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Parks and Recreation presents Storytime with Santa
SOUTHFIELD — The Southfield Parks and Recreation Department invites families to get in the holiday spirit at its Storytime with Santa event 6:30-8 p.m. Dec. 22 in Room 115 of the Parks and Recreation Building, 26000 Evergreen Road. Kids will have the opportunity to meet Santa Claus, decorate cookies, make winter crafts, hear stories and enjoy a hot chocolate bar.
The event is open to children ages 5-12, and a parent must be present.
Each attendee must have a ticket to enter. Tickets cost $10 for Southfield residents and $15 for nonresidents and are available for purchase at the Parks and Recreation Information Desk or online at www.cityofsouthfield.com/departments/parks-recreation. For more information, call (248) 796-4620.
Goodfellows seek donations
SOUTHFIELD — The Southfield Goodfellows are seeking monetary donations for the annual “No Child Without a Christmas” holiday giveaway program.
The donations will be used to purchase food, clothing and gifts for low-income families and seniors who live in Southfield and Lathrup Village. The Goodfellows also provide year-round assistance to those in need through the Urgent Needs Program. To make a donation, visit http://www.southfieldgoodfellows.org/donateonline.html or make a check out to “Southfield Goodfellows” and mail it to P.O. Box 2336, Southfield, MI 48037-2336. For more information, call (248) 788-5899.
Gun buyback nets hundreds of weapons
SOUTHFIELD — At the latest gun buyback event, which took place on Dec. 9 at St. David’s Episcopal Church, 224 guns were collected, including 133 handguns and 87 long guns, and over $19,000 worth of gift cards were given away.
However, an article in the New York Times by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Mike McIntire featured St. David’s on the front page and revealed that some states and cities, including Michigan, choose not to dispose of donated firearms but elect to allow a third party to take the guns for free, break them down and sell the parts online.
Father Chris Yaw, one of the partners of the buyback along with the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the Southfield Police Department, stated that he intends to follow up with government officials on this information. “The good people who come to our church and give us their weapons are under the assumption that these weapons would be destroyed, not recycled, and we will work hard to see that this in fact, will happen, as soon as possible.”
Pontiac opens new skatepark
PONTIAC — Skateboarders and other extreme sports fans are invited to try out Pontiac’s new skatepark.
The new skatepark is located in Oakland Park, 500 E. Montcalm St. A grand opening ceremony is expected to take place in May 2024. The new facility was born of a collaboration between the city of Pontiac, the Pontiac Skatepark Project, local activists and skate enthusiasts, the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, the Oakland County Commission, and The Skatepark Project — formerly known as the Tony Hawk Foundation.
Through this collaborative funding partnership, $568,000 was established in support of this project. Pontiac’s newly constructed skatepark is an estimated 10,000 square feet and features several ramps of various sizes, handrails, flat rails, ledges and other amenities to accommodate skaters of all skill levels.
Skatepark hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Nov. 16-March 14, 2024; and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. March 15, 2024, to Nov. 14, 2024. No motorized or electric vehicles are allowed on the skatepark, skaters must wear protective equipment, and there is no skating during inclement weather such as snow, rain or fog.
