Dear Neighbors,
I hope this newsletter finds you and your family safe and healthy. As the weather continues to get warmer, please remember to dress appropriately, stay hydrated, but, most important, enjoy yourself!
Featured in this newsletter:
- June is Pride Month!
- CVS Project Health
- Detroit Recreation Centers and Detroit Public Library branches available to Residents for Relief from the Heat
- 2023 Michigan Environmental Justice Conference
- MDARD Encourages Owners to Help Keep Their Animals Cool and Safe as Temperatures Rise
If you have any questions, want to comment on pending legislation, or resolve any issues in state government, please do not hesitate to contact my office by phone at (517) 373-8360 or by email at SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov.
Warmest regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
June is Pride Month!
Last week marked the beginning of Pride Month – a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and recognize their strength and ability to live as their authentic selves.
This year, my colleagues and I passed a law expanding the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act’s protected categories to include sexual orientation and gender identity or expression as prohibited categories for discrimination. With more work left to be done, we must continue our efforts to expand the community’s access to equal standing under the law.
CVS Project Health
There are no-cost health checkups at select CVS Pharmacies. From blood pressure readings to mental health assessments, these clinics are here to support your whole health. Learn more about offerings here.
WHEN: Thursday, July 13, from 2:00 – 6:00 pm
WHERE: CVS Pharmacy, 19900 Van Dyke Ave, Detroit, MI 48234
WHEN: Friday, July 14, from 2:00 – 6:00 pm
WHERE: CVS Pharmacy, 19900 Van Dyke Ave, Detroit, MI 48234
WHEN: Saturday, August 5, from 2:00 – 6:00 pm
WHERE: CVS Pharmacy, 18585 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48236
WHEN: Sunday, August 13, from 12:00 – 4:00 pm
WHERE: CVS Pharmacy, 18585 East Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48236
Detroit Recreation Centers and Detroit Public Library branches available to Residents for Relief from the Heat
Detroit Recreation Centers and Detroit Public Library branches are available during their normal operating hours to provide residents with relief from the heat. Some of these locations are outside of my Senate district, so please feel free to share these locations with family and friends.
The following Recreation Centers are open to provide residents relief from the heat:
- Adams Butzel Complex, 10500 Lyndon (M-F, 8 AM-9 PM; Saturday 10 AM-6 PM)
- Butzel Family Center, 7737 Kercheval Street (M-F, 11 AM–7 PM)
- Clemente Recreation Center, 2631 Bagley (M-F, 1 PM-9 PM)
- Farwell Recreation Center, 2711 E. Outer Drive (M-F, 11 AM–7 PM; not open Saturdays)
- Lasky Recreation Center, 13200 Fenelon (M-F, 1 PM–9 PM; not open Saturdays)
- Northwest Activities Center, 18100 Meyers (M-F, 8 AM–9 PM), Saturday (10 AM–6 PM)
- Patton Recreation Center, 2301 Woodmere (M-F, 8 AM–9 PM; Sat 10 AM–6 PM)
- Kemeny Recreation Center, 2260 S. Fort (M-F, 8 AM-9 PM; Saturday 10 AM-6 PM)
- Crowell Recreation Center, 16630 Lahser (M-F, 1 PM–9 PM; not open Saturdays)
- Heilmann Recreation Center, 19601 Crusade (M-F, 8 AM–9 PM; Saturday 10 AM–6 PM)
All Detroit Public Library branches are available during their normal operating hours for residents to get relief from the heat. The Main Library is open this weekend on Friday and Saturday from 10 am – 6 pm. All the other branches are open Friday from 10 am – 6 pm, and closed Saturday and Sunday.
2023 Michigan Environmental Justice Conference
WHEN: June 21-22, 2023
WHERE: Detroit, Michigan
The 2023 Michigan Environmental Justice Conference will focus on the theme of Advancing Environmental Justice: Working Together toward Progress. Conference attendees can learn about and engage with environmental justice related resources and programs from various state of Michigan departments and other organizations at the Resource Fair. There will also be a Poster Gallery to hear from presenters about their environmental justice research and projects. The goal of this 2-day, in-person conference is to convene conversations, explore actions, present research and continue progress toward achieving environmental justice in Michigan.
The conference is intended for anyone interested in environmental justice, including front-line communities, business and industry, labor, local, tribal, state, and federal government, policy makers, public health practitioners, academic and community-based researchers, community and environmental organizations, and environmental justice and community advocates.
Registration deadline: June 12, 2023. For more information and registration details, click here.
MDARD Encourages Owners to Help Keep Their Animals Cool and Safe as Temperatures Rise
As temperatures rise in many parts of the state, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is reminding owners of some of the best ways to keep animals cool and safe.
Keep animals safe from the heat by following these tips:
Let it Flow: Provide unlimited cool clean, fresh water
- Just like people, animals can quickly get parched in hot temperatures. No matter the species, animals should have access to unlimited cool, clean, fresh water to prevent dehydration.
Know Their Limits: An animal’s ability to tolerate heat varies
- An animal’s age, breed, type of coat, and health history can all play a role in their ability to tolerate the heat. Keep an eye on them for signs of heat stress—like increased panting or drooling and being more lethargic. If they are showing these signs, it is time to immediately move them to a cooler area. Also, consider talking to your veterinarian. They will have a greater knowledge of your animal(s) and be able to give more specific guidance on how to best handle them in hot weather.
Happy Paws: Test surfaces to make sure they won’t burn paws
- Surfaces like asphalt, concrete, and sand can really heat up in the sun, which can burn paws— or at least make a walk very uncomfortable. To test if a surface is too hot, touch it with the palm of your hand. If it is too hot for you, consider taking a different route that is mostly grass or waiting until the evening when everything has had a chance to cool.
Get in Gear: Parked vehicles are not places to park pets
- Even when temperatures feel more moderate, vehicles can heat up very quickly, creating dangerous conditions for the animals left inside. Leaving windows cracked open and/or parking in the shade does little to improve the situation. In these conditions, it is best to leave pets at home when you need to go out and about.
A Place to Chill: Make sure animals have a place to cool down
- Animals know when they are too hot and will usually try to find a place where they can cool down. Make sure they have access to shade, fans, misters, pools, cooling mats, and/or air-conditioned spaces to help them stay comfortable.
Following these tips can help keep your animals cool and comfortable through any heat wave. If there are any concerns about your animals’ health throughout the summer months, please talk to your veterinarian.