chimneys or solar heating? • Ask the inspector if you can see a sample copy of a report they have done on another home like the one you’re considering buying. It will give you a good idea of how much work they’ll do for you. Check out more than one inspector and compare their thoroughness.
• Ask if they have services such as drone roof inspections. Some may offer infrared cameras to check walls, ceilings and floors for temperature differences which may suggest damaging moisture. • Be present during the inspection if possible. That way you can ask questions along the way. Again, it’s your money at stake so do not be reluctant to be an annoyance. After the inspection The home inspection report should be read carefully. Make a list of problems that are significant to you. Remember to separate your emotions from the business process. Prices have risen in this current housing market and that means even more of your money is at stake. A thorough home inspection is even more necessary under these circumstances.
Home inspections matter more than ever in this market Better Business Bureau Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the current housing market is red hot. If you are involved in buying a house, among the many things you’ll have to consider is the selection of a home inspector. Here’s some advice on choosing the right home inspector. Do you take your realtor’s advice? Your realtor may have the best of intentions. Still, consider the fact that they want to make that sale. It’s possible they may recommend an inspector because they have a good relationship with them and know them to go a little light on the inspection, so the deal goes through. Perhaps you know your realtor well and have absolute trust in them.
But what if you don’t? It’s your money that’s at stake, and a lot of it. For that reason, BBB recommends you do some homework regarding local home inspectors. Ask friends and relatives for recommendations. When you have the names of some inspectors, look them up at bbb.org to read their business reviews and view their marketplace history. No rules in Kansas Our state has no regulations regarding home inspectors. They may come from engineering, architectural or contractor backgrounds. They may not. Some issues to consider: • Ask them about their experience. • How long have they been in the business, and do they specialize in commercial or residential structures?
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January 2022
the active age
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Grandparenting a valuable two-way street By Monica Cissell For those of us who had a positive relationship with grandparents, their impact on our lives is something we remember and treasure. Studies have shown that kids with grandparent involvement have positive social behaviors, improved performance in school and show compassion for others outside of their immediate families. Today, there are more diverse family situations than ever before. Some 38 percent of grandparents babysit or provide day care. Some provide support for single parents, such as picking up kids from school or assisting with meals and other tasks. According to a 2018 AARP survey, 70 million grandparents live in the United States and 1 in 10 have grandchildren living with them. In one-third of those living situations, a grandparent is the primary caregiver. Of those, 52 percent are over 60. In Kansas, it’s believed that more than 20,000 grandparents are responsible for grandchildren. Grandparent relationships tend to be stronger in single-parent households and stronger when grandparents do not live with families, according to a Brigham Young University study in
2011. This research found that nonresident grandparents tend to take on an encouraging role rather than a disciplinary one. As a widow with a teenage son, I can definitely relate to this. I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for my mother, who moved closer to me after my husband’s death to help provide support and share more of life with us. My heart is full when I see my mother and son laugh together, when we play games or I hear them having a serious conversation. My mother’s decision to move near to help us has brought more to us these last two years than I could have imagined. My son is a better kid and will be a better adult for these experiences. I’m certain many single fathers and mothers agree with this sentiment, so let me say on behalf of all of us: Thank you, grandparents, for what you do for your children and our children. You do not have to become a grandparent to make a difference in a child’s life. Volunteering is one way to bring older adults and kids together and to develop mentoring relationships. The RSVP Volunteer Program helps adults age 55 and older find opportunities in the community.
Call 855-200-2372 to learn about volunteer opportunities. If you’re not interested in volunteering just yet, think about how you can interact more with young people you know or offer help to a grandparent or parent. With parental/grandparental permission, consider engaging the kids in your life in real conversation; teaching them a skill such as gardening, home repair or training a pet. Some of those most influential and memorable people The author, Monica Cissell, with her mother in a child’s life are and son. those who just make an raising grandchildren, contact the effort. And in return, older adults find Kansas Children’s Service League at satisfaction and improved health from (316) 942-4261. interactions with their grandchildren For information about and other youngsters. volunteering, call 855-200-2372 or Resources visit.cpaaa.org. For information about Monica Cissell is director of grandparents, visit grandfamilies.org. information and community services for To connect with local grandparents the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging.
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Page 10
Wichitans now national champs in pickleball
the active age
January 2022
What a racket!
The Active Age Three and a half years ago, Dan Hill’s wife, Lori, invited him to join her for pickleball at the Andover rec center. “I went out there to appease her,” Hill said. “I didn’t like it.” Hill, 70, a longtime tennis player, didn’t like the way the pickleball bounced. He allowed his wife to drag him out one more time, though, and he played someone who beat him. “That’s all it took. I was like, I’m not going to let that happen again.” He not only conquered the game, he and former Wichitan Tony Greenberg, 65, who now lives in Dan HIll, left, and Tony Greeberg won a national pickleball doubles Oklahoma City, are the new national champsionship in California last month. pickleball doubles champions at the two out of three games. Hill said they In the semifinals, he said, “We 3.5 level in the 65-plus age bracket. won their first match pretty easily but played a good team, but we played The Margaritaville USA Pickleball had a closer one in the second round. really, really well.” National Championships were held In the third round, they won the In the first game at the finals, they last month in California. first game but lost the second. lost the first 5 points out of a total of There were 26 teams in the level “That’s a close match when you only 11. 3.5, 65-plus age bracket. At each split,” Hill said. “It could be anybody’s “So, holy cow, we’re down five match leading up to and including the game.” points just right off the bat,” Hill said. finals, Hill and Greenberg had to win “We fought our way back.” They only needed two games. “It was close for a while, but then we
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won,” Hill said. “It’s what you go there for.” Now, Hill and Greenberg have what’s called a golden ticket into next year’s championship. “We’re going to go there and have fun, but we’re not going to have near as much fun unless we win,” Greenberg said. “So we’re going to work hard at getting as good as we can.” He and his mixed-doubles partner, Connie Burnett, also won gold at the 4.0 level in the 55-plus age group. Hill and his mixed-doubles partner, Wichitan Patty Rothweiler, had qualified to go to nationals, but she wasn’t able to attend. They hope to qualify again next year. Rothweiler said she wasn’t surprised Hill and Greenberg won. “I had no doubt they were going to take the gold.” Another Wichitan, Robert Mansfield, partnered with Steve Fisher to win the doubles for the 60-plus age bracket in the 3.0 skill bracket. Mansfield finished second in the 60plus singles 4.0 skill bracket. A social game Hill, Greenberg and Rothweiler all love the competition and social aspect of pickleball. See next page
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“I’ve made so many friends,” Rothweiler said. Hill and Greenberg are longtime athletes, and Hill said to be able to still compete and be challenged “is kind of how you’re built, it’s how you’re wired.” “It challenged me mentally and physically to figure out how to get better and beat people.” The two have become ambassadors of sorts for the game. “You can be a top athlete . . . or you can be a beginner,” Hill said. “Pickleball is a very simple, simple game, but the higher up you go, the more strategy is involved in the game.” Patty Rothweiler and Dan Hill make a formidaGreenberg, a longtime ble mixed-doubles pickleball team. competitive squash player, had just it’s really bugging you and keeping you taken up pickleball when he decided from doing what you like.” to have his hips replaced after years of And, of course, he and Hill wear playing squash. encourage others to try pickleball. “The only reason I did it was “Wichita’s a great pickleball because I realized how much fun community,” Greenberg said. pickleball is,” he said. “I just realized Hill is glad he listened to his wife. it was worth getting hip-replacement “At age 70, to be able to say I’m a surgery.” Now, Greenberg encourages others champion of something is really nice. It’s a great feeling.” with pain to do something about it “if
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January Theatre By Diana Morton Forum Theatre, at the Wilke Center, 1st United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway. Words & Music Tribute Concert Series presents Very Superstitious: Stevie Wonder. A celebration of the writer, composer, and virtual one-man band who influenced a variety of music genres. 8 pm Sat, Jan 15, 2 pm Sun, Jan 16. Tickets $23-$25. 316-618-0444 Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas, cabaret-style theatre. Five Course Love. Three actors play fifteen different characters in five different restaurants on the hunt for one true love in this musical comedy. 8 pm Thu-Sat, 2 pm Sun, Jan 6-23. Tickets $20-$30. 316265-4400
Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain. Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike by Christopher Durang, directed by Jered Becker. Winner of the 2013 Tony Award for Best Play. Middle-aged siblings Vanya and Sonia share a home in Bucks County, PA, where they bicker and complain about the circumstances of their lives. Suddenly, their movie-star sister, Masha, swoops in with her new boy toy, Spike. 8 pm Thu-Sat, 7 pm Sun, Jan 27-Feb 6. Tickets $15 or $13 for military/seniors/students. Opening night ticket price of $12. Jan 27 only. 316-686-1282 Contact Diana Morton at dianamorton12@sbcglobal.net
NOTE TO READERS: The Active Age has experienced some problems with our mailing list for subscribers recently. If you have not received an issue or have received duplicate issues, please contact us by calling (316) 942-5385 or emailing joe@theactiveage.com.
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the active age
January 2022
Recipe for You or Two: Meatloaf Filets Sharon Brillhart of Wichita is the winner of a $25 gift certificate donated by The Spice Merchant for this meatloaf recipe, which packs plenty of flavor thanks to its seasoning, sauce and bacon. Brillhart says the recipe freezes well before or after baking.
Favorite month contest winner Marcia Hiebert of Newton is the winner of our drawing for a 2022 calendar featuring artwork by Wichita artists Bill Goffrier. This is Hiebert’s entry describing her favorite month of the year: “I choose June, my birth month, as my favorite month. Seventy-five years ago my mother developed toxemia while carrying me. There must not have been treatment for toxemia because the doctor told my dad that he would either lose his wife or his baby. On June 15, 1946, while combining wheat, he got called ot the hospital for the birth of his baby girl, whose mother also survived. “June brings beautiful flowers and mostly moderate temperatures. If I win the calender I will give it to my brother who lives in Wichita, had COVID-19 recently and recovered. So thankful!”
Meatloaf Filets
1 lb. ground beef Sharon Brillhart plans to make 1 egg her meatloaf filets for great grandson Conley Weible when 3/4 cup of fine bread crumbs he’s a little older. 1/4 cup of water 1 pkg. onion soup mix 2 slices bacon, uncooked Sauce: ¼ cup ketchup 3 tablespoons brown sugar ¼ teaspoon nutmeg ¼ teaspoon dry mustard Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, water and soup mix. Form into two loaves. Wrap bacon around loaves, put in pan and bake uncovered 1 hour. Spoon sauce on top of loaves and bake 15 minutes longer.
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Lifelong Learning
WSU Announces NEW Lifelong Learning Courses for Spring 2022 Wichita State University is offering three new Lifelong Learning courses this spring. The courses are FREE for Kansas residents 60+ years old, if enrolled by February 9, 2022. All course work will be offered in-person and online. In-person classes will be held at the Wichita State University Metropolitan Complex located at 5015 E. 29th St. North. Online classes will be available. Students who select this option will receive a link via email each week to view the class on their own device. Students can choose to watch the link live during the class time or can watch the recording at their convenience. The schedule of courses can be found below. Live in-person classes will meet from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. per this schedule. Students who enroll in the online option can access the classes anytime.
The Women in US History You Should Know About Tuesdays: Jan. 25, Feb. 1, 8 and 15
The Geography of American Elections Thursdays: Apr. 14, 21, 28 and May 5
Discovering Babylon Mondays: Apr. 11, 18, 25 and May 2
Additional Course Information
Detailed course descriptions including course dates and times can be found in the Lifelong Learning brochure, which is available online at wichita.edu/ lifelonglearning. You can also request to receive a brochure by mail by calling 316-978-3731 or emailing your request to LifelongLearning@wichita.edu.
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To enroll visit: wichita.edu/lifelonglearning or contact: WSU Lifelong Learning at 316-978-3731
January 2022
From Page 1
is now known throughout the world as “Home On The Range,” the state song of Kansas. Higley came to Kansas from Ohio. He homesteaded on the banks of Beaver Creek in Smith County, near the Nebraska border in north-central Kansas. His first three wives had died from illness and injury, and his fourth marriage became an unhappy union. Higley moved far away from his matrimonial discord and, on the Kansas prairie, he found peace, which inspired “My Western Home.” In the 1870s, the song spread like wildfire. It gained popularity along cattle trails and in small-town dance halls. The sheet music was published for the first time in 1910 by John Lomax, a Texas college professor researching folk music of the Old West. He labeled it “Home on the Range” and published it in the book, “Cowboy Songs and Frontier Ballads.” Refrains of the song were heard everywhere, from pianos and pump organs in home parlors to artists who recorded it for phonographs and sang it over radio airways. In the heart of the Great Depression, President
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Page 13
Home on the Range
Franklin Roosevelt declared it his favorite song. But then it was nearly stolen from Kansas. In 1934, William and Mary Goodwin of Arizona claimed they wrote the song, “An Arizona Home,” and filed a lawsuit against radio giant NBC. For a time, the song was banned. In the mid-1930s, Samuel Moanfeldt, an attorney for NBC, was hired to track down the song’s origin so that it could once again be played in public. His findings showed the song’s Kansas roots. In 1947, the Kansas Legislature declared “Home on the Range” the official song of Kansas. “A German interviewer asked me what creates the popularity, and I said … ‘Close your eyes and sing the song .. I challenge you to not think of your home where you were born,’ ” said El Dean Holthus, the spokesman for the Home on the Range Cabin. Even now, as visitors make their way to the cabin — which was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973 — they sing the words. A few weeks ago, Janet Hardee and her niece, Rachel Behney, both from Sumter, South Carolina, made a pilgrimage to the cabin. “I love that song,” Hardee said. “This is probably my fifth time. I love places like this.”
O give me a home where the buffaloes roam Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day Home, home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day Where the air is so pure and the zephyrs so free And the breezes so balmy and light That I would not exchange my home on the range For all of the cities so bright Home, home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day How often at night when the heavens are bright With the light of the glittering stars I stand there amazed and I ask as I gaze Does their glory exceed that of ours? Home, home on the range Where the deer and the antelope play Where seldom is heard a discouraging word And the skies are not cloudy all day
75th ANNUAL CHICKEN NOODLE DINNER St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 1356 North Broadway Wichita, Kansas 67214 Saturday, January 22, 2022 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Drive-thru Dinners: $10.00 each A la carte items: Priced individually (Sorry, no Dine-In this year) MENU
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Page 14
the active age
Hike
From Page 1 Park off South Tyler. A trip to Rocky Mountain Park in Colorado last year drew 37, while this summer’s trip there attracted 68. The Wichita Mountains in Oklahoma were another destination. Most participants are in their 40s, 50s and 60s, with 80 being the oldest hiker to date. It’s open to any female 12 and older. It seems unlikely that the group has reached its full potential considering that its Facebook page has more than 6,500 followers. Coughenour said the group tries to do a mix of local hikes and those farther away, such as Wilson Lake near Lucas. They also look for sites that allow for short and long hikes. “Some hike 10 miles, some a tenth
of a mile,” Coughenour said. “We try to let them know there is no bad hike.” Of in-state hikes, Brungardt counts Kanopolis State Park near Ellsworth as her favorite. Coughenour and Brungardt take their responsibilities as the group’s leaders seriously. The two visit every location, walk the terrain and check on details such as parking availability before scheduling a hike. “Even the local hikes, we try to make sure we have a good idea of what the ladies are in for,” Coughenour said. One local hike covered parts of the Wichita riverfront and downtown, for a total of 4½ miles. The group will meet to hike at the Great Plains Nature Center at 9 a.m. on Jan. 1. A trip to Devil’s Den State Park in northwest Arkansas is set for April, and Brungardt said several
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sites in the Kansas City area are under consideration for future hikes. Brungardt has been an avid hiker for 20 years, but she says there’s something different and rewarding about doing hiking with such a large and enthusiastic group. “I think probably more than anything, it’s getting women out of all ages and abilities and realizing that they Members of Women Hiking KS and Beyond visited Kanapolis for a Halloween hike.
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Page 15
How much exercise is enough? According to the National Institute on Aging, you should do at least 150 minutes (2 ½ hours) a week of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise, like brisk walking or fast dancing. Being active at least 3 days a week is best, but doing anything is better than doing nothing at all. You should also do muscle-strengthening activities, like lifting weights or doing sit-ups, at least 2 days a week. The Physical Activity Guidelines also
recommend that as part of your weekly physical activity you combine multiple components of exercises. For example, try balance training as well as aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities. If you prefer vigorousintensity aerobic activity (like running), aim for at least 75 minutes a week.
Members enjoy a hike at Monument Rock near Scott City. can get out and do things. It’s amazing how many people didn’t know they could and also didn’t know there so many nice things in Kansas, too.” Coughenour said there are no plans to let men join the group because “men and women see things differently. When my husband and I go hiking, it’s not near as enjoyable as when Jeri and I go. He’d rather be out fishing and I enjoy being in the trees.” “It has become way more than the
hiking. It’s become, in my opinion, a really safe place for women that are maybe just getting back into exercise or trying hiking for the first time.”
(At Legacy Park)
To join
If you are interested in joining Women Hiking KS and Beyond, visit the group's Facebook page by that name. There is no cost other than a $10 fee for expenses related to out-ofstate trips.
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January 2022
January quiz: Presidential nicknames
By Nancy Wheeler Presidents earn all kinds of nicknames, from friends and foes alike. Match the nicknames at right to the presidents pictured below. Answers on page 22.
1. The Great Communicator __ 2. Slick Willie __ 3. Father of the Constitution __ 4. Old Hickory __
5. The Rough Rider __ 6. Accidental President __ 7. The Peanut Farmer __ 8. Grand Old Man __
9. The Rail Splitter __ 10. Kansas Cyclone __ 11. Silent Cal __ 12. The Professor __
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
G.
H.
I.
J.
K.
L.
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January 2022
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The Active Age needs your help updating our calendar! Please call Joe at 316-942-5385 or email joe@theactiveage.com with your current schedule.
Calendar of Events Sedgwick County Senior Centers
Note to readers: Senior center schedules and other events normally listed on this page are expected to be affected by the coronavirus through January. For information, call the numbers listed below. BEL AIRE 7651 E Central Park Ave 744-2451, ext 121 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 120 N Main, 794-2441 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 www.seniorservicesofwichita.org MCADAMS GOLDEN AGE 1329 E 16th, 337-9222 MT HOPE 105 S Ohio, 667-8956
Butler County Senior Centers ANDOVER 410 Lioba Dr, 733-4441 www.andoverks.com AUGUSTA 640 Osage, 775-1189
CASSODAY Cassoday Senior Center 133 S. Washington, 620-735-4538
BENTON Lion’s Community Bldg, S Main St
EL DORADO 210 E 2nd, 321-0142
DOUGLASS 124 W 4th, 746-3227
Senior Wednesdays
NOTE: SENIOR WEDNESDAY PROGRAMMING FOR JANUARY WAS UNAVAILABLE AS THE ACTIVE AGE WENT TO PRESS. HERE ARE THE USUAL VENUES AND TIMES.
2nd Wednesday 10 am Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. (316) 266-8213, $4 1:30 pm Advanced Learning Library, 711 W, 2nd, (316) 261-8500, Free
www.seniorservicesofwichita.org
OAKLAWN 2937 Oaklawn Dr, 524-7545 ORCHARD PARK 4808 W 9th, 942-2293 seniorservicesofwichita.org PARK CITY 6100 N Hydraulic, 744-1199 VALLEY CENTER VC Community Center 314 E Clay, 755-7350
LEON 112 S Main, 745-9200 or 742-9905 ROSE HILL 207 E Silknitter, 776-0170 TOWANDA 317 Main, 776-8999 Open 10:30 am-5 pm Mon, Wed, Fri WHITEWATER Legion Hall, 108 E Topeka
Harvey County
www.seniorwednesday.org
1st Wednesday 10:30amWichita Art Museum 1400 W. Museum Blvd., (316) 268-4921 $2 admission 1:30 pm Museum of World Treasures 835 E. 1st St. (316) 263-1311 $4 (includes Museum admission)
MULVANE 632 E Mulvane, 777-4813 NORTHEAST 2121 E 21st, 269-4444
3rd Wednesday 10 am Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 N. Fairmount, (316) 978-3664, Free 4th Wednesday 10 am Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main, (316) 265-9314, $2
BURRTON 124 N Burrton, 620-463-3225
HALSTEAD 523 Poplar, 835-2283 HESSTON Randall & Main, 620-327-5099 www.hesstonseniorcenter.com GRAND CENTRAL 122 E 6th, Newton, 283-2222 www.grandcentralseniorcenter.com SEDGWICK 107 W. Fifth, 772-0393
Transportation Sedgwick County
Dances
Augusta Sr Center, 640 Osage. . Info: 755-1060 Derby Sr Center, 611 Mulberry. El Dorado Jam & Dance, Senior Center, 210 E 2nd. Goldenrod Golden Age, 1340 S Pattie. Linwood Golden Age, 1901 S Kansas.
Park City Sr Center, 6100 N Hydraulic. 1st and 3rd Saturday 7-9:30 p.m. Info: 755-1060 Prairie Wind Dancers: Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N Clifton. Joyce, 683-1122.
Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S Clifton. Info: Nick, 529-2792.
Mulvane, 101 E. Main (Pix Community Center Second Tuesday of every month at 7-9pm.
Westside Steppers Square Dance, 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month at the Sedgwick County Extension Building at 21st and Ridge Road. Inf: Sheldon Lawrence (316) 648-7590.
Oaklawn Activity Center cafeteria, 4904 S Clifton. Info: iamgary48@yahoo.com.
Wichita Solos Square Dance, For Info email: Curtis, wichitasolos@yahoo.com.
Minisa Golden Age, 704 W 13th. Info 617-2560.
Orchard Park Golden Age, 4808 W 9th.
Sedgwick Co Transportation, 660-5150 or 1-800-367-7298. Information: 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri; closed most holidays. www. sedgwickcounty.org/aging.
Butler County Transit
Weekday transportation in El Dorado, Augusta and Andover. Rides to Wichita on Wed, Thu. Information: Augusta, 775-0500; El Dorado, 322-4321; toll free, 1-800-2793655. 48-hr notice required.
Harvey County
Transportation reservations or information: 316-284-6802 or 1-866-6806802. Round-trip: $8 Newton (wheelchair only), $12 Harvey County, $20 outside Harvey County. AVI to Newton: Tue, 12:304:30 pm from Burrton, Sedgwick, Halstead, Hesston, Walton.
www.theactiveage.com
Page 17
NOTE: AGING PROJECTS, INC. PLANNED TO MAKE FRIENDSHIP MEALS AVAILBALE THROUGH PICK UP AND DELIVERY IF NECESSARY. FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MEAL SITE OR CALL 316-681-4440
Friendship Meals Aging Projects serves a hot, nutritious meal weekdays for persons 60 and older in Sedgwick, Harvey and Butler counties. Reservations are necessary. For locations and reservations, call 620-669-8201. WEEK OF JAN. 3 Mon: Chicken and cheese casserole, buttered beets, Mediterranean salad, Mandarin oranges, garlic bread. Tue: Swiss steak, baked potato, green beans, applesauce. Wed: Chicken salad on a bun, broccoli cheese soup , strawberries, brownie. Thu: Mexican lasagna, confetti rice, combination salad, peaches. Fri: Scalloped potatoes and ham, spinach, mixed fruit, pineapple crisp. WEEK OF JAN. 10 Mon: Ham and beans, potato and onions parslied carrots, glazed blueberries, cornbread. Tue: Hot turkey casserole, bean salad, pears, fruit in cherry gelatin. Wed: Cheeseburger soup, broccoli/ carrot salad, banana, peanut butter cookie. Thu: Oven fried chicken, cabbage au gratin, mixed vegetables, peaches, white cake. Fri: Goulash, combination salad, Mandarin oranges, cornbread. WEEK OF JAN. 17 Mon: Liver and onions or beef cutlets in gravy, mashed potatoes, parslied carrots, blushing pears. Tue: Mexican pork stew, hominy, green beans pineapple, cinnamon roll. Wed: Creamy chicken and vegetable casserole, pickled beets, Mandarin oranges. Thu: Tater tot casserole, combination salad, spiced peaches, wheat roll. Fri: Sausage patty with gravy or sausage gravy over biscuit, Potatoes O'Brien, parslied carrots, strawberries. WEEK OF JAN. 24 Mon: Chicken pot pie, stewed tomatoes, cranberry sauce, pears. Tue: Tuna patty with tartar sauce, creamed peas, cabbage salad, peaches. Wed: Roast beef, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, mixed fruit. Thu: Barbecued pork on a bun, potato wedges, cauliflower bean salad, apricots, oatmeal crispy. Fri: Prairie chicken soup, broccoli raisin salad, applesauce, orange juice. WEEK OF JAN. 31 Mon: Taco salad, Mexican rice, strawberries, bread pudding. * Milk is served with all meals. Meals fall within the following ranges: Carlories 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
Page 18
the active age
January 2022
Classified Advertising
F CEMETERY PROPERTY FOR SALE F
Resthaven Garden of Gospels double lawn crypt with bronze marker. Value $10000 sell $6000. Seller pays transfer fees. Call 316-293-9442 4 lots at Resthaven Sermon on the Mount. $2,000 per lot. $8,000 for ALL. Seller will pay transfer fee. Call 903-277-4140. 2 plots in Kechi Township Cemetery. Price $1,400. Call 316-992-8148. Lakeview Gardens, Garden of Meditation. 4 plots together. Will sell pairs or all 4 for $1,700 per plot. Buyer pays transfer fees. Call 620-456-3336. Single Plot – Resthaven Cemetery – Garden of the Cross 46A1 $4500 OBO Email: arkpegram@cox.net OR 479-644-6680 Serious inquires only White Chapel Cemetery. 4 adjoining plots. Nativity Section. $1,000 each plus $150 transfer fee. 3 adjoining plots Last Supper section $1,000 each plus $150 transfer fee. 316-990-5442. Old Mission “Devotion” section; 2 adjoining plots: $4,400 for the 2 or $2,800 for 1. Seller pays transfer fee. Call: 316-262-2980 4 plots in White chapel cemetery. Section of Nativity. Lot 211. Call for details 316-644-4321. Resthaven Garden of Lords Prayer. Single plot. Value $4000 Asking $3000 seller will pay transfer fees. 316-364-4463. Resthaven, Beautiful, Garden of the Gospels, Lot 42-C-1. Double depth crypt; Bronze headstone w/ vase. Value $10,000. Will sell $5,000 OBO. Buyer pays transfer fee. Call 316-755-5665. Resthaven single plot available in Garden of Freedom. Plot #62 C-3. Paid $4,695 sell for $4,000 OBO. Call 316-993-2223.
Resthaven, Garden of Freedom, Double-depth lawn crypt, with marker, space for two, Bronze Memorial, granite base. Value $8,900. Sell $5,500. Good location, 316-617-2088 F CLEANING SERVICESF
Place an ad: 942-5385
F COURIER SERVICESF
F HELP WANTEDF
F HOME IMPROVEMENTS CONTF
Prairie Express Courier and Delivery Services • Will deliver packages, crates, parts, etc., • Transport people for errands such as grocery store, airport, doctors’ appointments, etc. Call/Text 316-640-6327
ATTENTION JOB SEEKERS – AGES 55+
Beard & Son Concrete Construction
Chauffer/ Personal Shopper Ladies in East Wichita/Andover, Need rides to appointments/shopping? I will wait with you and ensure your safe return home. Walkers OK, no wheelchairs. (Can shop for you). $20/hr. 316-685-7336.
The Senior Employment Program’s Job Club is meeting in person again. EVERY TUESDAY at 1:00pm. Call 267-1771 for details.
I bid’em to get’em!
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DELIVER MEALS ON WHEELS –
F ESTATE SALES F CUSTOMIZED ESTATE SALES GREATER PROFITS WITH LESS STRESS Insured with 20 years experience Free Consultations 316-806-7360 Julie IPK Enterprises Estate Sales. Know your options, you have many. Please call us for a free consultation. 316-806-3435.
HAVING TO DOWNSIZE? MAKE MONEY DOING IT! TOP Wichita Auction Dave Dvorak * 316-641-5690 www.topwichitaauction.com
F FIREWOOD FOR SALEF Seasoned split and delivered premium firewood. Premium Oak mix, locust, pecan, hot stove mix. Any quantity. 316-807-8650.
Routes are open each weekday to deliver a lunchtime meal. Thursday & Friday has the most open routes. If interested please visit our website at https:// seniorservicesofwichita.org/meals-onwheels/ and fill out then submit the application online at the bottom of the page. No walk ins please. All volunteers must be prescreened prior to delivering routes.
EARN BIG COMMISSION
Outside Sales Rep Wanted in Butler & Harvey Counties We are looking for a self motivated person who would like to make some extra $$$ promoting the active age. Must be comfortable with cold calls.
F FOOT CARE F
Call Mike at 613-3547 or email mike@theactiveage.com
FOOT CARE IN YOUR HOME
F HOME IMPROVEMENTS F
• 316-312-2025 •
Dave’s Improvements Painting—interior/exterior. Doors and windows replaced, grab bars, wheelchair ramps. All general repairs. Guaranteed lowest rates. Senior citizen discount. Lic #7904. 316-312-2177
Cheryl Rosine ~ The Foot Lady ICMT RN Benjamin Jones ~ CNAICR
• 316-932-8524•
$40: In-home, Sedgwick & surrounding counties Diabetic, thick toe nails, ingrown & callous care Foot Care in home. Home visit $40.00 Call Francine at 316-943-4360. Leave a message.
F FURNITURE F Downsizing? Don't have an Auction, or Estate Sale. We Buy Entire Estates, Storage Units, Garages, Barns, Sheds. Call Kelly 316-283-8536. Furniture Warehouse 200 Main Newton, KS
F HOME CARE F Private Duty Aide with light house keeping. Availability evenings and weekends. References upon request. Cynthia CNA/HHA 316-992-6711
Sisters Dependable caregiver for elderly person in their home. Alzheimer's & Dementia. Cleaning, cooking & meds. Weekends, night, days or overnight. 30 years’ experience. 316-390-9526
Drive ways, sidewalks, patio and landscaping. Dirt work and more. Licensed * Bonded * Insured
Molina Electric - Wichita Lic #1364 Comm. or Residential wiring. Service calls. New electric service. Troubleshooting. Cell 316-461-2199. Handyman RX- We have a remedy for almost all of your “fix-it” jobs! Light carpentry including deck and fence repair, indoor misc. repairs and installations, lawn mowing “LG or SM”, Yard & Garage clean-up, mulching, hauling, ect, what you need done I can probably handle. Call for HELP! Brian 316-217-0882. Free Estimates Cowboy Construction Remodeling, siding, decks, fences, windows, doors and more. 20 years locally owned. Free estimates. Senior discounts. Todd Wenzel 316-393-4488 VERY AFFORDABLE Walk-in Showers & Tubs Bathe Safe & FEEL SAFE!! "Tub to Shower Conversion Specialist" CALL 316-633-9967 - SENIOR DISCOUNTS www.bathroomheadquarters.com
Steve 316-773-9320/316-259-0629 Derby, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Wichita. Exterior & Intereior. House painting, siding, decks, fences. Build, repair and stain. Free Estimates and references. See us on angieslist.com. Keith Kimball 316-250-2265 or 316-789-9639 Be Blessed. Thank you. MOBILE GLASS REPAIR Windows * Patio * Doors Windows won’t stay up, Crank Outs, Patio Rollers and Lock Latches, Morris Glass & Service, 316-946-0745
Bruce Smith Roofing & Siding Protect your home from the elements of the weather!
35 Years Exp. Locally owned & operated
FREE ESTIMATES
All types of roofing, siding, handyman work, hauling, clean-ups & other exterior projects
316-640-3155 Licensed & Insured
Roofing – Windows – Siding A Reliable General Contractor Senior Discount
316-361-2787
garywilbertroofing.com garywilbertroofing@cox.net
Heating/AC, Plumbing Light Electrical, Drywall, Painting, Tile, Basic Home Repairs Licensed & Insured 25% Senior Discount
Place your ad today! Call 316-942-5385 Deadline for the Feb. issue is Jan. 15
NOTE TO READERS The Better Business Bureau and other organizations recommend that consumers not pay for services before they are completed to the consumers' satisfaction. For larger jobs, a signed contract is recommended. www.theactiveage.com
January 2022
the active age
Page 19
Classified Advertising
F HOME IMPROVEMENTS CONT F
F HOME IMPROVEMENTS CONT F
S & V Concrete
AGAPE CONSTRUCTION
Snow Removal Steps, porches, patios, sidewalks, driveways & garage floors. Also 4-inch steps with 18-inch landings for seniors. Licensed, bonded, insured. Free estimates
Steve 992-6884
Total Concrete Services
Locally Owned by Pastor Steven Blalock 10% off Senior/Military Discount
807-8650
www.agaperoofingandconstruction.com
AGAPE ROOFING
We specialize in the following
Three Generations of Local Roofers Quality Work – Fair Prices Residential & Commercial
FREE ESTIMATES
Siding - Guttering - Windows
Ballard Plumbing
Call for Free Roof Inspection Locally Owned by Pastor Steven Blalock Licensed & Insured
K & A Maintenance Experts Wheel Chair Ramps • Landscaping • Remodeling Decks • Safety Hand Rails
All General Maintenance and Repairs Please call Jesse at 316-854-7642
ALL PLUMBING REPAIRS • FREE estimates • Senior Discounts
Licensed & Insured Veteran Owned - Family Operated
Call Brad at 316-260-0136 www.BallardPHC.com
BRICK & STONE WORK OF ANY KIND Tuck-pointing, foundation & chimney repair. Insured. Free Estimates.
CALL DAN 316-516-3949
Grandpa’s Plumbing Repairs, Free estimates
316.312.4391
Free Estimates
LIFT-RITE GARAGE DOORS
Scheduled maintenance, repair, sales on all garage doors. *Springs-Torsion & Extension *Garage Door Openers, Doors & More Paul Williams (316) 650-8807
Advantage Home Services Home Improvement & Repair
Handyman Helper
316-807-8650
JS Guttering & Construction 5"-6" SEAMLESS GUTTER WHOLE HOUSE PAINTING SIDING & WINDOWS
Call Josh for an estimate
Place an ad: 942-5385
F LAWN AND GARDEN CONTF
F SERVICES F
HAULING HANDYMAN Brush, Junk /Trash Removal Indoor Painting, Minor Repairs MISC. ODD JOBS, NO JOB TOO SMALL Honest & Reasonable. 316-807-4989.
Need help on your electric scooter, power or lift chair, stair or platform lift or hand controls? Call Howard Distribution at 316-648-1694. Howard is a certified service center and dealer for Best Bath walk-in tubs, Bruno, EMC, Golden Tech, Pace Saver, Pride and Ricon. Working for you since 1987.
Christian Lawn Care Mowing-$20, verti-slicing, core-aerating, overseeding, new lawns, mulching flower beds, fall cleanup, leaves, shrub trimming and removal, gutter cleaning, hauling. Pampas trimming & clean-up. Senior discount. Steve 316-685-2145 Clean Cut Lawncare: Residential/Commercial Mowing, Spring/Fall Cleanup, Mulching/Rototilling, Landscaping, Scalping, Tree & shrub Trimming. Gutter Cleaning. Snow Removal. Fence building and repair. Single owner with over 9 years’ experience. 316-821-6341 Westside Lawn Service Fall cleanup. SNOW REMOVAL Bush and hedge trimming, bed work,mulching, gutter cleaning, handyman , odd jobs and hauling 30 years experience. Free estimates. 316-339-4117.
STUMP GRINDING Brock 316-765-1677
LEAVES
316-393-8921
Tree Trimming & Junk Removal
F LAWN AND GARDEN F
Affordable Painting "We've Been Covering The Town For 30 Years!" Brock Eastman 316.765.1677
Jesus Landscaping Complete lawncare. 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 316-708-7236 WWW.JESUSLANDSCAPINGKS.COM Mike E. 316-708-1472 MOWING BRICK, BLOCK AND STONE repair. Garage clean out, gutter cleanup, hauling, roto-tilling. APPLIANCE REMOVAL. All Season Clean Up Lawn Care Quality Lawn Care • Yard Clean Up Tree Trimming • Gutter Cleaning Fall through Spring raking. Free estimates, senior discounts. 316-409-8780. Perry's Lawn Service Mowing, trimming, edging and leaf cleanup. If you need any of these services Call Perry Haggard, 316-619-6126
Spring & Fall Clean-Up
316-945-9473 F PAINTING F Senior Citizen Discounts
• Residential Commercial McCoyand Painting 316-516-6443 • Painting for Interior Do you need any interiorand or exterior painting done? Exterior I’m your man. Free estimates, affordable rates. • Power Washing References available.. • Some Home Improvements
Free Estimates
Painting & Remodeling by Harley Worthey Interior/Exterior & Odd jobs Husband & Wife Team. 316-648-4478
Affordable Painting "We've Been Covering The Town For 30 Years!"
316-945-9473
Spring Specials 10% off • Residential and Commercial • Painting for Interior and Exterior • Power Washing • Some Home Improvements
Art Busch Free Estimates Senior Citizen Discounts
Downsizing / Moving / Spring Cleaning We buy everything from individual items to whole estates. House cleanout service also available. Give us a call to learn more about all the services we provide Bud Palmer Auction 316.838.4141 BudPalmerAuction.com.
F TREE SERVICE F Felipe Tree Service Evergreen trimming. Tree removal. Brush hauling. Splitting. Deadwooding. Free estimates. 12 years experience. 316-807-4419 All Around Tree Service Stump GRINDING & Chip Clean-up Trimming, deadwood, tree removal. Total yard, leaf clean-up & hauling. Flower beds and bushes. Free estimates. Experienced. Good prices. Insured. Brad 316-633-0547
Bruce’s Tree Service
Complete Tree Trimming & Removal Gutter Cleaning and Leaf Rake Trees * Shrubs* Hedgerows * Evergreens Senior Discounts. Insured. Over 30 years exp. ALL FARM & RURAL AREAS Firewood Call 316-207-8047
TREE & STUMP TREE &REMOVAL STUMP REMOVAL
Advantage • Fast &Home Reliable Services • Free for316-518-8553 Qualified Licensed & Insured Seniors
Stan 316-518-8553 Advantage Home Services Licensed Insured F F &WANTED Home Improvement & Repair
Want to Purchase mineral and other oil/gas Kitchens, Bathrooms, & more interests. Send details to P.ORoofing Box 13557, Denver CO 80201
One call does it all! 316-518-8553 Donate your Durable Medical Equipment. Will pick up. Tax credit. Medical Loan Closet of Wichita. 316-779-8989 Items Wanted: Laptop Computer & Wood Stove.316-409-4989 Looking to buy Vintage Christmas decorations, Free Estimates plastic blow molds, and aluminum Christmas trees. Call 640-1678.
316.990.7039 www.affordablepaintingwichita.com Active Aging* artbuschwichita.com One call does it all! 316-518-8553 artbusch@plazare.com Proof Approval F REAL ESTATEF Place your ad today! Total yard clean-up, Senior Real Estate Specialist ad carefully Please check your flower beds and bushes, Senior Real Estate Specialist Call 316-942-5385 tree trimming and stump grinding. and check off the applicable PLUMBCO Artboxes Busch Removal & Clean-up. 316.990.7039 Compare Our Prices and initial to indicate Firewood Available for Delivery. Deadline for the Feb. artbuschwichita.com LEAF cleanup and HAULING. Weekly Plumbing Specials Artbusch@plazare.com your acceptance Including all yard debris. issue is Jan. 15 Each office is independently Art Busch Ins/Lic #5803 316-942-1967 316-633-0547 Owned and Operated 316.990.7039 ____ CheckArt offer Busch artbuschwichita.com 316.990.7039 artbusch@plazare.com NOTE READERS ____ TO Check name, address, artbuschwichita.com artbusch@plazare.com Senior Real Estate Specialist The Better Business Bureau and other organizations recommend that consumers not pay for services phone before they are completed to the consumers' satisfaction. larger jobs, a signed contract is recommended. Senior RealFor Estate Specialist ____ Check expiration dates www.theactiveage.com ____ Proof Satisfactory (no changes) Easch office is independently Owned and Operated
Easch officeisisindependently independently Each office Ownedand and Operated Owned
Easch office is independently Owned and Operated
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the active age
January 2022
Savvy Senior: Smart home solutions for aging-in-place
Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in automating my house with some smart home products to make it more convenient for aging-inplace but worry about privacy. What types of devices do you recommend, and how can I guard against eavesdropping? Paranoid Patty Dear Patty, There are actually a wide variety of smart home products you can add to your home that can help make it safer and easier to live in as you age. Here are some popular options along with some tips to help ensure your privacy. Smart Home Advantages Smart home products such as smart lights, video doorbells and voice-activated speakers are becoming increasingly common tools to help seniors age in place. These nifty devices can add convenience and safety to a home by providing voice and app-controlled operation, which is extremely helpful for seniors who have a hard time getting around. Smart home technology can also give family members the ability to electronically keep tabs on their elder loved one when they can’t be there, providing peace of mind. If you’re interested in adding some smart home products to your house, you’ll need home Wi-Fi installed, and you’ll need either a smartphone, tablet or smart speaker to operate them. To help you get started, here are some different types of smart home devices that are very helpful to older adults, with costs ranging anywhere from a few dollars to several hundred. Smart speakers: A smart speaker like the Amazon Echo, Google Assistant or Apple HomePod can serve as the brains of a smart home, controlling your devices with voice commands or automating them. But as you mentioned in your question, these devices do come with some privacy concerns. Smart speakers can be hacked (however, it’s extremely rare), and they can start recording by mistake after mishearing the device’s “wake word,” but only for a few seconds. Amazon, Google and Apple have also been known to allow employees or outside contractors to listen to recordings stored on their servers to improve device performance in voice recognition. To help boost your privacy, access the product’s privacy settings that determine how the device records and what happens to those recordings. Or you can simply mute the microphone on your device when it’s not being used and delete interactions that have
already been recorded. Smart lights: To help prevent home falls, which are often caused by fumbling around a dark room looking for a light switch, smart light bulbs will let you turn on and off the lights by voice command, smartphone or tablet. These bulbs can also change brightness and color and can be programmed to come on and off whenever you want. Smart plugs: These small units plug into a standard outlet and connect to the internet. That means you can control whatever you plug into them — from a space heater to a coffee maker — using your phone or smart speaker. Video doorbells: Safety is also a concern for older adults, especially those who live alone. Video doorbells let you see and speak to visitors at the door without having to walk over and open it. Smart locks: For convenience and safety, smart locks give you keyless entry to your home, provides customized access to family, friends and caregivers, and lets you monitor who comes and goes from your phone or tablet. Smart thermostats: These let you control the temperature in your home with voice command or via your phone. Enhanced Privacy If privacy concerns are keeping you from joining the smart home/ smart speaker revolution, you should consider Cox Homelife (cox.com/ homelife). It offers a wide array of secure smart home automation and security products to choose from that are operated through the Homelife app on your smartphone or tablet or your Contour Voice Remote, which requires you to press a button to activate it.
Pill splitting: When it’s safe, and when it isn’t
Dear Savvy Senior, When is it safe, or not safe, to split pills? I have a cousin who cuts almost all her pills in half in order to save money, but I’m wondering if she’s going overboard. What can you tell me about this? Curious Cousin Dear Curious, Pill splitting — literally cutting them in half — has long been a popular way to save on medication costs, but your cousin, if she hasn’t already done so, needs to talk to her
doctor or pharmacist because not all pills should be split. The reason pill splitting is such a money saver is because of the way drugs are manufactured and priced. A pill that’s twice as strong as another may not be twice the price. In fact, it’s usually about the same price. So, buying a double-strength dose and cutting it in half may allow you to get two months’ worth of medicine for the price of one. But is it safe? As long as your doctor agrees that splitting your pills is OK for you, you learn how to do it properly and you split only pills that can be split, there’s really no danger. Ask Your Doctor If you’re interested in splitting your pills, talk to your doctor or pharmacist to find out if any of the medicines you use can be safely split. It’s also important to find out whether splitting them will save you enough money to justify the hassle. The pills that are easiest to split are those with a score down the middle. However, not every pill that’s scored is meant to be split. Pills that are most commonly split are cholesterollowering drugs, antidepressants and high blood pressure medicines. Use a Pill Splitter Having the right equipment is very important too. Don’t use a knife or scissors to cut your pills in half. This can cause you to split them unevenly resulting in two pieces with very different dosages, which can be dangerous. Purchase a proper pill cutter that has a cover and a V-shaped pill grip that holds the pill securely in place. You can find them at most pharmacies for $5 to $10. For convenience, you might be tempted to split the whole bottle of pills at once. But it’s best to do the splitting on the day you take the first half, and then take the other half on the second day or whenever you are scheduled to take your next dose. That will help keep the drugs from deteriorating due to exposure to heat, moisture or air. It will also help ensure that any deviation in the size of one dose is compensated in the next. It’s also important to know that pills are only safely split in half and never into smaller portions, such as into thirds or quarters. Don’t Split These Drugs Some pills should never be split. Drugs that are time-released or long-lasting and tablets that contain a combination of drugs probably shouldn’t be split, because it’s difficult to ensure a proper amount of active
www.theactiveage.com
ingredient in each half. Pills with a coating to protect your stomach, and pills that crumble easily or irritate your mouth shouldn’t be split either, along with chemotherapy drugs, anti-seizure medicines, birth control pills and capsules containing powders or gels. Again, your doctor or pharmacist will know which drugs can and cannot be split. If you’re taking a medicine that can be split, you’ll need to get a prescription from your doctor for twice the dosage you need. Then you can start splitting and saving, safely.
How older drivers can save on auto insurance
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you provide any tips to help seniors reduce their auto insurance premiums? I just got hit with a 15 percent increase on my car insurance and am looking for ways to save. Fixed Income Frank Dear Frank, Unfortunately, auto insurance rates went up significantly over the past year as the pandemic eased and more Americans got back on the roads. But there are plenty of ways to cut your premium. To find out what discounts may be available to you, contact your auto insurer and inquire about these options, and any others that may benefit you. Low mileage discount: Most insurers offer discounts to customers who drive limited miles each year, which is usually beneficial to retirees who drive less because they don’t commute to work every day. These discounts usually kick in when your annual milage drops below 7,000 or 7,500, which is significantly less than the typical 12,000 miles most Americans drive a year. Drivers Ed discount: Many states require insurance companies to offer defensive driving discounts – between 5 and 15 percent – to drivers who take a refresher course to brush up on their safety skills. These courses, offered by AAA (aaadriver.online/register/roadwise) and AARP (aarpdriversafety. org), cost $20 to $30 and can be taken online. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.
Get more Savvy Senior To find more advice from Savvy Senior columnist Jim Miller, visit theactiveage.com
January 2022
the active age
Page 21
Keep an eye on your vision health with check-ups
By Dr. Deena Sandall As a low-vision provider, I can tell you that the large majority of people take their eyesight for granted. People expect to wake up, open their eyes, and see. Humans depend on eyesight for many activities, and when something disrupts vision, it can endanger independence. The most common problem that comes with aging is presbyopia, or farsightedness. This is a condition that causes a slow loss of the ability to focus on objects up close, especially small print. It is normal and expected to need reading glasses or bifocals starting in the 40s. Cataracts are another common condition that affect eyes as they age. Cataracts are a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. Thankfully, cataract surgery can completely reverse blur from cataracts. This condition still causes blindness in third world countries where eye care is limited. Macular degeneration is a devastating eye disease in the elderly
population. The macula is the part of the retina responsible for central vision. Macular degeneration causes blurring and distortion of the central vision. This disease affects approximately 11 million Americans and is expected to double to nearly 22 million by 2050 as the older population grows. Glaucoma also affects many seniors. This is an optic nerve disease which leads to a slow loss of peripheral vision and sometimes blindness. This disease is generally treatable, if caught early. In addition to the eye conditions listed above, there are many more such as diabetic retinopathy, ischemic optic neuropathy, corneal disease, dry eye disease and hypertensive retinopathy. An eye doctor is able to detect these diseases and put a treatment plan in place, but only if you go for regular eye exams. Please don’t take your eyesight for granted. Deena Sandall is an optometrist with Wichita Family Vision Clinic.
American Optometric Association Examination Interval Recommendations Patient age Asymptomatic/low risk At-risk 18-39 At least every 2 years At least annually 40-64 At least every 2 years At least annually 65+ Annually At least annually
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January 2022
Kaffeinated Kansas
Take a coffeepowered trip through state
By Kelsey Tully Kansas Tourism It’s important to stay alert as you travel the highways and byways of Kansas, so here’s a look at six smalltown coffee shops across the state. In addition to a great cup o’ joe, these shops offer food, gifts, history and even, in one case, pickleball. True Brew Coffee House, Lyndon True Brew Coffee House is an espresso bar and bistro located on U.S. 75 in the small town of Lyndon, Kansas, about 40 minutes south of Topeka, Kansas. This cute and quaint coffee house offers a relaxing environment with indoor and outdoor seating options. True Brew serves a variety of iced and hot drinks, breakfast and lunch. While grabbing a drink, you can also peruse their small selection of local merchandise. 804 Topeka Ave Lyndon, KS 6645, (785) 7564140, truebrewcoffeehouse.net
businesses brought to life through the inspiration of building community. The café offers fresh pastries, sandwiches, smoothies and squeezes. The back of the shop holds a pickleball court so you can observe or partake in a friendly game. 205 W 2nd St. Minneapolis, (785) 392-6614, thefarmminneapolis. com
Black Smith Coffee Shop in Lindsborg features single-origin coffees, while Oscar the cow, below, welcomes visitors to his name sake coffee shop in Hoxie. cottonwood-coffeehouse.business.site
(785) 675-2022, oscarsofhoxie.com
Oscar’s, Hoxie Oscar’s of Hoxie offers coffee and espresso, sweets and lunch to rural western Kansas, along with an event space and catering. Look for Oscar the longhorn standing out front — you can’t miss it! 845 Main St., Hoxie,
The Farm & The Odd Fellows Coffee Shop, Minneapolis The Farm & The Odd Fellows coffee shop is located inside a 1916 historic Odd Fellows building in downtown Minneapolis, Kan. The coffee shop is one of the multiple
Black Smith Coffee Shop, Lindsborg Housed in a former blacksmith shop in downtown Lindsborg, Blacksmith Coffee Shop and Roastery specializes in premium, single origin, arabica bean coffees. It also offers coffee tastings and classes on the proper way to brew coffee. Inside you’ll find an antique lumber wagon converted into an elegant espresso bar, 122 N Main Lindsborg, (785) 2126077, blacksmithcoffee.com
Cottonwood Coffeehouse, Lakin Cottonwood Coffeehouse is in downtown Lakin, Kansas. It serves espresso drinks, teas, creme sodas, pastries and much more. The owners recently introduced a tiny bookshop to spread their love of reading. 108 N Main St., Lakin, (620) 355-4009,
Answers 1. f 2. i 3. d 4. g
for page 16 quiz: 5. c 9. l 6. k 10. e 7. j 11. b 8. h 12. a
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Octagon City Coffee, Humboldt Octagon City Coffee is named after the predecessor of Humboldt — Octagon City, which began as an experiment of communal living “free from contamination of flesh, alcohol, and social vices.” There was also a plan to build the city in the form of an octagon. The shop serves a wide selection of coffee, specialty drinks and muffins, 103 S 9th St Humboldt, (620)473-7009
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January 2022
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Article brings back pre-Twin Lakes memories of North side Thank you so much for your story regarding Twin Lakes (November 2021). It brought back many memories for me. I am 72 years old. My parent’s home was at 2616 N. Amidon – a home that my dad built with used lumber and help from friends and family. Most of the home’s lumber came from railroad salvage wood that originated from box cars that were being disassembled, someplace near the old Stockyards Bank on 21st street. As a kid, my job was to pull the nails and straighten them with a hammer so that they could be used again. The exterior of our home was stucco, which was left over from plaster jobs that my grandfather, John Daly, performed in Wichita. Grandpa Daly was a plasterer all of his life and he crafted the art deco scrollwork in many of the movie theaters in Wichita. I was told that grandpa worked in over a dozen movie theaters here in Wichita. Some of his work — grape clusters and vines — still remains at the Orpheum Theater, but nearly all of the other theaters have been destroyed.
city landfill, with chain link fences that were about ten feet tall. Dump trucks and trash trucks were constantly Our property consisted of one full entering the landfill from the entrance on 21st Street. This traffic created dust acre and it was pretty rural in appearthat was then carried to the north ance: a huge garden, fruit trees, geese, for many blocks. Light-weight trash chickens and pet cats and dogs. I was would float in the wind for blocks to often assigned to catching a chicken the North. My dad and others that with a wire coat hanger. Dad would take care of the hatchet work and mom were familiar with the landfill speculated that the Twin Lakes complex would would boil the chicken in a large pan that sat outside the house. Wet chicken eventually sink into the trash debris feathers really stink! We had well water that was the bulk waste in this landfill. Well, to my knowledge it didn’t and yes, we burned our trash in trash sink and disappear. I do seem to recall barrels too. I would ride my bike to a construction problem on the East Benjamin Hills to see the rich people end, where the floors separated and in their mansions. they had to construct a concrete ramp Our modest home served our to compensate for settling. family until about 1969, when the At that time, late 1950’s and property was told to Harpool Brothers early 1960’s, 21st Street was nothing Oil Company. They owned the Phillips but a pot hole filled blacktop with no 66 station on the northeast corner of th shoulder. The old 21st Street bridge 25 Street and Amidon. After it was sold, the house and detached garage was destroyed. I’m going to take you back a bit further than the construction of Twin Lakes Shopping Center. Before Twin Lakes was developed it was a
Letter to the Editor
that existed then was wooden, rickety and narrow. I don’t know how it survived the weight of the trash trucks that came and went over that bridge. In the summer, I tried to ride my bicycle to the Woodland swimming pool, which was close to Arkansas and 21st Street. The bridge shook so much that my bike would fall over. There were gaps in the wood planking and I could see the river water through the holes in this bridge. It was terrifying to a scrawny kid like me. Also, at that time, Amidon was also a two-lane blacktop street with no curb or gutters. As Twin Lakes was being built, the city paved Amidon up to 25th street, and later continued the paving from 25th Street clear up to 29th Street. We finally felt like we actually living in the city. — Richard York
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the active age
January 2022
Book airs compelling tale of addiction “Courtesy Boy: A True Story of Addiction” by Mike Matson (Flint Hills Publishing, 2021, 348 pages)
down hard and fumbling one’s way to the life one desperately wants.” By Ted Ayres The book is Mike Matson has decades of divided into five professional communication experience parts, beginning as a deejay, radio and TV newsman, in 1975 as Matson press secretary to a governor and prepares for his newspaper columnist. graduation from Thus, it is no surprise that he has Wichita Heights written an entertaining and engaging High School and moves into the book in “Courtesy Boy: A True Story brand-new Woodgate Apartments of Addiction.” Matson possesses a rich on 21st Street with two high school vocabulary, a gift for phrasing and a classmates. The book ends on August remarkable memory — particularly in 3, 1991, with Matson noting: “He view of the years of alcohol addiction was 33 years old. He had been that he candidly writes about in this drinking every day since he was 16 book. years old. More than half of his entire Matson’s drinking is a principal life. He had been trying to stop for theme of the book. As Matson’s sister three years. Three rehabs in three writes in the foreword: “This is a story years. Divorced, DUI. He had quit of ruin and redemption, of falling paying his bills and maxed out a pair of
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was lodged in the top two floors of the Vickers/Kansas State Bank & Trust Building on Market Street, a credit cards.” sky blue and beige-paneled structure In between, Matson journeys to with a massive time and temperature Minnesota, Hays, back to Wichita lighted display perched on the roof … and then to Topeka while pursuing a Prior to the recent construction of the career and the success he so desperately nearby Holiday Inn Plaza, the Vickers/ wants — perhaps to send a message KSB&T was the tallest building in to his demanding father. (The book’s Kansas.” title stems from an early part-time Matson’s stated purpose in writing job is as a “courtesy boy” at Mr. D’s the book is to “help those suffering grocery store.) Matson writes about his and their loved ones connect the friendships, romantic relationships and dots between the destructive traits automobiles, including the fire engine and behaviors and the potential for red Camaro in which he was arrested addiction.” Over the years, I worked for driving under the influence. with Mike on a professional basis in a Some of my enjoyment of number of different capacities. I always Matson’s book probably stems from respected his abilities and enjoyed his our similarities: I shared his youthful company. I would have never guessed appreciation for “cars, girls and beer,” his history of addiction. He is to be worked at a grocery store and love commended for trying to help others baseball as does he. by sharing his personal experiences so I also appreciate his descriptions vividly and honestly. of Wichita, its people and institutions Contact Ted Ayres at ted.ayres@ over the years: “The Wichita Club shockers.wichita.edu.
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January 2022
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Page 1
Extra! Extra!
Inner Beauty
Houseplants keep winter doldrums at bay
By Annie Calovich Keeping a close connection to nature is vital to daily life, even during the winter. That’s why Wichitan Pam Pavlick pulls out a plant-growing appliance called the AeroGarden and puts it on her kitchen counter to grow lettuce this time of year. “You really have fun, growing the Black Seeded Simpson and curly varieties you don’t find in the stores,” Pavlick said. “You see those pretty green leaves under those lights, and you can’t wait to have a salad.” And it’s why Sharon Rutherford, who lives on 10 acres just outside Goddard, keeps her house filled with plants nurtured by shop lights. Many are fragrant herbs she's growing for her daughter’s winter wedding and for plant sales that will take place at the Sedgwick Extension Education Center this spring. “It fills my mind,” she said. It’s also why Cindi McMurray groups sunny citrus plants in a south window of her house in southeast Wichita. Lemons were ready to harvest in December. “I like to keep them near me because they smell so good. There’s nothing better than a grapefruit blossom.” Yes, it is possible to break through the winter doldrums. Puttering in the dirt does not need to take a seasonal hiatus. Rutherford has found that she is not a vegetable gardener but that she is very good with herbs. “I have a 15-year-old at home, and grandkids
Grow lights keep plants thriving year-round.
Pam Pavlick uses wicks to water her African violets. She keeps her blooming ones displayed where she can see them from her dining room table. pop in. That’s one thing I can teach she loves to propagate all kinds of them about. They can see them and varieties from leaves that she exchanges taste them and smell them, and if we with fellow members of the African want to cook with them, they’re right Violet Study Club. But “you hate to there.” have to go to the basement to look at McMurray also grows a variety of them. If they’re looking really pretty, plants used in cooking. I like to bring them upstairs. And you “Ginger and turmeric are very easy want to show them off.” She has a table to grow, and I grow them from roots I set up in the kitchen with an Agrobrite get at Sprouts” supermarket, she said. grow light that looks more like a desk She buries the roots about 2 inches in lamp than a grow light and that doesn’t soil, and keeps the pots in a warm spot. clash with her decor. The ginger are beautiful. Pavlick’s grandmother introduced “I have lots of basil. It is fun to her to growing African violets. “She grow from seed, because every seed grew them in her windows. And you germinates. I had 15 varieties of basil can grow them in windows. Some do last year.” better than others.” If you try them in You can find houseplants at a window, you want to be sure the light garden centers that don’t require bright is soft and filtered, never direct, she light if your residence is not blessed said, and you have to be sure to turn with exposure to bright sunlight. Grow the plants regularly to keep the growth lights are not expensive. Rutherford and flowering balanced. paid about $20 for a couple of shop Trying to grow lemons and limes lights and had them hung from the is always a draw for Kansans. But ceiling on hooks. they can be a challenge. McMurray When you’re starting seeds, the said that the trick is keeping the pot lights need to be right on top of the small. She never plants in a pot that’s soil, but as the plants get bigger, the wider than 12 inches for a citrus light can be raised — as high as 18 plant. She also keeps the soil on the inches above the foliage for bigger dry side, finding that the plants come plants, Rutherford said. back even if she lets them wilt a bit. “Plants are much easier than When she does water, she uses roomseed,” she said. When gardening temperature well water spiked with indoors, “you mainly have to watch for fish emulsion. During the summer, she fungus gnats. I make a neem oil spray.” moves the citrus plants outside under a Just Google do-it-yourself recipes, she cottonwood tree, out of direct sun. She advises. brings them back indoors before the Pavlick grows African violets on first freeze, usually in November. plant stands in her basement because McMurray, Rutherford and www.theactiveage.com
Pavlick are all Master Gardeners and all belong to the Herb Society of Southeast Kansas. One way to learn more about gardening year-round is to join a garden club. The social element is a draw. “It’s really fun because you can get varieties you can never get in stores,” Pavlick said. The African violet group, for example, meets at 1 p.m. the third Friday of every month at Botanica. “We bring our leaves and we share. We’re a small club, but since COVID we have had several join. People are ready to be in clubs again. I see people wanting to get out again.” Pavlick heads the Master Gardeners’ herb garden at Old Cowtown Museum and is the African violet club’s representative on the Wichita Area Garden Council. “When I retired, I didn’t expect to be this busy, and I’m a little too busy, but I have made so many friends I couldn’t give it up. I love it so much.” Framing your views outdoors is another way to extend the gardening year. Being able to watch birds picking at feed or sipping at a heated birdbath, seeing ornamental grasses sway in the wind, or admiring the colors of ornamental kale or cabbage outside a window as you nurse a hot tea are ways to drink in natural beauty in the winter. “One thing that keeps going outside that is astonishingly beautiful right now is kale," McMurray said. The colors are so deep right now.” Contact Annie Calovich at acalovich@ att.net.
Lemons grow in a south window in Cindi McMurry's home.
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I C O N I C E AT S O F W I C H I TA
JOE STUMPE
ICONIC EATS
of WICHITA
SURPRISING HISTORY, PEOPLE AND RECIPES
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STUMPE
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Iconic Eats of Wichita: Surprising History, People and Recipes will be published by Arcadia Publishing Jan. 17.
Cooking in early Wichita wasn’t a job for wussies. In addition to the necessity of raising or killing much of what went onto their plates, the frontier settlement’s cooks had to deal with kitchen equipment that would send many cooks today straight to Uber Eats. I got a tiny taste of what cooking was like back then one day at Old Cowtown Museum, the living history museum on the banks of the Arkansas River. Then employed as the Wichita Eagle’s food editor, I came up with the brilliant idea of tagging along as Cowtown’s director of historical interpretation prepared a meal in the museum’s circa 1884 farmhouse.
the active age
January 2022
Dishing Wichita
New book boasts city's best-loved recipes
By Joe Stumpe If we are what we eat, I’m hoping my new book presents a self-portrait that Wichitans find deliciously recognizable. Iconic Eats of Wichita: Surprising History, People and Recipes features nearly 200 recipes that I’ve collected while writing for the Wichita Eagle, Splurge magazine and The Active Age over the last two decades. Of course, you can’t write about food without writing about the people who make it. One chapter profiles women who shaped the city’s domestic cooking during its frontier days and beyond. Another reveals the colorful inventor of what many consider Wichita’s signature dish — Garlic Salad. Scores of recipes and the stories behind them are shared by professional chefs, church dinner chiefs, recipe contest winners, home cooks and more. The food and histories of three immigrant groups — Lebanese, Mexican and Vietnamese — that have given Wichita’s dining scene its unique complexion are explored in detail. There’s a chapter looking at the city’s current food scene, too, featuring never-before-published recipes. On this page you’ll find excerpts, photographs and a recipe from the book, which Arcadia Publishing is publishing this month. The 240-page book costs $21.99. It will be available in retail stores on or about Jan. 17. Or you can order directly from me by calling 316-942-5385 or emailing jstumpe@cox.net.
From Chapter 1: Pioneer Women
It turned out to be one of the coldest days of the year — fifteen degrees with a blustery wind blowing through the old farmhouse’s walls. The stove was heavy black iron. It took a box of wood and much of the morning to get the thing hot enough to cook anything. I suppose it could have been worse: In frontier days, when the Kansas prairie was nearly treeless, the fuel used for cooking probably would have been cow chips, adding a distinctive aroma to the occasion. Most cooking back then was done by women, who also tended home garden plots, collected eggs daily and butchered chickens for Sunday dinner. As the city grew, homemakers added
refined touches to their dinner tables. In 1891, a group of women started the Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club, sharing recipes and cooking techniques with the goal of making sure that younger members knew how to entertain properly. The iconic Riverside Castle became a favorite meeting place for the group since one of the group’s Kathleen Kelly founders, Mrs. B.H. Campbell, lived there. Fast-forward a century after the Thursday Afternoon Cooking Club’s
Wichita’s bounty of great ethnic restaurants is explored in Iconic Eats of Wichita. Here, a waitress serves up pho, the national soup of Vietnam.
start, and women were still pushing the city’s culinary habits forward. None was more recognizable than Kathleen Kelly, who served as the Eagle’s food editor from 1955 through 1994. Known for her fancy hats and down-to-earth approach, Kelly was in most respects lucky to work during the heyday of the newspaper business. The Eagle sent her around the world to learn about food and bring that knowledge home to readers. Only those readers with long memories would remember that Kelly’s first husband died in a 1960 plane crash while working as a photographer for the Eagle.
From Chapter 9: RIP
The Pumphouse’s Judy Ross is one of many cooks featured in Iconic Eats of Wichita.
For almost two decades, Tanya Tandoc was Wichita’s best-known restaurant owner. That’s true even when she wasn’t in the restaurant business. During the eight-year period between the first and second incarnations of Tanya’s Soup Kitchen, it seemed that all anyone wanted to know was: When will she open another restaurant? When I met Tanya, her restaurant was located just out the back door from the Wichita Eagle, in the former Union Station baggage building. Two things impressed me: the volume of tattoos she sported (not quite as common then as now) and the amount of heavy cream she put in many of her soups. “Cream is love,” she purred,
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punctuating the remark with a giggle. She was always very quotable. Tanya’s Tomato Bisque Source: Tanya Tandoc 1 can (28 ounces) crushed tomatoes 1 small can (6 ounces) tomato paste 1 cup water 2 cups heavy cream 2 teaspoons dried dill 1 teaspoon garlic powder Salt and pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons sugar, or to taste Put all ingredients in a pot and whisk together. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes.
January 2022
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the active age
Meteor Man
In 1923, a Kansan saw a fireball overhead. He helped popularize a new science. By Max McCoy Kansan Reflector Look up. The Kansas sky on a clear winter’s night is a picture window to the universe. Seek out a place where, as the astronomers say, the seeing is good — my local favorite is the Tallgrass National Preserv near Strong City — and you can peer into a star-spangled slice of the Milky Way. One night in November 1923, Harvey Nininger, a biologist by training, saw a fireball streak overhead as he chatted with a friend near his home in McPherson. Nininger chalked the trajectory of the fireball on the sidewalk, thinking he might be able to track it down. He never did find it, but during the next 60 years he located thousands of others. By the 1940s, he was believed to have located half of all the meteorites that had so far been identified anywhere on the surface of the earth. He was awed by the number •
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Researcher Harvey Nininger cuts a meteorite with a saw. A biologist by training, Nininger ended up devoting his life to the study of meteorites. Photo courtesy of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. of meteorites to be found in his home state. “Verily,” he wrote in 1933, “Kansas has been the target of the universe.” It was here that the study of space
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rocks became a discipline — and Kansas is still where meteorite hunters come to find meteorites so big they have to be dug out of the fields with backhoes. Although Kansas accounts for just 2% of the total land mass of the United States, about 10% of all verified meteorite finds have come from the state. This isn’t because Kansas is a bullseye in a cosmic shooting gallery, but because from 1923 on, Nininger crisscrossed the state, educating local populations about meteorites and
January 2022
offering $1 a pound for the space rocks. More importantly, western Kansas is flat, highly cultivated, sparsely developed, and relatively arid. Because most meteorites are rich in iron and nickel, they rust and eventually disintegrate. A dry climate slows that disintegration. That’s why other great places to hunt meteorites include the American Southwest, the African deserts, and the Antarctic. “Kansas, especially its western part, is considered a good place to find meteorites because it is open country with few terrestrial rocks at the surface, heavily cultivated, and clear of trees and human development,” according to Daniel R. Suchy of the Kansas Geological Survey in a 2007 circular. “Thus, anything out of the ordinary shows up readily. In addition, western Kansas is a relatively arid region where meteorites may disintegrate more slowly than in some other regions.” The Kansas meteorite farm Since the late 19th century, Kansans have been unusually keen on meteorites, beginning with a pioneer woman named Eliza Kimberly. As a young bride, Eliza was dragged from her home in Iowa to the sand dunes of Kiowa County, Kansas, where she began to collect the strangely heavy black rocks that her husband, Frank, would pull from the fields. Eliza believed the rocks she began collecting in 1882 were meteorites and began a letter-writing campaign
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to get somebody to verify them. Scientists from Washburn University and the American Museum of Natural History did just that. Not only were the Kimberly rocks meteorites, they were also among the most uncommon and beautiful type, a stony-iron called pallasites. They are made of olivine crystals embedded in an iron-nickel alloy and come from the core-mantle boundary of a nascent planet that broke up to make the asteroids strewn between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. When sectioned and polished, the resulting slabs resemble stained glass studded with green gems and framed by a honeycomb matrix of bright metal. It is a tradition that meteorites are named for the nearest geopolitical landmark — in this case, the nearest post office, two and a half miles away at the tiny community of Brenham (in unpopulated regions such as Antarctica, meteorites are typically assigned numbers). The meteorites from this Kiowa County strewn field are still known as Brenham today, even though all that is left as a reminder of the community is a lone grain elevator next to the Santa Fe railway tracks. After Eliza began selling visiting scientists and museums pieces of her collection, the homestead became known as the “Kansas Meteorite Farm.” She paid off the mortgage on the homestead early. While she sold her strangely heavy rocks to scientists as far away as Europe, the person who would begin to unlock the secrets of the Brenham fall was much closer at hand. That person was Nininger, who seemed a poor candidate to tease anything from the universe. He had grown up south of Wichita in a religious sect called the Church of the Brethren, but which was commonly called the Dunkards. The nickname comes from the habit of immersing
believers three times in water. The sect regarded nonconformity with the contemporary world as a virtue, refused oaths and military service, and favored simple and old-fashioned clothing often associated with Mennonites. His family’s cabin contained few books, and not a single book on natural history. Yet, in the 1920s, Nininger was the first person to declare himself a professional meteorite hunter. When he saw the fireball streak overhead, he was a biology professor at McPherson College, a private liberal arts college associated with the Church of the Brethren. Nininger is now regarded as the father of meteoritics, a relatively new science that has supplied clues not only to the way the world began but how it is likely to end. Falls, finds and strewn fields Some terminology is in order here. The term “meteor” describes a streak of light, commonly called a falling star, produced when space matter falls through the atmospheres and is heated by friction to incandescence; a “meteoroid” is any matter that is too small to be considered an asteroid or comet; and a “meteorite” is a meteoroid that reaches the earth without being vaporized. A “fall” is when a meteorite reaches the earth and its passage is witnessed and noted, and in contemporary times results in meteorite hunters racing one another to the area of suspected touchdown. A “find” is when the meteorite was not seen to fall, but is found on the ground, sometimes thousands of years after arrival. A “strewn field” is an area where the meteorites pelted the earth. During the Great Depression, Nininger struggled to continue his meteoritic investigations; he traveled the state, speaking to any group that would have him, showing meteorite
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samples and promising a dollar or two a pound for anyone who could find more. He scraped together enough funds to lead his McPherson college students on meteorite expeditions as far away as South America, cataloguing historic finds and gathering new data from the strewn fields. His great rival was Lincoln La Paz, also a native Kansan, born in Wichita. La Paz was 10 years younger than Nininger, had taught at Dartmouth, and earned a doctorate in 1928. While Nininger was also called “doctor,” the title was honorific; Meteorite hunter Steve Arnold poses in 2009 the highest degree he with a meteorite recovered from a field near held was a master’s in Admire. Photo by Max McCoy. biology. had to be at the bottom of the hole (we In 1934, Nininger excavated now know the fragments spread out, (with a bulldozer) what he believed like celestial buckshot). The “crater” was was a crater made by the Brenham a shallow depression southeast of the meteorite’s main mass. While Kimberly home that the pioneers had he recovered thousands of small thought was a buffalo wallow — and it meteorites, he was puzzled to find nothing heavier than 100 pounds; See next page conventional wisdom said a big rock
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Page 6 may have been. Bison were becoming scarce when the Kimberlys moved to Kiowa County, but they were still seen as late as 1889. When the depression was guessed to be from a meteorite, it was called Haviland Crater, for the nearest town, a Quaker community two miles to the east named for Laura Smith Haviland, a famous abolitionist who never visited her namesake. The Brenham meteorite figures heavily in the history of science and meteorites. Before the space program, meteorites were the only samples from beyond the earth that scientists could study, and they still offer some of the best data for the formation of the solar system. And every few decades since Eliza Kimberly began picking up her strangely heavy rocks — that is, with each new advance in understanding or technology — the Brenham strewn field has produced a spectacular new find, and inspired another meteorite rush in Kiowa County. The Space Wanderer In 1949, for example, H.O. Stockwell used a metal detector to find a half-ton rock on the Kimberly homestead. Stockwell was an electronics repairman at Hutchinson when he had the idea for a metal detector specially designed to find meteorites. He sent his schematics to the Hedden Company, which
the active age was building mine detectors for the Army, and soon he had a strange contraption that looked like a tabletop radio mounted on a spindly wooden wheelbarrow. Not far from the Kimberly homestead, he found the world’s largest pallasite meteorite — a 1,000-pound rock he christened the Space Wanderer. A few months later, the city of Greensburg agreed to purchase the meteorite, for $1,250, as the centerpiece of a museum to be located adjacent to the Big Well. Nininger, meanwhile, had ranged far from Kansas. In 1946, he established a meteorite museum in a fortress-like red sandstone building alongside Route 66 near Meteor Crater in Arizona and began selling specimens to the public. For all of his adult life, Nininger would challenge the cornerstones of faith he had learned as a child; not only would he denounce belief in a 6,000-year-old earth, but he would come to chide the president of the Brethren college at McPherson for not teaching evolution. But Nininger never rejected faith, and he sometimes wrestled with problems that might seem trivial to most of us; because the Dunkards forbid the wearing of jewelry, even wedding rings, he felt guilty when he tried to have the Brenham peridot set into a ring for
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his wife, Addie. When the gemstones proved too fragile to be mounted and shattered, he concluded it was probably for the best. Nininger, who was born in 1887, lived not only to see meteoritics become a well-defined discipline, but also to watch the moon landings on television. Throughout his life, he fought a battle of reason with his church. When McPherson College would write him letters asking for money, the elderly Nininger would gently lecture the Brethren institution on the need to advance science instead of stand in its way. Nininger died in 1986, at the age of 99. He had outlived Lincoln La Paz by one year. The biggest rock In October 2005, another Kansan made headlines again, this time by pulling an even bigger meteorite from the Brenham strewn field. Steve Arnold, a native of Fort Scott, found a 1,430-pound space rock in a wheat field not far from the original Kimberly property, by using a large metal detector coil towed behind his bright yellow Hummer. It is the largest piece of the Brenham meteorite yet found, and the world’s largest “oriented pallasite.” Oriented means it stabilized during its fall, and was forged by the atmosphere into a domed shape like a
spacecraft heat shield. Like Nininger, Arnold declared himself a professional meteorite hunter. The discovery landed Arnold in newspapers and magazines around the world. Television was full of him, from the “Today” show to the cable series “Cash and Treasures.” He and his meteorite-hunting partner, Geoff Notkin, even had their own reality show, “Meteorite Men,” which ran on the Discovery channel from 2009 to 2012. Today, the big rock Arnold found is in a private collection out of state. Stockwell’s Space Wanderer can be seen at the Big Well Museum and Visitors Center at Greensburg, a new facility built after a 2007 tornado that devastated that town. Go visit, if you have the chance. The story of meteorites in Kansas is one of passion, rivalry and incremental advancements of what we know about the universe. It’s also a story of imagination, dedication to science and those clear winter nights when you can almost see the edge of forever. Max McCoy teaches journalism at Emporia State University. A native of Kansas, he has written more than 20 books.
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Singing salesman
Jim McCann mixes business and music By Joe Stumpe Jim McCann learned sales working in his grandfather’s insulation business, even if he did have to take a bit of kidding along the way. “We’d go out to people’s houses and I was his driver,” McCann said. “He’d tell me how to sell them, how to estimate things. When it was time for me to shut up and I wouldn’t, he’d look across the table and say, ‘He’s got a speech impediment. He can’t shut up.’” That outgoing personality has served McCann well through the years in his business career and musical endeavors, which have often been related. He’s probably best known for performing one-man-band type shows in bars and restaurants across Wichita, but you’ve likely also heard his radio jingles and seen the digital billboards he helped pioneer here. McCann was born in Massachusetts, into a family with Irish American backgrounds on both sides. He spent junior high and high school in Liberia and Korea as a result of jobs taken by his investment banker father. He can pull off a convincing accent from either country as naturally as a thick Boston Irish brogue. McCann had caught the music bug back in elementary school, after seeing a classmate play the famous drum solo on “Wipeout.” When a fire in Korea destroyed his drum set, he took the insurance money and bought his first guitar. McCann and classmates from the high school for foreign
students he attended became well known as “the only long-haired hippy band in Korea,” he said. Korea is also where he met his wife, E’Lona, whose father ran a Lutheran center for U.S. soldiers there. The two married after returning to the United States, living for several years in Massachusetts before moving to Wichita, where E’Lona’s father had started Bethany Lutheran church years before. The McCanns have two grown daughters. Along with a job selling insulation here, McCann took a gig playing music three nights a week in Angelo’s restaurant. That led to a job managing the restaurant’s bar, then another one working for a liquor distributor during the heyday of that industry’s promotion efforts. “I’d run all the Jack Daniel's nights and California Cooler bikini nights,” McCann said. Connections he made there led to sales jobs with several radio stations. McCann also found time to take over a steakhouse, Molly Mae’s on south Oliver, and work as an Allstate Insurance agent during the 1990s. He ran a mobile phone company’s in-house advertising agency as that industry was taking off, then started his own agency, Jiminy Advertising, in 2007. That put him on the ground floor of another industry, digital billboards. McCann recalls the early opposition to the now-ubiquitous feature of our landscape. “In Maize, people thought we were going to put porn up on TV on a stick,” he said. “Now everybody wants one. Quite frankly, I think Wichita’s saturated with them.” McCann has continued to perform, write and record music,
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including a vinyl LP, two cassettes and five CDs plus jingles for everything from trucks and retail stores to a drain cleaner. His original compositions range from blues and smooth jazz to barroom favorites such as “Help, I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Reach My Beer.” For two decades, he hosted a weekly open jam at which musicians of all genres and levels of experience are welcome; it’s currently held on Sunday afternoons at the Cowboy Inn on North St. Paul. Samples of McCann's music and dates of upcoming gigs can be found on his Facebook Jim McCann, seen performing at the page. Artichoke, has been a fixture of Wichita’s music scene since the 1970s. At left is a A gig playing for a photo of McCann when he was playing friend’s anniversary after three nights a week at Angelo’s. the easing of pandemic restrictions reminded him just how much he had ‘Look, man, I should pay you for how missed playing for a live audience. nice this feels to be doing this again.’” “I loved it so much I gave him his money back,” McCann said. “I said
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