Special Places

Right on schedule, Burcham-Henge has appeared. ELi's Aron Sousa reports.

The Downtown Development Authority has decided to spend $20,000 to hire a PR firm to try to help businesses downtown survive anticipated major construction from the Park District and Center City District projects. Why aren't those projects moving forward yet?

Local artist Brian Whitfield says he's excited and honored to be tapped to create the public art that will (literally) bridge the communities of Lansing and East Lansing. Ann Kammerer reports.

Through a Freedom of Information Act request, ELi has confirmed that every named park in the City of East Lansing is named after a boy or man, including the two named this year.

This weekend marks the first Big Book Sale after a year of renovations at the East Lansing Public Library, and kicks off Friday afternoon with a dedication of the brand new Marsha Bristor Friendshop where Friends of the ELPL will sell used books year-round.

We've waited a long time to see the renovations to East Lansing's Public Library. Last Saturday, all was revealed, as Heather Paris reports.

ELi's Charlotte Baykian explains what's up at the Library and what to expect when it reopens.

The newly named Corey Cafagna Park, at the intersection of Sunset Lane and Southlawn, is passing through the seasons. Last fall, the City installed a name sign, planted bushes and perennials around it, and put in two park benches. The benches are aligned so people can face each other and talk.

Through the winter, the green wood sign with white lettering stood out against the park's bare trees and snowy ground. This spring, the plants are emerging, rabbits lope across the grass, and people are venturing to sit on the benches.

In order to prepare for the second phase of its renovation, the East Lansing Public Library will be closing its doors from Monday, May 16th until the following Sunday, May 22nd. However, library goers aren’t to fret because items will not be due during the library’s closure. Additionally, digital resources and an external book drop will still be available to the public.

Photo: courtesy City of East Lansing

If, like me, you consider The East Lansing Public Library (ELPL) a second home, here’s the bad news: the Library will be closed from December 7 through January 10.

A key piece of publicly-owned land that most people assume is an official park soon will be one.

Above: Corey Cafagna Park

There is a new park in the Glencairn neighborhood, behind Hannah Community Center. Well, okay, the green space at the intersection of Sunset Lane and Southlawn Avenue has always been there, and some people even knew it was a city park. But now the City of East Lansing has named it the Corey Cafagna Park. The park will soon have what people expect in a neighborhood park---benches, a flower planter, and an "official" name sign.

The history of one of East Lansing's best-loved ice cream traditions, brought to us by Charlotte Baykian.