KC RELO Magazine Spring/Summer 2016

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

w w w. k c r e l o m a g . c o m

GUIDE

Your to Making the

MOVE to Kansas City!

Darol Rodrock & Brenda Sanders review plans for the award-winning developers’ newest community Sundance Ridge.

Q U A L I T Y. S T Y L E . D I S T I N C T I O N . S I N C E 1 9 7 8 .

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Three New Neighborhoods Coming in 2016!

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Stonebridge Trails

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Southwick on the Lake 199th St & Mission Rd, Stilwell, KS - $400s-$1Mil

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Great Locations

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Albert Einstein famously said, “Try not to become a man of success, but rather try to become a man of value.” Fittingly, while trying to better his community, Darol Rodrock has found immense success. He may be the largest residential real-estate developer in Johnson County, but Darol never made this accomplishment his lifelong goal. Rather, he started out simply, and one thing led to another, enabling this exceptional man to truly appreciate—and champion—the value of home.

that better families and the city as a whole.

His success stems from the fact that Darol has worked as a teacher, coach, homebuilder, father, and more. And Darol’s taken this wealth of knowledge and used it to build over 80 developments with more than 30,000 homeowners, all the while standing by his commitment to create exceptional communities.

And in Sundance Ridge, at 175th and Kenneth Road, Darol has painstakingly planned a neighborhood like no other. Three communities are slated for production within Sundance Ridge, along with a large clubhouse with three pools, a state-of-the art playground, a greenhouse, gardens, camping grounds, paved trails, an indoor basketball court, outdoor pavilion and more!

This dedication to healthy neighborhoods is unparalleled. And it all stems from the fact that Darol has a greater appreciation than most for family, community, and all that they entail. He grew up in the foster-care system, shuttled from one harsh home to the next. Darol became acutely aware, as only the dispossessed can, of just what makes a true home. And he’s committed himself to providing truly one-of-a-kind communities

Darol’s creation of the Rodrock Development Moms’ Council is just one example of this dedication. An array of family-friendly activities are planned thanks to the Council, including egg hunts, bike-a-thons, and a holiday hayride, featuring Belgian draft horses pulling wagons down luminary-lit streets. These gatherings help new neighbors have fun, but also build a strong sense of community and provide children a safe place to grow up.

This amazing community is slated to have approximately 800 homes on gorgeous, heavily treed home sites, starting the summer of 2016. And the Blue Valley School District has purchased land within the community, so one of the state’s best school districts will have an elementary school right within the neighborhood. As well, a middle school is to be built nearby.

Just as exciting, Darol has another 14 vibrant communities currently open to homebuyers who realize that the Rodrock Difference ensures their neighborhoods will be friendly, fun, and retain value for years to come.

In all that he does, Darol is committed to building communities filled with not just houses, but homes. While he may be decades away from his difficult youth, Darol’s knowledge of the value of family and home has not changed.

And he’s devoting his later years to helping make a difference in the lives of children in foster care. In 2014, Darol announced the formation of his own charity, The Darol Rodrock Foundation, to help children in foster care realize their self worth and overcome the loneliness and uncertainty they may feel.

While still in its infancy, the Foundation has made a big impact on Kansas City foster-care children. Darol regularly talks to those in the system, sharing his own story and offering hope. Through his efforts, children have been gifted with everything from school supplies, clothes, and other basic needs to computers.

Care packages have been sent to college-aged kids, while local foster children have been treated to holiday parties, gifts, and more.

Try not to become a man of success, “ but rather try to become a man of value. ” —ALBERT EINSTEIN

Excitingly, the Foundation has also partnered with Sporting Kansas City, granting Darol an impressive platform on which to communicate the needs of older foster-care children. It also support Kansas Kids @ GEAR UP, which works within local high schools, allowing mentors to interact with foster children and help them through the ups and downs of school…and life.

Darol’s legacy is one of building better communities, be it through teaching, coaching, homebuilding, developing communities, or reaching out to those in need. And now, through his Foundation, his good work will continue, making countless lives better and continuing his incomparable dedication to improving our community.

But this is only the beginning for The Darol Rodrock Foundation: Darol has incredible plans in the works to improve the lives of so many area foster-care children.

For more information, visit Rodrock.com and the DarolRodrockFoundation.com.

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LIVE

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Day to day life can seem like a constant juggling act. You spend a good deal of your energy trying to keep a number of things in the air, family career and personal time, just IRU VWDUWHUV :HOFRPH WR /HH·V 6XPPLW ZKHUH LW DOO FRPHV WRJHWKHU DQG ÀQDOO\ \RX UHDOL]H that your life is headed in the right direction. Find your life’s sweet spot in Lee’s Summit.

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LEE’S SUMMIT

Lifestyle

CAPTURES COUPLE’S HEARTS FOR LIFE Mike and Heather Morgan came to start a family and stayed to build a life.

BY KRISTA KLAUS

As newlyweds, Mike and Heather Morgan moved to Lee’s Summit in the 1990’s to start their careers. Mike was getting his career rolling in the transportation industry, and Heather was a schoolteacher. With A-rated schools, low crime and quiet neighborhoods, they believed the suburban community just east of Kansas City, Mo. was an ideal place to start a family. They weren’t disappointed. “We liked the value that Lee’s Summit offered us with high quality schools, reasonable housing costs and still having that small town feel,� Mike said.

7KH 0RUJDQV SXUFKDVHG WKHLU Ă€UVW KRPH DQG VWDUWHG WKHLU IDPLO\ EXW D MRE WUDQVIHU pulled Mike and Heather away from Lee’s Summit. In 2002, when Mike had a chance to return to the Kansas City area, he jumped at the chance and landed right back in Lee’s Summit. They went on to raise three children in the community of 93,000 residents, with their youngest son ready to graduate from high school next year in 2017. “All these years later, we are all the more convinced we made the right choice by returning to Lee’s Summit. In spite of its explosive growth, it has maintained the feel of a small town with a close knit community, yet offers so many of the conveniences of other cities with plenty of shopping and dining options,â€? Mike said.

Lee’s Summit is one of the fastest growing cities in the state of Missouri, and the ÀIWK ODUJHVW FLW\ LQ WKH VWDWH 7KH FLW\ KDV GRXEOHG LQ SRSXODWLRQ RYHU WKH SDVW years, spurring billions in capital investment and paving the way for a multitude of development projects ranging from amenity-friendly new home communities, shopping centers, entertainment venues and ample restaurants.

City leaders have taken great pains to preserve and perfect the community’s green VSDFHV DQG SDUNV DQG UHFUHDWLRQ DPHQLWLHV :KHWKHU LW¡V ZDWFKLQJ ÀUHZRUNV LQ the sky over Longview Lake after a holiday celebration, visiting the city’s railroad museum or attending one of several annual festivals in Lee’s Summit’s historic, pedestrian friendly downtown, families quickly become attached and attuned to the daily rhythms of this friendly Midwestern community.

For Mike and Heather Morgan, it’s an easygoing lifestyle they plan to carry into their Empty Nester and Golden Years. As the couple prepares for life with no kids at home, they have no plans to go anywhere else, except maybe to a smaller home – in Lee’s Summit, of course. “As we consider the next phase of our life as our children move away, we like the idea of staying in Lee’s Summit and possibly acquiring a villa in one of the established communities or maybe even one of the lake communities,� Mike said. “We wouldn’t choose to be anywhere else.�

LIVE

By The Numbers 93,000 $387,000 70% 37.7% 100% $77,000

Lee’s Summit residents Average home value Attended college College graduates Population change since 1990 Median household income

WORK

By The Numbers 5,000 Successful businesses 45,000 Estimated jobs added in next 15 years 69 Percent of businesses planning to expand in 3 years

PLAY

By The Numbers 100 Community and cultural events 1 Ranking among Missouri Farmer’s Markets 25 Number of restaurants in DT Lee’s Summit 27 Lee’s Summit parks 500 Number of brews served in downtown festivals

SPONSORED CONTENT

kcrelomag.com President/Publisher Dave Leathers spublishingco@msn.com Editor Lonny Cohen lonnysp@gmail.com Art Director Louise Scopelitis Contributing Writers Nate Bechtold Lonny Cohen Judy Goppert Connie Griffin Tia Keene Dave Leathers

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14975 Metcalf Ave. Overland Park, KS 66223 www.westernchandelier.com

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Photographers Aaron Dougherty • Al Griffin Photography American Jazz Museum American Royal Association • Bluestem Brookside Business Association • Cedar Creek Children’s Mercy • Cottonwood Canyon Creekmoor • Extra Virgin • Gameface Media Kansas City Chiefs • Kansas City Zoo Kansas Speedway • Dave Leathers • Liberty Hospital Mark McDonald • Miami County Medical Center North Kansas City Hospital • Olathe Medical Center Rodrock Development • Shawnee Mission Health Sporting KC • St. Joseph Medical Center Saint Luke’s Health System • St. Mary’s Medical Center The American Heart Association Truman Medical Centers University of Kansas Hospital • Wright Studio 3G Controller/Billing Marcia Myers spublishingoffice@hotmail.com Accounting CBIZ Showcase Publishing President—Dave Leathers Secretary—Marcia Myers Treasurer—Megan Leathers

SHOWCASE PUBLISHING, INC. CELEBRATING 31YEARS OF EXCELLENCE. KC RELO MAGAZINE IS A PROUD MEMBER OF THE FOLLOWING...

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kcrelomag.com KC Relo magazine is proudly published biannually by Showcase Publishing, Inc., an awardwinning 31-year old magazine media corporation ©2016. All rights reserved. Any reproduction of this publication, in any form, is strictly prohibited.

For permission to use anything within these pages, please write the publisher at the below address. Volume 1, Number 1. Dave Leathers, President, Corporate Offices: Showcase Publishing Inc., P.O. Box 26326, Overland Park, Kansas 66225, email: spublishingco@msn.com.

Advertising Information: Looking to reach future residents to KC Metro through a highly targeted print and digital format? KC Relo delivers that and much more in the highest quality, low cost format. To be included in the Fall/winter 2016 edition, and 2017 editions, please email Publisher Dave Leathers at spublishingco@msn.com, or Lonny Cohen at lonnysp@gmail.com.

KC Relo is distributed through KC Metro area real estate offices, new home sub-divisions, relocation services, area chamber of commerce, extended stay hotels and other locations specific to those moving to the KC Metro area. For additional copies of KC Relo for your business or non-profit organization email spublishingoffice@hotmail.com.

SPRING/SUMMER 2016

w w w. k c r e l o m a g . c o m

GUIDE

Your to Making the

MOVE to Kansas City!

Darol Rodrock & Brenda Sanders review plans for the award-winning developers’ newest community Sundance Ridge.

On the cover: Homeowners living in a Rodrock Community understand the “Rodrock Difference.” Rodrock Development’s newest community, Sundance Ridge located at 175th and Kenneth Road, promises gorgeous heavily treed home sites with three pools, state-of-the-art playground, clubhouse, paved trails, indoor basketball court and more. Currently there are 14 other gorgeous Rodrock Development communities in the Johnson County area that are available to homebuyers.

Photography provided by: Wright Studio 3G and Al Griffin Photography

KC RELO

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CONTENTS 32

56

Message from the President/Publisher

BY DAVE LEATHERS

66

Message from the Editor

BY LONNY COHEN

70

Distinctive Neighborhoods

BY JUDY GOPPERT

Relocating to the Kansas City Area is One of The Best Moves You’ll Ever Make

50

The Ins & Outs of Getting Around

BY JUDY GOPPERT

The Ease of Getting Around Kansas City is Another Great Perk that You Will Enjoy

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The Trailing Spouse

BY TIA KEENE

For a Newly Relocated Couple, Kansas City has Boundless Career Potential for Both Members

Kansas City’s Coolness

38

BY LONNY COHEN

Kansas City’s Rich History

It’s all about the people!

34

Rich in History. Rich in Tradition.

Moving with Your Pets

BY TIA KEENE

Kansas City Welcomes You & Your Family, Including the Extended Family

72

Live Your Green Lifestyle.

BY LONNY COHEN

Golf and Lifestyle Communities Offering You Perks that Go Well Beyond Your Property Line

kcrelomag.com

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Get lost in the luxury of nature’s splendor.

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CONTENTS 80

The Level of Academic Excellence Available in Kansas and Missouri Area Schools is in a Class by Itself

112

Kansas City Loves Its Sports

BY LONNY COHEN

Big League Sports

BY JUDY GOPPERT

Highlighting Primary and Secondary Education

92

114

Kansas City is the Ideal Place to Realize Your Dream of Higher Education

Finding a Home for Your Faith

BY LONNY COHEN

No matter what your faith or beliefs, you will soon find that home.

BY JUDY GOPPERT

Spotlight the Importance of Higher Education and Its Presence in Kansas City

122

Kansas City is the Definition of Giving… in Many, Many Genres

BY JUDY GOPPERT

98

Many Hospitals and the Most Advanced Healthcare Options

BY JUDY GOPPERT

Healthcare Readily Available in the Kansas City Metro

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Kansas City’s Giving Community

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PHOTOS BY DAVE LEATHERS

MESSAGE FROM THE PUBLISHER

It’s all about

THE

People!

This native understands WHY KC IS SO GREAT. You will too.

F KC IS ALL ABOUT LOOKING OUT FOR EACH OTHER’S BACK, REGARDLESS OF SKIN COLOR, GENDER, OR BACKGROUND.

irst of all,Welcome to Kansas City, your NEW home town! Whether your current company made the choice for you, your grandkids, family, new career, wanting to return to your hometown roots, love of the Midwest values or whatever, your new home is better than ever!

Why? Well, from a born and bred perspective, it starts with the people. The make-up of this sprawling metropolis all seem to be connected by one common denominator. Love of their city and its makeup.

As a million plus miler on American Airlines we travel a lot and get asked a lot about KC. Especially in the last year, as the Royals became World Champs again after 30 long years. But often we hear people say,‘Kansas City seems like a good place to raise a family. Of course it is, but one of the main reasons is the people and their values.

The people at your local school, house of worship, workplace, fast-food restaurant, C-Store, car wash, bank or wherever your daily life takes you. It’s a unique feeling you get when you interact with everyone. It’s a good vibe that’s hard to put a finger on.

Go 250 miles east of here, and you find a city with an East Coast vibe. Not bad, if that’s your thing, but KC is all about looking out for each other’s back, regardless of skin color, gender, or background. It’s an inspiring feeling that now you call it home, you will cherish for a lifetime.

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Welcome!

Sincerely,

Dave Leathers President, Showcase Publishing, Inc. 32

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MESSAGE FROM THE EDITOR

Kansas City’s

Coolness

ou are about to discover what Kansas Citians already know and why The Huffington Post concluded that Kansas City is the “coolest” city in America.

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country. The museum draws the young and the old to see the extensive collections of American, American Indian, Egyptian and European art. But the art scene does not stop there.You will also have the opportunity to tour numerous galleries, studios and exhibitions featuring everything from classical to contemporary works of art and everything in between.

If you thought that moving to Kansas City meant that you would only be eating barbecue, you are in for a very pleasant surprise. While you will find phenomenal “Kansas City” barbecue throughout the area, you will be happy to learn that the area has an abundance of extremely gifted chefs that will delight your taste buds. Additionally, thanks to the population’s diversity, no matter what cuisine you crave, you will find it here.

Cultural coolness is everywhere.You will be delighted by the area’s highly talented actors when you attend some of the many theatre offerings throughout the area.

You are in for a treat when you visit the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art Gallery, which is considered one of the top art museums in the

If you love to shop, the Kansas City area has the shopping experiences you are looking for. The Country Club Plaza was the first shopping center in the country and today the 15-block upscale area offers endless shopping possibilities. Throughout the city, there is also an abundance of quaint shopping areas, destination shopping and shopping centers featuring local and national retailers.

No matter what the age, a trip to the zoo is a favorite among locals. Located in Swope Park, Kansas City’s largest park and one of the largest urban parks in the United States, the zoo offers delightful exhibits and attractions including the Polar Bear Passage and the African, Kangaroo and Chimp exhibit.

If you like parks, you will not be disappointed. The Metropolitan Kansas City Area is known for its beautiful parks with sprawling spaces featuring everything from swings and slides to hiking trails, lakes and places to picnic offering fun for the entire family right in your neighborhood.

Finally, take time to step out your door at the end of the day and you will soon see that Q our spectacular sunsets contribute to the area’s coolness. Enjoy!

Sincerely,

Lonny Cohen Editor, KC Relo 34

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The Kansas City Real Estate market is also very

different from other parts of the country. We enjoy a very affordable market with diverse neighborhoods and home styles. Many families relocating to the area from other metropolitan areas are amazed at what their housing budget will buy. While we enjoy these opportunities, our community continues to grow and the real estate market can be very competitive at times.

A strong Real Estate Agent, Builder and Lender are all important when buying or building a new home.

Welcome home!

Go Royals, Chiefs and Sporting Kansas City!

The Inlanta Mortgage Team of experienced Mortgage Professionals looks forward to helping you through the home buying process. Our team is available for PreApproval and inquires every day including evenings and weekends. We know how important it is to get you the right home for your family.

We work with many of Kansas City’s Top Real Estate Agents and Teams and can assist you with a referral if you need it.

We believe in and take great pride in giving back to our great community. As a company and on a personal level, we actively give our time and financial resources to many locally-based organizations who support our great city.

Thank you for taking time to learn a little more about Kansas City and Inlanta Mortgage. We look forward to the opportunity to be one of the first to welcome you to our great city and all we have to offer!

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Distinctive

Neighborhoods

Q B Y J U DY G O P P E RT

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PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

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elocating to the Kansas City area is one of the best moves you’ll make. There are many different faces of our city to choose from, each offering a variety of unique options and features. Whether you want to live in our thriving Downtown area with a streetcar and plethora of eateries all within walking distance, or out on an estate in a family neighborhood, with excellent education options. The best part is every niche and corner is within driving distance of entertainment options and amenities.

We have touched on a few of the areas in the most demand for your consideration.

Welcome to Kansas City! W

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Distinctive Neighborhoods

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PHOTO BY BROOKSIDE BUSINESS ASSOCIATION

Family living in Brookside and Waldo is a community tradition The Brookside Neighborhood is a sought after eclectic metropolitan jewel, with lovely historic homes, unique shops, trendy restaurants and cultural attractions. Home to some of Kansas City’s hippest residents and urban professionals, Brookside was this city’s first suburban shopping area. It now boasts over 70 proprietors and offices which have elegantly preserved the original architecture and kept the neighborhood appeal.

Located just a few short blocks south of the Country Club Plaza, this residential neighborhood begins at 51st and Wornall Road, while the retail area is further south and bounded by Wornall Road on the west, Meyer Boulevard to the south, 61st Terrace to the north and Main Street to the east. The year is dotted with events including the Brookside Art Fair, a nationally recognized Art Fair in its 21st

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year. It features over 185 local, national and international artists and draws over 80,000 plus each year. The Annual St. Patrick Warm-up Parade is held the Saturday before St. Pat’s Day is a festive, family friendly event where everyone is “Irish” for a day.

Brookside’s delightful neighboring city, Waldo, stretches from Gregory Boulevard on the north to 91st Street on the south, and Troost Avenue on the east to State Line Road on the west. This vibrant neighborhood and business district began in 1841 as the farm of Dr. David Waldo, and soon became a bustling neighborhood on the edge of the city.

Waldo has never lost its flavor as a fun, little family neighborhood on the edge of a big city. Today, you’ll find more than 600 businesses in Waldo, most locally owned, surrounded by a family-oriented neighborhood. This walkable, tree-lined area of our city is truly a wonderful place to work, shop, live and play.

PHOTOS BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Suburban treats await in Lee’s Summit, Lakewood, and Lake Lotawana Located just east of the metro, the city of Lake Lotawana surrounds the largest private lake in Missouri. With 600 acres of surface water and 27 miles of shoreline, it is populated by every style, size and shape of home, from cozy log cabins to million dollar estates, and private docks that hold pontoons, PWCs, ski boats, fishing boats, sailboats and more. Residents can take advantage of the Missouri Yacht Club on the lake and lakeside dining at Marina Grog and Galley. Sailing and ski clubs connect residents for a family feeling throughout the neighborhood.

Such events as Lotawana Day, with many activities including ski shows and swimming contests, and the 4th of July, with brilliant fireworks, always attract large crowds.

Another community located east of KC ideal for lake lovers is the Lakewood subdivision, boasting two lakes with a total surface area of 365 acres. This prestigious 2,200-acre neighborhood features the Lakewood Oaks Golf course, a championship course, with pro shop, restaurant and bar onsite. Condominiums and homes dot the neighborhood, with

many amenities including four swimming pools and a neighborhood swim team, fitness center, tennis courts, ball fields and play areas. Sunset cruises on the lakes are priceless.

The suburb of Lee’s Summit, southeast of the metro, is renowned for educational excellence, diversity of neighborhood options and a downtown brimming with “small town” ambiance, with over 40 specialty local retail shops, restaurants and many annual events. Free Wi-Fi and

a new electric vehicle charging station further enhance the downtown amenities, and the summer concert series draws lawn chairs and families gathered near the quaint train car which houses the Chamber of Commerce. Downtown Days, weekly events and Fourth Fridays create a nostalgic, neighborhood feel. The Magic Tree, which greets drivers entering the city just off 470 Highway, has become somewhat of a city icon during the W Christmas season.

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Distinctive Neighborhoods History is alive and well in the Hyde Park, Valentine and Plaza districts

PHOTOS BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Since the 1800s, the historic Hyde Park neighborhood, situated near Armour and Gillham near Westport, has seen a revival over the past years. This tree-lined neighborhood offers homes reminiscent

Continued

of times gone by, featuring architectural styles predominately of three kinds: modifications of Colonial revival in brick, stone, and occasionally all-frame; the Kansas City “Shirtwaist” Style house with stone or brick lower story and frame upper, often with a bellcast gable roof; and bungalows. Other styles represented are Victorian Romanesque, Queen Anne, Shingle Style, and Prairie School Style.

Its close proximity to the Country Club Plaza, built by famed real estate developer J.C. Nichols, makes it ideal for city dwellers who want to live the true Kansas City lifestyle. With 15 blocks lined with over 150 of the most exclusive shops in the world, and dozens of fine restaurants, The Plaza is world renowned. Such events as the Plaza Art Fair, the spectacular Plaza lights that shine through the holiday season, and the Plaza bunnies that dot the streets each spring for Easter make this locale unmatched. Apartments and homes in and around the area are some of the most prized pieces of real estate in the city.

The Nelson Atkins Museum of Art is a short few blocks away, where over 500,000 visitors annually are greeted by the famed giant shuttlecock on the front lawn scape, and entranced by the over 35,000 works of art within.

The Plaza is also bordered by the Valentine neighborhood, which is also steeped in historic value. These homes bring families of all ages who treasure the woodwork and etched glass, not to mention the close neighborhood feeling that prevails from front porch to front porch.

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PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Westward HO

Olathe, Kansas, the second largest of the 21 communities in prosperous Johnson County, is the fourth largest city in the state. Just 20 miles southwest of downtown KC, it offers an exceptional lifestyle. Attractive neighborhoods and a pleasing community complement one of the best school systems in the nation. Popular for hot-air ballooning and sailboarding, Olathe has two public lakes, Olathe Lake and Cedar Lake. A quality lifestyle is inviting to anyone desiring a lovely city close to the metro.

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

Going west in the Kansas City surrounding area offers a wellspring of rich experiences, with many activities, sights and welcoming neighborhoods.

The town of Shawnee, Kansas, is a short drive, and is not only a nice suburban area, with museums and shopping, but features Shawnee Town. This is an interactive place where visitors of all ages learn what it was like to live in Shawnee in 1929. Engaging and thoughtful tours, exhibits and programs will allow visitors to experience a typical day in and around the farm town of Shawnee in 1929.

Overland Park and downtown Overland park offer impressive neighborhoods Overland Park, Kansas, is home to an excellent school district, and a suburb with plenty to offer. Downtown Overland Park is the natural choice for maintenance-free, urban-style living in a trendy suburban community. Just minutes from both I-35 and I-435, it combines the area’s most unique and eclectic mix of shopping, dining, entertainment and services - just steps away from your front door.Whether you’re looking for a penthouse suite or rooftop patio overlooking the farmers market and

clock tower concert venue or a townhome with courtyard, you’ll find the ultimate downtown living. Historic downtown Overland Park features the quaint Clock Tower Plaza, and over 300 locally owned shops, a farmer’s market and events like 3rd Fridays.

The Corporate Woods business district, Oak Park Mall and Metcalf South Shopping Center are hubs of activity in Overland Park. The Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead draws visitors of all ages to tour the 1900s turn-of-the-century farm with petting zoo and activities. And parks and green spaces make this city an W ideal suburb.

Calling all NASCAR fans! Kansas City, Kansas, is home to one of the most popular racetracks in the nation, the Kansas Speedway. This world class racing track, just 15 miles west of downtown, opened in 2001. Since then, millions of fans have had the time of their life in the over 73,000 seats surrounding the 1.5 mile track. RV camping makes the experience even more memorable, as does the Hollywood Casino that overlooks turn two of the track. Village West, adjacent to the Speedway, is a 400-acre retail, dining and entertainment district that happens to be the most visited tourist destination in the state of Kansas, with 10 million visitors annually.

Lawrence, Kansas, west down K10 Highway, is home to the champion Kansas University Jayhawks, and offers the best of what a college town is about. Restaurants, concerts, events and outdoor activities abound. The Free State Brewery and the historic Eldridge Hotel are just two of the many landmarks in this storied town. It’s definitely worth a day trip or even could be your ideal home.

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Distinctive Neighborhoods Experience Downtown KC, with the creative Crossroads and River Market

PHOTOS BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

The Downtown areas of Kansas City rival any city in our United States with art, mixed use neighborhoods, a blend of venues and styles and a city pride that spans generations. Its emergence in entrepreneurial growth and smart city technology are making the news and the momentum is gathering.Venues such as the Sprint Center, the Kauffman Center for Performing Arts and the Power and Light District have made for quite a renaissance.

Living here means walking or jogging to work, to the grocery store or to any number of restaurants.

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One Light Apartments, the first new apartment complex built downtown since 1978, offers spectacular downtown views through floor-to-ceiling glass walls in all 307 apartments. Hundreds of residents have moved into the tower at 50 E. 13th Street, enamored by the luxury amenities, including a spectacular rooftop pool and many common areas, including a theater and game room. Plans are already underway to build Two Light.

small-scale grocers, bakeries, home décor, dentists, pet stores, yoga studios, banks, movie theaters, printing services and coffee shops.

The Crossroads district, centrally located near Downtown, Crown Center, Union Station and the River Market, features everything from live music to performance art. Now home to over 2,000 residents, the Crossroads is a fully functioning neighborhood with

The River Market is a riverfront neighborhood in Kansas City that comprises the first and oldest incorporated district in Kansas City, officially named a Historical District by the US Department of Interior in the late 70s. Over the years, the River Market has also been coined Westport Landing, the City Market and River Quay.

The new streetcar provides easy access to Downtown, the Crossroads and the River Market. The monthly 1st Fridays event has become a regional favorite, drawing up to 10,000 for the evening of food trucks, street performers, art gallery exhibits and music.

This vigorous and exciting neighborhood, has large riverfront warehouses being developed into residential lofts, with restaurants, bars, shops, cafés and ethnic markets. Several firms have recently relocated into the district, including Populous, one of the world’s leading sports architecture firms. Major attractions here are The City Market’s Farmers’ Market, the largest farmers’ market in the region, which brings “Farm to Table” right to the heart of the city with fresh produce and goods on Saturday and Sunday. The Arabia Steamboat Museum displays thousands of artifacts from a steamboat and its cargo that sunk nearby in 1856 and was recovered in 1987-88.

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PHOTOS BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

The Country Club District offers unmatched living options in Mission Hills, Prairie Village, Leawood, Westwood and Fairway The group of neighborhoods comprising a historic upscale residential district in Kansas City, Missouri, and Johnson County, Kansas, is known fondly as the Country Club District. The district, also the brain child of J.C. Nichols, was developed in stages between 1906 and 1950, and today is home to approximately 60,000 and includes such well-known Kansas City neighborhoods as Sunset Hill and Brookside in Missouri, Mission Hills, Fairway, and the oldest parts of Prairie Village in Kansas, making it the largest planned community built by a single developer in the United States. Ward Parkway, a wide, manicured boulevard, is the main thoroughfare through the district, running south from the Country Club Plaza, the first suburban shopping district in the United States.

Mission Hills, Kansas, has been a neighborhood of high distinction since J.C. Nichols developed it in the 1920s as a part of his Country Club district plan.

Located on the Kansas/Missouri State Line,

homeowners here enjoy membership in the three country clubs and golf courses.Together, the three clubs, Kansas City, Mission Hills and Indian Hills, have become the most prestigious in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Mission Hills is ranked third by Forbes list of America’s most affluent neighborhoods, and is home to some of the most opulent homes on large lots. George Brett,Tom Watson and Kevin Harlan make this their home.

Another richly storied neighborhood envisioned by J.C. Nichols is Prairie Village, Kansas, another planned community neighboring the Country Club Plaza. These quaint homes line treed streets, with easy access to everything Kansas City has to offer. The school systems in these Johnson County subdivisions are the top in the nation, and Prairie Village has been named one of the best subdivisions in the region by the Kansas City Star. There is plenty to do, with a large neighborhood pool complex, art galleries, restaurants and

events throughout the year that bring community spirit to life.

Leawood, Kansas, is a bit further into Kansas, offering the sought-after Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission School districts to families. Residents can enjoy the aquatic center, lovely parks, Ironhorse Championship Golf Course and events planned by the Leawood Arts Council.

The Westwood and Fairway communities in Kansas are also neighborhoods of distinction that draw every age of resident who enjoys suburban living in a delightfully interactive setting. The City of Fairway, incorporated in 1949, is a beautiful residential community in Northeast Johnson County. With nearly 4,000 residents and nearly 1800 homes and 100 businesses, Fairway is a small, but significant city. Westwood is a quaint community also nestled in the far northeast corner of Johnson County. Near Rainbow Boulevard and Mission Road, its homes are reminiscent of the cultural W ideals of the mid 1900’s.

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Continued PHOTOS BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Distinctive Neighborhoods Eastward HO A quick jaunt east of the city offers rolling landscapes, horses, quaint country communities and sports.

Of course, this means the Missouri Mavericks championship hockey team in Independence. They play at the Independence Events Center, which is also home to a number of events through the year. The Missouri Mavericks, owned by Lamar Hunt Jr., son of Kansas City Chiefs founder, Lamar Hunt, are entering into their seventh season as a professional hockey franchise in Independence, and made the playoffs appearances in each of their first five seasons, including winning the 2014 Bud Poile Governor’s Cup, capping off a season of franchise record regular-season wins (44).

Now as part of the ECHL, the Mavericks compete in the “Central Division” of the ECHL for a spot in the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The I-70/470 corridor has become a central part of the suburb of Independence. This area is conveniently located and has expanded with the Stoney Creek development, featuring the popular Bass Pro Shops and a wide variety of restaurants. Golf courses, including Stone Canyon and Shoal Creek, provide quantities of green space in this historic suburb. Many apartment complexes, office complexes, subdivisions and office parks make Independence a viable living area near the city. Events such as Santi Cali Gon Days are renowned.

Blue Springs is renowned for its Adams Dairy Parkway commercial area, with a plethora of restaurant options, Home Depot, Walmart, Kohl’s and other shopping offerings.

Its excellent education options and high school sports teams have earned state honors yearly. Close to the metro and a coveted address, city pride is alive and well in historic downtown Blue Springs. Annual events include the Fall Funfest and others.

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Strawberry Hill in Kansas City, Kansas, is steeped in tradition

explore, and unique restaurants draw daily visitors wishing to learn and enjoy the cultural influence.

This ethnic neighborhood draws on its European influence and tradition, with generations of families living in historic, majestic homes handed down through years past. Immigrants from Croatia, Germany, Ireland, Russia, Serbia, Slovenia, and Sweden settled the Strawberry Hill neighborhood in the late 19th Century.

The community remains rooted in its Slavic heritage even today. The area, on the bluffs overlooking the confluence of the Missouri and Kansas Rivers, continues to thrive and grow. The Strawberry Hill Fall Festival draws folks who wish to experience the flavor, music and crafts of this rich suburban enclave.

The museum and cultural center is located in a sprawling building ready to

Once such beloved place to find unique treats is Strawberry Hill Povitica Company, located in the heart of Strawberry Hill. In 1984, with the written recipe of his beloved mother, and her “secrets,” Harley opened the shop. Povitica has been a staple at holiday and family gatherings for generations. When given as a gift to people outside your family, it was meant as a sign of respect. As time has gone on, the tradition of baking Povitica has become a dying art form.

Here, that tradition lives on with the help of a few dedicated people who still use their Grandmother’s recipe. This Povitica is shipped around the world. Free tours of the bakery are available, and include a free sample and free cup of coffee.

PHOTOS BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

North Kansas City has a variety of areas, each unique, including Parkville, Weston, Liberty, Smithville and Gladstone In the heart of the greater metropolitan area, North Kansas City possesses an atmosphere of small town hospitality and tradition coupled with access to high-tech services and a wealth of recreational and cultural activities. Chappelle’s Restaurant and Sports Museum is something to experience. Not to mention proximity to KCI Airport and North Kansas City Hospital. Growth has been phenomenal in this area, which expands to Parkville.

Historic Downtown Parkville, overlooking the Missouri River, is a haven for shops, each offering a unique shopping experience.

Whether you’re looking for art, antiques, one of a kind boutiques, gadgets, home decor, fashion, embellishments, or collectibles, you’ll find it. Such events as the Annual Parkville River Jam and Parkville Microbrew Fest at English Landing Park are huge draws of all ages.

In Weston, locally produced wine, beer, and distilled spirits, and a pub in the underground vaults of an 1840’s brewery are sights to behold. There’s a state park on the bluffs of the Missouri River where Lewis and Clark walked, with beautiful views, trails, picnic and camping sites.

Liberty, as do all of the North KC neighborhoods, offers an excellent school system, with restaurants, a historic downtown and restaurants aplenty. Smithville and Gladstone each possess a personality, with Richville’s family-friendly community on the shores of the 7,200 acre Smithville Lake with its boating, fishing, hiking, and swimming opportunities.

Alongside the lake is the Paradise Pointe Golf Complex with its two challenging 18-hole courses.

Gladstone’s suburban community is known for excellent proximity 10 miles from the airport, and schools and art and community events that Q make life peaceful and eventful.

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Hunt Midwest communities simplify the relocating experience Whether moving to a new part of town or relocating to an entirely different part of the country, finding the perfect neighborhood for your family can be tough. Hunt Midwest is proud to offer a series of master planned, new home communities that take the guesswork out of deciding where to buy a home in the Kansas City metro.

Staley Hills Surrounded by trees and greenspace, Staley Hills offers residents a retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life with two dramatic water features bordering the community’s entrance, a crystal clear swimming pool, scenic walking trails and beautiful, stone-clad homes lining the streets.

While it’s easy for those who live there to get lost in the serenity that comes with being tucked off North Woodland Avenue and Shoal Creek Parkway, just north of M-152, Staley Hills is close to many conveniences such as Zona Rosa and has excellent access to major highways, Kansas City International Airport and downtown Kansas City. It is located within the highly acclaimed North Kansas City School District.

“All of new home communities are built within the area’s top-performing school districts,” said Jenni Mann, marketing manager for Hunt Midwest.

“In addition to good schools, our neighborhoods offer a wide array of family-friendly amenities and are conveniently located for a quick commute to work or local attractions. The only thing left to do is find your new home!”

Hunt Midwest has teamed up with the area’s finest home builders, providing future residents with a wide variety of floorplans and styles to choose from.

for an impromptu party in the driveway.

add to the laundry list of pluses for The Reserve at Riverstone. In addition, its nearness to family oriented hotspots such as the Tiffany Springs Sports Complex, Springs Water Park and one of the city’s premier shopping districts, Zona Rosa, make The Reserve at Riverstone a top choice for families desiring luxury and convenience.

The sense of community in Benson Place is just one of many attributes that have led to its popularity. Others include rolling hills, abundant parkland, and close proximity to the Shoal Creek Golf Course and Hodge Park. Benson Place is within the boundaries of the highly rated Liberty school district and just minutes from excellent shopping, downtown Kansas City and Kansas City International Airport.

Family-friendly amenities include a competition-sized swimming pool and cabana, a second lazy-L shaped swimming pool with underwater benches and bubbler fountains, children’s spray ground, playground, five acre lake, picnic area, walking trails and more than 40 acres of parkland and natural areas.

Homes start in the upper $200,000s.

Homes begin in the mid $200,000s.

Benson Place Drive slowly through Benson Place on any given Saturday in the summer and you’ll quickly spot kids wobbling on bikes along the sidewalk and neighbors gathering

The Reserve at Riverstone High-end amenities, including a brand new swimming pool, stone entrance monument and extensive landscaping, and location within the award-winning Park Hill School District

“Move-in ready homes are available in all of our communities, allowing homebuyers to move within 60 days or less. Our experienced onsite community managers are knowledgeable about the relocation process and can offer new residents a positive home buying experience.”

Homes start in the mid $300,000s.

Woodneath Farms Woodneath Farms has long been a destination community with rolling hills, larger homesites and grand residences all located in the Liberty School District on Flintlock Road north of Missouri 152. Amenities include a competition-size swimming pool, lake and fountain, walking trails, playground, nature areas, tennis court, picnic pavilion, recreation area, nature area, generous landscaping and brick entrance monuments. The Mid-Continent Public Library Woodneath branch and Shoal Creek Elementary are situated on either side of the community’s entrance, adding additional conveniences within walking distance of home.

Homes start in the mid $300,000s.

For more information about Hunt Midwest’s family of new home communities, visit HuntMidwestKC.com.

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Ins& outs

OF GETTING AROUND Q B Y J U DY G O P P E RT

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s a newcomer, the ease of getting around Kansas City is another great perk that you will enjoy. Highways and city streets are prominently marked so you will not miss your highway exit and you will easily find the street you are looking for.

Kansas City has a highway that encircles the city.

Thanks to Interstate 435, an 83-mile two state beltway encircling the Kansas City metropolitan area, you will find that you will be able to get from Independence to Overland Park and from Parkville to Lee’s Summit using this loop.

Helping you get from your new home to your new job, school or entertainment destination are the highways that intersect with I-435 including I-35, 1-29, I-470, I-635,K-10, 350 Highway, US 69, US 50 and US 40. Once you have lived here for a while, you will soon realize that these highways are great ways to get to your

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TO HELP TAKE SOME OF THE STRESS OUT OF YOUR COMMUTE IS THE KANSAS CITY AREA’S BI-STATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, KC SCOUT.

destination whether it’s just a few miles away or it is across the city.

To help take some of the stress out of your commute is the Kansas City Area’s bi-state management system, KC Scout.

Developed by the Kansas and Missouri departments of transportation (KDOT, MoDOT) , KC Scout is designed to lessen

traffic jams by improving rush-hour speeds, to increase safety by decreasing the number of rush-hour accidents, and to improve emergency response to traffic situations. Using cameras and sensors to monitor the more than 125 miles of continuous highways in the Greater Kansas City Area, KC Scout uses large electronic message boards to W KC RELO

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Continued

PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Ins & outs

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT GETTING YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE IN KANSAS, VISIT WWW. KSREVENUE.ORG AND IN MISSOURI, VISIT WWW.DOR.MO.GOV.

send urgent traffic notices to drivers along the freeways, and activates a Highway Advisory Radio system that motorists in Missouri can tune to in the event of a highway incident. For more information about KC Scout or to download the app, visit, www.kcscout.net.

If you would like to let someone else do the driving, there are numerous options in the area. Buses in both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the state line are clean and dependable; and you will find that riding a bus can be extremely economical 52

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and will take you to almost everywhere you want to go.

Riding with Uber is one of the Kansas City area’s newest transportation options. With a smart phone app, users can book their requests; and know that within minutes their ride is available. Using the Uber service is a perfect option for your daily life or a night on the town.

Finally, if you enjoy using a bicycle as a mode of transportation, you are in luck as the area is very bike friendly with many cities throughout the area developing

bicycle master plans: and bike lanes are the norm in many neighborhoods..

Kansas City’s B-Cycle Bike Share is a new great way to maneuverer through the area. With more stations planned, presently, there are 27 bike rental stations serving Downtown KC, Westport, The Country Club Plaza, 18th and Vine and the Trolley Track Trail. Costs for the Bike Share include a membership and a usage fee. For more information, visit Q www.kansascity.bicycle.com.

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Be a part of our award-winning publications in 2016

Lake of the Ozarks Second Home Living Published quarterly

Shootout Program Guide Published once a year

Relocating to the Lake of the Ozarks Published twice a year

Cabo Living Published three times a year

KC Options Published once a year

w w w. k c r e l o m a g . c o m

GUIDE

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PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Rich in HISTORY. Rich in

F PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

rom Kansas City barbecue to a livestock event spanning an entire month, and from a visionary land developer to Kansas City melodious jazz sounds, Kansas City’s history is rich and colorful. Thanks to the many visionaries who gave their special gifts to the area, you will soon discover just a few reasons why Kansas City is such a vibrant place to live.

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PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

Q B Y L O N N Y C O H E N

Tradition.

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

The Taste…the smell – Kansas City Barbecue Two of the oldest barbecue restaurants in the area can be traced back to Henry Perry, known as the “father of Kansas City barbecue.”

KANSAS CITY CONTINUES TO BE THE MECCA FOR GOOD BARBECUE.

PHOTO BY AMERICAN ROYAL ASSOCIATION

After a stint in the steamboat business, Perry moved to Kansas City in 1907, and that move put Kansas City on the map to become the ‘Barbecue Capitol of the World.” Landing a job as a porter in a local saloon, Porter started selling smoked meats to workers in the alley close to the saloon where he worked.With a following and a confidence in his abilities, Perry opened a restaurant in a trolley car near 10th & Vine, in 1910. His menu included twentyfive cent slabs of ribs and other beef specialties along with possum, woodchuck and raccoon.

Charlie Bryant worked for Perry as a cook.When Perry died in 1946, he left his restaurant to Bryant who sold the business to his brother Arthur who renamed the restaurant Arthur Bryant’s and moved it to 17th and Brooklyn. The restaurant is still in its original location and continues to host celebrities, sport figures and politicians when visiting the City.

Following Perry’s death, former cook Arthur Pinkhard joined forces with his friend George Gates to open Gates and Son’s BarB-Que. Today their restaurant has locations throughout the city.

Kansas City continues to be the mecca for good barbecue. As a newcomer to the area, you will talk to many people who will tell you that they know who has the best barbecue. The fun of being a newcomer is W finding out for yourself.

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Rich in History. Rich in Tradition. Continued From its humble beginnings to today – The American Royal What was once the hub of cattle trading in the area is now the home to one of the biggest events in the City – The American Royal.

THE AMERICAN ROYAL DRAWS THOUSANDS EACH YEAR TO THE

PHOTO BY AMERICAN ROYAL ASSOCIATION

MONTH-LONG EVENT.

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Originally called the National Hereford Show in 1899, the show was designed to move livestock. The American Royal draws thousands each year to the month-long event.

Through the years The American Royal has grown and today includes a horse show that attracts the top riders from around the country competing in major competitions.

Additionally, the American Pro Rodeo and, the World Series of Barbecue Competition were added to the festivities. Events are centered around the whole family drawing tens of thousands to the annual American Royal Parade. For those who like to tap their toes to country music, top country musical entertainers rock the house at sold-out concerts. Whether you are a cowboy or not, The American Royal, as it has been for W many years, is a time to get your cowboy on.

PHOTOS BY AMERICAN JAZZ MUSEUM

Rich in History. Rich in Tradition. Continued

And all that jazz.

Bill “Count” Basie, Mary Lou Williams, Charlie Parker, Pat Metheny, and Sonny Kenner are just a few of the people who have been part of the Kansas City Jazz scene.

While New Orleans was the birthplace of jazz, Kansas City put its special spin on jazz when it was first heard in the 1920s. It surged during the 1930s when Kansas City was run by political boss Tom Pendergast. Under Pendergast, the city was in an economic boom and musicians moved to Kansas City to find work.While prohibition was a sign of the times throughout the country, it did not exist in Kansas City and this phenomenon allowed jazz clubs to open and prosper in the area.

While this golden age of Jazz no longer exists today, Kansas City Jazz continues to be heard throughout the city. Kansas City is home to the American Jazz Museum, which opened in 1997. The museum, located in the Historic 18th & Vine Jazz District, has done an exceptional job of highlighting the sights and sounds of the jazz legends as well as W modern-day jazz.

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WHILE NEW ORLEANS WAS THE BIRTHPLACE OF JAZZ, KANSAS CITY PUT ITS SPECIAL SPIN ON JAZZ WHEN IT WAS FIRST HEARD IN THE 1920S.

Home begins here.

Discover Johnson County’s premier new community where you’ll find everything to match your lifestyle.

Terrybrook Farms … the best move you’ll ever make.

TERRYBROOK FARMS Maple Ridge of Terrybrook Farms | Stone Creek of Terrybrook Farms | The Estates of Terrybrook Farms Custom Homes from mid-$400s to over $1 million 171st & Switzer | 913-424-3002 | For the Terrybrook story, visit TerrybrookFarms.com Prime location · Award-winning Blue Valley School District · Handpicked amenities · Acclaimed builders & developers

A Julian · Rodrock Homes Community

Rich in History. Rich in Tradition. Continued Let’s go shopping!

Today, shopping centers are the norm, but in 1922, Kansas City was the home to the first shopping center in the world – The Country Club Plaza.

Designed to accommodate visitors who arrived by automobile, The Country Club Plaza was developed by Kansas City visionary developer Jesse Clyde Nichols, (Known as JC Nichols) and was patterned after the high-end shopping districts in Seville, Spain.

Encompassing about 55 acres, during planning,the project met extreme criticism, but when it opened, the area was an immediate success and has continued that success.

HOME TO THE FIRST SHOPPING CENTER IN THE WORLD.

PHOTOS BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Besides the shopping at the many unique stores and eating at the extraordinary restaurants, plan to take a walking tour to see the architecture, statues and fountains Q that make this shopping area as unique today as it was nearly 100 years ago.

KANSAS CITY WAS THE

Finally...

No history is complete without looking at some of the Kansas Citians who have left their mark on Kansas City and the rest of the country! Thank you Harry S. Truman, Amelia Earhart, Don Cheadle, Walt Disney, Richard and Henry Block, Robert Altman, Thomas Hart Benton, Joan Crawford, Donald Hall, Buck O’Neil, Ernest Hemmingway, George Brett, Tom Watson, Ginger Rogers, Paul Rudd, Eric Stonestree, Bob Riggle, Jason Sudeikis, Jesse James, George Caleb Bingham, Dee Wallace, Chris Cooper, Kate Spade, John Kander plus many, many more.

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Original inspiration.

the Telluride inaugural participant kc artisan home tour

Rodrock Homes builds homes where families live, share and dream.

Where you want to be.

RodrockHomes.com 913-851-0347

pick of the parade kc fall parade of homes

BUILD YOUR FUTURE

With Us

Come visit our showroom and work with our designers & salespeople to explore all options specific to your design needs.

DOORS

| WINDOWS | CABINETS | HARDWARE | MILLWORK | and more – we have it all!

Kansas City Building Supply 913.962.5227 | Fax (913) 962-5244 | 7600 Wedd, Overland Park, 66204 | www.kcbuilding.com

PEOPLE

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PRODUCTS

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PERFORMANCE

BUILD YOUR FUTURE

With Us

Come visit our showroom and work with our designers & salespeople to explore all options specific to your design needs.

DOORS

| WINDOWS | CABINETS | HARDWARE | MILLWORK | and more – we have it all!

Kansas City Building Supply 913.962.5227 | Fax (913) 962-5244 | 7600 Wedd, Overland Park, 66204 | www.kcbuilding.com

PEOPLE

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PRODUCTS

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PERFORMANCE

The

Trailing Spouse Q B Y T I A K E E N E

The Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area is home to tons of employers, making it a great place to relocate to, especially for the trailing spouse.

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hen opportunity knocks, many ďŹ nd that relocation is a must.

In the midst of uprooting everything, the trailing spouse must begin the search for a new job. The Greater Kansas City Metropolitan Area is home to tons of employers, making it a great place to relocate to, especially for the trailing spouse.

Finding a job can be an intimidating undertaking. By utilizing resources and services available to you, you can eliminate some of the stress often associated with job hunting.You can begin your job search by utilizing the Internet and other sources such as local newspapers. This will help give you an idea of who is hiring, what they want from their future employee, and what they can offer to you. Local papers such as The Kansas City Star offer their job listings online, as well as in print, so as a trailing spouse, you can begin your job search right away.

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Working with the area Chambers of Commerce and local employment agencies can also be of great help to you.You should be apprehensive about any employment agencies that charge a fee for their services, and you should always consider using more than one. This way you are branching out into several different job arenas.

By becoming associated with the Kansas City Area Chambers of Commerce, you will be introduced to several business owners and leaders throughout the Kansas City area community. Contacts are valuable resources when it comes to finding a job for the trailing spouse.

This could be of the utmost importance

IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU KEEP YOUR RESUME UPDATED AND THAT YOU ALLOW ACCESS TO YOUR INFORMATION ON THE WEB.

when searching for a job, because any connections you make can be beneficial.

A temporary position can be a great way to begin networking and developing contacts and references. They can even act as gateways to more permanent positions in the future. Temporary positions can be beneficial, as they will allow you to generate some cash flow and keep your skills set sharp.

It is very important that you keep your resume updated and that you allow access to your information on the Web. Some of the best sites for maintaining business relationships and gaining new contacts are LinkedIn and Facebook. By keeping your connections open, you will have a better chance at finding a job that is right for you as a trailing spouse.

Remembering these key points can make all the difference when it comes to your job search. With all of the changes that relocating your family can bring, being prepared and knowing the right paths to take will help you, the trailing spouse, find exactly what you are looking for.

By taking simple steps, such as utilizing today’s Internet conveniences, staying current and getting more familiar with your community, you can be another step Q closer to a great job.

THE TRAILING SPOUSE RESOURCE BOOK KANSAS AREA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Leawood Chamber of Commerce leadwoodchamber.org (913) 498-1514 Lenexa Chamber of Commerce lenexa.org (913) 888-1414 Olathe Chamber of Commerce olathe.org (913) 764-1050 Overland Park Chamber of Commerce opchamber.org (913) 491-3600 Shawnee Chamber of Commerce shawneechamber.com (913) 631-6545 Lawrence Chamber of Commerce lawrencechamber.com (785) 865-4411 MISSOURI AREA CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Kansas City Chamber of Commerce kcchamber.com (816) 221-2424 Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce lschamber.com (816) 524-2424 Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce northlandchamber.com (816) 455-9911 Raymore Chamber of Commerce raymorechamber.com (816) 322-5599

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Where Your House Becomes A Home!

Providing the Finest Quality Products and Services Available

Servicing the Kansas City area for over 39 years.

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM! 4380 BELGIUM BOULEVARD • RIVERSIDE, MO 64150

816-471-HOME (4663)

completehomeconcepts.com

Moving your

Pets Q B Y T I A K E E N E

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ou will be happy to know that Kansas City is extremely petfriendly. Animal-centered events and parks, businesses catering to animals and rescue programs are just some of the reasons your pet will enjoy the move to the area.

Additionally, with one of the best Veterinary schools in the country just hours away at K-State, you will reap the benefits of this program with extremely talented veterinarians practicing throughout the area.

Whether your pet is furred, finned or feathered, it is always important to take the correct measures when you are relocating them. Knowing the proper way to introduce your pet to this stressful event can save you from the impending chaos that would otherwise ensue.

Your best bet is to go about your daily routine with your pet as much as possible. Make sure that you are feeding, exercising, and playing with your pet as you normally would.

Another great idea is to ask a friend if they would pet-sit while you are packing up. Since pets do not respond to change very well, keeping them away from the home while you are making the transition is ideal.

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If you are flying, you will want to get your pet ready for the flight a month ahead of time. Get your pet familiar with its insulated carrier so that it recognizes it as a safe place. Placing your pet in the carrier at night and rewarding them with a treat is a good way to convince them.

Favorite toys and blankets are also great ways of letting your pet know that its carrier is not so bad.

Ask if your airline provides a carrying service for your pet. If so, leave a note stating any specific instructions in

addition to information like when your pet last ate, drank or went to the bathroom.

If you are traveling by vehicle, make sure you make rest stops often so your pet can stretch its legs, and always make sure that food and water is available.

Make sure you know where veterinary hospitals are in your new area. It’s a good idea to take your pet for a checkup before you travel. This will ensure that your pet is in good health during the Q duration of the trip and long after.

Dog parks in the area: Help Your Dog Make New Friends KANSAS Heritage Dog Park Kill Creek Park Shawnee Mission Park Thomas Stoll Dog Park

159th & Pflumm Road 33460 West 95th 7900 Renner Road 12500 West 119th

Olathe, Kansas DeSoto, Kansas Shawnee, Kansas Overland Park, Kansas

MISSOURI Blue Springs Dog Park Elkhound Ranch Dog Park Fairmount Park Off Leash Happy Trails Off Leash James A Reed Off Leash Liberty Dog Park Longview Lake Dog Park Penn Valley Off Leash

20th North of Jefferson Street 9205 N. Brooklyn Avenue 300 North Home Avenue 1251 SE Ranson Road 13101 SE Ranson Road 901 S. La Frenz 11100 View High Drive 29th & Wyandotte

Blue Springs, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri Independence, Missouri Lee’s Summit, Missouri Lee’s Summit, Missouri Liberty, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri Kansas City, Missouri

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PHOTO BY COTTONWOOD CANYON PHOTO BY COTTONWOOD CANYON PHOTO BY CEDAR CREEK

Live YOUR

Green

Lifestyle

Q B Y L O N N Y C O H E N

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o you enjoy playing golf but does the long drive to the golf course take the fun out of your golf game?

Would like to kick back and relax your weekend away with family and friends around the pool but the hassle of packing the kids and all the things you need for a day at the pool takes away the relaxation?

If you answered yes to these and other questions about your lifestyle, then it might be time to look for a home in a lifestyle community. These communities offer you the perks that go well beyond your property line.

Describing Cedar Creek, a lifestyle community in Olathe, Len Boxler says that living in the community offers residents the opportunity to come home to a W vacation every day.

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Live YOUR Green Lifestyle Continued PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

There are many factors to consider when choosing your new home community – near your job, quality schools, nearby shopping but there are other things to consider. It is also important to take a look at how you live. If you are an emptynester, you are going to look for different lifestyle offerings than the young family will find important.

For this reason, many lifestyle communities offer amenities that will appeal to you, no matter what stage of life you are in.

Creekmoor in Raymore is a lifestyle community which offers amenities that will appeal to every stage of your life.“This unique, friendly, thriving community offers golf and lake living as well as a state of the art clubhouse and fitness center, pool, tennis and trails. There is truly something for everyone,” explains Rosemary Vitale, Reece and Nichols Real Estate.

PHOTO BY CREEKMOOR PHOTO BY CEDAR CREEK

PHOTO BY CREEKMOOR

If you are looking for tranquility, many of the lifestyle communities throughout the area offer you the dream you are looking for.

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Be a part of something special.

MORE THAN A COMMUNITY. Visit our sales center on Creekmoor Drive, open daily.

816-331-0754

It’s a lifestyle.

Upper $200s-$600s • 18-hole championship golf course • 108-acre lake with private dock opportunities • State-of-the-art clubhouse & fitness center • Walking and biking paths • Community pool & tennis courts • Award-winning schools • Easy accessibility to highways, shopping, dining & conveniences • Choose from a variety of residences including single family homes and villas • Golf & lakefront home sites available

www.Creekmoor.com

Located 3 miles east of I-49, just north of Hwy. 58 on Foxridge Drive. Or take MO 150 Hwy. east to Kelly Road, south to 155th Street then east to Creekmoor.

Finally, there is a strong social aspect of living in a community that offers lifestyle amenities including golf, swimming clubhouse, ďŹ tness centers, tennis and walking trails and more. As a newcomer to the area, making social connections for you and your family is an added perk you will enjoy for years to come.

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Looking for a home in a luxury golf community with a private course?

CHECK OUT THESE COMMUNITIES! Cedar Creek Hallbrook Lake Quivira Lions Gate Loch Lloyd The National

PHOTO BY CEDAR CREEK PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

For example, Cottonwood Canyon in Lenexa, a golf course community offers the tranquility that many homebuyers are looking for according to development manager, Steve Hughes. Like other lifestyle communities in the area, Hughes explains that their development offers residents the feeling of living in the country while still physically living in the city. The open spaces and the physical layout offers residents the tranquility they are looking for.

PHOTO BY CREEKMOOR

PHOTO BY COTTONWOOD CANYON

PHOTO BY CREEKMOOR

Live YOUR Green Lifestyle Continued

Be

ing Res Ac erva cep tio ted ns Fo Now rN ew P

ha

Best Views in Johnson County!

se

Cottonwood Canyon Maintenance-Free Living - Sit Back and Enjoy.

The community of Cottonwood Canyon features many amenities in addition to beautiful views of the award winning Canyon Farms Golf Club in every direction. Future development will include a pool and neighborhood gathering area for the 125 home owners who will call Cottonwood Canyon home.

Adjacent to the Johnson County Trail System and within close proximity to the 1,660-acre Shawnee Mission Park.

Choice lots, starting at $85,000, with beautiful scenic views overlook green space, golf course, or the lake.

Call us today!

913-492-4444

One mile west of I435 on 95th Street/Prairie Star Parkway at Ridgeview | Lenexa, KS

www.CottonwoodCanyon.info

Where Your House Becomes A Home!

Providing the Finest Quality Products and Services Available

Servicing the Kansas City area for over 39 years.

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM! 4380 BELGIUM BOULEVARD • RIVERSIDE, MO 64150

816-471-HOME (4663)

completehomeconcepts.com

CrossFirst Bank is dedicated to meeting the financial needs of businesses, professionals and their families. Recognized as one of the strongest banks in Kansas City, CrossFirst Bank is proud to serve some of the area’s most notable clients. Here you will find all of the banking services to meet your business and private banking needs, and enjoy an extraordinary level of personal service.

Extraordinary is a level of service not achieved by accident. We had extraordinary in mind when we set our foundation on the core values of Character, Competence, Commitment and Connection. At CrossFirst Bank, you will experience extraordinary through authentic relationships, valuable services, and our willingness to search beyond standard answers in accomplishing your goals.

Speak to us about: ) ) ) )

) Energy Banking Business Banking ) International Services Commercial Loans ) Private Banking SBA Loans Treasury Management

Serving people in extraordinary ways® 4707 W. 135th Street | Leawood, KS 66224 | 913.327.1212

crossfirstbank.com

MEMBER FDIC

The Level of ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE Available in Kansas and Missouri Area Schools IS IN A

Class by Itself Q B Y J U DY G O P P E RT

A

move to the Kansas City Metro area is a smart one if you have or plan to have children. Whether you plan to enroll your children in one of the excellent public schools in the area or the private schools and online learning options, you will find educational choices are bountiful.

Preparing students for their future are the school districts in Johnson County.

In the Blue Valley School District, 2015 Graduates posted the highest ACT and SAT scores of Kansas City Area metropolitan districts. The Shawnee Mission School District has a 91 percent graduation rate, and in 2015, 80

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graduating seniors received more than $32 million in scholarship offers. Like its other two Johnson County counterparts, the growing Olathe School District offers advanced courses and excellent educational opportunities.

Helping to develop a career path for students, the North Kansas City School District has partnered with the Metropolitan Community College for students to build skills in Engineering and Industrial Technology.

Accolades came to several eastern Jackson County school districts in 2015.

The Blue Springs School District

recently received the highest annual Performance Report score among large school districts in the State of Missouri.

Three high schools in the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District were among the top 25 high schools in Missouri to receive recognition in U.S. News and World Report’s annual “America’s Best High Schools” in the spring of 2015.

As with other schools in the area, college prep classes are a big part of school curriculum. The private schools in the area including The Barstow School, Pembroke Hill School, Rockhurst High School, Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, St. Teresa’s Academy,

SCHOOLS IN EACH DISTRICT ARE SOME OF THE MOST ACCREDITED IN THE NATION.

We Invite You to Discover the Best Fit for Your Family!

Notre Dame de Sion School, St. Thomas Aquinas and many more.

Finding the best fit for your child ‘s educational needs and the environment that he or she excels is an important part of your relocation. The following is a sampling of you and your child’s choices.

ABC Preschool A Better Choice (ABC) Preschool, LLC in downtown Lee’s Summit is a private esteemed academic preschool that prepares children academically and socially for kindergarten, and life-long learning. ABC Preschool’s innovative curriculum is based on current brain research.

Katy Lautzenhiser, Director and Lead Teacher, explains,“Elementary educators are finding far too many students are entering Kindergarten unprepared, which leads to children falling further behind.

ABC Preschool targets how a child develops – mentally, emotionally, and socially – during a child’s crucial early years of growth, and invests in your child’s success beyond the preschool walls.”

All ABC Preschool teachers are certified educators, and the early childhood facility maintains the latest education practices.

“As the industry has grown and expanded, we continue to keep current with the fast growing exploration and development in brain research, and the way children learn. We only hire the best teachers who receive ongoing training and education

throughout each school year. We are more than a school: we are an extension of families and a part of our community.”

ABC Preschool offers flexible options to meet an individual family’s needs regarding budget, education goals, and schedules.“We trust families are important partners in what we do, and ensure parents are actively involved through participation in school events.

We encourage volunteering in our school, providing parents with daily electronic journals, bi-monthly progress reports, an interactive web page, and more.”

ABC Preschool 8 SE 5th Street, Lee’s Summit, MO (816) 246-6562 www.abcpreschoolpage.com KC RELO

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The Barstow School The Barstow Show, located 11511 State Line, is a co-educational school where students in preschool through twelfth grade develop a challenging educational community. The goal of the Barstow School is to graduate well-rounded selfconfident individuals, offer a rigorous and challenging college preparatory curriculum and provide opportunities to develop leadership and enhance for lifelong learning.

The Barstow School 11511 State Line, Kansas City, MO (816) 942-3227 www.barstowschool.org

Summit Christian Academy

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The district offers many special programs including the Blue Valley Academy, a non-traditional program for high school students; ACCESS, a program teaching independent living skills for students with moderate to severe disabilities; and the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS), an innovative program for high school juniors and seniors, providing realworld, hands-on learning experience.

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Check us out at one of our Campus Visit Days!

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1:30-3 p.m., Friday, March 11 or April 8 Each visit includes a tour, an introduction to curriculum, Q&A panel, and refreshments.

Space is limited.

Call 816-525-1480 to RSVP or for more information. summit-christian-academy.org 82

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Blue Valley School District For 50 years, Blue Valley Schools have been committed to providing students an Education Beyond Expectations— an education filled with opportunities.

Located in suburban Kansas City, in the heart of Johnson County, Kansas, this 91-square mile school district serves more than 22,000 students at its five high schools, nine middle schools and 20 elementary schools. Blue Valley consistently ranks among the top school districts in the nation, striving to provide each student with the opportunity to experience unprecedented academic success and unparalleled personal growth through personalized student learning.

For more about Blue Valley Schools, visit www.bluevalleyk12.org.

Blue Valley School District (913) 239-4000 www.bluevalleyk12.org Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (HBHA) helps students discover who they are while giving them the freedom to determine how they can have the most beneficial impact on society.

HBHA offers a strong academic foundation, individualized attention, and

a community based on Jewish values.

Its top-notch general and Jewish studies, combined with dual-language curriculum enables students to learn beyond the test and develop critical thinking skills to prepare them for a lifetime of success.

HBHA’s customized education plan creates an environment in which all students are encouraged to succeed, and its low teacher-to-student ratios ensures each student receives individualized attention. This individualized learning empowers HBHA students to achieve their greatest potential, and instills lifelong confidence and leadership skills in the process.

If your family would like to join a warm, values-based community, go to www.hbha. edu, or contact Tamara Lawson Schuster, Director of Admissions, 913.327.8135, tschuster@hbha.edu.

Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy 5801 West 115, Overland Park, Kansas (913) 327-8150 www.hbha.edu Insight School of Kansas Every student has potential. Insight School of Kansas (ISKS) and K¹², America’s leader in online education, work in partnership with families to serve students grades 7-12 and help them exceed their educational expectations with a personalized and highly supportive approach. ISKS is a full-time, tuition-free online public school option with no student fees which provides support from Kansas-licensed teachers with extensive training in online instruction from K¹². Experienced teachers and counselors inspire students to work hard and help them succeed. ISKS serves students ranging from advanced, high-achieving college-bound individuals to students who need more intense support or may be credit deficient. With a full range of clubs and organizations, prom and graduation, ISKS provides the best of the middle and high school experience with the benefits of an online program. We are now accepting enrollment for the 2016/2017 school year; visit our Web site or call our enrollment center to speak to an enrollment consultant.You can also view upcoming events at www.ks.insightschools.net/ events-calendar. At ISKS, we believe every student is uniquely brilliant.

Insight School of Kansas 16740 W. 175th, Olathe, KS (800) 260-0438 www.kc.insight.net

CONTACT US FOR A PERSONALIZED TOUR

WWW.BARSTOWSCHOOL.ORG/VISITING THE BARSTOW SCHOOL

COLLEGE PREP EDUCATION FOCUSING ON MIND, BODY AND CHARACTER CO-ED • INDEPENDENT • PRESCHOOL–GRADE 12 • SINCE 1884

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Kansas Virtual Academy Kansas Virtual Academy (KSVA) and K¹² work together, in partnership with families, to awaken the joy of learning in children.

The result can be greater academic success, confidence and independence, both in school and beyond. KSVA gives Kansas kids in grades K–6 the chance to learn in the ways that are right for them.

We offer an award-winning curriculum from K¹², the leading online K–12 curriculum provider and an AdvancEDaccredited company. KSVA is a full-time, tuition-free online public school option with no student fees that provides support from Kansas-licensed teachers with extensive training in online instruction from K¹². Supplemental books and materials are supplied to each student.

Students will enjoy an active, supportive school community as well as social and extracurricular activities, and our student support services range from national K¹² parent and student networks to local, community-based resources. We are now accepting enrollment for the 2016/2017 school year; visit our Web site or call our enrollment center to speak to an

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enrollment consultant.You can also view upcoming events at http://ksva.k12.com/ events-calendar. At KSVA, we believe every child is uniquely brilliant.

Kansas Virtual Academy 16740 W. 175th, Olathe, KS (855) .243.1908 www.ksava.k12.com

North Kansas City Schools Just north of Kansas City’s vibrant downtown, North Kansas City Schools is a district of nearly 19,500 learners who benefit daily from an academically rigorous curriculum for grades Pre-K to 12. The district has earned both state and national accreditation and is recognized W

Empowering Teachers – Enriching Learners BVEF has funded more than $3.7 million in grants, scholarships and special programs that support educational excellence for Blue Valley students.

For more information, visit www.bvef.org.

Academic Excellence

Cont.

exceptional educators who are supported by an engaged, diverse community.

North Kansas City Schools (816) 321-5000 www.nkcschools.org

throughout Missouri as a leader in academic innovation.

North Kansas City Schools is among the largest districts in the Kansas City metropolitan area with 21 elementary schools, ďŹ ve middle schools and four high schools. In addition, the school district offers optional Pre-K and before/after school programs, expansive gifted/honors

opportunities, career and professional academics, A+ certiďŹ ed high schools, as well as nationally recognized adult and community education programs for learners of all ages.

In North Kansas City Schools, every student achieves his or her unique potential through extraordinary educational experiences provided by

Education Beyond Expectations Blue Valley schools have received the Presidential School of Service Award 183 times for student volunteerism since its inception in 2006.

Blue Valley’s ďŹ ve high schools were named to e

Washington Post’s most challenging high schools list in 2015.

In 2015, 41 high school seniors were named National Merit ďŹ nalists.

2015 graduates recorded a composite SAT score of 1864, tying the highest score in district history that continues to exceed state and national averages.

91% of patrons surveyed said they would give teachers in the district a grade of ‘A’ or ‘B.’ 2015 graduates posted an ACT composite score of 25.4, the top score of KC metro area districts.

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Olathe Public Schools The Olathe School District is the second largest school district in Kansas. Students’ test scores consistently rank among the top 10 percent in the nation with ACT and SAT scores above state and national averages. Olathe has earned 18 National Blue Ribbon School Awards from the US Department of Education. The district has received national awards for outstanding professional development for teachers, and is home to two 2016 Horizon Award winners, the 2013 Kansas Superintendent of the Year, a 2014 Master Teacher, the 2012 Kansas Teacher of the Year and the student co-champion of the 2015 Scripps National Spelling Bee. The district offers innovative 21st Century High School Programs, including aerospace and engineering, biosciences, geosciences and e-communication.

Total enrollment is 29,567 students.

Facilities- 35 Elementary schools, eight middle schools and four high schools. For more information visit www.olatheschools.com.

Olathe Public Schools (913) 780-7000 www.olatheschools.com Rockhurst High School Rockhurst High School is a place of formation, where students are committed to a deeper experience, empowered by the Spirit. For more than 100 years, Rockhurst has been a place where boys become young men, with minds, bodies and souls prepared for the challenges of college and life beyond.

Located on State Line Road, Rockhurst welcomes 9-12 grade boys from both Kansas and Missouri. A leader in academics, athletics and co-curricular activities, Rockhurst draws a student body that is ethnically and socio-economically diverse from 91 different zip codes. The entire student body represents more than 117 elementary and junior high schools from the metropolitan area.

First and foremost at Rockhurst are academics. The school is proud of its growing Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) and Robotics programs.

99% of graduates attend a 4-year college or university, and the Class of 2016 includes 13 National Merit SemiďŹ nalists and three perfect ACT scores.

Rockhurst High School 9301 State Line (816) 363-2036 www.rockhurst.edu St. Michael the Archangel School St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish welcomes all as we share the gospel and bring others to know Jesus. Since its inception in 1999, the parish has grown into a vibrant faith community of more than 2,300 families. Our grade school offers preschool to 8th grade education with high standards of excellence and opportunities for children to learn and apply knowledge and skills in ways that draw them closer to God. We offer religious education classes, youth ministry, bible studies and many other opportunities to grow in the Catholic faith. In addition to faith formation, we offer a multitude of community outreach and social events that will allow you to get involved and ďŹ nd your place in the parish.

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A place to grow in the Catholic faith... join our community!

For Mass times, and to ďŹ nd out more information, please go to www.stmichaelcp.org.

St. Michaels the Archangel School 14251 Nall (913) 402-3900 www.stmichaelcp.org Shawnee Mission School District For more than 45 years, the Shawnee Mission School District has been ranked consistently among the ďŹ nest school districts in the nation, earning praise locally, regionally, and nationally for its commitment to providing excellent educational programs and services for students. Located in suburban Kansas City, the district serves students and families residing in 14 communities. The district boasts high graduation rates, achievement scores above state and national averages, and a rigorous and relevant curriculum that prepares students for college and W

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish 14251 Nall Ave., Leawood, KS 66223 &Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; Ĺ?ŜĨŽĆ&#x152;ĹľÄ&#x201A;Ć&#x;ŽŜ Ä&#x201A;Ä?ŽƾĆ&#x161; ŽƾĆ&#x152; Ä?Ĺ&#x161;ĆľĆ&#x152;Ä?Ĺ&#x161;Í&#x2022; Ć&#x2030;Ć&#x152;Ä&#x17E;Ć?Ä?Ĺ&#x161;ŽŽů Ĺ˝Ć&#x152; <Ͳϴ Ĺ?Ć&#x152;Ä&#x201A;Ä&#x161;Ä&#x17E; Ć?Ä?Ĺ&#x161;ŽŽůÍ&#x2022;

www.stmichaelcp.org or 913-402-3900 KC RELO

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Academic Excellence

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career. One of the most technologically focused districts in the region, a 1:1 initiative provides a tablet or laptop to each student to support learning. The district continues to expand Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) opportunities at all academic levels. Construction is underway to ensure state-of-the-art facilities that offer safe, secure learning environments that support the educational programs of today. Advanced courses and Signature Programs provide high school students with unique opportunities to explore careers through mentorships and hands-on experience in the field.

Shawnee Mission School District (913) 993-6200 www.smsd.org Summit Christian Academy Summit Christian Academy is a Top 5 Private School in the Kansas City area.

Since 1989, Summit Christian Academy (SCA) has grown from 32 students to 800, has been selected a top five private school in the Kansas City Metropolitan area, and has been recognized as one of the top 100 “large and effective schools” by the Association of Christian Schools International. With its strong mission of inspiring students to achieve their God-given potential through excellent academics and Christian training in a compassionate environment, SCA has earned a reputation as a top-notch school with stellar academics, excellent performing arts and athletics all in a fun, familyfriendly environment.

SCA is situated on a 36-acre campus near 50 Highway and 291 South. We welcome your family to be part of the SCA family! Call 816-525-1480 today for more information or visit the summit-christian-academy.org website.

Preparing children academically and socially for kindergarten and life-long learning.

Offering flexible options to meet individual family’s needs regarding budget, educational goals and schedules.

8 SE 5th Street, Lee’s Summit, MO 64063 • (816) 246-6562

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Summit Christian Academy 1450 SW Jefferson (816) 524-0185 www.summit-christian-academy.org

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Kansas City is the Ideal Place to

Realize Your Dream OF

Higher Education W

hether you are moving to the Kansas City area to take advantage of a new job adventure or you want to be closer to your family, at some point you are going to start thinking of higher education options for you or your family.You will find that there is a wide array of junior colleges, four-year universities along with other graduate programs.

Most of these schools cater to the working professional as well as the full time student. In Johnson County, the KU Edwards Campus in Southern Johnson County offers 30 undergraduate and graduate degree completion programs including the MBA program from KU’s business school as well as doctorial programs. In Olathe, Kansas

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State opened a campus several years ago focusing on animal health and food security at the graduate level.

Full time students as well as working adults will find a home at Baker University at their main campus in Baldwin, Kansas as well as Overland Park, Lee’s Summit and the Northland.

The college recently added an advance degree in Sports Management to their many graduate and undergraduate degree programs.

Rich in history, Ottawa University offers classes at its Overland Park location as well as online. Understanding that many students have unusual schedules, they offer support to students through their 24/7 helpline.

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KNOW THE VALUE

LOVE THE EXPERIENCE

PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Continued

PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

Higher Education

Combining academics with an authentically Christian perspective is the mission of the MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe.With more than 40 undergraduate programs and 6 graduate degrees, students find that the average class size of 16 students is extremely beneficial to their learning experience.The MidAmerica Nazarene University attracts students from 35 states and 5 countries.

With the distinction of being one of the top providers of education courses of the military, Park University offers accelerated eight week sessions online and face-to-face in Parkville, Kansas City and Independence.

Those in need of Certificate programs will find many options in the area.

University of Central Missouri in Lee’s Summit offers a number of complete certificate and degree programs in child and family development, criminal justice, management, nursing and social work as well as numerous graduate programs.

New residents in the area can also take advantage of exceptional Junior Colleges including Johnson County Community College, which is ranked as the third largest educational institution in the state of Kansas; Johnson County Community College offers a full range of undergraduate credit courses and 150 career and certificate programs that prepare students for employment. JCCC’s noncredit workforce development program is the largest most comprehensive in the Kansas City Area. In Missouri, the Metropolitan Community College, a group of five campuses throughout the Greater Kansas City Area, 94

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offers extensive workforce training and general academics.

As you begin to investigate your higher education options, take a look at the following sampling of colleges that are located in your new backyard.

Baker University Baker is a private, liberal arts university that educates traditional and nontraditional students through small classes, innovative instructors and rigorous coursework. At Baker University, education is personal.

Our community is the bond that will connect you to lifelong friends and associates, to professors that mentor and inspire and to supportive staff ready to help at any hour of the day. Enriching campus activities, productive internships, career opportunities and international experiences are all a part of your education. In addition to the main campus in Baldwin, Kansas, Baker has campuses in Overland Park, Lee’s Summit, Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita.

At each of Baker’s four schools – College of Arts and Sciences, School of Nursing, School of Professional and Graduate Studies and School of Education – the school’s faculty provides creative learning experiences while challenging students to analyze issues with depth and clarity.

Students fully engage in their education and connect with peers, faculty and staff.

Johnson County Community College With more that 46,000 students enrolled in credit and noncredit classes each year, Johnson County Community College (JCCC) is one of the state’s largest institutions of higher education.

Known for excellence in programming and teaching, JCCC provides resources of a large-university with the feel of a small college where students take center stage.

Explore all that JCCC offers.Visit www. jccc.edu, call (913)469-3803 or schedule a campus tour. Know the value. Love the experience.

Kansas State University – K-State Olathe Campus The goal of this K-State Olathe campus is to teach students but also be a place where professionals come to continue their learning. It is home to graduate level students as they prepare for careers in the biosciences and biotechnology, with opportunities to work with faculty from Kansas State as well as industry scientists.

Those already in the business world benefit from the presence of the campus, which helps train the future workforce on the latest industry technology and keep it informed of the most recent developments by holding seminars and workshops. It also houses collaborations between researchers and companies, both public and private, so that the technology being developed is what the businesses in the industry are demanding.

K-State Olathe offers master’s degree and graduate certificate options that are in-demand in the Kansas City metro area. With academic programs focusing on animal health and nutrition, food safety and security, and education and leadership dynamics, our students are able to hone their scientific and W

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technical skills while mastering business and leadership practices that will advance their careers and their organizations.

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Ottawa University has a residential campus in Ottawa, KS, adult campuses in four states and a robust online program.

Today, more than 90 percent of our student body consists of working adults who are beneďŹ ting from a rich history and life-friendly undergraduate and graduate programs with accelerated 8-week courses online or at our Overland Park, KS, adult campus.

University of Central Missouri â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summit (UCM) UCM â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Leeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summit, serves as the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence center for educational opportunities and workforce development in the Kansas City region.

The facility offers a number of complete certiďŹ cate and degree programs, as well as programs consisting of online coursework or courses on the main campus in Warrensburg. Evening and weekend courses allow students to advance their careers while balancing their education with work and family.

University of Missouri â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kansas City (UMKC) The University of Missouri-Kansas City is recognized for the quality of its faculty, students, research and community leadership. Located in the heart of Kansas City, Missouri, the University of Missouri-Kansas City is a public research university focused on urban issues. At UMKC, your mind will be opened to knowledge, diverse people and outstanding experiences, allowing you to further explore those areas of your life in which you are already engaged. Named one of the Best Midwestern Colleges by Princeton Review, UMKC boasts a 12-1 student faculty ratio. The nationally and internationally recognized Henry W. Bloch School of Management is among the more than 120 majors and programs that draw students to UMKC each year.

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Many Hospitals and the Most Advanced

Healthcare Options ARE

Readily Available

IN THE KANSAS CITY METRO Q B Y J U DY G O P P E RT

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he Kansas City area is home to upto-date, top notch healthcare and professionals. This helpful listing will aid you in finding what you need in your new community. Whether you need excellent care for your children, elderly care, family emergency care or health advice, the helpful mentality of these professionals and the consistent improvements and research being done will never let you down. And they will always make you feel better!

For more than half a century, North Kansas City Hospital has been the Northland’s preferred healthcare provider.

NKCH is an acute-care facility with

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451 licensed beds and 550 physicians representing 49 medical specialties. From a Level III neonatal intensive care unit,

THE KANSAS CITY AREA IS HOME TO UP-TO-DATE, TOP NOTCH HEALTHCARE AND PROFESSIONALS.

to award-winning cardiovascular and orthopedic programs, to home health and hospice, NKCH provides a lifetime of care.

NCKH offers advanced treatment options, including world class cancer care through a partnership with the region’s only National Cancer Institutedesignated program.

Through its Meritas Health subsidiary, NKCH offers the largest network of healthcare providers in the Northland, with more than 110 primary and specialty care physicians in 30 convenient locations, including an express care clinic in the Liberty Hy-Vee store.

North Kansas City Hospital is located at 2800 Clay Edwards Drive, North Kansas City, MO 64116. For more information, visit nkch.org.

Saint Luke’s Health System consists of 10 area hospitals and several primary and specialty care practices. They provide a range of inpatient, outpatient, home care and hospice services. Founded as a faithbased, not-for-profit organization, their mission includes a commitment to the highest levels of excellence in health care and the advancement of medical research and education.

Saint Luke’s Hospital ranks among the nation’s best in seven specialties, as recognized in 2015 by U.S. News and World Report. Saint Luke’s is a regional pioneer in health care innovation. They offer four acute-care hospitals throughout

the Kansas City metropolitan area, including: Saint Luke’s Hospital, Midtown and Country Club Plaza; Saint Luke’s East Hospital, Lee’s Summit and Eastern Jackson County; Saint Luke’s South Hospital, Overland Park and Johnson County, Kansas; Saint Luke’s North Hospital, Kansas City North.

One of the nation’s leading cardiovascular disease outcome research programs is at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute.

Its legacy of innovation began more than 25 years ago when it opened as the nation’s first heart hospital. Since then, the Heart Institute has earned a world-wide reputation for excellence in the treatment of heart disease, including interventional cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, imaging, heart failure, transplant, heart disease prevention, women’s heart disease, electrophysiology, outcomes research, and health economics. With more than 50 full-time board certified cardiovascular specialists on staff, the Heart Institute offers one of the largest heart failure/heart transplant programs in the country, has the largest experience with transcatheter aortic valve replacement in the Midwest, and is a global teaching site for the newest approaches to opening challenging blocked arteries using minimally invasive techniques.

Treatment for complex brain and spinal cord diseases at the city’s only dedicated neuroscience hospital, Saint Luke’s Marion Bloch Neuroscience Institute. SLMBNI offers neurologists dedicated to treating a full range of neurological conditions including stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, movement disorders, memory disorders, migraine headaches and more. Our minimally invasive spine surgery team and our subspecialty-trained neurosurgeons utilize leading edge interventions for stroke, trauma, aneurysms, tremor and other brain disorders.

Their Comprehensive Stroke Center, with one of the nation’s leading stroke reversal programs, uses leading-edge neurointervention techniques. Saint Luke’s programs, community outreach and education, stroke research and rehabilitation are dedicated to preventing and treating stroke.

The Cancer Institute offers access to leading edge clinical trials for cancer treatment, including National Cancer Institute (NCI) and industry trials, as well as the region’s largest network of 3-D mammography centers. SLCI also offers innovative surgeries for brain tumors and the STAR® Program for cancer rehabilitation to help patients overcome the physical and emotional challenges W PHOTO BY NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL

The hospital’s mission, vision and values reflect a strong commitment to the health and well-being of the Northland community and beyond. Last year, NKCH sponsored 60 charitable and community organizations and served more than 24,000 people through its dynamic Community Health & Wellness programs.

And, it recently became the first hospital in Kansas City to offer a zero-percent financing option to help patients manage their medical services.

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children. They are the only free-standing children’s hospital between St. Louis and Denver. Every year, their research advances and redefines pediatric medicine. And every moment, the staff does everything possible to care for and support the families they serve. This dedication and commitment, along with generous community support, lets Children’s Mercy offer the best possible care for your child, while helping transform the lives of children across Kansas City and around the world.

that accompany cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Advanced surgical care, liver and kidney transplantation programs, and a Level IIIb Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with highrisk obstetrics program are available.

Visit saintlukeskc.org.

With 700 specialists in more than 40 specialty areas, Children’s Mercy brings exceptional experience to the most complex pediatric cases, as well as to the everyday needs of children’s health. Their pediatric nursing care is second to none, having earned Magnet® recognition – the highest designation of excellence in nursing – three times in a row.

Every day, the specialists at Children’s Mercy provide expert care to hundreds of

The Elizabeth J. Ferrell Fetal Health Center is one of only a few of its kind

W PHOTO BY CHILDREN’S MERCY

Crittenton Children’s Center is a nationally recognized children’s behavioral health center, and Saint Luke’s Convenient Care Clinics are designed to provide high quality care close to home, with locations in Kansas City area Hy-Vee grocery stores.

Saint Luke’s Concierge service offers physician referrals, class registration, and general information about their health system, and customer service specialists are available M-F to answer questions and guide people to the right physicians and right places. Saint Luke’s Concierge service is available by calling 816-932-5100, or outside of Kansas City at 855-932-5100.

Their unparalleled expertise is evident.

Children’s Mercy is consistently recognized as one of the top children’s hospitals in the nation by U.S. News & World Report – a reflection of the dedication and expertise of each and every one of our staff.

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Fact: 25% more patients survive at NCI-Cancer Centers.

© The University of Kansas Hospital

Why would you go anywhere else?

The University of Kansas Cancer Center is the region’s onlyy National Cancer Institute-designated Cancer Center, and among a select few in the nation.

NCI-designated Cancer Centers lead this country’s fight against cancer by excelling in research and treatment. Patients not only receive greater access to leading-edge options and the most promising discoveries, but something more important: 25% better survival rates.

Put the power of academic medicine to work for you. Call 913-588-1227 or visit kucancercenter.org.

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Many Hospitals and the most Advanced Healthcare Options

in the nation, delivering babies with high risks and complications right here at the hospital so that they can get the immediate care they need.

professionals.Together, they deliver exciting discoveries and life-changing treatments.

With family-centered care, Children’s Mercy provides a unique, family-centered environment that understands and provides for the needs of both pediatric patients and their families. Their Child Life program is one of the largest in the country. It eases stress and worry through programs that help kids and parents understand their medical care; allow kids to play, learn and grow while in the hospital; and provide emotional support and resources for the whole family.

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals 2015-16 named The University of Kansas Hospital among the nation’s 50 best for adult care in 12 data-driven medical and surgical specialties. The hospital is one of only 16 in the nation to achieve this status. It has also been ranked on the Best Hospitals list every year since 2007.

The University of Kansas Hospital is one of the nation’s leading hospitals, delivering comprehensive care, surgery and diagnostics for people with the most complex conditions. As a premier academic medical center, the hospital serves as a resource for other hospitals and care providers throughout the Midwest and treats patients from across the country.

Exceptional care is provided through collaboration among physicians who represent more than 200 specialties, as well as nurses, researchers and other 102

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The hospital’s work has consistently earned recognition in many areas:

The hospital provides patient care for The University of Kansas Cancer Center, one of only 69 National Cancer Institutedesignated Cancer Centers nationwide.

Patients have better access to clinical trials, the latest therapies and more personalized care closer to home in facilities throughout the region.

Since 2006, the hospital has been designated as a Magnet facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

The designation is awarded to only about 7 percent of U.S. hospitals.

The hospital is one of only 13 academic medical centers to receive the 2015 Bernard A. Birnbaum, MD, Quality

Leadership Award from University HealthSystem Consortium. The study is given to those who provide high-quality, safe, efficient, patient-centered, equitable care.

For the fourth consecutive year,The University of Kansas Hospital earned the National Research Corporation Consumer Choice Award for Kansas City.The award recognizes a hospital’s overall quality, image and reputation, physicians and nurses.

For more than four decades, Liberty Hospital, 2525 Glenn Hendren Drive, Liberty, has been dedicated to providing our community with high-quality healthcare close to home. In today’s healthcare environment, Liberty Hospital is in the midst of great change; diversifying for the future, while being true to their mission – to improve the healthcare delivery system and offer lower cost and convenient options to those they serve.

This year brought the openings of a new urgent care facility and specialty clinic on the west side of Interstate 35. Liberty Hospital Urgent Care Shoal Creek offers extended hours with easy access located W

Many Hospitals and the most Advanced Healthcare Options PHOTO BY LIBERTY HOSPITAL

latest in technology, pharmaceuticals and clinical trials with Liberty Hospital’s awardwinning quality and personal care.

Also this year, Liberty Hospital became the first provider in the Kansas City area – and the only one in this region – to offer MAKOplasty, a surgical procedure for hip and partial-knee replacements. They are only the second hospital in Missouri to acquire this technology. MAKOplasty is less invasive than traditional total replacement surgery and is performed using a surgeon-controlled robotic arm that allows for more precise movements and a custom fit for the replacement joint.

across from Walmart on North Church Road.

Liberty Hospital Specialty Clinic Shoal Creek now offers cardiologists, orthopedic and spinal surgeons, obstetricians/ gynecologists and dermatologists.

The Olathe Health System includes Olathe Medical Center (OMC) and

Miami County Medical Center (MCMC) in Paola, Kansas. OMC is located at Olathe Medical Park, one of the largest hospital campuses in the Midwest – a nearly 250-acre campus at 151st Street and I-35 in southern Johnson County.

The five-story acute-care medical center is licensed for 300 beds and averages more than 44,000 patient care days per year. Its emergency care center is one of the busiest in the region, with more than 42,000 patients treated annually.

The not-for-profit medical center and its network of practicing physicians specialize in nearly every area of medicine.

OMC services include orthopedics, obstetrics, oncology, cardiology, vein care, emergency care and more.

For more than 62 years, OMC has lived up to its promise - to meet the community’s need for compassionate, high-quality healthcare spanning every stage of life.

From a single, 30-bed hospital in 1953 to a thriving regional health system today, OMC has grown with the community, responding to its needs.

OMC is currently undergoing the largest expansion in its history. Four significant construction projects are underway W PHOTO BY OLATHE MEDICAL CENTER

Liberty Hospital also announced a new clinical affiliation with Saint Luke’s Cancer Institute to provide comprehensive oncology services on their campus. By teaming up, they now can combine the

While continuing to expand services, Liberty Hospital also is undergoing extensive renovations to make their campus more welcoming and comforting.The new main entrance and lobby, along with the gift shop, patient registration and patient rooms on 3 East recently opened. After a makeover completed last spring, the Emergency Department opened with the addition of a patient fast-track to decrease the wait times and length of stay for patients with less serious injuries and illnesses.

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On Life Support

On a Roll

The day Brookelynn was born, she stopped breathing for six minutes. She was rushed to the NICU at Children’s Mercy—the highest level NICU between Denver and St. Louis. Three years later, she’s a lively little girl who loves gymnastics. Jumping. Tumbling. Twirling. Her possibilities are endless.

See how we’re transforming lives every day at childrensmercy.org/stories.

Brookelynn | Age 3 | Shawnee

The non-profit hospital for Kansas City’s kids.

Many Hospitals and the most Advanced Healthcare Options PHOTO BY MIAMI COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER

recognizes hospitals that excel in their ability to gain insight into their patients, employees, physicians, and community through research and to use that information to build excellence within their organization.

Visit olathehealth.org for information.

organizations, for the treatment of conditions like heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and stroke. MCMC is one of just ten hospitals in Kansas to receive this distinction. Its wide-ranging surgical care also received special notice for “outstanding performance.”

Through OMC’s dedication to quality care, the hospital has received many awards and accreditations, including: • Best Hospitals by US News and World Report • Women’s Choice Award, America’s Best Hospitals, for Breast Center, Cancer Care and Orthopedics • Safest Hospital in the KC Metro Area

by Consumer Reports • Newsweek Top Cancer Docs • Certified Chest Pain Center • Certified Primary Stroke Center • Accredited by the Commission on Cancer with commendation in the Community Hospital Cancer program category (only one in four hospitals nationwide receives this approval)

In addition, MCMC earned Emergent Stroke Ready designation from the American Heart Association. This means MCMC can diagnose, treat and transfer patients, if necessary, who are experiencing stroke-like symptoms. For every minute that a stroke patient does not get to a stroke designated facility, that person loses 1.0 million neurons and ages by three weeks.

Accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

Miami County Medical Center (MCMC) has a 39-bed license and offers a 24-hour emergency care center staffed by certified emergency professionals. It also specializes in providing quality care in numerous sub-specialties, including general surgery, orthopedics, cardiology, podiatry and family medicine.

MCMC is among the top in the nation for heart care. It was named a Top Performer by The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading accreditor for healthcare

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MCMC is nationally recognized for its commitment to excellence in patient care from HealthStream Research, a national company that tracks patient satisfaction.

HealthStream’s awards program

Shawnee Mission Health (SMH) is a network of health care facilities and services located throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area and surrounding communities. The network includes Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC) in Merriam, Kan., a 504-bed facility with more than 20,000 inpatient admissions and more than 200,000 outpatient admissions annually; SMH – Prairie Star, a comprehensive health care facility located in western Lenexa; physician practices located throughout Johnson and Leavenworth Counties and Centra Care Shawnee Mission Urgent Care locations in Overland Park and Lenexa. SMH’s newest facility, SMH – Blue Valley, will open in early 2017 and will feature an emergency department, laboratory, imaging center and an approximately 75,000 square foot medical office building for physicians in a variety of specialties.

SMH serves more than 70,000 patients in its emergency departments annually, has the area’s first accredited Chest Pain Emergency Center and delivers more babies each year at SMMC than any other hospital in the metropolitan area. W PHOTO BY SHAWNEE MISSION HEALTH

across OMC’s 250-acre campus: a new four-story obstetrics wing with a level II neonatal intensive care unit; a freestanding cancer center; an expanded cardiovascular center; and the addition of a memory care neighborhood at Cedar Lake Village.

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PHOTO BY ST. MARY’S MEDICAL CENTER

of Blue Springs and Eastern Jackson County for more than 30 years. St. Mary’s is active in the community, offering patients the best of both worlds – a warm, caring environment, close to home, providing the range of services and expertise typically found in much larger facilities.

St. Mary’s is among an elite group of providers in treatment for time critical diagnosis and has earned several quality awards, including Top Performer on Key Quality Measures® by The Joint Commission and Get With The Guidelines® – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. It is also recognized by the Joint Commission as a Primary Stroke Center and is a Certified Chest Pain Center.

PHOTO BY ST. JOSEPH MEDICAL CENTER

SMH also has some of the highest customer service or HCAHPS scores in the Kansas City metro.The network employs more than 3,000 local residents and supports an exceptional staff of 700 physicians representing 50 medical specialties, the largest medical staff of any full-service hospital in Kansas City. SMH has served the Johnson County community since 1962.Visit them online at ShawneeMission.org.

St. Mary’s Medical Center, founded by the Sisters of St. Mary, relocated from downtown Kansas City to Blue Springs, Mo., in 1981. In 2015, the hospital was purchased by Prime Healthcare Services, operating 38 hospitals in 11 states. Its Catholic heritage and the spirit of our founding Sisters continue today in our mission of caring for the community.

The medical center has provided highquality compassionate care to the residents

The Breast Center has earned recognition by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation from the American College of Radiology (ACR).

It has also earned recognition by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation from the American College of Radiology.

In 2015, the medical center was recognized with the Women’s Choice Award® among America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics and America’s Best Breast Centers. The Women’s Choice Award identifies hospitals women can choose with confidence knowing they excel at clinical care and patient experience.

St. Mary’s is a faith-based, Joint Commission accredited, 146-bed acute care facility providing a wide range of services, including Emergency Department, Joint and Spine Institute, Surgical Services, Breast Center and outpatient services.

To learn more about St. Mary’s, visit stmaryskc.com. For a physician referral, call 816-228-3335.

Founded in 1874 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, St. Joseph Medical Center has a long tradition of providing quality, compassionate care.

In 2015, the hospital was purchased by Prime Healthcare Services, operating 38 hospitals in 11 states. Its Catholic

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Conveniently located at I-435 and State Line, St. Joseph is a faith-based, Joint Commission accredited, 310-bed acute care facility providing a wide range of services, including Emergency Department, Joint and Spine Institute, Surgical Services, Sleep Center, Birthing Center and outpatient services.

St. Joseph has proven it is among an elite group of providers in the treatment for time critical diagnosis and has earned the American College of Cardiology’s Get with the Guidelines Platinum Performance Award. The medical center has received full accreditation with percutaneous coronary intervention from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care. It is also an Accredited Chest Pain Center. The medical center has earned Stroke Center Level II designation from the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services Bureau of Hospital Standards.

The Breast Center at St. Joseph has earned recognition by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and Breast

Imaging Center of Excellence designation from the American College of Radiology.

PHOTO BY TRUMAN MEDICAL CENTERS

heritage and the spirit of our founding Sisters continue today in our mission of caring for the community.

In 2015, the medical center was recognized with the Women’s Choice Award® among America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics and America’s Best Breast Centers. The Women’s Choice Award identifies hospitals women can choose with confidence knowing they excel at clinical care and patient experience.

St. Joseph has attained Magnet® recognition for three straight times.

This program recognizes excellence in nursing and it is the highest honor an organization can receive for professional nursing practice.

To learn more about St. Joseph, visit stjosephkc.com. For a physician referral, call 916-943-2345.

Truman Medical Centers is Kansas City’s essential, two acute-care safety net hospital health system. The TMC Health System includes TMC Hospital Hill, TMC Lakewood, TMC Behavioral Health, the Jackson County Health Department and a number of primary care practices throughout Eastern Jackson County.

TMC is the primary community teaching hospital for the University of MissouriKansas City School of Medicine, and specializes in chronic disease management, orthopaedics, family medicine, women’s health, and trauma services. For more information, please call (816) 404-3785, visit www.trumed.org, like us on Facebook or follow them Q on Twitter.

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PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

Kansas City

LOVES ITS

Sports Q B Y L O N N Y C O H E N

I

PHOTO PHOTOBY BYDAVE DAVELEATHERS LEATHERS

t is hard not to be a sports fan in Kansas City. Three major league sports teams in the area along with racing and college teams give fans much to cheer about.

The Kansas City Royals were truly a success story in 2015. After narrowly missing the World Series Championship in 2014, the Royals came back strong last year and the fans showed their support all season long. The World Series win last October was the icing on the cake for the team and all of their fans.

The Royals championship gift was celebrated through the city culminating with a parade and victory celebration with an estimated 800,000 people in attendance.

Following such an amazing season for the Royals, the Kansas City Chiefs’ football fans were treated to a season that has been extraordinary. Looking for a Super Bowl win since their win in 1969, the Chiefs started their season experiencing continual losses. However, in October, with a 1-5 record, the team crossed the line and won the next 10 games, making them one of the first to make the playoffs with such a poor season opening.

Also boasting a record year was the City’s professional soccer team – Sporting Kansas City. Founded by Chief’s owner Lamar Hunt, the franchise has won the MLS Cup in 2001 and 2014; the Supporters Shield in 2000 and the US Open Cup in 2015 as well as 2004 and 2012. Fans are loyal to Sporting Kansas City. And with more than 50 games that were sold out in March 2015,

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PHOTO BY KANSAS CITY CHIEFS PHOTO BY KANSAS SPEEDWAY

For racing fans, Kansas City offers NASCAR racing attracting fans from throughout the Kansas City Area and throughout the country at the Kansas Speedway. Offering the first racing events in 2001, the first NASCAR races were held in 2011. The Speedway can hold 100,000 spectators and as with Kansas City’s other sporting events, no other city does tailgating better than Kansas City.

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

the team has more than 14,000 season ticket holders with a wait list of nearly 3,000. The 2016 home season begins in March, and like the Royals and the Chiefs’ games is an event for the entire family to enjoy.

Additionally with Kansas University, K-State and the University of Missouri so close, you’ll be able to see some of the best college football and basketball throughout each season, but be prepared for a little fun rivalry that exists between each team’s fans.

PHOTO BY SPORTING KC

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

You will want to get your cheer on as you make the move to the area. Be prepared… being a sports fan is contagious if you live Q in the area.

IT IS HARD NOT TO BE A SPORTS FAN IN KANSAS CITY.

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FINDING A

Home FOR YOUR

Faith Q B Y L O N N Y C O H E N

A

n important piece of your move to the Kansas City Area is finding a home for your religious faith and spirituality. No matter what your faith or beliefs, you will soon find that home. The Kansas City area’s diverse population means that there are an abundance of choices that will meet the criteria you and your family are looking for.

Church of the Nativity Church of the Nativity is a thriving Catholic parish located at 3800 W 119th Street in the heart of Leawood.

The Nativity family prides itself on service to others, whether in our parish or surrounding

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AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF YOUR MOVE TO THE KANSAS CITY AREA IS FINDING A HOME FOR YOUR RELIGIOUS FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY.

community. On a daily basis, our parishioners visit the sick and take communion to homes, nursing facilities and hospitals. We serve meals at St. Maryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Food Kitchen, bring in thousands of pounds of food in quarterly food drives, distribute thousands of dollars to ministries locally and worldwide, and participate in countless other service

projects each year. At Nativity we believe in being the hands and feet of Christ here on earth.

There is a place for everyone at Nativity.

We encourage you to come and worship with us soon. See our website for more information on our parish activities and ministry in Leawood and beyond.

Church of the Nativity 3800 W. 119th St., Leawood, KS 66209 913.491.5017 www.kcnativity.org Congregation Beth Torah Congregation Beth Torah is a modern, Reform Jewish congregation dedicated to creating an inclusive, caring community W

A membership to Congregation Beth Torah includes tickets to all High Holy Day Worship services for you and your family, in addition to so much more.

Choosing a synagogue is one of the most personal choices you will make. If you are looking for a Reform congregation big enough to offer all the educational, community and religious opportunities of a large congregation and small enough to offer you a sense of intimacy and belonging, then Congregation Beth Torah is the choice for you.

3/($6( -2,1 86 )25 :256+,3 (5(9 6+$%%$7 126+ 3 0 :256+,3 3 0 6+$%%$7 :256+,3 $ 0 8 UI 4USFFU 01 ,4 t t XXX CFUI UPSBI PSH For more information contact us at info@beth-torah.org KC RELO

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and providing opportunities for Lifelong Learning through both formal and informal education and meaningful worship every Friday night, Shabbat morning and all Holy

Continued

Days.We strive to encourage and promote ethical Jewish living, spiritual and personal growth, social justice and the continuity of the Jewish people.

Congregation Beth Torah 6100 West 127, Overland Park, KS (913) 498-2212 www.beth-torah.org

PHOTO BY AARON DOUGHERTY

Grace Church Our vision here at Grace Church is to help everyone become an outwardfocused follower of Jesus. Our mission is to love, learn, and lead with God, household, and church. We would love to have you and your family join us as our guests for any one of our ďŹ ve weekend services on Saturday evenings at 4 and 5:30pm, and Sunday mornings at 8, 9:30, and 11am. We are located on the corner of 159th St. & Antioch. We will see you this weekend!

Grace Church 8500 West 159th, Overland Park, KS (913) 7814- 7223 www.visitgracechurch.org St. Andrews Episcopal Church At St. Andrewâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, we combine rich tradition and modern messages for a

Get Connected Church of the Nativity Visit www.kcnativity.org; bulletins, events, Mass schedules, faith formation opportunities and more!

Like us on Facebook: Church of the Nativity, Leawood OR Email us: info@kcnativity.org 3800 W. 119th Street, Leawood, KS 116

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913.491.5017

W

FINDING A

Home FOR YOUR Faith

Continued

fresh spiritual experience. St. Andrews wants to support you through all phases of your faith journey and helps you rediscover Christ’s love through ritual, reason and meaningful connections. At St. Andrew’s, we invite you to live a lifelong and life-wide faith. We believe we are called not simply to believe in Christ, but also to serve Christ in our Parish, our city and our world. St. Andrew’s serves by holding in tandem rich tradition and fresh spiritual expression with diverse way to worship, connect and grow. We believe that contributions of “all sorts” of people help us better know the mind of God. Our rich and proud history of personal connections reminds us that by only loving openly can we truly know healing.

We invite you for a tour of our weekly services or to learn more, visit www. standrewwkc.org.

St. Andrews Episcopal Church 6401 Wornall Terrace, Kansas City, MO (816) 523-1603 www.standrewkc.org

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The Graceway Church Graceway is a multi-cultural, multigenerational church located in Kansas City, Missouri. We believe that discipleship is a lifelong pursuit of maturing in Christ that impacts every aspect of our lives. Our discipleship philosophy is comprised of three components, a biblical foundation, personal growth and missional living.

We believe that loving God and others impacts every area of our life and that this is God’s greatest desire for all of our lives.

We believe that it is through loving others that we can be a part of God’s mission to impact those around us.

The Graceway Church 5460 Blue Ridge Cutoff, Raytown, MO (816) 353-1515 www.visitgraceway.org The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection is an integral part of Overland Park and the greater Kansas City community. The church’s impact extends well beyond the walls of the church, as

PHOTO BY AL GRIFFIN PHOTOGRAPHY

members give their time and resources to help meet the needs of their neighbors.

Resurrection is the largest United Methodist church in the United States, with 20,000 members and 16 worship services each weekend at four locations in the Kansas City area – Leawood, Downtown, Western Johnson County and Blue Springs.

In 2015, the church celebrated their 25th anniversary with a “Give Back 25” theme, serving more than 25,000 hours in 25 days. As the church looks to the future, construction projects on each of their campuses are creating spaces for future generations to see how the Christian faith can change their lives and how they in turn can help transform the world.

United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Leawood 13720 Roe Avenue, Leawood, KS (913) 897-0120 West 2400 Valley Parkway, Olathe, KS (913) 538-7800 Downtown 1522 McGee, Kansas City, MO (816) 979-1330 Blue Springs 601 NE Jefferson, Blue Springs, MO (816) 389-8900 www.cor.org

Unity Church of Overland Park welcomes you just as you are and recognize that each person is on their own unique spiritual journey. There are many paths to God and we honor all faiths, backgrounds, ethnicities and diverse expressions of individuals and families.

There is a place for you in our spiritual community and we hope you’ll join us for our Sunday celebration services, classes, workshops and events offered seven days a week. At Unity you can connect with like-minded people in an inclusive environment, allowing you to grow spiritually, have fun and experience a fulfilled life of abundance and meaning. We have a diverse ministerial team led by Rev. Bob Barth.

Unity Church of Overland Park 10300 Antioch, Overland Park, KS (913) 649-1750 www.ucop.org

PHOTO BY AARON DOUGHERTY

Unity Church of Overland Park

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PHOTO BY MARK MCDONALD

WE HAVE AN OPEN HEART AND EXEMPLIFY THE CRÈME DE LA CRÈME OF GENEROSITY AND NEIGHBORLY LOVE.

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KANSAS CITY

IS THE

Definition

OF

Giving

...in Many, Many Genres

Q B Y J U DY G O P P E RT

T

he city of Kansas City has long been touted as a Midwestern mecca on many levels. We have an open heart and exemplify the crème de la crème of generosity and neighborly love.

To back up my comments, here is the meat of the story. Read on and see W what a great community we are!

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Definition OF Giving

Continued

PHOTO BY DAVE LEATHERS

PHOTO BY KANSAS SPEEDWAY

KANSAS CITY IS THE

Gentlemen, and women, start your engines! Talk about a party with a purpose, Treads & Threads fills that bill and then some. This event benefits The University of Kansas Hospital, and has become one of the most anticipated philanthropic events in the city. Sponsors, patrons and guests of this annual gala have contributed more than $8 million to further expand and improve cancer care. At a venue like no other, under the stars, inside the oval at the Kansas Speedway, the event features top entertainment and delights from KC’s top restaurants, caterers and dessert specialists, with wine and specialty drinks concocted especially for this event. What’s more, attendees can experience the Kansas Speedway up close and personal by taking a victory lap around the track. It is truly an extraordinary party with an even more extraordinary purpose of providing more options, and more hope, to patients battling cancer.

Visit treadsandthreads.org for more information.

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PHOTO BY THE KANSAS CITY ZOO

PHOTO BY BLUESTEM

Jazzoo is a premier event in Kansas City each summer, drawing up to 5,000 creative black tie clad attendees each year who enjoy samplings from over 70 area restaurants, live music performed by local artists and all the animal attractions.

Founded in 1990 by the Junior League, this festive event has become a roaring success, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars to feed the more than 1,100 animals who make the Kansas City Zoo their home. It also supports the Zoo Learning W

Building Bridges of Hope for Foster Children

Follow Us!

DarolRodrockFoundation.org Darol Rodrock Foundation • P.O. Box 25390 • Overland Park, Kansas 66225 Phone: 913-293-8177

Continued PHOTO BY EXTRA VIRGIN

Definition OF Giving

PHOTO BY EXTRA VIRGIN

PHOTO BY THE KANSAS CITY ZOO

KANSAS CITY IS THE

Fund, which creates educational programs for children throughout the Kansas City area. The 250 dedicated volunteers are proud of the some 275 sponsors and many amazing auction items that further exemplify the amazing caring spirit alive and “purring” in our city.

Visit jazzoo.com for more information.

Eat to give! That is the idea behind the scrumptious Kansas City Restaurant Week, held each winter. Over 150 restaurants participate, and include a who’s who of diverse dining options, including old favorites and new delights. This event supports local causes, and in this its seventh year, partnered with three worthwhile, local charitable partners as beneficiaries. The donations raised during the 2016 event benefited BoysGrow, Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired and Cultivate Kansas City. Additionally, the Kansas City Regional Destination Development Foundation and the Greater Kansas City Restaurant Association Education Foundation again received a portion of the donations.

Visit kansascityrestaurantweek.com for more information.

The 43rd Hospital Hill Run, which winds through the Country Club Plaza, Brookside and Crown Center area, will be held this summer, and it is truly one of the most storied races in Missouri history. Ninety-nine runners participated in the first race in 1973, and now, some 9,000 run each year. In 2008 the Run team created a new charity program that allowed organizations of all sizes and interests to raise funds in a fun and exciting way, by taking part in one of three amazing events.

Sixteen charities joined the inaugural year bringing over 200 participants to the event and raising over $50,000 for their respective causes. In the past five years there have been 2,188 charity participants, 1,283 charity volunteers who have raised $808,818 for their respective causes. Through this Run, dogs have been rescued, kids have gone to camp, people with spinal cord injuries have receive therapy, Alzheimer’s families have received respite care, research has been forwarded and much more.Visit hospitalhillrun.com for more information.

PHOTO BY GAMEFACE MEDIA

The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is making strides to help cure this disease, and Kansas City has a lot to do with it.

The 21st Annual JDRF Dream Gala will be held in May, chaired

by Clark and Tavia Hunt, Kansas City Chiefs owners. This event draws many caring attendees for an evening at the Muehlebach Tower of the Kansas City Marriott, with cocktail reception, dinner and live auction. Last year’s gala raised $2,000,328 to help end this childhood disease.Visit jdrf.com for more information.

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PHOTO BY THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

PHOTO BY MARK MCDONALD

The American Royal annually hosts the World’s largest barbecue contest, one of the Midwest’s largest and oldest livestock exhibitions and professional rodeos, prestigious horse shows and is home of the National Championship Saddlebred horse competition. During the year more than 270,000 people attend events at the American Royal Complex.

In addition to its educational mission, the American Royal generates some $60 million of economic impact, $4.4 million in local tax revenues, and supports 450 jobs.

For more information, visit www.americanroyal.com.

In the past five years, 2010-2014, the American Heart Association has funded 21 studies in Kansas at a cost of over $2.6 million and 136 studies in Missouri at $15.86 million. More than $2.7 million was awarded to Kansas City institutions.

Q

Visit www.heart.org/KC for more information.

Be sure to find your niche and join in the giving spirit of Kansas City.

PHOTO BY BLUESTEM

The American Heart Association’s 29th Kansas City Heart & Stroke Ball will be held Saturday, February 27, 2016, at the Kansas City Convention Center. This is always an unforgettable evening with life-saving significance. The dollars raised stay

right here in our community. Last year alone, American Heart Association supporters in the Kansas City metro made the following possible: $3.8 million in research funding in the Kansas City area including meritorious studies at Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas State University, The Stowers Institute, University of Kansas Medical Center, University of Missouri and University of Missouri-Kansas City. Last year they reduced teenage tobacco usage in Kansas by supporting the American Heart Association’s advocacy for reduced cigarette taxes, resulting in a $.50 tobacco tax increase in Kansas and also empowered 81,000 local individuals to be CPR-trained by the American Heart Association.

PHOTO BY AMERICAN ROYAL ASSOCIATION

The American Royal Association is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has been a beloved Kansas City tradition since 1899. This organization celebrates the region’s rich agricultural heritage through competition, education and entertainment. As a not-for-profit community volunteer based organization, the American Royal raises funds to fulfill its vision and mission though endowments, contributions, sponsorships and event revenues.

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