Saginaw
$93,000 debt owed by church is wiped clean
SAGINAW, Mich. (AP) - The congregation at Christ Image Community Church in Saginaw has another reason to celebrate this holiday season after a $93,000 debt was forgiven.
The Rev. Eugene Burton and his wife, the Rev. Melissa Burton, entered into a $125,000 land contract with the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan in 2010 to purchase a building for the independent church that formerly housed Calvary Memorial Episcopal Church.
The Saginaw News reports that a payment of $93,000 was coming due on the building in 2015.
Bishop Todd Ousley of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan says it was seen as a "real, practical opportunity for us to practice what we believe."
While some paperwork still needs to be finalized, Ousley says the Burtons and Christ Image Community Church will own the building outright within the next month.
Eugene Burton says he was "in tears, just thanking God" after learning this month that the debt was being forgiven.
Calvary Memorial Episcopal Church opened its doors Nov. 23, 1884, but Ousley says the congregation decided in 2010 to close amid advancing age and dwindling numbers. It merged with another Episcopal church. At the same time, the Burtons were looking for space.
The Saginaw-based Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Michigan serves more than 20 counties in the eastern Lower Peninsula. Ousley says that the Episcopal Diocese wants to see Saginaw flourish through a relationship with God, regardless of religious denomination.
Ousley says that: "Rather than defending our territory, let's put it all to use."
Lansing
Michigan plans park hikes to kick off New Year
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - The state Department of Natural Resources is sponsoring free, guided hikes in Michigan parks around New Year's Day as part of a nationwide outdoor effort.
The hikes are part of the America's State Parks First Day Hikes initiative. DNR Parks and Recreation Chief Ron Olson says in a statement that the hikes "are a great way to cure cabin fever and burn off those extra holiday calories."
Michigan state parks are calling their events "Shoe Year's Hikes." They include a Dec. 31 hike at Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and Jan. 1 hikes at Yankee Springs Recreation Area in Barry County and Warren Dunes State Park in Berrien County.
A Jan. 2 hike is planned at Mitchell State Park in Wexford County. Events on Jan. 3 are planned for Bay City State Recreation Area, Brighton Recreation Area, Maybury State Park in Wayne County, Porcupine Mountains Wilderness State Park and Ludington State Park.
A Jan. 4 hike is scheduled at Sterling State Park in Monroe County.
The National Association of State Park Directors is involved in the effort, which organizers say was expanded last year to park systems in all states. Park staff and volunteers will lead the hikes, which average 1 to 2 miles or longer depending on the state park involved.
Details about hike locations, difficulty and length, terrain and tips regarding proper clothing are listed online by the DNR and the National Association of State Park Directors.
Ann Arbor
App lets patients take prehistoric virtual journey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) - An app featuring a bronze fossil floor at the main entrance of C.S. Mott Children's Hospital in Ann Arbor allows patients to take virtual prehistoric journey.
The free iPad app "Foozel" was launched last month under a partnership between the University of Michigan Health System and the University of Michigan Credit Union.
In the app, the fossil floor breaks and transforms into a starry sky. It leads the user through games to track down fossils and repair the floor. There's also a coloring book to accompany the app. Both were designed and developed by University of Michigan students and alumni.
Sarah Renken, a Stamps School of Art & Design student, is the artist behind the coloring book. Sebastian Martinez, a student in the College of Engineering, came up with the app idea, and Malcolm MacLachlan, a School of Information master's student, was responsible for the app development. Others were involved as well.
MacLachlan says in a statement that the app was "a unique opportunity to serve a community that is wholesome and positive."
Renken says she's "always been interested in how art and health are interwoven and this project allowed me to give back by providing a creative outlet for pediatric patients."
Foozel was made possible by a $342,000 pledge from University of Michigan Credit Union to benefit C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and another hospital. Part of the gift was used for the "Ancient Arb I" bronze fossil floor that was created by artist Michele Oka Doner.
Grand Rapids
City to reimagine flood protection from Grand River
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Grand Rapids is reimagining its flood protection system along the Grand River after years of resistance to calls by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to boost floodwalls.
The Grand Rapids Press reports the city is studying 16 sites along the river where it might build multi-purpose floodwalls that double as public access points. The plans come amid efforts to restore rapids to the Grand River and improve recreation.
The idea could replace some traditional concrete floodwalls with a stepped embankment that people could go up and down to launch a kayak or visit the river when water levels are low. When the river floods, water would rise and submerge the steps.
Jim Smalligan, a Smalligan, a Fishbeck, Thompson, Carr & Huber engineer working with Grand Rapids, calls it a "flood protection system," not floodwalls. He says the city has "an opportunity to do it right" as it looks at what's needed along the river.
The river came close to breaching the flood walls in April 2013. Water flowed in torrents, causing millions of dollars in damage throughout Kent County and causing flooding that forced hundreds of area residents to leave their homes for higher ground.
Since then, Grand Rapids and FEMA have come to terms on a compromise that won't require the walls to go 3 feet above the 100-year flood level. A draft report on what exactly Grand Rapids needs to do to get its walls certified is expected to come from FEMA later this month.
Lansing
Satanic Temple puts up display at Michigan Capitol
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Christians and Satanists put up competing displays Sunday on the Michigan Capitol grounds as Christmas week got underway.
The Detroit chapter of the Satanic Temple set up its "Snaketivity Scene" featuring a snake offering a book called "Revolt of the Angels" as a gift. The snake is wrapped around the Satanic cross on the 3-feet-by-3-feet display. Capitol rules require that displays have to be taken down each night.
In a videotaped interview with the Lansing State Journal, Satanic Temple spokeswoman Jex Blackmore said her group doesn't worship Satan but does promote individuality, compassion and views that differ from Christian and conservative beliefs.
Blackmore said that the "holiday season is a time of year that is celebrated in many different ways."
"Having our government endorse one singular viewpoint or method of celebrating the season is problematic when we have a diverse community of people in Michigan," she said.
Word of the Satanic Temple's plans led state Sen. Rick Jones, a Grand Ledge Republican, to erect a Nativity scene on Friday featuring baby Jesus, Joseph and Mary. He put it back up Sunday morning.
Jones said he was happy to "represent the light and not the darkness."
"They could have put theirs up in July or April or sometime. They didn't need to put it up in the Christmas season," Jones said. "That's OK. We're going to ignore them. I'm not afraid of the snake people. I'm sure that Jesus Christ is not afraid."
Blackmore told MLive.com her group is "really pleased to be part of what is perhaps a new holiday tradition at the Capitol."
Martin Diller, a 28-year-old who served two tours in Iraq with the Michigan National Guard and one in Afghanistan, visited the Capitol grounds after attending Mass at St. Thomas Aquinas Parish in East Lansing. He said he wanted to see how the constitutional rights issue played itself out.
"A few of my friends in the military, we like to see the First Amendment in use," Diller said. "We all went overseas, we fought for it, it's kind of interesting to see it in action."
Published: Tue, Dec 23, 2014
