The Rail | News, Commentary and Perspectives on Holly and the Northwest Oakland Community
The Rail – News, Commentary and Perspectives on Holly and the Northwest Oakland Community
Advertise | The Rail
Advertising information for The Rail
Local Affairs | The Rail
Decision to Close School Not Easy as 1, 2, 3 | The Rail
If anyone doubted that Holly Area Schools was truly seeking cost-saving alternatives in conducting its elementary housing study, the options presented Monday…
Janet Leslie | The Rail
Rise of the Machines | The Rail
Fans of the long-running game show Jeopardy! were treated to an especially historic event this week, as the show pitted brainy Jeopardy! all-stars Ken Jennings…
Ryan Bladzik | The Rail
Local Governments Can’t Delay Further on Medical Marijuana | The Rail
In November, 2008, Proposal 1, allowing the sale, possession and use of marijuana for medical purposes, passed in a state-wide referendum with more than 63% of…
Local Affairs | The Rail
Valentine’s Day Advice for Men | The Rail
Ever since the first time I wistfully watched another girl receive a Valentine’s Day carnation from a boy in middle school, I’ve noticed what men choose to…
Culture & Leisure | The Rail
Area Merchants Find Ways to Make it Through the Winter | The Rail
January and February. Two words that strike fear into the hearts of retailers across the country. Especially in northern states such as our own, where heating…
Business & Economy | The Rail
One Brave Governor | The Rail
When I was a kid and Ronald Reagan was president, he demanded that the striking air traffic controllers go back to work or lose their jobs. Having grown up in…
Keeping the Kennel Quiet | The Rail
Last week, The Rail posted a “Wouldn’t It Be Great†feature regarding the posting of Village meeting agenda and documents on the Village of Holly’s web…
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
…if the Village of Holly posted agenda and other information on their web site prior to council, commission and board meetings?
Ink & Paint – March 3, 2011 | The Rail
Holly Village Council | The Rail
village administration | The Rail
economic development | The Rail
About The Rail | The Rail
Our Mission The mission of The Rail is to provide analysis, perspectives and opinions of the issues that matter most to the Holly area. The Rail is committed to…
Frequently Asked Questions | The Rail
The Rail hasn’t been asked any questions yet. When we get asked a question twice, we’ll post the answer here.
Contact Us | The Rail
The Rail PO Box 262 Holly, MI 48442
Privacy Policy | The Rail
The Rail respects the privacy of its customers, donors, and visitors. If you have any questions about the operation of our website, please write to…
Site Map | The Rail
Terms & Conditions | The Rail
1. Acceptance of terms of use and amendments Each time you use or cause access to this web site, you agree to be bound by these Terms of use, as amended from…
The Rail
Reviving Dickens | The Rail
It was nearly impossible to drive through the downtown due to the crowds of pedestrians and children walking around. The sidewalks were packed with people…
Speak No Evil: Without Debate, Walker Just Barely Makes the Cut | The Rail
At yet another special meeting of the Holly village council Tuesday, interim Village Manager Jerry Walker was interviewed for the position of Village Manager….
Reining in a Rampant Council | The Rail
“Don’t tell me about procedure,†Village of Holly President Jeff Miller barked out towards the audience at the second special meeting of the village…
Seeds of Service | The Rail
Nowadays, it’s rare to hear of activity going on around Holly without a mention for the need for volunteers. From the popular Dickens Festival to parent…
Council vs. Walker – Too Much Drama | The Rail
The village council chambers were fairly empty for the emergency meeting on December 16, with only a few of the usual suspects of engaged Holly citizens…
Making the Right Pick | The Rail
One of the most enduring sentiments heard around the community is the feeling that people love living in Holly. They love the small-town, not-so-busy…
Is Operation Water Leak All Wet? | The Rail
Ask most members in the Holly community what they think of when they think of our municipal water, and they’ll say the rates are too high. Those who have…
The Freshmen: Tom Clark | The Rail
This is the in a series of interviews of the three freshman members of Holly’s village council, Jason Hughes, Jackie Campbell, and Tom Clark. The three were…
Pete Clemens Talks Cityhood | The Rail
Peter Clemens, 52, was defeated in his recent bid for reelection as village president by former village president Jeff Miller. Clemens had served as village…
Hope for Holly | The Rail
Recently, I checked in with Hope Ponsart, Holly’s Downtown Development Authority Executive Director, to see how she is settling into her new job. Hope admits…
The Implications of Closing Holly Elementary | The Rail
We are so fortunate to have a school district administration that will take the time to do extensive research when contemplating a major decision. We are also…
For Better Events, Volunteers Should Make the First Move | The Rail
It’s a chilly Saturday afternoon in downtown Holly, and who do you see at the Dickens Festival? There’s Cathy Bateman of My Sweet Holly giving volunteers…
Business & Economy | The Rail
Party Store Owners to Serve Free Holiday Meal | The Rail
“It completes my holidays.†That’s what Fay Kasgorgis, owner with her husband Jimmy, of the Downtown Holly Party Shoppe, says about their third year of…
Put Up or Shut Up | The Rail
Although I don’t usually read the rest because it mostly ignores Holly, I must admit, a guilty pleasure of mine is skimming the Hot Lines on the Tri-County…
Small Town Capitalism Requires Old Time Values | The Rail
One of the recurring themes of Rick Snyder’s gubernatorial campaign was the need for Michigan to reinvent itself: Â to innovate, find new directions and strive…
Hoffman: A Voice for Holly | The Rail
Do you remember the last time someone from Holly served on the Oakland County Board of Commissioners? No? Well, as far as I can tell, no one else remembers…
Education | The Rail
Last Minute Gadgets for the Techie That Has Everything | The Rail
If you’re not quite done with your holiday shopping and you’re wondering what to get the person who’s wired into everything, here are 10 of the hottest tech…
Shining Stars in Holly Area Schools | The Rail
Visitors to several Holly Area School District facilities have likely noticed a new, vivid plaque welcoming them lately. Five HAS facilities: Patterson, Holly…
Checking In and Checking Out | The Rail
One of the challenges that the business communities of small towns face is pulling travelers and tourists further in from the freeway exit oases of fast-food…
Ink & Paint – February 11, 2011 | The Rail
Ink & Paint – February 18, 2011 | The Rail
Ink & Paint – January 28, 2011 | The Rail
Republican Women: How High the Heel | The Rail
While checking out Facebook for posts from friends, I came upon a logo designed for a Republican women’s website. It was pink and it had a swirly logo in the…
Holly: Recasting the Community Mold | The Rail
In the 1970’s, two graduate students of architecture at Yale University, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andres Duany, began to study the increasing…
Holly Voters Choose Style over Substance in Elections | The Rail
When Village of Holly President Pete Clemens prefaced his motion to terminate the employment of former Village Manager Marsha Powers with, “I think it’s…
It’s Time to Wrap Up the Circus | The Rail
He’s the savior of Holly. He might be the anti-Christ. I love the concept of logic, especially with arguments like those above. The first statement may or may…
Printer’s Marks | The Rail
Wouldn’t It Be Great | The Rail
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
Wouldn’t it be great if there was some sort of volunteer clearinghouse resource within the Holly community?
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
…if there was a gas station or convenience store between downtown Holly and downtown Davisburg?
Uncategorized | The Rail
Public Notices and the Digital Divide | The Rail
For a long time, Michiganders have been seeking opportunities and initiatives for change in our government and economy, and to be sure, reform is certainly…
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
…if local municipal office spaces had public WiFi access?
Why We’re Here | The Rail
Some people just get it. You start talking to them, and before long they start telling you the simple things the leadership of the Holly area should do to…
Trains & Things Open (For a While) | The Rail
Something extraordinary happened in downtown Holly on Saturday afternoon. I was standing in the front window of My Sweet Holly, gazing into the street without…
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
…if there was a store in Holly’s downtown or main commerce district that sold Holly Bronchos apparel and spirit items?
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
…if young professionals in Holly got together to renew a local Jaycees chapter?
Ink & Paint – December 17, 2010 | The Rail
The Freshmen: Jason Hughes | The Rail
This is the first in a series of interviews of the three freshman members of Holly’s village council, Jason Hughes, Jackie Campbell, and Tom Clark. The three…
Ink & Paint – December 10, 2010 | The Rail
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
…if main sidewalks in the Village of Holly were cleared better in the winter?
Reviving Dickens | The Rail | Page 2
It was nearly impossible to drive through the downtown due to the crowds of pedestrians and children walking around. The sidewalks were packed with people… – page 2
Ink & Paint – January 14, 2011 | The Rail
Ink & Paint – January 7, 2011 | The Rail
Ink & Paint – December 31, 2010 | The Rail
Ink & Paint – November 23, 2010 | The Rail
Holly: Recasting the Community Mold | The Rail | Page 2
In the 1970’s, two graduate students of architecture at Yale University, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andres Duany, began to study the increasing… – page 2
Holly: Recasting the Community Mold | The Rail | Page 3
In the 1970’s, two graduate students of architecture at Yale University, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andres Duany, began to study the increasing… – page 3
Holly Voters Choose Style over Substance in Elections | The Rail | Page 2
When Village of Holly President Pete Clemens prefaced his motion to terminate the employment of former Village Manager Marsha Powers with, “I think it’s… – page 2
Blue Over Blue Laws | The Rail
Recently, Governor Jennifer Granholm signed an amendment to the Michigan Liquor Control Code, allowing licensed taverns, restaurants and retailers to sell…
Wouldn’t It Be Great… | The Rail
…if Holly had an ice skating rink for the community in the winter months?
