Hope you are all coming to the Denim & Diamonds event held by the Clarkston Area Optimists on Saturday, March 8 at 6:00 p.m. at Sellers RENEW 9603 Dixie Hwy. Great dinner from the Woodshop (no wait for seating at Denim & Diamonds). You can have fun riding the bull, learning to line dance, bidding on a superb array of silent auction items or the real live auction with an auctioneer. Lots of things to do and lots of friends at this event! Come and join us!!! All funds are used for helping kids in the Clarkston area. Tickets available by calling 248 922 5616.
The Clarkston Area Optimist mission is to "Bring Out the Best in Kids". Over the last few years, we have been able to support Deer Lake beach with lifeguards,equipment and beach improvements. Grants have been given to North Sashabaw Elementary for a summer book mobile, the library for a summer reading program, the choirs of Clarkston Schools for sound equipment, the athletic department at Clarkston High School for the new field house, the tennis program at Clarkston High School for tennis lessons and the tennis complex built with fundraising, professional development for the staff at Pine Knob Elementary and North Sashabaw Elementary Schools, afterschool tutoring at the Bridgewater Apt complex and the Clarkston Junior High School as well as helping the Blessings in a Backpack program.
The Optimist club sponsors elementary, middle school, junior high school and high school Alpha, Octagon and Junior Optimists clubs for students. Ask the principal if there is a club at your school.
The Optimsit Club sponsors an oratorical contest, an essay contest, Junior Golf, Tri-Star Basketball and we partner with the Independence Township Parks and Recreation Dept to sponsor Friendly Forest at Halloween.
Membership in the Clarkston Area Optimists is open to all adults. Contact Robin Brose President at P.O.Box 891, Clarkston 48347 or at our website www.clarkstonoptimsits.org
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
Saturday, February 4, 2012
Clarkston Public Access Channel
Independence Township has recently hired Joseph Barnhart, formerly with the Michigan State University public television channel to be the Program Manager for the Independence Township Community Access station (CPAC or Clarkston Public Access Center).
Think how your organization can utilize CPAC to inform and entertain the community.
The public access channel is funded by PEG fee charges on each resident's cable bill whether Comcast or ATT. Each community that has a public access channel, receives revenue from the cable companies. In actuality, residents pay the fees and the cable companies pass them on to communities. Historically, when cable companies first approached communities to lay cable lines in the community, they funded a public access station for the community which they operated. This changed in the 1990s and the governmental units or a non-profit 501 3 c have taken over the stations. Independence Township operates their station, while Lake Orion and Waterford have a non-profit 501 3 C operate their township station.
PEG fees, by law are to be used only to purchase equipment for operating the station. All labor costs and other costs are born by the municipality or non-profit.
The community access station can be a vehicle to transmit information to the Clarkston/Independence Township community about activities happening in the community. Each year, the Fourth of July parade is filmed and played on the channel. Parks and Recreation as well as Senior Center activities are programmed on the channel. The Independence Township board meetings are broadcast each week.
Non profit organizations provide many active and worthwhile events during the year and the community television access channel can be a conduit to let the public know. Church services appear on the station. St. Trinity Lutheran Church is a long time producer of programs on the public access channel.
Think how your organization can utilize CPAC to inform and entertain the community.
The Clarkston Public Access Channel or CPAC needs volunteers to learn to film activities in the community. If you've been interested in television production, give them a call at 248 673 9581.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Fourth of July Parade
Don't listen to the rumors, the Fourth of July parade will be happening on Monday, July 4th in Clarkston. While the Independence Township Fire Department will be handing the parade off to local volunteers, it appears everyone is onboard to continue the tradition of a great parade to start the holiday. Thanks to charitable and church groups who are seeking commitments from their members to continue the 75 year tradition of the Clarkston Fourth of July parade. The parade in the 1960s included a water fight with the Independence and Waterford Fire Departments near the Mill Pond. The firemen have done a fantastic job over the years but as the township and village grow, they are needed to be on call. Read this blog to learn what the theme of this year's parade will be and where to register. Start making your plans for a Fourth of July tradition in downtown Clarkston.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Deputy Supervisor
Independence Township has a new deputy supervisor. The Supervisor Dave Wagner first said he had an administrative assistant but he has sworn the employee in as his deputy supervisor. Adding personnel to township government at this time, seems inappropriate.
The clerk is allowed to have a deputy clerk and the treasurer is allowed to have a deputy treasurer and that was one of the reasons given by the supervisor to hire a deputy. Another reason was that the supervisor has had health problems and vacation time and has not been at work. Elected officials do not have to follow a work calendar, they could work part time if they choose. There is no statute that says elected officials have to work 40 hours a week. But you expect a person running for office to be prepared to fill the duties of the office without hiring someone to work for them.
The board voted to limit the hours and wages to $15,000 which seems like an agreement to the hiring of this new person.
The new deputy supervisor has budget experience which seems to be a weakness of the Independence Township personnel. It appears that if the elected officials had the skill set to be a supervisor, he should be able to create a budget. Families create budgets, businesses create budget, and governmental entities need to be able to create a budget. Maybe the supervisor doesn't have the skill set for the supervisor's position. What do you think?
The clerk is allowed to have a deputy clerk and the treasurer is allowed to have a deputy treasurer and that was one of the reasons given by the supervisor to hire a deputy. Another reason was that the supervisor has had health problems and vacation time and has not been at work. Elected officials do not have to follow a work calendar, they could work part time if they choose. There is no statute that says elected officials have to work 40 hours a week. But you expect a person running for office to be prepared to fill the duties of the office without hiring someone to work for them.
The board voted to limit the hours and wages to $15,000 which seems like an agreement to the hiring of this new person.
The new deputy supervisor has budget experience which seems to be a weakness of the Independence Township personnel. It appears that if the elected officials had the skill set to be a supervisor, he should be able to create a budget. Families create budgets, businesses create budget, and governmental entities need to be able to create a budget. Maybe the supervisor doesn't have the skill set for the supervisor's position. What do you think?
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
As the police blotter writer for Independence, Springfield townships and the City of the Village of Clarkston for the Oakland Press, I am able to talk with law enforcement personnel.They have been telling me for months that Independence and Springfield townships and the village of Clarkston are ripe for break ins and robberies because we are located between two major depressed areas with little left to steal. While some crime is caused by outsiders, plenty of the petty crime appears to be the result of our neighbors.
The smashed windows at Depot Park on July 22, the theft of credit cards from an area store and the daily break ins and larceny from vehicles in the townships should alert residents, that we need to take purses and laptops out of the vehicle and inside the home, make sure things are secured around our homes and vehicles and be alert that we do not live so far out in the country that no one is looking for items of value to take.
A renewal of the police millage for Independence Township is on the ballot on Tuesday. Without the renewal, the township would not have a police force. It would seem to be a no brainer, that residents need to vote affirmative for the renewal.
There is also an increase on the ballot. Information states that without the increase, there will be a loss of deputies to man the Independence Township Oakland County Sheriff's substation. I think it would behove the Oakland County Sheriff's office to tell us where the deputies are being utilized, the needs that deputies are seeing in 2010 and the residents need to make an informed decision on the increase in the police millage.
Independence Township has added low income housing in the apartments in the Sashabaw Corridor, arge mobile home parks in the southeast section of the township which provide affordable living for residents. But the denser population, also causes problems.
As a police blotter writer, I see parents in all areas of the township calling on the police to help negotiate family difficulties and help when identity theft and fraud have taken place because of the Internet. Ten years ago, Internet fraud, threatening Facebook entries and the lack of being able to problem solve family issues were not police issues.
But when you feel you need a law enforcement officer because you don't have anywhere else to turn, they are there.
We may see a couple of them having lunch or even a doughnut, but we don't see them when they come to a suicide, a hospice death, pull over a drunk driver or assist someone with a drug overdose, break up a fight at a bar, take a report on a break in or a larceny from a vehicle, pull us out of our vehicle after an automobile accident or shoot a deer we have just hit with our car. Most of the time, deputies and police officers see citizens at our worse or most vulnerable times. But they respond and we are fortunate that our deputies are well trained and professional in their approach.
Think about your votes on the millage and the increase millage and be informed.
If you are a City of the Village of Clarkston resident, the decision is do we vote yes and keep the Clarkston police or do we vote no and contract with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department. Many residents will talk about response time and village identity when making those decisions. Each resident will have to weigh the facts and make their own decision. Unfortunately, increasing the millage to the 20 mills will max out allowed millage to be collected by the city for any future needs.
The village is not immune from crime though it is more compact in size than the township. Crime is everywhere in today's economy. People who commit crimes do not walk around looking like criminals so each citizen needs to be alert and be watchful of what is happening around them.
Criminal activity can be reduced when citizens report suspicious happenings to the law enforcement officers in a timely manner. Citizens do not replace law enforcement officers but we can help law enforcement by being alert and securing our own property and items.
The smashed windows at Depot Park on July 22, the theft of credit cards from an area store and the daily break ins and larceny from vehicles in the townships should alert residents, that we need to take purses and laptops out of the vehicle and inside the home, make sure things are secured around our homes and vehicles and be alert that we do not live so far out in the country that no one is looking for items of value to take.
A renewal of the police millage for Independence Township is on the ballot on Tuesday. Without the renewal, the township would not have a police force. It would seem to be a no brainer, that residents need to vote affirmative for the renewal.
There is also an increase on the ballot. Information states that without the increase, there will be a loss of deputies to man the Independence Township Oakland County Sheriff's substation. I think it would behove the Oakland County Sheriff's office to tell us where the deputies are being utilized, the needs that deputies are seeing in 2010 and the residents need to make an informed decision on the increase in the police millage.
Independence Township has added low income housing in the apartments in the Sashabaw Corridor, arge mobile home parks in the southeast section of the township which provide affordable living for residents. But the denser population, also causes problems.
As a police blotter writer, I see parents in all areas of the township calling on the police to help negotiate family difficulties and help when identity theft and fraud have taken place because of the Internet. Ten years ago, Internet fraud, threatening Facebook entries and the lack of being able to problem solve family issues were not police issues.
But when you feel you need a law enforcement officer because you don't have anywhere else to turn, they are there.
We may see a couple of them having lunch or even a doughnut, but we don't see them when they come to a suicide, a hospice death, pull over a drunk driver or assist someone with a drug overdose, break up a fight at a bar, take a report on a break in or a larceny from a vehicle, pull us out of our vehicle after an automobile accident or shoot a deer we have just hit with our car. Most of the time, deputies and police officers see citizens at our worse or most vulnerable times. But they respond and we are fortunate that our deputies are well trained and professional in their approach.
Think about your votes on the millage and the increase millage and be informed.
If you are a City of the Village of Clarkston resident, the decision is do we vote yes and keep the Clarkston police or do we vote no and contract with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department. Many residents will talk about response time and village identity when making those decisions. Each resident will have to weigh the facts and make their own decision. Unfortunately, increasing the millage to the 20 mills will max out allowed millage to be collected by the city for any future needs.
The village is not immune from crime though it is more compact in size than the township. Crime is everywhere in today's economy. People who commit crimes do not walk around looking like criminals so each citizen needs to be alert and be watchful of what is happening around them.
Criminal activity can be reduced when citizens report suspicious happenings to the law enforcement officers in a timely manner. Citizens do not replace law enforcement officers but we can help law enforcement by being alert and securing our own property and items.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Around the township and village, political signs are showing up on resident's lawns. Citizens will see Vote for Rick or Hoekstra, vote for Oakland County Sheriff's deputies, Renew the Library millage or pick one of several candidates for state senator and state representative to represent Independence and Clarkston residents.
The citizens that wins the state senator race will win a four year term and receive $79,650 salary. How do citizens become knowledgeable about the candidates for this office? One way to listen to the candidates is by going to http://rhtv.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=6fff87dbe799d58fa01840e4ae62f0cf and view the League of Women Voters candidates forum held in June. Both Democratic and Republican candidates spoke at the June event.
One of the big challenges for the state and our legislators is the constitutional convention which comes up every ten years. Should the state open the consitution? Big question for our representatives.
We all need to be informed voters. Take some time and open the link and get a sense
The citizens that wins the state senator race will win a four year term and receive $79,650 salary. How do citizens become knowledgeable about the candidates for this office? One way to listen to the candidates is by going to http://rhtv.pegcentral.com/player.php?video=6fff87dbe799d58fa01840e4ae62f0cf and view the League of Women Voters candidates forum held in June. Both Democratic and Republican candidates spoke at the June event.
One of the big challenges for the state and our legislators is the constitutional convention which comes up every ten years. Should the state open the consitution? Big question for our representatives.
We all need to be informed voters. Take some time and open the link and get a sense
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