For some, service is what they do, and for others, it is an extension of who they are. Alisha Thomson is the latter; engaging in volunteerism is something that is woven through every stage of her life story and is the backdrop of her career success. Alisha grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, and later moved […]
Read MoreLake Quivira Country Club was the site for the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas’ Mothers’ Tea on September 18th. The event was for the mothers of the debutantes and escorts who will be participating in the 72nd Annual Community Ball and Cotillion, to be held on December 3rd. The honorees are […]
Read More“More than kisses, letters mingle souls.” – John Donne There is something incredibly intimate about reading an epistolary novel. It feels a bit like finding a box of letters and discovering the thoughts and feelings that drove someone. Books that are told through the perspective of diaries and letters can sometimes make characters seem more […]
Read MoreOn August 25th, members of the BOTAR Class of 2022 gathered for the BOTAR Reveal. Miniature bottles of wine served as place cards at the festive event, which was held at the lovely home of Courtney O’Farrell. Each BOTAR had the same question: “Who will my escort be?” By the time the evening was over, […]
Read MoreIn the Directors of Philanthropy issue, The Independent recognizes the hardworking and passionate volunteers in our Town who share their time and talents with so many different organizations. We celebrate these dedicated individuals who make Kansas City a wonderful place to live. Featured in the October 1, 2022 issue of The Independent.
Read MoreThe beneficiary of this year’s Chiefs Charity Game was MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault). August 20th was the date, and Arrowhead Stadium (where else?) was the place. The annual event, created by Lamar Hunt and continued by the Hunt family, was first held in 1985. Proceeds are earmarked to assist MOCSA in expanding […]
Read MoreCourtney Alexandra McCray and Christopher Jordan Swope were united in matrimony on June 18th at Beano’s Cabin in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The bride is the daughter of Sandra Morello McCray of Prairie Village, Kansas, and Chandler McCray of Mission Hills, Kansas. Courtney is the granddaughter of Mary Morello of Canton, Ohio, and the late Frank […]
Read MoreMr. and Mrs. James Patrick Muehlberger of Overland Park, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Alexandra Jayne Muehlberger, to Vincent Maxwell Privitera, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Anthony Privitera, Sr. of Kansas City, Missouri. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Marcus Klein of Leawood, Kansas, […]
Read MoreWhat can you tell about someone just by seeing their picture? In October 1939, in a feature titled, “Names in the News in the World of Kansas City Business Women,” our scribe wrote, “Faune Leask, whose investment activities have kept her well to the front in financial circles for a number of years, is probably […]
Read MorePathway To Hope’s annual Donor Appreciation Event, “A Taste Of Wellness,” was held on August 14th at Somerset Ridge Vineyard and Winery. Pathway To Hope was founded in 1988 by Sharon and Dick Lawrenz, who struggled with a mental health diagnosis of a family member. The organization is committed to encourage, empower, and educate individuals […]
Read MoreDr. and Mrs. Richard Thomas Hale II of Garnett, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Abby Lynn Hale, to Cooper Dean Heidebrecht, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jay Grant Smith of Overland Park, Kansas, and Mr. and Mrs. Mark Allen Heidebrecht of Branson, Missouri. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of […]
Read MoreFlynn Alling Williams came bouncing into the world on June 10th. This darling baby boy weighed seven pounds, nine ounces, and was 20 and one-half inches long. His blue eyes and red hair are his adorable calling card. The son of Kristen Smith and Shane Williams of O’Fallon, Illinois, Flynn is the grandson of Sandee […]
Read MoreLoews Kansas City Hotel was the site for the Arthritis Foundation’s 19th annual Art for Arthritis event, which was held on July 15th. Guests were delighted by the custom artwork that was created by child artists and their mentors. Partygoers enjoyed delicious fare and a silent auction. Foundation Board Chair Melissa DeLeon served as the […]
Read More“Vitality & Vice” was the theme of this year’s triumphant return of Party Arty, to benefit The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. Co-chairs Kelly Hollowell and Maria O’Connor, and Vice Co-chairs Morgan Stockton and Susanne Watson produced a spectacular evening, complete with drinks, delectable fare, and entertainment. Inspired by the Museum’s American Art Deco: Designing for […]
Read MoreImagine interpreting the world in a certain way and assuming that everyone else has the same interpretation – that all music is not only heard by the ears, but it is also associated with colors in the brain at the same time. No two pieces of music have the same color adaptation, and the colors […]
Read MoreJordan Frederes and Patrick Howell were united in matrimony at the San Sophia Overlook in Telluride, Colorado, on July 22nd. The bride is the daughter of Becky Nichols of Overland Park, Kansas, and her groom is the son of Shannon and Richard Howell of Overland Park. On the evening prior to the ceremony, the Howells […]
Read More“Think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so, too.” – Voltaire Literary censorship is something that has existed throughout time. Books have been banned and burned for a plethora of reasons including language, morality, challenging a leader, and violence. Ultimately, it is about control. In Ancient China, 460 Confucian scholars were […]
Read MoreNovember 5th is the date for Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault’s (MOCSA’s) Night Out with MOCSA Cocktail Party and Auction. The 18th annual event will be held at The Midland Theatre. The glamorous evening will feature a “Glitterati” theme. Partygoers will enjoy cocktails, delicious fare, silent and live auctions, and entertainment. Denise Delcore and […]
Read MoreDr. and Mrs. Richard Charles Arnspiger II of Fairway, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Hannah Margaret Arnspiger, to Robert Eugene Freeman, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Jarrel Freeman of Mission Hills, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mrs. John Matthews of Kansas City, Kansas, and the late […]
Read MoreA pink bundle of joy named Isabelle Madeline LaVita arrived on June 1st. Her proud parents are Lauren Cimpl and Anthony LaVita of Fairway, Kansas. This darling little girl weighed seven pounds, 15 ounces, and was 20 inches long. Isabelle’s grandparents are Laura Foley and David Cimpl, Mike LaVita, and the late Carol LaVita. The […]
Read MoreAwesome Ambitions’ 25th Anniversary Celebration was held on July 21st at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the Gem Theatre. Debby Ballard and Tammy Edwards served as co-chairs of the beautiful affair, and Lisa Ginter and India Boulton were the honorary co-chairs. The event celebrated 25 years of providing mentorship and sustainable services to girls […]
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