Cider Mill Time in Greater Lansing, Michigan Area for Apples, Fun, and Goodies

Posted on September 23, 2011 by

Every Fall Sharon and I take the grand kids to one of the local cider mills to give them an opportunity to see how it’s made, visit the yummy bakeries, and get our supply of fresh apples for that special apple crisp desert that grandma makes the kids (and me) each fall.

Uncle John’s Cider Mill is located North of St. Johns and always one of our favorite stops. This Cider Mill is open in September and October, and you can watch them make fresh cider, enjoy a homemade donut, sink your teeth into a homemade caramel apple, and enjoy a glass of fresh or mulled cider. Cider is generally pressed on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays & Sundays. Pressing schedule may vary depending on time of season. If you are specifically coming to watch the press, you will want to call ahead for pressing schedule. You can also arrange for apple picking and many other activities that create many family memories.

Another favorite Cider Mill to visit is The Country Mill; located in Potterville. just 3 miles West of Potterville (exit 66 on I-69) or 5 miles North-East of Charlotte (exit 61 on I-69).  The Country Mill’s mission is to create an environment for “family fun on the farm.” They produce fruits and vegetables of high quality, including apples and apple cider. You can also watch cider being produced here also, but call ahead for their schedule.

While you’re there plan to enjoy riding the full size rubber tired train down farm lane and through the spacious orchard. It’s guaranteed to be a hit with the kids.You can also experience the farm “up close and personal” with a visit to the Country Mill petting zoo. The back of the barn opens up to a beautiful view of our apple orchard.  Be sure to enjoy the orchard barn for your next big event with up to 440 of your friends seated at round tables.  It’s a perfect spot for events or just a visit to the cozy, snack bar that offers everything from a light lunch to a tasty dessert.

My grand kids especially enjoyed the figurenes for photos and the play area. Yes, we get cider here with a few of their homemade donuts from the bakery. Make it point to stop at one of these fine orchards and cider mills this year. You’ll be pleased and what ever you do, don’t forget the camera; that’s half the fun.

“Expect the Best”

 

 

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Greater Lansing and MSHDA – To Buy or Remodel? That Takes Research

Posted on September 18, 2011 by

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority offers wonderful opportunities for homeowners to make property improvements. Here’s a short list of some of the enhancements you can make on your current home.

  • Roof repair or replacement;
  • Insulation, siding, window replacement, and other improvements that increase the energy efficiency of the property;
  • Central air conditioning and furnace replacement;
  • Kitchen and bathroom remodeling;
  • Permanently installed carpeting (wall-to-wall) and built-in kitchen appliances (must be permanently affixed as an integral part of the kitchen, hard-wired or plumbed);
  • Ramp installation;
  • Attic and basement finishing;
  • Upgrading electrical wiring;
  • Building an addition;
  • Walkway and driveway installation;
  • Lead paint hazard remediation;
  • Garage repair and construction (not to exceed 800 square feet in area). Carports are also allowed

WHO CAN APPLY?

The Property Improvement Program offers low-interest home improvement loans to single-family Michigan homeowners with annual household incomes up to $65,000 ($74,750 in certain areas). See PIP Income Limits for details. You must have a credit score of at least 620. Higher loan amounts will require a higher credit score of 660.

The property must be located in Michigan. You must own or be buying the property (no corporate ownership, “DBA” partnerships, trusts, etc.), and it must be your permanent year-round residence. If you are buying the property, you must occupy it within 60 days from the date of the loan closing.

With the current real estate market conditions, it may make more sense for a homeowner to remodel and stay in their existing home. However, after talking to a professional REALTOR you may also find it makes more sense to sell and move up to the home of your dreams. That is normally only feasable if you are in a position to take a loss on the sale of your existing house and pick it up on the purchase of your new home.

If you have questions about the value of your home in todays market, feel free to contact me. 

Expect the Best” Mike 

 

 

 

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Blues, Fairs, Fire Prevention and Yard Work Help Lead Greater Lansing into Fall 2011

Posted on September 4, 2011 by

Coming up September 16th and 17th  the Old Town BluesFest  festival will take place Friday (4pm-12:30am), and Saturday (1pm-12:30am), in the streets of Old Town, surrounded by the best of the Capital City’s art galleries as well as unique retail stores and grand architecture. Vendors line the streets offering ethnic food, beverages, art, clothing, and crafts, and nearby galleries and boutiques open their doors during festival hours. This is a two-day FREE music festival that brings national, regional, and local acts to an audience of roughly 15,000 people from across Michigan and nearby states. Check out the details on the BluesFest Site. 

Delta Township News
Are you looking for ways you can get involved in your community?  Not sure where to turn to find information about volunteer opportunities?  The Delta Township District Library will be hosting a Volunteer Recruitment Fair on Wednesday, September 14 from 6-7:30 p.m. Each organization will have a booth setup with information about what their organization does and the various volunteer opportunities that are available. This is your chance to speak directly with a representative of each organization and gather valuable information about all the opportunities available before deciding which one is the right fit for you. Stop in and find out how you can get involved!

Fire Prevention Week 2011

Fire Prevention Week is October 9-15. The Delta Township Fire Department will host its annual Fire Prevention Open House on Thursday, October 13 from 6:00 PM until 8:30 PM and is inviting residents and visitors of all ages to join us at our Central Fire Station located at 811 N. Canal Road for this special event. The open house is suitable for singles, families and people of all ages. Our primary objective is to reach out to the public with information they can use to stay safe from fire, but we want attendees to have fun too. Planned activities include a hands-on fire hose demonstration for kids, information booths, station tours, fire trucks, ambulances, the fire safety trailer, the landing of the emergency medical transport air ambulance (helicopter), firefighters, paramedics, Apples the Clown, a Jaws of Life demonstration and more. Bring the whole family and plan for a fun evening.  If you have any questions, please call 321.6622.

De-Leafing Program 

This annual program for Delta Township residents only gives the opportunity to recycle their yard waste free of charge! De-leafing is generally held starting in mid-October through the first week in December. Delta residents must show two pieces of identification such as a driver’s license, voter ID card, property tax notice, or water/sewer bill.
De-leafing starts on Saturday, October 22nd and runs through Saturday, December 3, 2011. – WEDNESDAY & SATURDAY ONLY!

This is just a sample of all the activities in and around the Lansing, Michigan area. Greater Lansing is a wonderful place to live, work, and play! Stop back often.

“Expect the Best”  Mike 

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Greater Lansing Dragon Boats and School Districts

Posted on August 28, 2011 by

Lansing’s first Capital City Dragon Boat Race scheduled for Labor Day Weekend 2011. According to the official Lansing Dragon Boat Blog, here’s the scoop:

“The River Trail, Adado Riverfront Park and Grand River play host to thousands of people looking for outdoor activities in Lansing, each summer. These are sites where families spend quality time together, friends catch up on their busy lives and lifelong healthy habits are formed. It is imperative that we invest in these community attractions. Dragon boat racing gives us the perfect platform to attract more visitors and raise money for revitalization projects”.

It sounds like fun for the entire family. You can get all the details right here at the Capital City Dragon Boat Race Website.

School Starts Next Week

There are 25 public school districts serving more than 70,000 students within Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. The largest one, Lansing School District , serves more than 14,000 students in 25 elementary schools, four middle schools, three high schools and a vocational center.

Greater Lansing is blessed with some of the best schools in Michigan where students get a quality education and have plenty of activities, sports, and events for the entire family. You can visit any of the schools listed above or check out Michigan school rankings here. 
“Expect the Best” Mike
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Festivals, Celebrations, Tours, and Music in Greater Lansing, Michigan

Posted on August 19, 2011 by

Start your weekend out visiting the Renegade Festival in Old Town Lansing going on this weekend August 18, 19, & 20, 2011 in Old Town with puppet shows, music, improv, and comedy.  Great acts appearing from all over the country. See the free shows held nightly.

Dewitt is holding it’s annual Ox Roast this weekend also August 19, 20, 2011 on the banks of Looking Glass River. There will be a parade, classic car show, crafts, food and fireworks at dusk. Dewitt is located just north of Lansing.  The DeWitt area was ranked as the 75th best place to live in the United States by CNN Money in 2005. Family fun starts here.

August 26th -27th are big days for the Mason Sun Dried Music Fest in Downtown Mason, Michigan. This great community south of Lansing will be showcasing a variety of musical performances ranging from rock, jazz, blues, latin jazz, salsa, and country.  All the unique downtown shops will be opening their doors for you and the entire family. The emphasis of the event is to promote Mason as a regional destination. See the link above for the lineup.

Mark your calendar today for September 8-11 Frontier Days in Charlotte, Michigan is an annual celebration featuring on of Mid-Michigan’s largest parades. The have a huge arts and crafts exhibit, flea market, old fashion saloon, and championship rodeo. You won’t want to miss this event.

Greater Lansing is a great place to live, work, and play.  This is just a small sample of all the events that take place on any given weekend.

“Expect the Best”  Mike 

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Four Wonderful Things Happening in Greater Lansing, Michigan

Posted on August 8, 2011 by

Wonderful Things Happening in Greater Lansing.  Below you will find just four examples of forward thinking and positive reasons why the Greater Lansing Area is thee place to be. I could list dozens more, but that would ruin the fun for you to start digging. I’d like to challenge you to go find something good that’s happening in the Greater Lansing, Michigan area and post a link or post on our Facebook page.  An Unknown Author once said: If nothing ever changed, there’d be no butterflies.  Spread the good news.

Greater Lansing residents earned $160 million dollars in the tourism and hospitality industry last year and used those wages to make livelihoods in our community according to the Greater Lansing Michigan Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The Lansing Economic Area Partnership (Leap, Inc.) is a coalition of area leaders committed to building a prosperous and vibrant region where businesses can thrive. To do this, they help entrepreneurs start new businesses, help existing businesses grow, and attract new businesses to the region.

According to the Greater Lansing Chamber of Commerce The city of Lansing’s skyline is filled with the site of new buildings in various stages of construction. Office buildings, housing and retail projects are bringing record levels of investment and jobs into the region.

Entrepreneurship has emerged over the past decade as one of the most critical approaches to achieving sustainable economic development and career opportunity. Michigan State University has been proactive and commited to work with communities and businesses to help create jobs.

Greater Lansing, Michigan is a Great place to live, work, and play. Bookmark this site or subscribe on the right to stay up to date on “Living in Greater Lansing” plus you can visit us on Facebook.

“Expect the Best” Mike

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July Promises Fun Times for All in Greater Lansing, Michigan Area

Posted on July 4, 2011 by

There’s some exciting opportunity for all to enjoy the month of July in the Greater Lansing area with fairs, concerts, and car shows. That’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what do do around town. Great Lansing, Michigan is a great place to live, work, and play. I encourage you to visit the links for the events below and mark your calendars for the Eaton County Fair, Common Ground, and the REOlds 19th Annual Car Capital Celebrations.

The Eaton County Fair is being held July 10th–16th at the Eaton County Fair Charlotte Fairgrounds with a variety of shows, events, and entertainment.  Here’s a partial schedule of highlights:

Farm Bureau Day – MondayKids Day – Tuesday NoonSenior Citizen’s Day – WednesdayMarket Livestock Sale Luncheon – Thursday 11a.m.Market Livestock Sale – Thursday 12 p.m.Toddler Special – Thursday Noon – 2 p.m.Greenstone Farm Credit Services Day – Friday4-H Chicken BBQ – FridaySmall Animal Sale – Saturday 2 p.m.Kids Day- Saturday Noon.

2011 Common Ground Music Festival, Monday, July 11 – Sunday, July 17, 2011

Common Ground is the event of the summer in downtown Lansing, along the banks of the Grand River in Adado Riverfront Park. It features an impressive array of headline, national-level entertainment each night. The event’s core components include: popular music, delicious food and fun activities. These core components are designed with the goal of entertaining and satisfying people of all ages and backgrounds.

Common Ground utilizes a multi-day admission pass concept to provide Festival patrons unlimited access to the entire event for one economical price. Individual day passes are also available, but the best value is the “7-Day Pass,” which can be used solely, or shared with family or friends from day to day. Visit here to see this years lineup of entertainers.

REOlds 19th Annual Car Capital Celebrations is coming July 30, 2011 to Louis Adado Riverfront Park at 300 N. Grand River Ave. in Downtown Lansing from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. featuring Mid-Michigan’s finest classic cars of the century, exhibits, river cruises, entertainment and food.

The Greater Lansing real estate market includes lifestyle benefits like the above events and many, many additional attributes. Feel free to stop by my site for additional information on the entire Greater Lansing, Michigan area.

“Expect the Best” Mike

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Delta Rocks Family Festival & Annual Fireworks – Two Great Events in Greater Lansing

Posted on June 22, 2011 by

The Delta Rocks! Family Festival is this Saturday, June 25th from noon until 7:00 p.m. at Sharp Park. There will be a FREE continuous shuttle from the Lansing Mall to Sharp Park from noon to 7:00 p.m. courtesy of Delta Township. The annual event features clowns, live animals, children’s make-it take-it craft booths, inflatable attractions, pony rides, games, face painting, super sling shot, trackless train rides, petting zoo, business expo, concessions and much more!

Admission and parking are free as are the vast majority of the activities. More information!

The 43rd Annual Fireworks will be held July 3rd at Sharp Park about 10 p.m. Delta Township invites you to join thousands of other area residents for the Independence Day celebration.Plus a live concert will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the amphitheater. A concession stand will be open for purchasing refreshments or you may bring your own picnic lunch, grill, or cooler. Sharp Park also has playgrounds, tennis courts, a basketball court, a fishing pond, and more!

Delta Township is a great place to live, work, and play.  You can visit the community website at  http://www.deltami.gov/ to find events, parks and recreation information, mapping, tax information and almost everything you need to become familiar with the Delta Township area.

These events are just two examples of wonderful family events taking place this summer in and around the Greater Lansing Regional area. Stop back to Living in Greater Lansing often, bookmark it or subscribe on right column. You can also visit Living in Greater Lansing on Facebook.

“Expect the Best” Mike

 

 

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Do You Check in at Local Businesses in Greater Lansing, Michigan

Posted on June 19, 2011 by

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Foursquare is a location-based mobile platform that makes cities easier to use and more interesting to explore. Greater Lansing is no exception to the norm these days. Nearly 10 million people use Foursquare to let their friends know where they are at, tips about the business they are fratinizing and rating the service that is provided.

By “checking in” via a Smartphone app or SMS, users share their location with friends while collecting points and virtual badges also. Once they have checked in at the location, they can then Tweet it or place it on Facebook, or both. You may be asking yourself; what the big deal is and why should I care. People want to learn about good service and they care more about what their friends think than some advertisement or special logo on the front door.

Foursquare guides real-world experiences by allowing users to bookmark information about venues that they want to visit and surfacing relevant suggestions about nearby venues. The tips section is very beneficial to out of town guests and locals. I see this being used to rate real estate companies and agents in the near future, in addition to consumers and agents using it to check-in to current home listings and rating them after a tour.

Merchants and brands leverage the foursquare platform by utilizing a wide set of tools to obtain, engage, and retain customers and audiences. I can see this becoming part of our daily lives in addition to sites like Yelp, Aggies’s List and others. My point is, that consumers are online with smart phones, iPads, and other computers a good share of the day and depend on their friends for advice on where to eat, shop, and stay when traveling or just taking a trip across town. What are your thoughts on this? Are you using a location based app on your Smartphone?

You can connect with me on Foursquare here

“Expect the Best” Mike

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Coming Together in Greater Lansing Michigan

Posted on May 9, 2011 by

The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau produced a great video to help promote “Why meeting in Greater Lansing is a smart idea. After all we’re home to MSU. Central, friendly and affordable. 90 minutes from 90% of Michigan’s population. With 4,300 hotel rooms, unique entertainment, safe & walkable downtown, hundreds of dining options, flexible venues and one-of-a-kind shopping, Greater Lansing is your place to come together!

The Greater Lansing area is a great place to live, work, and play. If you have questions regarding the real estate market, communities or anything else, just contact me. Hope you enjoy! Mike

Mike Bowler Sr.
Coldwell Banker Hubbell BriarWood
517-492-3400

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