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2 Editorial How about some help? By Jan Worth-Nelson A year ago, just two issues before he “These are the people in the co-op who EastMagazine Village died, our founder and late publisher Gary contribute the 500 to 700 hours needed to Vol. LIII No. 11 December 2015 Custer wrote an editorial asking for con - produce the magazine each month – a tributions to East Village Magazine . continuation of the tradition begun in Founder Gary P. Custer He asked, “Is there still a place for East 1976.” Village Magazine Editor Jan Worth-Nelson , or are we a dinosaur [The website, eastvillagemagazine.org, that should fade into history?” is coming back after a major break last Managing Editor Nic Custer As EVM heads into its 40th year and spring; thanks to the patient work of our Ad Manager Daniel Kienitz the end of our first year without Gary, we tech consultant Dean Paxton we are back Copy Editor Danielle Ward find ourselves thinking hard about all that in business with a new design and many Reporters Nic Custer – about who and what we are – and, per - new options — work on that continues.] Andrew Keast haps most importantly, why we are. “The second group of people in the co- Columnists Jan Worth-Nelson Gary’s November 2014 editorial both op were the people who contributed the Teddy Robertson captures important EVM history and his money. We don’t ask them to contribute Paul Rozycki last appeal to you, our cherished readers, the full amount needed to pay for the Bob Thomas for support. magazine (about $3,000 a month) because Business Manager Casey Custer We excerpt from his appeal to you here, we spend the time to reach the people who Éminence Grise Ted Nelson hoping that you will remember us in your will pay to advertise in East Village Photographer Edwin D. Custer end-of-year charitable gifts. Magazine and look for individual or foun - Poets Grayce Scholt To make it easier, we have just added a dation support to sustain our activities. Nic Custer PayPal option online for safe electronic We just ask them to pay for what the Distribution Staff giving. If this is how you wish to give, advertising does not.” Director: Edwin D. Custer. Staff: Kim Bargy, Jane please go to eastvillagemagazine.org and “In 1976, we were able to begin the Bingham, Casey & Nic & Andy Custer, Emma click on the prominent “Donate” button. magazine with a $5,000 grant from the Davis, Marabeth Foreman, Andrea Garrett, Charlie Here is what Gary said, with updated Charles Stewart Mott Foundation under & Linda & Patrick & Terrance & Christan & information added where needed. Project USE that granted $5,000 to each Jillianne Goldsberry, Ingrid Halling & Bob “East Village Magazine was begun in elementary school community council – Thomas, Robert Jewell, Andrew Keast, Carol 1976 as an information co-operative, a Walker School for us. Larzelere Kellermann, Jo Larzelere, Mary LeRoy, group of people working together to pro - “After 38 [now almost 40] years, the Bill & Carol Leix, James & Lillian & Livia vide the group some of the information only two projects to survive from Project Londrigan, Alan & Julie Lynch, Annette McCarthy, they needed to protect and improve their USE from the Walker School Community Ron & Mary Meeker, Robert & Nancy Meszko, neighborhood. Council are many of the trees that shade John Moliassa, Keith Mullaly, Mike Neithercut, “Each person was to provide some - Central Park and East Village Magazine . Ted Nelson, Edith & John Pendell, Dave & Becky thing to accomplish the goals of the group “Through the years we have been Pettengill, Debbie Rumsey, Lori Nelson Savage & – volunteer some of the time, contribute helped by bequests from Grace Lyttle, Pat Savage, Barbara & Richard Schneider, Mike Spleet, Gina Stoldt and Krista Striler. some of the money or provide information Archie Campbell [and Bessie Brown], needed to produce East Village Magazine . and grants from the Ruth Mott Foundation Board of Trustees Some provided more, some provided less and the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation • Jane M. Bingham • Edwin D. Custer – depending on what they could do…. have helped make up funding for new • Bella Kritz • Jack D. Minore “The information in East Village services and pay some of the difference • Robert R. Thomas • Jan Worth-Nelson, xo Magazine continues to be brought to you between our costs and income. 720 E. Second St. by our readers’ contributions of time, “Our advertising has increased in the money and information as it was in 1976. past five years. But EVM still depends on Flint, Mich. 48503 A lot has happened in those 620 issues the people in the second part of the co-op (810) 233-7459 [now 632], but the issues are the same. – the contributors – because the cost of Web Site: eastvillagemagazine.org “Our information cooperative still con - production has increased tremendously. E-mail: [email protected] tinues to provide fair and accurate cover - “We cannot pay for an 8- or 12-page mag - Layout by Ted Nelson. Printing by Riegle Press age of Flint and neighborhood affairs.” azine with ads. It would take more than Inc., 1282 N. Gale Rd., Davison, Mich. 48423. [In 2015, for example, we have provid - three pages of ads to do so – far too The East Village Magazine is a program of the ed neighborhood coverage by Managing many… Village Information Center Inc., a nonprofit corpo- Editor Nic Custer, Ashley O’Brien, “We cannot depend on a grant and we ration. We welcome material from readers, but all Andrew Keast and now several new staff cannot depend on increased advertising to submissions become the property of the publication writers including Stacie Scherman, pay the costs of production. The deadline and if published will be edited to conform to the edi - Re’Shae Sneed and Anne Trelfa. We have for a tax-deduction for contributing to torial style and policies of the publication. All offered columns by Paul Rozycki, Teddy EVM will soon be here. inquiries about the publication should be mailed to East Village Magazine , Village Information Center, Robertson, Jack Minore and Robert “But let’s face it – few, if any, people 720 E. Second St., Flint, Mich. 48503. Distribution Thomas along with the Village Life col - contribute to EVM for the tax deduction. is the second Saturday of each month. Display umn I produce most months. There are It’s just a bonus for the average person. advertising rates are $34.00 a column-inch plus any monthly poems by Grayce Scholt as well.] (Continued on Page 5.) other costs. Unclassified ads are $2.50 a printed line “About 45 or 50 people distribute the or part of a printed line. Rates subject to change magazine each month to see that you get Cover: without notice. The deadline for advertising is 10 it at your door – their names are in the A winter walk on Woodlawn Park days before each publication date. masthead. 3 Photo of the Month: Whaley House Nov. 30 (see related story p. 10) Photograph by Edwin D. Custer After 10 years of Land Bank efforts, Flint a demolition “rock star” By Nic Custer More than 890 Genesee County Land state and federal funders, Kelly said. demolished. Kelly said Consumers Bank-owned homes in Flint will be Flint does it cheaper Energy only has a limited number of demolished over the next two years Four other Michigan cities, Pontiac, employees that can do utility cuts so the thanks to $11.45 million recently author - Detroit, Saginaw and Grand Rapids, process will take a while to complete on ized from a final round of Michigan State received initial Hardest Hit funds for all 890 properties. Housing and Development Authority’s demolitions. Compared to these other Kelly said there are 1,055 properties in Hardest Hit Fund. cities, Flint spends $11,600 on average structurally deficit condition within the This will bring Flint’s total amount of per demolition. This figure is on par with targeted funding areas. These areas have Hardest Hit funds up to $34.15 million other Michigan cities and much less than been selected based on the Hardest Hit since 2013 and will lead to at least 2,666 the $25,000 maximum allowed for each funding criteria. demolished properties. demolition through Hardest Hit. Kelly The funding area includes so-called Christina Kelly, Land Bank director of said a demolition price is based on the “tipping point” neighborhoods, buffer planning and neighborhood revitalization, local conditions and contractors. areas around those neighborhoods and said the organization will have 18 months She credits Flint’s efficient use of funds main corridors. A tipping point neighbor - to spend the money. The funds will also to the abilities of demolition contractors, hood is one that officials predict could pay the Land Bank a 5-year property low prices to dispose of waste at local potentially stabilize if the blight was maintenance fee and a $500 administra - dumps, the recycling of concrete, cheap removed. tion fee for each property. access to backfill dirt and a quick turn - “If we have a stronger market area and Flint’s initial $20.1 million round of around in payment to contractors. it’s surrounded by blight, it will only be a Hardest Hit money was expected to fund She also said Detroit, for example, may matter of time for the blight to spread. We 1,600 demolitions and ended up demol - have higher prices for demolitions covered a large portion of the city ishing 1,776 properties through $2.6 mil - because they have larger structures and between the tipping point areas, the buffer lion in additional funds targeting Civic more buildings made of brick. zones and the corridors,” Kelly said. Park. Demolition involves many steps Kelly said as the list is finalized in In the current round of funding, 900 The demolition process can take sev - coming weeks the information will be properties will be identified for demoli - eral months before properties are ready available publically on the Land Bank tion and an additional 150 properties will to be torn down. A list of properties is website, thelandbank.org. be on a backup list in case there are extra first given to Consumers Energy and the Many blighted buildings remain funds available. water department to cut utilities. Then a When the Hardest Hit funds are finally The Land Bank recently observed its demolition inspection and an environ - depleted, a significant number of the 10th anniversary, and though its work has mental survey are done to identify approximately 5,500 blighted buildings in occasionally drawn criticism locally, its asbestos and other hazards in the house. the city will end up being demolished. But successes consistently draws praise from Properties are abated as needed and then Kelly said, “there are a lot of properties in (Continued on Page 5.) 4 “rockstars of Hardest Hit,” and said Flint ... Land Bank gets the work done and gets it done well. ... Help (Continued from Page 4.) That goodwill keeps the possibility (Continued from Page 3.) open for future funding. In the last round poor condition that we are not able to get Those who contribute do so because they to.” of Hardest Hit funding, Flint requested additional funding after completing its appreciate the information we have pro - She said although the program targets vided to help them preserve and improve “structurally deficit” buildings, “poor contracts, and was given $560,000 in reprogrammed funds to have 42 emer - their neighborhoods and our chronicling condition” properties are also blighting of Flint during the past [39] years. neighborhoods. The Land Bank will work gency demolitions added to the list. The city’s blight framework, which “Were we naïve? Is there still a place with the city to prioritize the list of poor for East Village Magazine or are we a condition properties they own to prepare came out of the master plan process, is helpful for laying out the scale and scope dinosaur that should fade into history?” for potential future demolition funding. Gary asserted that the Flint Journal Properties are initially selected for of the problem and saying this is how the city can accomplish pieces of it. By pro - was a “faint image of what it used to be.” demolition based on the city’s housing He said television is “primarily concerned condition inventory, which rates buildings viding the data to state lawmakers, they are better able to make a funding argu - with the crime of the day and puff pieces on their condition from structurally deficit for the group with the most skilled public to good. The Land Bank does their own ment for Flint. Land Bank staff credit Kildee relations staff or that yells the loudest.” update inspections on properties and, spo - And, he contended last year, “most radically, they will update records based Kelly said she is grateful for Congressman Dan Kildee (Fifth District) importantly, you have no say in your city on complaints or city inspections. government in this wasteland of citizens’ Since Hardest Hit funding began, the because blight is not a topic many people are willing to take on. Kildee helped start rights run by the current Snyder-appoint - Land Bank has hired its own demolition ed city manager.” [We think Gary would inspector who holds contractors to fix work the Land Bank a decade ago. “We don’t have to pitch and make a case and explain, be turning over in his grave as our 2015 that is not done well. Previously, the city did water crisis unfolded.] final inspection for demolition. While the we can just send a quick email,” Kelly said. “It’s great having that ally, and hav - And so, Gary concluded, city does still inspect the houses, the fund - “Flint needs East Village Magazine. ing stipulates that the Land Bank must ing someone understand the challenge.” Hardest Hit funds only pay for residen - “We are depending on you, the people make sure the contractor addresses any who are the contributors, to get us outstanding issues before the demolition is tial demolitions but Kelly said she made Kildee aware that commercial demos are through. closed. “If it has been a year or so since you con - Once the job is finalized, it takes at least a priority going forward. These demoli - tions can be expensive and there are often tributed, we would like you back. If you are three months before the vacant lot can be a current contributor we would appreciate a adopted. Kelly said that right now there is environmental contamination issues that can be complicated to deal with. little extra money this year. Write a check a backlog of applications to purchase side and make it as big as you can. lots but the Land Bank is willing to take The Hardest Hit Fund is a portion of the 2008 federal Troubled Asset Relief “We are not ready to end East Village lease or adoption applications as soon as Magazine anytime soon, but your choice the final list of properties is released to the Fund, which was created to help home - owners avoid foreclosure. $3.2 billion of to help or not to help could ensure that we public. can continue. Clover plantings better than grass the original Hardest Hit Fund was unspent and reprogrammed nationwide. “We depended on you in the beginning. She said planting clover instead of low “We depend on you now.” mow grass on vacant lots has worked Documentary observes 10 Land Bank years The Land Bank just released a docu - Gary’s words absolutely still ring true. well, and the Land Bank is pleased with We hope we can depend on you. the appearance of it compared to the grass mentary online to celebrate its 10-year anniversary. Kelly said there are misper - And it can be very easy by clicking on the that is easily outcompeted by weeds. The “Donate” button at eastvillagemagazine.org. clover costs about the same to plant as ceptions about what the Land Bank does in the community and it gets a lot of com - Thank you, dear readers, and have a Happy grass but it is more in line with the Land Holiday. Bank’s current schedule of mowing once plaints for holding vacant properties. She encouraged residents to watch the video or twice per year and prevents dumping Jan Worth-Nelson is the editor of East because it’s so short. Over time, the clover and get a better sense of what the Land Bank does. The video is available to Village Magazine. She can be reached at saves money, reducing the need to mow [email protected]. and clean up trash. watch free on the Land Bank’s website. Other alternative plantings have been considered including ornamental trees Nic Custer, East Village Magazine that helped with water retention. But managing editor, can be reached at Kelly said after getting specs done with [email protected]. the EPA, they determined it was too expensive. She said they may seek addi - tional funding to pay for tree plantings. Volunteer Distributors Wanted Flint a demolition “rock star” The East Village Magazine is looking Kelly said the Land Bank is doing the for volunteer distributors in some of the best it can with what it has but it is always residential blocks bounded by E. Court, looking for more resources. She said there Franklin, Tuscola and Meade Streets. are no additional demolition funding pro - Spend less than one hour a month get - grams available at the moment but Flint ting exercise and insuring your neigh - has built up a lot of goodwill and faith at bors get the magazine. Contact state and federal levels. She even said a [email protected] or write to 720 grant manager at MSHDA called the city E. Second St. Flint, MI 48503 Gary Custer, EVM Founder

5 Commentaries The 12 (or 13) Days of Christmas – A wish list for Mayor Weaver By Paul Rozycki As Mayor Karen Weaver begins her the city on track to restore a solid finan - of us, for this holiday season, let’s give first 100 days in office with a list of ambi - cial footing and keep it there for what will Mayor Weaver the gift of our support, and tious plans for the city, she and the citi - continue to be challenging times in the let’s hope this proves to be the 12 days (or zens of Flint have a long list of hopes for future. the 100 days) that turned Flint around. the upcoming holiday season and beyond. On the Seventh Day of Christmas: In that light, here’s a proposed wish list And let’s hope that a solid financial Paul Rozycki is a retired professor of political for Flint’s new mayor. May we all find our horizon will finally allow the city to gov - science from Mott Community College. He stockings filled with these wishes granted ern itself after so many years of emer - has lived in Flint since 1969 and has been in the 12 days of Christmas! gency managers, transition boards and involved with and observed Flint politics for On the First Day of Christmas: state-imposed administrators. many years. He is author of Politics and Let’s hope Mayor Weaver finds the On the Eighth Day of Christmas: Government in Michigan (with Jim Hanley) most competent and insightful advisors In that same light, let’s also hope that and A Clearer Image: The History of Mott under her tree. With all of Flint’s prob - Mayor Weaver and City Administrator Community College. He can be reached at lems, no person can do it all. Let’s hope Natasha Henderson are able to decide [email protected]. the mayor is able to pull the best and the who is really running the city. There’s brightest staffers together for the city. The nothing wrong with having a city manag - challenges she faces will demand the best er, but that issue should be decided by Flint village revival of all of them (and us.) those who write and adopt the city charter, On the Second Day of Christmas: not the state. By Bob Thomas Let’s hope that Mayor Weaver will be On the Ninth Day of Christmas: Flint continues to amaze my elderly, able to bridge the racial divisions that have Similarly, let’s also hope that the crusty, skeptical soul with the spiritual been a part of Flint politics for so many Charter Revision Commission will pro - resilience of its populace. years. One look at the voting results of duce a workable document to run a gen - At high noon on Monday, Nov. 9, 2015, November’s election revealed the same uinely self-governed city. Flint’s first female mayor was sworn in racially divided voting pattern that has been On the Tenth Day of Christmas: before a packed, enthusiastic house. part of Flint’s politics for most of the last 40 Let’s also hope that the next year will Mayor Karen Williams Weaver’s African- years of mayoral elections. While there see a resolution of Flint’s water crisis. American heritage and distinguished Flint were many individual exceptions, the heav - Certainly a full solution is a long way lineage adds to her historical and populist ily African American precincts generally down the road, but let’s hope that the appeal. went for Weaver. The white wards and switch back to Detroit water and then the But the Flint revivalism I witnessed in precincts generally went for Dayne Walling. opening of the Karegnondi pipeline, will City Hall was about more than history and On the Third Day of Christmas: start to show a genuine improvement in a new mayor; it was one of the results of I hope that she is able to reach out to Flint’s water — an improvement that we dogged citizen interventionism. This vil - the Flint community in the broadest geo - can trust. lage revival story is not about change at graphical sense. Let’s hope her campaign On the Eleventh Day of Christmas: the top; it is about a bottom-up populist promise of reaching out to uptown, down - Let’s also hope that Mayor Weaver can uprising that would not be dissuaded from town and around town, will bear fruit. For begin to reach out to the outlying cities, speaking truth to authority. too long there has been the feeling that the villages and townships in Genesee County For months all the local and state progress of the downtown has come at the and find genuine cooperation. Let’s also authorities turned deaf ears to the citi - expense of the neighborhoods around hope that the communities outside of Flint zen protests that the river water was town. The fact that the Ruth Mott are willing to reach back and work with tainted. Foundation is reaching out to the north the city. In the final analysis we are all in Thanks to some very strong and per - end may be a step in the right direction. this together, and both the city of Flint and sistent Flint women, the coalition of On the Fourth Day of Christmas: the suburbs need to cooperate more than Concerned Pastors, the citizen water Let’s also hope that there will be a will - they have in the past. coalition and the pediatrician at Hurley ingness to give the new mayor the support On the Twelfth Day of Christmas: who proved the river water was indeed she needs, both from those who supported And most importantly, let’s hope that spiking the lead levels in babies, the upris - her and those who supported Dayne Mayor Weaver can restore the sense of ing prevailed. Common citizens had Walling. While this was a hard fought trust in government. She will need that stood their ground armed with science to campaign, it’s time to put the division and trust as she makes the difficult decisions disarm the political and economic Kool- rancor aside and work for the best inter - to rebuild (or build) the new Flint. Though Aid promoted by failed leadership. ests of the whole city, whoever you sup - many were critical of her lack of political The game was up, but the damage will ported in the election. experience, let’s hope that her skill as a be prolonged. On the Fifth Day of Christmas: psychologist may give her a personal Imagine how much worse it could have Let’s also hope that those who didn’t vote and touch and an advantage over many of the become without citizen intervention. didn’t support anyone in the past election, (and political leaders and office holders who It takes the villagers to raise a town. more than 80% didn’t vote) will find a reason doubted her ability. Let’s hope Flint can to get involved in making the city better. regain the confidence and trust it needs to Bob Thomas is an EVM board member. He On the Sixth Day of Christmas: make a comeback. disappeared in San Francisco for 35 years, Let’s hope that our new mayor will be On the Thirteenth Day of Christmas: only to reappear a decade ago as a retired able to find the grants and funding (OK, so there’s an extra one.) resident of Flint’s Central Park village sources--state, federal and private---to put Finally, for the good of the city, for all where he found true love and a new home. 6 Home sales trends, blight efforts and water concerns raised at CCNA By Anne Trelfa and Re’Shae Sneed Real estate market reports, blight elim - Housing and Development Authority’s centrates the lead” and therefore isn’t ination efforts, and ongoing water con - Hardest Hit funds. [See related Land Bank advisable. cerns highlighted the November meeting story, p. 4] Several residents asserted that Flint’s of the College Cultural Neighborhood Garcia explained the process homes go water was better in the ‘60s, and that Flint Association at Mott Community College’s through before being considered for demolition originally got its water from the Flint RTC Auditorium. including attempts first to preserve, repair and River. President Mike Keeler facilitated resell the home. He informed residents that Ward 4 City Councilman Joshua the meeting attended by about 30 res - more information about the City of Flint’s Freeman stated, “It was never a river prob - idents. Blight Elimination and Neighborhood lem. It was the way it was treated.” He Home sales slow but consistent Stabilization is available at the City of Flint stated Flint has had water issues for over a Mark Fisher, from Grant Hamady website (www.cityofflint.com) To report blight decade, whether from the Flint River or Realtors, offered a real estate report, issues, Garcia’s direct line is 810-237-2090. old pipes susceptible to corrosion. concluding the market remains consis - While CCNA members reported blight In a follow-up conversation after the tent with data from the past three years to Garcia, most of the meeting focused on meeting, Keeler said he expects lawsuits even though “sales have been slow. ways to improve the neighborhood, includ - about the water situation are likely to be Water issues have not helped.” He said ing the 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement aimed at the State of Michigan, not 11 homes sold in the last two months, 15 Program several members reported partici - toward the city. Residents were offered a houses are currently pending and inven - pating in. number to call to get their water tested tory is stable. Distressed home numbers The program is offered by the City to free of charge: (810)787-6537. are up slightly, he reported, and price per work with residents to replace or install The next CCNA meeting is set for 7-9 foot has slipped some as it did last year new sidewalks in Flint: the City pays half p.m. Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016, in MCC’s around this time. and residents pay half of the cost. RTC Auditorium. Keeler added, “It’s always something Information on the 50/50 program is with Flint.” Keeler said his opinion is that available at the City’s Public Works Student staff writer Anne Trelfa can be negative news stories on Flint persist. department website(www.cityofflint.com) reached at [email protected]. Student But, he asserted, the CCNA has been or at (810)766-7343. staff writer Re’Shae Sneed can be reached equally persistent. “Since 1992 we have Water filters, monitoring urged at [email protected]. been dedicated to preserving and improv - In the water discussion, Keeler urged ing our urban neighborhood and our city,” residents to continue monitoring and fil - he said. tering their water. He said filters cost Demolitions on the way about $100 a year but urged residents to City Blight Coordinator Raul Garcia make the investment if they haven’t informed the group that 980 homes owned already. CCNA Vice President Sherry by the Genesee County Land Bank will be Hayden noted that while many residents demolished soon. The work will be paid have been boiling their water for cooking for with $11.45 million in Michigan State or other daily uses, “boiling water con - Neighborhood safety, “problem” houses persist as Central Park issues By Stacie Scherman Blight and safety concerns were the Sain reported the resident provided a the United Way of Genesee County, aims primary focus of the November Central description of the suspects to police and to “reduce crime, build community, and Park Neighborhood Association (CPNA) neighbors. She said the resident believed eliminate blight along Flint’s University meeting. Thirteen attendees also dis - the same suspects were responsible for Avenue Corridor (UAC).” cussed other neighborhood projects and all of the break-ins at her home, and that However, Sain said Hall explained the held an election. they stole jewelry and clothes. Two Central Park neighborhood is not part of Norma Sain, executive director of the other houses, one on Thomson Street the program’s jurisdiction that includes Court Street Village Non-Profit and one on Crapo Street also had report - University Avenue but not Kearsley Housing Corporation, provided the ed break-ins. Street. The University Avenue Corridor blight committee’s updated “problem Corridor borders limit help for CPNA runs west of UM-Flint, and the Central house list” that included reported squat - Prior to the meeting, Sain said, she Park section of Kearsley Street runs east ters at 713 Pierson St. and 710 E. Third met with Raymond Hall, director of UM- of campus. St. and one burned-out home at 807 East Flint Department of Public Safety (DPS), Sain said that she told Hall, “I don’t get St. There appeared to be no activity at to discuss how the Department’s new it. We have 65% rentals and a lot of your the burned home since its fire a month Urban Safety Corps Program may help students in this neighborhood and you earlier. with Central Park’s blight and crime seriously wouldn’t come over the bridge The safe committee also reported on issues. and add two blocks?” recent break-ins, including repeated According to the Michigan Community Ed Custer, outgoing president of incidents at one residence at Court Street Service Commission (MCSC) website, CPNA, added that “there is a Kearsley between Thomson and Pierson streets. the program, created through a grant from connection too [between Kettering and (Continued on Page 9.) 7 Vintage films capture Atwood football memories By Lawrence R. Gustin Editor’s note: In Part Two of Larry paper, at the bottom of a file drawer. The and we would promote them for sale in Gustin’s account of the historic Flint next day, at the Buick Open, he brought news interviews and fliers. We got Thanksgiving games that spanned nearly them to me. Now I had a small number of approval of the Journal and the Flint 50 years at Atwood Stadium, he describes Thanksgiving films to build a collection School District to use their films and then how film footage of 35 of the classic con - around. began looking for more. Dan Nilsen pro - tests was found and preserved. One was of the particularly exciting duced big stories on the search for the 1953 game. Northern’s Art Johnson movies and even posing me with a film When plans surfaced a few years ago to (whose grandson would be 2009 Heisman canister in the middle of the stadium. restore Atwood Stadium, I came up with an Trophy winner Mark Ingram), facing 4th Randy Conat did Channel 12 interviews idea to help: find films of the great Central- down and 14 with 66 seconds left and with the field as backdrop. Northern high school football games held trailing 13-9, caught a short pass and zig - The quest became fun. Over several years there every Thanksgiving from 1930, when zagged 43 yards for the winning TD. of diligent searches, we found films of about the stadium opened, until the late 30 games from as early as 1938. 1970s, when the Turkey Day series Those helping find them included ended, and offer them for sale to the Norm Bryant, Ron Sack, Jeff public on behalf of the stadium Whitely, and Dean Yeotis. Old authority. game movies, silent and unedited, It wouldn’t be a personal came from Central’s Nap LaVoie money maker – in fact it would Fieldhouse, from Northern, from cost me. But if some company former coaches and players. We would transfer old football films sought home movies that might to DVDs without charge, avoiding have been taken by folks in the a big expense, I would work to seats. Several from amateurs market them to the public for $25, appeared to have been taken dur - split evenly between that firm and ing the war and one in 1954. Two the Atwood restoration group. of my home movies made the col - Sales probably would make lection, brief footage of the dark peanuts for stadium restoration but and rainy 1957 game and good game films would now be available film of the “Mud Bowl” to the public. Atwood’s heritage (described last month) ten years would be emphasized while restora - later. But two memorable tion money was being raised. moments in halftime shows were But is there a bigger reason to missed – in 1962 when a little pig preserve old football films? One is wearing Central colors was smug - that Flint has produced many ath - gled into the game, allegedly in a letes who became famous. For Northern bandsman’s sousaphone five decades their early perform - case, and disrupted a Central for - ances were often preserved only mation, and in 1965 when a tuba in football films – particularly player dropped his instrument, was those on Thanksgiving. Also those too embarrassed to immediately games are graphic reminders of pick it up and marched off the field how much sports and Atwood empty-handed. It sat forlornly in Stadium meant to those who lived the mud at midfield for a few here in the mid 20th century. painful minutes before he retrieved Of course, there were details. it. From 1946, we do have a Did many films exist, could they minute of sound. The announcer, be found, could they be used? I probably Bob Reynolds at WFDF, did know a little about old describes a touchdown with cheer - Turkey Day films. I had been a 1943 program cover: it was wartime – note the grenade ing crowds and band music in the sports writer at the Flint Journal background. Two radio stations starting in 1960 and noticed a few of the old In a wild finish, Central stormed back and later local TV sometimes covered the 16-mm. Thanksgiving films gathering dust and completed a pass to the Northern one games but that was the only sound we ever on a file cabinet in the sports department. as the game ended with a 15-13 Northern found. The Journal had begun filming the game victory. I had that game converted onto a A few printed programs surfaced. around the end of World War II. Typically DVD. Local TV anchorman Bill Harris During World War II, a cover illustration the films would be in demand at first. But kindly agreed to narrate my written copy depicted a quarterback throwing a pass with after they were seen a few times, interest and cut and paste the video into what I a soldier behind him throwing a hand would dimish. However, nobody was saw as a wonderful color highlights film grenade. Well, many of the players that year throwing them away, either. with slow motion and stop action of key would have been headed into the military So, fast forwarding about 40 years to plays. immediately after graduation. A program around 2005, when I mentioned my idea Vidcam, a film-to-video conversion was found from the very first game, in of using the films to a young Journal house in Grand Blanc, agreed to convert 1928, the only one played at Central's Dort sports writer, Dan Nilsen, he said he knew any Thanksgiving game films we could Field. It was a small typewritten pamphlet the ones I remembered still existed at the find to DVD – a $150-per-game savings – (Continued on Page 9.) 8 ... Atwood 1947 Central state championship. The ... Central Park (Continued from Page 8.) 1948 tie. The big snow of 1949. And final - (Continued from Page 7.) ly, the prize – the 1950 film, with a notice - of eight pages with ads and lineups from able blip where Ken Moore's film break Mott College]… so when they talk about each school, handed down by 1931 had been repaired. Leroy Bolden’s these corridors, I envision Kearsley as Northern grad Delilah (Ream) McDonough famous 79-yard run had survived. I could being an important corridor to deal to her daughter Carolyn (McDonough) see it, over and over, for the first time with.” MacDonald, who lives in the College and since that cold Turkey Day in 1950. It no UM-Flint safety options “political” Cultural neighborhood. longer seemed so devastating. Sain went on to recount Hall’s response We even had home movies of the 50th Today I’m sitting on DVDs of 35 that “it is political” and has to do with anniversary Nostalgia Bowl, which several Thanksgiving games, those after 1951 in neighborhood partners like UM-Flint, of us at the Flint Journal created after the color. (By the way, the films can still be Kettering, Hurley Medical Center, and series was shifted to a Friday night follow - ordered from Vidcam – phone 810 694- United Way. Sain said that Hall envisions ing 49 years on Thanksgiving. The idea 0996 or [email protected]) beginning with University Avenue, work - was to open Atwood one more time on Missing is footage of the 1963 game, the ing to make an impact there, and then later Thanksgiving and invite all the old players, only one I ever covered for the Journal. expanding into the Central Park neighbor - and those who had wanted to play, for a College games were all played on hood. touch football game on the 50th anniver - Thanksgiving that year, instead of the pre - Karen Tipper, incoming president of sary of the first one. It drew 296 players vious Saturday, because President CPNA, reported that the investor’s com - from as early as 1928 and several thousand Kennedy had been assassinated a day earli - mittee has been working to combat blight fans. er. The Journal’s hired cameraman was through its paint project initiative. Tipper Within several years we had collected busy – he regularly filmed Michigan State explained the committee is working on a film of about 30 of the games converted to football, and that day he was covering the grant proposal to partially fund the exteri - DVDs and on sale. But four key games Spartans. or painting of houses in the Central Park were missing – 1947 through 1950. In It gave me a sense of accomplishment to neighborhood. Participation would be 1947, Central was undefeated state cham - find and preserve game films from those voluntary, and Tipper estimated that pion. In 1948, the teams tied for the only early years and make them available to the homeowners would pay around 50% of time, and among star players were public. So many of Flint’s greatest athletes costs. Central's Don Coleman and Northern’s can be seen performing – back to Northern’s Sain added, “part of what was impor - Leo Sugar. The ‘49 game would make for “Wonder Boys” of the 1930s, Central’s tant to us, because this neighborhood is 65 spectacular film as 11 inches of snow vir - Lynn Chandnois and Don Coleman of the percent rental, is to try to find a venue that tually buried Atwood, requiring tractors ‘40s, Viking Coach Guy Houston, Central brings landlords to the table, you know, an to constantly plow the sidelines. Despite Coach Howard Auer ... even film I shot of incentive, so that they’re actually willing those conditions, Northern's Leroy two Flint Journal sports editors, Harry to sit down and talk.” Bolden scored twice, his teammate Ellis Dayton, who covered the first Thanksgiving The project is planned for spring 2016. Duckett also starred and Central sopho - games, and Doug Mintline, who covered The majority of the grant would be man - more back Tony Branoff, a future star, many of the rest after 1949, engaged in a aged by Court Street Village Non-Profit made good yardage. press box conversation – maybe only inter - Housing Corporation, she said, adding As I mentioned last month, the 1950 esting to a sports writer. Some day, I’ll add that CPNA does not have the non-profit game had drawn the biggest crowd ever, my whole Thanksgiving games collection status necessary to write and receive 20,600, with Bolden running 79 yards for to my automotive and Flint archives at grants. the winning touchdown in the last three Sloan Museum. Demolition funds available minutes. As a Central fan, I was devastat - I have one of the very few scrapbooks of Sain also proposed that the CPNA ed by that run, but couldn't find it, neither newspaper clippings of every Flint Blight Committee should meet to select a the game film nor Bolden’s run. Thanksgiving game. But I do have one regret. list of homes to recommend for demoli - Finally, Ken Moore, a fellow reporter I spent much of my life trying to capture Flint tion. According to a Detroit Free Press at the Journal , gave me a clue. He had history in newspaper articles and books. Yet article on Oct. 28, Flint recently received held the ball for Central's extra point that I’ve not been able to find anyone who knows an additional $11.4 million from the tied the 1950 score, 13-13, just before how to edit DVDs and will help me pull Michigan State Housing Authority’s Bolden’s winning run. Later that year, he together the story of the Flint Thanksgiving Hardest Hit Fund for blight demolition. was showing the film at Central to a group games. It would be quite a video to package up [See related story p. 4] The homes must when the film broke just before Bolden on important moments by Flint’s greatest athletes be owned by the Land Bank to qualify for film broke loose. With no one to fix the in a half-hour film. Maybe we’ll still get it demolition. break, Moore walked out. My thought done, but I’m running out of time. Other blight reduction initiatives dis - was, maybe that film and a few others cussed included signs and flyers inform - were still at Central. Lawrence R. Gustin wrote the award-winning ing neighborhood residents to bag their The week Central closed for good, I first biographies of General Motors founder leaves and a proposal to expand the went to the school, found the principal, Billy Durant (1973, updated 1984 and 2008) Riverside Tabernacle playscape. Janice Davis, and told her I thought the and Buick founder David Buick (2006, The meeting concluded with an elec - missing game films might still be there, in revised 2011 and 2013). He created The Flint tion of officers. Karen Tipper was elected some obscure room or drawer. Skeptics Journal Centennial Picture of Flint in three president and Ed Custer was elected vice- thought that was ridiculous, and anyway editions in the U.S. Bicentennial year of 1976 president. film that old would be ruined. But Ms. and co-authored The Buick: A Complete Davis launched a search and there they History in six editions between 1980 and Student staff writer Stacie Scherman can were – forgotten on a shelf in a former Buick’s centennial in 2003. He and his wife be reached at [email protected]. coach’s locked office, but still in great Rose Mary now live in Oakland County and condition after 60 years. There was the have two sons and five grandchildren. Donations to EVM are tax deductible! 9 Crews, supporters determined to save, restore Whaley Historic House By Jan Worth-Nelson Cleanup crews, conservators, restora - Conservation Center took the Whaley fur - tion experts and numerous volunteers and niture and all artwork to be cleaned, supporters of the Whaley Historic House White said. Museum have been busy almost around the A team from Interstate Restoration, an clock since the beloved Kearsley Street emergency response and reconstruction mansion accidentally caught fire and par - service, has been on site since the fire, tially burned Nov. 30. according to Thomas Henthorn, presi - Whaley board member David White, dent of the Whaley House board of president of the Genesee County Historical trustees. Society and until recently director of the White said within the first 24 to 48 Kettering University Archives, said about hours the restoration team had removed 40 people came forward immediately to many priceless artifacts from the house, help clean up the mess, including employees fixed the furnace and replaced the hot from the Sloan Museum, Applewood, water heater flooded by water. Huge fans Kettering and the UM-Flint. and dehumidifiers were working day and They attempted to rescue hundreds night in the hours after the incident, he of books and other artifacts from the said. house’s second and third floors. White White said a spark originated from said lots of books, quilts, textiles were roofing contractors cleaning up for the day. He said after taking their tools to their truck they went back around the Unclassified ads house and noticed smoke coming from the roof. He said they tried to put it out with Editing Services. Eagle Eye Editing and fire extinguishers from the house. But the Proofreading Services provides top-notch copy edit - fire spread rapidly and the house’s fire ing and proofreading for your writing needs by a alarm system automatically called the fire published author and East Village Magazine copy department. editor and proofreader. Prices depend on the type of Henthorn said the Whaley group are project and number of pages. Contact Danielle E. declining to name the contractor that he Ward at [email protected]. said is “a reputable organization.” Large two-bedroom apartment on E. Second Street. “It is not our wish to have their name Three blocks to UM-F and MCC campuses, library, soiled by a very unexpected accident,” he Cultural Center, parks, downtown and Farmers’ Market. Furnished, laundry and off-street fenced parking. $585 a said. month includes water. References and credit check. Now that all the artifacts have been Pictures available. E-mail [email protected] or removed, next steps will open walls and write Apartment, 720 E. Second St., Flint MI 48503. ceilings to dry everything out, White said. Two-bedroom apartment for rent. Clean, partially The house was built (or remodeled -- furnished, bills paid except electricity. Walking dis - accounts vary) in 1885 for the Robert J. tance from UM-Flint and Mott Community College. and Mary McFarlan Whaley family, who Call 810-235-0021 and leave message. lived there until Mary’s death in 1925. At the time the three-story structure was Photo by Edwin D. Custer built, it joined a row of ornate Victorian homes of prominent Flint families that George Liljeblad Whaley House burning Nov. 30 lined Kearsley Street. All but the 1924-2015 lost, along with a few pieces of furni - Whaley House were eventually demol - The staff of East Village Magazine ture that were not from the Whaley ished – some to make way for the family. notes with sadness the passing of our Cultural Center, others for the I-475 free - longtime friend and colleague, George In the meantime, all December pro - way. grams have been cancelled. Liljeblad, who died in October at 91. Robert Whaley was president of We recognize and gratefully appreciate White said there is insurance to cover Citizens Bank from 1881 until he died in his many decades of faithful service to the estimated cost of $1.2 million through 1922. the community. A longtime resident of both Whaley and the contractor. After several decades during which the College Cultural Neighborhood, He said that while the fire was limited the house was a home for elderly women, Liljeblad served 35 years on the Board to the southeast corner of the main house in the mid-70s it was taken over by a of Trustees for the Village Information and much of the roof structure underneath consortium of seven community agen - Center, East Village Magazine . He was the roof, water damage and soot damage cies that joined together to preserve it devoted to strong and vibrant neighbor - is throughout the house, basement to attic, and make it available to the public as a hoods. and everything in the house was either museum. A landscape architect and longtime smoke or water damaged and has to be director of Flint’s Department of Parks cleaned. Jan Worth-Nelson is the editor of East and Recreation, he played a huge role in The cleanup and restoration team esti - Village Magazine . She can be reached at designing the city’s open spaces we mates it will take six to eight months for [email protected]. enjoy today. new wallpaper to be made. The Chicago 10 ISIS: What it is – and what it isn’t By Paul Rozycki Editor’s Note: Columnist Paul Rozycki offered have grown from a minor force in the genuine sense of the word and they are not this “bonus” column as a local response in the complex Syrian/Iraqi civil war to a signif - Islamic. While they control some territory wake of the Paris bombings. Since he wrote it, icant power in the area, a terrorist threat in the midst of a civil war, no nation rec - the San Bernardino, Calif., killing of 14 makes beyond the Middle East, and a large psy - ognizes them. Nearly every Islamic schol - his points even more relevant. chological menace to the world. They ar rejects them as thugs and murderers, have a military of some consequence and bearing no relation to Muslim teachings. After the horrific terrorist attacks in are willing to die for their apocalyptic Yes, we need to keep our cities and Paris a few weeks ago the reactions were, vision of a Muslim caliphate. They are streets secure, and yes, ISIS may try, and as you might expect, immediate and well skilled in social media and have had may even succeed with some attacks, and angry. The reactions were understandable, success in recruiting in western nations. we do need to take extra precautions to but like many fearful reactions, probably Yes, they are a serious threat and we need protect people, both at the border and with - wrong. to defend ourselves and eliminate the threat. in the nation. (But you still have a much Within hours, several presidential can - But let’s also realize what they are not. greater chance of being killed or injured in didates advocated registering all Muslims, They are not Nazi Germany. a traffic accident than by any terrorist.) imposing a religious test for immigrants, They are not the Empire of Japan. But the fight against ISIS, and the fear closing mosques, bringing back torture, They are not the Soviet Union. of ISIS, shouldn’t let us undermine the blocking the boarders to all Syrians and All three of those were major threats to principles of a democratic society. A nation bombing the **** out of something, or the survival of the United States, western based on free speech, freedom of religion someone, somewhere. And, out of fear, nations and their values. They all possessed and open immigration doesn’t need to public opinion has generally supported formidable military forces and they all want - abandon those values to take on ISIS. We them. (Yet the NRA still isn’t ready to ed to impose a very different set of ideolo - should also remember that an overblown stop terrorists from getting guns easily). gies on us. They all presented a dramatically reaction against Muslims is the greatest Take a deep breath, and get a grip, people. greater menace to the US than ISIS. If any of recruiting tool for groups like ISIS. Let’s remember what ISIS is, and what it them had prevailed, we would be a radically We’ve beaten tougher opponents. And isn’t. different nation, if we’d exist at all. with a sensible mix of intelligent military, To be sure, ISIS, ISIL, (or Daesh as In the end, they were all defeated. It diplomatic and political tools we’ll beat some are calling it) is a serious threat to wasn’t easy, quick or painless, but it was ISIS as well, without undermining our the Middle East, Europe and the world. done. (Civil liberties were jeopardized in own principles. And those who kill the innocent, behead all those cases as well.) and burn prisoners, as ISIS has done, And in spite of their name (Islamic Paul Rozycki can be reached at deserve the harshest of punishments. They State in Syria) ISIS is not a state in any [email protected] . ... Family life (Continued from Page 12.) breathe the air. Sure, we worry about our bodies. We have too many bills. We have existential moments when this life seems too brief, when fear keep us awake at 4 a.m. But still. I turned to Jackson, who was nibbling his syrup-drenched waffle. I asked, “What makes you happy?” He twiddled his fork and took another bite. “I have no idea,” the kid said cheerful - ly, entirely in the moment: the moment of the waffle. I swear he’s a six-year-old Dalai Lama. I love this kid. “Well, you know what makes me happy?” I said, turning back to my egg-white veggie omelet. “It’s sitting here next to you.” It made him shy. But in a minute, he recovered. For the third time, he told his favorite joke. I knew what was coming, and I couldn’t wait to hear his wonderful peal - ing laugh after the punchline. Here it is: What smells, is invisible, and is in a museum? It’s...“fartwork.” You’re welcome. Happy Holidays.

Jan Worth-Nelson is the editor of East Village Magazine. She can be reached at [email protected]. 11 Village Life There’s no avoiding family life this season By Jan Worth-Nelson The trouble with holidays, really, is Mother Ship: the overpowering effect of and marriages and remarriage – though families. The trouble with holidays is what it was you thought you got away from. complicated – can now re-arrange us into how society arm-wrestles us into facing Then you come home and it’s all still a Tetris of love – we’re luckier now, if we who begat us. Sitting around various din - there: your embarrassing mother, the have the sense to embrace them, to enjoy ing room tables, the menu rife with dowdy furniture, your father’s aghast dis - some reassuring counter-arguments clichéd dishes and family histories – and appointment with your new politics, how against isolation and hatred. so often histrionics – every year we play nobody notices you’ve slimmed down and A tale from the Olympic Grill out, once again, what we’re like when gotten a stylish new haircut. How you real - So, here is a story about my family – we’re together. ly are the middle child and that’s your role the one my real life created for me. Who doesn’t dread it: the worn-out in- – apparently until The Rapture – and your I was sitting in one of the big corner jokes, the one over-exuberant drunk, the kid brother seems to be high on meth. booths at Olympic Grill, savoring the relief prickly narratives of hurt feelings – when Just sayin’. of diner food the day after Thanksgiving. she did … what was it again? – the pre - But it’s even worse when you’re the When I’m in the corner booth, I feel dictable tiresome opinions, everybody grownup in the room, and, looking around important and fulfilled, because you taking exactly the same position they did that table or that overheated living room, can’t just sit in the corner booth alone: I last year, the ancestral cookie recipe that everybody sitting there nodding off on think there’s a five-person minimum. I never quite turns out right, the hushed carbs, you realize you are face to face made the cut: I was with my husband, my whispers about reversals and betrayals, with your own culpabilities. Who are stepson, my step-daughter-in-law and my and oh, yeah, that molded Jell-O salad these people you call family? What did step-grandson, Jackson. This is part of loaded inexplicably with shaved carrots you do to make them like that? Is there the family I’ve made, the circle of people and cottage cheese. The way Uncle any hope for any of them? How can you with whom I share important history. Boopie slurps his pumpkin soup. possibly apologize enough? There’s not a blood relative among us, I was at one family dinner where some - And what of your own half-forgotten except that Jackson, who’s six, is the bio - body choked on a hunk of turkey and dreams? Is it your fate when all is said and logical son of his doting mom and dad. threw up on his plate. And another one done to make that green-bean casserole Labels get so complicated these days. where somebody was so drunk by dinner every year from now on, hoping some - Eliot’s my stepson but not Ted’s, since he’s he conked out at the table and his head fell body, anybody, will say it was good? And the son of my first husband. I suppose we into a pile of squash. is that all there is? What about your could call him Ted’s stepson-in-law, etc., You know what I’m talking about dreams of music, or that secret of sneak - but that gets cumbersome. It’s all a bit anx - The vagaries, dear friends, of togetherness. ing off to New Orleans to see what it’s iety-provoking. What should we tell my It’s bad enough when you’re a kid in like, or the itch that keeps coming up step-grandson to call my second husband? your late teens, let’s say, just back from telling you to learn Tai Chi? He has a grandpa already who’s lustily college or other adventures away from the We’ll all be doing well to get out of this involved in his life, his biological with any psychic dignity. Grandpa Danny. Since that’s my first hus - On the other hand: band and we’re divorced, it feels disloyal December Elegy We love each other. We need each to suggest that Ted would be called other. When the day is done, we forgive Jackson’s grandpa. Then there’s Grandpa By Grayce Scholt each other – one hopes. In our human Danny’s wife, and then there’s his mater - The North is black with clouds today, loneliness and doubts, we are extrava - nal grandma, who showers him with love like waves, that when they crest somewhere gantly, desperately in need of kindness, and gifts and yearns for more. or here and crash, their crush of snow compassion, understanding and Lord So Jackson calls him Mr. Ted. The will cloak the leaves Almighty, a few good laughs. sobriquet that suits me most is “Aunty,” and grass and seeds So this is a time to be grateful for that and I would be happy being Jackson’s old encrusting earth circle of loved ones we’ve gathered aunty, but for now, he just calls me Jan. with funeral white; around ourselves to keep us warm through Before going to the diner, Jackson and I and we will grieve with winter’s pain. the winter. Whoever that is. Sometimes had spent part of the morning sitting at the we aren’t even “related.” Our lives can kitchen table talking about birds and things And yet we must believe that accommodate many brothers and sisters, we might like to invent. I can’t remember April, May will come again nurturers and those we nurture alike. either of our ideas, but it doesn’t matter and bring their palettes bright with light, My own nuclear family, though my now. It’s so much fun when anything is pos - that some celestial brush will wipe away childhood years were replete with drama, sible. A woodpecker landed on the Bradford the deadly white, and paint the color has shrunk by now to just my brother and pear tree – a big red-headed one, and we spring! me, and we are two thousand miles apart. were both thrilled to see it. But I do have a family, a collection of dear Happiness abounds Grayce Scholt is a retired English professor from and varied souls with whom I’ve shared Anyway, in the corner booth at Mott College who wrote art reviews for the Flint good and bad with passionate engagement Olympic we all started talking about hap - Journal. Her book of poetry, Bang! Go All the over the years. So I don’t have to claim piness. How much happiness can one Porch Swings , is available online from Amazon. A the aches of solitude unless I choose to go expect to have? In the spirit of the season, personal narrative of the poet’s life in Europe in there. we noted our incredible good fortune: we the early 1950s, Vienna, Only You , is available at [email protected]. The author’s new book We can make our own families have shelter, we all found houses to buy of poems, Night Song , is available from Friesen I’m so glad the boundaries of what that we could afford, we do work we like. Press (www.friesenpress.com) and Amazon. makes a family have expanded over the We get to eat food every day. We can years. The fact that gay marriage is legal (Continued on Page 11.) 12 LIII:11 (632 issues, 6,319 pages)