Active Neighboring News: Small Fruits, Ice Cream Social, Art Festival, Health Rally, Paint Recycling, and Other Fun
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
May 10, 2012
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Kick off the summer festival season with World Day in Hunter Park, a celebration of World Refugee Day, and of the rich mix of cultures and backgrounds of people living in this vibrant neighborhood and City! Join us on Saturday, June 9, from Noon –6 pm for non-stop music and dance, performed by refugee groups, a Global Arts and Crafts Fair, & Global Food Court. Hitting the stage at 4 pm is our Headliner Act, Grupo Aye, the Grand-Rapids based salsa group and winner of the 2011 Best Jazz Album Jammie (Michigan Grammies) of the Year.
A favorite of the day is the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Family Health Walk. Round up your kids and neighbors and complete four laps of the Hunter Park Path (a total of 2 miles). Each person to finish, regardless of age, receives a $5 token that can be used at the Global Food Court or any Wednesday at the Allen Street Farmers Market.
The Hunter Park Pool will be open and staffed. There will be greenhouse tours and youth activities in the Hunter Park GardenHouse; and guided tours of the Restoration Works Houses, 1/2 block from the Park. And be sure to sign up for Market Croquet —just complete the course to be eligible for the drawing—the winner of which receives $20 in Market Coins, usable at the Allen Street Farmers Market. More to come in the weeks ahead…
ANC-Sponsored Events/Activities
1) Small Fruits (Raspberries! Blueberries!) for Your Yard on 5/12
2) New Volunteer for World Day at Hunter Park on June 9
3) Summer CSA Sign Up
Other Community Events
4) New Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive
5) New ITEC Open House and Ice Cream Social on 5/17
6) New Your Food Business Idea on 5/17
7) New Mobile Food Pantry on 5/19
8) Sistrum Performs ‘A Living Voice’ on 5/18-19
9) New Latex Paint Recycling on 5/19
10) New Old Town Community Clean Up on 5/19
11) New East Lansing Art Festival on 5/19-20
12) New Choose Health Rally at Hawk Island on 5/20
13) New ITEC Enrollment Begins on 5/22
14) New Lucinda Means Bicycle Advocacy Day on 5/23
15) Breakfast with Bauer on 6/2
16) New Spring 2012 Stream Monitoring on 6/2
17) New Be A Tourist in Your Own Town on 6/2
Ongoing Offerings
18) New New Way to Report Code Violations On-Line
19) New Lansing Walkability Audit Volunteers Needed
20) New Spring & Summer Activities Guide (New Edition)
21) New Lead Safe Lansing
22) New CATA’s Route 18 Hawk Island/Trappers Cove
23) Call for help from St Vincent Catholic Charities
24) Tips from VanAtta’s and Mothers Day Mojitos
25) New 2012 Hawk Island Tri-Registration
26) Quote of the Week
Your Friends at ANC
P.S. The Somali Bantu Community is still seeking a volunteer to assist with grant writing to support their ESL classes. If you can help out, please call Abdallah Mukoma at 517-402-5953. Thanks!
1) Small Fruits for Your Yard Workshop
Saturday, May 12, 12:30-2pm
Learn all about growing small fruits (raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, etc.) in your home garden. This workshop is free, but a suggested donation of $5 is welcome. To RSVP, contact Rita at 517-999-3910 or ri...@allenneighborhoodcenter.org
2) Volunteer for World Day Shift, Have a Blast, and Receive a Cool T-Shirt
On World Day every summer, Hunter Park comes alive with music and dance performances from around the globe. Throughout the day, the entire park is enriched by the diverse cultures in the greater Lansing area through performances, a food court with many cuisines, a global arts and crafts fair, and lots of family and kids activities. It takes a small army of volunteers to pull it off! This year's event is Saturday, June 9th.
If you have any questions about volunteering at World Day, contact Kristina Adair, volunteer coordinator at kris...@allenneighborhoodcenter.org or (517) 999-3919.
To learn about other volunteer opportunities at ANC, click here: Volunteer Opportunities
3) Two Spots Still Open in the GardenHouse Summer CSA
Interested in receiving fresh, local grown produce each week? Our Summer CSA will run for the months of June, July, and August. We have 2 more shares available (These are ‘all pay” slots.) Applications can be found on-line, in the GardenHouse and at Allen Neighborhood Center. For more information, contact Rita O'Brien: 999-3910 or ri...@allenneighborhoodcenter.org
Other Community Events
4) “Stamp Out Hunger” Food Drive
Saturday, May 12
The 20th anniversary of the National Association of Letter Carriers Stamp Out
Hunger Food Drive is scheduled for May 12, and you can help! All you have to do
is collect and bag non-perishable food items and place them by your mailbox for
your letter carrier to deliver to a local food bank or pantry. For more information on how to contribute,
what can be donated, and how the Food Drive helps “Stamp Out Hunger”, visit www.helpstampouthunger.com
or www.nalc.org/commun/foodrive
5) ITEC Open House and Ice Cream Social
The ITEC Open House and Ice Cream Social will be at Foster Community Center from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday May 17. This is a great opportunity to learn more about this exciting Program (Everyday Digital, etc.) and enjoy a delicious cone!
6) Your Food Business Idea – Starting A Plan
May 17, 1-3pm – MSU Extension, Ingham County on Cedar St., Lansing OR
May 17, 6-8pm – Portland City Hall
If you want to run a business profitably, you need to have a plan that identifies your business goals and outlines the steps necessary to reach them. When do you think you will begin to earn a profit? At what level of sales will your costs drop because you get volume discounts from your suppliers? How rapidly will you be able to expand your distribution? Learn what is in a business plan to help you plan for your success. Register at http://web2.msue.msu.edu/events/
Info: Call Randy A. Bell, Extension Educator for Community Food Systems, at 517-676-7298.
7) MOBILE FOOD PANTRY
City of Lansing HUMAN RELATIONS AND COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT
& the Mid-Michigan Food Bank ANNOUNCES the MOBILE FOOD PANTRY distribution of FREE, fresh, non-perishable food items
When: Saturday, May 19, 2012, 9 a.m. until 11 a.m.
Where: South Church of Nazarene, 401 W. Holmes Rd, Lansing, MI 48911
Who can participate?
• The disadvantaged and vulnerable.
• Senior citizens on fixed incomes.
• Families/individuals with limited or low income jobs.
ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST BRING A VALID STATE IDENTIFICATION CARD OR DRIVER’S LICENSE
If you or someone you know must choose between buying food and filling prescriptions, please tell them about this important program. Participants should bring a box or bag to carry food.
For more information, call the City of Lansing Human Relations and Community Services Department at (517) 483-4477
8) Sistrum, Lansing Women’s Chorus Presents “A Living Voice”
Sistrum, Lansing Women’s Chorus will present its 26th annual spring concert and silent auction on May 18 & May 19 at Lansing Community College’s Dart Auditorium at 8 p.m. This year’s concerts are entitled “A Living Voice” and will include Michigan folk musician Pat Madden as a special guest singer.
The group will present a diverse set of music this year, with classic folk songs, a piece sung in Sanskrit, and a gospel tune. The concert will also include percussionists, a string quartet, and three movements from a piece composed by Linda Tutas Hagan with text from The Diary of Anne Frank—“A Living Voice.”
Tickets, on a sliding scale from $25-12, can be purchased online at www.sistrum.org or through a chorus member. Tickets at the door will be $25-15. ASL interpretation and wheelchair accessibility will be provided for both concerts. The silent auction begins at 7:00 pm both nights, with proceeds helping Sistrum travel to the Choral Music Experience workshop in Kenosha, Wisconsin this July.
Sistrum, Lansing Women’s Chorus, currently has 40 singing members, is active in both the Sister Singers Network and the GALA Choruses, and is a 501c3 organization. Sistrum: creating music that inspires, empowers, and entertains.
For more information please visit www.sistrum.org or contact Trixie Smith at tgsm...@yahoo.com.
9) Recycle Latex Paint!
Regional Recycling Coordinating Committee, Ingham County Health Department
Saturday, May 19, 2012, 9am - 1pm
Open to residents of Clinton, Eaton and Ingham Counties, the Regional Recycling Coordinating Committee is accepting all types of latex (water based) paint in original containers (all sizes accepted). The fee is just $1 per can and can be paid in CASH only. Open from 9am - 1pm, follow the signs at the Health Department to the back parking lot for recycling.
10) Old Town COMMUNITY CLEAN UP: May 19, 2012
Our friends at Old Town Commercial Association need volunteers for the Old Town Community Clean Up on Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 10am - 3pm. Green thumbs and strong backs are needed to plant the beds, planters and hanging baskets, hang up new banners, pick up trash, build new raised beds, sweep sidewalks, paint and repair signage and much more.
Volunteers can check in at the Turner Mini Park at the corner of Turner Street and Grand River Avenue. Lunch will be provided for volunteers at the Old Town Block Party in Burchard Park from 1pm - 5pm!
11) East
Lansing Art Festival
Saturday
- Sunday, May 19-20, Downtown East Lansing, www.elartfest.com
Fine artists from Michigan and beyond will line downtown East Lansing's streets
to exhibit and sell original works of fine art and fine crafts. Free live
music, children's hands-on arts activities and more. For more information call (517) 319-6804
Join Mid-MEAC for the 49th Annual East Lansing Art Festival
Hard to believe, but it's Festival Season here in the Mid-Michigan area and we're kicking off the year with our first Valet Bike Parking opportunity with the East Lansing Art Festival on May 19 & 20, 2012 in lovely Downtown East Lansing.
Volunteer
If you'd like to volunteer for Valet Bike Parking duty (or any other volunteer opportunity) sign up with the Festival! We especially need volunteers to sign up for the first shift on Saturday (9am) to help set up the Valet Bike Parking gear and with the last shift(s) on Sunday to help with tear down. If you sign up via the Festival, you get a FREE t-shirt as well.
Ride to the Festival
CATA is offering a special Art Festival Bus Route with free parking at the Service Road/Hagadorn parking lot. Service hours are Saturday (9:30am - 7:30pm) and Sunday (9:30am - 6:30pm). Ride for just $0.50 per round trip and all of the route buses have bike racks on them! Kids ride for free and all of the buses are handicap-accessible.
12) Choosing Health! Rally
May 20, 2012, 2:00-4:00 pm, Hawk Island Park – Red Tail Shelter, 1601 E. Cavanaugh Rd.
Come join the Capital Area Health Alliance and Community Partners in Health for a fun, healthful afternoon at beautiful Hawk Island Park! You will have the opportunity to visit Healthy Lifestyle Resources’ displays from local organizations with resources and spring/summer activities for healthy living. Plus, there will be a Walk in the Park organized by Community Partners in Health, with awards for individuals and teams. A Kids’ Creation Healthy Snack Contest lets kids show their creative, healthy snacks to celebrity and expert nutritional judges with a chance to win prizes! Plus, a “Free Books”-Book Fair will ensure everyone goes home with at least one free book for their summer reading!
We look forward to celebrating active and healthy lifestyles with you!
Register by May 17 for the Kids’ Creation Healthy Snack Contest and receive an additional free book! Call the Capital Area Health Alliance at 517.347.3377 to register, visit www.CAHealthAlliance.org or email CAHealth...@aol.com for more information or to register.
The Choosing
Health!® Rally is a great opportunity to ask friends and
neighbors to join you for a WALK IN THE PARK, meet MSU Football Coach Mark and Becky
Dantonio , and even put a team together! To make the walk more
interesting and fun, we will have awards for the most spirited walkers, best
costume(s) and the largest team (kids in strollers and on kids scooters count
too)! Sparty will join us on the walking path too! Please pass the
word on!
13) Feeling left out of the Computer Age?
ITEC is now accepting enrollment for our next Beginning Computer Classes-attend 2 four week sessions and earn a free computer!
New May/June 2012 Schedule
The Basics
Introduction To Computers/Internet
May 22nd to June 21st
Classes held Tuesday/Thursday
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. OR 6:30 p.m.- 8:30 pm
Introduction to Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office Word and Excel
May 21st to June 20th
Classes held Monday/Wednesday
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. OR 6:30 – 8:30 pm
The Basics II
Continuation of our Basics class
May 22nd to June 21st
Classes held Tuesday/Thursday
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Introduction to Microsoft Office II
Continuation of our MS Office class
May 21st to June 20th
Classes held Monday/Wednesday
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
8 Week Basics @ Oakpark YMCA on Lansing’s Southside
Introduction To Computers/Internet
June 4th – July 25th
Classes held Monday/Wednesday
6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
CALL TODAY TO REGISTER: 517-708-4392
ITEC Everyday Digital, Foster Community Center, 200 North Foster Avenue
Lansing, MI 48912, sa...@iteclansing.org or www.everydaydigital.org
A Lansing-based nonprofit, ITEC provides technology training to adults and youth. ITEC Everyday Digital courses are aimed at novice computer users. Our eight-week and four-week programs are designed to support underemployed and unemployed workers, seniors and other adults. We provide students a greater sense of confidence and capability for living in today’s increasingly technology-dependent world.
14) Lucinda Means Bicycle Advocacy Day
The League of Michigan Bicyclists, Michigan Trails and
Greenways Alliance, Michigan Mountain Biking Association, and MSU Bikes are
pleased to join forces once again for the Lucinda Means Bicycle Advocacy Day to
be held at the State Capitol on May 23rd, 2012 as a culmination of National
Bike Month.
Whether you enjoy riding on Michigan roads, trails or dirt single track,
Advocacy Day is your opportunity to speak with one voice to help advance the
interests of all cyclists in the state. We hope that casual riders and
die-hards alike will join us in advancing the interests of all bicyclists by
communicating the great importance of cycling to the Michigan Legislator.
You will find more information about this year’s key issues and the
status of our legislative efforts on our website at www.LMB.org/advocacyday
Escorted by local police bike patrols, the day will start with a short
road rally ride from MSU Bikes to the State Capitol where volunteers from all
three organizations will educate legislators on the above policy issues to help
make Michigan a more bicycle-friendly state.
Lunch will be provided after legislative visits, followed by an optional
afternoon ride.
Price: Registration for Advocacy Day is $10 and includes lunch. Please
register asap so we have ample time to prearrange meetings with both your State
Representative and Senator. REGISTER HERE:https://secureonlineregister.com/lmb/index.php?f=12&show_reload=true
For further info, call John Lindenmayer, Advocacy & Policy Director, League
of Michigan Bicyclists, (517)
334-9100
15) Breakfast
with Bauer – Please Note New Date
Message from State Rep. Joan Bauer
The ‘Breakfast with Bauer’ scheduled for Saturday, May 19, has been
rescheduled. We will now be meeting on Saturday, June 2, at the Gone
Wired Cafe located at 2021 East Michigan Ave. 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.
16) Spring 2012 Stream Monitoring
Saturday, June 2, 2012, 8am- 12pm, Biggie Munn Park, Lansing, MI
We are kicking off the Spring Monitoring Session on June 2, 2012 as part of "Be a Tourist in Your Own Town" Day. Join dozens of other volunteers for a morning of educational fun and exploration!
This year, we're monitoring 8 sites so we need LOTS of volunteers to help us - a minimum of 4 volunteers per site is ideal so bring your friends and family. Kids are welcome to come (with adult supervisor) but we do require that all kids under 13 wear an approved flotation device. 13 - 18 year old volunteers need parental permission (an email is fine).
Join us at 8am for a Volunteer Stream Monitoring Training session (45 minutes). We'll then head out to our sites and conduct monitoring. Each site will have an experienced monitoring leading the team but you'll want to make sure to wear your oldest clothes and bring a cell phone/bug spray/compass/sunscreen. If you have hip waders, nets or other gear, please feel free to bring it and don't forget the life jackets for any of the kids 13 and under.
We'll provide a light morning snack (and coffee) at 8am at Biggie Munn Park (corner of Aurelius & Jolly Roads. We monitor rain or shine (so dress accordingly). If there's lightening or thunder, we'll reschedule.
To RSVP for the training or to volunteer, please call the office at (517) 292-3078 or send an email to Julie Powers at jpowe...@gmail.com. We're very excited for you to meet our new Stream Monitoring Coordinator, Gabriel Biber and to kick off the 2012 year!
17) Discover A World of Possibilites In Your Backyard During Be A Tourist In Your Own Town
Saturday, June 2, 20112 - 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau brings you the 18th Annual Be A Tourist In Your Own Town celebration! Once again we open the doors for you to explore culture and creativity, right here in mid-Michigan. For only a $1 you can purchase a “passport” which allows you admission to more than 60 area attractions, local businesses, and special activities. With special routes during Be A Tourist, CATA buses will take you to most attractions for just 50 cents. By the end of the day, if you were asked, “What is there to do in Greater Lansing?” You will be able to respond with countless suggestions and a sense of community pride. Passports go on sale the first week of May, for selling locations and more information visit www.lansing.org/batyot.
Passport purchase locations all May: GLCVB Visitor Center, AAA on Grand River Ave., Celebration Cinema-Edgewood Blvd., NCG Cinemas-Eastwood Center, CATA Transportation Center (Kalamazoo/Grand Ave.), Lansing Art Gallery, Impression 5 Science Center, Arts Council of Greater Lansing (Old Town)
Ongoing Offerings
18) New
System to Enter and Track Code Complaints
A new public access system for code enforcement records was introduced
last week. Citizens can now log and track complaints through an online system
on the City of Lansing’s webpage. Residents can also search using property data
and view the complaint history of specific properties.
To submit a complaint go to the Lansing web at www.cityoflansingmi.com.
Look for 'Quick Links' on the right side and click on ‘Departments’, then
‘Planning and Neighborhood Development’. On that page check the left side for
‘Code Compliance’ and click on it. Then click on ‘Complaints’ on the left side.
Or use www.lansingmi.gov/pnd/codecom/complaints.jsp
if you want to enter the complaint page directly.
Tracking complaints begins back at the Lansing web site (see above).
Click on 'Find' which is under 'I Want To' on the left side. Then click on
'Property Information Lookup'.
On the next page select 'Building Department Search' on the left. Then
click on the dot next to 'Search by Address'. Enter the street name followed by
a single address or a range of address numbers on the street. Finally, click on
the 'Search' button. If you want to view more in a list, change the 'Records
per Page' at the bottom. You can also page through the addresses using page
selection on the right near the bottom.
To check a particular property, select the 'Parcel Number' on the far left of
the line that has the Property Address (it takes a little time to find property
in the data base). Any permits, enforcements or certificates will be listed.
Each one can be viewed by clicking on the item under 'Number'.
Thanks to Karl Biasi, President of the Colonial Village Neighborhood
Association, for sharing this information.
19) Lansing Walkability Audit Volunteers Needed
We're kicking off the 3rd year of the Lansing Walkability Audit and we need volunteers! You can walk with a group or take a section of the City and complete it on your own. We're also happy to schedule group outings for community organizations, corporate team building activities and community service projects. Our 2012 schedule is:
Wednesdays, 3pm - 5pm (starting May 23, 2012)
Allen Neighborhood Center- Farmers Market, 1619 East Kalamazoo Street, Lansing,
3pm Training Session, 3:30pm - 5pm Group Walk
Tuesdays, 5:30pm - 8pm (starting May 8, 2012)
South Lansing Community Development Association inside Grace United Methodist Church
1900 Boston Boulevard, Lansing, MI 48910
5:30pm Training Session, 6pm - 8pm Group Walk
Thursdays, 5:30pm - 8pm (starting June 7, 2012)
Gier Community Center, 2400 Hall Street, Lansing, MI 48906
5:30pm Training Session, 6pm - 8pm Group Walk
To volunteer or for more information, please contact Nikki Ayres at nikkia....@gmail.com or call the office at (517) 292-3078. See you this summer!
20) Spring
& Summer Activities Guide (New Edition)
Feeling cooped up or just bored? Get out of your late winter funk and
blossom into fun springtime activities for the whole family! Check out the
Lansing Parks and Recreation Spring & Summer 2012 Activities
Guide (http://digital.zoompubs.com/publication/?i=102232)!
Discover spring events, find open gym/swim times, register for sports (all
ages), learn a new culinary skill, and much more!
21) Lead Safe Lansing
Make Lansing Lead Safe! Homeowners and property owners within the Lansing city
limits may qualify for up to $8,000 for housing improvements in the Lead Safe
Lansing program. Whether you own a home or you are in a rental unit, it’s
important that your home is lead safe. Participation in the Lead Safe Lansing
program can help you make your home lead-safe, family-friendly and improve the
value of your property. If you are a tenant, call 483-4040 t see if your
household qualifies for the program. Provide Landlord’s name and address, so
they can be invited to participate. Rental Property Owners must: proof of
ownership, be current on mortgage, homeowner’s insurance and property taxes.
Homeowners must: Own and occupy a single-family home built before 1978. Have a
child under six years of age living in the home or visiting regularly. Be
current on mortgage, homeowners insurance and property taxes. For income
guidelines and more program information, call: 483-4040 or visit www.lansingmi.gov/
22) Find your summer fun in the sun!
CATA’s Route 18 Hawk Island/Trappers Cove will take you to it!
Swim at Hawk Island!
Explore at Fenner!
Shop in East Lansing!
June 15 through September 2, 2012
Route 18 Hawk Island-Trappers Cove gets you to Hawk Island Park to swim, hike, picnic, and boat this summer! Also, connect with Route 7 Aurelius and visit Fenner Nature Center or Route 20 South Harrison-Jolly-Dunckel to head to MSU and downtown East Lansing.
Route 18 will operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday throughout the summer. Service hours are 11:45AM to 7:10PM on Fridays and Saturdays and 9:45AM to 5:10PM on Sundays.
Buses travel every 30 minutes between the South Pennsylvania Meijer and Beau Jardin Drive via Pennsylvania Avenue, Cavanaugh Road, Trappers Cove Trail and Beau Jardin. Route 18 serves Meijer, Hawk Island Park, Trappers Cove, College Towne Apartments as well as all bus stops along the route.
Customers on CATA Routes 5, 8, 9, Mason Connector or Delhi Redi-Ride can transfer to Route 18 at the South Pennsylvania Meijer for free with a transfer.
Regular CATA fixed-route fares apply. All CATA fixed-route passes and transfers are accepted. Children under 42” tall ride for free.
Watch for the schedule and route map on cata.org For more information, please contact CATA Customer Service at in...@cata.org or (517) 394-1000.
23) Help STVCC Welcome Refugees and House the Local Homeless
St. Vincent Catholic Charities (STVCC) is in great need of kitchen supplies and new or gently used household items to help local homeless and refugee families begin to rebuild their lives. Household items, you no longer need, can be essential to those we serve. When you make a donation to St. Vincent Catholic Charities the items go directly to serve people in need. STVCC does not resell any donated items. As part of our mission to serve, St. Vincent Catholic Charities helps people living in crisis transform their lives. A safe home setting is an important part of helping those we serve begin working toward self-sufficiency and a brighter future.
STVCC is in need of housing items such as furniture and basic kitchen materials.
Most needed items at this time are pots, pans (cooking ware) and dining room tables and chairs and sofas. (No sofa beds/sleeper sofas please).
Donated items are tax deductible.
All items can be dropped off at STVCC Campus in North Lansing, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. St. Vincent Catholic Charities, 2800 W. Willow Lansing, MI 48917.
STVCC also offers pick up of larger items: Contact St. Vincent Catholic Charities at 517-323-4734 ext. 1050. More information is available on our website at www.stvcc.org.
24) Tips from VanAtta’s Plus Mother’s Day Mojitos
Garden Tips
· Lily-of-the-valley is May's flower, and works wonderfully as a ground cover in a low traffic, shady area. Their lovely little bell-shaped blooms fill the air with rich, sweet fragrance. They won't stay put, however, so don't put them where you don't want them to spread or you can't control them.
· If you haven't done so already, now is a great time to lightly side-dress your perennials with either a 5-10-10 or 10-10-10 fertilizer. A good rule of thumb is to fertilize your perennials in the spring when they just get growing, right after planting, and after dividing.
· Move or divide any perennials that didn't have enough space last summer.
· Prune early flowering shrubs, such as forsythia, once they are finished flowering, if needed.
· Continue harvesting asparagus until new spears are thinner than a pencil, then stop and allow plants to grow in. Add a new layer of compost to the soil when you're finished harvesting. 'Jersey' varieites are considered the quickest to produce. Tomato plants are considered a good companion plant to asparagus, since tomato plants repel the asparagus beetle, and asparagus repels root nematodes that can harm tomato plants.
· Plant vining late plants with short season plants, the vines will take over when the short-season veggies are done. Good combos are: cucumbers with green beans, pumpkins with peas, squash with radishes and melons with spinach.
· Plant poppies with your bulbs, the furry foliage of the poppies will help hide the yellowing foliage of the bulbs when they're done blooming.
· Borage and dill are said to repel tomato hornworms.
· Garlic planted between tomatoes, onions, beets, broccoli and roses will help repel aphids.
· Plant your lettuce under a teepee of pole beans, which provides the shade that the lettuce loves.
· Clematis plants want "cool feet and a warm head", so shade your clematis roots with a lower-growing perennial.
Take Time to Order Your Mother's Day Flowers
Fresh cut flowers or flowering plants, Van Atta's has you covered for Mother's Day. The greenhouses are overflowing with beautiful annuals and tropicals, the perennial department is in the process of bringing out their 3" plants (yea!!), and the nursery department has flowering and fruiting trees galore...and if no one wants to get their hands dirty for Mother's Day, then order a bouquet of beautiful flowers to be hand delivered to the special mom in your life.
Call us at 339.1142 or order online today!
Fresh Mint Means Mojitos! Dawn from our annual department shared this refreshing drink to sip on after a hard day of gardening...or accounting...or teaching, etc...
Mother's Day Mojitos
In a 16 oz. highball glass, gently muddle together:
6 torn mint leaves *
Three-quarter oz. simple syrup **
Add:
half a spent lime hull
1 oz. lime juice
2oz.white rum
3 oz. sparkling mineral water
Top with crushed ice and mix with a cocktail straw until mixed and glass is frosty. Add a sprig of mint to garnish. Add a sprig of mint to garnish.
· You can use the traditional spearmint, of course, but why not try apple mint (said to be closest to the traditional Cuban mint), chocolate mint or pineapple mint. Peppermint would probably be much too strong for this drink.
· Simple Syrup: 1 cup sugar + 1 cup water. Bring to a boil and stir until sugar is completely dissloved. Cool and store in fridge. Enjoy!
25) 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.
26) Quote of the Week -- Congratulations to Eastside Graduates!
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!
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
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Joan Nelson, Director
Allen Neighborhood Center
1619 E. Kalamazoo St., Lansing, MI 48912
517-999-3912