Weird and wonderful
Welcome to Lucas, Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas
By Joe Norris
It was April 24, 1924. In Germany, Hitler had just begun the first month of a 5-year prison term for the treasonous Beer Hall Putsch. In Wichita, people were paying a quarter to see the new Buster Keaton movie. And in Lucas, Kansas, S.P. Dinsmoor was exchanging wedding vows with his second wife, Emilie.
The bride was 20 years old, quite beautiful, and may or may not have been pregnant. The groom was 61 years older than the bride, stood just
over 5 feet tall, and wore scraggly billy goat chin whiskers. He was also half blind. But love, apparently, is totally blind. The newlyweds went on to have two children together.
The 81-year-old Dinsmoor couldn’t afford to spend all his time making babies, though. He was busy building the Garden of Eden in the yard outside his home, formed of limestone to look like a log cabin. Dinsmoor’s Garden wasn’t leafy and green. It was made entirely of concrete. He handformed 113 tons of wet cement into a
collection of 150 sculptures. Some of the concrete scenes are lifted from the Photos by Joe Norris The writer’s wife, Marilynn, stands at the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Below left, some of the garden's political commentary in concrete.
See Lucas, page 8
Man turns loss into gain for housing relief effort
By Sherry Graham Howerton
When tragedy strikes, the people affected are often consumed with the question of “why?”
Retired Newton
Pastor Cleo Koop found himself in such a place in 2019 as he and his family faced the decision to move his wife, Faye, then 64, into a dementia care facility. Faye had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease two years earlier, and Koop had done his best to care for her at home. But her condition had progressed, and the responsibility was taking its toll on him as well.
“I was exhausted, weary, sleep deprived, stressed out,” Koop remembered.
A nurse who the family had met along Faye’s care journey introduced him to another Kansas pastor who had traveled the same difficult road with his wife.
That pastor delivered life-changing words to Koop.
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By Joe Stumpe
The Air Capital turned out to be a perfect fit for Fred Berry, his family and business.
Berry already had a pilot’s license and love of flying when he arrived in Wichita in 1957. He jumped into the city’s bustling aviation scene while building his construction and material handling dealerships into a national enterprise.
“We would never have been doing what we’re doing without airplanes,” he said. “We love face-toface relationships with our people, and we love to get our corporate people home for dinner.”
Berry recounted his connection
See Berry, page 7
“He told me, ‘Cleo, at some point, when you are ready, for your own health and well-being, you need to transition from asking why. You will never know why tragedies like this happen. There are no easy answers to why bad things happen to good people. You need to
transition from asking why to asking, what now?’”
Koop faced a total reset of his life, including retiring from his position as the Disaster Management Program
See Mennonite, page 6
Volunteers with Mennonite Disaster Services responded to flooding in Dodge City in the 1960s.
Cleo Koop
Fred Berry
Kansas PBS doc 'Great Women of Kansas' tells great stories
Don’t know about Kansas’ Army of Amazons? You can soon.
They’re part of a new two-part documentary on Kansas PBS called “Great Women of Kansas.”
Part 1, which originally aired in September, will be broadcast again at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 19. Part 2 premieres at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 20.
Part 1 focused on Susanna Salter, first elected female mayor in the United States; wildlife photographer Osa Johnson; prohibitionist Carry Nation; pilot Amelia Earhart and several others.
Part 2 spotlights five more Kansas women — actress Hattie McDaniel, former Sen. Nancy Kassebaum and prominent Wichitans Olive Ann Beech, Olive W. Garvey and Velma Wallace — plus a group of women who became known as the Army of Amazons.
Producer Chris Frank said women have often been left out of, or reduced to supporting roles in, accounts of the past.
“We know that in history, women were marginalized. Like when I was interviewing Ann Garvey about
her grandmother, she would say, ‘Chris, we’re still being marginalized.’ Let’s be honest, that’s true in some ways.”
Kassenbaum was the first woman elected to the U.S. Senate without her husband previously holding the seat.
Beech started as a secretary and wound up running her husband's company after his death. Similarly, Olive Garvey took a leading role in her husband’s business empire after his death while still supporting numerous organizations.
McDaniel was the first African American to be awarded an Oscar, for her role in “Gone with the Wind.” Wallace, wife of former Cessna chairman Dwayne Wallace, overcame her shyness to become one of the city’s great philanthropists.
The Army of Amazons was so named by The New York Times in the winter of 1921 when thousands of female residents of southeast Kansas marched through bitter cold in support of their husbands, who were striking coal miners. The governor ordered troops to the area and many women were arrested, but the women exacted revenge at the ballot box in the next election.
Frank is leaving the door open to at least one more segment of “Great Women of Kansas.” He noted, for instance, that he would have included female basketball star Lynette Woodard
in Part 2 if she hadn’t been committed to another documentary project.
“We are keeping our options open. There are people I would have loved to have gotten.”
Photo courtesy of Linda O. Knoll @2000
The "Army of Amazons" marches through southeast Kansas in 1921.
Thrifted treasures stitch together a history of Wichita
By Margaret Britton-Mehisch
Jami Frazier Tracy says it was a love of thrifting that steered her into a career in museums. The teenage years she spent combing the racks at the Goodwill at 37th and Oliver nurtured a love for items of yesteryear.
“In thrift stores, you never know what you’re going to find,” Frazier Tracy said. “It’s like a treasure hunt every time you walk in.”
As an intern for the WichitaSedgwick County Historical Museum in the 1980s, she’d return to work with discoveries made during her off-hours thrifting trips and present them to her bosses for consideration for the museum collections.
Now the museum’s curator of collections, Frazier Tracy hopes that same passion will bring new guests to the museum’s latest special exhibit.
Through October, visitors to the museum can have their own moments of discovery in the Thrift Finds exhibit. Curated from nearly 50 years of thrifting by museum staff, the objects in the exhibit made their way from local Goodwill, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Junior League and church thrift shops and into the museum’s permanent collection.
Some items tell the story of a Wichita gone by — one where residents made shopping trips to Lewin’s Fashion Shop or chose from Henry’s, Innes or Thurstons department stores for their back-toschool outfits, work clothes or everyday wear.
Frazier Tracy said pieces like a brown Nehru jacket — a design inspired by traditional Indian garments and popularized by the Beatles — with a Henry’s Quad Shop label fits that bill.
Other items mark a specific moment in fashion history, like a red silk chiffon Halston dress from the late 20th century or a women’s kaftan with a Hawaiian print made out of Pizza Hut logos. Frazier Tracy said she was able to track the kaftan design to a specific international Pizza Hut conference in Hawaii in the late 1970s.
And still others hint at the people who loved, wore and passed these items on. A Shocker Lounge bowling shirt from the 1960s carries the embroidered name “Clifford Jones.” A blue and green enameled plate carries the artist signature of Mary Koch, from the late Koch matriarch’s days as a silversmith and enamel artist.
The arrival of these objects in a thrift shop erases some of the stories the museum might have told about their use.
Frazier Tracy said the lack of provenance allows visitors to fill in the blank of some intriguing questions like “who wore this, what kind of person were they and where
Tracy
did they where” each item.
“Clearly [someone] loved it because they kept it in their closet, in some cases for 50 years,” Frazier Tracy said. “I feel like we’re giving those things a terrific new home and sharing them with an audience that will really appreciate them the way they did.”
If you go: The Thrift Finds exhibit
is located on the second floor of the museum. Admission to the museum is $5 for adults and $2 for children Tuesday through Saturday. The building is free to access on Sundays. Margaret Britton-Mehisch is an intern with the Wichita Journalism Collaborative. She can be reached at megbm@kmuw.org
Photo by Margaret Britton-Mehisch
Jami Frazier
says thrift shop items tell a story of their own.
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Honor Roll of Donors
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What’s in a name? Check your family tree
By Ted Blankenship
Now and then I watch reruns of “Everybody Loves Raymond.” A recent show was mostly about whether a mother-in-law should be called “mom.”
The show’s two mothers-in-law got into a big battle over it.
That reminded me of some of the interesting things families do with names.
Take my mother-in-law, who was born in 1898 in San Francisco. That was the year the United States fought to free Cuba and the Philippine Islands from Spanish rule.
The hero of the war was George Dewey, best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay. Dewey was
the first person in American history to be named an admiral in the U.S. Navy. Male babies were often named in his honor.
Not wanting to name a girl Dewey, my mother-in-law’s parents named her Manila, with a middle name of Philippines.
Her husband — my father-inlaw, Earl — didn’t call her Manila. He settled for Nell. I didn’t like calling her Nell or Manila. I simply didn’t call her anything, and she didn’t seem to mind. We were the best of friends all the
years I knew her, and she didn’t call me anything either.
(Over the years, my mother-in-law, checking newspapers and magazines, found 26 other women named Manila, all about her age, but none with the middle name of Philippines. She corresponded with some of them.)
On my mother’s side of the family, my grandfather was a jokester who taught me as a child to call my grandmother “Mocker.” I did, and it was adopted by other members of the family. No one knew why she was Mocker or what it meant. My grandfather, after starting it all, called her “Jose,” her given name being Josephine.
My parents named me Elmer Theodore, Elmer after an uncle and Theodore for Teddy Roosevelt, whom my dad admired. No one called me
Elmer because it caused confusion when my Uncle Elmer was around, so I became Teddy as a child and later, Ted.
When our son was born, we wanted to call him Ted without burdening him with becoming a “Junior” so we added a second “d” and he became Tedd. Big mistake.
Some people assumed “Tedd” was a typo and simply corrected it for us by removing one of the d’s. Others called him Junior to distinguish between the two of us. When we’re together, we both answer when someone calls out “Ted.”
In the “Everybody Loves Raymond” show, the debate over what to call a mother-in-law was so contentious that they just went back to not calling them anything, which may be the best plan of all.
Contact Ted at Tblanenship218@ gmail.com.
Mennonite
From Page 1
Director at Hesston College in Kansas and downsizing from the home he and Faye had shared. A longtime volunteer with Mennonite Disaster Service, he assumed the role of Kansas Unit Chair to coordinate the work of local volunteers. Koop used that role to create The Cabinet Shop, a program in Goessel, Kan., that builds kitchen cabinets for the organization’s many projects across the country.
“As I took on the responsibility of Kansas MDS Unit Chair, I wondered what we could do to energize and mobilize more volunteers for the work and ministry of MDS,” he said. “One of their brainstorming responses was, how about building kitchen cabinets?”
75 years of service
MDS, now headquartered in Pennsylvania, celebrated its 75th anniversary in February with a gathering in Wichita that brought more than 500 attendees from around the country. The organization was founded in Hesston in 1950 when a Mennonite Sunday School decided to expand its philanthropic service projects, one of which had included responding to massive floods that hit the Wichita area that year.
“Today, our vision is to strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those affected by disasters as we rebuild homes and restore hope by organizing and empowering volunteers in the U.S. and Canada,” said Kevin King, MDS executive director.
Since 2005 — following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina battering New Orleans — more than 90,000 MDS volunteers have given
more than 600,000 days of service to the restoration and building of homes struck by disasters ranging from tornados and floods to hurricanes to fires.
Larry Loganbill of Moundridge is the MDS Chair for Kansas. Last year, the unit recognized 188 volunteers who served on projects across the country. Many are older adults ready to lend their time and talents to a good cause, including teaching the younger generations of volunteers the ropes of rebuilding homes, Loganbill said.
“I think most of it is driven by their faith,” Loganbill said.
“Mennonites have always been very interested in service to others, and we find many others willing to serve alongside us.”
Loganbill participated in his first MDS project at age 61 while he was still working as a plumber, but the transforming experience led him to pursue early retirement and focus on a more permanent commitment to the organization.
“Serving others in need changed my idea of how life is and what I need to do,” he said. “There’s more to life than working for money. There are other people that need help.”
Loganbill has since participated in more than 25 MDS missions. Most recently, he led a volunteer crew on a project in Puerto Rico, which is still suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Maria that nearly wiped out the island in 2017.
“We work very hard to get to know the natives, the people that are around us,” Loganbill said. “We’re encouraged to drop whatever we’re doing and just talk to the people. We ask, ‘Where were you (when disaster struck)? What
New Downtown Wichita plan in works
The Downtown Wichita organization is launching a new action plan for the city’s core area. The project will begin with an open house from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, March 4 at Wave, 650 E. 2nd St.
“Walkable City” author Jeff Speck is the featured speaker. Attendees can share their thoughts about downtown
Wichita. To save a spot at the open house, visit downtownwichita.org.
According to a news release, the action plan will provide a 10-year roadmap for downtown Wichita.
For more information about the action plan and to stay updated on upcoming meetings, visit downtownwichita.org.
Data Grab: Accidents in Kansas
Driver inattention and animals were the two most common causes of serious traffic accidents in Kansas, according to a look at 2023 data from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
General inattention by drivers was a contributing circumstance in 18 percent or 12,277 of the accidents that year that resulted in injury, death or property damage greater than $1,000.
were you doing? Did you have to jump in the bathtub?’ It is always one story after another, and we want to connect with them and just listen.”
Frozen fish and cornflakes
Loganbill is often inspired by the generosity afforded his team from people who have so little to start with.
He recalls a woman in Puerto Rico who, when she learned MDS was there to repair her damaged home, ran into the house and returned with food to share.
“She brought out a frozen fish and a box of cornflakes,” said Loganbill. “Like the woman in the Bible that only had two pennies for the offering, this lady was willing to give us all she had. She was so grateful.”
Such experiences have been profoundly impactful on Loganbill.
“It makes you watch out for your neighbor. Don’t leave them out in the cold, so-to-speak,” said Loganbill. “The status quo in life is always to have to go out and get something better than your neighbor. . .but isn’t it better to help them? Help them have a meal in their house, a place for another day.”
Life-giving ministry
Loganbill also volunteers building kitchen cabinets at The Cabinet Shop in Goessel.
Koop had initially felt that establishing a cabinet shop would be nearly impossible, but as he explored
the possibility he was introduced to Rod Abraham, the owner of a cabinet shop in Goessel, as a resource.
“About halfway through the visit, I turned to Rod and asked, ‘So you’re thinking about selling your shop?’” said Koop. “Well, to make a longer story short, MDS purchased the cabinet shop on Feb. 10, 2022.”
Working with about 30 volunteers, including students from the local high school, The Cabinet Shop supplied about 70 sets of kitchen cabinets built, stained and ready to install for MDS projects during its first year. In its second year, it cranked out 85. Now, six months into the third year of operation, 60 sets of cabinets have already been shipped.
In September 2024, Faye, Koop’s wife of 49 years, passed away after an eight-year battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Koop credits The Cabinet Shop with helping him survive the loss.
“It has given me renewed energy, excitement for life, direction and purpose,” he said. “The new friendships that have emerged through this work have been life-giving.”
Contact Sherry Graham Howerton at sgaylegraham@hotmail.com.
Animals were a contributing factor in 13 percent of accidents. Other high-ranking causes were right-of-way violations (11 percent); following too closely (8 percent); driving too fast for conditions (5 percent); improper lane changes (4 percent); disregarding signs or signals (3 percent); and driving under the influence (3 percent).
Berry
From Page 1
with aviation while accepting the 2024 Wichita Aero Club Trophy last month.
He grew up in Wood River, Il., just north of St. Louis, where his father farmed and sold farm machinery. An uncle, Art Berry, was the first pilot in the family, and Berry relished hanging around him and his pilot buddies.
“I got to sit in on those hangar talks, as those guys call them, and I got hooked.”
His parents gave him flying lessons as a high school graduation present, and Berry started as soon as World War II rationing rules were lifted. His first teacher owned a plane that was tied up to a float on the Mississippi River near Wood River’s oil refineries.
“There are some special conditions to flying off the water, but I didn’t know any better,” Berry said. “I was tickled to death with it.”
He finished his license the next year and made his first, albeit brief, trip to Wichita. An airplane dealer in Wood River sent Berry and two other pilots here to pick up new 140 trainers, which was Cessna’s entry into the air trainer business.
“I flew the trainer back to the dealer in Wood River with a threeday-old pilot’s license. I’m sure he had no insurance on me. He couldn’t have.”
The next year, Uncle Art bought the family’s first airplane, a war surplus PT26. Fred’s younger brother, Paul, earned his pilot’s license, and Art bought what Berry calls the family’s first “real airplane” — a Cessna 170.
“Now we were really in the corporate air business.”
Berry graduated from the University of Illinois and Harvard
Business School and served as an Air Force maintenance officer during the Korean War. Returning home, he realized that the younger sister of a fraternity brother from St. Louis had morphed into a Washington University co-ed and queen of its engineering society.
He asked her on a date to a Harry Belafonte concert. When she pointed out the concert was in Chicago, Berry said he’d fly them there, land at Chicago’s lakefront airport and “have you home by midnight.”
Fred and Suzanne Berry will have been married 70 years on April 2. They have four children, 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
The plan had always been for Fred and Paul to join the family business, which distributed farm equipment in the St. Louis area and much of Illinois. But a merger of equipment manufacturing companies led to independent distributors like the Berrys being bought out.
“That left younger brother Paul and me, both recently married, each with our first baby, unemployed.”
Their father was willing to back them in their own equipment business. They found one based in Wichita whose owner had died. They named it the Berry Tractor and Equipment Company and used an airplane to visit its branches in Garden City and Russell. “The highway system was certainly not what it was today. It was before the interstate.”
Paul left the business but Fred’s son, Walter (now executive chairman), and grandson, Jon (president of operations), have kept it going and growing. Locally, the business sells heavy equipment on West Street, bobcats on the north side and forklifts on the south side.
Outside Kansas, general aviation
proved similarly helpful to the Berry Cos. Of 65 locations in 11 states, Fred said, “every one of them has an airport, but not all of them have airline service, and some of those that do, it’s very limited.”
Suzanne Berry got her pilot’s license in 1961, and Walter’s high school graduation present was the same as his father’s. The family often flew on family vacations. Indeed, Fred and Sue have piloted planes in all 50 states, renting a plane in Hawaii for that purpose. They also flew to Europe with friends, passing over Canada, Greenland and Iceland along the way.
Another son, Franklin, is also a pilot who built several small aircraft himself before going on to a career with Cessna. Today, he’s one of the chief volunteers behind the B29 Doc restored WWII bomber.
The Berrys have owned 22 planes over the years, many used. Fred Berry remembers going to see their first new one work its way down the production line at Cessna in the late 1970s.
Their planes were used for the community, too. Berry recalled flying fellow trustees of Wesley Medical Center to Estes Park for a conference, Junior Achievement participants to New Orleans for an event and a singing group from the Institute of Logopedics — now Heartspring — to
Indianapolis for a performance.
“That was probably the most rewarding and most satisfying of all my community service,” he said.
Berry has chaired the boards of United Way of the Plains, Wichita Regional Chamber of Commerce and other organizations, while the Aero Club recognized him for numerous contributions to Wichita’s aviation community. As one speaker at the Aero Club gala said, Berry “has been a mainstay in anything related to the community of Wichita and beyond. If it has something ‘wow, gee whiz’ going on in the community, it’s got the Berry Foundation and Fred Berry’s name somewhere involved.”
Fred Berry stopped piloting in his late 70s, persuaded by his flight instructor and a soaring insurance premium. He’d logged over 7,000 flying hours in 62 years — “as good as it gets,” he said.
“I still love to fly at age 96,” he added, “but I just can’t touch anything.”
Lucas
From Page 1
Old Testament — like the sculptures of Adam, Eve and the serpent at the Garden entrance. Other sculptures are more like three-dimensional political cartoons — including the one that depicts a crucifixion of Labor by a Doctor, a Lawyer, a Preacher and a Banker.
Dinsmoor built the entire project as a tourist attraction, and included himself as one of the exhibits. He constructed a limestone mausoleum in the corner of his yard with a concrete coffin inside and installed a glass window in the coffin lid. After he died in 1932, Dinsmoor’s remains were placed inside the coffin according to the precise instructions he’d left behind. Tourists could pay admission to shine a flashlight through the glass and see Dinsmoor’s face. An air leak in the coffin — and perhaps an infusion of good sense — put an end to that morbid practice. But tourists still flock into Lucas to see The Garden of Eden. Not all Lucas residents were fans of Dinsmoor’s creations. But Florence Deeble, who lived nearby, was inspired to try her own hand at sculpting with cement and rocks. In her backyard, she recreated scenes from her summer travels, including Mount Rushmore, Capitol Reef National Park and Shiprock, N.M. A three-year restoration of the Deeble Garden was just completed in December, and it would have made Florence proud. Florence died in 1999, and soon afterward an entirely different kind of garden began growing inside her house. Artist Mri-Pilar covered the walls of the Deeble house with foil, then transformed them with hundreds of sculptures made from recycled materials. In the living room, hands
First in a series about day trips around Kansas
reach out from printed circuit boards and human faces emerge from old kitchen tools. In the bathroom, the sink and tub are both overflowing with unclothed plastic dolls. The art installation is called The Garden of Isis, and it is a stunning example of how junk can be turned into something that you’ll still be thinking about weeks later.
The Deeble Garden is open to the public, but to see the Garden of Isis, you’ll need a tour guide. You can find one at the Grassroots Art Center. You’ll want to check out the Center even if you don’t choose to visit the Garden of Isis. The Center defines grassroots art as “work done by self-taught artists operating outside the traditions of fine art and folk art. These intuitive artists follow a personal vision. They seem to work to please only themselves.”
You’ll see stone sculptures, paintings, glasswork and assemblages of objects that defy description. You’ll see things you love, but also things that make you scratch your head. As art critic Jerry Saltz once said, “Art is for anyone. It just isn’t for everyone.”
“That quote is a perfect description of Lucas,” says Erika Nelson, who owns the Roadside Sideshow Expo across the street from the Grassroots Art Center. “Not everyone here loves everything. But even the people who don’t like the art in Lucas often protest in a visual and amazing and snarky way. One man painted signs of protest and attached them to his fence. He wasn’t on Facebook, so he called it Fencebook. I used to take art students over to see it.”
Signs outside the Expo describe it as “The World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of The World’s Largest Things.” Nelson, who created everything in the place, doesn’t take herself too seriously. In the front window of her Expo, she’s mounted a huge enlargement of a nasty one-star Google review, which reads, “VERY SMALL. Mostly has pictures of things. AT LEAST IT WAS FREE.”
Nelson still laughs at the reviewer’s word choices. “That couldn’t have been a better review. Because, yeah, that’s
exactly what the Expo is!”
As the sign suggests, the Expo is populated by tiny versions of the world’s largest things, including the World’s Largest Ball of Twine, World’s Largest Cow Hairball and World’s Largest Belt Buckle (all claimed by Kansas). But not all the exhibits are miniatures. The World’s Largest Pickled Egg is here, too. So is the World’s Largest Ball of Gum, a project that was “halted in 2019 for obvious reasons.”
Nelson’s quirky sense of humor is on display throughout the Expo with exhibits like the Petrified Ham and a withered Commemorative Donut, “procured from Randy’s Donuts on Sept. 14, 2012.” Both exhibits are safely behind glass to discourage snacking.
After grad school, Nelson wanted to join the circus, but she lacked the skills for tightrope walking or fire eating. So she created her own carnival sideshow-style curiosities, painted her own gaudy sideshow posters and spent two years touring the country in a converted bus. “I was looking for some little area that had art integrated at its core,” she said.
The bus broke down in Lucas, forcing Nelson to spend a couple of months volunteering in town while waiting for the bus repairs. She ended up finding an affordable house right next to the Garden of Eden. And in 2017, she acquired the building where the Expo now lives. So the traveling show became a permanent show on
Main Street in Lucas. In addition to operating the Expo, Nelson is an artist, an educator, a speaker and co-director of the Garden of Eden.
“Dinsmoor came to Lucas just a year after it was founded, and got the art movement off the ground,” Nelson says. “He was the bedrock of developing your own vision, and that gave everyone else a permission slip to show their own ideas in visual form.”
There are many other fun places to visit in Lucas, including Miller’s Park, the Switchgrass Art Gallery, the American Fork Art Park and Bowl Plaza, the public restroom that looks like a giant toilet. Because it’s just two hours northwest of Wichita, Lucas is a great day trip destination. The drive up includes the Post Rock Scenic Byway and Wilson State Park, a great place to stop.
The perfect time to visit Lucas is coming on April 1. That day is celebrated in Lucas as Fools-a-Palooza. Artists all over town have an open house, exhibiting new works. And traditionally, new businesses open on that day. Nelson is busy revamping the exhibits inside the Expo right now, as she does every winter. She chose the name “Expo” because “Museum” sounds like everything is from the past. But an Expo is a place where things change. And things are constantly changing in Lucas.
Joe Norris is a writer and former Wichita marketing executive. He can be reached at joe.norris47@gmail.com
Above left, the mausoleum S.P. Dinsmoor built for himself. Above right, Dinsmoor, his wife, Emilie, and child, Emily Jane.
A shop sign in Lucas, Kan., tells it like it is.
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Wichita named one of the most affordable places to retire
By Lindsay Smith/The Wichita Eagle
Planning on moving outside of Wichita when you retire? You may want to reconsider.
That’s because one ranking by GoBankingRates named Wichita as the seventh most affordable U.S. city to retire out of the 100 biggest U.S. cities with more than a 10% senior population. The personal finance website came up with the ranking
by looking at the retirement income needed to cover living costs in that city.
“Due to inexpensive homes and relatively low grocery and transportation costs, Wichita makes the cut for one of the best cities to retire rich,” the GoBankingRates ranking said.
With reported housing costs sitting 44.9% lower than the national average, as well as a livability score of
60, Wichita ranks just below WinstonSalem, N.C., and just above El Paso, Texas.
Toledo, Ohio, won the top spot, with a reported $37,646 of total annual expenditures as well as a livability score of 62.
In comparison, GoBankingRates reports the annual total expenditures in Wichita to be $42,547.
This isn’t the first time Wichita
has made the cut for an affordability ranking. The city also made the cut for WalletHub’s most affordable places to live in July 2024, which looked at the city’s median home income, median home price and monthly rent.
This article was made available through the Wichita Journalism Collaborative.
Come see why we were voted Best of Wichita
Independent Living
Skilled Nursing Facility
Assisted Living
Memory Care
Lunch & Learn
Tuesday, March 11, 11:30 a.m
Larksfield Place Independent Living 7373 E 29th St N, Wichita, KS 67226
Visit our campus for an informative session about life at Larksfield Place and our Larksfield Landing expansion. Enjoy lunch, meet the team, and learn about Charter Member benefits and pre-construction price breaks for future residents.
Smooth Move Workshop
Thursday, March 13, 3:00 p.m.
Clark Life Enrichment Center at Larksfield Place
Join Kirsten Awe from RightSize Moving Solutions, Sonja Seidl of Berkshire Hathaway PenFed Realty, and Liz
Beugelsdyk from L & L Family Estate Sales as they discuss the ins and outs of downsizing and selling a home. From what you can expect to how you can stay organized, they’ll unpack all there is to know about moving.
To RSVP, scan the QR code or call 316-202-4074. Stay informed about upcoming events and expansion updates.
Upcoming Events
Big Read kicks off Wichita’s 2025 Big Read gets underway at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 14 at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. Second. Attendees will receive a free copy of this year’s book, “Sitting Pretty: The View From My Ordinary Resilient, Disabled Body,” by Kansas City writer Rebelah Taussig, who lost the use of her legs due to childhood cancer. Other events in conjunction with the Big Read include a mini-memoir workshop, related films, discussions and more. For more information, visit wichitalibrary.org.
Boiler baked potatoes
The McCormick School Museum will host a St. Patrick’s Day potato bake from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Saturday, March 15. The dinner includes potatoes baked in the boiler that has heated the building since 1950, toppings, a salad and homemade cobbler plus Irish folk songs performed by Paul Oberg. The suggested donation is $10, $5 for kids under 12. The museum is located at 855 S. Martinson.
Get mow-tivated
If you’ve got a grandchild looking to make some money this summer,
the Young Lawn Mowing Clinic teaches kids lawn care, safety and business skills. The clinic will be held Wednesday, March 19, at the Sedgwick County Extension Center, 21st and Ridge. Registration is $10 through March 10 and $15 after that date. Register online at www.sedgwick. ksu.edu/events. Participants receive a training certificate, safety equipment and business cards.
VA garden seeks volunteers
The Memorial Peace Garden at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center, 5500 E. Kellogg. is once again welcoming veterans and volunteers, experienced and inexperienced, to help with tending the garden located on the east side of the campus.
Education and coaching are provided by Sedgwick County Extension Master Gardeners of Kansas State University Research and Extension. All tools are provided. Garden sessions for volunteers are on Friday mornings starting at 9:30 a.m. March 7. Other opportunities for helping besides Friday are available. For more information contact Laura Nutter, coordinator, at 316-737-2380 or email at LDN3188@gmail.com.
Sharks invade Exploration Place
The Australian Museum's acclaimed “Sharks” exhibit brings an immersive ocean experience to Wichita during its exclusive regional appearance through May 4. It includes 10 life-sized shark
models, from the legendary Great White and peculiar Hammerhead to the extinct Helicoprion — a creature whose spiral-toothed jaw earned it the nickname “Buzzsaw Shark.” In its “oceanarium,” massive sharks glide by through digital projections.
The exhibition is included with admission to Exploration Place. More information is available at exploration. org/events.
Quilts to raffle
Christ the King Parish, 4501 W. Maple, will hold its 29th annual Quilt Party on Sunday, March 2. The event features 22 handmade quilts, food and more. Door prizes and much more. Doors open and food (bierocks, hot dogs, chili frito pie, desserts and snacks) served at 11:30 a.m.; auction and games begin at 1 p.m. Pictured
with one of quilts are (left to right) Helen Orth, Betty Peters, Abby Mayer, Nichole Rockers and Kat Mayer.
Bluestem 5K race
McPHERSON — Registration is open for the annual Bluestem PACE Race 5K run/walk on Saturday, April 5, in McPherson. Registration is $35 and includes a race shirt. Complete registration online at bluestempace. org/events.
Bluestem PACE is a nonprofit that serves seniors in a six-county south central Kansas region.
Handmade goods offered
The Women Empowered Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 8, at a new location: Wichita Recovery Hub, a nonprofit preparing to open at 120 S. Ida.
The market offers handmade goods from local artisans and fairtrade products from around the world. Shoppers can connect with mission-driven small businesses, social enterprises, and nonprofits supporting women locally and globally. Learn more and preview participating vendors by following the event on Facebook.
Diamond necklace winner drawn
Gale Engels of Wichita was the winner of our Feb. 10 drawing for a diamond necklace donated by Mike Seltzer of Mike Seltzer Jewelers.
Engels and his wife, Laura, went to pick up the 14-carat diamond and aquamarine necklace after returning from a trip to Colorado.
“It’s my birthstone,” Laura said of the aquamarine gemstone.
The Active Age congratulates the Engels and thanks the many readers who donated at least $25 for a chance in the drawing. The drawing helped us reach our fundraising goal for 2024. Thanks also to Mike Seltzer for making the drawing possible.
By
Diana Morton Forum Theatre, at the Wilke Center, 1st United Methodist Church, 330 N. Broadway. Bridges of Madison County Musical based on the best-selling novel. Now - Mar 2. 8pm; Tickets $34 – $44 each; 10% military discount and 1/2 price student tickets with a valid student ID. 316-618-0444
Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley. Desperate Housewives of Sedgwick County by Carol Hughes, followed by a new musical comedy revue. Now – Mar 22. Tickets, dinner, and show $36-40; show only $26-30. 316-263-0222
Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas, cabaret-style theatre. Once. Tony Award-winning production about
an Irish musician and a Czech immigrant who connect through music. Doors open at 6:30pm; Show begins at 8:00 pm. Now – Mar 8. Tickets $40. 316-265-4400
Next: Company, a witty modern musical that explores the highs and lows of relationships in the big city. March 26 – April 12.
Wichita Community Theatre, 258 N. Fountain. Book of Days by Lanford Wilson and directed by Steve Miotto. When the owner of a small-town cheese plant dies mysteriously in a hunting accident, his bookkeeper, cast as Joan of Arc in a local production, launches a one-woman campaign to see justice done.
March 13 - 23 at 8 pm with Sat and Sun matinees, 2 pm. Tickets $18 for adults, $16 for military/senior/ students. 316-686-1282
Contact Diana Morton at dianamorton12@sbcglobal.net
Mike Seltzer, left, and Laura and Gale Engels admire Gale’s new necklace.
How to choose and use a home blood pressure monitor
Dear Savvy Senior,
Can you offer me any tips on choosing and using a home blood pressure monitor? I just found out I have high blood pressure and my doctor recommended I get a home monitor so I can keep tabs on it.
-Just Turned 63 Dear 63, Everyone with high blood pressure (130/80 or higher) should have a home blood pressure monitor. Home monitoring can help you keep tabs on your blood pressure in a comfortable setting. Plus, if you’re taking medication it will make certain it’s working and alert you to a health problem if it arises.
Best Monitors
The most accurate and easiest to use home blood pressure monitors today are electric/battery powered automatic arm monitors, which are more reliable than wrist or fingertip monitors. With an automatic arm monitor, you simply wrap the cuff around your bicep, and with the push of one button the cuff inflates and deflates automatically giving you your blood pressure reading on the display window in a matter of seconds.
Many automatic monitors also come with additional features such as irregular heartbeat detection that checks for arrhythmias and other abnormalities; a risk category indicator that tells you whether your blood pressure is in the high range; a dataaveraging function that allows you to take multiple readings and get an overall average; multiple user memory that allows two or more users to save their readings; and downloadable memory that lets you transmit your data to your smartphone or computer.
The top five automatic arm monitors as recommended by Consumer Reports for 2025 are the Omron Platinum BP5450 ($90), Omron 10 Series BP7450 ($70), Omron Evolv BP7000 ($70), A&D
Medical UA767F ($55) and Omron 3 Series BP7100 ($55). And the top wrist monitors are the Omron 7 Series BP6350 ($55) and the Equate (Walmart) 4500 Series ($40).
You can purchase these blood pressure monitors at pharmacies, medical supply stores or online, and you don’t need a prescription to buy one. Prices, however, will vary slightly depending on where you buy.
How to Measure
After you buy your monitor, it’s a good idea to take it to your doctor’s office so they can check its accuracy and make sure you’re using it properly. Here are some additional steps to follow to ensure you get accurate measurements at home.
Be still: Don’t exercise, smoke or drink caffeinated drinks or alcohol for at least 30 minutes before measuring.
Empty your bladder and ensure at least 5 minutes of quiet rest before measurements. Sit correctly: Sit with your back straight and supported (on a dining chair, rather than a sofa). Your feet should be flat on the floor and your legs should not be crossed. Your arm should be supported on a flat surface (such as a table) with the upper arm at heart level. Make sure the middle of the cuff is placed directly above the bend of the elbow. Check your monitor’s instructions for an illustration.
Don’t measure over clothes: Put the cuff directly on your bare skin. Putting it over clothes can raise your systolic (upper) number by up to 40 mmHg.
Measure at the same time: It’s important to take the readings at the
Take multiple readings: Each time you measure, take at least two readings one minute apart and record the results.
For more information on high blood pressure numbers and how to accurately measure it at home, visit Heart.org/HBP.
Get More Savvy
For more Savvy Senior tips, visit theactiveage.com. Topics for March include:
• Driving with Dementia and Knowing When to Stop
• How Much Do You Have to Make to File Taxes in 2025?
• Service Dogs Can Help Seniors with Disabilities same time each day, such as in the morning before taking medications or evening before dinner.
Performers come together for tributes, young musicians
By Joe Stumpe
Some veteran Wichita performers are trying to make sure the music plays on for a younger generation. And they’re having a blast doing it.
Since February 2024, they’ve come together for three sold-out shows — two tributes to The Beatles and one to the Rolling Stones.
The first one was just for fun.
Joe Sauer, a mainstay of bands here since his high school days in the 1960s, organized the first “Beatles Bacchanal” show at the Shamrock Lounge on the 60th anniversary of that band’s famous Ed Sullivan TV show debut.
“That’s a pretty important date to guys like me,” Sauer said. “It pretty much changed my life.”
In November, they did the same to mark the Rolling Stones’ first appearance on Sullivan’s show, filling the Odd Fellow Hall, a larger venue. By then, they’d decided to donate any profits to Music Youth Partnership, a nonprofit that provides musical instruments and mentoring to students in six Wichita public schools.
Last month, they pulled off their “2nd Beatles Bacchanal,” also at the Odd Fellow Hall. Tickets sold out in four days. Fifteen bands played a total of 50 Beatles songs.
Participants came from near and far. From the Moanin’ Glories, a local
band that went on to tour overseas, Andy Gore flew in from Las Vegas and Karl Berkebile came from Dallas. From the Clocks, whose video appeared on MTV, Jerry Sumner came from Kansas City. Retired physician Tim Malone and Brad Bartlett, two of Sauer’s old bandmates in the Cambridge Experiment (“We all had to sound British back then,” Sauer noted), showed up from Washington, D.C., and Dallas, respectively.
Members of Ten Day Wish, Mumblin’ Jones and other groups that entertained club goers here from the 1970s through the early 2000s performed. Jim and Karen Hill, Dave Baker, Bob Gilbert, Daron Kale, Brent Stuber, Joseph V. Sauer, Ralph Teran and numerous other performers familiar to local music fans appeared. Sauer also lined up acts that are still regulars on the local circuit, including Monterey Jack, Uche and the Crash, Dangie and Daydream.
Music Youth Partnership was started 2½ years ago by Cathy Grant, a longtime flute teacher. Grant noted that Wichita USD 259 provides firstyear music students with instruments, but after that the students must obtain their own. The youth partnership collects donated musical instruments, has them repaired at partnering Damm Music if necessary, and provides them
to students at six schools — West High, South High and four lowerincome middle schools that feed into them. The partnership also hires music educators to provide group and oneon-one mentoring in the schools.
Sauer says another show to benefit the partnership is already in the works. This one will probably be held in a still-bigger venue, something like Wave in Old Town, probably in late summer, and has the working title Rhythm, Country and Blues.
Grant has no doubt Sauer and his musical buddies will make it happen.
“Joe can bring people together,” Grant said. “That’s what he does, and he does it well. It was just very organic.”
More information about Music Youth Partnership can be found at musicyouth.org and on its Facebook page. The organization’s next event is Jazz for a Cause, to be held Sunday,
April 13 at Prairie Hill Vineyard.
Photo by Alli Rian Sauer
Photo by Patz
Above left, Bob Gilbert (left) and other members of Apple Road perform during the “Beatles Bacchanal.” Above right, (from left) Jim Hill, Mike Casey, Brad Bartlett, Karen Hill and Joe Sauer made up the Bacchanal Band.
seDgwick county senior centers
BEL AIRE
7651 E Central Park Ave 744-2700, ext 304 www.belaireks.org
BENTLEY/EAGLE 504 W Sterling, 796-0027
CHENEY 516 Main, 542-3721
CLEARWATER 921 E Janet, 584-2332
DERBY 611 N Mulberry Rd, 788-0223 www.derbyks.com
DOWNTOWN 200 S Walnut, 267-0197 www.seniorservicesofwichita.org
EDGEMOOR 5815 E 9th, 688-9392
ANDOVER
GARDEN PLAIN 1006 N Main, 535-1155
GODDARD 122 N Main, 785-398-1255
HAYSVILLE 160 E Karla, 529-5903
KECHI Kechi City Building, 744-0217, 744-1271
LA FAMILIA 841 W 21st, 267-1700
LINWOOD 1901 S Kansas, 263-3703
MCADAMS GOLDEN AGE 1329 E 16th, 337-9222
MT HOPE 105 S Ohio, 667-8956
MULVANE 632 E Mulvane, 777-4813
NORTHEAST 212 1 E 21st, 269-4444
OAKLAWN 2937 Oaklawn Dr, 524-7545
ORCHARD PARK 4808 W 9th, 942-2293
PARK CITY 6100 N Hydraulic, 744-1199
VALLY CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER 314 E Clay, 755-7350
Butler county senior centers
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
March 5
10:30 am Wichita Art Museum 1400 W. Museum Blvd., $2 admission. Sketching in the Galleries 1:30 pm Museum of World Treasures 835 E. 1st St. Info not available.
March 12
10 am Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. (316) 266-8213, $4 Koalified for the Job.
1:30 pm Advanced Learning Library, 711 W, 2nd, (316) 261-8500, Free. This Abundant Land with Kenzie Borland
Derby Sr Center, 611 Mulberry. 3rd Tuesday 7pm-9:30 pm. El Dorado Jam & Dance, Senior Center, 210 E. 2nd.
DOUGLASS 124 W 4th, 746-3227
EL DORADO 210 E 2nd, 321-0142 LEON 112 S Main, 745-9200 or 742-9905
ROSE HILL 207 E Silknitter, 776-0170
March 19
10 am Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 The Ulrich Co-Lab: Homegrown Local Artist Panel.
1:30 pm Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 E 29th St N. Info not available.
March 26
10 am Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main. Kansas Music History.
1:30 pm Mid American All-Indian museum. 650 N Seneca (316) 3503340, $2 + tax admission; free for MAAIM members. Info not available.
Dances
Prairie Wind Dancers: Plymouth Congregational Church, 202 N Clifton. Joyce, 683-1122.
Linwood Golden Age, 1901 S Kansas. Every Saturday 7pm-9:30pm. Call Jim 316-945-9451
Minisa Golden Age, 704 W 13th. Info 617-2560. Every Thursday 7pm9:30pm. Call Rita 316-364-1702 Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S. Clifton. Contra Dance1st Saturday of each month. 7pm-9pm. Call Amanda at 316-361-6863. Orchard Park Golden Age, 4808 W 9th. Every Friday 7pm-9:30pm. Call Casey 316-706-7464
Village Steppers Square Dance, Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S Clifton. 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month September through May 7:30 - 10:00 pm. Info: Mike Huddleson 316-650-2469 Westside Steppers Square Dance, 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, 6-8:30 p.m., West Heights United Methodist (entrance "D"), 745 N. Westlink Ave. Info: Sheldon Lawrence (316) 648-7590.
NOTE: AGING PROJECTS, INC. PLANNED TO MAKE FRIENDSHIP MEALS AVAILABLE THROUGH PICKUP 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 316-686-0074
WEEK OF MARCH 3
Mon: Tuna salad sandwich.
Tue: Chicken and rice soup, mixed vegetables, ambrosia salad, sweet muffin.
Wed: Beef and noodle cass, creamed peas, apricots, wheat bread w/ butter.
Thu: BBQ pork sandwich, potato wedges, broccoli, pineapples.
Fri: Mexican lasagna, mexican rice, corn O'brien, mandarin oranges.
WEEK OF MARCH 10
Mon: Tomato soup, pimento cheese sandwich, mixed fruit.
Tue: Bierock casserole, harvest beets, blushing pears.
TOWANDA
317 Main, 316-536-8999
Open 10:30 am-5 pm Mon, Wed, Fri
WHITEWATER Legion Hall, 108 E Topeka
Harvey county
BURRTON 124 N Burrton, 620-463-3225
HALSTEAD 523 Poplar, 835-2283
HESSTON Randall & Main, 620-327-5099 www.hesstonseniorcenter.com
NEWTON AREA SENIOR CENTER 122 E 6th, Newton, 283-2222 www.newtonseniorcenter.com
SEDGWICK 107 W. Fifth, 772-0393
transportation
Sedgwick County
Sedgwick Co Transportation, 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.
Wed: Spaghetti w/ meat sauce, green salad, bananas in orange juice, garlic bread.
Thu: Creamed chicken over biscuit, vegetable medley, peaches.
Fri: Beef tips over rice, mixed vegetables, glazed cherries.
WEEK OF MARCH 17
Mon: Potao Ham Omelet, broc, caul, raisin salad, orange, peanut butter muffin.
Tue: Hot turkey sandwich, broccoli w/ cheese, pineapples.
Wed: Sloppy Joe, potato salad, green beans, peaches.
Thu: Beef stroganoff, carrots, banana, dinner roll/butter, chocolate cake..
Fri: Vegetable soup, ham and cheese sub sand w/ lettuce, tomato, mayo, Ambrosia fruit salad.
WEEK OF MARCH 24
Mon:Pork and Noodle cass, green beans, pears, wheat bread/butter.
Tue: Taco salad, lettuce, tomato, cheese, chips, refried beans, peach crisp.
Wed: Chicken & noodles, mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, orange.
Thu: Cranberry meatballs, rice, broc cauliflower salad, mixed fruit , dinner roll/butter..
Fri: Poor boy stew, harvest beets, apricots, corn muffin/butter.
WEEK OF MARCH 31
Mon:Liver & onions OR Beef cutlet, mashed potatoes, carrots & peas, pineapples.
* Milk or grape juice is served with all meals. Meals fall within the following ranges: Calories 650-750; protein 25 grams or higher; fat 20 to 30 percent of calories; calcium 400 mg or higher; sodium 1,000 grams or less; fiber 9 grams or higher.
FUNDING MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT, KDADS AND CENTRAL PLAINS AREA AGENCY ON AGING
Single Plot – Resthaven Cemetery – Garden of the Cross 46A1 $5000 OBO Email: arkpegram@cox.net OR 479-644-6680 Serious inquires only
Single burial plot in Garden of Gethsemane at White Chapel. Asking $2,000. 316-644-6149
Burial space and vault at White Chapel in Nativity Garden. Retails for $3,500 sell for $2,300. Text 316-990-6823 for details.
6 plots and 4 vaults at White Chapel Memorial Gardens. Two plots and 2 vaults in Valor Lot 23A space 3&4, granite base, VA bronze Headstone & bronze vase. Value $10,500,Sell $5,000 OBO. Four Plots in Sermon on the Mount. Lot 326A spaces 1,2,3,4 with 2 Vaults, 1 Headstone. Value $13,490,Sell $7,500 OBO. 316-208-3248 Larry Harmon
Resthaven, 2 side by side plots Located in Garden of the Cross. $4000 each seller pays transfer fee. 316-734-3292
White Chapel, Memorial Gardens, Garden of Nativity, Section 288D, spaces 2, 3 and 4. Value $6,000. Sell $3,500 OBO. Seller pays transfer fee. 785-259-2224. LEAVE A MESSAGE.
Double depth crypt at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Lawn Cypress addition. Seller pays transfer fee. Retail value $9995. Asking $4,000 OBO. Call or text 316-259-7821.
White Chapel Masonic Garden
Two plots side by side. Two vaults. One opening/closing.
1 Bronze Memorial 24x12
1 Granite Memorial 62x16 $11,500 transfer fee included. (316)250-8641
Two plots at Lakeveiw Memorial Gardens. $3500 each. Contact me at deny67801@yahoo.com.
Two burial plots at $3,400 each. White Chapel Memorial Gardens in Wichita, Garden of Chrispur, Lot 163B, spaces 3 & 4. Contact Keith Gurley at kgurley@uab.edu or 913-449-0422.
F FOR SALE F
weight transport chair w/ leg rest and seat cushion, asking $550. Call Jack 316-648-9992.
1910 Brattleboro pump organ. Restored. 10 stops. Blonde Pine. Excellent condition. 20in deep x 42.5in wide x 4ft high .Asking 700 OBO. 316-619-7663.
2024 journey deluxe mobility scooter. Only have 37 miles. $4,000 new, asking $1950. Call 316-761-7145
HANDYMAN SERVICES CONT F
Dave’s Improvements General Contractor Lic #7904 Roofing, Siding, Doors, Gutters, Windows, Storm damage repair, Senior Discount. 316-312-2177
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 miscellaneous,hauling dirt, sand, and rock/gravel upto 3.5 tons. 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
Derby, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Wichita
Exterior & Interior. House painting, siding, decks, fences and guttering. Build, repair and stain. Free Estimates. Be Blessed. Thank you KC KIMBALL 316-250-2265
MOBILE GLASS REPAIR
Windows * Patio * Doors
Windows won’t stay up, Crank Outs, Patio Rollers and Lock Latches, Morris Glass & Service, 316-946-0745
ALL AMERICAN CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION
• New Construction
• Room Additions
• Basement Finishing
• Kitchen & Bathrooms
• Siding & Sheetrock
• Int/Ext Painting
• Gutter Cleaning
• Flood & Fire Damage
Licensed & Insured We do all types of renovations Call 316-409-7341
ALWAYS PLUMBING
* Aeration * Over Seeding Gutter cleaning * Fencing * Landscape install/ maintain * Shrub/tree trimming/removal Call for a free estimate! 316-737-3426 or 316-631-5984 WWW.JESUSLANDSCAPINGKS.COM
HAULING
TOTAL
Free estimates. Perry 316-339-4117.
All Seasons Clean-Up Complete Lawn Care * Yard Clean Up * Tree Trimming * Gutter Cleaning. Fence Repair * Decks * Home Repairs * Flooring Free estimates, senior discounts. 316-807-8649
Sharp Edges
Clean Cut Lawncare and Fencing
experience
Residential/Commercial Mowing Spring Cleanup
Mulching/Rototilling Landscaping, Scalping Tree & Shrub Trimming Fence building and repair
Impact Lawn Care
Don’t get hooked by scammers ‘phishing’ for your information
By Cecilia Green
“Phishing” is the practice of scammers trying to obtain victims’ personal information in order to rip them off. Despite efforts of the Federal Trade Commission and local authorities to warn consumers, it and other fraud threats are on the rise.
Chief Attorney Avery Elofsson, from the Sedgwick County District Attorney’s Economic Crimes Unit, said that only a sliver of the money can be recovered. “By the time the crime is reported, the money is gone.” Scammers often request money in bitcoin, gift cards and other untraceable payments.
Twenty-somethings are scammed more often than others, but for lesser amounts of money, averaging about $550 lost. Victims in their 70s lose a median amount of $800 and it’s $1,450 for those in their 80s.
Julie Hopkins from AARP’s Fraud and Scam Task Force reports one out of three veterans have been contacted in the past year by con men, offering to process VA benefits for a fee.
Why does this work so often?
“I never thought I could be fooled. I’m smarter than that,” is the reaction of many victims. However, scammers are master manipulators who use fear and a seeming sense of urgency to overcome a victim’s rational thinking.
“The scammers want an emotional response, not a logical one,” Elofsson said.
For example, last summer the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office sent out a warning that someone claiming to be a sheriff’s deputy was calling people threatening arrest for
not appearing for jury duty if they did not pay a fine immediately. These scammers were intimidating, warning people not to hang up until they complied. The sheriff’s office told residents receiving this call to hang up immediately.
Hopkins agreed. “Don’t engage. Once you do, you're on a target list.”
Here are some red flags typical of scams:
Caution: Red flags
• An email with a logo that appears to be from a trusted business but is poorly written, contains an odd sender email address, demands an immediate action, threatens to delete an account, not deliver something you have ordered or reference a purchase you don’t recognize. Do not click on the link or call the phone number in the email. Don’t even click on unsubscribe. Call the business using a number you know to be legitimate if you want to check.
• A phone call with a message designed to cause panic, such as your power being shut off, your Social Security being suspended or a grandchild in trouble. Hopkins suggests your family establish a code word actual family members would use during such a call.
• Charges on your monthly Medicare statement that you do not recognize. Report these fraudulent charges to Medicare.
• Offers that are too good to be true, such as winning a million dollars, a “can’t-lose” investment opportunity or even someone looking for a romantic relationship on social media.
• A frozen computer screen
warning of a virus, telling you not to turn off your computer and to call them for help. Do not engage. Hold down the off button for a few minutes until it shuts off and gets rid of the message.
Safeguards
Elofsson and Hopkins shared some tips to protect your financial information:
• Use direct deposit for Social Security and other checks. “Check washing” is making a comeback where people take checks out of your mailbox and clean all but the signature.
• Always use a credit card, not a debit card, online. Credit cards have a limit on how much you are liable for fraudulent charges; debit cards do not because they can draw money directly from your account until it’s gone.
• Shred financial documents instead of putting them in your trash.
• Set up a code word with your bank to create layers of security so imposters cannot withdraw money without it.
• Make sure your passwords are strong and change them frequently. Use multifactor authentication.
• Freeze your information on
credit bureaus. A quick phone call can reopen it when you need to make a large purchase. What to do if scammed If you do become a victim of financial fraud, do not hesitate to report it to the police. Then file a report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The AARP Fraud Watch Network Helpline, 877-908-3360, offers free support and guidance on what to do next. The aarp.org/fraudsupport online sessions can help struggling victims begin healing emotionally from such a traumatic event in their lives.
Elofsson said this is the only crime in which you are a willing participant. “Yes, they are bad actors, but they can’t do it without you. You have to be diligent. Be there for your friends and neighbors, and do not hesitate to call the police if you suspect they may become victims. The police would rather come out and find it’s nothing rather than risk someone losing a lot of money. We have the ability to stop it.” This article stems from a discussion moderated by moderated by Jill Miller, Finishing School for Modern Women. Cecila Green can be contacted at cecgreen1@gmail.com.
Kansas baseball book hits a home run
“Kansas Baseball,” by Michael J. Travis (The History Press, 2025, 158 pages, $24.99)
By Ted Ayres
Wichita leads off “Kansas Baseball,” Michael J. Travis’ look at how American’s favorite pastime has been played in the Sunflower State.
The book begins with a discussion of League 42, the youth baseball program named for Jackie Robinson (No. 42 for the Brooklyn Dodgers) that became a national news story when its statue of Robinson was stolen from McAdams Park and destroyed last year.
“...League 42 and all it represents and honors is where the story must begin. In honor of Jackie, his nine values [integrity, courage, excellence, commitment, citizenship, justice, persistence, determination and teamwork] are central to this book.”
Travis’ research and interviews bring to life several more great stories about the sport.
He writes about Walter Johnson, a farm boy from Humboldt, Kan., who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame’s first class alongside Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Rogers Hornsby and Christy Mathewson. Travis also pays tribute to George Sweatt, a black baseball player from the same town whose skin color mandated that he spend his career in the Negro League with the Kansas City Monarchs.
One chapter is devoted to Raymond Harry “Hap” Dumont, a Wichita native, innovator and showman who founded what became the National Baseball Congress in 1935. The NBC Tournament continues to bring the best college baseball players in the country here each summer.
Travis profiles Gene Stephenson, the legendary former Wichita State baseball coach whose team won a national championship in 1989. Stephenson recalls the challenge of starting a new athletic program and
March quiz: Attack of the snacks
By Nancy Wheeler
Use these clues to name popular snack foods. The answers appear below.
1. What company laid out one of the greatest dares in advertising when they said, “Betcha can’t eat just one”?
2. In hot competition with Peter Pan and Skippy, Grey Advertising remembered that mothers know best, coming up with the slogan, “Choosy moms choose _________”?
3. What snack originated in Peru and Mexico over 7,000 years ago, but now comes in a variety of flavors, including caramel?
4. What candy bar created an
American earworm when they used the catchy jingle, “Gimme a break, gimme a break, gimme a piece of that _____________”?
5. What best-selling cookie was actually a copycat product of Hydrox cookies, which debuted in 1908?
6. What crunchy party mix was actually made at home (using a recipe off a cereal box) for over 30 years before Ralston Purina packaged it commercially in 1985?
7. The most popular flavors of which snack are Cool Ranch and Nacho Cheese?
8. What coconut candy bar suggests that “Sometimes you feel like
the trauma of his departure from it.
I wasn’t familiar with another person profiled by Travis — Alex Hugo, who played basketball and softball at Olathe South High School. Hugo, who went on to play softball for the University of Georgia and USA National Baseball Team, broke several barriers on the way to her role as a roving instructor for the Athletics (formerly of Oakland, soon to be based in Las Vegas).
There are stories about Mickey Mantle, who began his professional career playing Minor League Baseball in Independence, Kan.; Luther “Dummy” Taylor of Oskaloosa, a profoundly deaf man who went on to pitch for the New York (now San Francisco) Giants; Bill James, the baseball statistics guru and Lawrence resident; and Bubba Starling of Gardner, one of the state’s all-time great high school athletes who toiled in the minor leagues for eight years before a short stint with Kansas City
a nut, sometimes you don’t”?
9. What Wrigley’s chewing gum was advertised by twins and promised to “Double Your Fun”?
10. According to HubScore, what marshmallowy treat is considered to be the most popular snack in the U.S.?
11. What multicolored candy invites you to “Taste the Rainbow?”
12. What is the official potato chip of the NBA, famously known to have “Rrridges?
Royals. Travis, a New England native who came to Kansas in 1993, previously wrote “Celebrating Kansas Breweries." His two books clearly show he’s fallen in love with his adopted state. Contact Ted Ayres at tdamsa762yahoo.com.
Ted’s favorite books of 2024 Ted Ayres, who regularly reviews books for The Active Age, reports he read 131 books in 2024, slightly down from the 157 (an all-time high) he read in 2023. Favorites included “The Day The World Came To Town,” by Jim DeFede; “The Book of Charlie,” by David Von Drehle; “April 1865,” by Jay Winik; “The Women,” by Kristin Hannah; and “Love & Whiskey,” by Fawn Weaver (reviewed here in August).
Answers:
12.
1. Frito Lay
2. Jif
3. Popcorn
4. Kit Kat Bar
5. Oreo Cookies
6. Chex Mix
7. Dorito’s 8. Mounds/Almond Joy
9. Doublemint Gum
10. Rice Krispy Treats
11. Skittles
Ruffles
Get to know your Kansas Silver Haired Legislature
By Jennifer Lasley CPAAA
The Kansas Silver Haired Legislature is a dedicated group of advocates who represent the interests of Kansans aged 60 and older. KSHL delegates develop bills and resolutions that are presented to the Kansas Legislature and governor. The 202526 delegates for Butler, Harvey and Sedgwick Counties are:
Dennis Bender, Sedgwick County, District 1. Bender, a new delegate, was executive director of the Union Rescue Mission in Wichita for several years, served as the Kansas President of the Arthritis Foundation and was part of the Wichita Police Department’s Citizen Review Board.
Gerald McCoy, Sedgwick County, District 2. McCoy is also new to KSHL. His areas of interest include the expansion of Medicaid in Kansas, expansion of the Senior Care Act, legalization of medical cannabis and the elimination of daylight saving time.
committed to protecting older adults from predatory financial practices.
Michael Lynn, Sedgwick County, District 3. A delegate since 2023, Lynn intends to keep a close watch on voting in the House and Senate on the issues related to older citizens and report back to district residents.
Cindy Tannehill, Sedgwick County, District 4. Tannehill, a new KSHL delegate, is an advocate for individuals in long-term care facilities and skilled nursing homes and is
Donna Lehane, Sedgwick County, District 5. Lehane has participated in KSHL for many years and currently serves as Secretary of its Executive Board. She works with the Alliance for Retired Americans and sits on the Executive Board of the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
Charles (Chuck) Schmidt, Sedgwick County, At-Large. Schmidt joined KSHL in 2019 and has served as Speaker of the KSHL House. He is a former state representative, educator and school superintendent.
Leroy Burton, Butler County. A delegate since 2023, Burton currently serves as Floor Leader for the KSHL Executive Board. His topics of interest include Medicaid expansion, legalization of medical cannabis, increasing Senior Care Act funding and funding for community-based
transportation for older adults. Arnita Haury, Harvey County. Haury has also been involved with KSHL since 2023. She is a retired educator who has served on ministry committees at her church, was board president of a nonprofit called Peace Connections/Circle of Hope and was Chair of the Harvey County Democrats.
You, too, can be an advocate for aging issues. For more information on the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature visit www.kansas-shl.org or call 785-3687326.
KSHL representatives are volunteers, and the cost of their advocacy efforts is funded through their own contributions, donations from local companies/organizations and private individuals. Donations may be addressed to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature at 503 Kansas Avenue, Topeka, Kansas, 66603.
Jennifer Lasley is Director of Information and Community Services for the Central Plains Area Agency on Aging.
• Is it difficult to read regular print in newspapers, magazines or books?
• Does your vision make it difficult to watch TV or recognize faces?
• Has your eye doctor told you eyeglasses can no longer be made stronger?
If so, call Envision for an appointment or schedule an education presentation in your senior living facility.
Donate for chance to win Botanica membership
Donate at least $50 to The Active Age, and you could win a family membership to Botanica. The Active Age holds a drawing for a family
membership each month from among people on our Honor Roll list of donors. This month's winner is Virginia Dean. 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.
Windows Q&A:
Q - My Windows look "foggy" and no matter what I do, I can't clean the fog off. Is there something I can do to fix them?
You likely have seal failure and have lost your argon gas. In this case you have also lost the energy efficiency of the window and it needs to be replaced.
Siding Q&A:
Q - My old Masonite siding is crumbling on the first 3 bottom rows of 1 side of my house. Can I just replace those 3 rows and patch it in?
Masonite siding is essentially pressed cardboard. It rots from the inside out. The first place we normally see it is on the surface, and commonly on lower areas since water flows downward. Thus, it takes on moisture at different rates. Most likely the rest of your siding is doing the same thing, you just don't see it yet. If you patch in pieces, there is no stopping point. By doing a full replacement now, you are avoiding further damage behind your siding that could cost you more later.
Going paperless?
A free digital copy of The Active Age is now available. The digital copy can be “flipped through” like a regular newspaper, and the type can be enlarged on your phone or computer. To have the digital version emailed to you each month, call (316) 942-5385 or email joe@ theactiveage.com.