During a chilly December walk on the grounds of the National World War I Museum and Memorial, Duke Lee stopped, kneeled, and asked Rena Ishii for her hand in marriage. The proposal did not come as a huge surprise. Since Rena’s arrival in Town a year earlier, to fill a temporary post at the Kansas […]

Ashley Marie Kelly and Danielle Rose Conforti were married on May 1st at The Pavilion Event Space in Kansas City, Missouri. Ashley is the daughter of Dana Kelly of Miami, Oklahoma. Danielle is the daughter of Kim and Nick Conforti of Kansas City. On the evening of April 30th, the couple hosted a rehearsal dinner […]

Mr. and Mrs. Kristopher Nolte of Seneca, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kaitlin Marie Nolte, to Alexander James Beal, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Beal of Leawood, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Cleland, Mrs. Alfred Roeder of Seneca, Kansas, and […]

September 29th is the date for We Work For Change. United WE, formerly the Women’s Foundation, will host the afternoon event, which will celebrate equity, diversity, and 30 years of empowering women. The festivities will include both virtual activities and an in-person VIP exclusive. The featured speakers are Mellody Hobson of Starbucks, Tina Tchen of […]

Danny Ritz is a storyteller and whether reading a story to a child through the Lead to Read program or telling stories about Kansas City through his podcast, he is committed to sharing the stories that matter most. Danny is multitalented and his varied interests and community engagement have made an immeasurable impact on our […]

This marks the 18th year for Hats Off for Mothers, which was held on May 27th at the Boulevard Drive-In. The fun festivities featured a ‘50s theme and a parade of convertibles with the honorees. Ellen Merriman served as chairman, and John Holt was the host. The honorees, who were chosen for their ability to […]

May 20th was the date for Kansas City Young Matrons’ New Member Luncheon, which was held at the clubhouse. Two classes of new members were recognized at the event. New Member Class of 2021-22 Jacqueline King, Tina Bender, Shari Olander, Debra Nichols, Jan Morgan, Edie Downing, new member chairman; Maureen Lillard, new member advisor; Jenny […]

September 11th is the date for The Symphony League of Kansas City’s 39th annual Symphony Ball, which will be held at the Kansas City Convention Center. “Stardust” will be the theme. The event will feature a Kansas City Symphony performance led by Maestro Michael Stern, as well as dinner, a silent auction, and dancing to […]

In 2015, Colleen Katzenberger was awarded the Folds of Honor Higher Education Scholarship, and her son, Everett, was awarded a Future Use Scholarship. Colleen graduated in 2016 with a master of education degree from Rockhurst University. Colleen’s husband, and Everett’s father, Staff Sergeant Jeremy Katzenberger, was killed in the line of duty in 2011 while […]

The Children’s Place’s Patio Party was held on May 15th. Mindy and Meyer Sosland were the honorary chairmen, and Katie McCune and Carrie McLiney served as the co-chairmen. Hundreds of guests gathered at more than 35 patio parties around Our Town to watch the livestreamed event, which featured a mission-filled program and silent and live […]

Floraloom is partnering with Newhouse, a shelter for survivors of domestic violence. Through this partnership, Newhouse residents have the opportunity to earn a living wage and learn marketable skills. In addition, they have the outlet to express themselves through floral arrangement. Also featured in the June 26, 2021 issue of The Independent  

Lake Quivira Country Club was the site for the 40th Annual Ben and Betty Zarda Family Golf Classic. More than 200 golfers hit the links on May 10th to support Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas’ summer food initiatives. Ernie Straub, Tony Winslow, Baile Stephenson, and Zac Clark   (Front row) Leslie Zarda, Scott Sayler, Bernie […]

May 17th was the date for AdventHealth Foundation Shawnee Mission and Charlie Hustle’s Heart of KC Foundation’s Charity Pro-Am Golf Tournament, which was held at Blue Hills Country Club. Twenty-one corporate teams sponsored the PGA Tour-sanctioned event on the Korn Ferry Tour. Proceeds support both foundations. Also featured in the June 26, 2021 issue of […]

Sara Sonié Joi Thompson-Ruffin, known as Sonié, has an amazing résumé, and it merely scratches the surface of this important and prolific local artist. Born in 1951 in Joplin, Missouri, this talented fiber artist creates quilts using fabric, symbolism, and references to African textile motifs dealing with issues such as human rights, race, and gender. […]

Happy 137th birthday to Harry S. Truman! The celebration at the 22nd annual Wild About Harry gala raised funds to support educational outreach and programming at the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, and assist with the Institute’s efforts to install a statue of President Truman in the United States Capitol’s National Statuary Hall. […]

The Belles of the American Royal are pleased to announce that Julie Miller McCann will continue in her role as BOTAR president for 2021. Julie is a BOTAR, class of 1988. Her long history with BOTAR includes serving on the Executive Committee as recording secretary in 2002, The BOTAR Ball vice president in 2004, and […]

It’s summer reading season! With vacations seemingly right around the corner again, the eponymous “beach read” is flying to the top of my to-be-read list. Although I feel that anything can be read at anytime of the year, something about the heat of summer calls for either a fun and frothy book, or a page-turning […]

Mary Conover Mellon lived much of her life away from Kansas City. Her memorial still stands, decades after her death. It is a building on what is now the lower school campus of The Pembroke Hill School, which was the Sunset Hill School in her lifetime. In all likelihood, though, many of the students who have […]

May 7th was the date for Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault’s (MOCSA) Community Luncheon, which was a virtual event this year. Guests gathered at watch parties in Our Town and enjoyed remarks from Keynote Speaker Trish Mitchell, a published author, entrepreneur, and a MOCSA board member and Speakers Bureau volunteer. Polly Kramer and Nola […]

The Kansas City Young Matrons clubhouse was the site for the Installation Day Tea, which was held on May 3rd. Julie Maggart is the incoming president, Anne Keil is the outgoing president, and Joni Siplon is the president-elect. Jill Hartman, Kristy Frazier, Kathy Teahan, Patti Paisner, and Jo Anne Dondlinger   Julie Maggart, incoming president, […]

Peggy Beal is the 2021-2022 Kansas City Ballet Guild president, succeeding Juliette Singer Spinks, the 2020-2021 president. Loews Hotel Kansas City will be the site for The Nutcracker Ball, which will be held on November 20th. Through the annual Ball and Boutique, the Guild supports the Kansas City Ballet and the Kansas City Ballet School. […]