This year we had 2319 Ducks that were contenders for the $1,000 First Place prize. We had great weather and a great deal of participation to again make this event one of the Freedom Festivals greatest traditions. Below is the list of winners. We will be contacting winners and delivering prize money over the next two weeks. Please contact Richard Honaker at (810) 265 – 3195 to claim your prize or request it be mailed out to you. If you purchased a corporate sponsorship your Rotary member who you supported will deliver the check to you.
Revving engines, a roaring crowd, pulsating music and the thrill of victory are all part of your experience at Auto City Speedway in Clio. In its 60-year history, Auto City has entertained hundreds of thousands of people with Short Track Stock Car Racing on its paved half-mile, quarter-mile and Figure 8 tracks. Hundreds of fans and their families enjoy racing events every Saturday night, from April through September. Joe DeWitte has owned the track for 16 years. “It opened originally in 1955 and was just a dirt track in the middle of a farm field,” says Joe. It was previously owned by Jack Doering and in 1986 the track was paved. The trend at that time was asphalt over dirt. “Some of the fans would be just covered in dirt,” laughs the owner.
The Ryan Bellows Bluegrass Bazaar on Saturday was well-attended by Flint-area families who heard some familiar folk and bluegrass tunes performed at Kearsley Park Pavilion. Besides the lively mandolin players, fiddlers, guitarists, vocalists and others who graced the stage, the family-friendly event was festive with food, vendors and a hugely positive vibe!
Whether you’re into swimming, paddling, skiing, surfing, sailing, fishing, floating or cruising, the fun watersports that are Michigan traditions will undoubtedly pull you back to the sparkling blue this summer. From Lake Fenton to the Holloway Reservoir and the meandering Flint River, no one needs to travel very far to enjoy the water. Even the Flint River is heartily shaking off its stigma of being yucky and unsafe for recreational enthusiasts. Canoers and kayakers frequently paddle the river each summer and are pleasantly surprised by its natural beauty and the assortment of wildlife they see.
Brent Nickola of Lapeer and his father Dr. Paul Nickola of Linden have a few fishing stories to tell. The tales begin in Flushing, where Brent grew up and where Paul practiced optometry for 32 years. Their home had a pond nearby, which contained an assortment of fish, including one of a pair of catfish affectionately known as Big Mama swimming in its depths – and Big Mama was resilient. “We caught it for a decade or more,” says Brent. “It loved Koegel hotdogs!” Paul nods. “We always caught the same damn fish,” he laughs. “The bluegills were huge. We would throw them back because we just wanted to fish.”
The Grand Re-opening of Longway Planetarium was celebrated today with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, cocktail reception, star shows and an indoor tour of the newly renovated facility. The celebration continues through the Weekend of Wonder (May 30-31), when all activities and shows in the radically different planetarium theater are free to the public! The exciting titles include , including “Perfect Little Planet,” “To Space and Back,” “Violent Universe” and “Sea Monsters.” Check it out!
