When summer begins, local playgrounds and baseball/softball diamonds fill up with kids and teens looking to enhance their skills and have fun playing a game they love. This sport can be a big part of a youngster’s life. Who remembers playing pick-up games in a vacant lot? How about keeping a new ball glove under a mattress or bound with rubber bands to “break it in?” And since the game began, playing catch with Dad has become as American and iconic as apple pie. Genesee County is home to multiple youth leagues and this year, My City Magazine sponsored seven youth teams throughout the area. For kids of all ages, the love of the game is going strong in Greater Flint!
Economic confidence was high at the beginning of the 1980s. Wall Street and the banking industry were set to explode and when Reagan trounced Carter in the general election, the days of big business began. The excess of the 1980s was not simply limited to capitalism. The “Miracle on Ice” occurred at the 1980 Olympic Games in Lake Placid, NY, propelling Americans into a red, white and blue frenzy. Patriotism was at an all-time high, and Reagan rode it all the way to another landslide victory against Mondale in 1984. Even the Iran-Contra affair in 1986 did nothing to erode support for the President. George Bush continued where Reagan left off after winning the general election in 1988, defeating Michael Dukakis.
If you have been motoring around Flint this summer, you may have seen artists at work covering the city with beautiful, colorful murals. Their creations are brought to you courtesy of the Flint Public Art Project (FPAP) as they begin Phase 1 of their goal to paint 100 new murals in Flint by the end of summer 2020. The project is ahead of schedule and by the end of this summer, 50 awe-inspiring works of art will be finished. My City Magazine spoke with Flint Public Art Project executive director, Joe Schipani, who filled us in on art, the birth of the mural project and the upcoming First International Mural Festival.
It’s been the pride of Downtown. The Flint Farmers’ Market is a bustle of activity, bringing unique foods, abundant fresh produce, delicious baked goods and a wide variety of events drawing thousands of visitors to Flint. June 21 marked the fifth anniversary of the Flint Farmers’ Market at its current location at 300 E. First Street.
At 7pm on October 20, 1919, Major Albert Sobey unlocked the door to his classroom for the first time. His students were workers from all walks of life who made the journey to Flint with the hope of a better life through the auto industry and General Motors. All of them decided to attend a new school in Flint dedicated to the art of engineering and management. What that one, small turn of a key would lead to was a wonderful surprise for the city and to students for a century. That first class was the birth of Kettering University.
Grab a few friends or pack up the kids and continue enjoying a great summer of music and festivals. Opportunities to steal a weekend of sunshine and experience a new concert venue are just a quick ride away or a simple walk around the block. Don’t miss out! Make the most of all the summertime you can find and keep the party going strong!
A small, family business in Grand Blanc, Grand Oak Mortgage Company specializes in residential mortgage lending and pre-approvals, and also assists borrowers who are looking to refinance their current home or purchase a new home. “The majority of our business comes from past client referrals and realtor referrals,” says Owner, Carol Landis.
In 1914, an Irish immigrant named John Walter Donlan wanted to help erect a new Roman Catholic Church in the Flint community. To generate funding, he found a place at the market downtown where he began selling fresh fish supplied by family friends in Bay City. The fish market was a hit, and in no time, Donlan and many others were able to raise enough money to build St. Matthews Catholic Church. Immediately thereafter, Donlan started the Flint Fish Company at 521 Brush Alley. Built upon a pledge of selling only the highest quality fish and providing excellent customer service, the company was highly successful. In 1949, Donlan’s son, John Mason Donlan moved the business to its current location at 3116 Corunna Road. In 1980, a new facility was built at the same location by Michael Wallace Donlan and in 1998, the business was passed to its current owner, Michael John Donlan. Since its beginning, Donlan’s has been the community’s go-to fish place and is Flint’s longest-running business – here for 105 years.
Honor, dignity, humility, service, respect. These are a few words that come to mind after meeting with Rico Phillips, a longtime Flint firefighter who recently brought home the NHL Willie O’Ree Community Hero Award. The award recognizes an individual who, through the game of hockey, has positively inspired his or her community, culture or society. Willie O’Ree is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player, known best for being the first black player in the National Hockey League and for his community service. “He broke the color barrier,” says Phillips. “Today, he is known as the Jackie Robinson of hockey.”
Health Alliance Plan (HAP) invites Flint-area residents to the HAP Health & Fun Fair on Saturday, Aug. 3 from 10am-2pm. The fair will take place at the HAP Flint Grounds, 2050 S. Linden Road (the southwest corner of Linden and Corunna roads). More than 40 mid-Michigan community partners will be onsite to share information about available resources for kids, families and seniors.
