Post Oak school overcrowded, but important

By Emily Wilkins
Kickin’ It Old Town

It was supposed to be a mere experiment.

Three years ago, Kimberly Farlin sent her youngest daughter, Ella Farlin, to Post Oak Magnet School and placed her in the school’s Chinese Immersion Program.

“It’s close to our house and we thought we’d try it out,” Farlin said. “It’d be a novelty.”

Students at Post Oak are taught to speak and write in Chinese. Above are the characters for "hello" or, in Mandarin, "ni hao." Credit: Emily Wilkins

Farlin quickly became impressed with the program, which exposes children not only to the Chinese language, but also the culture of China in everything from customs and behaviors to the way students write their math problems.

Farlin was so impressed that she took her older daughter, Ava Farlin, out of Fairview Elementary School and also enrolled her at Post Oak.

“When they’re having a complete conversation with their teacher in Chinese, it’s mind-boggling,” Farlin said. “They have a whole another part of them that they’re growing and exploring.”

The Farlin sisters aren’t the only ones growing. Four years after it first became a magnet school and began the Chinese Immersion Program, Post Oak is too large to continue. Students are crammed into smaller-than average rooms that have been converted to classrooms. Several classes have to eat lunch in their classrooms because there is not enough space, or time, to accommodate everyone in the gym, which doubles as the cafeteria.

New farmers market to assist low-income families

By Emily Wilkins
Kickin’ It Old Town Staff Writer

There’s a desert in Lansing.

It’s not one that lacks water, but fresh food. Northwest Lansing is an area that has been labeled as a food desert, meaning many residents in the area live more than five miles, or more than a ten minutes walk, from the nearest source of fresh fruits and vegetables

That will change this summer with the introduction of a farmer’s market in the area.

This map shows the locations of all farmer’s markets in Lansing this year. The map also contains information about the time and hours of each market.

The market will be located in the parking lot of  Shanora’s Beauty Supply, 829 W. Saginaw Lansing, and will run from July 18 to September 19.

Joy Baldwin, the food system project coordinator for NorthWest Initiative, a non-profit organization that works to increase the health of residents and families in Lansing neighborhoods bounded by Grand River Avenue on the north, east and south. Baldwin said the farmer’s market is part of a two-year pilot program funded through the policy and environmental change funds from the Ingham County Health Department’s Building Healthy Communities. Baldwin said the market is meant to increase the health of local families.

K-8 schools are in Lansing’s future

By Emily Wilkins
Kickin’ it Old Town Staff Writer

The fifth-graders who rule Lansing’s elementary schools might have their days numbered. The Lansing School District is looking into creating more schools that teach students from kindergarten through the eighth grade, said Steve Serkaian, the executive director of communications and government relations for the Lansing School District.

Although the district is interested in creating more K-8 schools, current plans to close Woodcreek Magnet School and expand Dwight Rich Middle School to a K-8 school were tabled at the March 7 school board meeting. The consolidation was set to save the district about $300,000 per year, an important cut for the district, which is facing a $30 million deficit.

“(The board members) want more information on additional cost savings of closing other buildings,” Serkaian said.

The map shows the locations of Lansing’s two K-8 schools as well as the locations of Woodcreek Magnet Elementary and Dwight Rich Middle schools. Some school officials believe that more K-8 schools in the Lansing area could help students.

At a Lansing School Board meeting last month, councilmember Jack Davis said that, after reviewing work done by the School Closing and Consolidation committee, Davis would established a six person committee including two board members to develop a plan for school restructuring and consolidation.

“The goal is to complete deliberations in a timely fashion to allow public input before a decision is made,” Davis said.

But although the initiative to combine the school was a cost-saving one, Serkaian said the plan was presented mainly order to create a larger K-8 school experience in Lansing.

Brownfield plan back in motion

By Emily Wilkins
Kickin’ it Old Town Staff Writer

It’s taken five amendments, three different pieces of legislation and two developers.

The city of Lansing still is working to approve a development project in East Village. The development would affect the area between Pennsylvania Avenue and Marshall Street on Saginaw Street.

The Brownfield Development Plan will provide new homes to the city, but could place the city deeper in debt.

An example of a single-family home built by Allen Edwin Homes, who have purchased the space in the Brownfield Development Plan. Allen Edwin has already invested $10 million into the space. In addition to finishing 10 buildings left incomplete from the former builder, Allen Edwin will build 52 single-family homes. Photo Credit: Allen Edwin

At-Large Councilman Brian Jeffries presented the sixth amendment to the Brownfield Development Plan at the Lansing City Council’s Feb. 14 meeting. At the meeting, Jeffries acknowledged the lengthy history of attempting to develop the area. Most problems were caused when the first developer of the property foreclosed, leaving the city to pick up the $1.63 million tab.

The danger online

By Emily Wilkins
Kickin’ it Old Town Staff Writer

Jack Robinson, 13, is used to battling mythical creatures on “World of Warcraft.” But when he turns on his computer, his real enemies aren’t trolls and goblins, but anonymous online users who bully him simply because they can.

“I don’t like it,” Robinson said. “I try to ignore it, but (playing online is) less fun because they’re being mean.”

Robinson is one of many victims of cyberbullying, a form of bullying that takes place online where it is harder for victims to identify and hide from their attackers.

Percentages of 10-18 year olds who have been harassed or harassed others through cell phones and online.

In response, the Michigan State Police is working with police departments throughout the state, including the Lansing Police Department, to put an end to the abuse.

About 70 Lansing Police Department officers were recently given the training to prevent and handle cyberbully attacks, Lansing Police officer Lt. Noel Garcia said. An additional 200 employees will be given similar training in later sessions.

One Less Homeless

By Emily Wilkins
Kickin’ it Old Town Staff Writer

Lansing has a high level of poverty, but a new addition to a shelter will help more residents in need.

The City Rescue Mission of Lansing opened the east wing of Maplewood Center last year, providing bed and cribs for 36 women and children. At the end of the month, the group will open the west wing of the building, increasing the number of beds to 130.

Room for Individuals at Maplewood Center Before and After Construction

*Y-axis translates to number of people

According to the 2005-2009 U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, 18.3 percent of families in Lansing are below the poverty level, compared to the 9.9 percent of families below the poverty level in the U.S. In addition, 24.5 percent of individuals in Lansing are below the poverty level, compared to the 13.5 percent nationally.

Grand Old Street

By Emily Wilkins
Kickin’ It Old Town Staff Writer

When David Such visited Old Town in 1998 with the intent to move his business there, he found it a “ghost town.” Despite the old abandoned buildings, Such and his partner took a chance and became only the second business on the block.

More than a decade later, Such’s business, Such Video, stands in the center of a thriving downtown filled with boutiques, restaurants, galleries and clubs. And it might soon be home to one of America’s greatest main streets.

Old Town Lansing is one of 10 finalists for The National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Great American Main Street Award. The award is the “Oscar” for downtowns, said Joseph Borgstrom, director of specialized technical assistance and revitalization strategy, part of the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

Map of Past Great American Main Street winners