Dear Neighbor,
I hope you are enjoying another beautiful Michigan summer, and you and your loved ones have the chance to get out and experience everything this wonderful season has to offer in our great state.
Featured in this newsletter:
- Apply for Free PreK Today!
- Stopping the Spread of Invasive Species in Michigan
- WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) Program Expands Eligibility Requirements to Serve More Families
- Honoring World Breastfeeding Week
- Renew Detroit Home Repair
- Find and Compare Nursing Homes in Your Area with Medicare.gov
- National Immunization Awareness Month
- Center Line Beautification Program is Looking for Volunteers
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.
Sincerely,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
Apply for Free PreK Today!
The 2025 state budget gives access to free PreK for many Michigan four-year-olds, prioritizing those who need it most. This saves families $10,000 per year.
It’s not too late for families to enroll their four-year-old in PreK this fall! If you have a child who will be four-years-old by December 1, there are seats available this fall. Go to MiFreePreschool.org to find programs near you.
Stopping the Spread of Invasive Species in Michigan
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) recently verified a new detection of invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA) on trees on a private property in Leelanau Township in Leelanau County.
Public awareness plays a crucial role in the fight against invasive species.
Suspected infestations in Leelanau County or new areas of the state can be reported by:
- Emailing MDARD at MDA-Info@michigan.gov or calling the Customer Service Center at (800) 292-3939.
- Using the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network (MISIN) online reporting tool or downloading the MISIN smartphone app and reporting from your phone.
Be prepared to report the location of infested trees and, whenever possible, take one or two pictures of infested branches to help confirm identification. To avoid spreading hemlock woolly adelgid, do not collect sample branches or twigs.
Infested trees can be identified by looking on the undersides of hemlock shoots branches for evidence of round, white ovisacs near the base of the needles. Up close, ovisacs resemble cotton balls and may appear alone or in clusters. For assistance in identification, see MDARD’s short video Hemlock Woolly Adelgid: Invasive Species in Michigan.
It’s important to note that other, less damaging pests can be mistaken for hemlock woolly adelgid. Be sure to review photos and descriptions of common hemlock woolly adelgid look-alikes at Michigan.gov/HWA. Help in identifying hemlock trees is also available at the same site.
Although the tiny insects don’t move far on their own, they can be blown by wind or hitchhike on birds or animals. Also, cars, boats or RVs parked under infested trees may transport the insects to new locations. Take precautions like only parking in designated areas, cleaning gear and vehicle before traveling, and leaving firewood at home.
For more information on hemlock woolly adelgid and other invasive species in Michigan, and to find out what you can do to help prevent them, visit Michigan.gov/Invasives.
WIC (Women, Infants, & Children) Program Expands Eligibility Requirements to Serve More Families
Michigan’s WIC program has updated their guidelines to now allow even more families to qualify and receive benefits. Participants can use their WIC EBT card to purchase essential foods like fresh produce, milk, bread, eggs, and infant formula at select stores. Find out if you’re eligible and how to access benefits here.
Honoring World Breastfeeding Month
In an effort to inform the public and engage action on breastfeeding advocacy, World Breastfeeding Week is recognized annually from August 1-7. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer also declared August as Breastfeeding Month. This week and beyond, let’s continue working to promote inclusive environments that support breastfeeding parents, including adequate protections and resources to encourage one of the most effective methods of improving maternal and infant health.
We remain dedicated to ensuring every Michigan parent is well-supported in their breastfeeding journey, which is why Sen. Jeff Irwin introduced Senate Bill 351. This bill would expand Michigan’s Public Breastfeeding Nondiscrimination Act to ensure parents are protected from discrimination for pumping breastmilk in public, which is often necessary when parents are away from their breastfeeding baby for several hours. Senate Bill 351 successfully passed out of the Senate and now awaits further action in the House of Representatives.
Renew Detroit Home Repair
Renew Detroit provides home repairs for seniors, low-income individuals, and the disability community. This program is federally funded with a $30 million appropriation and was expanded with an additional $15 million dollars from the state of Michigan. This program has the capacity to repair 2,000 homes in the Detroit community. This is a two-phase program; the first phase consists of roof replacements and the second phase consists of roof or window replacements. To learn more, please click here.
Find and Compare Nursing Homes in Your Area with Medicare.gov
If you or someone you care about is looking for a nursing home in your area, Medicare.gov might be able to help. Medicare.gov allows you to find and compare nursing homes in your area. You can also personalize your results by filtering things such as inspection results, location, quality ratings, and more.
National Immunization Awareness Month
August is National Immunization Awareness Month. This annual observance highlights efforts to protect individuals of all ages against vaccine-preventable diseases and make sure residents receive vaccinations on time. The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is urging Michigan residents and families to get caught up and stay up to date on vaccines. Global immunization efforts have saved an estimated 154 million lives — the majority of lives saved were infants (101 million). MDHHS encourages residents to talk to their health care provider about recommended vaccines for themselves and their families. To learn more please, click here.
Center Line Beautification Program is Looking for Volunteers
The Center Line Beautification Program is looking for volunteers the first Wednesday of every month now through November. This program will allow you to help make the City of Center Line more pleasant for everyone. By volunteering, you can connect with fellow community members and gain hands-on experience in gardening, landscaping, and community organization. If interested in volunteering, please call (586) 757-6800.