The Independent joins with our loyal subscribers and Our Town’s non-profit organizations and country clubs to celebrate the 2018 summer, Kansas City-style!  Blue Hills Country Club Kris Townsend and Jill Dahir   Carriage Club  Swim Championships featured a “Shrek” theme with (Front row) Nicholas Frank as Donkey (back row) Billy McGannon, Tommy O’Leary and Matthew Long […]

Dr. Milton Chen, senior fellow and executive director emeritus of the George Lucas Educational Foundation; was the guest speaker for Shawnee Mission Education Foundation’s inaugural Distinguished Leaders Speaker Series event. Pati Chasnoff and Carol Logan served as the co-chairmen for the August 8th gathering at the 1900 Building. In addition to applauding Dr. Chen, guests […]

Growing up, the wonders of Kansas City seemed normal. It was just the place where I lived, with no history or preconceived notions to color my thoughts and experiences. The moment that changed was while I was watching the 1955 movie version of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!. I remember hearing the song, “Kansas City,” and […]

When I walked into The Savoy at 21c’s bar area at the newly renovated 21c Museum Hotel Kansas City, I literally did a time travel back to my teens and twenties. My cousin, Richard Stern, and his partner, Gino Happy, used to hold court at the front table almost every night. With drinks and cigarettes […]

Solissa Franco-McKay is the alumni relations manager for Kauffman Scholars. She holds two degrees from the University of Missouri–Kansas City: a bachelor of arts degree in middle school education and a master of arts degree in higher education administration. In the past, Solissa worked in higher education and as a middle school teacher. The San […]

Women and children is the current focus area of The Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri. One of its partners is Amethyst Place, which provides recovery housing. Amethyst Place’s EnCompass program features pairs of mentors who work with women who have children and low incomes. The emphasis is on solving personal and family issues in […]

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Holton Brill of Prairie Village, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Montgomery Brill, to Evan Raleigh Lang, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Bradley Robert Lang of Mission Hills, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Dr. and Mrs. Matthew Robert Fitzpatrick and the […]

It’s a big day in a little girl’s life. Emerson Fate Sansale celebrated her first birthday on July 21st. Cheering her on were Melissa and Casey Sansale, her parents; Susan and Michael Fate of Our Town and Lynn and Paul Sansale of Saint Paul, Minnesota, her grandparents; and Sloane, her older sister. Emmy already loves […]

Katie and David Cook were the honorary chairmen for Stems: A Garden Soirée, which was held at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens on June 22nd. While strolling the grounds, guests enjoyed the Whirlwind: Art in Motion exhibition. Proceeds from the event are earmarked for The Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, which […]

Summer Bowl for Kids’ Sake, a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City,  was held July 10th through the 27th at Park Lanes. Guests enjoyed fun bowling, drinks, food, prizes, and more. More than 2,000 corporate and individual teams participated in the record-breaking event. The event concluded with the Super Team Party […]

(Continued from the July 21, 2018 issue) On July 5, 1944, Hans Schwieger’s wife, Elsbeth Bloemendal Schwieger, died unexpectedly, just hours after he had been sworn in as a citizen. The young conductor, still in search of a job, was grieving in New York when he was offered a position in Fort Wayne, Indiana. For […]

The BOTAR committees recently met to plan the 69th annual BOTAR Ball, to be held on October 20th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. (Seated) BOTAR President Blythe Robertson (standing) Susan Spencer with Jessica Wright, Kim Palmer and Kristie Larson, American Royal; Charlie Tetrick, American Royal board chairman; and Lynn Parman, […]

Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mason Newell of Mission Hills, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Margaret Elizabeth Newell, to Griffin Tucker Hawkinson, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Griffee Hawkinson of McPherson, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Henry Joseph Strick and the late […]

Please join us in our proud send-off to the Class of 2017. We congratulate these wonderful students and wish them the best as they start their exciting adventures around the country! Lizzy Speath, Stanford University; Caroline Salzman, Duke University; Jack Ramza, Syracuse University; Tate Benson, The University of Kansas; Will Powell, Carnegie Mellon University; Tommy […]

Members of the Kansas City Symphony League gathered at the Sulgrave on July 11th for Invitation Mailing Day, when they assembled the beautiful invitations to the Symphony Ball, “To Paris With Love.” Kathy Scaglia was the host, and Kate Ferrell Banks served as the invitation mailing day chairman. Laurie Burgess is chairman of the Ball, […]

June 15th was the date for Mid-Continent Public Library’s fourth annual Legacy Luncheon at the Stoney Creek Hotel and Conference Center. Will Schwalbe was the keynote speaker. Volunteers Vicky Baker, Christen Stein, Amy Barclay, and Katie Gregory worked the registration table.    Yolanda Cargile and Geri Haile, Mid-Continent Public Library Additional photos featured in the […]

Amy Pieper served as chairman of Support Kansas City’s ninth annual Excellence in Nonprofit Leadership Awards. The June 28th event was held at Rockhurst University. The awards celebrate organizations’ governance, agency impact, transparency, and community collaborations. FIRE Foundation, MOCSA and Harvesters received the 2018 awards. Author Virginia Eubanks was the keynote speaker, and Chris Hernandez […]

The BOTAR Ball  will be held on October 20th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. This marks the 69th anniversary of the Ball, which is a benefit for the American Royal. This year’s BOTAR president is Blythe Leonard Robertson (Mrs. John Scott Robertson).      It takes two hands to count […]

Glad tidings from Las Vegas, Nevada: William Briggs Steele was born on July 8th. His proud parents are Kristen and Stephen Steele. William joins his big brother Beckham Douglas, age three; and big brother Jackson Reed, age one. This young fellow was born with blue eyes and brown hair. William weighed seven pounds, two ounces, […]

Jabbar Wesley is a government affairs specialist for Spire and is a member of Centurions, class of 2020. He also is the founder of the Novel City Chamber of Innovation, which is a community economic development organization, focusing on maximizing the value of unified diversity through community events, education resource development services and business incubation […]

Shannon Chi-Yan Ma and Thomas Coleman Hoffecker were married on June 2nd at Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia. The bride is the daughter of Dr. Annie Yiu-Chu Law of Atlanta, Georgia, and Mr. and Mrs. Philip King Huen Ma of Hong Kong. Her groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Shawn […]