Flint Youth Theatre becomes “Flint Repertory Theatre” amidst celebration, protests
Aug27

Flint Youth Theatre becomes “Flint Repertory Theatre” amidst celebration, protests

By Patsy Isenberg The Flint Youth Theatre (FYT), for more than 60 years a haven in the Flint Cultural Center for young local actors, playwrights and theater production buffs, is changing. Theater executives unveiled a new name, a new look and a new emphasis at an announcement event Aug. 22.  Defenders of the transformation, which has elicited some protests, say the changes will add to, not subtract from,  the theatre’s...

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Busy political weekend as GOP, Dem state conventions pick November nominees
Aug27

Busy political weekend as GOP, Dem state conventions pick November nominees

By Paul Rozycki In an unusual move, the Michigan Democratic and Republican parties held their state conventions on the same weekend, in venues within a few miles of each other.  On Aug. 25 the Republican Party held its state convention in downtown Lansing at the Lansing Center, and the Democrats met in East Lansing at the Breslin Center on Aug. 25 and 26.  Typically the parties meet in different parts of the state, often on different...

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Flint Community School district facing make-or-break challenge under state partnership agreement
Aug22

Flint Community School district facing make-or-break challenge under state partnership agreement

By Jan Worth-Nelson and Harold C. Ford Behind the scenes as Flint students and teachers go back to school this fall, a make-or-break drama is underway that significantly affects the future of the Flint Community Schools, its 12 schools and 4,600 students. The district, which landed last year in the bottom five percent of districts statewide, has been placed in a category of “chronically failing schools,” and given 36 months by the...

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“The Folks of Flint,” a stunning 58-portrait exhibit, opens at the Capitol Theatre
Aug17

“The Folks of Flint,” a stunning 58-portrait exhibit, opens at the Capitol Theatre

By Patsy Isenberg  A stunning exhibit of Flint native Dan White’s 58 larger-than-life portraits, “The Folks of Flint:  A Tribute,” opens at the Capitol Theatre Thursday.  The labor of love reveals a lot about the city that White, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, wishes to honor. There’s the determination written all over Michael Jackson’s face – captured inside a stripped down entryway – as he stares out a...

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Editorial:  Mr. President, please stop the dangerous attacks
Aug15

Editorial: Mr. President, please stop the dangerous attacks

FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE U.S. CONSTITUTION Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. By the East Village Magazine Editorial Board To speak truth to power.  This is what the press must do.  This is what the...

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