The American Royal Complex was the site for the 2020 American Royal Junior Premium Livestock Auction. The event was held on October 17th and also included a virtual option. There were 61 exhibitors. The Grand Champion Market Steer was purchased by the Patterson Foundation for $280,000 – and yes, that’s a new record! Numerous area […]

October 16th was the date for Jackson County CASA’s Cocktails for CASA. The second annual event featured cocktail and dinner kits prepared by Mixologist Leslie Newsam Goellner and Chef Nick Goellner, both of The Antler Room. Participants picked up fresh pasta and cocktail kits and then tuned in for the program that included a behind-the-scenes […]

Girls on the Run Serving Greater Kansas City hosted its Golf for Girls tournament at Creekmoor Golf Club. The third annual event was held on October 19th. The event raised more than $50,000 to help more girls participate in the organization’s life-changing programs. Additional photos featured in the November 14, 2020 issue of The Independent

The annual Eat, Drink, & Be Jolly for the Folly Picnic Fundraiser, a benefit for the Folly Theater, was held in the glorious garden of Brian Williams’ home. The Stan Kessler Trio entertained. Picnic baskets held a tasting array of fried chicken, pasta salads, and even individual bottles of Prosecco – and the baskets were […]

Travis Kelce is a bright star in Our Town’s constellation of celebrities. Sports icons come and go, famous actors and musicians grace our collective stage, and every now and then a person with such a gravitational pull and actual gravitas embraces Kansas City. A man of many talents, not the least of which is grabbing […]

Children’s Mercy hosted Dream Big Day, a virtual family-friendly festival, celebration, and walk for the community to find answers and hope for kids. The week-long festivities culminated with more than 900 people and 70 teams coming together for a Facebook Live event on September 26th that is still available for viewing. More than $227,000 was […]

Saint Luke’s Foundation’s 10th Annual Plaza 10K, a benefit for Saint Luke’s Home Care and Hospice, was held on September 13th. Participants were given the option to run virtually or the traditional route along the boulevards and parkways around the Country Club Plaza. Lots of safety measures and a beautiful day made it a great […]

Park International Center for Music’s Stanislav & Friends was held on September 17th at the Boulevard Drive-In. Guests enjoyed beautiful classical music at the reimagined event which featured a pre-recorded concert, artist interviews, and VIP concession boxes. The highlight of the evening was the eight-hand, four-pianist, two-piano finale.        Fantasia Ta, Lisa Voss, […]

Joe Vaughan started collecting political buttons when he was still in grade school – and his collection has grown to include bumper stickers, leaflets, magazine articles, and other souvenirs of the campaign trail. Many show support for presidential candidates, and others highlight the careers of local officials and office seekers. “I was imbued with an […]

The Unity Village campus was the setting for Jackson County CASA’s 15th Annual CARnival for CASA, which was held on September 13th. From their vehicles, families could enjoy the spirit of a parade, along with jugglers, a dance troupe, exotic birds and reptiles, and more. Susie and John Newsam were the honorary chairmen.   Also […]

Christy and Bill Gautreaux and Mary and Mark Jorgenson were the co-chairmen for The National World War I Museum and Memorial’s Night at the Tower on September 12th. The sixth annual gala moved from the tower to homes across the region, where guests at nearly 250 households enjoyed a private broadcast. The stream of entertainment […]

We really don’t mean to sound like old fuddy-duddies, but in all probability, we will be judged as such. Stay with us as we explain how we’ve transformed ourselves into cool, hip, enlightened middle-agers. We never expected halls of indoor graffiti to make our hearts sing. We’ll get to the “why” in a minute, but […]

August 24th was the date for the 39th Annual Ben & Betty Zarda Family Golf Classic. The event, which was held at Lake Quivira Country Club, supported Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas. Honoring the late Betty and Ben Zarda, 120 golfers raised more than $160,000 for Catholic Charities’ summer food initiatives, including the Kids Summer […]

Fancy footwork was imperative as Cristo Rey Kansas City’s annual fundraiser, Dancing with the Kansas City Stars, made the switch to a live-streamed event. The honorary chairman was David Johnson, with Julisha Wilkins and Justina Wilkins, Cristo Rey alumnae and seniors at the University of Missouri – Columbia, as honorary co-chairmen. Kathleen Couchonnal, Kathleen Callahan, […]

In the Directors of Philanthropy issue, The Independent celebrates the remarkable people in Our Town who donate so much of their time and talents to charitable organizations.          Also featured in the October 3, 2020 issue of The Independent

Shadow Glen Golf Course was the site for the KidsTLC Open. The event was held on August 17th and featured libations, food stations, and unique games. Players safely hit the links at staggered, assigned tee times, and enjoyed a beautiful day of golf. Proceeds support services that help children deal with the challenges of mental […]

Generations of Kansas Citians would agree that a firefighter’s memorial was an excellent idea. It took a considerable amount of time to create one, but the finished product was well worth the wait. Discussions for a firefighter’s memorial began in earnest in 1968. The city government was receptive to the idea. Mayor Ilus Davis agreed […]

Henry Wollman Bloch was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in July 1922. He was the son of Hortense Bienenstok Bloch and Leon Bloch. Henry and his brothers, Leon and Richard, were great-grandsons of Betty Kohn Wollman and Jonas Wollman, who was a prominent merchant in Leavenworth, Kansas, during the latter half of the 19th century. […]

The residents of Our Town love the summer months, and The Independent delights in sharing their special moments. We are excited to feature many happy celebrations that were held with healthy protocols in place, including masks, social distancing, and temperature taking. Cheers to some Kansas City fun!   Additional photos featured in the September 5, […]

October 10th is the date for the 2020 Kemper Gala, “Ions & Elements: Through the Microscope.” During this year’s event, the exhibition on display at the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art will be Elias Sime: Tightrope. Elias takes salvaged electronic components and creates artworks that highlight the effects of technological progress on the global environment. […]

The Meyer Circle Sea Horse Fountain has graced Kansas City with its presence for nearly a century. Prior to that time, the original statuary, which was made of Carrera marble and dated from the 17th century, was on display in Venice, Italy. J.C. Nichols, the real estate developer, decided that it should be a gift […]