The latest addition to the Bloomfield Community Television catalog is Building Together, hosted by former Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie. This new series is dedicated to offering a behind-the-scenes look at the rebuilding process for the Oakland Hills Country Club. The historic building was engulfed in a massive fire in February of 2022. As Savoie states, “Oakland Hills plays an instrumental role in the history of Bloomfield Township.”
The first episode is an in-depth discussion with Police Chief James Gallagher and Fire Chief John LeRoy. Each has their own perspective on what transpired that fateful day. Chief LeRoy recounted, “Once the fire call went out on the radio, first responders from all-around made their way to the site. First, because everyone knows the age of the structure and how potentially hazardous a fire could be. Second, people in this area all seem to have some sort of connection to the history of Oakland Hills.”
Chief Gallagher added, “it was really a tale of two fires. There was the front portion which seemed pretty manageable and then you walked around to the back and just saw how it was a really serious situation.” Additionally, the weather was an ever-changing factor on the day with temperatures starting in mid-40s soon to be followed by a sharp dip down to the teens, coupled with two inches of snow.
Future episodes will be dedicated to the rebuilding of the facilities at Oakland Hills and the coordinated efforts among the Township, Planning, Building and Ordinance Department, the club, builders and architects.
“I grew up in Bloomfield Township, so I have a special connection to this community,” said Patti Voelker, Director of Planning, Building and Ordinance for the Township. “Oakland Hills is known throughout the world so the interest is far reaching,” she added.
The mission of Bloomfield Community Television (BCTV) is to facilitate the production and cablecast of programming which reflect the interests and activities of the community and inform and enrich the lives of the people in our viewing area. BCTV serves residents interested in creating new content, be it television or podcasts. New community producers create video content and podcasts that tell local stories to educate and enlighten residents on popular topics.
Community members who are interested in producing a program should attend the upcoming one-hour BCTV Orientation, scheduled for Tuesday May 21 at 10:00 AM. BCTV offers a 1000 square-foot studio space, as well as a recently added podcast studio.
If interested in attending, please RSVP to Jose Guzman:
BCTV Studio, 4190 Dublin Road, Bloomfield Township, MI 48302
This orientation includes a 20-minute presentation and facility tour. You will also have the opportunity to meet our staff and meet fellow producers. Reminder: this is a required first step in volunteering with BCTV.
Check out BCTV Video on Demand for a current list of available shows, as well as BCTV Podcasts. You can also subscribe to the BCTV YouTube Page. To receive a monthly update on local community programming, sign up for the BCTV Newsletter, Local Lens.