THE PONTIAC NEWS • VOLUME 7 - ISSUE 4 FREE PUBLICATION VOL. 7 - ISS. 4 • September 6, 2017 - September 20, 2017 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY Your Chance to Be One of the Opening Acts for World Pontiac City Council’s Pride & Beautification Contest Famous Recording Artist The Spinners! .....See article page 2 The residents of this city had so much taken away from them, but despite it all, the residents have been relentless in their unwavering commitment and support. The Pride & Beautification Program is the City’s way of giving back, by honoring residents of each district. It was my mission and the members of Council, to restore pride back into the city. ~ Council President Patrice Watrman Peters, Stabenow Announce Over $1, 600, 000 in .....See article page 10 Oakland County Helping Support of Southeast Michigan Fire Departments Hurricane Victims L to R: L. Brooks Patterson, Phil Bertolini .....See article page 5 2017 Pitch N’ Pontiac Winners .....See winners page 10 Pontiac Looks To Its Bicentennial 2018 .....See article page 6 .....See article page 2 (The Pontiac News provides news and opinion articles as a service to our readers. Often these articles come from sources outside of our organization. Where possible, the author and the source are documented within each article. Statements and opinions expressed in these articles are solely those of the author or authors and may or may not be shared by the the Publisher of The Pontiac News, Inc.) 1 THE PONTIAC NEWS • VOLUME 7 - ISSUE 4 EDITORIAL by R. Frank Russell, Publisher 10TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY The Pontiac News hereby offer our prayers to the families and individuals that are the vic- WHAT’S INSIDE tims of the hurricane in Houston and the various other communities in Texas and through- Page 2 out the region. We also pay tribute to the many organizations, individuals, rescue work- Editorial • Pontiac Looks to It’s Bicentennial • ers and others that have provided food, clothing and shelter to the many survivors of this Be the Opening Act for Spinners great American tragedy. Page 4 Drive In, Drop Off Household Hazardous Waste Page 5 Pontiac Looks to Its Bicentennial / Pontiac And The Sibleys L. Brroks Patterson: Michigan Great Artist By Ron Gay historical archive in Southeast Michigan. Competionion • Oaklnad County Helping Hurri- I have come to know so I learned that those at the root of Pon- cane Victims • Pontiac Creative Arts Center Fall much about Pontiac’s his- tiac’s beginnings were a prominent mid- 2017 Schedule tory and thus write these dle-aged couple from Detroit, not Ste- Page 6 articles because I bought phen Mack as I had been taught going to Peters, Stabenow Support S.E. Michigan Fire an old house here thirty grandparents down south once a year. I Pontiac Schools. I learned that my house Departments • Free or Low-Cost Business years ago. I’ve always liked history but suspect purchasing my old house back in began as a cabin, part of a Pontiac Com- Classes Offered pany farm, around 1820. until then I was never in a historical so- 1986 had something to do with touch- Page 7 ciety or as a carpenter had never worked ing those memories of my grandparent’s While reading 19th century archived let- 13th Annual Kids’ Clean Water Calendar Con- on historic houses. In fact, the only real homes. Visitors say it reminds them of ters, deeds, other documents at Detroit’s test • Clinton River Resource Recovery Facility history I studied back then was my family their grandparent’s homes. Burton Historical Collection the piec- Page 8 tree and even that just barely. I fell in love with this house on first es of my history puzzle came together. Pontiac City Council’s Pride & Beautification I was born a month after my family moved sight. Upon purchasing it and moving in Solomon and Sarah Sproat Sibley put up Contest Photos money, organized the players and spent into a brand new 1950s tract house. Elev- I learned the little history that was at- Page 10 the first ten years of Pontiac’s settlement en years later we moved into a new quad tached to it. Soon after I became deter- Pontiac City Council’s Pride & Beautification as its overseers to ensure long-lasting level. Growing up my life was devoid of mined to learn the whole story of this old Contest • 2017 Pitch N’ Pontiac Winners • success. old house living except when we visited place. Research took me to every relevant Peters Cosponsors Voting Rights Advancement Your Chance to Be One of the Opening Acts for World Famous Recording Artist The Spinners! Act Bill Page 11 By Mayor D. Waterman To round out this Pontiac-based celebra- verification of your Pontiac roots when tion, al that’s needed are home-grown you submit. A jury of Pontiac-based mu- Celebrating the Role Pullman Porters Played in Pontiac Power music groups to open for The Spinners. sic professionals sanctioned by the May- the Creation of the Labor Day Holiday Week, the event From now through Wednesday, Septem- or’s Office wil jury al submissions and Page 12 that brought hun- ber 6, 2017, at 12:00 noon ET, Pontiac announce the winning groups by Tues- The Pontiac Community Calendar, all known dreds of cruis- Power Week wil accept submissions from day, September 12, 2017. Once selected, activities in our great city of Pontiac ers and car en- professional music groups that are cur- music groups must agree to payment and Page 14 thusiasts to rently based in Pontiac OR groups that are other terms from the City of Pontiac in or- Freedom & Liberty Opening Reception Pontiac and gar- comprised primarily of musicians who der to be confirmed for the performance. September 8 at the PCAC • Pontiac Looks To Its nered hundreds of millions of dollars of were born and raised in Pontiac, Michi- Bicentennial positive national and international me- We are excited that this event wil be free gan. This is a family friendly event and Page 15 dia coverage for the City during Dream to the Citizens of Pontiac and wil feature music genres that wil be considered in- 2017 Holiday Extravaganza Announces Cruise week, is not done yet! On Satur- Pontiac-based entertainers. clude R&B, Jazz and Rock. Presenting Sponsors day, September 23, 2017, the City of Pon- For more information about how to sub- Qualified groups may submit their work tiac is bringing one more stelar event to mit and be considered as an opening act PUBLISHER & CONTENT EDITOR the to Jil Riddle by noon, Wednesday, Sep- for The Spinners. Please contact Jil Riddle R. Frank Russell tember 6, 2017, for consideration as one City: the Pontiac Music Festival featuring at 248 541 7550 (office) or by email at jr- AFRICAN CORRESPONDENT: of three opening acts for The Spinners. Kofi Annorh legendary R and B act, The Spinners. [email protected] or Jaime Wilkins at Please include samples of your work and 323 216 6454. CONTRIBUTING WRITERS: Elaine Smith-Wright (Deceased) • Rev. James Keys • Randolph Carter • Adam Polk • Brenda Canty-Carter PHOTOGRAPHER & ADVERTISING MANAGER TBD CIRCULATION MANAGER: Rahim Russell OFFICE MANAGER: Mary C. Russell DESIGNED & TYPESET: Rasheed Shabazz www.fourcolorsonline.com (248) 877-3044 PRINTED BY: Lenawee Media Group TELEPHONE: 248-758-1411 FAX: 248-758-1412 PO Box 431412, Suite #1 Pontiac, MI 48343 www.thepontiacnews.com [email protected] 2 Oakland County Sheriff Police Athletic League (PAL) THE PONTIAC NEWS • VOLUME 7 - ISSUE 4 Fall Season Starts September 11th Basketball (ages 9-15) 444(6-8(6-8 grade) grade) • Flag Football Register your child in a PAL league(ages 4-14) today! Cheer/Dance/Tumblingwww.sheriffpal.com 248-858-0775 Coaches & Volunteers Wanted! For additional information email: [email protected] The purpose of the Michigan Health and Wellness 4 x 4 Coalition Initiative is to implement Michigan’s priority strategies to improve health and reduce obesity by creating healthier communities, expanding prevention activities and empowering people to make healthy choices and adopt health as a core personal value. The expected outcomes include changes in weight status and improvements in healthy eating and physical activity. 3 THE PONTIAC NEWSRandolph • VOLUME 7 - ISSUERandy 4 Carter Drive In, Drop Off Household Randy Carter is a Pontiac native with incredible love for his city. Randy’s history as a mentor started at the age Hazardous Waste – Remain- of 20 with the untimely death of his mother. Randy was going to school at GMI when he got word of his ing NoHaz Collections Are In mother’s death. He put his education on hold to return to Pontiac and raise his young brothers and sisters to Waterford and Orion Township adulthood. The City of Pontiac is part of the NoHaz Consortium, Randy continued his career at General Motors for 37 years working as a providing residents with Senior Engineering Analyst. In 2010, Randy retired from General Motors, a safe and responsible however, his love for his city was unwavering. Randy’s passion for keeping way to dispose of house- District 4 clean and safe for children garnered him a coveted award from hold hazardous waste. the Friends of Pontiac Parks. Randy works hard for his residents and the Many household prod- city of Pontiac. He is the liaison to Pontiac School District where he ucts in your home should not be thrown out frequently attend events supporting our children! with regular trash, including paints, cleaners, computer and electronic equipment, pesti- The residents of District 4 stand behind our candidate of choice, cides and fertilizers. Pontiac City Councilman Randy Carter! There is no cost for Pontiac residents to par- ticipate in the two remaining NoHaz collec- tions for this year.