Just a carryover from the last blog – we have still not found Nicholas, our standard black poodle. We had what I consider to have been a pretty reliable siting last Friday. He was seen at Hampton and Crestway (a block north of Central between Rock Road and Woodlawn). Of course by the time I arrived he had disappeared and after many drives/walks through the neighborhood, he has yet to be seen again. Liz and I live in hope and still check the shelter at least daily to see if he has been turned in. If you live in Wichita, we would appreciate it if you would continue to watch out for Nicky. Should you see him please contact either us or City of Wichita Animal Control.

Liz tends to operate with the philosophy that good can result when bad things things happen. In this instance, one positive benefit to Nicky’s disappearance is that we have a new canine addition to our household. In our multiple visits to the Animal Shelter, we noticed a shaggy black dog who would perk up every time one of us would walk by his cage. After his three day stay at the shelter, he was transferred to the Kansas Humane Society. As soon as he became available for adoption we did. We named (re-named) him Henry. Supposedly he is a Tibetan Terrier though it is sort of hard to tell given his current shaven hair style. In any event, we are certain the he will be a valued addition to the Kennedy household.

On a lighter note, those who know us well understand that both Liz and I are voracious readers. For my “light” reading I enjoy what could best be described as police procedurals. Within the last year I have discovered Alafair Burke. She appeals to me on a number of planes. Alafair is a Wichita native, having graduated from East High. In fact, she was a class mate and friend of one of my co-workers. She also appeals to me because one of he fictional characters is a Ellie Hatcher, New York City Police detective with connections to Wichita. Another, Samantha Kincaid, is a Prosecutor in Portland, Oregon, a city to which I feel connected because my son lives there. Her most recent book, Long Gone, to be published in June, though based in New York, does not feature Hatcher or Kincaid. It will be interesting to see if the book holds my fascination as well as have her past efforts.

There are a number of offering this week that you might enjoy.

First, tonight is Final Friday. Art galleries, museums,restaurants and retail shops around Wichita stay open late and welcome visitors. Hours vary between galleries but all are open during the core hours of 7p.m. to 9 p.m. Most galleries use Final Friday to unveil and debut new shows or as a closing reception. All venues are free and open to the public and several galleries incorporate artist demonstrations and/or live music. Not only does this event give guests the opportunity to view creative art space, it also is an excellent time to purchase one-of-a-kind artwork directly from artists. Though Final Friday was initially a Downtown happening, participation now includes sites in both far East and West Wichita. Information regarding Downtown participants may be found by clicking on the above link. Information about non-downtown participants possibly may be found in the All About Wichita Release Page.

Also, tonight Stimulus will be performing from 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm at the newly opened KTC Café. The Café is open to all and offers great food served up in an alcohol/drug free atmosphere where everyone can have fun, meet privately, play pool, hang out by the fireplace, watch movies…you name it!

Tonight (7:00 pm) and tomorrow (2:00 pm & 7:00 pm) the Friends University offers “Symphony of Spring.” From moving ballads to up-tempo dance numbers to the majesty of full orchestra and chorus, the Singing Quakers present a Broadway showcase of the full range of performing arts at Friends University. Performances will be at Sebits Auditorium on the Friends campus. For ticketing information call 316-295-5677 or 1-800-794-6945, ext. 5677

Lastly, the Symphony Showhouse starts this Sunday. This event is a biennial project of the Women’s Association of the Wichita Symphony. Dates are May 1-22. This year’s Symphony Showhouse is a spectacular home in College Hill. Decorators have been working frantically preparing the home for visitors. For more information concerning hours and amenities see the Showhouse website.

Check out the All About Wichita Calendar to see if there are any events of interest to you.

The best description for this past weekend is probably contained in the phrase, “The best laid plans…” With all that was going on Liz and I had planned to attend a number of events, but our plans were overtaken by life. Last Wednesday night, our two dogs figured out how to get out of their fenced yard. Apparently they used an old log as a springboard to jump the fence as all the gates were closed.

With the help of neighbors about a block away, we were able to find and capture Rogan. However, Niki, who is mostly afraid of strangers, ran when attempts to corral him failed. We have not seen him since though we have been told that he has been sighted in the neighborhood on a number of occasions.

I think that for pet lovers, nothing can be a worse experience than having your companion disappear. The uncertainty is numbing. Yes, there is emotional pain when you have to have a pet put down, but there is also a finality with death. One may not want to accept it, but a pet’s death offers closure. With a run away pet, however, there is no conclusion.

In our attempts to recover Niki Liz and I have done the put up signs thing. We have also advertised in the Wichita Eagle, on wichita craigslist, Wichita Lost Dogs, and Wichita Petfinder. Lastly, we have spent a lot of time driving and walking around the neighborhood.

One of the better resources we have found is the City of Wichita Animal Control Facility. They upload information, including pictures, of newly received animals to a service called PetHarbor within an hour of the time that they are brought in to the facility. Liz and I check this site at least daily. We also visit the facility, which is located at the southwest corner of K-96 and Hillside, every two to three days. Given the stereotypes most of us probably have about “The Pound,” both Liz and I have been favorably impressed. Though it is discouraging to walk through kennels filled with healthy animals who would probably make wonderful pets, the facility is bright and clean. Also, we noted that the dogs at least were being fed Science Diet which is probably higher quality food than most of them usually eat. All in all, we are very favorably impressed by this obviously well run operation.

At this juncture we are still looking for Niki. Clicking on the picture above will take you to the poster that Liz which we have posted in and around the neighborhood. If you spot a dog looking like him, please give us a call.

Another fun thing last week was that Liz and I finally had to write checks for the unpaid portions of our Federal and State income taxes. For what it is worth, our combined income taxes represented about 20% of our gross income. While that is a lot of money, I think that it was a cheap price to pay for all the benefits I receive by being able to live in this country. If that’s what it takes from me to foster a community that meets the needs of its citizens for food, shelter, health, and education so be it. I have a lot of difficulty with people who enjoy the largesse that is the United States while complaining that their taxes are too high. This is probably one of those “When I was your age” statements, but in my 69 years, I don’t believe that I have ever seen an America that was greedier and more short sighted than what I am seeing today.

One good think that happened recently, Dyne Quick reopened about two weeks ago. This is a diner that is located at 1202 N. Broadway. Back when I was working five days a week, I probably ate there three or four days a week. The primary attraction was the staff, particularly Glenda. The restaurant closed in late 2008, and from my perspective has been sorely missed. In the ten days since I discovered that the diner re-opened, Liz and I have eaten there once, and I have eaten there four times. The food is good and inexpensive. The service is outstanding.

There are several events of note this weekend.

Wichita Community Theatre is presenting To Kill A Mockingbird Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm. WCT is located at 258 N. Fountain. Ticketing information is available at the WCT website.

Then on Saturday between between 2:00 and 5:00 WCT is hosting Shakespeare’s Birthday Party. This free event will feature musicians, dancers, fencing, falconry, and royalty. There will also be performances by Theatre on Consignment, Guild Hall Players, students from Newman University, and, of course, The Bard himself! Cake and punch will be served. The party is open to the public.

From Thursday through Sunday the Wichita Center for the Arts presents Tartuffe which is a social comedy that lampoons false piety and hypocrites. Performances are at 8:00 pm except for Sunday which is at 2:00 pm. For ticketing information see the Center’s website.

There are other happenings. See the All About Wichita Calendar to see if any are of interest to you.

Last Saturday afternoon, Liz and I went to the Bartlett Arboretum for their Art at the Arb. The event featured music, art and Victorian garden landscapes. Thirty distinctive artists showcased twig furniture, vintage garden antiques, photography, and hand-made birdhouses and artifacts. Also featured were tulips – lots and lots of tulips. The trip was a nice break from gardening.

Yes, gardening. Spring seems to be here, and, at least temporarily, working the soil has consumed a lot of our time. First of all, I set all of our Amaryllis bulbs out in pots. I didn’t keep count, but my best guess is that I planted at least 30 bulbs. That may not sound impressive, but 27 of these bulbs are descendents of a single plant that Liz received as a gift about 15 years ago.

What I particularly like about spring is that, for me, it is a time of discovery. We have a section of our front yard in which we grow wildflowers. Many of these plants are perennials that pretty faithfully come up every year. A goodly number of these are ‘volunteers,’ most likely having been planted by the birds. What excites me about this time of year, is seeing what new volunteers sprout. Of course, the problem with relying on the birds to plant our garden is that they are not very discriminating about what they plant where so I have to be continually on the lookout for weeds. The issue this time of year is that its very often difficult to see what’s a weed and what will be a beautiful flowering plant.

I am particularly excited this spring because this afternoon I noticed three volunteer Butterfly Weed plants (Asclepias tuberosa). I have been trying with varying success to grow this particular plant for about five years. My interest is to provide a food source for Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) as they travel from Mexico to Canada. In addition to Monarchs, Butterfly Weed attracts Queen butterflies, bees and hummingbirds. It is also the larval food plant of the Queen and Monarch butterflies. I took the above picture in my garden last year. Though hard to see, it shows two Monarch larvae munching on the leaves of a Butterfly Weed.

If you are not planning to spend the week gardening, there is a ton of stuff to do in Wichita this week. In fact, there is so much going on that where you may decide to go may represent hard choices between equally desirable events..

Liz and I will be attending Gridiron 2011 at the Orpheum. This is one of Wichita’s oldest and most hilarious stage shows. It stars members of the local media singing (sort of), dancing (sort of) and spoofing the past year’s news and newsmakers. Performances are Thursday through Saturday at 8:00 pm.

The 58th Wichita Gem & Mineral Show will be held at Cessna Activity Center on Friday (9:00 am – 7:00 pm), Saturday (10:00 am – 7:00 pm) and Sunday (10:00 am – 5:00 pm). This year’s show, which is sponsored by The Wichita Gem & Mineral Society, is entitled World of Wonders and features dazzling and amazing specimens from around the world from massive agates and amethyst geodes from Brazil to sparkling gemstones from Australia and Africa, and mysterious fossils from Morocco.There will also be sphere making, cabbing, beading, arrowhead napping, faceting, wire wrapping, silversmithing, and other demonstrations. There will also be children’s activities. Tickets are available at the door.

The Intrust Bank Arena will host the Midian Shrine Circus Friday (11:00 am & 7:30 pm), Saturday (10:00 am, 2:30 pm, & 7:30 pm) and Sunday (1:30 pm & 6:00 pm. This is a unique, fun-filled experience for the whole family featuring acrobatics, elephants, clowns and more. For ticketing information, please see the Intrust Bank Arena web page.

On Saturday Old Cowtown Museum is having its first special event of the season. Called Civil War Day, the re-enactment will give adults and children a glimpse into the daily lives of Union and Confederate soldiers and their families through a battle re-enactment between the North and South, displays of period weaponry and military drills. Authenticity will be made possible by five Civil War re-enactment groups: the 8th Kansas Volunteer Infantry; 9th Texas Infantry; McClain’s Independent Battery Colorado Volunteers; 3rd Kansas Light Artillery; and 2nd Kansas Company C.

Finally, the Great Plains Renaissance Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday at Sedgwick County Park. His majesty the king has summoned the very best firebreathers, jugglers, musicians, dancers, pipers from all across the realm to please the patrons of the Great Plains Renaissance Festival. Sword will ring upon shield as knights do battle for the honor of their lady fair, the royal falconer shall fly birds of prey, see slight of hand and feats of daring. Come one, come all! Time is 10:00 am – 6:00 pm both days. Tickets are available at the gate.

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There are too many events happening this week to cover each one individually. See the All About Wichita Calendar to determine if there may be other events of interest to you.

Get a jump on spring at the 44th annual Garden Show March 2-6 at the Century II Civic Center. There’s a lot to enjoy, including Great Gardens, Mid Gardens, Small Gardens and Mini-Gardens, music and other special entertainment, garden seminars and lots of vendors. Thursday, March 3, Ladies’ Night starts at 5:00 p.m. Friday night is Family Night and Sunday is Artist Day. Thanks to shuttle buses from Lawrence Dumont Stadium, you won’t even have to worry if the Century II lot is full. There’s too much going on to include everything, so be sure and check out the Garden Show website.

If you are looking for things to do, please visit our events calendar.

February is the Wichita Public Library’s 23rd Annual African-American History Month Celebration and there’s a lot going on this week. At 1:30 p.m. on February 9 at the Central Library, the Senior Wednesday program is “The Dockum Sit-In: A Legacy of Courage,” featuring the KPTS documentary. Participant Dr. Galyn Vesey will be on hand to answer questions after the screening.

Wichita’s Griots storytelling troupe will present five programs for ages 3 and up at various locations this week: “Stories of Wit and Wisdom,” Thursday, February 10, 7:00 p.m. at the Rockwell Branch Library; “Storytelling in the Griots Tradition,” Friday, February 11, 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 6:30 p.m.) at The Kansas African American Museum; “The Days When the Animals Talked Out Loud,” Saturday, February 12, 10:30 a.m.; “African-American History Stories,” Saturday, February 12, 3:30 p.m. at Angelou Northeast Branch Library.

For 23rd Annual African-American History Month Celebration activities later in the month, see our calendar.

Advocate for the Arts: If you have been wondering how best to protest Governor Brownbeck’s short-sighted attempt to eliminate the Kansas Arts Commission by executive order, you need to go to the Kansas Citizens for the Arts website for information and, then, act on it. Seems to us that this is a perfect example of “penny wise yet dollar foolish.” Specifically, to “save” approximately $815,000 in general funds, the state would be losing about $1,200,00 in matching funding from other sources. Further State and local governments would lose a large percentage of the $15 million in revenue generated by the Kansas nonprofit arts and cultural sector.

If you are looking for things to do, please visit our events calendar.

Christmas is gone. New Year’s Day is done. We hope everyone had a good time. As of today, there are 355 more shopping days until next Christmas.

I seldom watch TV. For some reason I decided to watch a college football game on New Year’s Day. Is is par for me, I fell asleep about half way through, probably because I didn’t have any emotional investment in either of the teams that were playing. I woke just as the game concluded and sat up to, hopefully, watch another game. What I saw could best be summarized by this post I put up on my FaceBook page.

I know that I have mentioned (complained?) about this before, but it sure didn’t seem that TV programming was very influenced by either Christmas or New Years. For the most part it looked like business as usual. It seems to me that if people are running around looking to find those responsible for changing Christmas into Xmas, they might look at the TV networks.

If you have been following the news in Wichita, the argument over garbage collection continues unabated. I think that Wichita is unique among major cities. I have lived in communities in Florida (Miami), Illinois (La Grange), New Jersey (Orange, West Orange), New York (New City), and Rhode Island (Providence). In none of them have I ever had to personally contract with a trash hauler. Garbage was removed either by the local government itself or it was franchised to one hauler. In Wichita, each household is contracts with any one of a number of haulers that serve the city. The result is multiple trash trucks driving up and down city streets with consequent wear and tear where no more than one truck is really needed.

The result is also more expensive trash bills for the City’s citizens. Most of Wichita’s neighboring cities franchise trash collection with the result that on the average their citizens pay lower monthly fees and receive more services (particularly recycling). Our daughter lives in Andover and pays approximately $15 per month for service that includes recycling. Liz and I pay approximately $20 per month for the equivalent service here in Wichita.

The latest proposal would divide the city into zones with each zone being served by one trash service. This would meet the city’s objective of reducing the number of garbage trucks using city streets. What it apparently would not do is save money for many of the people that currently have to pay to have their trash hauled away. Liz and I would probably break even. Specifically, we would continue to pay about what we pay now.

The apparent justification for this differential is that none of the trash haulers currently serving Wichita would be put out of business which would happen if waste collection were to be franchised. In fact, city manager Robert Layton noted that protecting trash haulers is one of the proposal’s virtues. Well, excuse me Mr. Layton, but I am only interested in receiving the best possible garbage collection service at the lowest price. If that means franchising and a number of trash collectors go out of business, that’s competition American style. It doesn’t make any difference to me who collects my garbage as long the trash disappears once a week. Frankly, I am getting tired of City leaders pandering to special interest groups at the expense of average citizens, and this proposal is nothing more than letting the interests of the garbage collectors triumph over the general population.

While talking about trash, we need to note Pro Kansas and the Miller Recycling Center. This volunteer organization accepts a wider range of recyclables than does any trash collector in the Wichita area. The Center is open Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and most of the day on Saturdays.

If you have hazardous materials that are not accepted elsewhere, you should be aware of the Sedgwick County Household Hazardous Waste Facility. This facility will accept hazardous waste from citizens of Sedgwick County at no charge. It is open Tuesday through Saturday.

If you are looking for things to do, please visit our events calendar.

Well, Christmas is right around the corner! I find this to be a strange time of year. Ostensively, for the majority of Americans this is a time to celebrate the birth of Christ and all that means. Unfortunately, common practice suggests that many devote this time of year to a celebration of materialistic greed. Advertisements abound telling us to spend, spend, spend. We have been reminded since mid-October how important X-mas (I used this name for the holiday intentionally here) sales are to the national economy. We are bombarded with recommendations for the perfect gifts for people who probably don’t NEED them. Houses are decorated with stuff that we could all live without (I am constantly fascinated that most of the Christmas decorations available today come from China, a country which at best tolerates a form of Christianity that is controlled by the government.).

Don’t get me wrong. I, too, participate in this madness. I have spent more than I should have on gifts for family members and co-workers. With the possible exception of one, I do not know of any who absolutely NEEDED what I purchased for them. Problem is that I don’t want to be seen as an Ebenezer Scrooge.

Maybe our community would be better off (and more of a community) if more of the money that goes for unnecessary gifts actually went to address NEED. I would hesitate to dictate to which charitable organization or organizations that one supports.

Having said that, the following is a list of organizations that Liz and I have supported with donations over the past several years.

• Arts Partners
• Kansas Food Bank
• Kansas Humane Society
• Lifeline Animal Placement and Protection
• Lord’s Diner
• Substance Abuse Center of Kansas

Other worthy organizations which could also use your financial assistance include.

• American Red Cross
• Catholic Charities
• Episcopal Social Services
• Heartspring
• Salvation Army
• United Way
• Inter-Faith Ministries
• Rainbows United
• Starkey, Inc.
• United Methodist Urban Ministry
• Wichita Children’s Home
• YWCA

In terms of what Liz and I have been up to since we last posted, several weeks ago we attended an office Christmas party at the Diamond W Chuckwagon. After a tasty barbecue, the group performed a series of mostly Christmas oriented western songs. The tight singing and humor of the Wranglers made for a show that could be enjoyed by the whole family will enjoy. The result was a really good show!

This last Saturday, Liz and I took in a performance by the Crowsons at Watermark Books and Cafè. The group consists of Richard Crowson (vocals, banjo, dobro, guitar), Karen Crowson (vocals, guitar, mandolin), Haley Crowson (vocals, violin), Phil Burress (acoustic bass), Dennis Hardin (vocals, guitar, mandolin) and Rob Loren (violin, viola, mandolin, hammered dulcimer). Stylistically the music was mostly bluegrass. They performed several songs from their new CD. The group performs at Watermark on the third Saturday of each month except in September when they are singing at the Walnut Valley Festival.

Wrapping up, Liz and I would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays with the hope that the next year is better for all of us.

If you are looking for something to do during this holiday season, please visit our events calendar.

Liz and I took the opportunity of this last weekend to take in two movies, Morning Glory and Tangled.

We went to see Morning Glory because it looked like a cute movie in the reviews. That it was! The show stars Rachel McAdams, Harrison Ford and Diane Keaton. McAdams plays an “up-and-coming” young producer who is trying to salvage a morning news show despite in the face of two less than cooperative anchors played by Ford and Keaton. The plot involved a somewhat predictable “rags-to-riches,” or rather “failure-to-success” story, but maybe given today’s climate that’s what we needed. Overall, Liz and I would characterize this as a feel-good movie. Certainly we both felt better for when we left the theatre.

Tangled was on the agenda because Liz and our ten year old grand daughter wanted to see it. For me the fascination was 3-D. The first, and to this point last, 3-D move I had seen was Creature From The Black Lagoon which was produced in the 1950s. 3-D technology has certainly improved in the last 50 years. For those not in the know, Tangled is a Disney variation of the German fairy tale, “Rapunzel.” We all enjoyed the movie. I must confess that I enjoy, and own many of Disney’s feature length animations. In fact, the first movie I ever took Liz to see was Lady and the Tramp.

I was surprised this morning to read Cal Thomas’ column in this morning’s Wichita Eagle. The column’s sub-title, “Time for a part-time, term-limited Congress” gives a pretty good overview of what he had to say. Now, I don’t agree with Mr. Thomas all that often, but I think that he was sure right on target today. If you are interested in returning the Federal government to the American people, you might want to read the Thomas column.

If you are looking for something to do during this holiday season, please visit our events calendar.

Recap: About the only thing I accomplished this week was to finally put up a slide show with the pictures I took at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Delano. Better late than never, but it took me a long time to find a better way to display photos than the way I did it in previous slide shows. It looks like I will be redoing the earlier shows at some point in the future.

On Thursday evening, Liz attended the 41st annual Art Awards Dinner at the Mid-America All-Indian Center presented by the Arts Council. The awards and honorees included: Individual Artist Award: Todd Whipple; Arts Educator: Tara Walker; Youth Recognition Award: Thomas Murillo; Arts Organization Award: Wichita Symphony Orchestra; Arts Advocate Group Award: Plymouth Congregational Church; Business Award: Cessna Aircraft Corporation; Burton Pell Award: Eric Crawford; Special Project Award: First Fridays – Adam Hartke; Special Recognition Award: Mid-America All-Indian Center; Chris Cherches Award: Keeper of the Plains Plaza Project – Law/Kingdon Architects and the Gordon Evans Award: Georgia Stevens. Congratulations to these supporters of the arts in our community.

What’s Coming October 24 – November 1, 2010: Upcoming events of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities.

Fri (10/29) – The Cotillion offers Asleep at the Wheel, the famed western-swing, boogie, and roots-music outfit that’s, amazingly, still on the upswing. That’s saying something, too, considering the group’s been around for nearly 40 years, turning out an incredible 25+ albums while playing an unrelenting schedule of one-nighters that would make a vaudevillian dizzy. Showtime is 8:00 pm. Ticketing information is available at the Cotillion website or by phone at (316) 722-4201.

Fri (10/29) – The Friends University Fine Arts Department presents Nicest Kids In Town: Imagine. This show showcases student talent with a sampling of the best of music theatre. It’s an evening of music, drama and dance with kids who’ll make you feel glad you came. Showtime is 7:30 pm in Sebits Hall. Ticketing information is available by phone at (316) 295-5677.

Fri (10/29) & Sat (10/30) – Cabaret Old Town offers the final performances of The Great American Trailer Park Musical this week. This musical comedy is about agoraphobia, adultery, spray cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, kleptomania, flan and disco. When Pippi, a stripper on the run, comes between Dr. Phil-loving, agoraphobic Jeannie and her toll-collector husband, neighbors Betty, Lin and Pickles team up to save their friend’s marriage. Showtimes are 8:00 both evenings. Tickets are available through the venue’s website or by phone at (316) 265-4400.

Fri (10/29) & Sat (10/30) – The PRCA Dodge Prairie Circuit Finals Rodeo is coming to Hartman Arena this weekend. Top cowboys and cowgirls from the Dodge Prairie Circuit will be competing for thousands of dollars of prize money. The rodeo starts at 7:30 on Friday and Saturday. There is also a matinee at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. Ticketing information is available at the Arena website or by phone at (316) 744-8880.

Fri (10/29), Sat (10/30) & Fri (11/5) – The Wichita Thunder continues their 2010-11 home season. The team will be playing Rio Grande and Tulsa respectively. Saturday, October 30th will be Operation Holiday Night. A portion of the ticket price will be donated directly to Operation Holiday which is in its 50th year of providing food and warmth to those most in need. The charity served over 14,000 people last year! Game times are 7:05 pm at the Intrust Bank Arena. Tickets are available through the team’s website or by phone at (316) 264-GOAL.

Sat (10/30) – The Alford branch of the Wichita Public Library is offering A Harlem Renaissance Fair. This free event is a celebration of the arts of the Harlem Renaissance for all ages. It features storytelling of Zora Neale Hurston’s collected Southern folktales by The Griots, jazz music, poetry readings, and refreshments. Flapper attire is optional, but it will truly round out the experience! Time is from 2:30 pm to 4:00 pm. The event is part of The Big Read – Wichita.

Sun (10/31) – Tech N9ne’s Independent Grind Tour will be appearing at the Cotillion on October 31. Advertised as “The biggest Halloween Party in the ICT” the show will feature Jay Rock, Glasses Malone and Strange Music’s Krizz Kaliko, Kutt Calhoun and Big Scoob. Showtime is 7:00 p.m.. Ticketing information is available at the Cotillion website or by phone at (316) 722-4201.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.

Recap: This past week Dennis attended the Kansas Association of Addiction Professionals Fall Conference in Salina, Kansas. This annual event featured a number of speakers on topics relevant to drug and alcohol counselors. The keynote speaker was Terance T. Gorski who spoke on “Proven Systems for Recovery and Relapse Prevention” and “Cognitive Restructuring for Addiction.” The other major speaker was Mark Gornik who presented “Effective Treatment of Offenders: What Works and What Doesn’t Work.” The conference offered a major learning opportunity to drug/alcohol and related workers.

Saturday was Liz’s birthday. We celebrated with a meal at Sweet Basil. As usual, the food was outstanding, particularly the shrimp cocktails. Liz had the meat lasagna while I enjoyed their fettuccine with red clam sauce. With dinner came a discussion of an appropriate birthday gift. Somehow a Barnes and Noble gift certificate won out over a new vacuum cleaner.

Comment: Earlier today the Parallax Board of Directors announced that all facets of the program will cease operations on Friday, October 22. Reasons for closure may be found in the a series of recent articles published by the Wichita Eagle. Addiction and Prevention Services, Value Options of Kansas, and Substance Abuse Center of Kansas are helping current Parallax clients transition to new facilities so that they may continue their paths to recovery. The program offered outpatient, social detox, inpatient, and reintegration services at two locations in Wichita. The loss of these services, particularly the residential ones, will, at least in the short-term, leave a significant gap in the drug and alcohol treatment capacity in Wichita and south central Kansas. In particular, the reduction of social detox services will likely result in more clients unnecessarily accessing overburdened hospital emergency rooms and/or the Sedgwick County Adult Detention Facility. As a drug/alcohol counselor, no as a knowledgable citizen, I hope that the appropriate funding agencies can move in as timely a manner as possible to fund and implement appropriate replacement services. Failure to do so will have significant negative human and financial consequences.

What’s Coming October 18 – October 24, 2010: Events of potential interest going on in Wichita and surrounding communities this week.

First off, on Tuesday, there is a fund raiser for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. It is the First Annual Wichita Wine Opener and will be held at Botanica from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Sip fun wines, savor great cuisine, discover the marketplace and enjoy fun auctions and great entertainment! From wine novices to wine enthusiasts, the Wine Opener is a casual and fun evening for all experience levels. Additional information is available by phone at (913) 384-8997.

Also on Tuesday evening, Carrie Underwood will be appearing at the Intrust Bank Arena.. Showtime is 7:30 pm. Ticketing information is available at the Arena’s website.

On Thursday evening the The Wailin’ Jennys will be performing at Bethel College Memorial Hall. Showtime is 7:30 pm. Ticketing information is available at (620) 327-8158.

For opera fans, Wichita State University is offering Albert Herring, a comic chamber opera in three acts by Benjamin Britten. Performances are at 7:30 pm Thursday through Saturday in Wilner Auditorium. Ticketing information is available at (316) 978-3360.

The annual Tallgrass Film Festival will be held Friday through Sunday. The Festival’s multiple events/showings will be held at various downtown Wichita locations including the Orpheum Theatre, Garvey Center, Wichita Scottish Rite, and Bank of America Center. See the Festival’s website for more information.

Friday through Sunday the Sedgwick County Zoo offers Night of the Living Zoo. The event offers eeveral ghoulish activities, like pumpkin bowling and beanbag tosses, can be found throughout the Zoo. You can take a stroll down jack-o-lantern lane, creep up to candy stations and let your spirit come alive! Additional information is available at the Zoo’s website.

On Saturday, support the Friends of the Wichita Public Library and the Wichita Public Library Foundation by attending the Barnes & Noble Bookfair at the Bradley Fair store. When you make your purchases, make sure you tell the cashier you want your purchases to go towards the group’s Bookfair totals.

Lastly, on Sunday afternoon, the Kansas African-American Museum offers a lecture by Dr. J. Edgar Tidwell entitled “The Harlem Renaissance.” Start time is 3:00 pm at the Museum. This presentation is part of the Wichita Big Read.

There are still more things to do! Check the All About Wichita calendar for additional events and exhibits that we didn’t have the room to list here. In the meanwhile, have a good week.