Northland Lifestyle June 2014

Northland

june 2014

NorthlandLifestyle.com

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The Man

ISSUE

Celebrating the Dads, the Brothers, the Sons and Friends

NEIL WITTE WANTS TO TALK BEER SAKAE SUSHI FATHER AND SON MAKE TASTY ART OWEN RIDDLE A BOY AND HIS HAIR

SERIOUS FUN

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Editor's Letter

The Men and the Boys Dear Readers, I have a confession to make. In the magazine world, we have a bad habit of skewing too heavily to the female readership.

I’m not sure why that is, but it does seem to happen. We are going to make it up to you with this issue. It is the Man issue, and I couldn’t be more excited.

I’ve always been ‘one of the guys’ in my social circle and so it’s with great pleasure that I devote this issue to the manlier sides of things. During the month of June, home of Father’s Day, it seems only fitting that we take a moment to celebrate the men and the boys becoming men in our lives.

june 2014 editor Rachel C. Murphy | RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com

contributing writers Lisa Allen, Connie “Crash” Humiston, Kendra Matthewson, Suzette Zara, Nick Bromberg, Katherine Bontrager

contributing photographers Joel Schneider, Lani Odell, Mallorie McKernan, Charles Welborn, CW Video & Photo, Britt Ernst, Tracy Spisak

advertising sales Annie Jennings | AJennings@LifestylePubs.com Heather Getz | HGetz@LifestylePubs.com

Owen Riddle is a perfect example. This young man decided that he wanted to donate his hair to cancer patients. It took two years but this young boy was willing to look like a girl to help someone going through a tough time. That sort of character is a promising look into the future of this young man. I hope that he continues to make courageous choices.

Nick Bromberg is a personal friend of mine and has the job that I know so many men covet: sports writer. He took his childhood love of racing and has turned it into a career. Along the way, he learned to help others find the fitness they crave and now has career fulfillment on two fronts.

copy editor | Kendra Mathewson Published monthly, subscriptions are also available for $22 for 1 year, $39 for 2 years by visiting NorthlandLifestyle.com

corporate team chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt chief sales officer | Matthew Perry regional director | Michael Arel, marel@lifestylepubs.com chief financial officer | DeLand Shore

And then there’s Neil Witte, master cicerone and just one of the nicest guys that you will ever meet. This Kansas City North resident has taken a love of beer and turned it into a study, a science and a passion and he’s happy to share his knowledge with whoever seeks it.

This issue is in honor of all the men that seek their dreams, take care of their families and put others first. It’s for the dads, brothers, sons and friends that make the world a better place. Thank you and keep on fighting the good fight!

national editor | Lisa Cooke Harrison director of marketing | Brad Broockerd national art director | Carrie Brophy advertising director | Mike Baugher production director | Christina Sandberg regional art director | Sara Minor ad coordinator | Cyndi Vreeland national copy editor | Kendra Mathewson

Cheers,

executive assistant | Lori Cunningham application architect | Michael O’Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide

Rachel Murphy, Editor RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com

by Community ™

Proverbs 3:5-6 Contact us at:

ON THE COVER Cindy Hauetter and Keith Monroe took a bad situation join us talk to us (termites and drought) and turned it into a stunning new front landscape opportunity, channeling Aspen on the banks of Lake Waukomis. Find out how on Page 24. | NorthlandLifestyle.com | Photography by Joel Schneider.

7373 West 107th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 913.599.4300 | NorthlandLifestyle.com Northland Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of North Kansas City’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 Northland Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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June 2014

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Departments 10

Good Times

16

Around Town

20 Star Student 24

Open House

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Hot Spot

40 Parent’s Corner 42 Locally Owned 44 Page Turners 46 Giving Back 48 Your Neighbor

24 Keith Monroe and Cindy Hauetter

Welcome You Home

Alpine landscape changes the feeling of their home.

51

Sold Properties

52

Lifestyle Calendar

58

Parting Thoughts

30 Red X: the Antique and the Unique

EH Young’s legacy lives on through his son and his store.

32 Neil Witte Knows Beer

Master Cicerone calls KC home.

24

30

38

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Good Times

Sell-Out Crowd at Annual WCT Fundraiser More than 100 attendees made this year’s fundraiser at Eventful at Locust Grove for Weston Community Theatre its most successful to date. Guests enjoyed selections from the upcoming season, past seasons and a live auction. WCTShows.org.

10 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

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Good Times

Shoal Creek Cleanup with Wild Birds Unlimited After a delay for bad weather, Maggie’s Stream Team from Wild Birds Unlimited in Liberty helped make Shoal Creek more beautiful by removing more than 42 bags of trash and litter on May 3.

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BUFFALO RIVER GALLERY OPENS IN PARKVILLE

PARK UNIVERSITY CELLIST WINS 2014 NAFTZGER YOUNG ARTIST AUDITIONS Mansur Kadirov, a senior applied music/cello major at Park University’s International Center for Music, won first prize at the 2014 Naftzger Young Artists Auditions, held March 21-22 in Wichita, Kan. Kadirov, from Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and a student of Daniel Veis, visiting assistant professor of music/cello at Park University, was selected from eight finalists in a public recital, concluding two days of competition. His winning performance, which garnered a $5,000 prize, consisted of music selections by Robert Schumann and Sergei Rachmaninoff. Sixty-seven student musicians entered the competition. During the first round, contestants competed within their given divisions, vying for the March 22 finals.

This year marked the 74th Naftzger Young Artist Auditions since the competition’s inception in 1940. The competition — made possible by the Naftzger Fund for Fine Arts Inc. and administered by the Wichita Symphony Society — is open to residents of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma regardless of their school or study, and non-residents enrolled at a college, university or conservatory in Kansas, Oklahoma or Missouri.

KANSAS CITY AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM PLANS FATHER’S DAY OPENING In 2011 a group of car enthusiasts decided to create a unique venue for Kansas Citians to celebrate all things automotive. This venue later evolved into the concept for the Kansas City Automotive Museum. Three years and four awards later, the Museum opened its doors to its interim Museum for a preview on May 9 with a grand opening set for Father's Day weekend.

The KCAM features around 30 cars in a 12,000-square-foot rotating display space. The Museum also highlights significant Kansas City automotive history such as 1965 Le Mans winner Masten Gregory (the "Kansas City Flash"), the Ford Winchester Plant, Greenlease Cadillac and many more. Along with the rich automotive history on display, KCAM also has many interactive spaces like the Fairyland 16 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

Buffalo River Gallery, originally established in Paola, Kan., opened a second location in Parkville earlier in March, with a gallery on one side of the building and studio spaces to artists on the other side of the building. They offer a wide range of art, photography, antiques, gifts and jewelry that not only appeal to many different tastes, but also accomodates every price range from $1 - $11,000.

Buffalo River Gallery features high quality Realism/Representational artwork representing artists from all over the United States and also the world, leaning toward but not exclusive of, a Western look. They have top quality artists and continue to add more - some also are local to the Kansas City metro area and the Flint Hills.

Heidi Bacon and her husband Russell own the gallery; both are artists. The gallery aims to be ‘artist friendly.’ For more information, visit us at Facebook.com/BuffaloRiver.Arts.

NORTHLAND KANSAS CITY BUSINESS HONORED

BY DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Missouri Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), an Office of the Department of Defense recently announced that Jill and Jerry Hickey, owners of Express Employment Professionals in North Kansas City were honored with a Patriot Award in recognition of extraordinary support of its employees who serve in the Missouri National Guard and Reserve.

According to the service member, Sergeant Clinton Bradley, who is with the Army National Guard out of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Jill and Jerry Hickey have been instrumental in the North Kansas City area by providing career opportunities to Guard and Reserve members. Their full service support staffing agency takes pride in making sure the area employers they serve support the men and women who serve our country. They lead the industry in providing advocacy and support to the Guard and Reserve.

They will also sign a Statement of Support and post the document where everyone can see it.

For more information, visit ESGR.mil or NorthlandKCMo.ExpressPros.com.

EDWARD JONES TO OPEN OFFICE IN BRIARCLIFF Ryan Springer of the financial services firm Edward Jones opened a new office at 1300 NW Briarcliff Parkway, Ste 140. Springer has 15 years of experience in the financial services industry. The new office opened for business on March 13.

Jim Weddle, managing partner of the St. Louis-based financial services firm, says the firm wants to extend its reputation for unparalleled client service to Northland, which is why Ryan is opening the office.

"Ryan has proved that he possesses the characteristics we want in our Edward Jones financial advisors," Weddle says. "Ryan

knows how to help clients invest to help meet their financial goals, and he has the dedication and enthusiasm it takes to do the job right. We are confident that Ryan will continue his exceptional record in the Northland."

Ryan says he is excited to be opening a new office for a firm that has built a reputation on serving individual investors.

AVON MEGA-STORE EXPANDS TO ZONA ROSA Avon-loving women in the metro can get their Avon in a local store on both sides of the state line now. For nine years ladies have bought their Avon from an Overland Park, Kan., location – the No. 1 Avon store in the nation. The owner, Elizabeth Demas, opened a second Avon Mega Store in Zona Rosa this month.

Demas attributes her success to following the brochure sales exactly.

"What you see in the brochure is what you get in the stores – plus testers, helpful staff and the instant gratification of taking what you want home that day. And now we plan to continue with the shoppers on the Missouri side," says Demas.

NORTHLAND YOUTH WITH VISION ATTENDS SPEAK HARD CONFERENCE Local Youth With Vision members from Clay, Platte and Ray counties were among the 385 Missouri youth who gathered in Jefferson City for the 10th annual Speak Hard Youth Conference held March 26.

Missouri’s Youth/Adult Alliance (MYAA) hosted the event.

Speak Hard is designed to give young advocates the opportunity to learn about underage drinking, substance abuse and prevention.

The Missouri Division of Behavioral Health sponsored the event.

This year it featured a keynote presentation by motivational speaker Heather Schultz. Morning breakout sessions focused on marijuana, underage drinking, suicide prevention, drug trends, and tobacco and medication abuse. Afterwards, participants learned how to effectively use social media in youth advocacy efforts, and applauded eight youth who were each honored with MYAA's Outstanding Youth Award. The event concluded with a follow-up visit to the legislators representing the Northland.

For more information about Youth With Vision email reshanap@ tri-countymhs.org.

ART OF THE CAR CONCOURS The Eighth Annual Art of the Car Concours for vintage cars, motorcycles and pedal cars will be June 22, at the Kansas City Art Institute, 4415 Warwick Blvd., Kansas City. Proceeds go the Kansas City Art Institute Scholarship Fund.

This event, featuring 200 vehicles from 12 states and 74 cities, has grown to be one of the most prestigious car shows in the Midwest. A select group of historically significant hot rods, including the iconic Doane Spencer ’32 Ford roadster from California, will be the special feature this year. On June 21, at 2 p.m., noted historian Ken Gross and hot rod icon Pete Chapouris, the

president of So-Cal Speed Shop, will be speakers at the Meet the Legends panel discussion.

The concours is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $18 in advance or $20 at the door. Children under 15 are free. For more information or online ticket sales visit ArtOfTheCarConcours.com.

MERITAS HEALTH ADDS ALLERGY SERVICES Meritas Health ENT has added allergy testing and immunotherapy services to its already extensive services offered to patients at 9411 N. Oak Trafficway, Suite 202, Kansas City, Mo. The new allergy services include scratch testing and custom-formulated immunotherapy, an FDA approved method for desensitizing allergies over time that has been proven to effectively alleviate allergy symptoms for life.

Patients who suffer from seasonal allergies can be tested at Meritas Health ENT for the 48 most geographically specific mold and airborne allergens in the area. The medications, called allergy immunotherapy, are then custom-formulated based on the allergy test results and help desensitize patients to many of the pollens, molds and other triggers that cause symptoms. This desensitization therapy can allow patients to be around those allergens without having an allergic reaction such as sneezing, coughing, runny nose, itchy and watery eyes, congestion, sleepiness, headache and nausea. Adults and children over the age of ten can be tested for allergies.

For more information please call Meritas Health ENT at 816.468.8820.

TRI-COUNTY OLDER ADULT COORDINATOR EARNS NATIONAL HONOR Tri-County Mental Health Services Older Adult Outreach Coordinator Emily Roper-Parsons has been named to the National Council On Aging Falls Free Hall of Fame for her efforts to educate the community about fall injuries among older adults.

Roper-Parsons was honored for her work building a website, SeniorFallsPrevention.org, and a related Facebook page. The site promotes the Senior Falls Prevention Coalition of Clay and Platte Counties, which works to reduce falls by older adults through awareness, education and access to resources.

The Senior Falls Prevention Coalition of Clay and Platte Counties was also recognized for a research project with the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Nursing and Health Studies. The June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 17

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Around Town team worked with adults over the age of 65 who were not involved in any type of strength training program to determine how to best improve their strength and reduce accidents. Their research has been selected for publication in Nursing Research.

Roper-Parsons chairs the coalition’s Outreach Committee. For more information, call Tri-County at 816.468.0400 or visit Tri-CountyMHS.org.

SUPER KIDS SAVE THE WORLD! It's the power to turn an old tablecloth into a superhero cape and the ability to repair something instead of throwing it away after a crash, boom, bam. It's ordinary kids making a difference. It's Super Kids Save the World, a complimentary exhibit open now until September 7 in the Crown Center Shops Showplace.

Super Kids Save the World is based on the British children's book, George Saves the World by Lunchtime, written by Jo Readman and illustrated by Ley Honor Roberts.

Developed by the Eden Project, an educational charity dedicated to showing the importance of taking care of our world, this book features an ordinary family, who in the course of their day save the world simply by making responsible choices.

Super Kids Save the World is a handson traveling exhibit created by The Magic House, St. Louis Children's Museum in partnership with the Crawford Taylor Foundation and Enterprise Rent-A-Car that gives kids (and their parents) the power to go green!

For more information about Super Kids Save the World, please call 816.274.8444, or visit CrownCenter.com.

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June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 19

Star Student

A Real Man TEN-YEAR-OLD OWEN RIDDLE GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO SERVE OTHERS ARTICLE KENDRA MATHEWSON | PHOTOGRAPHY LANI ODELL, TRACY SPISAK OF GALLERY PORTRAITURE

W

hen someone cut Samson’s long locks (in the Bible story), the iconic figure of manliness lost his great power and strength, and a hero fell. Not so with 10-year-old Owen Riddle. When someone cut Owen’s long hair recently, the young man showed great strength of character, and a hero was born.

Almost two years ago, the then-8-year-old first grader at Oakhill Day School decided to grow out his hair to give away to help women fighting cancer. What on earth makes a young boy want to do such a thing? He had no family or friends who had had cancer.

“He got his inspiration at school where a librarian had grown her hair out and cut it to donate,” explains his mom, Carlissa. “Owen thought that was very impressive.” He made the decision after seeing that teacher’s act.

“I thought I should do it, too,” he says. “It takes so long to do that, and she cut it in front of the whole school. Usually you just cut it and take it to the salon. I thought it was cool you could do that.”

So did his parents, though initially they had reservations about the logistics. Eight year olds aren’t normally known for being patient, but Owen was not a “normal” first grader; the heart of a servant leader is already present in this elementary school boy.

“He has just always been a helpful child,” says Carlissa. “He is always wanting to help his teachers, always willing to do extra work if it’s

needed, always wanting to engage in more adult conversations.” They were surprised he wanted to grow his hair long, and talked to him about the process.

“We gently tried to make sure he understood what was involved,” says Carlissa. “We asked him, ‘Do you understand this is going to take a long time for you to grow your hair out? It will be harder to take care of, get tangles…’ That didn’t matter to him. It was the final process and the outcome that was more important to him and he was willing to accept those challenges.” Ultimately, his parents saw the amazing heart of their kid and supported him.

“As a parent how do you tell your child who has a request like that, ‘no,’ even if he is a boy,” says Carlissa. “Once we saw his desire to make a difference in someone else’s life, we were both very supportive through the whole process.”

The 19-month journey involved the hair management challenges the Riddles predicted, especially with Owen’s thick hair—tangles and trying to control the “poof”—but nothing deterred him. Though he plays sports like cross-country and basketball, Owen never wanted to tie it back, which contributed to another challenge: sometimes being confused for a girl. At first it bothered Owen a bit but those awkward times turned into special moments.

“It became a little game with our family to watch the reaction of the CONTINUED >

20 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

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Star Student

(CONTINUED)

person who was confused,” explains Carlissa. “When they learned it was a boy growing his hair out for charity, they’d always end up saying, ‘What an awesome story, what an awesome kid.’” Owen’s dad, Jeff, was as much involved as his mom with the combing, brushing, washing and taking care of Owen’s hair and Carlissa says he was a proud papa when explaining what his son was doing.

In April of this year, Owen cut about 12” (four more than the program minimum). His always-supportive school allowed him to showcase the cutting as part of their regular Tuesday Town Meeting pep rallies so that everyone could share in the experience. It became a media event much greater than the Riddles anticipated.

Sitting in the spotlight, Owen felt determined.

“I was like, ‘Ok this is it! I’m going to do it. No turning back now,” he says.

The unique thing about a boy growing out his hair for this purpose is that the process involves making six or seven ponytails near the scalp, whereas when a girl grows out her hair usually one ponytail is made. Owen chose to walk around school with crazy hair for awhile to celebrate what he’d done. His mom thinks the experience has had a huge impact on him.

“In the end, losing all his hair increased his appreciation for what he’s done for someone else. He learned life lessons along the way and has become a better person for it,” she says. He has all the ingredients of a real man, and a hero.

Owen, his brother, Cooper, and his mom and dad have all lived in the Northland their whole lives. Carlissa and Jeff graduated from Oak Park High School. Carlissa works in the financial services industry and Jeff for the family business, Gladstone Auto Trim.

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Open House

Bringing the Mountains Home CINDY HAUETTER AND KEITH MONROE CREATE THEIR OWN RANGE ARTICLE RACHEL C. MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY JOEL SCHNEIDER

T

here’s a mish-mash of styles in the quaint enclave of Lake Waukomis.

Generations of families rotate through the idyllic neighborhood and give it the feeling of a place where a block party or barbeque could break out at any moment.

Even with this diversity, it’s a pleasant surprise to round one corner and find the alpine-inspired lawnscape that Keith Monroe and Cindy Hauetter developed in partnership with Rock and Wall Landscape after a series of unfortunate events.

The summer draught of two years ago decimated the front lawn, leaving a blank canvas to work with. At the same time, they found extensive termite damage to the front of the house. As they pulled wood off of the front of the home to replace it with a stone façade, they found

24 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

that the termites had reduced the foundational beams to toothpicks in places.

With a need to renovate instead of a want to renovate, they dove in headfirst. They had to tear off much more of the front of the house than originally intended, jacking it up to properly support it and replace the main wooden beam with one made of steel. Cindy says that it was truly a blessing in disguise.

“If we hadn’t found it when we did, it would have been a much more costly process, since the whole front of the house could have fallen in!” says Cindy.

With support from Cindy’s brother-in-law and sweat equity from Keith, the house now resembles a mountain lodge with placed stones and a rich redwood hue on the front, that seamlessly blends with their new front lawn, which came next.

“After the drought killed all the grass, I just figured it would be nice to replace it with something that I would never have to worry about maintaining,” says Cindy.

To take the next steps, they hired Elliott McCalley, owner of Rock and Wall Landscape, and more or less let his creativity take the lead.

“I didn’t want anything normal or traditional,” says Cindy.

“I told him that I wanted everything not square. I showed him around the house and he got ideas from inside the house and the front wall. I’m a designer and I could never come up with this. I originally just wanted a water fountain.” Keith explains how their thinking took a turn after consulting with Rock and Wall Landscape.

“We were just thinking of a bubbling boulder up at the top of the yard. Elliott talked us out of the bubbling boulder and into the creek and extending the creek all the way down to the curb,” says Keith. “And it was the same cost, but the impact was so much more striking.”

The design that McCalley came up with created a stream that flows from the front steps all the way down to the street. A pump recycles the water that is held in a tank at the bottom of the creek. The water supply is supplemented by rainfall as well.

CONTINUED >

June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 25

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With mulch, stone and water working together, the visual effect is stunning and perfectly flows into the front of the home.

In fact, a small seating area at the top connects the living area and the landscape.

Broad, asymmetrical slate steps lead to the seating area and front door. McCalley took Cindy’s desire for ‘not square’ to heart and created a landscape that looks like it was hewn by water over time. Strategic lighting under the steps and retaining wall and within the landscape ensures that the space can be enjoyed at all times.

In addition to the aesthetic effects, the installation affords them the opportunity for an additional parking space, created with pavers at the end of the creek bed and retaining wall. With such limited parking at Lake Waukomis, this is a huge win for the couple.

Rock and Wall Landscape spent most of last summer completely revamping the lawn, incorporating everything that Cindy and Keith wanted. To extend the Colorado vibe, a group of aspens stands at one side. Although Cindy didn’t want any plants at all originally, McCalley persuaded her to incorporate some low maintenance shrubs, trees and succulents to add visual interest. Keith has taken point on watering, which he has enjoyed.

The couple has added additional rock to the design as well. Small, artfully placed piles of stone echo the pylons that can be found along so many mountainside hiking trails. Keith says that placing the stones and watering the plants has been

a meditation of sorts. He worked with Elliott to choose the plants that give the most authentic feeling for the project.

Keith and Cindy both say that their decision to do something different was the right one and couldn’t be happier with their choice to consult Rock and Wall Landscape on the project.

“Elliott’s work and the work ethic of his crew have just been outstanding. He saw something here that I never would have and I love the outcome,” says Cindy.

And sometimes, choosing something different affords neighbors the opportunity to get to know each other as well as Keith explains.

“It’s just such a joy to see people round the corner and stop,” he says. “We did it for the lake, too. People here walk their dogs, and run and ride bikes. We’ve met more people on the lake because of this than any other encounter than we could have otherwise. And the people that we’ve met are observant and cool and want to chat. It’s a lot of fun.”

For Keith and Cindy, their Alpine experiment is an overwhelming success.

They enjoy the landscape of the mountains combined with the leisurely vibe of the lake.

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HOMEGROWN AND BUILT TO LAST:

The Legacy of Riverside Red X E.H. Young’s dream survives through his son.

ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY LANI ODELL

I

have a confession to make: I’ve lived in Kansas City for more than ten years, but until this past month I’d never shopped at Riverside Red X. Thank goodness I’ve redeemed myself.

Riverside Red X is a Northland institution. Born of the determination and vision of E.H. Young and now run by his son Zeke, the business is a mix of grocery store, wine shop, humidor, hardware store and museum under one roof.

A truck driver for Curtis Candy Company in the early 1940s, E.H. Young paid close attention to the stores along his route. It was at Research Hospital, while visiting his mother, that he met a registered nurse named Phinny. Eventually they married. In 1948 he and Phinny opened a filling station. Gas was only 17 cents per gallon then, says Zeke, and the ensuing gas wars meant that everyone who filled up also got their windows washed and oil checked. E.H. also sold cigarettes and a few grocery staples.

30 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

Zeke says his dad started with only $150 in inventory. His grit and visionary business sense led him to park a cooler outside, filled with milk and bread, before the concept of convenience stores had become a reality.

“Dad would do all types of things to draw business that just wouldn’t fly these days,” Zeke says. “He had monkeys and parrots out in front of the store. He was always trying to be different.” His business plan was to sell his products at rock bottom prices, and put the profits back into expansion.

That plan took him from filling station to a building with more than 90,000 square feet.

“Dad said he never had ‘grand openings’,” says Zeke. “Instead, he had what he called grand closings. The floods of 1951 and 1952 flooded the store but the apartment above survived. There was a fire in 1957; a stocker in the back room knocked over a kerosene lantern. He tried to put out the fire, but it was too late. We were

living across the street, and I remember sitting on the porch and watching it burn down. There were seven fire companies there, and the loss topped half a million dollars. But dad built again.”

Then there was the flood of 1993. Zeke was a teacher then, and visiting for a few weeks when he stopped in to see his dad and help at the store. Though the flood was over and the water had receded, Zeke pitched in and helped stack sandbags around the store. E.H. was resting on a church pew that sat outside the store.

“Dad was in his eighties,” says Zeke, “but when I asked him what he’d do if the flood wiped out the store he said that the people who worked here needed their jobs, and that he’d build again if he needed to.”

The store is still expanding today. Now it boasts a wine club and what Zeke calls a Sea of Wine; with more than 4,000 choices that include some hard-to-find varietals, the liquor consultants stay busy answering questions from what pairs best with certain foods to whether or not there’s a version of a favorite white in a red.

There’s also a wine club. A yearly fee entitles members to three hand-selected bottles each month, a discount card worth 5 percnet off every wine purchase (with the exception of sale items) and invitations to Members Only tastings and events. Dick Vermeil was a recent draw; he joined members for a special tasting and discussion.

“Dad built this business by always thinking ahead and adapting to what his customers needed and wanted,” says Zeke.

“We’re still doing that today.”

The wine club is one example, but there’s also the fact that Riverside Red X sells more than 500 types of beer as well as electronic cigarettes and hand-rolled cigars. Zeke is also looking into stocking more organic and gluten-free grocery options to accommodate customer requests.

“We try to provide what our customers most need. We recently brought the pharmacy back; it’s run by Josie Phillips of Phillips Family Pharmacy.”

Zeke assumed the reins when his father passed away in 1999. After working at the store as a kid, Zeke moved on to college

and spent 29 years in education before taking his place at Riverside Red X. “So many people were loyal to dad, and I felt an obligation to them,” Zeke says. “I felt very confident with the employees and their abilities. I still run the fireworks tent, and what I can tell you is that the store and school are very much the same. It all comes down to connecting with people.”

Zeke says his dad was a mathematical whiz, and that he passed three grades in one day; not because of his academic prowess, but because he couldn’t get his knees under the desks in the classrooms.

Though gifted in math he missed out on phonics and spelling, and eventually turned down an offer to run track at Louisiana State University.

“He didn’t think he could handle the academics,” says Zeke, “but look at what a difference he made here.”

Zeke’s referring to E.H’s contributions to the Kansas City community, specifically to Riverside. It was E.H., along with Vic Panus and Ferd Filger, who convinced the mayor of Parkville to not annex Riverside.

They went on to keep Kansas City from annexing Riverside. E.H. went on to serve

as alderman and then as mayor of Riverside for four years.

E.H. established the first Riverside park fund with a $5,000 donation, and donated the 40-acre tract of land that is now home to the E.H. Young Riverfront park. Zeke jokes that his dad owned the land there because he loved the buffet at the Argosy.

E.H. was passionate about collecting antiques. Though many of his beloved bells didn’t survive the flood in 1993, most of his collection is still on display at Riverside Red X, along with the glass eyeballs, eagles and cars.

“To say that the store is unique is an understatement,” says Zeke. “You’ll just have to come in and take a look, and then you’ll see why our saying is ‘the store to explore’.”

Learn more about Riverside Red X at RiversideRedX.com.

June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 31

NEIL WITTE:

When Beer Becomes a Passion MASTER CICERONE AND TRAINING SUPERVISOR FOR BOULEVARD LOVES HIS WORK. ARTICLE RACHEL C. MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY MALLORIE MCKERNAN

B

eer. For most people, it’s delicious, but it’s merely a beverage.

Then there are those that want to make their own and their fascination deepens. Then you have Neil Witte, the training and technical support manager for the sales team for local favorite, Boulevard Brewing Company. He is a man that can justifiably put the word ‘master’ behind his name.

Master cicerone, that is. The cicerone is the beer world’s answer to a sommelier. The certification, administered by The Craft Beer Institute, is the gold standard of beer knowledge.

While there are more than 1,000 certified cicerones in the world, there are seven master cicerones. That’s right, seven. And Neil Witte is one of them.

“The second level is a four hour exam. It’s comprehensive and it’s a difficult exam, no matter who you are. The Master level is just kind of almost the test for people who are super 32 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

obsessive about it,” he says with a laugh. “There are some tasks that I really feel like I need to see through to completion and that was one of them. It required a level of obsessiveness that not many people have, but that’s what it takes. I talk about beer all day and then I go home and read more about it at night. I’m just passionate about beer.”

It was a five-year process for Witte. He took the test three times before passing. He says that there was a point where he just realized that he hadn’t drunk enough beer. The exam takes two days, with all essays required for the written portion, four extended tasting portions and four oral exams. By the time you’re done, one would imagine you would need a beer.

Witte started as a brewer at Boulevard Brewing Company in 1997. After three years, owner and operator John McDonald created the field quality position. At that time, quality issues de-

manded attention, especially in draft beer, as systems in bars had not caught up to the quality level of the product that they were pouring. Witte was hoping to help that.

“Fifteen years ago, there was a real need for education when it came to line cleaning and quality issues,” says Witte. “There still is, but it’s become much better over the years. There’s still a need for field quality testing.”

Since the wild-west days of field-testing, Witte’s role at Boulevard, now owned by Duvel Moortgot, has morphed more into training the people that are in the field. After our interview, he was on to a two-day trip to train sales managers on the new products from Duvel Moortgot, such as the Ommegang beers and Duvel itself.

After that, he was off to Belgium for 10 days, making his way around the Duvel holdings in their home country. As far as work trips go, this is certainly not one of the worst.

All this is the culmination of a journey that began when Witte finished college at MU. He had just returned from a semester abroad in Germany and had fallen in love with the diversity of styles available. He began home brewing.

“I was alright at it. Not great, but good enough that I got the attention of my friends. I worked at a little hippie shop in Columbia and I convinced them to start offering home brewing supplies,” he says.

A foray into wine making cemented his path. A friend from college was the head wine-maker at Les Bourgeois winery in Rocheport, Mo. and invited him to grape crush and let him learn the ropes. In what Witte describes as, ‘the assistant to the assistant’s assistant,’ he learned bottling, the wine making process and the front of house side of the business as a bartender in the tasting room.

It was through this connection that he started with KC Hopps.

The restaurant group, which at the time featured 75th Street Brewery and the then brand new McCoy’s Public House, hired him as the assistant brewer at McCoy’s, where he got even more hands on experience. He bounced around the KC Hopps family, brewing at several different concepts over the course of a year.

At the end of this time, he moved onto Boulevard, where he is today.

With the recent sale of Boulevard to Duvel Moortgot, Witte is optimistic for the future of the company and the potential to learn more and expand the reach of the Boulevard brand. Duvel has been very supportive of the individual brewery identities and Witte is excited to use the new resources to bring the beer that he’s loved for so long to the unitiated.

Witte is not only a beer expert and aficionado, he’s also a devoted father.

He lives in Kansas City North to take advantage of the great Liberty schools for his three children, aged 16, 11 and 9. He has his kids half of the time and balancing his time with his kids and his travel schedule with Boulevard is a challenge, but his parents offer great support.

In his free time, such as it is, he enjoys playing racquetball. He also just purchased a drum set, which he is teaching his son to play. And of course, there’s always more beer to taste.

If Witte is going to sit down for a beer at the Boulevard tasting room, he looks for the new releases, but his go-to beer is Boulevard Pale Ale. He also collects new beers from his travels, always looking for something new and fresh.

In the Northland, he enjoys Conrad’s Steakhouse and Rock and Run Brewery in Liberty. For someone with his level of skill, that’s a high recommendation indeed.

June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 33

DRESSING TO IMPRESS, DRESSING FOR SUCCESS Arriving appropriately attired is important as ever, but more nuanced dress codes may have you feeling “naked.”

ARTICLE KATHERINE BONTRAGER

I

opened the invitation excitedly, then turned to my husband and asked quizzically, “The invite says Country Club Casual. What exactly does that mean?”

“It’s like Business Casual, right?” he responded.

“I don’t think so,” I answered. “Otherwise it would have said Business Casual.”

Remember when there were three easy-to-discern dress codes?

You had Casual, Business, and Black or White Tie. Now the list is more nuanced, more confusing, and includes the likes of: Casual, Dressy Casual/Country Club Casual, Business Casual, Business Formal, Semiformal, Black Tie Optional, Creative Black Tie, Black Tie, and— whew!—White Tie. Confused yet? You’re not alone. And while men have decidedly fewer dress options than their female counterparts, this also

34 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

means they have fewer excuses when they turn up inadequately attired. And what you wear does matter.

“Unfortunately, the public’s ability to decipher and follow dress codes has gotten out of hand,” says Janis Kliethermes of Etiquette Kansas City. “Is it because they don’t know? Or is it an entitlement attitude? You don’t want to be confused with one of those people.”

Kliethermes is often hired to speak to professional groups and corporations about proper etiquette and attire—virtues that she sees as sadly slipping in today’s society.

And while some would scoff and claim appropriate attire is an outmoded concern, Kliethermes believes otherwise. Should you show up underdressed, two things can happen, she says.

“You’re either going to walk in, realize you’re underdressed, and you’re going to lose your confidence. You’re going to feel awkward and ill-at-ease, and when you meet people and con-

verse with them, your lack of confidence will come through.”

“Or, on the other hand, if it doesn’t bother you, it sends an entirely different message to others—it shows a lack of respect,” Kliethermes continues. “I’ve been to very dressy affairs (which were clearly stated ahead of time as such) and there’s the guy who refuses to conform, and he’s wearing his same jeans and polo shirt and not caring. And it shows a lack of consideration for the person or event.”

So what is the most easily confused of the dress codes? Kliethermes says that it’s Business Casual.

It’s used both in the corporate world and in social gatherings, and it’s for this reason she’s constantly hired by companies to help workers clarify what’s okay to wear—and what’s not.

“In the workplace, if you don’t know, ask,” she advises. “Different things can mean different things to different people. I ask companies if they their dress code is in writing, and most don’t. It says, ‘Wear what is appropriate,’ but that’s different to someone in their 20s and to someone in their 50s. However, know that technically, Business Casual is one step down from Business Attire—not a whole flight of steps. Business Attire is a suit, so one step down means that Business Casual entails slacks and a sports coat, minus the tie.”

“And Country Club Casual or Dressy Casual for men is the same as Business Casual—a dress shirt and a sports coat and slacks,” adds Kliethermes.

But when in doubt, this key to dress codes remains: It’s always safer to be over dressed than under dressed. “Doing so speaks volumes about yourself and your respect for others,” Kliethermes says.

CHEAT SHEET

Here’s a cheat sheet to keep tucked away in your wardrobe, gentleman, thanks to the ever-proper Emily Post. white tie

Black tailcoat, matching trousers with a single stripe of satin or braid, white piqué wing-collared shirt with stiff front, white vest, white-colored (e.g., mother of pearl) studs and cufflinks, white bow tie, white or gray gloves, black patent shoes and black dress socks

black tie

Black tuxedo jacket and matching trousers with a formal white shirt and a black bow tie and cummerbund, black-colored studs and cufflinks, black patent shoes and black dress sock

creative black tie

Tuxedo paired with a trendy or whimsical bow tie, cummerbund, or other element

black tie optional

Either a tuxedo or dark suit, white shirt, and conservative tie along with dressy leather shoes and dark dress socks

semiformal and business formal

Dark business suit (matching vest optional), dress shirt, conservative tie, dressy leather shoes and dark dress socks

business casual

Seasonal sport coat or blazer with slacks or khakis, dress shirt (either open collar or with optional tie) or casual button-down shirt or polo shirt, loafers and socks

dressy casual or country club casual

Seasonal sport coat or blazer with slacks, casual button-down dress shirt (with optional tie) or polo shirt, loafers and socks

casual

Khakis, nice jeans (no holes), or Bermuda shorts (depending on the occasion and climate), polo shirt, casual button-down shirt or sweater, and loafers or nice sandals

June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 35

Hot Spot

Sakae Sushi Brings Art to the Plate FATHER AND SON TEAM UP FOR DELICIOUS COLLABORATIONS ARTICLE RACHEL C. MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY BRITT ERNST

T

here is a belief that good sushi is impossible in a land-locked state like Missouri. If I were to believe such a fable, then I could see it being extended to most suburban sushi joints. Sakae Sushi, the five-month-old venture by father and son Sam and Peter Hoang, blows that misconception out of the proverbial water.

The restaurant, located in the Parkville Commons at 6325 Lewis St. Suite #100, is a welcome change from so many dingy Asian cuisine dining rooms. Walking in, visitors experience an open, airy room decorated tastefully with minimal kitsch. The Hoangs, whom many will recognize from Wasahi Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar, have years of experience under their belts. After selling Wasahi a little bit ago, they wanted to focus on the sushi side of the business with Sakae.

My first experience at Sakae was with a group of friends on a

38 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

Monday evening. We had the dining room to ourselves the entirety of the time. This is something I would expect to change once word gets out about this place. We started with a carafe of sake, which is not traditionally drunk with sushi as it is a rice wine with a ricebased dish, but my nagging cold would accept nothing less. Served hot or cold, they have several options to choose from.

At our table of six, we tried roughly two thirds of the menu, or at least that’s how it looked when our platters came out. They offer an extensive list of signature rolls in addition to traditional makimono, nigiri and sashimi.

Japanese food, and sushi specifically, is as much about visual composition as it is about flavor. Each plate comes out perfectly composed, complete with orchids and piles of ethereally spiral cut vegetable threads.

Before your mouth can agree, your eyes are already pleased.

My husband is gun-shy on the raw fish front. Conveniently, they have plenty of rolls with cooked fish, often with fusion twists. We tried the Hamachi Jalapeño ($12) which featured a slice of fresh jalapeño on each piece of spicy yellowtail tuna with avocado and a yuzu ponzu sauce. The spice was definitely there, but was balanced out by the cool, creamy avocado.

The next roll we tried was the Black Widow ($13) with soft shell crab, spicy kani (imitation crab), asparagus and avocado. The pleasant crunch of the deep fried crab was the perfect accompaniment to the spring flavors of asparagus. And the legs sticking out of the end pieces were enough to delight any adventurous eater.

I’m no sushi novice and have never felt that heat was needed for a meal, so I indulged in one of the sashimi options. The Sizzling Salmon ($10) featured Scottish salmon drizzled with chili oil, a bit of yuzu ponzu, scallions and sesame seeds. I could have eaten two platters of the perfectly seasoned salmon. The chili oil added just the right amount of heat.

For those that aren’t a fan of fish, they offer an entire hot menu as well, featuring dishes like basil salmon, NY strip steak, teriyaki chicken, or soba or udon noodles. I’m a sucker for good soba, so I’m sure I’ll be back to try them soon.

On a later visit, my husband and I tried the lunch special. If you’re looking for bang for your buck served quickly, this is the spot. The Bento Lunch Box ($11) features a hot item, sushi roll and an appetizer, plus your choice of miso soup or salad. There is also a sushi only option, also with soup or salad. Starting at $8, you can build any combination of rolls and nigiri pieces up to three rolls, or a sushi/sashimi combination for $15. I warn you though, prepare to take a siesta after gorging on this much delicious sushi at lunch time.

Our bento boxes were not only tasty, but visually pleasing as well. I tried the Basil Salmon, a perfectly seared piece of salmon on a bed of greens. It was crispy and tasty and perfectly

portioned for lunch. For my roll, I tried the fiery crab, which had a subtle heat that snuck up on you, but my favorite part may have been the perfectly crispy vegetable tempura. It’s a guilty pleasure, as I try to convince myself that it’s healthy.

The service is fast, efficient and friendly and although I would love to see more people in the dining room, I’ll relish the ability to get a table immediately while I can. I can’t imagine that this will be a well-kept secret for long.

Details SAKAE SUSHI

6325 Lewis St. Suite #100 Parkville, MO 64152 816.505.2868 SakaeSushiKC.com HOURS

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Parent’s Corner

SUMMER PROJECT:

Building Baseball Skills ARTICLE NICK BROMBERG

M

ost of us, baseball fans or not, have a summer memory that involves the game. And if your child is interested in baseball, you’ve likely spent a lot of time already in the yard making memories for both your child and yourself.

Work on a changeup. If your child has any aspirations of pitching, a changeup is by far the most important thing to develop outside of being able to throw strikes.

With a few simple tips and tweaks, you can not only continue to create memories, but you can also help your child get better over the course of the summer.

Throwing a changeup is easy too. To start, most young kids simply need to grip the ball with three fingers atop it by adding the ring finger instead of two. Throw it for every one or two fastballs. Pretty soon, it’ll be natural and just as easy to control as a ball thrown with a fastball grip.

Play catch with a purpose: Playing catch is the most basic of baseball things to do. And all you need is a bit of space, two gloves and a baseball. But instead of mindlessly flinging the ball around with your child, try to accomplish specific objectives during the session. It doesn’t have to be complicated, and can go a long way with your child’s baseball development, no matter the age or skill level.

Focus on your kid’s front shoulder staying pointed at the target before the ball is thrown. The easiest way to do that is to have your son or daughter “point the glove” at you during each throw. It doesn’t have to be blatant, but it needs to be obvious. You don’t want his or her glove hand pointing off to the flowerbed 20 yards to your left.

Set a good target and vary its position.

Again, this seems like an extremely simple thing, but it’s often overlooked. Move your glove up and down and from side to side and have your child aim for that spot. When you catch the ball without having to move your glove, move it to another spot and repeat the process.

40 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

Don't throw every night or all year. While good repetition helps with improvement, it's imperative to keep your child's arm fresh.

Take a night off or two. And when it gets cold, go play basketball or another sport and pick up the glove next year.

Go back to T-Ball: Many kids want nothing to do with T-Ball once they get past it, but hitting off a tee can help improve hitting immensely with the right approach. You don’t even need real baseballs either. A simple dozen solid plastic wiffle balls will do.

With each swing, make sure to focus on proper stance and footwork and ensure that your child is stepping forward to the pitcher, rather than backwards towards first (for a lefty) or third base (for a righty). Make sure to position the tee just in front of your child’s front hip.

Vary the height and the position of the ball on the tee too. After a few swings with the ball position at where the middle of the plate would be and at your child’s waist, move it up and down. While you do that, ratchet it up a notch and have your child move closer and further away from the tee to mimic inside and outside pitches.

Reach back into the past and play stickball: Don’t have a batting cage nearby or the space to take batting practice without the risk of breaking a window? No problem.

Get a broom handle or something similar, a small rubber ball or a wiffle ball, and play stickball.

The narrowness of the broom handle and the smaller ball helps improve hand-eye coordination and makes players focus on hitting the ball solidly. After a few rounds of stickball, a baseball bat feels like a giant paddle and a baseball feels like it’s the size of a basketball. Those feelings increase confidence, which is a huge factor at the plate.

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June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 41 RBG-Lifestyle-June2014.indd 1

5/15/14 11:34:25 AM

Locally Owned

AMONGST THE BEST IN NORTH AMERICA—

Two Blind Girls in Briarcliff MOTHER AND DAUGHTER TEAM UP TO CREATE WINDOW SOLUTIONS ARTICLE CONNIE “CRASH” HUMISTON | PHOTOGRAPHY LANI ODELL

W

hat’s in a name? In the case of the Two Blind Girls, it’s everything--everything this expert mother/daughter team offers at their inclusive showcase at 4149 N. Mulberry Dr. in Briarcliff Village—from home and commercial window covering selection, design and consultation to measuring, ordering, delivery, installation and warranty. Add to that their expertise, which earned their franchise eighth place for 2013 amongst more than 1,000 stores in the U.S. and Canada for their parent company, Budget Blinds.

When starting out in 2005, mom Sherry Moore and daughter Natalie Kesselring didn’t go into business blindly.

Natalie put her background in interior décor, fabrics and custom bedding to work, while Sherry’s office management and marketing experience were equally essential. Yet, it’s been a ground-up learning experience, with continuing education to this day.

“We did a lot in the beginning that others weren’t doing or willing to do like how to motorize and install window treatments,” says Kesserling. “If there’s a way, we figure it out. For us, it’s a passion. We’re constantly talking with 42 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

designers, reading magazines and Pinterest, attending continuing education courses, meetings, webinars and conventions.”

They help homeowners and businesses to ‘see’ and create the final project. Educating consumers and setting expectations are vital.

“We’ve told them when something is not going to work. We’d rather not get the sale, as transparency is important,” says Moore. Customer service is also integral, whether in the showroom or during their free in-home consultations (which include measuring, while many competitors charge for measurements, typically sell a single product line for one type of manufacturer, and use sub-contractors for installation).

“We always listen and we can bring samples to you—it’s a showroom on wheels, feeling and touching samples, seeing how they fit in the window, whether the color looks good with light coming through and not coming through,” says Kesserling.

Although known for asking questions to find the right blinds, shades, shutters, window film and/or drapery panels, they ask no questions when it comes to warranty. In addition to the manufacturer guarantee, the Two Blind Girls offer a five-year, one-

time, no-questions-asked warranty from abuse for the ‘dogs and cats and babies, ‘Oh my!’ situations.

“We’ve replaced blinds the dog ate, and cats are notorious for eating cords and blinds,” says Kesserling. “Then there was the young mother who needed two louvers on each shutter replaced from her teething child leaving teeth marks at the same height in every room.”

Other ‘oh my’ situations include the multitudes of consumers who find upon installation that all of the products they’ve ordered are wrong, whether from a box store or online. Mis-measuring is the most common (and expensive) gaffe. The materials can’t be recut, resulting in re-purchasing and reinstalling everything.

“Even color selection online can result in dissatisfaction,” Moore explains. “Looking at a picture in a magazine or online is completely different—it’s like a celebrity haircut not looking right on your face.”

Different as well is their unique perspective.

“We are 100 percent female-owned,” says Moore. “Most of our customers are female, 30ish to 60ish, and so are we; we understand their needs. Further, we’d never employ someone who we ourselves would hesitate to invite into our homes. Our installers are very meticulous, courteous and punctual. Our standards are high because we understand that our customers value their homes and their time and we value those things too.”

Also valuable is keeping current on new motorization techniques and standards, child-safe features, fire retardants and eco concerns (clean-air-certified , Greenguard certified, anti-microbial, etc.). Not always perceived as girl stuff, but it’s second nature for the Two Blind Girls.

Additionally, they stay up to date on renewable resources, such as wood products from trees that are strong and grow fast, as well as on trends—fabric, drapery panels and roman shades are coming back.

Also popular are energy efficient products that pay back in time since as much as 50 percent of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through windows.

“Window treatments are an ideal ‘green’ buying decision. Besides keeping heat from coming through, they protect from ultraviolet rays—just move a rug and notice that the wood is really dark, whereas it’s bleached out on the rest of the floor, furniture and woodwork,” says Moore. In instances where a product comes in damaged or not fitting correctly, the Girls send photos to the manufacturer to correct, and they provide interim replacement for the client.

“It’s a human business. There will always be issues, but it’s how you deal with them,” says Kesserling.

With that attitude, plus their full service, turnkey solutions at favorable prices, it’s no wonder the Two Blind Girls are not just best in the Northland, but amongst the best in North America.

To learn more about their wide selection, backed by one of the strongest warranty programs in the industry, log onto BudgetBlinds.com/Northland or Facebook/BudgetBlindskc.

June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 43

Page Turners

Show Your Work!

10 WAYS TO SHARE YOUR CREATIVITY AND GET DISCOVERED WRITTEN BY AUSTIN KLEON WORKMAN PUBLISHING $11.95

I

magine getting a job offer because someone reads your blog, not your résumé. Imagine turning your hobby into your career because you have a following to support you. Imagine being able to grow your business or focus on your art while also developing a community of like-minded people. It’s all possible if you Show Your Work!

In Steal Like An Artist, which spent six months on The New York Times bestseller list, Austin Kleon gave readers the keys to unlocking their creativity. Now, he tackles the next step: getting discovered.

Filled with illustrations, quotes, stories and examples that inspire, Show Your Work! 10 Ways to Share Your Creativity and Get Discovered will teach you how to put your work out in the world for people to discover while staying focused on getting really good at what you do, all in ten simple principles: 1. You don't have to be a genius.

2. Think process, not product.

3. Share something small every day.

4. Open up your cabinet of curiosities.

5. Tell good stories.

6. Teach what you know.

7. Don't turn into human spam.

8. Learn to take a punch.

9. Sell out.

10. Stick around.

As Kleon says, “In order to be found, you have to be findable.”

But it’s not about “networking” at cocktail parties; it’s about taking advantage of the network. By openly sharing your ideas, knowledge and process, you can gain an audience—for fellowship, feedback or patronage.

Show Your Work! is not just forward thinking, it is a practical and inspirational manifesto for succeeding as any kind of artist or entrepreneur in the digital age.

Kleon is the author of Steal Like an Artist and Newspaper Blackout. His work has been featured on 20×200.com, NPR’s Morning Edition, PBS NewsHour, and in The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

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Giving Back

Bridging the Gap: Autism Works THIS ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS FAMILIES LIVING WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

I

n 2010, Dessarey Klarlund gathered a group of parents and kids together. There were board games for the kids, conversation for the adults; each adult came because they struggled with understanding the challenges their children were facing. The kids were able to spend time with peers. That group blossomed into Autism Works, a Northland non-profit that serves individuals and families affected with autism spectrum disorder.

Klarlund felt alone in the challenges she was facing with her son, though the numbers say she has plenty of company.

Autism affects more children than diabetes, AIDS, cancer, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy and Down syndrome combined. Latest Center for Disease Control (CDC) studies state that one in 68 children land somewhere on the autism spectrum.

It’s important to first understand what autism is, says Klarlund, because there are countless misconceptions. Autism and autism spectrum disorder are general terms for a group of neurological disorders that are typically characterized by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive patterns of behavior.

“Autism affects absolutely everyone; every ethnicity, ev46 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

ery socioeconomic group. No one is spared,” says Klarlund.

Though one in 68 kids will be diagnosed as on the spectrum, one in 42 of those kids are boys.

“We don’t know what causes autism,” says Klarlund, “and there is no cure. When a child is diagnosed, the news doesn’t just affect that child. It affects the parents and siblings as well.”

Autism Works specifically works with kids classified as high-functioning and offers programs to help them learn social cues, make friends and blend into their classrooms and community. With a combination of role playing, teaching and discussion, trained facilitators help the students with a better grasp of group dynamics.

“We break everything down to components they can understand,” says Klarlund. “And we bring in instructors that specialize in autism for our weekly classes. It’s so much fun to watch the kids as they progress through the classes, and to see them grow more confident. Most of the students have a high IQ, but their maturity level is lower than their chronological age. We teach what’s relevant to each age group.”

Despite the staggering numbers of children in need of these services, Autism Works is the only organization serving fami-

lies in the Northland. Students and families come seeking help from as far away as Lawson, Belton and parts of Kansas.

“In a perfect world, there would be a place for support in every single community,” says Klarlund. “We started with just one class of 10 kids four years ago, and now we have 80 kids in classes every week.”

It’s not just classes that make Autism Works unique. Because many of the students wanted to be in Boy Scouts but struggled with the structure and pace, Autism Works chartered its own troop for teenage boys; the experience is the same as a typical Boy Scouts troop, but the activities are done at a different pace.

Because kids with autism thrive on schedules and routines, summer can be an especially trying time for families, Klarlund explains. Autism Works steps in with art and science classes that run when school is out.

In addition to the services offered to students, support for parents is also a vital part of the work Autism Works does. Klarlund says that parents need the support and understanding of others who know what it’s like to raise a child living with autism.

“Take, for example, a child with Down syndrome,” says

Klarlund. “No one has to explain what that child has been diagnosed with. But with autism, you often cannot see that the child actually has a disability. Parents are constantly explaining to others why their child acts a certain way or why their child is just unable to interact like other children the same age.

“In our parent’s group, we get together once a month and go out to dinner. There’s a huge relief in spending time with people who understand without explanation. And the parents that meet have kids of all different ages, so there’s a lot of advice that’s exchanged. They compare notes, and there’s comfort in the acknowledgement that they’re not alone.”

In addition to the staggering numbers of people who need its services, Autism Works struggles with funding to accommodate current and projected programs.

In addition to accepting donations directly online, the non-profit has fundraising events through the year.

This summer Belvoir Winery is hosting Christmas in July on July 31. The entire winery is open to attendees, and more than 20 vendors will have products for sale. All proceeds benefit Autism Works.

Learn more about Autism Works at Autism-Works.org.

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Your Neighbor

Nick Bromberg Makes Childhood Dreams Come True LOCAL SPORTS WRITER IS IMMERSED IN HIS FAVORITE SPORTS ARTICLE RACHEL C. MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY MALLORIE MCKERNAN

A

lot of kids dream about working in the field of sports. For Yahoo sports writer and Northland native Nick Bromberg, it’s his reality.

Bromberg has lived in the Northland his entire life, with the exception of the four years that he attended MU. “I live five houses down from where I grew up. My dad fell in love with my dog, Toby, so he could go back and forth, and the house didn’t need much work, we thought,” says Bromberg.

Staying local made sense for Bromberg, since he had started working in journalism in Kansas City at a very young age. Rather than waiting for a degree or internship, he wrote a letter to the Kansas City Star when he was 18, asking how he could help cover the news, and specifically sports.

The Star offered him a job answering phones on Friday and Sat48 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

urday nights for minimum wage. While most kids were out having a good time on the weekends, his foot was wedged firmly in the door of his future vocation.

“I had no social life in high school, but it was fantastic. I was working with all of the people that I read in the paper. After that, I started writing, covering some high school sports. They knew that I liked NASCAR, and I covered my first race in 2004 as a 19 year old,” says Bromberg.

The love of racing stretched back into childhood for Bromberg.

In 1992, he became enthralled with racing when he watched Al Unser, Jr. beat Scott Goodyear in the Indianapolis 500. He remembers it clearly to this day.

“I’ve always been hooked. When I was little, my first words were, ‘go, car, go’. Now here I am 27 years later and I’m cover-

ing cars going in circles. It’s something about the speed. I’m not even a car buff. There’s just something there about the speed that makes it so attractive,” he says.

He continued working for the Star throughout college, with the goal of becoming the next major sports columnist. But as newspapers fell on hard times, the Star wasn’t able to offer full time work.

He left the Star to find the next outlet for his writing.

He began writing for RacingToday.com. Keeping his nose in the game lead to an offer of a writing position from Yahoo Sports, where he covered racing part time until last year, when he added college football and went full time. He covers everything from mainstream news to off beat, quirky news items, with his signature witty commentary. His work with Yahoo affords him opportunities that most only dream of, from attending races to riding along in the Goodyear Blimp.

Now, Bromberg’s office looks like your dream man cave. Instead of a cubicle, he works in his converted basement, which he calls his ‘sports bar’.

“I have three TVs in my basement and a projector set up downstairs, so that I can watch four football games or sporting events at once. Sports has always been my life. When I was a kid, I was the one that was known as, ‘Ask Nick the sports question, he’ll know’. I was the kid actually reading Sports Illustrated when I was nine years old. I read that and the KC Star cover to cover everyday after school and poured over box scores. When you realize that

you may not be the star athlete, you find a way to keep it in your life,” he says.

One of the other ways that he keeps it in his life is through his personal fitness. After leaving the Star, he became a certified strength and conditioning specialist, as another source of income.

Working as a personal trainer allowed him to personally engage in his clients’ fitness journeys, something that he understood from his own high school weight loss journey.

One of the things that helped him become fit was involvement on fitness message boards, where he found a community of people that were looking to increase their efficiency. He found a home with JP Fitness forums, where fitness enthusiasts could trade training tips, advice and encouragement. Each year they met in person at a fitness summit.

Fast forward to 2008, when the summit was losing momentum in its location at a gym in Little Rock, Ark. Bromberg decided to take over the summit, moving it to Kansas City.

The group ranges in age from early 20s to mid 60s. The event has grown each year with this year’s summit peaking between 110 and 125 people. The event was so successful, that Bromberg is now planning to have a women’s fitness summit in September.

Today, Bromberg is living the life that he always wanted to, covering fast cars and great athletes, all five doors down from where it all began.

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Sold Properties

Recently SOLD Northland Properties Subdivision

Average List Price

Average Sold Price

Copperleaf

$703,346

$712,000

101%

NC

Tremont Manor

$535,000

$502,600

94%

215

Riss Lake

$464,666

$450,583

97%

191

Staley Farms

$490,266

$476,666

97%

56

The National

$440,300

$411,666

93%

376

Thousand Oaks

$390,750

$391,080

100%

107

Shoal Creek Valley

$461,452

$455,776

98%

NC

$488,000

$410,000

84%

228

$410,565

$425,472

104%

NC

Montclair

$424,500

$442,910

104%

NC

Legacy Park

$424,000

$424,000

100%

NC

River Hills

$400,000

$385,000

96%

NC

Brentwood

$382,449

$383,999

100%

NC

Woodneath Farms

$325,766

$319,133

98%

30

Briarcliff West Montebella

%List To Sold

DOM*

Aggregate Subdivision Sales per Heartland MLS 4/1/2014 – 5/1/2014 NC - New Construction

Briarcliff West 4509 N Hickory Lane $1,495,000 MLS# 1881226

*Average Days on Market

Riss Lake 8138 Clearwater Pointe $1,450,000 MLS# 1876452

Kathleen Smerchek 816.589.0925

Russ Wolfe 816.564.4100

Connor Sweeney 816.217.7352

Ashley Sweeney 816.728.2253

Candi Sweeney 816.591.5590

Kristine Courtney 816.590.1664

www.WolfeSweeney.com

The National 6837 N National Drive $1,299,000 MLS# 1869777

Real Estate Mortgage Title Insurance

6300 N Lucerne Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64151 816.746.2777 June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 51

Lifestyle Calendar

June

JUNE 6 33RD ANNUAL SPELMAN GOLF CLASSIC PARADISE POINTE GOLF COMPLEX

Enjoy a day of golf, friendship and food as you help support Saint Luke's North Hospital's initiatives which provides advanced health care services to the Northland community. SaintLukesGiving.org/ SpelmanGolf

JUNE 6-7 5TH ANNUAL LIBERTY ARTS SQUARED ARTS FESTIVAL HISTORIC DOWNTOWN LIBERTY

The festival will begin with an evening of fine visual arts and crafts booths and headlining musical entertainment in historic downtown Liberty and will feature a full range of exhibits and activities with live music, interactive and children’s activities, visual arts and fine crafts, a chalk art contest, authors, and performances by singer/songwriters. Free admission, parking and children's activities.

LibertyArtsSquared.org

JUNE 7, 14, 21, 28

forces in the fight to Stop Diabetes® and raise critical funds for diabetes research, education and advocacy in support of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes.org

JUNE 11 U.S. AIR FORCE BAND CONCERT BRIARCLIFF VILLAGE

Come experience a live concert by the U.S. Air Force Band of Mid-America “Shades of Blue” Jazz Ensemble. Briarcliff Trails of Our Community and Briarcliff Village proudly present the performance beginning at 7 p.m. at Mulberry Lake across from Briarcliff Village.

The U.S. Air Force Band is an 18-piece big band with a diverse repertoire of traditional swing, bebop, modern jazz, vocal selections and patriotic songs honoring our nation’s military branches. Bring your blankets, lawn chairs, drinks and picnic dinners to enjoy this free family-friendly concert celebrating our nation’s freedom.

JUNE 13 EXPRESSIONS OF HOPE KANSAS CITY

With Mulberry Lake as the backdrop, Briarcliff Trails of Our Community presents the very popular free Saturday Night Summer Movie Series. Enjoy classics and family favorites starting at 8:45 p.m. (dusk). Don’t forget to bring your blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks!

Expressions of Hope is an art expo and sale for the benefit of Veronica's Voice, the only survivor-lead anti-trafficking organization in Kansas City. The proceeds will be used to open a safe home for trafficked women in our community. This home will allow these women to process their experiences in a loving environment with women who have survived those same experiences . The event takes place at Ward & Ward Custom Framing (521 E 63rd Street) from 6-10 p.m.

JUNE 7

JUNE 13

WORNALL/MAJORS HOUSE MUSEUMS GARDEN TOUR

PARKVILLE RIVER JAM

THE WORNALL/MAJORS HOUSE

ENGLISH LANDING PARK

The Wornall/Majors House Museums will open the garden gate to six of the most stunning and prestigious garden spaces in Kansas City. 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 for thousands of children and adults.

Parkville River Jam - Jazz, Blues and Fine Arts Festival is a music packed two-day festival for family and neighbors showcasing musicians, artists and fantastic food from around the Kansas City area and beyond.

SATURDAY NIGHT SUMMER MOVIE SERIES BRIARCLIFF VILLAGE

JUNE 8 WHEELS TO WESTON ENGLISH LANDING PARK

Tour de Cure is more than just a cycling event. It's a life-changing event. A day full of fun and excitement where riders of all levels join

52 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

JUNE 14-15 CROWN CENTER ANTIQUE FESTIVAL CROWN CENTER

The festival's 14th year will feature pottery, china, toys, linens, collectibles, furniture, jewelry, books and much more. More than 100 booths.

JUNE 25

JUNE 28

HEART SAVER CPR

SOCCERPALOOZA

NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL

ZONA ROSA

For people who, as first responders, may need to perform CPR in the workplace or similar settings. Also for anyone who needs a course completion card. Course covers adult and child CPR and AED training. Offered through the American Heart Association and includes a two-year certification.

Head to Zona Rosa for the annual soccer celebration extraordinaire, Soccerpalooza. Participate in three-on-three soccer tournaments for children ages 9 to 13 along the streets of Zona Rosa. The interactive event includes clinics and exhibitions for the whole family.

JUNE 26

JULY 2-4 PARKVILLE FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

GLOBAL HEALTH INNOVATIONS FUNDRAISER

DOWNTOWN PARKVILLE

HERITAGE HALL, LIBERTY

Bring the whole family for a taste of good old-fashioned Americana.

Our traditional salute to Independence Day includes a parade, carnival rides, fireworks and more! In addition to the carnival, this fun, family-style celebration includes a community parade, a pancake breakfast, a variety of food vendors, and, of course, our big firework finale on July 4th.

This will be an amazing night! The program will focus on how GHI is giving voice to mothers and their babies impacted by HIV/AIDS in Africa. GlobalHealthInnovations.org

JUNE 26 SPOFFORD'S 2ND ANNUAL TRIVIA NIGHT THE FOUNDATION-WEST BOTTOMS

Our game will truly stand above the rest and guarantee a good time with its interactive format offering video and media clips throughout the game. Teams will consist of eight players answering trivia and dueling it out to be the 2014 Spofford Trivia winner. With your support, Spofford children will be the big winners!

Are you ready to make the rest of your life

the best of your life?

Come see what Great Living at McCrite Plaza at Briarcliff is all about.

1201 NW Tullison Rd. Kansas City, MO

816.888.7930 McCriteKC.com June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 53

P

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The

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Animals & Animal Care Wild Birds Unlimited (816) 415-4303 wbu.com/libertymo

Art & Photography

Art & Frame Warehouse (816) 584-8009 afwkc.com River’s Bend Gallery (816) 587-8070

Automotive

Precision Collision Center (816) 781-9630 precisioncollisionkc.com

Child Camps, Care & Tutoring

College Nannies & Tutors (816) 256-5907 collegenanniesandtutors.com

Dentists & Orthodontics

Jazzercise - Kansas City Northland (816) 536-4027 jazzercise.com

Jim Anderson DDS (816) 454-3336 jimandersondds.com

North Kansas City Community Center (816) 300-0531 nkccc.org

Kanning Orthodontics (816) 781-8585 kanningorthodontics.com

Home Design & Furnishings Seasonal Concepts (913) 642-4999 seasonalconceptsonline.com

Education

Park University (816) 746-2579 park.edu

Two Blind Girls (816) 505-5515 budgetblinds.com/Northland

Entertainment & Recreation Briarcliff Trails (816) 805-6820 briarclifftrails.com

Home Services

Hot Spot Pools & Spas, LLC (816) 781-8884 libertyhottub.com

All Season Roofing (816) 213-8804 asrkc.com

Ibsen Dance Theatre (816) 436-7277 ibsendance.com

Handyman USA (913) 534-4715

Event Planning & Space

KC Wood (913) 422-3320 kcwood.com

Advanced Home Energy (913) 226-3201

Visions KC (816) 820-2541 visionskc.com

Antioch Dental Group (816) 452-9700 fredbaileydds.com

Financial Services & Planning

Berry Sousa Dental (816) 746-5437 childrenstoothdoc.com

Funeral Homes

Burleson Orthodontics (816) 533-7566 burlesonorthodontics.com

Health & Wellness

Dentistry for Children (816) 436-5900 kidsdentistkc.com

Midwest Lifetime Roof Systems (913) 393-3008 lifetimeroofsystems.com

Cornerstone Mortgage Inc. (816) 525-9910 Meyers Funeral Chapel (816) 741-0251 meyersfuneralchapel.com

Premier Siding, Roofing & Home Improvement (816) 436-2050 premierroofing.net

6/30/14.

54 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

North Kansas City Iron & Metal (816) 471-3244 northkansascityiron.com

Rock And Wall Landscape (816) 392-7262 rockandwalllandscape.com Tile & Stone Warehouse (913) 432-7900 tileandstonewarehouse.com

Insurance

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Medical Clinics & Facilities

Insight Eyecare Specialties (816) 476-4017 ieseyecare.com Liberty Hospital (816) 792-7016 libertyhospital.org Mosaic Life Care (816) 569-1477 North Kansas City Hospital (816) 691-3023 nkch.org Pediatric Care North (816) 587-3200 pediatriccarenorth.com Saint Luke’s East Hospital (816) 347-4660 saintlukeshealthsystem.org/ eastcancercare Weston Family Clinic & Medical Spa (816) 640-2762 wfcmedspa.com

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June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 55

P

R

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UD

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June 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 57

Parting Thoughts

Like Father WORDS RACHEL C. MURPHY

Most children tend to take after one parent more than the other, a fact that is sometimes tossed out as an accusation during a parental spat or bestowed lovingly in a moment of tenderness. For me, there is no question of which parent I most closely resemble and my mother has said this phrase more than once with exasperation in her voice, “You are your father’s daughter.”

I

t’s true, in good ways and bad. There are daddy’s girls, and then there’s my father and me, chiseled from the same piece of problematic stone. Not only do we share the same prominent Murphy nose, we share several challenging personality traits, ones that made teenage years difficult and the adult years interesting. A brief list of examples, which is in no way exhaustive: Neither one of us has ever been wrong.

Ever. At the same time, each of us has been absolutely correct about every opinion that we have ever espoused, even when science, God or current events begs to differ.

And when we agree on something, we will argue it between the two of us to prove how right we are.

We have a ‘flair for the dramatic,’ which in some circles is called unabashed attention mongering. Sometimes it’s a simple

thing; having the punch line to the joke.

Other times, it’s falling down stairs, or majoring in theater or speaking to hear our own dulcet tones.

We both have waves and troughs of self-confidence. We have both been told that we are talented in certain aspects our whole lives. We ping-pong back and forth from believing it and telling all who will listen, and wallowing in the unplumbed depths of self-doubt that only a pseudo-Irish family of writers can experience.

These are not necessarily the most flattering of qualities, but they are true and because they are true, they are good, as Papa Hemingway would say. But they are also not the only things that we have in common.

We both inhabit the nighttime. Countless are the times that I would wake up as a youngster with a new poem that my father had written as he examined the mental traffic in his head in the wee hours of the morning. They used to appear on typewritten sheets, and now they appear in emails or photographs. I tend to write the most and the best in the dark of night, when the pretend business of each day falls away and I’m left only with my thoughts.

We share a love of the outdoors. His camera has always been his most patient companion. My dog is mine. We scour the backwoods, looking for adventure amongst the downed trees, taking mental photographs of empty turtle shells and

felled logs and the scent of decaying leaves.

The photos that I take are ones that only I will remember, but the inspiration is the same: the beauty of nature.

We both have a love of words and art.

The soft tumbled sounds of vowels and consonants have captured us, from the moment that we gripped pens and chicken scratched words that only we could read, we were in the thrall of the written word. If there’s any possibility of visiting a museum, we are the ones lingering at each sign, soaking in the artist’s intent.

You see, no matter what I do in this world, my father will have his mark on me. These are intangible things, appreciations, proclivities and character issues that are as structural to me as my bones. They are what my character and personality are based upon. I am my father’s daughter, and of that, I’m proud.

• • • • • •

Dr. Michael P Berry

Board Certified Pediatric Dentist Specializing in Infants, Toddlers, and Adolescents

Dr. Andrew M. Sousa Family Dentist seeing patients of all ages

Quality Family Dental Care with a Friendly Touch.

58 Northland Lifestyle | June 2014

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We live and work in your community. We go to church here and our kids go to school here. We provide a first class service at a fair price and build relationships across generations. When you need a meaningful, personalized service that will honor the life of your loved one, why not call on someone you can trust? ~ Todd DeMint

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