Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield

ENDNOTE: YES ON SCHOOL BONDS; NO ON SALES TAX INCREASE

DAYS OF LILY WHITE

SCHOOL STUDENT POPULATION

DIVERSITY HAVE LONG PASSED

EYES IN SKY REGULATIONS FEDS ISSUE RULES ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

METRO AREA NEWS SITES ONLINE INFO FILLING GAP LEFT BY DAILIES

GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • J. MARCH: BISTRO 82 IN ROYAL OAK

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DOWNTOWN04.15

31

Diversity: What Oakland privates schools are doing Private and parochial schools are no longer the providence of privilege — white privilege — as diversity becomes more of the norm.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

20

Public attitudes about race, ethnicity, religious beliefs and economic classes have come a long way in the past five decades, but there is still is much room for improvement in all Oakland County communities, according to publisher David Hohendorf.

INCOMING

22

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

First study session on Prudential retirement fund problems; Griffin Claw expansion; Emagine plans for Palladium space; Birmingham parking study; how municipal golf courses performed; township 2015-16 budget; plus more

Moditional Designs; Streetside Seafood; La Strada Dolci e Caffe; Social Kitchen and Bar; The Birmingham Tailor; Roche Bobois.

AT THE TABLE

145

EYES IN SKY REGULATIONS FEDS ISSUE RULES ON UNMANNED AIRCRAFT

BUSINESS MATTERS

141

STUDENT POPULATION HAVE LONG PASSED

Our readers' opinions on issues facing the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities or their reaction to content in past issues of Downtown.

MUNICIPAL

107

DAYS OF LILY WHITE

SCHOOL DIVERSITY

CRIME LOCATOR

29

ENDNOTE: YES ON SCHOOL BONDS; NO ON SALES TAX INCREASE

Our reviewer’s verdict on Bistro 82 in Royal Oak: some bright spots, but attention to detail and consistency are critical if you want to compete for the top spot among restaurants in the area.

METRO AREA NEWS SITES ONLINE INFO FILLING GAP LEFT BY DAILIES

GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • J. MARCH: BISTRO 82 IN ROYAL OAK

THE COVER Public art at Pierce and Merrill streets in Birmingham. Wind Rapids by Michigan artist Russell Thayer. Downtown photo: G. Lynn Barnett.

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Holy Week & Easter Sunday, March 29 - Palm Sunday 9:00 & 11:00 AM Sanctuary Service Rev. Bob Sheldon 7:30 PM Concert with excerpts from Messiah (Parts II & III) Chancel Choir & Orchestra

Thursday, April 2 - Maundy Thursday 7:00 PM Communion in the Sanctuary Dr. Carol Tate

Friday, April 3 - Good Friday 1:00 PM Good Friday Service in the Sanctuary Rev. Tres Adams 7:30 PM A Choral Meditation on the Passion of Christ Chancel Choir

Sunday, April 5 - Easter Sunday 7:00, 9:00 & 11:00 AM Sanctuary Festival Service Rev. Bob Sheldon

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45 New rules for drones With the popularity of unmanned aircraft growing, the federal government is finally issuing rules to control the use of drones.

55 Metro news websites There are a number of metro area websites in the metro area attempting to provide daily news coverage as the daily newspapers decline.

127

Elyse Cantor

COMMUNITY HOUSE

147

William Seklar, President of The Community House, writes about the recently held annual fundraising gala and the supporters who were recognized at the special event.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

149

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

ENDNOTE

158

Our views on the May 5 state ballot proposal to raise the income tax from six to seven percent in a constitutional amendment; and the school bond proposal facing voters in the Birmingham district.

FACES

43 53 63 105 123 127

Gerhardt Knodel Caitlin Lynch Lou Kasischke Eliana Margherio Andrew Miller Elyse Cantor

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442 S. Old Woodward Ave. | Birmingham, MI

PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf Sarah Kovan | J. Marsh | Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISTING MANAGER Jill Cesarz ADVERTISING SALES Heather Marquis GRAPHICS/DESIGN G. Lynn Barnett WEBSITE/CONTRIBUTOR 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.

For those not receiving a free mail copy, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual charge. To secure a paid subscription, go to our website (downtownpublications.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order online or scan the QR Code here.

INCOMING/READER FEEDBACK We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Birmingham/Bloomfield community. The traditional “letters to the editor” in Downtown are published in our Incoming section and can include written letters or electronic communication.

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

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FIND INSPIRATION in our beautifully-designed showroom as we partner with the Birmingham Chamber of Commerce for a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Tuesday, April 21, 4 pm - 6pm

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ur feature story this month on the push for diversity – both racial and economic class – in the major private and parochial schools in Oakland County should stand as a testament to the modern-day efforts to change both the prevailing attitudes in schools and ultimately the view of students as they enter the world after graduation.

O

But the effort in the schools is just the start of a process that has been many years in the making given the history of Oakland County, which mirrors most other areas of the country.

My time here in Oakland dates back to the early 1970s, when prevailing attitudes on race, ethnicity and economic class were marked by exclusion, bias, and in many cases, outright racism.

Probably the most demonstrative incident I can remember was the public outcry in the city of Walled Lake in the late 1970s time frame when local government leaders were considering a possible application for federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for use in the community. The CDBG program had existed under a variety of other names until 1971 when the Nixon administration proposed consolidating 129 different federal programs that benefitted low- and moderate-income residents, including affordable housing and other anti-poverty programs. Eventually President Ford was able to gain passage in 1974 and implementation in 1975 of what we now know as the CDBG program that exists today.

county. As the rumor goes, those requests for a red-lining approach to advertising were soundly rejected.

But African-Americans and those of Jewish faith have not been the only members of the population that have faced discrimination.

Like other ethnic and religious groups who have come to the shores of this country and more specifically Oakland, we should note that the Chaldean residents faced similar obstacles and attitudes as they brought their entrepreneurial spirit to several areas of the county, where many set up businesses. But the list goes on further with other groups from around the world who have sought the American dream in this area.

I guess for the most part, I was fortunate to come from a household where race was really not an issue, despite the fact that our world was mostly white once we hit the suburbs. Prior to that, we were like everyone else in Detroit – you took the bus on Saturday with your parents to Hudson's, ate lunch at the counter of Sanders and experienced a mix of people from all backgrounds and races.

During my early college summers, I worked the factories of Ford and Chrysler, where my co-workers included an equal number of AfricanAmericans and white workers, so I was accustomed to a diverse population. It was during one of those summers when the Detroit riots occurred and my parents offered to open our home up to a couple of African-American college students who worked the line at the Ford plant with me so that they would not have to travel through the turmoil each evening to make the home-to-work trip from Detroit to Shelby Township. This was against the background of a neighborhood where residents proudly talked about arming themselves in case the riots moved beyond the city's borders.

Residents opposed to the CDGB program in Walled Lake made no bones about their fear that taking the federal funds would force the city into subsidized housing, which was really a code word in those days for African-Americans who might move into the community.

City leaders at the time rebuffed this thinking and went ahead with the program.

So we have made substantial progress in some respects, at least with the younger generation that appears to view the world more inclusively than some from my generation or certainly from the generation that included my parents.

Keep in mind that at this time most of Oakland County was inhabited by a strictly white population. This was a time when deed restrictions in many areas of Oakland County actually contained language aimed at preventing the sale of land/housing to nonwhites, as evidenced by the deed restrictions on the first lakefront home I purchased in Oakland in the western lakes area of the county.

But I am also reminded by a recent incident in one of the communities we cover that attitudes still have a ways to go with some people, as one of our reporters relayed an incident where the Commerce Township Supervisor at a recent municipal meeting referred to residents of Detroit, which is around 83 percent AfricanAmerican, as a group that “burns everything down,” only to attempt after the meeting to dismiss his comment as an intended joke.

Insensitive at the least; certainly inappropriate and, to some, racist.

The prevailing thinking at the time was not just an anti-black attitude. In the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, for example, you could often find deed restrictions that prevented the sale of land/housing to those of the Jewish faith.

And then there is the newspaper trade rumor, fairly reliable but unconfirmed all these years later, that some publishers in Oakland County were approached with the request that homes in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area not be advertised in the Southfield area so that the Jewish population would not migrate to this part of the

Progress, yes, there has been some. But we have a considerable distance to go, which makes what the private schools are attempting in Oakland so reassuring. Broadening the perspectives and world view of the younger generation can only benefit us all.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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INCOMING Enjoy Downtown, column I really enjoy your publication and (David Hohendorf’s) editorial column each month.

The March issue with its editorial column on (Hohendorf’s) background was especially appreciated. My son, Jake Neher, is a reporter with Michigan Public Radio, covering the state capital and I appreciate the valuable impact that thinking, observant and articulate people can have via the media and otherwise.

Keep up the excellent work.

Jeff Neher Bloomfield Hills

Worthy commentary So you've got a lot of grief from some of our residents who believe that if you don't wholeheartedly support every far right position, then you're a beyond the pale lefty.

Well, I like your paper. I like its positions and investigations.

Unlike the other local paper, yours actually delivers news, information and commentary of worth.

So please take this as a note of support. Keep up the good work.

Alan Thayer Commerce Township

For the good of all I've been reading the resounding response to the proposed "narrowing" of West Maple Road between Southfield and Cranbrook via the multi-modal plan, and while my wife and I would likely benefit from this new plan, I have to recall the words of my late father, who always emphasized "for the good of all."

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

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

While we don’t have a specific word limitation, we reserve the right to edit for length.

Our home sits between Arlington and Shirley, just tucked off Maple Road, but still close enough to hear the busses or delivery trucks rumbling over the disaster that is West Maple (this last winter has not helped the potholes). Before we moved to Birmingham, we lived in a quiet community in Oakland Township, and I grew up in an equally quiet suburb of Rochester Hills, so "living near a main road" was a bit of a shock to me, once we settled in. Frankly, had I appreciated how steady the stream of traffic would be, I may not have bought this home. I was a bit naive, not having spent much time in Birmingham before moving here.

Nevertheless, we love our home, we love our huge piece of property, and we love being walking distance to downtown Birmingham. We planted 28 arbor vitae along the side of our property that faces Maple, and we plan to fill that side of the yard with even

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more evergreens to help seal us off from the road, so that was a start.

And we had hoped this multimodal plan would, if nothing else, reduce the incessant flow of traffic past our home, while also offering up a viable bike lane.

We are some of the few residents who planned, in fact, to use the new bike lanes. Currently, trying to bike into Birmingham on the narrow sidewalks is not ideal, and riding in the road is simply not an option. However, it doesn't surprise me that most residents surveyed said they wouldn't use the bike lanes and I understand why: the majority of people who drive on West Maple are nonsensical lunatics, who typically drive 45 mph or faster, and, like most drivers these days, pay more attention to their phone than the road.

I can also appreciate why my fellow neighbors wouldn't want traffic diverted from a narrower Maple down their own quiet streets. Instead of the lunatics tearing up Maple, they'd be tearing up Arlington or Larchlea or Puritan. And that's where my father's words "for the good of all.” Why should only my wife and I (and the handful of other residents whose address reads "Maple Road" between Southfield and Cranbrook) demand such drastic change for our own benefit? Yes, it would make walking our dog up Maple more enjoyable if there were suddenly less traffic each day, but overall, it doesn't strike me that the multimodal plan is for the good of all the neighbors that surround us.

All that being said, however, if

the multi-modal plan is scrapped, I would ask the city planners to strongly consider reducing the speed limit on Maple to 25 mph, starting at Cranbrook and continuing right into downtown.

That is a residential stretch, with numerous homes lining Maple, and I don't see why a reduced speed limit would be unreasonable. The lunatics will still drive 35+ even with a speed limit of 25 mph, but at least it might deter them from driving 45 mph while they update their status on Facebook.

One last comment I must make: while I can understand all of the concerns about the possible increased congestion, side road cut-through traffic, dangerous bike lanes, etc., can the opponents of the multi-modal plan please drop this ludicrous argument about the "loss of an emergency evacuation route out of Birmingham?” You can't be serious on this point. It's not as if Birmingham is comparable to Manhattan, where one could be legitimately trapped if bridges or tunnels were clogged.

Please drop that argument – frankly, it's rather daft and it does not strengthen the logic of the overall debate.

Stuart Moutrie Birmingham

Bloomfield bond debacle Lisa Brody has shown terrific journalistic ability pursuing the Bloomfield Township bond debacle.

Kudos to her and your paper for this. You have performed a terrific community service.

Name withheld

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CLAREMONT VILLA CORTILE Approximately 8,817 sf Including Walkout Lower Level A unique fusion of Old World French design with influences from Palm Beach’s manor homes. All living spaces revolve around the courtyard, wraparound terrace and stunning pool with its infinity edge and spa.

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ONLY MOCERI OFFERS HOMES FROM THE

CRIME LOCATOR

NORTH

Map key

Sexual assault

Assault

Murder

Robbery

Breaking/entering

Larceny

Larceny from vehicle

Vehicle theft

Vandalism

Drug offenses

Arson

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills through March 13th, 2015.

Placement of codes is approximate.

DIVERSITY PRIVATE SCHOOLS BROADEN THE STUDENT POPULATION Once the province of privilege, notably white privilege, as whites were the ones who established and sent their children to the non-public schools, these institutions are no longer lily white and they pride themselves on religious, socioeconomic, racial and geographic diversity.

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Each of us, at one time or another, has had to stop and ask who we are and what we stand for. It may occur during a period of selfrealization, turmoil, or due to outside influences. It is hopefully an opportunity to reflect and pivot, and see ourselves with fresh eyes and less bias.

Reflection is not reserved just for individuals, but for corporations and institutions as well, and hopefully augers growth and development in previously unforeseen directions. Education is a prime example where change, manifested in racial, religious, ethnic, geographic and socioeconomic diversity, continues to both reflect the community at large, and lead students to where society should be, and is progressively moving.

Private and parochial schools were once the province of privilege, notably white privilege, as whites were the ones who established and sent their children to these educational institutions. Throughout metro Detroit, especially Oakland County, non-public schools opened their doors primarily for those with white skin coloring, economic viability and from Christian backgrounds. Homogeneity within classrooms was not only sought after, but expected. Some Catholic schools grew out of neighborhoods of Polish, Irish or Italian immigrants, but there were few in attendance in those early days who were not part of that demographic group.

Look to your right, look to your left, what did you see? Mirror images of yourself.

“I graduated from Mercy (High School) in ‘66, and we had no diversity. It was a white, Catholic girls school. It was the height of the baby boomers era. If we had a Protestant girl it was a big deal.

Diversity in those days was Irish Catholic, Polish Catholic, Italian Catholic. We didn’t even have Hispanics,” said Cheryl Kreger, president of Mercy High School in Farmington Hills.

So too, do schools, continually on a mission to reduce the legacy of white privilege and its attendant isolation and discrimination.

Metro Detroit private and parochial schools recognize they are the conduit for students to the world at large, a planet no longer representing an “Upstairs, Downstairs” world. “The world has changed. We’re preparing these girls to enter the world today, and universally, everything is very diverse,” said Karen Moore, president of Ladywood High School in Livonia, an all-girls Catholic school which reaches out 40 miles into western Oakland County, reflecting geographic diversity. “We spend time learning about different cultures and the importance of valuing different cultures. It’s important to be inquisitive about the world, rather than fearful and judgmental. I believe it’s a great way to explore the world through other people.”

ISACS, the Independent Schools Association of Central States, is a membership organization of more than 230 independent schools from 13 states of the Midwest region, including Michigan, and several local private and parochial schools are members. ISACS not only does a full-scale accreditation program for each member school every seven years, but offers a bi-annual diversity summit dedicated to the support and extension of diversity and equity initiatives at the school level, as well as resources and information and mentoring services. They also help track levels of minority attendance in their member schools.

“All of multiculturalism can be dealt with as part of a trend. What was once considered ‘majority’ or ‘minority’ has shifted. There are definitely more students of color than 15 or 20 years ago, representing the similarity to society as large,” said Carla Young, director of Community and Multicultural Affairs at Cranbrook Schools in Bloomfield Hills.

Private and parochial schools were once the province of privilege, notably white privilege, as whites were the ones who established and sent their children to these educational institutions.

Throughout metro Detroit, especially Oakland County, non-public schools opened their doors primarily for those with white skin coloring, economic viability and from Christian backgrounds.

Fast forward to a new era in education and its attendant population, one which reflects the world at large. Today, the private and parochial schools in Oakland County draw well beyond their physical boundaries, encouraging diversity and recognizing that students of all colors, ethnicities and backgrounds benefit from being with one another. Kreger said that today they pride themselves on religious, socioeconomic, racial and geographic diversity, drawing from a 70 mile radius of communities “that produces a diversity that does reflect the world. There’s such value to diversity. It’s a very rich and abundant way to view the world.”

As Sister Bridget Bearss, head of schools at Academy of the Sacred Heart in Bloomfield Hills, noted, “Diversity is part of our mission.”

“To redesign social systems we need first to acknowledge their colossal unseen dimensions,” Peggy McIntosh wrote in ‘White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack’. “The silences and denials surrounding privilege are the key political tool here. They keep the thinking about equality or equity incomplete, protecting unearned advantage and conferred dominance by making these taboo subjects. Most talk by whites about equal opportunity seems to me now to be about equal opportunity to try to get into a position of dominance while denying that systems of dominance exist...Individual acts can palliate, but cannot end, these problems.”

She writes about how just having been white has been “like an invisible weightless backpack of special provisions, maps, passports, codebooks, visas, clothes, tools and blank checks” throughout her life, providing privilege she had never sought and never thought about.

“Having described it, what will I do to lessen or end it?” she asked.

She said that currently 35 percent of attending students identify as students of color, meaning racially or ethnically non-white. “We don’t identify or classify for the families. Once they’re enrolled, we ask families to self-report and help us to report our statistics to NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools), because they keep all of the stats.”

Cranbrook, like Detroit Country Day School in Beverly Hills, was born in the early days of the 20th century; Cranbrook in 1904, Detroit Country Day in 1914. Cranbrook was first established by Detroit News publishing mogul George and Ellen Booth, and named for Cranbrook, Kent, England, where George’s father was born.

Country Day began at founder’s F. Alden Shaw’s mother’s kitchen table, but soon relocated to Detroit’s affluent Palmer Woods. Each school initially strived to educate children of privilege, meaning primarily white, Christian, with non-immigrant status.

“A hundred years ago, the class pictures tell the story, and our students recognize it as such and how important diversity is today,” said Taneka Singleton, an upper school English teacher at Detroit Country Day School. “One student said during our Diversity Club, during the context of why it’s so important to be part of such a diverse school community, ‘I can’t imagine what I would be like if I had not had an opportunity to be a member of such a diverse school community.’”

Today, each school has worked hard to expand beyond their initial boundaries, refusing to be categorized as “rich person’s schools.” At Cranbrook Schools, Young said almost 32 percent of students receive some kind of financial aid, part of an increase in demonstrated need for financial aid. “When the economy shifted, there became an increase in requests for financial aid. We try to

figure out if we have the appropriate needs to match for the applicant or existing student.”

At Country Day, 23 percent receive some type of guided tuition.

While 50 percent of Country Day families choose not to identify their racial/ethnic background, 27 percent identify as white/Caucasian; 13 percent as Asian; 5 percent African American; 3 percent multiethnic; and 2 percent Middle Eastern.

“Because financial aid is need-based, there are all races, ethnicities, genders receiving financial aid,” Young said. “We see families of color who can afford to attend Cranbrook, and Caucasian families who are need-based.”

Changing the makeup of schools throughout the area has mirrored societal efforts for schools to reflect the tenor of the times, to move well beyond the “tokenism” of the 1970s.

John Birney, president of Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township, said, “Racism is seen as so horrible today, not like in the ‘70s where it was so explosive. Today, it’s been our experience, there’s a taboo about it to students, like there is for students regarding drinking and driving. It’s much more that they’re buddies.

Race represents much less of a separator than it once was.”

The Catholic boys school, established in 1960, didn’t see its first African American student until 1968. “We were a fairly lily white school for our first five or six years,” Birney acknowledged. “Clearly, we’re no longer a lily white school. Today we have many blacks, Asians and Chaldeans. There is much more diversity than there ever was, but it was a gradual experience. We also have great geographic diversity, with students from Grosse Pointe, Eastpointe, Oxford, Milford, downriver, Pontiac, all over the metro area. We have exchange students from Korea, China and Spain.”

Birney said Brother Rice, despite being located in Bloomfield

Of the overall school population, he said 30 percent receive some kind of financial aid, totaling $1.2 million a year. He is proud to note that his diverse student body raises a portion of it.

“The students have raised $445,000, all of it going into tuition assistance,” he said.

One of the things Huber said he is most pleased about, which he said is a difference from other schools he has been in, “I am pleased to say when you walk in the cafeteria, you don’t see one ethnic group at a table. While kids may sit with their teammates, there is diversity in each of these groups, a subculture in each that reflects the community. There really aren’t any cliches. The friends you make are the ones you make in your classes, who you swim with, you’re in Quiz Bowl with, on the football team with. The kids really love and support each other. It’s a culture cultivated over decades, passed down from seniors to freshman. We promote the whole notion of brotherhood, from the beginning of the school year. It culminates in – you’re all brothers here. Each student has 1,069 brothers.”

Brother Rice’s Birney said their Band of Brothers program, adopted six years ago, similarly breaks down many invisible walls of exclusion.

“It’s like old homeroom programs, where each meet for a few minutes at the beginning of each day,” he said. “We wanted seniors to demonstrate mentorship to underclassmen, particularly freshman, for them to develop camaraderie with upperclassmen. A majority of our students see what they have in common with each other, rather than what separates each other.”

While there are some affinity groups, of ethnically-like groups of students sitting with one another, “like at other schools, we have some of that,” Birney said. “They’re not exclusive. You’ll see white

Today, the private and parochial schools in Oakland County draw well beyond their physical boundaries, encouraging diversity and recognizing that students of all colors, ethnicities and backgrounds benefit from being with one another. Private schools today pride themselves on religious, socioeconomic, racial and geographic diversity.

Township, was a “blue collar school in the 1960s. Our tuition then was $200, $300 a year. A kid could work a summer job and pay for it. Today, very few could do that. In 2015, we’re not a rich kid’s school, but we’re not a poor kid’s school. We’re a reflection of Oakland County today.”

He said regarding socioeconomic diversity, “We’re a private parochial school, and we charge the going rate, which is not cheap.

About a third of the parents can write a check for the whole tuition and do. Another third of parents can write a check over two or three checks. Another third scrape together checks, financial aid, scholarships. There is a wide range of people who come here. They all want a Catholic private school experience.”

Catholic Central, now in Novi, was originally founded in the 1920s and 1930s by Irish immigrants in Detroit. “They didn’t consider themselves privileged,” said Father John Huber, president of the boys’ Catholic high school. “Ninety years ago, it was pretty working class. It was an immigrant group seeking a place. Today, it’s not just white Irish, although we still do have quite a few Polish, Irish and Italians. Our number one immigrants today are Arabs, of various Christian denominations, notably the Eastern rites. There are Chaldeans, Lebanese, Albanians, Armenians, from the Polish National Church, and even a little bit of Muslims attending. From the Arab point of view, it’s great to have so many others of Arab descent here when there is so much discrimination against people of Middle Eastern descent.”

Father Huber said today the school is comprised of 20 percent of minority heritage, whether Arab, African American, Indian, Asian, and a growing number of Hispanics, a number of which speak only Spanish in their homes.

students join black students. Although I do wish there was more integration.”

By definition, an affinity group is a group formed around a shared interest or common goal. Academy of the Sacred Heart’s Sister Bearss noted it does happen, “but we neither encourage nor discourage it.”

Kreger at Mercy High concurred. “Some affinity groups are by design. Girls gravitate to their friends. We work to bridge any exclusions,” she said. Yet, she said, her student population celebrates their heritage, representing Indians, Chaldeans, Arabs, African Americans, Hispanics, Polish, Irish, Koreans, Chinese, and Japanese, some of whom are studying from abroad.

Today, many local schools have international students from countries across the globe. Just as the opportunities for international travel over the last several decades have altered the perspectives of Americans, echoing Thomas Friedman’s book ‘The World is Flat’ which analyses globalization and its benefits, so too do students benefit from sharing the classroom with students from around the world.

Cranbrook and Orchard Lake St. Mary’s, a Catholic boys college prep school in Orchard Lake, each have a boarding component.

Other schools arrange for home stays with local families for foreign students. About a third of Upper School students at Cranbrook board on campus, coming from all around the country, and countries including China, Taiwan, Mexico, Europe, the Middle East and other countries. St. Mary’s has students from around Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, California, Florida, and North Carolina, as well as China, Taiwan, Mexico, Ukraine, Poland, Canada, Italy and Central America.

Cranbrook’s Young said that when affinity groups happen “it’s neither good nor bad unless the groups outside interprets it or uses it badly. Often, the observation (of the group) carries different meaning by those who observe them.

“Affinity groups can be a touchstone, like going home,” she continued.

“When like-experienced groups meet, often for them, it’s comfort. It’s who you let your hair down with. But it can be disconcerting when you walk into the cafeteria and see all of the Chinese students together speaking Chinese. You feel like you can’t sit down with them. But, for them, they work so hard all day to speak English, they want a time to relax and speak Chinese with one another.”

She noted it’s very different than having “separate but equal” laws, which was a legal doctrine in U.S. Constitutional law that justified and permitted racial segregation as not being a breach of the Fourteenth Amendment, requiring equal protection under the law, which was overturned in 1954 with Brown v. Board of Education.

“There’s something to being with your home culture during periods of rest and restoration, as long as it’s not excluding others,” said Bearss from the Academy of Sacred Heart. “Inclusivity is what we’re seeking, and we expect that. After all, in the era and time we’re in, where students see themselves as part of a global world, there’s almost no one left who is 100 percent white, or 100 percent anything.”

“We’re pretty diverse for a Catholic prep school,” said headmaster Cormac Lynn, of the school which was originally founded in Detroit by Polish immigrants “who would pull them out of bars and factories to educate them, and maybe educate some priests along the way.”

The boys aren’t being pulled out of bars or factories today. “They’re all trying to make good choices, get into colleges, being the best kids they can be,” Lynn said, noting they attract local students from all over Oakland County and the metro area. “They’re not wealthy, but they’re not from want.”

He sees a greater tendency towards affinity groups at the beginning of freshman year, when students don’t know one another as well. “We don’t have student organizations with the intent of creating diversity, but our student council is very diverse. We see more diversity at lunch tables as they have classes together, play on teams together, and become friends.”

The curriculum does not play on diversity, Lynn said. “Our curriculum focuses more on what makes us similar than on what makes us different,” he said. “Our focus is on being a St. Mary’s Man first.”

Roeper School in Bloomfield Hills is one school which has always been focused on diversity. “Diversity is, and has always been, key and core to our philosophy, which came from our founders, who were German Jews surviving from the Holocaust,” said Carolyn Lett, Diversity and Community Programs Coordinator for Roeper. “We want to empower people to take ownership. We ask students, how do you become a citizen of the world. It is always an ongoing topic of conversation for us. For us, it didn’t just happen with Ferguson or with Dr. Martin Luther King. It’s systemic. So you see the world not just through your lens, but through my lens.

“We’re hoping students have a mirrored experience in our curriculum and in their experience in the school, and that the mirror reflects yourself and others,” Lett said. “The beauty is when it comes together and you see beyond, and you see through your experience and understand someone else’s. It’s always our goal to own up to all parts of your identity. We use the metaphor of the iceberg – you may see only 10 or 15 percent of the iceberg. We want to see the 90 percent that’s under the water.”

“I would like to think our students are understanding more how the world works and their role in it,” said Young. “A community that is more homogenous is limited to what is there. When you think about what diversity offers, it’s diverse thinking, and diverse problem solving. We all understand that we grow from having multiple perspectives. We all benefit from that.”

“I’m always amazed at how much further along this journey the students are than we are,” noted Country Day’s Singleton. “They are teeming with ideas for promoting and celebrating diversity. They are so accustomed to voices and people that are different from their own cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds, and knowledgable with their friends. They open their world to the exposure beyond their backgrounds, and they are well-versed and empathetic and prepared to contribute to the intellectual environment.” downtownpublications.com

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FACES

Gerhardt Knodel iving beneath the dining room table on a Sunday and escaping to a subterranean landscape of legs shrouded by white linens and lace, or hiding behind a flowing tapestry of colors that hung on the clothes line and danced in the summer sunlight were some of the places that a young Gerhardt Knodel would find familiarity and beauty as a child.

"People used to hang their washing on the line, and on a windy day it would create its own environment. The light wasn't the same as the other textiles in your home. It has to do with the intimacy and drama of cloth," said Knodel, who at 75, is one of the nation's renowned fabric artists. "And, I had a grandmother who was a dressmaker, and I'm sure her sitting at the sewing machine had an effect on me, as well."

By the time he entered his graduate studies at Cal State University in Long Beach, California, Knodel was exploring fabrics as a medium for shaping and redefining living environments. It was there, in Long Beach, while floating in a swimming pool, that a friend suggested something new: the Cranbrook Academy of Art in Bloomfield Hills.

"Cranbrook was a venerated place in California. The Eames were out there, so I heard about it through several teachers, but I thought it was a place where wise old men with long white beards led programs that were extremely profound. I was 29, on the cusp of 30," Knodel said.

It was 1970 when Knodel became an artist-in-residence at Cranbrook and was chosen to head the academy's fiber department. In 1995, he was named director at the academy, a position he held until 2007. Today, he

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continues his work at his studio in Pontiac.

Throughout his career, his work as been presented in art galleries and museums throughout the U.S., Switzerland, Poland, England, Canada and Japan, including exhibitions at the San Francisco Museum of Art, and the National Collection of Fine Arts in Washington, D.C. Knodel has also been commissioned for large works produced for architectural interiors throughout the United States.

In 2008, Knodel released "Recovery Games," a series of projects that have provided a foundation and direction for work produced since that times.

The series and subsequent works have been presented at Birmingham's Wasserman Project, and will be exhibited this at the American Museum in Washington D.C. The works use the idea of games to pose questions about art and life in the 21st century, some of which incorporate the very critics who examine and write about his work and that of others. In the works, Knodel said he takes to task the extreme influence that art critics have among artists. While he said he isn't intending to spar with the critics, he said he enjoys the interaction with people when they view his art.

"Many times their likes and dislikes become a sort of guide of what students should be paying attention to," he said of the influence of art critics. "A lot of art isn't coming out of the heart of the artist, but rather the language of criticism, and sets a whole course of study in motion."

Story: Kevin Elliott

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NEW RULES ON DRONES

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hen Harry Arnold showed up in 2012 at a campaign rally being held in Defiance, Ohio for presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, Secret Service agents weren’t sure how to react. As the owner and operator of Detroit Drone, Arnold had been hired, unbeknownst to security agents, by the Republican National Committee (RNC) to capture images of the crowd.

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“I got there and got the drone out, and the Secret Service ran over and stopped me,” he said. “The Republican committee hired me, and they came and explained it to the Secret Service, and they quickly made up some rules for me to follow, and inspected it.”

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here were very few rules or regulations on the books in October of 2012 about flying unmanned aircraft systems, more commonly referred to as drones. Use of the lightweight, remote-controlled devices had been little more than a hobby interest for a select group of people. The use of the devices for aerial photography was just getting off the ground, and few states or federal regulators had considered the number of uses drones would have, let alone the concerns they would raise about security and safety.

Arnold, who began operating Detroit Drone as a business about five years ago, was one of the few people in the region offering services utilizing drone technology.

“The rally was at a football stadium.

They told me I wasn’t to go past a certain point on the field. They had a Secret Service agent stand next to me the entire time,” Arnold said describing the event. “I remember he was really big, and looked like Arnold Schwarzenegger. He had the dark suit and glasses, and he didn’t say a word to me all night.”

As the rally went on, Arnold said he flew the drone as instructed. Romney spoke, the crowd cheered. Sharp shooters and secret service agents observed. Michael Lee Aday, better known by his stage name, Meatloaf, sang. The crowd cheered some more.

“Finally, I asked, ‘if I go past the point on the field that I’m supposed to with the drone, which do they shoot first, me or the drone,’” Arnold asked the agent. “He tilted his head down, and pulled his glasses down on his nose so I could see his eyes. ‘It will be synchronized,’ he said.”

While Arnold recalls it anecdotally, it also represents how the use of drones is still being regulated today, as state and federal officials scramble to keep up with technology and the many uses of drones by businesses, law enforcement agencies and academic researchers.

“It’s a mess,” Arnold said of the current federal regulations regarding drone usage.

“There are no rules or regulations. (The FAA) doesn’t want people to think that though because they will get carried away.”

Currently, the FAA states that any use of a drone device requires special approval by

the federal agency, except recreational use by model enthusiasts and hobbyists. That means anyone who purchases or builds a remote controlled airplane, helicopter or drone device is generally permitted to fly it in a safe manner without contacting the FAA, as long as they are following certain guidelines. A hobbyist can even mount a camera to a drone and take photos. But, if they plan on selling those photos or want to offer drone services for sale, the FAA states permission is required. The rule applies to public entities, such as law enforcement agencies, universities or other public entities.

Specifically, the FAA states that model aircraft flights “should be flown a sufficient distance from populated areas and full scale aircraft, should be kept within visual line-ofsight of the operator, should weigh under 55 pounds unless certified by an aeromodeling community-based organization, and are not for business purposes.”

However, Arnold and hundreds of other individuals continue to operate unmanned aircraft systems without permission from the FAA. Something they say they are legally entitled to do.

“There has never been any enforcement action taken against anyone for commercial use of a drone against anyone by the FAA. It has never happened because there is nothing to back up their argument in court,” said Peter Sachs, a Connecticut attorney and author of DroneLawJournal.com. “They have no law to back it up with.”

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n February 15, 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released proposed regulations that would permit routine use of small unmanned aircraft systems, or drones, into today’s aviation system. The proposal, which will be open to public comments until April 24, 2015, is intended to offer safety rules for drones under 55 pounds conducting nonrecreational operations.

The rules, if approved, would limit flights to daylight and visual-line-of-sight operations. It also addresses height restrictions, operator certification, optional use of a visual observer, aircraft registration and marking and operational limits. The rules wouldn’t apply to model aircraft.

Since the proposed rules haven’t yet been approved, the FAA bases its current rules on a collection of orders from congress to the FAA, referred to as the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA). The act dictates what the FAA may and may not do with regard to drone regulation. While the FAA’s current rules

are based on language in the act, some legal experts and drone operators say the act doesn’t apply to the general public, and instead to the FAA’s rule-making specifically.

“The FAA is constantly referring to the FMRA of 2012, which is a law, but that’s a law of congress telling the FAA what it can and can’t do. It doesn’t apply to the public,” Sachs said. “It will at some point in the future, once the proposed rules are ironed out and become finalized, but that time has not come.”

According to the FAA, individuals who fly a UAS, or drone, for business purposes do need approval from the FAA. “By law, any aircraft operation in the national airspace requires a certified and registered aircraft, a licensed pilot, and operational approval,” according to the FAA. “Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 (FMRA) grants the Secretary of Transportation the authority to determine whether an airworthiness certificate is required for a UAS to operate safely in the National Airspace System (NAS).

“This authority is being leveraged to grant case-by-case authorization for certain unmanned aircraft to perform commercial operations prior to the finalization of the Small UAS Rule, which will be the primary method of authorizing small UAS operations once it is complete.”

There are currently three methods of gaining FAA approval for flying civil, or non-governmental, drones. The first method requires an individual to obtain a Special Airworthiness Certificate, or SAC. The FAA may issue the certificates under an experimental category (SAC-EC) for civil aircraft to perform research and development, crew training and market surveys. However, carrying property for compensation or hire is still prohibited under the SAC. Certificates are also issued under the Restricted Category for special purposes. Finally, approval may be obtained by requesting a petition for exemption with a civil Certificate of Waiver or Authorization (COA) for aircraft to perform commercial operations in low-risk , controlled environments.

Acquiring a civil certificate from the FAA may take anywhere from two months to a year, according to the FAA. Exemptions may take about 120 days. However, even if a drone is issued an airworthiness certificate, it must be operated by an FAA certified pilot. As of March 2, 2015, 46 petitions under Section 333 have been granted, with 21 petitions closed, according to the FAA.

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Despite the FAA’s stated requirements, many drone operators continue to use the devices for business or commercial use without approval from the FAA. “The exemptions are extremely burdensome, and there is little incentive to get them,” Sachs said. “You have to put out a lot of money to get one, and you have to have an attorney draft one for you. You need to have a licensed, private pilot doing the flying, which is a minimum of $10,000 or more, and they need prior notice before each and every flight. There are all sorts of hurdles if you are granted one, and if you are, you are also submitting to the FAA’s regulations if you get one.”

Despite the hurdles of operating drones, it’s estimated that the economic impact of drones in Michigan will total more than $31 million in 2015, according to the Association of Unmanned Vehicle Systems International, adding 322 jobs, and more than a $1.08 billion to the state’s economy by 2020, adding about 1,117 jobs in Michigan.

Public entities wishing to conduct drone operations typically require a Certificate of Waiver or Authorization that permits public agencies and organizations to operate a particular aircraft, for a particular purpose, in a particular area. The object, according to the FAA, is to ensure a level of safety equivalent to manned aircraft. Common public uses include law enforcement, firefighting, border patrol, disaster relief, search and rescue, military training and other government operational missions.

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n March 9, the Michigan State Police received authorization from the FAA to fly its UAS to support public safety operations. The approval makes the department amongst the first law enforcement agencies in the nation to obtain statewide authorization to fly a drone. The drone cost the MSP about $165,000.

In September 2013, the state police purchased an Aeryon SkyRanger drone, which utilizes four propeller systems and an advanced camera. In February 2014, the department received a Certificate of Authorization from the FAA to conduct training flights with the drone near the Michigan State Police Training Academy, said staste police spokeswoman Tiffany Brown.

On February 25, 2015, after meeting all federal regulations, the FAA granted the state police’s request for authorization to fly

the Aeryon Skyranger for law enforcement support missions statewide. Potential missions include search and rescue, crime scene and crash investigations. In March, the drone was flown over a fire investigation near Jenison. The device collected both video and photographs of the structure to help investigators determine the origin and cause of the fire.

Under the FAA’s authorization, the UAS will be flown with a two-person crew, with one acting as pilot and the other as a safety observer. The FAA certified pilot has received specific training from the manufacturer in the safe operation of the drone. The device must remain below 400 feet and always be within the line of sight of the crew.

Other agencies, such as the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, are also hoping to enter the unmanned aircraft arena to assist with operations.

Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said in late 2014 that the department has been trying to get fully certified on unmanned aerial observation for about two years. The department first used one of the devices in 2013 when a man who shot a West Bloomfield police officer was barricaded in a home. In hopes of getting a better view of the suspect, who was shooting at officers from a third-story window, Bouchard said he asked a lieutenant to go to a Brookstone store and purchase one of the small drones sold there, and equip it with a camera to see which room the shooter was in.

While Bouchard said the department has been trying to get their hands on a more professional drone and certification, he said the process is “unbelievably bureaucratic.”

The potential use of drones by law enforcement agencies spurred concern last year by some Michigan lawmakers, including former state Representative Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills), who introduced two bills to regulate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The bills, which never made it to the Michigan House floor for a vote before the end of the 2014 legislative session, would have created a new act to authorize and regulated the use of drones; banned the use of weapons on drones; required a search warrant or court order for drone operations targeting private property or for criminal investigations; regulated the disclosure of information gathered from drones; required public entities using drones to report operations to the legislature and other state entities; and provided misdemeanor and felony penalties for violations.

The bills were opposed by several law

enforcement agencies in the state, who said they failed to take into account other uses of drones.

State Representative Klint Kesto (RCommerce Township) said while he agreed with the intent of the legislation, it didn’t take into account implications for other state agencies.

“I think (drones) can be beneficial, but we have to be careful on where to draw the line,” Kesto said. “They are already readily available to anyone in the public. They make them in different styles and capabilities. The question becomes, when the government is using these aerial vehicles, where do we draw the line in being intrusive to privacy and just being able to use them to assist the public at large.”

K

esto said state agencies such as the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has discussed using drones for bridge inspection, and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) for mapping inland lakes. Such uses would be limited beyond that of the FAA under the legislation introduced by McMillin.

Most recently, Kesto said the legislature passed a bill that would prevent the use of drones to harass hunters.

Jon Riminelli, owner of Detroit Aircraft Corp, said some of the main uses of unmanned aircraft systems include those by law enforcement and agricultural uses. The company, which is located in Detroit, manufactures and distributes small, unmanned aerial systems and components for military, civil and commercial applications. Products include the Lockheed Martin Indago UAS, which can be equipped for various uses.

“From the civil side, it can help emergency response agencies, like fire departments, by providing arial situational awareness, providing them ingress and egress, tracking hot spots in a fire or finding trapped civilians,” Riminelli said.

“Agricultural use is huge. We can scan hundreds of acres of farmland in a fraction of the time it would take on the ground, and supply them with intelligence on where crops are stressed, and where they need to add water, fertilizer or other resources.

Beyond that, there are infrastructure inspection uses, such as bridges and roofs.

All the jobs that are dangerous or difficult for humans.”

The Indago systems, which sell for between $25,000 and $50,000, take about 60

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seconds to set up and less than 3 minutes to become airborne. They weigh about five pounds, depending on options, and have a minimum of 5 km lineof-sight. Riminelli said Detroit Aircraft has sold the units to Thailand for the military, Latvia for commercial applications, and is setting up dealers in Italy to supply the military and police departments there. The units have essentially the same flight capabilities as the system utilized by the Michigan State Police, and aren’t associated with the type of armed drones used by the military strike purposes.

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runo Basso, a professor at Michigan State University’s Kellogg Biological Station, has been utilizing a drone since September 2013, when the university landed its first device.

“The drone is still going,” he said. “It’s been over a year now. In addition to the large drone, we acquired another drone.”

The first drone, which cost about $100,000, is being used to measure how crops react to stress, such as drought, nutrient deficiency or pests. The drone basically flies over the field documenting its status, down to centimeters.

The portrait gives farmers details on the current health of the crops. The information allows farmers to pinpoint problem areas and address them with a precision.

The UAS uses three sensors, including a high-resolution radiometer; a thermal camera used to monitor plant temperatures and hydration; and a laser scanner, which measures individual plant height in centimeters. The information is plugged into the System Approach for Land-Use Sustainability model, which is a new generation crop tool to forecast crop, soil, water and nutrient conditions in current and future climates.

Basso said the university also acquired a second, smaller drone, which is less sophisticated. He anticipates it will be the type of drone used by many farmers in the future.

“Many farmers, at the moment, already have them,” he said. “Not the majority, but everyone talks about it. They say how useful and important they are, but they are concerned about unclear regulations. Until a few months ago, farmers weren’t allowed to use them. That has changed, luckily.

The value is so much more than the risk you would have.”

While the university’s program has been approved by the FAA, Basso’s comments underscore the confusion regarding the current rules and regulations. While proposed rules by the FAA are still being considered, some legal experts say the only rule that currently applies to drones states that “no person may operate an aircraft in a careless or reckless manner so as to endanger the life or property of another.”

According to Sachs, the definition of “aircraft” didn’t include model aircraft for many decades. However, that changed with a FAA field suit against Raphael Pirker, after Pirker flew a drone over the campus of the University of Virginia at the request of the university. The flight resulted in the FAA issuing a proposed order of assessment of a civil penalty of $10,000.

The case, Sachs said, was based on the allegation that Pirker flew recklessly.

Attorney Brendan Shulman, who represented Pirker in the case, said there’s no definition as to what “reckless” is because the case was settled before a final decision was made. While Shulman said there are many people who fly without FAA authorization, he said he recommends consulting with an attorney prior to flying for commercial operations.

Back in Detroit, Arnold said he carries liability insurance and declines to conduct any operations that may be interpreted as reckless, such as carrying banners from a drone or flying over large crowds. Because the law has yet to be cleared up, he said he typically adheres to the wishes of local law enforcement of security officials.

“Someone wanted me to fly a banner over a Tiger’s game on opening day,” he said. “I told them I wasn’t comfortable with that. There aren’t federal rules for that, but there are community and state laws. I had several events at Belle Isle, but not anymore because drones have been banned from state parks.

“You have to respect people in authority. If plant security or whoever has authority says they are uncomfortable, then I yield and land it.” downtownpublications.com

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FACES Caitlin Lynch usic was part of opera soprano Caitlin Lynch's life well before she performed her first show at the Village Player's in Birmingham or graduated from Marian High School.

"My mom was six months pregnant when she did the role of Gretel in Hansel and Gretel. In it, there is a beautiful duet prayer, which I heard for the first time in graduate school. When I did, I broke down crying. It was so weirdly connected to me, and I put it together later," Lynch said. "I have a two-and-a-half-year old son, and I sang for my entire pregnancy. It's incredible to know I was exposing this little one to such amazing music."

Lynch has since been praised by the New York Times and Wall Street Journal as a rising star soprano, performing with some of the nation's top groups and premier locations, including the Gotham Chamber Opera, the Opera Company of Philadelphia, the Pittsburgh Opera, Madison Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, and others. But while success hasn't eluded the talented singer, it is perhaps a stable sense of a permanent home that Lynch now desires.

"I'm still considering other things," she said. "It's a such a tricky career. It's so inconsistent. There's a lot of traveling and moving around. There's a lot of sacrifice that goes with it. Some years you have a wonderful income, and other years it's different. I'm grateful to do what I love, and have been paid enough to support myself and my family. Of course, I've had a lot of help along the way."

Operating a dress or bridal boutique, real estate, or social work are all potentials for other occupations, she said. However, the biggest question isn't what else she would like to do, it's whether her passion for singing will allow her to change fields, and for how long.

As the daughter of opera singer Mary Callaghan, Lynch said she was influenced by music early in her life. She said her mother and her grandmother sacrificed potential music careers to raise families. While she said her mother was always careful not to push her into the field, Lynch said she may have placed expectations on herself early on.

"At some point, I started wondering if I was doing it because of an expectation on me or not," she said. "I felt that I had the chance to pursue it full throttle. I did some soul searching and took a year off before I did my master's at the (College-Conservatory of Music). It was clear after six months of not singing, I was miserable, so I needed to get back at it."

Today, Lynch and her husband, singer Jonathan Lasch, are looking at several options. The two met after singing together with the Michigan Opera and later got engaged in Detroit. She said Lasch is now considering a university teaching career that will allow the family to establish a permanent home, while still providing the freedom to continue singing for part of the year.

On March 15, Lynch, Lasch, and her mother sang together in the 13th annual presentation of "Patricktide – A Celebration of Celtic Music, Poetry and Dance," presented by the Motor City Lyric Opera.

"We have been doing that for years," she said. "It's tradition. It's a great opportunity for us to sing together. My mom and dad and I are in it, and now my husband."

M

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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Many of us remember with great fondness the days of retrieving a newspaper at the door, then sitting down in the kitchen with a cup of coffee in hand and perusing the day’s news. The daily newspapers, both the Detroit Free Press and Detroit News, were the arbiters of local and national news, and the way almost all of us learned what was going on in our communities and the world in general, augmented by the network news telecast each night.

Fast forward to today and the dailies not deliver daily news – each paper cut back on home delivery and daily publishing in 2009 in order to save money and emphasize their resources on the web. While each have condensed print versions available at newsstands daily, they each introduced e-editions at that time. Many readers now find out what’s going on at freep.com or detnews.com daily, or more frequently on Twitter, as updates are posted. In addition, New York Times and Wall Street Journal readers turn with greater regularity to their websites and social media posts to find out what’s going on in the world as we sit at our desks or go about our day.

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In a world that’s moving faster and faster, we all want to know what’s going on. Smart phones, computers and tablets allow us to connect and access information that previously we had to wait to receive from that daily newspaper or newscast. According to ebizmba.com, the top 15 most popular news websites for March 2015 are Yahoo News, with 175 million monthly views; Google News, with 150 monthly views; HuffingtonPost, 110 monthly views; CNN, 95 million views; New York Times, 70 million monthly views; Fox News, 65 million monthly views; NBC News, 63 million monthly views; Mail Online, 53 million monthly views; Washington Post, 47 million monthly views; The Guardian, 42 million monthly views; WSJ, 40 million monthly views; ABC News, 36 million monthly views; USA Today, 34 million monthly views; and LA Times, at 32.5 million monthly views.

Locally, there are several online news sites providing news and information to readers, many of which offer unique knowledge about the metro area, or aggregate news or facts from other publications or sites.

Motorcitymuckraker.com is run by Neavling and his girlfriend, Abigail Shah, and he pooled together $200 for a URL, web hosting and design for the site. Shah works as site researcher, bookkeeper, site manager and social media manager. The site is supported through advertising, including some national sponsors, though they run links requesting support.

The newsroom is their living room couch, located in an apartment on Detroit’s east side.

modelD.com metromode.com Editor: Matthew Lewis

motorcitymuckraker.com Editor: Steve Neavling Motorcitymuckraker.com calls itself a site of “independent news dedicated to improving life in Detroit.” The site focuses a majority of its energy on investigations, which is its first tab.

Others are crime & fire; government; arts & culture; development; and life in Detroit.

Investigations are in line with editor and founder Steve Neavling, an investigative journalist who was previously a city hall reporter for the Detroit Free Press and a freelance reporter for Reuters.

In March 2014, the Columbia Journalism Review featured Neavling as “Detroit’s one-man band”. Neavling, who runs Motorcitymuckraker.com and freelances for TickletheWire.com, views himself, according to the article, as a sort of one-man news operation who roams all areas of Detroit, chases news scanner reports, and pursues investigative pieces, intent on scooping Detroit’s broadcast and print media.

Motorcitymuckraker.com does its own original reporting, and its website offers an overview of the city itself, focusing a clear eye on the grittiness that lies beneath efforts to urbanize it. It spotlights what still needs to be done, whether it’s highlighting neglected fire hydrants or how they’re tracking every fire in Detroit in 2015 to provide a look at how fires are ravaging neighborhoods.

ModelD.com is an online weekly magazine that makes you believe that Detroit truly is the place to be. Its positive vibes over the last 10 years about the city and neighborhoods have finally taken root. “We take some credit, on a microlevel, for the difference in Detroit from 10 years ago,” said ModelD editor Matthew Lewis.

“We promote Detroit as a place to be and invest in.”

Companion site metromode.com posts daily on job growth and development in southeast Michigan, from Detroit to Ann Arbor, Wyandotte to Birmingham.

Both are published by Issue Media Group, a Detroit-based media company which publishes online magazines about growth, investment and “the people leading communities into the new economy in 21 regions across the U.S. and Canada.” Their mission is to cover what’s next in cities, documenting transformation and growth. “Our journalists identify influencers – the change-makers and doers moving cities and regions forward. We provide hyperlocal engagement with influencers, research and data, and audience.”

Lewis works from an office in midtown Detroit, not far from Wayne State University. He hosts weekly coffee hours in a nearby coffee shop, meeting freelancers, residents and readers. He had written and edited ModelD for a about a year; and taken over Metromode in February.

“ModelD is the flagship publication for Issue Media Group. In June it celebrated its tenth anniversary,” he said of the online-only weekly, which is sent out by e-mail blast each Tuesday, receiving about 90,000 page views a month currently. “We were born in a pre-Facebook age.

We are behind by being ahead. Right now we are transitioning to a more continuous publishing model, which has its challenges.”

He tweets and posts to Facebook, and while there are over 18,000 followers on Twitter, “We are looking at growing our social media presence,” he said. “Metromode has scant social media presence.”

ModelD.com has a positive focus on people, development, culture, business and neighborhoods, historically focusing on downtown, midtown and Corktown. “The goal now is to really expand citywide to show the neighborhoods and areas that don’t get as much attention,” Lewis said. “We are focusing now on Brightmoor, which is heavily populated by youth, and the Osborn neighborhood, which has blight, urban agriculture and the repurposing of vacant land. Each community is faced with unique challenges and opportunities.” Each issue has three features, development news and startup news.

Metromode deals with smaller dynamic communities in the region as a whole, “as well as the larger issues that affect us all,” Lewis said. “My personal goal is to better align the two publications. I want to reach out and show city readers why regional things matter, and show regional readers why the city matters.”

There is one regional feature a week, along with innovation and jobs news, and development information.

Metromode is also a weekly, sent out by email blast on Thursdays, with about 30,000 page views per month.

Both sites create original content rather aggregating from others, although there are marked advertorials.

breakingdetroitnews.com Editor: Patrick Kitano Breakingdetroitnews.com calls itself a “community service media” – part of a nationwide media organization of 400 sites located and curated from San Francisco. Patrick Kitano, who launched the news system in 2009, said he did so at the time to support local news publications. He had been a columnist for a hyperlocal newsmagazine, and realized there was a need to support local news. Each of his 400 sites curate and aggregate news and information from other news sites and blogs – meaning they republish previously published news, giving it credit.

“It’s an unsustainable model to hire reporters and sales staff (for a hyperlocal website), like Patch. But no one curated the

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best. I created the methodology when Twitter was in its infancy,” seeing it as a source of news dissemination. “There is a rich tradition of a lot of independent news and blogs, and I wanted to aggregate them. We were a rich, diverse site by creating this. We’re not making money off of this, but we’re letting everyone know how to find the news.”

Kitano said his business model has utilized an administrative team out of India for the past four years, and they have a curated database of about 10,000 readers. However, he emphasized he doesn’t believe in e-mail blasts because he doesn’t want people to think they’re spamming them.

“I launched the news system in 2009 to support local news publications.

BreakingDetroit is part of 400 cities; BreakingA2news is very similar,” Kitano said.

“We’re working really hard to get independent news publishers heard. It makes our 400-city feed like a bulletin board that gets retweeted to other sources.”

The website states that “We curate and publish the most interesting media feeds in each city to create an aggregate real time ticker tape of literally everything happening in a city...We support local civic groups, good causes and arts organizations by getting their word out to our communities.”

He said they regularly work with the three largest independent news publishers, Independent News Network, The Media Consortium and Association of Alternative Newsmedia. “Many small publishers are hurting, they’re working with grants, they don’t have enough advertisers and don’t have true business models,” Kitano said. By reposting their stories on Breakingnews, their news and information can have greater exposure and life.

He said they have about 8,000 authorized newsmakers approved to post to their site.

“We’re in every city that has a population of 100,000 or 150,000 or more with multiple news sources,” he said. “We’re in Fargo, N.D, and Wichita, KS. Some small cities, especially in the mountains, that only have one newspaper and no bloggers, we’re not going there because we have nothing to aggregate.”

On Twitter, the Detroit site can be found at detroit_buzz.

“Everything about Detroit is very cutting edge journalistically,” Kitano pointed out regarding what readers can find out. “Local news is often focused on crime, traffic and weather. We don’t do that. We’re much stronger on both coasts. We have about 80 sites in California, where there’s much more engagement.”

Kitano said that for all sites, they receive about 50,000 to 80,000 click throughs per day on their posts. “Many are highly viral and get retweets,” he said, although he does not have separated data on breakingdetroitnews.

The next phase Kitano envisions is a Detroit site for the African American community.

“There’s nothing for the local black community.

Almost all blacks get their news from TV,” he said, working to pick up feeds from the Michigan Chronicle, Voice of Detroit and Monica Patrick, all of which can be found on Twitter @blckdetroit.

HuffingtonPostDetroit.com Editor: Kate Abbey-Lambertz The Huffington Post’s Detroit page was launched on November 17, 2011, as part of the Huffington Post’s national website. The Detroitbased page of the national website is managed by editor Kate Abbey-Lambertz, who joined the site as an associate editor in 2011 and was made editor last spring. While Huffington Post has more than 850 staff members throughout the organization, Abbey-Lambertz is currently the sole staffer specifically covering the metro Detroit area for the website.

However, other editorial staff cover Detroit and Michigan issues when they are relevant to their beats, and such stories are featured on the Detroit page.

While Abbey-Lambertz said the website doesn’t track user statistics of the Detroit page specifically, The Huffington Post U.S. site has 115 million unique visitors monthly. The main site was launched in 2005 as a news aggregator and blog site, founded by Arianna Huffington, Kenneth Lerer, Andrew Breitbart and Jonah Peretti. The site, as does its Detroit counterpart, offers aggregated news, blogs, original content and covers politics, business, entertainment, culture and a host of other topics. The Huffington Post was acquired in 2011 by AOL for a reported price of $315 million. Huffington remains editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post Media Group.

While Huffington Post sends a statewide morning e-mail and breaking news e-mail and other e-mail newsletters, there isn’t a specific newsletter for the Detroit page. AbbeyLambertz said the Huffington Post Detroit coverage is driven by the same editorial focus and mission as the site as a whole: telling stories about the issues that matter most to people through all the tools they have available.

“As to what sets the Detroit coverage apart – there is no lengthy philosophy, but the phrase that guides how I write about issues and which ones I choose to cover is ‘people first,’” she said. “It was initially a reaction to the way some pre-bankruptcy coverage portrayed Detroit as a dead and empty city, and it was inspired by the tongue-in-cheek tagline in a photo series by Noah Stephens: ‘because not everyone in Detroit is an abandoned building.’

Now it amounts to me asking myself, ‘what do Detroiters care about, and what is important for the rest of the country to know about the city.”

That balance is reflected in one of Abbey-

Lambertz’ posts published on March 5, “11 Stereotypes Detroiters are Tired Of Hearing,” which utilizes Huffington Post’s trademark listicle styling, but cuts to more serious issues facing the city and metropolitan region. The story is an example of her intentions to illustrate that Detroit’s issues, like most cities, are always more complex than they appear at first glance.

“Acknowledging and explicating those complexities in a digestible way has been a central goal of our coverage,” she said. “For example, an article I wrote about a program to bridge the gap between Detroiters and police officers notes that while current national criticisms of policing often focus on excessive use of force, serious crime and historic problems like long wait times and a high unresolved murder rate means the focus of Detroiters’ criticisms of police can be different.”

detroit.eater.com Editor: Brenna Houck From her Ferndale perch, local editor Brenna Houck produces the majority of the content for restaurant, nightlife and food site eater.com, along with about five local contributors. Eater, owned by Vox Media, is a national general interest news site for the 21st century which says its mission is simple: “Explain the news.

Vox is where you go to understand the news and the world around you.”

Vox, which supports several different news, culture and sports platforms, amasses over 5 million visitors to its various websites each month. Eater, according to Houck, varies between 250,000 and 350,000 visitors a month.

Houck, her various freelancers and photographers, produce the majority of content for the site, which is primarily original. “We do aggregate and reblog, but the majority is original content,” she said.

“We’re not obsessed with the food porn side” of restaurants, Houck said. “We’re interested in architecture, the chef and that side. On our site, we focus on local restaurant news and what is new in openings in downtown. We send photographers in beforehand, if we can, or as they’re opening, so people can get first views, from an architectural viewpoint.”

There are about four photographic galleries a month of restaurants, providing viewers a virtual visit to new hotspots.

Eater notes it is “the source for people who care about dining and drinking in the nation’s more important food cities. A favorite of industry pros and amateurs alike. Eater has an

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uncanny knack for finding out what’s opening where, who’s serving what, and how it’s all going down.” It was founded by Lockhart Steele and is led by editor in chief Amanda Kludt. The staff “makes news and breaks news daily with expert reporting on the latest restaurant openings in key cities and current dining trends across the country.” Its target audience is adults 21-34, and 74 percent use it daily, they reported according to Google Analytics Q4 2014.

“We’re doing hyperlocal, but on a national level,” Houck said, sending out e-mail blasts, which people sign up for, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. She also posts to Twitter and Facebook. The national Eater website reports they have almost half a million Twitter followers, and a quarter million Facebook friends.

deadlinedetroit.com Editor: Allan Lengel Started by veteran journalists Allan Lengel and Bill McGraw, deadlinedetroit.com is designed as a one-stop, online news site whose content includes the top stories about metro Detroit from local, national and international media, as well as original reporting and commentary from many local journalists.

“We wanted to be a little more risky, or racier, than the papers are, and we wanted to be part of the conversation in Detroit,” Lengel said about the philosophy behind the website.

“We wanted to cover city hall and politics, not just in Detroit, but also in Lansing and the metro area. We wanted to be part of that conversation, and cover what we thought were important issues. In a lot of ways, we have accomplished that. I think we’ve built up a good audience and good readership.”

Launched in 2012, deadlinedetroit.com gained attention in metro Detroit even before its official launch, gaining followers who signed up for e-mail blasts before the site went live. The buzz was helped by the solid reputations of the journalists behind the site, as well as an infusion of funding from former Compuware CEO Peter Karmanos. At the time, Lengel, who had worked for decades for The Detroit News and Washington Post, had already started TickleTheWire.com, a website that features federal law enforcement news from around the country. Looking for investors in his site, Lengel approached Compuware, where McGraw was working after spending 32 years with the Detroit Free Press as a city desk reporter, sports writer, Canada correspondent, editor and columnist. Lengel said McGraw liked the

website, but suggested doing something local.

With initial funding from Compuware Ventures, deadlinedetroit.com was launched in April 2012.

Less than two years after its launch, the website had become a regular stop for many Detroit-area media consumers, receiving between 330,000 to 370,000 unique visitors per month, and included solid staff of full-time and part-time employees at its downtown Detroit office. However, funding from Compuware was pulled just prior to the company being privatized, and deadlinedetroit.com was forced to cut staff and reorganize in attempts to become profitable.

McGraw, who retains ownership interest in the site, has since gone to work for Bridge Magazine. Today, Lengel said he remains the only full-time staffer. He is joined part-time by Alan Stamm, a veteran Detroit journalist who worked for most of his career at The Detroit News as a copy editor, assistant national editor and assistant metro editor. Freelancers and contributors to the site include other Detroitarea journalists and professionals, including Darrell Dawsey, Jeff Wattrick, Doron Levin and others.

Lengel said the site, which currently receives between 200,000 and 270,000 unique visitors per month, is rebuilding. While the philosophy and style of coverage haven’t changed, the amount of original content has dipped by about 10 percent, with the rest aggregated from other sources. Still, the quality and quantity of content have remained high, he said.

“We are trying to to rebuild,” Lengel said.

“We have some advertising. I see a path to being profitable, it’s really just a matter of time and energy to get there.”

oaklandcounty115.com Editor: Crystal Proxmire Initially launched in 2009 by Ferndale native Crystal A. Proxmire, oaklandcounty115.com provides daily content about news and events throughout the county, with original reporting and coverage in a few key communities, including Ferndale and Oak Park.

“I try not to aggregate from other media,” Proxmire said about county-wide coverage on the site. “I call it ‘news hubbing.’”

Instead of posting excerpts of news stories from other media outlets, Proxmire cultivates relationships with folks in dozens of organizations around the county, who in turn send her event photos and news releases, allowing her site to act as a sort

of hub for various happenings throughout Oakland County.

Proxmire’s business model is unique amongst the multitude of other news sites on the Internet, not only for its content philosophy, but for her funding model, which focuses on a slow and steady, sustainable growth.

The goal is to become 60 percent reader funded by focusing on $15-per month contributions to the site. In turn, Proxmire offers a special flower ad in the sponsor’s name on the site. It’s what Proxmire has named an “online community garden.” The ads feature a photo of a flower, which can include the reader’s name, or be dedicated to another person. Other funding comes from ads on the site.

“There are two ways for funding the site,” she said. “Advertising, which is obviously the biggest way. But I really feel strongly about the online community garden. It’s a small amount of money, but it’s a way to make people feel connected to the website. It’s a grassroots project and really about the people we serve. I would rather have 100 small donations than one big ad. Then people understand the value of journalism. It’s really a community-driven website.”

So far, the philosophy is working for Proxmire and the website. In the year following her expansion to the a county-wide news hub in 2014, unique visitors to the site jumped from about 10,000 per month to about 30,000.

“The Knight Foundation looks at the (online) models across the country, and nobody has really come up with one (that works) yet,” she said. “In almost every case, they ran a site for about a year, but then the money runs out.

They haven’t determined how they will be sustainable after the grant or sponsorship runs out. My hope is that OaklandCounty115 will be that model.”

The idea for the site’s model stemmed from a demo site she created in 2005, after graduating from Grand Valley State University. Irritated because the local press wasn’t providing adequate coverage in Muskegon, Proxmire tried applying for a job at the paper, only to be confronted with the reality of dwindling newsroom staff and the lack of available jobs.

Instead, she launched her own news site in hopes she could one day enter the print news market.

“In Muskegon, the economy revolved around the 1st and 15th of the month, so that’s how the name came about,” she said.

The Muskegon-based site operated for about six months. She later took the idea and applied it to her hometown in Ferndale. Initially publishing new content on the 1st and 15th of each month, she began providing daily updates in 2010, and expanded the Ferndale site in 2014. In addition to writing for her own site, Proxmire has written for The Oakland Press, Between The Lines and others.

She now hopes that her business model will be an example for others, which she said could benefit both journalists and communities that invest in them.

“People have to understand why news is important,” she said. “I like my (business) model. I hope it works. It’s paying the bills, and I’m supporting myself. I don’t have to have a side job. I hope to have a second reporter, and a third later as it grows. It’s a slow steady growth.”

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Lou Kasischke early two decades have passed since Lou Kasischke attempted to climb to the top of Mount Everest in what became one of the worst disasters in the mountain's history. Last year, the longtime Bloomfield Hills resident released a book telling his version of the expedition that, in 1996, claimed the lives of eight people.

"At the time, there was a lot of interest in my account, but I didn't feel comfortable being one more voice about human failings and those who were dead," Kasischke said, who wrote a portion of his book, After The Wind, in the two years following the disaster. "I established in my head what went wrong, and why I lived, and how I survived. At the time, I was content on letting it live in my file cabinet."

Kasischke was 54 at the time of the tragedy. He was already a wellestablished attorney with the Dykema Gossett law firm, and had scaled six of the highest summits in the world. Mount Everest, the highest in the world, was the only feat left. On May 10, 1996, Kasischke had nearly reached the top when he was forced to choose between getting to the top and risk being forever stuck on the mountain, or making it back home.

"When I was close to the top, I knew it was pretty dicey," Kasischke said. "It was never a question about getting to the top. I could almost throw a stone and get there. The big question was 'could I get back down.'

And the answer was, 'no.'"

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N

expedition. But it wasn't until recently that Kasischke decided to publish his own account, and the reason for turning around that day.

"It was to pay tribute and honor my wife, Sandy," Kasischke said in his reason for distributing his book. "She was very ill, and was the critical force at work at the top of Everest that saved my life. To me, it was a love story, along with a tragic story, and that was very private. It was the strength that came from the heart, and the commitments and promises I had made."

While Kasischke said he wrote the book to honor his wife, whom he had never shown his drafts to over the years, it also sparked interest in Hollywood after being published in 2014. A movie based on the expedition is set to be released in September of 2015. Kasischke was a consultant on the film.

Married to Sandy for 47 years, Kasischke made the most of his life in Bloomfield Hills after being born and raised in Bay City. Today, he spends much of his time caring for Sandy in their northern Michigan home near Harbor Springs.

"I'm her full-time caregiver. It's actually the best time of our lives," he said. "We are closer today than ever. We've been married for 47 years, and I've always been pretty selfish and self-centered. I have learned how important and enriching a person can feel caring for someone they love.

Every day is wonderful."

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Gretchen Dorian

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SothebysRealty.com – attracts more consumers to search, view and inquire than any other luxury real estate website. Millions of viewers immerse themselves in our collection of millions of vibrant, quality-controlled property photographs.

Last year sothebysrealty.com invites: • 18,000,000 visits • 100,000,000 page views • 29,000,000 property detail pages viewed • 16 focused minutes per visit • 45% visits from outside US SIR Mobile – Linking Your Home to Mobile Users With a Click, Tap or Swipe: SIR Mobile is the only luxury real estate mobile app that works anywhere and searches globally. Go To the Android or Apple App store to download.

SIR Mobile allows consumers to view properties on their smart phone or tablet based on GPS location, address, city or zip code. When a user is ready to see a property, the “call” feature connects them directly to a Sotheby’s International Realty sales associate. Currently more than 50% of all internet searches are conducted from a mobile device. With more and more internet searches being done from a mobile device, we are likely targeting a younger demographic. What this means to you is increased exposure for your sellers and the listings you represent.

Aerial photography – we provide aerial videos of every home we market over $500,000 – scan the adjacent QR code to see a sample video.

Thank you again –

Douglas H. Hardy, MD Chairman

Scan QR code to see a sample video of our Aerial photography

Market Share | By Dollars SKBK MarKetS More Homes Over $1.5 Million 25.75%

8.60%

7.78% 5.79% 3.65%

SKBK Sotheby’s International

Max Broock Birmingham

Hall & Hunter Birmingham

Higbie Maxon Agney

Cranbrook Realtors

2.89%

2.84%

2.70%

2.67%

2.50%

Max Broock Bloomfield

Shain Park Realtors

Berkshire HWWB

RE/MAX New Trend

CB Weir Manuel Birmingham

*Current Active Listings provided by Realcomp II Ltd. 8.1.14

SKBK SellS More Homes Over $1.5 Million 21.48%

13.70%

13.05% 10.68%

5.87%

5.37% 3.77%

SKBK Sotheby’s International

Max Broock Birmingham

Hall & Hunter Birmingham

CB Weir Manuel Birmingham

Max Broock Bloomfield

Shain Park Realtors

Berkshire HWWB

3.19%

Cranbrook Realtors

2.50%

Keller Williams Troy

1.90% RE/MAX New Trend

*Year to Date Sales provided by Realcomp II Ltd. 8.1.14

skbk.com

248.644.7000

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Sotheby’s - Global Exposure The Sotheby’s International Realty® brand’s global media plan is designed to deliver more than 1 billion media impressions, solidifying our brand as the voice of luxury real estate. Our plan includes impactful, exclusive and first-to-market partnerships with an increased strategic focus on mobile and editorial content with some of the most preeminent media reaching all corners of the globe.

Our goal is to present the properties represented by our worldwide network to a broad audience of potential buyers who value and seek the unique.

1 billion media impressions

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Sotheby’s - Global Exposure THE NEW YORK TIMES

Our 2015 advertising program with The

New York Times is a continuation of years prior and is structured to fetch nearly 300 million media impressions through branding and listing exposure elements, utilizing local ownership advertising opportunities and fixed positioning on various New York Times channels. This long-term plan features exclusivity and dominance in both print and digital marketing opportunities, designed to attract a diverse worldwide audience to more than

and maximize our reach

40 million unique

NYT monthly readers.

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Sotheby’s - Global Exposure THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

Our continuous collaboration with

The Wall Street Journal offers an array of opportunities to showcase the homes represented by our network to the global audience that turns to this media icon for their daily source of insights into both micro and macro financial and economic landscapes. Designed to deliver 170 million impressions, this marketing strategy is comprised of a worldwide, multi-faceted program providing our brand with

Wall

Network

and dominance exclusivity throughout The Street Journal’s Digital

websites.

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Sotheby’s - Global Exposure ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST Every day, Architectural Digest inspires millions of affluent home enthusiasts to redesign and refresh their lives through a multi-platform presence that includes print and digital connections. Our alignment with AD will deliver an anticipated 14 million media impressions and encompasses an integrated online partnership through a commanding presence on architecturaldigest.com. Recently redesigned and re-engineered, architecturaldigest.com ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST Ever y da Architectur

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attracts toonredesign average moretheir than consuming about 10 and refresh lives900,000 through a munique ulti-platf monthly m presencevisitors, that includes print and digital connections.

Our alignment with AD will deliver an anticipated 8 million media impressions and encompasses an pages per visit the environment to uniquely showcase the Recentl homes we integr ated and onlineispar tnerperfect ship through a commanding presence on architectur y redesigned and re-engineered, architecturaldigest.com attracts on a erage more than 900,000 unique represent. monthly visitor consuming about 10 pages per visit and is the perfect environment to uniquely showcase the homes we represent.

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Rochester $7,500,000 Private Gated Community of Estate Custom Homes! Country French Normandy home with over 14,000 square feet of living space on four acres. Custom design and details throughout. Walk-out lower level, selections still available to choose. Six car garage. Four bedrooms with 5.3 baths. 213101162

Bloomfield $1,495,000

Bloomfield Hills $1,199,000

Wonderful Private Estate on 1.44 acres featuring pool, cabana, full kitchen, bath and dressing room. Extensive brick patios and lush landscaping. Home has Contemporary feel but can be Transitional. Floor to ceiling windows and door walls. Four bedroom suites, six full baths, two half bath, seven fireplaces, three kitchens, generator, sun room, exercise room, large game room. Lower level family room, kitchen and fireplace. 215013035

Quality constructed Colonial perched on a hill in Bloomfield Hills Country Club community. Custom designed home can be brought back from era gone by. Over 7000 square feet with large room sizes. Large master suite with his and her baths and closets. Pool with cabana, dressing area and baths. Four plus heated garage.

Decorators dream project! Builders can design dream home in prestigious location. Seven bedrooms with 6.2 baths. 215008473

Ronni Keating

Equal Housing Opportunity

Bloomfield Hills $1,549,000 Magnificence awaits at this grand French Country estate in sought after Bloomfield Hills that greets you with its elegant circular drive, and enamors you with its lush, landscaped two acres. Meticulous detail, refined finishes, quality craftsmanship and supreme materials like exotic woods, custom millwork and stone define the luxurious interior. Entertaining is divine in the formal living and formal dining rooms, and made seamless by the incredible gourmet kitchen that opens to both the breakfast and hearth rooms. Outdoor parties are as spectacular thanks to the convenient cabana house and kitchen. Highlights of this incomparable residence with walls of windows and tremendous rooms include a comfortable family room with built-in bookcases, spacious study, sumptuous 2000 square feet master retreat with a den, room-size closet and indulgent spa-like bath, all en-suite bedrooms, and a morning room with French doors to the amazing pool area where you can lounge or swim in privacy and tranquility.

Birmingham $2,399,000

Birmingham $1,399,000

MOVE IN BY SPRING! Stunning New Construction built by Great Lakes Custom Builders on one of the most sought after streets in Quarton Lake Estates. Quality craftsmanship throughout, exquisite millwork and attention to detail in this six bedroom, 6.2 bath home. With over 7500 square feet of living space situated on a large lot, great open floor plan, spectacular culinary kitchen with a large island and hardwood flooring throughout. Exceptional master suite with luxurious bath and fabulous dual closets. Finished lower level with a media room, guest bedroom, workout area and full bath. 215001759

Custom Built Birmingham home by Town Building Company. This home to be built in this fabulous location. Incomparable materials and workmanship. Exciting open floor plan, high ceilings, custom woodwork and cabinetry, incredible attention to detail, solid core doors and hardwood floors. Granite kitchen, stainless appliances and an outstanding master retreat. Third story with bedroom, bath and loft space. Front covered porch, spacious yard and extra wide lot. Three car attached garage. Great opportunity to make all your selections for the home of your dreams and move in by Spring. Five bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 215001773

Dan Gutfreund

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Equal Housing Opportunity

Lake Angelus Frontage $2,850,000 Fabulous Lake Angelus Estate on 8+ acres. Custom built with over 10,000 square feet of living space. Spectacular views of pristine Lake Angelus from every room. Eleven foot ceilings, hardwood floors, custom cabinetry and custom granite throughout. Mature trees, orchard and gardens. One of four vintage boathouses with full plumbing and electrical (one bedroom apartment) a truly unique property reminiscent of the older estates on the East Coast. Five bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 215003891

Metamora $1,599,900

Lake Angelus Frontage $1,499,900

Fabulous 18 Acre Private Estate Home. Six bedrooms with 5.2 baths. Newer construction in the Heart of the Metamora Hunt Area. Almost 8,500 square feet of immaculately designed perfection throughout. All electronics wired in the last two years. New furnaces, hot water heaters, additions, $100,000 lighted sports court. Fishing pond and river, beautiful views, professional landscaping. If this home does not have it then it does not exist. Ten wall mounted TVs. Upper and lower kitchens, high end appliances. Hardwoods, granite and marble. 214093798

Beautiful custom built and designed Lake Angelus lakefront home built to entertain. Breathtaking views from all the floor to ceiling windows. Fabulous new gourmet kitchen, four fireplaces and vaulted ceilings throughout. Large master suite overlooking the lake. Expansive deck and gazebo. Walk-out lower level with professional walk up bar seats ten. Sauna and open air Gunite lounge pool with waterfall. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 214092489

Lee Embrey

Equal Housing Opportunity

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248.644.7000

Bloomfield Hills $2,350,000 Magnificent Bloomfield Hills private wooded Estate located on almost two acres. This exquisite home features over 14,000 square feet of living space including indoor two lane bowling alley and swimming pool. This well designed soft contemporary is unparalleled in craftsman and designed appointments. Features include four large bedrooms, 5.1 baths, gourmet kitchen with premium cabinets, glass countertops, high end stainless steel appliances, a spectacular living room with grand marble fireplace, an unbelievable master suite with his/hers walk-in closets and sitting room overlooking indoor pool. Finished lower level with kitchen, exercise room, fireplace, sauna and great storage, professionally landscaped yard with treed deck overlooking a backyard paradise.

Bloomfield Hills $1,499,000

Bloomfield Hills $1,399,000

Magnificent David Force renovation on one of the most coveted streets in the City of Bloomfield Hills. This exquisite home features a gourmet kitchen with top of the line cabinets, stainless appliances, granite counters, hardwood floors, coffered ceilings, wainscoting and crown moldings throughout. First floor master suite with his and her closets, large two person walk-in shower and fireplace, three en-suites, three car plus garage, first floor laundry, fabulous mud room with built-in lockers, professionally landscaped with the circular drive. Walking distance to Cranbrook school. Four bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 215001938

Wonderful Bloomfield Hills Landmark Estate located on over one acre by Cranbrook Educational Community. Gourmet kitchen with premium cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, extensive crown molding and millwork, four large bedroom suites, master suite has three walk-in closets, second floor dual laundry, front and back staircases. Finished lower level with theatre room and great storage. Professionally landscaped private yard with stone patio, gas fireplace, stainless steel gas grill, pergola, bar and large stone fire pit and stone fountain.

Unparalleled craftsmanship and detail combined with great curb appeal. 215013986

John & Bridget Apap

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248.644.7000

Equal Housing Opportunity

Quarton Lake Frontage $4,995,000 Imagine owning your very own private, new construction, luxury resort, nestled on the only remaining lot in Quarton Lake with views of the waterfall, lake, park & river.

Beyond the electric gated entrance with camera and alarm system, sits this exceptional private estate. Generous open floor plan. Stunning great room perfect for entertaining shares a dual sided fireplace with elegant study. Cooks kitchen with top of the line stainless steel appliances, rich exotic wood cabinetry, walk-in pantry and command center. Master suite features a fireplace and its own private patio, spacious spa like master bath with freestanding tub, walk-in shower and beautiful custom closet/dressing areas. Approximately 8000 square feet of finished living space, walk-out lower level with climate controlled wine room, full bar area and spa/sauna.

Handcrafted mill work, impeccable materials and gorgeous architectural details throughout. Ready Fall 2015. 215012288

Quarton Lake Views $3,599,000

Birmingham $959,000

Great Lakes Custom Builder presents a East Coast Traditional Custom Luxury Home designed by Alex Bogaearts with four bedrooms, 5.3 baths with stunning panoramic views of Quarton Lake. Cooks kitchen with gorgeous custom cabinetry, top of the line appliances marble/quartz surfaces. Two story grand foyer with barrel ceiling and magnificent staircase, warm hardwood flooring, handcrafted mill work, paneled library, generous rooms. Master suite with fireplace, spacious and luxurious master bath. Finished lower level with climate controlled wine room, full bar, powder room plus additional 5th bedroom with full bath. Ready Summer 2015. 215012434

Gorgeous new construction by Great Lakes Custom Builder. Spectacular floor plan with beautifully appointed white kitchen opens to light filled great room and breakfast room. Grand foyer opens to formal dining room and library with French doors. Master suite with fireplace and built-ins, dual walk-in closets and a luxurious master bath with soaking tub and walk-in shower. Second floor laundry, generous closet spaces and hardwood flooring. Huge finished basement boasts additional living space and bar, full bath and bonus room with egress window and closet.

Landscaping, patio and fenced yard. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 215011886

Christine Drinkwater

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Orchard Lake Frontage $3,500,000 Recently reduced. One of a kind stunning lake front home with almost 9000 square feet of living space. Bosco Built 2000 French County Estate inspired with impeccable details and craftsmanship of the finest quality. Private Orchard Lake front with 125 feet of sandy frontage on 1 acre with private sanctuary. Incredible kitchen with Pennsylvania Dutch Built Custom Cabinets. Bolivian Rosewood flooring. Sumptuous master suite with marbled master bath overlooking the lake. Beautifully crafted grand stairway with custom made iron banisters. Custom trim and moldings throughout. Limestone exterior with slate roof, copper eves and limestone terrace. Walk-out lower level is perfect for relaxing and entertaining with a full kitchen and spa/lap pool room. Four bedrooms with 5.2 baths. 215002352 Presented by Michelle Yurich

Oakland Township $985,000

Green Lake Frontage $829,995

Beautiful 60.92 acre parcel in Northern Oakland Township. Two ponds and a dairy barn on property. Build your own private dream escape or divide and develop. Paved road entrance off of Romeo Road. Woods, ponds and streams make this a picturesque site to build on. Seventeen minutes from downtown Rochester, four minutes from Addison Oaks County Park, nine minutes from Ford Proving Grounds. 215002356

Almost 3700 square feet of sophisticated living space on two floors with a first floor master and walk-out to lake. This five bedroom home sits at the end of a dead end street for the utmost in privacy. Beautiful vaulted ceilings in great room with floor to ceiling fireplace give a completely open feeling to the living space.

Many updates to home including granite and stainless kitchen, heated bathroom floors, newer windows, 2010 roof, 2012 new well and 2011 new forced air heating.

Almost two acres with 424 feet of water frontage on the lake and bay. Award winning West Bloomfield School District. 25' Metal Dock. 215018499

Michelle Yurich

skbk.com

248.644.7000 Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham $925,000 Far from predictable and ordinary, an acre of land including a built-in pool and cabana, beautifully situated in the estate section of Birmingham. You will be amazed by the lush grounds and stunning setting this completely renovated house has to offer. Master suite will delight you, as will the oversized living room with limestone fireplace and French doors leading to a veranda overlooking the pool. Charm and character. Also for lease $5,000/monthly. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 215004840

Birmingham $450,000

West Bloomfield $299,900

Expect to be impressed from the minute you enter the front door. This 2012 new construction home, in the up and coming Birmingham Rail District, is everything you have been looking for, and at a very affordable price. Designer perfect decor.

Hardwood floors throughout. Second floor laundry room. Open concept kitchen and great room. Walk to downtown Birmingham restaurants, shops, and theater.

Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 215016771

Sophisticated and elegant detached ranch condo with first floor master bedroom suite located in the highly desirable community of Aldingbrooke. Rest easy with a 24-hour secured and gated entrance. Designer perfect dĂŠcor exudes elegance throughout. John Morgan granite kitchen, plus library built-ins will impress you.

Marble baths are exquisite. Finished lower level adds an additional 2000 square feet and includes a full bath and bedroom, (without a window) if needed. This one is truly special and one of a kind. Two bedrooms with three baths. 215010348

Kathy Manoogian

Equal Housing Opportunity

skbk.com

248.644.7000

Delivering over 1 Billion impressions worldwide

Sotheby’s International Realty® 2015 MaRketIng Plan JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

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JUNE

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INTEGRATED PARTNERSHIPS NYTimes.com Gallery Unit NYTimes.com Great Homes Slideshow Sponsorship NYTimes.com Mobile Carousel Unit NYTimes.com Gateway Unit WSJ.com Exclusive Social Connect WSJ.com Exclusive Real Estate Sponsorship WSJ.com iPad Mansion Exclusive Sponsorship WSJ.com Custom Partner Video WSJDN.com Global Network Video MansionGlobal.com Lifestyle Search Ownership MansionGlobal.com Exclusive Video Ownership MansionGlobal.com Homepage Featured Properties MansionGlobal.com Mobile App Sponsorship MansionGlobal.com Cover Takeover FT Distinctive Living Co-branded print ads FT.com Distinctive Living Co-branded Banners FT.com Distinctive Living Sponsorship FT.com Distinctive Living Homepage Carousel FT.com Distinctive Living Email Promotion FT.com Property Display Units FT Property Print Promotion FT.com Property Enewsletter Content FT.com Property Editorial Articles FT.com Hompeage Roadblock FT.com Launch Listings Sponsorship Bloomberg.com Editorial Units & Articles Bloomberg.com Social Connect Bloomberg.com High Net & Luxury Consumer Individual Audience Targeting AD.com Blogvertorial Sponsorship AD.com e-Newsletter Sponsorship AD.com Exclusive Sponsorship of Celebrity Homes for Sale AD.com Exclusive Sponsorship of Estates for Sale AD.com Homepage Roadblock Dwell.com Custom Sponsored Posts Dwell.com #ModernMondays Twitter Integration Dwell.com Homepage Parallax Unit with Video Dwell.com Real Estate Partner Exclusivity SEARCH ENGINE MARKETING SEARCH ENGINE MAKETING Google Yahoo!

Bing.com Yandex YouTube eGallery SIR Touch Gallery INTERNATIONAL SIGNIFICANT SALES BRAND PUBLIC RELATIONS

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Delivering Over millionimpressions impressionsworldwide worldwide Delivering over800 1 Billion Sotheby’s International Realty® ®

Sotheby’s International Realty 2015Plan MaRketIng Plan 2014 MaRketIng JAN

FEB

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JUNE

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ONLINE PROPERTY ADVERTISING New York Times Wall Street Journal Mansion Global Dwell James Edition PropGo Luxury Financial Times MOBILE ADVERTISING New York Times Bloomberg Architectural Digest Mansion Global PropGoLuxury Tatler SOCIAL MEDIA Wall Street Journal Social Connect Bloomberg Social Connect Dwell Financial Times BRAND MARKETING New York Times Wall Street Journal Mansion Global Bloomberg Architectural Digest Dwell Financial Times Financial Times China James Edition PropGoLuxury PRINT PROPERTY ADVERTISING Wall Street Journal Sotheby’s Art & Home Sotheby’s Preferred Sotheby’s New York Auction Preview New York Times Home Section Robb Report Collection Robb Report Home & Style Country Life International New York Times INYT Wrap Luxury Properties Magazine Financial Times Globe & Mail Boston Magazine Ocean Home RESIDE Regional Spring Issue Bloomberg Markets The Sunday Times

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I NV E ST ME NT

YOUR HOME IS YOUR MOST VALUABLE ASSET FOR MORE REASONS THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE. Historically, real estate has provided homeowners with their greatest return on investments, an appreciation in value that has been at times both short and long term. It is difficult to put a price on something of such significance, whether it is primary, secondary or vacation home. At the Sotheby’s International RealtyŽ brand, we firmly believe in the inherent value of home and helping our clients realize their investment goals by offering unrivalled accesss to qualified people and distinctive properties around the world.

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009 | skbk.com

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Heating w/Ductwork

Repair: $311 Replacement: $605

Dishwasher

Built-in Microwave

Repair: $127 Replacement: $515

Repair: $97 Replacement: $429

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131308

Superior Township $1,995,000 Three acre private estate with attention to detail and a floor plan that is perfect for formal entertaining or daily family life. Home offers privacy and water frontage minutes away from Ann Arbor and the Metro Detroit area. A wall of windows grants access to one of two elevated patios and overlooks the beautiful water front setting. Solid Cherry floors, granite counters, custom cherry cabinets, Viking range in alcove, butlers pantry with wine refrigerator, walk-in pantry and stone fireplace accent this light filled part of the home. Spacious owners suite with custom built-in cabinetry and private bath, finished walk-out lower level with radiant heat, three bay heated garage, beautiful solarium office with stone flooring, three story floating staircase and third floor apartment. Five bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 215019937 Presented by Chris Johnson and Bill Tracy

Northville Township $1,699,000 Motivated Seller! Majestic all brick home designed with the best use of Limestone, Hardwoods, Mahogany and Granite. Two first floor master suites, elevator, heated floors, three laundry rooms, skylights, dual stair case, sound system eight foot doors, 12 car garage and heated driveway. Open foyer and great room with soaring ceiling. Gourmet kitchen includes granite countertops, Thermador range, sub-zero fridge, island with additional sink, French door to brick terrace. Large first floor master bedroom has granite vanities, his/hers walk-in closets, large tub, steam shower and private brick terrace. First floor in-law/guest suite. Five extra large bedroom suites with private bath and walk-in closet. Finished walk-out lower level including nine foot ceiling, full limestone and granite kitchen, wet bar, family room with wood burning fireplace exercise room, billiards room, bedroom suite. Doorwalls to brick patio. Very private and secluded back yard. 214079593 Presented by Felicia Scappaticci and Bonnie Zemanski

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Lake St. Helen Frontage $1,795,000 A wonderful private log cabin retreat situated on a crystal clear spring fed all sports lake surrounded by state land, never to be built upon. Wake to serene sunrises and sensational sunsets. Home features wonderful open entertaining areas, each with stunning lake views. Great detail and thought have been put into every room of this home from the Hickory flooring to the entire Cedar interior and decor. Two stone fireplaces. Rustic bar and billiard area. Front room used as library could be additional bedroom.

Master suite features 10 x 18 closet and luxurious bath. Every bedroom with private bath. Detached garage with clock tower accommodates 6+ cars. So close to many of Michigan's finest golf resorts! Additional 82 acres offered separately, replete with 6 heated custom hunting blinds. 214065667 Presented by Jennifer Valenti

Round Lake Frontage $1,145,000 Drastic price reduction. Truly a one of a kind Mackinac manor style home reminiscent of Queen Anne architectural styling. Located on private all sports Round Lake, just minutes from great restaurants and shopping in beautiful downtown Brighton. This home boasts nearly 6800 square feet of custom lakefront luxury. Four beautiful and spacious bedroom suites that all overlook lake side of home, master has a walk-out balcony area. One of a kind two story round room that includes floor to ceiling windows/stone fireplace and a 800 bottle temperature controlled wine cellar. Extra large custom walk around veranda/porch with gorgeous extra large pillars. 193 feet of beautiful sandy lake frontage on a corner lot. Fully finished walk-out with radiant heated floors, second kitchen and game room area that leads out to brick paver patios that are surrounded by beautiful perennial gardens. 214111895 Presented by Renee Kerr

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Bloomfield $1,900,000 Wabeek Forest, soft Contemporary/Transitional home with over 6000 square feet of living space, not including the finished, walk-out lower level. Home constructed with steel beams. Home is elegantly graced with several curved walls. Superb quality throughout with extensive use of granite and marble. Soaring, two story ceiling in foyer and living room. Newer hardwood floors in living room, dining room and family room. Exciting four-story suspended staircase leading to observation tower. Large, updated kitchen with Grecian marble backsplash is open directly to family room with custom circular window and cozy fireplace setting. Vacation year round with indoor, heated swimming pool (30 x 10). Master suite with two walk-in closets. Master bath with spa like tub and outstanding large, marble shower. Enjoy the serene privacy of this wooded lot from screened in porch, custom brick patio or numerous decks. This home is a must see! 215004894 Presented by Kay Hartwell

Bloomfield $1,200,000 Beautiful custom built site condo with high-end appointments and quality built-in. Open floor plan with high ceilings and expansive windows. Every room bursts with sunlight including the lower level in this 2780 square foot home. Custom designed with extensive use of stone, hardwood floors, iron staircase and more. First floor master bedroom with his and hers walk-in closets. Walk-out lower level with high ceilings and windows, family room, exercise room, two bedrooms and full bath. Brick paver driveway. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 215000805 Presented by Dana Labes

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Walnut Lake Frontage $1,125,000 FABULOUS!! Colonial on private, wooded 1.01 acre lot. The grand entrance patio overlooks exclusive all-sports Walnut Lake with Birmingham Schools. This home features six bedrooms, six full bathrooms, whole house generator, new windows throughout, master suite is a beautiful second floor oasis with large walk-in closet and his/hers bathrooms. Other features of this home include an open loft area that overlooks the family room which is open to the country French kitchen, a beautiful sunroom overlooking the lake, full bar room on the entry level is perfect for entertaining. The fully finished lower level has a large recreation room, bedroom full bath and a garden room, stunning six car garage. Hardwood floors throughout areas on the main level, large family, living and dining room, main floor office/study is completed with its own gas fireplace. 215019935 Presented by Greg Johnston

Green Lake Frontage $984,900 Spectacular opportunity for a lake lifestyle in this Entertainers' home. 4700 square foot custom Colonial is meticulously and immaculately maintained. Attention to detail in this open floor plan that takes advantage of the spectacular south facing lake view. Home is encircled with professional landscaping, patio pavers and electric awning over patio on lake side. Kitchen contains Viking and Sub-Zero appliances, granite throughout, master suite overlooks lakefront, LED lighting embellishes the lake front side of this property. New air conditioning, furnace and hot water tank on the upper level. Lots of social activities for those who are interested, fireworks, golf outings, holiday parties, clubhouse. Green Lake is electric motoring, kayaking, sailing, fishing and swimming. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 214055950 Presented by Susan Johnson

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Adams Township $1,200,000 Relish in the serenity of this magnificent country estate on twenty gloriously manicured acres with water views out of every window. Appreciate the peace and quiet of a secluded country setting, just twenty minutes from surrounding cities. Incredible in all Michigan seasons, with summer fishing and boating on several lakes nearby, hunting in the beautiful fall colors, and skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. Watch wild life out your window. Stunning open floor plan includes 7000 square feet of living space, ultimate gourmet kitchen, 30 foot ceilings, 12 foot logs, custom railings and appointments. First floor master suite is spa-like retreat. Lower level walk-out has media room, wet bar and wine cellar. Built to last by the builder for himself with three story elevator, handicapped accessible, 50 year steel roof and energy efficient ICF 5-star R-60 throughout, making it easy to heat and cool. Additional acreage available. 214117057 Presented by Laurie Glass

Northville $999,900 Incredible opportunity to own a sprawling 11+ acre Northville Country Estate that has been lovingly maintained by it's original owners. Features include; a beautiful Ranch style home with a 44 x 26 raised covered patio that overlooks the property, finished walk-out lower level with fireplace, wet bar, indoor pool and spa, a gorgeous three story barn with horse stalls and industrial workshop, four acres of fenced paddocks and a 50 x 100 pole barn. Five bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 214020842

Presented by Mia Bardy and Felicia Scappaticci

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Bloomfield Hills $1,080,000 Extraordinary. Showcasing a 2009 award winning Architect Rob Clark, conservatory or dining room opening to a cooking terrace with built-in stainless grill, a fire pit and pergola covered hot tub terrace all on a wooded ravine setting. Interiors timeless designer kitchen/keeping room, library with cherry built-ins, master with his/her closets and the most gorgeous powder room. Exudes quality details. Three bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 215011751 Presented by Susan Lozano

Dryden $949,900 Stunning newer construction designed after "English Manor Home" in the Heart of the Metamora Hunt Area surrounded by 5.35 acres of tranquil forest. Custom built in 2002 masterpiece; mural painted walls by Gretchen Gill, 150 year old hardwood floors, marble, granite, limestone, copper, brass, Chef 's kitchen with Viking appliances.

Stone and architectural landscaping and Anderson windows, natural gas heat. Walk through the front door and feel like you are home. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths.

214111031 Presented by Lee Embrey

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Grass Lake Township $999,500

Birmingham $619,000

Rare opportunity to purchase this charming and meticulously maintained home nestled in Birmingham Estates. Open and spacious kitchen with breakfast area, large Wonderful retreat only 20 minutes West of Ann Arbor with unlimited potential, 98.5 acres of mixed hardwoods, rolling hills, farmland along with two barns with horse formal dining room, hardwood floors and antique, mahogany stained glass doors connect the living room and family room for large gatherings. Updates include central stables and fencing. Home is nestled on the property with panoramic views of two large ponds stocked for fishing. Enjoy over 8500 square feet of livable space with an air, hand-made ceramic kitchen floor tile, bathrooms and many new windows. The archways and cozy spaces speak to the era of the home. The three seasons porch and open floor plan, perfect for entertaining. This home has everything from an indoor pool, spa and sauna to an indoor shooting range and wine cellar. Great investment swing are the perfect spot to relax and enjoy. Deck, pergola, professional landscape and paver walkways enhance this large parcel. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. opportunity as acreage could be divided for residential or commercial. 214112515 Presented by Brian Dimmer 214021087 Presented by Tammy Hernandez

Bloomfield $975,000

Birmingham $899,900

Exquisite 2014 total renovation on two acre wooded lot in Bloomfield Hills.

Extensive use of wood, granite, limestone along with magnificent trim detail.

Beautifully updated kitchen with Viking appliances and sunlit breakfast room.

Lovely living room with French doors opening to paver patio and lush grounds.

Second floor master suite with new closet, private balcony and state of the art master bath. Two new air conditioning units, furnaces, Pella windows. Finished lower level. Move right into this incredible home.

Five bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 215006259 Presented by Heather Salesin

Stunning newer custom-built colonial close to Pierce Elementary, Barnum Park and Downtown Birmingham. Custom windows, doors, molding and hardwood floors. Spectacular Chef 's kitchen opens into family room. Library with French doors and built-ins. Master suite with tray ceiling and built-ins, huge walk-in closet, sophisticated master bath and en-suite laundry. Three full baths upstairs.

Lower level features full bath, workout room with daylight window and large bonus room. Beautiful covered back porch to patio. Fenced backyard. Two car garage. 214079868 Presented by Maureen Francis and Dmitry Koublitsky

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

West Bloomfield $849,900 Stunning property with all amenities of resort living and access to all sports Pine Lake! This Contemporary Ranch house offers an amazing open floor plan. High ceilings, huge window, floor to ceiling offering you a panoramic view of the astonishing back yard from every window. Chef 's kitchen with two cooking areas beautiful wood and stainless steel cabinets, granite counters, a huge island, professional appliances and cozy breakfast area. Huge master suite with extra high ceilings, large spa like bathroom and two walk-in closets. The professional landscaped grounds are showcasing a beautiful salt water pool, Koi pond with waterfalls, hot tub and a very large gazebo with built-in Tuscan pizza oven and Argentinian grill. Amazing living space in the finished walk-out basement, home theater room, sauna. First floor laundry, great closet space and three car garage. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 214056631 Presented by Silvia Stan

Rose Township $679,900

Royal Oak $599,000

Welcome home! Ten rolling acres of glorious property. Granite kitchen with top of the line appliances. Large open great room, fabulous library with two sided fireplace. Beautiful wet bar opens to family room with wood stove. Large bedrooms with custom organized closets and granite baths. Three outbuildings, one with guest suite with kitchenette, full bath, laundry and two car over-sized garage. Kennel with enclosed fence, shed with one car garage. Beautiful trails and views. Five bedrooms with four baths. 214121261 Presented by Lee Embrey

This Nantucket style Colonial home has well over 2880 square feet of living space. This custom built Town Building Company has five bedrooms, with a possible sixth bedroom in the lower level and four full bathrooms. Finished third floor bedroom and sitting area, fully finished lower level with theater, full bar, workout room, full bath and play area. Maple hardwood floor throughout areas on the main level, granite kitchen with stainless appliances, large family, living and dining room, main floor office/study is also considered a bedroom with a full closet and bath. 215017935 Presented by Dan Gutfreund

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Washington Township $649,000 A beautiful country estate set on a sprawling 2.5 acres, professionally landscaped. Four bedrooms and four baths, an additional 1000 square feet separate in-law suite.

Main floor boasts an open floor plan concept, with newly installed carpet in the great room and a gourmet kitchen that is great for entertaining! A walk-up basement that leads you to the garage with a side door exit. Basement is scheduled to be finished for an additional 1800 total finished square feet. 1500 square feet composite, maintenance free deck that was added in 2009; or watch the sunset from your wrap around covered front porch. A short drive to Downtown Rochester coupled with the country, Up North feeling makes this the perfect home. 214092004 Presented by Liz Bandstra

Gross Pointe Park $600,000

Bloomfield Hills $530,000

1927 Jacobean Revival home offers an mixture of classic architecture and modern amenities. Family/living room with hardwood flooring, large natural fireplace with oak mantle and tile surround. The sun room has the original tile floor and dual original leaded glass doors. Arched leaded glass doors welcome you to the dining room and joins the kitchen via butler’s pantry and breakfast room. Kitchen has high end stainless appliances and restored original cabinetry. Five bedrooms with direct access to bath. Maid’s quarters with private bath, bedroom, private entrance and back stairway to the kitchen. 215005305 Presented by Chris Johnson

This is an amazing opportunity in Bloomfield Hills on quiet cul-de-sac with just under an acre lot. Remodeled and appointed with the best amenities. Thoughtful design for entertaining in the kitchen, living room, family room and outdoor living spaces. Three bedrooms on the main level and fourth guest suite on the lower level. Hardwood floors throughout most. This stunning home offers the best of all worlds-close proximity to Oakland Hills Country Club, Downtown Birmingham, shopping and schools, complete with private backyard retreat.

215009991 Presented by Wendi Miller

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Bloomfield $499,000 Your opportunity to live in Bloomfield Village in this beautifully updated home. Situated on just under half acre, this home has been updated from top to bottom. New slate entryway. Glistening hardwood floors throughout. Gorgeous, inviting natural fireplace updated with new stone and tile from mantel to hearth. New iron stair railings, new interior 3-panel solid core doors, new hardware, new crown, shoe and toe moldings throughout, new recessed lighting and window treatments. Sparkling kitchen with stainless appliances including a new refrigerator. All of this, plus “Village Living� within the coveted Quarton Elementary, Derby Middle and Seaholm High School trifecta. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 214115036 Presented by Lorraine Yalman

Birmingham $499,000

Bloomfield $499,000

This charming bungalow offers great curb appeal with a timeless cedar, brick and stucco exterior. Superb home with a private setting and a surprisingly large interior. Located just four doors from Barnum park, walking distance to Pierce Elementary, and two blocks from downtown, this home has it all. Hardwood floors throughout, large windows, crown molding, granite kitchen and many more attributes. New Marvin double hung windows throughout (2014), new roof (2010), exterior paint (2010), and a great front covered porch.

Three bedrooms with 1.1 baths. 215013833 Presented by Dan Gutfreund

Magnificently remodeled four bedroom, three full and one half brick ranch located in the well coveted Oaks of Bloomfield Subdivision. This exquisite home features gourmet kitchen with premium cabinets, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, hardwood floors throughout most of home, updated bathrooms, freshly painted, great floor plan, newer carpet and an phenomenal finished lower level with granite bar, new kitchen and a full updated bath. The exterior is professionally landscaped with new deck and beautiful gardens.

215008647 Presented by John and Bridget Apap

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

Dryden $349,900 Gorgeous 6.24 acre property backing to woods. Everyday living in a Up North setting complete with breathtaking views of wildlife from every window. Large kitchen opens to huge great room with vaulted ceilings. First floor master with jetted tub and separate shower. Three full baths completely renovated. Very large bonus room soundproofed and wired for surround-sound for that perfect media room. Generous 40 x 60 heated pole barn to store all your toys with loft area and 13 foot doors. Composite decking off kitchen leads to pool. Organizers in all closets. Darling second floor craft/wrapping room. 9 foot ceilings in basement. Wired for whole house generator, new furnace and air conditioning in 2010. Three bedrooms with three baths. 215015326 Presented by Mary Gleeson-Meade

Royal Oak $359,900

Royal Oak $249,000

Beautiful Colonial remodeled in 2005 offers gorgeous updates: kitchen, bath and family rooms all spectacularly redone; tons of storage with numerous built-in features. Kitchen is fabulous with quartz counter-tops, stainless steel appliances and Italian Berloni wood cabinets. Second floor laundry as well as basement laundry. Master suite with walk-in closet, second bathroom with tub, Jeld Wen Aluminum Clad Windows, Hardie Plank Siding, Bamboo hardwood floor throughout, Central vacuum, dual furnace and air. Renovation tore down to the studs. 215016713 Presented by Maggie Moglia and Kim Fortin

Fantastic three bedroom home with lots of upgrades, move right in. Great location in Royal Oak with Royal Oak Schools. Furnace '05, water heater '08, complete chimney rebuilt '14, new concrete patio '13, new counter depth refrigerator '14. Updated kitchen and hardwood floors throughout. Finished basement and plenty of storage. Full bath in basement. Fenced yard. You will want to see this home. 215018705 Presented by Donna Barlow

skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

248.644.7000

near or far

A Full Service Relocation Department with Distinguished Connections Helping our clients navigate the world of real estate is what sets us apart.

We are unmatched in our ability to connect buyers and sellers globally.

As a primary real estate brokerage for Cartus Relocation, a global leader in the relocation industry, SKBK Sotheby's International Realty participates in servicing relocation buyers coming into our area and sellers moving out of the area every day.

This is our world.

Because a home’s appeal extends far beyond what is near.

EXPERIENCE A WORLD OF CONNECTIONS With 740 offices in 52 counties, we are all encompassing. From the enchanting beauty of France to the age-old country that is Thailand.

Our locations may be abounding, but our unique-ness remains perfectly constant.

Susan Bailey susan.bailey@sothebysrealty.com f s s k 800.458.7356 ck m 1 1 814 415 S. Old8Woodward Ave. 8 8 e a oBirmingham, l d arB d i i Michigan gan Ma48009 m i h ag

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LIKE NO OTHER YOUR HOME COULD HAVE COUNTLESS VISITORS this month, without your ever needing to open the door. To showcase your home on sothebysrealty.com, is to gain additional exposure on over 16 highly regarded websites around the globe. From the online digital network that is wsj.com, to the international luxury resource jameslist.com, introduce your home to those near and those far.

Because the more introductions, the more possibilities

This isis our our world. world.

This With views like these, you need not look further.

We appreciate the opportunity to impart the many reasons why SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty is like no other and hope that you will consider joining us in the pursuit of excellence to help carry on the vision p of artfully euniting extraortrdinary ht omes with extram ordinyary lives.

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John & Bridget Apap Fine Homes Specialists Cell 248.225.9858 japap@skbk.com

41820 Six Mile Road Northville MI 48168

LForte@mbmortgage.com

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

514 Chase Lane Bloomfield Hills | $2,299,000 on

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526 Henrietta

Bloomfield Hills | $1,499,000

Birmingham | $1,399,000

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1280 Cranbrook

1263 Brookwood

Bloomfield Village | $1,399,000

Birmingham | $989,000

John & Bridget Apap Fine Homes Specialists Cell 248.225.9858 japap@skbk.com 415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

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2600 Indian Mound

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Bloomfield Village | $799,900

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150 N Cranbrook Road

1812 S Bates Street

Bloomfield Village | $624,900

Birmingham | $624,900

Lynn Wiand Senior Mortgage Lender NMLS ID 39420

lwiand@talmerbank.com Office 248-244-4805 Cell 248.228.4805

2301 W. Big Beaver Rd, Suite 525 Troy, MI 48084

John & Bridget Apap Fine Homes Specialists Cell 248.225.9858 japap@skbk.com 415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

Hunter Roberts Homes Extraordinary Homes

Winthrop

Winthrop

New Construction

New Construction

New Construction

Quarton Lake - $1,295,000 - 3,600 sf, 4 bedrooms 5.5 baths, finished lower level

Quarton Lake - $1,295,000 - 3,600 sf, 4 bedrooms 5.5 baths, finished lower level

Bloomfield Village - $1,599,000 - 4,200 sf, 4 bedrooms, 5.5 baths, 3 car garage, finished lower level

Indian Mound

N Glenhurst

Suffield

New Construction

New Construction Quarton Lake - $2,395,000 - 5,400 sf, 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, 3 car garage, finished lower level.

New Construction Bloomfield Village - $1,895,000 - 5,100 sf, 4 bedrooms, 4.5 baths, 3 car garage, finished lower level

Quarton Lake - $2,495,000 - 5,800 sf, 5 bedrooms, 6.5 baths, 4 car garage, finished lower level, oversized lot

Covington Place

Call us for a Complimentary Market Analysis

1455 Quarton

3731 Darlington Road N

4556 Cloverdale Court

Birmingham | $649,900

Bloomfield Hillsp | $499,000

Orion Twp. | $465,000

856 Foxhall Road

2470 Wildbrook Run

6190 Lantern Lane

Bloomfield Hills | $399,900

Bloomfield Hills | $360,000

Bloomfield Hills | $275,000

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rtfully uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives.

SKBK SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

WELCOMES JUSTYNA SLABOSZ

Real Estate is my passion.

"SKBK Sotheby's was a natural evolution in my quest to offer my clients the best marketing, tools and technology in the local market.

My clients, without exception, welcomed my change to Sotheby's. I truly can offer them exposure and marketing that no other brokerage offers."

jslabosz@skbk.com

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

248-396-1968

Quarton Lake Frontage

Quarton Lake Views

Imagine owning your very own private, new construction, luxury resort, nestled on the only remaining lot in Quarton Lake with views of the waterfall, lake, park & river. Beyond the electric gated entrance with camera and alarm system, sits this exceptional private estate. Generous open floor plan. Stunning great room perfect for entertaining shares a dual sided fireplace with elegant study. Cooks kitchen with top of the line stainless steel appliances, rich exotic wood cabinetry, walk-in pantry and command center. Master suite features a fireplace and its own private patio, spacious spa like master bath with freestanding tub, walk-in shower and beautiful custom closet/dressing areas. Approximately 8000 sq ft of finished living space, walkout lower level with climate controlled wine room, full bar area and spa/sauna. Handcrafted mill work, impeccable materials and gorgeous architectural details throughout.

Ready Fall 2015. 215012288

Great Lakes Custom Builder presents a spectacular East Coast Traditional Custom Luxury Home designed by Alex Bogaearts features four bedrooms, 5.3 baths with stunning panoramic views of Quarton Lake.This exceptional home features a warm and inviting cooks kitchen with gorgeous custom cabinetry, top of the line appliances marble/quartz surfaces throughout. This timeless and classically finished home features an impressive two story grand foyer with barrel ceiling and magnificent staircase, warm hardwood flooring throughout, handcrafted mill work, paneled library, generous rooms and fabulous floor plan for entertaining and living. Large master suite with fireplace, custom closets, spacious and luxurious master bath with exquisite finishes. Finished lower level with climate controlled wine room, full bar, powder room plus additional 5th bedroom with full bath. Ready Summer 2015.

215012434

Birmingham $1,699,000 Fabulous New Construction 4100 Sq Ft, 4 BR, 4.2 BA 3 Car Attached Garage

Birmingham $1,549,000 Exquisite Details and Craftsmanship 4433 Sq Ft, 4 BR, 4.2 BA 2 Car Attached Garage

Birmingham $959,000 Gorgeous New Construction 2850 Sq Ft, 4 BR, 4.1 BA 2 Car Detached Garage

Royal Oak $670,000 Stunning Craftsman 2 Story 3190 Sq Ft, 4 BR, 3.1 BA 2 Car Attached Garage t

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Birmingham $329,000 Great location overlooking Pembroke Park 1600 Sq. Ft, 3 BR, 2 BA Detached Garage

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Troy $489,000 Inviting and Spacious 3290 Sq Ft, 4 BR, 2.1 BA 2 Car Attached Garage

Marketing a home requires unique skills, knowledge and resources that SKBK Sotheby's International Realty offers its clients. I would welcome the opportunity to offer you a confidential marketing analysis.

Christine Drinkwater

Associate Broker

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415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

248-318-4745 cdrinkwater@skbk.com

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rtfully uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives.

SKBK SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

WELCOMES WENDI MILLER

Wendi understands the complexities of the real estate market; as a result, she collaborates with others and handles challenges with creative solutions, allowing your transaction to run smoothly and efficiently as possible.

“SKBK Sotheby's International Realty offers my clients the best marketing, technology and exposure no other brokerage offers.”

wmiller@skbk.com

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

248-568-9881

SKBK Sotheby's International Realty and Lorraine Yalman... a superb alliance!

Moving. It's generally one of the biggest milestones in our lives. Choosing your realtor - a partner to be by your side - is a huge decision on this significant part of life's journey. It's not just about how many tens of millions in real estate we sell. It's about having our focus on you, and being right by your side as you make one of the biggest financial and often emotional decisions you'll ever make.

And, yes, it is about expert marketing, negotiating, unparalleled success and insights - and having a brilliant company behind you.

Top 5% of Real Estate Agents In The Metropolitan Detroit Area

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Lorraine Yalman Residential Specialist 248-425-7426

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

lyalman@skbk.com

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FACES Eliana Margherio ith more than half a million students living in poverty in Michigan, Marian High School student Eliana Margherio and a handful of friends recently started Trends for Teens, a non-profit organization that aims to provide clothing, shoes and other items to increase disadvantaged students self-esteem and sense of belonging.

"I liked the idea of helping teens," Margherio said. "My first idea was to have a store, and I wanted to have it stocked with donations and have (students) come in and out as they needed items."

Working with her friend, Emily Prokop, at Cranbrook Kingswood High School, Margherio said they began exploring the idea of gathering donations for students in need. However, they quickly realized that providing the donations to local students who need them would be a challenge. That led them to begin working with John Zaraldo, CFO of Lighthouse, in Pontiac, and Carol Turpin, president of the Pontiac School Board. Eventually, they came up with the Trends for Teens store, which recently opened in the International Technology Academy (ITA) High School in Pontiac.

"We met with an ITA student, and we were asking her what the best way to present it to students would be," Margherio said. "We were told getting into Pontiac, that they don't want your help as charity. She said the best way to make it happen is to make it so the students have to work for it."

The store is an in-school resource so students have immediate access to like-new clothes, free of charge.

However, the stores include both needs and wants, which allows students to set personal goals with their counselors and teachers to be achieved. Once a goal has been reached, the student receives "T4T Cash," which can be used as money in the store for items they earn.

The idea stemmed from an internship last summer where Margherio worked for her aunt in Boston and her non-profit organization, Cradles to Crayons. When Margherio returned home, she began looking for a way to help teenagers in her own area.

"It wasn't what I envisioned at the beginning, but it's been a great learning experience to see how a business model can change, and how it changes as you get other people's input," Margherio said.

While Margherio said getting donations from local teens wasn't challenging, she said pitching the idea to students at the ITA high school was "nerve wracking." Margherio and an advisory board of other students from Marian, Cranbrook and Brother Rice, went from class to class pitching the idea.

Today, the Trends for Teens store offers several items, including clothing, purses and jewelry for the girls, while the majority of the boys indicated they wanted sweatpants, she said.

Based on the success of the program, Trends for Teens will roll the program out in other schools in southeast Michigan. As for continuing the program, Margherio, a sophomore at Marian, said she hopes her younger siblings will want to continue helping with the program.

"The idea is to have it be a requirement at Marian and Brother Rice for the National Honor Society," she said.

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Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Jean Elliott

“WE’VE CRACKED THE CODE” See how at: arterrarealty.com/code

Maureen Conwell 248.787.4612 La Positano was voted the Best idea ShowHouse at the Ultimate Homearama in Oakland Township. The 7,165 sq. ft. modern Italian Villa boasts 7 awesome outdoor rooms, a spectacular Great Hall, organic greenhouse and more.

La Positano is priced at $2.6 million.

MLS 214101165 Inquire about $100,000 corporate lease-back option.

Vito Terracciano 248.835.4796

Only 10 heavily-wooded sites are available for custom estate building by Arteva Homes.

Homesites range from 1.01 acres up to 2.70 acres. The gated community features a 120’ long bridge overlooking Vhay Lake and a natural wildlife preservation area. Barton Hills represents the last remaining sites of their kind in the City of Bloomfield Hills.

Homes priced from $2.5 million.

A select number of sites are available for custom building by Arteva Homes in Oakland Township.

A professionally attended gatehouse enhances the privacy of this pristine 100-acre sanctuary with its woodlands, ponds and waterfalls.

Brian Szliter 248.835.4796

Award-winning idea ShowHouse is available for sale! Over 7,000 sq. ft. of absolute luxury including finished lower level with indoor sports court. Professional grade kitchen with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances. Open daily for viewing.

Mike Mason 248.762.5180

The Sinclair is priced at $1.8 million.

MLS 215003570 Inquire about $200,000 corporate lease-back option.

Homes priced from $1,850,000.

MLS 214124982 The developer is extending an exclusive landscape credit up to $125,000 for a limited time.

Unbelievable value in Rochester Hills! Located off Avon Rd., between Rochester and John R Rds. New community showcasing Arteva Homes’ amazing Yacht Series plans. Premium daylight and walkout lots available.

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Homes priced from the low $400,000’s.

MLS 215003572

Call us today if you’re in the market for buying or selling a home.

248.731.0048 arterrarealty.com 439 S. Main Street, Suite 102, Rochester, MI 48307

MUNICIPAL Retirement fund reviews begins

By Lisa Brody

A study session for the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees with several representatives of Prudential Insurance representing Prudential Retirement and the township’s defined benefit pension plan for township retirees seemed to raise as many questions for trustees as they tried to respond to concerns raised at the meeting on Tuesday, March 10.

Concerns arose in December 2014 that the defined benefit pension plan has been underperforming for the township, forcing the township to make significant capital investments to make up the shortfalls.

Township treasurer Dan Devine had prepared a set of 18 questions for Prudential for the December meeting, but Prudential was unable to attend.

They provided written responses at this meeting, but appeared unprepared to be interrogated on those responses.

Prudential representatives focused on the current benefits being paid out to township retirees, emphasizing that they are guaranteed and the township must maintain that guarantee and cannot be eliminated, that rates fluctuate which is why the amount of money required from the township fluctuates, that they received about $825,000 in 2013, and that it shouldn’t be a surprise to township trustees because Devine receives a letter prepared by them on a monthly basis stating what the shortfall is.

The shortfall information is not included in the board packets for trustees to review.

Trustees and officials were especially concerned about how the township assets are invested, and why Bloomfield Township has never been informed.

“Is there information available for the way our assets are invested?” trustee Neal Barnett asked.

Prudential responded no, which led township supervisor Leo Savoie to ask “What is the asset allocation of the Guaranteed Deposit Account (GDA)? How do we review that?

Where is it written in stone that the GDA is this, this and this or something else?”

An official speaking by conference call responded that it was a diverse fixed income portfolio which included commercial mortgage loans, different downtownpublications.com

First meeting for financial advisory panel fter months of discussion, Bloomfield Township held its first financial sustainability committee meeting on Tuesday, February 24, with the ultimate goal to send out requests for proposals (RFP) to companies or individuals who can determine the sustainability of the defined benefit program and equity investment plans the township hold, and to recommend them to the township board of trustees who will make the final determination.

Per approval by the board of trustees at the January 12 meeting, the financial sustainability committee is an an investment advisory panel to make recommendations to the board on all investments held by Bloomfield Township. The concept of an advisory committee was proposed last year by supervisor Leo Savoie following both controversy over fees charged by an investment advisor and the news that one of the township’s investment funds was requiring substantial annual contributions from the township to remain solvent.

The first order of business was choosing a chairperson for the committee, comprised of Savoie, treasurer Dan Devine, finance director Jason Theis, trustee Brian Kepes, Dave Petoskey, Joe Moynihan and Sean Smyth. In accordance with other boards and committees in the township, Savoie recommended the chair not be a member of the township board, and he nominated Petoskey, who was unanimously approved.

Devine explained, “The gist of the financial sustainability committee is that, not to say there is anything wrong – we need to stay on top of it going forward. The spirit of what we are doing here is, are there best practices we could be doing for the plan when it is done, 50 years in the future.”

He provided committee members with a list of candidates who could possibly receive RFPs for reviewing the defined benefit program, held by Prudential Insurance. The committee will create the RFP language, which the township board would approve before the RFPs are sent out.

“Dan, I want to be clear,” said Savoie. “When you refer to defined benefit plans, you’re talking about the 60 percent held by Prudential, and the 40 percent held by the equity accounts (by Gregory J. Schwartz & Co.).”

“Yes. No holds barred,” Devine replied. “We’re looking at what’s in all the defined benefits plans.”

“I understand it’s all the investments, and not just the defined benefit plans,” countered Kepes.

“As we go forward, the defined contribution plan will get larger and larger, and the defined benefit plan will be smaller and smaller,” Savoie said. “The first order of business is the defined benefit plan. We can do them both simultaneously.”

Moynihan asked who was going to develop the RFP, and Devine said the committee would. Moynihan and Petoskey both said they can provide standards which already exist in the industry. Since Theis just finished bidding out the township’s audit work, he was to provide information from that process, and committee members were to talk to him and Devine for information.

The committee will next meet on Tuesday, March 10, when they will observe a presentation by Prudential Insurance to the board of trustees.

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than a regularly managed portfolio account.

“My understanding is that back in 2000 to 2005, Prudential was one of the biggest originators of (commercial mortgage) paper, and it was one of the largest entities for buybacks, write downs, etc., to get out of that. If you suffered severe losses, how does it impact our returns? I don’t have any understanding of how we got

here,” Savoie said.

According to a document prepared in 2013, the Bloomfield Township defined benefit pension plan was established in 1961 to set aside funds to provide retirement benefits for qualifying full-time employees. It was reviewed in 2005 by Devine, who, along with former supervisor Dave Payne, recommended that the township continue with the defined

DOWNTOWN

benefit plan, although at that time it was closed to new employees. The plan has covered as many as 279 active participants and 491 total participants. When the plan was closed to new participants in 2005, there were 275 active and 476 total participants. As of January 1, 2013, the plan was down to 213 active participants and 473 total participants. The invested amount is approximately $120 million.

Over the years, there have been varying rates of risk assigned to the investments. Savoie said that in 20012002, when interest rates were beginning to fall, former township supervisor Dave Payne and Devine went to the township trustees and informed them it would be best to diversify from fixed investments to equities in order to “get the best of both worlds,” he said, and they moved one-third of the investments into equities.

As early as 2004-2005, Savoie said, the fixed portion was not meeting the 7-8 percent projections Prudential had forecasted as needed to fund the benefits, only coming in at 5 or 6 percent. “Prudential came back and said we’re not meeting our projections, and we’re going to have to put more money in,” Savoie recounted. “An outside firm said, if you contribute $5.2 million per year for the next 20 years, your plan will be fully funded. And that’s what our board agreed to do. It was scheduled in our budget. Then in 2010-2011, Prudential came back, and said, ‘we’re not going to make 7 percent.

The actuaries think we’re only going to make 4.25 percent. You need to contribute $10.3 million.’”

In late 2012, when Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill to permit municipalities in excellent financial shape to borrow money to fund pension liabilities and take the money to invest, the township thought they had found the solution to their financial shortfalls. Savoie said they expected to earn, based on actuarial projections, about 9 percent over the long term, on the equity investments for the $80 million bond, invested with Gregory Schwartz & Company, and 4.25 percent on the fixed portion, invested with Prudential.

“When you blend the two, you earn about 6.25 percent. At that rate, the plan is fully funded, and we did in mid-2013,” Savoie said. “Fast forward to late 2014, and we learned the fixed portion (Prudential) is only making 107

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2.5 percent, so we have to make continued contributions on top of a lot of retirements going on.”

Trustee Brian Kepes pushed further, noting the portfolio has 10 percent real estate. “What is our fixed income? Is our account audited?”

He was informed that the plan was not audited, but Prudential as a company is audited.

Dave Petoskey, chairman of the township’s financial sustainability committee, asked Prudential how many other municipalities have similar defined benefit pension plans, and they responded about 120.

“What was it five years ago? Are people starting to unwind from these?” he asked. He was told there were about 140 five years ago, and that they manage tens of thousands of municipal accounts.

Township clerk Jan Roncelli countered to them, “You have 120 contracts, and we’re one of the oldest you have, and I don’t ever remember you coming to us and saying, ‘If you do this, or tweak that, you could save some money.’ I have insurance and other companies coming in to me every year to say this is outdated, and here is how you can save money.

You’ve never come to us. You’ve never said this is an outdated system, and let’s try to rework this.”

“We’ve done everything you’ve ever asked every step of the way, and when we ask questions, you say you’d lose the Prudential guarantee (for retirees),” Savoie said. “Well, I’d rather have Bloomfield Township’s AAA-rated guarantee.”

“What would the cost be to terminate the contract?” Kepes asked. While there is only a small fee, plus 30-days written notice, the township would have to pay almost $150 million to guarantee the pensions of retired employees receiving benefits.

“But we have $70 million to $80 million for the defined benefit employees,” Savoie said. “I don’t even want to go there. It will be very emotional. I’m not ready to get into the termination process.”

“I want to know fees or expenses, because it will take time, and with 2017 coming up,” when union negotiations will take place, Kepes said.

“I think we’re on the right course,” Devine countered, noting that despite having to transfer $15 million out of the equity account in 2014, it is already back up to $77 million. downtownpublications.com

Gas station location heavily contaminated Birmingham commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to a special land use permit for a new Shell gas station and Dunkin Donuts on Woodward because the site shows significant contamination from the previous Citgo gas station.

A 24-hour Shell gas station with a convenience store and Dunkin Donuts store at 33588 Woodward at Chapin in Birmingham was unanimously approved by the Birmingham City Commission in November.

Instead of completely demolishing the previous building, the existing building will be renovated with an addition, with new gas pumps, canopies, landscaping, new egress, completely new facade and all new interiors.

However, when the new property owner, Scott Barbat, submitted brownfield costs for reimbursement, Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker told commissioners that the former Citgo site “showed significant contamination, and the plan showed some contamination with vapors and other contamination. The city attorney suggested bringing the special land use permit back to put in language to provide for further clean up.”

She said the Michigan Department of Environment Quality has flagged the site and the previous owner as being responsible for the cleanup.

“There’s concern not only about the contamination on the site itself but how far it has flowed offsite into the alley,” Ecker said. “MDEQ has agreed to some funding for further investigation on Chapin and in the alley. The applicant has agreed to do more testing for soil gas testing to see if there is a problem inside the building.”

Barbat’s attorney spoke to the commission and said, “Under current law, the current owner isn’t liable for cleanup. This special land use permit would bind the owner. The owner has agreed to the conditions,” and will pay what is needed for cleanup.

Ecker said the property owner is fronting the money for cleanup, and in return is getting future tax credits.

Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the amendment to the special land use permit to allow for the cleanup.

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Bloomfield Park decision postponed

By Lisa Brody

New parking panel will be appointed

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham city commissioners on Monday, March 16, unanimously approved the creation of an ad hoc steering committee to determine how to move forward with the city’s parking shortages, after accepting the Ad Hoc Parking Study Committee’s recommendations that there are significant parking shortages in both the downtown area and the Triangle District.

After nine months of study, Birmingham engineer Paul O’Meara reported the parking study committee’s findings, having taken counts in the city’s five parking structures at peak hours over various months on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, between noon and 2 p.m. He noted there were seasonal differences. “Several months of the year were way above, some were below,” he noted.

The committee also looked at how to divide up the downtown area if people could park wherever they wanted to, rather than where they had to. “The Pierce, Park and Peabody structures have a lot of square footage, but not a lot of spaces. The Chester and Old Woodward structures have less square footage, but a lot of spaces,” O’Meara said.

On the north side of the downtown area, there is currently a parking deficit of 278 spots on the north side, with a greater shortage, of 480 spots, in the southern area of downtown.

“We only have two large pieces to expand,” he noted. “The Pierce Street structure, by the way it was designed, can expand two floors. On N.Old Woodward, the surface lot known as parking lot number 5, adjacent to the Old Woodward structure, in the Downtown 2016 Plan, it suggests expanding Bates Street, building a mixed use building with first floor retail, adding parking over it, and extending parking. It’s something we need to explore, but this committee didn’t get too into that.

“This committee acknowledges the parking shortages, and would direct staff to explore the options in the north area and endorse increasing the Pierce Street structure by two floors,” he said.

In the Triangle District, he noted

the numbers are difficult to predict because the hoped for buildings are not yet there.

“In the grand scheme of things, we’d have a parking structure in the north side and one in the south side.

The north area of Maple and Woodward is already experiencing a parking shortage. We believe the north area needs about 400 spots.

The south area is less defined, about 600 to 700 spots. We’re asking the committee to endorse the findings, and direct staff to pursue opportunities in the district for consideration, and further extend the parking assessment district north of Maple Road to include all commercial properties from Woodward to Adams,” O’Meara said.

“I thought the group did a great job for us to go forward with,” said commissioner Gordon Rinschler.

“I agree. The committee defined the what. Now we have to figure out the how,” mayor Stuart Sherman said. “Next we need a committee to implement this. I think it would be good to have a resident (on it), maybe one with a finance background.”

Commissioners unanimously approved accepting the findings of the Ad Hoc Parking Study Committee, to consider the parking system’s overall parking demands and to prioritize them in the downtown area, to determine the parameters of an expansion at the N. Old Woodward structure including a Bates Street extension, and the Triangle District parking recommendations, by a vote of 6-0, with George Dilgard absent.

Triangle District decision delayed After a lengthy public hearing, Birmingham city commissioners postponed adoption of a development plan and tax increment financing (TIF) plan to create parking for Birmingham’s Triangle District on Monday, March 16, in order to wait until Oakland County has finalized its guidelines on TIF arrangements.

Birmingham Planner Jana Ecker explained that the city adopted a plan for the Triangle District in 2007, and set up a Corridor Improvement Authority in 2008, which has met at least annually since then. She noted that the Triangle District, located south of Maple Road, east of Woodward, north of Lincoln, and

The Joint Development Council between Bloomfield Township, the city of Pontiac, and Oakland County met on Thursday, February 19, to pick the third member of the council to join Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie and Pontiac Mayor Dierdra Waterman, but delayed their choice until a candidate can be contacted.

Savoie, Waterman, James Sabo of Wade Trim, a civil engineering, planning and surveying firm used by Pontiac, and township planner Patti Voelker met to choose between two remaining candidates for the position from an original pool of seven qualified candidates. Treasurer Dan Devine, a former representative, also attended, although he is not currently part of the panel.

The two candidates considered were Dennis Cowan of the Bloomfield Hills law firm of Plunkett Cooney, where he is a member of the real estate/transactional and governmental affairs practice groups; and retired Judge Gene Schnelz, now of counsel to the Birmingham law firm Schnelz Wells, specializing on conducting mediations and arbitrations. Cowan was at the meeting, answering questions from meeting attendees regarding the position and his point of view. Schnelz did not attend, and it was learned that he is out of the country and unreachable until April 1. Schnelz had not filled out a questionnaire sent to all candidates, so it wasn’t determined if he is interested in the position.

After interviewing Cowan, Savoie made a motion to have Cowan appointed the third member of the Joint Development Council, but Waterman objected, saying it was insulting to a man of Schnelz’ stature to not let him respond to the candidate inquiry, and permit him to recuse himself from the process.

While Waterman did not formally object to Cowan, he formerly had served as the state-appointed Emergency Financial Manager to the city of Pontiac.

On Tuesday, February 10, the joint development council met and winnowed the initial group of seven down to four. Two remaining candidates, Denise Lewis of Honigman, Miller, Schwartz & Cohn, and W. Anthony Jenkins, from Dickinson Wright, both withdrew from contention due to conflicts of interest.

The council will be equipped to accept and vote on development plans for Bloomfield Park. The council was revived in October 2014 by Matt Gibb, Deputy Oakland County Executive for Economic Development and Community Affairs, when he came before the township board of trustees, announcing that a sale of the property was imminent, and requested they consider reviving the Bloomfield Park Development Council and appointing a township representative.

Trustees unanimously voted to appoint supervisor Leo Savoie as the township representative to the three-member development council, with township clerk Jan Roncelli as alternate. Previously, treasurer Dan Devine had served as the township representative.

Shortly thereafter, Southfield-based real estate development company REDICO announced they had acquired the foreclosure judgement and mortgage rights to the Bloomfield Park project, on 87acres on Telegraph Road north of Square Lake, which was abandoned during construction in November 2008. Early plans for the development call for it to be a mixed use development.

REDICO will work with the council on their development plans. In order to proceed, a majority vote from the Joint Development Council is required to approve plans submitted for Bloomfield Park. A unanimous vote will be required to approve plans that change the original development agreement.

During its previous incarnation, the Bloomfield Park project property was annexed by Pontiac, and an agreement gave the city of Pontiac control over city services such as police, fire, water and sewer.

Pontiac has jurisdiction over 78 acres of Bloomfield Park, while 5 acres of the project are in Bloomfield Township. Oversight and taxing jurisdiction are shared by the two municipalities.

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west of Adams, is filled with numerous private surface parking lots, “causing a deterioration of the pedestrian environment.”

The goal in creating a tax increment financing plan, which allows a city or other taxing authority to capture the increase in value of properties for the purpose of setting it aside for a major construction project, such as public parking, is to have economic growth, she said.

“We had to hit bottom and have properties stabilize,” Ecker said. “If you want to use 2014 property values in our calculations, we must lock this in by the fourth Monday in May. Or if you want to wait for All Seasons to come online (in June), they will be on the 2015 tax rolls.

“We have created a development plan in an underutilized destination, to live, work, shop and recreate,” Ecker said. “Worth Plaza is at the heart. We want to activate the district with more first floor retail. We want the surface lots to go away, encourage unique architecture. We’ll need a variety of parking, including public and private structures.”

downtownpublications.com

In order to facilitate necessary growth in the Triangle District, city officials say two public, or public/private parking structures will be needed, one in the northern area, likely by Maple and Woodward; and the other in the southern area.

In the northern area of the district, there is a need for about 400 parking spaces; in the southern, about 700 spaces. The preliminary cost to acquire land, set up provisions for building two structures, and to build them is $37.2 million.

“The development plan looks at several areas you could put parking right now,” she said, and while certain sites have been identified as possible, they do not call for what configuration they would be. “The TIF would not be the sole stream of income. It could also come from the general fund, parking assessment funds, or a corridor improvement fund. But by using existing commercial properties, no one and no residential properties would be relocated or knocked down.”

By adopting the plan before the

end of May, the city can begin collecting the tax capture in July 2015. There would be no tax increase to individual residents or businesses.

City manager Joe Valentine said the city has had several meetings with Oakland County, and they are waiting for comments back from them.

He further explained in response to some residents’ questions, “Instead of the funding (for parking) coming from the general fund, it’s coming from the growth in the city.”

Commissioner Scott Moore, in favor of establishing the TIF, said, “I think we have to see what we’re going to do for the next generation of citizens of Birmingham. It’s an economic tool. It works. We’ve used it before. It’s good for what we’re trying to create here in Birmingham.”

Valentine recommended commissioners postpone their decision to adopt the development plan and tax increment financing plan until they received guidelines from Oakland County, and commissioners unanimously agreed.

DOWNTOWN

Township passes 2015-16 budget The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved its fiscal year 2016 budget at its meeting on Monday, March 9, following a presentation by finance director Jason Theis.

The 2016 budget begins April 1, 2015 and goes through March 31, 2016.

Theis said the 2015-2016 taxable value is estimated at $3.3 billion, which is a 3.2 percent increase from 2014-2015. The total budget is estimated at $41.5 million, up from $41 million last year. It is expected the township will see a 3.2 percent increase in property taxes, to $30.8 million from $29.8 million in 20142015.

The township will receive a 2.5 percent increase to the constitutional state revenue sharing, improving the bottom line. In 2013-2014, Bloomfield Township received $3 million from the state of Michigan in revenue sharing, and 2013-2014, received $3.1 million.

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The new budget estimates receiving $3.2 million.

On the expenditures side, all fulltime employees will receive a twopercent wage increase in the new budget year. There is a four-percent increase in healthcare premiums for employees and a six- percent increase in healthcare premiums for the three retiree plans.

The budget assumes the January 1, 2015 Defined Benefit Plan Actuarial Report from Prudential Life Insurance will not require an annual contribution, Theis report stated.

Theis explained that three township funds account for 80 percent of operational funds, the general fund, which is the major operating fund for the township, with most departments going through the general fund. The 2015-2016 budget has a $9.8 million general fund.

Several major revenue sources flow through the general fund, including property taxes, state revenue sharing, franchise fees and investment earnings. Two property tax millages help support the general fund, currently totaling 2.2928 mills.

The public safety fund, which had two of its four millages renewed last year, is the largest of all expenditure funds, deriving 90 percent of its revenue from property taxes, Theis said. Property taxes also fund the general fund and road fund. In this budget, the public safety fund is estimated at $26.3 million, up from $25.7 million in last year’s budget.

The third largest fund in the township is the road fund, at $4.1 million, against $3.9 million in the 2014-2015 budget. Theis said they plan to hire another individual to staff the buildings and grounds department.

One decrease the township will see is in cable studio PEG fees, which will decline by $180,000 due to a new contract with Comcast, where PEG fees will drop from 3 percent to 2 percent.

Trustees unanimously approved the budget, 6-0, with Corinne Khederian not in attendance.

Vendor bidding process reviewed Bloomfield Township department heads are now reviewing the process of how, when and which vendors should have their contracts bid out, according to township supervisor leo Savoie in an update to the township board in early February. downtownpublications.com

City golf courses improved in 2014

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham city commissioners unanimously accepted the 2014 golf review and 2015 prospectus from golf pro Jacky Britto at their meeting on Monday, March 16, after Britto informed them that the municipal golf program had increased over $200,000 in revenues from 2013.

While the 2014 season began slowly due to record-breaking snowfall last winter, Britto said that officials were pleased to report they had a net operating income of $212,367 in 2014, which was an increase of $144,118 over 2013, or 211 percent.

Birmingham owns two municipal golf courses, Lincoln Hills Golf Course, located at 2666 W. Fourteen Mile at Cranbrook Road, and Springdale Golf Course, located at 316 Strathmore Road. They are each nine-hole courses open seven days a week during the season, with availability for residents, non-residents and businesses via inexpensive leisure passes. Memberships were up slightly for 2014, 760 for 2014 over 2013’s 750, although residents’ memberships were down, 1,733 in 2014 from 2,007 in 2014.

“We do have a strong marketing effort, with a mailing, going on,” Britto told commissioners, in an effort to increase membership for the 2015 season. Non-resident and business membership did increase slightly in 2014, she pointed out.

Of the two courses, Lincoln Hills generated a net surplus of $183,560, although rounds were down by almost 1,500 rounds, due to weather, including summer floods. Springdale generated a net surplus of $28,807, with over 1,500 less rounds due to weather. The increase in revenue is attributable to more successful management of expenses, with an overall decrease of 17 percent, Britto said, as well as an increase in food and beverage revenue. Beer and wine sales were introduced in 2012, and combined with improved food, revenues were $51,396 in 2012. For 2014, total food and beverage revenue increased to $75,534.

Junior golf is another area Britto said the program is successful, with 438 participants in 2014 generating $82,400. “Every year we listen to our parents, and make it a little more fun,” she said.

Britto said the goal of the golf staff is to open the courses this year April 1, weather permitting.

“Jacky has put together her own staff, and she is going after some neat stuff,” said commissioner Scott Moore. “It’s a great product. Those courses are second to none as far as municipal courses go.”

Savoie said that currently any contract less than $35,000 is exempted from board approval, as are professional services, including engineering services to the township and contracted attorney services.

Engineering has been performed by Hubbell, Roth & Clark, since the early 1950s, Savoie said, and attorney services, at an hourly rate by Secrest Wardle.

“Other than insurance, HRC is our highest vendor, at $1.4 million in 2014,” Savoie told trustees. “The engineering department does comparative work with other engineering departments, and we have the lowest factor. HRC has historic data. They know where all the undergrounds are. They know where everything is. As for Secrest Wardle, we have a no-bid professional contract with them, and their hourly rate is extremely reasonable. It’s

about money, but it’s also about our professional relationship.”

Savoie said one contract they are now looking to bid out early this year by seeking a request for proposal is for the township’s audit services. “We have had our audit company for about 15 years, and the year end is March 31,” he said.

Treasurer Dan Devine strenuously objected to the change. “The policy has not been changed with the auditor. Someone has that change for an RFP without board approval. Are we going to be able to vote on the contract? A lot of these people we do business with don’t even have a contract. I don’t even know what we’re paying for our attorneys or HRC. “If we’re going to go out to bid, then people would know if they’re doing business with Bloomfield Township they have to go out to bid,”

DOWNTOWN

he continued. “I think it opens the door for abuse or that you’re not sharing what you know.”

“If the board instructs me to go forward with these three or four nonservice companies, and they want to go out to bid, we will send out RFPs,” Savoie responded. “As for the auditor, all you had to do is go online to our website to see our criteria.”

Trustee Brian Kepes said, “I’m concerned about some of the things that aren’t here. Like Gregory J. Schwartz & Co. They’re clearly earning more than $35,000 a year.

They’ve earned that much in fees – the treasurer was told about it but not us. I’ve asked for the audit to go out to bid. Whether we go with the current provider or not, I think it’s healthy.”

“I don’t think it’s healthy for you to give us updates. It puts us at a disadvantage and it’s confrontational,” Devine said.

“Leo should be commended for putting this out there in the supervisor’s update. It’s the first time in the 11 years I’ve been on the board,” said trustee Neal Barnett.

“I’m confused because this is how we have handled contractors in the township, Dan,” trustee Corinne Khederian said. “I don’t understand why it’s suddenly an issue. Leo has an open door policy. You’re right next door. He’s there all day, every day.

Also, what’s troubling is your stating on the record you don’t know what we’re spending. How can you not?

You’re the treasurer.”

Savoie stated he will want to seek out bids and RFPs from Prudential Insurance Company, Gregory J. Schwartz & Co., “this is just the starting point. These are all vendors who have been in place for years and years, prior to my becoming supervisor. We go out to bid through our department heads, not the board.”

Student jewelry competition starts What has become a highly competitive competition among creative area high school students, the annual Jewelers of Birmingham High School Jewelry Competition is once again open for submissions in order to receive monetary prizes and have their pieces showcased at downtown Birmingham jewelry stores in April.

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Griffin Claw expandsion approved

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment to a special land use permit for Griffin Claw Brewing Company to expand its outdoor dining area, add a new entrance to the back of their building, build an accessory building, and put up a canopy over their loading dock, despite opposition from neighbors at the commission meeting on Monday, February 23.

Birmingham Planner Matt Baka told commissioners that elements of the proposal for Griffin Claw, located at 563 and 575 S. Eton Road, in the city’s Rail District, include expanding the popular outdoor dining beergarden in nice weather, adding four beer style tables and some high top tables, as well as enclosing an accessory building for barrel aging and putting a canopy over their loading dock.

“In order to do this they will have to remove 18 of their parking spots,” Baka said. Even by removing the spots, the microbrewery would meet the city’s parking requirement. It was noted that an original 40-seat vodka tasting room was never opened.

Griffin Claw currently has 96 parking spots; with the reduction, they will have 76. They also have a mutual agreement with neighboring Robot Garage to utilize 16 parking spots.

Norm LePage, owner of Big Rock Chophouse and The Reserve, whose wife Bonnie owns Griffin Claw, said, “One of the things we have always endeavored to do is work with the neighborhoods. I was unaware we had a problem. We would increase the focus on the (new) back entryway. We will begin tomorrow putting table tents on tables telling people not to park in the neighborhoods. We also would require our employees to park in (The Reserve) structure, that would probably eliminate about 15 cars on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. We also have an agreement with the Whistle Stop (on Eton) where people could park there.”

LePage asked commissioners if the city could stripe Palmer Street to put in four to five additional spots. He also said they would hire someone for the parking lot to advise customers to park at Robot Garage and Whistle Stop.

Mayor Stuart Sherman and Birmingham Police Chief Don Studt noted that since Griffin Claw opened in 2014, there had only been four police calls for parking issues, two of which were for flat tires and one for a parent dropping a child off at the bus.

Commissioner Scott Moore pointed out that part of the problem “is Eton has become a four-way road. Something has to be done.

(Fixing it) will also act as a jump start to the Rail District.”

He instructed residents who had come to the commission meeting, “Part of the Corridor Plan is to develop three different Birminghams. Part of the solution is for the neighborhood to wrap their mind around permitted parking. It works. You will see great incentives for people to invest in their neighborhood, to invest in the district.”

Resident Brian Renner said, “It is unacceptable that Griffin Claw does not provide enough parking for its patrons.”

Commissioner Mark Nickita disagreed. “The discussion about shared parking is an important discussion. This area, which is made up of different users because of its industrial background with their own lots, is limited on street parking. This is a different animal and needs different solutions. There’s only going to be greater needs for (shared parking). For those who have parking and noise complaints, we have an extremely attentive police department. We don’t know there are problems if you don’t call.”

Commissioners unanimously approved the requested amendments, with the conditions that LePage arrange for shared parking, provide for someone in his parking lot to direct traffic to the shared lots and structure, inform patrons not to park in the neighborhoods and have employees park in the structure.

Commissioners then voted to send Eton Road to the city’s MultiModal board to be studied.

invited to enter their original jewelry creations in the Jewelers of Birmingham High School Jewelry Competition to compete for recognition and monetary awards.

First, second and third place winners of this year’s competition will receive prizes of $500, $250 and $100 each, respectively.

The Jewelers of Birmingham is an organization of jewelers within the downtown Birmingham’s Principal Shopping District (PSD) dedicated to promoting jewelers and the jewelry arts in the community. This competition has been sponsored since 2006.

The student work will be on display at participating downtown Birmingham jewelers from Friday, March 27, through Saturday, April 11.

The public will help determine the winners by voting on Facebook until 5 p.m. April 13. The winner of the “People’s Choice Award” will win special prizes donated from area merchants. The awards ceremony will be held on April 17th at The Community House in Birmingham.

Participating Jewelers of Birmingham stores featuring student creations are Astrein’s Creative Jewelers, Barbara Boz Boutique, Darakjian Jewelers, David Wachler & Sons, Greenstone Jewelers, Grinstein Jewelry & Design, Heartwear Designs, Legacy Jewelery, My House of Style, Schubot Jewellers and Wachler Estate Collection.

Supervisor clarifies public bid policy After what he said was some confusion at the February 9 board of trustees meeting, Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie wanted to clarify the township’s purchasing policy and soliciting of public bids during a supervisor update at the board of trustees meeting on Monday, February 23.

During an update at the February 9 meeting, Savoie said that currently any contract less than $35,000 is exempted from board approval, as are professional services, including engineering services to the township, and contracted attorney services. At that time he also announced that the township’s audit services had gone out to bid, after finance director Jason Theis had requested it.

At that point, treasurer Dan Devine strenuously objected on the grounds that the full board of trustees had not

approved the request for proposal (RFP) permitting it to go out to bid.

“I don’t think it’s healthy for you to give us updates. It puts us at a disadvantage and it’s confrontational,” Devine said.

“Leo should be commended for putting this out there in the supervisor’s update. It’s the first time in the 11 years I’ve been on the board,” trustee Neal Barnett responded.

On February 23, Savoie said, “At the last meeting I was at a disadvantage regarding the purchasing policy. It reads, ‘The board of trustees shall solicit public bids.

Those bids shall be given by the department heads.’ I asked a legal opinion from our attorney Bill Hampton, and no where does it say that before it goes out to bid it has to go before the board of trustees.

“I’m going to continue to work the same as it’s been done for the last 50, 40, 30, 20 and 10 years, and have department heads put contracts out to bid, and then bring it to the board,” he said.

He continued, “The other thing is, regarding purchasing contracts, it stands mute as to who has the power to approve contracts. Based on our previous supervisor (Dave Payne) and past policies, everything has been that the supervisor approves the contracts, not the board.”

“We want to help set policy, not to do your job,” said trustee Dave Buckley. “The board should discuss a stepped approach and how best practices are done with other communities. It was not to say that everything should go out to bid and everything should go through us. It’s that the process should be reviewed because right now there is no process.”

“The whole thing is the comparative bidding,” Savoie said. “I know what law firms are billing West Bloomfield, Independence Township, Birmingham. Are your law firms within the ballpark? I get calls all the time from insurance companies wanting to bid our work.”

“I think our vendors know there aren’t any sacred cows. It’s a balancing act. It’s a wise idea to have a long term contract, as long as you’re getting value,” trustee Brian Kepes said. “I applaud the department heads for actively looking at this.”

“I can assure you that when the services aren’t good, we hear from the departments,” clerk Jan Roncelli said.

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New audit firm chosen for 2015 Bloomfield Township trustees, with the exception of treasurer Dan Devine, approved the hiring of UHY International as their new vendor for auditor services on Monday, February 23, after bidding the work out.

Finance Director Jason Theis informed trustees that in late 2014, as the board had begun discussing professional services provided to the township, one of the services is the annual audit of financial statements.

“With a March 31 fiscal year end, we needed to act fast if we were going to do anything for 2015. I expressed concerns that in order for us to possibly replace our auditor, we had to begin. Request for Proposals (RFPs) were sent out in January for the fiscal years 2015-2019, and we received six proposals back. We did not have any recent comparative pricing or bidding to refer to, and in the past two to three years, we’ve had multiple firms asking for the opportunity to bid.”

While the township has used Jenkins, Magnus, Volk & Carroll (JMVC) for the last 26 years without the work being bid on, Theis said he was recommending the township switch its services, based on the RFP bids, to UHY. “Cost was not the only factor. It’s best not to go with the cheapest, and not to go with the fanciest proposal,” Theis said. “I was trying to meld all of the things together and that is why I chose UHY.” UHY proposed a fee for 2015 of $39,500 for 400 hours of work. If a single audit is necessary, it would be an additional $5,000. Second choice was Plante Moran, with a proposed fee of $48,500 for 430 hours for 2015.

JMVC proposed $55,755 for work for 2015, not specifying hours, the same amount they charged the township in 2014.

Treasurer Dan Devine asked Theis if the hours exceed 400 hours, what would happen to the audit price, and Theis said that all of the firms answered that the hours were an estimate and the firms would absorb the added costs, unless the township hadn’t properly prepared their documents.

Representatives from UHY assured trustees they have performed well over 70,000 downtownpublications.com

municipal audits, including Detroit Fire and Police in the recent bankruptcy, Detroit Public Schools, Hazel Park, Southfield, River Rouge, Grosse Pointe Woods, Indianapolis, University of Michigan, Lawrence Technological University and Soaring Eagle Casino.

Trustee Corinne Khederian confirmed the contract price would stay the same for the next five years, and Theis said it would.

“I have nothing against UHY; I just object that professional services are exempted from bidding, so I will be voting against you,” Devine stated.

“We need to clarify – professional services are not subjected to the bidding process, but our attorneys have determined they are not prohibited from bidding their services,” said supervisor Leo Savoie. “There’s nothing against taking anything to the board.”

Trustees voted 6-1 to approve the auditing services of UHY for 2015, with Devine voting against.

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Theater, restaurant seek liquor license The owner of the Emagine Theaters came before the Birmingham Planning Board on Wednesday, March 11, requesting a special land use permit and final site plan review to allow a movie theater, bar and restaurant serving alcohol in the former Palladium Theatre space, but consideration was postponed until April 8 because not enough information was provided to the board.

Paul Glantz, owner of Emagine Theaters, requested a transfer of a Class C liquor license from the former Buca di Beppo at 270 N. Old Woodward to Emagine Palladium Theatre and Ironwood Grill, located at 250 N. Old Woodward in the Palladium Building. Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker wrote in a memo to the board that the assignor of the license, The Palladium of Birmingham, LLC, the owner of the building, is assigning the license to CH Birmingham, LLC, also known as Emagine Palladium and Ironwood Grill inside Emagine Palladium. It will be owned by the owner/operator of Emagine Royal Oak and Cloud Nine Theater Partners, owner of the Maple Theater in Bloomfield Township. Emagine

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MORTGAGES FROM CHARTER ONE owns and operates seven other movie theaters, with a total of 84 screens.

Ironwood Grill is a casual restaurant in Plymouth which works in partnership with Emagine Royal Oak and Emagine Macomb.

According to Matt Baka, Birmingham Planner, Ironwood Grill would be a separate restaurant on the fourth floor of the Palladium Building, where the theaters will be located, but theatergoers will be able to have food ordered and delivered to their seats in the movies, as well as priority seating at the restaurant.

Emagine Palladium Theatre is planning on introducing a new membership model, which Glantz said as far as he knew, will be the first in the country. Patrons will need to buy a yearly membership in order to purchase movie tickets, and all individual seats will be reserved for a specific date and time. The theater seats will all be luxury recliners and luxury rockers. Compared to the former theaters, which were large auditoriums accommodating up to 2,200 patrons, the new theater will have five small theaters with 590 seats.

Ironwood Grill is proposed to offer upscale casual dining with 198 seats, including 17 seats at the bar, an exhibition brick pizza oven kitchen and open air dining overlooking Hamilton above the theater marquis. The Plymouth location, owned by Landon Garrett, offers assorted appetizers, soups, salads, wraps, sandwiches, burgers, smokehouse entrees, pizza, draft beer and a full bar.

Liquor licenses renewed for 2015 Three Birmingham restaurants with outstanding tax or water bills, and a bistro which has not complied with all of the original conditions for its special land use permit, were supposed to face a public hearing on Monday, March 16, in order to receive a renewal of their liquor licenses, but each cleared up outstanding issues prior to the public hearing, and their liquor licenses were renewed for 2015 without discussion.

All Birmingham restaurants with Class C liquor licenses, which include all of the city’s bistros, the Townsend Hotel with a Class B liquor license, and Griffin Claw Brewery, with a downtownpublications.com

microbrewery license, had their 2014 licenses reviewed, with their 2015 licenses pending. Birmingham Clerk Laura Pierce said that there are currently 32 Class C licenses, and that each year, police, fire, Oakland County Health Department and the Michigan Liquor Control Commission perform inspections at each establishment. If there are any violations, she said, staff is willing to work with them.

Originally, she said, there were eight Class C liquor establishments in the city which had outstanding tax and/or water bills. She said that 220, Cameron’s Steakhouse and The Stand had all cleared up their previous balances, while Rojo Mexican Bistro and Tallulah’s Wine Bar and Bistro had either made payments or arrangements to pay their balances.

“There are three who have not contacted the city with outstanding amounts for water and taxes,” Pierce said. “We will schedule a public hearing and if they take care of their bills before the public hearing, it is cancelled.”

The establishments with delinquent water and/or tax moneys due the city were Bistro Joe’s, Cosi, and Dick O’Dow’s. Commissioners unanimously approved resolutions for a public hearing on March 16 for each to appear before the commission, but at that meeting, mayor Stuart Sherman announced that each had paid their outstanding balances.

“The other issue I have is one of our bistros, Social (Kitchen & Bar), hasn’t complied with their SLUP (special land use permit), and we can’t get them to cooperate, and it’s been going on for two years,” said mayor Stuart Sherman. “I would include them also.”

Commissioner Mark Nickita agreed. “We approved five trees and uplighting. It’s three trees and no uplighting. I’m all for bringing them in. If it’s not done, we have to address it.”

Commissioners unanimously approved bringing Social before the commission and tying renewal of the liquor license to their completing their SLUP. Sherman and Valentine met with Social owners Jim Bellinson and Zack Sklar, who after lengthy discussions, resolved to immediately complete the terms of their SLUP.

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Andrew Miller loomfield Hills native Andrew Miller was a standout hockey player at Cranbrook Kingswood High School, earning the name "Mr. Hockey," after leading the school to its second consecutive state title in 2007. Miller has played professional hockey for the Oklahoma City Barons, where he is amongst the AHL's top scorers. He was called up to the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers on March 18.

"I've been fortunate to have had a lot of good coaches growing up," Miller said. "As a young player, having a good coach is always beneficial.

Having good people around you to let you know what you might be doing well, or wrong, is good in hockey or any aspect of life. Andy Weidenbach has been the coach (at Cranbrook) since 1994. He's a really great coach, and really good at developing players. He's most of the reason that Cranbrook has turned out so many good players."

During his high school career, Miller also played for the USHL's Chicago Steel, leading the team in scoring during the 2008-09 season with 32 goals, 50 assists in 58 games. In 2009, Miller went on to play for Yale, playing in all 34 games his freshman year as a Bulldog. He went on to be named captain of the team, where he was the second highest scorer in his sophomore and junior years, later leading scoring in his senior year and winning the first national title for the school in its history.

When Yale swept the WCHA in the West Regional finals, it was Miller's overtime goal that took the game against Massachusetts-Lowell, one of the highlights that still stands out in Miller's career.

B

"I scored the game winning goal in overtime of the Frozen Four, met some great friends, won a couple state championships and was Junior Player of the Year," Miller said when asked about some of the personal highlights of his time on the ice. "Each step along the way there have been some great accomplishments that I can look back and be proud of."

Miller, whose mother is a nurse and father works as the dean of admissions for Cranbrook, is the first in his family to pursue a career in professional sports, something he began to realize in his high school days.

"I played a lot of lacrosse in high school, but I also loved hockey," he said. "My sophomore or junior year, that's when I knew I could be a good hockey player, and I knew I could fit in. I kept improving every year and kept trying to make it to the next level, and go on from there."

Playing professionally allows Miller more time to focus on the game.

He's also learned how to pace himself to play more games than in college.

"There are plusses and minuses to every job, but I enjoy it and love it, and hopefully it takes me places. It's nice to have a degree to fall back on," he said.

As to what he will do with his political science degree and sports experience, well, that's not something Miller is contemplating just yet.

"I have no idea," Miller said of what he would be doing if he wasn't playing hockey. "I spent my college career hoping I was going to play after."

Story: Kevin Elliott

EDUCATION School bond vote on May 5 ballot

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham Public Schools are asking residents to approve a $66 million bond proposition on Tuesday, May 5, designed to provide funds to the schools for building and site upgrades, technology improvements, instructional upgrades, and safety and security improvements without increasing the tax rates of residents.

The bond, a 20-year issue, would provide the district with funds earmarked for necessary improvements to instructional spaces, buildings and sites, technology, and safety and security while maintaining the existing school debt levy at 3.9 mills, or a zero increase of the debt millage rate currently paid by taxpayers.

The last bond request was approved in 2003, and superintendent Dan Nerad said they would be able to retire it if this millage passes and not have to increase because of current low interest rates. If it passes in May, bidding and work would be able to commence over the summer months.

If the new bond issue is not approved, then the previous bond issue tax rate would drop to 3.35 mills effective July 1 of this year.

If passed, the school bond would provide 40 percent of its funding to building and site upgrades, where a significant number of infrastructure needs in the district’s 13 schools have been identified. The district is looking to make building and site upgrades, including door, window and floor replacement, upgrades to HVAC, plumbing and electric, and roof upgrades, as well as to provide energy savings.

Thirty-three percent of the bond funds are earmarked for technology upgrades, which the board says are critical for students to interact and compete in a global environment. In addition to technology replacements and upgrades in instructional spaces, the district’s building and network systems will be upgraded.

Instructional improvements and upgrades will receive 22 percent of designated funds, based on a needs assessment conducted in 2014 by the administration, in order to maintain functional and appropriate downtownpublications.com

instructional spaces. Upgrades would encompass technology, including student devices, interactive projectors, whiteboards, sound amplification systems, and other items in classrooms; and upgrades for improvements to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) classrooms, high school performing arts spaces, collaboration spaces and furniture replacement.

In a continuing effort to provide heightened safety and security, 5 percent of the bond money would be used for school entrance restructuring in every school with new secure vestibules with A/V access control systems. Other safety upgrades would include replacing fire alarm systems, PA systems, and adding ADA ramps.

“We are only focusing on our priority one needs. We backed off all of the priority two and three needs,” said Nerad, nothing that all of the district’s buildings come to nearly 2 million square feet.

The bond is a 20-year proposal, although the technology portion is expected to be implemented in the early years of the bond. Nerad noted that technology has a short lifespan and must be replaced.

“Kids have resources in this community. On some days, about 4,000 bring a device to school. There are a lot of mobile devices (either smartphones or tablets). We’re not yet at pitching towards BYOD (bring your own device), but we need more contemporary devices and replacements for our computer labs,” he explained. Further, he said, the new state assessments are all computer dependent and older equipment is not compatible.

While several schools had significant renovations in the last decade, where work wasn’t done, roofs need replacement, doors and windows need replacements, as well as other critical maintenance work that cannot be put off, and will necessitate dipping into operating funds if the bond is not approved, Nerad said.

As for safety and security, while only a small percentage of the bond, Nerad and other school officials note it is a critical piece in light of Newtown and other school shootings. Each building will have

new secured entry vestibules created with A/V controlled accessed.

If the bond fails, Nerad said the district will have to look at returning to the voters a second time.

“All of these are needs that would be done over time. These are legitimate needs,” he said.

Chemicals cause school incident

By Kevin Elliott

More than two dozen students and staff at an elementary school in Birmingham experienced a painful rash last week determined to have been caused by cleaning agents used in a bathroom at the school, a school official said.

Birmingham Public Schools spokeswoman Marcia Wilkinson said 23 students and five staff at Pierce Elementary School reported experiencing a rash on the backs of their legs and bottoms. The incidents, she said, were first reported on Wednesday, February 25, and continued through the school week. No additional reports of rashes were made after Friday, February 27, she said.

"According to those who saw a physician, it would be consistent with a chemical burn," Wilkinson said.

A number of students and staff at the school began reporting a painful rash on February 25. An investigation indicated that the rash was caused by a cleaning agent used in the bathrooms at the school. Wilkinson said the both boys and girls suffered from rashes, as well as adults. She said there hadn't been any changes in the cleaning agent used to clean the bathrooms, and that the chemicals were sent out for testing. An analysis of the chemicals took about a week.

"There was no change in anything," she said of the cleaning agents. "We are wondering if there was something wrong with this particular batch of chemicals, or if it wasn't used properly."

Wilkinson said the school's principal has been in communication with parents during the outbreak and investigation.

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Elyse Cantor ranbrook graduate Elyse Cantor is 24 years old, but she could easily pass for either 16 or 26. That's a good thing for the aspiring actress, who is pursing a career in Chicago. She will return to Michigan to shoot her latest role.

"I'm jealous of Emma Stone and Emma Watson," Cantor said, of the actresses' abilities to play a wide range of ages. "I feel those are roles I could do well in, and they always do such good jobs. I've never played anyone older than 21."

Cantor, who grew up in Bloomfield Township, didn't immediately study acting after graduating high school. Her background was in dance before attending the University of Michigan for a degree in film.

"The way I looked at it was that if you're a dancer, you're always going to be a dancer. If you're a singer, that's a narrow range. But, acting could employ them all. That was kind of a goal when I was young."

This year, Cantor will play the role of Katie in the movie "The Sons of Summer," which will be filmed on the west side of the state and is set to be released in 2016. She has also had a number of other roles, in "The Life and Death of an Unhappily Married Man," and "Spoiled Fruit," as well as several short films, including "Tall, Dark and Handsome," "No Future," and others. Her roles range in style, but comedic roles seem to come naturally to her.

"I was always such a ham. It was a little ridiculous," she said. "I actually didn't study acting. I took drama in high school growing up. I was into dance

C

since I was about two-years-old, but I didn't take any drama classes until high school. But that's what I ended up going with. I was always the performer."

While Cantor said she always felt like she would be an actress, the idea seemed almost far fetched. Instead, she focused on dancing, attending Miss Barbara's Dance Centre in West Bloomfield. After high school, she went to the University of Michigan, where she studied film. As the first in her family to pursue a career in entertainment, she said has always been pleased from the support her family has given her.

"I think I always knew what I wanted to do. I had this talent where I felt that I could be anyone. I wasn't brave enough after high school, especially after Cranbrook. It seemed like a crazy move with so much emphasis on academics," she said. "My family has never been unsupportive. Everyone went out of their way, especially my aunts and uncles. 'As long as you're happy, we are happy,' they said. Everyone knew that's where I was headed, and they wanted me to follow my dreams."

As to what other career fields Cantor said she would like to pursue, she said she hasn't given it much thought. “My grandpa asked if I had a back-up plan," she said. "But having a back-up would only make this number one plan feel less real. If it's not your number one, and you’re not putting something into it, then you can just as easily fail at something you don't want to do."

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Kohl Murdock

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Private, wooded 1 acre site surrounded by $1M+ homes.

1st floor master with deck.

Finished walkout LL. Heated lap pool. Gardens.

4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 6,497 Square Feet MLS# 214093656

We’ll help you find a new place to “land” this

spring...

East Coast brownstone estate on 1+ acre. English garden entry. Amazing design elements.

Master suite with sitting area.

3 covered porches.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 225 Beach Drive | $169,900 3 Bedrooms 1 Full, 1 Half Baths 1,263 Square Feet MLS# 214093295

Vacation all year with this one-of-a-kind home on Cranberry Lake! Stone fireplace. Views of the lake & beach from 3-season porch.

We've been the Top Listor of the Year and among Top Producers at Hall & Hunter Realtors for the last decade and named Hour Detroit Magazine’s Real Estate All-Stars – the top 5% of Michigan realtors with the highest sales volumes.

Call us today for a FREE Market Analysis!

For more information, visit LynnandDeby.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Meredith Colburn Associate Broker

248.762.5319

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1390 Kirkway Road | $4,500,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 9,544 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215006601

Luxury abounds throughout this stunning 2005 Tobocman contemporary on nearly 2 acres overlooking Lower Long Lake. The foyer opens to an expansive great room accented by wall-inset gas fireplace, domed sky lights and floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views.

Gourmet kitchen leads to the family room with handsome built-in cabinetry and fireplace. Luxurious first-floor master suite has travertine master bath and two custom walk-in closets. A glass tile-enclosed indoor pool highlights the walkout lower level with large rec area and full kitchen. Entry and lower level laundry. 230 feet of lake frontage. Co-listed with Cindy Obron Kahn

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 917 Mitchell Court | $1,580,000 5 Bedrooms 5 Full, 2 Half Baths 7,657 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 214109827

Phenomenal 2005 brick and stone stunner on a private landscaped site with saltwater pool. Brazilian cherry wood floors accent the entry level. Family room has floor-to-ceiling windows and 2-story fieldstone gas fireplace. Gourmet kitchen. Master suite with luxurious stone bath, gas fireplace and private Trek deck. Additional bedrooms are suites with private baths. Finished walkout lower level has a 5th bedroom, full bath, kitchen/bar, movie theatre, exercise and rec rooms. 4-car garage.

For more information, visit RandsColburn.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Meredith Colburn Associate Broker

248.762.5319 MColburn@HallandHunter.com

BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 366 Waddington | $1,030,000 - UNDER CONTRACT 5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 4,232 Square Feet MLS# 215015495

Sophistication and charm seamlessly blend in this renovation and expansion of a Bloomfield Village classic. Rich hardwood floors, plantation shutters, French doorways and detailed millwork are featured throughout. A stunning gourmet kitchen has an oversized granite island and professional stainless steel appliances. The luxurious Master Suite exceeds all expectations, with two expansive, custom walk-in closets. His and Her spa-like marble baths have sleek wood accents. Four additional spacious bedrooms, two full baths and a laundry nook complete the upper level. Finished lower level. Private, fenced yard. Heated garage.

BIRMINGHAM 890 Redding Road | $589,000 3 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 2,413 Square Feet MLS# 215012151

Charming Cape Cod on an incredible, expansive lot in Quarton Lake Estates. Hardwood floors, coved ceilings and inviting living spaces throughout. Master suite is a private retreat with a sitting alcove, sky lights, and recessed lighting. Living Room features built-ins bookshelves, natural fireplace with fluted wood mantle and surround sound speakers. Beautiful dining room with artisan pendant light fixture and sconces. White kitchen with ceramic tile back splash. Heated, enclosed 4-seasons sun room. Finished lower level adds considerable living space to the home, with a rec room and temperature-controlled wine cellar. Quarton Elementary.

The Real Difference in Real Estate

An Extraordinary Agent...

Providing Extraordinary Results

BLOOMFIELD 3950 Franklin Road | $8,750,000

BLOOMFIELD 1390 Kirkway Road | $4,500,000

Magnificent stone French manor on Lower Long Lake Immaculate gardens and grounds on 2.5 acres

Fabulous Tobocman contemporary Luxurious first floor master suite | Co-listed with Meredith Colburn

FRANKLIN VILLAGE 25001 River Drive | $2,950,000

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 325 Keswick Road | $2,599,000

DesRosier designed 10,000 sq. ft. Contemporary Private 5-acre setting | Warm wood, glass & stone throughout

Gracious French manor Impeccable details and craftsmanship of the finest quality

BLOOMFIELD 4857 Dover Road | $2,499,000

BIRMINGHAM 2300 Avon Lane | $1,500,000

One-of-a-kind estate with sophisticated open floor plan Designed & expanded by award winning Ron Rea

Hunter Roberts Homes new construction with classic architecture Extensive trim details and quality workmanship

For more information, visit CindyKahn.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Cindy Obron Kahn Realtor

248.568.7309 Cindy@CindyKahn.com

BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 235 Westwood Drive | $1,399,000

BLOOMFIELD 3846 Lincoln Road | $1,395,000

BIRMINGHAM 395 Berwyn | $1,340,000

New construction with private master suite & spa bath Outstanding craftsmanship & high-end materials

Wonderful 4500 sq. ft. new construction Beautiful 1+ acre lot with mature trees

Hunter Roberts Homes new construction Desirable location | Entertain on three levels

BLOOMFIELD 3727 Franklin Road | $1,299,000

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 300 Woodridge Road | $1,295,000

CLARKSTON 7835 Foster Road | $995,000

Completely renovated 1890 lakefront farmhouse Additional Lower Long Lake parcel included

Stately colonial on 1 acre corner lot Spacious rooms, tall ceilings and open floor plan

Private 32+ acre country estate Acreage can be split for future development

BLOOMFIELD 4684 Kiftsgate Bend | $949,000

TROY 4209 Ravenwood Court | $899,000

BIRMINGHAM 583 Southfield Road | $599,000

Extraordinary Hills of Lone Pine detached condo Light-filled contemporary with many unique amenities

Lovely brick and stone 4450 sq. ft. home Premium kitchen opens to bright family room

Private 1/2+ acre in walk-to-town location Master suite with large custom walk-in closet

TOP PRODUCER 2005-2014

TOP 1% OF REALTORS NATIONALLY

TOP AGENT 2012-13

2011-14

$40 MILLION SOLD IN 2014

Adam Waechter Associate Broker

313.801.8018 akwhallandhunter@gmail.com

LAKEFRONT

BACK VIEW OF HOME

BLOOMFIELD 6855 Colby Lane | $3,249,000 5 Bedrooms 6 Full, 2 Half Baths 12,845 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215015511

NORTHVILLE 17990 Mission Point | $1,598,000

Spectacular 3.93 acre estate 4 Bedrooms built by Mosher Dolan & 4 Full, 2 Half Baths designed by Art-Harrison.

7,263 Total Sq. Ft. Master suite retreat. 4000 MLS# 215013928 sq. ft. lower level.

Exquisite custom home on Stoneridge Lake. Views of lake & pool. Oasis master suite.

Walkout LL. Outdoor BBQ/ kitchen, sandy beach & dock.

BIRMINGHAM 530 Townsend Street | $1,424,000 2 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,384 Square Feet MLS# 214122654

Luxury in-town townhouse with magnificent details & light-filled rooms. Elevator to all levels. 5 fireplaces.

Heated 3-car garage.

Co-listed with Ryan Wolf

LAKE

ACCESS

BLOOMFIELD 928 Bloomfield Knoll Drive | $1,250,000 5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 4,985 Square Feet MLS# 215016491

Custom Bella home on culde-sac. 1st floor master with mini-kitchen & 2 fireplaces.

Granite cook’s kitchen.

Finished LL. 4-car garage.

BLOOMFIELD 749 Kensington Lane | $575,000 5 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 3,375 Square Feet MLS# 215017451

Tranquil setting with 1st floor master leading to deck.

1st and 2nd floor laundries.

Finished LL. 5-car garage.

Whole house generator.

BLOOMFIELD 5380 Wing Lake Road | $574,900 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 4,068 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215011267

Updated (2012) home on 1.69 private acres. Chalmer Lake access & swimming privileges. Large kitchen with fireplace. Finished LL.

Co-listed with Ryan Wolf

For more information, visit AdamWaechter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Nanci J. Rands

Meredith Colburn

Associate Broker

Associate Broker

248.701.9000

248.762.5319

NRands@ HallandHunter.com

MColburn@ HallandHunter.com

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 5635 Wing Lake Road | $2,895,000 4 Bedrooms 5 Full, 2 Half Baths 6,065 Square Feet MLS# 214049852

On a hilltop overlooking Wing Lake, this property was restored and expanded in 2001 to create a breathtaking combination of traditional and contemporary design. Decorative elements from the 1920s merge seamlessly with modern architectural details. The grand foyer has a soaring rotunda and leads to the original living room with fireplace, beamed ceiling, and decorative frieze that depicts Edsel Ford’s transcontinental Model T journey. The chef’s kitchen offers a large octagonal granite island and top-of-the-line appliances. Master suite on entry level has spa-like bath. Wine cellar. Finished lower level.

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 675 Hillcrest Drive | $2,495,000 6 Bedrooms 7 Full, 1 Half Baths 6,758 Square Feet MLS# 214096401

Spectacular estate property on 3.73 lushly landscaped private acres just off Vaughan Road. Refined living and entertaining spaces complete with large pool, spa, tennis court and all-sports court. Gracious entry foyer leads to herringbone wood-floored living and dining rooms. Updated island kitchen is open to spacious informal dining. Exercise room and large sunroom overlook back lawn and pool.

Master suite with cathedral ceiling and updated bath. 1500 sq. ft. guest house offers living room, studio kitchen, laundry, loft bedroom and expansive deck. 3-car garage. Fabulous opportunity!

For more information, visit RandsColburn.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Ginny Fisher Realtor

248.593.0518 GFisher@HallandHunter.com

BIRMINGHAM 734 S. Bates Street | $2,200,000 5 Bedrooms 6 Full, 1 Half Baths 4,913 Square Feet MLS# 215001343

French Manor home with dramatic elliptical staircase.

1st floor master. Beautifully detailed lower level. Lovely gated yard & paver patio.

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 253 Marblehead Drive $995,000 or for lease at $3900/month 5 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 4,694 Square Feet MLS# 215022328

Acre+ setting in prestigious Rudgate sub minutes from Cranbrook. Oversized kitchen.

Screened Florida room.

Finished walkout lower level.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1772 Heron Ridge Drive | $1,699,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 7,385 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215005629

Private, gated enclave on gorgeous ravine setting with serene views. Finished walkout LL with possible 5th bedroom. 4-car garage.

BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 1379 Dorstone | $1,050,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,809 Square Feet MLS# 215012667

Beautifully renovated home on 3/4 acre garden setting.

Island kitchen with marble.

1st floor master retreat with dual baths. Expansive patio.

- NEW PRICE -

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP 2562 Sequoia Ct. | $775,000 5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 3,848 Square Feet MLS# 214125231

Private setting deep in sub.

Great room opens to patio with stone amphitheater-style seating. Expansive master suite. Finished lower level.

FRANKLIN VILLAGE 27065 Crestwood Drive | $719,900 3 Bedrooms 3 Full Baths 2,791 Square Feet MLS# 215022663

Renovate or build your dream home on 3+ private acres. River at far back, pond & barn. Existing home is solid mid-century modern.

For more information, visit GinnyFisherHomes.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Holly Geyer Realtor

248.506.7345 HGeyer@HallandHunter.com

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 571 Edgemere Court | $1,995,000 5 Bedrooms 6 Full, 2 Half Baths 9,206 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215017360

Gracious estate in the heart of Bloomfield Hills. This elegant and immaculate home is situated on 1.5 acres of private and beautifully landscaped grounds backing to Cranbrook. Luxurious details and moldings with exceptional quality finishes throughout, including Palladian custom French doors in living room and family rooms, both opening to large brick paver patios. The gourmet island kitchens opens to family room for easy and comfortable entertaining. Five custom fireplaces. All bedrooms have private baths. Enjoy outdoor living by the gated in-ground pool surrounded by lovely, lush landscaping.

BIRMINGHAM 2215 Avon Lane | $669,000 4 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 2,734 Square Feet MLS# 215018755

Classic and charming colonial home on a large, private fenced corner lot in a beautiful neighborhood. Features include a wonderful kitchen with spacious breakfast room opening to family room with fireplace, a 16’ x 12’ sun room and brick paver patio. Formal dining and charming living room with fireplace. Hardwood floors throughout. Convenient 1st floor laundry. Four large bedrooms, plus a master suite with generous closets and updated bath. The nicely finished lower level adds 1000 sq. ft of living space.

For more information, visit HollyGeyer.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009

248.644.3500

Erin Keating DeWald

Amy Zimmer & Tiffany Glime

Realtor

248.469.6430 AZimmer@HallandHunter.com

248.259.3544

248.930.5656

Erin@ErinKDeWald.com

TGlime@HallandHunter.com

SALE PENDING

BIRMINGHAM | $799,000 1331 Cedar Drive | 1331Cedar.epropertysites.com 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 2,818 Square Feet MLS# 215011310

Turn-key newer construction with sophisticated modern influences blocks from downtown Birmingham. Great indoor and outdoor living spaces.

Custom Berloni kitchen with large island. Finished lower level. Attached 3-car garage and gated drive.

SALE PENDING

BIRMINGHAM 784 Westchester Way | $539,000 4 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 2,273 Square Feet MLS# 215015720

Charming Colonial on a great street! Elegant master retreat with new luxurious master bathroom.

Refinished hardwood floors throughout. Open kitchen to family, dining and living rooms. Recently finished basement. Spacious lot with large backyard.

ROYAL OAK | $210,000 825 Mohawk Avenue | 825Mohawk.epropertysites.com 3 Bedrooms 2 Full Baths 1,050 Square Feet MLS# 215022382

Fantastic renovated bungalow with lots of charm!

Chic updated kitchen. Hardwood floors. Upper level Master suite. Lots of high-tech features. Finished lower level. Fenced yard and oversized detached garage with separate meter.

For more information, visit HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009

248.644.3500

Kelly Small

Kelly Moody

Realtor

Realtor

248.631.8750

248.884.8440

KSmall@HallandHunter.com

KMoody@HallandHunter.com

FARMINGTON HILLS 34179 Ramble Hills Drive | $799,000 5 Bedrooms 3 Full, 4 Half Baths 6,823 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215019963

Executive home in a quiet neighborhood. Recently renovated granite/stainless eat-in kitchen with built-in coffee/cappuccino center. Lavish office with wet bar features lavatory & private entrance. Large master. Walkout LL with kitchen. 4-car garage.

BIRMINGHAM 477 Lake Park Drive | $2,250,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 5,225 Square Feet MLS# 215016801

Spectacular French Normandy Tudor overlooking Quarton Lake. Designer-appointed with updated custom finishes, Pewabic tile and plaster moldings.

John Morgan chef’s kitchen. Master suite featuring an 18’ x 18’ closet. Beautifully finished lower level.

For more information, visit HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

CENTER FOR

WEALTH EDUCATION

ALL ABOUT REAL ESTATE Wednesday, April 22, 2015 6:00-8:00pm Light refreshments

➢

➢

➢ Teach Connect Help

No charge.

Registration required. www.tchserves.org 248.644.5832

BUSINESS MATTERS Streetside annniversary Streetside Seafood, located at 273 Pierce Street in downtown Birmingham, first opened its doors to a discerning group of fish lovers in 1995. Now, owner Bill Roberts and his crew at Roberts Restaurant Group will celebrate its 20th anniversary this April. The intimate spot was originally Richard & Reiss, a small cafeteria-style café that served muffins, croissants, espresso and cappuccino each morning and sandwiches and salads at lunchtime.

Roberts purchased Richard & Reiss in the fall of 1983. He eventually applied for and received the last of the original 17 liquor licenses available in Birmingham and added table service, complete with dimmed lights and tablecloths, in the evening. “For many years, we were a restaurant with two faces,” said Roberts. “Casual cafeteria-style food by day and then finer dining with beer and wine in the evening.” Then, sensing a change in the marketplace in 1995, Roberts gutted the restaurant, added a small bar and created Streetside Seafood, which he describes as a “casual little joint with quality oysters, seafood and wine.”

It’s undergone several renovations since 1995, but Streetside has stood the test of time and remains a favorite among neighborhood seafood lovers. For the last five years, Streetside has been recognized by Wine Spectator with an Award of Excellence for its wine list. To celebrate its 20th anniversary, Streetside Seafood is giving away $100 gift cards to each of Roberts Restaurant Group’s six restaurants.

Each time a guest visits Streetside during the month of March, they can fill out a card and be entered into a drawing that will be held in April.

One winner will receive $600 in gift cards good toward Streetside Seafood and its sister restaurants, Beverly Hills Grill, Bill’s, Cafe ML, Roadside B&G and Town Tavern.

Tailor expanding Sewing seeds of success, The Birmingham Tailor, located at 139 W. Maple, Suite H, recently purchased a 500 square foot suite in the same building to add on to its existing storefront. “Our business is growing,” explained Birmingham Tailor owner Ali Cheaib of the reason for the expansion. “We have more customers, so we want to bring in more machines and tailors to keep the downtownpublications.com

quality up.” Cheaib noted that when renovations were completed the first week of March, customers had the opportunity to enter through a different door. Renovations were expected for the fitting rooms as well.

Second Social Kitchen Birmingham’s Social Kitchen and Bar will open a second location next fall at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market at 435 Ionia Ave SW, in Grand Rapids. “Downtown Market actually came to me – us, the company – first, but as soon as we saw the space and experienced the community pride, it was over for us,” said chef and owner Zack Sklar, who also has two more restaurants in Birmingham in the works, Arthur Avenue and Au Cochon, as well as MEX and Beau's Grillery in Bloomfield Township and two restaurants in Chicago on the drawing board. “There's this awesome energy from the vendors at the market, this sense of passion, that just stands out. And everyone I've talked to from Grand Rapids, the city itself, has this sense of pride, seeing it grow from a decade ago. There's nothing like it, it's contagious and exhilarating to be around. Downtown Market and Grand Rapids itself is a perfect place for us to continue using the ingredients we are proud of, and it's exciting that we will get to use local food, local vendors and bring that farm-to-table experience to our guests. I couldn't think of a better spot for Social or a place with this kind of energy,” Sklar said.

New floral design studio Moditional Designs, a floral arrangement studio, recently opened at 2024 Hazel Street in Birmingham's Rail District. The shop’s owner and floral designer, Rebecca Beausoleil, who opened Moditional Designs, said, “I am self taught in floral design and have always been a gardener; so putting the two together seemed to be the most logical steps in creating my next chapter in life and business.

I decided to open in Birmingham for its proximity to my home and the existing clients that I have acquired.”

Beausoleil said that she differentiates herself from her competitors by ensuring that each arrangement is unique and never duplicated. “I don’t participate in the Teleflora style,” she said. “All my designs are a little piece of architectural nature.” Flowers are sold at market price, and Beausoleil’s typical arrangements range from $85 to $200.

Roche Bobois now open High end French furniture retailer Roche Bobois relocated from the Michigan Design Center to a 5,400 square foot space at 394 S. Old Woodward in Birmingham on Saturday, March 7. In September, franchise owner Ed Hagopian, who also owns Hagopian Cleaning Services and Hagopian World of Rugs in Birmingham, said that “it's where it should always have been. It's a good fit. The corporate office is extremely excited about relocating to downtown Birmingham. Roche Bobois feels it is more of a retail destination." The company was founded in Paris in 1950 with Bauhaus influences, but has since developed close relationships with designers and architects from across the globe. “Roche is very classic,” said Hagopian. “You will not look at it in 10 years and feel dated. All of the lines are very beautiful and of very special quality."

Coffee shop, spa to open What had been a designer men's and women's store, Found Objects, before it moved around the corner to Old Woodward, will now be a coffee shop and nail salon in downtown Birmingham. New owner Zharko Palushaj is excited to open La Strada Dolci e Caffé at 243 Merrill Street, right across from Rojo Mexico, in early June. The 2,700 square foot coffee shop gets its name from the Italian word meaning “the road.” “I have a lot of passion for the Italian caffe culture and ambiance, where people meet, socialize and also do business,” explained Palushaj of his inspiration for La Strada. “This is not a coffee place; this is an old world European-Italian caffee.” In addition to pastries, gelato, paninis and speciality juices, La Strada will sell Italian coffee made by baristas dressed in tuxedos.

La Strada will be located next to Adore Nails and Spa, which Palushaj will be opening in early May at 241 Merrill St. The moderately priced nail salon will be “trendy, warm, cozy with an Asian influence,” he said, adding that “besides manicures and pedicures, private areas will be available for local and guest celebrities and VIPs.”

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Business Matters for the Birmingham Bloomfield area are reported by Sarah Kovan. Send items for consideration to SarahKovan@downtownpublications.com.

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DOWNTOWN

141

40TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON FINALE!

An artist to be reckoned with.

—Miami Herald

BIRMINGHAM BLOOMFIELD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MUSIC DIRECTOR

John Thomas Dodson, Conductor GUEST SOLOIST

Kurt Nikkanen, Violin Concert Master for the New York City Ballet

Friday, May 1, 2015 – 8:00 PM Christ Church Cranbrook

—Manchester Evening News

470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills

Such style and panache

TICKETS:

Music Director John Thomas Dodson CONCERT PROGRAM

Falla: The Three Cornered Hat, Suite No. 1 Strauss: Divertimento after Piano Pieces

by Couperin, Op. 86 Prokofiev: Concerto No. 2 Violin and Orchestra for Violin

$25

Scan mobile code with your smart phone for concert info.

Expressive phrasing, remarkable finger agility and range of tones, from velvet softness to barbed-wire hardness

Photo: Jean Luc Fievet

WITH THE

—Classical Music Reviews, Wellington FOR TICKETS: 248.352.BBSO O

(2276)

www.BBSO.org www.BBSO.org

www.facebook.com/BBSO.LIVE Like us on

Tradition... MOVING FORWARD

Recipient of the 2014 A.C.F. Award of Excellence

PRIME TIME HAPPY HOUR Big Rock Chophouse introduces its new Late Night Happy Hour, Monday through Thursday, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Main Bar. Our regular Happy Hour is still available Monday through Friday, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

34965 Woodward Ave Birmingham 248 644 5222 peabodysrestaurant.com 142

*Certain restictions apply.

Main bar only.

DOWNTOWN

04.15

PLACES TO EAT

220: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday Saturday. 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.

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.

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.

downtownpublications.com

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.

Cosi: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 101 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.9200.

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. Alcohol. Reservations. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 176 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.9888. Also 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.258.9939.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, 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 Grill: American. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

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

Fuddrucker’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Beer & wine.

42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.333.2400.

Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek.

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

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Liquor. Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham. 248.712.4050.

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

248.626.1800.

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.

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.

Leo’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast,

DOWNTOWN

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

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Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.9707.

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

Little Daddy’s Parthenon: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.647.3400.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing.

No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6051.

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

185 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.540.0000 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.

New Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Breakfast, Monday-Thursday; Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. No reservations.

183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2181.

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: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7966.

Also 2125 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.253.9877.

Peabody’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.5222.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, Monday-Friday; 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

DOWNTOWN

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.

Sanders: American. Lunch, daily. No reservations. 167 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.3215.

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

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. 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.

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 Gallery Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.851.0313.

The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

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

The Stand: Euro-American. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. 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.

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.

04.15

AT THE TABLE Bistro 82: plenty of high praise but still ways to go

in need of salt. Cauliflower Romesco, gorgeous in presentation with slightly smoky flavors, but again lacking any depth with zero heat from the Romesco. Lamb Spare Ribs with a root beer glaze, napa cabbage, pickled shallots and sesame that had none of the caramelized flavors that should be detectable from the sugary glaze. The French Onion dumplings were innovatively presented in a vessel traditional of escargot, each hole filled with

entree. Ratatouille is also becoming widely recognized on menus and is beautiful in its simplicity and a no-brainer for a fall and winter vegetable offering. This one came with a perfectly sweet

By J. March tomato sauce that made up for the spongy, underBistro 82 in Royal Oak has received some pretty cooked texture of the eggplant. high praise in the last couple of months, even The service was average, and by this I mean prompting the notion from one reviewer that Bistro that there were no mistakes in what was brought 82 would be competing with past Restaurant of and there were no huge lapses between courses.

The Year recipients, The Root in White Lake and However, you would think that the Torino in Ferndale. Knowing the repuprospect of a table not ordering off of tation and experience that both restauthe Restaurant Week menu and rants provide, my expectations were beyond that, having several courses high for Bistro 82. Also knowing that of food, drinks and wine, would garsometimes my expectations may be a ner a tad bit of enthusiasm, but, alas, bit too high, I invited a few guests who we received none – not a recommennot only know a thing or two about dation, suggestion, description...nothfood, but would keep my high staning. dards in check.

Lastly, the wine list. Sigh. Oh, Executive Chef Derik Watson how I struggled. Not for sheer lack of worked under famed chef Takashi offerings mind you – the list was Yagihashi and had other high-end lengthy. What was missing were food restaurants like Iridescence and The friendly wines. Wines with imaginaRugby Grill on his resume. Sous Chef tion. Wines that don't scream Robert Norman Fenton is an understudy of Parker or Napa Valley or Wine Chef Watson and has spent time at Spectator 1987. Every heavy hitting, Andiamo and The Whitney. I wasn't big name wine was offered, but the sure what to expect in terms of personproblem in that is most of them kill al style as the menu reads much like a food. Menus of this caliber deserve Scottish Salmon Succotash with purple potato and pistou broth. Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent French bistro, and it seems as if offerings that step outside the boundWatson has been on the fast track to aries of overpriced chardonnays and success with what sounded like classic dishes hearty, yet undercooked dumplings, and a delicabernets and yearn for value driven Spanish wines impeccably prepared. ciously savory and salty French onion broth. and Rhone-style whites. Shellfish dishes that need Completely unaware of my visit coinciding with Salad and soup choices cover the classics like chablis and burgundies that are readily available, Royal Oak Restaurant Week, I anticipated a Lobster & Mushroom Bisque, beets and a Michigan affordable and delicious. Most importantly, they packed house, yet this was not the case. It was a Salad with mixed greens, blueberry thyme vinaihad one Rosé on the list and it was described as weekday mind you, but with all of the hoopla I grette, blue cheese, strawberries, quince and pecan “Off Dry.” When I inquired about any Rosé wines would have at least expected it to be half full. After pie crumble.

Though we skipped the bisques, we that were perhaps not listed, the server took the taking in the lack of bodies I looked around and did try the Beet Salad and the Michigan salad.

The time to bring me a bottle he described as quite dry. absorbed the austere, urban décor. The first thing I Michigan had promise if not for the bland vinaiHe was wrong, and because of it the food suffered thought about was owner Aaron Belen's desire to grette, but the Beet Salad with Asian pear, bleu at the cost of the wine, and vice versa. create a place that was “cosmopolitan” and suited cheese, citrus marmalade and apple vinaigrette Today’s diners are smart. Smart about food and for “mature, sophisticated, thirty-somethings.” was harmonious and deliciously put together with wine and cost. And if you want to run with the big Cosmopolitan? Absolutely. The majority of the a beautiful almond brittle for texture. The Lardon dogs, you need to provide an experience that is space was grey, black or white with stainless steel salad held much promise but was the most disapunique from the 77 other choices within a 15-mile and marble dominating almost the entire area save pointing dish of the night due to the underwhelmradius. I wish that I had been privy to the experifor a huge multi-colored mural on one wall. Belen ing flavors of almost every component, including ences that prior reviewers had in regards to Bistro has also been quoted as saying he wanted to prothe lardons and bacon sherry vinaigrette.

Not even 82. However, I can only write about my experience, vide a “Michigan feel.” As a lifetime Michigander, I the perfectly cooked 63 degree sous-vide egg could implore you to dine with said review in mind and can honestly say that nothing about the space says save it. hope that perhaps something useful comes out of Michigan – more New York, Chicago or Miami, The Roasted Cobia that we ordered for entrees this for either patron or establishment. complete with techno music wafting through the was fabulous. The cobia was perfectly cooked and Based on early reviews and my experience, I can dining room and nothing but male servers, barserved on creamy parmesan risotto with wild only say that Bistro 82 lacks two things that put tenders and managers. mushrooms and sauce rouge.

This dish was an places like The Root and Torino in a category of Once sat we were handed “menus” in the form exercise in well balanced components and easily their own – attention to detail and consistency. of iPads. This is where I have to ask, why? Is it cost the best of the night. Spring Chicken with brioche Clearly they are capable, but as the wisest of the effective? Environmentally friendly? Cutting edge? wise once said: “Do or do not. There is no try.”

What exactly is the purpose of the electronic menu? stuffing and pistachio dusted beets was tired and Beyond my love of traditional dining values, I worry dry, and the Duck Confit Fettuccine tasted like an Bistro 82, 401 South Lafayette Street, Royal Oak expensive stroganoff and was an insult to confit that the battery may die (which it did) or that there 48067. 248.542.0082. Dinner ($9 – $82), Tuesday – lovers everywhere due to the lost flavors of salty, are some guests who are immediately put off or Wednesday, 4-10 p.m.; Thursday, 4-11 p.m.; Friday – rich fat that any good stew-in-your-own-juices fowl intimidated in the face of technology (which there Saturday, 4 – midnight; Sundays, 4 – 9 p.m. Public lot, should have. The mussels were steamed perfectly was). Dining is meant to be easy. Relaxing. Stress garage and street parking available. Reservations and delicious, but if you list Fresno chili and curry, free. Technology, although beautiful in some ways, accepted. Handicap accessible. one or the other should have provided a nice kick, rarely embodies any of these things. yet did not.

After a minor tutorial by a server who almost J. March has 25 years experience in the restaurant industry The side of Roasted Brussels Sprouts was yawned while explaining, we ordered some drinks in southeast Michigan, including certification as a sommelidynamic. Perfectly cooked with sweet and savory and starters. Steak Tartare with quail egg, toast er. If you have short restaurant items for our Quick Bites seconion marmalade, pickled mustard seed and duck and pickle relish arrived with perfect flavor and textion, e-mail to QuickBites@downtownpublications.com. fat, I was wishing I ordered a plate of those as an ture, but missing the bite from flat pickle relish and

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THE COMMUNITY HOUSE TCH Fourth Annual Gala: All about “Community” The Community House (TCH) Fourth Annual Gala took place March 14 to a sold out crowd of 230 who gathered to salute our grand honoree, Herman B. Gray, M.D., EVP of the Detroit Medical Center and former CEO of Children’s Hospital.

Each year, TCH recognizes a Grand Honoree along with others who truly represent “Pillars of Vibrancy” in the community. Dr. Gray was honored by TCH for his tremendous philanthropic generosity to the community. The evening included a wonderful patron reception, music by the BBSO, a stellar silent auction and live auction, accolades to our 2015 Pillars of Vibrancy and inspiring remarks from our honoree and keynote speaker.

Dr. Gray brought those gathered to their feet after he spoke about the importance of supporting one another and our community. “Organizations like The Community House are critically important,” said Gray. “They help to make up the safety net fabric of our communities. They serve as sources of inspiration, where people aspire to higher ideals, where concern for others prevails.”

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The evening’s keynote speaker, Faye Alexander Nelson, VP of Public Affairs, DTE Energy and President, DTE Energy Foundation inspired gala attendees when she spoke of the importance of community and the vital collaboration that needs to continue between Detroit and its suburbs. “Our whole region benefits when people are able to take an opportunity, turn it into success and then provide opportunities for others. This will only be possible with cooperation that extends beyond city and county limits,” she said.

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Proceeds from the evening supported three of TCH’s Children in Need & Family Outreach Programs. These outreach programs benefit “at risk youth” and are designed to build and sustain a more vibrant community while nurturing personal growth. They include the 21st Century Leaders, Feed Your Family’s Future, and the iCount™ Childhood Obesity Prevention Program. A highlight of the evening was to witness our generous patrons raising their paddles to support our community outreach programs. The dollars raised will help sustain these programs and provide educational enrichment services to the tri-county area.

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In addition to honoring Dr. Gray, TCH also recognized a special group of individuals in the community - deemed “Pillars of Vibrancy.” These individuals have made extraordinary philanthropic contributions to the community in the three key TCH mission areas; Education, Wellness and Culture. The Education Pillars included Michael Melfi, Founder & Managing Partner, Melfi & Associates and Treps Nest; Patricia Mooradian, President, The Henry Ford; and James Suhay, Community Volunteer. The Culture Pillars included Robert Dempster, Owner, Studio D and Founder, Detroit Rocks!; Julie Dawson, renowned professional photographer and watercolor artist; and David K. Page (posthumously), partner, Honigman who served as Honigman’s charitable giving Partner. Wellness Pillars included Tim Anderson, SVP & Market Leader, Key Private Bank, Michigan/Northwest Ohio; Carol and John Aubrey, Community Volunteers; and Dan Serlin, Partner, Serlin, Trivax & Stearn.

Incredible sponsors that made TCH’s Furth Annual Gala possible included Marquis Sponsor, Bank of Birmingham; Education Sponsor, Technology Equity Associates; Vision Sponsor, Samia and Daryl Staehle; Shining Sponsor, Children's Hospital of Michigan and DMC Detroit Medical Center; VIP Reception Sponsor, All Seasons of Birmingham; Spirits Sponsor, Giarmarco, Mullins & Horton, P.C.; Pillars Reception Sponsor, Huntington Bank; Video Sponsor, DTE Energy Foundation; Pillars Award Sponsor, Carol and John Aubrey; Gift Sponsor, Shinola Detroit; Program Sponsor, Harley Ellis Devereaux; Gift Bag Sponsor, Vasileff Medical Group; Media Sponsor, Hour Magazine; In Kind Sponsors, Gene Meadows Photography; In House Valet; Luxe Event Linen; The Plant Station; Birmingham Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra and Tapper's Diamonds & Fine Jewelry.

Those that have been given much, much is expected. Saturday night The Community House received much more than was expected.

William Seklar is President, The Community House. downtownpublications.com

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Variety’s Chili, Mac & Ribs Cook Off 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.

Sally Gerak

Variety Chili/Mac & Ribs Cook Off David King, Jackie Adray and Christene Rotger chaired the second culinary cook off fundraiser for Variety, The Children’s Charity. They added ribs to the list of comfort foods that were featured last year. The event attracted 200 casually dressed, ready-to-party folks ($100, $150 tickets) to the Townsend ballroom, which was likewise dressed casually . There was also a raffle ($2,650) and Cloud 9 DJs playing toe tappin’ tunes for line dancing, good for working off calories. Cuisine was considered by both judges and guests. Guests gave Best Mac & Cheese title to Town Tavern; judges gave it to Social Kitchen.

Guests gave Best Chili title to Green Lantern; judges gave it to Town Tavern. And like the judges, guests gave the Best Ribs title to Birmingham Country Club. The evening raised $50,000 and warmed up a cold January night. Variety’s next big event is the popular Table Tops luncheon that Deb Thomas and Mark Johnson are chairing Wednesday, April 15, at Pine Lake Country Club.

Timothy Corrigan, whom Architectural Digest has called “…one of the world’s top talents in architecture and design,” is the guest speaker.

Oakland County Bar Fellows Reception The Oakland County Bar Association’s charitable foundation has raised well over $1 million for programs that enhance citizen access to and understanding of the legal system. The foundation also maintains the excellence of the Oakland County public law library. One of its donation vehicles is the Fellows program. Membership, not limited to attorneys, is evidence of professional distinction and constitutes a professional honor. There are currently 625 OCBF Fellows. Accepting membership requires paying pledges of either $1,000 (a Life Fellow) or $5,000 (a Life Charter Fellow) over 10 years. Forty-two new Fellows were honored at a recent reception at the Townsend. Like the foundation’s annual Signature Event, the scene was very convivial as attorneys who compete with one another and the judges who rule on their arguments “played nice.” Kaveh Kashef and Chuck Moore are chairing the 2015 Signature Event, Friday, May 1, at Oakland Hills Country Club. Loyalists know that to get a coveted ticket it is best to be a sponsor. Contact Katherine Tillinger at (248) 334-3400.

Motor City Open Sponsors Party “We have 12 of the top 20 world-ranked players here,” MCO co-chair Mike Beauregard said at the Friday night party that kicked off the six-day squash tournament staged by and at the Birmingham Athletic Club. Cochairs Derrick Glencer and Peter Schmidt and tourney director Julian Wellings were also in the crowd of nearly 400 that represented 60 corporate sponsors. In addition to socializing, sipping and supping, they also participated in a silent auction that raised $40,000 for Racquet Up downtownpublications.com

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1. Christene Rotger (left), David King and Jackie Adray of Birmingham 2. Deanna Lites (left) of Bloomfield, Ed & Felicia Shaw of Birmingham 3. Janet & Doug Ashley of Bloomfield 4. Michael Coyne (center) with Jilly & Scott Ferrier of Bloomfield 5. Melissa & John Foster of Birmingham 6. Charley & Alyson King of Birmingham 7. Len Baron (left) of Plymouth, Herb and Debbie Knowles of Birmingham 8. Marilyn Dadian (left) and Sandy Czako of Birmingham 9. Amy Gooch (left) of Birmingham, Leslie Blatnikoff of W. Bloomfield 10. Judy (left) & David Karp of Birmingham, Deb Thomas of Troy

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Detroit and Karmanos Cancer Institute. A clinic on Saturday for 40 juniors included 15 from Racquet Up Detroit. The main draw pro matches featured 16 men playing before capacity crowds. World number 8-ranked Columbian Miguel Angel Rodriguez won the 16th annual tournament and $12,000 of the $70,000 purse, plus a Rolex watch donated by Greenstone Jewelry. For a report of the action, go to themotorcityopen.com/.

Oakland County Bar Foundation Fellows Reception

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Charity Reception at Life Chest

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5 1. Barbara Smith (left) and Sue Ellen Eisenberg of Bloomfield, Cynthia Brazzil and Betty Lowenthal of W. Bloomfield 2. Liz Luckenbach (left) of Birmingham, Jim Parks of Beverly Hills, Jeff Heuer of W. Bloomfield, Deborah Baughman of Troy 3. Bill Booth (left) of Birmingham, Frank Galgan of Troy 4. John Mucha (left) of W. Bloomfield, Ken Neuman of Bloomfield 5. Sahera Honsey (left) of Novi, Matt Kobliska of W. Bloomfield, Suzanne Hollyer of Commerce, Judy Cunningham of Bloomfield 6. Jake Reed (left) of Livonia, Jeff Bagaleis of Birmingham, Robert Levine of Beverly Hills, Denise Bach of W. Bloomfield 7. Linda Orlans of Birmingham, Joan Howarth of E. Lansing

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1. Robert Greenstone (left) of Bloomfield, Lisa Mencotti of Birmingham, co-chair Peter Schmidt of Bloomfield, Jeffrey Gembis of Birmingham 2. Jeffrey Stafeil (left) of Birmingham, Derrick Glencer of Bloomfield, Nick Post of Birmingham 3. Meredith (left) & Salam Chaudhary of Birmingham, Rami & Carmen Fakhoury of Bloomfield

Life Chest Charity Reception

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1. Donna Yost (left) of Bloomfield, honoree Susanne Forbes Dicker of Troy, beneficiaries Louise Cantrell and Mike Elliott of Hope Mills, VA 2. Jill Jordan (left) of Farmington Hills, Betty Bright of Bloomfield 3. Lynn Stinson (center) of Bloomfield, Barbara Hoover (left) and Susanne Lucas of Troy

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Susanne Forbes Dicker, who moved to Troy from Dallas five years ago, learned of Donna and Art Van CEO Kim Yost’s Life Chest venture at the DSO Volunteer Council’s Nutcracker Luncheon last November. Life Chests are handsome, furniture-quality repositories for nostalgic treasures (thelifechest.com). Not one to pass up a good idea, Dicker partnered with Donna to host a cocktail hour birthday party at Life Chest’s Troy gallery that would benefit two non-profits - Mike Elliott’s (allveterangroup.com) and Louise Cantrell’s (dancingangelsfounation.org). The 30 guests not only brought donations for the foundations, they also brought mementoes for Dicker’s birthday gift chest. These included Donna’s hot off the press book “PUMPTITUDE - My Journey from CEO Wife to CEO Life - And How to Survive.” In addition to the display of heirloom-quality chests, pictures of Donna’s adventures that accented the gallery walls also sparked conversation as guests sipped and savored sustenance from Holiday Market. Attendees included the honoree’s fellow Northwood University Distinguished Women Maggie Allesee, Lorraine Schultz and Lynn Stinson and NU CEO/President Dr. Keith Pretty.

CARE House Circle of Friends “If I had a thousand hats, they’d all be off to you,” actress Mia Farrow declared to the CARE House staffers who had just been applauded by the 300 luncheon guests ($120 & up tickets) gathered at the Townsend. The day before she had seen CARE House first hand and, later in her speech, lamented that it did not exist for her daughter Dylan when stepfather Woody Allen sexually abused her.

Farrow’s speech also touched on the highs of her oft tumultuous life as mother of 14 children, four biological, 10 adopted. She easily tacked between amusing and solemn and wove her actress mother Maureen O’Hara, husbands Frank Sinatra, Andre Previn and Allen, plus the Beatles, into the tapestry. The UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador also showed her “Tribute to Refugees” video which is posted for all to view at miafarrow.com. The humanitarian concluded by saying that she is happy since she “…kicked helplessness out the door” and that helping others is the way to happiness.

The luncheon audience included Janet Grant, Lois Shaevsky and Dr. Linda Sircus 04.15

three of the five women who founded the event 19 years ago to raise funds for CARE House, which was established in 1977. The recent event counted more patrons (@ $175 each) than any of the previous 19 events.

Thanks also to generous sponsors like the Trott and Iacocca Family foundations, the annual event raised $80,000 to heal abused children.

St. Regis School Black & White Gala Jennifer Waechter and Sarah Dubay led the large and dedicated committee of St. Regis parents that made some changes in the school’s annual fundraiser. They moved it (from another country club) to Forest Lake CC and eliminated the costly print materials. All the information formerly contained therein scrolled continually all evening on a huge screen. Additionally, the silent auction bidding ($40,000) was totally electronic and they added a wine wall component which added $3,250 to the bottom line. Unchanged was the high level of enthusiasm and the 350 guests enjoyment of dressing for a theme – this year, Black & White. To obey the dress code, dad Tom Kennedy even wore a vintage nun’s habit. Also unchanged was the tuition drawing from among the names of the 75 VIPs ($125 tickets). A big cheer erupted when past chair and committee member Jen Simpson’s name was pulled. And again when she won the $5,000 cash raffle. As was the case last year, a party for 25 on the Brockhaus yacht garnered the most money ($5,400) in the live auction, but an adorable Teddy Bear puppy and tickets to the Taylor Swift concert were also highly coveted, bringing in $3,500 and 3,000 respectively. In all, the live auction of 11 items raised $23,050 of the event gross $140,000.

Cranbrook Music Guild The Cranbrook Music Guild was created in 1951 by George and Ellen Scripps Booth’s son Henry to do something musical in the incomparable Cranbrook facilities. It has become a celebration of superb chamber music offering five concerts per season in Christ Church Cranbrook. The recent one spotlighted 2014 Betty Brewster Scholar clarinetist Kinsey Fournier and three of her fellow masters degree candidates from the University of Michigan. Their concluding selection – Olivier Messiaen’s eight-movement Quatuor pour la fin temps – was written in and first performed for 400 prisoners in 1940 in a Nazi concentration camp. The contrast between that setting and Cranbrook did not go unnoticed in conversation at the afterglow, a guild trademark following each concert. Pianist Alice Berberian Haidostian paused her music making at the afterglow to chat with the performers about the U of M School of Music from which she graduated (BA ’46, MA ’49). The crowd of 95 music lovers included CMG board members like president Camille Breen, Rita and Judy Lindstrom Addison Brown, Anita Goor, Kyoko Miyazaki, Bob Tera, Lawrence downtownpublications.com

Care House Circle of Friends Luncheon

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1. Maria Roberts (left) of Bloomfield and Kappy Trott of Birmingham 2. Char Terry and Janet Grant of Bloomfield 3. Courtney (left) & Taylor Trott and their grandmother, Linda Hommel of Birmingham, Linda Powers of Bloomfield 4. Henry Baskin of Bloomfield and Pat Rosen of Troy 5. Anna Rea (left) of Birmingham, Diana Howard of Franklin 6. Jennie Cascio (left) and Bill Roberts of Bloomfield, Judy Solomon of Birmingham 7. Julie Nelson-Klein (left) and Lois Shaevsky of Bloomfield 8. Shelley Taub and Bruce Kridler of Bloomfield 9. Lisa Latessa (left), Charles Wickins and Brier Neel of Birmingham

St. Regis Black & White Gala

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1. Jennifer Waechter (left) of Beverly Hills and Sarah Dubay of Birmingham 2. Meg Stenger (left) of Bloomfield, Sara Bell of Beverly Hills, Amy Carroll and Pam Kanehann of Birmingham 3. Meghan Rivard (left) of Bloomfield, Colleen Moore of Beverly Hills 4. Debby Walsh (left) of Birmingham, Cathy Brooks of Bloomfield 5. Jen Simpson (left) and Molly Lamarche of Bloomfield, Amy MacLean of Birmingham 6. Adam Waechter (left) of Beverly Hills, Msgr. Chuck Kosanke of Bloomfield, Mike Dubay of Birmingham 7. Shanna & Nick Gorga of Birmingham

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Irwin, Joe Weiss, JoAnne Wheaton, Joe Wolf, Ross Baldwin, Cathryn Hallisy, Bob & Sharon Smith and Tom & Ruby Weidner who sponsored the afterglow.

Cranbrook Music Guild

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1. Clara Davis (left) and board president Camille Breen of Bloomfield 2. Addison (left) & Arlene Brown of Bloomfield, Anita DeMarco Goor of Troy 3. Alice Berbarian Haidostian (center front) of Bloomfield with artists Kinsey Fournier, Ruby Brallier and John Elam of Ann Arbor 4. Lynn Pollie (left) and Eileen Harned of Bloomfield 5. Chuck & Sheila Conklin of Bloomfield

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Marian High School Mardi Gras Benefit Evening

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1. Carolyn Thomas Still-Love (left) and Jennifer Margherio of Bloomfield and Patty Sharkey of Troy 2. Susan Hall (left) of Bloomfield and Anne Girardot Vachon of Troy 3. Nan & Murray Wikol of Bloomfield 4. Mary Taylor and Babbie Thomas of Birmingham 5. Michael Sarafa (left) of Farmington Hills, Msgr. Chuck Kosanke of Bloomfield, Chuck & Teri Moore of Birmingham, Sr. Leonore Pochelski 6. Pat & Bill Knipper of Bloomfield 7. Kathy (left) & Dave Petoskey and Maria Glod of Bloomfield

Dailey Method Benefit at the Townsend

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3 1. Jenny Rosenthal (left) and Shannon Anderson of Birmingham, Sumer Friedrichs and Andrea Papadopoulos of Bloomfield 2. Amy Louwers of Birmingham 3. Gretchen Dietz (left) and Nancy Fullerton of Birmingham 4. Studio owner Carly Goidosik (left) of Birmingham, Ryan Humphrey of Grand Ledge, Amie Oliveira of Troy 5. Gretch Klotz (left) and Laura Keziah of Birmingham, Peggy Kruger of Rochester Hills

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DCDS Father-Son Breakfast Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert Young, Jr. Detroit Country Day School ’76, was the speaker at the annual FatherSon Breakfast Feb. 12. To several hundred young men and their fathers, he spoke about his relationship with his father and his family history, from his father’s days of segregation in the Deep South to his personal experiences as a father of two. After DCDS, Young graduated from Harvard ’74 and Harvard Law ’77. He was first appointed to the Michigan Supreme Court in 1999 and elected chief justice in 2011. Chief Justice Young is the highest ranking African American in elected office in the state and considers himself a judicial traditionalist. “What I learned at Country Day has been instrumental in the course of my life,” Justice Young said.

BEF Unabashed Bash Although heroic costumes were optional at the showcase for talented Birmingham students, Groves musicians made music before dinner and Seaholm singing thespians performed selections from “Mary Poppins, the Broadway Musical” after dinner.

Additionally, students Kate Voigt and Mike Brown emceed the program. They described some of the super programs made possible by foundation grants, thanked the caped crusaders who teach them and introduced Wonder Woman, Birmingham Education Foundation board president Chris Braun.

Daniel Nerad spoke briefly about the database being created to match businesses, organizations, universities and the classroom. Then Charles Wickins got people to bid more than $25,000 in the live auction.

The total included two orthodontic packages that each sold for $5,000. Counting the silent auction ($20,454), the 106 card raffle (won by David & Beth Keifer and Michael & Pamela Minelli), the online auction ($12,885) and generous sponsors, the 14th annual Unabashed Bash raised $148,224.

Marian Benefit Evening More than 330 Marian High School boosters let the good times roll at the Mardi Gras party chaired by Susan Hall, Carolyn Thomas Still-Love, Jennifer Margherio, Patty Sharkey and Anne Girardot Vachon.

One couple embraced the theme by wearing masks and all savored the flavors of Bourbon Street created by MHS alum mom Cathy Weatherford’s CathyAnn...the Sweetest Gourmet catering company. Think spicy, grilled shrimp, jambalaya, po-boy sandwiches, petite pecan pies and king cakes.

Dixieland and jazz filled the gym as people made choices in the Wine Pull ( $3,500) and bid electronically in the silent auction ($35,470) that included outstanding paint152

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK ings by Kathy Carroll, MHS ’83 and Kathleen McInerney, MHS ’82. The Scholarship Fund raffle, which Sally Bzdok, Larry and Geralyn Galli, Karen Cross and Kelly Berg won, raised $7,850 and Karen Pifer won the 52-card raffle ($5,200) and gets to dine finely at 12 first rate restaurants. Auctioneer Christopher Aslanian persuaded people to bid $34,200 for the 14 lots in the live auction and $12,700 more for Sister Leonore’s Wish List of needs for the Commons project. The annual event presented by the Marian Mothers and Dads clubs netted more than $135,000 and lots of good times memories.

Birmingham Education Foundation Unabashed Bash

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1. Dan Nerad of Bloomfield 2. Patrick Liebler (left), Rosemary Ricelli & Steve Scheidt of Birmingham 3. Laura & Will Couger of Franklin 4. Catherine Turnbull (left) of Birmingham, Amanda & Jason Rito of Beverly Hills 5. Ryan (left) & Shedrick Abney of Birmingham 6. Geri & Gordon Rinschler of Birmingham 7. Ellie & Jim Noble of Birmingham 8. Ben (left) & Lory Dolan, Becky Brady of Beverly Hills 9. Susan & David Priestly of Birmingham 10. Miriam & Larry Imerman of Bloomfield

DSO Volunteer Council Big Hair Night

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Deborah Savoie of Bloomfield, Kevin Green of Ferndale 3. Maureen D’Avanzo (left) of Bloomfield, Kellie Damman of Beverly Hills, Renata Duma of Warren 4. Kevin Green (left) of Ferndale, Denise Abrash of Bloomfield, Betsy Leboe of Birmingham 5. Kelly Hayes (left) of Birmingham, Marleen Bihlmeyer of Bloomfield, Jane Talia of Farmington Hills

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Dailey Method Barre Benefit A little fundraiser held last summer in Carly Goidosik’s Dailey Method Birmingham exercise studio led to the first ever exercise class to be held in the ballroom at the Townsend hotel. Townsend staffer Connie Elder works out at DM and was impressed with the story of Ryan Humphrey, the beneficiary of the summer event. The Troy native, now married with two little boys living in Grand Ledge, has been battling Angiosarcoma, a cancer that attacks the inner lining of blood vessels, for six years. During that time he has raised nearly $100,000 for cancer research but the DM Barre Benefit was for the Humphrey family’s mounting medical expenses. And 150 DM exercisers paid $50 to “Burn Bright” under the ballroom chandeliers. Goidosik and her staff secured donations for a raffle and the music services of Star Trax for the event. When the one hour class ended, guests watched a video of Ryan’s Journey, socialized, sipped and snacked healthily.

Twelve raffle winners got great prizes and all took home a DM swag bag filled with goodies donated by generous local merchants. The energetic evening raised $6,000.

Volunteer Council Big Hair Night The DSO Volunteer Council’s ladies night out event Karla Sherry chaired at Luigi Bruno’s Birmingham salon was, as promised, a “hair raising” event.

Especially for guests like Betsy Laboe whose trademark hair style is long and curly. The Texas size upswept coif she acquired at the party changed her silhouette and her height. In addition to Leonore Gimpert’s beautiful oil paintings, the salon was dressed for a girlie Valentine party with flowers, balloons and candies. In addition to styling fun, new big hair, the solicitous staff also pampered the 35 guests ($50, $60, $125 – tickets) with make-up, manicures and neck massages. They also poured wine to accompany Maria Medora’s delicious homemade fare from her neighboring little Italian café Cucina Medora. “Best Hair” prize winners? Susan Wayde was in first place; Pamela Ayres second.

Linda Dresner and Ed Levy will launch the Volunteer Council’s annual series of Musical Feasts at their spectacular Birmingham home Friday, March 27.

It will be followed by 17 more magical, intimate socials staged all over the metropolitan area with prices ranging from $65 to $1,000. Magda Moss is the MF chair.

The series booklet may be viewed at dso.org.

St. Hugo of the Hills School Auction The school’s 19th annual fundraising auction - “75 Years Strong” – saluted the school’s 75th anniversary and attracted 400 people to the Royal Park Hotel. Event chairs Susan Roberts, Kim Petrucci, Karla Mekani and

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Sarah Jankowski and their dedicated committee earned kudos for taking it to the Rochester venue.

“People loved it. It was spacious, the food was excellent, service was great and seating was plentiful,” Hall noted. The strolling dinner food stations included salads, pastas, fish tacos, sliders and desserts. As people dined, they bid electronically on the many silent auction items that included the ever popular student creations in the “Little Picassos” section and the social gatherings for all ages. Dan Sharkey emceed the program that included principal Sr Margaret’s tribute to Judy Martinek, who will retire after 40-plus years of service to the school which her own children attended.

Then, auctioneer Jim Bickley went to work selling the 13 live auction items. Top bids included the winsome Teddy Bear puppy for $1,900, a Taylor Swift concert package for $1,800 and a trip to Italy for $6,250. But the highest bid was the $7,500 paid for a VIP trip to the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament. And since the generous donor matched the bid, it actually added $15,000 to the auction total. That figure is not yet final but the gross currently exceeds $213,000.

Junior League of Birmingham Patron Party Lisa Krueger and Kate Montgomery chaired the JLB Spring Sophisticate Patron Party and 125 ($50ticket) attended the cocktail event at Saks Fifth Avenue. They sipped, supped, socialized and some also shopped before the SFA fashion show of Elie Tahari’s spring collection. Four JLB husbands also strolled the runway in the latest men’s fashions to such acclaim that they may become a tradition.

Krueger also praised the members for their promotion of the event on social media and SFA gave away $4,500 to spend in the store. About 80 went on to the After Party at nearby Ocean Prime. The main event Saturday, April 25 at the Guardian Building will salute the 1920s when the “Cathedral of Finance,” as the Guardian was known, was built. Plans include Roaring 20s attire, cocktails, strolling dinner, live music and dancing, auction prizes, valet parking and an afterglow at the nearby Fountain Bistro. For tickets ($140), go to HYPERLINK "http://www.jlbham.org/estore"jlbham.org/estore.

Roeper School Detroit Anthology Fundraiser Lawrence & Audrey James are on the Roeper School Mosaic Auction committee, which is saluting Detroit by taking the annual event to the DAC on March 21. That their colleague Aaron Waterman‘s photographs are in the book “A Detroit Anthology” was a good excuse for the couple to host a pre-auction gathering at The Frameworks headquarters in Birmingham and feature the book. The 40 guests ($30ticket) sipped, dined on the stroll (Crispelli’s catered), and enjoyed music by singer songwriter Alexander Vlachos (GreaterAlexander.com) before settling in to to hear readings from the anthology that demonstrate Detroit is filled with strength and soul.

Founders Junior Council CIRQUE: Empire Elanah Nachman Hunger, Blake Ellis, and Robert Belloni chaired the FJC’s annual masked ball which attracted nearly 700 revelers ($95-$125 tickets) to the museum. The 1930s prohibition-theme soiree saluted the museum’s exhibition which focuses on artists Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlos’s time in Detroit (193233). Guests entered through a darkened John R downtownpublications.com

St. Hugo School Auction

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1. Susan Roberts (left) & Kim Petrucci of Bloomfield, Karla Mekani of W. Bloomfield and Sarah Jankowski of Birmingham 2. John & Meghan Zidar of Bloomfield 3. Molly (left) & Dan MacLean of Bloomfield, Patty & Dan Sharkey of Troy 4. Kristin & Nick Mushovic of Bloomfield 5.Lauren Wenzel (left) of Bloomfield, Maggie DePorre of Troy 6. David Mervenne (left), Pete Beglin and Paul Hakim of Bloomfield 7. Marc (left) & Anne Vachone of Troy, Amanda Alvelo-Malina of Bloomfield 8. Cindy (left) & John Hermann of Troy, Patsy & Dylan Hogan of Bloomfield

Roeper’s “A Detroit Anthology”

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1. Anna Clark (left) of Detroit, Aaron Waterman of Bloomfield, and J.M. Leija of St. Clair Shores 2. Lori Lutz (left) and Karen Johnson of Bloomfield and Marcy Sznewajs of Birmingham 3. Amy Walters (left) of Milford, Julie Poll, Sylbie Lombardo and Audrey James of Birmingham 4. Lawrence James (center) of Birmingham, Rose Clay (left) of Shelby Twp. and Kim Hessell of Troy 5. Eli Marako (left) of W. Bloomfield, Helena Jamieson of Birmingham

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entrance, reminiscent of an illicit speakeasy, proceeded to the Kresge Court for champagne and entertainment by aerialists, and then climbed the DIA’s dramatic spiral staircase to the Great Hall & Rivera Court for the party. Diversions included burlesque-style dancers on platforms, swing band Planet D Nonet, signature drinks, late-night bites and decadent desserts. And, of course, the mask contest judged by FJC alum chairs Joe Posch, Antonia McLemore and April Wagner which Laura Hughes won. Those who could get through the city’s traffic gridlock that night ($200-plus Uber fares) made their way to the after party at FJC alum Sean Harrington’s Centaur Bar. CIRQUE proceeds are earmarked for FJC’s $50,000 commitment to the museum’s Drawing in the Galleries and Art Carts programs.

Kristin Lusn and Leah Zanetti are chairing the next FJC event - ArtSeen at 6 p.m., Wednesday, April 22. It offers a close up look at the "Diego Rivera and Frida Kahlo in Detroit" exhibit as well as serious socializing. For more information on FJC activities and membership, go to HYPERLINK "http://www.foundersjuniorcouncil.com/"foundersjuniorcouncil.com or call Rachael Goodwin at (313) 833-8604.

JLB Patron Party

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1. Kate Montgomery (left), Nikki Broddock and Noelle Schiffer of Birmingham 2. Alicia DeCarolis (left) and Lisa Krueger of Birmingham, Samantha Williams of Royal Oak 3. Stephanie Smith (left) of Northville, Julie Gheen of Birmingham 4. Austin Marks (left) and Dan Morse of Bloomfield, Pat Lowman and Christopher Cook of Birmingham 5. Tracey Kevelighan (left) of Bloomfield, Libby Lopez of Auburn Hills 6. Sarah Ambrose (left) of Auburn Hills, Paula Wittek of Clawson, Josondra Notter and Tina Barile of Birmingham 7. Carol Lowman (left) of Birmingham, Stephanie Martin of Royal Oak, Maureen Conway of Grosse Pointe

FJC CIRQUE

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1. Amy Zimmer (left) of Bloomfield, Emily Krajniak and Lauren Jagger of Grosse Pointe 2. Marco (left) & Leah Zanetti of Bloomfield, Blake Ellis of Grosse Pointe, Jason Huvaere of Detroit, John Jagger of Grosse Pointe, Tony & Tiffany Saunders of Detroit 3. Joy & Allan Nachman of Bloomfield 4 David Nachman of NYC and Jason Eddleston of Birmingham 5. Susan Peslar (left) and Lindsay Rosenfeld of Royal Oak, Elanah Hunger of Franklin, Joy Nachman of Bloomfield (Photos: Joe Gall)

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Trends for Teens Two 15-year-old high school students, Eliana Margherio of Marian and Emily Prokop of Cranbrook Kingswood, with guidance from their parents, Pontiac’s ITA School principal and the Pontiac school board president, have launched a new project they call Trends for Teens. Its goal is to provide clothing and accessories for students living below the poverty level in grades 6-12 by opening school “stores” stocked with clothing the girls and their friends collect. Before shoppers can make selections, they must, together with their counselors and teachers, first set and achieve weekly, personal goals. Success is rewarded with “Trends Cash” which can be spent in the store.

The TFT Student Advisory Board includes eight ITA students and eight Bloomingham area students currently from four schools – Marian, Brother Rice, Cranbrook Kingswood, and Seaholm. They recently introduced the project by staging a fashion show featuring two ITA students from each grade modeling apparel from the store in their respective classrooms while a board member explained the program. Eliana’s mother Jennifer reported that the launch “…was a great success…the store looked great…the ITA kids were enthusiastic...and the teachers are excited to use the store as incentive for improvement.” Contributions of new or gently used clothing for 6th – 12th graders, as well as cash, may be arranged by contacting Jennifer at (248) 763-8939 or e-mail HYPERLINK "mailto:donations@trendsf4teens.org"donations@trendsf4teens.org.

Northwood University Awards Gala Melissa Spickler, founder of the Spickler Wealth Managent Group and a Merrill Lynch managing director, was one of six exceptional achievers honored at Northwood University’s 35th Outstanding Business Leader annual awards gala at The Breakers, in Palm Beach, Florida. The formal evening capped a weekend of events that included a forum and a round table with students at NU’s West Palm Beach campus and a VIP reception for 60 people aboard the Honey Fitz, the legendary yacht John F. Kennedy made famous. On Barron’s list of America’s Top 100 Women Financial Advisors, Spickler was nominated by Lynn Stinson. Spickler’s well wishers in the gala crowd of 250 ($350-ticket) also included her son Matthew, Tari Saylor, Tony Brinson, Stacey Cassis and Don Tocco. The 35th annual event raised $50,000 for the OBL Endowed Scholarship Fund.

Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; call 248.646.6390 or email samgerak@aol.com.

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ENDNOTE

Sales tax increase should be rejected ichigan lawmakers failed last year to pass a bill to adequately fund the state’s crumbling roads and decided to forego their duty and slap together a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that voters will decide on May 5. In simple terms, the proposal would authorize the state’s sales tax, now at six percent, to be as high as seven percent, and increase the state use tax from six to seven percent, along with a host of other revenue increases to be paid by state residents. For a variety of reasons, we are urging our readers to vote NO on what is known as Proposal 15-1 on the ballot.

As some background on this proposal, Michigan roads, which everyone concedes are in terrible shape, rely for the most part on state general fund monies allocated each year. This ballot proposal would now shift all road funding in the state to the state sales tax and any wholesale taxes on fuel.

At the same time, the proposal would eliminate the sales tax at the pump, which prior to now has been allocated to education and local government revenue sharing. To replace these funds, education and local revenue sharing would be shifted to sales tax revenues, along with the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit for lower income residents, which was cut severely when the current administration doled out tax cuts to the business community in the governor’s last term. The sales tax at the pump would be replaced with a substantially increased wholesale tax on fuel.

In addition to authorizing a state sales tax as high as seven percent and raising the use tax to

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seven percent, there are several other revenue increases, including the elimination of the annual decreases in vehicle registration costs tied to vehicle depreciation, increased registration fees for electric and recreational vehicles, continued application of the state sales tax on marine fuel and fuel for industrial vehicles.

Our first objection to this proposal has to do with the historical precedent set in the state of Michigan many decades ago of dictating earmarked funding for special issues through the use of constitutional amendments.

Rather than deciding how to fund the government based on existing revenues balanced against prioritized actual needs, Michigan is one of the few states in the country that constitutionally binds the legislature on how to spend state revenues, which means if circumstances change in future years, there is nothing lawmakers can do to address a shifting landscape. Further, by adding even more restrictions to the Michigan Constitution, voters are forced to come back to the ballot to make any changes in the future.

So thanks to the failure of leadership in Lansing to address the roads issue through legislation, voters are now facing a complicated ballot proposal, at a cost of $10 million for the election, which will change the constitution and activate 10 pieces of legislation tie-barred to this ballot issue that have already been approved.

Our second major objection is that we find the ballot language for the proposal to be a bit dishonest. Specifically, the ballot states that it would “eliminate sales and use taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel, allow an increase in the sales tax rate, dedicate revenue for school aid and revise eligible school aid uses.” While the elimination of

the sales tax on gas at the pump sounds nice, the ballot doesn’t acknowledge that the tax on gas at the wholesale level will be increased considerably higher. By most estimates, the wholesale tax increase will be passed on to consumers at a minimum of a 10-cent per gallon increase in the cost of gasoline at today’s price of a gallon.

Voters should also realize that while the proposed tax hike would generate about $2 billion per year in additional revenue, there would be little overall impact to money made available for road funds in the early going. In fact, a Michigan House fiscal analysis of the proposal estimates only $367.8 million for distribution to state and local road agencies through the Michigan Transportation Fund in fiscal year 2015-16, with an additional $865.3 million used to pay down the State Trunkline Fund debt. About $763.6 million would be distributed to road agencies in 2016-17, and $1.3 billion in 2017-18. All of this would also free up at least $300 million dollars from current road funding, which would be returned to the state’s general fund, not often mentioned by the folks in Lansing.

And then there is our objection to the politics that played into how this proposal was written so that the special interests in the state would get behind this constitutional change because they will all receive a substantial bump in annual funds if passed.

Lastly, we reject the faulty logic by some supporters of this constitutional sales tax increase that this is the best proposal we can expect out of state lawmakers. Voters should reject it and tell state leaders to go back and address the issue of roads through legislation, not a constitutional change.

Support Birmingham Schools bond issue irmingham Public Schools are asking residents to approve a $66 million bond proposition on Tuesday, May 5, designed to provide funds to the district for building and site upgrades, technology improvements, instructional upgrades, and safety and security improvements, asserting that by putting the bond on the May ballot, they will be able to provide for needed building repairs, offer regular technology updates and other advancements without increasing the tax rates currently paid for an existing bond issue.

That is accurate, although it must be pointed out that without a new bond proposal, taxes would actually decline for residents effective July 1 of this year by .83 mills under an earlier bond proposal the district is paying off. Currently, the district levies 3.9 mills on a 20-year bond from 2003, which they intend to retire early and

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replace with this one due to low interest rates.

However, district leaders counter that if this ballot proposal fails, they will reintroduce a similar proposition in the future, and it will then actually be a tax increase.

The $66 million bond proposal is primarily a building and technology improvement bond, with a small percentage of money earmarked for safety and other items, some of which we recognize as vital, such as making sure each building will have new secured entry vestibules created with A/V controlled access. District officials have provided a detailed spending plan for each of the school facilities which is available on the district website (birmingham.k12.mi.us) for voter review.

In general, we think that the building needs listed by the district are legitimate. Long gone are the days when school districts could afford to

make building maintenance and improvements out of the general fund monies, given the costs of education and the heavy load of legacy retirement costs. So it is hard to argue against addressing roof leaks, parking lot improvements and the like. Like others, however, we may be less than thrilled with a few items like heavy expenses for high school dugouts and scoreboards, but we think overall school officials have whittled down a $100 million wish list to mostly essentials for this bond issue.

The Birmingham district has historically been one of the top performing districts in the state and facilities and technology are certainly part of the equation in continuing to provide a quality education. So we urge district voters to say YES on the May 5 bond proposal.

Wake up to crystal clear blue water and playful days of outdoor summer fun, like golf, paddle boarding, biking, boating and more.

Or indoors with delicious cuisine, a day at the spa, or stroll through the charming streets of downtown Traverse City. To plan your next “Up North� getaway, call or book online.

800-748-0303 | grandtraverseresort.com || grandtraverseresort.com grandtraverseresort.com Owned & Operated by the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians

OO

We’re Proud of our

Roots

In celebration of National Volunteer Month, we salute the agents of Hall & Hunter Realtors who contribute countless hours each year to charitable organizations, churches, synagogues, schools and businesses in our area.

We are proud of the deep roots we have cultivated in our communities over the last six decades. Together, we will continue to help strengthen the cities our families call home.

248.644.3500 HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, MI 48009