Cathy Baier and Maria Maffry served as co-chairmen of the Women’s Employment Network’s Annual Luncheon, “MORE Than I Thought I Could Be,” on April 4th. The event drew more than 1,100 guests. Recipients of the 2018 Beth K. Smith Award were Elizabeth and James Ferrell, Kate Ferrell Banks and David Banks and Pamela Breuckmann. They […]

Caitlin O’Byrne Waters is an employee benefits consultant at CBIZ, where she helps companies develop strategies that will attract and retain employees. As a member of Centurions, class of 2019, she is serving on the diversity and inclusion committee. In addition, she is part of the Benchmarking Trip Task Force. Destination? Cincinnati. Caitlin has a […]

April 5th was the date for CASA of Johnson & Wyandotte Counties’ Promise of Hope luncheon at the Ritz Charles. More than 700 guests heard how CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) volunteers advocate for abused and neglected children. Adoptive parents Jodi and Dr. Ryan Fischer and their CASA volunteer, Carol Dykman, shared their moving story […]

Alvin Ward has donated more than 600 hours of his time to Spay and Neuter Kansas City. He has provided customer service at the wellness clinic and assisted as a vet tech at a mobile clinic. Alvin is very knowledgable about the organization and its programs. He also is noted for his patience and decisiveness. […]

The Kansas City Symphony Alliance (KCSA) will host the 49th Symphony Designers’ Showhouse through May 13th. The home is located at 445 West 56th Street. Judy Barackman and Vandra Solomon are serving as the co-chairmen. The first Symphony Designers’ Showhouse was presented in 1970. The project has enabled KCSA to contribute more than five million […]

Both Molly McGreevy and her former husband, Tom, were interviewed for the book Edie, a biography of Edie Sedgwick, the Warhol Superstar, by Jean Stein, which she edited with George Plimpton. The book, which was published in 1982, is a compilation of oral interviews. At the end, participants comment on the changes in their lives. […]

More than 800 guests gathered for Benedictine College’s annual Scholarship Ball. Joan Moyer Kemlage and Thomas Kemlage and Pamela Schaefer Kramer and Kevin Kramer were honored with the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict. Lené Westerman and Kate McClard Carr and Patrick Carr were the co-chairmen, and John Holt served as the emcee. Jeanne […]

Nicole Jacobs Silvey is an associate director at the University of Missouri–Kansas City and is a Rising Star, class of 2018, with more than 20 years of experience in the non profit sector. She currently serves on the board of HappyBottoms.  According to Maria Dickson, Friends of University Academy; Nicole has been on the University […]

Mr. and Mrs. Paul Joseph Thompson of Leawood, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Emily Ann Thompson, to Henry John Hodes, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Herman Joseph Hodes II of Our Town. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Marshall Bleish and the late […]

Hannah Meador, events manager for TMC Charitable Foundation; caught up on her reading while taking a break from preparing for the 2018 White Coat Gala. The event was held on April 12th. Also featured in the April 28, 2018 issue of The Independent. 

Jonathan Justus, a James Beard nominated chef; has been cooking since he was four years old. “My sister, who is quite a bit older, actually caught me standing on a stool, cooking bacon and eggs, much to her surprise. I was doing it practically every morning while my mother was working on her doctorate in […]

Julie Hogan Shea of Andover, Kansas, and Mr. Wayne Allen Shea, of Overland Park, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Kaitlin Anne Shea, to Cooper Scott Mach, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Scott Weston Mach of Shawnee, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Allen Shea […]

Anastasia Huggins and her husband, Eddie, returned to Our Town two years ago, after spending nearly a decade away. Anastasia earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Kansas State University, and she is an architect with BNIM. She joined Centurions soon after moving back to Kansas City and is a member of the class of […]

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Charles Landry of Dade City, Florida, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Paige Moselle Landry, to William Randolph Lovelace, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Richard Johnson of Our Town. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Coster, Jr. and the […]

You can take the girl out of Kansas, but you can’t take Kansas out of the girl! What is Drew Auer up to in the Big Apple? For the past three years she has worked for a company called So You Wanna Be On TV? Drew starts her day at various television shows, including The […]

Vanessa Williams was the featured performer at the 31st Anniversary Cabaret. She dazzled the audience with her voice and wit. The event, a benefit for Rose Brooks Center, was held on February 25th at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center. More than $600,000 was raised, and the funds will be used to end […]

The 15th Annual ArtsKC Awards Luncheon was held on March 8th at the Kansas City Convention Center. More than 1,000 guests enjoyed the creative event that featured acclaimed performers, an artist reception and Featured Artist Cheryl Eve Acosta whose sculptural pieces were on display before the event. Cheryl handcrafted each of the five awards that […]

March 3rd was the date for Notre Dame de Sion School’s A Toast to Sion Gala. More than 400 guests celebrated Sion at the 32nd annual event. Alison Begley Schissler ’80, and Samuel Schissler and Paetra Desmarteau Serra ’87, and Gino Serra served as the chairmen. Kris and Jason Townsend and Davon Hazley and Malcolm […]

“Poetry is nearer to vital truth than history.” – Plato In honor of National Poetry Month, I tip my hat to this wonderful art form. Beginning in April of 1996, the Academy of American Poets was inspired by other successful celebratory months to create National Poetry Month. It aims to encourage the reading of poems, […]

March 27th was the date for Newhouse’s Annual New Day Luncheon at Grand Street. Loren Halifax served as the emcee. The mission of Newhouse is to break the cycle of domestic violence by providing the tools that allow individuals and families to make positive choices and lead self-sufficient lives. Vicki Kraft, Newhouse; Tracy Lockton and […]

The March of Dimes’ Signature Chefs Auction will be held on October 18th at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott Downtown. Guests will enjoy sampling the chefs’ creations for a special tasting experience. The festive evening also includes cocktails, silent and live auctions and fund-a-need. Jenny Thomas and Makenzie Eisel   Carolyn Long […]