The last light on: the end of 24-hour diners in Flint
By Daniel Vela In Flint, sitting at the counter or sliding into the booth of a 24-hour diner after a late shift or a crazy night out with friends and enjoying a breakfast spread, a couple coneys, or a burger could almost be considered a local tradition. For decades Flint had places like this on every side of town. They served just what the people needed, 24-hours a day, to power a town filled with blue-collar workers and their...
Parks & Rec in Flint and Beyond: Kearsley Park
By Christina Collie This is the second in a series about parks and recreational areas to explore in Flint and surrounding areas within 20 miles, presented in no particular order. Kearsley Park 1830 Kearsley Park Blvd Flint, MI 48504 Hours: Dawn – Dusk With snow on its way, my editor asked if I could write about a park with a sledding option this month. I’ve had others mention to me that they remember sledding at Kearsley Park as...
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...
What is a story worth? Gift from an only son brings back rich family history
By Teddy Robertson The elders in my young life were storytellers. The dinner table, an oval oak dropleaf large enough for candlesticks and a centerpiece, was the usual setting for their mealtime yarns. But I was never shunted away during parties when adult conversation was going on. I was an only child and most of my parents’ friends were childless, so evidently my presence was overlooked. In any case, eternal values were drilled into...
My bug splattered windshield was a metaphor for life that can be tough
By Tom Travis It was one of the first warm summer weekends. The bugs were all abuzz as I zoomed down I-69 on my 500-mile trip to southern Indiana for my youngest son’s high school graduation. Along the way, my car window got splattered with bugs. I’m usually kind of nuts about having a clean windshield. During the summer I grab the squeegee every time I stop for gas and give my front window a once over. I don’t know why I’m so...
Profile: “What if he had opened his eyes?” Kelsey Ronan on grief, healing, breaking a curse in “Chevy in the Hole”
By Jan Worth-Nelson Twelve years ago, Kelsey Ronan found her longtime partner Bryan dead of a heroin overdose in their Flint apartment. Out of what she describes as an onslaught of grief, anger, loss, and finally, a hard-won, unsentimental hope, the novel Chevy in the Hole was born. For Ronan, the book emerged from one poignant question: “What would have happened if Bryan had opened his eyes” instead of dying. She has...
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