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Downtown Lawrence has a great Story to tell according to Downtown Lawrence Executive Director Andrew Holt. Holt has been on the job eleven months, coming from Yakima Washington where he held a similar position. He noted the health and vigor of Downtown Lawrence is what attracted him to the community. The purpose of the organization is to promote and enhance the welfare of the downtown, which is the economic and social center off the community. Memberships are held by a variety of businesses and organizations. Since his arrival Holt has created a newsletter for members, increased the organization’s activity on social media and revamped the web site. He has visited Downtown members to become personally familiar with community offerings and needs.

Downtown Lawrence has sponsored candidate forums and a recent town hall on homelessness. The organization maintains an event calendar and offers gift cards for use with downtown merchants. Some of the popular downtown events include Buskerfest, Kaw River Roots Festival, Mid Summer Nights on Mass, Art in the Park and the Christmas Parade. Holt noted that moving home football games this fall due to construction was a big challenge to local merchants. He also reports that two police officers will be permanently assigned to the downtown. Holt says that the downtown experience makes it a destination place and an important part of the community’s identity.

Marlin Bates, Director of the Douglas County Extension office, presides over a unique community resource with a historical legacy of service. The county extension service developed from the national effort to establish land grant colleges in the 1860’s. The movement was intended to “take the university to the people” and had an emphasis on agriculture. Each county in the state has an Extension office, representing a partnership with Kansas State University, and Federal, State, and County governments. Extension is dedicated to a safe, sustainable and competitive food and fiber system, and strong and healthy communities, families and youth, through integrated research, analysis and education.

Extension provides a numerous educational programs and services. There are a number off youth programs including 4-H and summer camps. An extensive resource library provides information on horticulture, crops and livestock, health, wellness, nutrition and home and family. Extension specialists are also available to answer questions and provide recommendations. The annual 4-H fair is a poplar community event that draws thousands of attendees every summer. Douglas County Extension is on the radio on Wednesdays at 9:15 am on 101.7 FM and AM 1320. The Extension Office and 4-H Building are located at 2110 Harper, on the fair grounds.

Honey Bee puns were flying as Rotarians Jim Evers and Fred Atchison talked about their beekeeping experiences. Both Evers and Atchison are enthusiastic backyard beekeepers and shared many bee facts and personal experiences. Humans were harvesting honey and keeping bees in prehistory and it is believed the Egyptians were the first to engage in organized beekeeping. Human agriculture depends greatly on crop pollinating performed by bees. Besides its sweetness, honey has antibacterial, antimicrobial and antiinflamitory properties. Female worker bees build wax cells, remove waste, forage and perform guard duty. Male drones mate with the queen and have a calming influence on the hive. The queen is the largest bee in the hive and may lay up to three thousand eggs a day, as honey bees live a only a few weeks and must be replaced. Bees may visit over fifty flowers on a trip and may range two miles. They are able to communicate the nature and location of a food source by performing an elaborate waggle dance. Bees have a highly advanced sense of smell and use the sun to navigate. These desirable creatures are endangered by disease, mites, loss of habitat and over use of insecticides. Evers and Atchison professed a fascination with their bees and urged the group to learn more and appreciate these industrious insects.

Executive Director Erika Zimmerman got started with Habitat for Humanity working as a volunteer. Zimmerman first served on the organization’s governing Board and Executive Committee before her appointment in 2015. Previously, she earned a degree in Social Work from the University of Kansas and did grant wring for the Boys and Girls club. Habitat is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping families build and improve homes, maintaining that affordable housing plays a critical role in building strong and stable communities. Habitat provides support and oversight for the entire process of financing and building a home. The organization requires applicants to meet income criteria, do volunteering and attend home owner education workshops. Habitat becomes the interest free mortgage lender, however, some loans are sold to the USDA. Aging in place is a program designed to help keep seniors in their homes. Home preservation, including mobile homes, is also a high priority. Habitat relies on many volunteers, partners and donations. The Habitat Restore at 27th and Iowa takes donations of new and gently used home improvement items for resale. Habitat also plays an advocacy role for affordable housing.

The former Journal-World building, a large brick structure at Sixth and Massachusetts, has been vacant since 2014. A developer has stepped forward with a plan that has created great enthusiasm in the community. Patrick Watkins, of Watkins Law Office in Lawrence, and Erik Wullschleger of 3D Development out of Kansas City, Missouri, shared information on the proposal. The 70,000 square foot development will include a courtyard event space with a stage and big screen, up stairs there will be small office spaces for lease and also on site, Q39, a very popular KCMO barbecue restaurant. A patio space will be built in the loading dock area and the building will be opened up with windows facing the interior courtyard. 3D Development specializes in historic rehabilitation and repurposing existing structures. Their office is located in the Cross Roads Arts District where they have completed a number of big projects, including the old Kansas City Star Building. Press Yards, the project name, is a nod to the history of the building. Patrick Watkins indicated that the City has been good to work with and some tenants are expected to be in place by the first of the year.