October is here. The kids are settling into their school routines while busy parents and we grandparents are entering activities onto our calendars and into our phones so we won’t miss a thing. The days are cooler, leaves are beginning to fall, apple orchards are calling our names, college football is in full stride and Halloween decorations are popping up everywhere.
This issue of My City Magazine is loaded with great stories.
NorthGate of Flint is celebrating the contributions of George Wilkinson, who recently retired and is beginning a new journey with his nonprofit, Ascend Institute, which will allow him to continue helping others.
Gary Fisher continues his look at the greatest high school football teams in Genesee County with part two in this issue. The amount of talent that has come from our area is impressive, and these teams have left an incredible legacy.
My City’s special section explores the histories, mysteries and ghost stories surrounding longtime businesses and historic buildings. Be sure to read about the places that have given generations of residents plenty of stories, secrets and, perhaps, a few unexplained encounters.
It’s tough to win a championship once. Winning back-to-back championships is even more challenging. But that’s exactly what a girls softball team based in Grand Blanc accomplished. The team formed a bond that carried them all the way to the top. Check out Mark Spezia’s story.
And since I mentioned apple orchards earlier, be sure to read Keegan Deloney’s story on Almar Orchards.
Kudos, once again, to our My City columnists. Their voices are an important part of what makes this magazine special.
Lastly, I have a suggestion for our readers: Start hosting a weekly family dinner.
Time really does fly, especially when you’re watching the little ones in your life grow up. Everyone is crazy busy. For a couple of years now, my husband and I have tried to host a family dinner every Sunday afternoon. This get-together, which sometimes spans four generations, has become very special to us. Is it a lot of work? You bet it is.
But for a few hours, we get to enjoy each other’s company. We laugh as we retell old stories, sometimes watch a movie, play outside, check out the value of Pokémon cards or simply enjoy a cuddle on the couch. Nothing fancy. Nothing complicated. Just family. And those are the moments I hope we never get too busy to make time for.
So, this October, I hope you’ll gather the people you love, put something good on the table and make a little time for each other. Start a family dinner tradition of your own. You may be surprised by how quickly it becomes one of your favorite parts of the week.
Sharon Stone
Editor-in-Chief
