Ever since he was a little boy, Larry Atkins felt a deep connection with nature. The Michigan native spent a lot of time outdoors collecting rocks, fossils and interesting pieces of wood. Then, he read about meteorites and was filled with wonder. “It was a defining moment,” he remembers. “I knew then that I was going to search the world to find them.” And, that is exactly what he did.
During this holiday season, home and family are topics of the utmost importance and a local artist brings that theme to her artwork which makes great gifts for Christmas. “I’m an illustrator,” says Pam Bailey. The talented artist creates intricate original illustrations and then burns the designs into various items, primarily made of natural wood and leather. Bailey is also a member of Flint Handmade, a nonprofit organization that encourages creative expression and artistic entrepreneurship in metro Flint.
Explore the night sky at Longway Planetarium. Astronomy experts take you on a tour of the night sky over Michigan in this live planetarium lecture that begins today, March 5. Learn about the rotation of the Earth, how to find the North Star, and which constellations and planets are visible in your backyard tonight. The show takes place at 3pm, every afternoon.
When Jeff Buecking was a boy living in a house on Chestnut Street in Flushing, he saw something one day that sparked a lifelong love of watching birds. Across the street, he saw a red-tailed hawk fly over a field, swoop down and catch a squirrel – a sight he says he has never forgotten. He also enjoyed birdwatching at this grandparent’s farm in Gladwin. “I took hikes in the woods and saw a lot of red-headed woodpeckers,” he shares. “That really sparked my interest.”
I’m going to tell you a story. It’s a weird story … one you probably won’t believe.
Back to the Bricks is a premier event in Greater Flint that attracts thousands of visitors every year. The five-day main event kicked off on August 14 with “Bricks Flicks,” a family-oriented party at the nostalgic US-23 Drive-In Theatre in Flint. This year’s movie was “Tucker: The Man and His Dream.” During the main event week, thousands of spectators lined Saginaw Street for rolling cruises from Downtown Flint to Grand Blanc. The main event also featured a car show, concert, dance party with a Motown theme and much more. In the week prior to the main event, Tune Up Parties were held in Davison, Clio, Linden, Fenton, Flushing, Mt. Morris and Beecher.
There are many “hidden gems” in Greater Flint, but the Chester H. Wilson Geology Museum, located in the Gorman Science Center at Mott Community College, is a true hidden gem – literally. The museum houses approximately 2,000 minerals, gems, rock collections and fossils from all over the world.
The Flint Rock and Gem Club has a mission to promote and encourage the understanding of Earth Sciences, Lapidary Arts and their related fields, and to share information with club members, educational institutions and the general public, according to Diana Dady, Club Historian, Secretary and Editor. Organized in 1956, it was incorporated in 1962, then became a nonprofit in 1980. “We teach people how to turn rocks into jewelry,” says Dady. The club is a proud member of Midwest Federation of Mineralogical & Geological Societies.
Illustrations by Andrew Ward
A few years ago, Katniss Everdeen, with her expert use of a bow and arrow in the “Hunger Games” film series, raised the popularity of archery to a new level. Moviegoers clearly remember the scene in which Katniss’ archery skills were being tested by the game-makers, and she missed the mark. As they laugh and turn their attention to the buffet table – particularly the roasted pig in the center – the game-makers don’t even notice when Katniss hits the target dead-center on her second attempt. Infuriated, she turns her bow toward the buffet table and skewers the apple held in the roasted pig’s mouth. Who wouldn’t want to have such skill?
