It will be another red, white and blue Fourth of July in Baldwin City, thanks to the joint efforts of a number of organizations, businesses and one individual.

Nick Harris, of Palmyra Masonic Lodge No. 23, said that the lodge, with donations from Baldwin State Bank, Kansas State Bank, Mid-America Bank, the Baldwin City American Legion post and Larry Francq, will place small American flags in all the city’s yards again this year. Baldwin City Boy Scouts will place the flags Monday morning, Harris said.

The effort continues a tradition that Krystal Williams started years ago, Harris said.

The Baldwin City community fireworks show will start at about 9:30 p.m. on Monday. Attendees can watch from the Baldwin Elementary School Intermediate Center parking lots or in the adjacent ball field complex. The Baldwin City Recreation Commission is having a raffle to help pay for the show. The winner of the raffle, which will continue through Sunday, will receive $300 in fireworks from the Knights of Columbus fireworks stand. Tickets can be purchased at the stand or at various businesses in town.
The Eudora fireworks show will be at the onset of darkness Monday. Attendees are encouraged to park in the Eudora Middle School parking lot. Live music will start at 7 p.m. in Shadow Ridge Park to the south of the lot.

Fireworks are permitted in the unincorporated areas of Douglas County from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 1 through July 4. Fireworks are allowed at Lone Star Lake between the maintenance and community buildings, but are banned in the campgrounds and beach until the Fourth.
Eudora’s regulations mirror those of the county, with the exception of allowing firework use until midnight on the Fourth.
Holiday revelers can discharge fireworks in Baldwin City from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 8 a.m. to midnight Sunday and Monday.
Residents everywhere are reminded that the discharge or possession of bottle rockets and similar devices is illegal.
In all jurisdictions, it is illegal to shoot fireworks on or under a vehicle, on any public roadway, within 50 feet of a firework stand or where fireworks are stored, and where gas stations are located or any place where liquid gas — including propane — is stored.

The city of Eudora is having a special event from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Bluejacket Park as a way to solicit public comment on what residents want in a trail at the park. The city is applying for a Kansas Wildlife and Parks grant to improve and extend the trail. Water and cookies will be available at the gathering.

Baldwin City has lost one of its health care providers. Residents needn’t worry because another provider has stepped up to replace the service.
Baldwin Family Vision, which was part of Lawrence Family Vision, announced earlier this month that it would close its Baldwin City office at 404 Ames St. Those wanting to remain clients of the optometrists may do so in Lawrence, but the clinic also announced it would transfer patients’ records to a clinic that is opening in its old Baldwin City site.

That clinic, Epic Vision Eye Centers, opened its doors for the first time Thursday. Dr. Jill Dorsey said she would be in Baldwin City from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursdays. The clinic will look to expand those hours, she said. Epic Vision owns a number of clinics in the Kansas City metropolitan area on both sides of the state line. Dorsey said it was expanding to Baldwin City because of its belief in making eye care accessible to small towns.