21 WEEKLY 2026
SEPTEMBER
A
B A L D W I N
C I T Y
VOL 4 NO. 34 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
LIGHTNING STRIKE SPARKS
HOUSE FIRE DURING POWERFUL STORM
Photograph by Hannah Bryan Six responding agencies battle attic fire as damaging winds bring down trees and branches across town A powerful storm tore through Baldwin City on Wednesday, Sept. 9, leaving streets littered with fallen trees and branches. But amid the widespread storm damage, one lightning strike had an especially dramatic impact.
Lightning struck a three-story home near the Baldwin City Community Center, igniting a fire near the top of the house and sending six emergency response agencies to the scene. Baldwin City Fire Chief Terry Baker said crews worked the fire from approximately 6:15 to 10 p.m., with Baldwin City firefighters remaining at the property until midnight. The fire was contained to the third-floor
attic area, Baker said, and the remainder of the home sustained minimal damage. Responding to the fire were the Baldwin City Fire Department, Willow Springs Fire District #3, Palmyra Fire District #2, Johnson County Fire District No. 1, Eudora Fire & EMS Department and Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical. The fire came after a fast-moving storm brought intense winds through Baldwin City earlier that evening. The National Weather
Service in Topeka reported widespread tree damage around town, with localized winds estimated at 60 to 70 mph. The aftermath was visible throughout Baldwin City. Large limbs were snapped from trees, branches covered yards and sidewalks, and in some areas, entire trees came down, leaving residents and crews with a significant cleanup. For those living close to the house fire, however, the lightning strike was difficult to forget. “Last night’s storm was nuts,” nearby resident Eva Parkin said. “All I know is it was very loud and bright, lit up the whole living room,” she said. As the evening continued, she watched emergency vehicles continue arriving at the scene. “It was so disheartening to see truck after truck continue to arrive late into the evening,” Parkin said. “My heart goes out to the family and their beautiful home.” Despite the intensity of the fire and the number of departments called to assist, firefighters were able to keep the damage largely confined to the attic area. The response stretched for hours after the worst of the storm had moved through Baldwin City, with crews from across Douglas and Johnson counties working together at the scene. By the end of the night, Baldwin City was left with downed trees, broken branches and plenty of cleanup — along with one family facing the aftermath of a direct lightning strike to their home. But what could have resulted in far more extensive destruction was contained, thanks to the hours-long response of firefighters and emergency personnel from across the area.
21 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY
PG. 02
FINAL THIRD FRIDAY CLOSES OUT SUMMER MARKET SEASON Baldwin City gathered downtown for one final Third Friday Market on Sept. 18, closing out another season of warmweather markets with local vendors, food, live music, art and activities throughout the downtown district. The September market offered one last opportunity to savor the remnants of summer before Baldwin City moves into one of its busiest times of the year. Beginning at 6 p.m., street vendors set up throughout downtown while local shops and restaurants welcomed visitors for the evening. Open storefronts included Baldwin City Made, Standard Grooming Supply, This & That and Town Galleria, along with the Art Market at Lumberyard Arts Center. Food and drink were also available throughout downtown, with local restaurants joined by Smoke-N-Seoul and Taco Via food trucks and a concession booth offering sweets and snacks. For families, there was plenty to see and do beyond shopping. A petting zoo near Seventh and High streets brought miniature donkeys, alpacas and goats from Misfit Meadows downtown for the evening. Several participating organizations and vendors also turned their booths into hands-on stops for younger visitors. The Baldwin City Library offered a spin-thewheel activity with prizes, while Buck’s Honey Bee Company gave visitors an opportunity to watch a hive of bees at work. The Santa Fe Trail Historical Society invited visitors to make dolls from yarn, and Vinland Valley Nursery offered a monarch butterfly craft along with information about gardening for wildlife. Douglas County Master Gardeners shared information about pollinator-friendly gardens and plants, while Baldwin City Creative Arts, Hornberger Farms, Maple Leaf Law and others offered activities and information throughout the evening. Art was also part of the final Third Friday. Lumberyard Arts Center hosted its Art Market and opened Where Land Meets People, a community collective exhibition inspired by the landscapes, history, people and places that make up home.
As evening settled over downtown, Rosewood and Rosin took the stage at Sullivan Square for the final live music performance of the Third Friday season. The family three-piece group brought a musical background ranging from classic rock and blues to bluegrass and gospel, with an emphasis on both traditional and modern fiddling. Visitors could bring a chair or blanket and settle in near the stage or listen to the music while continuing to explore the market. The final Third Friday Market was sponsored by Baldwin State Bank and Standard Grooming Supply, with Hometown Construction sponsoring the evening’s live music. Third Friday has once again provided a regular opportunity throughout the warmer months for Baldwin City residents to gather downtown, support local businesses, meet area makers and vendors and simply spend an evening together in the heart of the community. But the end of Third Friday does not mean things are slowing down. Instead, the calendar is about to get even busier. With the final market complete, Baldwin City’s makers, bakers, artists, vendors and businesses are now turning their attention toward the Maple Leaf Festival. The annual festival will fill downtown Baldwin City Oct. 17 and 18, bringing a full weekend of activity and thousands of visitors to the community. For many of the businesses and vendors who have spent the summer participating in Third Fridays, the coming weeks will be filled with preparations for Maple Leaf weekend — stocking shelves, creating products, preparing booths and getting ready for one of Baldwin City’s biggest weekends of the year. And once the Maple Leaf Festival wraps up, the holiday season will be close behind, bringing another busy stretch for Baldwin City’s small businesses, makers and community organizations. September’s Third Friday may have marked the end of this year’s market season, but for Baldwin City, it also served as the unofficial start of a busy fall and holiday season ahead.
BALDWIN CITY RECREATION COMMISSION UPDATE The Baldwin City Recreation Commission has a busy fall ahead with free fitness opportunities, youth and adult sports, special events and the return of its women’s self-defense course. Free family fitness day BCRC will celebrate National Family Health & Fitness Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, with free fitness classes for the whole family. Instructors will offer a variety of family-friendly workouts, from higher-energy options to lower-impact activities. No registration is required — participants can simply show up and join in. Women’s self-defense course returns After being postponed earlier this year, the T.A.K.E. Women’s SelfDefense Course has been rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, from 6–8 p.m. The free two-hour course includes hands-on self-defense training, safety tips and real-life stories from women who have used the techniques. The program is open to women of all ages, with registration available through BCRC. Adult co-ed volleyball registration open Registration is now open for BCRC’s Adult Fall Co-Ed Volleyball League. Games will be played Sunday evenings at Baldwin High School from Nov. 1 through Dec. 13, with no games over Thanksgiving weekend. Teams are guaranteed a 10-game season, with two games scheduled per date. Teams must have at least six players and maintain three women and two men on the court at all times.
New competitive youth basketball league New for fall 2026, BCRC is adding a competitive youth basketball league alongside its recreational basketball offerings. The competitive program uses team registration and includes four divisions divided by age — third/ fourth grade and fifth/sixth grade — and gender. Teams from throughout the area are welcome, with all games played on weekends in Baldwin City. Maple leaf gravel grind returns The 8th Annual Maple Leaf Gravel Grind returns during the final weekend of October, taking cyclists through the Kansas countryside and past local landmarks including Signal Oak and Pork Chop Hill. Riders can choose from 16-, 40- and 70-mile routes, with options designed for a range of ages and skill levels. Participants who want to guarantee an event T-shirt should register by Sept. 30. 50+ Program update BCRC’s next 50+ newsletter will cover October through January, a slight change intended to give participants information about activities throughout the busy holiday season without another newsletter arriving during the end-of-year rush. Community center activities BCRC also continues to offer free activities at the Baldwin City Community Center. No membership or additional fees are required for the monthly activities — participants can simply stop in, sign in and take part. For more information, visit baldwinrec.org or call 785-594-3670.
HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? SEND US YOUR NEWS, UPDATES, OR EVENTS TO HELP US SPOTLIGHT IT FOR FREE! Email: jenni@baldwinmaple.com
21 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY KANSAS’ OLDEST QUILT SHOW RETURNS FOR 54TH YEAR TIMELESS STITCHES
Preparations are being made for the By Sharon Vesecky & 2026 quilt show that Liz Granberg-Jerome will be held during the 69th Maple Leaf Festival October 17 and 18. Fifty-four years ago Enola Gish, Helen Erickson, Helen Booth and Helen Gordon asked the Maple Leaf Festival Committee for permission to hold a quilt show, making it the oldest quilt show in the state of Kansas. It started as a community show with quilts coming from all corners of the community, as well as from across the state, and it remains a community show today. The Maple Leaf Quilters Guild has shouldered the responsibility of organizing and presenting the show; however, exhibitors are not required to belong to the guild in order to offer a quilt for display. To enter a quilt in the show, go to mapleleaffestival.com and continue to the Quilt Show page. There you will find the information sheet that needs to be filled out for the quilt that you wish to display. You can either print it out to fill in by hand or complete the fillable form on your computer. The show committee needs the information by September 30. The forms may be emailed to newtonandrea49@ gmail.com or dropped off at Quilters’ Paradise. The quilts themselves need to be delivered to the Baldwin Intermediate Center, 100 Bullpup Dr., Baldwin City, on Friday, October 16 between 9am and 11am or dropped off prior to the festival at Quilters’ Paradise on Wednesday or Thursday, October 14 or 15 to be taken to the school on set-up day for you. Quilts are released for pickup on Sunday, October 17 at 5:30pm at the school or Monday at Quilters’ Paradise. Approximately one hundred quilts are expected to be on display. There will be some small quilts available for sale at the show. A portion of the proceeds from the quilt sales will be donated to the Santa Fe Trail Historical Society of Douglas County to help cover the cost of historical bus tours during the Festival. Maple Leaf quilt block kits will be for sale and there is the opportunity to win a quilt made by the guild. The drawing will be held near the conclusion of this year’s show on Sunday afternoon. This year there will be a special display of patriotic quilts in honor of our country’s 250th birthday. There will also be several vendors offering a variety of fabrics and specialty notions. Admission is free; however, cash donations to help with the expenses of the show are appreciated. Hope you will come and enjoy the show! QUILT CAPITAL OF KANSAS
54TH ANNUAL MAPLE LEAF QUILT SHOW SAT., OCT. 17 | 9 A.M.–6 P.M. SUN., OCT. 18 | 10 A.M.–5 P.M. BALDWIN INTERMEDIATE CENTER | 100 BULLPUP DRIVE ADMISSION IS FREE.
PG. 03
SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES SOUND ALARM OVER POTENTIAL CHANGES TO FEDERAL INTERNET PROGRAM Story by Robbie Sequeira, kansasreflector.com A multi-billion-dollar federal program that helps schools and libraries afford broadband internet is under review by the Trump administration, leaving education officials and advocates worried about potentially significant cuts. The E-Rate program provides about $3 billion annually for internet access and telecommunications to more than 100,000 schools and 11,000 libraries across the country. It is the fifth-largest stream of federal funding for schools nationwide, according to the Schools Superintendents Association (AASA). The Federal Communications Commission said it is reviewing “whether the program should be narrowed or otherwise reoriented to reflect the extent to which its connectivity objectives have been achieved.” The agency is accepting public comments until Oct. 13, which it will take into account when it crafts a proposal. Amid a landscape of scaled back federal funding for education under the Trump administration and of tightening state and district budgets, some school officials and advocates are wary of what changes to the E-Rate program could spell for how schools and libraries operate. In June, the FCC announced it would be exploring changes to the E-Rate program. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr said the proposal would be “aimed at empowering parents and ensuring that our E-Rate program produces the great educational outcomes stakeholders have intended.” The E-Rate program has provided schools and libraries discounts on the cost of eligible services ranging from 20% to 90%, with higher discounts provided to the most disadvantaged schools and libraries. The FCC is asking whether adjustments should be made to the discount rate system.
The FCC also is asking for comment on whether E-rate support should be limited to rural areas or to areas served by a single provider; whether some services remain necessary; and whether concerns about students’ screen time should be addressed. At a virtual town hall hosted Wednesday by the Schools Superintendents Association, concerns over the FCC’s inquiry ranged from whether the FCC had the jurisdictional authority to change the program to how schools would be able to maintain broadband and internet connectivity without shifting funds away from staffing and other budgetary needs. Without the same level of funding, schools and libraries could be subject to higher internet costs, less support for rural and high-cost communities and greater difficulties in upgrading needed building infrastructure, the AASA said. E-Rate dollars impact every corner of the country, with nearly 102,000 schools and nearly 12,000 libraries receiving commitments in funding year 2024, according to the latest publicly available data. California had more than 12,000 E-Rate recipients, Texas nearly 9,800 and New York more than 6,200. LaTonya M. Goffney, superintendent of the Aldine Independent School District in Texas, said her district received $11 million in E-Rate support over five years. “Internet connectivity is not a one-time purchase,” she said during the superintendents group call. “If E-Rate were reduced or eliminated, Aldine ISD would face an immediate and significant budget shortfall and that means millions of dollars would have to be redirected from somewhere else in our budget… there’s no way to absorb a loss of this magnitude without affecting people.” According to Shawnda Hines, deputy director of communications
for the American Library Association, 73% of U.S. public libraries rely on the E-Rate program to pay their internet bill or to keep their networks updated. When Congress established the program in 1996, only 14% of the nation’s K-12 classrooms had access to the Internet, according to the agency. The FCC has some authority to change how E-Rate is administered without congressional approval, but whether the agency can eliminate a congressionally authorized program altogether is an unsettled legal question. Access to the internet in modern schools extends far beyond classroom instruction, Stacy Hawthorne, executive director of EdTech Leaders Alliance, explained. It also powers bus routing, security systems and building ventilation, and helps digitize attendance records, school meals and student health information. Districts rely on internet-connected systems to operate buildings, comply with state and federal requirements and manage basic administrative functions. “It’s not just email and Google Docs. Imagine it’s 5:30 a.m., the buses start coming to life. They use GPS routing, and they have parentfacing tracking apps,” Hawthorne said. “Cameras come to life, the security systems start running at full speed. Visitor management scans driver’s licenses against offender registries before a single visitor gets access to any of our school buildings.” Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org. This story was originally produced by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network which includes Kansas Reflector, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
21 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY
PG. 04
BUSY OCTOBER AHEAD AT BALDWIN CITY DISTILLERY
STORM CAN’T STOP THE SHOW AT BC FASHION SHOW Photograph courtesy Catie Gwennap
Baldwin City Distillery is heading into its busy season with expanded happy hour hours, live music and several special events planned throughout October. Beginning Sept. 21, the distillery will offer a weeknight happy hour from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, giving visitors another reason to stop in during the week. October will also bring plenty of activity to the distillery, including two days of the Kaw Valley Farm Tour Oct. 3–4 and a full lineup of live music throughout the month. October at BCD Oct. 3: Kaw Valley Farm Tour, 9 a.m.–3 p.m.; Rick Brown, 6–8 p.m. Oct. 4: Kaw Valley Farm Tour, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Oct. 10: Marlin Porter, 6–8 p.m. Oct. 16: Red Friday; Rick McClellan, 6–8 p.m. Oct. 17: Maple Leaf Parade; Dave & Katie Wooge, 6–8 p.m. Oct. 23: Red Friday; Caleb Geronimo, 6–8 p.m. Oct. 24: Happy Hour, 5–7 p.m.; Taps & Tunes in Ottawa, 5–8 p.m. Oct. 30: Red Friday; Flat Iron Revival, 6–8 p.m. Oct. 31: Halloween; Happy Hour, 5–7 p.m. Regular Happy Hour runs from 5–7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday throughout the month.
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What began as an outdoor celebration of fashion, art and community quickly became a demonstration of Baldwin City’s ability to come together when plans changed in an instant. The BC Fashion Show returned to the Lumberyard Arts Center on Sept. 12 with this year’s theme, We the People, bringing together local businesses, artists, organizations and community members for an evening centered around fashion, creativity and self-expression. Months of work had gone into preparing for the event. Vendors filled the street outside the Lumberyard Arts Center, displays were ready, the runway was set and guests were arriving for an evening designed to take place largely outdoors. Then the weather changed. Strong winds and rain moved through downtown Baldwin City abruptly, sending vendors, organizers and volunteers scrambling to protect merchandise, tents, displays and everything that had been carefully prepared for the night. Within minutes, the outdoor event had to become an indoor one. People immediately got to work.
Vendors packed up what they could while volunteers, models, friends and community members began carrying merchandise, supplies and displays to shelter. At the same time, the Lumberyard Arts Center began figuring out how to completely rearrange the evening and move the fashion show inside. Despite the sudden change, the show went on. Guests gathered inside the Lumberyard Arts Center as models took to the runway, showcasing looks and wearable art representing the creativity of businesses, designers, artists and organizations from throughout the community. The We the People theme gave participants an opportunity to interpret American identity, history and individual expression through fashion while highlighting the wide range of creativity found right here in Baldwin City. The evening also included Shop the Bricks, a curated vendor market that had originally been planned for the street outside the Arts Center. The storm significantly disrupted that portion of the event, with vendors forced to quickly protect merchandise and abandon their outdoor setups.
Catie Gwennap of The Sticks, who has been involved with the fashion show since its first year, was among those affected by the sudden storm. Afterward, she reflected on both the difficulty of the evening and the people who immediately stepped in to help. “Sometimes being resilient doesn’t mean being the person who saves the day,” Gwennap said. “Sometimes it means letting other people carry you when you simply cannot carry yourself.” That community response became an unexpected part of the evening. While the weather changed the setting and eliminated much of what had been planned outside, it did not stop guests from experiencing the work that had gone into the runway show or seeing the contributions made by businesses, organizations, artists and individuals from throughout Baldwin City. The fashion show continued inside, giving models their moment on the runway and allowing the creativity behind months of planning and preparation to still take center stage. The BC Fashion Show serves as a fundraiser for the Lumberyard Arts Center, helping support arts programming and creative opportunities in the community. It certainly was not the evening organizers had envisioned when planning began. But the quick transition from outside to inside provided its own memorable moment — one made possible by people willing to grab a box, rescue merchandise, move a display or simply help wherever they were needed. The storm changed the plans, but it didn’t stop the show. And for an event carrying the theme We the People, the community effort that unfolded behind the scenes may have been one of the most fitting representations of that theme all evening.
21 SEPTEMBER
USD348 School Lunch Schedule Sept. 21–30 Monday, Sept. 21
Chicken Wings (HS, MS, IC) Chicken Drummies (PC) Curly Fries Fresh Broccoli Pineapple
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
Tuesday, Sept. 22 One Hour
BIBLE STUDY
Wednesdays @ 5:30pm Men and women welcome!
Vinland Valley Community Church
1724 N 692nd Rd, Baldwin City, KS 66006
(785) 594-3256
Hamburger on Bun Chips Cauliflower with Cheese Baby Carrots Grapes
Wednesday, Sept. 23 Chicken Sandwich Pasta Salad Winter Blend Celery Sticks Orange Wedges
Thursday, Sept. 24 BBQ Meatballs Mac and Cheese Steamed Peas Salad Applesauce
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PG. 05
BHS SPORTS THIS WEEK: Sept. 21-26 Monday, Sept. 21
Girls JV Tennis — Blazer JV Quad #2, 3 p.m., Gardner Edgerton High School Girls JV Golf — Ottawa Girls JV Golf Invitational, 3 p.m., Ottawa Country Club Girls Varsity Tennis vs. Paola — 3:30 p.m., Baldwin High School BJHS 7th & 8th Grade JV Volleyball vs. Clark Middle School — 4 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School BJHS 7th & 8th Grade Varsity Volleyball vs. Clark Middle School — 5 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School Boys JV Football at Holton — 5:30 p.m., Holton High School
Tuesday, Sept. 22
BJHS 7th & 8th Grade JV Volleyball vs. Wellsville — 4 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School BJHS 8th Grade Football vs. Clark Middle School — 4 p.m., Baldwin High School Girls C-Team Volleyball at Bonner Springs — 4:30 p.m., Bonner Springs High School Boys JV Soccer at Louisburg — 4:30 p.m., Wildcat Stadium BJHS 7th & 8th Grade Varsity Volleyball vs. Wellsville — 5 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School Girls JV Volleyball at Bonner Springs — 5:30 p.m., Bonner Springs High School Boys Varsity Soccer at Louisburg — 6 p.m., Wildcat Stadium Girls Varsity Volleyball at Bonner Springs — 6:30 p.m., Bonner Springs High School
Wednesday, Sept. 23
Pizza Steamed Carrots Cucumber Slices Pears
Girls Varsity Golf — Tonganoxie Girls Golf Invitational, 8 a.m., Painted Hills Golf Course Girls JV Tennis vs. Topeka — 3 p.m., Kossover Tennis Center BJHS 8th Grade JV Volleyball vs. Ottawa MS — 4 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School Girls Varsity Flag Football at Bishop Miege — 6:45 p.m., Bishop Miege High School
Monday, Sept. 28
Thursday, Sept. 24
Friday, Sept. 25
Orange Chicken Rice Mixed Veggies Grape Tomato Oranges
Tuesday, Sept. 29 Cheeseburger Potato Smiles Fresh Broccoli Pears & Cherries
Wednesday, Sept. 30 Beef Fingers & Roll Mashed Potato / Gravy Green Beans Peaches
Girls JV Tennis — Baldwin Invitational Tournament, 8 a.m., Laury Tennis Courts Boys Varsity Soccer vs. Bonner Springs — 4 p.m., Baldwin High School BJHS 7th & 8th Grade JV Volleyball at Forest Spring MS — 4 p.m., Forest Spring Middle School Girls JV Volleyball vs. Basehor-Linwood — 4:30 p.m., Basehor-Linwood High School BJHS 7th & 8th Grade Varsity Volleyball at Forest Spring MS — 5 p.m., Forest Spring Middle School Girls JV Volleyball vs. Eudora — 5:30 p.m., Basehor-Linwood High School Girls Varsity Volleyball vs. Spring Hill — 5:30 p.m., Eudora High School BJHS 7th/8th Grade Football vs. West Franklin — 5:30 p.m., location TBD Boys JV Soccer vs. Bonner Springs — 6 p.m., Baldwin High School Girls JV Volleyball vs. Bonner Springs — 6:30 p.m., Basehor-Linwood High School
Friday, Sept. 25
Boys Varsity Football at Perry-Lecompton/Bishop Seabury — 7 p.m., Perry-Lecompton High School
Saturday, Sept. 26
BJHS 8th Grade Varsity Volleyball at Eudora MS — 8 a.m., Eudora Middle School Boys & Girls Varsity/JV Cross Country — Rim Rock Invitational, 8:15 a.m., Rim Rock Farm
21 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY
PG. 06
September 23
EVENTS
October 10
Pinch Pot Pumpkins: A TwoPart Pottery Workshop
Making Walnut Ink Workshop
September 24
October 15
Lumberyard Arts Center, 4pm
BCBC Trivia Night
Vinland Valley Nursery, 1pm
Chamber Networking
Baldwin City Beer Company, 7pm
Baldwin City Beer Company, 5-6;30 pm
September 25
October 17
Happy Hour
All About Bulbs Workshop
September 26
October 17-18
Baldwin City Distillery, 5-7pm
Live Music: Tyler Swain Baldwin City Distillery, 6-8pm
October 1
Rooted in Hope: The Willow’s 50th Reunion Maceli’s Banquet Hall, 6-9pm
October 7
Paint the Town Purple Parade & Pep Rally! Downtown Baldwin City, 5-8pm
October 9
Spoken Word
Lumberyard Arts Center
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Vinland Valley Nursery, 1pm
Maple Leaf Festival Downtown Baldwin City
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Saturday, Oct. 17 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
October 17-18
54th Annual Maple Leaf Quilt Show Baldwin Intermediate Center 100 Bullpup Drive Admission is free. Saturday, Oct. 17 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
October 17-18
54th Annual Maple Leaf Quilt Show Baldwin Intermediate Center
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21 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY HUMAN KIND, BE BOTH THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX By Jeanine Ross
I like T-shirts, and I have a bunch of them. I don’t do bumper stickers, but a few years ago, I decided to use my chest as a billboard for the messages I want to put into the world. As a result, I started buying T-shirts with messages like Peace, Thankful, Simply Blessed, Grateful, Make Kindness a Habit, Be the light, and so many more, and I wear them all the time. Then I saw a bumper sticker that said: “Human Kind, Be Both.” I loved it instantly, so I got two T-shirts made (one long-sleeved, one shortsleeved) so I could display that message year-round, but it started me thinking about what it means to be human. The dictionary defines human as being different from God, animals, machines, and/or aliens. What? I looked deeper, but there was no deeper. I couldn’t find a definition of human that was much different from the dictionary. That surprised me, but it also freed my mind so I could start to define human myself….so I did! What does it mean to be human? Different from animals, yes, but we still have the same kind of instincts. Different from a machine, yes, but our bodies are the most complex machines ever invented. Different from God, really, doesn’t the bible say we were created in his own image? I think being human means utilizing all that we are to benefit all life that exists in this stage of our journey. I believe we are spirits traveling in this very complex mind and body called human, and I wish I could tell you why humans were ever created at all, but I don’t
have that answer yet. However, I do believe we were always intended to bring love and kindness to this planet. Maybe, before we were created, it was a desolate place in need of tenderness and caring. Maybe we were the solution to isolation and emptiness on this planet. Maybe we were intended to be the caretakers of this life and each other. I promise when I get the answer, I’ll share it with you, but until then, let us be kind and compassionate and understanding and loving to one another. Lets us define what being human means in the most productive and positive way possible. We are co-creators with God, so why can’t we create something positive and far-reaching into the future? Let’s use the magnificent power of our brains to connect with the power of the universe and align with all the positive energy in creation, then pull it into this world. We could, you know. Oh no! Here she goes with that power of the mind stuff. Yep! That’s who I am. I believe we are so much more than meets the eye, and I spend a good deal of my time learning how to open that door that will flood me with new information and new ways of doing things. I want to be the best human I can be, don’t you? That means stepping outside the box that you were groomed into since birth and reaching for the greatness all of us have as our birthright! Greatness is all around us. We just have to find the key that aligns us with that energy, then pull it into our world. Just imagine how wonderful life could be if the energy and goodness of the entire universe lived in our hearts and minds and ultimately on our planet. Don’t be afraid to imagine it because that is the first step! So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
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PG. 07
NEARBY NEWS:
LAWRENCE COSTCO’S OPENING DATE ANNOUNCED; CURRENTLY HIRING MULTIPLE POSITIONS
Story by Wulfe Wulfemeyer, lawrencekstimes.com Costco is opening its Lawrence branch on Thursday, Oct. 29, according to a banner at the Overland Park location. The new location of this membershipbased, warehouse-style shopping chain is 6200 Mercato Drive. Folks can sign up for a membership online at this link, or register in person at a pop-up location at 4821 Sixth St., Suite O. People can get an Executive membership for $130 per year, or a more limited Gold Star membership for $65 per year. Learn about those options on this page. People who already have either of these Costco memberships don’t need to get new ones, as memberships are valid for all Costco locations worldwide. The Lawrence Costco is currently hiring for almost 30 positions, including roles in the deli, bakery and tire center, as well as positions for cashiers, opticians, pharmacists and more. For a full list of job openings, visit https:// tinyurl.com/557v65e5. Costco is a membership-based, warehouse-style chain. K-10/40 Development LC announced that Costco would join a new mixed-use development in west Lawrence dubbed “The Mercato” in February. This Costco will be full service, including bakery, produce and floral departments; a Tire Center, or auto service shop; a pharmacy, optical department and hearing aid center; and a gas station with 24 pumps. The store will open at 8 a.m. on Oct. 29. A spokesperson with Costco said they have no additional information at this time.
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