Dr. Inez Slaubaugh’s journey to becoming an artist was as unexpected as one of her tech ink paintings.
Flushing is known for its abundance of small-town charm. Located west of Flint with easy access to the expressway, Flushing allows its citizens to enjoy the advantages of a metropolitan area while residing in a small town. “Flushing is a great place to live!” says lifelong resident Terry Bigelow. Lovely neighborhoods, good schools, an historic and vibrant downtown and eight parks are just a few of the things that make Flushing idyllic. Annual events and festivals, such as the Christmas Candlewalk and the Fall Festival contribute to Flushing’s classic, small-town-America character and sense of community.
Once a well-known and oft-visited site, Stepping Stone Falls and its history has dimmed in the public mind.
It’s Friday evening in Downtown Flushing. Purple “Welcome” banners and baskets overflowing with pink flowers line the city’s charming Main Street as diners at Kathy’s Restaurant & Lounge gather for a meal on the outdoor patio. Sipping refreshing strawberry-pomegranate coolers and savoring avocado and basil grilled chicken … life is good!
Lying flat on his back, Miguel Ruelan stared at the weight bar above him. On the bar’s ends was enough weight to total 451 pounds, an amount that would set a world bench-pressing record, if he could properly execute the lift. With three international judges scrutinizing his every move, the tension in the room was palpable. Fluorescent lights buzzed overhead and a spectator’s cough broke the silence of the crowd. Taking a long, deep breath, he exhaled as he carefully lifted the bar off the rack. Seconds felt like hours as he held the massive weight above him, waiting for the judges’ command that would allow him to lower it …
Michael Johnson has only sketchy memories of the moment that will impact the rest of his life.
Fandangles’ is well known in the community for its exceptional catering. But if you venture to the small Flushing eatery, you’ll discover much more than creative cuisine. Dining in-house gives patrons the opportunity to become patrons of the arts, as well. Every month, the artwork displayed on the restaurant walls changes in what co-owner Tom Price calls “a unique method for taking part in our community.”
Since 1970, The Flushing A has been the go-to place for hot dogs and refreshing root beer floats. Formerly an A&W franchise, the name was changed to Flushing A in 2000 when the franchise was given up, and now the unique drive-in/dine-in restaurant is a local landmark.
It was a little boy named Michael who tugged local businessman Dan Crannie’s heart strings at Whaley Children’s Center many years ago. Dan, owner of Signs by Crannie, had done some work for the center for abused children. Although he had built signs for Whaley, Crannie had never seen its inner workings. That changed when Bill Weitzel, Whaley’s Director of Development at the time, asked him to come to Whaley to personally discuss some sign work. “He gave me a tour of the building and introduced me to the kids,” Dan remembers, “It was pretty moving.”
In classic mythology, a hero was “a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage or ability,” a demigod whose deeds stood above those of mere mortals. Modernity sees heroes as comic-book figures, with powers or freakish gifts used to save the world. But are heroes relegated only to stories? Are we, the common man, doomed to an ordinary existence, following the crowd and staying safe in the middle ground?
It all began with two Genesee County natives – Dave Broadworth of Swartz Creek and Dave Byl of Flint. They both loved watching sports and tailgating, especially at U of M and MSU games. Back in 1985, they conceived an idea to capitalize on the great rivalry between the Spartans and the Wolverines: Why not open a retail store and sell merchandise from the rivaling schools? The rest, as they say, is history!
