Ortonville- It’s a Friday afternoon, the sun is out in the village, and so is a television crew.
Andrew Vance, president and producer/director for Cavalier Pictures, stands behind a camera across from the Old Mill, getting ready to film a yellow and white ?56 Chevy 210 Delray as it cruises down Mill Street.
The classic car is driven by Downtown Development Authority Chairman Dave Bonner and seated next to him is Veronica Vance, host of the show, ‘Discover the D? which airs Mondays at 5:30 p.m. on PBS.
The village will soon appear on the show, set for July 9, for a minute to a minute-and-a-half of fame.
‘We’re doing a short piece promoting Ortonville as part of ‘Do it Downtown,?? says Andrew Vance, producer/director for Cavalier Pictures. ‘We will promote the car show and Beets, Beats, and Eats at Crossman Park.?
‘Do it Downtown? promotes the weekend of Aug. 3-5, during which all 12 Main Street Oakland County communities are having special events, however, Ortonville, Rochester and Pontiac have been selected as featured downtowns on the show.
In the village, a car show, Cruise to Ortonville, is planned for Aug. 5, while Beets, Beats, and Eats will be on Aug. 3. BB&E is a weekly Friday event that begins July 13 and runs through Sept. 28 and features local artists, farmers, musicians, and a home-cooked meal.
Vance describes ‘Discover the D? as a being like a travel channel for metro Detroit. The weekly show has been airing for two years and has featured attractions such as Greenfield Village, the Renaissance Center, the casinos in Detroit, and Pine Knob.
‘It’s pretty cool,? says Vance. ‘This is my first time in Ortonville, and I think it warrants a full 7-minute segment.?
Bonner hopes the crew will return for the longer feature, but is excited about the show that should air at least twice this month.
‘It’s a start for the future that Ortonville is heading for,? he said. ‘I’m very happy. Hopefully, we can keep moving on and get the future the town deserves. It’s long overdue.?