Nontraditional school calendar not popular in Michigan

SCHOOL CALENDAR: While some educators, students and parents favor school spread more evenly throughout the year, but the so-called balanced school calendar has not taken off in Michigan. We interview the Holt superintendent who heads a national organization, the head of the Michigan Education Association, a Holt parent and the superintendent of Akron-Fairgrove schools. By Janelle James. FOR LANSING AND ALL POINTS.

Holt High School play provides magic and laughs for all ages

The seats at Margaret Livensparger Theater in Holt High School begin to fill up as attendees await the opening performance of Puffs Thursday night. HOLT, Mich.  – The Holt High School theater program saw the opening night of its version of Matt Cox’s play, Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.  

Puffs is a parody of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series told from the perspective of the “Puffs,” one of the four houses of the wizarding school. 

As the play is not affiliated with any individuals or companies associated with the Harry Potter series, the play uses allusions and wordplay to tell the story of the Puffs while staying within the bounds of fair use laws. “It’s a lot of fun for people who both like and dislike Harry Potter,” said senior Simon Menold, who plays a multitude of characters including the potions professor and Lord Voldy. “The Harry Potter nerds will really enjoy the jokes and innuendos that are taken from the books and movies,” said sophomore Mace Betts, “but even if you don’t know it, it’s still hilarious.” Betts plays protagonist Wayne Hopkins in the play. The play came after months of casting, planning, and rehearsing for the final product. 

“We go after school every day from three to five, until this week, when we went from three to ten,” Betts said.

Redrawn districts shake up 2022 election race for Holt candidates

These maps show the difference between boundaries of the old Michigan 23rd Senate district on the left, and the new Michigan 21st district on the right. 

DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich.  – Candidates for the 2022 elections representing Holt-Delhi Township are preparing for the first election cycle since the most recent redistricting in 2020. “Michigan has non-partisan districting for the first time in its history,” said Curtis Hertel, Jr., current senator from Michigan’s 23rd Senate district. 

“My seat, which was a solidly Democratic seat and gerrymandered so as many Democrats as possible would be packed into one district, has shifted into two districts.”

Delhi Township, once part of the 23rd Senate district, now belongs to the 21st Senate district, which includes most of Lansing, southern and eastern Ingham County, and all of Eaton County.  The new district is less Democratic-leaning than the old 21st district, with Eaton County narrowly voting for Donald Trump in 2016 and 2020. 

With Senator Hertel unable to run due to term limits, the race for the open 21st Senate district seat is between Democrat Sarah Anthony, who currently serves as the representative from the 68th Michigan House of Representatives district, and Republican Nkenge Robertson. 

Senator Hertel stated his optimism about Representative Anthony’s success in the Senate race despite the change in voter base.  “She should win,” Hertel said. “The numbers are solidly on her side.”

Representative Anthony expressed that she’s the right person to bring together the people of the 23rd Senate District.

Holt Food Frenzy provides fun despite weather concerns

Food trucks are seen serving customers outside of the Holt Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, October 12. The final Food Frenzy of the year included thirteen different food vendors, alongside a variety of other goods. DELHI TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The last Food Frenzy of 2022 took place at Holt Farmers’ Market on Wednesday, October 12, with crowds of visitors braving the cold and rain to enjoy food from local vendors, live music, and other activities. Food Frenzies took place once a month throughout the summer at the Farmers’ Market, attracting both seasoned market customers and newcomers.

Holt high school student honored for art work

Kaitlyn Silengo is a senior at Holt High School who recently was celebrated for her artistic talents in an unconventional way. Silengo was honored at the Holt High School board meeting March 14 for winning an art contest. Her art now hangs in the McDonald’s at 2400 N. Cedar St. in Holt. The contest was based around “What Michigan Means to Me, and was meant to help the McDonald’s owner get to know her new state. Holt Superintendent David Hornak introduced Silengo to the School Board, and presented her with a certificate.

Market value: Holt Farmers’ Market grows businesses

Katrina Jeffreys in front of her company, Fur Real Dog Snacks’booth at the Holt Farmers’ Market. Her dog Nyxi is pictured behind her. Picture this: you wake up on a Saturday between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. You are absolutely famished, yet decidedly walk past the fridge and go outside. You find yourself at the brightly muraled entrance of the Holt Farmers’ Market. You walk in and are greeted with neighborly smiles and homegrown charm.

Holt parks attract residents of all ages

For suburban Americans, the idea of a public park seems commonplace. But how many of us know what elements go into making a park, let alone a good one? 

Molly WrightAnna Bigelow and her daughter Sarah, 3, on the playground at Valhalla Park in Holt.

Luckily for residents of the Greater Lansing Area, the Holt-Delhi parks department seems to have the answers. 

Recently under new leadership, the director, Troy Stowell is a longtime parks department employee and Holt resident has been in charge for the past month. “I’m actually a Holt resident myself so when this position came open at the end of 2021 it felt like a natural fit to come in and apply to see if I can better the parks system and improve my hometown,” says Stowell. This may be a tough initiative as Delhi Township already boasts an impressive list of parks as well as roughly 9 miles of interurban trails and pathways for outdoor enthusiasts to explore. The trails are a combination of paved walking paths and hiking trails to ensure accessibility and connect the Holt community with the Lansing River Trail (a 25.3-mile paved path along Grand River). 

“All of our trails connect with either schools or parks or neighborhoods, so a lot of people, especially when the weather gets a little better outside, you’ll see them on our trail system.

New refuge for foster dogs a step closer in Holt

HOLT – On a unanimous vote, animals in Delta Township waiting to be fostered or adopted are one step closer to having a refuge. That place, proposed by the nonprofit Happy Feet Pet Rescue, would be 3276 E. Jolly Road. The plan was approved by the Holt-Delhi Planning Commission. Requested location

Happy Feet Pet Rescue representative LuEllen Smith said, “We are not a shelter, but a temporary place for animals to stay while they’re getting cleared by the vet to go to people’s homes.”

Trustee Pat Brown questioned Smith about the availability of inside and outside space. Brown asked about the types of animals that were available for fostering and adopting, “I watch Lone Star Law.