Review: Christmas favorites, talented performers highlight “A Merry, Merry McCree Christmas”
By Patsy Isenberg The dress rehearsal for “A Merry, Merry McCree Christmas” Wednesday promised a worthwhile way to spend some holiday time this weekend. The production, which opened Thursday evening, features 27 numbers performed by a big group of enthusiastic local thespians. One standout in particular is the artistic director of the production, Chris Young. He has gathered together a group of talented singers, dancers and actors...
Educare Flint a model for education reform: “What kids need…what kids deserve”
by Harold C. Ford A broad coalition of public and private organizations—led by the Flint-based Charles Stewart Mott Foundation—publicly launched a dazzling new state-of-the-art school that will provide early childhood education for 220 Flint children from birth to age five. Educare Flint opened its doors to students on Dec. 4, less than a year after construction began on the almost 36,000-square-foot school. “The facility, combined...
Race played significant role in water crisis, civil rights director asserts in Tendaji Talk
By Patsy Isenberg The underlying issue in the Flint water crisis was “the role of race,” Agustin Arbulu, director of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights, asserted in a Tendaji Talk at the Flint Public Library Dec. 12. In summarizing the work of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission culminating in a report on the water crisis released in February, Arbulu said, “That’s what civil rights is about: how do certain communities end up at...
Re-opened Capitol Theater draws rave reviews, praise for city’s “momentum”
By Jan Worth-Nelson On a chilly, windy Thursday night, downtown Flint celebrated as a cherished 90-year-old landmark, the Capitol Theater, once almost given up for dead, lit up into a brilliant new life. Hundreds of bundled-up Flint folks, savoring nostalgia and curiosity, poured into the theater for an official opening ceremony and a chance to see the results of a $37 million, 18-month top-to-bottom restoration. Many were there for...
Amy Cuneaz, Judge Thomas Yeotis named Sybyl Award recipients
By Jan Worth-Nelson Amy Cuneaz, who has served more than 8,000 victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and Thomas Yeotis, beloved former Genesee County Circuit Court judge, were named recipients of Sybyl Awards Thursday night at the Genesys Conference and Banquet Center. The two were selected from a group of 17 community nominees, the largest group of nominees in the award’s nine-year history. The annual event, which...
Commentary: Fixing gerrymandering–Michigan’s ballot proposal
By Paul Rozycki “Politics is more difficult than physics.” – Albert Einstein Last month’s column took a look at the history and techniques of gerrymandering and its impact on American politics. It’s not hard to see that the process of drawing odd-shaped and unfair election districts favoring one party over another is a major problem and distorts our politics in many ways. Seeing the problem is the easy part. Fixing it may prove...
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