4/17/24 West Bloomfield Beacon

Where the deer roam

Local leaders discuss deer management options

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT — Although most cities and townships have their own unique agendas to tend to, in recent years a common issue has captured the attention of multiple municipalities.

For some, deer sightings are perhaps mostly associated with areas in the northern part of the state, but residents in some local communities know that you don’t have to take an hours-long car ride to get a glimpse of the graceful wild animals. They can be spotted in yards of many Oakland County homes.

For some, that brings joy. For others, it’s a nuisance, and a potentially dangerous one at that.

The issue is one that recently brought local community leaders together.

Last month, the city of Farmington Hills hosted a meeting of the South Oakland County Mayors Association, and a regional approach to urban deer herd management was a topic of discussion.

At a goals study session in January, the Farmington Hills City Council set a goal to work toward creating a system-

West Bloomfield library eliminates overdue fines

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

WEST BLOOMFIELD — Library patrons who might tend to get a little stressed when a due date is near can now breathe a sigh of relief.

As of April 1, the West Bloomfield Township Public Library no longer charges overdue fines.

West Bloomfield is not alone in making that decision. According to the library’s website, around 58% of Michigan library systems no longer charge overdue fines on print materials, with that information based on 2023 state reports.

According to West Bloomfield’s site, less than 0.5% of the library’s revenue last year was from fines, with the library estimating that it spends more than it receives to collect fines due to IT costs, including credit card processing fees and payment terminals.

The site also states that fine collection consumes “considerable” staff time that could be better spent on other public services.

“Fines are no longer a sustainable source of library revenue,” the site states.

The Bloomfield Township Public Library also eliminated overdue fines, which, according to a report, has only accounted for

Effective April 1, the West Bloomfield Township Public Library no longer charges overdue fines. Pictured at right is Vivyan Abdulahad, who is a circulation clerk at the library.

Photos by Patricia O’Blenes

The Beacon is one of 21 bi-weekly publications produced by C & G Newspapers, a family-owned company serving residents in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties since 1981. We deliver our papers to more than 571,000 homes in 45 communities via direct mail.

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SECOND FRONT PAGE

State of the County address focuses on affordable housing, transit, business

‘Proving once again that in Oakland County, working across the aisle is how we do business’

BY MARK VEST mvest@candgnews.com

FARMINGTON HILLS — At his State of the County address at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills April 4, Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter painted an optimistic picture of where things stand in the county.

Coulter took the stage following remarks by Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich.

During his speech, Coulter highlighted what he considers some of the county’s successes, including affordable housing, transit, small business coaching and mental health care.

He said that one of the county’s greatest strengths is fiscal responsibility, as, from his perspective, taxpayer dollars have been handled responsibly.

“Every year I’ve presented three-year balanced budgets with healthy reserves that help provide essential services that reflect our

BY BRENDAN LOSINSKI blosinski@candgnews.com

On Sunday, April 28, the Troy Community Center will play host to the second-annual Michigan High School Cricket Tournament.

Can you hear your grandchild asking you to read a story or the pitter patter of rain on the roof?

Our comprehensive hearing evaluation is always no charge.

The tournament was begun last year by Washtenaw International High School student Sarthak Subud-

hi. An advocate for increasing access to cricket resources in the community, he organized several local teams, including his own, to participate in the event.

“High school cricket is still new for most people. Since I am a senior going off to the University of Michigan, I want to leave a legacy

Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter highlighted what he considers some of the county’s successes at a State of the County address April 4 at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills.

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Deer

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atic solution “to an ongoing concern,” according to a press release.

Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich, along with City Manager Gary Mekjian and members of Farmington Hills City Council, were part of the meeting.

Other attendees included representatives from Berkley, Birmingham, Farmington, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Madison Heights, Novi, Southfield, Troy, Northville, Wixom and Oakland County.

The keynote speaker at the meeting was Chad Stewart, who is a deer, elk and moose management specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

Some communities are part of the Southeast Michigan Urban Deer Coalition, which was formed in 2021 as the Oakland County Community Deer Coalition.

“Once a month, the mayors of south Oakland County get together and talk about issues that cut across our various cities, and March was Farmington Hills’ turn to host, and we saw this as an opportunity to bring together regional leaders from numerous cities across the county so that we could all hear from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources’ expert at the same time, because the reality is we all have an issue with the urban deer herd,” Rich said. “So far, I think, there’s been little collaborative regional action that’s been taken to manage the urban deer herd. What we know is that if we’re go-

ing to have a lasting impact, we’re going to have to work together on this very important safety issue.”

According to the Humane Society’s website, deer thrive in human-shaped habitats such as the edges of roadways, forests, parks and suburban yards, and the development of woods and open space has forced them into close contact with people.

Aside from the frustrations some residents have with deer damaging their gardens, more serious concerns include deer-vehicle collisions and the fear that their presence could cause Lyme disease. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, deer “are important sources of blood for ticks and are important to tick survival and movement to new areas. However, deer are not infected with Lyme disease bacteria and do not infect ticks.”

Strategies for how to manage the deer population vary, with some advocating for nonlethal solutions and others preferring a lethal way of dealing with the issue.

A few of the nonlethal suggestions that have been put forth include trapping deer and relocating them to a northern part of the state, lacing food with contraceptives so that female deer cannot become impregnated, and putting fencing around yards.

Trap and transfer

Rich addressed the possibility of relocating deer.

“That seems like a great, humane way

See DEER on page 8A

Photo provided by the city of Farmington Hills

From the left, Farmington Hills Mayor Theresa Rich; Chad Stewart, who is a deer, elk and moose management specialist for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources; Farmington Hills City Manager Gary Mekjian; and Farmington Hills Assistant City Manager Karen Mondora attended the event.

NEWS & NOTES

Enrichment camp coming to WB

WEST BLOOMFIELD — The week of July 22, Camp Invention, a nationally recognized nonprofit summer enrichment camp, is scheduled to come to West Bloomfield Middle School, according to a press release.

The camp is a program of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It challenges children in grades K-6 to use their creativity to solve problems, the release states.

The camp promotes science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning.

The camp fosters confidence-building and leadership, along with helping to build perseverance and resourcefulness, “all in a fun and engaging environment.”

“All local Camp Invention programs are facilitated and taught by qualified educators who reside and teach in the community,” the release states.

According to the release, Camp Invention partners with school districts from across the nation.

For more information or to register, visit invent.rg/camp.

Superintendent announces retirement

OAKLAND COUNTY — According to a press release, Oakland Schools Intermediate School District Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson is set to retire, effective Aug. 30.

Cook-Robinson has served as the superintendent since 2015, the release states.

During the course of her career Cook-Robinson has received multiple accolades, including being named the State of Michigan Superintendent of the Year and receiving the Wayne State University College of Education Alumni Association’s Distinguished Educator Award.

In a separate press release, Kenneth Gutman was announced as Cook-Robinson’s successor.

According to the release, Gutman has 32 years of professional educational experience, including 14 as a superintendent. He served in leadership roles in three Oakland County school districts.

In 2016, he was named Region 9 Superintendent of the Year by the Michigan Association of School Administrators.

Gutman is set to begin his new role Aug. 31.

Heads up!

BELOW: Shrine Catholic Grade School physical education teacher Gabe Flores holds protective glasses for student Kate Bates, 11, in Royal Oak during the solar eclipse April 8. RIGHT: Principal Scott Wisniewski took a sunny approach to the rare event.

WEST BLOOMFIELD — As part of Jewish Family Services’ 2024 Spotlight Event, the agency is scheduled to recognize Rabbi Daniel Syme.

The event is set to take place May 22 at the Flagstar Strand Theatre in Pontiac.

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and according to a press release, JFS provides suicide prevention trainings and clinical consultations. It works with community partners to develop and implement policies that support a stronger system of care for people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, according to the organization.

The release states that the efforts are part of “A Single Soul,” the agency’s suicide prevention initiative, and the vision of Syme.

“The work JFS does in suicide prevention owes much to Rabbi Syme, whose life’s work has been about preventing death by suicide,” Perry Ohren, the CEO of JFS, stated in the release. “His brother died by suicide in the 1970s, which had a profound impact on him and changed his life’s direction. JFS wants people to know that Rabbi Syme has worked tirelessly to ensure people and organizations have the resources that they need to prevent suicide.”

The event is sponsored by the Reva Stocker Lecture Series, and it is set to be chaired by Gail Danto, Art Roffey, and Jordon and Alex Wertheimer.

“The dollars raised will support the agency’s greatest needs,” the release states.

Stand-up comic Gary Gulman, who has shared mental health struggles, is scheduled to be at the event.

For more information, visit jfsspotlightevent.org or call (248) 592-2339.

Cook-Robinson

Photos by Lindsey Larivee

Fines

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0.02% of its revenue in recent years.

Although some may be concerned that the new policy lets people off the hook a little too easily, removing an element of personal responsibility, West Bloomfield Library Director Cathy Russ made it clear that the new policy doesn’t mean that patrons can now keep an item for as long as they want.

“Now we’re charging you for replacement cost,” Russ said. “So that, I think, is still a deterrent for people to keep their items longer than they should, but we’re not (going to) nickel and dime people if they’re a day or two late.”

The library previously charged people 15 cents each day for most overdue items.

However, according to Russ, in most cases patrons were not fined for overdue materials because of the library’s automatic renewal program, which means that if there is not a hold on material, the library automatically renews it.

“So if nobody had a hold on that material, we would automatically renew it for you so you wouldn’t have a fine,” Russ said. “So in most cases, you weren’t being charged fines anyway, and your item would just automatically renew for another three weeks. In the cases where somebody maybe did have a hold on the item and … you brought it back two days later, we would charge you 30 cents. Now we’re not doing that.”

The library’s automatic renewal program is continuing, with the current policy being that if an item is more than 21

days overdue, it is considered lost, with a replacement fee being assessed unless the item is returned.

Patrons are not able to borrow additional library materials if they owe over $30 in unpaid lost, unreturned and/or damaged materials fees, according to the site.

According to Victoria Edwards, who is the library’s communications specialist, patrons will continue to receive reminders about due dates.

The fact that West Bloomfield is not alone in its decision to no longer charge overdue fines has not been lost on Edwards, as she referred to it as a trend among libraries.

“During the pandemic, many libraries – including West Bloomfield – offered an amnesty program as a way to encourage patrons to bring library materials back during our phased reopening,” Edwards stated via email. “We noticed – as did many other library systems – a big increase in the return of library materials. Not just from patrons who checked out materials right before the pandemic, but from people who had held onto library materials for many months or even years. … With so many libraries seeing firsthand the impact of waiving overdue fines, it’s no surprise that about half the public libraries in Michigan no longer charge these fines.”

West Bloomfield resident Alaa Kuziez is someone who can appreciate the new policy.

She has two children and said that, “it’s so beautiful to see that relation between the child and the books that they read.”

According to Kuziez, her 6-year-old son gets attached to books.

“I want him to kind of build that relationship with that

specific book that he loves, and sometimes it becomes overdue … so for me that’s like a huge stress point,” Kuziez said. “Having the fines removed allows for my son to kind of read that book over and over and over, and build that relationship with that book. That’s how they build their knowledge – it’s over time.”

Kuziez added that, “going fine-free helps me build those activities with my kids, share those books even beyond our home, bringing them to my kids’ classroom for reading sessions and activities and all that, so I appreciate the library going fine-free.”

Edwards shared a “huge advantage” of the library’s new policy.

“Overdue fines may have been a deterrent for families for years,” she stated. “A small daily overdue fine isn’t usually going to stop someone from keeping a few items beyond their due date – we’ve even heard from some patrons that do so intentionally as a way to donate to the library. But when your family is checking out 30, 40 picture books all at once, those daily overdue fines really start to rack up. So we expect to see more families and youth, especially, checking out more library materials without that fear hanging over them.”

According to Russ, for years there has been a stereotype about the “library police,” and an adversarial relationship with community members is not something that she wants.

“We want the library to be known as a place where everybody’s welcome,” Russ said. “So we looked at that, too, and thought if the fines are a barrier to access for people in our community, we need to address that. And then we … talked to the libraries that had gone fine-free to see what

NORTHLAND: THE ONCE AND FUTURE HUB

BY KATHRYN PENTIUK kpentiuk@candgnews.com

SOUTHFIELD — For a generation, the Northland Center was a beacon, drawing people from all over to Southfield. Northland opened its doors in 1954 as an outdoor shopping center with gardens and fountains.

“At one point, the shopping center had the highest sales of any shopping center in the United States. It was really the first completely planned, regional shopping center in the United States; there were attempts at creating large shopping centers in the few previous years, but the architect eventually became known as the father of the shopping mall because of his work,” said Bruce Kopytek, an architect and the author of “Hudson’s Detroit’s World-Famous Department Store” and “Jacobson’s: I Miss It So.”

Kopytek is a graduate of the University of Detroit Mercy and has worked as an architect for 45 years. He has a special connection to Northland as he previously worked as the architect behind the Northland redevelopment from 2020 to 2023. In his book about Hudson’s, Kopytek has a chapter on Northland that focuses on the landmark as a mid-century marvel.

On April 3, Kopytek presented “Northland Center: The Remaking of a Mid-Century Landmark” at the Southfield Public Library, an event focusing on the history of Northland and the site’s potential.

He said that before people can understand Northland, they must first understand Hudson’s department store. Hudson’s was founded in 1881 by Joseph Lowthian Hudson, and it was a retail phenomenon.

“For 60 years or so, the big department store in Detroit was the JL Hudson Co., familiarly known as Hudson’s, and this was beyond just the department store — was a real institution,” Kopytek said. “They were a giant, 2.15-million-square-foot department store in downtown Detroit that people would drive miles to come to. It was the third-largest department store building in the world, the tallest department store in the world. It had 25 stories plus four underground basements. And it literally dominated retail in Detroit. It had competitors, but really, when somebody wanted the best of the best, they would go to Hudson’s.”

Enter Victor Gruen, a famous Jewish architect who fled Austria in 1938 due to the threat of Nazis. Gruen came to the U.S. and made a name for himself designing shops. During World War II, he penned several in-

fluential papers and articles about what shopping would look like once the war ended.

Kopytek said that not much came from the plans Gruen drew up until a chance encounter.

“He had two offices, one in New York and one in Los Angeles. When he was flying back and forth between the two there was a tremendous storm on the East Coast that forced the plane down in Detroit to land, and he would not be able to fly into the East Coast for a day or so because of the weather.”

Gruen took a tour of Detroit led by some friends he had in the area. Kopytek explained that Gruen thought Hudson’s was a “shining jewel” in the gray, industrial city. Gruen approached James B. Webber, Jr., one of J.L. Hudson’s nephews, to discuss the prospect of building another Hudson’s.

“The president of the store at the time, which was another Webber brother, Richard, didn’t like the idea of just building a store in the middle of nowhere or attaching it to a strip mall because he felt that Hudson’s reputation would diminish from those things. So, what Victor Gruen proposed was the biggest shopping center in the world. And he said, when Hudson’s has to do something, it has to do it big, or it shouldn’t do it at all,” Kopytek said.

From this, four shopping centers were born: Eastland, Southland, Northland and Westland.

During the Korean War, Hudson’s paused its expansion plans because the U.S. government restricted the use of raw materials. Koptek said that this gave Gruen an opportunity to rethink his design of Northland. The plans included an underground tunnel, and a lower level for loading docks and storage rooms to be built out of reinforced concrete.

The Hudson organization told the Department of Defense that they were building a bomb shelter for 100,000 people.

“By the time they got done with all four shopping centers, they could house a half a million people, essentially, in bomb shelters. So, the government turned around and released the material to Northland because they felt that it was important. So construction drawings were done in 1952, construction in 1953 and there was a grand opening in March of 1954,” Koptek said.

Northland would become enclosed in the 1970s, following an enclosed shopping center that Gruen designed in Minneapolis in 1956.

See NORTHLAND on page 15A

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their experience has been, and they were universally positive.”

Although it is still too early for West Bloomfield to evaluate the change that has been implemented, there is reason to be optimistic that what has been put forth as a potential drawback may not actually be cause for worry.

Russ cited the Canton library as an example.

“They just put out their report about how it’s going, and they noted that at any time in the past, 4% of their collection was checked out and overdue, and now only 2% of their collection is checked out and overdue,” Russ said. “So it’s actually resulted in fewer materials being overdue, and I think that’s great, because that means more people are returning materials on time. And they also reported that they have seen their circulation – the number of materials that go out – increase, which means more people are using the library, and that’s what you want.”

From the perspective of both Russ and Edwards, one thing that the West Bloomfield library has going for it is a supportive community.

“I’m continuously impressed by the support this community has for its library,” Edwards stated. “We have a very well-educated, informed community, and that comes through each time we announce news like this.”

Staff Writer Mary Beth Almond contributed to this report.

Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 498-1052.

Getting it right

C & G Newspapers strives for accuracy and fairness to its readers. If you think we got it wrong, please let us know. Call Gregg Demers at (586) 498-1042, email gdemers@ candgnews.com or write us at 13650 11 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089.

Deer

of handling it, but the reality is that deer are a very anxious animal, and so, when we relocate them, I’m told the majority of them die because of the anxiety of the move, or they’re taken to a place that they’re not imprinted –they don’t know where to gather food, where to sleep, what’s safe, what’s not safe, as opposed to where they grew up,” she said. “And so, while that may seem like a great option, it really isn’t.”

Trapping and relocating deer is not an option that is endorsed by the DNR.

“That is something that is not going to be authorized or permitted just because there’s a lot of stress involved with capturing deer,” Stewart said. “Where would you take those deer? And the likely survival of those deer is often very poor. They often succumb to some sort of environmental condition shortly after release.”

Attending the meeting helped Farmington Mayor Pro Tem Johnna Balk gain an understanding of why relocating deer may not be a feasible option.

have an urban deer or suburban deer, they’re not going to know what to do with 4 feet of snow regularly in the U.P. So, it would be cruel to do that kind of thing, and I thought that was rather eye-opening, because I would not have known that.”

Contraception and containment

The idea of utilizing contraceptives is also one that is not supported by the DNR.

“The other thing that is oftentimes brought up is this idea of contraception, and contraception is not permitted,” Stewart said. “There’s only two types of federally registered drugs. They’re actually registered as pesticides in the country, neither of which have been approved for use in Michigan, so that’s also not an option moving forward.”

As for the idea of employing fencing to keep deer off of properties, according to Stewart, due to their powerful legs, it would be easy for them to clear a fence even as tall as 8 feet high.

value that goes along with neighborhoods and properties, and that’s something communities are considering, is that nobody really wants to put everybody’s own front yard, backyard, behind a 10-foot fence. It almost feels like you’re in individual cell blocks at that time.”

Lethal options

Lethal options for managing the deer population are managed hunts and a cull, which is a practice designed to control wildlife population.

“When you start talking about what can actually address populations, it almost always comes back to one of two options, and that is some type of managed hunt or what we call culling, which is done by trained professionals that go in and very quickly and effectively remove deer, but it’s expensive,” Stewart said. “Those individuals just don’t grow on trees. There are only a select few groups and organizations that do that.”

when it comes to deer, residents are split between “leave them be or extinguish them.”

He is also a proponent of trying to identify a regional solution.

“When a deer crosses 14 Mile heading northbound from Farmington Hills, the deer doesn’t distinguish between boundaries,” Kaplan said. “We’re a team on this, because if they decide to cull and they do so successfully over a three-year period and we don’t, well the deer will start gravitating toward Farmington Hills.”

Kaplan shared one option for attempting to manage the deer population that he is ruling out.

“I’m opposed to assigning our police officers to the woods and other areas where the deer populate,” he said. “We’re not (going to) spend taxpayer dollars on having our police officers shoot deer.”

Aside from expense, there is another potential issue with the idea of having a deer cull.

“As far as transporting deer say, Up North, it’s very traumatic for the deer, and they would not survive,” Balk said. “If you

“Anything less than that is just like you or I jumping over a stick on the ground,” Stewart said. “They’re very strong and very powerful, so you need a fence that really needs to be about, probably closer to 10 feet in height before you start to get true exclusion. So yes, it’s a possibility, but in a lot of these communities there’s sort of an aesthetic

Although Stewart said that the cost varies, he added that, “I think it’s probably anywhere between $100 and $200 a deer in many instances, and that could be a little bit higher, it could be a little bit lower, depending on the situation.”

From the perspective of West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Steven Kaplan,

Peek Inside Your Health: Full Body MRI Screenings

Unveil Silent Issues Before Symptoms Arise

SOUTHFIELD- Full body MRI clinics have gained national attention lately, as TV personalities publicly share their personal full body scan experiences. One actress credits the scan for saving her life after doctors dismissed her unexplained pain for months. After various tests, including a CT scan, had “unremarkable” results, the pregnant actress became her own advocate, searched out a full body MRI clinic and discovered she had pancreatic cancer. Tanks to early detection the tumor was removed successfully.

As a general rule, when symptoms occur related to cancer, it usually has progressed to stage three or four. Even with annual physicals, there are limitations. Most screenings only

cover about 29% of cancers with 71% occurring outside of where doctors are able to screen. However, full body MRI scans can detect cancer in every organ from the top of the head through the genitals and can detect it very early. For a long time, full body MRI scans were available only in select areas outside of Michigan, requiring expensive fights like in Vancouver or California. However, this changed when a clinic opened in Southfeld, making these scans available to Metro Detroit residents.

“Our advanced MRI screening can detect cancers very early when they are as small as a pencil eraser and are more easily treatable. If cancer goes undetected, however, it can grow into stage three or stage four with difcult

treatments. We can also identify conditions such as brain, abdominal, chest, and groin aneurysms,” stated the founder of the Southfeld clinic called Bionicc Body Screening.

Te primary focus of Bionicc Body Screening is to deliver peace of mind, ofering a comprehensive and detailed imaging of the body’s internal structures. Te ultimate hope is for excellent health. However, in the event that something is detected, the advanced screening aims to catch any potential issues at their earliest stages. Tis approach ofers the best opportunity for successful treatment outcomes, should the need arise.

Robert B., age 50, opted for a full body scan from Bionicc Body Screening and a very small tumor

“The first year that happened we would expect to see more babies,” Rich said. “If there was a cull, a one-time cull, what we’re told is that the deer sense that the herd size has gone down and so they will act to bring back up the size of the herd, and so they will have more multiple babies. So rather than

from page 4A See DEER on page 12A

was detected. He said, “It saved my life. Teir MRI found a kidney tumor that had been missed by a recent CT scan. I cannot recommend this service more.”

Take the first step to learn more about full body scans by visiting www.BioniccBodyScreening.com and request a free, no obligation Information Kit. Request it today and you’re also guaranteed a copy of their FREE eBook, Catching Cancer Before It’s Too Late! (Tis is a limited time ofer.) Schedule today at 1-833-BIONICC

0390-2412

MRI machines use magnets and emit no radiation.

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FLOWER SEASON APPROACHES AS WEATHER IMPROVES

BY MIKE KOURY mkoury@candgnews.com

METRO DETROIT— The weather has been slowly getting warmer in Michigan, which means homeowners can start planning their flower beds for their properties.

The first thing people should think about when getting their flower beds ready, said Brad Wethy, manager for the Oakland County Farmers Market, is how to prepare the beds, what needs to be removed, what needs to be deadheaded and cut down, and what can last through the wintertime.

“It’s gonna be cleaning up that flower bed, making sure that when things do want to actually sprout through the ground, that they’re not having any extra obstacles such as branches, piles of leaves from the previous fall, things of that nature,” he said.

Wethy also recommended adding things to the soil that will help with plant growth, such as compost.

Matt Colonius, co-owner of Piechnik’s Greenhouse & Garden Gate in Oakland Township, said that people moving into newly built homes have to mend the soil.

“You buy a new house and it’s just an empty lot. The foundation that they dig, they bring up the old soil from the job,” he said. “They usually don’t replenish the topsoil. So you’re stuck with this topsoil. It’s just not got any nutrients or anything in it. So it takes time the first year to establish your plants when you’re buying a new house. You have to add topsoil and nutrients.”

Customers show interest in buying pansies April 6 at the Oakland County Farmers Market.

Photos by Erin Sanchez

Paul Viaene helps out at the flower stands and gives advice to Marsha Milton, of Lathrup Village. See

The Exterior Painters Celebrate 20 Years of Transforming Properties, Neighborhoods

Nothing transforms a property and makes it shine brighter than a fresh coat of paint. It’s simply the best and most cost-effective investment you can make for your home draped in the colors of yesterday.

The Exterior Painters have been revitalizing properties for 20 years.

“We specialize in just exterior painting, and the reason why we do that is we believe that repetition is the mother of all skill,” said owner Brian Scott. “For 20 years, that’s all we’ve been doing is outside work. When it comes to that, we do wood replacement and siding replacement. It makes us the perfect fit for homeowners who don’t want to re-side their whole house.”

The Exterior Painters replace damaged siding and boards as needed, but they’re not looking to push for a full siding replacement.

“It gets people by another 10 years and transforms the look of the house, bringing it to the next color trends of today,” Scott said.

“Another thing we do that makes us unique, we have a full-time color consultant,” Scott added. “For most people, that’s the hardest, most stressful part, choosing what color they want. Our consultant comes out and

meets with the homeowners and gives them an idea of what the new color trends are so they can make a good color choice that complements their landscaping, brickwork and architectural features.”

The Exterior Painters also specialize in brick staining.

“A lot of younger people are buying houses. We’re taking it from grandma’s house of the ’50s, ’60s or ’70s and bringing it to that HGTV look,” Scott said.

Power washing the siding — and for an additional charge, soft washing the roof if needed — can also make a big difference in terms of curb appeal.

siding repairs and much-needed

Scott said his crews often see their work spread from house to house in a neighborhood as the properties are transformed through fresh paint, siding repairs and much-needed washing.

“It’s the cheapest home improvement you can do without breaking the bank,” Scott said.

you’re getting a bigger bang for your buck.”

It’s a win for everyone, from the crews The Exterior Painters employ and pay well to the homeowners who see their neighborhoods transformed. The company paints 30 houses a week on average in Macomb, Oakland, Wayne and Livingston counties, and boasts a five-star Google review average.

“With us you’re buying certainty. We don’t ask for a large deposit, and you don’t have to worry about anyone running off with your deposit,” Scott said.

“Compared to other home improvements,

“We stand by our work. We provide a warranty and proven results by taking care of everybody in the community. We’re Nextdoor’s No. 1 preferred contractor in Rochester two years in a row. It’s that certainty factor. You know what you’re going

“It’s the cheapest home to get.”

The Exterior Painters are located at 2365 Avon Industrial Drive in Rochester Hills. To request a quote or for more information, call (248) 844-8888.

Deer

from page 8A

deer just having one fawn, they might have two, or sometimes … they might even have three.”

Environmental impacts and deterring deer

Another complaint about deer is that they damage forests and reduce biodiversity.

However, the Humane Society’s website states that deer are “scapegoats” for larger ecological problems of biodiversity loss and forest-growth failures.

“Notions of overpopulation, or how many deer are too many for a given area, are subjective,” the site states. “It may be true that deer densities are at historic highs, but the forests of today in no way represent historical conditions. Urbanization has created an abundance of edge habitat, which is ideal for browsing deer. Deer have simply adjusted their populations to available resources.”

When it comes to deer population, Kaplan is of the opinion that there is no cureall solution. However, he shared what he is a proponent of.

“We urge residents not to feed the deer,” Kaplan said. “Don’t leave food scraps and other food for the deer. … They’ll remember and they’ll revisit. Theoretically, if West Bloomfield residents do not feed the deer, many of the deer would find another haven.”

Stewart said that there are “huge” benefits to not feeding deer, and added that there is a state law that prohibits it.

“It is illegal to bait and feed deer anywhere in the lower peninsula of Michigan,” Stewart said. “So communities don’t even have to develop that ordinance. It’s already existing at the state level.”

Although the Humane Society’s website states that the key to success is for residents to understand that deer are here to stay, a “deer-proofing” strategy was offered.

“Certain plants like tulips and hostas are irresistible to deer,” the site states. “Even if the deer population could be greatly reduced, these favorite flowers would still be eaten by any remaining deer. Effective solutions focus on deterring deer and protecting flowers and ornaments. … Choose plants deer generally don’t like, such as daffodils and irises, boxwood and pachysandra.”

By the numbers

According to Stewart, deer population estimates are difficult to obtain, and “that’s not something we even have.”

However, Rich said that an aerial survey in 2019 showed 370 deer in Farmington

Hills. When another survey was conducted in 2021, she said, the population had risen to 729.

Perhaps the biggest concern about a high deer population for some residents is the possibility of deer-vehicle collisions.

According to michigantrafficcrashfacts. org, motorists in Michigan reported 58,894 vehicle-deer crashes in 2022, resulting in 1,633 people being injured and 11 people being killed.

Of the 11 people who were killed, six were reported to be motorcycle riders.

The site states that vehicle-deer crashes occurred most often in Michigan’s heavily populated southern counties.

That year, Kent County had the most with 2,250, followed by Oakland County, which reported 2,009 vehicle-deer crashes.

According to the Humane Society, studies have shown that reducing the deer population doesn’t necessarily reduce the number of collisions.

“Many factors contribute to deer-vehicle collisions, such as traffic volume, speed limits, the extent to which roads bisect habitats and migration routes and the use of visual barriers,” the site states.

To avoid hitting an animal with a vehicle, the Humane Society suggests following speed limits, watching for wildlife in and near the road at dawn and dusk and in the first few hours after darkness, exercising caution on two-lane roads bordered by woods or fields or where streams cross under roads, watching edges for wildlife about to cross, not throwing trash out of car windows, and lowering dashboard lights slightly — headlights reflected in the eyes of animals can help drivers brake in time.

The Humane Society’s website also states that scientific studies have shown that killing deer won’t reduce people’s risk of contracting Lyme disease.

“Deer kills do not significantly reduce the population of the tick that spreads the disease – the black-legged tick (or deer tick), which feeds on almost all mammals, most songbirds and even lizards,” the site states. “In Great Island, Mass., when up to 70% of the deer were removed, there was no marked reduction in tick abundance. Where deer are scarce, ticks switch to other hosts or congregate in higher numbers on the remaining deer.”

Although Rich said that there will probably be some sort of action taken, she is not expecting an immediate solution.

“Anything that we would be organizing would require DNR approval and collaboration with the various governments, and so I think that is something that will be, probably, years in the making for action to actu-

See DEER on page 19A

Cricket

from page 3A

for cricket at my school, Washtenaw, and the other schools,” said Subudhi. “There’s no fee to get in, everyone is invited to attend. It will take place beginning at 9:30 a.m. The final will begin at 7:45 p.m. on Sunday, April 28. It takes place at the Troy Community Center.”

The Troy Community Center is located at 3179 Livernois Road. The five teams competing this year include Washtenaw International High School, International Academy East in Troy, Troy High School, Plymouth Canton Educational Park, and Northville High School.

Nikhil Mudaliar is the captain of the Troy High School Cricket Club. He said he was pleased to see more cricket resources and opportunities in the community.

“The future for cricket is looking good,” said Mudaliar. “There is a cricket pitch going in at Boulan Park. It’s growing, and we want it to be a possible lifestyle for more people. Even though America has a huge population, cricket isn’t the way of life here it is elsewhere. It’s the second most viewed sport in the world. We’d like to have teams here to

Photo provided by Sarthak Subudhi

The second annual Michigan High School Cricket Tournament will begin at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, April 28, at the Troy Community Center.

CRIME WATCH

Gun reported at middle school

WEST BLOOMFIELD — At around 12:50 p.m. April 2, students informed staff at West Bloomfield Middle School about a rumor that someone at the school may have had a gun, according to a press release from the West Bloomfield Police Department.

After being dispatched to the school, “officers and school staff worked together to investigate and concluded that there was no credible threat.”

Although no weapons were found at the school, officers remained inside and outside the building the remainder of the school day as a precautionary measure, the release states.

Items swiped from vehicle

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 25, an officer was dispatched to the 1600 block of Trailwood Lane for a report that an unlocked vehicle parked in a driveway had various items taken from it.

No further information was provided.

Solicitor complaint reported

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 24, officers were dispatched to the 4700 block of Walnut Creek Circle on a report of a suspicious person.

Officers spoke with the “suspicious” male, who stated that he was passing out information for a student painters program.

No further information was provided.

Mailbox damaged on Clements

WEST BLOOMFIELD — An officer was dispatched to the 7100 block of Clements due to a report of a damaged mailbox March 28.

An unknown person or persons is suspected of prying open the mailbox and placing two “ordinary” objects inside it.

No actual mail is suspected of being tampered with.

According to the report, the damage was previously reported to the United States Postal Service March 21.

Vehicle goes missing at gym

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On April 4, officers were dispatched to a local gym on a report of a stolen vehicle.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Public Accuracy Test for the May 7, 2024 Special Election has been scheduled for Tuesday, April 23, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. in the following location: Orchard Lake City Hall 3955 Orchard Lake Road Orchard Lake, Ml

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Sylvan Lake Planning Commission

Notice is hereby given that the Sylvan Lake Planning Commission will hold two public hearings on Wednesday May 8, 2024, beginning at 5:00 PM, or as soon thereafter as the agenda allows, at the Sylvan Lake Community Center, 2456 Pontiac Dr., Sylvan Lake, MI 48320.

The purpose of the frst hearing is to receive public comments on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Division 12 Section 78-519 to Section 78-528.1 Planned Unit Development standards. The amendments do the following:

• Limit use of the Planned Unit Development to areas identifed as Sylvan East on the City’s Future Land Use Map and are zoned C-2

• Permit the uses permitted by right and special land uses in the R-3 and C-1 zoning districts

• Allow for modifcations to the base standards for the R-3 and C-1 districts for the development of a higher quality project as outlined in the ordinance

• Increase the minimum required open space 15% to 20% of the total PUD site

• Clarify the defnition of “dwelling, multiple” and remove the defnition of “dwelling, row, terrace, or townhouse”

• Amend section 78-347 Permitted principal uses in the R-3 Standards to remove the redundant defnition listed after “multiple-family dwellings”

The purpose of the second hearing is to receive public comments on amendments to the Zoning Ordinance pertaining to Section 78-113 Nonconforming Structures. The amendments do the following:

• Clarify how a nonconforming structure may be enlarged or altered

• Remove separate set of conditions under which homes built prior to 1960 may be improved, modifed, expanded, or maintained

• Remove term “homestead” to avoid confusion with homesteading laws

A complete copy of the amendments may be examined at the Sylvan Lake City Offces, 1820 Inverness St., Sylvan Lake, MI 48320, prior to the public hearing, during the City’s regular business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM through 4:30 PM. Written comments may be addressed to the Planning Commission at the City Offces address. Oral comments will be taken during the hearing on May 8, 2024. This notice is published pursuant to the requirements of the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, PA 110 of 2006, as amended. John Martin

After working out at the gym, the complainant reported the vehicle missing.

No further information was provided.

Resident reports harassment

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On April 4, a resident went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report harassment via social media.

THE

The individual reported that social media communication eventually led to pressure to purchase gift cards.

No further information was provided.

Anyone who has information about these crimes or others is asked to call the West Bloomfield Police Department at (248) 975-9200.

— Mark Vest

ELECTORS OF

DEBBIE BINDER

NOTICE OF ELECTION WEST BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, MICHIGAN MAY 7, 2024 SPECIAL ELECTION

To the qualifed electors of West Bloomfeld Township who live in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District: Notice is hereby given that a Special Election will be held in West Bloomfeld Township on Tuesday, May 7, 2024. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

At the following locations:

Precinct 2 Walnut Creek Middle School, 7602 Walnut Lake Road

Precinct 4 Scotch Elementary School, 5959 Commerce Road

Precinct 6 Drake Community Sports Park, 6801 Drake Road

Precinct 8 Scotch Elementary School, 5959 Commerce Road

Precinct 12 Temple Israel, 5725 Walnut Lake Road

Precinct 18 Pleasant Lake Elementary School, 4900 Halsted

Precinct 22 B’Nai Moshe Synagogue, 6800 Drake Road

Precinct 23 Walnut Creek Middle School, 7602 Walnut Lake Road

Precinct 24 B’Nai Moshe Synagogue, 6800 Drake Road

Precinct 25 Gretchko Elementary School, 5300 Greer Road

Precinct 26 Walnut Creek Middle School, 7602 Walnut Lake Road

Counting Center Oakland County Elections Division AVCB

Mini AVCB for ballots received after 4pm May 6 until 8pm May 7 – West Bloomfeld Town Hall 4550 Walnut Lake Rd

THE MAY 7, 2024 SPECIAL ELECTION WILL BE CONDUCTED FOR VOTERS IN THE WALLED LAKE CONSOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT LIVE IN WEST BLOOMFILED TOWNSHIP FOR THE PURPOSE OF VOTING ON THE FOLLOWING PROPOSAL AS PRESENTED AND LISTED BELOW:

WALLED LAKE CONDOLIDATED SCHOOL DISTRICT School Improvement Bond Proposition

Shall the Walled Lake Consolidated School District borrow the sum not to exceed $250,085,000 and issue its general obligation unlimited tax bonds, in one or more series, to pay for the costs of the following projects:

- Remodeling, equipping, re-equipping, furnishing, re-furnishing school buildings, athletic felds, playgrounds and other facilities;

- Erecting, completing, equipping and furnishing a replacement elementary school and an athletic feld building;

- Acquiring and installing instructional technology infrastructure and equipment in school buildings and other facilities; and

- Preparing, developing and improving sites at school buildings, athletic felds, playgrounds and other facilities and the purchase of school buses

The estimated millage that will be levied to pay the proposed bonds in the frst year is 1.26 mills and the estimated simple average annual millage that will be required to retire each series of bonds is 1.51 mills annually.

Full text of the ballot proposition may be obtained at the administrative offces of Walled Lake Consolidated School District, 850 Ladd Road, Building D, Walled Lake, Michigan 48390, telephone: (248) 956-2000. Sample ballots can also be found at www.mi.gov/vote.

Absentee ballots are available for all elections; registered voters may contact the local clerk to obtain an application for an absent voter ballot.

To comply with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA), voting instructions will be available in audio format and in Braille. Arrangements for obtaining the instructions in these alternative formats can be made by contacting the township clerk in advance of the election. All polling locations are accessible for voters with disabilities.

Northland

from page 7A

Following its heyday, Northland began to see a decline around the 1980s, according to Kopytek. In 2015, Northland would close its doors.

Southfield Mayor Ken Siver has lived in the city for 57 years, having moved to Southfield when he was 21.

“I’ve lived near Northland most of my adult life, so I’d walk to Northland in nice weather,” he said. “I shopped it to the end, from 1963 to 2015. In 1963, I didn’t work at Northland, but I had a job as a chauffeur driving people to Northland who wanted to shop there because it was a regional center. I did that while I was a student at Oakland University, so I would drive dorm kids to Northland.”

As a firm believer in adaptive reuse, Siver said he is eager to see how Northland is reimagined as a modern version of the “15-minute neighborhood,” which is “virtually everything you need is at your doorstep within a maximum 15-minute walk.”

Siver said the new development at Northland will take roughly five years to complete, and around $403 million is planned for the first phase, but the numbers could change due to inflation. Siver said funding for the 100-acre property comes from $60 million in tax incentives offered by the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and investors that Contour

Cricket

from page 13A

compete with teams in places like England or India.”

Subudhi said that matches consist of 10 overs per side and 11 players per team, and that the tournament will showcase talent, skill and sportsmanship.

“Every run scored, wicket taken and catch made will contribute to the thrilling narrative of the competition,” he said. “Two groups placed, so group A will be International Academy East, Washtenaw International High School, Northville High School in a round robin format. Group B are last year’s finalists, and they will be Plymouth Canton Educational Park, who are our defending champions, and Troy High School.”

The five teams were invited from established teams in the area.

“It is an invitational tournament. We scouted which schools have clubs that are active,” said Subudhi. “It’s more of an open

Development Group has lined up. The city of Southfield has contributed $20 million, which will be returned to the city through brownfield tax credits in the coming years.

“It’s going to become a destination once again,” he said.

He added that a tremendous amount of underground work has been done to storm drains, storm sewers, sanitary lines, water lines, and utility lines, as well as cleanup.

“The thing that everybody needs to know is there’s a vision for the property. But that vision is going to get tweaked as it goes along because it’s going to depend on the marketplace,” Siver said. “We will be returning to Hudson’s as Hudson’s City Market, with food, dining, entertainment, home furnishings, retail, a boutique hotel and maybe loft apartments; the other spaces will be live/ work spaces. It won’t be a mall again, but it will have neighborhood retail. It’ll have a police station and green walking space for the residents as well as anybody that comes to visit.”

According to Contour Development Group, 1,500 modern apartments housed in 14 six-story buildings will be built at the site. They will feature a rooftop terrace, a swimming pool, a party room for social gatherings, a lounge area, a fitness center and a yoga room.

For more information about Bruce Kopytek, visit editionsbk.com.

For more information about the Northland Center, visit northlandcitycenter.com.

Call Staff Writer Kathryn Pentiuk at (586) 498-1070.

invite, since there are no qualifications to participate.”

“I made my club my freshman year, in 2022, and the first tournament was last year,” added Mudaliar. “Sarthak reached out to us through Instagram. I told my friend Krish, who is at International Academy East. It grew by word of mouth. We made it into a tournament so people could experience cricket.”

Cricket, although deeply entrenched in countries like India, England, Australia and South Africa, is still in its nascent stages in the United States. Organizers and players like Subudhi and Mudaliar hope to showcase the excitement and potential of the game.

“This will be a perfect opportunity to experience what cricketers do and see how it feels to take in a match,” said Mudaliar. “It’s a whole new sport. It’s a different way of having fun, and it can improve fitness in other ways. It has less danger than a sport like football.”

Call Staff Writer Brendan Losinski at (586) 498-1068.

Address

from page 3A

shared priorities and values,” Coulter said to those in attendance, including residents, and city, county and state officials. “That careful and far-sighted fiscal planning has once again allowed us to earn our AAA bond rating. … It’s the foundation that allows us to execute our strategic plan – an intentional and thoughtful roadmap to deliver initiatives and services to improve the lives of our people.”

Coulter shared what he thinks has gone well for the county over the past 12 months or so.

“We’ve had remarkable success on a number of fronts this past year, from transit to mental health care, affordable housing to sustainability, small business coaching to education (and) training,” he said. “We were able to provide these innovative programs with the support of our Board of Commissioners. They passed a budget in a bi-partisan manner, proving once again that in Oakland County, working across the aisle is how we do business. These programs have touched hundreds of thousands of people.”

Coulter cited Oakland SAVES, which he said was opened on a Monday morning in January and is designed to provide grants to people with an interest in energy-efficient improvements in their homes.

“The interest and need were so high that by Friday of that same week, the entire $5 million in funding was spoken for,” Coulter said. “We’re helping to keep people safer and more comfortable in their homes, providing more energy efficiency and keeping more money in their pockets as they save on their monthly utility bills.”

Coulter said that affordable housing is important for attracting and retaining individuals to help grow the population.

“So, working with the Board of Commissioners and using federal American Rescue Plan (Act) dollars, we established a $20 million housing trust fund – this fund is working with

City and county leaders were among those in attendance at Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter’s State of the County address April 4 at The Hawk Community Center in Farmington Hills.

developers to provide more affordable housing options in the county through incentives and gap finding,” he said. “Projects have already been approved for these funds in Southfield, Royal Oak Township, Pontiac and Rochester Hills, filled with both market-rate and affordable homes that will create inclusive communities for the hard-working Michiganians who are looking for attractive and safe places to raise their families. And we just closed last month on a project in Rochester Hills to provide des-

perately needed housing for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. It’s only the second such development in all of Michigan.”

With the help of multiple Oakland County Michigan Works offices, Coulter said that more than 8,500 people have entered the workplace over the last two years.

He said that due to services that have been offered, interns and apprentices have been matched with thousands of businesses.

Coulter touted the county’s Oakland 80 initiative, which aims to have 80% of the adult population attain a college degree or certified training by 2030.

He said the county is currently at 69%.

Coulter also highlighted Oakland Thrive, a nonprofit that was launched to provide coaching and consulting resources for small businesses in the county.

Oakland Thrive can assist entrepreneurs

GAMES ALL SUMMER LONG AT JIMMY JOHN’S FIELD! MAY 17 - SEPTEMBER 7

Photo by Patricia O’Blenes

Address

from page 16A

with things such as a business plan, social media, financial workshops, and assistance with applications for business grants and loans.

Coulter also cited efforts to help small and midsize manufacturers.

“Our economic development department has helped 20 companies either locate or expand in Oakland County during 2023,” he said. “Their presence represents $387 million in new investment, and more than 3,300 new and retained jobs.”

In 2022, voters approved the Oakland County Public Transportation Millage. With that approval, the county is now authorized to levy a millage for the purpose of funding transportation services throughout Oakland County. Prior to that, individual communities could opt out.

Residents in communities that opted in prior to the countywide millage paid 1 mill in taxes for public transportation services. Residents in all Oakland County communities will now pay 0.95 mill for 10 years, which is 95 cents for every $1,000 of taxable value of a home.

“We’re building on the strength of voters, who, like us, were committed to creating a countywide public transportation system,” Coulter said. “We’re expanding into the jobrich centers of Novi, Wixom, Bloomfield Hills and Rochester Hills, which is happening with the help of the SMART bus system. Transit is on the move for the folks who live in the outer reaches of Oakland County, who may not have been sure they would ever benefit from a public transportation system.”

Opponents of the millage, however, said that residents in communities where there is not a high demand for public transportation should not have to pay taxes for it.

Mental health care has been a popular topic in the country, and it is one that Coulter touched on during his speech.

“Another significant initiative we’ve adopted … is our investment in expanding access to mental health care in Oakland County,” he said. “Through our partnership with the United Way of Southeastern Michigan we’ve provided millions in grants to dozens of nonprofits that have the expertise to positively impact, and in some cases save, the lives of tens of thousands of people across our country.”

Coulter’s speech also included a “sad note,” as he discussed the deaths of three individuals who helped serve Oakland County.

“Oakland County Sheriff Deputy Nicholas Dotson from Holly died in December after a battle with cancer,” Coulter said. “Sheriff Mike Bouchard said Nick had a special spark that led him to his job with the county because

he wanted to make a real difference, and he did during his 10 years of service with the Sheriff’s Office. At the young age of 32 he leaves behind his wife, Delaney, and son, Sullivan.

“County Commissioner Gary McGillivray lost his battle with cancer late last year,” Coulter said. “He was a devoted public servant during his time as a councilman and mayor of Madison Heights, and during his 15 years on the Board of Commissioners. He was also a champion for the Oakland parks system and as chairman of the Parks and Rec Commission.”

Coulter also recalled someone who he said had a legacy of helping people.

“We tragically lost Dr. Calandra Green, our county health officer, almost a year ago,” he said. “Calandra was a passionate advocate for public health services … especially in communities of color.”

Green’s death last year was ruled a homicide. She was found near her husband in their home in Pontiac. His death was ruled as a suicide.

At the address, Coulter announced that working with Oakland University, a scholarship fund to help nursing students at the university was created.

Coulter also said that a $20 million investment will help create new public spaces and make improvements to dozens of parks across the county.

He referred to the county’s 14 parks as the “crown jewel of Oakland County.”

Coulter said the county is helping communities with $14 million in grants to upgrade water infrastructure, with a $5 million investment going toward 29 senior centers across the county.

He also touted a multimillion-dollar upgrade to the county’s public radio safety program.

“That allows our police, firefighters and

EMTs to seamlessly and in real time connect with hundreds of agencies across the region and the state so we can improve response times (and) better respond to a crisis,” Coulter said.

Oakland County Commissioner Bob Hoffman attended the event.

Although he said that he thinks the county is in good shape and he commended the employees who work for the county, he did share a concern.

“It just seems like we keep building staff and creating programs, and that’s always a concern to me. (It’s) somebody else’s money we’re spending,” Hoffman said.

He also questioned a decision to purchase two office buildings in Pontiac for $19.2 million.

“We have the true market value of those two office buildings,” Hoffman said. “It’s either $10 (million) or $12 million. So we’re going to pay $19.2? Then we’re going to get another $100 (million) or $150 million (invested) in it, and they talk about we’re getting money from the state, whatever. I don’t care where you get the money: It’s taxpayer money, and how are you creating economic development in Pontiac when you spend $19.2 million for a building and then take them off the tax rolls?”

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Keego Harbor Zoning Board of Appeals Notice

Deer

from page 12A

ally happen,” she said. “I am optimistic that we all recognize that the No. 1 job of government is to keep people safe, and so if this is truly a safety issue, and we have some people who believe it is and some people who believe it is not, let’s get the data and let that drive what our actions are going to be.”

From Balk’s perspective, it was helpful to have DNR input on what she said is the information-seeking phase of the process.

She understands that the conversation surrounding deer management solutions is a “very tender and emotionally charged topic.”

“I just know that we all have to work together as communities in order for it to be effective, and information has to be the main thing, because you have to get the public to understand what the situation is,” Balk said. “There has to be collaboration. We, as Farmington, can’t just decide to do something, because we’re surrounded by Farmington Hills. So whatever we do or they do directly impacts the other.”

Kaplan said that “we might be able to reduce the deer population, but not eliminate it.”

Stewart shared a similar sentiment and said, “you will never fully eliminate your potential for a collision with a deer.”

“Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as a cheap, effective and fast deer-management tool that is completely supported by members in their community,” he said. “I don’t think that there is one golden solution that all communities can just simply implement and their problems are going to go away. … There is some component or some level of living with deer. It’s just, I think, most people are willing to live with less deer than what they’re currently experiencing.”

Call Staff Writer Mark Vest at (586) 4981052.

Flowers

from page 10A

The best way to clean the flower beds, Wethy said, is to use simple gardening tools.

“You don’t need to go too in depth with it,” he said. “You don’t need power tools, nothing of that nature. A simple trowel, a simple … rake and just knowing what to remove and what not to remove can do leaps and bounds for your garden.”

Colonius said that if homeowners are cleaning up the yard, they should do a walkthrough to see if anything was damaged over the winter.

Items for homeowners to search for include broken branches caused by the weather and rodent damage.

“Be careful, if you have any perennials, not to disturb the perennials. Leave the mulch around them until the danger of frost is over, which is usually the beginning of May, but it can be as late as Memorial Day,” he said.

As for what to plant right now, Colonius said flowers including pansies, daffodils and tulips would grow well.

“You might want to consider whether you have deer in your yard or not,” he said. “When you make the choices, you want some deer-tolerant, cold-tolerant plants. So you know pansies are wonderful. They can take the cold but … there’s a lot of problems with the way the deer have cohabitated with us and it’s causing a lot of issues with landscapes in the area.”

Besides sun and water, Wethy said the best way to keep the flowers healthy is to keep an eye out for pest and fungi issues, and issues with overcrowding.

“I even had issues with overcrowding. … As I removed certain things from the garden or gave them more space, they were actually able to flourish better,” he said.

He said it’s important to know the space and light requirements for plants — what needs more space, what grows in shade and what grows in direct sunlight.

Call Staff Writer Mike Koury at (586) 498-1077.

Troy resident snaps photos of rare albino deer

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APRIL 19 Earth Day craft: For ages 3-12, 4:30-5:30 p.m., West Bloomfield Township Public Library - Westacres Branch, 7321 Commerce Road, wblib.org Orchard Lake Museum open house: 1-4 p.m., 3951 Orchard Lake Road, free admission but donations appreciated, gwbhs.org/events

APRIL 21

Talkin’ Broadway: Performances and expertise about musical “Sweet Charity,” 2 p.m., West Bloomfield Township Public Library - Main Branch, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, wblib.org

APRIL 25 Detroit Symphony Orchestra: 7:30 p.m., The Berman Center for the Performing Arts, 6600 W. Maple Road in West Bloomfield, dso.org

APRIL 27-28

Used book sale: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. April 27 and noon-3 p.m. April 28, West Bloomfield Township Public Library, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, (248) 682-2120

APRIL 28

Spring walk: Take guided tour of Orchard Lake Nature Sanctuary, 2-3 p.m., 4700 Pontiac Trail, free but donations appreciated, gwbhs.org, (248)

MAY

The passenger asked the driver to let her out of the vehicle.

The passenger said that after she exited the vehicle, the driver punched her in the back of the head. An investigation was ongoing.

appointment in West Bloomfield.

After the two reportedly got into an argument, the driver had her exit his vehicle before arriving at her appointment, leaving her to walk the rest of the way.

Just before she went into the doctor’s office, the male reportedly showed up in the parking lot and yelled threats at her.

No further information was provided.

Photo leads to alleged extortion attempt

WEST BLOOMFIELD — On March 18, a resident in their 50s went to the West Bloomfield Police Department to report that an unknown person was trying to extort money, due to the reporting party sending a compromising photo.

No further information was provided.

Pierce Elementary closed for bomb threat

BIRMINGHAM — On March 18 at approximately 7 a.m., the deputy superintendent of Birmingham Public Schools contacted the Birmingham Police Department regarding a threatening voicemail at Pierce Elementary.

The suspect left a voicemail that a bomb would explode within 10 minutes of the call on Sunday evening, March 17. School staff received the voicemail the next morning, Monday, March 18, prior to school starting for the day.

A decision was made to close the school for the day. Those who had already arrived for early morning programs were bused to another school. An investigation was immediately initiated and a sweep of the school was conducted, determining there were no credible threats or safety risks to the public. An investigation was ongoing.

Uber driver accused of punching passenger BIRMINGHAM — At approximately 10 a.m. March 15, officers were dispatched to the Birmingham Police Department lobby for an assault report.

A 78-year-old Auburn Hills woman told them that on March 14 she was taking an Uber to her desired location, and shortly into the ride, the driver, a

Someone uses stolen credit card number to order groceries

NOVI — Novi police were dispatched at 8:06 a.m. March 23 to a residence on Steinbeck Glen, near 13 Mile and Meadowbrook roads, after a woman discovered fraudulent charges had been made on her credit card.

The woman told police that her Capital One Venture account had been used to make unauthorized purchases at Kroger in Lincoln Park in the amount of $418.67 and again for $347. She said another unauthorized purchase was made at Fry’s Food and Drug in Georgia for $487.44. The Novi resident contacted the credit card company and informed it that the charges were fraudulent. She said she had also contacted the Kroger in Lincoln Park. They told her that it was an online purchase and provided her with the email address to which the order was charged.

The suspect was going to pick up the groceries that morning but canceled the order. Police advised the Novi woman to contact the credit reporting agencies and notify them that her name and credit card account had been used fraudulently. Capital One returned the money to her account, according to the police report. The woman said she wishes to prosecute if police find a suspect.

Window broken at store

HAZEL PARK — According to a police report, an unknown suspect used a brick to break the front window of the Boost Mobile

done.

The clerk told the man that credit union policy was that when verifying a check, she only could release $1,000 of the funds, which was done. The man exited the building and left in a small white SUV. Five days later, the check was alerted as altered or fake, and correspondence was made with the suspect with no resolution. A risk management investigator also spoke with a representative from the business that allegedly sent the check, and the representative reportedly did not know anyone by the name of the suspect.

The case was turned over to the detective bureau for further investigation.

Suspect flees through multiple cities

BERKLEY — A 20-year-old Detroit man was arrested for fleeing and eluding, resisting arrest, carrying a concealed weapon and motor vehicle fraud at 8:31 p.m. March 30 at Greenfield and 12 Mile roads.

The police report states that while on patrol, an officer pursued a wanted vehicle that ran from Troy, Royal Oak and Beverly Hills police. The jeep was found to be driving erratically at speeds of 80-90 miles per hour.

“Due to the erratic driving of the suspect, fleeing from multiple jurisdictions and the lack of concern for the general

The driver allegedly exited the vehicle and began running on foot. The officer reportedly pulled out a Taser and ordered the suspect to the ground. Simultaneously, the suspect fell to the ground and a handgun fell from his person, according to the report. The officer was able to jump on

Police investigate fraudulent withdrawal BERKLEY — Berkley police were investigating an incident where $1,000 was fraudulently