Packaging conference focuses on disabled

Ellen Weaver was delighted to receive a bouquet of 18 multi-colored roses for her birthday two weeks ago.

Police look into street art, propose solutions

For East Lansing police and city officials, the writing is on the walls of businesses and city property — both random and artistic graffiti. Since September 2005, East Lansing police have seen an influx of symbols, or "tags," cropping up in the downtown area on parking ramps, businesses, traffic signs and sidewalks. Although city and police officials said graffiti in East Lansing is not a large issue, they deal with it quickly when it happens and are looking for long-term solutions. East Lansing Detective Jeff Walsh, who is in charge of documenting graffiti cases, said the department is more concerned with spray-painted graffiti than small markings drawn in permanent marker. He said that in many instances, graffiti artists are marking places that aren't painted over quickly.

Fruitful festivals

Last weekend's Summer Solstice Jazz Festival didn't bring just good music to East Lansing, but better business and more people as well, city officials said. Even though the event was free of charge and it's difficult to establish how many people attended, Ami Van Antwerp, one of the coordinators of the event, said she estimated about 3,000 people showed up on Friday and Saturday. People at local businesses and restaurants said the event helped them.

Police briefs 06/21/06

MSU grads place in top 5 in Miss Michigan pageant

Donning a sparkling tiara and wearing rhinestone-covered jeans imprinted with the name of her hometown, 2006 MSU graduate Michelle Kimball became the third runner-up in the Miss Michigan Scholarship Program on Saturday. Kimball, a Grand Rapids native who graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, is Miss Greater Grand Rapids, a title she won in August 2005 and once before in 2003. "I came across their Web site a few years back, and it was a scholarship pageant, so I thought I'd give it a shot," she said. The Miss Greater Grand Rapids Scholarship Program, which is associated with the Miss America Scholarship Program, gives scholarships to talented young women based on a personal interview, talent, physical fitness and evening gown, said Kathy Dood, producer of Miss Greater Grand Rapids. "The goal is to earn the right to go on to Miss Michigan and then on to Miss America," Dood said.

Police briefs 06/20/06

Simon to hold final community meeting

MSU President Lou Anna K. Simon will hold her final community meeting with the Avondale, Bailey and Brookfield neighborhood associations this week. The meeting will be held at 7 p.m.

Representing Youth

Walking through the suburban neighborhood of Troy, 20-year-old MSU student Eric Gregory passed out fliers Saturday on the issues and goals he wants to address if he is elected into the Michigan House of Representatives. As the Democratic candidate in the Aug.

E.L. to host sidewalk sales for businesses

The annual East Lansing Sidewalk Sales will begin Thursday. During the event, local businesses will open their doors and offer discount prices.

Study: Sites reinforce unhealthy behaviors

Learning how to stay healthy has become increasingly easy with the growth of the Internet — but according to a recent study, so has maintaining and hiding eating disorders.

Innovations: Understanding West Nile

Name: Professor Ned Walker Department name: Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Type of research: Determining why there are higher rates of West Nile virus infections in certain types of communities. Date of research: The study began in 2004 and will end in 2007.

3 animals die at Potter Park Zoo

Two stray dogs allegedly killed three Patagonian cavies, large rodents from South America, on Thursday night at the Potter Park Zoo, 1301 S.

2-Bdrm: No furniture

As students move into the university apartments this fall, furniture may not be in the picture. And some say a lack of furniture may be especially hard on international students.

City seeks lower speed limits

The city of East Lansing has filed a motion of reconsideration to the Michigan Supreme Court against the Michigan Department of Transportation, or MDOT, over speed limits on certain streets. The case involves speed limits raised by the department in February 2005 on portions of Grand River Avenue and Saginaw Highway. The limits were raised from 25 mph to 35 mph on areas of Grand River Avenue and 35 mph to 45 mph on Saginaw Highway. In March 2005, the city sued three agencies over the speed limits, and the Ingham County Circuit Court ruled the speed limits should be lowered to 25 mph and 35 mph.

Police briefs 06/19/06

Trustees, committee to vote on scholarship

A scholarship for English majors studying creative writing will be voted on for recommendation by the MSU Trustee Finance and Audit Committee today. The scholarship came in the form of a $30,000 donation by Arthur Athanason, an English professor who died at 70 years old in September 2005 after battling pancreatic cancer. Athanason, who taught playwriting and other literature classes, wrote in his will that he wanted to establish a scholarship for students with strong academic and professional goals in creative writing. "He was diagnosed with terminal cancer and knew this was a legacy he could establish after he passed away," said Kristin Peterson, director of development for the College of Arts and Letters.

Parks get face-lift

The Friends of Ingham County Parks received a donation of about $9,500 that will be used to improve the facilities at parks throughout the county. The donation came from the Capital Region Community Foundation, a charity formed in 1987 that has been funding initiatives to benefit communities in Ingham, Eaton and Clinton counties. The Friends of Ingham County Parks is a non profit organization whose volunteers help the Ingham County Parks Department in various projects. The parks will use about $3,100 to purchase 16 new wheelchairs to be distributed among Lake Lansing, Hawk Island and Burchfield county parks, said Pat Witte, the Lake Lansing Park manager. "These are the first set of wheelchairs in these parks that will be available for public use," Witte said, adding that they should be available by the end of June or in early July. Nearly $3,300 of the donation will be used to purchase and install shade kites in Hawk Island Park. "There are not a lot of tree canopies in Hawk Island," Witte said.

City plans for 12-story building to replace lot

Taking a bite of her Greek salad, Jenny Wein took a moment to peer down Ann Street and soak in the "beauty" of MSU's campus. A 2005 alumna, Wein said one of the things she enjoyed most about MSU was its natural setting. "All of the nature around here makes it wonderful," she said. If plans to construct a 12-story building on the Albert Avenue parking lot are approved by the East Lansing City Council at some point this year, the majesty of campus could be overshadowed, Wein said. The 154-space lot could contain three floors of parking, stores, restaurants and nine stories of high-end rental housing or condominiums. "City Center is one of the bigger reasons I think it will work," said Mike Bailey, the project's potential developer and owner of City Center Partners, LLC.

Police briefs 06/16/06

Art gallery walk to be held at public library

The East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbott Road, will be holding a gallery walk from July 1-31. The gallery walk will feature oil and acrylic paintings by artist Pat Londy, which were made over 10 years. The walk will take place in the North Foyer Art Gallery of the library and is sponsored by the Friends of the East Lansing Public Library. A reception will be held July 8 from 1:30-4 p.m. For more information, contact art exhibit director Pat Rist at (517) 351-6414.