OPA: A Greek word that may be used as an exclamation; a word or pronouncement of celebration, celebration of life itself. It is a way of expressing joy and gratitude to God, life and others for bringing us into the state of ultimate wisdom; a humorous affirmation that you’re the best, that you’re where you’re
Summer started off with a bang in Genesee County as several communities celebrated the season with festivals, including the Grand Blanc Family Fun Fest, Linden Mill Days and Flushing Summer Fest. All of the festivals were held on the same weekend in June, where people of all ages enjoyed music, parades and yummy fair food
“Al-akil tayyib kteer!” In Arabic: “The food is delicious!” And the food was definitely delicious at the Mid-East Festival held July 12-14 at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church on Calkins Road in Flint. Thousands of people attended the three-day event and enjoyed authentic Middle-eastern fare, including mouth-watering Chicken Shawarma, Falafel sandwiches, Kibbee Balls
In 1910, Billy Durant was a millionaire; however, his life was anything but secure, due to his unbounded desire to conquer the automobile market and the reckless methods he employed to do so. Durant was a twice-made transportation mogul, first with the famous Durant-Dort Carriage Company in the twilight of the 19th century, and then
Some words invoke pungent aromas: strong flavors that imbibe our romanticism of bygone eras. Freemasonry is one of them. Reminiscent of secrets and treasure (and secret treasures), ancient architecture and noble causes, the enigmatic Freemasons have a lodge in Downtown Flint, with their society hidden in plain view of S. Saginaw Street. Freemasonry is nearly
On May 30, the YWCA of Flint held its fourth annual Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® fundraiser, an international men’s march to stop rape, sexual assault, and gender violence. The men of Genesee County showed their solidarity with women by literally walking a mile in “her” shoes. Yes, to accompany the light rain that
Each year, the Flint Cultural Center presents Growing Up Artfully, a fundraiser that helps sustain the services provided to the public by this group. Different FCC supporters serve as hosts to the event each year, with this year’s 10th annual Growing Up Artfully held on June 6 at the Flint home of Dr. Christopher and
Flint native Tiara Price is a bright, young African American woman with a big smile and a warm heart. It comes as no surprise that she is an AmeriCorps volunteer for the American Red Cross, as she began volunteering as an elementary school student in Flint. “I can’t imagine not volunteering,” Tiara said, “because it’s
When walking into Whaley Children’s Center, the first thing one sees is the artwork that hangs above a stately fireplace in the foyer – a black and white photograph of a solemn young boy. Bookcases are filled with children’s books and boxes of toys sit in the corner. The boy in the photograph is Donald
The evening of May 18 was a good one for Whaley Children’s Center. Attended by 300 guests, the annual Tux & Tennies Gala and Auction raised approximately $140,000 according to Whaley’s Development Director, Katrina Khouri. The funds directly benefit the programs and services for Whaley children. With the help of Special Occasions, Vogt’s Flowers, Five
With summer in full swing and the drudgeries of school days a distant memory, the reader may feel it a grievous tax on his time to study an article about education. But let’s take a moment to recognize a man who will not be returning to school when the hot summer sun is replaced by
Drinks, conversation, and fun: that’s what Downtown’s Torch Bar & Grill is all about! And with close to 5,000 ‘Likes’ on its Facebook page, it appears there are a whole lot of fans of this tiny pub nestled in an old building in Buckham Alley. Serving Downtown Flint for over 60 years, the popular eatery
