by orionontv | Jul 24, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION, Mich. – On Monday, July 22, 2024, the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce hosted their ninth annual Golf Outing fundraiser at the Paint Creek Golf Course.
Photo by ONTV
The sold-out event drew in dozens of businesses, as well as community leaders to the green in order to raise funds for the Chamber.
ONTV spoke to the President and CEO of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce, Joyce Donaldson, about the event and what local businesses’ continued support for the Chamber through these types of events means.
“We’re all out here today to raise funds for the Chamber and everyone is just having a great time,” Donaldson said. “Everybody is just happy to be, y’know… out on the golf course instead of in the office.”
41 different businesses headed out on the course on the day of the event in a scramble-start, but over 250 different businesses helped make this event possible.
Photo by ONTV
“We try to raise funds just basically to keep the Chamber doors open,” Donaldson said. “It helps fill our budget, but I think more than anything it just promotes camaraderie.”
Those who participated in the fundraiser that day were guests to a special breakfast feast – including drinks like Mimosas and Bloody Marys – as well as a bratwurst-filled lunch.
Businesses also had to opportunity to sponsor certain holes in order to promote themselves and maybe even give out prizes to golfers.
“The Chamber is awesome to work with they do a lot of great things in the community,” Drake Falconer, a representative for Union Home Mortgage in Rochester, Mich. said. “Everything that we have done with the chamber has gone off without a hitch, they always do something great, so we’re just happy to be here and be a part of the event today.”
Those who participated in the golf outing and helped raise funds for the Chamber that day had the chance to win prizes via a raffle. For those who golfed well enough and had the best score, they were given a trophy and declared champions for the day.
Photo by ONTV
The winners of this honor were Township Supervisor Chris Barnett, Dan Kelly, Sam Ashley and Jim Stevens. The ceremony was held during a dinner where all of the guests, sponsors and golfers gathered.
Overall, the Chambers Golf Outing was a successful event that not only helped raise funds for an important tenant in the community, but it also brought businesses, leaders, and residents alike together.
by orionontv | Jul 24, 2024 | Entertainment, Feature Writers, Music, Pop Culture
Claire Cottrill, a.k.a. “Clairo” has been making music for a little over a decade now, since she was sixteen. It has slowly evolved from meandering and derivative bedroom pop to dauntless and exciting soft rock with chamber pop elements. It’s an artistic evolution that I have seen take place since 2017, when I first listened to Clairo with her single, “Flaming Hot Cheetos.”
“Flaming Hot Cheetos” is the type of music I would have made if I was still in my teens, its catchy and kitschy, but so overwhelmingly endearing in its naiveté.
Following up that single is one of my favorite songs from Cottrill, “Pretty Girl,” it is simple yet oh-so catchy and has an ear-worm quality. The dulled Casio-keyboard hits mixed with Cottrill’s not-so-yet-honed vocals makes this DIY for sure, yet it also makes it in an odd sense, practical and professional.
“Diary 001,” Cottrill’s debut EP, which includes her 2017 singles, as well as “Immunity,” her 2019 debut with the hit song “Bags,” still bask in this youthful ignorance, both musically and lyrically.
However, with her next album, 2021’s “Sling,” and now her newest record released last week, “Charm,” Clairo has brought in both her lyrical and musical stylings which made her initially appealing and refined them down to a science.
“Charm” starts out with “Nomad,” small with twangy guitars and classic muffled drums and piano draw the listener in, then it rolls on ahead with a solid chorus and vocal backings by Cottrill.
“But I’d rather be alone than a stranger/You’d come visit me late at night/I’d rather wake up alone than be reminded/Of how it was a dream this time,” Clairo sings.
“Sexy to Someone” is the second track and was the lead single for “Charm.” “Sexy” is about the little things that people do in order to appeal not only to the masses (in the dating scene) but to themselves. It’s a positive, uplifting track that aims to empower not only women, but everyone who is hard on themselves.
This is a song that I could never imagine 18-year old Cottrill writing, however, now that Clairo is much older – it makes sense that she would eventually tackle this theme.
“Sexy to somebody, it would help me out/Oh, I need a reason to get out of the house/And it’s just a little thing I can’t live without,” Clairo sings on the second track.
The songs on this 11-track LP keep on moving on and each one of them are injected with Cottrill’s quirks: her laughs, lyrical musings, her somewhat hushed-yet-precise vocal stylings – it’s simply a cute album. (One might even say ‘charming’.)
My favorite tracks on the record are the pair of “Juna” and “Add Up My Love.” Both have catchy melodies and a very solid rhythm section to back them up. “Juna” has somewhat of an old-RnB or even a lounge music quality to it because it is so lax. “Add Up My Love.” By comparison, is a lot more upbeat but it is equally as good as its sister track.
My only complaint is that the album seems a little disjointed, the best tracks are at the beginning and besides “June” and “Add Up” occupying the middle spaces on seven and eight, there are no clear standout moments. Clairo is not exactly on auto-pilot in these moments, but she’s not exactly trying anything new and exciting here.
Nevertheless, “Charm” is a wonderful progression of Clairo’s comforting and youthful songwriting and composing. The hits may not be there, but as solid of an album as this is – I cannot complain.
by orionontv | Jul 24, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
OXFORD, Mich. – On Thursday, July 11, 2024, a delicious new restaurant, Shawarma House, was incorporated into the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Shawarma House opened its doors last year after Alex Baiz, one of the owners, and his family bought the restaurant and decided the Orion-Oxford area needed a little taste of the Mediterranean.
Restaurant exterior
Baiz’s and his family, who are from Dearborn, Mich., have owned multiple different restaurants in the past but this is their first venture into the Orion-Oxford area.
ONTV’s Lexi McKinney spoke to Baiz about his experience trying to open a restaurant and his time working with the chamber.
“We we’re trying to bring an authentic palette to the area,” Baiz said.
“We [have] a lot of different restaurants, this is the first time the community is actually very, very supportive,” Baiz said.
The Orion Area Chamber have been a vital part in this community, due to their continued support of local business – both small and large. Another aspect of the community that Baiz likes is the fact it is not only community-focused, but it is family-focused as well.
“This is a family area, that is what we’ve noticed. There’s a lot of families that come in,” Baiz said.
Guests, friends, family, and members of the chamber as well as board of trustees visited the restaurant during a brief open house where Shawarma House served platters of chicken, beef and lamb shawarma, as well as vegetables, salads and dips like hummus and garlic.
Photo by ONTV
Tasty would be an understatement, ONTV staff in particular were happy that a quality Mediterranean restaurant was a part of the community.
For more information about the Orion Area Chamber and their upcoming events, visit orionareachamber.com.
You can find Shawarma House at 1386 S Lapeer Rd, Oxford, Mich. To see Shawarma Houses’ menu in full and for more information about the restaurant, visit shawarmahousemi.com.
by orionontv | Jul 23, 2024 | Regional News
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July 23, 2024 |
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AG Nessel Commends Legislation to Combat Auto Thefts in Michigan Being Signed into Law
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LANSING – Today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel calls a significant step toward curbing auto thefts across the state. House Bill 5182, sponsored by state Representative Denise Mentzer, and House Bill 5183, sponsored by state Representative Alabas Farhat, impose stricter penalties for possessing traditional burglar tools or electronic devices intended to break into motor vehicles with the intent to steal. The new law classifies this offense as a 5-year felony, or a 10-year felony if part of a criminal enterprise.
“I commend Governor Whitmer and Representatives Mentzer and Farhat for their dedication to addressing auto thefts and protecting Michigan residents and businesses,” said Nessel. “By cracking down on the possession and illegal use of tools like pro pads, these bills represent a step toward enhancing our ability to prosecute and dismantle criminal organizations involved in these crimes. My department will aggressively enforce this new law in ongoing and future cases to ensure those who engage in this criminal activity are held accountable.”
In May, the Attorney General announced the arrest and charges of six individuals by the FORCE team, followed by two more arrests, for their alleged involvement in a criminal organization responsible for stealing over 400 vehicles worth approximately $8 million in Southeast Michigan. The criminal ring allegedly targeted new vehicle storage lots at manufacturing facilities, car dealerships, parking lots, and individual residences using pro pads, tablets that can unscramble key fobs, and other burglary tools.
This investigation into the alleged criminal organization remains ongoing, and the Department is working to establish cases against other members of the auto theft ring and buyers of the stolen vehicles.
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by orionontv | Jul 23, 2024 | Regional News
Oakland County launches first-of-its-kind student debt relief initiative in partnership with Savi
Post Date:07/22/2024 12:02 PM
July 22, 2024, Pontiac, Mich. – Oakland County is helping to alleviate the financial burdens of student debt for Oakland County residents. The Oakland County Student Debt Relief Initiative, established by the Board of Commissioners in collaboration with County Executive Dave Coulter’s administration, will create an innovative partnership with Savi, a social impact company dedicated to lowering student loan payments and facilitating the loan forgiveness process for borrowers.
The Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution at its July 18 meeting to allocate up to $500,000 for the program, which is led by Chair David T. Woodward (D-Royal Oak) and Commissioner Brendan Johnson (D-Rochester Hills). This agreement will ensure that all county residents and employees with student loan debt will have access to Savi’s services for one year at no cost.
“Reducing student debt is a crucial step towards promoting economic prosperity and alleviating financial stress for our residents,” said Johnson, who carries college debt. “This initiative demonstrates our commitment to supporting the future of Oakland County.”
Savi’s platform is designed to help borrowers throughout the entire journey of their loan, from assisting them in finding new repayment or forgiveness options to enrolling them into the plans and providing ongoing support if they run into any issues with their student loan servicer. Today, Oakland County has 172,000 residents who collectively carry $6 billion in student debt. Through Savi’s platform, residents can potentially save thousands of dollars in student loan payments.
“Oakland County is committed to providing meaningful financial relief to our residents,” Coulter said. “This partnership with Savi will make a real difference in reducing the student debt burden and enhancing the economic well-being of our community.”
Tobin Van Ostern, the co-founder of Savi, agrees with Coulter about the impact this partnership will have across the community.
“Oakland County is leading the way for the nation when it comes to helping residents with student loan debt. We are humbled to be a part of Oakland County’s Student Debt Relief Initiative that will help thousands of residents tackle one of the biggest financial burdens millions of Americans face: student loans,” said Van Ostern. “Through this partnership, Oakland County residents will have the ability to quickly find and maximize savings through their new repayment and forgiveness options.”
Student debt in America has soared to exceed $1.6 trillion, exceeding credit card debt and trailing only mortgage debt. In Oakland County, thousands of residents face this growing financial challenge.
“The Oakland County Student Debt Relief Initiative represents a significant milestone as the first county-wide program of its kind in the United States, setting a precedent for other counties to follow,” Woodward said.
Recent executive actions by the Biden-Harris Administration, including the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan and the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, have expanded opportunities for debt forgiveness and reduction.
“We applaud Oakland County leaders for initiating this opportunity for its residents,” said Glenn McIntosh, senior vice president for student affairs and chief diversity officer for Oakland University, where the announcement was held. “This initiative demonstrates a strong commitment to enhancing the well-being of our community. We are excited to see the positive impact it will have on the lives of Oakland County residents.”
To date, Savi has identified over $3 billion in loan forgiveness, with an average forgiveness amount of $25,553 for qualifying borrowers.
A public dashboard will be developed and made accessible on the county’s website. It will showcase the benefits and impact of the Oakland County Student Debt Relief Initiative for residents and employees.
For more information about the Board of Commissioners, please visit OakGov.com/BOC or call 248-858-0100.
