Rochester/Rochester Hills

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL 15 | GERAK SOCIAL LIGHTS 40

R O C H E S T E R

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R O C H E S T E R

H I L L S

DECEMBER 2017

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Hope spring water’s eternal Although industry officials and some in the science field say that aquifer water can be replenished, others express concern that heavy withdrawal by the bottling industry will have serious impact on underground and surface waters.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

10

When allegations of sexual assault of two school girls at a private party in Oakland Township were lodged with police, one would think that their prep school community would step forward to help police authorities, but instead a wall of silence has been erected.

CRIME LOCATOR

13

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

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

15

Andy Levin name enters top spot speculation; Elissa Slotkin outraises congressman; Mike Bishop election rule violations; Lawrence staffer resigns after on harassment charges; plus more.

MUNICIPAL

34

Moratorium extended in vaping for multi-tenant commercial buildings; redevelopment plan for Rochester brownfield by Paint Creek approved; Innovation Hills Park donation; plus more.

THE COVER The annual tradition of the Big, Bright Light Show in downtown Rochester, which involves over one million points of light each year.

The holiday lights display are part of the seasonal celebration that includes the annual Christmas Parade on Sunday, December 3.

Downtown photo: Rochester Downtown Development Authority.

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Alan Brown

SOCIAL LIGHTS

40

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

ENDNOTE

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Our concerns about the rules that are finally being written, nine years after voter approval, to regulate the medical marijuana business in Michigan. And our thoughts on Rochester reassessing their fire department services.

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PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Hillary Brody | Dana Casadei | Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak Austen Hohendorf | Lisa Rose Hook | Bill Seklar Judith Harris Solomon | Joyce Wiswell | Julie Yolles PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in Rochester, Rochester Hills and parts of Oakland Township. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Rochester and Rochester Hills.

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

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

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FROM THE PUBLISHER ver the coming days and weeks it will be interesting to see if what I call the wall of silence will prevail in the possible criminal case of sexual assault at a party of prep school students that occurred in late October at a private residence in Oakland Township, or whether students on their own, or at the urging of their parents, will finally help law enforcement authorities sort through the complaints filed by two female students.

O

As of this writing when were are getting ready to release our December issue of Downtown newsmagazine to the printer, here is what we know: On October 28, according to conflicting accounts, somewhere between 50 and 130 students, mostly from Cranbrook Schools, showed up at a private residence in Oakland Township for a party organized by two female students of the school, one of whom was the daughter of the owner of the home.

The father of one of the student “hosts” was present and other parents had reportedly phoned in advance of the party to make sure that adult supervision would be present – pretty standard procedure when minors are attending a party.

Evidently there were reports of drinking at the party, no big surprise whether school officials and parents want to hear it or not.

The day after the party, one female student appeared at the Oakland County Sheriff substation in Oakland Township to file a complaint that she had been sexually assaulted at the party. A day later, a second girl filed a similar complaint at the sheriff’s substation.

Law enforcement officials have the name of a male senior at Cranbrook as a “person of interest” in the case but then investigators ran into the wall of silence.

The male student, we are led to believe, has “lawyered up” and won’t talk to police officials investigating the sex assault complaints.

We are told by sources that the homeowner/parent whose house was the site of the party has declined to talk to police officials.

Further, we hear that the site of the party was cleaned up, basically removing any chance that authorities could confirm first hand that alcohol was present at the party or if anyone may have altered drinks with drugs as part of the alleged sexual assaults.

A couple of sources have said they heard that one of the students at the party began texting other students asking everyone to keep a lid on details of the party and, if questioned, to stay with the corporate line that the parent present at the party had everything under control and nothing of note happened at the gathering.

On the flip side, we are told school officials have instructed faculty, members of the administration and various governing boards to refrain from discussing the party and related sexual assault charges. A classic case of circling the wagons.

So what we now have is two teenage girls, ages 16 and 17, who had the courage to seek police authorities for purposes of filing complaints that they had been sexually assaulted, but it appeared initially that no one was willing to come forward to support them or, frankly, refute the charges which basically left the male student hanging out to dry also.

Evidently, a couple of people, weeks later, have finally come forward with some information and the department has taken what they have at this point to the Oakland County Prosecutor’s office which will determine whether there is sufficient information to file charges or if added investigation needs to be done.

A sad state of affairs all around, and one that sends a clear message in this case and future ones that females should think twice before reporting sexual assaults and cooperating with law enforcement lest one wants to risk finding themselves isolated and ostracized in the school community.

Over at the Cranbrook Schools campus in Bloomfield Hills, we had heard that school officials were interviewing students and compiling reports but they were tight-lipped, no doubt in part because of student privacy concerns and possible concern over any impact on the school’s reputation, even though the alleged sexual assaults happened at a private residence, not at the school. Initially the only response anyone received was that Cranbrook would have no comment until the sheriff’s investigation was complete but that could not happen unless the Cranbrook community cooperates – a classic Catch 22 situation. More recently the school has said publicly that they have finished their investigation under Title IX requirements and would be taking “appropriate” action.

Law enforcement officials say they are still hoping others will come forward with information on what happened at the Oakland Township party.

The reputation of the school and that of the student/parent community at this or any public/private school is not served well by continued silence on allegations of sexual assault.

One would hope that Cranbrook students who attended the party, including we are told at least a few whose parents are connected to Cranbrook in one fashion or another, would see the importance of coming forward to share what they know with the Oakland County Sheriff’s office. Failing that, parents who know their child attended the party should insist that their student do the right thing and help sort through exactly what took place at the party by contacting law enforcement.

As a parent, I understand the natural inclination to shield your children from possible problems. It is one of your legitimate roles. But I would suggest the role of a parent also includes providing important life lessons, in this case showing that involvement is essential, especially since law enforcement officials have already announced that anyone who comes forward will not be charged with underage drinking at the party. They are also accepting completely anonymous tips at the township substation (248.652.4671) or at a hotline (800.SPEAK.UP). Remember – this is not a case of just underage drinking but a much more serious case of possible sexual assault.

I know first hand the quality of education provided at Cranbrook and the dedication of the administration and teaching staff, and I understand the sense of community that develops at this or any school. So I am counting on the student community, and if need be their parents, to step up and demonstrate the values that are held by many at the school. This lesson can do nothing but strengthen the reputation of Cranbrook and it’s one that will reverberate well beyond the confines of the campus in Bloomfield Hills.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@DowntownPublications.com

INCOMING Digital political advertising I thoroughly agreed with David Hohendorf’s article in the (November) Downtown newsmagazine.

Our last election was a sham and it's shocking that so few are outraged and concerned about our democracy being hijacked. The $1.00 disclosure and disclaimer requirement for traditional media should also apply to all forms of digital (political) advertising.

This is important to all Americans regardless of their political persuasions.

Thank you for informing others on what everyone needs to know.

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SPLC not great source I agree with you that it appears that hate groups (November/ Downtown), however defined, seem to be on the rise. Some of that apparent increase in numbers and activity may be the result of more extensive coverage in the media but this country does seem to have lost, to a great extent, the capacity to disagree without being “disagreeable” and committing acts of verbal and physical violence.

That said, I find it curious that you based your article on SPLC (Southern Poverty Law Center) information when that organization can be considered to be a hate group itself based on its own definition. One example was its listing of The Family Research Council as a hate group when that group simply expressed its views of marriage and took other politically incorrect positions on current issues. They have been very careful to avoid any expression of support for anything other than reasoned and even-handed debate over the serious issues that seem to divide us these days. They have never, to my knowledge,

SPEAK OUT We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Rochester/Rochester Hills communities.

Although we do not have a fixed maximum length for letters sent to us, we recommend a maximum length of 175-200 words. We also reserve the right to edit letters for length if necessary.

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

“attacked or maligned an entire class of people” for mutable or immutable characteristics. If the SPLC has evidence of such an attack, as opposed to merely a statement of an opposing opinion, I will stand corrected.

If simply expressing an opinion contrary to what the SPLC believes is correct makes a hate group, our country is in even more serious danger that I thought. It is also interesting to note that the Department of Defense, the Department of Justice, and the FBI have all distanced themselves from the SPLC recently because of its biased and distorted view of what defines a hate group.

Thank you for your coverage of this very sensitive and important topic but I believe that a broader and more balanced presentation of the issue would have better served your readers and perhaps might have even contributed to a better understanding of the opposing positions and perceptions of each respective “other side.”

Richard Boyse Oakland Township

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OAKLANDCONFIDENTIAL P O L I T I C A L N E W S / G O S S I P F ROM DOWNTOWN NEWSMAGAZINE WRITERS

OAKLANDCONFIDENTIAL.COM

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DOWNTOWN

12.17

CRIME LOCATOR

Map key

NORTH

Sexual assault

Robbery

Larceny from vehicle

Drug offenses

Assault

Breaking/entering

Vehicle theft

Arson

Murder

Larceny

Vandalism

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Rochester and Rochester Hills through November 22, 2017.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL Oakland Confidential is a periodic column of political gossip/news, gathered both on and off-the-record by staff members at Downtown newsmagazine.

We welcome possible items for this column which can be emailed to: OaklndConfidential@DowntownPublications.com. All sources are kept strictly confidential. The gossip column can be viewed at OaklandConfidential.com.

SEARCHING FOR A SEAT: The Democratic field for governor in 2018 may be getting bigger. Andy Levin of Bloomfield Township confirmed he is definitely looking at jumping into the race in which fellow Democrat Gretchen Whitmer is currently leading. “It’s true I’ve been on a serious exploration of looking at the governor’s race, and I will make a decision very soon,” he said. As for his father, Rep. Sander Levin’s long held 9th District congressional seat, rumors are circulating that the 86-year-old may step down, but Andy said, “My dad is in his seat. Every day my dad continues to serve is a great day. He is my role model. But that is LEVIN something I would consider. I live in the 9th. The 9th symbolizes the flip from Obama, and the diversity of the country, in Macomb County.” Levin has a solid background in both the public and private sector, having worked as a deputy in the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor and Economic Growth and created Michigan’s “No Worker Left Behind” initiative to train unemployed individuals for new jobs during the Great Recession. He has built Lean & Green Machine, an energy finance marketplace to help property owners finance energy efficiently. “I’m an entrepreneur with a start up, but when November 2016 came, I had to turn back to public service. Whatever I do, I will focus on that.”

IT’S THE THOUGHT: “We must lead by example in our own offices by instituting mandatory sexual harassment prevention and response training now,” Southfield Democratic Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence said in a November 3 letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives, urging them to adopt mandatory sexual harassment training for their offices. Four days later, three women who worked as former aides to Lawrence told POLITICO the congresswoman kept her chief of staff, Dwayne Duron Marshall, on her payroll despite receiving multiple complaints from the women about alleged inappropriate LAWRENCE comments and physical contact toward them. Lawrence, who subsequently put Marshall on leave pending an investigation, told the website she had no knowledge of any sexual harassment in her office, despite claims by the women that they had made it clear they didn’t feel comfortable around the former chief of staff. Lawrence is a former sexual harassment complaint investigator for the federal government. On Thursday, November 16, Lawrence said in statement that she accepted Marshall’s resignation and will move forward with an investigation focused on the current and future climate of the workplace environment. “Validating an environment of zero tolerance for harassment of any kind is a high priority of mine,” she said.

8-BALL: We don’t know if Congressman Mike Bishop (R-Rochester, Rochester Hills) is getting worried about challenger Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly), but between her pedigree and her first reported fundraising report, we sure would be if we were him. Slotkin, who had a stellar career in the CIA and Defense Department, including serving three tours of duty in Baghdad where she was a Middle East analyst for the CIA, and later was the Acting Secretary of Defense for Russia, Middle East, Europe and Africa, raised $460,939 between July 1 and September 30, compared to SLOTKIN Bishop, who raised $365,616 in the same time period. Even more favorably for Slotkin, of the dollars raised, more than $433,000 came from individuals, while a majority of Bishop’s – $240,203 – came from political action committees, or PACs. While the district has been reliably Republican for years, The Cook Political Report, recently changed its projection from ‘likely Republican’ to ‘lean Republican.’ They point out the pluses for Slotkin, while noting she has just moved back to Michigan and has yet to registered to vote in the state as a potential liability.

FEE-VOLITY: Speaking of PAC money, a Livingston County Democratic Party official has filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC) over the alleged failure for a political action committee associated with Bishop to file any financial disclosure reports, according to The Detroit downtownpublications.com

News. The complaint was filed by the Democratic party’s county chairperson, and comes just weeks after the paper reported the Rochester Republican failed to file any such reports associated with his leadership committee, Making Bold Initiatives + Solutions To Help America (M-BISH PAC). Federal records show campaign finance reports were filed by the committee on November 4, a day after The Detroit News reported on the issue. Craig Mauger, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said late filings aren’t uncommon. “It’s not unusual, BISHOP but there are varying degrees of how bad the mistakes are,” he said. Earlier this year, the organization issued a report noting that at least 50 percent of state lawmakers paid fees for failure to comply with Michigan’s reporting requirements. Those fees totaled $97,000 in recent years.

HORSE RACE: Next year’s election is 11 months away, but pundits are beginning to handicap the odds of those who are running in the 11th District congressional race, currently held by Republican Dave Trott of Birmingham. The district, which includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills, Troy, western Oakland County and parts of Wayne County, has attracted an assortment of seasoned politicians and neophytes on both sides of the aisle.

Based on the current field, some Republicans are saying it could become a two-man race on their side between Plymouth HEISE Township supervisor Kurt Heise and state Rep. Klint Kesto (West Bloomfield), dismissing oil heiress Lena Epstein of Bloomfield Hills and perennial candidate Rocky Raczkowski (Troy) as not having a chance in the primary. Heise has a long record as conservative lawmaker, and Kesto is the first Chaldean to be elected to the state House, a point of pride in the Chaldean community. “I haven’t heard anything good about Lena, other than from her about all the money she’s raising,” said one prominent Republican, “and it’s all a loan from herself.” Of the $956,591 Epstein raised in the last quarter, $615,000 was self-funded.

LESSONS LEARNED: In early October, Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Saginaw) was nominated by President Trump as Assistant Secretary for Career, Technical and Adult Education under Education Secretary Betsy DeVos of Grand Rapids. Couple of problems. Kelly, who is the chair of Michigan’s House Education Reform Committee, not only approved a resolution to get rid of the state Board of Education, but has a blog where he’s written about things like putting all Muslims on a no-fly list; that money really shouldn’t be spent on women going into things like science or engineering – “Studies point to data that indicate men and women simply have different tastes when it comes to areas of study,” as if it was about choosing between steaks and sushi; and that Head Start is a waste of money. “Why should we continue to pay for this failure?” he wrote. Trump has pulled Kelly’s nomination, so he will just impact us Michiganders, at least until his final term ends in 2018. As for his opinions, Kelly said in May that he and DeVos both believe in universal choice, and the federal position would help some students avoid debt by having technical training instead of getting four-year college degrees. DeVos has had no comment.

TSL: About $114,000 in political campaign donations has been used by state Senator Jim Marleau (R-Bloomfield Township, Lake Orion, Clarkston) to pay off credit card debt since 2011, according to recent news reports, for things like clothes and meals at McDonald’s. But here’s the rub. State law prohibits elected officials from using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses. Campaign finance records filed with the Michigan Secretary of State indicate Marleau had been notified of the issue for years. In August, the state sent a notice to Marleau’s committee – which is basically him, as he’s listed as the committee’s treasurer – stating that an amended statement must be filed by September 13 or state law “requires MARLEAU this office to refer this matter to the Attorney General.” Political consultant Denise DeCook, a senior director at Sterling Corporation, said she is working with Marleau’s office and professional accountants on the matter. “We haven’t gotten anything back yet, but they are plowing through the information,” she said. DeCook said it’s fairly common for issues to arise when a campaign uses an internal worker or volunteer to handle campaign finance reporting, rather than a professional bookkeeper or accountant.

Hmm. Marleau is a former township treasurer and retired small business owner.

DOWNTOWN

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FACES Alan Brown or Rochester Hills park ranger Alan Brown, crafting stone and metal into fine works of art is an escape from the daily grind.

"I'm not sure if I'm a park ranger who works as an artist, or an artist who works as a park ranger," Brown said, who has worked at Bloomer Park since 1980. "The ranger thing started as a summer job as soon as I got out of high school. I got hired full time while going to college. I majored in illustration, but when I got out I didn't want to make it my pay for my bills. It becomes a different beast when you make it your living."

Trading in his illustration pen for power tools, Brown took an interest in three-dimensional work in marble and bronze before graduating from the College for Creative Studies in Detroit. Today, Brown mines his own stone each summer at a quarry in Marble, Colorado, bringing back nearly a half-ton in his pickup truck each year.

"There are many other artists there," he said of the quarry. "It's more of a pilgrimage than a vacation. I've done it for the past 12 years, and go every July."

Using diamond-tipped bits and burs to shape the stone, Brown begins crafting the stone before he leaves the quarry.

"I start it there. You want to get as much weight off of it as you can," he said. "By the time I bring it back here, I'm using smaller grinders and Dremels with drill bits.

"It's dangerous. You bleed and get scraped, but that's part of what I like about the work," he said. "There's a physical demand to it. I'm usually tired, bruised and beat up afterward."

The finished works are neoclassic themes featuring stone elves, mermaids and other fantasy beings accented by bronzecrafted natural features. Brown's work has been featured at ArtPrize and has taken first place at the Michigan Fine Arts competition.

The life-size sculptures take up to a year to complete, and some projects spanning several more, with the artwork being done in the evenings after leaving the park. Still, he said the influence of his work as a park ranger bleeds into the natural elements of his art.

"Art is basically escapism. There are a lot of artists who focus on bringing attention to the horrors of our society and things that are going on, but to me, we still need pretty stuff to take you away from the bad things going on," Brown said. "Not that it's not important, but to go into the fantasy world and neoclassical sculpture and good feeling stuff, that's the direction I go with my work.

"I'm not trying to change the world here, but we do need stuff to make you smile."

By separating his artwork from his career, Brown said he's able to spend more time on the pieces, giving them the attention to detail he may not be able to do if he were under more pressure.

"The park ranger job gives me the freedom to do my artwork," he said. "I can take a year to work on a piece, and I don't have to get it done and get it out there. It allows me the freedom to spend time on pieces that I want to, and that to me is important at this point in my life."

F

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

SPRING WATER CONCERNS ABOUT HEAVY WITHDRAWAL FROM AQUIFERS

BY LISA BRODY

ichiganders take pride in being the Great Lakes State, with our shores surrounded

by Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Superior and Lake Erie, along with Lake St. Clair and with thousands of inland lakes, rivers and streams in the interior of the state. In total, the Great Lakes account for 84 percent of North America’s surface fresh water and 21 percent of the world’s supply of surface fresh water, and some are concerned that our state is a natural target for others who want to take water from the Great Lakes Basin, although state officials years ago took great pains, with neighboring states and Canada, to codify protections.

Environmentalists and naturists, however, also are becoming increasingly concerned that inland lakes, streams and underground supplies will dry up and not be available for future generations if large-scale users, including the bottled water industry, continue to grow and flourish here.

In 2016, for the first time, bottled water outsold all other packaged beverages in the United States, with sales reaching $16 billion – up nearly 10 percent from 2015, according to Beverage Marketing Corp.

But the bottled water industry is just one large scale user of Michigan’s natural spring water, along with agriculture and manufacturing industry, all of which take millions of gallons of water out of underground aquifers through wells, in exchange for a minimal $200 annual permit fee. But the volume bottlers consume each year pales in comparison to agriculture and manufacturing uses, according to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), which says water bottlers are only responsible for one percent of total water usage. Companies such as Absopure and Nestle, which pumps millions of gallons of water from wells in northwestern Michigan land it owns for its Ice Mountain brand of bottle water, pay nothing more than any basic municipal customer would for the water itself – leaving environmentalists and others to question the privatizing of a public resource as well as whether aquifers and streams will go dry.

M

NESTLE OWNS THE LAND IT HAS ITS WELLS ON, AND AT LEAST IN MICHIGAN THE GROUNDWATER BELOW BELONGS TO THE COMPANY.

The controversy escalated recently because Nestle Waters North America, which has a number of bottled waters and beverages in its portfolio, including Ice Mountain from Michigan’s groundwater; Acqua Panna; Arrowhead; Deer Park; Poland Spring; Perrier; San Pellegrino; Zephyrhills; and Ozarka; currently pumps more than 130 million gallons of water a year from Evart, Michigan, and areas nearby, in the northwestern part of the lower peninsula. In the last year the Nestle company has been seeking a permit from the Michigan DEQ to allow them to increase their capacity by up to 60 percent more. Some water experts contend that natural recharge from rain and snowfall are replenishing whatever is being removed by Nestle, while others disagree, pointing to dry streams and dying trout as a byproduct of the bottled water operations here.

Is the Great Lake State in danger of going dry? Definitely not.

And overall, neither are aquifers. But concerns remain.

“Spring water is bottled from very small, fragile water bodies, where even a small amount can have a large environmental impact,” said Wayne State University law professor Noah Hall, who also runs the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center. “It can devastate the trout population of a spring, while it will not change the Great Lakes. The environmental impact on a small scale is very much up for debate – how well is the law working versus protecting vulnerable streams from excessive water pumping.”

Representatives from the bottled water industry contend that it is in their best interest to protect the environment, having made large investments in the state, as well as providing jobs and infrastructure.

“Businesses that set up bottling facilities are extremely concerned about making sure their water sources will be available for many, many years,” said Jill Culora, vice president of communications, International Bottled Water Association. “To that end, they take steps such as buying and protecting the land area surrounding the water source and facility, monitoring and measuring water use and withdrawals, and reducing the amount of water used in production.

In many cases, state or local governments set limitations on water withdrawals to protect the sources. Compared to other industries, bottled water uses a very small amount of water – just .011 percent of all water used in the United States and .02 percent of all groundwater used. In addition, bottled water uses less water than any other packaged beverage to produce.”

“People don’t realize how much water there is, and how much recharge there is,” said hydrologist Lou Vittorio of Earth Resources, which has done research for Nestle, although none on the company’s projects in Michigan. “Users of these wells are interested in having their sources sustainable. They don’t want to dry up their source because they’ve put in an investment. They don’t want to dry up their plant and not have it available for their use.

“A one-liter bottle of water takes 1.3 liters of water to make, versus other products which take much more water, like beer, soda and beef,” Vittorio said.

“Nestlé Waters North America has a deep commitment to Michigan, its people and the natural resources we share. We have made a long-term investment in Michigan and take great care to operate in a responsible and sustainable way to protect our shared water sources and the surrounding environment. For over 15 years,

we have proudly created jobs and supported community needs, while managing our operations to ensure long-term sustainability,” said Arlene AndersonVincent, Natural Resource Manager, Ice Mountain in Michigan. “Nestlé Waters North America’s pending application before the MDEQ is based on over 15 years of extensive studies and regular monitoring of groundwater, surface water and the local ecosystem. We are confident in the expertise of the professional scientists – both from inside and outside the company – who collect and evaluate the data. In support of our application, we have provided an unprecedented amount of data to the state of Michigan. We have over 100 environmental monitoring sites and have conducted numerous scientific assessments near the White Pine Springs well. This monitoring network confirms that our water use is managed for long-term sustainability. Rainfall and snowmelt recharges the aquifer every year at a rate higher than our proposed withdrawal, meaning that we’re taking out less than what nature is putting back in.”

Colura from the bottled water group concurred. “People often don’t realize that water is a renewable resource. Groundwater is recharged from rain and snow, and volumes vary from state to state.”

The position of industry spokespersons is reaffirmed by Jim Spink, supervisor of Liberty Township west of Jackson, who said water withdrawals by Absopure in the area have never impacted the surface waters of Clarklake “going north to Jackson or west to Lansing. There’s no sustainable impact in my opinion to the (Grand) River, to the township, or to the flow. The amount they withdraw a day is much less than an agricultural well withdraws a day. We don’t have any complaint with Absopure. They’ve been a good corporate neighbor. Most people don’t know they’re there. Here, we don’t see an impact.”

He said he understands Absopure withdraws approximately 10 semi trucks worth of groundwater a day, “and there are 10,000 gallons in a semi, so that’s 100,000 gallons a day. I’m a farmer, and the rate of capacity of my irrigation well, I draw about 1.1 million gallons a day. But I have recharge.”

He pointed out that in the area, “it’s very porous down to the aquifer because it’s very gravelly.”

In northwest Michigan, Evart City Manager Zackary Szakacs did not return repeated request for comment, but in the past has said that Nestle’s purchase of water keeps costs low for the 2,000 residents of the city, who have a median income of $19,000, and that it’s a good partnership for the town. The city is paid approximately $250,000 a year in water fees. When Nestle moved its operation to Mecosta County in 2000, state and local officials gave them a $13 million, one-time tax break.

While Nestle’s permit request initially appeared like it would receive a rubber stamp approval, growing backlash over Nestle’s push to pump increasingly more water out of Michigan has prompted greater review and public hearings by the DEQ. Since it was announced last year that the DEQ was ready to sign off on a 67 percent capacity increase on the high volume well Nestle owns in Osceola County, the DEQ has received well upwards of 14,000 comments, most of which oppose the increased water extraction.

Included in the debate has been concern about water depletion,

IN 2016, THERE WERE 472 REQUESTS FOR LARGE QUANTITY WITHDRAWALS, MOST FOR AGRICULTURE AND MANUFACTURING.

Nestle taking the water for “free” – because they only pay a $200 permit fee – and that they then sell the water at a profit.

Ileene Anderson, a senior scientist with the Center for Biological Diversity in California, said that Nestle does not pay for water in California when pumping for its Arrowhead brand water in the San Bernardino Mountains either, an area which has experienced drought the last several years.

Maine, where Nestle gets its Poland Spring water, is among a few states that does charge a small amount for extracting groundwater for bottling. But the Center for Biological Diversity said it does not know of any national organization or database which tracks states efforts – or lack of – to charge for groundwater extraction, regardless of how precious a resource it is.

Michigan, New York, California, and several other states have what are known as “reasonable use” laws, meaning property owners can extract water from wells as long as it doesn’t affect other wells or the aquifer systems. And it is important to note that Nestle owns the land it has its wells on, and at least in Michigan the groundwater below belongs to them.

“It’s part of the property rights in all of the state, in rural areas.

The groundwater is considered part of your property. It’s how farmers are able to put in irrigation wells,” explained Nick Schroenk, law professor at Wayne State University and director of Transnational Environmental Law Center. “So Nestle owns that property. They can pay this permitting fee and the electrical costs to get water out of the ground. The only exception is you can’t use groundwater to the point where it is detrimental to neighboring property owners. If I use so much groundwater that I harm a neighbor’s well, or divert so much water from a stream, so they get less water from it, that’s an issue. That’s why the DEQ has been undergoing a review to see if there’s an adverse impact to natural resources. That’s how the legal framework is set up.”

In California, Nestle has long paid the U.S. Forest Service an annual rate of $524 to extract about 30 million gallons, even during droughts.

“This became very important to us with the ongoing drought and its impact to Strawberry Creek,” Anderson said. “Nestle has been diverting so much water, the creek is going dry and endangering native species. There are puddles where the creek was – there’s no actual water flow. It’s stress to the fish. It wasn’t even originally Nestle that had the permit, but a prior company which Nestle bought, and they’re operating under an old permit which had expired in the 1980s. We believe they shouldn’t be operating in 2017 on a permit that expired in 1988.”

She noted they filed a federal lawsuit to prevent Nestle’s operation, which they lost. “We’re appealing it now.”

Water-rich Michigan is different, at least on the surface. But below ground, the water is as valuable as gold to miners.

Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation, which led a group that sued Nestle and prevailed in 2003, and then finally settled with the multinational corporation in 2009, with Nestle agreeing to reduce pumping from 400 gallons a minute to 218 gallons per minute, with certain restrictions in spring and summer, and residents hoping there would be less environmental impact.

Now, they are going after Nestle again, with a decision expected in mid-November after this issue of Downtown went to press.

Nestlé’s Anderson-Vincent said, Nestlé Waters has worked to be a good neighbor to Osceola Township for over 15 years. We value our relationships with township residents and community leaders, and always strive to create shared value within the communities where we operate.”

“It’s a national issue, but Nestle is operating locally,” Wayne State’s Hall noted.

“There have been similar concerns and fights all over the country. Nestle is everywhere, and they’re using a playbook. How it plays out in one state sets a precedent elsewhere – and Nestle likes the withdrawal laws in Michigan.”

A question remains, how much water extraction is too much water?

“In general terms, there’s not broad concern about aquifer depletion or over-taxing our resources. We’re a water-rich state. It’s why a lot of industries want to locate here,” noted Andrew LeBaron, environmental quality analyst with Michigan DEQ. In 2016, LeBaron said, there were 472 requests for large quantity withdrawals, although not all were approved. Of those, a majority were from agricultural concerns, which use very large quantities of water for irrigation purposes, and for manufacturing in the state, for all sorts of purposes, including in the automotive industry.

Of those 472 requests, 80 were for approved water bottlers. “Most of those are customers of some municipal water system,” LeBaron said.

As for bottlers of spring water, the numbers show that they are minor in comparison, with Nestle with nine wells, including four wells at one site; Absopure, which is headquartered in Plymouth, has four wells in Jackson County; Millbrook Water Company, a small bottler with one well located in Mecosta County, near where Nestle owns its land and wells; White Cloud Natural Spring Water, in Newago County, also has one well; and Shay Water Co., in Saginaw, has one.

“The threshold in the law is that if they are pumping less than 1.5 million gallons a year, they just have to check a box on the reporting form and they don’t have to indicate how much they are pumping,” LeBaron said. “It can really be the size of the wells and how much they pump from them more than the number of the wells.”

Howard Reeves, a research hydrologist with the United States Geological Survey (USGS), agreed with LeBaron’s assessment that Michigan’s water is generally secure. “There have been questions raised on both sides. Some say there is not conservation and enough protective measures being taken, holding things up, and on the other side, some say they’re too conservative. But yes, as to protecting groundwater and aquifers, while there are challenges, overall, I think so.”

He said a 2008 state review process by USGS was intended to be proactive, “to prevent any adverse impact from any high capacity well, which we define is more than 70 gallons a minute for at least a 30-day period.”

Primary high capacity well users are municipalities, industry, agricultural users, and water bottlers, Reeves said.

“We define an adverse impact as what is defined by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), which is how the ecology would be changed by the impact on the flow for an area, but not on every stream’s reach,” he explained, noting there are about 6,000 little catch basins stationed around the state that are looked at. “We

SPRING WATER COMES FROM AQUIFERS – UNDERGROUND LAYERS OF ROCK SATURATED WITH WATER FROM NATURAL SOURCES.

look at the flow leaving that little catchment.

What happens is, you might have a few streams meeting up to join a larger stream.

One small stream may be impacted (by water extraction), but the whole stream area has a level of protection.”

Reeves explained the concept behind the assessment and legislation that was passed by the Michigan legislature in 2008 was the idea is that “you can’t protect everything from all impact, because any development will have some impact on groundwater. You’re looking to have protection to the system as a whole while looking at various areas of the whole state.”

Reeves believes overall, groundwater and aquifers are being protected.

“Are there challenges? Yes, I think so. But overall, it is proactive,” he said, “because it watches how much water can be removed from an area. People are working around the state to help determine how much can be removed from certain areas, to see if the removal from certain wells is impacting the stream flow.”

Spring water comes from aquifers, which are underground layers of rock which are saturated with water from natural sources that can be brought to the surface through natural springs or by pumping.

The groundwater that is contained in aquifers is considered one of the most important sources of water on earth, and according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), about 30 percent of the liquid freshwater we have across the globe is groundwater. The remainder is found at the surface in streams, lakes, rivers and wetlands. A majority of the world’s freshwater – about 69 percent, according to NOAA, is locked away in glaciers and ice caps.

Much of the drinking water society depends upon is contained in shallow aquifers which are accessed through wells. Water in an aquifer can be held beneath the earth’s surface for centuries; hydrologists estimate that there is water in some aquifers that could be more than 10,000 years old. Other water in aquifers is weeks, or months, old, having been refreshed by recent rainfall. But there is a limit as to how deep drilling into an aquifer’s well can go, noted USGS hydrologist Steven Phillips, because the deeper you drill, the saltier the liquid becomes.

“Groundwater can be very, very deep, but eventually it’s a brine,” Phillips said. “For freshwater, the depths are limited.”

In addition, he cautioned, once an aquifer is contaminated, it’s extremely difficult to remediate. Hence the necessity to watch groundwater contamination from fertilizers and other contaminants.

In Michigan, hydrologists say there is an added benefit with aquifers because the ground is very permeable, permitting water to flow easily through it to underground aquifers. According to Idaho Museum of Natural History, aquifers must be both permeable and porous and “include such rock types as sandstone, conglomerate, fractured limestone and unconsolidated sand and gravel. In order for a well to be produced, it must be drilled into an aquifer. Rocks such as granite and schist are generally poor aquifers because they have a very low porosity. A well is a hole drilled into the ground to penetrate an aquifer, (and) normally such water must be pumped to the surface.

If water is pumped from a well faster than it is replenished, the water table is lowered and the well may go dry.” Areas with heavy clay ground have poor aquifers and groundwater because it is difficult for the water to travel through.

They explain that groundwater is so clean because aquifers are natural filters that trap sediment and other particles, such as bacteria, and provide natural purification of the ground water flowing through them, similar to how a coffee filter works as coffee is being brewed.

The same works in reverse, as the areas are “recharged” with rainwater and snowfall, replenishing the aquifers.

“Are we in danger of depleting our aquifers?

Absolutely,” said Liz Kirkwood, executive director of For Love of Water (FLOW), an advocacy group in Traverse City whose mission is to protect the common waters of the Great Lakes Basin through public trust solutions, disagreeing with state experts.

“So many of the issues of the last several decades are coming up now because of Nestle, Flint (lead and water contamination), Detroit (water shut offs), Oakland County (the 48-inch main collapse). We are at a moment that is abundantly clear that states don’t have a good handle on groundwater extraction. There is a shared vision that we must have clear, safe drinking water.”

Besides ensuring that groundwater is not contaminated, FLOW works against what they consider is the privatization of public water, water equity and depletion of groundwater. They were instrumental in challenging the bottled water industry – notably Nestle – and worked to get the Great Lakes Law established in 2006 in Michigan, also known as the water withdrawal law, which regulates large quantity water withdrawals.

According to the 2006 law, “large quantity withdrawals” are any withdrawals greater than 100,000 gallons a day averaged over a 30day period. Every large quantity withdrawal must be registered with the MDEQ, and then permitted, unless it is for agricultural purposes, and then it must be registered and permitted by the Michigan Departure of Agriculture.

Volumes of the large quantity withdrawals must be reported to MDEQ by April 1 of each year on a specific form, with an annual $200 reporting fee. The bill is designed to “prohibit a new or increased large quantity withdrawal from causing an ‘adverse resource impact.’

An adverse resource impact is defined as impairing the lake or stream’s ability to support its characteristic fish population. Taking too much water from a stream will change the flow depth, velocity and temperature of the stream and hence the types of fish expected to be found there.”

Initially, the bill only applied to streams with trout, but in 2008, it prohibited adverse resource impact to all lakes and streams.

The bill also required a permit for certain new or increased large quantity withdrawals of greater than two million gallons per day, of which there is a $2,000 permit fee, unless they are a local unit of government.

The law specifically stated, “A new permit is required for a water bottling operation that uses a new or increased large quantity withdrawal of more than 250,000 gallons per day. This permit can only be granted if the withdrawal would not cause an adverse resource impact, the use is reasonable under traditional Michigan water law, riparian rights are protected, and the water bottler undertakes activities to address the hydrologic impact of the withdrawal.”

The law developed a water withdrawal assessment process that determines the impact of a specific withdrawal on river systems by calculating the effect of the stream flow reduction on fish populations.

THERE’S A LOOPHOLE IN THE 2006 LAW THAT ALLOWS CONTAINERS OF 5.7 GALLONS OR LESS TO LEAVE THE STATE OF MICHIGAN.

In 2008, to strengthen the law, it was amended to expand the permit system as well as to create an assessment process to determine whether a proposed withdrawal could create an adverse resource impact to river systems in Michigan. It required permits for all new and increased withdrawals over two million gallons per day for any source, including the Great Lakes, inland lakes and rivers, and groundwater. The law permitted the withdrawals only if they met specific standards, and do not violate public or private rights and limitations imposed by Michigan water law or other common law duties, and require public notification of any water withdrawal application, as well as a public comment period of at least 45 days.

For bottle water withdrawals, the bill lowered the threshold for permits for bottled water withdrawals to 200,000 gallons per day. It also changed its assessment of a “large quantity withdrawal” as a withdrawal of over 100,000 gallons per day averaged over a 30-day period, stating that withdrawals of that size are prohibited from streams, rivers or groundwater because it causes an adverse resource impact.

“There’s a loophole in the 2006 law, that while they technically can’t divert water from the Great Lakes, it allows containers of 5.7 gallons or less to leave the state,” Kirkwood said, which she pointed out is how the bottled water industry gets around the law and removes water from Michigan.

“There is a rush to the water near the area of bottle water withdrawals, and concerns to wetlands and streamflow in small springs can have major detrimental effects to the area near where the pumps are located,” said Transnational Environmental Law Center’s Schroenk. “But there are also impacts to neighboring ecosystems when you remove water from springs, because it affects areas downstream, when you think about the amount of water being removed – there’s the impact to rivers, wildlife, nature, fish. When we compare the amount of water Nestle is bottling out of the Great Lakes, it’s a drop in the bucket. But that’s not an accurate assessment, because it’s the impact to the local watershed we’re most concerned about.

Reeves from USGS said they go out and measure the rivers all over the state, “and we can determine how much came from runoff or groundwater flow. There are a couple hundred stations around the state... We estimate the flow of the rivers over time and look at the long record. Scientists then determine how much is from runoff or baseflow. Usually with a well, the numbers sound large, but compared to most rivers and streams, it’s a pretty small number. It gets people worked up because the numbers get so big, that they’re pumping a million gallons a day. But a million gallons a day is only 1.8 cubic feet a second. Even modest size streams are tens to hundreds of cubic feet per second.

“We’re trying to track the potential impact of the number of wells going, and as you add more and more, there is a greater impact,” Reeves noted. “We’re looking for the cumulative impactive of many wells.”

“My hunch is there has been so much public interest going to the DEQ on this Nestle permit increase – if they were just going to increase the permitting, they may increase it, but perhaps not the full 400 million gallons Nestle is requesting, because Nestle can’t prove that there will not be some negative impact to that local watershed.

It’s a significant loss to that ecosystem,” Schroenk continued.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash, a water

environmentalist, said that wells drilled into one area have a huge impact on wells farther away. “They’re (water bottlers) taking such large withdrawals that it spreads and pulls from other wells,” he said. “It affects the whole ecosystem. It may be limited by geography, but it can have an effect.”

Schroenk said scientists and environmentalists are less concerned about the quantity bottlers like Nestle are removing per day, than the quality, “because for example, municipal systems like Great Lakes Water Authority are permitted to withdraw how many millions of gallons of water a day. It doesn’t matter if it’s General Motors (withdrawing water) to build car parts, municipal customers, or Pepsi to bottle water, it’s the impact.”

Unlike Nestle, which around the country withdraws natural spring water from groundwater and sells it in bottled water, PepsiCo and Coca Cola use municipal water – yes, basic tap water from local water systems, which is then further purified, bottled and sold, in Pepsi’s case as Aquafina, and in Coke’s, as Dasani. Charging money for what people can pour from their sinks. Locally, they bottle municipal water from the Great Lakes Water Authority – good old Detroit tap water.

Which raises another issue which troubles those opposed to water bottling: the commodification of public water by private entities.

“The $200 permit fee, sure it’s a problem, but what’s not clear is the solution,” Professor Hall said, noting that an increase could open the door to greater commodification. “We have to be careful how we raise money on water. We don’t want to budget on the stewardship for water from permitting of water use – at least not without more checks and balances on the permitting process. In legal precedence, there’s greater distrust in permitting of water, because water does not belong to the government – it belongs to the public. It’s part of the public rust. It’s not capable of being owned. The government’s role is as a trustee. So, even for a big whopping fee, the government can’t ‘sell’ it.”

The latest battle from activists is now water equity, protecting water because it is a public right. FLOW’s Kirkwood said they have been working with state legislators, with House Bill 5133 introduced in October 2017 by state Rep. Peter Lucido (R-Shelby Township), that would levy an excise tax of five cents per gallon on the production of bottled water and would provide for the collection and administration of the tax, penalties, with monies raised being used for infrastructure improvements in the state. It is currently with the Natural Resources committee.

“It’s not just protecting water in natural pristine watersheds, it’s protecting people’s drinking water in major metropolitan areas,” Kirkwood said. “Our perspective is through the public trust lens. It means holding state leaders accountable so the municipal infrastructure is kept public and the reason that matters is we have seen when municipal infrastructure systems have become privatized, water rates and problems have increased for citizens.”

“If they take oil out of the ground, they have to pay for it. They should have to pay for our water,” said Oakland County’s Nash. “If it’s our resources, they should have to pay for it. In Michigan, we’re looking for revenues. They’re taking it without paying for it. I think that’s unfair.”

“We tax other beverages – liquor, beer, and wine. If you include water bottlers, I think it’s appropriate to consider. It’s a fee on their business,” Schroenk said. “Water as a commodity raises all sorts of ethical issues because we need water to live.”

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A GOLD RUSH PAINTED GREEN BIG BUSINESS V THE LITTLE GUY OVER MEDICAL MARIJUANA

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

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ecember 15, 2017 marks the official start of Michigan's green gold rush, as the Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation begins accepting licensee applications from prospectors looking to enter what is expected to be a billion-dollar industry.

But requirements still being hashed out in midNovember by state regulators have some concerned that those who have already staked a claim in the medical marijuana field will be left out of the state's regulated marketplace.

With the exception of certified caregivers, who are limited to growing a maximum of 12 plants per patient with a maximum of five patients, those hoping to get into the medical marijuana business will need to obtain a license from LARA, Michigan’s Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. Those licenses fall into five categories: growers, who grow, cultivate cure and package medical marijuana for sale; processors, who purchase marijuana from growers and extract the active drugs from the plant for use in making marijuana-infused products, such as edibles, oils and tinctures; provisioning centers, which purchase and may sell medical marijuana and marijuana-infused products; secure transporters, which are the only ones who may transport medical marijuana between growers, sellers and processors; and safety compliance centers, or laboratories that test marijuana for contaminants and drug levels.

The new licenses and framework of the state's regulation system were established under Michigan's Medical Marijuana Facilities Act, which was approved by the legislature and governor in 2016. The law also calls for the creation of a five-member Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, which is responsible for implementing and administering the new act, including licensing, regulating and enforcing the licensing and regulation system. Operating within LARA, the act requires the board to write rules regarding license requirements, license fees, assessments and other criteria for determining the issuance of licenses. The board is also responsible for reviewing applications and issuing licenses, after December 15.

Under the facilities act, the five members of the state's Medical Marijuana Licensing Board, as well as members of their family, are prohibited from being on a board of a licensee or having financial interest in a licensee or applicant. Members must also disclose any legal or beneficial interests in real property that may be directly or indirectly involved with marijuana operations. Those disclosures must be filed with the governor's office, which isn't subject to Freedom Of Information Act requests. The governor's office spokeswoman said the office doesn't release financial disclosures from board members to the public, instead referring requests to LARA. Under the act, all members of the board must be residents of Michigan, with no more than three being members of the same political party. One — board chair Rick Johnson — is appointed from three nominees submitted by the Senate Majority Leader; one — David LaMontaine — appointed from three nominees submitted by the Speaker of the House. The governor appoints the board chair and the three additional members: Nichole Cover, of Mattawan, a licensed pharmacist and healthcare supervisor for Walgreens who also serves as chair of the state's Board of Pharmacy; retired Michigan State Police Sergeant Donald Bailey, of Traverse City; and Vivian Pickard, of Bloomfield Hills, CEO of the Pickard Group consulting firm and former director of public policy for General Motors, and former president of the General Motors Foundation.

LaMontaine, of Monroe, is a business agent and executive board member for the Police Officers' Association of Michigan.

Johnson, of LeRoy, who serves as the board's chair, manages Common Cents Farm and served in the state legislature, including four years as Speaker of the House.

Johnson, who also spent a decade as a registered lobbyist in Lansing, came under scrutiny in October when the Michigan Campaign Finance Network revealed one of Johnson's former clients is considering pursuing a license from the board he chairs. The story also said Johnson filed financial disclosure information required under the law after being appointed to the board.

The board is currently working to complete and publish emergency rules for license applicants to follow, with final rules expected to be crafted in the following year. Meanwhile, state lawmakers and local municipalities are scrambling to enact additional oversight to shape the state's medical marijuana marketplace. This after medical marijuana was overwhelmingly approved by Michigan voters on a statewide ballot proposal in November 2008. egislators in 2016 approved three bills, including the Medical Marijuana Facilities Act, which created the framework for the state's licensing and regulation system that will allow licensed growers and dispensaries, as well as require testing for all medical marijuana for levels of active ingredients, as well as contaminants such as pesticides. The act also allows for the processing and sale of marijuana for edible products, oils and other marijuana-infused items, as well as requires the secure transport of marijuana and marijuana-infused items.

Another bill that was passed in conjunction with the Facilities Act allows for the creation, sale and regulation of marijuana-infused items, and provides a retroactive criminal defense for those convicted of violating the state's law, which didn't previously address marijuanainfused items. The third bill created the state's marijuana tracking system, which is required to track all medical marijuana sales and operations, from seed to sale to the patient.

Under the Medical Marijuana Facilities Act, LARA has until December 15 to begin accepting applications for medical marijuana license facilities. Temporary emergency rules are expected to be released by late November, as LARA's Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation has issued a series of advisories detailing proposed rules.

Attorney and marijuana activist Matthew Abel, who founded the Detroit-based law firm Cannabis Counsel, PLC, and serves as executive director for Michigan's National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), said the proposed regulations have received a lot of push back from those hoping to enter the new marketplace. That includes

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both caregivers and small business entrepreneurs, as well as big business interests with millions to invest.

"The people who are the trailblazers in this will probably be left out," Abel said, referring to dispensaries and caregivers who currently support the state's 240,000-plus medical marijuana patients. nder state law and the regulations being formed, caregivers are only permitted to sell medical marijuana to a certified patient who has listed them as their official caregiver. That means caregivers can't legally sell marijuana to dispensaries or random patients. Further, dispensaries currently operating without a state license must acquire a license by June 15, 2018 or shut down. Those dispensaries that continue to operate past the June 15 deadline will risk having their license denied by the state.

Applicants seeking any of the five license categories from the state will be required to undergo thorough background checks, which include a review of their criminal, business and financial history. The state also said it is imposing capitalization requirements from applicants, which includes the sources and total amount of the capitalization to operate and maintain the proposed marijuana facility.

In order to be granted a medical marijuana facility license, applicants will be required to demonstrate capitalization amounts of: $300,000 for processors; $300,000 for a provisioning center; $200,000 for a secure transporter; and $200,000 for a safety compliance facility. Grower licenses are divided into three classes: Class A licenses, which permit up to 500 plants, require $150,000 in demonstrated capitalization; Class B licenses, which permit up to 1,000 plants, require $300,000 in demonstrated capitalization; and Class C licenses, which permit up to 1,500 plants, require $500,000 in demonstrated capitalization.

The capitalization requirements are part of the proposed regulations being formed by LARA, and are not specifically included in the state's Medical Marijuana Facilities Act, which was passed in 2016.

"The state law has no capitalization requirement and some think there shouldn't be one at all," Abel said. "On one hand, you have to have enough money to pay the electric bill, but if I want to fall flat on my face, there are a lot of other businesses that fall flat on their face.

"Some people think they are trying to squeeze out the little guy. I think $500,000 for a 1,500-plant grow seems a little inordinate. Anyone who applies for a license has to give an estimate of gross annual revenue, and to do that you have to write a business plan. I'm not sure if that plan has to be released, but they should anticipate costs for the year. Anyone who goes into it would be foolish if they didn't have an idea to do that, so in a lot of ways the requirements are unnecessary. Yes, they need that much money, but that ought to be up to me to figure it out."

On November 8, LARA's Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation issued an advisory saying the licensing board may consider a variety of sources of capitalization, such as 401k accounts, certificates of deposit (CDs) and other common investments to count toward capitalization requirements. At least 25 percent of an applicants' capitalization must be in liquid assets, or be easily converted into cash.

"Capitalization standards are an important part of the regulatory structure that will help ensure both business stability and safe, reliable access to medical marijuana for patients," said Andrew Brisbow, the bureau's director. "These requirements were developed after researching other Michigan industries and best practices from states with medical marijuana regulations."

While most states that regulate medical marijuana facilities have at least some sort of financial review as part of the application process, some, such as Arizona, Connecticut and Nevada, require between $150,000 and $2 million in assets.

In addition to capitalization requirements, licensees will need to pony up tens of thousands of dollars for license fees and annual assessments to the state, as well as local licensing fees where they plan to locate. A non-refundable state application fee estimated to be between $4,000 and $8,000 will be required before an application is processed. That fee is intended to offset costs for LARA and state police for investigative services conducting background checks. An annual regulatory

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assessment is also due prior to the issuance of each license and may vary depending on the number of licenses anticipated to be issued.

Under the law, the assessments must provide at least $500,000 annually to LARA for substance abuse disorder programs, in addition to five percent of the cost of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for substance abuse-related expenses. While assessment amounts weren't finalized prior to publication, LARA said Class A licenses are capped at $10,000, with Class B and C assessments expected to be between $10,000 and $57,000.

Additional state-originated costs to licensees include a three-percent tax on each provisioning center's gross retail or receipts; the actual cost of investigations and processing that exceeds the application fees; and late renewal fees, if applicable. hile some small businesses hopefuls may be unable to meet the financial requirements set by the state, those with considerable funds at their disposal have additional options. For instance, LARA in its advisories has said it will allow for stacking and co-location of some licenses in a single facility, meaning a licensee may apply and be granted licenses for more than one type of activity. For instance, an applicant may apply for and be approved to co-locate a growing operation, processing center for producing oils and edibles, and a dispensary to sell all of the products at a single location. Further, growers are able to "stack" multiple Class C licenses at one location, allowing for multi-million dollar, "mega grow" facilities by stacking Class C licenses that allow for a maximum of 1,500 plants each.

While LARA has issued advisory bulletins on specifics of the regulations, there are emergency regulations that are expected to be issued in late November, and are still subject to change. Meanwhile, lawmakers seeking to address issues themselves are working to push changes through the legislature.

"They aren't showing us any drafts, they are just showing us trial balloons," said Abel. "They will be out in mid-November, and will be extended for six months. That gives the legislature time to go through the formal rule-making process. The whole process takes months, so there's not time for them to pass those (before the December 15 deadline). The emergency rules only need to be signed off by the governor. There will be permanent rules later."

Representative Jim Runestad (R-White Lake) has sponsored a bill in the state house that would place limitations on grower licenses to restrict the stacking of licenses at one single location to prevent "mega grow" operations. "I'm concerned about giant grow operations that could consume the whole industry and blot out the competition,” Runestad said. "Those who want mega grows think it’s the best for capitalism. But do we want a few billionaires or millionaires with a monopoly?"

Runestad said having a mix of both large and small grow operations is a good business model that could provide more competition and more options for patients. Unlimited licenses, he said, could lead to a monopoly which has the potential to snuff out small businesses, allowing super grows to control the market, raise prices and control policy.

"The very large operations are going to basically run off the smaller operators – that's the nature of it," he said.

Runestad said he may be open to more than one Class C grower license at one location but fewer than what he said would be considered a mega grow operation. He said he plans to meet with stakeholders to discern what an appropriate number of licenses at one location may be. Additionally, he said some questioned whether LARA should limit the total number of licenses it issues.

The bill, which was introduced on October 26, is currently being reviewed in the House Judiciary Committee, which is chaired by Runestad. "The testimony today was that 70 percent of these businesses will fail, and the primary reason is overproduction. There are other concern of producers sending it out to other states, or the people not making it going into the illicit market. I will take a look at whether

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capping makes sense or leaving it limitless," Runestad said. "It's not a federally legal product, so it's different than other businesses where an open market would dictate what's best. I think it does require the scrutiny of the legislature to make the best decision."

Another bill still working its way through the legislature is House Bill 5144, sponsored by West Bloomfield Republican Klint Kesto, who sponsored one of three bills that created the Medical Marijuana Facilities Act and created the state's Marijuana Tracking System Act. Kesto's new bill, introduced in October, seeks to revise the Facilities Act. Those revisions include protections for certified public accountants and financial institutions from certain civil and criminal penalties; allow certain transfers of marijuana to be done without a secure transporter; revises information a municipality must provide to the state if it adopts ordinances allowing medical marijuana facilities; and allows information provided by a municipality to LARA to be subject to Freedom of Information Act requests.

Kesto's bill has support from the Michigan Responsibility Council, which represents potential grower licensees, and the Michigan Cannabis Development Association, which represents businesses in the medical marijuana field, and is one of the organizations that worked to have the Facilities Act created to address the failings of the state's original medical marijuana law.

In November of 2008, about 63 percent of Michigan voters approved a statewide ballot proposal making marijuana legal for medical purposes. The following year, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act was enacted, making marijuana legal to those with an approved card issued by the state. To obtain marijuana, patients were permitted to either grow their own or find a certified caregiver to grow it for them.

Caregivers are allowed to grow 12 plants per patient, with a maximum of six patients, including themselves.

The "caregiver system" – as it is dubbed in some of the other 29 states in the country where medical marijuana is legal – led to several problems, including the challenge for some patients to find a caregiver.

Today, there are more than 240,000 card-carrying patients in Michigan who are supposed to rely on about 30,000 caregivers, according to LARA. That means that even if all caregivers were connected to individual patients and all had growing operations, there would still be a shortage of caregivers for patients.

To fill the gap, some have taken to opening dispensaries with the consent of local municipalities. Since the original medical marijuana act was passed, there have been at least 18 Michigan Court of Appeals hearings and eight different state Supreme Court rulings. The state has ultimately ruled that medical marijuana dispensaries aren't legally permitted under current state law, leading some law enforcement agencies and prosecutors, such as those in Oakland County, to crack down and close dispensaries. Still, others, such as the city of Detroit and many other local municipalities, have allowed them to operate.

Under the new law, a medical marijuana facility can only be located in a municipality that has ordinances that have expressly authorized the establishment of those facilities. Municipalities that choose to opt out may simply forego passing any ordinance and refuse such facilities by default. nder the act, the state's Medical Marijuana Excise Fund would receive all money collected under the threepercent tax on provisioning centers' gross retail income, as well as any fees, fines and charges imposed other than licensing fees, annual assessments and local fees.

Money in the funds would be apportioned, with 25 percent going to local municipalities where marijuana facilities are located; 30 percent to counties where facilities are located; five percent to support county sheriffs; 30 percent to the First Responder Presumed Coverage Fund; five percent to the Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards for training; and five percent to the Michigan State Police Department.

As of November 15, just one Oakland County municipality, Orion Township, had passed an ordinance to allow for new medical marijuana facilities permitted under the 2016 law. That township will allow for all

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licensed facilities except provisioning centers in a small area. Officials in Ferndale, Hazel Park and Walled Lake said discussions are in progress to update ordinances in those municipalities. Municipalities in the Downtown newsmagazine distribution area, including Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester and Rochester Hills, have chosen to exclude medical marijuana facilities from operating in their communities.

Walled Lake City Manager Dennis Whitt said the city's planning commission is working on an updated ordinance to allow for dispensaries in the city. While the city already had an ordinance regulating dispensaries, the city's governing body ceased all such operations following a crackdown on such businesses by law enforcement. ommerce Township Supervisor David Scott said the township once had more than 40 grow operations, but has since prohibited them and will continue to do so. "I haven't heard any push from residents that this is something they are interested in," he said. "Once things are regulated, we are open to looking at opportunities."

Ferndale Economic Development Director Justin Lyons said the city is in the process of updating its ordinance to align with the state’s soon to be released regulations. Currently, the city allows for five medical marijuana facilities to pursue special land use permits and operate. No such facilities are currently operating in the city.

As most municipalities have either opted out or are taking a "wait and see" approach to the new guidelines, those in favor of updating ordinances to allow for medical marijuana facilities are still waiting for additional guidance.

Oakland County Chief Deputy Prosecutor Paul Walton said that in speaking to police chiefs and city attorneys about the issue, none have had discussions about training, inspections or specifics related to potential facilities. "With the exception of one (in northern Michigan), all have said there have been no discussions," he said.

As a patchwork of caregivers and illegal dispensaries operate, Walton said they will butt up against the new law and licensed dispensaries.

Those unable to receive licenses may attempt to continue operations.

However, those obtaining licenses are likely to inform law enforcement of such activity.

"I think that the people who go through the licensing procedure, which is a tremendous expenditure of funds, will try to restrict competition," Walton said. "If the competition is coming from illegal grows and sellers, then I think there might be an uptick (in prosecutions) for a while. Legal businesses will inform law enforcement on illegal operations or on caregivers who are operating outside the limited provision of the caregiver law. We are introducing a new profit motive to this system."

It was only recently that legislators worked to address shortcomings of the 2009 law that a real framework for the state's medical marijuana market started to take place.

"We began working with the governor's office, and representatives (Mike) Callton (R-Nashville), (Klint) Kesto and (Lisa Posthumus) Lyons (RAlto) on how to make a policy that made sense," said Sandra McCormick, executive director of the Michigan Cannabis Development Association.

"We pulled from tobacco, liquor and other state statutes to come up with a regulatory system that makes sense."

McCormick said the association includes those seeking licenses as well as those in the business, along with secondary businesses that support future licensees, such as tax attorneys, insurance agents and others.

"If you're like me and you're not familiar with the science of marijuana cultivation, growing marijuana well is very difficult to do," said Doug Mains, an attorney with Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn representing the National Patients Rights Association at a state Senate committee hearing on a pair of bills on issues with unlicensed dispensaries that are currently operating. "There are a number of issues.

The (original) act makes no provision on how you're supposed to get seeds or seedlings for what you're supposed to grow, so there's that kind of original sin."

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Additionally, Mains said equipment to grow marijuana is expensive and potentially dangerous. As many patients suffer from debilitating ailments, they typically need to find someone to grow it for them.

"There are unscrupulous people out there. Some may not be able to grow properly, or some may take your money and not give you anything, so you have no access to the product," Mains said. "In light of that, you had dispensaries crop up."

Despite being ruled illegal in 2014 by the state's Supreme Court, dispensaries have continued to proliferate in Michigan.

"The free market has created a system that is clean, where someone can go in and talk to someone who is knowledgeable. They can talk about what strains might be best or what dosages. Stores have a variety and array of products," Mains said. "Not products that are designed to get you high, but products that have an array of benefits."

Because current dispensaries are technically illegal under state law due to that Supreme Court ruling, LARA earlier this year recommended all unlicensed dispensaries be closed by December 15, when the department begins accepting license applications. Further, the department said those that continued to operate after the December 15 deadline would risk having a license application denied for operating outside of state law. And, because LARA isn't expected to begin issuing licenses until April and growers will need months to establish a crop, there are concerns that patients will have no access to much needed medication.

To address the issue, state Senators David Knezek (D-Dearborn Heights) and Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) introduced a pair of bills that would extend the closure date for current dispensaries and protect those operating them. ones, a former sheriff, said he was initially against legalizing medical marijuana in the state, but after spending a lot of time investigating its usefulness, has changed his mind.

That, he said, includes patients who were able to stop using opiates due to medical marijuana, its ability to reduce seizures, and help with the relief of some cancer symptoms.

"The genie is out of the bottle. Now, what do we do between December 15 and as many as nine months later if you don't have any dispensaries out there, and somebody is in great need?" Jones asked during an October 10 committee hearing on the bills. "I think what will happen, with my police experience – I believe if you simply shut them all down, it's going to go underground. You're going to have grandpas and sons trying to find marijuana to save grandma. It's going to be a mess. You're going to criminalize people that don't need to be criminalized."

As proposed, dispensaries wouldn't be penalized if they apply for a license by February 15, 2018. The bill has been opposed by the Michigan Responsibility Council (MRC), which represents potential growers in the new licensed marketplace.

"The illegal dispensary market has completely distorted the caregiver model, making patients dependent on illegal dispensaries. Action was taken and bills passed that created the new act. And the driving intent of the Senate, and I was involving in pushing this through the Senate, was to drive out the illegal activity and create an above-ground marketplace," said Steve Linder, a MRC lobbyist. "We find these bills – that fly in the face of the intent of the law, hasn't even written its rules yet and gone into effect – jaw dropping. Senate Bill 299 basically gives those operating an illegal dispensary a carve-out to those who are knowingly breaking the law. The licensing act also spoke very loudly about doing background checks. Why do we care about what happened to somebody 10 or 15 years, or 20 years ago, if we are going to reward those who are currently conducting illegal activity right on the main streets of our state."

Senators Jones and Knezek rejected Linder's claims, insisting the bills have patients' best interest in mind, while questioning the MRC's motives as being motivated by business.

"Mr. Linder, would you mind telling us what millionaire you work for, who you're lobbying for, and who it is that wants a monopoly in this business because we can all see through what is being said," Jones said.

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Linder declined to answer the question.

Knezek also said he felt opposition to the bill was based on big business and not the best interests of patients.

"The problem comes when there is money involved in all of this," he said.

On November 1, LARA put in emergency rules allowing current dispensaries to avoid facing penalties about license considerations if they were operating with approval from a municipality prior to December 15, 2017, and submitted a complete pre-qualification application by February 15, 2018. Those continuing to operate past December 15 must either obtain a license or close by June 15, 2018.

Jones said after LARA's announcement that his bill is no longer needed. However, he said he would be in favor of bills that represent patients interests and avoid giving any businesses unfair advantages.

"The intent of the legislature was that no monopolies be created.

That the growers, the licensed growers of the future and dispensaries would compete like anybody else," he said.

Businessman Tom Celani, who serves as chairman of Michigan's Responsibility Council, said requiring dispensaries to close prior to any licenses being issued would create an even playing field. He said the biggest obstacle to those who want to get involved is that marijuana is still illegal in the eyes of the federal government.

"There's still an issue of it being a Schedule 1 drug, but a lot of people in town are asking me questions because I'm involved in the politics," he said. "Personally, I can't be involved (in the licensed businesses) because it's a Schedule 1 drug. It's a serious issue for this country. I don't know any other business that has gone on like this. It's over a $10 to $15-billion industry. There's no reason that it shouldn't be taxed, regulated and understood."

Celani said those drafting Michigan's regulations are likely looking at other states, such as Colorado, where requirements were more lax and businesses failed too soon after opening. He said Michigan should look at the number of patients to determine the number of licenses it will issue.

"If you look at Ohio, they have an overabundance of grown marijuana," he said. "That ends up on the black market, and that's a problem. Ohio and other states are looking at the number of patients and the number of growers, which would be the responsible thing to do."

The Medical Marijuana Facilities Act specifically states that the regulation board can't create a rule limiting the number of types of facility licenses that may be granted.

Overall, Celani said the regulations are the right step for Michigan and the medical marijuana industry. osh Hovey, spokesman for the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol, said in early November that the coalition had about 98 percent of the 360,000 signatures it hopes to collect to allow voters in 2018 to consider whether recreational marijuana use should be legal in the state. He said the group already has more than the 252,000 required by state law.

"We mirrored licensing language similar to what the state legislature passed for medical marijuana," he said. "It's logical to assume that what LARA is doing now to regulate the medical marijuana business will be similar to their rules for adult use marijuana."

One difference, Hovey said, is the desire for the ballot initiative to include a "micro grower" license, which would allow for up to 100 plants to be grown, processed and sold at one location, similar to a brew pub. The micro grow license, he said, would allow caregivers to expand into the adult use market.

If the issue is approved by voters, Hovey said it's likely the state will still be operating under the emergency rules for medical marijuana, which could be updated to ensure any differences are ironed out.

Suzie Mitchell, who started Michigan's Responsibility Council with late Republican strategist Paul Welday, said the council was formed to help form regulations around the medical marijuana law and business.

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Neither she nor Celani would comment on members who were hoping to get into the industry, but said the group represents large growers.

"They are in other industries that are federally regulated and don't want to jeopardize their other licenses," Mitchell said about business owners still hesitant to enter the medical marijuana market in Michigan.

Mitchell said it's important the regulations allow stacking of Class C grower licenses to ensure there isn't an overabundance of facilities which could be difficult to monitor, and to ensure large growers can scale up investments.

"We represent large growers, or those who want to be large growers.

That's what we decided to do when we got together," she said. "They want to have 1,500 plants. They want to be Class C license holders, and they want to have the opportunity to stack licenses. It's costly to set up to grow, and if you do that, you want to be able to scale up."

Overall, Mitchell said she doesn't feel the Medical Marijuana Licensing Board and LARA are making regulations that are favorable to any one group. McCormick, with the Michigan Cannabis Development Association, agreed.

"Big businesses need the entrepreneurial spirit that comes with a good idea. You need both for the market to be successful," McCormick said. "As it stands now, it's pretty equal.�

Whether or not the state's regulations favor big business is open to debate. However, there's little debate as to big businesses's interest in the medical marijuana industry. anadian-based Constellation Brands, which owns Corona, Modelo and other beverage brands, announced in late October a $181 million investment to acquire a minority stake in Canopy Growth Corporation, an Ontario-based medicinal cannabis product producer. Because medical marijuana is legal in Canada, the country's banking institutions don't have to restrict funds from the industry, unlike the United States.

Closer to home, some specialized vendors have expressed some interest in getting involved in Michigan's industry. However, whether that interest will develop into action remains to be seen.

"When it first came up, we had a discussion about it, but as it has unfolded, it's much bigger. It's really like nothing we do in the tobacco world," said Polly Reber, president of the Michigan Distributors and Vendor's Association. "There are so many parts and pieces to it, it's not the same business that we are in.

"In our business, we purchase product from a manufacturer and it's shipped to warehouses, then retail orders. We do everything, not just tobacco. And, we collect the state's excise tax on that. That's $1 billion in revenue... this is really nothing like what we are doing."

Locally a number of names of business people have been kicked around as having an interest in the promising medical marijuana business, including reports that the folks behind the Smokers Outlet chain may want to become a player in the field. Political contributions filed with the state of Michigan reveal business interests in expanding the state's marijuana market. Among the top donors to the coalition's campaign is Troy-based Smoker's Outlet Management, which gave $50,000 to the current legalization campaign.

With specific license requirements not yet approved, LARA kicked off a series of educational sessions at the Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi on November 8.

"We had over 1,500 people registered and over 1,200 actually showed up. We had so many people pre-register for the session that we had to move it to a larger facility," David Harns, LARA's Bureau of Medical Marijuana Regulation spokesman said.

Harns said the session focused mainly on technical concerns, such as how the state's seed-to-sale tracking system will work. The session also addressed the pre-qualification process for licensing, and the application process and requirements. Four additional educational session were scheduled in November, with more than 3,000 people signing up to attend, Harns said.

"That tells us there is a lot of interest out there," he said.

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12.17

FACES

Ben Mauro ochester Hills native Ben Mauro has traveled the globe in his quest to create new monsters and alien civilizations that are featured in some of the latest television shows, movies and video games.

Now operating his own Seattle-based freelance business, Mauro's work as an art director and concept designer has taken him to California, New Zealand, Paris, Portugal, and across Asia. His designs have been featured in movies like "The Hobbit" series, "The Amazing Spiderman 2," "LUCY," and "Man of Steel," and have been used by NASA, Activision, Lexus and others. His latest project, "Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets," is the work of French director Luc Besson that took nearly two years to complete.

"I lived on the road for about four years while freelancing, then Valerian came up and I went to Paris for a year when production started," Mauro said. "That cup is full. I don't want to travel. I want to sit down for a year or two and digest everything and work on a few of my own projects."

A graduate of Rochester Adams High School, Mauro moved to the Seattle area to study at the DigiPen Institute of Technology and pursue work in the video gaming industry. He followed that up with additional studies at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Arts and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.

"I was into video games and stuff in high school," he said. "It was about convincing my parents that it was a real career in the entertainment industry, and that they had salaries and it was a legitimate thing. Luckily, I was able to convince them. I moved out to Seattle to go into the gaming industry, then I focused on design. I needed more training."

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Design work may begin with a pencil and paper or drawings on a computer and develop through three-dimensional rendering or modeling.

And ideas may begin with direction from a script or book, or a completely original concept from Mauro's mind.

Based on a French science fiction comic book, Valerian said the City of a Thousand Planets is a visually striking movie that takes place in a 28th century, space traveling city inhabited by creatures from thousands of planets. Mauro said Besson brought him on as the senior concept designer after seeing some of his work years earlier.

"Typically, I get a script and the director has some ideas. For example, on Valerian, the director gave me about 20 things to design – aliens, weapons and all sorts of stuff. Then you figure out what effects will be needed and what needs to be built on set," Mauro said. "On Valerian, the director had a better idea of what he wanted, but sometimes it's just, 'show me some cool ideas.' Since it was based on a comic book, there was something to start with. Each project is different."

The work not only requires creativity on Mauro's part, but a detailed knowledge of science fiction and fantasy worlds that already exist.

"It's important to watch and look at everything to know what is out there and what has been done. Otherwise you design something and think it's original, then you realize Star Wars did it 20 years ago," Mauro said.

"That's on us designers to know what is out there. People trust that you are going to do something cool and different."

Story: Kevin Elliott

MUNICIPAL Rochester approves brownfield project

By Kevin Elliott

A $2.3 million brownfield redevelopment plan to address soil and groundwater contamination near the Paint Creek to allow for the construction of a 40,800-square foot office building and parking lot in the 400 block of Water Street was unanimously approved by the Rochester City Council on Monday, November 13.

The approval served as the final legal step in authorizing the brownfield project, which allows for the cleanup of environmental contamination through tax increment financing (TIF), which involves tax revenue generated by increased property value as a result of the project. Under the plan, $1 million of the clean-up costs will be provided by a grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). The city was also approved for a $1 million loan from the DEQ to help fund the brownfield project. The plan also calls for an additional $350,167 in estimated clean-up costs, which will be incurred by the project developer, Frank Rewold and Son Inc., and be reimbursed by the city.

The plan calls for both the loan and additional costs to be paid by the city through a nine-year TIF agreement.

Tax increment financing allows a municipality or other taxing authority, such as a Downtown Development Authority (DDA) or brownfield authority, to directly capture property tax revenue from increases in property values.

Bill Moesta, chief financial officer for Frank Rewold and Son, said property taxes at the project area are expected to increase from about $3,000 to $160,000 each year. Those revenues, prior to the brownfield agreement, were captured by the Rochester DDA's TIF. The total cost of the project is estimated to be about $12 million.

"A project on this contaminated land is not feasible without the financial support of the DEQ, the TIF authority of the city, and the Western Knitting Mills Company being willing to invest," Moesta said. "It's also important to remember the city and Western Knitting Mills share the same goal of repaying the DEQ loan with the shortest TIF period as possible."

The brownfield plan and agreement includes a letter of credit 34

Vaping permit moratorium extended moratorium on retail sales and land uses involving onsite use of vaping products in multiple tenant commercial buildings in the city of Rochester was extended on Monday, November 13, by city council for another 90 days.

Rochester City Council in September initially approved a 90-day moratorium on the issue to allow the city's planning commission time to update the city's ordinance regarding vaping uses in multi-unit commercial buildings. However, Rochester City Attorney Jeff Kragt said the planning commission needed additional time to complete a proposed ordinance amendment.

"The planning commission considered this issue at its October and November planning commission meetings. At the November 6, 2017 meeting, additional work was requested on the ordinance as well as a request to have a presentation by the Rochester Police Department on the issue of vaping," Kragt said. "Considering the number of meetings required to adopt any zoning ordinance, an extension of the initial moratorium should be considered."

Council members on November 13 unanimously approved extending the moratorium.

The actions are intended to restrict on-site vaping uses in commercial buildings where multiple tenants are located, the concern being that such locations typically utilize shared heating and cooling systems which may allow secondhand vapor to spread to other businesses.

The action follows increased penalties for underage offenses of ecigarette use approved by city council in May 2017. Electronic cigarettes are devices that resemble cigarettes, but use an internal heating mechanism to warm refillable liquids into an aerosol, or vapor, which can be inhaled. The process is known as vaping.

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that requires the developer to repay the loan if tax revenues fall short of the required payments.

Rewold, who owns the Western Mills Company, purchased the property about 20 years following the demolition of the former ITT Automotive facility at the location.

Environmental contamination at the site from decades of industrial use have hampered any development at the location, which included deed restrictions placed on the property by the DEQ. Contamination at the site stems from historical industrial uses at the Western Knitting Mills building in the 1940s, after the knitting corporation was dissolved. It was later purchased by McAleer Manufacturing, which was the largest producer of flash bombs and flares in the United States during World War II. It was later used by ITT Automotive, which produced push rods and tubing until 1994.

Today, the site has contaminated soils with lead and trichlorethylene, according to the DEQ. Contamination at the site has migrated over the years to the Paint Creek, forcing ITT to work with the DEQ to build an underground containment wall and install monitoring walls to ensure pollutants aren't moving to the creek. However,

the land can't be developed without remediation, which is ultimately the responsibility of the city of Rochester.

Council members supported the brownfield plan and efforts to clean up and develop the land.

"It a great project, but most importantly, we are cleaning up a site that really needs it," said Rochester Mayor Cathy Daldin. "It benefits the community as a whole because it takes a bad site and makes it good. It cleans up the area and makes Rochester a better place to live."

Frank Rewold, who said the building is being done in conjunction with the company's 100-year anniversary in 2018, indicated he has been working for about two decades to reach an agreement with ITT that would allow the property to be developed.

In terms of architectural design, the building will include three full stories with an additional mezzanine floor with a rooftop deck.

Construction materials include composite horizontal siding, a laminate facade panel, cement board accents and a standing seam metal roof. The design provides an "attractive addition to the area without detracting from the existing historical Mills building or the landmark Royal Park Hotel," planning

DOWNTOWN

consultant Vidya Krishnan said.

Council members also approved a stormwater ordinance for the project, which will permit the developer to install a 10-year stormwater detention pond area, rather than the 100-year standard required by the ordinance. The variance will allow for less water to be stored in an underground holding area at the site – a recommendation by the DEQ and Rewold's engineers to have minimal disturbance of contaminated soils and groundwater at the site.

The variance was unanimously approved by council members.

Credit union donates to Innovation Hills Rochester-based Chief Financial Credit Union has made a $60,000 donation to develop a unique water feature at Rochester Hills' Innovation Hills, the city's newest park.

The donation will help to develop a water wall that will showcase moving water over natural slate near the entrance of the park, which will serve as a focal point of the new park. In addition, the donation will provide for the park's first public shelter near the entrance of the park.

The donation is the largest for the Innovation Hills fundraising campaign to date. The money will provide visitors a beautiful place to gather and allow future generations to connect with nature and preserve the environment, said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan K. Barnett.

"We are proud to partner with Chief Financial to make this vision become a reality," he said. "We are so thankful that the residents and businesses believe in our vision to create the region's coolest new park and are willing to join us in making that dream a reality."

Located at 2800 W. Hamlin Road, Innovation Hills contains more than 100 acres of undeveloped woodlands, wetland and prairie habitat overlooking the Clinton River. As the largest outdoor classroom in the region, the park will provide a wide variety of hands-on educational opportunities that promote experiential learning and long term appreciation for nature. The park is being developed through a blend of public funds and private donations.

"Chief Financial is proud to give back to one of the places we call home," said Tom Dluzen, CEO with Chief Financial Credit Union. "Our team looks forward to seeing the impact of this gift for years to come."

12.17

City to assess fire department needs

By Kevin Elliott

The members of an ad-hoc fire study committee tasked with assessing the current and future needs of the Rochester Fire Department were approved on Monday, November 13, by the Rochester City Council.

Members of the committee include Chief John Cieslik, city manager Blaine Wing, councilman Rob Ray, and two residents appointed by the mayor.

Council approved appointing residents Terry Crockatt and Valerie Gaton to the committee.

The committee, which was formed at the request of Chief Cieslik, will be asked to provide recommendations to city council with options for providing services in the future, as well as how best to fund additional services in the face of a development boom.

"What I've tried to do with the fire department is to run it like a business.

That is what your challenge has been to me," Cieslik said to council members. "Any good business needs an evaluation once in a while to take a look at where we've been, where we are right now and where we are going.

What I would like to do with this study committee is to take a look at those things... Not only where we need to go in the future, but if we do any additional development, or if we stay the same, what the impact is on the fire department."

Cieslik said calls for service have risen from about 520 calls per year in 2008 to about 1,900 in 2017. He said he hopes the study will give the council and residents an idea of the future demands of the fire department and how those will need to be funded.

Key questions the study committee will be asked to evaluate are response times to fires; the challenges and benefits of being a paid-on-call department; equipment needs;

vehicles; and other operations and expectations.

"I think an important part here is that we set the parameters as we move forward," he said. "If we have good investment and tax (revenue) goes up, and the expectations from the residents is that services go up, hopefully they get paid through additional tax dollars and not additional burden. That's my desire, to make sure we are providing the best possible services to Rochester without having to go ahead and levy any additional taxes, and we have that come from the study."

Council on Monday, October 23, had approved a request to form the ad-hoc fire committee, with the chief providing additional details about the scope of the study on Monday, November 13, when council unanimously approved appointments of members of the committee. The length of time the committee will devote to the study was not yet determined.

Councils sworn in following election Returning incumbents and new city council members in Rochester and Rochester Hills were sworn into office following this year's general election results.

Rochester City Council was scheduled on Monday, November 27, to swear in its four recently elected officials, which include new members Dean Bevacqua and Nancy Salvia, as well as returning incumbents Stuart Bikson and Ann Peterson.

The four members received the highest vote totals of the six candidates who ran for Rochester City Council during this year's general election. Salvia, Bevacqua and Bikson will each serve four-year terms.

Peterson, who had the fourth highest number of votes, will serve a two-year term on council.

A swearing-in ceremony was held

Local ordinances on first offense for MIP updated ity council members in Rochester and Rochester Hills on Monday, November 13, unanimously approved changes to their local ordinances that will reduce penalties to first time offenses for minors in possession of alcohol.

The changes, which will take effect on January 1, 2018, reduce first time offenses for minors in possession of alcohol from a misdemeanor offense to a civil infraction. The changes were made to comply with updates to

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on Thursday, November 16, in Rochester Hills to mark the start of the term for four council members in that municipality. Those sworn into office include returning council members Jim Kubicina and Stephanie Morita, as well as new council members Ryan Deel and Jenny McCardell.

Morita and Kubicina return to council after running unopposed in their districts, the 1st and 2nd, respectively. Deel ran against candidate Ryan Smith for the seat representing the 4th district, while McCardell ran against former incumbent councilman Kevin Brown, who held the council's at large seat.

Rochester inventories city-owned properties A complete inventory and needs assessment of city-owned properties was presented on Thursday, November 9, to Rochester City Council members during a special council meeting to discuss the plan.

Rochester City Manager Blaine Wing said the facilities asset management plan is a multi-stage effort intended to assess and prioritize all city-owned properties, from municipally-maintained alleys to buildings such as the fire station and city hall.

"We haven't gone through this type of inventory in the two years I've been here, and looking at records, I don't know if we've ever done such a comprehensive review," Wing said Thursday afternoon, prior to the meeting. "There are several stages to the plan. We are at the stage now where we've identified everything and will provide details about them. The next phase is to prioritize and put a cost to them, then we will look to council for direction."

Wing said the future steps will include determining the levels of maintenance or repairs funded by the

Michigan's law regarding underage alcohol consumption.

Rochester City Attorney Jeff Kragt said second and subsequent offenses will remain misdemeanors with a maximum prison time of 30 days for a second offense and 60 days for third or more offenses. Those penalties remain only applicable if the person violates probation in some fashion and not simply for pleading guilty.

Prior to the change in state law, a minor would get a deferral with the chance of a dismissal if they pled to a first offense misdemeanor.

Councils’ action was the second and final reading of the ordinance amendments in each

city, potential partnerships with other entities to help defray costs, or sell or vacate properties. Currently, there hasn't been any discussion by council about specific properties that could consider being sold or vacated.

However, Wing said properties such as alleys or road ends could be vacated, with the property split and given to adjacent property owners.

The study will eventually be incorporated into the city's long-term capital improvement plan and maintenance schedule.

"All of this comes under capital improvement, with some under maintenance," Wing said of funding for managing city facilities. "We do some maintenance plans already for the stuff we are already doing, but this will be part of the overall capital improvement plan."

The report to council included an inventory of assets, a condition assessment inventories, and identified land use agreements, licenses or contracts in place. The report also included detailed assessments of several facilities, including the Community House; Dinosaur Hill; Clothes Closet; City Hall; the cemetery; sewer lift stations; the water tower; water treatment plant; department of public works building; city-owned parks; parking decks and parking lots.

"We hit on a couple buildings, such as the DPS, Community House and Dinosaur Hill, which have some more immediate needs," Wing said.

The Rochester Community House, 816 Ludlow Avenue, has nearly $700,000 in immediate needs, according to the report. Those needs include roof and gutter replacement, insulation, siding replacement, deck repairs, interior wall and window replacements, furnace and water heater replacements and other repairs.

Council's next step will be to prioritize maintenance and repair needs of the facilities in order to determine future actions.

city, with both cities approving the first readings of the ordinances on Monday, October 23.

Rochester Hills councilwoman Stephanie Morita said at the October city council meeting that the board previously approved a local ordinance regarding minors and the use of ecigarettes. In that instance, the council felt it was more appropriate for first time offenses to be regarded as civil infractions rather than misdemeanors.

"I'm so glad that the state figured out that kids make mistakes, and they shouldn't have a criminal record, at least the first time around," she said.

FACES

Patrice Sinclair ochester Hills resident Patrice Sinclair was shocked when she discovered that what so many take for granted – warm coats, scarves, mittens and boots – are indeed luxuries to an alarming number of school age children in the affluent greater Rochester area.

Deeply moved, she decided to take action. In fact, she actually went door to door in her own neighborhood and launched “Warming Heads, Hands and Hearts” last year and was met with an outpouring of generosity.

“No one in Rochester should be cold, period,” says the 22-year Rochester Hills resident, who volunteers her time and financial literacy skills at the Rochester Area Neighborhood House, which serves low income families in the Auburn Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills and Oakland Township communities.

“Suburban poverty is just huge,” shares Sinclair, who says she started the project while participating in a Landmark Worldwide self expression and leadership program.

“You don’t think of areas of Rochester as having poverty,” she admits.

“Yet while doing my research, I discovered that there are thousands of students that needed financial assistance. I thought it was a great opportunity to help our area and it just kind of grew.”

While she started on her own block, she ventured out into the community.

“It wasn’t all just my neighbors [who contributed],” she shares. “People would just drop items off on my door step. Then, I put a box at a local smoothie store and people just came out of the woodwork.”

The generosity was overwhelming, states Sinclair.

“I had no idea I would get so many,” she recalls. “I don’t think you

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really know what the response is going to be, which is why you just have to try it – I would get huge garbage bags full of donations. The very first donation was from a woman who used to live in the area who told someone else about it. I literally don’t even know how much these would've cost brand new. That was really fun.”

Sinclair shares that people by the hundreds donated gently used and new coats, hats, mittens, scarves and boots.

“Some people would go buy stuff on sale and bring it back,” she said.

“Other people gave some beautiful coats – leather and fur … almost everything was in perfect condition.”

Then, she walked into one of Rochester’s signature events, The Festival of Trees, and spotted a treasure.

“There was a tree covered in mittens hats, coats – it was perfect, so I bought it and sent it to the Neighborhood House,” she recalls. “The Giving Tree” was lovingly adorned by The Linda Rea Team of Real Estate One, known for their generosity in Rochester, particularly with the less fortunate.

“In all, we brought in 750 pieces in just a couple of months,” she enthuses.

Sinclair, 52, works as a financial advisor. Aside from donating her time and service to others, she works with her church, greeting and ushering ministries with Faith Church.

“I think it’s just something we all need to do,” she said. “There’s so much to do, it always works out … the bible says, ‘to whom much is given much is expected’ …. We need to help other people.”

Story: Lisa Rose Hook

Photo: Laurie Tennent

PLACES TO EAT

Not to b bee explained. exp explained . To be be exp experienced.

B The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the Rochester area, and then some select restaurants outside the immediate area served by Downtown.

Rochester/Rochester Hills 112 Pizzeria Bistro: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2528 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.289.6164.

2941 Street Food: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 87 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.606.4583.

Alex’s of Rochester: Italian, Greek, & American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.852.2288.

Antoniou’s Pizza: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 918 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.650.2200.

Avery’s Tavern: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2086 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.270.4030.

B Spot Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

176 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.218.6001.

Bangkok Cuisine: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 727 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.652.8841.

Bar Louie: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, 10 or more. Liquor. 1488 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307.

248.218.5114.

Bean and Leaf Café: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

439 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.1411.

Bigalora Wood Fire Cucina: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 8 or more. Liquor. 6810 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.218.6230.

Big Boy: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. 3756 S. Rochester Road., Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.852.5540. Also 90 E. Tienken Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.601.7777.

Bologna Via Cucina: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

334 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.3300.

Buffalo Wild Wings: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1234 Walton Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.3999.

Chadd’s Bistro: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. 1838 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.293.0665.

Chapman House: French-American.

Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations recommended. Liquor. 311 Walnut Blvd., Rochester. 48307.

248.759.4406.

Cheng’s Restaurant: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2666 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.9450.

Chicken Shack: BBQ. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 213 W. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.656.1100.

Chili’s: Tex-Mex. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2735 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.299.5281.

Chipotle Mexican Grille: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2611 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.402.0047. Also The Village of Rochester Hills, 84 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.402.0047.

Chomp Deli & Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

downtownpublications.com

200 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

888.342.2497.

CJ Mahoney’s Sports Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 3260 S. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307. 248.293.2800.

CK Diggs: American & Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2010 W. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.853.6600.

Clubhouse BFD (Beer-Food-Drink): American. Lunch, Saturday & Sunday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations, 10 or more. Liquor. 2265 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.289.6093.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Barbecue. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 1418 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.266.6226.

Downtown Café: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 606 N. Main, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.6680.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 2972 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.606.4519.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries: American, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

2544 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.299.3483.

Georgio’s Pizza & Pasta: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Italian.

117 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.2882.

Gold Star Family Restaurant: American & Greek. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 650 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.652.2478.

Golden Eagle: American. Lunch, Sunday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1447 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.6606.

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DOWNTOWN

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Grand Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 12 Marketplace Circle, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.289.1350.

Half Day Café: American. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

3134 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.1330.

Hamlin Pub: American. Breakfast, Sundays. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 1988 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.656.7700.

Hibachi House Bar & Grill: Japanese Steakhouse. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 335 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.266.6055.

Honey Tree Grille: Mediterranean.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2949 Crooks Road, Rochester, 48309. 248.237.0200.

Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1186 W. University Drive, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.3527.

Johnny Black Public House: American.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 1711 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.606.4479.

Kabin Kruser’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. No reservations. Lunch, Monday-Saturday.

Dinner, daily. 306 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.651.2266.

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. 2552 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.844.8900.

King Garden: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1433 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.3333.

Krazy Greek Restaurant: Greek. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 111 E. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.0089.

Kruse & Muer In the Village: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 134 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.2503.

Kruse & Muer on Main: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

327 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.9400.

Lebanese Grill: Lebanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2783 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.606.4651.

Lino’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 50 W. Tienken Road, Rochester Hills, 48306.

248.656.9002.

Lipuma’s Coney Island: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 621 N. Main Steet, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.9862.

Lucky’s Prime Time: American. Weekend Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations, weekdays. Liquor. 1330 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.656.8707.

Main Street Billiards: American. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.8441.

Main Street Deli: Deli. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, Thursday, Friday. No reservations. 709 N. Main Street, Rochester, MI 48307. 248.656.5066.

Mamma Mia Tuscan Grille: Italian. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 543 N. Main Street, Suite 311, Rochester, 48307. 248.402.0234.

Mezza Mediterranean Grille: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor at The Village location only. 1413 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.609.2121.

Also The Village of Rochester Hills, 188 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills.

248.375.5999.

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

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

248.453.5371.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch &

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Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 370 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.340.5900.

Mr. B’s Food and Spirits: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

423 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.6534.

Noodles & Company: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 184 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.375.5000.

North Shack: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 990 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.853.3366.

O’Connor’s Public House: Irish Pub. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 324 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.608.2537.

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

Olive Garden: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2615 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.853.6960.

Outback Steakhouse: Steakhouse. Lunch, Friday-Sunday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations, eight or more. Liquor.

1880 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.650.2521.

Paint Creek Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 613 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.759.4205.

Panda Express: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3105 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.853.9880.

Panera Bread: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 37 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.601.2050. Also 2921 Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.853.5722. Also 2508 S. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.853.7430.

Park 600 Bar & Kitchen: American.

Weekend Brunch. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Drive, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.2600.

Paul’s on Main: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 630 N. Main Sreet., Rochester, 48307. 248.656.0066.

Pei Wei: Asian Fusion. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1206 E. Walton Boulevard, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.1380.

Penn Station East Coast Subs: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

146. S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.4663.

Penny Black Grill & Tap: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

124 W. 4th Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.841.1522.

P.F. Chang's China Bistro: Asian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Village of Rochester Hills, 122 N. Adams Rd., Rochester Hills, 48309.

248.923.7030.

Pudthai & Sushi: Thai & Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 2964 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.6890.

Qdoba Mexican Grill: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1198 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.608.2603. Also 3014 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.844.3668.

Ram’s Horn: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1990 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.7900.

Red Knapp’s Dairy Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 304 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.4545.

Red Lobster: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2825 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.8090.

Red Olive: Mediterranean & American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1194 Walton Boulevard, Rochester, 48307. 248.656.0300.

Rochester Bistro: American-Continental.

Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations. Liquor. 227 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.923.2724.

Rochester Brunch House: American.

Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 301 Walnut Boulevard, Rochester, 48307. 248.656.1600.

Rochester Chop House: Steakhouse & Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 306 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.2266.

Rochester Diner & Grill: American, Greek & Italian. Breakfast & Lunch, daily.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. 1416 E. Walton Blvd., Rochester Hill, 48309.

248.652.6737.

Rochester Mills Beer Co.: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 400 Water Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.650.5080.

Rochester Tap Room: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6870 N. Rochester Road, Rochester, 48306.

248.650.2500.

Sakura Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

6866 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306. 248.608.3867.

Shish Palace: Mediterranean. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. 165 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5464.

Shogun: Japanese. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 173 S. Livernois Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5386.

Silver Spoon Ristorante: Italian. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

6830 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48306. 248.652.4500.

Soho: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2943 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.289.1179.

Sumo Sushi & Seafood: Japanese & Korean. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations, 24 hours in advance.

Liquor. 418 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.601.0104.

Tapper’s Pub: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 877 E. Auburn Road, Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.852.1983.

Tim Hortons: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 940 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.8292.

The Jagged Fork: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 188 N. Adams, Rochester Hills, 48306.

The Meeting House: American. Weekend Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 301 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.759.4825.

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

248.453.5291.

Tropical Smoothie Café: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2913 Crooks Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.852.4800.

Val's Polish Kitchen: Polish. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Sunday. Reservations. 224 E. Auburn Rd., Rochester Hills, 48307.

248.293.2660.

Wayback Burgers: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1256 Walton Boulevard, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.453.5746. Also 2595 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.844.2717.

Willoughby’s Beyond Juice: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 120 E. 4th Street, Rochester, 48307. 248.841.1670.

DOWNTOWN

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

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

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

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

248.619.9060.

Lakes: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

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

248.646.7900.

McCormick & Schmick’s: Steak & Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. Somerset Collection, 2850 Coolidge Hwy, Troy, 48084. 248.637.6400.

Mon Jin Lau: Asian. Lunch, MondayFriday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1515 E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083.

248.689.2332.

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

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

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

248.816.3424.

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

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

Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

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

248.524.1944.

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

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

248.816.8000.

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

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

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

248.817.2980.

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

248.646.2220.

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.

Beau's: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.626.2630.

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

167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

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

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

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

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

Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.646.9000.

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

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

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

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

248.642.4000.

Cafe Via: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.644.8800.

Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

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

248.723.1700.

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

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

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

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations.

Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420.

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

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

Forest: European. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham 48009.

248.258.9400.

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

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

Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham.

248.712.4050.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

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

248.594.4369.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner daily; Sunday brunch.

Reservations. Liquor. 39475 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.792.9609.

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.

Mandaloun Bistro: Lebanese. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, Daily.

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

248.723.7960.

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

248.723.0800.

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

248.646.3663.

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

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

248.644.3122.

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.

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

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

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

248.645.9123.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday

downtownpublications.com

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

248.731.7066.

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

248.203.6600.

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

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

The 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.

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

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

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

North Oakland Clarkston Union: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 54 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.620.6100.

Holly Hotel: American. Afternoon Tea, Monday – Saturday, Brunch, Sunday, Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 110 Battle Alley, Holly, 48442.

248.634.5208.

Kruse's Deer Lake Inn: Seafood. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7504 Dixie Highway, Clarkston, 48346.

248.795.2077.

Via Bologna: Italian. Dinner daily. No reservations. Liquor. 7071 Dixie Highway, Clarkston. 48346. 248.620.8500.

Union Woodshop: BBQ. Dinner, Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday – Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 18 S. Main St., Clarkston, 48346.

248.625.5660.

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

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily.

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

248.542.0082.

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

248.547.6699.

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

248.268.1621.

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

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

248.544.4749.

Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

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

248.544.2675.

D’Amato’s: Italian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 222 Sherman Dr., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.584.7400.v Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017.

248.288.0220.

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

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

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

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

Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.543.9500.

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

Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

Local Kitchen and Bar: American.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 344 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.291.5650.

Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 202 E. Third St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.584.4227.

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

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

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

Liquor. 175 W. Troy St., Ferndale, 48220. 248.808.6633.

Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 241 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.850.7420.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073. 248.549.0300.

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

Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.1141.

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

248.607.3127.

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

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

248.541.1186.

Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.7300.

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

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

248.542.4444.

DOWNTOWN

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

27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072.

248.548.7711.

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

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

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

Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680.

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

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

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

248.851.2500.

The Bombay Grille: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 29200 Orchard Lake Rd, Farmington Hills, 48334. 248.626.2982.

The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations.

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

248.851.8782.

Mene Sushi: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine.

6239 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.538.7081.

Meriwether’s: Seafood. Lunch, MondaySaturday. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

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

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

Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood.

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

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 6745 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.865.0500.

Shangri-La: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. Orchard Mall Shopping Center, 6407 Orchard Lake Rd, West Bloomfield Township, 48322.

248.626.8585.

Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 33210 W. Fourteen Mile Rd., West Bloomfield Township, 48322. 248.

538.8954.

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

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

248.855.6622.

Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.737.8282.

West Oakland Gravity Bar & Grill: Mediterranean.

Monday – Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday, Dinner. Reservations. Liquor.

340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381.

248.684.4223.

It's A Matter of Taste: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2323 Union Lake Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.360.4150.

The Root Restaurant & Bar: American.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48390.

248.698.2400.

Volare Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.7771.

39

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.

Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber Vine & Dine

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Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Arts Awards “It’s nice to be honored at an event where your friends do not have to buy tickets,” noted the ever candid Sue Nine as she accepted the BB Cultural Council’s Lifetime Achievement Award. It was eloquently presented by her nominator, philanthropy pal and 1999 awardee Maggie Allesee. Friends from the legions of nonprofits that have benefited from Sue’s talented leadership were in the audience of more than 100 people gathered at the Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center for the celebration. Fans also came to applaud Arts Award winner Glen Michaels. It was presented by council president / photographer Laurie Tennent, herself a past awardee. Although Glen was originally a musician and does fine portraiture, the nonagenarian is best known for his unique, ceramic/glass/found objects assemblages installed in public buildings and homes throughout the country. In his acceptance remarks, he explained why he and his late wife Jackie did not return to his native Washington after getting his MA at Cranbrook. “We loved Michigan,” he said. Then he spotted Karen VanderKloot DiChiera in the crowd and recalled his days as her piano teacher.

“And (later) the DiChieras eloped from our house,” he said with a grin, continuing, “...in Michigan there (are experts) in every field...willing to work with a crazy artist.”

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Sally Gerak Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber Vine & Dine Erhard BMW’s Leslie Rhodes welcomed 300 people ($85 ticket) to the huge, new Bloomfield Township showroom for the Chamber’s annual sip, savor and explore event. There was more than ample space for the nine generous food and five spirit purveyors and the Axis Music Academy stage. Plus the Gleaners Community Food Bank chance auction of six baskets display that raised enough money to provide 15,000 meals as well as the M240 convertible that was filled with mini plush cows. Guests could buy one for $10 which pays for six gallons of milk for the needy. Because purchases were matched by the United Dairy Industry of Michigan, sales totaled 576 gallons of milk. A $1,500 BMW bicycle was also up for grabs by guessing how many cows were in the car. Lucky Sami Maassarani guessed the exact number – 1,550. The evening benefited both chamber programming and the Gleaner’s mission to feed the hungry and nourish communities.

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Women’s Division Project HOPE Seventy five guests ($75, $100, $150 tickets) answered the Women’s Division Project HOPE’s invitation to Bloomfield Open Hunt where the horse power of luxury cars from sponsor Fred Lavery Company was on display at the entrance. Dubbed Call to the Hunt, the program began with traditional fox hunt sounds by Joanna Yarbrough played on her French horn. Several equestrian demonstrations followed with guests viewing the action via the glass wall of the indoor Ring Room. A buffet dinner with musical accompaniment by violinist John Bian and cellist Leo Singer concluded the benefit. Funds raised are earmarked for assistance to hurricane victims in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico.

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1. Sunny Connolly (left) of Orchard Lake, Joe Bauman of Livonia. 2. Chuck Otis of Birmingham, Jan Artushia of Bloomfield. 3. Tom Artushia (left) of Bloomfield, Jeff Reider of Birmingham. 4. Linda Hatfield (left) of Farmington Hills, John & Debbie Schrot of Birmingham. 5. John Henke & Leslie Craigie of Birmingham. 6. Peter & Julie Kreher of Birmingham. 7. Neil Mio (left) of Bloomfield and Brian Yaldo of W. Bloomfield. 8. Andrea Foglietta (left) of Royal Oak, Peggy Kerr of Bloomfield. 9. Kelly Lewis and Steve Sanzica of Birmingham, Tracie Allright of Royal Oak.

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ART VAN Award of Hope Since 2009, the Art Van Charity Challenge has donated $8 million and raised more than $24 million for 359 charities. Five hundred representatives of those non-profits flocked to the retailer’s Warren store for the 2017 Art Van Award of Hope celebration emceed by Diane Charles. They were joined by super model Cindy Crawford, official ambassador of the charitable giving initiative.

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Dramatic videos of the five honorees’ missions preceded the presentations to: Grace Centers of Hope’s Pastor Kent Clark, Rhonda Walker Foundation’s Rhonda Walker, Mental Health Foundation of West Michigan’s Christy Buck, Chicago’s The Well of Mercy’s Mary Zeien and Flint water crisis activist Lee Anne Walters.

Pink Fund Dancing with the Survivors Getting to the Shriners’ Silver Gardens Center on Southfield Road during rush hour does challenge a driver’s patience, but the good vibes that permeated the Pink Fund event compensated big time for the inconvenience. Before heading into the auditorium for the program, volunteers (25) and 325 PF supporters ($150 ticket) happily chatted, perused the three vendor stations, sipped and snacked on passed appetizers as well as savory buffet station fare and desserts.

Program highlights abounded: breast cancer survivor Molly MacDonald’s moving story of why she founded the non-profit that has already paid $2,341,371 for 1,754 patients’ nonmedical expenses; the applause for her daughter visiting from Oregon wearing the same dress her mother wore five years ago in the inaugural fundraiser; Michael Krieger singing his upbeat song “A Second Chance” for all breast cancer survivors, including his wife; the videos of fund recipients and the eight dancers telling their powerful stories before each demonstrated the amazing results of 10 lessons at Evan Mountain’s Fred Astaire studio. The dancers were Carol and Michael Ziecik, Nikki Becker, Blaire Miller, Sue Colomina and her daughter Dr. Julie MacPherson, Cheryl Fabian-McCoy and Donna Petty and all had fan clubs in the audience enthusiastically applauding their elegance. The fifth annual Dancing with the Survivors raised more than $128,800.

Grace Centers of Hope Night of Hope The Hands of Hope Childcare Center at Grace Centers of Hope benefited from the support of 158 good guys and gals ($85, $125 tickets) gathered at The Reserve. They sipped, dined on the stroll, socialized and bid $8,010 for silent auction items as music by Collision Six filled the room and videos streamed on a large screen. They also observed while speed artist Dave Santia painted, upside down, portraits of famous people which Charles Wickins sold at auction ($5,050). When the last video finished playing, Melissa Aupperle noted, “The people in our videos are real people, not actors.” She then inspired pledges of nearly $10,000 downtownpublications.com

Birmingham Bloomfield Cultural Arts Awards

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5 1. Laurie Tennent (left), Glen Michaels of Birmingham, Suzanne Michaels Barbero of NY, NY. 2. Maggie Allesee (left), Marcy Heller Fisher, Sue Nine of Bloomfield. 3. John Reddy of Bloomfield and Evie Wheat of Birmingham. 4. Annie VanGelderen (left) of Commerce, Bill Seklar of Bloomfield, Link Wachler of Troy.

5. Lois Cohn (left) and Sue Marx of Birmingham. 6. Lillian Zonars (left) and Karen Swanson of Bloomfield, Jean Schuler and Phyllis Clark of Birmingham. 7. Laurence Barber and Bob Ziegelman of Bloomfield.

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Women’s Division Project HOPE

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4 1. Susan Willis-Reichert (left) and Maggie Allesee (right) of Bloomfield, Linda Juracek-Lipa (center) of Birmingham. 2. Josie Sheppard (left), Connie McEwan, Kandi Brice and Christina Recchia of Birmingham.

3. Patty Ghesquiere (left) of Bloomfield, Cheryl Hall Lindsay of W. Bloomfield. 4. Wendy (left) & Dean Groulx and Margaret Grommersch and Bob Frey of Bloomfield. 5. Marty (left) & Diana Shoushanian of Farmington Hills; Bettina & Donald Gregg and Tina Prevas of Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK for the children’s center. Thanks also to sponsors, the event will help provide full-day childcare for newborns and preschoolers while their parents focus on their recovery from homelessness and addictions at the 75-year-old Grace Centers of Hope.

Pink Fund Dancing with the Survivors

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3 1. Mike & Carol Segal Ziecik of Bloomfield.

2. Evan Mountain of Bloomfield and Laura Segal of Franklin. 3. Emily Ewing (left) of Bloomfield, Molly MacDonald of Beverly Hills.

4. Cindy Lane (left) of South Lyon, Judy Vindici of Birmingham. 5. Karen Sahlin (left) of St. Clair Shores, Gladys Kowalski of Bloomfield. 6. Kathy Myers (left) of Bloomfield, Rita Dunker of Birmingham.

7. Barbra Bloch (left) and Cindy Obron Kahn of Bloomfield.

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Detroit Children’s Fund Dinner More than 240 guests ($5,000 & up sponsorships) went back to school, so to speak, at the Detroit Children’s Fund Inaugural Dinner at The Factory at Corktown. The gritty venue was transformed with a school theme, complete with notebook-patterned table tops, giant pencils, and a school lunch-inspired dinner menu. Gretchen Davidson, Kelle Ilitch and Ashley Crain chaired the event. KC Crain chairs the DCF board of directors.

Davidson and Ilitch also serve on the board. The event raised more than $1.55 million, thanks to DCF board member/Detroit native Adam Levinson and his wife Brittany’s matching challenge grant of $775,000.

All funds raised will support the DCF campaign to create 25,000 seats for K12 students in strong Detroit schools by the year 2025. “People understand the critical need for good schools...(They) are rallying together like never before, ”said DCF chief advancement officer Nick Karmanos.

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Grace Centers of Hope Night of Hope

1. Emilie Mardigian Fitch (left) of Birmingham and Nanette Droulliard of Detroit. 2. Melissa Rodriguez Aupperle (left) of Harrison Twp, Anne Marie La Flamme of Rochester. 3. Bev Ross of Rochester, Pastors Kent and Pam Clark of Troy. 4. Rob (left) & Cathy Zeni of Livonia, Rami Fawaz and Aaron Fitch of Birmingham. 5. Adam Pomichowski (left) of Troy, Bill McCarthy of Rochester, Nathan Conway of Bloomfield.

Belle Isle Conservancy

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3 1. Mona Simoncini of Grosse Pointe, Blythe Moran of Bloomfield.

2. Sarah Earley (left) and Eleanor Gabrys of Bloomfield, Pat Nickol of Birmingham. 3. Danialle Karmanos (left) of Orchard Lake, Vivian Pickard, Jessie Elliott and Kelle Ilitch of Bloomfield. 4. Rosemary Sarafa (left) & Judy Jonna of Bloomfield. 5. Rosemary Bannon (left) of Beverly Hills, Leslie Pilling of Detroit, Lidija Grahovac of Bloomfield. 6. Gretchen Davidson (left) of Birmingham, Dr. David DiChiera of Detroit, Cristina Dichiera of Providence, RI.

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Belle Isle Conservancy There have been changes since the first conservancy benefit luncheon in 2005, but it still attracts nearly 400 ($150, $300, $500, $1,000-tickets) people to the island jewel. This year’s chair Mona Simoncini moved it inside to the Detroit Yacht Club and added some nice touches. Guests were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine and an exhibition of Michigan designer fashions which led them to the silent auction display. The social hour seemed especially animated, at least for the harem accompanying Dr. David Di Chiera. They all wanted to be photographed with the opera legend.

Each place setting at the tables was accented with a jewel-shaped chocolate in a velvet box and a jeweler’s polishing cloth. Nice touch.

Likewise for the take home bag of goodies. Fortunately, the printed program contained all the important island updates because the ballroom acoustics were challenging. However, the informal modeling of eight of Leslie Pilling’s BLANK iTTi BLANK Collection and eight of Bridget Sullivan’s ecofriendly romantic silhouettes required no commentary. And thanks to generous sponsors, the 13th annual event raised more than $230,000 for the 12.17

creation of the new splash park that was unveiled at the luncheon. The first 12 luncheons raised more than $3 million.

Multiple Myeloma Research Some 400 people ($175, $275-patron) crowded into the Westin Book Cadillac ballroom at the food and wine event Sid Moss designed seven years ago to put the spotlight on research dear to him.

(Like some others in the crowd, he lives with Multiple Myeloma, a cancer that affects the white blood cells.) But this night his other passions – fine food, wine and jazz – ruled as 25 food and 18 beverage purveyors served up delectable fare and the Buddy Budson Qunitet and Ursula Walker made music.

“He (Sid) may be small but he sure does things in a big way,” observed a first time event guest as he held out a wine glass for another sample. About 100 had come early for a panel discussion with researchers where there was optimism about new developments including individual treatment options.

Many also found goodies to buy in the silent auction. Patrons and sponsors savored dessert wines and chocolates at a more intimate Afterglow. The event raised an all time high of $140,000.

MOCAD Gala + Art Auction The Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit’s annual fundraiser attracted 250 supporters, 130 of them for the VIP segment ($200 ticket). It featured serious socializing and scrutinizing of the curated auction art over handcrafted cocktails before a seated dinner. The After Party crowd ($75, $20, $15 tickets) then arrived for popular DJ Frankie Banks music, New York-based fashion model/rapper Chynna Rogers’ gritty performance and other diversions like readings by Aura Aura Polaroid and Rincon Tropical food. Counting some online sales, 183 lots of the donated art had new ‘homes’ and the 11th annual Gala+Art raised nearly $300,000 for the creative visual, music, performance and literary programming at MOCAD. Wright Gala: Kaleidoscope of Human Color More than 425 people gathered at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History which Curb Gardner’s Creative Group had transformed it into a colorful kaleidoscope for the annual gala. From a sleek, black glass floor entryway to colorful geometric shapes that sparkled the museum’s iconic dome, the decor echoed the party’s goal – to celebrate the diversity of human culture and color and the richness of shared histories.

Byna Elliott and Janice Cosby chaired the swanky soiree and thanked all for downtownpublications.com

Multiple Myeloma Research

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1. Sid & Sharon Moss of Bloomfield. 2. Marvin (left) & Sharon Walkon with Marina & Chris Emde of Bloomfield. 3. Barbara (left) & Howard Belkin of Birmingham, Brian Jennings of Bloomfield, Elizabeth & David Barash of W. Bloomfield.

MOCAD Gala + Art Auction

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3 1. Elysia Borowy-Reeder of Detroit, Dr. Charles Boyd of Birmingham. 2. Roz Jacobson of Bloomfield, Jens Hoffmann of Birmingham and NYC. 3. Frances, Jane and Eddie Schulak of Birmingham. 4. David Folytn and Kathy Goldberg of Birmingham. 5. Elle Elder (left) of Orchard Lake, Linda Dresner of Birmingham. 6. Ed Levy (left) of Birmingham, Alan Ross of Bloomfield.

Photos by Trista Dymond / MOCAD.

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Wright Gala: Kaleidoscope of Human Color

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1 1. Elie (left) & Nuria Boudt (right) of Birmingham with Juanita Moore of Detroit and Gary Wasserman of Naples, FL. 2. Retha & Walter Douglas of Bloomfield. 3. Dave & Yvette Bing of Franklin. Photos by Annistique Photography. 4. Don Manvel (center) of Birmingham, Vivian Pickard (left) and Janis Rogers of Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK supporting “...the Wright Museum...a place where history comes alive and Detroit comes together.” Andiamo’s surf and turf dinner menu had universal appeal as did the post dinner dance music by Al Mckenzie and DJ Yeezy.

Proceeds are still being tallied but sponsors and ticket sales will enhance museum programming as a community centerpiece.

CARE House of Oakland County

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1. Tonni DiLaura (left) of Grosse Pointe, Dave & Kappy Hommel Trott of Birmingham, Bob Hommel of Dearborn. 2. Blythe Spitsbergen (left) of Farmington Hills, Marla Feldman of Birmingham. 3. Lisa MacDonald (left) Franklin and Lisa Payne of Bloomfield. 4. Linda Hommel (left) of Birmingham, Mazy & Jim Gillis of Bloomfield. 5. Gracie Van Huffel (left) and Duke Trott of Boston, MA, Taylor Trott and Miles Neumann of Birmingham. 6. David & Jennifer Doyle of Birmingham. 7. Denise Abrash and Jim Hayes of Bloomfield. 8. Shaunda Snell and Kevin Cronin of Bloomfield. 9. Joan Klein Aresco (left) of Canton, Kelly Dietz of Bloomfield. 10. Joujou Sukkarie (left) of Bloomfield, Susu Harres of W. Bloomfield.

Judson Center Rock Star Gala

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1. Steve Hill (left) of Bloomfield and Heather & Dave Mingle of Rochester.

2. Lenora Hardy-Foster (left) of Rochester and Dave Zimmerman of Beverly Hills.

3. John & Carol Aubrey of Birmingham, Nancy & David Lau of Bloomfield. 4. Ann Marie LaFlamme of Rochester. 5. Joanne & John Carter of Bloomfield. 6. Rick DiBartolomeo (left) of Troy, Dave & Heather Mingle of Rochester.

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CARE House of Oakland County The 315 CARE House supporters at the Townsend Hotel chuckled during Kappy Trott’s remarks accepting, for her husband and herself, the Patricia R. Rosen Award honoring their 20 years of leadership and advocacy.

That was when she confessed Dave Trott had been rejected by one of her sisters 30 years ago, but that her mother Linda, who really liked him, encouraged Kappy to give him a chance. However, the levity ended when Kappy, who attended law school as a mother of three young children, described the relentless tenacity she needed as a Wayne County assistant attorney general working in the Family and Youth Services Division.

“Abuse victims are changed for life...My heart is in prevention,” she declared. Board member Alicia BolerDavis had spoken passionately about the subject. “I know firsthand the devastating effects of abuse,” she said while lauding her employer General Motors for its largesse to CH. A CH client also gave her caseworker Bridget a bouquet for the health and happiness of her children who had been abused by their father. With the crowd thus motivated, Dan Stall conducted a live auction and pledging that raised $158,000. Thanks also to generous sponsors, CARE Night, which was chaired by Marla Feldman, Lisa MacDonald and Lisa Payne, raised more than $427,000.

Judson Center Rock Star Gala Nearly 630 Judson Center supporters ($400, $300 tickets) rocked around the clock at the MGM Grand.

Live tribute bands evoked the ‘60s and ‘70s as guests, some in vintage garb, bid on silent and live auctions, dined on the stroll and raised $455,000 for Judson’s comprehensive social services that help those in need succeed. But guests are still buzzing about keynote speaker Shawn Card’s story. His mother’s passion for helping children prompted her to foster 34 children. And be a role model. Shawn is a Judson Center foster parent and his daughter has recently followed in those footsteps.

A truly remarkable family.

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HAVEN Tailgate More than 150 HAVEN supporters gathered indoors at the Birmingham Athletic Club to watch the Lions - Saints game on a big screen. Former Lions on hand to tackle domestic violence included Mike Blatziz, Maurice Harve, Luther Blue, Bobby Thompson and Cory Schlesinger. The latter, now a high school teacher, spoke convincingly during the brief half time about preventing sexual violence by being “...a real man (not someone obsessed with cars, money and women) but one who takes care of his family and his neighborhood...It’s scary out there to intervene,” he noted. During another timeout director of HAVEN’s prevention programs Kole Wyckhuys told about HAVEN’s Redefine (masculinity) program aimed at making young men change agents in their schools and communities and a video showed the impact of talking about anger instead of acting out.

Other diversions included endless bowls of chips and super guacamole, a great BBQ buffet, open bar, chance squares game ($3,660), silent and live auctions ($9,425).

Thanks to sponsors, the tailgate raised more than $55,000 for HAVEN, which now has digs for residents’ 4-legged family members – the Farber Family Pet Center.

HAVEN Tailgate

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Then spokespeople for Arts & Scraps, Clinton River Watershed Council, Kids Kicking Cancer, Beyond Basics and CARE House each told their story, hoping to win one of two $100,500 grants that would be decided by the members’ votes.

The amount represents each of the 201 members’ $1,000 donation to Impact100. This represents double the membership from last year, the chapter’s first. Rousing applause greeted the two winning organizations: Beyond Basics, which will use its award to get 55 Pontiac students reading at grade level, usually within six weeks; and CARE House of Oakland County, which will use its grant to prevent child abuse by implementing a Nurturing Parenting Program. The power of collective philanthropy got a further boost when new president Mary Pat Rosen implored each member to recruit another for next year. “We could number 400,” she declared.

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

1. Amna Osman (left) of Grand Blanc and Hannah Heebner of Dearborn, Kacia Hollins of Detroit 2. Nina and Christina Ramsey of Rochester Hills. 3. Lisa Gentile (left) of Royal Oak, Sarah Paone of Macomb, Michelle Marentee of Birmingham. 4. Lynne Thompson (left) of Rochester Hills, Jan Temerand of Dearborn Hgts., Linda Green of W. Bloomfield.

Impact100 Oakland Awards

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4 1. Ginny Fischbach (left) of Davisburg, Mary Pat Rosen (left) of Bloomfield.

2. Colleen Miller (left), Laura Laeres and Jessie Bell of Birmingham. 3. Mindy Vanes (left) and Veronica Thomas of Birmingham, Sherry Tattrie of Royal Oak. 4. Tricia Schuster (left) of Rochester, Blythe Spitsbergen of Farmington Hills, Pam Good of Bloomfield, Javier Reed (left) of Belleville.

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ENDNOTE

Finally, medical marijuana regulations early a decade after voters approved a statewide ballot proposal making marijuana legal for medical purposes, state officials are finally rolling out license regulations for new medical marijuana facilities intended to support some 240,000 patients in Michigan.

Approved in 2008 by 63 percent of the state's voters and enacted in 2009, the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act has been rife with shortcomings, resulting in repeated requests from the Michigan Supreme Court and local governments for lawmakers to update and refine the law. After dragging their feet for eight years, legislators apparently saw the light in 2016 and created the Medical Marijuana Facilities Act. The law sets up a much-needed framework for a medical marijuana marketplace where patients can more easily access their medicine. Despite taking nearly 10 years to create the law, regulations being finalized by a board of governor appointees are attracting primarily big money interests that will inevitably dominate the new system.

At the heart of the issue is a problem of supply and demand. There are simply more patients than the current supply of some 38,000 certified caregivers can provide with medical marijuana.

With each caregiver permitted to grow marijuana for up to six patients, including themselves, some current patients must either grow their own medicine or look for alternative sources. Consider also that the state Supreme Court in 2014 ruled that the state's 2009 law doesn't allow for medical marijuana dispensaries. And it wasn't until state legislators saw the potential for a $1-billion medical marijuana industry in the state, capable of generating tens of millions of dollars in new

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taxes, did lawmakers finally decide patient needs were worth enacting a new law.

Despite being deemed illegal by the state's Supreme Court, pioneers in the state's medical marijuana field took matters into their own hands and created their own marketplace of dispensaries. Supported by certified caregivers and often receiving permission from local municipalities to operate, there are dozens of medical marijuana dispensaries operating today in the metro Detroit area.

Under the new facilities act, those who want to stay or get into the medical marijuana business must obtain a license from the state's department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), which will begin accepting applications on December 15. Under the new law, licenses will be required by anyone who wishes to grow, process, sell, transport or test marijuana from the state, other than caregivers who will still be permitted to grow marijuana for up to five patients.

While the new regulatory system was no doubt needed to provide for a legal and reliable medical marijuana marketplace in Michigan, there are some specific details that ultimately give a leg up only to big businesses. For instance, capital requirements for licensees are set at a minimum of $150,000 and as much as $500,000 for a grower who wants up to 1,500 plants. Those requirements are sure to hamstring some caregivers or small business hopefuls looking to enter the market, especially since they must show significant liquidity.

Further, licensees with notable resources will have additional advantages over small competitors. For instance, the state will permit license holders to "co-locate" up to three different

license types at one location, allowing for a grow operation, processing center and provisioning center at one location, as long as they can afford license fees and show adequate financial statements.

Additionally, the new regulations will allow growers to apply for and receive multiple grow licenses, allowing them to stack licenses at one location and conduct mega grow operations.

Such operations would potentially be able to control the supply of medical marijuana in the marketplace and create monopolies.

For municipalities, the new law and regulations help to determine what types of medical marijuana businesses will be located in their community, where they will zoned and how to better regulate them. However, the last-minute timing of the release of the regulations has many locals delaying any action or adopting a reactive "wait and see" policy.

While grow operations won't be practical for most municipalities in Oakland County to consider, many should consider whether allowing licensed dispensaries in their community is beneficial. The additional tax revenues will have an appeal once the cash registers start ringing.

We urge local municipalities to start a proactive discussion on how new medical marijuana facilities may impact their community, both pro and con, and whether their residents would benefit by their presence. With many law enforcement officials, politicians and others praising the medicinal benefits of marijuana, local discussions should be able to move past whether medical marijuana is moral or legitimate – it is – and into what is best for residents of their community.

Assessing local fire department services ommercial developments and population increases fueling Rochester's economic development boom are bringing increased demands for fire and rescue services. That requires a thorough assessment of the city's fire department and all its capabilities, which wisely is being considered.

Housed in a single fire station southeast of downtown Rochester, the paid on-call force consists of about 45 volunteer firefighters who respond to emergency rescue and medical calls. In 2016, the department responded to 1,626 calls for service, including 11 fires; 1,275 EMS or rescue calls; and 31 calls involving hazardous conditions.

That's an increase of more than 185 percent from just eight years ago. Yet, the department has just 18 more firefighters and one additional vehicle than it did in 2008.

As the multi-million dollar projects developers promise to bring hundreds of new jobs and homes, Rochester Fire Chief John Cieslik has requested an ad-hoc fire committee assess the needs of the fire department. The committee – which consists of

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the city manager, councilman Rob Ray, two residents and the chief – will look at fire and rescue operations, response times, the department’s structure, equipment and expectations from the community.

As the scope of the committee's study is still being determined, we recommend its members look at partnerships or sharing of equipment and services with neighboring communities as one possible option for increasing services. For instance, special use fire and rescue apparatus capable of reaching particularly tall structures or other locations can be, and should be, shared through interdepartmental agreements with other communities. Such agreements should go beyond mutual aid or assistance.

The committee must also consider the health of Rochester's aging population, as well as its structures.

As a historic community, the city has many older and aging homes and businesses that weren't built to today's fire code. Likewise, the number of senior residents in Rochester grew by

43 percent between 2008 and 2016. That number is expected to double by 2025. Considering that the majority of calls for service to the department are for medical services, the committee would be wise to look into how the city's changing demographics will play into the need for fire services.

Such considerations would wisely include data from a community impact study that is being developed by McKenna Associates that will look at the overall pressure in the city from proposed developments.

As a volunteer department, firefighters are paid a flat per hour fee when they are on duty, and paid as a contracted service to the city's Volunteer Fire Association. The committee also needs to look at the pros and cons of that system, which was supported by a $1.33 million budget in 2016.

While meeting new development challenges will undoubtedly require additional resources, a thorough and comprehensive study will ensure those resources are being used appropriately and efficiently.

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