Swine Flu Precautions

Our school district custodial staff members use antibacterial cleaners every day. Our custodial staff will make an increased effort to wipe down items such as door knobs and drinking fountains. Our school district will forward more information as it becomes available. Please note the following:  

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The Oakland County Health Division (OCHD) has asked that this information be shared with you. As you know, it's important to keep our communities informed, especially since a suspected case of Swine Flu has now been identified in nearby Livingston County. The ...<< MORE >>

What They Didn’t Print

If you read this weekend’s Fenton Press, and I certainly hope you do, you will read some comments I made regarding the importance of local newspapers.  I truly believe that they are necessary, not just to informing the public, but to keeping governments honest.  We don’t have television or radio coverage of our local news, so our two local newspapers carry more significance, and more power, than they would in larger markets.

If you read this weekend’s Tri-County Times, there are a few things you will not read.

Superintendent Recommendations for Budget Adjustments
For 2009-2010 School Year, Holly Area School District

Last year, I made recommendations that asked the Board of Education to “stay the course” regarding our school district’s number of teaching slots. I also mentioned, however, that rightsizing the number of teacher slots would occur if enrollment continued to decline. From the February 2008 student count to the February 2009 student count, our school district’s enrollment showed a loss of 170 students. Using our foundation allowance of $7,316, that loss of students, if that number ...<< MORE >>

Township Versus Village

Every now and then I am reminded of that song from West Side Story with the line, “Nobody knows in America, Puerto Rico’s in America!”  But in my head, it’s more like, “Nobody knows in the Township, the Village is in the Township!”  It’s obvious that, as Chief Gackstetter said at this week’s meeting of the Village Council, what’s good for the Township is good for the Village, and vice versa.  The Village is in the Township, and every one of those Village residents is also a Township resident. We are literally ...<< MORE >>

Holly SOS:  Save Our Selves

With so many of us trying to save our homes, or just trying to tighten our budgets to save our money, I thought it would be appropriate to share here what we know about doing those things.  Please add your input.

Save Our Homes

If you are having difficulty making house payments, particularly if the value of your home has fallen to below what you owe or if your payment now exceeds thirty percent of your net monthly income, it is worth a call to ...<< MORE >>

Township Takes the Reactive Approach

There’s an old adage that I’ve tried to take to heart during my time as an elected official in our community. That time honored saying is, “a stitch in time saves nine.”  Now the way that I like to interpret that saying is, if I encounter a little problem that can easily be fixed, I feel it is preferable to solve that problem today, rather than wait until the problem rips wide open into a major calamity tomorrow.

Now there are some who would agree that being proactive ...<< MORE >>

Spring Cleaning and Sharing with the Community

There is something so gratifying about spring cleaning.  You open your windows, clear out the cobwebs and let some fresh air into your home.  You dig deep into your closets and weed out the stuff that hasn’t seen the light of day in weeks, months or even years.  You end up with a pile of clothing, old Tupperware and some odds and ends and you just know you are not going to have a yard sale this year so what do you do with all this?  Freecycle it!  ...<< MORE >>

Your Top Ten Holly Area Buildings

We had a great response to the request for random top ten lists a few weeks back.  With all of the back and forth lately about what makes a building beautiful, and what makes a building valuable to the community, I thought I’d ask you to compile lists of your top ten Holly area buildings.  The buildings can be public, commercial, or residential.  However, if you name a residence, please don’t tell us who lives there.  We don’t need any more information than we can see from the ...<< MORE >>

Forgive Us, Walter Gropius

One of the things that makes Holly special is its wide variety of architecture.  Just as a geologist or archeologist might seek out an area that has had periods of growth followed by total devastation followed by growth followed by devastation because each unique period becomes preserved in the soil, a lover of architecture might seek out Holly for the unique periods of design preserved in one tiny town.  We have historic farm houses giving proof of Michigan’s agricultural past, grand Victorian homes and tidy Craftsman-style homes showing evidence of ...<< MORE >>

Excellence, Right Here at Home

On a couple of occasions recently, the conversation I was having turned to the subject of making use of the services available within our community. So many of us wish to do as much of our business as possible here in Holly, not so much because of the convenience of it, but because we believe in this community and want to keep our dollars here. We may have less to spend these days, and so we want what money we ...

Police Protection:  Where Do We Stand?

Many residents have asked me recently, “Where does the Township stand on the issue of police protection?”  I can’t answer that, because the Holly Township Board of Trustees has made no decision on the matter as of yet.  We are still engaged in a fact-finding mission, and the recent town hall meeting was a part of that effort.  I can, however, share my point of view on the matter, and I hope you will take the opportunity to share yours as well.  Please understand that, although all five ...<< MORE >>

Opinions, Please

Do you remember the first time someone asked for your opinion?  I don’t mean a simple yes or no question like, “Chocolate or vanilla?”  I’m talking about the first time a person made a statement, looked you square in the eye and asked, “What do you think about that?”

I remember the moment precisely.  It was Mr. Richard Adams, my seventh grade science teacher at Maltby Middle School in Brighton, Michigan.  I suppose seventh grade may seem a bit old to first be asked for my opinion, but, though my parents ...<< MORE >>

Dear Anonymous

I hope you read Holly Area Schools Superintendent Kent Barnes’ letter to the editor of the Tri-County Times, which appeared in the Sunday, February 15 edition.  Mr. Barnes took issue with an anonymous Hot line which made untrue allegations about his knowledge of unlawful behavior at Holly High School.  I am quite sure there are many in our community, most particularly public officials who have been inaccurately maligned in the Hot lines without having the opportunity to offer a rebuttal, who were heartened by his letter.  Not one to complain without offering ...<< MORE >>

Considering Police Protection

Hello fellow citizens of Holly. As several of you know my name is Tim and I have run for the Holly Area School Board and was a candidate for appointment to the North Oakland County Fire Authority position of Citizen at Large. Unfortunately I was unsuccessful at both attempts to serve the community.

I would like to preface this blog by stating that I am in no way shape or form an expert on Police Protection or Local Government. However, I do have an extensive background in Public service ...<< MORE >>

(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Debate, Conflict, and Ideology

Amidst the Obama love fest, we hear lots of talk of a new era of bipartisanship, of reaching across the aisle, of abandoning ideology in favor of cooperation.  This frightens me.  When everyone is in agreement on an issue, I can only think that some point of view is not represented.  Some objection is being suppressed.  A debate that might clarify the issue and strengthen the solution is not being had.

Am I the only one who prefers their leaders a little feisty?  In ...<< MORE >>

First, Define “Need” for Police Protection

“We don’t need it.”  That’s the opinion many in Holly Township have of the issue of police protection.  As we as residents of Holly Township begin the process of analyzing our need for police protection, I ask you to consider first, not whether or not we need it, but what does it mean to “need” it?

Certainly, if there was a major crime wave in Holly Township, and if the Michigan State Police was unable to manage it, we would all be clamoring to have more ...<< MORE >>

Pastor Ed Pedley, 2008 Person of the Year

How wonderful that when this community was asked to name a Person of the Year, no less than ten names were offered as having had a major impact on greater Holly!  You know that we must have an especially active, caring community when it is so easy to think of so many names of people who contribute. 

 If ever you think that perhaps living in Holly is a mistake, that perhaps Holly isn’t going to make it and your investment in this community will go unrewarded, ...<< MORE >>

Use Variances:  A Small Decision with Big Implications

You might not have taken note of a short article on a seemingly small decision made recently by the Holly Village Council, but there it was in the December 14 issue of the Fenton Press, “Use Variance Ordinance Viewed by Some as ‘Economic Tool’”.   Reporter Amy Mayhew describes how the Village Council adopted an ordinance that, “will give property owners the option of asking for a variance that would allow for a use in an existing structure that is not normally permitted.”  That doesn’t sound like life-changing ...<< MORE >>

Holly’s Person of the Year

Time Magazine’s naming of President-Elect Barack Obama as 2008’s Person of the Year has inspired me to wonder, “Who is Holly’s Person of the Year?”  Who has had the greatest impact on our community in 2008?

Below I will list in alphabetical order several possible candidates, and I invite each of you to make comment on those, and/or to name a candidate of your own.

Rollie Gackstetter, Chief of Police, Village of Holly  ...

Supervisor Seeks Input to Define Holly Township

Preeminent business writer Tom Peters has said, “We are no doubt in the Great Age of the Brand.”  How smart of us to have recently elected a township supervisor who understands this, and who is ready to use branding to define and position Holly Township.

At the regular meeting of the Holly Township Board of Trustees Tuesday, December 16, Supervisor Jesse Lambert introduced his intent to create a slogan for the township.  This slogan would be used on letterhead, on the website, anywhere our identity ...<< MORE >>

Of Newspapers, Blogs, and Free Speech

When our Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution, they drew from the familiar experiences of the day to place limits on the government and keep the government from becoming all powerful. The fundamental principals that were penned two hundred years ago have withstood many and varied challenges and have prevailed largely unaltered to this day.

Throughout our history many groups have conspired to limit the freedoms of others and exclude them from the basic democratic principals that we hold so dear. In more recent times the ...<< MORE >>

Wendy’s Should Think Outside the Bun

Of the many items on Holly Township residents’ local business wish lists, one that comes up frequently is a Taco Bell.  Lucky for us, there is a Taco Bell franchisee currently pursuing a location at 4045 Grange Hall Road.  The Village of Holly Planning Commission will be discussing the proposed location at their meeting on Monday, December 15 at 7pm in Council Chambers, located at the Holly police station.

The location Taco Bell is proposing could present a problem, as it is next to Wendy’s, and ...<< MORE >>

Let's Start Talking About Police Protection

It reminds me of a bad first date.  “What do you want to do?”  “I don’t know.  What do you want to do?”  “No, you tell me.”  “No, I don’t want to.  You tell me first.”  Yuck.  For months now the Village and the Township have been acting just like this, each refusing to take a stand on the issue of police protection for the Township.  I was astounded last month when the Holly Township Board of Trustees, upon having a very brief chat about the issue in the ...<< MORE >>

Thankful

There are many civic issues I've been meaning to write about, but what with getting the children ready to go out of town for Thanksgiving, I just haven't found the time.  Maybe you could help me provide something meaningful to read by adding to this post.  Send a comment telling us what you are thankful for this holiday.

I'll start.

I am thankful that my two children are happy and healthy.  That's what I wish on stars for, and what I wish for when I blow out my birthday candles or when I toss a penny into a ...<< MORE >>

The End of Holly’s Long Cold Winter?

With the dust settling from the recent election cycle and the newly elected Township board members in place, with guarded hope we begin to look for signs of a thaw to the “long cold winter” that has symbolized the relationship between the Village and Township of Holly for so many years. The newly elected board members should represent a fundamental shift in attitude by which the Village’s population is viewed by the Township board. While some stalwarts may remain on the board, perhaps in time even they will ...<< MORE >>

School Board Elections, the Final Word

The time has come for me to congratulate Linda Blair and incumbent David Rath on their victory as elected members to the Holly Area School Board.

I received the call Wednesday November 19, 2008 at 09:30 am from Mr. Joe Rozell, Director of Oakland County Elections Division informing me that the oversight in election policy and State Law has been resolved within Holly Township's five Precincts for school board. Mr. Rozell stated that all five precincts were re-tallied under his supervision in accordance to the ...<< MORE >>

Ask Grandma for the Money

I want Detroit to survive.  I want Michigan’s automotive industry to be born again.  I refuse to accept that we cannot find a solution, but like many of us, I am fearful that any solution funded by our government will only increase our nation’s dependence on foreign investors, further weakening our economic position against them.  And, like many of us, I find myself asking, “What happened here?  What went so wrong?”

When I was a child in the 1970s, I was told that General Motors was the ...<< MORE >>

Water:  First the Bad News...

Sometimes there is a bit of good news tucked in with the bad.  I had that sense when I read in this weekend’s Fenton Press that, according to the Village of Holly’s recent audit conducted by Plante and Moran, neither the Village’s water nor sewer funds are “generating enough cash from its operating activities to pay the current year’s principal and interest payments.”  What’s so good about that?  Well, it means that, contrary to what many residents like to think, the Village is not overcharging us for water and sewer.  They ...<< MORE >>

5,833 Congratulations

You own this election, Holly Township.  5,833 of you, over 69% of registered voters, cast a ballot in Tuesday’s general election.  Congratulations are due to all of you for caring, and for acting.  Unwilling to be mere spectators in the process of serving your community, you took charge and voted.

When voters take a chance on new candidates, on those who are as yet untested, you are taking a leap of faith.  As a first time candidate myself, I understand what the honor of your vote implies.  You deserve for your faith ...<< MORE >>

Priorities for Leadership

Hello, my name is Robert Kast.  I am running as a “write-in” candidate for the Holly Board of Education.  As you have probably seen on The Holly Post, there are  several candidates who are enthusiastic and full of ideas about how to improve the Holly Area Schools.  It is an honor to be a part of this group.  I would like to thank the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, the Holly Education Association, and the Educational Support Personnel groups for hosting a “Meet and Greet” last Friday evening.  In case ...<< MORE >>

Plans for Change and Measurable Progress Continued
 
As promised in a previous thread here are my continued plans for change with measureable progress.
 
INCREASE PARENTAL Involvement:

Decades of research have shown that when parents become directly involved in a students education children attain higher grades, and better test scores. Children show a better school attendance, an increased motivation with a better self esteem. Research has also shown that family participation in education is twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status.

As parents become more involved in their children’s education they begin to develop ...<< MORE >>