by orionontv | Jun 27, 2024 | Transportation
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Oakland County Applauds New SMART Bus Route 759 to Serve Key Communities Along Highland Road/M-59
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Pontiac, Mich., June 27, 2024 – Oakland County is pleased to announce the launch of a new fixed bus route, SMART Bus Route 759, which began operating this week. This route will provide essential public transportation services along Highland Road/M-59, connecting the City of Auburn Hills, the City of Pontiac, Waterford Township, and White Lake Township.
Route 759 will operate 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays offering convenient and reliable transportation for work, school, shopping, and more.
“The launch of SMART Bus Route 759 marks a significant step forward in improving transportation options for our residents,” said Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter. “This new route opens up opportunities to reach key destinations for jobs, education, shopping and recreational opportunities along the M-59 corridor. “
Key destinations along Route 759 include Oakland University, Waterford Michigan Works! Office, Pontiac High School, McLaren Oakland Hospital, Oakland County International Airport, and the Meijer stores at Pontiac Lake and Bogie Lake roads.
“In 2022, when the people of Oakland County said ‘yes’ to enhanced mobility and access, SMART listened,” said SMART General Manager Dwight Ferrell. “And we’ve been listening ever since. We are engaging community voices through our SMARTer Mobility Program and using what we learn to create a stronger, more responsive, better integrated and more accessible transit system throughout southeast Michigan.”
The establishment of Route 759 is part of Oakland County’s ongoing efforts to expand public transportation, made possible by the public transportation millage approved by voters in November 2022.
For more information about Route 759 and other SMART services, please visit www.smartmovesus.org or call 866.962.5515.
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by orionontv | Jun 27, 2024 | Recreation
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News Digest – Week of June 24, 2024
Learn how to find and identify mushrooms, forage for wild edibles and more during July events.
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| Here are a few of this week’s stories from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources:
See other news releases, Showcasing the DNR stories, photos and other resources at Michigan.gov/DNRPressRoom.
PHOTO FOLDER: Larger, higher-res versions of some of the images used below, and others, are available in this folder.
 From gutters to mailboxes, birds can choose inconvenient, silly – and sometimes dangerous – places to nest. If you come across such a predicament, what can you do?
First, it’s important to recognize that birds often will abandon their nests and eggs if they have been moved. It’s also good to know that outside of a few exceptions, most species (and their eggs and nests) are federally protected. While it can be inconvenient, the best and recommended course of action in the majority of cases is to leave the nest be until the eggs hatch and the young leave the nest.
To help determine next steps if you do stumble across a bird nest in a bad spot, explore our quick guide to bird nest conflicts across the Great Lakes for the different rules and regulations protecting these nests.
This guide is brought to you by MI Birds, a public outreach and education program by Audubon Great Lakes and the Michigan DNR. MI Birds aims to bridge the divide and deepen all Michiganders’ engagement in the understanding, care and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities.
Questions? Contact Erin Ford at 313-820-0809. (Robin photo above courtesy Dori Eldridge, Audubon Photography Awards.) |
 Summer is officially here, and so are opportunities to learn more about Michigan’s natural and cultural resources. Here are just a few events coming up on the DNR’s July calendar:
July Fourth celebrations
Several locations across the state will host Independence Day celebrations. Some events are for campers only, but others – including the following – are open to the public.
Fish and feathers
July is a great time to learn more about fish and birds in Michigan. Warmer waters and winds make great conditions for birdwatching and fishing, and it’s always a good time to brush up those skills and learn more about these species.
Join Outdoor Skills Academy pro-staff July 6-7 for a beginners fly fishing clinic or attend one of the upcoming classes from the Outdoor Adventure Center: Get Hooked on Fishing July 14 and July 21, or Freshwater Fishing Series: Trout July 14.
Head to Indian Lake State Park July 18 and Palms Book State Park July 19 for a state park turkey tour, where you can learn about wild turkey conservation and hunting heritage. At the Rifle River Recreation Area July 19 and Bay City State Park July 26, learn about firearm safety and efforts from Pheasants Forever to restore habitat for these exciting game species. |
Outdoor learning
The Outdoor Adventure Center in Detroit has an excellent lineup for all ages this month, hosting opportunities to get up close and personal with Michigan species, get outdoors and learn a new skill like archery. Here are just a few classes offered this month:
Plus, don’t miss out on upcoming Outdoor Skills Academy clinics – classes in July will cover wild mushroom identification, bear hunting and survival, bushcraft and wild edibles.
Find more exciting events and opportunities like these across Michigan on the DNR’s events calendar. |
 Last month we announced Michigan’s participation in the Midwest Walleye Challenge – a partnership between the DNR and MyCatch by Angler’s Atlas that invited residents to fish inland waters not just for the fun of it, but also to net some prizes and help the DNR collect valuable data about walleye populations.
This year’s challenge is part of a larger fisheries research project funded by the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. Michigan anglers compete only against Michigan anglers for prizes, while all catches from across the Midwest qualify for the grand-prize drawings at the end of the event.
There’s still time to register for the challenge, which closes Sunday, June 30. You can choose the free entry option to qualify for noncash prizes or pay the $25 fee to qualify for all prizes, including cash payouts. Full details about prizes and qualifications are available on the prizes tab of the main event webpage.
Nervous about giving up your secret fishing spot? Don’t worry; the MyCatch mobile app maintains anonymous location data, so DNR fisheries biologists are able to get valuable information – generalized lake and river catch data entered via the app – while no detailed catch location are shared.
Questions? For all technical/operational information about the challenge, email Angler’s Atlas at events@anglersatlas.com. For more on Michigan’s walleye fishery and statewide management, contact Seth Herbst at HerbstS1@Michigan.gov. |
 See more pictures by Michigan state parks photo ambassadors at Instagram.com/MiStateParks. For more on the program, call Stephanie Yancer at 989-274-6182. (This photo is by Paul Massie, for the Michigan DNR, at South Higgins Lake State Park in Roscommon County.)
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Study up on foraging knowledge and rules before heading outdoors. Many edible species are found in the wild, just make sure you know how to enjoy safely. |
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The Recreation Passport is your ticket to year-round fun, giving you motorized vehicle access to many state-managed recreation areas and helping support the parks system. Win-win!
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Spotted lanternfly – an invasive species – was detected for the second time in Michigan. Wondering how to help? Remember: “See it, squish it, report it!”
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by orionontv | Jun 26, 2024 | Lake Orion Schools
LOCS Superintendent Search Update
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June 26, 2024
Dear LOCS Community-
The Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education has selected five candidates to interview for the vacant Superintendent position. Interviews will be held on Wednesday and Thursday, July 17 and 18.
“Thank you to all the candidates who applied for the Superintendent position,” said LOCS Board of Education President Danielle Bresett. “We deeply appreciate the time and effort dedicated to this process. Each candidate brought a wealth of experience and a profound commitment to educational excellence. Their contributions have greatly enriched our selection process, and we are excited about the promising future ahead for LOCS.”
The interview schedule (meetings will begin at 4:55 p.m.):
- July 17-18 LOCS Board of Education will conduct first-round interviews with five candidates. The interview schedule (Board of Education public meetings will start at 4:55 p.m.):
- July 17
- 5 p.m. Heidi Mercer, Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, Lake Orion Community Schools
- 6 p.m. Meghan Ashkanani, Director of Teaching, Learning, and Technology, Berkley School District
- 7 p.m. Catherine Kochanski, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Walled Lake Consolidated Schools
- July 18
- 5 p.m. Kenneth Janczarek, Superintendent, Clintondale Community Schools
- 6 p.m. Todd Bidlack, Assistant Superintendent of Learning Services, Bloomfield Hills Schools
All interviews are open to the public and will be held in the board room of the LOCS Administration Building, located at 315 N. Lapeer St., Lake Orion, MI 48362.
After each interview, the public will have the opportunity to provide written feedback to the Board on the candidates. Interviews will not be live-streamed but will be recorded and available for viewing at LakeOrionSchools.org/SuperintendentSearch following the interviews.
Candidates were selected from a field of 18 applicants.
At the conclusion of the interviews on July 18, the Board will determine which candidates to invite back for a second round of interviews.
All updates will continue to be posted on the LOCS Superintendent Search page.
Sincerely,
LOCS Administration
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by orionontv | Jun 26, 2024 | Transportation
Blue Water Bridge eastbound span project update
Fast facts:
- The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) expects to complete maintenance on the eastbound span of the Blue Water Bridge (BWB) in mid-October.
- Both directions of traffic are currently using the westbound bridge.
- Wide loads are restricted to less than 10 feet and dedicated lanes are not being provided for buses.
- Through the remainder of construction, the Pine Grove Avenue ramp to the toll plaza will be closed 9 a.m. Thursdays – 9 a.m. Saturdays.
PORT HURON, Mich. - The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has closed the eastbound span of the Blue Water Bridge (BWB) to complete critical maintenance, expected to be finished in mid-October. This project is managed by MDOT and will address required maintenance on the eastbound BWB span connecting Port Huron, Michigan, and Point Edward, Ontario.
During construction, both directions of traffic will be using the westbound span.
To reduce traffic congestion and improve safety on BWB and in the city of Port Huron, MDOT is closing the Pine Grove Avenue ramp to the toll plaza every Thursday at 9 a.m. until every Saturday at 9 a.m. throughout the rest of construction. This ramp closure will prevent congestion from impacting local streets in the community during peak travel times for bridge users. Pine Grove Avenue ramp traffic will be detoured via Pine Grove Avenue, westbound Hancock Street, westbound I-94, southbound Range Road, and eastbound I-94 to the BWB Plaza.
MDOT will continue to provide a dedicated toll lane for EDGE pass holders.
While MDOT completes this critical maintenance, the Federal Bridge Corporation Limited (FBCL) will address additional repairs on the eastbound span, much of which is occurring under the bridge deck. MDOT and FBCL are working closely to coordinate work and closures, reducing continual impact on commuters.
BWB customers should expect the following impacts for the remainder of construction:
- Dedicated lanes for buses are not being provided.
- Wide loads are being restricted to less than 10 feet.
The BWB is an essential economic link between Canada and the United States. This important project continues the commitment between MDOT and FBCL to maintain and preserve the safety and reliability of the BWB.
For more information:
Dave Smith
MDOT BWB
810-434-3274
SmithD134@Michigan.gov
Jocelyn Garza
MDOT Office of Communications
989-245-7117
GarzaJ10@Michigan.gov
by orionontv | Jun 25, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION, Mich. — On the days of Thursday, June 20 through Sunday, June 23, 2024m the Lake Orion Chapter of the Lions Club threw their annual Summer Jubilee celebration. This celebration primarily acts as a fundraiser for the Lake Orion Lions Club, proceeds from the fundraising go to charitable organizations and causes throughout the community.
The Lions Club International Foundation is a charitable and humanitarian organization that gives back to their chapters’ communities through fundraising, volunteering and more. The Lake Orion Chapter started in 1938, according to their website, lakeorionlions.org.
The Lions Club have hosted this event for more than 50 years throughout Lake Orion’s history, with each event seemingly getting bigger than the last.
ONTV intern Lexi McKinney spoke to Roger Brodeur, a member of the Lake Orion Lions Club, at the event about the impact of the Club on the local community.
“It’s one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, between this and our auction in November, we raise a lot of money to help our community… ,” Brodeur said.
Photo by Joe Johnson
According to Brodeur, the proceeds from the auction and the jubilee events go towards buying mass quantities of food in order to pack it all up and deliver about “2-3 weeks” worth of food to needy families.
“You’ll see me at some point, just standing there, looking around and I’m just grinning from ear to ear every year that the number of people that are just having fun… it just makes me feel good because I know we’re raising a lot of money to help others,” Brodeur said.
The main form of activities in the Jubilee are the carnival, with rides, games and tons of fun for kids, and the beer tent, with live music, drinks, and dancing for adults.
Many in the community also take this opportunity to reunite with distant and close relatives and simply have a good time.
ONTV asked festival-goers what they thought of the festivities going on during the weekend.
“I think it is a really great way to connect with the community and hang out with your friends while also donating to the Lions Club,” a community member, Paige Wied said.
Another member of the community Charlie Ghazal, said that the jubilee is “one of the best traditions here in Lake Orion.”
Finally, ONTV spoke to Lake Orion resident Cheryl Tront about what the jubilee means to the community.
“It’s very family-oriented, always something to do, always something different…” Tront said. “It’s a great place for kids growing up.”
For more information about events like these hosted by the Lake Orion Lions Club, visit their website at lakeorionlions.org.
