Spartan Newsroom (https://news.jrn.msu.edu/author/oldtowntimes/)
By Cynthia Lee
Old Town Lansing Times Staff Reporter
Old Town used to be known as an unsafe area. With community involvement and police enforcement, the neighborhood is trying to create a safer environment. The question is, do people feel safe within Old Town?
By Cynthia Lee
Old Town Lansing Times Staff Reporter
The Preuss Pet store has been active for 30 years, offering a wide selection of marine and fresh water animals, small animals like gerbils, ferrets, guinea pigs, and a large variety of reptiles. The store also offers more than the chance to adopt an animal, but to learn about them as well. The pet store has a education department collaborating with schools with science fun day, as well going to school classrooms to expose students to live animals. “The educational services Preuss Pets offers a way of bringing fresh faces to Old Town,” said Austin Ashley, who is the community director of Old Town Commercial Association. Ashley added, “They offer educating the community on animals and their well-being.
By Cynthia Lee
Old Town Lansing Times Staff Reporter
Preuss Pets store in Old Town had artist Bob Welton installed an artsy look to the outside of the store. The tropical trees adds the attraction to the unique pet store. The store has always been hard to miss when entering Old Town. The pet store enhanced their tropical appearance, adding more features that help give Old Town it unique quirky look. “I felt as if we were missing something, and I love adding new things to the store,” said owner Rick Preuss.
By Cynthia Lee
Old Town Lansing Times Staff Reporter
Where there’s smoke there’s fire, and it’s called Soulfire. The Old Town-based Firecracker Foundation is a nonprofit organization to help children who survived sexual trauma, by building a community invested in healing them. The foundation was founded on July 31, 2013. The organization is run by president Amanda Dubey-Zerka who holds the annual community event called Soulfire. Soulfire 2016: The Firecracker Foundation Gallery Reveal on Nov.
By Cynthia Lee
Old Town Lansing Times Staff Reporter
When first entering Old Town, at first it can be considered an inviting neighborhood. After touring an area filled with booming businesses, clean streets, upscale townhouses you reach the end of the street, and it all comes to a screeching halt entering the poverty-stricken area of Lansing. With newly high-end homes right next door to old low-income housing, Old Town is a prime example of gentrification. But is that a bad thing? Lansing resident William Blanchard doesn’t think it is.
By Cynthia Lee
Old Town Lansing Times staff reporter
McDonald’s, Burger King, and Wendy’s are common restuarants that can be found in most cities across the country. If it is not a corporate restaurant, it’s usually an American mom-and-pop restaurant with the usual burgers, hot dogs, and fries in most areas in Lansing. Until now, with people like entrepreneur Sam Short adding a new flavor to the food scene in Old Town. Short is the owner of the new upscale restaurant and bar, The Creole at 1218 Turner St. in Old Town.
By Cynthia Lee
Old Town Lansing Times staff reporter
Being an artist have never been known as a secure job. Luckily, with resources and a community that thrive on art, the Old Town neighborhood is helping artists make a living. With art fairs, consignment art galleries, and property for artist to open their own store, there are countless ways to make a living. The main resource for various artists is the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. Dawn Gorman the communication and events manager explained their goal and purpose for artist.
By Darren Weiss
Old Town Lansing Times
Lansing— Raven Wanger, a Girl Scout who suffers from cerebral palsy, had earned more than $600 when a man unexpectedly grabbed her cashbox and ran. “The man went behind the table and stole my money and I was going to chase him but he was gone,” Raven said. “I was rasing money by selling cookies so I could go to camp just like last year,” Raven added. Karen Micklatcher of the Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan said she was extremely distraught about the situation and immediately got the community and police involved. “The police and the mayor’s office started a fund for Raven, trying to get some of the money back that was stolen so she can go to camp this summer,” Micklatchaer said.
By Darren Weiss
Old Town Lansing Times
Lansing—Should Lansing build a new high school – or update one or more f the existing high schools? Lansing Eastern High School was built in 1928 and Lansing Everett in 1958, many school officials beileive it is time to upgrade or re-build not only the high schools, but also other schools in the district. “As a principal in the district, I have been to a lot of the buildings and understand some of them have bigger glaring needs than others,” said Connie Nickson, principal of Gardner Leadership, Law and Government Academy that educates students from kindergarten through eigth grade. “With that being said, what I would be most interested in is starting with the oldest school, East Lansing high school, and going from there.”
Nickson added that building new schools could raise enrollment, which has been on a steady decrease over the last five years. “If re-building a high school pulls more people in, I think that is better for all,” she said.
LANSING – With numerous programs and resources, Lansing schools provide a unique educational experience for students. On Feb. 22, the district came together, spotlighting its expansive community reach. The Lansing School District 2015 Showcase at Lansing Center featured representation from all 27 of the district’s schools. From on-site application and enrollment to student performances, the event embodied the district’s vision of furnishing caring, collaborative excellence.