by Becky Andrus | Sep 14, 2021 | Local News, Recreation
PAINT CREEK TRAIL TO HOST RIBBON CUTTING AND RECOGNITION CEREMONY
Ceremony planned for Tuesday, September 21, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. on the Paint Creek Trail
Oakland Township, Michigan: Join the Paint Creek Trailways Commission on Tuesday, September 21st, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. on the Paint Creek Trail to celebrate the opening of Bridge 33.7 and the 2019 trail resurfacing along with a Recognition Ceremony for several past Trailways Commissioners.
Bridge 33.7, a 95-year-old timber pedestrian bridge located on the trail between Dutton and Silverbell Roads, was completely replaced during the summer of 2019. The design of the new seventy-five-foot keystone-style steel truss bridge greatly improves accessibility for trail users and also supports a greater load capacity, allowing maintenance and emergency vehicles to safely cross. The bridge is fundamental to the operations of the Paint Creek Trail and the new bridge provides safe, continuous use of the trail for cyclists, pedestrians, equestrians, nature lovers, and anglers. Funding for the project was provided by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Trust Fund grant program, a Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant from the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and a grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. Oakland Township Parks and Recreation, who is responsible for the maintenance of Bridge 33.7, also contributed a $156,000 cash match for the bridge replacement.
The ribbon cutting ceremony will also celebrate the Trail’s 2019 resurfacing. As part of this project, the entire Paint Creek Trail was resurfaced with crushed limestone. Resurfacing of the trail is an ongoing event of a cyclical nature and last occurred in 2004. The four Paint Creek Trailways Commission member communities of the Oakland Township, Orion Township, Rochester, and Rochester Hills each committed funds towards the resurfacing of its section of the trail. Additional funding for the project was generously provided by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. This project greatly improved the smoothness and regularity of the trail, and provides a safer and more predictable and enjoyable surface for all trail users.
In addition to the ribbon cutting, the Trailways Commission will also honor six past Trailways Commissioners for their service to the Paint Creek Trailways Commission. Each of the past Commissioners will be presented with a commemorative pewter Paint Creek Trail spike in a display box. Being honored that day are Dr. Susan Bowyer, former Commissioner for the city of Rochester Hills; Frank Ferriolo, former Commissioner for Oakland Township; Kim Russell, former Commissioner for the city of Rochester; Lisa Sokol, former Commissioner for Orion Township; and Hank Van Agen, former Commissioner for Oakland Township. Former Paint Creek Trailways Chairperson and Commissioner for Rochester Hills Rock Blanchard will also be honored at the event with a resolution recognizing his longtime service to the Commission.
Attendees are asked to please park at the Paint Creek Cider Mill, 4480 Orion Rd., Rochester, Michigan, 48306 and walk 1¼ miles south down the Paint Creek Trail to the bridge site for the ceremony. Please contact the Trail office at 248-651-9260 if you have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in the event.
The Trailways Commission had planned to hold a ribbon cutting in 2020 to celebrate the opening of the new bridge and the trail resurfacing but social distancing guidelines prevented it. “The Commission is excited to celebrate the completion of these two projects with our member communities, our generous project supporters, and our enthusiastic trail users,” said Paint Creek Trail Manager Melissa Ford.
“During this ribbon cutting event, we are celebrating the completion of many needed projects along the Trail. We also are honoring our past Commissioners for their community service,” said Donni Steele, Paint Creek Trailways Commission Chairperson. “Over the past several years, these Commissioners selflessly donated their time and energy to improving, watching and caring for our Paint Creek Trail – truly, one of our community gems,” she continued. “We are also very thankful for the generous grants bestowed upon us, along with the continuous community collaboration, which allowed these long-standing projects to become a reality.”
About the Paint Creek Trail: The Paint Creek Trail was the first non-motorized rail-to-trail in the State of Michigan, and traverses through the communities of Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Orion Township, and the Village of Lake Orion. The Trail annually serves approximately 100,000 pedestrians, cyclists, equestrians, anglers, nature enthusiasts, and users of all ages and abilities. For more information about the Paint Creek Trail, visit www.paintcreektrail.org, or call (248) 651-9260.
About the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund: The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is financed by royalties paid on the sale and lease of state-owned oil, gas, and mineral rights. Applications are accepted from state and local government agencies for the acquisition and development of outdoor recreation facilities. The deadline for applications is April 1st of each year, with the decisions made in early December. The MNRTF makes the grant recommendations and submits them to the state legislature for approval and appropriations.
by Becky Andrus | Sep 13, 2021 | Regional News
Welcoming Week In Oakland County Culminates In Festivities At Rahma Worldwide
Pontiac, Michigan – Celebrate Welcoming Week with Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter at Rahma Worldwide in Beverly Hills, Michigan on Friday, September 17 from 6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Welcoming Week is marked by in-person events with songs, dance, and food from around the world.
“Welcoming Week is a time to come together to celebrate the wonderful things that each of our different cultures and backgrounds bring to the community,” Coulter said.
Some featured entertainment at the Welcoming Week celebration will include:
- A yo-yo demonstration by the Association of Chinese Americans
- A Native American dance performance
- An oud player (an oud is a stringed instrument much like the lute)
- The Beans and Cornbread food truck serving free meals
Oakland County Health Division will also host a walk-up COVID-19 vaccine clinic on site for individuals 12 years old and older.
In addition, there will be multiple refugee assistance agencies on hand to assist foreign-born residents who may have questions or needs. Agencies such as Oakland County Workforce Development, Rahma Worldwide, Centro Multicultural La Familia, Samaritas, the Office of Global Michigan, and many others. Since Coulter became county executive in 2019, his administration has made it a priority to ensure all are welcome in Oakland County.
“This year, Welcoming Week comes at an especially opportune time as thousands of people are fleeing Afghanistan,” Coulter said. “We have a responsibility as a country to help them resettle and Oakland County stands ready to accept those who have been caught up in these tragic world events.”
The Welcoming Week event is free and open to all. Rahma Worldwide is located at 31333 Southfield. Rd. in Beverly Hills. Welcoming Week runs from September 10 – 19. For more information, click here.
Welcoming Week 2021 FINAL 091321.pdf
by Becky Andrus | Sep 13, 2021 | Transportation
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Measuring bridge conditions across the country and progress in Michigan
Coming off the successful return of a cool Michigan tradition, the Mackinac Bridge walk on Labor Day, this week’s podcast revisits the condition of our state’s other bridges and some creative proposals to fund replacement and repair of state and local structures.
Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/9171344-measuring-bridge-conditions-across-the-country-and-progress-in-michigan
First, for some national perspective, a conversation with experts in performance management and bridge conditions at the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO): Patricia Bush, AASHTO’s program manager for bridges and design, and Matthew Hardy, AASHTO’s program director for planning and performance management.
Later, Matt Chynoweth, chief bridge engineer at the Michigan Department of Transportation, talks about a pilot bridge bundling program for local agencies. An MDOT dashboard tracks the progress.
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Bush explains why terms for bridge conditions, like structurally deficient and functionally obsolete, were abandoned, with discussion now focusing simply on conditions being good, fair or poor. She also talks about the condition of the nation’s bridges, overall, and what goes into decisions to close a bridge. Bush cites the decision to close a Memphis bridge in May after inspectors found a crack in the steel structure.
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Hardy explains how performance management informs decisions and why all states must use the national bridge reporting measures. He also lays out the reasons for following asset management principles in making decisions about a transportation network.
Offering a focus on Michigan bridge conditions, Chynoweth explains how a decision two decades ago to focus on asset management has helped conserve resources and address state-owned bridges more efficiently. He also talks about some major bridge projects MDOT engineers are tackling this summer, including a bridge over M-55 near Manistee, which MDOT Director Paul C. Ajegba visited this week.
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MDOT Director Paul Ajegba talks to engineers at the M-55 bridge site near Manistee, Michigan.
First portrait: Matt Chynoweth, MDOT chief bridge engineer
Second portrait: Patricia Bush, AASHTO’s program manager for bridges and design (Photo courtesy of Mario Olivero with AASHTO.)
Third portrait: Matthew Hardy, AASHTO’s program director for planning and performance management (Photo courtesy of Matthew Hardy.)
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by Becky Andrus | Sep 13, 2021 | High School Sports
MHSAA NOW: The weekly newsletter of the Michigan High School Athletic Association
THIS WEEK
Today’s “Now” includes features on a pair of football teams off to fast starts and a preview of Week 3 games of note across the state. We continue our “Title IX at 50” series highlighting one of the highest achievers in MHSAA history, and we say good-bye to a longtime friend of Michigan high school tennis.
Do you know a high school sports fan who would enjoy this weekly newsletter? Share this link to register on MHSAA.com and be added to the MHSAA NOW mailing list.
AROUND THE STATE
Every week of the football regular season we learn something more about who we might be watching when playoffs roll around in November. And we should know quite a bit once we’ve reached the end of Week 3 this weekend. League play will have begun in almost every conference across the state, and with some particularly intriguing matchups of possible state contenders today and Saturday – a few of which we detail here.
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Labeling just one athlete the “greatest” of millions who have competed over a half century of MHSAA girls sports history – comparing the all-time best from multiple sports over multiple eras – is both bound to be unfair and ultimately impossible. But Leland two-sport star Alisha Glass should be part of any related conversations.
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Spring Lake returned 17 starters and, understandably, couldn’t wait to get this season started. But just as the Lakers were revving up their engine for takeoff, they were idled for another week. Spring Lake picked up a forfeit victory in Week 1 after Muskegon Orchard View decided to not field a varsity team this fall, so the Lakers put in another week of practice and then unleashed all of their pent-up energy on Zeeland East last Thursday.
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Dwayne “Tiger” Teusink, a longtime Holland tennis legend and a prominent foundation builder for MHSAA tennis at the statewide level, died Monday, three days before his 85th birthday. A coach for nearly a half-century, he also continued to assist the MHSAA in administering the sport nearly until his death.
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With just a cursory glance at the 2020 results for the White Pigeon varsity football team, the Chiefs’ 4-3 record might not seem all that impressive. Their opponents this year, however, know not to discount a program that has the potential to both reshape the Southwest 10 Conference standings by the end of the fall, but also to shake things up once the Michigan High School Athletic Association Division 8 playoffs get rolling.
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MHSAA Football Week 2 Unforgettable 5ive
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This week’s edition discusses rules changes for Fall sports, awards Game Balls to high achievers in soccer, golf and football from last week, explains football intentional grounding at the high school level, and concludes with the inspiring comeback story of an Adrian Lenawee Christian coach.
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This week, MHSAA assistant director Brent Rice explains football intentional grounding at the high school level. Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
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GAME TIME
MHSAA TV
For a complete list of all games and streaming options go to mhsaa.tv.
Click here for a schedule of available student broadcast video streams.
Michigan High School Athletic Association Newsletter
1661 Ramblewood Drive, East Lansing, MI 48823
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