Ortonville crosswalk: firefighter dogs and s'mores at Church and South
ORTONVILLE. A new crosswalk at Church and South streets near the Brandon Township Fire Department shows a dog driving a fire truck, a dog holding a hose, and s'mores over flames. The Ortonville Downtown Development Authority installed it this month. The stencils cost between $3,000 and $4,000, covered by local merchants and a Main Street Oakland County grant.
Board member Stephanie Elowsky started the project in February, after Brandon High School students decorated downtown storefronts for the holidays. Art teacher Willow Riopelle's students submitted about 20 designs; the DDA narrowed the field to five, and more than 100 people voted online. Senior Addison Tait's design won by a wide margin. Elowsky and Riopelle painted the stencils with the Department of Public Works on a Tuesday.
DDA Executive Director Matt Jenkins called it proof the community can pull together. The DDA plans more crosswalks with student artists across its district.
This is a reader-friendly summary. The full story belongs to Oakland County Times — go give them the click.