June 1st is the date for the Kansas City Zoo’s Jazzoo, “Rub Elbows. Touch Fins.” Kelly and Ron Lockton are serving as the chairmen of the 29th annual event. Partygoers will enjoy tasty tidbits from more than 70 of Our Town’s best restaurants, signature cocktails from 10 specialty and full service bars and live entertainment […]

Thirteen candidates are vying for the titles of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Mid-America Chapter’s 2018 Man & Woman of the Year. Following the Kick-Off Party on March 6th at The Mulberry Room, they will spend the next 10 weeks raising funds. Every dollar counts as one vote. The goal? $676,000. The winners will be […]

The 1900 Building was the beautiful setting for The Independent’s Top Ten Party. More than 200 guests celebrated Our Town’s deep commitment to philanthropy at the February 15th event. The Top Ten Events of 2017 and The Independent’s 2018 Class of Rising Stars were announced. The Top Five Golf Events of 2017  5. Big Brothers […]

Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Harkless Dean, Jr. of Fairway, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Amy Woodbury Dean, to Kirk Robert Johnston, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Garth Johnston of Ballyclare, Northern Ireland. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Neal Deramus III, the […]

Synergy Services’ Honorary Stars for the 28th Annual Kindest Kansas Citian Awards are Anita Gorman and Christy and Bill Gautreaux. Brynn McCan is the chairman for the event, which will be held on May 4th at the Kansas City Zoo. More than 5,000 students have written essays nominating people they know, and the evening will feature […]

The 1900 Building was the beautiful setting for The Independent’s Top Ten Party. More than 200 guests celebrated Our Town’s deep commitment to philanthropy at the February 15th event. The Top Ten Events of 2017 and The Independent’s 2018 Class of Rising Stars were announced. Each Rising Star was presented with a custom Kimberly Sly […]

Shelly Doucet, Director of Development, University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Education “Shelly’s passion is serving and fundraising for non profits. In her professional and personal time, she is always considering how she can make her community stronger. She constantly sees potential community connections – encouraging cross-collaboration between non profits, philanthropists and businesses.” Jennifer Ingraham, UMKC Foundation […]

Earl Altaire (rhymes with Astaire, as in Fred) began life as Earl Altare, (he later added the “i”), in Our Town on December 27, 1901. At the age of 17, he enrolled in the Georgia Brown Dramatic School. In his first job, Earl displayed a great deal of talent, but not of the theatrical variety […]

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jerome Kopp of Leawood, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Elizabeth Kopp, to Zachary Wayne Bourquin, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Henry Bourquin of Overland Park, Kansas. Maggie and Zach are both graduates of Saint Thomas Aquinas High School, and they both earned bachelor’s […]

Last summer, the Kansas City Royals invited Tom Reorda to sit in the Buck O’Neil legacy seat during a game. At a September luncheon, Tom received the Harvesters’ Circle of Hope Award as Hunger Champion – Individual. These are huge honors — what did Tom do to deserve them? The answer: Plenty! Tom first volunteered […]

The 44th Annual Snow Ball was held on January 20th at the Overland Park Convention Center. The event drew more than 2,000 guests, now that’s a blizzard of support! Early in the evening, Snow Ball Presidents Maureen and Mike Bukaty thanked partygoers for their dedication and generosity. Amid this glow of appreciation, everyone enjoyed a […]

It’s the stillness that draws me in.  The winter season is the world without adornment. The trees are bare, the air is chillingly cold and even the green grass has gone dormant. The world seems still as if sleeping under blankets of pristine white snow. For me, the stillness of winter seems to hold all […]

According to Clark Grant, proprietor and executive chef of Hogshead Kansas City; his edgy but elegant restaurant serves tough guy comfort food. It opened this last November in the former California Pizza Kitchen space on the Country Club Plaza (and the original location of the Gilbert-Robinson’s groovy ‘70s hangout, Houlihan’s Old Place). But even though […]

Dr. Annie Yiu-Chu Law of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mr. and Mrs. Philip King Huen Ma of Hong Kong are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Shannon Chi-Yan Ma, to Thomas Coleman Hoffecker, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shawn Hoffecker III of Alexandria, Virginia. Shannon is a graduate of The Walker School […]

Dr. Kathleen Victoria Kilway and Marshall Verne Miller will be united in matrimony at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Redemptorist Catholic Church in Kansas City, Missouri, on June 30th. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Mrs. James Bernard Kilway of Portage, Michigan, and the late Dr. Kilway. Her groom-elect is the son of the late […]

As a member of Centurions, class of 2019, Jason Webb is supporting the February STEM Task Force and planning the Women’s Leadership Forum, which will be held in early March. The Kansas City Anti Violence Project (KCAVP) is an organization that is important to him, and he serves on its board and the executive committee. […]

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Robert Klee of Lenexa, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Alyssa Rachel Klee, to Gregory Michael Graves, Jr., the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Michael Graves of Stilwell, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mrs. Robert William Klee of Shawnee, Kansas, and the late Mr. […]

Much merriment ensued at the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties’ Community Ball and Cotillion, which was held on December 2nd at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of 64 high school students, seniors and juniors all. In addition, there was a gourmet dinner, and dancing. Monica […]

Folly Theater hosted its third annual Folly Frolic on December 6th. This year’s theme was “The Folly Went Country, ” and country duo Walker McGuire was the featured performer. Guests enjoyed a mix of old and new country music in the C. Stephen Metzler Hall at the Folly Theater. Mark Seely and Chris Benner were […]

Grand Street was the lovely setting for Kansas City Ballet Guild’s Nutcracker Luncheon on December 14th. Guests enjoyed fabulous fare and festive table décor. Gigi Rose is serving as the Guild president. Trainee Dancer Madeline Wittmann, KCB II Dancer Gavin Abercrombie, Francie Mayer, and Sharon Soetaert   Traditional nutcrackers were displayed on every table.   […]

Truman Library Institute’s Wild About Harry event will be held on April 19th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize-winning Truman biographer, will be the featured guest. He will receive the 2018 Harry S. Truman Legacy of Leadership Award. Jo Ann and Bill Sullivan are the honorary chairmen, […]