Although a majority of the Northville Township and Northville City residents have supported the Bennett Arboretum Project since the beginning of its construction three years ago, there may be some people who are unsure of all of the benefits it brings to the community.
According to Joanna Vaghy, the Interim Director for Northville Parks and Recreation, the pathway is worth it's large price tag because of many safety, economic, educational, and recreational reasons.
When it comes to safety, Donald Weaver explained that pedestrians previously walked along the edge of the very busy Sheldon Road because a designated pathway that connected the Township and the City did not exist.
This was hazardous because people were at risk of getting hit by passing cars.
In addition to the pathway increasing the safety of pedestrians, this nature trail is thought to help the community economically as well.
"On summer evenings or on Saturday afternoons, families in these new subdivisions can now walk or ride their bicycles into Downtown Northville as a new destination point to get an ice cream cone or something to eat. The businesses in our downtown should see an increase in their sales as a result,” said James Gallogly.
As if these benefits weren't important enough to attract local residents' support, educational markers are included throughout the pathway, designed to help inform the public about the surrounding nature, wetlands, and plant life.
People can stop and read these educational markers while they engage in their favorite recreational activity, whether it involves running, walking, rollerblading, or biking.
Pathways, such as this one, are great for all of these activities, said Dr. Christine Vogt.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Bennett Arboretum Pathway Ribbon Ceremony
My hometown of Northville Township and the City of Northville were officially brought together as one community when the Bennett Arboretum Pathway’s ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Despite the very cold weather, residents from both towns, as well as many City and Township officials, showed their excitement for the trail by gathering around on the pathway’s newly constructed bridge on the corner of Sheldon Road.
Several speeches were made in anticipation of Wayne County Executive Robert Ficano using a pair of overly large scissors to cut the official ribbon.
“We supported this project from the beginning, and we feel lucky that the Township feels the same. It would not have happened without Township support and leadership, and we truly value their cooperation,” said James Gallogly, the City of Northville Public Works Director, at the ceremony.
After introducing myself as a MSU journalism student to Donald Weaver, the Director of Public Services for Northville Township, he explained that although the pathway was an expensive project, costing nearly $1,010,000, quite a few contributors helped provide the necessary funds.
Wayne County funded $500,000, the Rouge Program Office provided a $450,000 grant, Northville Township funded $50,000, and the City of Northville supplied $10,000.
As I interviewed more officials and residents, it was made clear that a new nature trail was worth the large price tag because, unlike a playground, it can be used by many people.
Dr. Christine Vogt, an MSU professor and expert in parks and recreation, has done research showing that people of all ages and abilities access natural trails.
Even though the Bennett Arboretum Pathway has only been open to the public for a few weeks, one can notice this wide variety of users after just one bike ride or evening walk through the trail.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Influence of Other MSU Sporting Events
Just because Noodles & Company broke a daily sales record during football season doesn't mean that this is the only time of the year that the restaurant notices an increase in its sales.
Other sporting events, such as MSU basketball games, have this same effect on Grand River's businesses, although not to this same extent because of several different reasons.
Compared to the approximate 75,000 people that the Spartan Stadium holds, the Breslin Center seats a crowd of about 15,000. Not only do football games bring many more people into East Lansing than basketball games do, but people tend to spend a football game day on campus regardless if they have tickets to the game or not because of all of the tailgating and socializing that happens before the game as well.
While football games fall on Friday nights or Saturdays, MSU basketball games are held anywhere from Sunday afternoons to Tuesday or Thursday nights.
"People tend to come from work and eat dinner at home instead of spending their money on Grand River like they do during football games," said Professor Knutson.
Weather also seems to have an impact on whether or not people are in the mood to spend their money. Even though it might be a good idea to bring your North Face and a pair of gloves to some of the football games later in the season, most of football season takes place in warmer weather, while basketball season occurs during the cold months of November through March.
Although there are some fans who will eat dinner on campus before or after a basketball game, you don't find many people walking up and down Grand River spending their money when the sidewalks are covered in snow, said Dr. Huddleston.
Other sporting events, such as MSU basketball games, have this same effect on Grand River's businesses, although not to this same extent because of several different reasons.
Compared to the approximate 75,000 people that the Spartan Stadium holds, the Breslin Center seats a crowd of about 15,000. Not only do football games bring many more people into East Lansing than basketball games do, but people tend to spend a football game day on campus regardless if they have tickets to the game or not because of all of the tailgating and socializing that happens before the game as well.
While football games fall on Friday nights or Saturdays, MSU basketball games are held anywhere from Sunday afternoons to Tuesday or Thursday nights.
"People tend to come from work and eat dinner at home instead of spending their money on Grand River like they do during football games," said Professor Knutson.
Weather also seems to have an impact on whether or not people are in the mood to spend their money. Even though it might be a good idea to bring your North Face and a pair of gloves to some of the football games later in the season, most of football season takes place in warmer weather, while basketball season occurs during the cold months of November through March.
Although there are some fans who will eat dinner on campus before or after a basketball game, you don't find many people walking up and down Grand River spending their money when the sidewalks are covered in snow, said Dr. Huddleston.
Factors Contributing to the Record-Breaking Day
If you're at all like me, you might be wondering why MSU's Noodles & Company did so well on the Saturday of the Michigan vs. Michigan State football game.
Through several different interviews, I discovered that the answer to this thought is much more complex than one might expect.
After a long discussion with MSU professor Dr. Pat Huddleston, an expert in retailing and shopping attitudes, the restaurant's increase in sales was made more clear.
Huddleston explained the fact that the game being a huge rivalry contributed greatly to football fans feeling high levels of energy and anticipation, causing them to want to spend their money on Grand River.
Also, the nice, sunny day brought people outside to wander up and down the streets of East Lansing, hoping to find the tailgate with the best food, whether it be fresh cider and donuts or a hot dog straight off of the grill.
Bonnie Knutson, another MSU professor and expert in changing consumer lifestyles and buying trends, believed that Noodles & Co.'s fast pace, acceptable price point, and good Italian menu was hard for the footballs fans to pass up. Whether it was before they tailgated, during, or after, people felt compelled to grab a bite to eat on Grand River on this football Saturday.
Noodles & Co. customers shared their thoughts with me, explaining that not only is eating there on a game day convenient, but it's also fun to eat along this popular strip. By choosing a table by one of the restaurant's front windows, you can watch football fans walk by sporting their green and white attire as you enjoy your warm bowl of pasta.
Through several different interviews, I discovered that the answer to this thought is much more complex than one might expect.
After a long discussion with MSU professor Dr. Pat Huddleston, an expert in retailing and shopping attitudes, the restaurant's increase in sales was made more clear.
Huddleston explained the fact that the game being a huge rivalry contributed greatly to football fans feeling high levels of energy and anticipation, causing them to want to spend their money on Grand River.
Also, the nice, sunny day brought people outside to wander up and down the streets of East Lansing, hoping to find the tailgate with the best food, whether it be fresh cider and donuts or a hot dog straight off of the grill.
Bonnie Knutson, another MSU professor and expert in changing consumer lifestyles and buying trends, believed that Noodles & Co.'s fast pace, acceptable price point, and good Italian menu was hard for the footballs fans to pass up. Whether it was before they tailgated, during, or after, people felt compelled to grab a bite to eat on Grand River on this football Saturday.
Noodles & Co. customers shared their thoughts with me, explaining that not only is eating there on a game day convenient, but it's also fun to eat along this popular strip. By choosing a table by one of the restaurant's front windows, you can watch football fans walk by sporting their green and white attire as you enjoy your warm bowl of pasta.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Record-Breaking Noodles & Company: From Behind the Counter
When the Michigan State football team played the University of Michigan on October 15, the Noodles & Company located on MSU’s campus broke the record for single-store daily sales in Michigan.
On this particular football Saturday, the restaurant was open from 10:45 a.m. until 11 p.m., and the Noodles & Co. staff stayed busy all day, serving what seemed like a never-ending line of hungry football fans, said Mike Endres, the Marketing Director.
Kelly Lysaght, an MSU student who was unable to attend this rivalry game because of her job commitment, worked from noon to 10 p.m. and saw enough Spartan and Wolverine attire from behind the counter that she still felt like she was part of the weekend's festivities.
Along with the rest of the Noodles & Co. team, Lysaght rotated between quite a few different jobs that day, including working the cash register, running food to the tables, and busing.
This busy restaurant is one of the many, popular places to eat on Grand River on any given day of the week, so few changes had to be made when preparing for this noon game. The only differences were that four managers worked together and a little extra prep was needed in the afternoon.
Even though it was a stressful and hectic day for the Noodles & Co. employees, the staff did what it could to stay calm and make sure that all of the customers left happy with their hungry stomachs full of delicious pasta.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
An ISP Birthday
When I first noticed that my birthday fell on a Monday this year, I couldn't help but to think the worst. Since it would be the Monday before Thanksgiving, I got the feeling that I would most likely have at least one exam that week since most MSU professors seem to cram exams in before holidays.
Sure enough, I found out yesterday that my ISS 336 exam is pushed back to my birthday. (Yes, this might be the first time I'm actually upset an exam is moved to a later date.)
Even with this news though, I still had hope about my ISP 203B exam because my professor let us vote on its date, giving us the option between November 22nd, which is the day after my birthday, and December 6th.
I obviously voted for the December date. Who would want to study ISP on their birthday?
As if my losing my cheetah umbrella and walking to class in the rain this morning wasn't enough, my ISP professor announced in class today that after tallying all of the votes, the November date for the exam won.
I guess telling everyone around me to vote for the December date didn't help my situation, and I will be spending my birthday reading about streams and floods.
Although I wouldn't call this my ideal birthday, once I finish this exam, I will be able to head home to enjoy Thanksgiving and a long weekend with family. This cannot come soon enough!
Bad Case of the Tuesdays
You know when you wake up feeling completely exhausted on an early Monday morning and suddenly wish you would have slept in a half hour longer on Saturday when you had the chance to do so? Well, I felt that way the minute I woke up this morning, and it's not even Monday. It's Tuesday, and I am already looking forward to the weekend.
Not only was I lucky enough to forget my cheetah umbrella when I walked out of my apartment door this morning to find that it was raining outside, but I raced back up all of the stairs only to discover that I don't know where my umbrella is! I don't know about you, but whenever I have my umbrella with me, I don't ever need it, and when it's actually raining and I'm not wearing a sweatshirt with a hood, it always seems to be misplaced.
Unless I find it sometime soon, it looks like I will be making a trip to one of my favorite stores, Target, to buy a new one.
Even though this umbrella problem wasn't the best way to start my day, I tried to stay optimistic. However, as my live tweets show, my day didn't seem to get much better.
Hopefully, you had a much better day than I did, and if not, feel free to start counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds until the weekend with me.
Not only was I lucky enough to forget my cheetah umbrella when I walked out of my apartment door this morning to find that it was raining outside, but I raced back up all of the stairs only to discover that I don't know where my umbrella is! I don't know about you, but whenever I have my umbrella with me, I don't ever need it, and when it's actually raining and I'm not wearing a sweatshirt with a hood, it always seems to be misplaced.
Unless I find it sometime soon, it looks like I will be making a trip to one of my favorite stores, Target, to buy a new one.
Even though this umbrella problem wasn't the best way to start my day, I tried to stay optimistic. However, as my live tweets show, my day didn't seem to get much better.
Hopefully, you had a much better day than I did, and if not, feel free to start counting down the hours, minutes, and seconds until the weekend with me.
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