Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here are resources, opportunities, and events to share with friends and neighbors:
1) Garden Startin’ Workshop tomorrow!
2) New Urbandale Farm Update
3) Walk with ANC for the Komen Race for the Cure on Sunday, April 25
4) New Mom’s Day at Potter Park Zoo on May 9
5) New Free Lugnut Tickets Available!
6) New Household Hazardous Waste Collection
7) New Smoke Free Michigan
8) New Garden Project April-June Newsletter
9) New Empty Plate Dinner
10) New Gardening Education Opportunities
11) Tai Chi in Hunter Park, every Saturday morning, beginning May 15
1) Garden Startin’ Workshop
Saturday, April 24, 2-3:30pm, at the Hunter Park GardenHouse
It is mid-April and time to get your garden in gear! Join Linda Anderson in the GardenHouse for a workshop that will outline the steps you need to take to give your plants the healthy start they need to be resilient through the season. This discussion will include soil preparation, tilling recommendations, lasagna bed prep, and more! This workshop is free though we will happily accept donations to support the GardenHouse.
2) Urbandale Farm Update:
Editor’s Note: Are you all aware that a small farm is developing in Urbandale? near the end of S. Hayford St.? Check out the update below from Linda Anderson, Co-Director of the Lansing Urban Farm Project with Laura Delind.
Update from Linda: Thank you to everyone who came out last Saturday! We made amazing progress, with about 20 people trimming back brush, hauling branches, raking leaves, picking up litter, and removing invasive species like garlic mustard. The lot already looks transformed!
Work Session #2 will be this Saturday, April 24, noon to 3PM (weather permitting*). We will finish cleaning up the lot, and if tilling has been done and compost has arrived, we will begin prepping the beds.
*Whether the weather: Forecast now is 50% chance of showers. If the weather seems doubtful to you, call 517-349-6797 to hear whether we are going to be out at noon or out at all.
Tools: Once again, if you have tools you can bring, that would be great.
We’ll provide snacks and water. Come for whatever time you can spare, or just to check us out even if you can’t stay to work! We’ll be working every Saturday for the next three from noon-3 pm!
FOUND: a pair of white leather gloves, size small. We’ll bring back this Saturday.
3) Komen’s 2010 Race for the Cure- Join the Allen Neighborhood Center Team
As you know, the 2010 Race for the Cure is coming soon – Sunday, April 25 at the State Capitol grounds in downtown Lansing. The Race starts at 2:00 p.m., and folks can stroll, walk or run—from 1-5 miles. As grantees of the Komen Foundation, Allen Neighborhood Center has a 600 person Breast Health Club comprised of folks who receive a monthly post card that reminds them to do a breast self exam and also offers other information about how to support breast health, e.g., nutritionally. Members bring their cards to the Allen Street Farmers Market and redeem them for flax seed and walnuts—cancer fighting foods!
The Annual Race for the Cure is more than just a fundraising event – it is a celebration of hope. ANC is pleased to participate in this fun and lively event; and each year we gather a large number of Eastside neighbors and friends to walk with us. It is an especially wonderful way to celebrate breast cancer survivorship – so please encourage your family members and neighbors to attend, especially survivors. And, we appreciate your support in joining the ANC team to participate in the Race, if you are able to do so. Here is the link for joining the ANC’s walking team; thanks for helping spreading the word about this!
4) Mom’s Day at Potter Park Zoo
Potter Park Zoo invites moms and their families for a fun-filled Mom’s Day at the Zoo on Sunday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. In honor of Mother’s Day, all moms residing in Ingham County will receive FREE admission to the Zoo. Activities begin at 11 a.m. and include a special Mom’s Day themed animal enrichment, activities for the whole family, live animal presentations, and much more. Plus the first 500 moms through the gate also will receive a free carnation!
For more information visit: www.potterparkzoo.org
5) Mayor’s Office Offers Lansing Lugnut Tickets
At this time the Mayor’s Office has made stand seating tickets for the Lansing Lugnuts Games available for community use. The dateswe have available are listed below.
Stand Seating – 34 Tickets – Dates Available….
Monday, April 19, 2010 7:05 PM
Saturday, April 24, 2010 4:05 PM
Saturday, May 1, 2010 7:05 PM
Monday, May 3, 2010 7:05 PM
Monday, May 10, 2010 7:05 PM
Wednesday, May 12, 2010 10:30 AM
Tuesday, May 25, 2010 7:05 PM
Wednesday, May 26, 2010 7:05 PM
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 7:05 PM
Wednesday, June 2, 2010 7:05 PM
Saturday, June 5, 2010 7:05 PM
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 7:05 PM
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 7:05 PM
Monday, July 12, 2010 7:05 PM
Wednesday, July 21, 2010 7:05 PM
Sunday, July 25, 2010 2:05 PM
Wednesday, July 28, 2010 7:05 PM
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 7:05 PM
Saturday, August 14, 2010 7:05 PM
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 7:05 PM
Sunday, August 29, 2010 2:05 PM
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 7:05 PM
Thursday, September 2, 2010 7:05 PM
If you have any questions or are interested, please feel free to contact Aaron or Renee at
the Mayor’s Office at (517) 483-4141, or by email at aroberts@lansingmi.gov
6) Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Thursdays, May-September, 2 p.m.-6 p.m., Ingham County Health Department (5303 S. Cedar St.)
This free collection day is for Ingham County residents only. Items being accepted include: pesticides, rechargeable batteries (no alkaline or auto), cleaners and polishes, flammables, fuel oil, cell phones, medications, photographic chemicals, etc. Call the Ingham County Health Department hotline for more information at 517-887-4521.
7) Smoke Free Michigan
We are weeks away from having smoke-free air in the state of Michigan. The smoking ban, which takes effect on May 1, will apply to nearly all workplaces, bars, restaurants and hotels, and help safeguard Michigan workers from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. For information, you can visit www.michigan.gov/smokefreelaw. You may also call toll-free (866) 59-SMOKE.
8 ) Garden Project April-June Newsletter
Check out the Garden Project’s Garden Notes for garden tips, garden workshops, planting schedules, and information on Garden Project resources.
http://bit.ly/auzN5I
9) Volunteer Opportunity: Greater Lansing Food Bank’s Empty Plate Dinner
Saturday, May 13, different shifts available
The Greater Lansing Food Bank is in need of volunteers for the Empty Plate Dinner in the Big Ten Room of the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. The Empty Plate Dinner is a large fundraising event for the GLFB and will not be able to happen without volunteer support. We are in need of a variety of people to assist with greeting, auction spotting, setup and more. Those with an interest or background in hospitality management or customer service are highly encouraged to contact us. Professionalism is of the utmost importance. To volunteer or for questions about volunteering, contact Alex at alex@greaterlansingfoodbank.org or 517-887-4307.
10) Garden Education Collaborative
The Greater Lansing Garden Education Collaborative has produced an awesome poster full of classes and hands-on workshops for gardeners of all skill levels (you may have seen them around town). Classes cover a wide variety of topics and are offered at locations throughout Lansing. Check out www.letsgardenlansing.org to view the poster.
11) Tai Chi in Hunter Park: Practice in the Park
Beginning on May 15, at 10 am, Bob Teachout, a local t’ai chi teacher, will be practicing in Hunter Park on Saturday mornings, and invites anyone who would like to learn this exercise system to join him. Bob is working with Allen Neighborhood Center to bring this beneficial practice to neighbors and friends who are looking for a gentle exercise program. No previous Tai Chi experience is necessary.
T’ai chi is a slow moving and calming discipline that is accessible to all ages. These practice sessions will also include warm-ups, qigong exercises (t’ai chi is one of many qigong exercises) t’ai chi forms, and meditation. The many health benefits include improved circulation, respiration, balance and coordination. Continued practice over time improves our ability to cope with stressful situations, and enhances immune function.
Join us on Saturday, May 15, and every Saturday thereafter for a 45 minute to 1 hour session. When the snows blow, we’ll move our practice into the GardenHouse.
