by orionontv | Sep 19, 2022 | Local News
CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF ORION
OFFICE OF THE SUPERVISOR
CHRIS BARNETT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Samantha Timko 248-391-0304 ext. 1002
[email protected]
ORION TOWNSHIP HOLDS RIBBON CUTTING
FOR THE BROWN & JOSLYN ROAD GATEWAY BEAUTIFICATION
What: Orion Township holds ribbon cutting event in celebration of the completion of the gateway beautification project at the corner of Brown and Joslyn Roads.
Who: The public is invited and encouraged to attend this event.
When: Thursday, October 6, 2022
3:00 p.m.
Where: Brown and Joslyn Roads
Parking is available at Lake Orion Roofing (881 Brown Road) and Tommy’s Car Wash/Mattress Firm (861 Brown Road)
Why: Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett, Township Trustees, and the Corridor Improvement Authority Board are excited to extend this invitation to the community so we may celebrate together the beautification of the Brown and Joslyn Road gateway.
Earlier this year, the Township was awarded a $25,000 grant from CN, in partnership with America in Bloom, through their EcoConnexions From the Ground Up program. This program was established to provide matching grant funding to green communities where CN operates. The Township’s project was to transform the existing brush and overgrowth at the Brown and Joslyn Roads gateway to enhanced landscaping with native, low-maintenance evergreens and floral plants. Additionally, a gateway sign that is reflective of the community’s brand and image is being commissioned for installation later this year.
The beautification of the eastern border of the CIA has been a priority of the CIA Board and has been in development since the initial planning phases of the CIA Development & Tax Increment Financing Plan in 2015. Off to a positive start, the CIA has seen the completion of the Brown Road widening and improvement project, Baldwin Road streetscape project, and the
development of a Menards, Checker’s restaurant, Tommy’s car wash, and residential townhome development. Currently under construction are a Mattress Firm, the Hyatt House Hotel, and the Grand Square of Orion which will feature three hotels, a Culver’s restaurant, and a Texas Roadhouse.
The beautification of the southeast gateway into Orion Township and the Corridor Improvement Authority will finish a major milestone for the community and ensure the existing environmental degradation of the site from litter and roadway debris is regularly cleaned. The intersection will be a showcase reflective of the community’s environmental stewardship and hometown pride.
by orionontv | Sep 19, 2022 | Health and Wellness
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 19, 2022
MDHHS CONTACT: Lynn Sutfin, 517-241-2112, [email protected]
ACD CONTACT: Erin Coller, 619-977-3500, [email protected]
MDHHS adds Guanidinoacetate Methyltransferase
Deficiency to newborn screening panel
LANSING, Mich. – September is Newborn Screening Awareness Month, and starting this month Michigan babies with guanidinoacetate methyltransferase (GAMT) deficiency will now be diagnosed early thanks to the addition of a new screening to the state’s newborn screening panel. GAMT is an inherited disorder that primarily affects the brain and muscles.
Newborn screening is a public health program required by Michigan law to identify babies with rare but serious disorders, like GAMT deficiency. All babies need to be screened in order to find the small number who look healthy but have a rare medical condition. Michigan’s newborn screening system provides testing and follow-up for more than 50 conditions. Michigan is the third state in the United States to screen for GAMT deficiency.
“By being one of the first states to implement GAMT deficiency screening, Michigan continues to display its dedication to providing newborns the opportunity to achieve the best possible health outcomes,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS chief medical executive.
GAMT deficiency is an inherited condition that affects the body’s ability to produce creatine. Without an adequate supply of creatine, the body is unable to use and store energy properly. This can cause developmental delay, speech problems, seizures and behavior issues such as autism and hyperactivity. Lack of early treatment can lead to lifelong cognitive impairments which can be severe. Starting the dietary and medical treatment early in life before symptoms arise is most effective.
Heidi Wallis, executive director of the Association for Creatine Deficiencies (ACD), personally knows the importance of early diagnosis and treatment. ACD is committed to providing patient, family and public education to advocate for early intervention through newborn screening, and to promote and fund medical research for treatments and cures for Cerebral Creatine Deficiency Syndromes.
“I have two children with GAMT, and the difference a diagnosis at birth makes is nothing short of life-changing,” Wallis said. “My daughter, who was diagnosed at 5-years-old, has recurrent seizures that cause her to sustain serious injuries. She is intellectually disabled and will need constant care the rest of her life. My son, diagnosed and treated at birth, is a neurotypical 10-year-old and will no doubt become an independent and contributing member of society.”
In May, ACD announced that after six years of advocacy efforts, the United States Advisory Committee on Heritable Disorders in Newborns and Children voted unanimously to advise the Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to add GAMT to the Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP). The RUSP provides state newborn screening programs with a carefully curated list of disorders that meet the committee’s criteria for inclusion. GAMT is expected to be added to the RUSP upon HHS Secretary Becerra’s approval in November.
“We are grateful for Michigan’s addition of GAMT deficiency to their state newborn screening panel, and the momentum this will bring towards universal screening for GAMT,” said Wallis.
To learn more about GAMT deficiency, visit babysfirsttest.org and creatineinfo.org.
To learn more about newborn screening in Michigan, contact the MDHHS Newborn Screening Program at 866-673-9939, via email at [email protected] or visit Michigan.gov/newbornscreening.
by orionontv | Sep 19, 2022 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Announces Members of First-Ever Michigan Parents’ Council
Council will center parent perspective in the policymaking process, and formalize how parent recommendations are included in governor’s education budgets
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the members of the Michigan Parents’ Council, an advisory group the governor established to more formally bring parents into the education budget process for the first time in Michigan history. The council will build on Governor Whitmer’s inclusion of the parent perspective in the most recent education budget she signed for the current 2022-2023 school year. The council represents parents from across Michigan, as well as parents of students with a variety of educational needs. The council will convene a series of regional parent roundtables to gather input.
“Parents are their children’s first and most important teacher, and we need their input to help our kids thrive in school,” said Governor Whitmer. “Today, I am proud to announce the members of the Michigan Parents’ Council who will represent the parent perspective and ensure that parents have an empowered seat at the table in Michigan. We need parents’ perspectives to help our kids learn in-person, tackle unfinished learning, and get on track for long-term success. The bipartisan education budget I just signed delivers record resources to our schools, and with the input of Michigan parents, we can help schools implement this historic funding.”
“Meaningful parent engagement directly impacts the educational success and well-being of all students in Michigan,” said Tracey Troy, President of the Michigan PTA. “This council is the opportunity to empower Michigan parents and caregivers to work collaboratively with Governor Whitmer and Michigan Department of Education to help students reach their full potential. Governor Whitmer thoughtfully structured the council to include diverse perspectives while recognizing the uniqueness of each child and the essential partners families are in education.”
Michigan Parents’ Council
Due to a significant response from parents all over Michigan, the governor is announcing 11 appointments to the Council, an increase from the original seven appointments. The Council includes appointees who represent various communities and reflect the wide range of experiences and perspectives from across the state. Appointees include parents of children in public, private, and home school learning environments, children in early childhood learning programs, and elementary, middle, and high school students. They also include parents of children with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), children who speak English as a second language (ESL), and children who are in foster or kinship care.
- Blanca J. Astua, of Holland, is a health promoter for Strangers No Longer.
- LaQuitta Brown, of Detroit, is a certified nursing assistant at Boulevard Temple Care Center in Detroit and as a COVID-19 health screener for Great Lakes Wined and Spirits.
- Jennifer L. Figler, of Gwinn, is an active volunteer in her community and a former breastfeeding peer helper.
- Cindy E. Gamboa, of Detroit, is the director of community organizing and advocacy for the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation.
- Sarah Kucher, of Birch Run, is a senior commodity buyer for ValuePoint Solutions.
- Yazeed Moore, of Grand Rapids, is a senior programs officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
- Bailey Nuss, of Traverse City, is the Northwest region impact director for the United Way of Northwest Michigan.
- Ranya Shbeib, of Bloomfield Hills, is a co-founder and board member of the Muslim Foster Care Association and a member of the Michigan Foster Care Review Board.
- Tracey Troy, of DeWitt, is a project manager for Dart Container Corporation and president of the Michigan PTA. The Governor has designated Ms. Troy to serve as the Chair of the Council.
- Rafael Turner, of Grand Blanc, is the manager of community affairs for Consumers Energy.
- Monique Zantop, of Jackson, is a co-founder of Birthbrite.
In addition to the 11 appointees on the Council, the following parents will participate on behalf of the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) and Executive Office of the Governor:
- Stacy Ann Sipes, of Potterville, is a departmental specialist for MDE and the president of the Potterville Board of Education. Ms. Sipes will represent MDE as the designee of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
- Stephanie O’Dea is the K-12 education policy advisor for the Executive Office of the Governor. She will serve as the representative of the governor’s office and facilitate the operations of the council.
Appointees will lead the council and convene regional roundtables with families across Michigan to bring in as many voices as possible. The council includes the governor’s K-12 policy advisor and a designated representative of the Superintendent of Public Instruction from the Michigan Department of Education.
The first meeting of the Michigan Parents’ Council will be held virtually tomorrow, September 20.
In the following weeks, the council will convene roundtables of parents and family members across Michigan to strengthen partnerships between parents and schools. They will share input from the roundtables directly with the governor’s team and state superintendent. The council will submit a report to the governor highlighting major themes from the roundtables and summarizing proposals for inclusion in the governor’s 2023 budget recommendation by December 9, 2022.
The executive order establishing the council can be viewed here.
FY 2023 Education Budget Investments
The recently signed bipartisan education budget can be divided into six key sections: students, mental health, learning supports, student safety, school infrastructure, and teacher recruitment.
For our students, the highest state per-pupil funding in Michigan history—$9,150 for every kid, in every public school district. Additional support for the nearly 200,000 special education students and 710,000 at-risk students in Michigan. Expanding funding for career and technical education programs by 27%.
Dedicated mental health dollars for every student in every school. Increasing funding for teen centers, district mental health grants, and TRAILS, which offers training to school mental health professionals so they can better serve students with evidence-based services.
Funding MI Future Educator Fellowships, which pay up to $10,000 in tuition for 2,500 future Michigan educators a year, $9,600 stipends a semester for student teachers, and Grow-Your-Own programs that help districts put support staff on no-cost paths to become educators.
$250 million for school construction and renovations, helping them build or refurbish classrooms, labs, and libraries.
An expansion of before and after-school programs to keep kids engaged. The budget offers every kid in Michigan tutoring to help catch up and get on track for long-term success, and resources for districts to develop learning pods for academically at-risk and economically disadvantaged students.
Dedicated school safety dollars for every student in every school. Funds to hire more on-campus school resources officers, create an intervention system for at-risk students that brings together law enforcement, schools, and mental health professionals, and establish a school safety commission.
Governor Whitmer’s Education Investments
For four years in a row, Governor Whitmer has worked across the aisle to make the largest education investments in Michigan history—without raising taxes. Since taking office, the governor has tripled the number of literacy coaches, closed the funding gap between schools, boosted state per-student investment to an all-time high, and helped districts hire thousands of teachers and on-campus mental health professionals.
The Whitmer-Gilchrist administration’s education accomplishments can be found here.
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by orionontv | Sep 16, 2022 | Recreation
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Showcasing the DNR
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It’s always the right time – especially during Michigan Trails Week – to show state’s trails some TLC
By JESSICA HOLLEY-ROEHRS
State motorized trails specialist, Parks and Recreation Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
Michigan Trails Week – the annual celebration that helps shine a light on the state’s vast trails network and elevates Michigan’s reputation as the Trails State – is set for Sept. 18-25. These eight days are a great time to pay tribute to Michigan’s extraordinary trails system, maybe by finding a new trail adventure, revisiting your favorite route, sharing a photo or memory with a friend or making it social. Follow MiStateParks on Facebook and Instagram to find ideas on how to celebrate all week long.
You can also show your love for Michigan trails by helping keep them in the best shape for everyone to enjoy safely.
Cleaning up
 Every season brings new adventures on Michigan’s trails – with almost 10,000 miles between off-road vehicle and snowmobile trails alone, plus thousands more miles of nonmotorized trails. So, it follows that every season, our trails need some TLC from those who care most about not only the upcoming season, but about the long-term sustainability of the state’s trails system and scramble areas.
Last spring, a large group of volunteers got together in the St. Helen Motorsport Area in Roscommon County to give a great example of just that – showing they care through action. Paul and Melanie Mulder, partnering with ORV and snowmobile trail maintenance groups, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Adopt-a-Forest program and dedicated Jeep club volunteers, pulled off one of the most successful trail and forest cleanup events I’ve seen in my career with the DNR.
The Mulders, both Ferris State University employees, organized the cleanup event that brought together more than 100 Jeeps and other vehicles from at least seven different groups – all volunteers. In total, they cleaned up 31,000 pounds of trash, 208 tires and even a couple of old boats from the St. Helen trails and surrounding forest areas. The trash filled three 30-yard dumpsters donated by the DNR’s Adopt-a-Forest program. |
 Follow-up efforts included identifying locations of more abandoned boats and getting them into a test program for recycling fiberglass boats. From trail cleanup to a future partnership with the Michigan boating industry … who knew?
These projects and many years of dedicated work on the ORV trails of the northeast and north-central Lower Peninsula earned the Mulders a Partners in Conservation Award. The Michigan Natural Resources Commission presents these DNR employee-nominated awards to individuals or organizations in recognition of their commitment to conservation, natural resource management and assisting the DNR in carrying out its mission.
I have had the pleasure of working out in the field with these two, and I learned firsthand about the hard work it takes to keep the trails in shape and cleaned up for the thousands of riders that who enjoy those trails each season. Nice job, Paul and Melanie – we can’t thank you enough!
Where to next?
Beginning this month, many of Michigan’s 68 snowmobile trail maintenance organizations will hit the ground to clean up the trails and routes that we hope will be covered with snow in December. Why start so early, you ask? There’s a lot to do! |
 Many miles of trail are shared with ORV users and will need to be graded one or more times before the ground freezes to ensure a smooth base for the groomers to pack the snow onto solidly. This time of year, the majority of snowmobile trails are overgrown and strewn with downed limbs, and oftentimes whole trees, that need to be cleared away. And yes, there are tires, trash and other waste. I’ve heard stories of mattresses, tents, refrigerators and even an old bathtub that needed to be removed from the trails, staging areas, parking lots and trailheads over the years.
But that’s not all. The next step is to check each and every sign along the trail, making sure that it is still in place from last season, that it’s not too faded or broken, that the pole is in good shape, and then replacing those that need it. Do you know that, in some parts of the state, every sign is put up at the beginning of the snowmobile season and then taken down at the end of the season?
In addition, when Dec. 1 rolls around, gates on private property will need to be opened, and “no trespassing” reminders will need to be posted to ensure that the property owners will allow us to use those sections of trail again in the years to come.
Call to action
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 How can you help? What skills and talents can you bring to the trails?
No matter which season or form of motorized recreation is your favorite, any time is the right time for you to volunteer a weekend of your time to the local ORV or snowmobile club where you live or where you ride.
Here are just a couple of examples of opportunities to get involved coming up soon:
- The Seney Snowmobile Association’s annual trail maintenance days, Sept. 16 and 17. Friday, participants will meet at the groomer barn in Seney at 9 a.m. to do sign maintenance and light trail work. Saturday, they will meet at the groomer barn at 8 a.m. for the big trail cleanup day, with breakfast, lunch and dinner provided. Get more details and RSVP for Seney Snowmobile Association Annual Trail Maintenance Weekend.
- Curtis Area Trails, which grooms and maintains 94 miles of snowmobile trails, will host its first annual trail cleanup day Saturday, Sept. 24. Participants will meet at the Curtis groomer barn at 8 a.m. for breakfast, then head out to start brushing and cleaning up the trails for the upcoming snowmobile season. Lunch and dinner will be provided. Get more details and RSVP for Curtis Area Trail Maintenance Day.
Besides these two opportunities, there are 110 ORV and snowmobile trail organizations across the state, from the Keweenaw Peninsula to Allegan and everywhere in between, that could use a hand over the next several months or years.
For more information about how to contact any of the motorized trail maintenance organizations around the state, email me at [email protected] or find a listing of local clubs on the Michigan Snowmobile and ORV Association website.
If you’re interested in nonmotorized trails volunteering, contact DNR state trails coordinator Tim Novak at [email protected] or get in touch with a local nonmotorized trail organization.
I hope to meet you some day – with boots, gloves, chain saws and trash bags – on the trail.
Find more information about Michigan trails, including maps and ways to support them, at Michigan.gov/DNRTrails.
Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNR. |
Note to editors: Contact: John Pepin, Showcasing the DNR series editor, 906-226-1352. Accompanying photos and a text-only version of this story are available below for download. Caption information follows. Credit Michigan Department of Natural Resources, unless otherwise noted.
Text-only version of this story.
Dumpsters: Volunteers picked up enough trash to fill three 30-yard dumpsters, donated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Adopt-a-Forest program, during a cleanup effort in the St. Helen Motorsport Area in Roscommon County last spring.
Post: Volunteers put up a snowmobile trail marker sign. In some areas of Michigan, every sign is put up at the beginning of the snowmobile season and then taken down at the end of the season.
Repair: Volunteers work to repair a trail in Allegan County in preparation for the upcoming snowmobile season.
Signs: Trail signs, like these along off-road vehicle CL Route/snowmobile Trail No. 8 in Marquette County, are among the things ORV and snowmobile trail maintenance organizations work to make sure are in good condition for riders.
Tires and Trash: Volunteers cleaned up 31,000 pounds of trash, 208 tires and even a couple of old boats from the St. Helen Motorsport Area trails and surrounding forest areas during an event last spring.
Trailer: More than 100 Jeeps and other vehicles from at least seven different groups, all volunteers, got together to clean up the St. Helen Motorsport Area ORV trails and woods last spring. |
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| The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/DNR. |
by orionontv | Sep 16, 2022 | Transportation
Sec. Buttigieg, Gov. Whitmer announce $105 million for I-375-boulevard conversion
U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg was in Detroit Thursday, Sept. 15, bearing gifts. The secretary joined Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, MDOT Director Paul Ajegba, and others to formally award MDOT a nearly $105 million Infrastructure for Rebuilding America (INFRA) grant to convert the recessed I-375 freeway into an urban boulevard, allowing for the reconnection of neighborhoods with the city’s central business district as well as cultural and sports venues.
Listen now: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1374205/11326966-sec-buttigieg-gov-whitmer-announce-105-million-for-i-375-boulevard-conversion
This week’s Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with Zach Kolodin, director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office established by Gov. Whitmer earlier this year, and Jon Loree, MDOT’s I-375 project manager. First, Kolodin talks about his office’s role in overseeing all infrastructure, not just that related to transportation, and then shares his perspective on the I-375 announcement.
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Loree explains the benefits and opportunities the grant will provide for the project and talks about his ongoing work in public involvement with corridor neighbors, business owners and myriad interested parties.
The project cost estimate is $270 million, with an additional $30 million anticipated for engineering costs. The INFRA grant will go toward construction and cover more than a third of that.
As Gov. Whitmer observed in her remarks, competition for the INFRA grants was fierce, meaning Michigan’s selection for the fourth-highest amount of all the awards signals the value the project will provide to the community.
With the grant, the project will be able to complete design and begin construction as soon as 2025, at least two years earlier than originally hoped. Work should be completed in 2028. Loree explains how design efforts are beginning and conversations and engagement continue on the future land use and community enhancements.
The project is taking an innovative approach to use the value of the excess property from the freeway-to-boulevard conversion for community enhancements to acknowledge and address historic environmental justice effects from the original freeway construction.
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Gov. Whitmer speaks at the I-375 event.
Sec. Pete Buttigieg speaks at the I-375 event.
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