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OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP

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S O L D

ADDRESS 1191 Avon Manor Road 583 Birchcrest Court 601 Parkdale Avenue 3420 Royal Berkshire Lane 576 Middlebury Lane 1408 Galena 4498 Hawthorn 6130 Sheldon Road 3448 Royal Berkshire Lane 570 Utah Road 2325 Norton Road 919 Stag Ridge Road 2054 Belle Vernon 640 Rolling Green Circle 905 Hidden Oak Hill Lane 1399 Fairview Lane Minimum Average Maximum

List Price $219,900 $422,419 $234,870 $549,900 $329,900 $629,900 $399,000 $399,900 $582,000 $60,000 $237,500 $259,900 $309,900 $289,900 $674,444 $288,000 $140,000 $331,688 $779,000

Sale Price Beds Baths Sqft Total Price/Sqft Close Date $210,500 3 2 1628 $129 1/3/2017 $422,419 4 2.1 2960 $142 1/3/2017 $223,500 3 1.1 1118 $199 1/5/2017 $561,632 4 3.1 3475 $161 1/5/2017 $307,500 4 2.1 2606 $117 1/6/2017 $615,000 5 3.1 3800 $161 1/9/2017 $384,000 3 2.1 2650 $144 1/11/2017 $405,000 5 3.1 4630 $87 1/11/2017 $575,000 4 3.1 3434 $167 1/11/2017 $42,350 2 1 684 $61 1/12/2017 $223,000 3 2.1 2191 $101 1/12/2017 $259,900 3 1.1 1667 $155 1/12/2017 $308,000 3 2.1 1903 $161 1/12/2017 $280,000 4 3.1 2376 $117 1/13/2017 $663,000 5 5 4449 $149 1/13/2017 $289,000 4 2.1 2050 $140 1/16/2017 $140,000 958 $102 $327,427 2,206 $148 $760,000 4,664 $224

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DOWNTOWN02.17

21

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

FROM THE PUBLISHER

10

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

CRIME LOCATOR

15

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

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

17

Our political gossip/rumor column â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this month on race for GOP political party chair; Geoffrey Fieger commercial hints of things to come; state lawmaker assignments; Gov. Snyder makes TSL; plus more.

THE COVER

MUNICIPAL

41

Rochester water and sewer rate increases; greenspace added in Rochester Hills; planners support condo proposal for Royal Park Hotel site; federal court will hear long-standing fight over Rochester dental clinic; medical marijuana grow operation tabled one more time.

The Rochester Fire Station at 277 W. 2nd Street in Rochester, which was remodeled in the last couple of years.

Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent.

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27

Impact of septic systems Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimated that of the 80,000 septic systems in Oakland that 10 percent are failing and impacting surface and groundwater supplies.

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

34

Louise Holoday

FACES SOCIAL LIGHTS

51

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

ENDNOTE

58

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

18 34 46

Etrit Demaj Louise Holoday Paul Davis

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

T

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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

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

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

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

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

I could continue but you get my point.

Ronald DiLiddo Rochester Hills

Personal responsibility The night of our presidential election I went to bed early. I refused to watch the news media, and would wait until morning to find out who our next president would be.

Probably it would be Hillary Clinton, a life-long politician who will promise anything to get what she wanted. The promises are mostly directed to all those looking for the government to provide all their wants and needs. Whatever happened to the idea that the people of this country should do more for themselves and thereby allowing the government to take care of our essential needs, instead of trying to micromanage all of our lives.

We, as middle class folks, who work all our life to provide for our families are tired of the so called “elites” (liberal educators, media types, outspoken Hollywood actors and public figures) telling us how we should distribute the public wealth (our taxes).

We are the people who voted for Mr. Trump. We are not the people who were rioting to disrupt the Trump rallies (Hillary voters). Apparently the Democrats and so-called progressives attract all the low-life sectors of our society.

You, as evidenced in your December Downtown Rochester publication (From The Publisher) preach for civility, and yet liberal media breeds the lawless parts of our society. Witness the recent assault on law enforcement caused by premature, biased media coverage of downtownpublications.com

and concise information that you get for us.

Merton Wreford Rochester Hills

Oakland Confidential

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

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

several shootings of black thugs by policemen.

We cannot continue as a democracy without enforcement of law and order.

The first order of an advanced people is personal responsibility.

The elites in this country don’t understand how our government should work. We need to get rid of the selfserving, life-long politicians feeding in the public trough and replace them with honest servants who will be stewards of our basic liberties and protection from our enemies.

Daniel Goeddeke Oakland Township

Reliable publication In the short time that we have been receiving your publication here in Rochester Hills, you have established yourself in our minds as a very good and reliable newspaper. In that time, I have learned more about our locality than ever before.

I look forward to receiving it every month.

Perhaps you could also comment on why our Michigan state government is withholding tax refunds.

We are owed some $900 that our accountant claimed for us for 2015.

My wife called them (recently) and a recorded message (that shows we are not alone in this matter) told her that no refunds were being issued until after January 27, 2017. Note the “after.” A person in the department confirmed this verbally.

The reason given by this employee was that it was caused by a “system maintenance” issue.

It is hard to imagine why a state government would resort to such tactics to hold onto its citizens’ money but we thought you would be the people to find out for us.

Thank you once again for the clear

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

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

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

Rich Wise Who are her supporters other than religious institutions that stand to profit from getting vouchers when she succeeds in getting them in against the public will and the charter school profiteers? The for-profit charter schools have bled public schools dry with absolutely no improvement in student results.

Mary Ward Rochester Hills Operating under an "allusion?" Good trick if you can manage it. In my honest opinion, Downtown's reporting is excellent.

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

Ralph Deeds Bloomfield Township

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Thanks for the informative article. We need more scrutiny of everyone in a position to make public policy.

Roz Brk Detroit

dOWNTOWN

13

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 January 25, 2017.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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

Everybody make nice: While a candidate backed by President Donald Trump ousted the Ohio GOP state chair in a hotly contested race to run that state’s Republican party after Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) failed to support President-elect Trump, word from insiders is that Trump will not throw his weight around in Michigan to put the guy who purportedly delivered Michigan for him, Scott Hagerstrom.

Hagerstrom, a former state director of Americans for Prosperity in Michigan (read Tea Party) directed Trump’s campaign in Michigan, and announced in December that he would seek the Michigan Republican Party chairmanship. Thing is, Ron Weiser, HAGERSTROM member of the University of Michigan Board of Regents, has his eye on that position. However, Weiser is a very large donor to the Republican Party, was an ambassador to Slovakia under former President George W. Bush, and is a previous Michigan GOP party chair, from 2009 to 2011.

According to a source, Weiser, who was named to the Trump inauguration committee, spoke to Trump chief strategist and senior counselor to the presidency Steve Bannon, receiving the administration’s support. “I just think Weiser is the better choice,” said Jeff Sakwa, who was co-chair of the party with Ronna Romney McDaniel, who became the national party chair, and briefly ran for the state chairmanship. “When he called and WEISER said he wanted the job, I said, ‘Amen.’ I was very flattered that people considered me, but I like being in the background, helping people. Ron asked me to be part of his team and I will be.” Another source said Weiser offered Hagerstrom a job for the sake of party unity, and Hagerstrom allegedly turned him down. “Now he’ll be unemployed,” the source said. “He’s a nice guy. But his supporters aren’t.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BOSSARDET

TSL: This month’s entry goes directly to Governor Rick Snyder – he who has always professed to being above politics, for an ultimate now-you-see-itnow-you-don’t manipulation that could make a true politician blush. Six years into the gubernatorial game, Snyder played a round of patronage. It seems the Michigan Court of Appeals was slated to lose a judge due to budget constraints, saving taxpayers money – going back to a plan Snyder pushed for in 2012. Appellate judge Donald Owens submitted his resignation in October 2016, effective New Year’s Day 2017. But, voila! Snyder appointed Brock Swartzle, 45, previously chief counsel to the House GOP caucus and with no prior judicial experience, to the seat on the court – nullifying the cost savings.

An appellate judge in Michigan earns $153,000, plus staff and court costs. What happened to the plan? The savings was to come when a term ended for an appeals court position but a resignation before a term actually ends allowed the governor to make an appointment. That’s politics for you.

DOWNTOWN

17

FACES

Etrit Demaj riginally an Albanian refugee who came to this country as a child, today Etrit Demaj is COO of Hepta Systems, a smart building technology business, who became an accomplished entrepreneur after overcoming tremendous obstacles on his journey to success.

“I was seven or eight (years old) when the war started ramping up,” Demaj said. “People were getting massacred.”

During his youth, the United States was negotiating a peace treaty with Serbia, to no avail.

“The U.S. and NATO started bombing Serbian army bases where they kept their tanks. They were trying to give the Serbian government a message to end the genocide of the people of Kosovo.”

Demaj’s family fled their home. His mother sewed money into his jeans in the event they were separated.

“My parents would randomly pay people to get us from one city to another,” he said. “We slept in the car for three days. We weren’t sure if we were ever going to make it out.”

A non-profit group from the U.S. convinced the Serbian police to allow Demaj and his family to cross into Macedonia.

“It was a surreal feeling. You feel amazing for that five to 10 minutes – and then you have to figure out your next move.”

The Demaj family was interviewed and underwent health and background checks. They were subsequently accepted into the U.S as refugees.

“It was the best moment of my family’s life. We flew to Michigan where my uncle lived. My parents always wanted us to go to school in America.”

Adapting to life in the U.S. was a challenge. “The most difficult thing to adjust to was the lifestyle here. I was kind of standoffish at first.”

Demaj attended school in Rochester where, he said, his family felt welcomed. As a result, he acclimated quickly to the divergent lifestyle. “We felt at home. Nobody judged us. I connected to people very quickly.”

As a Rochester High School graduate, Demaj already had his sights set on sales and owning his own company.

“My aspirations have always been to be entrepreneur,” he said.

“After college, my brother and I started dabbling in real estate. I was in banking for a while and we connected with some people who were working on technology ideas.”

In 2015, Demaj was hired as COO for Hepta Systems. The company makes it possible for building managers and owners to control their structures remotely using one platform. Clients are able to manage lighting, heating and cooling systems.

Demaj travels yearly to Kosovo to assist and educate aspiring entrepreneurs in their endeavors.

“The people of Kosovo have changed a lot,” he said. “There have been some outside investments from the U.S. and other countries. They’ve helped the country grow and become more selfsufficient.”

Demaj continues to live in Rochester and credits his much of his success to his parents and the country that offered his family freedom and opportunity. “(My parents) have been amazing and we have the United States to thank. We would probably be dead by now. My family will always be indebted.”

O

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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

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

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

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

A

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

authorizers checking for things like that.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dr. Robert Glass, superintendent of Bloomfield Hills

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Education Trust Midwest provides a charter school scorecard, with a letter grade, A to F, for each school, for each year they have operated. “We do it to provide impartiality, transparency, and to show which authorizers are doing a good job, and to shed light on those that aren't.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

operating around the state of Michigan.

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

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

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

Charters are going into areas where students have been

WHILE THE IDEA OF FREE CHOICE – TO CHOOSE WHERE TO EDUCATE YOUR CHILD, IN WHAT TYPE OF SCHOOL, WITH THE APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL MODEL – SOUNDS IDEAL, THE REALITY IS DIFFERENT. primarily underserved, where graduation rates have been abysmal.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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SEPTICS MICHIGAN BEHIND ON REGS THAT WOULD PROTECT SURFACE, DRINKING WATER

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

S

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Michigan League of Conservation Voters has also called for

R

statewide regulations to address failing septic systems.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Once in a lifetime location on this 2,500 sq. ft. Ranch with walkout basement set back through the trees on a rolling, very private 10 acre parcel fantastic views of 2 ponds, attached 3-car garage plus over 2,100 sq. ft. pole barn with 4 large doors, cement floor and electricity, original owners have maintained home extremely well, large island kitchen, 4 bedrooms upstairs with 2 more bedrooms in mostly finished walkout basement and new roof 2016. Paved Road. 4 Additional Acres Available.

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Model show condition colonial w/finished walkout basement on 1st fairway of the Glacier Club Golf Course. Approximately 3,600 sq. ft. of finished living area located on a cul-de-sac with extra long driveway. Features fantastic views of golf course from upper deck and lower patio, hardwood flooring throughout most of home, large airy kitchen w/granite counters and stainless steel appliances, 3.5-car attached garage, finished walkout w/wet bar and 3rd full bathroom. Many updates throughout including all bathrooms. 7878 Glacier Club,Washington Twp $399,900

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

S

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cost to local health departments is a concern that was echoed

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

D

FACES

Louise Holoday rom “The Great and Powerful Oz” to “Red Dawn” Louise Holoday’s mastery as a makeup artist can be seen from the silver screen to the Avon Players theater in Rochester Hills.

“When I look back, I was a teen in the bathroom doing my friends makeup and hair,” she said. “I liked dressing up and putting things together. The interest was there.”

A graduate of Mr. Bela’s School of Cosmetology in southeast Michigan, Holoday initially went to nursing school, but then realized she wanted to follow in her mother’s footsteps.

“My mother had a license in cosmetology, too. She always made our Halloween costumes. They were never bought. She sewed our costumes and did our makeup.”

Holoday’s first job as a makeup artist was for a Michigan-based business. “They wanted the gentleman made up like Albert Einstein.

It was kind of a commercial for their website,” she said. “I had made up people prior to that, but I was nervous because I’d never put a beard on before.”

The Michigan film incentive program, put in place in 2007, offered a tremendous opportunity for Holoday to demonstrate her talent while remaining in her hometown of Rochester Hills.

“I was jumping from one movie to the next to the next. I moved up the ladder very quickly. We didn’t have that kind of work here prior. It was an explosion of work.”

For “The Great and Powerful Oz,” filmed in Pontiac, Holoday was brought into pre-production where she was able to flex her creative genius.

“We helped design the makeup for the different groups. They wanted it to be different from the original look of ‘The Wizard of Oz’,” she said. “We used eyelashes in a different way and curled beards in a different way.”

From Sean Astin to George Kennedy, Holoday has made up hundreds of actors. She worked on “The Detroiters,” a new television series on Comedy Central that premiers February 4, 2017. She was the key makeup artist on the 2016 film “Don’t Breathe,” and lent her expertise to the set of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.”

Holoday has established herself as an esteemed makeup artist in Michigan, but remains devoted to her community work with local theater and Rochester high schools.

“My kids went to Stoney Creek High School. (The drama department) heard I did makeup,” she said. “I started helping them, Adams and Rochester High School.”

Holoday assists in the collaboration between the high school drama departments and the Avon Players. “Sometimes I bring high school students over to Avon to help with their programs. It’s really awesome,” she said. “I’ve also been able to bring the kids on set and expose them to what it’s like to be on a film set.”

For nearly three decades, Holoday has been fortunate to earn a living doing what she loves.

“I’ve always been able to stay right here and work here, which is amazing,” she said. “If you’re passionate about what you want to do, it can happen.”

F

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02.17

TALK

OF THE TOWN

RULES OF PARTICIPATING AT PUBLIC MEETINGS

BY AILEEN WINGBLAD

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

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

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

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

And he’s fine with that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

According to the Open Meetings Act, “All

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“do something about the meetings.”

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

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

Residents are encouraged to keep

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

professional, efficient meeting.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why two?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

are limited to two minutes each.

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

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

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

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

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

It happened a few months ago, Ward said,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MUNICIPAL LifeTime Fitness denied alcohol sales

By Kevin Elliott

An attempt by LifeTime Fitness to expand its national trend of serving alcohol to its club members in Michigan was denied on Monday, January 9, by the Rochester Hills City Council.

Representatives of the Minnesotabased corporation told city council members the company considers itself a "resort destination" and was looking to enhance the social atmosphere of its Rochester Hills location, 200 W. Avon Road, by having the ability to serve beer and wine to its customers.

Adam Luebke, corporate counsel for LifeTime Fitness, said the corporation already serves alcohol at 30 of its other locations throughout the country, but that the Rochester Hills location, if approved, would be the first with that ability in Michigan.

At the city council meeting, LifeTime was seeking a conditional use approval to allow sales of on-site consumption of alcoholic beverages, as well as a tavern license application from the city for approval from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission. A conditional use approval is a requirement by the city for the application. The tavern license request represents the only remaining available liquor license in the city.

Vince Orsini, area director for LifeTime Fitness, told council members that some of the customers at the club had requested alcoholic beverages, and that by providing beer and wine, Life Time Fitness hopes to "open up its business to more people who might not want to be a member because of the non-social aspect" of working out.

"Our target audience is more of a younger, 30-year-old just starting a family that can utilize our on-site daycare facility and one parent can have a beer and the other can be a designated driver," he said. "We hope to gain more member experience and set ourselves apart from an LA Fitness or other 24-hour gym where you just go and workout anytime, and other of those types of clubs."

Council member Thomas Wiggins said, while he is a member of the club, the presence of alcohol may cause him and others to reconsider.

"It's a club, but it's not like a country club that is very particular and have dues that are much higher," he said, raising questions about who would monitor consumption, and stating that it would add additional downtownpublications.com

Final okay for water, sewer increases

By Kevin Elliott

ochester City Council on Monday, January 9, gave final approval to additional fees that will be charged to water and sewer customers in order to pay for infrastructure maintenance and repair projects.

Council members voted to approve the second reading and adoption of an ordinance amendment to add a combination of fixed and variable fees to water and sewer rate schedules. The additional fees, which came after a six-month review process of the system's current and future maintenance needs, will go into effect on July 1.

The final reading and adoption was approved by a vote of 5-2, with council members Stuart Bikson and Ann Peterson voting against its approval.

Rochester City Manager Blaine Wing said the city, for at least the past eight years, hadn't set aside capital improvement funds for water and sewer repairs, maintenance and improvements. As a result, the city has spent about $4.4 million of its water and sewer fund to subsidize work.

Under the measure, residential customers will pay a fixed, quarterly fee of $24 on their water bill and another $24 fee on their sewer bills.

Customers will also pay an additional variable fee each quarter based on individual customer usage.

City council members on December 12 approved the first reading of the ordinance amendment by a vote of 5-2, with both Bikson and Peterson voting against that measure.

Bikson, at the December 12 meeting, said he preferred lower fees that had been presented as an option in November.

City council at its November 28 meeting was presented with three potential options for funding capital improvement work in the system, each of which included fees that would cost the average household between $220 and $400 annually. However, council members at the time opted for a fourth option, creating a combination of fixed and variable fees falling between the two least highest fees.

Initial options included choices of a $400 flat fee per year that would be assessed for the next 10 years before being re-evaluated. That option is based on having customers pay for all of the repairs needed at a flat rate. The two alternatives included a flat rate of $148 annually, with different variable rates that would cost the typical customer about $223 to $261 per year over their current bills. The final option approved includes a flat fee, as well as a variable fee.

Wing said the new fees will be noted and explained on each customer's bill once they go into effect. Further, he said, the city will hold a series of public information meetings prior to the effective date in July in order to make the public better aware of the increases and explain what the funds will be used for in the future.

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risk to operations. "How does this really better the community and make it better for members like myself who might second guess if I want to be a member?" he asked.

Councilwoman Susan Bowyer said alcohol at a health and fitness facility seems like a poor match.

"It just doesn't seem like a good fit.

You are a fitness center and you want to bring alcohol into fitness and family events," she said. "You have family events and you want alcohol there?

You have a day care and you want alcohol there? I'll speak to a group that you're not even thinking about: Alcoholics Anonymous. A lot of my friends, they aren't going to be coming because now you're going to be putting temptation in front of them."

Orsini said the corporation is working to focus on all aspects of LifeTime and what that encompasses, rather than just the fitness aspects.

"It sounds like you're trying to turn your business into a country club type of place rather than a health and fitness type of place," Bowyer said.

Councilman Dale Hetrick echoed the comments of Bowyer and others.

"You're trying to re-invent Life Time Fitness into something different that can compete with, as you said, 'the Franklin Athletic Clubs' of the world," he said. "That's a little bit different model for sure, which gives me pause as well."

In considering a special use approval, councilwoman Stephanie

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Morita said the business is required to be harmonious with adjacent property uses.

"I'm concerned that having a pool where alcohol can be served at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning is going to be harmonious with having a college campus and a church right next door," she said, noting the location of Rochester College.

Councilman Kevin Brown said while he isn't a LifeTime member, nor would the offering of beer or wine sway him to join, that he didn't consider its presence at the location to be an issue.

"I don't think a guy having a beer at the pool would be noticed over the 30 or 50 screaming children at the pool on a Sunday morning," he said. "We have liquor licenses at movie theaters in the city where people are having a beer in a dark room with children, and there's no real outrage over that... I don't really think it's out of bounds more than some of the other things we do."

A motion by Brown to approve the special use request failed to gain any support, therefore causing the request to be denied by default without a vote.

Council voted unanimously to deny a subsequent request for an application for a tavern license, based on the lack of a special use approval by the corporation.

Rochester suffers loss in federal court

By Kevin Elliott

A dispute between the city of Rochester and the owner of a planned dental clinic in the works since 2011 will be decided by a federal district court, following a decision on Thursday, January 5, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.

Oakland County dentist Louis Leonor first approached the city's planning commission in September of 2011 with plans for establishing Dentist on Main, 600 N. Main Street.

However, a series of disagreements between the parties caused the project to stall for several years, resulting in Leonor filing suit against the city in 2014, and a subsequent federal court of appeals case.

Among the issues in the case are claims that the city refused to lift a stop-work order on the project or make a final decision on the project unless Leonor agreed to pay a $40,000 fee and waive any legal claims against the city while the city kept hidden their own expert's favorable review of the project.

"Dr. Leonor will not pay the city of 41

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Rochester, Michigan, tens of thousands of dollars in cash, nor will he waive his legal claims simply for the privilege of obtaining an up- or down-vote, a final decision, from the planning commission on the amended site plan that he submitted more than three years ago," Leonor's lawyer, Brad Hughes, told the appeals court in September of 2016. "Yet, those are the conditions that the city has repeatedly insisted on before any final decision is made about the newly constructed dental clinic. The city is essentially holding its final decision here hostage to those conditions: cash and a waiver. And Dr. Leonor simply won't pay the ransom."

Court records state Leonor, a dentist turned-real estate developer, purchased the property with the intention of building a modern dental facility. Initial plans called for demolishing the home on the site, which was built in 1878. However, planning commissioners took issue with the plan because of its potential historic significance.

Leonor's architect told the commission updating the building would increase costs by about 25 percent. Additionally, on-site parking wouldn't be available, potentially requiring Leonor to pay up to a half million dollars into the city's parking fund, making the project unfeasible without a parking-fee waiver.

In February 2012, the two parties agreed that in exchange for a full parking-fee waiver, Leonor would "demonstrate reasonable compliance" with the Secretary of Interior's standards for property rehabilitation of historic sites.

Court records state the project faced problems after construction started in May of 2012, with the city condemning the property that October. To resolve the issues, the planning commission hired architect and preservation expert Ed Francis to evaluate whether it was within "reasonable compliance" of the Secretary of Interior's standards.

Court records state Francis found the project met only part of the standards, and in April of 2013 the planning commission made a finding of non-compliance. In his report, Francis included a list of suggestions that would bring the project into compliance, explaining that many of them were already done. In May, the city issued a stop-work order on the project, halting all construction.

The planning commission declined taking any action on the project, instead instructing the city's attorney to negotiate removal of the stop-work DOWNTOWN

order, contingent on Leonor waiving "certain rights and claims against the city," which Leonor refused to agree with.

About the same time, the planning commission hired Francis to reevaluate the property, this time finding it was "reasonably compliant" based on changes made following the first report, according to court records. However, court records state the city didn't disclose Francis's second evaluation until after Leonor filed suit against the city and it was disclosed during the discovery process.

Unaware that Francis had found the site to be compliant with required standards, Leonor's architect recommended a $40,000 payment into the city's historic preservation fund then would lift the city's stopwork order. About the same time, the city's attorney advised Leonor the order would remain in place until he submitted another site plan, even though the commission had not taken up the earlier plan, according to court records.

Despite Leonor's submission of another site plan, planning commissioners declined in January 2014 to vote on the site plan, instead creating a subcommittee to discuss the commission's expectations and "secure a written stipulation between the parties for settlement purposes," court records state.

Leonor then filed suit in Oakland County Circuit Court against the city in late January of 2014, claiming the city had made a regulatory taking. A regulatory taking is a claim in which government regulation limits the use of private property to such a degree that it effectively deprives the owner of the value of their property.

The city removed the case to the federal district court, filing a response and counterclaim and later requested the case be dismissed under federal rules of civil procedure that require all measures to resolve the issue at the local level weren't exhausted. A district court magistrate recommended the case be heard by the court, but the court disagreed and dismissed the case. Leonor then appealed the case to the U.S. Court of Appeals.

The federal appeals court, in its findings, agreed that the planning commission "never disclosed that the second report justified lifting the ban on the project and also never took an up-down vote on the project. "Instead, the Commission leveraged the stopwork order to obtain a waive of all claims and $40,000."

The court's ruling will now send 02.17

the case back to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

City officials declined to comment on the case because it is pending litigation.

Medical marijuana operation tabled Rochester planning commissioners on Wednesday, January 4, tabled their review of a site plan for a proposed medical marijuana growing facility in the city while they await an assessment from the city's attorney.

The commission was scheduled to review a site plan and special exception request submitted by Rochester businessman Mark Finley, of Xavier Laboratories. Finley, who proposed more than a year ago to establish a medical marijuana growing operation above his current business at 361 South Street, was directed by planning commissioners in September to return with more additional information before a formal review would be considered.

The site plan was scheduled to be reviewed, but commissioners opted to delay the review, citing a moratorium on land uses involving medical marijuana that was passed on October 20 by the Rochester City Council. The commission also requested a written assessment on the issue from the city's attorney.

Rochester City councilman and planning commissioner Jeffrey Cuthbertson said the moratorium should preclude action on the site plan. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I'm sure keen, particularly as an elected official who voted for a moratorium, expecting a moratorium, why we don't have a moratorium in

effect," he said. "I don't say in effect, but as a consequence in hearing this. I guess I'm all ears and would like to hear something on that front."

Further, Cuthbertson said he would like to know the city attorney's opinion of the potential action in the face of a moratorium.

City council on October 20 approved a resolution establishing a 180-day moratorium regarding land uses involving the "distribution, growing, manufacturing of medical marijuana and/or marijuana infused products, as well as clubs, educational facilities, businesses involving marijuana equipment and paraphernalia and other land uses involving medical marijuana pending completion of the zoning ordinance consideration and amendment process covering such issues."

The action came on the heels of a state law that goes into effect in late 2017 that permits medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, and also expands the scope and ability of some medical marijuana manufacturers, or growing operations.

Finley submitted plans more than a year ago to establish a medical marijuana growing operation with a maximum of 72 plants, which was the maximum allowed under state law at the time.

Following a public hearing in March of 2016, planning commissioners directed Finley to return with additional information on his plans. The board again delayed a decision in September of last year, stating that the updated plans were out of date and illegible.

Rochester Economic Development Director Nik Banda confirmed the moratorium and said Finley's

Royal Park Hotel upscale condo plan approved

By Kevin Elliott

lans to construct a five-story building to house an upscale condominium development next to the existing Royal Park Hotel, 600 E. University Drive, were approved on Monday, January 4, by the Rochester Planning Commission.

The site plan and special project approval were unanimously approved by commissioners, with final approval to be decided at a later date by the Rochester City Council. Frank Rewold, owner of the hotel and proposed condominium project, agreed to meet special conditions on the plans

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resubmission of the site plan at this time was unexpected.

"We didn't expect Mr. Finley to come back. We hadn't heard from him in months," he said. "One day a box showed up on my desk with all these plans... personally I thought we basically said, 'start over,' but when you read the minutes the way they were written, we didn't reject the site plan.

"For $350, he is getting a lot of money's worth on this site plan. It's come back six times, I believe."

Finley, who has said he isn't a marijuana user or patient, told commissioners in the past that he would like to establish the operation because he believes there is a need for it, and that he has witnessed the benefits of medical marijuana for others.

"I had a friend who had PTSD really bad, a close friend, and that is what has pulled him through," he told planning commissioners in 2015. "He served his country and now this is the only thing pulling him through. I'm 100 percent for it. I'm doing it because I have a very strong opinion, and I want to follow through with doing what I believe."

12-year tax break for Molex expansion A global electronic and fiber optic connection manufacturer will be investing more than $16 million in a new business unit headquarters to be located in Rochester Hills, following the approval of a 12-year tax abatement for Molex, LLC, by Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, January 23.

Based in Lisle, Illinois, Molex provides electronics solutions and

regarding connecting pathway, work to be done at Elizabeth Park, and addressing some concerns on the proposed building's height, prior to going before city council for final consideration.

Rewold said the proposed development will consist of 14 condominium units, ranging in size from about 1,600 square feet to about 2,900 square feet.

Plans for the building include three units per floor, with two units on the fifth floor, as well as a rooftop terrace that will be available for use by residents. The terrace is intended to accommodate residential gatherings.

Rewold said the condominiums will be a "lifestyle project" that will match the arts and craft tudor style of the hotel. The project will

connector products in the automotive, telecom, medical, defense industries, and other fields. In 2014, the company located its global headquarters or its transportation and industrial solutions division to Auburn Hills. However, Molex representative Dawson Schiller, business unit director, said expansion of the unit and projected growth led Molex to purchase an existing building at 3499 W. Hamlin Road, in Rochester Hills.

Molex plans to build a $16 million addition to the existing building, which will allow for its operations to move from its Auburn Hills location, as well as the addition of about 80 to 100 new jobs over the next five years.

The relocation will mean about 292 jobs will be moving from Auburn Hills to Rochester Hills, to the former VW building, which has been vacant for about five years. Molex will expand the building from about 128,000 square feet to 143,000 square feet, which is about 50 percent larger than its current facility in Auburn Hills. The space will allow for an expanded research and development lab, expanded green space, and include a fitness center, green roof, and electric car charging stations.

Schiller said the plan will allow Molex to better attract and retain talent in the area, and supports the company's 10-year growth plan.

City council members approved the establishment of an industrial development district at the location, which is required under state law for a municipality to approve the associated tax abatement. Council also approved a 12-year Industrial Facilities Exemption Certificate, or tax abatement on real property. Both measures were approved by a vote of

target empty nesters and be a high-end, highquality product that isn't currently common for the area.

While there were questions about noise and hours and operation of the rooftop terrace feature, Rewold said there would be limitations. He also addressed questions regarding whether the proposed project would increase parking, land use intensity and overall value in the area.

"The hotel brings in about 40,000 people a year that shop downtown and employs hundreds of people," he said. "This will create more jobs, and help implement the master plan by getting Elizabeth Park going. Essentially, we are taking a parking lot and making it into beautiful condos."

6 to 0, with councilman Kevin Brown recusing himself from the vote, as he noted he works for a direct competitor of Molex.

Rochester Hills Economic Development Manager Pam Valentik said the tax abatement doesn't apply to taxes on the land or existing building, but only for the planned building addition.

In total, the abatement is expected to provide a savings of about $120,000 to Molex over 12 years, while providing about $2.5 million in tax revenue for the city and all other taxing units.

"This abatement is on dollars on what the city isn't currently receiving," said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett. "This will kick over about $1.2 million over 12 years to Rochester schools, without adding a single student."

City accepts Auburn Road Corridor Study A plan to redevelop the Auburn Road Corridor in Rochester Hills that includes a $2.4 million investment in road improvements in the city's Brooklands neighborhood was unanimously accepted on Monday, January 23, by city council members.

Key goals of the study include calming and strengthening the overall district, between S. Adams and Dequindre roads, as a destination in the city; redesigning the corridor to improve traffic and pedestrian safety; creating transitions between residential and commercial neighborhoods; and encouraging reinvestment by the city and property owners.

The study, which includes a market analysis, along with design and transportation recommendations for the corridor, was headed up by Columbus, Ohio-based MKSK planners and design consultants. The study also included input from city staff, the planning commission, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), business and property owners in the area, a special steering committee, residents of the area, and the general public.

In addition to several public open house meetings and a three-month long, online survey, city council and planning commissioners met in September to discuss the study. A final draft of the plan was recommended for approval in December by the city' planning commission.

The final approved plan will be incorporated into the city's long-term 44

Rochester Hills acquires green space

By Kevin Elliott

he recent purchase of nearly 10 acres of property by the city of Rochester Hills near South Boulevard and Livernois will be used to increase the city's holding of green space throughout the city intended for long-term preservation.

"Residents had the vision over 10 years ago to set aside land that would become protected as city green space for the next generation," Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett said following the $385,000 purchase. "I'm thrilled to announce we are starting off the new year with such an exciting purchase for the residents of Rochester Hills."

Barnett stated that "Last week, city council approved the acquisition of a parcel that will be added to the city's collection of green space parcels," in a news release dated Monday, January 9.

City council at a December 21 special meeting approved the purchase of the property, which includes a small, high-quality wetland and several hardwood trees, including oak and hickory species. The property also includes a vacant residential home, an outbuilding and driveway.

Funds for the land acquisition were approved from the existing $1.4 million balance of the city's green space millage fund. Voters in 2005 passed a 10-year millage to acquire and preserve natural green space in their community.

Plans for the property include the demolition of the existing home and outbuilding, as well as some environmental remediation measures, including the abatement of some asbestos materials in the home, along with the removal of both an underground storage tank and above-ground storage tank.

Former Rochester Hills Finance Director Keith Sawdon told city council members in August of 2015 that green space millage funds can't be used for demolition purposes, but rather those funds must come from the city's general fund.

City officials in August of 2015, also said the 9.48-acre property, located at 1380 Ruby, had an estimated value of $400,000, which included the value of the existing home that had been vacant for five years at that time.

Joe Snyder, the city's current chief financial officer, informed council on Wednesday, December 21, that while the funds to purchase the property were available from the green space fund, the purchase wasn't included in the 2016 budget. Further, he said, because there wouldn't be adequate time to amend the budget prior to the end of the year, a purchase prior to 2017 would cause the green space fund to be over budget for the year. While the repercussions wouldn't be severe, he said, it would be noted in the auditor's report and the state would be notified, likely resulting in a request by the state for corrective action.

Council members voted on December 21, 5-1 to approve the purchase agreement, with councilwoman Stephanie Morita voting against the purchase, and councilman Thomas Wiggins absent.

The new acquisition will be added to the city's six other green space properties throughout the city.

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capital improvement plan and master land use plans.

Rochester City councilwoman Susan Bowyer said she moved to the Brooklands area, or the area between Dequindre and Culbertson roads, in the early 1980s when she first relocated to Rochester Hills. "To go to that area now, and see that it hasn't changed since the early '80s is amazing," she said. "The city is changing, and that area needs to start redeveloping."

Bowyer said residents and businesses there would appreciate

improvements that would result in increased home values and interest in the area.

Rochester Hills resident and former council member Scot Beaton commended the council and staff on the study, noting that past studies to enhance the corridor failed to gain any traction. Part of the issue, he said, has been disagreement between city planners and MDOT on parking and traffic calming measures along Auburn Road.

"This city planner has done a brilliant job of convincing MDOT that

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we need some on-street parking to make it walkable," Beaton said.

Because Auburn Road is a stateowned roadway, any changes to the right-of-way or other traffic calming measures require approval from MDOT. However, the plan calls for infrastructure work on the road to be funded by the city.

Brad Strader, a senior associate with MKSK who presented the study to council, said MDOT also has changed its design concepts to support designs that slow traffic, including some forms of on-street parking, that would support commercial areas.

While some council and members of the public took issue with some details of the study, including the possibility of road closures in the area, council and city administration urged accepting the plan "as is," agreeing that specifics could be hashed out during the implementation process that will take place over several years.

"I understand and respect different opinions, but I suggest you challenge our team, myself included, with making and designing some great place-making opportunities," Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett said. "I don't think there's anyone who's not excited about some of the drawings that are here... if we want to see something different there, we are going to have to do something different."

Council approves landmark properties Rochester City Council members on Monday, January 23, were sharply divided on what some members viewed as private property owners' rights, voting 4-3 to add three locations to the city's Historic Landmark Property designation list.

The division stems from a 2014 historic preservation ordinance that intends to safeguard historic locations in the city through historic districts. In its study of such locations in Rochester, a committee identified a dozen addresses that, while short of being added to a protected historic district, were deemed to have potential historic value, as Landmark Properties.

Those included on the list allow the city to take potential actions to protect the properties if they are threatened. Actions may include a public hearing to include such properties into a historic district.

In other words, the city may "keep an eye on these properties" without including requiring any action, city 02.17

attorney Jeffrey Kragt said at a November city council meeting.

City council in November delayed adding five properties to the list after receiving objections from some property owners whose buildings were included on the list before council at that time. Council agreed to provide additional time to those owners to provide historical evidence that their properties not be included.

On January 23, council members were presented with three properties for consideration, including 203 E. University Drive, known as the former Michigan Central Train Depot; 400-404 S. Main, known as the Masonic Block, or former Masonic Temple building; and 303.

E. University, site of the city's historic grain elevator.

Council members took individual votes on each of the three properties, approving each by a vote of 4 to 3, with council members Stuart Bikson, Ann Peterson and mayor pro tem Kim Russell voting no on each.

Rochester Mayor Cathy Daldin said the locations aren't being included in a district by being included on the list. Councilman Jeffrey Cuthbertson also said the landmark designation is in agreement with the city's ordinance.

Bikson said he felt including the properties on the list infringed on the owners' rights. "I disagree â&#x20AC;&#x201C; they want out," Bikson said of the owners who objected. "Government is reaching into their property and putting standards on it."

Remaining property proposed to be included on the list will be addressed at the council's February 13 meeting.

2941 Street Foods liquor license okayed Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, January 23, unanimously approved a conditional use permit request and Class C liquor license transfer by 2941 Street Foods, 87 W. Auburn Road.

Opened in 2015 by Jacques Von Standen, the fast-casual restaurant specializes in modern Mediterranean and Middle Eastern foods. Named for the geographic coordinates from where many of the foods originate, the restaurant has built a strong customer base in the city, helping to attract additional business to neighboring and nearby merchants, Rochester Hills Planning Director Ed Anzek said.

Currently, the restaurant serves beer and wine, but would like to downtownpublications.com

offer other alcoholic beverages in the future, he said.

Under the city ordinance adopted in 2015, any liquor license in the city requires a conditional use permit from the city. Council members voted unanimously to approve the conditional use permit. Council also approved the transfer of a Class C Liquor License from a restaurant from outside the city, approval for which the owner has already obtained from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission.

Rochester Hills City Clerk Tina Barton said the transfer of the liquor license will not impact the city's last remaining quota license.

Garage setbacks get planning review Rochester planning commissioners on Wednesday, January 4, discussed ways to maintain a degree of uniformity in traditional neighborhoods with an influx of new homes through a possible ordinance amendment regarding garage setbacks.

Planning consultants with McKenna Associates presented the planning commission with its report on the placement of garages on single family residential homes.

"Over the past few months, the planning commission has been discussing infill development in the city and the impact of the new construction and design on traditional neighborhood design," consultants said in the report. "Of major concern was the fact that many of the newly constructed homes feature a side entry garage located in the front yard, at the front yard setback line, resulting in a primary view of the garage from the street with the dwelling concealed in the back."

Consultants said that while commissioners did not have an issue with front facing garages, it is primarily as long as the street view is one that matches the home building design. However, attempts to amend zoning ordinances to address the issue could result in a significant number of nonconforming dwellings. The commission also expressed concern that any proposed amendments would not limit the style of the house.

Consultants said they are hoping to bring the issue up for discussion and are seeking direction from the commission on how best to address the issue.

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FACES

Paul Davis etired professional basketball player Paul Davis was drafted by the LA Clippers in 2006, but his steadfast dedication for the game first surfaced in the backyard of his Rochester childhood home.

“My earliest memories were shooting on a plastic makeshift basket when I was five or six years old,” he said. “It was my one big passion. My parents put a lot of money into a small court. It was a 20x20 slab of cement. I put that to really good use in the summer. In the winters, my hands would freeze.

I’d go in and put my hands in warm water and go back out and shoot.”

His commitment to practicing paid off during his years at Reuther Middle School, where his number has since been retired. He also played for Rochester High School and was named “Mr. Basketball of Michigan” in 2002.

“My mom was jumping up and down. It was a great way to end my high school career.”

Davis went on to play for Michigan State University, where he finished the 2005 season as the NCAA Tournament’s leading rebounder.

“My mother went to MSU and I was a huge MSU fan. I wanted to leave an imprint there.”

While his passion for basketball remained strong throughout his career, Davis reflects most fondly on his years playing college ball. “The day you leave there, it becomes a huge business. College was the last time I was able to enjoy the purity of basketball.”

In June, 2006, Davis anxiously awaited the results of the NBA draft. “It’s nerve-wracking for everyone. Everything you’ve worked so long for comes down to that hour.”

R

Davis was drafted by the LA Clippers. He left his midwest digs behind and relocated to Los Angeles.

“Going from Michigan to Los Angeles is a huge culture shock, but I loved LA. All my teammates were awesome. You grow up pretty fast when you get thrown into a situation like that.”

In 2009, while living in Los Angeles, Davis appeared on Bravo’s hit show Millionaire Matchmaker, a reality television dating series.

“That was more-or-less me being young and bored. I went there reluctantly. I had no idea the show was as big as it was. People started coming up to me. They didn’t know I played basketball, but they knew I was on that show.”

The 6’11” center had a successful run in the NBA while enjoying unique experiences in LA, but he was plagued by serious sports injuries.

Consequently, Davis left the NBA and traveled overseas to play for EuroLeague, a professional basketball league in Europe.

Ultimately, Davis’ injuries forced him to retire for good in 2016.

“I’m definitely at peace with what I’ve accomplished. I’m happy I was able to walk away from the game on my own terms.”

The 32-year-old has since gotten engaged and is living in East Lansing. He hopes to return to Rochester to live, and is looking into coaching opportunities.

“I definitely want to do something that makes me feel accomplished.”

Story: Katey Meisner

PLACES TO EAT JOIN US FOR

VALENTINE'S DAY 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. The complete Places To Eat is available at downtownpublications.com and in an optimized format for your smart phone (downtownpublications.com/mobile), where you can actually map out locations and automatically dial a restaurant from our Places To Eat.

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.

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

downtownpublications.com

of Rochester Hills, 84 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.402.0047.

Chomp Deli & Grille: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 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.

East Side Mario’s: Italian. Lunch & dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2273 Crooks Road, Rochester, 48309.

248.853.9622.

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

Famous Dave’s: Barbecue. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2945 Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, MI 48307. 248.852.6200.

Firehouse Subs: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1480 N. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.656.9200. Also 3044 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.299.7827.

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

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

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

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

248.266.6687.

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.

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.

SERVING DINNER 6 DAYS, BRUNCH ON SATURDAY & SUNDAY. PRIVATE EVENT SPACE AVAILABLE FOR HOLIDAY PARTIES.

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The Rochester area is filled with discriminating diners and an array of dining establishments. Make sure the message for your restaurant reaches the right market in the right publication—Downtown.

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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 & 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,

48

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.

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.

Rojo Mexican Bistro: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 401 N. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.9300.

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 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.

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.

DOWNTOWN

248.637.6400.

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

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

248.689.2332.

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

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

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

248.816.3424.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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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.

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

290 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.385.0506.

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 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.

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

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

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

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

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

248.808.6633.

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

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

Public House: American. Lunch & Dinner, 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.

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.

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Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

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

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

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

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

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

248.851.2500.

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

248.626.2982.

The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations.

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

248.851.8782.

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

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

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

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

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

Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood.

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

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

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

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

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

248.626.8585.

Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch.

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

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

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

Sweet Lorraine’s Café & Bar: American.

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

248.559.5985.

Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.737.8282.

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

Reservations. Liquor. 340 N. Main Street, Milford, 48381. 248.684.4223.

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

248.360.4150.

The Root Restaurant & Bar: American.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday.

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

248.698.2400.

Volare Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 48992 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.7771.

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BUSINESS MATTERS Women’s fitness facility Fitness training has a new twist at Fitness 2.0 - Personal Training for Women, 626 N. Main Street, in Rochester. Husband and wife trainers, James and Kristin Haggard, launched the new fitness studio with the intention of focusing on small groups of women to ensure a effective training on a personal level. The idea stemmed out of the couple’s own experience.

“When I met with Kristin, she had just started working out, and her body wasn’t changing the way she wanted,” James said. “When you start seeing results, it’s a very positive thing, and it keeps you motivated.” Soon after, the couple started dating, changing both their health and their business goal.

James, who was studying business, became a certified trainer, and the couple later decided to take their experience and launch their own fitness studio based on fitness and training that extended into lifestyle changes. “The training part is simple to do, but creating relationships and helping people transform their lives, that’s my true passion,” James said. “I started thinking about what I wanted to do and thought that if we went with women only, it would be all about that.

And, with small groups, which are proven to be more effective, you can still personally coach someone. I love the personal end of it and helping people so that they are doing things correctly. It’s easier to do with a small group, plus you’re not just a number if you’re not one of 25 people in a group.”

New tea room owner The Victorian Rose Tea Room, 118 W. 3rd, in downtown Rochester, has been renamed Tonia’s Victorian Rose, by new owner Tonia Carsten, who has taken over the business after the retirement of former owner Loretta Curry. Carsten said she was looking for a spot to hold her Rata2ee cooking school for kids when she learned Curry would be retiring after 21 years. By keeping the tea room’s regular daytime hours, she said she is able to pair the two companies. Tonia’s re-opened in early January, keeping many of the same recipes and Victorian theme. The restaurant has expanded its hours to 7 a.m. to 2 p.m, and adding some vegetarian and vegan recipes, as well as the addition of some loose leaf teas.

New stores at Village

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Two new businesses will be opening this spring in the Village of Rochester Hills, 104 Adams Road, in Rochester Hills. Soft Surroundings, 340 N. Adams, a St. Louis-based women’s store specializing in personal and home fashion, is set to open its first Michigan location at the Village this spring. The new store will offer clothing, jewelry, shoes, bedding and home furnishings, beauty and fragrance products.

Originally started as a mail-order DOWNTOWN

catalog in 1999, Soft Surroundings now has several stores across the country that “make it easy to look as great as you feel.” AR Workshop, 256 N. Adams, in Rochester Hills, will be the third of its kind in Michigan, with locations in Novi and Woodhaven.

Named after national founders Maureen Anders and Adria Ruff, the store will open this spring at The Village. The boutique workshops offers various DIY workshops using mixed media for home decor, parties and design. The boutique also offers retail products for sale, including wood plank projects, wood framed signs, canvas, metal and chalkboard products.

St. Irenaeus anniversary St. Irenaeus Catholic Church, 771 Old Perch Roach, in Rochester Hills, is celebrating its 50th year as a parish in the community. Starting in a temporary church that now serves as the parish’s activities building, St. Irenaeus held its first mass in June of 1967. Today, the parish serves more than 2,100 families, and offers religious education classes to more than 500 children each year that prepare them for First Reconciliation, First Communion and Confirmation. The current church was consecrated in 1980 by Cardinal John Francis Dearden of the Archdiocese of Detroit. In addition to the church’s 50th anniversary, St. Irenaeus Pastor, Father Brian Chabala is celebrating his 40th year as a priest this year. Father Chabala joined the parish five years ago from St. Fabian’s, in Farmington Hills. To better help reach the community, the church has launched a redesigned website. “As we approach our 50th year as a parish community in 2017, we needed to have an effective way to communicate with our parishioners and others seeking a spiritual home,” he said. “Our new website clearly explains the many activities offered by and for our parishioners and others, and conveys our desire to be a spiritual resource in the Rochester community.” The current parish has grown from about 200 families since its first mass on June 26, 1967 with Monsignor Raymond Kuzava.

The church will hold a golden anniversary celebration on June 25, with a host of events leading up to it.

“Our mission today remains the same as when our parish was established in 1967,” Chabala said. “To share and live the Good News that is Jesus Christ.

While our anniversary will look back and celebrate 50 years of parish life, we will also look forward and continue to build the spiritual foundations for tomorrow.”

Business Matters for the Rochester area are reported by Kevin Elliott. Send items for consideration to KevinElliott@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

02.17

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene.

Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted.

Past columns and photos are also archived at the website for Downtown.

DIA Gala Grandiosa

DIA Gala Grandiosa The historic festivals and gardens of Spain inspired the décor and the Forte Belanger cuisine for the annual November soiree at the Detroit Sally Gerak Institute of Art. The theme was chosen by co-chairs Lauren Gibbs Fisher, Janis Wetsman and Marcia Holland-Turner to celebrate native Spaniard Salvador Salort-Pons’ inaugural year as museum director. The sold out crowd of 525 cocktailed in the Kresge and Prentis courts where the director thanked the chairs for “...a fantastic job,” adding that he has had a wonderful first year “...going out and listening to you (at more than 30 community meetings).” Dinner followed - the Benefactors ($5,000) in the Cracchiolo Gallery, Patrons ($2,500) in the Great Hall, VIPs ($750) in the Rivera Court. Another 200 La Hora Loca guests ($100) arrived at 9 pm for small bites, desserts and dancing to Chicago’s DJ Rock City back in the courts. Historic, too, was the revenue for the gala. Thanks to generous sponsors the extraordinary, vibrant evening raised a record $1,440,000.

Village Club Foundation Benefit Inspired by the Olympics in Brazil, Kathy Murphy and her committee chose Torches Aglow in Rio as the theme for The Village Club Foundation biennial fundraiser. The popular dinner and auction was a sellout (225 members and guests at $100, $125, $250 tickets). The silent auctions ($17,110) consumed lots of attention during the cocktail hour. Then the party moved to the dining room where two card raffles for Shinola watches brought in $2,590. After dinner Brian Murphy did auctioneer duty raising $10,550 for a mere five items. Dancing and an afterglow with hummers for the 54 benefactors in the library concluded the evening which raised an all time high $68,500. After vigorous vetting of applicants, last spring the foundation’s annual grants totaled $154,000 to 54 non-profit organizations.

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1. Lauren Gibbs Fisher (left) of Bloomfield, Marcia Holland-Turner of Detroit, Janis Wetsman of Birmingham. 2. Dick Brodie (left) of Bloomfield, Salvador Salort-Pons of Detroit. 3. Bonnie Larson (left) of Bloomfield, Gerry Padilla & Linda Orlans of Birmingham. 4. Greg Fisher and Sis Fisher (left) of Bloomfield and Donna Gibbs of Los Angeles, CA, and Joanie Roche Quinlan of Harbor Springs. 5. Denise (left) & Creighton Forester of Bloomfield, Doug & Jill Hellyar of Birmingham. 6. Sally Orley (left) of Bloomfield, Alison Orley of Birmingham. 7. Thomas Guastello (left) & Susan Luch of Birmingham, Lillian & Gus Demas of Romeo. 8. Nancy Rands (left) of Bloomfield, Sandy Seligman of Birmingham. 9. Bill & Susan Hall of Bloomfield.

Village Club Foundation Benefit JARC’s 36th annual fall fundraiser The music and moves of Michael Jackson came alive at Orchestra Hall the night nearly 2,000 JARC supporters ($100 & up ticket) gathered there to raise funds for the agency’s service to people with disabilities. James Delisco (aka The Entertainer) and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra had the audience singing and dancing to MJ staples like “Rock With You” and “Thriller.” Before the show, 400 young people, sponsors and major donors sipped and supped at a reception in the Max & Marjorie Fisher Music Center. JARC interim CEO David Carroll and event chair Howard Luckoff, each sporting an iconic MJ glove, took center stage in the hall to welcome all. Board member Dani Gillman also spoke earnestly about the peace of mind she has because of JARC’s lifetime care for her daughter. Thanks to generous sponsors like Quicken Loans, the 36th annual benefit raised $1.3 million.

Rochester Garden Club Greens Market The Rochester Garden Club’s 70th annual Greens Market kicked off to rave reviews with a preview Gala that attracted 140 to the event’s new venue in the Rochester Schools Administration Center. Over the next three days, nearly 500 shoppers came, leaving with arrangements, fresh greens, a handcrafted gift or boxes of homemade delicacies. Sally Edwards, Pat Hambleton, Colleen Dykstra and Jane Giblin chaired the ambitious event that involves most of club’s 130 members. They also recruited the OU tennis team and International Academy students to help carry purchases to cars. The event is expected to generate about $20,000 for the club’s conservation efforts, scholarships, community plantings and education projects.

Cranbrook Kingswood Holiday Charity Tea Director of CK Schools Arlyce Siebert and school governors Mary Pat Rosen and Lori Thelen hosted the sixth annual tea and gift exchange that brought nearly 80 ladies to Cranbrook House. The camaraderie and gift exchange were fun but most in the crowd will also remember Lighthouse of Oakland County’s downtownpublications.com

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1. Kathy Murphy (left) of Bloomfield, Martha Londeck of Beverly Hills. 2. Sheila Biehl (left) of Bloomfield, Barb Richards of White Lake and Carol Litka of Troy. 3. Jill Wilkinson (left) of Birmingham, Joy DiCenso of Bloomfield. 4. Karen Roth (left) and Linda Lang of Bloomfield, Judy Shagena of Bingham Farms. 5. Camille (left) & Don Breen of Bloomfield, Lou Simpson of Birmingham. 6. Janet Cummins (left) of Bloomfield, Barbara & Jim Suhay of Birmingham.

7. Phyllis Mazure (left) of Bloomfield, Bo & Joy Broock of W. Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK JARC’s 36th annual fall fundraiser

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Liz McLachlan’s recounting of an LOC client’s Christmas wish list. “She just wanted laundry detergent and toilet paper for her family,” said the development director. The school mothers had also brought donations for Lighthouse families. These totaled $2,000 plus 10 large bags of toys and pantry items for Santa’s helper Sid Seth to deliver.

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Assistance League Mistletoe Marketplace Nearly 800 Assistance League of Southeastern Michigan supporters ($85 ticket) convened at Palazzo Grande for the annual fundraiser chaired by Nancy Troyer.

Before lunch, entertainment included the Rochester College Carolers, a strolling fashion show, buying raffle tickets, bidding in the silent auction, socializing and shopping at 29 vendor stations including ALSEM’s ReSale Connection (204 S. Main, Rochester).

The luncheon program had highlights: FOX 2’s Lori Pinson’s moving account of her experience at ALSEM’s Operation School Bell – Clothing Distribution for children, Tiffany Piggee’-Taylor’s story of having received an Assistance League assault survivor kit in 2003 and vowing to give back; league president Marjorie DiLiddo account of the chapter’s community programs. “We are an all-volunteer organization whose (300 +) members have the heart to serve others with nothing in return but a child’s smile,” she said. The 13th annual event raised more than $120,000 toward the chapter’s $395,000 annual philanthropic budget.

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1. Sharyl & Alan Ackerman of Bloomfield. 2. Norm Silk & Dale Morgan of Detroit.

3. Corrine Lemberg and Morton Collins of Bloomfield. 4. Aaron & Michelle Bass of Bloomfield. 5. Howard Luckoff of Bloomfield Hills. 6. David Carroll (left), Lauren & Michelle Carroll of W. Bloomfield.

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Assistance League Mistletoe Marketplace

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1. Nancy Troyer of Rochester Hills. 2. Marjorie DiLiddo of Rochester Hills, Doug Dalton. 3. Lori Pinson. 4. Tiffany Piggee-Taylor. 5. Sue Hannant of Shelby Twp and Gayle Minneci of Northville, Lorraine Taliercio of Rochester Hills. 6. Carol Murphy of Rochester Hills. 7. Joan Sunne (left) of Troy, Cathy Linden and Lynn Gumz of Rochester Hills. 8. Pat Kalis (left) of Rochester Hills, Sue Moorhead of Oakland Twp., Pam Valasco of Waterford.

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DSO Volunteer Council Nutcracker Luncheon

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1. Ginny Lindquist (left) of Orchard Lake and Joan Emerick of Harsens Island. 2. Liliana Lorenz (center) of Allen Park, Marlene Bihlmeyer (left) of Bloomfield and Carol Marti of Canton. 3. Rita Dallavecchia (center) of Bloomfield, Gloria Clark (left) of Grosse Pointe and Barbara Frankel of W. Bloomfield. 4. Lois Miller (left) of Bloomfield and Gwen Bowlby of Detroit. 5. Eva Meharry (left) of Windsor, ONT and Ellie Tholen of Birmingham. 6. Betty Bright (left) and Curtis Posuniak of Bloomfield, Rosemary Bannon of Beverly Hills. 7. Judy Harris (left) of Beverly Hills, Pat Ciagne of Bloomfield.

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DSO Volunteer Council Nutcracker Luncheon More than 200 DSO supporters ($90, $175, $500 tickets) gathered at the Detroit Athletic Club for the annual holiday luncheon and boutique chaired by Ginny Lindquist and Joan Emerick. Included in the crowd were six volunteer council past presidents Marianne Endicott, Marjorie Saulson, Gloria Nycek, Debra Partrich, Janet Ankers and Deborah Savoie. A trio made music and Ballet Americana ballerinas posed while people shopped and bought raffle tickets ($1,700) before lunch. They chuckled when orchestra liaison musician Mark Abbott won DSO concert tickets. They applauded during the two-item live auction when Francois Colpron bid $1,500 for the opportunity to conduct the DSO. The event, a calendar staple for decades, raised more than $15,000 for the council, which welcomes new members.

BARD Foundation Gobble Wobble The 10th annual night-after-Thanksgiving charity event continues to attract a capacity crowd (350) ($100, $125 ticket) to The Reserve. This year some people came early for the Mix and Mingle co-sponsored by Detroit Homecoming. It was an opportunity to speak with business reps about employment. But when the Dan Rafferty band cranked up at 8, the Bloomingham area natives, many now in college or back home 02.17

from other cities, began to arrive. They chatted, quaffed and danced until 2, bringing to more than $129,000 the total 2016 BARD grants to partners working to improve the lives and futures of Detroit youth.

Rochester Grand Marshall Celebration Three days before the 65th Rochester Hometown Parade, with a Holiday Masquerade theme this year, Rochester Regional Chamber staffers greeted some 250 enthusiasts ($35 ticket) at Great Oaks Country Club with masks and beads. They had come to salute Grand and Junior Marshalls selected for their community service - Dr. Roger and Mary Jo Byrd and Andrew Smith and Sophia Shafkalis.

Highlights of the evening included a bountiful buffet and the program. It thanked sponsors and celebrated the Grand Marshalls with a video chronicling their reflections.

“What a wonderful community we live in,” declared Dr. Byrd, who opened his Rochester office in 1974. Parade chair Tim Crawford also boasted about the size of the parade which has grown to include 6,000 participants.

FAR, Friends & Fa-La-La The 16th annual show starring some of the 1,200 youth and adults who participate in FAR’s art, music, dance and recreation therapy programs and their therapists attracted an audience of 650 ($75 ticket) to the Seligman Performing Arts at Detroit Country Day School. Some 125 of them were Benefactors ($125 ticket) who came early to sip and savor Annabel Cohen’s splendid buffet cuisine. Most all patronized the FAR Bazaar where artful giftables created by FAR participants were being sold. But the show is the raison d’être for the evening, and it did not disappoint. It was emceed for the 14th year by Alan Lee who came from California for the gig and featured standards from the American Songbook. During intermissions Laurie Tennent, Anna Bai and the Joe Kocur Foundation for Children were honored for their generous contributions of time and talents to FAR. The performers and the therapists earned a rousing, standing ovation. Thanks also to Kroger and other sponsors, the evening raised more than $83,000.

SOS Dancing with Detroit’s Stars The small plate buffet tables, bar and silent auction ($19,541) were pleasant diversions during the reception hour that brought 230 people ($200 & up tickets) to The Townsend Hotel to support South Oakland Shelter. But the main attraction was the dance competition which starred Elizabeth Cook, Mary Callaghan Lynch and Patrick E. Lynch, Jimmy King, Cindi Hodgman and Amy and Brad Emmett. Bill Cook, co-chair with his wife Jennie and Treger and Rob Strasberg, first thanked the sponsors, especially the Arthur Murray Dance Studio downtownpublications.com

BARD Foundation Gobble Wobble

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1. Keenan Covington of Detroit, Anne Strickland of Birmingham. 2. Alex Gothard (left) and Kelsey Kerbawy of Chicago, Teri Fenner of Bloomfield. 3. Charlie Roby (left) of Royal Oak, Scott Strickland of Birmingham. 4. Evan Burton (left) of NYC, Parker Lynch of Austin, TX, Jamie Lynch of NYC. 5. Craig Solgan of Rochester. 6. Ashley Goodman and Jamie Lynch of NYC. 7. Conner Saeli (left) of Birmingham, Zack Prebay of Bloomfield.

Rochester Grand Marshall Celebration

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1. Mary Jo & Dr. Roger Byrd of Shelby Twp. 2. Dr. Julie Byrd (left) of W. Bloomfield, Michael Byrd and Dr. David & Johanna Byrd of Rochester. 3. Sheri Heiney (left) and Tim & Mary Ann Crawford of Rochester Hills. 4. Jill Sorensen (left) of Rochester, Andrew Smith and Sophia Shafkalis of Rochester Hills. 5. Maggie Bobitz (left) of Rochester, Barb & Jim Blundo of Rochester Hills. 6. Kathy Klaus (left) of Rochester Hills, April Lopes of Royal Oak.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK and Gail & Rice, without which there would not have been eight annual boffo events.

Rabbi Rachel Shere also spoke earnestly about the week her synagogue hosts the SOS clients, and all applauded when the formerly homeless mother and son stars of a video hugged Rabbi Shere. Then the dancing commenced. It was fabulous and all earned enthusiastic applause. Only one couple, the Emmetts, got a trophy, but SOS got more than $103,000 to help homeless people get back on their feet.

FAR, Friends & Fa-La-La

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1. Mike Brennan (center) of Birmingham, Heather Dell (left) of Highland and Rita Norkiewicz of Sterling Hgts. 2. Laurie Tennent (left) of Bloomfield and Anna Bai of W. Bloomfield. 3. Rachel Hurst (left) of Waterford and Nancy McCrea of Westland, Pamela Ayres of Bloomfield. 4. Judy & Ken Zorn of Rochester Hills. 5. Jeremy Bennett (left) of Waterford, Joe Kocur of Highland. 6. Charlotte & Carl Fischer of Bloomfield. 7. Jennifer Tackett (left) of Waterford, Barbara Jonas of Bingham Farms, Barbara Darga of Birmingham. 8. Diane & Paul Widlak of Bloomfield. 9. Laurie (left) & Rob Farr of Beverly Hills and Pam & Bob Audette of Chesterfield. 10. John & Carol Aubrey of Birmingham.

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1. Ryan (left) & Katarina Hertz of Huntington Woods, Jennie & Bill Cook of Birmingham.

2. Treger & Rob Strasberg of Birmingham. 3. Tim (left) & Barb Hertzler of Birmingham and Mike & Patty Moran of Bloomfield. 4. Jennifer Cook (left) of Bloomfield, Paul Forberg and Shelly Culbertson of Beverly Hills. 5. Joelle (left) & Jeffrey Abood of Bloomfield, Alycia Penn Covington of W. Bloomfield.

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Project HOPE Holiday Luncheon/Boutique Detroit has the only women’s committee for the national Project HOPE organization which delivers medical relief globally. When Project HOPE’s Pedro Rivera spoke to the 125 guests gathered at Oakland Hills Country Club for the WD’s annual holiday luncheon and boutique, he thanked them for their support ($600,000 over fifty-plus years), updated them about the challenging humanitarian work in Haiti, announced the campaign to save newborns and concluded, “...(know that ) I am the son of a powerful mother.” He got enthusiastic applause from the crowd that included nine past presidents - Sherry Saginaw, Gwen Bowlby, Irene Davis, Bettina Gregg, Anita Hedreen, Brigitte Krawiec, Eva Meharry and event co-chairs Sue Nine and Maggie Allesee. In addition to dining and shopping, people also bought raffle tickets ($770), bid $2,150 in a silent auction and raised more than $12,000 for Project HOPE’s worldwide health initiatives.

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DSO Volunteer Council Musical Feast The Deck the Halls Musical Feast Carolyn Demps and Guy Simons generously hosted was the last one in the 2016 series of intimate Detroit Symphony Orchestra fundraisers. It was held on the Sunday night of the season’s first crippling snowfall. Mother Nature scuttled two of the guests (who had paid $150 each), the valet parker, the kitchen help and the Seaholm carolers who were going to sing on the wraparound porch of the Birmingham Victorian, handsomely festooned for the season. But not the John Madison quartet.

Despite long travel distances they were not deterred and performed Beethoven, beautifully and pro bono. Celeste DempsSimons, 17, filled in at the piano for the carolers. Guy subbed for the car parker and bartender. Carolyn, whose decorating and cooking was incomparable, and her mother Pat Demps, a retired judge visiting from Oklahoma City, teamed up as catering staff extraordinaire. The weather outside was frightful but the great food and warm, fun hospitality, embellished with heirloom sterling and crystal, Christmas crackers and Apple Jack-splashed warm cider, was delightful.

BGCSM Great Futures Gala The 90th year of the Boys & Girls Clubs of 02.17

Southeastern Michigan ended with a bang up celebration by 280 people ($250 ticket) at a dinner at the Detroit Athletic Club. The program that followed the very sociable cocktail hour was notable for the sense of longstanding camaraderie among honoree/BGCSM alum/UAW VP Jimmy Settles, new board chair Hiram Jackson and old friend of both, Bill Pickard. Also lingering in memory are some quotes. From a video tribute to Settles: “If you don’t believe in angels you haven’t met Jimmy Settles.” From outgoing 12-year board chair Tom Hoeg: “It’s not charity if you take credit for it.” From incoming board chair Jackson: “Our kids don’t need more stuff. They need more of us.”

From Pickard: “To quote George Bernard Shaw –‘Life is about creating yourself’.” From Settles’ acceptance speech: “I didn’t produce my best as a kid but the clubs kept me right.”

From CEO/President Len Krichko: “In 90 years, the clubs have (served) more than 300,000 kids.” The clubs’ Women Association co-chairs Beth Moore and Sue Nine also spoke briefly about the WA, which was instrumental in the establishment of the auto show Charity Preview years ago. The memorable evening raised more than $110,000.

Christ Child Society Christmas Home Tour Kim McNulty and Kelly Winkler chaired Christ Child Society’s annual home tour, which tempted 450 people ($60 ticket) to tour five unique homes. They were all decorated for the season, but most tourists were talking about the architecture and the homeowners’ art. The generous homeowners were Kim Delgrasso, Renee & Michael Acho, Terese & Chris Pero, Tom & Lisa White and Tim Easterwood, who has renovated the late Elmore Leonard’s home. Tourists also met up with friends at Birmingham Country Club, where the staff kept the buffet tables laden with brunch and lunch fare and 23 vendors provided non-stop shopping. Thanks also to sponsors, the event raised more than $48,000 to support the boys who live in Christ Child House, the society’s layette program for newborns, and its literacy program in Pontiac schools.

Project HOPE Holiday Luncheon/Boutique

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1. Maggie Allesee (left) and Sue Nine with Lorraine Schultz of Bloomfield. 2. Linda Juracek-Lipa (left) of Birmingham and Bettina Gregg of Bloomfield. 3. Sherry Saginaw (left) of Bloomfield, Kathryn Ambrose of Birmingham. 4. Cheryl Hall Lindsay (left) of W. Bloomfield, Annette Kolon of Bloomfield. 5. Susan Willis-Reicket (left) of Bloomfield, Susanne Forbes Dicker of Troy. 6. Velita Turner (left) of Southfield, Dorie Shwedel and Maryann Cromwell of Bloomfield.

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BGCSM Great Futures Gala

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1. Jimmy Settles (center) of Detroit, Len Krichko (left) and Tom Hoeg of Northville. 2. Rhonda Walker of Franklin, Bill Pickard of Bloomfield. 3. Linda & Rod GiIlum of Bloomfield. 4. Karen Settles (center) of Detroit, Beth Moore (left) and Sue Nine of Bloomfield.

5. Suzanne Rea (left) and Bev Moore of Bloomfield. 6. Peter Remington (left) of Birmingham, Bill Dirksen of Ann Arbor and Shawn Wilson of Canton. 7. Kathy & Kirk Martin of Bloomfield.

Christ Child Society Christmas Home Tour Preservation Bloomfield Luncheon This year the Friends of Preservation Bloomfield put a German accent on the Gingerbread fundraiser which brought 130 supporters to The Townsend Hotel. The event, chaired by Mia Materka, Carol Shaya and Sue Nine, offered German music, cuisine and even many of the auction items. But the handcrafted houses are still the visual focus of the event, and they were mostly sized to be at home in a home. Preservation Bloomfield president Michael Dul brought happy news of restoration progress on the Barton Farmhouse which will soon have a school curriculum. Thanks to the raffle and auction ($3,000), the annual event raised $15,000 for the preservation organization. downtownpublications.com

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1. Kim McNulty (left) and Kelly Winkler of Birmingham. 2. Suzanne Mattingly (left) of Troy, Liz Lee and Pam Surhigh of Bloomfield. 3. Bess Paradiso and Kim Carson of Birmingham. 4. Jen Ross (left), Rebecca Cochran, Gabby Heller and Julie Ramonat of Bloomfield. 5. Theresa Mamatas (left) and Mari MacKenzie of Birmingham. 6. Gail Rikkanem (left) and Randi Williams Watchowski of Birmingham. 7. Chris Schwartz (left) and Laura Mannino of Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Preservation Bloomfield Luncheon

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1. Mia Materka (center) of W. Bloomfield, Carol Shaya (left) and Sue Nine of Bloomfield. 2. Ginny Bennett of Bloomfield.

3. Patti Jessup (left), Carol Lee Markley and Bee Engelhart of Bloomfield and Rosemary Bannon of Beverly Hills. 4. Mary Barton Letts (left) and Linda Kmit of Bloomfield. 5. Pat Hardy (left), Mary Rocco and Bonnie Jobe of Bloomfield. 6. Shelley Taub (left) of Bloomfield and Contessa Bannon of Beverly Hills.

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Kidney Foundation Ball

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Kidney Foundation Ball More than 740 supporters of the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan turned out for the annual Motown Magic Kidney Ball at the Motor City Casino. VIPs convened early in the Sound Board upper level Overdrive room before joining the hoi polloi for the silent auction ($57,000).

The dinner program had highlights.

Past chair and board member Myra Moreland presented event chair Patrick Rugiero the Cindy Hoglund Shannon award and they thanked GM and other sponsors for their generosity.

Emcee Steve Garagiola shared the painful saga of his experience with kidney stones and young Adam Rost demonstrated much energy despite his kidney disease battle. Great live auction prizes inspired spirited bidding ($91,700) and the Fund A Child pledges were matched by the Social Innovation Fund bringing the total to $54,000.

Many capped off the evening by dancing to music by Your Generation in Concert/Fifty Amp Fuse and selecting sweets from the always popular Mars chocolate candy display. The 12th annual Kidney Ball raised more than $617,000, bringing the 12-year total to $6 million.

Meadow Brook Hall Starlight Stroll “We come every year,” said Rochester native Brett Warstler, adding, “I think it’s important to preserve treasures like this.” He was with his wife and sisters at Meadow Brook Hall’s Starlight Stroll. It attracted 275 ($75 ticket) one evening during the five-week Holiday Walk exhibition which was coordinated by Grand Haven floral designer Alice Waterous. The evening offered selfguided tours throughout the hall; butler-passed hors d’oeuvres and desserts; bar service on two levels; chef-attended dining stations (carving, Mediterranean, Asian, pasta) in the dining room, study and library; a photo booth and listening and dancing to the Sheila Landis Trio in the ballroom. It also afforded

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1. Patrick Rugiero of Detroit, Myra Moreland of Birmingham. 2. Dr. Jerry Dancik (left) of Birmingham, Linda Smith-Wheelock of Canton and Carol & Dr. Paul Smith of Dexter. 3. Jae Plawecki (left) of Highland, Janis Rogers of Bloomfield. 4. Jenna Lynd (left), Laynie Moreland Bryan and Blair Moreland of Birmingham. 5. Dane Taylor (left) of Rochester Hills, Josh Bryan of Birmingham. 6. Scott Ferguson (left) of Farmington Hills, Ed Welburn of Bloomfield. 7. Pat Baskin (left) of Bloomfield, Caroline Krieger Cohen and Alison Schwartz of W. Bloomfield, Frank Matyok of Royal Oak. 8. Christian Sodeikat and Paula Gialdir of Rochester. 9. Duane McLean of Northville, Myra Moreland of Birmingham. 10. Don Manvel (center) of Birmingham, Lisa Grzebik (left) and Stewart Moreland of Dearborn.

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Jazzy Holiday Tea forRonald McDonald The ninth annual holiday tea attracted 80 supporters of the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit to The Townsend Hotel.

They were entertained by Mike and Mike’s mellow jazz, sketch artist Darrell Swift, a silent auction and a fashion show of Accessories by Stephanie. The Jazzy Tea, which was chaired by board member Charlene Mitchell-Rodgers, raised $20,000 to provide comfort and accommodations for families whose children are hospitalized.

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guests a sense of being “to the manor born” as they wined, dined and strolled through the elegant manse.

Including the guests at 50 privatelybooked parties, approximately 13,325 people toured the mansion during the 45th annual Holiday Walk, which was facilitated by some 100 volunteers.

When it closed on Dec. 22, it had raised $164,000 for preserving the fourth largest historic house museum in the country.

Alternatives for Girls High Tea When The Townsend Hotel opened 28 years ago, interior designer Shirley Maddalena started hosting a charity high tea there to support women at risk.

When the original benefit agency closed, Alternatives for Girls became the beneficiary. This year the event was so successful (125 tickets; $60, $100), that it filled not only the Tea Lobby, but the main lobby and the Rugby Grill hallway as well. A unique diversion is the silent auction of gently-used guest donations for a silent auction, which had more than 100 treasures. The auction ($2,396) and a raffle ($775) brought the event proceeds to $15,375.

Alternatives for Girls’ major fundraiser – the Role Model Dinner – is Thursday, March 23, at Cobo Center.

Chop House Salvation Army Benefit Ever since the Gatsaros family reopened the London Chop House, they have joined with Tom and Diane Schoenith to host a reincarnation of the Salvation Army benefit Sing A Long luncheon that brought Detroit movers and shakers to the iconic eatery in the ‘80s and ‘90s. This year, 75 philanthropists ($250 & up ticket) were greeted by army musicians playing outside the entrance. As they entered the mellow, subterranean room, the first thing visible at the end of the bar was the SA logo in an ice sculpture flanked by credit card receptors set for $100. Throughout the impeccable luncheon service there was considerable table hopping.

Periodically, emcee Stephen Clark and chanteuse Nicole New were joined on stage by guests singing with the aid of a Songs of Christmas printed and dated song booklet. Including a generous donation from Dale and Don Austin, who were unable to attend, the event and donations for singing (or not singing) raised more than $50,000 toward the $8.4-million Red Kettle Campaign.

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

Meadow Brook Hall Starlight Stroll

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1. Suzanne & Geoff Upward of Rochester. 2. Nadine & Pat Milostan of Rochester. 3. Rochester natives Karen Warstler Mack (left) of Clear Lake, WI, Stephanie Warstler Peterson of Ferndale, Brett & Kimberly Warstler of Oxford.

4. Paul & Elaine Wagner of Rochester Hills. 5. Ben & Amanda Hancock of Oxford.

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Alternatives for Girls High Tea

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1. Amy Good (left) of Detroit, Shirley Maddalena of Bloomfield. 2. Bobbie Scavone (left), Donna Hartwig and Kathy Dalton of Bloomfield.

3. Laura Stevens (center) of Rochester, Denise Asker (left) and Jill Carlson of Rochester Hills. 4. Dawn Rassel of Bloomfield. 5. Agnes Haggerty (left) of Ann Arbor, Linda Ross of W. Bloomfield, Maria Szymanski of Rochester Hills. 6. Mary Ellen Bross (left) of Royal Oak, Barb Fornesiero of Auburn Hills, Sue Davis of Rochester Hills.

Chop House Salvation Army Benefit

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1. Diane Schoenith (left) of Grosse Pointe, Valerie Straith and Lidija Grahovac of Bloomfield. 2. Lucia Zurkowski (standing left) of Bloomfield and Doug Grech of Birmingham (seated), Dick & Jane Manoogian of Grosse Pointe. 3. Susie Lambrecht (left) and om Schoenith of Grosse Pointe, Katie Valenti of Bloomfield. 4. Rosemary Bannon (center) of Beverly Hills, Audrey & Don Badaczewski of Grosse Pointe.

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ENDNOTE

Septic inspections must be required now s many as 1.9 million gallons of sewage each day may be leaking into the ground, rivers, lakes and streams throughout Oakland County from unchecked septic systems.

That estimate, which some believe may be on the low end, is based on findings that about 10 percent of all septic systems in Michigan are currently failing. Statewide, the Department of Environmental Quality has said as many as 31 million gallons of wastewater from household and commercial septic systems are leaking into the ground each day.

Admittedly, those numbers are rough estimates based, in part, on the number of failing septic systems found in other states. The Michigan Environmental Council, a coalition of more than 70 organizations in the state, said the percentage of failing septic systems in some states have been found to be as high as 20 to 40 percent. The fact is, the actual number of septic systems in the state isn't known – let alone the number that are failing.

What is known, and with far greater accuracy, is that human waste, not just feces from farm and wild animals, is contributing to the pollution of our rivers and watersheds in Oakland County. And that septic systems are contributing to that pollution to a much greater degree than believed in the past decade. That knowledge came in a very specific study of the amount of bacteria linked specifically to human feces that was found in 64 different rivers in Michigan.

The researchers that presented this new knowledge include a globally-recognized water researcher at Michigan State University, who said bacteria was highest in watersheds that have about 1,600 known septic systems or more.

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Oakland County health officials believe there are between 80,000 and 100,000 septic systems in the county.

Further, researchers said the study takes into account the contribution of human feces from municipal wastewater treatment plants connected to public sewer systems and overflow from combined sewer and stormwater systems caused by heavy rains or flooding by sampling rivers at "baseflow conditions," or a river at its driest point, or low flow times.

The study confirms what many throughout the state have suspected for decades: routine inspections of septic systems are needed in all areas of the state. The need was recently stated in the governor's water strategy plan as a priority to protect sources of drinking and recreational waters that are integral to Michigan's health and economy. It's the same need stated in 2004 by former Governor Jennifer Granholm, and in nearly a dozen proposed laws that failed to ever make it to a vote by state lawmakers in those years.

Despite the need to address leaking septic systems, Michigan remains the only state in the nation that doesn't have a statewide septic code in place. Experience tells us while the state legislature should address the problem of leaking septics, it's doubtful it will pass a law to do so, nor appropriate the funding needed to implement a statewide plan.

To date, the responsibility of regulating septic systems has fallen upon the counties through local sanitary codes passed by county commissions and enforced by county health departments.

While Oakland County has made some much needed changes to its health code to address a

small portion of septic systems that are at most risk of failure, there remains a need to address tens of thousands of other on-site wastewater treatment systems. The county must now begin work on updating its code to ensure all septic systems are located, inventoried and inspected on a routine basis, and then create ordinances to require inspections.

Health officials say traditional septic systems should be inspected every three to five years, at a minimum. In practice, few homeowners with septic systems adhere to a routine inspection schedule, opting instead to wait until problems force them to shell out money for repairs or replacement.

While the ideal course of action would be for the state legislature to address the septic system problem, there has been little movement on this issue in Lansing. Therefore, Oakland County Commissioners now have the opportunity to address septic system issues.

An appropriate first step would be to work with local municipalities that should have data on where septics are located based on existing sewer connections.

Then the septic code should be updated to require inspections are conducted every three years for traditional septic systems. Advanced engineered septic systems in the county are already required to be inspected at least annually.

Although enacting a new code that will address septic systems in Oakland County may pose some additional challenges, we believe the time is long overdue for the county to address the issue and protect the health and environment of the county.

No magic bullet for public comment rules or a couple of years, Bloomfield Township board of trustee meetings had the feel of a raucous WWE event, with a few disgruntled residents and gadflies speaking out on every agenda item, whether they had knowledge of the item or not, as well as at times screaming at the supervisor and other officials from the back of the room. It led to a change to the township's public comment policy, moving them to the beginning of board meetings, with a three-minute time limit, other than for public hearings.

Bloomfield Township was perfectly within its right to curtail public comment to just one part of its public meeting, a practice that many other municipalities follow, and one that the Michigan Township Association and Michigan Municipal League recommend as guidelines for public municipal meetings. Ultimately, civic leaders have a job of running a public meeting.

The meeting is designed not for public

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participation, but for public transparency.

City council, city commission and board of trustee meetings are held as business meetings of their communities, first and foremost. It's the time when the work of the local government is assembled and discussed, and per Michigan’s Open Meetings Act of 1976, “All meetings of a public body shall be open to the public and shall be held in a place available to the general public...However, a public body may establish reasonable rules and regulations in order to minimize the possibility of disrupting the meeting.”

Many other communities, including Rochester Hills, Bloomfield Hills and Royal Oak, also limit public comment to either the beginning or end of a meeting. Other municipalities, like Birmingham and Rochester, take different tacks. In Rochester, there are two public comment periods, one at the beginning of the meeting; the other, at the end, for

those who may have missed the beginning, for residents to share thoughts and suggestions.

There is currently no time limit on participation.

In Birmingham, residents have the opportunity to comment on any agenda item when commissioners consider it. The public can also comment on any item not on the agenda. And while there supposedly is a two-minute limit on public comment, it has been little-seen in recent years, with the commission allowing the public to continue on as they see necessary.

All of these municipalities are in the right – because there is no one correct way for a board to hold public comment. There's no silver bullet that magically works for every single community. Local governments and their elected officials must determine what works for them, at different points in time, in order to get through their agendas and perform the function of running the government for their residents.

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