My City December 2022

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

A R T & D E S I G N

MANAGING EDITOR Sherron Barden

GRAPHIC DESIGNER Hai ley Worrel l Dar ia Akulova

DEAR READERS, It’s our final issue of 2022 and we’re happy to present our Cityzen of the Year, Linnell Jones-McKenney. I met Coach Linnell this summer when we both went “Over the Edge” for the Disability Network at The Durant. She was recently honored by the community with the Art Hurand Award for her exemplary leadership, and we agree that she deserves recognition for her contributions as a champion for Flint youth. She has done some big things and has more in the works; read about it starting on p.10. Congratulations, Coach! Team My City is always grateful to have this platform for paying tribute to community members, including those we have lost.This month, we feature three special women who passed recently within days of each other: St. Luke’s N.E.W. Life Center Co-founder, Sister Judy Blake (p.8), and Frankenmuth matriarchs Irene Bronner and Judy Zehnder (p.14). All were beloved by their communities and will be greatly missed. As always, this issue has great variety and depth of content that will be great to curl up and read while the snow falls.We have stories about two more women, both about the rewarding careers they were meant to pursue – one just beginning, and the other retiring. Read about a Grand Blanc native, Rabbi Zoe McCoon, who just began leading a congregation in California as one of only a handful of twenty-something Rabbis in the U.S. (p.42). And, recently retired Dr. Chery Wagonlander, an educator who pioneered the middle college concept in Michigan by founding Mott Middle College in 1991, shares her story on p.46. Our history pieces by Pete Hinterman remain on the most-read list, and this month’s subject is apropos of the season: “The White Hurricane Cometh” (p.52) explores the history of the Great Lakes shipwrecks. Do you know which lake has claimed the most lives? Holy happenings! In spite of the difficult times so many of us are experiencing these days, people have been gathering to celebrate their community and give back.Check out ten pages of recent events starting on p.56. Finally, this issue certainly has a holiday feel – festive and fun things to do locally and just out-of-town, plus shopping, cookies and Santa! (He lives in Grand Blanc, you know.) Whatever holiday you celebrate, I wish you all a season filled with the love of friends and family. Thanks for reading,

ASSISTANT EDITOR / WR ITER Peter Hinterman

PHOTOGRAPHY Katy Ki ldee

STAFF WR ITER Cheryl Denni son

O P E R A T I O N S

FREELANCE WR ITER Mark Spezia

ACCOUNTING/CI RCULATION Kim Davi s

CONTR IBUTING WR ITERS Er in Caudel l Dr. Christopher Douglas Vera Hogan

NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Dan Garman

S A L E S

Marc Janca, AIF Alexandr ia Nolan Les l ie Toldo Shannon Whi te

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE Terese Al len

14165 FENTON RD. FENTON, MI 48430 810.230.1783 - MYCITYMAG.COM ISSN#1559-3436 is published monthly by My City Magazine, Inc., 14165 Fenton Rd. Fenton, MI 48430. Canadian Mail Agreement #41971515. For back issues, inquire for availability. Editorial Cor respondence: Address product information and inquiries to: Editorial Department, My City Magazine, 14165 Fenton Rd. Fenton, MI 48430, 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 © 2022. All rights reserved. | Printed in U.S.A.

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COVER PHOTO BY KATY KILDEE