GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • J. MARCH: MARAIS IN GROSSE POINTE
SAFE OR NOT? GROWING CONCERNS ABOUT USE OF WEED CONTROL CHEMICAL STILL IN USE BY OFFICIALS IN OAKLAND
DDA FUNDING: OVER $117 MILLION IN TAXES CAPTURED IN DECADE DIA TRANSPARENCY: SHINING A LIGHT ON REGIONAL NON-PROFIT ENDNOTE: BEST BETS FOR VOTERS IN NOVEMBER ELECTION ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792
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DOWNTOWN11.15
29
Use of weed control chemical faces growing concern Concerns are increasing, nationally and world-wide, about the use of the weed control chemical glyphosate, which some communities and school districts still use in Oakland County.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
16
Publisher David Hohendorf notes the publishing group's latest expansion effort and gives an inside look at some of the past long-form journalism features Downtown has presented that makes the publication different than others in the market.
CRIME LOCATOR
25
A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, presented in map format.
MUNICIPAL
79
Treasurer creates legal defense fund; La Strada bistro approved; two more bistro applicants; proposed changes at Baldwin Library; Kingsley Inn may be sold; changes in future art fairs sought; West Maple road test starts; plus more.
FRONT/BACK
114
The latest on what’s happening in the front and the back of the house in metro Detroit area restaurants with a series of short takes on the latest news and gossip for the industry.
AT THE TABLE
119
One would think J. March had died and gone to heaven after a visit to Marais in Grosse Pointe where Garrett Lipar, formerly of Torino, has take over the kitchen.
THE COVER Fall season at Kingswood Lake adjacent to Kingswood School on the grounds of the Cranbrook Educational Community in Bloomfield Hills. Downtown photo.
44 Capturing Oakland taxes Downtown development authorities in Oakland County have captured over $171 million in taxes in the last decade from local governments, the county, school districts and parks authorities.
57 Shining light on DIA Some officials are questioning whether the non-profit group managing the Detroit Institute of Art should be subject to state laws on transparency.
40
Sandra Ali
THE COMMUNITY HOUSE
121
Wiliam Seklar, President and CEO of The Community House (TCH), discusses the role played by TCH as a non-profit in the community and the importance of garnering local support.
SOCIAL LIGHTS
124
Society reporter Sally Gerak provides the latest news from the society and nonprofit circuit as she covers recent major events.
ENDNOTE
134
Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills voters will be deciding a number of city commission positions in the weeks ahead and we offer our opinion on who makes the most sense to be deciding critical issues in both communities.
FACES
26 40 55 77 103 109
Eric Gorges Sandra Ali Markham “Buck� Heid Sarah Winkler Ryan Holdan Sheila Sky Kasselman
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PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Katie Deska | Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf J. March | Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISING MANAGER James Bishop ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to most homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in downtown Birmingham. 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. If you are using the mail option, you must include a phone number for verification purposes. WEBSITE downtownpublications.com
FACEBOOK facebook.com/downtownpublications TWITTER twitter.com/downtownpubs
Member of Downtown Publications DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS WESTEND
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
y father, a senior production engineer with the General Motors company many decades ago, had two pieces of advice as I was thinking of heading off to college (too many years ago to mention here) when I told him I might seek out a career in journalism: you will work untold hours and you won't make much money.
M
Of course, my mother understood the drive that motivated me as she dutifully drove me each month from Sterling Heights, then an undeveloped migrant-farm community, to the then-Pontiac Press to turn in my high school correspondent column to editors there. It was in my DNA, so to speak. Now I have come full circle in life where my storytelling inclination allows me, and a dedicated staff of writers/reporters, to bring our newsmagazine to over 75,000 homes in Oakland County with the addition this month of a new edition of Downtown for Rochester and Rochester Hills.
we carried in our monthly publication months, and even sometimes a year or more, before anyone else recognized the importance of an issue. Take for instance the recent reports in one of the Detroit newspapers about the Michigan House finally starting to address legislation banning the use of plastic microbeads in personal care products like toothpaste, facial cleaners and shampoos. It's a story that Downtown Publications devoted considerable space to in February of 2014 because we recognized the trend developing across the country. We applied this same logic in May of this year as Canadian officials were nearing a decision on allowing lower level nuclear waste material to be stored underground within a stone's throw of the shoreline of Lake Huron, once again part of the chain of water resources we rely on in southeast Michigan for our drinking water.
My dad was correct. Untold hours. Not great money. But there are trade-offs, such as the opportunity to educate the public and hopefully allow them to shape the public agenda. Priceless.
In recent years we have tackled such topics as dangerous cargo being carried by trains through local communities; dating violence among teenagers; the gangs of Oakland County; and the rise of heroin use in the suburbs. More recently, we have focused on the racial and gender make-up of local police departments, tax free properties in Oakland County, and the cost of taxpayer-financed mailings by state lawmakers.
And because of the type of journalism we pursue at Downtown Publications, there is also the pride of bringing a different type of local news to residents here. Our focus is what we call hyper-local and we understand best what makes the local municipalities click because we are students of government. Yet our definition also includes looking at more substantial issues that impact our local area, something readers don't get from the other publications in the market.
We take the time, in each case, to identify and seek out the experts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; locally, in the halls of government in Lansing, the degreed experts at the universities in Michigan, various departmental offices in Washington D.C. and elsewhere in the country to talk directly to those who have a command of the information and data on a topic. We do the legwork, on behalf of our readers, to get the myriad of questions answered on issues of importance.
Our news organization is a rare breed in that we invest the staff, time and resources in what we refer to as long-form journalism, an opportunity to tell a longer than normal story that attempts to present a broader and more detailed take on issues we judge to be critical for our readership.
And in each case, we bring our storytelling to our readers long before anyone else in this and other markets has even recognized the issue is a developing concern. It is one of the reasons that our monthly newsmagazine is read, literally, cover to cover, and in many cases kept beyond its monthly shelf life.
One of the so-called 'perks' that are naturally part of the job as a newsperson is also knowing that, as a monthly newsmagazine, we often bring the major stories to our readers first. So we have our prideful moments, if you will, at Downtown Publications when one of the Detroit daily newspapers or a television station starts to cover a topic that
Long hours. Not great money. But a real satisfaction that we are performing a service for the public that no one else provides. David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com
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INCOMING Quality interview Please accept my sincere thanks, and also on behalf of the National Association of Medical Examiners ListService, for enabling us to read the interview (October/Downtown) regarding (Oakland County Medical Examiner) Dr. Dragovic, one of my colleagues. I personally appreciate the excellent quality of that interview. Peter Speth, MD New Jersey
Detailed news coverage I would like to commend you for your publication. Local news is hard to come by, especially with the dramatic decline in the major daily newspaper business. Downtown fills a gap in reporting of local issues and developments. I do not think any other media outlet has covered Bloomfield Township issues with such detail and candor. Having a vigilant press helps assure that the current quality of life and municipal service continues. I own a very small vineyard just north of Maple on Lahser. It was started four years ago on land I purchased next to my home, just onehalf acre. Total wine production for 2014 was 84 bottles. Watching over this little parcel of land has been interesting. Here are a few of the things that I have witnessed that vigilant localized reporting can impact or at the very least keep the community informed: Mineral exploration along Lahser Road and Maple Road in Bloomfield Township (the township has no jurisdiction over such exploration or recovery of underground deposits as witnessed recently by Rochester Hills,
SPEAK OUT We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities. Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.
Scio Township and Shelby Township.) Mature tree removal and landmark tree removal from commercial and development properties. The township has a tree preservation ordinance that should conditionally restrict the removal of such trees, however we have seen the North Course of Oakland Hills clear cut over the past two years, 16 mature pine trees removed from the Bank of America property with no permit, tree removal at the Bloomfield Commons shopping center along Maple and Lahser, and tree removal on Golfview 104-foot lots under development when the township ordinance requires a 120foot lot in the area for new construction. A very substantial irrigation well was dug recently in the far northeast corner of the North Course. This well draws water from a very wide area to the north and east of the golf course. Water wells fall under the jurisdiction of the state of Michigan. Leaking or contaminated soil under the Shell Oil Station at Maple and
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Lahser now scheduled to become a gas/convenience store (requesting 24hour operation). The MDEQ has indicated that this site was one of only 60 sites in the state owned by a major oil company. The Super Fund for soil cleanup is totally depleted in Michigan and, according to MDEQ, the new arrangement may terminate the responsibilities of the major oil company for any cleanup costs. The township has no jurisdiction over the "plume" under the station. Underground storage tanks fall under the jurisdiction of the Michigan DEQ. In my opinion, Bloomfield Township has delivered exceptional service to its residents. Oakland Hills Country Club is an asset to the community. Our business and shopping centers serve the residents of the community. Citizen awareness and involvement, partially by knowledge through the media, are crucial to keeping tabs on such issues. Thanks for watching and covering "local matters" with the detail and professional manner that you put
forward. I know that monthly publications may often look small by circulation standards, but in many homes Downtown is kept like a magazine… not a newspaper… to be read over a period of time, by several members of the family, thus increasing its impact over daily publications. Please keep up the good work. Michael Alberts Bloomfield Township
Discovering J. March Before discovering J. March, I had never read a restaurant review in my life. Now he is always a must read in your outstanding publication. In fact, I can't walk past several prominent Birmingham eateries without laughing about some of the things March has so memorably written about their food, service or even the owner's lack of footwear. Thanks to J. March I am now much tougher about both where I spend my dining dollars and what I get in return for my patronage. Jim Olson Birmingham
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DOWNTOWN
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RENEE LOSSIA ACHO EXPERIENCE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN AN AGENT AND AN EXPERT
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And So Do Their Clients Renee and her team work collaboratively as consultants to market, sell or find the perfect home by assessing and tailoring a plan specific to each client’s goal. The strength of each member ties the process together seamlessly from initial contact to closing: “Renee is a magician, and she and her team were fantastic. Renee sold our house and saved the deal when it almost fell through. Next, she found the perfect condo for us and performed her magic again. In the face of multiple offers, her expertise and advice allowed us to secure our new home. We have complete faith and trust in Renee and her team.”
Lenny Hutton Renee’s sincerity, ethical behavior and enthusiasm “Had me at hello” when we first met! I wanted her to represent my husband and I – both in our search for a new home, and the listing of the home we were selling. We now live exactly where we wanted to: in downtown Birmingham. She was diligent, brimming with creativity, great enthusiasm and always followed through with efficiency. I highly regard and recommend Renee Lossia Acho.” Amanda Fisher Renee Lossia Acho Carrie Clement Top Producer Buyers Agent Client Relations
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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 October 16, 2015. Placement of codes is approximate.
FACES
Eric Gorges t was the late 1990s when Eric Gorges gave up a secure job in information technology and started his custom motorcycle business, Voodoo Choppers. He now travels the country telling the story of other craftsmen on his nationally syndicated show "A Craftsman's Legacy." â&#x20AC;&#x153;I had a great job at Xerox for a number of years, then I became ill, to the point where I needed to re-evaluate my life and priorities," Gorges, who recently moved to Birmingham, said. "That's how I got into building motorcycles and shaping metal." Gorges walked away from his corporate career and started an apprenticeship with Ron Fournier, working on vintage cars and building custom hot rods. In 1999, Gorges started his own motorcycle business, building custom and heavily modified stock bikes, all which utilize handcrafted parts. Recently, Gorges began hosting "A Craftsman's Legacy," which can be seen on Detroit Public Television at 7:30 p.m. on Mondays and 11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. The show is also aired on Create TV at 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays. Born and raised in metro Detroit, Gorges lived in Shelby Township and Rochester before moving to Birmingham. Limiting the chopper business to about four motorcycles each year, Gorges chuckles when when asked about his own ride. "The last bike I had for myself I sold because I needed money to live, and with everything going on â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I bought one this year, but I haven't done anything to it yet," he said. In the show, Gorges interviews and works with various craftsmen throughout the nation, giving viewers insight into each particular craft and the personal story of each craftsman. Now in his second season, Gorges has featured crafts such as blacksmithing, glassblowing, clockmaking and others. He also receives a crash course in each of the trades from the craftspeople he interviews. "It's awesome. I'm a really hands-on guy, and that's my favorite part," he said. "We sit down and do an interview, then I get to go in their workshop and their environment and work with them. That's where everyone really opens up," he said. "It can be daunting and uncomfortable with the crew and lights in your face, but once they get in their shop, everything is forgotten. Everyone opens up in their shop because that's their environment." While each of the particular crafts and people on the show are very different, they all share a common connection, Gorges said. "The people we are focusing on, most of them are at the top of their game, so they have been doing that particular skill for a while," he said. "Pretty much all of them are sustaining life doing that. And they are happy. That doesn't necessarily equate to making a bunch of money. A lot of people aren't driven by money, they are driven by their hands." It's that pride of craftsmanship and artistry that Gorges focuses on both in his show and his life, working to create something very personal to those who create, as well as those supporting craftsmen. "We sort of live in this culture of commodity. There isn't a lot of value in things because we use it and we throw it away," he said. "There's so much waste and everyone has so much. We don't think about what we have and appreciate it."
I
Story: Kevin Elliott
Photo: Jean Lannen
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This newly constructed home was designed to fit into the 1920’s neighborhood in which the existing house had seen better days. Our goal was to salvage and recycle as much material as possible from the old house. In fact, we had just one 30 yard dumpster and used all of the wood from the existing house as we built this beautiful new home with today's amenities.
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It's a chemical most have likely never heard of, glyphosate, other than as the weed killer Roundup. A white crystal that is odorless, it was introduced by Monsanto in 1974, and it has since become the world's best selling herbicide of all time. It was developed to control a wide variety of weeds, grasses and broadleaf plants. Originally designed for farmers, it is also used, in a slightly different formulation, by landowners, local municipalities and school districts, and residential homeowners to keep weeds in check. According to scientific papers, the use of glyphosate in agriculture was originally limited to post-harvest treatments and weed control between established rows of tree, nut and vine crops. But widespread adoption of no-till farming practices, which increases the amount of water in the soil while expanding organic matter retention and more efficient farming, led to some crop varieties that became resistant to glyphosate. To accommodate that, in the late 1990s, Monsanto began selling genetically engineered seeds, such as soy, corn and cotton, that would be tolerant of glyphosate while the weeds around it were killed. Today, according to reports, 90 percent of the soy and 70 percent of corn grown in the United States are genetically modified. According to the Chemical Watch Factsheet, in the United States alone, approximately 180 to 185 million pounds of glyphosate are applied each year, with the greatest use, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, in the Mississippi River basin for weed control on corn, soybeans and cotton. But throughout the heartland of the country, including in Michigan, use has climbed, with 57 million pounds of glyphosate applied to cornfields in 2010, compared to 2000, when 4.4 million pounds was applied to U.S. cornfields. Despite U.S. consumption, China currently produces more than 40 percent of the world's supply of glyphosate, and exports 35 percent of it, notably to South America. Additionally, parklands, playgrounds, sidewalks, school yards and other areas all over the country are routinely sprayed with Roundup or a generic version, in order to keep areas weed free. It's available for homeowners seeking to prevent weeds from invading their flower beds, lawns and sidewalks at every Home Depot, Lowe's and neighborhood garden center across the country. The question comes up, therefore – is it safe for us to be around glyphosate? Critics of the pesticide assert that exposure to Roundup and glyphosate,
APPROXIMATELY 180 TO 185 MILLION POUNDS OF GLYPHOSATE ARE APPLIED EACH YEAR IN THE COUNTRY
which can come through to humans running on sprayed grass to exposure in drinking water from surface runoff or drainage into wells, possibly through our drinking water, the fish we eat, and off of agricultural products, may damage liver and kidneys, cause irregular heartbeat, reproductive disorders, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's, to cancer. Some cities, such as Chicago, New York City, and Boulder, as well as countries like Holland, Denmark, and Sweden, have banned the use of the chemical in all public spaces. In September, California's EPA stated it will now list glyphosate as known to cause cancer. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) only performs intensive safety tests on chemicals every 15 years, with 2015 a testing year. The agency's glyphosate fact sheet for its Drinking Water and Health page notes, for the time being, that long-term high exposure to glyphosate “has the potential to cause reproductive effects, and that there is inadequate evidence to state whether or not glyphosate has the potential to cause cancer from a lifetime exposure in drinking water.” It states the major source of glyphosate in drinking water is runoff from herbicide use. A report, Epidemiological Studies of Glyphosate and Cancer: A Review, by Pamela Mink, Jack S. Mandel, Bonnielin K. Sceurman and Jessica I. Lundin in August 2012, stated, “The United States Environmental Protection Agency and other regulatory agencies around the world have registered glyphosate as a broad spectrum herbicide for use on multiple food and nonfood use crops. Glyphosate is widely considered by regulatory authorities and scientific bodies to have no carcinogenic potential, based primarily on results of carcinogenicity studies of rats and mice...Our review found no consistent pattern of positive associations with cancer.” The German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment published a toxicology review in 2013, finding that “the available data is contradictory and far from being convincing” with regard to correlations between exposure to glyphosate formulations and various cancers, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A 2002 review by the European Union determined that exposure to Roundup posed no health risk to humans. But a 2014 review article in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health updated that, reporting a significant
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association between B-cell lymphoma and glyphosate exposure. In its literature, Monsanto has long asserted that Roundup poses no risk to humans nor to the environment. In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Their determination was based on epidemiological studies, animal studies, and in vitro studies by 17 cancer experts from 11 countries who looked at the available scientific evidence on five different pesticides, including glyphosate. The WHO report stated that “Glyphosate caused DNA and chromosomal damage in mammals and in human and animal cells studied in laboratories. Studies of workers who had been exposed to glyphosate in the U.S., Canada, and Sweden were found to have increased risks for non-Hodgkin lymphoma that persisted after adjustment for other pesticides.” Responding to questions on its safety to humans, EPA spokesperson John Peterson of the EPA's Chicago region office said, “We are nearing completion of our cancer review which included consideration of the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) review. We expect to release our draft risk assessment within the next few months.” With all of the conflicting data on the pesticide, what's the real deal on glyphosate? Representatives at Monsanto did not respond to questions from Downtown Publications, but according to the company's website, glyphosate, and other similar chemicals they produce, helps farmers produce more from their land while conserving more of the world's natural resources like water and energy. The website states that “Glyphosate-based herbicides are supported by one of the most extensive worldwide human health, safety and environmental databases ever compiled for a pesticide product. Comprehensive toxicological studies repeated over the last 40 years have time and again demonstrated that glyphosate poses no unreasonable risks to people, the environment, or pets when used as directed on the label.” Local experts and scientists disagree, and are concerned for human, animal and environmental welfare. “There is a concern. There is much more intensive testing in Europe than the EPA has done – much more in-depth, and longer,” said Oakland County Water
CHEMICALS THAT ARE EMERGING TO BE OF MOST CONCERN ARE THE ONES IN THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT
Resources Commissioner Jim Nash. He noted that his office does not measure for glyphosate at all. “It's considered safe by the EPA, and that's what the MDEQ (Michigan Department of Environmental Quality) relies on.” According to spokespersons from MDEQ and Michigan Health and Human Services, the state of Michigan does not test for nor regulate glyphosate as it is a federal issue controlled and monitored by the EPA. Despite not monitoring it locally, Nash said glyphosate is a chemical he personally worries about, and doesn't use. “A professional applicator has to be trained. But when people just buy it and apply it themselves, they may not follow the directions,” he noted. Nash said he is most concerned about buffers, or a lack of buffers, between lawns and water. “When lawns go to the water's edge, anything on the water flows right off of it. It's not much more impervious than concrete. Anything you put on it can flow right off. Often, you're encouraged to have a buffer of bushes, native plants with deep roots, things that can get absorbed in that area,” he said. “When glyphosate gets into the water, it says on the label it can hurt fish and invertebrates which fish feed on.” In particular, scientists have noted that when glyphosate is combined with other chemicals, it becomes even more toxic, as the other chemicals become similar to a conductor for the glyphosate. A French study, reported in Scientific American, stated that umbilical cords were especially sensitive, and stress them “to suicide.” The study also looked at a pond filled with frog and toad tadpoles. The scientists added the manufacturer's recommended dose of Roundup; returning two weeks later, they found 50 to 100 percent of the population of several species of tadpoles had been killed. “The thing that concerns me the most is the prevalence of its use and health concerns. The rate of exposure to glyphosate, and how much humans are exposed to it is one thing, for human health. But we also need to look at what it's doing to the ecostructure,” said Wayne State University Law School professor Nick Schroek, director of the Transnational Environmental Law Center. “Whether it's just toxic or a carcinogen, it all comes down to exposure. We're exposed through so many sources, from big farms to local stores. If we're exposed with our food and in our yards, eventually that level of exposure can lead to big problems.” Schroek said the chemicals that are
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emerging to be of most concern are the ones in the aquatic environment. “What happens is you have runoff from treated yards and fields from rain events into rivers, lakes and streams, and that mixes with other chemicals. It's one thing when it's just one chemical. It's another when it's a mixtures of chemicals. We need to look at what it's doing to birds, mammals, aquatic life, reptiles with such a wide use of adoption.” “I hate the chemical. It's a pet peeve of mine,” said Linda Schweitzer, associate professor in environmental chemistry and toxicology at Oakland University. “While we're not sure what it's doing with the ecosystem, the human health implications are profound. There's evidence that does suggest that it has toxicity to human cells, and cancer may be one disease that has involvement.” Schweitzer takes that statement even further, stating, “There seems to be a link between glyphosate and cancer. If you see increases between the two, and the scientific literature sees these links, then you can call it a carcinogen. Which is exactly why the World Health Organization is calling it a carcinogen. I say if there's a body of evidence, it says a lot.” When asked why the EPA has been reluctant to make that connection, she explained, “The EPA says there has be a strong amount of evidence, and different kinds of evidence. There has to be animal studies, and different kinds of epidemiology, as well as evidence on the molecular level. For the EPA, it's not just circumstantial evidence. It has to be rigorous, scientific studies that shows the evidence stands up. “However, the body of evidence is stacking up very quickly,” she emphasized. “Their old data is becoming outdated very quickly.” A scientific study done in 2014 by scientists in Washington state, Oklahoma and Germany, by Swanson, Leu, Abrahamson, and Wallet, concluded, “Evidence is mounting that glyphosate interferes with many metabolic processes in plants and animals and glyphosate residues have been detected in both. Glyphosate disrupts the endocrine system and the balance of gut bacteria, it damages DNA and is a driver of mutations that lead to cancer.” “Cancer rates in children are much higher than they were pre-World War II, when lots of chemicals started entering the environment. It's not just better diagnoses, it's exposure,” affirmed Donna Kashian, associate professor for environmental
MANY LOCAL MUNICIPALITIES AND SCHOOL DISTRICTS USE ROUNDUP, OR GENERIC FORMS OF GLYPHOSATE
toxicology at Wayne State University. “We need to be more cognizant of the chemicals we expose ourselves to and the food we eat. We keep saying chemicals are OK, until it gets to a level that we have to stop. The data we have now may not give us all the risks.” Kashian, unlike some of her fellow scientists, doesn't totally invalidate the use glyphosate. “Large agriculture is one thing,” she said, noting it's different to her from home use, because in large scale agricultural use, glyphosate can protect the food supply. “You have to take a risk assessment. It's different than lawns. At what level is it dangerous, but does the human population need the food? We keep taking more and more land out of agricultural use. So we have to magnify the efficiency of our cropland. Pesticides are one tool that help us do that. It's worth the risk because we have to accept some level of risk.” But she draws her line in the sand there. “Municipalities, schools, homes, gardens – they're a different story,” Kashian said. “I just say, c'mon. Around your children? I live around wells. The possibility of it getting into our water supply is very high, and it's not worth it. “The general population should minimize chemical use completely,” she said. “Americans have to have perfect lawns and no dandelions. It irks me. I can't justify it. There are many different ways to manage weeds. We can accept weeds, or plant natural grasses, or rock gardens. Common sense should tell us this.” Kashian believes that “the scientific community probably knew it wasn't a good thing. I suspect it is an endocrine disrupter and a carcinogen. But it's not a new DDT because it doesn't last the same way in the environment. DDT's half life in the environment was so long and it could biomagnify.” “It's a little bit of apples and oranges,” said Schweitzer regarding comparisons to DDT, while noting there are similarities to the release of a potentially toxic chemical into the environment, and then seeing harmful effects decades later. Like glyphosate, DDT was a colorless, odorless crystal known for its insecticide properties. In an introduction to Rachel Carson's Silent Spring, which exposed the environmental impact on entire species of indiscriminate spraying of DDT in the U.S., “DDT enabled the conquest of insect pests in agriculture and of ancient insect-borne disease just as surely as the atomic bomb destroyed military enemies and
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dramatically altered the balance between humans and nature.” The book exposed how DDT use was poisoning both wildlife and the environment, and endangering human health. That is the same allegation that opponents of glyphosate are making today. Schroeck said the difference is that “DDT was harmful because birds and animals couldn't even form eggs. We're not seeing that kind of complete species collapse, so I wouldn't go that far at this point. What I am concerned about is bioaccumulation, where a small organism ingests the toxin (of glyphosate), and then that organism gets eaten by a bird or another organism up the food chain, or gets eaten by something else. We're seeing mercury, lead, and various toxins showing up. That's what you have to be worried about. “I'm more concerned about the end product being about human health,” Schroeck continued. “After a rain event, glyphosate is washed into our water supply. Then there are a lot of potential ways for these chemicals to get into our bodies. We're drinking the water. We're eating the fish. We're eating fruits and vegetables that have been treated agriculturally. The reality is, regulation over these herbicides and pesticides is not stringent enough. We could require more environmental assessment over these products before they're ever released on the market.” Schweitzer agrees. “It wasn't tested for how it reacts on humans or the environment,” she said. “Human health implications are profound, and so are they for soil microbes. Glyphosate inhibits herbs. It wasn't supposed to be designed for humans, but what they failed to realize is that although it may not have toxicity, there are microbes in our guts. Our digestive system requires microbes, and so it is only recently that scientists have begun studying glyphosate on these microbes. I believe it's the change of these microorganisms in our guts, that could be one reason why we're all fat. But until someone proves it, it's just a theory. It could be public enemy number one.” Environmentally, Schweitzer said glyphosate kills soil microbes, “and the soil is a living organism. It's not just a dead place to douse insecticides. Healthy soil is supposed to be a healthy place with lots of stuff growing in it, little organisms, fungi, bacteria, bugs. Well, glyphosate is killing all the healthy stuff in the soil.” Many local municipalities and local school districts use Roundup, or generic forms of glyphosate, in weed control. Others
COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE QUESTIONING EXPOSING RESIDENTS TO GLYPHOSATE'S TOXICITY
outsource the contractual work, stating they are unaware of what is used in their own community. Bloomfield Township Department of Public Works director Tom Trice said the township uses Roundup or another type of “total kill” herbicide around fences and landscaping areas to keep weeds under control. In Birmingham, Lauren Wood, director of public services, said the city uses a product with glyphosate in it for spot treatment of weeds in gravel areas and sidewalks, as needed, but it isn't used near water areas. However, Jamie Spivy, foreman for Bloomfield Hills Department of Public Works, said they use calcium chloride in most places. In Beverly Hills, a spokesperson said they don't use Roundup or any product with glyphosate “because they don't want that pesticide in their parks.” Bingham Farms doesn't spray for weed control. “The city uses it for weeds with bare grounds, warning tracks, and areas as needed,” said Bill Wright, with Farmington Hills parks and recreation department. Brian Pickworth, with Farmington Hills' Department of Public Works, said they use Roundup Pro and other herbicides, which do not contain glyphosate, when Roundup alone doesn't work. “We've been using a combination of the two for about four or five years,” he said. “Roundup is used around fences, guardrails, and some other areas.” He said the other combination works well for poison ivy, a problem the city has had in the past. When either pesticide is used, the city posts it, which he said is required by applicators under state law. Commerce Township also uses Roundup for weed control in its parks and other areas, township supervisor Tom Zoner said. In Waterford, Dave Papke, superintendent for facilities and operations said glyphosate is only used in the the parking lot areas of the township campus for weeds in the cracks. “The township uses TruGreen for the other areas, and TruGreen doesn't use glyphosate.” Michael Hartner, director of the Rochester Hills Forestry Department, said the city uses an outside contractor that uses glyphosate for controlling phragmites, a large perennial grass found in wetlands that is dense, tall and very invasive. However, the Rochester Department of Public Works said they only use a root-based herbicide, rather than glyphosate, “which will kill anything with chlorophyll.” The city of Farmington, as well as Troy,
Huntington Woods, and Highland Township, reported that they contract out their services and aren't aware of what is used. If it is utilized in Huntington Woods, officials said the only areas that would be sprayed would be along the I-696 service drive. Many other Oakland County communities did not respond to repeated calls, including West Bloomfield, Wolverine Lake Village, Walled Lake, Auburn Hills, and Royal Oak. Just as worrisome, or even more, are the schools which use a form of glyphosate for weed control, which can come into some contact with children. Both Bloomfield Hills Schools and Birmingham Public Schools use Roundup. Marcia Wilkinson, Birmingham Schools spokesperson, said, “We use Roundup minimally on sidewalk cracks and fence lines. It is not used near playgrounds, etc. It is applied by personnel who have been trained in how to properly handle and dispense the product.” In West Bloomfield, they also utilize glyphosate. West Bloomfield Schools spokesperson Pamela Zajac said, “The West Bloomfield School District has used products that include the chemical glyphosate in a limited capacity in order to treat weeds on concrete and asphalt areas which are also known as 'right-of-way' areas. This chemical is not applied on grass or playground areas and the district only applies treatments during summer months while school is not in session. In the limited capacity that the school district has used products that include glyphosate, the district always used pre-mixed and ready-to-use products as opposed to concentrate that requires mixing on premises. The district applies the product according to label instructions.” Judy Evola, spokesperson for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools said they also use glyphosate, “but only in various cracks of the sidewalk and in pavement around school property where weeds may grow. We use it strictly in the summer and on weekends when there are not children in the area, and we follow all application guidelines. We use 'ready to use' containers and there is no mixing it with any other products.” Novi Community Schools also uses glyphosate, according to maintenance director Mike Dragoo. “We use the generic chemical glyphosate. We use it all over, although not on general grounds, like we don't use it on playgrounds. But we do on beds and mulch beds. By keeping up our mulch, we don't need as much, and if we have tall weeds, we hand pull,” he said. “My guys all have their pest licenses, and go to continuing education. We even mix a little bit less than protocol, because the stuff costs us so much money. We also use a pre-emergent in the spring and summer.” Cranbrook Schools uses it for spot treatment on all of their grounds, according to Stephen Pagnani, head of marketing for Cranbrook Education Community. “We use it in limited treatment for spot treatment, such as in sidewalk cracks where something has sprouted, like in the spring after heavy rains. We don't use it at all for heavy treatment, and we don't spray the whole playing fields.” Many schools have determined they don't want to expose their students to toxic chemicals. Lori Grein, director of communications for Rochester Community Schools, said they do not use glyphosate. Similarly Troy School District, Mercy High School in Farmington Hills, The Roeper Schools in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, and Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Township, don’t utilize glyphosate. Mercy assistant principal Larry Baker said, “No, our personnel doesn't utilize any chemicals on our grounds.” Detroit Country Day Schools refused to supply any information. Cities around the country are questioning the wisdom of exposing their residents to glyphosate's toxicity, as well. Chicago, Boulder, Colorado and Richmond, California are all municipalities which have banned the use of the pesticide in the last 18 months. In the summer of 2015, groups actively protested the heavy use of Roundup in New York City's parks, including a Change.org petition urging residents to fight its use. Around the world, between 2013 and 2015, Argentina, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Bermuda, Columbia, El Salvador, and France have all banned the use of glyphosate. “When a chemical has the ability to change the gender of frogs and completely warp the mating habits of amphibians, shouldn't that chemical be considered a threat to life on the planet and be forbidden from use?” asked Natural News in July 2015, regarding the EOA assessing dangers of glyphosate. “Does anyone care about endocrine system health?” downtownpublications.com
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FACES Sandra Ali eekend news anchor for WDIV-Channel 4, Sandra Ali is more than just an exotic beauty with a polished on-air persona; she is a brilliant scholar with cultural authority on the Middle East. “My mom and dad are both Egyptian and a lot of our extended family is still in Cairo,” she said. “My parents were married in Egypt and moved to the U.S., like a lot of other families, in search of a better life.” Ali’s family lived in New York City, but returned to Egypt when she was just an infant. Her family moved back to New York when she was five-yearsold, and the return was a major culture shock. “The language barrier was a huge problem for me,” she said. “I learned to speak English by watching the news.” The self-proclaimed “nerd” graduated summa cum laude from Syracuse University’s prestigious S.I. Newhouse School of Journalism at just 20-years-old and by the age of 21, she had earned her master’s from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. “It’s an extremely challenging program. You are in school 24/7.” Ali did more than study in graduate school; she also interned for WBBM-Channel 2 in Chicago. “I got a stint on NY-1 News,” said Ali. “I did that for a couple months.” For the first time, Ali’s family and friends back in New York City could watch her on TV. The self-starting fireball was quickly scooped up by the CBS affiliate in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Before long, Fox 2 News in Detroit took notice of Ali and recruited her to a top 10 market at just 24-years-old. “I was over-the-moon,” she said. She was later lured away to anchor the NBC affiliate in Cincinnati, Ohio before WDIV-Channel 4 hired Ali. She and her husband Shawn Ley, also a WDIV reporter, moved to the metro Detroit area. They eventually moved to Birmingham to raise their family. “I met my husband when I was working in Detroit the first time. He worked at WDIV.” Ley and Ali have been married for nine years. They juggle highprofile careers and two young children. “It works for us. When I’m here at the station, my husband is with the kids. He is the dad at the park.” To her surprise and gratitude, Ali won the Associated Press award for Best Hard News Reporter in 2002 and Michigan’s Association of Broadcasters’ award for Best Breaking News Reporter in 2003. “I never submit myself for awards,” she said. “It’s really humbling to be recognized by your peers.” Ali appears weekends at 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. and most weeknights on WDIV-Channel 4. She has enjoyed a very successful career with appearances on Fox News, CNN and CNN Headline News. She has interviewed former Secretary of State Colin Powell, the Queen of Jordan, and former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. “I’m very grateful that in over a decade, I’ve been able to cover so many great stories. Detroit is arguably one of the best (cities) for news in the country.”
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ore than $171 million in taxes intended for local schools, community colleges, parks, libraries, local governments and other millages were diverted through tax increment financing (TIF) from 2004 to 2014 to two dozen downtown development authorities (DDA) in Oakland County. Yet, when it comes to knowing what a DDA or TIF is and how they work, the majority of taxpayers are simply left in the dark. "What we hear from the residents is, 'you're taking our money,' said Clawson DDA director Joan Horton. "What some don't understand is that with a TIF, we are keeping that money in the community that would be going off to the county and spread out to other taxing authorities. That is something that benefits the community as a whole. "They truly don't understand the amount of funds that would leave if we didn't have a DDA. About 60 percent of our funding is from TIF, and that is money that would leave if we didn't have it." Granted with the ability to collect taxes and other sources of revenue, a downtown development authority is a taxing entity intended to help support a community's downtown area by diverting property taxes from local sources and reinvesting the funds back into the downtown from where they were collected. That means taxes collected for local schools, community colleges, governments and other taxing jurisdictions are instead used for capital improvement projects in a downtown district. Utilizing this tax increment financing mechanism, some DDAs have been able to transform their downtowns into booming economic districts. In Ferndale, the DDA was able to decrease vacancy rates in the downtown area from 30 percent to about two percent over the past decade, along with more than $68 million in public/private investment. In northwest Oakland County, the small village of Holly has boosted occupancy rates from 50 percent to nearly 100 percent in the past five years.
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Granted with the ability to collect taxes and other sources of revenue, a downtown development authority is a taxing entity intended to help support a community's downtown area by diverting property taxes from local sources and reinvesting the funds back into the downtown from where they were collected. That means taxes collected for local schools, community colleges, governments and other taxing jurisdictions are instead used for capital improvement projects in a downtown district. Utilizing this tax increment financing mechanism, some DDAs have been able to transform their downtowns into booming economic districts. In Ferndale, the DDA was able to decrease vacancy rates in the downtown area from 30 percent to about two percent over the past decade, along with more than $68 million in public/private investment.
"By and large, they have been beneficial. They really support economic development in their districts," Dan Hunter, deputy director of Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs, said about the 25 downtown development authorities in existence in the county. "Downtown Ferndale or Rochester, those are two shining stars out there, and Holly. By and large, they have helped with infrastructure, marketing and events in their respective areas." Currently, there are 25 DDAs in the county, according to Oakland County Economic Development and Community Affairs, including DDAs in Auburn Hills; Berkley; Clawson; Commerce Township; Farmington; Ferndale; Hazel Park; Highland Township; Holly Village; Lake Orion Village; Lathrup Village; Lyon Township; Madison Heights; Milford Village; Ortonville; Oxford Village; Pleasant Ridge; Rochester; Royal Oak; Royal Oak Township; Southfield; South Lyon; Troy; Walled Lake; and Wixom. Despite the potential benefits DDAs offer a community, a number state and local policymakers are calling for reforms to the DDA's tax increment financing model. In March of this year, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners passed, for the first time, a policy calling for a sunset on how long taxes may be diverted through the TIF districts. In 2013, the Michigan state legislature and Gov. Rick Snyder passed a package of bills to prohibit Tax Increment Financing Authorities (TIFAs), including DDAs, local development financing authorities and other entities utilizing TIF, from capturing revenue from the Detroit Zoo and Detroit Institute of Arts millages in order for the money to remain with the zoo and the museum. In 2014, further changes were proposed to the state's law allowing the establishment of downtown development authorities. And, in October of this year, the state House Committee on Local Government took testimony from others calling for TIF reform. Oakland County Commissioner (R-White Lake, Waterford) and former state Rep.
Eileen Kowall, who sponsored the 2013 and 2014 legislation, said the policy at the county level and proposed changes to the state law were done as a matter of "public trust." "With the zoo and DIA, Oakland, Macomb and other TIFs were capturing the millages," Kowall said. "We didn't think it was right that people voted for a millage for the zoo and then have some of that taken off the top for sidewalks or other projects. In the future, if any entity wants a similar millage collection for whatever purpose, people would be more suspect." At the county level, the Oakland County Board of Commissioners has implemented a new policy for DDAs and other bodies requesting new or revised TIF plans, which requires the DDA to agree to a sunset provision establishing a set time frame on how long taxes in the district can be diverted. Currently, DDAs created prior to 1994 may collect taxes indefinitely. Oakland County Deputy Executive Robert Daddow said the county had been interested in establishing such a policy since 2006, but placed it on hold during the recession. "We had looked at it around 2006 and 2007, and thought it had to be updated. Then 2008 rolled around and, boy, that went on the back burner as projects went away," Daddow said. "As we pulled out of the recession, as it relates to property, people became more interested in DDAs. We came up with two or three more communities doing major projects. As a result, we said, 'Wait a minute, we are already contributing more than $7 million a year on property taxes, and we have potential projects where we will contribute even more going forward. We wanted to bring that off the back burner and put it on the front burner." Jerry Dettloff, executive director for the Michigan Downtown Association and a member of the Rochester Hills Planning Commission, said the association welcomes reforms, but believes it should be done in a smart, lasting way. "We are all about reform, but if you are going to do it, do it right," he said. "We don't
want to see DDAs harmed in any way because they are such a vital economic tool to our state." In total, DDAs in Oakland County retained $39.5 million from 2004 to 2014 in funds for their communities that would have instead been collected for Oakland County's operating fund. About $2.3 million in funds were kept by DDAs that would have gone to the county's parks and recreation fund, according to Oakland County's Equalization Division. Broken down by year, total funds collected by DDAs in the county totaled $16.4 million in 2004; $20.7 million in 2005; $14.4 million in 2006; $18.9 million in 2007; $19.8 million in 2008; $19.1 million in 2009; $15.9 million in 2010; $12.4 million in 2011; $11.2 million in 2012; $10.8 million in 2013; and $11.7 million in 2014. While the figures may represent lost revenue to other taxing jurisdictions, they also represent the impact that DDAs have had on property values in their own communities. That's because funds captured by a DDA's tax increment financing plan include only the amount of property tax increases from the year that its TIF plan was created. In other words, while a DDA may be able to collect taxes through TIF in theory, it can only collect the amounts equal to the increase in property value from the year the DDA's TIF plan was approved. Property taxes at or below the level recorded when a TIF is established aren't captured by the TIF district. A taxing authority may only opt out of a DDA's tax capture if the DDA's tax increment financing plan was approved prior to 1994. In cases where DDAs were created after 1994, taxing authorities may opt out only at the time the DDA is created, or when there is an expansion of the tax capture area. Taxing authorities with the ability to opt out may include Oakland County, Oakland County Parks and Recreation, the Huron-Clinton Metropolitan Authority (HCMA), Oakland Community College (OCC), local school districts, and other tax levies approved by voters, such as SMART bus millage or other taxes. Millages
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While the figures may represent lost revenue to other taxing jurisdictions, they also represent the impact that DDAs have had on property values in their own communities. That's because funds captured by a DDA's tax increment financing plan include only the amount of property tax increases from the year that its TIF plan was created. In other words, while a DDA may be able to collect taxes through TIF in theory, it can only collect the amounts equal to the increase in property value from the year the DDA's TIF plan was approved. Property taxes at or below the level recorded when a TIF is established aren't captured by the TIF district. In most cases, the investment from public and private funds going into a DDA district is far greater than the amount of taxes captured by that DDA.
collected for the Detroit Institute of Arts and Detroit Zoo can't be captured by DDAs, under a state law passed in 2013. Those taxing authorities that do choose to opt out may do so completely or on a partial basis, if the taxing authority and the DDA come to an agreement at the time of creation or when the capture area is expanded. The Oakland County Equalization Division said OCC and the HCMA have opted out of some agreements, either completely or partially. A spokesperson for the equalization division said they weren't aware of any local school districts that have opted out of DDA capture districts. Bob Donohue, chairman of the Michigan Downtown Association's board and director of Main Street Oakland County, said that in most cases, the investment from public and private funds going into a DDA district is far greater than the amount of taxes captured by that DDA. However, not all downtowns are created equal. "The amount of money diverted to DDAs has generated far more in investment, no question," Donohue said. "When Main Street started in 2000, we required collecting data, and hard data shows overwhelmingly that there is far more investment being put in." The Rochester DDA captured about $20.3 million through tax increment financing from 2004 to 2014, according to Oakland County's Equalization Division, indicating a steady rise in property values. Meanwhile occupancy rates in the city's downtown district are currently close to capacity, said Rochester DDA Director Kristi Trevarrow. "We are at 98 percent, currently,â&#x20AC;? Trevarrow said. "Though, we never have been all that down. Ten years ago, we were probably at 92 or 93 percent.â&#x20AC;? Some of the projects included in Rochester's DDA include a Main Street makeover in 2012, which included a partnership with the Michigan Department of Transportation to rebuild the road and streetscape in that area. This year, the DDA is constructing its second parking platform, with the city contributing about $12 million in the structures.
"Plans are different for every community, depending on where they start. When we got started, we focused on capital improvement projects," Trevarrow said. "As time goes by, you focus on the types of businesses you want to see in your district, then how to drive traffic to the businesses through special events and marketing." The Rochester DDA was formed in 1983, and has since partnered with Main Street Oakland and utilizes the national Main Street Four-Point Approach, which focuses on design, organization, promotions, and economic restructuring. In addition to the DDA, Rochester also utilizes a Principal Shopping District (PSD), which is a separate entity from the DDA and collects taxes through a special assessment. And, while the DDA is permitted to levy up to 2 mills on properties in the downtown district, Trevarrow said that tax isn't being levied. "They work vey well together," Trevarrow said of the DDA and PSD, which was created in 1994. "The DDA is focused more on capital improvement and business retention, and the PSD more on promotion of the district." Major capital improvement projects in a DDA district may also be funded through a bond issue. By utilizing TIF funds to repay the bonds, a DDA is essentially borrowing against future tax increments brought about by those projects. In Rochester, all of the DDA's bonds have been repaid and the DDA isn't carrying any debt, Trevarrow said. While Rochester's DDA has received accolades from the county for its operation, other communities may find themselves under criticism. Donohue points to his own community of Commerce Township, which is currently carrying about $75 million in debt to essentially build a downtown that doesn't yet exist. Created in 1984, the Commerce DDA was originally established to stop annexation of the township's property by Wixom and Walled Lake by providing sewer and water services in the district, which currently includes a 2,705-acre development area and a 1,719-acre capture
area in the southeast portion of the township. In 2003, the DDA began using bonds to purchase land in the area, including two former golf courses and parkland. The DDA then constructed Martin Parkway, a road running from the terminus of M-5 at Pontiac Trail, north to Richardson Road. The property purchase now also includes plans for Commerce Towne Place, a 330-acre area that will consist of single and multiple family housing, a lifestyle center, assisted care living, and other commercial and business developments. However, with a current bond debt of about $75 million, the Commerce Township DDA has collected about $20 million from its TIF in the decade from 2004 to 2014. The DDA is also hoping to expand areas of its TIF capture to include future development. "The DDA law, most people will tell you, is extremely, poorly written. There is no definition of a downtown," Donohue said. "There's no downtown in the Commerce DDA, and situations like that across the state have turned people against DDAs. It's the first 'D' in DDA that is an issue. That was part of the controversy, last year." Originally passed in 1975 as a way of encouraging vibrant downtowns to support the overall community, Michigan's Public Act 197 outlines the establishment of a downtown development authority to focus on downtown revitalization. In 1980, the state's Tax Increment Financing Act was passed to assist the financing of downtown revitalization. The process for establishing a DDA begins with the local governing body, which must hold a public hearing and pass a resolution declaring its intent to create a DDA. Taxpayers within the proposed downtown district must be notified, as well as each of the taxing entities in the proposed district. In the cases of DDAs established after 1994, the taxing entities within the DDA district may opt out of the TIF capture, while those created prior to 1994 may not. The municipality must then establish an ordinance creating the DDA and designating its boundaries. A DDA governing board is then created, which
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The process for establishing a DDA begins with the local governing body, which must hold a public hearing and pass a resolution declaring its intent to create a DDA. Taxpayers within the proposed downtown district must be notified, as well as each of the taxing entities in the proposed district. In the cases of DDAs established after 1994, the taxing entities within the DDA district may opt out of the TIF capture, while those created prior to 1994 may not. The municipality must then establish an ordinance creating the DDA and designating its boundaries. A DDA governing board is then created, which must consist of the municipality's chief executive officer and eight to 12 members appointed by the municipal governing body. In general, a majority of the board must be individuals with ownership or business interests in the property.
must consist of the municipality's chief executive officer and eight to 12 members appointed by the municipal governing body. In general, a majority of the board must be individuals with ownership or business interests in the property, with one residing in the district. If a DDA board anticipates the need for capturing tax or using revenue bonds, it must create a development plan and TIF plan, and have those plans adopted by the DDA board and municipality. The creation of the authority then allows for a variety of funding options, which in turn can be used to fund public improvements in a downtown district. Funding may include a tax increment financing, tax millages, special assessments, bonds, donations, contributions, revenue from the property or a combination of available options. By far, the most utilized form of financing is TIF. According to the Michigan Association of Counties (MAC), a total of 416 DDAs utilizing TIF are operating in the state. According to the MAC, the purpose of the state's DDA law has been misinterpreted by some communities to fund projects not intended in the law. Further, the reporting to the state required by law of various authorities utilizing TIF capture hasn't been occurring as it should. "What we are working on now is reform at the state level regarding the statutes of how DDAs and other tax increment financing authorities operate," said Derek Melot, a spokesman for the MAC. "State law requires them to report to the state, specifically treasury. Representatives of treasury testified that most don't file, or about two-thirds don't. The language was that we never had more than 200 report in a year. They make the case, and we agree, that in order to properly oversee public policy, you need to know what is going on, and right now we don't have a good feel for that." The issue was highlighted in a 2014 study written by University of Michigan professors David S. Bieri and Carla Maria Kayanan, who initially set out to
understand the status of TIF usage in Michigan. The state is one of 49 in the country where TIF is used, according to the study. In addition to DDAs, there are seven other authorities in the state that may utilize TIF to fund projects. Among the study's findings was that about 20 percent of the some 698 authorities utilizing TIF are submitting required reports to the state on a regular basis, with DDAs being among the bettertracked districts in the state. Donohue said the Michigan Downtown Association supports current TIF reform efforts at the state level, but didn't back all of the proposed changes to the DDA law that were previously proposed. "Downtown management has been where the MDA has centered on," he said. "We successfully worked a grass roots effort across the state to look at a more transparent method of operating," Donohue. "The Michigan Municipal League, the Michigan Association of Counties, and other are working on it. It appears those early discussions are on accountability. But, as accountable and transparent as DDAs want to be, the state has no system in place to track it." While Donohue said the lack of resources at the state level doesn't absolve DDAs from not reporting, he said many may not be reporting because they know there won't be any repercussions if they don't. The 2014 study by Bieri and Kayanan proposes the state creates a database, dubbed MiRTIF, at the state level to track TIF finances. It also provides a step-by-step orientation of TIF in Michigan. "This seemingly elementary step is critical in order for actors involved in the TIF use or reform to acquire a comprehensive understanding of the TIF process from start to completion," the study states. "Any discussion that is not based on the fundamental principles of the TIF tool will result in eroding its effectiveness and in municipalities appropriating it for nonintended purposes. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Developing a streamlined reporting process based exclusively on the reporting
requirements of the Michigan legislature removes the barriers that have made it nearly impossible for authorities to report mandated information. As tax capture authorities across the state slip in and out of financial trouble, looking to taxpayers for help, MiRTIF would provide data that is systematically tracked and can be reliably aggregated, providing a more complete picture of all aspects of TIF activities.â&#x20AC;? Former Rep. Kowall, who introduced HB 5856 in 2014, said she did so to try to reign in DDAs that use diverted taxes to fund projects that the municipality should be funding instead. "It hadn't been looked at for so long, and there were no meaningful reforms since it was enacted in the 1970s, and it was time to take a look at it," she said. "I felt the whole thing had gotten out of control. There didn't seem to be enough reporting. Treasury couldn't even tell me how much indebtedness (from DDAs) there was statewide." The bill went through several drafts before eventually being abandoned, but initial versions of the bill would have reset the base year of all TIF districts, essentially cutting all TIF funding in the state, while another version would have created a sunset on all TIF districts. "We were following it closely, but I don't think anything that was going to be that detrimental would be passed," said Milford Village DDA director Ann Barnette. "There were things early on that were ridiculous, but there was enough pressure on the legislature to take some of that out." Holly Village DDA director Andrew Potter said the initial legislation would have had a detrimental effect on the village's DDA if passed as it was introduced. "It would have killed all downtown development," Potter said. "There were six drafts to it." In it's final draft, the bill would have, among other things, provided a more restrictive description of what constitutes a downtown; limit the amount of time a DDA could hold revenues; expand the content of an authority's required annual status reports
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and require the report to be sent to all taxlevying units; prevent the use of DDA revenues on public services that are "generally provided" services, unless determined necessary; require a DDA to hold an annual meeting; require an authority to maintain a website containing finance and operational information; and impose penalties on local units for violation of the act and repeal three tax increment finance statutes. Oakland County Deputy Executive Phil Bertolini said the county felt the final version of the bill didn't go far enough to regulate TIF. "Our problem was that it didn't go far enough to take care of the earlier DDAs," he said. "We wanted earlier DDAs to have a sunset. That capture goes on forever, and we wanted to review those and potentially do that, and nobody wanted to do that." While efforts at the state level failed, in March 2015, the Oakland County's Board of Commissioners implanted a new policy regarding the county's TIF participation for those established after 1994. Deputy executive Daddow said that under the policy, the first step the county takes when presented with new or amended TIF requests is to deny it. "The first thing we do is to deny it, which we have to do under the state statute, to bring the two parties together to discuss the project itself on the table," Daddow said. "We
can't accept it unless you clue us in on what you plan on doing. To that end, we have the ability in post-1994 TIFAs and DDAs to modify the arrangement and renegotiate." Donohue said the policy sounds hardnosed on the surface, but it is a smart way of creating a more meaningful dialogue between the taxing authorities. "In most cases, they are opting in through a contract, so that's a smart way of going about it," he said. Kowall, who worked on the county's policy, said the policy forces municipalities with an existing TIF district looking to modify it or create another to agree to a sunset on their existing TIF district. Auburn Hills DDA Executive Director Don Greise said while the city's original DDA was created in 1983, the city never utilized it. The city recently decided to bring the DDA back to life. The DDA this year entered a 15year agreement with the county to establish a TIF district in the DDA. "Basically, we are trying to meet the city council's goals and objectives, and part of that is to continue to expand our downtown area. We feel it attracts investment, maintenance and availability of funding," Greise said. Other communities with longstanding TIF districts are less inclined to enter into an agreement that places a time limit on how long it can divert taxes.
Commerce Township DDA Director Mark Stacey said while their DDA would like to modify its current TIF capture area to include upcoming developments in the Commerce Towne Place project, it's uncertain if it will be able to do so. Currently, the DDA is expected to be paying bond debt through 2037, but will then need to use TIF funds to repay the township, which has been covering nearly all the DDA's debt payments. "It's very draconian for DDAs under the old rules," Stacey said of the new policy. "The sunset provisions are very hard to swallow." As the county and state look to implement reforms and limitations on TIF funding, Holly DDA director Potter said the DDA looks for other ways to attract development and funds, as promoted by the county and national Main Street program, which requires members to undergo a certification process each year. "As part of that (certification), they require fundraising, so you don't rely on TIF," Potter said, who noted the DDA is also focusing on business development, rather than events and festivals. "The bottom line is, when people call, we don't just tell them where to look. We court businesses to come to Holly. It's called knowing every building owner in a downtown. It all involves customer service."
FUNDS DIVERTED FROM TAXING AUTHORITIES TO DDA TAX INCREMENT FINANCING AREAS DDA
Total Capture
County Operating
County Parks & Rec
Berkley
$2,289,261
$419,888
$24,205
Clawson
$1,565,074
$267,508
$15,422
Commerce
$19,923,035
$7,724,152
$477,582
Farmington
$2,808,932
$517,708
$29,844
Ferndale
$4,487,999
$618,822
$35,674
Hazel Park
$7,773,809
$665,138
$38,356
Highland Twp.
$2,055,194
$650,151
$37,287
Holly Village
$1,708,562
$327,062
$43,558
Lake Orion
$7,000,856
$1,332,144
$76,799
Lathrup Village
$2,466,180
$402,055
$23,177
Lyon Township
$15,017,283
$5,938,571
$338,658
Madison Heights
$1,682,017
$277,272
$15,985
Milford Village
$3,970,420
$1,188,237
$67,618
$882,829
$175,506
$10,024
Oxford Village
$4,437,968
$766,453
$44,185
Pleasant Ridge
$893,940
$148,028
$8,533
Rochester
$20,299,922
$3,198,832
$184,411
Royal Oak
$29,162,977
$5,118,226
$294,435
Royal Oak Twp.
$1,023,487
$330,433
$19,050
$0
$0
$0
Ortonville
Southfield South Lyon
$500,729
$113,480
$6,542
Troy
$25,894,377
$6,913,926
$398,658
Walled Lake
$9,239,905
$1,355,094
$78,125
Wixom
$1,977,210
$459,664
$26,494 * Source: Oakland County Equalization Division
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Markham Heid uthor Markham “Buck” Heid sat attentively across from Elmore Leonard as the literary legend smoked his Virginia Slims and thoughtfully turned the pages of Heid's novel, a psychological thriller titled “Founders’ Keeper.” “This boy’s a natural story teller,” Leonard later said of Heid's novel. “He knows how to develop character and plot, and knows to leave out the parts readers tend to skip." As it happens, Leonard, who passed away in 2013, was not the only reader who thought Heid had the ability to both captivate and educate readers. Heid is a full-time writer for several distinguished national publications. “I write a weekly feature for Time.com called ‘You Asked’,” he said. For the column, Heid takes a health-related question from a reader and researches the topic in depth before writing comprehensive answers for his readers. Along that same vein, Heid writes about everything from health to travel for Men's Health, Playboy, and several other media outlets. After he has written his articles and tucked his two-year-old son and expectant wife into bed, Heid transforms into Ed Markham, thriller novelist. To distinguish the divergence between his magazine and novel writing, Heid created the nom de plume, Ed Markham, combining his and his grandfather’s forenames. "I wanted to keep my journalism work separate from my fiction writing," he said. “Founders’ Keeper”, the book that captured the discerning commendation of Elmore Leonard, and the sequel “Son of a Gun,” were released a month apart in August and September, 2015. His books are available on Amazon.com and edmarkham.com.
A
His first book follows a father-son team of FBI agents as they track a serial killer obsessed with the U.S. Constitution and America's Founding Fathers. The sequel picks up roughly where the first left off. The Birmingham native, who attended Brother Rice, has been friends with the Leonard family for years. He went to school with, and is still good friends with, Tim Leonard, Elmore's grandson. Heid said Elmore's son Peter Leonard, himself an accomplished novelist, has been a great source of encouragement. “Peter is a writer I look up to and he's been very generous with me in terms of sharing his time and wisdom,” Heid said. Heid studied English at the University of Michigan and always knew he would pursue a career in writing. “I dreamed of being a writer in college,” he said. “If I could pick any job (at that time), I wanted to write features for National Geographic.” Following college, Heid, addressed affectionately by his friends as "Buck", was drawn to Philadelphia by the most important individual in his life. “I moved here to be with my wife,” he said. “Kelly is my most trusted reader and editor. I wouldn’t have written any books without her.” The couple has a second child on the way. They plan to return to southeast Michigan when their children are school-aged. “I appreciated growing up a midwesterner and a Michigander,” he said. “Birmingham is full of kind, thoughtful people, and I'd love to raise my own kids there.” Story: Katey Meisner
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INSIDE THE DIA SHINING A LIGHT ON REGIONAL NON-PROFIT BY LISA BRODY n Tuesday, August 7, 2012, 64 percent of Oakland County voters approved a property tax millage, along with residents in Macomb and Wayne counties, to help funnel approximately $23 million a year for 10 years, to help the operations of the Detroit Institute of Arts. The .2 mill property tax adds about $20 a year to the tax bill of a homeowner whose home has a market value of $200,000 and a taxable value of $100,000. Today, the tri-county millage accounts for approximately 70 percent of the operating budget of the DIA, which is a private, 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Oakland County residents alone provide the DIA with $11 million annually.
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Therein lies a problem, according to some Oakland and Macomb county commissioners and state lawmakers. As a non-profit, the DIA is technically exempt from the state's Open Meeting Act and Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) laws, also known as “sunshine” laws, which are applicable to public, governmental bodies, because they provide light on what goes on behind the scenes. The issue of transparency, of providing information on what occurs at DIA board meetings and at county arts authority meetings, has become an issue between county commissioners, representing taxpayers, and museum officials, who have typically been accustomed to operating in the more cloistered world of the arts. According to all of those involved, great efforts are being made towards greater transparency, with leadership of the DIA meeting and working with Oakland and Macomb county commissioners to accomplish that goal. “We welcome that topic at the museum,” said Eugene Gargaro, chairman of the board of the DIA. “There is a subcommittee of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners that will be talking to us about the popular topic of transparency. The meetings with the arts authorities and the commissions are open meetings, those are Open Meeting Act venues. Members of the public do come (to those meetings), ask questions, and we do want them involved, as they should. It's their money. They should know where their money is going. The DIA is a private institute receiving public funding.” However, Gargaro is adamant that the institute's board meetings themselves remain private. “Like many other private institutions, they are not legally subject to Open Meetings Act,” he said. “We have told citizens of all three counties, all of our financials are online, all of our financial statements are online and available, and I am open for discussion.”
T
he museum has posted its 990 forms from 2011, 2012, and 2013, which reveals its annual revenue and expenses, online along with its mission statement. A 990 form is an annual reporting return that certain federally tax-exempt organizations must file with the Internal Revenue Service. It provides information on the organization's mission, programming, and finances. “My concern is that 60 to 70 percent of the DIA funding for the DIA budget comes
from the taxpayers in the tri-county area, so I feel we need much greater openness on how they are spending your money and mine,” said Oakland County commissioner Shelley Taub (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township), who is vicechair of the general government subcommittee of the board of commissioners. Taub initially stated she was preparing a resolution to go before the full board of commissioners requesting greater transparency be sent to the state legislature. Fellow commissioner Marcia Gershenson (DBloomfield Township) recommended the county art authorities meet with them to see if an agreement on transparency could be worked out. “The suggestion came up to form a study subcommittee to look at the whole transparency issue,” Gershenson said. “Gene Gargaro from the museum and Tom Guastello (chairman of the Oakland County Arts Authority) showed up, and they were very interested in our point of view.” Gargaro concurred. “Rather than go to the extreme (of mandating open meetings), we are trying to communicate at the local level with county commissioners, rather than with Lansing. We think it's preferable to stay on the local level, and that's what we are engaged in.” The issue of transparency initially came about in October 2014, when the museum approved substantial retroactive bonuses and double-digit raises to former director Graham Beal and COO Annemarie Erickson. A bipartisan group of Oakland County commissioners demanded that the bonuses, worth $50,000 each, be returned. They were not. Displeasure at a lack of transparency on the part of the board of directors of the DIA continued through the summer of 2015, after Beal had retired, and the tri-county arts authorities were informed of a proposed retroactive $30,000 performance bonus for Beal for fiscal year 2013; a $65,000 bonus for Erickson for fiscal years 2013 and 2014; a $40,000 performance bonus for the chief financial officer Robert Bowen for fiscal years 2013 and 2014; and forgiveness of a $155,832 home loan and a retirement severance of $285,000 for Beal. The bonus disclosures and Beal's severance and mortgage forgiveness prompted a public uproar and caused the Macomb County Board of Commissioners to issue an official resolution opposing the bonuses; urging the DIA and the Macomb County Art Authority to implement accountability procedures for greater transparency, noting, “the bylaws,
detailed budget, and schedule of meetings of the DIA Board of Directors are not easily accessible to the public or media even though the DIA is primarily a publicly funded entity.” The resolution urged that compensation decisions for senior executives should be reviewed and approved with representatives of the three counties' art authorities before being implemented “regardless of the funding source.” It also emphasized that the practice of back pay for prior years should be eliminated. Taub, working with Macomb County, was preparing a similar resolution for the Oakland County Board of Commissioners when Gargaro and Guastello requested to meet and see if they could work together to solve the issue voluntarily. “I'm going to meet with them to see if we can solve this,” she said. “In my personal opinion, if you take 70 percent of your budget from my taxpayers, you need to have fiscal accountability. I think that's fair.”
S
he said she and other Oakland County commissioners are seeking to have DIA board meetings posted and open to anyone; have their minutes posted online; their budget posted online; “and we would like to have their salaries published for every employee, but not necessarily by name. And I'd like to have FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) available. Everyday people and the press should have access to what's happening at their museum.” To help facilitate that happening, in August 2015, state Reps. Jim Runestad (RWhite Lake) and Ken Goike (R-Ray Township) drafted legislation that would subject the DIA to the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act in an effort to impose greater transparency. The bills, house bills 4889 and 4890, are currently in committee. “We did this because it was a surprise to find that there were these huge bonuses, and more recently, the exorbitant severance package to the outgoing director,” Runestad said. “And I can't get any information on his payout on his loan. Was it private or public funds being used to pay off his mortgage? Are the public funds going to pay for these high salaries, or for operations and procurement of art? Under FOIA, all of the documents of how the decisions are made would be public and transparent. The same with Open Meetings Act. With public funds,
you can't have meetings where the public is excluded.” “The taxpayers were asked to help this organization because it was struggling to stay open, but now it seems we were really asked to subsidize large raises for its top officials,” Goike said in a statement upon sponsoring the legislation. “The DIA needs to be more transparent for the sake of metro Detroit residents, so they can have a better understanding of what this organization is spending their tax dollars on. We’re paying a hefty price to keep the DIA afloat, and it has a responsibility to show that money is being put to good use, not simply to line the pockets of its high-ranking officials.” All of this came on the heels of the reality that throughout much of 2013 and 2014, there were genuine fears that the DIA itself might not survive, as Detroit teetered in bankruptcy, and some creditors sought the museum's valued collection as collateral, or for the art work to be sold to pay off creditors. A solution was found, which came to be known as the Grand Bargain. The Grand Bargain raised about $800 million from foundations, private donors, and the state of Michigan to help save public workers' pensions, and in the process, placed the art institute building and all of its art work into a private charitable trust. For the first time in its history, the DIA is an independent entity, but it had to raise $150 million from donors in order to achieve that autonomy. “The $150 million we raised for the the Grand Bargain – none of that went to the DIA. It all went to the pensioners,” Gargaro said. “But it gave us independence. The DIA received title to the artwork and the building. We told the three counties, we're going to increase our endowment, so we can be independent and hopefully, we don't have to come back to the citizens. Our endowment is insignificant compared to cities like Cleveland, Indianapolis and Toledo. We know we can't rely upon our citizens. But now, with the Grand Bargain, when people make a donation to the DIA, it goes to the DIA, and not the city.”
T
he DIA, established in 1885, has spent the life of its existence fighting to stay solvent while simultaneously acquiring and maintaining a world-renown collection. Among its first sponsors were local newspaper magnate James E. Scripps and his brother George H. Scripps, William H. Brearly, Dexter Ferry, Hiram Walker,
Christian Buhl, General Russell Alger, James and Hugh MacMillan, John Newberry, George Lothrop, Thomas Palmer, George Remick, James F. Joy, David Whitney, and Cyrenius A. Newcomb. They, along with other prominent Detroiters of their era, all were encouraged to donate significant works of art. Brearly then persuaded 40 of them to donate $1,000 each help fund the building of a permanent museum, located on Jefferson Avenue. Scripps donated $50,000, and with the other $40,000, the Detroit Museum of Arts was established in 1888, filled first with 70 pieces of art Scripps had purchased on trips to Europe, and subsequently, with hundreds of other bequests. The trustees of the museum changed the name to the Detroit Institute of Arts in 1919, and fundraising began to design and build the Beaux Arts building on Woodward and Farnsworth. The present building was opened October 7, 1927. The trustees made another momentous, and long lasting, decision in 1919. At that time, they transferred ownership of the museum to the city of Detroit in order to begin receiving city operating funds. The Founder's Society was created as a private support group designed to provide additional funds for acquisitions and other museum needs. But the decision to transfer the ownership of the DIA to the city, an unusual move for a museum, would come back to bite it, and confound its ability to support itself. In the 1970s and 1980s, Detroit's fortunes, on the heels of race riots and the once-dominant auto industry, began to spiral downward. Public support for the DIA fell as well. Staffing levels were cut and galleries were closed. It got so bad that in June 1975, the city had to close the museum completely for three weeks. The state of Michigan provided funding in order for the museum to reopen, and by 1990, 70 percent of its funding was coming from the state. Yet, another major recession hit the state, forcing more staffing cuts and ability for the museum to be open to public. The state of Michigan, itself having difficulties with money, had issues supporting the museum. The Founder's Society took over management responsibilities in 1998, but the city continued to own the museum and its collection until late 2014. “It's a new experience for the DIA. But even in the best of families, there are disagreements,” noted Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner, who has attended every Oakland County Art Authority meeting. “They perceive a great value from
Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties, and they believe they are sacrificing some of the internal processes to be more transparent. I hope it's seen as a value by both sides. We just want to make sure we're on the same side. We want to make sure we resolve the differences on the side of partnership.”
B
arbara Dobb, a Commerce Township CPA and former state lawmaker who sits on the Oakland County Art Authority Board, said, “I don't believe there's any deliberate attempt to not be transparent. They're not required to be. They're a private, non-profit, so they don't have to be transparent. This is the first time they've accepted public taxpayer money, so it's been a learning experience, a learning process for everyone. You throw the city bankruptcy debacle into it, and everyone has been working very hard, with the great intent to make sure the taxpayers' money is being spent on the programs promised and on the service agreements promised.” As a member of the Oakland County Art Authority Board, Bloomfield Hills attorney Alan Ackerman said the museum, “gave us their book and said the authority can look at anything. I knew what they were doing with the salaries. But there should be a little more transparency. We're really working with the county commission. We're going to get it worked out with open meetings and Freedom of Information, so people can see salaries and go to meetings. “The DIA must be responsive to the needs of the county,” he continued. “But it's important to maintain the DIA.” “I think FOIA and Open Meetings Act are a slippery slope,” countered Dobb. “I think the DIA dealt with that by setting up a restricted fund specifically for contributions for incentive or performance bonuses for executives or management only, but those are private funds only.” She said those would be available for view by the public in the DIA's 990 form. “Personally, I think you should be able to FOIA forms and information from the DIA, because the 990s are public,” she said. “But, at the same time, taxpayers' monies go to a lot of private corporations via state grants, and they're not subject to the Open Meetings Act. The state gives out tons of grants to private institutions, and none of them are subject to the Open Meetings Act. I don't know how you would single out one nonprofit, one institution.” “I think since there are taxpayer dollars
being used, they should be subjected to transparency and accountability, especially since it was so controversial it was put on the ballot, and it was asking taxpayers to subsidize their operating budget,” opined state Rep. Klint Kesto (R-Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake, West Bloomfield). “I know the DIA says the officials should have an increase in their salaries. I don't know if they should or shouldn't. If that's the market for those executives, then that's the market. It's just that it shouldn't be kept secret.” “I understand where those concerns are coming from, now that public dollars are attached,” said state Rep. Michael Webber (R-Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township). “It's something that needs to be looked at and discussed. The DIA is a good part of our community, our region, but there have been concerns about staff salaries. Some people in our area have been skeptical about the millage in the first place, and that was realized with the salaries. So there is a push for more transparency.” “I think voters are looking for more transparency in government and authorities. What's happening with taxpayer money is important for them to know. No one should be afraid to disclose that,” said state Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills). “If 70 percent of their operating income comes from public funding, there may be a need to see if they fall within the Open Meetings Act and Freedom of Information Act,” concurred Rep. Mike McCready (RBirmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, West Bloomfield). Kirk Profit of Governmental Consultant Services, lobbyist for the art institute, disagrees with the lawmakers. “We are talking about this because they are transparent,” he countered. “It's important for all of us DIA enthusiasts that we don't be viewed as trying to resist or anything other than trying to embrace transparency. They have done so much to invite or embrace it.”
P
rofit acknowledged that the subject of executive compensation was handled badly “and left a bad taste in mouths, I think that's true, especially coming up during the millage and bankruptcy. But I think that's different than transparency. There is a substantive issue about what we pay, and whether we tell people about it. We are happy to tell people about it. I think the
DIA is being transparent. If they were anything but, this wouldn't be an issue until they filed their 990.”
W
hile the millage accounts for 70 percent of the DIA's operating budget, part of the goal in putting it in place was to allow the museum to significantly grow its endowment during the 10 years the millage is in place, so that it will hopefully not need to come back to the counties for future millages. In addition, in light of the salary conundrum, private funding sources are being sought to offset what the operating budget can afford to provide to executives, in order to maintain a world-class art institution. “At the core of the millage is building for the future, and building an endowment. No one knows if there will be a second millage,” said Lynn Fryman, director of strategy for the arts non-profit Culture Source, and a consultant for the DIA. “They have to make the most of this opportunity for the public.” She noted former director Beal's focus was reaching out to the public, making the museum more accessible. “He wanted the museum to talk about art and its meaning to more than just the one percent who understand art, to give people in the community an understanding of what something means, and why they should care about it.” She said the millage provides for free admission for residents. “It provides accessibility for everyone. The barrier is not that you have to pay money for a ticket to see art. You can just come.” However, she did state that the staff of the DIA is undervalued compared to similar museums nationwide. Oakland County Treasurer Andy Meisner said that has been where county representatives and the DIA have had some differences of opinions. “The county arts authorities were of a view that, as a representative of many millions of dollars, they wanted to have a say in how the institution is managed, and where the money is going,” he said. “The DIA and their executive board had a different point of view, that they know their business, and they're an internationally recognized organization, they felt they were experts in how to run an art museum. Those perspectives are different. Oakland County Arts Authority chair Tom Guastello has put his foot down, especially on certain issues like executive compensation
and transparency. The DIA took the position that there are standards out there, and to attract quality people, this is what we've got to pay. There's now a greater middle ground. The expectations have been reconciled between Gargaro and Guastello. Both are statesmen.” The arts authority approved a salary of $375,000 for new director Salvador SalortPons. Gargaro said he has invited members of the three county commissions and their arts authorities to attend the five annual DIA board meetings. “They are the representatives of the public,” he said. “As part of the millage, each county said, 'I want to be at the table.' We invited them to be part of our process,” he continued, with each county appointing two representatives as board members to the 45-member board. “They're terrific additions, and they report back to their county leadership.” He said several were also invited to be part of the 15-member executive committee. “So the information the public is seeking is quite available,” Gargaro said. “We're very fortunate to have these people representing on our board, because they're very knowledgeable and passionate.” “I am of the opinion, though, that because of the public funding, there is a greater need for transparency. A public entity has an absolute necessity to report out to their public, and although the DIA is not a fully public entity, the receipt of our funding makes it necessary to report their use of public dollars,” Meisner said. “It's important not to offend the public. We have skin in the game and we have the right to have a say.” Lobbyist Profit counters that there is a “delicate space where there is government in a private space, between the donor and the private entity, because some donors want privacy. It's a legitimate expectation of privacy between a private donor and a private entity, and it would be a great shift in American law to permit the government in (with FOIA and Open Meetings Act). It's been a historical protection between private and public bodies. Once you require a non-profit, part of the private sector, to be subject to FOIA , that's a real departure of FOIA, and all sunshine laws.” Profit said he is meeting with Reps. Goike and Runestad in an effort to find a solution that will appease both the public and the DIA. “I'm seeing if this is something that can be worked out with the counties,” Profit said. “Every issue that comes up in a local community doesn't need a legislative solution. This is one of them. We're working this out as we speak with the counties.”
Pam Stoler, CRS, GRI Associate Broker
248.840.0044 PStoler@HallandHunter.com
BIRMINGHAM 1286 Willow Lane | $1,575,000 5 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 4,340 Square Feet MLS# 215042903
3/4-acre parklike lot in 4 Bedrooms Quarton Lake Estates. Wood 3 Full, 2 Half Baths paneled library with fireplace. 4,539 Square Feet Master suite with fireplace. MLS# 215113758 Sunlit oval sunroom.
BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 2622 Indian Mound S. | $999,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 3 Half Baths 4,605 Square Feet MLS# 215090680
BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 2800 Bradway Boulevard | $1,249,000
Renovated Village home with 5 Bedrooms open floor plan. Dark wide 3 Full, 1 Half Baths plank hardwood floors. Kitchen 3,200 Square Feet adjoins family room. In-ground MLS# 215082247 Pebbletec pool & Jacuzzi.
BLOOMFIELD 4821 S. Chipping Glenn | $899,000
Two-story foyer with marble 3 Bedrooms floor & circular staircase. 3 Full, 2 Half Baths Kitchen & family room share 2,336 Total Sq. Ft. 2-sided gas fireplace. Master suite with access to library. MLS# 215105660
BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 968 Yarmouth Road | $999,000 Private setting on .63 acres. Spacious, light-filled living room. Family room with garden views & patio access. Remodeled kitchen. Master with balcony.
ROYAL OAK 4816 Mansfield Avenue | $139,900
Gated Hills of Lone Pine 2 Bedrooms overlooking pond & waterfall. 1 Full, 1 Half Baths Great room with wall of 974 Square Feet windows. Private courtyard off MLS# 215105893 master. Walkout lower level.
Well-located turn-key condo with finished lower level. Updated kitchen with large breakfast area leads to private courtyard. Two carports.
For more information, visit PamStoler.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
Nanci J. Rands, Associate Broker Meredith Colburn, Associate Broker
BLOOMFIELD HILLS 4710 Ardmore Drive | $1,950,000
JU ST LIS TE D
JU ST LIS TE D
Tremendous value! Extraordinary 2000-built soft contemporary on nearly 2 private acres. Michael Willoughby architectural design with Jerusalem limestone and stucco exterior. Brazilian cherry wood floors. Elegant living room with panoramic views of lush grounds. Formal dining room has cathedral ceiling and custom buffet. Sophisticated 1st floor master suite with private sitting room and Italian glass tiled bath. State-of-the-art Poggenpohl kitchen opens to family room. Fabulous fully finished walkout lower level has 6th bedroom, bath, office, rec areas and French doors leading to Tennessee flagstone patio. 4-car heated garage. Outdoor spa. Generator.
BIRMINGHAM 812 Chesterfield Avenue | $1,395,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 4,527 Square Feet MLS# 215106461
Luxury and convenience in Quarton Lake Estates. Grand master suite. Beautifully finished lower level. 4-car garage. Pool.
BIRMINGHAM 111 Willits Street, Unit #307 | $895,000 2 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 1,537 Square Feet MLS# 215081486
Beautiful in-town Willits unit with quiet balcony. Stone and wood floors. Open kitchen. Spacious master suite. In-unit laundry.
BEVERLY HILLS VILLAGE 18189 Saxon Drive | $474,500 4 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 1,758 Square Feet MLS# 215112422
Fabulous updated Cape Cod in Beverly Hills Village. Gorgeous master suite. New all-seasons family room. Move-in perfect!
For more information, visit RandsColburn.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
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6 Bedrooms 5 Full, 2 Half Baths 9,446 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215085589
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 675 Hillcrest Drive | $2,495,000 Estate property on 3.73 acres off Vaughan Road. Pool, spa, tennis and allsports courts. 1500 sq. ft. guest house. 3-car garage.
3.37 Acre Build Site
FRANKLIN VILLAGE 31600 Briarcliff Road | $895,000 Build Site 3.37 Acres MLS# 215054758
911 Brookwood Street | $2,075,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 5,638 Square Feet MLS# 215097377
Phenomenal 2000-built Kojaian home. Tremendous quality and millwork throughout. Luxurious master suite. 3-car garage.
CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1650 Rathmor Road | $1,695,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 6,137 Square Feet MLS# 215084289
Exciting postmodern home overlooking Bloomfield Hills Country Club. 1st floor master suite. Gourmet kitchen with dining alcove.
JU ST LIS TE D
6 Bedrooms 7 Full, 1 Half Baths 6,758 Square Feet MLS# 215106570
BIRMINGHAM
Fantastic opportunity to build the home of your dreams on this 3.37 acre site in the heart of Franklin Village. Architectural plans available.
WEST BLOOMFIELD 4922 Panorama Circle | $570,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 3 Half Baths 4,203 Square Feet MLS# 215111358
Fabulous Herman Frankel contemporary. Open floor plan. Gourmet kitchen. Spacious master suite. Finished lower level. 3-car garage.
METAMORA 3211 Wilder Road | $1,850,000 3 Bedrooms 3 Full, 3 Half Baths 4,275 Square Feet MLS# 215053788
55-acre estate in the heart of Metamora Hunt Country. Exquisite Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architecture. First floor master suite.
The Real Difference in Real Estate
Cheryl Riback Associate Broker, ABR, SRES
248.808.3112 CRiback@HallandHunter.com
LAKEFRONT
LAKEFRONT
BLOOMFIELD 1430 Inwoods Circle | $5,900,000 5 Bedrooms 5 Full, 3 Half Baths 13,884 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215075349
ORCHARD LAKE 3819 LaPlaya Lane | $3,100,000
Custom home in Kirk in the 4 Bedrooms Hills with panoramic views 2 Full, 1 Half Baths of Lower Long Lake. 1st floor 6,148 Total Sq. Ft. master & marble bath. Elevator. MLS# 215066915 Too many details to list!
2.53 acres with 150’ frontage 4 Bedrooms on Upper Straits Lake. 5 Full, 2 Half Baths Finished boat/guest house. 7,102 Square Feet Amazing master suite. Art MLS# 215046538 studio and walkout LL.
4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 3,453 Square Feet MLS# 215104963
SYLVAN LAKE 2500 Garland Street | $839,000
Build Site Beautifully appointed Colonial in sought-after area. Cook’s .36 Acres kitchen. Designer stone 55’ frontage fireplace. Updated baths, MLS# 215056728 including gorgeous master.
Exceptional architecture close to town. Oval foyer. Commercial kitchen. Luxurious master suite. Adjoining lot is available.
BUILD SITE
LAKEFRONT
BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 2640 Endsleigh Drive | $771,750
BIRMINGHAM 200 Aspen Road | $2,499,000
Fabulous lakefront lot with breaktaking views of all-sports Sylvan Lake. Once-in-ageneration opportunity to build among million $ homes!
BLOOMFIELD 465 S. Evansdale Drive| $699,000 Vacant Land 200’ x 202’ x 360’ x 390’ MLS# 215060334
Breathtaking views from cleared 1.75 acre lot to accommodate up to 10,000 sq. ft. home with walkout LL. Plenty of room for pool/tennis.
For more information, visit HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
Adam Waechter Associate Broker
313.801.8018 akwhallandhunter@gmail.com
CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 3635 Lahser Road | $1,199,000 5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 5,414 Square Feet MLS# 215095800
Open, elegant home with expansive views of the 4th fairway at Bloomfield Hills Country Club. 1st floor master suite. 2015 improvements include new roof & paint. 5th bedroom could be a fantastic in-law suite, office or bonus/game room. Rear brick paver patio.
BIRMINGHAM 530 Townsend Street | $1,424,000 2 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,384 Square Feet MLS# 215082296
In-town, 3-level luxury townhouse with no detail overlooked! Brazilian hardwood floors. Granite island kitchen with Viking appliances, sitting area and access to private terrace. Oasis master suite. Finished lower level. Elevator services all floors. Heated 3-car garage.
NEW PRICE
BLOOMFIELD 4782 Overton Cove, #37 | $999,000 Stunning renovated ranch-style condo in gated Hills of Lone Pine. Private setting with wooded & stream views in all directions. Completely renovated in 2004 and designed by D.J. Kennedy. Gracious 1st floor master. Finished walkout LL with bedroom suite & much more.
Contact me for your private showing
4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,229 Square Feet MLS# 215102723
The heart of Poppleton Park on the desirable corner lot of Oxford and Henley. Filled with original character and charm with 4 fireplaces and large living/dining rooms. Two of the four bedrooms are suites. Short walk to Poppleton Park and downtown Birmingham.
| AdamWaechter.com
442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
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4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 5,071 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215079135
BIRMINGHAM 1012 Oxford Street | $549,900
Kevin Conway Realtor
248.330.3324 KConway@HallandHunter.com
NEW PRICE
BIRMINGHAM 2323 Fairview Drive | $925,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,983 Square Feet MLS# 215100858
Beatifully maintained 2000 custom-built Colonial on spacious 80’ x 185’ lot in prime location close to Birmingham Country Club Golf Course. Cook’s kitchen. Great room with fireplace and direct access to terrace and lovely private yard. Dramatic living room with vaulted ceiling and fireplace offers an abundance of natural light. Expansive master suite with luxurious marble bath, vaulted ceiling and fireplace. First-floor laundry with service entrance for added convenience. Attached 3-car garage. Awardwinning Birmingham schools, located within walking distance to Ernest W. Seaholm High School.
NEW LISTING
BEVERLY HILLS VILLAGE 32311 Orchard Way Court | $574,0000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 4,009 Square Feet MLS# 215106509
A unique opportunity to own a private retreat on almost 1 acre in a prime location. Lovely renovation and addition in 2000 provides an in-law or au pair suite or studio/office possibilities. Gracious master suite with spacious bathroom, heated floor and the added convenience of a 2nd floor washer and dryer. Wonderful 18’ x 18’ screened porch overlooking serene setting and outdoor fire pit surrounded by trees and landscaping. Award-winning Birmingham schools. Excellent value!
For more information, visit HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
Lynn Baker & Deby Gannes 248.379.3000 lbaker@hallandhunter.com
248.379.3003 dgannes@hallandhunter.com
Celebrate your traditions in the home of your
dreams
BLOOMFIELD 1709 Forest Lane | $799,900 4 Bedrooms 3 Full Baths 5,032 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215102537
Incredible estate on nearly 4 acres! Walter Reddig-designed open floor plan with fabulous views. Finished walkout LL with atrium, bedroom/bath.
BLOOMFIELD 5699 Raven Road | $449,900 5 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,317 Square Feet MLS# 215093179
Numerous 2015 updates! 5th bedroom could be an au pair suite or 2nd floor family room. Renovated kitchen & newer baths. 3-season porch.
TROY 2884 Vineyards Drive | $749,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 3 Half Baths 6,727 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215059718
Baileyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Vineyard sub with Bloomfield Hills schools. Sweeping staircase& 2-story great room. 1st floor master. Walkout LL. 3-car garage.
ORION TWP. 4963 Middlebury Drive | $444,900 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,388 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215097057
WEST BLOOMFIELD 3332 Pine Estates Drive | $599,999 3 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 2,260 Square Feet MLS# 215095355
Quiet street with Pine lake access and dock at end of street. Volume ceilings for lots of light. Updated kitchen and bathrooms. Finished LL.
BIRMINGHAM 444 Chester Street, Unit #413 | $209,000
1 Bedroom Upgraded model in Stonegate Ravines with community pool and 1 Full Bath clubhouse. Cherry/granite eat750 Square Feet in kitchen opens to great room. MLS# 215058986 Walkout LL. 3-car garage.
Downtown Gas Light District close to everything. Oversized unit with spacious living room leading to patio. Covered parking. Immediate possession.
For more information, visit LynnandDeby.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
Pam Gray Realtor
248.842.4696 PGray@HallandHunter.com
NEW LISTING
BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1072 Autumn Lane | $635,000 Located in a private enclave of only 7 homes, this very special property has sophisticated custom interior finishes by noted architect Irving Tobocman. Open, light-filled and airy floor plan with high ceilings, a wet bar, fireplace and a wall of windows in the living room. The 1st floor master bedroom suite has dual walk-in closets and a spacious spa-like bath. The island kitchen has new stainless appliances, new terrastone counter tops, a breakfast room with a wall of exotic wood built-ins and access to the deck. The family room is also graced with a wall of remarkable built-in cabinets. 3-car attached garage.
For more information, visit HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
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3 Bedrooms 2 Full, 2 Half Baths 3,671 Square Feet MLS# 215107746
Susan Hill, ABR Realtor
248.225.1399 SHill@HallandHunter.com
BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 2258 Pine Street | $539,000 4 Bedrooms 2 Full, 2 Half Baths 2,640 Square Feet MLS# 215097091
A rare opportunity to own a classic designed by renowned architect Wallace Frost: the yellow “moose house” is being offered for sale for the first time in more than 60 years! Many of the original details remain in this 1929 charmer–leaded glass windows, hardwood flooring, arched windows and subway tiles. Modern conveniences include central air and large great room addition. The private back yard is fully fenced with easy access to detached garage. Lot size 75’ x 150’. Birmingham schools (Quarton/Derby/Seaholm).
For more information, visit HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
Ginny Fisher Realtor
248.593.0518 GFisher@HallandHunter.com
NEW LISTING
BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1772 Heron Ridge Drive | $1,699,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 7,385 Total Sq. Ft. MLS# 215005629
CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 245 Chestnut Circle | $777,000
Pristine executive retreat in private gated enclave on ravine setting. Renovated Millennium cherry kitchen opens to family room. Beautifully finished walkout lower level with possible 5th bedroom. Lower paver terraces and expansive decks. 4-car garage.
3 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 3,823 Square Feet MLS# 215109669
Classic Tudor on 3/4-acre elevated site in prestigious Chestnut Hills. Paneled library with fireplace and built-in bookcases. Expansive great room leads to back gardens. Island kitchen with dual cook tops. Spacious master suite. Lovely setting in desired neighborhood!
NEW LISTING
CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1000 Bretton Lane | $699,900 4 Bedrooms 4 Full Baths 5,994 Total Sq Ft. MLS# 215057021
Almost 2 private, wooded acres! Vaulted great room has expansive windows for gorgeous views. Walkout LL with kitchen & poss. 5th BR.
CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 1111 Kensington Road | $425,000 4 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 2,754 Square Feet MLS# 215107960
BLOOMFIELD 4410 Charing Way | $399,900
Wooded, private 1-acre 3 Bedrooms setting with amazing views. 2 Full, 1 Half Baths Eat-in kitchen. Master with 2,490 Square Feet deck access. Walkout LL. MLS# 215061881 Also listed as vacant land.
Parklike setting! Spacious eat-in kitchen. 1st floor master suite opens to sun room with sauna. 2-story great room. Oak-paneled library. Great storage space.
For more information, visit GinnyFisherHomes.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009
248.644.3500
Realtor
Amy Zimmer & Tiffany Glime
248.884.8440
AZimmer@HallandHunter.com
Kelly Moody
248.469.6430
KMoody@HallandHunter.com
248.930.5656 TGlime@HallandHunter.com
NEW LISTING
BIRMINGHAM | $310,000 1744 Maryland Blvd. | 1744maryland.ePropertySites.com 3 Bedrooms 1 Full Bath 1,186 Square Feet MLS# 215108719
A stylish updated brick ranch, walkable to downtown, with a chic modern vibe complemented by original charm. Move-in ready. Open-concept living with flowing common spaces. Fenced yard with deck. 2-car garage. Finished LL. A must see!
NEW LISTING
BIRMINGHAM 1835 Fairview Street | $599,000 4 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 2,615 Square Feet MLS# 215107015
Rare 1st floor master on quiet dead-end street in Quarton Lake Estates. Kitchen/breakfast area open to family room with access to beautifully landscaped fenced yard offering 600+ sq. ft. patio with built-in seating area, fire pit & grill station with granite top.
ROYAL OAK | $138,000 4408 Rochester Road | 4408rochester.epropertysites.com 2 Bedrooms 1 Full, 1 Half Baths 1,024 Square Feet MLS# 215108271
Fantastic Royal Oak stone-sided condo in a private complex of 9 units. Well cared for and maintained with many updates. Bright with lots of natural light. Finished, soundproofed lower level. Large deck off rear entry. Covered carport with 2 reserved spots.
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
Lynda Schrenk Realtor
Dorothy Perrotta Michael Perrotta 248.217.7222
248.760.6026 LSchrenk@HallandHunter.com
DPerrotta@HallandHunter.com
248.672.0494 MPerrotta@HallandHunter.com
NEW LISTING
SOLD
CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS 3755 Lahser Road | $3,200,000 5 Bedrooms 6 Full, 2 Half Baths 7,806 Square Feet MLS# 214101406
Exquisite country estate offers sweeping views of Bloomfield Hills Country Club. Gated private yard includes pool, sport court & fire pit. Chef’s kitchen opens to family room & pool. Master suite retreat. Stunning LL features gym, steam bath and bar.
NEW LISTING
BIRMINGHAM 825 Hazelwood Street | $899,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,977 Square Feet MLS# 215020678
Newer-built Victorian in sought-after neighborhood. Sweeping front porch & professionally landscaped yard. Open floor plan. Gourmet kitchen opens to family room & patio. Master suite with fireplace. LL has gym, steam shower, dry sauna, bar and family room.
FARMINGTON HILLS 28020 Old Colony Street | $475,000 6 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,050 Square Feet MLS# 215101598
Totally updated home on 1.57 acres just south of Franklin Hills Country Club. 1st floor master bedroom, adjacent to den or second 1st bedroom, mud room & 1st floor laundry. All-seasons room and upstairs loft area. Amazing back yard provides “up north” feeling.
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 Erin Keating DeWald
C. Joy Morris
Realtor
Associate Broker
248.259.3544
248.914.0784
erin@erinkdewald.com
JMorris@HallandHunter.com
NEW LISTING
BIRMINGHAM 492 Larchlea Drive | $1,699,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 4,580 Square Feet MLS# 215111910
Custom home built by Lewand Builders & designed by Alex Bogaerts. Open floor plan. Impressive kitchen with butlers pantry & walk-in pantry. Elegant master. suite. Huge 2nd floor bonus room. Covered outdoor terrace/patio with fireplace. Finished LL with theater.
NEW LISTING
BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE 2147 Yarmouth Road | $975,000 5 Bedrooms 3 Full, 3 Half Baths 4,875 Square Feet MLS# 215081762
Custom colonial on .71 acres in the estate section of Bloomfield Village surrounded by incredible lush landscaping and gardens. Newer kitchen. Expansive master with luxurious bath and spacious walk-in closet. Large year-round sunroom addition.
NEW LISTING
BIRMINGHAM 1976 Shipman Boulevard | $949,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,104 Square Feet MLS# 215103527
Spectacular in-town custom built home by Lewand Builders. Uncompromised quality and detail with premium appliances in gourmet island kitchen overlooking living room. Stunning master with dual vanities & dream closet. Finished LL with full bath.
BEVERLY HILLS VILLAGE 18289 Devonshire Street | $385,000 3 Bedrooms 2 Full Baths 1,844 Square Feet MLS# 215113166
Walk to Beverly Park! Great deep lot with 2-car detached garage and private patio. Living room gas fireplace showcases beautiful Pewabic tile. 3-season Florida room. 2nd floor suite with private bath & storage. Finished LL. Birmingham schools.
For more information, visit HallandHunter.com 442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009
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Sarah Winkler ctress Sarah Winkler spent 25 years of her life learning, teaching and working in New York City. Now the talented thespian has found a home in Birmingham as co-founder and co-artistic director of the Detroit Public Theater. “The company is run by three women,” Winkler said. “We are serving a huge audience that is diverse in every way. It is our dream to serve people of all ages, races and economic backgrounds.” The theater company, also run by Courtney Burkett and Sarah Clare Corporandy, celebrates opening night on October 30 with “American Hero” by Bess Wohl. The play will run through November 22 in the Robert A. and Maggie Allesee Hall at the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center. “We are in an amazing partnership with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra,” Winkler said. “We’ve laid a really solid foundation and so far we have recruited an incredible crew.” The theater company chose three Michigan premiers and a musical by a Michigander. In addition to “American Hero,” they will be performing “From Broadway to Obscurity”, “Sex with Strangers” and “Detroit ’67”. “The plays are incredibly funny and really relevant to Detroit. I think audiences will just love them,” Winkler said. Growing up in New York, Winkler’s parents introduced her to the theater at an early age. “I think I went to my first Broadway play when I was four,” she said. “I was an empathetic child. I think what drew me to acting was an interest of understanding other people.” Starting in school plays, the gregarious young actress, with equal parts
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talent and devotion to theater, went on to produce and perform in numerous critically-acclaimed films and plays in New York City and around the country. Winkler also became part of the off-Broadway Epic Theatre Ensemble. While there, she oversaw the development department as the annual budget grew from $300,000 to $1.3 million. In 2013, Winkler relocated to metro Detroit and has been working as an actress with select Michigan theaters. She has also facilitated the Shakespeare in Prison program at Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility in Ypsilanti. “They choose what Shakespearian play they want to work in. They perform for the prison community,” she said. “I wanted to do it because I love Shakespeare and I believe in its power of transformation.” Winkler is proud of her career in theater thus far and is looking forward to introducing the Detroit Public Theater to audiences. “We have everything in place to make good art and entertainment to serve an audience,” she said. Winkler feels fortunate to raise her children in a community that values performing arts and makes her feel at home as a woman of the theater. “Birmingham Players is amazing, St. Dunstan Theater and the Bloomfield Birmingham Art Center are extraordinary resource for visual arts,” she said. “There is so much community-based art. There is something for everyone. I wish everyone in the world had the access to arts as the residents of Birmingham do.” Story: Katey Meisner
Photo: Jean Lannen
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MUNICIPAL Funds changed to legal defense
Trustees to get consultant report By Lisa Brody
By Lisa Brody
Bloomfield Township Treasurer Dan Devine changed his campaign fund to a legal defense fund with the Michigan Secretary of State on July 22, citing “legal action to defend against removal from public office and relating to action taken on July 13, 2015 by Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees in resolution to censure township trustee Devine for 'official misconduct.'” Devine was censured by his fellow trustees at the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting on July 13, after making wild and unfounded allegations that supervisor Leo Savoie had “kidnapped his daughter and thrown her in the trunk of his car,” when she was actually at a substitute teaching job; for making a false police report against Savoie; accusing Savoie at the state level with accepting a bribe from a longtime vendor; for falsely claiming Savoie paid a former employee $30,000; and for lack of proper financial disclosure over fees paid to township pension financial advisors. A censure is a formal, public reprimand of a public official for inappropriate conduct or voting behavior. As Devine was publicly elected the township treasurer, he can only be removed from office by a citizen-sponsored recall petition, but cannot be recalled in the last year of a term in office; or by trustees requesting the removal by Gov. Rick Snyder. On September 10, Devine filed a whistleblower lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court against what his complaint says is his employer, Bloomfield Township, and co-worker Leo Savoie, alleging they have subjected him to retaliation because he reported suspected violations of law to public authorities. Campaign funds are limited in use to only campaign related expenses. However, by moving the funds to this newly created legal defense fund, one source said, “now he can use those funds to defend himself for any legal expenses, such as court filing fees, attorney fees, or any research he needs to secure his counsel.” As with a campaign fund, contributions can be accepted. However, while there is a limit of $500 to a township campaign fund, there is no limit on contributions to a legal defense fund. In the legal defense filing, he claimed $7,000 in contributions, with $5,000 in itemized expenditures, to the law firm Sommers Schwartz PC, for “retainer for law firm for legal representation,” leaving him with a downtownpublications.com
ew Bender PhD, a psychologist and consultant who has worked off and on for Bloomfield Township for the last 15 years, and was recently hired by township supervisor Leo Savoie to meet with elected officials and department heads in an effort to facilitate team work and tackle the challenges within township hall, reported to Savoie that “in light of recent circumstances, it wouldn't benefit anyone to spend the money” to proceed further with his services. Bender's reference is to the whistleblower lawsuit filed against the township and Savoie by treasurer Dan Devine, alleging they have subjected him to retaliation because he reported suspected violations of law to public authorities. Trustees on Monday, September 28, voted to request a written report from Bender, provided the report does not include anything that could be attributable to any specific individual or department head. Savoie said prior to this year, the last time the township had used Bender was 2011 or 2012. “A few months ago, I requested Mr. Bender to come in and meet with us to help us – all elected officials and department heads.” Since Devine's lawsuit, Bender told Savoie there would be no benefit to further pursuit in team rebuilding efforts, and asked him if he wanted a written report, or just a summary. In a committee meeting, one member, Savoie said, only wanted a summary. “That was me,” said Devine. “The concern was, the department heads were told their responses would be kept confidential. People who had given in a forthright manner were concerned about a written report. It didn't matter to me.” Savoie said it would be a written summary. “The confidentiality is not on an individual basis. The report will deal with the entire team, and how it can function better.” According to his website, Bender has over 34 years of research and training experience, and offers customized training programs, meeting facilitation, and workshops to increase the effectiveness of teams, and to tackle challenges in the workplace. At a township board meeting on July 13, when fellow trustees voted to censure Devine for making a false police report against Savoie and falsely accusing him of kidnapping his daughter; accusing Savoie at the state level with accepting a bribe from a longtime vendor; for falsely claiming Savoie paid a former employee $30,000; and for lack of proper financial disclosure over fees paid to township pension financial advisors, it was revealed that many department heads and police and fire officers find the township offices a difficult environment. “There's great concern and fracturing for the last 12 months,” fire chief Dave Piche' said at the time. “We have to go forward and do things for the residents. We have to put things behind us, but there has to be trust, and trust for the department heads that they can trust their elected officials,” Savoie said at that meeting. “I fully support the written report,” said trustee Dave Buckley. “It's disappointing that we won't be able to work through all the issues.” Trustees voted 7-0 to receive a written report from Bender.
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$2,000 balance on August 3, 2015. Devine had $17,937.72 in his campaign fund as of his filing in Oakland County with the Michigan Department of State Bureau of Elections. The legal defense report deadline closed on September 30, 2015, with filing report due on October 25, 2015, the same date as campaign fund
contributions must be filed. Even if a person puts in their own money into a legal defense fund, a filing is required. Currently, there are five other individuals on the Secretary of State website who have also converted their campaign funds to legal defense funds, including former state Rep. Cindy Gamrat who was recently expelled from the Michigan House.
DOWNTOWN
Library can proceed with drawings Birmingham's Baldwin Public Library can proceed with the development of construction drawings for the first phase of renovations at the building, for the Adult Services Department, located on the main floor in the Birkerts addition, but before city money is allocated for actual construction, estimated to cost $2.2 million, the library will need to work with the city through its approved budget appropriation process, city commissioners this week told library director Doug Koschik. Koschik made a presentation to the city commission at their meeting on Monday, October 12, along with the architectural firm Luckenbach/Ziegelman/Gardner (LZG), at which they presented conceptual plans of September 21, 2015 that had been approved by the library board of directors. Koschik noted that the library board had heard the voters in May 2014, when they voted down a $21.5 million millage request by Baldwin for renovations and an expansion. He said this renovation would be phase I of a proposed three-part renovation. “Phase I will be for the Adult Services Department, which is primarily on the main floor of the Birkerts addition,” Koschik said. “Next, we will proceed with phase 2 and 3, of the Youth Department, Circulation Department, add a small cafe and redo the main entrance. We would like it to interface with Shain Park and The Community House, which were points of concern to Andres Duany (urban planner and designer of Birmingham's 2016 Master Plan).” Architect John Gardner of LZG explained details of the design, saying the total would cost $2.2 million, including $540,000 for a band of windows which would open a wall of the room. “We started with the principal of 'Let there be light', of opening up the space and getting more light,” Gardner said. “We were creating more open spaces, increasing wayfinding, and moving the new computer lab from the lower lab to the middle of the room.” Koschik said the library would contribute $600,000 from its fund balance and trust fund. The timetable he described put development of the design and construction bidding to be done between fall 2015 and spring 2016; construction to begin in August 2016; with construction completed in the first quarter of 2017. Commissioner Mark Nickita 79
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questioned adding the windows. “We have a southern-facing wall that will give off a good amount of sunlight onto the books.” Architect Karen Swanson replied, “We'd recommend louver blinds.” “How much will that diminish the amount of light we're getting in?” Nickita responded. Gardner said, “The goal will be to do this without blinds. The books should be protected, especially in the winter.” “The heating and cooling system will then have to accommodate those heat gains,” Nickita pointed out, noting there would be increased costs. “We're stewards of the building, and you are the tenants. The concern that I have is between interior renovations and the windows, this building (city hall) and the library are the most important, historic structures. Any type of renovations we do has to be carefully looked at. As the library board is looking at where the library will be in the future, the general legwork is still very valid. How does this structure accommodate that? This is one phase, with an understanding of where we are
going. Before we invest in Phase 1, I think we need to have a handle on where we're going, even if it's conceptual, so that this $2.2 million is very purposeful, and not inefficient with our tax money. I think there's a real problem, both in design and funding, with incremental growth. There has to be a bigger picture. We've known for years that the library needs to address these issues, it's just how do you do it, and how do you get there. The public needs to know.” Commissioner Gordon Rinschler agreed. “Somebody needs to say in round numbers what this is going to cost. When people hear $2.2 million, they think they're done. They don't know there's another few phases.” On another note, Rinschler was extremely concerned about LZG's coordination with architect Aaron Cohen Associates on the project, as Cohen had weighed in on the 2014 library bond proposal bond through involvement with bond opponent David Bloom. “I have a problem with that. Here he is, front and center, during the election, on a flyer.” Of greater concern to commissioners was the revelation by
city manager Joe Valentine that he had had several conversations with Koschik, indicating that the library had essentially gone about their process in reverse of city policy. “Normally we would have initiated an RFP (request for proposal) for architects for conceptual drawings, and then gone forward. There was always my position that there would have to be a second RFP to proceed. The issue tonight is the windows and the impact of the heating and cooling system, with the modification of the building,” Valentine said. “We absolutely have to apply the same process to every allocation, unless there's an emergency, like a bridge collapses,” Rinschler said. Commissioner Rackeline Hoff asked how they were to get a sense of their costs without developing construction drawings. “Then you challenge the library board and the library director to come up with the entire project, and present it during the budget process next April, and determine how they want to fund it, and how to accumulate it and secure funding,” Valentine said.
“It's the same way we do it when we have large projects,” noted mayor Stuart Sherman. Commissioners voted 7-0 to allow the library to pay for construction drawings, and then to proceed with the RFP process per city policy. As part of the motion, the situation with David Bloom and architect Aaron Cohen was referred to the city's ethics board for review. “Just because it moves forward, doesn't mean it will meet your timeline,” Sherman cautioned Koschik. “It still has to meet the city's capital projects (funding). There are other approved capital projects in the city's pipeline.”
Construction site screening approved Proposed construction screening in the form of windscreens with colorful graphics for the former Bloomfield Park site on Telegraph Road were determined to not be signage and therefore could be permitted, Bloomfield Township trustees determined at their meeting on Monday, October 12.
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Signage in the township must conform to very strict size and content standards. Redico, the developer who has purchased the site of the newly-named Villages of Bloomfield out of foreclosure, has proposed to wrap the construction site with a windscreen with colorful graphics featuring people, buildings, and other images, but no words or advertising. Previously, windscreens of this type had been interpreted as signage, and per the development agreement between Bloomfield Township, Pontiac and Oakland County, partners in the Joint Development Council making decisions on how the site will be redeveloped, it was prohibited as being in noncompliance. Dennis Cowan, chairperson of the current Joint Development Council, told trustees that Redico, “has asked for demolition permits. Hopefully, the parking structures can stay in place. But the other structures will have to come down.” He said Redico does not yet have a timetable. He also stated their development plans are “no where near as intense as what is there and what was planned.” The second thing the developer
has requested from the council is to have windscreens with graphics, Cowan said. “We told them we would take it under advisement. It's a small step, but a first step to getting a quality development. They have come to us in good faith, to create a little excitement, but also, with demolition work, they need the screening to capture all the dirt. I personally look upon this favorably.” Trustee Neal Barnett asked if it was for just the Telegraph frontage, and supervisor Leo Savoie, the township's council representative, said yes, with a minimal amount of wrap at the corners. “They said they're not making a formal sign requests,” Cowan said. “There will be no lettering, no telephone numbers.” “I've seen this type of screening on Big Beaver on the new hospital. It's more characteristic. It was very pleasant to drive by during construction,” said clerk Jan Roncelli. “It allows people to have something to look forward to there,” said trustee Corinne Khederian. “I travel, and this is very
common,” said Barnett. “It's excitement, and it shows the past is in the past. I think it's a great idea. It's a very positive step.” Treasurer Dan Devine, former representative to the council, disagreed. “We have to look back in time,” he said. “The past two developers wanted the exact same thing, with almost the exact same presentations. Township attorney Bill Hampton said, in the development ordinance, that signs can only be small 32 square feet, and certainly not with the wrap. There was a request to go to arbitration by the developer, and that was dropped. Then DDR (the following developer) asked for the same thing in 2006, and then they dropped it. It was determined to be signage. The development agreement spells out what can and cannot happen on the site. Signage cannot have a variance unless Bloomfield Township and Pontiac and the courts go to the operating agreement. It would have to be an amendment to the agreement. If we would like to rule on it today, we would have no standing.
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“I would recommend asking the developer for something we want. Otherwise, there's no certainty if we're going to go on the fly,” he continued. “I do not consider this a sign,” Barnett reiterated. “This is construction wrap. We don't need to open this up for some prid quo pro. I'm pretty appalled by that.” “This is absolutely the same as the previous request,” Devine said. “The question at hand is not a variance,” Savoie said. “The question is whether this is signage. I've read the attorney's opinion, and I don't agree with it. The planner for the city of Pontiac didn't feel it was signage. At the last Joint Development Council, almost everyone had the same opinion I had, that it isn't signage.” “I do think this is graphics. This is a main thoroughfare. It adds to the excitement of what's going on. I don't think it's signage,” said trustee Brian Kepes. Trustees voted 6-1, with Devine voting against, to give Savoie the authorization to vote in the affirmative for the township on the issue at the next council meeting.
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MUNICIPAL No zoning change for 404 Park Street
Kingsley Inn may be sold again By Lisa Brody
By Lisa Brody
During a lengthy public hearing as part of the Birmingham City Commission meeting Monday, September 21, over transitional zoning ordinance changes, commissioners approved – and then rescinded their approval – for certain zoning areas while listening to residents and deciding not to rezone a contentious parcel at the corner of Park and Oakland streets. City commissioners had put off making a final decision on amending the city code of ordinances on transitional zoning on 14 properties abutting both residential neighborhoods and commercial districts at their meeting on August 24 in order to change some ordinance language, such as prohibiting frontfacing garages in the zoned areas. Planner Matt Baka said, “The definition of TZ1 is an attached, single or multifamily residence that provides a transition from low-density commercial to single family covering about 3,000 square feet.” He said setbacks on these properties in the front are zero to 5 feet, and in the back, 10 to 20 feet. The maximum height allowed is 35 feet, with a minimum of two stories, and a maximum of three stories. At a meeting on August 24, Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker provided an overview of the entire transitional zoning study process, which has been going on for about seven years by the planning board. “The planning board first began looking at outdated uses in 2001, 2002, properties. They realized all of them are in different areas, but all are adjacent to commercial areas, but also to commercial neighborhoods, in transitional areas. The planning board then looked at those properties and additional ones at these tricky sites, which are the last ones to be developed.” She said over the years, the planning board looked at “at least 40 different properties. Some were zoned multifamily, some O1, some O2; some were B1 or B2 – those are neighborhood businesses. The planning board really delved into these.” She said the planning board saw they already had something zoned commercial abutting single family residential in use or zoned neighborhoods, or on a major street abutting a major street. They are referring to these classifications as downtownpublications.com
he Kingsley Inn, an iconic structure located on Woodward Avenue in Bloomfield Hills, looks like it could be sold again, after being purchased by the Elia Group, a Birmingham real estate group, in May 2014, with the property slated to be listed on auction.com from November 16 to 18, with starting bids at $1.95 million. The Kingsley Inn, at 39495 Woodward, had been operating as a Radisson property, but that affiliation ended around the first of the year, Bloomfield Hills City Manager Jay Cravens said, and it is once again known by its original moniker. The hotel has 150 rooms and multiple banquet rooms in its lower level. It was first built in 1958, and renovated in 1997, and sits on almost 8 acres of land in Bloomfield Hills. A source who spoke to Elia, who did not return calls from Downtown Publications, said that “apparently over the last six months, people had randomly been calling him and making him verbal offers for the property, at higher prices than he paid. He has ideas for what he'd like to do with the property. He has no intention of keeping it as it is, but as he was talking with other people, each one had different ideas of what they would do with the property, and he's getting an education.” As for putting the Kingsley Inn up for auction, the source said, “He's testing the waters. He has a reserve number he wants, and if it doesn't reach that, he doesn't sell.” In May 2014, Elia had said they were in discussion with multiple organizations to relaunch the banquet facilities, but those discussions appear to have not progressed. The hotel used to house Northern Lakes Seafood Restaurant and Deli Unique, both run by The Epicurean Group. Elia opened up Nosh & Rye Deli in the former Deli Unique site. Cravens said the property has three separate zoning classifications. “One big hurdle, whoever has with that property, whether it's Zaid or a buyer, is the current zoning, and what will be the makeup of the new city commission (after the November election),” the source said. “There are three different zonings on the property. It's a huge hurdle for anyone.”
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transitional zoning, and broke it out in three zones – with TZ1 all residential; TZ2 a mixture of residential and commercial; and TZ3 a couple of larger parcels on major streets. Each zoning area has controls put in to keep them compatible with the adjacent neighborhoods, and to keep hours of operation from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. In re-opening the discussion, commissioner Gordon Rinschler said, “I don't think most people want post offices, churches, schools, government buildings next to their neighborhoods. So this is strictly residential. We want this to be a buffer, so there's no question about businesses; I think we should take it out.” Commissioner Rackeline Hoff said she felt differently about having independent senior living and hospice care allowed in TZ1, and commissioner Mark Nickita agreed. Rinschler disagreed. “I think either an assisted living, independent senior living, or hospice, is a much more intense use because there are people coming and going.” “Would we consider senior living,
because I think that's residential,” said Nickita. Baka said that the definition in the ordinance of independent senior living states “able bodied, no attendant.” As the commission began discussing individual parcels, Rinschler said regarding TZ2 parcels, of which there were 10, “We want this as a residential use area. Why don't we have it all as SLUPs (special land use permits) and no permitted uses?” “It puts a couple more layers of approvals in. I don't like dumping all of them in the SLUP; to me, it's sloppy zoning,” Nickita said. “But I like the controls that fit to individual neighborhood concerns.” Commissioners unanimously approved adding requiring a SLUP to TZ2 zoning ordinance language, but during public comments, a couple of land owners and realtors pointed out that it could be extremely difficult to lease some parcels if they have a SLUP requirement, such as the strip center on Eton where there is the Jet's pizza.
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Birmingham municipal attorney Tim Currier also noted that property owners with a new TZ2 classification would need to be noticed properly if the city is considering adding a mandatory SLUP, “and then we can add it,” he said. Commissioners then rescinded the TZ2 ordinance language as well as the TZ2 parcels they had approved. Currier said the parcels and ordinance language will have to return to the city's planning board for further review for a SLUP, along with proper noticing of property owners. “If we're sending it back to the planning board, we should take their advice. Maybe we should only do SLUPs for businesses over 1,500 square feet and take input from business owners,” said commissioner George Dilgard. “I don't agree with the direction of the commission that everything should be a SLUP.” Two parcels that had been designated TZ3, to be only commercial, where the abutting neighborhood can withstand more height, and it would require a minimum two-story and maximum three-story building, located at Maple and Chester, and the corner of Quarton and Woodward down to the Gasow Veterinary location, were unanimously approved. The most contentious property, located at 404 Park, has been the subject of years of zoning, planning board, city commission and neighborhood debate. The property, at the corner of Park, Oakland Avenue and Woodward, has been vacant since 1988, and a developer, BurtonKatzman, has been seeking to put up a four-unit apartment building, which the TZ1 reclassification would have permitted. Neighborhood residents in attendance at both meetings wore “No spot zoning” signs and spoke in opposition to the development and to having rental property at the site. “404 Park has been involved in rezoning requests for 55 years, when the then-property owner said it was not for residential use, and requested commercial use, and the commission turned them down, and it sat until 1988, when the then-owner requested a rezoning. It was denied, and it has sat vacant,” said Chuck DiMaggio of Burton-Katzman. “The planning commission has spent 30 months, 25 meetings, studying Park and other properties, and enlisted a planning consultant, LSL Planning, which recommended row housing like we proposed, and the planning commission agreed, until the residents objected.” “We're seven houses, and we're not 87
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MUNICIPAL interested in being rezoned,” said resident Brad Host. Commissioners voted 3-3 on 404 Park's rezoning, with Nickita recusing himself, leaving the parcel's zoning unchanged. Commissioners Scott Moore, Tom McDaniel, and Dilgard voted for the rezoning, with Rackeline Hoff, mayor Stuart Sherman, and Rinschler voting against. “We've heard too many residents who are unhappy,” Hoff said. “Rental properties are commercial properties,” Rinschler said. “Also, if you're rezoning this property, it should be the whole block (of Oakland). Sherman concurred. “If we are going to create a buffer zone in this area, it should be the whole side of the street. Oakland is a boulevard. It's also an entranceway to the city. It does not seem to be the time. If it comes back, that the whole side is transitioning, then I'd consider it.”
PACE approved in Bloomfield Township Bloomfield Township trustees approved the establishment of a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program district in the township at their meeting on Monday, September 28, after a longterm township business, Detroit Skating Club, spoke during a public hearing and explained how they would benefit in utilizing the program to renovate the facility to save on its electric bills. At a township meeting on August 10, Andy Levin, founder and managing partner of Lean & Green Michigan, one of Michigan's first PACE initiatives for energy efficiency and renewable energy financing, explained that he works with communities all over Michigan, “but this is the first time I get to do this in my hometown.” He gave a
W. Maple three-lane re-striping begins n effort by the city of Birmingham to rework W. Maple Road between Cranbrook and Southfield roads as a three-lane roadway, in order to see if traffic congestion can be improved, speed can be lowered and accidents reduced, began Saturday, October 3, as work crews re-striped the road from four lanes to three, and early word is that it's a success. “Overwhelmingly, people have been supportive of the change in the re-striping of the road,” city manager Joe Valentine said. That was not always the case, as residents and neighboring community Bloomfield Township protested the change despite three separate traffic engineers recommending it. “We've heard from some residents who initially opposed it, but now support it.” “It's been overwhelming positive. A landslide. People who were adamantly opposed to it are calling and e-mailing and saying that they were wrong, and that it's the best thing the city has done,” said mayor Stuart Sherman. Both Valentine and Sherman acknowledged there were some initial adjustments for drivers, and they are aware of areas of concern, such as the eastbound merging lanes from Cranbrook. “That's something we'll look at further,” Valentine said. The three-lane configuration, with W. Maple now one way in each direction with a center turn lane, is being done as a trial run now through next summer, prior to the road being resurfaced. According to Joellen Haines with the city of Birmingham, “This will allow for the comparison of data following the conversion in order to evaluate the effect of the change. The data that will be evaluated will include average speeds, traffic volumes, travel time comparisons and accident data.”
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presentation of how commercial and multi-family property owners in the township could finance energy projects and renovation by utilizing the program, where the idea is to broker long-term financing to property owners more profitably, as 30 percent of energy that buildings use is wasted, and energy upgrades take five to 20 years to pay back. PACE districts became a possibility under Public Act 270 of 2010, which affords flexibility on financing arrangements with energy improvements, and requires the bank to consent if there is a mortgage on
the property. Levin said 34 states and the District of Columbia have adopted PACE since 2005, which allows municipalities to work together. In Michigan, there are currently 15 counties and five cities which have approved PACE districts. At the meeting, supervisor Leo Savoie said, “We want to have a comfort level that this is not just with your company, although since you made your presentation no one else has come forward. But we made all of the preparations to work with any other company.” “We are not exclusive by any
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means,” Levin responded. “Right now we are the only PACE company operating in Michigan. It's not there's not a need for these; it's just that it takes so long, which is why there aren't more energy retrofits. The takeup has been slow, but when there are more case studies, when those stories get out, you'll hear more about it.” Lean & Green Michigan earns two percent in fees to help find lenders and contractors. Jared Swallow, managing director of the Detroit Skating Club on Denison Court in Bloomfield Township, spoke to the board, stating that “the skating club over the last few years has been considering an expansion. We are a non-profit, member-owned facility. We have a debt structure in place. But the fact that PACE has an energy-efficient component is very important to us. We keep water frozen 365 days a year. The incentives to cut our electricity bills are huge. It would free up cash for an expansion that would be viable to our members. It helps us move forward.” He wrote in a letter to the board of trustees, “We are a 501(c)3 non-profit amateur athletic training facility. We are very energy dependent in terms of maintaining three sheets of ice for our training environment year round. Our club is committed to investing in valuable, environmentally sound, building improvements that deliver sound ‘piece of mind’ and cost savings. We believe adopting a ‘Lean and Green’ approach to our building projects is paramount.” He noted part of their building is more than 40 years old, and another part is more than 20 years old. “It would be retrofitting it under the PACE program.” “I look at the skate club and the international competitors, and the Olympic competitors, and this is the ability to help those sectors and
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business owners,” Savoie said. Trustee Brian Kepes asked what they would do if a PACE district were not approved. “We'll probably go through a capital fundraising campaign sooner rather than later,” Swallow said. Responding to a question from a member of the public as to why the township would want to be part of the PACE program, Savoie said, “I ask why wouldn't we get involved? With no cost to taxpayers, with benefits to property owners with energy savings options. This is not another layer of government. It is government helping property owners within the jurisdiction if they choose to use it. We have the right to underwrite it if we choose.” “We are five percent commercial in Bloomfield Township. I think it's a wonderful program, and if we don't offer something like this to allow them (DSC) to improve, they may have to move. It's a wonderful opportunity because it improves your building and improves your facility for your customers,” said clerk Jan Roncelli. “I would be happy to support this, especially with a business in the township that is ready to go,” said trustee Neal Barnett. Trustees voted 5-2, to approve a PACE district in the township, with trustee Dave Buckley and treasurer Dan Devine, voting against.
Bistro applications submitted for 2016 By Lisa Brody
Two potential new bistros submitted applications for the possibility of receiving a 2016 bistro license from the city commission in Birmingham, where they will be presented and reviewed on Monday, October 12. Bistro applications are required to be submitted by October 1 each year for consideration by the city commission for the following year's licenses. If they receive support from the city commission, they can then move on to the city's planning board for the next step in the approval process. Toshi, an urban Asian Japan/Chinese/Korean restaurant submitted for 135 N. Old Woodward in the central business district, is proposed for a location next to Cosi, which currently houses the advertising agency Centigrade, which is leaving by the end of February. The bistro is proposed by real estate professional Brian Najor and downtownpublications.com
Wachler moving two storefronts down he iconic jewelry store David Wachler & Sons moved from its perch at the corner of Old Woodward and Maple to the former Biggby Coffee store location as the Wachler building, now renamed The Woodward by owners The Surnow Company, has begun renovation work. Buzz Wachler, owner of the jewelry store first begun in 1922, said customers will still be able to count on “the same services, same merchandise, the same business. My jewelers will all be there. We still will be doing our own manufacturing services, repairs and appraisals.” The business will maintain its same hours, as well, open daily Tuesday through Saturday. Wachler said he doesn't know how long the store will be two doors away, at 112 S. Old Woodward, in a smaller space, as it will depend on how long it takes for construction on The Woodward building. Wachler sold the building in which his jewelry store has resided for decades to The Surnow Company in 2014. Drawings created by architect Kevin Biddison of Birmingham for The Surnow Company last winter for the building show a renovation of the current two-story building, lightened by removing all of the black window glass, and architecturally defining it through the use of organic materials, as well as creating grand entrances at both the Old Woodward and Maple sides of the building, and improving the appearance on the Pierce Street side. When he went before the Birmingham City Commission for approval in February 2015, late owner Jeff Surnow described his vision of the building and its new design. “What office tenants like are floor-to-ceiling glass,” he noted. The current office entrance, on Maple just east of Pierce street, is currently innocuous, he said, so he intended to make a grand entrance in the same location, with glass and a thin canopy above. Designs showed a fluid-formed metal which will rust naturally, creating both design and color on the building as well as emphasis to the entranceway. The Old Woodward entranceway's design has a strong black stone canopy which rises above the entrance, creating a statement of elegance and grandeur. Surnow's brother and partner, Michael, and sons Max and Alex, are continuing the project. The second floor office tenants were given until October 1 to relocate out of the current building. The new store is about 1,600 square feet, Wachler said, with a basement that will have offices and manufacturing space. He said the new shop will continue the tradition of showcasing the company's jewelers on the first floor. “I don't want to hide the fact that that's what we do,” he said. “We will still do custom jewelry, as well as estate jewelry.” Noting that the family jewelry business had been in the same location at 100 S. Old Woodward since 1983, Wachler said, “I'm looking forward to the challenge, and to creating a new David Wachler & Sons.”
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Executive Chef Justin Varciunias, formerly of 220 Merrill, Forte, Detroit Athletic Club, and Kruse & Muer. “The idea is to marry the best flavors from different regions in Asia in an artistic way,” according to the application, which noted diners will be offered small and large plates ranging in price from $7 to $28. The application said the bistro will be open for lunch and dinner throughout the week. The second application is for the N. Old Woodward area, for The Fun Wine Company, by Birmingham Wine owner Ed Bosse, in the Birmingham Wine location at 588 N. Old Woodward.
“The Fun Wine Company will serve a different population than any of the other bistro applications,” the application stated. “It will draw on a collaboration of the brightest and most successful food/wine people in the metro Detroit area. It will be mostly for local residents and businesses/boutiques, with wine glasses starting at $5, and simple, clean food.” Bosse did not describe the food he would be offering, other than it would be “light, colorful food in the $7 to $12 range.” The application said the bistro would be open from 11 a.m to 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday and Farmer's
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Market Sundays, and “will attract colorful winemakers from around the world.” City commissioners will review the bistro applications at a public hearing on Monday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. Up to two can be chosen to move on for further development with the planning board, providing they meet the criteria of the bistro ordinance, and then return for final approval with the commission.
Coffee shop approved as Birmingham bistro La Strada Caffe, a coffee shop and restaurant proposed for 243 Merrill Street in Birmingham, received final site plan and special land use permit approval for a 2015 bistro license from the Birmingham city commission on Monday, September 21. Matt Baka, Birmingham planner, told commissioners that La Strada was the only application that was fully pursued for 2015. La Strada Caffe is owned by Zharko Palushaj, who also owns Tre Monti restaurant in Troy. Palushaj will share the space with his wife, who opened adjacent Adore Nail Salon. It will serve only wine and champagne, and Baka said it is small, relative to the city's bistros, which can be 65 seats. “This one will have 43 seats without outdoor dining. There's about 10 seats outdoors,” Baka said. Baka said that Palushaj would open even if he did not receive a bistro license. Palushaj is planning to have La Strada Caffe open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The menu includes baked goods along with a selection of jams and spreads, panini sandwiches, salads, pizza, gourmet meats and cheeses, a large selection of desserts, gelatos, daily fresh juices, and European specialty and dessert beverages, as well as a coffee bar. French doors have been added to the front of the establishment, as well as a window which will have seating. Outdoor seating will be tucked in between the window and the french doors, as that is not the primary entrance, which is near the nail studio. Palushaj emphasized that patrons will not be able to take cocktails into the nail salon. Bistros have been allowed in Birmingham since 2007 under a special land use permit, which is a zoning ordinance. It permits up to two bistro liquor licenses to new businesses in the central business district (the downtown area), the Triangle area, or the Rail District, and 93
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two licenses to existing businesses in the same areas each year. A bistro must conform to very specific criteria. There may be no more than 65 seats in the establishment, including no more than 10 seats at a bar. They must have a full service kitchen, and they can offer low-key entertainment. There must be outdoor seating, either on the sidewalk or on a raised platform in a parking spot, which is purchased through the city. The bistro must also have windows lining the street. “I think this is a great addition to Birmingham,” said commissioner Gordon Rinschler. Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve a bistro license for La Strada Caffe.
Whole Foods market approved for Maple A 46,500 square foot Whole Foods grocery store, proposed for 2100 E. Maple Road in Birmingham, had its final site plan approved by the Birmingham Planning Board, and can now proceed to apply for building permits. Whole Foods announced in May it had signed a lease for the vacant office building in order to move its store in Troy at Maple and Coolidge roads to expand its offerings. However, it met with resistance from adjacent neighborhood groups opposing it, concerned over an increase in traffic on E. Maple and worries about cut through traffic into local neighborhoods. The planning board met with Whole Foods and discussed a community impact study over the course of the summer, with traffic and new circulation patterns into and out of the site as one of the primary issues of the preliminary site plans. The city commission rezoned the property to permit a grocery store use on the site on June 29. Traffic signals, crosswalks, and deceleration lanes that increase the safety of traffic were all determined to be important and crucial aspects of traffic circulation. No left turns from westbound Maple into the parking lot will be permitted, and a median is proposed to eliminate such turns. Delivery trucks will be encouraged to drive into the adjacent LA Fitness just to its east to approach the store. Sidewalks, on the store's property, will connect to a raised plaza space south off of E. Maple, by the northeast entrance of the store. Whole Foods Midwest regional president Michael Bashaw previously stated that the new store “will allow downtownpublications.com
us to do everything bigger. The new one will be three times the current store. Our specialty food department will be much bigger, as will prepared foods. For example, we have one area currently. The new store will have five. Our range of new things will be included, including our Mediterranean menu where we make pita breads in-house.” He said the Birmingham location will include a bakery that makes bread from scratch, “and we will have much more pastries.” They will also feature wine, beer, and artisan distilled spirits. Plans approved feature cast stone on the building base and and main body of the store, along with brick, accented by a ceramic tile that looks like wood for siding around small windows and at prominent corners of the building. Windows will features clear glazing. According to Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker, “The east entrance is framed with two columns covered in metal with a green and white 'Whole Foods Market' sign centered above the entrance, and the entrance is surrounded by a patio that extends towards E. Maple Road and the east parking lot. The patio is shaded with a projecting metal canopy, and contains guard rails along its cast stone retaining wall base.”
New Pink Pump store opening By Lisa Brody
Pink Pump, the former women's shoe, clothing and accessory store, is reopening at Maple and Cranbrook in the former Nature Nook florist location in Bloomfield Township with new owners Vincent and Kelly Kirkwood. Vincent Kirkwood announced that he and his wife have purchased all of the intellectual property rights, naming rights, website domain, as well as previous fixtures and some existing inventory from previous Pink Pump owner Tawny Thieu. Thieu closed her Pink Pump stores, in downtown Birmingham on Maple, and in the Bloomfield Plaza in Bloomfield Township, in May 2014. Kirkwood said they have just “finally closed the deal to bring back Pink Pump. We are trying to open on Black Friday, November 27.” He said the new store's emphasis will be heavy on women's shoe products, notably by Steve Madden, Jessica Simpson, Minnetonka, Lilliana, and Badgley Mischka, but they will also feature jeans, blouses,
Shop & Champagne
The Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center cordially invites you to the kickoff event of the holiday season
Shop & Champagne This party is a special preview of the BBAC’s annual Holiday Shop - 3500 square feet of unique creations by more than 100 artists from across the region & U.S. Enjoy 10% off on your shopping that night plus seductive sweets & savories from some of the area’s finest restaurants. Sparkling champagne & wine enhance an evening of equally sparkling conversations with favorite friends & colleagues.
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Wednesday, December 2 6:30-9pm ADVANCE TICKETS START AT $75 proceeds benefit ArtAccess & educational programs at the BBAC
ON SALE NOVEMBER 1 BBArtCenter.org or 248.644.0866 complimentary valet parking
RESTAURANTS INCLUDE
The Rattlesnake Club ▪ O’Brien’s Crabhouse ▪ The Stand Brooklyn Pizza ▪ Canapé Cart ▪ Cafe ML ▪ 220 Merrill The Root Restaurant & Bar ▪ Schakolad of Birmingham
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532 Lakeside - Birmingham Offered at $3,599,000 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. 215098055
Troy $1,095,000 Luxurious Colonial on Corner Lot 5276 Sq Ft 4 BR 3.2 BA 3 Car Attached Garage co-listor Pat O'Neill
Birmingham $1,799,000 Extraordinary New Construction Ready December 2015 4100 Sq Ft 4 BR 4.2 BA 3 Car Attached Garage
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Troy $949,000 Elegant & Sophisticated Premium Lot 4771 Sq Ft 4 BR, 4.3 BA 3 Car Attached Garage
All Star
Bloomfield Hills $499,000 Sprawling Ranch on Fabulous Large Lot 4624 Sq Ft 4 BR, 4 BA 3 Car Attached Garage
Marketing a home requires unique skills, knowledge and resources that Signature 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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248-318-4745
415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009
cdrinkwater@signaturesothebys.com
necklaces, gloves, scarves and other items. “While we purchased some of the existing product inventory, we had to purchase new product to keep it relevant and fresh,” Kirkwood said. The Kirkwoods live in West Bloomfield, and this is their foray into the retail world, although their hope is after getting the Bloomfield store up and running, to perhaps expand into Detroit in the spring. He is a sports marketing instructor at Wayne State University and works in marketing for MRA Marketing; wife Kelly is a former assistant principal at Crescent Academy in Southfield. For those who can't wait until Black Friday, Kirkwood said all of their merchandise is available at pinkpump.com.
Exotic car showroom coming to city A boutique showroom for exotic luxury cars in Birmingham's Triangle District received unanimous approval of its final site
plan and special land use permit by the Birmingham City Commission on Monday, October 12. Syed and Erica Ahmed of Platinum Motor Cars Detroit have proposed opening a boutique or showroom for high end or luxury pre-owned cars at 1098 S. Adams Road at Lincoln, in the former Parks Tailoring location, and were requesting a special land use permit from the city. Birmingham planner Matt Baka said the showroom would feature about five automobiles at the Birmingham site, while a facility in Troy would store all of their other cars. Noting that the building has been vacant for the last 10 years, Baka said the building will remain under the ownership of Parks, but is proposed to be leased by the auto leasing agency, which is a permitted use in the city's Triangle District with a special land use permit. “This building is difficult because of its parking situation. It's difficult to meet the parking requirement. Auto sales are different, because it takes into account the showroom,” he said.
property on N. Old Woodward to be part of the Downtown Overlay District at their meeting on Monday, October 12, which would permit new owners of the parcel to build a mixed use residential building with retail on the first floor. “Essentially, you have a rezoning issue before you” planning director Jana Ecker told commissioners. “All of the other properties around it are either commercial or mixed use. The N. Old Woodward parking structure is directly to its south. They assert that this property appears to be a natural addition to the Downtown Overlay District, with the properties both north and south of them in the Downtown Overlay District.” Previously, in a memo to the city's planning board, Ecker had said the new property owners, Alden Development, were not seeking to change the underlying R6 zoning, but wanted to add the property into the Downtown Birmingham Overlay District with a D-4 classification. By doing that, Alden Development proposes demolishing the existing condominiums and constructing a
“The planning board said they didn't know another use that would fit the building as well.” Platinum Motors will paint the building, replace the tinted windows with clear windows, add LED lights, replace existing river rocks on the side of the building with grass, and improve the building's streetscaping, Baka said. “This is a very boutique business. This is a very low density usage,” noted commissioner Gordon Rinschler. Ahmed noted that they would not be parking any luxury cars outside the building, which would be prohibited by ordinance. “We don't have the parking, and we don't want anyone kicking in the windows of a Bentley,” he said. Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the special land use permit and the final site plan for the business.
N. Old Woodward property rezoned Birmingham city commissioners unanimously approved rezoning a
H O L I DAY E V E N T S I N B I R M I N G H A M HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING
Wednesday, Nov. 25, 6 p.m., Shain Park Help Santa and the Mayor light up the town for the holidays! Enjoy caroling, carriage rides and free hot cocoa as well. Santa House opens following the ceremony.
SANTA HOUSE
Weekends November 25 – December 20, plus the Friday after Thanksgiving, during Winter Markt and Christmas Eve. Santa is in a real house for the holidays! (Take a WOV[V ^P[O :HU[H 7YVJLLKZ ILULÄ[ 3LHKLY Dogs for the Blind.) PARKING HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER IN BIRMINGHAM! First 2 Hours ALWAYS FREE in the parking decks. PARKMOBILE TECHNOLOGY at ALL downtown parking meters! Pay by cell phone or mobile app. For more info and to register go to www.parkmobile.com downtownpublications.com
SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY
November 28 Downtown Birmingham Come tackle your holiday shopping and support local small businesses. Enjoy valet parking, strolling entertainment, carriage rides, and other fun treats.
DOWNTOWN
BIRMINGHAM WINTER MARKT
Friday, December 4-Sunday, December 6 Enjoy a charming old-world style market featuring local artisans, holiday decorations, home accessories, children’s activities, live entertainment, plus traditional German food and drink! For details and event hours, go to www.BirminghamWinterMarkt.org
CARRIAGE RIDES
Select dates November 25 - December 19, also during Tree Lighting, Small Business Saturday and Winter Markt. Carriages load at the corner of Henrietta & Merrill. For more information, hours and event details, visit www.EnjoyBirmingham.com EnjoyBirminghamNOW
97
270 Aspen Rd
Birmingham
$2,395,000
Close to town high quality newer build home, featured in Detroit Home magazine and Spectacular Homes of Michigan. Stunning finishes throughout. Master with his and her baths and closets. Professionally finished basement with a climate controlled wine cellar and exercise room.
137 dourdan
Bloomfield Hills
$1,199,000
Home to be built. An executive development of million dollar plus homes. 5 br, 3.5 baths. 1st floor master. 3 car garage. Other lots available. Bloomfield schools.
593 Fairfax
Birmingham
$949,900
Extensively remodeled Quarton Lake Colonial on a great lot. New kitchen in 2009 with SS appliances and granite counters. 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths. Finished rec room in basement. Second floor laundry. Rare 4 car garage. Around the corner from Quarton Elementary.
1170 Chesterfield Birmingham
$1,999,900
Stunning newer build on a large 155x150 lot, just over a half acre in Quarton Lake Estates. Beautiful white kitchen with black granite, wood floors and a huge center island. Four bedrooms and 4 full baths up, finished basement. Three car side entry garage.
469 Bonnie Brier
Birmingham
$965,000
272 Ravine
Birmingham
$1,499,900
Luxury to be built in town home by HM Homes - construction to begin in 2015. Wonderful location in "little San Francisco". 4 bedrooms, 4.1 baths. 2 car attached garage. Amazing downtown Birmingham opportunity!
740 s. Bates
Birmingham
$949,900
High quality 2004 built home, just steps away from town. Kitchen with large center island, granite tops and high-end appliances. Professionally finished basement provides bedroom (with egress), full bath, bar area, wine cellar and rec room. Finished room above garage has heating/ cooling.
Just a couple of blocks from town for this 1997 built home, with an attached two car garage, a 1st floor laundry, and the potential for a main floor bedroom/mstr. Beautiful kitchen has granite counters, a center island, walk- in pantry and hardwood floors. A great in-town opportunity!
1023 Chester
2235 Quarton Rd Bloomfield Hills $720,000
Birmingham
$819,900
Newer build 3 bedroom, 2.2 bath colonial just blocks from town. Gorgeous finishes and a great floor plan. Finished basement. Two car garage. Second floor laundry. Beautifully decorated.
Stately red brick colonial, built in the 20's, sitting on nearly one acre of beautiful grounds in Bloomfield Village. Newer kitchen with Wolf stove and Sub Zero fridge. Four bdrms, 2.2 baths. Two car side entry garage. Tremendous character and charm throughout.
OveR $100 MilliOn ClOsed sinCe 2013
CHRis PeRO Associate Broker
248.797.0784 cgpero@yahoo.com
275 S. Old Woodward Downtown Birmingham
602 Riverside
Birmingham
$699,900
Fabulous lot backing to woods. Private community in heart of Birmingham. Design your dream home. Lot price only
1492 Ruffner
Birmingham
$599,900
Newer built four bdrm 3.1 bath colonial, completed in 2012. Gorgeous kitchen with maple cabinets, granite counters, tiled backsplash and four chair island. Mud room with built ins. Wood floors throughout main level. 1 block from school and park.
21969 Riverview
Beverly Hills
$349,900
Spacious 4 bedroom Colonial with lots of potential on a nice lot. Kitchen has SS appls and opens to family room with fireplace on one side and nook with large island on the other. Two car attached garage leads into first floor laundry/mud room. New dimensional single roof in 2011.
1273 Yorkshire
Birmingham
$650,000
1316 Puritan
Birmingham
$649,900
Wonderful 4 bedroom 3.1 bath home in desirable Birmingham Estates neighborhood. Beautiful newer kitchen with granite tops, center island and SS appls. Gorgeous 80 ft wide lot. Walking distance to town.
Quarton Lake Estates colonial on a nice 80x155 lot. 4 bedrooms, 2.2 baths. Two car attached garage. Finished basement. Great area with lots of development.
1496 Maryland
4097 Waterwheel Bloomfield Hills
Birmingham
$465,000
$399,900
Three bdrm bungalow has been bumped out and expanded to create a spacious floor plan with a lot of natural light. Updated kitchen Great master suite upstairs that includes a large wic, bath w/jetted tub, gas fireplace and bonus room. Finished rec room in basement.
Move in ready colonial on a nice 1/2 acre lot in desirable Bennington Green sub. Updated white eat-in kitchen. Family room with hardwood floors and natural fireplace. Main floor laundry/mud room. Four spacious bedrooms, 2.1 baths. Bloomfield Hills schools. Association park in neighborhood.
537 lewis
32286 Auburn
Birmingham
$349,900
Eton Street Station condo. 2 BR, 2.1 baths. Two car side by side attached garage. KItchen includes granite tops and SS appliances. End unit has lots of light.
Beverly Hills
$319,900
Three bedrooms, 1.1 bath colonial on a great street. Newer white kitchen. Large living room w/fireplace. Nice family room off the back overlooking backyard. Finished rec room in basement. Birmingham schools. Also for lease at $2300/month.
OveR $100 MilliOn ClOsed sinCe 2013
CHRis PeRO Associate Broker
248.797.0784 cgpero@yahoo.com
275 S. Old Woodward Downtown Birmingham
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new five-story mixed use building on the site, which is nestled between Booth Park and the N. Old Woodward parking structure. Ecker said, “The main difference with regards to development standards is that D-4 in the overlay permits five-stories, if the fifth story is used for residential. Without the overlay classification, three-stories is permitted.” Alden would like to redevelop the property with first floor retail and four floors of residential units in a building that matches the height of adjacent buildings, with 26 units proposed. The existing nine apartments were built in 1968, and are two-stories with a basement. Ecker said that the city's 2016 Master Plan envisions the Willits block, with a Bates Street extension, opening up the views in that area. Commissioners voted 7-0 to approve the zoning change.
Merchants seeking changes to art fairs While popular and a draw to downtown Birmingham, many merchants, working through the city's Principal Shopping District (PSD), are seeking to facilitate changes to the city's art fairs, Art Birmingham, held each spring on Mother's Day weekend, and Common Ground's Annual Street Art Fair, held in September. “The two concerns that have been consistent over the years have been the time when the set up begins on Friday afternoons for both fairs, even though they don't begin until Saturday,” said PSD Executive Director John Heiney. Heiney said street closures are permitted at 3 p.m. Friday. “It creates congestion and confusion on a busy Friday afternoon (for merchants and customers).” The fairs, which receive approval from the Birmingham City Commission for the dates they are held on, as well as the time for area street closures to permit artists to begin setting their tents up, came before the city commission in October for the 2016 fair season. Heiney said Art Birmingham, which benefits the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, was downtownpublications.com
scheduled to come before the commission on Monday, October 12, where it was approved for May 2016, and Common Ground's Annual Street Art Fair, before the commission on Monday, October 26. Both fairs work in association with the Guild of Artists and Artisans in Ann Arbor. The spring show, Art Birmingham, is located in Shain Park, while the fall show, Common Ground's Annual Street Art Fair, takes over S. Old Woodward between Maple and Frank streets in downtown Birmingham. Annie VanGelderen of BBAC told commissioners on October 12 they had had several meetings with the PSD in order to be more accommodating. “We'll have a later drop off so it doesn't impact the merchants and so it doesn't close the streets as early on Fridays. We'll have a strict parking policy that an artist absolutely can't park in the street and must park in the
structure. If they don't, the police will get their license plates and ban them in the future. The second issue, which has cropped up consistently over the years, is the timing of the spring show, which will be approaching its 35th year in 2016. Other than a couple of years recently, the art fair traditionally falls on Mother's Day weekend. “Merchants tell us that it is a competition between the brick and mortar stores, especially jewelers, who have been the most vocal to the PSD,” Heiney said. He said there are currently about 17 or 18 jewelers in Birmingham, with Lucido's Jewelers opening later this fall. The art fair features many jewelry designers. “We have made a number of xconcessions, and we are happy to be in the park on Mother's Day weekend,” VanGelderen said. “It's a tradition. We want to work with the PSD.”
Open House
Sunday November 1st, 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
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1786 S Bates Birmingham | $969,500 Charming New Construction located on one of the most coveted streets in Downtown Birmingham. High end finishes throughout with attention to detail! 3202 Sq Ft; 4 BR; 4.1 BA; 2 Car Garage.
DOWNTOWN
P U B L I C A T I O N S 124 WeST MAPLe ROAD BIRMINghAM 48009
John & Bridget Apap
signaturesothebys.com
248.225.9858
415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009 DOWNTOWN
101
Time to start planning your move. Call Jennifer for your free market analysis today!
Oakland County's Lakefront Specialist
Jennifer Wrobleski 248-854-3100 Office: 248-360-2900 jwrobleski@kw.com www.MichiganHomeMarketPlace.com
#1 Agent at Keller Williams - Commerce
Stunning lakefront property nestled amongst $1,000,000+ homes with a million dollar view. Your own private lakefront retreat in the heart of it all with 131â&#x20AC;&#x2122; of lake frontage. Mature trees and professionally landscaped pristine yard. Cozy front porch to inviting entry. Updated gourmet eat-in kitchen w/breakfast nook, bar, buffet/desk area, under cabinet lighting, and granite. Formal dining room w/breathtaking lakefront views. Living room w/built-ins and large door wall to pool. Finished lower level w/rec area, pool table, full bath, family room, fireplace, and doorwall to sunroom. Master suite w/ private deck, WIC, and full updated bath. Generous sized bedrooms and main bath. Backyard is the entertainers dream! Colorado red flagstone patios surround the pool deck. Deluxe in-ground pool overlooking the lake. Over $150,000 of improvements made to this home. Hardwoods are under most carpeted areas. 3 car side entry garage. Circular drive. Private lake w/private Wing Lake Association beach. OFFERED AT $819,000.
Keller Williams Realty
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2730 Union Lake Road
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Commerce Twp, MI 48382
FACES
Ryan Holdan ong before Ryan Holdan, president of Paymasters, Inc., was assisting restaurateurs with complex financial decisions, the payroll guru was under his mom and dad's feet, studying their shrewd entrepreneurial skills. “I would go with my mom on consultations sometimes,” Holdan said of his mother’s interior design business. He also worked with his dad, an accountant who owns his own firm, during the summers. With a powerful sense of ambition and a healthy dose of nervous excitement, Holdan followed in his parent’s footsteps and started Paymasters, Inc. at just 25-years-old. The Bloomfield Township native chose a downtown Birmingham location for his payroll company and quickly found his niche in the restaurant industry. “Within six months we realized that restaurants are a totally different beast than conventional businesses. The restaurant industry is the biggest employer outside the federal government. They are the most audited and penalized and they are considered the highest risk industry for labor violations. There are a lot rules and regulations,” he said. “We stay on top of all the changes in the Affordable Healthcare Act” Holdan’s company will serve any client, but he chose to be hyperfocused on restaurants because he has always vanquished a challenge. “Attending (Brother Rice High School), much was expected of you,” he said. Holdan went well beyond expectation by excelling in honors courses at the private school and serving as the captain for both the lacrosse and soccer teams. “(My parents) spent as much money as they could afford and I knew I was very fortunate.”
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Holdan was recruited to the University of Pennsylvania, where he played lacrosse and studied economics. Holdan pledged to the same fraternity as Donald Trump, Jr., and even prevailed over Trump, Jr. for the risk manager position of the fraternity. “(Trump, Jr.) was a very good guy,” he said. Holdan then went on to study at the prestigious London School of Economics and Political Science. Upon graduation he had a several job offers. Instead of heading to Wall Street, he chose to be an analyst for CIBC World Markets, the investment-banking branch of a global Canadian bank in Los Angeles. Holdan had an apartment on Ocean Avenue with a view of the pier but he quickly became disillusioned with the injustices of the corporate world. He was ready to start his business in a way that would empower his employees without the political nuances he had experienced. “When it comes to management, I give (my employees) the tools they need to succeed and then I stay the heck out of their way.” Holdan had his pick of jobs in the financial world, but the highly sought after power elite traveled 2,300 miles only to discover that there was no better place to raise a family and work than right at home. “Birmingham and Bloomfield are as close to a utopia as you can get,” he said. “To me, there is not a better place to raise a family. It’s a good, safe and loving environment.” Story: Katey Meisner
Photo: Laurie Tennent
NaNCY KaRaS Results with First Class Service Lakefront & Luxury Estates | Executive Relocation
Wishing you a very Happy Thanksgiving! CE
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BLOOMFIELD TWP Lower Long Lakefront. 6,975 total finished sq ft, 4 beds, 4.3 baths, 1.71 acres, 1300 ft of lake frontage. One-of-a-kind Don Paul Young designed & updated home on a one-of-a-kind lot on a peninsula! Incredible, unmatched views! Entry level master, 4 car garage, Bloomfield Hills Schools. $3,600,000
BLOOMFIELD TWP Lower Long Lakefront, 6227 total fin sq ft, 5 beds up, 1 bed on lower walk-out level, 4.1 baths, .6 acres, 204' of lake frontage with panoramic views. Stately colonial with spacious rooms, newer windows/doorwalls, 3 car garage, multi terraces, $1,375,000 deck & dock! Bloomfield Hills schools.
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BLOOMFIELD TWP Sodon Lakefront, 9,500 total finished sq ft, Ranch with walkout, 4 beds, 4.2 baths, 3 car garage, 1.25 acres. Fun home with fabulous kitchen, room to entertain in style, lower level bar w/ full kitchen & in-law suite. Large yard, private sandy $1,399,000 beach, Bloomfield Hills schools.
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BLOOMFIELD TWP Forest Lake Front with island! 4500 total finished sq ft ranch with walk-out, on 1.07 acres, 4-5 bedrooms, 3.2 baths, generator, newer roof, deck, doorwalls and windows. Bloomfield Hills schools. $1,299,900
BLOOMFIELD TWP Lower Long Lakefront 6,425 total fin sq ft, 4 beds, 3.1 baths, .9 acres. Classic and pristine, mid-century modern, custom-built Clifford Wright ranch, entry level master, fin walkout, Bloomfield Hills schools. Rare sunrise & sunset views with southern exposure! $1,299,000
BLOOMFIELD TWP Forest Lake Front, 4,600 total finished sq. ft. Total rebuild in 1994. Great condo alternative: walk to Forest Lake CC, sunset views, entry level master suite, laundry & garage, lower level walk-out with full apartment. Bloomfield Hills $1,149,900 schools.
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BLOOMFIELD TWP Lower Long Lake & Canal front 4,844 total fin sq ft, 4 beds, 2.1 baths, 1.3 acres. Charming custom built Cape Cod w/ entry level master, updated kitchen and baths, SS appliances, 31'x14' four season room w/ fabulous lake views! Bloomfield Hills schools. $1,099,500
248-421-2670
BLOOMFIELD TWP 3,049 total finished sq ft. 4 beds, 3 baths. Many updates! Newer roof and mechanicals. Huge granite kitchen w/ fireplace and gathering area. FP in living room too! 2nd kitchen, family rm, bdrm, in lower level walk-out! Large backyard. Comprehensive home warranty included. $349,900 Great sub. Birmingham schools.
FARMINGTON HILLS 3,560 total finished sq ft, 3 beds, 3.1 baths, 1991 built, updated in 2012. Turn-key condo has entry level master suite and laundry, plus attached 2 car garage! Finished LL with 4th bdrm, 2nd kit, family rm and bath. N Farmington Hills schools $269,000
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4 1 3 0 Te l e g r a p h R o a d
Bloomfield Hills
Michigan
48302
EDUCATION
District looking at closed schools By Lisa Brody
Having recently wrapped up community input focus groups on what the community would like to do with shuttered schools, the Bloomfield Hills Schools District is ready to present a report to the board of education that will include recommendations to sell 18-plus acres on Long Lake Road, potentially seek a partner to renovate Lahser High School into a community rec center, and determine whether to keep or sell the former Pine Lake and Hickory Grove elementary school sites. Cresa, real estate consultants with Plante Moran, worked with the district to develop a master planning and facilitation process, which included holding several community forums over the last few months. “We just wrapped, and we now have some themes on what to do,” said Shira Good, spokesperson for Bloomfield Hills Schools. She said the overriding theme for the Wabeek land property, located on the south side of Long Lake Road just west of Franklin Road, “is to sell it. It's just over 18 acres, and it's zoned residential. Sometime this winter, the board might move on it. They would do an RFP (request for proposal) to see what it is worth. Then the board can make a more legitimate assessment. It will be interesting to see what it's worth.” Current extrapolated values for the property are approximately $1.8 million. She said both residents and professionals advised them to sell the property. “Our budget is not getting better, and our demographics are down. A residential development is a revenue generator in more ways than just selling the land,” she noted. “If the land is appropriately developed, it will have potential students, providing us with perpupil dollars.” Differences of opinions arose amongst stakeholders about what they thought the district should do with other property the district now holds, such as the former Lahser High School, at 3456 Lahser Road; downtownpublications.com
Board, teachers reach agreement he Birmingham Public Schools Board of Education accepted a contract proposal from the Birmingham Education Association (BEA), at their board meeting Tuesday, September 29, following months of bargaining the teachers' pact that had expired June 30, 2015. According to Marcia Wilkinson, spokesperson for the district, there was no threat of a strike this school year while the district's 593 teachers, 143 paraprofessionals, and 54 clerical workers worked without a contract. While she would not discuss union demands, under the former contract, beginning teachers in the Birmingham district earned $41,043 a year, while teachers with a master's degree and 30 years' of experience in the district earned $88,482. Calling this a tentative agreement, board president Rob Lawrence said that there were still some small details that will needed to be worked out between the two sides, “mostly related to the calendars.” Contracts were expected to be ratified by October 20. BEA president Scott Warrow, who is a Groves teacher, said, “We are encouraged that the Birmingham Board of Education accepted the proposal as recommended by the state mediator. We hope we can continue this positive direction and finalize negotiations soon.” Lawrence said, “I’m grateful for the efforts of both negotiating teams to reach this agreement. I am confident that we will also quickly reach agreements with the secretaries and para-professionals unions. Together we share the common goal of ensuring that Birmingham Public Schools are among the best in the state of Michigan. It’s what our community expects, and it’s what our students and staff deserve. We have been meeting with the union since March of 2015, and we have met on 17 occasions (the most recent of which occurred on September 17), with a majority of those sessions involving a state mediator. During this time both parties have made accommodations to meet the availability of members on both negotiating teams.” Currently, there are about 8,200 students in Birmingham Public Schools, with an operating budget of $113.2 million for fiscal year 20152016. Per student spending is at $14,058, yet the district only receives $11,924 per student from the state following a $25 per student bump by the Michigan state legislature for the 2015-2016 school year. The district is spending $2.3 million this school year from its fund balance, following approval by the board of education, to cover a projected deficit. “That is less than half-a-percent,” Lawrence said. “The state legislature has taken away a lot of our funding over the last several years.” Responding to the lengthy process over the contract talks, Lawrence said that what took so long is, “This has not been an easy time in public education. The board supports the precedent of keeping our teachers amongst the highest paid in the state; this reflects both the value we place on our teachers and the value they bring to our students. All of this is done while trying to address the long-term decline in state funding, decreases in student enrollment, continued growth in healthcare costs, and legacy pension obligations that now add approximately 35 percent on top of covered personnel salaries. Over 85 percent of total expenditures are related to personnel costs. This can be a difficult balance, and helps to explain the parties’ challenges in reaching a new agreement.”
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Hickory Grove Elementary School, 2800 Lahser Road; Pine Lake Elementary School, 3333 W. Long Lake Road in Orchard Lake; and Bloomin' Preschool at Fox Hills, 1661
Hunter's Ridge. For each, three concepts evolved, with choices ranging from demolishing the building and selling the land, to demolishing the building and
DOWNTOWN
holding onto the property, to maintaining the facility and ownership of the property. Good said that for the Lahser property, “The community said, 'We want a rec center.' We heard that a lot. We don't have the capacity as a school district to operate a rec center. Our number one focus is education. That is not to say we couldn't entertain a partnership to operate a rec center (where we would own the building and the land, and someone else would operate the facility). It would have to be the right fit. (Over the last few years), we put a lot of money into Lahser, especially into the athletic fields. We do have a pool and a theater. But, as was pointed out with the millage votes, they're not in good shape. An entity could not move into that facility without doing a lot of work, and we don't have the capacity to do that.” She did emphasize that it would be extremely expensive for the district to demolish and repurpose the building. Lahser sits on almost 44 acres in the heart of both Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township. The district has estimated it will cost about $12 million of capital improvements to improve the facility. By contrast, Pine Lake and Hickory Grove, each require about a half-million dollars to improve those sites. By doing so, the schools could potentially be leased to another school or district. Demolition of either site would not be as costly as the large high school. “If we demolish them, we wouldn't have to heat or cool them, or worry about pipes bursting. We'd just have to mow the grass to maintain them,” if it is determined not to sell the land, acknowledged Good. While advantages to selling the properties would be no future overhead and dollars into the district's coffers, disadvantages include no land bank for future growth of the district if demographics change. It could also limit the ability of Bloomfield Hills Schools to add programming and education in the future. The board of education is expected to discuss the proposal at a future meeting. 105
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BUSINESS MATTERS New York wealth services New York-based Lebenthal Wealth Advisors has opened its first Michigan location at 255 E. Brown Street, Suite 101, Birmingham. Heading up the new office is veteran advisor William Burke, who has more than 30 years of experience in the wealth management industry. Burke will be the producing branch manager of the Birmingham office, the fourth Lebenthal has opened outside of New York. “There is a renaissance occurring in Michigan, led by new development in the metropolitan Detroit area, and I believe that Lebenthal will be wellpositioned to participate in its growth,” said Lebenthal CEO Frank Campanale. Lebenthal Wealth Advisors offers advisory services and products to companies, institutional clients and high net worth private clients. Lebenthal Wealth Advisors is the wealth management division of Lebenthal Holdings, LLC.
Lucido opening soon Lucido Fine Jewelry, a firstgeneration family fine jewelry store with locations in downtown Rochester and Sterling Heights, will open its new store in mid-November at 202 N. Old Woodward, in Birmingham, inside the Palladium building at the corner S. Old Woodward and Hamilton. Co-owner Fran Lucido said the new store will have four exclusive watch and jewelry lines in Birmingham, including Rolex, Tag Heuer, Hearts on Fire and Tacori. Started in 1987 by brothers Vince and Joseph Lucido Jr., the family opened its first store in Sterling Heights with the goal of making it as elegant as possible without being intimidating, with customer comfort the top priority. The Birmingham location will be about 2,800 square-feet, and be open for the holiday season.
Second jeans locale A second location of the popular denim and women’s casual wear store Rear Ends, 6606 Telegraph Road, in Bloomfield Township, opened on Saturday, October 17, in the Bloomfield Plaza at Maple and Telegraph. Rear Ends will still maintain its original store on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield, which has been in operation for 37 years. Ariana Carps, daughter of owners Mark and Elaine Blumenfeld, is heading up the new location. Carps has been a partner and buyer for the original location. The Bloomfield Hills location is just under 2,000 square feet, located in the former Pink Pump downtownpublications.com
shoe store. The store carries a similar mix of designer jeans and T-shirts, as well as casual and dressier tops, sweaters, and other boutique items.
Doctors join practice The Vasileff Medical Group, 525 Southfield Road, Birmingham, specializing in plastic surgery and skin wellness, has added two boardcertified surgeons to their team in order to meet increased demand and expand the practice’s services. Doctors Jefrey Fishman and Michael Meininger will be working with Dr. William J. Vasileff, who founded the practice in 1983.
New cardiac center Cardiologist Joel Kahn in October opened the Kahn Center for Cardiac Longevity, 4050 W. Maple, Suite 108, in Bloomfield Township, to offer patients a unique holistic approach to invasive, interventional and preventive care. The Bloomfield practice will focus on direct patient care, concierge medicine, and the prevention and reversal of heart disease. The practice also stresses the importance of genetics, nutrition and advanced artery imaging. In 2013, Kahn became the first physician to be certified in metabolic cardiology by the University of South Florida. “Participating in this new model of healthcare with advanced cardiac detection and prevention, has been a dream of mine for the people of greater Detroit,” Kahn said. “It’s about allotting extra time to help patients prevent heart attacks and strokes, providing advanced testing and treatments personalized for a natural health program to feel good and live long.”
Design store moving Fifi & Coco Galerie and Design will be closing its Birmingham location at 576 N. Old Woodward, in order to focus on design and offerings at its showroom location near 14 Mile and Coolidge, in Royal Oak. Owner and designer Phyllis Whitehead said the Birmingham location has focused mainly on consignment services, which will be phased out. The showroom will continue to offer all of its business items. “We are still in the planning and transition mode, but most of what we offer here will be at our showroom,” she said. The business moved in February of this year from 700 N. Old Woodward to the more centralized downtown location, a few blocks south.
Modern art gallery Modern and contemporary art for emerging and established collectors is available at the new ArtNxT gallery, 2253 Cole Street, in Birmingham, which opened in the city’s Rail District. The gallery will fill the 1,800 square foot space which was formerly home to Ambassador magazine. Opened by Detroit-area collector and businessperson Kimberly Fischer, ArtNxT will exhibit works by nationally and internationally recognized artists with regional connections in an intimate and casual setting. The gallery will also feature fine prints and selected secondary market works, with conversations with artists, collectors, curators and other educational talks to accompany each exhibit. The gallery opened on Thursday, October 22, featuring Detroit artist James Stephens.
10 year anniversary Luigi Bruni Salon, 706 North Old Woodward, in Birmingham, on Saturday, October 10, celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Owners Luigi Bruni and Chris Jeannotte launched the salon in 2005, creating a hot spot for trends in hair, makeup, nails and all-around beauty. Today, the salon features 33 staff members, with more than 20 stylists, two nail technicians and five highly accredited makeup artists and eyebrow arch experts. Services include hair color chemical processing, precision haircuts, trendsetting hair styles, extension techniques and Brazilian Keratin straightening.
Donuts with a tank of gas A rebuilt building, gas pumps, canopies, landscaping and other major renovations are complete at the 24-hour Shell gas station and Dunkin Donuts, 33588 Woodward, in Birmingham, which has re-opened. The former Citgo station, at Woodward and Chapin, had been plagued with vapors and other contamination, but was completely renovated and repaired by new property owner Scott Barbat.
Interval fitness training New classes are filling up at the new FLEXcity Fitness Studio, 43263 Woodward, in Bloomfield Township. The studio is the third by the business operated by Michigan natives Jenny Quinn, Trista Parisian and partner Katherine Maxwell, and offers interval-based training that blends cardio, strength training and flexibility into each 56-
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minute class. “It’s interval training, so we go between 12 and five minutes, and flip up between cardio and a variety of other equipment,” Maxwell said. “It’s super fun and effective, and keeps people guessing.” Fitness classes change up each day of the week, but are designed to help burn between 500 and 900 calories through the use of exercises that include treadmills, indoor cycling, BOSU, TRX, barre and other exercises offering a total body workout.
Dentist expands downtown Birmingham-based dentist Robert Di Pilla, 600 N. Old Woodward Ave., Suite 201, is expanding his dental practice and has opened a new location at One Woodward Avenue, Suite 1625, in downtown Detroit. The 2,000-square foot facility is located on the 16th floor of the iconic Minoru Yamasaki-designed skyscraper, making it a unique “Dentist with a view” office. Di Pilla also has an office in Manhattan where he has worked with celebrity clientele, such as Kathie Lee Gifford, Wayne Gretzky, Sarah Ferguson and others.
Complex moving on More than a half-dozen shop owners inside Complex, 168 W. Maple Road, in Birmingham, will be relocating after the end of the year when the lease expires on December 31. Doug Schwartz, owner of Complex and DetroitWick, one of the eight shops located in the building, said he opted not to renew the lease, which he has maintained since November of 2010, and will be relocating DetroitWick to 1400 E. Fisher in Detroit’s Eastern Market. “We are going to feature popup shops for local and national brands, as well as dinner pop-ups,” Schwartz said. “It’s all of our candles and scents from Wick, but it’s also a company to allow new brands to have a showing.” Juan Neal, owner and designer of Loose Cannon Lifestyle inside Complex, said the unique eight-in-one shop allowed him to operate a storefront in Birmingham when he otherwise wouldn’t have had the opportunity. “I’ve had Loose Cannon for three years,” he said. “I had been working for multiple clothing brands, and I wanted to start my own thing.” Business Matters for the Birmingham - Bloomfield area are reported by Kevin Elliott. Send items for consideration to KevinElliott@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication. 107
PLEASE VOTE NOVEMBER 3, 2015 RONNI KEATING HARDY BLOOMFIELD HILLS CITY COMMISSION Office: 248-644-7000 Cell: 248-330-9750
Rkeating@signaturesothebys.com Ronnikeating.com
FACES
Sheila Kasselman ounder of the Sky Foundation, Sheila Sky Kasselman is employing her remarkable endurance and vivacity to attract awareness to pancreatic cancer, a condition that nearly claimed her life. “I want everyone to think purple for the month of November,” she said. To that end, the Sky Foundation has partnered with General Motors to light the Renaissance Center up purple from November 7-14 to bring awareness to the often fatal disease. “Pancreatic cancer is a small, deadly cancer. But, I want to be verbal about the fact that there is hope. I feel like we are getting closer (to early detection testing).” Kasselman’s foundation will hold a fundraiser at the MGM Grand Hotel in Detroit on November 8 from noon - 3 p.m. Tickets are available at skyfoundationinc.org. “We’re hoping for 400 people,” Kasselman said. There will be complimentary valet parking at the hotel, live entertainment and a silent and live auction. A year before her own diagnosis, the feisty 75-year-old knew something was amiss. “I experienced unexplained weight loss, exhaustion, anxiety, sludge in the gall bladder,” she said. “I became a diabetic and then it went away. It’s a bizarre set of symptoms.” Surprised to learn there is no test for early detection for this aggressive cancer, Kasselman said it is seldom discovered early, making it a leading cause of cancer death. Just six percent of diagnosed patients live five years after discovery, she said. “In my case, I responded positively to chemotherapy, radiation and
F
Whipple surgery,” she said. “I think that I was very lucky to have a slow growing tumor. The disease was confined to my pancreas and it didn’t spread. It only had to take one little cell to escape.” While still in the recovery stages, Kasselman’s Henry Ford Hospital physician prompted her to start a foundation. To the surprise of no one, the woman who is slight in stature but mighty in spirit dedicated her life to giving others a better chance of beating the cancer. “I started Sky Foundation in June of 2008,” she said. “I called friends. I called professional women and men. We met in a friend’s living room and that was the beginning of Sky Foundation.” Statistics are disheartening. As a survivor, Kasselman feels compelled to speak on behalf of those before her who did not survive. “Now that we’ve been around for so long, people make donations in memory (of loved ones),” she said. “We are working on a reliable, early detection test.” Funds are donated largely to different Michigan research teams that have a project that interests the foundation. “We have given away over a million dollars.” The one-time business owner of a local financial investment firm works at least 40 hours a week with the foundation in their Bloomfield Hills offices. The mother of three and grandmother of four does Pilates in Birmingham and quite literally lets nothing get her down. “I’m very spunky and I keep going. I’m driven, alert and alive. I just feel lucky.” Story: Katey Meisner
Photo: Laurie Tennent
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PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown. The complete Places To Eat is available at downtownpublications.com and in an optimized format for your smart phone (downtownpublications.com/mobile), where you can actually map out locations and automatically dial a restaurant from our Places To Eat.
Birmingham/Bloomfield 220: American. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 E. Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.2220. 5th Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2262 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9607. Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.865.9300. Au Cochon: French. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 260 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.792.7795. 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
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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. 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. Reservations. Liquor. 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. Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222. Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. No Reservations. Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham. 248.712.4050. 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, &
CHAMPAGNE AND SPARKLING AROUND THE WORLD TASTE AND TOUR A tasting tour of well known wineries and appetizers. Presented by Kim Mical of Vintage Wine company Tuesday, November 10, 2015 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. $50 inclusive of tax and tip Attendees will receive a 20% discount bonus to dine at Big Rock following the tasting. For more information or reservations, call 248.647.7774. *Voucher good for the purchase of food and beverage, dine in only, must use the night of this event, no other discounts apply, non-transferrable, no cash value, not good towards 20% tip or 6% sales tax. Must make reservation prior to dining.
Champagne and Sparkling
BELL'S BEER DINNER Tuesday, November 17, 2015 • 6:30 p.m.
Enjoy a four course dinner paired with popular Bell's Beer selections and special guest speaker Erica Vitkin. Price is $65 inclusive of tax, tip and valet. For reservations or to view a complete menu, visit bigrockchophouse.com. Bell's Brewery, Inc.
245 S. Eton St., Birmingham • 248 .647.7774 • bi grockchophouse.com
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BI R MIN G H AM BLOOMFI ELD SYMPHONY OR C HE S T R A
Lauridsen's splendid work, Lux aeterna, in a joint performance by the BBSO and the Christ Church Cranbrook Choir
Music Director John Thomas Dodson
Christopher Wells
CONCERT PROGRAM
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Zoltan Kodaly Summer Evening
John Thomas Dodson MUSIC DIRECTOR & CONDUCTOR ONE NIGHT ONLY!
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Morten Lauridson Lux aeterna Christ Church Cranbrook Choir with Christopher Wells guest conductor
Franz Schubert Symphony No. 5 in B-flat major, D. 485 Scan mobile code with your smart phone for concert info.
Friday, November 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 8:00 PM 470 Church Rd., Bloomfield Hills
Photo: Jean Luc Fievet
Eternal Light
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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, 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, 48304. 248.647.3400. Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing. No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.6051. Mad Hatter Cafe: Tea Room. Brunch, Lunch & Dinner. No reservations. Liquor. 185 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.540.0000 Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30100 Telegraph Rd., Suite 130, Bingham Farms, 48025. 248.723.7960. Market North End: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 474 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.712.4953. MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.723.0800. Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 117
Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.3663. Mountain King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 469 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2913. New Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Breakfast, Monday-Thursday; Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. No reservations. 183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2181. Nippon Sushi Bar: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2079 S. Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9581. Nosh & Rye: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 39495 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7923. Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500. Original Pancake House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5775. Panera Bread: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7966. Also 2125 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.253.9877. Peabody’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.5222. Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.3122. Pita Cafe: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 239 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.6999.
Qdoba: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 795 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.988.8941. Also 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304. 248.874.1876 Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270. Rojo Mexican Bistro: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 250 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.6200. Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977. 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, Lunch only. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.9123. Sushi Hana: Japanese. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.3887. Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830.
The Birmingham/Bloomfield area is filled with discriminating diners and an array of dining establishments. Make sure the message for your restaurant reaches the right market in the right publication—Downtown.
Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American. Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.731.7066. The Corner Bar: American. Dinner. Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2958. The Bird & The Bread: Brasserie. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodard, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.6600. The Franklin Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 32760 Franklin Rd, Franklin, 48025. 248.865.6600. The Gallery Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.851.0313. The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688. The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999. The Stand: Euro-American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 34977 Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.220.4237. Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278. Touch of India: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 297 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7881. Townhouse: American. Brunch, Saturday, Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241.
come as you are
C.A.Y.A. THANKSGIVING TO GO Everything you need for your holiday meal! 8-10 People $150 Meal includes: 2 Smoked Turkey Breasts 2 Roasted Drumsticks 2 Roasted Thighs Gravy Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes Sweet potatoes Stuffing Green Beans 1 Pumpkin Pie
Contact James Bishop for advertising rate information. O: 248.792.6464 Ext. 600 C: 248.709.0442 JamesBishop@downtownpublications.com
12-15 People $225 Meal includes: 3 Smoked Turkey Breasts 3 Roasted Drumsticks 3 Roasted Thighs Gravy Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Stuffing Green Beans 2 Pumpkin Pies
18-20 People $300 Meal includes: 4 Smoked Turkey Breasts 4 Roasted Drumsticks 4 Roasted Thighs Gravy Cranberry Sauce Mashed Potatoes Sweet Potatoes Stuffing Green Beans 3 Pumpkin Pies
Extra pies are $9 each All orders must be received by Sunday 11/22/15. A 50% deposit is required. All orders must be picked up Wednesday 11/25/15 before 10 p.m. Heating instructions will be given with all meals. NOW ACCEPTING RESERVATIONS FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES! 248.438.6741 • www.cayagrill.com 1403 S. Commerce Rd., Wolverine Lake
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FRONT/BACK Front/Back is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening in both the front of the house and back of the house in the restaurants in the metro Detroit area.
well as an eight-course tasting menu for $65, with an optional $35 beverage pairing.
Basketball flavors
Chef Kate Williams, formerly of Republic, has a new restaurant in the works, called Lady of the House, though she has yet to announce a location. Williams and Peter Dalinowski, owner of Hamtramck’s pop up restaurant Revolver, are preparing to embark on a pop up tour, spanning at least six U.S. cities, Dalinowski said. In addition to organizing the tour, Dalinowski has been in communication with an Ann Arbor location in which to hold Sunday pop up dinners. “It’s an old businessman’s club that wants to freshen up and do dinners,” he said. “It’d be the same format (as Revolver), but I’d probably do residencies,” and have one chef serve their recipes for a few months. “Kate (Williams) is planning to work there for two or three months, once a week, while she works on recipes. If she’s available, then she would be the opening chef.”
Lady moves on Michigan State University basketball coach, Tom Izzo, is now part owner of Novi’s Toasted Oak, located in the Baronette Renaissance Hotel, at 27790 Novi Road, along with Lansing-based owners Wicken’s Group.
Chef hopping Antietam’s former executive chef, Brion Wong, who recently departed the vintage-styled French restaurant for a new culinary adventure, has been named chef de cuisine at The Peterboro, a soon-to-open contemporary American-Chinese restaurant located at 420 Peterboro Street in Midtown. Seth High, former sous chef of Antietam, 1428 Gratiot Avenue near Eastern Market in Detroit, has taken the helm as executive chef, working with chef Justin James Feggan. “This is normal business for us,” said Antietam’s owner Gregory Holm. Chuck Inchaustegui, co-owner of The Peterboro, opening in midNovember, and general manager of Sugar House, said, Wong “will bring a whole new aspect to what we were planning on doing. He’s very organized, refined, classically trained, and very imaginative in his dishes.”
More from Supino’s Supino Pizzeria chef and owner, Dave Mancini, recently opened La Rondinella, at 2453 Russell Street in Detroit, next to the well-known pizzeria. The new Italian restaurant will carry some of the staples served at Supino’s, including lasagna and cannolis, plus new offerings including farinata and gnocchi.
New unique locale Mabel Gray, launched by chef James Rigato, co-founder of The Root Restaurant & Bar, is now serving in Hazel Park at 23825 John R. Road. Thoughtful, adventurous and hyper-rotating are the words Rigato used to describe the handwritten menu, which changes daily and is often posted to their Facebook page. Mabel Gary offers a la carte fresh, seasonal options as
Forest to open Forest is the new name for the recently renovated Forest Grill, 735 Forest Street in Birmingham, which will reopen in early November under the management of Samy Eid. Allicia Janutol, wife of the restaurant’s executive chef Nick Janutol, has been named general manager. Ms. Janutol was formerly the general manager of Townhouse in Birmingham.
Modern American bistro Adam Hightower, of MotorCity Casino’s Iridescence, is executive chef and consultant for the new Auburn Hills bistro, Parkside, owned by Nick Lucaj, at 3315 Auburn Road. “We’re a modern American bistro, celebrating the culinary diversity of the U.S. We’re a scratch kitchen, except for pastries and baked goods, which come from Give Thanks (in Rochester). We feature a lot of organic farms, using Otto’s Farm, Fogler’s Farm in Rochester, and others in Michigan.”
Belt alley offerings Standby, a new Detroit restaurant and cocktail lounge, is set to open by November 14, at 225 Gratiot, at
the corner of the Belt alley in Detroit. “Come for the drinks and stay for the food,” said beverage director Joe Robinson, formerly of Michael Symon’s Roast and coowner of Bailout Productions, a cocktail consulting group. It’s dimly lit atmosphere is “designed to offer a little refuge from your day-to-day,” said Robinson, noting the unusual entrance “through an alley into an old elevator shaft.” Standby is a collaborative project consisting of Brendon Robinson, Edwards, Anthony Curis, partner in the nearby Library Street Gallery, David Goldman, founding partner in Mobile Food Concepts, and Bedrock Real Estate Services.
Birmingham coffee bistro La Strada Caffe, Birmingham’s newest bistro expected to open by early November at 243 E. Merrill Street, intends to have “the same quality as Tre Monti (Ristorante)” located in Troy, said Zharko Palushaj, owner of both establishments. Opening at 7 a.m., the morning crowd can get “espresso and biscotti,” said Palushaj, or toast with various spreads including marscopone, jam, and hazelnut-chocolate spread. A patron can walk up to the counter, or sit down for service. The menu includes crepes, salads, soups, and Italian paninis. Palushaj said he’s going for a neighborhood spot, an “old world coffee bar.”
Socio-cultural resto coming Coming to Ferndale will be the latest endeavor from Thom Bloom and the Toast Restaurant Group, Otus Supply, a restaurant, bar and music venue slated to open in the first quarter of 2016 at 345 E. Nine Mile. Myles McVay, executive chef, has been busy in the kitchen since he was 13. Prior to joining the Toast group, McVay worked at Opus One and D’Amato’s. “(McVay’s) a really talented guy. He’s in a band, got long hair, and is tattooed on about every inch of his body,” said Bloom. The renovated space will include a main dining room, a four-season patio room, a music event space, and three rooms available for rent. “The concept was born three or four years ago. We’re real excited about it. It’s all about getting away from GMO garbage food” and harkening back to “when families got together, when one brought the mandolin and
one brought the corn, not ‘hurry up and choke down a McDonald’s hamburger while driving to a soccer game.’”
Award winning chef Birmingham resident and executive pastry chef Eric Voigt, of the city’s Big Rock Chophouse, 245 S. Eton Street, and The Reserve, an event venue at 325 S. Eton Street, was awarded 2015 Pastry Chef of the Year from the American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine Association. The dessert creation that earned him the honor was a Meltaway Carmalized Chocolate, “featuring delicate pineapple and cherry fancier with orange foam, Chantilly and salt garnish,” a representative from Big Rock said.
A classic reopens After a brief closure, 25-year-old Kruse & Muer on Main, 327 S. Main Street in Rochester, has reopened. “The remodeling was stimulated by a visit to my friend Bill Roberts new restaurant, Bill’s, in Bloomfield Hills,” said Bill Kruse. “I was so knocked out by Bill’s that I immediately called Ron Rea, who I knew had recently completed Bill’s and said, ‘I need you at Kruse & Muer on Main tomorrow!’” New menu items, created by executive chef Chris Hessler and staff, include the Crispy Parmesan Encrusted Ravioli made with Maine lobster, and Spice Grilled Tuna Tostadas. Seafood, pasta, and other mainstay dishes have remained on the menu. “We added menu items that are designed for a casual get together, with some great small plate appeal,” said Kruse.
Tom’s revamps The menu at Tom’s Oyster Bar, 318 S. Main Street in Royal Oak, which also serves its neighbor, Ale Mary’s Beer Hall, underwent significant changes with the recent addition of chef Norman Fenton, formerly of Royal Oak’s Bistro 82, 401 Lafayette Avenue. Fenton said he has “modernized the food at Tom’s; it’s simple thoughtful food done right. The menu in general has gone to more sharable size plates.”
For El Barzon lovers Slated for a January opening, La Noria Bistro, 5517 Michigan
Triple Nickel Restaurant and Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 555 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham 48009. 248.480.4951. Village Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 653 S. Adams. Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7964. Whistle Stop Diner: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.566.3566.
Royal Oak/Ferndale Ale Mary's: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 316 South Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1917 Anita’s Kitchen: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 22651 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.548.0680. Andiamo Restaurants: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 129 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.582.0999. Assaggi Bistro: Italian. Lunch, TuesdayFriday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 330 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.584.3499. Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 711 S. Main Street, Royal Oak, 48067. Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.0082. The Blue Nile: Ethiopian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 545 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.547.6699. Bspot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 310 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.268.1621. Cafe Muse: French. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.4749. Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 48069. 248.544.2675. D’Amato’s: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 222 Sherman Dr., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.584.7400. Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017. 248.288.0220. The Fly Trap: Diner. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 22950 Woodward Ave., 48220. 248.399.5150. Howe’s Bayou: Cajun. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22949 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.691.7145. Inn Season Cafe: Vegetarian. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. No reservations. 500 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.547.7916. Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.543.9500. KouZina: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 121 N. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.629.6500. Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 410 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.591.5459. Local Kitchen and Bar: American.
Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 344 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.291.5650. Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.584.4227. Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 212 W. 6th St, Royal Oak, 48067. 248.556.0947. One-Eyed Betty: American. Weekend Breakfast. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale, 48220. 248.808.6633. Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 608 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7900. Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220. 248.850.7420. Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073. 248.549.0300. Ronin: Japanese. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 326 W. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.546.0888. Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.1141. Toast, A Breakfast and Lunch Joint: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 23144 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.398.0444. Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 318 S. Main St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.541.1186. Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7300/ Trattoria Da Luigi: Italian. Dinner, TuesdaySunday. Reservations. Liquor. 415 S, Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.4444. Vinsetta Garage: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072. 248.548.7711.
Troy/Rochester Bspot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 176 N. Adams Rd, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.218.6001. Capital Grille: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2800 West Big Beaver Rd., Somerset Collection, Troy, 48084. 248.649.5300. Cafe Sushi: Pan-Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1933 W. Maple Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.280.1831. Ganbei Chinese Restaurant and Bar: Chinese. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 227 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307. 248.266.6687. O’Connor’s Irish Public House: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 324 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537. Kona Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 30 E. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48083. 248.619.9060. Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 327 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.652.9400. Lakes: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 5500 Crooks Rd., Troy, 48098. 248.646.7900. McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, 48084. 248.637.6400.
Avenue in Detroit, is Norberto Garita’s more affordable and casual Mexican-Italian eatery situated adjacent to his first restaurant, El Barzon, 3710 Junction Street. La Noria is awaiting the arrival of an Italian wood-fired pizza oven, a necessity for the menu, which includes pizza, “tortas – Mexican sandwiches – and specials on Saturday and Sunday,” said Bertin Garita, Norberto’s son. “It will be totally different from El Barzon. We want to keep this more fast-paced, more casual. We will have a couple TVs there, so if someone wants to hang out and watch the game, they can. It will be all seasons. In winter, we’ll have garage doors and it will be warm, and in summer, we’ll open the doors so it will get the breeze.”
New incarnation The Block, formerly known as The Grille Midtown, at 3919 Woodward Avenue in Detroit, is embracing change. With a new name, new chef and simplified menu, marketing manager Stephanie Byrd, 32, said, “We wanted to be a better reflection of the neighborhood, and we wanted to make our concept more approachable and affordable, a reflection of true Midtown.” New chef Rashad Patrick brings experience from the kitchens of Greektown Casino, Hopcat, and Coach Insignia. Now with an expanded drink menu, and less salads and appetizers, the familyrun business, which opened two years ago, is focusing on upping the quality and “making a few things great” said Bryd. “Now we’re considered casual. A place to hang out, have a drink and have some signature wings.”
Eatery on the move Rock City Eatery, owned by soonto-be newlyweds Nik Sanches and Jessica Imbronone, is moving from Hamtramck to Midtown, in February, to 4216 Woodward Ave., Detroit. Citing the better location and larger space, Sanches said, “The menu will probably change when we move, it depends on what kind of kitchen equipment we get, but we’ll probably keep the staples. I’m trying to buy a wood-burning pizza oven. I try trendy things all the time, so I don’t know what will pop into my head in February. The
menu is pretty adventurous. It’s new American, global food.” The couple also owns a burger joint in Hamtramck called Campau Tower.
No more brunch The breakfast joint that owner Tina Motley opened this summer, Le Petit Dejeuner, 3411 Brush Street in Detroit, is closed until further notice.
POP UP INTEL Yemans Street, 2995 Yemans Street in Hamtramck: Now serving lunch, every Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with a new menu each month. Pre-pay dinners: Jordan Ceresnie, pastry chef at The Root Restaurant & Bar, November 5. Industry night, with discounted prices, hosted by Reid Shipman, Josh Stockton, Brandon O’Sullivan, Jason Osburn, and Adam Verville, all formerly or presently of Gold Cash Gold; and Albert Borrego, of Toasted Oak, November 9. Brent Foster, formerly of the WAB (Woodward Avenue Brewers), November 13. Juliann Botham, of Ann Arbor’s Aventura, November 14. Mike and Matt Romine, chefs, twins and founders of Mulefoot Gastropub, November 18. Kelli Lewton, of 2-Unique Catering and Pure Food 2-U organic food home delivery service, November 20. yemansstreet.com The Menagerie, 31 N. Saginaw Street in Pontiac: Owners and chefs April and James Forbes are preparing to open Monday through Friday, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., serving made-to-order artisan pizzas, cooked by the Forbes. A la carte brunch: Sundays, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Kyle Williams, of J.B. Chowhounds. Pre-pay dinners: Jeffrey Tatum, of Over the Top Catering, November 7. Graham Schave, of Your Gourmet, catering and personal chef services, November 20. menageriekitchen.com Front/Back is reported each month by Katie Deska. KatieDeska@DowntownPublications.com. We welcome news items or tips, on or off the record, about what's happening in the front or back of the house at metro area restaurants.
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Chef Stand Harvest Series Chef Paul will source local Ingredients and present 4 courses with two wine paired courses for $50.00. Chef Paul will take this welcomed opportunity to display local ingredients with his classic methods for a wonderful experience. Each week will feature a new menu. 6:00pm & 8:00pm seatings Friday & Saturday evenings. Please call 248-220-4237 for your reservation.
34977 Woodward Ave, Birmingham
248.220.4237
The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main St, Rochester, 48307. 248.759.4825. Miguel’s Cantina: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 870 S. Rochester Rd, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5371. Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083. 248.689.2332. Morton’s, The Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 888 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.404.9845. NM Café: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 2705 W. Big Beaver Rd, Troy, 48084. 248.816.3424. Oceania Inn: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 3176 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200. Ocean Prime: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2915 Coolidge Hwy., Troy, 48084. 248.458.0500. Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. 3303 Rochester Rd., Troy, 48085. 248.524.1944. P.F. Chang’s China Bistro: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.816.8000. Rochester Chop House: Steak & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main St., Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266. Ruth’s Chris Steak House: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.269.8424. Silver Spoon: Italian. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6830 N. Rochester Rd., Rochester, 48306. 248.652.4500. Steelhouse Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1129 E. Long Lake Rd., Troy, 48085. 248.817.2980. Tre Monti Ristorante: Italian. Lunch, Thursdays. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1695 E. Big Beaver Road, Troy, 48083. 248.680.1100.
West Bloomfield/Southfield Bacco: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 29410 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.356.6600. Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680. Bigalora: Italian. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Liquor. 29110 Franklin Road, Southfield, 48034. Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2080 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield, 48323. 248.851.2500. The Bombay Grille: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 29200 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, 48334. 248.626.2982. The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.851.8782. The Lark: American. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 6430 Farmington Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.661.4466. Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 6239 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.538.7081. Meriwether’s: Seafood. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 25485 Telegraph Rd, Southfield,
thestandbistro.com th hestandbistro.com m 116
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48034. 248.358.1310. Pickles & Rye: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6724 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.737.3890. Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6545 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.7463. Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.865.0500. Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.626.8585. Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 33210 W. Fourteen Mile Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248. 538.8954. Stage Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6873 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.855.6622. Sweet Lorraine’s Café & Bar: American. Weekend Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29101 Greenfield Rd., Southfield, 48076. 248.559.5985. Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7365 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.737.8282.
West Oakland Gravity Bar & Grill: Mediterranean. Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday, Dinner. Reservations. Liquor. 340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381. 248.684.4223. It's A Matter of Taste: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, 48390. 248.360.4150. Pepino's Restaurant & Lounge: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday - Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 118 W. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.624.1033. The Root Restaurant & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48390. 248.698.2400. Volare Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.7771.
North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346. 248.620.6100. Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442. 248.634.5208. Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346. 248.795.2077. Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500. Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday – Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346. 248.625.5660
Detroit Angelina Italian Bistro: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1565 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.1355. Antietam: French. Sunday Brunch. Dinner,
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Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 1428 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, 48207. 313.782.4378. Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2040 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.965.3111. Cliff Bellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.961.2543. Coach Insignia: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.2622. Craft Work: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit, 48214. 313.469.0976. Cuisine: French. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit, 48202. 313.872.5110. The Detroit Seafood Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.4180. El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 3710 Junction St., Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070. Fishboneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Rhythm Kitchen CafĂŠ: Cajun. Breakfast, daily. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600. Giovanniâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122. Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216. 313.962.5588. Jefferson House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4318. Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday- Friday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.6837. Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2601 W. Fort St., Detroit, 48216. 313.309.7946. Maccabees at Midtown: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202. 313.831.9311. Marioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Italian. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616. Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.974.7669. Motor City Brewing Works: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700. 1917 American Bistro: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 19416 Livernois Ave., Detroit, 48221. 313.863.1917. Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette St, Detroit, 48226. 313.309.2499. Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.2100. Roma CafĂŠ: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 3401 Riopelle St., Detroit, 48207.
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313.831.5940. Russell Street Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 2465 Russell St, Detroit, 48207. 313.567.2900. Santorini Estiatorio: Greek. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 501 Monroe Ave, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.9366. Selden Standard: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.438.5055. Sinbadâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 100 St Clair St., Detroit, 48214. 313.822.8000. Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 48216. 313.962.9828. Small Plates Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor. 1521 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.963.0702. St. CeCeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Ave., Detroit, 48216. 313.962.2121. Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234. Taqueria Nuestra Familia: Mexican. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7620 Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.5668. The Block: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 3919 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.0892. Tomâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 519 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, 48226. 313.964.4010. Top of the Pontch: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservation. Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4313. Traffic Jam & Snug: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 511 W. Canfield, Detroit, 48201. 313.831.9470. 24grille: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226. 313.964.3821. Union Street: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.831.3965. Vinceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1341 Springwells St., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.4857. Vivioâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Food & Spirits: American. Saturday Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market St., Detroit, 48207. 313.393.1711. The Whitney: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & High Tea, Monday-Friday. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700. Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1646. Wolfgang Puck Steak: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1411. Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Ave Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711.
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AT THE TABLE Again, mock if you must but when great ingredients are prepared simply, it is truly the thing dreams are made of. The next dish embodied the seasonal approach in By J. March flavors, execution and item selection. Cauliflower three ways with burnt in chips and pureed with chicken fat broth. Though at first we thought it needed something 've dined at some pretty classy places in my life. Most to brighten it up, we did agree that on a rainy fall day, of them 20 plus years ago when I was just getting this is what you should eat. This course came with into this whole eating seriously thing. And though food bread that I was more then okay with skipping until I was simpler then, I was still intimidated by the linen watched a guest scarf down two pieces and attempt to tablecloths, dessert carts and tuxedo clad waiters, hide another in their coat. What looked to be heavy waitresses and bartenders. sourdough was light in body yet yeasty and rich in flavor Since then haute cuisine has given way to more and served with house churned (churned, not whipped) casual atmospheres, relaxed diners and menus that skip butter with a light dusting of sea salt. Chef Lipar told us the heavy sauces, fancy terms and maitre d's. If I had to what about its preparation made it so unique, but in full guess I would say that where eating out was once a disclosure I was already thinking about how I was going special occasion, it is now commonly a bi-weekly thing to explain any of what we had eaten so far without and to have more approachable choices makes sense. using phrases like “mother-loving awesome.” All to say, this is the kind of dining I have become The first protein out was trout in chestnut broth grossly uncomfortable with and the reason why my with olive oil, celery leaves and palms got a little sweaty upon entering roasted chestnuts. It was the only Marais. flop of the night due to the flatness of Not much more then 13 miles from the broth and the uninspired trout downtown Detroit, Grosse Pointe is not that looked paltry in the bowl and the first place you think of to grab a tasted like it looked. bite. However, with its opening in The chef is a fan of Mangalista and September of 2013 and the Hour it only made sense that it should Restaurant of the Year appointment make an appearance. Rich, lovely, shortly after, Marais has definitely been velvety, fatty loin with a jus made a point of interest for serious diners. from the bones garnished with Dave Gilbert carried it as the executive shaved and roasted crab-apples. chef up until about a month ago when Simple, balanced and flat out Garrett Lipar, formerly of Torino, took spectacular, I was pretty sure nothing over. Between the two of them the could improve it. Then came the accolades are huge, including four macaron. Macaron you say? That's Restaurant of the Year titles, a James dessert! Not if it's an onion macaron Beard Rising Star of the Year Semifilled with sherry and foie gras. Finalist and a James Beard nomination Admittedly, I do not like foie gras. for Best Chef: Great Lakes. Pretty You say it's an unsophisticated impressive and most certainly a reason Cultured blackberries & raspberries with a sorrel granita & flowers. Downtown photo: Jean Lannen palate; I say nothing that awful is to get excited about dining at Marais meant to be enjoyed alone. However, where this duo and their staff form with sweet sherry and pungent onion, this foie-filled composition and list of ingredients, a symphony of what I can only think of as the Hydra of chefs. macaron changed my liver-hating ways. Not since the apron clad angels let loose a chorus of “hallelujah.” We were seated in the middle of a spacious formal strawberry and spruce dish at Torino have I been so Scoff if you must, but it was the miracle of purity that I dining room with a tin ceiling, massive chandelier, happy to be so wrong about an ingredient. That Chef have been waiting for and in the form of the grandest fresh cut flowers and a view of the semi-open kitchen. Lipar is one clever guy. Imagine taking classically It was pretty much the stuff that formal restaurants are of all things...tomatoes. Perfectly blanched, softly prepared ingredients and incorporating them in dishes acidic tomatoes with a touch of sweetness from the made of, with the exception of the mismatched melon broth and a smidge of bitter from the petals. Not that allow the diner to see another side. photographs of various kitchens and a thought Fermented berries with sorrel granite was the the grand chandelier, champagne cart or Escoffier provoking picture of jungle animals. dessert course. Though I can appreciate the idea of himself could have stopped any of us from shamelessly The a la cart menu is small, as expected, and making the berries more complex, the acidity was so picking up our bowls and downing every single drop. follows the philosophy of all things local. Although the high I couldn't eat more than one bite. Tarrgon Squash, kraut, pistachios and pistachio puree appetizers and entrees listed make sense for return meringue and raw milk custard petit fours and arrived next. The kraut is clearly a labor of love from diners looking for a bite, the Tasting Menu is where it's fermented peaches were on the last of our ten plates this kitchen and had a distinctive flavor that can only at and is, in my opinion, mandatory if you really want and a fitting ending to what was nothing short of a to experience the range of Lipar's talent and the beauty be described as “meatier” than most. The delicately mind-blowing dinner. sweet squash was a nice contrast in flavor but not so of simple, local food. Admittedly, Marais isn't cheap. The tasting menu is much in texture. The tasting menu is presented to you in the form of $135 and the wine is $70 extra (splurge, the sommelier There aren't many places that don't have beets in a list of ingredients. One word in association with no is on point). However, that $135 gets you what you some form on the menu. I've been hard pressed to find other that lets you know what you may experience but can't buy anywhere else. A litany of local ingredients unique presentations but was not disappointed on this not how it is prepared or paired with. Brilliant, I say, consistently and classically prepared by a guy with night. Roasted, sprinkled with hay ash and on a bed of since this allows the man in charge to change all dreads and a charming accent, I can promise you, it's burnt peanut butter garnished with Balitone cherries, things based on availability and wherever his worth every penny. these beets put every other execution to shame. fiendishly creative mind wants to go. Though I was Earthiness plus smokiness plus peanut butter, plus intent on keeping track of the simple, verbal Marais, 17051 Kercheval Avenue, Grosse Point sweet and tart, equals what is the greatest explanation given each dish, I got a little lost after the 48239. Reservations can be made on their website at combination of peanut butter since Reese's. first course. No, a lot lost. Understanding the task at Maraisrestaurant.com or by calling 313.343.8800. Not to be outdone, the fourth dish came looking hand, I willingly gave myself up to relying on nothing other then my sense of taste and smell. Given there are more inconspicuous than the last. A single shallot with Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 5:30 p.m – 11 p.m with brunch coming soon. Street parking petal-like skin on the exterior and a custard filling. The no written descriptions, I will do my level best to available. Handicap accessible. shallots were roasted in soil then filled with a beef fat explain the ten courses that were put in front of me. custard and again roasted to add texture to the skin. It However, exact description is much less important as J. March has 25 years experience in the restaurant is here where my imagination took me to a place each experience is unique and it is the execution and industry in southeast Michigan, including certification where I bathed in tomato and melon broth while the style of Chef Lipar that is most astounding regardless as a sommelier. aforementioned angels fed me custard filled shallots. of its form.
For serious diners, Marais in Grosse Pointe is impressive
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The first dish was an assorted Amuse-Bouche consisting of fermented Michigan blueberries with thyme, a nasturtium “wonton” filled with eggplant, crispy skin trout with basil crème fraiche and lichen (edible moss) topped with crispy lardo. The range was insane, as were the flavors. Tangy berries with herbal notes, the small cube of lichen punched with the fattiness from the lardo, ripe green flavors from the nasturtium filled with pungent, acidic eggplant and the crisp skin of local trout that finished perfectly with the crème fraiche. What was most amazing about this dish was the progression of flavors and how each translated perfectly into the next. What was best about it was the last bite. A small pile of proscuitto, lovingly made months prior by charcuterie phenom Jessie Patuano, and perfect in its debut as the encore in the first act of many. Our second course was blanched summer tomatoes in melon broth and tomato water with sunflower petals. When this dish hit the table, humble in its
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THE COMMUNITY HOUSE The Community House – A lasting Impact As The Community House (TCH), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, along with thousands of other Michigan businesses, hunker down, deeply engaged in the annual ritual of developing 2016 calendar year budgets – budgets carefully built to sustain or grow a business throughout the next calendar year – I am reminded of how critical and impactful the financial decisions made today, can and will affect The Community House, its visitors, and its important programs and services, going forward into 2016 and beyond. Recently, I read that “in a world where non-profits are increasingly competing for scarce resources,” the question must be asked “who best captures the donor’s attention?” Is it the biggest, best marketed non-profit or charitable organization “with the most profound cause or what?” The article concludes that “as society becomes more apathetic in general, it will be the most impactful.” I tend to agree. Last year, over 210,000 visitors were impacted by the programs and services delivered by The Community House. A trend that continues today. If the prevailing point of view holds that all nonprofit charitable organizations want to do good – new and existing donors and corporate sponsors must then decide “who gets my scarce resource?” I predict that non-profit organizations that will do well in today’s world – will be those who can accurately demonstrate their impact.
Bill Seklar
Throughout our 93-year history, The Community House has clearly demonstrated an unwavering commitment to Birmingham, and to the region. Not only does TCH meet its mission each year to “impact lives through exceptional educational, social and outreach experiences,” but TCH also offers a “home” to fourteen other non-profit or supported groups; bricks and mortar, discounted food and services, a platform from which they too can conduct their important business, and deliver on their missions. We have been, and remain so still today, good and faithful stewards, faithful to our own mission, as well as remaining a steadfast conduit for so many others. For individuals that may be planning a year-end, tax deductible gift – to an impactful non-profit or charitable organization, we humbly invite you to consider a gift to The Community House. For those corporations, foundations or businesses currently building their 2016 financial budgets, we humbly invite you to consider allocating a portion of your corporate sponsorship or marketing dollars to support The Community House in 2016. It truly does take a village. For more information, please contact TCH at 248.644.5832 or go to tchserves.org. NEW 2016 Opportunities for Corporate Sponsorship or Individual Support The Bates Street Society was created in 2015 to help recognize donors who make significant charitable contributions to support the work and mission of The Community House. Members will be acknowledged annually at The Bates Street Society Dinner, an upscale (black-tie) event hosted by TCH’s Board of Directors. The Bates Street Society Dinner will also recognize The Community House’s annual Pillars of Vibrancy; Education, Culture, Wellness and Philanthropy. Save-the-Date: Saturday, January 30, 2016. SIP; Craft Cocktails, Contemporary Cuisine, Community Conscious. Established in 2015, the goal and vision of SIP is to create a world-class signature fundraising event that would bring together aficionados of fine cuisine and extraordinary craft cocktails who wanted to share their interests and good fortune with others in a first-class setting for the benefit of children and adults served by The Community House. Save-the-Date: Saturday, March 12, 2016. THANK YOU – First Annual MASTER CLASS Evening
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Over 100 guests attended TCH’s first Annual Master Class evening! The evening truly proved to be a rare opportunity for all in attendance to hear stories and engage an all-star business panel of master experts. Thank you to our guest panelists and event sponsors, Heath Carr, COO, Shinola; Ric DeVore, President, PNC Bank, Michigan; Patricia Mooradian, President & CEO, The Henry Ford; Linda Orlans, Founder & CEO, The Orlans Group; Alan Whitman, CEO-Elect, Baker Tilly Worldwide; and Dr. Tom Rifai, Medical Director, St. Joseph Mercy Hospital - Oakland. William D. Seklar is President & CEO of The Community House in Birmingham.
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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene. Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted. Past columns and photos are also archived at the website for Downtown.
Karmanos Partners Golf Classic
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Karmanos Partners Golf Classic Some 200 supporters of Karmanos Cancer Institute Partners (young professionals) convened at Franklin Hills Country Club for two sold-out, Sally Gerak shotgun starts followed by a reception, silent auction and strolling dinner. Non-golfing guests included honorary chairs Jennifer and Brian Hermelin and Eunice Ring, whose family helped her late parents found the Partners 22 years ago to engage young people in funding cancer research as a memorial to their daughter Suzanne Korman. Guests socialized, sipped, supped and paused to applaud the day’s winners. Jason Getsz, co-chair with Adam Speck, noted that the Golf Classic proceeds will be added to the $14.5 million the Partners have already raised.
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1. Adam Speck (left) of Northville and Jason Geisz of Birmingham. 2. John Giampetroni (left) of Bloomfield, Jennifer & Brian Hermelin of Bingham Farms, Sandy & Alan Schwartz of Franklin. 3. Jennifer Lasco (left) of Fenton and Michelle Mio of Birmingham. 4. Milt (left) & Eunice Ring of Franklin, Karen & Steve Weiss of Birmingham. 5. Dr. Gerold Bepler and Dick Gabrys of Bloomfield. 6. Seymour & Dee Brode of Bloomfield. 7. Marvin Daitch (left) and Bruce Colton of Bloomfield. 8. Andy, Decclan and Karmanos’ Maureen Bender of Rochester Hills.
Belle Isle Conservancy Benefactors Denise Ilitch hosted the Belle Isle Conservancy Legacy Luncheon Benefactors Party that attracted 50 guests ($300, $500, $1,000 tickets) to her Birmingham restaurant – 220 Merrill. People came from all over town. There were no speeches, just noshing and serious socializing, but a big attraction seemed to be milliner Gena Conti’s hats. Conti was giving a percentage of the sales to the conservancy.
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Belle Isle Conservancy Benefactors
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1. Shauna Ryder Diggs (center) of Grosse Pointe, Sarah Earley (left) and Heather Paquette of Bloomfield. 2. Denise Ilitch and Lisa Ilitch Murray of Bingham Farms. 3. Gina Conti (left) of Wyandotte, Jillian Nathan of Birmingham. 4. Nicole Gize (left) of St. Clair Shores, Marjorie DeCapite of Birmingham. 5. Paul Paquette of Bloomfield, Linda Juracek-Lipa of Birmingham. 6. Kathy Kosins of Ferndale, Judy Jonna of Bloomfield. 7. Barbara Gill (left) of Bowling Green, OH, Angie Schmucker of Rochester Hills.
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CARE House Appreciation Party CARE House board member Lisa Payne hosted an Appreciation Party at her home in Turtle Lake for 90 donors to the agency that each year provides, free of charge, quality care to 5,000 individuals affected by abuse. Guests were welcomed into the foyer by violinist Sonia Lee’s beautiful music and proceeded to the al fresco terrace or the handsome stone room overlooking the infinity edge pool and lake beyond. They socialized, nibbled on selections from the great hors d’oeuvres buffet spread, and paused for remarks of gratitude from board president Kappy Trott and executive director Pat Rosen, who concluded, “Because of you, CARE House can make a difference.”
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Covenant House Benefit Preview
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Covenant House Benefit Preview Patricia Rodzik, who puts in two days each week working at Detroit’s Covenant House, said she was persuaded to host an event for the organization that helps homeless youth when she was in Alaska to visit the Anchorage house during the Iditarod dog sled race. Fifty guests attended the cocktail party at her Bloomfield Hills home. It began like most – with friendly socializing, sipping and supping inside and out. But when the program began, everybody was transported to a New York salon as composer/producer Neil Berg and his wife, singer Rita Harvey and singer Rob Evans demonstrated a sampling of the high energy review of Broadway’s great hits. It was just a tease for the May 19 Covenant House fundraiser - “A Night of Broadway Stars”. De’Nikki Harris-Effinger, a Covenant House alum, briefly told his moving personal story during an intermission of the mini show. It provoked Berg to comment, “The Covenant House staffers are my heroes.” To get more information about sponsorships of the May 19 show at the Gem and Century Theatres, contact Melissa Golpe at (313) 453-2005 or go to covenanthousemi.org.
3 1. Dan Weingartz (left) of Shelby Twp., Patricia Rodzik of Bloomfield, Gerry Piro of Grosse Pointe. 2. De'Nikki (left) of Detroit, Neil Berg & Rita Harvey of Nyack, NY and Rob Evans of NYC. 3. Chelsea Carballo (left) and Bill & Peggy Matthews of W. Bloomfield. 4. Linda Axe (left) and Dan Clancy of Grosse Pointe, Don Jensen & Leo Dovelle of Royal Oak.
Farm to Table Block Party The Birmingham Community House’s strolling food fest attracted more than 700 people who sampled fare from 53 vendors including libations from Verterra Winery, Leelanau Brewing Co. and Copper Craft Spirits. People raved about the delicious food and the variety offered from wonderful Michigan restaurants and food vendors. A crowd favorite was the white bean chicken chili presented with corn bread by Dorsey Culinary Academy. Huntington Bank sponsored the popular community event.
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Ladies of Charity 50th Celebration The name of this group is the name of my beat – Charity. So reporting the 50th anniversary of this totally volunteer group is a unique pleasure. That’s 50 years for the Oakland County chapter, but the parent organization was founded by St. Vincent de Paul in 17th century France and that French heritage inspired event chair Mia Materka to call the party Joi de la Nuit. She also chose the black, white and gold favored by French designer Coco Chanel for the party décor and commissioned Lynn Martin to construct a miniEiffel tower to hold tower-shaped pledge notes that guests could take. The black tie gala attracted more than 160 guests to Pine Lake Country Club. The Mercy High School Mercy-aires spiced up the cocktail hour, which also included a video show of 50 years of photos running as background in the bar. Raffles and silent auction bidding also vied for attention. Materka, her co-chair Dorothy Perrotta and emcee Fox-2’s Monica Gayle turned heads in the jewel tone Nina McLemore cocktail jackets and Karen Egren they were modeling. Highlights of the dinner program included Archbishop Vigneron’s invocation, three beautiful pieces, including an original composition for the occasion, by violinist Sonia Lee, and Shelley Taub’s presentation of L. Brook Patterson’s and the Oakland County Commission’s proclamation honoring the occasion. The only place the Ladies have to hang it is the Clothes Closet and Food Pantry they maintain on the St. Hugo of the Hills campus. From it they serve thousands of needy families each year. While people devoured the beautiful dinner Sam Salloum played the piano. Ten past presidents at the party were also introduced. It raised more than $20,000 for the Ladies of Charity of St Vincent de Paul of Oakland County to continue serving the poor. Links of Oakland County Fundraiser Donna Dulaney and Shirley Mann Gray chaired the Oakland County Chapter of Links Emeralds, Engines & Elegance gala fundraiser. It attracted more than 300 to the Henry Ford Museum. The guest listed included chapter president Winifred Green and the honorary co-chairs – Pontiac’s mayor Dr. Deirdre Waterman, a charter member of the OC Links chapter, and WXYZ TV’s Chuck Stokes, whose spouse Trudy is a chapter member. In addition to viewing the historical exhibitions like “Driving America,” highlights also included a strolling dinner, silent auction, dancing and jazz in “Club Links” and a strolling fashion show of elegant furs from sponsor Bricker-Tunis Furs. The evening netted more than $50,000 to benefit services to youth, the arts, health and scholarships for students in Oakland County. Hall & Hunter Charity Estate Sale A dozen years ago the crew at Dennis Wolf’s Hall & Hunter Realtors staged its first Estate Sale to benefit Habitat for Humanity. It’s a natural partnership because many H&H clients are only too happy to give Habitat’s low income families stuff they don’t want to move. Changing Places moving company picks up and stores the donations and then brings them to a huge tent (courtesy of Bank of Birmingham’s generosity) erected on H&H’s Birmingham parking lot where the work begins. Any of you who have conducted even a small garage sale know that means lots of work. For the past 10 years, Pam Gray and Gillian Lazar have been chairing the Volunteer Appreciation Party for H&H agents and their families. This year, as violinist Kym Brady made delightful music, 100 people savored cocktails downtownpublications.com
CARE House Appreciation Party
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1. Lisa Payne (left) of Bloomfield, Kappy Trott of Birmingham. 2. Maryclare Pulte (left) of Bloomfield and Dr. Susan Ivanovic of Bloomfield. 3. Pam (left) & Don Kegley of Bloomfield, Bill & Peggy Matthews of W. Bloomfield. 4. Vicki Celani (left) of Bloomfield, Pat Rosen of Troy. 5. Rod & Patricia Myers of Bloomfield. 6. Kathy Zanolli (left) of Beverly Hills, Bill Seklar and Jenny Cascio of Bloomfield, Dan Stall of Birmingham, Jackie McIntosh of Rochester Hills. 7. Vivian Pickard (left) with Jessie Beld Elliott of Bloomfield. 8. Anna Moceri (left) of Oakland, John & Barbara Deradoorian of Waterford.
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Ladies of Charity 50th Celebration
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1. Mia Materka (left) of W. Bloomfield, Shelley Taub and Dorothy Perrotta of Bloomfield. 2. Kay Browne (center) with Cecelia & Dick Kelley of Bloomfield. 3. June Grannis (left) and Patti Koval of Troy, Sandie Knollenberg and Lois Thornbury of Bloomfield. 4. Jack & Marianne McBrearty of Bloomfield. 5. Connie Salloum (left) of Bloomfield, Peter & Mary Jo Johnston of Birmingham. 6. Sandie Slowey (left), Linda Fisher and Gladys Kowalski of Bloomfield. 7. Fran Perez (left) and Rose Obloy of Bloomfield.
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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK and hearty fare from Party’s by Paula, courtesy of Devon Title’s generosity. They also checked out the loot and paid a 30 percent premium to buy what they wanted. Wolf and his son Brad thanked the co-chairs for another yeoman effort and gave gratitude call outs to those at the top of some volunteer duties: Stefek Auctioneers’s Lori Stefek and H&Hers Emily Day, Becca Chapman, Mary Glynn, Patty Moore, Carolyn Bowing Keating, Jody Wachler and Janna Wilson. The next day, some 500 shoppers descended on the sale. They snapped up lots of sofas, dining room sets and mirrors to name a few of the categories. When the dust settled, some $26,000 had been raised for Habitat of Oakland County. The few unsold items were designated for Habitat’s resale shop in Pontiac. Habitat’s big fall benefit is Thursday, November 19 at The Townsend. For information, call Joyce Russell at 248.338.1843, ext.226.
Hall & Hunter Charity Estate Sale
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1. Brad (left) and Dennis Wolf and event chairs Gillian Lazar of Birmingham and Pam Gray of Royal Oak. 2. Joyce Russell (left) of Warren, Gary & Hall and Joy Morris of Bloomfield. 3. Laurie (left) and Rob Farr of Beverly Hill, Melinda Allen of Bloomfield, Emily Day of Sylvan Lake. 4. Jason & Colleen McKevitt of Troy, Ron & Hall and Donna Rousseau of Bloomfield. 5. Jenna Wilson (left) and Ann Brown of Birmingham. 6. Lanie Hardy Cosgrove (left) of Birmingham, Elaina Ryder of Bloomfield, Lizzy and Leslie Hardy of Ferndale. 7. Tom (left) & Vickie Askin of Bloomfield, Jody & Link Wachler of Troy.
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Friends of Preservation Bloomfield Luncheon
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1. Pam Williams (left) and Pat Hardy of Bloomfield. 2. Luba Hotra and Susan Darden of Franklin. 3. Shelley Taub (left) and Sue Nine of Bloomfield. 4. John Marshall and Mary Barton Letts of Bloomfield.
DCDS Eisenberg Performing Arts Studio Reception
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1. Stephen, (left) Evan, Nicole and Noah Eisenberg of Bloomfield. 2. Mindy Dunbar (left) of Beverly Hill, Melissa Stebbins and Gerry Hansen of Bloomfield. 3. Tom Goldberg and Ed Cherney of Bloomfield. 4. Jennifer Cook (left) of W.Bloomfield, Daniella Karmanos of Orchard Lake, Nicole Eisenberg and Lexa Leatherdale of Bloomfield.
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DCDS Eisenberg Performing Arts Studio Reception At Detroit Country Day School, the Nicole and Stephen Eisenberg Studio Theatre joins the highlyacclaimed, 700-seat Seligman Performing Arts Center as a testament to the school’s support of the fine and performing arts. The new, 170-seat studio theater, located where the school’s heating and air-conditioning units once were, provides a smaller, more flexible setting for productions, transformational learning and student performance showcases. Students plan to perform Dracula there on Halloween. “You remove the space between performers and audience,” said headmaster Glen Shilling. He was speaking to the 70 guests invited to the studio’s ribbon cutting celebration. It featured a light and sound show demonstrating the theater’s amazing technical capabilities. Most in the crowd of school loyalists were aware of DCDS junior Noah Eisenberg’s performing talents, and his little brother Evan also demonstrated enthusiasm for the spotlight during the light show. Friends of Preservation Bloomfield Luncheon The intrepid crew of historical preservationists added a twist to their annual fall Free Soup & Membership Luncheon. For a $10 donation, people could claim a cell on the living room wall for their own and decorate it with an outline of their hand and personal data. And guess what? The more than 60 people who attended did so. And a few of them were new members. All savored Linda Holland’s split pea soup and Patti Jessup’s corn chowder. The event raised nearly $1,000. And, according to FoPB president Bee Englehart, the purpose of the wall signing project is to create a Bloomfield Hills artifact that will remain hidden by the soon-to-be-hung wallpaper. Information gathered about each signer and a digital image of each signature will be stored in the Preservation Bloomfield historical archives. Leukemia Foundation Afternoon of Hope A vibrant, buzzing crowd (200-plus) and colorful auction/raffle/sweet table displays made the Village Club the place to be on a mid-September afternoon. Two guys – emcee WXYZ’s Brad Galli and Children’s Leukemia Foundation board chair Jim Berline – kicked off the agenda with high fives for the sponsors and the chairs before the splendid luncheon. Then Beaumont’s 11.15
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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Leukemia Foundation Afternoon of Hope
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Dr. Kate Gowans talked about “The Faces of Childhood Leukemia”, complete with first names and colored prints of those precious beings, not all of whom beat their cancer. “We work, we wait, we pray a lot…there are too many sad stories,” she concluded with moist eyes. CLF president Heidi Grix then revealed that the very successful luncheon resulted from a series of small house parties where guests learned of the CLF mission (compassionate, personalized support for the 43,000 adults and children in Michigan affected by leukemia and other related blood disorders). At one of these mini gatherings “…the two Roses volunteered (to chair a larger event),” said Grix. That would be the very energetic Rosemary Fox and Rosemarie Robbins, who received a standing ovation and bouquets of roses. They were quick to credit the donors and their committee. “Plus everything was donated,” bragged Rosemary. The first Afternoon of Hope luncheon raised at least $30,000. Learn more about CLF at leukemiamichigan.org.
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1. Rosemary Fox (left) and Rose Robbins of Bloomfield. 2. Joanne Butzier (left) and Denice Richmond of Bloomfield, Tina Turner of Troy, Janice Tucker of Birmingham. 3. Dr. Kate Gowans of Rochester. 4. Kristin Turner (left) of Birmingham, Jim Berline of Orchard Lake, Heidi Grix of Dexter, Becky Howland of Novi. 5. Pamela Hildebrand (left) and Randi Dolik of Birmingham. 6. Fran Perez (left), Lisa Seneker and Sheila Biehl of Bloomfield, Beth McNish of Troy. 7. Jenny Kolbow (left) of Beverly Hills, Sharon Lucas of Troy. 8. Claire (left) & WXYZ’s Brad Galli of Troy, Karen Jbara of Waterford. 9. Barb Beauchamp (left) of Troy, Sheri Windisch of Farmington Hills, Anne Welch of Bloomfield.
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Fine Art Exhibition benefiting Beyond Basics
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1. Maggie Allesee and Teddy Shinkle and his mother Linda Shinkle-Rodney of Bloomfield. 2. L. Brooks Patterson of Clarkston, Pamela Good of Birmingham, Julie Nicholson of Rochester Hills. 3. Tom Strickland (left) and Jack Krasula of Bloomfield. 4. Janet (left) & Roger Shoemacker and Nancy Strickland of Bloomfield. 5. Chanell Hana (left) of Shelby Twp., Abe Fadel of Detroit, Val Lane and Doug Shinkle of Birmingham. 6. Steve Petti and Linda Hommel of Birmingham. 7. Laura (left) & Bob Campbell of Madison Hgts., Judie Sherman of Bloomfield.
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Fine Art Exhibition benefiting Beyond Basics Linda Shinkle Rodney and her son Teddy Shinkle hosted an Open House and Art Exhibition at their Bloomfield Village home. The cocktail hour social was co-chaired by Maggie Allesee and L. Brooks Patterson to benefit the Shinkle Fine Art partnership with Beyond Basics, an education program which is changing the destiny of Detroit and Pontiac school children. With displays of the Shinkles’ Metalagram digital art positioned throughout the gardens, 125 guests sipped, socialized and noshed. They also applauded Beyond Basics’ Erin Waddell’s beautiful a cappella version of “Summertime” before Linda, a “retired” attorney, and Teddy spoke briefly about the development of their unique work. It begins as a full-color digital photograph printed on aluminum that has been engraved, etched or distressed. A work table was set up on the terrace at which some Beyond Basics students were demonstrating the engraving step. As the sun was setting, a light and music show (Metalagram Experience) took the viewing sensation to a whole new level. Guests also were free to explore the art displayed throughout the house/gallery. Sales during the evening benefitted the SFA / Beyond Basics partnership. It has already resulted in a piece of art - “Renaissance City” – for Mayor Duggan’s office. Preservation Bloomfield Corn Roast The Friends of Preservation Bloomfield staged their annual Corn Roast at Bowers Farm with folk music generously provided by Paul Balogh and his group Tartanius Flynn. Frank’s hot dogs and Mt. Garden’s corn were as succulent as always and the silent auction had folks earnestly keeping an eye on their bidding for such offerings as lunches with local elected officials. Friends’ president Bee Engelhart spent most of her time taking donations from people who wanted to leave their mark (actually their hand imprint) on a wall in the Barton Farmhouse. And face painter Mary Kleinstiver not only decorated children and some parents, she also made a large board a la Grant Wood’s famous painting “American Gothic” 11.15
with the two faces cut out. It will be a popular photo op at future Friends events. Speaking of which, Judy Kelliher is chairing the inaugural Friends Fall Fling 10:30 a.m., Thursday November 12, in the Kirk of the Hills Refectory. It will feature unique luncheon tables, shopping at thoughtfully selected merchant booths and a fashion show with retro clothing by Leah Damiani of Leah’s Closet. The Fling replaces the Friends’ popular, but very labor-intensive Gingerbread events, at least for 2015. For Friends membership, contact Shelley Taub at shelleytaub@comcast.net. Autism Society Oakland County Golf Fundraiser Twenty-one years ago when the totally volunteer ASOC began staging a golf fundraiser, it was estimated that one in 1,500 children had Autism Spectrum Disorder. Now one in 68 is affected and, as Barb Brennan told supporters at Pine Knob Golf Course when she was thanking them for their support, “Autism is for a lifetime.” The 96 golfers were joined by another 35 for the seated dinner and they also heard from Craig Brown. He noted the challenges of housing and employment as individuals with autism become adults. The 21st annual golf outing raised approximately $40,000 to improve the lives of all affected by autism. For more information about ASOC activities go to autismsocietyoaklandcounty.org. Good Samaritan’s Membership Tea More than 75 ladies attended the Good Samaritan Membership Tea chaired by Sue Spangler at Bloomfield Open Hunt. They savored the prerequisite cucumber sandwiches as GS president Mia Materka and Holy Cross Children’s Services Samaritan Center CEO Br. Francis Boylan told them about the center’s services to teens on Detroit’s poverty-racked east side. They also viewed three short videos that demonstrated how the Good Samaritans, in three short years, have already improved the lives of young abuse victims and heard testimonials that pulled at the heartstrings. Lois Thornbury and Gerry Carroll detailed the GS plans for holiday packages for the young people. GS co-founder Sue Nine also announced that the annual spring theatre benefit will feature “Sound of Music” at the Fisher Theater following dinner at Cuisine. Persons interested in membership may contact Karen Rupley at (517) 4237556. HAVEN Tailgate Party The Lions first regular season game – against the Vikings in Minnesota – was the excuse for HAVEN’s third annual football focused fundraiser that attracted 175 ($125 ticket) to Birmingham Country Club. The crowd savoring the Texas BBQ buffet, spirits and cigars included “Paws” and a pride of former Lions. The unremarkable game has since been forgotten, but HAVEN’s halftime speaker – Christopher Letts – will long be remembered for his moving personal story, one he said he rarely tells. His mother took him and his sister to a shelter like HAVEN to escape his father’s violence. “Domestic violence affects entire families, especially the children,” he concluded, adding that the process of downtownpublications.com
Preservation Bloomfield Corn Roast
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3 1. Bee Engelhart and Howard Baron of Bloomfield. 2. David Hendrickson of Macomb, Mike Dul, Stuart Sherr and Sue Nine of Bloomfield. 3. Cynthia VonOeyen of Bloomfield. 4. Carol Shaya (center) of Bloomfield, Contessa and Rosemary Bannon of Beverly Hills. 5. Josie Sosa of Lathrup Village, Paul Nine of Bloomfield. 6. Mary Barton Letts & Charles Letts of Bloomfield.
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Autism Society Oakland County Golf Fundraiser
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1. Barb Brennan (left) of Rochester Hills, Patty Dufault of Farmington Hills, and Susan Hodess of W. Bloomfield. 2. Brenda Hall (left) and Tanya Smith of Southfield, Iona Abram of Farmington Hills, Carolyn Johnson of Bloomfield Hills. 3. Greg (right) & Joy DeCinso and Julie & Jim Fielder of Bloomfield. 4. Kate and Mary Stella of Bloomfield and Diane Risko of Farmington Hills. 5. Scott Ronan (left) of Rochester Hills, Craig Brown of Clarkston, A.J. Ronan of E. Lansing. 6. Men’s Longest Driver winner Rich Sickon of Rochester Hills. 7. Linda Ronan Brown (left) of Clarkston, Kim D’Avanzo of Plymouth.
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Good Samaritan’s Membership Tea
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3 1. Karen Pagliano (left) of Birmingham and Mary Ann VanElslander of Grosse Pointe. 2. Yvonne Timlin (left) of Bloomfield, Josie Sosa of Southfield, Carolyn Andree and Shirley Reaume of Bloomfield. 3. Gerry Carroll (left) of Birmingham, Fran Perez and Sue Nine of Bloomfield. 4. Nancy Wardlow (left) and Carolyn Ress of Troy, Diane Roelant, Virginia Graham and Judy Wellman of Bloomfield, Tricia Emmi of Birmingham.
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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK change was difficult for his father, but …”he is much better because of it.” Thanks also to generous sponsors, the afternoon raised $75,000 for HAVEN’s services to help survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault heal. For more information visit haven-oakland.org.
HAVEN Tailgate Party
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1. Beth Morrison (center) and Janet Vermuellen (left) of Troy and Harriett Shakir of Bloomfield. 2. Christina (left) and Christopher Letts of W. Bloomfield, Veronica & Carlos Carmona of Rochester. 3. Teri (left) and Chuck Moore of Birmingham, volunteer Lisa Bock of Northville. 4. John Slanga of Birmingham and Tim Edwards of Rochester. 5. Rachel Decker (left) of Birmingham, Jamie Edmonds of Troy, Carla Sarti and Linda Kosal of Washington Twp, Tara Eastin of Rochester Hills. 6. John (left) & Sheila Brice of Birmingham and Debbie & Mark Lukasiack of S. Lyon.
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New Day Foundation Legacy Celebration
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1. Jeff Cuthbertson of Rochester, and Erica Stone of Royal Oak. 2. Committee member Meghan Pott (left) of Pleasant Ridge, Sharon Shelata of Rochester Hills and Marty Shelata of Clarkston. 3. Steve Elmer (left), Matt Preuss and Michael Spehn of Rochester and Mike Schomaker of Rochester Hills. 4. Sponsor Beaumont’s Lynn Anderson and David Anderson of Rochester. 5. Randy France of Shelby Twp., Gina Spehn of Rochester. 6. MSU’s Sparty with Sharon Shelata of Rochester Hills and Marty Shelata of Clarkston. 7. New Day Foundation Board members, MSU alums all: Marty Shelata (left) of Clarkston, JoAnne Purtan of Farmington Hills, Steve Elmer, Matt Preuss, Michael & Gina Spehn of Rochester and Mike Schomaker of Rochester Hills.
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New Day Foundation Legacy Celebration Gina Kell Spehn and Michael Spehn, who married and blended their families eight years ago after their spouses both lost their battles with cancer, founded the New Day Foundation for Families. It provides financial stability and hope to cancer patients and their families. For the first time, the foundation’s fundraisers – the Matt Kell Golf Tourney and the Legacy Celebration – were held on the same day. The tourney attracted 123 golfers to Wyndgate East for 18 holes followed by the Legacy Celebration for 200-plus on Wyndgate’s terrace. In the crowd were four of the five Spehn-Kell kids, the oldest being away in college. The Ben Sharkey quartet made music while people socialized, cavorted with MSU’s Sparty, sipped, bid in a silent auction and savored superb culinary selections from a handsome buffet spread. Golf awards included Longest Drive - Rhonda Panczyk; Closest to the Pin – Mark Sandri; Putting contest winner - Tom Konen; and Winning Team – Mike Ruzycki’s WDIV group. The program featured remembrances and gratitude from Gina, a presentation to Randy France, who was honored for his generosity, and guest speaker, New Day recipient Erica Stone. She noted, “New Day gave me the chance to focus on getting well.” Then Charles Wickins auctioned four items bringing the silent and live auction totals to more than $18,600. Raffles, sponsors and tickets brought the net for the 10th annual event to $65,000. For more information about the foundation, go to foundationforfamilies.org. ArtWorks Detroit The 20th anniversary of Michigan Aids Coalition’s ArtWorks fundraiser attracted more than 400 people ($75-ticket) to a warehouse in Corktown. Except for the lack of air conditioning, the venue was very accommodating. The evening represented a return to the event’s origins as a stand-alone, for the first time in five years not coat-tailed to the Design Industry’s DIFFA exhibitions. While they viewed the silent auction of donated art, people sipped and nibbled tidbits from MGM Grand, Priya and Jim and Remy Lufty’s soon-toopen near Grand Circus Park Vertical Restaurant. MAC’s CEO Terry Ryan noted that some of the artists like Carl Demeulenaere had donated every year. He also acknowledged the committee’s dependence on Barbara Bunting and Ted Hadfield’s art knowledge. Two dozen of the 144 works of art were in the live auction conducted by Gregory Bator. Combined the silent and live auctions raised $36,620 to help people with HIV/AIDS get into and remain in care. TCH Birmingham House Tour Rita & Tom O’Brien chaired the 28th annual Birmingham House Tour that was sponsored by Hall & Hunter. The popular event attracted 1,200 tourists ($40, $45 ticket) including the 170 who also stopped for lunch ($55, $60 ticket) at The Community House.
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The generous homeowners who opened their spectacular domiciles were Julie Dawson, Deborah Ridenour, Weatherly Stroh, Kevin Serba, Rose & Brian Bolyard, Dr. Susan Malinowski & Gary Shapiro and Colleen & Michael Rebock. Preceding the tour Dr. Les & Ellen Lesser Siegel hosted a superb strolling dinner for 50 benefactors ($150 ticket). Proceeds of all the events benefit The Community House’s children’s programs and services. Detroit Public Television – Detroit Performs Live! Detroit Public Television’s traditional Premiere Night fundraiser morphed into what DPTV does best – a show – and it attracted 1,200 people to The Fillmore. Some 300 of them ($500-ticket) arrived early for the VIP cocktail reception and a view of local artists showcasing their talent. They also stayed for the afterglow with music by the Detroit funk band The Third Coast Kings. The entire show, including interviews with the artists, may be viewed at detroitperforms.org/live/. Humble Design’s Gigs for Digs Kudos to Humble Design, the non-profit that furnishes homes for families leaving homelessness. Its first fundraising concert attracted some 800 people to The Fillmore to hear Michigan-native and country star Frankie Ballard and the Motor City Horns rock the place. Some 400 VIPs ($150, $100 tickets) also did cocktails, dinner and an afterglow.
ArtWorks Detroit
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1. Barbara Bunting (left) of Franklin, Ted Hadfield of Farmington Hills, Peter Gahan of Huntington Woods, Carl Demeulenaere of Grosse Pointe. 2. Todd Peplenski of Bloomfield. 3. Susie Vestivech (left) and Ruth Tyska of Birmingham, Tracey Nystrom of Bloomfield. 4. Janet & Dan Haddad of Bloomfield. 5. Randy & artist Priscilla Phifer of Franklin. 6. Mel & Gail Ball of W. Bloomfield. 7. Tom Zomber (left) & Judy Elyias of Ferndale, Richard Reese & Todd Peplinski of Bloomfield.
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TCH Birmingham House Tour
Champions for the Kids Gala
The annual Yatooma Foundation Champions for the Kids Gala moved from the Townsend this, its 10th year, and attracted 218 people to the Westin Book Cadillac. Founded by Norman Yatooma as a memorial to his father who was murdered 20 years ago, the foundation helps families recover from similar grief by assisting with basic needs as well as counseling, mentoring and family experiences. Before dinner, people socialized and bid $13,000 in the silent auction. Paul W. Smith emceed the program using young foundation recipients to thank the event sponsors and Yatooma to salute surprise honoree Ted Lindsay, a foundation board member and founder of his own foundation. He got a standing ovation when he concluded, “That’s what old athletes do, we raise money.” Charles Wickins conducted a brief live auction that raised $54,000 and then got another $19,500 in outright donations. Two days later the Golf Tournament at Detroit Golf Club featured 82 players. The two-part event raised more than $210,000. Distinguished Clown Grand Jester’s Reception As they have for the past nine years, Norm, Bonnie and Scott LePage hosted The Parade Company Foundation Distinguished Clown Corps Grand Jester’s reception at The Reserve. More than 175 new and old DCs, and potential DCs, attended the cocktail strolling dinner sponsored by UHY, LLP. Parade Company magicians had decked out the room with balloons, beads and photograph books of past parades and clown activities. When Parade Company CEO Tony Michaels requested attention, they applauded the 2015 Grand Jester/32-year DC Dr. Luther “Skip” Rosemond, whose colorful footwear downtownpublications.com
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1. Weatherly Stroh (left) of Birmingham and Kristin Dimsdale of Troy. 2. Deborah Ridenhour (left) and Helen Reilly of Birmingham. 3. Renee Suchara (left) and Liz Powers of Birmingham. 4. Kristine Wise (center) of Bloomfield, Julia Wolf (left) and Meredith Lovell of Birmingham. 5. Shelley Roberts (left) and Christine Provost of Birmingham, Susie Goodnow of Grosse Pointe. 6. Rita O’Brien and Kathie Ninneman of Bloomfield. 7. Bill Seklar (left) of Bloomfield, Jackie McIntosh of Rochester Hills.
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Champions for the Kids Gala
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1. Norman & Nicole Yatooma of Bloomfield, Joanne and event honoree Ted Lindsay of Oakland. 2. April Wagner Emery (left) of Franklin, Syd and Elizabeth Ross of Bloomfield. 3. Charles Wickins (left) of Birmingham, Paul W. Smith of Bloomfield. 4. Beverly Ross (center) of Oakland, Bill & Julie Klotz of Rochester Hills. 5. Pamela Ayres of Bloomfield, Dale Hollingsworth of White Lake. 6. Terri Eick (left) of Birmingham, Lynn Lindsay Lapagh of Rochester Hills, Joanne Lindsay of Oakland.
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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Distinguished Clown Grand Jester’s Reception
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first caught our eye several years ago. They also cheered when 2009 Grand Jester Bill White made a surprise presentation to The Parade Company’s CarolAnn Barbb, who has been the clowns’ “godmother” for 10 years. DCs donate $1,000 for the privilege of marching in the parade and cavorting with the spectators. Anyone interested in becoming a DC and getting measured for a custom clown suit should quickly call Barbb at (313) 432-7831. Many of the DCs will be with their families at the splendiferous Hob Nobble Gobble parade benefit on Friday, Nov. 20, at Ford Field. For Hob Nobble Gobble tickets, call (313)923.7400.
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1. Event hosts Scott (left), Bonnie & Norm LePage of Birmingham. 2. Syd Ross (left) of Bloomfield with Peaches Underwood and Rick Miller of Detroit and Don Graham of Allen Park. 3. Nancy (left), Jim and Hillary Gnewkowski of Bloomfield. 4. Kara (left), Barry & Lyn Connelly of Bloomfield. 5. Judy Dunn (left) of Commerce, Maggie Allesee and Betty Bright of Bloomfield. 6. Parade Company CEO Tony Michaels (left) of Rochester, past Grand Jester Rick DiBartolomeo of Troy, 2015 Grand Jester Dr. Skip Rosemond of Detroit. 7. Todd Bensley (left) of Romeo and Anthony Frabotta of Rochester Hills, Dr. Skip & Barbara Rosemond of Detroit. 8. Bonnie Jobe (left), Larry Walsh and Sandie Knollenberg of Bloomfield. 9. Tavi Fulkerson & Bill Hampton of Bloomfield. 10. Barb & Carl Roehling of Birmingham.
Northwood University Distinguished Women Awards
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1. Patti & Jim Prowse of Bloomfield, Dr. Keith Pretty of Midland. 2. Brian (left) and Margaret Cooney Casey of Beverly Hills, Justin Marshall of Midland, Lynn Stinson of Bloomfield. 3. 2015 honoree Margery Krevsky Dosey and her husband Dr. Michael Dosey of Bloomfield. 4. Mona Rappaport (left) of Bloomfield, Linda Solomon of Farmington Hills, Tommie Pardue of Memphis, TN. 5. Howard (left) & 1979 honoree Brenda Rosenberg of Bloomfield, NU board of governors member Bill Mulvilhill of Berkley. 6. Jim Prowse with Judie Sherman of Bloomfield.
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Cultural Council Arts Award Reception
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1. Evie Wheat (left) of Birmingham, Barbara Kratchman of Bloomfield. Photo: Laurie Tennent. 2. Marcy Heller Fisher (left) of Bloomfield and Anita DeMarco Goor with Link Wachler (center) of Troy. 3. Peggy Kerr of Birmingham and Laurie Tennent of Bloomfield. Photo: Laurie Tennent. 4. Annie VanGelderen (left) of Commerce and Phyllis Clark of Birmingham. 5. Patti Peacock (left) of Birmingham, Carol Marshall of Bloomfield and Lucille Schmitt of Beverly Hills.
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Northwood University Distinguished Women Awards Ten years after Northwood University was founded in 1959, the trustees created an annual award to recognize distinguished women and spotlight the institution’s mission of developing the future leaders of a free-enterprise society. This year the 46th annual event honoring them was staged at Rochester’s Royal Park Hotel. It included a panel discussion forum with distinguished women and NU students and the Awards Gala dinner ($325 and up tickets) attended by 150 including 25 NU students. Those gatherings were preceded by a welcoming reception hosted by past honoree Patti Prowse and her husband Jim at their magnificent Bloomfield Hills home Stone Hill Manor. The guest list of 60 included past and present honorees and the students who would introduce them at the dinner. They socialized, strolled the gardens and savored cuisine catered by Forte Belanger before NU’s Dr. Keith Pretty proudly described the students and their accomplishments both in and out of the classroom. There is a fundraising component to this project, but the fact that the students get to know the successful women who become their role models justifies the entire event in the mind of this reporter. To learn about the eight 2015 honorees, go to www.northwood.edu/dw/. Cultural Council Arts Award Reception The first Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Council award for supporting the arts was presented in 1996. It was the suggestion of well known philanthropist Maggie Allesee when former Birmingham Eccentric editor Judy Berne was council president. That happens to be one of the years this reporter chaired the OUR TOWN Art Show & Sale and we were lucky to have Evie Wheat on the committee. At that time, Evie’s extraordinary work ethic, amiability and knowledge of and respect for the artists’ was already legendary. Her dedication and energetic loyalty to arts organizations over the subsequent 20 years merely added more stars to her crown. So when she was nominated by Barbara Kratchman for the 2015 award, all of us on the jury put her at the top of the list on the first round of voting. The kudos she received at the award reception, which brought more than 125 friends and well-wishers to the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center, were warm and enthusiastic confirmation of the jury’s choice. Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390. 11.15
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ENDNOTE
Our candidate choices for November vote esidents in Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills are being asked to choose among a large field of candidates to fill seats on their city commissions this election day, Tuesday, November 3. In Bloomfield Hills, four incumbents are seeking to retain their seats while five challengers are looking to capitalize on the openings. In Birmingham, there are four open commission seats and a stable of 13 candidates. Downtown Publications invited all candidates in the Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills races to address issues, via a questionnaire, which our editorial staff felt were important and relevant to the job of city commissioner. We have posted all of the questions and candidate responses on our website, downtownpublications.com, in order for residents of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills to read and review as they make their determinations at the polls and via absentee ballots. We offer our endorsements on this page, reached after careful deliberation on returned questionnaires, candidate conversations and editorial research.
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BIRMINGHAM Four long-term city commissioners, George Dilgard, Tom McDaniel, Scott Moore and Gordon Rinschler, are retiring in Birmingham, opening up four of seats on the city commission for the first time in years. A great deal of institutional knowledge is leaving the city commission with this election, which was our main concern. We also looked for candidates who understood the process of developing public policy as an elected official, and the need to not only listen to residents but also be able to sift through public opinion and the facts of each matter and take a leadership role in making long-term decisions for the community. So our mission was several-fold. While 13 candidates jumped into the fray this year, we were a little disappointed with what the field had to offer – four of the candidates even failed to return our repeated requests for responses to our questions, in essence removing themselves from consideration. Of those we did receive, we were most impressed with PIERRE BOUTROS, the owner of Mills Pharmacy who is involved with NEXT (formerly Birmingham Area Senior Coordinating Council) and The Community House. Boutros has clearly studied all the issues Birmingham is confronting, and has come to sensible, well-reasoned answers, whether it is to look for public-private
partnerships as a possible response to the city’s shortage on parking; looking towards improving safety and functionality for West Maple during its test phase; recognizing that the city’s bistro ordinance has been an example of “smart development”; and that Baldwin Library will need to find other avenues of private funding for its improvements. As a resident and businessman, he is one choice all residents must make. We did have a more difficult time choosing from the “second tier” of the pack, but the three we believe who rise above the rest, and are giving our endorsement to, are, in alphabetical order, PATTY BORDMAN, STUART JEFFARES and DANIEL SHARE. Bordman, an attorney and master gardener, would bring experience as a commissioner as the current chairperson of the city’s parks and recreation board. We were impressed with her understanding of Birmingham’s parking crisis and the city’s bistro ordinance, and that she is open to a test of West Maple Road, willing to wait until the data from the test is in to make her decision on the busy roadway. She also comprehends that Birmingham voters have spoken regarding spending on the library. Our only concern is that her orientation is as an avowed spokesperson for the parks, at the expense of other city priorities, but that will likely be tempered as she grasps the larger picture. We feel Jeffares understands a good deal of the big picture now, as both a real estate executive and an alternate on the Birmingham Planning Board. Jeffares understands the need to solve the city’s parking crisis now as well as the financing of the parking decks. He comprehends that parking in Birmingham is paid by users, including by assessments on businesses and retailers, and not by residents, a notable error we caught in several other questionnaires. However, we would have appreciated a less confusing answer on the city charter, suggesting perhaps a lack of comprehension of the question on sale of isolated non-park city parcels. We also know he was a backer of the $21.5 million library bond millage which was defeated; if elected, we hope he will keep an open mind on issues relative to the library. Share, an attorney, has a lengthy history of public service, including as a board member and past president of Birmingham Board of Education and Oakland Intermediate School District, and he currently sits on the Greenwood Cemetery Advisory Committee and as an alternate on the Birmingham Planning Board. Living off West Maple, he recognizes it
is a dangerous street for both drivers and pedestrians, yet is open to the results of the restriping test. Similarly, he feels a decision to increase the library millage should not be taken lightly. His answer, “The commission’s job will be to investigate, understand the big picture and the details, listen to all concerned, and decide,” reflects what we believe would be a judicial-like approach to being a commissioner, which we feel would provide balance between newer commissioners and existing city commissioners. BLOOMFIELD HILLS Following a charter amendment change in 2013, all five Bloomfield Hills City Commission seats are up for election for a two-year term on November 3. Previously, commissioners have been elected in May for two-year terms, but their terms were staggered, with elections being held every single May. This will be the first election where the entire commission will have all five seats up for election at the same time. The four current city commissioners running for re-election, MIKE COAKLEY, MICHAEL DUL, SARAH MCCLURE,and STUART SHERR, all deserve voters returning them to their seats on the commission. While each has different areas of expertise on the commission, together they are an excellent group of citizen leaders and financial stewards for Bloomfield Hills. Here, we were also disappointed with the field of candidates. Being a resident is not in itself a qualification. Of the two stronger candidates, we are supporting SUSAN MCCARTHY, currently a planning commissioner in Bloomfield Hills who previously served on the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals, although we believe she has a ways to go. While we asked a question about safety paths along Woodward, she answered that safety paths on “the city roadways...will require dramatic and irreparable changes to the character of the city.” Yet Michael Dul, a noted landscape architect, pointed out that “If there ever was a logical place for a safety path it would be Woodward Ave. as the corridor is relatively flat and unencumbered by major trees.” McCarthy, and a couple others, quoted a “resident survey” in response to safety paths and for opting out of the SMART millage. We caution commissioners – who are city leaders – to do more than parrot back responses, but when necessary, take the leap as leaders and make the decisions for their residents that are needed, and perhaps they do not even know they need, or will want.
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