Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here are resources, opportunities, and events to share with friends and neighbors:
1) New Return of the Allen Street Farmers Market on May 12
2) New Blended People Photography Show
3) New One Day Recycling of Computers and Electronics on May 1
4) New Urban Gardening and Urban Farming- happening on May 1
5) New Heads up on Home Invasions
6) Mom’s One Day at Potter Park Zoo on May 9
7) Free Lugnut Tickets Available!
8) Household Hazardous Waste Collection
9) Smoke Free Michigan
10) Garden Project April-June Newsletter
11) Empty Plate Dinner
12) Gardening Education Opportunities
13) New AmeriCorps Opening
14) Tai Chi in Hunter Park, every Saturday morning, beginning May 15
1) Return of the Allen Street Farmers Market!
The 2010 Allen Street Farmers Market kicks off on Wednesday, May 12, and continues every Wednesday thereafter until the end of October! Come welcome back our farmer/vendors (16 of them!), select from a wide range of starts for your gardens as well as early produce, stop by the ANC Outreach table to hear about the latest program offerings, gab with Gail at the Food Chatter Table, and catch up on news with your neighbors. Market time is 2:30 – 7:00 pm. See you there!
2) Blended People — Suellen Hozman Photography Show
Black and white photographs of Blended People who have parents with origins from different parts of the earth.
Opening Reception: May 2, 2010 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm, Honora Bird’s Studio Gallery, 1207 Turner Street in Old Town
Show runs from May 2 – May 30, 2010
Gallery hours are Wednesday – Saturday 11:00 am to 4:00 pm Sunday, 1:00 pm to 4 pm
3) One day recycling collection for computers and electronics
A one day special recycling collection for computers and electronics will be held this Saturday, May 1, 2010, from 8am-12pm at the City of Lansing’s Recycling Transfer Station (RTS), located at 530 E. South St.
4) Interested in Urban Gardening or Farming?
Urbandale Farm Update:
Laura DeLind and Linda Anderson, Co-Directors of the Lansing Urban Farm Project invite you to another workday at the Urbandale Farm in the 600 block of S. Hayford. Work Session #3 is scheduled for Saturday, May 1, noon to 3PM (weather permitting–If the weather seems doubtful to you, call 517-349-6797 to confirm that folks are gathering.)
Tools: Once again, if you have tools you can bring, that would be great. Laura and Linda will provide snacks and water. Come for whatever time you can spare, or just to check things out even if you can’t stay to work!
Prospect Place:
Members of Prospect Protectors, PLACE Neighbors, and ABC are creating a gardening and gathering spot near Prospect and Clifford. Come on by this Saturday, May 1, between 9 am and Noon to help out (Building fencing, digging beds, etc.) or just to check out the project.
5) Heads Up
There have been a number of home invasions in the neighborhood recently, particularly east of Clemens. Please stay alert and report unusual behavior.
6) 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
7) 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 dates 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
8 ) 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.
9) 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.
10) 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
11) 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.
12) 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.
13) AmeriCorps Opening with Power of We
The Power of We Consortium’s AmeriCorps*State Project is excited to place five summer AmeriCorps members to serve May 25-Aug. 20. AmeriCorps is a national service program that offers members a small living stipend and education award in exchange for a term of service.
AmeriCorps members will be placed at the following organizations in Ingham County:
1. Michigan Farmers Market Food Assistance Partnership-to develop and implement a system for recruiting, training, and supervising volunteers to assist in facilitating Bridge Card programs at farmers markets in Ingham County. (450 hours of service)
2. Mid-Michigan Food Bank/Sparrow Hospital-to develop the Kids Meal program to provide food for kids who receive free or reduced-price lunch at Otto Middle School. (450 hours of service)
3. Ingham County Land Bank (2 members)-to serve hands-on at 17 community gardens under the coordination of our full-year member at this host site. Gardening/farming experience preferred. (450 hours of service)
4. City of East Lansing-to develop a system for recruiting and training volunteers to carry out invasive species removal projects in local parks/natural areas. Plant biology knowledge preferred. (300 hours of service)
Summer AmeriCorps members receive a $3,017 living stipend and a $1,250 education award for 450 hours of service, a $2,012 living stipend and $1,000 education award for 300 hours of service.
Please apply online at www.AmeriCorps.gov. To find our program quickly using the drop-down menus, choose “Environment” as the area of interest and Michigan as the state. You will then be able to select The Power of We Consortium’s AmeriCorps Program (State/National). Contact Emily Thompson at ethompson@ingham.org or (517)-887-4596 if you have any questions about the program or difficulties with the online application.
14) 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.
