“Peace in the Community” will come back to Saginaw this summer, so much bigger and better that we will have a new name.
We will have “Peace Weekend” in 2023 on August 18th, 19th and 20th.
Our showcase still will be the kickball tournament on Saturday and we still will be at Hoyt Park for that day, with all the school alumni teams, but we also will be making use of Buena Vista Township Park, for a social gathering and a picnic on the Friday evening and then for a gospel concert on the Sunday.
Last summer, our goal was simply to have a positive event as a response to all the negatives. We believed we had a good idea, but we never dreamed that thousands of people would turn out at Hoyt Park. This was something people were feeling a need for, like a march or a rally, but in a different way.
Now that we know what to expect, we will smooth out the arrangements for the parking and for other details. The Friends of Hoyt Park are volunteers, just like we are, and we cannot thank them enough for all their support.
When we conducted our first event last summer, I was offended that none of the local TV stations would even send a cameraman or a reporter. But the word still spread, and since then we have received expressions of interest from folks in Mount Pleasant, Bay City, Flint, even Grand Rapids. This means we will be having some new teams, even though Webber Middle will win this summer. I am not going to try to rig any of the games, or cheat in any way. Webber will win fair and square on the field of play.
Really, it is not that serious, at least not for most of us. Anyone, any age, can be on a team. Even if “Arthur” is becoming “righteous,” we have kids who will push you around with your arthritis in a wheelchair to make sure you are in the game.
All these other communities, and not just Flint, face the same types of issues and hardships that we do here in Saginaw. Plus they will be supporting our local economy that weekend, the businesses and hotels.
People are volunteering in all sorts of ways. For example, Jessica Reedy was so moved by our videotape from last year that she will be performing for our gospel concert. Anyone who is willing to help out may send me a Facebook note, or my email is charleslawrence46@yahoo.com and my phone is (989) 598-2786.
Charles “Chuckie” Lawrence would volunteer 24/7 if he could, but we all have to work for a living. He is the owner and CEO of Lawrence Logistics, and now operator for Lake States Railroad.
