Flint Council President Herkenroder resigns as of July 1, citing anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm following “abuse,” “vindictiveness and hatred”
Jun09

Flint Council President Herkenroder resigns as of July 1, citing anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm following “abuse,” “vindictiveness and hatred”

By Tom Travis In the last moments of a contentious council meeting where the council passed a city budget one week after the deadline, Council President Allie Herkenroder (Ward 7) announced  she was resigning as the Seventh Ward council person as of July 1. This slideshow requires JavaScript. In a phone interview Friday with East Village Magazine (EVM), Herkenroder  said she had experienced “mental and physical concerns”...

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Parking meters are obvious but revenue is not
Jun08

Parking meters are obvious but revenue is not

By Elizabeth Ireland-Curtis Parking in downtown Flint is contentious and confusing. City council regularly hears complaints about the meters, how to use them and the many unwarranted tickets  residents receive. East Village Magazine (EVM) reached out multiple times to the City of Flint Communications Department, Municipal Parking System (MPS) and Flint Downtown Development Authority (DDA). None have responded with information to the...

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“Social class, freedom, prejudice, hope and despair” come to life in the Flint Rep’s production of Ragtime opening June 9
Jun07

“Social class, freedom, prejudice, hope and despair” come to life in the Flint Rep’s production of Ragtime opening June 9

By Tom Travis Ragtime, the musical, produced by FIM Flint Rep and appearing at Elgood Theatre from June 9 through 25, is set at the dawn of a new century.  Everything is changing and anything is possible. Ragtime is an intimate, chamber-style telling of a 1998 Tony Award-winning musical for best book and best original score. Adapted from E.L. Doctorow’s novel of the same name and a musical score by Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty,...

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It’s the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library now:  local leaders praise Coles’ legacy of “inclusivity”  and “a bold, dynamic vision” at naming ceremony
Jun04

It’s the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library now: local leaders praise Coles’ legacy of “inclusivity” and “a bold, dynamic vision” at naming ceremony

By Jan Worth-Nelson Under a tent on the lawn on a steamy afternoon, more than 100 of Flint’s leadership aristocracy gave Gloria Coles a standing ovation as the library she served as director for 20 years was officially named in her honor. It is now the Gloria Coles Flint Public Library. This slideshow requires JavaScript. Executive Director Kay Schwartz, herself retiring in July,  emceed the event, which included remarks of...

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Guest Commentary: Flint’s unique opportunity for better, safer streets should design for more than cars
Jun02

Guest Commentary: Flint’s unique opportunity for better, safer streets should design for more than cars

Guest commentary by Joel Arnold, Planning and Advocacy Manager at Communities First, Inc. If there’s one thing we hear regularly in our city and region, it’s that people drive far too fast and far too dangerously.  In the Flint area, we’ve seen business after business — whether a fast-food restaurant on Dort Highway, Mega Coney Island in Flint Township, or even Dawn Donuts on Clio Road — get hit by vehicles.  A consistent...

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Education Beat: Flint Community Schools challenged by its aging lineup of buildings; Washington demo approved
May26

Education Beat: Flint Community Schools challenged by its aging lineup of buildings; Washington demo approved

By Harold C. Ford In May, the Flint Board of Education (FBOE): approved the spending of tens of millions of ESSER (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief) dollars for infrastructure upgrades; turned down a substantial offer to sell the Zimmerman property on Corunna Road; approved the demolition of Washington Elementary on Flint’s east side which burned down in October 2021. This slideshow requires JavaScript. Infrastructure...

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