A collaborative effort between two local nonprofit groups will provide a facility both can use while also furthering their individual missions. Torch 180 and The Warehouse Rocks are planning to jointly lease and operate a community center in Genoa Township using the former Knights of Columbus banquet hall on East Grand River, west of Latson Road. Erica Stevens is one of the founders of The Warehouse Rocks, which she says hopes to provide a home base for kids to, "...come together, share their talents, collaborate with professionals and fuel their passions to pursue a life of creativity." The Torch was founded by Rhonda Callanan and Sarah Ruddle and operates a food truck to provide free meals where theyâre needed. Torch 180 was an offshoot of that and offers employment opportunities and food-industry training for people with disabilities. Callanan says theyâve been looking for a permanent location to run as a training kitchen and this partnership just makes sense. "It's going to be a place where local teens can gather and one of the things she (Erica) wanted to be able to offer was a food offering, and so we're going to be able to use that as a service opportunity for our students. That's going to work well for Torch 180. It's also going to serve as a commissary kitchen for The Torch and so all three organizations are really going to be housed there and working collaboratively." Callanan says they hope to have their licensing in place to operate the kitchen within the next month, while Stevens says The Warehouse Rocks will hold their Grand Opening June 23rd through the 25th. Pictured left to right are Stevens, Ruddle and Callanan. (JK)
Local Nonprofits Team Up To Open Community Arts & Culinary Training CenterLocal Nonprofits Team Up To Open Community Arts & Culinary Training Center
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Gregory Man To Serve Prison Time For Beating Pregnant Girlfriend Gregory Man To Serve Prison Time For Beating Pregnant Girlfriend
A Gregory man who police say beat and strangled his pregnant girlfriend has been sentenced. 18-year-old Donavan Buckner was ordered to serve 4 to 10 years in prison in connection with a domestic dispute February 4th. Buckner previously pleaded guilty as charged to counts of assault by strangulation, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, interfering with electronic communication causing injury and animal cruelty. On the latter two charges, he received credit for jail time already served. Buckner had petitioned to be sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which would have his record expunged if he successfully completed probation. However, Livingston County Circuit Court Judge Michael Hatty denied that request during Thursdayâs sentencing proceedings based on Bucknerâs prior criminal history and risk to public safety. Court records show Buckner declined to withdraw his guilty plea and elected to be sentenced. Police say he hit his girlfriend who was ten weeks pregnant at the time and kneed her in the stomach during the course of a domestic dispute. Authorities say Buckner attempted to strangle his girlfriend and threw her cellphone against the wall when she tried to call 911. He also threw the coupleâs dog across the room, resulting in the animal cruelty charges. Meanwhile, Buckner will be sentenced next week on a charge related to a separate incident. He pleaded guilty to malicious destruction of property for attempting to break into a family memberâs wireless router in December. (JM)
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As Construction Approaches On Brighton Medical Facility, Traffic Concerns RemainAs Construction Approaches On Brighton Medical Facility, Traffic Concerns Remain
The University of Michigan Health Systems is planning to begin construction next month on a $175 million, 300,000-square-foot medical facility on Challis Road in Brighton which is scheduled to open in about two years. A U of M official outlined the ambitious plans for the new facility at a Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce Power Lunch on Thursday at the Oak Pointe Country Club. Although the new center will be a welcome addition to the community, it will be accompanied by an increase in traffic congestion. Livingston County Road Commission Managing Director Mike Craine told the 80 people attending the luncheon that the greatest impact will be at, and in the vicinity of, the I-96/West Grand River interchange. Craine says the interchange is already congested, particularly at peak times such as morning and afternoon rush hour, the noon hour and on Saturdays. But Craine tells WHMI there are a few steps that will be explored to lessen the traffic impact in the Grand River-Challis area, but the long-term solution could involve realigning the interchange, lengthening the on-and-off ramps and realigning the nearby Grand River-Hilton Road intersection. The problem with that is its cost, which Craine estimates at $50-65 million, money which neither the county nor the Michigan Dept. of Transportation has to spare at the present time. Craine says also part of the long-term solution will be improved technology, such as âvehicle-to-vehicle communicationâ with connected cars and tele-messaging from the U of M which can âtellâ vehicles the best route to get to the medical center. In the way of construction, Craine says Challis Road should be widened to three lanes, with a continuous left-turn lane, beginning at the location where the five-lane route narrows to two lanes, all the way to Bauer Road. He says further that the Challis-Bauer Road intersection at Mount Brighton should be made into a roundabout. But Craine says before those things can happen, local governments and MDOT will need to cooperate, such as about 10 years ago when the city of Brighton and MDOT worked together to get a second eastbound I-96 on-ramp on Grand River. Likewise, Craine says, several local governments and the Brighton Area Schools came together to pave Maltby Road from Rickett Road to Brighton Lake Road so that Scranton Middle School would be on a paved roadway. He says in economically challenging times like these, local governments, and the state and federal governments, must come together to provide creative solutions to the problems that come with development. As for the facility, it will create 125 construction jobs for the next two years and, better yet, 550 permanent, full-time-equivalent positions â including 50 physicians. These are all expected to be new positions created specifically for the new center, and none will involve jobs transferred from Ann Arbor. The building will be on three levels, including two main floors and a walkout to be built on grade. University of Michigan Health Systems Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Tony Denton says the existing Brighton Health Center will remain open for the foreseeable future, focusing on primary care. However, he says provision will be made at the new site for an addition, particularly since the current center is a leased facility, whereas the U of M Health Systems will own the new facility and already owns the 32 acres on which it will be built. Although the new facility will be for outpatient care only, provisions will be made for those who need to be kept overnight for observation, with six âshort stayâ beds provided so patients donât have to be transported to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor. (TT)
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Downtown Howell Hosts 8th Annual Pink PartyDowntown Howell Hosts 8th Annual Pink Party
Downtown Howell was awash in pink Thursday night for the 8th annual Pink Party breast cancer awareness fundraiser. Beneath the noise of the crowd there were barbershop musicians serenading on the sidewalks and women, men and kids attempting to send Sheriff Bob Bezotte into the dunk tank. There was also a food and wine tasting and the ever popular flash mob dancing on the lawn of the Historic Howell Courthouse in support of cancer survivors and their families. This year's annual Pink Party may have seen slightly fewer people, but the enthusiasm to support survivors and their families was still on par. There were groups wearing matching outfits, men dressed in pink, little girls in tutus all taking advantage of discounts at downtown businesses. President of the Howell Pink Party Diana Biermann says the event helps women in need. She says they support women who are underprivileged or under insured earmarking at least $10,000 every year to support the women. She says it is very important because people don't like to think about when they are battling cancer that bills are hard to pay. Sometimes people can't afford a ride to chemo or radiation treatments and this goes to help support that. She says they are also putting money toward a stereotactic biopsy table. Angela Martell is a cancer survivor who came to the event for the first time while she was still being treated for breast cancer. She says the first time she came to the event, she was bald, and this year came dressed with her scars circled and marked to show support for those who are where she was three years ago. Martell says when she was bald a few years ago, she attended as a bald person. She says the kind of support people get, there is no other place where they celebrate it and the kind of awareness and raise funds in a small community like they do in Howell. She says it's wonderful to be a part of something like this. Martell says she first started coming to Pink Party as a way to get out with her girlfriends and support a good cause, and now it has different meaning for her. She says it is wonderful to be able to support the other people that are going through the same fight that she was, too. Martell is one of dozens of victims and survivors who turned out to support each other. Biermann says last year the event raised over $47,000 and she's hoping to see that number increased. She says the motto is by the community for the community and all of the money raised stays in Livingston County. Biermann says some funds are also earmarked for a local charity, but most of the money raised goes to St. Joseph Mercy Livingston to help pay for the stereotactic biopsy table, which she says costs over $100,000. (DS)
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Michigan Humane Society To Assist Livingston Animal Control Michigan Humane Society To Assist Livingston Animal Control
Livingston County Animal Control will be getting some help from the stateâs oldest animal cruelty prevention organization. As of yesterday the Michigan Humane Society Cruelty Investigation Department will help protect animals in the area. The state-wide organization has been in the business of fighting animal cruelty for 135 years and responds to 6,000 complaints each year. Director of Livingston County Animal Control Andy Seltz says the partnership will give the county more resources to fight animal cruelty and as a result protect people as well. Last year in Livingston County there were 1,467 complaints and he says the additional resources will ensure more animal abuse cases can be investigated. He says the partnership wonât cost taxpayers anything because the Michigan Humane Society is donor funded. Seltz says although the local animal control is committed to addressing animal cruelty and neglect here, the Michigan Humane Society is nationally recognized for their investigative skills. He says the two groups will work side-by-side to help bring an end to animal abuse in the county. (DS)
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Gas Leak Forces Evacuation In Downtown HowellGas Leak Forces Evacuation In Downtown Howell
A gas leak forced a short evacuation of residents and businesses in downtown Howell this morning. A contractor working on an alley improvement directly behind BD Electrical struck a two-inch gas service line around 8:30am. The Howell Area Fire Authority quickly evacuated a one block radius until Consumers Energy crews could arrive and shut off the gas, which was accomplished shortly before 9am. It was expected that service would be restored within the hour. (JK)
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Beam Placement Will Force Closure Of US-23Beam Placement Will Force Closure Of US-23
A freeway closure is set for US-23 next week for bridge work at the I-96 interchange. The Michigan Department of Transportation says that northbound US-23 will be closed at I-96 starting at 11pm on Monday, June 13th and lasting through 5am Tuesday the 14th. The closure is needed so crews can set beams as part of the overall interchange improvement project. In addition, ramps will be closed from northbound US-23 to westbound I-96 and eastbound I-96 to northbound US-23. A detour will be posted during the closure that directs motorists eastbound on I-96 to Kensington Road to westbound I-96, back to northbound US-23. (JK)
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After Meningitis Letter Gets No Response, Bishop Wants Meeting With OMB & DOJAfter Meningitis Letter Gets No Response, Bishop Wants Meeting With OMB & DOJ
A local Congressman is now asking for a face-to-face meeting with Obama Administration officials over reimbursement for victims of the deadly meningitis outbreak. Congressman Mike Bishop and 17 other lawmakers from both parties last month sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget, asking the administration to reverse or provide justification for blocking Department of Justice funds from being issued to victims of the outbreak, which hit Livingston County particularly hard. The New England Compounding Center pharmacy in Massachusetts was responsible for distributing 17,000 doses of a tainted steroid that resulted in over 750 cases, including 76 deaths, nationwide. A total of 15 people who received tainted steroid injections in Livingston County died as a result of the infection. After receiving no response for several weeks, Bishop has followed up with a new letter requesting a meeting with Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan and Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General Karol Mason before June 24th. This latest letter comes on the heels of a federal judgeâs decision to proceed with the criminal case against defendants Barry Cadden and Glenn Chin, two former employees of the NECC. They had sought to drop the 25 counts of second-degree murder against them, but that was rejected by the judge. They had originally been set for trial in September, but that has now been delayed until January of 2017 to allow defense attorneys time to examine the more than two million documents prosecutors plan to use at trial. (JK)
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Judge Reader Accused Of Skipping Work To Attend Golf Outing Fundraiser Judge Reader Accused Of Skipping Work To Attend Golf Outing Fundraiser
A local judge is accused of playing hooky to attend her own golf outing fundraiser. Judge Carol Sue Reader is running against fellow Judge Suzanne Geddis in whatâs become a contentious race for the 53rd District Court bench between the two sitting judges. Judge Geddisâ husband, William McCririe, posted photos of Judge Reader as she arrived to her campaign fundraiser today while supposedly out sick. McCririe posted the photos to his Facebook page, along with comments that Judge Reader was not at work, having called in sick all week. The posting states the court brought in a visiting judge to handle the Veterans Court, all while Judge Carol Sue Reader is at Faulkwood Shores Golf Course in Genoa Township. Judge Readerâs seat is up in 2018 and due to current age limits under Michigan law, she could still serve but would not be eligible to run again. Judge Geddis would need to prevail in the election to keep her seat, while Judge Reader will retain her current seat win or lose. Livingston County Chief Circuit Court Judge David Reader, who is a distant cousin of Carol Sue, told WHMI heâs unable to comment on the story at this time as he is âin the process of gathering information regarding this matter for the courtâ. Meanwhile, the Committee to Elect Carol Sue Reader District Judge issued a press release in response to the allegations. It is attached below and states the judge has been ill all week but had scheduled today as a vacation day months ago when her campaign committee put together the fundraising event. it goes on to say "We find it unfortunate and disappointing that the husband of Judge Suzanne Geddis is following Judge Carol Sue Reader around town and taking photographs of her for the purpose of placing unsupported allegations on his Facebook page and in the press. It reflects poorly on the judicial race, the integrity of the Livingston County judiciary, and our community as a whole." (JM)
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Road Commission Looking At Reconstructing Lee Road Roundabout Road Commission Looking At Reconstructing Lee Road Roundabout
The roundabout at US-23 and Lee Road in Green Oak Township could be reconstructed - if the price is right. Engineers have been tracking every crash at the roundabout and some clear patterns have emerged in the different quadrants. A roundabout engineering firm conducted an operations analysis that took into account peak hours, traffic volumes and crash patterns. The details were presented during Thursdayâs Livingston County Road Commission meeting. Managing Director Mike Craine tells WHMI consultants offered recommendations they feel will help reduce crashes and the board agreed to solicit prices for a detailed engineering plan. Most of the accidents occurring are side swipes and removing one lane of the roundabout could improve safety. Craine says reducing the size of lanes would lead to less wandering of vehicles in the circle. He says the easterly two circles at the north and southbound US-23 ramps operate well and process traffic quite efficiently â itâs the Whitmore Lake Road roundabout that has a high crash rate when compared to other single-lane roundabouts. Craine says they would like to expedite engineering if it turns out to be affordable but there would be an aggressive timeline to try and catch the 2017 construction season. He says an M-DOT project next summer will likely require closing the bridge, so that could be an opportune time for the road commission to come in and get everything done all at once. (JM)
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Locals Remember & Honor Gordie HoweLocals Remember & Honor Gordie Howe
Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe died this morning at the age of 88. He is arguably the greatest professional hockey player ever, and Brighton High School coach Paul Moggach, who grew up watching Howe play, remembers both his ability as a player and his reputation as one of the toughest players in the NHL. "His skating didn't look fast, with these long strides, but he really got there...and tough. I remember...there had been a Toronto Maple Leaf player who the night before they had played in Toronto and then they came to Detroit. All of the sudden the play stopped and here was this player who had some engagement with Howe the night before and he was down on the ice bleeding." Former Brighton High School hockey coach Rick Bourbonais met Howe when the hockey legend was part of a group which had planned a development near Mt. Brighton in the 1990s. "You just feel sorrow. He was such a big name and such a big part of the hockey community that you just kind of feel an empty spot." Howe played professionally until age 52 and held dozens of scoring records when he retired, many of which were eclipsed by Wayne Gretzky. Howe was active in southeastern Michigan for most of his retirement. He had a serious stroke in 2014 and had been suffering from dementia in recent years. One of his final public appearances came in late March, when he appeared at a Red Wings game and the crowd sang âHappy Birthday.â (TR/JK)
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No Additional Jail Time For Teen Charged In High School AssaultNo Additional Jail Time For Teen Charged In High School Assault
A former Howell High School student has been sentenced on charges connected to a domestic dispute on the schoolâs campus. 17-year-old Theodore Joseph Kohlman earlier pleaded guilty to 3rd degree fleeing a police officer, domestic violence, assault and battery, four counts of malicious destruction of property, and two counts of resisting a police officer. On Thursday, he was ordered to serve 44 days in jail, time heâs already served, as well as 90 days of electronic monitoring and must pay approximately $13,000 in restitution. The charges stem from an incident that occurred April 26th, when Kohlman assaulted his girlfriend on campus, then got into his pickup truck and started ramming his girlfriendâs unoccupied car, which also caused damaged to two other vehicles in the parking lot. Kohlman attempted to flee the scene but was stopped by responding officers on the high school drive near M-59. Kohlman was aggressive toward officers, who had to take him into custody at gunpoint. Kohlman was sentenced under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, which will expunge his record if he successfully completes probation. (JK)
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Brighton Library's Springfest Will Kick Off Summer Reading ProgramBrighton Library's Springfest Will Kick Off Summer Reading Program
A celebration this weekend will mark the start of summer reading fun at the Brighton District Library. The libraryâs Springfest Celebration on Sunday marks the end of another school year but also officially kicks off the libraryâs popular Summer Reading Program. Springfest , will feature free balloon art, ice cream, a magic show and performances from the Phoenix Free Running Academy and the Jumpinâ All Stars jump rope team. But the day also serves as a great way to get kids into summer reading according to Margaret Vergith, the libraryâs Youth Department Program Specialist. The eight week program aims to keep kids, teens and adults reading and enthused during the summer months while offering incentives. For every seven days of reading, each department awards prizes and gently used books. Vegith and will lay out the complete details of the program this Sunday morning at 8:30 on WHMIâs Viewpoint. That will be followed by the Brighton District Libraryâs Springfest celebration, which is free and open to all ages, from 1-4pm. (JK)
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Doctor Charged With Delivering Controlled Substances Wants Case DismissedDoctor Charged With Delivering Controlled Substances Wants Case Dismissed
A Howell-based orthopedic surgeon charged with delivering controlled substances is asking a local judge to dismiss the case after the Michigan Supreme Court turned down an appeal by the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office. Dr. Michael Holda is charged with seven counts of delivery of a controlled substance and one count of possession of marijuana. His trial had been on hold while the Livingston County Prosecutorâs Office appealed a local judgeâs ruling that they could not introduce evidence of other acts committed by Holda to prove that he did not act in good faith. The Michigan Supreme Court last month declined to hear that appeal, putting the case back on track for trial. Holdaâs defense attorney Dennis Brewer is now seeking to have the case dismissed entirely, alleging a speedy trial violation and prosecutorial misconduct. Prosecutor Bill Vailliencourt maintains there is no basis for the motion, which will be heard June 30th, and his office will be filing a detailed response. Vailliencourt says there has not been any unnecessary or unexplained delay in the case. He says the case was adjourned at times because the court was in trial on other cases, because the defendant wanted an adjournment despite their readiness for trial, or because there were ongoing settlement discussions. Holda turned in his license following a raid on Livingston County Orthopedics in May of 2013 by the Drug Enforcement Administration. DEA agents, who were acting as patients, testified Holda prescribed pain medications and other drugs, including Xanax, beyond what would have been medically necessary. Holda insisted that he wrote the prescriptions in good faith and properly questioned them about their symptoms. A jury earlier found Holda guilty in a separate, but related, case involving two counts of manufacturing prescription forms for which he served 30 days in the Livingston County Jail. (JM)
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Howell Students Celebrate Free Library InstallationHowell Students Celebrate Free Library Installation
A group of local 3rd graders have turned their idea to improve recess a reality. Five students at Hutchings Elementary in Howell developed and researched an idea to install a Little Free Library on the school playground. The students presented the idea to their parents, school staff and district administration. Students in Howell High School's Construction Trades program caught wind of the concept and agreed to build it, much to the surprise and excitement of the Hutchings Elementary kids. A grand opening and ribbon cutting event was held at the school playground Thursday and the new Hutchings Elementary Little Free Library has been registered with the official organization. A special charter sign will be attached to the library this summer, featuring the names of all the students involved in the project. (JM)
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Man Heads To Prison For Meth Lab Operation Man Heads To Prison For Meth Lab Operation
A Lansing man has been sentenced on local charges connected to the alleged operation of a meth lab. 46-year-old John Crosley was ordered to serve to 3 to 30 years in prison Thursday in Livingston County Circuit Court and was sentenced as a two-time habitual offender. He earlier pleaded guilty to charges of possession of methamphetamine operating and maintaining a lab involving meth, and having no insurance under the insurance code. He was sentenced to 93 days in jail on the insurance count. Crosleyâs defense attorney maintained that his client is an addict, not a supplier, and became involved in production of the drug to feed his personal habit. Crosley and his girlfriend, 27-year-old Jessica Voorhees, were both charged after their arrest in January, when the couple was pulled over on Latson Road in Howell. Voorhees reportedly gave the deputy a false name at first when he questioned her and materials used in a meth lab were found in the coupleâs car. Voorhees was sentenced last month to a minimum of 51 months and a maximum of 20 years in prison. (JM)
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Brighton Road Repaving Project to Start in Mid-JulyBrighton Road Repaving Project to Start in Mid-July
Itâs a big year for road improvement projects in Livingston County as the County Road Commission is doing several millions of dollarsâ worth of projects this summer on county roads. One of the biggest projects in terms of how it will affect commuter traffic is Brighton Road, which is a major commuter road for people in the Oak Pointe area in Genoa Township to get to and from the I-96 and US-23 freeways. Managing Director Mike Craine tells WHMI the road is being re-paved, with drainage and other improvements, from Chilson Road to Bauer Road, next to Maltby Intermediate School. A particularly vexing area for road commission engineers on Brighton Road is a low spot between two hills past Washake, which will require extensive work to stabilize the soil below the road surface. Craine says the Brighton Road project will begin around July 18th, and will require four road closures, with alternate routes set up, at several locations. He says there will be message boards informing drivers of the road closures and detours. The Federal Highway Administration will pay for the bulk of the $2 million project, with the road commission providing a $575,000 local match. Craine says the second phase of the project will be next year, when the road will be resurfaced between Bauer Road and the Brighton city limits. He says the Brighton Road project had to be split into two halves because of the high cost involved. (TT)
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Brighton EAA Hosts First Annual Fly-InBrighton EAA Hosts First Annual Fly-In
Dozens of people, including kids turned out for the first annual Experimental Aircraft Association fly-in in Brighton yesterday. The weather cooperated with sunny skies and a light breeze for an event designed to draw young people to the Brighton Airport. About a dozen private planes landed for the breakfast fly-in so the public and especially young people could get a close look. The event was also an opportunity for the teens involved in the Brighton Build-a-Plane project to show off what theyâve accomplished so far. Jack Haviland is a local pilot and one of the adults helping build the plane. He says the RV-12 kit plane wonât be ready to fly until fall, and the kids who may want to fly it have a few steps to complete to become licensed pilots. He says before they can get a license to fly the plane the teens will have to have two things, a medical to make sure they're physically and mentally capable of flying it and then take a written test that proves that they know enough not to blunder into airspace they're not supposed to be in. After those two things are accomplished it's a matter of stick and rudder skills, which is mostly hand-eye coordination and then flying enough so that they know what to do for a cross-wind landing versus a runway landing and those types of things; about 20 hours of that, minimum.
Haviland says the teens involved in the project come from different high schools and different backgrounds, but they all get hands on experience every week building the plane. He says the once it is ready for flight, a local pilot has agreed to give the teens about three of the 20 hours of flight instruction they need to get licensed. Jack Parzuchowski is a Hartland High School Senior who heads to Eastern Michigan University in the fall. He says working on the plane gives him some special skills. He says he went to Crosswinds Aviation for a school event and there was a man there who told him about the event because he heard Parzuchowski was interested in becoming a mechanic. He was told they were going to be building the plane and decided to join them. He says he mostly works on cars, so it's a lot different for him because on a plane he has to be a lot more accurate and careful. He says one fault can mean a matter of life and death up in the air, compared to a car that can be pulled over to the side of the road; you can't do that in the air. Parzuchowski is one of 8 teens involved in the build-a-plane workshop and says heâs learned some valuable lessons in the process. As part of the fly-in the EAA pilots also provided Young Eagle flights for kids between 8 and 17 years of age to give them exposure to flight. There was also a fly-over by a WWII B-17 and the chance to tour the B-25 bomber known as "Sandbar Mitchell." To learn more about the EAA or other Young Eagle flights visit the local EAA Chapter by clicking the link below. (DS)
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Milford Police To Begin Using NarcanMilford Police To Begin Using Narcan
Police in one nearby village have been trained and will be carrying the antidote to reverse a drug overdose. The Village of Milford had three cases of opioid overdose last year and two of those resulted in death. To have a greater chance of saving lives, each officer in the Milford Police Department will be equipped with a Narcan kit. Narcan, or Naloxone is used to counteract certain opioid drugs, including heroin and some prescription pain killers. Firefighters were trained and began carrying the drug last October and police were trained early this month. Police Chief Thomas Lindberg says using Narcan doesnât solve the heroin and prescription drug abuse issue, but gives the department a greater chance of saving lives. He says the Narcan kits are not a miracle cure and wonât bring someone back to life who has already died, but as long as the person is breathing and has a pulse it can give them another chance to live. The Narcan kits are provided through a partnership grant with the Oakland County Department of Mental Health. (DS)
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Marion Township Hosts 9th Annual Heritage DaysMarion Township Hosts 9th Annual Heritage Days
It was a weekend event designed to give people a glimpse of yesteryear. Live bands in two different areas of the Marion Township Park entertained festival goers over the weekend at the 9th Annual Marion Heritage Days. The two day event brought people from all over the county to experience a little of the rural life. The festival is a celebration of the agricultural heritage of the area. Marion Township Supervisor Bob Hanvey says the annual event is a way to let people experience some things they might not have a chance to otherwise. Hanvey says over the last several years the local population has grown quite a bit. He says the object is to let people, new to the community, have an idea of the kind of heritage the area has, which is mainly farming and now includes automobile. He says a lot of people are new to the area and have not had the opportunity to ride a horse for example, and there were free pony rides that allows kids to get on a horse and actually have the experience of seeing what a horse is really like, as opposed to just looking at a picture. They also had a new event, which was the Livingston County Animal Shelter's and they had animals to adopt. Hanvey says they were able to adopt out nine cats and at least 3 dogs so that worked out fairly well. It took dozens of volunteers to pull together the event, which was free to the public. Township Trustee Greg Durbin credits the township board for its role in making the whole thing happen. He says the festival is a way to demonstrate what Marion Township is all about. Along with the classic cars, tractors and engines there was canoeing and kayaking in the pond, small animal demonstrations, baby chicks hatching, and lots of activities for kids. Hanvey says each year there is something different, but staples like the shingle mill and saw mill come back year after year. He says this year there werenât as many steam engines as in the past, but that made room for something else. Hanvey says the schedule changes right up to the event and he doesnât know until shortly beforehand what the festival will look like. He says the volunteers and the community make it a success each year. (DS)
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