10039903_MCM_OCT2021

PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF Vince Lorraine

F R O M T H E P U B L I S H E R

E D I T O R I A L MANAGING EDITOR Sherron Barden

A R T & D E S I G N GRAPHIC DESIGNER Brett LaCross

DEAR READERS, How ‘bout this super-sized issue? Team My City truly enjoys meeting each month to discuss ideas and plan the stories we will share; it’s even more fun to see them all come to life with excellent writing and graphic design. In this issue, you’ll find Arts, Music, Fun, Community Outreach … and eSports (I learned something new with that one!) We also have 16 pages of local happenings – the summer wrapped up with well-attended and exciting events on the bricks, and lots of early fall golf outings to raise funds for great causes. Speaking of great causes, this issue features My City Cares . In every issue of MCM, we highlight at least one Greater Flint organization whose dedicated members help so many of their fellow citizens. Cares was created to shine a brighter light on these local charitable groups and businesses. Read more about who they are and what they do, and as we approach the annual Season of Giving, keep them in mind. We decided to save some trees and ALSO include our quarterly Wellness magazine in this issue! It ’s a great variety of articles – from the benefits of Advance Care Planning at Genesys Hurley Cancer Institute and a new treatment for lung disease at Ascension Genesys, to profiles of new McLaren Flint President/CEO Chris Candela, and a new breast care surgeon at Karmanos Cancer Institute, Ashley Richardson, DO. We have articles contributed by local healthcare professionals and in addition, we announce the winners of our annual Wellness Awards (p.104). Thanks to all who voted to recognize the superior service providers in their communities. This issue is perfect for the upcoming cool, fall days … I invite you to curl up with a warm beverage and enjoy the variety of engaging content! Thanks for reading,

ASSISTANT EDITOR / WR ITER Peter Hinterman

WEB DEVELOPER / GRAPHIC DESIGNER Jonathan Boedecker

STAFF WR ITER Cheryl Denni son

PHOTOGRAPHY Tim Jagielo

FREELANCE WR ITERS Mark Spezia

O P E R A T I O N S

ACCOUNTING/CI RCULATION Kim Davi s

CONTR IBUTING WR ITERS Ed Bradley Er in Caudel l Dr. Christopher Douglas Vera Hogan Joel P. Lagore Alexandr ia Nolan Les l ie Toldo

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Dan Garman

S A L E S

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Terese Al len

5152 COMMERCE RD. FLINT, MI 48507 810.230.1783 - MYCITYMAG.COM ISSN#1559-3436 is published monthly by My City Magazine, Inc., 5152 Commerce Rd., Flint, MI 48507. Canadian Mail Agreement #41971515. For back issues, inquire for availability. Editorial Cor respondence: Address product information and inquiries to: Editorial Department, My City Magazine, 5152 Commerce Rd., Flint, MI 48507, phone 810.230.1783. To authors, photographers, and people featured in this publication: All materials, articles, reports and photographs in this publication are the property of My City Magazine and cannot be used without written permission. The opinions and conclu sions recited herein are those of the respective authors and not of My City Magazine. My City Magazine is not responsible for returning unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or other materials. Every effort will be made however, to return rejected manuscripts, etc., if they are accompanied by sufficient first-class postage, but the publisher will not be responsible for any loss of such material. Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. | Printed in U.S.A.

VINCE LORRAINE PUBLISHER & EDITOR IN CHIEF VINCE@MYCITYMAG.COM

COVER ART BY TIM JAGIELO, LIEIIA / STOCK.ADOBE.COM & TOTALLYOUT / STOCK.ADOBE.COM

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My Downtown 8 7 Questions with

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Robert Widigan, CFO City of Flint My Community 10 Sparkle Pink Girls Club To Feel Like a Princess ... My Arts 14 “Half-Dead Fred” A Flint Horror Story My Fun 18 The Swamp Guy Johnny Panther Quests Adventure Trips My Music 24 FSO Artist Spotlight Amy Ley, Principal Harpist My Sports 26 Flint’s eSports Teams Leveling Up!

My Haps 36 Vehicle City

Gridiron Classic 38 Crim Festival of Races 42 The Ally Challenge 44 37th Annual Hurley Fall Golf Classic 46 Catholic Charities Chair-ity Celebration 48 Bikes on the Bricks 50 36th Annual Whaley Golf Classic My Movies 52 Life Never Ends for “Rocky Horror” By Ed Bradley

CONTENTS

October 2021

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My Reality 54 I Ain’t Afraid

My Travels 62 A Perfect Choice

of No Ghosts! By Vera Hogan My Musings 56 The Young Face of Breast Cancer By Leslie Toldo My Econ 58 What Causes Inflation? By Dr. Christopher Douglas My Finances 60 The Spooky New Tax Proposal By Joel P. LaGore

By Alexandria Nolan My Thoughts

64 Fall Foliage ... and More!

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By Cheryl Dennison My Afterthought

66 The Birth of Terror 67 My Can’t Miss List ALSO IN THIS ISSUE 68-95 Annual Special Section My City Cares 97-145 My City Wellness Fall Issue

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Uterine Fibroids A type of tumor that occurs in the muscle cells of the uterus, uterine fibroids are another condition that can be relieved with this treatment method. While not typically dangerous, the symp toms are often difficult to live with and can impact quality of life. Information on risk factors for uterine fibroids is limited, but there is known increased risk for women who:

T raditional surgery was once the only effective treat ment solution for many women’s painful or debilitat ing pelvic health issues like uterine fibroids, endome triosis and ovarian cysts; but today, interventional radiologists (IR) like Dr. Ambreen Sattar at Hurley can treat such condi tions using minimally-invasive techniques that are less painful and require a shorter recovery time than traditional procedures. A board-certified radiologist, Dr. Sattar has a certificate of ad Pelvic Health – New Minimally Invasive Solutions BY JASON HARROD, HURLEY MEDICAL CENTER PHOTO BY DOUG PIKE, HURLEY MEDICAL CENTER

ADVERTORIAL

• are African American, • are over the age of 40, • have high blood pressure, • are overweight, • who have had no children, and • have immediate familymemberswithuterine fibroids.

Symptoms of uterine fibroids include pelvic pressure or pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during intercourse, abdominal enlargement, constipation and bloating.These symptoms are not only a source of discomfort, but many women delay diagnosis or treatment out of embarrassment or a lack of knowledge concerning available treatment. Some complications from fibroids can include iron deficiency anemia, diminished sex life, repeated miscarriage and premature labor.While most don’t exhibit every symptom, many women with uterine fibroids experience one or more. Fibroid diagnosis can be confirmed by non invasive imaging, such as an MRI or ultrasound. While there are medications that can help relieve some of the symptoms, there are currently no medications that eliminate the fibroids themselves. In the United States, 20% of women believe that a hyster ectomy (the complete removal of the uterus) is the only treatment for uterine fibroids.This is no longer the case.Uterine fibroid emboliza tion (UFE) is a minimally-invasive option led by an IR that can relieve symptoms and allow women to keep their uterus.UFE is less painful and has a shorter recovery time than surgical treatments. Similar to ovarian vein embolization, with UFE, an IR uses imaging to guide a catheter through a small incision to the vessels that lead to the fibroids.Then, the IR injects small particles through the catheter to block blood flow to the fibroid.Without blood flow, the tumor shrinks and disappears, taking the symptoms with it. If needed, a myomectomy can also be done. Performed often by an OB/GYN, this minimally-invasive surgical treatment option preserves the uterus by removing the fibroid with a surgical meth od, such as laparoscopy. For large fibroids, UFE and a myomectomy can be used in conjunction to avoid a hysterectomy. Š

ditional qualification in vascular and interventional radiology. She com pleted her residency atWayne State University and continued fellowship training at Henry Ford Hospital. One such issue that can be treated by an IR is pelvic congestion syndrome, a condition caused by enlarged ovarian veins.Women who

AMBREEN SATTAR, MD INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGIST

have given birth more than once are at risk, as are women with other family members who have it.The main symptom to be aware of is pelvic pain that lasts for at least six months and that often starts during or after pregnancy, usually presents on the left side and worsens toward the end of the day.Guided by x-rays, the IR can relieve the pressure and pain caused by the enlarged ovarian vein by directing an em bolic agent to the veins that are causing the congestion.The embolic agents then act to relieve the pressure and pain by blocking blood flow through the affected area.This minimally-invasive procedure requires only a small incision in the patient’s groin or wrist.The whole proce dure happens while sedated in an interventional radiology suite over 30 minutes to an hour.Women are sent home the day of the proce dure and afterwards, are able to immediately resume normal activities.

MYDOWNTOWN

ROBERT WIDIGAN 'LMIJ *MRERGMEP 3ƾ GIV 'MX] SJ *PMRX

;LEXƅW SRI [SVO VIPEXIH XLMRK ]SY [ERX XS EGGSQ TPMWL MR XLI RI\X ]IEV# Flint has received $47,363,332 in federal COVID-19 relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) – we need to move quickly and ensure the money is invested wisely, while deploying it smartly and equitably throughout the City of Flint. ;LEXƅW ]SYV QSWX TVM^IH TSWWIWWMSR ERH [L]# I have a collection of vin tage shaving safety-razors and straight razors. Some belonged to my grandfather and father.

On August 19, 2021, Mayor Sheldon Neeley announced that Robert Widigan had joined the City of Flint team as the new chief financial officer. As CFO, Widigan will oversee all aspects of the City’s finances, including preparation and adminis tration of the budget and financial reports as well as accounting payroll, grant reporting, and purchasing. A Flint native, Widigan is an experienced finance pro fessional having served in key leadership roles with multiple Michigan counties and the City of Lansing, as well as the Michigan Department of Treasury as an analyst in the Bureau of Local Government and School Services.

Widigan attended Mott Community College and graduated from UM-Flint, earning a Bachelor of Busi ness Administration degree with a concentration in finance. He took a few mo ments from his busy schedule to give our readers a few more (perhaps lesser known) facts. I scooped ice cream and washed dishes at a small café in Lennon, MI. ;LEX MW ]SYV HIƼ RMXMSR SJ WYGGIWW# I feel that if you can do what makes you happy, you are successful. What was your very Ƽ VWX NSF#

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If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Olive Garden salad How would your friends describe you? They would say I’m goal-driven and thoughtful – yet, I expect results.

What advice would you have given 17-year-old Robert?

Take your time and be patient; also, go to college year-round from the start vs. taking summers off. Š

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YOUNG GIRLS CAN BE PRINCESSES AT THE SPGC TEA PARTY.

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To Feel Like a

The Sparkle Pink Girls Club is a nonprofit organization with a mission of building confidence and self esteem in girls aged 3-13, and empowering them to make better, bigger choices that set them up for a powerful life. Founded in 2007 by Deria Brown of Flint, it has grown to become a national organization with chapters in Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Nevada. It all started Sparkle Pink Girls Club BY CHERYL DENNISON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY DERIA BROWN

g r lives.”This is when the idea of Spar kle Pink Girls Club (SPGC) came about, and Brown began working with girls at an earlier age. “I’m able to instill dominant thoughts,” says the club founder, “such as knowing your value, making good choices and establishing relationships with your mom or primary caregiver.” The organization also teaches about entrepreneurship and leadership skills. “It’s amazing what a three year-old can do!” Brown exclaims.

p ll important to Brown to reach out to girls at a younger age because statistics indicate that the suicide rate is up 13 percent for girls age 14-18. “That is alarming!” she exclaims. These statistics led Brown and her team to include the subject of mental health in the curriculum. t

when Brown and her husband were working with underprivileged teens in the City of Flint who were age 14 and older. “We realized that girls face a lot of different issues,” Brown states. “We wanted to address those

SPGC TEACHES SELF ESTEEM AND SELF CONFIDENCE.

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“We see a lot of tears and a lot of pain. We provide the girls with a safe place to talk and share their feelings.” DERIA BROWN

six to eight hours a day and compare themselves to the beautiful women they see,” Brown states, “and without parental oversight, they are getting their values from what they see online.”This is when SPGC comes in to provide the girls with real-life, positive role models. “We see a lot of tears and a lot of pain,” Brown admits. “We provide them with a safe place to talk and to share their feelings. And, they love to talk!” The SPGC holds an annual con ference – this September, it took place in Las Vegas.The agenda includes giveaways, music and

who have participated in the Spar kle Pink Girls Club is astounding. “In 14 years, we have not had one teen pregnancy,” Brown is proud to report. “They have gone on to attend college and are employed. Once they know their value, they succeed.” How You Can Help Donations of hygiene products are appreciated: shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, feminine products, tooth paste and toothbrushes, hair combs. For monetary donations: become a Pink Partner by visiting sparklepink.org/pink-partners Š

T he SPGC beliefs include: every girl should have access to education; every girl should have hygiene products and be taught how to use them; every girl should have a day to feel like a princess; girls should be pampered and protected; every girl is beautiful and should be trained how to politely respond to words that say otherwise. In order to instill these beliefs, Brown creates the curriculum and, working with a team of volunteers, holds monthly club meetings. “All the girls learn the same lessons,” she explains. One of the curriculum topics is “Boys,” according to Brown. A whole series was added to teach the girls how to respond to boys in certain situations. Another topic is “Bully ing,” including the cyber aspect of it.The most important topic is “Self Esteem.” “Some girls are online

food and it is just a fun day for the youngsters. “It’s a day for each girl to feel like a princess!” Brown exclaims. Brown has found her work for Sparkle Pink to be very rewarding. “The

THE SPGC OHIO CHAPTER HELPS YOUNG GIRLS IN THE BUCKEYE STATE.

need is much greater than me; it keeps me up at night; but I am so fulfilled. I don’t get tired of it.” And, the success of the girls

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MYA S

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W g w g , and locations in a positive light.” WhenTheron first came to Flint from California, he was an artist with a humanitarian agenda. “I had never visited the city or much of Michigan until arriving in 2017,” he remembers. I came to help highlight the water crisis that I felt was being overlooked by most of the country.” Since then, he has been back frequently doing art and murals for the Flint Public Art Project.While visiting, he made the acquaintance of Flint Public Art Project Executive Director, Joe Schipani. “I was staying at his house – it was old and creaky with three storie and a basement,” he says. “It definitely had a horror movie vibe. It had weird, unexplainable noises and we joked about it. I thought it would be a good set for a horror movie.”With the seed planted, Theron got to thinking that maybe he really should make a movie. He acquired a copy of Schipani’s book, Haunted Flin and read it on the flight back to CA. A script soon followed. “There is one

y r has the horror come to life on the big screen – until now. Filmed in Flint, the new movie “Half-Dead Fred” promises to bring chills, mystery and a new image for the city as a place separate from unflattering media attention. “Flint is tired of being portrayed negatively and ;

BRON THERON

element from the book that I threw into the ‘Half-Dead Fred’ script,” he adds. The movie tells the story of Freddy Nash. An alcoholic gumshoe, Nash was in a horrific automobile accident that took the life of his nine-year-old son and left Nash “half ” alive. Ever since the accident, Nash has been cursed with the ability to see and communicate with the spirits of the dead. “I am a big fan of the noir film genre and the movie reads as

Vera Kuttelvaserova / stock.adobe.com

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CORIN NEMEC AS “FREDDY NASH”

a combination of ‘Chinatown’ and ‘The Sixth Sense.’ I am also a fan of ‘The Big Lebowski’ and there are influences from that movie, as well,” says Theron. “The movie is full of weird scenes that at first, don’t make sense – with a sudden plot twist at the end. Our hero is strug gling and we are on the journey with him through all of the madness.” t

ti moshenkoanna / stock.adobe.com

“A big majority of the people support what we are doing and want to help ... Flint will be well represented in our film.” BRON THERON

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THERON AND NEMEC ADDED TO THE FLINT PUBLIC ART PROJECT WITH A MURAL PROMOTING THE FILM.

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Hollywood veteran Corin Nemec (“Stargate SG-1,”“Parker Lewis Can’t Lose”) will star as Freddy Nash with Jor dan Cristopher Michael (“Full House,” “Saved by the Bell”) as Yamasaki. Scream queen and horror movie veteran Elissa Dowling (“House on the Hill,”“Starry Eyes”) will play a role and it is hoped that actor Jason London (“Dazed and Confused”) will also join the cast.The cast also has local ties with Joe Schipani, Seth Hart and Michael E. Kelly making their big screen debuts while a host of other Flintstones play the roles of ghosts or extras. Schipani and Flint native Jes sica Revoldt are listed as producers. It’s a Flint horror story through and through. With production wrapping up at the end of September,Theron hopes to have an early 2022 release. “It depends on a few different things,” he informs. “I hope to get editing done in a couple of months, but scoring the movie and the rest of the sound production may take a while. In a suspenseful movie like this, sound is very important. My goal is 2022 for sure, and my plan is to screen it in Flint first – hopefully at the Capitol Theatre.” After a successful screening,Theron will begin a heavy marketing campaign in the hopes that the film gets picked up by a major platform such as Netflix. With things

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g g t the deceased Dalton has left clues to a treasure for his children, Roberta, Debb and Jake to find, turning the case into much more than a murder mystery and leaving Nash to deal with dark forces from this world and beyond. “It’s a murder mystery and treasure hunt movie adds Theron. “We are shooting some footage in L.A. and the rest in Flint.” Without giving away too much, locals will enjoy seeing locations in the film suc as the Soggy Bottom Bar and others.

opening up from the pandemic,

touring the film festival circuit is also a possibility. “The trick is to get the film in front of the right eyes,” adds Theron. Although not a Flint native,Theron has spent a lot of time in and around the city, doing his art and experiencing what Flint has to offer. He understands the city’s history and recognizes the strides being made toward its future. His familiarity has made him comfort able enough to invest money, time and energy into adding to the city’s ethos through film and the people of Flint are a big reason why. “Since the announce ment of the movie, I’ve received a lot of help from organizations and people in the city,” he says. “A big majority sup port what we are doing and just want to help. Of course, we do get some weird stuff and comments here and there, and I understand that. People in Flint are still skeptical whenever any media s involved. Everybody is tired of a negative portrayal.That’s not what we are here for or want to do. Flint will be well represented in our film.” Š

timoshenkoanna / stock.adobe.com

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MYFUN

The SwampGuy

BY CHERYL DENNISON

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JOHNNY PANTHER QUESTS ADVENTURE TRIPS

hen Wil Hufton III of Davison was three years old,

time there with a neighbor and then later on with his stepfather, Don. Inspired by the beauty of the natural habitat, Hufton started a business offering scenic boat tours so he could share his love of nature and the ecosystem with others.

Johnny Panther Quests is now in its

“Dam Tour” of the dams on the Au Sable River, west of Oscoda. “My mission is to get people away from people,” says Hufton with a grin. “And, my goal is to help people eliminate stress, get out of the mainstream and go on a quest!”

27th year of providing eco tours throughout the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge and State Game Area. Johnny

he started exploring the shores and swamps with his dad at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge in Saginaw. He also spent

Panther Quests also offers tours in Flint, Frankenmuth and a

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“ MY GOAL IS TO HELP PEOPLE ELIMINATE STRESS, GET OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM AND GO ON A

QUEST! ” WIL HUFTON III

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hile growing up, Hufton was somewhat of a daredevil. He

International Airport for seven years. When the maintenance department moved elsewhere and his position was eliminated, he had a variety of jobs until he took a chance on pursuing something he really loved. His stepfather, (and biggest supporter) inspired him to start Johnny Panther Quests. Since then, the swamp guy has done what he loves – teaching others about the fragility of our ecosystem and how we can improve it. “I love people,” Hufton shares, “and I love the outdoors.There is a lot of beauty out there if you know where to look and I love sharing that.” A few years back, Johnny Panther Quests received a “Gem Attraction” rating from AAA. “People from all over the country and the world came to Saginaw to take our little boat rides!” Hufton exclaims, adding that they were pleasantly surprised by how much they enjoyed it and would thank him and shake his hand at their tour’s end. Some have even claimed it to be a spiritual experience. In 2013, he was also featured on the NPR series “Under the Radar.” “Business doubled in 2014,” he shares. t

was involved in motocross motorcycle racing since age 15 and his team, the Racing Garage (which he describes as “an ugly name for an ugly team”), went to the Wildlife Refuge for cardio training. On a bike-racing trip to Florida, he and his friends ran through the swamps to stay in shape, an activity they nicknamed “Johnny Panthering.” “I watched a hokey Ricardo Montalban movie,”Hufton explains, “and Montalban’s character would run barefoot through the swamp, busting poachers. He would then exclaim in a dramatic fashion, ‘They call me Johnny Panther!’” Hufton used the term “Johnny Panthering” to describe his own river antics – and it inspired the name of his business venture. “I’m just a swamp guy,” he says with a smile. Hufton’s dream, when he was younger, was to become a renowned motocross racer or a fighter pilot; but when he realized these goals were probably unobtainable, he went to college and studied to become an aviation maintenance technician. He was employed at Bishop

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MYFUN

uided tours are available from early spring until late fall – and sometimes,

see? “Lots of eagles,” he says. “You’ll see great egrets, herons and American white pelicans. There are 280 species of birds to see throughout the season and an abundance of wildlife.” Participants can bring a cooler (filled with whatever they want), picnic baskets, binoculars. “Cameras are highly recommended,” Hufton advises. “The worst part of the tour is when it’s over.” The “Wide Part” eco tour at the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge explores one of the few watersheds that flows in a northerly direction. The “Narrow Part” is a maze of twisting rivers, creeks and bayous that offers exceptional scenery. The Oscoda “Dam Trip” is one of Hufton’s favorites. “There are 400-feet

of sand dunes, pristine water and five dams on the Au Sable River. Skiing and tubing are also options.”The “Marathon” tour (about eight hours) travels from Saginaw to St. Charles and back. Another favorite is the “Fall Color Tour,” which will be held in Saginaw this year. Hufton has found his work with Johnny Panther Quests to be very fulfilling. “It is not ‘work’ to me,” he says. “I’ve been chasing my dreams and working my butt off all my life and I finally stopped chasing. I am so lucky to be doing what I love.” Š

even later in the year. “Early and late in the season are the best times to go,” Hufton recommends.That is when you can experience the thaws, early spring migration and the first winter snows, he adds. According to Hufton, the Saginaw area has the state’s largest wildlife habitat. “I call it the Everglades of Michigan,” he says, “minus the snakes and alligators.”He has three tour boats – a 14-foot flat bottom, 16-foot modified flat bottom and a 22-foot custom-built boat. Describing a typical tour, Hufton says it averages three to five hours. What will you

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MYMUSIC

Flint Symphony Orchestra ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

PRINCIPAL HARPIST COMPILED BY SHERRON BARDEN PHOTO PROVIDED BY FLINT INSTITUTE OF MUSIC

rincipal Harpist for the FSO and Windsor Sym phony Orchestra, Amy Ley has held the prin

cipal harp position in the Lansing Symphony, Ann Arbor Symphony, and Saginaw Bay Orchestras. She has also performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony, National Ballet Orchestra in Toronto, Kitchner-Wa terloo Symphony, Orchestra Lon don, Toledo Symphony, and Charles ton Symphony. Her performance of the “Flute and Harp Concerto” by Mozart with the Windsor Sym phony has been broadcast on the Ca nadian Broadcasting Corporation’s radio network across Canada and the United States. She also performs as a part of the Walla Walla Chamber Music Festival in Washington and the Lancaster Music Festival, Ohio. Ley is the harp instructor at Hills dale College and the University of Windsor and has been a harp instruc tor at Blue Lake Fine Arts Festival for over 15 years. She also works extensively with elementary-age

children in her Windsor-based “Mu sic for Young Children” program. Championing classical music in her home community of Windsor, Ontario, Ley is a founder, artistic director, and regular performer in a chamber music series called 4th Wall Music.This series aims to connect with new audiences by collaborating with musicians and a wide range of other local artists. Ley also pursues her love of chamber music as a mem ber of the Michigan Harp Ensemble, the new music ensemble Brave New Works, and various other stages. Ley received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Michigan under Lynne Aspnes. She attended the Harp Colony in Maine, the Aspen Music Festival, the Pacific

Music Festival, Pine Mountain Music Festival and was a top prizewinner in the Young Professional Division of the American Harp Society competition. Conducted by Maestro Enrique Diemecke, the November 13 performance will feature: • Dances Sacrée et Profane for Harp and String Orchestra Claude Debussy • Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op.68, “Pastoral ” Ludwig van Beethoven Experiences with nature are a common thread that weaves through all living beings, so it’s no surprise that humans have been writing music inspired by nature since the beginning

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idyllic second movement, “Scene by the brook.” Joy emanates from Movement 3, “Merry gathering of country folk,” but the party gets rained on with Move ment 4, “Thunder, Storm.” Finally, the clouds part, and the sun shines through with Movement 5, “Shepherd’s song, Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm.” Pastoral is one of Beethoven’s few explicitly programmatic works and is a true masterpiece for all to behold. The November program closes with The Moldau , a symphonic poem composed by Smetana.This piece “In Ley’s hands, the harp, that most heavenly of instruments, glows even brighter.” The Windsor Star follows the flow of the Vltava River from its source in the mountains of the Bohemian Forest, through the Czech countryside, to the city of Prague.The piece opens with light rippling figures representing two mountain springs that eventually converge to become a mighty river, symbolized by a thickly orches trated, stately theme.The river passes scenes of rural life, water nymphs, rapids, then finally reaches Prague and slowly dissipates in the distance. Š The concert begins at 7:30pm. For ticket information contact The Ticket Center at 810.237.7333.

of time.This program begins with Debussy’s Danses sacrée et profane , a solo piece for harp and orchestra, and a harp repertoire’s mainstay.These contrasting dances conjure a mystical and spiritual natural world. Danse sacrée creates a relaxed and eerie mood, while Danse profane is more energetic, with luscious harp glissandi and solo work overlaying pulsating string rhythms.

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 6, Pastoral , is a jaunt through the Austrian coun tryside. Beethoven was a lover of nature and frequently traveled to rural areas to compose.The symphony is comprised of five movements, each based on a dif ferent experience in nature.The joyful first movement is entitled “Awak ening of cheerful feelings on arrival in the countryside,” followed by the

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The Rise of eSports LEVELING UP

machines such as Atari and Nintendo, gaming popularity skyrocketed. With advancements in internet technology, interest in eSports went worldwide. In 2000, the first World Cyber Games were held in Seoul, South Korea, effectively launching today’s eS ports phenomenon. Today, it is a nearly billion-dollar industry. Live events consistently sell out arenas around the world, including Philadelphia’s Wells Fargo Center where nearly 12,000 fans bought tickets at price points between $50 and $250 a seat. Philadelphia is currently building a separate eSports arena to cash in on its growing popu larity. YouTube and Twitch have helped give rise to eSports star athletes and teams. Even the NBA has jumped into the game, with each team also fielding an eSports team to compete in a digital league. ESPN is also (at this time) in negotiations to televise eSports events. In 2014, eSports went collegiate when Robert Morris University Illi nois organized the first varsity team. Today, colleges across the nation have fielded varsity teams for a number of games including: League of Legends,

BY PETER HINTERMAN

In 2019, the “League of Legends”World Cham pionship took place across three international locations (Madrid, Berlin, Paris) with 24 teams from around the globe competing for the grand prize. After a grueling tour nament, the final match pitting team FunPlus Phoenix (China) against team G2 eSports (Europe) was viewed by over 100 million people, eclipsing the viewership of that year’s Super Bowl by nearly three million! When a hard-fought League of Legends match ended, team FunPlus Phoenix claimed victory and the $834,375 purse ... eSports had officially arrived. When the first video game was invented in 1958 (a tennis game), nobody put much stock in its future – it was merely an amusing pastime. In 1972, Stanford students held the “Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics’’ (the first video game tournament) and the world was given a brief look into the future. With the advent of arcades and then-in-home gaming

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Call of Duty, Overwatch, Rocket League, Super Smash Bros All Stars and others. Michigan is, in fact, one of the states leading the way with multiple teams ranked highly across the nation. At the time of this writing, Northwood University boasted the top teams in a variety of games. Genesee County holds three very competitive programs – Kettering University, Mott Community College and UM-Flint – that are ready to bring competitive video-gaming to the next level. t

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Kettering University eSports BUILDING A CONTENDER PHOTOS COURTESY OF KETTERING UNIVERSITY

In no time at all, Kettering’s team was making their presence known throughout the state. “We are one of the founding mem bers of the Michigan eSports Confer ence (MEC),” states Nowaczyk. “We are also a member of the National Asso ciation of Collegiate eSports (NACE) along with nearly 200 schools across the country.”Kettering competes in a variety of game titles such as Overwatch, League of Legends, Smash Ultimate, Rainbow Six, Rocket League and Valo rant, and boasts a large team of nearly 74 members across titles. “We have a varsity team and an academy or ‘developmental’ team,” explains Nowaczyk. “In standard sports terms, our academy team can be considered junior varsity.We had over 50 students apply to try out this past year.”

For team Head Coach Dan Nowaczyk, competitive video-gaming and Kettering University are

was always curious about it but after at tending a conference in Ann Arbor and sitting through a presentation, he gave me the go-ahead. We sent out a survey to check buy-in and got nearly 500 responses – that’s a quarter of our en tire student population!” he laughs. In fall of 2019, it was official and eSports became a varsity sport at Kettering.

a natural fit. “I had been pushing for it for six years,” he says. “Our president

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Kettering actively recruits individuals to compete for the school and schol arships are available for prospective stu dents, offering up to $4,000 a year. eSports is growing at an enormous pace and has seen the MEC, which started with eight members in Michi gan, grow to nearly 20 schools within two years. “Michigan is the state that is leading the country in competitive eS ports,” adds Nowaczyk. “Our programs are second to none. Having a good

program can be a big boon to a small college.”Twitch streaming and YouTube channels can bring in

much needed cash while tournament prize amounts continue to increase. For sports traditionalists, the value of eSports can be lost. After all, video gaming doesn’t offer true physical interaction; however, Nowaczyk dis agrees. eSports involves teamwork and skill just as much as any other compe tition – with one difference. “We func tion as any other athletic department would; I act as athletic director and head coach. We practice, and our team members must meet academic goals to compete,” he explains. “Most of our biggest tournaments are run in much the same way as March Madness or the World Cup, where a team is placed into a group and the winners of the groups advance to knock-out rounds.The only difference is who runs the tourna ments and how they are organized.” Currently, eSports doesn’t have an overall governing body; to this point,

the NCAA will not have any involve ment. Large, national tournaments are hosted by the game developers and for any smaller tournaments or matches (between MEC teams, for instance), the rights to use the games must be purchased or negotiated. “In standard sports, there are no patents to contend with,” Nowaczyk explains. “For instance, anyone can host a basketball tournament without pay ing for the rights to the game; that ’s where eSports is a bit different.” The Kettering University eSports team has hit the level of contender and hopes for a good finish to the year. “I would like to see Top 3 finishes this year,” says Nowalczyk. “Our teams are developing. We had a Top 3 place ment in Rainbow Six and are hoping for our League of Legends team to qualify for the playoffs. Our program is beginning to hit its stride.” t

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UM-Flint eSports Investing in the Future PHOTOS COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN–FLINT

Legends, Rainbow Six and Apex Leg ends. eSports teams compete in national or local league tournaments, often going head-to-head in a battle for superiority. Recently, UM-Flint defeated Ohio State in its first NACE Starleague match of the season. “That’s the beauty of eSports. The size of the college doesn’t matter – it’s a level playing field,” states Gooding. In fact, UM-Ann Arbor has yet to construct a varsity eSports team, so it’s up to UM-Flint to carry the flag for the institution. “They did help with some

“We are UM-Flint’s first official varsity sport,” says UM Flint eSports Coordinator,

was just beginning – we had to scrounge around to find teams to compete against. Now it’s everywhere – the best athletes are making six-figure incomes! Twitch streams and YouTube videos are pulling in revenue for colleges and professional gamers all the time. After I explained the concept, the buy-in from the college executive staff was immediate.” UM-Flint eSports competes in the National Association of Collegiate eSports (NACE) as well as the Mich igan eSports Conference (MEC) in a collection of games that includes Rocket League, Overwatch, Valorant, League of

Jason Gooding. “We became official last fall at the start of the pandemic.We were fully remote and one of the only things on campus that kept going.” For Gooding, the idea to add eSports (com petitive, organized video-gaming) for all UM-Flint’s students was a no-brainer. After all, he has been active in online eSports for years and knew of its poten tial as a recruitment and retention tool, community builder and revenue creator. “eSports is becoming huge,” he states. “When I started years and years ago, it

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NACE and the MEC offer scholarships to potential eSports athletes. “We are not there yet in terms of scholarships,” says Gooding. “We are talking about it. As it stands now, we don’t have the funding, but I am provided with some discretionary funds to help with books and such.We are open to donations.” Gooding and his team are working hard to build the UM-Flint team into a national contender; but if they never win a championship, well, he would be okay with that. “Of course, we want to get to the level where we are competi tive and in the running – but at the end of the day, I just want the students to succeed here at UM-Flint in education, life, and then eSports,” he says. “But I can tell you that I feel that we are right on the cusp of making an impact.” Follow and view the UM-Flint team in action on Facebook, Twitch and Snapchat. t

design aspects of our eSports facility,” Gooding says with a chuckle. “They have really provided great support for us.” For many who are used to viewing sports in the traditional sense, eSports may seem strange; but Gooding assures that it requires the very same structure and amenities as physical sports.The teams have business managers, trainers, support staff, coaches and infrastructure. His players practice weekly to work

better as an efficient team or as stand alone performers.The team is co-ed and consists of between 3-6 individuals, de pending upon the game. College eSports athletes are held to the same standards as traditional athletes. At UM-Flint, they are required to visit the rec center for regular exercise and must maintain a 2.0 GPA.The team holds traditional try outs and Gooding is constantly recruit ing talent.The majority of colleges in

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TEAM VALORANT

designation (NJCAAE), the decision to take the club to varsity level was an easy one. “The NJCAAE offers eight titles for competition. Current ly, Mott participates in two – Super Smash Bros. and Valorant,” explains Perry. “We started varsity with four players and we now have between 20 30. The club is still in operation and acts as a feeder. We’ve already had real success at the national level with

Mott Community College eSports Exploring the Possibilities PHOTOS COURTESY OF MOTT COMMUNITY COLLEGE

In 2016,

As eSports exploded in popularity over the next few years, collegiate leagues began to develop and schools got serious about it. Most made the observation that eSports can be a boon to a school of any size as a recruitment tool and revenue source. MCC was already successful and highly compet itive in multiple varsity sports such as cross country, basketball, softball and more in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA), and when the NJCAA created an eSports

at the ad vent of big time eSports compe

ESPORTS

titions, Mott Community College (MCC) took notice. “Our President, Dr. Beverly Walker-Griffea, was passionate about having an eSports program at the school,” says MCC Athletic Director, Al Perry. “We start ed an eSports club for students at that time and had some success with it.”

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is actively seeking athletes to compete across more titles, including Fortnite, Overwatch, Rainbow Six, Rocket League, Call of Duty and NBA2K. As soon as MCC began their eS ports program, it was a hit with students and the students continue to guide the program going forward. “We are going to expand into what the student body wants to compete in,” says Perry. “The

beauty is that it’s available to everyone and brings a degree of diversity to our athletics depart ment. I’ve found that it takes a different caliber of player for sure. I couldn’t do it!” he laughs. Perry has been learning a lot about what it means to be competitive in video games and

TEAM SUPER SMASH BROS.

one of our players ranked third in the country last year in Smash Bros.” MCC quickly began actively recruiting inside and outside students and offering scholarships to poten tials, like any other varsity sport they offer. In fact, the eSports team must follow all of the qualification rules athletes in traditional sports must observe according to NJCAA guide lines, with the exception of full-time student status. “Our eSports athletes can be part-time students – that is the only difference between NJCAA

and NJCAAE guidelines,” adds Perry. The team is coached by MCC staffer Zachary Stone, and MCC recently had to hire an assistant coach to keep up with demand as eSports contin ues to grow at a breakneck pace. “No doubt, the growth will continue,” says Perry. “I get calls from junior colleges across the country asking about our program and how to set up their own. We are moving toward building a des ignated space for the team to practice and compete together, and a video scoreboard for our gymnasium.” MCC

treats it as any other varsity sport of fered at MCC.When a match is sched uled, he can’t wait to sit back and watch it unfold. “It has been an interesting two years seeing the program evolve,” he states. “When we have a match, I head over to our big screen at school, grab my popcorn and settle in. Honestly, it’s a good thing that we have announc ers for our Twitch stream, because I would be lost without them. It’s just as exciting to watch as anything else.” You can view the Mott eSports team in action at twitch.tv/mottplays Š

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Vehicle City Gridiron Classic 8.28.2021 Š Atwood Stadium Genesee County’s 2021 high school football season started with a bang at the Vehicle City Gridiron Classic. $IWHU D \HDU KLDWXV WKH FURZG ZDV RYHUMR\HG WR ¿OO WKH stands and support our local teams. Day 1’s early game featured Frankenmuth pulling away from Goodrich by a score of 28-14, while the nightcap showcased a powerful rushing attack that led to a Flushing 33-6 win over Flint Powers Catholic. Day 2 featured a Grand Blanc win 40-34 over East Lansing and Linden fell to Pontiac Notre Dame 34-8. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM JAGIELO

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CRIM 2021 8.28.2021 DOWNTOWN FLINT Downtown Flint was in a frenzy with the glorious return of the much-missed Crim Festival of Races. Not only was this year’s race remarkable due to a \HDU VSHQW LQ KLDWXV EXW LW ZDV DOVR WKH ¿QDO UDFH participation for its founder, Bobby Crim. Mr. Crim SDVVHG WKH ¿QLVK OLQH ZLWK DQ DYDODQFKH RI DSSODXVH from spectators. This year’s overall 10-mile male winner was Zachary Ornelas from Ann Arbor with a time of 50:53; the overall female winner was Sydney Devore from Ferndale with a time of 58:45. PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM JAGIELO

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PHOTO BY TERESA OSTBY

ALLY CHALLENGE PRESENTEDBYMcLAREN 8.27-29.2021 WARWICK HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB Despite some serious rain, the Ally Challenge roared back into Grand Blanc with great golf and fun! The tourney weekend included a Champions’ Caddie Exhibition and Family Fun Night with a DJ dance party. Saturday featured the Celebrity Shootout and a Community Concert headlined by country VLQJHU 0DUHQ 0RUULV 2Q WKH HYHQW¶V ¿QDO day, Joe Durant raised the trophy as Ally Challenge Champion, shooting a total of 17-under par for the tournament. PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE ALLY CHALLENGE PRESENTED BY MCLAREN

PHOTO BY TERESA OSTBY

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HURLEY FALL GOLF CLASSIC 9.13.2021 Š CLIO COUNTRY CLUB %HQH¿WWLQJ +XUOH\ 0HGLFDO &HQWHU¶V /HYHO , 7UDXPD %XUQ &HQWHU DQG +XUOH\ &KLOGUHQ¶V +RVSLWDO¶V /HYHO ,, 3HGLDWULF 7UDXPD &HQWHU WKLV \HDU¶V HYHQW ZDV D VWURNH RI JHQLXV $YLG DUHD JROIHUV JDWKHUHG DW &OLR &RXQWU\ &OXE WR JHW LQ D FODVVLF URXQG RI DQG VXSSRUW WKH FDXVH 0RUH WKDQ D IHZ ELUGLH SXWWV IRXQG WKH ERWWRP RI WKH FXS RQ D JUHDW GD\ 7KDQNV WR DOO ZKR SDUWLFLSDWHG PHOTOGRAPHY BY DOUGLAS PIKE

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Cheers to

Catholic Charities Conference Center 9.16.21

PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM JAGIELO

Held at the former St. Michael Catholic Church, this fundraiser featured wonderful hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, a gallery of historical Catholic Charities photos, a silent auction, exciting UDႉHV DQG GRRU SUL]HV *XHVW $XFWLRQHHU 6KHULႇ Chris Swanson, generated excitement for the live auction, which included eight beautiful and unique chairs decorated by local artists.

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Bikes on the Bricks 9.10-12.2021 DOWNTOWN FLINT PHOTOGRAPHY BY TIM JAGIELO 7KH FHOHEUDWLRQ ¿OOHG the Downtown Flint streets ZLWK KXQGUHGV RI ELNHV RI HYHU\ GHVLJQ VW\OH DQG FRORU (YHQWV LQFOXGHG D /DZ (QIRUFHPHQW 6NLOOV &RPSHWLWLRQ PLQL ELNH UDFHV D PRWRUF\FOH VKRZ DQG DZDUGV FHUHPRQ\ ZLWK OLYH PXVLF SURYLGHG E\ 7KH %OXH +DZDLLDQV -RQ )HWW 4XDUWHW -RKQ 9DQFH %DQG DQG 'D\V RI *ORU\

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36th Annual Whaley Golf Classic WARWICK HILLS GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB 9.20.2021 PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL GLEASON The weather cooperated for the players and event organizers who gathered for a day of golf and fundraising. Attendees enjoyed multiple games and activities on the course, and others participated by bidding for a variety of items in an online silent auction from September 17 through September 20. It’s one of WKH ODUJHVW IXQGUDLVHUV IRU WKH RUJDQL]DWLRQ WKDW EHQH¿WV DW ULVN children and their families in our community.

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Life Never Ends for “Rocky Horror” BY ED BRADLEY

“W hat is this ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ thing?” I remember thinking this in 1978, when I heard about a movie of that title somehow playing midnights for weeks (months?) on end in a multiplex near Western Michigan University. Being an impressionable college student who liked movies (but hadn’t yet grown to love them), I thought I ought to give this one a try. Of course, anyone who has seen “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” – which became a cult favorite not long after its unremarkable original 1975 release – knows that it is not just a

Bostwick, of course, has gone on to more “conventional” work in films and television – including many years on “Spin City” – and won a Tony Award. But it’s great he’s retained a sense of humor about “Rocky” as it nears its 50th anniversary. For more information on the Capitol Theatre show, contact the box office at 810.237.7333 or visit CapitolTheatreFlint.com. It being October, the commercial theaters are full of scary fare, with “Candyman,”“Malignant” and “Venom: LetThere Be Carnage” among titles of interest. Partake …if you dare. At the Flint Institute of Arts, the annual Hallow een-weekend movie selection is “Undine,” a fantasy mystery-romance from Germany about a young woman whose current romantic relationship leads to the possibility that she is subject to an ancient curse. It’s playing October 29-31 in the FIA’s Friends of Modern Art film series. Kicking off the museum’s cinema schedule this month is “Dream Horse” (October 1-3), an inspirational horse-racing tale from England starring Toni Collette and Damian Lewis. It’s followed by “The Lost Leonardo” (October 8-10), a documentary about a claimed master piece from the masterly hands of Leonardo da Vinci. Also at the FIA are “Quo Vadis, Aida?” (October 15 17), a war story set in Bosnia and Herzegovina that was nominated for the most recent Best International Feature Oscar, and “The Killing of Two Lovers” (October 22-24), a drama with Clayne Crawford of TV’s “Lethal Weapon.” More information can be found at the FIA web site, FlintArts.org. Appropriate safety measures will be taken considering COVID-19 conditions. Š

movie show but a movie experience. The few hardcore fans who out dialogue and throw things at a postage-stamp screen on an otherwise sleepy dared to wear costumes, yell

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N TIM CURRY I “ THE R K HORROR PICTURE SHO ” OC Y W

Saturday night in Kalamazoo impressed me.The film’s songs, performed by Meat Loaf,Tim Curry and others, were really good. But more than anything, the movie’s edgy but affection ate send-up of the classic horror and science-fiction movies I grew up loving got me hooked. Needless to say, I came back to “Rocky Horror” – in better theaters with crazier audiences. Now, “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is return ing, appropriately, to Flint ’s most classic theater – the refurbished Capitol. Complete with a live appearance by actor Barry Bostwick – the clueless “Brad Majors” of the film – the movie is showing October 21 at 8pm. A live shadow cast (of course), audience participation, a costume contest and artifact displays are promised.

Ed Bradley is the associate curator of fi lm at the Fl int Institute of Arts. A former writer and editor at The Fl int Journal , he has authored four books on fi lm history.

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