This Month in the Village: June features art, music, car shows
East Village Magazine – June 2019
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:
Education 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...
Review: “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,...
Commentary: 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...
News 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...
MCC 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...
News 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...
News 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...
Flint 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...
Carriage 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...
Democracy 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...
Arts, 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...
Loving 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...
NRDC 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...
EVM 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...
This 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...
Commentary: 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...
April 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,...
East Village Magazine – May 2019
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:
320 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...
“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...
Big Flint River cleanup Saturday at 17 sites; volunteers still welcome
Hundreds of volunteers are expected to join the Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) and their partners at sites across Genesee and Lapeer Counties 9 a.m.to noon tomorrow--Saturday April 27--for the Flint River and Community Clean Up, Volunteers are still needed for...
Flint financial advisor also helps bluebirds feather their nests
By Patsy Isenberg Bob Wright is not only a financial advisor at Complete Wealth Advisors in Flint, but also a bluebird protector, sustainer, and instructor. He began his avian pursuit seven years ago in his own backyard on Potter Road when he happened to see one of...
White privilege through white eyes at Tendaji Talk: “Use it to end injustice”
By Harold C. Ford “If your white privilege and class privilege protects you, then you have an obligation to use that privilege to take stands that work to end the injustice that grants that privilege in the first place.” — Ayelet Waldman, Israeli-American novelist...