January 2023

Save Century II founder expands watchdog role

By Joe Stumpe

The city of Wichita has a new auditor. Celeste Racette isn’t actually on the city payroll, but the selfappointed watchdog is adept at getting things done — and undone.

Take the hidden 8 percent “ballpark development fee” imposed by owners of the Wichita Wind Surge baseball team on popcorn, T-shirts and other purchases at city-owned Riverfront Stadium last year.

Racette filed a complaint with the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s office. That office had already opened its own investigation into the fee, but Jason Roach, head of its consumer protection division, said Racette’s “well-documented” complaint helped lead to the issuing of a cease-anddesist order against the Wind Surge. Last month, the Wind Surge settled the matter by splitting $63,000 among six local charities.

Of bigger impact was Racette’s

opposition to an ambitious proposal to redevelop the riverfront.

In 2019, a billion-dollar plan to replace Century II Convention and Performing Arts Center appeared

headed for approval with the backing of civic leaders. Save Century II, a group led by Racette, gathered more than 17,000 signatures on a petition drive demanding that voters be

allowed to decide Century II’s future.

The riverfront plan “has been paused due to the impacts of COVID-19,” according to a website maintained by its supporters, and the city this year budgeted $18 million for improvement to Century II over the next decade.

“I wouldn’t say I won that battle because I know they’re still eyeing that land,” Racette said last month, shortly after addressing the City Council about another issue affecting the riverfront. “We still watch the developers carefully because in my mind, it still seems like developers make the decisions over public land.”

However, Racette’s influence can’t be ignored.

Ping pong pals 'take turns winning'

The Active Age

If you’re visiting the East YMCA on a weekday between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m., chances are good that you’re going to see three ping pong players —– Debi Takamoto, Quang Ly and Bao Chen — intensely battling just off the lobby where a recreational table is located.

They’ll tell you they’re not that good and that they simply play for fun and exercise. However, retired automobile dealer Dawson Grimsley, who plays after them, says the three are impressive. Grimsley notes that they often play from several feet behind the table like Olympic-level athletes, enabling them to hit and return balls with great velocity and spin.

“It’s unbelievable,” Grimsley said. “I’m like, what the heck?”

Ly played on a team while in school in his native Vietnam but didn’t have anyone to play with after moving to Wichita in 1980.

He eventually began playing at the Andover YMCA, which had two ping pong tables before it was struck by a tornado in April.

“Do you know how to play ping pong?” Ly would ask everyone who stopped to watch him play.

Chen, who moved from China to the United States in 1992 and then to Wichita a decade later, was one of those people. He played when he was

Questions about services?

“I think that there’s nobody in Wichita who’s had a greater impact on city policy over the last few years than Celeste,” said Chase Billingham, an associate professor of sociology at younger as well.

Quang Ly, left, Debi Takamoto and Bao Chen are friendly ping pong rivals at the East YMCA.

Takamoto didn’t. She started playing in 2014 when she saw people

Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800-279-3655

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Celeste Racette rallied public support to keep Century II from being demolished. She says the battle isn't over.

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Sense of community remains at family-owned theater

By Daniel Caudill KMUW

DERBY — The first showtime of the night is approaching at Derby Plaza Theaters. Popcorn is popping. And with it, comes a warm buttery aroma.

As regulars line up for tickets and concessions, employees behind the counter greet them by name. Parents drop their teenagers off for a safe night out, and many of them head to the arcade they’ve played in since they were little.

Posters on a wall in the lobby advertise upcoming movies.

All the pieces come together to form the familiar touch that owner Lori Armstrong said makes her family’s theater stand out from the rest.

“I think it’s the camaraderie that you have with your guests. That hometown kind of feeling, you know,” she said. “And getting down there, and talking with them and getting involved with their lives.”

Armstrong’s parents built Derby Plaza Theaters in 1995. And she’s worked just about every job there as it became a mainstay in the community over the years.

Now, she owns the venue and runs it alongside her daughter, Beth, who works as the general manager.

Armstrong said the theater has remained successful in part because it’s close, not only for people in Derby, but also Haysville, Mulvane and Rose Hill.

“All the surrounding towns help support us, too,” she said.

In the nearly three decades since Derby Plaza Theaters opened, the number of theaters in the U.S. has

The owner of Derby Plaza Theatres said customers bought its cotton candy while it was closed during the pandemic to show their support.

Below, an old fashioned cotton candy machine sits on display in the lobby and a bench in the lobby is dedicated to Cecil and Velma Boone, who built Derby Plaza Theaters in 1995.

said.

Ernie Shrubshall and Linda Mitchell have been going to the theater in Derby since its early years. To them, the appeal is simple.

“It’s close, and their prices are reasonable,” Linda said.

Concessions are a big selling point at Derby Plaza Theaters, and the owner strives to keep prices affordable.

The two were seeing “Black Adam,” the latest superhero movie to hit the big screen. Aside from cost and location, they say the hometown feel of the theater keeps them coming back at least twice a month.

“They’re always friendly, [and they] keep a real nice, clean theater,” Ernie said. “And like I said, it’s always convenient.”

Forming relationships with regulars like Ernie and Linda ultimately paid dividends for the theater when it had to close down during the early days of the pandemic.

The owners set up drive-thru concessions on the weekends, and it was a smash hit.

“We would come in on a Thursday, and make, you know, 100 bags of cotton candy. And we’d sell ‘em, Friday and Saturday,” she said.

declined by more than 25%. In the same time frame, the average price of a ticket has more than doubled.

A study by business news site

The Hustle also found that the price of a family outing at the movies has increased at twice the rate of inflation since the 1960s.

Armstrong said she tries to keep prices on tickets and concessions as low as possible, despite the impact of inflation.

“We’ve had to learn how to roll with the punches with that, and find different avenues for our products,” she

“We’ve never sold that much cotton candy.”

Armstrong said that support indicates just how much the community theater means to people in Derby and the surrounding area.

“Some people would come by and give us money. Just [because] they wanted to see us stay. And that was very, very humbling.”

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“All the surrounding towns help support us, too.”

-Lori Armstrong

Byways beckon in-state adventurers

The Active Age

If road conditions are good, consider hitting one of them to celebrate Kansas Day, which is Jan. 28. Kansas has 12 byways, nine scenic and three historic, according to the Kansas Tourism office. Here’s a look at some of them:

Flint Hills National Scenic Byway runs 47 miles along K-177, through tallgrass prairie and the towns of Council Grove, Cottonwood Falls, Cassoday, Matfield Green and Strong City.

Frontier Military Historic Byway travels 168 miles along the state’s eastern border, past Fort Leavenworth and Fort Scott, the John Brown Museum and Mine Creek Battlefield.

Glacial Hills Scenic Byway covers the rest of the state’s eastern border, running 63 miles along K-7 from Leavenworth to Nebraska, through rolling hills, rocky valleys and fertile farmland.

Gypsum Hills Scenic Byway stretches 42 miles along US-160, from Medicine Lodge to Coldwater, an area of rolling hills, two outlooks offering picturesque vistas, galleries and shops.

Land & Sky Scenic Byway traverses 88 miles along K-27 in far western Kansas, taking in the rugged Arikaree Breaks and Mount Sunflower,

the state’s highest point.

Kansas Route 66 Historic Byway runs 13 miles, from the Missouri border just west of Joplin, through Galena, Riverton and Baxter Springs

before entering Oklahoma.

More information about these routes — including detailed maps and places to visit, eat, stay and shop along the way — can be found at theactiveage.com.

Lasley joins board of The Active Age

Jennifer Lasley has joined the board of The Active Age. Lasley joined Central Plains Area Agency on Aging (CPAAA) in 2017 and was promoted to the Older Americans Act Program coordinator in November 2021. The Older Americans Act is a federal grant that provides funding to CPAAA and local organizations, including The Active Age, while serving older adults in Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick Counties.

“I’ve had the privilege of helping a wide variety of populations over the years,” she said.

Lasley earned a college degree in social work and has worked in public

services for over a decade. She and her husband have two school-age children.

Lasley also provides assistance as a caregiver to her 86- and 87-year old grandparents, which she said “gives me deeper insight into the daily lives of older adults and some of the situations that are faced as people continue to age.”

Reeves is new aging agent

Melissa Reeves has joined the K-State Research and Extension office as its new adult development and aging agent. Reeves earned a degree in healthcare administration from Western Kentucky University and has most recently worked as a database manager for United Way of the Plains in Wichita. In her new role she will develop

programming related to health aging, advanced planning and Medicare education.

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Looking forward to an even better 2023 with your help

As we head into 2023, The Active Age is inviting readers to tell us what kinds of articles and other content you want to see in this newspaper. The contact information for editor Joe Stumpe is at the end of this column, and you are also welcome to drop by our office at 125 S. West St.

This newspaper always has served a very specific audience — people 55 years and older living in Sedgwick, Butler and Harvey counties. But that’s hardly a homogenous, one-size-fitsall group. Within it are all sorts of different people with different needs, interests and passions.

Isn’t that what makes the world such an interesting place?

We hear from a lot of readers already, and we like to think we have some idea of what they’re looking for in a publication. But there’s always room for improvement, and as the

Dear reader

saying goes: You don’t know what you don’t know. And we want to.

We also ask for your continued financial support. Some readers may not realize it, but we are a nonprofit newspaper with a small staff, some part-time workers and twice that many volunteers.

Last year, reader donations provided about 21 percent of our revenue. Advertising accounted for 75 percent, and a grant through the federal Older Americans Act supplied the rest.

It’s no exaggeration to say that The Active Age would not exist without those donations, at least not in its present form. The only way we could continue to publish would be to cut back on the size of the newspaper or

reduce the number of people we send it to.

The board and staff of this publication are determined not to do that, if at all possible. This nonprofit newspaper has been around 43 years, and we are dedicated to its mission. Our former editor, the late Fran Kentling, stated our goals best: Educate. Entertain. Empower.

Last year was a challenging one as inflation and an increase in postage rates drove up our costs. But readers responded in a way that frankly left us a little humbled.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention our advertisers, who kept doing business with us during what was a very uncertain 2022 for many of them as well. Patronize them if you can (and don’t forget to tell them you saw their ads in The Active Age!).

Unfortunately, our cost of doing

business will not go down any in 2023. On the contrary, it’s likely to rise. We have set our fundraising goal for 2023 at $100,000. We understand that not everybody is in a position to offer support. But if you can, please consider doing so. And if you have donated, know that you have our sincere thanks. Before closing, we want to wish you and yours a happy, healthy 2023 from the staff and board of The Active Age.

Thank you, Tim Marlar, Board President

Joe Stumpe, Editor (316) 942-5385

joe@theactiveage.com

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Racette

From Page 1

Wichita State University. “I think the impact she’s had is monumental. Her work is controversial, and there are a lot of people who are very opposed to what she’s done. I think whether you support her or not, it’s undeniable what she’s done.”

"She's a force," said arts advocate Ann Garvey. "She truly makes people accountable, which is something we really need."

Mayor Brandon Whipple, who has sparred with Racette on occasion, credits her for generating interest in historical preservation and transparency in local government but said she sometimes distorts facts for what seems like “political goals” while blaming current city officials for actions taken by their predecessors.

“She’s right on some stuff, but sometimes she’s wrong, and a narrative is not accurate, and it causes a lot of distrust from the public,” he said.

Whipple said Racette had spoken five times during a recent City Council meeting and “it took us an extra hour fixing misperceptions.”

However, he added, “I think it’s great any time we have citizen engagement.”

Family ties

So how did a retired bank examiner who returned to Wichita for family reasons come to play that role?

Racette is the daughter of Judy and Vincent Bogart, a Wichita lawyer and Democratic Party political figure who served as mayor in 1964-65, when the ground was being cleared for Century II. Like other Wichitans, Racette attended events there and even performed in its concert hall as a violinist with the Wichita Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Racette worked for Intrust Bank as an accountant and auditor for two decades, then took a job as a fraud investigator with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. “I brought down some pretty big payday lenders,” she said. “I was pretty proud of the work I did with the FDIC."

The work took her to the Kansas City, New York and Atlanta regions, and after several years of living out of hotels, Racette said, “I just got tired of it.”

With her father in poor health — he died in 2012 — she returned to help take care of her mother. Racette enjoyed going through her father’s papers, which included correspondence with Presidents Kennedy, Johnson and Truman as well as architectural renderings, Kansas Gov. Robert Docking’s second inaugural address — delivered at Century II in

1969 — and other documents pertaining to the building.

When she learned that supporters of the riverfront development plan were holding a public meeting at the Boathouse in the summer of 2019, Racette brought along some of the Century II memorabilia and set up a small display downstairs from the meeting. An organizer of the event ordered Racette to remove the materials.

“I was stunned,” Racette said. “It made me mad, because I love Wichita.”

The Wichita Eagle reported on the incident, and Racette said she started receiving telephone calls from people who believed she’d been treated rudely and who were also fond of Century II. Historic preservationist Greg Kite, businessman Bill Warren, architect Dean Bradley and Garvey were among the first who reached out.

Racette formed Save Century II and started holding public meetings, giving media interviews and selling “Save Century II” T-shirts to raise awareness and money. Their arguments were that the blue-domed building is an iconic structure, having been designed by two students of Frank Lloyd Wright to commemorate the city’s first 100 years; that community arts groups would suffer through its loss; and that citizens should be allowed to vote on its future.

Yard signs were added to the group’s campaign, which also includes saving the former Central Library on Main Street (although not the convention center attached to Century II).

By January 2020, Save Century II had opened an office on Broadway — since moved to 3,330 W. Douglas — and launched its voter petition with a rally outside City Hall. The group gathered 5,000 more signatures than required for a ballot measure, but a judge sided with city officials who argued that the ordinance proposed by the petition would violate state law. Save Century II members then unsuccessfully sought help from state lawmakers.

The COVID-19 pandemic put the brakes on the riverfront plan, although civic leaders say they believe it or something like it will be brought back for discussion again.

‘

I find things that are wrong’

Meantime, Racette has broadened Save Century II’s mission into scrutinizing a variety of city actions and serving as a kind of resource

center for citizens with complaints. It’s Racette who calls herself an auditor.

“I look at the numbers and I find mistakes and I find things that are wrong,” she said.

Racette has argued that city diverted maintenance funds intended for Century II to private developments and channeled money from other projects to pay for the $83 million baseball stadium. She criticized Genesis’ management of the cityowned Wichita Ice Center and opposed details of the sale, tentatively approved last month, of riverbank property to the Hyatt Hotel. At the same meeting, Racette held up two $2 bills to remind City Council members of the price paid by ballpark developers for 4.5 acres of city property in 2018. Save Century II held forums for City Council candidates before the last election.

Racette has also worked with city officials on projects. Last year, for instance, Save Century II members planted thousands of flowers and plants around the Joan of Arc statue at the old library and in A. Price Woodward Park. The statue is a favorite of Racette, whose father was a World War II fighter pilot and who, as mayor, gave a speech in Orleans, France, one of Wichita’s sister cities. Racette is treasurer of the Wichita Sister Cities organization.

“The city did give us mulch and cleaned up a rusted railing and Price Woodard park, and they turned on the irrigation,” Racette said.

Racette initially opposed turning over management of Century II to a private company, but has recently praised its work. Save Century II helped promote the sold-out Wichita Wurlitzer 50th anniversary concert at Century II.

Although active in the Democratic Party until recently, Racette worked with several local Republicans to get the Century II petition signatures.

“She’s battled a lot of the leadership of the local Democratic Party,” Billingham said. “She calls it like she sees it, and political alliances are not necessarily what she’s concerned about. She’s really concerned about her priorities.”

Racette, asked if she's contemplating a run for office herself, replied: "Only thinking about it. I've had people ask me that."

Racette said caring for mother while becoming an activist over the last three years keeps her plenty busy. She doesn't want to be seen as solely a civic naysayer.

“I’m not opposed to business deals,” she said. “I want to see Wichita grow and advance. I’m just against sweetheart deals for developers.”

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Celeste Racette's father, Vincent Bogart, right, looks at a model of Century II with architect Roy Varenhorst. Bogart served as mayor in 1964-65.

Volunteers from Save Century II and Lowe's planted thousands of donated plants and flowers around that building and the former Central Library.

Ping Pong

From Page 1

playing at a rec center in Minnesota. She moved to Wichita two years ago, saw Ly playing and took his invitation to join in.

'You're moving'

“It’s supposed to be really good for your health,” Takamoto said. “So that’s, of course, a big plus, but to me it’s fun. And you try to get better, but you just have fun anyway even if you don’t get better.”

“Table tennis and line dancing are, like, two of the best things to prevent Alzheimer’s,” Takamoto added. “You’re watching the speeds, you’re watching the movements. You’re moving.”

Ly has played tennis and pickleball, too, but he said he really works up a sweat in ping pong.

“I like it a lot because that’s a sport that (makes) me healthy,” he said.

Takamoto said ping pong doesn’t pose much threat of injury “if you do it correctly.” Balance and proper footwork when moving from side to side are important. She likened the movement to the way basketball players slide sideways without crossing their feet.

But the sport is accessible to practically anyone, she said, noting that some people are able to stand in one spot and reach most balls.

“I’ve played against people in wheelchairs and people with a cane or whatever.”

Grimsley agreed that “this is really good for you.”

He and YMCA trainer P.J. Barrett used to throw medicine balls during his training sessions. Then he said Barrett teased him that he was elderly “and I needed my hand-eye coordination to

be better.”

They started by playing 10 minutes during their hour-long training session. They kept adding time, and now ping pong takes up half of each session.

Grimsley said he absolutely can tell a difference with his dexterity in other things he does now.

“It’s just all the stuff you do all day long.”

Barrett said there’s no question the ping pong training has helped.

“Of course, his ping pong hasn’t gotten better, but his reaction times are better.”

Actually, Grimsley has improved enough to occasionally win.

“I skunked her once, 7-0, and she had a fit,” Grimsley said.

“I did not have a fit,” Barrett said. “I had a very depressing moment.”

Simple fun

If you’ve played ping pong in the

past, you may remember that games went to 21 points, with service changes every 5 points. Now, due to a change adopted by the sport’s international ruling body, the game goes to 11 points and service changes every 2 points.

Takamoto said she, Ly and Chen are pretty evenly matched.

“We take turns winning. We take turns losing.”

At Andover, a winner from one game would stay at the table and play the next person while the third person would rotate to the second table. Chen often asked kids to play.

“Bao really likes to help people learn how to play,” Takamoto said.

Ly said it doesn’t matter if someone doesn’t know ping pong.

“We still invite them to come and play with us.”

Don't let a vacation rental scam ruin your winter getaway

Better Business Bureau

If winter has you thinking of a warm-weather getaway or ski holiday, it pays to be careful when booking a vacation rental. A Better Business Bureau study in 2019 found that 43% of those who searched online encountered fake property listings. Here’s some advice to avoid getting ripped off.

Easy to fake Online fakery is child’s play for crooks trying to get your vacation dollars. They hijack property listings from one site, change the contact information and post it on another one. Other

scammers just make up a fake ad entirely. Scammers know they have one great advantage over you when you are looking for a vacation rental: distance. You can’t easily drive that distance for a quick check up on the property.

Warning signs

Watch for these clues that you’re dealing with a crook:

• They urge you to communicate with them offsite.

• There are spelling, grammar, capitalization, and punctuation errors either in their listing or in their communication with you.

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• They request payment by certified check, cashier’s check, or wire transfer.

• They try to bait-and-switch you. They may tell you the property is unavailable for some made-up reason at the last minute and tell you of alternative properties.

How to protect yourself

Use an online reverse image search to check on the photos that appear in the listing you’re interested in. It’s not difficult. Just search for “ how to do a reverse image search” for the steps. Look to see if the same photos have showed up elsewhere online.

• Stay in touch with the owner once you’ve committed to a place and do it on the same platform on which their listing occurred.

• Look at the property online using a street search map.

• Get the contract in writing before signing on or sending payment.

• Pay only with a credit card. Never pay with a wire transfer. Also, never pay a security deposit before you have met and/or signed a contract.

• Read BBB’s full scam study on rental listings prior to booking your accommodations.

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Quang Ly, far left,

playing ping pong in Vietnam, while Bao Chen, far right did the same in China. Dawson Grimsley, center left, and Debi Takamoto

more recent converts to the sport. All four players say the fast-moving game helps keep them physically and mentally sharp.

How — and why — to tell your own story

“Yours Truly,” by James R. Hagerty (Citadel Press, 2023, 202 pages, $25.00)

By Ted Ayres

This book is subtitled “An Obituary Writer’s Guide to Telling Your Story.” However, don’t let that dampen your interest or spirits. This book is lighthearted, encouraging and delightfully written. “Yours Truly” made me chuckle out loud on several occasions.

Author James R. (Bob) Hagerty is the lead obituary writer for The Wall Street Journal. Hagerty has enjoyed a distinguished career in journalism over the past four decades, working as a reporter, editor and bureau chief for

the Journal and International Herald Tribune in Hong Kong, London, Brussels, Paris, Atlanta and New York. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of North Dakota.

As Hagerty notes in his introduction, obituaries “remind us that even in the darkest times, people with a strong dose of optimism, tempered by a realistic assessment of human nature and their own abilities, have found ways to flourish, recover from calamities, earn a living, fall in love, and discover the joys of sharing any windfall that comes their way.”

Using chapters that offer practical step-by-step tips, he encourages the reader to think about the “final story”

that gets written about most of us — and consider doing it ourselves. He believes “writing your life story is not painful, not morbid, and not a sign of vanity. Instead, it is an exercise that will enrich your life and the lives of those who read and learn from it.” As illustrative guides, Hagerty includes numerous summaries of life stories that he has written or that have been written about the famous and the notso-famous.

Hagerty’s book is full of cleverly worded incentives such as:

“Write your own story while you can. Don’t leave it to family members, who are almost certain to make a hash of it.”

“Don’t assume that your family

Better sit down for this news, Ted says

By Ted Blankenship

It’s not enough that we worry about cancer and viruses that can make us sick or even kill us. Now we face a malady that has been with us for a long time but has been formally recognized only recently — sitting disease.

There was an article about it the other day by DeeDee Stiepan of the

Mayo Clinic News Service.

What is sitting disease? Stiepan writes that it’s sedentary behavior, including sitting for long periods of time. “It can contribute to adverse

health effects,” she writes.

I’m sure I probably have this disease because I have been sitting for a long time. I did some research and found that a baby can sit without help at about nine months, and with help a little earlier. So, I figure I have been sitting on my own for 94 years or so.

I get about eight hours of sleep a day, so I realize that I haven’t sat for the whole 94 years. No, counting the time in bed, I’ve been sitting about 51 years. I’m sure I was walking or even running (well, maybe jogging) some of that time. Like most Americans, I’m just an ordinary sitter. But there have been some famous ones.

Probably the most famous was Sitting Bull, though he didn’t really sit all that much.

Sitting Bull’s father was a talented hunter who leaped over gullies to hunt bison and so was named Jumping Bull. His son, originally called Jumping

knows all your best stories.”

“If an obituary can’t be fun, what’s the point of dying?”

And my personal favorite:

“Talking about sex doesn’t make you pregnant and talking about death doesn’t make you dead.”

Hagerty reminds us that no one knows their own personal story better than we do. This book will help you reflect on your life’s journey and memorialize that journey for yourself and those you love.

Contact Ted Ayres at ted.ayres@ shockers.wichita.edu.

Badger, was a careful, deliberative child and so was named Slow, and later Sacred Stand. By the time he was 14, he had killed a bison and “counted coup,” which was touching an enemy without killing him.

For these and other feats, he was named Tatanka-Iyotanka, which literally translated, is “a large bull buffalo at rest,” aka Sitting Bull.

Native Americans in those days didn’t have desks to work at and spent much of their time hunting and looking for something to eat. So, they weren’t subject to the sitting disease. Besides, it hadn’t yet been discovered.

To protect ourselves, we’ll just have to walk a lot more than we do now. Then who knows? We may get a walking disease such as Walking Pneumonia, a kind of pneumonia that isn’t severe enough to require bed rest.

I’ve already had that.

Contact Ted at tblankenship218@ gmail.com.

Seniors grapple with transportation needs

By Mary Clarkin

When Sigrid Trombley needed rides to medical appointments, she posted an appeal on Facebook. Friends came through, but she’d like to find a reasonably priced, reliable transportation service so as not to burden others.

Diane McCartney was looking for the same thing when she sought an Uber reservation for a four-mile trip to the doctor. After learning it would cost nearly $45, she declined.

Trombley and McCartney are among older adults finding themselves in the role of transportation schedulers. Both live in Wichita, where transportation options have narrowed, swerved and sometimes vanished in recent years.

“So far I’ve been depending on friends, who have been very gracious,” Trombley said.

In 2016, the local chapter of American Red Cross, following the national organization’s lead, ended a program that provided curb-to-curb rides to medical appointments for older adults. At the time, news reports said the Red Cross program was providing about 15,300 one-way trips annually.

No single replacement emerged to duplicate the Red Cross and the pandemic caused some private independent transportation services to go out of business.

The area’s biggest provider of curbto-curb rides is the city of Wichita’s paratransit van service, which provided 72,258 trips through mid-December of this year. To qualify, a person must be deemed not healthy enough to go to a stop on the city’s regular bus route. Rides are not limited to medical appointments, and riders are advised to schedule a week in advance.

Wichita Transit received 376 applications for the service this year, of which 21 were denied.

Dialysis treatment requires Trombley to spend three hours at a Fresenius Kidney Care Center three days a week. The one-way trip from home to dialysis for Trombley is about 12 miles.

One private transportation provider quoted her a price of $68 for a round trip, which seemed expensive for three round trips a week.

Trombley doesn’t believe a cab service would be dependable. She hadn’t checked Uber or Lyft as of early December and did not yet know if her application for Wichita paratransit service would be approved. She doesn’t live near a bus stop on Wichita Transit’s fixed-route system, which factors in her favor in qualifying for

paratransit service.

When McCartney tried to reserve a ride in advance to travel four miles to the doctor, the price quoted was $43.45 instead of the expected $12. She contacted Uber and learned that reserving a time and date — the kind of planning that seemed wise for a doctor’s visit — raised the price.

McCartney said she shouldn’t complain because she has options, but “it causes me a lot of stress figuring out how I’m going to get somewhere.”

Medical appointments aren’t the only destinations that older residents need transportation for.

Janet Khoury, who is vision impaired, has never driven a car. She used to take the city’s regular bus service everywhere. Now, she usually relies on a transportation service offered by First Presbyterian Church to older adults or those with special needs. For non-members of the church, there’s a $30 membership fee annually ($22 for church members) for the service and a $3-per-ride charge. The operation consists of a large sedan and driver covering a weekday morning shift, 9 to 11:30 a.m., and afternoon shift, 1 to 4 p.m.

“I have to walk about five blocks to get to the bus, so it makes a super difference to have door-to-door service,” Khoury said.

Khoury still occasionally uses the city’s regular bus system and praises its drivers and punctuality. She received a six- or seven-page application for the paratransit service but has not completed it.

First Presbyterian’s service is not an option for dialysis patients like Trombley.

“We cannot be somebody’s permanent ride some place,” said Patty Cole of First Presbyterian. “We can be a backup for somebody on dialysis.”

“Because we only have one car and

one driver, that would limit our ability to take other people,” she said.

Most people going to dialysis treatment at a Fresenius center in Wichita are transported by friends or family, said Fresenius social worker Anne Rothe.

If they live in Wichita, she helps them apply for Wichita Transit’s paratransit service, she said, but it “gets trickier” for those living outside Wichita. Sedgwick County has a transportation program that brings residents to Wichita, but can't guarantee all round trips for dialysis.

Sedgwick County’s transportation program serves residents living outside the city and needing a ride to and from Wichita, or to another location outside Wichita, or for those in Wichita needing a ride to a destination outside the city. Rides cost $3.

Sedgwick County Transportation’s ridership numbers for 2022 as of Dec. 8 stood at 8,712. The peak year for ridership in recent years was 2019, with ridership of 11,016.

In the past, Sedgwick County enhanced its own vehicle fleet by contracting with multiple outside transportation providers. As of December, the county operation had only one contracted service, a startup company with a minivan.

As of Dec. 8, Sedgwick County Transportation showed 94 “denials” for ride requests this year that it could not carry out. In other cases, Sedgwick County Transportation was able to accommodate riders with alternative days or times.

Both the city and county transportation operations grapple with labor needs.

The city operation has been operating with a driver shortage, according to Wichita city communications manager Megan Lovely. It is hiring and has maintained

Transportation resources

These organizations may be able help if you need transportation:

Wichita Transit: 316-265-7221

Sedgwick County Transportation Program: 316-660-5150

Kansas Aging and Disability Resource Center: 855-200-2372

First Presbyterian Church Transportation & Services Program: 316-267-1675

Butler County Transit: 316-7750500

Harvey County Interurban: 316284-6802

Derby Dash: 316-788-7433

Haysville Hustle: 316-529-5903

scheduled services by utilizing overtime for current drivers, she said.

The biggest hurdle to finding drivers for Sedgwick County Transportation is the pay, said Dorsha Kirksey of the Sedgwick County Department on Aging. School bus drivers get more, plus a bonus, and Wichita Transit pays about $3 more an hour than the county, she said. “We pay just over $12 an hour, pretty low,” she said. It will increase in 2023, but still will be under $13 an hour.

The Derby Dash bus and Haysville Hustle bus offer low-cost rides to residents of those cities, as services operated by Butler and Harvey counties do in their areas.

Health care providers could offer another solution, at least for their patients. An award-winning Massachusetts program called CareRide takes patients to medical appointments, including dialysis, using start-up funds from Lowell General Hospital in Massachusetts.

Closing the information gap about options that are already available could also help. “I hear over and over again from older adults that they didn’t know there was public transportation available to them,” said Jessica Warren, mobility manager for the SouthCentral Coordinated Transit District that covers Sedgwick, Butler, Harvey and four other counties.

In 2021, Virginia announced a website, VirginiaNavigator.org, that won praise for linking people to their local resources and transportation options after they typed in their zip code.

Trombley is on a list to receive dialysis at a location closer to her home. “At some point,” she said, “I hope to get well enough that I can drive.”

This article was produced as part of the Wichita Journalism Collaborative, a partnership of seven news organizations.

Photo by Jaime Green/Wichita Eagle

Sigrid Trombley has scrambled to find rides to dialysis treatments.

A few changes can make a big difference in your health

By Monica Cissell

The image of an 80-year-old marathon runner or yoga teacher may pop up when thinking about who exemplifies healthy aging. Expel that myth right now! Healthy aging looks different in everybody, but it’s true that eating right and exercise are common denominators of achieving it.

Prioritizing good food choices decreases the risk of developing chronic disease and helps to maintain a healthy weight. The body is fueled with energy through eating good food. The energy allows us to engage fully in life, including completing day-to-day tasks such as cooking, cleaning and shopping, and also participating in social and physical activities. By adding more vegetables and lean protein into your meals, you can increase strength and energy, resulting in an overall healthier lifestyle.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 percent of disease is based on genetics and 90 percent results from lifestyle behaviors. This shows, in a big way, that making changes in behaviors can influence overall health. Other factors — called social determinants of health — include financial resources, education, gender and family.

The good news is anyone can make a change. Vegetables are important in a balanced diet because they contain vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates and can be an important source of

fiber. It’s best to eat a variety of colored vegetables, starchy veggies and legumes to ensure multiple benefits. Proteins are important to help build and repair tissue, fight infection, provide energy and build muscle. Choose lean meat and poultry, seafood, eggs, beans, nuts, seeds and soy products. Cutting out or reducing the intake of processed foods may reduce one’s risk of heart disease, cancer and dementia. Common processed foods include lunch meat, cereal, chips and other foods with added fat, salt or sugar.

In addition to diet, another key step in healthy aging is regularly incorporating physical activity into the day. Working up to at least 30 minutes of activity a day can help fight against chronic disease, improve muscle and balance and even improve brain function.

Here are two free websites where you can find healthy recipes:

Homemade Mastery — https:// www.homemademastery.com/veggiepacked-dinner-ideas/

Eating Well — https://www. eatingwell.com/gallery/7871351/veggiepacked-recipes/

And here’s where you can find exercise routines and other information about staying active:

National Institute on Aging — https://www.nia.nih.gov

It’s never too late to make small lifestyle changes that will impact overall health. Central Plains Area

Am I on too many medications?

By Dr. Kamalakar Surineni

According to a recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, one-third of people over the age of 65 are taking at least five prescriptions.

As we age, we may develop chronic diseases like high blood pressure, diabetes and metabolic syndrome. Often these chronic diseases are interconnected, meaning one could lead to another. For example, chronic diabetes could lead to renal issues and other vascular diseases necessitating multiple medications. These diseases progress over time, leading to the need for more than one medication to control them.

For example, in their early stages hypertension and diabetes could be managed with one medication, but eventually need multiple agents to keep under control.

Though multiple medications are justified in many cases, they are not in every case. I have seen cases where multiple providers prescribe medications that could potentially interact with each other or contribute to adverse outcomes like falls and confusion.

I have also seen cases where patients have been selfmedicating with multiple over-thecounter medications, which could potentially result in adverse outcomes. So, I advise patients or caregivers to carry a full list of medication (prescription and overthe-counter) to all their physician appointments and discuss with the providers any possible interactions and adverse effects.

Dr. Kamalakar Surineni is supervisor for senior behavioral health at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita.

Agency on Aging is here to help. If you are looking for community resources or wellness and exercise opportunities, contact the resource center at 855-200-2372, visit us

at cpaaa.org, or facbook.com/ CentralPlainsAreaAgencyonAging.

Monica Cissell is director of information and community services for CPAAA.

Legal Services

Dr. Surineni

Wichita designated WWII Heritage City

The city of Wichita has been designated an American World War II Heritage City by the National Park Service. The American World War II Heritage Cities Program honors the contributions of towns, cities and counties and commemorates the stories of the men, women and children whose bravery and sacrifices shaped the U.S. home front during World War II, and still impact our country today.

“We are so excited to receive this special designation,” said Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple. “Wichitans helped shape the outcome of World War II — both on the battlefront and here at home.”

As the Air Capital of the World, Wichita gained great attention and accomplishment during World War II

for the development and production of military aircraft. In all, nearly 26,000 planes of various types were produced, along with more than 1,600 B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers. Wichita’s population grow from 114,966 in 1940 to 200,000 in 1943 as men and women came for jobs.

The application for this recognition was submitted by Wichita Public Library staff on August 20, 2021 with support from elected officials, local historians and others.

One American World War II Heritage City can be designated in each state or territory. To read more about Wichita’s involvement in World War II, visit https://www.nps.gov/ places/wichita-kansas.htm.

Wichita State University is o ering six new Lifelong Learning courses this spring. The courses are FREE* for Kansas residents 60+ years old, if enrolled by February 8, 2023.

All courses will be o ered in-person and online. In-person classes will be held at 1-3 pm at the Wichita State University Metropolitan Complex located at 5015 E. 29th St. North. Online classes are 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.

80th birthday card shower

Susie Wirths will celebrate her 80th birthday Jan. 22. Wirths was married to her husband, Keith, at age 19, and the couple enjoyed 61 years together before his death in 2020. She has five children, 14 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Birthday greetings may be sent c/o Pam Forshee, 4917 N. Alexander St., Wichita,67204.

Quick recipe: Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo with Fettuccine

1 tablespoon butter

1 1/2 lbs. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1 jar Alfredo sauce

12 oz. frozen broccoli florets, thawed

12 oz. fettuccine

Grated Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)

Melt butter in large skillet. Cook chicken, in batches if necessary, stirring until chicken is thoroughly cooked. Remove chicken and set aside.

In same skillet, add sauce and broccoli; stir. Bring to boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to low and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until broccoli is heated through, about 5 minutes. Stir in

chicken and cook, stirring occasionally, until cooked through, about 2 minutes.

Cook fettuccine according to package instructions. Serve chicken, broccoli and sauce over hot fettuccine and sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese on top, if desired. - Family Features

Source: Ragu

Being there makes a difference

Get your chili fix at school museum Jan. 28 dinner, which includes chili and fixings.

The McCormick School Museum is hosting a chili supper to mark Kansas Day — Jan. 28 — and help pay its utility bills.

Doors open at 5 p.m., and live entertainment will be provided. There’s a suggested donation of $10 for the

The museum is located at 855 S. Martinson. For more information, call (316) 558-5804 or (316) 708-0676.

When a loved one is facing the end of life, make the most of the time you have.

Lean on Heart & Soul Hospice. Our care team sets the benchmark for excellence when it comes to intimate and compassionate patient-focused care.

Don’t delay. Let us provide the care you need.

The time (to come together) is now.

HeartAndSoulHospice.org 316-652-6212

A not-for-profit organization

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 744-2700, ext 304 www.belaireks.org

BENTLEY/EAGLE 504 W Sterling, 796-0027

CHENEY 516 Main, 542-3721

CLEARWATER 921 E Janet, 584-2332

DERBY 611 N Mulberry Rd, 788-0223 www.derbyks.com

DOWNTOWN 200 S Walnut, 267-0197 www.seniorservicesofwichita.org

EDGEMOOR 5815 E 9th, 688-9392

GARDEN PLAIN 1006 N Main, 535-1155

GODDARD 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

BENTON Lion’s Community Bldg, S Main St

CASSODAY

Cassoday Senior Center 133 S. Washington, 620-735-4538

DOUGLASS 124 W 4th, 746-3227 EL DORADO 210 E 2nd, 321-0142

Senior wedneSdayS

www.seniorwednesday.org

JAN. 4

10:30am Wichita Art Museum 1400 W. Museum Blvd., $2 admission. No Senior Wednesday.

1:30 pm Museum of World Treasures 835 E. 1st St. No Senior Wednesday.

JAN. 11

10 am Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. (316) 266-8213, $4 Our Ferret BFF.

1:30 pm Advanced Learning Library, 711 W, 2nd, (316) 2618500, Free. Oceans of Kansas.

JAN. 18

10 am Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 N. Fairmount. Info unavailable.

JAN. 25

10am Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main. Info unavailable.

1:30 pm Mid American all-Indian museum. 650 N Seneca (316) 3503340, $2 + tax admission; FREE for MAAIM members. Info unavailable.

MULVANE

632 E Mulvane, 777-4813

NORTHEAST 2121 E 21st, 269-4444 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

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: 755-1189

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.

Minisa Golden Age, 704 W 13th. Info 617-2560.

Mulvane, 101 E. Main (Pix Community Center Second Tuesday of every month at 7-9pm.

Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S Clifton. Nick, 529-2792. Info: iamgary48@yahoo.com.

Orchard Park Golden Age, 4808 W 9th.

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.

Village Steppers Square Dance, Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S Clifton.

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.

Wichita Solos Square Dance, For Info email: Curtis, wichitasolos@yahoo.com.

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

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 316-686-0074

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. 2

Mon: HOLIDAY.

Tue: Oven fried fish w/ tartar sauce, macaroni and cheese.

Wed: Turkey pot pie, chilled tomatoes, pears, pudding.

Thu: Ham & beans, potatoes & onions, parslied carrots, plums, cornbread.

Fri: Spaghetti w/ meat sauce, combination salad, salad dressing, peaches, garlic bread .

WEEK OF JAN. 9

Mon: Hot turkey sandwich( bread, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy) mixed vegetables, pears, cookie.

Tue: Calico beef & beans, cole slaw w/ carrots, peaches, bread

Wed: Tuna noodle casserole w/ peas, harvard beets, mandarian oranges.

Thu: Meatloaf, baked potato/margarine, green beans, applesauce, spice cake, roll.

Fri: Mexican stew, hominy, pineapple, cornbread, dry fruit w/ walnut.

WEEK OF JAN. 16

Mon: Beef stew w/ vegetables, corn relish, peaches, bread .

Tue: Oven fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, mixed vegetables, cranberry sauce, wheat roll

Wed: Goulash, combination salad, salad dressing, mixed fruit, garlic bread.

Thu: Turkey & cheese casserole, broccoli, blushing pears, roll.

Fri: Scalloped potatoes & ham, hot beets, mandarian oranges, roll.

WEEK OF JAN. 23

Mon:Chicken & rice casserole, broccoli, mixed fruit, garlic bread.

Tue: Liver and onionsin gravy OR beef cutlet in gravy, mashed potatoes w/ gravy, green beans, blushing pears, roll

Wed: Chicken salad on bun, vegetable soup, crackers, pineapple, dry fruit w/ walnuts..

Thu: Pork roast w/gravy, califonia mash, gravy, peas, strawberries, roll.

Fri: Chili, crackers, combination salad, salad dressing, applesauce, cinnamon roll.

WEEK OF JAN. 30

Mon: Chicken & noodles over mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, stewed apples, wheat bread .

Tue: Mexican lasagna, refied beans, mixed fruit, snickerdoodle cookie

* 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

Lakeview Gardens, Garden if the Apostles. Lot #34 spaces 7&8. $1,500 each. Call 316-993-6834

Single Plot – Resthaven Cemetery –Garden of the Cross 46A1 $4500 OBO Email: arkpegram@cox.net OR 479-644-6680

Serious inquires only

1 plot in Resthaven Garden of the Faith, Lot 96A-18.

1 Double Depth Crypt in Garden of the Gospels, Lot 38B-2. Call for details 316-773-1378.

Resthaven, Garden of the Cross. 2 plots, last plots in area, side by side. $3,400 each plus trans-fer fee. 316-641-0889

WHITE CHAPEL-Sec. #3 3 adjoining plots $3,000 + trans. fee For details 405-831-3476

White Chapel, Nativity area, Single plot $1,200 plus transfer fee. 316-641-0889

F FOOT CARE F

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO DELIVER MEALS ON WHEELS

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-on-wheels/ 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.

Cook – Hesston

Meals On Wheels/Friendship Meals

Downsizing? Don't have an Auction, or Estate Sale. We Buy Entire Estates. Call Kelly 316-283-8536.

Furniture Warehouse 200 Main Newton, KS

M-F 7:00 am – 2:00 pm. Experience with food service purchasing and preparation helpful. Scratch techniques desirable, some benefits available. High school diploma or GED required. Apply: 112 W Sherman, Hutchinson KS Email: apitediger@gmail.com Call: 620-669-8201 EOE

Sub Transporter – Wichita Area Meals On Wheels/Friendship Meals

M-F 8:15 am – 12:15 pm. Current driver’s license required as well as good driving record. Must be 18 years old and able to lift 40 lbs. High school diploma or GED required.

Apply: 940 N Tyler, Ste 209, Wichita KS Call: 316-686-0074 EOE

LIFT-RITE GARAGE DOORS

Scheduled maintenance, repair, sales on all garage doors.

*Springs-Torsion & Extension

*Garage Door Openers, Doors & More Chris (316) 619-1196

Cowboy Construction

Remodeling, siding, decks, fences, windows, doors and more. 20 years locally owned. Free estimates. Senior discounts. Todd Wenzel 316-393-4488

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

Molina Electric - Wichita Lic #1364 Comm. or Residential wiring. Service calls. New electric service. Troubleshooting. Cell 316-461-2199.

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Westside Lawn Service Fall cleanup. SNOW REMOVAL Bush and hedge trimming, bed work, mulching, gutter cleaning, odd jobs and hauling. Free estimates. 316-339-4117.

By Tim Carpenter Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — A pair of Kansas organizations representing frail and elderly service providers are asking state officials to reign in aggressive pricing by temporary staffing agencies taking advantage of a health care workforce crisis.

Rachel Monger, chief advocacy officer of LeadingAge Kansas, said staffing companies were charging Medicaid providers more than triple the typical rate for essential workers.

The “price gouging” is limiting the ability of providers to hire workers full time, she said.

“Our long-term care system is collapsing under the weight of high costs and low staff.

Haely Ordoyne, legislative chair of the Kansas Adult Care Executives Association, said four or five nursing homes were closing or losing certification each quarter in Kansas. Most closing their doors were rural, high-level care homes, she said. The Kansas Masonic Home in Wichita

closed its long-term care facility last summer, then announced it was going out of business completely by Dec. 31.

Wichita Rep. Brenda Landwehr and other Republicans on the HouseSenate oversight committee who heard Monger and Ordoyne’s testimony expressed reservations about the Legislature wading into the private labor market.

Landwehr said lawmakers could bettter help facilities by reducing the training requirements for certified nursing assistants.

TREE SERVICE F Felipe Tree Service

Evergreen trimming. Tree removal. Brush hauling. Splitting. Deadwooding.

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St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 1356 North Broadway Wichita, Kansas 67214

St. Paul’s United Methodist Church 1356 North Broadway Wichita, Kansas 67214

Saturday, January 22, 2022 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Saturday, January 28, 2023 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Drive-thru Dinners: $12.00 each A la carte items: Priced individually (Sorry, no Dine-In this year)

Drive-thru Dinners: $10.00 each A la carte items: Priced individually (Sorry, no Dine-In this year)

Homemade

My one word of advice for 2023

By Jill D. Miller

By this time, New Year’s Day has come and gone. If you’re like most of us, you either neglected to make any 2023 resolutions or you did make one and have already broken it.

Don’t give up now. It’s not too late. Discover the elegant minimalism of choosing one word to set as an intention for the year – a word that sums up who you want to be and how you want to live. This word directs your decisions, guides your goals, and streamlines all the jibber-jabber into a sticky, easy-to-remember focus of the year.

With all the distractions and worries about the world around us, it’s easy to turn into a ball of anxiety, feeling that the sky is falling. Most of these issues are ones that we can do nothing to control.

A few years ago, I shared my soul-crushing concerns at lunch with a dear friend and close adviser. I actually gripped the edge of the table with white knuckles while I explained that was how I’d been feeling - like I was barely holding on. In a sweet, soft way, my friend laid the back of her hands on the table, cupped palms up, to help me understand that you can attract so much more in life from that position than in clutching for what is lacking.

We talked about letting go of what can’t be controlled and trusting the Divine to provide solutions. From that conversation, I decided on my first one-word resolution: “surrender.”

The word “surrender” certainly doesn’t mean the same thing as “quit.” I realized that the more I tried to force things to go the way I wanted, the worse my stress got, so I had to learn ways to focus on the things I could

Guest Column

• Brainstorm a list of words that symbolize what you want to work on, what you want to accomplish, and mostly what you want to change to have a happier life. What words have meaning for you to help you be the person you want to be to live your best life?

control, and trust everything would work out for the best. It wasn’t easy.

A turning point came when something happened that upset me quite a bit. Although the situation wasn’t totally under my control, it happened because of a not-so great choice I’d made. I got angry. I ranted. I cried. I wrung my hands.

I decided to “surrender” the situation and wait and see what happened. As soon as I released my worry and anxiety, the perfect answer came to me in a flash, and I was able to act to avoid the situation completely. I could hear my inner wisdom by stilling the swirling mess of emotions and self-talk. From that point forward, it became easier to stay calm and look for reasonable answers rather than catastrophizing and panicking. There were times when I had to remind myself to surrender, but the more I practiced, the easier it got.

I’m totally sold on the one-word resolution. I encourage you to try this technique no matter which month you get started. It’s not tough to do. Here are some tips:

• Don’t get in a hurry to pick your word. You don’t have to have your word by New Year’s Day or even in January. Take a bit of time to do some soul searching to come up with the word that really means something to you.

• Narrow it down to one word. There’s a tendency to pick more than one word to fully explain what you mean, but don’t do it. It splits the focus and makes it harder to make real progress. Instead, come up with a single word that best summarizes what you’re thinking through the help of our friend, the thesaurus.

• The word’s meaning can be complex and meaningful only to you. To explain it to others at this point is complicated. Your intention is what matters most. This is all about you.

• Don’t pick a word about how you want others to act. If your concept relies on someone else’s behavior or beliefs, it will not work. Basing our happiness on others’ actions is bound for failure since our behavior is the only thing we can even hope to control.

• Keep your year’s theme front and center. It’s easy to lose focus.

• Be creative. Make a work of art around your word, designing a digital image, or simply writing your word down on an index card or sticky note. Put your visual reminder on your computer, car, mirror, journal, calendar, or other places you visit frequently.

• Make it fun. One family makes choosing their words a New Year’s tradition. They get together and create artwork around their word and share it with the rest of their family. The family members support each other throughout the year and help them

make progress toward their focus.

• Don’t overthink it. Go with your gut. Just do it!

This technique works better for me than anything else I’ve tried, and it can work for you too. And – if you tell me your word, I’ll tell you mine. Just email me at jill@ finishingschoolformodernwomen. I’d love to hear from you. What’s your word?

Jill D. Miller is a business consultant who created the Finishing School for Modern Women in 2015 to teach women empowerment classes

Jill Miller

What words have meaning for you to help you be the person you want to be to live your best life?

Savvy Senior:

How to buy over-the-county hearing aids

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m interested in getting some of the new over-the-counter hearing aids that just became available a few month ago. Can you offer any tips to help me with this?

— Straining to Hear Dear Straining,

The new FDA approved overthe-counter (OTC) hearing aids that started rolling out this fall are a real game changer for the roughly 48 million Americans with hearing loss. Adults with impaired hearing can now walk in and buy hearing aids at a pharmacy, big box chain, consumer electronics store or online without a prescription and without consulting an audiologist.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this new class of hearing aids to lower prices and improve their availability.

About a third of people ages 65 to 74 and half of those over age 75 have hearing loss severe enough to affect their daily life. Yet about 80 percent of people who would benefit from hearing aids don’t wear them, according to the National Institutes of Health, primarily

because of the hefty price tag.

Traditional hearing aids ordered through an audiologist cost anywhere from $1,000 to $7,000 a pair and are not covered by most private insurers and traditional Medicare. The new OTC hearing aids range from $200 up to $3,000.

Who Should Get Them?

OTC hearing aids are specifically designed for adults (18 and older) who have mild to moderate hearing loss. You don’t need a hearing exam or prescription to buy them, and they are designed so you can fit and tune them yourself.

Do you have mild to moderate hearing loss? The specific signs are having trouble hearing or understanding conversations, especially in noisier environments, over the phone or if you can’t see who’s talking. Or, if you need a higher volume of TV, radio or music than other people or have to ask others to speak more slowly, louder or repeat what they said.

If, however, your hearing problem is more severe than that, for example, if you also have trouble hearing loud sounds such as power tools or motor

vehicles or if you struggle to hear conversations in quiet settings, then your hearing loss is considered more significant than over-the-counter aids are intended to address.

To help you get a basic sense of your hearing problem, you can take an app-based test like Mimi (mimi.health) or SonicCloud (soniccloud.com).

If you find that your hearing loss is significant, you’ll need to work with an audiologist or hearing instrument specialist to find a hearing aid that works for you.

What to Look For

To help you choose a good OTC hearing aid that meets your needs and preferences, here are some important points to keep in mind.

Return policy: It can take weeks for your brain to adjust to hearing louder sounds through a hearing aid, so be sure to choose a brand that offers at least a 30-day free trial period or money back return policy. The FDA requires manufactures to print their return policy on the package.

Set up: Many OTC hearing aids require a smartphone or computer to adjust and operate the devices to your

specific needs, while others have the controls on the device. This will also be labeled on the box. Choose one that fits your preference and comfort level.

Battery: The package also should tell you what kind of battery the device uses. Some of the older versions of hearing aids have replaceable batteries, but many of the newer ones have rechargeable batteries that come in a charging case, where you charge them every night.

Customer support: Some companies offer unlimited customer support to help you adjust or fine-tune your hearing aids while others might limit support or charge extra.

For more information, including product reviews, see the National Council on Aging’s OTC hearing aids buyer’s guide at NCOA.org/adviser/ hearing-aids/over-the-counter-hearingaids

Get more Savvy Senior

Find more Savvy Senior tips and information by visiting theactiveage. com. Topics this month include:

• Little-known property tax relief programs for seniors

• Tips for being a long-distance caregiver

• How to reduce your medical bill

Medical marijuana bill coming at start of session

By Rachel Mipro Kansas Reflector

TOPEKA — After months of meetings, compiling data and listening to research, lawmakers say they’re ready to take another shot at legalizing medical marijuana. Legalization has long been sought by members of the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature and other advocates for older Kansans.

Sen. Rob Olson, R-Olathe, and chair of the 2022 Special Committee on Medical Marijuana, said he planned to introduce a medical marijuana bill at the beginning of the January legislative session. Olson said passing legislation

out of committee would be too difficult, and he planned to introduce it in the Senate as an alternative.

He encouraged lawmakers in the House to introduce similar legislation.

“I think that’s probably the best way forward,” Olson said.

The road to legalizing medical marijuana has been a long and rocky one, with Kansans and lawmakers divided. During last month’s meeting of Olson’s committee, several members of the audience wore stickers reading, “Kansas says ‘No,’ ” to register their disapproval of limited legalization.

During the meeting, lawmakers

Silver Haired Legislature lists priorities

The Kansas Silver Haired Legislature has released its priorities for the state’s 2023 legislative session, which convenes Jan. 9.

The six resolutions that received favorable passage are:

• Support the expansion of Medicaid in Kansas

• Continued support and funding for community-based public transportation

• Support and funding for broadband expansion

• Support for the legalization of the expanded medical use of cannabis

• Urging the Kansas Legislature to maintain the current funding for the

Kansas Senior Care Act

• Supporting the request of Area Agencies on Aging to be exempt from the sales tax on purchases

The resolutions were passed during the group’s 40th annual session, held in October and the first time in three years members met in person.

The Silver Haired Legislature tries to be a voice for about 600,000 residents over the age of 60 in the state of Kansas. Each county in the state is allowed a delegate to the SHL, with the five largest counties having five additional delegates. For more information, visit kansas-shl.org.

were given overviews of research on marijuana product packaging and labeling, limitations to amounts of medical marijuana that one person can possess, local taxation for marijuana and procedures for allowing medical marijuana access for incarcerated people. The feeling in the room seemed to be that the lawmakers had been given all the necessary information, with the meeting ending about three hours earlier than expected.

Marijuana offers relief for some people experiencing medical issues, many researchers believe, but it has been linked to behavioral issues, particularly in adolescents and young adults.

In 2021, the Kansas House approved medical marijuana legalization, but Senate Bill 560, which would have allowed for the

cultivation, distribution, processing, dispensing and purchase of marijuana and paraphernalia, died in committee during the last days of the legislative session.

Senate President Ty Masterson said budget and school funding legislation were a higher priority to him than medical marijuana.

“The whole issue is last year, we had a very strong bill that passed the House, and Senate President Ty Masterson wouldn’t allow it to move forward,” Sen. Cindy Holscher, D-Overland Park, said. “So I know there are different parties who have been reaching out to him to remind him of how important an issue this is to a lot of different people. So time will tell.”

The Active Age contributed to this article.

Hawkins ascends to top House spot

State Rep. Dan Hawkins of has been elected Speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives, giving lawmakers from the Wichita area the two most powerful posts in the Legislature. Hawkins, a Wichita

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Republican, was elected without opposition.

Sen. Ty Masterson of Andover has served as President of the state Senate since 2021.

Both lawmakers are known for their conservative views, with Hawkins “vehemently opposed” to Medicaid expansion,” according to the Kansas City Star

Hawkins

‘Stories Behind the Stars’ honor fallen Kansas soldiers

By Joe Stumpe

A Wichita man is looking for a few good volunteers to tell the stories of U.S. servicemen and women from Kansas who died during World War II.

“Those people that gave their lives in service to our nation deserve the recognition,” Doug Rupe said.

Rupe is Kansas coordinator for Stories Behind the Stars, a nonprofit initiative started by a Kentucky history buff two years ago. Volunteers in 50 states and a dozen countries are trying to tell the stories of more than 421,000 Americans who died during the conflict.

Rupe was motivated by the fact that his father, Kenneth Rupe, served during WWII. “I was fortunate to travel with him to DC to see the World War II memorial as part of the Honor Flight program. I have chosen to participate in this wonderful project to honor his service and those of many other Kansans that served, many of whom did not return home.” Kenneth Rupe recently celebrated his 103rd birthday in Wichita.

Rupe knows he can’t possibly write all the articles himself, so he’s recruiting volunteers to write the stories. It’s estimated that about 5,500 Kansans died while serving in the war.

“Some are extremely active,” Rupe said of the writers. “One woman, she’s every day working and researching and writing stories. Others might write one a week or every couple of weeks.”

So far, the volunteers have completed about 500 Kansas stories which are available on a website, Fold3. com, and free mobile app, Find a Grave.

The volunteers recruited by Rupe are working their way through fallen servicemen and women from each county in Kansas in alphabetical order.

“We’re just now getting started on Cherokee County,” he said.

However, there are volunteers elsewhere who’ve completed stories

on fallen servicemen from other parts of the state. Rupe said one out-ofstate volunteer “decided to take on the project of writing about all the soldiers that are from Kansas who died in Europe and who are buried in the Netherlands at Margraten,” an American military cemetery. Others are writing about soldiers killed at Pearl Harbor.

Rupe himself recently started research on a soldier from Oklahoma after learning that his younger sister, now 90, lives in Wichita. He interviewed her in person.

“She was 10 years old when her brother was killed, four months after landing in Italy. Her memory was excellent. She was able to give me a lot of information on him.”

The stories vary in length and detail, depending on how much information is available. Writers use military records, U.S. Census reports, marriage records, Wikipedia pages and a variety of other sources.

“It’s amazing, actually, how much information is available now that

wasn’t previously,” Rupe said, adding that researchers sometimes find and correct errors in the military records.

“What we try to do in these stories is try to be more complete than just an obituary — what they’re childhood was like, whether they grew up on a farm. Then we talk about their military service and ultimately how they were killed.”

Indeed, an article Rupe wrote about a fallen soldier from a prominent Kansas farming family reads like something out of a war novel. To read it, visit Fold3.com and type “Ira P. Lawless” in the search bar near the top of the site.

Rupe is also trying to compile an accurate list of all Kansans who died while serving in the military during the war, which he said doesn’t exist. The U.S. Army and Navy compiled lists, but Rupe called them “incomplete and sometimes inaccurate.”

Members of the Merchant Marine, for instance, were considered civilians, not military, but came under enemy fire.

“As we find people like that, we write them up,” he said.

Writing a story about one fallen Kansan often leads to another.

“It really is kind of a rabbit hole. You find one and it leads to another.”

The goal, Rupe said, is to have every story written by September 2025, the 80th anniversary of the war’s end.

“What I’m trying to do is recruit some additional writers, specifically from Sedgwick County. I’ve got a couple guys who are doing some researching but they don’t want to write.

Rupe believes there’s at least one fallen WWII serviceman from every county in Kansas. He is interested in hearing from anyone who has a relative they think may not be counted among the military’s record of fallen servicemen.

“We’ve got a ways to go, but it’s a worthy goal.”

People interested in volunteering for Stories Behind the Stars may contact Rupe at douglasr@storiesbehindthestars. org, or call him at (316) 641-3671.

To read the stories

Fold3.com charges a subscription fee for some of its services, but there is no charge to access the Stories Behind the Stars articles. To look for the story of someone, type the name in the search bar near the top of the page. If the story is available, there are separate pages for facts, stories, a photo gallery and sources. If you want to search for stories of fallen servicemen from Kansas, type SBTS/Kansas into the search bar. If you want to search for those from a particular county, add the name of the county, such as SBTS/ Kansas/Butler.

You can also search for stories on a free mobile app called Find a Grave. Tap the Memorial Search button, type in the person’s name and click on the Fold3 Soldier Page button if one is present in the memorial information that appears.

Roving Pantry program raises money, rolling at least one more year

The Active Age

The Roving Pantry program has exceeded its goal to raise $50,000, allowing it to continue operating next year.

“The outpouring of support from our local community has been overwhelming,” said Laurel Alkire, executive director of Senior Services, Inc. of Wichita, the nonprofit that operates the program.

The Roving Pantry program takes

grocery orders over the phone from older residents who can’t shop for themselves. Clients in the program pay for their groceries either with cash, check or Vision cards.

Alkire warned that the program would shut down unless it raised the money by Dec. 15. But the agency has raised over $60,000, which will allow it to sustain and improve the program. Among the goals are hiring a second delivery driver, adding new clients and

performing much needed maintenance on aging cargo delivery vans.

In a news release, Senior Services acknowledged the Dillons/Kroger Foundation and Sheila Regehr, corporate affairs manager for Dillons, the Wichita Community Foundation and “numerous entrepreneurs, businesses, churches, and private citizens” who donated.

An out-of-state donor who wishes to remain anonymous made a large

gift at Thanksgiving. According to the news release, “This person found the story on the internet and thought how sad it would be if the program closed. The individual was reminded of their own father who could have used the service while he was still living.”

To reach the Roving Pantry service, call (316) 267-4378.

Kenneth Rupe, who recently celebrated his 103rd birthday in Wichita, served with the U.S. Army in Europe during World War II. His son, Doug, is compiling stories of Kansas soldiers who gave their lives during the war.

Doug Rupe

By Nancy Wheeler

Match these famous streets to the city where you would find them. ___ 1. Michigan Avenue a. San Francisco, CA ___ 2. Fifth Avenue b. Las Vegas, NV ___ 3. Pennsylvania Avenue c. Key West, FL ___ 4. Rodeo Drive d. Atlanta, GA ___ 5. Duval Street e. West Hollywood, CA

Ward Parkway f. Chicago, IL

Beale Street h. Lawrence, KS

Beacon Street i. Memphis, TN

Bourbon Street j. Beverly Hills, CA

Sunset Boulevard k. Miami, FL

York City,

Washington, D.C.

Kansas City, MO

Orleans,

RECOVER FROM THE PANDEMIC, TOGETHER.

December quiz answers

Below are the answers to last month’s quiz, which challenged readers to name popular vintage toys. Congratulations to more than 50 readers who submitted correct answers, and the four readers whose names were drawn for pairs of tickets to the Jim Brickman Christmas show at the Orpheum Theatre. 1. Mr. Potato Head 2. Tickle Me Elmo

Thank You Family Caregivers

A phrase often said, but now, its weight is more meaningful than ever. Here in Kansas, we’re so grateful for the family caregivers who are helping us all get through this challenging time. Their compassion is incredible and invaluable, and AARP is here with helpful resources whenever they need a hand.

Join us in thanking our family caregivers in Kansas by visiting aarp.org/caregiving

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for chance to win Botanica family membership

The Active Age wishes to thank Botanica for providing the and grandchildren under 18. They come with two one-day guest passes. Donations may be made by

calling 316-942-5385; through our website, theactiveage.com; by mail to The Active Age, 125 S. West St., Suite 105, Wichita, KS, 67213; or in person at the same address.

“The

are attending to other issues in

busy lives. Thank you for

help and care. Always polite and professional, but mainly caring.” Linda Wallace

“I am 76, after surgery, the physical and medical care of Home Health & Hospice helped and encourageed me to do as much as possible, but stopped me before I did too much. With their encouragement and caring I recovered much quicker than I had thought possible. I would recommend their services to anyone in need of physical and health needs” Doris Klontz