Tag: Community

Spectacular Update on the Spectacles for the Next Solar Spectacle Program!

Posted on by Carolyn Demates

Paul Gieleghem with box to donate Solar Eclipse Glasses On April 8, 2024, many residents of North America witnessed a total solar eclipse.  Some traveled to better spots around the country for viewing, but for those who stayed in our area, we had a pretty good view too.  With the benefit of co-workers who planned ahead and had their eclipse glasses in hand, I was able to appreciate the natural spectacle from the Clinton Township parking lot.

Soon after, a friend shared a link to a solar eclipse glasses collection program that would clean and sanitize the glasses, then ship them off to South America so that students in the South of that continent would have the opportunity to witness a Ring of Fire eclipse that will occur this October.

Rather than simply tossing them away or hanging on to them for roughly the next forty-years when the next eclipse happens in our country, donating them, I thought, would be a great way to connect with young people around the globe and help them develop a first view, and make the science of astronomy a little more real and fulfilling.  So we sent out a press release announcing that the Clinton Township Treasurer’s office would serve as a collection site. I was also pleased when newspapers picked up the story and when Clinton Township residents stepped up.  It was amazing to see that people came by our counter just to drop off their eclipse glasses, and then thanked my staff for doing this!

Last week we mailed 1,304 pairs of Solar Eclipse Glasses to the Physics Dept at Albion College, who will send them toAstronomers Without Borders.  In addition to residents, members of the Clinton Township Senior Adult Life Center and Fraser Schools chipped in to make this drive successful.

Three images: Paul with donated glasses, Paul with package of donated glasses at Post Office, and Paul weighing the box to send out at the Post Office.

It is a pleasant thought to think back about the excitement over the North American Eclipse last April.  We never know how simple and small gestures of friendship and educational opportunity and connectedness can create a positive impact on others. It’s great to see that excitement carry-over to students on a distant continent.   So big shout out to everyone who donated to support this program!

Note:  No tax dollars were spent, and I personally covered the cost of shipping.  

Help Us Break Ground on the Inclusive Playground!

Posted on by Carolyn Demates

 

 

Rendering of the Inclusive Playground

A $1.4 million dollar multi-use, multi-generational playground, designed to serve people regardless of their ability, will soon be a reality on the grounds of the Clinton Township Civic Center.  It all began because a Mom wrote a letter and sent it to the elected officials in her community.  

On Thursday, July 18th, at 11 am, you’re invited to join me and so many others here at the Clinton Township Civic Center to help us break ground on the Clinton Township Inclusive Playground!!!!

Many years ago, I was a young legislator on the House Education Committee, working with the Macomb and Intermediate School Districts throughout the state to mobilize and defeat a plan created by the Engler Administration to significantly reduce special education requirements in Michigan.  

AnnMarie Ottoy’s letter, received in 2019, struck a chord with me.  In addition to a quality education, every child, regardless of their ability deserves a place to play, grow, and make friends with other children, rather than be separated from them.  Local communities that maintain recreation programs need to think about how they are serving all families, regardless of their ability.

My promise, and my challenge to AnnMarie, was that I would take up the cause and propose the development of a Township Committee to build an Inclusive Playground, if she would agree to serve as the Chairperson of that Committee. This initiative needed champions like AnnMarie that could convey the love, passion and struggle of a Mom fighting for their child.  

Small dollar fundraisers were held throughout Clinton Township.  We then worked with State Representative Denise Mentzer and State Senator Veronica Klinefelt to secure a $1 million grant from the state of Michigan.  A few more individual donors emerged and then the Township was able to allocate federal infrastructure funds to the project.  

Actual design and scheduling work began soon after.  The video below was developed from the renderings.  Seeing is believing, and my hope is that when you watch this, you’ll be as impressed as I am.    

 

From the beginning of this campaign for Supervisor of the Township, we’ve talked about how Clinton Township is transitioning from being an outer-ring to an inner-ring suburb, and when that happens, your cost structure goes up higher than your revenue stream.  However, no community has ever cut its way to prosperity.  Companies and communities that not only survive, but thrive, create a vision and commit to making investments in their residents, their families, their neighborhoods, their parks and their public spaces and build the type of community that provides residents with a sense of place and a sense of pride that spawns more investment.  

I hope you’ll turn out to join us as we break ground towards building a true point of pride in Clinton Township, designed to serve all of our residents.