by orionontv | May 15, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION – On Monday, May 13, 2024, Lake Orion Robotics (a.k.a. Team 302) hosted their annual RoboExpo at Lake Orion High School. Students from all-ages interested in Robotics came to LOHS to see robotics demonstrations and even control some robots.
Student representatives from Team 302 came together during the event to show off all of their robotics accomplishments from the past school year. ONTV’s Joe Johnson spoke to Bruce Stone, Lead Competition Mentor at Team 302 about the event.
“We put on an annual festival, where we bring in the entire program from kindergarten to high school to show off what the kids have done throughout the entire school year for competitive robotics,” Stone said.
So why robotics? Why should Lake Orion students care more about robotics than traditional sports like Football, Baseball or Soccer? Bruce Stone answered that exact question for ONTV.
“We are always looking for more kids, we are always looking for more engagement. We say that in robotics, this is the only sport that the kids will ever do that when they graduate, they’ll go pro – this is what they’ll do for the rest of their career.” Stone said. “All of this is about problem-solving and teamwork, learning engineering, science and technology skills… Learning how to work in a team, in a competitive environment where it’s kind of like the environment you would have at work.”
RoboExpo was a great opportunity for new students to get involved. Excited kids from all over the community came to learn more about robotics, but how soon can they get started?
“We start recruiting for the next season, right now… We recruit from middle school and elementary school because they start in the summer, right in the beginning of the school year and the high school team starts in the fall,” Stone said.
Team 302 is interested in finding new faces for their exciting robotics teams. If you or someone you know is interested, you can visit team302.org, or their Facebook at facebook.com/firstteam302/ for more information and upcoming events.
Photo by Joe Johnson
Photo by Joe Johnson
by orionontv | May 14, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
ORION TOWNSHIP – On Thursday, May 9, 2024, Orion Township Parks and Recreation, along with Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital, pot on their second annual Motherhood Matters Health and Safety seminar at the Orion Center.
The event included raffles, speakers and nearly 20 different vendors that offered information. Speakers came to the Orion Center to deliver information about kids’ safety while driving, as well as information about Breastfeeding.
Joe Johnson of ONTV spoke to Tiffany Kennedy, the Community Health Coordinator of Ascension Providence Rochester Hospital about the event.
“We have our ‘Motherhood Matters’ – all the nurses are here, doctors are here and lovely vendors with lots of good gifts for the mamas and the families,” Kennedy said.
Resources from Ascension Providence Rochester came to the Orion Center to support Moms and Moms-to-be for Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 12.
“We have our lactation consultant from Ascension Rochester, we have some of our midwifes here as well, we have our primary care doctors, our trauma department – so lots of different people here from Ascension,” Kennedy said.
Fun activities and tips for household needs like picking up laundry or other items off the ground while pregnant, this was achieved in-part by the Great Lakes Athletic Club Team.
“We’re so grateful for our community partners, they did a wonderful job – lots of giveaways, lots of love and dedication to the community. It’s nice to see them all come together today,” Kennedy said.
Ascension Providence Hospital is at the Orion Center every Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.
For more information, visit ascension.org/classes or visit greatlakesathleticclub.com
Photo by Joe Johnson
Photo by Joe Johnson
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by orionontv | May 14, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
LAKE ORION, Mich. – On Thursday, May 9, 2024, members of the Orion Area Chamber of Commerce, Orion Township Board of Trustees and the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority, all gathered along with friends, family and fellow business owners to commemorate the grand opening of Boutique Chic.
Formerly “Simply Marcella,” Boutique Chic is a women’s clothing store that officially opened its doors on May 1, 2024. The store owner, Annalise Costantino, found out in January of this year that Simply Marcella would be vacant.
Photo by Joe Johnson
“[Marcella] informed me that she would be changing over back in January is when I first found out. The change-over didn’t begin until April 1, that is when the transition period began, and my lease didn’t begin until May 1. So, this has been home now,” Costantino said.
Boutique Chic prides itself on its women-focused mission, serving the community through female solidarity and direct support.
“My store primarily focuses on women-owned businesses, designs and organizations that give back to their communities and globally. I try to feature women-owned artistry, you’ll see that throughout the boutique,” Costantino said.
Boutique Chic’s current spotlight: “Ring True” – it is jewelry made by survivors of human trafficking.
“This is a way for them to earn an income, as well as helping the healing process,” Costantino said.
Photo by Joe Johnson
The DDA, as well as the O Area Chamber of Commerce, have been doing ribbon cuttings for newly-opened businesses for quite a while, and they have been vital in helping Boutique Chic.
“They have been vital in the changeover, everyone has been so welcoming, the DDA, they pushed and pushed. I was having trouble with my sign getting up on time and Matt [Pfeiffer] went to bat for me – he made it happen,” Costantino said. “All of the businesses have been so welcoming to me… The Chamber has given me so many different networking options and abilities and it’s been fabulous.”
Costantino, a Lake Orion native, was super grateful for this opportunity to not only operate her business in her hometown, but to her supporters, including her family.
“I work less than a mile from home – it’s wonderful,” Costantino said.
You can find Boutique Chic at 120 S. Broadway in downtown Lake Orion. For more information, you can call (248) 814-7400, or visit shopboutiquechic.com.
by orionontv | May 9, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
ORION TOWNSHIP – On Saturday, May 4, 2024, 31 vendors gathered and set-up tables in the Orion Center to offer a chance to get that perfect gift for Mom this upcoming Mother’s Day, Sunday, May 12.
The fourth annual Mother’s Day Marketplace was brought to residents by the Orion Township Parks & Recreation Department, the event ran from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. The only requirement to be a vendor during this event, was that the products being sold have to have been locally made: no mass produced, manufactured, or overseas products.
Admission and parking was free to the public, however, the Orion Center charged vendors fees in order to keep funding events year-round.
Jennifer Vezina is a recreation programmer at Orion Township Parks & Rec., she spoke to ONTV’s Joe Johnson about the event.
“You name it we have it: quilts, crochet, pottery, jewelry – a little bit of everything here.” Vezina said.
When the event started in 2021, the Orion Center just started opening its doors again to people due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and so the event they did was limited – this year is different.
The first year we did this show, we were only able to do it upstairs, but we got creative and it is throughout the entire building this year,” Vezina said.
Vezina and Johnson also remarked on the crowd – while there was not an exact number of people tallied at the event – the residents seemed to have a good time.
“So far so good! Looks like everyone is enjoying themselves; finding a little something for everyone,” Vezina said.
The next event for the Orion Center and the Parks & Rec department is the annual Dragon Dash 5k, open to runners and walkers of all-ages and skill levels. The event starts at 9 a.m., Sunday, May 19.
For more information on events like these, visit orionparks.com/calendar.
Photo by Joe Johnson
Photo by Joe Johnson
by orionontv | May 8, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
METAMORA/ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Two fundraising events happened this past week as Camp Oakland’s Run For The Roses and Genisys Credit Union and OLSHA’s Walk for Warmth took place on Thursday, May 2, and Saturday, May 4 respectively.
On Thursday, May 2, in anticipation of the Kentucky Derby on May 5, Camp Oakland – a non-profit which focuses on at-risk children identified by the juvenile system – hosted its first Run For The Roses, a horse-racing themed fundraiser.
The fundraiser took place at the White Horse Inn in Metamora, a perfect venue for the event. Approximately 80 people – staff, donors, community partners, etc. – attended and took part in a buffet-style dinner, several raffles and betting on pre-recorded horse races.
Susan Hollady, the Board Chair for Camp Oakland, talked with ONTV’s Joe Johnson Thursday about the camp and the event.
“This is all about the kids, we’re a residential facility for the youth that have gotten in trouble with the law and are asked to come to our campus in Oxford for schooling, therapy, counseling, and get them back on the right path. We have a girls’ program and a couple of boys’ programs to give them the skills that they need so that they can be successful,” Hollady said.
Founded in 1951, Camp Oakland – founded in Oxford – supports these at-risk youth year-round.
“Our mission is to give every child a chance, so this is a way for us to raise some funds to give them the tools, the techniques, the things that they need so that they can be successful,” Hollady said.
On Saturday, May 4, approximately 500 people gathered at Canterbury Village in Orion Township to participate in the annual Walk For Warmth, hosted by Genisys Credit Union.
In 1964, the Oakland Livingston Health Services Agency or “OLSHA” for short, was founded as a part of President Lyndon B. Johnson’s “War on Poverty.” OLSHA supports Oakland and Livingston county residents’ needs for alleviating family and personal poverty.
On that Saturday, Genisys Credit Union hosted the Walk For Warmth to help OLSHA get the fundraising they need.
The morning started off with music and speeches, then the participants gathered for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commence the start of the walk.
Jackie Buchanan, President and CEO of Genisys Credit Union, spoke to Joe Johnson Saturday morning about the event. 
“This is an event that we do every year and it supports OLSHA and we raise money all-year-round at Genisys to help heat the homes of our needy friends and neighbors,” Buchanan said. “We’ve probably been doing this for at least 20 years.”
Theresa Doan, the director of Social Responsibility for Genisys Credit Union, remarked on how much they have raised for OLSHA.
“We’ve raised I think close to $30,000 dollars for this organization,” Doan said. “This venue has been a huge gift to this event and to this organization. They actually donate the property – no charge to the organization, so all the money raised is actually being raised to go back to the individuals.”
OLSHA is located in Pontiac, Mich., and supported around 10,000 Oakland and Livingston county residents and their families last year.
For more information on Camp Oakland and how you can help, call (248) 628-2561 or visit campoakland.org.
If you or someone you know needs living-related assistance, you can call (248) 209-2600 or visit olsha.org to schedule and appointment.
Photo by Joe Johnson
by orionontv | May 8, 2024 | Community Event, Feature Writers
ORION TOWNSHIP, Mich – On Saturday, May 4, 2024, Orion Township Public Library hosted its annual Fandom Fest. This year, Fandom Fest happened to fall on the fourth of May, as in, “May the fourth be with you” – a popular phrase among “Star Wars” fans.
Fandom Fest also took place across Orion Township and Lake Orion as Prime Time Comics & Cards also participated in the festivities, hosting Free Comic Book Day, where fans of all ages could acquire free comics at the store. Free Comic Book Day was created in 2002 by the comic book industry to help attract new readers to independent stores.
OTPL started its event at 11 a.m., with story-time, crafts and trivia. Dan Major is the Head of Adult Services at OTPL, Joe Johnson of ONTV spoke with Major on the day of the festivities.
“It is a celebration of games, anime, TV, movies, ‘Star Wars’ Day, Free Comic Book Day – any fandom is being celebrated here today,” Major said. “We’ve got ‘Bounce ‘n’ Boogie’ at 11 a.m. today which is like a movement-based story time for younger kids. We’ve also got crafts going on in our meeting room today with snacks and everything like that – all different kinds of fandom-based crafts. Then we’re having fandom trivia at 1 o’clock.”
Free comics were also distributed at Fandom Fest, with multiple kids and families enjoying the complimentary media.
“We have some leftover comics from previous years and 2nd & Charles actually helped us out this year,” Major said.
Why does OTPL host this event every year? The answer is simple:
“Well obviously, libraries and fandoms are tied so closely – we’ve all got a movie series, TV series, book series that we love. And it is available here and it is a way to draw people into the library with something fun and a little different to celebrate the books and the media that they love,” Major said.
We all need a break from reality now and again, but indulging in these stories and engaging with the community in a fun, festive way, it seems as though real-life is not that bad.
You can support OTPL by going to their next big event, their annual Summer Reading Kickoff, which is set to take place on Saturday, June 8. There will be games, activities, food and entertainment at this fun, family-friendly event.
For more information on events like these visit oriontownship.librarycalendar.com.
Photo By Joe Johnson
Photo by Joe Johnson
