Guests can watch teams compete in the fourth annual Lake Orion Pumpkin Launch at Orion Oaks County Park from 11 a.m. ? 3 p.m. on Oct. 15.
Last year, the winning team launched a pumpkin 1,187 feet with a trebuchet, a medieval blockade weapon similar to catapults. Anyone who brings their own trebuchet to the event can compete.
Orion Village councilman Michael Toth started the event with his team Oakland Ballistics.
The event is free for spectators with an annual vehicle permit. The cost for participating teams is $25.? Gates open for practice and registration at 8 a.m.
Orion Oaks County Park is located at 2301 W. Clarkston Road in Lake Orion.

Orion Township Public Library, in conjunction with the Area Agency on Aging, is hosting a special meeting on Medicare on Oct. 19, at 7 p.m. The presentation will provide basic information on who is eligible, how to enroll and what services are covered. An emphasis will be placed on learning about the prescription drug benefit. Issues regarding supplemental insurance, Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare fraud and abuse also will be addressed.

GM’s Orion Assembly plant in Orion Township was recently recognized for its excellence in local community environmental projects and partnerships by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. According to the automaker, the facility received an Environmental Partner Award for its work incorporating community activities like mentoring students on water quality and enhancing natural habitats surrounding the plant. GM Orion Assembly also has a robust recycling program.

In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, both Curves fitness clubs in Lake Orion (207 North Park Blvd. and 3009 South Baldwin Road) are waiving the joining fee for new members who show proof of a mammogram within the past year, or make a $25 donation to breast cancer research. During October, Curves is promoting the importance of risk management through healthy living and exercise, early detection and treatment of the disease. The fitness clubs also are participating in fund-raising efforts to support the research and outreach efforts of the American Cancer Society.

Ghosts, ghouls, goblins and anybody else looking for ‘spooktacular? fun are invited to participate in the Downtown Lake Orion Halloween Parade, October 22. Children of all ages are invited to wear their costumes and walk in the event. Kids will line up at the corner of Lapeer and Elizabeth Streets at 1:45 p.m., with the parade starting promptly at 2 p.m. It will travel south on Broadway Street through downtown and end at Children’s Park. Afterwards, children can Trick-or-Treat through downtown businesses. A Halloween dance party and games will be set up in Children’s Park, along with a creepy reptile house, until 5 p.m. The event is sponsored by the Lake Orion Downtown Development Authority and Genisys Credit Union.

The 2011 Lake Orion Community Schools? annual education report is now available to the public for viewing on the district website (www.lakeorion, k12.mi.us). The report covers MEAP and MME scores for the district, Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) results, teacher qualification information, state results for National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and district and individual building reports. Also online is the district improvement plan.

Lake Orion Community Schools requested at the Monday Lake Orion Village Council Meeting permission to hold a homecoming parade on Friday, Oct. 7. The parade route will begin at Blanche Sims Elementary School and move south on Florence Street to Flint Street. It will then continue west on Flint to Broadway where it will move north and end at the Angel Center. The Village approved the use of the roads for this event.

The Lake Orion Village Council sought to appoint two members to the Orion Community Cabel Communications Commission on Monday, including a vacency made by the departing councilmember Micheal Toth. Ordinances dictate the commission shall consist of nine members – 4 appointed by the Orion Township Board of Trustees, four by the Village Council, and one by joint resolution. One new appointee is John Ranville.
Other committees that needed new members to be appointed by the Village Council include the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee and the NOTA. Toth was reappointed to Parks & Recreation and the NOTA appointment was left until Larry Stumkat, who was abset, could return to have a chance at accepting the position.

The Lake Orion Village Council sought to appoint two members to the Orion Community Cabel Communications Commission on Monday, including a vacency made by the departing councilmember Micheal Toth. Ordinances dictate the commission shall consist of nine members – 4 appointed by the Orion Township Board of Trustees, four by the Village Council, and one by joint resolution. One new appointee is John Ranville.
Other committees that needed new members to be appointed by the Village Council include the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee and the NOTA. Toth was reappointed to Parks & Recreation and the NOTA appointment was left until Larry Stumkat, who was abset, could return to have a chance at accepting the position.

The Village of Lake Orion will again provide leaf pick up services to village residents. The schedule is as follows: East of M-24, weeks of Oct. 11, 24 and Nov. 14; West of M-24 and East of the lake, weeks of Oct. 11, 31 and Nov. 21; and the islands ? Swiss Village, Bellevue, Recreation Heights, Park Island, weeks of Oct. 11 and Nov. 7 and 28. Wet leaves are difficult to pick up. Bush and limbs cannot be mixed with the leaves. Pick up to be done at least once a week.

Governor Syder’s proposal to mandate open enrollment in schools across the state will be the topic of discussion at the Greater Oakland Republicans Club meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2011, from 7-9 p.m. at the Orion-Oxford Eagles Club, 317 West Clarkston Rd., Lake Orion. School Superintendent Marion Ginopolis and representatives from the Addison Township and Oxford school districts will share their perspectives on the timely, growingly contentious issue, as well as discuss charter schools and their importance in education. To date, Lake Orion has not opened its schools to out-of-district students, while both Addision Township and Oxford have.

The grand reopening of the Downtown Streetscape ran into a snag at the the Sept. 13 VIllage Council meeting, when the waiving the late request to close Flint and Broadway streets was turned down. While Michael Toth and Larry Stumkat voted to waive the restriction, which requires submissions to allow for two meetings (one to decide when public comment will be held and a second to hear the comments), Douglas Dendel, Douglas Hobbs, David Churchill and Ken Van Portfleit voted to deny the request. While the DDA is uncertain of how to proceed, options now are to move to Childrens Park, shorten and tone down the ribbon cutting, or cancel and move the event to October.

On Sept. 5 at around 6a.m., Toni Plouhar, of Oxford, entered a S. Broadway pharmacy and told an employee she had a gun with armed accomplices outside. She then demanded survailence be disabled while items she requested, including cash, be put in a bag. While one employee met the demands another was able to gain control of Plouhar. LOPD was contacted and no weapon was found on Plouhar’s person. She was arraigned Sept. 7 at 52/3 District Court before Magistrate Marie Soma. Her pre-exam conference is Sept. 15.

Oakland County Parks and Recreation is offering free park entry to all guests on Sunday, September 11, in remembrance of Patriots Day and to honor the armed forces and American veterans. Guests can hike, bike and enjoy the natural surroundings at Addison Oaks, Highland Oaks, Independence Oaks and Rose Oaks county parks. The dog parks at Lyon Oaks, Orion Oaks and Red Oaks are ideal for pets and their owners. Orion Oaks is located at 2301 Clarkston Rd., Lake Orion.

Orion Township residents have one more chance to dispose of household hazardous waste on Sept. 17, 2011, at the NO HAZ event held at the new Wildwood Amphitheater parking lot, located just south of Civic Center Park at 2685 Joslyn Court (across from the soccer fields). Collection hours are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Residents should bring identification with their current address to participate. Accepted items include household paints and stains, antifreeze, gasoline, kitchen and bath cleaners and polishes, mercury and mercury thermometers, aerosols, pesticides, herbicides and computer and electronic equipment.

Last week, the Michigan Department of Education ranked Lake Orion’s Carpenter Elementary School among the top 30 schools in the state. Schools were judged by math and reading test scores, and general academic improvement of students. Look for more details on this honor in an upcoming issue of The Review.

Copies of the Aug. 29 Township Board meeting dominated by contentcious debate on the expansion of the Eagle Valley landfill and eventual rescinding of the board’s agreement last spring are available at ONTV. Cost is $20 for the marathon, four-hour broadcast. The discs need to be ordered in advance; call 248-693-3377.

Share a cup of java and share what is on your mind with State Rep. Brad Jacobsen in September. He announced his informal community coffee hours for local residents in Lake Orion and Oxford: Saturday, Sept. 10, 8-10 a.m. at Tim Hortons, 590 N. Lapeer Road, in Oxford; Monday, Sept. 19, 8-10 a.m. at Starbucks, 590 S. Lapeer Road, in Lake Orion.

It has been a long time coming, but workers have replaced the final bricks of the Streetscape project, as well as finished all but the top coat on Flint Street, over the past few days. This paves the way for a downtown grand opening celebration during the early evening of Thursday, Sept. 15, 2011. Read The Review and visit our Facebook page for details as they become available.

At last week’s school board meeting, Lake Orion Community Schools Superintendent Marion Ginopolis announced the district is adding an additional staff associate at all elementary schools to monitor lunches and recesses. This comes after administrators cut the number of these positions at each school from four to two earlier this year due to budget constraints. Ginopolis also said the district is developing a formal process for securing parent volunteers to help with these and other activities at the district’s schools.

Lake Orion fans looking for a unique collectible from this week’s football game versus the Oxford Wildcats can purchase a Rally Towel at the event.
The design showcases the much-anticipated ‘Battle of the Blue Turf? and second year of the renewed rivalry, as well as the start of the Dragons? defense of their 2010 Division I title. All the proceeds from the sale of the $5 towels support both schools? football programs. They will be available for purchase on game day in Oxford.

Drivers, with the exception of street residents, need to stay off E. Flint Street for about another week while repairs and repaving continue, said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh. A leveling coat of asphalt is being applied this week between Miller Road and Anderson Street and if vehicles drive on this before the top coat can be applied the fragile concrete base could be damaged and need to be replaced, engineers warned. Assuming drivers comply, all of the work should be completed by the end of next week. Narsh said his officers will continue to ticket drivers who move barricades and drive on the street. He strongly recommends drivers follow the Atwater Street detour through the area.

The Michigan Barn Preservation Network honored Orion Township this week for its efforts to move and restore the historic Porritt Barn, now located on the grounds of Friendship Park. The organization presented Township Supervisor Joann Van Tassel with its Pride of Ownership Award, acknowledging the restoration effort led by the Orion Historical Society. The Porritt Barn is open for tours and is part of the township’s Barn Daze event each year.

Lake Orion Community Schools last week appointed Adam Weldon as assistant principal of Scripps Middle School and Larry Lobert as the district’s assistant superintendent of human resources. Weldon was previously a teacher at Genesee Junior/Senior High School in Genesee, County since 2004. He also was athletic director there for one year. Lobert was most recently director of human resources for New Trier Township High School, District 203, in Winnetka, Ill., near Chicago, since 2007. Prior to this, he was assistant superintendent of human resources for Grosse Pointe Public Schools.

GM began initial production of its highly anticipated Chevrolet Sonic at its Orion Assembly Plant on Monday. The plant had been closed for 18 months for updates and retooling to accommodate production of the subcompact vehicle. Orion Assembly also will produce the Buick Verano subcompact, has 1,750 workers, including 1,600 hourly employees.

More than 40 residents of the Keatington subdivision received a warning letter from the Orion Township ordinance manager in late July, requiring them to move their boats from their driveways. According to JoAnn Van Tassel, the boats violate a township ordinance against such storage. If the boats are not moved by Aug. 8, tickets may be issued. This issue was discussed with one affected boat owner at this week’s Township Board meeting. Van Tassel asked the person, Leif Anderson, to prepare a petition to have the ordinance changed, which would be evaluated by the Board.

The Village employee parking area is no longer open to public weekend parking. Children’s Park remains closed and rolling closures of roads will occur as needed. Parking for the remainder of the street renovations will be based on ability to access.

The Lake Orion Horseshoe Club will give free lessons on how to ‘pitch? horseshoes tonight (Wednesday) during the Downtown Lake Orion Farmers? Market. The market is open from 2 to 7 p.m., with lessons from 4 to 7. Guitarist Kevin Wilson will also play at the market from 4 to 7. Brownie Troop 70169 from Stadium Drive Elementary School will sell bottled water as a fund-raiser. The Weekly Basket Giveaway drawing entries will be given to the first 20 patrons to visit the Vendor of the Week, Frantz Honey, beginning at 4 p.m. The farmers? market is between the Orion Art Center and Orion Fire Department, off of Anderson Street.

E. Flint St is still on target of being closed between Anderson and Orion Rd/Miller for milling, concrete base repair and resurfacing. One lane will be open for emergency vehicles and local residents only. We instruct all motorists who drive Flint St. to get to Miller Rd or Orion Rd via Atwater. The first operation will mill off the asphalt. Pavement will then be evaluated and marked for removal. This work is anticipated to take 4 weeks.

Two new principals were introduced at the July 13 Lake Orion school board meeting. John Blackstock was named principal of Stadium Drive Elementary School of the Arts, replacing Jesse Baker who retired. Blackstock has been a Lake Orion teacher for 13 years and held various leadership roles, including a ‘Response to Intervention? coach, school improvement leadership co-chair and football coach at the high school. Kenneth Nuss joins the district as principal of Orion Oaks Multi-Age Elementary School, replacing Brian Kaplan. He joined the Davison School District as a teacher in 1994 and most recently was principal of Davison Middle School.
In other personnel news, John Fitzgerald was appointed assistant superintendent for business and finance, replacing Jillynn Keppler. He previously served ten years as director of financial services for the Oakland Schools Intermediate School District. Last month, Cliff DuPuy was named director of technology and media services for the district. Interviews for the district’s new assistant superintendent of human resources are in progress, as are those for assistant principal at Scripps Middle School.

Tuesday started curb removal and replacement operations. Broadway will be closed between Flint and Front Streets, and westbound Flint Street will be closed between Broadway and Anderson. The barricades will be moved back during non-working hours to allow thru traffic, however the parking lanes shall remain closed at all times until all work behind the curb is complete. No construction during this weekend’s puttputt event. Completion is anticipated to take 3 weeks.

Streetscape may be close to finished, but there are still a number of items to complete. Starting July 5, workers from Wade Trim began assessing the slopes on the sidewalks between Front and Flint Street, Broadway and Anderson, and Anderson and Orion Road. Children’s Park is also on the list of items to complete as is the final surfaces of blacktop which will be added once sidewalks are leveled. Finally, ‘punchlist items? or detail procedures will be completed. These including the addition of trees and addressing the gaps between buildings and sidewalks. No completion date given.

The investigation into Lake Orion Police Lt. Harold Rossman concerning the death of 38-year old Eric Shanley on May 6 is closed.
Rossman was cleared of any negligence. Oakland County Undersheriff Mike McCabe said the investigation was very thorough, and involved not only his investigation but the prosecutors office as well.
‘We were called in by Lake Orion Police Chief (Jerry) Narsh to perform an outside investigation, we put everything together, and took those results to the Oakland County prosecutor,? McCabe said Tuesday afternoon. ‘It was obvious Lt. Rossman did nothing wrong. There was no negligence, he wasn’t speeding, he was just in the wrong spot at the wrong time. It was just a very unfortunate event.?
Narsh agreed, ‘Everyone here feels for the family of Mr. Shanley. I’m glad to be returning Lt. Rossman to active duty — he’s one of the finest officers I’ve ever known.?

Tomorrow (Thursday) is the official opening of the new $4 million Silver Bell Road bridge over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad tracks. Silver Bell Road has been closed since Feb. 9, when the old bridge was shut down for safety concerns. This section of Silver Bell serves as the main truck access route for the GM plant (which will resume production shortly) and is a main east/west corridor for Orion Township and northeastern Oakland County .

It’s been a long time, but according to the Oakland County road commission, next Thursday (June 30), a ribbon-cutting ceremony will officially open the new $4 million Silver Bell Road bridge over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad tracks.
Silver Bell Road has been closed since Feb. 9, when the old bridge was shut down for ‘safety concerns.? This section of Silver Bell serves as the main truck access route for the GM plant (which will resume production shortly) and is a main east/west corridor for Orion Township.
The event begins at 10:30 a.m. and will take place at the east end of the new bridge. Parking will be available along Silver Bell Road east or west of the bridge.

A lifeguard at Green’s Park in Lake Orion notified village police, on June 14 of a suspicious van near the park. The lifeguard reported that a colleauge told him of a red van that had been ‘hanging around? the parking for the last couple of days. An officer responded to discover the man who owned the van was harmless and homeless.

Oakland Stamping LLC, which hopes to operate out of the Orion GM Plant as a supplier, is seeking an Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate from the Orion Township government. The company is requesting this for tax abatement on a new personal property improvement with a total value of $6 million over 12 years. The company will inhabit approximately one million square feet and will open the business to aid the production at the GM plant. The certificate will either be approved or denied at the June 20 Orion Township Board meeting.

The new owners of the Hamlin Pub on M-24 near Clarkston Road are attempting to acquire the business’s liquor and entertainment license, which is currently held by the Pub’s previous owner. The approval of the license’s transfer will either be approved or denied at the June 20 Orion Township Board meeting.

Lake Orion Community Schools nominated employees for Betty Campion Distinguished Support Service Award offered yearly through Oakland Schools. They were recognized at the June 8 school board meeting. Each nominee ‘exemplified outstanding performance in an educational support role.?
This year’s honorees include Holly Hensley, Lake Orion High School; Joyce Falls, Oakview Middle School; Terry Charboneau, Webber Elementary School; Teddi Cristie, Pine Tree Elementary School; Joann Ronan, Paint Creek Elementary School; Kathy Kelly, Orion Oaks Elementary School; Lucy Michalik, CERC/High School; and Sheri Carver, Special Education. Carver is also the district’s nomination for the county-wide award.
The District also announced outstanding teachers for the County Outstanding Teacher of the Year award. Lake Orion teachers nominated are Kris Lavin, Stadium Drive Elementary; Jennifer French, Oakview Middle School; and Jenna Bendle, Lake Orion High School.

Law enforcement folks are looking for the man suspected of robbing a Baldwin Road store.
According to Oakland County Sheriff Deputy reports, the Dollar Tree was robbed on June 4. The suspect is described as a 40 year-old black male, approximately six feet tall and wearing a white teeshirt, walked up to the cashier on duty and demanded money. No weapon was seen or implied.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. Deputies on the scene attempted to collect evidence, but no video of the incident or fingerprints were obtained. It is not known if the suspect left on foot or on vehicle. The investigation continues.

We have received a number of calls, e-mails and letters wanting to know when the annual keepsake Graduation section is to be published. For those who don’t know, one of The Review’s goals is to get all kids who go through Lake Orion Schools in our pages at least once before the graduate. This section is our last chance — an includes a picture of all seniors.

A road rage incident was reported at Silverbell and Joslyn roads when a red car made an abrupt stop in a roadway on June 4. The sudden stop nearly caused a collision with a tan SUV, whose driver emerged from the vehicle yelling with his hands tightened into fists.
The Oakland County deputy observing the incident turned on his overhead lights, causing the SUV driver to retreat into his car. After interviewing the driver of the red car, a strong smell of intoxicants was detected on his breath causing the deputy to handcuff the suspect after a brief struggle.
After support arrived to search the driver of the red car, the deputy approached the SUV only to observe a woman get out of the passenger side crying and visibly upset.
She said the red car had been stopping abruptly several time trying to provoke a fight with her husband and she was scared because of her three children in the car. She said they were just trying to get home. Police searched the car to find a bag of marijuana and a toy plastic gun.
The driver of the red car said he was worried about the SUV following him because the driver looked angry after he had passed them on I-75. He said he was stopping to allow them to pass. The driver of the red car was arrested after blowing a .15 BAC, while the driver of the SUV was issued a citation for possession of marijuana.

Citing the need to carefully evaluate Michigan’s final budget for next year and its impact on public education and the local school district, the Lake Orion Community Schools Board of Education moved the date to approve the district’s 2011-12 budget, to June 22. Board members noted this would give people an additional opportunity to provide public comments on the budget process during the board meeting scheduled for June 8.

The resignations of the Lake Orion Community Schools? Assistant Superintendent of Business and Finance Jillynn Keppler and Executive Director of Human Resources Margaret Hazlett were formally accepted at the May 25 school board meeting. In other personnel news, Waldon Middle School Assistant Principal John Bernia was appointed Principal of Oakview Middle School, starting in the 2011-12 school year.

We have received a number of calls, e-mails and letters wanting to know when the annual keepsake Graduation section is to be published. For those who don’t know, one of The Review’s goals is to get all kids who go through Lake Orion Schools in our pages at least once before the graduate. This section is our last chance — an includes a picture of all seniors.

If you like pancakes, like the idea of helping out the community and like a great bargain (The editorial staff at The Review would never call you cheap), then block off some time to come for breakfast on June 4.
That’s the day the Lake Orion Police Department has their annual all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast, at Apple Bee’s restaurant, 305 S. Broadway Street (M-24). The cost is $5 and besides coffee you get sausage, coffee and juice.
‘These proceeds help pay for the Lake Orion Police Association Law Enforcement Scholarship with Lake Orion Schools, our summer league sponsorships, our Cops who Care, and Kids & Kops, and all other LOPA events and needs,? Chief Jerry Narsh said. ‘All the officers and dispatchers perform all of these tasks when they are off-duty on their time, at no cost to the community. It’s the LOPD way and volunteer spirit that has defined our department for over 100 years.?
The breakfast special is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Memorial Day deadline at Review
If you want to run a want ad in next week’s Lake Orion Review and in The Ad-Vertiser, you need to get your ad in Friday at noon. The same is true for letters to the editor. The Review office at 30 N. Broadway Street (since 1905) will be closed on Monday, May 30 ? Memorial Day. To get your notices in please visit us, or call our office at 248-693-8331. Our e-mail address is lakeorionreview@sbcglobal.net

Cement work continued through Tuesday with road patches on W. Flint near PNC Bank. Worker began bringing brick for the main intersection and the sidewalks.
Workers closed Broadway from Front Street to the alley leading into the lower municipal parking lot. Motorists coming off M-24 would still be able to take the alley leading to the parking lot of the parking lot.
On Wednesday, workers will begin opening W. Flint to two way traffic, though southbound M-24 traffic will still not be able to turn onto east bound Flint.

Lake Orion Community School Treasurer Jim Weidman is a little miffed these days.
At last Wednesday’s board of education meeting he adamantly recommended the board exercise its right under election law and request an impartial review of the charges Oakland County billed the district for its assistance in the February bond election. He said the $43,000 in expenses were ‘exuberant and way out of line? with what was expected, considering similar elections in the past were ran for as little as $4,000.
Weidman said the county’s explanations for the charges were inadequate. Board President Mary Jo Burchart said, ‘not a penny will be paid to anyone until we get some answers.?
The next school board meeting is slated for next Wednesday, May 25 in the Administration Building.

The Lake Orion Lion’s Club sought certain permissions from the Orion Township Board of Trustees Monday concerning their annual Jubilee Festival at Canterbury Village, now scheduled for June 26.
The allowances sought were an outdoor assembly license and a fee waiver request concerning signs advertising the event to be put up on S. Baldwin Road, Interpark Drive, Lapeer Road, and in two Canterbury Village lots.
The recommended action of the board was to issue the license, waiving the fee for its application, and to also waive fees associated with the signs. Both items passed unanimously.

Due to water running from high points on Rohr and Maybee Roads, a safety path at that location is routinely in need of repair. An item on the agenda for Monday’s Board of Trustees meeting recommended contracting with Italia Construction of Washington to make remedial repairs.
The item was voted in unanimously.

The 16th Annual Lake Orion Lions Golf Outing is Saturday, June 4 at Indianwood Golf Club. Registration forms can be found at www.LakeOrionLions.org. The early bird special is $120 per person if paid before May 31; after that it’s $130. The price includes a round of golf and a steak dinner at Palazzo diBocce. Proceeds help fund service programs like Project Kids Sight, Eyeglasses and Hearing Aides for the needy, Lead Dog for the Blind and annual scholarships for local students. For more information call Rick Rice at 248-933-5595.

On Monday, the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration announced a May 16 launch of space shuttle Endeavour. On board will be Lake Orion High School graduate, Drew Feustel. It will be the last flight for Endeavour, which replaced the ill-fated Challenger in 1992.
The April 29 launch was delayed because of electrical problems, particularly a short in the heater circuit linked with the orbiter’s hydraulic system.
Technicians repaired and tested the shuttle’s electrical system over the weekend. The crew heads back to Kennedy Space Center, Thursday.
Launch attempt will be at 8:56 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 16.

Those wishing to help Lake Orion students in their musical endeavors, may wish to mark, Friday, May 20 on their calendars. That is the day the Lake Orion Band Boosters are hosting their 2nd Annual Golf Outing at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club in Independence Township. $125 gets you golf, lunch and dinner! For more information go to www.LoDragons.org

Starting this week, through September 30, watering of your property in Lake Orion Village is regulated. According to a public notice running this week (page 26), odd numbered residential addresses can water on Monday, Wednesday, Friday an Sunday; nonresidential, don’t water on Sunday. Even numbered residential addresses are Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; non -residential don’t water on Sunday.
For more info call 248-693-8391.

Workers will continue spreading and compactiing the crushed limestone to be spread into the Flint/Broadway intersection. Cement crews will also continue their work on Flint Street from M-24 to Orion Road.
Crews will also be doing saw cuts on sidewalks at the edge of buildings from Shadbolt along Broadway. A board will be placed alongside buildings to protect them from damage. A soft wash will be provided to clean up the debris.
Street closures will remain the same.

The snow has melted, and well, there are still plenty of leaves left over from last fall. In Lake Orion Village residents can take care of these leaves by raking them to the curb.
According to a Public Notice in this week’s Review, starting the week of April 4, leaves on the curbs will be sucked up by the village leaf vacuum. This is weather permitting and will last for three weeks.
‘Wet leaves are difficult to pick up, and brush and limbs cannot be mixed with the leaves,? states the notice.
For more information (like what to do with your limbs) refer to the Public Notice section of today’s newspaper.

Know a local young person who goes above and beyond in service to the community? The Orion Area Youth Assistance (OAYA) is accepting nominations for for the18th Annual Youth Recognition Awards to be held April 28 in the Lake Orion High School Performing Arts Center.
The awards, said Tom Swieboda, youth assistance caseworker, pay special tribute to outstanding youth in the community who have volunteered their time in the past year.
Volunteer acts may include, but are not limited to, personal acts of heroism, hospital/ nursing home service, ecology/ beautification activities, Special Olympics, mentor/ tutoring, assisting senior citizens and drug/alcohol prevention.
Nominees are selected on the basis of voluntary services; paid services and high school community service requirements are not eligible.
Nominations must be received by March 18.
For nomination forms or more information, contact Tom Swieboda at 248-693-6878 or email tswieboda@lakeorion.k12.mi.us.

Michelle Novak, Guidance Counciler for Lake Orion Community Schools, is looking for roughly 50 adults to help facilitate ‘Real Talk?, an event taking place during Lake Orion High School’s Unity Week.
‘Real Talk? is an event created to allow students from all different social groups to congregate while discussing issues and solutions for sensitive problems. Parents that volunteer can recieve a list of key points to remember while chaperoning the event, including projecting a positive attitude, listening, noticing ‘lost? participants, and being open.
Anyone that wishes to volunteer must be prepared to stay for the event’s entirety – from 7:45 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Differnt grades will have the opportunity to partake in the event on different days, with seniors on Monday, Mar. 21, Juniors on Tuesday, Mar. 22, Sophomores on Thursday, Mar. 24, and Freshmen on Friday, Mar. 25.

The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) will close the Silverbell Road bridge over the Grand Trunk Western Railroad tracks in Orion Township on Wednesday, Feb. 9, due to the continued deterioration of the bridge.
The bridge, located between Lapeer and Giddings roads, had been scheduled for closure in the near future so the bridge could be demolished and replaced.
However, on Tuesday, Feb. 8, RCOC Board Chairman Eric Wilson called a special meeting of the Board of Road Commissioners for this Friday, Feb. 11, at nine a.m. to accept the bids for the bridge’s replacement, to authorize RCOC Managing Director Brent Bair to execute a contract with the low bidder and to expedite the process.
‘Safety concerns dictated that we had to close this bridge immediately,? saidWilson. ‘This bridge is critical to the community, to the General Motors Orion Plant and to other important businesses in Oakland County, and we want to ensure that the road is closed for the shortest amount of time possible.
‘Fortunately, we were in a position to be able to move ahead the construction phase of the project and we determined that we had to do that.?
As a result of the Board’s action, the low-bid contractor is expected to start work on the bridge replacement project on approximately Feb. 28. Silverbell Road will remain closed at the bridge until approximately June 30.
During the closure, the detour route will be Lapeer Road (M-24) to Brown Road to Giddings Road and vice versa.
The bridge replacement project will cost approximately $4 million. Of this amount, $2.6 million is being paid for through a Michigan Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) grant which is intended to support transportation projects that help to attract or retain jobs. This bridge serves the main truck access route for the GM plant.
The remaining $1.4 million of the cost will be split evenly by RCOC and the Grand Trunk Western Railroad.
Two lanes of the bridge had previously been closed in November 2009 due to its deteriorating condition.

Challenge Day, part of Lake Orion High School’s annual Unity Week, is set for March 7-11 this year. The event, said facilitators, is designed to help address and reduce the problem of bullying in school through what some call a ‘life-changing experience.?
The approximately 300 students who attend this year will participate in various team-building activities to ‘break down barriers within the student body by promoting respect for one another.?
Adult facilitators are needed to help Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday from 7:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. For more information about the program, visit www.challengeday.org. To learn more about volunteering, contact Michele Novak at mnovak@lakeorion.k12.mi.us

At Leonard United Methodist Church, their St. Patrick’s Day dinner will be March 17 from 4-6:30 p.m.
Cost of the dinner is $8 per person or two for $15. Officials ask those intersted to call ahead to have your take-out order ready at 248-628-7983.
LUMC is located at 254 E. Elmwood in downtown Leonard, near Leonard Elementary School.

The Oxford Ski and Snowboard Club will hold an information meeting Thursday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Oxford High’s LGI room.
The club was created to provide discount skiing to Oxford students and their families. For more info, call Cami Grove at 248-420-9115 or Hannah Cornell-Schroeder at 248-310-1971. The club’s website is at https://sites.google.com/site/oxfordskiclub.

The inside of Union Church has a new look, thanks to a group of volunteers who recently completed removing improvements to the church in only two and a half days.
Four days at the beginning of Aug. were scheduled for the project, which involved among other things, removing a drop ceiling and stage area that had been added to the original structure.
They uncovered beautiful stenciling around the church walls; two older, gothic-style windows; decorative detail near the ceiling tin and an oak floor under the tile.

The entrance to the police department at the Lake Orion Village Hall has a new look.
Because of a storm water drainage problem, water was repeatedly pooling around the door area.
The village’s DPW workers recently dug out the old drain system and created drainage swales that were filled with stone. The rest of the area was landscaped and trees were trimmed.
Dispatcher Cori Salmons and her husband refinished the village’s rustic picnic table which can now be used as a lunch spot for employees.

On Aug. 23, Orion Neighborhood Television cablecasts ‘Meet the Candidates,? with four of the five candidates for the Lake Orion Village Council participating in the live program.
Each candidate was given an opportunity to present a prepared introduction, and then in turn answer a series of questions regarding their views about the village.
‘Meet the Candidates? will be replayed on ONTV channel 20, each Fri., Sat. and Sun. at Noon and 6 p.m., until the Sept. 13 election.
For more information, call ONTV at 693-3377, or visit www.orionneighborhoodtelevision.org.