January is National Blood Donor Month, the perfect time to resolve to be a regular blood donor and help save lives. Extreme winter weather in some parts of the country and seasonal illnesses often make it difficult for the American Red Cross to maintain a sufficient blood supply at this time of year.
On Saturday, January 11 the Flint Symphony Orchestra is welcoming families to The Whiting to experience live classical music. FSO Family Day is a great way to introduce pre-teens and adolescents to the sounds and production of a full classical music experience. Starting at 1pm, audience members will have the ability to meet Flint Symphony Orchestra musicians and play actual orchestra instruments. You never know, a child could find a new hobby, talent or love. At 2pm, enjoy a full classical concert. At intermission, audience members will get a chance to go backstage at The Whiting.
This month marks the last chance to see the “Off the Wall: Sculpture from the Mott-Warsh Collection” exhibit which will end on January 25. The exhibition presents over 30 sculptures from Mott-Warsh artists across a range of medium. Materials utilized include bronze, steel, wood, ceramic, glass, fibers, synthetics and repurposed materials. Featured artists include Nick Cave, Barbara Chase-Riboud, Sonya Clark, Mel Edwards, Richard Hunt, Alison Saar, Therman Statom, Bernard Williams and more.
It’s January. It’s cold and there is nothing more satisfying than a bowl of rich, creamy soup. This recipe for lobster bisque from spendwithpennies.com is not only easy to make but it is a tasty starter for an elegant dinner. I always serve it with a warm, crusty loaf of French bread.
For-Mar Nature Preserve and Arboretum is celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2020 and what better way to kick off the celebration than with a New Year Hike. For-Mar has been inspiring Genesee County residents to get outside for 50 years.
Adult & Teen Challenge has helped the lives of countless men and women. One such graduate is Flint Campus Director, Phil Hall. His father was an alcohol and drug addict who left his family behind with absolutely nothing. “We didn’t have heat in the house and I would use a hair-dryer to keep my brothers warm,” Hall remembers.
Science Fiction has long been the realm of the dreamer. Years past, if you admitted your love of Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica, Flash Gordon or more, you were generally mocked. How things change. Today, science fiction and fantasy stories are the most popular things going. Comics are huge, Star Wars is bigger than it has ever been and shows like “Game of Thrones” or “The Witcher” are all the rage.
Winter nights are some of the best nights to hear wild coyotes “sing,” and a great time to learn about these amazing dogs. Visit Longway Planetarium at the Flint Cultural Center for First Fridays: Coyote the Trickster to study these fascinating creatures. Special guest featuring Seven Ponds Nature Center. Includes 7pm showing of Cosmic Christmas. Show begins at 6pm. Admission for Genesee County Residents: $3.50 adults, $2.50 seniors 60 plus, $2.50 youth ages 2-11. Non-Residents: $7 adults, $5 seniors 60-plus, $5 youth ages 2-11. Free for members!
The calls started coming in while Todd Gilbert was busy in the recording studio. “I was working on a project of mine when I started getting tons of phone calls from people who don’t usually call me,” he remembers. “I answered a text from Michelle McAuley, a fellow musician, telling her that I was in the studio and would call her when I was finished. She texted me back and said to stop what I was doing and call her. My heart dropped and I knew something had happened.”
Brett Darago (better known around Greater Flint as DJ Chachi) grew up on Flint’s eastside and life was a little tough. His dad passed away when he was nine years old. “I did some dumb things back then,” he recalled, “and my life was not going in a good direction.” But there was one experience and one teacher who changed everything for him when he was a freshman attending Flint Central High School. The experience? Theater Class. The teacher? Martin Jennings. “Mr. Jennings turned my life around. I fell in love with his theater program and his overwhelming personality.”
It’s been a long, remarkable career. Sheriff Robert Pickell has retired after 20 years of public service to the people of Genesee County. On January 1, 1999, he replaced his predecessor, Sheriff Joe Wilson, and was re-elected to the position five times. Prior to becoming sheriff, his impressive law enforcement background includes working in the Genesee County Prosecutor’s Office as an investigator, and for the CIA from 1989 to 1995, traveling four continents and handling some very high-profile cases. He had a private investigation business working with insurance companies and attorneys until he took office.
This new series profiles the beginning and history of the towns and cities surrounding Flint in Genesee County. The profiles will be presented according to the earliest known settlement year. Major highlights will include founding, notable personage, major events, noted locations and business.
