Nikki Overfelt Chifalu

When Kansas City firefighters finally get a few moments to put down the hoses and shed their gear, said Andrew Dowis, they deserve the sports equipment needed to decompress and blow off some steam.

Leaning on a standard protein shake might help someone hit their daily protein goals, Marta Grace said, but it also could be filled with sugar, preservatives, and other additives that make the journey to better health a heavier lift. The menu needs to widen, she added.

Clusters drive talent, noted Maria Meyers from the Lumi Awards stage Thursday, detailing the growing list of sectors developing in Kansas City — from digital health and biotech to critical materials — and the impact of embracing them as a region.

Notarus keeps important moments — notes, photos, documents, and readings — in a private, tamper-evident timeline, especially useful for those who are co-parenting, caregiving, homeschooling, and on a sobriety journey. “Rather than simply storing individual events, it helps users understand what the accumulated record actually shows, without making diagnoses or unsupported conclusions,” said Jameson Huckaba.

Alley Gage won’t say sorry for crying so hard that she needed to take off her lashes this week after learning about the death of entertainer-turned-business mogul Dolly Parton — her favorite glamour girl and an American icon. Parton wouldn’t have apologized either, the owner of Alley Gage Beauty said, noting the star never let anyone dull her sparkle.

Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor, speaks during the annual Animal Health Summit; photo by Nikki Overfelt Chifalu, Startland News

Country Stampede at the Azura Amphitheater in Bonner Springs; photo courtesy of Kustom Entertainment

Pitchside Coffee’s new location will be just a goal kick away from CPKC Stadium, said co-owner and retired women’s soccer standout Kristen Hamilton, brewing plans to relocate the popular coffee shop to the heart of the Kansas City Current’s riverfront game days.

“They’re already using tech, iPads, and watching TV,” said WeCode KC’s Isha “Ice” Williams. “So why not teach them how to do the things that they’re watching, that they’re using, and they can make money from it? Exposing them early just piques their interest and then just guides them through a path of success.”

The new location at 7068 Mission Road opens to the public Friday with eight performance bays and a 2,000-square-foot PuttView short-game space, making the virtual reality putting green the biggest PuttView experience in the entire United States.