Series of local block parties begins

By Chris Vannini | Originally Published: 08/27/08 8:17pm |Modified: 08/27/08 8:22pm | No comments

Jeana-Dee Allen | The State News

“People are people. The difference is students are more transient and if you get to know each other you don’t have any problems,” East Lansing resident Eric Schertzing, left, said during the Community Relations Coalition block party Wednesday evening at Kedzie Street. Community members and students including East Lansing resident Glen Staszewski, right, and his son, Ben, 6, socialized and ate ice cream in order to create better relationships in the community.

Students and permanent residents of East Lansing’s Bailey neighborhood were introduced to each other at a block party Wednesday evening.

With many students being new residents of the neighborhood, the Community Relations Coalition put on this party in hopes of facilitating relationships between residents, Pat Enos said.Enos is a CRC board member and assistant vice president of students affairs at MSU.

“We wanted to do something that required a minimal time commitment from residents so more would come out,” he said.

The CRC is a nonprofit organization and was formed in 1999 following riots in East Lansing. It consists of permanent residents and students.

Wednesday’s block party, which offered free ice cream, was at 240 Kedzie St. Students and other residents were given name tags and socialized on the lawn during the party.

“Anyone in the neighborhood is welcome to come and meet their neighbors,” said Aaron Walsh, a CRC intern and urban and regional planning senior.

Walsh is a resident of 240 Kedzie St. and volunteered his house to host the event. Walsh was a CRC intern last year and attended a block party then, as well.

He, along with other interns and volunteers, advertised for the party by putting up fliers and talking to people in the area.

“It’s important for students to have a good relationship with (the community) because we all have to deal with the same problems,” said David Turnbull, a chemical engineering junior. Turnbull also lives at 240 Kedzie St. but is not part of the CRC.

There are two more block parties in East Lansing neighborhoods. The next one is scheduled for Wednesday in the Oakwood neighborhood at 630 Sunset Lane. The final block party has been planned for Sept. 10 in the Red Cedar community at 1071 Marigold Ave. All of them are from 6-7 p.m. This is the fourth year the CRC has put on block parties.

“Believe it or not, the attendance is at least half MSU students,” Walsh said. “The large number of students in attendance does show that even though students are in the community temporarily, we do care about what’s going on.”

There are people from many different demographics in the neighborhoods, including families, retired couples and even professors, Turnbull said.

The CRC puts on other events to strengthen the community relationships. Last year, they hosted a laser tag game between students and members of the East Lansing Police Department.

“The laser tag was a fabulous success,” Enos said. “It’s good to strengthen the relationship between the students and the police.”

The block parties have been a popular way to introduce neighbors to each other.

“It’s a chance to get everyone out of the house and meet new people,” Turnbull said.