The club was hoppin’ – the Casablanca in Flint on Industrial Ave. was “the place” to find and experience new singing talent in the ‘70s, especially on open mic night. A singer had just left the stage to raucous applause and waiting in the wings backstage, a teenage girl was about to give her first performance. This would be her third attempt; each previous time she had turned back at the last minute, unsure she could do it. The room was packed. What would they think? Would she be good enough?
Since 1976, Charles Winfrey has been passionate about the McCree Theatre. “I got addicted to the creativity and the artform,” he admits. “You have to experience it to truly appreciate it.” Founded in 1970, the “old” McCree Theatre was born from the Genesee County Model Cities Program and named after Flint’s first African American Mayor, Floyd McCree. The original concept ran in Flint until 1989. In 2004, the “New” McCree Theatre opened with the same commitment to excellence and with the new mission “to tell the African American Story in the African American Voice.”
It’s an exciting time at Fenton Winery & Brewery – Owners Matt and Ginny Sherrow are proud to announce the grand opening of Dream Machine Distillery! The taproom now features a new small batch distillery and a breathtaking new cocktail bar serving innovative craft libations. Following a lot of dreaming and planning, a soft opening was held in early July. “We have been working on this project for over two years!” Matt exclaims.
Well, here we are again … leaves have fallen, the air is crisp, apples are ready for picking and the holiday season is nearly upon us. It’s this time of year when we start reaching out to family, searching for the perfect Christmas gifts and planning the most scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner the world has yet to taste. Many of us are chomping at the bit to start enjoying the holidays (as best we can). With all of the negativity and angst flying around, a good holiday season can be a blessing. Let’s all make an effort to really jump into the festivities this year with love and good will. You never know, maybe you will start a new family tradition or experience that lost child-like wonder again.
Since the 1960s, Flint’s circumstances have slowly deteriorated. The population trickled out of the city, taking their tax money with them; General Motors began to pull up shop closing offices and factories, and small business faltered. With little money or population left, city leadership began to cut back while desperately searching for ways to reverse the situation. The budget quickly became a problem that would grow in significance each passing year. By the late 80s, Flint had taken a number of shots, was out of breath and standing on tired legs. No reprieve was on the way. In fact, one more punch was coming. The city mostly responded by scaling down and contraction yielded mixed results. The mayors from 1987 to today ran into their own battles, scandals and adversity – each of them tasked with searching out and uncovering a miracle.
Hewett Judson, a longtime teacher at Lake Fenton High School, along with his sister Phyllis Judson Heusted, has worked hard to preserve the Judson family’s history. He is the treasurer for the Pioneer Memorial Association of Fenton & Mundy Townships and Heusted is the secretary/editor. The group’s goal is to preserve the history of both townships.
A nonprofit health and human service organization, the United Way of Genesee County is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.
This summer, the Flint community mourned the loss of a beloved and dedicated member in RESPECTED businessman and philanthropist, Albert J. Koegel.
All of the Pet Search Nominees are stellar in their own right, but we chose to share the story of Bubbles and his special mission. Congratulations, Bubbles!
Brick Street of Grand Blanc is not just a restaurant – it’s an experience! The pub, patio and variety of dining spaces and banquet rooms offer the ideal place to enjoy a casual meal or fine dining experience, enjoy entertainment or hold your special event. The popular restaurant, which is centrally located, opened in 2001 and is owned by Michael and Jackie Jablonski who have been in the food and entertainment business for many years.
From its very beginning, Kettering University has been a unique institution. “We are different from most other universities,” says University President, Dr. Robert K. McMahan. “Since its founding, Kettering has treated real world practice as equal to classroom learning.” Kettering students spend just as much time at internships gaining hands-on experience as they do behind a desk. It is this style of learning, and the school’s unwavering support of it, that has helped gain Kettering its remarkable reputation across the nation as a trusted source of business and STEM professionals. Its unique style of education has also led to a surprising result. “Business in the real world works by collaboration,” explains McMahan. “What we noticed is that our students were bringing collaboration back from their own real-world experience. We had an idea and began to experiment with space to continue fostering the behavior. It was a hit.”
