by orionontv | Jul 16, 2024 | Local News
Oakland County’s Family Market Days Promote Healthy Eating and Local Farmers
Post Date:07/16/2024 11:59 AM
The Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) encourages Oakland County residents to participate in the annual Family Market Day events. Five-dollar coupons to purchase produce from local farmers are available to residents with a State of Michigan Bridge/EBT card or who are enrolled in Oakland County Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
“Family Market Day events demonstrate our dedication to help increase the amount of fresh produce residents purchase, as well as support our local farmers,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, director of Oakland County Department of Health and Human Services. “These events are a great way to connect residents to fresh and locally grown produce.”
Family Market Days will take place the following days:
- Thursday, July 18 at the Oak Park Farmers Market (14300 Oak Park Boulevard, Oak Park) from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Saturday, July 20 at Oakland County Farmers Market (2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford) from 8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Five-dollar coupons for produce are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis and must be used during the event. Distribution ends 30 minutes before the market closes, and no registration is necessary. The farmers markets also offer Double Up Food Bucks, which match money spent using a Bridge card/EBT up to $20.
There will be family activities such as face painting, a petting zoo, and prizes. Various resources will also be available on-site.
Family Market days are made possible in part by Trinity Health.
For more information, visit oakgov.com/health, @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter, or contact Kelsey Merz at [email protected] or 248-365-8954.
About Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP)
Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) was launched by Oakland County Health Division in 2009 as a collaboration of local government, hospitals, health care providers, community-based organizations, business, and citizens working to increase and promote healthy eating and physical activity opportunities. HOP currently has two teams dedicated to specific initiatives: The Farmers Market Team to improve the health and well-being of Oakland County residents by supporting Farmers Markets and the Youth Team to improve health and well-being through programs in schools. HOP began hosting Family Market Days in 2009 to engage entire families in healthy eating practices and encourage physical activity. The partnership expanded to include older adults in 2017 by hosting Senior Market Days.
For media inquiries only please contact Bill Mullan, Oakland County public information officer, at 248-858-1048.
by orionontv | Jul 16, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers, Lake Orion Schools, Music
ORION TWP, Mich. – On Thursday, June 27, the Lake Orion High School Concert Band performed on the stage of the Wildwood Amphitheatre to a large crowd consisting of friends, family and music enthusiasts alike.
Band Director Michael Steele welcomed audience members to their “9th Annual ‘Starry Night’ Concert,” which took the listeners into fantastical yet familiar worlds.
Steele addressing the large crowd – Photo by ONTV
The band, which is comprised entirely of current Lake Orion High School students, played classics such as “Lawrence of Arabia” by Maurice Jarre and recognizable tunes like “Summer of ’69 (The Music of Woodstock),” arranged by Ted Rickets, “Eighties Flashback,” arranged by Paul Martha, and “A Tribute to Dave Brubeck,” arranged by Patrick Roszell.
The band opened the concert with “King Cotton March” by John Phillip Sousa, a playful and triumphant track that set the tone for the entire night.
After the first song, Steele took the microphone and gave his gratitude to the LOHS Concert Band members for their dedication to art and music.
“I’m indebted to these guys for giving up their time and for putting in their immense energy and their great talent and I think you’re really going to enjoy tonight’s performance,” Steele said.
The show was about an hour plus a brief intermission right before “Lawrence of Arabia,” which ended up being a good choice since it is such a long-winded, epic and taxing track to play.
Many different soloists were given their time to shine at Wildwood, Saxophone, Trumpet and Oboe (to name a few) were brought center stage to display their prowess.
Overall, the LOHS Concert Band’s Wildwood concert was a blast to hear and experience, you can find the full Wildwood video along with other free concerts on ONTV’s YouTube page: youtube.com/user/orionontv. As well as, orionontv.org/watch.
Trumpet soloist – Photo by ONTV
The next free Wildwood concert will be 50 Amp Fuse, playing pop hits July 11 at 7 p.m.
For more information on the LOHS Concert Band, visit their Facebook page or their website at lakeorionschools.org/high-school-home/departments/fine-and-performing-arts/band.
by orionontv | Jul 16, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION, Mich. – On Tuesday, July 2, 2024, the Lake Orion Horseshoe Club hosted a patriotic-themed “red, white, and blue” night at their grounds. Residents, club-member or not, were invited to join the club for a fun night of horseshoe pitching.
The Lake Orion Horseshoe Club has been operating for more than 60 years, taking care of the local horseshoe grounds since they were constructed in the early 1960s. According to their website, “The members began the task of preparing the grounds and constructing the 15 regulation horseshoe courts according to standards as set forth by the National Horseshoe Pitchers Association (NHPA). For over 60 years our Club has acted as a sole caretaker for the courts making them available to the entire community. The Club promotes sportsmanship amongst its members while promoting the art of horseshoe pitching.”
Wide shot of club – Photo by Joe Johnson
On their “Red, White, and Blue” celebration night, over 40 participants who came were dressed in stars and stripes, as well as patriotic gear. Prizes were given out to the best dressed of the night.
ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke to Lake Orion Horseshoe Club President, Ron Price about the event today and how he felt seeing a packed crowd at the grounds.
“It’s exciting, especially the new people, to participate in something like this and come down and dress up and celebrate the Fourth of July,” Price said.
The LOHC will be hosting a banquet two weeks after their 15-week long season ends, somewhere in mid-August. However, next big event for the LOHC will be hosting the state doubles tournament at the grounds in Lake Orion on August 3.
“Patriotic Ron Price” – Photo by Joe Johnson
If you or anyone you know is interested in participating in the LOHC activities, Price always welcomes new members.
“We have a Facebook page… we also have a website, lakeorionhorsehoe.com, you’ll see our website – we have all of the information on there. Again, we’re happy to take on new members,” Price said.
The club grounds is located on 160 S Anderson St, north of the Orion Art Center. For more information about the club and their upcoming meetings and events, visit lakeorionhorseshoeclub.com.
by orionontv | Jul 15, 2024 | Regional News
Gov. Whitmer Announces Major Progress in Reducing Michigan’s Housing Shortage by 50,000 Units, Expanding Access for Michiganders
LANSING, Mich. – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced that Michigan is making progress to tackle the statewide housing shortage. Thanks to state investment, federal resources, and strong private development, Michigan built or rehabilitated 50,000 housing units, significantly reducing the statewide shortage from 190,000 units to 141,000 units. Work to build more housing will continue thanks to record investments from the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSDHA) and resources secured in the recently passed balanced state budget.
“Our record investments to build housing have reduced our statewide shortage by 50,000 units, helping tens of thousands more Michiganders have a safe, affordable place to call home,” said Governor Whitmer. “Together, with our local and statewide partners, we are making the largest investment to build housing in Michigan history so we can expand supply and drive down costs while creating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs along the way. There are more Michiganders working in construction today than any point in the last 22 years. Across the state, pipefitters, carpenters, bricklayers, and roofers are rolling up their sleeves to ‘build, baby, build’ a heck of a lot more housing and ensure every Michigander has a safe, affordable place to call home.”
Population and housing unit estimates are updated annually by the U.S. Census Bureau, most recently in May. Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) staff in its Office of Market Research uses the latest Census data to arrive at projections of supply and demand, setting the goal of a 5% vacancy rate to model the conditions of a housing market that’s healthy and balanced.
“This data shows our state is taking steps toward closing the gap and addressing the housing crisis for our neighbors,” said Amy Hovey, CEO and Executive Director of MSHDA. “That’s exactly why we raised the state’s five-year housing goal by 53% last month, in recognition of the significant progress we’ve made, yet acknowledging that we need to do more.”
Current trends indicate Michigan can expect about 20,000 additional housing units per calendar year between now and the end of 2026. However, MSHDA estimates suggest the state is likely to continue to see those trends increase, assuming the state continues to increase investment in housing production.
“The numbers support our position that the state should continue investing more in housing production, with funds that are as flexible as possible,” added Hovey. “This will allow MSHDA to continue to align our resources with the needs that local and regional leaders bring to us through the continued implementation of the Statewide Housing Plan.”
The Census Bureau’s latest revisions show increases to previous years’ data indicating that more housing was added to Michigan’s market than previously thought.
Governor Whitmer’s Work to Invest in Affordable, Attainable, and Sustainable Housing
- Released in 2022, Michigan’s first Statewide Housing Plan set a goal of 115,000 units over the next five years. Since Governor Whitmer took office, the State of Michigan has built or rehabilitated 34,000 affordable housing units, supporting 20,000 good-paying construction jobs.
- In her 2024 State of the State Address, she announced that the State of Michigan will make the largest investment to build housing in Michigan history, nearly $1.4 billion to build or rehabilitate nearly 10,000 affordable homes.
- Signed a bipartisan supplemental investing $275 million to build and refurbish thousands of affordable housing units, revitalize communities, and address blight.
- Secured a sustainable funding source for the Housing and Community Development Fund, to meet affordable, attainable housing needs for working-class families.
- Secured a sustainable funding source for Revitalization and Placemaking Grants, used to make communities more attractive places to live and work by building housing.
- Made historic investments in the Building Michigan Together Plan to build and refurbish affordable housing units for working class families.
- Signed Transformational Brownfield legislation to power economic development and finance affordable housing in communities across Michigan.
- Helped thousands of families buy homes through the Down Payment Assistance and MI Home Loan Mortgage Programs.
- Helped tens of thousands of families stay in their homes and prevent foreclosure with the funding from the Michigan Homeowners Assistance Fund.
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by orionontv | Jul 15, 2024 | Regional News
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July 15, 2024 |
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AG Nessel Urges Consumers to Stay Vigilant Against Scams During Amazon Prime Day
LANSING – With Amazon Prime Day fast approaching on July 16th and 17th, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is reminding consumers to stay vigilant as the shopping event also attracts scammers looking to exploit unsuspecting customers.
“Amazon Prime Day may be a great opportunity for deals, but it’s crucial to stay alert against scams and predatory practices,” Nessel said. “By being aware and taking simple precautions, you can protect yourself and enjoy a safe shopping experience.”
Tricks and Tactics Designed to Make Consumers Spend More
Online retailers often employ ‘dark patterns’ to manipulate shoppers’ emotions and insecurities. Nessel, the Federal Trade Commission, and 16 other state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against Amazon, alleging that the company degrades the customer experience by replacing relevant, organic search results with Amazon’s own products and paid advertisements over ones that Amazon knows are of better quality. To avoid falling for these tactics, consumers should:
- Make a shopping list and set a budget before browsing Prime deals;
- Confirm all models and items before purchasing;
- Pay close attention to the return policies;
- Place items in their carts instead of using the “Buy Now” functionality to ensure the best deals; and
- Compare prices with competitors.
Some products may have numerous positive reviews that are not genuine or are AI-generated. Consumers should:
- Conduct their own research of products and third-party sellers;
- Check reviews for products on other sites; and
- Pay more attention to verified Amazon reviews.
Phishing Emails and Smishing Texts
Scammers may send phishing emails and smishing texts that appear to be from Amazon, offering exclusive deals or alerting consumers to account issues. These messages are designed to steal personal information. Before falling victim, consumers should:
- Always check the sender’s email address;
- Verify any claims by logging into their Amazon account directly through the official website;
- Not reply to suspicious emails or texts or click on links or attachments; and
- Use an email spam filter and a built-in mobile spam-blocking tool.
Be on the lookout for websites mimicking Amazon’s look and feel, which may advertise deep discounts to steal payment information. Consumers should ensure the websites they visit start with “https://” and include “amazon.com.” Tools like Google’s Safe Browsing tool can help consumers determine if a website is real or legitimate.
Michiganders should scrutinize calls alerting them to suspicious activity on their Amazon account and avoid giving out personal information. Amazon will never send unsolicited messages asking for sensitive information.
To file a complaint with the Attorney General, or get additional information, contact:
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