A BALDWIN CITY NEWSPAPER
A BIG MONTH FOR THE MAPLE
It’s a busy and exciting season for The Maple, with a brand-new magazine issue now in homes, one of Baldwin City’s favorite community events right around the corner, and garage sale season quickly approaching.
Issue #9 Hits Mailboxes
By now, residents should have received Issue #9 of The Maple in their mailbox. This newest edition features Lori Gardner of Homestead Kitchen + Bakery on the cover and includes not only her story, but several of her own recipes, including chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, broccoli and cheddar soup, and chicken and noodles.
The issue also highlights stories focused on Baldwin City’s people, businesses, schools, organizations and local leadership. Readers will find features on Mayor Gerry Cullumber, Baldwin City businesses, school social workers, the Baldwin City Farmers Market, senior community connections and more.
The front section of the magazine also includes pages dedicated to local organizations, businesses and community information designed to help readers stay connected to what is happening around town.
Community members who did not receive a copy in the mail, or who would like an additional copy, can pick one up at:
• Baldwin City Market
• Homestead Kitchen + Bakery
• Baldwin City Library
• Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce
Sundae Fun Day Returns May 19
The Maple is also preparing for its annual Last Day of School Sundae Fun Day celebration on Monday, May 19, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. in downtown Baldwin City.
The free community event will include activities, prizes and free ice cream with toppings galore for everyone attending. Organizers ask attendees to please make one trip through the line so everyone has the opportunity to enjoy a treat.
The event is made possible through support from numerous local sponsors, whom organizers say continue to make community-centered events like this possible year after year.
Citywide Garage Sale Registration Now Open
In addition to the magazine release and ice cream social, preparations are also underway for the Baldwin City Citywide Garage Sales happening June 5, 6 and 7.
Garage sale registration is officially open, and residents planning to host a sale are encouraged to sign up now to be included in this year’s official garage sale guide, which will publish as a special edition on Thursday, June 4.
The comprehensive guide typically includes dozens and dozens of garage sales throughout the community and is designed to help shoppers efficiently plan their routes. This year’s edition will include additional details such as:
• Whether a sale is cashless
• Which neighborhood the sale is located in
• Which days the sale is open
The goal is to make the shopping experience as organized and user-friendly as possible.
To be included in the June 4 publication, garage sale registrations must be submitted by noon on June 1.
Registration forms can be picked up and returned at:
• BC Chamber of Commerce
• Baldwin City Library
• City of Baldwin City
A registration form is also available on Page 7 of this issue. Or, scan the code!
Baldwin City
CITY-WIDE
GARAGE SALES
18
HELP SAVE SPRING CREEK LAKE
Following The Maple Weekly’s May 4 cover story on the future of Spring Creek Lake, community support for preserving the lake appears to be gaining renewed momentum.
Over the past several weeks, organizers say donations, messages of encouragement and public interest surrounding the project have noticeably increased as more residents learn about ongoing efforts to repair the lake’s damaged spillway and preserve the property for future generations.
What began as a grassroots movement in 2025 eventually led to the formation of a formal City Lake Committee and drew more than 1,000 petition signatures from supporters hoping to see the lake protected.
While recent grant setbacks have slowed progress, organizers say the effort is still very much alive.
“We’ve had contributions coming in from all over,” committee member Becky McMillen shared in a recent public post. “I received a check from Nebraska and also Ohio this week. These are from people who are former residents of Baldwin City and still care about the next generation that live here now.”
The committee recently established an official donation account through Baldwin State Bank after residents began informally contributing funds toward the restoration effort. Organizers say donations will support ongoing improvements and future spillway repairs.
McMillen said she continues to dream about what could happen if even a fraction of the residents who
COMMUNITY
signed the petition contributed toward the project.
“I keep thinking or maybe dreaming about what could happen if all the over 1000 people who signed the petition to save Spring Creek Lake sent me $25; even $10,” she wrote. “Call me a dreamer, I do believe this will happen.”
Volunteers have already spent countless hours clearing overgrown trails, removing debris, reopening access points and even uncovering historic WPA-era stone steps hidden beneath vegetation and mud.
Recent local contractor estimates have also dramatically lowered expected spillway repair costs — from earlier projections in the hundreds of thousands to roughly $35,000 — making the project feel increasingly attainable to supporters.
Organizers say the lake remains an important community resource and hope continued public support can help carry the project forward.
Want to Help Save the Lake?
Donations can be made to:
Baldwin State Bank
Account Name: Save the Baldwin City Spring Lake Fund
Donations may also be mailed directly to:
Becky McMillen
1102 Dearborn Street Baldwin City, KS 66006
Organizers say all contributions will go toward ongoing restoration efforts and future spillway repairs aimed at preserving Spring Creek Lake for future generations.
COMMUNITY
EVENTS
After initially being canceled earlier this year, BC Players Youth Summer Theatre is officially returning this summer at the Lumberyard Arts Center — news many local families and young performers are celebrating.
The two-week day camp, directed by Dorian Logan, will run June 8–12 and June 15–19 from 9 a.m. to noon, culminating in a public performance June 20 at 7 p.m. at Sullivan Square.
The program is open to students entering third through eighth grade and will guide participants through the full process of putting on a play — from acting and designing to creating props, costumes and sets.
The announcement follows a difficult season for the program and its director. Earlier this year, BC Players shared that the summer theatre program would be canceled due to a serious family matter involving Logan’s father, who was nearing the end of his life.
In a recent statement, Logan shared that his father has since passed away and expressed gratitude for the time spent with family during that period. Now, with community support and renewed energy, the program is moving forward once again.
“We are pleased to share that BC Players Youth Summer Theatre will be offered this June 2026 at the Lumberyard Arts Center,” Logan stated. “We appreciate your patience and understanding, and we are grateful to be returning with a full summer experience for our young artists.”
For Baldwin City families, the return of youth theatre represents more than just another summer activity. Programs like this create opportunities for creativity, confidence-building and community connection for local students.
The camp also highlights the continued collaboration between BC Players and the Lumberyard Arts Center, two organizations that continue to invest heavily in arts opportunities for Baldwin City youth.
Participants will spend two weeks learning every aspect of theatre production before presenting their final performance to the community in downtown Baldwin City.
The program is made possible through support from Truity Credit Union and donors to the Douglas County Community Foundation’s Giving for Good campaign. Registration and additional details are
BALDWIN REC UPDATES
The Baldwin City Recreation Commission is gearing up for a full summer of activities, with pool season, youth camps, fitness classes and community events all on the calendar.
Pool season begins Memorial Day weekend
The 2026 Baldwin City Pool season will begin with a free public swim day on Monday, May 25. Pool passes are available through the BCRC office, and residents renewing with a scan card from a previous year may do so by phone at 785-594-3670.
BCRC also announced the return of the Baldwin City Barracudas Swim Team for swimmers ages 6 to 18 who can swim 25 yards unassisted. The team will practice three mornings a week, with Friday morning meets throughout June.
Summer camps and youth sports registrations underway
Summer youth programming includes limited part-time spots for BCRC Summer Camp, along with soccer, tennis and golf camps.
Soccer Camp will be held June 8–12 with support from the Baldwin High School girls and boys soccer programs.
Tennis Camp will be led by BHS Head Tennis Coach Jim Ashcraft, while golf programming will be led by USD 348 Boys Golf Coach Mackenzie Ellis.
Fitness classes continue for all ages
For adults, May fitness options include Strength & Conditioning and Golden Beats, with a free PiYo demo class planned for Saturday, May 30, at the Community Center.
New “Sips on the Square” festival planned
BCRC is also preparing for its inaugural “Sips on the Square: Beer, Wine & Spirit Festival,” set for Saturday, June 6, in Sullivan Square. The event will feature more than 10 regional vendors, live music and light appetizers.
Thunder on the Bricks names
2026 Best in Show
In other BCRC news, the 4th annual Thunder on the Bricks Classic Car Show recently named Emmanuel Carter’s 1956 Chevy Nomad as the 2026 Best In Show winner. The car will be featured on 2027 Thunder on the Bricks promotional materials.
BALDWIN CITY GAMBINO’S WINS NATIONAL PIZZA COMPETITION
Photo by Dr. Frank Pérez
A local favorite is getting national recognition.
The Gambino’s Pizza location in Baldwin City recently took first place in a national culinary competition hosted by parent company In The Sauce Brands, earning recognition for its creative Jalapeño Popper Pizza.
For Baldwin City residents, the win
likely comes as no surprise.
Owners Troy and Britt Heck — who were featured in The Maple No. 8 last fall — have built far more than a pizza restaurant in Baldwin City. Through hard work, consistency and a strong focus on community, the Heck family and their team have created one of the town’s busiest gathering spots and a business many residents proudly support.
The winning pizza features a layer of cream cheese sauce topped with pork, Italian sausage, jalapeños, cheese blend and bacon, inspired by the flavors of a classic jalapeño popper appetizer. Company officials described the pizza as a bold mix of spice and cool textures.
The national “Pizza Pie Fight” competition challenged Gambino’s locations across the country to create original menu items judged on taste, creativity, ingredient cost and customer appeal. Baldwin City’s pizza was selected as one of only two winners nationwide.
Customers can now order the Jalapeño Popper Pizza through the end of July, and company officials say the specialty pizza could potentially become
a permanent menu item.
For many locals, the recognition highlights something Baldwin City already knows well: the Heck family works incredibly hard for the community they serve. From supporting local events and schools to consistently delivering quality food and service, the entire staff continues to impress customers daily.
Baldwin City is fortunate to have locally invested business owners willing to pour this much energy into their work and community. And now, apparently, the rest of the country is noticing too.
Community members are encouraged to stop in, congratulate the team and try the award-winning pizza while it is still available.
COMMUNITY
BALDWIN CITY CHAMBER GEARS UP FOR BUSY SUMMER SEASON
The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce is heading into a busy stretch of networking events, summer markets, golf tournaments and community opportunities as the organization prepares for another active season in Baldwin City.
Networking Happy Hour Set for May 14
The Chamber’s next Networking Happy Hour is planned for Thursday, May 14, from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at Baldwin City Distillery.
The event offers local business owners, community members and professionals an opportunity to connect, network and learn more about fellow Chamber members in a relaxed environment.
Golf Tournament Registration Open
Preparations are also underway for the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce Golf Tournament, scheduled for Friday, May 29.
Businesses and teams can currently register at the discounted “Eagle Rate,” with registration costs increasing May 23 when “Bogey Registration” begins.
The tournament will feature two flights at: 10 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available and include a team registration. Chamber officials note that even businesses without golfers can still participate by inviting others to represent their company.
Both team spots and sponsorships are limited.
Third
Friday Market Vendor Registration Available
Vendor registration is now open for the Chamber’s popular Third Friday Market series, which will take place:
June 19
July 17
August 21
September 18
The markets continue to serve as a gathering space for local makers,
artists, businesses, food vendors and organizations.
Vendor pricing differs for Chamber members and non-members, with discounted rates available for members and reduced costs for nonprofit and informational booths.
Businesses interested in participating can contact the Chamber office for registration and payment information.
Ice Cream Contest Sponsorship Opportunity Returns
The Chamber is also seeking a sponsor for the returning Ice Cream Making Contest during the June 19 Third Friday Market.
The contest, which organizers say was one of last year’s most popular attractions, allows community members to sample a variety of homemade ice cream flavors while enjoying the summer market atmosphere.
The $100 sponsorship package includes:
Recognition on promotional materials
On-site signage
Ice cream samples
The opportunity to serve as a contest judge
Interested sponsors are encouraged to contact the Chamber office.
Office Spaces Available Inside Chamber Building
In addition to community programming, the Chamber currently has two office spaces available for rent inside the Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce building.
Both offices include:
Utilities Wi-Fi
Access to a shared conference room
Kitchen access
Bathroom access
Each office rents for $300 per month and requires a one-year contract.
Community members interested in learning more are encouraged to contact Chamber Director Dana Mullis.
Douglas County officials are warning residents about fraudulent text and email messages that appear to be from District Court regarding a traffic summons. These messages are not from Douglas County District Court.
Residents should be skeptical of unsolicited messages, especially those claiming legal action. Do not click on any links. Instead, contact the court or law enforcement agency directly using an official phone number listed online.
If you believe you are a victim of a scam, contact the Consumer Protection Division of the Kansas Attorney General at 785-296-2215 or https://www.ag.ks.gov/ file-a-complaint.
Tips to avoid scams:
Watch for typos, grammatical errors, generic names and phone numbers that don’t seem to match Douglas County government, District Court, the Sheriff’s Office or the organization claiming to contact you.
If someone threatens you with arrest or seizure of property unless you make a payment
– especially the same day – it is a scam.
Verify any phone numbers provided. Do not call a number given by someone making threats. Instead, look up and use a verified number to contact the agency directly.
Avoid unusual payment methods such as Bitcoin, gift cards or wire transfers. Do not share personal information, including Social Security numbers and account numbers, unless you have called the official agency using a number you independently verified.
Scammers frequently target residents with false claims about missed jury duty or warrants. They rely on confusion, particularly for those unfamiliar with the legal system. If you do have a warrant, law enforcement will not call you and demand immediate payment over the phone. The best response is to hang up and call the agency directly using a verified phone number. This is especially important when scammers spoof numbers to make it appear they are calling from the Sheriff’s Office, District Court or another legitimate entity.
NEARBY STORIES: LAWRENCE CITY COMMISSION AGREES TO PURCHASE RIVERFRONT BUILDING IN SETTLEMENT 18
Story by Mackenzie Clark, lawrencekstimes.com
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday agreed to a settlement for the city to acquire the Riverfront building for $325,000, and SpringHill Suites will vacate the property by April 5, 2027.
The settlement will also release the city from liability in an ongoing lawsuit and end the current Riverfront owners’ long-term leases on the cityowned land where the building sits. The hotel’s lease is up in April 2027.
“At the point in time that the hotel vacates the premises, the Riverfront building will be surrendered over to the city, and the city will obtain ownership of that structure,” Tyler Hibbler, partner with Husch Blackwell Kansas City, told commissioners on Tuesday. “And the city currently owns the ground that that building sits on anyway.”
What will come of the building and land is not yet clear, and commissioners did not yet get into discussions about future plans.
However, “Removal of the Building, for example, may grant the community unparalleled access to the Kansas River for use by the residents of Lawrence for recreation purposes, for civic purposes, for a nature park, or the like; all of which would allow for revitalization and reimagining of the northern portion of our beautiful Downtown,” the memo in the commission’s meeting agenda stated. “The City looks forward to exploring those possibilities with the community.”
Former City Commissioner Courtney Shipley spoke during public comment. She said the land, which on the open market would be “platinum,” had been leased to the property owners for $1. She asked current commissioners to “Let this be our great lesson of how to actually steward the assets the taxpayer owns.”
Vice Mayor Mike Courtney said the land was “a major key to rejuvenating downtown and remembering who we are as a community.”
“I enthusiastically look forward to the future discussion about what this can be for our city and our community,” Courtney said.
Commissioner Kristine Polian said it was a great opportunity, and the land could be a great potential location for the Lawrence Farmers Market.
Commissioner Mike Dever said the area was a great access that could allow people to give people access to parts of the community that they
haven’t seen. Mayor Brad Finkeldei agreed with the other commissioners and thanked the city’s legal counsel for their help.
Commissioners approved the agreement 4-0. Commissioner Amber Sellers was not present for the meeting.
Lawsuit background
Riverfront originally opened in 1990 as a 150,000-square-foot outlet mall. The building’s owners filed a lawsuit in February 2024 alleging that construction of an access road on the south bank of the river compromised the integrity of the land, causing cosmetic and structural damage to the buildings’ foundation.
Plaintiffs on the lawsuit include La Posada Group LLC, BC Lynd Hospitality LLC and Riverfront LLC, which is registered to Dolph C. Simons III Revocable Trust and Dan C. Simons. In addition to the City of Lawrence, defendants listed in the suit are TSP Environmental Inc.; R.D. Johnson Excavating Company LLC; Dondlinger & Sons Construction Company Inc.; and Recreation Engineering & Planning Inc.
The defendants denied the allegations, and the city asserted crossclaims against the other defendants. The insurers of the contractors who installed and used the access road have paid the city’s legal fees in the case, according to the memo to the commission.
Under the settlement, all the other defendants will pay the plaintiffs $2.175 million within 30 days of the final party signing the agreement. The city will pay $325,000 within 30 days of the hotel vacating the building.
City Attorney Toni Wheeler told commissioners that in the memo in their meeting agenda, she had written that staff recommended that the $325,000 be paid with funds that the city has set aside for city hall renovations.
However, “The city hall renovation project is a debt funded project, and there are certain limitations and restrictions, and since publishing the agenda, I’ve learned that there are additional administrative steps required for bond funding,” Wheeler said on Tuesday. “But since our payment is not due under the settlement agreement until 2027, we have sufficient time to evaluate and put into place the proper funding, and of course, the commission will be approving that at the appropriate time.”
COMMUNITY SMALL TALK
THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX
By Jeanine Ross
I don’t like small talk! My mom says I never have. She recounts a time when (after I was forced into small talk and couldn’t take it any longer) I asked our pastor’s wife why she put her daughter’s hair in a ponytail, because didn’t she know what was under a pony’s tail! My mother was appalled! I was rushed out of the church and punished when we got home, but I couldn’t understand why. I don’t like small talk!
We live in a society where small talk has become a substitute for real conversation, and then we wonder why people are so disconnected. Don’t get me wrong, I understand that some amount of small talk is needed when you first meet a person or if you are in a sensitive situation, but advancing toward something real should always be the goal, in my opinion. What is the point of discussing the weather or lying about how you are by saying fine when you know you’re not? I’m not suggesting we should immediately start discussing the trauma of someone’s childhood every time you meet, but a genuine inquiry into their day or their life that gives them the opportunity to open up to you is more than important; it is needed.
I like to ask open-ended questions like, “Tell me about your day,” or “What’s the greatest thing in your life right now?” I think you would be amazed at how many people will respond honestly and openly to you because we all want so much to connect. I ask only that you be prepared to listen, for real, when you ask real questions.
I went on a date once, a long time ago, and apparently someone told him to ask open-ended questions, so he did. He asked me what kind of connection I was looking for in a partner. I thought that was an excellent question, and I immediately started talking about it. After only a couple of sentences, I could see the light go out in his eyes. He was still staring at me and pretending to listen by occasionally shaking his head. So I stopped in midsentence and stared at him. He immediately smiled and said something like “wow, that sounds like just what I’m looking for.” When I asked him what part of what I said was most like what he wanted, and he couldn’t answer, I ended our date and went home, but it left me feeling unclean somehow. So if you are not ready for real answers, don’t ask real questions, but if you are tired of small talk and are genuinely ready to connect with another human, don’t be afraid to start a real conversation.
Small talk has its place, but it is only good as an opener, so don’t mistake it for conversation. Also, don’t be surprised if there are some people who can’t get away from you fast enough when you get real. They look at you strangely, and they say things like, “Wow, that’s deep” or “That’s a little too personal” and then they move as fast as they can in the opposite direction. I call those small talk athletes. They are pro’s at talking for hours without saying anything at all! Deliver me from them! Ask questions that bring you connection and watch your life improve!
So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
