Clearfield Farmhaus events; informational meeting on proposed community center; depot celebration

Eudora residents will have two opportunities in the coming week to become acquainted with a rural business near the Clearfield United Methodist Church.

Nedra Mitchell, who owns Clearfield Farmhaus with her husband, Craig, said they would be the host of the monthly Eudora Chamber of Commerce meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday at the farm, 2222 North 600 Road. Those planning to attend should RSVP at info@eudorachamber.com by Monday. The farm will also welcome spring with a traditional German Mai Fest from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 20.

The chamber luncheon will feature speakers involved with promoting activities that the Mitchells are incorporating in their business. The featured guest will be Laurie Shuck, coordinator of the Kaw Valley Farm Tour, who will speak on agritourism. Mitchell said she expected Helen Schnoes, food systems coordinator for the Lawrence-Douglas County Sustainability Department, and Douglas County Extension agricultural agent Tom Buller to speak briefly at the meeting.

Mitchell said she and her husband bought the farm just east of the Clearfield United Methodist Church about two years ago. They were looking for a place in Douglas County because they shared the values of those in the local home produce movement, she said. They have started growing tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins and other vegetables that they sell at a number of local markets, including the Thursday Cottin’s Hardware market and, starting in June, the Eudora Farmers Market. They also plan to soon have their own market at the farm, Mitchell said.

The couple have completed extensive renovations on the farmhouse, but have kept its historic flavor, Mitchell said. It now as a licensed commercial kitchen that the couple are open to renting, as well as a gift shop, she said.

The Mai Fest event ties into the local German heritage that she and her husband have sought to connect with since buying the farm, Mitchell said. Activities include a Maipole, wagon rides, folk and square dances with music and tours of the nearby historic Clearfield school. The event is free. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.

Clearfield Farmhaus is available to rent for such events as baby showers, class reunions or family reunions, Mitchell said. For more information, email clearfieldfarmhaus@gmail.come or call 816-682-9330 or 913-568-2117.

The proposed Baldwin City community center has had a complex history since Baldwin City Recreation Commission board members and officials started advocating for the facility in November 2015. A referendum on a half-cent sales tax to help finance the project was scheduled, called off and then rescheduled for Aug 1. A hoped-for Baker University partnership never materialized. Conceptual plans have been revised and now envision a phased approach that would put off a proposed indoor swimming pool until a second round of construction. The revision cut the cost of the facility from $5 million to $3.95 million.

That downsizing also reduced from 2.75 mills to 1 mill the added taxing authority the BCRC board is requesting from the Baldwin City school board to help finance 25-year bonds for the center. The board will consider that request at its meeting at 7 p.m. Monday at the Baldwin Junior High School Performing Arts Center. The board has already agreed to provide property northwest of the Baldwin school district for the community center should it be built.

Baldwin City, Midland Railway, the Santa Fe Trail Association and the Kansas Belle Dinner Train will celebrate the completion of platform improvements at the city’s historic Santa Fe Depot from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 18 at the depot, 1515 High St. Homestead Bakery & Kitchen will provide appetizers and treats at the event, and the Kansas Belle Dinner Train will have drinks available for purchase.

Representatives from the city, Baldwin City Chamber of Commerce and Midland Railway will speak at 5:30 p.m., and drawings for tickets to the dinner train, Midland Railway excursions and Day Out with Thomas will be held at 6:15 p.m.

The work was done as part of a $143,000 Kansas Department of Transportation grant awarded in 2014. The city, Midland, the dinner train and the historical association provided a $70,000 local match.

Eudora High School students Sarah Case, Lindsey Fry and Vanessa Taylor are among the 175 band, choir and orchestra students selected to participate in this summer’s Kansas Ambassadors of Music European Tour. These students will perform in London, Paris, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany for 16 days in June.