Water access debate for 90 N. Main

Future restrictions on the water access for the property of 90 N. Main continue to be debated by the Clarkston City Council.

90 N. Main, property of Clarkston’s former city hall, is up for sale as a commercial property. At the request of potential buyer, Curt Catallo, the Clarkston Planning Commission voted in favor of allowing lake access on the property.

Clarkston City Council has received three drafts on property owners’ use of Parke Lake. The drafts are from councilman Richard Bisio; Gerald Fisher, spokesman for many Parke Lake residents; and City Attourney Tom Ryan and City Planner Dick Carlisle. Each draft proposes different restrictions on the future owners’ use on issues such as hours of usage, number of guests allowed at one time, and who would be allowed to use boats.

Ryan described Bisio’s draft, as well as the draft he shares with Carlisle as being “the least regulated” while describing Fisher’s as “the most restrictive.”

Those in favor of a more restrictive draft wish to protect the history and privacy of the lake and village. “We don’t know who’s out there. If we allow any number of employees to have access to the lake at any time, we essentially turn it into a bathhouse. When you ignore the residential base, you’re dismantling the character and personality of this village,” said Fisher.

Others believe fewer restrictions would promote interest in the property. “We have to give the owner reasonable restriction to make it appeal to the potential owner,” said Bill Pavlick, a concerned citizen of Clarkston.

Clarkston City Council has tabled the final decisions until the next meeting. “We will probably take two or three paragraphs from each one that we can incorporate into this,” said Mayor Joe Luginski about the councils’ likely solution.
The next meeting will be held tonight, Dec. 12, 7 p.m. at Clarkston City Hall.

Holiday Lights Parade

The streets of Clarkston and Depot park were lit up with the spirit of the holidays when local organizations showed off their floats at the annual Holiday Lights Parade, as shown in video below.

Organizations and businesses such as The Salvation Army, Camp Bow Wow, and Clarkston High School's robotics team, Team Rush displayed colorful and active holiday floats in lights. Locals gathered to see the various floats, many of them for the first time. One first-time local was Amy Williamson of Clarkston. "I'm really just excited to see all of the Christmas lights and all of the costumes people will be wearing. I also know the teacher that runs Team Rush, so that'll be pretty cool."

Following the lights parade, locals also gathered in the decorated Depot Park for music, hot cocoa, and a cook-out.

Clarkston Stuff-a-bus

Photo credit: KB35 on Flikr

For those interested in local charity opportunities this holiday season, the 8th annual Stuff-a-bus will be taking place this Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Donations being accepted include non-perishable food items, personal care items, unused toys, monetary donations, clothing, gift cards, and unused toys. Donations will go to Lighthouse North on Sashabaw Road to help families in Clarkston.
The Clarkston News reported that Tammy Layton, bus driver and Stuff-a-bus organizer, said that even through economic problems, Stuff-a-bus has remained a successful donation drive over the past eight years. Layton and other drivers will attempt to fill a bus with donations for local families.
Stuff-a-bus will take place 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 10-11 at Kroger, 5590 Sashabaw Road.

Holiday music concert in Clarkston

photo credit: Kristie LH on Flikr.com

The holidays are coming to Clarkston High School in the form of music. The Clarkston News has reported that the Clarkston Community Band will perform a Holiday Concert tomorrow night, Friday, at 7 p.m. The performance will be held at the Clarkston High School Performing Arts Center. The show will be free; however, donations towards the band will also be accepted. The band will be performing a variety of holiday music and will be directed by Santa for two of the pieces. The Bellisima Bell Choir will also be featured there.
A raffle to win a 2012 red Chevy Camaro, benefiting Clarkston Bands and Orchestras will also be taking place through Dec. 12. Tickets are $50 and the raffle is being sponsored by Clarkston Schools Instrumental Music Association. Those interested in purchasing tickets may do so at the Clarkston Chamber of Commerce, Bowman Chevrolet, or by sending an email to lizpiper@att.net.

Proposed bond could update technology for Clarkston classrooms

A bond calling for $8.5 million in technology was proposed at a recent board meeting for Clarkston. The technology upgrades would include new classroom computers, an upgraded broadcast system, new laptop carts, district-wide wireless access, and better interactive electronics, such as tablets.
"It's possible these days for students to do most of their learning online. As a school system I think we need to start thinking beyond standardized tests," said superintendent Dr. Rod Rock on schools using more technology in the classroom. Other board members, such as trustee Joan Patterson, say the board needs to be careful on how they upgrade the technology, as technology is constantly changing.
The Clarkston News reported that the last technology update for Clarkston took place in 2003, when the last school bond was passed.
The Clarkston Board of Education will be determining which items are priorities for Clarkston schools. Then it will be determined how to pay for the costs. Proposed methods of pay include taking out a community bond, a sinking fund,taking out a general fund, or a district loan.
The administration agreed that it would help to look which items should be a priority in the proposed bond. The next Board of Education meeting will be held Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Clarkston Schools Administration Building at 6389 Clarkston Rd.