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.

Puppy primping

A four-year university education is not for everyone, especially if fur is your forte. The Michigan School of Canine Cosmetology, 3022 S.

Art auction will fund trip to Middle East

A silent art auction will take place from 6-9 p.m. on Friday at (SCENE) Metrospace, 303 Abbott Road. The auction is a fund-raiser for the Michigan Peace Team's trip to Israel and Palestinian occupied areas.

MSU to study spirituality's effect on cancer patients

Finding a possible link between spirituality and health will be the focus of a study by MSU researchers beginning in September. Michael Boivin, associate professor of neurology and ophthalmology and principal investigator in the study, will use a $1 million grant from the Templeton Advanced Research Program to study the connection between spirituality and breast cancer patients' resilience throughout chemotherapy. "I think we are finally at a point in human history where we have the tools to adequately explore the relationship between (spirituality and health)," Boivin said.

Mich. to be added to discount oil program

Lansing — Low-income families throughout the state will be spending less to keep warm this winter, as Michigan will be included in a Venezuelan program that sells heating oil at a 40 percent discount. Heating oil is a petroleum product used primarily in space heaters by about 8.1 million Americans, according to the Energy Information Administration Web site. Venezuelan Ambassador Bernardo Alvarez made the commitment Wednesday during a breakfast reception at the Capitol, kicking off his daylong tour of Lansing and Detroit. "The Heating Oil Assistance Program reflects the commitment of the Venezuelan government to help America — especially poor families — so they can afford heating oil when there is an energy crisis," Alvarez said.

AAA to offer glass repair service Friday

From 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. on Friday, residents can have stone chips in their windshields fixed, have their Vehicle Identification Number etched on glass surfaces on their cars and/or get a "state-of-the-art" Child ID in the parking lot of the AAA headquarters, 2829 E.

Police briefs 06/15/06

MSU exhibit heads to Smithsonian

One MSU Museum exhibit is bound for the nation's capital. More than 1 million people are expected to view the MSU Museum's American Indian basket weaving exhibit, "Carriers of Culture: Living Native Basket Traditions," at the 2006 Smithsonian Folklife Festival, June 30-July 4 and July 7-11 in Washington, D.C. The festival is an annual event held by the Smithsonian Institution at the National Mall featuring three main exhibits showing different cultural traditions.

Police briefs 06/14/06

'Spotted Dog' makes salads

Lansing — Students and professionals moved steadily past a black and white dog clock, its tail ticking down the remainder of their lunch hours on Tuesday.

Butting heads on helmets

Personal safety and rising insurance rates have caused some concern with the introduction of a bill that could repeal Michigan's motorcycle helmet law. Michigan law requires riders to wear helmets, but that could be changed by the bill, allowing motorcyclists to choose whether or not to wear a helmet.

Mosquito population climbs to 30-year high

When Natalie Warrick moved to MSU for the Summer Research Opportunity Program, she didn't expect a rousing welcome — from a platoon of blood-thirsty mosquitoes. After her first night at Owen Graduate Hall, Warrick woke up with five red lumps, the result of mosquito bites. "It's irritating me.

Police briefs 06/13/06

Pooch playground

The fastest growing single-purpose park in the nation is — for dogs? Lansing will join the nationwide trend this fall by adding Ingham County's first dog park to the east side of Scott Woods. The 17.5 acre fenced area of Hawk Island County Park features fields, a wooded area and a pond — all designed for dogs and their owners to exercise, socialize and enjoy the outdoors. "The idea is that (dogs and owners) will be able to walk and run without being right next to other people," said Ellen Sullivan, president of Friends of Greater Lansing Dog Parks, or FGLDP, the volunteer group that helped bring the park to Lansing.