MCM January 2023 Digital Edition

FROM THE PUBLISHER

DEAR READERS,

Happy New Year!

There’s something about that wish – three words full of so much meaning. For some, it means the beginning of an exciting new journey or milestone. For others, it is a welcome change from a year filled with struggle and brings hope for happier times ahead.

In 2022, citizens of Greater Flint felt great loss with the passing of several beloved community leaders – most recently Bryant “BB” Nolden, whom we’ve featured in our publication several times as he contributed so much to the city he loved. We offer a tribute in his memory on p.8.

A New Year is always a time for reflection and a “look back.” Once again, we are highlighting many of the memorable stories we shared with you –maybe you missed a few. Check out the “Year in Review” starting on p.80.

The look back on our 2022 content is an excellent example of the variety we offer our readers every month. This issue has inspiring pieces about community outreach, a great “comeback” sports story, a feature on a local artist with a Flint history many of you may know, and a super-motivated kid who had a big idea and … you can read about this young entrepreneur on p.50.

I have a soft spot for entrepreneurs having founded, owned and operated several local businesses – one for over four decades – of which I’m extremely proud. The Skaff family, on the other hand, has been doing business in Flint for 112 years which is truly outstanding! Skaff Furniture Carpet One belongs to a group of Greater Flint businesses that have adapted, evolved and continued to thrive through three generations. Read that story on p.20.

Also in this issue, we feature the Retired Men’s Fellowship of Greater Flint – this sounds like a pretty cool club and they’ve been meeting (and much more) for 60 years. And, our special “Senior Living” section has some great information from local experts starting on p.54.

Finally, our “Best Dressed” feature is back! This group of Greater Flint professionals showed up with great style and class. We thank them for taking the time, as well as Todd Slisher and the Sloan Museum of Discovery for allowing us to take photos in their fantastic facility. Enjoy!

Let’s begin this New Year with positive energy and prayers for peace and prosperity.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Vince Lorraine

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR

Sherron Barden

ASSISTANT EDITOR / WRITER

Peter Hinterman

STAFF WRITER

Cheryl Dennison

FREELANCE WRITER

Mark Spezia

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Erin Caudell

Dr. Christopher Douglas

Vera Hogan

Marc Janca, AIF

Alexandria Nolan

Leslie Toldo

Shannon White

ART & DESIGN

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Hailey Worrell

Daria Akulova

PHOTOGRAPHY

Katy Kildee

OPERATIONS

ACCOUNTING/CIRCULATION

Kim Davis

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Dan Garman

SALES

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE

Terese Allen

Cheers! 14165 FENTON RD. FENTON, MI 48430 810.230.1783 - MYCITYMAG.COM

ISSN#1559-3436 is published monthly by My City Magazine, Inc., 14165 Fenton Rd. Fenton, MI 48430. Canadian Mail Agreement #41971515. For back issues, inquire for availability. Editorial Correspondence: Address product information and inquiries to: Editorial Department, My City Magazine, 14165 Fenton Rd. Fenton, MI 48430, phone 810.230.1783. To authors, photographers, and people featured in this publication: All materials, articles, reports and photographs in this publication are the property of My City Magazine and cannot be used without written permission. The opinions and conclusions recited herein are those of the respective authors and not of My City Magazine. My City Magazine is not responsible for returning unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other materials. Every effort will be made however, to return rejected manuscripts, etc., if they are accompanied by sufficient first-class postage, but the publisher will not be responsible for any loss of such material. Copyright© 2022. All rights reserved. | Printed in U.S.A.

Chrome & Ice

February 10-12, 2023

The 8th Annual Chrome & Ice™ will be a three-day event that will feature an amazing collection of exotic cars!

With more than 50 sponsors and automotiverelated vendor displays, demonstrations, concessions, live entertainment and a chance to attend the VIP Experience on Friday Night, it is sure to be a good time! Thanks to Title Sponsor General Motors and brought-to-you-by sponsor Dort Financial Credit Union with special thanks to ABC12, the Chrome & Ice ™ Winter Classic Car Event will have ALL-NEW surprises!

Hosted by the Dort Financial Center off Lapeer Road in Flint, Chrome & Ice™ 2023 will be open to the public on Friday, February 10 from 10am to 4pm, with the VIP Experience starting at 6:30pm Saturday, February 11 from 10am to 8pm and Sunday, February 12 from 10am to 4pm. At 3pm on Sunday, there will be an Awards Ceremony for the Top 10 cars. Check out the exotic cars in the lobby, vehicles on display throughout the arena, visit the vendor and sponsor exhibits and don’t miss the Rockabilly Row Tunnel downstairs, the Miss Chrome & Ice™ Rockabilly Pageant Show and concert on Saturday. There’s tons of fun in store for this year’s event!

General admission tickets are $10 for adults and $7 for youth ages 12-17. Kids under 12 are admitted free. Arena parking is $5 at the gates.

Back by popular demand is the VIP EXPERIENCE on February 10 from 6:30-9pm. Tickets for the VIP Experience are $45 and include free parking, general car show admission, coat check and live musical entertainment with Square Lucy featuring Elvis! PLUS a VIP Ticket includes complimentary adult beverages at any of several bars in the arena, gourmet hors d’oeuvres and dessert on the walkway above the Green Arena from 6:30-8pm, compliments of Dort Financial Credit Union NEW this year is a casino sponsored by Suski Chevrolet. Each VIP Experience participant will be awarded tickets to exchange for chips to play. At the end of the night, cash in your “winnings” for entry in amazing prize drawings! (No actual money will be exchanged.) Proceeds from Chrome & Ice™ and the VIP Experience will support the Back to the Bricks ® Youth Scholarship Fund.

Visit the Chrome & Ice™ Website backtothebricks.org/chromeandice2023 or scan the QR code

Bryant “BB” Nolden

5.31.65-12.7.22

Known as a champion for both his family and the entire community, Flint’s “Gentle Giant” Bryant “BB” Nolden, passed away on December 7, 2022 at age 57.

Born in Flint, Nolden graduated from Flint Central in 1983. He went on to receive his Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education from Central State University in Ohio and returned to Flint to serve his community as an elementary school teacher for 25 years. After retiring from the Flint Community Schools, he furthered his education by earning a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the University of Michigan, graduating in 2013.

Many who knew BB feel that he embodied the term “community service.” He began his years of public service in 2009 when he successfully ran for 3rd Ward City Council, serving through 2014 and as vice president for two years. After serving on the Council for five years, BB ran for Genesee County Commissioner and began serving in the fall of 2014 until his passing, having attended a commission meeting on the day of his death.

Furthering his community service efforts, he became the Volunteer Director of Berston Field House in 2009, tackling day-to-day operations including building maintenance, snow removal and anything necessary to keep the facility open for the community. In the fall of 2014, he founded Friends of Berston to further drive his goal of creating something that would “continue to serve as a beacon of hope for Flint youth.”

BB Nolden shared his talents on many boards, including: The Flint Institute of Arts, Genesee County Land Bank, GST Michigan Works, Current Chair of Mass Transportation Authority (MTA), Genesee County Board of Commissioners, GCCARD, Flint & Genesee Group, Genesee County Health Board, Investment Committee for Ruth Mott Foundation and Genesee County Animal Control.

BB leaves his wife Jacqueline H. Nolden; daughters Nikia Nicole Conner, Lauren Edmonds, Alexis Edmonds and Tiffany Pyland; grandchildren Lynia and Lyndale Thomas; mother Judith A. Nolden; brothers Anthony Cobbin, Corey W. Nolden, special brother Chris Crain and adopted sons Samuel Dupree and Jamar McKenzie, as well as many relatives, colleagues and dear friends.

A force for good in the Flint community, BB will be remembered as a passionate community leader and a great human being.

“What I’m going to miss about BB was his passion for people in our community. For guys like me and Nolan, and so many others, Berston Field House had a mythical status. We knew it was a place where people, no matter what side of Saginaw Street you were from, would come and face each other as equals. We learned from each other and found out that we had a lot more in common than we thought. It was his work to ensure that legacy that got so many people behind him. We lost a great community leader and a great human being. His smile and ability to connect with so many different people will be deeply missed.”

Honorable Duncan M. Beagle

THE RMFGF, BOASTING A MEMBERSHIP OF NEARLY 100 (MOST SEEN HERE), WILL HAVE THEIR 60TH ANNIVERSARY AS A CLUB ON JANUARY 7 AND WILL COMMEMORATE THE ACHIEVEMENT WITH A GRANDIOSE CELEBRATION HELD IN MAY.

PHOTO BY TOM CHIATALAS

Retired Men’s Fellowship of Greater Flint

BY PETER HINTERMAN

The preamble to the group’s constitution states:

“Believing that life is a great adventure, [and] to live it happily and usefully a broad culture is necessary. We, therefore, unite ourselves into a club for mental improve- ment, physical well-being and good use of leisure time.”

ROB COHEEN (LEFT) AND TOM CERNY ARE PROUD TO CELEBRATE RMFGF’S 60TH ANNIVERSARY.

When Rob Coheen accompanied his friend, Charlie Sheridan, as a guest to a meeting of the Retired Men’s Fellowship of Greater Flint (RMFGF), he was intrigued. After his next couple of visits, he was hooked. “For me, it was the fellowship aspect of the group,” he says, “then afterward, meeting for lunch at the Masonic Temple or the White Horse. Lunch is always a highpoint of my day; there is something about breaking bread with folks.” Five years after his first meeting, Coheen is an active member of the group, taking the role of monthly program chair this January and working as a kind of group historian looking into its past while at the same time, contemplating its future.

Initially called the “Older Person’s Group,” the RMFGF was founded in 1963 by James Mayfield as a way

“The RMFGF provides and expands a social network that changes when a person retires. We offer mutual support, friendship and a sense of purpose through community engagement.”

Rob Coheen, Member

to promote the Flint YMCA to older men of the community. It soon became a way for men to expand their horizons with other fellows of like mind and humor. The preamble to the group’s constitution states: “Believing that life is a great adventure, [and] to live it happily and usefully a broad culture is necessary. We, therefore, unite ourselves into a club for mental improvement, physical well-being and good use of leisure time.”

The first ever meeting took place on January 7, 1963 and the group became an instant success, charting members from all walks of life, backgrounds, interests and experiences. Many years (and many name changes) later, the RMFGF is approaching over 2,100 meetings for fellowship, education and adventure. The RMFGF also provides additional benefits not initially planned.

According to Coheen, “The RMFGF provides and expands a social network that changes when a person retires. We offer mutual support, friendship and a sense of purpose through community engagement.” Today, the RMFGF boasts a membership of nearly 100 men of ages ranging from 57 to 102 and on January 7, will acknowledge its 60th anniversary with a big blowout extravaganza to be held in May. “It just goes to show the sustainability and our ability to adapt to modern times,” says Coheen. “The club has shown that it has the quality of persistence.”

As evidence of that persistence, the club has weathered a bevy of challenges over the years, possibly none bigger than the pandemic lockdown and quarantine, when the physical meetings were abandoned. “We started using the Zoom platform,” says former president and current Zoom Host, Tom Cerny. “I believe we had between 30-37 members at our first virtual meeting.” The virtual attendees grew meeting by meeting, even though most members came of age before the era of personal computing. In fact, the group’s three oldest members, age 100, were all in virtual attendance by Thanksgiving 2020. The decision to go virtual also offered unexpected opportunities. Presenters could come from and speak from anywhere on the globe, home-bound or hospital-bound members could easily attend, “snowbirds’’ and travelers could attend remotely from their locations, and members who were unknown to each other could meet for the first time. When the pandemic subsided and in-person meetings could resume, the RMFGF continued using the virtual meeting format and currently offers a hybrid experience.

Official meetings take place at 9am every Monday from September to May in the Flint Institute of Music’s (FIM) Anderson Room. The time is structured with the first hour devoted to fellowship and conversation. The official meeting is called to order at 10am, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance,

health updates, reading of the previous meeting minutes and an attendance report. On the first Monday of each month, the group makes it a point to acknowledge any birthdays or major member news. At 10:30, a formal professional and informative presentation is given by a guest speaker, followed by a Q&A session. The meeting officially ends at 11am; however, many remain to ask questions, engage in conversation and more.

Former RMFGF president Tom Cerny has been attending meetings for 18 years. “I was brought to my first meeting by a friend from church,” says Cerny. “I was hooked by two things: One was the friendships I made and the second was the engaging programs/ presentations.” Presentations are given by professionals from all areas of interest including archeology, history, science, engineering, sports, medicine, art and others. The group has hosted war veterans, writers, coaches, business executives and local professionals including Sheriff Chris Swanson, Dr. Bobby Mukkamala, Coach Tom Alward, and Dr. Tracee Glab of the Flint Institute of Arts. Presenters are not compensated but are instead presented with the “famous” RMFGF ballpoint pen, and a certificate of appreciation.

RMFGF members also enjoy the annual December Holiday Luncheon, February Ladies’ Day, and a field trip in June. Past field trips include a Detroit River cruise, tour of Ford Field, and an architectural tour of Detroit buildings.

As a way to make an even bigger impact in the community, the RMFGF has helped the North End Soup Kitchen since 1990 by donating food and funds totaling nearly $60,000 to date.

Continued on pg. 105

THE “FAMOUS”

IS ONE OF THE MOST SOUGHT AFTER PRIZES IN GENESEE COUNTY!

RMFGF BALLPOINT PEN

Make a Purchase, Help the Homeless

BY CHERYL DENNISON

Tucked away on Bridge Street in the quaint little town of Linden is a tiny retail store that is an extension of Snuggle Sacks, a nonprofit organization founded in August 2015 by three children: Addisyn, Jaxson and Sheridan Goss. According to their mother, Stacy Daul, the goal of Snuggle Sacks has been to increase awareness of homelessness in the surrounding communities and provide survival kits for those in need.

Giving Grace Boutique, which opened in March 2021, is a retail entity but all of the sales revenue helps fund the work of Snuggle Sacks. “We acquired the building in Linden to use as a warehouse for our Snuggle

Sacks supplies,” Daul explains. But the building was set up as a retail store and at that time, Snuggle Sacks was struggling to get donations, she adds. “The year 2020 was a struggle for us because donations were affected by the pandemic.” She bought the boutique using her own funds and started the retail business. “We thought it could be a good source of cash flow for Snuggle Sacks,” Daul reports, “and it has worked like a charm.”

At Giving Grace Boutique, you will find a variety of apparel, home decor, local food/snacks, hats, winter gear, jewelry, BruMate products and items crafted by local artisans. “It’s all brand-new merchandise,” says Daul,

adding that they sell a wide range of Michigan-made products. The boutique has wholesale partners, including Simply Southern.

According to Daul, their entire family is involved with the boutique. Addisyn, now a Linden High School student, works at the store after school and cousins also help out there. Addisyn’s dad, Jason Goss, opens the store every day. Sheridan oversees a chapter of Snuggle Sacks in Saginaw and keeps the organization’s website up and running. Jaxson handles the orders from the shelters and the delivery of survival kits. Snuggle Sacks is partnered with shelters all over the Lower Peninsula. “It’s a family affair for sure!” Daul exclaims. “The kids call me the manager. I do the payroll and oversee everything.”

The back room of the boutique is used to store the supplies needed to make the Snuggle Sacks. Addisyn is able to fill the sacks and work the retail aspect of the business at the same time. Once a month, a group of volunteers assembles sacks at the warehouse in the store. In the winter months, they usually give out 1,200 Snuggle Sacks and 700 during the summer.

SHERIDAN, JAXSON AND ADDISYN GOSS ARE THE YOUNG AND DRIVING FORCE BEHIND SNUGGLE SACKS AND GIVING GRACE BOUTIQUE.

“All proceeds from Giving Grace Boutique fund our nonprofit, and we are so thankful.” Addisyn Goss

Giving Grace Boutique has been strongly supported by the community, says Daul. Allen Ryckman, who runs Community Threads, a nonprofit store in Fenton, has been very helpful. “The retail store is run by kids and he has given them a lot of advice,” Daul notes. And it has been rewarding for her to watch her kids, who started Snuggle Sacks at such a young age, grow over the past few years. “It’s been pretty cool to see their transformation.”

Addisyn started Snuggle Sacks seven years ago to honor the homeless after learning her grandfather was homeless. “Since he passed away, my siblings and I have worked hard to keep it going, and we help nearly 1,200 homeless people each month,” she explains. “It is something we are honored to do, and we couldn’t do it without the support of the community, and especially those who support our store, Giving Grace Boutique. All proceeds from the store run our nonprofit, and we are so thankful.”

“It has been a game-changer for us,” says Daul. “Giving Grace Boutique provides $100 a day to purchase the supplies we need to continue our mission.”

Wrapped

BY PETER HINTERMAN

WhenLindsay Huppertz’s daughter, Kyleigh, was born a month premature in 2019, she was sent to Hurley Medical Center’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to get a little extra help with her start in life. During the few days she spent watching over her newborn at the unit, Huppertz thought about finding a way to show her appreciation for what Hurley’s doctors and nurses

inLove

“I DECIDED THAT GIVING BLANKETS WOULD BE A GOOD WAY TO HELP AND GIVE BACK.”

KyleighandEmmaHuppertz

“THE BLANKETS ARE ALSO A GIFT FOR THE PARENTS TO TAKE HOME BESIDES THEIR MIRACLE BABIES. WE HOPE IT IS SOMETHING THE BABIES CAN GROW UP WITH.”

says. “We were able to make 53 blankets our first year!” It takes Huppertz approximately 30 minutes to make a blanket. She is helped and supported in the project by her mother, Tracy Hensler. “I put out the call for donations in September and we start making the blankets in November but I really need to start making them a bit earlier, so I’m not rushing to get them finished for December,” she laughs.

do for all the infants who need their support and care after their arrival. “I was thinking about what I could do and I noticed that the babies there were covered in blankets, especially those kept under the lights in incubators,” she says. “I decided that giving blankets would be a good way to help and give back.”

She got to work and immediately made an appeal for donations, asking for a $10 contribution to the cause. “A $10 donation allows us to make two fleece blankets for the newborns,” she

Each year, the project has grown (with the exception of 2020 due to the pandemic). In 2021, she was able to contribute 100 blankets to the Hurley NICU and last December, delivered 125. “My second daughter, Emma, spent 11 days in the NICU this year,” she states. “While I was there, I recognized some of the blankets they were using as the ones I donated previously and it made me smile. I’ll keep making and donating blankets as long as they need them.”

When September rolls around this year, expect to see another call to action from Huppertz as she continues

her project to help the preemies at Hurley. “It’s our way of giving back for everything that Hurley does,” she adds. “The doctors and nurses are so calm and amazing. I don’t know what parents would do without them. The blankets are also a gift for the parents to take home besides their miracle babies. We hope it is something the babies can grow up with.”

In September, Huppertz will reach out for donations on Facebook and other social media. A simple donation of $10 provides warmth and love to two newborns in the Hurley NICU. Donate and help a child start their life journey wrapped in love.

LAST MONTH LINDSAY AND HER MOM, TRACY HENSLER, DELIVERED 125 BLANKETS TO THE HURLEY NICU.

SKAFF FURNITURE CARPET ONE HAS BEEN LED BY 4 GENERATIONS OF THE SKAFF FAMILY. PICTURED AT RIGHT ARE: (L-R) JEFF SKAFF, DICK SKAFF, AND MIKE SKAFF.

SKAFF A Family Business, Then & Now

BY CHERYL DENNISON

AtSkaff Furniture Carpet One, it’s all about the customer experience and giving back to the community, according to CEO/President, Dick Skaff. The business has been serving customers in the Greater Flint Area for 112 years.

“It all started in 1911 when my grandfather, George Skaff, came to the U.S. from Lebanon at 14 years old,” Skaff shares. “He sold oriental rugs from a cart in Downtown Flint.”

Since then, the business has continued to evolve, expand and grow.

In the 1950s, a storefront was built in Downtown Flint at the corner of Harrison and Third Streets. “Our presence grew as the store on Harrison Street expanded with larger showrooms,” adds Skaff. “Soon our company was a leader in carpet and later furniture, continually evolving to meet the needs of our customers.”

Each generation of Skaff that followed carried forward the tradition of providing great value and quality products, and giving every customer the best possible service. Woody Skaff and his two brothers, Don and Jack, were the second generation to run the business. The third generation of the Skaff family, George, Tom, Dick and Mike took the reins from there. “Now, the fourth generation is involved,”

says Skaff with a smile. His son Jeff is now a co-owner and vice president.

The business moved to its current Mundy Township location in 1980 and in 1987, joined the national buying organization, Carpet One – a nationwide network of 1,200 flooring dealers. In 2010, Skaff joined Brand Source, a buying group that works with independent furniture and appliance retailers to help them remain competitive in today’s challenging business environment.

Recently, Skaff Furniture Carpet One constructed a new, nearly 30,000-square-foot warehouse across the parking lot from their current store. For the last 40 years, they rented a warehouse in Burton. “My son got the ball rolling to build one. He asked me, ‘Why pay rent when we can build our own?’” The new facility will allow them to have more stock available. “Having the warehouse located here is better for us and for our customers,” Skaff reports. “We can deliver orders right away.” An official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new warehouse will take place on January 18 and is open to the public.

“We are going to be here for a long time to carry on my grandfather’s legacy, as a local, family-owned business that supports the community.”

Dick Skaff

Skaff’s 70,000-square-foot showroom is unique, according to the CEO, as it has a designated area to showcase all of the products – carpet, furniture, mattresses, clearance items and more. “The concept of offering home furnishings and flooring as a one-stop-shop is attractive to customers, and is one of the ways we have adapted our business,” he adds. “We have something here for everybody!”

Skaff’s vast and impressive inventory includes a variety of flooring, such as carpet, hardwood, tile,

laminates and high-end remnants. Belonging to the Carpet One network allows for lower prices and the grandiose furniture selection makes it easy to find your style and personalize your living space. Supported brands include Smith Brothers of Berne, Flexsteel, Bassett, Benchcraft and more. In addition, Skaff carries Serta and TempurPedic mattresses and Amish-made furniture crafted by veteran Ohio woodworking company, Mavin. “The popularity of Amish furniture has really exploded in the last ten years,” adds Skaff.

“People like it built the oldfashioned way.”

In addition to running a successful business and providing great customer service, community involvement is another Skaff family tradition. “We help support over 20 charity organizations,” Skaff shares.

“Giving back is very important to us and it is who we are.” In its eleventh year, the company’s biggest fundraising campaign is Save & Share, when a portion of the sales from the Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday after Thanksgiving are donated to Whaley Children’s Center, Communities First, the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Carriage Town Ministries. “In the last eleven years, we have given $200,000 to these organizations,” he adds. The company also volunteers at the Food Bank and donates funds to Coats for Kids, YWCA Safehouse, The Empty Pink Chair and Favorite Teacher Giveaway.

How has Skaff Furniture Carpet One continued to be successful for 112 years? “One reason is the people who work here,” states the owner. Of the 37 Skaff employees, some have been there 35-40 years. “We do our best to take good care of our employees,” he shares, while adding that Skaff customers are the biggest reason the company remains successful. “We take care of them. It is very rewarding when

THE BIG CHAIR IS A CUSTOMER FAVORITE AND ICON. IT HAS BEEN PRESENT IN THE STORE SINCE 1985.

they come back and tell us how beautiful their home is. We are thankful for our customers and our staff.”

As this Flint mainstay celebrates yet another anniversary in their second century of success, what does the future look like for Skaff Furniture Carpet One? “We made a commitment and will follow the guiding principles that have led to success in years past,” the CEO concludes. “We are going to be here for a long time to carry on the legacy my grandfather left behind, as a local, family-owned business that supports the community. We are so happy that the fourth generation is here to take the baton and move forward!”

GREATER FLINT’S

Best Dressed

2023

Photography by Katy Kildee

Nominated by friends and family for inclusion in our Best Dressed feature, these Greater Flint professionals are certainly a stylish group! We invited them to take a moment in the spotlight and chose the fun and fabulous Sloan Museum of Discovery as the backdrop for our photo shoots. Enjoy!

Johnell Allen-Bey

When did fashion become important to you? Fashion has always been important to me. When I was a child, my mother used to take my brother and me shopping in downtown Flint at Robert David Allen and Hughes & Hatcher.

Who is your favorite designer? I love Tom Ford because of his distinguished looks, as well as local talent like James Green and Philip Loving.

What is your current fashion obsession? My current obsession is my signature look – three-piece suits and turtlenecks.

Who is your “fashion hero”? My heroes aren’t in the fashion world. When it comes to fashion, I am my hero.

Where do you like to shop? I enjoy small, locally-owned boutiques in big cities like Detroit, Chicago and Los Angeles. I love local flavors.

What is your go-to accessory? My latest go-to pieces have been watches and hats.

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. That is a hard decision because I enjoy all my looks. If I had to choose, it would be my wedding tux. It represented not only my favorite football team (University of Michigan GO BLUE!), but it also represented my wedding – the day I took my relationship to the next level.

Do you recall making a “fashion faux pas”? Everything I do is intentional. Even when I make a mistake, I fall in love with it. Some of my greatest statements have been mistakes.

OCCUPATION

Executive Director of Community Engagement

Genesee County Sheriff’s Office

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS

Eclectic. I love to mix textures, colors and fabrics. Most people shy away from being bold; I embrace it.

MYSTYLE

OCCUPATION

Mortician/Owner, Sheldon T. Banks Funeral Chapel

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS

Professional – a two-button, single-breasted wool suit. I admire this style as it has character. Wearing high-quality, well-tailored clothing boosts one’s confidence. You could be having a bad day at work but, when you’re dressed for success, you can take on those challenges.

Sheldon Banks

When did fashion become important to you? Probably around 1990, when I started working in mortuary science and wanted to present myself as a professional. I’ve always believed first impressions are lasting impressions – a man in a suit projects success and reliability. Dressing meticulously portrays a person’s patience.

Who is your favorite designer? Peter Nandwani, as he perfects custom tailored suits and is my personal suit designer. The fine fabrics he uses are imported and reasonably priced, all suits are hand-stitched. They have been in the custom business since 1969, servicing clients from around the world. I know each suit I get from Nandwani’s is a sound and solid investment.

What is your current fashion obsession? I love a wool pinstripe suit because it gives me a distinguished look for my typical workday interacting with the public.

Who is your “fashion hero”? Peter Nandwani, as he keeps me looking suave. He says, “Our talent and skills can be imitated but not duplicated.” Nandwani’s Custom Tailors are the only tailors in the world with a very comprehensive shopping service.

Where do you like to shop? Nandwani Custom Tailors in Memphis, TN and Neiman Marcus. This organization has been operating for approximately 53 years, which gives me confidence that they know what they are doing.

What is your go-to accessory? Tie pins, pocket squares and exotic shoes. (I can’t divulge all my go-to fashion secrets.)

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. That would be a pinstripe double-breasted suit – a true classic and an enduring symbol of menswear. This style is considered a staple suiting option, so they never really go out of style. I prefer a dark color with a white shirt and at times, soft pastel-colored shirts with a nice Vitaliano Pancaldi tie.

Do you recall making a “fashion faux pas”? I once put on a black dress shoe with a navy blue dress shoe, as I am color blind. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize I had made this “fashion faux pas” until someone pointed it out to me!

Domonique CLEM ONS

When did fashion become important to you? I started to gain a deeper appreciation for style and fashion about six years ago when I finished my undergraduate degree and entered the workforce.

Who is your favorite designer? I like the classic and sophisticated designs by Giorgio Armani.

What is your current fashion obsession? Lately, I have been really into jackets (bombers, leather jackets, zip-ups, etc) and colorful high-top tennis shoes.

Who is your “fashion hero”? A lot of my personal style is influenced by that of Tan France. Also locally, I have always been inspired by the style of (Executive Director, Latinx Technology and Community Center) Asa Zuccaro.

Where do you like to shop? My favorite stores are Zara, Express and Banana Republic. I also really like the INC line at Macy’s.

What is your go-to accessory? My signature fashion statement is the trio of matching eyeglasses, watch band and phone case.

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. I really like dressing in layers and love a good jacket. I have two favorite jackets – a light pink leather and a teal sport coat – and love to wear them paired with either jeans and a button down shirt, or a solid t-shirt and slacks.

OCCUPATION

Genesee County Clerk-Register

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS

I tend to choose a more bold and colorful palette. I really enjoy challenging the standards of professional attire, choosing leather jackets or bomber jackets with shirts and ties over a suit coat, or incorporating tennis shoes and other exciting footwear into outfits. What I am most known for is my selection of colored eyeglasses with matching watch bands and cell phone cases.

OCCUPATION

Servant of the Community

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS

Professional, a three-piece suit with matching shoes

Dwayne Clemons

When did fashion become important to you? My mother used to dress me up when I was a kid and it carried over into adulthood.

Who is your favorite designer? Steve Harvey – he makes suits that are classic and culturally acceptable.

What is your current fashion obsession? I love a double-breasted suit because not everyone wears them. The style allows you to be dressed to the nines while differentiating yourself from the crowd. It also works well with a long necktie or a bow tie.

Who is your “fashion hero”? Steve Harvey

Where do you like to shop? Anywhere I can find a good quality suit for a decent price.

What is your go-to accessory? I don’t really have one; but I do like a nice pair of cufflinks.

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. A plum three-piece suit worn with a lavender shirt and tie set and plum alligator shoes. I still have it.

Do you recall making a “fashion faux pas”? I tried wearing a suit with no socks before it became popular – it was not the move to make at the time.

Lennetta Bradley Coney

When did fashion become important to you? During my teens, being tall always caused people to look at me and ask, “How tall are you?” It was in my early years when I realized that being tall would mean I should adorn my tall frame with clothing that would enhance rather than cause a spectacle. Plus at that time, I started doing a bit of modeling at local stores.

Who is your favorite designer? I do not have a favorite designer, but I do favor various fashion brands such as Adrianna Papell, Rachel Zoe and INC, for example.

What is your current fashion obsession? I really value a good sale and discount purchase! It is rare that I will buy an entire ready-to-wear outfit with all of the pieces pre-selected. I design my outfits and strongly believe in mixing items to create a look. Equally important, I rarely purchase clothing at the original price – the item must be on sale/clearance and I have been known to wait until an item goes on sale because I refuse to pay full price. I often pair a slightly more expensive “sale” item with a moderately priced item to create something unique. I also like to shop for other people in this way.

Who is your “fashion hero”? Michelle Obama and Jennifer Lopez

Where do you like to shop? I typically purchase my clothing from boutiques, online catalogs and some big box stores, like Macy’s.

What is your go-to accessory? Belts, scarves and jewelry galore!

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. I have a lavender leather dress that I absolutely adore that can be worn with an accent scarf of lavender, black and white or with boots and lavender jewelry.

Do you recall making a “fashion faux pas”? I take great care to avoid fashion missteps. I will admit that I wore a black, one-shoulder asymmetrical top (really long on one side and short on the opposite side) and it exposed some skin on the short side. I do not like to show a lot of skin, so to compensate I kept pulling at the top throughout the day. Each time I wear that top, I now wear a black waistband scarf to conceal my skin. Clothes should be comfortable and not a nuisance!

OCCUPATION

President, Foundation for Mott Community College

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS Contemporary Chic/On Trend

OCCUPATION

Nutrition Educator

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS

Classy with a splash of BOUJEE – like an Hervé Léger dress layered with a peacoat and a pair of Christian Louboutin “So Kate” patent pumps. My main focus is to make sure my outfit makes an impactful first impression, and speaks without words.

SHANE Jackson

When did fashion become important to you? It really wasn’t important to me until the end of my 20s – that’s when I really started paying attention to what I wore and when I fell in love with fashion. I came to understand the phrase “when you look good, you feel good.” I am definitely over-the-top with everything I do when it comes to fashion. A friend told me that they looked forward to coming out to events in Flint knowing I would be there and to see what I would be wearing.

Who is your favorite designer? Gucci! I am definitely a Gucci girl, for sure. The designs are classic, yet bold – they remind me so much of my personality. Gucci has even collaborated with Disney characters including Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck, which is connected to my fun-loving side.

What is your current fashion obsession? I am really obsessed with the Herve Leger bandage dresses. They are affordable and stretchy and they provide the best contouring to any body frame. They are definitely show-stoppers!

Who is your “fashion hero”? There are many who I look up to when it comes to style. My favorites are R&B singers Mary J. Blige, Ciara, Monica and Ebony, and the first full-figured model D’Wanna Randolph from Detroit.

Where do you like to shop? I love boutiques; however, my favorite stores are Nordstrom Rack, Saks OFF 5th, Zara, Fashion Nova and even Goodwill. I just love a good deal!

What is your go-to accessory? I always love to have a great, high-end purse like a Gucci or Louis Vuitton tote bag because you can dress down and still elevate whatever you are wearing with a great purse.

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. A jogging suit with a pair of Nike Air Max shoes and a baseball cap is my all-time favorite outfit. Since my childhood, I have loved wearing these outfits because they make me comfortable.

Do you recall making a “fashion faux pas”? It can be funny sometimes when we look back and see the hilarious things we did while thinking we were giving the best. I remember being a teenager using black eyeliner to outline my lips followed by red mood-changing lipstick. I now see that was both hilarious and a total disaster at the same time!

Jennifer Lasco

When did fashion become important to you? Fashion has been important to me since I was a child. It is the most incredible way to express yourself and how you are feeling to the world. In high school, I wore a uniform and always looked forward to days when we could wear street clothes. When we had dances at school, I’d always choose something crazy that my family couldn’t afford. My mother taught me to sew at a young age to create similar versions of the dresses I saw in the Neiman’s and Saks catalogs. I have a deep appreciation for the work and detail that it takes to create beautiful clothing..

Who is your favorite designer? It’s easy to call out any of the big fashion houses: Tom Ford, YSL, Alexander McQueen, Fendi and Valentino are my favorites in that arena. When it comes to day-to-day, I love Cult Gaia, Alexis, Jonathan Simkhai, Re/Done and Jenni Kayne.

What is your current fashion obsession? I love playing with proportions – big boyfriend sweater with pencil jeans and sweet trainers, OR a crop-top with “mom jeans” and sky-high heels.

Who

is your “fashion hero”? Iris Apfel, Olivia Palermo

Where do you like to shop? Intermix, Farfetch, Net-a-Porter, Neiman Marcus

What is your go-to accessory? GREAT shoes and incredible perfume.

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. I love so many moments in clothing that I’ve had. Your clothing is your mood, it creates your vibe. I think that one of my favorite recent outfits is a Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini purple dress with pink flowers and puffed sleeves, paired with hot coral Louboutins.

Do you recall making a “fashion faux pas”? The biggest fashion faux pas I ever made was dressing for other people. When I moved from Birmingham to Fenton after Jay and I were married, I tried to dress to fit into this area. Wearing neon patterns, red plaid matching family outfits, or trying to duplicate the typical American girl’s fall fashion Pinterest board isn’t for me. The only person you should ever dress for is YOU! Don’t let any mean girls tell you what you should be wearing, or that their opinions matter … Because they don’t.

OCCUPATION

Real Estate Broker, Owner of Lasco Real Estate Group

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS

Anything that makes me feel fun and wrapped like a gift is usually my favorite look.

OCCUPATION

Ministry

MY SIGNATURE STYLE IS Cute and covered

Brittany WILLINGHAM

When did fashion become important to you? When I accepted a call to ministry, I wanted to be able to show women that we could express beauty and creativity and honor God at the same time.

Who is your favorite designer? I have no favorite designers, specifically. I love a variety of clothing – as long as it’s cute, I’ll wear it!

What is your current fashion obsession? Anything that sparkles! It screams “girly” and I love it.

Who are your “fashion heroes”? My mom and my grandma – they’re the epitome of class.

Where do you like to shop? Rainbow, Shein, Fashion Nova and thrift stores

What is your go-to accessory? Raising R.U.T.H. “Rhonda’s Red” lipstick! It’s the perfect shade of red that goes well with anything I wear and instantly makes me look polished.

Describe one of your all-time favorite outfits. I love, love my all-white evening dress accented with ostrich feathers on the sleeve and bottom of the dress! It fits perfectly and it was a steal price-wise. Instant DIVA!

Local Eats & Drinks

FRANK’S HOPPY BISTRO

BRICK STREET OF GRAND BLANC

CORK ON SAGINAW

Michael D. Melet Art Worth Waiting For

BY PETER HINTERMAN

Whenever and wherever you meet Michael D. Melet, you can be sure of two things: 1) He’s got something special in the works, and 2) In his coat pocket or his bag is a small sketchbook and a pencil – his steady traveling companions. “I take a pad of paper with me and I draw every day,” he states. “I draw what I see at the moment. It keeps me busy.” The pictures he dubs “waiting fors” happen spontaneously whenever he sees something

that piques his interest, usually during the quiet periods when he is waiting for something else such as picking up a grandchild, waiting for a meeting to begin, or a show to start. His sketchbook contains images such as a man at a piano, the back of heads in an audience, a piece of scenery, etc. The drawings are simple but it was one of these “waiting fors” that led him to his second career as an artist and his first exhibition at Buckham Gallery in 2011.

Born and raised in Flint, Melet attended Cook, Longfellow and Zimmerman schools until finishing high school at Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills. After graduating, it was always his goal to work with his father in fashion back in the city of his birth. In Melet’s youth, Downtown

“I’m sticking with collage for now – although, I was thinking about going back to the beginning and working with watercolors and pen & ink. Take it back to my first show, so to speak.”

Flint was bustling and his family was part of the reason why. They owned and operated the iconic Vogue Fashion Store on Saginaw St. and young Michael couldn’t wait to contribute. “After I graduated high school in 1958, I was accepted to the University of Michigan,” he recalls. “I wanted to start working immediately but my father believed that everyone should have a college education and I couldn’t convince him otherwise.”

However, after a stint working in New York’s garment district and his sophomore year at college, Melet was allowed to join his father and officially embrace Flint. He was given the reins of the business in 1972 and took it as far as he could, while at the same time serving on boards including Flint Institute of Arts and Buckham

Gallery. It was while serving on the board for Buckham when a casual glance over his shoulder shed light on a talent that had been kept behind closed doors.

Melet had been a private artist nearly his entire life. He worked at and appreciated art in secret, collecting art literature (he and his wife boast a library of over 3,000 art publications), fashion and art magazine clippings, and hundreds and hundreds of personal drawings. “I doodled and sketched all the time,” he says, “and I keep all of my sketches. I have files and files of them.” (One of his shows included a 4ft. by 4ft. creation called “Waiting For” where he displayed a good portion of the sketches.) As he was sketching during a Buckham board meeting, another

MELET’S PORTFOLIO INCLUDES SCULPTURE, GLASS, ACRYLICS, MIXED MEDIA AND COLLAGE.

attendee noticed and appreciated his picture. Buckham Gallery co-founder Sam Morello got wind of it and inquired. “I had more sketches and

THE KID WITH THE GOLDEN MIC

Vedant Gupta and Global Kid Media

BY PETER HINTERMAN

KID MEDIA

When Vedant Gupta holds up the golden mic and asks his first question, he is doing more than conducting an interview with an idol or celebrity. He is proving a point. “What I do doesn’t make me any different from anyone else,” he says. “I want everyone to know that any kid can do this. In this day and age, it is not possible to be without a platform to prove what you can do. Just get started and make it happen.”

At 16 years of age, Vedant Gupta is the founder and president of Global Kid Media – a company and platform created with the purpose to “motivate kids to succeed early in life and convince kids/parents/society that the conventional way of waiting doesn’t have to be a box we resign to.” During the five years since launching his venture, Vedant has proven his point time and again, conducting over 1,500 interviews, hosting over 300 virtual shows and

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY GLOBAL

PHOTO BY KATY KILDEE

appearing as a guest on multiple talk shows and newscasts. He has spoken to professional athletes, coaches, broadcasters, actors, executives and politicians. His impressive list of interviewees includes Jack Nicklaus, Lou Whitaker, Alan Trammell, Magic Johnson, Deion Sanders, Patrick Mahomes, Kurt Warner, Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Snoop Dogg and hundreds more. His list also includes numerous local legends such as Terry Crews, Mark Ingram Jr., Coach Tom Izzo, Coach John Beilein, Brandon Carr, boxer Anthony Dirrell, and Miles Bridges, to name a few. His work, coupled with his high school education and extracurriculars, makes for long nights and tired days – but for him it’s just part of the mission. “If I can get an interview, it makes it worth the effort,” he shares.

When he founded Global Kid Media, Vedant was a sixth-grader in Grand Blanc. “We were looking for a way to supplement his education by learning skills through life lessons,” says his father, Vipul. “We always thought

outside the box in terms of education. Vedant expressed interest in entering a competition he saw in Sports Illustrated for Kids magazine to become a kid reporter.” The applicants were asked to interview one person and Vedant and his father thought that most kids would interview a local athlete or family member. They decided to go bigger. “That year, the NCAA tournament was taking place in Detroit and we thought that we should go and try to cover the event,” Vedant explains. They were able to get access to press conferences, conduct interviews and more. Sports Illustrated for Kids felt that Vedant may have misrepresented himself and they denied him the chance to become a Sports Illustrated reporter. “It turned out to be the best thing that could’ve happened,” Vipul states. It was at that moment when he and Vedant decided to start Global Kid Media.

Once started, Global Kid Media couldn’t be stopped. Vedant and Vipul traveled all across the country including Hawaii to cover events

LEFT:

ABOVE: VEDANT GRILLS EDMONTON OILERS PRESIDENT, KEN HOLLAND, DURING HIS TIME WITH THE RED WINGS.

SETTING UP THE PERFECT CAMERA ANGLE FOR HIS NEXT INTERVIEW.

ABOVE: VEDANT HAS A SOFT SPOT FOR GREATER FLINT NATIVES AND LOVES TALKING WITH LOCAL CELEBRITIES SUCH AS MARK INGRAM II.

“In this day and age, it is not possible to be without a platform to prove what you can do. Just get started and make it happen.”

Vedant Gupta

such as the Pro Bowl, NASCAR Consumers Energy 400, NFL Training Camps and others. Each one offers numerous opportunities and just as many challenges, including the biggest challenge of gaining access. “I’m often denied access due to my age,” says Vedant. “Even when we are given access, we have trouble. I’ve had my phone confiscated by security and have been denied entrance to press conferences. Sometimes, we have to do it the hard way.” The hard way, as Vedant puts it, involves miles of patience and fortitude. “We have stood outside in the rain and the cold many times, just for a chance to speak with someone,” adds Vipul. While covering an NBA game, Vedant recalls how he succeeded in getting an interview with Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo. “We

LEFT: VEDANT AT THE RECENT GREATER FLINT AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY CONDUCTING AN INTERVIEW WHILE BEING RECORDED FOR SOCIAL MEDIA BY FATHER, VIPUL.

were in Atlanta covering the National College Football semifinal between LSU and Oklahoma and we found out that there was an NBA game in town. We went hotel to hotel trying to find where the teams were staying,” he continues. “Eventually, we learned where Milwaukee was staying and when we got there and entered the elevator, we ran into an associate of Giannis. Sometime later, we were able to conduct the interview.” Vedant has also shown the ability to be flexible and creative when needed. During the pandemic, he kept Global Kid Media rolling by hosting his own virtual show featuring guests such as JJ Redick, Nate Burleson, quarterback Mark Sanchez, and others.

Nearly all interviews have been memorable, but the one that stands out the most to both father and son didn’t involve a celebrity at all. “We were interviewing athletes in the Special Olympics,” says Vedant. “I was 12 at the time and the kids we talked to there were some of the best interviews I’ve ever had. There’s no contest.”

After conducting so many interviews, you can say that Vedant is a veteran. For him, nowadays, it’s become a normal thing. “It isn’t an issue of being nervous,” he says. “I don’t feel like I’m out of my element. Everyone I talk to is a normal person and I strive to have a normal conversation.”

“He is much more confident now,” says Vipul. “He researches hours beforehand and he surprises me because he always says something very experienced. He says really mature things. I am most proud of his confidence.”

PHOTO BY KATY KILDEE

Caring for Our Loved Ones

Time moves on. Every day, we are getting a little wiser, a little braver, a little older. In our later years, we may face health issues and need the help of friends, family members, or healthcare professionals to maintain our quality of life.

This section explores elder care, as well as challenges for caregivers and ways we can support them. The first step toward making the best choices is a better understanding of the options available.

Pleasing to the Soul

BY KATHLEEN FELIX, ADMINISTRATOR ABBEY PARK INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING

In 2023, Abbey Park in Grand Blanc will celebrate 23 years of operation.

Conveniently located next to Genesys Health Park on Baldwin Road in Grand Blanc, the facility combines luxury living with small-town charm. Abbey Park is a retirement community committed to providing a safe and comfortable environment to those who call it home.

Visitors of the facility are welcomed by a lovely, spacious lobby with a two-sided fireplace and comfortable seating. Most afternoons, several groups of residents are found there chatting and visiting with one another. Companionship, friendship and camaraderie are prevalent throughout the entire facility.

At Abbey Park, monthly rental fees include a daily continental breakfast, activity programs, planned socials and outings, utilities, daily housekeeping, weekly cleaning service, a 24-hour emergency alert system, individually controlled heating and air conditioning, transportation to doctor visits,

the post office, banks and grocery stores. Laundry facilities with built-in detergent dispensers are also provided. Abbey Park’s little store offers various personal items and groceries for residents to purchase.

What distinguishes Abbey Park Independent Living from other facilities is the ability to purchase personal care services “a la carte” as need arises.

For those living independently, the basic rental package is sufficient. For additional fees, a Medicare-certified home health agency provides personal care for residents who require it, plus 24-hour emergency response, a medication reminder service, escorts to meals, scheduled check-ins, assistance with dressing and grooming. For those residents, a full-time on-site nurse addresses questions or concerns, performs blood pressure checks, monitors medications, facilitates diagnostic testing and coordinates with physicians. This type of community is described

as “enhanced” independent living, a relatively unique concept, perfect for our aging population.

All the necessities for an active senior lifestyle can be found at Abbey Park. Activities include Wii bowling, crafts, puzzle construction, Bible devotionals, happy hour parties, ice cream socials, bingo, and trips to the casino, local restaurants, church services and movies. Every week, entertainment is brought in for the enjoyment of all. Residents receive a weekly calendar of events so they can plan to participate in their favorite activities.

At Abbey Park, the main dining room is not only bright and cheery, but also renowned for delicious, home-cooked meals. For those who still enjoy cooking, a full kitchen is provided in each apartment and transportation to grocery stores is available.

Abbey Park Administrator, Kathy Felix remarks that the staff truly cares for the residents. “We all treat them as if they are our family,” states Felix, “it is an honor to know them.”

Six-year Abbey Park resident Gladys Rock states, “It’s clean. You never come in here and think it is assisted living. It’s pretty and very pleasing to one’s soul.”

Perhaps Eileen Boucher who lived at Abbey Park for over nine years summed it up best when she said, “It is not the bricks, mortar and the beautiful surroundings, but the people we enjoy mingling with who make this one special place … the best, as I see it.”

Assisted Living (Adult Foster Care) is an ideal option for seniors who can no longer live alone but want to maintain a social lifestyle. This type of care allows seniors to live mostly independent lives, but also find the help they need with the aspects of daily life that provide new challenges for them. It is a long-term senior care option that provides personal care in one or more specific areas a senior individual may need. Residents of assisted living communities still have privacy, autonomy and independence.

▸ Assisted Living Facilities provide necessities such as:

• 24-hour Supervision

• Meals

• Medication Management

• Activities

▸ Average Monthly Cost: $3,000$5,000

▸ Payer Sources: Private Pay, MI Choice Waiver, VA Aid & Attendance, PACE

Memory Care Assisted Living These facilities provide a special kind of care to those with various degrees of dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

▸ It involves creating a structured environment that has set schedules and

routines in place to create a stress-free lifestyle, safety features to ensure the health of a senior, and programs designed to cultivate cognitive skills.

▸ Safety features include an emergency response system, alarmed doors so seniors can’t wander out of the community.

▸ Average Monthly Cost: $4,000$6,000

▸ Payer Sources: Private Pay, MI Choice Waiver, VA Aid & Attendance, PACE

Skilled Nursing Facility

This is a place of senior living as well as young adults who have physical or mental disabilities, require continuous nursing care and have a significant difficulty coping with the required activities of daily living. Services rendered by a SNF include:

• Nursing and related services

• Specialized rehabilitative services

• Medically related social services

• Pharmaceutical services

• Dietary services individualized to resident’s needs

• Professionally directed program of activities to meet the resident’s interests and needs

• Emergency dental services (and routine dental services to the extent covered under the state plan)

• Room and bed maintenance services

• Routine personal hygiene items and services * * *

▸ Average Monthly Cost: $8,000$14,000

▸ Payer Sources: Private Pay, Medicaid

When planning for long-term care services, information is the most useful tool. More specifically, information about what type of care is appropriate, the type of care offered, the costs associated with that type of care and what types of payer sources may help with the cost are all necessary to understand when deciding.

* "2020 Census Will Help Policymakers Prepare for the Incoming Wave of Aging Boomers" (census.gov).

* * 2020 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (acl.gov/ltc/basic-needs/how-much-care-willyou-need).

* * * Medicaid.Gov “Nursing Facilities” (medicaid. gov/medicaid/long-term-services-supports/institutional-long-term-care/nursing-facilities/index.html)

Amir E. Abu-Aita practices Elder Law, Medicaid Planning, VA Planning, Probate, Estate Planning, Business Transactions, and Assisted Living Law. He is a member of the Genesee County Bar Association as well as Elder Law and Probate Sections of the State Bar of Michigan. In addition, he serves as member of the Genesee County Commission on Aging, Adult Foster Care Providers, and Board Member of Elder Abuse Alliance (Formally known as the Elder Abuse Task Force). He has been selected to the Michigan Super Lawyers 2021-22 Rising Stars list. Each year, no more than 2.5 percent of the lawyers in the state are selected by the research team at Super Lawyers to receive this honor. He has also been selected for the 2022 Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America™ for his high caliber work in Elder Law and Trusts and Estates.

Caringfor a loved one who is struggling with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can be rewarding but also an exhausting, stressful and thankless task. It takes large amounts of time and effort and many caregivers can become quickly overwhelmed if they have no one to turn to for help. They feel alone on the journey and oftentimes are, as family and friends tend to shy away from the situation; not because they do not want to help but because they don’t know how. The smallest and easiest thing to do is to just reach out via phone or a visit from time to time. That’s often all it takes to help a caregiver feel renewed and appreciated.

Here is a short list of simple things friends and family can do to ease the burden of those caring for a loved one with dementia and/or Alzheimer’s disease.

▸ Be there. Make it a point to keep in touch, to call or visit. Remember, the caregiver will be putting the majority of their focus and effort into helping their

loved one; this means you will have to make the effort for contact.

▸ Educate yourself. Learn about the disease they are dealing with and you will be better able to understand what the helper is going through. With more education, you will become more patient when interacting with the afflicted person and may be able to ease the burden by giving the helper a “break.”

▸ Listen. When spending time with the helper, one of the best things to do

The smallest and easiest thing to do is to just reach out via phone or a visit from time to time. That’s often all it takes to help a caregiver feel renewed and appreciated.

is to simply listen. Be compassionate and be patient. The helper may have some pent-up frustration and angst to release. Allow them to vent and then, be reassuring. Never offer unsolicited advice and never make it about yourself.

▸ Help with everyday chores. Caregivers often have little time to do the daily things that are needed to keep a household or family running. Helping them with tasks such as grocery shopping, laundry, yard work or cooking

Our Commitment to YOUR FAMILY

For many people, the process of cremating a loved one is a mystery. At Swartz Funeral Home, our ten-step process guarantees that your loved one is well cared for at all times.

1.Code of Ethics

We adhere to a strict code of ethics and procedures while your loved one is in our care. We only use Country Roads Crematory, a member of the Cremation Association of North America, who we know and trust to uphold these ethical standards.

2.Safeguarding Personal Identity

A personal I.D. tag is placed on your loved one the moment they are transferred into our care.

3.Unique Tracking System

Upon arrival at the crematory, your loved one is logged into a tracking system and assigned an I.D. number, which is stamped into a stainless steel tag to track every phase of the cremation process.

4.Family Identification

Our staff properly encases your loved one in the cremation container selected; then, we verify

identity by comparing I.D. bands from the hospital or nursing home. In the case of a death at the family home, positive I.D. occurs when we arrive at the residence.

5.Checks & Balances

A crematory technician and licensed funeral director reviews all cremation paperwork and permits. Once all documentation is verified, the technician starts the cremation process.

6.Cremation Log Book

Immediately prior to the cremation process, your loved one is taken to the crematory and their personal I.D. is logged containing the name, date, I.D. number and crematory operator’s name. It is dated and initialed by a cremation technician before and after the cremation.

7.During the Cremation

The crematory checklist and I.D. card are placed on the outside of the cremation chamber during the cremation process. The metal I.D. tag is present in the cremation chamber during the process.

8.Post-cremation Details

After cremation is complete, the remains are placed with the stainless steel I.D. tag into an urn. The I.D. card and cremation certificate are placed into our permanent files.

9.Return of Remains

Our staff will notify you to schedule a time for picking up the cremated remains.

10.Celebration of Life

To appropriately celebrate the life of your loved one, we assist you in planning a funeral or memorial service either before or after the cremation.

We are happy to answer any other questions you may have about our cremation process, and the commitment we have to every family we serve.

MALNUTRITION SENIORS AT RISK

BY SHANE JACKSON, CHHC, BSCJ, MSCJ

Generally, people over 65 years of age are considered senior citizens. They are a useful part of our society and have served in every walk of life. The increased rate of population has a severe effect on a higher proportion of elderly people.

For many, aging leads to decreased physical activity and breakdown and thereby changes the nutritional requirements of older adults in a negative manner. This article will look deeply into their nutritional needs and deficiencies.

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF SENIOR MALNUTRITION

Malnutrition is the deficiencies or excesses in nutrient intake, protein discrepancy, or reduced nutrient utilization. It causes mental health issues, lack of social interactions, digestive disorders and stomach conditions. Moreover, it also weakens the immune system which can increase the risk of infections. Malnutrition also has a devastating effect on bone mass and causes muscle weakness, which can lead to falls and fractures.

People of advanced age are at increased risk for diseases and are most likely to be at nutritional risk, as well. However, the cause of malnutrition is complex and multifactorial and malnutrition in the elderly is also triggered by aging processes and certain chronic conditions put them at higher risk. Cancer, diabetes and other conditions can impact appetite, make eating difficult, change metabolism and necessitate dietary restrictions. Disturbingly, the increased healthcare costs in the U.S. for disease-associated malnutrition in older adults is more than $51 billion each year. One study shows that over 65 percent of older adults are hospitalized due to malnutrition and about 16 percent of older Americans consume fewer than 1,000 calories per day.

QUALITY IS KEY

It is a sad reality: having a pizza or burger delivered to your home is easier and faster than getting an ambulance in a medical emergency. We know that the majority of fast food and soft

drinks contain high amounts of refined flour, sugar and artificial chemicals; they also lose many useful nutrients during processing and their nutritional value is typically low. Even with the knowledge that easy access to unhealthy food can be fatal, we do not pay any heed to it. Junk food may be cheaper, but we are getting it at the expense of our health.

In the fight against malnutrition, awareness is essential to prevail.

MUST-EAT FOODS FOR SENIORS

Nutritional supplements – pills or powders – are generally considered as vital to mitigating malnutrition. However, supplements make a lot of claims and medical researchers have yet to prove their effectiveness. Instead, seniors need to consume a healthy and balanced diet.

The best way to get the most energy from food is to make sure it is the best

food possible. Fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables provide us with every protein and energy we need, as well as antioxidants that prevent diseases. The vitamin C content in fresh fruits and vegetables is higher and can reduce the risk of many infections caused by the preservatives used in canned and processed food.

Leaner meats like chicken, turkey and fish provide quality protein but contain less saturated fat. Fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids and can add beneficial heart-healthy fats to the

diet. Similarly, whole grain foods and complex carbohydrates give maximum benefits and add beneficial fiber to our diet. Walnuts and seeds are some of the best sources of nutrients and energy. Most importantly, drinking water is bread and butter for optimal body function. It helps in facilitating the body’s energetic processes. “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is a famous saying indicating fruits are also very important in raising health standards.

They contain potassium, fiber, vitamins and the perfect amount of carbohydrates that provide us with a big boost of natural energy.

A problem not limited to a single country, addressing malnutrition will require global initiatives to get focused on improving access to nutrition, involvement and education that lead to healthier populations. Expert-level meetings are needed to share best practices and the latest trends in nutrition as part of a collaborative effort to address challenges in growth and nutrition.

ONE STUDY SHOWS THAT OVER 65 PERCENT OF OLDER ADULTS ARE HOSPITALIZED DUE TO MALNUTRITION AND ABOUT 16 PERCENT OF OLDER AMERICANS CONSUME FEWER THAN 1,000 CALORIES PER DAY.

Research can play a vital role in helping us better understand nutrition's impact on health outcomes. Furthermore, studies are to be conducted on a grassroots level to find the major causes of unwellness among the elderly. Special training and education can be provided to paramedical staff to create malnutrition care centers that discourage a heavy influx of malnutrition patients into hospitals.

Older citizens have given their youth and energies for our better tomorrow. We may need to work together for their improved health, offering them a longer life expectancy and thus ensuring a healthy and happy society.

Based in Flint, MI “Your Favorite Health Coach” Shane Jackson is a professional nutrition specialist with a vast scope of experience. She is a multi-skilled and diversely talented professional with a strong inclination toward self-improvement, human psychology and overall personal health. She has an extensive nursing background as well as a Master’s Degree in Social Sciences and Criminal Justice from Michigan State University. Currently, Jackson is a Community Nutrition Instructor at Michigan State University and has authored her first children's book, Rainbow Power, scheduled for release in January 2023.

Everyone Can Be aHero

Donate Blood to Save Lives

BY PETER HINTERMAN

IT’S A NEW YEAR – AND IT CAN BE A NEW YOU AS IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO STEP OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE AND DO SOMETHING THAT WILL SAVE LIVES: GIVE BLOOD. IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO START 2023 THAN BY BEING A HERO?

Every two seconds, someone in the United States is in dire need of blood or platelets and one donation can save up to three lives. That’s three lives saved for just over an hour of your time. Seems worth it, right?

Donated blood benefits so much more than accident victims or victims of violent trauma. Your unit of blood can help cancer patients, burn victims, SICKLE CELL sufferers and those with other chronic diseases. Currently, there is a shortage of blood and every unit counts (accident victims alone can use up

to 100 units). Every day, approximately 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed – a tall order indeed. Blood and platelets cannot be made by science and can only come from donation, so it’s up to us to get it done. To set up an appointment to do your part, visit redcrossblood.org.

How it Works

Before they are allowed to give blood, donors must meet requirements. They must be between the ages of 17 and 65, weigh at least 110 lbs., be in good health and feeling well. A whole blood donation can be given every 56 days, up to six times per year. (Health requirements differ depending upon the type of donation.)

After all requirements are met, the next step is to find a blood drive or donation location. In Greater Flint, the Flint Blood Donation Center, located at 1401 S. Grand Traverse in Flint has multiple appointments open for nearly every day of the month. Find the best open hour or two in the entire month and schedule an appointment. Make it a point. It’s important.

While setting your appointment, you will choose which type of donation to make. Will you give whole blood, platelets, plasma, or “power red”?

Whole Blood Donation

The most common and flexible donation, whole blood can be used in its original form or separated into three donations of red blood cells, platelets and plasma. This donation is ideal for all blood types. It takes anywhere from 4-6 weeks to replace the donated red blood cells in the bloodstream.

Power Red Donation

With this type of donation, you give a concentrated dose of red blood cells while retaining your platelets and plasma. The duration of time for the donation is minimally increased but with that extra donation, you can make a difference for trauma patients, newborns and those suffering from sickle cell disease. The ideal blood types for a power red donation are O (+ and -), A- and B-.

Platelet Donation

Platelets are cells in the bloodstream that form clots and stop bleeding. They are needed mainly by cancer patients and others facing life-threatening illness and trauma. A single platelet donation yields the equivalent of five whole blood donations! Platelets are collected at donation centers only and not outside blood drives. This donation can take up to three hours for full unit collection. The ideal blood types for platelet donation are A (+ and -), B+, O+, and AB (+ and -).

Plasma Donation

Plasma is used to treat patients in emergency situations and is extremely important. Because the AB blood type yields plasma that can be safely combined with any blood type, this donation is best for those with AB blood type. The donation can take just over an hour to complete. The ideal blood types for plasma donation are AB (+ and -). It takes just over 24-hrs to replace the plasma donated.

Once your appointment has been set and your donation made, it’s time to sit back and relax. Congratulate yourself on a job well done and start planning your next donation! The more you give, the more lives you can save.

MEETING THE DEMAND FOR BLOOD SUPPLY IS A STRUGGLE AND SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE PANDEMIC, IT IS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER.

Tips for Effective Blood Donation

It’s a simple process with few downsides, but there are a few preparatory things we can do to make it even easier.

→ Drink plenty of water; you don’t want to be dehydrated.

→ Eat well beforehand – you need to keep up your strength. You are giving a part of yourself.

→ Exercise before, not after. If you stick to a strict exercise regimen, make an exception. Do it before or not at all on the donation day.

→ Have an iron supplement ready; some of us may need a little boost.

Visit redcrossblood.org to set up your appointment today and start saving lives, hero!

A Little Bit about Blood Types

With anything medical or scientific, a little knowledge goes a long way. Don’t go in without some understanding of what you are doing and how it works. Do you know your blood type? Who can you give blood to and vice-versa?

Your blood type is determined by whether or not certain antigens are present. Some antigens can trigger a person’s body to attack the transfused blood if it doesn’t match their own. There are four major blood groups determined by the presence or absence of the antigens A and B. In addition to the A and B antigens, your type is also determined by the presence or absence of a protein called the Rh factor (+ or -). Therefore, the eight most common blood types are A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-, O+ and O-. The blood type O indicates the absence of both the A and B antigens and more specifically, Oindicates the absence of the antigens and Rh factor.

Due to the absence of both antigens and Rh factor, those with O- blood type are known as “universal” donors. O- blood can be successfully mixed with all blood types and being the rarest blood type, it is constantly in short supply. The most common blood type is O+ and this type can be donated to a person with any Rh positive blood type – namely A+, B+ and AB+.

The A blood type can only be donated to those with the A antigen present (A and AB) and the same rule goes for blood type B (B and AB). Rh factor is still important as only Rh positive blood can be given to those who are

Rh positive (A+ to AB+); however, blood without the Rh factor will be compatible with both B- to AB+.

Type AB, on the other hand, is the most restricted type in terms of compatibility. AB- can only be given to AB- and AB+. AB+ only works with AB+. A person with type AB, however, is the universal donor for plasma. (Just goes to show you that no matter your blood type, donating is important!)

All this may seem a little confusing – let’s make it easier and look at one more example. Say an accident victim is rushed into the ER with an unknown blood type. If they need blood immediately, doctors will quickly administer O- blood as they can be sure it will not adversely affect the patient. (This is why O- blood is in such high demand.) Later, after the patient is stabilized, medical staff may determine that the patient’s type is B+. This means that medical staff can continue to administer blood as long as it is O-, O+, B- or B+. If they use any blood type with the A antigen (A or AB), the patient’s body will fight back. With an adequate supply of blood on hand, this patient will be fine and hopefully recover.

Meeting the demand for blood supply, however, is a struggle and since the beginning of the pandemic, it is needed now more than ever.

The world needs its heroes and even though nobody can fly through the air or leap buildings in a single bound, we can all still become one. All it takes is the drive to do good in the world, the courage to show up, and the sacrifice of an hour’s time to donate.

Will you answer the call?

FINISHING

STRONG

BY MARK SPEZIA PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANGELA MCCANE

The lowest point of Nic MatiereBey's life is forever etched in his memory, a measuring stick of how far he has come.

During a 2018 gathering of roughly ten people, including some family members, Matiere-Bey was two years removed from seeing his pursuit of higher education and a promising college football career grind to a halt after substandard academic performance forced him to withdraw from Ferris State University and return to Flint.

By then the father of two young girls, Matiere-Bey admits he had lost his way and been pulled back into what he calls, "that Flint life."

"Still, we were all just hanging out, having a good time that (2018) night, when a cousin I considered one of my best friends had been drinking and starts yelling at one of our female cousins about something," he recalls.

Matiere-Bey felt compelled to intervene and attempt to de-escalate the situation. That only led to the man, significantly smaller than the 6-foot-3, 285-pound Matiere-Bey, shoving him, but Matiere-Bey felt he could still calm down.

The situation only grew more heated.

"I kept telling him 'let's just relax', but he would not let it go," he says. "I finally end up shoving him back hard and he tells him he has something for me."

Matiere-Bey knew that something was a gun.

"I knew that's when I had to get out of there, took off running, made it about three or four blocks and tried to hide but he found me," he says.

A frightened Matiere-Bey watched someone he had once trusted pull the weapon.

"I was begging for my life, telling him I have kids to take care of and not to shoot," he recalls.

The man didn't pull the trigger, but pistol-whipped Matiere-Bey in the head before leaving the scene. He required six stitches to his scalp.

"To this day, I grow my hair to cover up the scar," he says. "I don't like looking at it."

The incident forced Matiere-Bey to take a long look at where his life was headed. He had to change its direction.

The next day, he signed up for classes at Mott Community College as a first step toward returning to Ferris and the sport that is his passion.

The quick, nimble, yet wrecking ball of a defensive tackle first excelled at Flint Southwestern High School, then NCAA Division I Austin Peay University in Clarksville, TN and finally, Ferris State.

Matiere-Bey also excelled that semester at Mott, leaving his academic struggles behind, with a 3.7 grade point average. That, combined with a 3.3 in a summer math class, and Matiere-Bey was in good enough academic standing to re-enroll at Ferris.

I WAS BEGGING FOR MY LIFE, TELLING HIM I HAVE KIDS TO TAKE CARE OF AND NOT TO SHOOT."

NIC MATIERE-BEY

In the fall of 2019, he returned to the campus that had felt like a second home with an eye toward playing football again in 2020 until the global coronavirus pandemic led to the cancellation of that season.

"Having to take the COVID year was actually a good thing because it allowed more time for me to really get my body in shape to play again – really running and lifting – and figure out what job I could still work during the season to take care of my kids," he says.

At last, on September 2, 2021, nearly five years after his last college football game, a now-25-year-old Matiere-Bey suited up for Ferris' season-opener

against the University of Findlay. He finished with four tackles as the Bulldogs blasted Findlay, 54-14.

"It just felt so good to be out on the field again, like the most normal thing ever, what I was meant to do," Matiere-Bey says. "I didn't feel too rusty, just amazing. Playing football again was the breath of fresh air I felt I could not get anywhere else."

Matiere-Bey helped the Bulldogs bulldoze through opponent after opponent last season which culminated in the program's first Division II National Championship. Ferris actually trailed, 17-14, in the title game in McKinney, TX against Valdosta State before reeling off 44 unanswered points for a 58-17 trouncing.

Before kickoff, emotions flooded over Matiere-Bey as he reflected on all he had endured and overcome to experience the moment, including an extremely challenging schedule of work, football, classes and fatherhood during the season.

"I could feel myself starting to cry, taking everything in before the game," he says. "I had never played in a championship game like this before, had never even been to Texas before. Now, here I was, one of our captains heading out for the coin toss before the game, about to play in such a huge game with my boys."

In the first half, Matiere-Bey made three tackles before cracking a couple of ribs and missing the remainder of the game.

"I felt awful being on the sideline and the waterworks came back, but (my teammates) snapped me out of it," he says. "They were like, 'Bro, you did all you could do'. Let us finish it off. The game was still close, but at that moment it felt like we were going to win, for sure. We took off from there."

The Bulldogs took off and completed an unbeaten (14-0) season during which they outscored foes by an average margin of 47-18 points per game.

Matiere-Bey, who had held tight to the hope of returning to football, was now alternating between holding his children, then five and two years of age, and the national championship trophy.

Perhaps nobody was more thrilled for him than Hodges, a former Montrose High School standout, who had kept in touch with Matiere-Bey and encouraged him during his years away from the program.

During his comeback season, he contributed 24 tackles, including three for loss, and recovered a fumble.

"I get so emotional every time I look at pictures from that day, especially with my girls being able to be there, the red and yellow confetti coming down and the journey it took to get there," he says. "Seeing (head) coach (Tony) Annese's face light up and coach Hodges (Defensive Coordinator Ryan Hodges) celebrating after getting us there. It felt so perfect."

"Nic was extremely important to our success," Hodges says. "He was very physical and quick for an interior defensive lineman. And, of course, he is a tremendous motivator for his teammates."

How could anyone not be motivated by Matiere-Bey's encouraging nature and ability to deftly handle such a crazy schedule during that season?

In addition to all that being part of a powerhouse football program entails, he attended classes on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and two more online, while working full-time as a Planet Fitness trainer and always making time for his children.

For example, a typical Wednesday, Matiere-Bey said, entailed a 6am workout, 7am weight-training, 8am football meeting, work from 9-11 am, practice from 11am-1pm, back to work from 2-10pm and then, finally, back home for time with his kids.

“They were not in school yet, so they could stay up sometimes until 1am, so we could spend time together,” he says. “Then, I’d get a little sleep and start over again at 6am the next day. Emotionally, I honestly can't tell how I managed to juggle all that."

Last spring, Matiere-Bey graduated from Ferris with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice before returning to the football program as a graduate assistant coach for the defensive line this fall. He was six credits shy of an associate degree in integrated studies and taking those classes made him eligible to become a graduate assistant.

On December 16, Matiere-Bey and the Bulldogs were back in McKinney to defend their national title, this time against a potent Colorado School of Mines squad, averaging nearly 47 points and 162 rushing yards per game.

Not so against Ferris, as the linemen Matiere-Bey helped coach spearheaded an astounding defensive performance which limited CSM to a mere four net yards rushing and sacked dangerous quarterback John Matocha six times as the Bulldogs rolled to a 41-14 national championship repeat.

“On the sideline, it was a great experience to watch the guys I worked with practice their craft,” said Matiere-Bey,

NIC MATIERE-BEY ANCHORED THE FERRIS STATE DEFENSIVE LINE DURING THE RUN TO THEIR FIRST DIVISION II NATIONAL TITLE IN 2021.

who earned his associate degree the same week. “It was such a pleasure helping teach those guys and motivate them all season. They did what they had to do to dominate. It was just as emotional to win a national title as a coach.”

Matiere-Bey was indeed emotional as the game ended, first embracing Shaderrick Bradford, one of the linemen he had played alongside and was now coaching, and then hoisting quarterback Mylick Mitchell into the air.

Among those thankful he stuck around for another season with the team was defensive line coach Tesfa Smith.

"Nic was such a valuable asset because he bridged that gap between the older coaches and younger players and helped them see we always have their best interests in mind," Smith says. "Guys listened to him because of how he played the game and how he related to them and for

him to have that instant credibility with players really helped the other coaches. As a player, Nic was a great technician and super talent and he was able to teach the techniques and fundamentals that helped him excel to others."

Matiere-Bey became most emotional, however, celebrating with defensive lineman Deron Irving-Bey, his cousin and fellow former Southwestern standout. Their college football journeys were similar as Irving-Bey was part of Michigan’s 2017 recruiting class before transferring to Central Michigan and eventually leaving school and welcoming a child. He relaunched his career at Ferris this season and was the only Genesee County player to participate in this year's national championship. Irving-Bey did not register any statistics, but contributed 29 tackles in nine games throughout the season.

IT WAS SUCH A PLEASURE HELPING TEACH THOSE GUYS AND MOTIVATE THEM ALL SEASON. IT WAS JUST AS EMOTIONAL TO WIN A NATIONAL TITLE AS A COACH.”

NIC MATIERE-BEY

"That meant everything to me and Deron was the only one I cried with this time,"says Matiere-Bey who has Irving-Bey's name tattooed on his skin. "We've always been close. It seems like just yesterday we were playing football in front of our grandmother's house on Hamilton Avenue in Flint. We've both shown we can go through things and finish strong."

Irving-Bey was inspired by watching his older cousin turn an all-state senior season at Southwestern (66 tackles, 14 sacks) into an offer from Austin Peay.

Matiere-Bey made an immediate impact at Austin Peay with 66 tackles, including 13 for loss, in 23 games his first two seasons. When he became uncomfortable with a change in head coaches, he returned to Michigan and the school he originally committed to while in high school – Ferris State.

He wasted little time making an impact in his first season with the Bulldogs in 2016, finishing fifth on the team in total tackles (58) and fourth in tackles for loss (10) and sacks (three) in 15 games as Ferris reached the national semifinals.

Continued on pg. 109

COACH MATIERE-BEY (CENTER) CHILLS BETWEEN POSSESSIONS ON GAMEDAY WITH LINEBACKER NICK THOMAS (LEFT) AND DEFENSIVE LINEMAN ALEFOSIO SAIPAIA.

JANUARY

My City Magazine

YEAR IN REVIEW

// 2022

COMPILED BY CHERYL DENNISON

Another year has passed us by! Since our launch a decade ago, MCM has focused on sharing a wide variety of interesting and informative stories about life and the people in the Greater Flint Area and beyond. Here's a look back …

G.H.O.S.T.:

The Fight Against Human Trafficking

In May of 2018, G.H.O.S.T. (Genesee Human Oppression Strike Team) was initiated by Genesee County Sheriff Christopher Swanson (then-Undersheriff) with authority granted by then-Sheriff Robert Pickell. “The purpose of the G.H.O.S.T. task force is to apprehend human traffickers and people who attempt to have a sexual relationship with a child,” Swanson reported. The first rescue in Genesee

County happened in May 2018. Since then, over 149 predators have been arrested. Swanson has also taken G.H.O.S.T. members to 35 Michigan counties so that other sheriffs could learn how to form their own strike teams. Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal enterprise in the world. “It’s a huge business,” Swanson added. “Together, we can fight it. This is my personal call to action.”

Passion & Potential Mott Community College Wrestling Team

Under the direction of a youthful first-year Head

Coach – 25-year-old Aaron Ward – seven wrestlers began most practices with intense drills before going head-tohead on mats helping each other perfect moves, polish their skills and build stamina. “I love wrestling and love giving back to the sport, so the opportunity to become a head coach has been a blessing,” Ward said. In a classic illustration of quality over quantity, Mott ranked 22nd in the nation, just four spots below where the Bears were ranked at the conclusion of the 2021 season.

The Mayors of Flint Part 1: Opening the Office

January 2022 began a series written by Peter Hinterman that chronicled each of Flint’s mayor’s throughout history, providing a short account of their professions, their lives and decisions they made during their tenures. Some were men/women of great deeds, some of great controversy. Some simply acted as placeholders in time. Each of them, however, chaired a city important to its country and citizens. Part 1 highlighted those in office from 1857-1865, including the city's first Mayor, Grant Decker.

February

My Wedding 2022

It was estimated that 2.6 million weddings would take place in the U.S. in 2022 – a record high! The uncertain climate for social activity had inspired creativity and couples

began exploring non-traditional concepts for their big day. In this special section, MCM highlighted trends for the wedding season and tips from local experts.

Flint United Coach Keno Davis Building a Strong Brotherhood

Amid the sounds of dribbling basketballs and squeaking sneakers, Keno Davis, first-year coach of the second-year Flint United team, outlined his vision for the program. “Our biggest goals are giving these guys opportunities to move to the next level, put a great product on the court and give the Flint

community another thing to rally around, ” said Davis. Encouraged by the talent level he’s seen at tryouts, Davis said he was really looking forward to assembling the second edition of Flint United. “The depth of this year’s team is going to be a strength and there is no doubt we’ll have 15 high-quality players,” he said.

February

Continued ...

The Weather Lady Meteorologist Leslie Toldo

Leslie Toldo has been a meteorologist with Mid-Michigan NOW since May 2015 and has reported the weather in mid-Michigan since 2004. She got her start in Casper, WY and worked in Detroit for seven years, in Jackson, MS and at another mid-Michigan station for a total of 31 years in the field of broadcasting. She shared her story about a day in the life of a meteorologist, the causes she is passionate about and what her life is like off the clock. "I'm very passionate about making a difference in people's lives," she said.

MARCH

Behind the Mural, a Hidden Gem FLI-City Studios

Located off Corunna Road near Downtown Flint and hidden behind one of the Flint Art Project’s beautiful murals is FLI-City Studios, an alternative dance education facility that offers classes taught to a variety of musical genres including hip-hop, breaking, tumbling, modern dance and more. Professional dancers and Co-Owners Jared and Alisyn Hurd were brought together by their passion for dance. “Breaking is one of our specialties,” Jared stated, adding that there are only three other dance studios in Michigan that offer it.

“We wanted to create a place where people could embrace dancing and offer quality instruction to all people regardless of their age or financial situation. ”

Stand Up & Stand Out Women in Flint History

March is Women’s History Month and Greater Flint has produced its share of heroines throughout the years. From the arts, healthcare, education, civil rights and more, local women have been (and

continue to be) a major force in the molding and shaping of Genesee County and our nation. MCM was proud to recognize ten of Greater Flint’s historical female standouts including: Olive Beasley, Mildred

Doran, Sarah Edmonds, Lois E. (VanZandt) Holt, Genora Johnson, Nancy Kovack, Sophie Kurys, Margaret McLaren, Cornelie Chillson Moots (aka Mother Moots) and Violet Wierzbicki.

Window with a Different View

Artist Ed Watkins

Artist Ed Watkins is always listening, thinking, paying attention to the world around him. Each illustration he creates is a window into his world – a world of hope, fear and confidence, of anxiety, struggle and peace. It is evidence of a world of his experience, of the African American experience and of our collective humanity. “My art develops as the world develops,” he stated. “Much of my work is about me making sense of the world around me through my experience as a Black man in America.” For his recent works, Watkins took inspiration and images from the Ferguson protests, Black Lives Matter, George Floyd’s death, racial divide and other social issues, as well as singular moments in time that represent the experience of living in America. Many of the illustrations were featured at his exhibit at the Flint Institute of Arts.

April

Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring! Home & Garden 2022

Lift a window, throw open a door and give your home a breath of fresh air. MCM's annual Home & Garden special section offers tips to help you say goodbye to winter and hello to spring. You’ve been waiting for this season that stirs a desire to

refresh your living space both inside and out. There is no better time to reinvent your home with a style to suit the wiser, more creative you. Revitalize the old or create a brand-new look with some outof-the-box home design ideas.

A Model for Community Healing Sarvis Park Neighborhood Association

Born and raised in Flint’s Sarvis Park neighborhood, Ladel Lewis had seen the community at its best but after she returned to the area in 2019 to care for her ailing father, she found it most troubling. “The community was in a tough place. There were bullets in the streets and many residents felt like they were living in prison,” she explained. “They deserved better. I said to myself, ‘no more’.” Lewis got to work and with help from neighborhood residents, created the Sarvis Park Neighborhood Association (SPNA) to “help build pride and reduce blight in the community.” The SPNA is built around making Sarvis Park a community hub and public center but is working toward doing much more. “We want to improve the quality of life for families around it by establishing pride and feelings of security.”

Genesee Wind Symphony Standing the Test of Time

Frank's is Frying Tonight! Frank’s Hoppy Bistro

Frank’s Tavern, which was located in Fenton near the shores of Lake Ponemah, was a fish-n-chips institution for more than 80 years. When it closed its doors in 2010, longtime patrons were heartbroken. But former owner Rachel Medore and her husband Shayne brought the famous eatery back to life – as Frank’s Hoppy Bistro – at a new location and with a modern twist. “Bringing back an institution like Frank’s exceeded our wildest expectations!” The walls of the eatery are filled with memorabilia from Frank’s Tavern, including the original hours sign. “It’s like walking into a time machine. It’s the real deal!”

Radio Free Flint

The Voices of Vehicle City

Since April 2020, Radio Free Flint podcasts have been hosted by the creator and former Genesee County Prosecutor, Arthur Busch. Offering informational discussions, videos and stories, the episodes showcase true crime, life histories and viewpoints of the people who have participated in the Flint experience – both today and yesterday. It was originally a Sunday morning radio show hosted by Michael Moore with support from the legendary local rock radio pioneer Peter C. Cavanaugh, Busch explained.

“My goal is to go in-depth into the subject matter to get people to think or to present issues that have affected and continue to affect Flint. It’s my gift to the city.”

Last spring, the Genesee Wind Symphony (GWS) celebrated its 40th anniversary with a stand-out performance. “Because of the pandemic, we have not been together for 18 months, so this year will be our big anniversary performance,” explained Music Director, Doug Burtch. The GWS has been called “Flint’s other symphony” (beside the Flint Symphony Orchestra) and has a reputation for excellence and professionalism. “We have a remarkable tradition of expressive and heartfelt performances by outstanding local musicians,” Burtch said.

MAY

Flint City AFC Coming Together to Win

The pre-professional USL W League women’s soccer team kicked off its 2022 season by hosting Ann Arbor FC on May 7. “We want to maintain the high standards set by the Bucks,” said team Co-owner, Eddie Hudson. “If you enjoy soccer and a good night out,

you are going to enjoy watching Flint City AFC. We play the game beautifully and we win. That’s what most supporters are looking for from their club.”

The team will play the 2023 season with a new coaching staff, led by newly-tapped Head Coach, Michelle Krzisnik.

Presenting the Truth WNEM TV 5 News Anchor, David Custer

For David Custer, presenting the truth is everything – both as a journalist and personally. As the head news anchor at WNEM TV5 since 2016 and an openly gay man, he has hidden nothing from his viewing audience. Every night, Custer, alongside his friend and co-anchor Meg McLeod anchors the 5pm, 5:30pm, 6pm and 10pm broadcasts, providing up-to-date news bulletins and stories ranging from tragic to inspiring. His reporting has earned him seven regional Emmy Awards, several Associated Press and Michigan Association of Broadcasters Awards, and the Great Lakes Bay Region’s Ruby Award as one of the brightest professionals under the age of 40. His personality, style and local storytelling has also won him the coveted My City Magazine City’s Choice Award for Best News Anchor for the last six years. "It is the job of the journalist to seek the truth, to accurately tell a story as it is and hold nothing back.”

Painting to Inspire WaterColor Artist Denise Willing-Booher

Denise Willing-Booher, who grew up in Mundy Township, became interested in art at a young age, watching her grandfather and father create art with cut glass and stained glass. She has worked with a variety of mediums but especially enjoys watercolors. “It’s a bit magical,” she shared. “You mix it and never know exactly what you are going to get. I love the uncertainty of it – just letting it work on its own.” Willing-Booher loves painting portraits, landscapes and wildlife. “I strive to convey raw beauty and emotion in my painting through an up-close perspective with composition and light.”

June

Your NEW Flint Public Library A Wonderful Place for the People

After an eight-month construction delay due to the pandemic and a lot of hard work by architects, construction crew and staff, the Flint Public Library officially opened to residents on May 21, 2022.

The new FPL truly reflects Flint’s current and ongoing evolution as the city parts ways with the hardships

of the past and embraces a brighter future. “The old building was beginning to break down. It was aging,” said Library Director Kay Schwartz. “ We wanted to bring something new and amazing to the city. It’s a wonderful place for the people of Flint and everyone should see and make use of it all.”

“It was extremely gratifying to receive this award and be recognized for the work I have done."

A Champion for Children

Shelly Spivack

An Honor and a Privilege Judge Mark C. McCabe

The Honorable Judge Mark C. McCabe, who presides over the 67th District Court Fourth Division in Fenton, was appointed to the bench in 1993 by Governor John Engler. Sworn in on February 11, 1993 he has continuously served as a judge in Fenton and at the Central Court in Downtown Flint for 29 years. “It’s amazing how quickly time has gone by,” he shared. He will continue to serve as a judge until 2026 when his current term expires, but cannot run for re-election as he is age-limited. While the judge spends most of his time at the Fenton court house, about 40 percent of his time is spent in Downtown Flint hearing cases in the Central Court. “It’s an honor and a privilege,” he stated. “It’s that simple. I keep those words in mind both on and off the bench and that is the way I handle my cases.”

For many years, Shelley Spivack has been an advocate in the legal system for children and their families. Voices for Children Advocacy Center recognized her dedication with a special award – the Roy E. Patterson Caring Adult Award – sponsored by Hurley Medical

to Flint in 1980 to work for Legal Services of Eastern Michigan and worked in the juvenile justice system for many years. She was a Family Court Referee for 18 years and retired two years ago. She is also a lecturer at the University of Michigan-Flint. June Continued ...

Center and given to adults who go beyond the call of duty to provide services for youth in Genesee County. “It was extremely gratifying to receive this award and be recognized for the work I have done to improve the lives of kids in Genesee County,” Spivack said. She came

JULY

Follow the Road to Discovery

The NEW Sloan Museum

It’s bright! It’s fun! It’s engaging! After seven years of planning and construction, the new Sloan Museum opened its doors on July 16 for the world to behold its wonders and is a complete re-imagining of the former facility. “After years of community input and fundraising, we are all very excited to bring this to Flint," said Executive Director, Todd Slisher. The new Sloan Museum was funded by grants and donations from foundations, businesses, individuals and the State of Michigan, totaling $30 million. Major supporters included General Motors, the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation and the Hagerman Foundation.

Daughters of the

American

Revolution Celebrates 125 Years

In June, the Genesee Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) celebrated its 125th anniversary. “The Genesee Chapter was chartered in 1897 with 11 members,” Regent Carolyn Stubbs reported. “Our chapter has been operating continuously since then.” DAR Chapters participate in restoring and maintaining historical sites, preserving genealogical records, artifacts and historical documents; locating, restoring and marking Revolutionary War patriot gravesites and

headstones; supporting schools, providing scholarships and awards to outstanding students throughout the country, promoting education and citizenship through youth programs, and providing volunteer time to assist military veterans. “Being a member of DAR is an honor, an opportunity to remember our patriots who sacrificed so much to create the United States of America. It was the beginning of our democracy,” Stubbs said.

"B" is for Boogie: The Music of Mark Braun

Last spring, area native and renowned boogie-woogie-style pianist, Mark Braun performed his annual series of shows entitled “Blues & Piano Boogie Celebration” at quaint venues. While he has spent more than four decades performing around the world, sharing stages and recording studios with Grammy-nominated blues and jazz greats and releasing albums, intimate gigs like those in his hometown are what really keeps the 65-year-old, National Boogie Woogie Piano Hall of Famer going. “Nearly my whole life has been about music and I’ve discovered over the years that performing for people in small-scale settings, not arenas or stadiums, is where it’s at for me.”

July Continued ...

The Andiamo Fenton Experience

It was an exciting year for Andiamo Fenton! The popular eatery has been serving authentic Italian cuisine to their loyal customers since they opened their doors in February 2019. General Manager Brian McCurdy said the owners of the family restaurant chain put much time and effort into coming up with some new and exciting enhancements – to make the Andiamo experience even better! To address the growing popularity of carryout, a new menu was created. A new wine list and food delivery service were some of the other enhancements. “We are known as a celebration restaurant, but we are reasonably priced,” McCurdy reported. “Even if you’re just coming out on a Tuesday night to eat dinner, it will always be a special experience.”

August

All Aboard! Behind the Scenes at Huckleberry Railroad

MCM spent a sunny day in August getting a behind-the-scenes look at Huckleberry Railroad in Crossroads Village which included a visit with the conductors. Incredibly cheerful, friendly and knowledgeable, the Huckleberry Railroad Conductors love what they do. “We get to meet all kinds of people and teach them history without them even knowing it!” said Head Conductor Bill Cesaro.

The train engine crew includes 11 workers under the direction of Right of Way Supervisor, Mick Kimball. We enjoyed chatting with the many dedicated workers who keep the coal-powered steam locomotive on the track! The day ended with a train ride, taking in the view from the best seat in the house – the cupola in the caboose.

7 Questions with … Amber Taylor

Amber Taylor has been the Back to the Bricks® Executive Director since January 2020. Once chosen for the position, she shifted straight into high gear, coming up with new ideas for growing the event and attracting a younger crowd to appreciate Flint’s rich automotive history. While Amber has been super-busy promoting Back to the Bricks, she took some time

to answer a few questions and let us get up-close and personal. When asked what was the biggest work-related thing she hoped to achieve in the next year, she said: "The amount of history we have right here in our backyard is phenomenal! I think we need more awareness – more people and more of our youth to hear these stories."

Empowering our Youth Active Boys in Christ

Founded in 2017 by Pastor Derrick Watkins of Jachin Baptist Church in Flint, Active Boys In Christ (ABC) is a mentoring program that works directly with children and families. The mission of the charitable organization is to “empower the Flint community youth and families through skilled trades, culinary and life-skills that will promote and celebrate lifelong learning for the success of youth and families.” Pastor Watkins originated the structure of the program and works closely with his wife, Director Christine Watkins. “We teach youth about honesty, respect and self confidence to help them better interact with society and improve behavior patterns.” Watkins says the words of Frederick Douglas ring very true: “It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” He adds, “Our goal is to help build and change our community, one child at a time.”

Evoking the Natural World Native House Ceramic Co.

At Native House Ceramic Co. Flushing Native and Ceramics Artist Meg Bundy harnesses the beauty, power, durability and forgiveness of the earth and its elements to create timeless inspirations and facsimiles of our planet and

our shared ancestral stories.

"I’m endlessly fascinated with folklore and creation stories and how ancient humans interacted with the environment,” Bundy explained. “That ancient interaction is something common to all of us. Our ancestor’s reciprocity with the plants and animals of our world is what connects us. I hope my designs inspire people to once again reconnect with our natural world, ancestors and each other.”

SEPTEMBER

"I feel like I am finally starting. I have a whole new perspective."

Time to Rock Fall Fashions!

Fall is arguably the best time of the year for dressing, according to MCM “My Style” contributor and co-owner of Downtown Flint boutique SHIFT, Shannon White. It’s cold enough to wear all of your fave pieces at the same time

(Helloooo, layers!), but warm enough to actually go out and about to show off your fit. Exciting, right? Shannon offered details of many stylish finds available in stores, inspiring readers to get a head start on fall clothing and accessory shopping.

From Chaos to Peace

The Evolution of Fernando Silverio Solis

After decades on tour performing for thousands of fans in musical genres that never quite felt like his own, Flint native Fernando Silverio Solis finally found his inner voice and a new way to express it; a style he found long ago but never had the time or the confidence to try. “I always dreamed of becoming a singer/songwriter,” said Solis. "I make my music and I’m creative and expect nothing in return. Whatever happens is cool with me," he said. "After all of it, it’s the tenacity that comes from being a part of Flint that has helped me continue creating. It’s a part of everyone here. It’s in our blood."

Back to the Bricks 2022

All roads lead Back to the Bricks®! This annual happening attracts over 500,000 car show enthusiasts annually to Genesee County for a celebration of our love of motor vehicles and the area’s historic role in the auto industry. After a Tune-Up Week of themed parties held throughout Genesee County, the five-day extravaganza continued with rolling cruises and other family-friendly fun. During the week, “America’s Sports Car” was saluted with a National Reunion for Corvette aficionados. As always, Saturday’s Main Event (blessed by a bit of rain) showcased hundreds of classic, custom and collector vehicles of all kinds, and the bricks of Downtown Flint were alive with food vendors, music and folks enjoying a summer festival like no other!

October

Kuhmute Powering the Future of Micromobility

Based in Flint, Kuhmute is leading the way in electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure providing a place for people to rent or charge an EV in cities across the United States and Canada. The venture is the brainchild of Kettering University graduate and business co-founder Peter Deppe. “In Michigan, we have limited mobility options and we also noticed that e-scooters and other small

EVs were kind of a mess on city streets. So, we thought of a way to alleviate those problems.” Kuhmute has hubs in Michigan in Detroit and Grand Haven, according to Kuhmute Software Engineer Eddie Wenzel, “and we have hubs in Illinois, Arizona and Ontario in Canada. We currently have nine in Flint with a plan in place for five more.”

A Great Leap Forward Kettering Learning Commons

After two years of construction and $63 million spent (by way of donations and gifts), the Kettering Learning Commons is a space to behold. Learning Commons is based upon the idea of the d.space and provides 12 collaboration rooms in addition to other community areas. Started at Stanford University, a d.space is an area built entirely for students to meet, collaborate and work together to solve complex problems or complete projects. No two d.spaces are alike, so students can choose the one they feel most comfortable with as long as they follow the four rules of the Learning Commons: No space is owned by any department, class, or group. No group has priority over any other for a space. There are no reservations. The rooms are first come, first served. Once a space is occupied, the occupants can choose whether to share a space or not. Learning Commons is unique in higher education. The building is 105,000 square feet and contains no offices or classrooms of any kind. "I am truly proud of what we have done with the Learning Commons and I do believe that it is exceptional," Dr. Robert K. McMahan, President.

October Continued ...

Bubbles “The Blind Beagle” MCM Spectacular Pet Search Winner

While all MCM Pet Search Nominees were stellar in their own right, MCM chose to share the story of Bubbles and his special mission. Bubbles “The Blind Beagle” Dinsmoore of Otisville was born with genetic defects which caused him to lose his eyes last summer … but he didn't let it slow him down! He recovered and has adapted to his disability with the help of his parents Stacie and Brent. He now travels around the state with his Jeep, using his huge personality and charm to advocate for those facing physical challenges. “He may not see the world, but the world sees him shine wherever he goes!” says his mom, Stacie. Throughout October – National Bullying Prevention Month – Stacie and Bubbles loaded up his Jeep and rolled up to many area elementary schools to visit with students. “We advocate for those with disabilities and teach children to have empathy and compassion for those who are unlike them.”

More than Boxing FWC Berston Boxing Club

NOVEMBER

Flint's First Lady of Jazz Gwen Pennyman-Hemphill

Gwen Pennyman-Hemphill grew up to live her life on stage, singing all over the state of Michigan both solo and with recording artists such as The Williams Brothers, The Canton Spirituals, Willie Clayton, The Delfonics and others. Her career led to collaborations with Carvin Winans and a backup stint with Michael McDonald. “I’m asked to

sing wherever I go. I always promise just one song, but it always turns into three or four.” If there is a festival, celebration of song, or special occasion in town, you can bet that Pennyman-Hemphill will be there waiting in the wings. “I’ll continue to sing as long as I can,” she states. “It’s something I was called to do.”

Everything about the gritty, blue-collar basement boxing gym at Berston Field House seems to embody Flint. The atmosphere, aesthetics and attitude found here capture the spirit of the city. This sometimes-sweltering room, awash in purple and yellow, is where the FWC Berston boxing club members gather to practice the sweet science. Every weeknight, trainers Jason Crutchfield and Eugene Gill welcome roughly 15 – from novices to champions. Boxers hone their craft in a ring containing the names of club founders and legendary trainers Floyd Fielder, Lissus Walker and Dee Cavette and on punching bags of various colors, some repaired with tape, hanging from the ceiling. Here, the equipment is functional, not fancy. "We have everything we need here to run a quality boxing program,” says Crutchfield, a four-time Michigan Golden Gloves Champion who is nearing three decades as an FWC instructor. "What keeps me going is that I want to make all the boxers who come to Berston champions, but equally important is helping them stay on the right path in life.”

Home at Last

The "New" McCree Theatre

The "New" McCree Theatre has finally found a permanent home at 4601 Clio Rd., opening to the public in September 2021. Founded in 1970, the “old” McCree Theatre was born from the Genesee County Model Cities Program and named after Flint’s first African American Mayor, Floyd McCree. The original concept ran in Flint until 1989. In 2004, the “New” McCree Theatre opened with the same commitment to excellence and with the new mission “to tell the African American Story in the African American Voice.” Since its rebirth, there was just one constant, nagging problem – the theatre never really had a home. Instead, shows were opened in a multitude of places. When a church located on Clio Road went on the market, Executive Director Charles Winfrey jumped at the chance. The theatre provides another outlet for Flint’s vibrant performing arts scene and in their new home, their offerings can reach a new level. “Try it,” Winfrey said. “Theatre is for everybody. Come and see what we do.”

Golf Champion Kate Brody

The final season of Golf Champion Kate Brody’s career at Grand Blanc High School was her finest. She won nine of ten tournaments and shot a pair of 65s, one of which won her a second regional championship. She also collected a fourth league title and third Genesee

County championship. In between high school competitions, she squeezed in winning the Golf Association of Michigan (GAM) Junior Invitational by four strokes, firing 137 for two rounds. “I feel like I accomplished everything I could have hoped for in my high school career,” she said. “I had an amazing coach (Glen Bauer) and an amazing team every year.” Brody will continue her golf career at the University of Wisconsin. “If I still have a passion for the game after college, I would love to take after my mom and continue playing for a living.”

Flint Institute of Music Spectacular Party

Immediately following the Flint Symphony Orchestra’s BCO Tribute to Ella Fitzgerald Concert, FIM wrapped up a monthlong celebration of a new, expanded FIM to raise funds for the new KidsTix program, which allows Flint-area youth the chance

to experience the power of live performing arts with free admission to shows at FIM’s Capitol Theatre, Whiting Auditorium, Elgood Theatre and MacArthur Recital Hall. Guests enjoyed food and drinks, dancing to celebrity playlists, prize drawings, a silent auction and raffle.

December

"It’s such an honor to be recognized for everything I have been blessed to accomplish."

2022 Cityzen of the Year

Linnell Jones-McKenney

MCM featured Linnell Jones-McKenney: basketball superstar, member of six halls-of-fame, Senior Olympic Gold Medalist and recent Art Hurand Art of Achievement Award recipient, champion of Flint youth and MCM’s 2022 Cityzen of the Year. “Awww … it’s such an honor to be recognized for everything I have been blessed to accomplish,” she said humbly. “I’m very grateful for the chance to work toward what I would like to see happen in this city. Thank you very much.”

Compassion and Connection Rabbi Zoe McCoon of Temple Beth Torah

Last summer, then-27-year-old Grand Blanc native Zoe McCoon was leading her first service as Rabbi of Temple Beth Torah in Fremont, CA, just north of San Jose. She began her tenure as the first female Rabbi in Temple Beth Torah’s 60-year history at an ideal time, as in-person services resumed a week later with an 80-minute outdoor event, featuring her voice and guitar playing throughout, next to the temple on a serene, northern California evening. McCoon addressed the change in leadership and offered her unwavering support. “As your Rabbi, I want you to know that I am here alongside you as we navigate the ‘new’ together,” she said. “Whether you want to talk about what you are going through or just want to feel supported by your community, Temple Beth Torah is here for you and I’m here for you. Let’s experience this ‘new’ together.”

Last fall, Frankenmuth, the “little Bavarian city to our north” lost two of its most influential and beloved citizens. On October 16, Irene Bronner of Bronner’s CHRISTmas Wonderland passed away at the age of 95, leaving behind a loving family, a supportive

community and a world famous shop offering holiday wonders for all. Then, just three days later on October 19, prominent Frankenmuth businesswoman, Judy Zehnder Keller passed away. She was 77. Many people in Greater Flint have fond memories of

exploring Bronner’s and enjoying meals at the Bavarian Inn Restaurant & Lodge, and neither would exist if it weren’t for the influence and dedication of these two treasured women. MCM was proud to offer a tribute.

History of the Great Lakes

The White Hurricane

In November 1913, the Great Lakes were hit with a storm the likes of which none have ever seen before. Its ferocity was unmatched by any in recorded history. Dubbed “The White Hurricane” it left more than a dozen shipwrecks throughout the lakes and took over 250 lives. The White Hurricane still holds the distinction of being the largest inland maritime disaster in U.S. history. It grew so quickly and at such a time in history, that disastrous effects were inevitable. Once caught in the storm, a ship’s fate was sealed unless it got lucky. Not many were lucky enough.

The Matriarchs of Frankenmuth Irene Bronner and Judy Zehnder Keller

GREATER FLINT AREA SPORTS HALL OF FAME

2022 Induction Banquet & Ceremony

GENESYS ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CENTER | 12.3.2022

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

KATY KILDEE

Atthis year’s formal banquet and ceremony, the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame inducted eight individuals and three teams into the Class of 2022. The individuals were: Marty Embry (Flint Central Basketball); Gwen Wentland-Mikinski (Grand Blanc Track & Field); Michael Miller (Flint Northern Track Team); Jake Long (Lapeer East Football); Darryl Johnson (Flint Central Basketball); former Beecher Girls Basketball Coach Dave Hollingsworth; Ben Lewis (Fenton Football and Wrestling Teams) and longtime media member, Tom Skinner. The teams included the Michigan School for the Deaf 1961, 1962 and 1963 Track & Field teams; Flint St. Matthew’s 1962 Basketball team; and the Powers Catholic 1993 and 1994 Girls Golf teams. The newest class brings the total membership in the GFASHOF to 303 individuals and 83 teams.

Mt. Holly –

Once a Summer Haven for Rock & Roll

BY VERA HOGAN

Now that the holidays are over, cabin fever is likely starting to set in. Some people choose to spend the winter days catching up on their reading, going to see the latest movies or participating in other fun indoor activities. Others choose to take to the hills for the thrill of skiing and snowboarding.

We have just the place to do that right here in our own backyard! Mt. Holly Ski & Snowboard Resort on Dixie Highway is just minutes away for those who enjoy the sporting opportunities offered there. When my sons were in their early teens and too young to drive, I took them to Mt. Holly on the weekends in the winter. Although I don’t ski, my sons were (and still are) avid snowboarders. Once we arrived, my boys would take off for the slopes and I would head to the

Mt. Holly, and she told me an amazing story.

Mary Jane’s father, John “Grant” Hanks, partnered with Mort Graddis, a man he met when they worked together at the lumber yards in East Detroit. They opened, owned and operated the Mt. Holly resort. Enter a man named Bob Dell, who was the program director at Grand Blanc AM radio station, WTAC. Dell thought Mt. Holly would be the perfect venue for summertime record hops. A few radio announcements and plugs about the venue were all he needed to make it a reality. From the mid-1960s to 1970, a host of bands made their way to the Mt. Holly Ski Resort to perform for crowds of between 350 and 1,000 teenagers every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday night.

lounge. Once I found a comfy spot by the large windows overlooking the hills, I ordered a coffee and fired up my laptop. I was a newspaper editor/writer at the time and am not kidding when I say that I got more work done in five hours in that lounge than I did in an entire week at the office.

Later during the summer months, I would take breaks outdoors and chat with some of the newspaper’s advertisers. One of those nice ladies was Mary Jane (Hanks) Glenn. We were talking about

Mary Jane and her siblings hung out with them. She said she and a friend took turns working as a “soda jerk” at the soda fountain. One would work at the soda fountain and the other would go out on the dance floor, and then they would switch.

Alice Cooper, Bob Seger, Ted Nugent (The Amboy Dukes), Grand Funk Railroad, Chuck Berry, The Lettermen and many more acts made their way to the popular Dixie Highway venue – long before they went on to greater fame and become part of rock and roll history.

Sadly, it all ended when the music and the times changed. Mary Jane is gone now, but I will never forget her for sharing these remarkable memories of Mt. Holly.

Recently retired, Vera Hogan is a 20-year veteran of the newspaper business, having served both Fenton and Flint area publications. During those years, she was a reporter, associate editor, editor, web content editor and columnist. Her popular columns have earned her multiple state awards. She resides in the City of Fenton. Email verahogan@hotmail.com.

skimtholly.com

THE COLLAPSE OF FTX

BY DR. CHRISTOPHER DOUGLAS

The cryptocurrency exchange FTX filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on November 11, 2022. This marked a stunning fall for a company that ran star-studded Super Bowl advertisements and owned the naming rights to the arena where the Miami Heat plays. What happened?

A traditional bank takes in deposits and uses these deposits to issue loans. The bank earns a profit by issuing loans at a higher interest rate than what it pays on deposits. If borrowers default on their loans, the bank gets in trouble, since the bank would be unable to repay its depositors. When this happens, the bank is insolvent, meaning its assets are less than its liabilities. The bank also gets in trouble if enough depositors want their deposits back at the same time, since banks will run out of cash on hand to meet this demand. The bank is illiquid, but not necessarily insolvent. This is what happened to George Bailey in the movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

Details are still fluid, but what happened to FTX is the cryptocurrency version of this. FTX was an exchange, meaning someone who wanted to buy a particular cryptocurrency would make a deposit with FTX. FTX would then find someone looking to sell that cryptocurrency, use the customer’s deposit to make the purchase, and charge a fee for this service. This is how a stock exchange works; had FTX only operated as an exchange, it would not have gotten into trouble.

FTX did much more. Customers often left their cryptocurrency on deposit with FTX since it was easier to do so than moving the cryptocurrency to their own computers. This gave FTX the ability to lend, much like a bank can lend with deposits. FTX apparently lent to the hedge fund Alameda Research to fund its investments. However, Alameda made numerous bad

investments, losing this money, helping push FTX toward insolvency.

FTX also appears to have bought cryptocurrency on margin, which means borrowing to buy it. A motivation for this might be to wait for the price to rise, sell the cryptocurrency, pay back the loan and pocket the difference as profit. Another motivation might be to loan the borrowed cryptocurrency to customers at a higher interest rate than what was paid to borrow it. When cryptocurrency prices crashed, FTX had to sell the cryptocurrency at a price much lower than the purchase price to pay back these loans, leading to massive losses.

A major asset that FTX was holding on its balance sheet was a cryptocurrency it created out of thin air – the FTT – and wildly overstated its value. FTX’s balance sheet was leaked to the media showing this, which caused a run of depositors trying to withdraw their funds. FTX quickly ran out of cash and faced illiquidity. Owners of the FTT dumped it, depressing its value and further pushing FTX into insolvency. Now it was, to quote Bill Paxton in “Aliens”: “Game over, man. Game over!” for FTX and its customers, many of whom lost their life savings.

Dr. Christopher Douglas came to the University of Michigan-Flint in 2006. He earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.S. in Economics from Michigan Technological University in 2001, and his Ph.D. in Economics from Michigan State University in 2007. As Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics, he teaches Principles of Microeconomics, Principles of Macroeconomics, International Economics, Public Finance, and Sports Economics.

BY LESLIE TOLDO

TREASURE THE OLD, EMBRACE THE NEW

In the spring of 1990, I was a college senior working at a donut shop in the small town of Laramie, WY. Moving there from Baton Rouge, LA where I grew up was a bit of a culture shock; but at Daylight Donuts, I found a family of sorts. Regular customers came in each day like clockwork. They ordered the same thing every time, and I had every donut and coffee – including their cream and sugar amounts –committed to memory.

One of the regulars, Bill, always ordered a chocolate long john with crème, not custard, and a black coffee. He sat at the counter and chatted me up about school. One morning, he made a suggestion that changed the course of my life.

“Why don’t you get a copywriting internship at the radio station?” he queried. “Surely, you will need that to finish up your advertising program at UW.”

I had been racking my brain trying to figure out how I could get the internship opportunity I needed in this three-stoplight town.

Bill set me up with an interview, during which I was asked to record a commercial, because the station desperately needed a female voiceover. That one spot landed me a job I never even imagined myself in: afternoon drive disc jockey. A year later, a man wandered into the control room at the station and introduced himself as an avid listener and sales rep for The Wyoming Radio Network, based in Casper. He urged me to interview for a weather anchor position at a Casper TV station.

After considerable coaxing from one of my professors, I applied. Much to my surprise, I got the job. From there, I did a stint in Jackson, MS followed by Detroit and finally, Flint. I have spent the last nearly 19 years of my seemingly accidental career in the Vehicle City. It seems like yesterday and a million years ago that I arrived here.

Just as the good people of Laramie and Daylight Donuts had welcomed me as one of their own all those years ago, the people of Mid-Michigan embraced me as one of their own. I have never felt more at home anywhere. I found my husband here. I have gone through the best and worst moments of my life here. Through it all, this community has supported and cheered me on.

I know I can count on my Mid-Michigan family to love me through another big change that has rolled in with this New Year. I am retiring from my three-decade broadcast career. While I may not be your Weather Lady anymore, I will still be your neighbor and friend.

Before I hang up my microphone and move into this new chapter of my life, I want to thank you. You have welcomed me into your homes and treated me like family. You shared your stories with me and let me tell them. I am forever grateful. Everyone should have the good fortune of wandering up to a welcome wagon like the one that greeted me here.

I’m happy to say you will still find me here in My City, musing about life, love and this community I am so blessed to call my forever home.

Change is a little scary, but you can treasure the old while you embrace the new.

An Emmy-nominated anchor/meteorologist/reporter at FOX66 and NBC25, Leslie Toldo has worked in TV news for over 30 years, nearly 20 in Flint. She is a blogger, writer, wedding and funeral officiant. Born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA, she graduated from the University of Wyoming. An avid kayaker, boater and runner, Leslie lives in Linden with her husband, Ellie the cat and three dogs: Bear, Gus and Lucy.

Real Estate…

A CANARY IN THE COAL MINE?

BY MARC JANCA AIF®

Most of us can remember 2008 when we went through a crisis –a perfect storm of multiple aspects of the financial system collapsing at the same time which caused the Dow Jones Index to drop by 50% and the economy to endure an 18-month recession. The consensus is that the housing market was to blame for the recession, specifically bad loans handed out to finance homes that should not have been purchased. People who didn’t have the income to support high mortgage payments were given low interest rates in order to qualify for lending and when these loans started to go bad, it had a ripple effect across the financial markets. Many investment firms had investments that were filled with these bad loans and took major losses. Other firms that were selling insurance on these investments defaulted as well, which magnified things even further. We all know what happened after that: the government decided that bailing out the companies to stabilize an incredibly fragile financial system was worth the risk.

Fast-forward to 2020 and the COVID shutdown; this created dramatic changes in the workplace. Working

remotely was previously considered a luxury benefit and became the new norm for most employees, while production levels stayed relatively normal over the next few years. With the new work environment, employers found they no longer needed such big workspaces and many downsized or even stopped having a physical workspace, giving them a huge cost savings. In almost all cities, “For Lease” signs are the new normal, as tenants have become scarcer. This shift also has allowed employees to move to less urban areas and save significantly on rent; but this caused massive nationwide home price increases, specifically outside of large U.S. cities. Home values increased at a rapid pace –up almost 40% in the past three years.* This has all come to a grinding halt with the Fed drastically increasing interest rates over the past 11 months, causing the housing market to completely dry up due to high interest rates. But what has become of these commercial buildings now sitting at low capacity or even empty? Are we beginning to see some cracks form in the real estate world?

Some real estate investment trusts (REITs) have begun to freeze movements out of their funds given various liquidity

issues. What is beginning to happen is some of the underlying assets in these funds are now being valued significantly lower than what they have been in previous years. This is especially true in private REITs (those exempt from SEC and not traded on major exchanges). Given that they have fewer rules to follow, they are the first ones beginning to feel the withdrawal challenges as one of the world’s larger firms, Blackstone, announced limits on withdrawals from the $69 billion private REIT.

Will this trickle down to the retail investor world, or will the rules put in place from the last financial crisis help prevent further damage? No one can say for sure; but given the current real estate market, it feels like we may see more headlines about REITs coming down the pike and the real estate market in general. Could we see a repeat of 2008 when the real estate market was the first domino to fall?

* statista.com/statistics/275159/freddie-mac-houseprice-index-from-2009/#:~:text=The%20Freddie%20Mac%20House%20Price,rates%20in%20 2020%20and%202021

** cnbc.com/2022/12/08/blackstone-chief-defendsreal-estate-fund-amid-rush-for-withdrawals.html.

Marc has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Windsor. He got his start in the financial industry in 2005 and started his career at the Royal Bank of Canada as an investment advisor. Upon moving to the U.S., he spent ten years at Chase Bank, where he learned a lot about what the industry has to offer. Today, he is a financial advisor who can offer investment and insurance products and services with confidence. Marc and his wife, Ana, have two young daughters -- Sasha and Dylan.

Investment advisory services offered through OLV Investment Group, a Registered Investment Adviser. OLV Investment Group is independent of AEFS.

The Accredited Investment Fiduciary (AIF®) Designation demonstrates the individual has met educational standards to carry out a fiduciary standard of care and acting in a client’s best interest. All investments are subject to risk including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values. Registered representatives offer securities through AE Financial Services, LLC (AEFS), member FINRA/SIPC.

Always evolving, the club is constantly on the lookout for new members and hopes to continue growing in the future, whatever it may hold. “The group is open to anyone in retirement or semi-retirement who shares the common goal of staying engaged with the world and enjoying the company of like-minded people,” explains Cerny. The RMFGF members come from all walks of life and backgrounds and each is accepted as a valued and contributing part of the group. “We respect each other for who we are,” he adds. Joining is easy: simply attend a meeting via Zoom or in person at the FIM and then speak to any member to connect with the proper individual. Annual dues are $25 – a bargain for good times with good people. Although they are a men’s club, they would like it known that women are welcome to attend any meeting if they are interested in the presentation topic or wish to accompany a member. Those interested but not yet retired may join as an associate member.

If you want to enjoy the great adventure with like minds and good people, consider joining the Retired Men’s Fellowship of Greater Flint. Come as a guest and stay for the friendships.

For more information, including a list of future and past presenters, visit retiredmensfellowship.org.

Congratulations to the Retired Men’s Fellowship of Greater Flint for 60 wonderful years of adventure and friendship!

“The group is open to anyone in retirement or semi-retirement who shares the common goal of staying engaged with the world and enjoying the company of like-minded people.”

Tom Cerny, Former RMFGF President

Love For the of Soup

BY CHERYL DENNISON

My family and friends all know how much I love to cook. Nothing takes the chill out of a cold winter day better than a steaming bowl of soup, so I’m celebrating National Soup Month with something I absolutely love to make!

Christmas ham. I have turned leftover baked potatoes into a yummy Loaded Baked Potato Soup that will warm you up on a cold January day.

When I worked for a local newspaper, my co-workers were always excited to see me when I walked in the door carrying a crockpot of homemade soup. Everyone's favorite is my Beef Vegetable – a recipe that is special because of the care I put into making it. I use only the freshest veggies and a lean cut of Black Angus beef that I purchase at a store on the other side of town. The secret ingredient however, is the corn I bought from my favorite farm market at summer’s end and popped into my freezer to enjoy through the winter. My grandson Noah loves to eat soup and I have made some special ones for him at his request. His two favorites are Chicken

Corn Chowder and Clam Chowder, which was his “birthday meal” one year. My daughter's favorite is my Crab Soup chock-full of lump crab meat, vegetables and spicy Old Bay seasoning, a nod to my Maryland roots. Cream of Crab soup is another one of our faves, creamy and rich with lump crab, Old Bay and heavy whipping cream, and topped with cooking sherry.

I also enjoy a hot and delicious bowl of soup at some of my favorite restaurants. I love the French Onion at The Laundry in Fenton, made with a rich beef broth and caramelized onions, topped with melted French comte cheese. My favorite place to go for soup is Pesto's in Flint – I frequently order the spicy Cajun Shrimp and Andouille Sausage Gumbo served in a sourdough bread bowl.

National Soup Month can be traced back to 1986 as a promotional event for Campbell Soup. According to holidaycalendar.com, it is believed that soup has been made for around 20,000 years. Americans consume over 10 billion bowls of soup every year. During the Middle Ages, soup was called "sops" because bread was used to "sop up" the broth.

So, what is your favorite soup? National Soup Month is the perfect time to put on your apron, get creative and make a bubbling hot pot of goodness for your family to enjoy. It has been said that the most popular soup in America is Chicken Noodle; but there are so many other favorites – Tomato, Italian Wedding, Chicken Tortilla, Broccoli Cheese, chowders, bisques … so many soups, so little time!

I happen to agree with Ina Garten, a well-known chef who hosts cooking shows on Food Network. She says, "Grilled cheese and tomato soup is the ultimate comfort meal."

Are you hungry yet?

“When I am interviewing someone,” Vedant explains, “I always try to ask a unique question – something the person doesn’t always hear that is of interest to my audience. I also try to make it fun. My father always says if I didn’t make them smile, then I didn’t do a good interview.” One of Vedant’s signature tactics is to “flip” the interview and allow the subject to ask the questions, which makes for some extremely amusing interactions.

After all this experience with a microphone, some may be surprised to find out that Vedant doesn’t have any future plans to become a journalist or correspondent. “He would like to become an entrepreneur,” says Vipul. “It makes me proud to see how he is building his brand and the business side of Global Kid Media.” Vedant is looking at business schools around the country to attend after he graduates from Grand Blanc High School.

“With Global Kid Media, we were able to build more than 50 partnerships with businesses around the country and it’s something that I enjoyed doing,” Vedant adds. A member of the Grand Blanc varsity basketball and football teams, he also hopes to continue with a future in sports, if possible. As far as Global Kid Media is concerned, he wants to turn it into something bigger. “I would like to get other kids involved in it,” he remarks. “I want it to be a platform for kids to take the next step. Maybe an eight-year-old can have his own art show or an 11-year-old can host his own cooking show. I’m not sure what it will be in the next couple of years, but I do know that I want it to continue and evolve.”

His experiences in media over the past five years has taught Vedant the skills of perseverance, ingenuity, management and branding. It has instilled in him the confidence and belief in himself to make a difference in the world. It has also given him a lifetime of stories that he has been busy compiling for a book, currently untitled, that is due to be released in the near future.

The mission of Global Kid Media was to prove that kids can follow their dreams and achieve anything they put their minds to and work for. “I’m a normal kid and not special in any way,” explains Vedant. “My main advice is to start. Just do it! Sometimes, we think too much when instead, we just need to set a goal and start working towards it. Do the work now while you have the time and opportunities will come running at you.”

Don’t miss a single interview! Visit globalkidmedia.com, Like and Subscribe to the Global Kid Media YouTube Channel and Follow Globalkidmedia on Instagram for the most up-to-date interviews and information. In their quest to provide the very best media coverage for kids, Global Kid Media is also looking for media coverage sponsors and business partners. If you support the message and are interested in what Global Kid Media has to offer, visit globalkidmedia.com for more information and please click on the “Contact” tab to fill out the form. Vedant Gupta is waiting to work with you!

A Local in Paris

BY ALEXANDRIA PAZIENZA-NOLAN

Ithad been a while since my last visit to the City of Light, but it always feels like coming home.

Not that Paris is specifically welcoming or cozy – if anything, the city seems to hum on without you just fine, and your presence within her arrondissements creates nary a ripple.

Instead, the feeling of familiarity comes from novels read, movies seen, prior experiences. It comes from expectations of buttery croissants and bistro tables spilling out of cafes and the general bustle and beauty of the city.

For me, Paris always existed as more of an idea, a concept, a representation rather than a real place. But even upon close inspection, the grime of the streets, the graffiti on the walls, the smells in the metro and general grit of a city traversed by so many people, it still seems to stand for something bigger than itself.

Even when faced with the reality of Paris, the symbol of it, its deeper meaning is ever-present. There's something beautiful even in the chain coffee shops and plain grocers. Nothing exceptional about this fruit stand or that wine shop; there's a dozen like them in the streets surrounding you. You could almost trade one for another in their sameness. But the grocer on

your street becomes special. It's the place where you grab a snack before heading to your hotel. The wine shop is where you grab a bottle to take to enjoy on the lawn in front of the Eiffel Tower. The pharmacist on your street is the place where you grab Band-Aids when you develop blisters from walking around so much. So, in that way, whenever you're visiting any city (but somehow especially Paris) the shops and necessary markets and stores, cafes and bistros become your own little neighborhood. It is so easy in Paris to slip into something that approaches feeling like a local.

Not quite, of course – but the laid back glamor, the lingering over a glass after dinner or the pure enjoyment of a flaky pastry, those experiences become familiar ones, as if suddenly you are able to truly appreciate the gastronomic pleasures we take for granted on a daily basis.

I don't see many people talking on cell phones. Most couples are deep in private conversation and groups of friends are talking and sipping, sometimes gesturing wildly while telling a story. Even in it's strangeness there's a comfort, especially in knowing that even when you return to your hometown and settle back into your normal life routine, there will still be Parisians and tourists alike sitting at those tables, taking in the night air, noshing

on something delicately and tasting their wine appreciatively. Even when I'm gone and back to my daily life, people will be standing in line at my grocer, grabbing a coffee at my cafe or eating my favorite dish at the little local place in my Paris neighborhood.

So this most recent trip was a little different than others, a little more nerve wracking than the ones I took with my ex-husband in years gone by. But there was also less guilt about not "doing" enough. More acceptance of simply sitting in the moment, relaxing at the table, wandering around the city with no particular aim or goal. Paris was our oyster, and all of our moments the pearls.

And when we left our little piece of Paris to go home, we took our own little pieces of Paris with us and looked forward to all of the new little slices of life waiting for us when we returned.

Alexandria Nolan is a misplaced Michigander currently living in the wilds of the Houston urban jungle with the world’s most charming pre-schooler. She is a published novelist and contributor to various online and print publications, including a lifestyle blog, AlexandriaNolan.com. When not writing, she can be found teaching, reading or traveling, or reading about traveling.

My Can’t Miss List

Flint Firebirds vs. Kitchener Rangers

Dort Financial Center

1.7.2023

“The Spitfire Grill”

Flint Community Players

1.12-22.2023

Del Hall Memorial Concert Featuring After the Ashes

The Machine Shop 1.13.2023

Black History Film Series: “13th”

The New McCree Theatre 1.14.2023

Kevin Farley Comedy Night

The Machine Shop 1.20.2023

Wreking Crue: Tribute to Motley Crue

The Machine Shop 1.21.2023

Professional Artist Series: Sharon Love Jones

The New McCree Theatre 1.21.2023

Flint Firebirds vs. Erie Otters

Dort Financial Center 1.22.2023

Zehnder’s Snowfest Frankenmuth 1.25-29.2023

Meet the Orchestra! Concert FIM Whiting Auditorium 1.27.2023

16th Annual Community Gala

Flint Institute of Arts 1.28.2023

Flint Firebirds vs. Barrie Colts

Dort Financial Center 1.28.2023

See you there!

You Really Know Your Stuff!

National Compliment Day is January 24

hHey, you! Yeah, you. That was a great idea you had in the meeting this morning. No, don’t give me any of that negativity. I won’t hear it. It was a great idea and that’s that … and (get this) you are one smart cookie. I mean, you really know your stuff and I am glad to know you.

National Compliment Day is January 24 and I hope you are ready to give as well as receive. Compliments are so easy to provide, yet we often seem so reluctant to do so. When was the last time you paid someone a sincere compliment? When was the last time you received one? Has it been too long?

Compliments are powerful things and when offered with honesty, are empowering for those on the receiving end. They build confidence and provide positive validation of thoughts and actions. Often, a single compliment can change a person’s day from dark to light, a mood from troubled to relieved, and give someone much needed hope that they are moving in the right direction at the beginning of the New Year.

Impactful compliments are much more than quick and positive superficialities – they go a step beyond.

They are an acknowledgement of hard work, respect and attention. Impactful compliments touch who a person is and how they define themselves, and are meant to enhance their feeling of self-worth. For example, if the person is an engineer and really knows what they are doing, tell them so and be specific as to why you think so. Maybe they thought of a clever fix for a vexing electrical problem? Being specific in your compliment proves sincerity; those receiving it understand that you have truly taken notice. Every day, someone provides more than their share of reasons for a compliment. It’s up to you to go that extra step and call it out.

If it’s been a long time since you’ve paid someone a compliment, then National Compliment Day is your time to get the New Year rolling. How many can you give in a day? A week? A month? Why not go for a new personal best? I have faith that you’ll do it because I’ve noticed that, when it’s about making the world a better place, you always come through.

Help someone start the New Year in a positive direction by paying them a sincere compliment today!