Baker University Music & Theater Events

The Baker University Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of professor of music J.D. Parr, will host the Chris Grubb Memorial Jazz Scholarship Concert at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, April 14, at Rice Auditorium, 404 8th Street. The concert, The Blues Brothers Cruise Again!, is free and open to the public. Returning to the stage at Rice Auditorium are former four-year Baker Jazz Ensemble members Ken Richardson, ’91, saxophonist, and Doug Oswald, ’90, drummer. Both musicians are original members of Four Fried Chickens and a Coke, possibly Kansas City’s most popular, successful and longest-running show and party band. Founded in 1998, the Chickens have performed in a variety of venues across Kansas City. The band performs mostly music made popular by the original Blues Brothers during their appearances on Saturday Night Live and in their hit movie.

After a 35-year career at Baker, this is J.D. Parr’s final concert as Director of the Jazz Ensemble. It promises to be a spirited and fun evening.

The student teachers in Baker Universities Lab School offer music lessons to members of the community.

A Spring Recital will be held on Saturday, May 7^th at 1pm in McKibbin Recital Hall, which is located in the Owens Musical Arts Building, 408 8^th St. Everyone is invited!

Baker Golf Competes at William Penn Invite

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – The Baker University men’s & women’s golf teams traveled to Heart of America Athletic Conference foe William Penn University’s Mike “Fluff” Cowan Invitational at Edmundson Golf Course in Oskaloosa, Iowa.

The tournament is named after Mike “Fluff” Cowan who is the current caddie for Jim Furyk and was Tiger Woods’ first caddie on tour. Fluff is also a William Penn alumnus.

In the women’s tournament, Baker finished in fourth-place behind host William Penn. Baker shot a total score of 707, while William Penn finished with a 663.

Lindsey Mateer tied for fourth-place with her 88 first round and 79 second round and Brooke Fletcher of William Penn took home first-place with her 81 and 80.

Samantha Mitchell and Bailey Gibson also finished in the Top 25, as Mitchell T-16 and Gibson T-24.

On the men’s side, Baker finished third out of seven teams with its team score of 623. William Penn won with a score of 603.

Baker’s Christian Bickley led the ‘Cats with his T-5, two-day score of 153. Grant Grego also finished in the Top 10 with his T-9, 157.

Alec Wuellner, Chad Phillips, Kyle Barbee and Aaron Brooks all finished in the Top 20.

The BU women’s team will next compete at the Peru State College/Heart of America Athletic Conference Preview, April 11-12 at Table Creek GC in Nebraska City, Neb.  

While the men’s squad will compete next at the Central Methodist University Spring Invitational, April 18-19 at Hail Ridge GC in Boonville, Mo.

TRACK: Josh Peck Named Heart Field Athlete of the Week

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Baker University senior thrower Josh Peck earned this week’s Heart of America Athletic Conference Field Athlete of the Week for his performance at the Baker Relays last Saturday.

Peck competed in three events, winning the men’s hammer throw and discus, while taking second in the shot put.

His throw of 50.70m in the discus qualified him with the A standard for the 2016 NAIA Outdoor Track & Field national championships.

The Wildcat track & field team will next take on the Emporia State Multi’s on Apr. 8-9 in Emporia, Kansas.

BASEBALL: Jayhawks Beat Baker, 6-1

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Baker University baseball team visited NCAA Division I University of Kansas on Tuesday afternoon and fell to the Jayhawks, 6-1.

This marked the first time Baker had faced KU since April 24, 2013, when the Jayhawks won, 7-1.

Lake Johnson got the start and threw 4.1 innings on the mound and allowed four runs in the first inning, but then threw three scoreless innings in the second, third and fourth.

Also throwing for Baker was Kekai Rivera-Albeso, Austin Stendebach, Bennett White and Gage Kiesling.

Baker’s lone run came in the Top of the 2^nd inning, when Austin Bass scored. Bass, Gabe Greenbaum, Ethan Jacks and Cort Brennan all had one hit each.

With the win, KU improved to 11-15, while Baker fell to 12-19.

The Jayhawks finished with six hits on its six runs. Baker will return home on Wednesday to face Ottawa at 5 p.m. for a nine-inning game.

NAIA Baseball Box Score

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9		R	H	E
Baker (Kan.)	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0		1	4	2
Kansas	4	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	X		6	6	1

SOFTBALL: Baker Falls to No. 23 Grand View in Heart Sweep

BALDWIN CITY, Kan. – Number 23 ranked Grand View handed Baker its fourth-consecutive loss, as the Vikings defeated the Wildcats, 6-1 and 5-2, on Tuesday afternoon inside Cavaness Field.

With the wins, Grand View moved to 26-6 overall and 10-2 in Heart of America Athletic Conference play, while the Wildcats fell to 24-19 and 4-6 in the Heart.

The Wildcats will look to get back on track this Saturday, April 9, as they travel to William Penn who is 2-4 in conference play.

In game one, the Vikings hit four home runs off of two-time Heart Pitcher of the Week Olivia Brees, on each from Allie Fitzgerald, Lauren Poortinga, Kendra Tott and Abbey Wilmes.

Lucy Staats knocked in the Wildcats lone run with a home run of herself in the bottom of the 5^th inning. Rachel Wheeler had the ‘Cats other hit.

Claudia Farrell threw the complete game in game one for Grand View and struck out eight batters.

In game two, Teagan Louthan got the start and threw 5.2 innings and struck out four Vikings.

Wheeler led Baker with two RBI’s and Sloane Brady along with Hannah Tolliver had the Wildcats other two hits.

NAIA Softball Box Score Game 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7		R	H	E
Grand View (Iowa)	1	0	0	0	4	0	0		5	7	2
Baker (Kan.)	2	0	0	0	0	0	0		2	3	1

NAIA Softball Box Score Game 2

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8		R	H	E
Grand View (Iowa)	3	0	1	1	0	0	1	0		6	10	2
Baker (Kan.)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0		1	2	2

Letter to the Editor: Baldwin City Community Center

My name is Dan Harris and I have been a resident of Baldwin City for 32 years. This town has been populated with many outstanding individuals and families. The local school district, under outstanding leadership, has had many of their employees recognized by the state of Kansas for their achievements. Baker University plays a role in the quality of Baldwin City and it served my wife and me personally as we both retired from Baker University after many years of service. The political scene has been very active and vibrant and our city leadership sincerely cares about the quality of our lives. You cannot talk about Baldwin City without mentioning the Maple Leaf Festival and all it brings to this community.
I am currently a member of the Baldwin City Recreation Commission and have served the community in other capacities in my 32 years of residency. In my retirement I went to work for AstroTurf as a part-time sales consultant and travel around the Midwest developing leads for synthetic turf opportunities for our sales force. My position with AstroTurf has created a unique opportunity to visit communities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Oklahoma. That travel allowed me to assess the community support for local athletic programs, community fitness activities, and the quality of life in small and large towns in all of the aforementioned states. One aspect of that experience created the opportunity for me to tour many of the local Community Centers.
As some of you in this community know, I have a strong passion to help Baldwin City find the support to bring a Community Center to serve our population. My tours of some of the centers included an award winning one in Fremont, Nebraska, a town of about 26,000. Many of you might be aware of Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence and the Lawrence Sports Pavilion indoor facility that houses basketball, pickle ball, volleyball, and a walking track with cardio and weight equipment. It also houses an indoor turfed soccer field for competitive play. Many local Kansas communities like Eudora, Gardner, De Soto, Ottawa, and Council Groves have functional Community Centers that serve their population of all ages.
Upon returning to the town that I love, Baldwin City, I was feeling very inspired to continue my quest to find support for a Community Center. I envision great collaboration among our public school system, the local government, and Baker University. This cooperative spirit will create new relationships and bonds that can lead to other community developments. I envision our children having a safe place for physical activity and sport. I want a common space for the senior citizens of this community…these are the very people whose shoulders we stand on due to their sacrifice and effort to make Baldwin City a community of which we can be proud. Those senior citizens need an established common space to celebrate their achievements and to stay healthy and active. Our children should have the ability to pursue their athletic dreams and goals without having to travel to other communities to use athletic facilities not available in our town.
If you feel the desire to support a community center in Baldwin City, then stand up and let your voice be heard. Speak to members of the Baldwin City Recreation Commission and your local City Council members and city leadership. Visit with your friends who might share this same vision and get them active in developing interest. I’m going to keep focused on the possibility of a community center in this town one day, with architectural ideas, research on construction costs, site selection, and facility content that will serve all ages and interests. Bring your thoughts and ideas to the forefront and let’s all “LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD!” Beautiful Baldwin City will become even more attractive to visitors if this common unity of the City of Baldwin, USD 348, and Baker University will support the goal of building a functional and well-designed Community Center.

- Dan Harris

Baldwin City, KS

Baldwin City Council Hears About Sidewalks and Community Center

Mayor Marilyn Pearse called the April 4, 2016 City Council meeting to order, with the council quickly approving the consent agenda. Moving into public comments, the council heard from Steve Friend, Baldwin City Recreation, who wished to address the council about a topic not on the nights agenda.
Friend announced the Baldwin School District had approved land for a community center adjacent to one of the districts schools.
The plans for the center had not been finalized yet, but before it was, there would be a mailer letting area residents know of the what's, when's and where's. While some of the money for the project would come from a capital campaign, he anticipates an election, perhaps as early as November.
Councilman Tony Brown asked, about what amenities would be in the center.  In response, Friend said, that a pool, indoor track, basketball court along with a fitness area aspect that could sell memberships were desired. As were meeting areas that could be rented for receptions or meetings.

Glenn Rodden, City Administrator
Photographer Kevin Surbaugh

Adam Weigel of the Lawrence Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization, presented their plan for Baldwin City. While bike share and bike lanes are something that they look at, the current plan in Baldwin City is a pedestrian only plan.
New sidewalks and repair of existing sidewalks that are in disrepair would cost approximately $6 per square foot, not accounting for removing tree roots or brush that may exist in some cases.  For more information on the plan, it can be seen at lawrenceks.org/mpo/pedplan.

In other business:

The council set CIP work session dates for April 21 and 25 at 6 P.M. both evenings.

Discussed going paperless in council meetings.
 

Adjourning at 8:15 P.M.

Faerie Fair 2016 is April 30

The Light Center, a spiritual retreat center nestled on 35 wooded acres just west of Baldwin City, is hosting their annual spring Faerie Fair this year on Saturday, April 30th from 11:00am to 5:00pm. The Faerie Fair is free and fun  for all ages to enjoy time in nature and community at The Light Center.
According to a press release, those who attend can expect to experience local vendors, whimsical face painting, faerie crafts, and encounters with bunnies, chickens and goats. There are other special events scheduled throughout the day such as weed walks, an outdoor yoga class, and live music. Resident TLC Chef, Phillip Martin, will also have a special campfire lunch available for purchase, using organic local springtime favorites.  All are invited to attend and of course, faerie and elven-dress are welcome and encouraged!
According to the website at the Light Center vision is

"To be a clear channel for healing light to reconnect people to their hearts, that we may live in oneness on the sacred earth."

While their mission is

"Holding sacred space for renewal, globally and locally, The Light Center serves individuals and families seeking wholeness in partnership with Nature."

The Light Center is located just west of Baldwin City at 1542 Woodson Road.

For more information on the Faerie Fair or the Light Center visit www.lightcenter.info/events/2016/04/2016-faerie-fair/