Our favorite kinds of stories to tell — highlighting good things happening in Lawrence and Douglas County.
The image at the top of this page is from the August 2022 Pooch Plunge. Check out the full gallery at this link.
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LATEST GOOD NEWS
Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
Here’s a sneak peek at Runner, service-dog-in-training and future Watkins Museum volunteer
Runner, the latest service-dog-in-training being raised by a Watkins Museum volunteer, stopped by the museum Thursday to greet her future colleagues.
Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
Here’s a sneak peek at Runner, service-dog-in-training and future Watkins Museum volunteer
Runner, the latest service-dog-in-training being raised by a Watkins Museum volunteer, stopped by the museum Thursday to greet her future colleagues.
MORE GOOD NEWS
Matthew Willie Garcia via Wonder Gallery
Wonder Gallery to reopen, featuring Matthew Willie Garcia prints, a ‘Utopian Bookstore,’ and ‘blobby things’
Wonder Gallery will reopen on Final Friday with an expanded focus that includes home items and a Utopian Bookstore alongside rotating artists’ exhibitions.
Tom Harper / The Lawrence Times
Photos: First Nations Student Association makes KU history, raising tipi on campus
As part of Indigenous Peoples Day celebrations this week, students with the First Nations Student Association at KU have made history, raising a tipi on the lawn of Strong Hall.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence teens create ‘no judgment’ period supply closet for all who menstruate
A group of Lawrence teens aims to alleviate embarrassment by normalizing the conversation about menstruation while offering free period products to those in need.
Tricia Masenthin / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider donation of trees for Cordley Elementary playground
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider a donation of trees for the playground at Cordley, then meet in executive session to discuss contracts with the PAL-CWA union.
Lawrence Schools Foundation / Contributed Photos
Lawrence Schools Foundation celebrates 4 high school seniors as champions of the arts
Four accomplished young artists — Free State High School seniors Matt Chappell and Devon Janus and Lawrence High School seniors Ashton Rapp and Rachel Schmaus — have been honored as the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s 2021 Student Champions.
KU Black Alumni Network
KU’s Black Alumni Network honors leaders and innovators, emerging leaders
The Black Alumni Network of the University of Kansas has selected the first seven winners of its new biennial Emerging Leaders Award, plus nine winners of the group’s longstanding Leaders and Innovators award.
Mary Costello
Kittens graduate from foster care to forever homes with volunteer support, face time on Mass Street
It’s a jungle inside the window front of Wild Man Vintage, complete with live cats on the weekends. And courtesy of some creative middle school students, their domain includes a climbable tree, too.
Contributed Photos
Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice, ECM honor community leaders with peace awards
Three Lawrence leaders were honored with Tom and Anne Moore Peace and Justice Awards during a ceremony this week: Meg Heriford; Dana Ortiz, for Family Promise of Lawrence; and Graham Kreicker.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence playground invites children of all abilities to play, thanks to donation from late benefactor
School and business leaders are gearing up to celebrate an inclusive playground for youngsters on Lawrence’s southeast side.
Courtesy of Rising Son Plumbing
From the Caribbean to Kansas: Earl Moise, founder of Rising Son Plumbing, shares his story
Earl Moise, one of the best-known master plumbers in Lawrence, has been passionate about the craft ever since graduating from high school. With each pipe he hand-cut, he fell more and more in love.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence garden projects help youth cultivate their futures, serve community
Amid the lush leaves and neatly arranged rows of plants and trees, the orchard and gardens at West Middle School grow a bounty of food. The smells of clematis and lavender float through the air, and wherever you turn, you’ll see colorful fresh fruit and vegetables. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll also find the project grows people.
Carter Gaskins / Gaskins Photography Collection
Catherine Bell makes supporting local designers Sew Simple
Lawrence native Catherine Bell grew up with 10 siblings, but she was the only one to take up her mom’s passion for sewing and fashion design. Now she’s passing the torch — or needle — to the kids she’s had under her wing since 2019, when she started teaching sewing classes under the name Sew Simple Sewing.
Lucie Krisman / The Lawrence Times
For longtime hobbyist musicians, new instruments strike a chord
Over the last year and a half, the consistency of learning a new instrument has helped some Lawrence musicians in more ways than one.
David Sloan / The Lawrence Juice
Customers make challenges of COVID-19 pandemic bearable for owners of 1313 Mockingbird Lane
Through navigating COVID-19 as both healthcare workers and small business owners, the toy store’s regular customers have made things easier for the owners of 1313 Mockingbird Lane.
Jordan Winter / The Lawrence Times
Family-owned Evelin’s Auto Care shifts gears into a new niche
Evelin’s Auto Care, known for its wash, wax and detailing services, is tucked away in a corner off Sixth and Minnesota streets. It’s a small shop, but it’s named after someone even smaller.
Contributed
Longtime occupational therapist earns grant for learning path at Quail Run Elementary
As Lawrence school district staff prepped indoors for the new school year, Occupational Therapist Karen Lassman painted a vibrant outdoor classroom on Quail Run Elementary’s east playground.
Screenshot
Lawrence school board recognizes winners of Juneteenth essay contest and more
The Lawrence school board congratulated winners of the Juneteenth essay contest, approved a permaculture garden for Free State and more at its meeting Monday.
Contributed
Social worker, coach weaves life experiences into empowerment lessons for Lawrence youth
Audrey Trowbridge sits in her basement surrounded by glitter, wood, paint cans and her favorite crafting supply of all time — pipe cleaners. Her craft room serves as a retreat, and during remote learning, the Free State High School social worker took her video conference calls there.
Behind her, a painting of a glowing Black woman wearing a bejeweled crown draws attention. When asked if she painted it, Trowbridge says one of her sisters gifted the piece to her. Its placement is purposeful. She wants others to see it in the background, but she also hopes to glean inspiration from it when she glances at herself on screen. The powerful art serves as a self-affirmation and a reminder while advocating for herself and her students.
Kicks 4 Kids shoe drive returns; accepting shoes for distribution Sunday
Anthony Harvey Jr. and Ja’Darius Woods have partnered up again for the second annual Kicks 4 Kids shoe drive, coming up this Sunday in Lawrence.
August Rudisell/@KsScanner
Student journalists of Haskell’s Indian Leader earn 14 awards, including general excellence honor
The journalists on staff of the Indian Leader, the student news publication of Haskell Indian Nations University, earned an impressive haul of 14 National Native Media awards for their work over the past year.
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