Category Archives: Local News

By Anya Rath Staff Writer

Old Town, Lansing successfully hosted its sixth annual Taste & Tour of Old Town, a progressive food sampler and exclusive loft tour, on April 13, 2013.

The event lasted from noon until 5 p.m. and tickets, sold by the Old Town Commercial Association (OTCA), were $5 for just the loft tours and $15 for the loft tour along with food samples.

Ten food vendors opened up their kitchens and served samples to those with tickets. Additionally, six loft owners opened their doors to the general public.

Louise Gradwohl, executive director of the OTCA, said that planning had been underway since February.

“We work with different restaurants and we brought in a few of our member food vendors,” Gradwohl said. “It’s a great way to inform the public of the restaurants down here and it’s great PR. It’ll bring back business from the next time.”
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By Alexandra Ilitch Staff Writer

For the past 10 years, the Old Town Lansing Commercial Association has offered walking tours for visitors and persons of all ages to become knowledgeable about the historical town.

The walking tours are designed and customized to appeal to all ages, whether tourists are Lansing residents, or not. familiar with the area at all. The tour organizers allow for a brief walk through history.

Old Town offers four different tours. The Self-Guided Historical Walking Tour is for those who want to browse through the town on their own.

Those opting for the self-guided tour can use a brochure and an MP3 audio packet that is available for download—via cellular device or iPod. This packet offers a speaking audio that provides information about the town.

A version of the audio tour begins at the Brenke Fish Ladder in Burchard Park.
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By Jennifer Brown  Staff Writer

The sun burns brightly down on the pavement as a light spring breeze floats through the air. The soft, steady babble of the river can be heard through the happy chatter of walkers and bike riders out for some exercise. The trail along the river is full of people of all ages enjoying the outdoors.

The Lansing River Trail is an important resource for the entire Lansing area. The trail stretches all the way from Old Town to Jolly Road. Its east edge begins at Hagadorn Road on the Michigan State University campus. The trail follows the Red Cedar River west until it joins the Grand River, and then follows it north through Lansing.

Combined, the River Trail includes 13 miles, or 21 kilometers, of walkways that people use for biking, running, walking and other activities.
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Despite the decrease in gas prices compared to last year, driving habits do not seem to be changing, but there are differences on whether the change is noticeable.

According to the Consumer Price Index, gasoline prices decreased 3.1% from March 2012 to March 2013.

In Old Town, there are currently three gas stations, where prices range from $3.65 to $3.79. Speedway’s gas station, 1201 N. Cedar St., is the only one at the heart of Old Town.

Patricia Huddleston, advertising professor at Michigan State and an expert in retailing and shopping attitudes, said that gas prices cause a proportional impact depending on income level.

“If you’re in a low income level, you’ll drive less and shift some of your income to pay for gas,” Huddleston said. “A two, three, or four percent change in gas won’t impact you if you have a high income.”

AAA’s fuel price finder reports that the average gas price for Lansing was $3.78 per gallon last year, while this year it stands at $3.76. On April 23, gas prices ranged from $3.48 to $3.94. Lansing’s average is up by more than 20 cents compared to the national average of $3.50

Adam Aldridge, an accounting student from Michigan State University, said he has not noticed the decrease. According to Aldridge, the constant changing in gas prices has not really impacted his pocket. He also said that he does not stick to one gas station, but fills up where he sees low prices.

Jocelyn Modelski, a car owner and student said that the change is really noticeable.

“I feel the change,” Modelski said. “It was almost $5 last year but it hasn’t affected my driving because I drive everywhere anyways, but it’s definitely a nice break on my wallet.”

The proposed budget for the City of Lansing Parks and Recreation department in the Fiscal year 2012 to 2013 allows for proper maintenance and reconstruction of designated areas.

The goal of The Parks and Recreation department is to seek enhancement for the lifestyle of Lansing residents through provision of leisure time activities, preservation of parklands and maintenance of these designated facilities.

According to the 2012-2013 Fiscal Year budget, the proposed parks and recreation general fund is $6,673,801, which is about 79.5 percent of the $8.4 million amount that was proposed for the FY budget.

From the general fund budget, the cemeteries fund accounts for $678,914, the golf fund $822,096, and the parks capital improvements budget $215,000.

The capital improvements budget amounts to 2.5 percent of the general fund.
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The closing of Barnes and Noble bookstore on Grand River Avenue has resulted in a significant increase in sales for Schuler Books in Eastwood Town Center.

The demand for books in a college town seems to be significantly high, and without a plethora of different bookstores within the range of East Lansing, Schuler Book store has done pretty well.

Dewey Lawrence, manager at Schuler Books in the Eastwood Town Center located on Lake Lansing Road, said since Barnes and Noble closing, there has been an initial increase of customers and traffic within the store.

“We noticed more first time customers who were former customers of Barnes and Noble,” Lawrence said.

Although there is no record of any significant decrease in sales at Schuler Books while Barnes and Noble on Grand River Avenue was still open, Lawrence said that they have definitely been affected positively.

“The response for books and returning customers has now been leveled,” he said.

Lawrence said that St. Thomas Aquinas Church recently made an agreement with Barnes and Noble over the sales of products, but changed their agreement to sell their products at Schuler Books.

The main reason for the amount of traffic has a lot to do with the Reading Group Center, which is located in the Chapbook Café in the store. There is a section of books that are at the front of the store that are set-aside for the groups and book clubs.

With the whole idea of electronic publishing, Lawrence said that there has been an increase in the amount of people who use e-readers, but it hasn’t affected business significantly. “There has definitely been a clear influence of e-readers,” he said.

Lawrence said that Schuler Books has just recently marketed an e-reader. The e-reader is called “Kobo” and is very similar to the iPad, marketed by Apple. This e-reader can be found in local Schuler Book stores.

Katelyn Suski, a junior at Michigan State University studying special education, said that her sophomore year she relied on Barnes and Noble, located on Grand River, to purchase books for her education classes.

Upon the closing of Barnes and Noble, Suski found herself looking for an alternative bookstore that was local, in order to make purchases on books that she needed. Suski said she found out about Schuler’s Bookstore when a peer of hers recommended that she go there.

“Schuler’s was a warm and welcoming bookstore that was available in the event that Barnes and Noble was now closed,” she said. “I have to say, my worries about there no longer being a Barnes and Noble quickly went away upon entering into the store.”

“While looking through the bookstore for the first time, I found myself attracted to the café that is there. I think this is a great benefit to have within the store, by being able to enjoy a cup of coffee or snack while reading a book, and also allowing for reading groups,” Suski said.

Suski said she encourages her peers to check out the bookstore at their own leisure.

“Schuler’s Bookstore has reasonable prices that accommodate to my financial status,” she said. “Whenever I am in need of a children’s book for my classes, Schuler’s is my go-to bookstore.”

Stephanie Tatro, a junior at MSU, said that she enjoys going to Schuler’s Bookstore for the café with her friends to study.

“It’s a great atmosphere and very convenient place to go to with friends to study and do homework,” she said. “I like the convenience of being at a bookstore, so that I am exposed to many different books if I need to be.”

Tatro said that she discovered Schuler’s Bookstore this year, upon looking for a few different books for her communication classes.

“I just transferred to MSU this year, so Schuler’s Bookstore is the only bookstore I am familiar with around here,” she said. “I love the whole environment, from the plethora of books, to the awesome customer service.”

By: Alexandra Ilitch Staff Writer

The City of Lansing has reduced its budget by over $60 million since 2001 according to Mayor Virg Bernero at the city council meeting on March 25, 2013.

The Great Recession has greatly impacted Lansing in many ways such as the crash of the stock market in 2008, which added to the city’s pension costs.

Since 2008, the city has seen an $8 million decline in tax revenues.

In November of 2011, there was a millage passage, which was proposed by city voters, for fire, police, and roads.

The financial health team was established in the fall of 2012, made up of community and business leaders, to evaluate the city’s financial challenges and to make suggestions for the future.

For the fiscal year 2014, Bernero proposed a $191.5 million budget, resulting in a 1.6 percent increase over the fiscal year 2013 budget.

“I will not propose reducing the city’s commitment to recreation programs for our youth,” Bernero said.

The increase in the budget is a result of a voter-approved millage, which was proposed to come up with a strategic plan for road infrastructure within the city.

“My proposed budget almost doubles our expenditures on fixing neighborhood streets and sidewalks. The police, fire and roads millage will generate $1.8 million for road repairs in the Fiscal Year of 2014.
He said $1.3 million will be spend on roads, and an additional $200,000 for sidewalks.

The City of Lansing City Council

Bernero said that he is continuing to pursue numerous measures to streamline city government and get “more bang from the taxpayer’s buck.”

He said the budget keeps the city on the right track and closes the remaining budget gap with a combination of new revenues, reduced expenditures, reorganizations, and strategic investments.

In other council business, two representatives from the public spoke in disagreement about the General Motors IFT application.

The IFT is the industrial facilities and tax exception certificate.

City resident, Claude Beavers, said he strongly disagrees with the workings of the General Motors IFT application.

Beavers also said that it was unfair to someone who is a taxpayer like himself.

Another city resident, Kathi Raffone, said that she was struggling with the new tax certificate as well and that she does not support it.