16 WEEKLY 2026
MARCH
A
B A L D W I N
C I T Y
VOL 4 NO. 09 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
Baldwin City’s 2026
SPRING BREAK GUIDE S
pring Break is here for Baldwin City students, running March 16 - March 20, and for many families it means a chance to relax, recharge, and spend time together.
Teachers will take a break from lesson plans and grading, and some families will head out of town for vacation. But for those staying local, there are still plenty of ways for kids to stay active and entertained right here in Baldwin City. To help families plan their week, community organizations and local businesses have put together a variety of activities and events throughout town. The Maple has put them all in one place for you! A Place to Gather: The Maple Open Play Day One highlight of the week will be The Maple’s Open Play Day, taking place Friday, March 20 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sullivan Square. The informal event is designed as a chance for kids to meet up with friends, burn off some energy, and enjoy one of the final days of Spring Break together. Kids are encouraged to bring whatever helps them have fun outside — footballs, soccer balls, chalk, bubbles, or other games — and simply enjoy time together in the downtown green space. Organizers say the event is especially
geared toward older elementary and middle school students, roughly grades four through nine, who sometimes struggle to find places to gather and socialize during school breaks. The Maple will also be providing prizes throughout the afternoon, along with a lighthearted master of ceremonies to keep the atmosphere fun and lively. Spring Break Starts Early Spring Break actually kicked off Saturday, March 14, with Baldwin City’s Paddy Wagon Parade, which began at 1:30 p.m. at Baldwin City Distillery. After the parade, families could head to Baldwin City Beer Company, where a kids zone which had activities, a shamrock hunt, and even face painting. A Week-Long Shamrock Hunt Throughout the week, Baldwin City Recreation will host its annual Shamrock Hunt. Participants follow daily clues posted at 8 a.m. on the Recreation website and social media to find hidden letter rocks around Baldwin City. After finding each rock, participants take a photo and leave it for the next hunter. At the end of the week, the letters spell a word. Participants who submit the word along with their photos will be entered into a drawing for prizes. Arts, Library Events and Open Recreation Kids who enjoy art can take part in “Pennants for the Cup” at the Lumberyard
Arts Center, where participants design soccer-themed pennants celebrating creativity and community. The Baldwin City Library will also host activities during the week, including Storytime, Obie Fun, and youth clubs for elementary and middle school students. Meanwhile, Baldwin City Recreation will offer multiple open recreation sessions, giving kids a place to stay active and play indoors. Local Businesses Join the Fun Several Baldwin City restaurants are also offering family-friendly specials during the week. These include: Gambino’s Dinner Buffet on Tuesday evening $3 kids meals at Wooden Spoke on Wednesday Seasonal spring flavors at Homestead of Baldwin Pennants for the Cup at the Lumberyard The Lumberyard Arts Center will also host “Pennants for the Cup,” a community art installation celebrating Baldwin City’s love of soccer and community pride. Participants are invited to design their own pennant inspired by international soccer and hometown spirit. The free activity will take place during Spring Break Kick Off on Wednesday, March 18 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with additional open studio times Wednesday from 1–3 p.m. and Thursday
through Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. All ages are welcome, and all materials will be provided. Pennants will later be displayed throughout Baldwin City this fall during the World Cup Games. A Community Playdate A Community Playdate is planned for Thursday morning at Baldwin City Pool Park, offering families another opportunity to gather, connect, and enjoy time together during Spring Break. The event is hosted by the Be The Village group, led by Sydney Cross, and is designed to provide a relaxed space for kids to play while parents visit and build community. Activities will include slides, open play, bubbles, and music enrichment with Small Strides Music Co., creating a fun and welcoming environment for young children and their families Making the Most of Spring Break at Home The goal of the Spring Break guide is simple — to remind families that even without leaving town, there are plenty of ways to make the week memorable. And for many local kids, sometimes the best Spring Break activity is simply meeting up with friends, heading outside, and enjoying the extra time away from school. Turn to Page 2 for a full calendar of Baldwin City Spring Break activities, and check out Page 3 for a fun activity page. Continue on page 2
16 MARCH
COMMUNITY
PG. 02
Baldwin City’s 2026
SPRING BREAK CALENDAR OPEN REC
10AM-2PM BALDWIN REC
PADDY WAGON PARADE 1:30 BALDWIN DISTILLERY
KIDS ZONE
AFTER PARADE BALDWIN BEER COMPANY
MONDAY 3/16
BALDWIN REC SHAMROCK HUNT HOMESTEAD RELEASES SPRING FLAVORS OPEN REC 9AM-1PM & 3:30PM-5PM
TUESDAY 3/17
BALDWIN REC SHAMROCK HUNT OPEN REC 1-5PM
GAMBINOS DINNER BUFFET 6- 7:45 KIDS $5.99
WEDNESDAY 3/18
BALDWIN REC SHAMROCK HUNT OPEN REC 9AM-5PM
STORYTIME
10AM, BALDWIN LIBRARY
ACTIVITIES
OBIE FUN
11AM, BALDWIN LIBRARY
PENNANTS FOR THE CUP
ST. PATRICK’S DAY WORD FIND
10-3PM, LUMBERYARD ARTS CENTER
WOODEN SPOKE $3 KIDS MEALS
THURSDAY 3/19
BALDWIN REC SHAMROCK HUNT COMMUNITY PLAYDATE 10 AM, POOL PARK
OPEN REC 11AM-3:30PM
PENNANTS FOR THE CUP 1-5PM, LUMBERYARD ARTS CENTER
BULLPUP CLUB
4:30-5:30, BALDWIN LIBRARY (GRADES 3-5)
BULLDOG CLUB
5:30-6:30 BALDWIN LIBRARY (GRADES 6-12)
FRIDAY 3/20
BALDWIN REC SHAMROCK HUNT PENNANTS FOR THE CUP 1-5PM LUMBERYARD ARTS CENTER
OPEN PLAY DAY 1-3 SULLIVAN SQUARE
SATURDAY 3/21
PENNANTS FOR THE CUP 10-12PM, LUMBERYARD ARTS CENTER
TIC TAC TOE
SATURDAY 3/14
16 MARCH
COMMUNITY CONNECT THE DOTS
PG. 03
A-MAZE-ING
TIC TAC TOE
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EVENTS
March 16-20
2026 Shamrock Hunt
Hosted by Baldwin City Recreation Commission
March 18
$3 Kids Meals The Wooden Spoke
March 27
Purple & White, Take Back the Night!
6:30 pm | Baldwin City Community Center
March 29
Egg Hunt & Brunch
During regular Wooden Spoke Hours March 18th only.
Baldwin First UMC United Methodist church, 704 8th St
March 19
April 17
Spring Break Community Playdate
Baldwin City Pool Park, 317 Fremont St., 10:00–11:30 am
March 19
The Maple hosts Open Play & Prizes Sullivan Square, 1-3 pm
March 21
Seed Starting Workshop Vinland Valley Nursery, 11:00 am
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Facade Completion
5:30 pm, Lumberyard Arts Center
You’re invited to celebrate the completion of the Lumberyard Arts Center’s facade and the support from volunteers.
May 9
Thunder on the Bricks Classic Car Show Downtown Baldwin City
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16 MARCH
COMMUNITY BALDWIN CITY BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CLUB HONOR WOMEN IN BUSINESS AND AREA BUSINESSES
Those honored at the March BPW ceremony were (left to right): 2026 Baldwin City BPW Woman of the Year awardee Leilani Jauregui; Creative Arts director Angela Murray who accepted the 2026 Baldwin City BPW Business of the Year that employs 15 or more people for the company; event organizer BPW member Donna Gratts; Director Donna Kneedler who accepted the award for 2026 Baldwin City BPW Business of the Year that employs 15 or less people on behalf of the Rainbow Experience Preschool, and Monica Brovont who is the 2026 BPW Community Woman of the Year
The Baldwin City Business and Professional Women’s Club (BPW) this month presented four awards honoring two area businesses and two business women. BPW annual awards are bestowed upon a business in part in recognition for promoting the advancement of women in the workplace. Woman of the Year awards honor women for their business and professional efforts and community involvement. Rainbow Experience Preschool was selected as the 2026 Baldwin City BPW Business of the Year that employs 15 or less people. Director Donna Kneedler accepted the award on behalf of the preschool. The preschool pays partial tuition contributions for staff continuing their education. It collaborates with the school district to complement its preschool programs. Baldwin City Creative Arts was selected as the 2026 BPW Business of the Year that employs more than 15 people. Owner and director Angela Murray accepted the award for Creative Arts. She said all staff are part-time employees, and many are young without a lot of experience. The business focuses on offering internal professional development by providing developmental rubrics for each class, coaching, class observations, and articles
and videos to enhance their efforts. BPW Member Leilani Jauregui has been honored as the 2026 BPW Woman of the Year. A dedicated member since 2021, Leilani has served as BPW vice president and treasurer. She works remotely as a Graduate Admissions Counselor at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and recruits graduate and professional development students. She is also pursuing an educational doctorate in Instructional Design and Performance Technology at Baker University, demonstrating her commitment to lifelong learning. Leilani enjoys supporting her community behind the scenes—serving her neighbors, promoting women entrepreneurs, participating in women’s Bible studies, making espressos at her church cafe, and finding a spot in the sidelines to applaud local high school and college sporting events. Monica Brovont has been named 2026 Community Woman of the Year in recognition of her outstanding efforts at Chamber events and activities. She has been an executive assistant with the Chamber of Commerce for the past five years. Among other professional roles Brovont has filled during her career, she has served as a writer and editor for the publication The Maple.
PG. 05
PAC SERVES AS COMMUNITY TORNADO SHELTER As spring approaches and tornado season returns to Kansas, Baldwin City residents are reminded that the PAC, located at 400 Eisenhower Street, serves as a designated community tornado shelter. If severe weather approaches and tornado sirens sound in Baldwin City, community members may enter the facility through the white doors on the north side of the PAC to take shelter from the storm. If the doors do not unlock when sirens are sounding, please call 785594-5542 for assistance. For safety reasons, please do not attempt to access the building through the glass doors located between the gym and the PAC. Access to the shelter will only be available when the tornado sirens are activated in Baldwin City.
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16 MARCH
COMMUNITY
PG. 06
BALDWIN CITY COUNCIL UPDATE MARCH 3, 2026 MEETING The Baldwin City Council met Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at the Baldwin City Community Center. Mayor Gerry Cullumber presided over the meeting with councilmembers in attendance. The meeting included staff reports, administrative updates, and discussion of ongoing city projects and operations. Administrative Updates City Administrator Russ Harding provided an update on several administrative matters affecting city operations and planning. Harding discussed coordination among city departments and ongoing work connected to Baldwin City’s strategic priorities, which focus on municipal services, economic development, and quality of life improvements for residents. Administrative updates included: • Strategic planning efforts — Staff continue aligning projects and departmental work with the city’s strategic plan developed through community feedback and council planning sessions. • Upcoming committee meetings — Harding noted that several standing committees will be meeting in the coming weeks to address topics including infrastructure, utilities, and development. • Project coordination — City staff are continuing to work across departments to manage current projects and prepare upcoming items that will return to council for formal action. Administrative updates at these meetings typically provide councilmembers with an overview of ongoing operational matters and help identify items that may need council discussion in the near future. Department and Staff Updates Public Works Public Works staff reported on ongoing maintenance and operational work across the city. Key areas of focus include: • Street maintenance and seasonal repairs as winter conditions transition into spring. • Infrastructure monitoring, including water, wastewater, and utility systems. • Preparation for upcoming seasonal work,
such as street repairs, maintenance scheduling, and public works projects that typically ramp up during warmer months. These updates allow the council to stay informed on infrastructure needs and ensure resources are allocated appropriately. Other Department Updates Additional departmental updates included routine operational reporting from city departments responsible for public safety, utilities, and municipal services. Department heads typically use these brief updates to inform councilmembers about: • Current operational priorities • Staffing and workload updates • Upcoming projects or planning considerations • Coordination with other city departments While these reports are generally informational, they help councilmembers understand ongoing work happening behind the scenes across city government. Public Comment During the public comment portion of the meeting, residents were given the opportunity to address the council. Public comment is a standing agenda item at Baldwin City Council meetings and allows community members to raise concerns, ask questions, or share feedback on city issues.
BALDWIN CITY REC UPDATES NEW NEWSLETTER Baldwin City Recreation’s weekly newsletter has a new look! The updated format includes graphics, registration links, photos, and updates on upcoming programs and events. Sign up on the Recreation website or through the link in their social media bios. EVENTS Shamrock Hunt (March 16–20) Follow daily clues posted at 8 a.m. on social media and the Recreation website to find four hidden rocks around town. Take a photo with each rock and submit your pictures by Thursday at 8 p.m. for a raffle entry. Everyone is invited to a cookout Friday from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. at the Community Center with games and prizes. Thunder on the Bricks Car Show Registration is now open for the May 9 classic car show. The first 200 vehicles registered will receive a commemorative dash plaque. Learn more and register at thunderonthebricks.com. YOUTH ACTIVITIES Summer Camp Registration: March 23–27 for the 10-week
summer childcare program. Youth Sports Registration: Baseball, softball, T-ball, and Little Sluggers are open for ages 3–15. Micro Soccer: A fun introduction to soccer for children ages 2–4. Summer Soccer Camp: Hosted by Baldwin High School soccer programs June 8–12. SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses can sponsor youth teams or purchase banners at recreation facilities. Banner deadline is April 17. ADULT ACTIVITIES Adult Volleyball League: Sundays from March 29–May 3 at Baldwin High School. March Movement Fitness Challenge: Participate in monthly fitness challenges for a chance to win prizes. Beginner Pickleball: Free introductory classes available; pre-registration required.
are is
For this meeting: No residents came forward to speak during the public comment period. The council then moved forward with the remainder of the agenda. Why These Updates Matter While administrative and departmental updates often receive less attention than votes or formal agenda items, they play an important role in keeping councilmembers and the public informed about: • Ongoing city operations • Infrastructure planning • Upcoming projects and policy discussions • Coordination between departments These reports help ensure transparency and allow councilmembers to address issues before they become larger problems.
Sunday School :
9:30 am
(in the church basement.)
Welcome Center Opens:
10 am
Services Start:
10:30am
SEE YOU SUNDAY!
+ Everyone is welcome! + Non- Denominational
One Hour
BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays @ 6pm Men and women welcome!
Vinland Valley Community Church
1724 N 692nd Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006
(785) 594-3256
09 MARCH
COMMUNITY
PG. 07
HAVE AN IDEA
MONKEY BRAIN
FOR A NEW BUSINESS?
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX By Jeanine Ross
I have often heard people say that meditation is just too hard to do. Their brains go crazy when they try to shut it off! Well, if that’s what you’re trying to do, it’s no wonder your brain goes crazy. It thinks you’re trying to kill it! No, meditation is the practice of stilling the mind. As a result, it empties itself over time because most of what’s running around in there does not serve you in the present. When we let our minds wander, unchecked, it is just like a monkey in the zoo! It’s all over the place! You start off thinking about apples, and before you know it, your mind has compared it to every fruit you’ve ever tasted, questioned the true color, “what is red anyway,” and encouraged you to go and get one or maybe an orange or maybe a banana. Then, before you can make up your mind, your brain starts to remember the last time you had a piece of fruit and why it’s better for you than a candy bar, but you really want a candy bar and maybe some potato chips, and you begin to remember when you choked on potato chips when you were just a kid, and you experience that fear all over again! Whew! Stop already! And that, ladies and gentlemen, is what is known as “monkey brain!” It can snatch you from the present to the past in milliseconds, and change its direction before you even know it had a direction. It’s exhausting and destructive, and its purpose is to keep you from living in the present, because it does not exist in the present. Monkey brain is a collection of memories and experiences that have never been sorted through and stored in their respective places in your past. If you never sort through your thoughts, stored the ones you want to keep, and dismiss the ones that followed the experience but are no longer relevant, they will haunt and color every second of your existence for the rest of your life, or until you do! That is why meditation is so good for us. In meditation, you don’t try to clear your mind, you watch your thoughts and listen to them without engaging with them and simply dismiss the ones that you don’t need anymore. I think the issue with most people and meditation is that many of the memories monkey brain brings back to us are painful because those are the ones we tend to repress or try to ignore or run from. Remembering those things is not only painful for most people but they are scary too. We as humans learned from an early age that pain is bad and to experience pain openly is a weakness, so we bury it or pretend it doesn’t exist, or lie to ourselves about its impact on us. But monkey brain never forgets and never lies. You can choose to put on your grown-up underwear, face your fears, and open your life to the magic all around you, which is just waiting to bring you all the desires of your heart, or you can let monkey brain rule your world. Your choice. So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
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