May 17th was the date for Saint Luke’s Health System’s Midwest Ear Institute Luncheon. Rebecca Alexander was the featured speaker. Rebecca, who was born with a rare genetic disorder called Usher syndrome type III, has been simultaneously losing both her sight and hearing since she was a teenager. She has a cochlear implant. More than […]

Lidia’s Kansas City was the setting for The Symphony League’s Spring Luncheon on May 9th. Marylou Turner is serving as the president. Marylou Turner, president; Laurie Burgess, Ball chairman; and John and Mary Edgar, Ball honorary chairmen   Board Chairman Bill and Peggy Lyons   Lisa Sirridge, Melanie Fenske, Wendy Melland, and Becky Pruitt   […]

More than 400 guests enjoyed cocktails and a delicious dinner at the 28th annual Kindest Kansas Citian Awards on May 4th, which took place at the Kansas City Zoo. Proceeds supported Synergy Services. 2018 Kindest Kansas Citian Bri McKinnis and Lundy Byars    Ryan Brown, Kimber Brown, Michelle Brown, and Lanie Brown Also featured in […]

More than 8,000 people attended the March of Dimes’ Greater Kansas City March for Babies on April 29th at the Sprint Campus. Frank Clepper served as the chairman, with Carolyn Long and Gary Amble as emcees. Children had their pictures taken with Disney princesses and characters from Star Wars in the Kids’ Fun Zone and […]

Lyric Opera Circle’s Spring Luncheon was held on May 7th at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Hosts Gail Van Way and Juliette Singer Spinks planned the event, and Craig Sole Designs provided the beautiful florals. Anne Elsberry and Carmen Sabates were pinned for their 25 years of service to the Circle. The 2018-19 […]

Chris Frantze and Ashley McDonald were named Man & Woman of the Year at The 2018 Man & Woman of the Year Grand Finale, which was held on May 17th. More than $515,000 was raised by the 13 candidates to support the mission of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and to honor Will Buckman and […]

May 10th was the date when Shawnee Mission Education Foundation’s board of directors and guests gathered at the lovely home of Liz and Bruce Pendleton to kick off the Foundation’s Distinguished Leaders Speaker Series. The inaugural event will be held on August 8th and will feature Dr. Milton Chen, executive director emeritus at The George […]

Mary Watson Wagner and Jake Allan Fischer were married on September 9th at the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek, Colorado. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Don Wagner of Our Town. Mary is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Neal Deramus III and the late Mr. and […]

Linda Silver and Bob Gast were the chairmen for Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s annual Civic Service Award Celebration. The event was held at the Overland Park Convention Center on May 6th. Carol and Arnold Caviar were the recipients of the Civic Service Award. Guests enjoyed a concert by Dudu Fisher, the renowned Israeli performer.  Arnold […]

Oakwood Country Club was the lovely setting for The Folly Theater’s ninth annual Folly Golf Classic on May 21st. Alex Solorio was the chairman, and Steve Paddock served as the co-chairman. The event raised more than $50,000 for the Folly Theater’s operations and programming funds. Gale Tallis and Brian Williams, both with Folly Theater   […]

Summer always seems to hit me like a freight train. The heavy, hot air condenses around me and knocks the wind from my lungs. The stickiness infuses a sense of lethargy and I’m suddenly brought back to a line from Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With the Wind, “the air was oppressive even in the early morning […]

The Restaurant at 1900 is a sleek, hip addition to Our Town’s culinary scene. It is located in the 1900 Building, a modernist architectural treasure, originally built in 1967 and recently transformed by Karbank Real Estate Company into an LEED Gold Certified high-end, mixed-use building, including offices, performance and event spaces and a gallery. The […]

R.J. Trowbridge is a commercial real estate broker with Cushman & Wakefield. He is a member of Centurions, class of 2019. R.J. has enjoyed learning through Centurions about the issues that impact Our Town. He has volunteered with many non profits, including Parkinson’s Foundation Heartland Chapter. R.J. is a board member of DeLaSalle Education Center. […]

The Center for Practical Bioethics’ Annual Dinner launched the 35th year of advancing the health and dignity of all people. The event featured the formal launch of the Bioethics Leadership Fund and within it the Myra J. Christopher Forum. Guests enjoyed listening to a conversation with Lee Woodruff and Myra Christopher, who reflected upon her […]

Hallbrook Country Club was the lovely setting for Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Spring Luncheon on May 10th. Peggy Beal and Host Barbara Eiszner planned the lovely event that featured beautiful floral arrangements from Craig Sole and a dance performance by Kansas City Ballet’s Second Company. Carol and Tony Feiock, who are serving as the honorary […]

The Kansas City Young Matrons held its Installation Day Tea on May 7th. Guests enjoyed a delicious brunch hosted by members of the tea committee. The agenda included the installation of Incoming President Joni Etherington and the 2018-19 board of directors. The newly installed silver and life members were also recognized. Karen Leimer, president-elect; Joni […]

April 27th was the date for Phoenix Family’s 15th annual Un*Gala, “Stories of Us: A Modern Fairy Tale,” at the Kansas City Convention Center. Jonathan Cohn was honored as the 2018 Distinguished Community Leader, and three residents were recognized with the Clifton R. Cohn Community Leader Award. Guests dressed as their favorite fairytale or storybook […]

In the days leading up to Mother’s Day, a series of parties known as the Mother of All Happy Hours benefited The Family Conservancy. Holy Cross Church held its annual Happy Hour. Betsy Vander Velde was the host for a gathering at Grand Street. Dr. Barbara McGrath and Maria O’Connor, a mother-daughter duo, partnered to […]

Jill and Ray Kowalik are serving as the chairmen, and Eric Stonestreet is the honorary chairman for The University of Kansas Health System’s 17th annual Treads & Threads. Gratitude is the theme for this year’s event, which will be held on September 7th at the Kansas Speedway. John Holt will be the emcee for a […]

Carol and C. Humbert Tinsman were the honorary chairmen, and Monica Mitchell-Werp served as the chairman of the Lyric Opera Circle’s Lyric Opera Ball, “An Evening of Bel Canto.” The April 5th event was held at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. The evening featured entertainment by Metropolitan Opera Star Tenor Ben Bliss, […]

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Lee Fryer of Kansas City, Missouri, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Lee Elizabeth Fryer, to Kyle Sitomer, the son of Mr. and Mrs. David Andrew Sitomer of Leawood, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Massman of Kansas City, and Mrs. Donald Hugh […]