Livingston County plans to thank its veterans with an annual picnic in Brighton this weekend.
The Livingston County Veterans Appreciation Picnic will be held Saturday at the Brighton Recreation Area on Chilson Road in Howell from 12 to 4pm. The event will include a full barbeque lunch for discharged veterans and active-duty members from all military branches, as well as outdoor recreation activities and raffles.
The picnic is funded entirely by area donations and veteransâ organizations, making it free for its guests. Registration is not required but proof of veteran status is requested.
Picnic Gathering Will Honor & Thank Local VeteransPicnic Gathering Will Honor & Thank Local Veterans
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Beam Placement Will Force US-23 Closure This WeekendBeam Placement Will Force US-23 Closure This Weekend
A complete freeway closure is scheduled on US-23 this weekend just south of Livingston County.
The Michigan Department of Transportation advises that there will be a total overnight closure along northbound US-23 at 6 Mile Road so crews can set beams at the new bridge. The closure will start at 9pm on Friday and continue until 9am on Saturday. A detour will be posted when northbound US-23 is closed. In addition, starting on Monday, August 7th, the northbound US-23 ramp to 6 Mile Road will be closed for reconstruction and remain closed until September 6th.
There will also be a continuous single lane closure this weekend on northbound US-23, between M-14 and N. Territorial Road, for concrete pavement patching. The lane closure will start at 9pm on Friday and continue until 7am on Monday. Motorists are advised to watch for traffic back-ups and to slow down throughout the work zone. (JK)
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Livingston Christian Schools Undecided On Appeal To U.S. Supreme Court In Genoa Twp. Lawsuit Livingston Christian Schools Undecided On Appeal To U.S. Supreme Court In Genoa Twp. Lawsuit
Itâs still unclear if a final appeal will be filed by a local religious school in its lawsuit against Genoa Township.
The 6th Circuit Court of Appeals denied a request by Livingston Christian Schools for the full court to hear their appeal in the 2015 lawsuit it filed against the township for its refusal to grant a special use permit that would have allowed the school to relocate to the Brighton Church of the Nazarene. A three-judge panel of the court in June ruled in favor of a lower court that the lawsuit had no merit, dismissing it. The First Liberty Institute has been representing LCS at the appellate level and filed a petition for a re-hearing, which was recently denied. A three judge panel previously heard the case and the request was for the full COA to hear the case. The court said such a hearing was unnecessary as, âthe issues raised in the petition were fully considered upon the original submission and decision of the case.â The petition then was circulated to the full court, but no judge requested a vote for a rehearing.
Deputy General Counsel Jeremy Dys told WHMI itâs pretty rare for a court to grant a re-hearing on a matter, which they recognized. The U.S. Supreme Court would be the last resort, but attorneys are apparently hopeful something can be worked out between the parties. He says theyâll spend some time talking with LCS to discuss how to proceed but thinks there is still room for Genoa Township to work with the school and help them get into the space they want to be in. Dys says whether or not further legal discussions need to take place is something theyâll take up with clients at the appropriate time but it would be great if they could work out something informally.
When the permit was initially denied by the township, there was an outcry from officials and parents from both LCS and Light of the World Academy (LOTWA), a formerly private religious-based Montessori school that obtained authorization to re-open as a public charter school. The academy planned to move into the old LCS facility once that school moved to Brighton Church of the Nazarene.
In its previous dismissal of the appeal, the 6th U.S. Circuit panel said the school was not substantially burdened within the meaning of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act despite the fact that LOTWA now occupies LCSâs former Pinckney property, thus preventing the school from returning. It said any argument along those lines had no merit because LCS leased the building only after the special use permit application was denied and litigation commenced. LOTWA purchased the building last year. The opinion added that the fact LCS cannot use the property is due to its own actions and the evidence about the Academyâs decision to become a publicly funded charter school is insufficient because it does not explain the reason for LCSâs financial difficulties. It was also noted that LOTWA became a charter school because it was having a difficult time keeping enrollment numbers up at a tuition based school. (JM)
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LibCon 2017 Brings Pop Culture Fandom To Livingston CountyLibCon 2017 Brings Pop Culture Fandom To Livingston County
Three local libraries are offering an opportunity to come out and celebrate your inner-nerd tomorrow at LibCon 2017.
The Brighton, Howell Carnegie, and Hartland Cromaine District Libraries have come together to put on this free, comic-con style event at 2/42 Community Church. Everyone is invited to come dressed as their favorite comic book, superhero, or pop culture icon and participate in the cosplay contest for prizes. There are 4 groups to enter in- kids, teens, adults, and groups. There will also be a series of panels, presentations, games, and crafts to participate in.
Panels will be held on topics like getting started in Dungeons & Dragons, various aspects of the comic book industry, and the weaponry seen in Game of Thrones. There will be interactive presentations and games based on Star Wars, Harry Potter, Pokemon, Doctor Who, My Little Pony, and more. Local authors and illustrators Clay Boura, Joshua Buchanan, Jerome Shields, and Devon Camel will be at the event to meet and greet. There will also be face painting, button making, and vendor booths to browse.
LibCon 2017 will run from 4pm until 8pm at 2/42 Community Church, located at 7526 Grand River Avenue, in Brighton. (MK)
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Mayorsâ Pancake Breakfast In Brighton SaturdayMayorsâ Pancake Breakfast In Brighton Saturday
The Mayorsâ Pancake Breakfast will take place this Saturday as part of Brightonâs 150th Anniversary and the Brighton Fine Art & Acoustic Music Festival.
The event will take place from 8-10AM in the Ciao Amici parking lot at 217 West Main St. in downtown Brighton. Pancakes, sausage, and potatoes will be served along with coffee and orange juice for $5. Current Brighton Mayor Jim Muzzin and former mayors Kate Lawrence, Steve Monet and Jere Michaels will be flipping flapjacks. Food will be prepared by The Wooden Spoon restaurant. The Vintage String Band, which is being sponsored by the Brighton District Library, will be providing live music.
Beginning at 10am, the Brighton 150th Anniversary booth will open for the day in front of the CoBACH Center, providing 150th Anniversary T-shirts in different sizes for $15 each and Brightonopoly board games for $35 (All purchases must be in cash). (TT/JM)
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5.5K Run Returns To Remember Fallen Officer And Celebrate First Responders5.5K Run Returns To Remember Fallen Officer And Celebrate First Responders
A fundraiser in Hartland this weekend will recognize first responders and pay tribute to the memory of a fallen hero.
West Bloomfield Police Sergeant Patrick OâRourke was shot and killed in the line of duty in September of 2012. He is survived by his wife Amy and their four children who live in Tyrone Township. A 5.5k race and fun run will be held this Saturday, August 5th at Hartland High School to honor Sgt. OâRourkeâs memory and celebrate all first responders.
Part of the 5.5kâs course includes the Sgt. Patrick OâRourke Memorial Highway which is a stretch of Old US-23 from M-59 to Center Road. Amy OâRourke says the 5k is timed, but the official finish line is at the 5.5k mark because of the numberâs significance. Patrickâs badge number was 55 and 55 means âIâm okâ in police 10-code. Amy says there are countless instances in which her husband has reached out to her and her children through that number since he was taken.
The race will include a Family Hero Fun Run, which children can participate in by doing a lap around the schoolâs track. Funds raised from the event will be split among four community organizations; the Michigan Concerns of Police Survivors (MICOPS), The Hurley Foundation, the St. John the Evangelist Fenton Outreach Program, and the Fenton High School Athletic Department.
Amy says the event will be a happy and fun one because thatâs who her husband was. She says itâs important not to focus on how he died because itâs really about celebrating how he lived.
Race and registration details are available at the link below. (DK)
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Green Oak Township To Conduct Regional Traffic StudyGreen Oak Township To Conduct Regional Traffic Study
A comprehensive traffic study will help Green Oak Township plan for future developments.
With multiple developments proposing to add 916 housing units in the township, the Board of Trustees is looking to prepare itself for how to handle the added traffic. Supervisor Mark St. Charles said that while normally the developers contract out the traffic study themselves, they wouldnât collaborate with other builders and their studies to learn the true impact. The Board of Trustees had a plan in spring to request bids for a study on the entire area to be affected so that they will know themselves what kind of improvements they will need. St. Charles pointed out some of the areas he knows will need work. He identified the intersections at Rickett and Winans Lake Road, Winans Lake Road and Whitmore Lake Road, and Whitmore Lake Road and Silver Lake Road.
The supervisor said that when the bids started coming back in that he experienced a bit of âsticker shock.â St. Charles explained that in his head and the heads of many on the Board, they believed this was going to cost the township around $40,000 or more. Many of the bids came back far under that. Ultimately the Board elected to go with Bergmann Associates, who had the low bid of $8,750. Bergmann will begin the study soon and expects it to last for 6 weeks. (MK)
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Gleaners Gearing Up For 13th Annual Iron Chef FundraiserGleaners Gearing Up For 13th Annual Iron Chef Fundraiser
The culinary skills of local chefs will once be tested next week as they compete in the 13th annual Iron Chef competition to benefit the Gleaners Community Food Bank of Livingston County.
Set for Thursday, August 10th at Bordineâs Nursery in Brighton, the culinary competition will pit Chef Jeffrey Bane (pictured), head of Cleary Universityâs culinary program, defending his 2016 Iron Chef title against Chef Craig Myrand, Culinary Director, Adam Merkle Restaurants, which include Diamonds Steak & Seafood, The Silver Pig, and Cello Restaurante in Howell. Both will be challenged to incorporate a secret ingredient into an appetizer, an entrée and a dessert to be scored by a panel of judges.
The event will also again feature a Mixology competition with last yearâs champion, Toni Pomranky of Bourbon Smoke in Brighton being challenged by Sabrina Lewis of La Vita Bistro in Pinckney. Tickets are $50, which include beverages and appetizers as well as a chance to win a taste of the competing dishes.
Last yearâs challenge set a record with 655 guests in attendance, but more importantly raised approximately $95,000, which equates to more than 280,000 meals. Gleaners officials say that makes a real difference throughout the year as their Shared Harvest Pantry in Genoa Township serves about 1,200 families a month. For more information or to purchase tickets, log onto the link below. (JK)
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Restaurant Owner Arraigned For Alleged Assault; Past Employee Speaks OutRestaurant Owner Arraigned For Alleged Assault; Past Employee Speaks Out
As a local businessman is arraigned in a case that alleges he choked an employee, others are coming forward with allegations of a hostile work environment.
42-year-old Mike Bouffard of Saline was arraigned Wednesday on one count of assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder for an incident on July 10th. Bouffard is the owner of The Original Mikeyâs Burgers & Fries in Howell, which reopened this year. Bouffard is said to have gotten into an argument with an employee over his uniform and not following proper procedures, which apparently escalated in the parking lot. The 20-year-old victim who lives in the Howell area alleges Bouffard choked him. No hospitalization was required.
Bouffard was previously a partner at now-closed locations in Genoa Township, Brighton and Hartland. At that time, a number of former employees told WHMI they were owed back wages and endured harassment. Current employees have recently come forward alleging the same.
Nicole Faunden of Fowlerville described the work environment as hostile. She told WHMI Boyffard was in the hospital when they opened and everything was fine but things took a turn for the worse when he got out. Faunden and a manager quit on the same day, saying she had enough and was sick of crying everyday coming home. Faunden says Bouffard didnât like her and sheâs not particularly sure why, alleging he had to have things his way and told her she needed to show respect or he could fire her at any given time.
Faunden says things got worse after Bouffard found out she was dating a woman. She says he basically bullied her into quitting in late May and often talked inappropriately including name calling, made sexual references, had bursts of outrage and basically has no filter. She further alleged unsafe working conditions related to a grill table and says he wouldnât hire people because they were ânot pretty enoughâ. Faunden said she wasnât surprised to hear about the alleged choking incident and Bouffard should not be allowed to employ people period, adding he has also withheld wages for some employees.
When contacted for comment, Bouffard referred WHMI to his attorney, who has yet to respond. Bouffard did post his own lengthy version of events on social media, which is attached. Bouffard says he was in the process of building the restaurant when he was diagnosed with pneumonia, which turned into a severe lung infection. He says he lost half his lung and was in a coma for two weeks. After rehab and 98 days in the hospital, Bouffard says he came back to the restaurant, which others had been helping run, and was working to get things back to the "Mikeyâs standard." He maintains some employees were not too keen on following processes and procedures he was implementing in his business, saying the disrespect and resistance was âconcerning at bestâ.
Bouffard will return to 53rd District Court on August 15th for a probable cause conference. (JM)
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LESA Seeks School Supply Donations At "Stuff the Bus" EventLESA Seeks School Supply Donations At "Stuff the Bus" Event
The Livingston Educational Service Agencyâs yearly Backpacks for Kids campaign is underway, and its major collection event is set for Friday.
Now in its 16th year, the annual Backpacks for Kids campaign is an effort that provides backpacks filled with school supplies to local children whose family may need some assistance. Great Start Livingston Coordinator Robin Schutz says school supplies can be expensive, and the campaign aids families in need by allowing kids to start the school year with all of the necessary equipment.
Supplies to fill the backpacks can be donated at the Stuff the Bus event, which is set this Friday, August 4th, at the Howell Wal-Mart. An LESA bus will be stationed at Wal-Mart from 10am to 2pm so that community members wishing to donate can purchase supplies there and help fill the bus right outside the store. Schutz says LESA is looking for standard-type school supplies and a wish list of those supplies is posted on their website.
Then on August 4th through the 6th, community members can also donate by shopping at Five Below at the Green Oak Mall. Shoppers can print off a Backpacks flyer from LESAâs website and hand it in when making their purchase. The flyer guarantees that 10% of the proceeds will be donated to LESA to help purchase backpacks and school supplies.
LESA will fill the backpacks with the donated items on August 16th, which is Livingston County United Wayâs annual Day of Caring. The filled backpacks will be distributed at LESA on August 17th at an event that also includes a community resource fair. You can find more information about the collection events and Backpacks for Kids campaign at the link below. (DK)
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Public Meeting Set For Baker Road Improvement Project In DexterPublic Meeting Set For Baker Road Improvement Project In Dexter
The public is encouraged to attend a public meeting about a large construction project next year in the Dexter area.
The Washtenaw County Road Commission and the City of Dexter will hold a public meeting regarding improvements at two Baker Road intersections in the City of Dexter and Scio Township scheduled for 2018. Federal Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality funding has been received toward the project, which will cover the cost to convert the intersections of Baker/Dan Hoey Roads and Baker/Shield Roads into two single-lane roundabouts. Construction will begin in June of 2018 and be completed prior to the start of the 2018/2019 school year.
The meeting will be an open house format on Tuesday, August 15th at 6pm at Creekside Intermediate School. Officials say citizens and other interested parties will have an opportunity to learn more information about the project, detour routes and speak with Road Commission representatives. More information about the Baker Road intersection improvement project is available through the link. (JM)
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Pipeline Opponents Share Stories Of Worker Misconduct & Construction ConcernsPipeline Opponents Share Stories Of Worker Misconduct & Construction Concerns
While construction of a natural gas pipeline continues in Livingston County, those in opposition of it are sharing their experiences and stories as to why.
15 miles of the Energy Transfer Rover Pipeline will run through the region and serve as the final section of the 42-inch diameter pipeline. The pipeline, which is over 700 miles long, begins in West Virginia, though construction was recently halted there due to permit violations.
Construction of the pipeline is ongoing in Livingston County and local residents are continuing to hold gatherings to speak out against it. The Michigan Residents Against the ET Rover Pipeline met in downtown Pinckney last night and held an informational rally for the community. Group leaders shared details of the project and residents affected by its construction shared their experiences thus far. One such resident is Kayti Garrett, who says the pipeline runs underneath her driveway. Construction began in mid-July and is occurring just 300 ft. from her home.
She says noise from the construction lasts from 7am to 7pm every day, and that the workers near her house are âvery crudeâ. Garrett says they constantly curse, even while her children are playing outside, and porta-potties had to be brought in because the workers were allegedly relieving themselves on the side of the road. She tells WHMI they are careful if she stands outside and watches them while they work, but that from inside her house, she has seen them commit several violations. Some of those violations include tree cutting past the deadline, creation of large dust clouds, and lack of proper fencing.
In addition to construction and environmental concerns, many residents are worried about the pipelineâs path. Linda Singer lives on Silver Lake and explained that the pipeline runs behind the houses, putting them between its route and the lake. She says that puts all of the homes in the entrapment zone and that if the pipeline was to explode, emergency access points would be cut off and homeowners would have no way of escaping. Singer says her family has lived in the area for many years and is "devastated" to see the change in the region's natural beauty.
Many residents at Wednesdayâs rally also expressed discontent with the role local law enforcement has played. Some say in their interactions with authorities regarding pipeline-related matters, they feel they are not being taken seriously or are made to feel like criminals.
The Residents Against Rover group is continuing their efforts to halt construction and encourage citizens to report any violations related to the project that they witness. More information about the organization and their mission can be found at www.overwithrover.com. (DK)
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Pinckney Woman Running Ultra-Marathon For Mexican OrphanagePinckney Woman Running Ultra-Marathon For Mexican Orphanage
A 200 mile run to benefit a Mexican orphanage will include a Livingston County woman.
Jane Donovan of Pinckney is attempting to run 200 miles in an ultra marathon on Friday, August 11th in Washington State called the 'Big Foot 200' in order to raise money for the Talita Cumi Children's Home near Zihuatanejo, Mexico. Donovan, who works as a children's book author and illustrator, says she and her family have gotten to know the kids personally through the years and wants to see them continue to grow. The money raised would help with food, clothing, school materials, and enable them to participate in sports.
Donovan welcomes everyone to donate to her GoFundMe account. Youâll find that link below. (AS)
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Thompson Lake Beach In Howell City Park Closed Until Further Notice Thompson Lake Beach In Howell City Park Closed Until Further Notice
Elevated levels of E. Coli have prompted officials to close the beach at Howell City Park.
Howell DPS Director Erv Suida tells WHMI the beach was closed at approximately 3pm today due to E. coli bacteria levels exceeding what is considered safe for recreational use. He says the Howell Area Parks and Recreation Authority responded quickly upon receiving the results and additional testing was being conducted. The Livingston County Health Department has also been notified.
Both the beach and Thompson Lake will remain closed until results come back within acceptable levels. (JM)
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Free Business Advice Workshops Coming To Area LibrariesFree Business Advice Workshops Coming To Area Libraries
A series of workshops have been set up around several local libraries to help entrepreneurs succeed with setting up and running their business.
The Senior Core of Retired Executives, or SCORE, is a volunteer non-profit organization that has spent more than 50 years helping small businesses get off the ground. Over the next 3 months they will be holding 4 free workshops to help educate business-owners and give them a leg up during the first few critical months of operations. SCORE Mentor Ken Kuna said it is important for small businesspeople in the community to know that SCORE is there to help them. He said a lot of the time young entrepreneurs donât have knowledgeable people to go to or bounce ideas off of, and that is where SCORE Mentors become really valuable.
This Wednesday, August 9th, is the first workshop entitled Are You Ready to Start Your Business. It will be held at the Salem-South Lyon District Library. SCORE will be at the Brighton District Library on September 13th for Business Plans Made Easy. Marketing 101: The Basics will offer a crash course at the Howell Carnegie District library on October 11. On November 8th, the series returns to the Salem-South Library for its concluding workshop, Financing Your Business. All 4 workshops run from 7pm until 8. Registration is appreciated. Registration and more information on the workshops and SCORE can be found at the libraries participating. (MK)
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Six Mile Road Closed Between Main Street & Nollar Road Six Mile Road Closed Between Main Street & Nollar Road
Culvert replacement has forced the closure of a portion of 6 Mile Road in Northfield Township until further notice.
Six Mile Road between Main Street and Nollar Road is currently closed so crews can replace the culvert at the Horseshoe Lake Drain. The road will be closed to traffic during construction. Local traffic to and from adjacent properties located within the closed section of Six Mile Road will be maintained. The Washtenaw County Road Commission expects the work to be complete in approximately three weeks. However, officials caution that all dates are tentative and subject to change due to weather conditions.
Detours are posted and include Nollar Road, Seven Mile Road and Main Street. (JM)
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Crane, Gregory Streets In Howell To Undergo ImprovementsCrane, Gregory Streets In Howell To Undergo Improvements
Construction is slated for some streets within the City of Howell.
The Howell City Council met recently and awarded an approximately $499,000 contract to repave Crane and Gregory Streets. Work on Crane will be done from Jewett to Center Street and on Gregory from Washington to Brooks. Due to budget constraints, the two streets were selected for improvements this construction season based on having the greatest need and providing the biggest benefit for the community. Both Crane and Gregory Streets were determined to have very poor surface conditions and significant utility and drainage needs.
Work is expected to start sometime in the foreseeable future. Howell City Manager Shea Charles tells WHMI they anticipate having the project complete by the end of the fall. He says itâs a pretty substantial project and work will involve upgrades to water and sewer on various parts of Crane and Gregory Streets, as well as repaving. The bid also included resurfacing portions of West Clinton Street, which had a sewer line failure earlier this year. Charles says that pavement replacement was incorporated as part of the bid to take advantage of good unit pricing.
As with any road construction project, Charles says there are challenges but he thinks everyone will be very pleased with the final product when itâs done. (JM)
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Bagger Dave's In Brighton Closes Bagger Dave's In Brighton Closes
A well-known burger joint in downtown Brighton has officially closed.
A sign on the door of Bagger Daveâs Burger Tavern simply states the company has decided to close the Brighton location on Grand River and encourages patrons to visit its other restaurants.
Bagger Daveâs Director of Marketing Michelle Fiebing tells WHMI the companyâs lease at the Brighton location was due to expire, and they opted not to renew. She says they are focusing on strengthening the brand further with optimizing existing locations and operational efficiency.
Officials said they were grateful to guests and the community for their support over the years. (JM)
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Thompson Lake Beach ReopenedThompson Lake Beach Reopened
After less than a day, the beach at Howell City Park has reopened after elevated bacteria levels closed it Thursday afternoon.
The beach was closed at approximately 3pm Thursday due to E. coli bacteria levels exceeding what was considered safe for recreational use. But Howell DPS Director Erv Suida tells WHMI that samples taken Thursday morning came back, âwell within the acceptable levelsâ allowing them to reopen the beach earlier today. (JK)
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24-Hour Gym Moving To Oceola Township24-Hour Gym Moving To Oceola Township
A 24-hour fitness facility has been given the green light to move from Genoa Township to Oceola Township.
Endeavor Fitness had their site plan approved by the Oceola Township Board of Trustees at their regular meeting Thursday night. The owner is moving it from its current location on Lawson Road near Kohlâs in Genoa Township, to a property owned by his father on M-59 at Eager. The gym will be located adjacent to Dr. Jermovâs Cosmetic and Family Dentistry office, While several subdivisions surround the property the new building will be constructed on, Supervisor Bill Bamber said this was a permitted use. He stated 5% of the area of the planned unit development that was applied for and sold over 15 years ago can be commercial. He said the current owner built his dentist office, but because of the economy had not been able to further develop the land until now.
The 16,000 square foot building will have an additional 4,000 square feet of accessory office space that can be rented out. At least one nearby resident has raised concerns about the gym coming to a mostly residential area and the impact it would have on noise, traffic and light pollution. The developer said they have heard these concerns, which were also voiced by the planning commission, and have agreed to turn off the perimeter lights between the hours of 10pm and 2am. The Board approved the plan unanimously and the Jermovâs hope to begin construction soon. (MK/JK)
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