Start the spring season off strong with assistance from Oakland County’s One Stop Shop Business Center. Sign up for a business workshop during the month of April to learn about small business loans, starting a business, market research, and more. The professionals at the One Stop Shop can help you kickstart your business and guide you in the right direction. Continue reading
Legends crediting Native Americans with the “discovery” of maple sap flow into our history as easily as sap drips into a bucket on a sunny day on the dawn of spring. My favorite maple sap legend embraces the ways of nature, and salutes the keen observations of the first Americans. It goes something like this: Squirrels licking at sap, dripping from broken sugar maple twigs, in the waning days of winter attracted the attention of Native Americans. The liquid was collected to use in cooking and the process of evaporation sweetened the sap. The rest is history. I accept that as factual, for I often note “sapsicles” forming from broken maple twigs as the duel between winter and spring accelerates. I have also witnessed squirrels lapping at this gift of nature. When hiking in the early days of spring, I follow the behavior of squirrels and sample the trailside treats.
Photo Credit: Library of Congress
Love is in the air. Eastern striped skunks (Mephitis mephitis) are wandering in search of mates all across Michigan’s lower peninsula. During frigid months, skunks had hunkered down in their winter dens for periods of days, or sometimes weeks, and rarely ventured topside. All that is changing now as spring draws near and weather patterns become more unstable. Skunk sightings are on the uptick in Oakland County and without a doubt, their more-or-less dormant mid-winter slumber has ended. Continue reading
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop away from you like the leaves of autumn.”
John Muir’s memorable words inspire adventurers to hike, and that’s a good thing. Hiking is excellent for our health and general well-being, and it doesn’t require a gym membership or any expensive equipment to get started. Being out in fresh air and away from the chaos of our daily lives, the frustration of traffic jams, and distracting technology allow us to reconnect with nature’s way, and that creates a feeling of peace and a sense of well-being. And any hike through a beautiful forested area, even when trails may be slippery as the duel between winter and spring accelerates, can calm nerves and lift our spirits. Hiking is also fun! Continue reading
The first MiCareerQuest Southeast was held November 28th, 2018 at Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. MiCareerQuest is an innovative, hands-on career exploration experience for high school students, teachers, and counselors to learn about today’s hottest jobs from working professionals in the fields of Advanced Manufacturing, Construction, Health Sciences, and Information Technology.
Jennifer Llewellyn, Oakland County Manager of Workforce Development, shared, “the goal was to expose young people to occupations that they didn’t even know existed.” The event gave students a hands-on glimpse at numerous in-demand career opportunities. 7,000 students and chaperones, 114 exhibitor teams, 220 volunteers, and 200 special guests came together to make the day truly memorable.
Take a look at our video to watch the students explore careers and prepare for the future!
