BC Comix is a haven for gamers and comic book enthusiasts looking to be transported to other worlds. There, people who are interested in tabletop games, interactive games and popular comic books can spend hours away from the worries of their everyday lives.
It’s Christmas Eve and last-minute shoppers are scurrying about on the hunt for that last perfect gift. For those ready to take a break from the frantic shopping frenzy, The Laundry in Fenton is a welcoming spot to enjoy a little Christmas cheer.
The kitchen at Mott Community College’s Culinary Arts Program is bustling with activity as students learn how to make cheese from Chef Mark Handy. Chef Mark teaches the garde manger class, in which students are taught how to prepare different foods produced in the cold kitchen, including cheese-making, smoked and cured foods, salads and salad dressings, cold sauces and soups, to name a few. And the students are in good hands. Chef Mark was recently one of 26 chefs inducted into the American Academy of Chefs, a great achievement. According to Dawn Hibbard, Communication Specialist at MCC, Chef Mark is one of only 20 chefs in Michigan to receive this honor. Chef Mark explained that there are 17 mandatory requirements to even be considered, and a chef must be nominated by two AAC members. He was sponsored by Chef John Zehnder and Chef Rajeev Patgaonkar.
The AGA Gymnastics Training Center is a sprawling complex of more than 10,000 square feet nestled between I-75 and U.S. 23, just south of Hill Road in Grand Blanc. On most days, especially in the late afternoon, the facility hums with activity. Aspiring athletes by the hundreds – of all abilities, from pre-school through high school – hone their crafts from gymnastics to tumbling to cheerleading. It is also home to the Creative Learning Academy – an award-winning childcare center that incorporates gymnastics and other physical activities.
Born and raised in Flint, Andrew Ranville began pursuing his artistic education in college. He started studying graphic design, but soon felt that something was missing. “After my first semester of going down the graphic design track, I realized I was much more interested and engaged with projects that were my own, as opposed to doing any type of corporate branding,” he shares. “I was more drawn to the artistic aspect than the commercial aspect.” In 2008, he earned his MFA from the Slade School of Fine Art at the University College of London in the United Kingdom. Since then, his work has led him down a new path – literally and figuratively.
J.R. Kirtek has been forecasting the weather for mid-Michigan for 23 years. Chief Meteorologist at ABC12 News, he is the weather anchor for the 5pm, 6pm, and 11pm news broadcasts. J.R.’s day usually begins at 2pm when he arrives at the station to prepare his forecast before going on the air. His workday ends typically ends around midnight.
Losing a loved one is a devastating event for people of any age, but coping with grief can be especially overwhelming for children. That is why Ele’s Place recently opened a center in the Flint area. Ele’s Place is a nonprofit, community-based organization that helps children cope with a death in their life. Its mission is to raise awareness of and provide peer support for grieving children and teens and their families. Ele’s Place has locations in Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and Lansing, which is a considerable drive for people from the Flint area. “There was definitely a need for this type of service here,” says Amy Krug, Managing Director.
Where did Genesee County inhabitants come from? Where did they settle once they arrived? For Part 2 of our series, let’s explore the immigration and settlement patterns of early Genesee County.
Walking into The Whiting on the rich, red carpet evokes a sense of anticipation – the feeling that something very special is about to happen when the curtain finally opens. The building at the heart of Flint’s Cultural Center holds very special memories for many people – for many different reasons. Perhaps your high school graduation ceremony was there, you danced in your first recital, listened to the Flint Symphony Orchestra perform, saw your first Broadway show, a musical or a rock concert.
“I’m all about second chances, because someone gave me one,” says Dennis Coselmon, a former drug and alcohol addict who recently celebrated his fifth year of being clean and sober. His belief in second chances motivates him to share his story.
Flint native Howard Bragman is one of the most recognized PR professionals in America. He has taken his 30+ years of agency experience and become the “go-to” guy on television to explain celebrity misbehavior, corporate crisis and the role of “spin” in our everyday lives. He is a frequent contributor and news consultant on ABC programs such as Good Morning America, and he offers expert commentary regularly on CNN and MSNBC.
