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WEEKLY

A BALDWIN CITY NEWSPAPER

BALDWIN CITY GEARS UP FOR A BIG SHOP SMALL SATURDAY ON NOV. 29

Baldwin City is kicking off the holiday season with one of its most anticipated community traditions—SHOP SMALL SATURDAY, a nationwide celebration dedicated to supporting small businesses and the local economy. This year, Baldwin City is taking the effort to new heights with a Shop Small Saturday Shop Hop, special events for families, expanded shopping locations, and youth entrepreneurs joining the fun.

Created by American Express in 2010, Shop Small Saturday has grown into a movement that encourages shoppers to invest in their communities by choosing local over big-box retailers. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, two-thirds of every dollar spent at a small business stays in the community, supporting jobs, local services, and the overall economic health of towns like Baldwin City. With rising costs and shifting economic conditions, local business owners say this support matters now more than ever.

Shop Hop Highlights Local Storefronts

This year’s Shop Small Saturday, includes a full list of participating storefronts offering holiday specials, seasonal inventory, and unique handmade goods.

Ad Astra Alpaca – 168 E1700th Rd.

Baldwin City Made – 770 8th St.

Evry’tang and More – 215 Suite B 56 Hwy

Lucy’s Corner – 718 High St.

OM Grown Wellness – 816 High St.

Quilters’ Paradise – 713 8th St.

Standard Grooming Supply – 616 High St.

The Town Galleria – 753 8th St.

Vinland Valley Nursery – 1606 N 600 Rd.

Each storefront may offer something special for the day—sales, holiday merchandise, local art, handmade textiles, home décor, or Baldwin City–made goods perfect for gift-giving. With so many participating shops, the Chamber created a Shop Hop to help shoppers visit multiple locations and explore Baldwin’s diverse retail scene.

The Chamber will also host two vendor locations:

Baldwin City Beer Company (520 High St.) and the Baldwin City Library (800 7th St.), both filled with local makers and holiday vendors.

Bullpup Makers Market—Bigger Than Ever

One of the most beloved additions to Shop Small

Saturday that was introduced in 2024 is the Bullpup Makers Market, created by fourth graders at the Baldwin City Intermediate Center. After an overwhelming response last year—so big that the original location at the library couldn’t hold all of the young entrepreneurs— the event has moved to the Intermediate Center at 100 Bullpup Drive.

These student vendors design their own products, set prices, create displays, and learn what it means to be a small business owner. Items include handmade crafts, toys, ornaments, artwork, and baked goods. For many families, the Bullpup Makers Market has become the highlight of the day—a chance to support the creativity and ambition of Baldwin City’s youngest entrepreneurs.

Drop Your Kids Off & Go Shopping

For parents who want to shop freely, Baldwin City Creative Arts is hosting a Kids Day Out from 12-2 pm for children ages 4–10. For a $10 requested donation, kids can enjoy supervised activities while parents continue the Shop Hop. All proceeds benefit the BCCA Friends Scholarship Fund, which supports local youth in the arts. Pre-registration is required.

Holiday Fun at the Lumberyard Arts Center

November 29 is also packed with activity at the Lumberyard Arts Center, making High St. a festive hub all day long. Visitors can experience Shop Small Art Opportunities, an Opening Reception for the Holiday Gallery Show, and the Holiday on High Community Variety Show. See story on page 4 for more details! With art, performance, shopping, and family fun woven throughout the day, November 29 promises to be a vibrant celebration of Baldwin City’s creativity and community spirit.

Why Shop Small This Year?

Shopping locally isn’t just convenient—it’s powerful. Studies show that every dollar spent at a local business

generates up to three times more economic impact than the same dollar spent at a national chain. Small businesses are the heartbeat of Baldwin City, employing local workers, supporting schools and nonprofits, and adding character and charm to our downtown.

Ad Astra Alpaca Holiday Open House

Shoppers can also head just outside of town to Ad Astra Alpacas for their Holiday Open House on November 29–30 from 10 AM–4 PM. The event features hundreds of one-of-a-kind, ultra-soft alpaca clothing items—hats, scarves, sweaters, and more—perfect for unique holiday gifting. It’s a beloved stop for anyone looking to find something truly special this season.

Holiday Food Drive

Help us spread holiday kindness this season! The Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce is collecting food donations through December 15 to support the Baldwin First United Methodist Church Food Pantry. With many families in need, every can and box makes a difference.

RIBBON-CUTTING CELEBRATES NEW AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS

The Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority celebrated the opening of Delmar Place Apartments with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Nov. 6. Located at 2129 Clinton Parkway, the $4.7 million development adds 32 one-bedroom apartments for low-income seniors.

Designed to help residents age in place, Delmar Place offers accessibility features well beyond federal requirements. Six units are fully wheelchair-accessible — triple the mandated number — and the building incorporates safety measures for tenants with visual or hearing impairments. Residents will also benefit from supportive services such as transportation, food delivery, recreation opportunities, and on-site technology labs.

Funding for the project came from a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act grant from the Douglas County Commission, $1.4 million from LDCHA reserves and $150,000 from the City of Lawrence Affordable Housing Trust Fund.

County Commission Chair Patrick Kelly praised the collaboration that made Delmar Place possible.

“I’m proud our Board committed ARPA funds in 2022 to make this vision real,” Kelly said during the

ceremony. “This project has been a model of partnership with the Housing Authority, the City of Lawrence, Mar Lan Construction, and community members who know that affordable housing is about more than bricks and mortar. It’s about dignity, security, and belonging — not for a few years, not for a generation, but forever. That’s an extraordinary legacy of stewardship and care.”

The development advances the goals of the community’s “A Place for Everyone” plan, which calls for more than 1,500 affordable rental units and at least 50 supportive units for adults 55 and older.

Delmar Place stands out for several reasons: Permanent affordability: Deed restrictions ensure the apartments remain available to low-income tenants in perpetuity.

Senior-focused design: Accessible units, features for residents with hearing or vision impairments and supportive services foster independence and connection.

Smart investment: Built on LDCHA-owned land, the project minimizes costs and preserves funds for future affordable housing.

The complex is named in honor of longtime LDCHA employee Delmar Jackson, who has dedicated two decades to ensuring residents have safe, clean and comfortable homes.

“Naming this place after Delmar is a beautiful reminder that housing is about people — about care, service and community,” Kelly said. “This is what a ‘place for everyone’ looks like.

LDCHA has filled all 32 apartments from its waiting list, with tenants set to move in January.

TREASURER’S OFFICE SCHEDULED TO MAIL TAX BILLS ON DEC. 5

Real estate and personal property tax bills will be mailed by the Douglas County Treasurer’s Office on Dec. 5. These taxes, based on property valuations and tax levies set earlier this year, fund essential community services, including schools, public safety and infrastructure.

The first half payment for both real estate and personal property taxes is due Dec. 22, 2025, with the second half due Monday, May 11, 2026.

There are several ways to pay taxes:

• Online: Visit https://propertyinfo.douglascountyks.org

• By mail: Send a check with your payment stub to Douglas County Treasurer, P.O. Box 668, Lawrence, KS 66044 • Drop box or in person at the Treasurer’s Office locations in Lawrence at 2601 W. Sixth St. or 1100 Massachusetts St.

DOUGLAS COUNTY HOSTING WAKARUSA

Douglas County will host an open house Thursday, Nov. 20, for residents to review and provide input on the developing Wakarusa Vision Plan. The come-and-go event will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Douglas County Public Works, 3755 E. 25th St. Refreshments will be provided.

The Wakarusa Vision Plan aims to create a guiding framework that balances conservation values within the Wakarusa River corridor with the needs of a growing community. Douglas County is leading this effort with Biohabitats, Alta Design and Hoxie Collective. A local guiding team includes representatives from the cities of Lawrence and Eudora, and Haskell Indian Nations University.

The open house is part of a three-phase planning process:

Phase 1: Learning — Between March and August, Biohabitats conducted a comprehensive and layered analysis of a variety of data unique to the project area, from ecology and cultural heritage to infrastructure and land uses. The team also reviewed local and state plans and gathered insights from residents and experts, including students and faculty at Haskell Indian Nations University, environmental justice advocates, tourism and economic leaders, and conservation organizations. Property owners within the project area received invitations to complete an online survey.

Phase 2: Visioning — Using insights from Phase 1, the planning team will present future planning scenarios for further analysis during a three-day stakeholder workshop this month, along with the public open house to gather community feedback.

Phase 3: Strategizing — A draft of the Wakarusa Vision Plan will be presented to the Board of County Commissioners in spring 2026.

“The Wakarusa Vision Plan is a foundational implementation step toward the Douglas County Open Space Plan priority to proactively plan for conservation within the Wakarusa River Corridor,” Douglas County Sustainability Manager Kim Criner Ritchie said. “We’re inviting residents to help shape a vision that honors the land’s diverse heritage while integrating strategies that balance the challenges and opportunities of a growing community and a changing climate. Their input is essential to creating a resilient and inclusive framework for generations to come.”

For more information, visit: dgcoks.gov/ openspacewakarusa.

LOCAL FOOD RESOURCES AVAILABLE FOR FAMILIES FACING HARDSHIP

With ongoing financial strain from reduced benefits, delayed payments during the federal government shutdown, and other economic pressures, many families in the Baldwin City area are feeling heightened worry this season. Local organizations want residents to know that help is available. The Baldwin Community Food Pantry and several additional resources are ready to assist with food, essentials, and emergency support. Below is a roundup of dates, locations, and hours for the remainder of 2025.

Baldwin Community Food Pantry

704 8th St., Baldwin City (Basement of First United Methodist Church)

Saturday, November 22 (holiday foods and turkeys available)

Saturday, December 13

Saturday, December 20

Hours: 9:00–10:30 AM

New Life Assembly Food Pantry

118 5th St., Baldwin City

Tuesday, December 2

Tuesday, December 16

Hours: 3:00–6:00 PM

Cruising Cupboard Mobile Pantry

Baldwin City Library

Wednesday, December 3

Hours: 1:30–2:30 PM

Liston Stadium, 100 Fremont St.

Thursday, November 20

Thursday, December 18

Hours: 1:30–2:30 PM

Community Emergency Fund

Provides assistance with shelter, medications, and other urgent needs.

Contact: Scott — (785) 615-1600

City Hall Utility Assistance

Help available for residents facing utility challenges. Phone: (785) 594-6427

A special thank you to Lisa Pattrick, District Nurse, for providing this important information and helping ensure our families stay informed and supported.

COMMUNITY

A SEASON OF SPARKLE: HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS AT THE LUMBERYARD ARTS CENTER

The Lumberyard Arts Center is turning the holiday season into a monthlong celebration filled with music, creativity, community, and cheer. From live performances and art shows to hands-on fun for kids and families, there’s something magical happening every single week on High St..

Shop Small Saturdays –Celebrate Local Art & Local Love

The Lumberyard is also hosting Shop Small Saturdays throughout the holiday season on Nov. 29, Dec. 6, Dec. 13, and Dec. 20. From gallery events to local goods at Lucy’s Corner, each Saturday offers something fresh to discover. It’s an easy, festive way to support local artists and makers while checking gifts off your list.

Highlights include:

NOV. 29-DEC. 20: Itty Bitty Picture Show

Small-format art pieces ready to take home

NOV. 29: Holiday on High

DEC. 6: Gingerbread House Party &Voting

DEC. 13: Ugly Sweater Fun Run (Dec. 13)

Holiday on High – A Variety Show to Kick Off the

Season

The festivities begin on Saturday, November 29 with Holiday on High, a community variety show featuring a lively mix of performances. Guests can enjoy everything from a violin and bass duo to a local comedienne, the Baldwin City Creative Arts Choir, the Gumdrops Quintet, and talented local vocalists. The show starts at 7:30 PM (doors open at 7:00 PM), and tickets are just $10 for adults. It’s the perfect way to launch into the holiday season with hometown talent and heart.

Gingerbread House Party – A Baldwin City Tradition

On Saturday, December 6, the beloved 13th Annual Xtream Gingerbread House Party returns. This free event—open to USD 348 residents—invites families to

create their own gingerbread masterpieces with help from BHS Culinary & Art programs and FCCLA. Four sessions throughout the day ensure everyone gets a chance to participate. After decorating, families are encouraged to display their houses at the Lumberyard during the Festival of Lights for community voting. Proceeds benefit local school programs, making this sugary event even sweeter.

Festival of Lights Fun – Lights, Votes & Holiday Magic

Also on December 6, visitors can enjoy the brilliant Festival of Lights in downtown Baldwin City and stop into the Lumberyard to vote for their favorite gingerbread house. With dozens of creative entries each year, it’s a beautiful community moment filled with sparkle, imagination, and hometown pride.

Ugly Sweater Fun Run – Run, Walk, or Shuffle in Style

On December 13, the Lumberyard keeps the cheer going with the Ugly Sweater Fun Run — a spirited familyfriendly race starting and ending at the

Arts Center. Participants can choose a full 3.45-mile route or a shorter alternate course, and younger attendees can enjoy a dedicated littles track in Sullivan Square. Registration includes a handcrafted mug for the first 100 sign-ups, the ever-popular Best Sweater Contest, and a free deluxe hot chocolate bar for all runners and walkers. Pets are welcome too!

A Toast to Local Artists – Opening Reception

Rounding out the holiday lineup is a special exhibition featuring 74 original pieces from 27 local artists. An opening reception on November 29 (10 AM –12 PM) invites the community to meet the artists and explore the beautifully curated show. The gallery remains open through December 20 with regular hours Wednesday–Friday (1–5 PM) and Saturdays (10 AM–12 PM).

A Community Holiday Like No Other

Whether you’re cheering at a show, shopping small, decorating gingerbread, running in your coziest sweater, or enjoying local art, the Lumberyard Arts Center is the festive heartbeat of Baldwin City this season. It’s never been easier to celebrate locally, support creativity, and make joyful memories on High St..

Nov. 22-Dec. 22

Santa Rocket

Holiday Platform at 1515 High St

See website for times and tickets.

November 24 Tech Time

Baldwin City Library, 800 7th St. 3-4 p.m.

November 27

Wobble Before You Gobble

Om Grown Yoga and Wellness Collective, 816 High St. 8:30-9:30 a.m.

November 27

Black Friday Deals at Evry’tang and More

Every’tang and More, 215 U.S. 56, # B 5-10 p.m.

Our 1st EVER Black FRIDAY sales start the evening of Thanksgiving Nov. 27th @ 5pm to 10pm. Blockbuster deals on Friday Nov. 28th @ 8am until 3pm. Saturday Nov. 29th @ 8am to 4pm.

November 29 & 30

Plantaland

Vinland Valley Nursery, 1606 North 600 Road, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

November 29 & 30

Ad Astra Alpaca

Holiday Open House

Ad Astra Alpacas, 168 E. 1700 Rd. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

November 29

Shop Small Saturday

Baldwin City Beer Co | 520 High St Palmyra Masonic Lodge | 807 High St

Baldwin City Library | 800 7th St 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

November 29

Itty Bitty Picture Show

Lumberyard Arts Center 719 High St., 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

November 29

Holiday on High

Lumberyard Arts Center 719 High St, 7:30 p.m.

November 29

Kid’s Day Out

Baldwin City Creative Arts 711 High St., 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.

December 2

Baldwin City Youth Ensemble

McKibbin Recital Hall 408 Eighth St, 7 p.m.

December 6

Festival of Lights Parade

Downtown Baldwin City, 6 p.m.

December 13

Holiday Hustle

Baldwin Elementary Primary Center, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

HONORING OUR VETERANS

On Veteran’s Day, Tuesday, November 11, 2025, two presentations were held where seventeen honor quilts were presented to veterans from across the area—six quilts at the Baldwin City Public Library in the morning, eleven at the Lumberyard Arts Center in the early afternoon, and one more at Vintage Park. The ceremony at the Lumberyard, led by Liz Granberg-Jerome, gave a brief history of how Quilts of Valor® was started in 2003 and continues across the country and abroad as quilters dedicate their craft to making one-of-a-kind quilts that are presented to veterans of all ages. With the assistance of fellow quilter Robin Bell, each quilt was presented and unfolded for all to enjoy the uniqueness of each one. Family and friends joined the veterans for the ceremony and we extend our sincere thanks to all who attended.

The idea of making quilts for veterans began in 2003 when Catherine Roberts, a Blue Star Mom whose son was serving in Iraq, had a dream of a young veteran who had returned home and was struggling under the weight of his experiences. In her dream she then saw his transformation after being wrapped in a quilt. She turned

her dream into Quilts for Soldiers, which evolved into the Quilts of Valor® Foundation and later began branching out into a myriad of small groups across the country like ours. The first Quilt of Valor® was awarded in 2003 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Since then, more than 400,000 quilts have been presented through Quilts of Valor® and countless more across the country through community groups like ours. To date, over 100 quilts have been presented to veterans in and around Baldwin City since 2015.

The honor quilts presented are an expression of gratitude meant to thank and comfort each of the recipients. Quilters believe that as we sew, love, caring, and gratitude flow from our hearts, through our hands, and into the quilts we make. The quilters want all to know that through our quilts, each veteran will remain forever in our hearts.

To a quilter, a quilt consists of three layers held together by its quilting stitches. The top, often made with many colors and shapes, represents the communities and many individuals who come together to create the quilt. The batting or filler is the center of the quilt, providing its warmth to offer comfort, peace and healing to the individual who receives it. The backing is the strength that supports the layers, representing the strength of the recipient, the support of his or her family, our communities, and our nation. Each quilting stitch that holds the layers together represents love, gratitude, and sometimes the tears of the

maker. We were honored to present these quilts, all made by loving hands, and through them, welcomed these new honor quilt awardees into our quilting family.

The quilts presented were made by many quilters from Baldwin City and across Kansas. The Kansas Quilters Organization (KQO) donated its collected patriotic blocks to our efforts to create sampler quilts. Several tops were made by individuals and donated to be finished and presented at the ceremonies. Local quilters from Baldwin City, members of the Valor Quilts small group, part of the Kaw Valley Quilters Guild in Lawrence, and the Quilt Capital of Kansas Quilters have worked together over the past year to create over 25 quilts for presentation in 2025 and are already creating quilts for next year’s presentation.

A list of veterans who have not yet received a QOV or honor quilt is already being compiled for our 2026 ceremony. To nominate someone for an honor quilt, please contact Quilters’ Paradise at 785-594-3477 or stop by the shop and provide the veteran’s name, branch of service and conflict/years served, and their contact information. We welcome nominations from across the area, including Douglas County and adjoining counties, as the members of both the KVQG Valor Quilt small group and the QCKS Quilters come from a broad swath of northeast Kansas. Our efforts are made possible by many volunteer hours and donations, which can be made at Quilters’ Paradise, that help purchase the backing and batting to complete the quilts we present.

QUILT CAPITAL OF KANSAS TIMELESS STITCHES

By Sharon Vesecky & Liz Granberg-Jerome

COMMUNITY VOICES

CELEBRATING THANKSGIVING

THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX

By Jeanine Ross

Did you know that the Thanksgiving most of us celebrate, has a very different point of view when told by the natives who were invited to the feast? Invited as if they didn’t already own the land. Did you know it was the natives who healed and kept the Mayflower travelers alive and taught them how to survive on their land?

I bring this to your attention to say, even though Thanksgiving day has a different meaning, depending on how you experience it, thanksgiving itself, has only one meaning. The dictionary says it means an expression of gratitude. But that replaces one word for the other without truly explaining what it means to be thankful on a deeper, more personal level.

I agree that being thankful is an expression of gratitude, but what is an expression? How do you express thankfulness? Some would say, saying the words I’m thankful is an expression of gratitude, and it is. But when you dig deeper into what thankfulness really means, deep in your soul, those words just aren’t enough.

Thanksgiving is a way of life. That means, you are

thankful for everything that happens to you or that you have the privilege to witness, or the people who have come into your life and changed it in some way. It means knowing that just being alive is a reason to wake up every morning with a heart full of thanksgiving because not everybody can. You were specifically chosen to be alive at this point in time. You woke up in your right mind, in the most powerful country in the world, with the most opportunities, and despite its shortcomings, the safest. We should be jumping for joy and giving thanks all day long, every day!

It is not an accident that you are here, alive, healthy enough to stand, and being loved by family and friends. You are special and you have a specific purpose, even if your purpose doesn’t make news headlines, it is important and significant, and only you can do it! Be thankful for your purpose. Be thankful you are still alive and able to hug and kiss your loved ones. Praise God for keeping you safe and grounded and useful to Him.

Celebrate Thanksgiving with a clear understanding that you are special and needed and blessed to be here no matter your circumstances.

So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”

SAVOR THE SEASONS

By Cat Henry

Happy Thanksgiving! It’s that tender hinge between gratitude and the anticipatory actions toward Christmas. Like most holidays, it carries a sense of nostalgia for traditions that help keep us grounded.

Once, when hosting my family for Thanksgiving dinner, we bowed our heads over the meal, expressed thanks for our blessings, passed the rolls, and then, afterwards, when someone brought out the Black Friday circulars. Pages of ads were spread out on the floor as everyone hunted for the best deals. We had just given thanks for what we had, and now we were circling what we didn’t. I was disappointed with my clan and said something. Homekeepers know there’s a better way to live by tending to, not on what we replace.

Another time, while traveling in Germany, at a restaurant table, the waitstaff asked if another couple could join us, as seating was becoming limited. We said yes, and this young London couple joined us. We had a delightful conversation with these strangers, and something they said stuck with me: “When traveling outside of England, it’s like downshifting in terms of pace.” That sounds so appealing!

Grounding practices help us do the same when life speeds up. We’re still living our regular monthly schedules, only now with Thanksgiving and the holidays layered on top. Slowing down isn’t about resisting celebration; it’s about choosing a humane pace.

Let’s pick on being tethered to the phone, particularly when there are real, live humans in the rooms. To be old school and actually talk on the home phone rather than texting seems almost archaic nowadays. Hearing a familiar human voice softens the edges of the day, reminding us of a real person on the other side. The easiest first step to establishing this habit is to ban phones while eating at the dinner table. In-person interaction releases oxytocin, the “bonding hormone”.

If possible, always choose a face-to-face conversation. It is still the optimum way to communicate. I’m limited because my family doesn’t live nearby. Voice communication reduces misunderstandings, creates real-time emotional attuning, and satisfies the basic human need for connection. Most people are drowning in group chats but starving for genuine conversation. There can be a place for face timing, like when my daughter and her husband did so during the birth

of their first child while he served in Afghanistan.

For me, it isn’t so much phone use as it is using my laptop. With a cup of morning coffee, I immediately check my email, my text messages via the web, and digital news. A bit of FOMO, perhaps. So I balance it with things that center me. I read meaningful subscription emails, pray, and take a moment of quiet before jumping into my day. When I do that, it almost feels like I’ve added an extra hour to my day.

“Being in the kitchen could be a ritual, meditation, a room, and a time of my own. The intent is everything, in cooking as in work or faith.”

Cooking your own meals instead of ordering delivery (nothing against outsourcing meals) can change the whole feel of the home. The writer Joan Didion loved to cook and host dinner parties. She said “Being in the kitchen could be a ritual, meditation, a room, and a time of my own. The intent is everything, in cooking as in work or faith.”

Chances are, you are in the kitchen this Thanksgiving Day. Whatever you are simmering on the stove is more than dinner. Its presence. It can be a future memory for some. It’s a reminder to the people under your roof that nourishment is not something to be delivered, but something to be nurtured. The prep of a meal forces presence, creates sensory pleasure, and connects people to culture.

I try to balance both analog and digital activity in each room of my house. It can be a group puzzle, a board game to play, going through a family photo album, or even a simple art station with paper and coloring books, both children’s and adult varieties. Music plays in the background.

May your home be remembered for including the human element. The ambiance, the overall feeling of a home, is more than just the stuff it contains.

With you in the keeping, Cathenry.ch@gmail.com P.S. “Less craving, more contentment.” ~ Buddha

DEAR HOMEKEEPER