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Vol 47 No. 12
Twins celebrate parents on Route 66 trip
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Roy and Robert Hayden actually started their Route 66 trip at Robert's home in Nebraska. By Joe Norris When twin brothers Roy and Robert Hayden were teenagers, they began noticing a strange burning sensation in the abdomen. The symptoms didn’t require a doctor to diagnose. The boys had a fire in the belly to ride motorcycles. But their dad threw cold water on the idea of them hitting the highway on two wheels. “He told us that he’d allow dirt bikes,” Roy remembers. “But he said that street bikes were out of the
question. He didn’t want us out on the blacktop with cars.” The twins knew their dad was just looking out for them. They followed his rule throughout high school, riding various dirt bikes on the back acres of the family property. But their motorcycle fever never went away. After high school graduation, Robert joined the Air Force and Roy went to college. And before long, they
GATHER & GLOW
both bought theirsip, firstshop streetand bikes. This Sparkle, celebrate! Holiday Tables returns to Mark Arts Nove year, 60 years after their dad outlawed 59th year, hosted by Designing Women. bikes on the highway, the brothers rode motorcycles all the way from Chicago treasured Wichita to SantaThis Monica on Route 66. Roytradition marks the start of the holiday season experiences. through and Robert are 73 yearsStroll old now, and the Tables Exhibit and discover imaginative tab they’re still pushing the envelope. Their businesses, nonprofits and individuals, each bringing its own style and holid dad, R.W. “Jim” Hayden, would’ve turned 100 thisone-of-a-kind year — the same age in as the Art Boutique, pick up delicious treats f Shop finds
Shoppe, and make plans to join us for special events throughout the wee See Route 66, page 6 the tables, the shopping or a festive night out, Holiday Tables is a favorite w Kansas News Service welcome the season.
Trump’s visit to Holiday Tables Exhibit Wichita the eighth Thursday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. by a U.S.president
Friday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. President Donald Trump's visit Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. 4 p.m. last month made him the to –Wichita Sunday, Nov. 8, Noon – eighth 4 p.m.president to visit the city and the first since George W. Bush in 2007. $12 per person | Ages 8 & up Trump flew in for a political rally Oct. 19, landing at McConnell Air Force Route 66 was officially decomissioned in 1985, but the interstate Base in Air Force One. highways that replaced it carry plenty of reminders of the past.Preview Here, PartyA TV camera showed himNight descend ARTrageous Girls’ Out: Robert and Roy Hayden stopped at the route's midpoint in Adrian, Wednesday, November 4 Thursday, November 5 Texas, in that state's Panhandle region. See Trump, page 8 5:30-8 p.m. 6-9 p.m. $100 per person $100 per person Attire: Holiday-chic Attire: Sequins, shimm By Sherry Howerton not eligible for Medicare, and private BENTON — As a healthcare health insurance is, well, nearly cost executive, Ann Buckendahl sat in prohibitive. the driver’s seat for years, leading RSVP “That’s the big caveat” of leaving colleagues and programs. Now, she’s Tosaid purchase tickets to the Tables Exhibit, Girls’ Night Out, or ARTrageo the workforce, Buckendahl. retired but still in the driver’s seat — She started praying for MarkArtsKS.com/holiday-tables or call 316-634-278 driving a bus, literally. opportunities for part-time work when All proceeds benefit Mark Arts. Buckendahl, a native of Marion, she said it just popped in her head to Kan., spent five years working in check with her local school district, marketing for Wesley Medical Center, which is Circle USD 375. Buckendahl, 15 at Heartspring and another 20 at who lives in rural Benton, learned Ascension Via Christi. Buckendahl there was an opening for a bus driver. says she enjoyed her work, but when By driving five hours a day five days she got the opportunity to take early a week, she is eligible for Circle’s full retirement, she felt the time had come. health insurance package. Her husband, Steve, was ready, too. Even though Buckendahl had “My husband was retiring from the never driven a bus, she decided to take aviation field, and the opportunity to the job. She had to earn her CDL Ann Buckendahl is up before have the gift of time together was very (commercial driver’s license), which she dawn five days a week to drive a appealing,” she said. says is not an easy process but worth it. bus for the Circle schools. There was just one problem: “The appeal of being a bus driver Health insurance. At 62, Buckendahl is was the freedom of being my own See Bus Driver, page 7
Retired executive keeps the (bus) wheels turning
Questions about services?
Central Plains Area Agency on Aging/Sedgwick County Department on Aging: 316-660-7298 or 1-800-367-7298
Butler County: (316) 775-0500 or 1-800-279-3655 Harvey County: (316) 284-6880 or 1-800-279-3655
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the active age
November 2026
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Demand that USD 259 improve learning first before taxing us for new schools.
Our children’s education should come first before we build new schools.
In 2025-2026 over $95 million was budgeted for capital expenditures, which should be enough to make necessary repairs and improvements.
Paid for by the Improve Learning First Coalition, Walt Chappell, Treasurer. www.theactiveage.com
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the active age
Win Tickets to Holiday Tables
The Active Age and Mark Arts are giving away five pairs of tickets to Holiday Tables: Gather & Glow, the annual fundraiser for Mark Arts hosted by Designing Women. The event features imaginative tablescapes created by local businesses, nonprofits and individuals, plus shopping in the Art Boutique and Sweet & Savory Shoppe.
It’s the 59th year for Holiday Tables. This year’s exhibit runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 5; Friday, Nov. 6; and Saturday, Nov. 7; and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 8. To enter our drawing for a pair tickets, email joe@theactiveage.com (please include a phone number), call (316) 942-5385 or visit our website,
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November 2026
theactiveage.com, where an entry form can be found. Entries must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4. Winners will be notified that night. Tickets to the exhibit can also be purchased for $12. Ages 8 and older are welcome. Designing Women also host an ARTrageous Preview Party from 5:30-8 p.m. on Nov. 4 and Girts’ Night Out from 6-9 p.m. Nov. 5. Tickets to events are available at MarkArtsKS.com/holiday-tables or by calling (316) 634-2787.
GATHER & GLOW
Sparkle, sip, shop and celebrate! Holiday Tables returns to Mark Arts Nov 59th year, hosted by Designing Women.
This treasured Wichita tradition marks the start of the holiday season experiences. Stroll through the Tables Exhibit and discover imaginative ta businesses, nonprofits and individuals, each bringing its own style and hol
Shop one-of-a-kind finds in the Art Boutique, pick up delicious treats Shoppe, and make plans to join us for special events throughout the we the tables, the shopping or a festive night out, Holiday Tables is a favorite welcome the season.
OPEN HOUSE MONDAY NOVEMBER 9TH 4:00-6:00 PM Call Today! 316-321-7112 This unique three-level condo features 2 bedrooms, a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, a main-floor living room with brick fireplace, and a kitchen with appliances included. The finished basement offers additional living space with a dry bar, while a private patio and second-floor balcony provide scenic views of Rolling Hills Golf Course. Additional features include a half bath, washer and dryer, an attached garage, and a detached garage—making this a unique opportunity for comfortable living and entertaining!
Holiday Tables Exhibit Thursday, Nov. 5, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 7, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8, Noon – 4 p.m. $12 per person | Ages 8 & up
ARTrageous Preview Party Wednesday, November 4 5:30-8 p.m. $100 per person Attire: Holiday-chic
Girls’ Night Out: Thursday, November 6-9 p.m. $100 per person Attire: Sequins, shimm
RSVP To purchase tickets to the Tables Exhibit, Girls’ Night Out, or ARTrage MarkArtsKS.com/holiday-tables or call 316-634-27 All proceeds benefit Mark Arts.
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November 2026
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Thanks to retirement, ‘Sunday Scaries’ all in the past By Bonnie Bing One of the best parts of being retired is Sunday evening. For many, many years on Sunday Bonnie Bing evening I would get out my date book and take a look at everything that would be happening the coming week. Deadlines, meetings, volunteering, giving talks, lunch dates and more were listed. By the time I finished I would sigh and think, “Bing, why don’t you ever say no?” Some things you can’t say no to, such as a column or story deadline. Meetings? Sometimes I could have, but I was afraid of missing something important. Volunteering is important to me, and there are so many great causes. Giving talks was and still is one of my favorite things to do. Lunch dates with friends was always a welcome break. So see? My book was full of necessary tasks. My friends have made fun of me for years about my schedule and how I always have my calendar
Just Sayin' with me. I still do. The difference now is the pages aren’t filled to the max, with notes in the margin. These days, I limit myself to no more than three commitments a day. Usually, it’s a combination of fun and “business.” An article in The Wall Street Journal by Ray A. Smith explained that as workloads are mounting, people struggle with the “Sunday Scaries.” The term, now in the online MerriamWebster dictionary, refers to a feeling of dread as the week ahead approaches. This isn’t limited to those in the workforce. Remember when you went to school, and Sunday meant getting the homework you put off until the last minute finished? And working part-time and going to school was a real challenge with the Sunday Scaries throwing your weekend mood into a deep hole. Sunday evenings are great now. Sunday naps are guilt free. Usually
it’s not necessary to set an alarm, and looking back at old date books will make you wonder how in the world you got everything accomplished. Reach Bonnie Bing at bingbylines@ gmail.com
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Route 66 From Page 1
Route 66 itself. “I thought it would be fun for us to celebrate Dad’s 100th birthday by riding the entire length of Route 66 this year, as the iconic highway was also turning 100,” Robert said. “Especially since we found out that Dad had been hiding a secret from us all those years ago.” After their father passed away, Robert and Roy were going through his possessions when they discovered a photo of their dad sitting astride a 1927 Indian street bike. They’d never seen the photo before. It was proof that Dad had survived his own case of motorcycle fever. “In the picture, he looks about the same age that we were, back when he told us motorcycles were too dangerous for the highway,” Roy laughed. “So we decided we’d bring Dad along on our big road trip by taking that photo with us.” Robert has ridden motorcycles since he was 14 and still rides an Indian Roadmaster he calls Windy. Roy has also logged a lot of motorcycle miles. But he’d sold his old BMW bike a few years ago to make room in his garage for his woodworking shop. Before he could do a cross-country motorcycle trip, Roy had to get a bike. He finally found a good used BMW and spent the summer getting comfortable in the saddle again. He named his bike Bluebonnet.
the active age Gallup, N.M. “Dad and Mom would have loved the El Rancho,” Robert said. “Hollywood used to shoot movies outside of Gallup, and the hotel walls are lined with photos of movie stars who stayed there. John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Jimmy Stewart, Mae West. In Arizona, the Haydens made a detour from There was a hidden Route 66 to admire the Grand Canyon. room on the second By late August of this year, both floor, too. Pull a book off the shelf, brothers were ready to go. Roy lives and the bookcase opens up into a little in Andover, but Robert has been a room.” Nebraska resident since his college Roy and Robert started their road days. The epic road trip began with trip with a carefully planned itinerary. Roy riding Bluebonnet to Lincoln, But as they got into the rhythm of where Robert and Windy were ready the adventure, they began getting new to join the party. Then, they all headed ideas. They also picked up tips from for Chicago, with Dad’s photo in one other road-trippers, who came from all of the saddlebags. “We brought Mom over the world. A couple from Spain along, too,” Robert said. “I attached a had good suggestions for them. So did piece of her mink shawl to the seat of the big group from the Netherlands. my bike.” And so did the guy from Tasmania and The road trip officially started his companion. “That’s my girlfriend, with breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s in not my wife,” the Tasmanian told them. Chicago, the traditional “first stop on “I’ve already had two wives.” the Mother Road.” Then the brothers Somebody suggested that they fired up their bikes and hit Route 66. stop at the Devil’s Rope Museum Along the way, they paused for photos in McLean, Texas, housed in an old at iconic roadside attractions like the factory that once produced 5,000 Sears Blue Whale in Catoosa, Okla., and bras per day. the World’s Second-Largest Rocking “The museum was fascinating,” Chair in Fanning, Mo. And they Roy said. “They have the largest stopped for the night at historic places barbed-wire collection on earth, over like the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, two thousand kinds. And there was a Mo., and the El Rancho Hotel in 93-year-old expert who could identify every one of them.” Another favorite stop was the detour they made up to the Grand Canyon. “The grandeur is just overwhelming,” Robert said. “And the skies in Arizona and New Mexico are absolutely incredible. We Americans, we’re spoiled. There’s so much beauty here in America, we can’t adequately explain it to somebody from another county. The views are just spectacular.” The heat also got more spectacular as the brothers headed west. In
CENTRAL KANSAS PODIATRY ASSOCIATES STATE OF THE ART PODIATRIC CARE 1819 N Greenwich · Wichita KS 67206 316-269-FEET(3338) · Fax 316-264-5516 www.CKPA.net
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November 2026 Oatman, Ariz., the temperature gauge on Roy’s BMW read 114 degrees. That’s where it turned out that Robert had made a wise decision when he covered the seat of his bike with his mom’s mink stole. “Contrary to what you might think, the fur kept my rear end cooler than without it,” Roy said. The twins arrived in Santa Monica on Sept. 11, thirteen days after leaving Chicago. They admired the Pacific Ocean for a while, then turned around and headed back to the Midwest. “By the time I got home, I’d put more than 5,000 miles on my bike,” Robert said. “Thirteen states, 20 days, 5,014 miles. Check that off the bucket list!” Roy’s mileage was even higher. Robert said the pair feels grateful for “making it successful all the way there and back.” It’s a good bet their dad would have been grateful, too. Robert shared advice for anybody contemplating a road trip. “If you’re thinking that a road trip will be fun, it will. But only if you actually do it. There will be plenty of time later to look out the window and wish you’d done this or that. So don’t wait. Pick a destination, then get out there and do it now.” Joe Norris wrote about Route 66’s short passage through Kansas in our June issue. Contact him at joe.norris47@gmail. com.
End of the route: Robert and Roy on the Santa Monica (Calif.) Pier.
November 2026
Bus Driver From Page 1
boss,” Buckendahl said. “Because when you’re on the bus you’re in charge of these kids, their safety, getting them to their destination. And I really love these kids.” Buckendahl remembers a stormy afternoon and having to decide if it was safe for some of her passengers to walk home down a muddy lane. “It’s crazy how quickly you view these kids as your own. They are like my grandkids, and I have to decide what’s the right thing to do for my grandkids.” Buckendahl’s route takes her to town and to the rural parts of Benton. About 25 kids ride her bus, ranging from preschool to high school. Her day starts at 4:45 a.m., and she picks up her first riders about two hours later. She parks the bus at her house and starts each day with an early-morning
the active age inspection. “I didn’t used to get up this early, but now I like the structure of it,” she said. “It makes you get your butt out of bed so you don’t waste your day.” Buckendahl finds the kids’ antics entertaining. During the first week of school, a middle schooler boarded the bus and put his fist about six inches from Buckendahl’s face. “I said, ‘Well, hello,’ and he replied, ‘Don’t you need a fist bump?’ I laughed and told him I did indeed need a fist bump.” Now they exchange fist bumps every time he boards the bus. At each stop as the kids climb in, she counts heads. One family of six children got on one morning, but when she stopped to let them off, only three got off. She quickly perused the bus and found three sound asleep in the back. “They all got woken up, and off the bus they went,” Buckendahl said. “This morning, we were going
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down the main street in Benton, and I had a railroad crossing. At a crossing, you stop and put your hazard lights on, and I asked the kids to be quiet so we could listen for a train,” Buckendahl said. “They started singing and making choo choo train noises. I called them my little railroad choir. It’s just dear.” Buckendahl said she enjoys the rural part of her route the best because it reminds her of her childhood growing up in the country. “When I was a kid, I rode the bus. I loved seeing the deer, wild turkeys, possums — all manners of Kansas wildlife, and the sunrise. It is really a lovely trip in the morning.” Since retirement, Buckendahl enjoys more time to pursue other passions as well. She’s active in Regnum Christi, a Catholic group that meets weekly. She’s also a master quilter, gifting her creations to family, friends and nonprofits. But it seems that driving a school bus currently provides her greatest
entertainment. Matt Ray, director of transportation for Circle Public Schools, said Buckendahl has adapted quickly to the job. “The biggest quality to be a bus driver is a lot of patience and understanding,” said Ray. “And you’ve got to like children.” Buckendahl realized the feeling was mutual when she caught a cold and was out sick for three days. “When I came back, the kids were like, ‘Oh we missed you, where were you for three weeks?’ It was just so funny. You don’t expect that in the corporate world, but with kids, they’re just so affectionate and sweet. It’s so nice, it doesn’t make it feel like work. These kids have been such a blessing.” Sherry Howerton can be contacted at sgaylegraham@hotmail.com. If you are nterested in driving for USD 375, call Matt Ray at 316-807-6288.
Goddard adds shuttle service, resource hub to further ‘No Senior Alone’ mission
GODDARD — The city of Goddard has launched an accessible shuttle service for seniors and individuals with disabilities. Seniors can schedule rides in advance within Goddard city limits, including transportation to and from the Goddard Senior Center, 122 N. Main. The shuttle operates 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday. Reservations can be made by calling (316) 773-6693 and must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Riders must buy $2 trip tokens in advance at City Hall, 118 N. Main. The shuttle will also allow the senior center to take group trips into Wichita and surrounding areas for tours, events, shopping and other experiences. Mel Hambleton Ford donated a wrap and graphic design services for the shuttle. The city has also opened the Goddard Area Welcome & Resource HUB at 206 N. Main, which has a lobby where seniors, caregivers, families and community members can find information, free office space and a conference room and a community closet where equipment, supplies and
other items can be borrowed or, in some cases, taken. “The HUB was inspired in part by needs we saw through the Senior Center, including limited space for displaying resources and no private office for professionals to meet confidentially with seniors about Medicare, legal, health and other needs,” said Amanda Treadwell, who co-founded the senior center and chairs the city’s Senior Citizens Advisory Board. Treadwell said the city hopes to add equipment such as a Cricut machine for crafting, sewing machine, 3D printer, laser engraver “and other creative tools seniors could use for projects or even to create items to sell for extra income.” And in 2027, there are plans to open a podcast and media room where users can create educational content and record stories. “All of these efforts connect back to our ‘No Senior Alone’ mission of helping older adults stay connected, supported, valued and involved,” Treadwell said. Treadwell added that one of her favorite parts of the HUB is that
“seniors aren’t only receiving help” there. “They are volunteering, supporting and serving others, and getting connected to other volunteer opportunities throughout Goddard.”
Times are uncertain. Your funeral plans don’t have to be. Call 316-682-4553 for information about pre-planning a funeral. www.dlwichita.com www.theactiveage.com
The new Goddard Go shuttle offers $2 rides within city limits for seniors and people with disabilities. It will also be used for senior field trips.
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the active age
November 2026
Share the Season: helping others in Sedgwick County for 26 years Share the Season is a community program that assists people during a time of hardship in their lives. The program offers hope and help to working families and individuals who have experienced difficult circumstances resulting in financial strain and emotional stress. Often, an illness, car accident, layoff or other unexpected situation can put a family into crisis. Share the Season provides financial assistance to alleviate some of the pressure during this challenging time.
Trump From Page 1
the plane’s stairs deliberately, then exchange salutes and shake hands
Since 2000, generous donors have given more than $4.875 million to Share the Season. These contributions have been used to over 4,415 Sedgwick County families. Samantha’s story The story of a woman named Samantha shows just how quickly someone can get behind on bills after a hardship — as well as the power of Share the Season. Samantha broke her arm in several places, which led to her having four surgeries to repair the injury. In the
meantime, she had not been able to work for four months due to her arm. After getting behind on rent and utilities, Samantha reached out to Share the Season. She was assisted with rent and with a payment toward her gas bill. Without Share the Season, Samantha could have been evicted or lost critical utility services. Instead, she could focus on healing until she returned to work. To continue to help families facing difficulties, the Share the Season campaign goal for 2026 is to raise
$125,000. Donors can contribute by going to the website at www. sharetheseason.net or by scanning the QR code below to make a taxdeductible donation.
with three officers. He proceeded by motorcade to Heartland Credit Union Arena in Park City, passing supporters and protesters along the route. About 6,000 people packed into the arena. Trump talked for more than 90
minutes at the rally, praising the work of his adminisration and blasting Democrats from Kansas and elsewhere. “I'm thrilled to be back in this incredible state, which, by the way — I don't want to brag — I won all three times,” he said, referring to the last three presidential campaigns. “But even better, receiveing more votes than any candidate in Kansas history. So for some reason, you like me, and I like you. I love you, actually. I think I love you.” The rally was primarily for U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, who is in tight race with Democrat Adam Hamilton, but Trump also brought Republican gubernatorial candidate Ty Masterson on stage and urged voters to support him. He recognized several Wichitans in attendance, including businessman Phil Ruffin, his former partner in a Las Vegas hotel and tower and the owner of Gilley’s casino in Park City. At one point, he mentioned his “profound
sympathy” for two people killed at the Stryker Soccer Complex in east Wichita days earlier. He was cheered raucously by a crowd that also chanted “U.S.A.” and Trump's name. Law officers escorted 11 protesters out of the arena for attempteing to disrupt the rally. Trump called them paid agitators. Trump’s motorcade returned to McConnell at 9:15 p.m., and he boarded Air Force One minutes later. According to research by The Wichita Eagle, six presidents visited the city prior to Trump and Bush: Bill Clinton (1993); Jimmy Carter (1978); Gerald Ford (1974); Lyndon Johnson (1964, 1967); Franklin Roosevelt 1936); and Woodrow Wilson (1919). Wilson suffered a stroke on the train prior to arriving and did not speak here as planned. For a full transcript of Trump’s remarks in Wichita, visit theactiveage. com.
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November 2026
the active age
Page 9
light Laundry day in the 1950s was a chore, alright beautiful pink color for
By Diana Breit Wolfe When I open the lid on my automatic washer and pull out clean, wet laundry to put into the dryer, I often think of how lucky I am. That’s because I remember how my mom and I did laundry in the 1950s. It is difficult now to even comprehend spending three to four hours every Saturday in our basement doing the family laundry using a wringer washing machine. It was a Maytag with electric agitator and wringer (meaning we didn’t have to turn a crank) and we had two separate rinse tubs, one for hot and one for cold rinses. The tubs were on wheels so we could roll them to the faucet in the basement to fill with hot or cold water. The process involved putting a load of laundry into the agitator washer, switching it on and letting the agitator do its rotating back and forth for a
Guest Column while until mom decided the clothes were clean. She had a big chunk of homemade lye soap she used to rub on any stubborn stains before they went into the washer. After washing, each article of clothing was pulled out oneby-one and put through the wringer to squeeze the water out. It would exit on the other side and drop into the hot rinse tub. Now the clothes had to be swished around to rinse the soap out, using either my hands or a heavy stick, depending on how hot the water was. After mom got the next load of laundry started in the washer, we would swing the wringer to the next tub so we could put each piece of laundry through the wringer into the cold rinse tub. After I swished the clothes around in the cold water for a while, each item was put into the wringer again to exit and fall into the laundry basket. Each separate item of clothing was handled at least three
times to finally arrive in the basket and be carried upstairs and outside to be hung up on the clothesline. Are we having fun yet? And oh, before I could hang the clothes on the line, I took a wet cloth and cleaned the wire clotheslines first, walking up and down the lines wiping off dirt and bird droppings. Carrying a bag of clothes pins, I picked up each item from the laundry basket and shook it a few times, then clipped it to the wire to dry in the Kansas sun and wind. If it was snowing or raining, we had lines in the basement where we hung the clothes. If we were lucky, we would only have three loads of laundry to wash. Sheets and blankets and towels meant extra work. This was our Saturday routine from my grade school years until I was a junior in high school in 1959. In my 16-year-old mind, I felt like we must be the last people on earth still using a wringer washer. My parents finally bought a matching Maytag automatic washer and dryer. My mom picked out a
El Dorado classmates celebrate 70 years since graduation
By Deanna Bonn EL DORADO — These ’cats have never lacked camaraderie. Members of El Dorado High School’s Class of 1956 gathered at the El Dorado train depot last month to celebrate 70 years since graduation. Twenty-one former Wildcats attended, along with guests and spouses. Judy Cole helped organize the reunion with a committee of four other women. The group spent about a year preparing, reserving the depot and asking classmates to write letters about their lives. The committee plans to collect the letters in a booklet to share with contributors. The class held reunions every 10 years through its 40th anniversary gettogether, then switched to a five-year schedule. Cole said classmates were becoming more scattered, and health concerns made it harder to wait longer between gatherings. “We decided that it was better to meet every five years than it was to wait,” she said. “So far they’ve been very successful. We have good attendance.” Classmates who lived in and around El Dorado also met monthly for several years. Their last monthly gathering was in December 2024, when it became physically difficult for everyone to continue meeting as often. The Oct. 3 reunion was their first group event since then. Many classmates have been friends since grade school. Cole attended
Nearly two dozen members of El Dorado High School's class of 1956 attended their 70th class reunion. Washington School, on the site of today’s Bradford Memorial Library. The classmates attended high school in the building now used as El Dorado’s Performing Arts Center. The high school occupied the top two floors, while the junior college was on the bottom floor. Students attended junior high in the building where the hospital parking lot is now. “We just appreciate the opportunity to get together while we all still can,” Cole said. And they’re already looking forward to 2031. Deann Bonn is a freelance journalist who writes for the Butler County TimesGazette, where a version of this article first appeared. Contact her at deabonn@ gmail.com. www.theactiveage.com
the appliances and they were installed upstairs, in our utility room right off the kitchen. They were the most beautiful things I had ever seen. Now I could watch TV while Maytag did the washing and drying. How I loved those two machines. We could do laundry on a Tuesday or a Friday or even a Sunday night. My mom and I had our Saturdays back and life was good. That’s while I feel lucky when I do laundry today. Diana Wolfe is a former board member of The Active Age. Contact her at dcwolfe2000@yahoo.com.
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November 2026
Faithful friendship etched through seven decades By Mark McCormick Kansas Reflector Gwendolyn Nevada Toney, 96, died peacefully in her sleep the Sunday morning of Aug. 24. Gwennie long had been the caterer of choice for Wichita’s elite. A mother of five who lost four before her death. A faith-filled Christian. A neighbor who offered children M&Ms from the candy dish in her immaculate living room. According to Cindy Carnahan, the honorific “friend” offered the truest measure of Toney’s steady magnificence. Their friendship spanned more than 70 years of love and heartbreak and laughter, and perhaps most important, interdependence. “I’ve loved Gwennie before I knew what love was,” Cindy said. “I considered her more than a friend. She’d been my closest confidante. I could tell her anything and blindly trust she’d never tell.” I’ve juggled two book projects since 2025: A collection of my Kansas Reflector columns and a book built on the 70-plus year friendship between Cindy (who is white) and Gwennie (who is black), where age and racial differences mattered not. The project became a friendship covenant, where precious memories would endure. As Gwennie’s lifetime of memories dissolved like sand through an hourglass, Cindy worked to save all the memories she could. Their story began with a mistake. Gwennie worked at The Forum near downtown Wichita. Her supervisor loved her energy, and when Gwennie requested more work, this supervisor advised her on where to look. She told Gwennie to board the city bus headed east on Douglas, get off at Belmont Place, turn left, and knock on doors asking if anyone needed help. She did everything correctly until she turned right instead of left. She landed at the Clarke home, where Cindy’s mother hired her. Cindy was 3. Gwennie was born March 4, 1930, in the Dust Bowl’s murk and in the depths of the Great Depression, in historic Boley, Okla. Black advocate and educator Booker T. Washington
Photo courtesy of Cindy Carnahan
Cindy Carnahan, left, met Gwennie Toney, known as the caterer to Wichita society, when Cindy was 3 years old. once visited Boley, calling it “the most industrious of all the black towns.” This might explain her astonishing John Henry work ethic. For virtually all of her adult life, she poured herself into at least two jobs. She represented black entrepreneurial grit, but also proximity to high society. She prepared tasty desserts and delectable food, along with staging her work in colorful displays. She loved bright colors. She met the iconic Julia Child in Wichita, who entrusted her with a recipe sent with a signed card of good wishes. She continued this work as her connection to Cindy bloomed. What a pair. A little Lucy and Ethel, a little Thelma and Louise. As
the saying goes, a good friend will help you move. A best friend will help you move a body. Cindy remembered asking Gwennie to buy her a bra before she had much use for it. She playfully obliged and facetiously said, looking at the loose straps on the sagging garment, “I sure am glad we got you that bra. We really needed it.” They would listen to the Isley Brothers’ 1969 hit, “It’s Your Thing.” Cindy would ask Gwennie to dance with her, and Gwennie suggested, smiling, that Cindy practice with the door. Cindy did, hips swiveling, one hand holding the knob, the other hand waving over her head. Gwennie also protected Cindy. She once rushed to East High to pick up Cindy when she heard a radio report about possible violence. She loved Cindy and wanted the best for her. But those roles flipped. It began when Gwennie opened a painful portal into her life of relentless tragedy as Cindy grew into a successful businesswoman. She asked Cindy to help arrange an emergency divorce. It was Cindy’s first inkling of what her
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lifetime friend endured privately. Later, she asked Cindy to serve as her power of attorney. Gwennie realized her memory had begun to fray. Gwennie lost four of her five children, which entombed her in grief and guilt. She worried that years of multiple jobs might have harmed her children. Cindy asked during one discussion: “Aren’t you proud of me? You helped raise me.” Gwennie smiled because for years, when shopping at Carl Bell’s Wholesale Meat, she’d been telling people Cindy was her daughter. She giggled at the confused expressions. As Gwennie’s memory deteriorated, Cindy moved deeper into her life, eventually selling Gwennie’s car and home and admitting her into a memory-care facility. Gwennie had worked so hard for so long. Cindy wanted to ensure Gwennie’s last days were safe and comfortable. Earlier this year, an employee at the care home punched Gwennie. At 95, she could no longer talk. Cindy arrived and cupped Gwennie’s face. Gwennie’s bruised eye was swollen shut. It broke Cindy’s heart. The memory care home fired the aide, but there wasn’t enough evidence for prosecution. Cindy also routed a “relative” who demanded Gwennie’s power of attorney. “Not gonna happen,” Cindy said. Walter Winchell once said: “A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” Henry Drummond once said: “Wherever we are, it is our friends that make our world.” George Herbert once said: “The best mirror is an old friend.” Gwennie and Cindy meant all these things to each other. Gwennie’s deterioration proved painful. Cindy sometimes tried to reach her friend, through Gwennie’s fog, with a song. She’d sing softly in Gwennie’s ear, “It’s your thang, do what you wanna do…” Sometimes, Gwennie smiled. Cindy felt prepared for Gwennie’s death. Though it would hurt, she wasn’t afraid. They would revisit everything saved in their covenant of memories. “I know where she’s going, and where I’m going. I know I’ll see her again.” Mark McCormick is an author and former columnist for The Wichita Eagle, former executive director of the Kansas African American Museum, a member of the Kansas African American Affairs Commission and former deputy executive director at the ACLU of Kansas. This article originally appeared at kansasreflector.com.
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Kansas finds offer new clues to Coronado expedition By Chris Frank PBS Kansas A few connected metal rings, lifted from the soil of McPherson County, brought a search through nearly five centuries of Kansas history into sharp focus. On Aug. 28, researchers recovered what archaeologist Deni Seymour identified as a fragment of riveted chain mail — linked metal armor she believes came from Francisco Vázquez de Coronado’s 1541 expedition. “That is chain mail,” Seymour said as she examined the find. The fragment appeared to contain about eight connected links. Small enough to hold in a hand, it was a substantial discovery for a team trying to determine exactly where the Spanish expedition camped in central Kansas. Seymour, an Arizona-based archaeologist who has spent decades studying Spanish colonial history and indigenous peoples, believes the site preserves one of those encampments. She bases that conclusion on the combination of artifacts recovered and the pattern of their locations. Coronado’s presence in Kansas is part of the historical record. Identifying a particular campsite, however, means distinguishing evidence of his expedition from material that could have arrived with later Spanish travelers or through trade. “What we’re identifying is the actual places they camped,” Seymour said. PBS Kansas accompanied the researchers during two days of fieldwork Aug. 28–29, recording both the artifact search in McPherson County and work at a rock-art site in Ellsworth County. The precise locations and landowners’ identities are being withheld to protect the sites and their privacy. Coronado traveled to what is now Kansas in 1541 in search of Quivira, a place he had been led to believe held great wealth. He encountered Native American communities with grass-
Archaeologist Mark Willis photographs petroglyphs carved into rock in Ellsworth County. Above right, chain mail that may have come from Spanish explorer Francisco Coronado's 1541 expendition was found in McPherson County. Chain mail was a mesh-like type of armour. covered houses and an agricultural Connected links offered the researchers society, rather than the gold he sought. a chance to examine how the armor Today, Seymour’s team is was constructed, rather than relying looking for the physical traces of that solely on isolated rings. encounter. “But I’m thrilled,” Rosacker said. “I At the McPherson County don’t even have the words to describe site, Seymour said the finds include how satisfying this is.” green obsidian blades, a copper bell For Seymour, the arrangement of fragment and metal fittings associated the discoveries is another part of the with clothing, along with chain mail. evidence. She said clusters of artifacts She considers the combination more separated by relatively empty spaces persuasive than any single object. resemble patterns at sites her team The chain mail itself, she noted, has studied in Arizona. She interprets could have been used somewhat later. those clusters as places where Her identification rests on evaluating it expedition members pitched tents and with the other finds. carried out daily tasks. Researchers worked systematically The next day’s work examined with metal detectors, marking signals a different possible record of the with flags and then narrowing expedition: images carved into a the search with smaller detectors. natural rock face in Ellsworth County. Sometimes an object emerged only The panel contains petroglyphs after checking handfuls of soil. and inscriptions from multiple periods. Among those who recovered the Seymour believes some figures may connected links were Baron Shively depict Coronado’s party, including of McPherson and Mark Rosacker of details she interprets as clothing, Albuquerque, N.M. armor and weapons. She thinks Native Shively, who worked for the Americans may have carved those U.S. Department of Agriculture, A report about this archaeological said his interest in participating in fieldwork will appear on “Positively archaeological digs grew after watching Kansas” on PBS Kansas at 8 p.m. one in 1993. Friday, Oct. 30, and as part of Rosacker, a retired park ranger “Kansas Legends of the West” with a background in anthropology, airing Tuesday, Dec. 1. had never found chain mail before.
Book sale The Friends of the Wichita Public Library will hold a sale of donation books from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd Street. Customers may buy a FWPL cloth tote bag and fill it for $10 or bring a previously purchased FWPL bag and fill it for $5. Library-themed 150th anniversary merchandise will also be sold.
of Wichita features a special category: plus-size evening gowns and cocktail dresses. The sale is from 1 to 4 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at Riverside Christian Church, 1001 N. Litchfield. The sale also features shortbread cookies, other baked goods, snacks and more. Prairie Pilot is a service organization that benefits Wichita Children’s Home, Vet 2 Vet Coalition, Parkinson’s Club and other nonprofits.
Book and holiday sales on tap
Paid members of FWPL may attend a special member-only preview book sale from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20 at the library. Proceeds from the book sale benefit the Wichita Public Library by helping to fund literacy initiatives, branch programs and author events. Prairie Pilot sale This year’s Holiday Market Fundraiser by the Prairie Pilot Club
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images after seeing the newcomers. That interpretation is a separate question from identifying the artifacts at the McPherson County site. The carvings’ proposed connection to Coronado depends on how the figures and their details are understood. “This rock face really is, it’s kind of like PBS 1541,” Seymour said. “This was a newspaper from the past.” Archaeologist Mark Willis, based in Austin, Texas, documented the panel using photogrammetry. The process combines overlapping photographs to create a three-dimensional record of a surface. Willis said the images can help researchers see faint details and potentially recognize features they previously missed. They also establish a record against which future damage can be measured. For Seymour, the work offers a way to explore the expedition through both the objects its members left behind and a possible Indigenous account of their arrival. Further fieldwork is planned. During the August visit, Seymour said she expected to return in March 2027, depending on access and conditions. She credited volunteers and cooperating landowners with making the research possible. Protecting the locations is part of that cooperation. “Our primary goal is to explore these sites, study them and preserve them,” she said. For now, a fragment of armor and a wall of carved images are opening new questions about an encounter that took place long before Kansas became a state. Chris Frank is a senior producer for PBS Kansas. Contact him at cfrank@ kpts.com. Winterfest DERBY — A holiday shopping tradition returns for its 28th year when Woodlawn United Methodist holds Winterfest from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 5. The church is located at 431 S. Wodlawn. More than 70 vendors are expected, offering crafts, art, food, clothing, home décor and more. A bake sale, silent auction and lunch at the Snowflake are also available.
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Shanahan recognized for life's work in art Growing up in a Michigan town so small it didn’t have an art teacher, Kathleen Shanahan still managed to develop a talent for drawing. Then a family trip to an art institute in Flint, Mich., led to an encounter with an instructor who helped set her life course. “My parents said, ‘Kathy here is interested in drawing.’ She said, ‘Well, come back here with me.’ She did this simple formulaic (drawing) — it was a bottle on a table with an apple and a knife. She showed me how to do it with perspective, in a very simple language. It was something a kid could master and feel totally inspired.” Shanahan has been inspired by art ever since. This month, she’ll receive the Wichita Area Arts Council’s first Lifetime Achievement in Visual Arts Award. “For more than five decades, Kathleen Shanahan has pursued a remarkable life in art — creating, experimenting, teaching, exhibiting, and continually expanding a visual language uniquely her own,” the council said in a news release. “Still an active practicing artist represented by Reuben Saunders Gallery in Wichita and Viridian Artists in New York, Shanahan demonstrates that lifetime achievement doesn’t mean the work is finished.” Shanahan confirmed that.
“Basically, I don’t have any other responsibilities. I try to devote as much time as I can” to making art. After college in Michigan and graduate school in Arizona, Shanahan taught art at several colleges before taking a job at Wichita State University, where she met her husband, attorney Joe Hlavacek. They moved to Kansas City for a few years before returning to Wichita in 2003. She has also taught at Mark Arts. In addition to drawing, Shanahan pursued printmaking and painting before turning her focus to mixedmedia works, in which more than one material or artistic medium are combined. “I kind of have a pull toward materials,” she said. Shanahan said a grant she received to do research in Japan while in her thirties had a big impact on her work. “Beyond being wowed by the culture, the biggest change in my art was in color. I was much freer at bolder with color after Japan.” Shanahan has held three artistin-residence positions, had her work included in several books and exhibited from Chicago to Hong Kong. In addition to the Reuben Saunders Gallery, her work can be seen locally in collections owned by Emprise Bank, the Kansas Health Foundation, KMUW, the Elizabeth Koch Foundation and others. Last year,
November theatre By Diana Morton Century II, Tosca, Puccini’s dramatic masterpiece — a story of love, power and betrayal set to some of Puccini’s most passionate and unforgettable music. Set in Rome in June 1800, the opera follows celebrated singer Floria Tosca and painter Mario Cavaradossi as they are caught in the dangerous schemes of Baron Scarpia, Rome’s ruthless chief of police. Oct 30 and Nov 1. Information and tickets, call (316) 303-8000. Mrs. Doubtfire, Broadway in Wichita, Concert Hall. Based on the hit film, Mrs. Doubtfire tells the hysterical and heartfelt story of an out-of-work actor who will do anything for his kids. It’s “the lovable, big-hearted musical comedy we need right now,” raved the Chicago Tribune. Nov 10-12. Information and tickets, call (316) 303-8000. Amahl and the Night Visitors, featuring
WSU Opera Theatre and Wichita Grand Opera. Nov 20, 22. Tickets TBD. The Nutcracker. Metropolitan Ballet will be joined by musicians of the Salt City Orchestra, dancers from around the region and guest artist. A Wichita tradition for the entire family. Nov 28, 29. Information and tickets, call (316) 303-8000. Empire House Melodrama, Old Cowtown Museum. The Christmas Princess. Nov. 6-15. (316) 350-3323. The Forum Theatre, 141 S. Ellis, Fences. A former star of the Negro baseball leagues works as a garbage man in 1957 Pittsburgh, taking out his anger and frustration on his wife and son, a budding ballplayer. Oct 4-Nov 15. Information and tickets, call (316) 618-0444. Guild Hall Theatre, St. James Episcopal Church, 3750 E. Douglas.
A piece called Elusive Phantoms was part of Kathleen Shanahan's exhibit at WAM last year. the Wichita Art Museum showed her works from the 1970s through 2025 in an exhibit called Now and Then: From the Studio of Kathleen Shanahan. More is on the way, if a recent change of address is any indication. Shanahan said she persuaded her husband that they should move to a new home three years ago based on her plans to convert its party room into a studio. “I kind of forced my husband to move over there, because of the studio, primarily,” she said. To view samples of Kathleen Shanahan’s artwork, visit kathleenshanahan.com.
The Man Who Came to Dinner by George S. Koffman and George Hart. Classic 1930s American comedy: An arrogant celebrity takes over a small-town home after an accident and learns you can’t always have your own way, no matter who you are. Nov 19-22. For tickets and reservations, call (316) 683-5686. ICT Rep, Red Velvet. A young American actor becomes the first black man to play Othello on a London stage at a time of public unrest due to the abolition of slavery. Nov 13-22. The Fisch Haus, 524 S. Commerce. Information and tickets, call (316) 612-2543 or ictrep.org. Mosley Street Melodrama, 234 N. Mosley. Sleigh What? The Claus Confusion, written by Tom Frye. Christmas at the North Pole is in serious trouble! The elves are on strike, the reindeer are sick, and Santa has come down with a most embarrassing case of the “tinsel trots.” Followed by a new musical revue. Nov 13-23. Tickets, dinner, & show $36-40; show only $26-30. Information and tickets, call (316) 263-0222.
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November 2026 2026 Art Awards The 56th annual Art Awards will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Doc Hangar, 1788 Airport Road. Tickets are available at wichitaarts.com. Other winners include: Youth Performing Arts Award — Aaliyah Venegas, violinist, Southeast High Emerging Visual Artist Award — Trisha Coates, ceramic sculptor and teacher Emerging Non-Musical Performing Artist Award — Essex Terrel, rap and spoken-word performer Arts Educator Award — Johnna Faith Stoffregen, Andover Middle School Arts Organization Award — Envision, in recognition of the Envision Arts Gallery Special Project Award — Exploration Place, for the Adventure Playscape Arts Advocate Award — Walter Girton, poetry advocate and arts promoter Burton Pell Lifetime Achievement in Music Award — Robin Macy and Ken White, musicians and Bartlett Arboretum concert impresarios Gordon W. Evans Art Leadership Award — Stacee Olden, Orpheum Theatre executive director Hall of Fame Arts Award — Caesar and Michelle Naftzger, philanthropists Prairie Pines Playhouse, 4055 N. Tyler Rd. Mystery at Snowy Point. Nov 20-21, 27-28; Dec 3-6, 10-11, 13, 17-20, 22-23. $46.85 dinner/show. (316) 303-2037. Roxy’s Downtown, 412 E. Douglas, cabaret-style theatre. The Woman in Black. Thriller based on Susan Hill’s classic ghost story follows a young solicitor sent to settle the affairs of a mysterious estate—only to uncover a haunting presence that refuses to be forgotten. 7:30 pm Thu-Sat-Nov 7. For information and tickets, call (316) 265-4400. Avenue Q. Winner of the “Triple Crown” of Tony Awards—Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book—this irreverent comedy follows Princeton, a recent college grad, as he navigates the messy realities of adulthood alongside a quirky cast of puppets and humansNov 20-Dec 19. For information and tickets, call (316) 265-4400. Contact Diana Morton at dianamorton12@sbcglobal.net.
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And they’re off! Horse racing returns to Kansas
EUREKA, Kan. — Live horse racing returned to Kansas in October for the first time since 2008. Eureka Downs hosted races on Oct. 17-18 and Oct. 24-25 and was scheduled to do so again Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
Eureka Downs is believed to be the oldest surviving racetrack west of the Mississippi. It’s also unusual in that it’s owned by the nonprofit Greenwood County Fair Association rather than a private corporation.
The track’s return has been supported by revenue generated through hundreds of Historical Horse Racing machines at Gilley’s Gambling Hall in Park City, which also supports the redevelopment of horse breeding in the state. “Kansas once again has live horse racing, and everyone at Gilley’s is proud to celebrate its return,” said Kevin Allis, director of marketing at Gilley’s.
Eureka Downs will host live race horse racing Oct. 31-Nov. 1. For more info, visit eurekadowns.net.
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November 2026
Simple trick elevates humble sandwich When a friend returned from Japan raving about, of all things, the egg salad sandwiches sold by convenience stores there, I had to find out why. Turns out there are a few differences between the American and Japanese versions. Instead of mashing yolks and whites together, as is the custom here, Japanese cooks mash the yolks and later fold in the chopped
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Tamago Sando (Japanese Egg Salad Sandwich) 5 eggs 3-4 tablespoons mayonnaise Salt, pepper and sugar, to taste Dash of milk, cream and/or mustard 4 slices white bread, crusts removed if desired Butter, softened Directions: Hard cook eggs according to your preferred method. When done, cool in ice water, then peel. Separate yolks from whites. Mash yolks with about half the mayonnaise plus salt, pepper, sugar and milk, cream and/or mustard. Dice whites into ¼-inch pieces. Fold whites into yolk mixture with remaining mayonanaise. Butter one side of bread slices, place egg salad between them and enjoy.
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November 2026
Parade and more scheduled to honor veterans Wichita will hold its annual Veterans Days Parade featuring marching bands, floats, military vehicles and more starting at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7. The route begins at Central and Main Street, then turns onto Douglas Avenue and McLean Boulevard. After the parade, Exploration Place at 300 N. McLean boulevard is staging an outdoor celebration with food, live entertainment and kids’ activities from noon to 4 p.m.
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Admission is free. Veterans and their immediate families are also invited to visit the Sedgwick County Zoon for free from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, which is the official Veterans Day. No reservations are need but veterans are asked to bring proof of their military service. Also, the Sedgwick County RSVP program is collecting new socks for veteran. Socks can be brought to the RSVP office at 271 W. 3rd St. weekdays through Nov. 6.
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Do you Do you suffer suffer from from leg leg pain, pain, heaviness, swelling, swelling, fatigue, fatigue, bulging veins?? bulging veins?? Dr. Cheatum and Sean Prolago, PA, take a comprehensive, nonsurgical approach to treating varicose veins. This includes using Duplex Ultrasonography for diagnosis and guiding treatment, as well as Dr. Paul Cheatum, MD, RVT, DABVLM
Endovenous Laser Treatment (EVLT), Radiofrequency Ablation (RF) (Venclose), Varithena ablation, and Injection Sclerotherapy. By combining these therapies, they can effectively address the needs of all their patients, from small spider veins to larger, rope-like varicose veins.
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MIKESELTZERJEWELERS.COM
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November 2026
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Kansas Silver Haired Legislature sets priorities for 2026 TOPEKA — The Kansas Silver Haired Legislature approved five resolutions that set its priorities for the 2027 legislative session. Sixty-five delegates took part in the two-day session on the floor of the Kansas House of Representatives, with every Planning and Service Area in the state represented. On the first day, each resolution went through committee hearings that included testimony from professionals who work on these issues every day. After testimony and debate, committees amended the resolutions, and the full body then debated each one before Thursday’s final vote. “Delegates representing every part of Kansas overwhelmingly approved these resolutions,” said KSHL Speaker Leroy Burton of El Dorado. “That tells legislators something. Seniors from rural towns and big cities alike agree on what they need to stay healthy, independent and involved in their communities.” The five resolutions are: Senior Transportation Urges the Legislature to continue supporting and to increase funding for collaborative, community-based transportation for seniors, including micro-transit in rural, remote and metropolitan areas. It supports local control of these systems and asks the Kansas Department of Transportation to study transportation needs and work with local governments, Area Agencies on Aging, the KSHL and
other organizations on projects that meet them. In-Home Care Urges the Legislature to increase funding for the Senior Care Act and the Home and Community-Based Services Frail/Elderly Waiver so Kansans can continue to receive vital in-home support. Medicaid Urges the Legislature to support Medicaid expansion in Kansas and to strengthen KanCare by increasing provider reimbursement rates. Personal Needs Allowance and Medicaid Application Help Urges the Legislature to raise the personal needs allowance for residents of Medicaid-approved nursing facilities to $72.74, matching the national average, with an annual review for a cost-of-living adjustment. The allowance is the monthly amount residents keep for personal expenses. The resolution also calls for more help for seniors applying for Medicaid, including funding and designating the Kansas Area Agencies on Aging to provide that assistance. Voting Rights Opposes any effort by the Legislature or county election officials that would restrict or prevent Kansas seniors from voting. It urges the Legislature to support the voting rights of seniors and all other voters by ensuring access to the polls, early voting and mail-in ballots. Copies of the resolutions will go
Members of the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature set priorities for the 2027 Kansas legislative session last month in Topeka. to all Planning and Service Areas, legislators, senior centers, and other senior organizations across Kansas. After the November 3 election, the KSHL will contact newly elected legislators, share the resolutions and schedule meetings with new committee chairs and committees. In early January, delegates will return to Topeka to visit every legislative office to deliver and discuss the resolutions. Testimony will begin once the new Legislature is sworn in. “Passing these resolutions is
the starting line,” Burton said. “Our delegates will be in every legislative office in January making sure these issues are heard.” The Kansas Silver Haired Legislature is a statewide advocacy body made up of delegates who advocate for the more than 700,000 seniors in Kansas. Each year, KSHL delegates bring forward resolutions grounded in survey data and lived experience from every county in the state to shape policy that affects Kansas seniors.
Senior advocates urge end to waitlist for services By Libby Hastings Kansas Advocates for Better Care is urging state leaders to provide additional funding to eliminate the waitlist for the Home and Community-Based Services Frail Elderly Waiver, which helps older Kansans access the services they need to remain in their homes and communities. In testimony submitted to the Kansas Silver Haired Legislature last month in Topeka, KABC Executive Director Dan Goodman emphasized the importance of preserving access to in-home care and preventing older adults from entering nursing facilities before they need that level of care. The Frail Elderly Waiver waitlist, implemented July 6, has already affected hundreds of older Kansans. Without additional funding, more people could face delays in receiving essential services, potentially accelerating health declines and increasing the likelihood of premature
nursing home placement. KABC is recommending $31 million in additional funding for the Frail Elderly Waiver in fiscal year 2027 to address projected funding shortfalls and help eliminate the waitlist. The waiver was established to help older Kansans access community-based services that allow them to remain in their homes for as long as possible, delaying or avoiding the need for more costly institutional care. These services can make a significant difference in an older adult’s ability to maintain independence, health and quality of life. When needed support is unavailable, however, individuals and families may have fewer options for managing care at home. The Cost of Delayed Access The potential impact of the waitlist is significant. According to KABC’s testimony, the state faces a projected $31 million shortfall for the waiver in fiscal year 2027, putting access to
critical in-home services at risk. Historical data also illustrate the potential scope of the problem. In 2003, a similar FE waiver waitlist affected approximately 20% of eligible participants. The Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services reports that 9,306 Kansans are currently eligible for the waiver. Applying that historical 20% figure to today’s eligible population suggests that approximately 1,861 older Kansans could be affected in fiscal year 2027. The goal is to help older Kansans receive the services they need
when they need them, rather than risk declining health or entering institutional care because communitybased options are unavailable. In his testimony, Goodman emphasized that investing in homeand community-based services offers an opportunity to support older adults’ independence while potentially avoiding the greater costs associated with premature institutionalization. Libby Hastings is communications and public coordinator for Kansas Advocates for Better Care, a Topeka-based nonprofit which represents the interests of elderly Kansans.
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.
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Medicare has free benefit that can help Type 2 Diabetes Feature Impact Nearly one in two people age 65 and older has prediabetes, a condition where blood sugar (glucose) levels run higher than normal. Left unchecked, prediabetes can progress to type 2 diabetes. However, with the right support, prediabetes can often be managed or even reversed. If you have Medicare, you may qualify for a Medicare-covered program that can help you lower your chances of developing type 2 diabetes, at no cost to you. The Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program is a covered Medicare benefit that gives you practical tools, personalized support, and proven strategies to make healthy lifestyle changes. Learn how to eat better, exercise more, and build healthy habits that stick while guided by a certified coach who helps you every step of the way. Research shows the program works. People with prediabetes who complete the program result in weight loss, which ultimately leads to reduced risk of type 2 diabetes onset.
What can you expect? Prevention does not mean you have to make big changes all at once. This program helps you take small, realistic steps that can add up to lasting results. It includes 16 core sessions where you can learn how to reduce your diabetes risk by making healthier meals, moving more, and building healthy habits. The core sessions are followed by six months of monthly maintenance sessions to help you keep your momentum. Choose class format that works You can enroll in these services from approved Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program suppliers and participate in the way most convenient for you: • In-Person: Attend sessions in a community location. • Live-Distance Learning: Join interactive group sessions from home. • Self-Paced Online: This new option allows you to access online content and learn on your own schedule. Visit www.medicare.gov/
PreventDiabetes to find a class that’s right for you. Who is eligible? You may qualify if you are enrolled in Medicare Part B and meet these criteria: • Have had one of the following test results within the past 12 months: a. Hemoglobin A1c between 5.7% and 6.4% b. Fasting plasma glucose between 110 and 125 mg/dL c. Two-hour plasma glucose between 140 and 199 mg/dL after an oral glucose tolerance test • Have a body mass index (BMI) of 25 or higher (or 23 or higher if you self-report as Asian descent). • Have never been diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes or end-stage renal disease (ESRD). What does it cost? If you have Medicare Part B and qualify for the program, you pay
Flu shots for seniors: What’s new this fall By Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I always get my annual flu shot, but I never know whether I’m getting the right one. Can you explain which flu vaccine is best for seniors this fall and whether there are any other recommended vaccines I should get? — Trying to Stay Healthy Dear Trying, If you’re 65 or older, getting your annual flu shot is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself during flu season. But with new vaccines and changing recommendations, many older adults aren’t sure which shots they need. The good news is that this fall’s advice for seniors is simple: Get an enhanced flu vaccine, and use the opportunity to make sure you are up to date on other important vaccines, including RSV, pneumonia, shingles and, depending on your health situation, COVID-19. Best flu shot for seniors Influenza can be especially dangerous for older adults. As we age, our immune systems don’t respond as well to infection, which is why people 65 and older account for most flurelated hospitalizations and deaths. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends
that adults 65 and older receive one of three enhanced flu vaccines instead of a standard-dose shot: Fluzone HighDose, Fluad or Flublok. Each of these vaccines is designed differently, but all produce a stronger immune response in older adults. Studies have not shown that one works better than the others, so there’s no need to wait for a specific brand. The important thing is to get one of these enhanced vaccines when it’s available. Also new for the 2026-27 flu season is Moderna’s mFLUSIVA, the first mRNA flu vaccine authorized in the United States. It is fully approved for adults ages 50 to 64 and has received accelerated approval for those 65 and older, pending additional study results. While mRNA technology could eventually allow flu vaccines to be updated more quickly to match circulating strains, adults 65 and older should continue to follow CDC recommendations and choose one of the three enhanced flu vaccines whenever possible. The best time to get your flu
shot is September or October, but it’s not too late if you miss that window. Even a flu shot in November or later can still provide valuable protection. Medicare Part B covers one flu shot each flu season at no cost when it’s given by a Medicare-participating doctor, clinic or pharmacy. Other vaccines While you’re getting your flu shot, it’s also a good time to review your other vaccinations with your healthcare provider or pharmacist. The CDC recommends a one-time RSV vaccine for everyone age 75 and older, as well as adults ages 50 through 74 who are at increased risk for severe RSV illness. Medicare Part D covers RSV vaccines. Adults age 50 and older who have not received a pneumococcal vaccine should also consider getting protected against serious forms of pneumonia. The preferred options are Prevnar 20 (PCV20) or Capvaxive (PCV21). Most people need only one dose, and Medicare Part B covers these vaccines. If you have not received the Shingrix shingles vaccine, it is another important vaccine to consider. The two-dose vaccine is more than 90
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nothing to participate. If you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you may have to go to an in-network provider to get these services. Contact your plan for more information. Ready to get started? Take control of your health on your own terms, schedule, and pace that fits into your life. Check with your doctor to find out if you have prediabetes or are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes. If you’re eligible for the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program, your doctor can refer you, or you can enroll on your own. percent effective at preventing shingles and the painful nerve problems that can follow. Medicare Part D covers both doses. COVID-19 recommendations have become more individualized in recent years, but older adults remain at higher risk for serious illness. Talk with your healthcare provider about whether an updated COVID vaccine is appropriate for you. Medicare Part B covers COVID vaccines. Vaccine timing Flu, RSV, COVID-19 and other recommended vaccines can generally be given during the same visit. But if you’re concerned about temporary side effects such as fatigue, muscle aches or a sore arm, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about spacing them out. To find pharmacies and other providers offering vaccines near you, visit vaccines.gov.
Get More Savvy
Find more Savvy Senior tips at theactiveage.com. Topics this month include: • Medicare and moving: What you need to know • How to better protect your Social Security number • Helping an aging parent manage their money
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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
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
CLEARWATER 921 E Janet, 584-2332 DERBY 1315 S Rock Rd, 788-0223 www.derbyks.com DOWNTOWN 200 S Walnut, 267-0197 www.seniorservicesofwichita.org
MT HOPE 105 S Ohio, 667-8956
GODDARD 122 N Main, 785-398-1255 HAYSVILLE 160 E Karla, 529-5903
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 DOUGLASS 124 W 4th, 746-3227 EL DORADO 210 E 2nd, 321-0142
MULVANE 632 E Mulvane, 777-4813
LEON 112 S Main, 745-9200 or 742-9905
NORTHEAST 2121 E 21st, 269-4444
ROSE HILL 207 E Silknitter, 776-0170
OAKLAWN 2937 Oa klawn Dr, 524-7545
TOWANDA 317 Main, 316-536-8999 Open 10:30 am-5 pm Mon, Wed, Fri
ORCHARD PARK 4808 W 9th, 942-2293
WHITEWATER Legion Hall, 108 E Topeka
EDGEMOOR 5815 E 9th, 688-9392 GARDEN PLAIN 1006 N Main, 535-1155
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PARK CITY 1811 Stuart Dr, 744-1199 VALLY CENTER COMMUNITY CENTER 314 E Clay, 755-7350
Harvey County BURRTON 124 N Burrton, 620-463-3225 HALSTEAD 523 Poplar, 835-2283
Senior Wednesdays
HESSTON Randall & Main, 620-327-5099 www.hesstonseniorcenter.com
www.seniorwednesday.org
Nov 4 10:30 am Wichita Art Museum 1400 W. Museum Blvd., $2 admission. ‘Past & Present’ Deep Dive with Dr. Tera Lee Hedrick 1:30 pm Museum of World Treasures 835 E. 1st St. William Allen White and the KKK in Kansas. Nov 11 10 am Sedgwick County Zoo, 5555 Zoo Blvd. (316) 2668213, $4 Glacial View Zoo. 1:30 pm Advanced Learning Library, 711 W, 2nd, (316) 2618500, Free. Info not available.
Nov 18 10 am Ulrich Museum of Art, 1845 Fairmount St. Curating U Bare It with Jeni Doom and Caitlin Waugh Nov 25 10 am Wichita-Sedgwick County Historical Museum, 204 S. Main. Info not available. 1:30 pm Mid American All-Indian Museum. 650 N Seneca (316) 3503340, $2 + tax admission; free for MAAIM members. Info not available.
Dances El Dorado Live Music & Dancing, Senior Center, 210 E. 2nd. 4th Friday of the month at 6:30 pm. $5 entry fee. 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 Prairie Wind Dancers: Plymouth
Congregational Church, 202 N Clifton. Joyce, 683-1122. Village Steppers Square Dance, Oaklawn Activity Center, 4904 S Clifton. 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month September through May 7:30 - 10:00 pm. Info: Mike Huddleson 316-650-2469 Westside Steppers Square Dance, 1st and 3rd Sunday of each month, 6-8:30 p.m., West Heights United Methodist (entrance "D"), 745 N. Westlink Ave. Info: Sheldon Lawrence (316) 648-7590.
NEWTON AREA SENIOR CENTER 122 E 6th, Newton, 283-2222 www.newtonseniorcenter.com SEDGWICK 107 W. Fifth, 772-0393
Transportation
Sedgwick County Sedgwick Co Transportation, 6605150 or 1-800-367-7298. Information: 8 am-5 pm, Mon-Fri; closed most holidays. www.sedgwickcounty.org/ aging. Butler County Transit Weekday transportation in El Dorado, Augusta and Andover. Rides to Wichita on Wed, Thu. Information: Augusta, 775-0500; El Dorado, 3224321; toll free, 1-800-279-3655. 48-hr notice required.
Harvey County Transportation reservations or information: 316-284-6802 or 1-866680-6802. Round-trip: $8 Newton (wheelchair only), $12 Harvey County, $20 outside Harvey County. AVI to Newton: Tue, 12:30-4:30 pm from Burrton, Sedgwick, Halstead, Hesston, Walton.
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Community Meals
Here are the menus that will be used for Meals on Wheels and congregate meal sites at Huston, Linwood, Orchard Park, Northeast, Sheridan Village, Maple Gardens, Oaklawn and La Familia. WEEK OF NOV 2 Mon: Sliced Turkey w/ Turkey Gravy, cornbread stuffing, soinach, cranberry sauce, whole grain roll Tue:Chili w/ cheese, cinnamon roll, capri blend, vegetables, whole grain rolls, mango papaya fruit cup Wed: Breaded pork, mac & cheese, zucchini and tomatoes, whole wheat roll, peach crisp Thu: Tuna salad sandwich on whole wheat bun, tri color rasta salad, carrot raisin salad, mixed fruit Fri: Chicken alfredo over pasta, winter blend vegetables, whole grain rolls, apricots WEEK OF NOV 9 Mon: Beef hot dog on bun, buttered carrots, corn on the cob, pickle, relish, pkg, ketchup and mustard, cottage cheese in cup Tue: Meatball sub w/ cheese on hoagie bun, waffle fries, normandy vegetable, mandarins in cherry jello Wed: Turkey & swiss sheese slider on whole wheat bun, green beans, corn nuggets, tropical fruit Thu: Sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, chopped broccoli, wheat rolls, peach parfait Fri: Lemon pepper cod loin, wild rice, whole grain rolls, mixed vegetables, apple crisp WEEK OF NOV 16 Mon: Pulled pork, Nacho sauce, tortilla chips, mexican rice, brussel sprouts, tossed salad cup, nutri grain bar Tue: Mushroom swiss burger on whole wheat bun, french fries, broccoli raisin salad, blueberry cobbler Wed: Chicken parm w/ marinara sauce, italian seasoned bowtie past. italian blend vegetables, whole wheat rolls Thu: Turkey salad sandwich on whole wheat bun, potato salad, cole slaw, blueberry muffins Fri: Tuna noddle casserole, sweet peas, whole grain rolls, diced peaches WEEK OF NOV 23 Mon: Beef and bean burritos w/ picante sauce, mexican beans, roasted bell peppers and onions, butterscotch pudding Tue: Chicken fried chicken, mashed potatoes w/ country gravy, beets, whole wheat rolls, chex mix strawberry yogurt filled snack Wed: Beef hobo stew w/ vegetables, buttermilk biscuit, spiced pears Thu: Ham salad sandwich on whole wheat bun, spring mix salad w/ salad dressing. broccoli salad, mixed fruit Fri: Beer battered cod, fluffy rice, capri vegetables, whole grain rolls, apricots WEEK OF NOV 30 Mon: Chicken potato casserole w/ cheese, onion, turkey bacon bits, mixed vegetables, whole grain roll, mandarin oranges * 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
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Classified Advertising
F ACCREDITED HANDYMAN F
Elite Custom Construction L.L.C Handyman Services
BIG TO SMALL WE DO IT ALL Licecnsed & Insured
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F CEMETERY PROPERTY- FOR SALE F
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Resthaven Garden of Freedom, Military section,double lawn vault, two openings/closings, granite base/installation, $10,000 OBO. 209-507-1174, Curt. 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 $3,000. Four Plots in Sermon on the Mount. Lot 326A spaces 1,2,3,4 with 2 Vaults, 1 Headstone. Value $13,490, Sell $5,000. 316-208-3248 Larry Harmon Double stacker plots w/stone at Lakeview Cemetery. Purchased for $8,000. Asking $5,000. Buyer Pays transfer fee of $295. Call 316-665-7445. Resthaven Cemetery. Garden of Faith. Prime Location. 2 Lots on Center Aisle 40 B spaces 3&4. Sold together. 1Granite Base, 1Marker, 1. Opening/Closing. $7,750. 316-617-8581 Resthaven Garden of Prayer, 4 adjoining spaces, lot 129C, Spaces 1,2,3,4. Includes 2 vaults, and one companion marker, valued above $20,000. Asking $14.500. Seller pays transfer: Call 316-204-293-0083 Single Crypt in Historic White Marble Old Mission Mausoleum. Asking price $2,500. Buyer pays transfer fee. If interested please call 903-427-5019. Please leave a message. Burial Space w/ pre-installed vault. White Chapel, Garden of the Gethsemane. Lot 48-B, space 1. Value $2,697. Sell for $1,900. 316-765-4428. 2 adjoining plots at White Chapel in Garden of Valor. Lot 16B spaces1&2. $3,000 for both. 316-260-5662. Resthaven Last Supper 4-plot. $3,000 per space bob@millcreeklawyer.com Indoor column barium corner niche w/2 glass sides. Floor level at Lakeview Cemetery. Buyer pays transfer fee. $6,500. 316-737-2380. Resthaven. Single Space. Garden of the Lord’s Prayer. Space 157 C2. Bronze Marker & Air seal vault. Seller split transfer fee. $6,000. Email carolsgarden@cox.net
R FO ! H S JO
Rare opportunity! Four adjacent burial plots in Lakeview Cemetery’s Garden of Meditation, Lot 251-A. $4,500 each. Call Donnie 816-273-3393.
K
4 plots White Chapel cemetery located in Good Shepherd Section. Lot 91a spaces 1,2,3&4. $3,000 each. Can sell separately. Buyer pays transfer fee of $499. 316-640-0480.
S
Lakeview Cemetery Garden of Memory. 6 plots: 2 spaces in Lot 60 adjoining 4 spaces in Lot 80. One companion marker with vase and 3 vaults. Valued @ $36k+ will sell for $22k OBO. Contact Nathan Howard at ndh74@icloud.com or 704-519-9552
A
CLEANING AND ORGANIZATIONAL SERVICES
F CEMETERY PROPERTY- FOR SALE F
316-391-0597 HOUSEKEEPING
OR S RESIDENTIAL NI T SE OUN COMMERCIAL SC I INDOOR/OUTDOOR D POST REMODEL MOVE IN/OUT GARAGE/SHED AND MORE
then it's $0.50 a word after the first 20 Email Tammara at *-t
Hair Solutions by Sherry Perms * Cuts * Colors Men, Woman & Children 1 person Salon Therapy is expensive, Get a Haircut! I'm a great listener! Call for an appointment Sherry Brown 316-207-1760
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Hate calling random people or family about your computer and cell phone issues? Call Crista with abcd TECH instead! Call or text today 316.768.7832
Professional Handyman 20+ yrs. experience High Quality Work, Reasonable Rates, Dependable Landlord make-ready’s Painting * Sheetrock Repair * Trim work/ Woodwork Spring Clean-up Free Estimates - Insured Call Kevin 316-807-7271
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Handicap Ramps and Decks Showers and Storage Sheds
Alpine Hauling and Junk removal
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Serving Wichita and surrounding area
CALL FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
F COMPUTER SPECIALISTF
Lots of references and pictures
Dennis Suitor 918-902-0742
Free Estimates
Call Dan 316-516-3949
F ELECTRICAL F
F HOME CARE F
Alpha Electric Dependable Electrical Service Call Greg at 316-312-1575 Insured, Lic. #1303
Private Duty Aide with light house keeping. Availability evenings and weekends. References upon request. Cynthia CNA/HHA 316-992-6711
F FENCINGF
31 Years Experience 29 Years Licensed with the State of Kansas - Certified Nurse Assistant & Home Health Specializing in Alzheimer's/Diabetes Activities of daily living and or rides Excellent References Kay 316-882-9127
FENCE BUILDING AND REPAIR - Wooden Privacy Fences - Rod Iron Fences - Chain-Link Fences -Dirt Work - Commercial / Residential
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ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A PRIVATE CAREGIVER? Medical Management - Companionship Transportation - Shopping - Light Housekeeping Available Mornings Call 316-249-0831
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Deadline for the Dec paper is Nov 15
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Cheryl Rosine ~ The Foot Lady ICMT RN Benjamin Jones ~ CNAICR $40: In-home, Sedgwick & surrounding counties Diabetic, thick toe nails, ingrown & callous care
F FOR SALEF Elderly or mobility challenged security pole with grab bar, floor to ceiling. Safely prevent falls and can be for transfers to/from chair, bed, bathroom anywhere. Easy to install, Like new. One graphite and one bronze. $80 each. 316-652-9943 Golden brand power lift recliner hair. 3 yrs old. Excellent condition. Paid $4,000 asking $1,500. 316-259-4918. Leave message
Classified ads start at $40 for 20 words,
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TWO plots in Lakeview Cemetery lot numbers 108 & 109. Easy to find near private road in Meditation Garden Asking $5,500, no transfer fee. Contact kebarrier@msn.com 316-619-7836
F CLEANING SERVICES F
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Mobility Elite Travelers Scooter. Can travel many terrains $700. Call or text Trudy 316-393-5304 Brand New 3 wheel bike with basket, never rode. Paid $600 will sell for $450. 316-796-5163
Dave’s Improvements General Contractor Lic #7904 Roofing, Siding, Gutters, 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 Hauling Handyman Trim * Cut * Remove Minor Fence & Deck Repairs NO JOB TO SMALL!! 316-807-4989
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F HOME IMPROVEMENTS CONT F JD’s Handyman Services 25+ Years’ Experience Home Repairs Done Right Plumbing, Carpentry, Electrical Tv Mounting, Lock Changes Assembly Services Give me a call! 316-768-7080 FREE Estimates Cowboy Construction Remodeling, siding, decks, fences, windows, doors and more. 20 years locally owned. Free estimates. Senior discounts. Todd Wenzel 316-393-4488 Home Improvement 20+ yrs. experience with total home makeovers. Master Quality Work Rental make-readies Reasonable labor rates for high quality work Free Estimates - Insured Call Kevin 316-807-7271 HANDYMAN SERVICES 20+YEARS EXPERIENCE Reliable • Affordable •Experienced Over 20 years of trusted service in home repairs, maintenance, and improvements. Carpentry • Plumbing • Electrical Drywall • Painting • Assembly & More No job too small Satisfaction quaranteed! Call Andy at (316)833-1820 Free Estimates! Derby, Haysville, Mulvane, Rose Hill, Wichita. Exterior & Interior. House painting, siding, decks, and fences. Build, repair and stain ramps. Free Estimates. Be Blessed. Thank you. BK KIMBALL 316-312-0255 MOBILE GLASS REPAIR Windows * Patio * Doors Windows won’t stay up, Crank Outs, Patio Rollers and Lock Latches, Morris Glass & Service, 316-946-0745 Tired Of Looking At An Ugly Driveway? Let us clean it, caulk in the gaps then spray it with waterproofing to preserve it. Free estimate! Call or text Driveway Restorations 316-516-3949 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
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- Water Heater Replacement - Water Service - Sewer Replacement -
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Mention this ad for $50 off Water Heater replacement
DUE TO HEALTH ISSUES WILL RETURN TO WORK IN NOVEMBER
SENIOR HELPING SENIOR FORSHEE MASONRY- 50 Years
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November 2026
the active age
Page 25
Classified Advertising
F HOME IMPROVEMENTS CONT F
AGAPE ROOFING Three Generations of Local Roofers Quality Work – Fair Prices Residential & Commercial
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AGAPE CONSTRUCTION
Total Concrete Services
Locally Owned by Pastor Steven Blalock 10% off Senior/Military Discount
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F HOME IMPROVEMENTS CONT F Nelsen Contracting General Contractor
Residential and Commercial
Honesty, Quality, Integrity are Key! Maintenance / Remodel / New Build
Free Initial Consultation
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K & A Maintenance Experts We specialize in the following
Wheel Chair Ramps • Landscaping • Remodeling Decks • Safety Hand Rails
FREE ESTIMATES
All General Maintenance and Repairs Please call Jesse at 316-854-7642
S & V Concrete
Steps, porches, patios, sidewalks, driveways & garage floors. Also 4-inch steps with 18-inch landings for seniors. Licensed, bonded, insured. Free estimates
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Integrity Landscaping & Construction • Clean Ups/Haul Off • Fences • Power Washing
• Tree Work • Decking • Trimming
**Anything Home Improvement**
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BRICK & STONE WORK OF ANY KIND Tuck-pointing, foundation & chimney repair. Insured. Free Estimates.
CALL DAN 316-516-3949
Ballard Plumbing ALL PLUMBING REPAIRS • •
FREE estimates Senior Discounts
Licensed & Insured Veteran Owned - Family Operated
Call Brad at 316-260-0136 www.BallardPHC.com
Bruce Smith Roofing & Siding Protect your home from the elements of the weather!
35 Years Exp. Locally owned & operated
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316-640-3155 Licensed & Insured
JS Guttering & Construction 5"-6" SEAMLESS GUTTER WHOLE HOUSE PAINTING SIDING & WINDOWS
Call Josh for an estimate
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The Handyman Hero Kadir Lopez
"I fix things you may or may not have broken"
316-259-6748 Plumbing - Electrical - Flooring Doors - Fencing - Free Estimates
www.handymanheroks.com Insured handymanheroict@gmail.com
PLUMBCO
Compare Our Prices Weekly Plumbing Specials
Ins/Lic #5803 316-942-1967
Place an ad: 942-5385
F LAWN AND GARDEN CONTF
F PERSONALSF
Henricks Lawn Care Owner/operator 35 yrs. experience. Lawn /tree & shrub care. Spring & Fall cleanup, gutter cleaning. Brush Cutting. Servicing West Wichita, Goddard, Cheney, Colwich areas. Toby Henricks 316-680-9183
Country gal needs companion 72+ for fun, travel and movies. I’m caring, honest, kind with cheerful personality. Looking for the same in a companion. Looks not important it’s the heart. Be there for one another. 105, Wichita, KS 67213.
Soto Landscaping * Full Lawn Services * Plants & Flowers * Tree Removal * Weed Control …and More 316-312-2195 or 316-260-0397 Text or Leave a Message GROWFESSIONAL GARDENING Yard & Garden Clean Ups And Design Please call Robert for leaf and garden bed clean up or any other gardening needs. Also does Interior Painting Call Robert 316-932-4225 WEST SIDE LAWN SERVICE FALL LEAF CLEAN UP * Mowing * Leaf & Gutter Cleaning * Hauling/ Branches/ Junk Free estimates. Perry 316-339-4117
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• Tree Work • Decking • Trimming
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Yard Services Include: Mowing * Weed Eating * Edging * Air Blowing Non Toxic Weed Treatment OTHER SERVICES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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Tony Rich Landscaping Landscape, Lawn Clean-Up, Tree Work, Gutters Cleaned, Dirt Work, Positive Drainage, Topsoil & Mulch Delivery
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Active Aging Proof Approval F PAINTING F Please check your ad carefully McCoy Painting 316-516-6443 Do you need any interior boxes or exterior painting and check off done? the I’m applicable your man. Free estimates, affordable F LAWN AND GARDEN F References available.. and initial torates. indicate Jesus Landscaping Tom’s Painting and Drywall Complete lawncare. your acceptance Interior/Exterior Paint Spring clean-up * Aeration * Over Seeding Fresh coat throughout. Gutter cleaning * Fencing * Landscape install/ ____ Check offerRemove old texture, blow back new. maintain * Shrub/tree trimming/removal Sr. Discount. Licensed and insured Call for a free estimate! Tom 316-258-0467 ____ Check name, address, 316-737-3426 or 316-631-5984 WWW.JESUSLANDSCAPINGKS.COM phone Molina’s Yard Clean up Classified ads start at $40 Weekend Residential Services ____ Check expiration dates Debris, Brush, Over grown vegetation, for 20 words, then it's $0.50 a Cutting, trimming removal ____ Proof Satisfactory word after the first 20 Garden maintenance Extra Services upon request Email Tammara at (no changes) Call Eric - 316-932-4011 tammara@theactiveage.com Free Estimates or call 316-942-5385 _____________ Advertiser initials www.theactiveage.com You can fax your approval or corrections to us at 946-9180
F ROOFING F
Dave’s Improvements Inc. Preferred Roofing Contractor Lic #7904
**FREE ROOFING INSPECTIONS** Storm Damage Repair • Roofing
• Siding
• Gutters
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Downsizing / Moving / Fall Cleaning We buy everything from individual items to whole estates. House cleanout service also available. Give us a call to learn more about all the services we provide Bud Palmer Auction 316.838.4141 BudPalmerAuction.com
F TREE SERVICE F Felipe Tree Service Evergreen trimming. Tree removal. Brush hauling. Splitting. Deadwooding. Free estimates. 12 years experience. 316-807-4419 Bruce’s Tree Service ALL FARM & RURAL AREAS Over 30 years exp. Senior Discounts. Insured. Complete Tree Trimming & Removal Gutter Cleaning and Leaf Rake Trees * Shrubs* Hedgerows * Evergreens Firewood- Snow Removal Call 316-207-8047 STUMP GRINDING TREE TRIMMING Brock 316-765-1677
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Ask about our Senior Discount! 316-737-8698
Page 26
the active age
November 2026
Seniors on the Go calendar for November
By Starla Criser
Note: Bold-faced events are ones that SOTG members plan to attend. Seniors On the Go – Nov 4 @ 1:30 p.m. monthly meeting at Linwood Senior Center SENIOR DAYS/COFFEE CONNECTIONS Nov 2 – Mo 9 am – Coffee Connection: Children’s Farms @ Sedgwick County Zoo – Free Nov 12 – Th 10 am – Senior Thursday: @ Kansas Aviation Museum – Free 10 am – Empowered Seniors: The Untold Mystery of Your Ancestors @ Botanica - Free Nov 19 – Th 9 am – Coffee with Curator: Freiheit Und Sklaverei: German Influences on the Abolitionist Movement in Antebellum United States @ Museum of World Treasures - $4+ THEATRE SHOWS/CONCERTS Nov 5 Th 7:30 pm – Wind Ensemble @ Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, WSU - $7-$14 Nov 5 to 7 Th to Sa 7 pm (Nov 5-6), 2 pm (Nov 7) Mary Poppins with Christian Performance Theatre @ Alvin E Morris Admin. Center, 903 S Edgemoor St - $15-$28 Nov 6 & Nov 8 Fr/Su 7 pm (Nov 6), 3 pm (Nov 8) – Wichita Symphony Youth Orchestras Fall Concerts @ Century II Concert Hall - $20
Nov 7 Sa 7:30 pm – Simply the Best: Music of Tina Turner @ Century II Concert Hall - $29 start Nov 8 Su 3 pm - Delano Brass @ District Church, 304 S Seneca St - donation Nov 9 Mo 7:30 pm – Symphonic Band @ Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, WSU - $7-$14 Nov 12 Th 1:30 pm – Thursday Afternoon Music Club: Sylvia Coats & Judith Fear TAMC Members Piano @ Central Community Chapel, 6100 W Maple – Free 7:30 pm – Symphony Orchestra @ Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, WSU - $6-$12 Nov 12 to 15 7:30 pm (Nov 12, 13, 14), 2 pm (Nov 15) – Cabaret @ Wilner Auditorium, WSU – cost TBD Nov 13 to 22 7:30 pm (Nov 13, 14, 20, 21); 2 pm (Nov 15, 22) – Red Velvet -ICTREP @ The Fisch Haus, 524 S Commerce St - $33 Nov 13 to Dec 23 6 pm doors open Fr/Sa – Sleigh What? @ Mosley Street Melodrama - $34.25 show only, $45.25 dinner/ show - SOTG event – Dec 12 – 12 to 4 pm Nov 17 Tu 7:30 pm – Rie Bloomfield Organ Series: Lynne Davis @ Wiedemann Hall, WSU - $11-$18
Memorial and Celebration announcements now offered in The Active Age
Memorial and Celebration announcements can be emailed, sent by regular mail or delivered by hand. The email address is tammara@ theactiveage.com, and we are located at 125 S. West St., Suite 105, Wichita, KS, 67213. Information should be submitted on or before the 15th of the month preceding publication. The Active Age is published on or before the first of each month. The Active Age will maintain Memorial notices online, organized alphabetically at theactiveage.com. Online Memorials may be longer than the printed version at no extra charge. The price of Memorial and Celebration announcements start at $50 for a 1-inch photo and up to 50 words. More information can be found by calling (316) 942-5385 or visiting theactiveage.com.
Nov 19 Th 8:45 pm – Candlelight: Tribute to Fleetwood Mac @ Kansas Aviation Museum - $36.01 Nov 19 to 21 Th-Sa 10 am – Annual Wreath Festival @ Wichita Sedgwick County Historical Museum – Free (NOTE: a sit-down lunch is available for $18) Nov 23 Mo 7:30 pm – Impulse Percussion Group @ Miller Concert Hall, Duerksen Fine Arts Center, WSU - $7-$14 Nov 25 We 7:30 pm – A Celtic Christmas @ Wichita Orpheum - $65.87+ OTHER EVENTS Oct 14 to Dec 20 6 to 9 pm – Wild Lights @ Sedgwick County Zoo - $14/members, $16/ non-members (Wednesdays), $19/ members, $21/non-members (other days) NOTE: SOTG event Nov 11 Nov 4 to 8 We-Su 10 am to 4 pm (Nov 4-7), 12 to 4 pm (Nov 8) – Holiday Tables @ Mark Arts - $12 Nov 5 to 8 Th-Su 6 pm - Stardust: an immersive live music experience @ Dome theatre in Exploration Place - $30 Nov 6 to 7 Fr/Sa 10 am to 4 pm – Sunflower Merry Mart @ Century II Exhibition Hall – $18.55 Nov 7 Sa 10 am start – Sunflower Slam: Wicked City Roller Derby first sanctioned
PLACE YOUR CLASSIFIED AD FOR 2026
em you Have an it
tournament @ Century II Convention Hall - $18.55 Nov 17 Tu 12:30 to 2:30 pm – Chicken Noodle Dinner @ Linwood SC - $5 Nov 19 Th 6 to 8 pm – Derby Christmas Tree Lighting @ Madison Avenue Central Park Nov 21 Sa 9 am to 3 pm – St Mary’s Craft Fair @ St Mary’s Church and School, 2306 E Meadowlark Blvd, Derby - $5 2 to 10 pm – 50th Anniversary Powwow @ Mid-America All-Indian Museum – Free FOODIES/EATING WITH FRIENDS Nov 6 Fr 9:30 am – First Friday Coffee with Downtown SC @ Winchell’s, 1205 W Pawnee St Nov 11 We 11 am – Linny Llama’s & Romeos with Linwood SC @ Cracker Barrel West, 619 S Ridge Rd Nov 16 Mo 1 pm – Lunch Bunch Social Club with Downtown SC @ Merl’s Place, 440 N Seneca St Nov 18 We 1 to 2:30 pm – Free Pie Day with Orchard Park SC @ Village Inn, 7020 W Central Ave
Just her cup of tea
ll?
want to se
Classified ads start at $40 for 20 words, then it's $0.50 a word after the first 20
Deadline for the Dec paper is Nov 15 Email Tammara at tammara@theactiveage.com or call 316-942-5385
Want to promote yo
ur busine
ss?
Ruby Tobey, right, is congratulated by Gov. Laura Kelly after winning a first place at the Kansas State Fair. Tobey's tea cup and saucer, painted to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary, will be displayed at the Governor's mansion in Topeka. www.theactiveage.com
November 2026
the active age
Page 27
Roadrunners making themselves at home in Kansas landscape
By Meg Britton-Mehlisch KMUW
If you grew up watching the Road Runner outsmart Wile E. Coyote, you’d be forgiven for not thinking that the leggy bird has a place in Kansas. The background of those antics are always dramatic desert vistas with buttes and canyons for the coyote to fall into. But the roadrunner has a growing home in Kansas. The Kansas Ornithological Society maintains a checklist of all the possible species birders can see in each of the state’s 105 counties. It’s built off of several databases and updated with accepted sightings of new birds. This summer, Geary and Clay counties were added to the list — bringing the roadrunner’s footprint in Kansas to 56 counties. The Greater Roadrunner’s traditional range spans the scrubby desert areas of California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and northern Mexico. It adapted its diet to pull most of its water needs from prey like snakes, lizards, small rodents and other small birds. The roadrunner uses its long legs to speed between 15 and 20 miles an hour after its prey in arid grasslands. A handful of Greater Roadrunners have been spotted by birders visiting Cheney State Park this year. Park staff say there are now near daily sightings of the birds in the early morning hours, particularly around some of the campgrounds on the park’s southern side. Bob Gress said he probably saw his first Kansan roadrunner 30 or 40 years ago. Gress is a naturalist, birder, photographer and was the founding director of the Great Plains Nature Center in Wichita. He’s now seen roadrunners in Cimarron National Grassland, in
Greater Roadrunners like this, onced confined to the southwestern United States, have been spotted at Cheney State Park this year. the Red Hills area around Medicine sightings on eBird. ”This is probably Lodge, in Quivira National Wildlife one of the most active places in the Refuge and in more suburban settings state right now for roadrunners.” like Maize. Roadrunners have been known to “Every time I see one it surprises become habituated to human contact, me just a little bit,” Gress said. “You often hanging around campgrounds don’t go out specifically looking for in the American Southwest for roadrunners very often because your their abilities to provide a quick chance of reward is so slim that after and dependable meal. Roadrunners a while you learn that you’ll see more are not considered migratory birds. of them just going birding than you While young birds will travel long do going to look for a roadrunner distances in search of food and a mate, [specifically].” they typically settle once they find a Even so, Gress agreed to serve hospitable home. as my guide recently in a search for As we entered Cheney State Park, roadrunners just 30 minutes from Gress called out some newly mowed Wichita. grassy areas as a good spot to check. Gress consulted eBird before we Roadrunners can make a feast off of headed out. It’s an online database run the grasshoppers and spiders that they by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology stir up walking through short grass. where people can record bird sightings “They just spook things and then and submit photos and audio they shoot out to grab it,” Gress added. recordings from their phone. “It’s fun to watch them hunt because “Right here on the west shore of they use their tail as a point of balance Cheney Reservoir, you can see where and they swing it around behind them they have been seen,” Gress said as just to maneuver as they’re on the run. he showed me a cluster of reported
The matriarch of the African elephant herd at the Sedgwick County Zoo has died. Stephanie was the zoo’s oldest elephant, at 55, and had lived at the zoo since 1972. She was the thirdoldest African elephant in North America. Zoo officials said Stephanie had been receiving specialized care to keep her comfortable in her senior years. “Thanks to the dedicated care she received, her age-related issues were well-controlled until recently when the care team observed a significant downturn and it was clear that her treatment could no longer manage her
condition,” the zoo said in a statement. “With her comfort and wellbeing as their highest priority, the elephant care and veterinary teams made the extremely difficult but compassionate decision to humanely euthanize Stephanie this afternoon, surrounded by those who loved her most.” Stephanie and long-time companion Cinda grew up together and spent decades as ambassadors for their species. Cinda died in 2014. Two years later, Stephanie was introduced to six elephants that arrived from Eswatini and assumed the role of the herd’s matriarch. When the zoo welcomed four
Photo by Bob Gress
They’re pretty acrobatic, pretty agile birds.” Gress and I drove around some of the park’s campgrounds, looking for a roughly raven-sized bird with the coloring of a female pheasant among a handful of trailers parked for the week. Gress also was able to call out other features of the park land that would be inviting to a roadrunner: a green racerunner lizard we saw would have been prime prey and juniper trees around the park are a favorite spot for the roadrunner to wait out the hottest parts of the day. “This portion of Kansas, that’s been my home for decades now, is actually looking more and more like parts of western Kansas than it was when I first moved here,” Gress said. “It is drier now. Bird species are kind of changing more ... it’s not a static world out there.” A Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks employee that Gress and I encountered at Cheney Park agreed that the couple of roadrunners spotted in the area seemed content where they were. He said people had seen them just about every day, in the early mornings, “just cruising around.” In spite of this, Gress and I did not see a roadrunner during our birding trip. The afternoon outdoors instead provided ample opportunity to discuss the migrating Franklin gulls, fishing styles of ospreys and the vulnerability of Kansas’ prairie chickens. “If we’re going to survive, [then] we need to develop a whole system where we value all those other things that depend on Earth if they’re going to survive,” Gress said. “Because we can’t exist in a vacuum without other types of life around us, and whatever we do to other things, we have the potential of doing to ourselves.”
Sedgwick County Zoo mourns death of elephant matriarch, Stephanie calves in 2025, Stephanie “welcomed each little one into the herd and provided a calming yet sturdy presence,” zoo officials said. After Stephanie died, the herd spent time with her to process the loss. — KMUW
www.theactiveage.com
Photo courtesy of Sedgwick County Zoo
Stephanie was the third-oldest African elephant in North America prior to her death.
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the active age
November 2026
'It's about challenging yourself'
The right trainer can personalize your workout By Cecilia Green The evidence is clear that exercise helps us live longer and feel better, both physically and mentally. Still, most people over 65 are not getting the recommended minimum amount of exercise. Part of the problem may be that walking into a crowded gym full of strangers and unfamiliar exercise machines can feel intimidating. Some personal trainers, on the other hand, offer private studios where adults can work one on one with certified professionals. One of them is Aaron Stucky, whose path to personal training began when he was a high school coach in Pretty Prairie. He started a summer training program in the off-season and soon added an adult program at the request of students’ parents. After moving to Wichita, he worked at the YMCA and became an ACE-certified personal trainer. When the pandemic closed the YMCA temporarily in 2020, he pivoted and turned an outbuilding at his home into a fully equipped studio. Another is Wendy Williamson, who opened Williamson Wellness Center, a personal training facility, 14 years ago. She has five personal training certificates, including Certified Functional Aging Specialist. She often receives referrals from medical specialties and is known for low back pain assistance, pre and post surgery. Before training begins, she gathers a health history and completes a full body assessment and movement screen. She considers an initial interview as critical to knowing where to begin. “Seniors are so wonderful and are usually so anxious to learn and have people to listen to them,” she said. “The most-frequent thing that brings people to us is, ‘I know I need to get stronger.’ The private facility is also a draw since a lot of people don’t want to go to a large fitness facility.” Williamson considers safety the most important aspect of her time with seniors. “We begin with seated or table work and slowly progress to standing exercises,” she said. “Being very attentive is critical.” One client’s path Dennis Brown, 65, returned to Wichita in 2001 after spending two decades in Los Angeles and Dallas working in television and film as a production designer. By then, it became clear that his aging parents needed help if they were going to
can repeat, such as walking. Strength and balance work with a professional helped him feel steadier and more confident. A trainer personalized the process and held him accountable.
Bobby Conner works on his balance and core muscle group as Wendy Williamson looks on.
For one couple, training supports aging well Judi Pavelski first met Stucky at the Photo by Dennis Brown YMCA and followed Dick Palveski, goes through a workout wtih him when he opened Aaron Stucky. his own training space. How to choose a personal trainer Her husband Dick joined later at Spend some time with prospective her suggestion, though not without trainers asking about their experience hesitation. and approach to working with senior “I’m not one for exercise,” clients. Dick said. “I like swimming. I like • Do they have a personal training pickleball. I don’t like working out.” certification or a college degree in Judi even warned Stucky that Dick’s anatomy or physiology? past workout programs usually ended • How much experience do they within a month. This time, however, he have in prescribing and adapting stayed. exercise programs for older adults? “By the time I leave there, I feel so • Did they ask about your fitness good,” he said. “It’s about challenging level, health concerns, past surgeries yourself and doing better.” and what your personal goals are in an “It’s not just weight training,” Judi exercise program? said. “It’s a combination of cognitive, • Research the cost/benefit of weight and balance altogether.” personal trainers versus group sessions. At 75 and 77, Judi and Dick see People often assume the extra expense their training as less about dramatic is beyond their budget. Talk to the transformation than being confident trainer about half-hour or one-hour and aging well. Judi, a former runner, sessions that might be more affordable compares the body to an old car: for you. if small repairs are ignored, bigger • Ask for recommendations from problems follow. Dick wants to keep those who have worked with the playing pickleball, swim for endurance trainer. and enjoy the social connection that Contact Cecilia Green at Cecgreen1@ comes with staying active. comcast.net.
remain in their home. By 2023, both had died, and Brown found himself at a point many caregivers recognize: One day the work is constant, and the next day, it is suddenly over. Over the caregiving years when it was hard to leave the house and daily movement was limited, Brown had gradually gained weight. He started by walking at the Sedgwick County Zoo and on a treadmill, aiming for 10,000 steps a day. In eight months, he lost about 50 pounds. He realized walking was a great start, but he wanted more. Because group classes did not appeal to him, a relative who had worked with Stucky at the YMCA recommended his private sessions. The one-onone setting gave Brown room to ask questions, talk openly and learn how to move safely. “He is part fitness trainer and part therapist,” Brown said. Stucky and Brown keep the long view in mind, even when a workout is tough in the moment. After Brown had a fall that left him with lingering shoulder pain, Stucky adjusted the exercises so he could rebound safely. Over time, Brown became comfortable enough to join Stucky’s small group training sessions, which focus on balance and functional strength. He also discovered something reassuring: Most people are too focused on their own workout to notice what he is doing. Brown said having set appointments with Stucky on his calendar helped him structure the Photo by Dennis Brown rest of his days. His advice is to Judi Palveski lifts a free weight under the watchful eye of Aaron start as he did with movement you Stucky. www.theactiveage.com
November 2026
the active age
Page 29
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 Glenn Weins.
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.
VOLUNTEERING WITH US THIS TAX SEASON!
Help income-limited households gain financial stability by volunteering to help them file their taxes for free.
• No experience is needed! • Roles include greeter or tax preparer. • Short-term commitment: Feb 1 to April 15. • Day, evening, and Saturday shifts. • You decide the number of hours. • IRS training and on-site support. You are never on your own!
SIGN UP TO VOLUNTEER AT UNITEDWAYPLAINS.ORG/TAXVOLUNTEER Learn more! Attend an information session to learn about the Free Tax Filing Services program, volunteer roles, and training. Tuesday, Nov. 17 Thursday, Dec. 3 1 - 2 p.m. 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Parklane Tax Filing Site, 939 S. Glendale St. (Located on the back side of Parklane, near the large flagpole.)
Come curious, leave inspired. Are you 55 and better? Join us for engaging classes, new friendships, and plenty of fun as we explore a wide variety of topics in a warm and welcoming environment.
Join us for the spring 2027 semester.
Visit BluestemU.org In partnership with:
www.theactiveage.com
Page 30 Planners want you input on making area better for walk The Wichita Area Metropolitan Planning Organization has launched a website for the STAR (Strengthening Transportation Alternatives for the Region) Plan, a regional effort to make walking, biking, and getting around between communities easier, safer, and more connected across Wichita and surrounding WAMPO area communities.
the active age The site includes a short survey asking residents how they get around today and what they’d like to see improved for walking and biking, plus an interactive map where they can drop a pin on specific locations they want addressed. “We can’t build a better-connected region without hearing from the people who live in it,” stated Kim Negrete, WAMPO Multimodal Transportation Safety Planner.
“Community engagement is where that starts.” Visit www.wampo.org/star-plan to learn more and take the survey. Tree tour offered ICT Trees is hosting a guided tree walk at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 at the John C. Pair Horticulture Center, 1901 E. 95th St. S. (just east of the intersection of 95th and Hydraulic). Koby Kramer, district forester with
November 2026 the Kansas Forest Service, will serve as guide. The walk will pass through a small, almost hidden forest on the center grounds. The walk is not rugged but comfortable shoes are recommended. Water will be provided. ICT Trees, which promotes the preservation and expansion of Wichita’s tree canopy, also revamped its website in October. It can be found at icttrees.org.
THERE'S STILL TIME TO GET A
FREE HEALTH TEST
Free Testing Available Through December 31, 2026 You may have been exposed to chemicals in the groundwater without knowing it. Chemicals called TCE and PCE have been found in the groundwater beneath parts of Sedgwick County. Exposure may have occurred years ago. Take advantage of free health testing before it ends December 31.
Get A Free Health Test Today! No insurance needed.
ClearwayTesting.org
Testing is free through December 31, 2026.
www.theactiveage.com
November 2026
the active age
www.theactiveage.com
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the active age
Wichita kids can dream it, work for it and grow into it – but they cannot vote for it. You can. This is our responsibility in our moment to act.
VoteYesYes2026.com Paid for by Yes for Wichita Kids, Luis Rodriguez, Chair www.theactiveage.com
November 2026