This is a feed of all news articles within all categories. At the end of the list, please find a link for “Older Entries” to load the next 50 articles.
Kildee, Mays and Johnson discuss Flint water crisis at WDET panel
By Paul Rozycki According to U.S. Congressman Dan Kildee (5th District), obtaining justice for the Flint water crisis requires that those responsible be “held liable for the damage, that the basic water infrastructure be repaired, that residents be charged a fair price for their water and the health issues of the community be addressed.” Those comments came at the end of a panel discussion at the Flint Public Library Saturday hosted by WDET’s (101.9 FM) Stephen Henderson, as part of the station’s Book Club, and Henderson’s...
read moreBook Review: “American Dialogue” offers indispensable conversation between “then” and “now”
By Robert R. Thomas In assessing the here and now, history offers an indispensable perspective. American Dialogue is an enlightening example. As author and historian Joseph Ellis puts it, “The study of history is an ongoing conversation between past and present from which we all have much to learn.” Subtitled The Founders and Us, his book’s focus is a dialogue between America’s founding fathers and our current historical state. “We inhabit a backlash moment in American history of uncertain duration,” Ellis writes. “Our creedal convictions as...
read moreThis Month in the Village: July Events
July events, in and around Flint, feature sports, music, dance, and much more: July Online Calendar
read moreNews Brief: McCree founder returns, conducts free theater arts workshop Saturday
One of the founders of the New McCree Theater, Anderson Johnson, returns to Flint to conduct a workshop covering many aspects of theatre arts from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, July 13. The workshop is free and open to the public. Lunch and snacks will be served. For more information, call 810-787-2200. Johnson, currently director of Theatre Studies at the New Jersey City University, was an original participant in McCree Theatre’s programs in 1970 when the theatre was established by C.S. Mott Community College, according to a press release...
read moreVillage Life: A raptor crash heralded my life with birds
By Teddy Robertson Smack! The front legs of my chair leave the floor, my hands pop off the laptop keyboard; I jerk backward. A split second, then a tinkling sound ripples over my left shoulder. I turn and look: in the storm window beside me fissures radiate outward as if pushed by an invisible hand. Something’s struck the plate glass almost dead center. I’m out the door — scanning the front porch for a clue — but the missile lies farther away. On the lawn a small hawk rests belly down, tipped onto one shoulder where his wing meets...
read moreEast Village Magazine – July 2019
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:
read moreCommentary: A funny thing happened on the way to the election
By Paul Rozycki Note: This column has been updated for a correction via City Clerk Inez Brown: it was the city’s Finance Department that initially omitted the $320,000 in the budget for this year’s election, not the City Council–Ed. For most cities, villages, and townships, an election is a pretty routine thing. Candidates file, their names go on the ballot, they campaign, voters go to the polls, and the next set of officeholders are chosen to begin their terms. Not in Flint. It was only four years ago that Flint had to...
read moreEducation Beat: Admin shakeups, contracts highlight end of year for Flint Community Schools
By Harold C. Ford “Our buildings are not worthy of the children that enter them…There are lots of people who have been paid to do lots of things that have not done the things they were paid to do.” …Derrick Lopez, Superintendent, Flint Community Schools Administrative shakeups and the approval of ten service contracts highlighted the end of the 2018-2019 school year for Flint Community Schools. After robust debate, the district’s maintenance contract with Commercial Sanitation Management Services was finally approved on a third vote by the...
read moreFlint City Bucks are winning games–and the hearts of the “River Rats”
By Harold C. Ford “Our Father who art in Atwood, Soccer be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, all matches won, on Earth as it is in Section Eleven. With Liberty and Justice for Flint and Demir Muftari.” … River Rats pregame prayer–by River Rat William Balcer The Flint City Bucks soccer team bested Chicago Football Club United by a 2-1 score before 3,145 paid fans at Atwood Stadium June 27. It was the Bucks’ fourth victory this season over the first-place team from Chicago as Flint took three of four regular season matches and added another...
read more“Please tell me some heads are going to roll”– Flint residents direct anger, hope, doubt at prosecution team
By Jan Worth-Nelson Things started out reasonably well Friday night as the state’s new water crisis prosecution team, led by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud faced down 200 Flint residents at the UAW Local 659 Hall. The prosecutors were there to explain why 15 days ago the state dropped all criminal charges against eight central figures in the Flint Water Crisis, now in its fifth year. That incendiary move, which came without warning to the residents of a city beleaguered and by what many call...
read moreWater class action attorneys detail progress of civil cases; not everyone satisfied
By Jan Worth-Nelson Leading a call and response of “We won! They lost!” with a crowd of 100 vocal Flint residents at UAW Local 659 last night, Flint Water Class Action attorney Michael Pitt asserted that the numerous water crisis civil cases chugging through the courts are heading in the right direction. “All avenues of escape have been cut off,” Pitt said of the arguments and unsuccessful attempts at dismissals by defendants from the State of Michigan, the EPA, and several engineering contractors including Veolia...
read moreThousands gather at Flint’s Ninth Annual Pride Festival
By Jeffery L. Carey Jr. Rainbows on everything from drag queens to a U.S. Congresssman were the motif of the day Saturday at the Ninth Annual Pride Festival in downtown Flint. Hosted by the Flint Pride Society and Wellness Services of Flint, the event ran from 2 to 8 p.m. along Flint’s Riverbank Park. Tom Moore, public relations representative with Wellness, said more than 3,000 people gathered for the celebration. “At around 4:45 p.m. we ran out of our 2500 rainbow heart stickers which we were using to count attendance. Folks kept...
read moreCity of Flint facing allegations of failure to follow Open Meetings Act, FOIA and City Charter
By Melodee Mabbitt An attempt to follow the story of Flint’s pipeline replacement led a Flint resident to file a complaint to Genesee County Circuit Court, now under consideration by Judge Kay Behm, alleging that the City of Flint failed to follow the Open Meetings Act, Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the Flint City Charter. “The overall tendency that I am seeing is one of avoiding the requirements of these statutes in order to suppress embarrassing information,” said Linda Pohly of Flint, a local attorney and plaintiff in the case....
read moreFlint Pride Festival TODAY (Saturday) in downtown Flint
Two events happening today (Saturday) in observance and celebration of Pride Month, which occurs yearly in the month of June. Saturday, June 22: Flint Pride Festival The Flint Pride Festival being held at Riverbank Park in downtown Flint. from 2-8 p.m. Five dollar suggested donation. There will be STD/HIV testing as well as vendor tables of LGBT, allied organizations and much more. To volunteer for the Equality Caucus contact Drew Marsh at drewemarsh@gmail.com. Facebook Event Page Saturday, June 22: Flint Pride After Party A Flint Pride...
read moreNews Brief: water prosecution team sets community meeting in Flint June 28
Two members of the State of Michigan’s Flint water prosecution team are coming to town for a “community conversation” with Flint residents at 6-8 p.m. Friday, June 28 at UAW Local 659 Hall, 4549 Van Slyke Rd., Flint. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The meeting, with Michigan Solicitor General Fadwa Hammoud and Wayne County Prosecutor Kym L. Worthy will address the dismissals, provide updates on the team’s investigative efforts and answer any questions the residents may have for the Flint Water Crisis prosecution team. The...
read moreFundraiser supports Flint Middle School student’s cancer fight
A spaghetti dinner fundraiser was held June 21, to support a Holmes STEAM Academy student’s fight against cancer. Kaylon Ross-Howell was diagnosed with glitomatosis cerebri, a rare form of brain cancer. According to Blake Strozier, Flint board of education vice president, Ross-Howell’s condition is “inoperable” and “in the final stages.” The benefit dinner took place 4 to 7 p.m. at Holmes STEAM Academy, 6602 Oxley Dr., Flint, MI 48504. Organizers of the event asked a minimum $10 donation for a meal that included spaghetti (with meat or...
read moreNews Brief: 18th Annual Unity March set for 11:30 a.m. Saturday
The 18th Annual Unity March Against Violence is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22, starting at the Flint Development Center, 4121 Martin Luther King Blvd in Flint. According to spokesperson Donna Ullrich, “this is an historic peace walk that engages residents of the walks route in the activities and provides community resources for all who need them.” “Let’s walk together and work together to respect and protect all of our neighbors. We’ll even feed you after the walk,” she said. Community Expo...
read moreBrush up your memories: StoryCorps coming back to Flint
By Jan Worth-Nelson “Listen. Honor. Share.” Those are the basic tenets of grassroots story telling built into StoryCorps, the nationally-known project coming back to Flint for a month beginning Aug. 6. “Listening is an act of love and generosity,” the StoryCorps brochure continues–and organizers from Michigan Radio and the Flint Institute of Arts, co-hosts of the visit, hope there will lots of all that in the StoryCorp mobile booth. The renowned Airstream trailer, a fully tricked out recording studio,...
read moreReview: June Art Walk offered many pleasures for Saginaw Street strollers
By Patsy Isenberg It was a perfect late spring day for the June Art Walk, and hundreds of visitors took advantage of the weather, walking up and down Saginaw Street in downtown Flint. It was not raining for one thing and the temperature was in the mid-70s. It was a little breezy, causing outdoor vendors to weight down the paper on their tables or in the case of Jeff and Darlene Carey who were selling and signing Jeff’s books, to keep a close eye on the prints of the artwork in his books. But another remarkable thing about that night...
read moreAll four mayoral candidates will stay on ballot, Judge Farah rules
By Paul Rozycki After more than a week of speculation about who should be on the ballot for Flint’s mayoral primary, Genesee County Circuit Court Judge Joseph Farah ruled on Monday June 17 that all four of the candidates, initially approved by the Flint City Clerk Inez Brown, could appear on the August ballot. Speaking to a packed court room, Farah ruled that in spite of problems with their affidavits, Greg Eason, State Rep. Sheldon Neeley, businessman Donald Pfeiffer, and incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver, all have the right to be on the ballot...
read moreSloan Museum breaks ground for $26 million expansion, aims to foster kids’ love of learning, resilience
By Jan Worth-Nelson With calls from many dignitaries to champion science and history and ignite a passion for learning among Flint kids, ground was broken this week for a $26 million renovation and expansion of the Sloan Museum on the Flint Cultural Center Campus, 1221 E. Kearsley St. Renamed the Sloan Museum of Discovery, the facility will include a new early childhood gallery, a 10,000-square-foot hands-on science “Discovery Hall,” a 11,000- square foot revamped history gallery, a new “Vehicle City” automative...
read moreCentral Park celebrates new mural on East Village Magazine building
By Harold C. Ford “Basically, the idea behind the mural is we don’t need to hate each other.” –Murales Lian, muralist Flint’s Central Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) will celebrate the completion of a new mural on the wall of the East Village Magazine (EVM) building, 720 E. Second St., by artist Murales Lian on Thursday, June 13 with free food, music, and conversation in the lot next door. Festivities begin at 6 p.m. The mural project was initially brainstormed by members of the CPNA’s NICE (Neighborhood Investment for Community...
read moreDebrief: Flint Art Fair numbers suggest success for FIA, local economy
By Paul Rozycki Though this year’s numbers are not all in, the 2019 Flint Art Fair looks to have been a strong success. According to James Draper, one of the organizers of the fair, they hope to net at least $20,000 for the Flint Institute of Arts (FIA). Most of their income, Draper said, is from ticket sales, artist booth space fees, and food truck space rentals. Artists (this year there were about 150) typically pay $250 for their space and entrance fees were $5 for adult visitors. He estimates the fair generates between $35,000 and...
read moreIn both good weather and bad, Flint Art Fair pleased and delivered
By Paul Rozycki The 52ndFlint Art Fair, held Saturday and Sunday, was a tale of two cities, weather-wise — or at least a tale of two art fairs. Saturday dawned warm and sunny with nary a cloud in the sky as the fair opened, and attendance soared to near record levels. Attendance on Sunday, with cloudy, cooler weather, and increasing threats of rain? Not so much. On Saturday, with its summery weather, attendance exceeded expectations. Visitors already were lined up at the gate as the fair opened, and the flow continued for much of the...
read moreNews Brief: Dental health summit Friday to explore water crisis impact, other oral health topics
Maternal and infant oral health, water fluoridation, health conditions cause by poor oral health and the impact of the Flint water crisis are among topics to be covered Friday at the 2019 Michigan Central Area Oral Health Summit for the Genesee County Area. The event, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mott Community College Event Center, is free and open to the public, including medical and dental professionals. Co-sponsors of the summit are the Genesee Health Plan (GHP) Oral Health Coalition and the Michigan Oral Health Coalition (MOHC)....
read moreCrowd “overjoyed” downtown as MCC Culinary Arts Institute opens
By Darlene C. Carey An overjoyed mix of dignitaries–local, state, and federal–and a packed, shoulder-to-shoulder crowd–celebrated the public revealing of the state-of-the-art Mott Community College Culinary Arts Institute at 550 S. Saginaw St. Friday in downtown Flint. A sunny day graced the opening to the public, with many guest speakers acknowledging the various public, private and philanthropic entities that helped bring the multi-million dollar culinary vision, three years in the making, to fruition. The...
read moreNews Brief: Saturday is Genesee County Recycle Day
Saturday, June 8 is the first of five opportunities this year to recycle household hazardous waste, electronics and paint. Items can be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at two county locations: — The Flint Water Service Center, 3310 E. Court Street and — Fenton High School, 3200 W. Shiawassee Ave. Items accepted and not accepted are listed on the chart below. –EVM Staff
read moreReview: Energetic “Songs About Stuff” premiere explores the 90s with music, humor
By Patsy Isenberg “I was walking down Haight Street in San Francisco when a counterculture douf cornered me/ She had a freshly dyed purple Mohawk, $120 Doc Martin boots on/ In other words, she was wearing about as much equity as I had made this year/And with a wanting look on her pale face she asked me for some change./I said, ‘Change comes from within.’” Those are some of the lyrics in “Alternateen,” one of 27 original Wally Pleasant songs, performed with entertaining energy during “Songs about Stuff,” a lively revue at The Flint...
read moreEast Village Magazine – June 2019
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:
read moreEducation Beat: Flint Schools ending Year One of three-year partnership; two hires debated; middle school locale still uncertain
By Harold C. Ford (Note: The following article is about two recent meetings of the Flint Board of Education on May 8 and May 15. Subsequently, a “Special Board Meeting” was held May 21 at the district’s administration building rather than the usual location at Southwestern Classical Academy. The special meeting had been scheduled for May 20, was cancelled on May 20, and then held on May 21. The only action item at the special meeting, according to the online agenda at the district’s website, was “Personnel Recommendations.” No minutes...
read moreReview: “Poisoned democracy, poisoned water,” activists’ impact — themes of new Flint book
By Harold C. Ford “The lesson learned from the battle over the river was that the hardheaded resolve of even a small group of people could move mountains.” … from Flint Fights Back, Environmental Justice and Democracy in the Flint Water Crisis,by Benjamin J. Pauli, The MIT Press, 2019 A wonderful photo is conspicuously positioned at the front of Benjamin Pauli’s new book on Flint’s water crisis, in which a water justice activist is holding a sign that reads “Poisoned Democracy, Poisoned Water, Justice 4 Flint.” That sign could very well have...
read moreCommentary: Fix the roads? Who gets the money?
By Paul Rozycki Gov. Whitmer is continuing her statewide campaign to garner support for a 45 cent gas tax increase, which would be used to “fix the damn roads.” It remains to be seen whether or not she will get what she wants. Most public opinion polls show little support for the large increase. Republicans in the legislature have already called the proposal a “non-starter,” and it seems to have little chance of success in Lansing. Yet, the pressure is building to do something to fix the roads. Last month’s East Village Magazine column...
read moreNews Brief: Genesee Health Plan to offer bus passes, Your Ride vouchers through Rotary grant
A $1,000 grant from the Rotary Club of Greater Flint Sunrise can go a long way in helping students and families in Flint get access to needed resources. The recent award to the Genesee Health Plan’s “Riding Above Barriers” programs will provide MTA bus passes and Your Ride vouchers to families within the Flint Community School District. The program will help reduce transportation barriers and improve access to community and school resources, according to Shannon Ciszek, GHP communications coordinator. “We are deeply grateful...
read moreMCC Culinary Arts Institute opens June 7, featuring celebrity chef Carla Hall
By Darlene Carey Opportunities for culinary arts students and downtown dining take a leap forward June 7 with the grand opening of the Mott Community College Culinary Arts Institute, in a renovated historic building at the corner of Saginaw and Second streets downtown. After a public ribbon cutting ceremony at noon, the doors officially open from 1 to 3 p.m. The public will be invited to tour the historic F.W. Woolworth building at 550 S. Saginaw St., and meet celebrity chef Carla Hall of the television show “The Chew.” Dawn Hibbard, MCC...
read moreNews Brief: Eighth graders invited to open house, school year prep Thursday at Southwestern
Eighth grade students and their families from Flint and surrounding areas are invited to prepare for the upcoming school year at “Journey Into 2020,” an open house from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, May 30 at Southwestern Classical Academy, 1420 W. 12th St., Flint. According to a release from the Flint Community School district, the school is “focused on higher expectations—for students, teachers, families and staff—in year ahead,” and will share plans and projects underway with students and families. –EVM Staff ...
read moreNews Brief: Aspiring photographers offered chance to network, learn from pros
Three award-winning commercial photographers will be available to network and talk with aspiring photographers from 6 to 7:30 p.m. June 13 at Foster Coffee Company at the Ferris Wheel, 615 S. Saginaw St. in downtown Flint. Khalid Ibrahim, Leigh Ann Cobb and Marek Dziekonski will share stories about how they entered their field, why they love what they do, and offer insights on furthering creative careers, according to Heather Kale, Ferris general manager. Ticket are $5 and are available for preorder at Fostercoffee.com. Ibrahim’s client...
read moreFlint River Watershed Coalition wins $74K federal grant for youth program
By Jan Worth-Nelson Hundreds of area students and their teachers will have a chance to learn about and care for water resources, especially the Flint River, thanks to a new federal grant received recently by the Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC). A $74,000 grant to support youth-based water quality programs involving 1,200 students in 22 school districts was awarded to the FRWC by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET). The funds will support development and implementation...
read moreCarriage Town cats tended by kind-hearted neighbor: more help needed
By Patsy Isenberg A group of 20 or more feline squatters in Carriage Town–including Snowflake, Princess, Butterfly, Stripe, Watermelon and Friendly–are luckier than most feral cats. That’s because of a kind-hearted woman who lives nearby. Sonny Rabanal has taken on the task of feeding what she calls the Lyon Street cats. She started feeding strays sheltering in abandoned buildings several years ago, and has hardly missed a day since. When the cats see Rabanal coming, they quietly slink out from wherever they’re...
read moreDemocracy at heart of how “Flint Fights Back,” author Ben Pauli says
By Paul Rozycki At the recent launch of his new book Flint Fights Back: Environmental Justice and Democracy in the Flint Water Crisis, activist and Kettering University Professor Benjamin Pauli contended that the loss of democracy and the struggle of Flint activists to reclaim and ferociously exercise it, is at the heart of the Flint crisis. “We didn’t have a say about our water source,” he said, and that led to many of the problems that ensued. Yet, he asserted the water crisis, and the response of activists to it, is also “a...
read moreArts, cultural organizations receive $440K in first GFAC arts millage awards
By Jan Worth-Nelson In a first wave of benefits from the arts millage approved by voters last fall, 22 Genesee County arts and cultural organizations encompassing jazz, ballet, theater, art, and architecture received grants totaling $440,000 from the Greater Flint Arts Council (GFAC) last week. The “Share Art Genesee 2019 Community Arts Program Grants” ranged from $3,500 to $30,000, according to Greg Fiedler, president and CEO of the Greater Flint Arts Council, which solicited applications and coordinated the review and...
read moreLoving Gilkey Creek, one neighbor at a time: residents plead “no dumping”
By Jan Worth-Nelson Gilkey Creek has been part of Joe Burroughs’ life ever since childhood. He used to play along it, and his father, George, used to fish in it, bringing home pan fish like crappies and blue gill. Now Burroughs and his wife Kathryn, both retired school teachers, along with their Kensington Street neighbor Reba Walling, are trying to keep the winding little waterway near their homes open and healthy and as a beautiful as it can be. “There are still fish in it,” Joe Burroughs said. “I was down...
read moreNRDC attorney updates Flint residents on water crisis progress
By Luther Houle Highlights of the May Flint Neighborhoods United (FNU) monthly meeting included a short presentation by Jeremy Orr of the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). In a 40-minute talk, Orr provided updates and answered questions about the status of the lead service line replacement program, an outgrowth of the Flint water crisis. The meeting also offered information on upcoming spring events, including the “Light up the City,” observance starting this month. About 55 Flint officials, neighborhood leaders, and...
read moreEVM staffer, poet Jeffery L Carey Jr launches new book Saturday at Totem
By Jan Worth-Nelson Jeffery L Carey Jr, a poet, artist, and staff writer at East Village Magazine, launches his fifth book of poetry, Estranged Union, at a reading and signing from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Totem Books, 620 W. Court St. Carey said each purchase of the book will include a discount at the Totem Cafe. The book has a specific and historically significant format. Written in the classic “haibun” style of Japanese poets Basho and Issa, Carey’s book is a travel journal consisting of prose, poetry and original...
read moreThis Month in the Village: May features live music, story time, Jersey Boys, Flint City Bucks and more
Compiled and selected by Meghan Christian “This Month” highlights a selection of events available to our readers—It is not an exhaustive list, rather a sampling of opportunities in the city. To submit events for June, email your event to Managing Editor Meghan Christian at meghan.christian22@gmail.com by May 28. Wellness at the Wheel Mon – Sat. Various times The Ferris Wheel, 615 S. Saginaw St., 6th floor 810-213-4710 Admission: $12 Health and well-being classes offered at the Ferris Wheel. Monday Hatha Yoga–5:30 p.m. Tuesday Rise and...
read moreCommentary: Fix the “damn roads”? But how do we pay for the “damn roads”?
By Paul Rozycki Are you ready to “fix the damn roads?” It was Gov. Whitmer’s campaign promise, and just about everyone agrees that it’s job one for Michigan this year. But, how do we pay for it? By most estimates, the state needs to raise about $2.5 billion to get the job done. And even then, it will take years to undo the harm from the underinvestment over the past decades. In 2018, only 77 percent of the state’s roads were in “good or fair” condition. By 2025, less than 50 percent will be “good or fair,” and the numbers grow worse after...
read moreApril City Council update: pipe replacement contracts, ombudsperson job description
By Meghan Christian While April brought still more fighting between Flint City Council members and the community, it seemed the council got more done than in previous months. The month’s work included movement toward the next phase of the pipe replacement program, toward a job description for the office of the ombudsperson, and making three appointments to the Downtown Development Authority. Two contractors approved for Phase VI of FAST Start program City council approved the contracts for two contractors to begin work on Phase VI of the...
read moreEast Village Magazine – May 2019
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:
read more320 volunteers, 412 bags of trash: Flint River gets love, spring makeover
By Jan Worth-Nelson The Flint River and its watershed got lots of love on a chilly spring day Saturday, when 320 volunteers swarmed 17 sites along the river in both Genesee and Lapeer counties and including Gilkey Creek at the annual Stewardship Day and community cleanup. Volunteers filled 412 bags of trash plus a dumpster. They also disposed of 95 tires and 40 bags and two large dumpsters of yard waste, according to officials from the sponsoring Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC). The cleanup removed a host of retrieved items, including...
read more“We will never stop fighting for justice”: leaders comment at water crisis fifth anniversary
Here are comments compiled from Dan Kildee, Mayor Karen Weaver, Jim Ananich, and Sheldon Neeley, provided by each of their offices: Statement by Congressman Dan Kildee on Fifth Anniversary of the Flint Water Crisis FLINT—Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Chief Deputy Whip of the House Democratic Caucus, issued the following statement marking the five-year anniversary of the Flint water crisis: “Five years after this man-made public health crisis began, Flint families still do not trust the water coming out of their taps. In the richest country...
read more
You must be logged in to post a comment.