BROWSING:  Community

Presented by Harambee Wellness, Flint Fit Fest will take place on Saturday, January 25 at the Flint Farmers’ Market in Downtown Flint. From 9:00am to 1:00pm, attendees will get a chance to “test drive exercise” to find a format that fits their lifestyle. Get a chance to speak with representatives of local gyms as well as independent fitness instructors. Participants will also be given tips and tricks for healthy eating during a live cooking demo. The festival is free and open to all at the Flint Farmers’ Market. Event sponsors are Flint Prints, Flint Farmers’ Market, T.W. Feaster Attorney at Law PLLC, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. – Flint Alumnae Chapter.

2020 Health & Wellness Expo takes place this weekend.

The Flint River Watershed Coalition (FRWC) is gearing up for its annual 2020 Voice of the River Annual Celebration, celebrating a “20/20 Vision” for the Flint River and its watershed, according to a news release. The community is invited to join in the celebration on Thursday, January 30 at GM’s Factory One to celebrate the wonderful features of the Flint River from 1-9pm. The food will be catered by Redwood Steakhouse. Awards will be given out and there will be a raffle and auction items. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online at www.FlintRiver.org, by calling 810-767-6490, or emailing ewesthoff@flintriver.org. Payment can be made at the door, but an RSVP is appreciated.

On Saturday, February 8 the Unity in Diversity Concert will be held at Insight Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience, located at 4800 Saginaw St., Flint. The free festivities open to the public at 7pm.

The 41st Annual Citywide Tribute Dinner honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., is set for Thursday, Jan. 16 at the Genesys Banquet Center in Grand Blanc. Centered on the theme Rise to the Challenge . . . if not now, when? this year’s keynote address will be given by Janice Ferebee, MSW, a Docent with the National Museum of African American History & Culture in Washington, D.C.

Starting June 5, 2020, Bishop International Airport and Allegiant Air will offer new nonstop flights to Nashville, TN. For a limited time, one-way fares can be booked for as low as $55*. The new seasonal route will operate twice weekly and the lowest fares can be found only at allegiant.com.

It’s been a long, remarkable career. Sheriff Robert Pickell has retired after 20 years of public service to the people of Genesee County. On January 1, 1999, he replaced his predecessor, Sheriff Joe Wilson, and was re-elected to the position five times. Prior to becoming sheriff, his impressive law enforcement background includes working in the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office as an investigator, and for the CIA from 1989 to 1995, traveling four continents and handling some very high-profile cases. He had a private investigation business working with insurance companies and attorneys until he took office.

The last eight months have been a whirlwind for Bishop International Airport’s new Director, Nino Sapone. He was hired last March as the deputy director of operations and maintenance, and four months later found himself the interim airport director. On October 22, he was officially named director of BIA. My City Magazine sat down with him to learn a little about his background and plans for the future of Bishop.

Kwanzaa is an African-American celebration of life from December 26-January 1. The festival was introduced to the United States in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, a black nationalist and professor of Pan-African studies at California State University at Long Beach, as a ritual to welcome the first harvests to the home. Dr. Karenga created this festival for African-Americans as a response to the commercialism of Christmas.

On Saturday, December 14 the Genesee Valley Mall will be packed with excited Youth Quest Biz students as they work to sell their wares for Christmas. The fair will be located in the JCPenney wing. More than 60 young Youth Quest entrepreneurs will dazzle shoppers with an array of products including: jewelry, candles, bath bombs, décor, slime, sweets, ornaments, blankets, hot cocoa mix and more.

Voices for Children Advocacy Center invites you to attend their Holiday Open House on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5-8pm. Located near Downtown Flint, the Big Blue House is packed with history and ornate detail, including the fireplace where “T’was the Night Before Christmas” was written.  Come and learn more about what Voices for Children Advocacy Center does, enjoy light refreshments, and share the warmth this holiday season. The Center is located at 515 East St., Flint.

Lawyers in the area are once again giving a gift to the community. The Genesee County Bar Foundation and Genesee County Bar Association’s 29th Annual Community Holiday Dinner is Thursday, Dec. 19 from 4–7pm at the Masonic Temple, 755 S. Saginaw Street in Downtown Flint. The free event will feature a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. Children will have their photographs taken with Santa Claus and receive a small gift and book. No reservations necessary. No outdoor waiting. There is a warming center located in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church directly next door to the Masonic Temple.  Musical entertainment provided. For more information, contact the Genesee County Bar Foundation and Genesee County Bar Association at (810) 232-6000.