OC Celebrates Juneteenth: Honoring Woman Born into Slavery

OC Celebrates Juneteenth: Honoring Woman Born into Slavery

by | Jun 19, 2023 | Regional News

Oakland County Celebrates Juneteenth by Honoring Woman Born into Slavery Who Became First Black Woman to Own Property in Michigan

Post Date:06/14/2023 3:24 PM

Elizabeth Denison Forth historical marker.Pontiac, Michigan ­– Oakland County dedicated a historical plaque honoring Elizabeth Denison Forth, the first woman of color to own property in Oakland County and the territory of Michigan, in front of the Sixth Circuit Court Building in Pontiac in celebration of Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States. During the ceremony Wednesday, participants also raised the Juneteenth flag at the courthouse.

“Juneteenth is a cause for celebration and reflection for all of our residents. It marks a day that is especially meaningful for the black community, but also is a moment of history that all of us can both observe and remember as the official end of the dark chapter of slavery in America’s history,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “That’s why the county officially made Juneteenth a holiday last year, why the county offices will be closed on June 19, and why we held a grand and festive celebration today to commemorate that momentous day. In honor of Juneteenth and every day, we dedicate ourselves to freedom from discrimination, violence, and unequal treatment.”

Coulter joined other county officials at the county’s first Juneteenth festivity including Oakland County Board of Commissioners Vice Chairwoman Marcia Gershenson, County Commissioner Angela Powell of Pontiac, and Chief Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Officer Harry Weaver. Zach Zuchowicz, DEI and community engagement coordinator for Oakland County Parks and Recreation, announced free admission at Oakland County Parks on Monday, June 19, the official Juneteenth. County offices will also be closed that day in observance of the holiday.

“It’s important that people see that a woman, a Black former slave, is being recognized in our county and in the larger community,” Powell said. “This sign outside of the courthouse is just another reminder of where we’ve come from, and the potential we all have when we work together.”

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners spearheaded an effort to honor Forth in February 2022 with a resolution dedicating funds to a permanent marker.Commissioner Angela Powell speaks at Juneteenth celebration. With the input of local historians and enthusiasts from around the county, the installation serves as a reminder of the county’s collective and inspiring history.

Forth was born into slavery in 1786. According to the Michigan Women Forward website, she won her freedom by escaping with one of her brothers to Canada after a court ruling by the Michigan Territory Supreme Court in 1807 which stated that escaped slaves who established their freedom in Canada could not be returned to slavery upon return to the United States. She returned to Detroit a free woman by working as a domestic servant in Solomon Sibley’s household, the first Mayor of Detroit.

In 1825, Forth purchased 48 acres of land in Pontiac, which today forms part of Oak Hill Cemetery, making her the first African American and one of the first women to own property in the (Michigan) territory. Never living on the property, she leased it to her brother for farming. She also invested money in the first steamboat built in the upper lakes, Walk-in-the-Water, and Detroit’s Farmers and Mechanics Bank. After her death in 1866, she left a portion of her estate for the building of St. James Episcopal Church on Grosse Ile, which remains an active congregation today. She is buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit.

Oakland County’s first Juneteenth event also featured performances by storytellers Baba O and Nanou Djiapo, an African drum and dance group from Metro Detroit.

Juneteenth flag is raised.Oakland County Courthouse lit up for Juneteenth.

Quest Athletics perform at Juneteenth celebration.

 

 

 

 

 

Showcasing the DNR: ORV clubs drive cleanup efforts

Showcasing the DNR: ORV clubs drive cleanup efforts

by | Jun 19, 2023 | Recreation

DNR banner

Showcasing the DNR

Earth Day cleanup volunteers bring trash to a dumpster.

ORV clubs drive cleanup efforts in partnership with Adopt-a-Forest
By IRIS PAUL
Student communications assistant
Forest Resources Division
Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Craig Pinkelman set out with fellow members of the Wicked Jeeps Southeast Michigan ORV Club to enjoy an autumn day riding off-road vehicles in 2017 – but was surprised by what he found hidden on the path less taken.

Club members expected to find the forest floor blanketed with colorful leaves as they explored state lands.

Instead, they found a sea of black tires, having stumbled upon multiple dumpsites in the St. Helen and Ogemaw area in the northern Lower Peninsula. The ORV enthusiasts took it upon themselves to get rid of those eyesores to keep the trails beautiful and safe for everyone to enjoy.

From that first cleanup, a tradition was born that now inspires hundreds of volunteers to come together for an annual Earth Day celebration. Volunteers removed over 12 tons of garbage at this year’s cleanup in April.

Running five years strong, every year has brought in larger groups of volunteers and forged new partnerships. Each removes more garbage than the last.

Collaborating with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ Adopt-a-Forest program has helped the event grow. The program covers the costs of on-site dumpsters and tire recycling.

For this year’s event, hosted by Wicked Jeeps Southeast Michigan, partner groups included Iron Mustangs Motorcycle Club St. Helen Chapter and the St. Helen Snowpackers Snowmobile and ORV Club. Eight other off-road vehicle groups participated, and the event brought in the support of 11 sponsors.

Volunteers from across the many different ORV clubs said it doesn’t matter what logo is on their grill, what matters is showing they care about the trails and the towns they’re in.

Volunteers gathered on Earth Day for the annual cleanup.Attendees said the volunteer experience produced a mix of emotions.

While seeing such an overwhelming amount of garbage in the woods was shocking, they felt hopeful witnessing hundreds of people come together to offer their time and labor for the cause.

“Every year we seem to pull out more and more trash, but I have to believe that it’s because our efforts are growing,” said Mike Hotz, president of Wicked Jeeps Southeast Michigan. “Seeing all the trash out there is disheartening and frustrating because it never seems to end, but watching the dumpsters fill as we bring it all out and seeing more communities get involved every year is motivating and reassures us that we’re doing something right.”

The DNR is also seeing the event’s positive effects.

“It was great to be there and see the volunteers working together to make a big impact,” said Andrea Stay, Adopt-a-Forest program manager. “There was a lot of group camaraderie and problem-solving that took place to handle the more complicated dumpsites and heavy piles. Their efforts really improved the condition of our trails and forest lands.”

With over 700 known dumpsites throughout the state, it takes many helping hands to preserve Michigan’s forests. A week prior, Sundowners 4×4 Club held its annual spring cleanup in partnership with Adopt-a-Forest at Allegan State Game Area.

Doug Wine, vice president of the nonprofit organization, said, “Contrary to popular opinion, ‘Jeepers’ are primarily outdoor enthusiasts with an affinity for the out-of-the-way places many will never be able to see.”

All that time off the beaten path can mean stumbling upon isolated locations where illegal dumpsites have sprung up.

Off-road vehicle groups like Sundowners 4×4 Club and Wicked Jeeps Southeast Michigan have been important partners in identifying and repairing these sites, but anyone recreating in the woods can report dumpsites, or volunteer with Adopt-a-Forest to help keep the forest healthy.

About Adopt-a-Forest

Adopt-a-Forest is a volunteer clean-up program that works to keep forests beautiful and educate the public about responsible trash disposal.

Established in 1991, the program is a partnership between the Michigan DNR, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, and the USDA Forest Service. The program has helped clean millions of acres of forest land.

Guided by the following program goals, Adopt-a-Forest aims to comprehensively address illegal dumping through preventative education and advocacy work, actively cleaning dumpsites, and identifying responsible parties.

  • Prevention education: Through advocacy, recycling or reuse strategies, and educating people about appropriate waste management, the program works to prevent illegal dumping.
  • Recycling and disposal: Recycling is the preferred disposal method whenever possible – nearly half of all Adopt-a-Forest-collected waste is recycled!
  • Law enforcement: Program staff and law enforcement work together to identify individuals who contribute to illegal dumpsites and hold them accountable. Trail users and volunteers are encouraged to report dumpsites or any personally identifying information they find on illegally dumped trash.
  • Cleanup safety: Adopt-a-Forest provides recommendations for appropriate safety gear, proper lifting techniques and event supply lists and can help connect sites with appropriate hazards specialists when needed.
Volunteers remove tires from Michigan state forest lands.Anyone interested in organizing a cleanup can start by checking out the dumpsite database.

“Maintaining the dumpsite database is pivotal to the work we do,” Stay said. “It helps us quantify the level of need throughout the state and empowers volunteers to connect to the best site for their group.”

Volunteer groups come in all shapes and sizes, from scout troops to individuals all the way up to multi-group events that draw hundreds of helping hands.

The interactive map lists information about the site, helping volunteers identify approachable “family-friendly” sites or prepare to tackle one of the ambitious “horrendous hundred” dumpsites in their area.

After the site is cleaned, the volunteer group should use the database’s reporting feature to let others know a site cleanup has been completed.

Equipment and resource needs can vary depending on the site. Disposing of removed trash can be as simple as gathering a few bags and tossing it with your home garbage; other sites may require partnership to access a DNR or local government dumpster.

Large sites may be eligible for an on-site Adopt-a-Forest-sponsored dumpster. The dumpsite database will indicate when a site has special requirements, such as needing heavy equipment. Twice-annual cleanups are recommended to keep adopted sites in tip-top shape.

Where possible, Adopt-a-Forest encourages volunteers to steer found items out of the waste stream – reducing pressure on landfills offers extra support toward keeping our environment healthy.
Stacked tires removed from state forest lands.If something is still usable, such as clothing, it can be donated to a charitable organization. Organic matter, such as live Christmas trees, can be sent to community composting sites.

This spring alone, over 1,000 tires have already been picked up for recycling, which can be transformed into playground equipment, pathways and even roads.

The Wicked Jeeps Southeast Michigan’s Earth Day cleanup has used recycling to offer further community support. Scrap steel helped fund the purchase of trail grading equipment, while returnable bottle and can deposits supported the St. Helen annual fireworks show.

Pinkelman also sees the need for a holistic plan addressing illegal dumping.

“While the growth of the event is truly amazing, and the expansion of this to other locations across the state led by other groups is a dream come true, it is truly heartbreaking to see the continued dumping and abuse of our state and national lands,” Pinkelman said. “As we go forward, several of us are putting our thinking caps on and trying to find ways to eliminate such behavior. It will surely take the efforts of more than just the offroad community to make a dent in that.”

Volunteers see firsthand how dumping trash hurts Michigan’s forests, but those who can’t make it out to a cleanup can still play an important, preventative role.

They can communicate with their community and local officials about the importance of safe, legal trash disposal options. They can also advocate for local, accessible options, and use reliable trash removal services in their own lives.

Learn more about how you can get involved at Michigan.gov/AdoptAForest.

Check out previous Showcasing the DNR stories in our archive at Michigan.gov/DNRStories. To subscribe to upcoming Showcasing articles, sign up for free email delivery at Michigan.gov/DNREmail.
Beware, the Airlines Are About to Ruin Your Summer

Beware, the Airlines Are About to Ruin Your Summer

by | Jun 19, 2023 | Regional News

Beware, the Airlines Are About to Ruin Your Summer

By Llewellyn King
Summer, glorious summer, is upon us. It brings with it the anticipation of vacations, long weekends of sea and sand or mountains, and invigorating scenery.

Each to their own, but summer is spelled N-I-R-V-A-N-A for most Americans. It is the treasured time from Memorial Day to Labor Day when we can kick back and, for a couple of weeks and a few weekends, live the life of leisure and fullness we fantasize about the rest of the year.

But there is an impediment: the airlines.

If you have to fly to your Shangri-La, beware. Airline travel these days is a brief sojourn in the deepest circle of Hell.

I fly a lot, and I can report that you have no idea what you are in for if you haven’t sought to take a flight recently. The airports are obscenely crowded; the concession prices for terrible food aren’t only very high, but many don’t take cash; and the distance between gates is such that you may wonder if the first miles of your trip are on foot.

Making tight connections is a fraught business. A stressed system is breaking down. I saw a woman in tears in Charlotte because the wheelchair assistance person had abandoned her and her flight was leaving from a distant gate.

The electronic signs for departing flights are widely spaced, and if you don’t have the airline app on your phone, good luck getting information about your flight.

Don’t take the gate printed on your boarding pass as the gate you’ll leave from: These change quite often. Uniformed personnel are few and stressed. They appear to be suffering battle fatigue. You can’t be cross at them.

Then there is the willful price-gouging.

The airlines are now masters at hidden charges and outlandish fees. If you want to check a bag, that will be a hefty $35. If you want to sit somewhere other than at the rear by the toilets, you can pay about $50 for that privilege, but you’re still in economy.

Buying a ticket online is a computer game of rare complexity. You find a fare. Woe betide if you make a mistake and have to start over: That fare has disappeared, and a much higher one is on offer.

Of course, you have a bag. The airlines offer something called Basic Economy, which assumes you have no luggage whatsoever or you are going to pay a hefty baggage fee, usually $35 per item, to check your bag. You aren’t entitled to a bag in the cabin.

Or, if you aren’t a cheap-and-cheerless traveler, you can play bag roulette. That is when you’ve checked your bag, paid the fee and found at the gate that the airline is asking for volunteers to check their bags for free because there is no room on board. You can’t know if this will happen. If you’ve checked your bag and paid, you’ll be left seething with the injustice of the thing.

Let us assume you survived to that marvelous moment when you board, which means your flight hasn’t been canceled and even though it has been overbooked, you have a seat.

Ah, there is the rub — the thighs or knees rub. The seat is so small, so close to the one in front, that you are in for agony if you weigh more than 150 pounds and are more than 5 feet 10 inches tall.

Clearly, Procrustes, the robber and torturer of Greek mythology,  who would either cut or stretch his victims to fit his iron bed, is alive and well in cabin design. It is also hard to believe that the huddled masses in coach class will make it to an exit in an emergency, squeezed as they are into their unyielding seats.

Finally, there are the toilets. They are so small that big people can’t use them. My advice: Go before you go. Otherwise, you may not be able to hygienically apply toilet paper.

None of this has to be. The Federal Aviation Administration can regulate cabin conditions for reasons of safety. While it has that authority, it is notoriously disinclined to lay down the law to the airlines. The FAA isn’t regulating the airlines, it is enabling them.
On Twitter: @llewellynking2
Llewellyn King is executive producer and host of “White House Chronicle” on PBS.
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Michigan Wins Funding for 525 Miles of High-Speed Internet

Michigan Wins Funding for 525 Miles of High-Speed Internet

by | Jun 19, 2023 | Regional News

Governor Whitmer Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 16, 2023

 

Gov. Whitmer Announces Michigan Wins Funding to Build 525 Miles of High-Speed Internet, Lowering Costs for Michiganders

 

LANSING, Mich.—Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced the National Telecommunications and Information Administration awarded a $61 million grant to Peninsula Fiber Network (PFN) to improve high-speed internet access for unserved and underserved communities across Michigan. This grant is being awarded with funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), and will help ensure Michigan residents have access to quality internet no matter where they live.

 

“From St. Joseph to Houghton, we are working to ensure every Michigander has access to quality, affordable high-speed internet,” said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. “I am proud of Michigan-based Peninsula Fiber Network for securing critical funding to connect more people to high-speed internet. Since I took office, we have expanded access to 23,000 more families and small businesses so students can connect with their teachers, people can access health care services, and companies can grow. We will keep working together to expand access to high-speed internet so everyone can ‘make it’ in Michigan.”

 

The $61 million grant is being awarded under the NTIA’s Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program, and the Michigan Department of Transportation had provided a letter of support for the project. The grant will allow PFN to carry out its Infrastructure for Michigan’s Peninsula and Critical Crossings (IMPACC) project. The funding will be used to place 535 miles of new middle-mile fiber through underserved and unserved communities across Michigan. The project aims to construct undersea routes between Charlevoix to Beaver Island to Guilliver in the UP, and Benton Harbor to Chicago as well as overland fiber routes connecting Charlevoix to Grayling, Port Huron to Flint and Benton Harbor to Grand Rapids.

 

“With access to affordable, high-speed internet as our tool, we can connect more Michiganders to economic opportunity,” said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. “Governor Whitmer and I are committed to expanding access to high-speed internet throughout Michigan, and we have already connected more than 23,000 homes, businesses, and unserved locations. Today’s $61 million Middle Mile award will help ensure that no matter where you live in Michigan, you can learn, work, and connect with others through high-speed internet. We will keep working with anyone to connect Michigan families and small businesses and grow our economy.”

 

The project will address the unique middle-mile fiber needs of Michigan’s two-peninsula state. The additional middle mile capacity will help provide lower costs and faster speeds for last-mile deployments while improving reliability and redundancy for existing networks across the state.

 

“The MIHI team is thrilled that this crucial grant will address the unique middle mile fiber needs of our two-peninsula state and would significantly aid in the success of the BEAD program to achieve affordable, reliable high-speed internet for all Michiganders,” said Eric Frederick, Chief Connectivity Officer with the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office.

 

The Middle Mile Grant Program provides up to $1 billion in funding allotted by IIJA for constructing, improving and acquiring middle-mile infrastructure. The purpose of the grant program is to expand and extend middle-mile infrastructure to reduce the cost of connecting areas that are unserved or underserved to the internet backbone.

 

“As we become increasingly reliant on technology for education, work and daily life, equitable broadband access is more important than ever,” said Zachary Kolodin, Michigan’s Chief Infrastructure Office and Director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. “With this $61 million grant, Michigan has now received more than $200 million in federal investment for high-speed internet access, helping to close the digital divide and ensure that all residents have equal opportunities for success in the digital age.”

 

“Internet connectivity is the backbone of Michigan’s economy, allowing businesses to thrive, connecting people to health care services and education providers, and helping people communicate locally and around the globe. This grant, combined with PFN’s own investment, will allow for the installation of middle mile infrastructure that will help to bring better and faster broadband to some of the largest underserved areas in our state while strengthening network connections between Michigan’s peninsulas and with a neighboring state,” said Peninsula Fiber Network General Manager Scott Randall. “We are thankful to our local, state and federal partners for supporting us in this grant and look forward to getting started on this vital infrastructure project.”

 

 

Expanding High-Speed Internet for Michiganders

 

Governor Whitmer believes every family and business in Michigan deserves access to a reliable, affordable high-speed internet connection that meets their needs. High-speed internet expands economic opportunity for families, enhances educational experiences for students, and allows for remote access to key health care services.

 

  • Provided over 23,000 homes, businesses, and community anchor institutions like schools and libraries high-speed internet access since taking office.
  • Set a state goal to provide 100% access to high-speed internet and 95% adoption by households during the next five years.
  • Provided high-speed internet access to more than 18,000 homes and businesses, through the Connecting Michigan Communities Grant Program.
  • Leveraged over $700 million in federal funding and signed the Building Michigan Together Plan that invested $249 million to connect more families and small businesses to fast, reliable high-speed internet that meets their needs.
  • Named a Chief Connectivity Officer to lead the state’s broadband efforts and leverage funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL).
  • Created the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office and the Connecting Michigan Task Force to coordinate the state’s high-speed internet work and align the work with economic development opportunities.

 

This grant is the latest in Michigan’s efforts to secure funding to improve the state’s high-speed internet infrastructure. Michigan High-Speed Internet office filed over 100,000 challenges to broadband maps published by the Federal Communications Commission, with an aim of ensuring accurate maps will lead to full and fair funding of Michigan’s needs for high-speed internet through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program. Earlier this month, Governor Whitmer and the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office announced the kick-off of a statewide Michigan ACP Act Now Initiative to increase awareness of broadband benefits funded by IIJA that will help lower-income families pay for high-speed internet.

 
Returning money to you

Returning money to you

by | Jun 19, 2023 | Regional News

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Hi there,

As I head back to Michigan for the weekend, I wanted to let you know about a major milestone: my office has returned $10.5 million to our constituents!

That amount represents the outcome of over 430 cases that have been opened since I came to Congress in 2019. Here’s a breakdown of where most of the money was returned from:

  • Internal Revenue Service: $7,153,076
  • Small Business Administration: $2,027,045
  • Social Security Administration: $818,026
  • Veterans Affairs: $345,639

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In total, my dedicated constituent services team has opened more than 6,000 cases since the beginning of my first term, and they know how to navigate bureaucracy better than anyone to help Michiganders get the most out of their government.

But don’t take it from me, hear what Elizabeth from Lansing had to say after asking my office for help obtaining her tax refund:

“There was regular contact and updates on our case from our assigned case worker. Because of that regular communication, I felt confident that the Office of Elissa Slotkin was actively working on solving my issue, and I am very grateful for the assistance. It felt very empowering to have a practical avenue to solving this particular frustration. Thank you Elissa Slotkin and your team for helping us!” 

In addition to returning money owed by a federal agency, we can assist with requesting D.C. tours and tickets, receiving a milestone birthday or anniversary greeting, or requesting that a flag be flown over the U.S. Capitol.

So, if you need help getting information or refunds from a federal agency, please contact us on our website or over the phone at (517) 993-0510. It’s what we do and we’re ready to work.

– Rep. Elissa Slotkin