28 WEEKLY 2026
SEPTEMBER
A
B A L D W I N
C I T Y
VOL 4 NO. 35 FREE DIGITAL VERSION
N E W S P A P E R
FROM BALDWIN CITY, WITH LOVE Those similarities sparked an idea. Robin approached the mayors of both communities about establishing a Sister City partnership, beginning a relationship that would eventually reach into Baldwin City classrooms, art programs and community organizations. Over the years, Baldwin City students have created projects and written notes that were sent to students of similar ages in Riviersonderend. Former Baldwin City Junior High art teacher Marsene Feldt also brought the connection into her art club. Students created handmade items such as ceramic pendants and journals that could be sent directly to teenagers in South Africa. The projects gave young people separated by thousands of miles a chance to learn about one another and share something personal.
Thousands of miles separate Baldwin City from the small South African community of Riviersonderend, but over the years, the distance between the two towns has grown a little smaller. That connection was celebrated Sept. 26 at the Lumberyard Arts Center, where community members gathered for Flags of Friendship, an all-ages project that invited participants to create prayer flags carrying messages of friendship, goodwill, blessings and hope to Baldwin City’s Sister City in South Africa. The finished flags will make their way across the world in January,
when two women volunteers travel to Riviersonderend and deliver them to young people there. While the September event offered Baldwin City residents a simple way to participate, it was just the latest chapter in a Sister City relationship that has grown through years of art, education, quilts, student exchanges and personal connections. Two towns with something in common Robin said the idea of connecting Baldwin City with Riviersonderend grew
from her work with The Light Center, which had been offering leadership development camps for teenagers in the South African community since the early 2000s. As she spent more time there, she began noticing similarities between Riviersonderend — often shortened to RSE — and Baldwin City. The two communities have populations of a similar size and are both surrounded by agricultural land. Both have major highways running through town, along with a desire to encourage travelers to stop, visit and support local businesses.
A connection stitched together One of the most enduring pieces of the Sister City relationship has been built through quilting. Quilters in Baldwin City and Riviersonderend have created and exchanged quilts over the years. A South African quilt is currently displayed at the Baldwin City Library, offering residents a chance to see one of those connections firsthand. But the quilting project has also become a way to directly support young people in Riviersonderend. Each year, quilting grandmothers in RSE send a quilt back to Baldwin City that is raffled during the Maple Leaf Festival. One hundred percent of the money raised is returned to Riviersonderend to help students continue their education after high school. Continue on Page 3
28 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY
PG. 02
BALDWIN CITY MAN SENTENCED TO NEARLY 20 YEARS IN 2022 SHOOTINGS A Baldwin City man has been sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for the December 2022 shootings at The Bullpen and Baldwin City Public Library — bringing a nearly four-year court case to a close. Junah Sisney, 23, was sentenced Sept. 14 in Douglas County District Court to a controlling sentence of 235 months, or approximately 19½ years, according to reporting from the Lawrence Journal-World. Sisney had pleaded guilty in July to attempted first-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The charges stemmed from the evening of Dec. 30, 2022, when Sisney drove past The Bullpen twice and the Baldwin City Public Library once, firing multiple rounds from his vehicle toward people at the two locations. At the library, families were leaving a child’s birthday party. Previous court testimony detailed that one man was placing a baby into a car seat when shots were fired. At The Bullpen, customers were inside and around the business when it was targeted. Miraculously, no one was physically injured. While no physical injuries were reported, The Bullpen said the effects of what happened that night did not end when the gunfire stopped. “I am glad he is getting the help he needs now, and I hope he continues down this path,” The Bullpen said in a statement on facebook. “However, the impact this day had on the customers at the bar (and the families at the library), still affect them today.” During Monday’s sentencing, Sisney apologized for his actions, telling District Court Judge Stacey Donovan that he felt badly about what happened. The hearing also included significant discussion of Sisney’s
mental health and treatment. His attorney, Branden Smith, told the court that Sisney had suffered from schizophrenia, autism, hallucinations and other conditions since childhood. Smith also described a gap in access to treatment after Sisney became an adult and said Sisney has shown substantial improvement while receiving appropriate medication. Sisney’s mother also addressed the court and apologized for the incident while describing her family’s efforts to obtain care for her son. Smith asked the court to request a mental health placement within the Kansas Department of Corrections so Sisney could continue receiving treatment. Donovan said she could make that request but could not determine where the sentence would ultimately be served. Donovan acknowledged the gap in Sisney’s care while also addressing the seriousness of his actions and the number of lives placed in danger that night. Sisney received 176 months for attempted first-degree murder and 59 months for attempted seconddegree murder, with those sentences to run consecutively. A 12-month sentence for aggravated assault will run concurrently, resulting in the 235-month controlling sentence. He has remained in custody since his arrest and will receive 1,354 days — nearly four years — of credit for time already served. Although no victims attended Monday’s sentencing and no victim impact statements were read in court, the statement from The Bullpen serves as a reminder that the effects of the December 2022 shooting have continued long after that night for some of the people who were there. Information about the court proceedings and sentencing was obtained from reporting by Kim Callahan of the Lawrence JournalWorld.
THE WELL NEST ANNOUNCES PERMANENT CLOSURE Another small downtown storefront is closing its doors, as the owners of The Well Nest announced they have made the decision to permanently close the wellness-focused juice and retail shop. Located at 820 High Street next to Om Grown Yoga & Wellness Collective, The Well Nest offered fresh juices, smoothies, mocktails and other drinks made with organic ingredients, along with wellness products, gifts and other retail items. Its menu focused on whole-body wellness and included everything from fresh-pressed juices and smoothies to herbal drinks, kombucha and chia pudding bowls. The business had previously announced that The Well Nest would close for the summer with plans to return in the fall. However, in a recent Facebook announcement, the owners shared that after further reflection, they had decided not to reopen the space. “A chapter is coming to a close,” the business shared. “After much reflection, we’ve made the difficult decision to permanently close The Well Nest.” The owners thanked customers who had supported the shop, whether by stopping in for a drink, purchasing wellness products or simply visiting the space. While the juice and wellness bar will not reopen, customers will have a few final opportunities to shop The Well Nest’s remaining retail inventory. The retail shop will be open Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings throughout September, with discounts offered on remaining wellness products, gifts and other merchandise. “Thank you for being part of this little corner of our community,” the owners wrote. “We’re so grateful for you.” Om Grown Yoga & Wellness Collective, located next door at 816 High Street, remains separate from The Well Nest closure.
OCTOBER CITYWIDE CLEANUP SET FOR OCT. 10 Baldwin City’s October Citywide Cleanup will take place Saturday, Oct. 10, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Works facility, 1015 Orange Street. The event will be held rain or shine and is open to Baldwin City residents only. Residents should bring proof of residency, such as a utility bill or driver’s license. Accepted items include tree limbs, yard waste, plastics, batteries, trash and debris, appliances, glass and recyclable metals. Hazardous waste, paint, motor oil, construction materials, spray cans and tires will not be accepted. For questions, contact Baldwin City Public Works at 785-594-6907. Information about hazardous waste disposal is available through Douglas County at 785-832-3030.
28 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY BALDWIN CITY COUNCIL UPDATE: LAKE PROJECT MOVES CLOSER TO SPILLWAY REPAIR The Baldwin City Council received an encouraging update on the future of the city lake during its Sept. 15 meeting, with Lake Advisory Committee representative Kenny Niehoff reporting that the committee now believes it has the funding needed to move forward with repairs to the damaged spillway. The spillway, originally constructed in the 1930s, lost a roughly 20-foot section several years ago, causing the lake level to drop approximately three feet. Restoring the spillway has remained the committee’s primary focus as members have pursued grants, gathered estimates, completed trail improvements and worked through the permitting process. Niehoff confirmed that the city has officially been approved for funding through the Community Fisheries Assistance Program. The grant will reimburse 45% of eligible project costs, up to $30,000. The required environmental assessment has also been completed successfully. Community support has also played a major role. As of the afternoon of the meeting, donations to the Save the Lake account at Baldwin State Bank had reached $21,866. The most recent contractor estimate placed the spillway work at approximately $47,000 to $48,000. When eligible city administrative expenses and volunteer labor are included, those costs can also count toward the project total used to calculate the state reimbursement. Volunteer hours completed after the grant agreement is signed can be credited at $30.86 per hour, with skilled labor and donated equipment potentially credited at higher rates. Using current estimates, Niehoff said the committee believes existing donations, grant reimbursement and city funds already earmarked for the project will be enough to proceed, even allowing some room for bids to come in higher than preliminary estimates. The most realistic construction timeline is currently 2027, with the
committee needing a period that is both dry enough for the work and warm enough for concrete to properly cure. Work later this fall or early winter has not been completely ruled out, but the committee indicated next year is more likely. The committee is also looking beyond the spillway. Potential future improvements discussed included dredging, upgrades to the disc golf course, additional trails and bridges, repairs to the old Scout Island chimney and historic stone stairway, algae and vegetation control, improvements to shelters and picnic areas and, as a longerterm goal, restroom facilities. Other Council Notes The Sept. 15 agenda included no old or new business beyond the Lake Committee presentation and regular committee and staff reports. During the Public Works and Utilities report, the council heard that work on the Chapel Street substation was continuing, including a new fiber connection between the substation and the downtown power plant. The city is also expected to receive approximately $7,773 plus $5,538 in interest following a settlement involving disputed Southwest Power Pool transmission charges. City Administrator Russ Harding reminded residents that the Citywide Cleanup will be held Oct. 10 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Public Works facility, 1015 Orange Street. Council members also cautioned residents about an increase in email, phone and online scams and encouraged residents to verify unexpected messages before clicking links or providing personal information. An e-bike ordinance is also being prepared and could be presented at an upcoming council meeting. Mayor Gerald Cullumber reminded residents struggling with high electric bills following recent hot weather to contact City Hall. While assistance is not guaranteed, city staff can direct residents to organizations that may be able to provide financial help.
PG. 03
Continue from Page 1
Although South African government bursaries can help cover university expenses, Robin explained that families may still struggle with costs such as transportation, registration fees and necessary supplies. The quilt project helps fill those gaps. According to Robin, more than 30 students have received assistance through the project to attend university, complete their studies and move into careers. Before the project began, she said, no students of color from the community they were working with were continuing on to university. It is a significant impact from a connection that begins with fabric and thread in two small communities on opposite sides of the world. Messages from Baldwin City The idea behind September’s Flags of Friendship event grew from a similar project completed by BC Kids United last year. Those flags were well received by young people in Riviersonderend, and Jeannette Blackmar had pennants remaining from previous projects that could be used to create another round of person-to-person messages. During the Sept. 26 event, Baldwin City participants decorated those flags with words and artwork meant to offer friendship, encouragement and support. “The flags are a way to share messages of love and support from BC to the youth of RSE,” Robin said. The flags are expected to arrive at an especially fitting time. Two women volunteers are scheduled to travel to Riviersonderend at the beginning of January 2027 and will carry the completed flags with them. January also marks the community’s annual youth leadership camp. Because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, January falls during its summer vacation. The camp is led by South African youth and continues the leadership work that helped create the connection between the two communities in the first place. For Robin, small tangible gifts and messages can carry considerable meaning.
Many young people in Riviersonderend do not have access to the same material possessions children in the United States may take for granted, she said, and gifts from people in Baldwin City have been warmly received. More than a place on a map For those who have never visited, Robin describes Riviersonderend as a community facing real economic challenges while also being filled with beauty and warmth. Many residents in the area historically classified as the “coloured” township live in simple cinderblock homes constructed through government housing programs following apartheid. Robin said that while children there may have fewer toys and electronics than many American children, what stands out is how happily they play together and the openness with which residents welcome visitors. The people of Riviersonderend have also grown accustomed to Baldwin City visitors over the years. International travelers are not particularly common in the town itself, Robin said. Many instead pass through or stop briefly for fuel while traveling toward South Africa’s more heavily visited coastal Garden Route. Those who do stop find a striking landscape, with a mountain range rising above the community and the river that helped give the town its name. “Riviersonderend” is Afrikaans for “river without end.” For Baldwin City, however, Riviersonderend has become much more than a distant place on a map. It is a community connected to local students, teachers, artists, quilters and volunteers — and a relationship Robin hopes will continue to grow. “It would be delightful to have some folks from BC travel over to experience the beauty and magic of RSE and its people,” she said. For those who gathered at the Lumberyard Arts Center Sept. 26, the Flags of Friendship project offered a smaller way to make that journey. Their messages will travel thousands of miles in January, carrying a little piece of Baldwin City with them.
28 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY
PG. 04
BAKER LIBRARIANS DISCUSS STAFF CUTS, CHANGES AND MORE AT COLLINS LIBRARY
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Story by N. Michael Houser, News/A&E Editor, thebakerorange.com As part of recent personnel cuts across Baker’s campus, Collins Library has gone from four to just two staff members. These changes over the summer left Library Director Melanie Massey and Reference and Instruction Librarian Amanda Luke alone with little time to adjust before the school year began. “Juggling is a good description, I think, because this morning I was at [Baker’s] school of nursing and then I drove back to campus and needed to teach health sciences,” Massey said. “I’m very comfortable in that counseling world, but then I come back and it’s an information literacy class.” While Massey moves between Baker’s campuses teaching students, Luke is the face of the department in Baldwin City, greeting students at the front of the library every day of the week. “I’m like the disembodied voice of the library,” Luke says. “If you’re coming into the library, the pillar makes it so you can’t see me. But it’s me, and I say hi to everybody.” Though libraries in many academic settings can feel stuffy or exclusive, Massey and Luke try to curate a comfortable and fun environment out of their space. Over the summer, they rearranged the main floor to include a comic book and manga corner where the movie section once was and moved shelves on the third floor to create a more communal space, giving the library a comfortability rare for such locations. One of the biggest struggles for librarians year in and year out is engaging students, and Massey is no stranger to this. “We’re having to really figure them out, their personality, and shift some independence and autonomy to them. It’s not us finding you articles; it’s you learning how to do research,” Massey said. “We’re here to walk alongside you and show you tips and tricks of the trade.” Both librarians, though, are jacks of all trades. Whether they are creating information literacy programs, guiding students through databases, walking students to class or teaching literacy classes within the library, Massey and
Luke provide for all students, traditional and non-traditional alike. This focus on literacy stems from Massey and Luke’s backgrounds as firstgeneration and non-traditional students, respectively. Massey graduated from college as the daughter of a farmer and a school secretary, while Luke graduated as an adult student in her mid-twenties. These experiences on the “outside” of academia inform how Baker’s library department functions on a fundamental level. Luke explained that school was not always her home, “I was not a great student in high school. I tell my story all the time, because I say, ‘Look, if I can go back to college and do this three times, anybody can do this,’” she said. Meeting students where they are at happens to be Massey’s pedagogy too. “I don’t have to play the stuffy librarian, because I’m just not naturally that person. It helps me to be more relaxed at work, which helps me to help students, and I’ve always believed that,” Massey said. “You just have to meet people. Life happens all around us every day.” But more than anything else, the library succeeds because of who Massey and Luke are and how they balance each other. “I’m very chaotic, sort of like a Jackson Pollock painting, and I do know how to do a lot of database stuff while Melanie knows all these things that I’ve never considered before,” Luke said of her partner in crime. , on the other hand, appreciates Luke’s ability to meet students where they’re at. “Maybe they played basketball and they had a bad game. Maybe they tried out for a play and didn’t get the part they wanted. Or maybe they’re trying to juggle two jobs,” Massey said. “I feel like Amanda’s very good at just acknowledging them as a human and helping them with whatever they need.” Whether they’re setting up a new inflatable friend or creating displays for the newest popular fiction, Massey and Luke always keep students’ interests first. Knowledge and whimsy aren’t mutually exclusive in this library; they are thick as thieves, just as Massey and Luke intended.
28 SEPTEMBER
USD348 PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE FOR HOMECOMING!
BHS SPORTS THIS WEEK: Sept. 28-Oct. 3 Monday, Sept. 28
Girls JV Tennis — First Year 9th Grade Invitational, 8 a.m.-4 p.m., Gardner Edgerton High School BJHS 7th & 8th Grade Volleyball vs. Paola — 4 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School Boys JV Soccer vs. Perry-Lecompton — 4:30 p.m., Baldwin High School Girls JV & Varsity Volleyball vs. Piper — 4:30 p.m., Baldwin High School
BALDWIN CITY IS GETTING READY TO PAINT THE TOWN PURPLE FOR HOMECOMING! ORGANIZERS ARE PUTTING OUT THE CALL FOR COMMUNITY GROUPS, BUSINESSES, ORGANIZATIONS AND ANYONE ELSE WHO WANTS TO ENTER A FLOAT IN THE HOMECOMING PARADE AND HELP FILL DOWNTOWN WITH BULLDOG SPIRIT.
Tuesday, Sept. 29
EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT ENTERING A FLOAT, SAVE THE DATE! THE COMMUNITYWIDE HOMECOMING PARADE AND PEP RALLY WILL BEGIN AT 5:30 P.M. WEDNESDAY, OCT. 7, IN DOWNTOWN BALDWIN CITY AND SULLIVAN SQUARE.
Wednesday, Sept. 30
BUSINESSES ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO JOIN THE FUN BY DECORATING THEIR WINDOWS FOR HOMECOMING — AND CAN EVEN PARTNER WITH A USD 348 TEAM OR CLUB FOR HELP. COME OUT, WEAR YOUR PURPLE AND HELP MAKE HOMECOMING A CELEBRATION FOR THE WHOLE COMMUNITY!
PG. 05
Girls Varsity Golf — Piper Invitational, 1 p.m., Dub’s Dread Golf Course Girls Varsity Tennis — Wamego Varsity Girls Tennis, 3 p.m., Wamego Recreation Sports Complex BJHS 8th Grade Football at Eudora — 4 p.m., Eudora Middle School Boys Varsity & JV Soccer vs. Kansas City East Christian — 4 p.m., Baldwin High School Boys JV Soccer at Ottawa — 4:30 p.m., Ottawa High School Girls C-Team, JV & Varsity Volleyball at Tonganoxie — 4:30 p.m., Tonganoxie High School Girls JV Tennis — De Soto C-Team Tennis Quad, 3:30 p.m., De Soto High School Girls Varsity Volleyball at De Soto — 7 p.m., De Soto High School
Thursday, Oct. 1
Girls Varsity Tennis — Bonner Springs Varsity Tournament, 9 a.m., Bonner Springs High School Girls Varsity Golf — Osawatomie, 2 p.m., Osawatomie Golf Course Girls JV Tennis — Paola Quad, 3:30 p.m., Paola High School Boys Varsity & JV Soccer vs. Eudora — 4 p.m., Baldwin High School Girls C-Team, JV & Varsity Volleyball vs. West Franklin — 4:30 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School
Friday, Oct. 2
Girls JV Tennis — League Tournament, 9 a.m., location TBD Boys Varsity Football at Hayden Catholic — 7 p.m., Hayden Catholic High School
Saturday, Oct. 3
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BJHS Volleyball — 7th & 8th grade competitions and tournaments begin at 8 a.m., various locations Maple Leaf XC Classic — Boys and Girls JV & Varsity Cross Country, 9 a.m., Baldwin Golf Course Girls Varsity Volleyball — Wellsville Varsity Tournament, 9 a.m., Wellsville High School
Monday, Oct. 5
Girls Varsity Golf — Anderson County, 1 p.m., Garnett Country Club Girls Varsity — Paola Triangular, 3:30 p.m., Paola High School Girls JV Tennis — JV Quad, 3:30 p.m., Baldwin High School Boys JV Football vs. Hayden Catholic — 4:30 p.m., Baldwin High School Boys Varsity Soccer at Bishop Seabury — 4:30 p.m., Bishop Seabury Academy Girls Varsity Flag Football vs. Wellsville — 5:30 p.m., Osawatomie High School
Tuesday, Oct. 6
Girls Varsity Tennis — League Tournament, 9 a.m., Bonner Springs High School BJHS 8th Grade Football at Woodland Springs — 4 p.m., Woodland Springs Middle School Boys JV & Varsity Soccer at Bishop Ward — 4:30 p.m., Bishop Ward Athletic Complex Girls C-Team, JV & Varsity Volleyball vs. Eudora — 4:30 p.m., Baldwin Junior High School
Wednesday, Oct. 7
Paint the Town Purple Homecoming Parade & Pep Rally — 5:30 p.m., Downtown Baldwin City & Sullivan Square
School Lunch Schedule Sept. 28–30 Monday, Sept. 28 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
28 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY
PG. 06
October 1
EVENTS
Rooted in Hope: The Willow’s 50th Reunion Maceli’s Banquet Hall, 6-9pm
October 3
Live Music: Rick Brown
October 15
Chamber Networking
Baldwin City Beer Company, 5-6;30 pm
October 16
Live Music: Rick McClellan
Baldwin City Distillery, 6-8pm
Baldwin City Distillery, 6-8pm
October 7
October 17
Paint the Town Purple Parade & Pep Rally! Downtown Baldwin City, 5-8pm
All About Bulbs Workshop Vinland Valley Nursery, 1pm
October 17-18
October 9
Maple Leaf Festival
Lumberyard Arts Center
Saturday, Oct. 17 | 9 a.m.–6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18 | 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
October 10
October 17-18
Spoken Word
Second Saturday Sale Quilters’ Paradise, 11am-5pm
October 10
Making Walnut Ink Workshop Vinland Valley Nursery, 1pm
October 10
Live Music: Marlin Porter
Downtown Baldwin City
CREATE YOUR OWN FUTURE WE CAN HELP YOU S TA R T O R G R O W Y O U R BUSINESS IDEAS!
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
Baldwin City Distillery, 6-8pm
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28 SEPTEMBER
COMMUNITY I LOVE KANSAS THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX By Jeanine Ross
I was born in Kansas, but I grew up in Missouri, and I can tell you there is a vast, vast difference in the two states. In my lifetime, I’ve actually lived in more than seven states, and I’ve visited all but 5 states (they are on my bucket list). You could say I was a bit of a nomad in my day. But my restlessness took me to places where I met people I would never have met if I hadn’t left my home state. So when I say, I love Kansas, I have a lot to compare it to. In my opinion, the states are only as good as the people who live in them (that is especially true of small towns within a state) and the people who live in them set the tone for the energy in that state. In New York, for instance, that state is fast-paced, always busy, and the people are a bit rude. In California, it is more relaxed, still busy, the people are friendlier but a lot more cliquish. It seems important to them who you know and how they can benefit from that. Texas is its own animal. The people there are very proud of their state and a bit suspicious of anybody who isn’t from there. I blame the constant heat. But in Kansas, we get to experience all four weather seasons, which in my opinion makes us much more well-rounded. Kansas
is friendly, and for the most part, the people are helpful and supportive. I think Kansas is one of the most wholesome states in the Union! We are welcoming and generally more tolerant. Now don’t get me wrong, we have our issues too, but they don’t seem as daunting as the issues in some other states. I think Kansas is the heartbeat of the nation. While places around us change to accommodate the whims of the moment, Kansas seems to keep a steady beat and a continuous rhythm not too far to the left and not too far to the right, although some would change the steady in-the-middle direction of Kansas, I am trusting the people to stay the course. The United States needs the unwavering heartbeat of Kansas so when they start going too far in one direction or the other, they can look back at us and remember, all things in moderation, but moderation is the key. Kansas is the anchor that the late night talk shows make fun of and the comedians build whole shows around and most people think of as a “fly over” state. But when all is said and done and all the laughter stops, Kansas is still the heartbeat from which they all get that sense of calm and stability. I love Kansas and I’m happy to call it my home! So, if you really want your life to change for the better, it begins by “Thinking Outside the Box.”
BALDWIN CITY REC KEEPS FALL CALENDAR FULL The Baldwin City Recreation Commission has plenty on the calendar as fall gets underway, with upcoming fitness opportunities, youth and adult sports, special events and more. Family Health & Fitness Day BCRC will celebrate Family Health & Fitness Day on Saturday, Sept. 26, with a morning of free, family-friendly fitness classes. Instructors will offer a variety of workouts, from high-energy to low-impact options, giving participants a chance to try out some of BCRC’s regular fitness offerings. No registration is required.
Youth Basketball Registration Open Registration is also underway for youth basketball, with both recreational and competitive options available. Recreation basketball is offered for first through sixth grades, with individual registration and a jersey included. New this year, BCRC is also offering a competitive team league for third/fourth and fifth/ sixth grade divisions. Teams from throughout the area are welcome, with games played SEND US YOUR NEWS, on weekends UPDATES, OR EVENTS in Baldwin TO HELP US SPOTLIGHT City.
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Adult Co-Ed Volleyball Adults can join the action with Fall Co-Ed Volleyball, which will run Sundays from Nov. 1 through Dec. 13 at Baldwin High School. Teams will play two games per date for a guaranteed 10-game season, with no games over Thanksgiving weekend. Free Women’s Self-Defense Course
A free T.A.K.E. Women’s Self-Defense course is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 22, from 6 to 8 p.m. Open to women of all ages, the course will include handson self-defense training, safety tips and practical skills designed to help participants feel more prepared and confident. Maple Leaf Gravel Grind Returns Looking ahead to the final weekend of October, the 8th annual Maple Leaf Gravel Grind returns with 16-, 40- and 70mile routes through the Baldwin City countryside. Riders should register by Sept. 30 to guarantee an event T-shirt. 50+ Activities and Community Center Programs BCRC is also preparing its next 50+ newsletter, which will cover October through January, allowing participants to plan activities through the holiday season. Free activities continue at the Community Center as well, with monthly calendars highlighting programs that require no membership or additional fees.
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