12 WEEKLY 2026
JANUARY
VOL 4 • NO. 01
A
B A L D W I N
C I T Y
N E W S P A P E R
FAREWELL 2025! A YEAR WORTH REMEMBERING
If you’ve lived in Baldwin City for more than five minutes, you already know this truth: we don’t need a big-city skyline to have big-city heart. 2025 was packed with the kinds of stories that remind us who we are— neighbors showing up for neighbors, local leaders rolling up their sleeves, organizations building belonging, students and athletes building pride, and small businesses doing what they do best: keeping our town alive, interesting, and connected. The Maple’s 2026 Non-Resolution
We’re not promising to “reinvent ourselves” or “hustle harder” or “drink more water” (though… probably). Our non-resolution is simple: We’re going to keep bringing Baldwin City news directly to your fingertips. The celebrations. The challenges. The changes. The people. The projects. The wins. The “wait, what?” moments. But here’s the deal: we can’t do it without you. If you know something we should be covering—send it; If you know someone who deserves to be celebrated—tell us; If your organization has news, a fundraiser, a need, a milestone, a new face, a new service, a new goal—loop us in; If you’re a business with updates (or a great story behind your counter)—we want it. This paper works best when it works like a community bulletin board… with better writing and fewer thumbtacks.
2025, Month by Month: The Stories That Stuck With Us January: Kindness with a Game Plan
BCK United kicked off a season of
connection with Friendship Month— leading toward Friendship Fest and reminding all of us that inclusivity isn’t a buzzword, it’s something you build. Bracelets, sing-alongs, community challenges—simple ideas with real impact.
February: Service, Strength, and a Spotlight
We followed Keara Torkelson— veteran, advocate, and Super Bowl honoree—whose story holds both heartbreak and fierce resilience. Baldwin City doesn’t just produce hometown pride; it produces hometown leaders.
March: The Depot Comes Alive
The Lawrence Model Railroad Club brought miniature worlds into the Santa Fe Depot, turning history into an interactive experience. Proof that community spaces don’t have to sit quietly—they can hum, whistle, and bring generations together.
April: Blue Ribbon Baldwin
Parents as Teachers earned Blue Ribbon Affiliate status again—another reminder that the strength of a town is measured by how it supports families before they ever hit kindergarten.
May: Childcare = Community Growth
Rainbow Experience Preschool announced big expansion plans—newborn through Pre-K, with a new facility on the horizon. It wasn’t just news. It was momentum.
June: Preserving the Places We Love
The Lumberyard Arts Center received a heritage grant to protect a building that protects something else: belonging. Saving
history isn’t only about brick and mortar— it’s about keeping the spaces where community happens.
July: A Lake Worth Fighting For
Citizens rallied to save Baldwin City Lake, forming a committee and showing up in numbers that made one thing crystal clear: this community cares deeply about its natural spaces—and we’re willing to do the work to protect them.
August: Sirens, Splashes, and SchoolYear Spirit
The Baldwin City Fire Department’s Back-to-School Water Fight was peak Baldwin: joyful, soaked, loud, and full of laughter. Sometimes a “story” is just a moment that proves we still know how to have fun together.
September: Art in the Streets
New downtown pole banners debuted—thanks to artists, committees, and collaboration that spanned across town. Plus, BHS athletics saw major shifts, new leadership, and a renewed focus on culture and pride. Baldwin doesn’t just show spirit—we build it.
October: A Leaf in the Middle of It All
Downtown construction became something more than a project when the maple leaf brick design began taking shape at 8th & High—an instant landmark in progress, tying identity to infrastructure.
November: Democracy, Baldwin-Style
Election coverage reminded us of a timeless local truth: a few votes can shape the next several years. New leadership and familiar names signaled another chapter in
how Baldwin City grows and governs.
December: The Season of Showing Up
The first big community-wide Food Drive effort brought dozens of drop-off locations together to support the Baldwin Community Food Pantry. In a year full of moments, this one might be the clearest: Baldwin City takes care of its own.
A Community Resolution
Here’s our playful, practical, actuallydoable “resolution” for 2026: Let’s be the kind of town that notices. Notices the new business. Notices the volunteer who never gets thanked. Notices the student, the coach, the caregiver, the quiet helper, the neighbor who needs help, the organization that’s stretched thin, the family doing their best. And then let’s do what Baldwin does best: show up. Because if 2025 taught us anything, it’s that community isn’t something you “have.” It’s something you practice—over and over—month after month. Help Us Tell 2026’s Story
Got news? Got an idea? Got a person we should celebrate? Send it in. The Maple is proud to be your hometown hype machine—but we need the hometown to keep the hype coming. Here’s to 2026—may our coffee be strong, our pants be optional (kidding… mostly), and our community connection stay loud and real. Happy New Year, Baldwin City.