Flint MI hosted the 40th annual Crim Festival of Races, today, but it was a very different event

[Siwsan]

Few, if any international runners attended because the Crim Organization decided to divert the $40,000 prize money to pay the entry fee for 2,000 Flint residents. Despite the lack of those spectacular athletes, around 15,000 people participated. And, for the first time since 1990, the race was won by an American - a 3 time Olympian and Michigan native, Dathan Ritzenhein.

For years I volunteered at the half way point water station. The people in the neighborhood would bring out their garden hoses so we could fill the water cups. As the 2nd shows, the method of hydrating has changed. None the less, my wonderful Flint showed that it still strong and certainly not giving up.

And, btw, those water bottles, and many more from around the city, are being collected by General Motors to be recycled into a "fleece". The underside of the engine manifold cover for a Chevy Equinox is lined with a fabric made from water bottles. A winter coat made in Detroit can double as a sleeping bag and is designed to keep the homeless warm on cold winter nights. The insulation is made from recycled water bottles. (link to that story is beneath the photos)



photo

http://www.abc12.com/content/news/Recycling-water-bottles-after-Crim-391342642.html

[sheshe2]

1. Thank you Siwsan.

[MichiganVote]

2. Cool!

[etherealtruth]

3. So nice to see good things happening in Flint!

[Siwsan]

5. Last week was "Back to the Bricks" and Flint was full of classic cars and car enthusiasts

They come from all over the country for that event. I read that there were well over 200 Corvettes parked along the streets. Most of the cars are General Motors products but, even as the home of GM, we welcomed every make and model of automobile. There were some pretty spectacular classic and classy vehicles cruising up and down the streets. Last Thursday was the big cruise whose route runs for probably about 20 miles, round trip.

Next month is 'Bikes to the Bricks and we will be overwhelmed with motorcycles.

The "Bricks" refers to the main drag of Downtown Flint, which is still paved with red bricks.

Summertime in Flint is one festival after another.

[Warpy]

4. Recycle those plastic bottles

The warmest socks I own are made out of recycled soda bottle fleece.