Touches give hall a fresh look

Volunteers with American Legion Post 377 spent a month renovating their meeting hall on Mary Sue. ‘It was pretty dingy before,? said Greg Thurber, Post 377 junior vice president. “The paint was donated. Labor was donated. This is the first time we’ve worked on it in about 30 years.” The meeting hall, built about 60 […]

Helping out in style

With Hilary Spring facing a year of treatment for breast cancer, her coworkers at Glitz Salons are helping the best they can. ‘Flowers seem really insignificant right now,? said Glitz owner Cherie Barnett, organizing a Cut-a-Thon fundraiser for Spring, Sunday, April 26, 4 p.m., at the Orion Township Glitz, 4868 S. Baldwin Road, where she […]

Youngsters dance their away to state awards

Local dancers Alexis Green and Josephine Auchterlonie both took several first-place honors at Michigan Dance Challenge, March 27, though neither is yet in high school. ‘It’s an exciting time ? more kids are coming in to dance,? said instructor Curtis Haremza of Clarkston, who owns Elegance in Motion Dance Studio in Orion with his wife, […]

Larger classes likely as $1.8 million cut

For Andrea Duhaime of Independence Township, school budget cuts are uncomfortably close to the classroom. “We’re very happy with the schools, but increasing class sizes severely concerns us,? Duhaime said, addressing the board, April 13. ‘I’m a teacher myself, and I know managing 26 students can be very difficult ? I’m wondering, have you exhausted […]

Breaking down the MEAP

Considering raw MEAP scores, Clarkston schools are 11.67 percent better than average. But there’s more to it than that, school officials say. Clarkston schools combine MEAP scores with classroom grades, tests and other assessments to determine priorities and where funding and resources should go, said Stephen Hyer, president of the Clarkston Board of Education. “We […]

A new take on style help

With Hilary Spring facing a year of treatment for breast cancer, her coworkers at Glitz Salons are helping the best they can. ‘Flowers seem really insignificant right now,? said Glitz owner Cherie Barnett who is organizing a cut-a-thon fundraiser for Spring, Sunday, April 26, 4 p.m., at the Orion Township Glitz, 4868 S. Baldwin Road, […]

3 vie for 2 seats on school board

When Stephen Hyer was elected in 2001, some trustees were on Clarkston Board of Education longer than he was alive. ‘Janet Thomas had 26 years on the board,? said Hyer, who was 22 years old at the time. ‘That’s a lot of experience.? Now after two four-year terms and into his third as board president, […]

3 vie for 2 seats on school board

Helping out at Andersonville Elementary School two years ago, Michelle Beck saw effects budget cuts have in the classroom first-hand. She didn’t like them. ‘The district lost a math enrichment person, a reading enrichment person ? large drastic cuts,? said Beck, running for Clarkston Board of Education, her first elected position. ‘I think it’s really […]

3 vie for 2 seats on school board

Rosalie Lieblang’s experience as PTA president at Bailey Lake Elementary gives her an inside perspective of challenges students face. Her career in cost-benefit analysis and process redesign would help her solve them, she said. ‘If elected to the school board, I’d be very interested in new programs and ideas to attract and retain students,? she […]

Phil in the Blank, A column by Phil Custodio

This is the time of year when grass starts growing again, leaves bud, and the air warms. A time to warm a Michigander’s heart after a long, cold winter. For many teachers, however, the end of April brings another sign ? the less-than-cheerful arrival of the pink slip. Due to state law and employee contracts, […]