Around Town
CADL - Haslett Offer Summer Programs for Everyone
Lansing Music Festival Season Starts With a Rewind to the 90's
Dairy Industry Celebrates Michigan Dairy Foods Awareness Day
CADL - Haslett Library Offers Programs for Everyone
As the season swoons into the hot part of the year, who can resist kicking back back the campfire of the dock for a long evening with a good book? For many of us in Mid-Michigan that is the perfect recipe for relaxation. While you head to the library though look beyond the thoughts that the libraries are a place only for books or studying – that couldn’t be further from the truth! If you aren’t aware of what your local Capital Area District Libraries have to offer you then you are truly judging a book by its cover. From Art displays, to computer availability, movie viewing events, guest seminars and more our local libraries are the place to be this summer.
One such event took place this past week at the Haslett Library when Chef Michelle Bommarito came in and taught a room full of library patrons how to make healthy choices while cooking delicious food. With over thirty people in attendance, Chef Bommarito took the time to teach the eager crowd how to make pizzas from scratch from crust to sauce. The evening culminated with a questions and answers session while tasting the hard work that the audience earned. These are carefully selected programs that are designed to hit peak attendance using calculated methods.
“When selecting program topics, we often look to our collection as a guide. Our cookbook section is one of our highest circulating areas, so we know there is an interest in food and cooking in our community. We regularly achieve high attendance at food events.” CADL Head Librarian Ann Chapman said of the event and selection methodology. “Not only are the programs informational but they create a lot of fellowship as well.”
The CADL libraries around Lansing are also common gathering places for people of all races, financial means, and ages. Being a hub for social engagement fulfills one of the libraries most crucial functions as well as serving the greater good of the Lansing communities.
“We stay on top of cultural changes. Social isolation is a trending topic. CADL Haslett offers 3 weekly lifestyle programs for adults: Euchre, Crafternoons & Modern American Canasta. These events draw an average of 185 seniors to the library every month. They are fun-loving groups, open to everyone, that have evolved into so much more than playing cards or crafting. They’ve cultivated relationships with the library & with each other.” Chapman explained. “Euchre recently celebrated one player’s 93rd birthday. One participant told us they had lost outside social contacts since their spouse passed away & this group has been a lifeline. Yet another, a not-so-senior recent retiree, confessed that time spent at the library was more satisfying than that spent at the mall. Finally, a senior citizen that attends weekly told me she wanted to stress the importance of this group to her. She said it provides a social network & gathering space that is an important part of her week. That was great feedback because Public Gathering Place is one of CADL’s core services.”
Another focus of the libraries are to bring art and art awareness to the people. In the Haslett library there used book store called “The Bookend”, where people can buy used books, movies, and CD’s for a fraction of what they would cost retail. The program is popular and it’s not uncommon to see folks leaving the little store in the back of the library overloaded with books to take home. An added bonus of The Bookend is having a local artists work on display. This gives the artist their own art gallery opportunity, while bringing a new medium to many people who either don’t or aren’t able to visit local art museums and galleries.
The displays and artists rotate and this week a new avian themed photography display of local resident Janet MacFarlane was introduced. The display featured a welcoming reception and an opportunity to meet the artist. MacFarlane’s vibrant bird pictures were an exciting addition to the bookstore.
“Showcasing art is important to the community because there are a lot of creative people in our community with a lot of interesting perspectives." MacFarlane commented. "I think this is a great place to show it because the library is such a community oriented place and is definitely a cultural center of sorts. There’s no better place for it. I’ve seen paintings and drawings and lots of interesting art that people create and this is such a fine place to showcase it.”
With so much to do at your libraries don’t forget to check out the fun along with your summer reading lists!
Upcoming events at CADL Haslett divided by age group:
FAMILY FUN (All ages)
The ARK Animal Encounters - Live animal presentation
Tuesday, June 25 • 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Create Your Own Cosmic Art
Create some “out of this world” art projects (while supplies last)!
Thursday, June 27 • 3–4 p.m.
Cameron Zvara - Magic show
Tuesday, July 16 • 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
Lansing Hoops Sponsored by the Friends of the Haslett Library
You supply the energy, we’ll supply the hula hoops. Learn space themed hula hoop tricks, a celestial dance choreography & planetary hoop games!
Thursday, July 18 • 2–3 p.m.
Pop Art & Collage Workshop (Age 6 & up) Sponsored by the Friends of the Haslett Library
Monday, July 22 • 6:30–8:30 p.m.
Limited to first 50 people to arrive.
End of Summer Reading Party
Celebrate your summer reading success with Duck Duck Donkey Petting Farm. Get up close & personal with a miniature donkey, sheep, goat, ducks, a chicken & a goose. The Balloon Guys will be here too!
Saturday, Aug. 10 • 2–3 p.m.
FOR YOUNG CHILDREN
Rock n’ Read Storytime (Ages 3–6)
Early literacy in action! This storytime combines books, music, movement and interactivity for a lively learning adventure.
Wednesdays, June 5–Aug. 14 • 10:30–11 a.m.
Toddler Storytime (Ages 1½–3)
Stories, songs and activities for toddlers and their caregivers.
Thursdays, June 6– Aug. 22 (skip July 4) • 10:30–11 a.m.
FOR OLDER CHILDREN & TEENS
Moon Rocks (Age 6 & up)
Create a dreamy moon rock using your imagination and our supplies.
Tuesday, June 18 • 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Summer Science Series (Age 7 & up)
Each month will feature a different interactive science experiment.
Thursdays, June 20, July 18 & Aug. 8 • 6:30–7:30 p.m.
*Summer Minecraft (Ages 7-17)
Get your game on with fellow Minecrafters in this event open to all skill levels. Younger children welcome with adult supervision. *Registration required; call 517-339-2324 or click on "Register."
Wednesdays, June 19-Aug. 7 (skip July 3) • 2–3:30 p.m.
Drop-in LEGO Club (Age 4 & up)
Kids love getting creative with our LEGO collection! Imaginative play helps them develop skills used for reading.
Fridays, June 14, July 12 & Aug. 9 • 10:30 a.m.–12 p.m.
Block Party (Age 7 & up)
We’re having a block party! Come build with Legos, big blocks, Magna-tiles and Zoob Car.
Tuesday, July 23 • 11 a.m. –12 p.m.
*Escape Room: Trapped In Space! (Ages 8-12)
Race against time to fix your space craft and get back to Earth! Costumes welcome.
*Registration required at 517-339-2324 or cadl.org/events.
*Escape Room: Trapped In Space! (Ages 13-18)
Fandoms. Intergalactic trekking. Racing to fix your spacecraft before you’re stuck in space forever. Enough said? Cosplay encouraged. *Registration required at 517-339-2324 or cadl.org/events.
Thursday, July 25 • 4–5 p.m.
NASA Planet Saturn Craft (Age 6 & up)
The NASA Space Place Team shared this craft using recycled CD’s to make your very own model of the planet Saturn.
Tuesday, Aug. 6 • 11 a.m. –12 p.m.
FOR ADULTS
Euchre Group
Play cards in good company. The fun is free!
Mondays, June 3–Aug. 26 • 1–3 p.m.
Crafternoons
This is a weekly informal gathering for people who like to craft and share ideas. Bring your project and join us in the library Community Room.
Tuesdays, June 4–Aug. 27 • 1–3 p.m.
Book Group
We meet every month for lively discussion.
Wednesdays • 7–8 p.m.
June 5: Becoming Nicole by Amy Nutt
July 10: Beautiful Ruins by Jess Walter
Aug. 7: Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman
Modern American Canasta
Everyone is welcome from beginners to experienced players. The fun is free!
Fridays, June 7–Aug. 30 • 12:30–4 p.m.
Haslett Mystery Readers Book Group
Our group of mystery lovers meets every month for a lively discussion.
2nd Mondays • 7–8 p.m.
June 10: The Baker Street Letters by Michael Robertson
July 8: The Late Show by Michael Connelly
Aug. 12: The Paris Spy by Susan Elia MacNeal
*Build a Birdhouse (Age 12 & up) Sponsored by the Friends of the Haslett Library
Gene Wasserman, County Coordinator for Michigan Bluebird Society and owner of WoodCraft Kits, will show how to identify birds, feed them, and attract them to your yard. Then make a birdhouse of your own! *Registration required at 517-339-2324 or cadl.org/events.
Wednesday, June 19 • 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Meridian Senior Center Book Club
We meet every month at the Meridian Senior Center. New members are always welcome!
4th Mondays • 11 a.m.–12 p.m.
June 24: Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
July 22: The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane by Lisa See
August 26: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
*Escape Room: Trapped In Space! (Age 18 & up)
Space is lonely – you don’t want to end up there forever. Fix your spacecraft and get back to Earth! Cosplay encouraged. *Registration required at 517-339-2324 or cadl.org/events.
Thursday, July 25 • 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Cassette Era Stars Light up Cooley Law School Stadium as the Summer Tour Season Kicked off
By Corrine Arnold
If you were looking for a way to flashback 20 years - Wait, I mean 30-ish years? Then the unofficial kickoff to the Lansing summer music season was the night for you. It was all neon and smoke as the I Love the 90’s tour came into town, a fun night to sit back and enjoy being 16 all over again. Friday night the tour stopped in Lansing at Cooley Law School Stadium and put the 90’s hip hop back into the 40-somethings of Lansing.
The tour opened with Young MC firing up the crowd with their memorable song set including their hit Bust A Move that I'm sure we all remember. That started a tongue in cheek walk down memory lane. Citing sponsorships from such classy products as Ben Gay and Hairclub for Men acts like Kid N Play, once were teenage heartthrobs, poke fun at the fact that they’re now Middle Aged with the normal issues and concerns we all have. All 4 One commended to the women in the crowd that "If I dated you in 1995, I'd be all that and a bag of chips." Even with all the tests of time many acts look and sound like they haven’t lost a single step in the past 25+ years.
The saxophone player with Coolio, Mr. Sexy Saxy (Jarez) isn’t to be missed being considered by many one of the top 10 Jazz Saxophonists in the world. He was highlighted and soloed in many of Coolio's songs and brought some class to the hip hop genre. Coolio was followed up by Rob Base singing It Takes Two which rocked out the infield of the baseball field and amped up the crowd for the finale act of Vanilla Ice who needed no introduction.
All in all, it was a fun night to tight roll your high-waisted jeans or jam out in your flashiest Hammer pants or Z's and go out for night jamming down memory lane.
Dairy Industry Celebrates Michigan Dairy Foods Awareness Day at the Capitol
LANSING – Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has declared June 12, 2019 as Michigan Dairy Foods Awareness Day to celebrate the state’s dairy industry, its farmers, the industry’s contribution to the state’s economy and the role the dairy farmers and processors play in feeding Michiganders.
Dairy Foods Awareness Day is hosted by the Michigan Dairy Foods Association, United Dairy Industry of Michigan and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) on the Capitol lawn, with free locally produced dairy foods provided by dairy processors and retailers. This year’s event also included a special appearance by Earl Cureton, former NBA player, WNBA assistant coach and current community ambassador for the Detroit Pistons.
“Michigan’s dairy industry is one of the largest agricultural industries in our state with an annual economic impact of $15.7 billion,” said Governor Whitmer. “Ninety-seven percent of Michigan’s dairy farms are family owned, many by multiple generations of the same family, and our farmers take pride in producing safe, wholesome, nutritious and delicious products for Michigan residents and dairy lovers across the nation and world.”
There are 1,359 dairy farms, of all sizes, which produced 11.2 billion pounds of milk in 2018, ranking Michigan 6th in the nation for milk production. Michigan’s dairy industry generates nearly 40,000 jobs, directly and indirectly both on and off the farm. Dairy is the leading segment of Michigan’s agriculture economy contributing 27 percent of the total cash receipts.
“Michigan has seen remarkable expansion in new dairy businesses and technologies, from large dairy processors and automated ‘robotic’ milking systems, to smaller on-farm artisanal cheese makers,” said MDARD Director Gary McDowell. “Increasing the capacity for dairy processing in our state provides a stable market for the high-quality milk our dairy farmers produce, which in turns supports our farm families and communities across the state and keeps healthy, nutritious dairy products affordable for all Michigan residents.”
Representatives from Michigan businesses and the dairy industry offered free dairy product samples, ranging from cheese and sour cream dips, to butter cookies, pizza, yogurt, milk, and ice cream. Participating businesses included Country Fresh (Dean Foods), Prairie Farms, Kroger/Michigan Dairy, Ashby’s Sterling Ice Cream, Michigan Milk Producers Association, MSU Dairy Store, Dairy Farmers of America, Country Dairy, Domino’s Pizza, LaColombe, McDonald’s, and Guernsey Farms Dairy.
Cureton offered pointers to parents and caregivers on helping children improve their eating habits, the importance of good nutrition and physical activity for children, and how dairy fits into a well-balanced, healthy meal plan.
State Senator Ed McBroom (R – District 38) and State Representative Julie Alexander (R – District 64) -- who are both dairy farmers -- and Jason Wadaga, president of government relations at the Michigan Dairy Foods Association, also participated in the program. Dairy Day is traditionally celebrated in Michigan during June, National Dairy Month. During National Dairy Month, Americans are encouraged to reduce risks of osteoporosis, high blood pressure, obesity and colon cancer through consumption of dairy products.
“I just love National Dairy Month and especially look forward to Dairy Day because we get to share many of the great dairy products made from milk produced right here in Michigan,” said Sharon Toth, chief operating officer, United Dairy Industry of Michigan. “With most Americans not getting enough calcium in their diets to promote bone health, featuring the many ways that dairy makes it easy is fun. From delicious cold milk to the cheese on your pizza to get-you-going lattes, the dairy farmers and processors provide what Michiganders need.”
For more information about Michigan’s dairy industry, visit www.milkmeansmore.org.