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31

Local impact of state cutbacks Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder was elected on a platform of rightsizing and reinventing the state of Michigan and his first proposed budget will definitely have an impact on local schools and some effect local communities.

CRIME LOCATOR

13

81

27: Daniel Sillman

EDUCATION

Cosi in talks on renewing lease; Bloomfield Hills library discussions; commission looks at vendor ordinance; liquor licenses reviewed; sewer bonds to be issued; 2012 budget approved.

DISTRIBUTION: Mailed­12­times­each­year­at no­charge­to­homes­in­Birmingham,­Bloomfield Township­and­Bloomfield­Hills­prior­to­the­start of­ each­ month.­ Additional­ free­ copies­ are distributed­at­high­foot-traffic­locations.

For­those­not­residing­in­the­free­mail­distribution area­ for­ Downtown­ Birmingham/Bloomfield, paid­subscriptions­are­available­for­a­$12­annual fee.­ Phone­ 248.792.6464­ and­ request­ the Distribution­ department­ or­ go­ to­ our­ website (downtownpublications.com)­ and­ click­ on “subscriptions”­in­the­top­index­and­place­your order­on-line.

4

Marlaina Stone jewelry, Toarmina's Pizza, Honey Tree Grille, Shades Optical, NuImage MedSpa, Kenya Relief journey, Whimsical Occasions, and more.

With all the top-tier steakhouse located nearby, Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar distinguishes itself with its progressive wine list.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

82

The consulting firm for the Bloomfield Hills school district has issued a final recommendation that a single high school is the best course of action.

CITY/TOWNSHIP

­

Here's a look at some of the famous graduates of one of the leading graduate schools of architecture, art and design.

AT THE TABLE

45: Chris Sexson

65

Academy of Art

Local governments vary in how they approach the topic of regulating ethics by elected and appointed officials and workers.

75

FACES

43

Municipal ethics rules

BUSINESS MATTERS

A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, presented in map format.

15: Priscilla Perkins

19 37

THE COVER Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills

ENDNOTE

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DOWNTOWN P­ ­ ­ U­ ­ ­ B­ ­ ­ L­ ­ ­ I­ ­ ­ C­ ­ ­ A­ ­ ­ T­ ­ ­ I­ ­ ­ O­ ­ ­ N­ ­ ­ S DOWNTOWN­BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD 124­WEST­MAPLE­ROAD­­­BIRMINGHAM­48009 P:­248.792.6464 downtownpublications.com facebook.com/downtownpublications.com twitter.com/downtownpubs

­Publisher:­David­Hohendorf Ad­Manager:­Jill­Cesarz Graphics/IT­Manager:­Chris­Grammer News­Editor:­Lisa­Brody

News­Staff/Contributors:­Hillary­Brody, Sally­Gerak,­­Eleanor­&­Ray­Heald,­ Austen­Hohendorf,­Garrett­Hohendorf, Kathleen­Meisner,­Laurie­Tennent

DOWNTOWN

Society reporter Sally Gerak provides the latest news from the society and non-profit circuit as she covers major events of the past month.

The problems caused by some nightclub patrons in Birmingham and the need for all communities to have a formal ethics policy.

INCOMING: We­ welcome­ feedback­ on­ both our­publication­and­general­issues­of­concern­in the­ Birmingham/Bloomfield­ community.­ The traditional­Letters­to­the­Editor­in­Downtown­are published­ in­ our­ Incoming­ section,­ and­ can include­ traditional­ letters­ or­ electronic communication.­ Your­ opinions­ can­ be­ sent­ via e-mail­to­news@downtownpublications.com;­or mailed­ to­ Downtown­ Publications,­ 124­ West Maple­ Road,­ Birmingham­ MI,­ 48009.­ Letters must­ include­ your­ full­ name,­ address­ and daytime­phone­number­for­verification.­

04.11

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04.11

FROM THE PUBLISHER y orientation in life has always been a fairly serious one, dating back to my youth and then becoming more entrenched as I passed through the tumultuous and activist 1960's period, which brought me to the world of community involvement and eventually journalism.

M

So it was this outlook that fueled concerns on my part about the failure of many people to recognize and harness the value of social media tools for the betterment of society and it delayed my personal entry into the social media world until the last six months.

Twitter, for example, had in its early days struck me as a good deal of vapid chatter by digerati who were more focused on themselves than anyone or anything else. How else would you explain that someone honestly believes that people care where they are physically located or what they are doing at any given moment.

Likewise, Facebook appeared to me to have its potential, but more often than not was a tool for communicating with friends as opposed to fulfilling some societal need. Don't get me wrong, the purely social communication aspect of Facebook is clearly legitimate but I was looking for something of more value on the social media front.

Now we are witnessing across the world the important role social media can fulfill. Just look at the revolutions taking place in the Middle East, aided in at least some part by Facebook and Twitter.

And locally I see less of the trite and more items of substance being sent out to fans and followers of social media sites. There are actual micro-communities developing around issues or community concerns.

So it is against this background that Downtown joined the social media world in the last few months.

We have always had a website (downtownpublications.com), with weekly, twice-weekly and breaking news e-mail notices to our readers since the launch of the monthly news magazine. On the website you can find a host of useful information and our weekly, and sometimes more frequent, updates of the site often include video, mapping and sometimes audio to go with our stories to give them an added dimension. On average, we get a minimum of 18,000 monthly visitors to our site.

But since the beginning of 2011, Downtown has also had its own Facebook page (facebook.com/downtownpublications) where we post periodic items. The news magazine also opened a Twitter account (twitter.com/downtownpubs) in the last 4-5 weeks to complete the picture, although at this writing we are still in the infancy stages with around 50 followers.

On both Facebook and Twitter we try to bring our followers more immediate or breaking news information, with more detailed accounts of happenings at our website. On both social media sites, it is tough to capture a great many details of the stories we are writing, so we drive our fans and followers to the web for complete information.

The other value to a publishing group such as ours has more to do with the changing communication patterns in society. The younger generation has trended more to text messaging on cell phones, rather than actual phone calls, and at least for the present rely on Facebook and Twitter as a communication tool. As a provider of information, it behooves those of us at Downtown to disseminate messages through whatever channels will reach the largest number of readers, be it in our monthly print edition, our website or Facebook and Twitter.

So as I have done in the past, I encourage everyone to take the time to visit our website and sign up for our e-mail notifications of when we change the content of our site, and visit our Facebook page or follow us on Twitter.

With Downtown we think we are producing one of the strongest editorial products in our area but we are gathering information on a daily basis and providing that to our followers more frequently than just in our monthly print edition. Make sure you are in the loop on important information by joining us on our other information venues.

As always, I welcome your feedback.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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INCOMING Doomed to repeat I respectfully disagree with Mr. Nowak's take on the war in Viet Nam (Downtown/March 2011). I suggest that he, and all of your readers, pick up the videos entitled "Fogs of War" and "Why We Fight" which were available at Blockbuster Video several years ago. I also suggest that they raid the archives of PBS and get the series "The Great War and The Shaping of the 20th Century." These documentaries will put the 20th Century into perspective.

My "thumbnail" version is that after WWI concluded and Woodrow Wilson attempted to create the League of Nations so that the monumental slaughter of that war would never occur again, all of the major world powers met in Paris to 'make it happen.' Actually, they lied, because every power had its own agenda, which acted to sabotage the plan.

A young Asian man came to Paris to beg Wilson to help end colonialism in his country. That young man was Ho Chi Minh.

However the French and the British prevented the League of Nations from actually accomplishing its objective, because they obviously did not want to give up their strangle hold on sources of oil, rubber, and the many other resources of that area of the world. So Ho Chi Minh returned to French Indo China (later known as Viet Nam) to create a rebel force to get rid of the French. The intervening WWII put that into the background. However, in 1956, the Viet Minh (the rebels) destroyed the French army at Dien Bien Phu, and the country was "freed."

In those days, and since I was of

draft age back then I remember, the national mantra that was being told to all of us was that the Communists were going to take countries one-ata-time, like dominoes, unless we stopped them. The fight had to be there, rather than here. We bought that nonsense, because the way it appeared seemed to support it. Of course, most of my buddies and I knew nothing about the Paris Conference of 1920 and Ho Chi Minh's desire to end colonialism. We also did not know that if the US had backed him, Viet Nam would probably have become a democracy, although no one can actually guarantee that. We also did not know the revelations contained in the videos named above.

For reasons that I never understood, Dwight Eisenhower sent 50 US "advisors" into South Viet Nam to help train their army; already, the Communists were in control in the north of the country . The 'advisors' were not armed. Then they started coming under fire, so they were allowed to carry weapons, but they could not shoot. Then they were allowed to fire back. Then there were 500 "advisors." Then John Kennedy became president. Then there were 500,000 "advisors" except now we dropped the pretenses and called them an army.

In any event, I recall that in the late 1950's or early 1960's, the President of South Viet Nam came to the US; he was on TV a lot, along with his wife (aptly named "the Dragon Lady") and his brother or brother-in-law who was the head of the South Vietnamese Air Force. A wonderful trio they were. The Air Force chief wore a black outfit with a

SPEAK OUT We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities.

Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.

white silk scarf (like a WWII fighter pilot) and sunglasses (a real "cowboy").

Up to this point, I was still buying the "domino theory." However, when I heard the family Diem (the President and his wife) talk, I thought to myself that what was going on was a civil war. Not the domino-theory stuff at all. In retrospect, the family Diem was probably doing to the Viets what the French had been doing, and they probably wanted a truly free society. (Obviously they also miscalculated because they ended up Communist which is certainly as brutal if not more so than the French and the Diem's all together).

The rest is history. And because it is so, after you watch (and hopefully digest) the videos I have identified, you will realize that what Ellsberg did was to actually open the eyes of the American people-- the voters, taxpayers, and people whose blood watered the grass in Viet Nam. If

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Services for seniors I just wanted to congratulate you on the fantastic article titled “Aging in Oakland” (Downtown/Feb. 2011).

It was well written and the subject matter is what we’re dealing with each day at our senior center. I would like to invite you to come by and tour the Birmingham Area Senior Center. We provide outreach services and programs to adults 55+ in the Birmingham School District area. Again, thank you for writing this timely article.

Renee Cortright, Birmingham Area Seniors Coordinating Council & Center, Birmingham

Thanks for article What a great article!

(Faces/March 2011) You did a wonderful job consolidating all of that information. I know I rambled a bit, but you made me look coherent.

It's really a well-crafted piece. Thank you so much for chatting with me and making me feel so comfortable.

Alicia Smith, WXYZ-TV anchor

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not, we would probably still be there, 40 years later.

We were lied to. We had no business being there. There was absolutely no justification for us going there. The poor men and boys (on both sides) who died doing what their leaders told them to do were merely pawns in a grand industrial scheme which cost us dearly and only benefited a few. (Sounds like Iraq, doesn't it?)

It is said that those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it.

Ronald A. Steinberg, BA, MA, JD, Bloomfield Hills

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DOWNTOWN

04.11

CRIME LOCATOR

NORTH

Map key

Sexual assault

Assault

Murder

Robbery

Home invasion

Breaking/entering

Larceny

Burglary

Vehicle theft

Larceny from vehicle

Vandalism

Drug offenses

Arson

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills through March 16, 2011.

Placement of codes is approximate.

Birmingham FootCare Specialists DO YOU HAVE PERSISTENT HEEL PAIN? Until recently, tendon and fascia symptoms, due to plantar fasciosis, has been difficult to treat. The most common treatments include rest, stretching exercises, splints or orthotics.

Injections of local anesthetic are also used. However, these treatments tend to address only the symptoms not the cause of pain.

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FACES Priscilla Perkins riscilla Perkins has spent a lifetime devoting herself to others.

Now she's making a career out of it.

“What you care about, you give your time,” she said.

Perkins, the wife of Fox-2 Detroit newsman Huel Perkins, was hired in November as Chief Development Officer of Lighthouse in Oakland County. But she is no stranger to it, having been a board member and volunteer there for the last 20 years. Lighthouse has been providing assistance to families and individuals in need since 1972, offering assistance through affordable housing and educated homeowners; providing emergency food, housing, medical, utility and other services to people who need immediate help; and Perkins' particular passion, called PATH, which aids lowincome women achieve self-sufficiency and a healthy family environment for their children by finishing their education, developing career goals, and becoming homeowners “and taxpayers.”

“These are programs that help people get back on their feet, and get them to be self-sufficient and part of the community,” she said.

She's eagerly transitioning from full-time philanthropist to career woman, but not letting any of her other involvements slip by the wayside. “For at least 15 years, I've been a board member at The Community House in Birmingham, I served on the board of directors at William Beaumont Hospital in Birmingham, and I'm the incoming president of the Upper School Parents' Association at Detroit Country Day School, where my sons are at school,” she said, noting that she and Huel have been active at Country Day for years, having previously chaired their annual giving campaign and their auction. The United Way also is near and dear to her heart, “and I'm very active in Boy Scout Troop 1032 in Birmingham,” having been a den mother for many years.

“I've always been involved,” Perkins said. A native of Lafayette, LA, “I remember walking down the street with my mom as a little girl, collecting dimes for the March of Dimes. I shelved books in the elementary school library. I worked in our community center teaching girls to crochet. It's the way I was brought up.”

Perkins said that it was through volunteer efforts that she met her husband while she was a student at LSU. “I met Huel while I was working on a campaign to get a family court judge elected.

We'll be married 27 years in August,” she said. They have two sons, Jared, 17, and Vincent, 14.

Her job at Lighthouse is about relationship building, fund development, public relations, marketing and fundraising, “everything we present to the outside world,” she said.

In her free time, she enjoys reading and knitting, creating children's sweaters for all of the kids she knows, and is an avid sports fan. “I'm also into physical fitness and eating well,” she said.

“I spend a lot my time immersed in the arts. Metro Detroit has culture galore,” she said. She and Huel love eating out, “stretching from the Riverfront to Milford, we have great eating establishments. It's all here. You don't have to leave.”

P

Story: Lisa Brody

Photo: Laurie Tennent

Easter Worship Services Holy Week and Easter Sunday, April 17 - Palm Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 AM Sanctuary Service - Dr. Norman Pritchard 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Service in the Refectory - Rev. Tres Adams 4:00 PM Organ & Voice Recital - Glenn Miller & Chancel Choir Soloists

Thursday, April 21 - Maundy Thursday 7:00 PM Communion & Tenebrae in the Sanctuary - Dr. Keith Provost

Friday, April 22 - Good Friday 1:00 PM Good Friday Service in the Sanctuary - Dr. Keith Provost 7:30 PM Service of Readings & Music - Dr. Norman Pritchard & Chancel Choir

Sunday, April 24 - Easter Sunday 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 AM Sanctuary Festival Services - Dr. Norman Pritchard 10:00 AM St. Andrew’s Service in the Refectory - Dr. Keith Provost

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Sunday at 8 a.m. in Saint Dunstan’s Chapel Sunday at 10 a.m. in the church with full Choir,10 a.m.

Children’s Chapel and Sunday School in the Guild Hall Childcare available for infants to 3 years old MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK, APRIL 18 Holy Eucharist at 12 p.m. in Saint Dunstan’s Chapel TUESDAY IN HOLY WEEK, APRIL19 Holy Eucharist at 7 p.m. in Saint Dunstan’s Chapel WEDNESDAY IN HOLY WEEK, APRIL 20 Holy Eucharist at 7 a.m. in Saint Dunstan’s Chapel, followed by 7:30 Bible Study MAUNDY THURSDAY, APRIL 21 Stripping of the Altar, Foot Washing and Holy Eucharist at 7 p.m. in the church GOOD FRIDAY, APRIL 22 Good Friday Liturgy at Noon in the church Choral Stations of the Cross, 7 p.m. in the church

HOLY SAT ATURDAY T URDAY , A PRIL 23 Children’s Service and Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. in the church Easter Vigil at 8 p.m. in the church EASTER SUNDAY, APRIL 24 Holy Eucharist at 7 a.m. in Resurrection Chapel Festival Eucharist with Choir at 9:15 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. with full choir in the church

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04.11

ETHICS HOW COMMUNITIES REGULATE THEMSELVES

BY LISA BRODY

T

here is the belief that one of the chief differences between humans and animals is that humans operate on a moral code.

Those of us who have raised children come to learn that our children often are born hard-wired with their personalities, dispositions and temperaments, and as parents, our chief role is to teach them right from wrong. Morality. Ethics. The code of behavior which allows us to live a life of coexistence with others, knowing what is appropriate and what is inappropriate. It is what permits us to lift our heads high and carry on in a world of challenges.

By definition, ethics are a system of moral principles, and the rules of conduct recognized in respect to a particular class of human actions, or for a particular group. In a large forum, they are what dominate and dictate how our society functions, or should function. It is not always clear to others what is ethical, and leaders, and therefore society, can temporarily become waylaid from its ethical path, as Germany was under Hitler and the Nazis, or more recently, Detroit under former mayor Kwame Kilpatrick. Yet

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historically, the human need to ethically right the boat has always won out, with virtue trumping vice, and the community waking from a charismatic leader to shake off its moral turpitude and head back toward right.

In an effort to legislate morals and ethics, some communities enact ethics ordinances, policies or codes to spell out what is permitted, and what is not, for all elected and appointed officials and employees to follow. The reasoning behind the ordinances is to avoid situations where there can be questionable behavior, or where residents and businesses may request something from an official in return for a favor. While some communities assume ethical behavior just happens, others, be they on the state, county, or local level, have determined that it is important to put it into ordinance form.

“Every organization, government, non-profit and public organization has a code of ethics which centers around the public trust,” said Oakland University political science professor John Klemanski, who specializes in local government and politics. “To serve the public, there must be integrity and high ethical values. There is a long tradition of being accountable for respecting the law. Those in the public sector are supposed to not break the law and uphold the community's values.”

Officials cannot operate in shades of gray, only in black and white.

As writer and philosopher Albert Camus said, “A man without ethics is a wild beast loosed upon this world.”

ob Bruner, new city manager for Birmingham, seems to live by those words. “My standards and ethics are, that I keep in mind at all times, is that this is what I do for a living, and this is how I feed my family,” he said. “Sometimes cutting a corner can seem like an expedient thing to do, but if it impedes my ability to feed my family in the long run, it may not be such a good idea.”

B

Birmingham has an ethics ordinance which was adopted May 19, 2003, which states that “all city officials and employees must avoid conflicts between their private interests and public interest. Public officials and employees must: 1. Be independent, impartial and responsible to the people; 2.

Make governmental decisions and policy in the proper governmental channels; 3. Not use public office for personal gain.”

Birmingham's code sets “minimum standards of ethical conduct for all city officials and employees, elected or appointed, paid or unpaid. It proscribes actions incompatible with the public interest and directs disclosure of private financial or other interests in matters affecting the city. City officials and employees are bound...to the highest standards of morality...regardless of personal consideration, recognizing that their conduct in both their official and private affairs should be above reproach.”

According to city attorney Tim Currier, former city manager Tom Markus instigated creating an ethics ordinance “as an academic issue. There wasn't a problem in Birmingham. The idea was to adopt it before there were problems.

It was designed to be transparent and educational rather than punitive. We wanted to deal with conflict of interests, ethics interests, and questions that we have had posed to us over the years.” Currier worked with Markus in crafting the ordinance.

“The ordinance has been helpful in clarifying things over time because, in local politics, sometimes people assume others are motivated by something other than the good of the community,” said Birmingham Mayor Gordon Rinschler. “However, in my experience, that has not been the case. People who are active in city government are highly ethical people who are motivated for the good of Birmingham. People who are not regulars in the process believe the worst, but most people are volunteers.”

In the seven years since the three-member board has been impaneled, beginning in Jan. 2004, there have been 18 cases come before it, most of which have been advisory. “There have only been three actual complaints, all of the other have been advisory opinions, where we’re asking permission, or is this OK to do in this situation,” said Currier.

Bruner, who previously served as Ferndale's city manager, said he has never been offered a bribe or “anything outrageous. In my experience, it's never any kind of black and white lines, it's in the gray areas. It's usually over something that not a question if you can do it; because yes, you can; it's a question of if you should do it.”

Bruner said that, for him, he is never approached by businesses or residents to do anything that is clearly egregious. “It's not blatant stuff you read in the newspapers,” he said. “It's subtle, gray stuff, where likely, it would never be an

issue. But there's always the likelihood that others could ask for the same favor or treatment. So I figure it's just best not to ask for any. Essentially, you have to ask yourself, what you do for one person, you have to be prepared to do for everyone. If you are consistent in everything you do do, you are safe. It's when you are inconsistent that you get into trouble.”

Bruner said it's not an issue of accepting gifts. “That's very black and white.

No one is allowed to accept a gift for more than $50,” he said. “It's more when a resident or a business is asking for a favor. And they may not see it as a favor, but as service. We get the 'I pay my taxes.' But I have to see how we're using the public's resources for all of the public's good. I can't indulge in any public favoritism.”

The ordinance specifically says: “No official or employee of the city shall directly or indirectly, solicit or accept any gift or loan of money, goods, services or other thing of value for the benefit of any person or organization, other than the city, which tends to influence the manner in which the official or employee or any other official or employee performs his or her official duties.”

It also states: “No official or employee of the city shall engage in a business transaction in which he or she may profit because of his or her official position or authority or benefit financially from confidential information which he or she has obtained or may obtain by reason of such position or authority.”

The ordinance created a board of ethics, which interprets the code of ethics and oversees any possible transgressions or charges brought. In some municipalities, litigation would resolve some of these issues; in Birmingham, the board avoids that. The city commission appoints the advisory board, which is comprised of three members. When there is a question or a complaint as to the applicability of any provision of the ethics ordinance to a particular situation, the city directs that question or complaint to the board of ethics. The board of ethics conducts open hearings and issues advisory opinions to the parties as applicable under the ordinance. They meet only as necessary, with posted meeting hearings, and render open decisions, explaining their thinking to the parties, and putting it in writing for future reference. It is considered binding.

The rules for the board of ethics focus on three different types of matters, depending upon the complaint and the review. City officials or employees may want a determination of whether their own conduct, or anticipated conduct, conforms to or violates the ethics ordinance. City residents may ask for an opinion, hearing or ruling on whether the conduct of city officials or employees conform to or violates the ethics ordinances. The city commission and the various boards and advisory commissions in the city may request a determination as to whether one of their members should be disqualified, due to a disclosed conflict of interest, from any discussions, deliberations, actions, or voting on a particular matter.

The three members of the board of ethics, all city residents, are Sophie Fierro-Share, James Robb and John Schrot Jr. Each are original members of the board of ethics, having been reappointed The ordinance has proven to be a positive development for the city. “It eliminates the possibility of financial motivation, and receiving and money or gifts,” said Rinschler.

ot all local municipalities have enacted ethics ordinances, although Bloomfield Township Treasurer Dan Devine noted that “it's something that has to be done for any credible organization.” Yet, Bloomfield Township does not have an ethics ordinance or policy, according to township clerk Jan Roncelli.

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“You have to have a moral compass,” Devine said. “You cannot wait until things go down to say, 'wait, what are the rules?' If they are written down retroactively to a situation that has occurred, they can be onerous. However, if you develop a culture of morality, you have less to worry about.”

While Bloomfield Township does not have an ordinance, Devine and Roncelli said they consult written policy for ethics from the Michigan Township Association(MTA). They do have an investment policy. “We have a clear investment policy that drives our investments,” he said. “It follows prudent investment standards. It clearly spells out what we can and cannot invest in. This way, everything is above board. We cannot afford to have even a whiff of impropriety, because we are dealing with residents' tax money.”

Devine noted that there has never been any questionable incidents in the township, and he said it is due to their following the investment policies. “You need to have parameters spelled out when you are dealing with money and

investments. That way there is not even a conflict of interest that can be questioned.”

The MTA provides direction for townships, including sample ordinances which townships can use as templates. They note that townships should have a “Code of Ethical Conduct” which states that “The township board recognizes that to carry out its mission of service to the community, the township board, officials, employees and volunteers must earn the full confidence of the __________ Township community. The residents and taxpayers expect, and are entitled to, a local government that conducts its affairs in a fair, ethical, transparent and accountable manner.”

It notes that it should be self-enforcing. “Gifts and special benefits will not be accepted from vendors or others who are in a position to benefit from township decisions...Interactions with others shall demonstrate fairness, respect, impartiality and equitable treatment...Preferential consideration of the request or petition of any individual citizen or groups of citizens shall not be given. No person shall receive special advantages, consideration or treatment beyond those that are available to any other citizen under similar circumstances.”

Jim Beelan of MTA said there are no statistics as to how many member townships have ethics ordinances, but he believes many would have policies, if not ordinances, which are laws. He noted that by providing a guideline for townships, many consult their policies. William Mathewson, general counsel for Michigal Municipal League (MML), said a majority of communities do not have a formal ordinance, although he hopes many have policies.

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he MML provides information and direction on misconduct and malfeasance in office to local municipalities. “The offense of misconduct in office includes malfeasance, which is the doing of a wrongful act. It does not include acts done by officers in good faith or honest mistakes. The crime requires evidence of corrupt intent which does not necessarily mean, however, an intent to profit.”

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MML officials note that elected public office and public employment is a public trust, and any effort to realize personal gain through official conduct is a violation of that trust. MML discourages even the whiff of impropriety through any kind of conflict of interest between a city and its officers and employees. They go further than the Michigan Township Association by including candidates for office in their sweeping statements.

“The League’s role is to make information available to our members and that is why we have produced an 'Ethics Handbook for Michigan Municipalities' and also post on our website sample ethics ordinances from other communities. But at the end of the day, it’s up to each local community, based on their own unique circumstances, to determine whether or not to have an ethics ordinance or policy,” said Matt Bach, director of communications for the MML. Bloomfield Hills has never had any ordinance or policy regarding ethics or morality. They do not even have one pertaining to financial investments.

“We still have our AAA management, and we're very cognizant of keeping that,” said city manager Jay Cravens. “But we've never had any ordinance or policy, although there was some discussions about ex parte communications in the summer of 2010. The avenue the city commission wanted to take was a policy, they adopted by resolution. They wanted the planning commission to adopt the ex parte communications policy as well, but they rejected it. The general feeling of the membership of the planning commission was that you (city commission) adopt it first, and then we will.”

According to city clerk Amy Burton, the city commission approved in Aug. 2010 a rules of conduct for the planning commission, noting a policy of “ex parte” contact/communications, but tabled the policy in Sept. 2010, after negative and unsupportive comments were received from the planning commission. “It has not been taken up by the city commission since September,” she said.

The idea that the city commission should adopt it first and set an example for the rest of the community is one that would seem reasonable as an ethical model, but Bloomfield Hills is a city that has been undergoing turmoil and rancor the last couple of years, and consensus building, even over ethics, has not been a priority.

The policy written against ex parte contact and communications for planning commission members is very detailed, advising planning commission members to “avoid any “ex parte” communications with applicants, downtownpublications.com

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developers, applicant's and developer's representatives, including planners or attorneys or interested persons and/or neighbors regarding matters before the planning commission...either verbally, by telephone, in writing, or by the Internet/email, and or texting with an applicant, developer, applicant/developer's representatives, including planners or attorneys or interested persons and/or neighbors regarding a matter and/or matters before the planning commission...The city manager and/or administrative officials of the city are exempt from this policy.”

It goes further by telling planning commission members that they can only visit a site if they can do so without any contact, and they must act as a unit, not as individuals. The penalty for one who violates any of their rules may be considered to have committed a malfeasance or misfeasance of office, and can be removed from the planning commission.

akland County has long had an ethics ordinance, and in 2010 commissioner Tim Greimel (D-Rochester Hills) worked to have it revised, to no conclusive effect. It was studied, brought forth, debated, revised, brought forth again, debated, yet there was no consensus among a body which had 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats (the deciding vote, Republican commissioner Jeff Potter of South Lyon passed away last spring).

O

“It originally started as a Democratic initiative to update ethics, but it got a lot of mixed feedback, and it expired in December with no action taken,” said commissioner Marcia Gershenson (D-Bloomfield). “It was for all county employees and elected officials. In a time when elected officials are under a lot of pressures and negative perceptions, it's important to have a standard in place that shows what we're accountable for.”

“Last year was an election year, and ethics and transparency being debated was due to the political climate,” said board of commissioners chair Mike Gingell (R-Lake Orion). “They were trying to establish a panel within the county to allow people to bring forward accusations towards others. I believe it was just creating more bureaucracy within government than we really needed.”

Gershenson said she believes it's important that in a time of computerization, new language and ideas, “it's important for us to have the most up-to-date resolution and ordinance. It should be for all county employees, with a focus on county commissioners.”

Commissioner Shelley Taub (R-Bloomfield Township) said, “We know what we can and cannot do.”

Gingell said that a bipartisan committee of commissioners is looking at the policy they have for the county, headed by commissioner Bill Dwyer (RFarmington). “We're looking at what we have today, looking at what it covers, and saying, yes, it's been a while since we've looked at it, we need to update it for the times. It's just important not to do it as a political tool, but as a something that deals with actual concerns, and potential concerns, and not create more areas of bureaucracy.”

The state employees and government officials are governed by Public Act 196 of 1973, also known as the State Ethics Act. It states that: “A public officer or employee shall not divulge to an unauthorized person, confidential information acquired in the course of employment in advance of the time prescribed for its authorized release to the public; ...shall not use personnel resources, property and funds under the officer or employee's official care and control judiciously and solely in accordance with prescribed...procedures and not for personal gain and benefit...shall not solicit or accept a gift or loan of money, goods, services or other thing of value for the benefit of a person or organization, other than the state, which tends to influence the manner in which the public officer or employee or another public officer or employee performs official duties.”

While the act has had minor revisions over the years, it remains the gold standard for ethics policies and standards of conduct for public officers and employees throughout the state.

Yet despite the variety of ordinances and policies, as Birmingham city commissioner Stuart Sherman said, “You're not going to legislate morality.

People are either going to act ethically or they're not.” downtownpublications.com

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FACES Daniel Sillman aniel Sillman began the Ross School of Business at University of Michigan thinking he'd become an investment banker. But a chance encounter his freshman year with two Michigan football players who became his close friends led him to create Compass Management Group to provide financial management for professional athletes.

Sillman, 22, graduated from Ross in Dec. 2010, on the fast track since he had already begun his company to work with his two friends, Brandon Graham and Brandon Minor, who left U-M as top picks in Dec. 2009 to enter the NFL, and provide them with financial guidance and management once they left school.

“Statistics show that 78 percent of NFL athletes declare bankruptcy or are financially distressed within two years of retirement; it's 65 percent in the NBA within five years,” Sillman said. “It's because most athletes lack core financial strength.

They hire agents who negotiate their contracts and sponsorship deals, and they might hire someone to open a portfolio for them, and they think they're all set. The word financial advisor throws them. They're often coming from the inner city, and suddenly, they're coming into wealth, like a lottery winner.”

While undergrads, Graham and Minor spent holidays and weekends at Sillman's Birmingham home, and Sillman and his father, David, began looking into business managers for them as their need became apparent. “What we realized is that there is a huge presence for entertainers and corporate space, but not for athletes. These athletes should treat themselves the same as someone else with wealth,” Sillman said. Just as Graham and Minor had prepared themselves for the NFL by practicing football for years, Sillman realized he had been preparing himself for his career with Compass not only via his business school studies, but at the foot of his father's chair, watching, listening, observing.

“I've been going to the office with my father since I was 5,” he said. “I rely on my father for life experience and financial experience.”

Compass Management Group, so called because it provides direction, guidance and discipline to athletes, provides attorneys, accountants, insurance consultants, tax planning, bill paying, private banking, estate planning, portfolio management, business consulting and vetting services, and retirement planning.

“The average football career is three years; the average basketball career is four or five years. They could live to be 100.

They have to realize they are being compensated for their entire lives, not just their pro careers,” Sillman said. He creates a level of transparency and professionalism for the athletes, which now number 11, that he manages. All of the athletes, including Desean Jackson, Jimmy Smith, Manny Harris and Jurrell Casey, have come to him by word-of-mouth through locker rooms.

A Groves High School graduate, Sillman doesn't have much free time at the moment, as he is setting up a satellite office in Los Angeles. “But we'll always be here. With a cell phone, fax and Internet, I can be anywhere. This is where our trusted advisors are.”

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Story: Lisa Brody

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IMPACT OF CUTS How Snyder’s ‘reinvention’ plays locally

BY LISA BRODY

This is a comprehensive plan to lay a new, sound foundation for Michigan's reinvention and put an end to the significant budget deficits the state has experienced for the past decade. It reflects difficult but necessary decisions that will result in a shared sacrifice, but ultimately will benefit citizens, families and communities through the economic growth and job creation that is generated. By stimulating the economy while preserving the core, essential services and ensuring a safety net for those who are vulnerable, we'll all move forward together.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder

landslide victory, based on a mandate of change, allowed a Republican, businessman Rick Snyder, to replace Democratic Gov. Jennifer Granholm in last November's election. Assurances were made by Snyder that he would quickly rightsize the state, balance the books, eradicate programs that weren't working, permanently get rid of the dreaded Michigan Business Tax, address the financing of education, and make the state a friendlier, more conducive place for businesses to come, and ultimately, create jobs. He emphasized that he had a background in accounting, not schmoozing, and he had a plan for reinventing Michigan.

On Feb. 17, 2011, Snyder proved to be a man of his word. He presented a budget that produced gasps from those living near the Ohio border to the tip of the Upper Peninsula; from Republicans as well as Democrats; from those who treasure public education, and those who value their pensions. That is because after Snyder and his associates analyzed the state's finances, they discovered Michigan was like the Titanic. Unless a complete overhaul occurs, water will overwhelm it, and the state will sink, weighted down by years of overspending, entitlements, mandates, overcommitment, and bloated contracts.

A

“Something is unsustainable when it is unaffordable in the future,” noted Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills), the chairman of the House's Appropriation committee.

Snyder proposed a mixture of budget cuts and tax reform. Now, six weeks later, the state legislature has begun the process by introducing bills to deal with several of the top issues, while others are still being debated. Even some of the most staunch Republicans in the state are finding certain aspects of the budget unpalatable. Yet Snyder and state budget director John Nixon are pushing this plan as the definitive way to redefine Michigan and create a sustainable state that can eventually grow and thrive.

Moss notes that “there are budget changes and the tax changes, and they both hang together like a Chinese puzzle. You pull one piece out, and something else falls out, too.” For legislators to make changes, he said, they will have to come up with substitutions and initiate other solutions, so the puzzle can still fit together.

But on the local level, the most important questions is what the newly proposed budget means for those living in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township.

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stabilize school funding. Instead, $28 million has The education front subject Snyder has broached. “It's always discussed been cut since 2002. Right now, we have a projected Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills Schools have amongst superintendents, but it's not actively being deficit of $7.7 million for the 2011-2012 school year, long been bellwether leaders in education, receiving discussed. The economies of scale would not justify and we had already projected a $5.5 million deficit the highest per student financing in Michigan to the costs entailed,” Glass said. “We could incur the before Gov. Snyder's cuts, out of a total budget of educate students, and earning the highest test debts of the other district, get lower per pupil funding; $105.7 million.” scores in the state in return. Snyder's budget would there are a lot of complications. I think it would have Wilkinson said that the district has been create a State Education Act that uses state school to be mandated by the government or have our backs transferring funds from its general fund to its Capital aid fund revenue as well as general fund dollars to against the wall.”

Improvements Fund to help balance the budget, but support the state's education system all the way “There are 549 school districts in Michigan. Do we they will cease doing that. “There was $5 million we through to higher education, while protecting need 549 IT departments? Birmingham and had planned to take out of the planned equity fund, community college funding.

Bloomfield Hills. Come on,” said Moss. but that is like anyone's savings account, and there's According to budget director Nixon's “We've had a lot of conversations with neighboring no way to replace that money,” she said. “Even if we recommendations, the executive education budget districts on consolidation of services,” said Wilkinson. did that, that does not mean we do not have a very totals $13.8 billion, including $12.2 billion for K-12 “There could be some opportunity for creating serious problem for 2012-2013. Our board (of education, $1.4 billion for higher education, and $296 consortiums for transportation, etc., rather than education) is just now dealing with the ramifications.” consolidation of complete districts. For example, a million earmarked for community colleges. It Budget director Nixon told lawmakers when he recommends maintaining early childhood education couple of years ago, we closed our Environmental presented the budget that the issue was the state at nearly $110 million.

Center (at Bingham Farms Elementary School), and For K-12 education, which effects Birmingham and simply couldn't afford any longer to maintain the now we partner with Bloomfield Hills (Schools), and school aid fund as a protected segregated fund any Bloomfield public schools, Nixon's budget we use theirs. But it may be a possibility for some longer. The school aid fund was set up in 1994 in the recommendations purportedly maintain 95 percent of smaller districts.”

Proposal A school finance change. funding for school foundation grants, which he says Glass agrees with Moss' assessment of employee “When 60 percent of the state's revenue goes to will save $452.5 million for the state. Beginning in costs. “The state retirement fund for all of our the school aid fund, it's very hard to hold that piece 2013, the budget creates a $300 million incentive for employees is unsustainable,” he said. “A full 26 harmless,” Nixon said in his presentation. “We need districts that, at a minimum, require employees to percent gets added on to whatever we pay our to look at education in this state as an entire system, share in their health care costs at a comparable level employees. The problem is balance. Boomers are pre-K through universities.” Universities are also to other state employees, which was just revealed to retiring, and there are not enough younger workers slated to have their budgets cut significantly, with be 20 percent. paying into and supporting the system. It's a huge University of Michigan scheduled to have up to $70 Belying these large numbers, for local districts burden.” million cut in their allocation. there will be substantial cuts to budgets. School He elaborated further. “When our employees hired “Public sector employees are going to have to take administrators around the state say Snyder's budget into the field years ago at a lower salary level, there a look at labor costs. Our economy is not only not proposals would cut per-pupil funding by more than was a social contract that was implicit: you would $700 per student, in part by redirecting receive less pay, but you would get good nearly $900 million in restricted state school benefits in retirement and good aid funding to universities in the state and predictability and stability. In the private When 60 percent of the state's revenue goes to the to community colleges. sector, there was great pay, but less school aid fund, it's very hard to hold that piece Taking further steps than Gov. Snyder is predictability. Today, studies now show that harmless.We need to look at education in this state Sen. Jack Brandenburg (R-Harrison college graduates who go into the public as an entire system, pre-K through universities.

Township), who says that Michigan school sector are actually earning $20,000 a year districts have amassed rainy day funds in more than their private sector counterparts. excess of necessity while complaining of too “I don't buy into teacher bashing, State budget director John Nixon little state aid. According to Brandenburg, because at some point we will not be able to districts have cumulatively acquired $1.6 attract good quality teachers,” Glass noted. growing, it is contracting. Drastically. When times billion, and he would like to recapture $282 million of “However, that 26 percent is killing us. Our were good, we shared the money with our public those surplus funds to help balance the state's employees are worth it, but we cannot afford it. sector workers, including teachers. That budget. He is planning on introducing a bill to cap Unions have to accept it. It's not reality anymore, but compensation has to be brought back into line now. rainy day funds at 15 percent of a school district's we cannot negotiate that. We need help from the You cannot keep getting more and more and more, annual operating budget; the 300 districts with more legislature.”

On Mar. 10, 2011, the state Senate passed a every year. It's unsustainable,” said Rep. Moss. than that would have to spend their excess savings package of bills that would grant powers to state“Something's unsustainable when you'll go broke in before receiving any aid. It is uncertain if there is appointed financial emergency managers, including the future. Something's unaffordable when you're widespread, or any, support for Brandenburg's to municipalities and school districts which are in going broke now. They're going broke now.” initiative. danger of failing. The state House of Representatives Moss noted that for Bloomfield Hills, 85 percent of Michigan school business officials recommend approved a similar group of bills on Mar. 15, and the general fund goes to labor costs; in Birmingham, that school districts keep a fund balance equal to 15 after reconciliation, Gov. Snyder signed it into law on 90 percent of the general fund goes to labor costs. to 20 percent of operating costs. Birmingham Public Mar. 17.

“There is no level of taxation that can sustain that Schools has a fund balance of $24.2 million, or 23.8 At the center of these bills, which are extremely rate of compensation increases,” he said. “And that's percent of its operating costs. Bloomfield Hills School where all of the money has gone. I know it's hard. But contentious, is the ability to throw out union District has a fund balance of of $22.2 million which contracts and collective bargaining rights if it is we've got to get it down.” is 29.5 percent of its annual operating costs.

Renovation and new building costs in each district deemed necessary by the emergency financial “These are seriously large budget cuts,” Bloomfield manager. Democrats largely voted against the bills, have been covered by earmarked bonds, and have Hills Schools Superintendent Rob Glass said. “In our but both the House and Senate are Republicanbeen separate from other funds. five-year outlook, prior to Snyder's budget, we had a controlled.

Surprisingly, despite the costs to be incurred, plan to address the budget deficits each year. For the Snyder had initially called for a revised emergency Bloomfield Hills' superintendent Glass notes that the 2011-2012 school year, we are going to have to revise manager process in January, warning that the current decision to consolidate the districts two high schools the number of savings to reflect the increase in the law doesn’t allow the state to be as pro-active as he into in tune with Snyder's budget. “Gov. Snyder deficit. Prior to Snyder's budget, the deficit was feels is necessary for a city or school district to avoid makes the case why we need to consolidate even already projected to be $4.5 million (from an $80 more. It costs more to run two buildings; it costs more financial collapse. More recently, he said that million budget). We were going to do $3.5 million of cuts in the district. We were cushioning the blow with to renovate two 50-year-old buildings. Then we would removing officials or altering or deleting union contracts would be only be considered as a last need to continue to pump a lot of money into them, $1 million of savings from our general fund, which is resort. because once you start to renovate, you will be hit our savings. Now, after the governor's cuts, we'll have Birmingham's Wilkinson does not see anything with code violations. Just to begin, we would be hit another $1.6 million to deal with. Now we need to that drastic occurring in Birmingham, “but we with $50 million apiece. make $5.6 million of cuts.” definitely have a storm ahead of us, and we have to “It's like when a business closes factories to get Marcia Wilkinson, community relations director for weather it. The board has had the foresight to not tap lean,” Glass continued. “We need to get lean.”

Birmingham Public Schools, said, “We're very into our fund equity. They have been very judicious of Consolidation of districts or services is another concerned. Back in 1994, Proposal A was supposed to

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when to tap into it. We are trying to keep (deficits) from affecting instruction and programs, but at this point, I don't think that can happen. We may not have to do that for 2011-2012, but may have to watch every dollar. 2012-2013 really looms before us.”

Wilkinson noted the district benefitted from an extra 100 students in the September count day, “which helped put us in better shape than we expected. The retirement incentive last year (when the state offered long-term teachers a retirement incentive if they retired by July 1, 2011) assisted us also, allowing us to end last year on a better note.”

Moss points out that it's not just one thing that contributes to the deficits. “It's pensions, it's step increases (in pay), it's the present value of health care benefits. What does it cost to provide retiree health care pension, the complete compensation package— the total cost of a fully-loaded teacher, from what I understand, it's over $100,000. That's an expensive proposition. A teacher may be worth that but it's not affordable. We just can't keep taxing people to give it to labor. The people who pay the bills do not have it anymore. It's not to break the unions; it's to bring them down to earth.”

villages and townships that meet state standards and adopt best practices. Additionally, there would be a 4 percent increase, to $659 million, for constitutional revenue sharing payments to local units of government.

The state revenue sharing program redistributes sales tax that has been collected by the state to municipalities as unrestricted revenues.

Constitutional revenue sharing is the amount of money the government has to pay each municipality based upon the state's constitution. It amounts to 15 percent of the 4 percent gross collections of the state sales tax. Statutory revenue sharing is based on 21.3 percent of the 4 percent gross collections of the state sales tax, and is based on population.

The constitutional allotments are anticipated to grow by 4 percent in the next fiscal year, while statutory allotments, which have been dwindling for many communities, are expected to be eliminated.

Exact specifications, and what “best practices” would be, are just being specified. “I have issues with this,” said Rep. Moss. “I represent 11 communities in Oakland County, and our communities have been doing best practices for years. The problem with revenue sharing is that we don't have any revenue to share. Gov. (John) Engler (1991-2002) shot that arrow across the bow years ago and told people that revenue sharing was not something they should count on. Many communities started to zero out the revenue sharing, realizing that it was found money, and it was going to go away some day.”

SOCRRA, a waste and recycling cooperative. The concern is, will the governor take this into account, or will we have to come up with new stuff?”

Bruner said he is also concerned about the state creating a “one-size-fits-all” formula for all municipalities to be part of the budget equation. “A solution that works for Birmingham might not work for the village of Kingsley in the northwestern part of the state, or the city of Detroit. We are a state of small cities, with 1,000 or 2,000 residents, by and large.

Then you have metro Detroit, with medium size cities.

There's Birmingham, with 19,000 or so residents, Royal Oak with 60,000, and Detroit with 713,000. It's impossible to develop a fair and equitable system when so many areas of the state are rural. And how do you encourage collaboration or consolidation in some of those areas when there might not be two police departments side by side? That wouldn't accomplish anything.”

Birmingham and Bloomfield Township have been in talks for several months regarding possible consolidation of police dispatch services, but Bruner said he does not believe talks can be speeded up by the governor.

“Conversation so far has focused on two extremes.

The municipal challenges Some kind of hybrid option will probably be created,” Union contracts and how to reassess them is not he said. “But the state of Michigan, coming in with just the domain of the educational community but some kind of competitive program, will not make a also of the municipalities in the state. Snyder's budget difference. The community and its leaders have to proposal calls for $180 million in savings from make the decision, because it's not just based on employee concessions financial incentives, but on cost analysis. For every “We are in negotiations with our unions idea, we look at them as they come along.” right now. Three of our four unions are 312 For the first time in Michigan, the bargaining unions, which protects binding budget proposes taxing retirees' pensions.

Public sector employees are going to have to take a arbitration,” said Bloomfield Hills City Snyder's plan will broaden the base of look at labor costs. Our economy is not only not Manager Jay Cravens. Public Act 312 of taxpayers by including those earning private growing, it is contracting. Drastically....

1967 requires that if there is an impasse in and public pensions, taxing them at the negotiations between a community and its proposed individual income tax rate of 4.25 compensation has to be brought back into line now. public safety union, either police or fire, percent. It is anticipated to raise $900 then they have to go to mandatory binding million for the state's coffers.

Rep. Chuck Moss arbitration. This usually occurs after Rep. Moss acknowledges that this mediation or collective bargaining has is one of the more controversial aspects of failed. For economic issues, each party the budget. “We've got to look at all of it “We believe we're in good shape because we've presents their last and best offer to the arbitration (the budget), and not bits and pieces of it and say it's budgeted as if we are not getting any revenue panel, and the panel chooses one or the other. Often, DOA. Retiree pensions. Let's look at it. After all, why sharing,” said Dan Devine, Bloomfield Township 312 arbitration can be long and contentious, and the do some seniors get off scott free, and some senior Michigan Municipal League has been trying to repeal treasurer. He said the township will receive $2.7 have to work longer. Would you pay 4 percent to have the act since it was enacted by (former Detroit mayor) million of constitutional revenue sharing in the next your grandkids come back to Michigan? It's fiscal year, but does not expect any money for Coleman Young when he was a state senator. something to think about. My job is to let it go statutory revenue sharing.

“With Bloomfield Hills, and others, you're through the process.”

“We're not going to be impacted at all, because we compared to other like communities, but when the He also noted that if retirees' pensions are not do not get any (statutory revenue sharing) at all. We economy is going down, if the current contracts of taxed, lawmakers will have to come up with another haven't for a few years,” said Bloomfield Hills' other governments do not have large concessions, $900 million to make Snyder's budget work.

Cravens. He anticipates the city receiving $217,000 in you are not going to get them either,” said Cravens.

“The initial knee jerk reaction is to move out of constitutional revenue sharing, the same as they He said the city has been working with their unions state, to a state without taxes,” said Bloomfield received this past year. to reduce benefits for new employees hired after July Township's Devine. More than 50 percent of the Bob Bruner, city manager for Birmingham, feels 1, 2009. “They will have different benefit levels. But township's residents are over 50 years of age. “But the same way, noting that statutory revenue sharing the unions have been resistant otherwise. The given the costs of moving, selling your home, the accounts for only about 1 percent of the city's General losses you would incur—it will be a large commission and our residents want city employees Fund. “We receive about $250,000 in statutory and the PSO (Bloomfield Hills' combined police and mathematical equation. But any increase in costs to revenue sharing out of a $25 million budget. fire department) to receive a fair wage and benefits, most seniors is harmful to them because their costs of “As to Gov. Snyder's unspecified proposal to reward living tend to be higher than working people, and but there's a limit.” communities that collaborate with others, meet state He noted that the city has been working with its their needs are higher as they age. Their earning standards and adopt best practices,” Bruner noted, unions on discussions to change its health insurance power is static.” “we collaborate already with our neighbors in a to a health savings account program, and in getting Pension taxation will be part of the ongoing variety of ways. There are a ton of ways that the the ability to shop all of their different insurances, debate, along with possible reduction and eventual public does not even see. Birmingham is a member of elimination of the film industry tax credit and from health insurance, life insurance, short-term and long-term disabilities, to get the best rates possible. “I Oakway Fire Mutual Aid Society, which all of the fire proposed elimination and replacement of the current departments along Woodward, up through Bloomfield see the need for some reckoning, and I see some of business tax system in the state as lawmakers Township and West Bloomfield Township, belong to. the unions still trying to resist it, and hoping to ride grapple with the proposals put forth by the It's a mutual aid association where we agree to back the economy out,” Cravens said.

Michigan's new governor. The process is likely to take Municipalities in the state will also be facing under one another up in case of fire or emergency. Every months before the issues are resolved. the new budget the elimination of statutory revenue city participates in some form of mutual aid, Rep. Moss probably captures the urgency of the sharing payments for cities, villages and townships in especially with public safety. It goes back decades. situation best: fiscal year 2012, to be replaced with a new incentiveThat's collaboration. We're also a member of SOCWA “The bottom line for the budget is we've run out of based revenue sharing program available to cities, (South Oakland County Water Authority) and other people's money.”

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ost of us living in the Birmingham and Bloomfield area are familiar with Cranbrook Schools, the college preparatory schools set in the midst of 319 magnificent acres of Bloomfield Hills. Many are aware there is a first-class Institute of Science, with a planetarium, noted Native American collections, and a geological assemblage that is unrivaled. But many are less aware that on the same grounds, adjacent to the reflecting pools off of Lone Pine Road, is a world-renown art academy, educating some of the finest artists in the world over the last 80 years.

The Cranbrook Academy of Art is considered one of the nation's leading graduate schools of architecture, art and design, and was founded by George and Ellen Scripps Booth, who founded Cranbrook, in 1932. By 1984, The New York Times would state that “the effect of Cranbrook and its graduates and faculty on the physical environment has been profound...Cranbrook, surely more than any other institution, has a right to think of itself as synonymous with contemporary American design.”

Cranbrook today is world-renowned for its architecture in the Arts and Crafts movement style, of which architects Albert Kahn and Eliel Saarinen were proponents. Preeminent sculptors Carl Milles, who Saarinen and Booth brought over from Sweden, and Marshall Fredericks, spent years in residence at Cranbrook, teaching and creating.

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The buildings at Cranbrook were primarily designed by Eliel Saarinen, and he was the first head of the Art Academy school. The school still adheres to the principal that George Booth first brought forth from Europe, which is that artists study not from books or in static classrooms, but from the masters themselves.

“The school was designed to be similar to the old European model of academies,” said Felicia Molnar, public relations director for Cranbrook Art Academy. “George Booth went to Rome, and visited the French Academy in Rome. He came back, and along with Eliel Saarinen, became determined to bring all of the craftspeople here for the campus to mentor others. That became his model.”

The French Academy in Rome is housed in the Villa Medici within the Villa Borghese, and was originally created in 1666 for select French artists who, having won the prestigious Prix de Rome, were honored with a three, four, or five-year scholarship in Rome for the purpose of the study of art and architecture. It continues today, with stays of six to 18 months being more common.

Booth had brought the finest artisans and craftsmen from around the world to work on Cranbrook’s buildings and the sculptures, textiles and art work that would surround the premises.

“They had master craftspeople here, and artists-inresidence, working in their field,” said Molnar. It became a natural extension to develop a masterslevel graduate course of study for artists and craftspeople in the midst of such creativity and brilliance.

“We are the country’s only free standing graduate school of art and design,” Molnar said, meaning one that is not affiliated with an undergraduate school. In its earlier days, the school offered a bachelor’s degree, as well. The original concept of masters teaching students in a mentoring format is continued today, with 163 students currently enrolled for a Masters of Fine Arts (MFA) in 10 different disciplines. These are 2D design (graphic design); 3-D design; architecture; ceramics; sculpture; fiber; metal-smithing; painting; photography; and print media.

Each discipline is a two-year program leading to a MFA or masters in architecture, drawing students from around the world, and culminating in a degree show at the Cranbrook Art Museum, which has been undergoing a massive renovation. It will briefly re-open for 2011’s 81 graduating students’ degree show April 17 to May 8. Admission is free to the public.

According to Molnar, part of what is unique about Cranbrook’s MFA program is their celebrated international faculty, private studios, self-directed curriculum, and lack of grades. The school continues to be known for its apprenticeship method of teaching, in which a small group of students, usually only 10 to 16 per class, study under a single artist-in-residence for the duration of their curriculum. This creates an unusual graduate program because there are no set courses a student has to take; all learning is self-directed under the tutelage of the artist-in-residence, who continues as a working artist.

“Students and most of the faculty live right above their studios, right on campus,” Molnar said, “intertwined with their art. Students are working and studying with people still working in their field. It’s really special. This does not exist like this anywhere else anymore.”

During its initial decades, the art academy was part of the Modernism movement, which was a

in 1931 to create and work as an artist-in-residence until 1951, has more sculptures on Cranbrook’s grounds than in his home country’s Millesgarden, with the art museum’s famous Mermaids and Tritons Fountain, Orpheus Fountain, and Jonah and the Whale, but a few noted sculptures on the grounds.

Cranbrook Art Academy has continued to produce brilliant and cutting edge artists, with museums and noted collectors world-wide seeking their works. Some have created usable art; others are visual; some are performance-based.

Top: Footed stand and pot, porcelain and stoneware, Richard De Vore, 1969. © Estate of Richard De Vore Bottom: Ceremonial Vessel with Shells, plaited ash splints and string with heat transfer and colored xerography, Ed Rossbach, 1991. Estate of Ed Rossbach. Photographers: R. H. Hensleigh and Tim Thayer. ©

revolt against the conservative values of realism.

The term encompasses the activities and output of those who felt the “traditional” forms of art, architecture, literature, religious faith, social organization and daily life were becoming outdated in the new economic, social, and political conditions of an emerging fully industrialized world.

Over the years, as the art world has moved onto new forms, so have the artists at the art academy, abandoning Modernism, some for Postmodernism, which some explain as a tendency in contemporary culture to look with inherent suspicion towards the global cultural narrative. It can emphasize the role of language, power relations, and motivations; it attacks the use of sharp classifications such as male versus female, straight versus gay, white versus black, and imperial versus colonial. How artists interpret those conceits can make for unique, cutting edge art.

While graduates of Cranbrook Schools are somewhat well-known, even if they are scattered to the four corners of the globe, graduates of the Cranbrook Academy of Art are often better known to those in the art world and to noted collectors, but less so to average residents of the area. Early graduates and scholars-in-residents included Charles and Ray Eames, whose chair many still sit in; Harry Bertoia, who created the iconic diamond chair and sound sculptures; Eero Saarinen, son of Eliel, who designed the St. Louis Gateway Arch, the tulip chair and the TWA terminal; Loja Saarinen, Eliel’s wife, who brought weaving and tapestries to a contemporary world; and Florence Knoll Bassett, founder of Knoll furniture. Carl Milles, the Swedish sculptor brought to Cranbrook

Niels Diffrient Niels Diffrient was born in Mississippi in 1928, but during the Great Depression, his family relocated to Detroit, where he attended Cass Tech, then Wayne State University, and finally Cranbrook Academy of Art, receiving his degree in design and architecture. Following that, he studied in Italy on a Fulbright Scholarship in 1954, where he worked in the studio of Marco Zanuso and he assisted with the design of the award-winning Borletti sewing machine.

In his half-century long career, Diffrient has designed every type of equipment, including computers, exhibits, trucks airplane interiors and corporate identity programs. In the field of furniture design, he is particularly renown for ergonomic seating. He is credited with creating Humanscale’s Freedom Chair, their Diffrient Chair, and their Liberty Chair. In 2007, Forbes.com named him the “granddaddy of the ergonomic revolution” and one of ten “Tastemakers” in the field of industrial design.

Richard DeVore Richard DeVore was born in Toledo, Ohio in 1933, and earned a B.Ed. degree with an art major from University of Toledo in 1955. He followed that up with an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1957. In 1966, he became head of the ceramics department, and remained at Cranbrook until 1978.

In 1987, he was installed as a fellow of the American Craft Council. He died in 2006 in Ft. Collins, Colo.

DeVore, whose ceramic works are represented in the American Craft Museum in New York, Museum Boijmans Van Veuningen in Rotterdam, Holland, Detroit Institute of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, M.H. de Young Museum, San Francisco, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Smithsonian American Art Museum and Cranbrook Art Museum’s permanent collection, along with many other collections, is known for simple, organic forms finished in dull glazes that suggest polished stones, sun bleached bones, or even translucent skin. His work is also highly collectible among private collectors.

Ed Rossbach Ed Rossbach, who passed away in 2002, was a fiber artist who specialized in basketmaking and weaving. He was originally from Chicago, and worked and lived in Berkeley, CA, after he received his MFA at Cranbrook in 1947. His career began with ceramics and weaving in the 1940s, but evolved over the next ten years into unusual and creative basketmaking. While basketmaking and weaving are traditional, old world art forms, Rossbach was drawn to nontraditional textile materials, such as foil, plastic bags, Mylar, twigs, staples, Styrofoam and twine.

Rossbach always said that it was while serving in the U.S. Army between 1942 and 1945 on Adek

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in the Aleutian Islands, Alaska, that he first began to gather and manipulate tundra grass, which subsequently became his first baskets. In his later writings about nontraditional basketmakers, in determining how what they made was called art, he said that time and period had an an enormous impact on him as an individual artist.

In all of his different textile work, his art commented on popular culture, history, on how he interpreted the world and his place in it. He melded traditional art forms and pop icons, such as his numerous different basket surfaces with Mickey Mouse intertwined in them. “If classes you teach are referred to and dismissed as Mickey Mouse, then you might as well use that image both on simple structures and on the most technically sophisticated textiles,” he said. It amused him to utilize such a pop icon on such labor-intensive creations, and Mickey remained a continuing theme in his work. Critics noted that he was always self-critical, private, questioning, and had high standards and expectations for himself and his students. So high, in fact, that he did not regularly exhibit until after his retirement from UC Berkeley in 1979, where he had been since 1950.

He became a noted author on basketry, especially for “The Nature of Basketry” and “Baskets as Textile Art.” Rebecca A.T. Stevens, the consulting curator of contemporary textiles at The Textile Museum in Washington D.C., said, “Rossbach was a postmodernist before postmodernism. He infused his fiber work with content and meaning, commenting on art, life, and our shared textile history. He saw possibilities where others saw none, and he investigated those possibilities nonstop during his enormously productive artistic career. His was a life of exploration and innovation.”

Rossbach’s work can been seen in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Museum of Arts and Design, the Renwick Gallery, Oakland Art Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art. Beth Katleman Beth Katleman is a ceramicist and sculptor who graduated with an MFA from Cranbrook Art Academy in 1995, after receiving a BA in English from Stanford University in 1981. A Park Forest, IL native, she lives and works in Brooklyn, New York, where she participates in group and solo shows.

From Mar. 30 to April 3, 2011, her work can be seen at Pavillion des Arts et du Design, Tuileries, in Paris. Her website describes the installation as “Her deliciously subversive porcelain sculptures combine rococo ornament with icons from popular culture.”

At a small gallery in New York, fifty of her white sculptural tableaus hover just off a turquoise wall, “surrounded by an explosion of fruit and flowers.

Each tableau is a miniature landscape with water features, topiaries, architectural follies, figurines and toys from the flea market. Dark humor infuses the narratives: an elf sits astride a giant smiling snail in the shadow of the Sacre-Coeur Basilica; a parade of bridesmaids ends badly with one attendant drowning in a pond; and a toothless boy cavorts with a kindly reindeer as a duckling tumbles over a waterfall,” as she described them.

She noted that she has been inspired by the florid designs of 18th century wall coverings, and she explored themes of consumption and desire.

Katlemen said, “I have long been fascinated by Toile de Jouy, the printed fabrics that drape the walls and beds of 18 th century France. Peasants cavort in bucolic landscapes decked out with

or other found objects, and now command up to $45,000 a piece at the Jack Shainman Gallery in New York City.

It is said that his creative force is fed by his sense of history, African heritage and spirituality, and as a dancer, he performs wearing his Soundsuits. Cave’s first Soundsuit was made from twigs, and is now in a private collection. The finished pieces are said to bear some resemblance to African ceremonial costumes and masks. He presents the suits for public viewing, but also through his live performances, video and photographs.

Bull's Roar, Anne Wilson, 1986. Photographers: R. H. Hensleigh and Tim Thayer. © the Artist

flowers, all in the shadow of classical ruins. There is something surreal about these scenes, which float, disembodied in a world without gravity. I love the contrast between the frivolity of the scenes and the incongruous settings.” Her process involves scouring the flea markets in search of unique, perhaps discarded, trinkets. “Often the second and third generation knock-offs catch my eye, especially those that seem to pine for a grander existence. I cast these trinkets in white porcelain, a material that suggests luxury, refinement and royal provenance.”

Inspired by her late aunt, who to her was a symbol of wonderful excess and decadence, Katleman said she combs flea markets for treasures that are a bit sad to her, ones that seem to seek a grander existence. By recasting them in new and unusual combinations, “My sculptures examine the nature of consumption and desire in our time,” she said.

Nick Cave Nick Cave was born in 1959 in Missouri, and raised in relative modest means by a single mother.

He had numerous siblings, and he said he attributes his interest in “found” objects and assemblage to his childhood circumstances. Today, he is an American fabric sculptor, dancer and performance artist. He is widely known in the art world for his Soundsuits: wearable fabric sculptures that are bright, whimsical and considered “otherworldly.” He received an MFA from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 1989, after he had studied with the Alvin Ailey dance program. He currently lives in Chicago and is director of the graduate fashion program of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Cave credits his mother for encouraging his career by responding enthusiastically to his earliest artworks, like handmade birthday cards. He also says he believes that growing up with very little money helped his creativity.

“When you’re raised by a single mother with six brothers and lots of hand-me-downs, you have to figure out how to make those clothes your own,” he told the New York Times in 2009. “That’s how I started off, using things around the house.”

He is known for creating colorful, elaborate sculptures with a dual functionality, as they can stand on their own in galleries or in a collector’s home or office as visually compelling art objects, or they can be worn by a dancer as an expression of sound, movement and individuality. Known as Soundsuits, they are made of dyed human hair, twigs, metal, plastic, sisal, plastic buttons, beads, sequins, feathers—items he finds at flea markets,

Anne Wilson Artist Anne Wilson, who returned to Cranbrook Art Academy in March as a visiting lecturer, was born in Detroit in 1949, received her BFA from Cranbrook Art Academy and is now based in Chicago. She is a visual artist who creates sculpture, drawings, Internet projects, and DVDstop motion animation that explore themes of time, loss, private and social rituals. She uses found materials, such as table linen, bed sheets, human hair, lace, thread, glass and wire, that are familiar and rich with cultural meanings. Her work extends the traditional processes of fiber art, which includes techniques such as stitching, crocheting and knitting, to other, more cutting-edge media.

“My work evolves in a conceptual space where social and political ideas encounter the material processes of handwork and industry, where the organization of fields and the objects they help generate is constantly subverted by the swarming, anarchic energy of the objects themselves,” Wilson said. “Extrapolating from personal subjective rituals to observations of larger systems within the built environment, I investigate the micro- and macrocosms of networks and matrices through weave, stitch, crotchet, knot, net, animation, and sound. Using pixilation and projection, I dematerialize and re-animate work that began on the border between drawing and object making, and remains liminal in whatever new medium it enters.

My source materials—hair, linen, lace, pins, wire, glass and thread—are the props of both domestic culture and larger social systems. I join together the points where these systems overlap, and where issues of sexuality and decorum, vitality and death construct meaningful relationships, and find release.”

In 2002, Wilson’s series Topologies was part of the Whitney Museum of American Art’s Biennial exhibition. Topologies is an expansive network of found black lace deconstructed to create large horizontal topographies, which are inspired by forms of physical and electronic networks, city structures, immateriality, biology and urban sprawl.

Her work is included in the collections of 21st Century Museum of Contemporary Art in Japan, Victoria & Albert Museum in London, The Metropolitan Museum of Art; Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago; The Art Institute of Chicago; The M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, Detroit Institute of Art; Cranbrook Art Museum; and Maxine and Stuart Frankel Foundation of Art, Bloomfield Hills.

These are just some of the talented artists who have come and studied in our midst. Some have arrived and stayed, sharing the magic that is Cranbrook to newer generations. Others sample our world, and head out into the sphere beyond, touched by the magic that can only be found here, that was originated in the mind of a man named George Booth.

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EDUCATION Two options for one high school After four months of intense work, Fielding Nair International, a planning and architectural design firm for educational facilities hired by the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education, presented their final recommendations for what Bloomfield Hills schools should do with their high schools at the board of education meeting Thursday, Mar. 3.

Emphasizing their 300-page report signals a “new beginning for the Bloomfield Hills community,” they recommended two options for solving the high school conundrum, both based on one combined high school on the Andover High School campus. One solution is a phased-in hybrid of remodeling and new construction on the Andover site; the other is for a completely new building at Andover.

“We found that the consolidation options are far and away the best options available. We are confident that both options C and D can be designed so that the current benefits of smallness are increased and not diluted,” architects Prakash Nair and Randy Fielding said in the report.

“Upgrading its schools is possibly the best long-term investment that Bloomfield Hills can make, and for the price, it is hard to dispute that this is also an excellent value for the money.”

All leadership committee members, tasked with providing advice to superintendent Rob Glass on the report, supported the phased-in hybrid of remodeling and new construction at Andover. The committee was composed of seven community members, six Bloomfield Hills Schools staff members, and one board of education member.

Since the firm presented the draft report in January, the matrix was changed a dozen times based on community feedback and discussions with the leadership group, reflecting “a multitude of spirited and rigorous discussions and input,” according to the report. The two recommendations rose to the top in the firm's analysis from five options, based on their relative strengths and weaknesses as scored in a 14-criteria matrix. The criteria reflect the key issues that the firm heard from the community during workshops, focus groups, fireside chats, surveys, emails and phone calls, as well as the firm’s professional judgment and expertise.

Estimated costs are pegged at $71.6 to $74.4 million. Costs to drop the school and completely rebuild are estimated at $83.8 to $86.6 million.

Other options presented were to do minimal work at both schools, which downtownpublications.com

FAMILY-FRIENDLY EYE CARE SPECIALISTS RIGHT IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD would still cost $46.5 to $50 million; to renovate both Andover and Lahser high schools, with costs at $82 to $85.8 million; and a hybrid of renovation and new construction at each school, where costs likely would be $87.7 to $91.1 million.

Additionally, a review by public accounting firm Plante Moran validated the district’s previous operational cost analysis of combining Andover and Lahser on one site, showing that at least $2.3 million would be saved annually. Plante Moran reviewed the district’s assumptions, tested the accuracy of the applied costs, and recomputed the result.

“This study is a good study, backed by facts,” said Plante Moran governmental accounting unit partner Carl Johnson.

The report suggests that the district request a bond in November 2012 to complete the high school project in phase two, giving the community and board sufficient time to present an informed dialogue about the future to the community.

“For the first time in many years, the board will be able to move forward with a fiscally prudent plan, one that is completely defensible, fully supported by the facts on the ground and endorsed by those eager to act after so many years of doing nothing,” the report said.

The district has put the entire report and an executive summary online at www.bloomfield.org/component/conten t/article/780.

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Teachers contract ratified by board Birmingham Public Schools teachers, who have been working this year without a contract, had their 20102011 teachers' contract ratified at the March 1 board of education meeting.

According to Marcia Wilkinson, Birmingham Public Schools Community Relations Director, the Birmingham Education Association (BEA), the union representing the teachers, agreed to a waiver in their regularly scheduled raise in salary for the 2010-2011 school year in exchange for a one percent onetime only increase in salary for this school year, she said. This increase will not carry over into the next year, and is retroactive to July 1, 2010.

After significant wrangling, the other main change in the contract was an agreement by the teachers to get rid of their sick bank, instead going for an employee-paid short term disability program.

The sick bank allowed teachers to save sick days. The short term disability program provides time off as necessary for illness.

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Chris Sexson hris Sexson, publisher of the Detroit Metro Times, rose to the current height of his career with an unwavering conviction that propelled him from a media sales executive to the head of a wildly popular alternative news publication.

Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, he worked in sales at the Dayton Voice-CityPaper for seven years before transferring to the San Antonio Current, where he earned the title of publisher. “About two and a half years ago, I had the opportunity to come to Detroit, so I moved my family up north.”

With his wife and two children, he settled in as a Birmingham resident and began his tenure with the Metro Times.

Although the economic climate has created obstacles for many media outlets, Sexson said that the Metro Times has increased in revenue over the last year. Distributed in 2,000 locations across southeastern Michigan, the Metro Times has a monthly circulation of 657,000 readers. “From Ann Arbor to Mt. Clemens and everywhere in between,” he said, “We have a large footprint.”

Often provocative in content, the Metro Times is fearless in covering topics that traditional media are hesitant to tackle. In past years, they have taken a firm stance on the topic of medicinal marijuana and plan to continue the discussion into 2011.

“It’s legal in our state now and we’ve always advocated for a noncensored approach. It’s a big part of the Michigan community now, and it’s something that is rapidly growing and evolving.” The publication also takes

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on politics and social topics with a fortitude few papers would attempt.

“We don’t compromise,” he said. “When we tell a story, we shine a light when things need to be seen and give a voice to those not being heard. We’re out to change communities and we don’t compromise journalistic integrity for ad dollars.”

Sexson focuses on the financial side of the paper and entrusts his editor with the editorial content for the Metro Times.

“It’s not my place to dive in and I don’t manage that with a heavy hand,” Sexson said. “I work with an editor who has the ability to do that.”

Sexson emphasizes the importance of maintaining a firm line between the sales and editorial departments, but gains professional satisfaction in the ability to publish stories that offer support to those most in need.

Having made his way up the media chain through hard work and tenacity, he remains a family man who chose to live in the Birmingham area for the “phenomenal” school districts that have helped his own children progress and the city's walkability.

“My son has done video game reviews for us and he’s quite an accomplished writer,” said Sexson. “My daughter, on the other hand, is a gifted musician.”

While Sexson is eager to lead the Metro Times through another prosperous year, he has never lost sight of his personal goals.

“I want to stay humble and grow,” he said. “Maybe retire to a beach one day and continue to be a good husband, father and friend.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Branko Arsov

To Our Customers, Neighbors and Friends: The dramatic changes taking place in the real estate industry and economy these days are historic in scope and proportion. And as you may know SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty is one of the most respected and successful brokerages in the metro-Detroit area.

You may be asking yourself, "What does this mean for me as a SKBK Sotheby’s customer?"

The answer simply is - it's business as usual. That's because perhaps never before in our company's 90-year history has SKBK Sotheby’s enjoyed a greater reputation for strength, security, financial discipline, and doing what's right for the customer than it does today.

The community trusts us with its business and continues to give us even more of it – last year we had 55 percent increase in sales volume – that beats the market averages by nearly 15 percent. We're attracting more customers and earning more business from our current customers like you because many of our customers rave about us to their families, friends and business associates. We're known and admired for our conservative diligent approach and time-tested business model, and it succeeds because you trust us to do what's right for you, the customer.

We still focus, as always, on what got us here - building lifelong relationships with our customers and communities. Our team works hard to know you, understand your complete real estate picture, listen to you, provide you value and reward you for doing even more business with us. We put you at the center of everything we do. And we work together to decide locally how we can help support the communities in which you - and we - live and work.

Thank you for entrusting us with your business!

Douglas H. Hardy, MD Chairman SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty April 2011

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

Birmingham, Michigan 248.644.7000 | skbk.com “Selling distinction Since 1932�

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

Enjoy the summer in a luxurious lakefront property! Exclusive custom residences on Lower Long Lake and Upper Straits Lake.

Trust experienced agents in this challenging real estate market.

Let my 30 years plus of real estate experience and SKBK Sotheby's unsurpassed marketing tools and resources be the source for your perfect waterfront home.

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Ronni Keating rkeating@skbk.com

248.644.7000

B A. Upper Straits Lake Frontage - Private Upper Straits Lake features all sports lake with no public access. Custom designed home on the highest elevation on the lake! Spectacular landscaping with three stone patios and walkways to water. Four bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 210103249. $3,900,000. B. Lower Long Lake Frontage - Spectacular setting on Lower Long Lake! Country French Estate featuring walk out lower level to private landscaped pool area with brick deck and walkways. Six bedrooms with 6.2 baths. 210033030. $2,850,000.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

Leadership — For continued growth & success, every business, industry and community must have leaders who can see change that is needed, organize resources, and engage those around them. SKBK Sotheby's encourages their agents to be involved with the local, state and national association. Giving our agents the competitive edge in the marketplace.

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Sara Lipnitz slipnitz@skbk.com

248.644.7000

B

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A. Birmingham - This Longe designed and Derocher built home boasts a fabulous kitchen, enormous 1st floor master suite with spa bath. An amazing finished lower level. Five bedrooms with 4.3 baths. 210116511. $3,400,000. B. Bloomfield - Rebuilt in 1990, stylish Contemporary tucked away from the road on two acres of beautifully manicured grounds.

Over 5600 sq ft, perfect for entertaining. Three bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 210098519 $1,500,000. C. Bloomfield - Exceptionally maintained Bloomfield Village home on deep private lot. Professionally landscaped and offers great patio area with a true outdoor kitchen. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 211011752 $459,900.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

The recipe for a very successful real estate experience includes: • Knowledge • Experience • Results oriented mind-set • Affiliation with the world’s most recognized luxury brand

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We have over 55 years combined experience and each hold an Associate Broker license, CRS and SFR certifications. We would be delighted to provide all of the necessary ingredients to create a positive result for you!

Mike Cotter

Paula Law

mcotter@skbk.com

plaw@skbk.com

248.644.7000

248.644.7000

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A. Oxford - This architecturally significant custom Contemporary home set upon a magnificent 20 acre estate site! Fabulous views, great privacy and beautifully landscaped grounds! Located in the heart of Metamora's "Hunt Country.’ 210119538. $1,350,000. B. Troy - Set on over 3/4 acre manicured site. Beautiful views from master, great room, sun room and Kitchen! Gourmet kitchen and 1st floor master. Gorgeous finished walk-out with second kitchen. Bloomfield Hills Schools. Five bedrooms with 4.3 baths. 210086679 $1,150,000. C. Oakland Twp. - Beautiful island kitchen with Lafata cherry cabinets, granite counters and Jenn Air appliances. Finished walkout with English Pub, billiard and game areas. Four bedrooms with 2.2 baths. 211012424 $445,000.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

Current market sales for 2011 demonstrate a strong demand for high quality homes in the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities.

When looking for an agent, a local expert can make all the difference.

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Now more than ever experience the difference between an Agent and an Expert.

Renee Acho renee@skbk.com

248.644.7000

B

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A. Birmingham - Sophisticated Condo Alternative. Stunning, in town soft contemporary home features custom finishes and hardwood floors. Upper level features two master suites. Finished walkout lower level. Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 210144828. $1,225,000. B. Birmingham - Spectacular home sits on one of Birmingham’s most desirable neighborhoods. Designed by Wallace Frost and Built by Albert Kahn. Living room with fireplace. Private fenced yard with beautiful perennial garden! Five bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 211019156 $989,000. C. Birmingham - Turn Key home boasts elegant eat in kitchen with white cabinets and granite counters open to a stylish family room leading to patio and sun porch. Three bedrooms with 2.2 baths. 211021131. $469,000.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

The Michigan real estate market continues to show signs of improvement. Now more than ever it is in your best interest to seek the advice of a real estate professional that is on top of the market trends. If you are considering a real estate transaction in the near future I would be happy to share my market knowledge with you and help you make the best decision for your circumstances.

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Cindy Obron Kahn ckahn@skbk.com

248.644.7000

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A. Birmingham - Stately Elegance in Downtown Birmingham by Architect Christopher Longe. Gourmet kitchen opens to family room. Lovely in law suite. Fenced double lot. Six bedrooms with 6.3 baths. 211027715. $1,595,000. B. Birmingham - Landmark Birmingham home! This lovely 1928 Colonial has beautiful original details from top to bottom including wood paneled foyer with beautiful staircase, gorgeous solarium, beautiful wide plank flooring. Seven Bedrooms with 5.2 baths. 211029207. $899,000. C. Franklin Village - Fabulous opportunity! Newer construction located on a beautiful ½ acre cul-de-sac lot in Franklin. Two story foyer, wood floors throughout, cherry granite kitchen with island. Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 211029152. $525,000.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

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The Sotheby’s Realty Mobile application (SIR Mobile) allows consumers to view properties based on GPS location, address, city or zipcode. The application displays detailed property information including price, bed/baths, taxes, estimated mortgage, features, maps, high-quality photos and more. When you’re ready to see a property hit the “call” feature and you’ll be immediately connected to a Sotheby’s International Realty sales associate. Go to Sothebysrealty.com to download the app.

Erin Keating Dewald ekeating@skbk.com

248.644.7000

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A. Birmingham - Uncompromising quality in this newer construction. Close to park and downtown. Builders own home with focus to detail and finishes! Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210066068 $499,000. B. Birmingham - Charming house in heart of Birmingham. Hardwood floors throughout. Updated kitchen. Fireplace in family room. Original woodwork.

Three bedrooms with 1.1 baths. 211023649 $259,900. C. Royal Oak - Newer construction! Fabulous layout with custom kitchen. Finished basement with an additional 1,000 plus sq. ft. Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths 211009177 $279,000.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

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I am very pleased to report that we are experiencing renewed interest in Lakefront and Country Estates. Market conditions are improving in regards to reduced inventory, and increased customer traffic to Sotheby's International and local Internet sites. Showings and sales are up in Hunt Country (Metamora) as well as in Northern Oakland County.

Prices remain at historically low levels offering the qualified buyer exceptional properties at significantly reduced prices. Prices that we may not see again in our lifetime. Looking for that Gentleman's Farm or that very special Lakefront property, now is the time to act. Make an appointment to discuss and explore the wonderful properties available for purchase.

Dave Busch dbusch@skbk.com

248.644.7000

B A. Lake Oakland Frontage - Spectacular Colonial! Built in 2002 with the finest materials. Two designer kitchens with high end appliances. Clarkston Schools. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 210047461. $999,000. B. Metamora Township. - Beautiful Colonial on ten acres. Four Masonary fireplaces and chef's kitchen. Harwood floors and California Closets. Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 211014926 $624,900.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

Providing home buyers and sellers with information and guidance in an honest and intelligent manner has been the foundation of what I do for over twenty five years.

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With expertise acquired from selling over the entire metro area coupled with a strong emphasis in the communities along the Woodward Corridor; and backed up by our time-tested business model here at SKBK Sotheby's, you will be secure in the decisions you make.

Outstanding advertising, the latest in internet communication, association with all the major relocation companies and association with a company that is growing exponentially are some of the benefits your will receive when you work with SKBK Sotheby's.

Jim Casey jcasey@skbk.com

248.644.7000

B A. Bloomfield - Enjoy all the amenities of The Hills of Lone Pine in this beautiful updated home. New entry foyer, powder room, kitchen appliances and window blinds throughout.

Walk out lower level with full kitchen, bath, bedroom and recreation/theatre room. Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 210117634. $679,000. B. Royal Oak - Come in and put your decorating touches on this beautiful home. All the expensive updates have been done; new roof, drive, windows, two new furnaces and air condition units, kitchen appliances and updated baths. First floor master. Four bedrooms with three baths. 211012491. $299,900.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

April is here and the hunt is on for the perfect Lake Property.

Why spend your time driving back and forth to Northern Michigan when you have some of the most beautiful Lakes in Oakland. You can live the Lakefront Lifestyle year-round. Let me help you find your Dream Property or sell your Lakefront Home. Offering a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.

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Lee Embrey lembrey@skbk.com

248.644.7000

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A. Lake Angelus Frontage - Fabulous newer construction on all sports Lake Angelus. Breathtaking views from every room this South facing transitional home. Over 9800 sq. ft. of living space. Four bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 211010061. $1,795,000. B. Lake Angelus Frontage - Fabulous Sunsets from this beautiful Lake Angelus Estate with over 150' of lake frontage. Guest house. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 211010071 $1,499,900. C. Lake Angelus Frontage - Over 3,100 sq ft on 6.26 acres with 140' of Lake Angelus frontage and an additional 1,400 sq. ft in finished lower. Horse barn, Pole barn, Tack room, fences and corrals. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 211010079. $1,198,000.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

According to the National Association of Realtors – 90% of all home buyers utilize the Internet to find their homes. Therefore it is essential to not only be on the internet but stand out as the source of information for those seeking homes.

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Sothebysrealty.com is a destination website throughout the world.

Michelle Yurich myurich@skbk.com

248.644.7000

A. Orchard Lake Frontage - Lakefront Estate in Private Gated Community of North Bay. Over 13,000 sq. ft. of living space. Three levels with Magnificent Views of Orchard Lake.

Gourmet kitchen with additional back kitchen, lower level kitchen, three story Atrium, wine cellar, sauna. Expansive ceilings, Pella windows and decks frame the lakeside. 135 ft. of lake frontage with a panoramic views. Beautiful pool, decks and landscaping. 211027375. $4,250,000.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

Did you know?

When you sell, you can be exempt and not pay the State portion of transfer tax on your primary residence if the SEV and TAXABLE VALUE is less than when you purchased your home.

SOUTHERN MICHIGAN’S MOST UNIQUE PROPERTY!

Bev McCotter

Bill Vandercook

bmccotter@skbk.com

bvandercook@skbk.com

248.644.7000

248.644.7000

Approximately 2,000 Contiguous Acres - Including a 100 acre lake Additional adjoining 595 acres also available for close to 2600 acres

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B A. Upper Straits Lake Frontage - Fabulous site of ten plus acres. Can be divided as Lakefront Estate size home or one site of Pristine acreage. Colonial with three bedroom and 3.1 baths. 210137481. $8,000,000. Ronni Keating. B. Birmingham - Grand new construction. Spacious room sizes, over 5,200 sq ft and 1400 additional sq ft in finished lower level.

Kitchen is a cooks delight with dual Wolf ovens and sub zero refrigerators. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 29117427. $2,290,000. Mike Cotter

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

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B A. Franklin Village - Spectacular home situated on almost two acres. Entrance into the 2 1/2 story great room abounds with light and true beauty of workmanship in moldings and beautiful Brazilian cherry floors. Six bedrooms with 5.2 baths. 210099347. $1,695,000. Donna Barlow. B. Bloomfield Village - Captivating interior renovation! This reconfigured floor plan is absolutely perfect. French doors lead guests from interior living spaces to beautiful brick terrace and yard. Expansive finished lower level. Five bedrooms with 4.3 baths.

210137579. $1,595,000. Darlene Jackson.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

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B A. Oakland Township - For individuals use to the very best, a fantastic opportunity to put your finishing touches on this spectacular French Normandy home with over 14,000 sq ft of living space on four acres. Four bedrooms with 5.3 baths. 210125581. $5,900,000. Jim Casey. B. Metamora - Custom Country French home on 20 acres in the Heart of The Hunt.

High end finishes and four Masonry fireplaces. First floor master suite. New custom carriage house. Stocked Trout pond. Four bedrooms with 4. 2 baths. 210075413. $1,199,000. Dave Busch.

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

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Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

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Delightful and Bright FARMINGTON HILLS Nice flowing layout with good size living, family and dining room.

Refinished hardwood floors. Newer baths, one with a jetted tub. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210117614. $235,000. Bob Thom

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP Liquor licenses for South, Hamilton Room renewed

By Lisa Brody

The Birmingham City Commission renewed the Class C liquor licenses for 2011 for South, at 210 S. Old Woodward, and Hamilton Room, at 201 Hamilton Row, following public hearings at the Monday, Mar. 21 commission meetings.

The establishments were requested to come before the commission following concern by commissioners over the high number of police calls at each place in the last year.

Birmingham's city staff is required to conduct annual inspections on establishments with liquor licenses. If the commission had voted to rescind either liquor license, city attorney Tim Currier said the state liquor control commission takes that as advisory.

“There is great deference in almost all South on Old Woodward occasions to cities,” he said.

Attorney Kelly Allen, representing both South and Hamilton Room, noted in her statements to the commission that neither place had any Michigan liquor license violations nor any city ordinance violations. “South is in the downtown area, so it doesn't affect any of the neighborhoods. It's 30 percent food, 70 percent alcohol, but alcohol costs more. While you may want it to be 60 percent food, 40 percent alcohol, it is not in any Birmingham ordinance that says there has to be any food/alcohol ratio,”Allen said. “South was approved not long ago for this concept. They have invested millions and millions of dollars. They are constantly improving their menu, working to improve their demographics, to appeal to an older crowd, to families, and have kid-oriented events. They have a zero tolerance for misbehavior. They are doing the best they can. Steve Puertas and Joe Spadafore (owners) are working very well with the police. They have a capacity of 600 people, with several turnovers over a weekend. There were seven real incidents in 2010, three in 2011.

Things can happen outside; some they don't even know about.”

Commissioner Mark Nickita disagreed. “You opened in June, 2010, and I see 100 contacts for six months. In theory, that's 200 a year. Also, there are hundreds of residential units in the Merrillwood Building, only 150 yards away.

That's a bit of an issue.”

“I'm concerned about a pattern,” said commissioner Rackeline Hoff. “Money is a big issue in Birmingham. If our police department is going to be taxed by one or two establishments, they're not doing it because they have free time. It's costing the city money to control the altercations. Mr. Esshaki (the landowner) was before us with a proposal for a Entrance to the Hamilton Room previous establishment and it was not approved. We did not approve a nightclub. I did not know there was going to be a dance club in the back. I'm not sure this is a concept we want in Birmingham.”

Puertas emphasized that he did not want to be a burden to the city, and was willing to do whatever it took to rework his business plan, valet arrangement, and demographic mix in order to comply with the commission and police department. The commission unanimously awarded him with a renewed license, warning him that further police calls with assaults and disorderly conducts would put it in jeopardy for next year.

“If the majority of Birmingham does not feel invited, ultimately it will not work, because it is the neighborhood, which is the full 4.2 miles of Birmingham,” said commissioner Scott Moore.

Hamilton Room owner Jason Hegedus came under attack from all seven commissioners, and he reacted more indignant than compliant.

“One hundred seventy two police calls— that freaks people out. 'That's where the bad boys go.' That's not true. The calls that resonate are very few that are fights. There were only 12 noteworthy incidents, when we've had 50,000 people coming through. We don't want the person who is going to come in and have disruptive behavior. We've had no sales to minors, no ordinance violations. We've found that with the police calls, all are handled by Hamilton Room security, all are outside the Hamilton Room, and the police can see them by their video cameras,” said Hegedus. “Believe me, we have a zero tolerance for this kind of behavior; we don't want it. We have a dress code. We've hired a new security company in the last week. We meet with the police as often as they or we like. I like the police walking through. It's a great preventive measure. But we do not want to change our concept. This is what our space was built for.”

He said in order to disperse potentially raucous crowds, they are going to move last call earlier, to 1:30, and turn down the music. “It will stagger people leaving over a half hour.”

Commissioner Stuart Sherman challenged Hegedus' figures. “Ms. Allen said a few incidents were verbal. You said five. I've counted more. They've all been physical. Recently, one personal pulled a knife on security personnel. It's more than physical. Since the first of this year, they've increased. At the last hearing, you said you were going to improve things. Yet you've had more, and worse, incidents.”

Hegedus said he disagreed, at which point the commissioners were willing to go line by line over the police incidents, and Allen jumped in to avoid bringing them up.

Sherman asked Hegedus what was wrong with his business model, and Allen responded that it was probably the demographics of the club.

“We have an obligation to make Birmingham a safe city. You really haven't addressed a business model. You're not licensed for entertainment, we know the food aspect is dismal. You're not a bar. I really don't know what you are,” said commissioner Scott Moore.

“Our job is the health, welfare and safety of the citizens of Birmingham, and at some point our interests are going to be different. We want you to be a thriving business, but you've ignored this commission, this community, and our committees.”

A number of friends and business partners spoke up during the public hearing, noting what good people the owners are, how committed they are to the community, how philanthropic they have been and how many events there have been at Hamilton Room. Pam Stoller, a resident and realtor, said that it is an important venue for visitors so they see Birmingham has a vibrant nightlife. “We do not have places for our kids and older people to go. Then they will not want to be here.”

Many commissioners backtracked. Commissioner Tom McDaniels said, “It was new to me the number of charity events at the Hamilton Room, and I do not think we can overlook that, as well as the tax dollars they generate. I think we need to give them a second chance.”

The commissioners approved the renewal 6-1, with Hoff dissenting.

Hoff said, “We live in Birmingham for all of the same reasons you do. We support the same things. But that's not why we're here. We're here because of the incidents, which occurred as recently as Mar. 7, and no one is addressing that. Yes, they're good people. But that's besides the point. To say we're trying to run people out of town is irresponsible.”

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Vendor ordinance requested

By Lisa Brody

Cable producers to share revenue Cable television program producers will be forced to share revenues with the local community cable television department following changes approved by Bloomfield Township trustees on Monday, Mar. 14 for the policy and procedures manual for Bloomfield Cable TV. Township Community Relations Director Leslie Helwig called the manual “what we live by,” and said that at times it needs to update it to reflect the times.

The policy now reads that any producer who receives income from a program that is produced at BCTV will be asked to share 20 percent of that gross income with BCTV. At issue is a Bloomfield Township resident who is producing “Five Star Cooking,” which is currently running on local cable. He is interested in perhaps reselling the show to other venues. Helwig noted that the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce is producing a show featuring its member businesses, charging those members to participate.

“Now that this is approved, I will work with the Chamber to recover 20 percent of those fees,” said Helwig.

BCTV is a department within the township. It is a community access studio funded by franchise fees and PEG fees (public, education and government funds) paid by the cable provider to the township. Bloomfield Township is serviced by both Comcast and AT&T cable companies.

“We do more than any other community access studio in the state,” Helwig said. “We have very active producers who come up with very quality productions.”

BCTV can be accessed on Comcast channel 15 in Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, and channel 18 in Birmingham. They also have a contract with Birmingham Area Cable Board, representing Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin, to provide programming for their two stations.

Play Birmingham plan approved A new concept in food, entertainment and recreation in Birmingham was approved by the city's planning board on Wednesday, Mar. 23.

Play Birmingham, proposed for 270 N. Old Woodward in the former Buca di Beppo and Arhaus Furniture locations, will offer a restaurant, bowling, interactive video games, billiards, golf simulator, basketball, a bar and candy shop, all under one roof. The planning board approved it by a 5-1 vote, recommending it proceed to the city commission for review and approval.

Planning board member Carroll DeWeese was absent, and member Janelle Boyce voted against the plan.

Play Birmingham is to be owned by the Dali Group, owners of Chen Chow, Hamilton Room, and the former restaurant Quattro, which closed this week to undergo a renovation and reopen in May as Barrio, a Mexicanthemed restaurant.

The Play Birmingham complex would feature a restaurant, candy and pastry shop in the former Buca di Beppo restaurant on N. Old Woodward, next to Chen Chow. Downstairs and in a part of the former furniture store location there would be an eight-lane bowling alley, bar area, four pool tables and interactive games, including electronic golf, darts, basketball. They are also looking into the possibility of karaoke. The two levels are proposed to be connected by stairs and a slide for young children.

The Dali Group submitted a business operations overview to the city's planning commission and a report entitled “Hours of Operation & Customer Projection” to answer questions the city had. The proposed hours of the Play Sweet Shop, a retail store on Hamilton, would be 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, with it open until midnight Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The proposed hours for Play Birmingham, which include the restaurant, bowling alley and games area, are to be 11 a.m. to midnight Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday. After 9 each night, the establishment will only be open to 21 and over, and families with children under 21 accompanied by an adult. By city ordinance, the bowling alley and billiards area would have to close at midnight nightly.

For better crowd control, the Hamilton Row entrance would be closed late at night, alleviating congestion from the Palladium movie theater.

irmingham city commissioners are scheduled discuss on Monday, April 11, the newly revised vendor, peddler and solicitor ordinance from the clerk's office and planning division, after a recent update on the ordinance indicated that the planning board and Birmingham's Principal Shopping District (PSD) had both recommended against moving forward this year on having stationary or movable vendors in parks or alleyways in the city.

Commissioners said the planning board and PSD were advisory boards, “and we make the decisions,” said mayor Gordon Rinschler.

City clerk Laura Broski presented an update on the ordinance during staff reports at a February meeting without the inclusion of stationary or movable vendors in parks or alleyways. There have been requests for ice cream trucks in neighborhoods, and the new ordinance addresses this and other solicitation and vendors.

Birmingham's current peddlers and vendors ordinance was last approved on April 4, 1997. It prohibits peddling or vendors without a permit from the city, acknowledges parent organizations at school events, special events which crop up in the city periodically, and vending at school or other athletic events in city parks as permissible.

Newspaper delivery persons, salespeople conducting normal business, and persons traveling on an established route are exempt from the vendor ordinance.

What had been considered in the last six months was amending the ordinance to allow food carts, artisans, merchants and other service vendors to set up shop on some of Birmingham's streets, parks and alleyways. A couple of businessmen have approached city hall with requests to set up shop in Birmingham with carts to sell food and market items. Planning director Jana Ecker recommended four locations for vendors in the first year of the new ordinance, at Shain and Booth parks, in front of the Pierce Street parking structure, and at the alleyway between Tokyo Sushi and Jos. A Banks menswear.

“The thought is to try to activate the streets, alleyways, and passageways a little more,” Ecker said in November to the PSD board of directors, who were more concerned about the effect it would have on existing businesses, and the ripple effect on businesses struggling during the economy.

At their November board meeting, the PSD board voted against the idea of allowing vendors to set up carts to sell food and market items, siting it as a conflict with retailers and restaurants who had invested in the city, paying rent and taxes, spending money for buildout costs, marketing and advertising their businesses 12 months out of the year, not just during fair weather months.

On Feb. 9, the ordinance was presented to Birmingham's planning board, which had a mixed reaction, ultimately determining there was insufficient consensus among the planning board members to send a motion on the vendor ordinance to the city commission.

Planning board chair Robin Boyle agreed. “I thought as a piece of municipal policy, it was a mess,” he said of the ordinance. “It was covering a lot of different objectives, and trying to do way too much. As for the goal of enlivening the alleyways and passageways, that is something we want to do. The vendor issue has, in my opinion, gotten way out of control.”

Boyle said he has seen vendor ordinances enacted in many other communities. “I'm not in favor of it. I've seen it operated badly elsewhere. It does not belong in Birmingham.”

However, the commissioners appear to disagree. “If I want to eat a hot dog in Shain Park, who's to tell me I can't? I don't want to have to go to Brooklyn (Pizza on Henrietta Street) and buy a piece of pizza and bring it into the park. I want to have hot dog vendors in the park,” said commissioner Tom McDaniels.

“Let's enter slowly, just at Shain Park. Get rid of the other locations. I want to say we're going to look at this, and do it slowly, like we did with the bistros, one at a time, and then look at how they're working, and go from there,” said commissioner Stuart Sherman.

Both Broski and Ecker said they would revise the ordinance per commissioners request and present it at a future commission meeting.

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Bloomfield Hills library talks Interest in having a relationship with Baldwin Library in Birmingham appears high among Bloomfield Hills residents following a request to respond to inquiries on the city's website, and the city commission has encouraged Bloomfield Hills City Manager Jay Cravens to continue having discussions with Baldwin Library Director Doug Koschik.

At the Tuesday, Mar. 8 commission meeting, commissioners told Cravens to set up further meetings with Koschek and his committee to see about negotiations for a contract with the library, based on 68 comments from subscribers to the city's website.

Cravens said a significant number were supportive of having further discussions with Baldwin. There were only a few negative comments, most that were concerned about tax increases or the ability to obtain information just as easily from the Internet.

Cravens said that Koschek has contacted him about setting additional meetings to discuss a possible library services agreement.

“We would like to serve Bloomfield Hills on a contractual basis, the same as we do with Beverly Hills and Bingham Farms, not providing library cards for individuals,” Kosckik said in January.

Bloomfield Hills' residents have been without a library for seven years, when access to Bloomfield Township Library was severed over financial disagreements. Residents have been utilizing Troy's library for the last several years but that library is scheduled to close in the near future due to the city's financial problems. In November, city residents voted, 60 percent to 40 percent, against a proposal to redevelop a contract with Bloomfield Township Library and create an independent library board.

Cravens said he did not yet know how a contract for library services with Baldwin would be funded because Bloomfield Hills currently has a budget shortfall. Preliminary talks with the library indicated that it would cost .3 mill under the current formula, equalling a total of $223,000 for the city, divided by 1,600 households, meaning each household would pay approximately $140 per year for library usage. “We'd probably

Cosi should still be on the corner

By Lisa Brody

he rumor mill has been churning for months that there will be a significant vacancy in Birmingham come late summer at the corner of Maple and Old Woodward but when confronted directly, the manager of Cosi adamantly denies that, after 10 years in Birmingham, Cosi will be vacating their signature site and leaving town, and it would appear lease renewal talks are nearly complete.

Karen Cholak, general manager in training for Cosi, has been with the company longer than it's been in town, and opened the Birmingham location. “We're negotiating the lease right now. We have wonderful landlords, Arnold and Peter Sobelton, and despite every customer asking us, we are not leaving,” she told Downtown.

She said Cosi's lease actually ended in Dec. 2010, and they technically have until Aug. 6, 2011 to either finalize a new lease or to vacate the property. But she noted that there is no “for lease” sign on the building, and the property has not been listed in any real estate books.

Peter Sobelton confirmed they are working with Cosi on finalizing details of the lease. “We are still proceeding with Cosi in negotiations and hope to be at a mutual understanding in the next couple of weeks. It's looking very good and hopefully Cosi will be around for many, many years.”

Once the location's lease is resigned, Cholak said that Cosi intends to renovate the location, and spend at least $250,000 to $300,000 on updating and freshening up the restaurant. “It's very, very clean, but it's 10 years old,” she said. The restaurant would not close, with all renovation work being done at night. One new feature that Birmingham would add, that other Cosi locations offer, is that customers order, pay, and then have their orders brought to the table for them.

Cholak did say that business conditions have changed in Birmingham since they first signed their lease, with many more restaurants and sandwich shops in direct competition, and they are seeking a rent reduction. She did not specify how much Cosi was seeking.

“Ten years ago, we had a staff of 72, with table service in the evenings.

Now we have a staff of 28, and I could not afford to pay the waitresses.

We're down to two managers. But the best part of our location is that we know our customers. We're friendly, and we support the other businesses in Birmingham,” Cholak said.

T

have to go for a millage increase or more cuts,” he said. “We're pretty close to the bone.”

The city does not need to go to residents in order to increase the millage. “We're at 9.05 mills, and the max is 14.5 mills,” Cravens said, “but I think because of our history with the Bloomfield Township library, a

separate segregated millage, where people would know what they are paying for, would be best.”

Telegraph work restarts mid-April Due to unforeseen problems which occurred during the Telegraph Road

Candidates profiled on website he four candidates running for the Bloomfield Hills City Commission will be profiled on the website for Downtown beginning Friday, April 1.

Current Mayor Mike McCready, commissioners Pat Hardy and Michael Zambricki, and planning board member Connie Salloum are running for the three commission seats. Zambricki has been a member of the city commission since 1989; Hardy, since 2003; and McCready, since 2007.

Candidates have been asked by Downtown to respond to a number of questions on issues facing the city and their responses will appear at www.downtownpublications.com just prior to absentee ballots being made available for the city election. According to city clerk Amy Burton, absentee ballots will be sent out to residents on Tuesday, April 5.

Candidate responses to questions from Downtown will remain on the publication's website until the Tuesday, may 3 election.

T

construction project last year, northbound Telegraph between 12 Mile and Maple roads will be rebuilt this spring and summer.

According to Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) spokesman Rob Morosi, construction will begin sometime in April, likely in mid-April. “We will be rebuilding the pavement, putting in new storm sewers, and doing other utility upgrades,” he said. The road will remain open to traffic at all times, though with limited traffic patterns.

“The first thing the crews will do is they will construct a temporary driving lane, so that when we begin construction, we can work on two lanes and still have traffic in two lanes during peak traffic times,” Morosi said. During late night hours, traffic often may be reduced to one lane.

Southbound traffic in the area will be open, as work was completed last construction season.

Road work had to be continued this year because MDOT encountered a significant problem which will set back part of this leg of the road construction project. When digging in the median between 13 and 14 Mile roads on Telegraph, they discovered a sanitary sewer, built in 1978, which was in a location significantly different than what they had been informed.

Dick's Sporting Goods sign okayed Dick's Sporting Goods, a chain of sporting and fitness-oriented stores out of Binghamton, NY, received approval from Bloomfield Township trustees on Monday, March 14, for a sign variance for a new store proposed for Bloomfield Town Square Shopping Center, on Telegraph Road north of Square Lake Road, and the landlord also received approval to demolish part of the center to make way for the new store.

The property owner for the shopping center, Acadia Realty Trust, requested permission from the trustees to demolish two northerly tenants so that Dick's Sporting Goods can expand its footprint. The property is zoned B-2 community business, and trustees found the retail use consistent with the zoning.

The other request was for a variance for a larger sign for the store than current zoning allows.

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Township board approves budget Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved a proposed budget for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2012 at their Feb. 28 board of trustees meeting.

The township's fiscal year runs April 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012.

Township supervisor David Payne said he is very pleased they were able to get the budget to balance, because when a first budget was presented in Dec. 2010 to the board, it was in deficit. There is now projected excess revenue of $78,689. He said they were able to get it to balance by “reprioritizing certain things, and cutting back on other projects.” They also received very good news relative to the township health care plan, which they instituted approximately a yearand-a-half ago from a traditional plan to a health reimbursement plan (HRA).

“We've decreased our health plan costs by about $500,000, decreasing expenses, making it better, lowering costs, educating our employees, and basically self-funding our employees,” said Payne.

Projected revenues for 2011-12 are $38.4 million. Property taxes comprise the largest share of revenues, at $29.6 million, followed by $2.7 million in state revenue sharing income. The 48th District Court is scheduled to pay the township $2 million.

Projected expenditures for 2011-12 are $37.9 million, with $23.7 million coming from the public safety fund.

The general fund is scheduled to be tapped for $9.5 million, and the road safety fund will contribute $3.5 million.

Trustee David Buckley said, “I'm very, very proud of this community, and you (Payne), and the department heads. They know where every dollar is being spent.”

Township sewer bonds to be issued A proposal to issue bonds for proposed sewer system improvements was approved at the Monday, Feb. 28 Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting.

According to Terry Donnelly, of law firm Dickinson Wright PLLC, and Wayne Domine, township's engineering and environmental director, the bonds will be put up for sale in the next four to six weeks.

The township is looking to begin downtownpublications.com

work to separate the storm sewer system and sanitary sewer system, and bonds are to be floated to provide money to do a test project for the separation, which township officials said could cut residents' bills by 20 percent.

Donnelly said he was requesting blanket approval from the trustees so that delegates can sell the bonds as they come up, rather than returning to the trustees each time. He said this would save the township time and money.

Bonds sales will be posted for seven days in advance in Bond Buyer, a national publication for bond sales.

Construction Loans Great Rates New Homes Renovations Jumbo or Non-Jumbo Loans

Goose control measures approved Bloomfield Township trustees have approved a resolution to allow for neighborhood associations to apply for permits with Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) for goose round-up and nest destruction.

“We provide the resolution for all lakes and ponds in Bloomfield Township every five years. This is an extension for 2011 to 2015,” said Jan Roncelli, township clerk.

“Neighborhood associations must have this resolution in hand in order to apply to MDNR's wildlife division for both goose round-up and for nest destruction. They're two separate applications. We do this every five years but they have to apply every year to do this.”

There are 19 lakes and numerous ponds in Bloomfield Township. Lakes that are seeking to have round-ups and nest destruction are Echo Lake, Gilbert Lake, Forest Lake, Hammond Lake, Heather Lake in Chestnut Run North subdivision, Hunter Lake, Island Lake, Kern Lake, Kirkwood Lake, Lower Long Lake, Meadow Lake, Minnow Lake, Orange Lake, Shorewood Lake, Sodon Lake, Upper Long Lake, Wing Lake and Wabeek Lake.

Goose round-up is one effective tool for maintaining control of goose population. It can include removing the geese and relocating them to another location in the state, or euthanizing them. Nest destruction is another widely recognized tool for managing the population but can only be done at specific times during the year.

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04.11

BUSINESS MATTERS Marlaina Stone Jewelry Marlaina Stone Jewelry has recently moved from a residential studio in Royal Oak to a storefront in the Rail District at 933 S. Eton St. in Birmingham. “We’ve been (in Royal Oak) since 2007, but we’ve been wanting to have a storefront for a while,” said Kelsey Duda, creative director for the jeweler. This district is an up-andcoming area and we wanted to get in there. We thought Birmingham would be a good fit for our product and we’re really excited.” The jeweler offers one-of-a-kind, couture pieces. “We’ve also launched a more affordable line called Controversy. It’s kind of glamorous with a rock edge. We wanted a way to offer people an experience, but at a price-point that is better for them,” Duda said. The new studio has a relaxed atmosphere with couches and cocktails for clients who want to peruse Marlaina Stone’s designs. “We’ll have a happy hour at 5 p.m. every Friday and it’ll be a chance to network with people and experience what we’re doing.”

Toarmina's Pizza open A new pizzeria has opened in the retail center at the northeast corner of Inkster and Maple Rd. in Bloomfield Hills.

Toarmina's Pizza, a family-owned franchise, is now located at 6459 Inkster Rd. After working as a stay-athome mom for 11 years, owner Johanna Esshaki decided to pursue the business venture in her hometown.

“Johanna has lived in the Bloomfield Hills area for 36 years,” said general manager and family friend Rocco Novinskey. Toarmina’s also offers barbecue baby back ribs, hot wings, burgers, breadsticks, salads, tabouli and Mediterranean meat pies. “There’s a standard menu that we have to go by, but we’ll be adding in our own specials, too,” Novinskey said. “We’re healthy, so we’re going to want to give people some more healthy options, too.” The location offers carryout and delivery.

Linda Solomon inducted Photojournalist Linda Solomon of Birmingham has been inducted into the The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame for her work. “You work hard for over 30 years and when something like this happens, you feel really proud,” downtownpublications.com

Solomon said. “I was smiling from ear to ear.” For nearly three decades, Solomon has been covering the annual Oscars ceremony and has photographed some of Hollywood’s biggest names.

Shades Optical, CCS Shades Optical at 193 W. Maple Rd. in Birmingham is offering a competitive design opportunity to students at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

The students have been asked to submit eyeglass case designs that Shades Optical will produce and use for their patients. “It’s a real live project rather than class work,” said Dr. William Koppin. The competition is extended campus-wide and will conclude on April 1. Competitors have been asked to design a case that is functional, stylish, innovative and environmentally responsible.

“We really feel like we wanted to partner with young designers of this community,” said Koppin. “We’re really excited to see what the students come up with.” A scholarship prize will be awarded for the top three designs and Shades Optical will produce the winning case, but Koppin said they are open to producing more than one design. “If we like more than one design, we’ll use more than one design.” According to Koppin, Shades Optical has been involved with the creative community for over 20 years and saw this competition as an opportunity to work with up-andcoming designers. “We wanted to get involved with the young designers and thought this would be a great collaboration.”

Kenya Relief Program Dr. Timothy Page from Oakland Ophthalmic Surgery at 800 S. Adams, along with his partner, Dr. Bob Erickson and Dr. Joe Ales from Optik at 245 W. Maple in Birmingham will be traveling to Africa on May 12 for a mission trip with the Kenya Relief Program. “This will be my third trip,” said Page. “We have six people going from the metro Detroit area and we’ll meet 18 others from across the country.”

This will be Ales’ first trip with the Kenya Relief Program. “I’ve done medical missions in the past,” said Ales. “I’ve gone to Guatemala, but Tim’s been trying to get me to go and I finally felt comfortable being able to leave my office for a couple weeks. It’s a wonderful opportunity and experience."

The group will stay with an orphanage in a compound across the street from the clinic. “People from all over will travel over 60 miles to get to the clinic,” Page said. “Usually our first morning, there will be over 100 people in line starting at 6 a.m.” Many patients are in need of cataract surgery and arrive at the clinic with little or no ability to see. “We’ll take their cataracts out and sometimes they’ll stay the night at the clinic on the cement floor.

We see them the next morning and take their patch off. It’s a very exciting moment. They usually grab you by the shoulders and are so happy that they can see.” Page estimates that over the course of the three day project, the group will perform nearly 200 surgeries.

“About a thousand patients will come through altogether,” he said. “Some will be fit for glasses or screened for glaucoma. We treat all kinds of diseases and infections.”

Cranbrook Real Living Cranbrook Real Living Real Estate, owned and managed by Mitch and Elaine Wolf, has been awarded the 2010 National Awards for Top Office Growth, Top Recruiting and Top Agents for all Real Living offices. Carl Cohen, manager, recently received these awards at the national business conference in New Orleans. Cranbrook Real Living Birmingham branch is located at 555 S. Old Woodward Ave.

Whimsical Occasions Whimsical Occasions has just moved in with the Tux Shop at 33423 S. Woodward Ave. from their previous address at 330 E. Maple Rd. in Birmingham. Owner Deanna Nelson originally created the bridal show business seven years ago to earn extra income as a stay-at-home mom.

“It’s grown into something much bigger,” said Nelson. Recently, Nelson added a wedding planning division to the company and was looking for a central location to expand her fullservice marketing company dedicated to the wedding industry. The new location will serve as a one-stop shop for brides to consult with vendors from the area. “When brides get to the tuxedo stage of the wedding planning, it’s a good place to connect,” said Nelson. “Ordering tuxedos is not the first thing they do or the last thing they do. It’s right in the middle and a good planning point for vendors.

DOWNTOWN

Honey Tree Grille The Honey Tree Grille is now open for business in the shopping center that also holds Plum Market at 3633 W. Maple Road at Lahser in Bloomfield Township. “It’s been great,” said coowner Markos Goulas. “It’s really picking up fast for lunch and dinner. I see people who have already come back six or seven times. I’m also seeing the faces of a lot of customers from our location in Somerset.” The Honey Tree is a family dining restaurant that offers soups, salads, gyros, wraps and burgers.

"We have a variety of breakfast items," he said. "We make omelets and crepes in the dining area and there is something for everyone. On Sundays, we have a brunch buffet. It's something you'd see in a fine dining restaurant." According to Goulas, Honey Tree was founded by his uncle, Tom Goulas, in 1975.

Clavenna Vision Institute Clavenna Vision Institute, located at 600 S. Adams Rd. in Birmingham, has expanded its practice to include complimentary hearing screenings. The institute will offer patients over 50 years old a free preliminary screening at their yearly routine eye exam. Drs. Carl Clavenna and Gregory Fitzgerald said it made sense to add complimentary hearing screenings to the services currently offered at their offices.

“About a year ago, my wife was saying I was having trouble hearing her, so I saw an audiologist,” said Clavenna. “I realized it’s not something people get checked on a regular basis. I thought it was a good idea and decided to offer the service.” According to Fitzgerald, statistics show that almost one-third of people over the age of 65 and almost 50 percent of those over 75 have some degree of hearing loss.

Clavenna said, “The screening takes less than one minute and if they fail, they are given the option for a thorough hearing evaluation by an audiologist who comes into our office.”

Business Matters for the BirminghamBloomfield area are reported by Katey Meisner.

Send items for consideration to KathleenMeisner@downtownpublications.com.

Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

75

Internationally Acclaimed Mezzo-Soprano

IRINA MISHURA Celebrates Her 25-Year Singing Career

IN CONCERT With Kevin Bylsma, Pianist Bloomfield Hills resident Irina Mishura, has starred at the Metropolitan Opera and at nearly every major opera venue around the world - from the Far East to North America to Europe. Her critical acclaim has carried her from virtual obscurity as a political refugee escaping to America in 1992 to the height of the opera world. It was Greater Detroit which first embraced her and gave her the chance to display her talent. It is with “her community� that she wishes to celebrate this special occasion – FREE OF CHARGE – and to thank them for their support.

St. Regis Church – 3695 Lincoln Street – Bloomfield Hills

Thursday Evening April 14, 2011 – 7:00 p.m.

In cooperation with THE VERDI OPERA THEATRE OF MICHIGAN (Contact:verdiopera@comcast.net) and ST. REGIS CHURCH CONCERT SERIES (Contact:ken.krach@stregis.org)

ADMISSION IS FREE Following the concert the public is invited to attend an afterglow, including hors-d’oeuvres and refreshments. Proceeds of a $20 donation will benefit the Verdi Opera’s efforts to encourage and support the development of talented young opera singers.

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76

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04.11

THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

ONLY THE BEST! EST. 1978

es, I’m still here and pleased to have the opportunity to tell you about all of the wonderful things happening during April at The Community House.

April is always very exciting. The Community House’s beautiful spring bulb display, courtesy of Four Seasons Garden Center, is in bloom and our new classes have begun. Our spring catalog, featuring a beautiful cover photo of TCH Dance Academy students, is out. Most of our series classes begin in early April so be sure to pick up a catalog or go to our website (www.communityhouse.com) to check out the offerings.

April includes some very special programs, classes and events that I would like to highlight.

On April 6, by popular demand, we are continuing our Quarterly Financial Book Series. Join us on April 6 when we discuss “Waiting for Superman”: How We Can Save America’s Failing Public Schools by Participant Media and Karl Weber.

On April 12, we continue our outreach program Successful Job Strategies to help those in our community who are looking for employment in the health care field which continues to be one of the Shelley Roberts fastest growing industries in the country. This program will provide information about opportunities in Nursing and Physical and Occupational Therapy.

Join us on April 14 when we partner with Baldwin Public Library for a Meet and Greet Luncheon and Book Signing with author Michael Connelly. Lunch will be casual and Michael will socialize with fans in a relaxed atmosphere. This is great timing for Michael’s visit because the film The Lincoln Lawyer, based on Michael’s bestselling book, is in theaters now. Michael’s books will be available for purchase and for signing. Michael has a large fan base, so don’t wait if you want to meet him and visit over a delicious lunch at The Community House. Reservations ($40 per person) are limited.

On April 25, we will again partner with a wonderful community organization, Birmingham Youth Assistance, to bring you another important program, Bully, Bullied or Bystander, from 7-9 pm. Hear about the latest research and clinical findings from experts in the field. Registration is only $10.

Don’t miss our annual special event House in Bloom on Wednesday, April 20.

Again chaired by Carolyn Hefner, the mastermind of last year’s fantastic House in Bloom with Chris Giftos, this year’s event will feature fabulous floral decorations and table scapes by area floral designers and a delicious lunch. New this year will be a runway spring fashion show by Saks Fifth Avenue and a chance auction of great items. Tickets are $75 and include a $25 Saks Fifth Avenue Gift Card.

Speaking of fashion, we have an exciting line up of classes related to careers in the fashion industry. Join Milda Bublys, a former Fashion Institute of Technology professor, when she teaches Starting a Fashion Business on April 6, Creating a Fashion Portfolio beginning on April 19, and Creating a Fashion Drawing beginning on April 14.

On April 28, our sponsored group, the Race Relations & Diversity Task Force, will host its annual Diversity Champions Honor Roll Breakfast when area organizations give special recognition to individuals who have been active in support of diversity and the ideal of inclusion.

Other new classes in April are: Art in the City-Chicago European Modernism with Michael Farrell Terrariums—Your Oasis Under Glass!

The Secret Word of Your Garden George Papadelis of Telly’s Greenhouse and Garden Center on “What’s New in 2011 and Planting Containers” at the meeting of The Community House Garden Club meeting which is open to the public.

Big Chef, Little Chef “Easter Candy Making” Quick, No-Cook Vegetarian Dinners Pantry Kitchen Set-Up Creating a Raw Food Kitchen Teenagers—Don’t Blame Them, It’s Their Brain Day trips to see “Magic Flute” at the Detroit Opera House, “Brigadoon” at the Power Center, Ann Arbor, the Wyeths at the Kalamazoo Museum with Michael Farrell, and From Downtown to Uptown, a tour of magnificent Jewish edifices.

Finally, there is still time for your child to sign up for the Kids Helping Kids Walk, a benefit for the Children’s Charities Coalition of which The Community House is a member. On Sunday, May 1, the Walk will take place in downtown Birmingham.

It’s a fun-filled event and a perfect way for schools and families to work together to instill positive character traits in their children by giving to other children who are less fortunate. To register online and for more information, please visit wwwkidshelpingkidswalkcom.

I look forward to seeing you at The Community House!

Y

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DOWNTOWN

04.11

PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The complete Places To Eat is available at downtownpublications.com and in an optimized format for your smart phone (downtownpublications.com/mobile), where you can actually map out locations and automatically dial a restaurant from our Places To Eat.

220: American. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.2150.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.865.9300.

Beau Jacks: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday; Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.2630.

Beyond Juice: Contemporary. Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 270 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.7078.

Big Boy: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.642.0717.

Big Rock Chophouse: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 245 South Eaton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774.

Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8880.

Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, MondayFriday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.645.6879.

Boston Market: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 42983 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.334.5559.

Brandy’s Steakhouse: American. Lunch, Monday-Saturday; Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1727 South Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.338.4300.

Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6690.

Cafe Via: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 310 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8800 Cameron’s Steakhouse: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.1700.

Chen Chow Brasserie: Japanese. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 260 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.2469.

China Village: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. 1655 Opdyke, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.758.1221.

Cityscape Deli: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Beer. 877 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302.

248.540.7220.

Commonwealth: Coffee Shop. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.9766.

Cosi: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 101 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.203.9200.

Crust Pizza and Wine Bar: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6622

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248.855.5855.

Deli Unique of Bloomfield Hills: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 39495 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.7923.

Dick O’Dow’s: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.1135.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 176 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.9888. Also 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.258.9939.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420.

Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.645.1033.

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134.

Forest Grill: American. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations.

Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9400.

Forte Restaurant: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.7300.

Fuddrucker’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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FOCUS ON WINE For wine diversity, get Rhonish

By Eleanor and Ray Heald

ndoubtedly, the most diverse French wine region is Cotes du Rhone. Within it lays the vineyards of its most famous wine – Chateauneufdu-Pape.

Located between Avignon and Orange in the Provence region of southern France, Chateauneuf-du-Pape vineyards form one of the area’s most beautiful landscapes. Depending on their location, soils run the gamut from fist-sized quartz stones to sandy red clay.

Chateauneuf-du-Pape wines are terroir wines as the French would say.

This is the reason different producers have dramatically different wine styles.

Location of vineyard parcels within the appellation makes a huge difference.

We are attracted to Chateau de la Font du Loup (fountain of the wolf, based on a legend that wolves stopped there to drink). Proprietors and winemakers Anne-Charlotte and Laurent Bachas grow grapes meticulously, then craft the wine to let their vineyards speak through traditional production methods.

The Estate has two vineyard locations, one rocky, planted to grenache and the other sandy, planted to mourvedre, syrah and cinsault.

Blended, these four grapes make up the Font du Loup Chateauneuf-du-Pape (Rouge).

“Our vineyards,” says AnneCharlotte, “are located in the highest point in Chateauneuf on north-facing slopes which experience the daily Mistral winds from the north. Our location is cooler than the vineyards in the valley, which means a longer growing season and less disease. We harvest 10 days to two weeks later than most other properties in the appellation.”

Grenache, say the Bachas, gives the wine structure, backbone, depth and elegance. Syrah offers color, spice, and mellow characters. Mourvedre contributes a pleasant rustic note and cinsault lends floral, red fruit qualities and overall freshness to the wine.

Judicious use of oak, such as onceused barrels purchased from Chateau d’Yquem allows the fruit profile to take front stage.

U

White Chateauneuf-du-Pape Did we just hear you say, “I didn’t know that Chateauneuf-du-Pape was also white (blanc)?”

It can be and Font du Loup makes one, a blend of grenache blanc, the main varietal adding structure and backbone, together with roussanne and clairette for fruit components and bourboulenc for acidity to maintain freshness expected in a white wine.

Full enjoyment Anne-Charlotte recommends that young Font du Loup Chateauneuf Rouge should be served cool, paired with a simple grilled steak. “An aged

Chateauneuf should be served near room temperature paired with long cooked (braised) lamb. It is wonderful to open a very old Chateauneuf with friends around the table and a fire in the fireplace.” Hey, there are still some very cool April nights in Michigan!

The following tasting notes should aid you in selecting a Chateau de la Font du Loup wine.

--2008 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, $45, showcases floral, peach and pear aromas with a marvelous transition between aromas and flavors. An overall generous palate offers a gorgeous orchestration.

--2006 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, $38, is dominated by a big red fruit profile highlighting strawberry, raspberry and spicy aromas and flavors.

Well balanced and structured, it has great length.

--2007 Chateauneuf-du-Pape Rouge, $38, mirrors the 2006, yet is bigger in every way. This is an outstanding vintage year in Chateauneuf, yet the 2007 has in no way reached its full potential. Buy some and cellar it.

--2006 Le Puy Rolland Chateauneufdu-Pape, $45, is 100 percent grenache and a single vineyard wine. With intriguing fruit it is intense and layered, complex and depthful. There’s a 2007 version, which like the Font du Loup blend above is bigger, yet at this time in its evolution, a wine to cellar.

Other Rhone wines you should try Excellent Domaine Sainte Anne 2009 Cotes du Rhone Blanc $13.50 Domaine de Font-Sane 2007 Gigondas “Tradition” $28 Domaine de Font-Sane 2007 Gigondas Terrasses de Dentelles $39

Chateau Gigognan 2007 “Vigne du Regent” Chateauneuf-du-Pape $51 Domaine des Lises Equis 2008 CrozesHermitage $34 Very good Domaine Sainte Anne 2007 Cotes du Rhone Villages “Notre Dame des Cellettes” $24 Domaine Sainte Anne 2007 Cotes du Rhone Villages 2006 “Gervais” $30 Vignerons de Caractere 2009 Seigneur de Fontimple Vacqueyras $22.50 Mas du Bouquet 2009 Vacqueyras $22.50 Domaine des Pasquiers 2008 Gigondas $28 Lucien Barrot 2007 Chateauneuf-duPape $50 If you have difficulty finding any of the Rhone wines, contact the distributor: A.H.D. Vintners 586.552.1414 for a retailer near you.

Wine picks In November last year, we hit Bordeaux producers quite hard for their pricing and said we had begun to look elsewhere, like the Rhone, as proven again above. “Is there nothing from Bordeaux that you can recommend?” questioned a reader. We’re always searching and discovered a few sensibly priced. Two from the excellent 2009 vintage: Chateau du Pin $12 and Chateau Guillou, Montagne St-Emilion $25. Both wines over-deliver at their price point.

A few older vintages that are still available and sensibly priced: 2006 Chateau Les Tours de Peyrat Vieilles Vignes $23 2005 Chateau Roland la Garde Grand Vin $40 Sweet dessert wines from Bordeaux are in revival mode. La Fleur d’Or 2005 Sauternes $20/375mL is lovely and rich with luscious honey and apricot notes – dessert in a glass.

Michigan Wine Month: In celebration of April as Michigan Wine Month, Michigan Wine Showcase, April 11, 6 to 8:30 p.m. at The Radisson, 39475 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, will feature winemakers and winery owners from many of the state's wineries.

Admission is $45 in advance, $50 at the door. Phone 517.241.4468 or 517.241.3415 to purchase tickets in advance.

Eleanor & Ray Heald are contributing editors for the internationally-respected Quarterly Review of Wines, among other publications. Contact them by e-mail at focusonwine@aol.com.

No Reservations. Beer & wine. 42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.333.2400.

Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222.

Hogan’s Restaurant: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6450 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.626.1800.

House of India: Indian. Tuesday-Sunday; Lunch & Dinner. Reservations. 1615 Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.451.0201.

Hunter House Hamburgers: American.

Breakfast, Monday-Saturday; Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 35075 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.7121.

IHOP: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2187 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301.

248.333.7522.

Kerby’s Koney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.1166.

Kirk’s Open Pit Bar B Que: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday- Sunday.

No reservations. 33766 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7010.

La Feast: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

297 East Maple, Birmingham, 48009.

248.731.7768.

Leo’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.9707. Also 6527 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.646.8568.

Little Daddy’s Parthenon: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.647.3400.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing. No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.6051.

Max & Erma’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 250 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.1188.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.3663.

Mountain King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 469 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.2913.

New Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Breakfast, Monday-Thursday; Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. No reservations. 183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.2181.

Northern Lakes Seafood Co.: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 39495 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7900.

Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 138 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2760. Also 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500.

Original Pancake House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5775.

Panera Bread: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.203.7966. Also 2125 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302.

248.253.9877.

Peabody’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.5222.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.3122.

Pita Cafe: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 239 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.6999.

Qdoba: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 795 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.988.8941.

Quattro Pizzeria & Wine Bar: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 203 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.6060.

Quiznos: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 185 N Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.540.7827.

Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977.

Sandella’s Flatbread Cafe: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 172 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.4200.

South: Mexican. Lunch, Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8133.

Stacked Deli: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Delivery available. No reservations.

233 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.5300.

Steve’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301. 248.932.0800.

Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.9123.

Sushi Hana: Japanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.3887.

Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American. Dinner.

Monday-Saturday.

Sunday brunch.

Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.731.7066.

The Corner Bar: American. Dinner. WednesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2958.

The Gallery Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.851.0313.

The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688.

The Phat Sammich: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 34186 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0860.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.642.5999.

Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations.

Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278.

Tokyo Sushi & Grill: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 225 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6501.

Village Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 653 S. Adams. Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7964 Whistle Stop Cafe: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.5588 Zazios: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 34977 Woodward Ave, Birmingham, 48009. Phone: 248.530.6400

AT THE TABLE Fleming’s sets itself apart from other steakhouses

By Eleanor Heald

ith all the top-tier steakhouse chains located in the area or nearby, it's interesting to distinguish one from the other. Fleming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar does this in its name – steakhouse and wine bar.

Steaks are prime beef, yet other steakhouses serve the same grade. The Wine Bar with its progressive wine list sets Fleming's apart. Currently, since restaurant data confirms that wine outstrips other alcoholic beverages of choice, that's a point of distinction.

Fleming's signature 100-wines-by-the-glass program is an integral part of the dining experience. No other steakhouse is doing this to such an extent. The list of 100, arranged from light-bodied to fullest intensity, is not at all intimidating. A majority of the featured wines are hot brands that a wine aficionado recognizes.

In addition to all wines offered as by the glass pours ($8 to $19), a three-glass holder, dubbed a wine vine, offers patrons two-ounce pours of three wines at one-third of the by-theglass price each. The principle of ‘if you don't know it, try it,’ makes selection simple. It’s also a way to compare three wines that you know to pick a favorite.

Attached to the "vine" is a card identifying the wine choices that are served top to bottom of the "vine" from lightest-bodied to fullest. This reminder is a helpful way to keep track of tastes.

Fleming's Reserve wine list, served only by the bottle, spans the international wine scene with a host of stellar, icon and legendary selections.

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enjoyment. Peppercorn, Madeira and Béarnaise sauces are served upon request.

A Main Filet, $39, is 12 ounces and a Lite Filet, 6 ounces, served with Fleming’s potatoes is $32. Yet, if you follow chef Gadulka’s suggestion, you’ll order the Prime Bone-In Ribeye, $44.50, or another of his favorites: Porcini Dust Rubbed center cut Filet with gorgonzola cream sauce, $38.

Whatever you order, don’t omit another distinguishing element – the innovative sides. Fleming’s Potatoes are distinctly foodie appealing scalloped potatoes with cream, jalapenos and cheddar cheese. Next choice: Chipotle Macaroni & Cheese with smoked cheddar and leeks. Veggie lovers choose chef Gadulka’s favorite: Grilled High Country Asparagus, simply seasoned with olive oil, salt and pepper. You don’t need hollandaise sauce!

After all this, if you’ve left some room for dessert, go for the Chocolate Lava Cake, $10.50, served with vanilla ice cream and pistachio tuille.

Toque profile At age 14, chef partner Chris Gadulka, now 34, who was raised in Dearborn, Mich., began washing dishes for a local eatery. He graduated from the Schoolcraft College Culinary Program in 1997 and held a number of positions before joining the Fleming’s group in 2006.

“Early on,” he says, “I was inspired by the inaugural years of the TV Food Network. I wanted to be creative. Yet, as I matured, I began to realize that consistency breeds excellence. Little things matter. Each step in food preparation must be executed perfectly.

“Food should connect people with something they love. In my case, it’s my grandmother’s Yorkshire Pudding.” With that remark, another distinguishing detail for the Birmingham, Mich., Fleming’s – chef partner Chris Gadulka.

Steakhouse style Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine “When the Birmingham 280Bar, 323 North Old Woodward Ave., seat Fleming’s was opened in Birmingham, 248.723.0134. Open Spring 2007,” says operating partMonday-Thursday, 5-10 p.m. Friday ner Bob Loomis, “the aim was to have the décor appeal to both and Saturday until 11 p.m. Sunday males and females.” Warm cherry Fleming’s chef partner Chris Gadulka. Downtown photo: 4-9 p.m. Parking: valet, street or wood details and stylish table set- Laurie Tennent the north parking structure. tings accomplish the corporate objective of “elegant evolution of a steakhouse, creating QUICK BITES memorable times.”

Tallulah Wine Bar & Bistro (155 South Bates Street, The spacious lounge and wine bar, which also serves beer Birmingham, 248.731.7066): At 6 p.m. on both Sunday, April and spirits has a “5 For $6 ’til 7” bar menu, featuring 5 appe- 10 and May 1, 2011, Tallulah’s owner Mindy VanHellemont tizers, 5 premium cocktails and 5 distinctive wines by the will pit her skills against a top regional sommelier in what glass — each priced at $6 and served nightly until 7. she’s named a Somm(elier) Slam series. In addition to being The main menu highlights a lengthy list of appetizers. a restaurateur, VanHellemont is a Culinary Institute of Executive chef partner Christopher Gadulka points to the America (Napa Valley, Calif.) Certified Wine Professional. For most popular: Sweet Chile Calamari, $13, lightly breaded and four dinner courses ($75 per person includes wines), diners tossed with sweet chile sauce. However, he recommends his will vote on their favorite wine pairings made by each somfavorite, the Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes, $14, with roasted red melier. A donation will be made to a charity of the winner’s pepper and lime butter sauce. “It’s not the ordinary disk- choice. April 10 challenge is with Christian Stachel, Director shape with crunch from a lot of bread crumbs. It’s 90 percent of Wine & Service for Royal Oak’s Café Muse; May 1 chalblue crab with a creamy binder prepared in a timbale so lenge with Amanda Danielson, proprietor-partner of Traverse that’s it’s tall and deliciously moist.” Consider this another City Trattoria Stella, who is a candidate for Master Sommelier distinguishing point. certification. Reservations required. Mano-a-mano fun!

Basically, a diner chooses Fleming’s for prime beef, corn fed and aged four weeks to enhance texture and flavor.

Broiling at 1600 degrees Fahrenheit seals in flavorful juices. Eleanor Heald is a nationally published writer who also writes the Finishing with kosher salt, black pepper, a touch of butter wine column in a double byline with her husband Ray for and freshly chopped parsley is all the number one ordered DOWNTOWN. Suggestions for Quick Bites section can be Fleming’s 8-ounce Petite Filet Mignon, $36, needs for full e-mailed to QuickBites@downtownpublications.com.

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the social scene from the past month. Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted. Past columns and photos are also archived at the website for Downtown.

JVS Women to Work Trade Secrets

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4 1. Event co-chair Beth Gotthelf (left) of Birmingham with honoree Cindy (Cynthia) Pansky of Detroit and JVS COO Leah Rosenbaum of Southfield. 2. Honored program graduate Dawn Jenkins (left) of Clawson with JVS CEO Barbara Nurenberg of Bloomfield. 3. Event sponsor/board chair Brian Meer (center) of W. Bloomfield with event co-chairs/sponsors Elaine Fieldman (left) of Bloomfield and Hadas Bernard of Birmingham. 4. Event co-chair /sponsor Gwen Weiner (left) of Franklin, her sister-n-law Anne Weiner of Bloomfield and committee member Sandi Reitelman of Birmingham. 5. Eleanor Gabrys (left), Marie Brigstock and Christine Leonard of Bloomfield. 6. Lucia Zurkowski (left) and Lil Erdeljan of Bloomfield with Jane Synnestvedt of Birmingham. 7.

Barbara Goodwin (left) of Detroit and Carolyn Levin of Bloomfield. 8. Sponsor Huntington Bank’s Mike Fezzey (left) of Farmington Hills and Betsy Reich of Birmingham with The Pink Fund’s Molly MacDonald of Beverly Hills.

9. Bloomfield jeweler Morry Bednarsh and his wife Marcia of W. Bloomfield. 10. Yvette Bing (left) of Detroit with event co-chair Beth Gotthelf of Birmingham.

JVS Women to Work Trade Secrets Nearly 300 flocked to the Townsend Sally Gerak Hotel Feb. 16 to support the JVS Women to Work program. Following an extended social hour, they were welcomed by event sponsor Huntington Bank’s Mike Fezzey and emcee Fox 2 News’ Robin Schwartz. The latter mentioned a Facebook post she’d received from a viewer saying that JVS had helped his mother get a job 26 years earlier. “Women to Work is lifechanging and long lasting,” Schwartz concluded.

Dawn Jenkins, who received the Women to Work Award, was a convincing advocate for the program. She spoke as one who needed a job following an unexpected divorce. Her engineering skills were 10 years old and her son’s health required 24/7 attention.

Through JVS she got 3 job offers and picked one that permits her to work from home and care for her children. “I owe a lot to JVS. And (to the donors), thank you so much,“ she said.

But honoree Cindy Pansky’s story commanded jaw dropping attention. The 51-year old founder/president/CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions (S3) spoke candidly. “My mother was a mean alcoholic…my dad was my every thing…he took me to ballet class…taught me to count cards…that work is a really good four letter word…that you can be whatever you need to be at the time.”

Her father was suddenly hospitalized and never again able to work when Pansky was 16, forcing her to work four jobs in high school. In 1990, she started S3 with 3 employees and now has 1,800 employees in 23 US and 2 European offices who provide information technology and business services to the financial, energy and insurance communities. For Pansky, “Work is 24/7… there would be no S3 if I had grown up differently, (but) I am my dad’s product…I love Scotch, red wine, cars, cigars…plus my incredible shoe collection,” she confessed. Then she revealed her Lithuanian grandfather’s advice: ”When you walk into a room, if you see souls first everything else works.”

The truly memorable event raised $100,000. This included income from the special raffle of a diamond bracelet valued at $3,500 donated by Tapper’s Diamonds & Fine Jewelry and another raffle of great donations, such as dance lessons from the Bloomfield Hills Fred Astaire Dance Studio . We are guessing the latter donation was acquired by event co-chair Elaine Fieldman, who, along with fellow dance student Charlene Proctor and instructor Blake Kish, took top honors the weekend following Trade Secrets at the California Open Dance Sport Championships in Los Angeles. Now there’s another “secret” deserving kudos.

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Brookside School Kaleidoscope Patron Party What began years ago as Cranbrook Brookside Dads’ Club’s spaghetti supper has evolved into Kaleidoscope Cracks the Case – three fundraising auction events that kicked off Feb. 11 at Ford Field. If that seems a mysterious event site then you should know that for many years, through the mid-70s, the Detroit Lions held their summer practices at Cranbrook. To salute that history, Brookside dad / Cranbrook alum Neal Mosen, one of the 280 guests at the Patron Party, wore his prep football jersey to the party. And to climb the 80-plus stadium steps and play the field games staged before dinner, some guests like Estelle Kwartowitz wisely wore jock shoes instead of high heels. Also planned was a silent auction

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($4,800) highlighted by a priced ($50) blind tasting wine grab from the Berger family wine cellar and two raffles ($11,540) won by Jen and Richard Stone. Rip Hayes conducted the short live auction ($48,000) that followed dinner. It was topped by a winning bid of $5,800 for a Monday Night Football Fantasy Package and the $32,450 pledged during Dedicated Giving earmarked for the faculty Summer Institute.

Brother Rice Boxing Night XI Some 350 school loyalists attended the Brother Rice Alumni Association’s 11th annual Boxing Night in the school gym. The event is essentially a Stag Night but some volunteers and the wife and mother of alumnus Mick Ide ‘94, who was challenging reigning champion Bobby Mitchell ’87 for the Brother King Memorial Belt, were among a few women in the crowd.

Before the boxing began people sipped, supped, socialized, bid in a silent auction, played black jack and bought raffle tickets and school logo apparel. Bouts featuring boxers from clubs at U of M, OSU, Xavier and Miami of Ohio preceded the main event. In it Mitchell successfully defended his title. The casual event was chaired by Mark Rottenbeck and Jim Nelson, both of whom are past Alumnus of the Year awardees.

Boxing Night is not only notable for its camaraderie but also for raising scholarship dollars for six students each year.

Educational Foundation Unabashed Bash More than 270 believers in quality public education partied for the cause at From the Heart – the 10th annual Unabashed Bash gala fundraiser for the Birmingham Educational Foundation. With Valentine’s Day 36 hours away, the heart theme was timely. It also inspired the centerpieces – art created by students – and the vocal selections, performed by talented Seaholm Theatre students from “Annie Get Your Gun”, their spring musical. Attendance and sponsorships were both up over last year and the committee introduced a new bidding incentive in the silent auction – the fifth bidder on each item was entered in a drawing for an iPad donated by Arch Environmental Group. The lucky winners were sponsor Stifel Nicolaus & Company’s Brenda and Mark Voutyras. Paul DeAngelis, and Scott Campbell, who teamed up on their raffle ticket downtownpublications.com

Brookside School Kaleidoscope Patron Party

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1. Event co-chairs Denise Parker (left) and Katie Coleman of Bloomfield. 2. Kaleidoscope co-chairs Julie Tontapanish (eft) of Troy and Ashley Moran of Bloomfield. 3. Jim Parker (left) and Gordy Coleman of Bloomfield with Kaleidoscope co-chair Suzanne Lewand of Royal Oak. 4. Brookside head Dr. Brian Schiller with parents Estelle and Mark Kwartowitz of Bloomfield. 5. 2010 event co-chairs Estelle Kwartowitz and Adriana Vlasic of Bloomfield. 6. 2010 event co-chair Susan Ludwig (left) of Royal Oak and Tracey Grosinger of Bloomfield.

7. Penny (left) & Nick Davis of Bloomfield with Pam Sheehan of Rochester Hills. 8. Paul (left) & Jennifer Silverman of Franklin and Les Grosinger of Bloomfield. 9. Brookside parent Laurie Frankel (left) of Bloomfield with Brookside teacher Jess Persichini of Birmingham. 10. Jessie Persichini (center) of Birmingham with Marilyn & Michael Roach of Bloomfield. 11. Raffle losers Tonya Chilsholm (left) of Rochester Hills and Isabel Armstrong of Bloomfield (they held the cards on either side of the winning card). 12. Raffle winner Richard Stone of Bloomfield.

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Brother Rice Boxing Night XI

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1. Event founders/co-chairs Jim Nelson (left) of Bloomfield and Mark Rottenberk of Troy. 2. Alumni vice president Mike McAlister (left) and past president Pat Rivard of Bloomfield and secretary Chris Drouin of Clarkston. 3. Brian Ray (second from left) of Bloomfield with BRHS ’01 classmates Kevin Reid (left) of Birmingham and Roger Himrod, Joe Corace and Sean Brolley of Royal Oak. 4. Bob Reaume (left) BRHS’83 and Dreux Nelson BRHS’82 of Bloomfield and Peter Nelson BRHS’81 of St. Clair Shores. 5. Michelle Lievois (left) with Jim Rivard (BRHS’90) and his dad Jim Rivard of Bloomfield. 6. Dan Timmis (left) BRHS’96, Tom Bustance & his son Tom Bustance BRHS’07 of Troy and BRHS dads Joel Toupinn and Brad Moncton of Farmington Hills.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK purchase, won the 52-card draw for $1,200 worth of shopping and dining.

Foundation board president Jerry Ritto praised auction coordinator Kim Watzman, event coordinator Wendy Christie, BEF executive director Laura Cougar and recognized retiring school heads Jennifer Martella (Beverly), Terry Piper (Seaholm), Cathy Heller (Early Childhood Center) and Jim Moll (Berkshire). The latter also served as auctioneer for the live auction of 12 items, persuading guests to part with $18,649. This brought the event total to $105,000plus (gross) for BEF grants in academics, arts, athletics and technology.

Educational Foundation Unabashed Bash

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1. BEF executive director Laura Cougar (left) & her husband Bill with Jackie & BEF trustee Paul Keller of Franklin. 2. Event coordinator Wendy Christie (left) of Beverly Hills and Pam Lucken of Bingham Farms. 3. Stuart Jefferson & his wife, new BPS trustee Kim Coleman of Birmingham. 4. BPS board member Rob Lawrence & his wife Julie Fream of Birmingham.

5. BPS trustee Chris Conti & his wife Katie of Birmingham. 6.

Lynn Sirich (center) with Elyse and Frank Germack of Birmingham. 7. Dr. Jean Tornatore and Dr. Houda DagnerRodger of Birmingham. 8. Julie (left) & Todd Wells of Birmingham with Julie & Greg Erne of Beverly Hills. 9. Nancy Johnson (left) and Christine Provost of Birmingham with Lori Lachowicz of Beverly Hills. 10. Dave Provost (left) of Birmingham, Bart Tinsley of Beverly Hills and John Polakowski of Birmingham. 11. Rebecca & Alan Ross of Bloomfield. 12.

Berkshire principal / event auctioneer Jim Moll (left) of Farmington Hills with Marie & Seaholm principal Terry Piper of Troy.

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Knit Benefit for Cancer Centers More than 800 people got warm and fuzzy last month at Knit Michigan’s fiber festival to benefit six cancer centers. Diversions at the all day event at the Academy of the Sacred Heart included knitting and spinning contests, a raffle, a silent and live auction, a strolling fashion show, spin and knit-ins and lessons in spinning, knitting, crocheting and weaving. All could shop at the market displays of 14 vendors from as near as Birmingham’s Knitting Room and as far away as the Yarn Dreamers from Bois Blanc Island. We did learn that the latter’s co-proprietor Shelby Newhouse formerly lived in Birmingham in another life when he was a WDIV staffer. Now he and his fiber artist wife Christa run a Bed & Breakfast on the island in the Straits of Mackinac (). We also chatted with Ruth Dein, a nurse who was knitting an afghan for Beaumont cancer patients. She said that her group has completed 3,200 similar blankets since it began 10 years ago. Another afghan hand knit by Anneliese Pruett raised $1,000 in a raffle run by Karmanos volunteers. People also donated more than 600 handmade comfort items like chemo caps, teddy bears, blankets and breast cancer pillows. More than $26,000 was raised to support cancer patients and their families at the Karmanos Cancer Institute, Beaumont’s Rose Cancer Center, Henry Ford’s Josephine Ford Cancer Center, Genesys Foundation, Gilda’s Club and the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Project HOPE Midwinter Taste of HOPE Zazios’ Chef Matt Schellig certainly shined at the Birmingham restaurant’s Chef’s Table presentation for the Project HOPE Women’s 04.11

Division luncheon event. It attracted a sold out crowd, including some members of Project HOPE’s other area support group, the Project HOPE League.

Among helpful mini lessons, Schellig demonstrated how to easily dice an onion and offered advice: except for burning food, there’s a way to fix most mistakes….. when cooking risotto you never need cream if you cook it right but ratios are important (3x liquid-1x rice)… I do not carefully measure a darn thing (especially butter and wine)… use your heart and taste, taste, taste. He mentioned that his education prior to the Culinary Institute of America included St. Hugo elementary school and U-D Jesuit prep and, after CIA, the school of Hard Knocks at the Rattlesnake Club, Matt Prentice group and Duet.

Luncheon participants received print outs of menu guides and devoured fried risotto cakes, seared scallops with truffle vinaigrette, polenta bites with truffle mushroom fricassee before the tomato soup and pasta selection followed by a divine tiramisu dessert. Linda Juracek-Lipa, cochair with Christa Hintz, happily accepted accolades for having the idea for the mini fundraiser for Project HOPE which provides worldwide medical missions.

Eton Academy Gala & Auction Eton Academy school loyalists flocked to the Birmingham school for children who learn differently for the 25th Anniversary Gala & Auction Feb. 26. The sold out party (300-plus) was scrumptiously catered by former Eton parents Monica and Luciano DelSIgnore (Bacco Ristorante).

During the program, headmaster Pete Pullen saluted Eton’s founding headmistress Mary Van der Tuin who came from Texas, and cofounders/generous supporters Jan and Pat Hartmann, who came from their winter home in Naples, FL. Pullen also announced the naming of the Student Development Services Department in honor of event cochairs Mark and Paula LaNeve. With dedication and great heart they have helped raise more than $1million in the six years their son Drew has been an Eton student. Drew LaNeve, now a senior, and 8th grader Charles Burton spoke about their personal triumphs, each representing Eton with style.

During the live auction conducted

by Dan Stall, LaNeve’s pals, NFL greats Phil Simms and Howie Long downtownpublications.com

Knit Benefit for Cancer Centers

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1. Event co-founder/chairs Joan Sheridan (left) of Lake Orion and Bridget Dean of Berkley. 2. The Knitting Room co-owner Margaret Sheckell of Birmingham. 3. Kellee Smith of Bloomfield in hand knit cowl. 4. The Knitting Room’s Aviva Susser of Birmingham in hand knit sweater jacket. 5. Susan Tulupman of Bloomfield (in bike riding attire). 6. Diane McDonald (left) of Birmingham and Joanne Moilabeb of Auburn Hills. 7. Hillary Turk (left) of Farmington Hills and Miranda Burnett of Bloomfield. 8. Yarn Dreamer vendors former Birminghamer Shelby Newhouse, now of Bois Blanc Island & his wife Christa.

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Project HOPE Midwinter Taste of HOPE

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1. Event co-chairs Linda Juracek-Lipa (left) of Birmingham and Christa Hintz of Bloomfield. 2. Zazios Chef Matt Schelling. 3. Ellie Tholen (left) of Birmingham, Irene Davis of Beverly Hills and Sherry Saginaw of Bloomfield. 4. Mary Putinta (left), Patricia Hill-Burnett and Anita Hedeen of Bloomfield. 5. Mary MacNee (left) of Bloomfield, Lore Tannehill of Lake Angeles and RoseMary Graziano of White Lake.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK generated some excitement. The football-related packages each donated sold so high (e.g.. Long’s went for $20,000) that they each spontaneously donated a second. The live auction, combined with the $100,000 pledged for scholarship support, which the Hartmanns inspired with a $25,000 challenge, the silent auction, a raffle and generous sponsors, the 25th anniversary event raised an all-time event high of approximately $500,000.

The Hartmanns were attending their first auction in several years and were thrilled with its success. “We do try to attend Eton’s graduation each year to see the kids and what they have achieved. Almost all of them go on to college and are very excited about going forward. Sometimes I even cry when I see their enthusiasm,” Pat Hartmann said.

Eton Academy Gala & Auction

1 1. Fox Sports’ Howie Long (left) and CBS Sports’ Phil Simms (right) with Eton senior Drew and his parents / event chairs Mark & Paula LaNeve of Northville. 2. Dr. Luisa DiLorenzo (left) of Birmingham and Trudy Mohan of Bloomfield. 3. Eton seniors / event volunteers Madison Bernstein (left) of Birmingham and Lauren Daniels of Clawson. 4. Brian Hughes (left) of Franklin with Eton alum/DePaul U. student Stuart Peterson and his father David of Birmingham. 5. Steering Committee - Heather Putz (left) of Birmingham and Shawn MobleySulich and Janet Twomey of Bloomfield (not pictured: Deb Lewis).

6. Hartmann family - Pat (seated left) and Jan Hartmann of Bloomfield and Naples, FL with their son Paul (standing) and daughter-in-law Patsy of Bloomfield.

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Ellen Rogers’ 50th Benefitting Gleaners When Ellen Rogers sent fifty gal pals an invitation to her 50th birthday Little Black Dress Party at the Birmingham restaurant South, her daughter Madison sent a note suggesting the only gift her mom would want was a donation to the Kids Helping Kids Backpack program at Gleaners Community Food Bank. The birthday gal, who serves on the Gleaners’ board and as co-host with Betsy Laboe of the local cable show “Spectacles,” is in awe of her friends’ generosity and of her savvy daughter.

The last tally was $6,250, enough to provide more than a month’s worth of weekend meals to hungry children at two schools. As Ellen told her guests, “I learn so much more from (Madison) than she does from me.”

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Ellen Rogers’ 50th Benefitting Gleaners

OneXOne Preview Party

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1 1. Madison Romney (left) and her mother Ellen Rogers of Birmingham 1. Bob Yares of Southfield and event coordinator metalsmithing head/artist-in-residence Iris Eichenberg of Bloomfield. 2. Lynda (left) & Ron Charfoos, CAA director Reed Krakoff and Bob Ziegelman & Mary Linda Murphy of Bloomfield. 3. Evie (left) & Vern Wheat of Birmingham with metal student Tiffany Massey of Bloomfield. 4. Sandy (left) & Glenn Rosin and Ann & Dr. Paul Fecko of Bloomfield. 5. Mary Alice Bankert (left) of Birmingham and Felicia Molnar of Franklin. 6. Ceramic student Inkyo Back of Bloomfield and her vase.

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OneXOne Preview Party More than 250 people attended the Friday Preview Party of OneXOne, the artist market held in the abandoned Dalgleish Cadillac dealership just north of Wayne State University.

Cranbrook Academy of Art metalsmithing department head and artistin-residence Iris Eichenberg organized the event to showcase the work of current masters degree students, alumni and faculty. It was easy to spot the 100 vendors. Each wore a denim apron, grey scarf and knit cap. Most offered their work on a table covered with butcher paper. Limited-edition works included paintings, sculpture, jewelry, ceramic and paper objects.

Even a concrete chair. More than 350 people came the next day. So did they buy? You bet. When the doors closed, 04.11

more than 80 percent of the artists had sold at least one work.

Henry Ford Red Heart Blues Speaking of art, as I drove from the above-reported art market to The Henry for Henry Ford Health System’s Red Heart Blues fundraiser, I recalled the inaugural HFHS event. It was an auction of heart-theme art organized by art patron Phoebe Goldstein. Her husband Sidney is an HFHS cardiologist. The early events brought capacity crowds to the Machus Sly Fox Restaurant in Birmingham. Things change. The restaurant was replaced

by Borders Bookstore, Red Heart Blues morphed into a dinner dance and the HFHS Heart & Vascular Institute is now named for major benefactors Edith and Benson Ford. Ken and Marilyn Way chaired the Feb. 25 party that attracted nearly 250. They got cardiology updates from the institute directors, entertainment by two singing pianists and dance music by Simon Vitale, who got things jumping with Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.” There was still an auction and it did contain one piece of art – a Mary Aro watercolor of the 96-year-old Henry Ford Hospital. But the Botox Party for Five (consultation and two procedures per person donated by Dr. Lamont Jones) will likely make the successful bidder Stephanie Germack really popular. Thanks to the auction and generous sponsorships, Red Heart Blues 2011 raised nearly $240,000.

Lighthouse of Oakland Beacon of Hope A few of the 122 guests at the 20th annual Beacon of Hope fundraiser for Lighthouse of Oakland County did come to Orchard Lake Country Club with masks appropriate to the Carnival in Venice party theme, but most came to support the mission of the social service agency. Some also did the card readings and sat for the caricaturist during the cocktail hour.

All applauded when Lighthouse CEO John Ziraldo presented the Lighthouse Keepers Award to event sponsor Ford and Mark Fields, noting that Ford’s notion of holding tight to ones values got them through the stormy economic sea, and when Life Program graduate Connie Cavanaugh concluded her success story by declaring, “I can do it myself.” The event raised $45,000, including $7,300 from the silent auction, $2,500 from a four-item live auction and $1,200 from a raffle. But for downtownpublications.com

Henry Ford Red Heart Blues

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1. Event chairs Ken (left) & Marilyn Way of Bloomfield with their son Dave & Carrie Way of W. Bloomfield. 2. Edith & Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute heads Dr. Alex Shepard (left) and Dr. Gaetano Paon of Grosse Pointe and Dr. Doug Weaver of Birmingham. 3. Dr. Jan Rival and his wife Eva of Bloomfield. 4. Margaret & Fred Hubacker of Birmingham. 5. Margaret (left) & philanthropy board chair Gary Valade of Bloomfield and Henry Ford CEO Dr. John Popovich of Birmingham. 6. Foundation board member Maggie Allesee (left) and medical director of HFHS Dr. Mark Kelley of Bloomfield with successful auction bidder Stephanie Germack of Grosse Pointe.

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1. Dr. Gail White (left) & her husband Dr. Bob Chapman of Bloomfield with Jane & event honoree Ford’s Mark Fields of Dearborn Heights. 2. Event chair Julie Beaty (center) of Orchard Lake with auction chair Adrienne Crockett and her husband John of W. Bloomfield. 3. Board chair Richard (left) & Harriet Shapack with committee member Lynda & board member Dean Rocheleau of W. Bloomfield.

4. Lighthouse volunteer/event emcee Fox-2’s Roop Raj (left) & his wife Julie of W. Bloomfield with Priscilla & Fox-2’s Huel Perkins of Troy.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK most, the fun highlight of the evening was the performance by The Three Waiters, tenors who added engaging comedy to great vocals.

Emagine Entertainment Center Grand Opening

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Go Red for Women Luncheon The American Heart Association’s annual Go Red for Women Luncheon attracted 550 to the MGM Grand on Feb. 24. Many of them arrived early to take in the educational sessions and health screenings. The luncheon program comprised a Heart Healthy Makeover panel discussion with Beaumont’s Dr. Kavitha Chinnaiyan, St. John’s Dr. Joan Crawford and ITC’s Linda Blair, remarks by heart disease survivor Susie Dubin, national spokesperson Janine Krolikowski and sponsor Macy’s JoAnne Gunn, plus the ever popular red dress fashion show. The latter’s models included the event executive team led by Paula Silver and Deborah Greenman Arlin, sponsors and panel participants. The event raised $380,000. This included $11,000 from a silent auction, $21,750 Open Your Heart gifts for which donors got a red Blinky heart ring and $67,000 donated by GM Performance Parts.

This was the winning auction bid by a Texan for GMPP’s first production LSX454R crate engine. The company’s Jamie Meyer presented the check as well as two workshops (The Heart is the Engine Under the Hood) before lunch.

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1. Emagine Entertainment’s Paul Glantz (left), former Bloomfielder now of Lake Angelus, and event chair Len Dillon of Bloomfield. 2. Mel (left) & Gail Ball of W. Bloomfield with event hostess Kelly Shuert and Pam Dillon of Bloomfield. 3.

Event host Matt Shuert (center) with Kristi & Richard Hamed of Bloomfield. 4.

Karla Sherry (left) with Mark & Kim Reuss of Bloomfield. 5. Ruthie (left) & Marty Seltzer and Felicia Shaw of Birmingham with Pam Dillon of Bloomfield. 6. Joyce Shuert (left) of Bloomfield with Evgenia & Marc Jonna of Birmingham. 7. Archie & Anne Damman of Birmingham. 8. Rick Persiani (left), Judy Solomon and Michael Bressler of Birmingham.

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Emagine Entertainment Center Grand Opening Emagine Entertainment’s Paul Glantz was smiling like a Cheshire cat when he described his company’s new, state-of-the-art movie, boutique bowling and Celebrity Hall of Fame center soon to open at the corner of 11 Mile Road and Main Street in Royal Oak. “It’s really about our guests…to enhance the quality of life. Our goal is to make people smile,” he told the guests at Kelly and Matt Shuert’s reception for the center’s grand opening honorary committee. Then event chair Len Dillon declared, “I’m about selling tickets!” and explained that Glantz was donating everything for the red carpet/black tie event benefiting Variety, The Children’s Charity. This inspired Maggie Allessee to challenge her fellow committee members by buying $5,000 worth of tickets in honor of her husband Bob (nee “Bowling for Dollars” Allison –) who was president of Variety 35 years 04.11

ago. The grand charity opening – A Star is Born – is Friday evening, May 13. The glamorous evening will include gourmet food, beverages, entertainment and surprises. For tickets ($150, $250, $500), call Variety at (248) 258-5511.

The Passover Table Passover is not until April 18, this year but lots of area hostesses got ideas for staging their Seder dinner table at The Passover Table, a splendid exhibition of tablescapes. Elyse Foltyn and Fair Radom chaired the evening event that attracted some 165 people to Temple Beth El. The 18 design teams ranged from youngsters to grandmothers, amateurs to professionals. The designs ranged from the exotic (Moroccan Nights) to the traditional (Memories of Mom).

All used some form of the Seder plate and Kiddush cup. Annabel Cohen also used oranges, a relatively new symbol for tolerance. Jewelry designer Carol Segal Ziecik accented her table with her trademark gemstones. In addition to being a convivial party, the event raised $10,000 for Temple Beth El’s Prentis Family Religious School. It was also the last outing for dear Steve Radom. He lost his battle with brain cancer a week later.

The Passover Table

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4 SHE Charity Shopping event Molly Chernow and Michele Bleznak co-chaired the two-day charity shopping event at Sharon Eisenshtadt’s boutique SHE. The friendly German- born designer Heike Jarick, who confided she was much more petite before she relocated to New York in the early 90’s and married a chef, was the featured designer. The Jewish Federation’s Women’s Department was the charity. The WD welcomes and empowers women of all ages and stages of life.

Likewise the HeikeJarick collection, judging from the several generations of shoppers comprising a steady stream of shoppers. They were especially attracted to the flattering draped tops, skirts and dresses, as well as her coats and jackets. This reporter was partial to a beaded suede, bib-like collar. SHE is located just east of Telegraph on the north side of W. Maple Rd. Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390. downtownpublications.com

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1. Event co-chairs Fair Radom (left) of Bloomfield and Elyse Foltyn of Birmingham. 2.

Temple board president David (left) & Rose Handleman and Jill & Rabbi Daniel Syme of Bloomfield. 3. Will (left) & Jeffrey Shulak of Huntington Woods with table designer Annabel Cohen and Janelle McCammon of Bloomfield. 4. Table designer Jolie Altman (left) of Birmingham with Denny Prentis Brown of W. Bloomfield and Nanci Rands of Bloomfield. 5. Table designers Shelly Cooper of W. Bloomfield and her daughter Marla Cooper Singer of Bloomfield. 6. Table designer Adrienne Ruby-Fink of Orchard Lake with Michele & Brian Schubot of Bloomfield. 7. Table designers David & Laura Gorosh of Birmingham. 8. Table designers Barbi Krass (left) of W. Bloomfield, Angela Hughes of Northville and Andrea Campbell of Bloomfield.

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1. Event co-chair Molly Chernow (left) with Carolyn Bellinson of Bloomfield.

2. Elizabeth Guz (left) with WD president Marcie Orley of Franklin.

3. Sandra Mores (left) and Renee Handelsman of Bloomfield with designer Heike Jarick of NYC. 4. SHE owner Sharon Eisenshtadt (right) of Bloomfield with Trina Homer of Birmingham. 5. Bluma Schechter of Bloomfield.

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ENDNOTE

Impact from nightclubs’ problems fter a lengthy liquor license review and extensive public comments from friends of the owners of two local nightclubs, the Birmingham City Commission, with one dissenting member on Monday, Mar.21, did a 180turn on itself and renewed the liquor licenses of the Hamilton Room and South. We're both surprised that they did, and disappointed that the commission did not stand up for their original conviction which commissioner Scott Moore kept espousing: maintaining the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Birmingham.

The two establishments were the topic of public hearings to discuss the 2011 renewal of their Class C liquor licenses because of the unusually large amount of police reports and visits generated at each place, the number of assault and batteries which have happened either in, or outside, of each venue, and the number of disorderly conduct complaints that have occurred.

Police, commissioners and owners dispute the number of police calls made at each establishment, with police and commissioners claiming there have been dozens and dozens of calls, and owners and operators claiming those figures are misleading because many of those are self-generated by the police as venue walkthroughs, either as deterrents to problems, or in anticipation. Either way, South and Hamilton Room have changed the nature of Birmingham, and not in a way residents and businesses can be proud.

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During the commission meeting, city commissioners and club owners euphemistically referred to the club patrons and accompanying problems in terms of “demographics.” The reality is both places pull clientele from out of the area and at times have become gathering places for a problem segment of one particular cultural group.

Thanks to a “thug” element with a penchant for bravado, which can show up in any demographic group, the mixture of alcohol, testosterone and late night hours seems to generate fights and abuse amongst patrons and security staff, spilling into the streets of Birmingham. The problem has even spread to the 24-hour Leo's, where brawls are now becoming more common in the wee hours on weekends as the bars and nightclubs close. While the majority of patrons pose no problem, the “thug” element is another story and somehow must be removed from the downtown nightlife scene. Let them strut their stuff in some other community.

At the commission meeting, person after person spoke of how the owners and operators of Hamilton Room and South are wonderful people, which we do not dispute. What we do disagree with is their choice of establishments for Birmingham if it automatically means continuing weekend rumbles we have seen since both have opened. On the one hand it is nice that Birmingham can offer a true mix of nightlife in downtown. However, if these kinds of altercations continue, it will discourage many local

Birmingham and Bloomfield residents from coming into downtown, no longer bringing their dollars into bistros, restaurants, coffee shops and stores. It's not pretty. But it is reality.

Further, Birmingham's police force, a strong and competent department, is down seven officers in the last few years due to retirements, disability and budget reductions. The need to constantly monitor these two locations further depletes the department, diverting them from teens hanging out at Booth Park, in the center of downtown, from patrolling the city's streets for drunk drivers, from monitoring the neighborhoods—in short, from doing all of the non-emergency but critical police work they need to do on a daily basis, especially during summer weekends.

Commissioners say they gave Hamilton Room and South a one-year warning; if there continue to be similar problems, next year each will have their liquor licenses pulled. We hope that there are no problems at either South or at Hamilton Room in the next 12 months, that the owners review their business plans to rid their clubs of the bravado element, and that patrons enjoy themselves without any altercations. But if that does not happen, we hope the Birmingham city commission has the fortitude they need to cut the cord.

After all, it's about the health, safety and wellbeing of all the residents of Birmingham, not just those who frequent the nightclubs.

Communities must have ethics policy e were very surprised to learn this month that of the three municipalities for which we provide news coverage, only Birmingham has an actual ordinance covering the ethical behavior of their elected, appointed and volunteer leaders and employees.

While many people believe a lot of what is in the ordinance represents common sense, in an era where common sense isn't as common as it once was, every municipality should have an ethics policy or ordinance in place.

Ethics comes from a branch of philosophy that addresses questions of morality, and the concepts of good and evil, right and wrong, virtues vs. vices, and what is appropriate justice for a crime. The key to a good ethics ordinance, or policy, is to avoid even the whiff of impropriety or conflict of interest. As someone said, “If you have to ask, then it's probably unethical.”

An ordinance allows a community to ask the questions, explore appropriate answers and find the solution which fits the situation. By not

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having an ordinance or policy, it precludes the ability to ask the question, often until there is an actual problem. We all know now that Kwame Kilpatrick's mayoral administration was corrupt, but taken instance by instance, how many people take home a work cell phone? Make a personal call on it? Use it for a personal text?

Hopefully, misdeeds as gross as Kilpatrick's are not regularly done, but minor transgressions lead to major ones. By having a policy which states what is allowed—and what is not—it permits officials, employees and members of the community to operate from the same page. A clean one.

Surprisingly, both the Michigan Municipal League and the Michigan Township Association believe that a majority of municipalities do not have ethics policies in place, although they both provide sample ordinances and policies on the web for free to any community that would like to use it.

The state of Michigan, however, has had the Ethics Act of 1973 on the books for almost 40

years, with only minor revisions since. It states that: “A public officer or employee shall not divulge to an unauthorized person, confidential information acquired in the course of employment in advance of the time prescribed for its authorized release to the public; ...shall not use personnel resources, property and funds under the officer or employee's official care and control judiciously and solely in accordance with prescribed...procedures and not for personal gain and benefit...shall not solicit or accept a gift or loan of money, goods, services or other thing of value for the benefit of a person or organization, other than the state, which tends to influence the manner in which the public officer or employee or another public officer or employee performs official duties.”

Common sense? Perhaps. But it's only common when everyone does it. We urge Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township to join Birmingham in enacting an ethics ordinance as a proactive approach before any problems arise.

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