The pieces in this section are generally written by members of the Lawrence community and those who have close ties. In addition, the Times is offering some space for area organizations and organizers to provide updates and attempt to reach other folks who might share their mission.
The Lawrence Times does not publish staff editorials (unsigned opinion columns, usually about the topics we cover, that many news publications run).
Want to submit a letter or column to the Times? Great! Click here to find out how.
OPINION COLUMNS
Community Children’s Center: Embracing the lost art of boredom (Column)
”This summer, I encourage all parents and caregivers to give yourselves a break! Allow your child to be bored and know that you are facilitating an opportunity for your child to learn to tolerate uncomfortable feelings, increase their creativity, and inspire imagination,” Chelsea Harrington writes in this column from the Community Children’s Center.
Allie Lippe-Mackey: Lawrence High students growing milkweed to help monarchs (Column)
”By engaging students in hands-on activities and fostering a sense of responsibility towards their community and the natural world, Lawrence High School is empowering the next generation of environmental advocates,” Allie Lippe-Mackey writes in this column.
© Fally Afani Ruzik
Courtney Farr: Kansas is passing the same laws that powered the 1969 Stonewall raid (Column)
”Almost 54 years (after the Stonewall riots), the idea of being arrested after a genital inspection doesn’t feel all that far-fetched once again,” Courtney Farr writes in this column.
Tom Harper/Lawrence Times
Tom Harper: Celebrating 41 years of a KU campus icon (Column)
”Today we celebrate the 41st anniversary of the installation of Moses in front of Smith Hall, gazing at the beautiful stained glass that represents the Burning Bush,” Tom Harper writes in this column.
Judy Erpelding: I never planned to leave Free State; it’s time to start advocating for performing arts (Column)
”It’s important to me that my students and their families know that leaving this year was never in my intentions,” Judy Erpelding, director of Free State High School orchestra, writes in this column.
Courtney Masterson/Contributed
Ken Lassman: Lawrence Parks and Rec is downplaying herbicidal overkill of remnant prairie (Column)
”Parks and Rec is seriously downplaying the unlikelihood of the prairie (behind Prairie Park Nature Center) recovering after being so seriously damaged and depleted by this senseless act,” Ken Lassman writes in this column.
LETTERS TO THE TIMES
Letter to the Times: Native stewardship is needed to protect the prairie
“For future restoration and stewardship efforts to succeed for the City of Lawrence, at Prairie Park and beyond, they should be done in direct consultation and collaboration with Native people,” Brett Ramey writes in this letter.
Letter to the Times: Holding my applause for city and county leaders
”Too many times I’ve heard speeches professing progress and promising goals only to watch them unfold at a snail’s pace, then several years into the future showing only a mere fraction of those promises and goals come to fruition,” Kathleen Christian writes in this letter to the Times.
Letter to the Times: Loving Kansas from afar
“Our state legislature has made it very clear how they feel about people like me, especially lately. To these representatives, I am not a valuable enough member of our community to self-determine my identity,” Ley Schneider writes in this letter to the Times.
ORG CORNER
Douglas County Master Gardeners: Join us this weekend for garden inspiration (Announcement)
”Douglas County Extension Master Gardeners invite you to join us for a weekend filled with garden inspiration including a Garden Tour, Native Plant Sale, and Garden Art Sale,” the gardeners write.
Community Children’s Center: Embracing the lost art of boredom (Column)
”This summer, I encourage all parents and caregivers to give yourselves a break! Allow your child to be bored and know that you are facilitating an opportunity for your child to learn to tolerate uncomfortable feelings, increase their creativity, and inspire imagination,” Chelsea Harrington writes in this column from the Community Children’s Center.
KU Audio-Reader recognizes volunteers’ outstanding service, celebrates their generosity (Announcement)
”Audio-Reader’s staff was honored to celebrate their hundreds of outstanding volunteers Tuesday at the annual Volunteer Appreciation Banquet,” Martha Kehr, communications coordinator for KU Audio-Reader, writes.
FROM THE STACKS
Note: Staff members at the Lawrence Public Library write blog posts about books, bookish things and other media. The Times is reposting some of those blogs in this feature, From the Stacks. Find many other blog posts, titles referenced in these posts and much more on the library’s website, lplks.org.
From the Stacks: Who is David Lowery?
“David Lowery fans: I hope you’re free to join us on Nov. 3 at the Lawrence Arts Center. You can expect an irreverent, wide-ranging conversation about the business of rock music, the Internet, capitalism, and maybe even a little math,” Library Director Brad Allen writes.
Lawrence Public Library/Contributed Image
From the Stacks: Unsolicited reading recommendations for Lawrence candidates
Here’s a series of unsolicited reading recommendations for Lawrence City Commission and Lawrence school board candidates, based on favorite books they shared with the Times.
Contributed Image
From the Stacks: An interview with Bathsheba Demuth ahead of her Wednesday event
“One of my favorite books of the past couple years is Bathsheba Demuth’s award-winning ‘Floating Coast,’ so I was pleased to see that the author is part of this season’s speaker series at KU’s Hall Center for the Humanities,” Jake Vail of Lawrence Public Library writes.
