Mega Shabbat returns to Spartan Stadium

Every Friday, Jewish people around the world celebrate the day of rest, Shabbat. 

But today’s Shabbat on the MSU campus will be bigger than a normal Friday night, it will be ‘mega.’ 

Spartan Stadium is where MSU Chabad, a family-run student group, is bringing back Mega Shabbat for the first time since 2019. 

“Great experience being able to be in a communal place with so many other Jews,” said MSU Senior Jared Pazner. Making a kitchen ready to serve Jewish foods, and is boiling hot too. They’re making a Kosher kitchen to make sure dairy and meat do not mix, which is forbidden. 

Rabbi Bentzion Shemtov, MSU Chabad Rabbi said, “Being throughout the year that kitchen was used for cooking non-Kosher foods, in order to now use the kitchen to cook Kosher it has to go through an extra set of cleansing process.” 

Dinner consists of juice foods like homemade brisket, with family and fellow Jews. 

Plus a taste of the homeland, bringing the Western Wall 6000 miles closer to East Lansing. 

It means the world to these spartans after the recent terror attacks unfolding in Israel and the war affecting many Jewish people in Ukraine. 

“I know that being so far away from the action is sometimes hard to imagine what they’re going through, the pain and suffering,” said Pazner.

Greater Lansing Records Biggest Snowfall in 22 Years, See How Students Spent the Day.

EAST LANSING – Wednesday, February 2nd turned out to be the snowiest February day in Mid-Michigan in 22 years. Some spots in East Lansing got 16 inches. The storm made driving at night treacherous. It seemed like a snowball fight got a little more traction, whether they enjoyed it, or not. “Anyways, we regret being out here,” said MSU Freshman Anna Zacharski.

Students and healthcare workers afflicted w/ COVID-19 share mental health tips

Throughout the country, health professionals and college students reveal ways they are combating the effects of COVID-19 on their mental health. 

According to the CDC, younger adults, racial/ethnic minorities, essential workers, and unpaid adult caregivers reported worse mental health, increased substance use, and elevated suicidal ideation. 

CDC suggests some healthy ways to cope with stress. By Molly Gundry

As illustrated in the infographic, the CDC suggests coping strategies with stress and mental health during the pandemic, such as connecting with others and taking time to unwind. Healthcare workers and students across the country, who have previously had the virus, point to ways that helped them cope during the quarantine. 

Health care workers

Debra Aplis, 53, a nurse at a Texas memory care facility, experienced some rough symptoms but ultimately recovered well from the virus. 

Aplis said throughout this pandemic, she experienced depression, mood changes and anxiety. 

However, Aplis found new ways to distract her from the global pandemic and the effect on her mental health. Aplis said she began music therapy, reading and watching music videos on YouTube. After recovering from COVID-19, Aplis donated her plasma for use by those battling COVID-19. 

College students

A Vanderbilt University freshman, Anastasia Franchak, 19, said she spent her entire quarantine in her room. 

Franchak is from Johns Creek, Georgia, outside of Atlanta.

Boiler overheats, scaring a family in Williamston

A boiler overheated Thursday night on the 200 block of E. Riverside Street in Williamston, alarming homeowner Patricia Murphy and her family. She said the home got “uncomfortably warm” before the boiler gauge burst. 

Murphy and her family made it out of the home safely. The home appeared to have no visible damage. 

“I started to feel the radiators,” said Murphy. “They were too hot to touch.” She looked down at the gauge on the boiler, and it had melted. That’s when Murphy knew it was time to dial 9-1-1. 

She said she yelled to her family the radiator had blown as she was on the phone with the repair company.

Sun Theatre Williamston delays reopening

The Sun Theatre Williamston plans to reopen in a few weeks, said owner Lisa Robitaille, postponing the scheduled Oct. 9 reopening due to COVID-19 concerns. For now, the theatre will continue serving popcorn ‘to go.’

Closed indefinitely

Robitaille announced on March 16 via Facebook the temporary closure due to COVID-19 concerns. The theatre saw an outpouring of support on social media. The first popcorn ‘to go’ event happened days after on March 19.

Williamston seeks to fill city council seat

With one month away from voting in the November general election, Williamston is looking for a fifth city council candidate because Councilman Jon Bisard, serving as mayor pro-tem, decided to step down. The council appointed Bisard in 2018. He served two years of a four-year term starting in Feb. 2018. One of two-seat vacancies filled by the council in 2018 included the appointment of Bisard.  

Re-election

Councilman Daniel Rhines filled the second council seat in 2018.