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 the gorgeous birds from his kitchen window. Wright already had a birdbath, feeders, suet, and most of the other enticements people use to attract birds to their yards. But...
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 and essayist Flint resident Jeff Bean stepped forward at the Flint Public Library April 9, conceded his white privilege, and suggested ways to end it. Bean spoke before...
New skateboard park plan for Swartz Creek Golf Course announced by Flint’s “SK810” group
By Jeffery L. Carey Jr. Under threat of rain, more than 75 people were in attendance April 20 for the announcement of plans to build a new skate park for the city of Flint. The announcement came during this year’s Easter egg hunt and skateboard jam at the existing skate park at the Swartz Creek Golf Course, 1902 Hammerberg Rd. The new skate park would be built on the same site, on the old tennis courts visible from the westbound side...
Town Hall Forum: to “restore the public trust” voters have to get involved
By Paul Rozycki Perhaps the most important highlight one could draw from the “Restore the Public Trust” Town Hall, held at the Flint Public Library Tuesday night, was emphasized by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. Of the 100 precincts in Michigan with the lowest voter turnout, she said, 20 of them were in Flint. They averaged about 15 percent turnout. By contrast, Benson said many precincts in Bloomfield Hills...
Four candidates file for Flint’s first mayoral election under new charter
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to note that Tonya Burns, one of the original group who filed by the deadline, was found not to have the 600 valid signatures required. See below for further detail. By Paul Rozycki Flint’s first mayoral election under its new charter got off to a robust start as four candidates filed to run for mayor this year. They are Incumbent Mayor Karen Weaver, Greg Eason, Sheldon Neeley, and...
“Graffiti artist at heart” Charles Boike bringing street art vitality to Flint
By Jan Worth-Nelson Charles Boike long ago gave up his “life of crime” in the name of art. But Boike, 36, who has been described as an “urban graffiti artist at heart,” definitely has not given up his life of art. Now a practicing attorney with a wife and baby daughter, the Fenton artist has been for years creating high energy, vibrantly colorful murals all over Flint, from Buckham Alley to Totem Books to the...