Opinions

Dear Savvy Senior, What types of programs are available to help seniors struggling with their everyday bills, and how do I go about finding them? Since I lost my husband last year, my Social Security survivor benefit is barely enough to get by on. Searching Senior Dear Searching, I’m very sorry for your loss, but you’ll be happy to know that there are dozens of different financial assistance programs and government benefits that may be able to help you with your everyday costs.

If you ask me to rank the four seasons of Kansas, I would list them from fall to summer, in that order. I am fully aware that a lot of people struggle with fall, as the weather turns dreary and nature starts dying off.

Roughly seven in 10 Kansans are ready to see the Legislature pass bills expanding Medicaid and legalizing marijuana. That's according to the “Kansas Speaks” statewide survey conducted by Fort Hays State University.

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m currently enrolled in original Medicare but have been thinking about switching to a Medicare Advantage plan during the open enrollment period. Many of the Medicare Advantage ads I’ve seen offer lots of extra benefits beyond what traditional Medicare offers and no monthly premiums. What are your thoughts?

Whew! I survived the wedding weekend. If you did not see my column last weekend, let me update you quickly.

A neighbor got ahold of me recently and wanted to know if I wanted a couple of eggplants. Of course, I said I would love to share the fall bounty.

From the Editor’s Files Like I was saying last week, the previous weekend was a long one, a full one, and a delightful one. My first layer of adventure was the Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita, where I saw films every day, Thursday through Sunday...22 in all.

Random Thoughts This weekend is going to be a big one, and I'm trying to be as ready as I can be. This has nothing to do with sports or news or anything else that normally dominates my life.

This past weekend was a long one, a full one, and a delightful one. Along with some friends, I took in the full run of the Tallgrass Film Festival in Wichita.