Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Here are four activities for tomorrow (Saturday) and many more opportunities and events coming up in May—the busiest month of the year!
1) New LCC West Campus Open House on Saturday
2) One Day Recycling of Computers and Electronics on Saturday
3) New Urban Gardening and Urban Farming on Saturday
4) New Fundraiser for REACH Art Studio on Saturday
5) New Craftsman Style: The Movie on May 5 (A must see)
6) New Mid-MEAC First Friday Luncheon (Net-Zero House with windmill) on May 7
7) Blended People Photography Show opens May 2
8) New An Evening of Women’s Health on May 4
9) Return of the Allen Street Farmers Market on May 12
10) New Congratulations, Allison!
11) Mom’s One Day at Potter Park Zoo on May 9
12) New Neighborhood Watch Alert
13) New Mid-Michigan Garlic Mustard Challenge
14) Household Hazardous Waste Collection
15) Smoke Free Michigan
16) Empty Plate Dinner
17) Gardening Education Opportunities
18) New AmeriCorps Opening
19) Tai Chi in Hunter Park, every Saturday morning, beginning May 15
P.S. Mark your calendars and stay tuned for details about the June 5 World Day in Hunter Park—a joint celebration of World Refugee Day and the Hunter Park Music Fest. The event will feature non-stop global music, dance performances, swimming, gardening workshops, the Blues’ Family Health Walk (Earn a $5 Market Coin by completing four laps of the Hunter Park path), a health fair, a Farmers Market and Food Court, a Global Arts and Crafts Show, and much more! Evening performances include the Burundian Choir, the Sailor-Delancy Big Band (17 member jazz group), and Orchestra Ritmo!
1) LCC West Campus Open House…
…showcases programs this Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, that are “hands-on, interactive, collaborative, high-tech and cutting edge”, including:
Building Trades, Horticulture and Landscape, Heating Ventilating and Air Conditioning Technology, Heavy Equipment Operation and Repair, Civil technology, Automotive Technology, Geospatial TechnologyMachining, Welding, Truck Driver Training
2) 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.
3) Interested in Urban Gardening or Farming?
Urbandale Farm Update from Linda and Laura
Hello, supporters of Urbandale Farm. Thanks for another great work day last Saturday! The lot is looking better and better.
BIG NEWS: Tilling was done on Thursday evening! This Saturday, we will mark off beds and spread compost on them. We might even plant some collards and lettuce starts. So, if you can come lend a hand, or even if you just want to drop by and check us out:
Urbandale Farm work session, Saturday, May 1, noon to 3PM, weather permitting. Weather forecast is for showers in the morning but clear by noon. If there’s a question about whether we’re working, call 517-349-6797. Urbandale Farm is located in the 700 block of S. Hayford (a few blocks south of E. Kalamazoo and a few blocks west of 127.
Tools: If you have the following and can bring them, we would appreciate it: garden cart or wheelbarrow, shovels, rakes, trowels. Thanks!
Prospect Place: (This Saturday’s task: Building the composting and water retention center)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 or just to check out the project.
4) Fundraiser for REACH Studio
This coming Saturday, May 1st, Barnes & Noble is hosting a “Reach Studio Art Center” Bookfair! A percentage of the net sales from in store and online purchases will benefit Reach.
In store event:
Saturday 5/1 from 9:00 am – 10:00 pm
333 E. Grand River Avenue, East Lansing (old Jacobson’s building)
2-4 on Saturday, Reach Teen Studio participants and Alice will be offering a free card and collage-making activity!
Online event:
Saturday 5/1 – Friday 5/7 g
Go to bn.com/bookfairs to purchase items and enter Reach’s Bookfair ID: 10193399
We hope to see you Saturday, and thank you for supporting Reach!
5) Craftsman Style: The Movie selected as a Preservation Month 2010 Event in Kalamazoo, Michigan
Over 400 of you attended the Lansing premiere of Craftsman Style: The Movie at Dart Auditorium last September. The film documented the restoration of an Eastside home on Regent Street, and celebrated craftsmanship, embedded energy, and community. Recently the film, by Lansing/Eastside restorationist Dave Muylle and independent film-maker Shane Hagadorn, was selected by the Kalamazoo Historic Preservation Commission as a special Preservation Month Event! Dave and Shane’s film will be shown on Wednesday, May 5 at 7 pm at 511 W. Vine–in the Vine Neighborhood Community Room in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Dave will introduce the film and answer questions after.) The city of Kalamazoo, a leader in restoration, has an entire month long celebration of restoration. For Craftsman Style to be selected as part of the celebration is quite an honor for Dave and Shane, and we send our congratulations to them both! If you can’t drive over to Kalamazoo next Wednesday, you also have the option of stopping by ANC to purchase a copy of this inspiring film. Proceeds go to Allen Neighborhood Center. For information about the Kalamazoo showing, call Sharon Ferraro at 337-8804.
6) MidMEAC’s First Friday Land Use lunch
When a competition to design a net-Zero house was announced to colleges in the state, some might have assumed it was meant for architecture programs at bigger schools. But Jed Dingens, AIA, LEED, recruited a group of LCC students, induced them to work long hours and extra weeks, and together the team has produced a zero-energy Victorian style house with a feather on top (the windmill). The winning home will be built on Mackinac Island.
MidMEAC’s First Friday Land Use lunch will be held at noon on May 7th at Central United Methodist Church. A light buffet lunch is served (suggested donation $5.) We’re always done by 1:00, no need to send in reservations. Hope to see you there!
7) 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
8 ) An Evening of Women’s Health
On Tuesday, May 4, IRMC is hosting “An Evening of Women’s Health” at the Dawe Auditorium at 6 p.m. Join Ingham’s expert panel of obstetric/gynecologic physicians as they discuss a variety of women’s topics. As an added incentive, anyone who attends can pick up a coupon for a free 30-day membership to participating Curves locations! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about women’s health and to jump start your exercise routine!
9) 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!
10) Congratulations, Allison!
Thanks to all of you who came out to join the Allen Neighborhood Center Team in last Sunday’s Susan G. Komen’s Race for the Cure. And congratulations, Allison Burkholder, Americorps and GardenHouse Maven at ANC, for winning 3rd place in her age group!
11) 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
12) Neighborhood Watch Group Alert
B&E ALERT: NEIGHBORHOOD PROBLEM
This message is being sent out to advise residents living in areas east of Pennsylvania Ave. We have had an up surge in Breaking & Enterings in your area. We have determined that the B&E’s may be attributed to a group of 2-4, teenage, B/M’s. They have been seen milling around neighborhoods and going up residences where nobody is home. They may also be driving a white 1980′s Chevy Caprice. Please be on the look out for groups of young people milling around the area and PLEASE CALL (517) 483-4600 and report any activity like described above. If you see a crime in progress please call 911. Thank you,
Officer Jeromy Churchill
13) Mid-Michigan Garlic Mustard Challenge!
Help us protect our natural areas by removing as much non-native garlic mustard as possible before it goes to seed! Garlic mustard out-competes native plants by profusely seeding, stopping nitrogen fixation in surrounding plants, and being inedible by native insects/animals. As a result it totally carpets both sunny and shady places in our natural areas.
Garlic mustard pulling is easy and gratifying to do, and you’ll meet lots of interesting people! Each site below on the weekend of June 5-6 will compete for the Golden Bag Award, given to the group who pulls the most 30-gallon bags of garlic mustard! In turn, Mid-Michigan will be competing with Stewardship Network groups all over the state plus northern Indiana. Let’s show how much WE CARE about our wonderful woods and parks!
If you pull on your own, note that garlic mustard should be tightly bagged and disposed of in your trash, not yard waste, to prevent its spread. This is provided for by MI law. Brush your shoes afterwards to avoid spreading the tiny seeds. Please wear gardening gloves, long-sleeved shirts and pants and covered shoes to avoid any poison ivy, and bring a bottle of drinking water. We will provide bags, instruction, cheerful company, and a chance to learn more about nature.
Please RSVP to the leader for the site you choose below, who will provide you with meeting place information.
Garlic Mustard Challenge Event Sites:
· Burchfield Park in Holt (Ingham County Parks)
Leader: Tim Buckley; tbuckley@ingham.org
Saturday, June 5, 10am-noon
· Fenner Nature Center in Lansing (Lansing Parks)
Leader: Barb Ringlein, bringlein@netpenny.netSaturday, June 5, 9am-noon; second pull Sunday, June 6, 9am-noon
· Lansing River Trail at Potter Park in Lansing (AmeriCorps and Lansing Parks)
Leader: Payal Ravani; payal@michigantrails.org
Sunday, June 6, 1pm-3pm
· Hawk Island Park/Scott Woods in Lansing (Lansing Parks, Ingham County Parks)
Leader: Andy Cease; acease@ingham.orgSaturday, June 5, 10am-noon; second pull from 1pm-3pm
· Harris Nature Center and Meridian Riverfront Park in Okemos (Meridian Parks)
Leader: Kit Rich; harriscenter@sbcglobal.netSaturday, June 5, 9:30am-11:30am
· Adjacent to Toumey Woods on the MSU campus (Michigan State University)
Leader: Jim Hewitt; tz4ggm@aol.com and (517)337-8409
Saturday, June 5, 9am-11am
· Waterloo Recreation Area at 16345 McClure Rd, Chelsea (Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources & Environment)
Leader: Laurel Malvitz-Draper; malvitzl@michigan.gov; (517)719-2285 day of event; (248)359-9057 before June 5
Saturday, June 5, 10am-1pm
· Henry Fine Park on Blanchette Drive (East Lansing Parks)
Leader: Wendy Wilmers Longpre; wlongpr@cityofeastlansing.com
Saturday, June 5, 10am-11:30am
· Lake Lansing North Park, Haslett (Ingham County Parks and Mid-Michigan Stewardship Initiative)
Leader: Leslie Kuhn; midmich@stewardshipnetwork.org
Saturday, June 5, 10am-noon; snacks will be provided
Partner organizations: Stewardship Network’s Mid-Michigan Stewardship Initiative, Greening Mid-Michigan, AmeriCorps, Meridian Township Parks and Land Preservation, Ingham County Parks, Fenner Nature Center, Michigan State University, Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources & Environment, and East Lansing Parks
14) 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.
15) 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.
16) 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.
17) 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.
18) 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.
19) 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.
