Recreation: More office hours, same staffing levels

Brandon Twp.- Hours of operation are increasing in the recreation department, although not the number of operators or their hours per week. At their Aug. 5 meeting, the township board approved by a 6-1 vote to open the recreation office five days a week beginning this week. Supervisor Kathy Thurman voted no. The vote came […]

Main Street program on right path

Ortonville- The village appears to be on the fast track to success after two-and-a-half years as a Main Street community. Main Street Oakland County officials visited Feb. 8 for a 2006 year-end evaluation of the program. ‘They said we’re doing well and they believe we will be recertified as a Main Street community,? said Downtown […]

Woman prison warden to discuss book at library

Brandon Twp.- Tekla Dennison Miller hopes to hold a captive audience as she shares her experiences as the first female prison warden in Michigan during her presentation ‘The Warden Wore Pink? One Woman’s Journey from Warden to Author,? at 6:30 p.m., March 8, at the library, 304 South St. Miller, now a 63-year-old Colorado resident […]

Art among us

Brandon Twp.- It was a day of art appreciation on Feb. 16 at Harvey Swanson Elementary. During Festival of the Arts, instead of their regular classes, students spent the day attending workshops in which they experienced different art forms such as music, movement, and visual arts. ‘The kids love it,? said Principal Helen Clemetsen of […]

Brandon Academy of Arts & Sciences opens this fall

Brandon Twp.- One size does not fit all. With this in mind and an eye on expanding education options in the district, the Brandon School Board unanimously approved at a special Aug. 12 meeting a new Brandon Academy of Arts and Sciences for the 2013-14 school year. ‘This is not a charter school, it is […]

Hats off to a mystery

Groveland Twp.- Farmer Nick Nichols fell in love with a statue of ‘Little Lulu? when he was shopping with wife Pam at an antiques mall a few years ago. The antiques dealer didn’t have any information on the 8-foot tall sculpture of the comic strip character, but was anxious to sell her as she was […]

Racing to 50 in 2013

Atlas Twp.- By the time February rolls around, many New Year’s resolutions have fallen by the wayside. By August, they may be a distant memory. Not so for Robin Hoeffel, who set a goal in January of running 50 competitive races by her 50th birthday. When Hoeffel runs the Crim 10-Mile race on Aug. 24 […]

Consumers Energy meetings set for Atlas, Brandon

Natural gas service could be available everywhere in Atlas and Brandon townships next year. Consumers Energy has set public meetings to outline plans to continue extending natural gas mains in both townships. If 50 percent participation is reached in each project area, natural gas service would be an option for all residents in both townships. […]

No Brandon School bus transportation outside district

Brandon Twp.- The school district will not be sending a bus to pick up students in Pontiac, nor in any other area outside of this district. While students who reside in other districts are welcome to attend Brandon as schools of choice students, the school board unanimously agreed during a special Aug. 12 board meeting […]

Give and take for recreation: Extra hours, no extra funds

Brandon Twp.- Residents should see improvements in recreation with an increase in staffing and office hours, but they will likely also see a slight increase in program registration fees next year. During a special meeting Aug. 21, the township board unanimously approved increasing the recreation administrative assistant’s hours from 24 to 29 hours per week, […]