DNR News: Recipients of 2025 Community Forestry Grants

DNR News: Recipients of 2025 Community Forestry Grants

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DNR News

Nov. 19, 2024
Contact: Kerry Gray, 734-691-1806

DNR announces recipients of 2025 Community Forestry Grants

Trees wait for people to claim them at a tree giveaway event. Tree planting, education about the benefits of trees and other tree-centric efforts are on tap in nine Michigan communities thanks to Community Forestry Grants from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Those communities will share $127,093 in grant funding.

The DNR received a total of 24 proposals requesting nearly $393,000 this year.

The approved projects will collectively plant and care for 260 new trees; engage and train an estimated 200 students, residents and city staff; inventory and develop plans to sustainably manage more than 14,500 public trees; and leverage more than $157,500 in community and volunteer matching.

  • Village of Cass City: $10,000 to complete a public tree inventory and tree management plan.
  • City of Chelsea: $5,768 to complete an urban tree canopy assessment and tree preservation plan.
  • Eaton Conservation District: $26,205 for tree planting, youth and volunteer engagement, and education and outreach efforts at the Charlotte Forest Garden.
  • City of Hastings: $12,500 to complete a public tree inventory and develop a maintenance plan to guide the city’s public tree care program.
  • City of Laingsburg: $14,365 to plant and care for new trees at McClintock Park.
  • Sparta Township: $9,102 to plant and care for 41 new trees at several township parks.
  • City of Swartz Creek: $9,890 to plant and care for 38 new trees at Abrams Park.
  • City of Trenton: $27,013 to complete a public tree inventory and develop a maintenance plan to guide the city’s public tree care program.
  • City of Williamston: $12,250 to complete a public tree inventory, develop a maintenance plan and plant trees to expand the city’s tree nursery.

Community Forestry Grants are made available through federal funding from the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Program. They are administered by the DNR’s Urban and Community Forestry program. Learn more about the DNR’s program at Michigan.gov/UCF.


Note to editors: Several urban/community tree-planting photos are available in the DNR’s public image gallery. All photos courtesy of the Michigan DNR unless otherwise noted.

Expanding Veterans Options for Long-term Care Act

Expanding Veterans Options for Long-term Care Act

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Hi there,

I have some great news to share: last night the House passed my Expanding Veterans Options for Long-term Care Act with overwhelming bipartisan support. It was passed as part of the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act, which is a larger veterans package.

My bill creates a three year pilot program at the VA that would allow senior veterans to receive assisted living care paid for by the department, giving them more options for independent living and reducing VA spending on nursing home care. The purpose is to lay the groundwork for senior veterans to live their lives independently and without undue financial stress.

When we send our men and women in uniform into harm’s way, we make a solemn promise to take care of them when they return home – including in their later years. This bipartisan vote delivers on that promise.

It’s also a reminder that we can work together and find common ground to deliver results for our veterans. I hope my Senate colleagues do the same by taking up this bill.
– Rep. Elissa Slotkin

Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach

Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach

Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach.

Written Thursday November 14th at 11:45 PM

Ferndale University has a new girls basketball coach.

The Eagles named Bennie Szczepkowski their new head coach taking over for Coach Brianna Rowe who stepped down recently.

Szczepkowski took the Ferndale University job two weeks before the season started which he confirmed on Media Day at Groves.

Szczepkowski has a hard task ahead of him in turning around a program that went 0-18 last season. He will have a ton of proven experience coming back in LeAnna Spencer, Gabrielle Thompson, Kayla Sanders, Taniyah Crawford, Tamary Powell, Kendall Spencer, and Jayda Wilson.

Ferndale University will need a strong start to build confidence this season. It won’t be an easy transition and it has to happen during the season. It will be very interesting to see what happens.

Stay tuned to OAA Now for the latest on this developing story.

Ferndale University has a new Girls Basketball Coach

Week Twelve Recap

Week Twelve Recap.

Written Friday November 15th at 10:10 PM

This will be updated.

HARPER WOODS 48, Macomb Lutheran North 3: The Pioneers were the dominant team on Friday night in Harper Woods shutting down a very solid Crusaders team and running back Vincent Campisi was held in check by a really strong Pioneers defense. The offense was really good for Harper Woods in this game. The Pioneers will move on to have a rematch with Goodrich in the Division Four State Semifinals.

GROVES 21, Warren De LaSalle 19. Ryan Counts was the story on Friday night in Beverly Hills. Counts had two passing touchdowns (one was a very controversial touchdown) and a running score while the Falcons defensive line was the story in a 21-19 win over Warren De LaSalle. The touchdown in question was on a fourth and 16 there was a battle between Chris Little and the Warren De LaSalle player pushed Little out of bounds but Little came back in and caught the ball in bounds. It was originally called incomplete which would have been called illegal touching but the officials reversed it and called it a touchdown infuriating the Pilots. According to the replay it looked like Little was pushed out of bounds which if he’s pushed out of bounds by the defender then he can return to play without being penalized but if he went out on his own and came back on his own then it’s illegal touching which the replay showed Little was pushed out of bounds. The Counts to Little connection has been really good all season for Groves. The Falcons proved they can win against proven Catholic League powers and they will need to do it again when they play Orchard Lake St. Marys and former Stoney Creek Coach Nick Merlo (Merlo is the offensive coordinator for the Eaglets) in the Division Two State Semifinals.

ADAMS 21, Grand Blanc 14. The Highlanders overcame a ton of mistakes and a strong air raid attack from the Bobcats on Friday night. Adams got a key catch from backup quarterback Nolan Farris to Cameron Darwood which set up an eight yard touchdown from Matteo Humbert and the Highlanders defense held off Grand Blanc in a 21-14 win on Friday night. Humbert was really good all night for Adams. The Highlanders defense was really good all night shutting down a really good Bobcats offense despite allowing some yardage in the air. Adams will likely head west to play Hudsonville next week in the Division One State Semifinals.

8,000 Students and Educators to Explore In-Demand Careers

8,000 Students and Educators to Explore In-Demand Careers

8,000 Students and Educators to Explore In-Demand Careers at MiCareerQuest Southeast

Post Date:11/18/2024 3:29 PM
  • By the numbers: 8,000 students from 114 schools across six counties exploring 210 high-demand careers.
  • Students will explore careers in advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences and technology.
  • For more information, including a full list of exhibitors, visit OakGov.com/MiCareerQuestSE.

2023-MiCareerQuest-SoutheastPontiac, Mich. – MiCareerQuest Southeast, the region’s largest and most interactive career exploration event for high school students, returns for its fourth year on Tuesday, Nov. 19 at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi.

More than 8,000 students and educators from 114 schools across six Michigan counties are expected to attend this day-long event, featuring hands-on exhibits and insights into 210 high-demand careers in advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences, and technology.

Since its inception in 2018, MiCareerQuest Southeast has provided more than 20,000 students with an opportunity to engage directly with working professionals, explore various fields and gain practical insights into the skills needed for rewarding careers in southeast Michigan. It has become a signature experience for high school students and is highly regarded by educators and employers alike.

“MiCareerQuest Southeast is widely recognized as one of the most unique, interactive and educational field trips available to students each fall,” said Oakland County Executive David Coulter. “Our goal is to spark students’ curiosity about the diverse career opportunities in our region, opening doors to fields they may not have considered.”

According to recent data from the College Board, 80 percent of students nationwide seek more career exploration opportunities in high school, and 92 percent want careers aligned with their passions. MiCareerQuest Southeast aims to meet this need, helping students envision future pathways and equipping them with practical knowledge for the workforce.

“MiCareerQuest Southeast is an investment in the future of our students and our community,” said Oakland Schools Superintendent Kenneth Gutman. “It’s an invaluable experience that connects young people with real-world career opportunities, and we’re grateful to the educators, businesses, and industry partners who make it possible.”

At MiCareerQuest Southeast, students will rotate through four distinct career quadrants – advanced manufacturing, construction, health sciences and technology. Each quadrant showcases 25-30 occupations that are projected to see strong demand in the coming years across southeast Michigan.

Highlights of this year’s interactive exhibits include:

  • Advanced Manufacturing: Electric vehicle design, augmented reality welding, robot programming, CNC machining, and 3D additive manufacturing.
  • Construction: Hands-on demonstrations in masonry, carpentry, plumbing, and heavy machine operation simulators.
  • Health Sciences: Mock surgeries with life-like mannequins, physical therapy exercises, nutritionist presentations, and prosthetic design.
  • Technology: Computer software programming, augmented reality applications, and cybersecurity exercises.

“We’re excited to sponsor MiCareerQuest Southeast again this year,” said Tom Laco, lead technical recruiter at Mobis North America. “As a global leader in the automotive sector, Mobis is committed to supporting the development of future talent, particularly in emerging fields like autonomous driving, electrification, and software engineering.”

MiCareerQuest Southeast is exclusively open to pre-registered schools, with each group assigned a two-hour session based on their proximity to the venue. Sessions begin at 8:15 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 12:15 p.m., with students spending 30 minutes in each career quadrant.

Schools from across southeast Michigan, including Oakland, Macomb, Wayne, Monroe, Washtenaw and Livingston counties, will participate. Larger groups of students are expected from schools like Romeo High School (450 students), Oxford High School (425 students) and Fraser High School (400 students).

The event is organized by Oakland County Michigan Works! in collaboration with Michigan Works! agencies across southeast Michigan, the Oakland County Department of Economic Development, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, local education and economic development partners, and a number of labor organizations.

Key sponsors include presenting sponsors Oakland County Michigan Works!, Michigan Works! Macomb/St. Clair, Michigan Works! Southeast, SEMCA Michigan Works!, Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Magna and Mobis North America. Additional support comes from gold sponsors such as Oakland Community College, Macomb Community College and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, as well as several silver sponsors including Barton Malow, Trinity Health and Genisys Credit Union.

For more information, including a full list of exhibitors, visit OakGov.com/MiCareerQuestSE.