by orionontv | May 23, 2024 | Recreation
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News Digest – ‘Summer safety’ smarts
Planning a Memorial Day weekend trip? Make sure you’re prepared. Check out safety tips below!
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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.
Summer temperatures are here, and the water is calling! Many state parks, but not all, offer swim areas identified by buoys or markers, a beach flag warning system and water depth less than 5 feet at the time of installation. Before you jump in, make sure to keep safety in mind, especially on big water. Remember the Great Lakes are large, powerful water systems that hold more than 20% of the world’s fresh water. Strong currents can catch even the most experienced swimmer off guard.
To keep everyone safe, follow these must-know tips:
- Check weather conditions and beach flags in buoyed swim areas (double-red flags = water access closed, red flag = high hazard, yellow flag = medium hazard, green flag = low hazard). By law, you cannot enter the water from the beach when double-red flags are flying or if otherwise directed.
- Choose buoyed swim areas located in state parks. Swim areas offer additional safety measures and visual cautions. It’s important to note that not all state parks have designated swim areas.
- Never swim alone, especially children.
- Keep close watch on children and weaker swimmers: Stay within arm’s reach, have them wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets, be conscious of their limits and take breaks frequently.
- Be aware of water temperatures. Water can be much colder than the ambient air temperature might suggest, especially in larger bodies of water like the Great Lakes. Sudden immersion and/or sustained time in cold water can cause cold shock, making it hard to breathe and increasing your risk of drowning.
Learn more about these beach safety tips, including information about the benefits of buoyed swim areas, the beach flag warning system, how to spot (and escape) Great Lakes currents and more at Michigan.gov/BeachSafety.
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Summer is the season of grills, campfires, sparklers and fireworks, and with hotter, dryer weather comes fire season. To protect people, wildlife and landscapes, it’s important to follow fire safety tips and be prepared in case your fire does something unpredictable.
Here are some basic safety guidelines:
- When making a campfire, build it in a ring or pit. Never leave a fire unattended, even for a moment. When you’re done, douse your fire thoroughly with water, stir and douse again.
- When using fireworks, keep a hose handy and make sure to soak used sparklers in water before discarding them. Never shoot fireworks into dry grass, brush or trees. When barbecuing, never leave the grill unattended and keep a water source nearby.
- If you are planning work, not play, for your holiday weekend, make sure your yard cleanup is safe. When towing trailers or equipment, ensure tow chains don’t drag and cause sparks, and avoid using heavy machinery like lawnmowers in dry areas. Always keep a water source handy.
- Debris burning is the top cause of wildfires in Michigan. Check whether burn permits are being issued or if weather conditions allow for safe burning before you burn. Check the burn permit page or call 866-922-BURN (866-922-2876) for more information.
- Use firewise landscaping tips at home, too, to maintain a safe space around your house. Trim low branches, remove dead vegetation and keep firewood piles a safe distance away.
Nine out of 10 wildfires are caused by people. If you see a fire grow out of control, call 911 immediately. Swift action can save lives.
For more information, visit Michigan.gov/FireSafety.
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Off-road vehicles are fun year-round, but ORV activity ramps up in spring and summer as people head to Michigan trails and ORV scramble areas to enjoy world-class riding experiences.
Keeping safety in mind is vital on any ride, for you and others. According to 2023 statewide ORV crash data, 93% of ORV fatalities could have been prevented. These crashes were primarily due to excessive speed and a lack of helmet/seat belt use.
“Always ride within your and the machine’s capabilities,” said Cpl. Mike Hearn, DNR law enforcement ORV and snowmobile specialist. “When operators ride too fast, they are more likely to lose control when they hit even the smallest bump, try to make turns or stop. Riding sober and at a safe speed are the best ways to stay safe.”
All ORV operators are urged to “Ride Right” and keep this important guidance in mind:
- Operate within the limits of your ORV and your own capabilities.
- Ride at a safe speed.
- Ride sober.
- Ride on the right side of the trail.
- Keep lights on when riding.
- Always wear a helmet.
Do your part to ensure everyone returns home safely; read more about ORV safety at Michigan.gov/RideRight. For more on where to ride and ORV laws in Michigan, visit Michigan.gov/ORVInfo.
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Just in time for the holiday weekend, the DNR and McDonald’s of Michigan are teaming up to encourage young boaters to wear their life jackets this summer.
Now through Labor Day, conservation officers will pass out coupons for a free McDonald’s ice-cream cone or apple slice package (valid at participating McDonald’s locations) to youth boaters who are seen properly wearing a life jacket.
“We’re excited to partner with McDonald’s on this boating safety campaign to remind parents to encourage their children to wear life jackets,” said Lt. Tom Wanless. “It’s easy to get distracted on the water, and making sure your child wears a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket is one of the easiest safety precautions you can take.”
According to the most recent U.S. Coast Guard statistics, 75% of boating deaths are due to drowning, and 85% of those victims were not wearing a life jacket.
If you’re planning to be on or near the water this weekend – or at all this summer – take time before you leave shore to ensure you are prepared for a water emergency:
- Complete an accredited boater safety education program.
- Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Leave a float plan with someone on shore.
- Boat sober.
- Stay alert for swimmers, wildlife, other boaters, escaped fish nets and debris floating near the surface of the water.
- Make sure your vessel is in good operating condition and pack basic safety gear, including life jackets, a first-aid kit, fire extinguisher, tow rope and anchor.
- Carry a cell phone or marine radio.
- Pack water, snacks and weather-appropriate clothing in case you become stranded.
Keep in mind that current water temperatures throughout the state are still chilly, increasing the risk for hypothermia.
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The 2024 North American wildfire season is underway and warmer weather is increasing the risk of higher ozone levels.
In case you missed it, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is suggesting Michigan residents take steps to protect themselves from risks related to poor air quality.
Monitor the air quality index on the AirNow website, or sign up for alerts through the EnviroFlash system. Keep an eye on the news and weather and be prepared in case of smoke.
Before a wildfire smoke event, MDHHS recommends you:
- Familiarize yourself with your forced air HVAC system or your window air conditioning unit. If it has a fresh-air intake or outdoor air damper, you will need to close it during a smoke event.
- Ensure you have replacement air filters that are rated MERV-13 or higher.
- Consider purchasing a portable air cleaner. If you don’t have one, you can make a do-it-yourself air filter.
- Help neighbors and family members plan for possible wildfire smoke.
- If you have asthma or other respiratory illnesses, heart disease, diabetes or another health condition that may make you more sensitive to wildfire smoke, talk to your health care provider ahead for guidance.
- Children under 18, anyone over the age of 60, pregnant people and outdoor workers are also more at risk. Talk to your health care provider ahead of time to make a plan.
Find more information on the MDHHS Your Health and Wildfire Smoke page. |
 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 Ryan Burger Devries, for the Michigan DNR, at Grand Haven State Park in Ottawa County).
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A safe cookout starts with safe food practices. Keep food safety tips in mind, especially around cleaning, storage and cooking preparation.
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Many outdoor recreation opportunities require a safety certificate; check out available safety and education programs to brush up on your safety skills.
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by orionontv | May 23, 2024 | Feature Writers, News
ORION TOWNSHIP – On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, Orion Township Supervisor Chris Barnett visited Wally Edgar Chevrolet on Lapeer Rd. to take ownership of one Chevrolet Silverado EV, with this purchase, Orion Township becomes one of the first municipalities in Michigan to add an electric vehicle to its fleet.
This purchase of a Silverado EV was made possible by an energy efficiency grant through the federal government.
This model came from GM’s Factory Zero Hamtramck Assembly Center; however, GM’s Orion Plant is undergoing modifications to be able to mass produce the same type of vehicle.
ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke to Supervisor Barnett about the purchase and what this means for Orion Township.
“So obviously, the big news came out a year and a half ago, a little over a year ago I guess, when Mary Barra announced that they were going to produce the Chevy EV Silverado right here in Orion Township at Orion Assembly, effectively doubling the size of the four million square foot plant to eight million square feet, bringing thousands of new jobs and we have been on a high ever since,” Barnett said.
ONTV also spoke to Justin Edgar, the pre-owned vehicle manager at Wally Edgar Chevrolet, about the Silverado EV at large and what this means for the future.
“We’re excited to see what comes in, in the next couple of months to the next couple of years,” Edgar said. “There’s going to be a lot more infrastructure coming in the next three, four, five years.”
Supervisor Barnett has made it clear that the future government vehicle fleet for Orion Township will be all electric – an exciting prospect and a bold challenge.
“We will be, a Chevy Silverado EV fleet, as long as I’m here,” Barnett said.
You can visit Wally Edgar Chevrolet at 3805 Lapeer Rd. (M24). For more information about the new Chevrolet Silverado EV, visit chevrolet.com/electric/silverado-ev.
by orionontv | May 23, 2024 | Feature Writers, News
ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – The Michigan Green Communities program has recognized Orion Township in their participation in the Michigan Green Communities Challenge. Over 60 local governments were awarded either bronze, silver or gold in their achievements in climate adaptation and resilience, environmental justice, recycling, energy efficiency and more.
Out of the 62 governments awarded, seven received bronze certification, 20 received silver certification and 35 received gold certification.
Orion Township received gold certification is multiple areas: economic development, land use, climate resilience, climate adaptation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, materials management (recycling, composting, waste diversion), water conservation and protection, and community engagement.
According to a press release from the office of Chris Barnett, Supervisor of the Board of Trustees of Orion Township, “Most remarkable was Orion Township’s demonstrated increase in quantity and quality of both commercial and recreational development, while also increasing investment in and improvement of local parks and nature reserves all while prioritizing and enhancing community social, financial, environmental, and physical wellbeing. Examples include General Motor’s Orion Assembly, Orion Township’s purchase of Great Lakes Athletic Club and their investing in and re-visioning of the space into a community recreation center, upgraded and renovated several sewer lift stations and other waste management measures resulting in a 20% reduction in household disposal since 2020, and over $3 million invested in Orion Parks and trails.”
The Michigan Green Communities (MGC) program is a sustainability networking, benchmarking and technical assistance program open to all local Michigan governments at no cost.
According to the press release, “Michigan Green Communities is supported by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services; the Michigan Economic Development Corporation; the Michigan Association of Counties; the Michigan Municipal League; and the Michigan Townships Association. More details about this program can be found at www.migreencommunities.com.”
Additional questions regarding the Michigan Green Communities program can be directed to Danielle Beard, Michigan Green Communities Program Coordinator at [email protected].
by orionontv | May 23, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION, Mich. – The weekend of May 17, 18 and 19 welcomed back the Lake Orion Art & Flower Fair to downtown Lake Orion once again, the now 24-year old tradition of bringing beautiful flowers, many unique forms of art, family friendly activities and music to the streets of Flint and Broadway continued this year.
Photo By Joe Johnson
Before the Saturday and Sunday market opened up, a “Mystery Art Stroll” was put on 6 p.m., as well as a beer tent and live music an hour later to kick off the festivities.
Over 100 vendors were present in downtown Lake Orion this time, it was a great opportunity for artists to showcase and sell their work alongside the multitude of options folks had for picking out the perfect addition to their floral home-décor or garden.
The warm weather and fair skies made for a tremendous and record-breaking turn-out as four to five thousand people gathered to participate in the festivities, the event helped to support the Orion Art Center in their mission.
The Downtown Development Authority (DDA) used to run the fair, however, for four years now, the Orion Art Center has made this their show. Proceeds collected from the fair help run their artistic and community-based classes throughout the year.
Photo By Joe Johnson
On the 18th and the 19th, flowers bloomed from block to block, stunning framed paintings covered dozens of tents and there was even handmade art from recycled materials present at the event – the Orion area community’s talent shined through this weekend. ONTV’s Lexi McKinney talked to some of these talented artists and creators on Saturday about what inspires them and what they thought about the event.
“I’m so glad I could do this show,” one vendor from Clinton Township said. “It makes me feel relaxed when I do them, it gives me motivation.”
Art work shares stories and brings people together, this was made evident in another vendor ONTV talked to Saturday.
“What it does for me is I get out and I get to relate to people of all different walks of life, which is amazing,” a vendor named Joe Cilluffo said.
ONTV also talked to Holly Nicosia, executive director of the Orion Art Center about the event, as well as Monica Squarcia, a member of the Board of Directors at the Orion Art Center.
“This is one of our biggest fundraisers for the Orion Art Center and we love bringing the community out here and that’s one of our missions at the Art Center is bring creativity into the community, so it’s just a perfect way to get people into our beautiful downtown area…” Nicosia said. “It’s just a great community event all-around.”
Photo By Joe Johnson
Overall, the Lake Orion Art and Flower Fair was a great time for all, vendors and participants alike.
“I’m so proud of all the beautiful art tents we have, they’re looking fantastic,” Squarcia said.
The weekend was also a great way to tease and get a sneak peak into the 15th annual Dragon on the Lake Festival, August 23rd through the 25th.
For more information about the Orion Art Center, visit orionartcenter.org, and for more information about the upcoming Dragon on the Lake festival, visit dragononthelake.com.
by orionontv | May 23, 2024 | Entertainment, Feature Writers, Music, Pop Culture
Serene, calm and commanding. The atmosphere that 22-year old Billie Eillish brings about on her third studio album, “HIT ME HARD AND SOFT,” is absolutely divine – especially on the first track, “SKINNY.”
The quaint guitar, bass, and strings on that track completely entrance the listener into Billie’s world: one of heartbreak but also one of curiosity and inspiration.
The effortless transition into the next track, “LUNCH,” a silky and seductive banger that explores themes of Billie’s newfound queerness and her willingness to dive right into pleasure is a theme that is not foreign to pop songs, however, Billie’s sincereness and excitement with the subject makes me believe that this is a topic that she has wanted to tackle for a while now.
The lyricism and on-the-nose stylistic leanings of Billie is not just with her, but with her brother and sole producer of the record, Finneas, as well.
The crisp yet subdued bass lines are absolutely perfect for this record and its atmosphere. Billie, like she is in the cover, is completely submerged in water, however, she still is floating, a feeling directly felt in the next track, “CHIHIRO.”
Back to the lyrics and how they fit in with the theming of the record, Billie sings in “CHIHIRO,” “Open up the door, can you open up the door?/I know you said before you can’t cope with any more/You told me it was war, said you’d show me what’s in store/I hope it’s not for sure, can you open up the door?.”
In this track, Billie is struggling with not only this newfound sexuality and queerness, but she is also struggling with this new relationship she has found herself in.
Billie could even be read as borderline obsessive, with those themes carrying over into the eighth track, “THE DINER.”
“I’m waitin’ on your block (I’m waitin’ on your block)/But please don’t call the cops/They’ll make me stop/And I just wanna talk (I just wanna talk).”
Some would speculate that this verse reads as Billie musing from the perspective of one of her crazed stalkers, however, I interpret it as an analogy to her own loving obsession over the subject of the album’s story. I also view it as a sister track to “CHIHIRO,” showcasing the darker side to new love: obsession.
“HIT ME HARD AND SOFT” also has its grander moments, like in “THE GREATEST” and “BITTERSUITE.” The booming rock instrumental passages and vocals of Billie hit in both of those tracks, the latter of which shocked me with the fact that it has three tonal changes.
The last track, “BLUE,” is a synthy, cold but uplifting track about heartbreak and how you can move on from it.
“I try (I’m not what) to live in black and white, but I’m so blue (But I’m not what you need)/I’d like (Not what you need) to mean it when I say I’m over you/But that’s still not true, true.”
Then, the track fades out and fades in again for a soft, beautiful piano ballad about their past lover’s upbringing and how they are inherently more similar than she’d like to think.
The strings carry the track out and it fades, but not before we hear, “But when can I hear the next one,” referencing another album on the way soon, (or it could just be a plain tease to her fanbase.)
Overall, Billie Eillish’s gorgeous and stylistic new album stunned and shocked me, in all the best ways. She continues to make records equally as good as the last and has continued to carve her place in the pop-culture zeitgeist for years to come.
