October Gold: Adventures and Situational Awareness

October 5, 2018October 5, 2018Oakland County, MI Government 2 Comments

A view of tall trees in fall colors from across a body of water. Deep oranges, yellows, and green reflect brilliantly on top of the water.

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

October heralds the peak beauty of autumn’s colors; that alone makes this month special. We are in the season of crisp morning air, fast-moving clouds, clear night sky and the last blooms of meadow wildflowers. It’s a month of roaming raccoons, woolly bear caterpillar, owls hooting, coyotes yipping, hyper-active squirrels scurrying, restless bucks in rut and osprey departing. October means scarlet sky sunsets, first frost and sudden outbursts of short-lived snowflakes. October is truly the golden month for those that love nature’s way, and perhaps the very best time to hike and explore the wilder side of Oakland County. Continue reading →

Run Like the Wind in Oakland County This Fall

October 4, 2018October 4, 2018Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

A group of runners jog down a paved path on a sunny fall day. The leaves on the trees at the edge of the trail are mostly green, just starting to change to fall colors.

Many say autumn is the best season to be a runner. Between cooler temperatures and leaves changing color, jogging outdoors during fall is a great experience! In fact, many folks fall in love with running and walking outside during this special time of year.

Take a look at our list of fall running events before you take a step outdoors. Signing up for a race today can help you stay motivated and engaged for the rest of the season. On our list, you’ll discover events for every skill level, including full marathons, mile walks, fun runs, and more.

List of Fall Running Events in Oakland County

Events include the Tender Turtle 5k in Lake Orion, Outrun Hunger in Commerce Township, and the Frightful 5K in Troy. Participating in these or any of the other happenings on our list is great for your entire body. To stay in tip-top shape while attending, be sure to follow these simple tips for safe running during the fall:

Dress appropriately. Wear layers, invest in proper footwear, and be sure to check the weather before heading out.
Stay hydrated. Water is the most important thing to bring with you on a walk, jog, or run; it keeps you energized and working hard.
Prepare for the end of daylight saving time. The clocks fall an hour back on November 4th, 2018.

Do you know of any other fall running events in the Oakland County area? Let us know via Facebook or Twitter, contact us at socialmedia@oakgov.com, or leave a comment below.

Visit the Oakland County website, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest for more news and fun year round. Join the conversation using #OaklandCounty.

Vote for Pontiac in the #VoteYourMainStreet Competition – The Only Finalist in Oakland County and Michigan!

October 4, 2018October 4, 2018Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

Graphic with medium blue background. A dark blue circle on the left side has text in white that reads: Vote Your Main Street 2018. Floating text on the right side of the image reads in two lines from top to bottom: Pontiac (in white) Michigan (in dark blue).

A nationally recognized historic district and thriving Pontiac, Michigan neighborhood needs your participation to win part of $2 million in funds from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The funds will help revitalize this important historical neighborhood.

One of just 20 finalists across the United States, the GM Modern Housing Legacy Homes project stands to benefit from the Vote Your Main Street campaign, going on now through October 26th, 2018.

Participation is easy. Anyone passionate about preserving part of Michigan’s automotive heritage can simply visit voteyourmainstreet.org/pontiac to create a login and password, or connect through Facebook, and then vote every day—up to five times—to bring home the funds.

Vote for Pontiac – GM Modern Housing Legacy Homes! Continue reading →

Young Leaders Sought for Oakland County’s Elite 40 Class of 2019

October 3, 2018October 3, 2018Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

The 2018 Class of Elite 40 members pose for a photo with County Executive L. Brooks Patterson. The photo is taken outside in front of a building and shot from above.

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson‘s Elite 40 Under 40 initiative, now in its eighth year, celebrates Oakland County’s “Best and Brightest” between ages 18 and 39. If you know a young person who adds value to the community through their compassion, intellect, or entrepreneurial spirit, don’t keep it a secret! Nominate them today or if you fit this criteria, enter yourself:

Enter or Nominate Someone

Elite 40 class members will be featured in Oakland County Prosper, become part of a distinguished network of professionals and business leaders, be invited to signature county events, and much more.

Nominations can be made at Elite40.com between now and November 29th. Candidates may enter themselves until 5:00 p.m. on November 2nd. To be eligible, a candidate must live or work in Oakland County, be 18 years of age or older, and have been born after December 31, 1979. Continue reading →

Oakland County Twisters: A Historical Guide

September 28, 2018September 28, 2018Oakland County, MI Government Leave a comment

A large two-story home with large, moving clouds above it. The sky is darkening and it appears that bad weather is on its way.

If you’re fascinated by weather, you’ll love our Tornadoes Map, created with data from local weather geek Matt Malone by Oakland County’s award-winning GIS team. It shows a limited history of the tornado paths and touchdown points, and their EF scale ratings, from 1953 – 2015. Go back to July of 1957, and view the path of an EF4 tornado that traveled 29.9 miles, almost all the way across the southern portion of Oakland County. In 1998, a funnel was spotted after having touched down near Otter Road and Sylvan Lake. It lifted without causing any damage – what a relief! Click on the map to learn more and get details on twisters that touched down here in the past.

Continue reading →