Northland Lifestyle December 2013 by City Lifestyle

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december 2013

NorthlandLifestyle.com

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SEE THE WORLD

With Young Eyes

tracy resseguie brings music to the world let flavors fly at nkc cafe meet brie and brian: lego lovers

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Editor's Letter

The Generous Season

fter the craziness of Black Friday cools to a gentle simmer but before the panic of Green Monday (December 23, the biggest shipping day of this year), is Giving Tuesday. This initiative is to get people to focus on not just the buying season, but the giving season. In this case, it is focused on giving back to your community through not-for-profits and volunteer efforts. Find out more at GivingTuesday.org. I found out about this last year and have loved the idea ever since. The separation of the ideas of buying and giving is an important one, more so as our society becomes more consumer-obsessed. I think our Senior Living issue is a great way to tie into this theme. When you think of your parents’ or your grandparents’ generations, you think of the things that they sacrificed to make sure that we could live the lives that we now enjoy. They not only gave of themselves when they were younger, they are now giving us the wisdom that only comes of experience. And spoiling our kids, of course. Tracy Resseguie is a perfect example of this. This young choir director was so inspired by his grandfather’s journey to the new world that he delved into his immigration story in song. What he found was how much his ancestor had given up in order to fulfill a better dream of the future. As our parents age and bond with our children, they give the unconditional love that can only come from not having to be the main disciplinarian. As Tom Strongman explores in his piece about traveling with his grandchildren, there’s a special relationship that can only develop with daily contact, which is hard when people are generations apart. A life-changing trip abroad can be the bridge between those generations. As the holidays come closer to us, I challenge you to find ways to give that aren’t on a shopping list. Donate time to your local shelter or charity of choice. Give a lonely neighbor a hug and share a cup of cocoa. Give generously because you have been so richly blessed. The truly extravagant gestures are the ones that come from giving of ourselves. They are hard to wrap, but they last so much longer.

december 2013 editor Rachel C. Murphy | RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com

contributing writers Lisa Allen, Lisa Harrison, Alexandra Bush, Pete Dulin, Kendra Mathewson, Elizabeth Rosenberger, Tom Strongman, Cristin Walters

contributing photographers Deanna Johnson, Cristine May, Lani Odell, Gallery Portraiture/Tracey Spisak

advertising sales Heather Getz | HGetz@LifestylePubs.com Holly Juckette | HJuckette@LifestylePubs.com

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 president | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore

it director | Randy Aufderheide

Happy Holidays!

by Community ™

Rachel Murphy, Editor RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com Traveling with grandchildren can be a bonding experience that transcends generational gaps. Find out more on page 38.

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On the Cover:

| NorthlandLifestyle.com | 6 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

Proverbs 3:5-6 Contact us at: 7373 W 107th St., Ste. 201 Overland Park, KS 66212 913.599.4300 | NorthlandLifestyle.com Northland Lifestyle™ Magazine is published monthly by Kingdom Holdings LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of North Kansas City’s most affluent suburbs. Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Kingdom Holding’s opinions. No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent. Kingdom Holdings 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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December 2013

Departments

Good Times

Around Town

Giving Back

Hot Spot

30 Locally Owned 32

Parentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Corner

Animal Tracks

46 Field Trip 48 Home Matters 50 Family Feature

38 Grandkids Abroad!

Traveling with the younger generations

can be a learning experience for both

Page Turners

Sold Properties

Lifestyle Calendar

66 Parting Thoughts

42 The Rock of KC

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44 Tracy Resseguie and the Staley Choir

Director finds his roots and inspires new generations with song

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Greek jewelry designer Konstantino “Kosta” Sioulas traveled from Athens, Greece for a trunk show at Meierotto Midwest Jewelers featuring thousands of items from his Konstantino line of handmade, sterling silver and 18K gold designer jewelry.

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12 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

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Around Town Rymer Named to American Heart Association Board of Directors Dr. Marilyn Rymer, vice president of neurosciences at The University of Kansas Hospital headquartered in Kansas City, Kansas has been appointed to the board of directors of the American Heart Association, Midwest Affiliate for a two-year term. In this role, Rymer will help lead the achievement of the association’s mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke through oversight of local revenue generation and health impact activities. As a member of the Midwest Affiliate Board of Directors, Rymer will help oversee the American Heart Association’s efforts in an 11-state region, comprised of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

Boulevard to Donate to Synergy Services Boulevard Brewing Company’s new initiative directs to local charities a full 10% of the company’s revenue from sales of KC Pilsner in the Greater Kansas City area. Synergy Services is one of three organizations that will benefit from sales of Boulevard KC Pils right now through December 31. Don’t forget to pick up some KC Pils on your way home!

Jet Couture Jewels Opens on the Plaza Jet Couture Jewels, a local jewelry design company, announces the debut of its first retail location on the Country Club Plaza. The store will feature original designs inspired by a love of travel. “We could not be more excited about our new store and the location. This is an opportunity of a ilfetime,” says Jet Couture Jewels Owner and Designer Mary Burger. Although the store is new to the Plaza, Jet Couture Jewels is carried locally in some of the higher end boutiques of Kansas City. Webster House and Clique Boutique both showcase a large selection of hand-crafted pieces. Jet Couture Jewels is a destination for shoppers seeking distinct designs crafted with precious metals and the fines gemstones - including a variety of crystals and freshwater pearls. The one-of-a-kind designs create pieces that can be worn for every occasion. Jet Couture Jewels will operate during normal Plaza hours. The store is located at 4709 Central. For more information, visit JetCoutureJewels.com.

Starlight Theatre Announces 2014 Season Starlight Theatre’s 64th Broadway Season will offer another unforgettable summer of shared experiences with five family-friendly productions that include a mix of classic

Running Well Store Voted Among 50 Best Running Stores in America The Running Well Store has been selected as one of The 50 Best Running Stores in America by Competitor magazine and Running Insight. The selection caps off a year-long process, which included a mystery shopping of the store, feedback from key vendors and an analysis of support of the local running community. The 50 Best Awards will be presented during a dinner on December 5 at The Hilton Austin during The Running Event and published in the January issue of Competitor magazine. Each store selected to The 50 Best will receive a beautiful plaque to display in their store.

St. Charles Catholic School Opens Box Tops Store The Box Tops for Education Program was started in 1996. Since then they have given 525 million dollars to over 90,000 kindergarten-8th grade schools nationwide. St. Charles Catholic School is on a mission to raise money for their school and their Box Tops Coordinator, MaryJo Thompson, has come up with some creative ways to do just that. Thompson requested a portion of a classroom so she could set up a “Box Tops Store.” She was granted an entire classroom. “I am beyond thrilled!” she says. “Having

Silver Alert Preparedness This past spring, a Silver Alert was issued for an area woman. She was eventually found along I-29 in Iowa, safely, in her car. Clearly she got turned around and just kept driving. If your aging relative were to get lost while driving around town, are you prepared to give local police their vital information? Do you know their approximate height and weight? Do you know the year, make and model of their car? And do you know their license plate number? All of this information would be vitally important. Consider writing it down and keeping it in a safe place. If your relative owns a smartphone, consider downloading a family locator app so that you can ‘track’ your family member in an emergency. 16 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

Broadway favorites and new contemporary rock shows. The lineup includes “The Wizard of Oz” (Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new production), “We Will Rock You,” “Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Sound of Music” and “Blue Man Group.“

an entire classroom dedicated to educating our teachers, staff, students and families about the benefits of this program is exciting.” Currently, St. Charles is raising money to upgrade the roof, windows and HVAC system to get air conditioning in the east wing of school. Thanks to many generous donations, the students are able to turn their box tops in for trinkets and toys. They may also save their

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box tops to work toward a bigger item such as a board game or lava lamp. If you have orphan box tops that you would like to donate to St. Charles Please feel free to contact MaryJo Thompson, St. Charles Box Tops Coordinator. 816.436.1009 or jojo2966@yahoo.com

Red Kettle Campaign Returns Every holiday season, people across the country, including here in Kansas City, look forward to the return of a cherished Christmas tradition. For more than 100 years, The Salvation Army red kettles have represented the love and hope of the holidays. They are also a reminder that The Salvation Army helps people in crisis, not only this time of year, but all year long. Over the last year, The Salvation Army in Kansas City provided more than 347,600 meals, 123,200 nights of lodging and emergency assistance to 62500 people in need. You can give at its kettles or at SalArmyMoKan.org.

Cerner Corporation Wins Look North Award The Clay County EDC’s November 6th meeting featured a special recognition of Cerner Corporation and the first public presentation of the Economic Master plan for Clay County. Julie Wilson, senior vice president and chief people officer for Cerner, accepted the Look North Award and provided a brief history of the company in Clay County. In a break from tradition this was the first corporate award in Look North’s 34 years. “This company clearly proves that the American dream still works,” says selection committee member Anita Gorman. “In 35 years, three visionary entrepreneurs went from almost nothing to a multi-billion dollar corporation.” The banquet also featured the unveiling of the Clay County Strategic Planning Initiative. The Initiative has been developed through a series of public meetings throughout Clay County. Chaired by Greg Canuteson and Jerry Nolte, the effort is developing a world-class economic strategy for Clay County. Meetings have focused on education, business infrastructure, transportation and more.

“A tremendous amount of research, thought and work has went into the development of this plan,” says EDC Chairman Tony Reinhart. “This plan will help all of the communities create economic opportunities to their citizens.”

A Spectacular Christmas for Toys for Tots The performers for A Spectacular Christmas Holiday Show, December 5-22 at Crown Center’s Off Center Theatre, have teamed up to support Toys for Tots. Two area Marines will attend most of the holiday productions of the Musical Theatre Heritage shows, and anyone who brings a new, unwrapped toy will be given one free ticket to the show. (Toys must have a $10 minimum value. One toy for every two people. Left and right seats only.) Additionally, the team at MTH is donating 100 tickets to Toys for Tots to be shared with local families, Marines and volunteers. For details about the show, visit MusicalTheaterHeritage.com.

Hotel Sorella Now Open on the Plaza   Kansas Citians and out-of-town visitors can now experience an oasis for the refined at heart, as the newest jewel of the city opened its doors. Hotel Sorella Country Club Plaza made its Kansas City debut, opening to the public in early November. Tucked amid the ornate fountains and elegant courtyards of the premier shopping district, Hotel Sorella is sure to be something special for visitors. Guests can expect to find a breathtaking view from the rooftop pool, which features fire pits, cabanas and a luxe bar. The hotel features two restaurants – Francesca’s is an airy and elegant space offering a daily European breakfast. Rosso offers upscale Italian dining, accompanied by wonderful views of the city. Guests can enjoy a complimentary European breakfast, a complete fitness center and a spa suite. Hotel Sorella has 132 guest rooms, nine spacious suites and a presidential suite. It also has meeting and event space, meeting rooms with state-of-the-art technology – for corporate meetings, social gatherings and weddings. Hotel Sorella is located at 901 W. 48th Place. For more information visit HotelSorella-CountryClubPlaza.com. December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 19

Around Town

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Your help is needed! North Kansas City is conducting community research to help create the perfect brand message for North Kansas City to attract residents, visitors and businesses. You can participate by taking the survey at BrandNKC.com or at SurveyMonkey.com/s/brandnkc. You can also text the key word BRANDNKC to 41411.

Northlanders Awarded at Annual Breakfast NNI hosted its Annual Awards Breakfast on October 25 at the new Courtyard by Marriott in Briarcliff. The award recipients were John Dillingham, Jay Dillingham Lifetime Achievement Award; Bayer CropScience, Good Neighbor Business of the Year Award; Jeff Williams, Ruthanne Harper Outstanding Public Service Award; Richard Allen and Brandon Cook, Richard Noll Excellence in Government Service Award; Nichole Elliott, Larry McManus Good Neighbor Award; and Kirk Davis, President’s Award. BridgePointe and North Bennington were awarded for the Reta Jo Mitchell Best Neighborhood Newsletter and Article award. NNI would like to thank Bayer CropScience, KCMO Aviation Department, Kansas City—City Manager’s Department, Hunt Midwest, R.H. Johnson Company, Burns and McDonnell and their other gracious sponsors who support their mission to build a stronger Northland.

Synergy Services Takes a Stand Against Bullying

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Bullying is now at the forefront of the news as a result of a complaint coming from a prominent NFL team about alleged player misconduct between teammates. The basis of the complaint is that one teammate felt as though he was the target of bullying-type behavior from other teammates. Synergy Services is the Kansas City area’s leading authority on how to prevent, identify and provide tips for teachers, parents and students who may be dealing with a bullying situation. As an agency focused not only on treating the effects of abuse and violence, but also preventing them, Synergy addresses this critical situation through our STOP Violence programs.

The programs utilize curricula customized for age and gender to teach empathy and respect and introduce youth, parents and school personnel to proven strategies that prevent and overcome bullying behavior. Synergy Services STOP Violence program has three areas of focus. Safe Dates is the only evidence-based curriculum that prevents dating abuse: a factor often linked to alcohol and other drug use. Highly engaging and interactive, this program helps 7th-12th grade teens recognize the difference between caring, supportive relationships and controlling, manipulative, or abusive dating relationships. Get Connected is the turn-key solution to bullying prevention that can create lasting change in a school climate. The program proactively addresses current trends in bullying by means of a three-pronged approach, where the unique needs of youth (K-8th grade), school faculty, and parents can meet in separate workshop sessions. STEP Up is a bullying prevention program designed for a select group of influential 5th-9th grade girls who have the ability to change social norms. For more information, visit Synergy Services.org

And Now…A Word from our Sponsors Lifestyle Publications, publishers of Northland Lifestyle magazine, have moved their national corporate offices to the former Sun Publications building at I-435 and Metcalf. They will share space with the building owner, Sunlight Sauna and Day Spa. Lifestyle Publications was founded in 2009 with the launch of Leawood Lifestyle. At that time they had three part and full-time employees. Four years later they produce and distribute 15 community focused magazines around the county including three other magazines distributed in the Kansas City area: Johnson County Lifestyle, Lee’s Summit Lifestyle and Leawood Lifestyle, and they employ more than a dozen people. Their new address is 7373 West 107th Street, Overland Park, KS.

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December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 21

Giving Back

Here’s to the Good Old Days Shepherd’s Center of the Northland assists older adults with quality of life Article Pete Dulin | Photography Deanna Johnson, A Day to Adore Photography

s teens, we strive for independence. As adults, we value the ability to be self-sufficient and accomplished. Throughout life, we crave social connection. These needs don’t diminish as we grow older, but they can become harder to achieve. Fortunately, older citizens have been able to turn to Shepherd’s Center of the Northland as a resource and supportive network for over two decades. Established in 1990, the community-oriented, non-profit organization promotes the physical, mental and social well being of older adults and assists them in maintaining their dignity, continued productivity and independence. Programs and services provided by Shepherd’s Center of the Northland address the many challenges and barriers faced by aging adults. The Center’s outreach includes 22 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

residents of southern Clay County, which includes Gladstone, Liberty, and North Kansas City, and southern Platte County. Getting assistance for health, socialization and other areas has positive benefits for seniors in need, according to Rebecca Gordon, executive director of Shepherd’s Center. “It is a chance for people to stay in their home longer and have access to family, friends and neighbors,” she says. “Our clients feel less isolated and have a sense of camaraderie.” The services and programs provided by Shepherd’s Center have made a significant impact on the quality of life of older Northlanders. Gordon cites 2012 records indicating that more than 2,600 people in the Northland used more than 57,100 services or attended programs organized by the center.

“Our transportation service is actively used,” Gordon says. “Public transportation isn’t great in the Northland. Our volunteers helped to drive clients in 2012 on 5,695 round trips.” Free services also include acting as an information clearinghouse, arranging volunteers for handyman jobs and social visits, personal shopping, grief support, care giving and health care coordination. For example, qualified clients who have complex health care needs, little or no caregiver support and low to moderate income levels turn to Shepherd’s Center Link-AGE program for assistance. The health care support program, established in fall 2010, provides guidance on assessment, organization, planning, communication, advocacy, scheduling and monitoring. This service is instrumental in enabling many clients to achieve better health, while maintaining independent community living. “Our volunteers help people apply for and receive benefits on the federal, state and local level,” Gordon says. Link-AGE utilizes the National Council on Aging’s BenefitsCheckUp.org to initiate the search for programs that may benefit area seniors. Using the report as a guide, a benefits counselor then assists clients in selecting programs to apply for and helping them with the application process. Almost 500 Clay County Seniors have participated in Link-AGE, and more than

three-fourths of those have received financial or other assistance through the program. Notably, more than $1 million dollars in benefits and financial assistance has been received by the low-income community-dwelling older adults in Clay County since the program’s debut. Enrichment is the center’s other key focus. Enrichment programs create opportunities for older adults to share their many

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areas of expertise with others in the community and to also continue learning and growing themselves. The BreakTime Club meets weekly under the supervision of a registered nurse and is a great day out for frail people with beginning Alzheimers, Parkinson’s disease, and other ailments. The day is filled with activities including crafts, bingo, music therapy and people who care. Gordon recalls a gentleman that had suffered a stroke two years ago and afterward was limited in communicating emotion through facial expression. “He attended a marshmallow fight at BreakTime Club and participated with other clients, staff and volunteers,” Gordon says. “After the fight, we looked over and he was smiling. It was the first emotion he expressed in two years.” Learning and Laughter is a twice-monthly program for able-bodied older adults who need a fun day out with transportation provided. Area congregations graciously provide a van to pick up and take home those who yearn for a day of fellowship with peers. Lunch is provided. Experts offer advice on physical therapy, music therapy and other areas of learning. Fun activities spice up the outings as well. Shepherd’s Center of the Northland, affiliated with Shepherd’s Centers of America, a national association of more than 70 centers serving older adults across the United States, operates with a small staff of two full-time members, nine part-time associates and approximately 400 retirees, working persons and student volunteers. More than 49,000 hours were donated last year by volunteers to fulfill the center’s mission. “The motivation to volunteer is to give back. It gives our older volunteers in the community something of value to do,” says Gordon. “They can learn a new skill and stay active. Shepherd’s Center is a caring organization from our staff to the volunteers. People appreciate the caring atmosphere and support given.”

Shepherd’s Center North Monday – Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Antioch Community Church 4805 NE Antioch Road, Suite 9 Kansas City, MO 64119 Phone: 816.452.4536 Fax: 816.452.5326

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24 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

It Takes a Community to Make a Community...

Bank Midwest presents

Special Holiday Events Nov 23

Union Station Holiday Lighting Ceremony with KFKF Kiss Under the Clock with 99.7 The Point’s Kelly Urich

Nov 29

Holiday Choir Sing Along with KFKF

Nov 30

Holiday Pirate Pancake Breakfast

DEC 14

Story Time with Mrs. Claus

Come visit Primrose Retirement Community of Kansas City – the premiere senior living community in the Northland!

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At Primrose, there is so much to do and see. Watch a movie in our new theater, enjoy a game in the pub, work out with friends in the wellness center, enjoy a night on the town with your sweetheart or take in a dinner theater or play performance right outside your front door!

Kansas City Southern’s Holiday Express Train with Santa

For more information or to set up a tour of our beautiful community, call Karen at (816) 468-8282 for a tour and come see why we say...

Holiday Dance Showcase Featuring Miller Marley School of Dance & Voice, Ibsen Dance Theatre, and Steppin Out - The Studio

DEC18-22 DEC 21

Polar Express Pajama Party

DEC 31

Noon Year’s Eve in Science City

And DON’T MISS these unique Union Station attractions: See it before it sails!

Real Pirates, an exhibition from National Geographic

Enjoy the Holidays on the Region’s Biggest Screen! Special movies playing at the Regnier Extreme Screen Theatre

Catch a Live Holiday Production at City Stage! ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas presented by Theatre for Young America, Nov 26 - Dec 28

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Hot Spot

NKC Café Takes Diners on a Voyage around the World TWA permeates the culture of this Mediterranean restaurant Article Rachel Murphy Photography Deanna Johnson, A Day to Adore Photography

he old saying about life and lemons is only cute when it’s not your life and you truly enjoy lemonade. Luckily for Moe Moeness, owner of the TWA themed Greek/American blend North Kansas City Café, he has taken the crash of his industry and created a homey stop in for Mediterranean food lovers in North Kansas City. The café, which is swathed in posters and

26 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

memorabilia from the glory days of TWA, is a bit of a step back in time. More than just posters, he displays items that former TWA employees around the metro area will recognize. There’s even a sign in book for former employees of the iconic airline. The over all affect is that of a wheels-up approach to life. Moe started the café with his wife Barbara Wilde, after TWA merged with American Airlines in 2001, when thousands of jobs were eliminated. He opened the café hoping to keep the love of TWA alive, as it had been central to the development of Kansas City’s air travel culture as a focus city since the 1960’s. The Café is open for breakfast and lunch only, closing at 3 p.m. On the Saturday that my family dropped in, we were the sole customers, although during the week, I have heard they do a rousing lunch business. We were greeted by Moe, who was manning the kitchen solo, and poured over the menu.

The menu is split into two parts, American and Greek. While we looking over things, Moe brought out samples of pita with anchovy-laden olive tapenade to pique our appetites. We started with a house sampler ($8) that included hummus, baba ghanoush, dolmades, spanokopita, olive tapenade and a Persian dip made with nuts and pomegranate served with warm pita bread. The hummus was a standout with a nice lemony kick and the fruit dip was something I had never had that proved to be one of my favorite sauces. The American side of the menu has a list of hamburgers and sandwiches that will appeal to any palate. One of my group tried the philly cheese steak ($7.50) served with a side of chips. The meat was tender and flavorful, and the sandwich was loaded with sautéed peppers and onions. Other items, such as the chicken Panini topped with pesto mayo and mozzarella cheese ($6) had great flavor, but were slightly overcooked. With only one person in the kitchen, it may have gone unnoticed. The American menu also includes several salads and steak options. On the Greek side of the fence, the menu features gyros, sampler platters and salads at significantly less than other Mediterranean restaurants around town. I tried the gyro meat platter ($9.50) which included a perfectly seasoned pile of steak kabob pieces, thinly cut chicken and gyro meat, as well as a salad and fries. The chicken was once again a bit dry, but the steak and gyro meat more than made up for it.

My husband tried the Greek burger ($8) which sounded like an intriguing mix of the two menus. While it may have seemed like a good idea in theory, putting a half pound patty on two slices of pita bread just proved to be unwieldy to eat. The spices were good, but the idea could have been translated more successfully. By the time of an offer of dessert came around, there was no way that we could partake, but they do offer not only the

traditional baklava but also a cake of the week, which tempted us from a nearby case. They also offer weekly and daily specials, such as quiche and pastas. Overall, NKC Café offers a wide variety of entrees for anyone in the downtown NKC area, with a friendly smile and possibly a tale from the days when air travel was still glamorous and exotic. I would happily go back and try more of their menu and hear more about the life and the lemonade at NKC Café.

Details NKC Café 414 Armour Road North Kansas City 816.421.1494

Open Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

MM Property Management & Remodeling Design/Build FULL SERVICE REMODELING |

913 871 6867 | MMPMR.com December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 27

“I feel like a new me.” — Dan, 25

Whether you’re considering clear aligners, retainers or today’s braces, an orthodontist is the smart choice. Orthodontists are specialists in straightening teeth and aligning your bite. They have two to three years of education beyond dental school. So they’re experts at helping you get a great smile — that feels great, too.

Dustin Burleson, DDS & Associates Kansas City • Liberty • Excelsior Springs • Raymore Burleson Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry 4135 N Mulberry Drive Kansas City, MO 64116 (816) 533-7568 © 2013 American Association of Orthodontists.

Locally Owned

Senior Helpers Angels in disguise: changing the landscape of elder care Article Elizabeth Rosenberger Photography Lani Odell

uality of life. We all want that for ourselves and our aging parents. Part of that dynamic is being independent and staying independent and with parents living into the eighth and ninth decades of life, a new question arises: if my parents need help when they grow older, am I able to help them? As the cost of eldercare escalates and social security spirals down, am I planning for their future, as they have planned for mine? Melissa and Keith Moran, owners of the Kansas City North location of Senior Helpers, have been dedicated to helping seniors for more than two decades. Whether moving their family and young children in with her grandparents, moving her parents into their home, or helping the hundreds of Northland families over the last six years, the Morans and their dedicated staff continue to put seniors’ needs first by providing home care. Senior Helpers is one of only 11 Alzheimer’s Foundation of America CARES affiliate offices across the country; they are dedicated to educating our community about the disease thru their unique Senior Gems® program, including the medical and senior communities, caregiv30 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

ers and families alike. Located at 851 NW 45th Street in Gladstone, Melissa is a Certified Senior Advisor. “Children want the best for their parents but find themselves conflicted with their own busy lives,” says Melissa. “They’re raising their own families, supporting college age students, working and loving their own grandkids. They need help caring for their parents, who are living longer than ever and now they have options.” Melissa stresses the importance of having conversations early with your parents. Most parents don’t want to feel like they are a burden, but asking open-ended questions and listening to their concerns can help the family make important plans for the future. “We believe that our in-home care is about helping our clients and their families improve their quality of life during the aging process, maintain peace of mind, and enjoy independence in their own homes,” Melissa says. “Everyone wants to remain independent and live in their own home. Our flexible scheduling and creative solutions makes home care an affordable option.”

Consider these valuable assets through home care. • Promotes healing • Ensures a safe environment • Allows for maximum amount of freedom for the individual • Provides personalized care • Eases burdens on family If a family member is doing it all on their own to help a loved one, but feels guilty in asking for help, Melissa says that can be a danger. A primary caregiver will wear themselves out and put their own health at risk without help. If they would ask for assistance, they will be able to maintain their role for the long run. “Think of it as a marathon,” she adds. “Runners need time off to recuperate and do not feel guilty about the time to make it happen. If they wait until an emergency arises, more help is needed than if they would have invited us to be a part of the solution earlier, preventing many of the crisis situations.” Senior Helpers services include companion, personal, dementia and live-in care, peace of mind visits, transition and sitter assistance as well as respite care. A professional process-oriented staff helps a prospective client set up a complimentary initial assessment at the client’s

location to discuss the client’s needs and formulate a care plan. Parkville resident Denise Littrell came to Senior Helpers after her father passed away to receive help with her mother who has Alzheimer’s disease. A true ‘sandwich’ family, Littrell was busy raising her own children yet needed to help her mother have quality of life. “The most beneficial thing is knowing that my mother is safe and properly cared for while we’re away,” Littrell says. “The security in this helps to relieve a tremendous amount of stress. The level of training that the caregivers have been given regarding Alzheimer’s and dementia care is remarkable.” The website, StayAtHomeScore.com, is a short quiz that families can take to determine if their loved one needs inhome care. Changes in personal hygiene, eating habits, social habits, ability to get around and medical conditions are assessed to help family members determine the next step. Take the time, show your parents you care, and plan for a future full of quality of life…for them and for you. For more information visit SeniorHelpers.com/ Gladstone or call 816.455.9300.

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Parent’s Corner

Great Places to Take Your Grandkids In & Around Kansas City Article Lisa Harrison | Photography Provided

hether your grandchildren live in the area or visit just visit a few times a year, some of the best memories a grandparent can create with a grandchild involve trips to local venues that are kid-friendly and have lots to see, touch and do. Any outing that involves an element of history will be enhanced when grandma or grandpa can add their personal memories to the commentary. Before school budgets were slashed, area students visited several of these attractions as a part of their science or social studies curriculum. Please don’t assume that your grandchildren have been to these great local attractions just

Powell Gardens

Classes, special exhibits, kid-friendly events.

PowellGardens.org

because they have grown up down the street and around the corner from where they are located. And don’t forget that you can turn the tables on this list. My two boys have enjoyed taking their grandpa to most of these venues over the past fifteen years when he’s in town visiting from Chicago. He was especially fond of the Steamboat Arabia and the Money Museum. Oh, the stories my boys learned about their grandpa who in his youth used to scuba dive for treasures at the bottom of the Chicago River. All because we took him to an amazing museum founded by some local treasure hunters. Happy exploring!

Shatto Milk Farm Tour the farm, meet the cows, taste all of their

flavors! ShattoMilk.com

Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Train garden,

scenic views, Monet garden and more. OPKansas.org/things-tosee-and-do/arboretum-and-botanical-gardens

Deanna Rose Farmstead Feed the goats, fish in the pond, shop

at the General Store. OPKansas.org/Things-to-See-And-Do/ Deanna-Rose-Childrens-Farmstead Steamboat Arabia Local treasure hunters uncovered this Missouri River gem. 1856.com 32 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

Master builders and millions of bricks! LegolandDiscoveryCenter.com/KansasCity

Legoland Discovery Center

Missouri Town 1855 25 buildings make up this living history mu-

seum. JacksonGov.org/MissouriTown The Coterie Theater Theater for children at its best. TheCoterie.org Paradise Park Batting cages, go-karts, mini-golf, climbing wall,

arcade games, Edu-tainment center for young ones, and much, much more! Paradise-Park.com Toy and Miniature Museum Exhibits of antique toys, dolls and memories of yester-year. ToyAndMiniatureMuseum.org Great Wolf Lodge Spend the night for a real indoor water park treat. GreatWolf.com Schlitterbahn Outdoor water park resort at Village West. Schlitterbahn.com/kc Amtrak Day Trip. Take the Amtrak from Downtown Lee’s Summit National WWI Museum at Liberty Memorial Something every

to Union Station and back for a great day of fun! Amtrak.com

area resident should experience. TheWorldWar.org Martha LaFitte Thompson Nature Sanctuary Learn about the The Money Museum at the Federal Reserve The history of mod-

ern currency and more. KansasCityFed.org/MoneyMuseum

animals that live around you and see nature up close. NatureSanctuary.com

Martha Lafite Nature Sanctuary A stunning nature preserve in

Worlds of Fun Who can resist Planet Snoopy? Plus thrill rides

Liberty. NatureSanctuary.com

such as the Patriot or the Prowler will excite older kids. WorldsOfFun.com

Union Station Displays change every few months. Right now, it’s

pirate days! UnionStation.org

Kansas City Zoo The penguins have arrived! KansasCityZoo.org

Kaleidoscope A gift to the children of our city from the folks at

Hallmark. HallmarkKaleidoscope.com Science City Worth a repeat visit every few years. ScienceCity.com Truman Presidential Museum No matter which side of the aisle you prefer, this library is a national treasure. TrumanLibrary.org Summit Waves Water Park A visit to a new water park is a great summer day. CityOfLS.net/Parks/Facilities/Summit-Waves.aspx Sea Life Aquarium Get up close and personal with a shark or squid. VisitSeaLife.com/Kansas-City Wonderscope Children’s Museum Rainy days and cold weather days are perfect days for a little Wonderscope. Wonderscope.org December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 33

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ot every dog that needs a home is a puppy. Meet Stacey, who has been in the care of Dogs by Debin for the last year and would love to find a forever home. Stacey is a spayed female shepherd mix, about 2 years old. Stacey is very smart which means she will need a new family dedicated to spending time with her to help keep her mind busy, which for her will equal happy. Stacey would make a great partner for an athletic person. Dogs by Debin recommends that no young children are around as Stacey has been known to resource guard (protect things she

likes). She is being worked with and is improving daily. She is microchipped, spayed and current on all vaccinations. Stacey is about 45 lbs making her medium in size. Her adoption fee is $175. Dogs by Debin is located at 9300 NW 87th Terrace, Kansas City, Mo., inside the Amity Woods Animal Hospital. Will you come take Stacey home today and make it a very merry Christmas for a very merry dog? Visit DogsByDebin.com or call 816.298.9997.

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2013 Holiday Gift Guide Give the Gift That Lasts a Claim your free copy of “Stop Hiding Your Smile!” the Amazon best-selling book by local orthodontist, Dr. Dustin Burleson.

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Making for a Area couple shares tradition of showing their grandchildren the world.

The Florence skyline at sunset. Florence is the home of fabulous art such as The David and the Uffizzi Gallery.

Article and Photography Tom Strongman

My wife, Susan, makes good on a birthday promise to take our 13-yearold granddaughter, Ellen Swanson, of Leawood, on a gondola ride as soon as we arrived in Venice. 38 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

f you ask my granddaughter what she did last summer, she may reply, “I went to gladiator school and was blessed by the Pope.” Hardly your typical summer vacation, but that was the point. My wife and I took our granddaughter Ellen on a tour of Italy in late June. The gladiator school was our first event in Rome. Kids donned togas, tried on gladiator helmets and learned about Roman battle tactics. Then, armed with foam swords, they battled other “gladiators” in one-on-one fights as gathered parents cheered from stands that were like a medieval arena. Gladiator school was a perfect way for her to experience history first hand and it certainly enhanced our visit to the Coliseum later that day because the stories seemed more real. Travel is a great way for children to experience other cultures and gain a personal perspective on history. Plus, travelling with a grandchild gave us several days of one-on-one time that we don’t

The Tuscan countryside viewed from the village of San Gimignano. Ellen and other young people on our tour made and cooked their own pizza on our first evening in Rome. One of the domes in the Basilica of St. Peters in the Vatican.

and Paris and Andy met five other young men. They sat together on bus rides and kibitzed in museums. They still text now and then, even today. After Paris, we left the tour and took a train to Normandy because Andy was interested in World War II. Walking on Omaha Beach and visiting the Normandy American Cemetery bring textbook stories to life like nothing else can. For her trip, Ellen chose Italy and we booked through Trafalgar. Fortunately there were several teen girls in our group and they soon connected as only teenagers can. We spent nights in Rome, Florence and Venice, with day trips to San Gimignano, Pisa, Assisi and Bologna. Our trip was eight days long and the schedule was packed. We often arose at 6:30 a.m. and left our hotel by 7:30 or 8. Dinner was provided on most nights, so our days usually ended at 9 p.m. One night the kids made their own wood-

normally get, even though we live just a mile apart. We took each of our now-grown children to Europe when they were 13 and we want to do the same with our grandchildren. Thirteen is a good age because younger children may not have the maturity and attention span for foreign travel and older kids get loaded up with summer sports and summer jobs. Our first grandchild trip was three years ago with Andy, Ellenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s brother. My wife had a brilliant idea. Instead of booking our own itineraries, why not try a tour for families? It might have other young people in the group and some activities would be tailored specifically for youth. In addition, a tour makes life a little easier because they handle hotel reservations, provide transportation, move your luggage and let you go to the head of the line at many tourist attractions. It worked out perfectly. We toured London December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 39

Kids on our family tour take a quick break in the backstreets of Venice.

Ellen and Susan grab a quick gelato while waiting for our tour of the Coliseum.

fired pizza and on another we had dinner at a farm in the hills overlooking Florence. The schedule was tiring but fun. One afternoon, we skipped optional activities and took a long nap. Our tour director was excellent. He constantly regaled us with historical stories punctuated with humor. He knew how to entertain, but he also had a way of commanding attention from the children when their attention wandered. The kids often flocked around him. On each of our tours we met several grandparents travelling with their grandchildren as well as young families travelling together. Grandparents and grandchildren often share a unique relationship and travelling together enhances it. Nothing creates a special 40 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

memory more than a scarf bought by the Trevi fountain, purse shopping with grandma in an Italian village or eating gelato before noon. We found that spending a week together made us closer in a way only daily living can. When else does a granddaughter get to tease her grandmother about how long it takes to fix her hair in the morning? Our second day in Rome began with a Vatican tour. We stood in line for nearly two hours, but soaking up the beauty of the artwork and the solemnity of the basilicas was more than worth the wait. Being in the Sistine Chapel is an experience of a lifetime. In a stroke of good fortune we were there on a day when Pope Francis was to make an appearance at noon. We ducked into the

shade and waited with the crowd in St. Peter’s Square. A few minutes after twelve he appeared in his apartment window overlooking the square, gave a brief homily and blessed all of us. Such luck. When Ellen went back to school in the fall and a teacher asked students to write two lies and a truth for an icebreaker game, no one guessed that being blessed by the Pope was her truth. Large crowds are a downside to summer travel, and the leaning tower of Pisa was jam-packed with people, all doing “hold up the tower” photos with their cell phones. We did them, too, of course. Corny, but fun. Our trip culminated with two days in Venice. Venice is very hot in late June and the hordes of tourists around St. Mark’s Square were almost oppressive by late afternoon. Thanks to a local guide we were able to find some quiet back streets that were a welcome respite. On our last day in Venice we took a short boat ride to the tiny fishing island of Burano. Burano is known for its lace and for brightly painted houses. Legend holds that fishermen painted their houses in vivid colors so they would recognize them when they came home in the fog. Burano was far enough from the normal tourist traffic that the streets were almost empty, and walking among the colorful houses felt like being on a movie set. We ended our visit with a grand lunch in a small family café. Rising airfares make overseas travel an expensive proposition, but we look at the time with our grandchildren as an investment in which we are creating memories that will last a lifetime. The return far exceeds the expense. Right: It's corny, but everybody does it. Ellen pretends to hold up the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 41

Being the Change They Wish to See Rock of KC Embraces Ministry in the Northland. Article Lisa Allen | Photography Lani Odell

‘R

ock of KC’ sounds as much like a radio station handle as it does the name of a church. Led by Phillip O’Reilly and a pastoral team dedicated to serving the community as well as their congregation, the Northland church operates on singular premise: you can’t go to church; you can only be the church. O’Reilly grew up in Liberty and attended University of Missouri, where he says he encountered God in a personal way. He jokes that his path to service was less like the ubiquitous ‘Footprints in the Sand’ poem that so many are familiar with and more akin to being dragged to embraced his calling. “I majored in business and resisted my sense to pursue vocational ministry. Even though we are all called into ministry, I tried to talk God out of his wanting me to make ministry my vocation. Finally, I felt like there was nothing else I could do. This was it for me,” he says. The Rock was established in the summer of 2003 as a non-denominational Christian church. O’Reilly recalls one day about three years ago, when a member of the church approached him and broached the idea of feeding those in the community who are hungry.

42 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

“He had such a huge heart for people struggling to provide for their families,” says O’Reilly. “One of our beliefs here is that there can’t be a ministry without a minister; he now oversees this ministry and leads a team of others who help make it a success.” The man O’Reilly is talking about is Richard Martinez. Happier behind the scenes than he is in the spotlight, he is a railroad employee and a devoted husband and father. He recalls growing up one of seven children with a single mother in Dallas, and still remembers the struggles they faced living in a sometimes dangerous part of town. “God allows us to go through things so that we may serve others,” he says. “I remember the kindness of people who helped us when I was younger, and what an impact it made on me as a child to know that others cared. I’ve learned that we all need each other, and I vowed then that someday I would be a blessing to others instead of a burden.” What started as a very small endeavor--Martinez loading the back of his Pathfinder with as much food as possible--has grown into an efficient routine of picking up hundreds of pounds of food from Harvesters each week, stocking and maintaining the food pantry, shopping with those who come to partake and helping each family load their car with groceries. O’Reilly describes the experience as a way of showing respect for those going through a trying time. Approximately 25-30 church members consistently serve in the food pantry, including O’Reilly and Martinez works closely with and completed training offered by Harvesters. “I am not perfect, and we are all similar in that sometimes we’re all a bit beaten up by life,” says Martinez. “God uses us to fill a need. When I am run down, I remember a time after I’d worked all night at the railroad and then come to work at the pantry. I was tired, and I was loading bags into a car when a little girl—she must have only been two or three—shouted out ‘Thank you, sir!’ That little girl, and the others like her, is why this is important. I live by what Martin Luther King, Jr. once said: everyone can be great because anyone can serve. No matter what our experience or our circumstance, we can all make an impact in the lives of others in some way.” Children and family pastor Adam Kisler’s reasons for his ministry at The Rock are similar to Martinez’. Also the son of a single

mother, Kisler remembers visiting food pantries with his mom and his sister in order to have food at home. Now the father of four sons, Kisler became acutely aware of the needs of children in neighborhoods bordering his own during his morning runs. “The kids recognized me as I ran through the neighborhoods,” he says. “How could I see their needs and understand their struggle, and not do something to help?” Kisler heads the backpack program, which not only provides backpacks filled with school supplies for families who otherwise would go without, but fills those backpacks with food throughout the year. This program, in conjunction with Harvesters, benefits approximately 75 students each week. “We often add extra food to the backpacks, in addition to what we’d be giving from Harvesters,” says Kisler. “We know that if a student is in need, they probably have at least one sibling and a parent in the home who are also hungry. We add boxes of macaroni, cans of ravioli or other things so that everyone in the family will have something to eat.” Kisler is quick to point out that it’s the kids of the church, through the children’s ministry RockKIDS, who are making a difference in the lives of other children. “Every week the children of our church give; some throw in pennies, others throw in dollar bills, but all of that goes to help others through the backpacks, the Thanksgiving meals, the Christmas presents, the mission trip to Sudan, Africa and the contributions we made to For the Silent, an organization that fights sex trafficking. We don’t preach to the kids in our church; we just love on them, and focus on what God is doing through them. “I’m a tangible sort of guy,” says Kisler, “I believe that God can do anything. What might seem like little things to us—a meal or a bag of groceries—are true miracles to those who need our help. By being the hands and feet of Jesus, the kids get to witness miracles in a real and tangible way.” “We are truly a church without walls,” says O’Reilly. “Serving and outreach isn’t just what we do. It’s who we are.” Learn more about The Rock staff, services and ministries at RockOfKC.com.

December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 43

A Sea of Hope and Opportunity Staley High choir director builds memories and traditions for the young school. Article Alexandra Bush | Photography Lani Odell

taley High School has been open just five short years, but in that time Tracy Resseguie, director of choral activities, has taken the North Kansas City school’s program on a magical ride that has changed many lives, not the least of which is his own. “I think people take for granted how much work it takes for young people to buy into something they don’t hear every day on the radio,” Resseguie says. “But real choral music, that real beautiful experience of singing with other people at a very high level, there’s just not much like it.” Resseguie, a south central Kansas native, discovered his own high school’s choir program after an injury sidelined him from football. The team’s statistician, also the school’s choir director, suggested he think about joining. “I was in choir the very next day, and I’ll never forget it,” he says. “I thought it was the greatest sound I’ve ever heard in my life.” Resseguie came to the Kansas City area in 1997 when he signed on as the choir director for Shawnee Mission East High School, a position he held for 12 years until the opening of Staley. When Staley opened its doors in 2008, the school was in the unique position of building a culture from scratch. Having no traditions to uphold can be a blessing and a curse, offering

44 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

boundless opportunity while maintaining the daunting task of creating a unified psyche. The choir program faced the same challenge. That inaugural year, 70 students participated; the 2013-14 total is now pushing 300. In five short years the Staley High choir has premiered three new pieces of music from renowned composers—unheard of for a high school program. Their successes and experiences have also crossed oceans, largely stemming from a magical experience drawn from Resseguie’s own life. “One of my earliest memories is my dad telling me the story of my great grandfather,” Resseguie says of being told as a young child that his great-grandfather immigrated to the United States in 1899 from Norway at the age of 16 with barely a dime to his name. “I just never let go of it.” Daniel Forrest and Charles Anthony Silvestri, friends to Resseguie and world-renowned composer and lyricist, respectively, had written Staley’s school song upon its opening. Resseguie asked the two if they would consider creating a choral piece about his grandfather’s story. The two took up the case and conducted research on Resseguie’s great-grandfather, Peter Madius Nerland. They learned

along the way details of his beginnings in Finnoy Island, allegedly one of the last Viking settlements, his journey through Ellis Island and serving in WWI and eventually raising a family on a Midwestern farm. The resulting composition was titled Over Havet, or in English, “across the sea.” Resseguie, who had lead international choir tours with his students at Shawnee Mission East, thought performing the piece overseas would be meaningful to Staley students who were leaving comfortable surroundings for a brand new school they knew nothing about—a journey that echoed his great grandfather’s experiences. “I just thought it would be a cool thing to take a bunch of kids over there to sing a piece,” says Resseguie, who didn’t know at the time that the journey would be much more meaningful than that. Resseguie and 50 Staley students took the trip abroad in 2011, culminating in the choir performing at a tiny church, which creeps up against the ocean’s edge, in Finnoy Island. Ressegguie says they sang to a packed house, only finding out later that it was filled with relatives he had never met, descendants of siblings that his great-grandfather had left behind. “I never felt peace like that before in my life,” Resseguie says of performing at the church. Before he and his students left the island, his newfound relatives asked him one thing: if his great grandfather found what he was looking for. Resseguie went back to Anthony Silvestri’s lyrics in Over Havet. “He found the richest blessings a man could know, a wife, a farm, a house, a child,” he says, “He found what he was looking for.” Resseguie and his students went on to conclude the trip with a performance of Over Havet at Ellis Island, something which is strictly prohibited, after receiving a special exception via the White House. This amazing experience formed the foundation for this year’s World Choral Fest, an international collaboration of choral students that took Resseguie three years to plan. “Because of all these immigrants that left Europe through all those years, millions of people,” he says, “how cool would it be to bring people together from different countries and create one choir?” In late July this year, Resseguie and 70 Staley students met up with 80 other students from various countries at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. The group spent a week living and rehearsing together, and with the talents of Forrest and Silvestri again in tow, performed on July 28. Award-winning Irish conductor Bernie Sherlock conducted the first half of the concert, which consisted of work by European composers, and Resseguie took on the other half, presiding over American works. “It’s kind of a long story, but that’s how the World Choral Fest came to be, it was because of the trip to Norway,” Resseguie says. “Really my inspiration was to have them all sing Over Havet together.” Resseguie says future World Choral Fests are definitely in the plans, and this special culture of music on the highest possible level is being practiced on a daily basis within the walls of Staley

High. The program has been invited to perform at the conference for the Missouri Music Educators Association in January of next year. The last time a performing arts ensemble from the North Kansas City School District received this honor was 25 years ago. “We want to explore the world of choral music in a very high expectation way,” Resseguie says of the high standards his young program has set forth. “We wanted the program to be just as important as football or any extracurricular activity. We wanted it to be a very significant part of our culture.” Resseguie has helped guide this culture with a booming voice, big personality and passionate intensity. “I’ve been told that I coach choir, like you would coach football,” he says, “that’s probably very true.”

Staley Choirs will continue this newborn tradition of excellence with this year’s holiday show, which Resseguie has fashioned after those put on by major choral universities. During the December 17 concert, all 300 choir members will remain on stage for the duration of the concert. The group will pair with a 30-person orchestra to provide holiday music from cultures and countries throughout the world, culminating in one masterwork at the end. “It’s really quite amazing,” Resseguie says of the annual event. With anything new, Staley High School had to choose its own personality, path and traditions when it opened its doors five years ago. Under the leadership of Tracy Resseguie, the school’s choirs have decided that their path is to perform choral music at the highest level they can—and so far they have proven it in Kansas City and across the sea. “The first year was hard,” Resseguie says of both organizing the World Choral Fest and building a culture at Staley, “but vision is always hard until people see it.”

December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 45

Field Trip

Stonewater Cove Resort & Spa This oasis in the Ozarks tops our list of favorite getaways for spring and summer vacation plans

Article Kendra Mathewson Photography Provided by Stonewater Cove

ouldn’t it be nice to get away from it all anytime you want, without having to travel half a world away? I used to live on a fairly remote island in the Caribbean – one that took three planes, a 30-minute ferry ride and Jeep taxi bouncing along a remote road to reach. People traveled there from all over the world to experience this high-end resort and, no question, it was a place one could escape the noise, find peace, and a change of pace. It was well worth the long, hard trip. Yet, what if I told you about another such place more easily within reach? One that feels as if it were custom built just for you, designed to give you or your family exactly what you want in a vacation? So it is with Stonewater Cove Resort and Spa. A few major interstates, followed by state highways and 12 miles of winding country road and you’re there – nestled in along Table Rock Lake in the Ozarks, surrounded by the Mark Twain National Forest. Before we go any further, set aside every stereotype evoked when you hear the word, “Ozarks.” Stonewater Cove redefines the Ozark experience. It’s the best of everything, artfully created in a retreat that honors nature, Missouri and Midwest life, and celebrates it all. 46 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

It is pure wilderness, pure luxury, and absolute perfection. And it’s well worth the short drive. A Resort of Contrasts.

From the moment you pass through the hand-hewn wooden fence, it’s clear someone has prepared this place just for you. This is not a commercial property owned by a big company that slapped up a building and called it “vacation destination.” In contrast, the Bond family, out of everything they love and enjoy, spent 10 years carefully creating and crafting this beautiful retreat in the wilderness of the Ozark Mountains on the peaceful Table Rock Lake. Jim and his wife, Ruth, were optometrists and business owners from Iowa who brought their kids up skiing, hiking and adventuring. Like artists, they saw the beauty of this place and its potential, and their transformation helps visitors appreciate it in a new way. Their children are all involved in the business, and son, James, helped build much of it and now runs it as General Manager. Stonewater Cove is a welcome contrast to this hustle-bustle world in which we live: surrounded by more than 400 acres of woods; overlooking an expanse of ever-smooth water; keeping

company with the birds, breeze and trickling streams flowing throughout the developed property. Not only is it a contrast to our lives, it is a place that offers families, couples or individuals a plethora of contrasting options, to create a custom designed vacation all your own.

the lake or in the forest; and dinners from gourmet barbeque to 5 course meals, all prepared by Executive Chef Joseph Meitl, a graduate of Shawnee Mission South. All this, coupled with complete concierge service – led by a small staff with a heart to serve others– no question, Stonewater Cove is a luxury resort you’ll visit again and again.

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The resort boasts only 25 guest studios and suites, with a maximum capacity of 100 guests. It occupies just 25 acres of the 400 acres owned by the Bonds’, making it small enough to explore, yet big enough that you can go forever without seeing someone. Twenty-five miles of trails allow you to experience nature all alone, without sharing the trail or bumping into others passing by, as is often the case at popular national parks. At Stonewater Cove, the trail is your own, and the world belongs to you. It’s the perfect place for a combination of people who want different things from their vacations. If you’re the outdoor type, you can enjoy a hike, a 4-wheel ride, zip lining, kayaking, fishing, swimming, boating and skiing. In contrast, if you prefer to be pampered, you can read a book for hours by the pool or enjoy a long massage at the Treehouse Spa. At Stonewater Cove, the phrase, “all things to all people,” takes on real meaning. Everyone will be perfectly happy.

So, if you want to get away from it all, before you consider traveling half a world away, consider Stonewater Cove Resort and Spa. Even from a bird’s eye view it is a luxury resort that is so well integrated into nature, it is almost invisible. Nestled in the woods, overlooking the water. This could be the place your family or you as a couple or individual make some of the best memories you’ll have to share forever. StonewaterCove.com.

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Imagine walking the hand-laid stone path to your room, surrounded by the stereophonic sounds of stream water trickling through stones placed to perfection along your way. Ancient trees – black oak, hickory, maple and cypress – stand tall all around you, the sparkling water of Table Rock glistening and glimmering through the leaves as they dance in a gentle breeze. Imagine the blanket of peace that wraps itself around you as you walk up the steps to what feels like your own personal, rustic cottage in the woods, put the key in the lock with its swinging metal cover, and push open the heavy solid wood door with its ironbarred speakeasy, like a Hobbit door. Enter your one-of-a kind lakefront suite, custom designed by Ruth Bond with the care she gives her own homes. Marvel over every detail hand crafted by local artisans, the best of Ozark craftsmanship – chic not cheesy. Dining from sun-up to sundown is an experience in itself, reminiscent of the best of home cooking or 5-star dining. The ever-changing menu is designed to meet your needs – from light to hearty breakfasts; lunch served poolside, in the lounge, or boxed for enjoying while on December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 47

Home Matters 2. Keep Decorating Simple: Choose only your favorite holiday dec-

orations to reduce clutter. For each holiday item you place on a shelf, take one non-holiday item off and store it until the holiday season is over. If you buy or receive decorative gifts, use them as an opportunity to retire outdated items that can be donated to charity.

Deck The Halls With Practicality Quick Tips to Organizing Your Home This Holiday Season

othing brings people together like the holidays. Whether you’re welcoming children home from a semester at school, or extended family members that may be staying for a while, follow these great tips to help make your home a relaxing refuge for loved ones to come together and celebrate:

1. Manage Your Holiday Card List: Holiday cards express a sen-

timent of annual tradition and celebration. Start early by creating a spreadsheet or address book. Organize people into categories such as family, friends and co-workers. Creating an electronic database may seem like a big upfront time commitment, but in the end, you’re saving time because edits can easily be made throughout the year. Also, after packing up the tree, save money by buying next year’s holiday cards at clearance pricing.

3. Prepare Your Pantry: Get the “Emeril” in you ready for holiday feasts. Take inventory of existing pantry items before going grocery shopping for your holiday meal to avoid duplicating items or, even worse, having to make an additional trip to the store the day of. Spice racks and pull-out bins can help a great deal by placing items in plain view. It’s easy to skip meals or opt for unhealthy, sugary snacks in the midst of the holiday bustle. This can be avoided by organizing quick, healthy snacks towards the front of the pantry within easy reach for you and your kids. 4. Add Storage Solutions: To clear out clutter, consider adding

small cabinetry in your kitchen to store items that won’t be used all winter long such as an ice cream maker or iced tea pitchers. The garage is also a great place to reduce clutter. Whether you use it to store clothing or house a plethora of tools and yard equipment, consider combining labeled storage bins with tall cabinetry and overhead storage racks to better organize your belongings. A gridwall or two can come in handy as well if you’d like to display your tools in a space-saving way. 5. Approach Gift Wrapping Differently: Gift wrapping is an inev-

itable task but it doesn’t have to be a chore. All you need is one trip to the store to buy an assortment of gift wrapping items. Stick with versatile items that can be used for any occasion. There’s no need to splurge on a dozen different prints of wrapping paper either. Instead, purchase a couple rolls of plain craft paper and decorate each wrapped box with unique holiday themed stamps or colorful ribbons. 6. Help Your Guests Feel at Home: With the pending arrival of

houseguests, use this time as an opportunity to go through and organize your guestroom closet. Box items you don’t use on a regular basis. Leave empty hangers, shoe racks, and plenty of open space for your guest’s attire. Consider adding a maneuverable rod system since it easily allows guests to sort through their clothing. Think about installing a Murphy bed if you need an additional sleeping area. Murphy beds can be used year-round and effortlessly fold away to free up space in any given room. Following these easy steps will minimize stress this holiday season and will allow your entire family to focus only on sharing wonderful moments with loved ones. This helpful content provided by Tailored Living® featuring PremierGarage®. They proudly offer homeowners high quality organizational solutions for their garages, closets, pantries, family rooms, home offices and more. For more information, visit TailoredLiving.com.

48 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

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Family Feature

The Building Blocks of Love LEGO-mania Keeps Liberty Couple Kids at Heart Article Alexandra Bush | Photography Christine May

he Liberty home of Brie and Brian Holst is what you might expect from any young married couple: a cozy and inviting living room, tasteful yet playful décor, a large wooden dining room table perfect for entertaining. There is one exception, however: the large table is often filled with LEGO scenes, parts of scenes, or the raw materials for scenes. This is an overflow from an adjacent room, which contains the culmination of years of collecting and building with the classic toy building brick. Brian estimates that the collection has probably cost over $10,000—and has no idea how many pieces it consists of. Brie says it is slowly taking over the house. “Growing up, it was always one of the toys I liked,” Brian says, “slowly I got back into it,” says the self-proclaimed Middle-Earth geek, crediting the Lord of the Rings LEGO sets for bringing him out of his “LEGO dark ages.” After rediscovering LEGOS by purchasing Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings figurines and sets, the hobby of building life-mimicking scenes with the classic plastic building blocks became a slippery slope. “That really got it to a ridiculous level,” Brian says, “it wasn’t out of control until then.” The LEGO heaven of the Holst’s den holds what can only be described as every tinkering child’s dream: boxes upon boxes of building bricks lie on the floor, and display shelves house every personality-turned-mini-figure one can imagine: Bilbo Baggins, Clark Kent, Olympic athletes, Santa Claus, hippies, bunnies, the Incredible Hulk, military personnel, Iron Patriot, LEGO store employees—the works. “I can’t play LEGOS every single night,” Brie says, “but he would love to.” While Brie admits she is not quite as obsessed with building

50 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

miniature worlds as her other half, they both acknowledge the importance of a mutual, creative hobby as a healthy cornerstone to any family. “Brian is very young at heart, and I’m very serious.” Brie says. “He keeps us fun. Sometimes he gets pouty if we don’t play LEGOS for a while.” Although Brie and Brian attended the same high school and the same church organization growing up in the Northland, the two did not officially meet until five years ago, at Ameristar casino, where Brian was a part-time dealer and Brie a full-time cocktail server. After Brian left the job, he tracked Brie down through MySpace and today, they’ve been married for four years. The couple has does not plan on having children, as they have a plethora of nieces and nephews with whom to share their child-like wonder. The kids might even get to play with the LEGOS someday—if they can prove they can treat them with the deserved care and respect. Brie now works as a physical therapist assistant, a career she says fits in nicely with her creative personality. In addition to helping Brian create little LEGO universes, her personal creative endeavors include sewing gifts for family and friends, throwing lavish Halloween parties, and creating one-of-a-kind bridal garters for her Etsy shop, VintageWeddingGems. “I’m creative by nature, and couldn’t live without it,” Brie says. Brian is an auditor, and conversely, cherishes his LEGO collecting as a much-needed creative outlet. “All day I’m staring at numbers,” he says. “It’s good to have this.” Brian says he spends several hours each week working on upcoming LEGO scenes. The couple’s cat, Zippy, also has a regular seat at the building table.

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Family Feature

(continued)

The family hobby has yielded some impressive results: an elaborate city most recently occupied the dining table. The teeny tiny town included a cinema, grocery store, gas station, construction work, fire station and city hall. The three-level, eight-building project had enough amenities to rival your typical suburb. Hobbies very easily become obsessions, but the Holst’s are playing this one close to the vest. Rather than participating in social groups or conventions of other LEGO lovers (of which there are many), Brie and Brian prefer to keep their hobby in the home. The two don’t even have aspirations to visit the mecca: LEGOLand. “Brian does not want to fight the kids to play with the LEGOS,” Brie says. The Holst’s are also gearing up for their Christmas scene, a combination of five years of Christmas LEGO sets combining old

and new elements, a running train line, and an ornate stain glass church that Brian is designing himself. Their future plans range from colonial-style imperial flagships and London’s Tower Bridge to an elaborate farmhouse scene. In love, marriage and family, the day-to-day operations of life can sometimes make it easy to fail into the mundane, the serious, or the self-indulgent. It can be easy for husbands and wives to spend time pursuing separate interests and forget what it takes to build a life together. Brie and Brian Holst have broken that mold by staying young at heart: playing with toys, and not only building little LEGO universes, but building memories, and family traditions. “Not only is it creative and fun,” Brian says, “but we spend time together.”

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cheers. It’s time to decorate your windows for the holidays.

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SEPTEMBER 14 – DECEMBER 17, 2013

on qualifying purchases of Hunter Douglas window fashions.

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* Manufacturer’s mail-in rebate offer valid for qualifying purchases made 9/14/13 – 12/17/13 from participating dealers in the U.S. only. Offer excludes Nantucket™ Window Shadings, a collection of Silhouette® Window Shadings. Rebate offers may not be combined; for each qualifying purchase, the higher applicable rebate amount will apply. Rebates will be issued in the form of a prepaid reward card. Funds do not expire. Subject to applicable law, a $2.00 monthly fee will be assessed against card balance 7 months after card issuance and each month thereafter. Additional limitations apply. Ask participating dealer for details, rebate form and information on qualifying purchases. © 2013 Hunter Douglas. All rights reserved. All trademarks used herein are the property of Hunter Douglas. 36573

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56 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

Sold Properties

Recently SOLD Northland Properties Subdivision

Average List Price

Montclair

Average Sold Price

%List To Sold

DOM*

$470,000

$465,000

99%

Thousand Oaks

$425,950

$438,833

103%

Copperleaf

$421,530

$427,391

101%

Countrywood

$435,000

$425,000

98%

Embassy Park

$430,000

$425,000

99%

Woodneath Farms

$379,950

$367,224

96%

293

Wil Mar Estates

$365,000

$360,000

98%

392

Bent Oak

$385,000

$358,000

93%

Benson Place

$299,900

$348,899

116%

River Hills

$359,000

$347,000

96%

Carriage Hills

$350,000

$342,000

98%

Riverstone

$324,900

$339,000

104%

Tremont Manor

$338,500

100%

116

Staley Hills

$315,000

100%

Northview Meadows

$304,000

$304,818

100%

Aggregate Subdivision Sales per Heartland MLS 10/1/2013 – 11/1/2013 NC - New Construction

*Average Days on Market

LUXURY LIVING AT SHOAL CREEK

weeney W olfe- S & Associates Kristine Courtney 816.590.1664

Russ Wolfe 816.564.4100

8616 N MARSH AVENUE MLS # 1846020 $1,485,000

See this fine home and more at www.WolfeSweeney.com

Candi Sweeney 816.591.5590

Kathleen Smerchek 816.589.0925

6300 N Lucerne Avenue • Kansas City, MO 64151 • 816.746.2777 December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 57

December

adult ticket purchased a child 12 and under may ride for free. Tickets may be purchased at Guest Services during carriage ride hours.

DECEMBER 5-22

DECEMBER 7

GRACE AND HOLY TRINITY CATHEDRAL

A SPECTACULAR CHRISTMAS

HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE

CROWN CENTER

BALANO GALLERY, AMERICAN PAWN

Lifestyle Calendar

Now in its 8th year, “A Spectacular Christmas” has become known for fine vocals, tight harmonies and sharp arrangements, but the show also has a heartfelt and sentimental side, too. The entire experience will certainly move you and will remind you of the true spirit of Christmas. Rated PG. Tickets $10-$35. MTHKC.com or 816.545.6000

DECEMBER 5 PATRON PREVIEW KANSAS CITY ART INSTITUTE

AND AMERICAN METALS

Enjoy complimentary food and drink while you shop! Enter our drawing to win a romantic getaway for two to Hawaii. Drawings will also be held throughout the day for – jewelry, gift certificates and silver bars. We will also be offering the following services free of charge: free watch battery replacement, free rhodium (change yellow gold to white), free jewelry cleaning and polishing, and free jewelry inspection.

DECEMBER 7

Patron Preview is on the eve of the public opening of the college’s popular end-of-semester exhibition and sale of student work. Partygoers will have an opportunity to tour studio departments throughout the campus; view and purchase work before the exhibition and sale open to the public Dec. 6-8; and enjoy a progressive evening of food and drinks. A trolley will provide rides to the various studios. KCAI.edu/patronpreview.

‘TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

DECEMBER 6

DECEMBER 7

THE WOMEN’S FOUNDATION OF GREATER

DAY OF HOPE

KC 21 ANNUAL LUNCHEON

ROCK OF KC

CROWN CENTER

The Day of Hope is established through the combined efforts of local organizations & Churches to provide genuine aid & long lasting hope to people in need. Serving Platte County & the families enrolled in Platte County School district. Please review the website for a donation list. DayOfHope.org

The Women’s Foundation of Greater Kansas City’s 21st Annual Luncheon will feature actress and advocate America Ferrera of TV’s Ugly Betty. WFGKC.org

DECEMBER 6-8

UNION STATION

This new play based on the beloved holiday poem brings to life the wild holiday adventures of a mouse, an elf, and a spunky little girl on their quest to find out why Santa missed their house last year. This joyful tribute to the holiday season was created by renowned playwright Ken Ludwig, winner of 3 Tony Award nominations for his plays on Broadway.

THE MYSTERY OF CHRISTMAS LIBERTY PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

The Mystery of Christmas- an adaptation of The Nutcracker- tells the true story of Christmas. From the birth of Christ to the response of the nations of the world bringing their gifts to the Christ Child, this show is packed with powerful artistry, colorful costuming, and a meaningful message.

58 Northland Lifestyle | December 2013

DECEMBER 9 THE CITY COME AGAIN

William Jewell’s gift, in words and music, to the city, featuring the college’s Handbell Choir, Concert Choir and Dr. Ann Marie Rigler, organ, with Mr. Phil Schaefer, trumpet. Dr. David Sallee, college president, will offer a seasonal homily along with a prayer and scripture reading from the Very Reverend Peter DeVeau, dean of Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral.

DECEMBER 9, 16 SANTA PAWS FOR NAWS ZONA ROSA

Photos with you and Santa! Free to the first 30 people with pets. Bring donations for the pet supply drive for NAWS Pet Pantry and Boutique.

DECEMBER 10 BAROQUE BY CANDLELIGHT FOR THE HOLIDAYS UNITY TEMPLE ON THE COUNTRY CLUB PLAZA

The Kansas City Chamber Orchestra presents its 27th Annual “Baroque” Christmas Concert. The candlelight concert celebration starts at $17 and may be purchased on line at KansasCityChamberOrchestra.org.

DECEMBER 10 BRAS THERMOGRAPHY HARMONY HEALTH AND WELLNESS

The exam takes 45-60 minutes so availability is limited. Please call 816.436.9355 as soon as possible to reserve your spot. To learn more about this alternative to mammography, visit BrasThermography.com.

DECEMBER 7, 14, 21, 28

DECEMBER 13

HOLIDAY CARRIAGE RIDES

HOLIDAY QUICK BREAD

ZONA ROSA

L’ECOLE CULINAIRE

Back by popular demand, Zona Rosa is offering horse-drawn carriage rides throughout the center. Carriages are sleigh style and perfect for a festive family outing! Carriage load-in is located at the Dillard’s Plaza. Adult tickets are just $5.00 each and with every

From cranberry nut bread to zucchini bread to simple corn muffins. A quick bread by definition is just that, quick and easy. It’s all about the mixing method. In this class our chef instructors will walk you through the proper mixing methods to produce the best quick breads around. $75.

DECEMBER 14 CHRISTMAS LIGHT RUN DOWNTOWN NORTH KANSAS CITY

The Running Well Store is a proud sponsor of the first annual Christmas Light Run! Outrun Rudolph in this flat, entertaining and festive 5k benefiting the Girls on the Run program. The first 300

male and other fun prizes will be awarded for each age bracket.

DECEMBER 14, 15, 21, 22, 23, 24 NAWS CRITTER WRAPPERS ZONA ROSA

From 6-8 p.m. NAWS volunteers will wrap your holiday presents for a donation to the organization!

DECEMBER 16 JIM “TWO CROWS” WALLEN PRESENTS: A VISIT WITH SANTA CLAUS MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY, NORTH OAK BRANCH

to register will receive a free Nike 1/2 Zip (a $65 value). The first 500 to register will receive a free Nathan safety light. All those who register before November 29th receive a collector’s Christmas ornament. A Garmin running watch will be awarded to the “most festive” runner. Free shoes for the top male and top fe-

Get in the Christmas spirit! Kids, come visit with Santa and listen as he tells an exciting holiday story. Bring Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa, and a camera. Also make a simple craft to take home. An adult must accompany each child.

December 31

featuring entertainment by Cherry Bomb and DJ Ron. Elegant buffet, great entertainment, champagne toast at midnight. For information and ticket sales visit VisionsKC.com/ Upcoming_Events.html or call 816.841.2361.

January 2,3 Starlight’s Frosty Fun Days Starlight Theatre

During Frosty Fun Days, students will warm up their imaginations while embarking on a one- or two-day journey through the world of theatre. Led by theatre professionals, campers will spend each morning exploring theatre games, storytelling, music, dance and movement. Plus campers will have the opportunity to try their hands at making props. Afternoons will be spent creating a piece of live theatre (using those handmade props) to present to an audience of fellow campers during the Shivery Showoff. Each day will be a unique experience focused around a different wintery theme. KCStarlight.com

Champagne Chic New Year’s Eve The View @ Briarcliff

Join us for a Champagne Chic New Year’s Eve,

December 2013 | Northland Lifestyle 59