Founded on December 12, 1964, with a mission of “people helping people”, FCU has expanded from an 8-by-8 room at the Carling Brewery to a trusted financial institution serving 27 communities and over 73,000 members across Michigan.

The milestone was celebrated on Thursday, Dec.12, at the Uptown North Main Event and Banquet Center. Hosted in partnership with the Frankenmuth and Saginaw County Chambers of Commerce, the event brought together community members to reflect on FCU’s journey and impact.

“Our once small financial cooperative has been extremely blessed over the past 60 years,” said Vickie Schmitzer, CEO of Frankenmuth Credit Union. “We have received incredible support from our community every step along the way. This 60 years has been nothing short of magnificent, and we look forward to what the future holds for us at Frankenmuth Credit Union.”

The celebration highlighted FCU’s ongoing commitment to community support, with $28,048 raised through its annual Hope Tree Auction. The funds were distributed to six local charities: CAN Council, Covenant Kids, Light the Night, Love For A Child, Underground Railroad, and Wellspring Lutheran Foundation Bethesda.

To honor its founding year, FCU also treated six lucky attendees to a chance in the money blower, filled with $1,964. Local artists Stephen Hargash and Billy Budd added a creative touch, inviting attendees to contribute brushstrokes to a commemorative painting featuring the FCU logo and a tribute to the old Carling Brewery.

Founded in 1964 by employees of local breweries and mills, Frankenmuth Credit Union has expanded into a full-service financial institution offering banking, insurance, trust, and investment solutions.

Today, FCU operates branches across Bay, Genesee, Huron, Midland, Ogemaw, Saginaw, Sanilac, Shiawassee, and Tuscola counties, serving over 73,000 members throughout Michigan.

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Rev. Tutu, a prominent race and gender justice activist, is widely known for her work advocating for human rights and addressing systemic inequality. Having grown up in apartheid South Africa, her experiences shaped her commitment to social justice. Over the years, she has built a reputation as a powerful and engaging speaker, delivering messages of unity and action to audiences around the globe.

The program will include the presentation of the MLK Scholarship Awards, recognizing students for their academic achievements and commitment to community service. The event will also feature the Regional Drum Major Awards, which honor individuals whose leadership and service reflect the values and vision of Dr. King.

The celebration is designed to bring together the SVSU community and the public to reflect on Dr. King’s enduring legacy and to inspire continued efforts toward equity and inclusion. By hosting events that highlight influential voices like Rev. Tutu, the university fosters meaningful discussions and encourages positive change.

The event is open to the public, with accommodations available for those with disabilities. Individuals requiring assistance are directed to contact The Conference Center at SVSU at 989-964-4348 at least three days in advance. Further details about the celebration can be found at svsu.edu/mlk or by calling the Office of Diversity Programs at 989-964-4068.

SVSU’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration is made possible through the support of regional sponsors and community partners, reflecting a shared commitment to honoring Dr. King’s mission of justice and equality.

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They were surprised by Councilman Michael Balls’ sudden motion on Dec. 9 to move forward, but they voted 8-0 in favor, with newcomer Carly Rose Hammond not in attendance.

They also indicated that if the state action fails, which is likely with Republicans re-taking control of the Legislature, they will place a repeal on the local ballot.

Residents approved the tax caps in 1979 as part of Ronald Reagan’s national  anti-government movement that led to his election to the U.S. presidency a year later. The City Charter amendment freezes the rate at 7.5 mills, but more importantly, revenue is iced at $3.83 million, with no adjustment for inflation.

This has caused many tax-cap critics to inaccurately claim city government is forced to “live on a 1979 income,” overlooking the fact that revenue comes from multiple sources other than property assessments. In fact, this year’s general fund is $45 million, compared to $19 million in 1979.

The freeze’s author, attorney Al Schmid, had been an unsuccessful council candidate himself, but citizens embraced the tax cut in following one of the era’s most prominent local politicians, Dr. Walter C. Averill III. City Council members tried several times for a repeal during the 1980s but failed. They switched gears in 1989 and won  support for a 50 percent hike in the income tax rate, which has remained in place since then with no requirement for renewal referendums.

The city’s revenue cap has pushed this year’s rate down to 6.7 mills. The City Charter’s maximum allowable rate was 10 mills prior to the 1979 referendum, which means a vote to remove the tax caps could lead to an increase up to 3.3 mills. In comparison, the latest school bond for Saginaw United High and other improvements is 6 mills and a new countywide roads levy is 2 mills.

The original 1964 city income tax rate was 1 percent for residents, 0.5 percent for non-residents who work in the city. The 1989 increase raised the shares to 1.5 and 0.75, among an array of ways that leaders through the years have avoided the most damaging impact. Other tax-cap-dodgers have been:

• A separate tax for rubbish pickup was 3 mills before higher-value property owners achieved a switch to a flat fee that this year has reached a new annual peak of $240.
• A 7.5-mill special assessment to help avoid more cuts in police and fire, approved in 2005 and renewed in landslide votes, causing confusion and consternation on reasons for residents to reject rescinding the caps, while backing a special purpose millage for a larger sum of money.
• The Civic Center was removed from the city’s general fund with a countywide tax of 0.45 mill.
• Transit was pulled from the budget with creation of STARS, Saginaw Transit Authority Regional Services, which has unsuccessfully aimed to go countywide like the Civic Center, now The Dow, and thus must rely on a city-only levy of 3.2 mills. A single 1 mill in the city limits raises only $650,000 with the local demise of General Motors,  while the same rate countywide produces $6.5 million.

Behind the scenes, talk of trying to lift the property caps again, after a three-decade hiatus,  returned while Floyd Kloc, the former city attorney, was Brenda Moore’s mayoral predecessor. Kloc’s view has been that the best chance to persuade voters will be if a cap-cut proposal is initiated by a citizens’ advocate group, not from the City Council on high. This outlook has led to nothing being placed on the ballot until Balls’ call to action.

More discussion is likely during the council’s annual planning session at 9 a.m. on Jan. 31, a Friday.

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SAGINAW, MI — Detecting early signs of cancer and other serious health conditions could now be just a tap away, thanks to Diya Ramakrishnan.

The Saginaw Arts and Sciences Academy sophomore has taken a bold step into the future of healthcare with her innovative app, earning her the top spot in Michigan’s Eighth District Congressional App Challenge. Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-08) proudly announced her achievement, highlighting her exceptional contribution to technology and medicine.

The Congressional App Challenge is an annual nationwide competition aimed at inspiring middle and high school students to design and submit original apps.

The initiative seeks to foster a deeper interest in coding and computer science while encouraging students to explore potential careers in the technology sector.

Ramakrishnan, was selected by a panel of independent judges for her app, “PolypDetect.”

The app leverages a sophisticated machine learning model to analyze colonoscopy images and videos, identifying abnormal tissue growths often associated with severe health conditions such as cancer and ulcerative colitis. A video demonstration of the app is available online.

“As a cancer survivor, I understand the importance of early detection,” said Congressman Kildee.

“Apps like PolypDetect have the potential to save lives and mitigate health conditions for many people. I am truly inspired by the incredible talent in our district and appreciate all the students who challenged themselves to find modern solutions to improve our community.”

As part of her achievement, Ramakrishnan’s name, app image, app title, and congressional district will be prominently displayed on a rotating electronic exhibit in the tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol Building.

Her work will be featured alongside winning submissions from other districts across the country, highlighting the contributions of young innovators nationwide.

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Hidden Harvest has provided major support with grocery and restaurant surplus items, along with operating guidance, which demonstrates that the innovative agency supports numerous smaller sites beyond the adjacent East Side Soup Kitchen at the Hunger Solutions Center, 940 East Genesee near Janes.

With Hidden Harvest expansion into Bay and Midland counties under Samantha McKenzie, director and CEO, the ever-growing count has surpassed 175 for truck deliveries to grassroots operations like pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, youth after-school programs and senior sites.

To view the full list, visit hiddenharvestshares.org.

Mi Casa Su Casa, “my home (is) your home,” kicked off in 2021 as a response to COVID-19. The Rev. Augustine Delgado, New Beginnings pastor, and Claudia, his spouse, took note of major hardship during the pandemic’s peak. They witnessed the poverty both through the church and through his employment as a state DSS specialist assigned to Jessie Rouse Elementary, while she oversees the outreach during his hours at the nearby school.

Signs of struggles were as simple as neighborhood children walking and playing without winter coats.

Claudia’s first call was to McKenzie at Hidden Harvest, and soon a multi-age, multi-racial group of neighbors began arriving at 3 p.m. on Tuesdays, some on foot, others in aging cars and trucks. Some lend helping hands to pass out the mix of kitchen staples, with various goodies also on the tables. After all, people in need also can enjoy a snack now and then.

And if anyone could use a jacket or a pair of jeans, some shoes or a sweater, those also are on hand. Plus there are school supplies for the kids, donated separately aside from Hidden Harvest, of course.

This all adds up to faith in action, regardless of whether Casa patrons actually join the New Beginnings congregation, Claudia notes.

Their location since 2015 was a Roaring ’20s-era fraternal lodge hall, and the basement is where the partying took place, with the kitchen taking up a lion’s share of the floor and a small corner cordoned for performers. Now the old rooms, beneath the modern updated church sanctuary, serve an outreach purpose that old-time lodge members may not have imagined.

Advice and footstuffs

Even before she took action to oversee a site, Claudia was volunteering at the Hunger Solutions Center on the city’s north end near downtown, where she first encountered Sam McKenzie

The Hidden Harvest leader follows an adage that “food is so much more than food.”

She elaborates: “It’s traditions … time spent together … a feeling of security … and it’s nutrition.”

Speaking of staples and sweets, especially at holiday time, Samantha offers the story of a grandmother who was lunching at the soup kitchen and learned that baking supplies, re-packaged by Hidden Harvest volunteers, were available from a pair of regional donors, Star of the West Milling and Michigan Sugar. The little ones were visiting her home for the weekend, and now they could make cookies together.

Ideas for contributions

Should we donate directly to Hidden Harvest or to a program closer to our homes? Fifty-fifty for both? Cash always brings gratitude, of course, but the smaller sites generally look for the canned goods and the nonperishables, while a larger operation is able to leverage every dollar into much larger value via bulk purchases.

Hidden Harvest started 30 years ago, with the Community Foundation’s leadership, to collect and distribute foods that were being thrown away, from corporate canned goods to local bakeries to participating restaurants. These are combined with donations from kindhearted family farmers in the local region, with one sample being the piles of take-what-you-wish sweet corn in summer.

The original cramped headquarters was the former downtown Sunoco station until 2005 construction of the Hunger Center provided expanded new homes for both Hidden Harvest and East Side Soup Kitchen, which had located in various church basements through the years.

Regardless of official poverty statistics since the millennium, both programs are drawing patrons counts that have multiplied many times over, and now the structure that was built to accommodate their prior lack of space no longer is big enough. Expansion will close Thompson street at the rear if plans move forward. Major support blends private contributions, a state grant and federal ARPA funds.

However, those monies would be for the building, separate from program operations, which is why holiday donations — cold cash or canned corn, along with simple volunteer time — always are welcome.

The post Hidden Harvest ‘feeds’ nearly 200 sites, large and small appeared first on The Michigan Banner.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, the Center will provide theater professionals with the skills to respectfully and effectively work with diverse hair textures. The workshop runs from 2 to 3:30 p.m. and will be led by Samantha Glasse, director of the Center’s production of Anne of Green Gables.

Participants will gain hands-on experience in techniques for styling different hair types. The session may also include an introduction to wig styling—valuable knowledge for professionals looking to expand their backstage expertise.

The event will be held backstage at the Midland Center for the Arts’ Little Theatre, 1801 W. St. Andrews Rd., Midland, MI 48640. The cost is $45 for the public and $35 for museum members. Members can register through their account to access the discount or contact the Ticket Office directly.

This initiative is part of a larger effort by the Center to make theater more inclusive and representative. A complementary virtual workshop on stage makeup for Black and Brown performers is scheduled for Jan. 18, 2025.

The makeup workshop will teach participants how to design and apply makeup tailored to performers with darker skin tones—a skill often overlooked in traditional theatrical training.

The Center’s efforts highlight an ongoing commitment to providing education that acknowledges the unique needs of performers of color. By equipping theater professionals with these essential skills, workshops like this aim to improve representation in the arts and foster an atmosphere of respect and care for all performers.

Registration is open online at midlandcenter.org, and spaces are limited. For more information, call the Midland Center for the Arts at (989) 631-8250.

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The forum is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Dec. 4, which is a Wednesday, at Success Academy, 1000 Tuscola in the former OIC building.

Members of the Saginaw County Prevention Coalition opposed the past City Council’s 2020 decision to allow cannabis shops after statewide approval of a 2018 referendum for limited legalization. Their proposed temporary ban, with time to study the impact so far, is an attempt at compromise.

Other cities, even conservative Grand Rapids, have joined Saginaw in giving thumbs up, reaping $60,000 per dispensary in annual revenue. Communities that are more economically prosperous, like Saginaw Township and Frankenmuth locally, have said no.

Saginaw’s number of city dispensaries has fluctuated near a dozen, with two-thirds on the West Side, including a  pair one block apart across from the Court Theater.

Leaders of the Prevention Coalition, formerly the Family Youth Initiative, have emphasized marijuana’s harmful effects on child development, from elementary grades into the teens.

To show balance, they also are focused on party stores and underage sales to minors.

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Residents are encouraged to place all properly prepared yard waste materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on their scheduled collection day. The final collection dates for the week of December 9 are as follows:

• Monday, Dec. 9: Monday collection areas
• Tuesday, Dec. 10: Tuesday collection areas
• Wednesday, Dec. 11: Wednesday collection areas
• Thursday, Dec. 12: Thursday collection areas
• Friday, Dec. 13: Friday collection areas

Yard Waste Guidelines
All yard waste must be placed in paper yard waste bags or in garbage cans (35 gallons or smaller) clearly marked with a “Yard Waste” sticker on the front. The City emphasizes that leaves should not be swept into the street, as this practice is prohibited.

For further details on yard waste guidelines, residents can contact the Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) at (989) 781-9555 or visit their website at www.recyclemotion.org. Additional information is also available on the City of Saginaw’s website at www.saginaw-mi.com.

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The annual gathering features an inclusive program designed to reflect the community’s diversity. Highlights include prayers and readings from a variety of religious traditions, musical performances by local talent, and inspiring messages from prominent community leaders. Following the service, attendees can enjoy a community meal, providing an opportunity to connect and reflect.

Organized by Interfaith Saginaw, a non-profit dedicated to fostering understanding and cooperation among different faiths, the event emphasizes shared values and mutual respect. “This service is a time for people of all beliefs to come together and celebrate our common humanity,” said one of the event organizers.

The service is open to everyone and free of charge, making it accessible to all who wish to participate in the spirit of Thanksgiving.

Interfaith Saginaw’s ongoing efforts to build bridges between diverse communities have made events like this a vital part of the local cultural landscape. More information about the Thanksgiving service can be found on the Facebook event page.

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Born on September 22, 1946, in Opelousas, Louisiana, Mary moved to Saginaw, where she became a pillar of her community. For over 30 years, she served as a Community Affairs Specialist for Senator Carl Levin, championing the needs of underserved communities and ensuring their voices were heard in government. Her work was a testament to her tireless advocacy for equity and social justice.

Mary’s impact extended beyond her professional career. As the President of the North East Saginaw Neighborhood Association, she spearheaded initiatives that brought neighbors together and revitalized her community. From organizing neighborhood clean-ups to creating the Tulip Exchange Program, which united children through beautification efforts, her work fostered pride and unity in Saginaw. Her dedication to education and access led her to serve on the Saginaw County Library Board, ensuring underserved families had resources for learning and growth.

Her contributions were recognized nationally with the prestigious Jefferson Award for Public Service, honoring her as one of the nation’s most dedicated civic leaders.

Mary’s creative spirit was evident in her love for theater and storytelling. She founded the Baraka Actors Group in the 1980s and 1990s, providing a platform for local talent and fostering a sense of community through art. Her earlier work included teaching modern dance classes to promote health and joy in inner-city neighborhoods. Always thoughtful and generous, she organized holiday food basket deliveries to ensure no one in her community was overlooked during the holidays.

Above all, Mary cherished her family. As a devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, she found joy in creating memories, sharing stories, and instilling resilience and love in her children and grandchildren.

Mary is survived by her daughters LaTonya, Bianca, Anica, Naija, Chaniqua, and her son Cordell, along with more than 20 grandchildren and great-grandchildren who will carry forward her legacy of service and love.

A celebration of Mary’s life will be held on Monday, November 25, 2024, at Roseboro’s Mortuary Chapel, 4300 Statesville Road, Charlotte, North Carolina. Visitation will begin at 11:30 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 12:30 p.m.

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