16 years ago in Metro Times: Cathy McCormick writes on ways for struggling families in southeast Michigan to seek out help in the article "Helping families, helping kids." McCormick offers suggestions for struggling metro area families, including free immunizations, vision and hearing tests at local community centers, and information on how to take advantage of the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program. With all of these options available, McCormick still stresses the importance of community involvement. She writes, "If you don't need help, consider volunteering your time or resources to one of the many agencies serving families with children." Today, the WIC program is still available to low-income families in Michigan, and free or reduced-cost immunizations are still available at health centers. What was happening: Dick Dale at the Majestic, Blues Traveler at the State Theatre, the Violent Femmes at Hill Auditorium
12 years ago in Metro Times: In the Metro Beat section, Ann Mullen covers opposition to the Michigan Jobs Commission's recent changes. Under the plan of Gov. John Engler, many unemployed workers that are seeking jobs will miss out on opportunities because they can't access the necessary tools to find work. Linda St. John, a 23-year state employee is interviewed about her opposition to the Engler plan. "The problem," she says, "is that the state is banking on the use of the Internet as a way for potential employers and the unemployed to find each other." St. John-Young is concerned that those who are not computer literate or are migrant workers will face hardships in finding work. Since then, metro Detroiters still have had a tough time finding jobs — with or without the Internet. The Michigan Jobs Commission has since dissolved. What was happening: The Crystal Method at Clutch Cargo's, They Might Be Giants at the Michigan Theater and Sunny Day Real Estate at St. Andrew's Hall.
2 years ago in Metro Times: Detroitblogger John covers Detroit resident Glendale Stewart, who went off the grid by buying a plot of land on Detroit's east side, and is living out of an old trailer with a handcrafted wood fence for privacy. Stewart quit his job six years before the article was written to live a life with no power outages, utility costs or gas prices. Stewart has inventive ways of getting basic necessities, such as drawing electricity from a bicycle that powers several handmade generators, or using tubs for collecting rainwater, which Stewart uses to wash his clothes. Other than inventing, Stewart has no formal occupation. He cuts grass or does odd jobs to pay for the few things he needs: bottled water, food and kerosene. "We can't live the way that we used to, because the prices are up and situations nowadays we're having is not the same, so we gotta change with the world," Stewart says. What was happening: Vanilla Ice at the Machine Shop, Common at the Fillmore, Lynyrd Skynyrd at DTE Energy Music Theatre.
Special thanks to editorial intern Tyler Kane for his assistance compiling this
