Council allocates $5.2 million from ARPA fund for home repairs;  Berston Field House $30 million renovation capital campaign announced
Sep01

Council allocates $5.2 million from ARPA fund for home repairs; Berston Field House $30 million renovation capital campaign announced

By Tom Travis Editor’s note – this article has been updated correcting Councilperson Eric Mays’ return to council meetings on Sept. 6 after being removed for 30-days by a council vote in August. City council approved $5.2 million allocated from the city’s ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) to fund three local agencies (GCCARD, Metro Community Development, and Habitat for Humanity) for home repairs and...

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Village Life: If a mouse could take a shower, what does a naked guy do?
Sep01

Village Life: If a mouse could take a shower, what does a naked guy do?

By Tom Travis Both the mouse and I were upset with the positions we found ourselves in. I flipped on the light inside my shower and turned the water on as I’ve done every morning. But this morning a mouse scampered across the bottom of my tub/shower. It was clawing desperately to get out of the tub. I jumped back with a startled scream. It turned and looked at me, I stared at the mouse. I could see his little mouse heart beating...

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Village Life: the ballet of brick laying
Aug28

Village Life: the ballet of brick laying

By Tom Travis About 11 years ago I moved into a 100-year old house in Flint. The decision was made to remove all the big, heavy radiators that were connected to the old boiler heating system. There were a lot of them. What do you imagine is the heaviest thing ever? Looking at a radiator it seems easy enough to wrap your arms around and hoist out of the house. Wrong! I’ve moved and helped move a fair share of pianos in my life,...

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City council approves Phase 2 of the Buick City Redevelopment Plan – using a complex financing model
Aug25

City council approves Phase 2 of the Buick City Redevelopment Plan – using a complex financing model

By Tom Travis The Flint City Council has approved an embattled resolution for the city to release the 350-acre former Buick City brownfield to developer Ashley Capital. Ashley Capital is under contract to purchase the site from Revitalizing Auto Communities Environmental Response (RACER) Trust. Ashley officials plan to develop a state-of-the-art industrial park expected to bring about 3,000 jobs to the City of Flint — jobs paying...

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“Mr. American Pie” Don McLean to perform at Capitol Aug. 31:  after 50 years, he “still likes the song”
Aug24

“Mr. American Pie” Don McLean to perform at Capitol Aug. 31: after 50 years, he “still likes the song”

By Tom Travis Fifty-two years after his song “American Pie” became a surprise hit and thrust him him into sudden fame, singer/songwriter Don McLean, 77, says he’s still not tired of it. “I’m not tired of the song because it makes people so happy,” he said in a phone interview with East Village Magazine. “My job is to sing the songs that I want to sing and I have enthusiasm about them and...

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