Northland Lifestyle March 2014

Northland

march 2014

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Editor's Letter

The Brave and the Bold

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

Sometimes things just line up in my world. For March, the month of my birth, I got to put together an issue devoted to one of my favorite areas of all—the arts.

I come from a theatre background, so writing and researching all of the creative people that are working and thriving in the Northland is inspiring to me. There are some that are making their sole living from it such as actor and Kansas City native Dwayne Boyd, and some that just want an outlet, such as the members of the Northland Community Choir.

contributing writers Lisa Allen, Alexandra Bush, Ryan Rosser Pete Dulin, Elizabeth Rosenberger

contributing photographers Lani Odell, Mallorie McKernan, Karen Ledford Photography Lori Boyd, Christopher T. Murphy

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

copy editor | Kendra Mathewson

There are people like Denzel Williams, whose Kansas City collaborations are endless, but who also loves devoting himself to teaching Northland athletes how to run. And then there are those that believe that art can not only inspire you, but heal you, as we learn about art therapy in our Healthy Lifestyles section.

I think what excites me about the arts is that the art community is a group of inherently brave people. To create art, whether it’s singing in front of a crowd, or telling stories, or painting, or acting, you have to be willing to submit yourself to public criticism. For some this is terrifying enough to deter them.

But the people highlighted in this month’s issue are so enthralled with what they are doing, with what they love, that they don’t care. They are throwing caution to the wind and saying, “You may not like it, but the next person may love it. The next person may need to hear it. And more importantly, I need to say it.” That’s a fantastic reason to create.

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

corporate team chief executive officer | Steven Schowengerdt chief sales officer | Matthew Perry chief financial officer | DeLand Shore national editor | Lisa Cooke Harrison director of marketing | Brad Broockerd national art director | Carrie Julian advertising director | Mike Baugher production director | Christina Sandberg regional art director | Sara Minor ad coordinator | Cyndi Vreeland

For everyone that has thought of trying something creative, or told themselves that they weren’t creative, just because they don’t have a job that allows for it, I challenge you. Be bold! Be brave! Say something that hasn’t been said before. And if you can’t do that, say something in a way that it hasn’t been said. We are constantly inspiring each other as human beings. Who can you inspire today?

national copy editor | Kendra Mathewson executive assistant | Lori Cunningham application architect | Michael O’Connell it director | Randy Aufderheide

Go boldly!

by Community ™

Rachel Murphy, Editor RMurphy@LifestylePubs.com

ON THE COVER The Bond Bridge is a familiar sight to many in the Northland, but its beauty is easy to miss in the hustle and bustle of the morning or evening commute. Photographer Christopher T. Murphy captures it on page 28.

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Proverbs 3:5-6 Contact us at: P.O. Box 12608 Overland Park, KS 66282-3214 913.599.4300 | NorthlandLifestyle.com Northland Lifestyle™ is published monthly by Lifestyle Publications LLC. It is distributed via the US Postal Service to some of North Kansas City’s most affluent neighborhoods.

Articles and advertisements do not necessarily reflect Lifestyle Publications’ opinions.

No portion of this magazine may be reproduced in any form without written consent.

Lifestyle Publications does not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or editorial contributors. Information in Northland Lifestyle™ is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy of all information cannot be guaranteed.

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March 2014

24

Departments 10

Good Times

16

Around Town

22

Healthy Lifestyle

24

Star Student

26

Giving Back

28

Picture This

38

Local Limelight

40 Hot Spot 42 Locally Owned 44 Tech Today 46 Animal Tracks

30 Musician, Producer, Husband, Coach

48 Parent’s Corner

51

Sold Properties

52

Lifestyle Calendar

58

Parting Thoughts

Denzel Williams lives life day-to-day, wearing many hats.

32 Actor/Director Dwayne Boyd Soars High,

Stays Grounded

Kansas City native follows his dream.

34 William Jewell College Applies 21st Century

Tools to Learning

A bookless library opens pages and minds.

30

32

34

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Good Times

Catholic Charities 40th Annual Snow Ball This year’s event was an historic first, for the Ball and for Kansas City: The generosity of donors, guests and the community raised a record-breaking $2,010,000! It’s the first local non-profit fundraiser to exceed $2 million.

Dave Knopke, Jim Crawford, Charlie Haake, Jack Newman and Ken Williams

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Charlie and Jeanne Haake, 2014 Snow Ball Presidents Most Reverend Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann, D.D. Lamar and Rita Hunt, Jr., 2014 Honorary Snow Ball Presidents

Nelson and Marcia Newcomer and Betty and Ben Zarda 10 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Terry Dunn and the Honorable Mayor of Leawood Peggy Dunn

Mary Ann and Dave White

Dave Knopke, Jeanie and Jim Crawford and Jan Knopke

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Chocolate 4 Paws Chocolate 4 Paws was held on February 8 to celebrate Valentine’s Day and the Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter.

The event raised more than $2000 for the shelter.

12 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

When a cardiac emergency strikes,

saving time can save your life.

At Liberty Hospital, we’re pioneering a new form of cardiac awareness. It’s called See the Change, and it’s the first of its kind in the nation.

Now, all Liberty Hospital cardiac patients will leave with a take-home version of their EKG. This will allow paramedics to compare past and current EKGs and make a diagnosis in the field during a cardiac emergency.

“One day, while taking a continuing education cardiac course, it dawned on me; why don’t we have anything in the field that will give us an insight into their cardiac history?

This could save hundreds of lives.”

TIM HAUG, Paramedic, Creator of See the Change

Good Times

NRCC Northlander of the Year

The Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce announced Patty Garney as the 2013 Northlander of the Year award on January 18 at the Argosy Casino and Spa.

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Dave Mecklenburg, Beverly Slocombe

Georgette Crocker, Hope Carriger, Karla Martinez, Sheila Tracy, Mary Vogel, Holly Juckette

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The hours for volunteering are flexible every day except Sunday. Anyone interested in volunteering should also contact the store manager.

NEW PHYSICIAN JOINS THE LIBERTY CLINIC

THE KANSAS CITY HOME SHOW RETURNS The Kansas City Home Show, March 28-30 at Bartle Hall, welcomes Monica Pedersen, interior design expert, HGTV Dream Home Giveaway host, and author of Make It Beautiful. She will share her expertise in a variety of topics including interior design, design trends, how to add value to your home, staging for the real estate market, or simply inspiring do-it-yourselfers to “Make it Beautiful” on any budget.

Also appearing is Cari Cucksey, host of HGTV’s Cash & Cari. Cari is an “antiques matchmaker” who gives dusty relics a new lease on life. In addition to hosting her show, Cari runs RePurpose Estate Services, operates the RePurpose Shop, and refurbishes just about anything she can get her hands on.

The Home Show stage also will feature Kansas City’s own Jennifer Allwood who is a professional faux finisher and owner of The Magic Brush, Inc. She is “making the world pretty…one room at a time” in houses all over the Kansas City metro specializing in faux finishings, cabinets, children’s rooms, garage doors and furniture.

For more information go to KCHomeShow.com.

REBUILDING TOGETHER STORE NEEDS DONATIONS AND VOLUNTEERS The Rebuilding Together Store is looking for more donations of building materials from suppliers, builders, remodelers and homeowners. Anyone who has materials to donate are asked to contact Ed Kephart, store manager, at RebuildingTogetherStore@gmail.com or call 816.918.8818. All proceeds help Rebuilding Together Clay County to fulfill its mission to improve the homes and lives of homeowners in need. The store is located at 1908 Plumbers Way, #300, Liberty, Mo. They are also seeking more volunteer help. Volunteers are needed 16 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Casey Willimann, M.D., joined The Liberty Clinic on February 17.

She will provide care for the entire family; she is board-certified in pediatrics and board-eligible in internal medicine. Most recently, she was a staff physician at Children’s Mercy Hospital in the pediatric internal medicine section of the General Pediatrics Department.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Willimann to The Liberty Clinic,” says Ryan Huyser, M.D., board president for The Liberty Clinic. “She brings an interest and expertise in internal medicine and pediatrics.

She will be a great addition to our group of physicians here at the clinic as well as the medical staff at Liberty Hospital.”

Willimann completed her residency in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and completed her internship at St. Louis University. She was certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in 2013.

“I’m looking forward to joining the amazing staff at The Liberty Clinic and the opportunity to provide care to such a wonderful community,” Willimann says.

For more information about the clinic, visit TheLibertyClinic.com.

KANSAS CITY FASHION WEEK IS MARCH 12-16TH Further evolving Kansas City into a Midwest destination for fashion, Kansas City Fashion Week® draws an acclaimed name in the industry and introduces Laura Kathleen as the featured designer for the Spring 2014 season, March 12 – 16.

Recognized for appearances on Project Runway Season 9 and Project Runway All Stars Season 2, Laura Kathleen is a St. Louis based designer that produces a women’s wear line and emerging jewelry collection. Laura Kathleen will reveal the LK Fall 2014 collection during the event on March 15. All shows will be held at Union Station.

ROB ELLERMAN TEAM DONATES $50,000 Through their success of almost $130 million in sales, 560 homes sold in 2013, the Rob Ellerman Team knows the importance of giving back throughout the year to the communities they serve. To show their appreciation of a very successful 2013, they have donated $50,000 to the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City. The team knows that only through our youth will Kansas City continue to grow.

They take a special interest in Kansas City’s youth and believes every child deserves a chance to be all they can be. In addition, the team raised over $30,000 for St. Jude Children’s Hospital during the year.

The $50,000 will go toward the special mentoring programs, their big events and providing free lunches for those children needing assistance. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kansas City positively affects chil-

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NEW ONCOLOGY OFFICE OPEN AT NORTH KANSAS CITY HOSPITAL A partnership between North Kansas City Hospital and The University of Kansas Cancer Center (KUCC) has opened a fully renovated radiation oncology office and KUCC’s newest medical oncology office on the North Kansas City Hospital campus. Both offices are on the lower level of the Medical Plaza building, on the northwest corner of the at 2750 Clay Edwards Dr., offering Northland patients close to home access to the most comprehensive cancer care, including access to National Cancer Institute clinical research trials.

Through the partnership, patients gain greater access to treatment options and clinical research trials available only at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center. Services include: • Prompt access to first appointment with cancer specialists and second-opinion appointments.

• Resources and education tools, including wellness programs, support groups, cancer rehab, palliative care, pain management, hospice, nurse navigator, home health and fatigue management programs.

• Infusion center with a warm, friendly spa-like atmosphere offering heated treatment chairs with personal TV screens, with additional infusion available inside North Kansas City Hospital.

• New state-of-the-art linear accelerator Last June North Kansas City Hospital and The University of Kansas Cancer Center announced their partnership in the management and operations of the radiation oncology program on the North Kansas City Hospital campus. Additionally, The University of Kansas Cancer Center manages and operates the medical oncology program located next to the radiation oncology office. North Kansas City also recently joined the Midwest Cancer Alliance, the outreach arm of The University of Kansas Cancer Center to support the clinical trials network.

RAPHAEL HOTEL NAMED FOUR-STAR HOTEL Forbes Travel Guide recently unveiled its official 2014 Forbes Travel Guide Star Rating list, naming The Raphael a Four Star property. The Raphael is the only Kansas City hotel recognized in the 2014 Forbes Travel Guide and its online home.

The Raphael (325 Ward Parkway) is a one-of-a-kind boutique hotel that combines the charm and intimacy of a locally significant landmark with highly individualized service. It is the original boutique concept among historic Kansas City Plaza hotels. The nine-story, Italian Renaissance Revival structure is a member of National Trust Historic Hotels of America and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Raphael and its signature restaurant, Chaz on the Plaza – a standout among Kansas City restaurants – are affiliated with the Autograph Collection, a portfolio of independent hotels selected by Marriott International for their distinctiveness. RaphaelKC.com 18 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

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CHAMBER ANNOUNCES PATTY GARNEY 2013 NORTHLANDER OF THE YEAR Patricia Ann, known as Patty Garney, was named 2013 Northlander of the Year at the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Banquet on January 18 at Argosy Casino Hotel & Spa. Her husband, Charles Garney, family, close friends, supporters, as well as Chamber members accompanied Patty to celebrate her award.

Patty has served the Northland in a variety of ways, currently as the Community Liaison for the Briarcliff Development Company and formerly, a Trans World Airlines (TWA) Hostess graduate. She has been involved on numerous boards and charitable organizations in Kansas City including P.E.O. Sisterhood, Kansas City Presidents Organization and the Kansas City Symphony Guild. Most notably she is the co-founder of the Harvest Ball, which she started in 1986 and has donated close to $7 million in our Kansas City community with emphasis on Clay, Platte and Ray counties.

KC SUPERSTAR PRELIMINARY AUDITIONS COMING SOON Attention high school singers! You could be chosen as KC’s next singing super star!

Auditions for 2014 KC SuperStar, a competition to select the best high school singer in the metro area, are set for April 6 and 13. This year both rounds of preliminary auditions will take place from 1-5 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center (5801 W. 115th St., in Overland Park). Judges for the prelims are area industry professionals Krista Blackwood, Whitney Smith and Martha Risser.

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March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 19

Around Town

Making Smiles Happen!

Jim Anderson Dentist

Now in its fifth year, KC SuperStar is an ‘American Idol’ style competition open to any high school student in the metro area. KC SuperStar will award a $7,500 scholarship to the best high school singer in the area who is selected through auditions.

There is no cost to participate, but pre-registration is recommended. To register, visit KCSuperStar.com or facebook.com/KCSuperStar. KC SuperStar’s second place winner will receive $2,500; third place $1,500; fourth place-$1,000 and all other finalists will receive $500 scholarships.

Up to 25 performers will be selected to compete in the KC SuperStar semifinals in June.

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MIKE MCKEEN MOVES TO EPARTMENT

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816.454.3336 jradds@kc.rr.com www.jimandersondds.com 20 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Mike McKeen left Briarcliff Development Company in February to join Terry O’Leary and Steve Coon, Principals in ePartment Communities, in the luxury residential development business. Mike will be a director of development and be involved with new project development. EPartment has developed or has under construction approximately 2,000 residential units for lease in the Kansas City, Flagstaff, Ariz., and Colorado.

By trade, McKeen is an engineer but has spent his entire career on the owner and contractor side of the industry and has previously managed several developments and construction projects ranging from residential development to some of the country’s most successful sporting venues. Most recently, McKeen led the planning, finance, development and construction of the Briarcliff Riverfront Plaza, which currently contains the McCrite Senior Living Plaza and The Landing at Briarcliff, a 340 unit luxury apartment project, and pads for new development opportunities at Briarcliff.

PEDIATRIC CARE NORTH CELEBRATES 25 YEARS Pediatric Care North is proud to celebrate its 25th anniversary. This practice has grown from a small office to a large full service practice with eight board certified pediatricians, a nurse practitioner and a board certified lactation program. Seventeen nurses provide patient care alongside these physicians and their experienced office staff.

Providing continuity of care to children and their families is what makes a private practice like Pediatric Care North special.

“There are many places to receive medical care now but they are not equal. A retail clinic may not give the quality and consistency of care that children deserve. We feel that having an ongoing relationship with our office and access to your child’s records improves their care,” says Susan Storm, M.D.

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Parking meters throughout the shopping center will benefit t12 non-profits in 2014.

Zona Rosa is celebrating its 10th year, which also means it is celebrating 10 years of its Change for Charity community giving program. Throughout the past decade, Zona Rosa has raised more than $1 million for 180 charities through Greater Kansas City. And, for the first time this year, Zona Rosa has selected 12 local non-profit organizations to benefit from its Change for Charity program, twice as many as in past years.

The program grants Kansas City area charities the proceeds from funds collected by Zona Rosa’s parking meters. In the past 10 years, no charity has ever been repeated in the Change for Charity program.

Change for Charity pays for various charitable events as well as the Zona Rosa scholarship program with Park Hill High School, Platte County R-3 School District and the North Kansas City School District.

The 12 organizations chosen this year were The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, Youth with Vision–Tri County Mental Health, Gilda’s Club Kansas City, Ella’s Hope for Autism, Carolyn’s Pennies for Ovarian Cancer, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City, Northland Therapeutic Riding Center, Angel Paws, Inc., Arts KC – Regional Arts Council, River Read–Watson Center for Literacy, Girls on the Run of Greater Kansas City, and Charlie’s House.

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March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 21

Healthy Lifestyle

The Beauty of Self-Expression THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF ART THERAPY ARTICLE LISA ALLEN

A

sk Art Therapist and teacher Linda Kramer, MA, ATR, to explain what she does and she’ll likely defer to Aristotle.

“Aristotle’s quote ‘The aim of art is not to represent the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance’ is a simple description of how art therapy works,” says Kramer. A combination of talk therapy and artistic expression, art therapy uses self-expression in various forms to help clients increase self-awareness and improve well-being.

“Individuals in all stages of life with varying capabilities can express themselves through art,” says Kramer. “People who have trouble talking about their difficulties or desires and wish to lead a more enriched life may find art therapy to be helpful.”

Though the American Art Therapy Association defines the discipline as “the therapeutic use of art making, within a professional relationship, by people who experience illness, trauma or challenges in living, and by people who seek personal development,” Kramer notes that many forms of creative expression can be therapeutic.

“Most psychotherapy is focused on talk,” she says, “but music, dance, creative writing, journaling, blogging and similar activities can also be expressive and transformative. We express ourselves continually, whether intentionally or not, through hobbies, vocation, in every22 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

thing we do. Some attention to one’s self-expression, combined with feedback from an objective and thoughtful professional, can open doors to new ideas, attitudes and ways of living.”

Art therapy has been shown to be effective with people of all ages. In fact, it was partly because educators discovered that the expressions inherent in children’s artwork indicated developmental, emotional and cognitive growth that the creative process was combined with traditional therapy to enhance communication, assessment and treatment options.

Kramer works with all age groups—toddlers through seniors— and says that artistic ability, or the lack thereof, has no impact on the efficacy of the curative benefits of art therapy. Like many other therapists, Kramer works in tandem with each person to find the best method to express him or herself.

“The point is self-expression, learning about oneself, and transforming energies within,” says Kramer. She adds that the goals of art therapy are diverse and unique to each patient.

Some strive to improve self-esteem or increase self-knowledge while others need to explore troubled feelings within themselves or in relationships.

Art therapy can help improve coping and social skills, deal with anxieties, work through grief and loss or face chronic or terminal illness of oneself or a loved one.

“Adolescents often find art expression a mode to self-soothe,” says Kramer, “and to investigate their feelings and thoughts.

Children often express how they see themselves, which allows a dialogue to begin that may strengthen development of their emotional intelligence.”

Art Therapists are trained in both art and therapy, but state regulations vary; in some states, art therapists can become licensed as counselors or mental health therapists. The Missouri Art Therapy Association is an affiliate chapter of the American Art Therapy Association, and is comprised of professionals who have completed graduate level educational training in art therapy and students currently enrolled in graduate level studies of art therapy.

A list of art therapists in private practice in Missouri can be found at MissouriArtTherapy.Blogspot.com. Linda Kramer can be reached at 816.225.4110 or at DrBruceManley.com

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March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 23

Star Student

Country Music’s Rising Star UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WITH ROMAN ALEXANDER ARTICLE LISA ALLEN | PHOTOGRAPHY LORI BOYD

E

very star shines in a unique way.

When I told Roman Alexander that I was calling to talk to him about being featured in the Star Student section of an upcoming issue, he joked that maybe he shouldn’t tell me about his grade in Spanish class. Then he talked about Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash in a way that would put many men twice his age to shame.

A student at Park Hill South High School, Alexander first played a guitar when he was eight years old. He was singing at six; his uncle Jim, also a country artist, invited him on stage and together they performed a Johnny Cash song.

Fast forward a few years and Alexander found himself at the School of Rock in Parkville, where he honed his skills and learned the logistics of music. From setting up a stage to organizing a gig to putting together a band that would stick, Alexander learned as much as he could in his two years at the school. He also toured with the School of Rock All Stars, and got a taste for life on the road during their two to three week concert tour.

“I’ve always wanted to play country music,” he says, “and I knew that I’d learned all I could there and that it was time for me to go out on my own.” He started a band and learned how to deal with the challenges of band members who come and then go, but now says he’s “really blessed” to be set with a group of like-minded musicians called The Roman Alexander Band.

24 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

“My mom actually named the band,” he says. “I know that eventually they’ll go to college, and I’ll become a solo artist.” He’s ready for that, already traveling to explore new opportunities and the chance to share his voice with people across the nation.

As we talked, Alexander was in Chicago auditioning for the hit NBC show “The Voice.” While he can’t disclose specifics of his time there, he did share that his grandma was there with him.

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“She’s pretty cool,” he says, adding that his entire family supports his ambitions and encourages him to pursue his dreams.

He always has one family member with him when he travels, and he credits them with helping him juggle the demands of school and his burgeoning musical career.

“I believe that music is a dying art. I mean true, real music that’s written from the heart. So many things are over produced these days. That’s not a bad thing, but there’s no better way to experience music than live and in person,” he says.

“When you go to a show, you can feel the music. That’s what I want people to know.

Sure, I want them to download the music but what I really hope is that they come to a show and experience live and up close.”

Alexander says he likes being on stage, but not for the reasons people might think.

“It’s not about fame,” he says. “For me, it’s about the connecting with my fans and the country lifestyle. I think that simple is better. My fans are really important to me, and I like to interact with the crowd. It’s not a show for me. It’s personal.”

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Giving Back

Singing a Familiar Tune: NORTHLAND COMMUNITY CHOIR RINGS IN ITS 40TH ANNIVERSARY ARTICLE ALEXANDRA BUSH | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

E

very Monday evening, from September through May, the picturesque hilltop McCoy Meetin’ House on Park University hosts a musical group that performs four concerts per year, that has been around for four decades, typically has around 50 members—and contains no professional musicians.

The Northland Community Choir has served as an open-armed avenue for those who have a passion for music, but not necessarily the training, since ten Northland churches joined forces for a Thanksgiving concert in the fall of 1974, and then reconvened the next spring to perform Handel’s The Messiah. Since then, NCC has seen 17 directors, drawn members from around the Northland and far beyond, and touched many lives within the community.

“Most of us are just people who love to sing, and enjoy making music together,” says Janet Geary, community outreach chairman for the choir.

The choir has established a long tradition of people coming together, learning and doing what they love. Their current members reside all around the Kansas City Metro, as well bringing in members from Edwardsville, Kan. to Cameron, Mo. A new member can join at any point during the season, and while the normal seasonal registration fee is $50 plus a $25 music deposit, new members can join for just a $5 registration fee. No previous musical skill is required, not even the ability to read music. With the dedication of its members, the NCC has been able to attain a high quality of choral music in an unintimidating atmosphere.

“I think it’s the dedication of people who come,” President Cindy Hodson, who has been a member for nearly a decade, says of the choir’s longevity. “We have people who have been here since the very beginning.”

Providing an affordable, welcoming ambiance for singers to

26 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

hone their hobby has always been part of a two-fold mission of the NCC. The other side of that coin is the choir has long had a dedication to benefit the community they serve.

“I think that one of the things that makes us unique is that our theme this year is ‘Making Music Matter,” Geary says.

The theme represents what the choir has done all along. In the recent years, the choir has partnered with and benefited community organizations including the Banneker School Foundation, the Don Bosco Community Center, Hillcrest Transitional Housing, and the International School of Music at Park University. The choir has also received grants from the Missouri Arts Council and Platte County Parks and Recreation.

“It strengthens us,” Geary says of working so closely with other groups. “Music builds community. Making music together forces strong bonds between people.”

Two years ago, the choir welcomed a new director, Paul Erickson, who on a weekly basis can be seen, and more easily heard, stomping on the ground of McCoy Meetin’ House to the rhythm of the music, and boisterously encouraging his singers.

Erickson has a laundry list of previous experience and qualifications in the field of choral music, not the least of which is a master’s degree in aesthetics, music and literature and a master’s degree in piano performance from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music.

Since Erickson came aboard, Geary and Hodson say he has brought both abundant experience and high expectations, and the choir’s numbers and skill have strengthened for it.

“He is able to coach ordinary people into doing extraordinary things,” Geary says.

“I think he has been paramount to the choir,” Hodson concurs.

“His experience has really helped us along. In the last two years, we’ve really progressed under Paul’s tutelage.”

The choir will celebrate its anniversary by bringing their material full circle: their 40-perPark University son 2014 group will perform Handel’s The Messiah, featuring a full orchestra, on Sunday, April 13 at 7 p.m. in the Graham Tyler Memorial Chapel on the campus of Park University.

With their milestone season, the Northland Community Choir will continue to make music matter, for both its members and those within the community they continue to enrich.

For more information, visit NorthlandCommunityChoir.org

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Picture This

“Gateway to the Northland�, a fine art photo by Christopher T. Murphy, is an evening rendition of the Bond Bridge on the drive home. Sometimes everyday objects become art when viewed in the right perspective, at the right time. Intersecting lines of the bridge support cables and long exposure of the car and truck lights form a pleasing geometric pattern during traffic time. Prints available at ChristopherTMurphy.com.

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Musician, Producer, Husband, Coach Denzel Williams lives life day-to-day, wearing many hats.

ARTICLE ALEXANDRA BUSH | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

“I

really don’t have much to prove,” says North Kansas City native Denzel Williams on a cold winter day over coffee.

However, one thing Williams has proven is that he can’t be confined to any boxes, which is not to say he couldn’t check off a few.

He has been a successful student athlete at both North Kansas City High and Park University. He is a son, brother and husband in a happy family life. He is a supportive track coach for his alma mater. Finally, he has become a multi-faceted player on a constantly evolving Kansas City music scene.

A couple boxes he can’t check are someone who gives up easily, or someone who equates success in the hip-hop genre with overindulgence.

“I’ve never been raised in that glamorous lifestyle,” Williams says, “because we were more about each other, music and art.”

Becoming a musician is something Williams, known as D/Will in the music community, says happened by accident.

30 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Although growing up he had always been heavily influenced by music, ranging from New Edition to NWA to Miles Davis; it wasn’t until Williams was in college that he started getting what he calls “the production itch.”

Williams teamed up with another hiphop devotee and emcee, took music theory courses, dabbled with synthesizers and keyboards, and eventually became a devout vinyl collector.

“I started to make sense of it, and I started to really become a student of music,” Williams says.

“I believe every day is another opportunity to be better than the day before. I think every morning is God’s way of giving us another shot. It very much should be a reset.”

Today as producer, writer and rapper, D/Will’s influences and sounds transcend the hip-hop genre, a fact that shows in his network of musicians that touches both coasts. His discography includes more than 20 projects since 2009, and his collaborators include Kansas City acts Stik Figa and Milk Drop.

Williams also makes up half of Heartfelt Anarchy, an afro-punk group with Hearts of Darkness front man Les Izmore. The duo gives theatrical performances periodically at Kansas City venues like Riot Room and Record Bar, as well as larger venues like South By Southwest. Williams plays the drum machine live while wearing a mask, playing amidst laser light shows, and Les Izmore’s funky, aggressive emceeing.

“It’s all kind of eclectic tastes, I am just really thankful that I can do so many types of genres. And I think that’s all because of my parents,” Williams says of his music. “The only rules were that I had to finish what I was doing. I couldn’t quit.”

Quitting is the last thing on D/Will’s mind. He will release his latest project, “The Reset”, later this month. Williams says the LP, which he wrote, performed, mixed and produced, is an expression of a life philosophy.

“I believe every day is another opportunity to be better than the day before. I think every morning is God’s way of giving us another shot,” he says, “It very much should be a reset.”

He describes the end result as very textured—a methodical, aggressive, electronic labor of love. By the time of its release, Williams will have been working on the album for more than six months, and he says, he will have listened to each track around 500 times.

“It takes a lot to produce an album, record it and mix it.

There are few artists that do it.”

But it is this dedication, and this methodic approach, where the artistic spirit of D/Will truly presents itself.

“I approach music very much like a painter would,” Williams says. “I get my records like a painter would get his palette: throw everything onto one canvas, and slowly begin to organize the sounds.”

But music is not the only thing Williams has found a deep connection with. Three years ago, he joined the coaching staff of the track program for North Kansas City, his alma mater.

“That is single-handedly the greatest part of my being right now,” he says of the track team, whose season runs February to May. “Those kids and that program have been a blessing to me.”

It was his own success in track, specifically the high jump, which makes him an ideal coach. Although he had great coaches and mentors when he was a student athlete, few of them were jumpers themselves, and a large part of his progression in the sport was due to self-teaching and research.

It was his love of the sport that led to him coming by the school to watch meets and practices, talking with the track coach (his former math teacher) and eventually being asked to join the staff. His youthful exuberance allows him to walk

the fine line of connecting with kids while still fulfilling a mentoring role.

“It’s a lot of life lessons, but at the same time I’m a competitor, and I’m trying to teach them how to win. And it’s been working,” Williams says.

Last year, two of his students finished in the top ten of the Class 4 State Championships. Then-sophomore Keisha Bailey finished in third place, and Taylor Thompson, a senior at the time who has since gone on to the US Navy, finished sixth.

“To be a mentor and a guardian, I really want those kids to succeed,” Williams says. “I don’t think I’ve ever experienced love in that type of way.”

It does seem that Williams has found lots of love in his life.

Love for his family, his community, his faith and his music.

And of all the boxes in life, “stressed” does not seem to be one he would check.

“It just always kind of works out,” Williams says, ref lecting on juggling what some would deem a full schedule.

“I’m very much okay with the results of the day,” he says.

“As long as I get through it, I’m good.” …And then you just reset.

Check out D/Will and his music at IKnowDWill.com.

Actor/Director Dwayne Boyd Soars High, Stays Grounded ARTICLE PETE DULIN | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

D

wayne Boyd’s first experience with acting took place during a drama class at Van Horn High School in Kansas City. After graduation, he served seven years in the U.S. Army and then settled in Atlanta, Ga., where he ran a barber shop for five years.

He began to wonder if there was something more in life for him.

“I had a conversation with a regular customer, who asked me what I wanted to do,” Boyd says. “I told him I wanted to act. He said, ‘Then do it.’”

That Saturday, Boyd packed up his barber shop gear and pursued acting as a career.

“After that conversation, I knew I needed to do it right away or I never would. I created a career for myself,” he says.

Boyd performed in area productions like To Kill A Mockingbird while honing his craft in theater and acting workshops. Boyd also held workshop sessions with peers in each other’s homes, where they rehearsed scenes and did improv to sharpen their skills.

“I enjoy working with actors. I’ve gone from hosting classes in homes to a larger facility,” says Boyd. Ten years ago he launched 32 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

the Premier Actor’s Network (PAN), a group that holds weekly acting classes in Decatur, Ga. More than 100 people, ranging from adults to younger children, attend Boyd’s classes about on-camera work, monologues, improvisations, scene study and character development, designed to prepare for roles in television, film, commercials and theatre. Boyd benefits from the workshops as well.

“I’m thankful to have these classes,” he says. “Working with other actors helps them and keeps me sharp. It helps me stay trained year-round like an athlete. You have to be ready if an agent calls for an audition.”

For aspiring actors not located in a major market, Boyd encourages starting close to home. Students can explore acting through classwork, improv troupes and other means to develop skills, express their talent and find an audience.

“You can use technology to produce short videos and films for Vimeo and YouTube. The audience is there waiting for content,” he says.

Boyd’s most demanding role to date was his work on The Hunger Games in the role of a peacekeeper. A key scene involved him

bringing Katniss, played by Jennifer Lawrence, and her family into a room. Filming this scene and others took place over a week of shooting in North Carolina during summer.

“It was 103 degrees,” he says. “I wore boots, a flak vest, turtleneck and a uniform. It was physically demanding. It reminded me of my military training in desert conditions. It was a harsh, tough time.”

Despite the heat, Boyd was thrilled to work with the cast and crew. “Each role has its challenges,” he says. “I embrace it and enjoy the opportunity to work.”

Boyd has performed roles in The Walking Dead, Sleepy Hollow, and Parental Guidance but hasn’t let his steady work among Hollywood stars go to his head. He recalls working with Jennifer Garner on the film The Odd Life Of Timothy Green, and says that she was pleasant and took time to introduce herself.

“Don’t get caught up in the hype. Treat people like human beings, the way you want to be treated,” he advises newcomers. And deliver on the basics. “Know your lines. Show up on time. Leave people with a positive impression. Be prepared. A tight-knit group of people work on these productions. You never know who you’ll work with next or where the next job comes from.”

Boyd has also written, directed and produced several short films. He produced several episodes in 2004 of Gory Stories, a children’s program on the Black Family Channel. Boyd’s experience in multiple creative roles informs his work ethic and how he treats coworkers.

“As a producer, I’ve seen both sides of the camera,” he says. “The crew works the hardest to set up lights and rigging; they work to make the actors look good.

As an actor, I need to come on set, do my job right and go home knowing I did my best.”

Boyd offers a few final words of advice.

“Don’t give up. Work hard and know your worth as a human being,” he says. “Respect others and demand respect. So many people get lost in this business. Keep yourself grounded and never, ever quit.”

Boyd remains busy acting, directing, teaching classes and even running a photography business, where he shoots headshots for actors. Meanwhile, The Ivy League, a comedy directed

by Boyd in 2010, is scheduled for release this year. He will also appear as Officer Bernard Roald in multiple episodes of The Red Road,” a Sundance Channel thriller that aired in February.

With such a diverse skill set, Boyd’s value in film and television continues to soar upward while he remains grounded in his purpose to create a career for himself.

“Don’t give up. Work hard and know your worth as a human being,” he says. “Respect others and demand respect. So many people get lost in this business. Keep yourself grounded and never, ever quit.”

March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 33

William Jewell College Applies 21st Century Tools to Learning A bookless library opens pages and minds.

ARTICLE PETE DULIN | PHOTOGRAPHY LANI ODELL

S

tudents are more apt to carry laptops than books to Pryor Learning Commons, a new 24-hour bookless library at William Jewell College. This advanced center utilizes modern technology in classrooms and common workspaces that offer an innovative 21st century learning environment.

The Commons’ brick-and-pillar exterior design elements correspond with the traditional look of other buildings on the 165-year-old campus; however, the interior of this 26,000-squarefoot building is quite contemporary. Books are replaced with technology and resources so students can gather, learn and create 34 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

around the clock. The Commons’ three floors house two hightech classrooms, called innovation studios; digital recording and editing suites; and writable surfaces on tables and walls.

“We worked closely with the building’s designers to work from the perspective of the user, the student, and not the college,” says Provost Anne Dema, B.S., Ph.D. “We positioned the building to be user-centric. The Learning Commons is designed for students to use 24/7. It brings them together to explore and collaborate.”

She refers to the Commons as “student-owned.” Other older buildings on campus are more “owned by the faculty,” meaning

they were mostly designed for instructors to conduct classes in a more authoritarian, one-to-many setting, where students face forward in desks and listen to lessons and lectures.

At the Commons, students work seamlessly on group projects at one of 20 collaboration tables, which include a 40-inch flat screen display, wireless connections and a touch screen. The tables easily facilitate collaboration so students can share research, content and ideas. Classrooms are outfitted with wirelessly connected white board tables and touch screens, where students and instructors can easily exchange information.

“Initially, I was most excited about the idea of a 24-hour study space, but then I realized what I was walking into,” says Alexander Bush, a junior and Student Senate president. “Every floor is full of the tools we have always wanted. The Commons has changed the way I participate in class, lead meetings and study for tests with groups.”

In the innovation studios, students sit around star-shaped, wirelessly connected white board tables instead of front-facing rows of desks. The professor, technology and classroom design all facilitate conversation, even in unexpected subjects, such as chemistry. Gone are the days of a teacher drawing diagrams on chalkboards. Now, students work on a chemistry problem by writing it on the white board tabletop and use tools to create 3-D molecular models that they can

“We tested furniture and layouts in the Curry Library while building the new space,” says Dema. “You’ll see a mix of traditional furniture such as couches and over-stuffed chairs that encourage conversations, and also big library tables where students can sit together, work and socialize.”

Designer Mary Carol Garrity, owner of retail store Nell Hill’s, helped to select furniture that would create a comfortable yet productive space for students. A crimson, black and white color palette–the school colors–complemented by warm gray, unify the look of the furnished spaces throughout the three floors. A fireplace, a cafe serving Starbucks coffee, open air spaces with vaulted ceilings and smaller seating arrangements strike a balance between a welcoming, communal space and more isolated cubbyholes for privacy and studying.

The net effect is a space where students have a place to work and socialize, much like the way coffee shops offer a “third space” function apart from the office and home. This combination of high-tech and creature comforts wasn’t easy to attain but it works as a seamless learning environment. As a result, when the building opened, students and faculty intuitively got it. Without explanation, they knew how to use the space and its resources.

“The embedding of collaboration and creativity in our courses takes advantage of this generation’s learning styles and uses faculty in the ways they are most valuable: as facilitators, collaborators and resources for learning.” manipulate in real time. The professor scans the responses and posts them to an 80-inch touchscreen for class discussion. All the while, a video recording device records the way students interact so the instructor can fine-tune his or her collaborative teaching methods.

Writing students no longer simply write essays.

Using the Learning Commons creativity studios they craft videos and podcasts and create 3-D representations of the concepts. A 3-D printer, a device that can print a three-dimensional solid object of virtually any shape from a digital model, located in another suite is yet another example of the cutting-edge resources available to students.

Three prominently displayed screens in the building share upcoming events and display William Jewell-related tweets via a Twitter feed, replicating the media-intensive world familiar to students.

High-tech tools weren’t the only incentives to draw students into the Commons. Utility and comfort were factored into the building’s interior design.

“Students and faculty told us we provided them with things they didn’t know they wanted,” says Dema. She believes the Pryor Learning Center now represents the true intellectual center of the campus. Its impact extends to the faculty as well. The building’s CONTINUED >

March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 35

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aesthetic and resources foster the faculty’s “innovative spirit” in concert with a pragmatic approach.

“They have powerful tools to challenge students and take risks to do so,” Dema explains. “It also changes the faculty’s relationship with students. Now it places everyone on a different footing.”

William Jewell College President David Sallee, Ph.D., underscores this new learning relationship and environment.

“Most current discussions in and about higher education focus on methods of teaching and/or technology,” Sallee says.

“However, the Pryor Learning Commons provides a cutting-edge atmosphere in which the focus is interactive learning— students and faculty together are totally engaged in a collaborative learning process.”

Professors of knowledge are not obsolete, but the exchange of information from one instructor to many students in a classroom or lecture hall–where students passively take notes and memorize lectures and textbook lessons–is limited in its scope and practicality. Today, content is accessible to students through smart phones, search engines and other means. The setup at the Commons replicates a more contemporary way of learning, communicating and working found in today’s digitally-savvy consumer and professional environment.

Students are not entirely dependent on information contained in a lecture or

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textbook; rather, they can acquire, share and actively participate in workshops and course work under the guidance of faculty and with the power of peer networking.

“The embedding of collaboration and creativity in our courses takes advantage of this generation’s learning styles and uses faculty in the ways they are most valuable: as facilitators, collaborators and resources for learning,” Sallee says.

At William Jewell College, the Commons represents a deeply considered, fullblown strategic direction and long-term commitment to delivering a valuable education to students.

Dema identifies the significance of the new space. “What stronger statement could an institution of higher education make than an investment in a new building for learning open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week?”

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Local Limelight

Giving Motherhood a Microphone THE LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER SHOW COMES TO KANSAS CITY ARTICLE LISA ALLEN PHOTOGRAPHY KAREN LEDFORD PHOTOGRAPHY

L

isten to your mother. Truth be told, I have issues with that phrase…

I stood on the stage of Unity Temple on the Plaza on Mother’s Day eve last year and started an extraordinary 90 minutes with those very words. I read an essay that I wrote about being my mother’s daughter, and then thirteen other women got up, each in turn, and read stories about their own moms, their children, their friends and their lives.

After the show, cast members mingled with those in the audience. As some posed with family for celebratory snapshots, others were approached by strangers who had the same two words to share, no matter which cast member they were drawn to.

Those two words were ‘me too.’ The strangers approached so Erin Margolin & Sarah Guthrie. Back: Lisa Allen & Leslie Lambeth-Kohlmeyer they, too, could share their story. Most hugged, some cried, others simply said ‘thank you for sharing your story. It’s also my story.’

And so it goes with the Listen to Your Mother Show, a phenom- Omaha. Seymour decided to not return for the 2014 show and origenon started by blogger and self-described stay-at-home humorist inal cast members Sarah Guthrie, Leslie Lambeth-Kohlmeyer and Ann Imig in 2010. From I joined Margolin as co-diher home base in Wis- The Listen to Your Mother Show will grace 32 rectors and co-producers. consin, she created a way stages across the country this year. In addition to While every show is to celebrate motherhood different, one thing is giving motherhood a microphone, each city also that involves more than consistent: stories flow brunch or the obligatory chooses a not-for-profit to support. Kansas City’s from heartbreaking to bouquet of flowers. charity of choice in 2013 was Rose Brooks Center. hilarious and topics as diThe Listen to Your verse as loss, postpartum Mother Show will grace This year the Kansas City show will support Wom- depression and the hid32 stages across the coun- en’s Employment Network. den blessings of the evtry this year. In addition eryday weave together to to giving motherhood a microphone, each city also chooses a create an experience that mirrors the joy and the exasperation not-for-profit to support. Kansas City’s charity of choice in 2013 that is motherhood. was Rose Brooks Center; in addition to writing a check for 10 “Motherhood can be a lonely occupation. We take on monupercent of the show’s total ticket sales, members of the cast also mental loads of responsibility, but it often feels like we are the toured the Center and donated a variety of requested personal only ones who didn’t shower that day or feel unable to handle it care items. This year the Kansas City show will support Wom- all!” says Seymour. “I wanted the opportunity to share these stoen’s Employment Network. ries, and for all of us to realize that we are in this together. Some Laura Seymour and Erin Margolin shared directing and produc- days, that means everything.” ing duties as the Kansas City’s show founders. The original cast Many of the cast members learned of the show through social included women from around the metro as well as Wichita and media or at blogging conferences. Because each piece must be orig-

38 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Great Smiles Start with

inal, the show tends to attract writers and bloggers but, as Margolin says, there are no prerequisites to being chosen for the cast.

“We’re not looking for a resume,” says Margolin. “We’re looking for stories that resonate for one reason or another. It’s not about structure. It’s about soul.”

Original cast member Jen Mann is accustomed to a large number of readers on her blog, but she’d never before read her work out loud in front of a crowd. When she writes on her blog, she says, she decides what is funny; reading in front of an audience let them tell her, through their laughter, what they thought was funny.

“The show was amazing,” says Rita Arens, who read “Halfway,” “but I was more moved by how quickly I felt intimately connected to my fellow cast members. We’re all now friends and I haven’t made so many new friends so quickly in years. I think it was the intimacy of what we shared.”

A friend nudged Lambeth-Kohlmeyer to audition last year, and she did so without even researching the show. Once she’d sent in her submission, she headed to the show’s YouTube channel and spent hours watching videos.

“I laughed until I nearly peed,” she says. “I was hooked. I laughed, cried and blubbered and I knew that I had to be a part of this. When I read in the show last year, I was forever changed.”

Guthrie says she felt compelled to audition and then join the production team because she believes that motherhood deserves a voice. Margolin agrees, saying she most loves the

purity of the Listen to Your Mother Show message.

“All we need is a podium, a microphone and the stories. That’s it,” she says. “It’s a chance to change lives because we’ve put these stories out there, and it’s an opportunity for me to stretch myself, meet incredible new people and hear stories that will change my heart. How could I not want to do it again?”

Show Time!

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Hot Spot

Rock and Run Brewery Sets the Pace LIBERTY’S FIRST BREWPUB HITS ITS MARKS ARTICLE RACHEL MURPHY | PHOTOGRAPHY MALLORIE MCKERNAN

W

hen it comes to the craft beer revolution, the Northland has been leading the pack in the last year, with Big Rip Brewing Company and Cinder Block Brewery both opening in North Kansas City. What we were missing has finally arrived: a solid brewery with a great lineup of food as well.

That’s what Rock and Run Brewery, located at 110 E. Kansas St. on the square in Historic Downtown Liberty, does so well.

The restaurant/brew pub opened December 18, 2013, to a huge crowd and has been packing them in ever since.

The brewery, started by partners Dan Hatcher and Gene DeClue, is named for their passions. DeClue has been a professional musician for 20 years, playing with local favorite Cherry Bomb, and Hatcher is a long distance runner with a penchant for marathons and ultra-marathons.

With owners with such an active background, it’s no wonder that the menu in the sustainably built bar tends toward the healthier, in bar food terms, side. I’ve visited twice so far, and both times, the food has been tasty and filling, but not nearly as grease-laden as one might expect from a place majoring in craft beer.

On our first visit, we started with an appetizer of beer and cheese fries ($6.50).

The fries are hand-cut, and topped with slivers of Parmesan cheese, herbs and bacon, and served with a side of creamy beer cheese. This isn’t your standard Velveeta-based rotel dip mind you. It tastes as if it actually has dairy products in it, which I have no doubt that it does.

We both tried pizzas. The kitchen features a wood-burning oven, so baked items are the specialty of the house. Pizzas are personal sized, although could definitely 40 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

be shared, especially if you were indulging in appetizers first. Four preset options are available or you can pick your pie for $8.50, which was what I did.

Choosing shrimp, artichoke hearts, Kalamata olives and portabella mushrooms on a pesto sauce, my pizza came out in a timely manner on a fairly standard crust.

In my opinion, the crust could either be thinner or thicker. It’s too thick for a good thin crust, but it doesn’t have the yeasty pull of a thicker, chewier crust. That was my only suggestion, however, since the toppings were perfectly placed, and not too heavy. My husband got the Three Little Pigs, with bacon, Black Forest ham, sausage, Rye Porter onion, and fresh mozzarella and was also quite satisfied.

Of course, at a brew pub, the beer should be the star. A mere three weeks after their

opening, they were out of seven of their 10 brews. I tried the Farmhouse Funk, their saison and the 5K IPA, both of which were quite good, but the more adventurous offerings were still fermenting and wouldn’t be available for weeks.

Details

ROCK AND RUN 110 E. Kansas St. Liberty, MO 64068 816.415.2337 RockandRunBrewery.com HOURS

Monday-Thursday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-1 a.m., Kitchen closes at 11 p.m.

Sunday 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

Feed the Birds without the Mess!

On a second visit on a snowy Thursday evening, the bar was packed by 6 p.m. We managed to grab a seat at the double-sided bar and hoped to try more of their brews.

This time six were available, ranging from the very light Liberty Squared to the rich and spicy Ryley Porter.

We ordered a sampler flight, which isn’t on the menu, but is $10 for five 5 ounce pours. I was hoping to try the Mud and Muck Stout and the Saminator, a curiously named 4x IPA. Alas, I’ll have to go back and try to find it again.

We started with the pretzels ($7.50).

They are fired in the same wood oven that the pizzas are made in and have a pleasantly chewy interior ensconced in a crispy skin. They were noticeably lacking salt, which I found curious, but after dipping in the provided side of beer cheese, one hardly noticed. The whole grain mustard offered was also delicious.

For dinner, I chose the Reuben sandwich, which was served alongside their fantastic fries again. The bread was perfect as was the dressing, but the corned beef was surprisingly bland. Hopefully it was a fluke.

The husband chose one of the sausages, which are made by Local Pig and served on Farm to Market buns. There’s a rotating menu of sausage options, and he chose the Thai Spice, which had great flavor, but not much heat. Topped with bacon and accompanied by fries, it’s a satisfying meal.

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Come in During March for a FREE 2 lb. Sample both of my visits, the staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. On our second visit though, he was clearly in the weeds. One bartender for a two sided bar and a full restaurant is just not enough and it delayed our ability to order by at least 20 minutes. With another body behind the bar, this could have been easily remedied.

All in all, Rock and Run is shaping up to be one of my favorite places to go spend an afternoon. With 30 guest taps in addition to their own brews, they’ve got something for everyone, and when the oven is fired up, no appetite will go unabated.

8708 N. Flintlock Road Kansas City, MO 64157

(816) 415-4303 www.wbu.com/libertymo BIRD FOOD • FEEDERS GARDEN ACCENTS • UNIQUE GIFTS March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 41

Locally Owned

Family to Family MEYERS FUNERAL CHAPEL - CARING, COMFORTING, COMMITTED ARTICLE ELIZABETH ROSENBERGER | PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED

T

heir motto is “Big enough to serve and small enough to care,” and at Meyers Northland Funeral Chapel, the years of commitment to the community have provided personal family service, built trust and brought comfort to families in grief.

“Our mission is to personalize a dignified service that helps you celebrate the lives lived by your loved one,” says Managing Partner Todd DeMint.

As owners of one of the few funeral homes that are family owned and operated in the Greater Kansas City area, Marty and Dennis Meyers know that when a family experiences the loss of a loved one, comfort and guidance are at the top of the list of what they need.

“Our family is here for your family before, during and following the service,” DeMint says. “That family connection should be important to you because we care for you and your loved one from our first contact. You’ll work with one of us directly and we’ll stay with you throughout the planning process.”

42 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

It’s not just a job, but a way of life and it shows in everything the staff does at Meyers Northland Chapel. Located at 401 Main Street in Parkville, the home was built in 1942 as a funeral home and living quarters.

The beautiful three-story structure was remodeled in 2008 when the Meyers purchased the property. The interior is not only captivating, but the ambiance is warm and private. All types of funerals, cremation and pre-arrangement services are offered. They personally perform all services in-house–excluding cremation–without outsourcing any services for your loved one.

“We do our own embalming on site and that is something we are very proud of,” Todd says. “It’s hard for a funeral home to advertise something like that, but we feel that knowing your loved one stays in our care is very important to the families we serve.”

As a full service funeral home, Meyers doesn’t believe in a checklist service, instead they specialize in planning funerals and memorial services that reflect the personal-

ity, interests and passions of your loved one.

They also work as a liaison with insurance companies, social security agencies and military entities to navigate the vital information that is immediately needed. They are available seven days a week, 24 hours a day, so when death does occur, they will personally transport your loved one to the chapel.

Todd and his staff, Tyler Stingley and Loretta Bayless-Temple, live and work in the Northland. Todd and his wife, Nikki, have two children, Evan, 9, and Avery, 7, here.

Nikki teaches third grade at Park Hill. He attended the Mortuary Science department at Kansas City Kansas Community College and is a National Board Certified Embalmer and Funeral Director with a dual license in both Missouri and Kansas.

Although there is no corporate headquarters or regional facility, Meyers also has a location in Blue Springs at 1600 W. Main. They value not only your business but your trust.

“We build relationships across generations so when the need arises, you can call on your extended family at Meyers Funeral Chapels,” Todd says. “We are community minded and believe in giving back and playing an active role in our neighborhoods.”

Part of that active role includes taking an integral part in supporting the local schools, churches, civic organizations, numerous athletic activities for youth and children’s activities. They also offer high school and college scholarships. They are an active member of the Northland Chamber as well as Parkville and Gladstone.

For 2014, the chapel will be getting complete renovations which will double their size in square footage. But Todd is quick to add the element that he is most proud of at Meyers is the staff.

“We are all first generation, licensed professionals,” he says. “We chose the funeral profession and all feel very blessed that we were all able to find our calling in life. We place our trust in each other on a daily basis and we truly enjoy serving our families.”

For more information and a full list of services visit MeyersFuneralChapel.com or call 816.741.0251.

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or years, cyclists and runners have relied on devices to measure performance and track their improvement, but basketball technology has lagged behind. Until now, that is. ShotTracker is the first piece of affordable, wearable technology for basketball players who want to improve their shooting performance. Two sensors, a small one on a shooter’s wrist and a weather-resistant one on the net, work with an app to automatically track shot attempts, makes and misses.

“Whether you’re in your backyard or on the basketball court, the best jump shooters know that you can’t improve what you don’t measure,” explains ShotTracker co-founder

Davyeon Ross. “With ShotTracker, basketball players of all ages can practice with more purpose. When you practice smarter, you’ll play more.”

ShotTracker combines tried-and-true basketball fundamentals with the latest in technology innovation. Additionally, the iOS and Android apps will include structured workouts to keep players focused, as well as global leaderboards so athletes can see where they rank among friends, teammates and basketball players around the world.

ShotTracker was co-founded by Ross and Bruce Ianni, both successful technology entrepreneurs. Ross is combining his business acumen with basketball intel. After leading the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) in field-goal percentage his senior year, Ross knows what is required to become an excellent shooter. Together, the two co-founders are merging the worlds of sports and technology to help basketball players track shots and improve their shooting performance.

“My son and I have spent countless hours together working on his shooting. With ShotTracker, he sees the immediate benefits of his hard work and perseverance. Instead of playing video games, he’s outside shooting the basketball,” explains Ianni. “We want to help all kids have these life-changing, character-building experiences.”

ShotTracker is now available for pre-order at ShotTracker.com.

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March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 45

Animal Tracks

Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter LOCAL RESCUE GROUP IS A NORTHLAND TREASURE

O

ur animal companions possess an incredible capacity for teaching important life lessons such as joyfulness, friendship, forgiveness, and unconditional love. With a rescued pet, we often wonder, who is actually rescuing whom?

Josey found her way to FOPAS when her family faced medical issues and could no longer keep her. This 4- to 5-year-old Black Labrador Retriever mix has a heart of gold and quickly became a shelter favorite. She has a sweet, gentle disposition as well as excellent house manners and leash skills. With the proper food, Josey’s coat returned to its natural shine and softness. Josey is a true beauty inside and out and ready for a caring forever family of her very own.

Rosalie has spent most of her life at the shelter. In 2009 when she was about two years old, Rosalie arrived with her three kittens and has been at the shelter ever since. She is a quiet and loving kitty who often gets overlooked because she is black. She doesn’t demand attention from people although she loves it when it’s offered. Sometimes she can be independent, but she really does prefer love and affection. This pretty girl will make a sweet companion. And if you have a laser toy, Rosalie will be your best friend!

Ashley is new to the shelter. She came from a Parkville neighborhood where she lived outside for months with no place to call 46 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

home. When no one in the neighborhood claimed Ashley, shelter volunteers welcomed her and provided a safe environment. Her age is estimated at 10 months. Ashley is starting to feel more secure and comfortable when interacting with people. She is still shy but loves to be petted and purrs. This beautiful kitty is already blossoming and would welcome her forever home.

Since 1999, Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter (FOPAS) volunteers have rescued thousands of abused and discarded cats and dogs, rehabilitated them, and placed them in loving homes.

In addition to caring for the animals 365 days per year at our facility, volunteers work diligently to raise much-needed funds for veterinary bills, food and rent. Outreach efforts include a TNR (trap/neuter/return) program, educating the public about the importance of spay/neuter, encouraging young people to make a positive difference in the life of an animal, and underscoring the importance of rescue in the health and vitality of a community. The shelter is inspected by the Missouri Department of Agriculture.

For further information, visit the shelter website at ParkvilleShelter.com. To receive the shelter e-newsletter, please contact friendsofparkville@hotmail.com. You can also follow FOPAS on Facebook.

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March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 47 RBG-Lifestyle-Mar2014.indd 1

2/13/14 10:29:49 AM

Parent’s Corner ents of burgeoning millenials, for there is a solution! Here are six steps to help you and your teens navigate the social media mine field this Spring Break.

1. COMMUNICATE EARLY AND OFTEN.

Invite your teens into creating a plan to unplug. Empower them to make wise choices. Take unplugging for a test run before Spring Break. National Day of Unplugging is March 8. Join the movement at NationalDayOfUnplugging.com.

2. TURN OFF THE TECH.

It’s difficult to unplug, but it can be done. Set limits. Here are some to try: No tech until noon. No tech in the evenings. No tech on Wednesday. No tech at the dinner table. Charge your portable devices in the kitchen overnight. Keep them out of the bedrooms.

Unplugging can include social video games and television for your vitamin D-deprived child. Whatever unplugging looks like for your family, be consistent.

Take a Spring Break from Social Media REMOVING THE DIGITAL MASK ARTICLE RYAN ROSSER

T

hroughout schools, hammers thunder against their bells, signaling the day’s end. Excited hands shove books into bags. And feet scurry out of classrooms, down crowded corridors and through doors marked “exit.”

It’s Spring Break, a time for children and teens to do anything but learn.The very title of this venerable vacation week expresses rejuvenated life through separation from stress. Homework can wait.

They’ll disconnect from their studies, but remain connected online. Unless your teens unplug from their digital persona they’ll continue to be entrenched in gossip, drama, and image. The pressure to remain connected is 24/7. You can take the kid out of the school hall, but you can’t take the school hall out of the kid.

Profile pictures portray the best of us. Friend counts, like counts, comments and shares place a numeric value on self-worth. And a driving need for attention flaunts photos best kept private.

But promoting a false or not-quite-true image actually isolates us from one another. The eventual outcome is loneliness. This is true regardless of apparent confidence or ability. Social media, therefore, is a misnomer. It fails as a medium for true social interconnectivity.

It’s depressing. Literally.

Our social persona feels vital to our survival. It’s no wonder most teens balk and fight when asked to unplug. But despair not ye par-

48 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

3. TURN ON CREATIVITY.

Give your kids an artistic gift. Is Instagram your child’s favorite?

Give them a bag full of disposable cameras. Does your kid prefer Facebook? Moleskine journals and good pens are a great combo for keeping track of low-tech status updates. Give them a reason to unplug, and get creative!

4. ENGAGE THE WORLD.

The tech may be off, but that doesn’t mean friendships have to be put on hold. Gather a few of their best buds, grab a Frisbee and prepare a picnic. They’ll laugh out loud as their digital emoticons become real-life, actual smiles. Craft the stories they’ll share when asked, “What did you do for Spring Break?”

5. ENCOURAGE THEIR INNER QUALITIES.

Break the mask. Compliment the qualities and gifts that go unseen. Your nerdy kid knows they’re smart. Your athletic kid knows they’ve got game. Recognize the hard work it’s taken to get them there. No one has a greater potential to call out the truth more than an engaged parent.

6. DO IT TOGETHER.

You’re a family. A team. Be willing to accept the same boundaries for yourself that you ask of your child. Turning off the tech isn’t punishment. It’s a recalling of family and friends together. When you choose to disengage social media for yourself along with your teen, you send a bold message: They’re worth engaging.

It won’t be long before books are removed from bags, seats are taken and the break is over. So make this Spring Break count. Even without the retweets and friend requests.

Ryan Rosser is the Children’s Pastor at Metro Christian Fellowship in Kansas City, Mo.

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Lifestyle Calendar

March stress-free chance to practice taking the most important test before they go to college! Call 816.256.5907 to register.

MARCH 12 MONTHLY LUNCHEON AND BUSINESS EXPO KCI EXPO CENTER

Join us for a luncheon and program with speakers from the Kansas City Chiefs leadership team. Afterwards, strengthen your business to business connections at this free event! NorthlandChamber.com.

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A ladies’ night out featuring local businesses that cater to, or are run by women. A local wine connoisseur will be on hand for our wine tasting. Toward the end of the evening we will hold a raffle and silent auction to support The Global Orphan Project.

MARCH 7-9 JUICE FASTING AND WELLNESS RETREAT THE JOURNEY HOME

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College Nannies and Tutors of Parkville will host a practice ACT test. This is a great opportunity for high school students who might already be registered to take the official test in April. Give your students a 52 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Dorothy, Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion appear at Crown Center, posing for photos and visiting with fans, in conjunction with Crown Center’s “75 Years of Oz, Oh My!’ exhibit. No admission fee.

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introductory rates and variable rate may be available for higher LTVs. Contact the credit union for details. Introductory HELOC rate as low as 1.99% APR for the first year, then the APR will vary for the remaining life of the loan. As of 3/1/14, this variable HELOC APR would have been 4.00% APR for 80% LTV. For the HELOC, the Prime Rate is subject to a minimum of 4.00%, and the maximum APR is 18%. Home Equity Loan rate also available as low as 3.75% APR. Rates are based on the Prime Rate published in the Wall Street Journal Money Rates Table plus a margin. Stated HELOC rate of 1.99% APR and Home Equity Loan rate of 3.75% APR include a 0.25% discount for Automatic Payments from a CommunityAmerica Checking account and a 0.25% discount for enrolling in CommunityAmerica’s Online Banking and eStatements. Automatic payments must be set up when loan is opened. Home value is based on a full appraisal, which is required, at the member’s expense. Property must be a single family home and owner-occupied. Property insurance will be required.

Line amounts range from $10,000 to $100,000. Offer not available to members who have an existing Home Equity Loan or HELOC with us. Early loan termination fees may apply. Contact a tax advisor concerning tax-deductibility. Home Equity products available in Kansas and Missouri only. Kansas residents are required to pay state mortgage tax of $2.60 per $1,000 of mortgage filed. Limited time offers subject to credit approval. Offers subject to change or may expire without notice. Promotion ends 10/31/14.

tips and tricks to discovering good books for the child you love

MARCH 19 KC ZOO PRESENTS: THE AMAZON MID-CONTINENT PUBLIC LIBRARY--NORTH OAK TRAFFICWAY

Join the Kansas City Zoo for an Amazon adventure. We will share Amazon folklore and culture, as well as show you an animal or two. Come with us to learn something new about the Amazon!

MARCH 22 PRACTICE ACT TEST LEARNING CENTER IN ZONA ROSA

College Nannies and Tutors of Parkville will host a practice ACT test. Give your high school student a stress-free opportunity to gain valuable experience with the ACT. This is a perfect way for students to increase confidence before taking the official test in April.

Call 816.256.5907 today to save a seat!

MARCH 28 SUMMER NANNY OPEN HOUSE COLLEGE NANNIES AND TUTORS AT ZONA ROSA

All Parents in the Northland are invited for an evening of complimentary appetizers and drinks at College Nannies & Tutors.

Enjoy a stress-free meet and greet with our team of rock star nannies. Do you have questions about what we do? This is a great opportunity to ask questions without any obligations. Call College Nannies & Tutors at 816.256.5907 for more information.

MARCH 28 OPEN HOUSE MIDWEST HEALTH AND WELLNESS

enjoy appetizers and beverages from Heart of America Catering! NorthlandChamber.com

APRIL 4 VAN CLIBURN TRIBUTE CONCERT KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of Park University’s International Center for Music, gold medalist of the 2001 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and founder of the ICM Stanislav Ioudenitch, his protégé and rising star — and 2009 winner of the London International Piano Competition — Behzod Abduraimov, along with the Park Piano Trio, will perform a special Van Cliburn Tribute Concert. KauffmanCenter.org.

Midwest Health & Wellness, your local medical weight loss, hormone therapy and aesthetic care facility is having an open house from noon-6pm. Giveaways include Latisse, Lipo B injections and gift certificates. We will be serving food and drinks as well. KCHormone.com.

MARCH 28-29 RESTORATION ARTS: BEAUTY’S ROLE IN A BROKEN WORLD WILLIAM JEWELL COLLEGE

MARCH 26 NETWORKING BREAKFAST BLACK ON BURLINGTON

Where else can you get great networking and meet several new contacts all before 8:30 a.m.?

Above & Beyond Catering breakfast included.$15.00/Member, $18.00/Non-Member

MARCH 26-30 DISNEY ON ICE SPRINT CENTER

It’s one colossal party on ice, with all your favorite Disney friends! Enjoy a winter wonderland with Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, a Halloween haunt with the Disney Villains, a Very Merry Unbirthday Party, a Royal Ball with the Disney Princesses, and more in a magical medley of holidays, celebrations and festivals from around the globe. DisneyOnIce.com.

54 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Kansas City Arts and Faith invites you to Restoration ARTS. Restoration ARTS will be a gathering of culture-makers and catalysts from across the United States to engage in lively debate about the role of beauty in a broken world. Attendees will be challenged to consider the ways in which the arts play an ever-growing role in reconciling diverse communities.

As culture-makers and catalysts of all persuasions and backgrounds, we’ll gather for 36 hours to explore beauty’s role in a broken world. Artists, theologians, and academics will lead breakout sessions; live music will be provided by local musicians; and a post-conference entrepreneurial art crawl throughout Kansas City’s blossoming arts’ scene will offer attendees an enriching experience.

APRIL 2 BUSINESS AFTER HOURS BRIARCLIFF OFFICE BUILDING LOBBY

Join us for this free event with Cramer Captial Management. Join us to wind down after work, meet some great business contacts and

APRIL 5 WALK FOR WISHES CROWN CENTER SQUARE

Join us for a morning full of music, games, face painting and other family friendly activities. Proceeds from the Walk for Wishes will fund local wishes of Kansas City area children. Visit WalkForWishesKC.com for registration information

APRIL 6 BÉLA FLECK AND CHICK COREA KAUFFMAN CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS

Jazz fusion pianist and composer Chick Corea and Béla Fleck, one of the worlds most innovative and technically proficient banjo players, will come together for one performance. Ticket prices range from $39 to $69. KauffmanCenter.org

8781 n. platte purchase drive kansas city, mo 64155 tel 816.587.3200 fax 816.587.7644

Congratulations Pediatric Care North on 25 great years!

Looking forward to the next 25! www.pediatriccarenorth.com Susan L. Storm MD Laurie D. Riddell MD Ermalyn Kubart MD Stephanie A Marx MD Kathyrn Hauptmann MD Melissa J. Beard MD Stephanie R. Bays DO Heather J. Malone MD Kathleen Ballenger PNP

R

O

U

SPO

D

NSORS

OF

The

P

Market NO

RT

HLAND LIFES

Animals & Animal Care

Wild Birds Unlimited (816) 415-4303 wbu.com/libertymo

Art & Photography

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

T

E YL

Park University (816) 746-2579 park.edu/enroll

Entertainment & Recreation Hot Spot Pools & Spas, LLC (816) 781-8884 libertyhottub.com Kansas City Zoo (816) 513-5800 jazzookc.org

Automotive

Event Planning & Space

Child Camps, Care & Tutoring

Fashion & Accessories

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

College Nannies & Tutors (816) 256-5907 collegenanniesandtutors.com Cradle to Crayons (816) 415-3808 cradletocrayonslc.com

Dentists & Orthodontics

Antioch Dental Group (816) 452-9700 fredbaileydds.com Burleson Orthodontics (816) 533-7566 burlesonorthodontics.com Jim Anderson DDS (816) 454-3336 jimandersondds.com Kanning Orthodontics (816) 781-8585 kanningorthodontics.com

Education

Northland Catholic Schools (816) 453-3450 stpiusxhs-kc.com 56 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

Visions KC (816) 820-2541 visionskc.com

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

Financial Services & Planning Citizens Bank & Trust (816) 459-4000 citizenskc.com

Cramer Capital Management LLC (816) 399-0787 cramercapitalmanagement.com

Funeral Homes

Meyers Funeral Chapel (816) 741-0251 meyersfuneralchapel.com

Health & Wellness

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

Home Builders & Remodelers

MM Property Management & Remodeling (913) 871-6867 mmpmr.com Seasonal Concepts (913) 642-4999 seasonalconceptsonline.com Two Blind Girls (816) 505-5515 yourtwoblindgirls.com

Home Services KC Wood (913) 422-3320 kcwood.com

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

Pediatric Care North (816) 587-3200 pediatriccarenorth.com Weston Family Clinic & Medical Spa (816) 640-2762 wfcmedspa.com

Real Estate

RE/MAX Results Preferred Properties (816) 777-3122 preferredpropertieskc.com The Rob Ellerman Team (816) 251-1435 therobellermanteam.com Wolfe Sweeney (816) 746-2777 wolfesweeney.com

Restaurants, Food & Beverage Cascone’s Restaurant & Lounge (816) 454-7977 cascones.com

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

Salons & Spas

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

Senior Living & Services

Rock And Wall Landscape (816) 392-7262 rockandwalllandscape.com Weed Man (816) 781-1300 weedmanusa.com

Insurance

Gary Wagner Insurance Agency (816) 792-2526

Medical Clinics & Facilities

Insight Eyecare Specialties (816) 476-4017 ieseyecare.com

Foutch Athletics (816) 746-9100 foutchathletics.com

Liberty Hospital (816) 792-7016 libertyhospital.org

Jazzercise - Liberty (816) 792-4218 jazzercise.com

North Kansas City Hospital (816) 691-3023 nkch.org

Skin Solutions KC (816) 587-5299 skinsolutionskc.com

Riverside Nursing & Rehabilitation Center LLC (816) 741-5105 riversidenursingandrehab. com Senior Helpers (816) 455-9300 seniorhelpers.com The Gardens at Barry Road (816) 584-3200 bethesdaseniorliving.com

Specialty Shops

American Pawn & Balano Gallery (816) 436-4653 americanpawnandgallery.com

VisionsKC.com - Email: Info@VisionsKC.com

What a

E M I T GREAT R!

O I R R A W

2B a

weospx! you will too! www.stpiusxhs-kc.com

St. Pius X High School 1500 NE 42nd Terrace Kansas City, MO 64116 816.453.3450

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Did you know this about your Eyes?

• Children should have their first eye exam at 10 months old through the no-cost InfantSEE program. (InfantSEE.org) • Dr. Ryan Powell and Dr. Andrea Keele both have advanced training in Pediatric Eyecare.

• New Transitions Signature lenses allow you to experience clear, comfortable and convenient vision indoors and outdoors!!

• Multifocal contact lenses can give you clear comfortable distance and reading vision when fit and adjusted properly.

We recommend yearly eye exams to ensure that you have healthy sight for many years to come!

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Connect with us on Facebook March 2014 | Northland Lifestyle 57

Parting Thoughts

The Easel WORDS RACHEL MURPHY

C

reativity is one of those elusive and unquantifiable traits that so many aspire to have. It is valued by tech giants like Steve Jobs to produce new ways to speak to each other, and by visual and theatrical artists to say something. For me, my art has always come in the form of words, round and loopy and always more eloquent when read by the tiny Morgan Freeman that lives in my mind.

But like so many that have chosen to make their living by shilling their passion, I noticed a few years ago that writing wasn’t giving me the same emotional release that it used to. True, I was doing much more profitable pieces, ones where you could invoice immediately and then exchange the money made for goods and services, but the thrill of scribbling on cocktail napkins because my mind was so full of words had severely abated.

I decided that I needed another medium for self-expression.

Painting. Yeah, that’s it, I would start painting. I love the visual arts and can spend hours in museums pondering the beauty and perfection caught in a millennium-old paintbrush or chisel. And when it came to modern art, really anything goes, so how bad could it be?

My sainted husband took this suggestion and ran with it. My 31st birthday dawned and I awoke to one of the most thoughtful coordinated gift blitzes I’ve ever seen.

He had told his family and mine about his plan, so all of their gifts coincided with his. He led me out to our ramshackle sunroom, and there stood a beautiful French easel, upright, waiting for my creativity to spring forth.

The gifts include canvases, oil paints, brushes and even books on how to paint. I ran my fingers over these weapons of possibility, all shining and unbroken in their packaging. Surely this would be the point where 58 Northland Lifestyle | March 2014

I became more than a wordsmith. I could become an artist.

When I was alone with my brushes and canvases, I squirted my first color on my palette. I would just see where the paints took me. There should probably be some sort of swelling music indicating that creation was about to happen. This was to be my first statement to the world, in rich vermilion oil.

I painted a flower. Not a beautiful, photorealistic flower. Not a stylized Thomas Hart Benton flower. A third grade flower. A flower that someone’s mother tacks on the refrigerator to show that their kid does indeed have motor skills. Dr. Seuss would be slightly embarrassed of my first painting.

Surely, this was a fluke. I’m creative. People have told me this.

Okay, some have said it with air quotes, but still. I gave it another go. Maybe I needed a different starting color. Blue. Cyan. Cerulean. Yep, I was definitely in my blue period. Me and Picasso, hanging out in a single color.

So I painted a wave, because waves are blue. I like the ocean, surely that’s inspirational enough to create a striking image of peace and power. Nope. This was a just a wave. Blues and purples blended until it wasn’t even just a wave, it was a fuzzy wave, with a lightning strike in it. Call the Guggenheim, I have arrived.

My spirit crushed, I showed my husband my work and he smiled and patted my back and told me that everyone starts somewhere.

And if this was for artistic release, then why did it matter what it looked like? He was right of course, but it just proves that even creative people are all creative in different ways. I still paint better with words than with oils, but I’ll keep trying. Who knows?

Maybe I’ll still turn into a painter. But don’t hold your breath.

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

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