Hello Friends,
If you want to stay involved and up to date on what’s happening in Lansing and the district, there are a few different options available to you. You can visit the House website to view our weekly session meetings or any committee meetings you might be interested in. You can also stay updated by visiting my website at Cherry.housedems.com or following me on Facebook @StateRepCherry.
Want more frequent policy updates, info on community events, or resources for your daily life? Follow my twitter, @JCherry4MI.
If you have any questions, comments or concerns, I hope you will reach out to me. You can email me at any time at JohnCherry@house.mi.gov or call my office at (517) 373-7515.
Best,
John
Legislative Update
Manufactured Homes
Some of you may have heard about an issue in our community where residents in manufactured or mobile home parks are experiencing problems with management. Sudden water bills, unresponsive management, new lease expectations and more can cause housing prices to rise, or cause serious concerns for the residents of these communities.
For parks that I have received multiple complaints about, I have mailed a packet of information to all residents. These packets contain:
- Potential legal resources at Legal Services for Eastern Michigan;
- Where to file a complaint at the attorney general’s office;
- Information on how to make a complaint with the Michigan Manufactured Housing Commission and;
- A resource guide called “A Practical Guide for Tenants and Landlords.”
If you’d like, you can view that guide here: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Publications/tenantlandlord.pdf.
If you or a family member are experiencing issues with your manufactured home, park management, or have questions about your legal rights, please reach out. My staff is always happy to help or to send you information that may be useful.
Conversations with Cherry
Join me out and about for my community conversation series. I’ll give a brief legislative update, then I’ll have time for any questions, comments or concerns you’d like to share. These events are family friendly.
Helpful Resources for the Folks in the 49th
Taking one last summer vacation?
You’ve booked your trip, researched the must-see attractions, recharged your electronics, packed your bags — and now you’re ready to lock the door and take off on your big vacation. But traveling smart starts with what you do before leaving for vacation. I always check these 10 things off my to-do list. They help ensure that I come home to find my place just as I left it.
- Turn off your main water supply if you will be gone a long time. Leaks happen. And they can happen while you’re away. Turn off your main water supply if you’re going to be gone for a week or more. If you forget and a leak does happen, your homeowners or renters insurance may cover that type of water damage.
- Don’t post your plans on social media, answering machine or voicemail. Tell trusted friends that you will be gone personally and post those vacation photos AFTER you return.
- Invest in a timer. Deter would-be burglars by putting timers on lights in different rooms. Set them to go on and off at various times throughout the night and no one will know you’re not actually there. Make use of your television timer too – to have the television turn on and off at times you would normally be home.
- Stop mail and newspaper service if you will be gone more than a few days or have a trusted friend pick it up so it doesn’t pile up.
- Adjust your thermostat – If you live in a place where AC is a must during the summer months, adjust the thermostat a bit to save on your electricity bill. A good rule of thumb is to keep it about five degrees higher than normal. By not turning off the AC completely, you’ll keep enough air circulating to control humidity and mold.
- Leave the curtains open. Keep the outside as “normal” as possible. Closed curtains also stop those who aim to help—the police, your neighbors or friends—from seeing inside your house. Leave your curtains exactly as you usually keep them when you’re home, since noticeable changes could hint that you’re not around anymore—especially if your curtains are uncharacteristically left closed for two weeks. Move expensive items, like jewelry or computers, out of plain sight if they’re visible from the window.
- Take out the garbage and recycling, wash all dishes and clean out the refrigerator.
- Call your local law enforcement to request vacation or vacant home checks for the time you will be gone. This will establish police presence around your property as well as help discover any unfortunate events sooner. Consider notifying the police if you’re going on vacation. No need to let the cops know about a weekend getaway but do call them if you’re leaving town for longer than a week or two. If you have a security alarm, leave a house key and the code with someone you trust, and provide the police and alarm company with their name and phone number. You may also want to contact your local neighborhood watch program if there’s one in your area.
Get Help Breaking the Cycle of Intergenerational Incarceration
Motherly Intercessions offers programs to help the family of those who are currently or were previously incarcerated, with the goal of breaking the cycle of intergenerational incarceration. The RACS program provides homework help, tutoring and a healthy meal for children. Participants must call to enroll at (810) 424-9909.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy
Planned Parenthood offers a number of health and family planning services including: Birth control, HIV and other STD testing, pregnancy testing, and health care for both women and men. Appointments can be booked online or over the phone. (810) 743-4490 – Burton (810) 238-3631 – Flint
Preventing Oak Wilt
Oak wilt is a deadly tree fungus that is threatening some of our oldest oak stands. Symptoms of Oak Wilt vary by tree species but generally consist of leaf discoloration – with the edges of the leaves turning brown first, wilt, defoliation from the center crown, and rapid death of the tree- sometimes in as few as three weeks. If an oak tree is infected, it begins to die rapidly, and the disease will spread to nearby oaks through their grafted root network. An entire grove can die in one summer season.
Follow these steps to prevent oak wilt disease;
- Select well-seasoned firewood.
- Safely store unknown sources of firewood. Cover the woodpile with a clear piece of plastic. Burying the edges of the plastic will prevent the entry or exit of insects that might have been attracted to diseased wood and fungal mats.
- Destroy diseased oaks. A knowledgeable arborist or forester should diagnose oak wilt in oaks that die rapidly within 2-3 weeks or in groups of two or more trees over several years.
- Avoid wounding oaks during vulnerable seasons of April through July. November through March is the best time for pruning of oaks. Fall and cold of winter reduce insect activity and allow the pruning wounds to seal before spring.
- If injury does occur to a tree in the summer due to storms or accidents, trim broken branches and paint all oak wounds including pruning cuts with latex paint or pruning tar immediately
- Avoid removing infected oaks in the summer. Wait until the dormant period to remove infected trees.
Visit the Family Literacy Program at the Christ Enrichment Center
The Family Literacy Program is an adult education service that works to improve academic skills to the 9th grade level and prepare participants for GED courses or workplace programming. The program gives parents the resources needed to allow them to be their child’s first teacher promoting family learning.
Community Events
Tunes at Noon Festival
Experience and enjoy some of Michigan’s most talented musicians in a relaxing, family-friendly Flint city park on the grounds of the University of Michigan-Flint (next to the Flint Farmers’ Market). The usual genre performed is Jazz, but some days offer Blues, R&B or Soul as variations.
Performances will be in the Wilson Park on the University of Michigan-Flint Campus (549 Wallenberg Street in Flint) and at the greater Flint Arts Council if there is rainfall (816 S. Saginaw Street in Flint). All performances run from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., every weekday f until August 16.
Located at Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad (6140 Bray Road in Flint)
The Annual Back to the Bricks Cruise and Car Show
This family-friendly evening begins Tuesday with “Bricks Flicks” at the nostalgic US-23 Drive-in theatre on Fenton Road. Rolling cruises will follow on Saginaw Street from downtown Flint to Grand Blanc Wednesday through Friday. Friday will also feature a Motown concert in downtown Flint and Saturday will have the car show in downtown Flint, with vehicles of all ages and descriptions.
Tuesday, August 13, until Saturday August 17.
Genesee County Fair
Enjoy this family event that attracts over 150,000 visitors featuring live stock, carnival rides, an entertainment tent, monster trucks and derby races, a baby animal tent and petting zoo, bingo tent, racing pigs, a hog calling contest, a dog show, cornhole tournaments, tomato baseball, Pure Pro wrestling, an X-Treme chainsaw show and much more.
Monday, August 19 through Sunday, August 25 See gcf.org for specific times and events.
Located at E.A. Cummings Event Center (6130 E. Mt. Morris Road in Mt. Morris)
Concerts at the Valley
Relax and enjoy live music by “Ghost Note” at Genesee Valley Center’s Outdoor Village. Ghost Note performs Jazz, Hip-Hop and Funk.
Thursday August 22 from 7 until 9 p.m.
Located at the Genesee Valley Center Outdoor Village, 3341 S. Linden Road in Flint.
Movies Under the Stars – Peter Rabbit
Enjoy this summer outdoor movie, Peter Rabbit, played on a 30-foot movie screen. The evening will also include lawn games, activities, music, dancing, and snacks in a safe and family-friendly environment.
Friday, August 23 from 7:30 to 11 p.m.
Located at Applewood Estate, 1400 E. Kearsley St. in Flint
Swartz Creek Art in the Park Fine Art Festival
Known as one of the most successful annual art fairs in Mid-Michigan, browse and purchase fine art along with entertainment, local foods and engaging children’s activities.
Saturday, August 24 from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
Located at Swartz Creek Elms Park, 4071 Elms Road in Swartz Creek.)
Crim Festival of Races
Enjoy two-days of family fun as the city of Flint welcomes over 15,000 runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts to participate in this annual event featuring the Crim 10-Mile Race along with a variety of other races, a Health and Fitness Expo, a Friday evening Crim Pasta Party and the Michigan Mile Race Series.
Friday, August 23 and Saturday, August 24, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
Located at Flint’s Downtown Entertainment District, Saginaw Street in Flint.
Wings and Things: Bats – Monday Meander – Flushing County Park
How many species of bats live in Michigan? Discover the answer to this question, and others, while walking through scenic vistas and enjoying some wildlife viewing. Closed toed shoes and protection against mosquitos are recommended.
When: August 26, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Flushing County Park, Pavilion #5 – 4417 N McKinley Road in Flushing
Book Club @ Mt. Morris Library
When: Aug. 24 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Where: 685 Van Buren Avenue in Mount Morris
American Red Cross Blood Drive @ Mt. Morris Library
When: Aug. 27 1 to 6:45 p.m.
Where: 685 Van Buren Avenue in Mount Morris
Genesee County Fair – Mt. Morris
Come and enjoy A Festival of Patriotic Music on Armed Forces Day! Admission is free with a ticket. To secure your ticket, please call (810) 407-5823 extension 509. Seating is limited.
When: Mon, Aug. 19 – Sun, Aug. 25
Where: E.A. Cummings Center, 6130 E. Mt. Morris Rd in Mt Morris
The Assenmacher 100 Cycling Event – Swartz Creek
The Assenmacher 100 is a recreational and social fun bicycle ride through the farmland and villages of mid-Michigan. With routes of 20, 34, 56, 66 and 100 miles, there are courses for experienced cyclists as well as the casual rider. Entry fees apply. For more information:
https://www.active.com/swartz-creek-mi/cycling/races/cycling-races-assenmacher-100-2019
When: Sunday, August 18, 2019 Registration begins at 7 a.m. Riders should be on the road by 10:30 a.m.
Where: Swartz Creek Middle School, 8230 E. Crapo St. in Swartz Creek
Art In the Park – Swartz Creek
A juried, fine art festival featuring: metal sculpture, wood, paintings/drawings, photography, textiles, glass, jewelry, pottery and ceramics.
When: August 24, 2019
Where: Elms Park, 4150 Elms Rd, Swartz Creek
Flint Township Book Club
When: Thursday, Aug. 22, 2019 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Where: Flint-McCarty Library 2071 South Graham Road in Flint
HAP HR Medicare Seminar at the Flint Farmers’ Market
Medicare can be complex. HAP wants to make it easy and be with you every step of the way! Come join them and meet our team of licensed Medicare professionals to learn information on Medicare including: * HAP Medicare Plans * The ABC’s of Medicare * How to Enroll * Important Dates * & More! We look forward to meeting you!
When: Wednesday, August 24, 8 – 9:30 a.m.
Where: Flint Farmers’ Market, 300 E. First St., Flint
I hope this information has been useful to you. As always, reach out if there is anything more I can do for you.
John