Oshtemo Charter Township

10/14/2026

A remarkable piece of Oshtemo history!

Enoch and Deborah Harris were among our community's earliest pioneers, establishing a successful farm, planting Kalamazoo County's first apple orchard, and helping freedom seekers through the Underground Railroad. We're honored to help share their story.

Learn more: bit.ly/oshtemo-Enoch-Deborah-Harris

Enoch and Deborah Harris were Kalamazoo County's first recorded Black settlers, arriving around 1830 from Marion County, Ohio. Pioneers in every sense, they purchased land in Oshtemo Township, built a prosperous 200-acre farm, and planted the county's very first apple orchard. Enoch had been a neighbor of John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) in Ohio, which inspired him to bring apple seeds with him to the Michigan frontier.
While establishing their orchard, the Harris family leveraged their wealth and property to actively resist slavery:
• The Shield of Prominence: Enoch Harris was highly prosperous, deeply wealthy, and universally respected by his white neighbors, who frequently hired him to arbitrate property boundaries. In 1841, he even ran for the Michigan State Senate on the abolitionist Liberty Party ticket.
• The Underground Railroad: Their prominent community standing and sprawling homestead provided a rare layer of social insulation. The Harrises utilized their farm as a strategic haven, working with local abolitionist networks to shelter freedom seekers escaping via the Underground Railroad.
• An Enduring Legacy: Today, Enoch and Deborah are buried in Oshtemo's Genesee Prairie Cemetery, honored by an official Michigan Historical Marker dedicated in 1973 that commemorates their monumental status as the county's first Black pioneers and orchard innovators.

EnochHarris

10/14/2026

Cleaning out the garage, basement, or office? KVCC's recycling event is this Saturday.

Kalamazoo Valley Community College will host its biannual recycling event on Saturday, October 17, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Texas Township Campus (6767 W. O Ave.) parking lot.

Bring your unwanted electronics and EPS foam (Styrofoam) for recycling. Electronics and foam are accepted free of charge. TVs, monitors, and Freon-containing units are $10 each (cash, check, or card).

The event is open to everyone, and there is no limit on the amount of material you can bring.

Questions? Call KVCC Facilities Services at 269-488-4540.

10/14/2026

Join us for a free, all-ages guided nature walk at Oshtemo Township Park as we explore how the forest prepares for the colder months ahead. While changing leaves may be the most visible sign of autumn, there are many other fascinating changes happening among the plants and animals that call the woods home.

Volunteer Naturalist Educator Lorri will lead a leisurely ¾-mile walk along gentle trails, with hands-on activities and discoveries along the way.

Meet Lorri at the Rotary Club of Oshtemo Pavilion at Township Park.
Saturday, October 17
1 p.m. start time
Free drop-in program, no registration required
All ages welcome

Learn more and RSVP: bit.ly/oshtemo-FOP-guided-nature-walk

Township Park is located on Metro Bus Route 14 (West Main), with service to the Oshtemo Public Library stop ( #1221).

10/13/2026

10/13/2026

Interested in sharing your thoughts on battery energy storage projects?

The Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) will accept public comment during its Oct. 15, 2026, meeting. Residents may participate in person or remotely.

Instructions for providing public comment or submitting written comments are available on the meeting page.

This post is provided for informational purposes only. Participation is voluntary, and residents are encouraged to share their own perspectives directly with the MPSC.

Learn more: bit.ly/oshtemo-MPSC-upcoming-meetings

10/13/2026

Miss the October 8 Planning Commission meeting? Catch up with this brief summary of the discussion.

The Planning Commission resumed its step-by-step review of the 38-page DRAFT energy systems ordinance, which is available in the meeting agenda packet.

Agenda packet: bit.ly/oshtemo-planning-commission-agenda-packets
Meeting recording: bit.ly/oshtemo-PMN

10/13/2026

How does Michigan prevent someone from voting more than once?

The state uses the Qualified Voter File (QVF), a secure database that tracks when and the method in which each voter casts their ballot. It is connected to both the Election Day and Early Voting electronic pollbooks (e-pollbooks), which are used at every precinct.

Once a voter casts their ballot, the e-pollbook records it and updates the QVF. If someone tries to vote twice, say, by submitting an absentee ballot and showing up in person, the system flags it and prevents a second ballot from being distributed.

This is just one of the many security checks built into Michigan’s election system.

Learn more about Michigan election security: bit.ly/oshtemo-election-security

10/12/2026

When infrastructure issues arise, many of us have questions. Why isn't this working? Who is responsible? How long will repairs take? What will it cost?

To help answer questions like these, the Michigan Infrastructure Council is creating a Citizens Guide to Infrastructure Systems and is seeking input from residents across the state.

Share your thoughts through a brief 10-minute survey to help ensure the guide addresses the questions and concerns most important to Michigan communities.

Learn more and take the survey: bit.ly/oshtemo-MIC-infrastructure-survey

10/12/2026

Stop by Kalamazoo County Health & Community Services on Saturday, October 17, for a special Flu Vaccine Clinic & Resource Fair!

While flu vaccines are available Monday through Friday, this is the only Saturday clinic of the season.

Get your annual flu shot, connect with HCS programs, explore community resources, and enjoy free giveaways.

Learn more: bit.ly/oshtemo-KCHCS-flu-vaccine

10/09/2026

You're invited to join us for the next Oshtemo Charter Township Board Meeting on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.

Can't attend in person? You can watch the meeting live on Public Media Network and review the agenda packet in advance.

Watch live: bit.ly/oshtemo-PMN
Agenda packet: bit.ly/oshtemo-township-board-agenda-packets

We hope you'll join us and stay connected with what's happening in Oshtemo Township.