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The Johnson County Library Foundation – 2023 Library Lets Loose

The Johnson County Library Foundation’s annual Library Lets Loose was held on September 23rd at the Central Resource Library in Overland Park. The theme for this year’s event was “Libraries are Magic!” And, the evening was magical as well. With delightful bites from local restaurants and caterers, a signature “let loose juice” cocktail, and a […]

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Congratulations, Frances & Vance!

Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Gifford Wooldridge of Our Town are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Frances Marie Wooldridge, to Vance Simon Wentz, the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Butler Wentz of Leawood, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Higgins and the late Betty Higgins, and the […]

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Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy – 2024 Civic Service Award Celebration

Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy will proudly bestow its Civic Service Award to Mindy Corporon on March 10, 2024 at the Academy’s 50th Civic Service Celebration, to be held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. As the co-founder of the non-profit organization, SevenDays, in response to tragedy, Mindy Corporon is being honored for her work to […]

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Kansas City Ballet Guild – 2023 Kick-off Party

August 20th was the date for Kansas City Ballet Guild’s annual Kick-off Party, which heralds the start of the Kansas City Ballet season. Guests gathered at Boulevard Brewing Company in the Muehlebach Suite for the festive event. Dana Koehn and Carrie Kruse were the hosts, and the event was planned by Cindy Wurm. Guild members, […]

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TEACHING EMPATHY: Lyric Opera asks: Why add one-hit wonders when you can innovate? 

More than 400 new operas have been produced on the world’s mainstages during the 21st century so far. That’s great, right? The bad news is that a surprisingly large share of those will never be revived, not even once. (For context, since opera’s beginnings around 1600, tens of thousands of operas have reached the stage, […]

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Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas – 2023 Mothers’ Tea

Lake Quivira Country Club was the beautiful site for the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas’ Mothers’ Tea on September 17th, which signaled the beginning of the Cotillion season. Mothers of the debutantes, escorts, and pages enjoyed the lovely afternoon. The 73rd Community Ball and Cotillion will be held on December 2nd. […]

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Spirits of Folly: A Spooktacular Benefit for Kansas City Young Audiences

Kansas City Young Audiences and the Folly Theater are joining forces to bring a dynamic evening of entertainment to Our Town on November 4th at the Folly with Spirits of Folly: A Spooktacular Benefit for Kansas City Young Audiences. Featured are Kansas City’s own dazzling performer, Bryonha Marie, and the local bands Gullywasher and Hudspeth […]

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HappyBottoms – Diaper Bowl

September 11th was the date for HappyBottoms’ third annual Diaper Bowl. More than 400 guests enjoyed being pampered with beverages, bites, live music, and auctions. Proceeds from the event enhance efforts to make diapers available to those who need them most, and there are an estimated 22,000 children in Kansas City who need diaper assistance. […]

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Congratulations, Meghan & Elijah!

Meghan Elizabeth Spivak and Elijah James Beal were united in matrimony on August 12th at Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village, Kansas. The bride is the daughter of Ann and Jeff Spivak of Our Town, and the groom is the son of Carolyn and Jim Beal of Belleville, Illinois. The evening prior to the ceremony, […]

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The 2023 BOTAR Presidents’ Tea

The Kansas City Country Club was the site for The BOTAR Presidents’ Tea, where the 2023 BOTARs and Pages were presented. The August 26th event was hosted by the Presidents of the Belles of The American Royal. The festivities included the traditional historic fashion show, as well as the reveal of the 2023 gown. The […]

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers – Kansas City

Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers – Kansas City was founded in 2014. It is the local chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), which was founded in 1974 in Los Angeles, California. The organization’s goals include increasing STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) awareness in the Hispanic community. This includes making families cognizant […]

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Armourdale Renewal Association

The Armourdale Renewal Association was founded in 1990 by Patty Dysart to “ensure that businesses and residents have the necessary resources to aid community development.” The actual Armourdale neighborhood has roots dating back to approximately 1882. The ARA works with the Unified Government to build a safe and healthy environment for the people who live […]

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with the League of United Latin American Citizens

Rudy Padilla and Robert Flores founded the League of United Latin American Citizens, Shawnee Mission, Kansas Council, in 2021. The organization’s overarching mission is to “advance the economic condition, educational attainment, political influence, housing, health, and civil rights of the Hispanic population of the United States.” The local council strives to fundraise for scholarships through the […]

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Vibrant Health

“Our goal is making high-quality, culturally competent care accessible in every corner of our community. Vibrant Health elevates equitable and general access to care plus coordination of services,” said Patrick Sallee, president and chief executive officer. Vibrant Health, which was founded in 1990, provides a host of services. These include medical, dental, and behavioral health. […]

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Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month Cristo Rey Kansas City

Cristo Rey Kansas City was founded in 2006 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth. The organization pairs a Catholic prep school education with a work/study program for high school students whose families would not be able to afford private schools offering similar opportunities. Eighty-seven percent of the families whose children attend Cristo Rey are […]

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Culinary Quick Picks: Apps And Sips

It’s all about the happy hour and beverages and bites! Whether it is a date night, a girls’ night out, or a spur of the moment gathering of friends, the appetizers and libations rule the evening. We found some of our local favorites with which to celebrate this Hispanic Heritage Month, and we were not […]

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Cheers to Volunteers! – Lead to Read KC

At Westside CAN’s Back to School Pep Rally on July 28th, Lead To Read KC volunteers distributed free books to children and families and recruited reading mentors for the upcoming fall semester. Lead to Read KC’s mission is to support the social, emotional, and reading skills that are foundational for student success by advancing their […]

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Rachel’s Reads – September 2023

One of my favorite things about reading is the ability to experience different cultures and different lives. I know I’ve mentioned this George RR Martin quote before, but for me it really is true that “a reader lives a thousand lives.” It’s so fascinating to see the world through another lens, especially when that lens […]

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Culture, Art, and Community: Mattie Rhodes Center’s 25th Annual Day of the Dead Celebration

In a tribute to culture, connection, and creativity, the Mattie Rhodes Center is gearing up to host its 25th annual Day of the Dead event. This eagerly anticipated celebration welcomes all to participate in a celebration of life on the first Friday in both October and November.  On October 6th, the Mattie Rhodes’ Day of […]

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A Thriving Westside: Westside CAN’s Role in Kansas City’s Evolution

Kansas City has a storied history, acting as a Gateway to the West in the mid-1800s and witnessing the pivotal Civil War Battle of Westport in 1864. In the late 19th century, the Westside also saw an influx of Mexican immigrants. This wave of immigration had a profound influence on the neighborhood’s identity. Today, the […]

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TRAILBLAZERS: A scrapbook of Kansas City performing artists whose impact is being felt throughout the region and beyond

 Vanessa Severo  The actor, writer, choreographer, and director is the daughter of Brazilian immigrants. She has appeared on all the major stages in Kansas City and on quite a few others around the country. In 2019, she presented the world premiere of her one-woman show, Frida: A Self Portrait at Kansas City Repertory Theatre, and […]

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