On a good day, I will welcome guests into my home if I am given enough notice to trick them into thinking I have full control over the toddler toy tornado inside. Our house, a Williamsburg Colonial on a charming cul-de-sac in Prairie Village, is filled with blues, whites, and cheerful colors. It is a […]

“Local boy makes good” – such stories are traditionally earnest and heartwarming, and, to be frank, often a little on the dull side. The saga of Blevins Davis, however, is anything but predictable. He was born Charles Blevins Davis, the son of Julia Blevins Davis and Charles Ammon Davis, in Osceola, Missouri, in May 1903. […]

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Francis Higgins of Mission Hills, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Dr. Margaret MacBean Higgins, to Dr. John Frederick Shuler, the son of Dr. Perri Ann Ginder and Dr. Frederick Noah Shuler of Kansas City, Missouri. The bride-to-be and her groom-elect are both graduates of The University […]

The art-filled home of Gretchen and Dr. Larry Jacobson was the site of a dinner for the Board of Advisors of the Harriman-Jewell Series on January 20th. The event celebrated the 55th season of the Series. Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter was the special guest, and her recital was held the following evening. Ronald and Phyllis Nolan […]

Being the mother of a sick child who was helped by Children’s Mercy 21 years ago led Becky DeKnight to her current role as a volunteer in the NICU. Her friendly demeanor and smiling face are just what the families need while navigating a medical issue. The staff is dedicated to helping the children, and […]

Mark Mattison is a member  of The Independent’s Rising Star, Class of 2019. He is the director of major gifts for the UMKC Conservatory. Steering the work of volunteer committees of the Friends of the Conservatory, last year Mark helped set a record fundraising goal of $633,000 for their Crescendo gala. Mark also initiated the […]

The 46th Annual Snow Ball, a benefit for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, was held on January 18th at the Overland Park Convention Center. This year’s presidents were Jo and Mike Kuckelman. More than 1,800 guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner and dancing to the sounds of Lost Wax. Proceeds support the organization’s eight family support […]

Abigail Kathleen Lutz and Mark Allan Silverwood were married on November 16th at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. The bride is the daughter of Laura Weber Lutz of Mission Hills, Kansas, and Lynn and Michael Lutz of Leawood, Kansas. Abigail is the granddaughter of the late Suzanne Allen, the late John Weber, and […]

February 20th was the date for The Independent’s Top Ten Party at the 1900 Building. Our Town’s deep commitment to philanthropy was on display as The Top Ten Events of 2019 and The Independent’s 2020 Class of Rising Stars were announced. More than 200 guests enjoyed cocktails and delicious fare from Lon Lane’s Inspired Occasions. The Top Five Golf […]

The Kansas City Chiefs Ambassadors are a group of former Kansas City Chiefs players who support Our Town with local scholarship programs, charity golf tournaments, and numerous charitable visits and appearances. Members are selected based on tenure and their willingness to participate in Ambassador outreach events and meetings. This is the only group of its […]

Cassie Rauscher and Cory Bittner were married on October 12th at the Carriage Club. The bride is the daughter of Debbie and Robert Rauscher of Kansas City, Missouri. Cassie is the granddaughter of Dorothy Gierer of Villa Ridge, Missouri. Her groom is the son of Bobbi and Glenn Bittner of Newburgh, Indiana. Cory is the […]

With its Scandinavian sleek and industrial minimalist design, Strang Hall is the cool new chef collective in downtown Overland Park. Named after William B. Strang, Jr., who platted Overland Park and was considered its founder at the turn of the last century, Strang Hall has six different chef-driven restaurants under one roof, along with a […]

With the resurgence of the romantic comedy genre and the release of the sequel of To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before on Netflix later this month, I thought it might be fun to lean into the explosion of pink and red this year rather than fight against it. To that end, I’ve rounded a […]

The Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown was the site for the Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Luncheon, which was held on December 12th. Everyone enjoyed seeing the performance posters from past seasons that were presented by John Walker, Guild president, and members of the Kansas City Ballet archives committee. For those who […]

Pella Fingersh and Neil Sosland are serving as co-chairmen for the Civic Service Award Celebration. The event will celebrate Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s 54 years of educating and developing students to prepare them for fulfilling lives as contributing community leaders. The late Tiberius Klausner will be honored at the festivities, which will be held on […]

Joanne Kathryn Moore and George Guthrie Hinde were united in matrimony on August 17th at Country Club Christian Church in Kansas City, Missouri. The bride is the daughter of Brenda and Craig Moore of St. Joseph, Missouri. Her groom is the son of Mary and Scott Hinde of St. Joseph. The evening prior, the groom’s […]

The Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties’ 69th Annual Community Ball and Cotillion was held on December 7th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Guests enjoyed a gourmet dinner, elegant decor, and the presentation of the debutantes, escorts, and pages. Tiffany Bosarge and Angie Masloski were the Ball co-chairmen, and […]

HALO will celebrate 15 years of growth and thousands of lives changed at the Annual HALO ArtReach Auction. The February 28th event will be held at The Abbott. Annie and Ryan Anderson and Katrina and John Scott are serving as the honorary co-chairmen. The event will feature artwork from orphans around the world, artwork from local and […]

Let’s take care of each other, Kansas City! How can we help Our Town’s non-profit organizations during this time of uncertainty? We’ve listed a few ways to support charitable organizations while social distancing and working from home. The American Cancer Society Hope Lodge guests have suppressed immune systems, so they have had to implement new […]

As we wrap up the first month of a new decade, the “New Year, New You” buzz is starting to fade away, and many people have moved on from their resolutions. While I do find the post-holiday hustle as the perfect time to reset, I don’t take the time to whip up a resolution recipe […]

Cricket West was a fresh, new shop at 108 West 47th Street on the Country Club Plaza in 1938. Its owner was from an old Kansas City family, one steeped in retail. Arnold Adler’s mother was Emma Ganz Adler, the daughter of Bernhard Ganz, whose obituary described him as a “pioneer merchant.” Arnold’s father, Bernhard […]