Leawood Lifestyle May 2014

Leawood

may 2014

LeawoodLifestyle.com

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Celebrating

60 Years of meals with the family

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Editor's Letter

Thank you, teachers.

I

used to associate June with the end of the school year. As a child of the 70s it was around June 6, 7 or 8 when our school year ended, depending on how much snow had been dumped on Chicago that year. These days high school graduations take place during the middle of May and the school year often ends before Memorial Day weekend. So I shift my end of the school year thinking to May.

I spent the first part of my adult life as an educator. I enjoyed teaching middle school students about world geography and U.S. history.

For a few years I was able to utilize my college minor as a teacher of beginning Spanish.

And there were years when I was asked to step outside my comfort zone to teach young adult literature, public speaking and economics. For the most part, I loved my life as a teacher. It was a very family-friendly career and allowed me to be home with my two young boys by 4 o'clock most days as well as during the summer.

As my sister-in-law prepares to retire from Shawnee Mission East after an impressive 30+ year career and as my oldest prepares to graduate from Blue Valley North, I’ve been thinking about some of the great teachers who touched my life. And to several of them, I wish to apologize. I have memories of painting my nails during concert band rehearsal on more than one occasion. While my music stand mate and I only did this when Mr. Herr was working with the percussion or brass, I’m confident he didn’t appreciate two flautists using his class for quick color change.

I came across a stack of my old report cards when I was cleaning out boxes of childhood memorabilia last summer. I hadn’t realized how average I was as a student. (Except in band. Manicures or not, always an A.) As a parent, I now cringe when I remember my own parents and teachers saying that I wasn’t working up to my potential. To any of the Glenbrook North teachers who were frustrated by the time I spent in their classrooms, I offer a belated apology. They might be happy to know that I finally got my act together in college and followed in their footsteps for many years.

I found among those old papers a letter from the assistant dean of student affairs. He wrote me a letter at the end of my senior year to congratulate me. Apparently it was a big enough deal to graduate among a class of more than 600 without ever having made a trip to the Dean’s office for disciplinary measures to justify a special letter. I may not have been an impressive student but apparently I was a rule follower. Some things never change and that’s got to count for something.

To all of the teachers who have touched my life and the lives of two of the most important people in my world, I say thank you. I hope you have a great summer and get to rest and recharge in time for the mid-August start of another school year.

publisher Steven Schowengerdt | Steven@LifestylePubs.com editor Lisa Harrison | Lisa@LifestylePubs.com assistant editor Kendra Mathewson | KMathewson@LifestylePubs.com chief financial officer | DeLand Shore director of marketing | Brad Broockerd art director | Carrie Brophy chief sales officer Matthew Perry | Matthew@LifestylePubs.com advertising sales Mary Beth Stauch | MStauch@LifestylePubs.com Troy Coup | TCoup@LifestylePubs.com Elizabeth Noel | ENoel@LifestylePubs.com advertising director | Mike Baugher production director | Christina Sandberg ad coordinator | Cyndi Vreeland regional art director | Sara Minor executive assistant | Lori Cunningham contributing writers Lisa Allen, Heather Trent Beers, Katherine Bontrager, Mary Bush, Ann Butenas, Chris Clark, Lisa Gartland, Julie Hubble, Susan Motley, Ryan Rosser, Anne Potter Russ, Tom Strongman, Courtney Thomas, Sheri Thompson, Jenny Wolff contributing photographers 4 Ft Photoz, Alexis Cook, Lisa Gartland, McKenna Mathewson, Tom Strongman, Jenny Wolff application architect | Michael O'Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide

Published monthly, subscriptions are also available for $22 for 1 year, $39 for 2 years by visiting LeawoodLifestyle.com

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| LeawoodLifestyle.com | Lisa Harrison, Editor Lisa@LifestylePubs.com

ON THE COVER The Cascone family celebrates 60 years of great Italian dining in Kansas City. Read more on page 24.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEXIS COOK.

may 2014

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7373 West 107th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 913.599.4300 | LeawoodLifestyle.com Leawood Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It's distributed via the US Postal Service to some of Leawood’s most affluent neighborhoods. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Leawood Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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May 2014

Departments 10

Good Times

14

Around Town

20 Your Neighbors

40

24

Hot Spot

26

Locally Owned

30 Parent's Corner 31

Style Wise

32

Page Turners

48 Giving Back 50 Terrific Teacher

36 Tales from the Motherhood Trenches

Local moms share their funniest parenting mishaps.

DeAnna Rose Children’s Farmstead expands Main Street.

58

Now Open

60 Home Matters 62

Animal Tracks

67

Sold Properties

68 Lifestyle Calendar

40 An Especially Meaningful Ride

Road Trip

64 Driver’s Notebook

38 What’s New at the Farmstead?

52

74

Parting Thoughts

Leawood police officers honor fallen comrades.

24

38

52

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Good Times

Dancing with the Stars

Local celebrities paired with Allegro Ballroom professionals in Kansas City’s own version of Dancing with the Stars, a fundraiser for Cristo Rey KC High School students. A crowd of 1,800 guests enjoyed the memorable entertainment. PHOTOGRAPHY STUDIOHOBBS.COM AND PHOTOSBRINGJOY.COM

Cristo Rey student dancers

Judges were Ed Holland, Tara Darbyshire and Mayor Sly James.

First place and Judges' Choice winners Local celebrity dancers Valerie Chow, Ryane Delka, Chris Hernandez, Ryane Delka and Jesse Lopez Rick Jones, Jenny Murphy, Larkin O'Keefe, Kevin Ryanand and Stann Tate

Third place winners Jenny Murphy and Wil Oden

Second place winners Larkin O'Keefe and Toni Dodd

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Eagle Scout Class Reception Three generations of Eagle Scouts recently gathered to continue a KC Scouting tradition. The 2013 Terry Dunn Class of Eagle Scouts Reception welcomed more than 900 Scouts and families to Municipal Music Hall.

Jeff Wandtke- Scoutmaster of the Year

Austin Wilkinson

Dan Kerling, Kenn Miller, Dawson Garcia, Jim Hayes & Jeff Wandtke

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 11

Good Times

JoCo Library Elementia

Young artists were recently honored at the Elementia Author and Artist Reception at the Johnson County Central Resource Library. Readings by Elementia authors, dance performances and an art exhibit all showcased the artistic talent of Johnson County students from 16 area schools.

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BasketBALL 2014

The College Basketball Experience provided the venue for this year’s National Parkinson Foundation Heartland’s annual fundraising gala. Participants enjoyed food and drinks, a live and silent auction, casino area, and of course watched the Final Four basketball games.

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Around Town SAVE THE DATE FOR A TASTE OF LEAWOOD Summer is coming and it’s time to mark our calendars for the 2014 Taste of Leawood. The Leawood Chamber invites food and wine enthusiasts to the 17th annual event on June 14 from 7-10:30 p.m. Attendees will enjoy culinary fare from 24 area dining establishments, wine, beer and spirits, and live music on the patio of Leawood City Hall. Music will be provided by local variety band, Souled Out. In addition to delicious food, admission price includes drink samples, a souvenir wine glass, and a gift bag stocked with goodies and more than $100 in savings from Chamber businesses.

Tickets are $70 in advance and $75 at the door (if not sold out). Attendees must be 21 years of age or older. This is a rain or shine event and tickets are non-refundable.

For tickets or sponsorship opportunities visit LeawoodChamber.org.

For further information about the Lions Club and their scholarship program, visit LeawoodLions.org.

NEW FINANCIAL SERVICE OFFERED Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ Donna Tilden recently opened a practice dedicated to assisting divorcing couples with the financial ramifications of a legal settlement. She holds a certification from the Institute for Divorce Financial Analysts™, a national organization based in Durham, N.C. Tilden’s firm, Divorce Settlement Professionals, LLC, works exclusively with divorce issues and specializes in the division of retirement and pension accounts.

Tilden is trained to assist people going through the divorce process. She evaluates the tax implications of dividing property and the financial impact of various settlement options that affect each party’s cash flow and net worth. Tilden can be reached at 913.522.4859.

JOHNSON COUNTY NAMED HEALTHIEST IN KANSAS Johnson County was recently named the healthiest county in the state of Kansas for the second straight year, according to the fifth annual County Health Rankings, released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

The County Health Rankings rank the overall health of nearly every county in all 50 states. The rankings allow counties to see how well they are doing on 29 factors that influence health including smoking, high school graduation rates, employment, physical inactivity and access to healthy foods.

While Johnson County ranked highest in the categories of health behaviors, access to clinical care and other social and economic factors, this report also identifies areas where Johnson County can improve, such as educating residents on how to reduce commute times to work.

Johnson County was ranked number one in Kansas in 2013 and number two in 2012.

LOCAL TREE FUND LAUNCHED Leawood Lions’ scholarship winners.

LEAWOOD LIONS ANNOUNCES SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS The Leawood Lions are pleased to announce the three winners of the Leawood Lions $1,000 Scholarships, and the winner of the Earl Marian $1,000 Memorial Scholarship, which are based on community service, scholarship and leadership skills. These scholarships are awarded annually to high school seniors who are residents of Leawood and Overland Park and will attend either a two, three or four year-accredited institution of higher learning.

The winners for 2014 are Muriel Eaton of Blue Valley North High School, Amy McClain of Blue Valley High School, and Nicole McMindes of Notre Dame de Sion High School. The winner of the Earl Marian Scholarship is Mary Beaman of Blue Valley Northwest High School.

14 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

Heartland Tree Alliance (HTA) has launched a digital approach to funding trees in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

HTA and its city partners now give residents the opportunity to pay directly for the planting of trees in their own hometowns. With a simple click on the HTA website, donors can specify how much they would like to give to a particular city, and then watch as the tree fund for that city grows. Each time a fund reaches $1,000, HTA will launch a tree-planting event with that city, giving residents the opportunity to see their dollars go to work.

HTA will work with each city to determine the best way to invest the tree fund in that area. For some cities that means planting seedlings along streams and creeks; for others it means 12-foot street trees. For this reason, $1,000 pays for different quantities in different situations, from as many as 1,000 bare-root seedlings to six street trees.

The City of Kansas City, Mo., is joined by others across the area, including Kansas City, Kan.; Belton; Excelsior Springs; Gladstone; Leawood; Lenexa; Liberty; Mission; Olathe; Overland Park; Parkville; Paola; Platte County; Prairie Village; Raymore, and Shawnee.

To learn more about HTA and the Tree Fund, contact Noelle Morris at 816.561.1061, ext. 115.

LOCAL HOSPITALS DECLARED SAFE PLACE HOSPITALS Domestic violence incidents don’t just happen during the day.

They happen any time and all the time. Survivors aren’t always aware where to go that could be safe for them. For some victims of violence, the police station is not an option.

Five Johnson County hospitals are safe places for victims of domestic violence. Anytime, day or night, the emergency departments at Menorah Medical Center, Olathe Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center, Saint Luke’s South and Shawnee Mission Medical Center provide victims of domestic violence a safe place to speak to a SAFEHOME advocate. The advocate provides information, support, safety assessment and planning, and resources. There is no charge to receive SAFEHOME advocacy services and medical attention is not necessary to receive help.

Johnson County Hospital Emergency Rooms are open 24 hours a day with security officers on-site, making them an ideal location for assistance. These hospitals display the Safe Place sign.

JUST FOR HER EXPO TEAM IS GROWING Teddi Hernandez has joined Aimee Jacobson as co-owners of Just for Her Expo, Inc. Hernandez brings 24 years of marketing and business experience to her new role. She comes from a career at Hallmark Cards in their marketing division.

“I’m looking forward to bringing a unique shopping experience to our guests at the Just for Her Events,” says Hernandez. “We are also looking forward to expanding our events to new cities and launching our new event concept, Chick Events in 2014.”

Jacobson says she and Hernandez are proud of the local business they are building in Overland Park.

“Our team is made up of working Moms, new Moms and women who are just entering or re-entering the workforce,” Jacobson says.

“We provide a flexible work environment with flexible hours and the opportunity to work from home during the week.”

SHERWOOD CENTER EXPANDS TO WARD PARKWAY Sherwood Center, a non-profit, special education and adult day program, purchased a school at 8030 Ward Parkway Plaza that had recently been vacated by Calvary Lutheran Church.

The school, first constructed in 1925 became part of the Kansas City Missouri School District in 1947 when the city’s limits expanded to 85th Street. It was closed in the early 80’s and sat vacant for a number of years. Calvary Lutheran purchased the building in 1993 and had a K-8 school there for almost 10 years before moving in May 2013.

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 15

Around Town Neighbors were understandably concerned about the school being vacant and falling into disrepair. Sherwood Center purchased the building in December 2013 and is expanding and moving their special education program. The Adult Day services program will remain at 7938 Chestnut Ave. Sherwood Center was the first school to serve students in the metropolitan area with autism and related disabilities. Today, there are 53 students in the special education program and 23 adults receiving service in the adult day program.

DELTA GAMMA HOSTS TABLES THAT BLOOM EVENT The Greater Kansas City Delta Gamma Alumnae chapter hosts Tables That Bloom, an annual event featuring 25 of the Delta Gamma area’s top florists and Executive Director designers. The event is Colleen McGuire scheduled for 11 to 1:30 is featured speaker p.m. on May 8 at Indian for Tables That Bloom event.

Hills Country Club located at 6847 Tomahawk Rd. Individual and group tickets start at $75 and can be purchased at TablesThatBloom.com/buytickets.php.

Celebrating the tenth year of success with $100,000 in funds raised so far, Tables That Bloom benefits the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (CCVI.org), and AlphaPointe Association for the Blind (AlphaPointe.org).

The featured speaker this year is Colleen McGuire, executive director for Delta Gamma. Colleen is also a U.S. Army retired brigadier general in the U.S. Army and served on the Joint Staff.

GLASS-WALLED LABYRINTH INSTALLED AT NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM A triangular-shaped, glass-walled labyrinth designed by acclaimed artist and Kansas City native Robert Morris is being installed in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This dynamic sculpture provides visitors with an intimate experience, enticing them to interact with the art by winding through the glass maze. The installation of Glass Labyrinth in the southeast section of the park marks the 16 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

start of a six-month long celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. The 62-foot by 62-foot by 62-foot, 7-foot-tall labyrinth, which weighs more than 400 tons, will be fully installed on May 22, when a public celebration will be held.

The installation begins a series of celebrations of the Sculpture Park that will include family activities, educational programs and special events. The 22-acre park has been championed through the years by Hall, whose keen eye and diligent stewardship have allowed the grounds to become a stellar asset to Kansas City and an outdoor destination for many. For museum information, phone 816.751.1ART.

LOCAL MUSEUM FEATURED ON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures was featured on the Kansas City Hour 2 episode of Antiques Roadshow airing on PBS. Roadshow appraiser Marshall Martin and host Mark L. Walberg examined two dollhouses from the museum’s collection.

The dollhouses are from the same time period, however one was produced by an American company, R. Bliss Manufacturing Company, and one was produced by a German company, Moritz Gottschalk Company.

The National Museum of Toys and Miniatures is temporarily closed for renovations. To learn more about the museum’s collection, including additional photos of the Bliss dollhouse and Gottschalk dollhouse featured in the April 7 episode, visit the museum’s blog Small Talk at ToyAndMiniatureMuseum.org/blog.

CONSIDER HOSTING A FOREIGN EXCHANGE STUDENT You can make a difference in the life of a student today. By opening your home to a foreign exchange student through Exchange Service International, your family will have the opportunity to personally shape the image of America through the eyes of your student. Host families are asked to provide a caring and loving environment for the students. Host families are also to provide room and board as well as meals and transportation for the students. These high school aged students come to the U.S. fully insured

The Birthing Experience advanced care in a comfortable, intimate setting At Menorah Medical Center’s Family Birthing Center mothers can experience labor, delivery, recovery and postpartum care in one beautifully decorated, spacious birthing suite.

These specially designed rooms create the ultimate soothing, private atmosphere for life’s biggest miracle. And along with the amenities of a home-like environment, Menorah’s team of experts delivers signature high-quality, exceptional care. It’s what you’ve come to expect from Menorah Medical Center.

Call (913) 498-6652 to schedule your personal tour.

Personalized care throughout every stage of pregnancy and childbirth Prenatal counseling and education classes • Level II NICU

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Around Town and with their own spending money. Host families and students will receive support through the organization’s corporate headquarters as well as through local coordinators. These coordinators will work as an advocate for host families and students throughout the student’s stay to ensure a positive and enriching experience. Find out more about becoming a paid host family for high school exchange student by contacting Kaylee Manns, kaylee.manns@gmail.com

Raising the bar on gourmet fast casual, ingredient restaurants use only the freshest products for our guests to create their own custom salads, pizzas or signature breakfast items.

Enjoy the Summer Sun on Our Patio.

Happy Hour Specials Monday through Friday.

BRING THE NIGHT TO LIFE – STEMS: A GARDEN SOIRÉE Stems: A Garden Soirée, the highly anticipated summer party at the Overland Park Arboretum, will celebrate its 7th year on June 28. Presenting Sponsors are Bank of Blue Valley and Regnier Family Foundation.

Six years of sell-out crowds are a tribute to the popularity of Stems, which features food from 22 favorite restaurants and live music under the stars. As guests enter the flower-filled gardens, each receives a hand-painted wine glass.

Stems will feature wine from two Argentinean wineries - Dos Puentes and Don Manuel Villafañe. Gerald Spaits Quartet will play jazz in the Learning Arboretum, and Funk Syndicate will rock out in the Train Garden. Around every turn, guests are greeted with art, entertainment and fireworks to end the evening.

In addition to supporting the Arboretum, the Arts and Recreation Foundation supports Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead, development of the International Sculpture garden and notable art throughout the city.

For ticket and event information visit StemsSoiree.org or call 913.322.6467.

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May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 19

Your Neighbors

Champions Special Ministries A VOICE OF LOVE AND HOPE FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS ARTICLE SHERI WILLS THOMPSON PHOTOGRAPHY 4 FT PHOTOZ

T

he music is loud, the food plentiful, decorations hang from the ceiling…it’s definitely a party! However, this is no ordinary Valentine Dance. The participants range in age from nine to 30 and the guests of honor all have special needs.

It is the February event for Champions Special Ministries founded by Alison Gromer of Overland Park. Once a month, Champions with cognitive, intellectual or physical disabilities participate in programs tailored just for them. Special nights include a talent show, Spontaneous Christmas Pageant and now a Valentine Dance. Other times, activities have been based around a theme while participants rotate through activities which include crafts, a Bible lesson, and music/movement. Each Champion is paired with a coach, most of whom are from the middle school youth group at Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prairie Village where Gromer attends Nate Severson, Youth Pastor, has worked with Gromer from the inception of Champions to provide a meaningful, social and spiritual event for those in our community with special needs.

Once a month, Nate’s middle school program involves participation in a Champions event which also takes place at Hillcrest.

Middle schoolers serve as coaches while their parents and youth group leaders help with set up/clean up, leading music, telling the Bible story and supervision. It is organized, fun, is educational for both Champions and coaches, and provides a meaningful experience for all involved.

“I have never felt the joy that I feel when I am with the campers.

They are true friends. And you know you will be friends forever,” says volunteer Kelsie Sneegas.

Severson sees many advantages in having middle school students participate in Champions Special Ministries.

“It helps them think outside themselves and they get to live into, “do to others what you would have them do to you (Matt 7:12),” he says.

Parents are also grateful for Champions Special Ministries.

Coming from all around the Kansas City area including Lee’s Summit and Belton, they appreciate that these events give their sons and daughters something to look forward to that is tailored just for them.

20 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

Gromer’s vision for CSM comes from life experiences and from the belief that God cares deeply for all people regardless of their abilities. She received degrees in elementary and special education from Missouri State University, and started a special needs ministry called Abounding Love at Colonial Presbyterian Church in Kansas City, Mo. Later, she spearheaded a city-wide event in Kansas City which hosted the ministry team of Joni Erikson Tada, Joni and Friends; Gromer then traveled the U.S with the team helping other churches create their own special needs ministries.

After taking some time off to raise a family with husband, Michael, Gromer was again ready to begin working with those with cognitive, intellectual or physical disabilities, more specifically to create experiences which would not only be fun, learning activities, but most importantly, would create community.

Once youth from Hillcrest Covenant Church had worked at

Camp Barnabas in Purdy, Mo., Gromer and friend, Nancy Deckman, began to dream of a way to provide ongoing programs for campers who for the most part only got to see each other once a year. Gromer, then national day camp director for Camp Barnabas, created Barnabas Friends Forever, a follow-up ministry which served campers in the Kansas City area. Soon after, in 2012, Champions Special Ministries was born. CSM is a national 501(C) 3 notfor-profit, serving approximately 50 families. Run by a board of directors under Gromer’s leadership, Champions is quickly growing both in numbers of participants served and in programming.

In March 2014, CSM held its second Spring Break Day Camp.

Champions ages six to 28 participated in three days of activities which included time at Red Hawk Ranch in Bucyrus, a carnival at Grace Church in Overland Park and activities at Lifetime Fitness, also in Overland Park. For some, this was the first time they too, were able to have a spring break adventure just like their peers.

Plans are well under way for summer as well. CSM will hold day camps in five locations around the U.S: Tulsa, Okla., Fort Worth, Tx., Durango, Colo., and two in the Kansas City area. Gromer is currently putting together a team of youth and adults who will travel with her to hold these day camps. Champions Special Ministries will be serving the relational/spiritual needs of many in these cities who have never before had a day camp experience.

Gromer is still dreaming. This summer for the first time, she and a team of 25 will be taking a Day Camp experience to 50 kids with special needs in an orphanage in Haiti.

Those interested in more information regarding Champions Special Ministries or who wish to volunteer or support CMS should contact Gromer through the website ChampionsSpecialMinistries.org.

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May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 21

Your Neighbor

Riva Barash has served three generations of customers from her Leawood tailor shop at 95th and Mission Road.

A Stitch in Time RIVA BARASH SEWS UP A LEAWOOD INSTITUTION ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY WOLFF

F

or five decades, Riva Barash has helped alter our lives. She has hemmed prom dresses, tailored interview suits, and let out hand-me-downs from her Leawood tailor shop. “Step up here,” she says with a slight eastern European accent, pointing to a small wooden box on the floor. With a measuring tape around her neck and pins in her bodice, she patiently measures and marks the clothing.

At Barash’s Tailoring and Alterations, she and her husband pieced together a fine life and measured their years of good fortune in the dedication and devotion of their customers.

“People around here are very helpful, very loyal,” said Riva, her hazel eyes twinkling in reflection.

As a teenager in 1950, she emigrated from Germany to Topeka, where a synagogue had sponsored her family’s arrival. A few years later, she met her husband, Harry, through a cousin who set them up. Three weeks later they were married. “Like Fiddler on The Roof. We got matched up,” says Riva with an impish smile. For her, it was love at first sight.

In Kansas City, Harry established himself as a prominent tailor, working out of his house for Wolfe Brothers men’s clothiers. Repairing garments bonded them as a couple, and when the

22 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

home-based business was busting at the seams, they rented space at Ranch Mart Shopping Center. Barash’s was one of the first tenants at the mall, and they established their initial shop in the breezeway of the north wing. Among their retail neighbors were the Gant Sisters music studio and a beauty shop, and in time their clientele stretched to include Kansas City sports icons Tom Watson and George Brett.

Riva and Harry raised three children, and growing up all the kids worked in the shop---chalking hems, ironing pants and tagging clothing. The children eventually chose alternative careers and moved to new cities. When Harry passed away 20 years ago, the shop became Riva’s haven.

On March 1, Riva retired from Barash’s Tailoring and Alterations. Riva nicely tied up a wonderful livelihood, but she says it was time to close the doors. She no longer sits before her near century-old Singer, humming among the bliss and blessings of her beloved shop.

“We have had a lot of customers. We made a lot of friends. I am sorry to leave,” says Riva. She is looking for a buyer for the shop with hopes to keep the family tradition of service a part of the neighborhood. “We have had a nice time. It’s been a good life.”

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Johnny Cascone’s 60 YEARS OF HAPPINESS ON A PLATTER ARTICLE HEATHER TRENT BEERS | PHOTOGRAPHY ALEXIS COOK

I

f you’re an only child or live far away from family, prepare yourself before dining at Johnny Cascone’s. Because once you’re through that door, you feel like family.

The Cascones opened their restaurants (one in the Northland and one in Overland Park) in 1954. Their dedication to family graces the wall with the words sempre famiglia - Family Forever.

Family photos of youngsters, oldsters, family gatherings and individuals line the wall of the lobby, illustrating slices of family life.

Beyond the lobby, the large dining room is cozy and inviting. And on Saturday nights when the band performs big band hits from the ‘40s and ‘50s, the atmosphere transforms from family dinner to family party.

My husband and I dined with two friends. Our waitress delivered fresh bread with butter as we perused the menu. The delicious mushrooms appetizer ($9)—stuffed with crab and baked in a creamy herb butter—set our expectations high for the rest of our meal. Next came the choice of house salad or soup. Although the chicken soup tempted us, we saw our fellow diners’ generous meal portions, so we chose salad, which is served with the house dressing.

Our waitress suggested one of the popular menu items, Chicken Limonata Elaina ($20), which is a lightly floured chicken breast sautéed in a creamy white wine lemon butter sauce and served

24 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

with fettuccini Alfredo. Chicken? Butter? Alfredo? Yes, please!

When I offered the first bite to my friend, she said, “You’re going to be so glad you ordered that.” She was right. I was so glad, in fact, that I’m not sure I’ll try anything new next time.

My husband ordered the Canneloni Florentine ($16)—fresh pasta tubes filled with veal and spinach, topped with cheese and then baked in a light creamy tomato sauce. He loved the savory blend of the veal and spinach.

After much deliberation, my friend ordered Cascone’s Baked Lasagne ($14), which has been the house specialty since 1954. The lasagna is huge and is served with their original pasta sauce. And did I mention how huge it is? Her response?

Delicious.

My friend’s husband ordered the pork roast from the night’s specials.

The pork was cooked for several hours in wine, and fell off the bone.

The accompanying mashed potatoes were—in his words—“Oh, my goodness.” When I asked him how his dinner tasted, he said, “This is one of the best meals I’ve eaten.”

The restaurants’ website touts the Italian food prepared by Chef Victor Cascone as “happiness served on a platter.” After my experience, I heartily agree.

Appetizers and small plates run from $8-10, and olive oil dipping

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service is only $3. Dinner prices range from $14-21, which includes everything from pasta and chicken to veal, beef and seafood.

And don’t forget to order dessert to share or take home and enjoy later. Tirimisu, cheesecake, bread pudding, lemon cake, chocolate cake and canoli are all great for sharing at $6-8. We ordered the apple dumpling from the night’s specials ($6), and our friends ordered the chocolate cake to share ($8).

Try Cascone’s for lunch; a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, sandwiches (meatball or hot beef sandwich, anyone?), pasta bowls and entrées await you. Dinner and lunch menus differ between Johnny Cascone’s (91st and Metcalf) and Cascone’s (North Oak Trafficway). Check their website for menus and prices (and for their recipe for baked mosticiolli). Both locations reward early diners (Monday through Friday 3 p.m. – 6 p.m. and Saturdays from noon until 5 p.m.) with an early dinner menu, which features a selection of nine entrées priced at $9.99 each with

Details johnny cascone’s italian restaurant 6863 W. 91st Street 913.381.6837

cascone’s italian restaurant 3733 North Oak Trafficway 816.454.7977 Cascones.com

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the purchase of any beverage. Also included in this price are the bread-and-butter service, your choice of a house salad or the day’s soup, and a small spumoni for dessert. Menu selections change, so call before your visit to hear the entrées available for that day.

To help ease your transition back into the “real world” after your Cascone family dining experience, be sure to stop by the front register where you can purchase the Cascone pasta sauce, salad dressings, and marinades, all manufactured right here in Kansas City. These products are also available online at LaFontanellaFoods.com, so you can share them with loved ones far away. Or fill the shelves in your own pantry.

Both Cascone’s restaurant locations provide unique spaces to help you celebrate family or business events with outstanding food, hospitality, and service. Call the location you prefer for quotes or reservations.

One last thing: The Cascone family motto is “Let our family serve yours.” So go ahead and let them. You’ll be pleased you did.

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Locally Owned

Big Visions for Video Business A/V PRODUCTION SHOP PROUDLY CALLS LEE’S SUMMIT HOME, GROWS WITH THE CITY ARTICLE CHRISTOPHER CLARK | PHOTOGRAPHY MCKENNA MATHEWSON

S

martphones and their high-definition video capabilities have turned us all into budget Spielbergs and Scorceses. From Vines on Twitter to cat videos on YouTube, few things have democratized multimedia like that little computer in your pocket.

But if you’re in the Kansas City area and you need something a little more…professional, look no further than Cinematic Visions in Lee’s Summit, where Jeremy Wood has been producing polished business-to-business and consumer-oriented video for more than 10 years.

“In the end, the old saying often applies – you get what you pay for,” says Wood. “If you put something less than professional out there for your company, it will cost you, even though you got a great rate for the video. If you pay a little more, and have a professional handle it for you – it will pay off.”

A 1993 graduate of Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, Wood caught the video bug as a student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he graduated with a degree in communication studies. A job at AT&T led to opportunities in which he created video and audio entertainment for employees there, and it

26 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

wasn’t long before he decided to start a side business with the goal of going full-time on his own.

In 2003 Wood opened Cinematic Visions, and landed in downtown Lee’s Summit in 2008. As Wood puts it, “It was home.” It was probably that spirit that led Wood to raise his family here; he and wife, Melissa, have two sons, Noah, 15; and Jordan, 11.

“The town was growing rapidly, small businesses were sprouting up all over the place, and its proximity to the KC metro area made it ideal for stretching out the company’s wings to see if it could fly,” Wood says. “Lee’s Summit opened its arms and took in Cinematic Visions quickly. The community of businesses is large, but feels like a tight knit group of people genuinely interested in helping each other succeed.”

Cinematic Vision’s main focus is business-to-business video for small firms, but his portfolio includes some fairly big clients.

Companies including UPS, AT&T, Union Pacific and Metcalf Bank have called on Wood’s expertise. To get it done, his team taps a stable of state-of-the-art equipment: a bank of HD cameras, the latest in sound and lighting and best-of-breed computer

hardware and software. Wood uses the tools to produce marketing and promotional videos for online or website use, training and safety videos for companies, even television commercials.

“If it can be filmed, edited or produced, I can help,” Wood says.

Wood’s team not only produces the video but will consult with clients about how to use it.

“That’s probably the most important part of the process. If I can create a great product for you AND show you how to make it work – you’ll trust me, you’ll come back to me again, and we’ll probably end up being friends.”

But Wood said he and his Cinematic Visions team—Diane Robertson, Reuben Samuels, Jessie Chipchase, Jordan Martin and Chardé Stephenson—have the most fun with a show they produce called “Just Down The Road,” a family-oriented travel show about fun things to do and see across the U.S. The show airs on more than 500 stations across the country and reaches around 50 million households, featuring everything from swimming with manatees in Florida to reaching Pike’s Peak in Colorado.

“What makes it unique is we’re not some big production company with 100 crew members putting it all together,” Wood said.

“It’s just five of us.”

So for those projects that need more than your inner, untrained Speilberg wannabe, consider letting Cinematic Visions get behind the camera instead.

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Locally Owned

Does Your Garage Floor Need a Makeover?

ARTICLE ANN E. BUTENAS | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

S

hut the front door! Why? Because it’s time to address what is quickly becoming the main entry point to many homes these days – the garage door. What used to be the entry and exit point for vehicles only has now become the primary entry point where family and friends enter the home. With the real estate market improving, many homeowners are looking for ways to continue the appreciation of their home’s value. One area that continues to gain popularity is improving the garage space. It typically represents up to 10 per cent of the total square footage of the home, yet is often overlooked as an opportunity to upgrade and make that first impression entering a home.

It’s the belief of Erin Slicker, owner of Prairie Village-based Granite Garage Floors of KC, that if today’s homeowners were aware an option existed for their garage floor beyond the oil stained concrete or peeling gray paint, they would jump on the opportunity to upgrade it with a designer quality finish that looks and lasts like granite.

Fully licensed, insured and bonded, Granite Garage Floors truly sets itself apart from the rest, especially when it comes to their prep work.

Slicker emphasizes what is unique to their approach. “We specifically focus on the preparation of the floor using an industrial diamond grinding process to remove all previous coatings and stains to get the floor mechanically clean and porous, which maximizes the adhesion of the coating system to the concrete. This is really important as we guarantee against hot-tire pick up, which is the number one failure that most people experience when attempting to have a coating applied to their garage floor. Our proprietary system 28 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

utilizes commercial grade product, which is not what you would typically find in kits at local home improvement or paint stores. We then we add decorative flakes at varying rates to create the look of granite, quartz or terrazzo, depending on the finish chosen.”

Once installed, the final product not only looks amazing, it is extremely durable, chemical resistant, and easy to clean. Additionally, the process add the ‘orange peel’ texture that has anti-slip properties.

Of course, it’s not just the product that sets Granite Garage Floors above the rest. Their premier customer service truly raises the bar.

“We take the necessary time with each customer to determine what’s best for them,” emphasizes Slicker.

Recent customer Amanda Myers who resides in Leawood agrees. “Granite Garage Floors provided exceptional service while installing our garage floor. It was a quick process and completely transformed the look and function of our garage.”

With a variety of color finishes available, they have something for everyone. For those who want to make their garage floor even more unique, there are newly added local team finishes, which are prefect for diehard KU, MU, KSU and Chiefs fans. They also have flooring system options that are ideal for basements, mechanical rooms, and those highly coveted man caves.

It is not just the product that sets Granite Garage Floors apart from the rest. Their team promises professional communication and timely installation, and it is all backed by a lifetime satisfaction warranty.

For more information, visit GraniteGarageFloors.com or call 913.752.9906.

Parent's Corner

Keepers of the Sandlot PLAY BALL!

ARTICLE SUSAN MOTLEY | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

S

pring is here. The days are getting longer and the flowers are blooming. But, for many, nothing says spring like the start of baseball season.

That is definitely true for former professional baseball player Bill Severns. Baseball has always been an important part of his life. He started playing little league at an early age and never looked back. As a starter for the University of Oklahoma, Severns had the rare privilege of playing in the College World Series four years in a row. Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers, he played in their farm system for six years before retiring to raise his family.

Severns lives in Prairie Village with his wife of 36 years, Suzanne.

They have four children and eight grandchildren.

“For as long as I can remember, all I ever wanted to do was play baseball,” Severns says. “So, when my boys came along, as soon as they wanted to throw or catch, I was ready to play.”

Severns spent 23 years coaching, starting with his son’s little league teams and coaching every level from 5 years old to high school.

Severns say kids start out playing baseball because they want to be with their friends and have fun. Parents like their kids to play because it teaches them how to compete, to be a good teammate, to win and lose, to fail and get back up again. It develops character.

But, as Severns continued to coach, he started seeing things that worried him. “I had concerns about the pressures, intensity, and number of games, the extreme yelling and that kind of thing,” he explains. “Baseball is supposed to be fun and you can’t play well when everyone is stressed out.”

“My friend Gary LaRocque from the St. Louis Cardinals always says, ‘Tell your parents we don’t have time to scout little league!’”

Severns says he often wished parents could just relax and enjoy the game.

So, as his coaching days were coming to a close, Severns had an epiphany about how to stay involved with baseball. He was at a game, standing in the third base coach’s box, when the opposing coach “just lost it” and blew up at a kid who had made an error. The boy was upset which caused his next play to be even worse. A violent confrontation erupted. The coach pulled him from the game.

“I kept looking for his dad,” Severns says, “but, you guessed it, the coach was his dad.”

Severns says he decided that night to write a book. He was determined to use his experiences, his resources and his connections in the baseball world to help parents and coaches relax. He wants them to protect the innocence and joy of the game for their children. He calls it the “sandlot” experience where everyone is wel30 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

come and has fun, there is no pressure to perform, and the games go on until sundown.

In 2005, Severns published Keepers of the Sandlot--Coaching, Parenting and Playing For Keeps. Several years later, he wrote Sandlot Strategy, A Parent’s Manual For Coaching Kids.

Both books have been enthusiastically received. They are filled with stories from Severn’s playing and coaching years as well as pearls of wisdom from some of the biggest names in baseball.

They offer great insight and guidance to help parents and coaches enjoy their children during this short season of their lives.

One of Severns’ favorite quotes from the first book comes from former Royal’s all-star Kevin Seitzer. “Don’t ever be the coach that makes a kid give up the game.”

“I just want to help everyone understand how precious this time is,” Severns says. “Pretty soon the game is over and your kids are gone.”

Although he has a day job, at the civil engineering firm of Shafer, Kline, & Warren in Lenexa, Severns now spends a good deal of this time speaking to groups about baseball, and talking with and encouraging coaches and parents who call him.

“These books have been a gift. They have opened doors and given me the opportunity to share what I’ve learned with parents and coaches. And they have kept me involved in this game I love so much. Every year when the season ends, I sit around and wait for Opening Day!” For more information or to contact Bill Severns, go to his website KeepersOfTheSandlot.com, or call him at 913.544.5878.

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Their signature stamped rings and bangles, customizable necklaces and charm bracelets make perfect gifts for moms of all ages.

It goes without saying that they make beautiful Mother’s Day gifts, but they’re also an ideal way to celebrate baby’s first birthday, holidays or anniversaries. And don’t forget about the proud grandma! All jewelry is proudly made in the USA using locally sourced materials and labor.

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collegenanniesandtutors.com May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 31

Page Turners

Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone ADVICE YOUR MOM WOULD GIVE IF SHE THOUGHT YOU WERE LISTENING

BY BECKY BLADES $13.99 147 PAGES REVIEWED BY ANNE POTTER RUSS

P

arenthood does now, indeed, come with a manual! We can all stop complaining that no one ever provided a “how-to” book on raising children and doing laundry and navigating life. Kansas City author Becky Blades has come to our collective aid and written the most important little square book in the history of self-help tomes, Do Your Laundry or You’ll Die Alone: Advice Your Mom Would Give If She Thought You Were Listening.

She’s a rock star, a mom, a genius, an artist, and the voice in your head telling you that children who are self-sufficient launderers will rule the world. The 269 nuggets of advice are almost as gorgeous as the artwork Blades provides for the backdrop. She wrote it all down for us (and illustrated it), and all we have to do is read and share with our kids (when they look like they might be listening). My personal favorite nugget is #36 – “A bad attitude makes your butt look big.” Right?

32 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

ou r ce y Advi uld give ht wo mom e thoug if sh u were yo ning liste

Blades began her journey of putting the finishing touches on her college-bound daughter by having a panic attack. Did her daughter, Taylor, know the other stuff–not the grades, the test scores, the leadership qualities–but, #’s 160, 161 and 162? “Move your body;” “Still your mind;” and “Fasten your seat belt.” Maybe she hadn’t been listening to #118, “Keep your household cleaning products separate from your personal hygiene products. Using Pledge instead of hairspray can set back your morning.” See, this stuff is genius! Blades' instinct to write her advice to Taylor turned into a home run for the rest of us.

The combination of serious and silly, frank and fabulous, and utter common sense make this little gem of a book the parenting bible of the 21st century–or at least this week. Number 74 – “If you want to shorten an argument, break into a French accent.” I’m actually going to try that one.

My favorite theme of Blades'–and it’s included in the title of her blog, Startistry.com, is the art of stARTing something. As #71 proclaims, “Don’t put off starting something because you aren’t sure you can finish it… Only one thing is sure to keep you from finishing: not starting.” The woman is spying on me. I am the guiltiest of guilty overstretched and under-motivated moms. Blades gives us all permission to start something and follow the urge, even if it doesn’t end in creative perfection. Hey, we started our kids, didn’t we?

The thing is, though, Becky Blades did finish this one with style and flair and grace. And for that, I’m grateful. Who else would have thought to tell my two teens, “Don’t sit on aluminum bleachers in a lightening storm?” (#58) This is the best gift of the spring season for you, your kids or your parents (highlight the parts for your own parents that you really did listen to!). Blades' brilliance is your best pair of jeans – makin’ you look good! Find her, the book and her daughters at LaundryOrDie.com.

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Page Turners

A Nice Little Place on the North Side: Wrigley Field at One Hundred

BY GEORGE WILL CROWN ARCHETYPE PRESS $25.00 224 PAGES REVIEWED BY JULIE HUBBLE

A

s the grass greens and days get longer, it is time to go to the ball fields. And who better to sit with in the bleachers than the rabid fan, full of facts and anecdotes and opinions on the state of the game? George Will, arguably the most famous fan of the Chicago Cubs, takes off his political pundit hat and waxes nostalgic on the 100th birthday of Wrigley Field. This is not field reporting, but an emotional and personal reflection on the history of a team, a place, of baseball. As there are few triumphs to record, Will meanders through the Lincoln Park neighborhood and reveals the oddities of personalities that stop through Chicago and leave stories that create legend.

Readers will learn about America’s first female member of a President’s cabinet, about the baseball-related shooting that inspired Bernard Malamud’s The Natural, and will consider the relationship between beer and attendance at baseball games. The greatness of Ernie Banks, “Mr. Cub,” will be on display for all to see. But Will also provides commentary on the architecture of the building itself, and provides fodder for why the structure has contributed to the fortunes of the team. He suggests, despite his love for the Chicago Cubs, that historic decisions by the owners, including chewing-gum magnate P.K. Wrigley, made the stadium too successful. A less popular structure would have forced the Cubs to purchase a winning team.

But in the era of Jumbotrons and product placement and concession stand apps, Wrigley Field is that bright and shining Valhalla, purposely slow to install night lights and video screens at the urinals. She is beloved, wise and full of characters that tell America’s 34 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

story of competition and loyalty, success and defeat, yesterday and today. Carl Sandburg describes Chicago as a city “with lifted head singing so proud to be alive and coarse and strong and cunning,” aware of those sneering at her. He must have been a Cubs fan.

The writing is graceful and funny, the information is stunning, and the critique is sharp – the perfect way to spend an afternoon for any baseball fan.

Other New Baseball Titles To Consider: New Kid by Tim Green (Harper/Collins) The Glory of Their Times: The Story of the Early Days of Baseball Told by the Men Who Played It

by Lawrence Ritter (Harper Perennial) Where Nobody Knows Your Name: Life in the Minor Leagues of Baseball by John Feinstein (Doubleday) 1954: The Year Willie Mays and the First Generation of Black Superstars Changed Major League Baseball

by Bill Madden (Da Capo) Pete Rose: An American Dilemma by Kostya Kennedy (Sports Illustrated)

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Tales from the Motherhood Trenches Local moms share their funniest parenting mishaps.

ARTICLE KATHERINE BONTRAGER

I

n this world of Pinterest-perfect and Facebook-finessed life events, we sometimes lose touch with reality. And the reality is that, this motherhood thing? This ain’t for the weak of heart.

There are times in every mom’s life where she may cut a corner or two, simply look the other way, or stoop to the downright scandalous just to keep the peace. Sometimes, mom drops the proverbial ball or is caught unawares by her kids’ sneaky actions.

I’m no different. While I was so careful—so terrified—upon the arrival of our first child, my standards slipped some upon the twins’ appearance some four-odd years later. For instance, after the boys eat (play toss) with) their morning Cheerios, I’ve been known to let the dogs save me—and my back—from the cleanup.

And chalk it up to sleep deprivation or simply being the mother of three, I’ll also admit it took me several days to realize the boys weren’t just being very clean when eating with their hands. The dog may have been surreptitiously licking their hands underneath the highchair trays. And I may have just thrown up my hands about the entire thing.

So when I asked several mommy friends via social media if they wouldn’t mind sharing their parenting foibles, I was surprised at the almost immediate outpouring of tales. It was cathartic. And pretty dang funny. Read on for just some of these (anonymous) tales of memorable mommy missteps:

* We gave our 18-month-old a spare rib, with meat and sauce, to chew on to keep him quiet during the Super Bowl (like a dog). It kept him silent for 20 minutes—a record!

* I was feeling under the weather one weekend morning and believed the kids when they said they could make themselves a healthy breakfast, so I slept in. That breakfast was an entire economy-size bag of gummy worms.

36 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

* Simply exhausted from sleepless nights, I was in a haze one morning. I had my pearl earrings in one hand, two Tylenol in the other. Want to guess which I swallowed by accident?

* Our former daycare was next to an organic homestead where the residents harvested their own food. My oldest was about 3, and the kiddos used to go there everyday to get fruit and veggies from the garden. It became so commonplace, we quit poring over what he brought home. So one day he came home with a baggie full of chocolate-covered raisins to share. My husband loved Raisinettes…note the past tense. Yup, he swallowed a few only to “cough” them up again…goat poop!

* I hitchhiked to my son’s talent show after our garage door got stuck. I am a shining example for my children. * One time when my kid was whining the whole way home in the car during a thunderstorm, I just rolled down the window and let the rain hit him to shut him up. It totally worked.

* I left our youngest at home one day, snug and safe in the car seat…on the kitchen table.

Every time my oldest tried to tell me that I never put the baby in the car, I told her to hush, we were running late.

* Frazzled from the stress of trying to get family portraits, I managed to lock the kids in the car—on two different occasions—outside the photographer’s house. On only one of those occasions did a news crew show up.

* I thought I could do a bit of Christmas cooking without worries now that my boys were 2 and 5 years old. I was wrong. They found spray paint in the unfinished portion of basement and painted the light sockets, fireplace brick, and TV screen in the finished part. Then they sprayed it in the air and ran through it like it was a sprinkler.

These select stories were just the beginning: There were countless anecdotes of kids repeating “mommy and daddy words” in front of unsuspecting grandparents or teachers, and several parents instructed their kids to quit whining about their sore arm or leg, only to find out it’s broken some days later. So the next time you think your neighbors seem to have this motherhood thing perfected, think again.

Remember that every mom everywhere has a tale of parenting shame. Better yet, why keep these stories under wraps? There’s something liberating—and entertaining—about sharing these tales from the mommy trenches.

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 37

The Way Things Were DeAnna Rose Children’s Farmstead expands Main Street.

ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

T

he weather might lie, but there’s one true harbinger of spring for countless families in Kansas City: every April 1, Deanna Rose Children’s Farmstead opens for the season.

And just like the turning of a calendar page, the Farmstead has emerged from our blankets of snow and ice with new attractions and a fresh take on bringing to life what it was like to live on a Kansas farm at the turn of the century.

Past the ubiquitous red barn that everyone sees at the main entrance there is the general store, the fishing pond, the dairy barn and the schoolhouse. New in 2014 is an expansion of Main Street: three new buildings, including Ray’s Barber Shop, Pat’s Photography Parlor and John’s Blacksmith Shop, all designed to enhance the experience of rewinding history.

38 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

“There is always an educational focus to everything we do at the Farmstead,” says Kerrie Nichols, public program supervisor.

With the additions to Main Street, visitors can not only learn about how life once was, but they can experience it as well.

Ray’s Barber Shop is set up to depict how social interactions of that time were so vastly different than what we know today. A throwback to an earlier time when life was a little simpler, the barbershop was a place that men went not only for grooming services, but sometimes for dentistry and medical procedures.

“Throughout history, the barbershop was an important gathering place,” says Nichols. “Men didn’t go to just get their hair cut; they started their days there, talking to neighbors and building relationships. It was more than just a place for a shave and a haircut.”

Same is true of John’s Blacksmith Shop, which is an interactive experience between an actual blacksmith and visitors. In turn of the century rural communities, a blacksmith was the person who created or repaired almost anything comprised of wrought iron or steel through a process of bending, cutting and forging metal. Nails, harness rings, latches, horseshoes and a variety of tools were all produced by a blacksmith.

“We’ve brought in an actual blacksmith who is terrific at engaging and communicating with the public, so that not only is it a true learning experience about smithing, but it’s also fun and interactive,” says Nichols.

In a nod to the junction of history and progress, Pat’s Photography Parlor will employ green screen technology to transform photos of guests in creative ways that have nothing to do with selfies and photobombs.

“The expansion of Main Street gives us another opportunity to interact with our visitors,” says Nichols. “We love that people enjoy spending the day with us, and these new additions are just another way that we can illustrate what Kansas farm life was like so long ago.”

Another new feature this season that younger kids will especially appreciate is the renovated Prairie Playground. Thanks to funding from Overland Park Rotary, new equipment—including a tractor—has been added as well.

The number of visitors to the Farmstead each year rivals that of Kansas City’s most popular attractions; from April to October of 2013, the Farmstead hosted more than 411,000 visitors. Last year alone, workers served 58,059 hand-scooped ice cream cones and cups; 125,000 worms were flung into the fishing pond and baby goats drank 98,571 bottles of milk.

The Farmstead has changed significantly over the years. When it first opened, it had two miniature horses, two Shetland ponies, nine goats, six sheep, three calves, a dozen chickens, a vegetable garden and child-sized replicas of a barn with a loft, a silo with a slide and a shaded seating area. There was one supervisor and four seasonal employees.

Today, the Farmstead has almost 200 farm animals and birds of prey, flower and vegetable gardens, Helen’s One Room Country Schoolhouse, Deanna Rose’s Dairy Barn, Grandpa Bob’s Fishing Pond and horse

drawn wagon rides and more. There are seven supervisors, 46 seasonal staff members and 25 regular weekly volunteers.

Now in its 36th season, the three additions to Main Street join Vic’s General Store, Alex and Emily’s Ice Cream Parlor and Ben’s Bank. Guests can still enjoy what they’ve come to love about each of those features, such as purchasing keepsakes at Vic’s or enjoying an ice cream from Alex and Emily’s.

“There is always something new here,” says Nichols. “Just come see!”

For hours, more history and a schedule of events, visit DRFarmstead.org.

special events at the farmstead JUNE BUG BALL

– June 5

BLACKSMITH CELEBRATION DAIRY DAY

– June 14

FISHING TOURNAMENT INDEPENDENCE DAY CHICKEN RUN STAMPEDE 5K SAFETY DAY

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May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 39

a meaningful bike ride Leawood Police Officers honor fallen comrades.

ARTICLE MARY BUSH | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

A

s the only Leawood police officer on bike patrol, Erik Butler spends a lot of time cycling. But these days, the biking doesn’t stop when he finishes his shift.

Butler, along with fellow Officer Ben Slenker, Sgt. Tim Anderson and Sgt. Kirt Yoder, is training for the Police Unity Tour, a 230-mile, bicycle ride that raises national awareness for officers who have died in the line of duty. The tour, which began in 1997 with 18 participants, will attract more than 1800 police officers from around the country this year. Participating bikers will begin their journey on May 10 in Richmond, Va., and three days later, pedal through Washington D.C.’s National Mall finally arriving at the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial where they will be surrounded by the families of fallen officers.

This is the third year that Butler and 40 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

Yoder will ride in the challenging biking event and the first for Anderson and Slenker.

“Our route is very hilly and it’s hard for us to get prepared for the hills of Virginia here in Kansas,” says Butler. “We spend as much of our off time as possible riding but the weather around here can make that a bit tricky.”

Part of Yoder’s training includes biking from his home in Olathe to his job in Leawood. He also includes running in his rigorous regimen.

“For me, training means a combination of road biking and running,” says Yoder. “These last couple months were crunch time so I biked about 25 miles a day for four or five days a week and added a long ride on the weekends.”

BIKING AND MORE

The Police Unity Tour isn’t just about biking. All participants are required to raise funds that are used to maintain the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial, a massive, bronze sculpture depicting a series of adult lions protecting their cubs, symbolizing the protective role of police officers. The sculpture’s blue and gray marble walls are inscribed with the names of more than 19,000 officers killed in the line of duty dating back to 1792.

National Police Week kicks off each May at the end of the Police Unity Tour and names of the nation’s most recent fallen officers are added to the memorial. Cyclists participating in the Tour wear bracelets bearing the names of those who have died in the line of duty.

“It is quite a sobering experience to honor the sacrifice of these officers,” says Butler. “Raising awareness about these special heroes is one of the most rewarding things we do.”

that attracted 160 participants and a bike ride on the Katy Trail that attracted about 50 supporters.

In April, about 150 donor/supporters attended the Police Unity Tour Date Night, a special happy hour sponsored by Gordon Biersch Brewery in Leawood followed by a private screening at AMC Theaters in Town Center. Additionally, local businesses and residents contribute to help sponsor the Leawood officers on their meaningful ride.

Each year, the Police Unity Tour attracts more cyclists and donations from around the country. The first year’s event in 1997 raised $18,000 compared to this year’s event which will raise about $1.9 million.

Regional Police Academy’s curriculum.

Butler shares with each class of fledgling police officers a story about Sedgwick County (Kansas) Deputy Brian Etheridge who was ambushed, shot and killed in 2009 after responding to a report of larceny. The 26-year-old officer had been

It’s important people are aware of the danger police officers face each day. The Police Unity Tour is part of that awareness.

FUN FUNDRAISING

Though meals and lodging are covered by local and national supporters of the the Police Unity Tour, the Leawood officers are responsible for providing their own road bikes and out-of-pocket expenses.

This year, they have also raised $1,700 each in donations by sponsoring fundraising events such as a bowling tournament

A SPECIAL MEANING CLOSE TO HOME

Officers Butler and Slenker are also instructors for the Defensive Tactics Program which is part of the Johnson County

on the job for 18 months, was married and father to two-year-old daughter Natalie.

“It is a worst case scenario each of us faces every day,” says Butler, who has worn a bracelet inscribed with Deputy CONTINUED >

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 41

A MEANINGFUL BIKE RIDE (CONTINUED)

Etheridge’s name during each of the Police Unity Tours in which he has participated.

Butler met Sarah Purcell, Etheridge’s widow, at the end of last year’s Police Unity Tour when he and fellow Leawood officers stopped by an Alexandria, Va., hotel where she was traveling with a non-profit organization called Final Call Quilts. The organization constructs quilts for the families of fallen officers and in 2009, Sarah was presented with a handmade, memorial quilt of Brian Etheridge’s uniforms. She was the organization’s first recipient.

After meeting Sarah, Butler gave her the bracelet he had worn during the Police Unity Tour inscribed with Brian’s name.

“Meeting Sarah was a humbling experience and made an already meaningful experience more meaningful,” says Butler who is married and father to two young sons. “She has handled a terrible experience with courage, grace and dignity and inspires all of us.”

Sarah’s life continues to revolve around law enforcement as she married Police Officer Derek Purcell in 2011, also wounded in the line of duty several years ago but now recovered. The couple lives in Wichita and are parents to now 7-year-old Natalie and 2-year-old Kate.

Sarah is very proud of the officers who ride in the Police Unity Tour and has attended the last day’s ceremony twice when cyclists fly flags with photos of that year’s fallen officers. She is particular42 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

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“She loves getting the letters and hearing about her father,” says Sarah.

“It warms my heart that Erik not only wears Brian’s bracelet every year but also remembers Natalie with his wonderful pictures and letters that she reads and rereads. It means so much to both of us.”

Since Etheridge’s death, Sarah also speaks to the families of new officers before graduation each year.

“It’s important people are aware of the danger police officers face each day,” says Sarah. “The Police Unity Tour is part of that awareness and I’m so grateful to the officers who ride. They help us remember that all police officers are part of a very special family.”

Leawood Police Officer Mark Chudik has ridden in the arduous Police Unity Tour twice though he is not riding this year. He notes the route from Richmond to Washington, D.C. is a beautiful urban and rural mix often lined with cheering supporters as officers roll by. But Chudik says it is the end of the Police Unity Tour that is a surreal experience for cyclists.

“When you pedal through the National Mall with all the other officers in the Tour and start seeing the families of the fallen officers, it’s impossible not to get choked up,” says Chudik. “It’s a humbling experience to say the least.”

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May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 43

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Giving Back

Providing Food for the Body and Soul MANNA WORLDWIDE CHANGES COUNTLESS CHILDREN’S LIVES ONE MEAL AT A TIME ARTICLE KATHERINE BONTRAGER | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

B

ruce and Pam O’Neal were missionaries in the outskirts of Manila, Philippines, in the early 1990s, with a church located near squatter villages. The church lacked the means to care for the poor who came, weekly, to beg for assistance. Desperate to help, the O’Neals began looking for partners to support their ministry in the hopes of starting a school and feeding the marginalized children in the community. From this very basic need grew the roots of the first MANNA nutrition center.

The funds the O’Neals gathered soon became an outpouring of support, enabling the construction of a school that welcomed the poor, provided books, uniforms and warm meals each day. And, as a happy byproduct, by taking care of these children’s education and many of their meals, local families were able to stretch their meager budgets—often less than $2 a day—to better survive.

Yet the story didn’t stop there. Like the proverbial mustard seed, the charity, now known as MANNA Worldwide, spread and now has 134 nutrition centers in 39 countries. More than 13,000 children are fed a day through these impressive efforts, which is expanding to also aid 18 orphanages in need.

Oddly enough, the ripple effects are felt even here. Lee’s Summit resident Rick Friesen was so moved by MANNA Worldwide’s mission and impact that he left a very comfortable position as executive pastor of Abundant Life Baptist Church to become Director of Africa for MANNA Worldwide.

“The commitment of MANNA Worldwide is to care for children regardless of gender, nationality, or religion,” Friesen says. Projects include efforts for clean water, nutrition centers, orphan care, and the formation of primary schools, high schools and a trade school for women; each is long-term and sustainable to impact the community for years to come.

Because MANNA Worldwide offers long-term services, the charity is able to follow its children all the way from preschool to high school. And what a difference a few years can make.

“We witness a reduction in disease because of proper nutrition; 48 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

a spiritual hope because of the love and hands on care and mentoring; and an opportunity to obtain jobs or attend college because of the education provided,” Friesen says. “We also have opportunity to see the cycle of poverty end as some graduate from high school and go on to college or trade school and are then able to provide for their family and give back to their community.”

The organization receives donations from corporations, individuals, churches, and government grants. And Friesen is not afraid to go the extra mile—literally—for MANNA Worldwide; this year he’s joining a coast-to-coast bike ride to raise funds and awareness. Alongside Keith O’Neal, MANNA’s vice president, the duo will ride their bicycles from Los Angeles to Annapolis starting Sept. 7 in the hopes of raising $100,000.

And more funding is desperately needed. “I was recently in Malawi where we set up our newest nutrition center,” Friesen says. “We feed 50 children two meals a day, six days a week in the village of Kachere. As the children were singing and eating, I noticed about 60 other kids looking through the crack of the door wanting to be in our program. It’s gut wrenching. We can’t help every single child, but we can help some—and we can help more as funding comes in.”

For the children who have been touched by the generosity of MANNA Worldwide, it’s life altering. Recently, Bruce O’Neal was in Guatemala visiting a nutrition center, when a young girl took his hand and accompanied him as he toured the facility. Finally, she whispered, “Thank you, Mr. MANNA.” It was only later that the center’s director told Bruce that the young girl had arrived almost blind. She had to be led to the nutrition center and through all the activities every day. A visiting U.S. ophthalmologist noticed the little girl, examined her, and determined that a surgical procedure would correct her eyesight. The ophthalmologist paid for the girl to have surgery done in Guatemala.

“Of course Mr. MANNA, Bruce O’Neal, and all who serve at MANNA are quick to point out that it’s God’s love that makes all this possible,” Friesen says. “‘Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is heaven,’ (Matthew 5:16).”

For more information or to offer a donation, visit MannaWorldwide.com.

Terrific Teacher

When Adjectives Fail, Use Numbers THE LIFE OF A TEACHER ARTICLE ANNE POTTER RUSS | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

A

nellen Neill has been teaching 3, 4 and 5-year-olds at The Barstow School for 30 years. The first adjective that comes to mind might be ‘saintly.’ The first number that comes to mind is 900. That would be 900 children in the above-mentioned age range! Really, there are not enough adjectives in common usage English language to proclaim the breadth and depth of Anellen’s touch, her wisdom, her development of young minds.

The exact number of children whose lives have been blessed by Anellen’s patient guidance cannot be told. And, just as importantly, the number of soothed nerves of parents brings a whole new dimension to the numbers game. Quite simply, Mrs. Neill has graced the lives of nearly 900 students and possibly 1,800 parents during her tenure in a most critical profession.

Teaching preschool, prekindergarten and kindergarten would wear out the most hardy of us – in half the time. What is so endearing about Anellen’s relationship with her students and their parents is that each makes the other stronger. Each child who is new to school, each parent with trepidation, each new year – just make this master teacher stronger and more loved and more loving. Each and every one of us (author included) who has surrendered a young, shy, half-cooked human to Anellen has, in return, received a confident, mannered, smarter, stronger young person back. Not only does she enrich our children’s lives with the ABCs and the 123s, but she also teaches parents how to just cling only slightly to her proverbial apron strings. We do so with clenched fists for the first few days, and then as we

lighten our grips, our children do the same with us. Every step she takes is done with a smile and a hearty greeting. Anellen is genuinely glad to see every small child, every boo-boo and every trembling parent.

It takes a special talent to love every minute of your work and to show up with enthusiasm and energy every day. Anellen is the epitome of a professional. She is a teacher’s teacher. And she is taking it in her professional stride that retirement is just a few weeks away. The collective “we” are not taking it so well when we hear the news, although no one deserves an alarm-clock-free morning more than our beloved Mrs. Neill, it is tough news nonetheless.

Maybe the best words to be found in describing Anellen Neill are those of the students who dedicated the 1997 Barstow Weathercock yearbook to her. They wrote: “You instilled in us what it means to be a student at Barstow, and on a greater scale, a student of the world.” And, “The 1997 senior class would like to thank you for helping us to start our lives, for it is really true that everything you need to know, you learned in kindergarten.”

And, so Barstow families from far and wide bid adieu to one of the best… best teacher, best friend, best co-worker, and best human being. Anellen, enjoy your days and nights, your Bunco groups and K-State alumni pals, your travels and so much more. Know that you have touched an entire generation with your wit and wisdom.

You instilled in us what it means to be a student of the world…Thank you for helping us to start our lives, for it is really true that everything you need to know, you learned in kindergarten.

50 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

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Road Trip

Chateau on the Lake SPECTACULAR VIEWS MAKE THIS GEM OF TABLE ROCK A PRIORITY DESTINATION ARTICLE LISA HARRISON | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

S

pring break was looming and we still didn’t have plans for the long weekend get-away we’d promised our two teens. It was time for this busy mom to start fretting. But then I learned about a resort at Table Rock Lake in Branson called Chateau on the Lake and suddenly it looked like our regional destination mini-vacation would happen after all.

We stopped at Lamberts (“Home of the throwed rolls”) on our way to the lake. I’d heard of it but had never been, so it warrants a quick mention here. Even at 2 p.m. on a Friday afternoon we had to wait 45 minutes for a table so if this is on your to-do list, know that it’s not a quick in and out dining destination.

Having never vacationed in Branson, I didn’t know what to expect, but any preconceived notions we had about lodge themed motels and country music inspired inns were dashed when we rounded the bend in the highway and saw the stunning 10-story resort looming on the horizon. “We’re staying THERE?” they asked too loudly with earbuds still firmly in place. All I could do was smile. And then we saw the lake, and I was instantly assured we’d have a wonderful three days.

I grew up on the shores of Lake Michigan. We lived on one side of the Great Lake and vacationed on the other. A family joke is that lake water runs through our veins. And as much as I’ve tried to embrace the many (many) man-made lakes of Missouri, I was worried that Table Rock would be another murky little docklined lake. I’m thrilled to admit I was impressed by its grandeur.

My husband and sons bonded over an afternoon of fly fishing with an outstanding guide at nearby Lake Taneycomo. They each caught (and released) close to a dozen fish so the afternoon was officially a success. While they perfected their casting skills and harassment of the local fish, I practiced deep relaxation in the Spa Chateau. Opened just seven years ago, the 14,000-square-foot spa offers everything from a hot tub, massage and facials, to manicures, pedicures and hair styling. Make sure you plan to indulge a bit during your stay.

Our special dinner at the Chateau Grille was one my boys are still talking about. We splurged on a fruits of the sea appetizer

CONTINUED >

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Road Trip

(CONTINUED)

($17) that offered impressive shrimp and crab legs alongside a chunky scoop of lobster salad. Our steaks, salads and short ribs were outstanding and perfectly prepared.

And the Grand Marnier soufflé ($12) was absolutely divine. It’s no wonder that visitors to the lake enjoy traveling by boat to this restaurant all summer long.

My boys loved stopping in the Sweet Shoppe and we loved giving them the freedom to wake up when they were ready and go downstairs to get breakfast at their leisure while we enjoyed a morning walk along the lake. They could easily pick up muffins, fruit or cereal for breakfast, a soda or candy bar in the afternoon, or a dessert to share after dinner and simply charge the cost to our room.

Our room was lovely and had a spectacular view of the lake. Two sink vanities, one in the bathroom and one in the main room, meant that there was a little less chaos in our weekend of sharing a room. The balcony allowed us to sit outside and enjoy the view with coffee in hand. Speaking of coffee, shall we take a moment to collectively thank the hotelier who started putting little coffee makers in hotel rooms back in the 1990s?

The 10-story atrium is breathtaking. The lobby is built around a three- story tall tree as well as gentle waterfalls and flowing water features that are home to lovely koi fish.

It’s no wonder at all that this is a popular convention and wedding destination.

Other amenities include a marina, kids club, pools, tennis courts and a movie theater. The marina offers ski boats, pontoons, wave runners, canoes, kayaks and paddle boats available for rent. Fishing gear, tubes and skis are available as well, allowing guests to pack a little lighter. The Crawdaddies Kids Club offers indoor and outdoor activities ideal for elementary-aged children while the movie theater shows G-rated films several times a day. Indoor and outdoor pools are open 24 hours a day.

For those of you who choose to visit during the summer or fall, Moonshine Beach is just a ten-minute walk or a two-minute drive from the resort. For a small fee, beach goers have access to a snack stand, restroom facilities and a safe, sandy beach.

The Branson strip offered more than we could absorb in our three day stay. Highlights included riding go carts, zip-lining, the

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outlet mall and a celebrity car museum. But remember, my travel companions were 15- and 17-year-old boys. While I could have spent half the day at the outlet mall they were content to leave after visiting a half dozen stores.

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Introducing

If you wanted to build the best possible network of health care facilities and providers for you and your family, how would you do it?

Simple. You’d start with a foundation of highly-trained exper ts from Shawnee Mission Medical Center — nearly 700 physicians in 50 specialties – from cancer and heart care to robotic surgery and women’s health – all dedicated to delivering the highest quality health care with genuine compassion. You’d invest in the latest medical technology. You’d make patient safety and satisfaction your top priorities. And you’d offer the most wide-ranging schedule of wellness classes anywhere in this community.

That’s exactly what you’ll find at Shawnee Mission Health. To find out much more, visit us at ShawneeMission.org.

Now Open

Worth the Wait LEAWOOD JUSTICE CENTER OPENS FOR CITY BUSINESS ARTICLE & PHOTOGRAPHY LISA GARTLAND

B

ack in 2006, Leawood city officials knew they had to make a big change. City workers had spent many years in a building they had outgrown, and it just was not working anymore. They were overcrowded and had been increasingly supplementing with modular buildings over the previous 13 years. It was clear that they needed more space at that time, and would continue to need more space in the future, so they started to plan.

They decided that a new building complex was the answer to their space problems. With that in mind, the city took the first step by purchasing land on the corner of Tomahawk Creek Parkway and what is now Town Center Drive. Next, in 2007, Leawood voters approved a sales tax that would be applied to a new city facility. Those tax proceeds, along with a county wide public safety tax, were collected and saved for the next five years.

As funds accumulated, discussions on the design for the building complex began in earnest in 2010. Then, finally, in May 2012, ground was broken for the new 75,000-square-foot Leawood Justice Center. Construction took nearly a year and a half, and this past November, the doors to the stunning new facility were opened. The $21 million building complex is complete, and the city can boast that there is no outstanding debt on this major project.

The design of the Leawood Justice Center is environmentally responsible, according to Leawood Police Chief John Meier.

“We went with a geothermal heating and cooling system so that the facility is heated and cooled from the earth,” he says. Wells that are 500 feet deep were constructed to make this happen.

58 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

Meier says that this efficient heating and cooling system will save the city money. “This system was more expensive to begin with but it will pay for itself within seven years.” Additionally, water from the landscaping runs into a retention pond. It is then cleaned before it is released into streams.

The Leawood Justice Center now bustles with activity. There are 101 employees who work in the new complex, which houses the Police Department, the Municipal Court, the Legal Department and the Information Technology Department. The complex was designed with future growth in mind, with limited unused space in the facility. Since Leawood is landlocked, officials have studied the potential for maximum capacity and have planned for it in the design of the center.

Leawood’s City Hall, just a few blocks away at 4800 Town Center Drive, is home to many city employees as well. Human resources, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Public Works Department and the Finance Department can all still be found in the City Hall building. At present, the former police station at 9617 Lee Boulevard is vacant since the police department moved into the new complex. The Leawood City Council is considering options and has not yet decided the future of that building.

Six short months after opening, the new Leawood Justice Center has already been worth the long wait for city employees. There is now plenty of room to work, and the City’s careful years of planning ensure that this state-of-the-art facility will meet the needs of the City of Leawood for many years to come.

Bring the Night to Life

8 June 2

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The Arts and Recreation Foundation of Overland Park invites you to our annual summer celebration – Stems: A Garden Soirée – at the beautiful Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens. It will be a festive evening complete with fine wine, good food, music and fireworks.

Patron Tickets are now available. Purchase your tickets today and attend the invitation-only Patron’s Party, gain early entry into the Stems event, a VIP parking pass and have your name printed in the Stems program.

June 28, 2014 7:00 - 11:00 p.m.

Visit stemssoiree.org or call 913.322.6467 for all ticket and event information.

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60 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

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Come Clean this Spring ARTICLE HEATHER TRENT BEERS

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hake away winter doldrums and welcome sunny days with spring cleaning. Before you hit the bike trails, though, add this task to bust clutter: Ditch expired drugs.

National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, held each spring and fall, was started by the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) in 2009 to educate the public about medication abuse and to safeguard the water supply by offering a way to get rid of old and unwanted medications.

On these twice-a-year Take- Back days, members of the community can safely leave expired or unneeded over-the-counter and prescription medicines with police officers at the Leawood Police Department, located in the Justice Center at 4201 Town Center Drive.

To make the most of these one-day events, officers suggest these tips: 1. Plan ahead. Gather medications in a storage container such as a grocery bag and store them safely prior to drop off.

2. If possible, leave medications in original containers so little pills don’t fall out or spill before disposal. Removing personal information from labels is not necessary. The DEA seals, secures and incinerates each drop box within a few days. Neither police officers nor the DEA count or keep records of drugs turned in. The process is completely anonymous. Just seal it, drop it off and be done.

3. Do not bring needles, lancets or syringes. Instead, place these in an empty laundry detergent bottle, seal it with the lid, and dispose with regular trash.

4. Also do not bring thermometers; bloody or infectious waste; hydrogen peroxide or business/hazardous material waste; and aerosol cans. Inhalers are accepted, however, since DEA incinerators are made for combustible material.

5. Offer to help gather expired medications for elderly family members or friends who can’t make the event.

Flushing medications down the drain or toilet is never recommended. Between spring and fall Take-Back dates, remove medications from their containers and mix them with coffee grounds or kitty litter. This makes them unpalatable to pets and children. Then throw the sealed bag in the trash.

This spring, definitely take time to pump up the bicycle tires and repair the lawn mower, but also clear out old medicines. Spread the news: Make your home cleaner AND safer.

Then get out there and soak up that long-hoped-for sun.

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62 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

or many of us, we have a story to tell about the way a special dog or cat has touched our lives. The power of that one soul teaching us a life lesson, helping us experience the purest form of unconditional love, bringing us comfort and peace. Animals have a magical way of positively changing our lives.

With our big goals to continue serving more than 30,000 pets this year at our bi-state campuses, the power of one person, one new connection, one social media share, one more hour volunteered or more dollar donated, will be the difference in our ability to continue providing the highest life-saving guarantee – a 96 per cent live-release rate – to the local, homeless and needy pets in our community. One more life saved… it matters!

Never doubt what the power of one can do. That one cat or dog you will never forget. What they did to enrich your life, bring you peace, hope and likely many smiles and laughs. And just the same, you can change the life, the future and the heart of a pet looking for hope.

Please join our organization in saving lives in Kansas City. We are providing 11 lifesaving programs and services every day and with more than 700 pets in our care daily, we need your support.

Being a hero for pets is as easy as adopting, donating, volunteering, fostering, or telling a new person about Great Plains SPCA. Spread the word and you’ll help us save more lives in the Kansas City Metro area and beyond. We believe in the power of you!

Courtney Thomas is the President and CEO of Great Plains SPCA.

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Driver’s Notebook

Jag’s New Roadster is a Serious Sports Car ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY TOM STRONGMAN

J

aguar’s beautiful new F-Type V-8 S sports car has an exhaust that pops and crackles with a sound that is part Formula One and part ‘48 Mercury with straight pipes when you trigger the active exhaust system with a button on the console. The change in sound serves notice that this is not a Jag like any other.

Don’t be mistaken, the new F-Type with the 495-horsepower, supercharged V-8 is not a boulevard cruiser beefed up for performance; it is a bonafide performance car softened enough to be a boulevard cruiser.

It packs plenty of bite to go with its bark.

Poke the throttle and the surge pastes you back in the seat as the car slingshots to 60 miles per hour in 4.2 seconds. The electronically limited top track speed is 186 mph. As a friend once said, it goes fast quick.

64 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

The F-Type is a lightweight, all-aluminum, rear-wheel-drive two-seater built to challenge any car in its segment. It is beautifully styled, carefully crafted and built to have world-class performance. It’s only available as a convertible, but a coupe version is rumored.

There’s a price for this excellence. The well-optioned test car, a V-8 S model, had a base price of $92,000 and a sticker price of $105,245. That’s more than a similarly equipped Porsche Boxster and less than the 911 Carrera S that was one of the performance targets. Other lower-priced competitors include the 335-horsepower BMW Z4, the Mercedes-Benz SLK with a 415-horsepower V-8 and, to a lesser extent, the 450-horsepower Corvette Stingray.

Two other F-Types are available, and both

have a supercharged, 3.0-liter V-6. One with 340 horsepower starts at $69,000, and the S model with 380 horsepower begins at $81,000. All use an eight-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. No manual gearbox is offered as of yet.

Both the V-6 and the V-8 from which it was derived have dual overhead cams, variable camshaft timing, direct fuel injection and an Eaton supercharger.

Moving from the base model to the S also includes bigger brakes, an upgraded suspension and 19-inch instead of 18inch wheels. The V-8 S model has 20-inch wheels, an electronic limited slip differential and even bigger brakes.

It’s hard to explore the V-8’s performance without a racetrack, but my brief drive around town gave hints as to just

2014 JAGUAR F-TYPE V-8 S MODEL

how capable the car is. The ride was compliant and comfortable despite the 20-inch wheels and ultra-low profile tires. I didn’t notice any undue harshness on the highway. When pushed through turns, the F-Type was composed and confident, at least at street speeds. The V-8 S model just begs for an open track so one can safely explore its performance.

The well-finished cabin was finished with soft-touch leather piano black trim. It was cozy but not crowded. The sport seats fit nicely and instrumentation was simple and clear. The fully automatic power top goes up or down in 12 seconds. The smallish trunk has 7 cubic feet of space so packing light is the order of the day for weekend trips but that is the case for most sports cars of this size.

Convenience and safety items included heated seats, heated steering wheel, heated windshield, front parking sensors, rearview camera, blindspot monitor, vehicle stability control and front and side airbags.

PRICE: The base price

POINT: The F-Type shows that Jaguar is serious about building a performance car. The V-8 makes prodigious power with great sound, the handling is tight and the ride is compliant.

COUNTERPOINT: A well-optioned V-8 is pretty expensive.

ENGINE: 5.0-liter, 495-horsepower V-8 TRANSMISSION: Eight-speed automatic Rear-wheel drive WHEELBASE: 103.2 inches CURB WEIGHT: 3,671 pounds BASE PRICE: $92,000 AS DRIVEN: $105,245 MPG EQUIVALENT: 16 in the city, 23 on the highway

of the V-8 S model was $92,000. Options included heated seats and steering wheel, garage door opener, wind deflector, adaptive front lighting, parking sensors and rearview camera, HD radio and satellite radio, heated windshield, Meridian premium audio system, performance seats, flat-bottomed steering wheel, selectable active exhaust, black interior trim and black metallic paint. The sticker price was $105,245.

WARRANTY: Four years or 50,000 miles.

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May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 65

66 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

Sold Properties

neighborhood

Recently SOLD Leawood Properties original list

sold $$

%sold/orig dom*

bdrms full bth 1/2 bth

floorplan

Leawood

$3,500,000

$2,175,000

62%

606

5

4

2

1.5 Stories

The Woods Estates

$2,200,000

$1,697,510

77%

301

7

7

2

1.5 Stories

The Woods Estates

$1,350,000

$1,173,900

87%

301

4

4

1

1.5 Stories

Hallbrook

$1,375,000

$1,150,000

84%

166

6

5

0

1.5 Stories

$1,299,000

$975,000

75%

212

5

4

1

1.5 Stories

GlenAbbey of Leawood

$751,253

$756,253

101%

1

4

4

1

2 Stories

Leabrooke Highlands

$538,735

$624,305

116%

1

4

3

0

1.5 Stories

Leabrooke Highlands

$460,270

$521,114

113%

1

5

3

2

2 Stories

Cherry Creek

$519,000

$519,000

100%

113

4

4

1

2 Stories

Patrician Woods

$535,000

$514,000

96%

53

5

5

1

2 Stories

Leabrooke Highlands

$483,830

$483,017

100%

1

4

4

1

1.5 Stories

$460,000

$440,000

96%

248

5

3

1

1.5 Stories

Leabrooke Highlands

$429,950

$429,950

100%

1

5

4

1

2 Stories

Leawood Estates

$449,950

$409,000

91%

116

5

3

0

Ranch

Leawood

$399,000

$357,000

89%

194

3

2

1

1.5 Stories

Leawood South

$287,000

$282,000

98%

1

4

2

1

2 Stories

Leawood South

$274,900

$274,900

100%

4

4

3

0

Rev 1.5 Sty

Carriage Crossing

$285,000

$270,000

95%

32

4

3

1

2 Stories

Leawood

$295,000

$258,000

87%

91

3

2

0

Ranch

The Woodlands

$299,900

$249,900

83%

69

4

3

1

1.5 Stories

Highlands Ranch

Leawood

Information obtained from Heartland MLS for the period of 2/1/14 to 3/1/14. *DOM=Days on Market.

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 67

Lifestyle Calendar

May

best boiled crawfish, red beans and rice, barbecue pork, whole pig and beignets from Nica’s Lagniappe Cajun Kitchen. Benefits the Head Start program of Shawnee Mission. $45/person. Location: St. Pius X Church, 5500 Woodson. CrawDaddies.org.

MAY 12 DESIGNERS’ SHOWHOUSE PRIVATE SHOWING KANSAS CITY

MAY 2-19 CONTAINER GARDENING EXHIBIT OVERLAND PARK

Overland Park Arboretum and Botanical Gardens will host a Container Gardening Exhibit.

Displays from garden organizations and volunteers will inspire and motivate you to build creative container plantings for your own patio, window boxes, entryway and backyard.

MAY 6

The Ladies of Charity will host a private showing of this year’s Designers’ Showhouse from 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The historic home is at 1246 W. 59th Street, KC, Mo. Spend a beautiful afternoon touring the home followed by a delicious box lunch under one of the tents.

Benefits non-profit groups for the under-privileged and uninsured. For reservations send a $30 check by May 5 to Mary Ann Westhoff, 3312 W. 132nd Street, Leawood, KS 66209.

MAY 13 CELEBRATE AMERICAN CRAFT BEER WEEK LEAWOOD

Park Convention Center’s lower level. Show times on Friday are 5-9 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

MAY 17 JAMMIN’ AT THE GEM KANSAS CITY

The Jammin’ at the Gem series presents the Massey Hall 60th Anniversary Concert celebrating the legendary and improvised concert that occurred in Toronto’s Massey Hall in 1953 and has since been lauded as “the greatest jazz concert ever.” For ticket information, call the American Jazz Museum at 816.474.8463 or visit AmericanJazzMuseum.org.

MAY 17 THOMAS HART BENTON: HIS LIFE & HIS MURALS INDEPENDENCE

Follow the life of Thomas Hart Benton and the creation of his 13 murals with a talk by historian Steve Sitton who will discuss the artist’s works and his influences, culminating in a tour and review of the Benton mural located in the Truman Library & Museum. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. in the Whistlestop Room, 500 W. U.S. 24 Highway.

Join the adult group for a mix of interesting books, informal discussion and tea. We meet on the first Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at Leawood Pioneer Library. No registration necessary.

Join Rye KC Chefs Colby and Megan to celebrate our local craft breweries during American Craft Beer week. Featuring beer from Boulevard Brewing Company, Little Apple Brewing Company, Free State Brewing Company, and Schlafly Beer. 6:30 p.m. reception. 7 p.m. dinner. $75/person. Call 913.642.5800 for reservations.

MAY 7

MAY 13

LEAWOOD WELCOMERS SPRING LUNCHEON

BIRD: THE LIFE, CAREER

MEADOWBROOK COUNTRY CLUB

& RECORDINGS OF CHARLIE

What a treat: Meet, greet and eat. Social hour beings 11 a.m. Lunch at noon. Enjoy the wonderful fashions program by Carolyn Miller a journey back in time, “The Fabulous 50’s.”

Make check for $25 payable to Leawood Welcomers. Send your reservation by May 2 to Maryann Lumianski, 3440 W. 131st Street, Leawood, KS 66209.

SHAWNEE

MAY 10

MAY 16-17

VILLAGE CRAWFISH FESTIVAL

THE ART OF GIL RUMSEY

MAY 23

MISSION

OVERLAND PARK

GIRL IN REVERSE BOOK TALK

From 6 – 11 p.m., The Secret Order of Crawdaddies will be serving up Kansas City’s

Come and see the wonderful art of Johnson County artist, Gil Rumsey at the Overland

NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM

TUESDAYS FOR TEA BOOK DISCUSSION GROUP LEAWOOD

68 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

Chuck Haddix, director of the Marr Sound Archives and host of “Fish Fry” on KCUR FM radio, will present information from his latest book about Charlie Parker’s life and career in Kansas City. Copies of his book will be available for purchase and autographs. Free. 7 p.m. Shawnee Town 1929 Museum, 11600 Johnson Drive.

MAY 20 OVERLAND PARK CIVIC BAND SPRING CONCERT OLATHE

The Overland Park Civic Band kicks off its 2014 season with a concert at the Bell Cultural Events Center on the campus of MidAmerica Nazarene University. Free admission. 7:30 p.m. OPCivicBand.com.

MAY 21 AFTER HOURS AT MERCEDES BENZ KANSAS CITY

Warm weather is here! Celebrate in style as you network next to the stylish class of Mercedes Benz. To register please go to LeawoodChamber.org. 5 – 6:30 p.m. at Mercedes Benz of Kansas City, 13851 Madison Ave.

Life-long Kansas Citian Barbara Stuber’s

novel, Girl In Reverse, will be released this month by Simon & Schuster.

The book is set in 1951 in Kansas City and much of it takes place in the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art where Stuber has been a docent for 20 years. The program will take place from 6-7:30 p.m. and will include a reading, a signing and a book talk about the ways art can inspire literature. BarbaraStuber.com

MAY 23 ONE NIGHT ONLY WITH TONY BENNETT KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Seventeen-time Grammy Award winning musician Tony Bennett will perform on in Muriel Kauffman Theatre. Ticket prices range from $69 to $189 and are available through the Kauffman Center Box Office at 816.994.7222 or online at KauffmanCenter.org.

JUNE 6-7 29TH SUGAR CREEK SLAVIC FESTIVAL SUGAR CREEK

The Festival invites visitors of all ages to enjoy entertainment and activities fit for a king. Grammy Award winner Brave Combo headlines the event, joined by the Miss Czech-Slovak Missouri Pageant and the annual Kielbasa Eating Contest. Two days of music, food and dance complete the Midwest’s premier celebration of Slavic heritage. SlavicFest.com

JUNE 6 25TH ANNIVERSARY JAZZOO KANSAS CITY ZOO

Kansas City’s WILDEST fundraiser helps raise funds for children’s educational programs and feeds the Zoo’s more than 1,100 animals. Guests will enjoy delicious dishes from many Kansas City area restaurants, limitless libations and entertainment throughout the night on four different stages. Show your animal inspired creative black-tie attire and make a grand entrance at Jazzoo. $175/person. JazzooKC.org

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 69

Lifestyle Calendar

JUNE 7

JUNE 7

GARDEN TOUR

VAILE MANSION STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

THE WORNALL/MAJORS HOUSE MUSEUMS

INDEPENDENCE

Held on a biennial basis, the Wornall/Majors House Museums Garden Tour is the organization’s largest fundraiser, allowing it to bring history to life through innovative, hands-on programs and experiences. Both houses are on the National Register of Historic Places. $25. Call 816.444.1858 or visit WornallHouse.org.

Hundreds of crafts, antiques and beautiful plants for sale. Enjoy music and wonderful strawberry treats. Tour the elegant 1881 Victorian Mansion. Free admission to the grounds. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. VaileMansion.org

JUNE 11 COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE STANLEY

Make an appointment to help save a life. Join neighbors and friends at the Presbyterian Church of Stanley (14895 Antioch) between noon and 5 p.m. for a Community Blood Center blood drive.

Donors must be 17.

TrusTed WealTh ManageMenT Planning for Your faMilY n We are a Family Working for Families — We are a Father-Daughter team with over 40 years combined

experience working with families. We believe families come above everything else in life. Our mission is to help families build their wealth for the future and protect their present assets from the unforeseen. n Personal Service and Attention — Our purpose is to give our clients an extraordinary and unexpected

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Please call us today for a complimentary consultation.

Dexter-Morris Wealth ManageMent group 4000 W 114th Street, Suite 200 | Leawood, KS 66211 (913) 451-3503 Toll Free: (800) 274-3246 tom.dexter@rbc.com brynn.morris@rbc.com

There’s Wealth in Our Approach.™ © 2014 RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC.

14-KC-616_7.083x4.75 c ad.indd 1

70 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

4/17/14 3:18 PM

Sale

moving

A&M Home Furnishings

10325 Metcalf Ave, Overland Park, KS 66212

913-438-3868

Locally Owned & Operated | Professional Sales Staff | Unique, Individualized Service

www.amhomefurnishings.com f &

stop in, call or visit us online today!

The Leawood Chamber A Taste of invites you to the 2014

Leawood

food, wine, music and more

SATURDAY, JUNE 14

7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.

Leawood City Hall, 4800 Town Center Drive, Leawood, KS 66211 Tickets: $70 plus tax in advance • $75 plus tax at the door (if available)

Purchase tickets at LeawoodChamber.org or 913-498-1514 Samplings from 24 area establishments • Music by Souled Out • FREE souvenir wine glass and gift bag (Gift bag has over $150 worth of valuable savings! Must be 21 or older. No rainchecks. Tickets are non-refundable. Rain or shine event.)

PLATINUM SPONSORS {Country Club Bank~ A Taste of

Leawood

Thank you to Standard Beverage Corporation

A Taste of

Leawood

GOLD SPONSORS BMO Harris Bank CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman McCann P.C. Commerce Bank CrossFirst Bank DEMDACO Discover Vision Centers

SILVER SPONSORS Bank of Blue Valley Clawson Benefit Concepts KCP&L McAuley & Crandall, PA Saint Luke’s South Hospital Town Center Crossing UMB Bank Valley View Bank

Gift Bag Sponsor Shawnee Mission Health

Wine Glass Sponsor Town & Country Disposal

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle 71

P

R

O

UD

SPONSORS

The

OF

Market LE

Art & Photography

Art & Frame Warehouse (913) 385-9199 afwkc.com

Automotive

Hendrick Buick GMC Cadillac (816) 942-7100 hendrickbuickgmccadillac.com

Charities & Fundraisers

Heartland Habitat For Humanity-RESTORE (913) 648-6001 heartlandhabitat.org/restore

Child Camps, Care & Tutoring

AW

E OOD LIF

ST

Tide Dry Cleaners (913) 239-8473 tidedrycleaners.com

Y

LE

Financial Services & Planning

Braden Roofing (913) 341-0200 bradenroofing.com

The Barstow School (816) 942-3255 barstowschool.org

Cornerstone Mortgage Inc. (913) 451-9919 cornerstonemortgage.com

Granite Garage Floors (913) 752-9906 granitegaragefloors.com

Entertainment & Recreation

RBC Wealth Management/ Dexter-Morris (913) 451-3500 rbc.com

Handyman USA (913) 534-4715 handymanusa.biz

Education

Gameroom Concepts (913) 322-4263 gameroom-concepts.com Kansas City Royals (816) 504-4159 royals.com/leawood

Health & Wellness

Healthy Meals Inc (816) 587-6325 healthymealsinc.com/40days Ivitality (913) 387-0101 instituteofvitality.com

Phoenix Montessori (913) 217-7256 phoenixmontessori.net

Leawood Chamber of Commerce (Taste Of Leawood) (913) 498-1514 leawoodchamber.org

Home Builders & Remodelers

Just for Her Expo (913) 634-4337 justforherexpo.kc.com

Reno's Power Sports KC (816) 942-8900 renoscanam.com

Home Communities

Stems a Garden Soiree (913) 322-6467 stemssoiree.org

Fashion & Accessories

Meierotto Midwest Jewelers (816) 453-1111 mjewelry.com

Doug Thompson Orthodontics (913) 491-3549 dougthompsonortho.com

Tivol (800) 829-1515 tivol.com

H2O Orthodontics (913) 782-7223 h2orthodontics.com

Todd Reed (303) 442-6280 toddreed.com

Dry Cleaners

VanBrock Jewelry (913) 341-7273 vanbrockjewels.com

Nature's Touch (816) 942-3240 greenearthcleaning.com

72 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

Amber Roofing (816) 994-2556 amberroofingkc.com

Community America cacu.com/high-interest-savings

Kansas City Zoo (816) 513-5800 jazzookc.org

Dentists & Orthodontics

Ten Thousand Villages (913) 642-8368 overlandpark.tenthousandvillages.com

Home Services

College Nannies & Tutors (913) 754-3633 collegenanniesandtutors.com

Community Events & Organizations

Seasonal Concepts (913) 642-4999 seasonalconceptsonline.com

Koenig Building & Restoration (913) 284-623 koenigbuilding.com Falcon Valley (913) 780-9004 falconvalleyhomes.com The Communities at River Ridge (816) 898-5477 riverridgeks.com

Home Design & Furnishings

A&M Home Furnishings (913) 438-3868 amhomefurnishings.com Budget Blinds (913) 402-1600 budgetblinds.com/overlandpark Design Connection Inc. (913) 851-8776 designconnectioninc.com

LuLu & Mimi's Cleaning (913) 649-6022 luluandmimis.com Midwest Lifetime Roof Systems (913) 393-3008 lifetimeroofsystems.com Millennium Painting (913) 915-7503 millenniumpaintingcompany.com MW Lawn & Landscape, Inc. (913) 829-4949 mwlawn.com Tile & Stone Warehouse (913) 432-7900 tileandstonewarehouse.com

Medical Clinics & Facilities

Aesthetistry Med Spa (913) 491-9777 aesthetistrymedspa.com After Hours Pediatrics (913) 825-4700 after-hourspediatrics.com Menorah Medical Center (913) 498-6652 menorahmedicalcenter.com Midwest Anti-Aging (913) 244-4771 midwestanti-agingks.com

Optum Clinic (913) 905-7400 optumclinic.com

Shawnee Mission Medical Center (913) 676-7777 shawneemission.org

Real Estate

Home Rental Services (913) 469-6633 home4rent.com Michael Hagen / Keller Williams Key Partner (913) 710-9659 themichaelhagengroup.com REMAX State Line (913) 312-3620 scottie.remax-midstates.com The Gail G. Dicus Group (913) 709-1060 gaildicus.com

rth

gP anin e l C

rocess

25% Off

All Natural G r ee nE a

Saint Luke's Health System (816) 932-5100 saintlukesweightloass.com

Dry Cleaning

2199

NO Dry Clean Smell

$

Comforter Down Fill Included

13143 State Line Rd. KCMO 816.942.3240

The Kim Yuille Team (913) 558-9533 kimskeytokc.com

Restaurants, Food & Beverage

Ingredient (913) 272-5443 ingredientrestaurant.com Mio Restaurant (913) 685-9646 mio-leawood.com Nothing Bundt Cakes (913) 239-0252 nothingbundtcakes.com/locations/ ks/overlandpark Pie Five Pizza Co. (913) 897-7435 piefivepizza.com

Shopping Centers Town Center Plaza (913) 498-1111 towncenterplaza.com

Overland Park 6872 West 121st Court Overland Park, KS 66209

913.491.3549

Specializing in Aesthetic Treatment Prairie Village

w w w. d o u g t h o m p s o n o r t h o . c o m

8201 Mission Rd. Prairie Village, KS 66208

913.381.4142

Douglas J. Thompson, DDs, ms SPEC A Le I Zc I NiGaI N DON T I Co S Fr Ot R C ILD E Nn AN AD sIp lO i zR TiHnOg in hHo dR o tDi c sU LT S

f o r c h i l d r e n a n d a d u lt s

Overland Park 6872 West 121st Court Overland Park, KS 66209

913.491.3549 Prairie Village

w w w. d o u g t h o m p s o n o r t h o . c o m

8201 Mission Rd. Prairie Village, KS 66208

913.381.4142

May 2014 | Leawood Lifestyle ms 73 Douglas J. Thompson, DDs, S P E C I A L I Z I N G I N O R T H O D O N T I C S F O R C H I L D R E N A N D A D U LT S

Parting Thoughts

Stepping Up to the Plate WORDS RYAN ROSSER

T

he helmet wobbled around my head as I cautiously took my first steps to stand over home base. A not-so-confident 6-year-old, I tapped the plate with my bat, glanced over my shoulder to find my parents, and gulped air.

Across the field stood the enemy. The other team. A group determined to dash my hoped-for success. Their shortstop pulled a pinch of Big Chew and shoved the wad inside his cheeks. He started the chant. Hey batter, batter, batter... SWING! Suddenly, little league didn’t seem so little anymore. Was it too late to quit? Mom could get a refund on my jersey, right? It wasn’t even dirty yet. Then I looked to the pitcher’s mound. A friendly face. My coach.

I breathed relief. I had heard horror stories about kid-pitch baseball.

I kicked a dirt cloud behind my cleats and brought the bat over my shoulder. The coach smiled, and I grimaced in return. He raised his arm and released the ball. It zeroed in on me at breakneck speed. THUD! I dropped the bat and grabbed my shoulder where the ball had struck. My face burned hot with embarrassment, steaming away my tears. The umpire escorted me to first base. The game had just begun and already I longed for the concession stand inning.

Today, I’ve graduated from the little league of childhood to the big league of parenting. My thoughts race as I stare out toward the next few months. Two kids, about to have three. Three kids aged 3 and under. A whole outfield of children. The diapers. The exhaustion. The teething. Oh, the teething! There’s not enough air to swallow.

74 Leawood Lifestyle | May 2014

My daughter is sound asleep; one down. Now time for the older boy. I escort him from the living room to his bedroom. It’s his and his alone for just a little while longer. I tuck him in. He listens to a story and prayer. “Two pray?” he asks as I stand to leave. How can I say no to that?

I pray my regular prayer again, “God, thank you for my children. May they lie down and rest in peace, and know that you alone are their security.” But I hear a taunt chanting in my ear.

Hey daddy, daddy, daddy... SWING! My son’s eyes drowsily close as I continue to pray. His peace is infectious. The future doesn’t look so daunting anymore. I ignore the taunt, kiss my son goodnight, and leave him to his dreams.

I was called up into the majors when I became a dad. No longer just a guy with a great wife. I have a tiny team.

Diapers get filled. Sleep is lost. And teething is a fact of life. But so is stepping up to the plate when it matters most. Sometimes it means taking a few lumps and limping to base. Sometimes it means hitting the homerun and knowing that today—even if just for today—I did it right.

When my kids are older, I’ll tell them about little league. “It’s okay to be afraid when you first step to the plate,” I’ll say, “Because fear is just an opportunity to be courageous.”

And when the time comes for them to swing their own bat at parenting, I’ll pray I coached them well.

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