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H e a lt h y H o m e C o o k i n g ! Support community journalism! Donations to East Village Magazine are tax deductible. 810-235-1968 Go to eastvillagemagazine.org for easy giving. Flint Farmers’ Market 2 Commentary How to win an election without the votes? Gerrymander! By Paul Rozycki EastMagazine Village “The people who cast the votes decide process. By many measures, Michigan is con - Vol. LV No. 11 November 2017 nothing. The people who count the votes sidered to be one of the most gerrymandered Founder Gary P. Custer decide everything.” states, but hardly the only one. – Joseph Stalin The origins of gerrymandering Editor Jan Worth-Nelson The process of drawing oddly shaped Managing Editor Meghan Christian In a democracy the winners in elections election districts is as old as the nation itself. Copy Editor Danielle Ward are supposed to be decided by whoever gets The term “gerrymander” comes from Reporters Sherrema Bower the most votes. And that is usually true. Elbridge Gerry, one of the Founding Fathers Dylan Doherty However, the Soviet dictator’s words may who served in the Continental Congress, was Harold C. Ford be an ominous warning today. That basic, a signer of the Declaration of Independence Patsy Isenberg simple democratic rule can be manipulated and served as vice president under James Jeffery Carey to give victory to those who don’t get the Madison. He created an oddly shaped district Columnists Jan Worth-Nelson most votes. For example in 2016, when in his home state of Massachusetts to help Teddy Robertson Michigan voted for the state House of his party. The election district wrapped Paul Rozycki Representatives, the Democrats won around parts of the state and, based on a Business Manager Casey Custer 18,000 more votes than the Republicans, political cartoon of the day, some of his Éminence Grise Ted Nelson statewide. (If two partial-term candidates opponents said it resembled a salamander — Photographer Edwin D. Custer are excluded, the Republicans had a slight thus the name gerrymander, which stuck for Poet Grayce Scholt edge.) In 2014, the margin was even larger, the last two hundred years. when voters gave and extra 30,000 votes to Distribution Staff the Democrats. Yet in the House, 63 Director: Edwin D. Custer. Staff: Kim Bargy, Jane Republicans and 47 Democrats have been Bingham, Helen & Jacob Blumner, Connor Coyne & Ruby Coyne, Casey & Nic Custer, Emma Davis, elected. When the votes for the U.S. Emily Doerr, Marabeth Foreman, Andrea Garrett, Congress were tallied up in 2014 the Charlie & Linda & Patrick & Terrance & Christan Democrats had about 50,000 more votes & Jillianne Goldsberry, Ingrid Halling & Bob that the Republicans in Michigan. Yet we Thomas, Robert Jewell, Andrew Keast, Carol Larzelere Kellermann, Stephen Kellermann, Jo elected 9 Republicans and 5 Democrats. Larzelere, Bill & Carol Leix, James & Lillian & Even when the Republicans earned a slight Livia Londrigan, Mary LeRoy, Alan & Julie Lynch, majority, their advantage in the legislature Aron McCormick, Ron & Mary Meeker, Robert & was magnified many times. In other years, Nancy Meszko, Mary & Jeff Mintline, John Moliassa, Mike Neithercut, Ted Nelson, Edith & and in others states, similar patterns were John Pendell, Dave & Becky Pettengill, Lucia common. Rodriques, Julian Rodriquez, Mike Spleet, and On the national level, even stranger pat - Karen Wilkinson. terns develop. While we’ve all heard about Board of Trustees how unpopular Congress is — only a little • Jane M. Bingham • Edwin D. Custer more than ten or fifteen percent of the pubic • Bella Kritz • Jack D. Minore approve of what they are doing — barely 1812 Salamander cartoon • Robert R. Thomas ahead of cockroaches and telemarketers. So • Jan Worth-Nelson, ex officio members of Congress should be in big trouble As a result of several Supreme Court deci - 720 E. Second St. on election-day — right? sions in the early 1960s, states are required to Flint, Mich. 48503 Not quite. Most members of Congress redraw all of their election districts at least (810) 233-7459 win reelection, and they win by a land - every ten years. After the census is taken at the slide. Here are a few numbers. In 2016, of start of each decade, states are required to draw Website: eastvillagemagazine.org the 435 members of the U.S. House, only election districts with equal number of people E-mail: [email protected] eight incumbents lost their election. The in each. In this redistricting process, the Layout by Ted Nelson. Printing by Riegle Press average margin for winning was 37 per - Supreme Court required election districts to Inc., 1282 N. Gale Rd., Davison, Mich. 48423. East Village Magazine is a program of the Village cent — a huge landslide. Only 17 of the include approximately the same number of Information Center Inc., a nonprofit corpo ration. We 435 Congressional elections were decided people, but it didn’t say much about what welcome material from readers, but all submissions by five percent of the vote or less. Only 33 shape they could be. That opened tthe door to become the property of the publication and if published seats were decided by 10 percent or less. shaping districts to favor your own party, or will be edited to conform to the editorial style and poli - And in 42 of the 50 states, there were no gerrymandering. The state legislatures are in cies of the publication. All inquiries about the publica - tion should be mailed to East Village Magazine , Village truly competitive elections for the U.S. charge of the process, and that’s where the pol - Information Cen ter, 720 E. Second St., Flint, Mich. House. itics comes in. In the first year of a decade, the 48503. Distribution is the second Saturday of each How could that happen? There are several majority party in the state legislature has the month. Display advertising rates are $34 a column-inch causes, but one of the most significant is the power to create election districts and shape plus any other costs. Unclassified ads are $2.50 a print - ability of one party to draw odd shaped elec - them as they see fit, for the next ten years. ed line or part of a printed line. Rates subject to change without notice. The deadline for advertising is 10 days tion districts or “gerrymander” the election (Continued on Page 11.) before each pub li cation date. © 2017 East Village Magazine Cover: Buckham Alley Marilyn, mural by Charles Boike

3 Photograph by Edwin D. Custer Photo of the Month: Fountains at Applewood Estate Mott Park revived with neighborhood energy, disc golf By Teddy Robertson On this wet, gray evening in mid-October, phase master plan to transform the old golf Mark Stevens. Volunteer students from the 55-degree air feels colder after several days course into a multi-use recreation areas. Kettering dug the 18 tee holes and with of balmy October sunshine. Beneath the drip - Developed through two community “vision neighborhood volunteers over two weekends ping trees at the former Mott Park Municipal sessions” in 2015 and 2016, and conceptual - poured the concrete tee pads — the forms Golf Course, closed since 2009, the parking lot ized by students in landscape architecture from built by the Kettering grounds crew — from — surprisingly — is two-thirds full. Michigan State and in graphic arts at UM-Flint, which the golfers launch their discs toward Inside the old golf clubhouse, its win - the Mott Park Recreation Area master plan targets — chain baskets on poles. dows protected by blue-painted plywood, aligns with the guiding principles of the city’s Layout of the disc golf course was finished board members of the Mott Park “Imagine Flint” master plan. Saxton says the the first week in October when volunteers Recreation Area Association (MPRAA) Mott Park plan allows for flexibility, the poten - from the Flint Town Flyerz, the Mott Park gather for their monthly meeting. tial to take advantage of new opportunities--- neighborhood, and students from Kettering The room is chilly, but the board mem - like Flint area interest in disc golf that emerged University readied the course for play by bers are elated. in the community vision sessions. Oct.7. That warm, sunny Saturday, Flyerz The reason for their elation is disc golf, a As a first project, disc golf proved viable. members and other players tried out the sport unknown when the Mott Park golf With financial support from “Flint Town course; clusters of golfers walked the tees, a course was built in 1934. The cars in the sight last seen eight years ago. parking lot belong to disc golfers, eager to No wonder the Mott Park Recreation check out the Mott Park course, the newest Area board members are happy this evening; addition to disc golf courses within 20 miles they have come a long way since Flint’s four of Flint. The location is already listed on the municipal golf courses closed. A small group players’ website, “The Disc Golf Scene” and of residents formed the Mott Park Public reviewers are excited. According to Golf Course Association in 2010, registered Wikipedia, disc golf, also called frisbee golf, as a non-profit, and began to seek ways to is a sport in which players throw a disc at a revive the golf course. target using rules similar to golf. But several years’ work and research and Photo by Dennis Brown consultation reached a dead end — costs for re- ****** Discs for different disatances seeding and sprinkler system repair were astro - Flyerz” Disc Golf Club, Kettering nomical and the golf industry in Michigan had According to Tom Saxton, Mott Park University, and a grant from the Community leveled off. Unlike Swartz Creek or Kearsley Recreation Area Association board president, Foundation, the course was designed by disc Lake, Mott Park, a nine-hole course, and Pierce the disc course is the first project in a three- golfers Paul Grasso, Myles Nakamura, and (Continued on Page 5.) 4 ational space.” (https://mpraa.net) now the home course for the club but open ... Golf During the transition, Kettering University to everyone when not reserved for tourna - (Continued from Page 4.) provided stability and links to more stake - ment play. Members say they plan to run Park, an executive course, had no commercial holders and projects like University Avenue classes to teach the fundamentals of disc suitors, recalls Tom Saxton, board president. Corridor Coalition. The Recreation Area golf to community youngsters and anyone Saxton, a women’s soccer coach at Board expanded in expertise when Adam Michigan State, said he learned to play golf Marshall Moore, a professional planner on the Mott Park course and taught his sons raised in Mott Park and now recently here too. To him, it was “a sacred space.” returned to Flint, became a member. Many at the meeting could tell a story of dis - To generate ideas for the old golf course and lay community groundwork for a new plan, the Recreation Area Board held a public visioning session in January 2015 at Kettering University. Led by Moore, some 80 attendees proposed and prioritized ideas for a combined recreational and natural space. An unexpected proposal that garnered lively support was disc golf, suggested by some members of a local club, Flint Town Flyerz, who attended. https://www.discgolfscene.com/clubs/Flint_T own_Flyerz Vision session ideas were fleshed out in concept plans drafted with faculty and profes - sional guidance by students from Michigan State University and UM/Flint. Student cre - ativity and enthusiasm infused new energy into the process. At the March follow-up session in 2016, the student plans were displayed showing the pos - Tom Saxton sible layout for the 72-acre park. Some natural couragement and frustration as the greens areas were a butterfly sanctuary, trail develop - went to seed and wild grass sprouted, or ment, and designated fishing and picnic areas. three-wheelers and motorcycles ground up Other areas would require investment and con - nnis Brown the turf on warm summer nights. struction, such as a disc golf course, a canoe and Photo by De kayak launch, an amphitheater, and a “healing Disc Cart garden” available to McLaren Hospital and Kith Haven Nursing Home. else who is interested. The next project in the Mott Park Recreation ****** Area involves a partnership with Flint River Corridor Alliance: a Paddler’s Landing, near Board president Saxton leads tonight’s the former golf hole #4 at the west edge of the meeting with the passion of a long-time res - Recreation Area, off Sunset Drive and ident and the persistence of a coach. Ballenger Highway. The Alliance has taken the Agenda items reflect the success of the disc lead and major sponsors have committed sup - golf course — parking regulations, signage, port. Plans have been drawn up; some work hours of operation, security cameras, set - will begin this fall with the goal of the landing ting up an app so that disc golf players can ready for the 2018 Flint River Flotilla. contribute online to pay for maintenance. With the advent of disc golf and the Saxton reminds members that they are in a restoration of the Flint riverfront, as Saxton learning phase, balancing disc golf play with and the association member see it, Mott other recreation area users: walkers, bicyclers, Park’s flood plain acreage, once deemed Photo by Dennis Brown paddlers, fishermen, and wildlife. Michigan’s usable for a single sport, now offers broader oldest continual foot race, the Thanksgiving recreational possibilities. The Mott Park Disc Golf Baskets Day Turkey Trot, fits into this picture too. Recreation Area seems poised for new life. So the golf course board decided to The last bulletin board from pre-2009 days change its mission and direction, a move ****** still hangs in the old golf club house — what (Continued on Page 6.) formalized in 2014 with a new name, the would those golfers think now? Mott Park Recreation Area Association After the inaugural tournament in late (MPRAA), and a new mission: “To devel - October hosted by the Flint Town Flyerz EVM columnist Teddy Robertson can be op, operate, and maintain as a diverse recre - club and a Sunday kids’ clinic, Mott Park is reached at [email protected].

5 “Where are the journalists?” Part Two : Capturing the hearts of the community By Harold C. Ford This three-part series aims to explore, diminished in content but significantly more Some evidence: analyze and lament how numerous forces expensive. A source with close knowledge of • “Flint Still Needs An Emergency are playing out to dilute and diminish jour - the situation who requested anonymity told Manager”; Flint Journal Editorial, Sunday, nalism – specifically in our own communi - East Village Magazine (EVM), “The print Dec. 2, 2012: “The reality is we need the ty, with a close look at changes in the Flint part of it is like nonexistent … You don’t emergency manager’s sweeping powers and Journal , now dwindled to a local staff of even think about print. It’s like it don’t even political immunity to make the drastic fewer than 10 people, and subsumed by M- exist.” changes and tough decisions to secure the Live Media Group and Advance • As for MLive's digital platform, more and future of the community. There is a lot at Publications, its corporate owner. We con - more stories are imported from other Michigan stake here, and the emergency financial tend that as the whole of journalism strug - cities and non-journalistic “sponsor content” manager remains our best option.” gles, its troubles triggered by the rise of the sources. EVM’s anonymous source reported, • “New Water Gives City New Power”; Internet, the parallel collapse of the “print” “It’s (the MLive website) even more multime - Flint Journal Editorial, Sunday, April 13, 2014: business model has hit local journalism dia shows than it is stories. They (MLive) just “Wisely, Flint ended the relationship with hardest, and that could be said to have a kind of package it so it looks like a story but it’s Detroit and accelerated a plan to treat Flint river devastating and even insidious effect on really a multimedia slide show.” water until the Karegnondi Water Authority participatory democracy. This is why we Many components of yesteryear’s Flint pipeline is finished … Let’s raise our glasses to think it matters. Journal have withered or disappeared entire - a new direction for the next 40 years.” ly. Ed Bradley, a 20-year veteran of The Flint What happened to MLive/The Flint In a June 23, 2013, full-page “Report to Journal including many years as its ntertain - Journal’s Fourth Estate responsibilities during Readers,” MLive Media Group president ment editor, decried “the real lack of arts and its transition to “digital reporting” and the Danny Gaydou proclaimed: “We have entertainment coverage” as “heartbreaking.” nearly simultaneous poisoning of Flint’s pop - launched a comprehensive effort to improve “It’s really a shame,” he told EVM. “Kind ulation engineered by emergency managers the quality of our printed editions — more of what passes for (arts and entertainment) imposed by the state? The serious work of local news, better editorial curation to add con - coverage at MLive these days is … vapid, exposing the crisis was done by others: text and depth to the content and design.” mind-numbing types of stories about “pick Hurley Hospital’s Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha; Gaydou’s Report was an update on a the best sub sandwich in Michigan,” or Virginia Tech Professor Marc Edwards; the multi-year reorganization effort by Advance “where you can get the best craft beer.” Environmental Protection Agency’s Miguel Publications, owner of Booth Newspapers Raising glasses “to a new direction Del Toral; Flint citizen-activist LeeAnne and MLive Media Group/The Flint Journal for the next 40 years.” Photo by Jan Worth-Nelson since 1976. In 2009, beginning with its The scandalous Flint water crisis is the major Michigan properties, Advance reorganized its local news story of this decade. It is likely the newspapers and their affiliate websites with a largest news story since, say, the classroom digital-first approach to publication. murder of Beecher first-grader Kayla Roland in Gaydou responded to questions and critics 2000, or the abandonment of Flint by General when he wrote: “Most (questions) centered on Motors in the final decades of the last century, our commitment to journalism. Our critics con - or the adoption of Flint’s open housing ordi - cluded that we couldn’t possibly be committed nance in 1968, or Flint’s 1966 election of the to journalism because digital reporting wasn’t nation’s first black mayor in a city with a popu - capable of providing the depth, accuracy and lation over 200,000, or the Beecher tornado that context that print journalism commands.” took more than a hundred lives in 1953. Gaydou countered the critics: “The asser - Subscribers to The Flint Journal during those tion couldn’t be further from the truth. We’re events were provided with blanket coverage by keeping our commitment to quality journalism teams of journalists sent from a local newsroom … Most importantly, our growth is centered in bustling with energy and reportorial talent. solid, timely news coverage and excellent But the local journalistic landscape has enterprise journalism … we’re better at deliv - changed dramatically for Flint’s hometown ering significant and meaty journalism.” newspaper. The Journal’s newsroom has Storefront on Saginaw Street shrunk to fewer than ten writers who cover a Walters; and the Michigan ACLU’s Evidence hard to find metropolitan area of some 600,000 persons Investigative Reporter Curt Guyette. It’s now been eight years since the com - served by local units of government numbering Flint’s major newspaper for the past 141 mitment to a digital platform by MLive in the dozens. And critics argue that, with the years is sadly missing from this honor roll of Media Group/The Flint Journal. It’s been erosion of its newsroom, MLive/The Flint citizen soldiers. When budgets are gutted and four years since Gaydou’s “Report to Journal fumbled the journalistic ball in both journalistic staff is reduced to bare bones, Readers.” The commitment to “excellent investigative journalism and editorial integrity when reporters are rewarded for electronic journalism” is objectively hard to find. in terms of the water crisis, the major local “views” or clicks rather than quality journal - • The print edition of The Flint Journal is news story of this unfolding new century. (Continued on Page 8.) 6 A graphic analysis of the print editions of The Flint Journal in 2012 and 2017 and the May 9, 2017 MLive website reveals the following:

7 Nowhere are these changes felt more dra - that’s what … is kind of lost,” asserted EVM’s ... Journalists matically than at the local level. anonymous source. (Continued from Page 5.) Investigative journalist Julie Reynolds ism, the Fourth Estate results can be disap - sketches a grim picture in the Oct. 16, 2017 Lack of diversity pointing. Good investigative journalism issue of The Nation: Capturing the heartbeat of a diverse com - informs good editorial journalism. “The shrinking and disappearing of munity such as that found in the greater Flint hometown newspapers has done incalcula - area might be empowered by a diverse stable Editorial integrity ble damage to Americans’ knowledge of of reporters. “It’s not diverse,” EVM ’s anony - “You’re right,” Jiquanda Johnson told EVM the world around them. Democratic self- mous source bluntly said of the staff at when asked if good reporting leads to good edi - governance presumes an informed public, MLive/The Flint Journal. “How can you cover torials. Johnson is a Flint area native with more but the hollowing out of America’s news - a city when you have to go into the north end? than 16 years of multifaceted experience in papers, in both their online and print ver - You’ve gotta have somebody who people can journalism, including print, television, and dig - sions, leaves citizens increasingly ignorant relate to, and know how to talk … So diversi - ital media. She spent eight years at the Journal. of vital public maters. It also undermines ty is definitely an issue … I think that the peo - “Like hooking into the Flint River, what the press’s ability to hold elected officials ple aren’t committed to being in the communi - would the health impact be?” she mused. “As and powerful interests to account.” ty and that reflects in their stories.” a journalist, that’s a question that should’ve The MLive Media Group website page been asked. That’s something where you get Plow horse in the Kentucky Derby titled “Our Team,” headed up by President a third party and we (Flint Journal writers) “The art of community journalism has been Dan Gaydou, displays the photographic used to get third parties, get other opinions. lost because (MLive/The Flint Journal) don’t images of 18 of 19 persons on the “team.” But now we go where what the city has to have enough people to be out there in the com - Nine are men; nine are women; all appear to say, what the state has to say, and that’s the munity,” according to EVM’s anonymous be European-American. The caption imme - story. Where’s the health person that’s not source with close knowledge of the situation. diately beneath “Our Team” reads: “Our peo - working for the city, that’s not working for “It’s not ten,” the source answered when asked ple is what sets us apart.” the state? What do they have to say about about the number of reporters currently at Advance Publications is the 11th largest this? Where’s the research to see if this has MLive/The Flint Journal. news organization in the nation according to ever been done in any other community and “We almost had more people than we a 2016 report by the School of Media and what happened to those communities?” needed for 25 years of the time I was there (at Journalism at the University of North For 35-year Flint Journal veteran Ron the Journal),” Krueger recollected. Carolina titled “The Rise of a New Media Krueger, editorial integrity simply means “not “You can’t take a plow horse and run it in Baron and the Emerging Threat of News looking the other way when stuff is happening.” the Kentucky Derby,” judged 25-year Journal Deserts.” According to the report: In a November 2013 column titled “We veteran Gene Mierzejewski of the depleted “The largest newspaper companies are larg - Should Have Done Better,” Marjory Raymer, and less-experienced staff. er than ever, and still growing. Big chains can formerly the Community News Director at achieve significant cost savings by merging pro - The Flint Journal, candidly admitted to readers Capturing the heart of the community duction, sales and editorial functions of several that the Journal “didn’t do good enough.” “I’m a person … like journalists used to newspapers, while also amassing an audience “We did not inform the voters,” she be; you really get to know your community,” large enough to remain attractive to advertisers. wrote, about a winning Flint City Council Johnson told EVM. “These days reporters At the end of 2004, the three largest companies candidate that served 19 years in prison after have a tendency to stay in the newsroom … owned 487 newspapers with a combined circu - pleading guilty to second-degree murder. So I could get those types of stories because lation of 9.8 million. Today, the three largest “We owed you more,” she concluded. I’m from here; I have a history here; mypar - companies own about 900 papers that have a “You worried more about editorial ents are from here; my grandparents are from combined circulation of 12.7 million.” integrity,” Krueger observed of his earlier here.” Advance is a sprawling media empire years at the Journal. Guyette, who helped break the Flint owned by the descendants of S.I. Newhouse water crisis story, told EVM: “It used to be Sr., Donald Newhouse, and S.I. Newhouse Shifting landscape, changing dynamics that newspapers were largely family-owned Jr. It presides over 22 daily newspapers in The tsunami-like effect of the internet is operations and that the people who owned eight states. In addition to The Flint Journal, profoundly shifting the landscape and chang - papers lived in the communities that the Advance owns six other newspapers in ing the dynamics of the Fourth Estate. newspapers were published in.” Michigan including The Bay City Times, Journalism will never be the same as we Jan Worth-Nelson, editor of this publica - Jackson Citizen Patriot, Kalamazoo Gazette, remember it from the 20th century. Craig’s tion, wrote in 2015 about the link between Muskegon Chronicle, The Ann Arbor News, List, Google, Amazon, and other online giants journalists and the community: “It matters to and The Saginaw News. have sucked billions of dollars in advertising me that reporters who cover Flint locally live Advance also owns 53 weekly newspapers revenue from America’s newsrooms. among us — or at least, like “Teardown” in seven states including 14 weeklies in the Newspaper budgets have been slashed, jour - author Gordon Young, have a sense of the state of Michigan. Other properties include: 11 nalists have been sent into retirement or other place. I want to know that they worry about business journals and periodicals; 21 maga - professions, and papers have shrunk in terms their water, try to decide where to send their zines; dozens of websites including those for of size and frequency of publication. Print pub - kids to school, try to find a grocery store, Condé Nast’s nearly two dozen publications; lications scurry to transition to digital plat - negotiate down bumpy brick Saginaw Street, six other related websites and companies forms in a frenetic search for “views” or clicks. wait in line for the pho at MaMang.” including reddit.com, a 31 percent stake in And the integrity of the news industry suffers. “Capturing the heart of the community, (Continued on Page 9.)

8 ... Journalists (Continued from Page 8.) Discovery Communications, and a 13 percent stake in Charter Communications. Advance Publications is headquartered in Staten Island, New York City. Thus, the most important decisions affecting Flint’s home - town newspaper — such as slashing budgets, cutting staff, and committing to a digital plat - form — are likely made by anonymous cor - porate heads who live and work nearly 700 miles removed from the Vehicle City. When asked what his biggest worry was about the changes in journalism, career newsman Krueger was brief and to the point: “Concentration of media. Overly concentrated ownership.”

EVM staff writer Harold C. Ford can be reached at [email protected].

Editor’s Note: Multiple overtures were made by EVM to solicit the views of current staff and management at MLive/The Flint Journal. Gary Ridley, news leader of MLive/The Flint Journal at the Flint office, forwarded our requests to Clark Hughes, interim regional manager of The Flint Journal, The Saginaw News and The Bay City Times; he forwarded our requests to John Hiner, MLive vice presi - dent of content. On Sept. 26, we received this response from Hiner: “Thanks for your inter - est in the changes at The Flint Journal over the years. After reviewing the questions, I think it’s best to let our journalism speak for itself.”

9 THIS MONTH IN THE VILLAGE “This Month” highlights a selection of interesting events available to our readers — beginning after our publication date of Nov. 2. It is not an exhaustive list, rather a sampling of opportunities in the city. To submit events for our December issue, email your event to Managing Editor Meghan Christian at [email protected] by Nov. 21.

Eclipse: The Sun Revealed Queen Light Show: “From Mercury Townes Osborn Miller, Nancy Dahle, with Love” and Rachel Andrews in Concert Nov. 1 - Nov. 22 4 p.m. Longway Planetarium, Nov. 2-4, 9-11, 16-18, 24, 25, and 30. Nov. 12 1310 E. Kearsley St., 8 p.m. 2 p.m. 810-237-3400 Longway Planetarium, MacArthur Recital Hall, Admission: $4 - $6 1310 Kearsley St., Flint Institute of Music 810-237-3400 Admission: Free Explore the historical, scientific, and Admission: $4 - $6 cultural aspects of solar eclipses. Recommended for ages 10 and up. Enjoy music from Miller (Flute), Dahle A dazzling light show featuring 10 of (Soprano), and Andrews (Soprano). Skies over Michigan Queen’s greatest hits. Tendaji Talks: Inclusion/Exclusion Every day in November Jazz Night with John Hill, Pat 3 p.m. Cronley, and Guests Nov. 14 Longway Planetarium, 1310 E. Kearsley St., 6 p.m. 810-237-3400 Nov. 7, 14, 21, and 28. Flint Public Library, Admission: $4 - $6 7 p.m. 1026 E. Kearsley Soggy Bottom Bar, Admission: Free Learn about Michigan’s night sky, 613 Martin Luther King Ave., including topics like the North Star, 810-239-8058 Hosted by Neighborhoods without Earth’s rotation, and more. Admission: Free Borders, a monthly discussion about diversity, community issues, and racism Adventures with Clifford the Big Red Dog Enjoy an evening of food, drinks, and jazz. Every day in November The Wizard of Oz Mon-Sat: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Flint Symphony Orchestra Classical Sun: Noon - 5 p.m. Concert Nov. 24 Sloan Museum, 1221 E. Kearsley St., 2 p.m. Nov. 11 The Whiting, 810-237-3450 7:30 p.m. Admission: $6 - $9 1241 E. Kearsley St., Flint Institute of Music, 810-237-7333 Have fun doing a multitude of activities 1025 E. Kearsley St., Admission: $38 - 65 and see 40 years of artwork and stories 810-237-7333 from the author and creator of “Clifford, the Big Red Dog.” Enjoy music from a variety of classical See the classic tale of Dorothy and Toto with composers. special effects, great choreography, and more.

... Applewood Jan. 19: Foris Ethier — Genesys For more information on the (Continued from Page 12.) Hurley Cancer Institute Clinical Trials Applewood Lecture Series, on individual lectures, or to register, please visi t Applewood Lecture Series he said, “Well they Feb. 16: Gregory Miller — The 1937 https://www.mcc.edu/continuing_ed/ce_fr approached me and after thinking about it for Flint Sit-Down Strike i_at_applewood.shtml. about 15 minutes, it just made sense.” Now approaching 75, Wensel is looking to pass the March 16: Len Thomas — Durand Train EVM staff writer Jeffery Carey can be torch and let someone else take over his respon - Wrecks — the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus reached at [email protected]. sibilites. “It’s time,” he said. “I’m just wanting to Train Disaster (1903) and the Knights come myself and take in what I can.” Templar Disaster (1923) Upcoming lectures are as follows. All events begin with continental breakfast at 9 April 20: Barbara Kincaid — a.m. and the lecture at 10 a.m. Jacqueline Bouvier-Kennedy: Her Life, Her Legend Nov. 11: Dr. Mike Heberling— Michigan’s Role in the Cold War May 18: Steve Prince — Voices from the Past — Native American Culture, Music Dec. 15: Barbara Kincaid — Victorian and Storytelling. From Michigan Hands to Michigan Homes Holiday Traditions 601 M.L. King Avenue 10 your party. There are many causes for our ... Gerrymander gridlock in Washington, and the division (Continued from Page 3.) within our nation, but gerrymandering is a major one. How it’s done The process of creating gerrymandered dis - What’s being done about it? tricts is both fairly simple and has grown to be Right now there are at least two major a very complex computer-generated process. attempts to change the gerrymandered map In its most basic form, you want to give your of Michigan and of the nation. One group is own party a good working majority in as many taking the issue to the U.S. Supreme Court, districts as possible, and to leave the opposi - in an attempt to rule on what is or isn’t a fair tion with huge majorities in just a few districts. way to draw election districts. In Michigan, The common terms for this are “packing” and there is a petition drive to create a non-par - tisan board that would oversee the redistrict - ing in the state. Both of those will be dis - Michigan’s 14th District cussed in next month’s East Village Congressional district in the Detroit area Magazine. that winds from Detroit through several suburban cities and townships and up to EVM political columnist Paul Rozycki Pontiac. can be reached at [email protected]. The effect on our politics All this gerrymandering distorts our politics in a number of ways. First, when most elections are decided by landslides, why bother voting? If you are a Pipes replaced so far in Flint: Republican in a district where Democrats 5,148 always win with 70 percent of the vote, what Source: Oct. 24 press release from Kristin Moore, motive do you have to turn out if you know public relations director, City of Flint “cracking” where all your opponents are you are going to lose? Ironically, the same is “packed” into a few districts and where their true for Democrats. If your party is all but Lead-tainted service lines at 4,249 supporters are “cracked” or broken up so they certain to win, why bother? There are many homes have been replaced so far in are not a majority in any other district. reasons that Americans have one of the low - Phase 4 of the city’s FAST Start pro - est voting rates among democratic nations, As you can see, though the overall number gram, which aims to replace pipes at of voters for each party does not change, draw - but gerrymandering is a major one. 6,000 homes in 2017. That brings the ing different districts does change the outcome. Second, since the general election offers Based upon past voting records it has little real competition, the real election is total of residential pipe replacements so been fairly easy to draw election districts to usually party primary, where the voters get far to 5,148 with numbers changing favor one party or the other. Modern com - to nominate their candidates. But here’s the every day. puter technology makes the process even problem. Our primary elections in Michigan The city aims to have all of Flint’s easier and more precise. And while are normally held in August and the turnout lead-tainted service lines — nearly Republicans are the current beneficiary of is typically very low. On average, about 20 20,000 — replaced by 2020. gerrymandering, Democrats have taken percent of the voters will bother to turn out advantage of the same process when given for a primary. Last August, the contest for the chance. the Flint City Council drew just a little over While the most common form of gerry - seven percent of the voters. mandering is to favor one party over the Third, the low turnout in the primary is other, it can be used anytime people are sep - only part of the problem. Those who turn out arated by geography. Racial gerrymander - are not typical voters. Primaries draw party ing has a long history in both the north and activists and those with strong ideological the south and it has been used to both pre - views — conservative Republican and liber - vent the election of minorities, or (in some al Democrats. The candidates nominated cases) to assure minorities have a better often don’t represent the mainstream of chance of winning. There are also more either party or independent voters. than a few examples of what can be called Fourth, because the real election is the pri - “personal gerrymandering” where a partic - mary, most candidates aren’t afraid of losing ular candidate’s home is placed in one dis - in the November general election. They fear trict and a prospective opponent’s is placed facing a primary challenge within their own in another. Though the drawing of district party. And if you have been elected by lines usually favors incumbents, sometimes activist liberal Democratic voters or activist two incumbents of the opposing party will conservative Republican voters, the last be thrown together in a new district forcing thing you want to do is to compromise or them to spar with each other for the next work with the opposing party. You’ll be seen election. as a traitor, and will face a challenge from a All of this juggling of district lines can more liberal or conservative opponent with - produce some very oddly shaped election in your own party. If you want to win, you districts. One example is Michigan’s 14th need to appeal to the more extreme wing of 11 Village Life Saxophone, Starlite, and a quiet street calm that sliver of panic By Meghan Christian It is a cool, grey morning. It is set to be the water filter on our kitchen sink. I turned and more companies begin to invest in down - one of the first actual chilly days of fall, on the water and the filter, watched the light town and as more and more young people the kind that makes you want to stay in flash red, and then I realized that I was now move into the city, for school and cheap hous - bed with a good book. Even if the leaves going to be faced with daily living in Flint ing. Flint’s tenacity alone is enough to make haven’t started to change here yet, the chill and that includes the water. I only had to wait anyone fall in love with it. Most importantly, in the air is welcome. I just came back in another week for recycling to go out to the Flint is strong. Despite the distrust, despite the from opening our driveway gate so that curb to be faced with it again as the street was crime, despite the water, Flint is strong. my boyfriend can leave for work; a cute lined with huge bags full of plastic bottles. Any worries I had about living here were tradition that we have adopted over the Every time I take a shower, there is always gone after that first day. Yes, Flint is a city past month that we have lived in Flint. that small sliver of doubt and panic. with many problems. But it is also a city full Our street is exactly what I have always But Flint has always been more than its of amazing, hard-working people that still wanted. It is quiet, unless the weather is nice hardships, its problems. manage to be generous and kind. Flint is a and then there is a cacophony of kids’ voices Looking for a late-night meal, my city full of neighbors looking out for each — once I even heard a beautiful rendition of boyfriend and I were thankful to be so close other and bringing dinner to the couple that “Hot Cross Buns” on the saxophone. And to Starlite Diner. Of course we had been to just moved in, so they don’t have to worry everyone looks out for each other. Our first Starlite before that night, but there was some - about cooking. Flint is a city with people that day here, our neighbors brought us dinner thing special about it being the first time since are working to pull each other up and to just after I drew a carousel in pink chalk on my becoming Flint residents ourselves. Even do the best they can with the hand that driveway with their kids. though it was late, it was still pretty busy and they’ve been dealt. When I first thought about moving into that’s a testament to how well-loved it is. It’s only been a month in our Flint home, Flint, I will admit that I did have my worries. Knowing that there is a piece of Flint history but I am already looking foward to many I grew up in Grand Blanc, so I have heard the so close by is incredible and it helps to make more. Flint already feels like home and I can - same horror stories that everyone else did and Flint feel like home. not wait to give back to the city to the best of with the water crisis on top of everything It took until my last few years at UM-Flint my ability. else, I did not know what to expect. to truly see all that Flint really is. Flint is a city The first night we unpacked, I opened a with culture, with a vibrant art scene. Flint is EVM Managing Editor Meghan Christian can drawer and saw three replacement filters for still growing, despite its hardships, as more be reached at [email protected]

DOOMSDAY By Grayce Scholt Applewood Lecture Series

My right foot, left foot aims to stimulate, entertain By Jeffery Carey stepping on the planet’s floor destroys ten thousand Bearing in mind that “a number of Friday of the month from September living things. studies indicate that maintaining strong through May. Wensel said he hopes more social connections and keeping mentally people learn about this series and are able I’m war machine active as we age might lower the risk of to take advantage of it, at $10 for regis - to worms and wings. cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s,” Ken tering in advance or $20 at the door. The Wensel, coordinator of the Applewood cost includes breakfast and two hours of I stomp in death’s travail, Lecture Series, says he is trying to do his “thought-provoking edutainment,” he unlock the eremetic crane part for the collective brain health of said. who curls one leg Flint. “I love doing these things for the sen - beneath its tail. Wensel, a veteran of community serv - iors,” stated Wensel after explaining the ice and planning, has been involved with cost covers catering and that he had paid Mott’s Applewood Lecture Series for the for some of the lectures out of his own If I could only learn past 13 years. The series, formerly known pocket. “I’m not doing it for the money.” some bright external law as Lifelong Learning, has been providing At age 26, Wenzel started his career as a on how to stop the final drop socialization and cognitive stimulation community school director where he of every claw geared toward senior citizens for more launched a senior citizens’ program at of war. than 21 years. Sobey Elementary School. Later he The series has offered lectures such as became an assistant principal in the David Littman’s “Graphology,” about the Fenton schools, and athletic director for art of analyzing handwriting and Ric Grayce Scholt is a retired English professor from 11 years. He also served as chairman of Mott Community College who wrote art reviews for Mixter’s “Famous Shipwrecks of the the stewardship committee of his church the Flint Journal and has authored several poetry Great Lakes.” With an average attendance in Fenton and chair of the Loose Center, collections and memoirs. Her newest collection is of 50-65, Wenzel and his fellow organiz - an organization providing services to sen - East of Everywhere , drawn in part from work pub - ers say they work diligently to provide a iors. lished in East Village Magazine . The book is avail - needed service to the community. Asked how he got involved with the able from Friesen Press, www.friensenpress.com Held at Mott’s Regional Technology (Continued on Page 10.) and Amazon. Center in Flint, the series runs on the third LV: 11 (654 issues, 6,571 pages) 12