Oakland County Board of Commissioners Celebrates Black History Month By Recognizing Local Residents

Every February, the nation comes together to celebrate the achievement of Black Americans and recognize their role in U.S. history with during Black History Month.

The Oakland County Board of Commissioners joined its neighbors across the country in this observation by shining a light on outstanding residents here at home with its Black Excellence Award. In its second year, the award program recognizes Black residents of Oakland County for significant contributions to the community, notable achievements and other accomplishments worthy of honor.

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The Importance of Keeping Data Private 

County Chief Information Security Officer, T.J. Fields is urging us all to take more control of our information in credit reporting accounts in the wake of a security breach at Experian, one of the three major credit reporting bureaus.

The bad news is that for an undetermined period of time ending in December of 2022, identity thieves had the ability to bypass Experian security to view consumer’s credit reports, having only an individual’s address, birthday, name, and social security number. Some of this personal information may have been contained in an unrelated 2017 Equifax breach, which contained this information on more than 45 million adults. The good news is that the flaw in the Experian website that allowed the breach has been corrected and is no longer active. The breach provides a good reminder of the importance of keeping private data private, and the impact in the event of a privacy breach. Here are two recommendations to help protect yourself from data breaches:  activating “freezes” on your credit reports and pulling your credit reports on a regular, periodic basis.

Learn more about taking control of your credit and digital identity from T.J. Fields below.

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2023 Winter Festivals and Fun in Oakland County

While winter in Michigan can be long and frigid, there are many ways to enjoy the chilly outdoors, rather than dreading it and counting down to spring. From hot chocolate and s’mores to ice skating, snow slides and live shows, there are a ton of activities to enjoy this season with family and friends.

Discover winter fun in and around Oakland County with our listing of seasonal festivals, fun events, and more. Use the list below to find the best winter activity for you! Most outdoor events are weather permitting and subject to change. Make sure to check the websites before attending.

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Where Did They Go? A Tale of Two Creatures 

WILDER SIDE OF OAKLAND COUNTY

While the weather outside may be frightful, as the old saying goes, winter is one of the most exciting times to hike and explore. Winter adventures often lead to cool encounters and memorable discoveries in the “wilds” of Oakland County; especially near the shorelines of our lakes and marshes. 

Your outdoor adventuring can be enhanced by slowing down, looking about, and listening to what Mother Nature is saying. Last week, a child asked me where all the animals go in winter. Today I’ll share the tale of two creatures that some incorrectly call cousins, but both went “mostly missing” at the dawn of winter — beavers and muskrats. We’ll start with a look at the largest rodent of Oakland County, the beaver!

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