SC: Simmons steps up for Flint Community Grocery
Russell Simmons steps up for Flint Community Grocery
When Pastor Patrick Sanders of Flint’s New Jerusalem Full Gospel Baptist Church mentioned to his friend, business mogul-turned-health-guru Russell Simmons, that he was having an event at GreenSpace Cafe in Ferndale to raise money for the Flint Community Grocery initiative, Russell’s response was, “I’m there.” Since April, the good pastor, along with an organization called Fresh Start CDC, has facilitated pop-up grocery stores that provide access to better quality, wholesome and organic food products to the residents of Flint. The plan is to establish a brick-and-mortar location in the very near future. The event, which took place Monday, was to raise money toward that goal.
Florida civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump also was a featured guest (he represented Trayvon Martin’s family), and spoke along with Simmons, Sanders and GreenSpace Cafe co-owner and holistic cardiac health specialist Joel Kahn. “This is not about me,” Kahn said, “but I have to say I was just named PETA Prime’s 2016 Sexiest Vegan over 50.” We later overheard Simmons joking with Kahn, “Do you think you were making me jealous with that sexiest vegan over 50 thing,” he asked?
About 60 people paid $75 each and enjoyed complementary wine and tasty vegan hors d’oeuvres from the GreenSpace kitchen. For information about the Flint Community Grocery, visit flintcommunitygrocery.com.
Bacco dinner benefits cancer research
The wine dinner Wednesday night at Bacco benefiting cancer research and care at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center Breast Oncology Program was just as fabulous as expected. About 140 guests were treated to an array of magnificent wines and hors d’oeuvres during a reception before being seated for a four-course dinner masterfully prepared by award-winning chefs Luciano DelSignore of Bacco and James Rigato of Mabel Gray. The handpicked wines were selected by master sommelier Madeline Triffon of Plum Market. In addition, Saks Fifth Avenue displayed a beautiful collection of Roberto Coin jewelry modeled by stunning Farmington Hills talent agent Renee Godin.
“I am so grateful to everyone who came out to support this very important cause,” said event chair Flora Migyanka, who is a breast cancer survivor. “And what better way to raise money than to have a wonderful time while doing it?”
New show helps homeowners find contractors
We’ve never been big on being “handy” or “doing-it-ourselves” — just not our thing. So you can imagine our delight when we learned about a new local TV show that just might be able to help us get all those little pesky odd jobs done right. The pilot episode of “Hire It Done w/Adam Helfman” will air at 11:30 a.m. Sunday on WDIV-TV (Channel 4). Adam Helfman travels around Metro Detroit to find the area’s best contractors. He is joined by the lovely JulieBertuzzi, “Hire it Done’s” residential designer (she’s married to former Red Wing Todd Bertuzzi).
“Finding contractors is always tough for consumers,” Helfman said. “Our new show is going to give homeowners the skills to find and hire the right contractors and get the job done — hassle-free.” Early weekend risers can also catch Adam and Julie on 97.1 FM radio every Saturday morning from 7-9 a.m.
Chuck Bennett is the creator of TheSocialMetro.com and is the Fox 2 News Style Ambassador.