NOISE: Freestyle

I love reds, oranges and blues in fall.

                                 

Blues are also part of fall. Though most would say that the blues are about being sad or downtrodden, they can be just as inspiring and uplifting and sometimes downright comical. Whatever way you hear the blues you should join others for this year’s Old Town Blues Fest 2011. 

Old Town is always a beautiful backdrop for amazing music but it’s the people that bring these festivals to life. Showering the young and seasoned in the multicultural surroundings that make the Lansing area so great is what keeps the Lansing area so great! Write Friday, September 16 (4pm-12:30am), and Saturday, September 17, 2011 (1pm-12:30am), on your calendar and enjoy your fall blues.

Lost everything, but not all is lost.

Weeks ago, we as a city were hoping if not begging for just a little rain! As we got not just a little rain, but buckets, people commented on how heavy it was and to be careful. Recently, I became aware that lots of Lansing residents became homeless due to heavy rain and flooding. Hundreds of homes were affected and countless families were displaced.


We are a great city full of amazing people. Now is the time for us to show what we are made of and dig deep to help those right here to gain some sense of normalcy back in their lives. Many families lost everything and could use clothing or furniture or electronic devices. Look around your home at some of those items that you were thinking of putting in that garage sale and maybe take to your local church or Good Will
to help those families who need a little Lansing Love!

Its not as batty as you think.

• • 
    
    
    
    If you have gone outside your home in the last few days you're no doubt aware of the swarm of mosquitoes that are there to greet you. They only want to bite you and drink your blood so that they can feed their young so they can grow up and do the same.
    
    
    Bats have been one of our biggest (even though quite small) warriors against the biting pest. A single bat can eat more than 2000 mosquitoes in a single evening. As a matter of fact some bats have been known to eat half their body weight in an evening and though they typically only weigh an ounce each that’s the equivalent of 5600 mosquitoes! 
    
    So what’s the problem? We have these mosquito eating machines and tons of mosquitoes, it sounds like a match made in heaven! Well one issue is that bats are on a giant decline! There is a fungus causing severe problems in our little allies and because of that they are dying in giant numbers! There was one person who went into a cave expecting to see the 3000 or more that frequent it and only found 33. That’s beyond alarming.
    
    What can we do? My research hasn't shown that we have found a cure or a cause for the fungus but we can contribute to helping the bats by putting up bat houses and leaving caves and other natural bat homes alone. Entering and otherwise disturbing them can possibly help to spread this problem. Another suggestion is make sure that we are being as humane as possible to the environment. That means instead of using harsh chemicals as a way to get rid of insects we find healthier ways. This way when a bat does eat these pesky biters, the bat doesn't get poisoned too. I found that a mixture of water, cinnamon, citronella, lemongrass and eucalyptus oil sprayed over the grass really helped to keep the mosquitoes down during our last get together. Last but not least, remember that there are plenty of places in nature where mosquitoes breed so if you have containers in your yard that are holding water dump them out. An old rusty oily container could produce unhealthy mosquitoes that are not only bad for the bats but us as well. 
    
    Respect nature and hopefully our fine flighty friends will be back to take on the biting menaces.

 

 

Its time again.

                                 
Every year there is a special time that comes around that literally fills the air with beautiful music. I’m of course talking about JazzFest! 

This is an event that bridges the gap of generations. Young and seasoned can sit back in the night air and enjoy the smooth and sultry sounds of the sax, the powerful and enchanting wale of the trumpet, and the earthy pounding from the team of percussion and bass.

Along with amazing music, there are a slew of other events that are sure delight.

There will be a river boat tour and even if you are just looking to make a bee-line for the event you can ride in style in a riverboat taxi. They will also have a Kids Beat tent to inspire and fascinate.

Whatever plans you have for the weekend, I encourage you to set time aside for this 2 day event. Hope to see you there.

Heating up.

Summer has been showing us all how truly great and powerful it is. The sunrises are amazing. The sunsets are even better. The rain storms are forceful and mighty. The glowing moon in the middle of the night is stunning. Summer is a powerfully good time! But with great power comes greater responsibility. To avoid dangers of heat stroke, making sure that you stay cool and hydrated is key.
Not only is it a good idea to watch how long you’re in the sun but it’s also important to check on animals and the elderly to make sure they are OK as well.

The rainstorms are truly amazing but the amount of water that falls from the sky can be monumental. Be careful of the water on the road it may be deeper then you think. Driving while it’s raining really heavy and moving your vehicle through deep moving water can be very hazardous. 

Lansing is a beautiful place and the summer gives you the opportunity to be out more and enjoy it but please be careful.