A BALDWIN CITY NEWSPAPER
HOOK TO HAUTE COUTURE: BECKY FENDER TURNS CROCHET INTO RUNWAY ART
B e c ky Fender
When most people think of crochet, they picture blankets, scarves or afghans passed down through generations.
Becky Fender sees something entirely different.
To her, a crochet hook is a design tool capable of creating oneof-a-kind fashion collections, runwayready gowns and wearable works of art. Through her business, Becky’s Fashions, Fender has transformed a lifelong passion into an artistic pursuit that has taken her from Baldwin City to fashion shows across Kansas and beyond.
“I realized that crochet could be more than traditional blankets and accessories,” Fender said. “It could be transformed into stylish garments and wearable works of art.”
That realization became the foundation of Becky’s Fashions, where every piece is handcrafted and designed to celebrate creativity, individuality and self-expression.
Turning Yarn Into Fashion
Unlike many fiber artists, Fender creates all of her work using crochet. She also spins her own fiber into yarn, often blending materials from local sources to create textures and colors that make each design unique.
“I spin fiber as well to make my own yarn and mix it with fun materials to make it unique,” she said.
Her creative process isn’t driven by
patterns or sketches.
“Usually it’s in my head,” she said. “I start with one piece and then just go from there until it expands into the work of art itself.”
Finding Confidence on the Runway
That imaginative approach has led to increasingly elaborate collections, many of which have been showcased in the Lumberyard Arts Center’s Baldwin City Fashion Shows.
Seeing one of her original creations walk down the runway for the first time remains one of the defining moments of her artistic journey.
“As a crochet fashion designer, I spend countless hours designing, selecting materials and handcrafting each piece,” Fender said. “Watching a model walk down the runway wearing something I created from a simple idea was both exciting and emotional.”
She credits those local fashion shows with giving her the confidence to think bigger.
“The Baldwin City Fashion Shows encouraged me to push my creativity in new directions,” she said. “They inspired me to experiment with more detailed designs, unique color combinations and to begin thinking in terms of complete collections instead of individual pieces.”
That evolution is evident in her work today.
Her collections now feature intricate textures, artistic themes and coordinated looks that challenge traditional perceptions of crochet.
“Many people are surprised by how fashionable and versatile crochet can be,” she said.
06
July 7
COMMUNITY
EVENTS SOCCER TOURNAMENT WATCH PARTY
Free Summer Art and Creative Play
Baldwin City Creative Arts & Lumberyard Arts Center, 10 am-12 pm
July 8
Wednesday Storytime with Handyman, Patrick Dietz
Baldwin City Library, 10 am
July 8 BC Chamber of Commerce Networking Luncheon
Homestead of Baldwin City, 12 – 1 pm
July 9
Friendly FUNctions
Lumberyard Arts Center, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
July 10
Happy Hour
Baldwin City Distillery, 5 – 7 pm
July 10
Live Music: Dave and Katie Wooge
Baldwin City Distillery, 6 – 8 pm
July 11
Robin’s 80th Birthday Celebration
The Light Center, 5 – 9 pm
July 11 Soccer Tournament Watch Party
Sullivan Square, 6 pm
July 12
Ribbon Cutting: Baldwin City’s Newest Mural
Uplift Coffee, 1 – 3 pm
from Page 1
Inspired by Family History
Among her favorite creations is a vibrant neon mandala dress featured in last year’s Baldwin City Fashion Show, along with several handcrafted wedding dresses that remain especially meaningful to her.
This year has been one of Fender’s busiest yet.
She has participated in events including Kansas City Hidden Runway, Heartland International Fashion Show, Dream Moms Fashion Show, Rosa’s Gala and multiple Baldwin City fashion events, with several more shows still on the calendar.
For her upcoming Baldwin City Fashion Show collection, Fender is drawing inspiration from her own family history.
Her 1860s-themed collection honors the Black Jack area where she was raised and her great-great-great-grandfather, Robert Hall Pearson. The garments incorporate handspun fibers sourced from Claudia Hey of Ad Astra, Courtney Sappington’s alpacas and other specialty fibers she has transformed into custom yarn.
Creating Confidence Through Art
While fashion shows have introduced her work to new audiences, Fender says the greatest reward comes from seeing how her creations make people feel.
“When someone wears one of my
designs and feels beautiful, unique or inspired, it makes all the time and effort worthwhile,” she said. “Fashion is a form of self-expression, and knowing that my designs help someone showcase their personality and confidence is one of the most fulfilling parts of being a crochet fashion designer.”
Looking ahead, Fender hopes to continue expanding Becky’s Fashions by creating larger themed collections, designing for special events and resort wear, participating in additional fashion shows and eventually partnering with boutiques and retailers that appreciate handmade fashion.
She recently received exciting news that she was selected from more than 500 applicants to be a designer for Midwest Swim Week, another milestone in her growing fashion career.
She also hopes her journey encourages others to pursue their own creative passions.
“What began as a love of crochet has evolved into a creative business and a way to express my artistic vision,” Fender said. “Great things can grow from small beginnings, and Baldwin City has been an important part of my story.”
As her work continues appearing on more runways, one thing remains unchanged: every stitch is still made by hand, turning yarn into art and proving that creativity has no limits.
Quarterfinal Match
SATURDAY, JULY 11
Experience the excitement of the world’s biggest soccer tournament without leaving Baldwin City!
Join your friends, neighbors and fellow fans downtown for a FREE public watch party featuring a Kansas City-hosted quarterfinal match.
The evening kicks off at 6:00 p.m. with food trucks, activities and plenty of community fun before kickoff at 8:00 p.m.
Bring your lawn chairs, your family and your team spirit as we cheer on the action together under the summer sky!
When: Saturday, July 11 Activities Begin: 6:00 p.m. Kickoff: 8:00 p.m.
Where: Downtown Baldwin City
Don’t miss this chance to experience one of the tournament’s biggest matches alongside your community!
COMMUNITY
BALDWIN FAMILIES NEEDED TO HOST EXCHANGE STUDENTS
For nearly two decades, Baldwin City resident Anita Sass has helped connect local families with international exchange students, creating friendships that span continents and often last a lifetime.
Since becoming involved with the program in 2007, Sass estimates she has placed more than 300 students throughout the area. Along the way, she’s watched students from countries including Germany, Spain, Brazil, Thailand and Italy discover life in small-town Kansas—and fall in love with it.
“My friend told me about it, and I truly fell in love with it,” Sass said. “I love learning about different cultures and families from other countries.”
Why Baldwin?
According to Sass, Baldwin City offers exactly what many exchange students hope to experience during their year in the United States.
“Baldwin is so welcoming,” she said. “The students love it here. The sports and the friends they make are truly for a lifetime.”
She laughs that because Baldwin is a smaller community, exchange students often become local celebrities.
“Everyone knows who they are,” she said.
While many people assume exchange students are looking for a glamorous American lifestyle, Sass says that’s rarely the case.
“They just want to experience American life,” she said. “They want to go to Walmart, eat Chick-fil-A and play sports they don’t have at home.”
Who Can Host?
One of the biggest misconceptions, Sass says, is that families need to be “perfect” or financially well-off to become host families.
Instead, she’s looking for families willing to open their homes and hearts.
Host families provide a safe, welcoming home, three meals a day, transportation to and from school, and an opportunity for students to experience everyday American life.
Families receive support from a local CETUSA coordinator throughout the school year, and students arrive with their own spending money. Host families may also qualify for a monthly tax deduction.
Sass emphasizes that there is no “ideal” host family.
“Families of all types can host,” she said. “Families with children, empty nesters, single parents and retired couples all make wonderful hosts.”
She adds that many people worry they’re simply too busy.
“Busy families are great,” Sass said. “Exchange students love busy families.”
An Experience That Lasts a Lifetime
Sass has hosted four exchange students herself, including students from Italy, Germany, Thailand and Moldova.
She says host families often gain much more than they expect.
“They learn about another culture firsthand and gain a lifelong family member in another country,” she said.
Exchange students quickly become involved in Baldwin High School by participating in athletics, band, theater and other extracurricular activities, making it easy to build friendships within the community.
Students Waiting for a Home
Several students are currently waiting to be matched with Baldwin-area host families for the upcoming school year.
Among them are Alejandra from Spain, a volleyball player; Achille from France, who enjoys football and playing with friends; and Aurora from Italy, a dancer who also performs traditional dances from her region.
Families interested in hosting are encouraged to apply soon, as Baldwin’s placement deadline is approaching before the statewide deadline.
For those who aren’t ready to commit to an entire school year, Sass says a welcome family program allows residents to host a student for just six to eight weeks.
“I think everyone should do it at least once in their life,” she said.
Anyone interested in learning more about hosting an international exchange student may contact Anita Sass at anita.sass@cetusa. org or by calling 913-278-2893.
“We need host families,” Sass said. “We bring about 1,200 students over every year, and they’re looking for families just like ours.”
NOW HIRING”
Lead Teacher – Preschool Classroom (Ages 2½–4)
Rainbow Preschool is seeking a caring, energetic and experienced Lead Teacher to guide and inspire our 2½- to 4-year-old classroom. This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about early childhood education and believes in creating a positive, nurturing environment where young children can learn, explore and grow.
Responsibilities
• Develop and implement engaging, age-appropriate lesson plans and activities.
• Lead daily classroom instruction and hands-on learning experiences.
• Foster a safe, welcoming and supportive classroom environment.
• Encourage social, emotional, cognitive and physical development.
• Maintain positive communication with families regarding student progress and classroom activities.
• Monitor children’s development and provide individualized support as needed.
• Collaborate with fellow staff members to create a successful preschool experience.
• Ensure compliance with all preschool policies, procedures and licensing requirements.
Qualifications
• Experience working with young children in a preschool, daycare or early childhood setting preferred.
FREE
• Knowledge of child development and age-appropriate teaching practices.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Patient, dependable and compassionate.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff, children and families.
• CPR/First Aid certification preferred (or willingness to obtain).
We’re Looking for Someone Who Has:
• A passion for helping young children learn and grow.
• Patience and understanding when working with young learners.
• A kind and caring heart for every child.
• Creativity, enthusiasm and a positive attitude.
• Experience in a preschool or early childhood environment.
What We Offer
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young children.
• A supportive and family-focused work environment.
• The chance to help shape the foundation of lifelong learning.
• A rewarding career where every day brings something new.
Join our team and help create a positive learning experience for Baldwin City’s youngest learners.
To Apply:
Email:
rainbowexperiencebaldwin@yahoo.com
Or call: 785-594-2223 to schedule an interview.
BALDWIN’S CHINESE FOOD CRAVING INSPIRES LOCAL POP-UP
For years, Baldwin City residents have joked that the town’s biggest missing restaurant is a Chinese restaurant. Every time a new food business is announced, the comments inevitably follow: “But when are we getting Chinese food?”
Instead of simply joining the conversation, Lynn Meador and Shara Stephenson decided to do something about it.
The longtime friends recently launched a one-day hibachi-inspired fried rice popup that quickly generated excitement throughout the community, serving hot Sunday dinners for pickup and delivery.
For Meador, the idea grew from a desire to create a flexible side business while meeting a need she saw in the community.
“I was looking for ways to make money on products local people want — and that I’m capable of pulling off,” Meador said. “I’ve been rolling around the idea of making packaged dinners for awhile, but it wasn’t quite clicking.”
Then a conversation with Stephenson changed everything.
“I was reminded how life-altering her hibachi really is,” Meador said. “My brain started making connections from there, and I started taking action.”
A Partnership Built on Experience
Although many Baldwin residents know Meador through her work in marketing and communications, her background extends far beyond that.
She grew up as a missionary kid on a Native American reservation, helping her mother prepare community meals and operate a food bank before she was a teenager. Over the years she has worked in bakeries, catered events, cooked cafeteria-style meals for hundreds of people, taught music, worked as a certified nursing assistant and even built a career as a professional organizer.
“I’ve lived a lot of lives,” she said. The idea to launch the pop-up also received a little encouragement from her youngest daughter.
After returning home from her father’s business with $250 she had earned selling candy, Meador began thinking more seriously about finding a side hustle of her own.
Stephenson brought a different kind of
expertise to the partnership.
While many local residents recognize her from her years at the Baldwin City Library, fewer know she spent more than five years working in a busy family-style diner in Kansas City, Kansas.
“Good food and cooking is a habit and passion for me,” Stephenson said. “I wanted to see if we could pull this idea off.”
More Than Chinese Food
Although social media jokingly advertised the meals as an answer to Baldwin City’s years-long search for Chinese food, the dishes are actually much closer to traditional Japanese hibachi.
The rice is cooked ahead of time, chilled and then grilled to achieve the proper texture, while the meat marinates for nearly 24 hours before cooking.
“I sincerely doubt there’s a recipe,” Meador joked about Stephenson’s cooking. “That’s absolutely not how that girl cooks.”
The menu featured chicken, steak and plain fried rice, and despite it being their very first event, the response was overwhelming.
Pre-orders filled quickly, and although they hoped to accommodate more walkin customers, demand exceeded what they were able to prepare.
“People were blowing up my phone raving about how good the food was,” Meador said.
A Family Affair
The pop-up quickly became a family project.
Stephenson’s daughter and Meador’s two daughters all pitched in throughout the day, with Meador’s 14-year-old taking charge of deliveries throughout Baldwin City.
Offering free delivery was meant to make ordering as easy as possible for customers.
“It seemed like an easy offer for the first time,” Meador said. “My sweet 14-year-old adored managing deliveries.”
Testing the Waters
Whether the fried rice dinners become a regular Sunday tradition remains to be seen.
The pair admit launching even a oneday pop-up required significant planning, from sourcing ingredients and estimating quantities to finding kitchen space and
keeping up with customer communication while cooking outdoors during extreme summer heat.
Still, they say the response has been encouraging.
Community members have already requested menu items including sweet and sour chicken, General Tso’s chicken, honey chicken, egg rolls, dumplings, crab rangoon, beef and broccoli and desserts.
The two are now considering whether to continue with an Asian-inspired menu or broaden the concept into rotating Sunday dinner specials featuring different cuisines.
Building Something Together
For both women, the venture was about more than simply selling food.
“In the words of Billy Joel, ‘I got bills to pay and children who need clothes,’” Meador said. “The potential for something awesome was there, and it was worth a shot.”
Perhaps the biggest reward has been
seeing the community enjoy something they created together.
“The sheer pleasure on my friends’ faces after their first bite,” Meador said.
“Working with Shara and her daughter, as well as my daughters, to accomplish something creative and full of potential also felt really good.”
The pair plans to launch a website where customers can sign up for text and email notifications about future pop-ups.
A Facebook page is also in the works.
For now, they’re simply grateful for Baldwin City’s support.
“We are beyond appreciative of the support, flexibility and general kindness you’ve shown us,” Meador said. “We need to hear from you. Is this the kind of flexible venture you’d support? Is Asianinspired food what you truly want most, or just easy Sunday dinners? Let us know.”
If the enthusiastic response to their first event is any indication, Baldwin City’s search for great takeout may have found an unexpected answer—one Sunday at a time.
JOBS
A simple T-shirt fundraiser at Baldwin City’s Independence Day celebration became another sign that community support for Spring Creek Lake remains as strong as ever.
Kenny and Linda Niehoff sold nearly all of their first order of “Save the Lake” T-shirts, raising money to help repair the lake’s damaged spillway while sharing updates on the restoration effort. With demand exceeding expectations, another order is already being placed.
A Personal Mission
For the Niehoffs, preserving Spring Creek Lake is about protecting a place filled with memories.
Both lifelong Baldwin City residents, they grew up enjoying the lake and hope future generations will experience those same adventures.
Kenny serves on the city’s Lake Committee, joining the effort after community members began raising awareness about the deteriorating spillway last year. Since then, committee members have contributed more than 250 volunteer hours toward planning and fundraising. Linda has focused on helping educate residents and building community
support through events like the Fourth of July celebration.
More Than Just T-Shirts
The fundraiser came together quickly after a local supporter donated the first 20 shirts, allowing 100 percent of the $25 purchase price to go directly toward the spillway project.
“We had a GREAT response from everyone who stopped by,” Kenny said. “Everyone wants to preserve our green spaces.”
While many visitors purchased shirts or made donations, others simply stopped to share memories of fishing, hiking, kayaking, disc golf and family outings at the lake.
Keeping the Momentum Going
With the initial shirts nearly sold out, the committee plans to continue taking orders and may introduce additional designs. Future shirts will continue raising money for the project, with approximately $10 from each sale supporting the restoration effort.
“We’ve been floored by the amount of people who want to help,” Linda said.
“It feels a little like It’s a Wonderful Life—only it’s the life of a lake that didn’t realize how important it was.”
Donations may also be made through the “Save the Lake” account at Baldwin State Bank. Those funds will help provide matching dollars for grant applications, while volunteer hours also strengthen funding opportunities.
Committee members have already completed much of the planning work, including engineering studies, permit coordination and preliminary cost estimates. Kenny hopes repairs can begin in 2027, restoring the lake for fishing, kayaking, canoeing and family recreation.
Until then, the Niehoffs hope residents continue visiting the lake,
sharing its story and supporting the effort however they can.
“It’s taken some time to get where we are,” Linda said. “But there is a tremendous amount of work going on behind the scenes, and we are so close. Don’t lose hope. Don’t give up.”
250 YEARS!
By Jeanine Ross
Wow! Can you believe it? America has been America for 250 Years! That’s quite an accomplishment for what started out as an island designated for the worst of humanity. You would think that with as much as we have accomplished, we would be a beacon of light for the world to want to model itself after. I think at one point we were definitely that source of light that gave the rest of the world hope, but it saddens my heart to see the condition we are in now.
When the Constitution was written, the men (women weren’t allowed in those days) who took up the quill and inked it into existence did so with as much goodwill and good intention as people of that period in our history could define. I believe they intended to provide a guideline that would make our country strong and inclusive, and as far as their minds could understand at that time. In fact, I think there were a lot of “outside the box” thinkers with grand intentions and, at the time, earth-shattering directions for our new world. I can just imagine what their lives were like when they had to face their neighbors, who were quite content with the way things were. I applaud their drive, bravado, and determination! I wonder what they would think of our world today and the shambles some are trying to make of the Constitution they wrote.
That having been said, I refuse to give up on America and Americans! I believe that no matter how many criminals end up in the white house, the well-meaning intentions of our forefathers still live in the fabric of who we are as Americans! I believe that sometimes things have to be destroyed before they can be rebuilt with the good of all mankind as its foundation. But it is hard to watch the destruction. It is difficult, even knowing something better will come in its place, to watch something once so grand implode with the foolishness of men.
There is none so foolish as those who will not see, and none more dangerous than those who lead without vision. But from the darkness there comes light, and from the light there comes a new beginning. I will not give up on America or Americans, no matter the darkness emanating from the highest levels in the land. I believe in us, and even though I will not see it, I believe the next 250 years will be our best 250 years!
So, to the brave, determined visionaries of our future, I salute your courage and stand ready to help you however I can, with whatever time I have left, in the battle that is sure to come. Happy 250th Birthday, America! Remember the reason we are called the land of the free and the home of the brave.
So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
COMMUNITY INVITED TO SUPPORT DOUGLAS COUNTY BACK2SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE
As families begin preparing for a new school year, the Baldwin City community has another opportunity to help local students start the year with the supplies they need to succeed.
The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce is partnering with the Baldwin Education Foundation and several organizations across Douglas County to collect school supplies through the 2026 Douglas County Back2School Supply Drive.
Donations of new school supplies may be dropped off at the Chamber office during regular business hours, as well as several additional collection sites throughout Baldwin City.
Requested items include backpacks, plastic two-pocket folders, wide-ruled composition notebooks, college-ruled notebooks, antibacterial wipes, tissues, youth-sized over-the-ear headphones, earbuds, plastic pencil boxes, markers, dry erase markers, colored pencils, highlighters, glue sticks and kid-sized scissors.
Additional donation drop-off locations include Arrowhead Hardware, the Baldwin City Community Center, Baldwin City Public Library, Baldwin First United Methodist Church and the USD 348 District Office.
The school supply drive is a collaborative effort between the Baldwin Education Foundation, United Way of Kaw Valley, ECKAN, Lawrence Schools Foundation, The Salvation Army and Eudora Public Schools & Foundation. Together, the organizations work to ensure students throughout Douglas County have the essential supplies they need to begin the school year prepared and ready to learn.
Community members wishing to support local students are encouraged to purchase a few extra school supplies during their backto-school shopping trips and drop them off at any of the participating collection sites.
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
BERT NASH CENTER AND DCCCA PARTNER TO EXPAND MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID ACROSS DOUGLAS COUNTY
The Bert Nash Community Mental Health Center and DCCCA are proud to announce a new partnership to expand access to Mental Health First Aid training throughout Douglas County, ensuring the community continues to benefit from a program that has equipped thousands of individuals with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health challenges.
In 2008, Bert Nash Center was one of just seven pilot sites in the United States selected to offer Mental Health First Aid training. Since then, the program has equipped thousands of teachers, parents, healthcare professionals, first responders, employers, and community members with the skills to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illness and substance use challenges.
When David Johnson retired as CEO in 2017, supporters established Dave’s Dream through the Bert Nash Center Endowment Fund to sustain and expand Mental Health First Aid in Douglas County. The initiative funded a full-time instructor position, and in 2018, Julia Gaughan became the Center’s first dedicated Mental Health First Aid Instructor. Over the next seven years, the program delivered 359 classes and trained 4,431 community members.
Following Julia’s departure in late 2025 to pursue a lifelong calling in
ministry, the Bert Nash Center began evaluating how best to continue and strengthen the program for the future.
During that process, DCCCA approached the Center about creating a collaborative model that would build upon the strengths of both organizations and expand access to Mental Health First Aid.
Through this collaboration, DCCCA will provide coordination, training support, and operational capacity while working closely with Bert Nash Center’s Community Engagement team. Together, the organizations will offer public and private trainings, expand outreach efforts, and increase opportunities for community members to gain lifesaving skills that support early intervention, prevention, and community wellbeing.
Bert Nash Center and DCCCA team members celebrate a new partnership to expand Mental Health First Aid training across Douglas County.
“Mental Health First Aid has transformed how our community talks about and responds to mental health,” said Emily Farley, Chief Advancement Officer at the Bert Nash Center. “This partnership allows us to build upon Dave’s Dream by ensuring that Mental
Health First Aid remains accessible, sustainable, and available to more people than ever before. We are excited to partner with DCCCA to continue creating a community where everyone feels equipped to support someone experiencing a mental health challenge.”
The partnership reflects a shared commitment to increasing community understanding of mental health and substance use, equipping individuals with practical response skills, expanding access to evidence-based education, and strengthening the network of organizations working together to support community wellbeing.
“The skills you learn through Mental Health First Aid will help you effectively encourage mental wellness and can save a life,” said Chrissy Mayer, Chief
Community Based Services Officer at DCCCA. “We’re excited for this partnership with the Bert Nash Center and continue empowering those within the Douglas County community.”
Mental Health First Aid teaches participants how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental health and substance use challenges, how to approach and support someone who may be struggling, and how to connect individuals with appropriate professional resources. Similar to CPR for physical health emergencies, Mental Health First Aid provides practical skills that can make a meaningful difference in someone’s life.
Community members interested in learning more about upcoming Mental Health First Aid trainings can visit https:// www.bertnash.org/mhfa.
