Hey everyone,
I’m really excited to tell you about an awesome dinner date I had this week. The Mayor Pro Tem, Diane Goddeeris, and I had a chance to go to Dublin Square and get to know each other. Diane works part time as the Mayor Pro Tem, and full-time as a nurse at Sparrow Hospital. I find it extremely beneficial that serving on the East Lansing City Council is a part time commitment, even for the Mayor. That way, people with widely diverse backgrounds and expertise are able to be a part of the council, such as Diane who is a nurse or Victor Loomis who is a business owner.
I have been particularly interested in East Lansing recycling since I started on as a CRC intern, and my meeting with Diane provided a great opportunity to learn more about it. Diane said that although she is really proud of East Lansing’s recycling, there are still problems with the current system that need to be addressed. One of those markets has to do with corporate offices and businesses recycling programs in East Lansing. Diane said that many businesses create large amounts of waste that could be recycled but often have only one common trash due to the inconvenience of recycling. Also, many businesses in East Lansing don’t recycle because they yield too much material to contain and manage in recycle bins. Diane suggested that it might be worth looking at special recycling programs for businesses that face this problem.
Another problem is that the market for recycled materials has decreased in response to the economic recession. When there is less demand for those materials, municipalities often lessen their initiatives to increase recycling, as well as programs to recycle different types of materials, because there is no economic incentive driving it. Diane suggested that maybe we shouldn’t view recycling as a business. We should do it because it is morally the right thing to do, and thus, continue expanding recycling during times when the market does not dictate so. I absolutely agree with her, and have always felt that we view the environment as too much of a business/economic resource. Jean Heglend, author of Into the Forest, argues that we often take our natural resources for granted, and that we might not be able to survive if they were gone. For reasons like these, I think we need to have a better relationship with our environment, which includes recycling outside of market demands.
I hope that throughout my time as a CRC intern, I get an opportunity to make a difference in some arena of environmental relations with the city of East Lansing.
Go Green!
Mike Berkowitz
CRC Intern
Friday, October 30, 2009
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
CRC Intern Tailgate
Hey everyone,
I hope you’ve been surviving the cold and wet weather that seemed to sneak up on us this so quickly. It sure has been a worthy adversary this week for many of us interns at the CRC working on our away game tailgate. During the week, Kelsey (another intern) and I walked up and down the 500 and 600 blocks of Cornell, Stoddard, and Spartan Ave in order to advertise for the event. We talked to many residents in the area, letting them know what the CRC is and inviting them to our tailgate. Aside from getting soaked in the rain, we had a blast meeting all of the neighbors.
The tailgate itself turned out great. We had the East Lansing City Council pass a resolution to allow us to block off the 500 block of Cornell Ave. With the block shut down, we had some music going, we grilled up burgers and hot dogs, played football in the street, and talked with local residents. The tailgate was a great opportunity for people in the community to meet each other, especially neighbors in the area. City Council member Kevin Beard came to support us and had many good things to say about the CRC. I got an opportunity to talk with him about the recent budget issues in the state congress and discussed how that would influence East Lansing and MSU. I was surprised to find out that only a small portion of East Lansing’s budget comes from taxes.
All in all, we had a blast while taking away some worthwhile conversation, and hopefully developed some new and meaningful relationships. On top of that, MSU stomped all over the Fighting Illini, making it the perfect Saturday of tailgating and football.
If you happen to be around, come visit us at the housing fair this Wednesday from noon to 4pm. The CRC will be there hanging out so make sure to stop by and say hi.
Go White!
Mike Berkowitz
CRC Intern
I hope you’ve been surviving the cold and wet weather that seemed to sneak up on us this so quickly. It sure has been a worthy adversary this week for many of us interns at the CRC working on our away game tailgate. During the week, Kelsey (another intern) and I walked up and down the 500 and 600 blocks of Cornell, Stoddard, and Spartan Ave in order to advertise for the event. We talked to many residents in the area, letting them know what the CRC is and inviting them to our tailgate. Aside from getting soaked in the rain, we had a blast meeting all of the neighbors.
The tailgate itself turned out great. We had the East Lansing City Council pass a resolution to allow us to block off the 500 block of Cornell Ave. With the block shut down, we had some music going, we grilled up burgers and hot dogs, played football in the street, and talked with local residents. The tailgate was a great opportunity for people in the community to meet each other, especially neighbors in the area. City Council member Kevin Beard came to support us and had many good things to say about the CRC. I got an opportunity to talk with him about the recent budget issues in the state congress and discussed how that would influence East Lansing and MSU. I was surprised to find out that only a small portion of East Lansing’s budget comes from taxes.
All in all, we had a blast while taking away some worthwhile conversation, and hopefully developed some new and meaningful relationships. On top of that, MSU stomped all over the Fighting Illini, making it the perfect Saturday of tailgating and football.
If you happen to be around, come visit us at the housing fair this Wednesday from noon to 4pm. The CRC will be there hanging out so make sure to stop by and say hi.
Go White!
Mike Berkowitz
CRC Intern
Friday, October 9, 2009
Clean up and Tailgate!
Hey!
The CRC ice cream socials are officially done! Who would’ve thought I would miss those tubs of ice cream so much. It is also that time of the year that could make students shiver campus wide: MIDTERM WEEK. So every nook has been taken over by students who realize, “wow, I have been in school for HOW long?!”. I always say that I can only comprehend that there are 40,000 students at MSU until exam periods. I walk into a library and just sigh.
Besides the great studying that will be done this coming weekend makes me think of last weekend. These past couple of days has reminded me how great it is to be a Spartan. With the defeat of our biggest rivals, University of Michigan, joy and pride filled our hearts. For some reason, this joy and pride translated to trash and litter on the streets of East Lansing. We had our second football clean up on the Sunday after the game. It was a bigger success than the first, which was very exciting! We got people from different organizations, such as C.A.R.E. on campus, and also residents that read about it in the newspaper. It took a little over an hour and it was all done! Spirits were still high from the heart-gripping game the day before, which helped our success. However, I believe the rain and cold may have deterred some would-be participants. We did get a much better turn-up though!
This Saturday, Michigan State is playing away at Illinois. CRC will be holding an “Away Game Tailgate” that will take place on the 500 block of Cornell Street. If anyone is interesting in watching the game, eating some food, and getting to know other East Lansing residents, please come over around 10 a.m.! It should be a good time to represent our college with some CRC fun! Have a wonderful weekend!
Go Green,
Kanika
The CRC ice cream socials are officially done! Who would’ve thought I would miss those tubs of ice cream so much. It is also that time of the year that could make students shiver campus wide: MIDTERM WEEK. So every nook has been taken over by students who realize, “wow, I have been in school for HOW long?!”. I always say that I can only comprehend that there are 40,000 students at MSU until exam periods. I walk into a library and just sigh.
Besides the great studying that will be done this coming weekend makes me think of last weekend. These past couple of days has reminded me how great it is to be a Spartan. With the defeat of our biggest rivals, University of Michigan, joy and pride filled our hearts. For some reason, this joy and pride translated to trash and litter on the streets of East Lansing. We had our second football clean up on the Sunday after the game. It was a bigger success than the first, which was very exciting! We got people from different organizations, such as C.A.R.E. on campus, and also residents that read about it in the newspaper. It took a little over an hour and it was all done! Spirits were still high from the heart-gripping game the day before, which helped our success. However, I believe the rain and cold may have deterred some would-be participants. We did get a much better turn-up though!
This Saturday, Michigan State is playing away at Illinois. CRC will be holding an “Away Game Tailgate” that will take place on the 500 block of Cornell Street. If anyone is interesting in watching the game, eating some food, and getting to know other East Lansing residents, please come over around 10 a.m.! It should be a good time to represent our college with some CRC fun! Have a wonderful weekend!
Go Green,
Kanika
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