My City July 2021

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 that serene scene on the cover? Greater Flint citizens are embracing the chance to get a new view of the city from the river with Kayak Flint – a nonprofit project of the Flint Watershed Coalition created to protect, promote and improve the river and its watershed. What a great recreational opportunity! (See p.18.) Creating opportunities for teens to talk about their challenges in a safe space is 181 Movement, a faith-based group founded in February. Read about their proactive approach to helping the com munity – and the current goal you can help them reach (p.10). Team My City enjoys any opportunity to feature our furry friends and the people in Greater Flint who dedicate their time and resources to helping find loving homes for animals. Based in Flint Township, Purrsuit of Happyness cat rescue is a small-but mighty nonprofit organization on a mission. Check it out on p.24. When it comes to our “My Arts” category, it’s rarely a challenge to find someone with both talent and an interesting story.This month, we highlight local attorney and glass artist Suellen J. Parker, owner of Case Island Glass. I admire someone who succeeds at their profession AND follows their passion. We also have an update on the latest mu rals that have been painted around Flint by the super-creative people participating in the Flint Public Art Project.There are more than 150 to date! We’re always happy to contribute free press to the many orga nizations that are working to make Flint a better, more beautiful place. That’s what MCM is all about! Photos start on p.28. Also generating excitement is the Flint Fury semi-pro football team. They’ve been around a while, and the head coach (Charles Lawler) is fully vested in both his players and the city.This season’s player mix has re-energized the program – I plan to catch a game this summer! There’s much more in this issue – music, history, food and an other great bunch of columns by our contributing writers. Finally, nominations for our annual Wellness Awards open on August 1 ... visit MyCityMag.com/Wellness-Awards (see p.8-9.) 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 EXECUTIVES Terese Al len Vincent Turchi

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 PHOTOGRAPHY PROVIDED BY KAYAK FLINT

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My Community

10 181 Movement The Promise of

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Positive Reinforcement My Downtown

14 Meet Me at the Farmers’ Market

My Dish 38 Make it Easy with Grain Salads By Erin Caudell My Hobby 40 Flint Town Flyerz Growing the Sport & Giving Back My Sports 44 Ready to Win

Local Markets Galore

18 Kayak Flint

Explore the River! My Outreach 24 Purrsuit of Happyness

A Second Chance for Feline Friends My Arts 28 More Marvelous Murals! 34 Suellen Parker Artist at Heart

Flint Fury Football My Music

50 Frame 42

The New Generation of Rock My History

CONTENTS 56 Charles W. Nash From Waif to King

July 2021

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My Haps 60 Disc 4 Arts

My Econ 71 Keynesian Economics Gets an “F”

Urban Disc Golf Tourney

By Dr. Christopher Douglas My Entertainment

62 Juneteenth Celebration 2021 My Reality NEW 66 Down on the Farm By Vera Hogan My Musings 68 All or Nothing ... or Maybe Just a Book

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72 What are YOU Watching?

By Jonathan Boedecker My Travels By Alexandria Nolan My Thoughts

74 Away We Go!

By Leslie Toldo My Finances

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76 The Sunrise Side of the State By Cheryl Dennison

70 Teach Your Children Well

By Joel P. Lagore

My Afterthought

80 The Dog Days of Summer

MYCOMMUNITY

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Movement ě̗͗ ĀϐΩΐ͜Ϙ̗ Ω͇ ĀΩϘ͜ϥ͜Х̗ Ą̗͜Δ͇Ωϐ̗̈ΐ̗Δϥ By Peter Hinterman A Flintstone through and through, LeoRobinson II grewup in the city and understands its struggles. So, after becoming a pastor while working inOaklandCounty, he knew what he had to do. “I was called home,”he says. “My heart is for Flint. Imovedmy entire family back –my wife of 17 yearsMiosha, and my five children.This kid fromFlint wants to dowhatever he can to support all of the good in the city.” Robinson is the pastor of GoodChurch located onHolbrook Ave. on Flint’s north end, and as soon as he set foot back in the city, he started addressing the needs of the people there. “We noticed that the north end residents around the churchwere struggling with food and depression during the pandemic, sowe safely opened inOctober to provide relief,” he explains. “The philosophy of the church andwhat we practice is based onGalatians 6:9 which states, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’We are amulticultural community that looks to impact asmany as we can in the city and beyond.” While engaging with the city and the people within,Robinson made the acquaintance of Adult&TeenChallenge Flint Director, Phil Hall.Adult&TeenChallenge is a faith-based organizationwith the purpose of helping those suffering fromaddiction to turn their life around.They both spoke of the needs of young teens and adults in the city andRobinsonwas inspired. “It ledme to be proactive when it comes to teens,”Robinson states. “Howdowe help themwith all of

the difficulties they face today –mental troubles, anxiety, depression and often addiction?We felt that if they got help now, thenmaybe, they wouldn’t need Phil [Hall] later.”So, as an answer,Robinson founded 181Movement in February with the goal of helping teens move their lives in a positive direction. “We named it 181Movement because we want our teens who are struggling and possibly headed down the wrong path to turn their life around 180 degrees, and bring one additional personwith them,” explains Robinson. “We want to show them that the issues they are dealing with are shared, and provide a connection to others who are headed in the right direction.We don’t want them to self-medicate.” The programwas an immediate hit and participation is growing eachweek. In order to provide the best possible service to participants, 181Movement has partneredwith area professionals to lead discussions and help teens on a one-on-one basis.The program is for anyone age 12-19 andmeetsThursdays from5-7:30pmat GoodChurch. “We have an open-door policy. Just showup,” adds Robinson. “You can showup for asmany nights as youwant,we don’t take attendance.And, if you need a ride,we provide that, also.” Each 181Movement night starts with a cateredmeal during which participants are asked to use the time to build relationships with new people.Then, the group plays a collective game before the 15-minute topical message or devotional is delivered. “The topics are chosen by the teens and it’s always something that someone is dealing with:

Phongphan Supphakank / stock.adobe.com

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forgiveness, fatherlessness, addiction, etc.,” says Robinson. “Then,we break into intimate impact discussion groups.”At the end of the night, everyone comes back together for games and prize giveaways. “After spending time with themevery night, I believe that one of the things they aremissingmost is positive reinforcement. Just telling them that they are a good person and doing a good job goes a long way,” says Robinson. “They get plenty of negative reinforcement – they don’t needmore of it. I have noticed that another thingmissing inmany of their lives is positive rolemodels;more specifically, positivemale rolemodels. Youngmen need positive examples to emulate.” The 181Movement has been great for the area, but Good Church is doingmore.While talking to the community, the church has found that much of the area is lacking adequate laundry service – somethingmost people take for granted. “Absenteeism fromschool or a job is high in Flint andwe found that one of the biggest problems is lack of clean clothes,” says Robinson. “Imagine having to go to school every day with unwashed underwear or anything else.There is no laundromat within four squaremiles around us and 80 percent of the population depends on public transportation. So, with the help of other area organizations,we started building a laundromat for the community.”The facility will be full-scale and low-cost, as they plan to hire neighborhood individuals towork there.They hope to have it completed by September of this year. “I’ve found that in order to truly understandwhat the population of an area needs themost, you have to engage with people who live there,” explains Robinson. “Some base their decisions onwhat they think the people need instead of just asking themand speaking to them.You’ve got to connect with people to get to the real underlying issues they face.” LeoRobinson II, his wifeMiosha and those connected withGoodChurch are passionate about the city and the people within.They believe in the good in everyone andwill continue to give their best effort, but with a little help. “181Movement is growing andwe are looking for more professional partnerships and therapists,” says Robinson. “We are a religious organization but we are open to anyone whowants to help these kids. If you cannot be there in person, please consider donating to 181 Movement or the laundromat.”All monetary donations are tax deductible and can bemade at goodchurch.life. x

“You’ve got to connect with people to get to the real underlying issues they face.” ¸̗Ω ĄΩ̇͜ΔϘΩΔ ŽŽ

yΩϐ ΐΩϐ̗ ͜Δ͇Ωϐΐ˒ϥ͜ΩΔ ΩΔ ϥ̗͗ іѝі ÃΩХ̗ΐ̗Δϥӗ {ΩΩ̏ :͗ϵϐ̈͗ Ωϐ ϥ̗͗ ¸˒ϵΔ̏ϐб ĀϐΩͿ̗̈ϥӗ Х͜Ϙ͜ϥ ͉ΩΩ̏̈͗ϵϐ̈͗ԑΆ͇̗͜ ˒Δ̏ y˒̗̈̇ΩΩ΃ԑ̈ΩΐӣіѝіΐΩХ̗ΐ̗Δϥӣ

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Don’t Get Burned this Summer! Hurley Children’s Hospital Shares What you Might Not Know about Sunscreen BY PEGGY AGAR, HURLEY MARKETING/SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

ADVERTORIAL

S ummer is here! And that means most of us will be heading out to enjoy the weather at the pool or the lake. It also means a lot of people will be miserable with sunburn.The sun’s UV rays are the strongest between 10am to 4pm, so take extra precautions during those hours or avoid the sun, if possible. Hurley Children’s Hospital Pediatrician,Gwendolyn Reyes,MD says babies six months and younger generally shouldn’t use sunscreen if direct sunlight exposure can be avoided. If that’s not possible, apply a small amount of sunscreen to exposed areas like the face.A swim shirt can add UV protection, but make sure exposed skin is still protected. For everyone else, more studies are needed to prove if 50+ SPF sunscreen provides more protection. You should pick a broad-spectrum, water-resistant formula with a minimum SPF15 or 30, because this will protect against both UVB and UVA rays. Dr. Reyes says, “It is recommended to use mineral or physical sunscreens like zinc oxide or titanium oxide because they are not absorbed into the skin like chemical sunscreens and tend to be less irritating.” Some sunscreen formulas contain a chemical called oxybenzone. “It is best to avoid this chemical, because it can impact your child’s hormone system in the body,” Dr. Reyes adds. Sunscreen sprays are convenient, but Dr. Reyes suggests using a lotion or cream formula instead as it is hard to apply an adequate amount of the product with a spray. “Creams and lotions make it easier to cover all of the sun-exposed areas,” she says. “And remember to pay extra attention to the face, nose and ears.”

It is recommended that sunscreen be applied 15-30 minutes before going out in the sun. Reapply every two hours and after swimming, sweating or drying off with a towel. UVA rays reflect off the water (making them stronger), so it’s important to reapply sunscreen often. If your child gets a sunburn, make sure he or she stays hydrated, drinking plenty of water. Kids should consume water or a sports drink every 20 minutes while outside anyway, to prevent heat-related illness. Cool water on the body can lower the skin’s surface temperature and provide some relief for the pain of sunburn. Children’s Tylenol® or Motrin® can also be given to children six months or older. If your child has a severe burn with blistering, you should contact your pediatrician. x To make an appointment with a pediatrician at Hurley Children’s Clinic, call 810.262.9773 or visit hurleymc.com. Have a safe summer!

MYDOWNTOWN

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BY CHERYL DENNISON

Summer is in full swing and area farmers’ markets are open and bursting with a delightful array of fresh vegetables and fruit, scrumptious baked goods, local meats and cheeses and so much more! Support these local producers while you partake in one of summer’s most enjoyable activities.

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Davison Farmers’ Market 8110 E. Court St., Davison

It’s farm fresh, family friendly and open year-round on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 9am-5pm.The vendors offer fresh produce, meats and cheeses and local goods from all over the state! Explore the variety and take a moment for a bite at one of the eateries. Bring the family and enjoy the free Davison Harvest Collectables car show and live music every Tuesday from 5-9pm.

Fenton Farmers’ Market 150 S. Leroy St., Fenton

Every Thursday evening until October 14, market-goers can shop from 5pm-9pm on the front lawn of the Fenton Community & Cultural Center.The market offers locally grown veggies, fruits, flowers, honey and so much more. Enjoy a tasty treat from local bakeries and restaurants. Don’t forget your lawn chair so you can attend the free Concerts in the Park on Thursdays in conjunction with the Market.

Flint Farmers’ Market 300 E. First St., Flint

This year-round public market is located in the heart of Downtown Flint, open from 9am-5pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. With over 100 vendors offering fresh produce, baked goods, cheese, meat, poultry, eggs, flowers, wine and gift items, a variety of eateries and more, the Market has become a well known Downtown Flint destination.

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Holly Farmers’ Market Crapo Park, Holly

Now in its fourth season, this popular market located near Downtown Holly is open Sundays from 10am-2pm through October 17. Market-goers can also browse in the village’s quaint shops or enjoy a delicious meal at one of its many restaurants. With 100 percent local farmers and artisans, the Market is also great for kids with a playground, gazebo (and public restrooms) available in Crapo Park. For a list of vendors, visit facebook.com/HollyFarmers/

Spicer Orchards Farm Market 10411 Clyde Rd., Fenton The Spicer family has been growing fruit in southeastern Michigan for five generations. Located at Spicer Orchards and open daily from 8am-7pm, the Market offers fresh-baked pies and breads, ice cream, candy, veggies, fruit, cider, doughnuts, homemade jams and several high-quality Michigan-made and local products.

Rich’s Greenhouse & Farm Market 5109 Linden Rd., Swartz Creek

aerial333 / stock.adobe.com DiViArts / stock.adobe.com Serge Zimniy / stock.adobe.com

Open the first weekend in June until the end of September (daily 9am-5pm), this family-owned and operated market offers produce and many locally made goods. You’ll find Michigan and Amish tomatoes, a huge variety of fruits, cukes, melons and homegrown sweet corn and berries, to name a few, as well as farm-fresh eggs, baked goods, honey, maple syrup and much more.

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/ stock.adobe.com

Kayak

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‰˒Х̗ бΩϵ ̗аόΆΩϐ̗̏ ϥ̗͗ yΆ͜Δϥ Ą͜Х̗ϐ ̇б ΃˒б˒΃ б̗ϥԒ

BY CHERYL DENNISON

PHOTOS PROVIDED BY KAYAK FLINT

It’s a beautiful summer day.The air is warm and the river is refreshingly cool, teeming with wildlife – mink, beaver, turtles and a variety of fish. Bald eagles can be spotted in the trees along the banks. Kayak Flint offers nature enthusiasts an opportunity to view the city from a different perspective while enjoying a peaceful trip down the Flint River, according to Sarah Scheitler who co-manages the project with Jaime Welch. A certified kayak instructor, Welch is one of a handful of instructors in the state who is qualified to teach people with disabilities how to kayak. She also leads guided paddle trips. Scheitler handles the business aspects, marketing and staff. →

Ā̗˒̗͇̈ϵΆ ěϐ͜ό AΩЦΔ ϥ̗͗ Ą͜Х̗ϐ Flint

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A project of the Flint River nonprofit created to protect, promote and improve the Flint River and its watershed. Launched in September 2018, it is located on the river behind Tenacity Brewing.The approximately 3.25-mile public paddle trip begins there and ends at Mitson Riverview Landing.This is a portion of the 72-mile Flint River National Water Trail, and Welch leads private guided trips on the entire trail. Kayak Flint also provides a shuttle service for the paddlers. Assisting the kayakers is a team of 12 Coalition members, four of whom are high school students from the Flint & Genesee Chamber’s Youth Initiative program. Welch provides basic instruction for the novices. “We want to make it a fun experience, as well as safe,” she says. Public rentals at Kayak Flint are available Friday at noon and at 10am on Saturday and Sunday.There are 15 single kayaks available for rent ($20) and three tandem kayaks ($35). “We do offer a discount for City of Flint residents ($10 single, $20 tandem),” Scheitler adds. All proceeds from rentals support the work of the FRWC. → Watershed Coalition (FRWC), Kayak Flint is a 501(c)3

(L-R) JAIME WELCH AND SARAH SCHEITLER CO MANAGE THE KAYAK FLINT PROGRAM.

“Watching people go to the river ǹɁɨ ɽȃlj ˎ ɨɰɽ ɽȈȴlj ƃȶǁ ɰljljȈȶǼ ɽȃljȈɨ ɨljƃƺɽȈɁȶɰ ӵ Ȉɽԇɰ been a true joy!” Sarah Scheitler

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Scheitler says they are seeing more and more kayakers every year. “It’s a growing population. People are enjoying the beauty of the river. It is a beautiful resource that not enough people know about.” Both Scheitler and Welch are excited to report that the Flint River Watershed Coalition and Kayak Flint are getting a new home right in the heart of the city.Thanks to a grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the former 1st Source Servall Appliance Parts building at 630 W. Kearsley Street is being renovated and adjacent properties will be redeveloped.The property is bordered by the Flint River, Swartz Creek and Kearsley Street. When the revitalization project is complete, residents will have access to a kayak

launch, fishing spots and lookout points. “We will be moving to the new property within the next year!” Scheitler exclaims. The best thing about Kayak Flint,Welch shares, is the overall experience it provides. “From the river, you might see a Flint City Bucks game being played at Atwood Stadium,” she says. “It’s never just a kayak trip. You get to see the city and you never know what else you’re going to get. It’s amazing! I love it! You get the whole Flint experience.” Avid kayakers themselves, both Welch and Scheitler love their jobs. “We’ve had a blast during this project,” Scheitler admits. “Watching people go to the river for the first time and seeing their reactions – it’s been a true joy!” For more information, visit kayakflint.org. x

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MYOUTREACH

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Kamilia / stock.adobe.com Denis / stock.adobe.com

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In Genesee County and the surrounding area, there are many groups of dedicated people who selflessly give thousands of hours of their time rescuing and protecting unwanted and abandoned animals. Linda Garland Molpus, founder of Purrsuit of Happyness cat rescue, is one such person. “I’ve been doing rescue for a long time,” she shares. In June 2019, she started her own nonprofit organization out of her Flint Township home, with the mission of “making a difference in the lives of the kitties in our community and beyond.” And that is exactly what she has done! Last year, Purrsuit of Happyness completed 130 feline adoptions and approximately 60 this year, so far. “That’s a lot for a little organization,” she says, “especially during a pandemic.” At this writing, Garland-Molpus was fostering 13 felines in her home, with a couple of kittens in the care of a foster family in Swartz Creek. “All together, we currently have 25 felines.” Mike Molpus always lends his wife a hand taking care of the kitties and is one of her biggest supporters. “He helps me a ton,” she admits. “I’ve always been an animal person. Even when I was a kid, I took in every stray.”This was her 15th year in charge of Swartz Creek’s Hometown Days Pet Awareness & Adoption Tent. She also holds adoption days at Magoo’s Pet Outlet in Fenton and Pet Supplies Plus in Oxford. As a long-time employee at Sam’s Club, she also held adoption events outside on the store’s premises. It is important to Purrsuit of Happyness to support other rescue organizations. Garland-Molpus shares donated pet food from Sam’s Club and Pet Supplies Plus with others, including an animal food pantry. “I take food to them and to anyone who needs it. We’re all in it for the same reason,” she states. go, I made a difference in their lives. That makes it all worthwhile.” ¸͜Δ̏˒ {˒ϐΆ˒Δ̏ӸÃΩΆόϵϘ “I can’t rescue them all, but those that were starving, freezing, sick or just had nowhere to

Some adoption cases are very special to Garland-Molpus – especially the story of three Siamese kitties,The Siamese Sisters. Two of them, Stella and Tess, were adopted by Ryan Willy who drove from Chicago to get them.The third sister, Bella, was adopted locally; however, that adoption was not successful and she was returned to Purrsuit of Happyness. “It was Christmas Day and she was very sick, barely standing,” Garland-Molpus remembers. “We still don’t know what happened, but she was so sick!” She spent hours feeding the kitten with a syringe and nursing her back to health. “She kept getting better and better!” she exclaims. “It was a miracle!” →

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MYOUTREACH T here was a happy ending for Bella (whose name was changed to Freya). When she was well enough to be adopted, Willy (who had adopted Freya’s two sisters), again drove from Chicago to adopt her, as well.The three sisters were reunited and are thriving to this day. Garland-Molpus also finds rescuing feral felines to be very rewarding

JULIE KAHLER HANGS OUT WITH SOME KITTIES UP FOR ADOPTION. “SHE IS MY RIGHT HAND, ” SAYS POH FOUNDER, LINDA GARLAND-MOLPUS.

work. Her husband worked at a factory in Flint and the workers would feed the feral cats that roamed around outside. Mike trapped one of the cats, who appeared to be suffering from a broken leg. “I held on to him for a while,” Garland-Molpus remembers, adding that the cat (who they named River) wasn’t feral. River was adopted by a woman in South Lyon who had fallen in love with the sweet kitty. When she took River home, the frightened cat bolted out the door. Garland-Molpus joined in the search and they found River later, in a factory-like setting. “That was what was familiar to him!” Another happy ending! There are also many stories in cat rescue that don’t have happy endings. “People tell me all the time that I can’t save them all,” says Garland-Molpus. “I know this. But for the ones I rescue that were starving, freezing, sick or just had nowhere to go, I made a difference in their lives.That makes it all worthwhile.” x

POH RESCUE WORKS WITH OTHER DEDICATED FOLKS, INCLUDING THESE GALS FROM C.A.R.E. (L-R) DONNA MAKIDON, SHARON ROSS AND DONNA POLZIN.

ťΩϵ ̈˒Δ ̗͗Άό ΐ˒΃̗ ˒ ͇͇̗̏͜ϐ̗Δ̗̈ Cat rescues in the area are overwhelmed with the number of felines in need of fostering. For more information, contact Purrsuit of Happyness at 810.569.1052. To make a donation, visit pohrescue.com.

MIKE MOLPUS HELPS HIS WIFE WITH HER NOBLE “PURRSUIT. ” “HE’S MY ROCK FOR SURE, ” SHE SAYS.

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MYARTS

MORE MARVELOUS MURALS! BY PETER HINTERMAN x PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FLINT PUBLIC ART PROJECT In 2019, Flint Public Art Project (FPAP) started phase one of their plan to paint 100 new murals in Greater Flint by the the project. “We hope to shift the narrative around Flint away from the water crisis and transform our city into an international leader in the public arts.”

end of summer 2020. The project was successful beyond imagination, exceeding the goal and bringing Flint positive news coverage and notoriety. For the project, FPAP welcomed artists from all over the world to the city and reinforced Flint ’s reputation as a haven for artists looking to make an impact. The project is once again in full swing, with estab lished artists returning to add new murals and new ones looking to display their talent. To date, more than 150 murals have been completed throughout the Flint area. “The project is part of our campaign to change the image of Flint to a city of creative hope,” said FPAP Director Joe Schipani in an interview with My City at the start of

To shine an even brighter light on the murals, FPAP has partnered with Kady Yellow and the What’s Up Downtown Project to offer mural tours, and with the Flint RepertoryTheatre to present “Flint Mural Plays,” per formed both live and through 25 micro audio plays written by some of the best playwrights in the country. Each play corresponds with a mural. “The Flint Mural Project rep resents rebirth, happiness and healing,” added Schipani. “FPAP is committed to diversifying the urban landscape and highlighting the unique voices of our community.” For the most up-to-date map of the murals and to hear the audio plays, download the PixelStix app for your device. Take a look at some of the newest murals! x

Aphotostudio / stock.adobe.com

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ARTISTS: KEVIN BURDICK, ISIAH LATTIMORE LOCATION: HARRISON ST.

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ARTIST: HOKZYN LOCATION: 4159 FENTON RD.

ARTIST: HIMED LOCATION: 4159 FENTON RD.

ARTIST: HIMED LOCATION: 4159 FENTON RD.

TO DATE, MORE THAN 150 MURALS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED THROUGHOUT THE FLINT AREA.

ARTIST: KEY DETAIL LOCATION: HEY TAXI , CORUNNA RD.

ARTIST: OEG51 CREW LOCATION: KEARSLEY PARK

ARTIST: SUNE NESU LOCATION: MOTT PARK

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ARTIST: HOKZYN LOCATION: 810 STYLING CO. , FENTON RD.

ARTIST: AMUSE LOCATION: 1810 RAMELL ST.

ARTIST: AMUSE LOCATION: 1810 RAMELL ST.

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“THE PROJECT IS PART OF OUR CAMPAIGN TO CHANGE THE IMAGE OF FLINT TO A CITY OF CREATIVE HOPE.” FPAP DIRECTOR, JOE SCHIPANI

ARTIST: CHARLIE BOIKE LOCATION: 2549 CORUNNA RD.

ARTIST: PAULY EVERETT LOCATION: BUCKHAM ALLEY & 2ND ST.

ARTIST: HIMED LOCATION: 810 STYLING CO. , FENTON RD.

ARTIST: MIKE COBLEY LOCATION: BALLENGER SQUARE ENTRANCE LOT

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ARTIST: SUNE NESU LOCATION: MOTT PARK

ARTISTS: KEVIN BURDICK, CHARLIE BOIKE LOCATION: JULIE’S PAWN SHOP ON SAGINAW ST.

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S uellen J. Parker, a lawyer by profession, but making art is where her heart is.The talented artisan is the owner of Case Island Glass LLC, specializing in kiln-formed, midcentu ry modern glassware. All of the designs are handmade from Bullseye Glass, a manufacturer in Oregon that supplies raw art glass for fused glass makers. Parker, who is married to Patric Parker, a partner at Simon, Figura & Parker (chosen Best Law well-known attorney in Genesee County’s legal community, may be a

Firm in the My City 2021 City’s Choice Artist Ar ist at Heart BY CHERYL DENNISON x PHOTOS PROVIDED BY SUELLEN PARKER

in Massachusetts in 1978 and also worked at a pottery studio as a pro duction potter (mass-producing coffee mugs). When she returned to Michi gan in the early 80s, she sold pottery to a gallery in Birmingham. After going through a divorce and raising three boys on her own, Parker went to law school and earned her Ju ris Doctorate. “You don’t make much money selling pottery,” she says with a smile. She continued her education at DCL College of Law (now at Michi gan State University). “I became a lawyer,” she says, adding that she was the first female attorney at the Flint firm of Winegarden, Shedd, Haley,

Awards) and popular local musician. She has three adult sons – Charles, Tom and Joey Boike – from a prior marriage. Born and raised in Flint, she attended Flint Powers Catholic High School and became interested in art at age eight when she won a scholarship to the Flint Institute of Arts where she started taking pottery classes. She obtained a degree at Boston College

SUELLEN PARKER

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Lindholm & Robertson. “I eventually left the firm to start my own practice.” Parker became interested in work ing with glass in 2005, when she started fusing glass in the basement of her home. She had never worked with glass before and is basically self-taught, hon ing her skills by attending workshops. “I flew out to Portland, Oregon to take classes,” she shares, “and I only use Bullseye Glass; it is the most expen sive.”Her background as a potter was very helpful. “In order to make glass correctly, you have to know how to work with the kiln. I know the science and the melting temperature. I like color, primarily bold colors,” she says, “and you can achieve that with glass.” Coming up with designs was easy for the artisan. Her collections con sist of functional dinnerware, bowls and plates and more. “Whatever you put on your table is what I make,” Parker says. She remembers her mother having 12 different sets of dishes – everyday and holiday dishes. “I was always more intrigued with the colorful ones,” she remembers. p

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P arker has two studios She also teaches classes, which have re cently restarted following the COVID shutdown. At any given time, she has about five employees working with her. Her works have become very popular and she has attended shows in cities all around the U.S. – Chicago, New York City and others. She has over 20,000 followers on Instagram. Her glassware is sold and displayed at various locations including the Museum of Arts and Design Store in Manhattan. One of the first exhibi tions she applied for was a prestigious art show in Harbor Springs. One of the judges she worked with laughed and told her she would never get in. “I got in!” Parker exclaims. She now sells her work at the prestigious Corning Museum of Glass in Corning, NY. “My pieces are attention grabbers!” Case Island Glass has a variety of lines, such as the Wendy Collection, Joseph Collection,Thomas Collection, etc. – named after kids, friends and fam ily members who all help come up with design concepts. Parker’s son, Joey, left his where she designs and cre ates the glassware, one in Flint and one in Fenton.

“ I can go to my studio and lose track of time. This is what I love to do. ”

job as a chef to work with his mother at Case Island Glass. “My kids all help me tremendously in the studio,” says Parker. Case Island Glass is also well known for its Smiley Face Collection.

It is the most popular line along with the Wendy line, which Parker describes as “pure color, squares on squares.” The smiley faces come in all shapes and sizes and are sold at Blue Tree, an eclectic, high-end boutique in NYC. Although Parker still practices law in Genesee County, what she loves most is spending time at her art studio. “I can go there and lose track of time,” she says. “Art has always been my passion. This is what I love to do.” x

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MYDISH

fserega / stock.adobe.com

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BY ERIN CAUDELL with Grain Salads

N utritious, colorful and satisfying, a grain salad is one of the easiest make ahead summer meals. Boiling a batch of quinoa, farro or millet in the morning when the weather is cooler and then adding fresh or roasted vegetables, herbs and a salad dressing at dinner time is easy to fit into a busy schedule. Even the finished salad is versatile – it can be added to a leafy-green salad, wrapped in a tortilla or lettuce cups for a quick and delicious meal. Crunchy Millet Salad INGREDIENTS R5 2 cups cooked millet R5 3-4 Tbsp Za’atar spice mix R5 4-5 Medjool dates, chopped

R5 1 head cauliflower, florets separated R5 1 head broccoli, florets separated R5 1 can of chickpeas, rinsed & drained R5 2 Tbsp olive oil

R5 1/3 cup sunflower seeds, toasted R5 1/2 bunch fresh parsley, chopped R5 Juice of half a lemon R5 Sea Salt & pepper to season

TO MAKE R5 Preheat the oven to 375°F.

R5 Spread the chickpeas, cauliflower and broccoli on a large roasting pan. Add olive oil, Za’atar and sea salt, and mix to coat everything. R5 Roast for around 30 minutes, or until the veggies are golden and cooked through. R5 Cook the millet according to package directions. Let cool, fluff and add the chopped dates, roasted veggies and chickpeas, parsley and sunflower seeds. R5 Season with sea salt and pepper if needed. R5 Finish with a squeeze of lemon juice over the top. x

Erin Caudell is co-owner of The Local Grocer, a horticulturalist, herbalist and farmer.

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Growing the SPort, Giving back BY PETER HINTERMAN x PHOTOS PROVIDED BY FLINT TOWN FLYERZ & TIMOTHY JAGIELO

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The

crowd surrounded the basket, taking practice puts and warming up for the Disc 4 Arts charity tournament to benefit the Flint

(L-R FTF BOARD MEMBERS DAVE LONTEEN, GARY CHALICE AND PAUL GRASSO

Institute of Arts. Competitors were diverse, of all skill levels and ages, and excited to play the temporary urban course created on the grounds of the Cultural Center and Central High School. After taking a number of practice throws, golfers headed to their designated starting holes and with two blasts of an airhorn, the Disc 4 Arts tournament began. Participants belong to a welcoming group of enthusiasts who share a passion for the sport of disc golf. In recent years, the disc golf community grew by leaps and bounds in Michigan and around the country due to the efforts of numerous grassroots organizations and volunteers. In Genesee County, Paul Grasso and the Flint Town Flyerz (FTF) are at the center of it all. “We formed Flint Town Flyerz in 2007,” says Co-founder and President, Paul Grasso. “We started running leagues

Recognized by the Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA), FTF follows the organization’s rules and regulations of the sport. The majority of the FTF are PDGA members of amateur status but a PDGA membership is not mandatory to join. (The PDGA is the national membership organization and governing body for the professional sport.) The FTF runs three leagues in or near Flint (Goldenrod, Mott Park, Holly Woods), hosts four annual PDGA sanctioned events for PDGA Michigan Amateurs and professionals, and participates in and hosts charity events such as the recent Disc 4 Arts event in Downtown Flint.

at Goldenrod in Davison and the Holly Woods course in Holly. Personally, I fell in love with the sport on a business trip in San Diego around 2001 and when I got back to Genesee County, there was nothing here. I spent a lot of time traveling to a few courses in the state. When Goldenrod Disc Golf Course was built in 2003, that’s when things really took off in the area.” Four years later, Grasso and fellow throwers Mark Stephens, Gary Chalice, Dave Lonteen and Jeff Moellering founded FTF.

As the sport continued to slowly grow across the country and membership in the FTF continued to increase, Grasso and his colleagues looked to expand course offerings in Flint. “After a while, we began collecting dues to build a development fund for a new course,” remembers Grasso. “We talked to the city and the board at Mott Park and our plan for a course was accepted. We were able to contribute $5,000 to the project and that amount was matched by Kettering University and the Community Foundation of Greater Flint.” Grasso and the Flyerz got to work.

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ԕě̗͗ ̏͜Ϙ̈ ͉ΩΆ͇ ̈ΩΐΐϵΔ͜ϥб ͜Ϙ ͇ϵΔ ˒Δ̏ Ц̗Ά̈Ωΐ͜Δ͉ԑ Č͜Δ̗̈ ϥ̗͗ ̗͉̇͜ΔΔ͜Δ͉ӗ Ωϵϐ ΐ˒͜Δ ͉Ω˒Ά Ц˒Ϙ ϥΩ ͉ϐΩЦ ϥ̗͗ ϘόΩϐϥ ˒Δ̏ ͜ϥԘϘ ϐ̗˒ΆΆб ̈Ωΐ͜Δ͉ ˒ϐΩϵΔ̏ ΔΩЦԑԖ Ā ĩ¸ {Ą ČČÝ

w

ith help from FTF members and Kettering students, and designed by Grasso,Myles Nakamura and Mark Stephens,

my control. It’s great to be out in nature trying your hand at something different. It’s unbelievable how quickly it has grown in such a short time.” Currently, the FTF are working to install a new course at Sorensen Park in Holly to accommodate the influx of new players. “Holly Woods has just gotten so busy, we thought that Sorensen Park was a great place for a new course. If Holly Woods is full, players can head right down the road. It should be ready next spring,” adds Grasso. Another local organization is building a new course in Swartz Creek off Bristol Rd.The Otterburn Disc Golf Park should open in 2022. FTF also plans to bring back their kids’ day at Mott Park later this summer and host their annual Frozen Flyerz charity event in February. “In the past, Frozen Flyerz has benefitted the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and Flintkids.org,” says Grasso. “In five years, we have raised over $13,000 for the organizations.” The thing that Grasso loves most about the FTF and disc golf is the community and friendships. “The disc golf community is fun and welcoming.The friendships I have made are priceless,” he says. “We are willing to help out any beginner. Since we started, our main goal was to grow the sport and it’s really coming around now.” If you would like to join the Flint Town Flyerz, are interested in participating in a league or volunteering in their endeavors, meet the group at a league night held on Mondays at Mott Park, Tuesdays at Holly Woods and Thursdays at Goldenrod. x

the Mott Park Disc Golf Course was established in 2017.The FTF began league play at Mott soon thereafter.Volunteers continue to maintain the course and Grasso now sits on the Mott Park Board.The group then ex panded their role to include hosting national amateur events and pro-ams. “Our annual events bring highly skilled players to the area and every year, we get more and more players,” informs Grasso. “We host the Michigan Amateur Open at Holly Woods ( June), the Vehicle City Open at Mott Park ( July), the Flint Town Flyerz Open at Mott Park (August) and the Goldenrod Championship in October.”The winner of three of the four events often qualifies for the Michigan State Amateur Championship held in September in Ludington. In the last year, disc golf has exploded. Stuck at home during the pandemic, people were looking for more things to do outside and disc golf was the thing. “It’s a socially-distanced hobby and very inexpensive,” says Grasso. “Most courses are free and discs are affordable. For me, disc golf is a sanctuary from everything that is happening outside of

Upcoming FTF Events R5 Vehicle City Open ( July 31-Aug. 1) at Mott Park R5 Flint Town Flyerz Open (Aug. 14) at Mott Park R5 Goldenrod Championship (Oct. 16) at Goldenrod R5 Frozen Flyerz (Feb. 2022) Location TBD

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MYSPORTS

Flint Fury are Ready to Win BY MARK SPEZIA PHOTOS BY TIM JAGIELO

At Beecher High School, Ja’Kobe Derricks was a fleet-footed, sure-handed defensive back who gave opposing offenses nightmares. His gridiron skills made Derricks an All-Stater. His feet carried him to a 100-meter dash state champi onship, running a time (10.78 seconds) bettered by only five others in Genesee County history. Nearly three years after last suiting up for the Buccaneers, Der ricks found himself longing to again experience the full-contact competition and camaraderie football offers. The Flint Fury semipro team, which has been providing such an outlet for those like Derricks for almost two decades, was the perfect solution. He is one of roughly 50 players from 17 to 41 years of age who love taking brief

respites from jobs and other responsi bilities of life to don helmets and pads and test themselves against opposing Midwest Elite Football Alliance squads. “From the time I was first intro duced to the team, I could tell how good of an atmosphere being part of the Fury allows you to be in,” Derricks says. “We have a great mix of players – younger guys like myself and older guys who have been with the team a while both charging each other up. It’s a great family-type atmosphere.” Like many of his teammates, Derricks discovered that being part of Fury has done more than scratch his football itch. The 20-year-old is also bettering his life.

AND PROVIDED BY FLINT FURY

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money, like how to use credit cards re sponsibly, to get their financial footing.” Lawler also emphasizes the im portance of players and the coaching staff utilizing their various back grounds, occupations and strengths to help take care of each other. “We really promote the community aspect of the Fury because we have all types of players who hold different jobs and that can be used to help their teammates in need,” he says. “For ex ample, if somebody on the team needs their car looked at, we have a mechanic. We also have somebody who sells cars.” The Fury’s website, Facebook and Instagram accounts are also filled with photographs and videos spotlighting in dividual players. “I do that because I want the players to get a little exposure, their 15 minutes of fame,”Lawler says. p

THE TEAM HUDDLES UP BEFORE PRACTICE AT FLINT CENTRAL.

“I am trying to make positive changes and joining the Fury has given me a place to channel any anger and frustrations I have,” Der ricks says. “It provides me with an escape, kind of a happy place. The whole team is a great support system for each other and we want to open people’s eyes to see what a positive thing this is for guys who are open to making changes in their lives.” That’s Fury Head Coach and Owner Charles Lawler’s main motiva tion for remaining passionately in volved with the organization he joined in 2003 as a player before becoming coach in 2008.The 51-year-old takes

great pride in being the team’s life coach, as well as its football coach. “To be real with you, I see the despair that is part of Flint – like poverty, crime and the (ongoing) water crisis – and I really want to help the younger genera tion, especially, find their way through all of it,” Lawler says. “My goal is to help them not get caught up in the turmoil.” Among other things, Lawler organizes a financial workshop for the younger players every season. “Some players do not even have a bank account which, of course, makes it difficult to es tablish credit and move forward in life,” he says. “I try to help them understand important, basic things about managing

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best ways to make everything happen as far as work, home life and the team.” The Fury’s promising start this sea son has certainly made all of Lawler’s ef forts feel worthwhile.The team, 4-4 last year, took a 2-1 record into their June 19 game against Tri-City Stampede. “The season has been great so far because we’ve improved with every game which is a really good sign,” Lawler says. “The running game has been solid, but our offense overall needs a little work. The defense has been great, maybe the best it has looked since 2012, especially the defensive line.” Derricks, who is playing safety, finished with five tackles and was barely touched in returning an interception for a touchdown in a 12-6 road win over the Muskegon Mustangs on June 5. “We’ve improved a lot since we first came together in the spring,” he

Lawler estimates his commitment to the Fury consumes about 25 hours of his time each week during the sea son. He juggles that with his full-time job as a first-shift transporter at Hurley Medical Center. “It can be challenging, but working first-shift makes it easier to organize practices and other activi ties,” he says. “Working only one week end a month also helps. I’ve learned the

COACH CLARENCE HARDY PROVIDES LAST-MINUTE INSTRUCTION.

says. “We are going to surprise people with what we do this season and put the Fury back on the map.” Lawler has even labeled this season “The Great Reset,” switching the team’s colors from navy, silver and white to red, black and white. A two-quarterback offense is also new, consisting of Cortez Effinger and Craig Halmon. Effinger played for Flint Central and UM-Flint’s club team while Craig Halmon is one of three Muskegon natives on the roster. At 5-feet-11 and 270 pounds, he is an imposing presence in the pocket. All but five players hail from Flint area high schools, including offensive lineman Lamar Jenkins, a Grand Blanc All-Stater who also played for NCAA Division 2 Ferris State. Hamady’s Jaylen Watson, a receiver and defensive back, played

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for Division 3 Finlandia University in Hancock while Grand Blanc’s Jermaine Thomas spent time at Division 3 Capital University in Columbus, OH. Both were high school all-conference players along with Derricks, Jenkins, defensive linemen Dexter Proctor (Hamady) and Teshan Compaore (Carman-Ainsworth), and of fensive lineman Austin Hetzer (Powers). Marcel Lang, a 17-year-old receiver from Muskegon, is the youngest player. Hamady graduate Andrew Clark, 41, is the oldest.The father of three and grandfather of one is in his 20th season with the team. Lawler, also the Fury’s defensive coor dinator, is assisted by Emil Bransford (of fensive coordinator), Virgil Keeps (defense line/special teams), Derrick Hutchinson (receivers), Rueben Patton (offensive line), Adonis Levy (quarterbacks), Toney George (running backs) and Clarence Hardy (linebackers, special teams). p

MYSPORTS

“We are going to surprise people with what we do this season and put the Fury back on the map.” CHARLES LAWLER, OWNER/HEAD COACH

The staff began working with about 80 players in January before family and/ or work commitments along with some deciding semipro football was not for them whittled the roster down to 50. They gather for practice for about three hours on Tuesday andThursday evenings at now-shuttered Flint Central. “We rarely cut anybody,”Lawler says.

“Guys tend to weed themselves out. It’s usually not possible for all 50 players to make every game because of other things going on in their lives, but this is one of our better years for depth of talent.” In addition to providing a tackle football outlet for adults and assisting them in improving their lives, a third aspect of the Fury’s mission is giving back to the community. Fury players have spent time visiting the Marion D. Crouse Instructional Center for special needs children in Flushing and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Flint. Some have also read to el ementary school children. Patton and Bransford run the Genesee County Wolfpack, a youth football program.

Lawler did not play football while attending Flint Northern, but joined a flag football team soon after graduating in 1988.That led to him join a semipro team in Lansing before beginning a lengthy stint with the Flint Falcons. He jumped to the Fury after the Falcons folded. Lawler also was part of the Flint Flames and Flint Phantoms indoor football teams which existed briefly dur ing the first decade of the century. The Fury play home games at Hamady High School.They host the Motor City Hawks on July 17 and the Southern Michigan Red Storm July 31. Both games kick off at 7pm. Playoffs begin August 7 should the Fury qualify. “Based on our start, things are looking good to have our first winning season since 2015 and make a playoff push,” Lawler says. “There is a lot of ex citement surrounding the team because new guys have come in eager to start playing and make their mark which has, in turn, fired up the older players.” x For tickets and further info, visit flintfuryfootball.com.

THE TEAM’S COLORS HAVE CHANGED TO RED, BLACK & WHITE.

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ADVERTORIAL

In fact, 80% of Bitcoin is currently held by long-term investors who will not sell.And scarcity is not just driving investors to hold onto their coins, it is driving massive interest in acquiring more coins through large-scale mining,which has further driven up the price (Crewcial Partners, 2021). Another reason is that they are relatively new, so they have no long-term track record to help us gauge their performance potential.Also, their values are often tied to investor sentiment – that is how an investor feels about an asset and its price at a particular moment in time – rather than fundamentals, like what the asset is worth.

THERE ARE 4MAINRISKS INVOLVED WITHOWNING CRYPTOCURRENCY LIQUIDITY

Cryptocurrency The hottest thing in investment news lately is cryptocurrency – a digital or virtual means of exchange.There are more than 67,000 cryptocurrencies today; among the better known are Bitcoin,Dogecoin, Ethereum, XRP,Tether and Litecoin. Bitcoin, the first decentralized cryptocurrency, was originally created in 2009 by an individual who goes by the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Cryptocurrency uses blockchain technology to verify and publicly record buys and sells. Information in a blockchain is recorded in an unchangeable electronic “block”and the block is linked to the previous block – so essentially, it is one big electronic charmbracelet that cannot be changed. Blockchain also is responsible for the rise in NFTs – non-fungible tokens – a “thing” that is unique and irreplaceable.Certain digital artwork and video clips have now been created as NFTs, which means that the person who holds them is the only person who has them (kind of like a very rare Pokémon trading card.) Some people are willing to pay high dollar amounts for NFTs with the idea that it will be a new form of art collecting. Unlike traditional asset classes, cryptocurrencies and NFTs lack intrinsic economic value and generate no cash flows, such as interest payments or dividends, so they are typically not a good substitute for “regular” investments like stocks and bonds. So why is everyone talking about them? It is due, in part, to scarcity. One of Bitcoin’s features is that the supply is limited.There is a hard cap on its circulation. Scarcity motivated owners to hold on to their Bitcoins.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. StephensWealth Management Group is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services. Prior tomaking an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.The prominent underlying risk of using bitcoin as amediumof exchange is that it is not authorized or regulated by any central bank. Bitcoin issuers are not registeredwith the SEC, and the bitcoin marketplace is currently unregulated. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are a very speculative investment and involves a high degree of risk. Investorsmust have the financial ability, sophistication/experience, and willingness to bear the risks of an investment, and a potential total loss of their investment. Securities that have been classified as Bitcoin-related cannot be purchased or deposited in Raymond James client accounts. Cryptocurrencies are stored in “digital wallets”on a holder’s computer or phone, or in the cloud.The wallet serves as a virtual bank account that enables holders to pay for goods and services or simply store the currency in hopes of an increase in value.To access your crypto, you need a password.According to the NewYorkTimes , around 20% of the existing 18.5 million bitcoins are lost or stranded in wallets. Part of the reason for the loss or inability to access these bitcoins is that the owner has lost their password.And there is no way to simply reset a cryptocurrency password – the contents remain locked forever. x Cryptocurrencies are unregulated and no party is required to accept payments in virtual currency.As a result, certain market conditions might make it difficult or impossible to sell quickly at a reasonable price. REGULATORY Cryptocurrencies essentially compete with currencies issued by governments.At some point, governments may seek to regulate or restrict cryptocurrencies, or issue a digital version of their own currencies. Such developments could adversely affect cryptocurrency prices. PRICING Cryptocurrencies trade in decentralized markets. In addition, cryptocurrency exchanges and platforms do not feature the regulations, controls and investor protections available in traditional stock, options and futures markets. For these reasons, there is no unifying single pricing mechanism that reflects digital currency values. PASSWORD LOSS

Jill Carr is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CPA with Stephens Wealth Management Group, located at 5206 Gateway Centre, Suite 300 Flint, MI. Phone 810.732.7411. Any opinions are those of Jill Carr and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete.