Dear Neighbor,
I hope this newsletter finds you safe and healthy. The fall season is underway with students returning to school and cider mills opening. In this newsletter, I have included back-to-school resources, as well as information about local cider mills and events happening in and around our community. I encourage you and your loved ones to check out these events and enjoy all that this season has to offer.
As always, if you ever need assistance navigating any challenges with the state government or would like to share Feedback and suggestions, you can contact my office via email or by phone.
Featured in this newsletter:
• MI Student Aid
• Expansion of the Student Teacher Stipend
• Stopping for School Buses
• Cider Mills in Our Community
• Free National Park Day – Sept. 27 and Nov. 11
• Events & Festivals
Warmest Regards,
Paul Wojno
State Senator
District 10
SenatorWojno.com
Lansing: (517) 373-8360
Toll-free: (855) 347-8010
Email: SenPWojno@senate.michigan.gov
Constituent Corner
District 10 With Wojno
Senator Wojno is pictured with Joseph Haynes, Superintendent of Center Line Schools, and others.
Senator Wojno invited Christofer Metz, a senior from De La Salle High School, to shadow him for the day.
Senator Wojno is pictured with Jobs for Michigan Students during their day at the Capitol
Senator Wojno hosted Macomb Community College President Jim Sawyer and a student for a meeting in his office.
Support for Education & Educators
Filling out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can save you thousands of dollars a year off the cost of community, private, or public college. You can unlock grants, scholarships, and other assistance to put you on the path to higher education right here in Michigan.
One of the new ways you can save money is through the Michigan Achievement Scholarship, a bipartisan scholarship established to lower the cost of community, private, or public college by thousands of dollars a year — up to $27,500 over five years — for most graduating seniors. All you need to do to qualify is fill out your FAFSA — that’s it. Visit FAFSA.gov to fill out your information.
In addition to filling out your FAFSA, students can apply for grants and scholarships through the MI Student Aid’s website. Visit Michigan.gov/MISSG to access your MI Student Aid Portal.
Expansion of the Student Teacher Stipend
This session, one of my colleagues introduced Senate Bill 83, which would help combat the ongoing teacher shortage Michigan is facing by expanding the MI Future Educator Student Teacher Stipend to include preschool teachers. Currently, preschools that are unaffiliated with school districts such as the Great Start Readiness Program (GSRP) or public universities such as campus early childhood centers, are ineligible for the stipend. This stipend currently provides up to $9,600 per semester for full-time, unpaid student teachers. My colleagues and I worked together to pass this bipartisan legislation unanimously in the Senate.
Since its Senate passage, these bills have been referred to the Michigan House of Representatives.
Stopping for School Buses
With students back to school, we’ll be sharing the road with school buses again. To ensure you and others remain safe, take note of the lights school buses are showing. Yellow lights on school buses activate when preparing to stop. Red lights and the stop arm are activated when the bus is stopped and allowing passengers to get on or off. Here’s a reminder on what to do when a school bus stops on different road types.
Cider Mills in our Community
Cider mills are one of the amazing attractions our great state has to offer. Our area is lucky to have a variety of cider mills open for you to visit and enjoy!
Blakes Orchard & Cider Mill
17985 Armada Center Road Armada, MI
(586) 784-5343 | blakefarms.com
Big Red Orchard & Cider Mill
4900 32 Mile Road, Washington
Township, MI | (586) 752-7888
bigredorchard.com
Yates Cider Mill
1950 E. Avon Road, Rochester Hills, MI
(248) 651-8300 | yatescidermill.com
Goodison Cider Mill
4295 Orion Road, Rochester, MI 48306
(248) 652-8450 | goodisoncidermill.com
Westview Orchards
65075 Van Dyke Ave, Washington
Township, MI | (586) 752-3123
westvieworchards.com
Hy’s Cider Mill,
6350 37 Mile Road, Bruce Township, MI
(810) 798-3611 | hyscidermill.com
Stoney Creek Orchard & Cider Mill
2961 W. 32 Mile Rd., Romeo, MI
(586) 752-2453 | stonycreekorchard.com
Verellen Orchards & Cider Mill
63260 Van Dyke Avenue, Washington, MI
|(586) 752–2989 | verellenorchards.com
Free National Park Days
September 27th and November 11th
You and your loved ones can enjoy the last of the warm weather and the start of our fall weather at any national park for free. These days offer a great experience to enjoy the many changing colors of fall.
All entrance fees will be waived during these two dates nationwide. National parks in Michigan that you may visi for free on these dates are Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore, and Isle Royale National Park.
Michigan’s additional national park units such as River Raisin National Battlefield Park, Keweenaw National Historical Park, and more than 1,100 miles of the 4,800-mile North Country National Scenic Trail are always free.
Fall Events and Festivals
September
Aug. 28-1, Novi
Michigan State Fair
michiganstatefairllc.com
Aug. 29‑1, Royal Oak
Arts, Beats & Eats
artsbeatseats.com
Aug. 29‑1, Detroit
Detroit Jazz Festival
detroitjazzfest.org
Aug. 30-1, Romeo
Romeo Peach Festival
romeopeachfestival.com
5-6, Silver Lake
Apple & BBQ Festival
applebbqfestival.com
5-7, Rochester
Art & Apples Festival
festivalnet.com/10088/Rochester-Michigan/Art-Shows/Art-Apples-Festival
5-7, Paw Paw
Wine and Harvest Festival
wineandharvestfestival.com
5-7, Plymouth
Plymouth Fall Festival
plymouthfallfestival.com
11-14, Troy
Troy Family Daze
troyfamilydaze.org
14, Center Line
Center Line Beer Festival
centerlinefestival.org/events/beer-fest
19-21, Ferndale
DIY Street Fair
ferndalediy.com
20, Detroit
RADwood at Cars at the Station
radwood.com
26-28, Clinton
Clinton Fall Festival
facebook.com/clintonfallfestival
26-28, South Lyon
Pumpkinfest
southlyonpumpkinfest.com
October
3-5, Pontiac
American Speed Festival
m1concourse.com/american-speed-festival
4-5, New Boston
Huron Township Applefest
hurontownshipapplefest.com
12, Center Line
Center Line Halloween Town
centerlinefestival.org/events/halloween-town
25, Detroit
Detroit Fall Beer Festival
mibeer.com/Events/detroit-fall-beer-festival
November
7-9, Novi
Snowmobile USA Show
snowmobileusa.com
14-16, Novi
Motor City Comic Con Fall Edition
motorcitycomiccon.com
21-23, Rochester
Festival of Trees
downtownrochestermi.com/festival-of-trees
Nov. 20-Dec. 24, Detroit 6-10 p.m., Wed.‑Sun.
Wayne County LightFest
waynecountymi.gov/Parks-Recreation/Special-Events-and-Programs/Wayne-County-Lightfest
27, Detroit
America’s Thanksgiving Parade
theparade.org
December
7, Rochester
Rochester Area Hometown Christmas Parade
rrc-mi.com/christmas-parade
25, Rochester
The Big, Bright Light Show
downtownrochestermi.com/the-big-bright-light-show
31, Detroit
NYE 2026 Resolution Ball
resolutionballdetroit.com
31, Detroit
Motor City NYE
motorcitynye.com