Active Neighboring News: MLK Events, Potter Park docents, Winter Free Day, CADL's 'NECESSARY', and more.
Joan Nelson
Active Neighboring News
Distributed by Allen Neighborhood
Center
Please forward to friends and neighbors!
For Restoration Works, Allen
Street Farmers Market, Hunter Park GardenHouse,
and other ANC News, check out our website at www.allenneighborhoodcenter.org
January 13, 2012
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Enjoy this very full weekend. Consider attending Jazz: Spirituals, Prayers and Protests, a free concert and annual MLK Commemorative Celebration, at the Wharton Center this Sunday. Details at: http://whartoncenter.com/boxoffice/performance.aspx?pid=915
1) New CADL presents ‘NECESSARY” FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
2) New Docent Recruitment Day on SATURDAY
3) Gardeners Roundtable every SUNDAY
4) New Trash and Recycling Collections Delayed next week
5) New Winter Free Day at Ingham County Parks on 1/16
6) New Cooking Matters Class begins 1/17
7) New The New Jim Crow on 1/17
8) New CPR and First Aid Training on 1/17-18
9) Planning Your Gardening Year on 1/21
10) New Breakfasts with Bauer – Jan. through May Schedule
11) Eco-Photo Excursions on 1/21
12) Garden Leaders Training beginning in January
13) Rebuilding Together Applications due 1/20
14) New Ruth Hallman’s Annual Birthday Party on 1/27
15) Recycle
Old Meds on 1/28
16) New An
Evening with Susan Eisenberg on 2/1
17) New Everybody Eats Conference on 2/10-11
18) Bea Christy Dinner on 2/10
19) New Power of We Marketing Workshop on 2/16
20) New Frost Fest on 2/18
21) New GLHC Annual Theater Party on 2/22
22) New ENO’s Annual Eastside Souper on 3/3
23) New Komen’s Race for the Cure-Walk with ANC on 4/29
24) New Hawk Island Tri- Save the date for 6/3
Ongoing Offerings
25) New Teen Community Art Project
26) New From LCC- Making Your Computer Work for You
27) Land Bank Home for sale on Lathrop Street
28) Free Intro to Computers at MI Works
29) Asset Independence Coalition Offers Free Tax Prep
30) Mid-Day Movies (Free)
31) Tips from VanAtta’s
32) New Quote of the Week
Your Friends at ANC
P.S. Playmakers, an exemplary corporate citizen and partner with many of us who are involved in supporting healthy environments and choices via races, sponsorship of classes and workshops, is having it’s not-to-be-missed Sidewalk Sales all weekend, through Monday.
1) CADL Celebrates Black History
Friday, January 13, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
& Saturday, January 14, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Downtown Lansing Library, 401 S. Capitol Avenue
The Capital Area District Library is hosting a special exhibit in honor
of Black History on January 13 and 14. The exhibit, called NECESSARY! is
curated by the Black History 101 Mobile Museum (www.blackhistory101mobilemuseum.com/).
Necessary! focuses on the legacy of revolutionary leader Malcolm X and features
over 150 historical artifacts from Malcolm X’s life and work, including rare
photographs, magazine covers, and relics of racism from America’s past. Saturday
events include a program called Malcolm X and Hip Hop presented by hip hop
legend Professor Griff of Public Enemy at 11 a.m., a performance by Shabazz
Academy African Dancers and Drum Group at 1 p.m., and a Black History
Storytime for children of all ages at 2 p.m.
For information about the library’s hours, services or events, call (517) 367-6363, or visit cadl.org/downtownlansing.
2) Docent Recruitment Day
Saturday, January 14, 2012 - 10:00am - 12:00pm at Potter Park Zoo Discovery Center
Stop by the zoo and find out how you can become part of the dynamic team of volunteers known as the Potter Park Zoo docents. You'll learn about what it takes to be one and will have the opportunity to meet current docents and some of PPZ's education animals. Those interested in becoming a docent will also have the opportunity to fill out an application and schedule an interview. Tours of the zoo will be offered, so please dress for the weather.
Some of our docents are trained to work with our education animals, some help with zoo tours and programs, while others work to enhance our visitors' experience at the zoo. Sound like something you'd like to be a part of? Then we'll see you on January 14th!
3) Gardeners Roundtable
Every Sunday, 12:30-1:30pm at the Hunter Park GardenHouse
Are you suffering ‘gardener’s withdrawal’? Missing the smell of green and growing things as you trudge across last year’s back yard vegetable garden, now covered with crunchy snow? Come join us any (and every) Sunday at the GardenHouse to swap gardening stories, drink in the smell of soil and green plants, share ideas, tips, and occasionally seeds and plants. Gardeners of any level of experience or skill are invited to wander on over for relaxed and informal conversations, leaf through our seed catalogues, and enjoy a cup of tea. RSVP with Rita at ri...@allenneighborhoodcenter.org or 517-999-3910.
4) TRASH AND RECYCLING COLLECTIONS DELAYED
Due to the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, City of Lansing's trash and recycling collections on Monday, January 16th and the rest of the week following will be delayed by one day. Thursday's regularly scheduled collections will be picked up on Friday. The regular collection schedule will resume on Monday, January 23, 2012. Residents contracting with private trash haulers are urged to check with their collection companies for possible scheduling changes. For more information, call the City of Lansing, Capital Area Recycling and Trash Hotline at 483-4400, email rec...@lansingmi.gov or visit www.lansingrecycles.com.
5) WINTER FREE DAY AT INGHAM COUNTY PARKS
Please join us on Monday, January 16th for free activities at several Ingham County Parks. Parks open at 8:00am and close at ½ hour after sunset. Activities begin at 10:00am unless noted otherwise.
Some winter sports activities are not available if there is insufficient snow. For daily updates on winter sports availability, call 676-2233 and follow the prompts.
For more information on these activities please visit www.inghamcountyparks.org.
Burchfield Park (located at 881 Grovenburg Road, Holt)
FREE Entrance into the park
FREE Cross Country ski rental (10:00am to 1 hour before sunset)
FREE Snow Tube Rentals
FREE Hot Chocolate or coffee (limit one)
FREE Soup or Chili (limit one)
Sledding hills are always free!
Lake Lansing Park North (located at 6260 East Lake Drive in Haslett)
FREE Entrance into the park
FREE Cross Country Ski rental (10:00am to 1 hour before sunset)
FREE Hot Chocolate or Coffee (limit one)
Hawk Island County Park (located at 1601 East Cavanaugh in Lansing)
FREE Entrance into the park
FREE Snow Tube Rentals (10:00am to 1 hour before sunset if operational)
FREE Hot Chocolate or Coffee (limit one)
For more information or photographs to include in publications, please contact Willis Bennett at wben...@ingham.org or by calling (517) 244-7191.
|
Tuesdays at 8:30am in the Greater Lansing Islamic Center Gym,
920 S. Harrison, East Lansing
Introduction and welcome class on Tuesday, January 10, 2011, full course starts
Tuesday, January 17, 2011 (6 classes, 2 hours each on Tuesday at 8:30.)
You will receive free tips, FREE GROCERIES, free goodies, and a graduation certificate Space is LIMITED.! Come to learn about cooking, nutrition, and budgeting tips!
For more information, contact Dua @ 517-918-6350 or dalda...@gmail.com
7) The New Jim Crow: Consequences of Conviction & the Costs to Taxpayers
The Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Northwest Initiative/A.R.R.O., and the Black Law Students Association invite you to attend the 2012 Martin Luther King Jr. Day event.
The New Jim Crow: Consequences of Conviction & the Costs to Taxpayers
Presented by: Dr. Michelle Alexander, Assoc. Professor Ohio State University - Moritz College of Law, Author of The New Jim Crow
Tuesday, January 17, 2012, 5:30-8 p.m., Cooley Temple
Conference Center
217 S. Capitol Ave.,
6th Floor Auditorium; Reception to follow.
Dr. Michelle Alexander, legal scholar and author, will speak on employment and other consequences of a conviction and how barriers to employment for individuals with convictions hurt our communities, families, and taxpayers.
Sponsors: Thomas M. Cooley Law School, Northwest Initiative, Michigan Legislative Black Caucus, Presbyterian Committee on the Self-Development of People, I CARE, I VOICE, I ADVOCATE, ACLU of Michigan, American Friends Service Committee, A.R.R.O., Marygrove Social Justice & Community Engagement, Citizens for Prison Reform, Lansing Latino Health Alliance, Michigan Council on Crime and Delinquency, Michigan League for Human Services, The New Citizen’s Press, Everybody Reads
8) CPR and First Aid Training
Tuesday/Wednesday, January 17/18, 6-10 p.m., Lansing Area Safety Council
The Lansing Area Safety Council is offering National Safety Council CPR/First
Aid Courses for childcare providers and the general public. This Adult
& Pediatric First Aid/CPR Course covers: Breathing and cardiac
emergencies in infants and children; identifying and caring for common
age-related injuries.
COST: Pre-paid Fee Required $50.00 First Aid & CPR (both
courses), $30.00 First Aid or CPR (single course). If not prepaid,
cost is $60/$40 at door! (Class fee is non-refundable unless cancel 72
hours before scheduled class.)
-CPR Training: Tuesday, January 17, 6-10 p.m.
-First Aid Training: Wednesday, January 18, 6-10 p.m.
For more information, or to register for a course, call (517) 394-4614, email in...@safetycouncil.org,
or visit www.safetycouncil.org
9) Planning Your Gardening Year
Saturday, January 21, 12:30-2pm at the Hunter Park GardenHouse
Did you know that an important part of vegetable gardening happens in the dead of winter? It’s the very necessary planning and perusing, designing and drawing, dreaming and scheming, all done indoors where its warm and snug! At this workshop, led by Linda Anderson, you will learn when different garden tasks should be done throughout the year, how to decide what to plant, and how to lay out your vegetable garden. There will be time at the workshop for you to dig in and get started on your plans, with access to lots of garden catalogs and books as well as experienced gardeners to answer your questions. Come get a jump on the 2011 gardening year! $5 suggested donation. RSVP with Rita at ri...@allenneighborhoodcenter.org or 517-999-3910
10) Breakfast with Bauer
Message from State Rep. Joan Bauer
Dear Friend,
As you know, I sponsor a monthly “Breakfast with Bauer.” I’ve included the schedule for the first half of 2012. I invite you to join me from 9 to 10 a.m. for a light breakfast and to share your thoughts and opinions. This is also a great opportunity for me to update you about what’s going on in the Michigan Legislature.
Saturday, Jan. 21 at Gone Wired Cafe, 2021 East Michigan Ave., in Lansing.
Thursday, Feb. 16 at Pablo’s, 311 East Grand River Ave., in Old Town.
Saturday, March 17 at Gone Wired Cafe, 2021 East Michigan Ave., in Lansing.
Thursday, April 19 at Flap Jack, 1601 South Waverly Road, in Waverly.
Saturday, May 19 at Gone Wired Cafe, 2021 East Michigan Ave., in Lansing.
I look forward to seeing you soon! Please feel free to call my office at (517) 373-0826 or email me at joan...@house.mi.gov if you have any questions or concerns.
11) Eco-Photo Excursions at Fenner
Contact: Katie Woodhams, Prog. Manager, (517) 483-4224; ka...@mynaturcenter.org
Fenner Nature Center is pleased to announce that they will be collaborating with Great Lakes Photo Tours to host a series of Eco-Photo Excursions. These one-day nature photography workshops will be hosted by professional photographers Mark Carlson and Bob Grzesiak. With over 50 years of combined experience in nature photography, Bob and Mark are able to assist participants with everything from the basics of using the camera to creative composition and design.
The first workshop will be held on January 21st from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Participants will receive classroom
instruction inside before taking to the trails and capturing the beauty of
nature in the winter. The trails at Fenner Nature
Center abound with
wildlife in the winter months, and participants are likely to get up close and
personal with deer, turkey, numerous species of birds and small mammals. The cost of the workshop is $79 per
person. Registration ends on January 6th
and there is limited space available.
For more information as well as on-line registration, visit us on the web at www.mynaturecenter.org. Call us at 517.483.4224.
12) Free Garden Leaders Training
Saturdays (Multiple Classes), 9:00a- Noon, Foster Community Center, Room 213
Come join area gardeners at the Garden Project's 2012 Garden Leaders
Training series. If you're thinking about starting a new community garden,
joining an existing garden, or want more info on how to be a coordinator, this
program is essential! There are four classes on a variety of topics, on January
21, February 11, March 3, and March 24. All are on Saturday mornings from
9AM-Noon.
Presented by The Garden Project of the Greater Lansing Food Bank
Contact: garden...@greaterlansingfoodbank.org or (517) 853-7809
13) Rebuilding Together Ingham County
2012 Applications
Do you know a low-income homeowner that is disabled or over 60 years
of age and could use some home repairs or maintenance? Rebuilding Together Ingham County
is taking applications for the 2012 Rebuilding Day to be held April 28,
2012. The new application deadline is January 20, 2012. For an application, call (517) 214-8356.
The following are the criteria for Eligible Applicants: own and reside in
an Ingham county home, property taxes are up-to-date, homeowner’s insurance is
current, income at or below $1,361 per month for a one-person household or
$1,839 per month for a two person household, homeowner plans to be in home for
at least two years, and unable physically and financially to complete the
requested repairs.
This is a great project that helped eighteen homeowners in
2011!
For more information go to http://www.rebuildingtogether.org/
14) Come Celebrate Ruth Hallman’s Annual Birthday Party with Chili & Soup!
It is that time of year again. On Friday the 27th we will be raising money for the LPD Problem Solving Fund. This fund has allowed the LPD to make a difference in a number of neighborhoods. As police see a problem that will take more time attention to solve the officers work with command to develop a solutions to the problem and if that entails overtime for officers this fund helps paid for that.
January 27th, Friday
Serving starts at 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
IBEW 665 at 5205 S. Pennsylvania
Suggested donation $10.00
(Check can be written to the City of Lansing and sent C/O Jim Deline, LPD, 120 W. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933. Please note in the Memo Ruth Hallman Fund.)
For further information, email Carol Wood at cwood...@aol.com
15) Recycle Old Meds
Date: January 28, 2012, Southside Community Center, 5825 Wise Rd
(between Jolly and Miller), Time: 9am-1pm, Free for Ingham County
Residents
Bring pharaceuticals to this special collection, instead of flushing
them or throwing them in the trash. Medications are being found in our
nation’s waters. Not flushing meds down the drain ensures they do not end
up in the drinking water or surface water.
16) An Evening with Susan Eisenberg: In Honor of Pioneering Women in the Workplace
One of the pioneers in the struggle for women’s rights will
be honored on Wednesday, February 1, 2012, at 7:30 PM. The event, entitled
“An Evening with Susan Eisenberg: in honor of pioneering women in the
workplace,” will be hosted by The Old Town Poetry series and Our Daily Work/Our
Daily Lives (a labor history program in the MSU School of Labor and Industrial
Relations). The event will be held at The Creole Gallery, 1218 Turner St. in Lansing’s
Old Town.
Eisenberg, a poet/essayist/artist/construction worker and women’s
studies educator, is one of the country’s most notable voices addressing the
achievements of women in the construction industry and skilled trades. She is
the author of We’ll Call You If We Need You: Experiences of Women Working
Construction (1998) and three volumes of poetry: Blind Spot (2006), Pioneering:
Poems from the Construction Site (1998), and It’s a Good Thing I’m Not Macho
(1984).
Her art exhibit “On Equal Terms,” a mixed-media installation on the
experience of women in construction, will open at the MSU Museum
at 3 PM on Sunday, February 5.
The event will be part reception to honor Eisenberg for her work and
give her an opportunity to meet the public. In addition, she will read
selections from her poetry on the experiences of women in the construction
trades, participate in a Q&A session, and be available to sign books and/or
discuss issues with the audience.
17) Everybody Eats: Cultivating Food
Democracy
A Public Conference on Food in the
Lansing Area,
February 10 – 11, Location T.B.A.
Food matters. It is the stuff of life. Over the past decade, the
Greater Lansing area has seen the emergence of numerous farmers markets,
urban garden projects, hoop houses, new restaurants and educational
programs – all designed to strengthen our local food system. Just what is
happening? Who is involved? What more needs to be done to ensure food
security and social justice?
“Everybody Eats: Cultivating Food Democracy” will address these
questions. The conference will begin on Friday evening, February 10th with
a keynote presentation by Catherine Bylinowski, program manager of
Cultivate Kansas City’s Juniper Gardens Training Farm. It will continue all day
Saturday, February 11th with dozens of topical sessions and a keynote by
Malik Yakini, President of the Detroit Food Policy Council and founder of
the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network. The conference is open
to the public. Scholarships are available. For program and registration
information contact Kyle Whyte at kwh...@msu.edu or (517) 432-1034. facebook.com/EverybodyEatsMI
18) Save the Date: 25th Annual Bea Christy Dinner
February 10; Lansing Center; $16 per ticket. Call the Lansing Neighborhood Council at 393-9883 for details.
19) Flexing Your Marketing Muscle: Social Media Strategy
Another great workshop from Power of We
Thursday, February 16, 2012, 2:00 – 4:00pm at Michigan High School Athletic Association, located at 1661 Ramblewood Dr., East Lansing, MI
Marketing and branding a nonprofit in today’s business world can be a daunting task. This workshop will serve to define, enhance and broaden attendees’ understanding of strategy and policy for nonprofit organizations utilizing social media. Interactive group work will facilitate the development of comprehensive campaigns tailored to accomplish specific organizational goals for attendees. General guidelines for policy development and content creation will help to direct specific online initiatives which incorporate sites like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
Workshop presenter Andi Osters harnesses her passion for competition as a Program & Development Assistant at the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) in East Lansing, Michigan. Andi’s varied tasks with the MHSAA include operation of the association’s social media campaigns on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube, coordination of the annual Captain’s Clinic series across the state, and oversight of online ticket sales, trophies & medals, and tournament credentials. A proud 2004 graduate of Michigan State University, Andi pens a sports editorial column for Lansing NOISE magazine, a Gannett-owned publication. She is a member of the Michigan Society of Association Executives and serves on the Sparrow Hospital Children’s Miracle Network Committee on behalf of Officials for Kids.
Registration begins at 1:30pm; advance registration is required. For registration information, please call the Consortium at (517) 887-4691. Workshop will start promptly at 2:00
20) Frost Fest12
Saturday, February 18: 6 p.m.- 12 midnight
Frost Fest12 is Lansing’s
only winter celebration! Frost Fest will take place on Saturday, February 18
from 6:00 p.m. until mid-night on the 200 S. Block of Washington Sq. We’ll be
serving up delicious microbrews, great live music and plenty of frosty
entertainment in a heated tent.
Tickets are $12 in advance, or $15 at the door for those 21 and older
only. Last year's event sold out so make sure to get your tickets soon!
Tickets will be available online in mid-January at fusionshows.com. You
can sign up your team for the "Cold Butt" Euchre tournament,
volunteer, and view all event activities at www.frostfest.org.
21) GLHC Fundraiser- Annual Theatre Party
Plan on joining supporters of the Greater Lansing Housing Coalition for their annual Theatre Party Wednesday, February 22nd at Riverwalk Theatre as they present Smokey Joe's Café. Mark your calendars for February 22nd, 2012 as we present an exclusive performance of Smokey Joe's Cafe at Riverwalk Theatre. This is our annual winter fundraiser and tickets sell-out quickly. Plan on getting yours early.
About the show:
Smokey Joe's Café is a Musical Revue of the Songs of Jerry
Lieber and Mike Stoller, directed by Diane Spicer and Hope Rollins.
The longest running musical revue in Broadway history, this exciting musical
showcases thirty-nine Rhythm and Blues, Pop, and Rock and Roll songs written by
Lieber and Stoller, including such favorites as Love Potion Number Nine, Hound
Dog, On Broadway, Spanish Harlem, and Stand By Me.
Tickets $35 and are available now. Email us at gl...@glhc.org or call 517-372-5980 for more information.
22) Eastside Souper
The Lansing's Eastside Neighborhood Organization's 32nd Annual Spring Souper is Saturday, March 3, 2012, 4-7 pm, at Pattengill Middle School 626 Marshall Street Lansing Michigan 48912. Tickets are $5 per person, $3 Children under 14, Families of 4 or more $18.
You can enjoy wonderful soups of all types, yummy desserts and much more. We also will have an Adult and Kids only raffles along will a silent and live auction. There will be special local celebrity soup servers as well.
It is a great way to warm up a cold winter Saturday. Portion of the proceeds will go to a local charity. For questions and/or donations please contact Nancy Mahlow at 517-372-3249 or nma...@yahoo.com or Denise Kelley at 517-484- 9109 or
23) Komen Race for the Cure.
Join ANC’s Race for the Cure Team on Sunday, April 29th, in support of breast cancer services, research and awareness. ANC is starting to recruit members early in an effort to have a LARGE and exciting team! We have a blast each year on this walk; a wonderful time is guaranteed! To sign up for Allen Neighborhood Center’s team go to: http:www.komenmidmichigan.org/ - click on register today, then click on join existing team and type in Allen Neighborhood Center!
24) 2012 Hawk-I-Tri Registration Now Open
6th Annual Hawk Island
Triathlon, Sunday, June 3 at Hawk
Island County
Park
SWIM 400m, BIKE 16k, RUN 5k
This beginner-friendly multi-sport event is designed to
welcome and support people of all ages, sizes, and abilities as they venture
into the world of triathlon. It's also a great warm-up race for seasoned
athletes gearing up for the summer triathlon season.
The Hawk-I-Tri promotes outdoor recreational opportunities
in South Lansing, encourages physical
activity, and supports efforts that increase access to fresh foods and improve
overall community health. The event was recently commended for its efforts on
encouraging environmental sustainability and stewardship. In 2011, the
Hawk-I-Tri was recognized as the first “green” race of any kind in the state of
Michigan,
certified by the national Council for Responsible Sport.
For more information on the Hawk-I-Tri and how to volunteer or sponsor
the event, click here.
Ongoing Offerings
25) Teen Community Art Project
REACH Teen Studio Community Art Projects, or CAPs, will work with 15 to 20
Lansing Area teenagers and local artists to design and fabricate public art for
5 or more selected places around Lansing.
Using three hour weekly teen studio after school sessions at REACH Studio from
October 2011 – June 2012, the teens will meet with Lansing
area artists and solicit ideas for, choose, design and implement community art
projects creating place-making art around Lansing.
For more information or to submit a proposal, click here or call (517) 999-3643..
26) Start 2012 with LCC and Learn HOW to Make a Computer Work for You!
Begin 2012 by making a resolution to expand your horizons and learn how to make a computer work for you! During the month of January, Lansing Community College's Community & Continuing Education Department will be hosting fourteen different computer courses designed to fit your pace, interest, and schedule. Classes vary in length from either one day to just a couple of nights. Or, choose from an available selection of online or one-on-one self paced, customized scheduled classes available at LCC’s Capital Area Michigan Works! location.
Today, whether applying for a new position, improving job skills, obtaining or purchasing products and services, or even looking at family and friends’ pictures, the use of a computer is probably required. LCC offers well-trained, motivated instructors to help understand the key steps in using a computer. Phone registration is available by calling 517-483-1860. To expedite the registration process, have the course CRN number, if possible. You can make payment by phone using a Visa or Mastercard.
LCC East Campus is located at 2827 Eyde Parkway in East Lansing just off Hagadorn Road, one block south of Hannah Boulevard. LCC’s office at Capital Area Michigan Works! is located at 2220 S. Cedar Street, just south of Mt. Hope in Lansing. Ample, free parking is available at both locations. For additional sessions, descriptions, and details, be sure to visit www.lcc.edu/ece or call 517-483-1860.
27) For Sale: Lovely Land Bank Renovated House on the Eastside!
Newly Renovated Home by Ingham County Land Bank- NSP2 Program
618 Lathrop Lansing, MI 48912
Cozy newly rehabbed 5 star energy rated home. Move-in ready, 2 bedroom,
1 bath, 782 Sq. feet, Beautiful hardwood floor and trim work, 2 car garage, large storage attic, deck and energy efficient appliances.
Centrally located near Hunter Park, Potter Park, Lansing River Trail, easy access to local highway and CATA bus line. For More Information Contact: James Pyle of Lana Wagner & Co. 517-351-5777.
28) FREE Introduction to
Computers
Every Tuesday, 2:30 - 4 p.m., Capital Area Michigan Works!, 2110 S. Cedar St.
Professionals from Career Quest instruct attendees in the basics
everyone needs to be comfortable with computers.
29) Asset Independence Coalition - Free Tax Prep and
Filing
The Asset Independence Coalition is proud to announce free tax
preparation services for the 2012 tax season. If your household income is
$49,000 or less, they will do your taxes for you. If you are above that, they
will show you how to prepare them yourself and e-file. All of these services
are free. To schedule an appointment simply dial 2-1-1.
For more information, visit www.assetindependencecoalition.org or contact Amber Paxton
at (517) 256-1466 or aic.mid...@gmail.com
30) Mid-Day Movies (Free)
Downtown Lansing Library, Every Tuesday and Thursday at 2 p.m.
the downtown branch of the Capital Area District Library opens its auditorium
for adults to watch recent releases on the BIG screen. For more
information, call (517)
367-6363.
31) We Know It’s Only January, but We're Still Thinking Spring!
News and Tips from Van Atta’s
These 40 degree days have us itching for spring, and we're busy working on readying the business for the season we all wait for. It's been great to see so many of you out here during these past few sunny days, too! Seeing people browse the full seed racks, or take home tropical plants and fresh cut flowers to add some color to their homes has been very nice. A customer said this weekend that Mother Nature always has her revenge for these exceptionally nice days, but we'll take them when we can get them!
We have all of our seeds now, and we just received some potted bulb plants to spring-up your windowsill. It may be winter, but there's still plenty to see at Van Atta's. We hope to see you out here soon, even if it's just to soak up a little spring!
Annual January Sidewalk Sale
We're just clearing out our Christmas merchandise and beginning our January sidewalk sale. It will be a work in progress, but we should have it in full swing by the weekend!
Tips for January
· One negative to having no snow is having no insulation for your plants. Take the next couple warm days to make sure you have enough mulch surrounding your most tender plants.
· Sort through your old seed packs and throw out packets that are too old (after a couple years, most germination rates will decline, some more than others. Marigolds are an example of seeds that don't carry over from year to year.)
· Dust the foliage of your houseplants with a soft cloth. When light levels are low, it's important that your plants are able to use whatever light is available to them.
· Set your houseplants on trays of pebbles, if possible, and add water to the pebbles to give much needed humidity to your plants in the winter.
Winter Classes - View our extensive class list on line-v...@voyager.net
32) Quote of the Week
The moral arc of the universe bends at the elbow of justice. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Good health is contagious;
Catch some on the Eastside!
Here’s how:
Tai Chi in Hunter Park (preceded by Meditation)
Tai Chi in the Park is taught by Bob Teachout every Saturday morning at 9:30 am., preceded by meditation at 8:45 am. Now that brisk weather has arrived, the group will meet inside the GardenHouse. No charge!!
Friday Noon Stroll
Also, join us every Friday at noon for a Walk on the Hunter Park Path. Bring friends, dogs, children, stories and become a part of this Friday noon tradition!
Free Community Yoga at Just
B Yoga (For All Ages)
Every
Wednesday, 6:30pm - 8:00pm, Just B Yoga Studio (106 Island
Avenue)
Free weekly power yoga class for all levels! Get rid of stress,
increase muscle tone, and meet new friends. Yoga mats provided. For more
information, please call (517) 488-5260 or visit http://justbyoga.com/classes/schedule/
or www.justbyoga.com
Winter
Activities Guide
Looking for fun activities for the whole family this winter? Check
out the Lansing Parks and Recreation Winter 2012 Activities Guide! Discover special winter
events, find open gym/swim times, register for sports (all ages), learn a
new culinary skill, and much more!
--
Joan Nelson, Director
Allen Neighborhood Center
1619 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48912
517-999-3912