Clutching a flag and sporting a Detroit Red Wings jersey, 13-year-old Jon Merrill was awestruck as he waited in the tunnel at Detroit’s Joe Louis Arena prior to a 2005 playoff game. The Holy Family seventh-grader had been chosen as a flag bearer for the contest and was moments away from skating a lap around
It was a sad occasion for the city of Flint. St. Michael Catholic Church, Genesee County’s oldest Catholic church, permanently closed its doors in December 2020. “It was such a significant church,” says Father Tom Firestone, who has been Pastor of the City (St. Michael’s, St. Matthew’s and St. John Vianney churches) since 2015. “I’m
A successful Fenton restaurateur, Jason Warda owns three restaurant/bars in the area: The Barn, Fenton Pub and Ponemah Lakeside Lodge. The challenge of owning three such businesses during a pandemic has been very frustrating, leading him to seek a way to diversify his businesses. After taking a trip with his family to clear his head,
John Rhymes, Founder of the Institute of R.H.Y.M.E.S. has been a mentor for many years, making a positive impact on Flint’s young people. Founded in 2002, the nonprofit organization sees the value in everyone. “We want to be a catalyst for positive change,” he says. “Our goal is to equip the future generation with tools
Dear Readers, Wellness … for many people, the meaning of this word has changed over the past several months – nearly a year at this writing. In our communications with friends, family and co-workers, the phrases “I hope you are well” and “Stay well” have replaced “See you soon,” and “Let’s get together.” We all
Giving birth can come with some powerful emotions. It can be exciting and wonderful but it can also lead to something unexpected: depression. Postpartum depression is a special medical diagnosis that is fairly common after childbirth, according to Dr. Patrick Gramith, DO, who has a family practice at McLaren Flint in Fenton. And, there is
“It is designed around the pediatric health care visit to enhance language and literacy in at-risk children through the promotion of positive parenting.” Michigan State University and Hurley Children’s Hospital formed the Pediatric Public Health Initiative (PPHI) in 2016. The mission of the Initiative is to address the Flint community’s population-wide crisis and help all
Many expectant mothers will have three ultrasounds during their pregnancy, according to Dr. Robert Welch, Director of Maternal Fetal Medicine at Hurley Medical Center. “Most women have at least one,” he reports. An ultrasound is given for multiple reasons: to confirm the due date, establish fetus count, measure growth and possibly even learn the gender.
Are there any benefits to reading to and playing music for your baby before and after its birth? The answer to that question is a resounding “Yes!” according to Dr. Gwendolyn Reyes, a Pediatrician at Hurley Medical Center. “A baby can recognize a caregiver’s voice while in the womb,” says Dr. Reyes. “They can also
Deep down, we all love to play. Be it sports, toys, board and video games, etc., it is where we dream, live, merge with society and find friends. It is important for an adult’s feeling of happiness, reduced stress, and social interaction. For a baby, play is even more important. Babies learn about the world
Congratulations, happy parents! You have just welcomed a new little human into the world (and aren’t they cute?) No doubt, you will want to give your child the best start they can possibly have in this uncertain world. Let’s face it, it’s a scary place out there. As this pandemic has shown us, the first
In 1776, Edward Jenner, an English physician, made the biggest breakthrough in the fight against infectious disease when he created the smallpox vaccine. Smallpox can be traced back to Egyptian mummies who died 3,000 years ago. A scourge upon the world, it killed an average of 400,000 Europeans per year in the 18th century. The
