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Newer Construction on Private Setting Panoramic View of Multiple Lakes Almost 12,000 Sq. Ft. Bloomfield Hills Schools $3,349,000

City Of Bloomfield Completely Renovated Estate Home On Almost 3 Acres With Carriage House Walk to Cranbrook $3,299,000

Award Winning Custom Built Home With 3.5 Acres Of Professionally Designed Gardens With Water Features And Small Pond $2,900,000

Custom Built Quarton Lake Cedar Shake Home Designed And Implemented By The Most Respected Trades In The Business State Of The Art $2,250,000

Spectacular Newer Construction In Birmingham Large Living Spaces Finished Lower Level With Entertainment Amenities $1,795,000

City Of Bloomfield Hills Sprawling Home Perched On Endicott Lake With Sunset Views Rebuilt With Open Floor Plan And Multiple Gathering Areas $1,549,000

Bloomfield Hills Tudor Style Home With Gilbert Lake Privileges. Oversized Family Room With Bar That Looks Over Pool Bloomfield Hills Schools. $1,520,000

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Formal Rooms with a casual feel $1,349,000

Solid Brick Newer Construction Designed With Soft Contemporary Features Large Open Rooms with Floor To Ceiling Windows $1,299,000

City Of Bloomfield Hills Walk To Cranbrook Educational Community Over 2 Acre Walk Out Site Ideal To Build Or Renovate $1,295,000

In Town Birmingham Tudor Master Crafted With Custom Millwork And Leaded Glass Modern Day Conveniences $1,275,000

Lower Long Lake Lakefront On Over 1 Acre Large Home With Walk Out And Sunset Views $1,250,000

First Floor Master Suite Renovated Home Turnkey With Ideal Floor Plan Professional Gardens With Water Feature $1,249,000

City of Bloomfield Hills Over 2 Acre Site On Golf Course Large Home On Private Street $1,149,000

Bloomfield Township Home With Open Floor Plan Over An Acre Setting With Pool And Green Space $997,000

In Town Birmingham Condo Decorator Quality Interior With Hardwood Floors Outdoor Living Space. Finished Daylight Basement With Bar. $949,000

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DOWNTOWN11.13

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Predictive crime fighting Some public safety departments are moving to anticipate where crimes might occur in the future based on data from the past.

35 45

CRIME LOCATOR

12

Here's some holiday wine suggestions in terms of what is best for both the event and for your wallet.

AT THE TABLE

43: Justin Spiro

53: Sue Marx

77: Anthony Sosnick

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79: MernaLyn

CITY/TOWNSHIP

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For those not residing in the free mail distribution area, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual fee.

Phone 248.792.6464 and request the Distribution department or go to our website (downtownpublications.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order on-line or scan the QR Code here.

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The outdoor riding and paddock area at Bloomfield Open Hunt club, first formed in 1917, on East Long Lake Road in Bloomfield Hills. Downtown photo/Austen Hohendorf.

DOWNTOWN P

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Publisher: David Hohendorf Ad Manager: Jill Cesarz Ad Sales: Matthew Swigart Graphics/IT Manager: Chris Grammer News Editor: Lisa Brody

News Staff/Contributors: Allison Batdorff, Rachel Bechard, Hillary Brody, Kevin Elliott, Sally Gerak, Eleanor & Ray Heald, Austen Hohendorf, Garrett Hohendorf, Kathleen Meisner, Laurie Tennent

DOWNTOWN

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

ENDNOTE

THE COVER

Yummy Cupcakes; Beach House Day Spa; Jersey Mike's Sub Shop; Nippon Sushi Bar; Barre Bee Fit; The Tea and Spice Exchange; plus more.

DISTRIBUTION: Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Additional free copies are distributed at high foot-traffic locations.

Authentic Mexican food is being offered up at the new MEX on Telegraph in Bloomfield Township.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

Applications made for new Birmingham bistros; cemetery study committee formed; park garden donation turned away; North Old Woodward parking fees may increase; plus more .

BUSINESS MATTERS

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Local municipalities and school districts have taken to the web to provide varying levels of information and service.

90

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

33: Renee Horowitz

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Government online

The Department of Natural Resources new land management plans calls for putting more public access sites on local lakes.

FOCUS ON WINE

FACES

54

Lake access threat

Our recommendations on candidates in the November election; Birmingham needs a gift policy.

INCOMING: 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 traditional letters or electronic communication. Your opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com; or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI, 48009.

Letters must include your full name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

M

ichigan's 11th congressional district, which includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and a large swath of the western Oakland County lakes area, is finding itself in the spotlight after the shutdown of the federal government at the start of October.

That specific congressional district, along with one other in Michigan, will more than likely be the target of national business groups that will be intervening in Republican primary races here and in at least three to four other states when the 2014 election rolls around.

National business groups that traditionally have poured more of their political donations into support of GOP general election candidates are coming to the realization that the radical right fringe of the Republican party represents a threat to the functioning of the democracy itself as evidenced by the scorched earth tactics of the far right, which includes Tea Party members, in the recent national budget debate and no doubt a replay is expected in coming months on this same topic and the national debt ceiling.

Of course, these same business groups also realize that after donating millions into redistricting efforts following the last census to helped carve out Republican districts, these gerrymandered districts are relative safe havens for GOP members but the business groups hold less and less sway with some of the GOP victors. Then throw in the estimated impact of some $20 billion (that's right, billion) from the recent government shutdown, and the business groups, ranging from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to a slew of other national business and trade groups, now know that they must take the unprecedented step of taking sides in Republican primary elections if there is any chance of reducing the split within the Republican party and purging some of the more radical members who helped bring the government to its knees in the last month and more than likely will employ this tactic in future disputes.

That brings us to the U.S. 11th Congressional District, considered to be about 55 percent Republican, held by Kerry Bentivolio. He's often referred to as the “Accidental Congressman� because he won this seat thanks to the fraudulent petition scandal that consumed Republican

congressman Thaddeus McCotter, who resigned before the end of his term, thereby leaving Bentivolio as the only GOP member on the primary ballot.

Bentivolio is certainly part of the radical right crowd in congress, one of those who in the final days of the recent budget battle refused to sign onto the budget resolution that passed congress to end the shutdown. Although I hesitate to label him as part of the tinfoil hat crowd in Washington, he definitely flirts with that description with his call earlier this year at an Oakland County town hall meeting for hearings to be held in the district on the topic of chemtrails, the conspiracy theory that the federal government was intentionally dousing the population with drugs, some mind altering, from the vapor trails of jets flying overhead.

Already Bentivolio has one announced challenger for the primary battle, David Trott of Birmingham who has raised a reported $650,000 against a paltry sum donated so far to Bentivolio, some $150,000, which includes $12,000 raised at a Birmingham fundraiser earlier this year that featured U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, an event that noted Oakland Republicans avoided in droves.

As a Downtown story in the September issue by News Editor Lisa Brody outlined, the Oakland County Republican party is already moving to right the ship, so to speak, by lining up behind what can only be assumed is a more reasoned conservative candidate in Trott. But now it looks like business group donations may also play a part as the national business community starts attempting to cleanse the party of a fringe element that may well sacrifice the well-being of the country by using the shutdown tactic in coming months and continue to make this part of their toolbox in the future, risking further damage to the economy and consumer confidence. The business community will no doubt have to wage war against the ultra conservative super PACs who will be backing the likes of Bentivolio.

So 2014 could prove an interesting year of reckoning for the GOP in Oakland County.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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INCOMING Heavily biased article With respect to Downtown’s story on the Common Core Curriculum State Standards (CCSS)(Downtown/October 2013), here’s some critical thinking: The article is heavily biased in favor of CCSS to the point of being propaganda.

You only quote educators – and only superintendents, consultants and those in charge of curriculum at that – who support CCSS. Where are the dissenting educators and where especially are the teachers who have legitimate complaints about the new orthodoxy? Dig a little deeper and I believe you will find many of them.

As “consumers” of education, students and parents are a major part of the equation. Where are their voices and opinions? I’ve heard of parents pulling their children out of public schools because of CCSS. Through the second-hand attributions of a politician, your article implies that opposition to CCSS comes primarily from a fringe political movement. Didn’t anyone think of getting a response from the Tea Party to confirm or deny the allegations?

You claim that the initiator of CCSS was the National Governors’ Association, and that it was majority Republican. However, in 2009 – when CCSS was announced – there were 28 Democrat governors and 22 Republican governors. Other sources say the Association was merely a cover for corporate and government interests. For example, Peter Wood, President of the National Association of Scholars says, ”The standards in question were drawn up in 2008 and hustled into place in 2009 by a combination of financial support from the Gates Foundation, political muscle from the Obama administration, and window dressing by the National Governors’ Association, whose role was to make them seem to be a spontaneous (and simultaneous) set of state initiatives. What the Common Core does is introduce something close to a national curriculum.”

I’m no journalist, but even a cursory search of “common core standards” on Google turns up a first page result from The Washington Post titled “Eight Problems with Common Core Standards” in which “a veteran educator lists eight things about the common core state standards that he thinks will damage public education.”

Most all decisions in life have upsides, downsides and unintended 10

DOWNTOWN

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.

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

consequences. Your article utterly fails to elucidate the differing viewpoints on CCSS, and is thus a disservice to your readers.

Downtown’s dashboard score on this topic: RED. David Pennock, Birmingham

First impressions I like your publication but I do not recall ever in my 50 plus years of reading print media seeing a publication that cares so little about the match of the cover photo with the headline article.

From (past covers) to this month’s Common Core curriculum and the cemetery (Downtown/October 2013), they are almost comical. If your headline article is about education, why not a picture of one of the area's schools?

You should consider the first impression you make when we pick up your publication.

Dave Richter, Bloomfield Hills (Publisher's note: Downtown cover photos are iconic scenes from the Birmingham-Bloomfield area as opposed to being tied to any single story appearing in the publication.)

Devastating drug I want to thank you for the excellent, well-researched and detailed article on the increase in heroin use (Downtown/October 2013).

This is such an important article, with so much important information, that it really should get much broader circulation than the local Birmingham/ Bloomfield newsmagazine. I hope that other publications have a chance to pick it up.

Like Susan Gross, I am a parent who lost my "bonus son" (I was his legal guardian) due to heroin 11.13

addiction. He died a year and a half ago at the age of 19.

Thank you again for your excellent article, and for helping to bring public attention to the increasing prevalence of this devastating drug.

Lauren Rousseau, Livonia

Thought provoking article I am writing in response to the article entitled “Heroin: The Shocking Rise In Teen Use” (Downtown/October 2013). I wanted to point out a few aspects of this article which I found rather thoughtprovoking.

First of all, I liked that the author included prescription pill abuse as an important factor which can not only lead to hard drugs, but also as a separate issue in and of itself. I would like to add, though, that illegally obtained prescription medications are not the only medications that parents should be concerned about.

Legally obtained, prescribed pills such as Adderall and Ritalin, SSRIs, anti-anxiety, and anti-psychotic medications are very harmful to an adolescent's psyche. For one thing, nearly all psychiatric medications are not meant for, and are not tested on, people under the age of eighteen.

A bigger problem lies in the fact that psychiatric medications only provide temporary relief from some common symptoms of mental illness.

Without proper, effective psychotherapy, these symptoms will persist and unfortunately may progress to more severe levels over time. What this article failed to address is the fact that drug addiction is not a disease on it's own, it is a symptom of a deeper, psychological problem.

For example, Susie Gross (mentioned in the article) lost her son, not to drug addiction, but to suicide.

Her son was most likely severely depressed, and this is no doubt why he turned to drugs in the first place.

Gross says, “It's not just heroin that is killing our adolescents– it's the denial of the parents.” I'd like to elaborate on this quote, and add that not only are many wealthy suburban parents in denial about their kids' drug use, they are ignorant of their kids' psychological needs.

Adolescence, as most of us know, can be a very uneasy period in a person's life; it is the transition between childhood and adulthood, between dependence and independence.

When a teenager experiences mental issues like depression and downtownpublications.com

anxiety, drugs can look quite appealing because they offer an escape from a disturbed and/or depressed state of mind. I personally experienced poor mental health during my own adolescent years. If my parents had been neglectful of my behavior and had not paid attention to how I was feeling on day-to-day basis, then I may eventually have turned to hard drugs to cope with my mental state. Because my parents were willing to talk to me, openly and without judgement, about the things that I was experiencing, I was able to work through my issues effectively.

Both mothers and fathers have to be willing to talk realistically and compassionately with their kids about things like drug use, sex, and psychological issues, rather than leaving it to impersonal, questionable school programs such as D.A.R.E. or health education classes. Parents must also have realistic expectations for their children. Especially in areas like Birmingham and Bloomfield, where the standard of income and education is higher than many other areas; teenagers are having to take on responsibilities earlier and earlier in life.

Mental health is almost always disregarded in cases of drug addiction. If it is mentioned, drug addiction is treated as a mental illness on its own. People must begin to realize that problems such as drug dependence, criminal behavior, bingedrinking, and every other problem that teenagers can find themselves in, is a direct result of poor mental health. These behaviors are not standalone problems, they are the product of a troubled mind.

Name withheld upon request

Ignored warning signs I am certain that I was not the only parent who found the article about rising heroin use (Downtown/October 2013) a bit disturbing in that many of us know this to be true.

A child of ours was lost to this drug several years ago and I often wonder if somehow the warning signs were ignored by us. Once lost, it was apparent the signs had been there all along.

As we look around at our daughter's friends at the time, we find that she and her group lived a privileged life, as did we, without recognizing that this storied life could end at any time. In her case, far too early.

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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 17, 2013.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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CRIME FIGHTING PREDICTING WHERE TROUBLE CAN HAPPEN NEXT

BY LISA BRODY

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magine if our law enforcement agencies could not only outsmart criminals, but actually anticipate where criminal acts were going to happen before they occurred. In many of our local municipalities, it's happening right now.

Predictive crime fighting. Crime mapping. Developing mathematical algorithms to envision the exact location where future criminal activity will occur, much like scientists forecasting earthquake aftershocks and tremors will ripple across the landscape right after a major earthquake. While it sounds right

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out of a science fiction novel or a Hollywood movie studio, like the film “Minority Report”, the science fiction thriller set in the year 2054, where PreCrime, a specialized police department, apprehends criminals based on what they call in the movie foreknowledge, based on three psychics called “precogs”, in reality actual predictions are being done by law enforcement, not psychics, across the country based upon past criminal history, time crimes were committed, and locations of the criminal activity. Based upon statistics and crime prevention implementation, researchers and law enforcement officials are working to determine and deter future offenses.

W

hether it's Washington D.C., as it was in “Minority Report”, or Detroit, Birmingham, White Lake or Commerce Township in 2013, law enforcement departments are being forced to work harder than ever before, facing increasing social, criminal, and mental health issues with less funding. Often, innovative departments are turning to data-driven technology to assist them with their experience-based knowledge and intuitive hunches. Predicting where, and when, crimes are likely to occur is more then preventative crime fighting; it is the ability to actually foretell criminal activities by utilizing the latest available technology.

Innovations like crime mapping is actively being used by analysts in law enforcements to map, visualize, and analyze various criminal activities. CompStat, for Computer Statistics or Comparative Statistics, is the name given to New York City's Police Department's accountability process, replicated in many other locations, which is an organizational management tool for police departments utilizing a multilayered dynamic approach to crime reduction, quality of life improvement, and personnel and resource management. It utilizes Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and maps crime and identifies problem areas. The model is a management process within a performance management framework that synthesizes the analysis of crime and disorder data, strategic problem solving, and a clear accountability structure. Contrary to typical reactive policing, the CompStat model works to deploy police resources to where this is a problem as a means of heading off the dilemma before it continues or escalates. The system provides for relentless follow up and assessment of whether or not it's working.

CompStat was adopted in 1995 in New York City under then-mayor Rudolph Giuliani and then police commissioner William Bratton, and it was credited with a 60 percent drop in crime. The New York City Police Department instituted a mandatory CompState meeting every month which every police official had to attend, and the year after it was adopted, the city saw a drop in murder rates. In 1999 and 2000, over a third of police agencies around the country with 100 or more officers reported implementing a “CompStat-like” program.

New York City utilizes CompStat on a weekly basis, where personnel from all of the precincts compile a statistical summary of the week's crime complaints, arrests and summons activities, as well as a written report of significant cases, crime patterns and police activities. This data, with specific enforcement locations and times, is then forwarded to the chief of the department's CompStat Unit, where the information is then collated and loaded into a citywide database. The unit then runs computer analysis of the data and generates a weekly CompStat report, which captures the crime complaints and arrest activities at the precinct level, with summaries and other important performance indicators.

Precinct commanders and top level brass then can analyze emerging and established crime trends, as well as deviations and anomalies.

CompStat analyzes both the major crimes of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson, but also simple assaults, forgery and counterfeiting, fraud, embezzlement, buying, receiving or possessing stolen property, vandalism, prostitution, sex offenses, drug abuse violations, offenses against family and children, driving under the influence, liquor law violations, drunkenness, disorderly conduct, vagrancy, curfew violations and loitering, and running away. The system also captures data on the number of shooting incidents and shooting victims, as well as gun arrests.

The reason CompStat holds information on some of what are considered more minor violations are what law enforcement call the “broken windows theory” – which is that aggressive enforcement of all statutes and ordinances results in a greater sense of order, and as those behaviors are deterred, worse crimes have a greater chance of being forestalled.

The University of Maryland looked at CompStat to examine it's usefulness and success. “Problem-focused strategies are normally judged a success by a reduction in or absence of the initial crime problem. This success or lack thereof, provides knowledge of how to improve current and future planning and deployment of resources,” researchers wrote. “Current research on CompStat suggests that the four principles of CompStat are often not implemented as originally intended. Many law enforcement agencies use CompStat to merely reinforce traditional features of the police bureaucracy, including authoritarianism, hierarchy, and control. Agencies simultaneously neglect the collaboration, coordination, problem solving, and leadership components of CompStat. Others say that CompStat, as it has been practiced, has been a 'review of the numbers,' but that a successful model requires the reengineering of police processes, central data collection, and an understanding of performance management.”

The Detroit Police Department uses CompStat as a convincing crime fighting tool. Sgt. Michael Woody, public information officer for the department said, “CompStat and crime mapping are not new, but the chief (Detroit Police Chief James Craig) has put a new emphasis on them, looking at how crimes are occurring, where they occurring, when they are occurring, and trying to dissect them, as well as looking at what other crimes are occurring around the city. Using CompStat, we can zero right in and put a pin on where a crime is occurring. For example, if there were a carjacking in a neighborhood, it puts a pin on the map in that area. If there are a rash of carjackings in that area, it can help us deploy personnel trained to that kind of crime to quell it in that area.”

Woody noted that the Detroit Police Department does not believe the city is overrun with tons of criminals, despite rising crime figures. “Our belief is there are X amount of criminals committing numerous crimes, and if you shut down those criminals, you shut down a lot of the crime around the city,” he explained. For example, there may be only four or five burglars committing 18 or 20 breaking and enterings in an area.

“That's been our contention for some time, and it's been proving true.

“It puts us in line with the data that comes out from these crimes, and it provides us with the ability to quell more crimes from happening, not just in that area, but citywide, because we're taking out those criminals,” Woody said.

U

niversity of Chicago economist Steven Levitt similarly has argued that CompStat is not responsible for many of the benefits it claims; rather, CompStat occurred at the same time as training and deployment of about 5,000 new and better educated police officers in New York City; police decision making was moved to the precinct level; a backlog of 50,000 unserved warrants was cleared; programs moved over 500,000 people into jobs from welfare; the end of the crack epidemic in the 1990s; a robust “zero tolerance” campaign against petty crime and antisocial behavior by Mayor Giuliani and then police commissioner William Bratton; among other social factors. Others, such as Andrew Guthrie Ferguson, assistant law professor at the University of the District of Columbia, are concerned that predictive policing can be used dishonestly, with officers misapplying data to run minorities out of neighborhoods or to question people without good reason. Ferguson's other concern is that computer-generated crime forecasts will lower the threshold for reasonable suspicion, leading to increased racial and class profiling as well as a rash of pat downs and arrests that in other circumstances would be considered unwarranted. Others are concerned that statistics can be manipulated to report crimes the way a department wants them to.

Woody disagrees. “It is working. Our overall crime (in Detroit) is trending down – not as quickly as we would hope, but it is working.”

But preventative and predictive crime fighting continues, and

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continues to evolve, from the basic, such as the use of a search warrant, which is an educated guess that police will find something, to sophisticated computer technology. IBM has created PredPol, which applies advanced mathematics and adaptive computer learning that works beyond simple mapping crime data. PredPol is based on models for predicting aftershocks from earthquakes, and it forecasts the highest risk times and places for future crimes. IBM asserts that PredPol has resulted in predictions twice as accurate as those made through existing best practices by building on knowledge and experience that already exists.

PredPol was designed over a period of six years by a team of PhD mathematicians and social scientists working together from UCLA, Santa Clara University, and UC Irvine, along with crime analysts and line level police officers in the Los Angeles and Santa Cruz, California police departments. The goal of predictive policing, as PredPol was designed, is not to merely map past crimes or to create profiles of individuals, nor is it a replacement of veteran law enforcement agents' intuition and experience. PredPol is clear that it is a tool for police departments to increase their odds of stopping crimes, both before they happen as well as those in progress, and it is applicable for any size police jurisdiction. It provides participating agencies with available information to officers in the field immediately.

The mission given to PredPol creators was to be able to place police officers at the right time and location to give them the best chance of preventing crime from occurring in the first place.

In order to accomplish that, PredPol created a way to process crime data to assign probabilities of future crime events to regions of space and time; present the estimated crime risk in a framework that is useable to those in law enforcement who make the final decisions; which then can, and will, lead to more efficient and accurate deployment of resources by local law enforcement agencies. “It's about predicting where, and when, future gun crimes are most likely to occur so patrol offices can complete their most important mission,” PredPol literature asserts. They claim that the mathematical accuracy of their gun violence, burglaries and auto theft crimes is so good that PredPol is “anticipating twice as many crimes as traditional hotspot mapping.

That's giving police twice as many opportunities to deter and reduce.”

“I'm not going to get more money. I'm not going to get more cops. I have to be better at using what I have, and that's what predictive policing is about,” Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said. “If this old street cop can change the way that he thinks about this stuff, then I know that my officers can do the same.”

Former New York Police Department Commissioner and Los Angeles Police Chief William Bratton concurred. “This is the next era of policing,” he said. “Very soon, we will be using a predictive policing model where, by studying real-time crime patterns, we can anticipate where a crime is likely to occur.”

L

ocal police departments utilize a variety of preventative and predictive measures to assist them with their crime fighting and analysis. While the West Bloomfield Police Department said predictive crime fighting is not something they are doing, and Birmingham Police Chief Don Studt said, “We're a very small organization. We (himself, the assistant police chief and commander) read every run sheet every day and can keep a handle on every case ourselves and martial our resources accordingly. We have the capability and would use (crime) mapping if necessary, but day-to-day, no, it's not worthwhile,” other police and public safety departments are recognizing more and more the value of predictive crime fighting apparatus.

“Some call it predictive crime fighting, and some call it crime mapping, but either way it helps determine patterns and areas where various crimes are occurring, which allows us to provide better areas to deploy resources,” Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard said. “It's based on metrics, and using some of the crime mapping can put together quantifiable data.”

For example, Bouchard said that if they are seeing a great deal of drug overdoses in a certain area of Pontiac, this information will permit them to redeploy their resources to that area.

“We track our crime data to try to see if we can get out ahead of them. We follow the patterns,” he said. The sheriff's department provides law enforcement services to Commerce Township, along with about 20 Oakland County communities.

Bouchard said there's nothing really new about crime mapping, but that “with computer-aided analytics, it has become much more sophisticated today, and much more about metrics.”

“We're using a number of different things, a lot of which is mapping based,” said Dave Wurtz, intelligence analyst at the Oakland County Sheriff's Department. Oakland County primarily utilizes tools taken from CLEMIS, which is Oakland County's Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System, a consortium of over 100 public safety agencies in southeast Michigan which share reporting information and use innovative computer technology for criminal justice and public safety applications. “With CLEMIS, we can look at home invasions in an area, and look at the day of the week, the time of the day, other similarities, including methods of operations. Then we can begin targeting cars, groups of people, or have deputy cars saturate an area. We can do that with virtually any kind of crimes we have a rash of.”

Bouchard said that one of the things he likes about CLEMIS is that they build their own software. “It's invaluable,” he noted. “We're able to ask for, and get, what we need within the system. That in house aspect is extremely cost effective.”

W

urtz noted that recently there were a rash of burglaries at phone stores. “We didn't know why they were targeting them, or where they were going once they got the phones,” Wurtz said. “But with these tools, we were able to figure it out. If you identify the characters and get them out of commission, you've solved a problem. Or, if you saturate an area with police cars, and you talk to local homeowners about what is going on (for any type of crime) and what to look at and for to create awareness by them, as well as homeowner associations, it's very worthwhile and very effective. It makes the criminals less welcome and desirable in the area, and can have an impact.”

Wurtz said the sheriff's department has been increasing their communications within the agency and between their substations in a comprehensive effort to presage criminal activity and forestall it. “The bad guys don't respect boundaries,” he explained. “We issue intel bulletins, which creates awareness. We find it's much more effective than just driving around. We have something to look for. You see, criminals are just like us.

They continue to do something because it works. They create their patterns.

A lot of stuff is so cyclical. Our job, and the job of crime mapping, is figuring out patterns of behavior, which could evolve into profiling. We're seeking the behavior and techniques that make crimes similar.”

White Lake Township has begun to utilize CLEMIS' crime mapping service after being part of the consortium for 30 years. “It's very beneficial and all very helpful, from their crime mapping service to their mug shots, bookings, accident logs, car logs, accident reports, E-tickets, everything,” said White Lake Police Chief Ed Harris. “We don't have a crime analyst per se, and we look at patterns, and do a lot of directed patrols in efforts to prevent crimes from taking place. The costs of the products available through CLEMIS would be out of our reach without them.”

Harris said White Lake is using crime mapping to pin point exactly where crimes are taking place, which then allows them to review patterns of crimes in the township. The township also appreciates the collaborative nature of the service, the fact that CLEMIS is a resource across the county.

“We use the crime mapping service to locate crimes in other areas, so we can see the evolution of crime not just in White Lake, but as it is coming across the county,” said Lt. Daniel Keller.

Lt. Adam Kline agreed. “I tell our residents that if they think about where we live, in White Lake Township, we're just six miles from one of the most dangerous cities in Michigan (Pontiac). We're very aggressive in our traffic enforcement because of that. The more they see you, the more they know we're going to see them and catch them.”

“We're omnipresent,” Keller said.

White Lake police officers saturate areas that see upticks of not only

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crime, but intersections which have high incidents of accidents. “Accidents have decreased 27 percent this year at M-59 and Teggerdine because we have two or four officers working throughout a shift, sitting at that intersection,” Keller said. “We have a very high rate of traffic at that intersection. Having that police presence reduces people going through red lights, as well as bad guys going through neighborhoods will avoid the area because the cops are there.”

He said the purpose is not necessarily for writing tickets, but to act as a deterrent. “We do it all over the township, along with crime mapping, to locate where there are problems,” he said. “We're not a reactive department, we're a proactive department. Part of our training is to work on predicting.”

The department regularly sends high level officers to crime analyst school at FBI headquarters in Quantico, Virginia, with Kline next to attend.

“The technology hasn't quite caught up with the ability to predict. I don't think all of the pieces quite fit in place,” Keller said. “But I don't think it's far off. The greater the population, the greater the ability. Further, we can't do it alone. It takes a partnership between the community and the police. Their knowledge and commitment to the community helps us.”

C

hief David Hendrickson of Bloomfield Hills agrees that a partnership between the public safety department and the community is critical. “We call it intelligence gathering,” he said. “For example, if someone saw and reported a blue Ford in their neighborhood that didn't belong with partial plates, rather than our dismissing that, we're now trying to gather as much information as possible. We're talking to witnesses. Residents may have seen that car, or a guy with a hoodie on another day. It's amazing how much sharing of that intelligence helps.”

While Bloomfield Hills is a low crime city, Hendrickson said his focus is on record keeping and information sharing as a part of CLEMIS, as well as putting marked police cars in residential neighborhoods to prevent crimes of opportunities. “There are a lot of contractors working in neighborhoods, and

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we don't know if they're all legitimate,” he said. “There have been incidents of thefts. By keeping our presence out there, we can deter any opportunities.”

The Bloomfield Township Police Department has long worked to prepare their higher level officers with the best possible resources by offering them training at Quantico. Like other mid-size to larger departments, they believe in predictive crime fighting, and utilize crimemapping.com, which individuals can access as well. Additionally, the department is in the midst of training a crime analyst for their investigations division.

“It's been around a long time and we are now dedicating more time to crime analysis to look at trending patterns in the community,” said Sgt. Timothy Abbo.

“If there are a number of burglaries, for example, it can determine our asset allocations,” Abbo said. “We'll put out directed patrols, and saturate the area with a number of cars working certain areas for visibility, or we'll station undercover vehicles or officers to look for perpetrators or crimes in process.

We are just coming up with this now, so we don't have data or results yet.”

The crime analyst officer is currently undergoing training. All aspects of the criminal analysis will be fully operational in Bloomfield Township by this winter.

Compared to instinctual crime fighting by experienced cops, Abbo said, “Experience can only take you so far. It can't predict where the next home invasion will take place – but you can look at spots on a map and see similar incidents nearby. You can't tell from a gut instinct where a home invasion is going to take place. Gut instinct can only take you so far.”

Crimemapping.com has 15 different categories, and visitors to the site can click on any to see the date, case number, and similar number of crimes in that category in recent history in the area. “It creates awareness, and I think it's one of the best tools we have,” Abbo said. “In the past, police work was reactive. This, and other crime mapping tools, are ways to look ahead to stem off crimes or catch those involved in the act. And there is no picking and choosing of the reports. They are generated as they happen.”

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Meredith Colburn

CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

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Nanci J. Rands CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

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CHRISTINE

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CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

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FACES

Renee Horowitz

W

hen Bloomfield Hills resident Dr. Renee Horowitz began practicing obstetrics and gynecology about 25 years ago, she quickly began hearing complaints from some her patients regarding a number of different sexually-related issues.

"There hasn't been a lot of research done in women's sexual health," said Horowitz, who specializes in treating sexual dysfunction. "There have been a lot of complaints, but what do you do with it? There's no research, and most doctors don't know how to treat it. Even patients in their early 40s, people would say, 'I love my partner but I would rather go to bed with a book.'"

Researching various sexual problems eventually led Horowitz to train with Dr. Michael Krychman, executive director of the Southern California Center for Sexual Health, who had been working with cancer patients and others dealing with sexually-related problems. Horowitz now devotes about 20 percent her time to addressing sexual dysfunction of female patients at her Farmington Hills practice. In 2011, Horowitz established the Center for Sexual Wellness.

"I really started looking at it five or six years ago," said Horowitz. "There has been more of a push, there's more research coming out, and we are learning more and more.

"I love it. I find it very stimulating and challenging. It's a problem that most gynecologists don't want to deal with, not because they don't care, but because they don't have the knowledge and time. Sexual issues are all encompassing. They involve our relationships, our psyche, our biology, our hormones, chemistry and what medications we are taking, and our health status."

Horowitz said patients are often reluctant to discuss sexual problems with

their doctor. However, there are times when certain books or films may ease social tensions and lead to more relaxed discussions, as she said happened with the popularity of E.L. James' novel, "Fifty Shades of Grey."

"I still think people don't talk about it enough," she said. "Most doctors don't talk about it, so you aren't screening for it. And most patients are reluctant to bring it up, and expect their doctors to bring it up, but they don't. You get people to talk about it by making it OK to talk about. Sex is very important to all of our lives. It isn't life threatening, but it can be life altering."

Sexual dysfunction may include a number of issues, including those related to vaginal atrophy, menopause, decreased clitoral sensitivity, painful intercourse, arousal disorders, orgasm problems, decreased libido/low sexual drive, vaginal spasms/pain, and other problems. Horowitz said sexual problems may also lead to problems in relationships.

"We want people to have healthy sexual relationships. When you have problems with pain or low desire, or can't become aroused or have an orgasm, it causes issues in a relationship. Those are the main issues we address. There are solutions to these problems," Horowitz said. "I really believe – even though Miley Cyrus would disagree -- that sex drive doesn't die after 40.

"If I see a woman who is 75 and isn't sexually active because it's a frequency issue, it's usually because their husbands are having issues." she said. "I have patients with sexual issues as young as 19 and as old as 80.

Usually, with the younger girls, it's because of birth control pills. That can cause problems."

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

LAKE ACCESS MICHIGAN DNR PUSHING FOR NEW SITES

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

A

ny day, in any season, as the sun comes up on the horizon of one of the 350 lakes speckled throughout Oakland County, nature stops for just a minute to catch its breath. Exhaling, the sun rises, and residents begin their day.

For many of those who live in Bloomfield Township and western Oakland County, the view along the lakes are an exclusive experience, as most of the lakefront shoreline is privately owned.

That sunrise can be seen from a distance, but not from the shore of many of the lakes themselves.

Many of those beautiful lakes are but a short drive off any main traffic route which cuts across the area in an endless loop of twists and turns winding through neighborhoods, wooded areas, and plains. Each unique in their size and surroundings, the lakes in the Bloomfield Township, Commerce Township, Walled Lake, White Lake, and other neighboring communities are best known for their recreational opportunities, water quality and tranquility, as well as the number of privately owned docks, houses and estates that line the shores. Yet efforts are afoot to change that privacy provision, and to provide public access to some of the waterways that riparian owners believe are theirs alone.

Once considered a nearby vacation destination for metro Detroit residents spending their weekends around Walled Lake and many other inland lakes, western Oakland County's lakes area has become the permanent home to many people who once lived close to the city of Detroit. Property values for lakefront property echo

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the laws of supply and demand, and with a limited supply of lakes and lakefront land, values remain strong and expensive. Open shores have given way to massive structures, at times eclipsing the view of the lakes. And while access to the water is readily available to riparian property owners, the general public is regulated to less than a few dozen statemanaged sites in the area.

The public does have access to access sites owned and managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) at Orchard Lake; Union Lake; Oakland Lake in Waterford Township; Pontiac Lake; Middle Straights Lake; Wolverine Lake; White Lake; Lake Orion; Big Lake; Long Lake; Crescent Lake, Maceday Lake and Loon Lake in Waterford Township; and Dodge Brothers State Park No. 4 at Cass Lake in Union Lake, among other sites in Oakland County. f the 55 lakes in Oakland County that are greater than 100 acres in size, only 18 have public access sites that are owned or managed by the Michigan DNR. Seventeen lakes with less than 100 acres of area have public access sites managed by the DNR Parks and Recreation division. All 35 of the DNR public access sites in Oakland County include access for boats, with seven of the sites limited to carry-down access for canoes, kayaks and carry-on vessels that don't require a ramp, including Pontiac Lake at Tackles Drive, which is about three miles north of Union Lake; Shoe Lake at the Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Lake Orion; Holdredge Lake at Holly Recreation Area; Alderman Lake and Moore Lake at Highland Recreation Area; and Chamberlain Lake and Hart Lake at Bald Mountain Recreation Area in Oakland Township.

Partnerships with local units of government, individual landowners, small businesses and other lakefront property owners are a key component of the DNR's plan to increase public access to the state's inland lakes. However, the idea of inviting more boats to some already crowded lakes doesn't typically sit well with riparians with a monopoly on lake access.

"It tends to be more controversial in Oakland County, and it has stopped access from happening," said DNR Policy Coordinator Donna Stine. "People are mostly concerned about the amount of usage a lake gets. That's the biggest problem."

"There are 11,000 inland lakes in Michigan, so there is plenty of lakefront available to be developed, but in our area where there's such high density and so many homes around the lakes, public access is very limited," said state Rep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills). "If there is going to be any further access to the lakes, I think they will have to work with the homeowners and local municipalities."

The DNR's intentions to increase public access to inland lakes is outlined in a proposed land management plan called the Managed Public Land Strategy, released by the department earlier this year. The Managed Public Land Strategy plan is the key component of a state law, Public Act 240, passed in July 2012, that placed a limit on the amount of property that can be owned and managed by the DNR. In order for the cap on property acquisitions to be lifted, the department must have a land strategy plan written and approved by the state legislature by Oct. 1, 2014. The plan sets goals for the DNR to reach with its publicly-owned land over the next six years, including the purchase and sale of state-owned land, and how current holdings and future transactions will help the department meet those goals.

O

Currently, the DNR holds title to more than 4.6 million acres of land throughout Michigan. The department also owns another 31,700 acres which is used specifically for boating access. The DNR released a draft of its Managed Public Land Strategy plan, which has been approved by state lawmakers in recent days as Senate Bill 248, leaving the cap for state owned and managed land capped until May 2015.

In regards to the public's access to lakes in the state, DNR staff included a justification statement in the plan to lay out the reasoning for the document's push for increased access: "All Michigan residents and visitors should have easy, convenient access to all the state's lakes, rivers and streams through public facilities. Boating access sites provide the legal and safe means for the public to access the waters of Michigan for recreational boating, fishing and hunting. Michigan is a national and international resource for boaters and others seeking water-related recreational opportunities, and continued development is necessary to meet demand."

Meeting the public's demand for lake access is also about money. Licensing fees tied to more than 800,000 boat registrations contribute to the state's waterway funding each year. Consider also the state's $4 billion boating industry, which is partially supported by 1,300 public access sites and 80 harbors throughout Michigan.

Under the plan, the DNR would work with local governments to provide public access on all "priority lakes over 100 acres" in the area; provide access to 25 percent of lakes smaller than 100 acres that have "important recreational opportunity"for the public; and provide 100 new public access sites on inland lakes, rivers, the Great Lakes and connecting waters.

Looking to future goals, the land management plan calls for 1,025 boating access sites on inland lakes and streams, placing priority on lakes over 100 acres, as well as a 25 percent increase on smaller lakes that don't currently have any means for the general public to access the water. Increased access, under the plan, isn't limited to traditional boat launches. Carry-down access for small vessels, such as kayaks, canoes and other lightweight boats, is a desired goal on lakes smaller than 100 acres where the state determines a need and opportunity.

That means purchasing land on currently privately-owned lakes and creating public access sites.

The DNR completed the public review process of the Land Strategy plan in April. However, lawmakers from the Birmingham/Bloomfield and west Oakland County areas haven't reviewed the plan in its entirety, which includes the management of more than 4 million acres of land beyond water access sites. Local lawmakers, like McCready, have concerns and are reserving judgement until more is known on how it will affect their constituents.

State Rep. Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake), said she has some concerns about increasing public access to lakes in Oakland County.

"If you have people living on a lake that is a private lake, who are paying taxes and you open it up to the public, that can create a whole new situation with lake use and noise," Kowall said.

"That was a hot issue for a time, particularly on Cedar Lake. We don't want to create any more of those situations."

In addition to noise, Kowall said public access at Cedar Lake in Highland in the Highland Recreation Area led to a wake of complaints about safety, as many boaters entering from the public access site

weren't aware of the lake's slow-speed restriction.

Members of the Cedar Lake Lake Association requested the Oakland County Sheriff's Office conduct additional patrols on the lake to ensure safety rules and property rights were being followed.

Kowall said she had spoken with the DNR director and plans to discuss the issue again to ensure that the plan allows for an adequate level of local controls, particularly in relation to law enforcement.

"We have had issues on our lakes and it could create huge issues for us," Kowall said about the push for increased public access.

Whether a lake is considered private or public usually depends on an individual's perspective; most often from the water for lakefront property owners, or from the roadway for much of the general public.

Which gets to the heart of the issue confronting both riparian owners and those seeking public access.

"A lot of people that live on those lakes think they are private, but they are only private in that they don't have public lake access. The water and fish belong to the people of Michigan," said Scott Brown, executive director of the Michigan Lakes and Streams Association. "If you had a sea plane or helicopter with pontoons on it, you could land in there and fish. For practical purposes, if there isn't a boat launch, it's a private lake. But that is a misunderstanding on the part of some property owners."

The issue of lake ownership, who has rights to access the water, what activities can be conducted and by whom, is further complicated by the state's riparian rights, or the rights of lakefront property owners whose land reaches a waterbody. In general, riparians can't unreasonably restrict the use of the surface of a lake by members of the public.

Michigan courts have determined that riparian property rights on the state's inland lakes, rivers and streams extend beyond the shoreline to include bottomlands. So, while the public owns the water in a lake, use of inland lake bottomlands without permission of the property owner is considered trespassing. Ownership of bottomlands in the Great Lakes is yet another story. Additionally, riparian rights may be limited by boat docking and launching regulations enacted by local units of government, as the State Supreme Court determined in a 1991 case involving the Square Lake Hills Condominium Association and Bloomfield Township. he case involved land adjacent to a home on Square Lake in Bloomfield Township which in the 1960s was zoned singlefamily. The homeowners, Milton and Barbara Sloban, requested and were denied a variance to build apartments on their property, challenging the township's zoning classification. The trial judge invalidated the township's zoning, and permitted the multiplefamily residential use. The Slobans then split their property in two, retaining the front lot on Square Lake, and conveying the back lot portion and a 160foot easement to the Square Lake Apartments, a 78 apartment complex. A second phase was later built, with a total of 152 units with access to Square Lake.

Later the Slobans were bought out, and the apartments were converted to condominiums.

In 1974, Bloomfield Township passed an ordinance restricting inland lake access to riparian lake owners or occupants, and the township sued the current and former owners of Square Lake Hills Condominium Associations.

The State Supreme Court held that "the legislature has placed with townships the power to

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DOWNTOWN

11.13

adopt regulations, purely local in nature, to enhance the health and safety within its community by the regulation of boat docking and launching," thus answering the questions as to whether local governments may limit riparian rights, specifically the launching and docking of boats on private shoreline property.

"As you look at this over the next 10 years, I see many, many court battles over this issue. It's going to be a contentious issue," Brown said, regarding public versus private lake access. "I have nothing but respect for the men and women of the DNR. I have worked with them on different projects, but this is one issue where we happen to disagree."

State Sen. Mike Kowall (R-White Lake, Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake Village, West Bloomfield) said the state needs to consider whether it can afford to manage additional property before the land strategy is considered and the cap on the amount of land the DNR can own is lifted.

"In 1997, there was a big push to close some of these launch sites because they didn't have enough manpower to staff them and provide lake patrols.

They still don't have enough to take care of all of them – there are 28 lakes in White Lake alone that are all-sports lakes.

"If the DNR wants a piece of property, they are going to buy it," Kowall said. "They get their money from the oil and natural gas reserve. They have a substantial amount of money in that reserve, to the tune of well over $100 million. They own over four million acres of land. Does it make sense to buy more when we can't take care of what we have?

These are questions that have to be asked."

While no specific entities have been identified, the draft plan stresses the importance of partnering with other agencies and local units of government to purchase and/or manage potential public access sites.

"This is a process we are doing with partners, so it's not something we would try to do alone. We have always looked for partners," Stine said, adding that the department looks to the Natural Resources Trust Fund (NRTF) waterways funding to attain land and works with local entities to manage potential sites. "We haven't started looking for those partners, but this isn't a new priority." ocal municipal leaders in Walled Lake, Bloomfield Township, and Commerce Township said they aren't aware of any plans by the DNR to increase public lake access in their communities. However, establishing local partnerships in western Oakland County may be difficult, as public lake access hasn't traditionally been well received on lakes considered to be private by local property owners.

Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said the issue of public lake access hasn't been raised currently among any of the lake boards in the township, nor is he aware of the DNR seeking to establish any local sites.

"Every lake in Bloomfield Township is (considered) a private lake," he said of the 29 lakes located in the township. "They either have lake frontage or riparian interests, like a deeded boat dock."

Brown, at the Lakes and Stream Association, said while the association supports the DNR's view on lake access and the thrust behind the land management strategy, there are still some questions about operational issues.

"They have got a plan. It's a pretty well researched plan. It has flaws from a legal and operational standpoint, but we absolutely support

L

generous public lake access to inland lakes," Brown said.

A source of contention for those who live on the lakes is more than just privacy; it's also maintaining the condition of the lakes and preventing the influx of predators into the lakes which can come into the lakes via outside vessels. Brown recognizes that potential problem. The main problem with the plan, he said, is that it places an increased burden on riparians and lakes associations in the state, which pay for the majority of the upkeep of lakes. Invasive aquatic species such as zebra mussels and Eurasian water milfoil, which have wreaked havoc on some lake's ecosystems, including the Great Lakes, are brought into a lake by clinging to the bottoms of boats. Individual riparians and lake associations in the area often spend their own money to take actions to control against invasive species.

"The $24 million statewide burden for invasive aquatic species is falling on lake associations, when the majority of those species are brought in at public boat launches," Brown asserted. "The DNR is planning on bringing in more boaters, but the state isn't asking them to share in the burden of aquatic invasive species management, so the the lake communities and associations are left holding the bag."

Brown said the MLSA recommends adding a fee on boat registrations in the state that could be used to assist lake associations and riparians with the burden of invasive species management.

"People living on lakes understand they have a heavy personal investment in maintaining the quality of a lake, and they don't mind paying," he said, "but the recreational boating community also needs to pay their fair share."

Funding for lake access at the state level will be a determining factor as to how much public lake access is increased on the local level. Additionally, when it comes to inland lakes, size does matter.

Mary Nardo, manager of the DNR Parks and Recreation Development Unit, said "priority lakes" mentioned in the land strategy could apply to any lake over 100 acres which doesn't currently have public lake access. Criteria on which smaller lakes are ripe for increased access hasn't been developed, she said, but availability of land and the willingness of local governments and other riparian property owners to work with the DNR typically guides development of sites on smaller lakes.

"It goes back 60 years or more. The priority started with larger lakes, and within that there isn't an established priority of those," Nardo said. "There are some (lakes) where people would like more access, but a lot of the priority has to do with size, and where we have access that is insufficient and can be expanded. That gets harder and harder as the price of lakefront property increases."

The lack of available funds, combined with high property values, essentially limits any expansion of public lake access sites in Oakland County, according to the DNR. Statewide, the department's proposed plan would be to increase the number of sites by five per year. Nardo said she isn't aware of any potential sites in west Oakland County or the Bloomfield area that they are considering.

"We aren't looking in Oakland County that I'm aware of," Nardo said, of plans to expand public lake access in the state. "With the amount of dwindling state dollars, it's a very small handful of locations where we are looking."

Efforts by the DNR to improve existing lake access to Union Lake which began several years ago have since stalled, as the availability of riparian property changed.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said there are only a few lakes in the township where the DNR maintains public access sites. The most recent attempt by the DNR to improve public access to waterways in the township involved the purchase of the former Aggressive Marine property, 2265 Union Lake Road, near Wise Road.

"They do own the old Aggressive Marine. That's about three acres, two of which are underwater," Zoner said. "There is a parcel and building across the street that the DNR was going to buy, but I believe that property was sold."

Currently, public access to Union Lake consists of a boat ramp on the east side of Union Lake Road, south of Cooley Lake Road, and a parking lot for vehicles on the west side of the roadway. The DNR had planned to relocate public access facilities to the former marina location, which provided docking for about 100 boats while under private operation, which is the same number of vessels the department estimates enter the water at the current site. ardo said acquiring new property for public access usually takes several years. Often, she said, the department isn't able to acquire property because funding for purchasing sites has been reduced. The majority of funding approved for public access sites approved by the state's Waterways Commission is geared toward sites that will be able to provide access to motor boats up to 26 feet long.

"Even when the housing market was down, waterfront property wasn't that far down. It's still a very high-dollar purchase," she said. "Typically, funding is geared toward motor (boats). There are carry-down access sites where you could bring a small boat or kayak, but the focus of the waterways funding comes from boat registration, and carrydown vessels aren't registered, nor required to be registered in the state."

Walled Lake, the third largest in the county, does provide beach access to all of the public, but boat access to the lake is limited to private sites available only to those who own property on its shores. And while the notion of creating a public access site has come up in the past, Walled Lake Mayor William Roberts said there's hasn't been any support.

"If Walled Lake had a DNR boat launch, I think it would change the atmosphere of the lake." Roberts said, adding that past studies of boat traffic indicated the lake is already busy from the current users. "I would hate to see Walled Lake become Union Lake.�

In terms of the overall boating use a lake receives, Nardo said the DNR doesn't make any effort to limit the number of boats that have access, as the number of vessels coming from public access sites is very small compared to the number of crafts already accessing the water. In general, Nardo said lake capacity is a matter of personal opinion, based on an individual's experience and environment.

"The challenge you have in southeast Michigan is that half the population of the state lives in southeast Michigan. So, that's a challenge for any of the counties there because there is such a demand for lake access," Nardo said. "Many people will transport themselves further north, but the challenging part is that many people live in southeast Michigan and want to access water that is close to them.

"From the riparian standpoint, and what they may consider is a lot of public lake access, from the public standpoint, probably isn't enough."

N

FACES

Justin Spiro

B

loomfield Hills native Justin Spiro has always followed his dreams, but it has been his practical outlook that is helping to make them a reality.

"I grew up loving musical theater. I got introduced to it pretty early, and as a kid I always wanted to be a director and put on Phantom of the Opera, and then Les Miserables as I got a little older," Spiro said.

While the passion for theater seemed to fade a bit by the time Spiro entered high school at Cranbrook Schools, it would return in a lightning bolt years later, in March 2013, while on vacation with his wife, Lynn, while he was in his second year of law school. As Spiro recalls, the couple was sitting in bed, listening to the soundtrack to Les Miserables and talking about their ideal production of the musical when inspiration struck them to produce the play in their own backyard.

"Really it was spontaneous," he said. "I don't have a theater background, but we have a lot of contacts, and my wife's best friend is a director in New York. It's a really hot show right now, and as we started talking about it I said, 'I think we should do it.' We kind of got the ball rolling from there, and it came together very quickly."

The couple contacted their friend Katherine Carter, a freelance director in New York where she helped establish The Other Mirror theater company, while Spiro started working on pulling different aspects of the show together. On June 30, Les Miserables opened at Meadowbrook Theater in Rochester and ran until July 3 under Spiro Productions and The Other Mirror. The show also served as a homecoming of sorts for the couple and Carter, who are all from Bloomfield Hills.

"Lynn was in the show. She is a really talented singer, which was a big motivation for me. I'm very fortunate to be married to a person who shares my passion," Spiro said. "I feel weird even taking credit for anything. It was very serendipitous how things lined up."

In addition to the couple's shared passions in the theater world, Spiro said he is also following his dream to one day work as legal counsel for the company his father started, Premier Healthcare Management, which provides short-term health care facilities to elderly patients in metro Detroit.

Spiro, who earned his journalism degree from Michigan State University, said while he once hoped to become a broadcast journalist – a path that led him to transfer from Cranbrook to Lasher High School so he could work at the school's radio station. He ultimately changed his mind, focusing on law and his family's business.

"I think I'm OK at it, but it's a really cut-throat business. I would rather put my focus where I think I can be successful," he said. "I think for most people, there are three or four things that you really love to do, and if you're lucky, you are good at two of them. I go based on that."

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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And when we needed information about something or someone, we could always drive to the local library. Librarians have always been great resources. They help us access information in all sorts of ways, in those days from microfiche to books that we would have to find through the card catalog. Sometimes we would go into city or township halls, or drive somewhere to read the particulars of whatever we needed at the actual source. It might take a while to accumulate all of the details, but we didn't know any different at the time.

Today, nobody has time, and no one likes to leave their computer – that invaluable resource at our fingertips, when it's usually the easiest, and best, way to access information. The Internet is both the cure for our time-attenuated lifestyles, and possibly one of the causes. After all, we can find just about anything with a quick search.

To help ease this plight, states, counties, cities, townships, villages, and school districts, as well as most businesses, have created stateof-the art websites to enhance the levels of service offered to local citizens. Information galore is now available to all of us with access to a computer and the Internet, the ability to navigate their sites, pay taxes and utility bills, register to vote, even watch local municipal meetings, either live or from their site archives.

For each municipal organization, the goal is to reach out to their constituents and provide the services they recognize are most requested and needed, and that they can offer without residents needing to call or come into their offices. ome of the websites are simple, with easy-to-find and navigate pages.

Others are more intricate and complex, with not only more information but private access pages directed to specific groups of users, such as students or teachers on school district websites. But they all have public pages that are geared to simplify our lives, and work at the rapid speed our lives currently operate at.

The city of Birmingham is in the midst of redeveloping it website, which was approved by the city commission in August 2013, and should be complete and live by the end of the year.

Christian Wuerth, assistant to the city manager, said the goal with the new site is to “trying to enhance the levels of service offered to residents and to make the website easier to navigate.

What we identified was that we have to step back and look at it from the users' point of view – what do they need and how do they get there as easily as possible.”

To achieve that, the city hired Revise Content Management, a company which provides professional software services to governments, education, non-profits, and commercial businesses. Their task was to make formatting changes to the website, simplifying it, “and making it more intuitive,” Wuerth said.

There is a staff committee working on the development of the new website with Revise which includes Wuerth, city clerk Laura Pierce, community public relations person Marianne Gamboa, and a few other staffers. “We’re looking at what makes sense for people and what they're looking for,” Wuerth said.

Revise is still developing the actual site

S

architecture, developing the infrastructure. “It's a work-in-progress,” Wuerth said.

The city is seeking a better integration of social media with their new site. “We need to use Facebook and Twitter and other social media better, and with this new site, we'll have different abilities to do that,” he said.

For those who currently use the city's website, no services will be dropped. “Our goal is to enhance users services. We looked at statistics for what areas of our website were being utilized, and we are enhancing current services and creating greater ease with those services,” Wuerth said.

Residents can currently pay their taxes on the website, as well as water and sewer billings.

People who get parking tickets in town can go to the website and pay those as well, along with ordinance complaints. City commission and planning board meetings are available to be viewed both live or archived on the website.

Permits are not yet available on the website.

“That is a different service provider, but we are looking at how to accomplish that for people in the long term,” Wuerth said.

A new feature that Birmingham is working to incorporate with their new site is a live chat feature. “The goal is to put users in touch with someone with answers quickly,” Wuerth said, noting that when operational, the feature will connect a website user directly in touch with someone at city hall in live time who can either answer their questions or find out the answers quickly. “Many businesses and e-commerce websites utilize that to answer customer questions. It's a big service enhancement.”

Wuerth said that the live chat feature would be available during normal city of Birmingham business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “I don't view the website as an alternative to the offices,” he said. “We want people to know that we're still here, and we're happy to help people.”

While Birmingham has an IT person for management site issues, the city does not have one central person who manages their website for content. It is not done by an outside company. Wuerth said each department manages the content of what is posted on the website.

Bloomfield Hills updated their municipal website in 2011-2012, and also used Revise Content Management. “We shied away from a website designer. We were happy with our other website, but we were being charged an hourly rate for every update, and it was just too costly for what we were getting,” said Bloomfield Hills City Clerk Amy Burton, who manages and updates all of the content for the current website. “I went through a half-day training session at Revise in order to learn how to manage it. A lot of it is very intuitive if you are used to working with Microsoft products.”

Burton said that when they decided to change their website, they wanted to put in a lot of headings with an “I want” button, “so users can go through that menu first. That's where we get most of our traffic,” she said.

The “I want” button at the top of the Home page features “find, apply for, contact, pay, report”, all of which then take users to specific pages which allows them to access what they

need and easily satisfy their requirements.

“Hopefully, it's their first stop. If they can't find what they need, we're always here,” she said. loomfield Hills residents are able to apply for absentee ballots, building permits, get different voter information, upcoming election dates, as well as can pay their taxes online through the website. “We just added in the last six months to the website a citizen request form which goes directly to the appropriate department,” Burton said. “So, if you're out walking and see a street light out, or something else, you can report it online.”

Burton reported that the city's website is definitely saving residents a lot of time, as well as providing a great deal of information to them.

“I think our calendar is our best improvement.

Residents can click and go on it and see events months in advance. I think it really grabs your attention on the home page, and invites you to click on it,” she said.

In the last six months, Burton has scanned historical archival minutes from city commission, planning commission, and zoning board of appeals minutes going back decades, and posted them online. “It goes back to when the city was created in 1932, with some breaks in quality,” she said. “I posted the first set of minutes from 1932 when the city was chartered, and then I have all of the minutes from all of the meetings from 1950 to the current ones.”

Burton said they are very easy to find on the website. “They have their own button, under minutes and agendas.”

She said it's a wonderful recorded, documented feature for residents. “It's an actual history of the city. They no longer have to come in and look through our old books and records,” she noted. “Residents can scan it from their couches.”

While Bloomfield Hills' website is significantly improved from where it had been, offering much more than it's previous incarnation, Burton said there's more to come.

“There are some buttons on the bottom (of the home webpage) that do not do anything yet,” she said. “But we're a work in progress. We have empty links to education, commercial, recreation, residential. They fill the page, but we'd like to get them active. I'd like them to be like a calendar for the schools, with links to events at the local schools.”

Her inspiration is other local municipal websites, like Rochester Hills' website. “Other communities offer so much more in terms of services than we do.

We're so small. I'm always looking at ideas and different ways of doing more,” she said.

Burton said she is also trying to be diligent about taking photographs and updating them to the website for the appropriate seasons.

Bloomfield Township has just revised their website in the last six weeks to make it even more user friendly, township clerk Jan Roncelli said. “Our pages were too cluttered, there was too much information on each page, so we streamlined it and reduced the number of items on the main page,” she said. “Now, there's more pictures throughout the site, and you do not need to search for the main topics. They're there on the front page. All someone has to do is click on the topics.”

B

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DOWNTOWN

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Bloomfield Township used Municipal Web Services perform the redesign for their site.

Municipal Web Services also manages their website and does their updates, which is often done on a daily basis.

Bloomfield Township residents can pay their property taxes through the website, as well as their water bills. They can apply for a dog license, register to vote and find their polling location as well as apply for an absentee ballot, access ordinance information, apply for a liquor license, get a passport form, raffle license application, fireworks display permit application, commercial utilities right of way application, residential right of way application, right of way exemption application, auction procedures and application, going out of business application, Freedom of Information Act request form, and several other forms.

“Residents can get permit paperwork for all sorts of forms online, and then they can email them in,” Roncelli said. However, all payment for the permits must be made either in person or by mail, in cash or by check.

Bloomfield Township's Senior Services, with their numerous class offerings, also has a heading which residents can access and register for online. “People can register for all of their classes online,” Roncelli said. “Once an account is set up in person, they can pay for their classes online.”

The township newsletter is updated weekly.

“The nice thing about the website is that many departments (in the township) have links to Oakland County and the state of Michigan that relate to that department, so our website can be a one-stop shop for information,” Roncelli pointed out.

Bloomfield Cable, which produces numerous television shows which are seen on local Bloomfield and Birmingham cable stations, can been seen on the Video On Demand feature on the website. “Any video production show that our cable department produces can be seen through our website on a computer screen or livestreamed on a television,” Roncelli said. Board of trustee meetings can also be watched, both live and archived, on the website.

Yet Bloomfield Township does not rest on its laurels. “We're also always open to new ideas to make our website more accessible to the public,” she said. arcia Wilkinson, director of community relations for Birmingham Public Schools, manages the website for the school district, which was last updated updated almost two years ago. Their previous website had been hosted by Oakland Intermediate Schools; now a professional web management company hosts and set up their website. “They perform yearly changes to the templates, but internally, we do daily and weekly updates as needed to do the editing,” she said.

“It's saved us a lot of money to do that. We priced it out before we did the changes. I either do them, or Ingrid Haddock here. The bottom line, you have to have to have someone who acts internally as the webmaster. I act as the webmaster for the district; Ingrid manages the data entry for the individual district pages.”

On the website, users can easily access individual school buildings, from elementary to middle school to high schools. “On the individual

M

level, teachers act with their building principals for their pages,” Wilkinson said. There are different levels of access for teachers and principals for their building and individual pages.

“Teachers are all allowed access to update their pages. It varies, but generally, they can post homework information, special events notices, pictures and photographs, as long as it is permitted of students, school wide events, and special classroom events. Some teachers have their own blogs that they post on their pages, as well. It depends. There might be a class wiki (a collaborative web application) with day-to-day notes, information, and other rubrics.”

She said that most classroom teachers use their web pages for classroom-related information, testing, and homework help. “It's support for students when they're at home. It's information designed to assist them.”

There are several buttons on the district's webpage designed for athletics, parents and parent groups. There are easy to access locations for the district's calendar, annual report, after school activities, and parent volunteer activities and opportunities.

“In addition, on our home page, and on the home page of every Michigan school district website, they must have budget information and salaries posted and a link to them,” Wilkinson said. “Our data that we have are required by law to put there so the public can easily access it.”

Wilkinson said that principals also use e-mail letter blasts to convey information quickly throughout the district for important news, notification, and “a variety of things.”

Wilkinson noted that school websites, when done well, are “very useful for public schools because you really want us to be transparent, and this is another way for us to get the information out.”

Bloomfield Hills Schools redid their district website one year ago using the professional web company National Web Company. “We used to have a single web master for our district, and any changes, responses, or fixes would have to go through him,” said district spokesperson Shira Good. “We wanted to go through a more handson involvement with the website. We're all about hands-on learning in Bloomfield Hills, so we wanted a collaborative hands-on website.” The district no longer has a single webmaster.

As a collaborative effort, they met with every district department, every school, and every booster group, so that a lot of changes didn't have to be made after it was live.

In order to achieve that, it meant converting the website to a content management system, or CMS. “What it does it allows for a multitude of users with different levels of permission to access the site, to make changes, and work on the back end by being a contributing member,” Good said.

“It's what the public sees, in a very intuitive way.”

Good said CMS removes certain coding that prevents simple changes. “It means that certain colors, fonts, background images and artwork are permanent (on the website), but it also means that anyone in the district with approval can make changes,” she pointed out. “So a varsity swim coach may have access to just the varsity swim page, and go in and update on the latest meet.”

She said that provides safeguards for the district's staff, because there is no way they can accidentally modify other parts of the website or mess anything up.

“On our end, we can control things,” she said.

“Before they can permanently delete something, it has to go before the (district's) communications director. That's everyone's biggest fear, that they'll disable something. It's just like kids in the classroom – we're enabling them and making them feel more comfortable using the website and communicating. This way they can customize their page to some extent.”

Different parts of the school district maintain their own web content, which is all ultimately owned and managed by the district. arent volunteers and lay leaders with permission also have sections which they maintain, updating with parent organization information, pictures from pep rallies and other events.

“There are a lot of interactive components,” Good pointed out, including forms that can be filled out online. She noted that a beneficial aspect of the forms, from the district point of view, is that once submitted, they can go where they are directed. “We have spreadsheets with the information which provide (us with) detailed information.”

The home page is regularly updated with news items and updates. “We see we're getting a lot of hits on the home page, with people coming a few times a week, getting their quick fix of news, and then logging out,” Good said.

Another widely accessed area of the website last school year was the “virtual project timeline” for the construction of the new Bloomfield Hills High School at the former Andover High School site. “It's in the process of being updated for this year's construction, which is right on schedule,” Good said. “It's like a Candy Land path, traveling down the road to the building of Bloomfield Hills High School. It lets parents see what they can expect and where we are. It's regular updates for the construction time line.”

Always looking to improve the website to make it easier and more accessible to parents and students, “we're always trying to figure out what we can do next with our website,” she said. “It's been really fun, because a website is a little bit about what an organization looks like. If it's not organized and people can't find what they're looking for in seconds, they're not going to use it, they'll pick up the phone and call the building secretary instead.”

Recently, the website became available to mobile apps for iPhone and Android, making it even easier to access for those on the go. Soon, Good said, parents will see improvements in listserves they are on because those will be linked to the website. Digital signage in the the middle schools and the high school will soon be linked to the website, as well, “so content can be shared back and forth, and parents will possibly be able to be alerted in nine different ways,” Good said.

“We want to be able to saturate the community during an emergency, and not all will require a smartphone.

“When we do it right, it positively affects our parent community daily.”

P

FACES

Sue Marx

S

ue Marx has filmed and interviewed some of the most prominent people in Michigan and the United States throughout her filmmaking career, earning her an Oscar Award, a voting seat on the Academy Awards board, more than 40 Emmy Awards and countless other recognitions.

Starting from her career as a photojournalist and later the producer of the long-running show "Profiles in Black," in which she filmed on-location interviews of influential Detroiters for Channel 4, Marx has proven her talent for using pictures and words to tell stories and inform viewers. By 1980, Marx left television and started her own company, where she has since produced dozens of films.

"I was very involved in Democratic politics at Wayne State University while working on my degree. I just knew a lot of people in Detroit, and I had a lot of friends at the time who weren't white," Marx said, recalling her start in Detroit. "I got a call from Channel 4, and they asked me to do a show on location. I did interviews with everyone from Rosa Parks and Stevie Wonder to the mayor."

Looking to leave the television station and focus on making her own documentary films, Marx established Sue Marx Films Inc. in 1980. Now based out of her office in Birmingham, the company has produced stories, commercials, scripts and films for clients and sponsors ranging from nonprofits and charities to Superbowl committees and the auto industry.

"When I started my own company, I started filming whatever I could with grants to make movies," she said. "As that developed, I kept getting more work and got my company going."

It's worth noting that some of Marx's early works, such as a 20-minute film produced in 1978 for the Detroit Public Schools about the Cleveland

Middle School, or the 12-minute portrait of an 83-year-old woman who founded the World Medical Relief organization, are similar in nature to some of Marx's latest and most successful works.

"It All Adds Up: Math Corps," a 30-minute film about the free summer math camp held on the campus of Wayne State University, is about an important program that makes a dramatic difference in the lives of young people, Marx said. The film, which received an Emmy Award, tells how the camp uses love, respect and high expectations to teach math and life skills that the middle schoolers carry into adulthood. A 7-minute film on the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, produced in 2011, is another film that's important to Detroit, showing what the Conservancy means to the city.

However, Marx's personal favorite film that she created, and that earned her world-wide recognition, was made about her own family. "'Young at Heart' is my favorite," she said. "It's the story I made about my dad, after my mother died. I talked him into it."

The 29-minute documentary film won an Academy Award in 1987 for the Best Short Documentary. The film follows the relationship between Marx's father, Lou, and the woman he met, Reva Shwayder, on a painting tour to England. The two artists, both in their 80s, meet and fall in love.

The film was broadcast on PBS, BBC, CBC, the Learning Channel, as well as stations in Russia, Australia, Singapore and New Zealand.

Today, Birmingham resident Marx is able to pick and choose projects that she feels have a strong subject matter or, in some cases, simply pays well.

"At this point in my life, I feel like I should be giving back," she said.

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

CITY/ TOWNSHIP

Home restaurant clears all hurdles

By Lisa Brody

AAA bond rating for Bloomfield Township

By Lisa Brody

Bloomfield Township, which is preparing the issuance of $80 million in pension obligation bonds in order to fully fund their pension fund, received triple-A ratings, the highest possible, from two of the nation's leading bond agencies.

Standard & Poor's Rating Services gave Bloomfield Township a AAA longterm, while Moody's Investor Service assigned a Aaa rating to the general obligation bonds, which will be used to cover unfunded pension obligations.

Both are the highest ratings issued by the ratings services.

In July, the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees approved a resolution to issue the bonds to cover unfunded pension liabilities the township holds, which township leadership has said will save the township an estimated $80 million over the next 20 years as it continues to meet its pension obligations. In addition, receiving the top ratings will assist the township in obtaining lower borrowing costs for future township projects.

In giving the township the AAA bond rating, Standard & Poor's said, “We consider Bloomfield's economy to be strong, with access to the broad and diverse economy (of) Oakland County...In our opinion, the township's budgetary flexibility remains very strong, with reserves at more than 30 percent of expenditures for the past several years and no plans to significantly spend reserves down.”

Moody's said, “The assignment of the Aaa rating reflects the township's strong financial operations and healthy reserves.” They noted the township's sizable ($6.8 billion) tax base with its highly affluent demographic profile, it's “forward looking management team and strong financial operations and healthy reserves.”

“This is a clear affirmation that the township is more than just fiscally responsible,” township supervisor Leo Savoie said.

Township clerk Jan Roncelli concurred. The concurrent AAA ratings from Standard & Poor's and Moody's are well-deserved,” she said. “They demonstrate the strength of the township's financial strategies to prevail throughout the economic downturn.”

Savoie said the next step for the township is to get approval for the bonds from the Michigan Treasury, which should happen in the next

month. Savoie said receiving the AAA bond rating helps alleviate concerns about selling the bonds in light of Detroit's bankruptcy situation, and allows the township the ability to borrow money at a more reasonable rate.

Strategic Fund loan for Balmoral project The Michigan Strategic Fund, a division of Michigan Economic Development Corporation, announced a $3.2 million funding loan in the form of a performance loan to help the developer of the proposed Balmoral mixed-use building construct the fivestory building, which was approved by the city of Birmingham in 2011.

Woodward Brown Associates, LLC, owned by Harvey Weiss and Najib Samona, are planning to build the 88,000 square foot Balmoral at the corner of Woodward Avenue and Brown Street, just south of Peabody's Restaurant in Birmingham, on a longvacant piece of property. Plans for the building include retail on the first floor, commercial on the second, third and fourth floors with a small amount of residential, and residential units on the fifth floor, along with exterior patio spaces. According to their application to the Michigan Strategic Fund, the first floor will include space for a drivethrough to accommodate a bank or pharmacy tenant, which they said they have already secured, and will include a ramp to below grade parking.

They have letters of intent for three other companies in the building, and told MEDC that once the building is fully leased, 200 new jobs will be created in Birmingham.

In addition to the $3.2 million state loan, the project was approved for a $800,000 brownfield reimbursement plan by the city of Birmingham in 2011.

Woodward Brown's memo to the state said they purchased the property from Bank of America in 2010 for $2.5 million. They said they sought this loan because of unique characteristics, including the urban development style of the project, which would make it difficult to develop without the loan. As an example of the urban development style, they cited 30 underground parking spots at a cost of $65,000 apiece. They also asserted that Birmingham real estate has not recovered from the 2007 economic downturn, and that the developers were deferring all development fees.

Several calls to Harvey Weiss were not returned.

H

ome, a new restaurant proposed for the former South location at 210 S. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham, received unanimous approval from the Birmingham City Commission for a special land use permit, final site plan, and liquor license transfer of ownership on Monday, October 7.

Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker informed commissioners that the applicant, owner Kristin Jonna, is proposing a new family restaurant with approximately 175 seats. In order to help accomplish that, Jonna intends to reduce the bar area by half to create a food prep area.

Jonna also plans to expand the kitchen in order to make it functional for a full service family restaurant open daily for lunch and dinner and eventually for Sunday brunch, as well as a banquet facility in back which can accommodate up to 150 people.

The décor will be changed from contemporary to warm and cozy, and they will be adding a pizza oven, BBQ pit, a seafood bar, and a communal table near the bar area, as well as removing the dance floor from the previous establishment. Ecker said Jonna will keep the outdoor dining area in the front of the restaurant, which is raised off of S. Old Woodward. “The only change to that area will be a pediment-style awning,” she said. After a question from commissioners, she said the area will not be enclosed, but be utilized strictly as seasonal outdoor seating.

Jonna and her family own two other restaurants, Vinotecca Wine Bar on Main Street in Royal Oak and Vinology Wine Bar on Main Street in Ann Arbor. She said that she personally will be running Home, while a brother runs Vinology.

“We really want to make Home a place that is a little more comfortable for families, and little bit more comfortable and casual, with a more casual food emphasis,” she said. “We're looking to be that everyday place.”

As for the banquet area, she said it was a great opportunity for Birmingham “that is more affordable than The Townsend.” She said they would be seeking small weddings, bridal showers, hospital meetings, recruiting meetings and other business meetings. “We hope to attract a lot of different events, but it is a wild card. We hope there is enough business in Birmingham to support it.”

The space has been redesigned by Ron & Roman of Birmingham, who designed the original area for South.

Jonna said the food concept is that they want to have action in each space, with a cooking and eating space added to the bar area with a pizza kitchen and BBQ spit. “There will be craft beer, cocktails, and we're a wine family, but we want the emphasis to be on the food,” she said. “It's really significant to the space to reinvent it to what we hope is a place you all want to be regulars at.”

Commissioner Tom McDaniel asked Jonna to comment on the lease they were entering, which many felt was disadvantageous to the previous tenants, forcing them into deals with promoters. “The landlord has given us a lot of latitude,” she said. “He is giving us a year to develop the banquet space, and if we don't, he will reclaim the space as office. We don't want that.”

She assured commissioners that she does not want to be in the club business. “I did that for three months in Ann Arbor. It was lucrative but awful.”

Jonna said the previous owners left behind 20 TVs, of which they will utilize 10 in strategic locations scattered throughout the restaurant and banquet space. “It will not have a sports bar feel, but you will be able to watch sports for those special sports event times,” she said.

Regarding having 175 seats in the restaurant, Jonna noted that between those seats and the proposed banquet area, they have reduced the original capacity by almost half. Compared to South, they will only be open to midnight during the week, and 1 a.m weekends.

Commissioners approved the final site plan, the liquor license transfer, and a special land use permit 6-0, with commissioner Scott Moore absent. Jonna said they hope to be open in February.

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP Two bistro plans move for review

By Lisa Brody

Two 2014 bistro applicants at the initial screening before Birmingham's City Commission on Monday, October 21, received approval to move ahead to the city's planning board for full site plan and design review and special land use permit review of their bistro concepts.

Initially five applicants had submitted preliminary proposals with the Birmingham planning department, but prior to presenting, two dropped out because they could not come to lease terms with building landlords.

The remaining three bistros, The Mad Hatter Cafe, currently under construction at 185 N. Old Woodward, will be a family-friendly bistro style restaurant in the heart of downtown Birmingham; Libertine, at 255 S. Old Woodward, a gastronomic pizzeria and artisanal beer bistro; and Debonair Bistro, proposed for the former Baker's Square location at 825 Bowers in the Triangle District.

Debonair Bistro, with seven commission votes, and The Mad Hatter Cafe, with six commission votes, will both move on now in the bistro process.

A Japanese restaurant proposed for the former Olga's restaurant location dropped out of the process prior to the meeting, stating they could not come to terms with the building landlord. Jennifer Gray, owner of Feed & Grain, proposed for 2010 Cole Street in the Rail District, spoke to the commission at her allotted time, and said she and her husband, Christian, were withdrawing their application because they “could not come to

terms with their landlord for a lease.

We hope to be back next year.”

Commissioners expressed disappointment, as they were looking forward to a bistro in Birmingham's Rail District. “The last few years I've been a big advocate of activating areas outside of our core,” commissioner Mark Nickita said.

“Bistros have been a tool for activating areas of our city. Old Woodward now is an area for other needs.”

The Mad Hatter Cafe, located in the former Quiznos on N. Old Woodward just north of Maple in the heart of downtown, will be open for brunch, lunch and dinner, with customers having the option of dining in or picking up from the bakery counter. Besides scones, muffins, pies, maccarons, and cookies, the dining room, which will be available for private parties, will offer small bites, soups, high tea, a tiny tea for children, as well as a children's menu, and supper items such as chicken pot pie, salmon, steak and hot dogs.

Owner Eileen Sako, who will be the executive chef, said the cafe will have an Alice in Wonderland theme.

“Visitors will see an opulent experience as they enter into Wonderland,” she told commissioners, with an interior filled with vintage chandeliers and whimsical clocks.

The bakery bar will feature coffees and “hopefully adult beverages.”

“Our mission is to offer fine dining and a fine experience without high prices,” Sako said. They are seeking a bistro license because “high tea is normally accompanied by a glass of champagne or mimosa.” They will also offer a men's tea featuring oysters and other items, as well as scotch.

In addition to the main floor, they

are renovating the lower level for special event space as well as extra seating. Designs offer 10 outdoor seats, but not a platform. Whether or not they are ultimately granted a bistro license, they are hoping to be open in January 2014, with costs to renovate the space approaching $300,000.

Commissioners sent The Mad Hatter Cafe on to the planning board because as commissioner Stuart Sherman said, “Mad Hatter is going to be there either way. I would like to see them succeed.”

Despite a rambling presentation by Debonair owner Douglas Hellebuyk, previously of Elie's Mediterranean Cuisine and Social, who would be the general manager, commissioners sent the proposed bistro forward as well in order to try to invigorate the city's Triangle District.

Debonair, at the corner of Bowers and Elm streets, would face the 555 Building across Woodward. “Our aim is to activate Bowers, and it has easy access from Woodward, Old Woodward and Adams,” Hellebuyk said.

The bistro will have a speakeasy, 1920s style, with an emphasis on food. A bar, imported from a Chicago hotel built in 1910, will accommodate 10 of the bistro's 65 seats. Big tables and chairs will fill the restaurant, and TVs will be placed throughout the indoors and outdoors. When special sporting events are on, the TVs will be on; when off, the TVs, which will be framed, will appear as black and white pictures, according to Hellebuyk.

Hellebuyk said they will take out the glass atrium of the old Baker's Square and make it outdoor seating.

Another patio will be created off Elm and Bowers. Hellebuyk repeatedly said they want to create “a via of

covered seating like at Social,” but Nickita pointed out that could not be counted on, and was not part of the 65 bistro seats. He pointedly asked Hellebuyk if the bistro owners could manage in the large space, after significant renovations, with only 65 seats in the winter months. After much hemming and hawing, repeatedly referring to the “Social via seating”, he finally said yes, he thought so.

The menu Hellebuyk mentioned is apparently still under design, as he referenced growing up in Maryland, “so we'll always have crab and crabcakes on the menu, sandwiches, lots of other stuff.” Tap liquors were also mentioned, as well as an outdoor fireplace. Acknowledging the building needs “quite a bit of work, and that we have a lot of friends who can help us, we've anticipated how much work it will take for the exterior.

We're going to reskin the entire building,” he said.

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff was hesitant to send any of the proposals on to the planning board, noting that “Debonair, it seems that's a big undertaking, and I'm not sure a 65seat bistro can support it. It sounds like a lot of everything.”

“I'm cautious about how much work Debonair needs to activate Bowers,” Nickita said. “I would like to see Debonair go farther to see if it can do that with the planning board.”

Mayor George Dilgard expressed concerns about the outdoor seating.

But all of the commissioners decided they wanted to see the bistro go further in the process to try to activate the Triangle District.

“This is preliminary. No final decisions are being made tonight,” commissioner Scott Moore pointed out.

The other proposal was for

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Libertine, at 255 S. Old Woodward, in the current Ligne Roset furniture store location, a gastronomic pizzeria and artisanal beer bistro by Townhouse Bistro owner Jeremy Sasson and his father Enriko “Henry” Sasson. As Sasson said, it was the same proposal he made last year unsuccessfully for the same location under the name Craft.

Sasson said the focus would be family-friendly with Michigan purveyors and an urbanized biergarden on the private property outside the proposed restaurant. “It's on Old Woodward because this is where people want to hang out,” he said. While they would not be manufacturing beer at Libertine, they would feature about 100. “Our goal is to introduce people and pair food with beer.”

He also said the landlord had informed him Ligne Roset, which has a month-to-month lease, would be vacating the space by December.

Commissioners said the downtown core had enough bistros at this point, and were concerned about losing more retail space for another restaurant.

“I have concerns about the core. I feel we should be focused on retail,” Dilgard said.

“The concept is intriguing, but we're removing a retailer when we're trying to encourage retailers to stay,” Sherman said.

The two approved to now move forward to the planning board for approval will return to the city commission for final approval at a later date.

Rock garden money turned down by city A non-resident who is passionate about Birmingham's parks returned to the Birmingham City Commission Monday, October 21, with a proposal for a $60,000 Japanese conifer rock garden in Linden Park which he would fully gift as long as commissioners accepted his plan and his gift, while telling them there would be many more gifts for parks of his choosing if they accepted this one, was rejected by commissioners who noted the plan did not fit the city's parks and recreation master plan.

Bingham Farms resident Marshall Lasser told commissioners, “I want the city to understand I stand ready to give much, much more money to the city because I love gardens and parks. I want to do a lot more at Linden Park.

Linn Smith (Park) is a blank slate. I want to help beautify it. I have already written a $1,000 check to Mike Dul (Michael J. Dul & Associates Landscaping) for the design. I want to write a very large check in the form of a challenge grant. I personally plan to prune and trim the maples I planted this year. This is my love.”

City manager Bob Bruner said, “Mr. Lasser is trying to do something very nice for the city that does not fit with our policies. When Mr. Lasser came forward, we asked him to come up with a plan. He did it one step further; he came up with a proposal, where the prices may not be good in a year. Mr. Lasser has gone around to the neighborhood and tried to get people interested in the project. It's not the usual process.”

Bruner said it was a judgement call that was up to the commission; a month ago, a proposal Lasser presented for the same project where he would

have gifted $30,000, with the city matching the other half, was turned down by both the city commission and the parks and rec board. The parks and rec board was more favorable with this proposal, Bruner said.

Commissioner Gordon Rinschler said he had many concerns. “You dangled the carrots – if we approve this, you'll give us more directed gifts,” he said.

“You did not pick one of the items on our master plan and offer to pay for it.

From the city's point of view, this is a highly restrictive gift. We have a long list of priorities looking at the whole parks system. If you want to make unrestricted gifts, that's different. This is so focused on what you want to do.

I'm having difficulty supporting this.”

Mayor pro tem Scott Moore concurred. “We don't have an overriding policy about gift giving, but we do have a parks master plan that was formed over a lot of time by a lot of people. Maybe we should reexamine Linden and Linn Smith parks. But we all need to be on the same page, which would dictate the kind of planning. We can't just have people coming in giving gifts and allow folks to come in and say where something should go. That's not

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government. It's public property. It's wrong. It's not good governance.

There's another way to go about this than dangling carrots over people's heads.”

“It want to beautify the city. It's going to be a beautiful thing. Maybe your parks and rec people never thought of a Japanese garden. I try to think outside the box. I have definitive ideas. It's something novel that you've never thought of,” Lasser retorted.

A few residents spoke up, despite Lasser's contention he had 89 signatures approving his plan. Many were upset about the lack of native plantings.

“It looks to me likes it's going to be an attractive nuisance,” David Linden said.

“Changing the procedure privatizes the parks. One individual does not get to impose their sense of beauty,” said resident Claudia Sills, who offered to donate $65,000 to keep Linden Park as it is.

Commissioners took no action, in essence rejecting Lasser's gift and conifer rock garden proposal.

Bistros still without liquor licenses

By Lisa Brody

The two Birmingham restaurants granted bistro liquor licenses in early 2013 have still not received them because they have not completed the necessary liquor license application process, according to Birmingham Police Deputy Chief Mark Clemence.

On February 11, 2013, the Birmingham City Commission awarded two bistro licenses to existing businesses, What Crepe?, at 172 N. Old Woodward, and Birmingham Sushi, 377 Hamilton Row. Their bistro licenses will expire on August 11, 2014, if not fully operational.

Clemence said that Birmingham Sushi applied to Birmingham for their liquor license and was approved, but has not received approval from the state. While he is not certain as to the hold up, he speculated that it may be because bistro licenses are a form of economic development licenses, and are required by the state to provide documentation that the business has put in at least $75,000 worth of improvements.

As for What Crepe?, Clemence reported, “he (owner Paul Jenkins) hasn't done anything yet. He won the bistro license and hasn't applied for downtownpublications.com

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the city license. He's on the clock. It expires after 18 months.”

Clemence said that it typically takes four to six months to go through the liquor license process and be approved.

“There are two steps, because Birmingham has a local ordinance that says you have to come to us and be approved, as well as receiving state approval,” Clemence said. “If I was running a business, and that is the timetable, I would give myself that long.”

Clemence said he is currently in the process of working on liquor license approvals for Rojo Mexican and Crush.

HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING Nov. 27, 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 Nov. 29 – Dec. 22: Fri., 3-5 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., 1-4 p.m.

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Photo proceeds benefit Leader Dogs for the Blind.

Crush receives full city approvals

SMALL BUSINESS SATURDAY

By Lisa Brody

Crush, a new restaurant being designed for the public area outside of the residential building at the 555 Building in Birmingham, received unanimous approval from the Birmingham City Commission on Monday, October 7, for final site plan approval and special land use permit, after revised plans for the new restaurant now include enclosing the eastern second story deck to have windows, re-aligning the driveway in order to be in accordance with MDOT revisions, and other minor footprint changes.

The changes result in a new layout with 99 seats in the lower level, 11 at the bar, and 69 seats in the upper level, with six seats at a bar there. Open seven days for lunch and dinner, Crush plans to offer “good food and an import wine list offering many choices as well as craft beers,” designed to be a neighborhood haunt. It is owned by Marc Blancke, who owns Sinbad's, in partnership with building manager Michelle Russo and other owners of the 555 Building. John B. Fleming of Sinbad's will be executive chef. It plans to offer fresh seafood and quality meat.

Although planner Matt Baka assured commissioners that the restaurant more than met the city's parking requirement, noting “they actually have 123 extra spaces,” in the 555 parking garage, Sameer Eid, owner of Phoenicia Restaurant across the street with its own free parking lot, spoke at the public hearing, saying he had a concern about the parking.

Eid noted that over the years, when there were other restaurants in the 555 Building, “in a period of 24 months, we

Nov. 30 • Downtown Birmingham Small Business Saturday is a day dedicated to supporting small businesses across the country. Tackle your holiday shopping in Birmingham during Small Business Saturday and enjoy complimentary downtown parking, horse-drawn carriage rides, live carolers and a warming station with complimentary cookies and hot chocolate near the Santa House in Shain Park.

BIRMINGHAM WINTER MARKT Dec. 6 – 8, Shain Park Enjoy a charming old-world style market featuring local artisans, holiday decorations, home accessories, beautiful sights and smells, a kids area, live entertainment, plus traditional German food and drink! For details and event hours, go to www.BirminghamWinterMarkt.org

CARRIAGE RIDES Weekends through Dec. 22 Also During Tree Lighting & Birmingham Winter Markt Experience the beautiful downtown area aglow for the holidays.

Carriages load at the corner of Henrietta & Merrill.

For more information, hours and event details, go to www.EnjoyBirmingham.com.

BIRMINGHAM RESTAURANT WEEK January 27-31 and February 3-7 Participating Birmingham Restaurants Birmingham’s favorite dining event will be back for two weeks in 2014! Delicious menu items from Birmingham’s finest restaurants will be offered for amazing prices from January 27-31 and February 3-7. Keep an eye on www.BirminghamRestaurantWeek.org for details.

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$3,375,000

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$2,999,000

First time on the market, builders own custom home designed by architect Lou Desrosiers. First floor master suite with two full baths, enormous closets and gracious sized rooms. High ceilings with unobstructed views of Island Lake, cove lighting in foyer and bedroom. Two bedrooms on upper level and three bedrooms in lower level all with suite baths. Gourmet kitchen with high-end appliances, immaculately maintained.

A true architectural wonder built in 1995 and remodeled in 2009. Just under 4 acres in the City of Bloomfield Hills, beautifully landscaped and fenced with pool. The 2 story circular entrance leads you to dining room, living room and family room with vaulted ceiling and circular fireplace with glass surrounding. Newer kitchen, first floor master suite with his/her baths and enormous closets. All bedrooms have their own baths, 5 fireplaces.

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BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP

$2,745,000

$1,150,000

Custom residence on estate setting. Entry level master with arched ceiling, his/her closets, exercise room, private library, heated inlaid marble bath, chefs kitchen with soapstone counters, dual sub-zeros, expansive glassed breakfast area, 2 staircases, limestone slab foyer with expanded gallery for art with museum lighting and wet bar.

Family room with built-ins, Pewabic fireplace adjacent to kitchen, bluestone patio and possible 6 bedrooms.

Custom contemporary of your dreams! Situated beautifully on a private cul-de-sac setting. Master suite retreat with 2 walk in closets, dressing area, huge bath with jetted tub and shower. Marble foyer leads to fabulous living/dining room, oversized library with expansive windows and built-ins. Gorgeous white kitchen opens to nook and family room. Finished lower level walkout with family room, exercise room and large bedroom with bath, 3 1/2 car garage. A must see!

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$539,900

Beautiful new kitchen in this soft contemporary home with gorgeous granite counters, Viking appliances, sub-zero fridge and an abundance of storage. Fabulous open floor plan with vaulted ceilings, expansive living room into dining room, 1st floor laundry room, large master suite with 2 walk-in closets and large bath that includes a jetted tub and shower, amazing finished lower level with built-in theatre, billiards and expansive bar, well maintained extravagant landscaping.

$524,900

Pristine condition colonial with neighborhood pool, tennis court and playground. 2 story foyer, granite island kitchen, double ovens, walk-in pantry and wood floors.

Large great room with high ceilings and gas fireplace, recessed lights throughout, library, formal dining room with butlers pantry, spacious master with walk in closet, double vanities, jetted tub. Large sitting area, finished lower level with 5th bedroom and full bath and wet bar. Well-manicured lot with circular drive, 3 car garage and great deck.

Franklin

Birmingham

32440 Franklin Road, Franklin, MI 48025

555 S Old Woodward, Birmingham, MI 48009

248.626.8700

248.283.8700

CITY/ TOWNSHIP issued 2,400 tickets from my parking lot. If there isn't going to be a valet, they are going to park in my lot. People don't like paid parking. This is going to be an issue. We already have a sign that we will tow cars. Valet is the only way to stop it. I have a small lot and I cannot afford to lose one spot.”

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff noted, “The owner of the center with CVS brought this up before. She said people will park in her lot (behind the CVS). I think this is a legitimate issue.”

Commissioner Tom McDaniel told Crush's attorney, Rick Rattner, “I have parked in that garage many times during the day, and it is not a pleasant experience. I think you will be offering valet very quickly.”

Rattner said it was their opinion that the city was not in favor of valet parking, and when he was assured that was only in the central business district, and not in other areas, he responded, “If it's OK, we can offer it.”

The commissioners then approved the final site plan and special land use permit 6-0, with commissioner Scott Moore not in attendance.

Transition overlay zoning questions

By Lisa Brody

Following directions from Birmingham's City Commission and Planning Board, the city's planning department has spent the last few months conducting study sessions regarding transitional zoning areas of Birmingham, which are areas of the city where commercial zones are contiguous with single-family residential neighborhoods, in order to clarify and update the the city's zoning for a number of areas after a developer requested a conditional zoning change for a proposed multifamily project on a long vacant parcel at the corner of Oakland Avenue, Park and Woodward from single-family to general business and a vote on the transition overlay ordinance could come on November 13.

In May, a consultant with LSL Planning recommended to the planning board that the city rezone the vacant property at 404 Park Street, which has been vacant since 1999. The property had been the subject of controversy for

months as developer Burton-Katzman Development Company petitioned the city to conditionally rezone the lot from single family to general business, in order to develop the site and build sixunit rowhouse townhouses for lease.

Residents of the adjacent neighborhood, known as the “little San Francisco” neighborhood due to its topography, have written to the city, sent petitions, and spoken out at numerous city planning and zoning meetings, objecting to the rezoning and development of the site. City commissioners sent the conditional rezoning request back to the planning board, with prejudice, to allow the planning board the opportunity to study conditional rezoning and make a recommendation, noting they preferred to not make create conditional rezoning a part of Birmingham's plans.

Conditional rezoning allows communities to rezone land strictly for a specific project. If the project goes away, so does the rezoning.

The task for looking at an overlay transitional rezoning plan was given to Brad Strader of LSL Planning, to be done in conjunction with a current study of the S. Woodward Corridor as well and the Oakland/Park plan. Later,

it was also expanded to examine the Adams corridor, including Adams Square, which now has a lot of vacant storefronts, as well as the vacant corner of Quarton and Woodward. The draft which was returned to the planning board focused on protecting the integrity of the residential areas.

The planning board held several study sessions to create ordinances which would create four overlay zoning classifications that could be applied to various locations in Birmingham that planners have identified as transitional.

Those classifications are MU2, which stands for two-story mixed use; MU3, three-story mixed use; ASF2 and ASF3, which stand for two and three-story attached single family buildings.

The corner of Quarton and Woodward, which is adjacent to the Quarton Lake neighborhood, was initially zoned MU5, allowing a fivestory mixed use building, which is the permitted zoning for the Triangle District. After discussion, the planning board determined that would be too high and changed that to MU3.

They also determined that Adams Square should be MU3 as well and discussed eliminating many of the uses

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and sizes of permitted businesses for the site. For example, for over 50 years, a hardware store, most recently Aco Hardware, was a tenant of Adams Square. Hardware stores, groceries and coney islands would no longer be permitted uses for that transitional site, backing up to a residential neighborhood. The location is now vacant and if it was still there, it would be grandfathered, planning director Jana Ecker said, but new zoning would not permit a new store of that usage or size from becoming a permitted tenant.

Other locations being examined for transitional overlay zoning are 14 Mile Road and Pierce; Adams Road from Adams Square to Lincoln; Southfield and 14 Mile roads; Park and Oakland; and Eton Road north of Maple.

Village Fair, private party get city nod The Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce received unanimous approval from the Birmingham City Commission at its meeting Monday, October 7, to hold the annual Village Fair in the Shain Park

area Thursday, May 29, 2014 through Sunday, June 2, 2014, as well as a private party the Wednesday prior for up to 2,500 people.

Joe Bauman, president of the chamber, told commissioners the fair, the chamber's largest annual fundraiser, will be the same as it has been in previous years, with rides, games and carnival food. He said the professional fair company works hard with the city and the police department in acquiring the appropriate permits, payment of fees, insurance, and maintaining of order during the four-day event.

For 2014, the chamber was approached by United Shore Mortgage of Troy to hold a private event the Wednesday night prior to the fair opening. United Shore would like to hold an employee party for approximately 2,500 people from 5 to 10 p.m., Bauman said, utilizing the rides, games, food, as well as having some entertainment in the park's bandshell.

He said the park would not be closed to the public, and partygoers would be given either a wristband or t-shirt to identify them as welcome at the fair, as well as food, ride and drink vouchers.

“We have also talked to the company managing the city's parking decks. Partygoers would primarily use the Pierce Street, Chester, and N. Old Woodward decks, and we're told there would be about 1,000 parking spots available,” Bauman said. “The company is confident there would be 1,000 spots for Shore guests.”

Bauman said The Community House would also benefit from the private party, because their terrace would be utilized for “adult beverages while children are on the rides.”

He said Shore would have volunteers to help manage the crowd and clean up. There would be no change to the fair's set up, as it is already complete by Wednesday night.

“The main impact is that instead of the fair being quiet that night, it would be used,” Bauman said. “We're very excited to capture funds on Wednesday night to help give to our charity partners. The city will benefit with the increase in parking revenue as well as having more people in town.”

Some commissioners were concerned about the impact of 2,500 guests at the fair, but Bauman said that

“on a sunny Saturday, the fair can comfortably accommodate 3,500 guests. The fair organizer is used to private events.”

Commissioners vote 6-0, with commissioner Scott Moore absent, to approve both the fair and the private party, to be held in 2014.

Master plan for Kenning Park

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham City Commissioners unanimously approved a $7,400 allocation on Monday, September 23, to develop a preliminary master plan for Kenning Park which was prompted by a parking lot renovation project for the park.

Birmingham Director of Public Services Lauren Wood provided the commissioners with two plans, one for a proposal for Johnson-Hill Land Ethics Studio to develop a master plan for Kenning Park, excluding the playing fields which are used for baseball and softball, to cost the city no more than $7,400; and a resolution to just proceed with plans and specifications to bid out

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415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

the parking lot renovation project, which Wood said had been allocated $500,000 in the current parks and recreation budget to pave the parking lot.

A master plan for the area would include streetscaping, lighting, wayfinding, landscaping, street signs, more sidewalks and other pedestrian plans, for a total final cost of construction of approximately $2.1 million, Wood said. If commissioners went that route, bidding on the parking lot construction would take place next spring after the ice rink closed for the season. Otherwise, it would be possible to bid out the renovation project this fall.

Wood told commissioners that the parks and rec board was not in favor of allocating money for a master plan because their budget only allowed for a parking lot.

Commissioner Gordon Rinschler responded that, “Why don't we just pave the parking lot, and if we want to do the master plan, we can do that too?”

However, commissioner Stuart Sherman said, “We're talking about a $2.1 million plan that's proposed in a

vacuum. To approve a half-million dollar parking lot without looking at electrical, landscaping and everything else means we could end up digging things up to fix it after we do it. That's how we used to get in trouble with our streets. Just because we budgeted something doesn't mean we should do it. I would take $7,400 and do a plan so we don't throw away money.”

Commissioners agreed, and unanimously approved the resolution to allocate money to develop the master plan and wait on renovating the parking lot.

Parking fees to rise on N. Old Woodward

By Lisa Brody

The fees at the parking meters on N. Old Woodward in Birmingham appear likely to rise as the city evaluates the rates to make them more consistent with meters in other areas of downtown Birmingham, after a local merchant complained about the difficulty of his customers finding adequate parking.

The Birmingham Advisory Parking

Committee met on Wednesday, October 16, and recommended for approval that parking meters on the east side of N. Old Woodward between Parking Lot 6 and Euclid increase from 50 cents to $1; to change the length of time of the meters along the Booth Park frontage on the west side of N. Old Woodward from 12 hours to 2 hours; and to increase the length of time on the meters on W. Brown Street between Chester and Pierce from 2 hours to 12 hours.

The recommendations will now go before the Birmingham City Commission on Monday, November 11, for final approval.

Retailer Robert Greenstone of Greenstone's Fine Jewelry at 430 N. Old Woodward told the city he is concerned that customers for the new restaurant Market will take up all of the available on street parking, and that parking is already quite difficult on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, city engineer Paul O'Meara said.

“The demand for parking has reached an unbearable point,” he said.

Currently, some of the meters are one

Design for all

Styles

hour, some are two hours, and some are for as long as 12 hours.

“The goal is to get employees to park somewhere else if they are priced off of the street,” O'Meara said. “They need to go somewhere where they are not impacting customer traffic. The short time limits help with parking space turnover which then becomes available for someone else.”

On W. Brown Street, the change from 2 hours to 12 hours was recommended because of a shortage of parking in the Pierce Street parking garage. “It's being recommended for employees who would like to park in the Pierce Street lot but who can't get a permit,” O'Meara said. “There's a long waiting time to get in there.”

Cemetery advisory committee approved

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham City Manager Bob Bruner asked and received approval from the city commission at its Monday, October 21, meeting to create a cemetery advisory committee for

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Birmingham

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Wonderful family room with built-ins and fieldstone fireplace over looking backyard. Hardwood floors and new carpet. Stunning entry foyer overlooking two story winding staircase and back staircase. Great first floor laundry/mudroom. Huge Master Suite with his/hers walk-in closets and custom cabinets. Plus four large Bedrooms with three full baths. Pella windows. Extensive use of crown moldings and wainscot. Finished Basement. Three car garage. 213067332

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248.709.9119 415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

Greenwood Cemetery in order to examine how to maintain the cemetery, whether services should be outsourced, to prepare recommendations for the reclamation of abandoned burial sites, if more burial spaces should be created, and whether a permanent endowment should be developed for perpetual care.

By voting to establish a cemetery advisory committee, the city commission is seeking to have the committee examine various methods of maintenance and services for Greenwood Cemetery, including whether to proceed with reclamation of abandoned burial spaces; whether to develop new burial spaces at the cemetery and, if so, the best way to do so; recommendations for the possibility of expanding the cemetery; recommendations on whether to establish an endowment care fund to provide regular care and maintenance of the cemetery in perpetuity, and the best method to do so; to solicit community feedback; and to prepare and present final recommendations to the city commission by June 30, 2014.

Bruner provided an advisory framework for the seven members of the committee, but commissioners felt most should be members of the community or be historic district commission member; a museum board member; and a member of the Friends of the Birmingham Historical Museum & Park.

Bruner said the advisory committee is a reaction to public outcry regarding a service contract for Greenwood Cemetery he recommended for the city. At the June 24 Birmingham City Commission meeting, commissioners voted 4-3 to enter into a 10-year service agreement with Historic Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, which partnered with the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Detroit due to proximity, with Elmwood providing the operations and maintenance of the cemetery for the city in exchange for 100 percent of the interment services and 25 percent of the sale of reclaimed burial sites.

Currently, according to Bruner, there are no burial plots available at downtownpublications.com

Greenwood and the city has an interest list with over 100 people hoping for future plots there.

Individuals seeking to schedule a burial or foundation installation, confirm the location of a grave, and/or be added to the grave interest list now contact Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Southfield instead of the office of the city clerk.

In September, Bruner and other city officials met with about 70 Birmingham residents upset about the service contract. Bruner said the overwhelming sentiment expressed was “If it ain't broke, don't fix it.”

Many did not want reclamation of old burial sites and many were opposed to the establishment of an endowment care fund for the cemetery.

He said that there were a lot of people at the meeting who said they did not want the Archdiocese involved with running the cemetery.

“They didn't like that, and I never expected that,” he said. “I tried to make the point that these are professionals who run cemeteries for a living. It is not a Catholic cemetery now. We could not have someone on staff who could do it as well as they do it.”

Greenwood Cemetery, a historic cemetery located off Oak Street north of Greenwood Street and west of Old Woodward in Birmingham, was established in 1821 over almost 8 acres and contains almost 3,000 gravesites, of which 650 date to the 19th century. Martha Baldwin organized the Greenwood Cemetery Association in 1885 after the cemetery had fallen into disrepair, and left the city $1,000 in her will for the cemetery perpetual care fund upon her death in 1913.

Birmingham took over the care of the cemetery operation and maintenance in 1946 after the cemetery once again fell into disrepair. Until the contract with Elmwood, it cost the city $30,000 a year for maintenance.

Notables buried in the cemetery include Elijah Willets, Birmingham's first mayor Harry Allen, Martha Baldwin, George Gough Booth and Ellen Scripps Booth, creators of Cranbrook, and Marshall Fredericks.

Applications are available on Birmingham's website or at the city clerk's office.

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FACES

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N

early 15 years after leaving a career in commercial real estate development in his hometown of Bloomfield Hills, Anthony Sosnick is cleaning up the men's skincare market from his office in New York.

"I love coming home," Sosnick said about regular visits to the Birmingham/Bloomfield area where much of his family lives. "I have two boys, and I love bringing my kids back there. I think it's a great place to raise kids – it's clean, there are nice shops and restaurants. But for me and the industry I work in, I have to be in a place like New York. It would be like working in the auto industry and living in a place like Denver."

The location makes sense, even more now than it did to people when he was just starting out in the business. Sosnick originally worked with his father, the late Robert Sosnick, for nearly a decade in commercial real estate. A former Lasher High School student, Sosnick graduated from a California boarding school before doing a stint as a part-time college student. While he helped a good friend get the Axis Music School off the ground in Birmingham, Sosnick was still wet behind the ears in terms of business experience.

"I had zero knowledge," Sosnick said from his SoHo office, recalling how he started his own skin care business. "I was the kind of guy who uses these products, but I knew nothing. Essentially, we were making products that make people feel good about themselves, but I didn't know any of the terminology. For the first year or so, I didn't know what I was saying. But if you have a passion and drive, you can learn it quickly."

Looking at his own use of the products, Sosnick recognized the potential in mens' skincare market. Considering the limited choice of

products in the market for men a decade ago, and the fact they are used every day, Sosnick believed he had found a recession-proof market.

Research, he said, showed the market growing twice as fast as women's skincare products. Within a year, he and two other consultants had developed a line of 26 products and four different promotional kits to introduce to vendors.

"People were looking at us like we were crazy," he said, recalling the early days of launching his business. "They didn't realize the mens' market was going to take off."

Eventually, Sosnick landed a 10-minute meeting with a vendor in San Francisco. That initial meeting ended up lasting nearly three hours, leading to the success of Anthony Logistics. Today, Anthony Brands has four product lines and a fifth launching next spring. In total, his products can be found in thousands of stores throughout the country, as well as the Anthony Brands website at anthony.com.

Sosnick said the website also offers tips for product use, as over use of some products, such as some facial scrubs, can actually cause more harm to skin than good. His personal favorite product? Invigorating Rush hair and body shampoo. The scent, he said, reminds him of the Swiss Alps.

Not a bad mental place when he's not back home in Michigan jogging around the campus at Cranbrook or taking his twin boys to the Franklin Cider Mill.

"We really don't have anything like that in New York City," he said.

Story: Kevin Elliott

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esisting the initial urge to dismiss "The 10 Second Diet" as just another one of the fad diet books on the market today could very well be the first step in the Bloomfield Hills resident's Diet Diva's philosophy of controlling your actions and appetite.

"It refers not only to the foods you eat, but to the life that you live," said MernaLyn, author of the book. "The techniques that make the 10 second diet so effective for weight loss are the same techniques that can be applied to other aspects of life. So, it's for successfully losing weight, and for successfully living life."

As a model and actress for much of her career, it seems almost strange that the former Playboy International Public Relations Bunny would brush off the importance of personal appearance. But it's a person's perspective of their own inner worth and intelligence, and the idea that they can be changed in a matter of seconds, which gives the book its title.

"Basically, it takes 10 seconds to change your mental focus, but it's exactly what you do in those 10 seconds that dictate what you will do in the next 10 seconds, and the next 10 seconds after that," she said. "You can't live in the future anymore than you can live in the past. But you do have the opportunity to choose what you are doing right now. You have to realize that with opportunity comes the responsibility to do the right thing.

"We don't have any control over what happens to us in life, but you always have control over how you react to what happens in life. You have volition. You have volition to make the right choices, whether that's the food you eat or the actions you take."

MernaLyn urges people to give thought to their actions, but without over complicating things. After all, 10 seconds, whether it's in successive steps or ends with one thought, may be all the time it takes to change a life.

"You don't need willpower, you need 'won't power,' as in, 'I won't eat that,' or 'I won't say that,' or 'I won't do that,'" she said. "We have to have a social consciousness. I really believe we are all here trying to make the world a better place. We have to stop genuflecting to superficiality and see beyond what a person looks like, how much money they have and what they do for a living. That's not who a person and their character are,� she said.

"I really do believe we have to look beyond our own selves and make the world a better place," she said. "We have to learn to value intelligence, education and empathy, and make those the attributes the ones we emulate, instead of these so-called celebrities and sports figures that we see. It's pointless. Portions of our society have sunk to an all-time low, and the things we didn't want to focus on instead we have become infatuated with. We need to turn that around."

MernaLyn said she has been traveling extensively since her book was published in 2011 for various speaking engagements across the country. On November 11, she'll be back in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area for a night at the First United Methodist Church in Birmingham.

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Silecchia, Inc.

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BUSINESS MATTERS Yummy Cupcakes There’s a new bakery in town. Lori and Dave Horton have opened Yummy Cupcakes at 39566 Woodward in Bloomfield Hills, at the corner of Long Lake, next to Bruegger’s Bagels. The second Yummy Cupcakes in the U.S., Lori said the Bloomfield Hills location is a franchise of the original from Burbank, California. Every day, Yummy Cupcakes features 26 flavor combinations, including gluten-free and vegan offerings. All of the cupcakes and other baked goods are baked fresh every day, Lori said, “with wholesome, fresh, real ingredients. Our goal is to never run out, so we bake all day long.”

Of the various cupcake varieties offered, 17 are standards the bakery offers every day. Lori said the most popular are Fudge Yummy, Vanilla Rolled Sprinkle, Peanut Butter Cup, Red Velvet, and Old School, “which is like an old Hostess cupcake.”

Specials are wide and varied, with over 400 flavors. Cupcake specialty treats are also offered, such as cupcake push pops, cupcakes in a jar, cupcake biscotti, cupcake truffles, truffle pops, frosting shots, and many more.

New day spa opens Lauren MacVean has opened the full service day spa, Beach House Day Spa, at 34645 Woodward Avenue in the Birmingham Place building in downtown Birmingham, offering full body massages, facials, body scrubs, body wraps, waxings, and manicures and pedicures. MacVean, who personally offers clients manicures, pedicures and massages, said, “I’ve been in the industry for 15 years. I love it. Every day I feel so lucky to do something I love. I wanted to create a place where employees and clients are respected, and feel like they have a home in the most luxurious environment.”

For MacVean, creating a calm, stress-free, and convenient location for her clients was her top priority. She knew she had found her ideal location when she found Beach House’s spot, facing Woodward, because it has onsite, covered free parking, as well as valet parking. She is also trying out child care services for those of her clients with young children, “to ease their stress and needs. We have a beautiful room for them with TVs, iPads, and beanbags. If you listen to your clients, you will hear what your clients want and need.” Beach House is open early for appointments on downtownpublications.com

Mondays, and stays open late Tuesdays through Thursdays.

Amici’s leaving Birmingham residents can still have pizza pies and other Italian food delivered to their doorstep since Amici’s Gourmet Pizza To Go, 1160 Grant, Birmingham, shut down its pizza oven and closed up shop on September 22. Owners Jennifer Stark and Maureen McNamara said the pizzeria is still offering delivery to the Birmingham area from its Amici’s Gourmet Pizza and Living Room location at 3249 W. 12 Mile, in Berkley.

Spice shop closing Stay calm. You’ll still be able to enjoy tea and special spice mixes that came from The Tea and Spice Exchange at 175 W. Maple Road in downtown Birmingham even after the store’s closing in mid-October. Jennifer Serrano, who opened the franchise location with Jennifer Green two years ago on Black Friday, said products will still be available on the company’s website at www.spiceandtea.com. Still, the personalized service that customers were used to receiving at the location won’t be available in the state, as the women were the first and only Tea and Spice Exchange franchise in Michigan.

Serrano said they hope to relocate to downtown Rochester, but plans haven’t yet been finalized. As for why they decided to close up shop, she said the location proved to be too large of a space. “I really love Birmingham. We had many very loyal customers that recognize the value of fresh spices,” Serrano said. “I’m sad to go.”

Sushi bar opens Typically there is a problem when a customer calls a restaurant after picking up their carry-out order. But Albert Rodriguez, owner of the new Nippon Sushi Bar at 2079 Telegraph in Bloomfield Township next to Olga’s Kitchen just north of Costco, said he was pleasantly surprised during his first callback to the restaurant since opening on October 3 when the caller complimented him on the quality of the food. “That absolutely shocked me,” Rodriguez said. “They actually called back because they liked the food.” Perhaps Rodriguez is becoming accustomed to the compliments, as he said he has received six callbacks complimenting the food within the first two weeks of opening the new sushi restaurant.

The sushi bar is the first entry into the restaurant field for Rodriguez, owner of ImageMaster in Ann Arbor,

which provides municipal services such as books, bonds and related items. He credits his son-in-law, a sushi chef with 12 years of experience, for the quality food items coming out of the kitchen, and for spurring him to take a slice of the Japanese food market. “He has a lot of experience, and the location that I went into was one where there is a market that isn’t being satisfied,” Rodriguez said. “When we decided to open, we thought then that quality has to be the number one concern.

Having fresh fish and being very good. That was the most important.”

Next, he said, they plan to develop a Nippon Sushi application for mobile phones, tablets and websites so customers can place an order, stop in to pick it up, and be on their way.

“It’s a very busy location with lots of traffic,” he said. “By creating apps, people can pick it up and go.”

New cleaners in town There’s a new cleaners in Bloomfield Hills with a long history of wet and dry cleaning. Joe Simon, owner of Pearl Cleaners, 65 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, opened shop recently, carrying on a long family tradition that started in the 1940s with Huntington Cleaners at 11 Mile Road and Coolidge. Simon, who picked the name “Pearl” to honor his grandmother, has been in the cleaning business for a quarter century. Pearl Cleaners, however, is the first shop he has owned and operated himself. “It’s a nice transition,” Simon said of the storefront, which previously housed a Douglas Cleaners location since the 1960s. “It was a pick-up and drop-off store. When I came in, I fired up the boiler, and got the air compressor and presses going again. It’s nice.” Simon is a “certified professional dry and wet cleaner,” something that is particularly rare today, he said. With decades of chemical and equipment sales in the cleaning industry, Simon said he is able to formulate his own solvents, which he replaces with each load he cleans. “Most places will use the same formula over and over without changing it,” he said.

Birmingham salon closes Madison Bleu Salon in Birmingham closed its doors for the last time on September 30. Owner Ming Canty said she is moving to Los Angeles to work in the hair industry there, and the timing was right for her, as the lease for the salon at 191 N. Old Woodward, on the second floor above Sander’s

DOWNTOWN

Candy, was up. “We had been open since 2006, and it’s been a pleasure being in Birmingham,” Canty said. Her stylists have scattered around the area and the country, she said, from West Bloomfield to Dallas. Canty said she is currently working out of Babs Salon in Birmingham until the end of November, when she will head west to California.

Women’s fitness program Lindsey Bachigalupo and Janelle Fox brought the Barre Bee fitness program from the Chicago area to the first metro Detroit area location in October when they opened the Barre Bee Fit metro Detroit location at 555 Old Woodward, Suite 13 L, in Birmingham. The program, which is specially designed for women, blends choreography and classroom instruction to combine cardiovascular conditioning, toning, detoxification and deep stretching through a variety of formats. The program incorporates weights, kettle balls and resistance training into special dance routines.

“People have been receptive to the concept,” Bachigalupo said, adding that she and Fox have been hearing from many people familiar with the studio that have moved back to the area from Chicago. “I think Birmingham is a perfect blend of a downtown feel and it also has a neighborhood feel.” The fitness program was first created in 2010 by Jillian Lorenz and Ariana Chernin of Chicago. Since then, franchises have opened at select locations in the Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Indianapolis. The Birmingham location is the second in Michigan.

Specialty sub shop What started as mom and pop storefront in 1956 has grown to include more than 750 fast-casual sub shops in the nation, and will soon be reaching Downtown readers on November 13 when Jersey Mike’s Sub Shop, 33745 Woodward, Birmingham, is scheduled to open.

Robert Middleton, principal owner of the shop, said he and his partners with Sharing the Bread Inc, hold claim to the second franchise in Michigan.

The group is planning to open 20 stores in the metro Detroit area, with locations in Madison Heights, Shelby Township, Rochester Hills, Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield.

Business Matters for the BirminghamBloomfield area are reported by Kevin Elliott.

Send items for consideration to KevinElliott@downtownpublications.com.

Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

83

86 DOWNTOWN

11.13

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11.13

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

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

248.645.2150.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.865.9300.

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 Jacks: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday; 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 Eaton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774.

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

248.593.8880.

Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, 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.

Alcohol. No reservations. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township.

248.642.4000.

Cafe Via: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 310 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.8800 Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.723.1700.

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

Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555.

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

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

downtownpublications.com

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.

Deli Unique of Bloomfield Hills: Deli.

Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 39495 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7923.

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

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

248.642.1135.

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

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 176 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.9888. Also 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.258.9939.

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

248.647.2420.

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

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

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DOWNTOWN

89

FOCUS ON WINE Best wines for the holidays

By Eleanor and Ray Heald

R

etail wine shelves are stacked for holiday wine purchases. Choosing a wine from among hundreds can be a bewildering task.

If you are searching for wines for a large party, don’t choose expensive wines. Guests drink without thinking seriously about what they have in their glass. You don’t want to serve plonk, but there are many affordable wines that will please both your guests and your wallet.

For a small, intimate holiday dinner, choose higher end wines to complement dishes you’ll be serving. Spending more for these wines will bring raves from your guests and make the whole event more festive.

To aid your choices, we’ve tasted dozens (literally) of wines, chosen the best and listed them below by price, so you won’t waste your money.

Value wines $20 and under: 2012 Alamos Torrontés $13 2011 J. Lohr Riverstone Chardonnay $14 2012 Edna Valley True Myth Chardonnay $18 2012 Tablas Creek Patelin de Tablas Blanc $20 2011 Alamos Mendoza Seleccion Malbec $20 $20+ to $30 2012 Morgan Metallico Un-oaked Chardonnay $22 2011 Opolo Maestro $23 2012 Wente Eric’s Chardonnay $25 2009 J Vineyard Chardonnay $28 2010 Louis Martini Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $30 2011 Gallo Signature Series Russian River Chardonnay $30 $30 to $49 2011 Chalk Hill Sauvignon Blanc $33 2010 Louis Martini Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $34 2011 Davis Bynum Jane’s Vineyard Pinot Noir $40 2011 Talbott Sleepy Hollow Vineyard Pinot Noir $42 2009 Grgich Hills Napa Valley Merlot $42 2011 Chalk Hill Chardonnay $48 $50 and above 2009 Kenwood Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon $60 2010 Grgich Hills Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $60 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.

Fox Grill: American. Lunch, Monday through Friday; Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch.

Reservations. Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304.

248.792.6109.

Fuddrucker’s: American. Lunch & Dinner,

90

Marimar Estate Only 10 miles from the Pacific Ocean, Marimar Estate vineyards in the Russian River/Green Valley region of California are cooler. This is where pinot noir and chardonnay thrive. Fog intrusion through the Petaluma Wind Gap in coastal mountains ensures that Green Valley is the first Sonoma County appellation to benefit from the fog's cooling effect and the last place it evaporates. For more than a decade, we have been impressed by the Marimar Estate wines. The following new releases are winners.

2012 Acero Chardonnay $29 2011 La Masia Chardonnay $35 2010 Dobles Lias Chardonnay $45 2010 Bonita’s Hill Chardonnay $39 2012 Chardonnay-Albarino $34 2010 La Masia Pinot Noir $44 2010 Mas Cavalls Pinot Noir $44 2010 Stony Block Pinot Noir $47 2009 Cristina Pinot Noir $49 Williams Selyem Over the past 10 years, for those of you who have followed our recommendations for Williams Selyem wines, now understand that winemaker Bob Cabral’s goal is to make the best wines from the best growers, from the best vineyard sites in California.

The philosophy is site-driven wines. Cabral reminds “that wine balance is a personal interpretation that is unique to each of us as individuals.” Cabral encourages you to embrace your plate’s interpretation and “consume wines that you enjoy or tickle your fancy.” All the wines we’ve chosen from Williams Selyem are vintage 2011. Cabral says, “In 2011, Mother Nature played right into my hands with a very long, cool growing season that aided me in fulfilling my (winemaking) philosophy.”

Williams Selyem, recently released a bevy of treasures, including: 2011 Eastside Road Neighbors Pinot Noir $52 2011 Foss Vineyard Pinot Noir $55 2011 Calegari Vineyard Pinot Noir $55 2011 Bucher Vineyard Pinot Noir $65 2011 Ferrington Vineyard Pinot Noir $65 2011 Hirsch Vineyard Pinot Noir $75 2011 Burt Williams’ Morning Dew Ranch Pinot Noir $75 2011 Allen Vineyard Pinot Noir $82.

Eleanor & Ray Heald have contributed to numerous international publications including the Quarterly Review of Wines. Contact them by e-mail at focusonwine@aol.com.

daily. No Reservations. Beer & wine.

42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.333.2400.

Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek.

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

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Liquor. Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham. 248.712.4050.

Hogan’s Restaurant: American. Lunch &

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6450 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.626.1800.

Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American.

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

Hunter House Hamburgers: American.

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

248.646.7121.

DOWNTOWN

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

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

248.594.4369.

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

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.333.1166.

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

248.858.5800.

Leo’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.9707.

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

Little Daddy’s Parthenon: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.647.3400.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing.

No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6051.

MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.723.0800.

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

248.646.3663.

Mountain King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 469 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.2913.

New Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Breakfast, Monday-Thursday; Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. No reservations.

183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2181.

Northern Lakes Seafood Co.: Seafood.

Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 39495 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7900.

Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Also 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500.

Original Pancake House: American.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.642.5775.

Panera Bread: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7966.

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

248.253.9877.

Peabody’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.5222.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.3122.

Pita Cafe: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 239 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.6999.

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

Also 42967 Woodward Avenue,

11.13

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.

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

Sanders: American. Lunch, daily. No reservations. 167 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.3215.

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

Stacked Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Delivery available. No reservations. 233 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.5300.

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

248.932.0800.

Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.9123.

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

Reservations. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.333.3887.

Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.731.7066.

The Corner Bar: American. Dinner.

Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations.

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

The Gallery Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.851.0313.

The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302.

248.858.7688.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

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

The Stand: Euro-American. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

34977 Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.220.4237.

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

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

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

248.593.7881.

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

Village Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 653 S. Adams.

Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7964.

What Crepe?: French. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Breakfast & Lunch, Sunday. No reservations. 172 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.5634.

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

248.566.3566

AT THE TABLE A bit gaudy and Alice in Wonderland-esque

By Eleanor Heald

T

hat headline sets the stage for decor both exterior with a striking hot pink awning and interior with fun eye candy and high energy. If a bit gaudy, it’s trendy and an attention grabber–even Alice’s chair which you can get to through the small door in the main access. MEX has been on a roll since opening Labor Day weekend 2013.

“It’s my goal,” says Executive Chef/partner Zack Sklar, “to use my classical training from the Culinary Institute of America to refine traditional Mexican dishes.

For example, carnitas are injected with fresh, pureed chilies and garlic; tamales are made with butter rather than pork fat. Corn and butter just go together. Chips are made to order as is the guacamole.”

Following opening Social Kitchen and Bar in Birmingham, June 2012, 27 year-old Sklar and his partner Jim Bellinson prove that they are not stuck on one model and are bent on innovation.

If you order something too spicy hot, try a Horchata to cool your palate.

Social Hour has daily innovations Monday to Friday from 3 to 6 p.m., social hour (happy hour is so last century!) offers chips and salsa $2, bottled beer $3, Spiked Jarritos $4 (translated as little jars, this is a popular brand of soft drink in Mexico), and 22-oz Green Card Cervesas $5 at the bar only.

Daily specials include: Monday – Blue Monday “Blue Nectar” Tequila Cocktails $5; Tuesday – tap dance with $2 tap beers; Wednesday – Vinos Roca “wines rock” at one-half off; Thursday – Cinco de Week-O, everything one-half off; and Friday – “Dobel Down” for the weekend, $5 “Maestro Dobel” tequila cocktails.

Although dessert is rarely a specialty of a local taco joint, MEX offers interesting sweet endings at $6 - $7.

Tres Leches, traditional sponge cake with fruit compote is a good choice.

From the creator “Mexican is one of my favorite world cuisines,” Chef Sklar says. “MEX is unique in the Detroit Metro area. In suburban Detroit, it’s difficult to find authentic, high-quality Mexican food – the kind I love.

This is the reason I created the Mexican restaurant of my dreams.”

Let’s eat The menu features authentic Mexican comfort food in MEX (Mexican Bistro & Tequila small $3.50 - $5, medium $4 Bar), 6675 Telegraph Road, $14, and large $13 - $17 Bloomfield Township, plates, all designed to share, 248.723.0800. Sundaylisted and well explained on a Thursday 4-10 p.m., Friday one-page menu. To make newand Saturday until 11 p.m. bies comfortable with tradiParking on premise. tional Mexican food terms, there’s a glossary explaining El Pastor tacos, fish tacos, margarita with a beer, and nacho salad. QUICK BITES essentials.

Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent Big Rock Chophouse Sure, there are tacos (I’ll get announced that it has received to them), but try the Carne the prestigious 2013 Award of Excellence from Wine Asada, which takes skirt steak to new taste heights, Spectator, America’s leading wine appreciation magabeef or corn tamales, Queso Fundido with manchego zine. This is the 15th consecutive year the restaurant has cheese, Grilled Mahi Mahi, the Fajita Bowl with tender won this honor. According to the Wine Spectator, the chicken or the Nacho Salad with lively Pico de Gallo.

Award of Excellence is given to restaurants that offer a According to Pete Wells, noted New York Times well-chosen selection of quality producers, along with a restaurant writer, “We are in a state of intense taco conthematic match to the menu in both price and style. Big sciousness.” MEX illustrates this well. Tacos, served on Rock Chophouse’s extensive wine cellar is complete soft corn tortillas, come two per order. You’ll encounter with more than 400 fine wine and Champagne selectraditional and new-wave. Cabbage slaw and spicy peanuts accompany mahi mahi in a Fish Taco. The Puffy tions.

Taco features beef. Pollo Asado is enhanced with bacon guacamole. Everything is better with bacon!

“We’re very honored to continue to be recognized year Don’t overlook Carnitas (traditional slow-cooked pork) after year for our selections of world-class wines from or El Pastor tacos with grilled onion, pineapple and many domestic and international wineries,” says cilantro. Shrimp with chipotle tomato sauce, toasted gar- Norman LePage, owner of Big Rock Chophouse. “We lic, cilantro and pickled onion is enticingly delicious. want our customers to enjoy fabulous food with the perSo many great choices, you’ll either leave stuffed or fect bottle of wine and understand the importance of our make plans to return! wine list being able to appeal to a wide range of wine lovers.”

Getting social A long list of cocktails ($9), non-alcoholic specialties ($3 Eleanor Heald is a nationally published writer who also writes- $5), and both beer on eight taps and in bottles offer the wine column in a double byline with her husband Ray for Downtown. Suggestions for Quick Bites section can be e-mailed complementary choices for the tasty Mexican treats. to QuickBites@downtownpublications.com.

Tequilas at a count of 101 are showcased.

Cindy Obron Kahn

Birmingham Perfect blend of casual & formal living overlooking the Rouge River, in the heart of downtown. Interior space is a beautiful as the views with open 2 story foyer, light filled living room and wonderful kitchen. Spectacular walkout Lower Level. $1,895,000

Bloomfield Hills Situated on a hilltop setting in the City of Bloomfield Hills on over 1 acre. Large kitchen opens to family room and French doors to spacious backyard. Great home for everyday life and entertaining. $1,725,000

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

248.568.7309 cindykahn.com ckahn@skbk.com

An Extraordinary Agent…

Providing Extraordinary Results utstanding Contemporary Home Epitome of Sophistication This wonderful example of Frank Lloyd Wright inspired mid century architecture has been completely renovated by the architectural firm of Young and Young. This custom built ranch combines the best of modern building trends with the original integrity of the home. Brick, glass and limestone combine for a dramatic backdrop.

Offering high end finishes throughout and situated on a private lot overlooking Gilbert Lake with radiant heated exterior walkways, patio and stunning landscapes designed

by Deborah Silver. This home offers sophistication and luxury. The Master Suite is a serene oasis with sleek lines and boasts a gorgeous marble bath and warm wood cabinetry. The living area is spacious and light-filled with panoramic glass views. $1,295,000

• $50 Million Pending/Sold YTD 2013 • Top Producer 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009 • Top 1% of Realtors Nationally

THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

Make A Change, Naturally

Great Speaker & Fabulous Gifts at TCH

BEING YOU ONLY BETTER

I don’t know which is more exciting: having L. Brooks Patterson as a speaker at The Community House on Tuesday evening, November 19th or hosting the first gift bazaar of the season at our annual Winter Holiday Gift Show? Certainly having Brooks speaking at our venue will be a “gift” in itself. So, let’s start with Brooks.

L. Brooks Patterson Speaks at TCH, Tuesday November 19th, 7-8 pm. (open to the public, no charge.) Who would not want to hear Brooks speak during these interesting times? Our Oakland County Executive is visiting TCH to share his insights on what is happening in Oakland County and the area. Oakland County is one of the best places to live and work, much due to the leadership of Brooks and his administration.

His 2004 Emerging Sectors initiative to diversify Oakland County’s economy so it would no longer rely on a single industry is working. Oakland County has Camille Jayne attracted more than $2.5 billion in investment, created 29,000 jobs and retained nearly 14,000. Thus, delivering on Brooks’ vision of making Oakland County “recessionresistant,” and slowly transforming the county from manufacturing-based into a knowledge-based economy.

The results? During the 20 plus years of Brooks’ tenure, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard & Poor’s have awarded Oakland County its coveted AAA bond rating for its prudent fiscal policies and transformation.

Plastic Surgery 101 Presented by: Dr. William J. Vasileff, MD, Birmingham Institute of Plastic Surgery THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21, 6:30-8:30 PM

The Community House, 380 South Bates Plastic surgery is a personal decision, unique for everyone.

For some the goal is to turn back the clock, while others hope to correct physical traits that affect their self-esteem.

If you are considering plastic surgery or non-invasive skin rejuvenation, this class is a must and the first step toward making the right decision. Dr. Vasileff will answer a full spectrum of questions regarding cosmetic surgery.

Brooks has promoted the county as a destination for world-class health care through the fastest growth Emerging Sector, Medical Main Street, which employs roughly one in five individuals in the county. He also embraces the use of technology to deliver better services and promotes healthy lifestyles – very much in tune with TCH’s mission to enrich and improve our patrons’ lives through our educational and wellness programs. So, come hear Brooks talk on these things, and answer your questions on many others. RSVPs are appreciated at: 248.644.5832. Free admission.

Winter Holiday Gift Show, November 14th-16th: TCH will host our annual Winter Holiday Gift Show, starting with a special evening Preview Party November 14th, 6-9 p.m. Sure to be a fun night of fabulous shopping, hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, giving everyone an opportunity to get a jump on their holiday shopping while enjoying an evening out (preview party admission: $45). Preview Party tickets also include entry into the show on Nov. 15th and 16th. For reservations to the Preview Party, sign up at: www.tchserves.org, or call 248-644-5832. General admission to the show on November 15th and 16th is $7 at the door. (TCH asks that people bring an unwrapped gift for us to distribute to nonprofit agencies for underserved children.)

No charge | RSVP requested 248.644.5832 or www.tchserves.org

Training + Talent + 30 Years Experience = TRUST

The “House” will be transformed with gift items from 50 unique vendors for everyone on your shopping list. Shelly Lanesky, chair of the show, commented: “Our vendors will feature one of a kind jewelry, florals, boutique clothing, specialty foods, soaps, children’s books, toys, unique ornaments and more! You can find the perfect gift for others, and of course, a little something for yourself!” The Preview Party co-chairs are Diana Day, Betsy LaBoe and Ellen Shuster. We thank our sponsors: The Surnow Company, Kathy Broock Ballard, Birmingham Eccentric and HOUR Magazine.

Make a day of it by visiting the show and enjoying lunch at the Gift Show Café. The Café will feature gourmet sandwiches, salads, soups and a variety of desserts, for purchase.

November Programs: • Bulletproof Your Success™ Monthly Lecture, Wed. November 13th: This lecture teaches: “Preparing/Giving Great Presentations and Tips on Public Speaking.”

Register at: www.tchbulletproof.org. $35; 11:30 am-1:30 pm.

• Book Your Holiday Party at TCH!: We still have a few open nights left for your perfect corporate or family/friend holiday party. To book your event, call our event sales experts at: 248.554.6585 to lock in your date.

• Annual Fund Drive: Please consider a donation by giving by Dec. 31st: Call us at: 248.594.6404 or donate online at: www.tchserves.org Thank you!

Camille Jayne is President & CEO of TCH. downtownpublications.com

DOWNTOWN

FACE: FACE-LIFT I EYELID SURGERY I BROW LIFT I RHINOPLASTY OTOPLASTY I TORN EAR LOBE REPAIR I CHINS/CHEEK SURGERY BODY/BREAST: TUMMY TUCK I LIPOSUCTION I BREAST AUGMENTATION BREAST REDUCTION I BREAST LIFT I SKIN: BOTOX I FILLERS CHEMICAL PEEL I MICRODERMABRASION I LASER SKIN REJUEVENATION ULTHERAPY I EXILIS I ORCHID DAY MEDSPA

525 Southfield Road, Birmingham 248.644.0670 | www.drvasileff.com Follow us on 95

WHITE LAKE

WHITE LAKE

FENTON TWP

WESTLAND

Spectacular Cedar Island Lakefront.

Nearly 5000 sq ft of living space. Prime half acre site at end of street. 177 feet of lake frontage. One of a kind lakeside inlaw suite. 213094100. $639,900

Well maintained and updated cape cod w/all sports Cedar Island lake Privileges.

Full finished walk out basement.

213095529. $85,000

Open floor plan, cathedral ceilings, cozy fireplace, doorwall to deck, ceramic tile, skylights, kitchen island, bay window, 6 panel doors, finished basement with theatre room. 213106808. $209,900

Open floor plan brick ranch w/ample closet space and finished basement w/ bath. Spacious eat in kitchen, fenced yard w/patio. 213104195. $59,900

LIVONIA

DETROIT

ROCHESTER HILLS

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

Well cared for, vinyl windows, maintenance free alum trim on house and 2.5 car brick garage. Large sun room, finished basement with nice full bath, Home warranty included. 213106892. $119,900

NEX taxes and Live Downtown Incentive.

Wonderful two bedroom two bath condo.

Must see! 213100512. $164,000

Beautifully maintained home features 3 bedrooms and 2 baths with wide open living space w/ incredible views.

Oversized two car garage. 213104557. $196,900

Immaculate 2 bedroom condo with vaulted ceilings, gleaming hardwood floors, luxurious 1st floor master suite includes walk in closet & powder room.

This is a must see! 213075016. $479,901

LATHRUP VILLAGE

OAK PARK

BLOOMFIELD TWP

ST CLAIR SHORES

Gorgeous updated classic cape cod in the estate section! Intricate plaster ceilings in living/dining room, oak floors, French doors & six panel natural wood doors. 213089808. $224,900

Exceptional Oak Park Cape Cod with many updates including, kitchen, baths, copper plumbing, furnace, c/a, doors carpeting and painting. 213106283. $94,900

Stunning 3 bedroom, possibly 4. 3 car garage, beautiful landscaping.

Fieldstone fireplace, finished basement.

213066857. $409,900

Completely remodeled in 2010. Newer kitchen w/cherry wood cabinets and granite counters, windows throughout, updated baths and refinished hardwood floors. 213069235. $170,000

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

BLOOMFIELD TWP

SOUTHFIELD

WATERFORD TWP

Bloomfield Colonial w/ circular drive and beautiful built in pool. Large living room with floor to ceiling windows. Inground pool. 213068702. $294,900

Cute doll house with updated paint, ceramic flooring, plantation shutters, roof shingles, furnace, central air.

213035549. $79,900

Fabulous move in condition condo.

Excellent open floor plan with first floor laundry. Hardwood floors, spacious great room with natural fireplace. Private deck off great room. 213091728. $129,900

INDEPENDENCE TWP

INDEPENDENCE TWP

ROYAL OAK

Manors on 1+ high elevation acre. Rich yet comfortable. 2 story Great room w/wall of windows overlooking private woods. Formal dining room. 4 fireplaces, 4 full+ 1 ½ baths. Stately wood office. 213087161. $560,000

Huge 2+ lot fenced yard! Stone front & new porch and steps. Coved ceilings-plaster walls. Newer carpet.

Large deck, perennials, pond w/lilies.

Spacious master w/skylight & newer custom bath. 213100441. $200,000

Charming Cape Cod w/loads of updates! Cove ceilings & Oak floors.

Marble fireplace in living room.

Brand new roof & circuit breakers, newer furnace and vinyl replacement windows. 213092236. $144,900

RELOCATION SERVICES 1-888-21-HOMES FARMINGTON HILLS

RELOCATING?

WEST BLOOMFIELD

Lovely pillared colonial in popular Camelot Court. 3 nice sized bedrooms, large open foyer. Master has walk in closet and full bath.

Kitchen open to nice family room with fireplace. 213098517. $185,000

OUR RELOCATION DEPARTMENT

Super sharp Contemporary Colonial resting on a wooded lovely landscaped lot in private, back of the sub. Amenities galore!!! 213070406. $344,900

OFFERS LOCAL HOMEFINDING ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS RELOCATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-21-HOMES

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

FARMINGTON HILLS

FARMINGTON HILLS

FARMINGTON HILLS

Beautiful 5 bedrooms, 3 1/2 baths on .73 acres with large deck. Large family room with fireplace, breakfast space.

213097365. $249,998

Rare custom home in Dutchman Farms!

Unparalleled quality throughout this 2990 sq ft home. This home is immaculate, neutral and ready to move into. 213078449. $310,000

Spacious end unit ranch situated in a tree lined yard. Neutral throughout, newer windows & doorwall. Large entry, eat in kitchen. 213088078. $165,000

This home is a new construction shell on a crawl. It comes with $14,000+ cash toward completion costs. There is no furnace, plumbing or electrical. Large yard is fenced. 213106114. $60,000

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

ORCHARD LAKE

WHITE LAKE

WOLVERINE LAKE

Super clean ranch just listed! This home has so much to offer! You'll love the master bdrm addition w/master bath, jetted tub & walk in closet. Extensive use of brick pavers. 213066796. $159,900

Home is a very open concept floor plan which is light & bright throughout.

Massive great room w/stone fireplace & wet bar. 2 deck areas for outside enjoyment. 213069383. $439,900

Gorgeous Cape Cod situated on premium ½ acre lot. Neutral dÊcor.

Living room with high ceiling & bay window. Family room with natural fireplace. 3 car side entry garage.

213087158. $272,900

Spacious main lakefront on Wolverine Lake. Beautiful location on one of the largest parts of the lake. You will love the lave views from the wide open great room and wall of windows. 213100848. $339,900

WEST BLOOMFIELD

WOLVERINE LAKE

WAYNE

COMMERCE TWP

This home shows pride of ownership.

The condo is custom painted throughout, Hunter Douglas Blinds, Granite counters in kitchen and baths. Finished basement.

213039710. $365,000

Spectacular waterfront on all sports Wolverine Lake. Private location on dead end street. Enjoy 1.5 acres and 200 feet of water frontage. Dramatic 2 story entry with beams of natural light. Complete finished walk out. 213086873. $546,900

This home is truly a gem located in the quiet Avondale sub. Paver walk leads to the covered front porch. The kitchen has hardwood flooring and a built in table.

Home is spotless! 213106385. $84,900

Adorable home! Just has a new exterior paint job! Roof only 4 years old.

Generously sized family room, updated kitchen. 213093699. $149,900

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

WHITE LAKE TWP

OAK PARK

BIRMINGHAM

Newer home on quiet cul-de-sac.

Two story foyer, double staircase, ceramic tile, fireplace, French doors, merrilatt cabinets. Spacious master.

213091425. $259,000

Beautifully maintained 3 bedroom 3 full bath brick ranch. Finished basement w/full bath, master bedroom w/full bath. Deck, c/a, lots of storage space. 213099994. $93,000

Unique and high quality custom built home in 2009. Bonus room above garage is 400 sq ft. Outstanding interior design. 213055625. $509,900

FARMINGTON HILLS

FARMINGTON HILLS

REDFORD TWP

Attractive ranch in move in condition.

Large master bedroom has master bath and his/her closets. Upgrades include roof, siding, windows, bathrooms, kitchen, interior & exterior doors.

213043383. $85,000

Welcome to this lovely home that is move in ready. Updates include roof 2008, brand new carpet, freshly painted with newer windows.

Detached 2.5 car garage, covered patio. 213106383. $134,500

Sharp brick ranch is in immaculate condition! Spacious living room has natural fireplace. Lovely hardwood floors, gorgeous remodeled kitchen.

213106659. $80,900

RELOCATION SERVICES 1-888-21-HOMES LIVONIA

RELOCATING?

COMMERCE TWP

Beautiful hard to find 1st floor Parkway condo. Perfect move in condition with all appliances, newer vinyl clad thermo windows and doorwall. Nice neutral dĂŠcor. 213086298. $44,900

OUR RELOCATION DEPARTMENT

Spacious Tri-level in popular Commerce location. Enjoy 4 large bedrooms & fenced backyard. Just down the street to all sports Commerce Lake.

213099645. $159,000

OFFERS LOCAL HOMEFINDING ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS RELOCATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-21-HOMES

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

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.

Shimmer on the River

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1. DRC board vice chair David Page (left) of Bloomfield with CEO Faye Alexander Nelson of Detroit and chair Matt Cullen of Grosse Pointe. 2. Event cochairs Maureen (left) and Roy Roberts with Retha Douglas of Bloomfield. 3. Event co-chair Sandy Pierce of Northville with Beth Chappell of Bloomfield.

4. Honoree Marlene Boll (left) of Grosse Pointe with Christina Lovio-George of Bloomfield. 5. Alice Haidostian (center front) of Bloomfield and her daughter Cynthia Haidostian Wilbanks (standing center) of Ypsilanti with University of Michigan’s Mary Sue Coleman (left) and her husband Ken Coleman (right) of Ann Arbor. 6. Karen (left) and Rick Williams with Lois Cohn of Bloomfield. 7. Fair Radom (left) with Allan Nachman of Bloomfield and Becky Hart of Birmingham. 8. Debi Snell (left) of Rochester with Beth Gotthelf and her husband Steve Miesowicz of Birmingham. 9. Anne Parsons (left) of Grosse Pointe, Betty Bright of Bloomfield and David DiChiera of Detroit. 10. Jerry Xu (left) of Troy, Robert Dempster of Bloomfield and Milan Stevanovich of Dearborn.

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Shimmer on the River A record crowd of 650 (at $350 and $200) convened in Cobo’s new Grand Ballroom on Sept. 12 for the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy’s Fourth annual Shimmer on the River fundraiser which honored the Sally Gerak generosity of philanthropists Marlene and John Bull. It also celebrated the 10th anniversary of the conservancy, some of whose accomplishments were very visible from the curved wall of glass overlooking the Riverwalk.

The ballroom occupies the 40,000 square feet that was formerly Cobo Arena.

Because it can seat 3,500 for theater-style events and 2,250 for banquets, it’s sure to be a popular choice for special events and during the brief program DRC board chair Matt Cullen shamelessly pitched it for same. He also praised and thanked DRC president Faye Alexander Nelson, vice chair David Page, event co-chairs Sandy and Tom Pierce and Maureen and Roy Roberts, visionary sponsors Quicken Loans’ Dan Gilbert, Strategic Staffing Solutions’ Cindy Pasky and Paul Huxley, and Tooles Contracting Group’s Damon Tooles. The evening also featured a strolling dinner and a 52-card raffle for a painting that legendary Detroit graffiti artist Fel3000f painted during the party. It featured Detroit’s riverfront and skyline and the $5,200 it raised will, like the ticket proceeds and sponsorships, support the Conservancy’s ongoing revitalization and maintenance of the waterfront.

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Get Your Heart Racing benefit Folks who like to drive cars fast were in nirvana at the two-day Henry Ford Health Sytem Get Your Heart Racing event. More than 300 of them attended the Friday Night Pit Party at Eastern Market Shed 3 and a capacity crowd of 200 signed up to do Mustang hot laps, drag racing and coned challenges with professional drivers the next day at Ford’s test track and proving grounds. The Pit Party featured superb cuisine by Continental Catering and Events followed by Ford designers enthusiastically describing the Mustang they created to star in the upcoming Dreamworks action movie “Need for Speed”. The movie will be released in March, 2014, and the movie star Mustang will be auctioned off in April at the Barrett Jacken Palm Springs Auction. Like the Pit Party and Driving Day, that auction will benefit the Edith and Benson Ford Heart & Vascular Institute at Henry Ford Health Systems. Attending that auction was one of 10 items Charles Wickins auctioned during the Pit Party.

That live auction ($30,000-plus) and package raffle ($1,800) brought the event gross proceeds to $350,000. And that does not count the Mustang auction which has the potential to double that figure.

Fall Benefit for ISMS The International Surgical Mission Support cocktail party scene at Dr. Mehul and Claire Mehta’s Birmingham home on Saturday evening, September 14, was a sharp contrast to the video images on the TV screen in the comfortable family room. Those were filmed by Lily Mehta, a Hope College student, in Kenya in June. They captured the activity of the 24 ISMS Team Michigan members as they performed 45 life changing surgeries in a hospital and treated 500-plus additional people in remote locations. ISMS is a secular, non-political organization created in 1996 to provide free medical care to the poor all over the world. Doctors pay their own expenses and bring the essential supplies (61 bags and crates). The 120 friends and neighbors at the Mehtas’ fourth annual ISMS Fall Benefit had been invited “to help our hands touch their lives.” They not only donated money ($19,000), they also bid $7,000 on silent auction items and another $1,000 in a raffle. This will help Team Michigan raise the $50,000 needed for its 2014 mission supplies. Dr. Mehta, a plastic and hand surgeon, explained that prior to this summer his wife’s involvement had been to hold down the home front and let him go. Last year’s mission revealed the need for another team so Team Michigan was born with Claire as the leader. She detailed such challenges as operating room power outages necessitating surgery by flashlight, surgeries lasting until nearly midnight and, hardest of all, seeing so many more people needing surgery than could be accommodated. To help ISMS Team Michigan, visit www.ismission.org.

DOWNTOWN

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Westside Christian Academy Reception Pam and Mike McCarthy and Joan and Roger VanNoord invited friends to Tom and Laurie Cunnington’s Birmingham home to hear how they could help Detroit’s Westside Christian Academy. Before the WCA leadership told the academy’s story, the 60 guests enjoyed warm hospitality and a splendid hors d’oeuvres buffet. Then the founder, the superintendent and the principal of the only K-12 Christian school in Detroit spoke about how it has been providing educational excellence for 20 years. Board chair Rick Warren followed them with an explanation of his financial involvement: “God won’t let me quit,” he said, adding, “To change the city we have to change the kids…They grab your heart.” All the speakers consider Westside an urban ministry that will help usher in a new Detroit. As of this writing, the guests’ donations are nearing the hosts’ goal of $50,000. Go to.org www.westsideca.org for more details about this remarkable school.

Get Your Heart Racing benefit

St. Hugo Family iRun4Life Over 700 participants and hundreds of their fans turned out for St. Hugo of the Hills Catholic School’s first annual iRun4Life 5K & Family Fun Run. The event had two purposes: to raise funds for updating the school’s technology and to build awareness for organ donor programs. The latter purpose was inspired by the late Timmy Vachon, who would have been an 8th Grader at the school this year, and addressed by former St. Hugo teacher Renee Morrow, herself an organ recipient. She asked everyone in the crowd to put themselves on the Gift of Life database. This can be done at http://www.giftoflifemichigan.org.

Fall Benefit for ISMS

MOCAD Gala & Art Auction Event co-chairs Elyse Foltyn, Roz Jacobson and Elle Elder definitely put the spotlight on Detroit, gritty and otherwise, at MOCAD’s annual gala fundraiser, “Detroit: A City Becoming.” The brightest was the new exhibition inspired by the DIA’s Diego Rivera murals entitled “The Past Is Present.” It features 15 murals by contemporary artists representing key moments in the city’s history. (You can see it through Jan. 5, 2014.) Also, some of the 143 lots in the auction - like Shinola watches, a Detroit A-Type bicycle and artworks - were made in Detroit. The auction was conducted online via iPad stations through Paddle8.com and all but five of the lots sold. The victuals created by Cutting Edge Cuisine were superb but one of the most thought-provoking Detroit references was printed on the dinner napkins. It was an excerpt from the poem “The City is a Woman,” by 2012 Kresge Arts Fellow Ken Meisel. (Read the entire poem at www.loriamay.com/ambassador/Meisel2.html.) The 150 guests (@ $1,000 & up tickets) enabled the gala to exceed the $125,000 goal to support the museum at the forefront of contemporary culture.

Opera Ball Sponsors Party Danialle and Peter Karmanos hosted a party for more than 60 Michigan Opera Theatre Opera Ball sponsors at their lakeside home. Boring it downtownpublications.com

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2 1. Bud Liebler (left) of Bloomfield with event chair Cindy Gorno-Czarnik of Trenton and HFHS’s Sandy Hudson of Grosse Pointe.

2. Ford’s John Felice (left) of Birmingham, Melvin Betancourt of Shelby Twp, Raj Nair of Saline and Jim Owens of Bloomfield. 3. Ford VP Raj Nair (left) of Saline with Jennifer Way Holman of Birmingham and her brother Lear’s David Way of W. Bloomfield. 4. Dr. Doug Weaver (right) of Birmingham with Debbie (left) and Mike Rowley of Grosse Isle and Dr. Judith Linn.

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1. Julia Gragg (left) of Bloomfield and Claire Mehta of Birmingham. 2. Dr. Mehul Mehta (left) and Emily Smith of Birmingham, Colleen Hekemian, RN of Saddle Ridge, NJ and Marty Priest, RN of W. Bloomfield. 3. Sophia Talmers (left) and Jennie Benson of Birmingham, Stephanie Ibarra of Grand Rapids and Nicola Mehta Brown of Lansing. 4. Julian (left) and Kelly Wellings and Robert and Jennifer Moll of Birmingham. 5. Myra Moreland and her daughter Laynie Bryant of Birmingham. 6. Fred Conway (left) of W. Bloomfield with Talbot and Henry Payne of Bloomfield and Roger Hilborn of Troy.

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Westside Christian Academy Reception

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1. WCA board chair Rick Warren (left) of Bloomfield with principal Henry Wells and superintendent Dr. Ken Hall of Detroit. 2. Event host Tom Cunnington (left) of Birmingham with co-hosts Pamela and Mike McCarthy of Bloomfield and Joan and Roger VanNood of W. Bloomfield. 3. David Curtis (left) of Birmingham and WCA founder Daryl Ounanoan of Detroit. 4. Marshall and Bonnie Fry of Bloomfield. 5. Renee Read (left) of Bloomfield and Kelly Hillman of Royal Oak. 6. Dana Curtis (left) of Birmingham and her twin Dione DeWitte of Sterling Hgts. with Terry White of Dewitt.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK was NOT. In addition to solicitous service of savory comestibles from Forte Belanger on the stage-like terrace, there was entertainment. Planned performances (by 13-year old ballerina Airi Suzuki, Metropolitan Opera soprano Jennifer Rowley, accompanied by pianist Jean Schneider and two Eisenhower Dance Studio dancers) were accented by impromptu appearances of the four, adorable-intuxedos and energetic, little Karmanos boys - Soc, Leo, Spiros and Kai. Dr “D” (MOT founder, executive director David DiChiera), also took center stage briefly to salute the hosts, the ball co-chairs Linda Orlans and Dr. Ali Moiin, and other sponsors. He noted that their donations are most important because there will be no auction at this year’s ball.

That announcement evoked approval from the guests, including Shelly Cooper who co-chaired, with Henrietta Fridholm, the inaugural Opera Ball in 1987. “It was at Stroh River Place,” she recalled, adding that “…each arriving guest’s name was announced and they were heralded by costumed trumpeters.”

MOCAD Gala & Art Auction

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1. Karen Jacobson (left) of Bloomfield, event co-chair Roz Jacobson of Birmingham and Gary Wasserman of Metamora. 2. Evrode Cassimy (left) of W. Bloomfield and MOCAD director Elysia Borowy-Reeder of Detroit with Peggy Daitch and event co-chair Elyse Foltyn of Birmingham. 3. Event co-chair Elle Elder (left) of Orchard Lake, Frech of Royal Oak and board member Cate Strumbos of Bloomfield. 4. Jean Dubin (center) with Rob and Linda Powers of Bloomfield. 5. Sandra Moers (left) of Bloomfield with Yvette Bing of Detroit. 6. Linden Nelson (left) of Bloomfield and Scott Jacobson of Birmingham. 7. Susan Learman and her husband Mark Krysinski of Birmingham. 8. Peter Remington (center) of Birmingham with Mayor Dave Bing and board member Jessie Doan of Detroit. 9. Dave Crain (center) of Bloomfield with Renee Janovsky and Debbie Bagby of Grosse Pointe.

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1. Ball co-chairs Dr. Ari Moiin (left) of Grosse Pointe and Linda Orlans of Birmingham with MOT General Director David DiChiera of Detroit. 2. Margo (left) and David Grossman of Franklin, party host Danialle Karmanos of Orchard Lake and Karen and Rick Williams of Bloomfield. 3. Party host Peter Karmanos of Orchard Lake and Luisa and Chrysler’s Gualberto Ranieri of Bloomfield. 4. Barbara Frankel (left) and her husband Ron Michalak of W. Bloomfield with Toby and Sam Haberman of Birmingham. 5. Fred Clark (left) of Grosse Pointe with Joanne Danto and her husband Arnie Weingarden of Birmingham. 6. Ethan Davidson (left) and Marta and John Schaefer of Birmingham. 7. Patrick Jakeway and Til Klem of Bloomfield.

8. Linda Orlans (left), her daughter Alison and Joann Gora of Birmingham.

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Cutural Council Arts Award Photographer Laurie Tennent serves on the Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Council and is usually on the jury to select the annual Arts Award recipient. But as she said after she received the 2013 award during a reception at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center on Oct. 20, “I was wondering why I had not been asked to be a juror this year…I thought maybe (I was being spared) because they knew how busy I have been.” Busy indeed. Some of her remarkable plant photographs baked on aluminum “canvases” were at the BBAC on loan from the Robert Kidd Gallery. And Tennent’s “Benevolent Lens” had just been extolled by Kids Kicking Cancer spokesman Cindy Cohen and other speakers who referenced her work for Haven, Michigan AIDS Coalition, Art Road and The Kelley Fund for the Center for Creative Studies. Speaking of the latter, when this reporter first began doing a newspaper column with black & white photos in 1978, Laurie Tennent was a photography student at CCS. Luckily, on an early assignment I met her parents who suggested Laurie could develop my film in her darkroom at their home across the street from Seaholm much faster than was otherwise available in those days.

She did so for a long time and this reporter was especially proud to be in the crowd of 100 at the reception.

Birmingham House Tour The Birmingham House Tour presented by Hall & Hunter to benefit The Community House surely has staying power. The 26th annual version chaired by H & H realtors Ginny Fisher and Rita O’Brien attracted more than 1,000 tourists ($40-ticket) and another 116 for the lunch buffet ($15-ticket). The seven houses offered lots of variety: a warm and inviting contemporary just off Woodward; a 1920s Tudor with intriguing architecture, antiques and a magical garden; a sophisticated in town retreat filled with treasures from the owners’ world travels; a comfortable and practical luxury home with lower level “play” areas for kids and adults; Carolyn Heffner’s The 11.13

China Closet events planning shop designed by John Breco to bring a charming domesticity to the former Huston Hardware loft in downtown Birmingham; TCH CEO Camille Jayne’s new, barrier free, art collection showcase overlooking Oakland Hills CC 4th fairway; and, the one that everybody was buzzing about, Loren Weiner’s hip, colorful showcase for her artistically redesigned chandeliers, hand painted rugs, unique window treatments and mid-century modern furniture happily ensconced in an early 20thCentury traditional wood house.

Epilepsy Foundation Toasting Hope The fifth annual Toasting Hope wine event benefiting the Epilepsy Foundation attracted about 200 wine aficionados to The Townsend ballroom for sampling wines from all over the world grouped at nine stations and a 10th station offering spirits from Royal Oak’s Valentine Distilling Company. Guests also had such savory food choices as risottos, salmon and cheeses to give them energy for a live auction conducted by Richard Nucian with past chair Mel Sternfeld cajoling those he knew well to raise their bids. It worked because the 10 lots garnered $16,000plus, including the $6,000 that two different people paid for an all-inclusive party for 50 at Mr. Joe’s Sports Bar. The event raised more than $78,000 for the foundation’s mission – leading the fight to stop seizures, find a cure and overcome the challenges created by epilepsy. For information about its services, go to www.epilepsymichigan.org.

BARD Foundation’s City Social Anne and Scott Strickland, Patrick Thornton and Lauren Freund chaired the Born and Raised Detroit Foundation second annual fundraiser that drew a crowd of some 300 mostly young people to the Detroit Yacht Club on a gorgeous night early in the month. The historic edifice was festooned with twinkling lights on 14 trees, some donated

by Fleur Detroit. For a donation, one could select a tree to be planted in the Riverfront Conservancy’s Milliken State Park with a BARD plaque bearing the name of whomever the donor wished to honor. The covered veranda was a popular place when guests weren’t checking out the small silent auction or dancing to the Dan Rafferty Band. Funds raised ($75 & $85-tickets) will support initiatives that create positive experiences for Detroit youth. Visit www.bornandraiseddetroit.org for information about some of the BARD grant partners.

CRUSH Birmingham The Wine and Food Classic that is Children’s Leukemia Foundation’s signature fundraiser is an extraordinary opportunity for local residents to experience private jet culinary service at economy class fare. I mean, seriously, for $250 (less than the price of the cheapest round trip fare to Florida), 235 of the 350 guests at CRUSH savored the superb creations of 12 master chefs paired with exquisite wines selected by most knowldowntownpublications.com

Cutural Council Arts Award

2 1. Gordon Cox (left) and his wife /awardee Laurie Tennent, her son Ben Schweiwe of Bloomfield, daughter Sarah Tennent of Seattle, WA and stepfather Jerry Hutcheson of Birmingham Laurie is holding the jacket given to her in gratitude by Kids Kicking Cancer. 2. Event volunteers Dottie McDermott (left) and Patti Peacock of Birmingham, Carol Marshall of Bloomfield and Lucille Schmitt of Beverly Hills.

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1. Event chair Rita O’Brien (left) of Birmingham and Ginny Fisher of Troy. 2. Kate Klein (left), Kristin George and Mitzi Martin of Birmingham. 3. Jackie Cohen (left) of W. Bloomfield; Arlene Beerman of Bloomfield and Suzanne Lasser of Birmingham.

Epilepsy Foundation Toasting Hope

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1. Alysse (left) and Andrew Mengason of Birmingham with Todd Hohauser of Ferndale. 2. Pat and Courtney Lowman of Birmingham.

3. Committee member Sharon White (left) of Bloomfield, EFM president Arlene Gorelick of Southfield and Carole Hecker of Birmingham.

BARD Foundation’s City Social

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1. Adam Devlin (left) of Royal Oak with Anne and Scott Strickland of Birmingham.

2. Jordan Paterra (left) of Ferndale with Lauren and Nick Freund of Birmingham.

3. Alex (left) and Lilly Stotland of Birmingham (left) with Kristin Lusn of Royal Oak and Jason Eddleston of Birmingham. 4. Dani Levin (left) of W. Bloomfield, and Meredith Gannes of W. Bloomfield. Photos by Amy Zimmer.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK edgeable sommeliers. Even the 115 who paid $350 got a deal, because more of their dollars were a charity donation. But all were able to relish mouthwatering treats like truffle risotto, pan seared diver scallops, Kona crusted beef tenderloin, smoked chicken ragout with cheesy grits, and slow braised veal with creamy polenta. Now, granted that some guests drooped more dollars ($55,000) in the live auction Dan Stall conducted, but they’ll have more first class fun with those purchases.

The evening at The Townsend also offered food for the soul. Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Dr. Charles Schiffer, who hurried back from Europe to attend the event, received the Pioneer in Medicine Award. It was presented by Judy, a 15year-old CLF patient who has battled acute lymphocytic leukemia for five years. Judy’s courage was saluted by 16-year-old Eloise Alterman who sang Jana Kramer’s “I Won’t Give Up”. Honorees also included Rob Bluthardt, Jeff Cavazos, Gary Gonzalez, Mike Hopkins, Jr., Craig Pessina, Bill Royce and Ed Williams. They have raised more than $638,000 for CLF since 1994 when they launched Gray’s Reef Golf Classic, a successor to the Glen W. Fortinberry Memorial.

The night before CRUSH 30 lucky people, including four CLF patients’ family members and benefactors ($750-ticket), attended the Winemaker Dinner in Forest Grill’s second floor private dining room. They savored a superb, fivecourse experience. It was topped off with a rare tasting of Louis XIII Remy de Martin cognac.

Remy also sponsored, for the fifth year, CRUSH After Hours. It enticed 175, including 60 Young Adults ($125-ticket) for spirits and dancing to the Royce and Jenn Band until 2 a.m. in the Regency Ballroom. It was a spirited conclusion to an evening that raised $175,000 for service to leukemia patients. This brings CRUSH proceeds since its inception six years ago to $1 million plus.

CRUSH Birmingham

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1. Honoree Dr. Charles Schiffer and his wife Pamela of Bloomfield with sponsor Acura of Troy’s Tom Zielinski and his wife Lisa of Auburn Hills.

2. Honorees Rob Bluthardt (left) of Bloomfield, Mike Hopkins and Jeff Cavazos of Troy, Craig Pessina and Ed Williams of Beverly Hills.

3. Anna Abbona (left) of Barolo, Italy, Deb Berline of Bloomfield and Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon of Southgate. 4. Christian (left) and Emily Kunath of Birmingham with Valentina Abbona of Barolo, Italy. 5. Sponsor Varnum Law’s Dick Hooker (second from left) of White Lake with Mary (left) and Steve McGraw and Karen and Larry Acker of Bloomfield. 6. Leukemia survivor Judy with Eloise Alterman of Bloomfield. 7. Chris and Nancy Chaput of Bloomfield. 8. Julie (left) and Nick Karmanos, Dan Cornwell and Todd Halsted of Bloomfield.

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Detroit Public TV’s Premiere Night

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1. Pam (left) and Todd Wyett (right) Barbara and Michael Kratchman and Joy and Allan Nachman of Bloomfield. 2. Todd Wyett of Bloomfield with honoree Michael Brennan of Northville and his son Sam Brennan of Detroit. 3. Past honorees Ken (left) and Kimberly Whipple with party host Allan Nachman of Bloomfield. 4. Joy Nachman (left), Lois Shaevsky and Barbara Kratchman of Bloomfield. 5. Michael (left) and honorees Melanie Colaiane of Northville and Dana Locnisker of Bloomfield. 6. PBS board chair Chuck and Joanne Ciuni of Bloomfield. 7. Steve Miesowicz (left) and his wife Beth Gotthelf of Birmingham with honoree Faye Alexander Nelson of Detroit. 8. Christine Beck (left) of Bloomfield, Rose Angelucci of Harrison Twp and Cheryl Phillips-Thill of Northville.

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Detroit Public TV’s Premiere Night A week before Premiere Night attracted 400 public TV supporters to the Westin Book Cadillac, nearly 100 of the benefactors ($400-ticket) among them experienced the generous hospitality of Allan and Joy Nachman and Barbara and Michael Kratchman at the Nachmans’ art-filled home. ‘Twas a much more laid back social for the event honorees - Dana Locnisker, Michael Brennan, Melonie Colaiane and Faye Alexander Nelson – than the main event where they each starred in a video highlighting their contributions to Detroit Public TV. Among those applauding them were event chairs Pam and Todd Wyett and past honorees like Ed Deeb, Rosalie and Bruce Rosen, Susan Cooper, Kimberly and Ken Whipple, Dick Rassel, Jerry Jung and William H. Smith, as well as Maggie Allesee, whose pet project “Dance on Detroit” was featured in the Premiere Night video preview of coming attractions. DPTV’s Fred Nahhat also did what he does best – conduct auctions. He got folks to part with $38,000 for four items, including an all-time high bid of $12,000 for a wine dinner 11.13

party hosted by Bobbi and Stephen Polk.

Counting the auction, the 12th annual Premiere Night raised some $250,000.

Belle Isle Polish the Jewel More than 400 Belle Isle Concervancy advocates attended the Polish the Jewel luncheon at the casino and adjacent tented dining room.

Nearly 100 of them had also gathered for the Benefactor Party a week earlier on the roof of the M@dison Building where the amenities are sophisticated and the view of Comerica Park adds some excitement. Sheila Cockrel chaired the ninth annual fundraiser which raised more than $200,000. It’s noted for its high level of support by the charity, civic, business crowd and the stunning hats the guests wear. The latter fact did not go unnoticed by Chevrolet’s Charles Burns, GM of the Chevrolet Detroit Belle Isle Grand Prix. He promised that next year he would don a cool hat.

The Belle Isle Conservancy’s new president, Michele Hodges, gave an update on the impressive list of improvements to the island gem. The announcement of the state’s leasing the island from the city occurred after the luncheon, but the conservancy is on record as supporting the arrangement. If you haven’t been there lately, go to www.belleisleconservancy.org to learn what you are missing.

HAVEN’s Tailgate Party We should not have to be here,” said retired Detroit Lions fullback Corey Schlesinger. He was speaking to 130 supporters of HAVEN at halftime of the Michigan State-Notre Dame football game.

They were gathered at Birmingham Country Club for a tailgate party. Schlesinger, now a school teacher, told about the HAVEN class he taught high school jocks on being a real man. “It’s not the cars...money…and women,” he replied to their answers. “A real man takes care of his family and his community,” he said, adding that he wanted his two daughters to find “real men.”

Since the prevention of domestic and sexual violence is the ultimate HAVEN mission, tackling the issue was the theme of the inaugural tailgate party. The food, putting contest and game watching were also lots of fun (except for the preponderance of MSU fans in the crowd) and raised about $40,000.

Grand Jester’s Reception For seven consecutive years Norm and Scott LePage have hosted The Parade Company’s Distinguished Clown Corps Grand Jester’s Reception at The Reserve. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the generous ($1,000 per year) parade supporters and, during that time, as Parade Company CEO Tony Michaels noted, there have been a total of 2,000 DCs. The two of longest standing among the 170 at the reception were John Landis and this year’s Grand Jester, Maggie Allesee. Both were presented regal new capes to top off their clown outfits for their frolic in America’s Thanksgiving Parade. It will travel more than two miles this year and be presented downtownpublications.com

Belle Isle Polish the Jewel

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1. Alicia Maase (left), Sarah Earley and Dorie Shwedel of Bloomfield with Michele Hodges of Grosse Pointe.

2. Kate Beebe (left) of Birmingham, Sheila Cockrel of Detroit. 3. Milliner Gina Conti (left) of Wyandotte with Patricia Hill Burnett of Bloomfield. 4. Marj DeCapite of Birmingham and Priscilla Perkins of Troy. 5. Toni Jaroszewicz (left) of Brownstone with Judy Jonna of Bloomfield.

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HAVEN’s Tailgate Party

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3 1. Event chairs Mark Avery (left) of Rochester Hills, Laurie Lang of Troy and Dave Sokol of Oakland. 2 Gregg (left) and board members Carole Brumm of Bloomfield and Bill Canney with Cheryl DeMaturo of Grosse Pointe. 3. Emcee Katrina Hancock (left) of Detroit with HAVEN board member Chuck Moore and his wife Teri of Birmingham. 4. Speaker Corey Schlesinger (left) of Dearborn, sponsor Lear’s Carla Sarti of Shelby Twp., HAVEN CEO Beth Morrison of Bloomfield and committee member Jeff Addison of Royal Oak.

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1. Tony Michaels (left) of Rochester Hills with John Landis of Livonia and Maggie Allesee of Bloomfield. 2. Tony Michaels (left) of Rochester Hills, Beckie Sorensen of Bloomfield and Carol Ann Babb of Melvindale. 3. Pat and Laura Fenton of Birmingham. 4. Bonnie Jobe (left) and Larry Walsh with Vivian Pickard of Bloomfield. 5. Lyn (left) and Barry Connelly of Birmingham, Kelly Allen of Rochester Hills, Jim Gnewkowski of Bloomfield and Norm LePage of W. Bloomfield. 6. Sue Bixler of Bloomfield and Gary Corbin of Grosse Pointe.

7. Charles Wickins (left) of Birmingham, Laurie Horvath of W. Bloomfield and Rich Sorensen of Bloomfield. 8. Jackie Jenrow (left) of Gaines and Jennifer McDonald of Schwartz Creek with Beckie Sorensen, Mollie Proctor and Teri Fenner of Bloomfield.

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by Art Van Furniture. Some of the DCs will also wear their outfits to Hob Nobble Gobble Friday, Nov. 22 at Ford Field.

DC “House Mother”, the Parade Company’s Carol Ann Babb, said any new DCs must get enrolled by Nov. 1 in order to get their custom clown suits made on time. Call her at (313) 923-7400.

BBCC Vine & Dine

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1 1. Tim Wyman (left) and Jennie Cascio of Bloomfield with Joe Bauman of Livonia. 2. Heather and Scott Gardner of Birmingham.

3. Bruce McConnell of Farmington Hills with Peggy Dahlberg of Bloomfield. 4. Brian Frank (left) of Beverly Hills, Peter Kreher of Birmingham and Pat Grady of Troy.

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Karmanos Book Release Party

New Day Foundation The 3rd Annual Mickey York’s Evening Under the Stars benefitting New Day Foundation for Families attracted 250 ($100 and up tickets) to the festival tent at Meadow Brook Hall for dinner, dancing and auction bidding. As it was last year, the live auction highlight was the bidding for a walkon role in the Hallmark Channel television movie based on foundation founders’ Michael and Gina Kell Spehn’s bestselling memoir “The Color of Rain.” It chronicles their late spouses’ cancer battles, their subsequent marriage, the creation of their new combined family and their foundation that provides urgent financial assistance to families affected by cancer. Domenic and Kris Milicia followed in the footsteps of last year’s winners Vince and Lisa Asaro by winning it with a real generous bid and then donating the experience to a New Day family. A golf tournament at the Sharf Golf Course two days later attracted 125 golfers.

Combined, the two events raised $110,000 for young families in financial crisis due to cancer.

1 1. Pete Karmanos of Orchard Lake.

2. Danialle Karmanos of Orchard Lake.

3. Karmanos Cancer Institute’s Maureen Bender of Rochester Hills and book co-author Rebecca Powers of Birmingham. 4. Gail (left) and Mel Ball of W. Bloomfield with Sam and Katie Valenti and Karen Davidson of Bloomfield. 5. Steve Read (left) and Jeff Shandler of Bloomfield and Paul Lehnert of Novi. 6. Fair Radom (left) and Kim and Mark Reuss of Bloomfield.

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Decades of Dress Luncheon /Fashion Show Speaking of Meadow Brook and the Sharf Golf Course, Patti Sharf was in the crowd of 140 ($125 & up tickets) who attended the benefit luncheon and fashion show at Meadow Brook Hall on Oct. 2. It featured a Verdura jewelry trunk show, Meadow Brook costume exhibit, premium raffle packages and a Neiman Marcus fashion and jewelry show. “The luncheon was lovely, the models tall, the clothes beautiful and the best part of the afternoon was seeing and talking to Maggie (Allesee). She’s phenomenal,” reported Patti, knowing that the indomitable octogenarian philanthropist is in the throes of chemo and radiation treatments. The event - planned by Gretchen Adler, Wendy Alterman, Barb Gentile, Story John, Deborah Lee, Colleen Ochoa-Peters, Maggie Savage, Michelle Sclabassi, Debra Shea and Ann Stinson - raised funds to conserve items from Meadow Brook’s extensive costume collection, including this year’s selection: a stunning 1924

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BBCC Vine & Dine About 400 guests ($75-ticket) attended Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce Vine and Dine which was held, for the first time, in Troy at Neiman Marcus. Old timers may remember when Somerset Collection was viewed by Birmingham retailers as “The Competition” but now some of them, like Neiman Marcus, are fellow chamber members. The Center for Financial Planning was the presenting sponsor and CFP’s Tom Wyman hosted a private reception for clients and chamber board members on the third floor, where OCC’s Culinary Institute had a scrumptious food station. Folks socialized and sipped champagne before joining the hoi polloi on the second floor to sample more savory comestibles by 17 purveyors. They also bought $50 chances for a diamond necklace donated

by Astreins Jewelry. Before the Neiman Marcus fashion show, program emcee Jackie Paige pulled the winning ticket belonging to a surprised Linda Hatfield. Event proceeds will benefit the Chamber, Gleaners Community Food Bank and OCC’s culinary arts scholarship fund.

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gold tissue evening gown worn by Matilda Dodge Wilson.

That the Grand Lady of Meadow Brook was the first woman Lt. Governor of Michigan was one of the luncheon factoids that impressed Lois Shaevsky, a guest at Charlene Handleman’s table.

Meadow Brook Hall will be all aglow during its 42nd annual Holiday Walk from 11 a.m.–5 p.m. Nov. 29 through Dec. 23. Unlike in years way past, when the Big Three auto company heads and their wives took turns spearheading a pricey gala dinner, special events are now much more affordable at the National Historic Landmark manse. They include two High Teas ($50), Breakfast and Supper with Santa ($30-adult, $25-children), and the Starlight Stroll Thursday, Dec. 12. For $75 per person, the latter offers an elegant evening of holiday entertainment, live music, strolling dinner and cocktails. For reservations, call (248) 364-6252 or go to www.meadowbrookhall.org/visit/holidaywalk.

Karmanos Book Release Party JC Crain and Ethan Davidson tossed a memorable party celebrating a memorable event - the release of Danialle Karmanos’ book “Pete Karmanos A Life in Progress.” The expected movers and shakers were in the crowd of 200 but the party venue - The Detroit Mercantile Co. - was surprisingly notable. Upon entering the handsome brick building on Russell St. just north of the Eastern Market sheds, you are in an old fashioned-looking dry goods store filled with wonderful “provisions for the urban pioneer.” (They have a great website at www.detroitmercantile.com.) But go through the door at the back of the shop and you are in a huge warehouse/event space with a traditional bar on one side and a stage at the far end, all with vintage patina, and a side exit to an outdoor cigar terrace.

Forte Belanger’s cuisine and Mikki Mood’s party planning played to the casual, vintage room with copious hors d’oeuvre selections passed on wooden wagons and trays before Davidson, Crain and the author and her husband walked onto the stage. The hosts each had fun at the podium and then the author thanked her publisher Bill Haney, co-author Rebecca Powers, and others for keeping her on track before she read flattering, sincere comments about Pete from the forward of her book. Pete then referenced Compuware’s recent cancellation of his consulting contract for criticizing the current management. “I do feel strongly about things,” he acknowledged. He went on to call the book remarkable and thanked “…Danialle for saying all those wonderful things about me.” It is a handsome book whose 106 pages chronicle Pete’s business, philanthropies and family. Aptly named, too, since all those phases of his life are definitely proceeding with vigor. It’s available only at the Detroit Shoppe in Detroit and the Somerset Collection for $44.95. Every guest got a copy thoughtfully signed by both the author and her subject. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be divided between Karmanos Cancer Institute and Danialle Karmanos Work It Out, a nonprofit organization that fights childhood obesity.

Christ Child Society’s Night of Angels The Detroit Christ Child Society may be old (100-plus years) but the quartet that co-chaired its annual Night of Angels fundraiser augurs well for many more decades of vitality. Sarah French, Marla Green, Sarah Kepic and Kelly Eberlein are so young they are still provisional members.

They moved the event from a country club to The Townsend and sold out (300 guests). In addition to cocktails, dinner, the downtownpublications.com

Christ Child Society’s Night of Angels

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2 1. Event co-chairs Sarah French (left), Marla Green, Sarah Kepic and Kelly Eberlein of Birmingham. 2. Honoree Terry Nagle (left) and his brothers Marty and Chris of Royal Oak. 3. Pam Hildebrand (left) with her husband Joe and Nancy Varbedian of Birmingham. 4. Elaine Szot (left) of Troy, Maureen Wesley, and Pam Gray and Madelon Ward of Bloomfield. 5. Lyn and Barry Connelly of Bloomfield. 6. Bob and Sarah Dodge of Birmingham. 7. Sara Young (center) of Bloomfield and Bill and Anne Farnen of Birmingham. 8. Diane Greenawalt (left) and Sherrie Cantrell of W. Bloomfield with Sandy Demery and Joanne Cherney of Bloomfield. 9. Christina Golusin (left), Madeline Vaitas, Zoe Ryder and Clare Parks of Bloomfield and Sarah Thomas of Birmingham. 10. Dave (left) and Anne Sommerfeld of Bloomfield and Mary Kay and Kevin Heintz of Birmingham.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK silent auction ($23,000), live auction ($60,000) and raffle ($7,000), they also had energy left to cap off the evening with casino gambling, courtesy of Conway Mackenzie. A highlight of the evening occurred when Terry Nagle, described by Christ Child House executive director John Yablonky as “…the quintessential volunteer…generous with time and money,” was honored for his 14 years of caring deeply for the at-risk boys at the house. We also noted enthusiastic applause when Johnny Maalouf, who has hosted CCS events in his Birmingham salon, won the Epicurian raffle and when someone placed the high bid of the evening ($12,500) for a private plane trip for six to the Kentucky Derby. In all, the evening, one of the most successful in its long history, raised more than $130,000.

The next CCS fundraiser on the calendar is the popular Christmas Home Tour Friday, Dec. 6. In addition to the holiday-decorated homes, the event offers breakfast or lunch and boutique shopping at Birmingham Country Club. To get an invitation, call one of the chairs, Karen Kearnes at (248) 613-5771 or Shawn Vestevich at (248) 645-2326.

Lipstick & Lace

Lipstick & Lace Nearly 150 girlfriends (at $50 & up) cruised the Neiman Marcus beauty aisles at the Alzheimer’s Association’s girls night out event. With “Keep on Trash DJs” music filling the first floor, they sipped, snacked, socialized, shopped and generally glammed it up. Some got TapSnap photos, eye and hand massages, smoky or glamorous eyes, neck treatments and instant beauty masks. However, most were too young to need the latter. Gretchen Davidson and Nedda Shayota chaired the Alzheimer’s Association mini fundraiser. The signature AA event – Chocolate Jubilee Goes Country – will put the spotlight on diamonds and denim Saturday, Nov. 9 at the MGM Grand. For tickets ($200 & up), call Marilyn Jacobson at (248) 996-1048.

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Good Samaritan Membership Tea Lisa Wilson, president of the Holy Cross Children’s Services Good Samaritans support group, welcomed members and wannabes to a tea at Orchard Lake Country Club.

HCCS CEO Br. Francis Broylan also attended and showed a slide presentation documenting the activities of the social service agency which started ‘life” 60 years ago as Boysville. It now serves children and families statewide, including at its large, eastside Detroit Samaritan Center. Guests were also reminded to save April 30, 2014 for a fundraising dinner at Cuisine restaurant followed by a performance of “Sister Act” at the Fisher Theatre.

2 1. Ruthie Underwood (left) of Royal Oak and event co-chair Gretchen Davidson of Birmingham with Carol Ziecik and her daughter Lacey Jacobson of Bloomfield. 2 Event co-chair Nedda Shayota of Bloomfield and Molly Tally of Southgate. 3. Kelley Muzingo (left) of Grosse Pointe and Nicole Eisenberg of Bloomfield. 4. Andrea Morganroth (left) of Birmingham, Julie Valla of Bloomfield and Margo Grossman of Franklin. 5. Brenda Rosenberg (left) and Denise Tobin of Bloomfield with Pam Noll of Clarkston.

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Charles H. Wright Museum Brazil Gala Many of the 500-plus guests ($300 & up tickets) are still buzzing about the third annual gala fundraiser for the museum of African American history. This year it moved from the museum to the MGM Grand ballroom where the celebration gave new meaning to the word Carnival. Event designer Curb Gardner took his cue from the “Bandits & Heroes, Poets & Saints: Popular Art of the Northeast of Brazil” exhibition currently on display until Jan. 5 at the Wright. Guests were transported to the Amazon via a forest of trees and a large screen video of a waterfall backing the stage. The dinner tables provided ringside seats for the show, ensuring guests a good view of the dancers’ spectacular costumes and body painting. After the show, the costumed dancers joined guests on the dance floor. Thanks also to Ford and other generous sponsors, the soiree raised $575,000.

Cattle Baron’s Ball The same night as the above reported gala, some 700 generous folks saddled up at the new Cobo Grand Ballroom for the 11th annual local American Cancer Society Cattle Baron’s Ball, this year sponsored by Chrysler. Some 200 of the sponsors and VIPS, including event pioneers Kay and Gary Cowger, stopped first at a special reception before joining the hoi polloi for the culinary offerings from local eateries, silent auction bidding, mechanical bull riding and music by Annabelle Road and Ty Stone. During the traditional Parade of Chefs, food and beverage awards were announced: Best Sweet: Forte Belange; Best Savory: Dirty Dog Jazz Café & Skyline Club; Best in Presentation: Forte Belanger & TM Catering. A live auction included such items as a one-of-a-kind Voodoo Chopper and a Chysler 300c John Varvatos Limited Edition package. It generated $250,000 of the $1 million raised by the 2013 Cattle Baron’s Ball to help fight cancer.

Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390.

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ENDNOTE

Birmingham must establish a gift policy

R

ecently, Birmingham received an offer from a wealthy Bingham Farms resident who claims he would love to have the city create a Japanese conifer rock garden in Linden Park with a $60,000 gift. He had already hired a landscape architect and had advanced designs done, and gone so far as to get bids and personally picked out the rocks for the garden prior to appearing before the city's parks and recreation board and the city commission.

At the most recent city commission meeting, on October 21, Marshall Lasser told commissioners, “I want the city to understand I stand ready to give much, much more money to the city because I love gardens and parks.”

Birmingham City Commissioners unanimously chose not to accept Lasser's gift. We applaud that decision for many reasons, chief among them that no one individual or business should be permitted to dictate what goes into any area of the city or how it looks, no matter the size of a donation. Dangling the carrot of financial wherewithal makes a proposal tempting, but it's one which all civic leaders, both elected and staff, must have the willpower to resist.

For almost 20 years, Birmingham has worked hard to follow the guidelines of the 2016 Master Plan, which was created with a great deal of civic involvement and professional guidance. It has offered direction in developing a far more walkable Birmingham; in creating the city's very successful bistro ordinance in 2007, which has activated the downtown core; in traffic flow; redesigning the passageways and vias, which are still a work in progress; the redesign of N. Old Woodward, with its boulevard and slowdown of traffic, which has encouraged the growth of retail and restaurants; the encouragement of first floor retail space, rather than offices, in order to foster greater foot traffic; and the recreation of Shain Park as a town square.

The parks and recreation board has also created a master plan, which has worked on Shain Park, Booth Park, Barnum Park, and now Kenning Park. A Japanese conifer rock garden in Linden Park, whether a beautiful idea or not, is not part of the parks' master plan; neither are ideas Lasser has for Linn Smith Park, where he told commissioners he would like to donate next, as long as his ideas were followed. While some nearby residents were receptive to his ideas of beautification, many others

told commissioners they prefer the parks the way they are.

Mayor pro tem Scott Moore told Lasser, in denying him his proffered gift, “We can't just have people coming in giving gifts and allow folks to come in and say where something should go. That's not government. It's public property. It's wrong. It's not good governance.”

In the past, there have been other situations where gifts have been offered, including to Booth Park, which resulted in a parks plan for the resulting play structure, and at Barnum Park. Previously, they were told that they could give to an unrestricted gift fund, or to an already approved project, but they could not determine policy. Commissioners need to create a gift policy that will encompass projects citywide, whether it's for a garden at a park, a park bench in someone's name, or if a developer wants to pay for building or a piece of art on a piece of city property. Guidelines need to be established that are clear for donors, and for staff, so that everyone is operating on the same page at all times.

And civic planners determine the appearance and flow of the city, not wealthy and eccentric patrons.

Our choices in upcoming city elections

T

here are three open seats for both the Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills city commissions in the Tuesday, November 5, election in which incumbents in both communities are seeking to retain their seats against challengers.

Candidate responses on issues posed by Downtown can be found on our website at downtownpublications.com.

Based on candidates' views and our experience covering municipal government, here's our choices for the commission races in both cities.

BIRMINGHAM Three incumbent commissioners are seeking to remain on the Birmingham City Commission: Rackeline Hoff, who is completing her third term on the commission; Mark Nickita, finishing his first term after 10 years on the city's planning board; and Stuart Sherman, running for his third term. While each has their specific areas of expertise, they are all consummate professionals, diligent in their preparation for meetings and on numerous committees representing the commission, city and residents. They, along with the four other commissioners, have done an excellent job preparing Birmingham for the fiscal crisis the entire country experienced over the last several years. By providing good stewardship, Hoff, Nickita and Sherman have helped steer Birmingham through a difficult period of plummeting property values. We believe they will continue to provide Birmingham with the leadership needed to keep the city growing, vibrant and fiscally sound. We endorse RACKELINE HOFF, MARK NICKITA, and STUART SHERMAN for another term as city commissioners.

There is a challenger in the race who is basically running the identical race she ran, unsuccessfully, two years ago. A challenger must always provide a compelling reason why they are better qualified and a wiser choice for voters than an incumbent. This challenger has failed to offer voters a difference in opinions or positions other than her youth, while failing to participate in any part of the city's process, from attending meetings to volunteering on other boards or commissions, while the incumbents have consistently given of themselves.

commissioners, who will continue to grapple with fiscal precariousness in a community which values service, will look carefully at the possibility of shared services with neighboring communities because it has successfully worked in other municipalities. We also believe it is imperative that the city, and therefore the commission, discuss the possibility of accelerating road improvements to maintain roads which befit the city of Bloomfield Hills, even if it may mean going back to the ballot for short-term millage increases.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS In Bloomfield Hills, two incumbents, Pat Hardy and Stuart Sherr, are running to be returned to the city commission, as are two members of the city's zoning board of appeals. One candidate did not return any materials to us, in essence removing himself from consideration. The other, Michael Coakley, chairs the ZBA. Hardy has sat on the commission for over 10 years; Sherr, for just one, having been appointed to fill the remainder of former commissioner (now state Rep.) Mike McCready's term. Sherr briefly was a member of the planning commission before becoming a city commissioner.

Voters should return PAT HARDY and STUART SHERR, and elect MICHAEL COAKLEY to the Bloomfield Hills City Commission. We enjoy Hardy's candor, which is sometimes at odds with her fellow commissioners, and Sherr's financial analysis and prudence, but we hope that in the future all three, if elected, will distinguish themselves as strong, independent leaders, not parrots of resident surveys.

Leaders must always do the right thing, even when those they lead do not recognize what that might be.

We hope that all of Bloomfield Hills

BLOOMFIELD HILLS CHARTER AMENDMENTS Bloomfield Hills voters are being asked to vote on four charter amendments. We recommend a YES vote on all four.

The first asks voters to support a change in municipal elections. Beginning in November 2015, all five commissioners will come up for simultaneous election for a two-year term. Previously, commissioners have been elected in May for two-year terms, but their terms were staggered, with elections being held every single May. It will also change municipal elections from yearly to bi-yearly, on odd-years.

The second amendment requests permission to change the city's organizational meeting from the first Monday following the election to the first Tuesday following the election to conform with the city's meeting schedule.

The third amendment would impose a conflict of interest proviso on commissioners. The fourth changes language about the city's budget approval deadline which will now be indicated as the second Tuesday in May rather than May 10 as now stated.

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