The impact of a book can often be gauged by the number and variety of adaptations it spawns. Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women was published more than 150 years ago, but it continues to feel like an archetypal portrait of at least one kind of American family. The Civil War-era tale of the struggling March […]

Kansas City shines brighter with each passing year, thanks to the spirit of individuals who devote themselves to making a positive impact. Within this constellation of changemakers is William Block, an exceptional volunteer whose philanthropic endeavors have earned him a well-deserved place among The Independent’s 2023 Class of Rising Stars. Will, as he prefers to […]

Cooper Frank McKee was born on March 28th. He is the son of Lisa and Kelly McKee of Los Angeles, California. Cooper’s older brother is Peter McKee, who is two and one-half years old. The darling baby boy weighed seven pounds, four ounces, and was 19 inches long at birth. Cooper has brown hair and […]

        Featured in the July 8, 2023 issue of The Independent. 

                                Featured in the July 8, 2023 issue of The Independent.     

Love is in the air, and wedding season is upon us! The anticipation of tying the knot and celebrating a lifetime of happiness can be exhilarating. However, for many LGBTQ+ couples, the journey to finding inclusive wedding vendors can turn what should be a joyous occasion into a daunting task. In a world where inclusivity […]

The most dramatic season of the year is upon us: wedding season! I’m not sure there hasn’t been one wedding without at least a smidgeon of drama. Whether it comes from family, friends, loved ones, or the vendors, weddings are a flash point for high expectations, past disappointments, and maybe even old resentments to rear […]

Katherine and Scott Barnow • December 31, 2022 Dolce Bakery created a traditional wedding cake for Katie and Scott. The beautiful cake was vanilla with vanilla buttercream. The florals were from Good Earth Floral. Photo Credit: Melissa and Beth Photography Kathryn and Jason Blake • April 15, 2023 Kathryn and Jason had a delicious lemon cake with lemon mousse […]

Kathryn Olivia Hjalmarson and Jason Stephen Blake were united in matrimony at The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe in San Diego, California, on April 15th. The bride is the daughter of Elizabeth and John Hjalmarson of Leawood, Kansas. Her groom is the son of Sharon and Stephen Blake of San Diego. The Blakes were the […]

When Chelsea Rolfes accidentally came across a big blue envelope from Brilliant Earth in JT Nagle’s backpack, she panicked. She didn’t open it, thank heavens, because she knew that it almost certainly contained a receipt for the engagement ring that she had always dreamed of wearing. It also meant that JT, her partner of seven […]

Katasha Catrena Kumar and Caden Alan Jünk were united in matrimony on May 26th at the Grand Sirenis Riviera Maya Resort and Spa in Riviera Maya, Mexico. The bride is the daughter of Linda and Surinder Kumar of Mundelein, Illinois. Her groom is the son of Eva Marie and Mark Jünk of Hays, Kansas. On […]

The third floor of Emery, Bird, Thayer was the site for a May 1937 fashion show featuring everything from beach togs to gardening overalls to bridal dresses, as they were termed. In charge was Murrel “Muriel” Finley Groves (Mrs. R. Dinwiddie Groves), herself a recent bride – and quite possibly the only former Ziegfeld Follies […]

Susan Grier Campbell of Mission Hills, Kansas, and Mr. Douglas Edward Campbell of Kansas City, Missouri, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jillian Grier Campbell, to James Henry Helzberg, the son of Dr. and Mrs. John Henry Helzberg of Mission Hills. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Edward […]

Wedding season is upon us, with brides-to-be eagerly seeking inspiration and the latest styles to create their perfect wedding day look. When it comes to the hottest styles in the world of bridal gowns and makeup, one need not look further than Kansas City’s wedding industry professionals. Nataliya Meyer, the designer behind Lucia’s Sarto Custom […]

May 11th was the date for Hats Off to Mothers, a benefit for Life Unlimited, which was held at the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. The event recognizes mothers who have demonstrated the remarkable ability to balance family life, personal achievement, and service to our community. Lisa Block, Stephanie Freeman, Sandra Lawrence, Laura Perin, Anita Robb, […]

May 1st was the date for Kansas City Young Matrons’ annual Installation Day Tea. Members enjoyed a lovely brunch hosted by Diane Roth. The new president, Mary Katz, was installed, in addition to the board of directors. Long-standing members were recognized, and Bonne Illig received the Honorable Life Membership award.       Featured in […]

September 30th is the date for the National WWI Museum and Memorial’s Night at the Tower. Kimberlee and Erik Bergrud and Katrina and Tom Henke are the event co-chairs. Members of the Bergman Family are the honorary chairs. The evening will be a celebration of everything our treasured Museum and Memorial does for our city. […]

The Belles of The American Royal are pleased to announce the selection of Nancy Freeman Wilkerson as the 2023 BOTAR president. Nancy was a BOTAR Page in 1982, and is a member of the BOTAR class of 1997. She has served on the BOTAR executive committee as the recording secretary in 2008, the vice president […]

What’s Jeff Jaworski’s passion? Advocating for Catholic education. Since 2021, he has been the chair of the Catholic Education Foundation’s board of directors. During his tenure, CEF has been able to reach more students in northeast Kansas and offer more scholarship funds. His efforts don’t stop there – he even served as the co-emcee for […]

The Ben and Betty Zarda 42nd Annual Golf Classic, a benefit for Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas, was held on May 15th. More than 130 golfers gathered for the event, which was held at Lake Quivira Country Club. Proceeds support the organization to provide critical food assistance for families during the summer months.   Featured […]

Kris Reeder is serving as the event committee chair for the Chiefs Charity Game, which will benefit MOCSA (Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault). He is also leading the  fundraising efforts during the final year of a three-year partnership with the Hunt Foundation. The event, which will be held on August 26th at Arrowhead Stadium, […]