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[News]
New sushi bar to open before fall By David Oltean Staff Reporter
Mount Pleasant’s nightlife will get a boost with the opening of two new restaurants and clubs. Midori, a sushi bar, could open as early as next month in downtown Mount Pleasant. Located at 105 E. Broadway St., the business plans to bring unique cuisine, a wide assortment of drinks and a chic atmosphere to downtown, said owner Rich Swindlehurst. All major construction has been completed in the bar, which is expected to be able to seat about 60 guests. Swindlehurst is excited to see the sushi bar open as it reaches its final stages of construction. He expects the bar to have a different environment than the Blue Gator Sports Pub and Grill, 106 Court St., which he also manages. “I think it will be a nice, classy addition to the town for a dining and socializing environment,” Swindlehurst said. “We’re really excited to see the final outcome.” No date has been selected for a grand opening yet, but Swindle-
hurst expects the business to be running smoothly before the masses of students, faculty and others return to Mount Pleasant for classes in the fall. Another restaurant, L-1 Bar & Grille, 1705 S. Mission St., is in early stages of construction, but no estimates have been made as to when it will open. What used to be R & R Laundromat will now be a restaurant with nightclub hours from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. permitted to serve beer and liquor. Developers refused to comment about the opening of the restaurant, saying there are still too many steps that need to be taken before knowing when it may open. Rumors that Coco Joe’s, 4855 Blue Grass Road, could relocate soon have been confirmed to be false, and the restaurant will remain at its current location. Manager Dave Lutzkey and owner John Hunter had considered moving Coco Joe’s to a downtown location in the past, but have no intentions of relocating the restaurant any time soon, Lutzkey said.
Central Michigan Life || Wednesday, June 29, 2011 || 3
INTERIOR DESIGN | High school students participate in camp this week
amelia eramya/lead designer
Interior Design Camp Week Instructor Brenda Skeel looks at Detroit resident Adisa Murphy’s design with Dewitt resident and CMU alumna Emily Fehrenbach during a design session as a part of the camp’s week-filled events. Murphy, 15, said he is learning new things during the camp. “I like what we’re doing because I enjoy interior design,” he said.
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QR codes showing Campus Grow keeps local produce green “I love plants. I love to watch them up across campus grow, and I especially love eating By Michael Barone Staff Reporter
20 bar codes used to link print to online By Randi Shaffer News Editor, and Morgan Yuncker Staff Reporter
Bar codes have become a little more interactive thanks to an increasingly popular 21st century makeover. Quick response codes are twodimensional barcodes that can be read by smartphones. They consist of black modules arranged in a square pattern on a white background. These codes make it easy to go straight to a URL, text or other location with a quick snap of a phone camera. “QR codes takes students straight to the link of advertisement,” said Kole Taylor, a technical writer at CMU’s Office of Technology. He said OIT used QR codes to promote its March technology summit. The codes were placed on bus stop advertisements, and linked back to program registration information. Ann Arbor sophomore Ethan Maulbetsch said he does not like QR codes despite their popularity. “I feel like it takes just as much time to take the picture of the code as it would to just type in the link,” he said. However, many of the codes serve to cater to user curiosity. Jeffrey McDowell, OIT associate director of user services and support, said he scans QR codes to find out what else he can learn about something. He said he likes the amount of engagement the codes can add to a poster or an advertisement. “It makes you want to find out what that information is,” he said. Taylor said in addition to link-
ing code users to more information about something specifically, many companies use QR codes to monitor how many people visit their site. He said for a company, it is an easy way to see how effective its ads are. “I think, initially, people were sort of confused when they saw them, but definitely with the sort of presence of technology ... have come to adopt them more regularly,” he said. “I think more and more people are being exposed to these and therefore probably know what they are.” Smartphone technology QR code readers are only one of many functions smartphones can handle. Not only are QR codes growing around campus, but the presence of smartphones is growing as well. “I can stay connected with people, especially because Facebook and email are easy to access,” said Ovid freshman Morgan Roberts. “Plus, it is always helpful to have the GPS on my phone in case I get lost.” The phones have also found their way into the classroom, allowing students to access Blackboard for on-the-go course updates and information. “We may see more uses of this type of technology in the classrooms in time to come, though it isn’t certain,” Taylor. news@cm-life.com
CMU’s campus is growing a little greener thanks to the efforts of volunteers and youngsters at the Child Development and Learning Lab. Campus Grow, a localfood focused registered student organization, hosted a planting day for the children at the CDLL in May and has cared for the plants ever since. Teacher Mari Potter and her class of about a dozen 4 and 5 year olds, along with members of the RSO, planted an assortment of lilac cuttings, squash and watermelon seeds. “It’s a great way to teach the children about all the different plants,” Potter said. “They get to learn how it all works, from planting the seeds until it catches root, and before long they will be fully grown plants, very similar to these children.” Campus Grow cares for two gardens on CMU’s campus. One is located west of the parking lot by Theunissen Stadium on West Campus Drive, and another directly behind the Industrial Engineering and Technology building. Brazil junior Emilie Jordao worked as a Campus Grow volunteer over spring semester. She helped organize the day of planting, which was delayed due to rainy weather. “I love to see the kids get excited about planting,” she said. “They smile and it makes me smile. We all have such a good time!” Five-year-old Mount Pleasant resident Kiera Harsh participated in the planting, and ended the activity with a smile and dirt-covered hands. “I like planting the purple and pink flowers,
because that’s my favorite color,” she said. Elena Bozzi was one of five members who tended to the gardens throughout the summer semester. “There was a dry spell so some of the watermelons didn’t survive, but the ones that did are coming along very nicely,” the Sterling Heights senior said. Campus Grow, a nonprofit, relies on volunteers, donations and selling its own organically grown produce to get the money it needs. For $25, anyone can rent a plot of land from one of the two gardens. Other than the pea plants, more than a dozen different
food that I’ve grown. I am 100 percent about local food; the more local, the better.” Elena Bozzi, Sterling Heights senior
varieties of vegetables will not be harvested until the end of the summer. “I love plants,” Bozzi said. “I love to watch them grow, and I especially love eating food that I’ve grown. I am 100 percent about local food; the more local, the better.”
Campus Grow utilizes and researches non-toxic and organic means of producing a variety of open-pollinated fruits and vegetables. It was founded two years ago by Manistee senior Chris Venegas. news@cm-life.com