Lake Orion Celebrates Memorial Day 2024

Lake Orion Celebrates Memorial Day 2024

by | May 29, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers

LAKE ORION, Mich. – Memorial Day festivities were put on throughout Lake Orion on Monday, May 27. Events for that day included the Orion Veterans Memorial 5k and 5-Mile Run/Walk, ceremonies to honor those who gave their lives in the line of duty, as well as the Memorial Day parade that took place downtown.

At the start of the day at 9 a.m., representatives of the American Legion Post 233 gathered at Eastlawn Cemetery on Orion Rd. for a memorial observance. Ladies’ Auxiliary President Sandi Boyd placed a wreath at the World War Veterans Monument to honor those who gave their lives while defending their country. At the same time, at Children’s Park in downtown Lake Orion, over 350 participants gathered for the 6th annual Orion Veterans Memorial Race.

Photo by Joe Johnson

ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke to Jenny Bhatti, the Orion Township Communications & Engagement Specialist, before the start of the race about the running conditions and what this means to the community.

“Set up was interesting this year,” Bhatti said. “We had some giant puddles along our way and some pouring rain but the course is still beautiful and the runners are going to enjoy it.”

Gray, overcast skies draped over the course for the race, however, aside from the occasional drizzle and wet spot, runners were keen to start the race. This particular event is a fundraiser for the Orion Veterans Memorial and they have been putting on this race since 2017.

“We’re out here today for the Veterans Memorial, this is the only fundraiser they do, and all of the proceeds from this go towards the long-term sustainability of the beautiful memorial right there on Odanah and M-24.

At 9 a.m., the 5-mile race began, and 15-minutes later, the 5k runners headed to the starting line.

The first runner to cross the finish line this year was none other than Lake Orion’s Alexander Pollack, who was also the winner of the Dragon Dash 5k race at the Orion Center the previous weekend. Pollack pushed his two kids in a stroller to win with a time of 19 minutes and 28 seconds.

Photo by Joe Johnson

“We just like getting a good workout in and seeing people in the community getting out and about and enjoying the town,” Pollack said.

The first woman to cross the finish line was 17-year old Leah Zarrilli of Rochester Hills, who finished with a time of 21 minutes and 39 seconds. ONTV spoke to Zarrilli about why she spent her time this morning participating in the memorial day race in Lake Orion.

“To run with my friends and family and to honor those who have served our country,” Zarrilli said.

Like Pollack, sometimes participants race with unconventional gear or equipment, one of those runners was Lake Orion native Eddie Cromwell, who raced with a 35-pound ruck sack. ONTV’s Lexi McKinney spoke to Cromwell after the race and asked him why he raced today.

“It makes me feel great, to know that there’s people who are willing to come out and be able to run and to show support to people who have served our country and who have given their lives to fight for the freedom of America – it is such a great thing,” Cromwell said.

Everyone who crossed the finish line received a medal for participating in the race and supporting the local veteran community. VFW Post 334 Commander Jim Hubbard was busy handing our American flags in the drizzling rain to runners and walkers who completed the course.

Photo by Joe Johnson

When the race concluded, participants were invited to a ceremony hosted by the American Legion Post 223. Veterans and members of the community gathered together to dedicate some time to those who have served our country. Post Commander Steve Hauxwell commenced the ceremony with a heartfelt speech, afterwards, Ladies’ Auxiliary President Sandi Boyd then dropped a wreath into Paint Creek to honor those who lost their lives at sea.

 

ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke to Hauxwell about the ceremony that took place and how the community came together to honor the fallen soldiers.

“This is done for those folks who have given their lives for us,” Hauxwell said “This is very special to us.”

Following the ceremony, at 11 a.m., residents and members of the Orion area community lined the streets of downtown Lake Orion to view the Memorial Day Parade. The event started at Blanche Sims Elementary and took the marchers through Jackson, Flint and North Broadway streets. At the start of the parade, Hauxwell introduced the Legion’s Veteran of the Year, Oxford native and Army Veteran Bill Quinn.

Photo by Joe Johnson

The parade consisted of not only veterans and members of the community, but also the Cub Scouts, military vehicles and the Lake Orion Dragon Marching Band.

The final ceremony of Lake Orion’s Memorial Day events took place at 1 p.m. at the Orion Veterans Memorial. Bob Smith, the Chairman of the Orion Veterans Memorial, was the emcee for the event. Smith welcomed the crowd in attendance and introduced retired US Navy Captain Matthew Butkis, who delivered the memorial day address.

Afterwards, VFW Post 334 Commander Jim Hubbard introduced 2024’s honored veteran retired US Air Force Lt. Colonel Cynthia Wright.

To conclude the ceremony, the names of those who have lost their lives in every conflict since the Civil War, each followed by a bell toll. Then, a gun salute and the playing of the taps took place to close the event.

The Orion Veterans Memorial is on 312 S Broadway Street and is open every day to those who want to visit. For more information visit orionveteransmemorial.com.

Bipartisanship necessary for Farm Bill communities deserve

Bipartisanship necessary for Farm Bill communities deserve

by | May 29, 2024 | Regional News

Image
Hi there,

Last week I told you about the National Defense Authorization Act – known in national security circles as the NDAA – and my role in moving it forward through the House Armed Services Committee.

Another big hearing you probably heard about focused on the Farm Bill, which is Congress’ once-every-five-years chance to make sure we can feed ourselves by ourselves.

As a national security professional, and the only Michigander to sit on the House Agriculture Committee, I’m committed to the idea that food security is national security. (You’ll also hear me point out that we’re the most agriculturally diverse state with regular access to water – a dig at my California colleagues.)

There was a great deal of agreement on major portions of the bill version we debated, but, overall, it missed the mark. The bill we considered would take food away from hungry families with the largest cuts in decades to SNAP – a nutrition program that Michiganders rely on, it would cut programs that help Michigan farmers protect our Great Lakes, and it would restrict the Department of Agriculture’s ability to respond to crises like the avian flu cases that are affecting our state.

Luckily, Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Stabenow has drafted her own bill that does much of what the House bill does, without cutting out pieces that are vital for Michigan.

Bipartisan work in Congress is still possible: The House Armed Services Committee passed the defense authorization bill with a bipartisan 57-1 vote. We got our work done by moving in a bipartisan fashion.

With narrow majorities in the House and Senate, if we’re going to pass a Farm Bill into law, we will need to compromise like adults. I’ll continue to urge my colleagues to work toward the bipartisan Farm Bill we need and our communities deserve.

– Rep. Elissa Slotkin
Bold New Housing and Energy Initiatives to Lower Costs

Bold New Housing and Energy Initiatives to Lower Costs

by | May 29, 2024 | Regional News

Governor Whitmer Header

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 29, 2024

Contact: press@michigan.gov

 

Governor Whitmer Announces Bold New Housing and Energy Initiatives to Lower Costs for Michigan 

Michigan increases housing goal and announces programs to lower home energy costs for 28,000 families, helping more Michiganders reach their dreams of owning a home

 

LANSING, Mich.– At the Mackinac Policy Conference today, Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced significant strides in housing and energy initiatives, continuing Michigan’s national leadership in leveraging climate and clean energy-related federal funding. This includes raising the state’s five-year housing production goal by over 50% and investing federal funds to lower energy costs for 28,000 low-income households through the Solar for All and Home Energy Rebate Programs. The initiatives will lower housing and utility costs for Michiganders and will put the state closer to achieving the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan. The initiatives will lower housing and utility costs for Michiganders and will put the state closer to achieving the goals of the MI Healthy Climate Plan.

“Together, we’re going to lower housing and energy costs for Michiganders,” said Governor Whitmer. “By raising our statewide housing goal to 115,000 units, we will build more housing to drive down costs and ensure every Michigander has a safe, affordable place to call home. Thanks to our partners in the Biden-Harris administration, we have federal resources headed our way to lower energy costs for Michigan families by helping them upgrade to more energy efficient home appliances and install solar panels on their homes or in their community to save them money on their utilities. These upgrades will keep families cool in the summer, warm in the winter, and improve their quality of life. Let’s keep taking action to lower costs on housing and energy, two fundamental issues that make a real difference in people’s lives.”

Governor Raises State’s Five-Year Housing Production Goal by Over 50% 

Since Governor Whitmer office, the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) has invested twice as much compared to the last administration to build, rehab, or finance 34,000 homes, supporting 20,000 jobs. At the 2021 Mackinac Policy Conference, the governor set a goal of permitting, building, or rehabbing 75,000 additional units in five years—by September 2026. Currently, Michigan is ahead of schedule with nearly 50,000 units built, rehabbed, or permitted. Today, the governor raised Michigan’s five-year statewide housing target to 115,000—a 53% increase. This pushes Michigan closer to the goal of ensuring everyone has access to the middle class, starting with homes and utilities they can afford.

“We are celebrating our hard work in funding $1.23 billion to finance, build, and rehab thousands of homes in the last year while recognizing that we need to raise the bar higher to end the housing crisis for Michigan families,” said Amy Hovey, CEO and Executive Director of MSHDA. “We’re committed to listening to our local and regional partners, moving quickly with creative solutions, and working hard to make communities and neighborhoods better.”

In addition to investing unprecedented new resources, MSHDA has been implementing the Statewide Housing Plan in partnership with the members of the Statewide Housing Partnership and the local and regional leaders of each of the Regional Housing Partnerships. That work has led to new investments from the state legislature, solutions that eliminate unnecessary burdens and red tape on developers and local governments, and collaboration in support of making neighborhoods and communities stronger.

 

Recent MSHDA innovations include:

  • The Housing Readiness Incentive Grant program: a $5 million fund to support cities, villages and townships in adopting or eliminating rules and regulations to encourage building more housing and making housing more affordable
  • The Missing Middle Housing Program: $110 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars supporting 50 projects and adding 1,492 new homes around the state for middle-class working families
  • MI Neighborhood: a $60 million annual response to the goals and priorities identified in the Statewide Housing Plan

 

Michigan Brings Home Millions in Federal Dollars to Lower Energy Costs

Governor Whitmer also announced today that Michigan has brought home $367 million from the US Department of Energy’s Home Energy Rebates and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Solar for All programs to lower energy costs for Michiganders. This funding aims to cut monthly bills for 28,000 homes, help more than 18,000 low-income households install solar on their roof or in their community and install energy efficiency measures, and reduce the cost of new energy-efficient appliances for over 10,000 working families. The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) will administer these new programs.

 

“Our new Home Energy Rebate and MI Solar for All Programs, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, will lower energy costs for thousands of households across the state while helping implement the MI Healthy Climate plan, the state’s climate action roadmap,” said Phil Roos, EGLE Director. “Expanding access to renewable energy, energy efficiency, and efficient appliances is a critical step, particularly for our low-income and environmental justice communities, towards reducing pollution, protecting our world-class natural resources, and lowering energy costs for families. These investments will create a positive and lasting impact for Michiganders today and tomorrow.”

 

Michigan received just over $210.8 million for the state’s Home Energy Rebate Programs. Of this total, $105.6 million is allocated for the Home Efficiency Rebates and $105.2 million is allocated for the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates. The Home Efficiency Rebates provide funding to lower the upfront cost of whole-home energy efficiency upgrades in single-family and multi-family homes aiding retrofitting and electrification efforts. The Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates help finance the upfront cost of efficient electric technologies and appliances in single-family and multi-family homes. These resources will be available to families this fall.

 

Michigan recently celebrated a historic $156 million investment to accelerate the deployment of affordable renewable energy for thousands of low-income households across the state. This initiative, known as the Michigan Solar for All (MISFA) program, aims to reduce utility costs for families, foster job creation, and strengthen Michigan’s advanced clean energy sector—all while moving the state toward its MI Healthy Climate Plan goals. MISFA is expected to make a substantial impact by providing low-income households across Michigan access to affordable renewable energy and enabling home repairs, reducing energy bills by up to 20% and providing additional meaningful benefits. These dollars will be available to Michigan families in the summer of 2025.

 

“Everyone deserves to make it in Michigan, and that means ensuring housing and energy are more affordable so Michiganders have money in their pockets to provide for their families,” said Zachary Kolodin, Michigan’s chief infrastructure officer and director of the Michigan Infrastructure Office. “We’re committed to harnessing federal dollars to create a robust housing plan and invest in clean energy. By doing so, we’re making renewable energy more accessible, decreasing the cost of living, creating good-paying jobs, and growing the economy.”
DNR News: Fisheries, trails, parks and more

DNR News: Fisheries, trails, parks and more

by | May 29, 2024 | Recreation
DNR banner with link to website

DNR News
three people in shorts and T-shirts, off in distance, walk the sandy, pebbled Lake Superior shoreline as foamy waves roll inMay 29, 2024

Fisheries, trails, parks and more: June meetings welcome public participation, comments

The Department of Natural Resources is committed to providing Michigan residents the opportunity to share input and ideas on policy decisions, programs and other aspects of natural resource management and outdoor recreation opportunities.

One important avenue for this input is at meetings of the public bodies that advise the DNR and, in some cases, also set policies for natural and cultural resource management. Frequently check the DNR boards, commissions, committees and councils webpage for updates.

The links below will take you to the webpage for each group, where you will find meeting details such as location and agenda (when finalized). Please check these pages often, as meeting details may change and sometimes meetings are canceled.

June meetings
State Treasury Providing Individuals, Businesses Tax Relief

State Treasury Providing Individuals, Businesses Tax Relief

by | May 28, 2024 | Regional News

Treasury Logo

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 28, 2024

Contact: Ron Leix, Treasury, 517-335-2167

State Treasury Department Providing Individuals, Businesses Tax Relief due to Governor’s Emergency Declaration in Southwest Michigan

 Individuals, Businesses in Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch and Cass Counties Can Request State Tax Relief

LANSING, Mich. – With Gov. Gretchen Whitmer declaring a “state of emergency” for Kalamazoo, St. Joseph, Branch and Cass counties due to severe weather on May 7, the Michigan Department of Treasury is providing an opportunity for severe storm and tornado survivors to obtain tax relief.

Individual and business taxpayers who reside in the emergency area can request additional time to file state tax returns and pay state tax bills, with penalties and interest waived. These four southwest Michigan counties have been severely affected by strong winds and tornadoes, causing damage to homes, businesses and public infrastructure.

“Families and businesses in southwest Michigan need relief to recover from the severe storms and tornadoes,” said State Treasurer Rachael Eubanks. “Impacted individuals should not have to worry about paying a state tax bill or filing a state return – they need to focus on their recovery. If taxpayers need more time to file and pay because of the emergency, there will not be any late penalties or interest. We will get through this challenge together.”

To request relief due to this emergency, individuals unable to meet filing or payment deadlines should contact Treasury at 517-636-4486. Businesses are asked to call 517-636-6925.

In addition, affected taxpayers may write to Treasury to request emergency-related tax relief. When writing, the following must be included in the correspondence:

  • Name and account number of the individual or business taxpayer.
  • Reason for the relief request.
  • Taxpayer address within one emergency area or address of the tax preparer located in the emergency area.

Taxpayers should send the completed correspondence to the following address:

Michigan Department of Treasury
Attn: Emergency Tax Relief
Lansing, Michigan 48922

Some taxpayers may receive a preliminary assessment notice before a tax relief request is formally received by Treasury. Taxpayers within the emergency area who receive these notices should contact Treasury by phone to resolve.

To learn more about Michigan’s tax system, go to https://www.michigan.gov/taxes.