The roar of the crowd, the high-fives and fist-bumps, the heckles and jokes, the smiles and praise, the outreach and community all play a large role in Caeden Hunter’s years at Michigan State University, as they do for many who enjoy the academics and camaraderie of a university experience. Hunter’s experience, however, was enjoyed from a unique – and secret – perspective. You could even say he looked at it through a whole different set of eyes, literally. “I was Sparty for all four years,” he explains, “and it was awesome to be able to do all the things that Sparty does for the University and the East Lansing community.”
When the silver medal winner in the Belgian-Style Tripel category was announced this past March at the World Beer Cup in Nashville, Redwood Steakhouse & Brewery Brew Master Rockne Van Meter felt it was all over and he would be leaving the competition empty-handed. “Really, I went in hoping for a bronze or silver award. I didn’t think gold was in the cards for me in any category. Brewing the best beer in the world just doesn’t happen,” he says. Having entered five different beers in the competition, he was down to his last chance to receive an award. “I had four of the five make it to the medal rounds but no further.” He had pinned his best hopes on a Belgian-Style Saison that went down in an earlier medal round. The only beer left was his “Nectar of the Gods” – a Belgian-Style Tripel that he nearly didn’t submit. “My wife really liked it,” he remembers. “I wasn’t sure it was up to par. I thought it had no chance.” He was looking to leave the event before the gold medal winner was announced and wasn’t paying attention when his number was called. “I was speaking to my wife when people around me started clapping,” he recalls. The World Beer Cup judges had chosen his “Nectar of the Gods” as the gold medal winner in the Belgian-Style Tripel category. It was Van Meter’s only medal of the competition, one of only three medal-winners in the entire State of Michigan, and the only gold. “I couldn’t believe it,” he commented.
An affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind of Michigan (NFBMI) is an organization that believes in the full capacity of blind people and has the power, influence, diversity and determination to help transform their dreams into reality. MCM sat down with NFB Flint-Genesee Chapter President Sheila Fulmore, Vice President Leo Napier and Chapter Secretary Felecia Bradford to chat about what their volunteer organization does and how they help the blind and visually impaired.
We wait so long for the time when we can enjoy a meal al fresco and in Greater Flint, the options abound! Here is a sampling of the many local eateries that offer outdoor seating to enhance your summer dining experience.
There’s nothing like sunshine, a warm breeze and the smell of delicious food on the grill. If you’ve been anticipating getting back to grilling, wait no longer! According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, now that temperatures are warmer, it’s the perfect opportunity to celebrate everything you love about outdoor cooking. If you already have a grill, this is a great time to upgrade, so you can cook more dishes for bigger get-togethers, or to try a different kind of grill, letting you experiment with new techniques like using a smoker.
The United Community Addiction Network (UCAN) has a mission of uniting community resources to help fight the disease of addiction, according to the Founder and Executive Director, Aaron Rubio. Founded in June 2020, the nonprofit organization uses a clinical community approach to help people with Substance Use Disorders (SUD). Rubio, who was previously involved with Families Against Narcotics (FAN), said he realized that there was a piece of the puzzle missing in that organization. FAN was primarily focused on working with those struggling with addictions and with their families. “We were not focused on making change,” he explains.
Summer is here and, for many people, it’s a time to kick back, relax and enjoy some much-needed vacation time – and pneumococcal pneumonia shouldn’t stand in your way of enjoying all that summer has to offer.
In June 2013, the debut issue of My City Magazine hit the streets and it was an immediate hit with readers throughout Greater Flint and Genesee County. That inaugural publication, sporting a cover graced with the beautiful historical statues of Billy Durant and J. Dallas Dort, was the beginning of ten years of positive stories and coverage of the great people and great things about Greater Flint. It opened with stories highlighting McLaren’s new Hospitality House, the Flint Soup start-up project, The Humane Society’s Paws on Parade fundraiser and the Hurley Miracle Dinner. Also in its pages were stories about the Flint Farmers’ Market, the Flint City Derby Girls and much more. MCM’s beloved history stories began with the tale of the man who drove a nation, the one and only Billy Durant. It was a magazine born to change the narrative and outside perceptions of Flint and for a decade – over 150 issues – Team My City has not wavered in that mission.
At the helm of one of the country’s most respected junior college programs stands Steve Schmidt, Head Coach of the MCC Men’s Basketball team for more than three decades. This spring, he was nominated for induction into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame – the only Junior College representative on a ballot.
After four grueling weeks of rehearsals, months of design and more than a year of imagining the production, the Flint Repertory Theatre will raise the curtain on its first performance of “Ragtime” this month. “Yes! It’s very exciting!” exclaims Producing Artistic Director, Michael Lluberes. “It will be unique – it won’t look like any other ‘Ragtime’ production.”
As the 2022-2023 high school athletics schedules wrapped up for the year, we invited the 25 Genesee County high schools to choose two athletes – one each from their men’s and women’s sports teams – who excelled in both athletics and academics. The responding schools took care in selecting young people who worked hard to earn awards and accolades for their accomplishments.
When Santiago Albiar speaks of golf, his passion for the sport is obvious.
