A BALDWIN CITY NEWSPAPER
THIS AND THAT KC BRINGS ANTIQUE MALL, COMMUNITY HUB TO BC
A new kind of gathering space is taking shape in downtown Baldwin City, as This and That KC prepares to open its doors inside the former Lovely Flower Company building at 703 Eighth St.
Owned by Jennifer Campsey, the business blends vintage shopping, estate sale finds and a welcoming, come-asyou-are atmosphere — all rooted in relationships built over years of working closely with families.
Campsey and her husband launched This and That KC seven years ago as an estate sale company, originally with a practical goal: helping pay for their three children’s college tuition. What began as a side business quickly evolved into something more meaningful.
“We fell in love with the families
that we were helping,” Campsey said.
“Then the families we were assisting with processing their loved ones’ estates were absolutely becoming family to us.”
Three years ago, Campsey stepped into the business full time. Since then, she’s built a loyal following of buyers — many of whom travel from across Kansas and even Oklahoma — drawn not just by the items for sale, but by the personal connections she prioritizes.
“We strive to know our buyers’ names, what their niche purchases are, and most of all what their story is,” she said.
From Olathe to Baldwin City
The Campseys are based in Olathe, where they operate the estate sale side of their business. But as their customer base
expanded, the need for a more centralized pickup location became clear — and Baldwin City stood out.
Encouraged by friends and customers, Campsey visited town for the first time and was immediately drawn in.
“I loved the downtown area and became headstrong to bring that back to life,” she said.
After touring the building — previously home to Lovely Flower Company and, before that, The Nook — she saw more than just a retail space. She saw potential for something bigger.
More than a store
Set to open Saturday, May 9, This and That KC will function as an antique mall, offering booth space for vendors selling everything from vintage pieces and handmade goods to clothing and specialty items.
Shoppers can expect a mix of styles — from “shabby chic booths and man cave vibes” to racks of thrift-style clothing and even a selection of medical scrubs and lab coats brought in by a vendor partner.
But Campsey’s vision goes beyond retail.
The space will feature free drip coffee daily using the shop’s own beans, and the patio — a standout feature of the building — is being designed as a place for people to linger.
“I want to see the community using the patio to meet up with friends, study groups, book clubs, and on and on,” she said.
Furnished with items that are also for sale, the outdoor area will include games, seating and even a popcorn machine, creating a casual, inviting environment.
Tied to a growing business
The new Baldwin City location will also serve as a hub for the Campseys’ ongoing estate sale operations, including auction pickups and customer meetups. Despite expanding into a physical storefront, Campsey said that side of the business isn’t going anywhere.
“If there is someone needing help, we will be there,” she said.
Inside, updates to the building include fresh paint and reimagined spaces, such as converting a former podcast booth into a clothing area where customers can browse racks of apparel and shoes.
Looking ahead
Campsey hopes the store becomes a regular stop for both locals and visitors — a place people bring friends and family when they come to town.
Her goals for the first year are simple but ambitious: build recognition, support small vendors and keep the space fresh with rotating “spotlight” booths.
She’s also working with the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce to host events, particularly on the patio, further weaving the business into the community.
“I want people to feel welcome,” Campsey said. “To find things that bring nostalgia… or just come in for a cup of coffee and time to walk around and relax from the daily grind.”
This and That KC will be open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
CAFFEINE
IN SPORTS: HOW THE RISE OF ENERGY DRINKS HAS SWEPT BASEBALL
Story by Caroline Spayth, Cooper Hannon, Katie Acosta
Quirky walk-up songs, stylized custom gear, and flashy bat flips have become the norm across college and youth baseball over the last decade.
So have energy drinks.
Labeled in colorful, bright cans with a plethora of exotic flavors, the metallic cans have become necessities for players across the country.
“The energy drink culture in baseball is crazy,” University of Pikeville infielder Gavin Fraser said. “They are seen as essential on game day for many teammates of mine, past and present, and it’s definitely normal to see many players drinking at least one a day.”
And one is normally the bare minimum. Fraser adds that long hours at the ballpark, lifting weights, and an erratic sleep schedule lead many players to compensate
with high levels of caffeine. This has made energy drinks a daily necessity for players, who crave the performance benefits but also increasingly rely on caffeine just to keep up.
“Yes, I drink energy drinks almost every day,” Aidan Johnson, a pitcher at Avila University, said. “On a day where I’m up early for weights, I’ll consume 200 mgs in the morning from a C4 energy packet and then I’ll usually have a Bum energy to get me through my 2:00 class and practice.”
This caffeine movement started in part with the idea that caffeine holds powerful benefits before physical activity. And this is true, in moderation.
University of Kansas Medical Center associate professor Aaron Carbuhn says that caffeine “can have a positive effect on cognition,” and “helps your perception of pain and allows you to potentially push
harder than what you would normally do.”
While strategic caffeine can be an effective stimulant, many players overconsume these drinks and are turning to energy drinks younger and younger.
Baldwin City High School assistant coach Tyler Bermundo has seen this drastic shift take place over the last five years. When Bermundo played outfield at Long Beach City College, he says it wasn’t very common to see energy drinks. But now, even at the high school level, Bermundo says it’s regular to see cans of C4 and Redbull scattered throughout the dugout, “And all the varsity guys, especially the ones who play a lot, pound those drinks.”
Another consideration in caffeine consumption is timing. While many associate caffeine with a cup of coffee in the morning, when it comes to baseball, energy drinks are used throughout all hours of the day.
“Just yesterday, our catcher took his gear off, chugged a quarter of a Redbull, and got back out there,” Bermundo said. “Did that for the first 4 innings, with the game ending at 9:30 pm, was drinking caffeine up until around 7.”
This is common. Relievers often crack an energy drink in the bullpen in preparation to come into a game, but if they are up getting loose for multiple innings, or it’s late in a game, this can lead to high levels of caffeine consumption well into the night. This may drastically impact players’ sleep schedules, causing them to feel groggy, then a need for caffeine the next day, and the cycle viciously repeats.
The National Institute of Health “reported that 400 mg of caffeine consumed 6 h prior to bedtime had a significant negative effect on sleep
quality compared with placebo.” This is especially important for athletes, for whom sleep is paramount. Supplementing proper recovery, nutrition and rest with caffeine is when a player’s performance may be negatively impacted.
“Caffeine can help overcome maybe those issues that poor sleep might have an effect on their performance. And so that could be a benefit,” Carbuhn said. But the problem “is that kind of caffeine consistently could be that, maybe not intentionally, but just a way to work around maybe some things that might not be being addressed well in terms of their sleep quality, their sleep hygiene, their nutrition, hydration, all these things.”
If caffeine is leaned on more than it should be, it may be a slippery slope, according to Carbuhn.
Many players, like Fraser, are aware of the risks and try to balance by only drinking when they need it, limiting preworkout if they already have an energy drink and consuming light-colored soda, which is less likely to have caffeine. But others, like Johnson, see caffeine as a useful supplement with a long and successful track record.
“I really don’t have any fears about it,” Johnson said. “Caffeine has been consumed by humans for a very long time, and as long as there isn’t a crazy amount of overconsumption, people tend to be okay and see great benefits from caffeine.”
At all sports levels, it’s essential to understand the caffeine culture led by new wave energy drinks and the potential strengths and repercussions. Energy drinks’ reign on baseball dugouts is in full swing, and it looks like this is only the beginning.
COMMUNITY
COUNCIL UPDATE: MAY 5, 2026
The Baldwin City Council held an extended discussion during its recent meeting, focusing largely on lease agreements for city-owned properties while also addressing routine updates and ongoing city business.
Lease concerns dominate discussion
At the center of the conversation was how the city approaches lease agreements tied to its properties. Early in the discussion, the mayor made a point to clarify that the conversation was not about The Bullpen’s lease specifically or any single tenant, but rather a broader look at all lease agreements for city-owned property and how those agreements are structured moving forward.
Council members spent considerable time weighing how to balance support for current uses of city spaces with the city’s long-term financial and operational responsibilities.
Several councilmembers raised concerns about whether existing agreements adequately reflect the value of city-owned properties and protect the city’s interests over time. The discussion touched on a number of key considerations, including:
• Whether lease terms should be renegotiated rather than routinely extended
• How insurance, maintenance and liability responsibilities are defined
• The long-term impact of current agreements on future city planning
While acknowledging the strong community connection to certain spaces, councilmembers emphasized the importance of stepping back to evaluate lease practices as a whole rather than making decisions in isolation.
Public comment
No members of the public spoke during the meeting.
A temporary path forward
Following lengthy discussion, the council ultimately voted to approve a 30-day lease extension, providing
additional time for evaluation and conversation.
Councilmembers framed the decision as a temporary step, allowing both the city and involved parties time to work through outstanding questions and develop a more comprehensive approach.
The extension is intended to create space for:
• Further review of lease structures
• Continued dialogue with stakeholders
• Consideration of long-term options for city-owned properties
Several members noted that taking additional time now could help avoid larger issues down the road, emphasizing the importance of getting the details right.
Other city updates
In addition to the lease discussion, council members heard routine updates related to city operations and ongoing projects. Staff reports touched on general departmental activity and seasonal work, reflecting the day-to-day functions of city government.
A broader policy conversation
Beyond any single agreement, the discussion signaled a shift toward a more consistent and structured approach to how the city manages its properties.
Councilmembers indicated interest in establishing clearer expectations and more standardized terms for leases moving forward, rather than addressing agreements on a case-by-case basis.
Looking ahead
The lease discussion is expected to return to council in the coming weeks as officials continue working toward a more defined and consistent approach.
City leaders reiterated their goal of supporting community use of public spaces while ensuring responsible stewardship of city assets.
The next Baldwin City Council meeting is scheduled for April 21 at the Baldwin City Community Center.
LEARNING TO DO
After a year of hard work, students in FFA will receive the awards and degrees they earned this school year. Awards aren’t the only thing happening; the new officer team will be introduced and receive their offices.
“Each year, we proudly present a wide variety of awards, and we continue to add new ones to recognize the accomplishments of our members,” Agriculture teacher Macy Herrenbruck said.
“Awards presented include FFA Degrees, STAR Awards for each grade level, scholarships, and the announcement of members selected to attend the National FFA Convention,” Herrenbruck said. “We also introduce the new officer team, honor our graduating seniors, and celebrate many other achievements throughout the evening.”
This year’s banquet will be held on May 6 in the BJHS Cafeteria and PAC. The evening will begin with a meal at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria, followed by the awards ceremony in the PAC.
“Just like any sports team, we host a banquet to celebrate our members,” Herrenbruck said. “This event recognizes those who go above and beyond in FFA and honors their dedication, hard work, and achievements.”
The BHS FFA chapter hopes to welcome many for this special evening. The FFA officer team helped plan this year’s banquet, investing time and effort in the event.
“I’m confident this year’s banquet will run very smoothly,” Herrenbruck said. “The officer team has put in a lot of effort to plan a quality event, and we’ve made several updates and improvements from past years to make it even better.”
“The banquet is open to everyone, but it is designed especially for our FFA members, their families, and our chapter supporters,” Herrenbruck said. “We ask that anyone planning to attend please complete the RSVP form by April 29 to help us prepare for the meal and ensure everything runs smoothly.”
Sunday School : 9:30 am (in the church basement.) Welcome Center Opens: 10 am Services Start: 10:30am
USD 348
QUILTS FOR ALL OCCASIONS
Quilts are a practical gift for most occasions. It starts with baby gifts. My mother made a hand-quilted baby quilt for each of her grandchildren. My daughter reminded me of this before her first child was born so, of course, I had to get busy and continue the “tradition”. (That was an exercise in time management because we had another grandchild three months later.) Then same daughter strongly suggested that I extend the “tradition” to include my god-children’s babies. That brought my total of hand-quilted baby quilts up to at least ten. When our first grandchild was born, I started a new tradition in our family—giving the New Daddy a quilt of his very own to use when he got up in the night with a crying baby.
As those grandchildren grew, the next “occasion” occurred when they outgrew the crib and moved into a “big girl bed” or a “big boy bed”. That meant that a larger quilt was needed. I try to avoid gifting quilts at Christmas because I would have to have too many ready at the same time. I find that birthdays or occasions at other times of the year are a better time for me to give quilts because that spreads them out.
A popular gift for high school or college graduation has become a t-shirt quilt made from the graduate’s t-shirts that were collected over several years. These are fun to work with because no two quilts are alike. I had no idea what to get my great nephew for high school graduation. I had not heard until recently that he plans to go to school in Beloit to take the heavy equipment program. When I asked his mother for suggestions for a graduation gift, she mentioned that he would need a set of sheets. She totally solved my problem—anyone who needs a set of sheets will have need of a quilt! And I have just the quilt that will fill the bill! We mustn’t overlook the wedding quilts. I remember my grandmother telling me that a girl had to piece seven quilt tops before she could marry. When the engagement was announced, the women
in the community would arrange quilting bees to quilt those seven tops. Today it is more common for a close relative to make the quilt and present it to the happy couple. For one of my granddaughter’s wedding I made an autograph quilt and had the wedding guests and bridal shower guests sign the blocks. I assembled, quilted and finished the quilt while the bride and groom were away on their honeymoon and gave them the finished quilt when they returned.
My mother hand-quilted quilts for customers until shortly before she passed away. We chose a small quilt that she had quilted to drape over her casket. We took the quilt to a florist shop and they matched the colors in the quilt to the colors of the flowers they used for the casket spray, completing the life cycle of quilts in her life.
This is the year for baby quilts! After our first great-granddaughter was born in
I have been saving a piece of fabric that has PINK barns on it, along with baby calves and baby pigs, just in case someone in the family had a little girl. Just finished piecing that quilt for the third greatgranddaughter. The name of the quilt pattern was “Wandering”, so I named the quilt “Wandering Pink Barns.” I think it needs pink minky on the back. It will be quilted soon. I still have to make labels to sew on the back of all the quilts. I like to include the recipient’s name on the label, so labeling will have to wait until I have that information. Now it’s time to move on to selecting the New Daddy quilts from my collection.
By Sharon Vesecky & Liz Granberg-Jerome
COMMUNITY
BALDWIN CITY DISTILLERY RELEASES LIMITED
A new collaboration between Baldwin City Distillery and Baker University is raising a glass to local history — and giving back in the process.
The distillery has officially released its “First Edition” Baker University bottle, a limited-run bourbon that celebrates the university’s legacy while supporting its future. Priced at $80, only a small number of bottles remain available, with just 180 left as of release.
The bourbon, labeled Parmenter’s Reserve, is a premium small-batch, single-barrel whiskey, bottled at 90 proof. Each bottle features customdesigned packaging highlighting Baker University’s heritage, including a message from President Jody Fournier and references to the university’s founding in 1858.
The label emphasizes Baker’s
long-standing mission to educate “thoughtful, ethical, and engaged global citizens,” while also recognizing the role of the Baldwin City community in shaping generations of graduates.
A local collaboration with impact
Beyond the commemorative design, the release also carries a philanthropic component. A significant portion of proceeds from each bottle sold will be donated back to Baker University, making the purchase both a collector’s item and a contribution to the institution.
The partnership reflects a growing trend of local collaborations that highlight Baldwin City’s unique ties between business, education and community.
Limited availability
The First Edition release is only available for purchase at Baldwin City Distillery, and quantities are limited. With fewer than 200 bottles remaining at launch, demand is expected to be high — particularly among Baker alumni and local supporters.
The distillery encourages those interested to act quickly, as no additional bottles from this initial run are planned.
For many, the release offers more than just a bottle of bourbon — it’s a chance to celebrate shared history, support a local institution and take home a piece of Baldwin City pride.
BALDWIN CITY LAUNCHES NEW TEXT ALERT SYSTEM FOR UTILITY UPDATES
Baldwin City residents will soon have a faster, more direct way to receive updates about power outages, water issues and other servicerelated notices.
A new, council-approved communication system officially launches May 1, offering a textbased alert program designed to keep residents informed in real time.
City officials say the program will provide notifications for power outages, water leaks and planned maintenance, helping residents stay aware of issues that may impact their homes or neighborhoods.
How it works
The system allows residents to both receive updates and report issues directly from their phones.
Once enrolled, users can:
Text “START” to begin receiving notifications
Text “OUTAGE” to report a power outage
Text “STATUS” to check the current status of an outage
Text “STOP” to opt out at any time
Residents can also call or text (785) 5945168 to connect with the system.
Signing up
To receive alerts, residents are encouraged to update their contact information with the city. This can be done by scanning a QR code provided by the city or by filling out a short form with basic contact details, including name, address and phone number.
Completed forms can be returned to City Hall, 803 Eighth St.
Improving communication
City officials say the new system is aimed at improving communication during service disruptions, particularly during severe weather or unexpected outages when timely updates are critical.
The tool also allows the city to share planned maintenance information ahead of time, giving residents the ability to prepare for temporary interruptions.
The program is powered by a third-party notification platform and is part of a broader effort to modernize how the city communicates with residents.
With the May 1 launch, city leaders are encouraging residents to sign up early to ensure they receive updates when they need them most.
DOUGLAS COUNTY ELECTIONS LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE TOOLS
LAWRENCE, Kan. – The Douglas County Clerk’s Office has launched two new online tools on its website – dgcoks.gov/elections – to provide residents with easy access to up-to-date voting and election information.
The new Election Data Dashboard allows users to explore current voter registration data in Douglas County, including the number of registered, active and inactive voters, along with demographic information such as average age, median age, gender and location.
As of April 27, the dashboard shows:
• 80,078 registered voters
• 66,707 active voters
• 22,481 voters ages 45-64, compared to 8,127 voters ages 18-24
• 2,370 voters in Palmyra Township, compared to 306 in Grant Township
Users can refine the data using an interactive search tool that filters by affiliation, precinct,
state senate and representative districts, U.S. representative districts, state Board of Education districts, geographic area and school districts.
In addition, the Clerk’s Office has launched the “Ballot Box” blog, where staff will regularly post updates about voting and elections. Residents may subscribe to receive blog posts by email.
“These tools help us share timely, accurate information directly with the community,” County Clerk Jamie Shew said. “We want residents to have confidence in the election process and to easily access the data that informs how elections work in Douglas County.”
The Clerk’s Office designed the tools in collaboration with the Information Technology department to make election-related information more transparent, accessible and convenient for the public.
COMMUNITY
A MOTHER’S LOVE
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
By Jeanine Ross
It’s that time of year again when mothers are publicly celebrated. It is a nice gesture and a much-appreciated recognition. However, as a mother, I like to think that mothers are always celebrated in the hearts of their children. I believe any mother who raised their children, with or without their father, is an angel of the rarest kind. The sacrifices that mothers make from conception until she takes her last breath can only be called divinely driven. That is not to say that fathers don’t make sacrifices, because they do, but they do not compare to what a mother freely and willingly gives up to bring a child into this world.
From conception, a mother’s sacrificial love begins in the womb. We fall deeply in love with the first flutter of movement we share with our child, and it only continues after that. We sacrifice our bodies that are stretched so far out of shape that they will never return. We sacrifice that singular intimacy we shared with our significant others because now everything is colored by the child we live and breathe for. We give up any semblance of selfishness because the child comes first. We’ll never again have a thought that doesn’t in some way include them, or a free moment when we guiltlessly consider ourselves or our significant other first. And that’s just during pregnancy and their early years!
By the time that child is a teenager, we’ve given up any possibility of ever feeling guiltless about their development. We will forever
feel guilty for everything that child thinks, says, or does, no matter how many times we’re told it wasn’t our fault, because we were their first connection to this world, and we’ll always feel like we should have prepared them better. Then, when they begin to break away from us, as they should, we feel somehow lost and abandoned, and not even our significant others will know what to do to make it better.
And then there is adulthood, when they have families of their own, and we try to help them by giving them advice so they don’t make the same mistakes we made. That never goes well. Remember the first time your adult child said something like “Just because that’s the way you did it, doesn’t mean it’s the right way or the only way.” And we nod and smile, and if we are wise, we bite our tongues. Then we are there to console them when it is their turn to be the guilty parent.
A mother’s love is boundless, timeless, and endless. No matter how old their children get, they will always be their mama’s baby. No matter how much a father gives, he can never match the never-ending, all-consuming, bottomless sacrifice that is a mother’s love. So to all you mothers who had the honor and the privilege of raising your own children, I say, you are a special kind of angel that this world could not survive without. Thank you for your sacrifice and your dedication, and that special love that only a mother can give. Happy Mother’s Day!
So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
SATURDAY, MAY 16
9 am - 5 pm
115 E 1250 Road
Baldwin City, KS 66006
• All eight cabins open — third sale of the 2026 season
• Held the third Saturday of each month through November
• A wide mix of collectible and everyday items
Cabin #1, #2: Coleman stoves, coolers, fold up lawn chairs, sleeping bags, vintage aluminum chairs, kayak rack for SUV, new gas leaf blower, LARGE commercial food service stockpot, 1 deep dish commercial steam table pan, electric griddle, electric skillets, bakeware, Cuisart knives w/ guards, ONO kitchen metal utensils, 25 pc. New kitchen knives still in box, lots of kitchen items, tables/ chairs, large urn w/floral on pedestal, kids books, cookbooks, metal wall art, $2 each men’s shorts, jeans, new men’s Merrill boots, new men’s suede shoes, boys’ clothes, over 60 vintage clip on earrings from ‘40-‘50’s, still clipped on original cardboard, FREE Bibles, 21 golf clubs w/2 bags, large ficus tree, curtains, shower curtains w/hooks, antique butter churn w/paddle, dog clothes and life jackets, floor lamps/ tabletop lamps, 4 pc. matching area rugs, decorative pillows, moose decor, Boyd Bear Villages-still in box, NYC Chinatown dishware, patriotic decor, red mini frig, red commercial blender, chicken decor, picture frames, new photo albums, various sizes, end tables, wicker trunk, 100 year-old dresser, 100 year-old pitcher/ bowl, saddles, cowboy hats, and other stuff coming in by May 16.
• Just south of Lawrence
• Approximately 2 miles south of the Hwy 56 & Hwy 59 junction
• On the original two-lane Highway 59
1800’s Vanity Fair “Spy” Lawyers Lithographs, Jayhawk Yearbooks, KU Jayhawk Memorabilia, Campbells soup collection, vintage trucker hats, postcards, baseball cards, vinyl records, ephemera, Lawrence Fritzel Dairy milk cans, Coca Cola glass gallon jugs, miscellaneous advertising signs, 45 records, pocket knives, vintage egg cup collection, brass pieces, wood crates. Most if not all of the items in these three cabins are vintage or antique
Cabins 5 & 6: Corner hutch, cast iron, tools, vintage ball canning jars, lots of DVDs, women’s Levi Strauss signature jeans—-$10 each. A lot of variety. Still a load of stuff to dig thru. Tons of new stuff!
Cabin #7: Antique kneehole oak desk, small Early American table w/drawer, wood water skis, wood Coca-Cola crates, big Coca-Cola button sign—rough & repainted, cute patio plants box wagon, 5 gallon carboy, Kodascope projector, MCM butterfly chair, pair folding lounger pool chairs, pair 1970s folding director chairs, new ice chest, old timey cars goblets, several antique kerosene lamps, vintage pool balls, Wexford water goblets, avocado Samsonite 1970s makeup case, Marx 1970s TV Tennis (Pong) game, new in package measuring tapes & hose nozzles, #10 meat grinder, black & clear Pyrex mix bowl set, Coleman lanterns, dozens of new & sealed DVDs—variety of genres, EarthWise people powered push mower, Tupperware, vintage bar ware, depression glass, Thermoses, CD’s, cast alum Dutch ovens, vintage artwork game table, 1980s Raleigh Technium aluminum MTB. Lots more—mostly antique, MCM & vintage. Many markdowns. One table of 1/2 priced items. Visit the historic Dyer Cabins on May 16 for a large community sale at
Cabin #3, #4 and #8: Antique Furniture, Primitives, Fishing Poles, Fishing Tackle, Fishing Reels,Bell Telephone Flange Sign, Bell Systems Kerosene lanterns, Dazey Churns, Railroad Kerosene Lanters, White Mountain Ice Cream Freezers, Glass Milk Jugs, Antique Tube Radios, Fenton Glass, Street Crossroads Signs, Village Green Red Wing Dinnerware, Cut Glass Punch Bowls, Cast Iron Stove Salesman Samples, Countertop Glass Display Case, Cast Iron Doorstops, Antique Pottery, Stoneware Pitchers, Antique Crockware, Brass Spittoon, Crock Jars, Dishes with Windmills from Japan,
