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In addition to receiving 26 issues of The Independent Kansas City’s Journal of Society, your subscription will include our annual publication, the Charitable Events Calendar and a subscription to our e-newsletter, The Insider.

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Jackson County CASA – Cocktails for CASA

October 16th was the date for Jackson County CASA’s Cocktails for CASA. The second annual event featured cocktail and dinner kits prepared by Mixologist Leslie Newsam Goellner and Chef Nick Goellner, both of The Antler Room. Participants picked up fresh pasta and cocktail kits and then tuned in for the program that included a behind-the-scenes […]

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Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City – Golf for Girls

Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City hosted its Golf for Girls tournament at Creekmoor Golf Club. The third annual event was held on October 19th. The event raised more than $50,000 to help more girls participate in the organization’s life-changing programs. Additional photos featured in the November 14, 2020 issue of The Independent

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Crib Note – Mayve Amelia Kemp

Mayve Amelia Kemp will celebrate all of her birthdays on August 11th from here forward! The beautiful baby girl is the daughter of Eryn Bates Kemp and Steven Kemp of Our Town. Mayve is the granddaughter of Nancy and Tom Bates and Beverly and Craig Kemp. Born at seven pounds, 13 ounces, and 21 inches […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – William Trakas

William Trakas is an associate architect with BNIM Architects. He is a member of Centurions, where he has served as co-chairman of the diversity, equity, and inclusion committee and as a member of the Creative Scene Task Force. William has volunteered with Uplift, Prep-KC, The Groundhog Run, and Giving The Basics. He graduated from Tulane […]

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The Dish With Ann – Billie’s Grocery

Billie’s Grocery is, in Ernest Hemingway’s inimitable words, the epitome of a ‘clean, well-lighted place.’ (Think Meryl Streep’s soaring, white restaurant in the movie It’s Complicated.) Located in a turn-of-the-century building that Kansas City architect Nelle Peters designed, it was many years in the making with the help of architectural historian Cydney Millstein and Owner […]

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Congratulations, Carolyn & Kaleb!

Mary Carolyn Knop and Kaleb Allen Gilmore were joined in matrimony on June 20th in the garden of her parents’ home. Carolyn is the daughter of Mary Ellen and Dr. Kevin Knop of Liberty, Missouri. She is the granddaughter of Mary Pogson of Liberty and the late Dr. George Pogson, and Evelyn and Frederick Knop […]

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The Folly Theater – Eat, Drink, & Be Jolly for the Folly Picnic Fundraiser

The annual Eat, Drink, & Be Jolly for the Folly Picnic Fundraiser, a benefit for the Folly Theater, was held in the glorious garden of Brian Williams’ home. The Stan Kessler Trio entertained. Picnic baskets held a tasting array of fried chicken, pasta salads, and even individual bottles of Prosecco – and the baskets were […]

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Toast To Olde Tymes – Logan Clendening

Logan Clendening was a longtime faculty member at The University of Kansas School of Medicine, but his interests ranged far beyond that academic discipline. His mother encouraged him to follow a literary career. His books included The Human Body, which was published in 1927 and remained in print for approximately 50 years, A Handbook to […]

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Crib Note – Virginia Margaret Weber

Caroline and Louis Weber IV of University Park, Texas, are the delighted parents of Virginia Margaret Weber. This darling baby girl will celebrate future cakedates on May 4th. Virginia weighed nine pounds, five ounces, and was 20 and one-quarter inches long. She was born with blue eyes and blonde hair. Virginia is the granddaughter of […]

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Spotlight on Centurions – Nate Chastain

Nate Chastain is a commercial insurance broker for Lockton Companies, where he negotiates insurance programs for other companies. Nate and his wife, Nichelle, have a son, Otto. He is a member of Centurions, and he has been thrilled with the program. Nate’s favorite volunteer opportunity is with Urban Christian Academy, which is a private, tuition-free […]

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Art Scene – Cara Spencer

Cara Spencer grew up in Lyndon, Kansas, a town of about 1,200 people, 30 minutes outside of Topeka. She had 56 people in her senior high school class and graduated from Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, where she got a teaching degree in theatre education. “In high school, I had done some murals, but I […]

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The Stuff Of Which Dreams Are Made – Travis Kelce

Travis Kelce is a bright star in Our Town’s constellation of celebrities. Sports icons come and go, famous actors and musicians grace our collective stage, and every now and then a person with such a gravitational pull and actual gravitas embraces Kansas City. A man of many talents, not the least of which is grabbing […]

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Children’s Mercy – Dream Big Day

Children’s Mercy hosted Dream Big Day, a virtual family-friendly festival, celebration, and walk for the community to find answers and hope for kids. The week-long festivities culminated with more than 900 people and 70 teams coming together for a Facebook Live event on September 26th that is still available for viewing. More than $227,000 was […]

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2020 Class of Rising Stars Bess Wallerstein Huff

Bess Wallerstein Huff is the director of marketing and community outreach at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. Her primary focus right now has been to offer support to arts organizations and cultural institutions that have been negatively impacted due to COVID-19. “As a member of the arts community, I have been dedicating time […]

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Saint Luke’s Foundation – 10th Annual Plaza 10K

Saint Luke’s Foundation’s 10th Annual Plaza 10K, a benefit for Saint Luke’s Home Care and Hospice, was held on September 13th. Participants were given the option to run virtually or the traditional route along the boulevards and parkways around the Country Club Plaza. Lots of safety measures and a beautiful day made it a great […]

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Park International Center for Music – Stanislav & Friends

Park International Center for Music’s Stanislav & Friends was held on September 17th at the Boulevard Drive-In. Guests enjoyed beautiful classical music at the reimagined event which featured a pre-recorded concert, artist interviews, and VIP concession boxes. The highlight of the evening was the eight-hand, four-pianist, two-piano finale.        Fantasia Ta, Lisa Voss, […]

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Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas – 47th Annual Snow Ball

Susan and Ernie Straub III are the honorary presidents, and Karen and Craig Gaffney are the presidents for the 47th Annual Snow Ball, which will be held on January 16th. For the first time ever, the Snow Ball will be a completely virtual experience, with friends hosting their own in-home parties to engage guests. Proceeds […]

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Homegrown – Galleries On The Grid: Investing In Local Fine Art

Of all the hats I wear, the most similar jobs I have are motherhood and the director of the Prairie Village Art Show. For both roles, I take a “learn as I go” approach. Each job is challenging, underestimated, and, most importantly, fulfilling. For the Prairie Village Art Show, I run a one man (or […]

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A Few Of My Favorite Things By Heather N. Paxton

Joe Vaughan started collecting political buttons when he was still in grade school – and his collection has grown to include bumper stickers, leaflets, magazine articles, and other souvenirs of the campaign trail. Many show support for presidential candidates, and others highlight the careers of local officials and office seekers. “I was imbued with an […]

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Cheers to Volunteers! Alane Watts

Alane Watts joined Lead to Read KC as a reading mentor in 2016 because she believes, “By helping develop strong readers, we impact the future of our community. We give students the foundation to thrive academically and achieve their dreams.” Alane volunteers alongside nearly two dozen of her colleagues from American Century Investments, many of […]

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