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County commissioner honors Oak Park volunteer; council promotes Juneteenth celebration
Summary
Oakland County Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles presented a Women’s History Month award to Oak Park volunteer Leslie Herrick Ritchie; council members promoted upcoming Juneteenth festivities and city grants supporting an urban forest plan.
Oakland County Commissioner Yolanda Smith Charles recognized Oak Park resident Leslie Herrick Ritchie on June 16 with the county’s Women’s History Month award, citing her volunteer service as a library-board treasurer, Oak Park Youth Assistance board member, Oak Park Historical Society president, and chair of the Oak Park Dog Park Committee. Ritchie thanked the council and posed for a photo after the presentation.
Council members used the meeting to highlight community events and recent grant awards. Mayor McClellan and staff noted the city and Oakland County secured a $117,621 grant to complete a public tree inventory and develop an urban forest management plan to plant street trees and conduct community engagement. Council member Stephanie Crawford, chair of the Juneteenth Commission, invited residents to the fifth annual Juneteenth celebration at Oak Park High School with a program from 4–7 p.m. followed by a headline band from 7–9 p.m.
Commissioner Smith Charles also updated the council on county veterans programs and recreation vouchers, including a $53,000 Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency grant that helped extend a door-to-door veterans transportation program through September 2025. The council’s remarks emphasized community engagement and upcoming events.
