Time & Transitions
the last embers of 2022
The weather outside is indeed frightful as we close out this week, headed into the holiday weekend and almost to the very end of 2022. Hopefully you and yours are warm, safe, and dry, preferably with plenty of sparkly lights or a fireplace.
The end of a year is always a strange time with numbers to crunch, goals to review and renew, and memories to relive. For some of us it’s a great time of quiet reflection and self-renewal, and for others of us it’s a time of painful memories, trauma, or grief. Whatever your outlook on the last embers glowing in 2022, take the time to be kind to yourself and those around you.
Darkness becomes an entity in its own right this time of year, reaching inside our homes and hearts if we let it. Humans have fought the battle with darkness as long as we’ve existed, and strategies for lighting up the darkness are numerous. Christmas and Hanukkah lights, gift-giving, end of year celebrations, family gatherings, and more are part of the collective consciousness effort to stave off the dark and get us through the longest months of the year.
If you find yourself or a loved one in a mental health crisis during the holidays, please don’t hesitate to call 9-8-8, or 785-841-2345. For even more localized help, call 9-1-1 and our Baldwin City first responders will do their best to connect you to available resources. Please know that you aren’t alone.
Residential Decorating Contest Winners
Congratulations to each of our winners, at 1307 8th Street, 618 5th Street, 520 3rd Street, and 614 9th Street! And a big shoutout to each contest entrant as well! Check out our map of contest entries, and take a little tour of Baldwin City lights.
If you are one of the winners, please check your email for instructions on how to claim your prize money.
Trash pickup
Trash is normal schedule throughout the holidays this year due to Christmas and New Years falling on a weekend.
City Office Closings
Although the trash and recycling schedule is normal, all city offices are closed in observance of the holidays as follows:
Friday, December 23rd
Monday, December 26th
Monday, January 2nd
This includes City Hall, Public Works, and the Law Enforcement Center. That said, know that our road crews will be out as needed, utility workers will be on call most likely in the worst weather, and our first responders work around the clock as always to keep Baldwin City safe. Call 9-1-1 if you have an emergency. We’ll be here.
Looking Ahead
Baldwin City has a couple of cameo appearances in a promotional video put out by The Lawrence/Douglas County EDC regarding the new Panasonic electric vehicle battery factory that broke ground last month in DeSoto. If you’re interested in the potential impact the project could have on Douglas County, Baldwin City, and Kansas in general, take a moment to look at this resource page from Kansas Department of Commerce. City staff and elected officials are currently working with other Douglas County leaders to lean into the potential opportunities coming to our corner of Kansas.
Among other things coming up, we have Phase 1 and 2 of the Maple Leaf Trail project moving forward, a crosswalk on Highway 56 at Santa Fe Drive, the Rural Housing Incentive District spurring housing development, construction beginning on the Community Center, and so much more.
Meetings
City Council Meetings are the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of January, and the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays the rest of the year.
Check the website calendar for up-to-date information on all upcoming meetings.
Looking Back
A lot happened in 2022, in Baldwin City as everywhere else. Plenty of work happened here, projects moved forward, events took place, seasons came and went, a few emergencies and some severe weather had to be managed, and progress happened. Sometimes the progress is easier to see in the rearview mirror. Take a quick look at this photo and video compilation of the year we’re leaving behind.
Merry Christmas and a warm and happy New Year to you and yours!
