It's Back to Reality!
Here's what ELi reported on last week and what's ahead for this week.
Welcome to 2024, East Lansing! After celebrating the New Year, the ELi team switched out our calendars and got to reporting.
Tuesday (Jan. 2), Reporter Mya Gregory’s story on the Dec. 20 East Lansing Public Library Board meeting highlighted the search for a new library director. In fact, the library board is holding special meetings Tuesday (Jan. 2) and Wednesday (Jan. 3) where it will interview the final candidates: Robert Bell at 5:30 p.m. and Kevin King at 7 p.m. Tuesday, and Ann Neff-Rohs at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday. The meetings are open to the public. ELi will keep you updated on the hiring process.
The library isn’t the only city entity searching for leadership. At the Dec. 21 Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meeting, the DDA agreed to set aside $150,000 to hire a director in the future. Before the job is posted, some details need to be ironed out like if the position falls under the DDA’s authority or the city’s.
In other news, a new Yemeni coffee shop has come to East Lansing. Reporter Dustin DuFort Petty visited Moka & Co, which recently opened on Grand River Avenue to speak with the brothers who will run the shop together, Dr. Ahmed Sufyan and Sal Sufyan. Ahmed is the owner and Sal runs day-to-day operations. The brothers talked with Dustin about why they decided to open the new shop and how their coffee is different from anything else offered locally.
Twelve meetings are on the Calendar this week.
This week, the ELi team will settle back into news reporting mode as city meetings ramp back up to full speed.
Monday (Jan. 8), there will be three meetings: The new Youth Commission will hold its inaugural gathering, and the Transportation Commission and Human Rights Commission will each meet. Tuesday (Jan. 9), there are four meetings: City Council, Library Board of Trustees (a special meeting), the University Student Commission and Downtown Management Board will all convene. Wednesday (Jan. 10): There is another special Library Board meeting and the Planning Commission meets. Thursday (Jan. 11): There are meetings for the Community Development Advisory Committee and Historic District Commission.
City meeting agendas can be found here.
Also meeting this week is the East Lansing Public Schools (ELPS) Board at 7 p.m. Monday (Jan. 8) in the board room in the lower level of East Lansing High School (ELHS). Here's the agenda for the "organizational meeting."
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Here are some things to know this week around the city.
Curbside pickup of Christmas trees continues through Friday (Jan. 12). Remember to remove all lights, ornaments, the tree stand, etc. No bag is necessary. For trees larger than six feet, the city asks you to please cut it in half. You can also drop off trees at Patriarche Park, Emerson Park, Fine Park, Valley Court Park and White Memorial Park.
Do you have holiday string lights you want to get rid of? Friday (Jan. 12) is the last day you can drop off working and nonworking lights inside the lobby of the Department of Public Works (DPW), 1800 E State Road.
If you see a sign like the one above, that means the park is closed from 6 p.m.-7 a.m. for wildlife management. Biologists from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), who are highly trained in the use of firearms, will be conducting a deer removal operation through March 31. The operation is under a cooperative service agreement with the city and a permit from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR). According to the city press release, “The removal of a portion of the deer population is professional, safe and highly managed.” Here’s more information.
With the holidays officially over, city offices and services are back to their regular hours of operation.
And, yes, East Lansing schools are back in session as well. ELHS students will hit the ground running with final exams Wednesday through Friday (Jan. 10-12). High school students are invited to a study hall session 3-5 p.m. Tuesday (Jan. 9) at the East Lansing Public Library (ELPL). There will be snacks, a coffee bar and activities to “help you focus and destress before you take your tests.”
The Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum at Michigan State University (MSU) has announced its schedule of upcoming public events. It will be a busy January at the MSU Broad beginning Sunday (Jan. 7), 1-2 p.m., with a tour of the museum’s architecture with Curatorial and Research Administrative Assistant Thais Weinstrom. Visitors are invited to learn more about the unique building and the Pritzker Prize-winning architect behind the design. Here is the full listing of events for the month.
Correction: The DDA has approved up to $150,000 for the hiring of a director. This story has been corrected.
