Spartan Newsroom (http://news.jrn.msu.edu/category/news/community-news/lansing/)
Dr. Robert L. Green who is a civil rights activist tells people at Michigan State about the man he knew, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Green explains what it was like to have King as a mentor and what it was like being the first family to integrate East Lansing.
A book that first started out as just something for a MSU senior to do in her free time is now her very first published piece of work. Hannah Safferman is a senior here at Michigan State University. Not only is she that, she is also the author of ‘It’s OK To Be Anxious.’ A children’s book that focuses on helping with coping mechanisms for children with anxiety. Safferman studies elementary education and childhood development here at MSU and wants children to know that the emotions they are feeling are okay and that they are not alone.
On this edition of Focal Point, Interim President Satish Udpa apologizes to the survivors who were involved in the Larry Nassar case, MSU might gain a new spot on campus, and a student started her own business at the age of 21. In sports, we have an overview on men’s and women’s basketball, hockey, and wrestling. This week in entertainment, we have a preview of the nominations for the Oscars. These stories and more on this week’s edition of Focal Point.
Eastside Fish Fry and Grill has been a staple in the Lansing area for seven years now. They sold 18,000 chicken wings during the Super Bowl and owner Henry Meyer says they sell 2,500 wings a day. But Meyer’s path wasn’t always clear to him and he had to go through some hardships to get to where he is today. “Nobody took a chance on me nobody would hire me,” said Meyer. “I was having a hard time finding a job.”
And now, he’s paying it forward.
Lansing is getting a makeover. In his recent State of the City address, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor revealed a new city logo and an upgrade coming to the parking system. The logo, designed by Lansing-based Redhead Design Studio, shows an “L” that mimics the three iconic smokestacks in REO Town that help make up the Lansing skyline. Pop-up shops have appeared around the city selling merchandise with the new logo. “We’ll do more pop-up shops, hopefully an online shop sometime.
In Lansing, there is a place where authors, poets and musicians alike are welcome to perform during the second week of each month. The Poetry Room was founded in 2017 by Masaki Takahashi and Grace Carras when the two joined forces with the Robin Theater “to create a series of open mic events that would excite the masses and bless the ears of patrons with tasty poetry.”
People made their way to downtown Lansing on Feb. 9 to attend the seventh annual Art and Craft BeerFest. The festival began with check-in at the Cadillac Room (inside Riverview Church), where attendees purchased tickets to gain access into four different venues which had different beer and cider, art and entertainment. Featured beers from Dark Horse Brewing Co. were made available during the live comedy act in the night session.
The Blue Owl Coffee Shop is planning to open up a second location in East Lansing at the end of February. The Reo Town-based business is set to open its 3,00-square-foot location on the campus of Michigan State University, located at 213 Ann St., Suite C, as part of an effort to open up three new locations by May, co-owner Nick Berry said. “We just want to be apart of the story,” Berry said of his plans for expansion. “There is a huge transition going on in East Lansing and we’re just excited to be able to house the beginnings of the stories for a lot of the people in the neighborhood.” Two additional coffee shops are set to open up within Lansing’s Old Town by the end of May, as well as a Grand Rapids storefront location in the city’s Northwest Neighborhood.
On this edition of Focal Point, get an overview of why people took a cold plunge to raise funds for the Special Olympics. A sorority on campus made special deliveries for Valentines Day, and Lansing joins 49 other counties in Michigan in the text 911 service, allowing people to contact 911 via text if they are unable to call. In sports, MSU men’s basketball defeats Wisconsin, while the women’s team falls behind. Those stories and more this week on Focal Point.
Ele’s Place is a healing center for grieving children, teens and their family. Focal Point reporter Honda Carter tells us how they have made a difference.
It’s been a year since Judge Rosemarie Aquilina put Larry Nassar behind bars for life. Today, she calls herself an “accidental hero.” From being on the Today show to standing the survivors at the ESPYs, Judge Aquilina has become an advocate, which has made her a lot busier. “I get asked to do motivational speaking,” she said. Not only has she broadened her possibilities to make change, but, emotionally, she’s a bigger person.
