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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP

SEPTICS: SURFACE, GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATION CHARTER SCHOOLS: A PERFORMANCE REPORT CARD RIGHT TO COMMENT: MANAGING PUBLIC MEETINGS ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM

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DOWNTOWN02.17

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Charter schools: A performance report card There are over 144,00 students in the state attending school at 380 charter schools and 11,000 of those pupils attend 27 charter schools in Oakland County but the verdict is still out on whether this movement has improved education.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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Even though state voters have twice cast ballots by large margins against a proposed change to the Michigan Constitution to allow vouchers to send children to private/religious schools, the battle could be re-ignited in the Trump administration.

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

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Our political gossip/rumor column – this month on race for GOP political party chair; Geoffrey Fieger commercial hint of things to come; state lawmaker assignments; Gov. Snyder makes TSL; plus more.

CRIME LOCATOR

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

THE COVER

MUNICIPAL

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BSD budget to allow for Old Woodward project impact; Birmingham parking rates to rise; ethics board to weigh conflict question; boutique hotel planned for Birmingham; new restaurant at movie theater; Fielder contract renewed; plus more.

Bloomfield Hills High School on Andover Road in Bloomfield Hills. The new high school resulted from the combination of Andover and Lahser high schools in the district. Photo: Jim Haefner

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Impact of septic systems It’s estimated that of the 80,000 septic systems in Oakland that 10 percent are failing and impacting surface and groundwater supplies.

59 Comments at public meetings State law provides for public comments at municipal meetings but the rules of engagement vary in many local Oakland County communities.

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Victor Pytko

FACES SOCIAL LIGHTS

101

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

ENDNOTE

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Oakland County should develop inspection requirements for residential septic systems; our take on managing government meetings while allowing the public to comment.

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Victor Pytko Steve Claramunt Thomas Fiscella Roop Raj

PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar | Aileen Wingblad PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski Carol Barr GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to most homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in downtown Birmingham.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER he next battle in Michigan we will more than likely have to decide – one more time – is the issue of whether tax dollars intended for public education should be allowed to be used through some type of voucher system so parents can choose to send their children to private (including parochial) schools.

T

We have decided this issue twice before, in 1978 and again in 2000, when voters rejected a change to the Michigan Constitution that would have wiped out a 1970 voter-approved amendment barring private or religious schools from receiving public tax revenue. In the 2000 effort, voters turned down by a margin of 69 to 31 percent, the voucher system proposal that would have allowed for $3,500 of public school funding to follow a student to a private or parochial school.

Interestingly enough, it was rejected in Oakland County and it was also defeated in Wayne County, 72-28 percent. Even in the Detroit black community, the voucher question lost basically by a four-to-one margin and among Catholics, a 64-36 percent loss, despite the power of the pulpit where priests urged parishioners to support it and the fact that the Archdiocese of Detroit poured a reported $2 million to back the proposal.

As of this writing, 37 states have prohibitions against use of tax dollars to attend religious schools.

Public sentiment in 16-18 years could have changed but I consider it unlikely when the public school systems in Michigan are scrapping for dollars now both for the classroom and to fund legacy retirement obligations made decades ago before school administrators realized the long-term impact that has come home to roost.

The issue is likely to surface on the radar and at the ballot box in the shortterm future because, as this issue went to press, Betsy DeVos, a member of the Donor Class in Michigan and a prime mover behind much of what you see here and in other states in terms of charter schools or academies, was being interviewed by members of the U.S. Senate for possible appointment to be the Secretary of Education in the new administration. Donald Trump has promised during the 2016 campaign to create a $20 billion block grant program to fund a charter and private school choice (i.e. voucher) program for what he has termed as “poor” children. As expected from an official who generally communicates in 140 character Twitter pronouncements, no other details have been provided, although it has been suggested that the vouchers could be worth around $12,000 per student. No word on whether this money would come out of the coffers that now benefit the public schools in the nation.

Before I go any further, I should flag readers that I spent from first through fourth grade in a parochial school in Detroit, then grades 10-12 getting a parochial education – the latter years my choice and tuition was paid from my summer lawn mowing jobs, when the suburban (Utica) public school district was so overcrowded that we were basically on a half-day schedule, part of which was spent being bused to other school buildings for class. Throw in increasing violence in what then was the only high school and that’s all it took to motivate me to find an alternative.

We also provided a private school education for our two sons, in large part to shelter them from any possible blow back in the local public school district where we lived, given the nature of my work and my periodic published opposition to some less than deserving – let alone never ending – school millage proposals in the pre-Proposal A period in Michigan, all of which got pinned on the bulletin board in the teachers’ lounge. Add to that the quality of education in our Oakland County school district at the time was, to put it

mildly, still evolving, as was the district’s student population that thought conflict resolution meant a rumble in some cornfield after school. The decision was an easy one to make.

So of all people, I get the varied reasons people might have for sending their children to private and parochial schools and certainly don’t fault anyone – unless they plan to do it on my tax dollar.

Let’s remind ourselves that when our founding fathers set up this country, one of the things they provided was free education, a direct rejection of what they had witnessed in Europe where only the members of the wealthy class got an education.

But let’s get back to Betsy DeVos, wife of Dick DeVos, he of the Amway company fortune and she of her own family auto-related wealth, much of which – many millions – has been used to add to the narrative that has allowed the west Michigan power brokers to influence much of what you see happening in Lansing nowadays on a host of farther right litmus social issues.

Betsy DeVos has not restricted her political donations to just Michigan lawmakers but the largess has found its way into the pockets of lawmakers from other states when it comes to voting on issues related to education “reform” – the charter school and school voucher movement.

In terms of political contributions to Michigan pols, the DeVos family has been very generous when they want to push their viewpoint relative to school choice, which is certainly their right. There is a direct correlation between their political donations and how many lawmakers voted on issues related to a cap (no longer) on the number of charter schools in the state and the slowness in dealing with legislation providing for oversight and accountability on the charter schools or academies. And amidst all of this, Betsy DeVos has been forthcoming that she clearly expects a return on her dollar when it comes to backing state lawmakers.

Assuming the U.S. Senate – controlled by Republicans – approves of the DeVos appointment, we will be left with a Secretary of Education who often intertwines her Christian religious views with what she sees as the role of education for the future. Someone who brings no formal training or experience in the classroom. Someone on a mission to allow, through vouchers, public tax dollars to move with students to private (including parochial) schools. And someone who wants the states to determine educational standards, with no national requirements.

Sorry, that is not the solution to any of the problems facing the public education system in the nation or in Michigan which I think must be defended against any further erosion on the financial side. Additionally, I buy into the argument that a free-market approach allowing parents to take public tax dollars for children to attend private and parochial schools could more than likely leave the public school system with the students who are harder to educate because they are not likely to be accepted by private and parochial schools. The result would be an education system where class and social distinctions would be even more pronounced than they are now.

Although my children are no longer in school, I still feel that I, along with everyone else in the local area, have a dog in this fight. Public schools are a critical component in the fabric of local communities. So I am ready for round three in this battle if that’s what it takes.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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02.17

INCOMING No apology needed P. O'Halloran of Bloomfield Township writes (Incoming/January) that an apology is required from JM Merritt for criticism of C. McAlister for her support of Trump. I don't agree.

If someone supports a candidate that demeans individuals, encourages violence, is disrespectful of women and more, one must take responsibility for those views as their own. Why else would you support a candidate unless you accept what they say? I don't buy a protest vote because you dislike the other candidate more. Neither, party allegiance.

We all need to be more deliberate in our voting. We are responsible for the outcome. We need to understand what we are buying into with a candidate.

Michael Wasielewski Bloomfield Township

Oakland Confidential (via our website) I think this article (Oakland Confidential/January) on Betsy DeVos is one-sided and neglects to discuss all of the positive work she has done for children. As a former reporter, this article would never have slipped by my copy editor as it doesn't give a fair assessment of Mrs. DeVos. It is fair to quote her critics, but the article is missing quotes from her supporters so the reader can draw his/her own conclusions. This is disappointing journalism.

Suzie Rollins Mitchell President, Mitchell Research & Communications (Publisher’s note: Oakland Confidential is a periodic column of political/government news and gossip, gathered on- and off-therecord; as such, we take some liberties beyond our strict standards for traditional new stories.)

If you expect fair and balanced journalism from Downtown, you are operating under an allusion of some kind. Many, if not most, Downtown (news) reportings are biased, separate and seemingly unconnected to anything close to truths or balance.

Rich Wise Who are her supporters other than religious institutions that stand to profit from getting vouchers when downtownpublications.com

she succeeds in getting them in against the public will and the charter school profiteers? The forprofit charter schools have bled public schools dry with absolutely no improvement in student results.

Mary Ward Rochester Hills Operating under an "allusion?"

Good trick if you can manage it. In my honest opinion, Downtown's reporting is excellent.

DeVos is a very poor choice for any position that has anything to do with public school policy.

Ralph Deeds Bloomfield Township While your information concerning Birmingham/Bloomfield is always interesting, your one-sided political/ranting is not welcome or accepted here.

Dale Kessler Birmingham Thanks for the informative article.

We need more scrutiny of everyone in a position to make public policy.

Roz Brk Detroit

President Trump support Poor Ms. Wendy Drum, Esq. (Incoming/January) can no longer trust her deplorable neighbors that supported Donald Trump.

I assume she rather have me support a candidate that supports the abortion of one million fetuses each year. That is one in five pregnancies that end with an abortion, some even in the ninth month of the term.

I assume she’d rather have me support poorly crafted trade deals that destroy middle class jobs. The loss of those jobs resulting in a damaged “culture of hard work” replaced by more food stamps, welfare, Medicaid, and urban decay.

Perhaps she’d rather have me support ignoring the law and giving amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants. What other laws should we ignore?

Maybe she (would) rather have me support a candidate that has disdain for the police. No matter that 762 people were killed by violence in Chicago last year.

I could continue but you get my point.

Ronald DiLiddo Rochester Hills

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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL Oakland Confidential is a periodic column of political/government news and gossip, gathered both on and off-the-record by staff members at Downtown newsmagazine. We welcome possible items for this column (all sources are kept strictly confidential) which can be emailed to: OaklandConfidential@DowntownPublications.com.

Everybody make nice: While a candidate backed by President Donald Trump ousted the Ohio GOP state chair in a hotly contested race to run that state’s Republican party after Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) failed to support PresidentelectTrump, word from insiders is that Trump will not throw his weight around in Michigan to put the guy who purportedly delivered Michigan for him, Scott Hagerstrom. Hagerstrom, a former state director of Americans for Prosperity in Michigan (read Tea Party) directed Trump’s campaign in Michigan, and announced in December that he would seek the Michigan Republican Party chairmanship. Thing is, Ron Weiser, member HAGERSTROM of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, has his eye on that position. However, Weiser is a very large donor to the Republican Party, was an ambassador to Slovakia under former President George W. Bush, and is a previous Michigan GOP party chair, from 2009 to 2011. According to a source, Weiser, who was named to the Trump inauguration committee, spoke to Trump chief strategist and senior counselor to the presidency Steve Bannon, receiving the administration’s support. “I just think Weiser is the better choice,” said Jeff Sakwa, who was co-chair of the party with Ronna Romney McDaniel, who is becoming the national party chair, and briefly ran for the state chairmanship. “When he called and said he WEISER wanted the job, I said, ‘Amen.’ I was very flattered that people considered me, but I like being in the background, helping people. Ron asked me to be part of his team and I will be.” Another source said Weiser offered Hagerstrom a job for the sake of party unity, and Hagerstrom allegedly turned him down. “Now he’ll be unemployed,” the source said. “He’s a nice guy. But his supporters aren’t.”

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Power plays: January is not only the beginning of the new year, but the start of new legislative sessions. Following elections, that means new leadership in the House (the Senate structure stays the same for four years) and new committee assignments for legislators. One Oakland County legislator said of the incoming state House leadership, led by Rep. Tom Leonard (R-DeWitt), and coupled with 40 new House members, “They’re going to be doozies. Stay tuned. I think it’s going to be Comedy Hour. Let them try to run it – they’re very naïve. It’s all political gamesmanship. They’re all positioning themselves for the next thing. This is what term limits bring.” Another Oakland County representative was more circumspect. “In general, it’s a wait-and-see approach. The incoming folks (who all come from the west side of the state) are a little more conservative than the previous leadership.” But he noted, “We’re (the House) just one of three legs of the governing stool. Even if they get a little out ahead of themselves, we work with the other two legs.” The Oakland County leaders said they had backed another leadership team – which didn’t win. “I backed a different team, and they hold grudges,” one said, referring to committee assignments that will be made any day now. He, and other Oakland lawmakers, don’t expect to receive committee chairmanships, although under other circumstances, they would have. “At the end of the day, I have to get things done for the people of my district, and not myself. At the end of the term, you want people to thank you. Because your constituents don’t know (what committee you’re on). It doesn’t mean anything outside Lansing.”

Who’s on first: A close associate of Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has confirmed that Schuette is about to announce he is running for governor in 2018, which has long been rumored. Schuette, a Republican from Midland, has long been in the public eye, first as a state representative, and then as a failed U.S. Senate candidate, when he took on former Senator Carl Levin in 1990. He later became a state senator, and served in a post in Australia for former President George W. Bush and as an appeals court judge. As attorney general, he has allegedly been at odds with Gov. Rick Snyder, as well as both liberals and moderates, but has made a name for himself with conservatives, taking on Michigan’s medical marijuana SCHUETTE law, suing to stop gay marriage, and indicting those he believes could be at fault for the Flint Water Crisis. Lieutenant Governor Brian Calley

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One politico said Calley is a “sharp guy, (but) he’s on Snyder’s coattails, for good and bad.” If no other Republicans run, the money currently is on Schuette getting the party’s nod. “The only one who could beat Bill is Candice Miller (R-Macomb County Public Works Commissioner, former congresswoman),” the politico said. “With her, it’s all pretty good stuff. It’s all about the people and fixing things. If she jumps in, it could pose a problem for Bill. She’s got a high profile, and it’s only getting CALLEY bigger with this Fraser (sinkhole) situation.” As they say, stay tuned.

Hop to it: Complaining about waiting in line at the Secretary of State’s office has been a thing so long, Secretary of State Ruth Johnson actually did something about it. It’s called ExpressSOS, where you can go online and take care of lots of traditional business, from renewing your driver’s license and vehicle tabs to duplicate registrations and updating information.

Problem is, not many people have known about it, or are using it. So someone (or a team) convinced Johnson to advertise the speedy service – using a kangaroo. Then they nicknamed her “KangaRuth.” No. It’s not a good idea. It’s actually painful. So use ExpressSOS, if only to put the kangaroo – and KangaRuth – out of their misery.

Ted Ted Edginton Edginton ted.edginton@usbank.com ted.edginton@usbank.com 248-866-9460 248-866-9460

Two can play that game: Hindsight might be 20/20 for political analysts who have been trying to wrap their heads around President Donald Trump's electoral win, but Southfield attorney Geoffrey Fieger appears to see "2020: A Clear Vision" as a potential bid for a presidential run. The slogan is featured in a recent commercial being run by the one-time Democratic gubernatorial candidate, in which he calls out the new president for promoting a non-inclusion vision. "Donald Trump has succeeded in uncovering many of the feelings of millions of Americans, and to say it isn't pretty is an understatement," Fieger says in the minute-long commercial. "Bigotry, misogyny, intolerance and out-and-out racism are front and center." Commenting from his law office on January 19, FIEGER Fieger said he can beat Trump at his own game because he isn't a career politician. "The Democrats to my knowledge are all wimps, just like the Republicans, but the Democrats are better people," he said. "Trump isn't a politician. He said a lot of outrageous things that should never been accepted, but in terms of his ability to make politicians look goofy, I kind of like that, but I'm better at it than he is." Fieger said while it's too early to declare whether he will make a run for the presidency, he doesn't feel Trump has the intellectual ability or curiosity to run his own company, let alone the country. "By his own admission, he has never even read a book all the way through," he said. Whether a debate between the two men would be on a stage or in a steel cage remains to be seen, but any meeting between the two is sure to have the bombast and spectacle of a Don King boxing event.

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TSL: This month’s entry goes directly to Governor Rick Snyder – he who has always professed to being above politics, for an ultimate now-you-see-itnow-you-don’t manipulation that could make a true politician blush. Six years into the gubernatorial game, Snyder played a round of patronage. It seems the Michigan Court of Appeals was slated to lose a judge due to budget constraints, saving taxpayers money – going back to a plan Snyder pushed for in 2012. Appellate judge Donald Owens submitted his resignation in October 2016, effective New Year’s Day 2017. But, voila!

Snyder appointed Brock Swartzle, 45, previously chief counsel to the House GOP caucus and with no prior judicial experience, to the seat on the court – nullifying the cost savings. An appellate judge in Michigan earns $153,000, plus staff and court costs. What happened to the plan? The savings was to come when a term ended for an appeals court position but a resignation before a term actually ends allowed the governor to make an appointment.

That’s politics for you.

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Oops: Last month, we erroneously spelled the name of Malissa Bossardet in a bit about who may run in 2018 for the Michigan House 40th District seat. She let us know about that, and that, yes, after years of being active in state Republican politics, she is considering running for the open seat after current Rep. Mike McCready is term-limited. Even us ink-stained wretches at Downtown mess up from time to time.

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These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills through January 15, 2017.

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FACES Victor Pytko enowned painter and actor Victor Pytko has acted alongside Alist celebrities like Hillary Swank and Sigourney Weaver, and as an artist, today his paintings can be viewed at the Birmingham Museum. “(The exhibit) started in December 2016 and will be there for a year. There are about 26 pieces.”

The award-winning artist became interested in painting as a boy.

His fascination for art was solidified after meeting the acclaimed artist Grandma Moses.

“I grew up in upstate New York in a small town where Grandma Moses grew up. Her great-great-granddaughter was a classmate of mine. In the fifth grade, she brought Grandma Moses in to school and she entertained us.”

Pytko admired Moses’s pursuit of her passion late in life.

“She was discovered around age 76, and she became a celebrity really quickly,” he said. “She was a role model, especially in my adult life.”

Before honing in on his aptitude for art, Pytko was a news writer and worked in public relations. He moved to Birmingham 19 years ago and took courses at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center.

“After five years of classes there, I thought it was time to graduate and I got a studio in downtown Detroit.”

Best known for landscapes, Pytko took courses in abstract art and began to incorporate that into his paintings. “There are a lot of misconceptions of what art is supposed to be. Just about anything can be used to create an image. One of my favorite art stores is the hardware store. To me, an artist has no responsibility except creation.”

Pytko’s work has been exhibited in galleries, pop-ups, charity events, wine shops and coffee houses.

In addition to his career as a revered artist, Pytko successfully cultivated a career in acting without any formal training.

“I’ve been in about 65 movie projects one way or another,” he said. “I’ve worked as an extra and had the opportunity to be on a movie set.”

His first role was in the 2006 film Offshore, which was filmed in Michigan and India. He also acted in the 2011 comedy Cedar Rapids starring Ed Helms and Anne Heche.

In July 2017, he will be seen alongside A-list celebrities. Due to a confidentiality agreement, he is unable to elaborate on the project. “It’s a significant minor role,” he said. “I get one-on-one time with the star.”

Between acting and painting, Pytko is able to share his artistry through different mediums and he enjoys painting outdoors around Birmingham.

“My favorite place (to paint) is anywhere I can set up an easel,” he said. “I’m always willing to engage (the public). I’ll hand a stranger a brush and they are free to make marks and let the creativity flow.”

Pytko feels fortunate to have a career that allows him to express himself and interact with the public on a unique level.

“One thing I learned about art is that most success comes from enjoying what you’re doing, regardless of what people think,” he said. “People start to look at it and relate to it.”

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Story: Katey Meisner

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CHARTER SCHOOLS ASSESSING WHETHER STUDENTS ARE BETTER OFF THAN IN TRADITIONAL CLASS

BY LISA BRODY public school education is as enshrined in America as the Pilgrims, with the first public school founded in Boston in 1635.

But there have always been private and parochial schools for those who have made that personal family choice, although by and large our zip codes have made the decision of which school our children would attend.

For the last quarter century, there has been another factor that has both intrigued and alienated the public school community â&#x20AC;&#x201C; public school academies, or charter schools, paid for with public school dollars but available to select communities. In many areas of Michigan, including here in Oakland County, charter school populations are primarily comprised of disadvantaged youth, with test scores and achievement metrics failing to meet higher educational goals. To some, this indicates they are failing schools taking money out of the coffers of public education. To others, it just means there is more to do to provide better choices for an at-risk population.

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“We've had school choice for years for people of means, for people who could move from an urban to a suburban school district, or for people who could pay for private school tuition – no one could begrudge them for paying for private school education while also paying to support local education through their taxes. Public school academies, or charter schools, provide choice for those who don't have the means to move or to pay private school tuition,” Gary Naeyaert said, executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP), a non-profit advocacy organization supporting quality choices in public education.

To Loretta James of Pontiac, choice for the sake of choice no longer looks like a better option, after sending her granddaughter Harmony Brown to the Michigan School for the Arts in Pontiac since kindergarten, a charter school authorized by Oakland University.

Harmony, now a fifth grader at the school, has grades “that are not where they should be. For it to be a charter, her grades are Cs and Ds,” James said. “She could do a lot better, but there's not a lot of encouraging (from her teachers) for her to do better. There's no one (from the school) calling to have the students be better. The teacher isn't encouraging her to turn in work, or to help the kids all the time. Harmony could study more – but the school needs to set a better guideline.

“When I went to school, most teachers wouldn't put up with a kid saying, 'I don't feel like doing that today,' and then just sending a note home,” James contended. Rather than feeling like there are more educational options, she said she feels trapped. She would like to switch and enroll

THERE ARE 380 CHARTER SCHOOLS IN THE STATE OF MICHIGAN AND 27 CHARTER SCHOOLS LOCATED AND OPERATING IN OAKLAND COUNTY, WHERE ALMOST 11,000 STUDENTS ATTEND CHARTER SCHOOLS. Harmony into the Avondale School District, but hasn't been able to so far.

“My niece and nephew went to charter schools, and we thought they were doing well, too,” James said. “Now they're at Avondale, and they're way behind. My nephew isn't reading well, and is getting tutoring after school.

They (his charter school) were just passing him along, and not checking if he could read. My niece needed speech because she wasn't speaking well, and it turns out she needed her teeth fixed. Avondale wanted to hold her back a year.

“There's not a lot of choices. People think the charters are good – but they're not. And Pontiac Schools are worse,” she said. A possibility, she said, is to move from Pontiac into the Avondale district to provide Harmony with a better educational option.

Michigan School for the Arts is one of over 380 in the state and one of 27 charter schools located and operating in Oakland County, where almost 11,000 students attend charter schools. According to Jared Burkhart, executive director of Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers (MCCSA), as of spring 2016, there were 144,539 students in Michigan in some kind of a charter school with varying themes or educational emphasis, ranging from ones focused on the arts; Montessori in format; or with an aviation focus, like the West Michigan Aviation Academy at Gerald Ford Airport in Grand Rapids.

Loretta James and her daughter chose Pontiac's Michigan School for the Arts for Harmony not only because it is close to their home, but because they were sold its arts emphasis. Yet James said Harmony is

frustrated as a fifth grader, having to choose between instrumental music and dance. “They do have arts, but they're both electives, so she does dance,” James said.

“Parents value choices, getting to choose where their children go,” said Dan Quisenberry, president of Michigan Association of Public School Academies (MAPSA). Noting that parents have two significant choices, “Interdistrict choice, which about 150,000 parents and students choose, and charter schools.”

Not all school districts permit interdistrict choice, including Birmingham Public Schools, Bloomfield Hills Schools and Rochester Consolidated Schools.

Asked if it would be satisfactory to just have interdistrict choice, without the option of public school charters, Quisenberry said it would not be. “Sometimes that's not a choice, if parents aren't able to travel, or have other limitations. In the old system, where students were assigned by zip code, choice was limited. Now, you can move inside a district, to a charter, to another charter.

With charters, there is the ability for innovation. Charter schools are an opportunity – not all of them succeed, just like not all traditional schools succeed. But there are all of the same barometers and metrics (for educational standards).”

Charters, also called public school academies, are publicly funded, receiving the school foundation grant from the state of Michigan, also known as the per pupil funding for a student, which for the 2016-2017 school year is $7,391 per student, that follows a student to whichever public school they attend. They are not permitted to receive any additional millage funding a district may attach to the foundation grant.

All of this was established in 1994 with the adoption of Proposal A, which was a radical sea change in the state for how residents had their properties taxed, severing the tie between residential property tax and school funding.

Prior to 1994, local school districts were primarily funded through property taxes. Faced with increasingly high taxes, there were multiple attempts to refinance school funding, with success finally in 1994 when Michigan voters approved a new system of funding schools, known as Proposal A. It led to three key changes: It eliminated the use of local property taxes as a source of school funding, and created a new state education tax; it raised the state sales tax from four cents to six cents, with the extra money going to the school aid fund, which is the state budget for schools; and it set up a requirement for a base amount – known as the foundation grant – for the state's lowest-funded districts to receive and materially closed the gap between those schools and higher-funded districts.

A fourth element of Proposal A was the creation of public school academies, independent of local school districts, schools that were publicly funded and publicly accountable, yet privately run. In Michigan, a charter school must have an authorizing institution which oversees their operations. There is no oversight upon the authorizing institution. Burkhart of the MCCSA explained that there can be four types of entities that can be authorizers: public universities; community colleges; intermediate school districts; and public school districts.

“Of the 14 public universities in Michigan, eight act as authorizers, and there are a few community colleges,” he said. Included on the list is Oakland University, which is the authorizer for Michigan School for the Arts and Four Corners Montessori Academy in Madison Heights, as well as charter schools in Dearborn and Detroit, according to Brian Bierley, director of media relations at Oakland University. Oakland Community College is not an authorizer of any charter schools.

“Most authorizers have at least one or two schools. All of our schools have a minimum of seven to be in our organization. The largest is Grand Valley State University (in Allendale), which has more than 60 charters it authorizes, and Central Michigan University (in Mount Pleasant), which has a lot as well. Those two have a fulltime staff member overseeing their charter schools,” Burkhart said.

Oakland Schools, Oakland County's intermediate school district, stated that they have no involvement with charter schools. The Madison Heights School District is the only Oakland County school district that acts as an authorizer, for the Keys Grace Academy.

An authorizer approves the curriculum, can provide academic support, although it may not, and can help with the hiring of staff and administrators. “Each authorizer is a little different. Grand Valley provides a lot of support in reading. They provide reading support and development support to the staff, while other authorizers see their role as just oversight, and allow their schools to act autonomously, letting them develop their programs independently,” Burkhart said. “From our perspective, that's great. If there's a school that's working well, that wants to be just by the numbers, and the authorizer will provide that kind of oversight. Other schools want more hands-on professional development, and some authorizers provide that.”

According to the Michigan Department of Education, charter schools can include K-12 or any combination of those grades, they may not charge tuition, and must serve anyone who applies to attend up to their enrollment capacity. “That is, they may not screen out students based on race, religion, gender, or test scores.” They can have a lottery if enrollment exceeds capacity. Charter schools must also have a charter school board of directors overseeing their administration. By law, the school board – which holds the school's charter – must be a non-profit entity. Yet in Michigan, Gary Naeyaert, executive director of GLEP, acknowledged, 48 percent – or 183 – of Michigan's charter schools are operated by full service management companies that are for-profit, which he said is permissible.

“It's no different than privatizing for any service, like Aramark for food services or someone for janitorial or transportation,” Naeyaert said. “Eighty percent of charters have private contractors for some services. But then, 70 percent of traditional districts have privatized outside contractors, as well.”

What Naeyaert said is an urban myth is the image that there are “tons of national companies coming into Michigan to run these charters and take over our kids. It's just not true.” He said while there are over 80 management companies running about 300 charters in the state, over 90 percent are small Michigan-based management companies. “No out-of-state firm works with more than four schools.

“Only a handful – less than 10 in the whole state – have more than five charters they operate and manage,” he said.

Despite information to the contrary, all charter school teachers must be certified as all other public school teachers are, although there are times that exceptions are made. Charter school students are assessed annually by the MEAP and other applicable state and national assessment exams, and charter schools are required to administer other state mandated assessments such as the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) and the English Language Proficiency Assessment (ELPA), and are mandated to adopt the model curriculum of the state, which currently is Common Core.

While there are charters that appear to be religiouslyaffiliated, such as Oakland County's Crescent Academy in Oak Park, which has a Muslim environment, or Keys Grace Academy in Madison Heights, whose mission is “preserving the Chaldean/Assyrian/Syrian heritage through culture, language and history,” charter schools in Michigan, and the rest of the United States, are prohibited from being religiously affiliated. The Michigan Department of Education stated, “A charter school must maintain the separation between church and state.”

“The religious/fundamentalist agenda has been banned by law,” said Burkhart. “It's been disallowed to incorporate religious education into public schools, despite rumors to the contrary. The authorizers are doing checks to make sure that's not happening.”

Quisenberry concurred. “It's just not true. We have

authorizers checking for things like that.”

He continued, “There's a difference between culture and religion. What they're (Keys Academy, Crescent Academy) talking about is honoring their heritage. That's allowable and legal. But they can't teach their religion.

Some of these schools are accommodating and appealing to a specific culture. They can appeal and teach everything but the religion. In Dearborn, there are many Arab American charter schools, for refugee parents. It's very difficult to assimilate. In Dearborn, it is a huge cultural issue, and a need there. They're monitored, so if they do teach their religion, there are consequences.”

Halley Potter, a fellow at The Century Foundation in New York, a progressive, non-partisan think tank that seeks to foster opportunity and reduce inequality, and the co-author, with Richard Kahlenberg, of A Smarter Charter, said, “There's a long history in this country of public education, and it would be a step in the opposite direction if we were sending public funds to sectarian schools. There are a small number of religious or ethnic schools nationwide that do qualify as that. Charter school law across the country prohibits it by law – but there are gray areas. Time will tell (if religion) is a real threat to public education. It's a particular threat with private school vouchers. There are a great proportion of private schools that are religiously affiliated.”

While unsuccessful in her attempts so far in Michigan, President Trump's Secretary of Education nominee Betsy DeVos of Grand Rapids has sought the acceptance and approval for the use of private school vouchers in Michigan, which would cross the line between the

A CHARTER SCHOOL AUTHORIZER IN MICHIGAN APPROVES THE CURRICULUM, CAN PROVIDE ACADEMIC SUPPORT, ALTHOUGH IT MAY NOT, AND CAN HELP WITH THE HIRING OF STAFF AND ADMINISTRATORS. separation of church and state. DeVos, a wealthy philanthropist, GOP donor and former chair of the state Republican Party, and education activist, has been a longtime charter school and voucher advocate who also has strong ties to the Reformed Christian community. Until nominated for her new post, she chaired the American Federation for Children, an organization devoted to expanding school of choice options across the country, including school vouchers, scholarship tax credit programs, and virtual and charter schools.

In Michigan, DeVos has championed the expansion of school choice through charter schools, financially supporting legislation and rewarding Michigan legislators and other lawmakers around the country. But Monica Disare wrote in December 2016 in The Atlantic that “DeVos' brand of school choice, which so far has focused on fighting for private-school vouchers and less charter oversight,” worrying many charter school leaders.

According to the New York Times, “It is hard to find anyone more passionate about the idea of steering public dollars away from traditional public schools than Betsy DeVos,” and a piece in The Washington Post stated that “her positions on school vouchers appear to be motivated by her Christian faith.”

One of the efforts of Betsy and husband Dick DeVos, of the Amway fortune, has been to fund the Great Lakes Education Project (GLEP). Naeyaert, executive director of GLEP, said, “We're funded by a variety of people, including Betsy DeVos and other members of the DeVos family.”

Of DeVos, Naeyaert said, “She is a disrupter, and she's an advocate for at-risk kids. She is motivated for kids

whose whole lives are defined by their family's situation – are they from families who read to them? Her whole mantra is defined by that.”

Of criticism that DeVos, a public school reformer who has never been trained as an educator or school administrator herself, he said, “Her goal is not to be a classroom educator. Her goal in school choice is to chart a new course, and to ensure they (disadvantaged students) have better opportunities for a different educational outcome. She is not an expert in pedagogy, in curriculum, especially not from the traditional educational establishment, and this is considered a plus to President Trump. Because you're not electing a top educator – it is the policy leader. She will direct policies. There are 5,000 people who work for the Department of Education. Of that, there are many thousands who are experts in curriculum.”

As for a push or trend toward a more fundamentalist or religious agenda, Naeyaert said he couldn't comment, but added, “It isn't her desire to insert religion into mainstream education. It's not her goal to dismantle public education. She's advocating choice as an extension of public education, not a replacement for public education.

“If I were a rank and file superintendent or teacher, I would be very pleased to see Betsy DeVos (as Secretary of Education) because she isn't interested in micromanaging districts or classrooms. She plans to be the Secretary of Education for all students,” Naeyaert continued.

“I support school choice. In fact, I'd like to see more choice for parents and students...I just want the choice to

DESPITE INFORMATION TO THE CONTRARY, ALL CHARTER SCHOOL TEACHERS MUST BE CERTIFIED AS ALL OTHER PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS ARE, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TIMES THAT EXCEPTIONS ARE MADE. be quality choices that make sense,” said state superintendent Brian Whiston. “We need to have a policy conversation around this idea of putting two schools next to each other, then telling them to compete. I believe Michigan does need some regulation surrounding that, and I was a vocal supporter of the Detroit Education Commission (DEC) that was discussed during the Detroit Schools reform legislation last spring.”

But many public school administrators and teachers are not pleased – they're actually very concerned. Charter schools overall are non-unionized, and do provide much less oversight on the education, despite charter advocates assertions, than traditional public schools, and overall have not had better educational results.

“I believe charters can provide opportunities for innovation in school districts. They can service, not unlike a business incubator, an incubator for new and innovative ways for educating children. With that said, I also have concerns of existing outside of a school district. My greatest wish, if charter schools are to be maintained as an option, is they can also be instrumentalities of a school district,” said Dr. Daniel Nerad, superintendent of Birmingham Public Schools.

“DeVos' record in Detroit – which reformers and teachers unions alike agree is abysmal – might provide progressive charter advocates with an opportunity to separate themselves from failing online charter schools, charter schools with zero tolerance policies, and for-profit charter schools,” said Casey Quinlan, policy reporter at Think Progress.

Dr. Robert Glass, superintendent of Bloomfield Hills

Schools, said, “To start, you have to understand that public schools, at their foundation, are non-profit entities.

Charter schools have the ability to redirect their government funding to turn a profit for various stakeholders. That's a very dangerous proposition when it comes to the education of Michigan's youth. Typically, entities are not both publicly funded and privately run. It would be a challenge to find similar examples in other industries across the country because it's that uncommon – except for in the charter system, where about 80 percent of charters have enlisted a for-profit management company.”

Halley Potter of The Century Foundation said that “Michigan is an outlier (in regards to charter schools). A great proportion, a great number of charter schools are operated by for-profit operators – about 80 percent, so it's very different from other states. Only about 12 percent of all charter schools nationwide are operated for-profit.

Many charter advocates bring that up. As a matter of fact, New York and about five to eight other states have a legal ban on for-profit schools, with the biggest rationale that if there is any money left over in their budgets, it should be reinvested back into kids. Public funds devoted to kids should be used completely for kids. The profit motive is counterintuitive. Furthermore, the performance record of for-profit charter schools are significantly lower than the performance record of non-profit schools.”

She noted that the context of Michigan, and the growth of Michigan's charter schools, “is counter to what they would want to see in an ideal model across the country. The Betsy DeVos appointment therefore poses big questions, and big challenges, to public education, which includes district schools and public charter schools (in other states). The uniting philosophy of public education is that we are using public money to service all students in open access schools with full public accountability.

Betsy DeVos' record in education of supporting charter schools and private school vouchers as part of a vision of an education marketplace undermines that vision.”

While the idea of free choice – to choose where to educate your child, in what type of school, with the appropriate educational model that is right for the students – sounds ideal, the reality in most cases unfortunately does not meet its goals.

“Research has found that a majority of charter schools are not performing well at all, and in many areas are underperforming local public schools that they are pulling those students from, although there are exceptions,” said Sunil Joy, assistant director of policy and research for Education Trust Midwest, where he was the lead author and researcher on its charter reports, Accountability for All. “Charter schools came in with the promise of better schools than traditional schools 25 years ago. We found through our research, overwhelmingly, they have not fulfilled that promise. In our report, we make the case that the big reason charter schools are not is achieving success is because of a lack of accountability, primarily to their charter school authorizers.”

Bloomfield Hills' Glass concurs. “There's a lack of transparency, accountability and equity. Charters are not required to follow the same laws and rules we are, which often leads to internal practices and decisions that are not in the best interest of the students they serve – not to mention there's no way to really understand how they're performing,” Glass asserted, noting that while they are required to use certified teachers, there is a provision in the Michigan Department of Education's rules that states “charter schools may contract with outside companies for the provision of instructional services.”

“Add to that a loose authorization process, and it's a complicated recipe for disaster,” Glass said. “Note this statement from the MDE document, 'Service providers/management companies are accountable to the non-profit charter school boards that hire them,’ and 'There are no current statutes that specify requirements for contracts between PSA boards and the management companies they hire.' No laws that govern performance targets or service provider financials.”

Nerad agreed. “My concern with for-profit organizations is with Michigan's extensive requirements for public schools – those same requirements should exist for for-profit charters. Many requirements do not exist as for public schools. It's a fundamental concern.

Every one of our financial transactions, because we're a public institution, is open to public scrutiny. That doesn't exist for the for-profit institutions. Anytime there is the use of of public monies, there should be the same standards. And when revenue is unstable in Michigan for public institutions, and money is being used for private charters, I do have a problem with that. We should not create wobble and further instability in the public school systems. If there is going to be this widespread use of charter schools, fund Michigan public districts first.”

Rochester Community Schools were contacted for comment, but declined to be interviewed.

Joy noted that one of the challenges facing Michigan is that it has so many authorizers that are permitted to operate charter schools, and each has different standards, with different oversight. “You end up with some who do have good schools, whereas others who don't do as good a job,” he said. “There are no real standards for who can be an authorizer. If you're eligible, you automatically can open a charter without any standards, but with a diversity of results.”

Education Trust Midwest provides a charter school scorecard, with a letter grade, A to F, for each school, for each year they have operated. “We do it to provide impartiality, transparency, and to show which authorizers

WHILE THE IDEA OF FREE CHOICE – TO CHOOSE WHERE TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILD, IN WHAT TYPE OF SCHOOL, WITH THE APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL MODEL – SOUNDS IDEAL, THE REALITY IS DIFFERENT. are doing a good job, and to shed light on those that aren't.”

Of Oakland County's 27 charter schools, a majority received ratings of poor or failing grades, including Loretta James' granddaughter's school, Michigan School for the Arts, which has had a grade of F for several consecutive years.. Pontiac's Sarah J. Webber Media Arts Academy and Great Lakes Academy, Taylor International Academy and Bradford Academy, both in Southfield, and Faxon Language Immersion Academy in Farmington Hills, also had failing grades.

A couple of Oakland County charters are considered stellar, such as Holly Academy in Holly. Kingsbury Country Day School, in Oxford, which closed at the end of the 2012-2013 school year as a private school and reopened at the beginning of the 2013-2014 school year as a charter school, has an A- overall grade.

Some schools were unrated, due to incomplete and unavailable data, including a lack of test scores, reporting on student growth, and other information, including Crescent Academy in Southfield and Grand River Academy in Livonia.

Many charters hover somewhere in the middle – neither good, but not completely failing. Oakside Scholars Charter Academy and Waterford Montessori, both in Waterford, and Laurus Academy in Southfield, are examples of struggling charters, with C ratings, and declining test scores and reports. The question is: Are their students better off attending their school than their neighborhood public district school?

“Some charters in Pontiac, for example, have had Fs for

multiple years – currently in Michigan, nothing happens to the charter operator,” said Joy. He noted that some failing operators have even been permitted to open more schools, despite their F ratings. “The common argument by proponents is that at least we close them when they're bad. Our argument is isn't it the role of the authorizer to make sure they're good when they open?”

Legislation over charter schools has been spotty, at best, in recent years, with donations to lawmakers from proponents of charters prevailing over those from the Michigan Education Association and other teachers' unions. In 2011, a bill was passed to lift the cap on charter schools in the state. Previously, Michigan permitted 150 charter schools to operate in the state; it gradually went up to 300; then 500; in 2016, it moved to an unlimited amount. Today, there are 380 charter schools operating around the state of Michigan.

In the Detroit Public Schools restructuring legislation in June 2016 by the Michigan legislature, House Bill 5384 included an amendment on charter schools, where a charter school that has been operating at least four years and is among the lowest achieving five percent of all public schools in the state for the three preceding years, and has received an F for those years, the state will notify the charter school's authorizer, and will revoke the charter school's contract at the end of the school year. Prior to this legislation, there were several failed efforts by Democratic legislators in the previous few years to require better oversight and performance reviews of charters.

GLEP's Naeyaert acknowledged that performance at many charter schools statewide is not great. “The average for all students in the state is that one-third of all students in the state are at risk, but two-thirds of charter students are at risk,” he said. “We don't mean it as an excuse, but there is an absolute correlation between socioeconomic status and academic performance. The majority of charters serve an at-risk population. Not only at-risk – but, as a general rule, predominately in urban areas with a higher percentage of at-risk students and districts that underperform, they outperform their demographics, their peers in the district.

“I would say charter schools are for poor students,” said Burkhart of Michigan Council of Charter School Authorizers. “If you look at the economically disadvantaged, 72 percent of the charters are economically disadvantaged, versus 46 percent statewide.

Charters are going into areas where students have been primarily underserved, where graduation rates have been abysmal.”

“A charter in Pontiac will appear to be much poorer performing than the Oakland County average,” Naeyaert continued. “But if you compare the school to a similar demographic in Pontiac, the charter will generally outperform.”

MAPSA's Quisenberry said there is a concern about many of the charters in Pontiac, with some schools having an intervention, and a few schools closing every year. “It's a privilege, not a right, to exist,” he said.

However, research shows only one Oakland County charter, Academy of Waterford, closed in June of 2016, and it is unknown what continued intervention authorizers provide, as Oakland University declined to comment for this article, and Grand Valley State University and Central Michigan University did not respond to inquiries.

Halley Potter of The Century Foundation noted that based on test scores, “many charter schools are not seeing strong results, and they're not outperforming district schools.”

Education Trust Midwest's Joy agreed, pointing out the biggest area of improvement needed is that Michigan's charters “need to follow the same regulations as traditional public schools. The remedy is creating a real accountability system that incentivizes and rewards authorizers through state laws and infrastructure.

“The end goal is not to get rid of charter schools, but to improve them to fulfill the original promise to provide better schools for children.”

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tate environmental regulators estimate there are about 1.3 million on-site wastewater, or septic, systems operating in the state of Michigan, with 10 percent or more of those failing to work properly. In total, the state estimates about 31 million gallons of wastewater from toilets and drains not being treated properly are affecting our waterways and groundwater.

With some 80,000 or more septic systems in the ground in Oakland County, one could estimate about 8,000 of those are failing to adequately treat the raw sewage coming from toilets and drains. Yet, because of a lack of any statewide or local requirement to routinely inspect and inventory the systems, the exact number, location and condition of underground septic systems are unknown.

"In general, a failing septic can affect surface water quality and groundwater quality, as well as the physical quality of having sewage on the ground if you're not near a lake or stream," said Mark Hansell, chief environmental health of the Oakland County Health Division. "Sewage is known to carry many viruses and health hazards that require corrective action. It may also impact areas on drinking water wells."

Beyond the obvious signs of a failing septic system, such as a backup of sewage into a home or the presence and odor of human waste, failing septics can lead to numerous health and environmental hazards.

Sewage from failing septics may taint drinking water wells, aquifers and other drinking water sources, leading to dysentery, meningitis, hepatitis, typhoid fever, and other illnesses. Nitrates from failing septics pose particular threats to infants, such as methemoglobinemia, or "blue baby" syndrome, which interferes with the blood's ability to carry oxygen.

Failing septics also are one of the most frequently reported causes of groundwater contamination. Failing septics may also result in beach closings caused by high levels of E.coli; excessive algae and aquatic plant growth; fish consumption restrictions; and bacterial and viral infections from contact with contaminated recreational waterways.

In Oakland County, Hansell said there are at least 80,000, and possibly as many as 100,000 septic systems in operation, many of which are in the northern and west sections of the county, including some homes in Bloomfield Township and the Rochester/Rochester Hills area, that lack sewer connections.

Exactly how many of those systems are failing is not known.

Annually, the health division conducts about 130 inspections that are based on complaints, mostly from residents bothered by the smell of raw sewage. Those inspections typically include water or wells for high levels of bacteria nutrients, or adding a dye to the system to see if water from the system surfaces.

"Oakland County doesn't have a mandated inspection program for existing sewage disposal systems. Once it's in the ground and past the permitting process, there isn't anything to require inspections," Hansell said. "Through recent revisions in our sanitary code, it is required that those systems that are engineered with advanced treatment have to have at least annual inspections of the treatment device and the functionality of the drain field."

Oakland County's code isn't unique in its lack of an inspection requirement. Only 11 other health departments in the state require septic system inspections. Further, Michigan is the only state without a law that specifically regulates septics. Instead, county health departments throughout the state are tasked with regulating septic systems through local codes, resulting in a patchwork of regulatory measures throughout the state.

"Michigan is still one of the only states in the nation without a sanitary septic code. There are a number of counties that have them, but they vary from county to county," said Jon Allan, director

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of the Office of the Great Lakes, which leads policy development and implements programs to protect watersheds under the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ).

While septic systems in the state are regulated to some degree through local sanitary codes, focus has been largely on sitting and construction of new systems instead of maintenance, system performance or condition.

"Generally what we are seeing as septic systems get old and properties transfer ownership, is that they may not get attended to or maintained and fixed, and a number of systems may be failing," Allan said. "It's one of these ‘out-of-sight, out-of-mind’ things.

These systems sort of chuck away and do what they do, until they don't. When they fail, and we distribute waste back into the environment – in this case, one home at a time – they put a risk on the whole community. You transfer that risk into the ground water, into the streams, lakes and rivers. E.coli and septics have a lot to do with each other, particularly with failing septics."

Ted Loudon, a water consultant and professor emeritus in water and soil related research at Michigan State University, said some nutrients from failing septics may spread from one site and contaminate an entire drinking water aquifer under some soil conditions. That happens, he said, when contaminants reach soils that are saturated by the water table, and nutrients enter the water of an aquifer that is naturally moving underground.

"Usually septic systems are built above the water table, but once it gets in the saturated zone, and that water is moving, it's much less predictable," he said. "Nitrate and nitrogen are soluble in water, where some of the other bacteria usually gets filtered out through the soil. It really depends on soil conditions."

A study by a team of Michigan State University water research scientists into the presence of fecal bacteria in 64 rivers in Michigan's lower peninsula, including several in Oakland County, found levels of E.Coli and and B. thetaiotaomicron (a bacteria associated with human feces) were highest in watersheds with the most number of septic systems. The study's results, which were published in a 2015 report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found septic systems to be the primary driver of human fecal bacteria levels in each watershed studied, particularly those with more than 1,621 septic systems.

Joan Rose, an internationally recognized expert in water microbiology who lead the study, said while septic systems are controlled at the county level, the study looked at the total number of septic systems in an entire watershed, rather than governmental boundaries. Further, she said, the study measured levels of both animal and very specific human markers, or indicators.

"We've been trying to find source markers to say where (bacteria) is coming from, but you never really had good markers until the last decade," she said. "In the past few years, we have been able to prove these markers are very specific, so when you get a positive result, we are very sure. We are 99.9 percent sure it's coming from humans. It comes from human feces."

While rivers and watersheds, or the system of land and tributaries that drain into a river, don't follow municipal or county boundaries, Rose and her colleagues compiled information about septics systems, municipal wastewater treatment facilities, hydrology, and landscapes from each county to provide a view of each watershed. They also sampled rivers at baseflow conditions, or when surface and groundwater conditions were lower, so that rain events wouldn't skew their findings.

The study of watersheds in Oakland County, including the Rouge, Clinton and Huron River watersheds, had some of the highest bacteria concentrations of E.coli and B. theta bacteria in the state, which ranged from less than .8 to more than 2.9 parts per 100 milliliters. E.coli samples ranged between 2.37 and 2.9 parts per 100 milliliters in the Rouge River Watershed, while the surrounding Clinton and Huron River watersheds had about 1.4 to 2.37 parts per 100 milliliters.

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Concentrations of B.theta bacteria, which is linked specifically to human feces, ranged from less than 4.6 to more than 5.6 parts per 100 milliliters throughout the state. Locally, the highest levels, those above 5.6 milliliters, were found in the Huron River Watershed. The Rouge River Watershed and Clinton River Watershed had samples ranging from 5.2 to 5.6 parts per 100 milliliters.

Rose said the study, and future research, may help us better understand the relationship between land use and water quality in Michigan and the country as we work to improve infrastructure, including where we locate, construct and how we maintain on-site wastewater treatment systems.

"We are at the heart of water quality in the Great Lakes," she said. "I think what we are doing here now and what we do with our water strategy in the next five or 10 years, will be a nationally recognized center for addressing water quality." ecently, Allan and the Office of the Great Lakes were tasked by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to establish a long-term water strategy plan for managing and protecting the waters of the state. Released in October of 2016, among the plan's key goals are to address the state's lack of a statewide sanitary code; secure a long-term funding source to complete an inventory and assessment of single-family home water supplies and septic systems; implement a statewide requirement for periodic septic inspections; and increase outreach campaigns to educate homeowners on septic management.

"Given the statewide nature of this, it makes a lot of sense to have the legislature put a policy statement out there and have the (MDEQ) respond," Allan said.

The plan calls on the MDEQ, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, local health departments, and the legislature to achieve those goals. However, similar efforts for more than a decade by lawmakers to tackle the issue of septic regulations on a statewide level have fallen flat.

Since 2001, at least eight different proposals to address septic system regulations in the state have been pitched by lawmakers, with none of them making it to a vote in either chamber. In 2004, former Governor Jennifer Granholm announced a plan to protect the waters of the state that called for the development of a statewide code for on-site wastewater treatment systems. Despite the formation and input of a task force representing 26 organizations in the septic system industry, that plan failed to lead to any meaningful changes in the state's policy.

"Obviously, it's something that has been difficult to get traction in Michigan," Allan said. "Forty-nine other states have found a way to harmonize a statewide approach... it's a recommendation from the state's water strategy plan, and one we will continue to see some work done on."

The latest statewide effort to require septic inspections was introduced during the previous legislative session, in June of 2016, as a pair of combined bills, HB 5732 and HB 5733. Neither were voted out of committee.

Representative Julie Plawecki (D), of Dearborn Heights, died from a heart attack in the weeks following her bill's introduction.

The companion bill, introduced by former Rep. Gretchen Driskell (D-Saline), was never taken up by committee. Together, the bills sought to create a statewide code for regulating septic systems, but would grant local departments the ability to cater their codes to specific needs. The pair of bills also proposed making $3 million in appropriations available to fund the program and establish a statewide database of septic systems. The continuation of the program would have been paid for through service fees.

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters has also called for

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statewide regulations to address failing septic systems.

"Michigan is the only state in the country without protections in place around household septic systems, which are believed to release 31 million gallons of sewage every day into our state's waterways," said Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters. "We need common sense safeguards that protect the health of our communities and the safety of our water resources. A bi-partisan solution that addresses our failing septic systems can't come soon enough to prevent this threat to our rivers, lakes and streams."

The Michigan Environmental Council, which has said the percent of failing septics could be as high as 20 to 40 percent in some places, has long supported a statewide septic code, as well as the establishment of a statewide database system to track the location, age and condition of septic systems throughout the state.

"Over time, it kind of heats up as a legislative issue, and then it cools off," said James Clift, policy director for the council. "As we watch Lake Erie and the problems there, this clearly is one of the problems that could be leading to the nutrient loading, and with local lakes. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention is on the upswing, and we are looking for reintroduction of bills next year."

Saugatuck Republican and former state lawmaker Patricia Birkholz, who consults with the League of Conservation Voters and has also served as the previous director of the Office of the Great Lakes, sponsored four bills to address septic system regulations in the state while serving in the state Senate from 2002 to 2010. None of them were ever voted out of the Senate's committee on Natural Resources and Environmental Affairs.

"It's embarrassing for me, frankly as a legislator, but also for me as a citizen, to have been working on water â&#x20AC;&#x201C; not only to swim and recreate in, but also to drink â&#x20AC;&#x201C; and to see this continuing to be stopped in its tracks by homebuilders and realtors," she said about the lack of septic system regulations.

In 2004, the same year that Granholm called for action on a statewide septic ordinance, Birkholz introduced a bill in the Senate that would create a model ordinance that would identify septic systems at greatest risk of contaminating ground or surface waters; set standards on the placement of septic systems; and require septic inspections be done prior to a property being transferred at the time of its sale. The bill also proposed allowing the DEQ to use up to $5 million from the state's strategic water quality initiatives fund for grants to counties to conduct inspections.

Birkholz was serving as the Allegan County treasurer, prior to her first term in the Michigan House of Representatives in 1996, when she first became aware of the impact of failing septic systems when a couple came in to pay their taxes. During the course of their conversation, they told her the smell coming from the lake near their home they suspected of being polluted with sewage. She then contacted the county health department to try to assist the homeowners in the process of getting the lake tested.

Eventually, Birkholz learned the lake was being contaminated by failing septic systems.

"If we don't have a lot of consistent rules or laws in place, then you have a lot of inconsistency and a lot of people, particularly in a down time or when a job has been cut back, that it's not the first thing they spend money on," Birkholz said. "It's not on the top of their priority list. Putting food on the table tends to be on the top of the list."

Birkholz re-introduced her initial bill in 2005, which also failed to gain support in committee in order to make it to the floor for consideration.

In 2008, following the Great Recession of 2007 and a overall downturn in jobs in the state for four years prior to that, Birkholz introduced a new bill that would require inspections of all septic systems every 10 years, starting in 2010. A fiscal analysis of the bill found it would increase costs to local health departments for

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inspections, as well as a potential cost increase to the Michigan Department of Community Health, which provides funding to local health departments.

"When I introduced it a second time in the Senate, the economy was coming back and people were starting to buy properties," Birkholz said. "I was willing to give it a delayed start date, but they stopped me dead in my tracks."

Historically, the real estate industry in Michigan has opposed local and state regulations that require inspections before a property can be sold. Such requirements, critics have said, may cause a potential sale to sour, as replacing a septic system may cost anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000.

Brian Westrin, public policy and legislative affairs director for the Michigan Association of Realtors, said point-of-sale requirements don't address the overall intent of inspection requirements.

"Our historical position is the adoption of a statewide code that doesn't include a point of sale reference," he said, adding that the association was close to an agreement with Birkholz's second round of bills, which failed to get out of committee. "It should recognize that if you're going to have a statewide code, it should have to do with all properties, not just those that are going to be transferred."

Former Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John McCulloch in the past had discussed efforts to enact a county-wide septic inspection ordinance that would require inspections when a property is sold. However, those efforts were met with strong opposition from the real estate industry. arah Howes, legislative liaison for the MDEQ, said the department worked with Representative Plawecki on technical expertise for about a year prior to her bill being introduced. She said the department intends to continue working with legislators in an effort to address septic regulations, but there are multiple factors to consider in doing so.

In addition to establishing septic inspection requirements, a statewide ordinance must consider different types of septic systems that are available, and where each type may or may not be appropriate.

"It's not one size fits all," Howes said. "One of the most significant issues with a statewide approach is that Michigan is so diverse with its landscape. What works in Midland, for instance, where there are a lot of wetlands, may not work in Traverse City. How are we putting forth criteria and implementation that works in all of those different landscapes. I think that's a big issue."

In its basic form, traditional septic systems consist of watertight containers that are buried beneath the ground.

Wastewater from the home enters a septic tank, which holds the sewage and allows for solid waste to settle to the bottom and form sludge. Oil and greases float to the top of the tank and form scum.

The process allows for partial decomposition of solids before being filtered through a second compartment and into a contained sanitary drain field where the water is further filtered through soils, which helps to remove bacteria, viruses and nutrients.

Those systems may fail when there is an overflow of sewage or from various mechanical reasons, forcing raw sewage to be released from the system. For instance, when bacteria breaks down solid materials in the septic tank, residue is left behind that builds up over time. That residue must be removed from time to time to prevent it from entering the drainfield and clogging the system. Health departments recommend having traditional septic systems serviced and pumped out by a licensed operator every two to three years.

Even well-maintained systems have a limited lifespan. In general, a system should last between 12 to 15 years; however,

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some may need replacement several years sooner or later. Local sanitary codes, such as those in Oakland County, oversee the permitting of new septic systems.

Mark Hansell, who oversees the permitting process in Oakland County, said the vast majority of inspections done by the health department are conducted as part of the permitting process. The code dictates the type of soil that must be present in the system, the depth of the system in relation to groundwater, drinking water wells, nearby waterbodies, and other factors. The process may permit multiple inspections during the installation, ending with a final inspection to ensure the system meets minimum performance requirements.

"Occasionally we run into conditions that can't meet our code," Hansell said. "It could be poor soil conditions or the site location, and then an engineer may be involved to help design a system that can overcome those restrictive conditions."

Hansell said conditions such as too much clay or sandy soils that don't accept enough water to adequately provide filtration of a septic field are possible reasons for an engineered, or advanced septic system. Other restrictions, such as the proximity of a drinking water well, groundwater or other surface water bodies, could also require specially engineered systems.

"Advanced treatment, or what we call pretreatment, could be a mechanical filter that enhances filtration, and some of those mechanical processes do depend on continuing maintenance to function properly," Hansell said. "Those are typically used in situations were you have poor surface conditions."

Oakland County's sanitary code was most recently updated on November 15, 2016. Under the code, advanced septic systems must be inspected on an annual basis, while traditional systems have no inspection requirement other than that required at the time of installation. And, since the majority of septic systems in the county were installed prior to 2006, placement and maintenance information on most older systems aren't known.

Challenges in developing a statewide code must factor in the various types of soil conditions that are dominant in each county, as well as what types of systems would be permissible.

Larry Stephens, of Stephens Consulting Services PC, in Haslett, Michigan, and former president of the Michigan On-Site Wastewater Recycling Association, said while a mandated inspection requirement is the driving force behind a statewide code, such a code needs to allow for variability in the types of systems available for use.

"There are so many variables that go into the day-to-day choices in regard to on-site system design and application that a standard prescriptive regulation isn't the way to go," he said. "But, there is a need for uniformity in practices and sciences, and better training and engineering of on-site systems, and groundwater movement. And, better overall accountability in all sectors of the industry. That can be part of uniform state regulations."

Because codes vary so widely from county to county, advanced, engineered systems that have been proven to be effective in counties, like Oakland, aren't even permitted in some other counties. Likewise, best practices for maintenance also vary from county to county.

"It's a nightmare for manufacturers of advanced treatment products," Stephens said, noting that they must seek approval on a per-county basis in Michigan. "We don't get a lot of manufacturers that are willing to spend the effort in Michigan to go county by county to prove that their new product is a better way to go. So, that holds us back with new technology that is available."

Despite the lack of a statewide code, Stephens said the state on a whole has kept up to date on local codes.

"If you compare the state-of-the-art in Michigan to other states, I think Michigan doesn't have to hang its head by any stretch of the imagination," he said. "If you're suggesting that because we

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haven't had a statewide code that we have done things badly, that's not the conclusion I would jump to. But in some parts of the state, the regulations are too loose, and in other parts they are too conservative. So, they are done properly in one county, and improperly in another."

Stephens said the state, under a uniform ordinance, could provide a single source for approval of different systems and products, with each county further tailoring requirements to fit their specific needs.

In terms of new technology and ensuring those systems adhere to strict maintenance schedules, Stephens said Oakland County, as well as some surrounding counties, such as Livingston and Washtenaw, have been more aggressive than some. Still, he said statewide regulations for maintenance are needed.

"We have traditionally left maintenance of on-site systems in the hands of homeowners. Most people estimate there are 1.3 million to 1.5 million systems in Michigan. If you think about trying to train and convince and motivate 1.5 million people to educate themselves on how to maintain their systems, it just doesn't happen," he said. "We need some form of regulation that homeowners who need it are forced to have it done professionally."

Stephens also agrees that such inspection requirements should apply to all septic systems, not just at the time of sale of a property.

"That would only hit those homes that are sold, so it doesn't catch all the need and the problem," he said. "The best thing would probably be a statewide requirement that systems be inspected at a regular interval. Traditional systems, maybe every five years, and more advanced systems every year or every other year."

The cost to local health departments is another factor that has caused some in the past to oppose mandatory inspections across the state.

Hansell said Oakland County conducted about 780 septic inspections in 2016, with the majority of those done during initial permitting and construction processes.

"That is pretty steady. "We saw an increase (in construction) coming and we adjusted our resources to keep up with demand," he said of the inspection process, which he said is funded primarily through the county's general fund. "Our fees are very reasonable when compared to other counties. Actually, we are quite a bit lower."

Any new requirements to increase inspections, Hansell said, would require a significant increase in resources.

"That would unquestionably result in high fees," he said. "It would require some changes here as how to meet those challenges. Any state legislation has to be appropriately funded. It might be the Cadillac of programs, but it's not implementable without the appropriate funding behind it."

Cost to local health departments is a concern that was echoed

by Meghan Swain, executive director of the Michigan Association for Local Public Health.

"There's a concern if it would pre-empt local codes. It's not a one-size-fits all. Given we are surrounded by water, and there are different lakeside needs versus inland needs," she said. "In addition, it's expensive for health departments to 'stand up,' from a state perspective."

Tom Frazier, legislative liaison with the Michigan Townships Association, said a statewide effort to address failing septic system is a priority because it may address public health issues and ease the need for townships to construct expensive public sewer systems.

"The issue has been around for a decade or more," he said. "I'm not sure going forward where things are at. It's kind of a priority with our association, and it's a priority with the current governor,

but after the last election there seems to be a focus on cutting regulations, so it's questionable what the legislature may do with this type of legislation in the near future."

Another challenge that legislators proposing a statewide code may face, Howes with the MDEQ said, is pushback from property rights advocates.

"Another concerned voice is just citizens rights to private property, as far as mandating or requiring some sort of frequency of inspection when this is a system that is owned by a private citizen on private property," she said. "The diversity of stakeholder groups that are impacted by this, and finding some agreement that everyone feels is effective while not overburdensome regulations is a challenge. It's kind of a mix of all of those.

"We are hopeful to see a change. It's something we would like to see in place. The main focus is the pollution factor in lakes and streams, and trying to deter that from occurring." espite the challenges in creating a statewide code, it is important to note that 49 other states have discovered a way to do so, including those with varying land and water resources. In Wisconsin, all septic systems are required to be inspected every three years. In Maryland, inspections are required annually. And in Minnesota, inspections are required every three years for traditional systems, and every six months or annually for advanced systems.

Additionally, 65 counties in Minnesota require septic inspections at the time of a sale of a property, said Sara Heger, a leading water research engineer at the University of Minnesota and chair of that state's advisory committee on on-site wastewater treatment systems.

"There are some things that are one size fits all, but some politics get in the way," she said. "Everything to treat under 10,000 gallons a day is permitted through the state." Heger said the state's administrative rules have been set up to allow for some variation from location to location, while maintenance requirements of systems doesn't lend itself to the same type of flexibility. Likewise, there's variations in enforcement and tracking abilities.

"Every county will say you need to maintain your system, but do they have a tracking system and ability to do enforcement?

Enforcement is still a challenge in Minnesota," she said. "There are a couple counties that can write a ticket, but what other options do they have? Having some enforcement tools built into the rules is really helpful.

"Education is also important, but you need to have both the carrot and the stick. Usually septics are very low on the list of what people want to spend money on."

Tom Frazier, legislative liaison with the Michigan Townships Association, said the association is in support of standards that would reduce the potential of septic system failures.

"When we have septic systems that are potentially failing, they create not only a public health threat, but require townships to build expensive public sewer systems," he said. "It's in our best interest and our members' interests that they are maintained and they aren't failing."

The notion that public sewer systems will eventually keep pace with development is no longer a realistic expectation.

"The goal during urban expansion was to extend sewer to residents as populations were going north and west, but that occurred way faster than the sewers," said Hansell, with the Oakland County Health Department. "The new mantra now is 'sewer is not coming.'"

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Since 1992, Lee Zendel has had a standing “appointment” twice a month with his municipal leaders at Rochester Hills City Hall. And unless a health issue or other unforeseen circumstance has gotten in the way, he’s managed to keep most of those appointments – or city council meetings, as they’re commonly known. Twice a month, every month, for 24 years. And counting.

“Maybe it’s in my genes or something,” Zendel said, chuckling, when asked why he’s compelled to be in attendance on those Monday evenings, perched attentively in the same front row seat near the lectern when city council convenes to conduct business.

Much of the time, he has little or no company. No fellow residents’ elbows to rub.

No neighbors alongside him grumbling, or nodding in agreement. Usually, it’s Zendel in the audience. Only Zendel.

And he’s fine with that.

“The majority of the public, they have very busy lives – jobs, families to take care of, kids in school,” said Zendel, 82, who is a 45-year Rochester Hills resident. “And there’s a majority of citizens, at least in this city, who feel that if the streets are snowplowed reasonably quickly, then they’re happy.”

meetings of a public body shall be open to the public and shall be held in a place available to the general public. All persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting except as otherwise provided in this act. The right of a person to attend a meeting of a public body includes the right to tape-record, to videotape, to broadcast live on radio, and to telecast live on television the proceedings of a public body at a public meeting. The exercise of this right shall not be dependent upon the prior approval of the public body.

However, a public body may establish reasonable rules and regulations in order to minimize the possibility of disrupting the meeting.”

The legislation further states that decisions made by a public body must be done so at a meeting open to the public, and “all deliberations of a public body constituting a quorum of its members shall take place at a meeting open to the public,” with specified exceptions.

How long a citizen is allowed to speak on a topic, and whether or not public comment is permitted throughout a meeting as agenda items are discussed, or limited to a designated public comment period, is

point. No good government is likely to occur in the late night hours of a meeting when the limits of patience strain the limits of civility.”

Hampton agrees. With his 50-plus year career in practicing law – the majority spent as an attorney for several Oakland County cities, including Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, and West Bloomfield Township, as well as time spent as a state legislator and circuit court judge, he’s been on hand for countless public meetings of city councils, city commissions and township boards, and said such rules are a necessity to keep business moving along. Otherwise, he said, citizens become “in essence, an extra member of the board,” and hamper the elected officials from completing the tasks that need to be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time.

The three-minute limit has been challenged – and upheld – in Michigan courts, Hampton noted.

“While public comment is very important and is to be considered, it can’t be allowed to take over the business of the meeting,” Hampton emphasized. “Policy is not intended to thwart the public’s right to speak. It’s just that the MML and MTA recognizes the other

Permitting citizens to share opinions, offer feedback and raise concerns might be considered a welcomed courtesy afforded to residents by those who govern them…It’s also the law, as stipulated by the state of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act of 1976.

For this retired businessman, it's a tad different. He’s not there to just listen and observe. Zendel attends to participate, to exercise his democratic rights, freedoms and – perhaps most importantly – responsibilities.

To him, that means staying informed on what’s going on in Rochester Hills, and being knowledgeable on how local government officials are doing their jobs. When he has something to say, whether it’s lobbying for more police officers or a new traffic light near West Middle School (battles he continues to wage), or pushing for a full-time fire department (which eventually was put into place and he believes his repeated pitches had something to do with it), Zendel speaks up.

“I’m interested, and I care,” he explained.

“And I believe I’m making a difference.”

Permitting citizens to share opinions, offer feedback and raise concerns might be considered a welcomed courtesy afforded to residents by those who govern them. Yet it’s much more than that. It’s also the law, as stipulated by the state of Michigan’s Open Meetings Act of 1976.

According to the Open Meetings Act, “All

determined by individual city or township officials. But as longtime municipal attorney, Bill Hampton, who recently became in-house counsel for Bloomfield Township, explained, policies typically are in step with guidelines adopted by the Michigan Municipal League (MML) and the Michigan Township Association (MTA).

“It’s pretty well established that the MML and MTA recommend public comment be limited to three minutes per person,” Hampton said. Allowing comments elsewhere in the meeting, such as before roll call on a motion, is generally not recommended, he said. “The general philosophy of these municipal organizations is that the public has many opportunities to address (public officials), whether it’s going to their office, sending an email or regular mail, (or) telephone calls. A council meeting is for its council to do its work,” Hampton said.

As stated in the MML’s Ethics Handbook for Municipal Employees, “A rule limiting the length of council meetings and speeches by elected officials and the public will contribute to keeping the deliberations on

four or five avenues the public has before a meeting starts.”

Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie found out the hard way that was true.

In 2011, township board meetings were revised to permit citizens to comment, for three minutes each, after each agenda item.

However, the situation grew out of control in the last year or two, when a few residents began to use the time as a bully pulpit, notably during a contentious primary election season.

“We thought (in 2011) it was fair that if somebody wanted to have the opportunity to speak about a particular agenda item, they should be able to at that time,” Savoie said, after the board recently changed its policy to public comment at the beginning only of each board meeting, other than public hearings. The policy had to be changed, he explained, due to a handful of residents “monopolizing the entire meeting…(and were often) abrasive and confrontational,” and needlessly dragging out meetings.

“Our meetings are business meetings, to get things done,” Savoie said, adding that he was being urged by residents and others to

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“do something about the meetings.”

Bloomfield Township is hardly the only municipality to limit public comments to a specific time on the agenda. Royal Oak has a similar policy for its city commission meetings. It allows citizens to address the commission on any topic during the public comment period, which occurs early in the agenda, but doesn’t permit further comment as each agenda item is discussed at the table. This restriction doesn’t apply to business or land owners, developers or others directly involved with the agenda item being deliberated, however. At times, residents have been confused about the policy’s nuances, noted Carol Schwanger, secretary to the city manager and mayor. They don’t always seem to realize that the public comment period “is for comment, not debate,” she said, and that they shouldn’t expect responses to questions right away.

“Part of the reason for that is if a question is too in-depth, the city manager will refer to (the appropriate) department. He’d rather give the right answer a day later to make sure everything is addressed,” Schwanger said.

Residents are encouraged to keep

policy states. Overall, Schwanger noted, the public comment periods run smoothly – meaning the rules that apply are considered effective and are being followed.

Rochester Hills residents also have three minutes maximum to comment on nonagenda items during a designated public comment period of the city council meeting.

For agenda items, comment is permitted as each is raised, with the same three-minute limit in place. More time can be allotted if the council president authorizes it, on request of a council member.

This public comment period was “moved around a bit” for a few years until the council settled on its current spot, at the beginning of the meeting. It’s been there for about three years now, which Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett said is a good spot for it, and where it is expected to remain.

“I think it works really well, all things considered,” Barnett said. “The public has the opportunity to comment on every item and bring up random things, and we welcome every opportunity to interface with the community. Hearing from the public is critically important. And we want to make sure we balance that with running a

agenda. A two-minute limit is in place, but according to city manager Joe Valentine, that standing policy isn’t a hard-and-fast rule.

“In general, it’s based on the size of the crowd whether the two-minute time limit will be imposed,” Valentine said. “Typically, we’re lenient if (only) a handful of people want to comment. If there’s a full house of people who effectively want to speak, that will determine how strongly it’s enforced.”

Yet, regardless of the number of people who want the floor, no citizen will ever be turned away because commissioners simply want to move to another agenda item and get on with business, Valentine noted. “We do want to hear from everyone…(and) most people appreciate that everyone has an opportunity to speak,” he said.

Should the two-minute limit be enforced, though, Valentine said it is still enough time for people to state their case or offer feedback. “It works well,” he said. “It allows people to come up and articulate their concerns, and it allows everyone to speak.”

Oakland Township's policy stipulates that citizens can comment on an agenda item during a meeting after it is discussed by the township board of trustees, and a motion is

How long a citizen is allowed to speak on a topic, and whether or not public comment is permitted throughout a meeting as agenda items are discussed, or limited to a designated public comment period, is determined by individual city or township officials. apprised of the city’s planning commission agendas, where most items are addressed as public hearings. That’s a good time to share feedback and pose questions, which subsequently becomes a recommendation to the city commission, explained Judy Davids, community engagement specialist for Royal Oak. It remains to be seen if the city’s new mayor, Michael Fournier – appointed to serve out the year remaining on Jim Ellison’s term since Ellison was elected state representative in November – tightens up the rules Ellison loosened for public comment, such as sometimes engaging in a “back-and-forth” dialogue with citizens.

In an effort to provide guidelines for residents regarding public comment at meetings, Royal Oak recently developed a FAQ which outlines the rules governing that portion of the meeting. Among the items stipulated are a five-minute time limit for each comment, with additional time possible at the discretion of the commission. The limit “is established to be sure that everyone has an opportunity to speak and that presentations do not become repetitious,”

professional, efficient meeting.”

At Bloomfield Hills City Commission meetings, audience members can also speak for three minutes each, but there’s some flexibility for both non-agenda items – raised in the “Recognition of Citizens” portion of the meeting – and agenda items, noted Sarah McClure, mayor pro-tem. The city's public comment policy during meetings has “been in place for some time,” said city clerk Amy Burton. And there doesn’t appear to be a need to revisit the way that portion of city commission meetings are conducted, she said.

“We haven’t seen too much difficulty in how Bloomfield Hills conducts public comment. It seems to be working,” she said.

“We haven’t had any real problems. Most meetings are well run, without too much controversy,“ McClure said. “I think people are satisfied.”

In neighboring Birmingham, during the city's twice-monthly city commission meetings, residents have the opportunity to comment on any agenda item when commissioners consider it. The public can also comment on any item not on the

on the table ready for a vote, with comments limited to three minutes each. If an item is not on the agenda, citizens can share thoughts during either of the meeting’s two public comment periods but the “topic must be germane to township affairs.”

When asked how the board determines if something is, indeed, germane, Oakland Township Supervisor Mike Bailey said he “can’t imagine” any topic raised not being categorized as such. At times, he noted, residents from neighboring communities have brought before the board topics with a regional appeal which then became agenda items at subsequent meetings.

In Rochester, a somewhat different approach is taken. Meetings have two public comment periods, one at the beginning and one toward the end, for citizens to share thoughts and suggestions.

Why two?

“Just to give people an opportunity in case they weren’t at the meeting for the first one, or maybe something new came up at the meeting that they want to comment on,” explained Megan Frazho, assistant to the city manager. “The council is very, very open to

listening to suggestions…and we get several people attending all the meetings, which is really cool. And the majority of the time it’s helpful.”

“There’s no formal time limit for public comments – but that certainly isn’t set in stone,” noted Cathy Daldin, Rochester mayor.

“We’ve deliberated time limits,” Daldin said, admitting she goes “back and forth” about whether or not the council should establish them. “We have a couple of long-winded residents, but (in those cases) I just politely say ‘Let’s wrap this up, let’s get the meeting going.'

It’s my job as chair to keep meetings under control. That’s why as mayor, I’ve become more assertive. People are instructed not to talk out of turn, to raise their hand. It’s my job to run the meeting. If I let them take over, that’s just silly.”

Daldin said she expects council will discuss implementing a public comment time limit as it establishes its goals and objectives this year.

“Maybe we need one. I’ll probably bring it up as a side note,” she said. Yet so far, it is believed that council members are split on the topic.

“Some do (want a limit), some don’t. Me, I’m torn,” she said. “Part of me would love to have time limits, but I also understand residents

have so much business to take care of, but the public still can talk about things on the agenda and (due to the time limits) we can still take care of business. Then, as each item comes up, input is valued,” she said. “And at the end, there might be new information so they can give additional feedback. The public gets to comment all along the way.”

For those with a lot to say, the city of Troy is the place to be, where they offer not one, not two, but three public comment sections during its city council meetings, differentiating between those who are residents, or who own a business or property in the city, and those who don’t. One period is for Troy residents and business representatives to comment on agenda items, and another is for Troy residents and business representatives to comment on non-agenda items. The third is for non-residents and non-business representatives to share thoughts on both agenda and non-agenda items.

“It’s relatively new to separate. The last couple of years we made the change for residents and non-residents,” said Aileen Bittner, city clerk. Distinguishing between the two makes sense, she explained, giving priority to those who “elected the people sitting behind

are limited to two minutes each.

During Farmington Hills City Council meetings, citizens have up to five minutes to comment on items when they come up on the agenda, but there’s no formal time limit during the public question and comment section of the meeting. Overall, the city’s residents are active and involved, said clerk Pam Smith, yet as is common in other communities, there will tend to be more participation on “hot topics.”

The policy, she noted, has been in place for as long as she has worked for the city, which is 28 years.

On a regional level, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners comprises a 21member board, wth each comissioners representing a district’s 55,000-plus residents.

Every monthly public meeting includes a public comment period toward the beginning of the agenda, and speakers are asked to keep comments to a three-minute limit, though the “board chair is very often flexible within reason,” noted Chris Ward, the board’s administrative director.

On rare occasions, an issue, action or proposal draws such a large group of residents wishing to comment that two periods are held.

It happened a few months ago, Ward said,

Public comment is very important… (but) it can’t be allowed to take over the business of the meeting. Policy is not intended to thwart the public’s right to speak. It’s just that the MML and MTA recognizes the other…avenues the public has before a meeting starts. need to have their voices heard.”

Similarly, in Orion Township, two public comment periods are also included at its board meetings, each with its own time rules. The earlier period is at the beginning of the meeting, where citizens can speak for up to three minutes, while the second public comment period has no set limit for speakers.

“They can talk for as long as they want at the end, within reason,” said Penny Shults, township clerk. But typically, residents keep their comments to about three minutes or less.

“They are most concise, direct,” she said.

Also, as each agenda item is addressed, citizens are permitted to weigh in. “When a motion is made and supported and the board has deliberated, the supervisor will open it up to public comment,” Shults said, noting that there are often plenty who take this opportunity to do so. “Our residents are very informed and engage on topics…and that says our community wants to be part of the process, to make sure the people they elected to serve are looking out for the community as a whole,” she said.

Shuts thinks the combination works perfectly. “At the beginning of the meeting we

the table, paying taxes and who have a vested interest in what’s going on in Troy.”

The time limit, now set at three minutes, went through various iterations over the years as well, and at one point was just a minute or 90 seconds. At another time, there was no limit.

Other times, a five-minute limit was in place.

“In 2011-2012, we had issues…crowds and crowds for and against elected officials, giving personal thoughts on elected officials,” she said. Officials decided to decrease the time in order to help move meetings along when necessary.

Similarly, moving public comment on nonagenda items to the end of the meeting – another fairly recent change – means planned business is taken was taken care of, Bittner explained. “There was no ill will. Council just needed to get business done. It was just in the spirit of getting business done.”

West Bloomfield Township has two public comment periods for non-agenda items during its board of trustees meetings, as well, and it’s been that way for the past several years.

Comments are limited to two minutes each. For agenda items, once a motion is on the table for roll call, citizens can share their thoughts but

when an unusually high number of citizens turned out to speak on a problem-plagued sewer tunnel project in Farmington Hills. “(The commissioners) reopened public comment for those who weren’t there earlier in the meeting.

The board tries to be mindful and flexible and willing to listen,” he said.

As for commenting when agenda items are discussed by the board, there are no provisions for that. But that hasn’t presented any problems or protest, Ward said. Residents interested in local government tend to follow the goings-on at their local municipal meetings, whereas county government is “seen as more remote,” and simply doesn’t tend to attract citizens to the meetings, Ward said. In general, the meetings have few if any members of the public in attendance, and those who wish to address the commission more often do so on “hot topics” such as animal control, gun violence and the like, Ward said, or in other cases the United Nations and the gold standard.

“Most of the time, what the person is speaking on has nothing to do with the business of that body,” he said. “They just want a forum, and opportunity – and it’s their right to do so.”

FACES Steve Claramunt roves High School assistant basketball coach Steve Claramunt has played, coached and officiated the game at the college and high school level for more than two decades since graduating from the school where he now works with students. But it's through his founding of the Motor City Athletic Club that he places a special focus on youth development and academics.

As a player, Claramunt's college career was cut short due to an ankle injury. Determined to stay on the court, he became a certified basketball official, starting with youth games and later in NCAA and NJCAA games. From there, he went on to coach at the high school level, and later became the assistant coach at Schoolcraft College.

In 2015, while coaching at Groves, Claramunt started the Motor City Athletic Club, which works with less advantaged kids throughout southeast Michigan to compete in local travel competitions.

"The whole idea of the program was not only for teaching basketball, but also to have an academic focus," he said. "I think a lot of programs put too much of the focus on becoming a better athlete and sometimes forget about the academic portion of it."

Middle school and high school students who participate in the program are required to maintain a 3.0 grade point average, which they must be able to show on a report card before trying out, and maintain them during the course of the season.

"If they start to struggle, I'm not going to throw them off the team, but we are going to work to get that grade back up," he said.

"On the flip side, we are trying to use basketball to help in school and maintain good grades, and to prepare them for whatever level they want to play next."

For kids whose grades do start to slip, Claramunt makes sure they get the appropriate help, which might involve working with a teacher to make sure they get additional tutoring. Students who fall behind are still required to attend practices, but they must sit out until they show academic progress.

Claramunt said he realized the need for a program that focused on academics when five high school players were forced off his team due to poor grades during his first year coaching in Troy. At the same time, other players brought book smarts, but were lacking in basketball basics.

"To be honest, some of them are smart kids, but they don't know the first thing about playing basketball," he said. "It bothers me, as someone who played basketball from a young age, that some of these kids don't know how to dribble with both hands. They don't know how to make a layup."

While the Michigan High School Athletic Association, which governs sports programs in the state, has specific academic requirements for students, Claramunt said the standards are lacking. "There's plenty of blame to go around in all areas, but it made me think about what we can do," he said.

With the knowledge that some incoming college students might be quitting their athletic careers before they even start, Claramunt decided to put his business education and basketball experience together to help find a solution.

"You might be able to coast by in middle school, and you might be able to coast by in high school," he said, "but when you get to college, if you aren't prepared in the right way, you aren't going to last two weeks."

G

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

Crysta Tyus REALTOR® 248.893.5661 ctyus@hallandhunter.com

18 Sand Bar Lane | Detroit | Priced at $2,499,000 An exquisite custom-built luxury waterfront estate located on the Detroit River in a gated and guarded community that offers panoramic views of downtown Detroit and Lake St. Clair. This estate is every lakefront enthusiast’s dream home – intricate details include coffered ceilings, custom crown molding, wainscoting, 3 levels of luxury living, 4 upper private walkout terraces adjoining each bedroom suite, marble floors, 2 state-of-the art-chef’s kitchens, 150’ boat slip, 4 jet ski lifts and breathtaking views. Take the elevator to the third level to enjoy an additional 3500 sq. ft. of living space, 2 full bars, a second kitchen and 2 additional walkout terraces, making this estate the ideal environment for entertaining. Where luxury finally meets lifestyle, this estate is for the most discerning buyer who enjoys tranquility, privacy and prestige while being minutes away from all that downtown Detroit has to offer.

14,471 SF | 6 BR | 4 Full, 4 Half Baths | MLS# 217004001

Formore moreinformation, information,visit visitAdamWaechter.com HallandHunter.com For Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

Susan Hill REALTOR®, ABR, CNE 248.225.1399 SHill@hallandhunter.com

Troy, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin

Multi-year Hour Detroit Real Estate All-Star, the top 5% of Michigan realtors

Expert in local schools and member of the Birmingham School Board for 8 1/2 years

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Local market expert in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills,

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TROY 2818 Hylane | $329,000

BINGHAM FARMS 32475 Bingham Road | $479,900

Sprawling West Troy brick ranch on almost 3/4 acre. Enjoy a spacious open floor plan, beautiful deck and a large backyard cabana. Bright & sunny kitchen with granite counters, peninsula & glassed-in breakfast room. Troy schools.

Home on 2.86 acres in the heart of Bingham Farms is a great opportunity for extensive renovation or new construction. Secluded wooded lot in an area of million dollar homes. Birmingham schools. Also listed as vacant land.

2,470 SF | 3 BR | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 216112992

3,074 SF | 5 BR | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 216077373

SELECTED 2016 SALES: BIRMINGHAM 2460 Buckingham $249,000 Listing Agent

BIRMINGHAM 639 N. Glenhurst $799,000 Listing Agent

BIRMINGHAM 715 Pilgrim $1,250,000 Buyer’s Agent

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 4314 Orchard Hill $384,900 Buyer’s Agent

BERKLEY 1428 Oxford $199,900 Listing Agent

BERKLEY 2079 Harvard $254,900 Listing Agent

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 2258 Pine $499,000 Listing Agent

BIRMINGHAM 550 Henley $599,000 Buyer’s Agent

WEST BLOOMFIELD 4681 Cove $749,000 Buyer’s Agent

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 917 Mitchell Ct. $1,580,000 Buyer’s Agent

BEVERLY HILLS 31700 Bell Vine Tr. $390,000 Buyer’s Agent

For more information, visit HallandHunter.com Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

BEVERLY HILLS 32845 Long Bow $3000/month Buyer’s Agent

Ginny Fisher REALTORÂŽ 248.593.0518 GFisher@HallandHunter.com

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1772 Heron Ridge Drive | $1,599,000

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 253 Marblehead | $885,000 or for lease at $3600/month

Pristine executive retreat in private gated enclave on ravine setting. Renovated Millennium cherry kitchen opens to family room. Beautifully finished walkout LL with possible 5th bedroom. Lower paver terraces and expansive decks. 4-car garage.

Five bedroom home on peaceful park-like acre lot near Cranbrook surrounded by multimillion dollar homes. Filled with natural light. Spacious eat-in kitchen and screened-in Florida room. Rec space in finished basement. New roof. 3-car garage.

4 Bedrooms | 4 Full, 2 Half Baths | 7,385 Total Sq. Ft. | MLS# 216023366

5 Bedrooms | 3 Full, 1 Half Baths | 4,922 Total Sq. Ft. | MLS# 216103407

NEW LISTING

BIRMINGHAM 887 Wimbleton | $825,000

BEVERLY HILLS VILLAGE 10 Riverbank | $495,500

Elegantly updated landmark Tudor in charming Poppleton Park offers stylish and elegant details throughout. Beautiful family room addition and formal living room with marble fireplace. Spacious master suite with renovated bath. Impeccable!

Gracious, free-standing site condo in sought-after private Westwood Commons.

Bright open floor plan with 2-story foyer and cherry/granite kitchen. Charming front porch to enjoy the natural beauty, plus gazebo, play area, croquet court and more!

4 Bedrooms | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | 2,984 Sq. Ft. | MLS# 216100520

3 Bedrooms | 3 Full, 2 Half Baths | 3,287 Sq. Ft. | MLS# 217003296

For more information, visit GinnyFIsherHomes.com Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

Lynn Baker, REALTOR® Deby Gannes, REALTOR® 248.379.3000 LBaker@HallandHunter.com 248.379.3003 DGannes@HallandHunter.com NEW LISTING

NEW LISTING

NEW PRICE

FRANKLIN VILLAGE 30020 Cheviot Hills Court | $569,900

BEVERLY HILLS VILLAGE 17138 Kirkshire Avenue | $372,500

DETROIT 1414 Wellesley | $509,000

Beautifully renovated home on almost an acre lush private lot. 4 levels of living space. Magnificent master & finished LL. 3-car garage. Birmingham schools.

Amazing updated bungalow on great lot! Decorated to perfection. Spectacular 2nd floor master suite with oversized walk-in closets. Fin. basement. Fenced yard.

Elegant, stately colonial in the premier Palmer Woods neighborhood. Updated kitchen and all-seasons room.

Finished lower level. Attached 3-car heated garage.

2,842 SF | 4 BR | 3.1 Baths | MLS# 217002890

1,729 SF | 3 BR | 2 Full Baths | MLS# 217004425

4,389 SF | 6 BR | 3.2 Baths | MLS# 216107155

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 2411 Pond Vallee | $2,299,900

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 2312 Pond Vallee | $1,595,000

NEW PRICE

PALMER WOODS 1700 Lincolnshire | $699,000

A jewel in the city! One-of-a-kind 3-story mansion Spectacular 2.34 acre estate in premier gated community. on close to an acre with formal/informal gardens and Exceptional 1st floor master suite. Finished LL. Exquisite finishes and details. Gorgeous grounds. sunken pond. Located in unique, involved neighborhood.

5,685 SF | 6 BR | 4.1 Baths | MLS# 217002225

2.41 acre estate in luxurious gated community.

Georgian Colonial offers elegant master suite and finished daylight LL. Garages with room for 6-7 cars.

7,615 SF | 5 BR | 4.2 Baths | MLS# 216058053

7,442 SF | 5 BR | 4.2 Baths | MLS# 216023510

SOLD IN DECEMBER! ROCHESTER HILLS $1,499,999

VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT

LynnAndDeby.com

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP $815,000

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP $429,900

No home too small, no home too large, we DO sell them all!

WARREN $30,000

Lynn and Deby Hall & Hunter Realtors

Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

Associate Broker

248.672.0494

248.217.7222

mperrotta@ hallandhunter.com

dperrotta@ hallandhunter.com

Y

Dorothy Perrotta

REALTORÂŽ

GR EA TP RIV AC

Two generations of realtors bringing experience, new technology, and most of all, results.

Michael Perrotta

SOLD IN 2016:

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 300 Chesterfield Road | $799,900 Classic Colonial located in a country setting just minutes away from Birmingham and surrounded by multimillion dollar homes. This pristine home offers gracious detailing throughout, including hardwood floors and crown molding. Extra large mud room has second kitchen for added convenience. All-year Florida room backs to the grounds of Manresa offering total privacy. Pride of ownership and constant updates.

5 Bedrooms | 3 Full, 1 Half Baths | 3,481 Total Sq. Ft. | MLS# 217002078

PR ICE DT OS EL L!

60 Martell 55 Quarton Lane 1420 Suffield 1793 Melbourne 1400 Sandringham 1170 Park Place Court 28020 Old Colony 1015 McLean 1394 Alameda Blvd.

1151 Kensington 6887 Lahser Road 10423 Hart 10834 Nadine 10846 Vernon 4125 Robina 4139 Robina 131 S. Vermont 603 Lawson 611 Maxwell 1100 Maryland 5971 Blandford 982 N. Adams Road 27430 Harvard Road 5153 Woodlands Lane 27430 Harvard 150 E. Long Lake

BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 1313 Indian Mound Trail | $725,000 Updated home offering a possible 1st guest bedroom and full bath. Improvements in the last 7 years include master bedroom and luxurious baths. Granite chef's kitchen with premium appliances opens to 2 family rooms overlooking a private back yard. Professionally finished lower level. Newer front elevation with mahogany front door, circular driveway. Convenient 2nd floor laundry.

4-5 Bedrooms | 4 Full, 1 Half Baths | 3,500 Sq. Ft. | MLS# 217002021

For more information, visit PerrottaRealEstate.com Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

Sal Impastato ÂŽ

Mark Bess

REALTOR

REALTORÂŽ

248.763.2223

248.425.3778

simpastato@ hallandhunter.com

mbess@ hallandhunter.com

600 Pine Valley Way | Bloomfield | $850,000 Spectacular Young & Young Mid-Century Modern! Cement, brick, glass, cedar siding and roof combine in this modern home designed with a continuous flow across its horizontal and vertical spaces. The open, classic floor plan with overlapping areas is defined by changing elevations, rather than walls. Floor-to-ceiling butt glass opens the interiors to the exteriors. Features include terrazzo flooring, brick piers, floating staircase, 2-way fireplace, skylights and multiple glass doors to patios and yard. The master suite boasts terrazzo bath, dual walk-in closets and terrace. Finished lower level includes theater, glass bar and home office. 30foot hobby garage, 1st floor laundry with catering oven, aggregate patios and much more await you in this truly remarkable home.

3,029 SF | 4 BR | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 216114531

JUST LISTED

FOR LEASE

318 E. Lawrence Ave. | Royal Oak | $259,000

625 N. Old Woodward | Birmingham | $2100/month*

Charming vintage Colonial offers living room with fireplace & dining room boasting bay window and leaded glass windows. Newer eat-in kitchen has access to outside grilling area. Nice-sized master with new private bath. Close to downtown.

Prime up-town location for this outstanding townhouse in the heart of the gallery district! Maple/granite kitchen and large bedrooms. Finished lower level.

1,344 SF | 3 BR | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 217002014

SOLD IN 4 DAYS!

587 Lakeland St. Grosse Pointe

1,062 SF | 2 BR | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 217009130 * Also available furnished for $2500/month

SOLD (Buyer's Agent)

2576 Buckingham Birmingham

$550,000

$799,900

Completely updated/expanded Colonial close to Village shops. All-new granite kitchen opens to family room leading to patio. New master suite. Finished LL. 3,272 SF | 4 BR | 2.2 Baths MLS# 216101157

Gorgeous new construction with open floor plan, 10' ceilings and custom island kitchen. Master suite has 2 walk-in closets & large bath.

3,200 SF | 4 BR | 3.2 Baths MLS# 216097261

For more information, visit HallandHunter.com Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009

248.644.3500 Lynda Schrenk

Cheryl Riback

REALTOR

Associate Broker

248.760.6026

248.808.3112

lschrenk@hallandhunter.com

criback@hallandhunter.com

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BIRMINGHAM 366 W. Brown Street, Unit #2 | $829,000 Completely renovated downtown condo boasts an open floor plan filled with sophisticated urban flair. Gourmet kitchen. Espresso wood floors and recessed lighting. Master bath with Carrera marble. Finished basement with wine room. New courtyard patio. 2-car garage.

2,033 SF | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 217000220

NEW LISTING

BIRMINGHAM 1161 Stanley Boulevard | $349,000

FARMINGTON HILLS 31380 W. Stonewood Court | $549,000

Walk to downtown from this updated home with urban flair! White kitchen & master suite with bath and generous walk-in closet. Wood floors, coved ceilings, wood blinds, newer windows and furnace.

Basement with recessed lighting and wood vinyl floor. 2-car garage.

Beautiful Tobocman custom mid-century modern ranch combines sophistication and comfort. Floor-to-ceiling windows and wood trim.

Extensive built-ins throughout, high ceilings & travertine floors. Granite island kitchen. Walkout LL with rec room, office, bedroom & full bath.

1,138 SF | 3 Bedrooms | 2 Full Baths | MLS# 217003392

4,608 Total SF | 4 Bedrooms | 3 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 217003698

For more information, visit HallandHunter.com Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009

248.644.3500 Amy Zimmer, Associate Broker Tiffany Glime, REALTOR

Kathleen Jardine

ÂŽ

Associate Broker

248.469.6430

248.755.4710

azimmer@hallandhunter.com

kjardine@hallandhunter.com

248.930.5656 tglime@hallandhunter.com

NEW PRICE

BLOOMFIELD 4321 Meadowlane Court | $254,000

BIRMINGHAM | $625,000 or for lease: $4400/month 1763 Bates Street | 1763Bates.epropertysites.com

Great possibility in this ranch with a wonderful floor plan and abundant natural light throughout. Ideally located in a cul-de-sac on almost one full acre, this gem could be spectacular with updates and your own personal touches. Award-winning Birmingham schools.

Walk to town from this gorgeous renovated home with open floor plan.

Two-story foyer and living room. Sophisticated remodeled kitchen.

Spacious master has luxe bath with herringbone marble flooring & claw foot tub accented by a Schonbek chandelier. 2nd floor laundry. Finished LL.

1,647 SF | 3 BR | 1 Full, 1 Half Baths | MLS# 217002750

2,678 SF | 3 BR | 2 Full, 2 Half Baths | MLS# 216108048

For more information, visit HallandHunter.com Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI 48009

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MUNICIPAL Boutique hotel eyed for Birmingham

By Lisa Brody

A new and unique luxury boutique hotel is being designed for the corner of S. Old Woodward and Brown Street in downtown Birmingham, Mario Tricoci, CEO of Chicago-based Aparium Hotel Group confirmed.

Aparium Hotel Group has been brought on to design, position and manage the new hotel that is being developed at 289 S. Old Woodward by Lorient Capital, a company backed by Mark Mitchell and the Mitchell family office of Birmingham, Tricoci said. In recent years, the location was the site of Drs. House Call and Weir Manuel Snyder and Ranke realtors.

Still in its preliminary stages of development, the hotel will be either four or five stories, with the first floor “a dedicated living room for Birmingham,” Tricoci said, in the form of a full service food and beverage program, which Aparium will operate. “It will be a very important culinary aspect centered around the sensibilities of Birmingham, something the local market is missing,” he said. “It will be a very chic area for residents to eat, drink, celebrate, meet friends, host events, and perhaps do a little work. It will provide a very balanced experience.”

The other floors of the building will be a hotel, with no office space other than for hotel operations. There is the possibility, Tricoci said, of a small residential component. At this point, the number of rooms is still up in the air as they determine what the city and marketplace needs and wants.

“We are continuing to understand the market – whether it is suites, Queen rooms, corporate apartments – there are unique independent offerings to understand the competitive market which plays into the number of rooms, the outdoor space, terraces, parking,” he explained.

He said they are considering on-site parking in the design, but it is still a work in progress.

A preliminary discussion was held with the Birmingham Planning Board on Wednesday, January 11, with an architect from the Booth Hansen firm in Chicago, which went extremely well, said Birmingham Planner Matt Baka.

“The planning board liked the idea and encouraged them to submit.”

Tricoci said they did a comprehensive cross-country search for an architect to meet the correct criteria downtownpublications.com

Four Story Burger upends Ironwood Grill he Emagine Palladium Theatre has a new dining partner, having closed the Ironwood Grill on the fourth floor of the Palladium Building in downtown Birmingham, and opened Four Story Burger in the renovated space, naming noted local caterer and foodie Annabel Cohen as executive chef.

“All I can say is it is fun,” Cohen said of the newly designed location at 250 N. Old Woodward at Harmon, acknowledging that Ironwood “was a weird menu, a weird combination of expensive and cheap food.”

The public obviously agreed, rarely venturing up the private elevator servicing the Emagine Palladium theaters and Ironwood Grill in what is now primarily an office building. Emagine Palladium Theatre owners Paul Glantz and Jonathon Goldstein recognized a need to change the landscape and food offerings, and hired Ron Rea of Ron & Roman in Birmingham to completely redesign the space, taking it from sleek and upscale to hip urban and casual. There is still a full bar.

“It's all plywood. The tables are plywood, the floors are plywood,” Cohen said. “They ripped out granite to put in the plywood. It's super fun.”

Recognizing Four Story Burger is a dining establishment inside a movie theater, the space is accented with movie posters, antique movie reels and other memorabilia. “It's very whimsical, and geared toward anyone,” she said.

The new restaurant is also very moderately priced, serving a limited amount of items done very well, Cohen emphasized, with a good burger, chicken sandwich, salmon sandwich, grilled veggie sandwich, and create your own salads, served with quality ingredients. “It's not a fancy place, but it's good food. I'm a gourmet cook, but I'm not a gourmet eat. I like everyday food that doesn't break the bank,” she said.

On the side, diners will enjoy a pound of hand cut fries or Thai chili cauliflower, “served in a carryout Chinese food container with chopsticks,” she said. Desserts include her signature fudgy brownies, malts and shakes.

“I'm the executive chef, which means it's all my recipes and ideas, the things I use in my catering,” Cohen said. “It's a chance for me to use the things that are uniquely me.”

Four Story Burger is open daily for lunch and dinner to the public, as well as to moviegoers.

T

for Mitchell, and are now learning about what the city and the planning board are seeking, to complement both the Townsend Hotel and other hospitality options in the marketplace.

“We're doing it carefully, thoughtfully, collaboratively, so it is the best possible product,” he said, stating there is no set time line yet. “It takes some time. We want a contemporary version of another property we all know and love.

“It's a fabulous, fabulous corner. The city is really looking to have the corners engaged, and we are thoughtful in how to activate the corners of both streets (Old Woodward and Brown), in order to balance pedestrians and parking,” he said.

Aparium was founded in 2011, by hospitality veterans of the luxury and ultra-luxury market. They currently own and operate about a dozen hotels,

beginning with the Elysium Hotel in Chicago, and are currently doing The Foundation Hotel in downtown Detroit, across from Cobo Hall, which is projected to open in 2017. A two Michelin-starred chef from Chicago has announced he will develop a restaurant in The Foundation. Many Aparium hotels are adaptive reuses of existing properties, but the new Birmingham project will be a new build.

Rate hike set for Birmingham parking

By Lisa Brody

With parking in downtown Birmingham at an all-time premium, both in the five municipal parking structures and at parking meters on the streets, city commissioners unanimously approved rate increases

DOWNTOWN

for monthly permit rates, as well as an increase to all parking meters from $1 an hour to $1.50 an hour, at the city commission meeting on Monday, January 9.

The city of Birmingham has been experiencing a severe parking crunch for the last couple of years, and first, in 2014 and 2015, an ad hoc parking study committee studied the downtown area and the Triangle District for nine months, with city engineer Paul O'Meara reporting the committee's findings to the city commission in March 2015. O'Meara reported that on the north side of the downtown area, there was a parking deficit of 278 spots, with a greater shortage of 480 spots in the southern area of downtown. As the Triangle District was still undeveloped, parking needs were too difficult to determine.

In March 2015, the city commission appointed an advisory parking committee to advise the commission on how to help mitigate the parking crunch. At a city commission meeting on June 6, 2016, O'Meara returned to the commission with a six-pronged resolution, which included changing the daily rate at five parking structures, while maintaining the first two hours free, then doubling their current rates, to a maximum of $10 a day, effective July 1, 2016. Instead of $1 an hour after the first two hours free, the rate would be $2 an hour.

At that time, commissioners asked the advisory parking committee to review their recommendations on increases of monthly permit rates, which they felt were too low. The first two hours continues to be free for visitors to the structures. Monthly permits are available for people working in the city, although there is currently a waiting list at each parking structure.

There are currently 3,579 parking spots in the five city parking structures of Pierce, Old Woodward, Peabody, Park and Chester; 1,053 spots on city streets; and 185 spots in surface parking lots, for a total of 4,817 parking spots.

Parking committee chair Lex Kuhne reported back to the commissioners on January 9, “Street parking, meters should be more valuable on the street, and now structures are more expensive on an hourly basis. We said no, we don't want to increase the structure rates as much as you would like, because the parking structures are funded by people who use them, by businesses, and we have to take care 73

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MUNICIPAL of the businesses, and have spaces on the street for visitors. We have to help businesses, to get people into their doors, to maximize BSD (Birmingham Shopping District) members and all city businesses. I think people complain too much. The walk is a block or two.

“We're going to have major construction on Old Woodward and Maple,” Kuhne continued. “What kind of message does that send (to increase the monthly permits too much)? In other cities, a lot of those (employees) would be getting here via mass transit.”

Monthly permit rate increases were proposed for Pierce, Peabody, Park, N. Old Woodward and Lot 6 (regular) structures at $70 a month; for Chester St. structure and Lot 6 (economy) at $50 a month; Ann Street, south side, $60 a month; and south side of S. Old Woodward, $35 a month, effective March 1.

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff asked what kind of responses the committee was receiving from business owners, and Kuhne responded that they worry.

“What's the point that's a tipping point, that's too much for someone to come during business hours?”

Commissioner Carroll DeWeese said he believes rates need to go up more at the structures, and for businesses to use more off site options. “When I see what we're charging the short-term parkers, they're subsidizing the businesses. We're penalizing the exact people the businesses need to come in.”

Business owner Richard Astrein disagreed. “It's not a one-year (road construction) – it's the next three years, and the BSD did a lot of research of what happened in Rochester. It's a minimum of a 30 percent decrease in traffic, and possibly a 40-50 percent decrease. If you want the uniqueness in downtown Birmingham – our margins (retail) have gotten so thin, with the internet, no parking – I've been here 44 years, and we've never had a project like this that will disrupt business and retail. We're bracing for a very different time.”

“Are you saying no rate increases?” commissioner Patti Bordman asked.

Astrein said not until businesses could see how they could weather the road reconstruction of Old Woodward and Maple.

Mayor Mark Nickita countered, “I have eight businesses in downtown Detroit, and I would dream of this parking situation. I think we're an incredible deal, and unbelievably low downtownpublications.com

High levels of copper, lead in schools

By Lisa Brody

wo Birmingham schools discovered higher than allowable levels of copper and lead in the water flowing in some classroom sinks following routine water testing, the school district reported to parents and community in recent days.

There were 11 areas of concern at Beverly Elementary School, located at 18305 Beverly Road in Beverly Hills, and nine at Derby Middle School, 1300 Derby Road, Birmingham. At both schools, no drinking water from water fountains was affected and met all Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) guidelines, Birmingham Public Schools stated.

“As a result of the Flint lead crisis, we test the water at all of our schools on a voluntary basis,” said superintendent Dr. Dan Nerad. “We do so on a strict basis. We have tested for lead for several years, and we have had results we were pleased with in the past, but the testing now is much more rigorous and complete. Because of that, in some of our schools, there were some sinks that did not meet the standards. We don't have results yet from all of our schools, and don't know those results yet.

We are posting the results on our website as we get them, because it's exceedingly important that we are transparent on all testing.”

Beverly was tested on November 27, 2016, by Trace Analytical, and the results were received by the district on Monday, January 9. The results indicated that 11 areas in six classrooms that the district is now addressing had levels of copper that exceeded standards, while one classroom, room 210, also had higher than acceptable levels of lead.

Derby was tested on November 28, 2016, also by Trace Analytical, and results received by the district showed that two sinks in the Life Skills classroom, room 114, have higher than normal copper and lead levels.

“As there are several other sinks in room 114 that have tested within normal levels, students and staff members will have other options for water needs,” an email from the district stated.

Seven other classrooms, including science, art room, prep room, lab and clean up stations, with 35 different faucets, had higher than normal levels but are not drinking sources of water.

The district's facilities department turned off the water supply to those affected classrooms while repairs are being made. Bottled water is being provided to those classrooms and retesting of the sinks will be done once the repairs are complete, the district stated.

“We have a three-pronged approach. First, we are turning off water to any and all water outlets where testing has shown high levels,” said Nerad. “We are communicating to our school community, to our families, right away, and we're working with experts to help us with recommendations on abatement, to guide us with what changes we need to make.”

Nerad said he learned that high levels are an issue in not only old buildings, but new ones as well. “Copper can be found in newer construction, because copper is used more in new construction, and copper leaches out just like lead,” he said.

Copper testing, similar to lead testing, however, is a relatively new requirement from the DEQ.

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for a desirable downtown. It's not so much to gain revenue as to change behavior.”

In addition, commissioners listened to a presentation from Birmingham Police Chief Mark Clemence on changing the parking meters, to add smart meter technology, for a cost of $787,270 to install the meters in the central business district. The new

meters would continue to take coins, but also credit cards and the Parkmobile app.

“The smart meter technology is a better value,” Clemence said. “After the time limit, radar is sent, via the internet, to send a parking enforcement officer to the spot. When a car backs out, all leftover money on the meter is wiped out.”

DOWNTOWN

The new meters would be programmed at $1.50 an hour for parking, rather than the current rate of $1 an hour.

Commissioners approved both the recommended monthly permit rate increases and the new meters at the suggested increased rate, 7-0.

Rail District parking sufficient, report says The Birmingham City Commission unanimously accepted a final report from the Ad Hoc Rail District review committee on Monday, January 9, that looked at current and future parking in the Rail District, as well as its multimodal uses, and determined that there was enough parking, a bike lane should not be added to Eton Street, but the roadway could be made more attractive for all users.

The report will now be sent to the planning board, where the city commission directed it to add recommendations to encourage more shared parking and wayfinding signage.

The Rail District review committee was established in late 2016, after residents in adjacent neighborhoods complained of patrons and workers at restaurants and businesses parking on neighborhood streets, contending there was not enough parking in the district.

Planning director Jana Ecker said the committee looked at the area, including taking a walking tour, reviewed the current parking, future parking needs, and looked at possible multimodal uses, which considers all users of a roadway.

“We looked at how to incorporate more multimodal uses. They want a more attractive roadway, one that is safe for all users, that minimizes traffic on neighboring residential streets,” Ecker said.

Based on a master plan for the Rail District, created in 1999, she said there are items that have not been implemented, including sidewalks that were installed only on the south side of Cole Street, curb extensions on Eton, and “lots of properties without parking in back.”

After studying the area, including looking at making improvements at the Maple/Eton intersection, the committee's recommendations included not having an independent bike lane, but narrowing the roadway to 10-feet and painting indicators to 77

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show where bikers could ride; preserving parking on the west side of Eton, as well as the east side; encouraging more shared parking between businesses; getting rid of private parking signs at businesses in the district; and improving crosswalks.

The report will now move to the city's planning board before returning to the city commission for final approval.

Birmingham BSD reviewing odjectives The Birmingham Shopping District (BSD) governing board, on Thursday, January 5, reviewed a strategic plan update the executive board directed staff to revisit, which identifies four goals for the BSD, including better engaging merchants; branding and marketing the shopping district and community; advocating for the district regarding parking, traffic and infrastructure; and identifying changing demographics, shopping trends and innovative ideas in order to confirm Birmingham's reputation as a unique and desirable destination.

John Heiney, outgoing executive director of the BSD, submitted the document of goals and objectives, created by Marilyn Opdyke of Opdyke Consulting. The first goal is to engage business owners and property owners as active partners in identifying and addressing common concerns, and then providing the tools to positively achieve the goal.

The document noted that potential threats to that success is that “Currently many businesses and property owners are not currently

engaged. The majority do not attend BSD meetings or participate in special events.” It noted that if nothing is done, the BSD will become irrelevant to businesses, and the city will discontinue the BSD assessment, and “the BSD will cease to exist.”

However, if goals are met, two-way communication could be positive, increase business retention, the perceived value of the BSD would be increased, and merchant and business participation would increase.

To achieve these goals, greater awareness of BSD efforts needs to be maximized, with greater discussion of the issues facing the constituents and how the BSD can help, the document recommended. Opdyke suggested better collaboration with the city, especially on parking, construction and other infrastructure issues.

Opdyke also recommended enhancing the branding of the BSD, creating a clear, cohesive and consistent message that conveys the city's strengths and assets, as well as expanding the marketing reach to new markets and demographics, which was begun in early 2016 with a new marketing campaign. If nothing is done, there is the potential to continue losing market share to Somerset Collection and other downtowns and shopping centers competing for shoppers. “We will continue to have events and activities that are fragmented and/or inconsistent with a common message,” the document stated.

Another goal was to emphasize the urgent need to encourage the city to explore creative parking solutions, as well as to become change agents for the businesses in the BSD by identifying relevant emergent trends

BSD looks to minimize road work impact

By Lisa Brody

he Birmingham Shopping District (BSD) board on Thursday January 5, approved a request for an increase in the group’s proposed 2017-2018 budget which will be submitted to the Birmingham City Commission this spring, in order to provide increased support and special events to offset the impact of large road construction projects, like the Old Woodward reconstruction, upon downtown merchants.

The BSD works on a multi-year budget, and

T

and data, and then providing resources and education to businesses to help them integrate them into their culture. The document encourages the BSD to become a clearinghouse for new and innovative ideas, education and resources through a variety of means, including meetings, publications, blogs, webinars and online resources.

The document also encourages the BSD to work with property owners, office workers, those in the southend of Woodward and the Triangle District, to have everyone buy into the theme of “All In Birmingham.”

New director sought for Birmingham BSD With current Birmingham Shopping Director (BSD) executive director John Heiney having officially left the city Friday, January 20, the board has posted the position on the city of Birmingham's website, as well as various professional development websites, with the hopes of conducting interviews in March and making a decision on a new executive director in April.

The posting is seeking an executive director candidate to plan, organize, coordinate and direct programs and activities designed to promote and foster downtown Birmingham as a center for business, social, cultural and community activity.

“The executive director provides administrative and managerial support for the BSD board and its committees, and is responsible for implementing board policies and directives. The executive director represents the board with respect to

this will be the first opportunity to present it and put it in place, outgoing executive director John Heiney said. “The way the budget cycle works, this is our first opportunity to put this in place.”

The BSD is requesting a one-time dip of $212,520 into its general fund balance for special projects, in order to minimize the impact of the Old Woodward reconstruction in 2017, and then Maple Road in 2019.

A general overview of the BSD budget will be presented to the city commission on Saturday, January 28, during their long-range planning meeting, and then submitted to the city as any other department. It will then go through the city's budgeting process, with final approval

individual retailers, commercial property owners, business owners, local and regional officials, and civic and community organizations,” according to the posting.

Candidates must possess a B.A. or B.S. in Economic Development, Community Development, Business or Public Administration, or a related field; be a business person with a minimum of five years of managerial experience in real estate development, retail promotion and/or downtown management; have excellent written and oral communication skills; and be able to maintain records and prepare reports.

Applicants are encouraged to submit a cover letter, resumé, and completed city of Birmingham employment application to the city's HR department no later than 4 p.m.

Tuesday, January 31.

The executive committee anticipates reviewing resumes in February, conducting interviews in March, and making a final decision in April.

In early December, Heiney announced that after 17 years as executive director of the BSD, he and his wife Sheri were relocating to Prescott, Arizona. Sheri had been president of the Rochester Chamber of Commerce, and accepted a job as the incoming president and CEO of the Prescott Chamber of Commerce in Prescott, Arizona. She began the new post on January 3.

John Heiney said he had just accepted a job as community outreach manager for the city of Prescott, where he will report directly to the city manager. “I will do PR, social media, website management, internal and external communications for the city of

expected by the commission in May. “A little over a year ago, the BSD executive committee identified that the fund balance was quite robust, and there were additional funds for special projects. With the announced road projects, the board approved package that included enhanced programs, marketing campaigns, additional special events, valet parking, and some physical enhancements that could dovetail with construction, like signage and lighting,” Heiney said.

Heiney said the presentation to the commission on January 28 will be made by a BSD staff member and board chair Geoff Hockman.

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MUNICIPAL Prescott,” he said. “It was serendipitous,” he said of his new job.

“It came up when Sheri was interviewing.”

He was scheduled to begin his new job on Monday, January 23.

Ethics panel reviews possible conflicts Birmingham's Board of Ethics met on Friday, December 16, on a request from the city commission to determine if it is a conflict of interest for commissioners to sit as a board member on area boards and agencies, such as NEXT, which commissioners have long been appointed to in order to represent the city as well as to report back to the commission on the inner workings of the agency.

The complaint was brought to the board of ethics by commissioner Patti Bordman, who had been asked to represent the commission as a liaison board member to NEXT, a non-profit organization enriching the lives of those 50-plus in Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin.

Typically, the member of a board recuses themselves from voting on a matter related to the board or agency when it comes before the city commission. They also provide the commission with information and background the commission would not otherwise have.

According to city manager Joe Valentine, the three-member board of ethics reviewed and discussed the situation and requested more material, which they will review at an upcoming meeting before rendering an opinion.

The board of ethics meets on an as-needed basis when there is a question or complaint as to the applicability of any provision of the ethics ordinance to a particular situation. In its official capacity, the board of ethics may conduct hearings and issue advisory opinions as applicable under the ordinance.

Birmingham has an ethics ordinance, which states: The city of Birmingham has declared that public office and employment are public trusts. For government to operate properly, each city official, employee, or advisor must earn and honor the public trust by integrity and conduct.

All city officials, employees, and advisors must avoid conflicts between their private interests and the public interest and must not use downtownpublications.com

public office for personal gain. The city has established rules of conduct for city officials, employees, and advisors and has designed a process for determining whether their conduct conforms to or violates the ordinance. That process contemplates the involvement of all citizens, not just city officials, employees, and advisors, in monitoring the integrity of city government.

According to one official, commissioners have been appointed to, and sat on, area boards and agencies for decades as a public service, both to the commission and to the public. “How we've dealt with it is when the commission votes on an issue dealing with the agency or board, the commissioner recuses him or herself from voting on the item.

The question is, should the person be a board member or a liaison? Then we need to define what it means to be a liaison,” said the individual, who requested to not be identified.

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City leasing agent contract renewed

By Lisa Brody

An agreement to have Julie Fielder, a retail leasing agent who has provided services to the city of Birmingham since 2009, continue providing local retailers with support, as well as encouraging national retailers to move into the city's downtown, was renewed by the board of directors of the Birmingham Shopping District (BSD) at their monthly meeting on Thursday, January 5.

Fielder, a former retail leasing agent with The Taubman Company, has worked with the BSD as a retail leasing consultant since March 2009.

In that time, she has brought a number of notable national retailers to the central business district, including Lululemon, Paper Source, J. McLaughlin, Alex & Ani, Blue Mercury, Evereve, Francesca's, Sara Campbell, and Allen Edmonds. She has also worked with several locallyowned retailers in moving to or relocating within Birmingham, and is in the process of working on additional deals.

Fielder's new contract began January 1, 2017, and is on a monthto-month basis, with either party able to terminate with 30 days notice. She is the exclusive agent within the BSD's boundaries, and cannot work DOWNTOWN

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on behalf of any shopping center within five miles of the BSD, or with a municipality or downtown within a 15-mile radius of the BSD boundaries.

Her responsibilities continue to include recruiting national and regional retailers for commercial space within the BSD boundaries and to recruit local retailers; to develop and maintain a detailed leasing plan of the BSD in order to establish goals for tenant mix; to develop a key list of national and regional tenants based on a number of factors; and to work with the BSD staff to maintain and update a listing of available rental properties. She also meets with key commercial property owners as needed, and helps with the creation of tenant recruitment marketing materials.

Fielder is paid a monthly retainer of $4,000, plus commission where applicable.

Bloomfield trustees added to committees Noting the change in regime from the recent November election, treasurer Brian Kepes recommended appointing fellow trustees to the health care benefits and financial sustainability committee at the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, January 9.

In January 2015, township trustees approved the formation of a financial sustainability committee comprised of the township supervisor, treasurer, finance director, a trustee, and three members of the community with financial knowledge to provide advice to the board of trustees on the township’s defined benefit pension plan, its equity account, as well as other financial issues. The creation of the financial sustainability committee is designed to assist the treasurer and trustees in making better informed financial decisions, but it will only be an advisory committee.

Kepes had been the trustee on the committee but since he became treasurer in November, that slot had become open.

He made a motion to appoint trustee Neal Barnett to serve as the trustee member of the committee, and trustees voted 7-0 to approve the appointment.

Three individuals are co-trustees of the township's Retired Employees' DOWNTOWN

Health Care Benefits Trust, which oversees the management of the township's funds for employees' health care benefits. Co-trustees are the township treasurer, finance director and a trustee.

Kepes had been the trustee, and is now on the committee as treasurer, along with finance director Jason Theis. He made a motion to add trustee Dave Buckley as trustee cotrustee, and board members unanimously approved the appointment.

Whooping cough at Pierce Elementary Administrators at Birmingham Public Schools' Pierce Elementary notified parents on Tuesday, January 10, that two kindergarten students had been diagnosed with pertussis, also known as whooping cough, and the district was working with the Oakland County Health Department and monitoring the rest of the school community.

James Lalik, principal at Pierce, sent out an email notification to parents and the community stating that on Thursday, January 5, “We had notice that a case of pertussis (whooping cough) had been reported in a kindergarten classroom in our school. Parents of students specific to that classroom were notified at that time.”

He continued that since that date, they received notice that an additional student in the same kindergarten classroom had also been diagnosed with pertussis, and was infectious during the period of January 5 – January 6.

The second child also attended the school's Kids Club after school program during the same time period.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, has also been called the 100-day cough, and is a highly contagious bacterial disease. Most children are inoculated from the disease, receiving their first dose between six and eight weeks of age, and subsequently four more vaccines in the first two years of life.

Birmingham Schools Superintendent Dr. Dan Nerad said, “We are monitoring the rest of the school community, and taking advice from the Oakland County Health Department. They serve as great partners for us. They appear to be isolated cases.”

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FACES Thomas Fiscella laying the role of mafia crime boss Gyp DeCarlo in "Jersey Boys," the behind-the-scene musical about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, actor Thomas Fiscella has been touring with the show since the fall of 2011.

"When we first started touring, it was pretty much nonstop for the first two years," said Fiscella, a Seaholm High School graduate who discovered his passion for performing in the Birmingham Public Schools district. "We would be in a city for as long as two weeks or a month, city after city, when we first started."

Visiting more than 135 cities, Fiscella has performed the role more than 1,400 times over the past five years, keeping each audience captivated for every moment on stage.

"It has to be new and fresh and different every night within the parameters of what it is and what it's directed to be. If we did the same show every night, it wouldn't be truthful," he said. "I have to make it different by listening very closely to what my colleagues are saying on stage and reacting differently. No audience wants to see a repeat performance of the night before... Simultaneously, you are aware it has to be in the same parameter, and you can't diverge off the script. The story is sacrosanct. It's such a well written script."

As a professional, part of Fiscella's job is to make his performance appear so natural that it almost looks easy. Of course, it's not.

"It would be really easy to screw it up. Nothing is foolproof. It requires concentration, and it requires that leap to trust yourself and understand that it could easily go the wrong way if you weren't paying attention."

Now living in Los Angeles when he's not touring with Jersey Boys, Fiscella discovered at a young age that acting is just one of many ways to tell a story.

"I first got interested in storytelling as a student at Seaholm, and at Berkshire (Middle School), even before that. Stories were always fascinating to me, even from my elementary school years," he said. "I found you could tell a story in multiple ways. Either you could write it or tell it out loud, or act it out in a performance, and that was fascinating to me."

As a student, Fiscella first started doing plays and musicals at Seaholm. He later began doing professional theater and Shakespeare festivals throughout the country, and attended the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

"It felt right. It felt comfortable to me and challenging at the same time," he said.

After college, Fiscella returned to Detroit for a bit where worked with the Detroit Repertory Theatre, the JCC in West Bloomfield and others, including industry commercials and films, laying the groundwork for a move to Chicago for more opportunities. In 2000, he moved to Los Angeles.

During his career, Fiscella has worked on the stage, film and television, including The Kite Runner, Fiddler on the Roof, Tranced, Miss Evers' Boys, The Bigger Man, Stalag 17, Black Friday, The Manchurian Candidate, The Sound of Music, 24 and others.

"You can tell a story about a Jeep Cherokee as much as you can tell a story about a Shakespearean character," he said. "It's, 'how do you make it relatable and connect with people through this performance.' I still do that today with Jersey Boys, after 1,400 performances."

P

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Justin Dâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Apolito

Jessica Schwartz R E A LT O R ® • A New Generation of Superior Service •

248.321.7574 JSchwartz@HallandHunter.com Hall & Hunter Realtors 442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009

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BUSINESS MATTERS Men’s salon, coffee shop Lady Jane’s Haircuts For Men will open a 10,000 sq. ft. deluxe salon including Birmingham Roast, a high-end coffee house this spring.

“This building is going to be our brand new headquarters,” said Jesse Dhillon, director of finance and project manager on the development. The office building will be located in Birmingham’s Balmoral building at 34901 Woodward Avenue.

“The office building is going to be very modern and state-of-the-art.

The whole building, on the inside, is made of glass.” President of Lady Jane’s, Tim McCollum, said the salon specializes in men’s haircuts as well as hot lather neck shaves, scalp massages and eye brow waxing. “The atmosphere is a big part of it,” Dhillon said. “We like the aesthetic side of the city and it will be a nice complement for what the city has to offer.” The salon will feature sports memorabilia, multiple high-definition televisions and highend barber chairs. “We truly believe it will be the nicest men’s salon in all of Metro Detroit,” Dhillon said.

“We’re in the business of building relationships between stylists and men and making (clients) feel important, special and comfortable in our environment.” They are in the process of developing the menu for Birmingham Roast. “We’ll have a wide variety of coffee drinks, warm and chilled,” Dhillon said. “The ripple-maker allows you to customize your coffee with personal messages.”

Patrons will be able to write “Happy Birthday” or an affectionate message. There will also be a limited food menu, including breakfast sandwiches. Chad Johnson founded Lady Jane’s in metro Detroit. “We could’ve taken our corporate headquarters anywhere, but we’re very committed to the metro Detroit community that has been so great to us,” Dhillon said.

T-Mobil expands A new T-Mobil store is slated to open in Bloomfield Marketplace at 1916 S. Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Township early this spring. The 1,550 sq. ft. location, owned by Jay Yaldo, will offer equipment and T-Mobil phone plans. “We offer phones, no contracts, unlimited data, no overages, and taxes and fees are included,” said Yaldo. “The reason why we chose to open that location downtownpublications.com

is there has been huge growth (for TMobil) from Verizon and AT&T (customers).” Yaldo said he scouted the location for two years and has confidence that the area is going to thrive. “I believe that area is going to have high traffic,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a downtown area. I think the whole area is coming back.” Yaldo is a Bloomfield Hills resident. He owns liquor stores and another T-Mobil store in Pontiac at Telegraph and Elizabeth Lake roads.

He will be looking to hire staff members for the new location.

Unique meatball diner Polpetta, a new meatball restaurant is opening at the end of January at 126 S. Old Woodward Avenue in Birmingham. The restaurant will offer a variety of meatballs, sauces, breads and salads. Owner Sam Abdelfatah, who also owns Brooklyn Pizza in downtown Birmingham, decided to open the eatery to offer more variety to Birmingham patrons. “Meatballs have become very trendy in the last few years. I went to New York and that’s how I was inspired. I saw a need for it,” he said. “I always thought there weren’t enough lunch options in Birmingham. I think that’s why we’re so busy in Brooklyn.” Polpetta will offer carryout, delivery and they have about 28 seats for diners. “It’s a different take on meatballs,” he said. “There are a variety of balls: regular Italian, spicy pork and vegetarian.” They will also have bar b que chicken and buffalo chicken.

The meatballs will be served on a variety of buns, with an assortment of sauces. They will also feature other sandwiches, pastas, sides, and salads. The remodel was done by the eminent Ron & Roman design company. “When he (Ron Rea) designed the store, he took into consideration how narrow it is,” Abdelfatah said. “He was very, very creative. He divided the dining room with a glass wall and created a forefront in the store. I wanted the restaurant to look like an old-world butcher shop.” Abdelfatah is looking to hire 15 new employees for Polpetta. His 16-year-old son, Hani Abdelfatah, has worked for him at Brooklyn Pizza since he was 11years-old. The family lives in nearby Bloomfield Hills. Brooklyn Pizza is going into its 21st year in business.

Quick fitness options A new kickboxing and fitness gym, 9Round Fitness, opened for business in January at 2406 Franklin Road in Bloomfield Township.

Located in the Sugarbush Plaza at Square Lake and Telegraph roads, the center offers 30-minute full body fitness workouts. “I wanted to help people lead better lives and be healthy,” said owner and trainer Guy Shaham. “This made the most sense. The market is right. There are a lot of fitness options in Bloomfield Hills, but people are looking for something different.” Clients can walk in anytime during the day for a workout. “There are trainers there to motivate and train,” he said. “We do different workouts every day. You can get a good, effective workout. I want people to see results quickly.” Hence the business name, there are nine different stations that can be tailored to meet the needs of individual clients. “If someone has a bad knee, we can customize the workout to whatever the person needs.” The 1,100 sq. ft. gym offers a month-tomonth or 12-month registration. To ensure the most effective workout, they incorporate heart rate monitor technology. “The heart is the best gauge of how hard people are working. We want to make sure people are getting the most effective workout possible.” The fitness facility has two trainers on staff in addition to Shaham, who is also a trainer. “We’ll probably be looking for two or three more (trainers),” he said.

Dr. Rick Kattouf is a nutritionist on staff who provides dietary support for clients. “Were just here to get people fit in nine rounds at a time.”

No more cake Imerman Cake Company, a familyowned company based in Bloomfield Hills, recently closed for business.

The all-natural, organic company was launched in 2010 by mother and son team Jeffrey and Jane Imerman after Jeffrey’s brother battled and survived cancer. According to a Facebook post by the company, the reason for the closure was a financial decision. “From the beginning, we have used only the highest quality organic ingredients. We pledged to never compromise those principles.

But, the cost of organic ingredients increased our expenses to a point that we are not able to achieve the volume we need to sustain the business for

DOWNTOWN

the long-term future,” Imerman Cake Company was created to provide the community with USDA-certified organic, eco-friendly packaged products. In the process, they raised awareness and donated proceeds to Imerman Angels, a non-profit international one-on-one cancersupport organization. “We will always be grateful to those of you who believed in our cakes and the principles that they represented. We truly cannot thank you enough.”

Rehabilitation expansion Team Rehab, a physical and occupational therapy company that is rapidly growing throughout the midwest, moved to 281 Enterprise Dr. in Bloomfield Township from 799 Denison Court in Bloomfield Township. “Our lease in our current space was running out,” said assistant clinic director Jodi Sandvik. “It’s right in the same area, which is what we wanted.” The rehabilitation center offers physical, sports and orthopedic therapy. “We have three physical therapists and an athletic trainer.” They updated the space to accommodate their needs.

“We gutted it and redid it all,” Sandvik said. “We had new flooring put in, new paint and updated the bathrooms and cabinets.”

BIG Planning moves The solutions-driven wealth management firm, BIG Planning, recently moved into a new space at 39533 Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills. The company relocated to the space at Long Lake Road and Woodward to accommodate their growing clientele. “Our move was necessary to continually provide our clients with excellent service in a centrally located office,” said Mark F. Burns, managing director. The company provides service to individuals, families and institutions.

They focus on understanding their clients’ needs, developing an action plan, implementing tailored strategies and continually evaluating the progress of their plan, Burns said.

They also have locations in Chicago and Naples, Florida.

Business Matters for the Birmingham Bloomfield area are reported by Katey Meisner. Send items for consideration to KateyMeisner@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

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Roop Raj hether he's on the air to talk about local weather conditions or relaying vital information in the midst of a natural disaster, FOX 2 Detroit news reporter Roop Raj said the key to connecting with viewers is by being himself.

"Believability is critical. When you show up on the air, people with a PhD or a GED know when you're being you and being genuine. They can sense that," he said. "Being believable means being real and being genuinely who you are on the air. I'm lucky to work for a station that encourages that.

"We are people with feelings, and we are not afraid of sharing our feelings.

There are some things that are indefensible â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they effect you, and to share that on the air is the believability people want when they are watching the news. I'm not sure anyone is going to do well in this industry if they aren't believable."

Raj, who was raised in Troy, moved to Bloomfield Township in 2009 when he joined FOX 2, after spending seven years in New Orleans as a morning anchor/reporter for WDSU-TV. Growing up the son of Indian parents who moved to the United States in 1973, Raj said he rejected the traditional career paths of medicine, engineering and law that second generation children are often pushed toward. Instead, he knew from an early age that he wanted to be a television journalist. Instead of fighting him, he said his parents encouraged him by making him read news reports and writing his own. Through reviewing his summaries and critiquing his work, Raj learned how to take in and analyze the news, and then convey it to others.

"That's a skill I picked up early on," he said. "I give credit to my parents for that."

W

During his teenage years, Raj started his own television show, Voices of Troy, on Troy's cable access channel. His work earned him national attention when he appeared on The Phil Donahue Show in 1992.

"I wanted to go into television, but nobody would hire me because I was a kid," he said. "I decided to start my own show. I did that until college. That was my ticket into getting into television."

While attending Michigan State University, Raj worked at the Lansing CBS and ABC affiliates before later moving to New Orleans.

It was there, while covering Hurricane Katrina for nearly 17 hours straight, that he understood the news he was relaying could have an immediate impact on people's lives. The ability to reach people who were stuck in their homes and direct them, through their televisions on where to go to find water, relatives or other necessities, was vital to the welfare of many in the crisis. The experience, he said, also showed him another side of news and journalism.

"What I really learned through covering those stories was that there are other types of storms that are going on in peoples' lives," he said. "When I moved back to Detroit, there was a different type of storm happening.

"People are really struggling. Our job isn't just to entertain people and give them fluff, but to give them a real understanding of what is happening around them. It's really giving them useful information so that they feel they can't only connect with anchors, but hopefully learn from them and make their lives better because of it."

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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 listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown. 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.

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VALENTINE’S DAY OR OTHER OCCASIONS 94

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

248.646.2220.

5th Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 2262 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9607.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.865.9300.

Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.792.3579.

Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42805 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Township, 48304.

248.499.6867.

Beau's: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.2630.

Bella Piatti: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

Beverly Hills Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. No reservations. 31471 Southfield Road, Beverly Hills, 48025. 248.642.2355.

Beyond Juice: Contemporary. Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

No reservations. 270 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.7078.

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

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

Bill's: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Daily. Reservations, lunch only.

Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.9000.

Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8880.

Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Liquor.

Reservations. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984.

Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.645.6879.

Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6690.

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

Liquor. Call ahead. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township.

248.642.4000.

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.

DOWNTOWN

China Village: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 1655 Opdyke, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.758.1221.

Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555.

Cityscape Deli: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Beer.

877 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.540.7220.

Commonwealth: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.9766.

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

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

248.642.1135.

Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.258.9939.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.647.2420.

Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.645.1033.

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

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

Forest: European. Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham 48009. 248.258.9400 Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek.

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

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. No Reservations.

Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham.

248.712.4050.

Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3633 W. Maple Rd, Bloomfield, MI 48301. 248.203.9111.

Hunter House Hamburgers: American.

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

248.646.7121.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.4369.

IHOP: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2187 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301. 248.333.7522.

Ironwood Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, 6 or more. Liquor.

290 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009.

248.385.0506.

Kerby’s Koney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.1166.

La Marsa: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner daily. Reservations. 43259 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.5800.

La Strada Dolci e Caffe: Italian. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 243 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.480.0492.

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.

02.17

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 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.

Mad Hatter Cafe: Tea Room. Brunch, Lunch & Dinner. No reservations. Liquor.

185 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.540.0000 Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130, Bingham Farms, 48025.

248.723.7960.

Market North End: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations.

Liquor. 474 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.712.4953.

MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.723.0800.

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.

Nippon Sushi Bar: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2079 S. Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9581.

Nosh & Rye: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily.

No reservations. 39495 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.7923.

Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 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: American. 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.

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.

Also 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304.

248.874.1876 Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270.

Rojo Mexican Bistro: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 250 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6200.

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

Sidecar Slider Bar: Burgers. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 280 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham 48009.

248.220.4167.

Social Kitchen & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 5 or more. Liquor. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200.

downtownpublications.com

Stacked Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. 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, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations, Lunch only. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.9123.

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

Reservations. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.3887.

Sweet Tree Family Restaurant: Middle Eastern/American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.7767.

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.

Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2958.

The Bird & The Bread: Brasserie. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodard, Birmingham, 48009.

248.203.6600.

The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600.

The Gallery Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 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 Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999.

The Stand: Euro-American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 34977 Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.220.4237.

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

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

Touch of India: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 297 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.7881.

Townhouse: American. Brunch, Saturday, Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241.

Triple Nickel Restaurant and Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951.

Village Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

653 S. Adams. Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.7964.

Whistle Stop Diner: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.566.3566.

Royal Oak/Ferndale Ale Mary's: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 316 South Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1917.

Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.548.0680.

Andiamo Restaurants: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 129 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.582.0999.

Assaggi Bistro: Italian. Lunch, TuesdayFriday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.584.3499.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 711 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067.

Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.0082.

The Blue Nile: Ethiopian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 545 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.547.6699.

Bspot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 310 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.268.1621.

Cafe Muse: French. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.4749.

Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 48069. 248.544.2675.

D’Amato’s: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

222 Sherman Dr., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.584.7400.

Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017.

248.288.0220.

The Fly Trap: Diner. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 22950 Woodward Ave., 48220. 248.399.5150.

GreenSpace Cafe: Vegan. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 215. W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.206.7510.

Howe’s Bayou: Cajun. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 22949 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145.

Inn Season Cafe: Vegetarian. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. 500 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.547.7916.

Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.543.9500.

KouZina: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 121 N. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.629.6500.

Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 410 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.591.5459.

Local Kitchen and Bar: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 344 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.291.5650.

Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.584.4227.

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 212 W. 6th St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.556.0947.

One-Eyed Betty: American. Weekend Breakfast. Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale, 48220.

248.808.6633.

Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7900.

Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner,

DOWNTOWN

daily. No reservations. Liquor. 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.850.7420.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073.

248.549.0300.

Ronin: Japanese. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 326 W. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.546.0888.

Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.1141.

Strada: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday Sunday. Liquor. No reservations. 376 N. Main Street. Royal Oak, 48067.

248.607.3127.

Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.398.0444.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 318 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.541.1186.

Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.7300.

The Morrie: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 511 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.216.1112.

Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 415 S, Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.542.4444.

Twisted Tavern: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22901 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.545,6750.

Vinsetta Garage: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072.

248.548.7711.

Troy/Rochester Bspot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 176 N. Adams Rd, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.218.6001.

Capital Grille: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2800 West Big Beaver Rd., Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300.

Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831.

Chapman House: French-American. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations recommended. Liquor. 311 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 48307. 248.759.4406.

Ganbei Chinese Restaurant and Bar: Chinese. Lunch, Monday-Saturday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 227 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307.

248.266.6687.

O’Connor’s Irish Public House: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 324 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307.

248.608.2537.

Kona Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48083. 248.619.9060.

Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 327 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.652.9400.

Lakes: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 5500 Crooks Rd., Troy, 48098. 248.646.7900.

McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, 48084.

248.637.6400.

The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307. 248.759.4825.

95

...FOOD FOR THOUGHT:

JAN. 30 - FEB. 3 and FEB. 6 - 10 3-course lunches for $15, 3-course dinners for $30 Birmingham’s finest restaurants are participating Contact restaurants directly to make reservations First two hours are free in all parking decks Visit BirminghamRestaurantWeek.org for event menus Birmingham Shopping District

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@BhamShopping

Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.453.5371.

Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083.

248.689.2332.

Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845.

NM Café: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084.

248.816.3424.

Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200.

Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500.

Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.524.1944.

P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.816.8000.

Rochester Chop House: Steak & Seafood.

Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424.

Silver Spoon: Italian. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester, 48306.

248.652.4500.

Steelhouse Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy, 48085.

248.817.2980.

Too Ra Loo: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 139 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.453.5291.

Tre Monti Ristorante: Italian. Lunch, Thursdays. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1695 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083. 248.680.1100.

West Bloomfield/Southfield Bacco: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 29410 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.356.6600.

Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680.

Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034.

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323.

248.851.2500.

The Bombay Grille: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 29200 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, 48334.

248.626.2982.

The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 6676 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.851.8782.

The Lark: American. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6430 Farmington Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.661.4466.

Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 6239 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.538.7081.

Meriwether’s: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-

DOWNTOWN

Saturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 25485 Telegraph Rd, Southfield, 48034. 248.358.1310.

Pickles & Rye: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6724 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.737.3890.

Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.7463.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor.

6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.865.0500.

Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.626.8585.

Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 33210 W. Fourteen Mile Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248. 538.8954.

Stage Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.855.6622.

Sweet Lorraine’s Café & Bar: American.

Weekend Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29101 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, 48076.

248.559.5985.

Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7365 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.737.8282.

West Oakland Gravity Bar & Grill: Mediterranean. Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday, Dinner.

Reservations. Liquor. 340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381. 248.684.4223.

It's A Matter of Taste: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.360.4150.

The Root Restaurant & Bar: American.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48390.

248.698.2400.

Volare Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.7771.

North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.620.6100.

Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442.

248.634.5208.

Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346.

248.795.2077.

Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500.

Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday – Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.625.5660

Detroit Angelina Italian Bistro: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor.

1565 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.1355.

Antietam: French. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

1428 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, 48207.

313.782.4378.

Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

02.17

Not to b bee explained. exp explained . To be be exp experienced.

B 2684 E. Jefferson, Detroit, 48207.

313.965.3111.

Cliff Bell’s: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.961.2543.

Coach Insignia: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243.

313.567.2622.

Craft Work: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit, 48214.

313.469.0976.

Cuisine: French. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit, 48202. 313.872.5110.

The Detroit Seafood Market: Seafood.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.4180.

El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 3710 Junction St., Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café: Cajun.

Breakfast, daily. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600.

Giovanni’s Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122.

Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.5588.

Jefferson House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4318.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday- Friday, Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.6837.

Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2601 W. Fort St., Detroit, 48216.

313.309.7946.

Maccabees at Midtown: American.

Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202.

313.831.9311.

Mario’s: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616.

Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.974.7669.

Motor City Brewing Works: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700.

1917 American Bistro: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 19416 Livernois Ave., Detroit, 48221.

313.863.1917.

Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette St, Detroit, 48226.

313.309.2499.

Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.2100.

Roma Café: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

3401 Riopelle St., Detroit, 48207.

313.831.5940.

Russell Street Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 2465 Russell St, Detroit, 48207. 313.567.2900.

Santorini Estiatorio: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 501 Monroe Ave, Detroit,

downtownpublications.com

48226. 313.962.9366.

Selden Standard: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.438.5055.

Sinbad’s: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

100 St Clair St., Detroit, 48214.

313.822.8000.

Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.9828.

Small Plates Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1521 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.963.0702.

St. CeCe’s Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Ave., Detroit, 48216.

313.962.2121.

Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234.

Taqueria Nuestra Familia: Mexican.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7620 Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.5668.

The Block: American. Sunday Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 3919 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.0892.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 519 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.964.4010.

Top of the Pontch: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservation. Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.782.4313.

Traffic Jam & Snug: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

511 W. Canfield, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.9470.

24grille: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.964.3821.

Union Street: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.3965.

Vince’s: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1341 Springwells St., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.4857.

Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American.

Saturday Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market St., Detroit, 48207.

313.393.1711.

The Whitney: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & High Tea, Monday-Friday. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1646.

Wolfgang Puck Steak: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226.

313.465.1411.

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THE COMMUNITY HOUSE “It is every man's obligation to put back into the world at least the equivalent of what he takes out of it” – Albert Einstein

“Selfless service is absolutely fundamental, both from an individual perspective and from the perspective of the entire human race, without which there can be no true progression. Selfless service should be offered and provided out of a genuine and deep desire to help and be of service to others.”

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization, it is The Community House’s duty and obligation to remain ever mindful that good stewardship is an essential part of the fundraising cycle. It covers the entire relationship between donor and organization.

Likewise, we must continually celebrate and honor the importance of selfless service and volunteerism. For without either, the work and missions of noble organizations such as The Community House would not be possible.

On Saturday, January 28, The Community House Board of Directors will host its Second Annual Bates Street Society Dinner at The Community House in the Wallace Ballroom. It will be a magical evening of celebration, recognition and inspiration. At a private champagne Pillar Reception, held just prior to the Bates Street Society Dinner, seven new Pillars of Vibrancy; Philanthropy, Wellness, Culture and Education will be inducted.

Congratulations and best wishes to the 2017 Community House Pillars of Vibrancy! We are indeed indebted and grateful to each and every one of you!

Bill Seklar

2017 PILLAR OF PHILANTHROPY - LOIS SHAEVSKY Philanthropist, “Queen of Fundraising & Rolodex Diva” In recognition of her many years of kindness, generosity and dedicated service to scores of non-profit and for-profit organizations throughout our state and for her extraordinary passion and commitment to philanthropy, giving back to the community, unprecedented networking skills, and caring for those THE in need.

2017 PILLAR OF PHILANTHROPY GEORGE A. MILLER Chairman, SMC Investment Group, Philanthropist DINNER In recognition of his many years of kindness, generosity and dedicated service to scores of non-profit and for-profit organizations throughout our region and his extraordinary passion and commitment to philanthropy, giving back to the community, service and caring for those in need.

2017 PILLAR OF WELLNESS - ROSANNA MORRIS, RN, MBA President, Beaumont Hospital – Royal Oak In recognition of 20-plus years of expertise and academic contributions to the field of medicine, for inspiring young women across our country, and for her extraordinary passion and commitment to the treatment, medical prevention and wellness of all people in our region.

2017 PILLAR OF WELLNESS- RICHARD ASTREIN President & Owner, Astrein Creative Jewelers In recognition of his many years of unselfish and dedicated service to children, the most precious and vulnerable citizens of our society and his extraordinary passion and commitment to the diagnosis, prevention, treatment and wellness of all people, young and old.

2017 PILLAR OF CULTURE - VICTOR SAROKI, FAIA Owner & Founder, Saroki Architecture In recognition of his prestigious career as an award-winning architect, a member of the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and founder of Saroki Architecture, where he has built an incredible reputation in our community for changing the beauty and landscapes of our lives.

2017 PILLAR OF CULTURE - DAVID HOHENDORF Publisher, Downtown Publications In recognition of his illustrious career, as reporter, news editor, and general manager and now as publisher of Downtown Publications where he serves communities and the people who live, work and thrive in those communities, nobly and admirably.

2017 PILLAR OF EDUCATION - MARGARET E. MATTHES, M.M. Ed. Owner, Margaret’s Music Studio In recognition of her twenty years of dedicated and passionate teaching of Kindermusik at The Community House, caring for and tending to our youngest constituents and teaching them, nurturing them, encouraging them to explore early vocal and movement development skills, while simultaneously empowering parents through engaging musical experiences.

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William D. Seklar is President & CEO of The Community House in Birmingham. downtownpublications.com

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene.

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.

DIA Gala Grandiosa

DIA Gala Grandiosa The historic festivals and gardens of Spain inspired the décor and the Forte Belanger cuisine for the annual November soiree at the Detroit Sally Gerak Institute of Art. The theme was chosen by co-chairs Lauren Gibbs Fisher, Janis Wetsman and Marcia Holland-Turner to celebrate native Spaniard Salvador Salort-Pons’ inaugural year as museum director. The sold out crowd of 525 cocktailed in the Kresge and Prentis courts where the director thanked the chairs for “...a fantastic job,” adding that he has had a wonderful first year “...going out and listening to you (at more than 30 community meetings).” Dinner followed - the Benefactors ($5,000) in the Cracchiolo Gallery, Patrons ($2,500) in the Great Hall, VIPs ($750) in the Rivera Court. Another 200 La Hora Loca guests ($100) arrived at 9 pm for small bites, desserts and dancing to Chicago’s DJ Rock City back in the courts. Historic, too, was the revenue for the gala. Thanks to generous sponsors the extraordinary, vibrant evening raised a record $1,440,000.

Village Club Foundation Benefit Inspired by the Olympics in Brazil, Kathy Murphy and her committee chose Torches Aglow in Rio as the theme for The Village Club Foundation biennial fundraiser. The popular dinner and auction was a sellout (225 members and guests at $100, $125, $250 tickets). The silent auctions ($17,110) consumed lots of attention during the cocktail hour. Then the party moved to the dining room where two card raffles for Shinola watches brought in $2,590. After dinner Brian Murphy did auctioneer duty raising $10,550 for a mere five items. Dancing and an afterglow with hummers for the 54 benefactors in the library concluded the evening which raised an all time high $68,500. After vigorous vetting of applicants, last spring the foundation’s annual grants totaled $154,000 to 54 non-profit organizations.

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1. Lauren Gibbs Fisher (left) of Bloomfield, Marcia Holland-Turner of Detroit, Janis Wetsman of Birmingham. 2. Dick Brodie (left) of Bloomfield, Salvador Salort-Pons of Detroit. 3. Bonnie Larson (left) of Bloomfield, Gerry Padilla & Linda Orlans of Birmingham. 4. Greg Fisher and Sis Fisher (left) of Bloomfield and Donna Gibbs of Los Angeles, CA, and Joanie Roche Quinlan of Harbor Springs. 5. Denise (left) & Creighton Forester of Bloomfield, Doug & Jill Hellyar of Birmingham. 6. Sally Orley (left) of Bloomfield, Alison Orley of Birmingham. 7. Thomas Guastello (left) & Susan Luch of Birmingham, Lillian & Gus Demas of Romeo. 8. Nancy Rands (left) of Bloomfield, Sandy Seligman of Birmingham. 9. Bill & Susan Hall of Bloomfield.

Village Club Foundation Benefit JARC’s 36th annual fall fundraiser The music and moves of Michael Jackson came alive at Orchestra Hall the night nearly 2,000 JARC supporters ($100 & up ticket) gathered there to raise funds for the agency’s service to people with disabilities. James Delisco (aka The Entertainer) and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra had the audience singing and dancing to MJ staples like “Rock With You” and “Thriller.” Before the show, 400 young people, sponsors and major donors sipped and supped at a reception in the Max & Marjorie Fisher Music Center. JARC interim CEO David Carroll and event chair Howard Luckoff, each sporting an iconic MJ glove, took center stage in the hall to welcome all. Board member Dani Gillman also spoke earnestly about the peace of mind she has because of JARC’s lifetime care for her daughter. Thanks to generous sponsors like Quicken Loans, the 36th annual benefit raised $1.3 million.

Rochester Garden Club Greens Market The Rochester Garden Club’s 70th annual Greens Market kicked off to rave reviews with a preview Gala that attracted 140 to the event’s new venue in the Rochester Schools Administration Center. Over the next three days, nearly 500 shoppers came, leaving with arrangements, fresh greens, a handcrafted gift or boxes of homemade delicacies. Sally Edwards, Pat Hambleton, Colleen Dykstra and Jane Giblin chaired the ambitious event that involves most of club’s 130 members. They also recruited the OU tennis team and International Academy students to help carry purchases to cars. The event is expected to generate about $20,000 for the club’s conservation efforts, scholarships, community plantings and education projects.

Cranbrook Kingswood Holiday Charity Tea Director of CK Schools Arlyce Siebert and school governors Mary Pat Rosen and Lori Thelen hosted the sixth annual tea and gift exchange that brought nearly 80 ladies to Cranbrook House. The camaraderie and gift exchange were fun but most in the crowd will also remember Lighthouse of Oakland County’s downtownpublications.com

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1. Kathy Murphy (left) of Bloomfield, Martha Londeck of Beverly Hills. 2. Sheila Biehl (left) of Bloomfield, Barb Richards of White Lake and Carol Litka of Troy. 3. Jill Wilkinson (left) of Birmingham, Joy DiCenso of Bloomfield. 4. Karen Roth (left) and Linda Lang of Bloomfield, Judy Shagena of Bingham Farms. 5. Camille (left) & Don Breen of Bloomfield, Lou Simpson of Birmingham. 6. Janet Cummins (left) of Bloomfield, Barbara & Jim Suhay of Birmingham.

7. Phyllis Mazure (left) of Bloomfield, Bo & Joy Broock of W. Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK JARC’s 36th annual fall fundraiser

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Liz McLachlan’s recounting of an LOC client’s Christmas wish list. “She just wanted laundry detergent and toilet paper for her family,” said the development director. The school mothers had also brought donations for Lighthouse families. These totaled $2,000 plus 10 large bags of toys and pantry items for Santa’s helper Sid Seth to deliver.

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Assistance League Mistletoe Marketplace Nearly 800 Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan supporters ($85 ticket) convened at Palazzo Grande for the annual fundraiser chaired by Nancy Troyer.

Before lunch, entertainment included the Rochester College Carolers, a strolling fashion show, buying raffle tickets, bidding in the silent auction, socializing and shopping at 29 vendor stations including ALSEM’s ReSale Connection (204 S. Main, Rochester).

The luncheon program had highlights: FOX 2’s Lori Pinson’s moving account of her experience at ALSEM’s Operation School Bell – Clothing Distribution for children, Tiffany Piggee’-Taylor’s story of having received an Assistance League assault survivor kit in 2003 and vowing to give back; league president Marjorie DiLiddo account of the chapter’s community programs. “We are an all-volunteer organization whose (300 +) members have the heart to serve others with nothing in return but a child’s smile,” she said. The 13th annual event raised more than $120,000 toward the chapter’s $395,000 annual philanthropic budget.

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1. Sharyl & Alan Ackerman of Bloomfield. 2. Norm Silk & Dale Morgan of Detroit.

3. Corrine Lemberg and Morton Collins of Bloomfield. 4. Aaron & Michelle Bass of Bloomfield. 5. Howard Luckoff of Bloomfield Hills. 6. David Carroll (left), Lauren & Michelle Carroll of W. Bloomfield.

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Assistance League Mistletoe Marketplace

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1. Nancy Troyer of Rochester Hills. 2. Marjorie DiLiddo of Rochester Hills, Doug Dalton. 3. Lori Pinson. 4. Tiffany Piggee-Taylor. 5. Sue Hannant of Shelby Twp and Gayle Minneci of Northville, Lorraine Taliercio of Rochester Hills. 6. Carol Murphy of Rochester Hills. 7. Joan Sunne (left) of Troy, Cathy Linden and Lynn Gumz of Rochester Hills. 8. Pat Kalis (left) of Rochester Hills, Sue Moorhead of Oakland Twp., Pam Valasco of Waterford.

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DSO Volunteer Council Nutcracker Luncheon

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1. Ginny Lindquist (left) of Orchard Lake and Joan Emerick of Harsens Island. 2. Liliana Lorenz (center) of Allen Park, Marlene Bihlmeyer (left) of Bloomfield and Carol Marti of Canton. 3. Rita Dallavecchia (center) of Bloomfield, Gloria Clark (left) of Grosse Pointe and Barbara Frankel of W. Bloomfield. 4. Lois Miller (left) of Bloomfield and Gwen Bowlby of Detroit. 5. Eva Meharry (left) of Windsor, ONT and Ellie Tholen of Birmingham. 6. Betty Bright (left) and Curtis Posuniak of Bloomfield, Rosemary Bannon of Beverly Hills. 7. Judy Harris (left) of Beverly Hills, Pat Ciagne of Bloomfield.

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DSO Volunteer Council Nutcracker Luncheon More than 200 DSO supporters ($90, $175, $500 tickets) gathered at the Detroit Athletic Club for the annual holiday luncheon and boutique chaired by Ginny Lindquist and Joan Emerick. Included in the crowd were six volunteer council past presidents Marianne Endicott, Marjorie Saulson, Gloria Nycek, Debra Partrich, Janet Ankers and Deborah Savoie. A trio made music and Ballet Americana ballerinas posed while people shopped and bought raffle tickets ($1,700) before lunch. They chuckled when orchestra liaison musician Mark Abbott won DSO concert tickets. They applauded during the two-item live auction when Francois Colpron bid $1,500 for the opportunity to conduct the DSO. The event, a calendar staple for decades, raised more than $15,000 for the council, which welcomes new members.

BARD Foundation Gobble Wobble The 10th annual night-after-Thanksgiving charity event continues to attract a capacity crowd (350) ($100, $125 ticket) to The Reserve. This year some people came early for the Mix and Mingle co-sponsored by Detroit Homecoming. It was an opportunity to speak with business reps about employment. But when the Dan Rafferty band cranked up at 8, the Bloomingham area natives, many now in college or back home 02.17

from other cities, began to arrive. They chatted, quaffed and danced until 2, bringing to more than $129,000 the total 2016 BARD grants to partners working to improve the lives and futures of Detroit youth.

Rochester Grand Marshall Celebration Three days before the 65th Rochester Hometown Parade, with a Holiday Masquerade theme this year, Rochester Regional Chamber staffers greeted some 250 enthusiasts ($35 ticket) at Great Oaks Country Club with masks and beads. They had come to salute Grand and Junior Marshalls selected for their community service - Dr. Roger and Mary Jo Byrd and Andrew Smith and Sophia Shafkalis.

Highlights of the evening included a bountiful buffet and the program. It thanked sponsors and celebrated the Grand Marshalls with a video chronicling their reflections.

“What a wonderful community we live in,” declared Dr. Byrd, who opened his Rochester office in 1974. Parade chair Tim Crawford also boasted about the size of the parade which has grown to include 6,000 participants.

FAR, Friends & Fa-La-La The 16th annual show starring some of the 1,200 youth and adults who participate in FAR’s art, music, dance and recreation therapy programs and their therapists attracted an audience of 650 ($75 ticket) to the Seligman Performing Arts at Detroit Country Day School. Some 125 of them were Benefactors ($125 ticket) who came early to sip and savor Annabel Cohen’s splendid buffet cuisine. Most all patronized the FAR Bazaar where artful giftables created by FAR participants were being sold. But the show is the raison d’être for the evening, and it did not disappoint. It was emceed for the 14th year by Alan Lee who came from California for the gig and featured standards from the American Songbook. During intermissions Laurie Tennent, Anna Bai and the Joe Kocur Foundation for Children were honored for their generous contributions of time and talents to FAR. The performers and the therapists earned a rousing, standing ovation. Thanks also to Kroger and other sponsors, the evening raised more than $83,000.

SOS Dancing with Detroit’s Stars The small plate buffet tables, bar and silent auction ($19,541) were pleasant diversions during the reception hour that brought 230 people ($200 & up tickets) to The Townsend Hotel to support South Oakland Shelter. But the main attraction was the dance competition which starred Elizabeth Cook, Mary Callaghan Lynch and Patrick E. Lynch, Jimmy King, Cindi Hodgman and Amy and Brad Emmett. Bill Cook, co-chair with his wife Jennie and Treger and Rob Strasberg, first thanked the sponsors, especially the Arthur Murray Dance Studio downtownpublications.com

BARD Foundation Gobble Wobble

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1. Keenan Covington of Detroit, Anne Strickland of Birmingham. 2. Alex Gothard (left) and Kelsey Kerbawy of Chicago, Teri Fenner of Bloomfield. 3. Charlie Roby (left) of Royal Oak, Scott Strickland of Birmingham. 4. Evan Burton (left) of NYC, Parker Lynch of Austin, TX, Jamie Lynch of NYC. 5. Craig Solgan of Rochester. 6. Ashley Goodman and Jamie Lynch of NYC. 7. Conner Saeli (left) of Birmingham, Zack Prebay of Bloomfield.

Rochester Grand Marshall Celebration

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1. Mary Jo & Dr. Roger Byrd of Shelby Twp. 2. Dr. Julie Byrd (left) of W. Bloomfield, Michael Byrd and Dr. David & Johanna Byrd of Rochester. 3. Sheri Heiney (left) and Tim & Mary Ann Crawford of Rochester Hills. 4. Jill Sorensen (left) of Rochester, Andrew Smith and Sophia Shafkalis of Rochester Hills. 5. Maggie Bobitz (left) of Rochester, Barb & Jim Blundo of Rochester Hills. 6. Kathy Klaus (left) of Rochester Hills, April Lopes of Royal Oak.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK and Gail & Rice, without which there would not have been eight annual boffo events.

Rabbi Rachel Shere also spoke earnestly about the week her synagogue hosts the SOS clients, and all applauded when the formerly homeless mother and son stars of a video hugged Rabbi Shere. Then the dancing commenced. It was fabulous and all earned enthusiastic applause. Only one couple, the Emmetts, got a trophy, but SOS got more than $103,000 to help homeless people get back on their feet.

FAR, Friends & Fa-La-La

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1. Mike Brennan (center) of Birmingham, Heather Dell (left) of Highland and Rita Norkiewicz of Sterling Hgts. 2. Laurie Tennent (left) of Bloomfield and Anna Bai of W. Bloomfield. 3. Rachel Hurst (left) of Waterford and Nancy McCrea of Westland, Pamela Ayres of Bloomfield. 4. Judy & Ken Zorn of Rochester Hills. 5. Jeremy Bennett (left) of Waterford, Joe Kocur of Highland. 6. Charlotte & Carl Fischer of Bloomfield. 7. Jennifer Tackett (left) of Waterford, Barbara Jonas of Bingham Farms, Barbara Darga of Birmingham. 8. Diane & Paul Widlak of Bloomfield. 9. Laurie (left) & Rob Farr of Beverly Hills and Pam & Bob Audette of Chesterfield. 10. John & Carol Aubrey of Birmingham.

SOS Dancing with Detroit’s Stars

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1. Ryan (left) & Katarina Hertz of Huntington Woods, Jennie & Bill Cook of Birmingham.

2. Treger & Rob Strasberg of Birmingham. 3. Tim (left) & Barb Hertzler of Birmingham and Mike & Patty Moran of Bloomfield. 4. Jennifer Cook (left) of Bloomfield, Paul Forberg and Shelly Culbertson of Beverly Hills. 5. Joelle (left) & Jeffrey Abood of Bloomfield, Alycia Penn Covington of W. Bloomfield.

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Project HOPE Holiday Luncheon/Boutique Detroit has the only women’s committee for the national Project HOPE organization which delivers medical relief globally. When Project HOPE’s Pedro Rivera spoke to the 125 guests gathered at Oakland Hills Country Club for the WD’s annual holiday luncheon and boutique, he thanked them for their support ($600,000 over fifty-plus years), updated them about the challenging humanitarian work in Haiti, announced the campaign to save newborns and concluded, “...(know that ) I am the son of a powerful mother.” He got enthusiastic applause from the crowd that included nine past presidents - Sherry Saginaw, Gwen Bowlby, Irene Davis, Bettina Gregg, Anita Hedreen, Brigitte Krawiec, Eva Meharry and event co-chairs Sue Nine and Maggie Allesee. In addition to dining and shopping, people also bought raffle tickets ($770), bid $2,150 in a silent auction and raised more than $12,000 for Project HOPE’s worldwide health initiatives.

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DSO Volunteer Council Musical Feast The Deck the Halls Musical Feast Carolyn Demps and Guy Simons generously hosted was the last one in the 2016 series of intimate Detroit Symphony Orchestra fundraisers. It was held on the Sunday night of the season’s first crippling snowfall. Mother Nature scuttled two of the guests (who had paid $150 each), the valet parker, the kitchen help and the Seaholm carolers who were going to sing on the wraparound porch of the Birmingham Victorian, handsomely festooned for the season. But not the John Madison quartet.

Despite long travel distances they were not deterred and performed Beethoven, beautifully and pro bono. Celeste DempsSimons, 17, filled in at the piano for the carolers. Guy subbed for the car parker and bartender. Carolyn, whose decorating and cooking was incomparable, and her mother Pat Demps, a retired judge visiting from Oklahoma City, teamed up as catering staff extraordinaire. The weather outside was frightful but the great food and warm, fun hospitality, embellished with heirloom sterling and crystal, Christmas crackers and Apple Jack-splashed warm cider, was delightful.

BGCSM Great Futures Gala The 90th year of the Boys & Girls Clubs of 02.17

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Project HOPE Holiday Luncheon/Boutique

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1. Maggie Allesee (left) and Sue Nine with Lorraine Schultz of Bloomfield. 2. Linda Juracek-Lipa (left) of Birmingham and Bettina Gregg of Bloomfield. 3. Sherry Saginaw (left) of Bloomfield, Kathryn Ambrose of Birmingham. 4. Cheryl Hall Lindsay (left) of W. Bloomfield, Annette Kolon of Bloomfield. 5. Susan Willis-Reicket (left) of Bloomfield, Susanne Forbes Dicker of Troy. 6. Velita Turner (left) of Southfield, Dorie Shwedel and Maryann Cromwell of Bloomfield.

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BGCSM Great Futures Gala

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1. Jimmy Settles (center) of Detroit, Len Krichko (left) and Tom Hoeg of Northville. 2. Rhonda Walker of Franklin, Bill Pickard of Bloomfield. 3. Linda & Rod GiIlum of Bloomfield. 4. Karen Settles (center) of Detroit, Beth Moore (left) and Sue Nine of Bloomfield.

5. Suzanne Rea (left) and Bev Moore of Bloomfield. 6. Peter Remington (left) of Birmingham, Bill Dirksen of Ann Arbor and Shawn Wilson of Canton. 7. Kathy & Kirk Martin of Bloomfield.

Southeastern Michigan ended with a bang up celebration by 280 people ($250 ticket) at a dinner at the Detroit Athletic Club. The program that followed the very sociable cocktail hour was notable for the sense of longstanding camaraderie among honoree/BGCSM alum/UAW VP Jimmy Settles, new board chair Hiram Jackson and old friend of both, Bill Pickard. Also lingering in memory are some quotes. From a video tribute to Settles: “If you don’t believe in angels you haven’t met Jimmy Settles.” From outgoing 12-year board chair Tom Hoeg: “It’s not charity if you take credit for it.” From incoming board chair Jackson: “Our kids don’t need more stuff. They need more of us.”

From Pickard: “To quote George Bernard Shaw –‘Life is about creating yourself’.” From Settles’ acceptance speech: “I didn’t produce my best as a kid but the clubs kept me right.”

From CEO/President Len Krichko: “In 90 years, the clubs have (served) more than 300,000 kids.” The clubs’ Women Association co-chairs Beth Moore and Sue Nine also spoke briefly about the WA, which was instrumental in the establishment of the auto show Charity Preview years ago. The memorable evening raised more than $110,000.

Christ Child Society Christmas Home Tour Kim McNulty and Kelly Winkler chaired Christ Child Society’s annual home tour, which tempted 450 people ($60 ticket) to tour five unique homes. They were all decorated for the season, but most tourists were talking about the architecture and the homeowners’ art. The generous homeowners were Kim Delgrasso, Renee & Michael Acho, Terese & Chris Pero, Tom & Lisa White and Tim Easterwood, who has renovated the late Elmore Leonard’s home. Tourists also met up with friends at Birmingham Country Club, where the staff kept the buffet tables laden with brunch and lunch fare and 23 vendors provided non-stop shopping. Thanks also to sponsors, the event raised more than $48,000 to support the boys who live in Christ Child House, the society’s layette program for newborns, and its literacy program in Pontiac schools.

Christ Child Society Christmas Home Tour

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1. Kim McNulty (left) and Kelly Winkler of Birmingham. 2. Suzanne Mattingly (left) of Troy, Liz Lee and Pam Surhigh of Bloomfield. 3. Bess Paradiso and Kim Carson of Birmingham. 4. Jen Ross (left), Rebecca Cochran, Gabby Heller and Julie Ramonat of Bloomfield. 5. Theresa Mamatas (left) and Mari MacKenzie of Birmingham. 6. Gail Rikkanem (left) and Randi Williams Watchowski of Birmingham. 7. Chris Schwartz (left) and Laura Mannino of Bloomfield.

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Preservation Bloomfield Luncheon This year the Friends of Preservation Bloomfield put a German accent on the Gingerbread fundraiser which brought 130 supporters to The Townsend Hotel. The event, chaired by Mia Materka, Carol Shaya and Sue Nine, offered German music, cuisine and even many of the auction items. But the handcrafted houses are still the visual focus of the event, and they were mostly sized to be at home in a home. Preservation Bloomfield president Michael Dul brought happy news of restoration progress on the Barton Farmhouse which will soon have a school curriculum. Thanks to the raffle and auction ($3,000), the annual event raised $15,000 for the preservation organization.

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Jazzy Holiday Tea forRonald McDonald The ninth annual holiday tea attracted 80 supporters of the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit to The Townsend Hotel.

They were entertained by Mike and Mike’s mellow jazz, sketch artist Darrell Swift, a silent auction and a fashion show of Accessories by Stephanie. The Jazzy Tea, which was chaired by board member Charlene Mitchell-Rodgers, raised $20,000 to provide comfort and accommodations for families whose children are hospitalized.

Kidney Foundation Ball More than 740 supporters of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan turned out for the annual Motown Magic Kidney Ball at the Motor City Casino. VIPs convened early in the Sound Board upper level Overdrive room before joining the hoi polloi for the silent auction ($57,000).

The dinner program had highlights.

Past chair and board member Myra Moreland presented event chair Patrick Rugiero the Cindy Hoglund Shannon award and they thanked GM and other sponsors for their generosity.

Emcee Steve Garagiola shared the painful saga of his experience with kidney stones and young Adam Rost demonstrated much energy despite his kidney disease battle. Great live auction prizes inspired spirited bidding ($91,700) and the Fund A Child pledges were matched by the Social Innovation Fund bringing the total to $54,000.

Many capped off the evening by dancing to music by Your Generation in Concert/Fifty Amp Fuse and selecting sweets from the always popular Mars chocolate candy display. The 12th annual Kidney Ball raised more than $617,000, bringing the 12-year total to $6 million.

Meadow Brook Hall Starlight Stroll “We come every year,” said Rochester native Brett Warstler, adding, “I think it’s important to preserve treasures like this.” He was with his wife and sisters at Meadow Brook Hall’s Starlight Stroll. It attracted 275 ($75 ticket) one evening during the five-week Holiday Walk exhibition which was coordinated by Grand Haven floral designer Alice Waterous. The evening offered selfguided tours throughout the hall; butler-passed hors d’oeuvres and desserts; bar service on two levels; chef-attended dining stations (carving, Mediterranean, Asian, pasta) in the dining room, study and library; a photo booth and listening and dancing to the Sheila Landis Trio in the ballroom. It also afforded downtownpublications.com

Preservation Bloomfield Luncheon

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1. Mia Materka (center) of W. Bloomfield, Carol Shaya (left) and Sue Nine of Bloomfield. 2. Ginny Bennett of Bloomfield.

3. Patti Jessup (left), Carol Lee Markley and Bee Engelhart of Bloomfield and Rosemary Bannon of Beverly Hills. 4. Mary Barton Letts (left) and Linda Kmit of Bloomfield. 5. Pat Hardy (left), Mary Rocco and Bonnie Jobe of Bloomfield. 6. Shelley Taub (left) of Bloomfield and Contessa Bannon of Beverly Hills.

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Kidney Foundation Ball

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1. Patrick Rugiero of Detroit, Myra Moreland of Birmingham. 2. Dr. Jerry Dancik (left) of Birmingham, Linda Smith-Wheelock of Canton and Carol & Dr. Paul Smith of Dexter. 3. Jae Plawecki (left) of Highland, Janis Rogers of Bloomfield. 4. Jenna Lynd (left), Laynie Moreland Bryan and Blair Moreland of Birmingham. 5. Dane Taylor (left) of Rochester Hills, Josh Bryan of Birmingham. 6. Scott Ferguson (left) of Farmington Hills, Ed Welburn of Bloomfield. 7. Pat Baskin (left) of Bloomfield, Caroline Krieger Cohen and Alison Schwartz of W. Bloomfield, Frank Matyok of Royal Oak. 8. Christian Sodeikat and Paula Gialdir of Rochester. 9. Duane McLean of Northville, Myra Moreland of Birmingham. 10. Don Manvel (center) of Birmingham, Lisa Grzebik (left) and Stewart Moreland of Dearborn.

DOWNTOWN

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK guests a sense of being “to the manor born” as they wined, dined and strolled through the elegant manse.

Including the guests at 50 privatelybooked parties, approximately 13,325 people toured the mansion during the 45th annual Holiday Walk, which was facilitated by some 100 volunteers.

When it closed on Dec. 22, it had raised $164,000 for preserving the fourth largest historic house museum in the country.

Meadow Brook Hall Starlight Stroll

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1. Suzanne & Geoff Upward of Rochester. 2. Nadine & Pat Milostan of Rochester. 3. Rochester natives Karen Warstler Mack (left) of Clear Lake, WI, Stephanie Warstler Peterson of Ferndale, Brett & Kimberly Warstler of Oxford.

4. Paul & Elaine Wagner of Rochester Hills. 5. Ben & Amanda Hancock of Oxford.

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Alternatives for Girls High Tea

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1. Amy Good (left) of Detroit, Shirley Maddalena of Bloomfield. 2. Bobbie Scavone (left), Donna Hartwig and Kathy Dalton of Bloomfield.

3. Laura Stevens (center) of Rochester, Denise Asker (left) and Jill Carlson of Rochester Hills. 4. Dawn Rassel of Bloomfield. 5. Agnes Haggerty (left) of Ann Arbor, Linda Ross of W. Bloomfield, Maria Szymanski of Rochester Hills. 6. Mary Ellen Bross (left) of Royal Oak, Barb Fornesiero of Auburn Hills, Sue Davis of Rochester Hills.

Chop House Salvation Army Benefit

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1. Diane Schoenith (left) of Grosse Pointe, Valerie Straith and Lidija Grahovac of Bloomfield. 2. Lucia Zurkowski (standing left) of Bloomfield and Doug Grech of Birmingham (seated), Dick & Jane Manoogian of Grosse Pointe. 3. Susie Lambrecht (left) and om Schoenith of Grosse Pointe, Katie Valenti of Bloomfield. 4. Rosemary Bannon (center) of Beverly Hills, Audrey & Don Badaczewski of Grosse Pointe.

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DOWNTOWN

Alternatives for Girls High Tea When The Townsend Hotel opened 28 years ago, interior designer Shirley Maddalena started hosting a charity high tea there to support women at risk.

When the original benefit agency closed, Alternatives for Girls became the beneficiary. This year the event was so successful (125 tickets; $60, $100), that it filled not only the Tea Lobby, but the main lobby and the Rugby Grill hallway as well. A unique diversion is the silent auction of gently-used guest donations for a silent auction, which had more than 100 treasures. The auction ($2,396) and a raffle ($775) brought the event proceeds to $15,375.

Alternatives for Girls’ major fundraiser – the Role Model Dinner – is Thursday, March 23, at Cobo Center.

Chop House Salvation Army Benefit Ever since the Gatsaros family reopened the London Chop House, they have joined with Tom and Diane Schoenith to host a reincarnation of the Salvation Army benefit Sing A Long luncheon that brought Detroit movers and shakers to the iconic eatery in the ‘80s and ‘90s. This year, 75 philanthropists ($250 & up ticket) were greeted by army musicians playing outside the entrance. As they entered the mellow, subterranean room, the first thing visible at the end of the bar was the SA logo in an ice sculpture flanked by credit card receptors set for $100. Throughout the impeccable luncheon service there was considerable table hopping.

Periodically, emcee Stephen Clark and chanteuse Nicole New were joined on stage by guests singing with the aid of a Songs of Christmas printed and dated song booklet. Including a generous donation from Dale and Don Austin, who were unable to attend, the event and donations for singing (or not singing) raised more than $50,000 toward the $8.4-million Red Kettle Campaign.

Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390.

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ENDNOTE

Septic inspections must be required now s many as 1.9 million gallons of sewage each day may be leaking into the ground, rivers, lakes and streams throughout Oakland County from unchecked septic systems.

That estimate, which some believe may be on the low end, is based on findings that about 10 percent of all septic systems in Michigan are currently failing. Statewide, the Department of Environmental Quality has said as many as 31 million gallons of wastewater from household and commercial septic systems are leaking into the ground each day.

Admittedly, those numbers are rough estimates based, in part, on the number of failing septic systems found in other states. The Michigan Environmental Council, a coalition of more than 70 organizations in the state, said the percentage of failing septic systems in some states have been found to be as high as 20 to 40 percent. The fact is, the actual number of septic systems in the state isn't known – let alone the number that are failing.

What is known, and with far greater accuracy, is that human waste, not just feces from farm and wild animals, is contributing to the pollution of our rivers and watersheds in Oakland County. And that septic systems are contributing to that pollution to a much greater degree than believed in the past decade. That knowledge came in a very specific study of the amount of bacteria linked specifically to human feces that was found in 64 different rivers in Michigan.

The researchers that presented this new knowledge include a globally-recognized water researcher at Michigan State University, who said bacteria was highest in watersheds that have about 1,600 known septic systems or more.

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Oakland County health officials believe there are between 80,000 and 100,000 septic systems in the county.

Further, researchers said the study takes into account the contribution of human feces from municipal wastewater treatment plants connected to public sewer systems and overflow from combined sewer and stormwater systems caused by heavy rains or flooding by sampling rivers at "baseflow conditions," or a river at its driest point, or low flow times.

The study confirms what many throughout the state have suspected for decades: routine inspections of septic systems are needed in all areas of the state. The need was recently stated in the governor's water strategy plan as a priority to protect sources of drinking and recreational waters that are integral to Michigan's health and economy. It's the same need stated in 2004 by former Governor Jennifer Granholm, and in nearly a dozen proposed laws that failed to ever make it to a vote by state lawmakers in those years.

Despite the need to address leaking septic systems, Michigan remains the only state in the nation that doesn't have a statewide septic code in place. Experience tells us while the state legislature should address the problem of leaking septics, it's doubtful it will pass a law to do so, nor appropriate the funding needed to implement a statewide plan.

To date, the responsibility of regulating septic systems has fallen upon the counties through local sanitary codes passed by county commissions and enforced by county health departments.

While Oakland County has made some much needed changes to its health code to address a

small portion of septic systems that are at most risk of failure, there remains a need to address tens of thousands of other on-site wastewater treatment systems. The county must now begin work on updating its code to ensure all septic systems are located, inventoried and inspected on a routine basis, and then create ordinances to require inspections.

Health officials say traditional septic systems should be inspected every three to five years, at a minimum. In practice, few homeowners with septic systems adhere to a routine inspection schedule, opting instead to wait until problems force them to shell out money for repairs or replacement.

While the ideal course of action would be for the state legislature to address the septic system problem, there has been little movement on this issue in Lansing. Therefore, Oakland County Commissioners now have the opportunity to address septic system issues.

An appropriate first step would be to work with local municipalities that should have data on where septics are located based on existing sewer connections.

Then the septic code should be updated to require inspections are conducted every three years for traditional septic systems. Advanced engineered septic systems in the county are already required to be inspected at least annually.

Although enacting a new code that will address septic systems in Oakland County may pose some additional challenges, we believe the time is long overdue for the county to address the issue and protect the health and environment of the county.

No magic bullet for public comment rules or a couple of years, Bloomfield Township board of trustee meetings had the feel of a raucous WWE event, with a few disgruntled residents and gadflies speaking out on every agenda item, whether they had knowledge of the item or not, as well as at times screaming at the supervisor and other officials from the back of the room. It led to a change to the township's public comment policy, moving them to the beginning of board meetings, with a three-minute time limit, other than for public hearings.

Bloomfield Township was perfectly within its right to curtail public comment to just one part of its public meeting, a practice that many other municipalities follow, and one that the Michigan Township Association and Michigan Municipal League recommend as guidelines for public municipal meetings. Ultimately, civic leaders have a job of running a public meeting.

The meeting is designed not for public

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participation, but for public transparency.

City council, city commission and board of trustee meetings are held as business meetings of their communities, first and foremost. It's the time when the work of the local government is assembled and discussed, and per Michigan’s Open Meetings Act of 1976, “All meetings of a public body shall be open to the public and shall be held in a place available to the general public...However, a public body may establish reasonable rules and regulations in order to minimize the possibility of disrupting the meeting.”

Many other communities, including Rochester Hills, Bloomfield Hills and Royal Oak, also limit public comment to either the beginning or end of a meeting. Other municipalities, like Birmingham and Rochester, take different tacks. In Rochester, there are two public comment periods, one at the beginning of the meeting; the other, at the end, for

those who may have missed the beginning, for residents to share thoughts and suggestions.

There is currently no time limit on participation.

In Birmingham, residents have the opportunity to comment on any agenda item when commissioners consider it. The public can also comment on any item not on the agenda. And while there supposedly is a two-minute limit on public comment, it has been little-seen in recent years, with the commission allowing the public to continue on as they see necessary.

All of these municipalities are in the right – because there is no one correct way for a board to hold public comment. There's no silver bullet that magically works for every single community. Local governments and their elected officials must determine what works for them, at different points in time, in order to get through their agendas and perform the function of running the government for their residents.

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