Month: September 2014

Sporting KC wins second straight CCL match with 3-0 victory

Sporting Kansas City holds a three-point lead in Group 2 of the 2014-2015 CONCACAF Champions League after a 3-0 victory over Real Esteli on Tuesday at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kan.

Claudio Bieler scored twice and Sal Zizzo added the third for his first goal in a Sporting KC uniform, while Eric Kronberg earned a clean sheet in his return from injury.

Bieler opened the scoring in the 13th minute with a first-time finish from the top of the six-yard box on an assist from Seth Sinovic. The Argentine forward nearly added another goal in the game’s 26th minute but couldn’t fully connect and then saw his free kick saved by Justo Lorente in the 43rd minute.

Bieler bagged his brace in the 70th minute, earning a penalty kick on a foul by Real Esteli captain Elmer Mejia and then converting the ensuing attempt with a well-taken shot to the goalkeeper’s left. The Designated Player now has three goals in his past three appearances and 16 goals in all competition since joining Sporting KC prior to the 2013 season.

Nine minutes later, Sporting Kansas City capitalized on a corner kick from Antonio Dovale to stretch the lead to 3-0 against the Nicaraguan champions. Zizzo, a halftime substitute, was first to the delivery and flicked his header inside the far post.

Both goalkeepers made three saves on the night for their sides. Lorente was called into action in the 28th minute as he raced off his line to challenge Graham Zusi, whose chip was lofted just wide of the target.

The Nicaraguan’s best save of the match came in the 89th minute to deny Bieler a hat trick. Dovale provided the pass for Bieler, who shielded off his mark and forced a strong stop by Lorente before sending the follow-up effort into the side netting.

Five minutes later, Lorente reacted quickly to smother Sinovic’s clever flick that re-directed a shot from Jorge Claros in the game’s final minute.

Kronberg, the third different Sporting KC goalkeeper to start the team’s three CONCACAF Champions League matches, made his first appearance since July 6 after recovering from a fractured bone in his left hand. His first save on Tuesday came in the eighth minute to keep Elvis Figueroa off the scoresheet, followed by an alert stop on Samuel Wilson’s free kick from 25 yards out in the 19th minute.

Real Esteli, which was eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions League with its second straight 3-0 defeat, failed to convert on two other scoring opportunities in the first half. Juan Barrera struck his shot narrowly wide from outside the penalty area in the 36th minute and Daniel Da Silva’s curling effort sailed just beyond the far post on the cusp of halftime.

Sporting KC’s final match of the 2014-15 CONCACAF Champions League group stage will come Oct. 23 at Deportivo Saprissa in San Jose, Costa Rica, and will determine which of the two teams secures a berth in the quarterfinal round. The decisive fixture will air nationally on FOX Soccer Plus (English) and Univision Deportes Network (Spanish) in the United States.

Sporting Kansas City will advance with a draw or victory, and can also move on to the knockout round with a one-goal loss or a two-goal loss so long as Sporting KC scores two or more goals. Saprissa would advance in the following scenarios: via a 2-0 victory or with a three-goal or greater margin of victory. A 3-1 victory by Saprissa would leave the teams deadlocked on every tiebreaker and would result in a drawing of the lots to determine the group winner.

– Story from Sporting KC

Van Hooser to celebrate milestone 100th birthday on Sept. 27

Frances Van Hooser
Frances Van Hooser

Frances Louise Van Hooser, who lived almost all of her 100 years in Kansas City, Kan., will celebrate her 100th birthday with a private reception on Sept. 27 at the historic Grinter House in Kansas City, Kan.

Van Hooser was born in Harrisonville, Mo., in her maternal grandmother’s home on Sept. 27, 1914. Her parents brought her home to Kansas City, Kan., shortly after her birth.

She lived in Wyandotte County almost all of her life, moving to the Tonganoxie Nursing Center in March 2013.

Her parents were James and Fannie Matthews, and she was the youngest of three children. She had two older brothers, Sam and Ernest Matthews.

Frances attended Bryant Elementary in Kansas City, Kan., Northwest Junior High, and graduated from Wyandotte High School in May of 1933. She started attending Immanuel Baptist Church of Kansas City, Kan., at the age of 7, and gave her life to Christ in baptism at the age of 14. Immanuel Baptist has been her lifelong church home.

She married Richard Thomas Van Hooser Dec. 16, 1933. Frances and Richard had four children; Richard (Dick), Carol, Gary, and Connie. All four children attended the same schools as Frances: Bryant Elementary, Northwest Junior High, and Wyandotte High schools.

Frances and Richard were married 40 years until she became widowed in 1973. Her priority has always been her faith and family. She was an active member of the PTA, Cub Scout Leader and Girl Scout leader. She supported her daughter in dancing, attending many performances through the years. She also supported her sons in various sports, especially baseball, swimming and diving. Frances has 12 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 10 great-great grandchildren, with one great-great grandchild on the way. Frances also has several nieces and nephews. Her family continues to grow.

Frances is an avid fan of the Kansas City Royals and has attended games throughout the years. She was honored for her 90th birthday at Kauffman Stadium while attending the game with her grandson. She is also a fan of the Kansas City Chiefs, and is a huge fan of the University of Kansas basketball team.

Frances lived in Kansas City, Kan., until she moved into Tonganoxie Nursing Center in March of 2013. She welcomes visitors and loves conversation. She knows a lot about the history of Kansas and especially the history of Wyandotte County. Friends and family will be gathering with Frances, at a reception by invitation only, to celebrate her 100th birthday on Sept. 27, 2014, at the historic Grinter House visitors’ center in Kansas City, Kan.

Frances continues to bless many with her life, her daughter said.

MLM’s ‘Learning to Earning’ program to locate in Kansan building in downtown KCK

by Dale Garrison

A new emphasis on “financial literacy” and the opening of a Wyandotte County location at the old Kansan building at 8th and Ann are among several changes in Metro Lutheran Ministry’s Learning to Earning program.

“Since its inception, MLM has been a leader in rent and utility assistance in Kansas City,” said Jim Glynn, executive director. “We’ve always been one of the largest players in that arena. But, in writing a check to the landlord or to the utility company, we’re very aware it’s a short-term stopgap. However, we have not had the case management expertise and ability to go beyond that. Currently, we are repositioning our resources to do more of that.”

The focus on financial education is designed to address some of the most widespread issues facing MLM clients, said Learning to Earning manager Jacob Bosch.

“A lot of it relates to clients’ need to access credit,” he said. “The poorest of the poor struggle not only to make money, but to access the money they make. It’s difficult, even impossible, for them to get credit or bank accounts. And, every step they make takes a bite out of their money. Handling your own money if you’re poor is a job in itself.”

Bosch said some studies estimate that fees and other hurdles rarely seen by those not in poverty can amount to $40,000 over a lifetime, a huge amount given the low income. Just as troubling is the time they may lose that could be used working or seeking employment.

“Payday loan companies are a fairly visible issue, but there’s a lot more than that,” Bosch said. “Even just getting a check cashed can take half a day. Those are massive burdens that many of us don’t see. It’s literally more expensive to be poor.”

The solution starts by explaining how some practices are disastrous and then showing a better way. The Wyandotte County addition is also significant, adding to the current site at 3031 Holmes, Kansas City, Mo. The former Kansas City Kansan newspaper building is being remodeled to serve as a “Learning to Earning-Wyandotte” office.

The changes are part of a notable shift in focus for MLM that also includes longer-term priorities for emergency assistance and the Family Empowerment Initiative.

“We’re trying to focus on things that will target causes as much as possible,” Glynn said. “We’re also recruiting partners who work in these areas and can bring their expertise. It’s very exciting.”