The weather outside was frightful, but the chili was soooo delightful.

Okay, maybe chili and a traditional winter holiday song don’t normally go together, but the point is that this year’s BWL Chili Cook-Off went on as scheduled June 11th. The weather may have chased the event indoors but it sure didn’t dampen anyone’s spirits. An estimated crowd of 5,100 consumed more than 2,000 gallons of chili from 38 restaurants and organizations, enjoyed music from two great local bands, rode the mechanical bull and, generally, had a great time.

Most important, this year’s Chili Cook-Off raised nearly $25,000 for Adopt A River and the HOPE Scholarship Fund. None of it would have been possible without the wonderful support from our sponsorship partners: Adams Outdoor, Comcast Spotlight, Ciesa Design, Citadel Broadcasting,  Lansing Center, Lansing Parks and Recreation, Lansing State Journal, Ingham Conservation District, Pace & Partners, Skyline Chili and TDS Metrocom.

Special thanks go to the 38 restaurants and organizations that served up chili to our hungry chiliheads. In alphabetical order, they are: Barleys American Grill, BD’s Mongolian Barbeque, Beggar’s Banquet, Better Health Market & Café, Big Boy Okemos, Brannigan Brothers, Cadillac Club, Capital Community Credit Union, Chili’s of Okemos, Citadel Broadcasting/Bonnie’s Place, Clarion Hotel, Dalmations Firehouse Grille, Draft House, Fairbanks Grill, Falsetta’s Casa Nova, Foods for Living, Frankenburger’s Grill, Harrison Roadhouse, Hobies Café & Pub, Knight Cap, Lansing Center, Lansing Lugnuts, Lansing Police Department, Leo’s Lodge/Outpost, Max & Erma’s, McAlister’s Deli, Mitchell’s Fish Market, Nuthouse Sports Grill, Radisson Hotel, Schnitz Deli, Sheraton Lansing/Christie’s Bistro, SouthTown, Sparrow Health System, Stillwater Grill, Texas Roadhouse, The State Room, Trippers & The Comedy Zone, Walnut Hills Country Club.

Speaking of the Chili Cook-Off, many have asked about the winning entries.  In fact, there were several, and here they are.

Calling all softball players.

The Lansing Lugnuts and the Board of Water & Light are teaming up once again for Hometown Power Night at Oldsmobile Park.

The seventh annual slugfest takes place at Oldsmobile Park Friday, August 13th and will once again feature the best softball home run hitters in the Lansing area.

The home run contest features three categories of competitors – women, men and media celebrities. Registration for this high-octane event is very simple. Just contact Valerie Claus at the Lugnuts by phone at 517-485-4500, extension 270, or via e-mail at vclaus@lansinglugnuts.com by August 9th.

Come and show your skills to the people of Lansing! Preliminary rounds will be held during the day with the finals taking place just before the Luggies take on the Battle Creek Yankees at 7:05 p.m.

We offer temporary hydrant use for construction projects, festivals and special governmental uses by special permit. Hydrant Usage Permits can be renewed on an annual basis and the charge for this service varies with the size of the connection and the duration of the use.

Effective July 1, 2004, we’ve discontinued the program that allowed for swimming pool fills from a hydrant. An approved water hauler list is being developed to help interested customers in locating a company that transports our water to fill pools.

These programs are subject to the BWL’s Rules and Regulations for Water Service. For more detailed information, please contact the Water and Steam Resource Center Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. The phone number is 702-6490.

                      
Lansing’s REO Town neighborhood celebrates an important part of Lansing’s heritage in July.

Just south of downtown Lansing and the Grand River, the REO Town commercial area and surrounding neighborhoods contain the very core of motor vehicle history in Lansing. It was there in 1904 that Ransom Eli Olds – arguably Lansing’s most famous citizen – severed his connection with Oldsmobile and started his second great vehicle company, the Reo Motor Car Company.

Reo flourished as a Lansing community-born-and-developed company, remaining stable and profitable until the Depression. Car production ceased in 1936 but truck production continued. White Motor Corporation bought Reo in 1958, and in the 1960s, Reo, Diamond T and White trucks rolled off the assembly lines. Production ceased for good in 1975 and the clubhouse and main plant were demolished in 1979.

REO Town celebrates that heritage July 13-17th and invites all Reo retirees and former workers. Meanwhile, the REO Town Commercial Association works towards a re-growth of the neighborhood where Lansing’s second great car company was founded 100 years ago.

For more about the REO Town Commercial Association, contact Priscilla Holmes at 485-2795.