March 4
Learning to help, helping to learn Orion Oaks Elementary sent 15 boxes filled with school supplies to Afghanistan this past year with “Operation: Kids Helping Kids.” The items we take for granted are precious in a nation torn asunder by extremist rule and the conflict following 9/11.
Village officials ready for emergencies Village administrators and law enforcement updated and increased emergency management resources to make sure citizens are accounted for and taken care of in possible natural and man-made disasters.
Residents weigh in on school district Of the 1,237 who completed the district-made survey, 87.7 percent graded the schools with an A or B. Around 10 percent gave a C or D. And only five responders said the district deserved a failing grade. The remaining percentage was made up of neutral responses.

March 11
Former township supervisor helped Orion through financial scandal What would Orion be without General Motors, Civic Center Park and a clean auditing process? All of those things were made possible by Bob Sheardy, who passed away March 1 at the age of 89. Sheardy, who served two terms as township supervisor from 1976-1980 and previously on the school board, will be remembered for his many contributions to Orion throughout his years of public service.
Angel Center’s fate in limbo Deborah and Jerry Moceri, Angel Center LLC owners, wanted to rezone the former Ehman Center, but according to the Planning Commission, the Moceris weren’t specific enough about the center’s ‘mixed use’ request. Commissioners’ top concern was the undefined allotted space for commercial use. Other issues included updating the building’s capacity and parking space, fire suppression system, noise and privacy issues for the surrounding residential area and staying in line with the American’s with Disabilities Act.

March 18
Community stands by principal Students and community members rallied around Lake Orion High School Principal Todd Dunckley to protest an issue yet to be acknowledged at the board level. Rumors moving through the schools suggested the board would not renew Dunckley’s contract, which was set to expire that year. What was believed to be the inciting issue was the principal didn’t fit the board’s vision for the district.
A budding relationship: Jacobsen’s leases garden center to Wojo’s When Orion gardeners went to buy their flats of flowers, it wasn’t from Jacobsen’s Garden Center, which leased out the space to Wojo’s Greenhouse of Ortonville.
‘It was a nightmare. We can’t wake up’ Brian Bailo, the 31-year-old Orion man slain in a Pontiac mugging gone wrong last week, will be remembered for his large, giving heart.

March 25
Stealing beauty: economy, thieves plague art center The humanities notoriously suffer through economic downturns, but usually just through lack of funding. Orion Art Center recently experienced the other effect of bad economic times: crime. Thieves struck the center and made off with money and the center’s camera.
GM to shut down Orion plant three weeks in April The plant, which halted production for nearly a month in January, was slated to take a similar break starting March 30 and hopefully get back to work April 20.
Farmers Market sprouts up downtown The Downtown Development Authority brought farm-fresh treats to Lake Orion. Residents looked forward to the start of a farmers market in June.