ONTV’s 12th Annual Food Drive Benefiting Oxford/Orion FISH

ONTV’s 12th Annual Food Drive Benefiting Oxford/Orion FISH

by | Jan 13, 2022 | Community Event

Orion Neighborhood Television

“Virtual Food Drive for FISH”

Orion Neighborhood Television, Orion’s community access television station, will be hosting its 12th annual Food Drive to benefit the Oxford/Orion FISH Food Pantry. Over the past 11 years, the ONTV food drives have collected more than 45,000 lbs. of food during the LIVE telethons. For a second year, the drive will be virtual due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“We made the decision to stay virtual this year,” says Ian Locke, executive director. “We went to a virtual format last year and were pleasantly surprised on the success we had.  The community and corporate sponsors really stepped up to help us reach our goal. As much as we like having the in-person food drive, we thought it was in the best interest of everyone’s health and safety to stay virtual for 2022.”

The virtual food drive will begin the week of Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. and run through Feb. 11 until 9 p.m.

The televised food/fund drive will air for five full days and nights with LIVE studio elements each day from 12-2 p.m. and from 7-9 p.m.  The community can view the food drive on Comcast Ch. 10, AT&T U-Verse Ch. 99, ROKU Cablecast Ch., ONTV Facebook Page and at OrionONTV.org.

ONTV’s goal is to raise $5,000 for FISH through corporate sponsorships and community donations. They are also asking for the community’s help to fill the ONTV van with non-perishable food and personal items. The ONTV production van will be parked at the studio, located at 1349 Joslyn Rd for in-person donations Feb. 7 -11 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.  Monetary donations can be made through the GoFundMe account located on the ONTV website at orionONTV.org.

Oxford/Orion FISH provides emergency aid in the form of food and agency referrals to individuals in Oxford, Lake Orion, Addison and Oakland Township.  People who have a need for groceries can call the office at 248.628.3933.

Donate today @ OrionONTV.org

Market Days Promote Healthy Eating

Market Days Promote Healthy Eating

by | Jul 22, 2021 | Community Event

Family And Senior Market Days Promote Healthy Eating In Oakland County

Pontiac, Michigan – Oakland County Health Division’s Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) encourages residents to participate in their annual Family and Senior Market Days this summer. Residents with a State of Michigan Bridge/EBT card or Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Project Fresh coupons will receive a $5 coupon to purchase produce from local farmers on Family Market Days, and residents 60 years and older will receive a $5 coupon on Senior Market Days. Coupons are distributed on a first come, first serve basis. No registration is necessary.

2021 Family Market Day Events:

  • July 24, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Oakland County Farmers Market (2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford)
  • July 28, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Oak Park Farmers Market (Oak Park High School Parking Lot, 13701 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park)

2021 Senior Market Day Events (60+):

  • September 1, 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. | Oak Park Farmers Market (Oak Park High School Parking Lot, 13701 Oak Park Blvd., Oak Park)
  • September 9, 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Oakland County Farmers Market (2350 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford)

“These events help connect residents with locally grown, fresh produce,” said Leigh-Anne Stafford, director of Oakland County Department Health and Human Services. “They also offer free nutrition education and physical activity opportunities to encourage healthy eating and exercise.”

In addition to $5 coupons for produce, the events will include a variety of activities for families and seniors, including Tai-Chi, Oakland County Parks inflatables, raffles, and prizes. The market days this year have been made possible in part by Beaumont Health, Trinity Health, and Henry Ford Health System.

The Healthy Oakland Partnership is a group of organizations collaborating to improve the health and well-being of Oakland County residents by increasing and promoting healthy eating and physical activity opportunities. HOP began hosting Family Market Days in 2009 to engage entire families in healthy eating practices and encourage physical activity. The partnership expanded to include older adults in 2017 by hosting Senior Market Days. The events will adhere to all Michigan Department of Health and Humans Services COVID-19 safety guidelines.

For more information, visit www.oakgov.com/health, @publichealthOC on Facebook and Twitter, or contact Jessica Williams at [email protected] or (248) 563-7792.

Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP)

Healthy Oakland Partnership (HOP) was launched by Oakland County Health Division in 2009 as a collaboration of local government, hospitals, health care providers, community-based organizations, business, and citizens.

HOP currently has two teams dedicated to specific initiatives:

  • Farmers Market Team – Improve the health and well-being of Oakland County by supporting Farmers Markets.
  • Youth Team – Improve the health and well-being of Oakland County through programs in schools.
dam safety program continues to assist recovery

dam safety program continues to assist recovery

by | May 17, 2021 | Community Event

 

 
EGLE Main GovD banner
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 17, 2021
EGLE Media Office, [email protected], 517-284-9278

Michigan dam safety program continues to assist recovery one year after Mid-Michigan dam failures

One year after the failures of the Edenville and Sanford dams, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) continues to assist the community in recovery efforts and planning for the future of the affected communities.

Wednesday marks a year since the dams failed during a torrential rain event, displacing thousands of residents, damaging businesses and livelihoods, destroying property and natural resources, and illuminating the chronic problem of deferred maintenance of Michigan’s infrastructure.

“A year has passed, but for the families and businesses affected by the dam failures it surely feels like only yesterday,” said Liesl Clark, EGLE director. “We had personnel literally on the dam just prior to its failure, and since then we’ve engaged continually with community leaders to provide scientific, logistical and technical support to help them recover from this disaster.”

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer affirmed the state’s long-term commitment to affected communities.

“It has been one year since the Midland area was faced with a historic flood. When I first toured the damage a year ago, I promised the affected families that we would be with them every step of the way, and that continues today,” said Governor Whitmer. “I want to thank everyone who has come together and stepped up to help rebuild this community. Together, even in the face of challenging circumstances, we’re showing how strong Michiganders can be when we come together. Lt. Governor Gilchrist and I will always have your back as we continue to recover and rebuild.”

Most recently, EGLE oversaw emergency work to draw down water levels in the Tobacco River upstream of the remaining portion of the Edenville Dam to help protect downstream residents and properties from further damage during spring flooding. That work builds on EGLE’s continuing efforts to assist, which have included water quality monitoring, helping local officials expedite debris removal, assisting with restoration of drinking water infrastructure, assessing and mitigating continued natural resource damages, and assisting communities in disaster relief applications among many other activities.

Clark said that with the help of the State Legislature and Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, the agency is also moving forward on the recommendations from external reviews of its program, including additional staffers that allowed the creation of a separate Dam Safety Unit within EGLE’s Water Resources Division.

Completed and ongoing reviews of EGLE’s dam safety program include:

With support from the Michigan Legislature, the reorganized Dam Safety Unit within EGLE’s Water Resources Division will soon have five full-time-equivalent staffers, doubling the resources available at the time of the dam failures last year. At that time, the state had two inspectors to oversee more than 1,000 state-regulated dams. Ideal staffing for the state of Michigan, according to the ASDSO’s recommendations and supported by the Task Force’s report, would be 11 full-time personnel devoted solely to dam safety.

“With the help of the additional staffing provided by the Legislature, we’ve strengthened our efforts to ensure state-regulated dams meet or exceed all safety requirements,” said Clark. “The recovery and restoration efforts at Edenville are still top of mind for us every day, while at the same time we are working hard to help ensure there is never a repeat of this disaster.”

Clark said she looks forward to working with legislators on additional recommendations from the program review. Those include additional funding, staffing, and legislative changes that provide regulators with better resources to hold dam owners accountable for safe maintenance practices and upkeep.

For more information about dams go to the Dam Safety Unit webpage and for updates on EGLE’s work after the Mid-Michigan dam failures go to the Edenville Dam Recovery webpage.

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FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit

FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit

by | Apr 20, 2021 | Community Event

The FCC is hosting a consumer-focused webinar on the Emergency Broadband Benefit  Tuesday, April 27, beginning at 3:00 PM ET.  The event will be streamed live on www.fcc.gov/live.  Registration is not required for the webinar.

The webinar will provide consumers and outreach partners with an overview of the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, eligibility information, and enrollment procedures.

Questions may be shared during, or in advance of this event, at [email protected]. 

During the event, the FCC will discuss the materials developed for our partners’ use in conducting outreach and education about the program.