This Month in the Village, January: open skate, yoga, films, art, ballet
Compiled by Meghan Christian, Managing Editor “This Month”highlights a selection of events available to our readers—beginning . It is not an exhaustive list, rather a sampling of opportunities in the city. To submit events for February,email your event to Managing...
Flint City Council December update: AECOM award, HUD contracts okayed
By Meghan Christian While personalities continued to clash at meetings, the Flint City Council (FCC) made key decisions at their two December meetings, awarding contracts to implement a $30 million housing grant and adding $1 million more than the original contract to...
Review: The Little Prince “tames” Rep audiences with good storytelling, acting, direction, and stage design
By Patsy Isenberg The stage version of "The Little Prince," written by Rick Cummins and John Scoullar based on the beloved children's book by French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, closed Dec. 23 after a successful run at the Flint Repertory Theater. The Rep's...
Commentary: People’s health comes first–fighting the Lead and Copper Rule is shameful
[This op-ed was originally published in the Detroit Free Press; reprinted with permission] By Ridgway White The most important function of government is to protect the safety and well-being of citizens. That’s why it’s disheartening to learn some southeast Michigan...
Bees making sweet honey on Flint’s East Side
By Patsy Isenberg Flint’s East Side may be a tattered symbol to some human eyes of the city’s struggles. But it turns out honeybees like it just fine. The wildflowers sprouting up in abandoned lots and brownfields may be the secret ingredient that makes city honey...
Dorothy’s House of Coffee a welcoming spot for coffee, conversation and faith
by Luther Houle More than a dozen students met at Dorothy’s House of Coffee, 503 East St., for holiday feasts between Thanksgiving and Christmas. They were hosted by the Catholic Community of Flint, a coalition of the city's four Catholic churches, to gather people...
Flint Community Schools board paves way for active new year amid uncertainty and change
by Harold C. Ford Amid uncertainty and change as the Flint Community Schools (FCS) move into the 2019 calendar year, a host of initiatives, actions, and accomplishments were announced as part of a packed agenda at the regular meeting of the FCS board of education Dec....
Jacky King laid to rest: Flint loses a genuine hero
by Harold C. Ford “Get out there and make a damn difference.” --Jacky King, Dec. 2017, STAND Magazine The greater Flint area, the Beecher community in particular, lost a genuine hero on Dec. 13, 2018 with the passing of Jacky King. King, 65, succumbed to a...
Commentary: Should the Lame Duck be a dead duck?
By Paul Rozycki In the past, the so-called “lame duck” session was a time when the state legislature met in the last weeks of the year, before the newly elected members took office. They took care of relatively modest issues, final adjustments to the budget and other...
Miracle on One Hurley Plaza Street: Children’s Hospital wins $70,000 in online vote
By Darlene Carey In a late night rally of community support Tuesday, Hurley Children’s Hospital, based out of Flint, Bay City and Saginaw, edged out the Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital of Grand Rapids for the top prize of $50,000 in the Vote for Miracles Contest....
New Ruth Mott Foundation grants target North End youth, vacant lots, grocery store, arts
By Jan Worth-Nelson A varied group of 17 grants aiming to nurture youth arts, clean up vacant lots, create a grocery store, support community news and bolster resource hubs in the North End of Flint was announced today by the Ruth Mott Foundation. The grants, totaling...
East Village Magazine – December 2018
The latest issue of the East Village Magazine is available for download here:
Village Life: 85 tubas and a corny sing-a-long one secret to holiday cheer
By Jan Worth-Nelson Let's face it--you can't not smile when singing "Jingle Bells" with 85 tubas as your back-up group. I love Tuba Christmas, in all its kitschy Baby Jesus/Virgin Mary/Hark the Heralds/Deck the Halls tradition, staged every mid-December in the atrium...
Ingrid Halling, the late Wade Pyles named Sybyl Award recipients in “sunset” celebration of ten-year memorial
By Jan Worth-Nelson Longtime civic activist Ingrid Halling, a retired librarian and indefatigable anchor of the Central Park Neighborhood Association; and the late Wade Pyles, a Fenton-area Realtor and committed community advocate who died in September, were named...
News Brief: Genesee Health Plan extends hours for Obamacare open enrollment Saturday
Healthcare Marketplace (Obamacare) Open Enrollment deadline for 2019 is Saturday. Genesee Health Plan will extend its hours to help residents enroll, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the GHP office, 2171 S. Linden Road. In addition to the Marketplace, individuals may sign up for...
News Brief: Plans shaping up for February UM-Flint Career Fair; corporate registrations open
University of Michigan–Flint invites employers, students and alumni to participate in its 2019 Career Fair, noon-3 p.m. Feb. 20 at the Riverfront Center. The event, free to students and UM alumni, will connect corporations with those seeking full-time, part-time and...
News Brief: Registration underway for Flint Rep Theatre acting classes
Registration for winter classes is underway at Flint Repertory Theatre, with acting classes for age 4 through adult, including a spring camp for upper elementary and an improv workshop for adults. Weekly classes begin the week of Jan. 15 and run through March 9. Cost...
Discipline problems take center stage as Flint Schools, community face ACLU lawsuit, state pressure
By Harold C. Ford This piece has been updated to add information about a Partnership Agreement with the State of Michigan triggered by the district landing in the bottom five percent of state schools and thus falling into the category of "chronically failing schools."...
Holiday season kicks off with “red wave” Santa Run downtown
By Darlene Carey and Jeffery L. Carey, Jr. On Dec 1, under threat of rain, close to 1400 "Santas" participated in the ninth annual Santa Run in downtown Flint. The runners were all ages with a children’s quarter mile Reindeer Race kicking off the event, followed by...
Capitol Theatre adding mechanized orchestra pit lift
The Capitol Theatre of Flint will soon add to its 2017 $32 million renovation, according to a recent announcement from The Uptown Reinvestment Corporation. Three Michigan foundations have contributed to provide funding for a mechanized orchestra pit lift. The Michigan...
News Brief: Melvin Davis Dec. 8 concert cancelled
Totem Books posted the following CANCELLATION notice tonight: "Unfortunately, due to scheduling conflicts, the Melvin Davis show this Saturday has been canceled. If you have previously purchased tickets at Totem, please stop by Totem or call the team at 810-407-6402...
Vet’s offer sweetens incentive to vote for Hurley in Children’s Miracle Network contest
Hurley Children’s Hospital seeks community support as it competes for a share of $100,000 grant through Credit Unions for Kids’ “Vote for Miracles.” In the nationwide contest, community members may vote as often as daily for their favorite among Children’s Miracle...
News Brief: “Gather the Spirit” with guitarist Jim Scott Sunday Dec. 9 at the UUCF
Singer-songwriter Jim Scott, presents “Gather The Spirit: Seasonal Songfest” 2 p.m. Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Flint, 2474 S. Ballenger Hwy. Harmony, lyrics and guitar craft are hallmarks of Scott's work; his style spans jazz, classical, folk...
News Brief: “Deep Fried Pickle Project” among December events at Flint Public Library
The Flint Public Library hosts the “Deep Fried Pickle Project” Dec. 15 for an afternoon of music and crafts, among the library’s December programs. You can make your own instrument, like maybe a cigar box banjo, then hear the Pickle Boys perform funny songs on their...
This Month in the Village: December 2018
Compiled by Meghan Christian “ThisMonth” 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 our January issue, email your event to Managing Editor Meghan...
