Water Damage Restoration in Flint, MI

Six-hour planned power outage will leave some in Flint in the cold and dark (FILE)

FLINT, Mich. - A planned power outage by Consumers Energy has frustrated some people in Flint.

A viewer reached out to us about this scheduled maintenance.

He says they received a postcard in the mail but with cold temperatures and health concerns, he is worried about when the lights and heat go out tomorrow night.

A spokesperson for Consumers Energy tells me they have started scheduling these outages to upgrade their systems.

This one is scheduled to happen tomorrow night at 11:55 p.m. and last for six hours, this will impact some people who live on Flint's Northside.

Across Michigan Consumers Energy has been making upgrades to its power grid and electric systems to prevent power outages.

But it comes at a cost to the customers.

"We understand for many people, power outages this time of year are a sensitive matter. It is cold. It can be a hardship to do without power," says Brian Wheeler, a spokesperson for Consumers. "In a perfect world, you know, we would never have to take out edges at all if we could help it. We never want to lose power. But, you know, the idea is that this is work that needs to be done sooner than later. If you're in a situation where you're concerned about your welfare or your personal safety, you know, we do try to communicate with community members," he says.

Consumers Energy says they send postcards to the mailing address where the outages are scheduled.

This outage was scheduled for last month but had to be rescheduled.

"I would say you should plan that we will be sticking to the schedule we've outlined, the six-hour outage, which means that you can, you know, stay in your home, keep the heat on, keep the lights on, you know, pretty late into the evening before the outage starts," says Wheeler.

For this planned outage on Flint’s Northside, the electric company will be doing maintenance on the high-voltage lines in the area.

"We would like to not have power outages at all for any reason, but we do believe this one is necessary," says Wheeler.

In the winter of 2023, Consumers Energy along with DTE were both criticized for significant outages after a winter storm.

Many people were out for days left in the cold and dark.

Wheeler tells me they are looking to avoid that.

"This is exactly what we're talking about when we talk about building a smarter and a stronger power grid. we need to get the work done because we don't want to have a surprising or an unplanned outage later. But over time, as we make these investments and upgrades, this does mean fewer power outages and ultimately less inconvenience for people," says

The outage is expected to start at 11:55 and last for six hours.

This impacts 3,500 customers in Flint.

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FLINT, MI - “The Nutcracker” has captivated audiences for generations with its compelling story, timeless music, and perfect choreography, making it a cherished part of the holiday season.

The Flint Symphony Orchestra, Flint School of Performing Arts ballet students, and professional guest dancers will bring this magical production to life once again on Saturday, Dec. 7, and Sunday, Dec. 8, at the Whiting Auditorium, located at 1241 E. Kearsley St. in Flint.

Next year will celebrate 50 years of “The Nutcracker” in Flint.

“This year it’s very exciting,” said Tara Gragg, FIM Flint School of Performing Arts Dance Department Chair and The Nutcracker artistic director. “We have three alumni who came up through the FSPA dance program performing this year.”

The three FSPA alumni are Ashton Edwards, playing the role of Sugar Plum Fairy; James Felton will dance the role of The Nutcracker Prince; and, Hannah Adamczak will play Clara in the production.

The tale follows Clara, a young girl whose Christmas Eve transforms into an extraordinary adventure.

During her family’s festive celebration, Clara’s enigmatic Uncle Drosselmeyer unveils lifelike mechanical dolls and a Nutcracker that quickly becomes her favorite gift.

As midnight strikes, Uncle Drosselmeyer’s magic sets the stage for an epic battle between an army of mice and the Nutcracker, now brought to life.

In the second act, Clara journeys to the Land of Sweets, a shimmering kingdom presided over by the elegant Sugar Plum Fairy.

There, she is treated to breathtaking performances from dancers representing the fairy’s regal court, each embodying the joy and wonder of the season.

Adamczak, a Burton native, who performed with the Flint School of Performing Arts from 2008-19, has returned to her roots in a meaningful way.

Currently freelancing, she was approached by Gragg in May to take on the role of Clara in The Nutcracker.

“My first performance experience was The Nutcracker, so this feels very full circle and special,” Adamczak said.

Her journey with the holiday classic began with her first role as Little Mouse, making her return even more poignant.

Returning to the FSPA and playing the role of Clara also means providing mentorship to the younger students for Adamczak.

She reflected back to her experience playing Little Mouse, and her mentor Brandye Lee helped show her the ropes which she has never forgotten.

“She made it seem like we were top priority,” Adamczak said. “Having someone that talked to us like mini adults has stuck with me my entire career.

“I take it very seriously. I can work with teenagers and the students that are getting ready to leave FSPA and become a professional or educator. So sharing my stories and hearing their stories is exciting.”

Adamczak lives in the Washington D.C. area and finds various work as well as teaching at The Berwyn Ballet School.

All three alumni are Flint area locals, and Gragg said it’s the FSPA’s commitment to include a local group.

“Making sure the cast on stage reflects the Flint community and America at large has always been a part of our story,” Gragg said.

The Nutcracker offers something for every member of the family.

“It’s going to be nice to have the children see people from Flint now dancing in the real world professionally,” Adamczak said. “To come back and show them it’s possible for you to do this is what I’m most excited for.”

Tickets are available now for this performance.

“It is a beloved tradition for audience members and dancers alike,” Gragg said. “For many of our students, participation in the Nutcracker even as a child instills a love of the art form.

“They return as audience members, and their families return as audience members. We have many examples of parents who danced in the Nutcracker as students and now their children are dancing in the Nutcracker.”

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FLINT, MI – A religious non-profit is returning to Flint to host Christmas at the Dort Financial Center for the second year in a row.

The event by Ten9 will be held at 3 p.m. Dec. 21 at the Dort Financial Center, located at 3501 Lapeer Road.

A preacher who works with Ten9, Wesley Morris, explained the organization operates through partnerships with several churches.

“We do evangelistic outreach events in the United States, around the state of Michigan, and in other countries of the world for the sole purpose of proclaiming the good news and hope of the gospel to anyone who wants to listen,” Morris said.

Christmas at the Dort Financial Center will feature a speech from Detroit rapper DKG Kie who, according to Morris, will talk about how his life was “radically changed by the gospel.”

The event will also include Christmas music and a choir.

“And we are going to have a message of hope,” Morris said. “It will last about 20 minutes, and is just an opportunity to pray for people and encourage people in the arena.”

Last year, 4,000-5,000 people attended Christmas at the Dort Financial Center. Morris said the organization thinks the turnout could be even bigger this year.

“It was great. It was a nearly full arena,” he said. “We think we can still get some more in there.”

Morris said Ten9 began organizing Christmas at the Dort Financial Center because it wants to spread a message of hope, something that he believes politics, money, and “entertainment culture” has failed to deliver.

“We just felt like there was a moment in our community where we could stand above that and offer something that is truly free, which is the grace of God, and it is for everybody,” he said. “You don’t have to have a certain kind of economic class or color of skin.”

“In the midst of all the chaos, we wanted to shine a light into the darkness.”

Morris also highlighted the fact that all community members are invited to attend the event, regardless of their religious beliefs or background.

“I just want people from far and wide, every backstreet neighborhood, to feel like this is for them,” he said. “This is for their community, their family, their kids, and they can come just as they are.”

“They don’t have to know how to observe any rituals, anything like that.”

In addition to hosting Christmas at the Dort Financial Center, the organization has been holding toy giveaways in the Flint area beginning on Nov. 22. The last of Ten9’s toy giveaways will take place on Dec. 11.

These toy giveaway events were made possible by one of the organization’s partners, The River Church in Holly, which contributed more than 15,000 toys given to them by Toys for Tots since the church had what Morris called a “massive surplus” of toys this year.

“It has gone really well,” he said. “It has been a blessing to appear in different communities throughout the city.”

“For us, it’s just a gesture that though there isn’t much free in the world, the gospel is free, so we want to match that with a tangible blessing to people’s lives and say, ‘Hey. We’re just giving this to you for free because it’s in our heart to do so.’”

There’s no cost to attend the Christmas at the Dort Financial Center, and free parking will be available at the center’s main parking lot.

Additionally, in coordination with the Flint Mass Transportation Authority (MTA), the organization will be providing anyone in Flint with free bus rides to the event.

“All they have to do is go to any bus station and say, ‘Take me to Christmas at the Dort,’ on the 21st‚’ and they will take them to the transfer station,” Morris said. “And then there’ll be some buses going to and from the main transfer station downtown, taking them to and from the door.”

Doors at the Dort Financial Center will open at 2 p.m. on the day of the event, and Ten9 recommends that attendees arrive early or take a free bus ride to the center’s front entrance.

To support Ten9 and Christmas at the Dort Center, visit the event’s website.

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