Written by and photos by L. M. Land
Featured photo: Supporters of Hasselbring shared their feelings. Left to right Lily Holbrook, Percy Knapp, Board President, Greg Redwine and Rosemary Morrow.
On January 22, 2025, Hasselbring Senior Center and the City of Flint met in court to begin working toward a legal resolution to the eviction suit filed by the City of Flint.
Approximately 60 supporters of Hasselbring Senior Center came to the 67th District Court in Burton to show support for Beverly Lewis, the center’s executive director. The senior center’s supporters wanted to be sure Judge Jessica Hammon understood how much they love the programming and atmosphere of this beloved institution.
Because there were only 30 seats in the courtroom, the remaining supporters filled up the lobby, where there was standing room only.
It was hoped that the two parties would have resolved their differences prior to the January 22 hearing, but it did not happen. Due to this, another court date was set for 1 p.m. on January 30, when there is expected to be more time for a hearing.
Lewis said to the Courier: “I feel really good about today. The support in the courtroom was awesome. I expected support, but this was just like, outstanding. It just floored me. When I walked in I was like: ‘Wow, I don’t even have a place to sit.’ It was awesome to see the seniors here, family members of the seniors; my brother drove down from Clinton Township. I had community partners here, my staff was here, I mean it was just, it filled me up. Let me say that. It really filled me up.
“I’m not surprised how things went today,: Lewis continued. “We kinda expected [the judge] would set another date for a hearing. It gives my attorney a little more time to prepare, but still not as much as we anticipated.
“We’ll be prepared. We’ll be prepared. I just want our seniors to keep their heads up. Know we’re fighting this all the way to the end.”
“You would think they would try to work with Hasselbring a little bit,” said member and volunteer Rosemary Marrow.
She added: “A picture is being painted that is not true, so I am hoping that both sides can sit down and meet each other somewhere in between. Hasselbring is willing, according to my understanding, to pay $500 a month. But the rest of the lease is nothing but a shake-down.
“Make it fair for both sides. They are in compliance with the state. They are not doing anything wrong. I don’t understand why they’re doing this.
”The State said they are in compliance with all their forms, the 501(c )(3). I feel like it’s personal and not business. They are not putting the residents first, because we are enjoying coming up here, enjoying everything and they’re doing, everything they’re supposed to do, I don’t understand what the problem is. I understand the City’s hurtin’ for money, but I’m hoping they can sit down and work everything out and resolve this. It’s gone on way too long,” concluded Marrow.
Mattie Patrick also came to support the caused and said some of the things going on now were “not right.”
Patrick continued: “And we came to court to see that we can get things straight and help the seniors. I enjoyed coming and giving support, and I’m glad that everybody came out in large numbers.”
Martha Rankins also voiced her support, also saying she believed things should stay as they are.
She continued: “…we seniors, we have to go somewhere every day. We hate to stay at home. Please, please, please. Dictators should stay out of Hasselbring. Dictators.”
The City plans to run the senior center with City employees when the current senior program is evicted.
The City of Flint gave notice that they would be taking over the operations of Hasselbring Senior Center on January 5, 2025. The Hasselbring Senior Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which receives the majority of its funding from the Genesee County Senior Service Millage. Funding is also provided through grants, donations and member contributions.
The City also recently announced that they are changing the name of the center to the Hasselbring Eric Mays Senior Community and Senior Center
For more background on this story, please refer to previous articles in the Courier.
To show your support, you are welcome to attend case #2025-C2560066-LT at 1 p.m. on January 30, where the honorable Jessica Hammon will be presiding. The hearing is scheduled to be at the Burton Courthouse off Center Road, located at 4094 Manor Drive, in Burton.
