The more Margaret Birch undertakes, the more she thrives. Not only does she assume a demanding job as treasurer for Waterford Township, the largest township in Oakland County, but she is a member of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors, a member of the International Association of Public Treasurers of the U.S. and Canada, a board member for the Oakland County Treasurers Association, and serves on several internal boards within Waterford Township. Her [...]

After eight years of what effectively amounts to the state of Michigan issuing heavy-handed penalties to motorists for relatively minor infractions as a means of shoring up the state’s budget, lawmakers in the state Legislature have unanimously voted to do away with some of the state’s so-called “driver responsibility fees” that are levied for accumulating a certain number of points on a driver’s record or committing certain specified offenses. We don’t get to say this [...]

A Waterford Township trustee probably realized he would raise a stink by prompting a dialogue on potential changes in the township’s approach to waste collection, and deserves some credit for pushing the issue anyway. We look forward to seeing a detailed plan and suggest the township put it before voters next year as an advisory ballot question. Trustee David Kramer had planned to broach trash collection issues at a Monday, Nov. 14 township board meeting, [...]

From Ralph Hashoian, West Bloomfield Township: My correspondence with the media in the last (few) years has seemed always to be in the form of a negative response to various news articles. But I must say I was very impressed with your (editorial) on Nov. 9-15, “Bullying is bullying. Period.” What refreshing insight, guts and honesty. It is rare today to see the press do its job — call it as it is. In this [...]

From Kevin Lawrence, Milford Township: I would like to take time to congratulate (Huron Valley Schools Board of Education trustee-elects) Bonnie Brown and Jeffery Long on a job well done with their campaign and wish them good luck on the (board). May they keep moving things forward for the betterment of our children and (may) their ideas be heard. The campaign for school board was quite unique in its own way — nine candidates all [...]

From Lynn “Lindy” O’Brien, director of musical entertainment, Quake on the Lake: Please allow me to thank a very special group of people — the concert/live entertainment volunteers who most graciously donated their time and efforts to this year’s annual Quake on the Lake hydroplane races, a charity that benefits Michigan children who are seriously ill on behalf of the Rainbow Connection founded by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. First of all, special thanks [...]

From Joe Hargrove, Commerce Township: Before you sign a petition to recall a state representative, ask what “terrible deed” they did. Did they vote to repeal Michigan’s drug industry immunity law — the law that denies you your day in court if you or a loved one is harmed or killed by a (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) FDA-approved medication? Did they vote against tax cuts for big business at the expense of our kids [...]

For Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without a visit to Ford Field in Detroit. That’s where the Eaglets are heading after a thrilling 14-10 victory over previously undefeated Battle Creek Harper Creek in a Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) Division 3 state semi-final at Withington Stadium in Jackson on Saturday, Nov. 19. Trailing 10-7, Grant Niemiec scored the game-winning touchdown for the Eaglets on an 11-yard run with just under 1 [...]

Walled Lake Western once again showed resilience as it has done throughout the 2011 state playoffs, but it was not enough last weekend to push the Warriors through to the state finals. Western fell in an overtime heartbreaker, 42-35, to Lowell in a Michigan High School Athletic Association Division (MHSAA) 2 state semi-final on Saturday, Nov. 19 at Kelly-Shorts Stadium at Central Michigan University. “The effort was phenomenal and that’s a compliment to our players, [...]

The lakes area’s best female swimmers were on display this past weekend at the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) state finals, with one swimmer bringing home a pair of championships. Waterford United’s Maddie Wright, a freshman at Waterford Kettering, took the Division 1 state crowns in the 200 Freestyle (1:19.04) and the 100 butterfly (54.82) at Eastern Michigan University. Waterford Unified finished 16th in the Division 1 overall standings, while West Bloomfield tied for [...]