Leawood July 2015

Leawood

JULY 2015

LeawoodLifestyle.com

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Rocky Mountain National Park

100 Years of Spectacular Scenery

READING TO HEAL TOP GOLF COMES TO TOWN TRAVELING WITH SPARK VENTURES THE STORY BEHIND BLAIR'S FOSTER SOCKS

D i s t i n g u i s h e d

A r c h i t e c t u r e

Redefining The Standard Of Excellence With An Award Winning Reputation

2014 KCH&G - Gold - Best Model Home - Over $750,000 2015 KC at HOME - Silver - Best Custom Home $750,000 to $1.5 million

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(913) 221-0880 | LarsonBC.com

Editor's Letter

Have some summer fun!

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hose who know me well know that I was a middle school teacher for the first 15 years of my post-college life. Before that I’d spent many amazing summers working at a camp in the North Woods of Minnesota. When I first arrived at this 75-year-old camp on the shores of Lake Pokegama in the summer of 1986 it was as if I had discovered the place I was looking for all my life but did not know it.

As someone who is more comfortable sporting clothes from Eddie Bauer and L.L Bean than Lily Pulitzer or Ralph Lauren, I’d suddenly found a place where a rustic, simple life was encouraged every minute of the day. It was a place where kids of all ages were expected to try new things nearly every day. It’s no wonder sending my own boys to the camp became a priority when they were old enough to head north.

A seed had been planted and when I reluctantly left my camp days behind I vowed to remember some of the lessons I’d learned during those Minnesota summers: • It’s easier to survive a summer without computer and TV screens than you might think.

• You’re never too old for a little quiet time on your bunk after lunch.

• Everything you need to get by for a summer can fit into a well-made trunk.

• Watching the sun set over a lake while listening to the call of a loon is an outstanding way to end the day.

JULY 2015 editor-in-chief Lisa Harrison | Lisa@LifestylePubs.com assistant editor Kendra Mathewson | KMathewson@LifestylePubs.com sales director Lori Lapka | Lori.Lapka@LifestylePubs.com advertising sales Mary Beth Stauch | MStauch@LifestylePubs.com Carolyn Braverman | CBraverman@LifestylePubs.com Anne Phillips | Anne.Phillips@LifestylePubs.com Tim Carr | TCarr@LifestylePubs.com contributing writers Lisa Allen, Ann Butenas, Tracey Kahle, ​ iane Lambdin Meyer, Charles Redfield, Anne Rohling, D Anne Potter Russ, Denise Snodell, Jenny Wolff contributing photographers Bruce Meyer

corporate team chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt chief sales officer | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore director of marketing | Brad Broockerd art director | Sara Minor ad coordinators | Cyndi Vreeland, Chelsi Hornbaker

July has arrived and that means our Kansas City summer is flying by once again.

What do you have on the calendar for this week or this month to make a summer fun memory with someone you love? You never know. That adventure might plant a seed that sticks with them for a lifetime.

layout designer | Nicole Sylvester copy editor | Kendra Mathewson executive assistant | Lori Cunningham application architect | Michael O’Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide

Enjoy the season and I’ll see you around town.

Lisa Harrison, Editor Lisa@LifestylePubs.com

by Community ™

Proverbs 3:5-6 Contact us at:

ON THE COVER Rocky Mountain National Park has been a part of summer memories for 100 years. Read more on page 30.

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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 is 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.

July 2015

30 20 Departments 26 Love Lives Here

A daughter's legacy and a mother's mission.

30 Rocky Mountain National Park

Celebrate 100 years of spectacular scenery

and memory making.

Good Times

16

Around Town

20 Locals Only

34 Spark‌Of Brilliance!

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Spark Ventures is the new model of the business of philanthropy.

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Terrific Teacher

26

Giving Back

38

Now Open

40 Star Student

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42 Civic Scene 44 Home Matters 46 Parent's Corner 48 Who's Blogging?

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Lifestyle Calendar

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Parting Thoughts

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Good Times

Homes That Cook Book Launch

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

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Good Times

25th Annual Kindest Kansas Citians Awards

Inspiring stories of everyday acts of kindness were shared and celebrated at Synergy Services' dinner event.

The heartwarming evening honoring local residents and the students that nominated them raised nearly $175,000 to fund Synergy's anti-bullying programs.Â

To share your event photos with our readers, email KMathewson@LifestylePubs.com for details. There is no charge for this service.

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

One of the nation’s best children’s hospitals.

Right here in Johnson County.

Children’s Mercy is once again ranked as one of America’s best pediatric hospitals

by U.S. News and World Report. Recognized in 10 out of 10 specialties. With our world-renowned Genome Center, the region’s only Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and more than 700 pediatric specialists in 40 specialties, we’re the region’s only hospital completely focused on treating kids – all in an environment specifically designed for the way kids need to be treated. For more information, visit ChildrensMercy.org/rankings.

Children’s Mercy is the nonprofit hospital for Kansas City’s kids.

Good Times

Ladies of Charity of Metropolitan Kansas City Fundraiser The annual event treated guests to the Junior Symphony Designer’s Showhouse, a stately Victorian-era home bursting from the pages of a golden era Jane Austen novel. Proceeds benefit Duchesne Clinic, Seton Center and Villa St. Francis.

Courtney Williams, Grace Barth & Diane Frerker.

Showhouse Committee: Marnie Robinette. Jane Peal, Karen Camarata, ChristyTowle, Connie Euston Janice Collinis, Peggy Oades & Janet Wholey.

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

Noreen Purcell, Maggie Frick, Bette Munson, Donna Fuhrman, Eleanor Raggett, Laura Caulfield & Valerie Horton.

Ruth Noel & Mary Gwilt.

Pat Lock, Karen Wolken. Bronze centerpieces provided by Eva Reynold’s Fine Art Gallery.

Raffle Chair Karen Camarata.

Around Town INAUGURAL LEAWOOD ROTARY 5K The Leawood Rotary Club is excited to announce the inaugural Leawood Rotary 5K on July 11. The race, managed by the KC Running Company, will be held along the very scenic Tomahawk Creek Parkway from College Boulevard south to 117th St. In addition to the 5K race, a 1K fun run for kids 12 and under will also take place. First, second and third place medals will be awarded in nine categories.

Vendor booths, activities for children, and the Great Plains SPCA will be on hand to help launch this event. Proceeds from the run will go to “A Child’s Tomorrow,” the Rotary club’s foundation which supports several local children’s charities. Please visit the event website, LeawoodRotaryRun.com for more information or to register.

All entrants will receive a finisher’s medal, a t-shirt, and more.

tems and has recently been awarded The Best of Houzz 2015 Service Award as well as Super Service Award 2014 by Angie's List. Granite Garage Flooring system (based in Leawood, Kansas) established it's business four years ago with a goal to provide durable and chemical, gas, oil and dirt resistant flooring to homes and businesses looking to improve the look and appeal of their basement and garage space.

For more information visit GraniteGarageFloors.com.

MOSQUITO JOE COMES TO JOHNSON COUNTY Kansas City area native David Maginness managed a Taco Bell restaurant for eight years in Fort Collins, Colo., before making the leap from burritos to mosquitos when he moved back to the Kansas City area and bought the first area Mosquito Joe. He opened his doors in May, serving all of Johnson County just in time for the start of mosquito season.

Mosquito Joe is a residential and commercial mosquito control service, which aims to let Johnson County residents utilize their backyard all season without worrying about mosquitoes and other pests. Experienced technicians are trained mosquito control experts dedicated to getting rid of mosquitoes and other pests so people can enjoy being outside again. With the Mosquito Joe product, Maginness knew he could provide residents with an affordable solution to Johnson County’s summertime bug problem. To learn more about the service call Maginness at 913.553.4224.

PROPERLY PROTECT YOUR SKIN THIS SUMMER Most people incorrectly guess their skin type, then use the wrong products. Kansas City Skin & Cancer Center can help. The center’s new Skin Type Solutions System is the first location in the Midwest.

The system helps patients determine their true skin type. It takes the guesswork out of selecting skincare products.

The Skin Type Solutions System is based on Dr. Leslie Baumann’s 16 Baumann Skin Types. The system includes 18 skincare brands – some are well-known, while others are available exclusively through the Skin Type Solutions System.

After taking a simple, scientifically validated quiz, patients receive their Baumann Skin Type and a recommended product regimen. It’s personalized care.

Drs. Mark Cohen, Kimberly Schoofs and Wenfei Xie serve patients at Kansas City Skin and Cancer Center’s two offices. The Skin Type Solutions System is available at both the Northland and Shawnee Mission Medical Center campus locations.

To learn more, visit KCSkinCenter.com.

GRANITE GARAGE FLOORS CELEBRATES MILESTONE Granite Garage Flooring celebrates a milestone of installing 500,000 square feet of professionally-installed epoxy coating sys16

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

Tony Adams

FORMER CHIEF HELPS DEVELOP OUTDOOR WEATHER APP When Tony Adams arrived in the Kansas City area to play quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs, it proved to be anything but a temporary stay. His four-year Chiefs career gave Adams and his family enough time to fall in love with Johnson County and make them permanent residents for nearly four decades.

Adams has been a hunter and fisherman all his life. His passion for the outdoors has led him to become the founder of a new weather app—IsLikely—specifically designed for multiple outdoor activities. The app and website adapt to both android and IOS phones through the Apple Store and Google Play. Outdoors enthusiasts can target detailed weather reports and forecasts at all their favorite outdoor locations to enjoy their desired outdoor activities, both locally, area-wide and out-of-state.

PLANS FOR MESNER PUPPETS 2015-16 SEASON Mesner Puppets, Inc. announces plans for the 2015-16 season.

The season opens with The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf July 6-12; and is followed by The Singalong Show November 4-22; The Nativity December 4-6; Hershel & the Hanukkah Goblins December 11-13; Old MacDonald’s Holiday Hoedown December 16-23; Saint George & the Dragon February 17-28, 2016; The Stinky Cheese Man March 18-26; and Stories We Share April 30, 2016.

Mesner Puppets presents its main season of family-oriented plays at its Hyde Park neighborhood studio 1006 E Linwood Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64109. The season opener is a reprise of the UNIMA-USA Citation of Excellence Award Winning production of The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by A. Wolf. The wolf gives his own outlandish version of what really happened when he tangled with three little pigs.

For the second show of the season, The Singalong Show, Associate Artistic Director Mike Horner takes the lead in creating this interactive show featuring songs perfect for singing and clapping along.

Details are available at PaulMesnerPuppets.org.

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Around Town

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SPORTS MEDICINE CLINIC ADDS NEW SERVICES Schabel Performance Health & Wellness, located at Market Square in Leawood, has recently expanded their list of services.

In addition to chiropractic manual therapy, Drs. Larisa and Nick Schabel also offer cutting-edge techniques such as Active Release Techniques (ART), trigger point dry needling, Graston Technique, kinsiology taping, acupuncture and more.

"We work hard to meet the demand of current and prospective patients," says chiropractor and co-owner Larisa Schabel. "We use these techniques to ensure that we can treat a variety of conditions, including low back pain, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, and tennis elbow. It is our mission to address the root of dysfunction and correct it so that you can live the life you deserve."

To find out more or to schedule a complimentary 30 minute consultation, give them a call at 913.345.4840 or visit SchabelPerformanceHealth.com.

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Exchange-Traded Funds are rapidly changing the way investors build their porfolio to achieve their financial goals.

To learn how you can use Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) to build a smarter, more efficient portfolio, join us on Tuesday, August 25th at either 9:00 am or 7:00 pm at The Venue, in Leawood, Kansas.

At this educational meeting, we will discuss the most important factors to successful investing, including:

Drs. Larisa and Nick Schabel

A NOTE FROM OUR EDITOR In response to our May article about turning your wedding dress into baby bedding, we heard from local nurses and pediatricians that use of this type of plush material inside a baby's crib is not recommended. While the idea of turning a wedding dress into something for the baby's nursery is a lovely idea, it should exclude the crib. For the first year of life the only things that belong in a crib are a firm mattress, a fitted sheet, and the baby.

• The Impact of Investment Fees on Your Portfolio • How Diversification Improves Your Return • Why Indexing is so Difficult to Beat • The Benefits of Fiduciary Responsibility There is no cost to attend; however, reservations are required.

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or

913-851-1100

info@ETFPortfolioPartners.com Presented by: ETF Portfolio Partners, a Leawood based asset management firm and a nationally recognized leader in exchange-traded fund investing.

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

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Locals Only

A New Spin on an Old Game DISC GOLF COURSES IN JOHNSON COUNTY

ARTICLE JENNY WOLFF | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

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isc golf, a 40-year-old game, is spiraling high in popularity in Johnson County. This sport is played by all ages, in backyards or on courses, in all sorts of weather.

“We have people throwing discs in sun, snow, sleet, rain, you name it,” says Bill Maasen, superintendent of parks and golf courses for the Johnson County Park and Recreation District.

The origin of the modern game of golf, the one associated with balls, clubs, tees and greens, is usually traced to 15th century Scotland. Golf has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, played in more than 100 countries.

It took about 600 years for a spin-off to develop. Disc golf flew onto the American scene after toy company Wham-O began manufacturing aerodynamic discs called Frisbees ®. By 1977 Wham-O had sold more than 100 million Frisbees®, and people everywhere were tossing these discs high and low. In the 1970s, Wham-O designer Ed Headrick invented Frisbee® Golf, where people tossed Frisbees® into metal baskets. Today the game is known as disc golf and the Disc Golf Association estimates that there are more than 3,000 formal courses in the United States. The aim is to traverse the course in the fewest number of throws. The discs, called putters, mid-range and drivers, each have different edges to cut through the air with varying accuracy and control to hit the basket, hole or target.

The first public disc golf course in Johnson County was built in Olathe at Prairie Center Park 1989. In 2007, a course was constructed in Shawnee Mission Park. Maasen is a big advocate. “This is a family-friendly, fairly unobtrusive game for a park. It takes a small footprint and the space can co-mingle with other activities,” says Maasen. “It is also a great way for us to invite the public out, and the more people you have using a park, the safer it is.”

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Locals Only

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“This is a family-friendly, fairly unobtrusive game for a park.” Bill Maasen From start to finish, Maasen said it costs about $20,000 to install a disc golf course. Compare that with a $100,000 price tag for a shelter house or playground. Plus, disc golf has strong volunteer support.

“Club volunteers design the courses and manage them by moving the targets around the grounds bi-weekly, adding variety to the game.”

Maasen is referring to the members of the Kansas City Flying Disc Club (KCFDC), a metro-wide organization, which organizes leagues, games and events for enthusiasts. The group posts league results, course information and updates. In June, the KCFDC and Kansas City hosted the 33rd Annual Kansas City Wide Open Event.

In January, local players competed in the annual Kansas City Ice Bowl, a fundraiser to fight hunger. Whether it is an official game or

fun day at the park, club members are passionate about their sport.

They help maintain courses by picking up trash, trimming trees and spreading mulch. “Die-hard fans like my husband Matt and I will shovel snow off tee pads in the winter so others can play,” says Crispian Paul, Secretary to the KCFDC Board of Directors.

This fall, Johnson County will open a course in Heritage Park at 167th and Lackman Road. In the next couple of years, the master plan calls for a new course west of DeSoto. Want to get in the game? Purchase a basket and discs from a sporting goods store or online, and take aim in your own backyard. Or grab a few discs and head to one of our local parks.

For more information, visit DGCourseReview.com.

Course Name Location Holes Tee Type Blue Valley of Kansas Overland Park 18 Mulch Cambridge Park Overland Park 9 Woodchips California Trail Olathe 9 Grass Lenexa DGC Lenexa 9 Concrete Harmon & Santa Fe Parks DGC Prairie Village 9 Concrete Lakeside Hills DGC Olathe 18 Concrete Prairie Center Park Olathe 18 Concrete Shawnee Mission Park DGC Shawnee 18 Concrete Shawnee Country Club Shawnee 4 Woodchips

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

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Terrific Teacher

School Administrator Puts Many Miles on the Road ARTICLE CHARLES REDFIELD | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

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tacey Sperry enjoys running distance races. And it’s likely the students at Prairie Star Middle School in Leawood don’t know that their assistant principal is an accomplished distance runner.

Sperry just completed her second year at Prairie Star after teaching English Language Arts in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades in another district.

She got her start in long distance racing almost by chance.

“One of my friends was training for a marathon, so I decided to help her with her training,” says Sperry. “I decided on the days that I ran, I felt better, so I just kept running.”

The Panther assistant principal continues to enjoying running.

“I run four days a week and do Pilates on the other days,” she says. “I love to run because it makes me a happier person.”

Pilates is a physical fitness system developed in the early 20th Century.

Sperry has run several marathons, including the 2013 Boston Marathon that was bombed by terrorists.

She has a lot of vivid memories of that day in April at her first Boston Marathon.

“It is something I will never forget,” she says. “It was a beautiful day, perfect for running. As a runner, Boston is as good as it gets. As we were getting ready to start, I was overcome with emotion; that my dreams as a runner were becoming a reality,” she says.

She remembers finishing the race.

“Your first Boston is overwhelming, in a great way,” says Sperry. “I will never forget turning onto Boylston where there is flag from every country waving with pride as you coast to the finish line. There had to be close a million people there. At least it felt that way. I finished and was so happy that the race was over and that I re-qualified for the following year.”

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

Then things changed.

“As I made my way to the friends and family is where everything changed,” she remembers. “We heard what sounded like fireworks. I assumed the Red Sox game was over, nothing to worry about; then we heard another.

“That is when I felt in my gut something was really wrong. We started hearing sirens, people with empty wheelchairs starting running back towards the finish line. I checked my phone and it was not working. At that moment I knew that something was really wrong.”

Sperry ran again in the 2014 Boston Marathon.

“It was a great race,” she says. “I have never seen so many people in support of a race; it was really emotional in quite a different way. The city of Boston was ready to show that they were really Boston Strong.”

Her best marathon time is 3-hours and 34-minutes, while her half marathon best is 1:34.

What is her secret of running success?

“I don’t know if I have a secret,” says Sperry. “I just love to run. It is my time to think, believe and dream. It is my only uninterrupted time of the day.

I love it.”

Sperry was not a runner in high school, but she played soccer at Sunrise Christian Academy in Wichita. She did run in middle school.

The Panther assistant principal recently completed the Heartland 39.3 Series; a series of three half-marathons in two months that adds up to 39.3 miles. The races were all in the Kansas City area.

At the present time she is only runner in her family.

“I’m holding out hope that my little boys will be runners someday.”

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Giving Back

Love Lives Here A DAUGHTER’S LEGACY, A MOTHER’S MISSION

ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

S

Blaire and Michele

ometimes Michele Shanahan DeMoss tells herself that her my shoes yet, but she did. The girl at school was in trouble for not daughter, Blair, is away at school. Or at camp, or some other having the right shoes; turns out, the family was going through a no-phones-allowed place and she’s busy doing what she loved best: divorce and shoes just weren’t a priority. Blair wanted to help.” offering kind words to those who struggle, dreaming big, or makBlair’s overwhelming desire to help others was clear to everyone who ing a difference by simply being herself. knew her. She was a Girl Scout and started making plans to earn the “I’m caught in the middle, between joy and pain,” says DeM- organization’s most ambitious reward, the Gold Award, a goal typically oss. “When I’m working it is joy. When I remember that Blair is achieved at the end of high school, when she was 11. She sketched out gone, it’s not, even though that’s what she was. Pure joy.” the details of her plan for Foster Socks in journals and wanted to collect Blair died July 5, 2011. She socks, money and other necessities for There are many moving parts to our was struck by a bullet fired by children in need. Though it began with Fourth of July holiday revelers foster kids, Blair also wanted to help organization. I can start talking about socks blocks away. children who are abused, homeless and “She donated six organs and and foster care and before you know it, we’re displaced. Blair died before she made gave the gift of life to five people. her dream a reality. DeMoss started talking about organ donation and the dangers The same moment I thought she Blair’s Foster Socks in her honor. was gone was when she gave the of negligent firearms discharge. I’m reminded Today, Blair’s Foster Socks works biggest gift ever. She went home with organizations including Ozathat just one thing can make a difference. to Heaven,” says DeMoss. nam, Spofford Home, Crittenton “We were a foster family. Blair saw the same things I Children’s Center and Mother’s did. She saw kids arrive with a stuffed animal but no clothes. She Refuge and hosts countless sock drives, an annual golf event, knew some kids carried their things in a trash bag, and that some and the annual Big Hat Event. never had anything new to call their own.

“There is no handbook for this,” says DeMoss. “I miss her every day Blair was the kid who always had something encouraging to say,” and I have such clarity that she is close to me. Blair would have turned 16 says DeMoss. “In third grade, she bagged up her brand new pair of in January, and I just heard from a girl who is that age. For her birthday, all shoes and took them to a classmate. She wore a pair of mine that she wants is to have a sock drive. That’s because of Blair; four years later, day, and I remember thinking that she shouldn’t be able to fit into she’s still inspiring people.

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

There are many moving parts to our organization,” explains DeMoss. “I can start talking about socks and foster care and before you know it, we’re talking about organ donation and the dangers of negligent firearms discharge. I’m reminded that just one thing can make a difference; if one child gets a new, fun pair of socks that makes a difference. If one person hears me talk about how Blair died and decides to not shoot a gun, it makes a difference.”

“When love lives somewhere, people see it,” she says. “It’s all in how we deliver it. I remember buying Blair new socks. I’d never just toss the package on her bed; I’d open it, check and fold them, and put them in her drawer. She was always so excited to see them, like it was a gift.”

“We store new socks in clean, plastic tubs in our office,” says DeMoss. “Sometimes we can personalize a delivery by choosing someone’s favorite color. That’s what Blair would have done. She would have made sure that even something as simple as a pair of socks was given with love.”

To learn more visit BlairsFosterSocks.org.

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

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NOW OPEN: YOUR NEW DESTINATION

ER Care for Kids and Adults Our community’s first free-standing ER is now open. This means you can rest assured that faster, more specialized emergency care is nearby. We offer all the same capabilities of an ER inside a hospital, but closer to you.

Overland Park Regional Medical Center’s new ER of Olathe provides access to lifesaving expertise backed by the largest physician network in the area, along with an accessible, friendly environment. With short wait times, an array of amenities and the comfort of one-on-one attention, we provide a unique emergency room experience. Should you require hospitalization, Overland Park Regional is nearby.

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Happy Birthday ROCKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK Celebrating a century of magnificence.

R

ocky Mountain National Park is the reward for many Kansas Citians who dread that drive west across I-70 to Colorado, the snow-covered carrot at the end of a 600-mile long stick. We do it because the reward is so magnificent.

If you dread that drive in your cushy SUV with padded, climate-controlled seats and a multitude of electronic distractions for those in the backseat, think about how it was 100 years ago in 1915. Interstate-70 was not even a wagon trail and Henry Ford’s Model T was not yet a common site on the streets of Kansas City. A flight from KCI to Denver was absolute craziness. John Denver was not yet a song in his momma’s heart.

But still, folks were heading to Colorado 100 years ago. They were coming from around the world to experience one of our

nation’s most fabulous playgrounds. For that reaso n, with urging from concerned citizens, Congress decided it was time to protect those beautiful mountains from a little too much love.

On January 15, 1915, a full year before the National Park System was created, Congress signed legislation that created Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).

It’s true; Rocky Mountain National Park is 100 years old, making 2015 a very special year to head west and dance on the snow-covered mountains. The celebration is a year-long event with special activities planned in many of the communities around the park.

“Right from the beginning, it was a crown jewel in what would become our national park system,” says Barbara Scott, the park

ARTICLE DIANA LAMBDIN MEYER | PHOTOGRAPHY BRUCE N. MEYER 30

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

ranger responsible for coordinating the anniversary celebration.

The legislation that created this park set the stage for the Organic Act of 1916 that created the National Park Service. Look for 2016 to be a very big year in all of our national parks.

Rocky Mountain National Park was among the first of the national parks to issue back country permits to manage user impact on resources and to use shuttle busses to minimize carbon emissions. It also has one of the country’s largest volunteer forces with nearly 1,900 people signing on for duty each year.

More than a third of RMNP’s 415 square miles is located above the tree linewith elevations ranging from 8,000 to 14,250 feet. Many of the 360 miles of trails are original to the Ute and Arapahoe tribes who were the original residents of this region. Around nearly every turn, the magnificent vistas of ponderosa pine and juniper contrast with tranquil images of bubbling mountain streams and wildflower-filled meadows. From powerful bighorn sheep to elk, moose, black bear and cougars, the park’s abundant natural resources remind us that the human population is simply a visitor, another player, in this playground.

Three and a half million people visit RMNP each year and about three million of those people enter the gates on the south and east side at Estes Park. Many visitors never travel much farther than about half-way across the Trail Ridge Road to the Alpine Visitor Center, elevation 11,796.

And that’s such a shame. There’s so much more to RMNP. One place not to miss is Lily Lake, one of the best destinations for wildflower viewing, particularly during an early summer visit. This is where CONTINUED >

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

31

ROCKY MOUNTAIN

(CONTINUED)

Enos Mills, who was considered the founder of RMNP, lived and documented the splendor of the mountains in an effort to achieve national park status for the land he loved.

With changes in the tree cover thanks to an infestation of mountain pine beetles, the forest floor now receives more sunlight. That, in return, is shaping the wildflower presence in the park, which according to rangers is more spectacular than ever.

The best wildlife viewing, of course, takes place in the early morning hours or the evening hours just before sunset. It seems the elk, nearly 1,000 of them, prefer to hang out on the east side of the park. Their bugling during mating season in September has become one of the best reasons to visit the area after the summer crowds disappear.

There are close to 400 head of big horn sheep in the park and some of the best places to see them are around Milner Pass or by hiking a few miles up the Colorado River Trail.

It seems the moose and the black bear prefer the west side of the park, accessed through the community of Grand Lake. Just before you pass the sign welcoming you to the park, on the right hand side of the road, a number of low bushes conceal a little stream dearly loved by moose.

Drive slowly and look closely. There are almost always a couple of moose hanging out there.

One of the rangers we talked to called Grand Lake the “natural” side of the park. Of the three and half million visitors a year to RMNP, only about a half million or so enter through the west gates at Grand Lake, home to Grand Lake Lodge. Billed as “Colorado’s Front Porch,” the scenic view of the mountains and the wildlife here rivals anything else in the park.

Built from timber cut when the Trail Ridge Road was built through the park in 1919, the Grand Lake Lodge is a National Historic Landmark because of its early contributions to tourism in Colorado and preservation of Rocky Mountain rustic stick style architecture. The lodge restaurant, known for its exquisite preparation of wild game and fresh Colorado trout, is a destination in itself.

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

Share in the Celebration: If you have visited the park before, share your favorite memories and photos on the site Nps.gov/RoMo/PlanYourVisit.

-Take a hike with members of the Colorado Mountain Club, the group that helped lobby for the creation of the park more than a century ago.

-Are you a member of the Y? If so, take another hike for free with the YMCA of the Rockies.

-Get a 100-year Anniversary Coloring Book at the Grand Lake Visitors Center.

-Hundreds of activities are planned throughout the coming year. Check it out at Nps.gov/RoMo.

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

33

Spark…

Of Brilliance!

Spark Ventures is the new model of the business of philanthropy.

ARTICLE ANNE POTTER RUSS | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

W

hat is Spark Ventures and what does it have to do with me?

Spark Ventures is “a Chicago-based nonprofit with international partnerships that provide children in poverty with nutrition, education, and healthcare.” Here’s another way of putting it: business driven philanthropy investing human and financial resources to lift communities out of poverty.

Let’s get to the bottom of this… Spark Ventures leverages philanthropic dollars to fund actual businesses with partners in poverty-stricken parts of the globe (currently Zambia and Nicaragua). Donated dollars turn into food and agriculture businesses. Profits from these businesses then support local programming in education, health and nutrition. Philanthropic money turns into reinvested money so the businesses continue to fund critical social programs long after the initial contribution.

How about an example?

In Nicaragua, Spark Ventures has launched a farm with honeybee hives.

There are 30 hives, expanding to 100 hives soon, along with cacao, coffee and chilies. This project not only provides honey to sell, but also local employment. Their social impact partner, Las Tias provides programming for children and families in the area while being supported by the revenue stream created by the honey and other agricultural products.

What’s happening in Zambia?

Hope Ministries is a social impact partner in Zambia. They provide nutrition, education and healthcare to 350 vulnerable children in the country. There, Spark Ventures launched a poultry farm that raises and sells more than 120,000 chickens annually. The poultry farm also employs approximately 12 people in the community. Some of the business profits are reinvested back into the poultry farm. But, the majority of the funds will support the programs at Hope Ministries.

Let’s get back to what Spark Ventures provides for their partners.

By working with grass-roots organizations serving children in developing countries, Spark offers human resources, strategic guidance and financial capital that these organizations otherwise would not have access to. The other CONTINUED >

34

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

Travelers prepare a meal with local staff in Nicaragua at a local home.

Travelers and students in Nicaragua make fast friends.

Sparks partner helps to reinforce hand washing skills before a meal in Nicaragua.

Sparks CEO & Co-founder Rich Johnson plays a game in Nicaragua.

A Kansas City traveler spends one-on-one time with a child in Nicaragua.

Spark travelers do one-on-one reading at the Zambia partner school.

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

35

SPARK OF BRILLIANCE

(CONTINUED)

form of capital that is so critical to their overall success is the building of relationships.

Why are relationships so important?

Because Spark Ventures has made it fun and rewarding for people (you and me!) to get involved far beyond writing a check for a philanthropic venture. Spark has finetuned the model of bringing volunteers to their locations and work alongside their social impact partners. These trips, called “Impact Travel,” combine adventure with philanthropic benevolence.

Here’s what it has to do with us – you and me.

Some of our own Metro area neighbors and friends are intimately involved with Spark Ventures. Stephanie Denzer, a graduate of The Barstow School who holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago, has worked as a key member of the small Spark Ventures team for the past three years. There, she has worn many hats, from marketing and communications to event management to trip coordination to monitoring performance metrics.

Spark Ventures was so appealing to Denzer’s family and friends that some of the people closest to her have traveled to Zambia and Nicaragua, and still more are planning to do so in the near future. Many intrepid travelers have been on more than one trip with Spark. Jan Johnson, a resident of Bucyrus,

36

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

traveled with Spark to Zambia in 2014. Sue Bernstein, another traveler from Overland Park has been to Zambia twice, Nicaragua once, and will be returning to Zambia this summer. “The most compelling for me is how Spark’s involvement has impacted the lives of the children, teachers and staff, the surrounding community, as well as the local and international volunteers,” says Bernstein of her experience traveling with Spark.

Selling “Impact Travel” to adventurers is easy. Why not travel and make a difference in a community that uses resources so wisely? These benefits are an amazing attraction: • Volunteering and engaging with the social program partners and the children who benefit from the investments of time and money • Great food and accommodations (per previous travelers) • Immersion in the cultural experiences (food, dance, music, history) • Wonderful excursions and tourism • Expanding your own horizons Other local residents from Stilwell, Carol and Tom Barnett, are excited about their upcoming venture to Zambia. They are traveling with Spark to make a difference. But, while they are there, why not add on a once-in-a-lifetime safari?

There are multiple opportunities to travel in the near future to either Zambia or Nicaragua.

And, some trips feature special incentives such as traveling with Sparks’ CEO, Rich Johnson; or a condensed itinerary for busy business professionals; or traveling with your own children.

Imagine the impact of a philanthropic trip that benefits children closest to you, as well as children around the globe.

Speaking of Johnson, he founded Spark Ventures in 2007 with two partners after his own travels took him to Zambia, where he was confronted with stark poverty and a community deeply affected by HIV/AIDS. He returned determined to make a difference for the children and families he met, along with the staff at Hope Ministries. Since then, the staff at Spark have provided meal and clinic programs, classroom facilities, achieved a 100 percent graduation rate for students, added a poultry farm, sold thousands of chickens, and now have sustained 15 percent of their social impact partners’ budget.

Now, that’s making a difference in a brilliant way!

For more information, visit SparkVentures.org, or contact Stephanie Denzer at SDenzer@SparkVentures.org.

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

ARTICLE JENNY WOLFF | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

TEES OFF IN KANSAS CITY

Now Open

ou may have seen the tall, unusual framework soaring across the skyline at I-435 and Nall.

From a distance it looks like a mirage. Get closer and you can see that the structure is made of posts and netting. But still your mind asks, "What is that?"

It is Topgolf. “Topgolf is golf like you’ve never seen before,” says David Kim, director of operations at the Overland Park facility. “We are combining golf, bowling and darts with technology for an awesome, new golfing experience.

The structure is 65,000 square feet, the size of two football fields.

Is it a mirage? No, it’s the newest twist on the centuries-old game since the Frisbee-inspired disc golf in the mid-1970s This new form of golf was invented in 2000 in England by two brothers after spending a few hours on a driving range. They came up with the idea of placing dog tag technology inside golf balls, and the concept grew from there. Topgolf currently operates facilities in 13 U.S. cities, including Dallas, Houston and Austin, and plans to grow to 50 locations by 2018.

So, what can you expect when you walk into Topgolf? You will enter on the second floor of the three-floor facility into a 50-foot high atrium. At the concierge desk, you can purchase a $5 lifetime membership card. “Buying a card is totally optional,” says Kim. “But it keeps track of your scores each time you play, whether here in town or at one of our other Topgolfs nationwide.

A concierge will assign you and your guests a bay. The bay is similar to the space surrounding the scorers’ table at a bowling alley, with a table and seating for you and your friends. The bay, however, opens onto the driving range overlooking prime Johnson County acreage.

Scattered on the field are large dart board-like targets. If it’s hot outside, guests will be cooled by fans; this winter, expect heaters in each bay Let’s play! Walk to the tee line and stand on a hitting mat with a golf club. By touching your name on the computer screen, you are syncing your shot with the ball on the mat. Each golf ball has a microchip inside, so that when you hit a ball, a computer tracks and displays your score. “With this technology, you get an actual reading of where the ball landed,” says Kim. You and your guests share 20 balls. You can hit all of yours at once or take turns Topgolf offers 102 bays, three restaurant/bars, event space, a thirdfloor rooftop terrace and 250 70-inch screen televisions. “We have just built Kansas City area’s best viewing station. When the Royals are in the World Series again this year, you can see it all from right here.

Topgolf is open 363 days a year, generally 9 a.m. to midnight. Friday and Saturday evenings, they stay open until 2 a.m., and often offers DJs and bands in the summer.

“Fifty percent of people who play Topgolf describe themselves as non-golfers,” says Kim. At the facility you can also play shuffleboard, pool and Xbox Kinect games. Or try one of their restaurants’ many original offerings like Mushi (Mexican sushi) or injectable donut holes. “Our proprietary blended burgers are made from Angus beef, pork, rib and brisket, and are awesome,” says Kim. The facility holds 1,400 guests and the local Topgolf employs 450.

“We have a great group of folks working here. Come by and join in the fun,” says Kim. “Kansas City is a gem in the middle of the country. We are so excited to be part of this town.”

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July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

39

Star Student

Local Teen Encourages Others One Page at a Time ARTICLE ANN BUTENAS | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

S

ixteen-year-old Teresa Shockley has an interesting story to tell of hope, perseverance and determination, and it is quite the page-turner, literally.

This Leawood resident who will be a sophomore at Shawnee Mission East in the fall seems wise beyond her years, and perhaps that is best explained by the personal challenges and struggles she has endured since she was nine years old, at which time she was clinically diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Over the ensuing years, she found herself involved with severe anxiety issues, which ultimately led her down a path of drinking, depression, self-harm and attempted suicide. Fortunately, she was able to receive professional help and has been on the road to recovery. Through that recovery, she found a project that has been a blessing in disguise, not only for herself, but for others who might face similar challenges.

Inspired by the Little Free Libraries initiative, Shockley decided to incorporate that idea into the project for her Girl Scout Gold Award, which is similar to the Eagle Scout project for Boy Scouts. Although just a “little library,” this project took on significant meaning for Shockley.

“I have always loved to read,” says Shockley. “And reading was something I did when I was depressed. I began to find books that related to how I felt and realized I was not alone in my struggles. Finding books directed towards teenagers with similar issues became a big part of my recovery.

After I began to talk about this with my friends, more of them opened up and admitted to dealing with similar issues."

Shockley emphasizes the importance of acknowledging mental illness and not just brushing off depression, anxiety and related issues as phases, easy to overcome.

“There are so many kids dealing with depression, self harm, anxiety and alcohol addiction,” emphasizes Shockley. “I think young people have always struggled with it, but now more of them are open to talking about it.”

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Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

With her Little Free Libraries, Shockley has curated her own collection of books, each with personal meaning to her. To that end, she has provided written reviews as to why the books have impacted her. One of her favorites is The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

“I connected to the main character in that book, who felt alone as I did,” reflects Shockley, who admits that while she has significantly improved with respect to her struggles, she still has sad days but has learned to cope with them, and this project has been an integral part of her success.

As part of her project, which requires 80 hours of investment, Shockley not only had to build her library but also have the project approved, write material to be included with the books, and create an online presence to raise further awareness.

She currently has one Free Little Library at the Lilac Center, a psychological treatment center in Kansas City and is also operating a traveling exhibit through the Johnson County Library system, which made stops at the Leawood, Blue Valley, and Antioch locations earlier this year, with additional locations anticipated in the future.

“I hope to have one at the Lilac Center located by Children’s Mercy Hospital downtown; one at Pembroke Middle School; and one at Marillac psychiatric hospital in Overland Park,” she says.

Each library will contain the same selection of books, but Shockley plans to introduce new titles over time. She is in awe, yet extremely humble, over how this project has taken on a life of its own, and the significance of that is not lost on her.

“I have learned about myself so much over the years,” she smiles. “I am a lot stronger now and understand I have the power to impact and encourage people, whether it is someone struggling as I have or even someone who simply wants to understand these issues.”

For more information on this project, go online at ReadingForRecovery.com.

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Dealer Name l Address l City l ZIP l Website

1051 SE Century Dr., Lee’s Summit, MO 64081 SummitFlooringAndTurf.com · 816-886-2747 July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

41

Civic Scene The playground at Gezer Park

Foundation’s Mission to Keep Leawood Distinctive ARTICLE ANNE ROHLING | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

Through donations of all sizes, citizens help the Leawood Foundation fund cultural and educational projects that make our community unique.

Do you ever stroll by the fire pit and Havdalah Garden in Gezer Park, rest on the park benches near the Prairie Lesson sculpture in Ironwoods Park, or visit the historic Oxford one-room schoolhouse? If not for private donations and creative collaboration between Leawood Foundation volunteers and city representatives, these projects may not have come to life through tax dollars alone.

We can thank a “small band of committed citizens,” to quote Margaret Mead, who meet regularly to explore ways to beautify our parks and public areas, educate our young people, support historic preservation and promote accessibility and safety throughout our city.

"The relationship the Parks & Recreation Department has with the Leawood Foundation has provided so many important amenities to the community which, without their tireless efforts, would not have been possible,” says Chris Claxton, department director. Long-time Leawood resident, Alice Hawk, chairs the Foundation.

Goals for 2015 include: • Reconfigure playground equipment at City Park to make it inclusive for children of all abilities

42

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

• Enhance signage and other educational features at Gezer and I-Lan Parks, two recreational areas designed to celebrate and educate visitors about Leawood’s sister cities in Israel and Taiwan • Provide additional sheltered seating areas for canines and their masters at the new Leawoof Dog Park.

In June, Leawood’s AMC Town Center 20 hosted a private showing of the movie “Jayhawkers” to provide seed money for the playground accessibility project. Leawood resident Kip Niven portrays Coach Phog Allen and former Kansas University basketball player Justice Wesley portrays Wilt Chamberlain. The movie was produced by University of Kansas Professor Kevin Willmott.

If you missed the June fundraiser, it is easy to get involved and contribute to community enhancement projects like these year round. Donations are tax deductible and can be designated to specific project(s). Visit the foundation’s new website at LeawoodFoundation.org. Ninety-nine percent of your donation is directed toward foundation projects, you’ll receive quarterly email updates and invitations to grand openings when projects are complete.

Home Matters

Take Stock in Your Valuables This Summer ARTICLE TRACEY KAHLE

S

ummertime is peak time for home sales. Real estate signs pop up like daffodils in the spring and continue long into the summer months. If your home is on the market, there is a never-ending laundry list of “to-do’s.” If you’re not moving, you in all likelihood are not off the hook either.

Two out of three homeowners purchase their home during the summer months. If that includes you, your insurance policy renews at that same time of year. Your insurance agent will likely send you a statement showing the coverages of your home and contents for the upcoming year along with the annual premium rate. Although this is a very important document to review in general, it is even more important to review the scheduled items section - your most valuabled personal possessions.

Furs, rugs, fine art, wine collections and jewelry could very well be a part of your scheduled coverage. The special coverage that protects these valuables should reflect the current cost to replace them. Your appraisal helps define your insurance policy needs and assures a comparable replacement in the event of a loss. Weather, the economy, production costs and collectability are all factors that influence the markets of these collections.

Due to the changes in these markets, if you have not had your appraisals updated in the past two to three years, it is likely that you are not fully covered under your current policy limits.

Seeking out a professional appraiser for your valuable personal property is essential. Unlike real estate appraisers, personal property appraisers are not licensed and there is very little federal or state oversight of these appraisers. So, how do you find a professional appraiser for your most treasured possessions?

Your appraiser should have the experience and qualifications to do the job right. Beyond education and experience in the field specialty they practice, your appraiser should be formally educated in appraisal methodology, appraisal report writing, and be USPAP compliant. Look for an appraiser who has undertaken the accreditation requirements of professional appraisal organizations like the International Society of Appraisers, American Society of Appraisers, and Appraisers Association of America. After all, not only is your appraisal an important document that will help protect you, your appraisal is your peace of mind.

Tracey Kahle, owner of Kahle Appraisals LLC, is a GIA Graduate Gemologist and ISA Certified Appraiser of Personal Property.

44

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

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913.302.7646 • www.ContainerCreationsPlus.com July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

45

Parent's Corner

An Unexpected Answer to Prayer ARTICLE DEANNA RICKE

“C

ome get me. Now.” The text read.

“Ruh-Roh,” Scooby Doo said in my head. Dive practice doesn’t end for another half hour. “Why is my son bailing early?” I wondered.

Ten minutes later he climbed into my car, squinting. “I smacked so hard my contact flew out,” he said quietly. The whole left side of his face was red, his eye swelling. “I smacked so hard I couldn’t breathe. I had to lay there for like 30 seconds, just to catch my breath. Coach said I could go home.”

My son was trying to earn a spot on the state dive team, a rare feat for a freshman, and he had to land a hard dive, a 2 ½, to qualify. I’ve learned that in any dive that ends in a whole number, you enter the water feet first. But any dive that ends in ½, means you enter the water head first, or hopefully, hands first, in a dive position. And if you can’t get around fast enough, you enter the water face first. Hard. Divers call it a face plant. Or a SMACK. When we got home, I handed my son three things: an ice pack, some ibuprofen, and a stack of rejection letters I’ve received over the past year from various publishers who have rejected my book proposal. “I’ve never been brave enough to dive,” I said. “But I sort of know how you feel. This is a writer’s version of smacking,” and I read the middle paragraph of a few letters.

You know all about the middle paragraph if you’ve ever applied for a job. In college, we called those letters the “Thank you, ‘blank’ you, thank you” letters, and we papered our apartment walls with them.

My son didn’t say a thing, but he was up at 4:30 the next morning and back in the pool at 5. I’ve never been prouder.

A few days later I woke up early and started to pray. “Dear God, please let my son hit all of his dives today. Please let him qualify for state. He has worked so hard, and he only has two more chances to qualify. Please.”

A few hours later I watched as my son failed his very first dive of the day.

He was doing 11 dives that day, and he failed the very first one. I watched him swim to the side and take his seat behind the boards, completely dejected. He struggled on his next few dives, unable to recover from his catastrophic start. And that’s when a small miracle occurred.

46

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

As he was drying off after yet another shaky dive, an older diver from another team approached him. He didn’t know my son, and I couldn’t hear their exchange, but whatever he said transformed my son.

My son went from “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” cover boy to Mick Jagger impersonator, strutting around the pool deck like a little rooster. He hit every dive after that, and after each dive, the older boy would meet him at the side and give him a high five.

On the drive home, my son said, “Did you see that guy that came up to me?”

“Ummm, yeah,” I said. What I thought was, “See him? I want to marry him. What did he say?”

“He asked me how old I was. I told him I was a freshman. He said, ‘You’re only a freshman? You’re kidding! I can’t believe you’re trying those dives as a freshman.

You are going to be incredible by your senior year.’ And then he high-fived me after every dive! Did you see that, mom?’”

I nodded. I nodded, but I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t say anything, because I couldn’t speak.

Life is full of smacks: “Your job’s been eliminated.” SMACK. “I’m seeing someone else.” SMACK. “I’m sorry to wake you, this is the police...” SMACK. “We found someone who’s a better fit for this position.” SMACK. “We found a suspicious spot on the x-ray.” SMACK. For some reason, God doesn’t stop us from smacking. He does, however, reward us for not giving up. We can let the water suck us under, or we can suck it up, struggle to the side, haul ourselves out of the water, and get back on that board.

My son had the courage to get back on that board, and it was only then that the senior diver came over to encourage him, to give him some needed perspective.

While he did not qualify for state that day, my prayers were answered, none-theless, and my son taught me a powerful lesson in perseverance. Excuse me, I have some more book proposals to send out.

Deanna Ricke is the President of Captiva Consulting Company and author of Give Us This Day Our Daily Meds Bread: Fighting Fear with Faith When Antidepressants Fail.

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July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

47

Who's Blogging?

Meet Kathleen Fisher, our Prairie Village Neighbor!

COMPLIED BY LISA ALLEN

LEAWOOD LIFESTYLE: Tell us a little bit about yourself.

KATHLEEN FISHER: I am transplanted to Kansas City via Chicago and

then Maryland. We came here with two kids and then had another.

Each of my kids has the distinction of being born in different states.

The plan was to be here for a few years until something else opened up for my husband. We’ve stayed for 23 years. We wanted to stop at three so maybe that’s why we never moved.

LL: Where do you get the inspiration for your posts?

KF: I think most people have a fascinating story to tell. I am always listening and always curious. It seems these tidbits tend to unfold before me – often without me knowing what they even mean. Much later they will show up in my writing.

LL: How many readers does your blog have?

KF: I started five years ago – very much on a wing and a prayer. I

KF: When I post something new I get between 100-200 views. It has taken me a long time to get to that point and believe me, I am grateful for each one.

come from a big family and knew that I’d at least have my siblings and their spouses reading. That’s 10 views right there.

LL: What's been the most popular/viewed post on your blog to date?

LL: When did you start blogging?

KF: I wrote a piece about our son coming out when he was in LL: Why did you start blogging?

KF: I had been in a writers group for a couple of years that met

once a month and so I would work on a piece for each meeting. I knew that if I wanted to get better I would need to write more than that. A blog was the answer and the motivation.

high school. Over the course of a couple of days it got nearly 3,000 views. I will always be proud of that piece. To this day it continues to resonate with parents that find themselves in those shoes.

LL: What's your favorite local restaurant or family attraction?

KF: My husband and I are regulars at Spin Pizza in Prairie Village.

LL: Who is the target audience for your blog?

It’s kind of embarrassing.

KF: I speak to all age ranges, both male and female. I have twen-

ty-somethings reading, as well as middle aged and older.

LL: How often do you blog?

KF: I post something once a week, however, it’s in my head 24/7.

LL: What else do you want us to know?

KF: If you love a blog or someone’s writing let them know. Writing is a lonely endeavor. Interrupt the crickets with a comment or email expressing that. You have no idea how motivating it is to hear.

Read more at ASpeckledTrout.blogspot.com.

48

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

summer sofa sale Details in store. Great savings on all special order sofas.

6960 W. 105th Street Overland Park, KS 66212 Conveniently located one block east of Metcalf on 105th Street

913.438.3868

www.AMHomeFurnishings.com

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

49

you make it a home.

I make it happen,

Being a Leawood resident for over 37 years, serving on the Leawood City Council, the Leawood Planning Commission and the Blue Valley School Board…

I KNOW LEAWOOD. My commitment to each client for the past 19 years is to provide first class service throughout the buying and selling process. You will always work with me.

Marsha Monica,

Call today to ask for your personal My Neighborhood Report which will send you monthly information with what’s on the market, and what’s sold in your own neighborhood.

Broker Associate

913-269-0036 ReeceNichols Real Estate, a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate

5000 W 135th St Leawood, KS 66224 • MarshaDM@ReeceNichols.com

Elegant

Weddings

|

|

|

Newly Restored

Conventions | Restaurant | Couples Retreat | Spa & Grotto Experience | Fitness Room European Lap Pool | Private Setting with Manicured Grounds | Café | Tavern

Located in Excelsior Springs, Missouri 50

Historical

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

1-800-the-elms

ElmsHotelAndSpa.com

Sold Properties

Recently SOLD Leawood Properties neighborhood

list price

sold $$

%sold/list

dom*

bdrms

baths

Hallbrook

$925,000

$875,000

94%

302

5

5.1

Patrician Woods

$635,000

$625,000

98%

133

5

4.1

Pavilions

$649,900

$620,000

95%

24

5

5.1

Leawood Hills

$585,000

$578,000

98%

120

5

3.1

Saddlewood

$499,950

$470,000

94%

13

5

3.2

Verona Gardens

$439,000

$440,000

100%

1

5

4.1

Wilshire

$435,000

$420,000

96%

0

4

4.1

Carriage Crossing

$425,000

$415,000

100%

35

4

4.1

$353,500

$360,000

101%

20

4

3.1

$350,000

$342,000

97%

21

3

2

Waterford Leawood Hills

Information obtained from Comparative Market Analysis for 05-01-15 through 05-31-15. *DOM=Days on Market.

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

51

Lifestyle Calendar

July

ONGOING SCIENCE ON A SPHERE UNION STATION

A stunning and powerful visual perspective of Earth and other objects in our solar system.

Designed and supported by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, SOS utilizes a unique projection system to display animated images using a six-foot suspended carbon fiber sphere. Explore our planet’s dynamic landscapes, oceans and weather.

JULY 8 MOBILE MAKERSPACE SHAWNEE LIBRARY

MakerSpace has gone mobile, and is traveling around the county from library to library.

Mobile MakerSpace lets Makers come together and create with technology! Open to all ages, a 10-year-old can teach classes and a 70-year-old can play with toys; this is DIY learning at its most fun. JoCoLibrary.org

JULY 10 SUMMER WHITE PARTY NELSON-ATKINS MUSEUM OF ART

The YFA Summer White Party continues to grow, both in size and popularity. Please join the Museum for the 6th annual outdoor summer fundraising event hosted by the Young Friends of Art. Guests enjoy Kansas City’s only “white linen” party in the Donald J. Hall Sculpture Park. This year celebrates The Four Seasons, the highly acclaimed works from artist Philip Haas.

JULY 11 INAUGURAL LEAWOOD ROTARY 5K LEAWOOD

Rotarians are working to make a difference in the world. Join your friends and neighbors at this family friendly, dog-friendly 5K. The start is at 114th & Tomahawk Creek Pkwy at 8 a.m. More information about the race at: LeawoodRotaryRun.com. Register at RunSignUp.com/ Race/KS/Leawood/LeawoodRotary5KRun. 52

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

JULY 16-19 & 23-25 OLIVER! IRONWOODS PARK AMPHITHEATER

over 50 million records worldwide and Rolling Stones Magazine includes her in its 100 Greatest Singers List. KauffmanCenter.org

Enjoy a free night of local theater in the park.

Some seating is available or bring blankets or chairs for lawn seating. The show starts at 8 p.m. Picnics welcome. LeawoodStageCo.org

JULY 17 WEEKENDER- REX HOBART & THE MISERY BOYS AND "PITCH PERFECT" CROWN CENTER

Cap off your work week with top local bands and favorite food trucks. Shop the wares of KC artisans and finish the evening with a famous flick under the stars. The July 17th WeekEnder features a screening of "Pitch Perfect." Festivities begin at 5 p.m., music at 6 p.m., with the movie starting at approximately 9 p.m. Complimentary admission. (Please note pets are not permitted at the event.) 816.274.8444

JULY 17 PATTI LABELLE KAUFFMAN CENTER

GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Patti LaBelle is widely regarded as the queen of rock & soul music. She has received acclaim for many of her songs, including "Lady Marmalade," "When You Talk About Love" and "New Attitude." LaBelle has sold over 50 million records worldwide and Rolling Stones Magazine includes her in its 100 Greatest Singers List. GRAMMY Award-winning vocalist Patti LaBelle is widely regarded as the queen of rock & soul music. She has received acclaim for many of her songs, including "Lady Marmalade," "When You Talk About Love" and "New Attitude." She began her career as part of the Ordettes in 1959, who became The Bluebelles in 1961. Commonly named the ‘Godmother of Soul’, Patti LaBelle has spent over 50 years in the music industry.

Her success as a solo artist began in 1983 when she released her hit album I'm in Love Again. Patti LaBelle has been inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the Apollo Hall of Fame and the Songwriters' Hall of Fame. In 2005, the World Music Awards presented her with the coveted Legend Award. LaBelle has sold

JULY 18 CULTIVATE KANSAS CITY PENN VALLEY PARK

Hosted by Chipotle, this is a free-admission festival celebrating food, music and ideas. Intended to get people thinking and talking about food and creating a more sustainable future, Cultivate features celebrity chefs; local food artisans, breweries and wineries; an exclusive Chipotle Festival menu; and interactive experiences focused on sustainable food. ChipotleCultivate.com

JULY 22 SUNFLOWER CRAFT SOCIAL MATT ROSS COMMUNITY CENTER

Bring your children or grandchildren to celebrate the state flower of Kansas - the sunflower! Both children and adults will complete their own sunflower craft keepsakes while enjoying light refreshments on the patio. $5 per person ($6 nonresidents). 913.764.7759

IT’S A WHOLE NEW ANIMAL.

THE ALL - NEW WOLVERINE.

™

Introducing the latest member of the Yamaha off-road family. One of the wild’s most tenacious and aggressive creatures, its ability to traverse extreme terrain with superior handling and off-road capability is unparalleled. It features Yamaha’s legendary Ultramatic® automatic transmission, On-Command® 4WD, class-leading long-travel suspension, plus so much more. The all-new Wolverine. It’s an entirely new breed of off-road animal.

816-942-8900 13611 Holmes Road, KCMO | www.renoskc.com 13611 Holmes Road KC, MO 64145

www.renoskc.com Professional drivers depicted on a closed course. Always protect the environment and wear your seat belt, helmet, eye protection and protective clothing. Read the owner’s manual and product warning labels before operation. Model shown with Genuine Yamaha Accessories. ©2015 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved. • YamahaWolverine.com

Our Only Growth Strategy Is Yours.

From our beginning, our plan was to build a financial advisory firm large enough to offer all of the services and capabilities of the largest firms, yet manage our growth in a way that to allows our two founders and firm principals — Katheigh Degen and Raleigh Lang — to be deeply engaged with every client, from planning through implementation, and providing ongoing financial guidance, year after year. We remain committed to that philosophy because we believe growing and protecting your wealth and business is our only business.

Specialized expertise for Personal & Business Financial Solutions

816-333-2334 • www.twinfinancial.com rlang@twinfinancial.com • kdegen@twinfinancial.com Katheigh Degen and Raleigh Lang are registered representatives of and offer securities, investment advisory and financial planning services through MML Investors Services, LLC. Member SIPC. Supervisory Office: 4801 Gallardia Parkway, Ste. 250, Oklahoma City, OK 73142. Phone (405) 486-1400. Twin Financial is not a subsidiary or affiliate of MML Investors Services, LLC, or its affiliated companies.

BCC4042b_3_Lang 515

CRN201701-189654

July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

53

Lifestyle Calendar (CONTINUED)

JULY 27- AUGUST 1 JOHNSON COUNTY FAIR GARDNER

This annual event includes all of the county fair fun you remember from your childhood.

There are food stands, rodeos, a carnival, live music and animal shows. Find the details at JoCoKansasFair.com.

Carpet Tile & Stone Wood Floors Heated Tile

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Custom Showers

CARPET SALE 0% Financing for 12 Months WAC

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Any Purchase of $1500 or More

Call today to schedule a home visit or visit our showroom (by appointment only)

605 W Dennis, Olathe, KS 66061

913.780.6060 www.LegacyFlooring1.com 54

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

Expires 7/31/15

COUNTRY CLUB OF LEAWOOD

Join friends and neighbors for the first ever Jeff Flottman Foundation golf tournament.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Avenues of Life, an organization working to break the cycle of poverty in Kansas City. For details, email JeffFlottmanFoundation@gmail.com.

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business directory ANIMALS & ANIMAL CARE Puppy’s Playpen (913) 648-3647 puppysplaypen.com

ART & PHOTOGRAPHY Paper Planes Photography (816) 519-0928

Twin Financial (816) 333-2334 twinfinancial.com

CHARITIES & FUNDRAISERS

HEALTH & WELLNESS

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

DRY CLEANERS

Natures Touch (816) 942-3240 greenearthcleaning.com Tide Dry Cleaners (913) 534-4569 tidedrycleaners.com

EDUCATION

The Barstow School (816) 277-0413 barstowschool.org

ENTERTAINMENT & RECREATION Longview Mansion (816) 761-6669 longviewmansion.com

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

FASHION & ACCESSORIES Styling Solutions (816) 896-9845

Town Center Plaza (913) 498-1111 towncenterplaza.com VanBrock (913) 341-7273 vanbrock.com

FINANCIAL SERVICES & PLANNING ETF Portfolio Partners, Inc. (913) 851-1100 etfpp.com 56

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

American Heart Association strokeassociation.org/ warningsigns Healthy Meals Inc (816) 587-6325 healthymealsinc.com Reflections Body Solutions Body Contouring and Medical Spa (913) 322-3433 reflectionsbodysolutions.com

HOME BUILDERS & REMODELERS Koenig Building (816) 457-9445 koenigbuilding.com

Larson Building Company (913) 221-0880 larsonbc.com Tabernacle Homes, LLC (913) 706-4500 tabernaclehomes.com

HOME DESIGN & FURNISHINGS

A&M Home Furnishings (913) 438-3868 amhomefinishings.com Burlington Mattress Company (816) 885-3212 kcbed.com Container Creations Plus (913) 302-7646 containerscreationplus.com Design Connection Inc (913) 851-8776 designconnectioninc.com

Elegant Outlook, LLC d/b/a Budget Blinds Of Overland Park (913) 402-1600 budgetblinds.com/overlandpark Seasonal Concepts (913) 642-4999 seasonalconceptsonline.com Ten Thousand Villages (913) 642-8368 overlandpark. tenthousandvillages.com

HOME SERVICES

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

HCA Midwest Health/ Overland Park Regional (913) 397-1000 kcfaster.com Kansas Medical Clinic, PA (KMC) (844) 562-3376 kmcpa.com Saint Luke’s Health Systems (913) 317-7139 golifekc.org

PROPERTY & REAL ESTATE Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Kansas City (913) 345-8877 goldsteinteam.com

Kahle Appraisals (913) 912-9122 kahleappraisals.com

Gail G. Dicus Keller Williams Realty (913) 709-1060 gaildicus.com

Legacy Flooring Gallery (913) 780-6060 legacyflooring1.com

Reece & Nichols - Marsha Monica (913) 269-0036 marshamonica.reeceandnichols.com

LuLu & Mimi’s Cleaning (913) 649-6022 luluandmimis.com

The Communities at River Ridge (816) 898-5477 lettinann.com

Midwest Lifetime Roof Systems The Kim Yuille Team (913) 558-9533 (913) 393-3008 kimskeytokc.com lifetimeroofsystems.com Snowbird Maintenance (816) 723-7439 snowbirdmaintenance.com Summit Flooring and Turf (816) 886-2747 summitflooringandturf.com

MEDICAL CLINICS & FACILITIES

Childrens Mercy South (913) 696-8000 childrensmercy.org/rankings Fairway Eye Center (913) 491-9123 fairwayeyecenter.com

RESTAURANTS, FOOD & BEVERAGE Corner Bakery and Cafe (913) 766-0486 cornerbakerycafe.com Red Door Grill (913) 222-4959 reddoorgrill.com

TRAVEL & LEISURE The Elms Resort & Spa (800) 843-3567 elmshotelandspa.com

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13143 State Line Rd. KCMO 816.942.3240 July 2015 | Leawood Lifestyle

57

Parting Thoughts

Traveling Light is a Heavy Task WORDS DENSIE SNODELL

I

’ve always been one of those “travel light” snobs. Nothing beats that free feeling of weaving briskly through airports with a dainty spinner grip in one hand, and a feathery boarding pass in the other.

Pre-flight, I always notice overburdened pilgrims lined up at the check-in cattle pens.

They stand there, motionless, waiting to weigh in their Samsonite beasts. I glance over, a little judge-y, wondering why they prefer walk-in closets on wheels.

Post-flight, when I breeze by baggage claim on my way to ground transportation, I am reminded again of the albatross crowd. I dash by the carousels with my stealthy “personal item” hooked to my sleek carry on. With nothing to claim but lightness, I glance at the heavy bags emerging from rubber curtains, tumbling onto moaning conveyor belts. I think, “Holy sciatica. Good luck getting THAT steamer trunk off the merry-go-round.”

Correction. That’s how I used to think.

Now I’m not so sure the light way is the right way. I recently had a packing epiphany.

When my college son was preparing for a summer study abroad course, he was determined to travel light.

58

Leawood Lifestyle | July 2015

(Genetics.) He figured the residence would have laundry facilities anyway, so his goal was to cross an ocean without checking in a suitcase. I think it crossed his mind he didn’t want to lose luggage due to tight connections. He had one of those “not recommended for overseas” short layovers.

He told me, “I just want a backpack under the seat, and a carry on above my head. That’s it.”

Imagine going to Europe for six weeks with just a carry on. What a challenge.

Lucky for him, he’s related to the Small Suitcase Sensei.

So, per my advice, the kid spent a lot of effort strategizing what would go in his small bags. A week before the trip, he did a mock packing test for his overhead compartment suitcase. How many shorts? How many shirts? One or two dress slacks?

What room was left for books, electronics and other necessary flotsam?

Both of us spent hours gathering tiny, foldable, bendable necessities. A few days before departure, college boy set up a staging area for his small spinner case and backpack. There was an absolutely necessary pile. A yes pile. A maybe pile.

He folded, refolded, triaged and re-triaged. Not a molecule of oxygen was left in either bag. It was a scientific victory.

On departure day, he arrived at the airport with his compressed belongings and an expanded sense of pride. But the international flight was full. Guess what: The airline made him check-in his carry-on bag. How could they? Didn’t they know he had a special sham-wow-like towel and a collapsible toothbrush? This was a travesty.

In retrospect, he could have thrown his entire wardrobe, a commercial computer printer and a bowling ball into a Winnebago-sized suitcase in about 10 seconds flat.

His small spinner valise made the close connection through Paris, so obviously a 50-pound monster on wheels would have as well. The kid had been burdened with a time-consuming compacting strategy, and for what?

Now I know. Effort-wise, if you travel heavy or light, all luggage is baggage.

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