Bailey Community Association hosts 37th ice cream social

By Rachel Jackson | Originally Published: 07/06/11 9:48pm |Modified: 07/06/11 10:36pm | No comments

Kat Petersen | The State News

East Lansing resident Kate McAndrews, 6, eats ice cream with her mom and sister and watches a juggling lesson happening nearby Wednesday at the Bailey Neighborhood Association ice cream social.

Children, ukulele players and a clown came together in East Lansing Wednesday evening to participate in the 37th annual Bailey Neighborhood Ice Cream Social Wednesday at the Orchard Street Pump House, 368 Orchard St.

The event is sponsored by the Bailey Community Association and the Orchard Street Pump House board. Both groups provide community events for the Bailey Neighborhood, which is a residential space enclosed by Grand River Avenue, Saginaw Street, Hagadorn Road and Abbot Road.

Pump House board member Konrad Hittner said the Pump House is used for many community events throughout the year and functions as an “incubator” for neighborhood activity.

Hittner said he estimated about 150 people attended the ice cream social, a decrease from years past but still enough to fill a dozen cartons with homemade ice cream.

“It’s a nice, fun night — what neighborhoods should be about,” Hittner said.

Caitlin Crane said she came to the ice cream social as a child, traveling from Oregon to visit her grandparents in East Lansing.

Crane, who now lives in Holt, Mich., said her favorite part as a child was making the old-fashioned ice cream by hand, an activity she said her two sons were eager to try.

The ice cream is a mix of cream, ice and salt, Crane said, and must be cranked by hand until all the ingredients are thoroughly mixed.

“It’s really great for kids to know where their food comes from,” Crane said.

In addition to the food, the ice cream social offered a number of fun attractions for families, including face painting, a clown making balloon animals and a fire truck from the East Lansing Fire Department for children to tour. The Ukulele Kings also performed later in the evening.

Holt, Mich., resident Lynne Ruetenik said she has attended the ice cream social for several years and said the event is a great way to meet new people.

“It helps people to form friendships,” Ruetenik said. “You can get to know your neighbors and not feel so isolated.”

Crane said she enjoyed the environment of a community coming together and having a good time.

“It’s a great way to get people outside on a summer night,” she said. “An A-plus in my book.”