Paul Fischer, Ray Kowalik, and Zalman Kohen served as the honorary co-chairmen for the 25th annual Kids Night Out, a benefit for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Kansas City. Andy Burczyk was the chairman of the August 13th event, which was held at the Overland Park Convention Center. The fun included cocktails, dinner, […]

Dr. Amy Patel and Joseph Rathermel were married in June. Making the event doubly special, there were two celebrations. The bride is the daughter of Neela and Chris Patel of Chillicothe, Missouri. Her groom is the son of Danielle and Michael Rathermel of Fort Dodge, Iowa. June 10th was the date for the Indian ceremony, […]

Caroline and Zack Royle of Our Town welcomed a darling baby boy, Peter Gorman Royle, on June 28th. He weighed seven pounds, 10 ounces, and was 20 and one-half inches long. Peter has brown eyes and brown hair. His delighted grandparents are Sharon and Larry Chambers and Gwen and Mike Royle. Peter is the great-grandson […]

Family is a driving force in Luke Deets’ philanthropic work. He is a humble, relationship-driven leader who sees opportunities to provide support to those in need and does not hesitate to raise his hand. Married to an educator, both Luke and his wife see volunteerism as fundamental to their family values and traditions. Luke seeks […]

When I was quite small, I stumbled across a copy of Edith Hamilton’s Mythology and became absolutely enthralled with the world of Greek mythology. From there, I tore through every anthology about the myths of Ancient Greece that I could get my hands on. Although there isn’t anything supremely unique about Greek mythology, in fact […]

Members of the Lyric Opera Circle had a full calendar of fun this summer. Instead of having the organization’s annual Ball this year, two outdoor events and a Spring Luncheon were held. Chaz at The Raphael was the site for a five-course benefactor dinner and wine pairing, with Peggy Beal as the chairman. Karen Yungmeyer […]

Nature or nurture? Sometimes, by a happy coincidence, a person ends up exactly where she should be. That happened when Helen Findlay went into the family business. Her paternal grandfather, William Wadsworth Findlay, began his career as an art dealer in Kansas City in 1870. One of his most prominent clients was William Rockhill Nelson. […]

André Davis is serving as the chairman for the 2021 Empower Breakfast, a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City. André’s dedication to the organization has included stints as a board member, advocate, and Match Maker. The event, which honors the Bigs and Littles of the Year and teaches guests about the Match Makers […]

A nice drive to Lee’s Summit would have been required until recently to access some of the most amazing comfort food – chicken and waffles – but not anymore! Andy Lock and Domhnall Molloy, along with culinary director Po Wang, have brought the goods to Midtown Kansas City in the form of a new location […]

Bartle Hall will be the site for the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri’s Holiday Mart. The annual shopping event will be held September 30th through October 3rd. This year’s beneficiaries are Bridging the Gap, Inclusion Connections, Lazarus Ministries, MINDDRIVE, Phoenix Family, Solace House, and Wayside Waifs. Also featured in the September 4, 2021 issue […]

The residents of Our Town love the summer months, and The Independent delights in sharing your special moments.  Harris, Blair, Foster, and Rhett Jackson at Mission Hills Country Club’s Fourth of July Celebration   Tommie Busch, Abby Lubischer, and Patrick Busch at the Sporting KC versus Austin FC match   Chelan David and Isabel Salgado at the […]

Wendy and Dean Guillies and Kathleen Boyle Dalen and Jason Dalen served as the co-chairmen for the 2021 Fur Ball, a benefit for Wayside Waifs. The August 7th event featured cocktails, a silent auction, dinner, and a program. Gary Lezak was the emcee, with the assistance of his dogs, Sunny, who is a Wayside alum, […]

Stargazing has always been a favorite pastime for many, and the evening of July 29th was no exception. The gifted and generous Rising Stars of 2021 were honored by The Independent at a soiree at the 1900 Building, complete with recognition, gifts, a lovely buffet, and lots of applause. Luke Deets, Deanna DiSalvo, Jessica James, […]

October 23rd is the date for the annual Night Out With MOCSA Cocktail Party and Auction, a benefit for the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault. Lindsey Anderson, Melanie Gaona, Susan Hoppe, Jamie Howard, Stacey McLey, Deana Werkowitch, and Danielle Willmore, all members of the Crestwood Women’s Network, are serving as the honorary co-chairmen for […]

Artist and athlete – not usually two descriptions seen in tandem. Kati Toivanen is unique in many ways, not the least of which are her two compelling passions. Born and raised in Finland, Kati earned her bachelor of fine arts degree from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, and her master of fine arts degree from […]

Philanthropy is more than a concept to Jessica James, it is a core value that she embodies in all that she does. As a child, Jessica excelled in school and her inquisitive and innovative nature set the stage for her future roles in the culinary arts. Since she was not encouraged to go to college, […]

The Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens was the place for Stems: A Garden Soirée. Anne and Wayne Byrd served as the honorary chairmen. The June 26th event benefited The Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park and its support of the Arboretum, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, and public arts projects in the City of […]

Abby Michele Shapiro and James Farley Gibson were united in matrimony at Union Station Kansas City on July 10th. The bride is the daughter of Jill and David Shapiro of Overland Park, Kansas. Her grandparents are Sharon and Mel Spiegelglass of Chesterfield, Missouri, the late Marlene Shapiro, and the late Jay Shapiro. Her groom is […]

Located on the edge of the greens of Canyon Farms Golf Club in Lenexa, Silo Modern Farmhouse, a restaurant within a clubhouse, was just the dinner staycation we’ve been looking for. Just off the interstate, this pastorally beautiful location could be out in the Flint Hills, but it’s much more convenient. The old brick silo […]

What do Dan Brown, Michael Crichton, and Stieg Larsson have in common? They have all written books that are considered techno thrillers.What exactly is a techno thriller? It is a literary genre that combines two others into one: science fiction and thrillers. It takes the best of science fiction, a world without limits, and pairs […]

Denise Dibben and Kristen Whalen are serving as co-chairmen of Starry Night at Starlight. The event, which will be held on September 11th at Starlight Theatre, will pay homage to an inaugural class of All-Stars, known for charitable endeavors in Our Town, plus an honorary All-Star. The fun will include tickets to a performance of […]