MICHIGAN

Lansing hosts Taste of Downtown

Anthony Odoardi

July 11, 2010

Residents of the Lansing area sorted through more than 100 varieties of wine and food samples from 15 different local vendors Saturday at Lansing’s Taste of Downtown. The inaugural event kicked off at 3 p.m. on South Washington Square in Lansing, and was hosted by the Lansing Principal Shopping District, or LPSD, with wine and food served buffet style accompanied by music from live local bands Third Coast Steel and Soulstice.

MICHIGAN

Jeanologie boutique to offer designer duds

Ashley Brown

July 8, 2010

Transforming the former dance studio of Pin-Up Pole Dancing into a unisex boutique, store owner and MSU alumna Michelle Gross is attempting to bring New York street fashion to the city of East Lansing with Jeanologie XX/XY Boutique, 303 M.A.C. Ave., which opened last week. Jeanologie offers labels including Betsey Johnson, BCBG, Lacoste and Lucky Brand, but also features local designers, such as Niki Biki, a designer from Central Michigan University that has a line of one-size-fits-all camisoles. Gross plans to invite pieces from MSU’s apparel and textile design students into her boutique as well.

MICHIGAN

Heat wave to end this weekend, precautions still necessary

Although local residents will get a break from the 90-degree heat this weekend, this summer promises to be warmer than average. Saturday will bring highs in the low 80s under sunny skies. Sunday will be mostly sunny with highs in the mid 80s. Although temperatures will be five to 10 degrees lower than the past few days, people still should be cautious and monitor their hydration.

MICHIGAN

Neighborhood holds 36th annual ice cream social

Alanna Thiede

July 7, 2010

Hand-churned ice cream, music, sunshine and residents from across East Lansing were abundant Wednesday evening at the 36th annual Bailey Neighborhood Ice Cream Social. The event, which is sponsored by the Bailey Neighborhood Association and the Orchard Street Pump House committee, welcomed East Lansing residents to the Orchard Street Pump House, 368 Orchard St., to make ice cream and socialize with community members they otherwise might not have had a chance to meet.

MICHIGAN

Police golf outing held to benefit kids

Aseel Machi

July 7, 2010

Local police and MSU officials gathered Wednesday at the Eldorado Golf Course, 3750 W. Howell Road, in Mason, to enjoy a round of golf and support children in the community. Donors gathered at the East Lansing and Lansing Police Athletic League’s, or PAL, joint 2010 PAL Golf Outing, with proceeds benefitting field trips and sports camps for children in the area.

MICHIGAN

Play in the Park kicks off July community events

Alanna Thiede

July 7, 2010

A magician’s performance, which included three birds, a rabbit named Banana and many jokes for all ages, was the kickoff event for the city of East Lansing’s Play in the Park interactive children’s series. The annual series of events is sponsored and planned by the city of East Lansing’s Office of Communications.

MICHIGAN

E.L. Fire chief takes part in program at Harvard

Pat Evans

July 7, 2010

East Lansing Fire Chief Randall Talifarro recently returned from a fellowship program at Harvard University to help improve his decision-making abilities and become a more receptive public servant, he said. Talifarro was selected with six other fire officials from across the country by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration to review case studies from governments across the country and discuss emerging practices and issues in public safety.

MICHIGAN

Michigan Students First loan program puts students 2nd

Meagan Choi

July 7, 2010

Because of a lack of funding from the federal government, about 80,000 students with the Michigan Students First, or MSF, loan program could be responsible for paying more for college than they originally signed up for. Established in 2003, the program offered students the ability to pay zero-percent interest on their student loans if they made 36 timely consecutive payments every month. Now that funding for the program was cut last week, students who were on pace, but hadn’t completed, the 36 payments are liable to pay full interest for the balance of the loan.

MICHIGAN

Michigan obesity rates ranked 10th in country

Karen Confer

July 7, 2010

Michigan has the 10th highest adult obesity rate and the 41st highest childhood obesity rate among the 50 states and Washington, D.C., according to the study. The study, the “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010,” was released last week by Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

MICHIGAN

Mich. legislature take July recess

Karen Confer

July 7, 2010

Both the Michigan House of Representatives and Michigan Senate are on a summer recess, and will resume operations on July 21. The last regularly scheduled meetings in the houses took place July 1. Both the House and Senate will meet next at 10 a.m.

MICHIGAN

Taxpayers Party nominates local mother for governor

When President Barack Obama was elected and began promoting his economic stimulus package, Stacey Mathia decided she needed to do something. A mom of four who spent her time homeschooling and serving on the Village Council of Fife Lake, Mich., Mathia decided to run for governor. The U.S. Taxpayers Party of Michigan, an affiliate of the U.S. Constitution Party, officially nominated her as their gubernatorial candidate Sunday.

MICHIGAN

Insults, brain drain highlight final Democratic gubernatorial debate

Karen Confer

July 1, 2010

Between sailing insults, Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero and House Speaker Andy Dillon, D-Redford, addressed how to keep college graduates in the state and the possibilities of alternative energy Monday during the final Democratic gubernatorial debate before the Aug. 3 primary. Among the 20 questions posed by moderators during the hour-long debate, both candidates agreed keeping graduates in Michigan is crucial for the state’s future.

MICHIGAN

E.L. closes city offices for July 4 holiday

Aseel Machi

July 1, 2010

All East Lansing city offices, including official buildings, will be closed Monday in observance of Fourth of July weekend. Closures include the East Lansing Department of Public Works, 1800 E. State Road; Hannah Community Center, 819 Abbot Road; the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road; 54-B District Court, 101 Linden St.; and East Lansing City Hall, 410 Abbot Road.

MICHIGAN

CATA suspends service for July 4 holiday

Aseel Machi

July 1, 2010

The Capital Area Transportation Authority, or CATA, will not be in service Sunday in observance of the Fourth of July. The services not available include any fixed-route, Spec-Tran and other CATA services that regularly run.

MICHIGAN

U.S. tanning tax enacted Thursday

Karen Confer

June 30, 2010

With Thursday’s implementation of a 10 percent tax on all ultraviolet tanning, getting that summer glow indoors is going to cost more for MSU students. The federal tax, which was passed in March as part of the nation’s health care overhaul, is expected to generate $200 million in its first year and $2.7 billion during the next 10 years, according to the nonpartisan U.S. Joint Committee on Taxation.

MICHIGAN

Bicycle pump track unites community

Anthony Odoardi

June 30, 2010

After months of waiting, the Meridian Township Parks & Recreation Department was joined by the Michigan Mountain Biking Association, or MMBA, BikeWorks, Denny’s Central Park Bicycles and the Meridian Township Police Department to officially open the course to the public Wednesday. The Eastgate Bicycle Pump Track Grand Opening is located at Eastgate Park, 4023 S. Meridian Road, in Okemos.

MICHIGAN

ELPD secures funding for new K9 vehicle

Andrew Krietz

June 29, 2010

Despite budget cuts and an overall lack of revenue, the East Lansing Police Department recently secured grant funding to replace an aging K9 unit vehicle. The department was awarded a $19,633 grant from the Bureau of Justice Assistance, a unit within the U.S. Department of Justice. State and local economic difficulties challenged the department to purchase a new vehicle, which is expected to be added to the fleet within the next few months.

MICHIGAN

Grant to help E.L. business, MSU prof perfect new silicon-based particle

Pat Evans

June 29, 2010

An East Lansing-based company came closer to its goal of helping an MSU professor commercialize his product with a $100,000 award from a statewide competition. InPore Technologies was selected for the SmartZone Award as part of the Great Lakes Entrepreneur’s Quest, or GLEQ, Statewide Business Plan Competition, a contest to determine the most promising business plans for start-up companies.

MICHIGAN

Program brings scholars to E.L.

Pat Evans

June 28, 2010

Hosting international scholars through the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is a crucial way East Lansing and MSU further their global reach, city officials said. The program, organized through the U.S. Department of State, is run through 18 U.S. universities and brings in about 200 Fellows each year for study and professional experiences across the country. The program has more than 4,000 alumni in 157 countries across the globe — including 78 Fellows from 53 countries to MSU.

MICHIGAN

17K Mich. teachers retire under plan

Karen Confer

June 28, 2010

Taking advantage of retirement incentives offered by amendments to the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System, or MPSERS, 17,063 school employees across 95 percent of school districts filed to retire before the June 11 deadline, according to a press release Friday from Gov. Jennifer Granholm’s office.