Rochester/Rochester Hills

PLACES TO EAT: 200 RESTAURANTS • GERAK: SOCIAL LIGHTS 44

DOWNTOWN R O C H E S T E R

•

R O C H E S T E R

H I L L S

JUNE 2017

PLUS

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP

BLUEPRINT FOR CHANGE: THE FUTURE OF EDUCATION PFOA/PFOS: CHEMICALS OF CONCERN INTO THE FUTURE ENDNOTE: MAKING CRIMINALS OUT OF UNDERAGE SMOKERS ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM

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NEXT LEVEL – LET’S JUMP START YOUR GOALS! 130

Market Share Totals

120

Total $ Volume (by broker)

110

List $

100

$ in Millions

90

Sell $

Mkt 8.8%

80 70 60 Mkt 5.1% 50

Mkt 4.6% Mkt 4.1%

40

Mkt 3.4% Mkt 3.1% Mkt 2.8%

30

Mkt 2.6%

Mkt 2.6% Mkt 2.2%

20 10 0

Real Estate One Rochester

Real Living Kee Realty

Max Brook Realtors ® Birmingham

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Real Estate One – Troy

Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices Hwwb

Century 21 Sakmar & Assoc

Hall & Hunter Birmingham

Coldwell Colburn Banker McDonald Assoc, Weir Manuel Realtor ® Rochester

MLS Data Source: Realcomp 5/1/2016 – 4/30/2017 Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

JUNE’S FEATURED HOMES

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP - $699,000 - 4 Bed, 3.2 Bath, 3,715sf

ROCHESTER - $575,000 - 4 Bed, 3.2 Bath, 4,054sf

ROCHESTER HILLS - $509,900 - 4 Bed, 2.1 Bath, 3,584sf

LINDA: 248.709.3786 • PETE: 248.770.8660 • PAULA: 248.770.8661 SHANA: 248.941.4525 • DAVID: 586.552.7995

DOWNTOWN06.17

20

Michigan education: Blueprint for improvement A state commission has presented a comprehensive report that looks at Michigan’s educational standards, so we brought together superintendents from three local districts, the intermediate district and a member of the commission to discuss the future of education.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

10

The Trump administration in Washington D.C. has breathed new life into journalism much like the Watergate scandal did in the 1970’s a good sign as we inch toward a Constitutional crisis now.

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

Proposal to cut back number of Michigan House districts; new AG contenders for 2018; gubernatorial field could get much larger; Troy gadfly joins troubled Macomb County Clerk, plus more.

MUNICIPAL

38

Rochester Hills annual audit results; underage smoking ordinance; 2018 city budget; downtown merchants offering later Thursday hours: liquor license for the Jagged Fork; plus more.

THE COVER The course at Pine Trace Golf Club, an Arthur Hills designed 18-hole course at 3600 Pine Trace Boulevard in Rochester Hills.

Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent.

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Rochester, $515,000. 65 ft. fenced yard. 3 bdrms. w/vaulted ceilings, 3.5 new baths w/quartz counters & dual sinks.

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Oakland Twp., $434,900. 4 bdrms., 2.5 baths, 3 car garage on beautiful 2/3 acre treed setting. Open floor plan with hdwd. fl., new carpet throughout and neutral dÊcor. Spacious kit. w/granite and updated appls. Fam. rm. with vaulted ceiling. Beautiful paver patio, mature landscaping, updated roof and mechanicals.

Shelby Twp., $284,900. Hard to find 3 bdrm., 2 bath end unit ranch condo with 2 car att. garage. Gorgeous cherry kit. w/granite, new appliances & hardwood flooring. Kit. opens to great rm. with fireplace, vaulted ceiling & leads to deck. Spacious master suite. Baths have granite. 2nd floor loft for office or home theater. Fin. bsmt. and great location.

Rochester Hills, $414,000. 4 bdrms., 2.5 baths, 3062 sq. ft.

Hardwood flooring t/o 1st fl., extensive crown molding & wainscoting. French doors from dining rm. to expansive family rm. Updated kitchen with granite, built-ins, all appliances. Library with judges paneling. Spacious bdrms. Master suite with updated bath. Elegant powder rm. and beautiful updated 2nd floor bath.

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Rochester Hills, $414,900. 4 bdrms., 3.5 baths, 3072 sq. ft.

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Orion Twp., $399,900. 4 bdrms., 2.5 baths, 3539 sq. ft.

Crown molding, hdwd. fl., beautiful trim, 2 fireplaces, open floor plan. Spacious kit. w/granite, lg. island & all appls.

Master suite w/18x11 walk-in closet. California closets t/o entire home. Easy access to I75, shopping & schools.

Metamora, $99,900. Last lot left in developed sub of 19 homes. Cul-de-sac lot and very private 6 acre setting. All homes minimum 5 acres, out buildings and horses allowed.

Easy access to M-24. All homes $350,000+. Perk test, survey and deed restrictions available. Very beautiful property.

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18

Maureen Thalman

SOCIAL LIGHTS

44

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

ENDNOTE

50

Our take on the recently released blueprint for improving education in Michigan, as well as our thoughts on the local ordinance making underage smoking an actual crime.

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DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER • ROCHESTER HILLS PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISING DIRECTOR David Hohendorf ADVERTISING SALES Mark Grablowski Carol Barr GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in Rochester, Rochester Hills and parts of Oakland Township. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Rochester and Rochester Hills.

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

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

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

If you are using the mail option, you must include a phone number for verification purposes.

WEBSITE downtownpublications.com

FACEBOOK facebook.com/downtownpublications TWITTER twitter.com/downtownpubs Member of Downtown Publications DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM/BLOOMFIELD DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER/ROCHESTER HILLS PREFERRED OAKLAND HOMES

FROM THE PUBLISHER ne is almost tempted to congratulate President Donald Trump for singlehandily re-energizing the media landscape, especially the newspaper print/digital part of the journalism world. As we went through the final days of the election last fall, for example, the New York Times notched more new digital subscribers than the total from 2013 and 2014 combined. Heck, the week after the election alone some 42,000 people bought new print and digital subscriptions. And in the first quarter of this year, the New York Times netted 308,000 new digital subscribers.

O

The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post are also experiencing increased subscribers, both print and digital, much of it attributed to Trump’s incessant attacks on newspaper and broadcast outlets, not to mention overall growing concern about his young presidency.

I suspect, as a result, we will see increasing applications at journalism schools in the next few years, much like the period following the Watergate controversy that dethroned then-President Richard Nixon back in the 1970’s.

So I took some comfort as Seaholm High School in Birmingham surveyed junior level students this year to see where their interest lies as the school started preparing for its annual career day this June. For the first time ever, school officials say, a few students actually requested “writer/journalism” as a career option in the program where they visit for part of a day with persons currently working in the field they think they would like to pursue in their post college years.

In years past we have generally turned down requests for students to spend time “shadowing” members of our news department simply because we are a very small, independent news organization, our schedules are extremely busy, and we have not been convinced that watching a news reporter on the phone would be that exciting. But we are now rethinking our position, especially because we are really the last news operations in Oakland County – and quite possibly the state – doing things such as longform journalism (5,000 words plus) – in depth features focused on more serious issues facing local residents. And the new administration in Washington has really been a call to arms for those of us in the media, not just as a double-check and resistance to bad policy and abuse of power, but also a wake up call reminding us of the need to grow the ranks of journalists for the future.

We will be doing our part the first week of June when four high school juniors from Seaholm – Haley Dolan, Andrew Lapain, Molly Ligon and Lauren Wilson – visit our offices for a few hours to interact with news editor Lisa Brody, reporter Kevin Elliott, me and a couple of staff members.

Hopefully we can inspire members of this group to follow in our footsteps.

In my case, I have my mother to thank for putting me on the path to where I am these days. She dutifully drove me down a two-lane M-59 from then-migrant farmland Sterling Heights each month to what was then the Pontiac (now Oakland) Press to turn in my monthly column/report printed as part of a school correspondents page. This

against the background of advice from my father, a senior production engineer for General Motors, that a daughter of one of his buddies at work was a journalist and I should be forewarned that it was a profession entailing long, long hours and not the greatest of pay. He was right.

Things have not changed.

By the time I hit college I did not need the Watergate controversy and the captivating congressional hearings to motivate me towards a career in journalism, although it certainly helped that a group of us at Michigan State scheduled our classes for one year around the committees’ schedules so we could watch history of a Constitutional crisis unfold on live television. I was already doing occasional freelance pieces for the student newspaper, helping launch a literary magazine (lasted one year) and dreaming of selling a freelance piece to Rolling Stone during the tumultuous anti-Vietnam War era.

It will be interesting to hear from the Seaholm students just what exactly sparked their interest in journalism as a possible profession. I would like to think the current malaise in Washington D.C. and the never ending media coverage has been part of it. That would restore my faith in those who follow us in this profession because we are quickly inching toward a Constitutional crisis of sorts in the first few months of this administration and it won’t be the last time in the history of the republic.

For those too young to remember, back in the early 70’s we had Nixon as head of a Republican administration that was found to have ordered a break-in at the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Building to copy documents and plant listening devices, a host of other dirty tricks all financed by a re-election slush fund controlled by the administration and the ensuing attempted cover up.

We are talking about a president who lacked respect for democratic institutions such as an independent press, judiciary and justice department. Nixon bugged/recorded political opponents; ordered his justice department to investigate those opposed to what he was doing, members of activist groups and the media; ordered IRS audits of members of the media and wiretapping of their phones so he could determine where news leaks were coming from; instructed the CIA to block the FBI from investigating his staff and their abuses of power; called for the resignation of two key aides and the attorney general; fired the White House counsel; and commanded the attorney general to fire the special prosecutor named to investigate his administration.

Sound familiar? History does repeat itself if we ignore or don’t make ourselves familiar with the lessons of the past.

It is with hope that I am looking forward to the visit from the Seaholm students.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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DOWNTOWN

06.17

INCOMING Thoughtful column Thank you for this thoughtful piece (From The Publisher/March). I have never written to a publication before, but I felt moved to do so after reading David Hohendorf’s column.

I'm sure you will be inundated with emails of the opposite, but I wanted to say that I appreciate him calling attention to the fact that this administration is "scary stuff,” and that the media is there as a service to the public to give information so that we can have a transparent government.

So thank you again. I hope that the checks and balances that were put in place for the protection of the democracy of the U.S. continue to stop this impulsive dimwit from hurting this country in a way that we may not be able to fix.

Nicole Wasson Rochester

Column not balanced In response to David Hohendorf's column of March, I would like to make the following comments.

I am not a particular supporter of President Trump, but where I come from we believe in giving a person a fair go. What did stir him to write of his concerns on the idea of "free press?" I totally support that idea but am concerned that we don't have any such in this country.

The people who do own the press have their own agendas to which they seem intent on converting us, by any means, to their view point. I do not blame the journalists who have to do as they are told and must earn their livings, rather the owners who distort events to suit their own goals.

More reprehensible is the National Public Radio who are using every petty and snide method possible to convert their public to their own viewpoint. I feel they, and their ilk, are responsible for the divisions that now plague this great country.

I normally enjoy your publication very much and I am disappointed that David Hohendorf cannot seem to show a more balanced view point.

Merton Wreford Rochester Hills

Central Business district (From Facebook and our website) It's getting to be far more complicated and far more weighted downtownpublications.com

toward developments that still stand "vacant" and expensive.

Encroachment on residential for expansion, bowing to re-zoning and to developers is starting to overreach. That puts a lot of residents on edge. They don't even want a drivein bank in downtown as we have now on Walnut. Drop your money in the meter please, and then do your deposit or withdrawal – and the meters have a minimum. Service industry? Service industry produces very few jobs that would allow for people to afford to live in Rochester – Big problem! Housing $600K-1.5 million and what jobs are here to support that? Rochester has no schools, no hospital, no grocery store and no theater. Walnut Street was a beautiful boulevard of trees and some very historic houses and churches – now, a congested parking lot to the point permit parking had to be approved on Pine. The master plan was long laid aside and disregarded with “special projects" of high density and height. Bricks and mortar may bring in taxes on the building, but it does not necessarily bring jobs to afford to live in this city.

We are becoming a high density very expensive habitat (bricks and mortar) only at the cost of any green, space, diversity and affordability.

Can't wait to see how chopped up we will be and muddled — but it keeps municipal employees employed and those that we are contracted with. Economic development is about bringing jobs to a given area that allow for those people to live, work and raise a family within that city. Hasn't happened yet and now, never will.

Patricia Kane Rochester

Historical ordinance Good news! The Rochester City Council voted 5-2 with Russell, Daldin, Peterson, Ray and Bikson voting NOT to put the depression era home on N. Main Street on a watch list where the owners would have to go before them to justify any improvements for which they need a city permit.

Property rights won tonight. Now they ought to remove the businesses that didn't want to be on the list, too.

Sue Ann Douglas Rochester

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06.17

CRIME LOCATOR

Map key

NORTH

Sexual assault

Robbery

Larceny from vehicle

Drug offenses

Assault

Breaking/entering

Vehicle theft

Arson

Murder

Larceny

Vandalism

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Rochester and Rochester Hills through May 25, 2017.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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.

DUMBING IT DOWN: State Rep. Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield) has introduced a legislative proposal to reduce the number of members of the state House of Representatives from 110 to 76, or about one-third. “We currently have three House members for every three state Senate seats,” McCready said, noting there are 38 state Senate members. Each state Senate district represents about 280,000 people, while currently, each state House district represents approximately 85,000 to 90,000 people. “If we went down to two House members for every one Senate seat, rather than our current three House members for every one Senate seat, each House district would represent about 140,000 people, and would save in salary and benefits for members and staff about $7.5 million annually,” McCready said. Add leasing out the extra vacant office space in Lansing, he said, and there would be upwards of $9 million in savings, according to the House fiscal agency. “You’d probably get a better balance of people. We’d have to work harder, and see a better legislature,” he said. While the bill is still in committee, if heard, which McCready admits is doubtful, and approved, it could end up as a constitutional amendment proposal on the 2018 ballot.

LAW & ORDER: With 2018 around the corner, and current Attorney General Bill Schuette (R) term-limited and likely running for governor, Republicans and Democrats alike are getting their ducks in a row to see who can fill the state’s top legal advisor and chief law enforcement officer’s position as the new attorney general.

Word is that state Speaker of the House Tom Leonard (RDeWitt) wants to run for AG, is positioning himself, and his staff is getting ready – all that is needed is the announcement. He’s LEONARD even appointed political consultant and former chief of staff and campaign manager to former governor John Engler, Dan Pero, as his chief of staff. Word is Pero is making lots of calls to raise money, but he’s never seen by other reps. Not all Republicans are fans of the current house leader, and will be backing state Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton). “She’s awesome and wellbalanced, from the west side of the state (near Kalamazoo).

She’s conservative, a female, feisty, and she’s normal,” said one SCHUITMAKER politico. “And she’s not out to hurt people.”

APPLES & ORANGES: Speaking of running for governor, while neither Attorney General Bill Schuette nor Lt. Governor Brian Calley have officially announced they are running to be the Republican Party’s nominee in 2018, all that is left for either one are their formal announcements. While many Republican stalwarts had been quietly putting their money on Schuette to take on all comers, his star is looking a bit tarnished these days, with one lawmaker pointing out that Schuette has spent $2.3 million so far on his Flint water criminal and civil investigation, with few charges filed, many of which were mere misdemeanors. Internal polling is showing Democrat BERNSTEIN Gretchen Whitmer doing very well against both Schuette and Calley. “I think the Dems have a real good chance to take some of these higher seats,” the lawmaker opined. If rumored candidate Mark Bernstein throws his hat into the Democratic pile, which Bernstein said he is “seriously considering,” Republicans are privately saying all bets are off. Another unknown is wild card Geoffrey Feiger. During a taping of WKAR-TV’s “Off the Record” in May, the Southfield attorney said he was considering a run for governor. But Feiger’s previously said he was considering a run for that office in 2002, 2005, 2010 and 2011. He famously lost to incumbent John Engler in 1998. He has maintained his candidate committee, and recent records show that the committee owes more than $5 million in debt to Fieger, which it received over the years, most dating back to the late 1990s.

NO FRANK UNDERWOLF: A series of online advertisements featuring Lt. Governor Brian Calley is promoting May 30, 2017 as the day for a major announcement from the state’s number two executive. The lastest 28-second clip shows Calley using a rowing machine in a parody of the Netflix show downtownpublications.com

“House of Cards,” which is set to begin its new season on the same 5.30.17 date. “We have a date in common, nothing more,” Calley says after a narrator states, “There’s no room for Frank Underwolfs in Lansing.” The ad – which plays on a Sesame Street parody featuring a character of the same name – is aimed at promoting Calley’s low profile demeanor, according to John Yob, a political consultant. Yob, who has been working on Calley’s MiPAC committee, which is funding the ads. Yob, the son of former Republican National Committee member and Republican consultant Chuck Yob, said in news reports the committee is working to promote Calley prior to his gubernatorial announcement. John Yob advised CALLEY Rand Paul’s presidential campaign, and worked for Sen. John McCain and Rick Santorum, Gov. Rick Snyder and Terri Lynn Land. Yob said last fall while working for Paul and attending a Republican conference on Mackinac Island that he was punched in the face by one of Marco Rubio’s staffers. In 2016, Yob made national headlines when he, his wife and two others had their voter registrations nixed by election officials in the U.S. Virgin Islands, where he ran as a delegate for the Republican National Convention.

Yob’s voting restrictions were eventually lifted.

CONSERVATIVE LABELING: The American Conservative Union (ACU) Foundation has released its ratings for the 2016 Michigan Legislature and found the most conservative lawmaker from Oakland County was Rep. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), based on his voting record of key conservative legislation. According to the ACU, which ranks state and federal lawmakers across the country and hosts the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Runestad voted in favor of 91 percent of legislation that supports the ACU’s definition of a “conservative.” Only two RUNESTAD legislators in the state received higher rankings than Runestad, who was followed by representatives Jim Tedder (R-Clarkston) and Joseph Graves (R-Holly), both receiving 87 percent rankings. The lowest ranked Republican by the ACU was Troy Rep. Martin Howrylak, with a 65 percent ranking for 2016 and a 71 percent lifetime ranking. Slipping in the ranks this year was state Senator Marty Knollenberg (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills), whose ranking went from 91 percent in 2015 to 75 percent in 2016. Senator Jim Marleau (R-Bloomfield Township) received a 74 percent ranking. Other Oakland County lawmaker rankings included Reps.

Mike McCready (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township), 71 percent; Kathy Crawford (R-Novi), 74 percent; Mike Webber (R-Rochester, Rochester Hills),78 percent; and Klint Kesto (R-West Bloomfield, Commerce Township), 78 percent. State Senator Mike Kowall (R-White Lake) received a 65 percent ranking for 2016. The rankings, however, may further muddy how many people may define a “conservative” in today’s political atmosphere.

“There is no ironclad definition of what a conservative is,” said Michigan political analyst Bill Ballenger. “It’s gotten a little more complicated. Are Libertarians conservatives or not? You could say they are more liberal. It comes down to how individual legislators vote on certain issues, but still after everything, the old fashioned conservative-liberal split that the public sees as dividing still exists.”

STRANGE BEDFELLOWS: As those of us who follow civic meetings know, often community gadflies stick together. So perhaps it shouldn’t be a huge surprise that political outsider – now Macomb County clerk/register of deeds Karen Spranger has hired George Brikho of Troy as a deputy clerk. If Brikho’s name sounds familiar, it’s because he ran, unsuccessfully, as the Republican challenger to longtime Congressman Sander Levin (D-Royal Oak, Bloomfield Township) in 2014. While he ran under the Republican banner, he considers himself part of the Liberty movement, according to a posting on his political Facebook page. Brikho wrote in 2016, “I am willing BRIKHO to use my resources to promote the Liberty agenda and help Liberty-oriented candidates who run for public office as Republicans.” Besides his new career as Macomb County deputy clerk, Brikho owns a medical marijuana dispensary in Madison Heights that he said he hopes will advance his political, humanitarian and entrepreneurial goals. Spranger, who recently settled lawsuits with the the Macomb County executive offices over moving the clerk/register of deeds office, appointed another noted gadfly as an aide, Jackie Ryan of Sterling Heights. Brikho wrote on Facebook he may run again for political office in 2018. As they say on TV, stay tuned.

DOWNTOWN

17

FACES

Maureen Thalmann ntrigued by history and captivated by the extraordinary chronicles of Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen, author Maureen Thalmann penned the biography “Petticoat Surgeon – The Extraordinary Life of Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen.”

“I’ve loved history since I was a child,” she said. “I liked nonfiction. I would sometimes sit and read the encyclopedia.”

Thalmann was a stay-at-home mom, raising her two children in Rochester Hills, when she decided to volunteer at the Rochester Hills Museum at Van Hoosen Farm.

“I helped set up exhibits, gave tours, researched and did some writing,” she said. “Even my kids volunteered.”

Thalmann was soon hired to work at the museum part-time. She became fascinated by the remarkable life of Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen.

Van Hoosen, born in 1863, was a surgeon and pioneer in medicine.

Her Rochester home in Stony Creek Village now serves as the Rochester Hills Museum.

Pat McKay, museum supervisor, was instrumental in Thalmann’s quest to become a published author.

“Pat is a boss who brings out the best in you,” she said. “He encouraged me to research and write. He also wrote an introduction for my book.”

Thalmann authored a short story about Joshua Van Hoosen, father of Bertha Van Hoosen. The piece was accepted and published by Michigan History Magazine.

“I got bit by the writing bug and started to do more research and writing.”

Enamored by the lineage of the Van Hoosen family, Thalmann decided to write a biography on the life of Bertha Van Hoosen. “(Bertha) was an OB/GYN, and she founded the American Medical Women’s Association,” Thalmann said. “Her story is so uplifting. It’s a story of family, love of the land she grew up on here in Michigan, devotion to family, and to other women.”

Thalmann poured over archives to get a comprehensive understanding of the doctor who pushed the stereotypical boundaries for woman in the 1800s.

“There was blatant discrimination against her,” Thalmann said.

“It was mostly a male establishment. She was so hardworking and very demanding of herself. They were initially against her, but she won them over.”

Following years of research, “Petticoat Surgeon – The Extraordinary Life of Dr. Bertha Van Hoosen” was published in 2015. The biography is available at the Rochester Hills Museum, on Amazon and at Thalmann’s presentations.

“I speak at book clubs, historical societies, libraries and once at the American Medical Women’s Association. I really enjoy sharing Bertha’s extraordinary life stories with groups in the area, large and small,” she said. “I can talk about Bertha for hours and I’ve been known to do it. I do a PowerPoint and sign copies of the book.”

She is in the research stages for her next book about Fidelia Gillette, a suffragist, ordained minister and writer from the 1800s.

In the meantime, she revels in any opportunity to share her vast knowledge about Bertha.

“I hope (readers) will have an appreciation for this dynamic woman who lived right in our area and have an understanding of the challenges that female pioneers in medicine had to overcome.”

I

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

LISTENING TO THE LEARNED: EDUCATION EXPERTS WEIGH IN ON NEW MICHIGAN EDUCATION BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS

ebruary of this year, a 16-member gubernatorial commission, known as the 21st Century Education Commission, completed and presented to Governor Rick Snyder a new and comprehensive education report that looks at Michigan’s educational status and standards, ranking at 48th in the United States, and provides recommendations and guidelines on how to improve the education of all Michigan students. The report, called “The Best Education System for Michigan’s Success: A Blueprint for Educating Michigan’s Residents to Build the Best Businesses, Win the Best Jobs, and Achieve the American Dream,” begins with a reality – that to succeed in today’s world, residents must provide more comprehensive education to our students.

F

Downtown photos: Laurie Tennent

Rob Glass Superintendent, Bloomfield Hills Schools.

Most recently previous to that, Superintendent in Dexter.

Dan Nerad Superintendent of Birmingham Public Schools. Thirty three years spent in Green Bay, Wisconsin, the last seven years as Superintendent, then Superintendent in Madison, Wisconsin for four years prior to Birmingham.

Wanda Cook-Robinson Superintendent at Oakland Schools, one of 56 intermediate school districts in Michigan.

Formerly the Superintendent in Southfield Public Schools.

Key highlights of the report emphasize that we must begin earlier, with universal preschool education, and we must continue educating students longer, providing access to two years of community college or trade school for all students, as the economy has changed, and a high school diploma is no longer a ticket to economic prosperity, and by doing so, Michigan itself will prosper. “Since 2009, 99 percent of jobs added to the economy have gone to workers with at least some post-secondary education,” the report noted.

The report points out a strong current correlation between state income and education levels. Michigan, which ranks 35th for educational attainment, is ranked 33rd for per-capita income. There are worse results for African American children, and for those living in poverty. Most startling, the report points out that Michigan’s higher income and white students are also among some of the worst performing students in the country, ranking 48th. In stark terms, it stated, “This is not the path to prosperity.”

The blueprint recommends creating a K-14 education system in Michigan; providing qualified universal access to early education for four-year-olds; determining the developmentally-appropriate readiness of children for kindergarten; focusing on learning to shift towards a students progression through the curriculum at their own pace, rather than at grade levels; provide post-secondary access to community colleges and other skill training to all students; elevating education as a profession; and investing in an efficient and effective system of public funding to become a world leader in education.

The estimated investment to enact the educational changes recommended by the commission is approximately $2 billion by 2025, an approximate 15 percent increase over current costs of public education.

Downtown News Editor Lisa Brody brought together Bloomfield Hills Schools Superintendent Rob Glass, Birmingham Schools Superintendent Dan Nerad, Rochester Community Schools Superintendent Robert Shaner, Oakland Schools (the county’s intermediate district) Superintendent Wanda Cook-Robinson, and Doug Ross, former state senator, commerce director and Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, and currently head of American Promise Schools in Detroit, and was an active member of the 21st Century Education Commission, to discuss the education blueprint, and its validity or difficulty in being enacted as an educational tool.

Michigan educates over 1.5 million kids in traditional K12 districts; another 150,000 in charter schools; over 126,000 in career and technological schools; 277,000 are enrolled in community colleges, and another quarter million are enrolled in Michigan public universities.

There are over a half million children aged infant to 4, with almost 50,000 children enrolled in state-funded prekindergartens. That is just shy of 3 million (2.8 million) Michigan students from birth to adulthood that are in the process of being educated by the Michigan public education system. According to the new report prepared for Gov. Snyder, The Best Education System for Michigan’s Success, Michigan’s economy has changed, and the education system, which prepares students for a post-education life, must change in response. Where 30 years ago Michiganders could earn a high school diploma, enter the workforce and earn a wage to support a family, that is no longer the case. Since 2009, 99 percent of jobs added to the economy have gone to workers with at least some postsecondary education. By 2025, 70 percent or more of our 25-year-olds will have completed a college degree, occupational certificate,

apprenticeship, or other formal skill training, which the report notes is essential to economic prosperity not only for them, but for the state, which currently ranks 35th for education attainment and 33rd for per-capita income.

Critical to this report is a focus on changing K-12 education to P-20, making mandatory education for P-14, which would offer universal access to community college and pre-approved career technical education programs. The blueprint says adopting a K-14 education system is their top priority. What do you think – is that a recommendation you could stand behind?

NERAD: I could. Education is really about human capital development and preparing young people for bright futures.

I think there’s a place for the system to remain a K-12 system and a two-year system, but the whole notion of how we work together and how portable, or not, our educations are, in terms of next phase learning, is a key thing for us to look at. We also know that education is far from completed in 12th grade today – we all talk about lifelong learning.

That’s an important thing to embrace. There’s also the idea of taking credit from high school and having some credit in the post-secondary environment. I know there’s systems available for that now, but the more that these systems can work together, the more opportunities we can create for young people. And I think there have to be multiple pathways in that kind of system for it to work because university-bound is important, but technical-bound is important too, and my read is that a lot of the work of the future is new tech, high-skills kind of industries. Some people will go from high school right to work, and we have to prepare them for their best future, as well.

GLASS: I would. If you were going to strengthen the role, as this report suggests, where you’re going to have the Department of Education having a stronger role in shaping the overall policy and having K-14 as part of that, I think that just enhances the line, as Dan talked about. That’s a plus.

COOK-ROBINSON: In fact, in the report, it talks about K-14.

We’ve got to talk about pre-K. We have to talk about early childhood, and we do a lot of that in our county, starting with Great Success, preparing students. We practically go womb-to-tomb preparing our youngsters. You’ll see that in all of these districts. In addition, at the county level, the 28 districts and the 26 service academies (charters) work with us. We have an ACE program, which is an Accelerated College Experience – we have students actually start Oakland Community College when they’re in the 11th grade, and they’re able to go that 13th year and receive their associate’s degree. Last year, we graduated 50 students that came out with their associate’s degree – and they had no loans, more importantly, provided by these communities.

In addition, we also started this year an early college program which is an extension of our technical centers. We have, in each quadrant, a technical center that has about 17 clusters that includes industry-level certifications, and our students attend there as well. They’re able to come out with an apprenticeship, with community college credit which they can transfer into a four-year university, a trade school or wherever.

NERAD: On the preschool side, I couldn’t agree more. In fact, when the Federal Reserve Bank starts writing about the value of early learning as a cost-benefit to communities, I think it’s time for our state to consider universally available preschool programming.

The second thing is, I think it’s time that we work together and think about pre-K-14, pre-K-20, to reframe how you consider the two-year degree. A lot of what these young

people are learning are really advanced skills that lead to really good jobs. But when we frame them as traditional vocational jobs or programs, they can be, in a lot of communities, less interesting for the young people pursuing them. Certainly in affluent districts. So we have to create experiences early on for young people to see the value in that type of program. Then at the two-year, can be built on two more years for the four-year, so you’re matching for some young people, the two-years of the associate’s program so it’s only two years, or plus a little bit, to complete a four-year degree. That’s what I meant about portability.

ROSS: A couple things led the commission to these conclusions. First of all, when we looked at the wealthy states, per capita income, who were the richest states, with the exception of the three states that sit on huge oil reserves – Alaska, Wyoming and N. Dakota – the top 15 states in terms of top per capita income are also the top 15 states for percentages of adults with four- or two-year degrees. It couldn’t be more clear.

The other thing was historical context. We felt that every time the developing society required more education in order to move forward, and it became a source of opportunity for individuals – by the Civil War, primary education was required everywhere, other than the South, and when they lost, it was imposed; by the end of World War I, virtually everyone had high schools, which were free and mandatory up to age 16. Well, that was 100 years ago. So the notion now is post-secondary is something that the community urgently needs, and as an individual it’s your only ticket to the middle class.

I think we would have gone further to even say: your access to any kind of post-secondary education will no longer be conditioned on family income.

I understand K-14; what’s P-20?

ROSS: It’s a Snyder slogan. We weren’t sure what it meant.

It certainly means preschool. Through 20 – to career, or something like that.

SHANER: I would agree with the notion, and reaffirm the need for pre-K universally. I think all this is well and good in terms of raising expectations – but one thing you learn when working with young people, is whenever you raise expectations, they’ll meet and usually exceed them. But we have to, especially in areas of poverty, focus on making sure the fundamentals of education are there.

I’ll give you an example. In my old district we ran a CT program – very difficult getting kids into apprenticeships because they didn’t have the fundamental skills to do that sort of work leaving high school. As important as these programs are, it’s also important to make sure the fundamentals, particularly when kids enter school, are there so they can succeed. If they’re not there, we need to intervene as soon as we possibly can.

ROSS: There’s a huge challenge in this, as well, in that the completion rates for community college are horrible. If you can get a kid into a four-year college, his-or-her chance of completing is dramatically higher than if you go to OCC or Macomb County or Henry Ford, or whatever. The three-year completion rates, in many cases, are 10-15 percent.

SHANER: I think sometimes, too, in the past, community colleges were a default for some kids.

ROSS: We sent our lowest performing kids there.

At OCC in the last few years, they’ve worked with Automation Alley, Medical Main Street, and others, to create technical programs for students, to address the needs of the new economy.

ROSS: The challenge Bob indicated, though, to get one of our students into an electrical apprenticeship, you need the same skills you need to get into MSU. Because if you don’t have the math skills, you can’t pass the tests.

COOK-ROBINSON: We’ve started doing things a little differently. We have them in our technical centers in 11th grade. We started last year, and this was with the support of Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence (D-Southfield) and her task force that she started last year, and we went to the apprentice union and we asked that they look at changing their bylaws to move that age back to 17 again, so we could start some kids with some hands-on and do some applied mathematics, and to start teaching math in a real-world context. They piloted it last year, and we had eight students that were accepted into the union in a pre-approved apprenticeship that worked last summer, and when they finish high school, they’ll only have one year of left (of community college) to be fully apprenticed as electricians.

This year, we had 20. So we’re starting to change that, slowly.

SHANER: Part of what we’re talking about is – it’s good that we’re all aware of what is changing and how and we’re willing to change it all, but it’s awareness of the public and acceptance by the public of different pathways, and the expectations of those pathways. It’s critical.

NERAD: Another way to look at it is, who is going to rebuild these cities. If those skill sets are nurtured and developed – it has to be with the high school set today because of how much math and science goes into it today.

SHANER: The nature of the trades have changed, too. I wish the leaders would use the term ‘advanced manufacturing’ more, because they’re vastly different things. I was raised by blue collar people who were incredibly successful, by many measures, but there was something important to my parents – it was important to be educated. I think that can be done in the context of a specific skill like advanced manufacturing. I don’t want the notion of being educated from a liberal arts standpoint to be lost. Part of our responsibility is supplying a workforce – not all of it.

NERAD: It’s that nice blend between the two.

COOK-ROBINSON: What we want are secondary options.

We want options for students so we have the whole continuum.

Preschool education has been an education focus for several years, with acknowledged success. In today’s world and into the future, the report states, for children to thrive, the formal education system must now start at 4, not 5. Do you agree or disagree?

NERAD: I absolutely agree. Robert’s previous reference to kindergarten – that’s the prior first grade curriculum. If you look at the whole notion of higher standards in school, that’s one of the byproducts of that. The whole idea of getting kids into school early is really important.

SHANER: There’s a strong research base that says the earlier you get them, the better, especially in terms of poverty.

ROSS: Four is probably not early enough, especially for a lot of low-income children. Ideally, but they’re so expensive, people would like early learning centers for parents and children, that are 0-3, then 3-5, and beyond, that becomes early education.

COOK-ROBINSON: Prior to three, I would really like to see the mother/tot kind of program, where we’re learning play. I get real nervous about three- and four-year-olds sitting in rows and very formal education. Four, I’m with you, starting a more formalized kind of learning, but prior to that, it’s

Doug Ross Former state senator; Commerce Secretary and Director of Labor, Clinton Administration; started University Prep charter schools; former chief innovation officer, DPS; started and runs American Promise Schools, non-profit focused on turning around high schools in Detroit. Member of the state blueprint education commission.

Rob Shaner Superintendent, Rochester Community Schools. Came from Warren Consolidated, where he was a high school principal, teacher, assistant principal, central office administrator.

really mom-and-child doing some things together. And there’s a curriculum for that.

What about the moms who are working?

COOK ROBINSON: Moms who are working – day care.

(Some) mirror that mom/tot experience.

NERAD: If we had four-year-old kindergarten, it wouldn’t mean they would all have to be in our schools.

It could be our teachers in community centers or child care centers. And then if you can wrap around a halfday program for four-year-olds, and wrap around the child care piece on the other half-day, then you’ve got parents who are working taken care of.

How does that investment into early childhood education improve school readiness, and change the long term success rate of students? What kind of funding does that necessitate for a district? The report asserts that kindergarten assessments are needed for Michigan, as 29 other states have. Do you believe that would help in determining student placement, education needs, for readiness, and possible disability assessments?

SHANER: We do literacy assessments in kindergarten.

It’s necessary. I think it helps inform instruction. But it needs to be kept in the realm of assessment. When it gets into the world of accountability with six-year-olds, I have a problem with it.

ROSS: One of the things we ended up focusing on was how to improve the teaching and learning in the K-12 setting. One of the things we did get to is looking at the European and Asian nations we compete with, states that have been making faster progress than we have been – we’re just going to have to talk about investing more resources than we do. In real terms, we’re getting less than we had five years ago. You can’t do it on the cheap.

SHANER: To that point, I think what that report does is set priorities. It’s now up to the rest of us to talk about the how.

When you visit an Asian country, it is palpable how much education is a moral imperative because it is your only path to economic prosperity. It doesn’t matter if it’s Taiwan, Japan, or China, it’s a moral imperative.

Right now, for example, in China, they have an expanded compulsory education to ninth grade. I know – wow – ninth grade, but remember the size and scope.

The availability and the moral impetus to be educated is palpable. When you walk into a Chinese school, it is the business of education; they treat it as very important. When you look at nations that have scored well on PISA (measuring 15-year-olds educational competency worldwide) or made great improvements on PISA, like Poland, Finland’s a perennial – education in Finland is a moral imperative for that nation, and it’s not necessarily economic. It’s holistic. It’s certainly economic in China, because they’ve got to figure out what to do with their workforce as it grows and grows and grows, to maintain their economy.

ROSS: There were two things, for me, that emerged, that were the two most powerful levers of moving Michigan up internationally – one was culture. The sense that going to school, working hard, getting good grades, doing homework, calculus, is more important than cheerleading. This is how you’re going to progress; this is how you’re going to be successful.

We’re sort of ambivalent in Michigan – a little bit

Education is really about human capital development and preparing young people for bright futures.

We've got to talk about preK. We have to talk about early childhood, and we do a lot of that in our county.

because we’ve had this huge influx of both white and African Americans coming up from the very poor South, and to some degree, eastern Europe, who made a good living working with their hands. Good honest work. But we’re a little ambivalent about how important higher education is, and higher learning. You can change culture.

The other one is creating a world-class teacher force.

We pay too little. We respect it too little. Good teachers are pulled out of the classroom and into the administrative force.

One doesn’t cost money; the other one does. You change culture by changing the mindset across all of these institutions, political leadership, education leadership, business leadership, other civic leadership, ad nauseam. The only sure path to a prosperous life, to the choices and doing interesting things, is education.

Therefor your job as a child and your job as a parent is to really go at this thing. I think if we decide it’s pretty important, we as a set of communities can do it. You tend to represent three communities where there’s some of that, because you have pretty highly-educated families. But much of the state doesn’t have that.

GLASS: The other piece of this report is really talking about a student-centered approach, about a competency-based approach, connecting more with the students. If a student’s not lit up by the educational experience, it’s pretty hard to overcome a pre-existing belief system that says, “School is going to be difficult,” or “It’s not for me.” They haven’t found themselves in it, but when they have some experiences in which they start to find, where they surprise themselves in what they can learn, and can know, and can do, and start to really enjoy it and have a really great experience, that changes everything. That’s a big piece of the culture.

It’s a big piece in how we move the state forward.

The other little recognition that goes along with that is this notion of accountability. They took some big steps in here about balancing accountability. Previously they were talking about improving it, and it kind of backfired. If you’re a teacher, or a student in a system that is so uptight and concerned about performance, and accountability is with threat...

We can look at some data – it’s so helpful to look at data in a non-threatening way – that’s continuous improvement. But when you look at it, and everything’s on the line, you as a learner, as a school, as a teacher, and your valuation system is tightly wound with that, what ends up happening with that is you play it safe.

You don’t want to innovate. You lock yourself into a more entrenched traditional model because you can’t risk innovation because you might not have a job the next day or the next year. Or your school, or your district, might be at risk of being on some kind of list and might close. When that starts to happen, I don’t think anything really improves. At the governor’s conference, it was mentioned that Ontario’s one place that’s done really good work around systems. And what they found is that Ontario never had to close any schools, because they just worked with it. I see elements of that in here. I find that very encouraging.

Over the next decade, the report recommends that Michigan should move its education system towards a competency-based model, which focuses on a student’s demonstration of desired learning outcomes as central to the learning process. It emphasizes that the focus of learning should shift towards a student’s progression through the

curriculum at their pace and depth – in essence, getting rid of grade levels, and allowing students to learn at their own pace. The report states: “Education is adapting to the child rather than forcing the child to adapt to the system. This ensures that there are no dead ends for students; they master all content, are consistently engaged in their learning, and develop skills needed for the 21st century economy.” That sounds ideal – and idealistic – but with a full classroom, what does that mean for a teacher, and how can that be accomplished?

ROSS: In part, that is where technology will play a role.

Even when you get something like Read 180 (a reading comprehension tool), you can break into small groups, another group is working on an interactive computer program, another is working with the teacher. We haven’t quite figured out how to work with technology, but we’re going to have to.

SHANER: I would agree with that, but the thing that concerns me is that some of that would take the place of a highly-skilled teacher with a strong relationship with children. What teachers do in a classroom every day with children is every bit as important, or more important, than practicing medicine. And until we culturally understand that, we can talk about all this, which is great, but that’s the only way that realization will set that as a priority, and put the resources behind that priority.

NERAD: What the standards asserted – as developed by the professional groups – are what young people should know and be able to do. You have to have that as a foundation before you can make decisions about how you move kids through a system. Then you can look, ‘Does that child have that skill set right now?

What else might be needed for that child?’ We’ve got to be able to get that into the hands of professional educators that are really focused on children and on knowing a progression of learning skills on a 13-year, pre-K-12 at least.

ROSS: And get the legislature out of it.

NERAD: What I’m worried is, we’re not going to be able to get to whole system kind of conversations – things like competency-based – if we’re still arguing about what kids should learn in second grade. The professions have weighed in heavily on what that should be. And that work should be respected.

We have examples in our district of multi-age classrooms, which is mixing kids, typically at third, fourth grade. That can blur the lines too, because if I’m in third grade, but ready for that fourth grade math curriculum, I’m in that class.

GLASS: I think it’s a mindset, too. It’s about accommodating the needs of the child first. Individual teachers can do it in our current systems – and do it very successfully in fully-graded schools. They look at that child as an individual and say, ‘Who are they?

What do they need to be successful? How do I adapt what I do to meet their needs?’ and when you take that mindset, you can really do quite a bit without having to change grade level systems. You can change grade level systems, as well. Those are local decisions, I think. But when you’re talking about a system, and you’re talking about what Michigan’s going to be all about – then it’s a conversation about is the Department of Education empowered, and properly help with the ISDs, (intermediate school districts) properly help us with experts in how you do this stuff,

To get one of our students into an electrical apprenticeship, you need the same skills you need to get into MSU.

Awareness of the public and acceptance by the public of different pathways, and the expectations of those pathways. It’s critical.

so you’re able to get conversations going about best practices for doing this.

ROSS: When we looked at other countries, as well as some of the states, the other countries all had ministries of education; were highly-professional, very respected, and were constantly working to identify effective ways in teaching and learning, and had a major hand in shaping teaching and learning.

SHANER: If you think about Ontario, they set priorities and they left them alone for 10 years. Let them pursue those priorities.

ROSS: Here, first of all, we’re pretty fragmented, nobody has much scale to do that, and the Michigan Department of Education is largely a test-giving compliance agency. One of the major recommendations is we need to create that resource, otherwise how do you share that learning?

One of the biggest issues that I see consistently is with the legislature – the bifurcation and the funding in the state, between southeast Michigan and western Michigan, whether it’s talking to several of our legislators, or legislators on the other side of the state – and there’s a very different focus.

ROSS: The legislature – and I’m a former legislator, and I recognize I regularly opined on things I knew nothing about, including education – it’s more partisan now, but the reality is, and there are some exceptions, so many issues being debated are crazy. It’s crazy stuff. I think all of this opt-out stuff or changing the tests comps or...

COOK-ROBINSON: Third grade reading bill...

ROSS: Yeah. It’s stuff that doesn’t reflect any knowledge of educating kids.

SHANER: It lacks so much system-ness, to coin a term.

ROSS: And they get into, rather than governing, they get into managing. Micromanaging. It’s probably going to take, I think, a strong governor and the education community organizing more effectively to try to push them back to that. Because as long as they’re changing standards every two years, we have no standards. Term limits were very disruptive.

NERAD: You couple that with what the enrollment looks like in ed schools today – it’s not good. Education needs to be viewed as a profession of first choice. And obviously there’s a lot of 19-year-olds, 20-year-olds, who are opting out now. Why is that happening?

Teaching jobs are demanding, very hard job, complicated kids, expectation of community – it’s hard stuff. But we’ve got to create – and hopefully some of these recommendations will create – a system of support to launch people in careers and support them when they’re in.

ROSS: That really emerged as huge. We need to be recruiting college-going high school kids from the top quarter of their class. You need about five years working with them in a school at a lower wage, and then you need to start earning the same as anyone who’s put in five years of college – an engineer, a CPA, and see how you can get up to an upper middle class income while staying in the classroom. That would communicate that we value them.

GLASS: I’ve heard this narrative that we can’t get qualified people, it’s not just teachers. I tend to look at the fundamental disrespectful, or rude, assertion that teachers aren’t doing the job, they are the reason we are in this situation. It’s really misplaced. That more

than anything, when you couple things, that is the tipping point that says, if I’m not going to have some basic respect and be supported then I’m going to look for something else.

SHANER: I couldn’t agree more. You keep the focus on kids, and less on the adult, petty jealousies and issues that come up, we would probably be able to educate children on a much higher level and far less expensively. We lack system-ness and we lack focus, and I don’t mean as a profession, I mean as a society, whether in Michigan or anyplace else.

There are currently 540 traditional school districts in the state, 302 charter schools, and 56 intermediate school districts. However, enrollment has been in a decline, with nearly two-thirds of districts experiencing a decline – 13 percent since 2002-2003 – creating significant financial challenges because funding is tied to the number of students served. A recommendation in the report is to have local school districts consolidate, as they have in many other states, which would save money and allow districts to more efficiently provide services.

It also says that Michigan needs to rename, reconfigure and reassign the tasks intermediate school districts do in order to enable the highquality and economically efficient delivery of services to students. As superintendents of local districts and the ISD, what are your thoughts, and why, or how, would you help accomplish this?

NERAD: Efficiencies are important, but we also have to be mindful that people in communities want to have conversations with people on locally-elected school boards, too. These entities were created a long time ago as proud, local institutions. There are numerous ways we can get at greater efficiencies – I’m not saying that consolidation in some instances shouldn’t be looked at.

GLASS: I think you just can’t underestimate the politics of consolidation. In other words, you can have a lot of good reasons, but there’s nothing in the system that incentivizes a thoughtful way to do that. Dan (Nerad) and I could have a conversation, and our boards could have a conversation, and we could agree that it makes so much sense – same with any of our districts – and we do have a lot of conversations, share a lot of ideas, we work together – look at trying to merge our two high schools. It isn’t always about what makes sense or what is logical. It becomes about that emotional component and that identity and the fear of the unknown.

One of the things highlighted that I appreciated – it doesn’t go into detail in the report about how you incentivize it – there can be financial incentives or other kinds to make it happen where it makes sense.

And you’d see districts doing that. Other than that, you’d have to impose it. I’m not advocating that that occur. It would have to be some kind of a governmental decision at a higher level. And I question the efficiencies – I think they’re overrated. Whenever there’s that kind of disruption, there’s a suspension of productivity in the short run.

SHANER: And the million-dollar question is, or billiondollar question, what size is the right size? I have grave concerns about creating massive, countywide school districts (like in Florida). When a parent has a complaint about a ride on a bus, who do they call, and how are they attended to? Do they feel satisfied that

I tend to look at the fundamental disrespectful, or rude, assertion that teachers aren’t doing the job, they are the reason we are in this situation.

You keep the focus on kids, and less on the adult, petty jealousies and issues that come up, we would probably be able to educate children on a much higher level...

someone heard them, and someone will attend to their child. Some of the disparities in a district where you can have abject poverty and extreme affluence. How you make that an equitable opportunity for all students is something I wrestle with. I happen to believe there is something fundamentally right about having a locallyelected board of education. It’s a foundation of a political unit in the United States.

COOK-ROBINSON: I completely agree.

ROSS: I have reservations. In too many places, boards become small and petty, not knowledgeable, put pressure for the wrong sorts of things, do not provide high quality governance to the district. In fact, often the challenge is for a very good superintendent to figure out how to manage the board; whereas ideally a good board manages between priorities and supporting, but gets out of the schools, gets out of all of that.

SHANER: I am uniquely blessed – I truly am. I think we’re a great example of what a school board should be and what governance looks like.

ROSS: Administratively, (consolidation) has economies of scale. But high schools – especially low income, I don’t think they should be larger than 500 students.

COOK-ROBINSON: I’m glad to hear you say that, because as I hear this conversation, like about Florida, where they have county schools – I do not see a county school in this region. I think you start to lose – you talk about personalized learning, which is one of the elements here – I think it’s very impersonal when scale starts to be too big. The question is, what is the right size and still have economies of scale. I think that’s the issue that we have to rassle.

SHANER: And having that discussion in a forum that’s not politicized, that’s the challenge.

NERAD: I too, have had the benefit of working with school board members that are true stewards of the community. As I look out into the community where I serve, people out there have a lot of pride in the Birmingham Public Schools. When they send their children to school, it’s with the hope that they’re getting the best education possible, with the commitment to work with us.

ROSS: One of the things that drove this was an urgency in respect to overall performance of the system. The struggles of Detroit, and others have been known – the fact that if an African American had been educated in Mississippi they’d do marginally better than if they lived here I find very distressing. But non-poor white kids compared to their peers in other states – we were 48th.

It may be, with upper middle class kids, like your districts – if Birmingham were a nation, you’d rank pretty high. But a lot of the other communities in Macomb, Oakland, and western Wayne, don’t.

NERAD: Now you’re really putting the elephant in the room, which is, what’s the difference between those places. Some of it is in those people’s commitment to education, but poverty is a dis-equalizer for kids. When you have higher poverty, it’s not that we don’t have a responsibility to take the kids every day as far as they can possibly get, but it seems to me we’re not willing to have that conversation as a society. You look at kindergarten, going back to the beginning, the difference in words that some children come into kindergarten with compared to the kids in Birmingham...

COOK-ROBINSON: 5,000 words, children in poverty; 11,005 in children like these.

ROSS: Our middle class kids, regardless of race, it’s not that they’ve gotten particularly worse, it’s that others have improved faster.

GLASS: It really comes down to an educational system difference. And frankly, a disinvestment. You can argue that the pensions are eating a greater percentage of the budget, but that doesn’t educate students, and that’s not something that school districts created. That is a governmental/legislative issue.

ROSS: We have to face up to that. And there isn’t a sense of urgency. I don’t think most middle class parents, if you said, ‘How’s your child doing?’ ‘They’re doing great.’

NERAD: I don’t think many of us would argue against improvement. The question is – what is that improvement that will leverage the right kind of education for children? An ‘initiative of the month’ will not do it. In places like Ontario, that had designed a province system – what are the right things to have in place to get the right outcomes – is where I think, we have fallen short.

SHANER: Ten years ago, Ontario started two initiatives: literacy and numeracy. That is what they were going to be good in. We are going to make sure our kids can read and perform in math at a very high level. That will enable them to do great things in other disciplines.

GLASS: Everyone at the classroom level could articulate that and really understood that focus. We tend to not have that focus.

Funding has historically been challenging – especially since 1994, when the school funding model was changed and no longer tied to property taxes. To enact the changes in this education blueprint would come to approximately $2 billion, which would need to be appropriated from the Michigan legislature.

How likely would that be? What priorities do you see, and what do you feel is unnecessary, or less than necessary? How do you convince local legislators their district – you – would benefit, while they’re concerned about reelection?

COOK-ROBINSON: I think the first thing we have to do is go back and look at the Michigan Adequacy Study that was conducted. It was an excellent, excellent start, but we didn’t have a comprehensive data set. I think most educators would agree if we said that our funding system is broken. Most of the adequacy studies that have been done around the country used at least two or more to look at that iterated reliability. There is a project, through the Oakland Schools Education Foundation, not Oakland Schools, the school finance collaborative, is looking at using private funding and a grant from the Kellogg Foundation to complete that comprehensive data set, because as you know, the original study looked at about $8,817 per student with about 3 percent increase per English Language Learners and 4 percent for students that have challenges.

For example, the school district for the city of Pontiac has 30 percent of its students that are English Language Learners. That impacts how you learn.

We want to complete that data for the legislators so we can have an accurate sense of what resources are needed per student. That’s going to vary per region. Until we find out what those resources are and what it takes to educate a child per region – because it’s a little different when you go up north, in the Upper Peninsula, than down here in southeastern Michigan, it’s hard to talk to legislators how do we do that, and how much money do we need.

ROSS: The school aid fund is what – $14 billion? We kind of guessed at some of these numbers broadly. So if you said you needed another $2 billion more, that’s 14-15

You can argue that the pensions are eating a greater percentage of the budget, but that doesn’t educate students, and that’s not something school districts created.

Over a couple of years, to increase education spending another 14-15 percent sounds right.

Right now, we reduce it every year it seems – we go backwards.

percent. Over a couple of years, to increase education spending another 14-15 percent sounds right. Right now, we reduce it every year it seems – we go backwards.

COOK-ROBINSON: And if we had not reduced down to where we are, we’d be a lot closer, and that number would be smaller.

We have to keep in mind that the legislature has reduced what’s coming to these classrooms over the last five to 10 years. Dramatically.

GLASS: I think this report really did a nice job of actually estimating what each cost was, so you can have a menu of priorities – what should we attack first.

Should it be early childhood education? They noted it’s a long-term investment, it’s hard to be patient. But it goes back to other countries, where they have a mindset of this is really important, and we’re going to spend a lot of money on it, because in the long run it’s going to give us really good outcomes, maybe even save us money.

We have two really important things: first, we can understand the real cost from a data perspective, an unbiased perspective. Then you have, for those who say just throwing money at things, which it’s not, you have a pretty nice blueprint, and you put those two things together, and if you have creative leadership and people coming together, you have ingredients to make really good decisions.

What will the questions be that will emerge politically because none of us have all the levers to make this happen?

Is Michigan ready for an education revolution, or does it just need to be tweaked? How do you convince all of the constituents – parents, teachers, unions, legislators, lobbyists – that this is in the long term best interest of everyone, but especially students, when every few years there is a new education reform, such as Common Core, that is then discarded a couple of years later, and this is not another thing that will be discarded?

ROSS: We said there was a kind of urgent optimism. The urgency was, we’re in trouble. The optimism, other people have done it. Ontario is an example – if you pick some reasonable goals, and you stick with them and focus on it, you can get somewhere. We have had no steady focus. We don’t have a strategy.

GLASS: A lot of what gets in our way is the mechanism – the reporting, the funding, the systemness, the ability not to get gridlocked between the three bodies – the governor’s office, the legislature, and the Michigan Departure of Education. They have so much shared authority that nobody has authority.

NERAD: My priority remains, what can we do to improve learning for kids in classrooms. There’s a variety of governance models, and what I worry about is that ends up being the priority focus, and we’re not going to get to the things that make a difference for children.

We need to get adults in classrooms and be more bipartisan and have more discussions about improving the lives of children.

SHANER: We have a legislature that doesn’t understand the context of the problem.

Scan for audio ROSS: We have to have both people education roundtable who run for governor put this on interview. their agenda.

Tom Zibkowski Realty Executives Midwest

586-532-6700 Ex 114

Tom@TomZibkowski.com www.TomZibkowski.com

When Experience Counts. Over 4,000 Closed Home Sales Since 1982 DESIGNER SHOWCASE COLONIAL WITH FINISHED WALKOUT ON ALMOST 1/2 ACRE

STATELY COLONIAL WITH FINISHED WALKOUT

Stunning designer showcase colonial w/finished walkout on almost 1/2 acre private lot. Features over 7,000 sq. ft. of finely appointed living area, all high end finishes throughout, gourmet island kitchen w/all commercial grade built-in appliances, dual staircase w/wrought iron, over-sized 4.5-car garage, finished walkout features wine room, theatre room, entertainers wet bar and exercise room. Solarium room off kitchen and conservatory on side of the house. 6425 Adams Drive, Washington Twp, $949,900

Colonial with finished walkout. Home features over 8,500 sq. ft. Exquisite marble and granite floors throughout the entire 1st two floors. Exterior features include extensive landscaping and terraced patios backing to waterfall. Very private lot backing to golf course.

2831 Cranbrook Ridge Court, Oakland Twp $1,575,000.

1 1/2 STORY ON 3/4 ACRE WOODED LOT + 3/4 ACRE POND LOT

1 1/2 STORY W/ FINISHED BASEMENT & BUILT-IN GUNITE SALT WATER SWIMMING POOL

1 1/2 story home on 3/4 acre wooded lot. Has a newer kitchen with granite counter tops & stainless steel appliances. 2 bedrooms upstairs share jack and jill bathroom, huge composite deck overlooking large private pie-shaped treed yard, and nicely landscaped. This is truly a one of a kind setting. 5941 Hunter's Ridge Drive, Washington Twp $414,900

1 1/2 story w/finished basement & built-in gunite salt water swimming pool in the exclusive gated community of Manchester Estates. Home features all high end finishes throughout, large 1st floor owners suite w/ luxury digital steam bath, gourmet kitchen w/built-in commercial grade appliances, finished lower level features entertainer's night club style wet bar, home theatre area w/state-of-the-art surroundsound, awesome salt water swimming pool and hot tub. 19910 Westchester Drive, Clinton Twp $949,900.

LAKEFRONT COLONIAL ON A 200' LOT ON LAKE ST. CLAIR

BEAUTIFUL COLONIAL W/FINISHED WALKOUT ON THE EAST SHORE OF 90 ACRE SPRING LAKE

Lakefront colonial on a 200' deep lot on Lake St Clair, spectacular waterfront views, , steel sea wall, boat hoist & davit, gourmet island kitchen w/ built-in appliances, large bar area between kitchen & great room, awesome owners suite with his & hers large walk-in closets, luxurious white marble bath & walks out to private balcony overlooking lake, 4 balconies, large brick paver patio with built in gas fireplace, 3 car oversized garage, extensive landscaping, and fenced yard. 37600 Lakeshore Drive, Harrison Twp $1,190,000.

Fantastic lake views from the wall of windows in this beautiful colonial w/finished walkout basement on the east shore of 90 acre Spring Lake. Large island kitchen w/ maple cabinets, granite counter tops & stainless steel appliances, finished basement is wide open w/2nd half, huge maintenance-free composite deck overlooking lake, large owners suite w/gorgeous views and beautiful wide plank flooring in great room. Lawn sprinklers run off lake, no gas powered motors allowed, and great for fishing. 51425 Merry Lane, Shelby Twp $679,900.

BEAUTIFUL COLONIAL W/ FINISHED WALKOUT TO A PRIVATE WOODED 3+ ACRE LOT

A RARE FIND 12 ACRE PRIVATE ESTATE - OAKLAND TWP

Absolute privacy in this excellent condition colonial w/fully finished walkout basement to a private wooded 3+ acre lot, Brazillian cherry floors throughout most of 1st floor, gourmet island kitchen w/stainless steel appliances, awesome garage space w/2.5-car attached garage & over-sized 2.5-car detached garage, huge owners suite, large 2nd floor laundry, 2nd fireplace & wet bar in finished walkout basement, huge 24' x 25' covered deck w/covered patio below, formal dining room w/butler’s pantry, great home to raise a family!! 71604 East Pond Creek Drive, Bruce Twp $639,900

Private 12 Acre French Country Manor featuring 12,000 sq. ft. of finely appointed living area.

Featuring terraced patios leading to parterre gardens adjoining built-in swimming pool.

Helipad provides convenience to land helicopter in backyard and store in state-of-the-art hangar, entertainers gourmet kitchen, finished walkout features lap pool & gaming areas.

5350 Brewster, Rochester Hills $5,725,000.

Tom@TomZibkowski.com www.TomZibkowski.com

Tom Zibkowski Realty Executives Midwest

586-532-6700 Ex 114

When Experience Counts. Over 4,000 Closed Home Sales Since 1982 ROCHESTER HILLS PRIVATE GATED COMMUNITY

THE WHITE HOUSE OF HARSENS ISLAND

Stunning Estate Home with finished walkout to built in pool on private 1 1/2 acre lot backing to Stoney Creek, garage parking for 6 cars, plus covered parking for 4 more cars, over 10,000 square feet of finely appointed living area located at 6532 Cornerstone Lane Rochester, MI 48306 Offered at $1,299,000

Once in a lifetime opportunity! The White House of Harsens Island!! Spectacular cottage-chic renovated fully furnished 5,100 sq. ft. home on the North Channel. Elevator services all 3 floors, 2 full bath attached carriage house apartment, home was originally built in 1887 and complete renovation done in 2008. 100' of water frontage with dock and sandy beach for swimming, very private back yard, screened in gazebo, this is a great family retreat that is ready for immediate possession. 1250 Circuit, Harsens Island $1,849,000.

16 ACRES OF ABSOLUTE PRIVACY / MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER

1 1/2 STORY DECORATOR SHOWCASE HOME WITH 4.5 CAR GARAGE ON 1 ACRE LOT

Private, wooded, 16 acre gated estate. European style villa, featuring over 10,000 square feet, indoor swimming pool & sauna, elevator servicing all 3 levels, oversized heated garage with huge work shop, waterfall at entrance, 2 laundry rooms, partial kitchen in lower level, and second laundry rooms/ main floor and lower level. The list of amenities is incredible.

1700 Schilling Lane, Oakland Twp $1,499,900.

1 1/2 Story home with 4.5 car garage on 1 acre lot. Home features, gourmet island kitchen with large breakfast nook and built in commercial grade stainless steel appliances, fireplace in large great room and kitchen, wrought iron staircase with bridge overlooking foyer, finished bonus room offers additional office/study, craft room, or bedroom space, large cement patio that is overlooking over 1 acre lot. 61614 Cotswold, Washington Twp $969,900.

5,200 SQUARE FOOT RANCH IN VILLA DI FIORE

5,200 SQ. FT. COLONIAL W/ WALKOUT BASEMENT TO WOODED RAVINE

Sprawling custom built ranch in highly sought after Villa Di Fiore Subdivision,750 Square Feet owners suite with sauna, immediate possession offered at $549,900, Located at 37502 Fiore Trail Clinton Twp, MI 48306

Stunning Model Show Condition 5,200 sq. ft. colonial w/walkout basement to wooded ravine, 4.5-car garage, granite counters throughout, custom trim & moldings, 2-way fireplace between library and family room, dual staircases, pub room with wet bar between great room and dining room, large owners suite with huge walk-in closet and luxurious bath, large cedar deck backing to a wooded ravine located in Clear Creek Subdivision. 877 Quarry, Rochester Hills $899,900.

5 BEDROOM COLONIAL WITH FINISHED WALKOUT

4,400 SQ. FT. COLONIAL ON A LARGE LOT IN THE EXCLUSIVE VILLA DIFIORE COMMUNITY

5 bedroom colonial with finished walkout basement. Home features a newly remodeled gourmet kitchen with Lafata cabinetry, built-in stainless steel appliances, designer granite backsplash, and huge island. Over 7,000 square feet of finely appointed living area.

Hardwood flooring throughout the entire first floor, awesome owner's suite with remodeled designer bath, and 4.5 car garage. 180 Londonderry Lane, Oakland Twp, $599,900

Exceptionally well maintained original owner 4,400 sq. ft. colonial on a large lot in the exclusive Villa DiFiore Community. Home features a dual circular staircase in large entry foyer, beautiful dark stained woodwork & cabinetry throughout home, 2 fireplaces, gourmet island kitchen that's great for entertaining, private wet bar off family room, natural gas back-up generator system, new roof 2011, new furnace & central air 2009, circular driveway, professionally landscaped, and huge composite maintenance-free deck. 17783 Gardenia Lane, Clinton Twp $624,900

Terri Orbuch nown as The Love Doctor, Terri Orbuch is a relationship expert who has become a nationally recognized author, speaker and therapist while working as a sociology professor for nearly 20 years at Oakland University in Rochester Hills.

"I try to take practical, science-based advice and bring it to the public to help people find and create the long relationships I think they deserve," she said.

In doing so, Orbuch has studied 373 couples for nearly three decades through a study that has been funded by the National Institutes of Health. Her research and studies have been used as a foundation to dozens of articles she has written, as well as six books, including "5 Simple Steps to Take Your Marriage From Good To Great," and "Finding Love Again: 6 Simple Steps To a New and Happy Relationship."

"The first book was based on couples in that popular study," Orbuch said. "The second book is about when couples get divorced or a spouse dies, and I continue to follow those individuals... 71 percent of those who divorced got re-partnered."

Orbuch has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Cosmopolitan, The Today Show and other print and television outlets. Her relationship segments are aired on FOXTV Detroit, and her PBS TV program, "Secrets From The Love Doctor," has been airing since 2013.

"I think if you're single, finding love is 100 percent possible," she said. "From my being a professor, and from going across the country and talking to single people a lot, I know that single people in the United States are very frustrated right now. They are disappointed, and many people are giving up hope. What I want to say is to not give up hope."

Orbuch said her research and that of others shows that people in happy relationships – both in friendships and romantic relationships – tend to be physically and psychologically healthier, while those feeling lonely often feel more frustrated.

"One questions I have asked is: what gives you joy or happiness in your life," she said. "Most, about 75 percent, say their relationships."

One of the keys to creating those happy relationships, she said, is to know yourself. That means assessing life values, such as the importance of religion, work ethic and other aspects that define your character. She also said people should know what they need in a relationship, rather than what they want, and be able to vocalize those needs. Failing to do the latter, she said, is the main cause of frustration in most relationships.

Despite being a relationship expert, she said her own marriage of nearly 25 years isn't always flawless.

"I don't think there is a perfect relationship. We all have the same ups and downs, and it ebbs and flows," she said. "I have to incorporate my work into my relationships, and I need to add exactly the same things that everybody does."

That, she said, became evident when research told her that men need more affirmations from their wives than women, as men tend to compliment each other less than women. After the discovery, she said she called her own husband to tell him how much she appreciates him.

"I told him 'you're wonderful and great, and my best friend, and thank you for all you do.' Then he said, 'what do you want to buy,'" she said.

K

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THREATENING PAIR: PFOA/PFOS CHEMICAL CONCERNS INTO THE FUTURE

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

pair of chemicals linked to serious health issues and used for decades to make products ranging from firefighting foam to pizza boxes is being investigated as a source of widespread contamination at military bases and drinking water systems across the country.

Best known by its initials, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), the chemicals have been used to make carpets, upholstery, food packaging, cookware and hundreds of other products.

In the United States, PFOA was used by DuPont to make Teflon, while PFOS was used by 3M to make Scotchgard. Traces of the man-made chemicals can be detected nearly everywhere in the environment and can be expected to found in everyone's blood.

A

WITH THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN RECEIVING DRINKING WATER FROM THE GREAT LAKES WATER AUTHORITY, THE EPA REQUIRED THE WATER PROVIDER IN 2009 TO TEST FOR PFOA AND PFOS. Due to health concerns, the chemicals have been mostly phased out of production by manufacturers in the United States. But because the chemicals take years to breakdown in the environment and people's bodies, PFOA and PFOS are expected to be chemicals of concern well into the future. ational water sampling directed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2013 and 2014 found PFOA and/or PFOS in 52 public water systems in 19 states at levels exceeding federal water advisory limits.

The presence of the chemicals has been found in many more public drinking systems, including those in Ann Arbor and Plainfield Township, near Grand Rapids.

Richard Benzie, assistant chief of the Michigan Department of Environmental (DEQ) Quality Drinking Water and Municipal Assistance Water Supply Program, said the EPA advisory isn't a predictor of what the EPA could set regulation levels at in the future, if at all.

"The advisory is in no way what the drinking water standard may be," he said. "They must also consider if there is technology to treat these things, and is it cost effective."

For instance, Benzie said the drinking water standard for arsenic is "much higher than if it were based on just health."

"Michigan has a lot of naturally occurring arsenic, and the cost impact to small systems caused them to set it much higher than if it were based on just health," he said. "Those standards don't mean there's no risk at a lower level."

The DEQ adheres to the EPA's drinking water advisory levels for drinking water. However, the state has implemented thresholds for surface water (non-drinking water) in the state at levels of 11 parts per trillion (ppt) for PFOS and 42 ppt for PFOA. However, those levels refer to surface water concentrations, which are predominantly set for fish consumption advisories issued by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

Testing of drinking water in Michigan for PFOA and PFOS falls under the EPA's Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule, which allows the agency to issue a list of no more than 30 contaminants every five years to be monitored by public water systems serving over 10,000 people. The EPA added PFOA and PFOS in its third update of the rule. Utilities are required to report samples to the EPA that detect levels above two ppt for PFOA and above four ppt for PFOS. With the majority of residents of southeast Michigan receiving drinking water from the Great Lakes Water Authority (formerly the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department), the

N

EPA required the water provider in 2009 to test for PFOA and PFOS. Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) COO Cheryl Porter said the EPA's Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule require the GLWA to collect data and report that data to the EPA. "The Great Lakes Water Authority has been monitoring PFOA and PFOS since 2009, and is pleased to assure the public that in our latest round of screenings, done from 2014 to 2015, these chemicals tested so low they were practically undetectable at .00067 (parts per billion) and .0013 parts per billion respectively," Porter said. "PFOA and PFOS are unregulated contaminants."

Converted to parts per trillion, the GLWA findings were .67 parts per trillion for PFOA and 1.3 parts per trillion for PFOS, below both the national advisory level of 70 parts per trillion, and the state's limits for surface water.

"We take our responsibility to public health and safety seriously, and are in full support of the EPA's new health advisories, which will further ensure quality drinking water.

Additionally, GLWA can confirm that these chemicals are not a threat to our system, or our ability to continue to provide water of unsurpassed safety and quality to the region."

Removal of PFOA and PFOS from a drinking water source depends on the treatment method and the concentration of the contaminants in the source water. Conventional treatment has been shown to be largely ineffective at removal of PFCs, but studies show up to 90 percent removal is possible with certain advanced treatment techniques like activated carbon filtration, high pressure membrane filtration or anion exchange, according to the American Water Works Association.

Even in communities where the chemicals haven't been found in high concentrations, the widespread use of the chemicals makes them ubiquitous in the environment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey found PFOA and PFOS present in the blood of more than 95 percent of some 2,094 participants.

Exposure to elevated levels of the chemicals has been linked to serious health issues, including kidney and testicular cancer, low birth weight, thyroid disease, decreased sperm quality, pregnancy-induced hypertension and immunotoxicity in children. Toxicological studies in animals have linked PFOA and PFOS exposure to altered mammary gland development, reproductive and developmental toxicity, testicular cancer, obesity, immune suppression and other serious health issues.

Despite health and environmental findings, there remains a lack of enforceable drinking

water regulation at the federal level.

"It's very toxic," said Denver-based toxicologist Richard DeGrandchamp, a faculty member at the University of Colorado. "When it was being procured in large quantities, 3M and DuPont really did little work on the toxicity of the compounds."

Among his work, DeGrandchamp has been contracted by the DEQ to study contamination at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda, where the use of PFC-laden (perfluorinated compounds) firefighting foams has resulted in heavy contamination of drinking and surface water in and around the base, including the Au Sable River.

"They last forever. They don't break down and microbes don't eat them,� DeGrandchamp said.

"Once they get in your body, it takes a long time for them to be eliminated. The half-life ranges from three to seven years, but what that means in realtime is that it takes about seven half-lifes to excrete all of that out. You wouldn't be rid of it until about 40 years old."

The man-made chemicals belong to a class of perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) that aren't naturally found in the environment. Referred to more specifically, PFOA and PFOS are included in a subset of PFCs considered perfluoroalkyl substances, or PFASs. The classification refers to the chemical makeup of the compounds, which utilize a long string of carbon-flourine bonds, resulting in PFOA also being referred to as C8, for its string of eight carbon atoms.

"All of us have PFCs in our body," DeGrandchamp said. "It was used in a lot of products. It's a good water repellant and surfactant. Because they have been added to all these consumer products, our bodies are full of them, and we are finding out now how dangerous they are." sed in non-stick, stain-resistant and waterproof products because of their ability to repel water and greases, PFOA and PFOS were widely present in hundreds of industrial and commercial products over the past 50 to 60 years. Many of the dangers of PFOA and PFOS came to light following a 2001 class-action suit filed on behalf of some 50,000 residents of the region surrounding Parkersburg, West Virginia, home of DuPont's Teflon Plant. In 2005, acting on a petition from the non-profit Environmental Working Group, the EPA fined DuPont $16.5 million, and the company and others subsequently agreed to phase out PFOA and PFOS. The chemicals have been mostly phased out of production in the United States, but can still be found in products – such as fast food wrappers, clothing and a host of other consumer

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IT WAS USED IN A LOT OF PRODUCTS...BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN ADDED TO ALL THESE CONSUMER PRODUCTS, OUR BODIES ARE FULL OF THEM, AND WE ARE FINDING OUT NOW HOW DANGEROUS THEY ARE. products – imported from manufacturers outside the country. The chemicals also are used in some applications, such as hydraulic fluids and other industrial uses where a replacement hasn't yet been developed.

In January of 2009, the EPA tested sites in Alabama where sewage sludge converted to fertilizer, or biosolids, were applied to agricultural lands where elevated levels of PFOA and PFOS were found. The sewage, according to the EPA, was from a wastewater treatment plant that receives water from numerous industrial sources, including facilities that manufacture the chemicals. Later that year, the EPA published provisional health advisories for the chemicals in regard to their presence in drinking water, with levels set at 200 ppt for PFOS and 400 ppt for PFOA. In Alabama, a class-action suit was filed against Minnesota-based 3M, the primary producer of the chemicals. The Minnesota attorney general in 2010 also filed suit against 3M on behalf of the people of that state, alleging the company contaminated more than 100 square miles near its plant in Cottage Grove, Minnesota. In February 2017, DuPont and Chemours agreed to pay $671 million to settle about 3,500 lawsuits from West Virginia and Ohio residents, whose drinking water was contaminated by PFOA produced at the Parkersburg plant The EPA in May of 2016 replaced the 2009 figures with new, lifetime health advisories that combined the two chemicals and set a 70 ppt advisory level for both contaminants. To put the levels in perspective, one part per trillion is equivalent to about one grain of sand in an Olympic-size swimming pool.

DeGrandchamp said he believes the levels set by the EPA in 2016 are still too high.

"I'm not real happy with what the EPA did there. I think (the advisory levels) are too high," he said. "The endpoints they looked at didn't include cancer. I think the EPA was under a great deal of pressure just to get something in place so that they would feel comfortable with something in place. States like New Jersey are about 10 times less than what the EPA set. I'm not sure the EPA will re-evaluate that, especially with (President) Trump in office."

The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Water and Geoscience said in February that PFOA was found in 78 percent of 23 drinking water systems tested in that state, albeit at very low levels. The state subsequently set the lifetime exposure levels of PFOA at 4 parts per trillion.

The EPA states that the updated health advisory levels were calculated based on the drinking water intake of lactating women, who drink more than other people and can pass

chemicals along to nursing infants. The levels were also based on the exposure to the chemicals for 70 years drinking two liters of drinking water per day. The advisory assumes 20 percent of exposure to the chemicals comes from drinking water and 80 percent come from nondrinking water sources, such as the environment and exposure to products containing the chemicals. ublic drinking water systems that discover levels of PFOS and/or PFOA above 70 ppt are advised to undertake additional sampling, inform their state drinking water safety agency, which would be the DEQ in Michigan, and determine the best way to proceed with additional sampling. System operators are also advised by the EPA to notify the public of the elevated levels and potential health risks. However, because the recommendations are only advisories, there is yet to be any requirements to address PFOS or PFOA at the federal level. Still, drinking water systems serving large populations must monitor for the chemicals under the Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule.

While the EPA hasn't created national primary drinking water regulations for PFOA and PFOS, the agency states it is evaluating the chemicals as drinking water contaminants, in accordance with the Safe Drinking Water Act. In order to regulate a contaminant under the act, the EPA must find it; may have adverse health effects; occurs frequently at levels of public health concern; and there is a meaningful opportunity for health risk reduction for people served by public water systems.

The EPA's Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule requires periodic testing of drinking water systems for contaminants of concern, but don't have enforceable water quality standards. Sampling under the rule from 2013 to 2015 found no detectable PFOA or PFOS in 105 drinking water samples in Oakland County. However, those samples don't include those in the county on private drinking wells, nor smaller municipal systems such as those which serve a portion of the city of Rochester.

Rochester Department of Public Works Director Shannon Filarecki said the city isn't required to test for PFOA or PFOS in its drinking water system. Rochester receives drinking water from both the GLWA and publicly-maintained wells.

Testing in Macomb County returned no results above reporting levels for 37 samples. In Wayne County, 95 samples were tested, with zero found to be above reporting levels. In total, three samples taken in Michigan were at or above the reporting levels in 2013 and 2014,

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which included those in Plainfield Township and Ann Arbor.

Water samples collected in Plainfield Township, just north of Grand Rapids, in June of 2013, detected PFOS at 50 parts per trillion.

Samples in September of 2014 detected levels at 60 parts per trillion. The contamination, while not above the previous health advisory levels set by the EPA, nor the updated lifetime advisory levels set in 2016, still caused enough concern that a source well where the contamination was found was shut down in order to lower levels.

The contamination was later traced to a contamination leaching from a shuttered landfill about two miles from the contaminated well.

"In Plainfield, they used enough wells that they are able to minimize it and not use the wells where it was found, but they did lose some redundancy," Benzie said. "They are also looking at the source and what they can do to remedy that."

In Ann Arbor, samples for PFOS in March of 2014 were detected at 43 parts per trillion.

Benzie said that contamination was traced to the Huron River, which provides the city's water system with 80 to 90 percent of its drinking water. While additional testing at other drinking water sources detected PFOS, the levels were far below that of the 43 parts per trillion detected in the water in 2014.

"We are below the advisory levels in Ann Arbor, but because there's an advisory and there is a chemical, we decided to do some additional monitoring, even though we aren't required," said Brian Steglitz, manager of water treatment services for the city. "We go to the intake, which is the Huron River. It's not like some systems, like in Plainfield where they have multiple wells.

We have a blended source of water. We have surface water and wells. That's a single source, and we can't turn off the river." teglitz said no one has been able to identify the source of contamination in the river, which starts at Kent Lake in the Milford area of Oakland County and initially flows in a southwesterly direction through Livingston and Washtenaw counties and then back in a southeasterly direction into Wayne County where it eventually dumps into Lake Erie.

"We don't really know where it's coming from," he said. "It's probably not a singular source. It's probably coming from upstream."

Using information from the EPA's Unregulated Contaminants Monitoring Rule sampling scientists found in each additional military site within a watershed is associated with a 35 percent increase of PFOS detection in drinking water, and a 10 percent increase of PFOA. The study found an 81 percent increase

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ROCHESTER DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR SHANNON FILARECKI SAID THE CITY ISN'T REQUIRED TO TEST FOR PFOA OR PFOS IN ITS DRINKING WATER SYSTEM WHICH INCLUDES PUBLICLY-MAINTAINED WELLS. in PFOA contamination in watersheds where industrial sites were located where the chemicals were produced or used. The study also found a "small but significant" increase in PFOS and PFOA – about two percent – for each wastewater treatment plant located in a watershed. However, scientists said the number of wastewater treatment plants may also be an indicator for other population-driven sources of the chemicals. hemist and nanotechnology researcher David Andrews, who serves as senior scientist for the non-profit Environmental Working Group and who contributed to the study, said more work needs to be done to identify sources of contamination.

The group is also pushing for the EPA to set national regulations that go beyond an advisory.

"There's no great mechanism in tracking where these chemicals were used or disposed of, and a very small quantity can contaminate groundwater sources. We do have some information on identifying some locations where they may be," Andrews said, referencing the 2016 study. "It comes down to having to look at individual assessments and finding those sources."

As scientists and health experts learn more about PFOA, PFOS and related chemicals, the more evidence they find that the chemicals may pose a threat to health at very low levels, Andrews said. Further, he said current testing methods allow for detection of more than a dozen chemicals. However, because EPA reporting requirements only call for a limited number of compounds, the agency is "needlessly throwing away information on the chemicals that would help identify sources."

Despite the push to expand drinking water standards, Andrews said federal regulations are falling decades behind the discovery of chemicals scientists know are occurring.

"One of the most telling points is that the amendments to the Safe Drinking Water Act were passed in 1996, and since then, the EPA hasn't been able to set new standards," he said.

"It's seems unlikely with the current political environment in Washington, but it wasn't moving quickly before."

In addition to elevated levels of PFOA and PFOS in Michigan found in Ann Arbor and Plainfield Township, the highest levels of contamination have been found at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base, in Oscoda, where the chemical contamination has entered drinking water wells near the base. That contamination is directly related to Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF) that was used during training exercises and emergency response situations at the base.

Work on Michigan's surface water limits

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began in 2001, when the DEQ sampled surface water from rivers in different parts of the state for presence of PFOA and FPOS. The sampling was conducted because PFCs had been found at elevated levels in water, fish and wildlife in Minnesota and other areas of the country, indicating the compounds might be emerging contaminants of concern. The DEQ said results from those tests showed the levels of PFOS and PFOA in state surface waters at the time "were not a statewide concern."

About a decade later, the DEQ's Remediation and Redevelopment Division and state toxicologists began assessing PFOS and PFOA found at the former Wurtsmith base in Oscoda, which the state has confirmed was due to firefighting foams used at the base that contained the compounds. Groundwater at the site that was contaminated by the foams flowed into the nearby Au Sable River via Clark's Marsh.

Michigan's surface water levels were set largely due to the ability for the chemicals to build up in fish tissue in contaminated waterways.

As the national drinking water advisory level assumes a person consumes two liters of water a day, the non-drinking water level assumes a person consumes .01 liters of surface water while recreating and 15 grams of fish per day over a lifetime, said Dennis Bush, toxicologist manager with the DEQ's Water Resources Division. Because PFOS builds up in fish tissue to a much higher degree than PFOA, Bush said the limits for PFOS is much lower than that of PFOA. While Michigan's limits on PFOA and PFOS relate to water, the limits were constructed in large part with that water's impact on fish in mind.

"I don't believe there are any surface water data for PFOS or PFOA at drinking water intakes. However, it's noteworthy that the concentrations of PFOS and PFOA that have been measured in surface waters – except for samples collected at Clark's Marsh in Oscoda – are below the EPA's health advisory," Bush said.

"Keep in mind that the EPA health advisory doesn't apply to surface water, but to finished drinking water. Because the ability of PFOS to build up in fish tissue, one of the most important potential sources of exposure to PFCs is from surface water perspective is the consumption of fish."

Fish samples were sent by the DEQ to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services for testing, which revealed extremely high levels of PFOS in filet samples of bluegill and pumpkinseed fish collected from Clark's Marsh. The findings resulted in the state health department to issue a "Do Not Eat" fish consumption advisory for the both the marsh

and the nearby lower Au Sable River.

The findings led to additional sampling of fish and surface water in some areas of the state, including the Flint, Kalamazoo, Muskegon, Saginaw, St. Joseph, Thunder Bay and Tahquamenon rivers in 2013 and 2014. PFOS was detected in water samples in nine of 12 sites, ranging from 1.4 to 50.7 nanograms per liter. Concentrations at Clark's Marsh in Oscoda were found to be 5,099 nanograms per liter, with concentrations in the Flint River the highest behind those in Oscoda.

Levels of PFOA were found in all samples, with the exception of the Tehquamenon River, with the geometric mean concentration ranging from 1 – 4.3 nanograms per liter, compared to PFOA levels at Clark's Marsh of 1,309 nanograms per liter. PFOA concentrations outside of Clark's Marsh were highest in the Kalamazoo, Flint and Saginaw rivers. esting of 447 fish filets collected between 2010 and 2013 detected PFOS in nearly all those analyzed, with the highest concentrations found in fish from Clark's Marsh, with concentrations ranging from 3,170 to 9,580 micrograms per kilogram. The second highest concentrations were found in fish from the Flint River, where smallmouth bass had a mean concentration of 132.1 micrograms per kilogram. PFOA was found in 17 percent of all fish, but only in samples from the Saginaw and Thunder Bay rivers.

The testing shows contamination may be found throughout the state, particularly in areas in more urban settings, concentrations of PFOA and PFOS are significantly higher near military installations where firefighting foam was used.

"You can clearly see the signal when you see the firefighting foams," said Robert Delaney, Defense and State Memorandum of Agreement Coordinator for the DEQ's Remediation and Redevelopment Division. "We can see that for certain."

Former Air Force veteran James Bussey believes neuropathy in his legs and hands, chronic liver disease and other serious health issues he suffers from were caused by chemicals he was exposed to during his time stationed at the former Wurtsmith Air Force Base in Oscoda.

"There are many people that are suffering from the same things that I'm suffering from," Bussey said during a May 1, 2017, news segment on MSNBC. "At my old base, we have a group of over 800 people now, and it's all very similar."

The group, Veterans & Civilians Clean Water Alliance, organized after the state discovered chemical contamination from firefighting foam used at the base was first confirmed in 2010.

The state issued health advisories after it was

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AMENDMENTS TO THE SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT WERE PASSED IN 1996, AND SINCE THEN, THE EPA HASN'T BEEN ABLE TO SET NEW STANDARDS. IT SEEMS UNLIKELY WITH THE CURRENT POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT IN WASHINGTON. discovered the chemicals leached into the groundwater and contaminated drinking water, as well as nearby surface water, including the Au Sable River.

The clean water group recently began working with environmental activist Erin Brockovich, who appeared with Bussey on Greta Van Susteren's MSNBC show, "For The Record" to talk about contamination at Wurtsmith and dozens of other military bases.

"I don't think we are talking about it enough, and I don't think people want to know what is really going on," Brockovich said about the contamination. "I have been receiving complaints and pleas for help from our returning soldiers for years from at least a dozen bases who are dealing with this contamination."

The Department of Defense is in the process of testing about 200 military bases for PFC contamination. The military testing and cleanup work is believed to have run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, with measures for Congress to monitor the defense department's progress built into the department's 2017 budget.

The Air Force said in a statement last year that tests at four of 30 of its bases confirmed PFC levels in drinking water was found to be above the EPA's recommended guidelines for PFOS and PFOA. "The Air Force is committed to eliminating firefighting foam containing either PFOS or PFOA from its inventory, and is finalizing a phased plan to replace existing foam inventories with recently approved PFOS/PFOA-free alternatives that still provide adequate fire protection for critical assets and infrastructure," the Air Force said in a statement. "These alternatives do contain PFCs but do not contain the two addressed by the EPA advisory." loser to Oakland County, in Macomb County, past and current operations at Selfridge Air National Guard base in Harrison Township is located next to the Clinton River and Lake St. Clair, which flows into the Detroit River, which serves as a drinking water source for the region, along with an intake in Lake Huron, near Port Huron, for the GLWA. While the National Guard has contracted with Los Angeles-based AECOM to conduct testing at the base, which is scheduled to begin in the late summer or early fall of 2017. Results of those tests are expected in late 2017 or early 2018, said base spokesman Phillip Ulmer, with the 127th Wing.

"The Air Force and the National Guard are using a comprehensive approach: identify, respond, prevent, to assess for potential PFOS and PFOA contamination of drinking water, on and off installations, and respond appropriately," Ulmer said.

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The Air Force and National Guard are testing about 200 bases to confirm whether the chemicals are present in groundwater and soils, with priority on sites that have probable contamination and a possible pathway for the contamination to reach drinking water. If a drinking water source is identified that could be contaminated, it will be tested, he said. If contamination is found, the Air Force will provide alternative sources of water and conduct the necessary actions to mitigate the contamination.

Additionally, Ulmer said the Air Force and National Guard are committed to eliminating future releases of PFOS and PFOA by only using firefighting foams in actual emergencies, rather than training exercises, and "by transitioning to a more environmentally responsible alternative" as of August 2016. The Air Force, he said, directed all installations to stop testing foam systems on fire vehicles in July 2015.

Toxicologist Christina Bush, with the Michigan Department of Community Health, said health impacts from elevated levels of PFOA and PFOS in specific communities isn't yet known in Michigan.

"We don't have any information that would draw a line between exposure at Michigan sites and health effects in those communities," she said. "We aren't at that point. We are trying to be proactive, so that if we hear about those sites, we can learn more about them and determine if it's alright for people to be eating fish and drinking water.

"There's no concern for skin contact, as far as getting the water on you for people that live there or visit there. It's not a problem. It's anything that goes down the hatch. Our advice is in regard to drinking and cooking with the water, or if it's in the fish."

Even with the phasing out of sources of PFOA and PFOS contamination, exposure to the chemicals in everyday products is nearly impossible to avoid. Other products utilizing the chemicals include waterproof and stain resistant textiles, clothing, and an array of mechanical and industrial components, such as plastic gears, gaskets, sealants, pipes, tubing and other products.

A study published in February of 2017 found PFCs, including PFOA and PFOS, in more than half of fast food packaging tested in 2014 and 2015. The study included 407 samples of paper and paperboard food wrappers and related food packaging at U.S. fast food restaurants. Samples were collected from restaurants in Washington, Massachusetts, Michigan, California and Washington D.C., from 27 large fast food chains.

The study found nearly half (46 percent) of food contact papers contained some form of PFC, including PFOA and PFOS. Of those, about

38 percent of sandwich/burger wrappers and 57 percent were used for Tex-Mex or dessert/bread wrappers. PFOA was among the most commonly detected PFC. esearchers also attempted to investigate the fast food chains' knowledge of their fluorinated food packaging, only two of which provided substantive responses: "One stated that they believed none of their packaging contained fluorinated chemicals and the other stated that it verified with their suppliers that their food packaging didn't contain PFASs. Other studies have shown the ambient background level of PFOA and PFOS are present throughout the Great Lakes. A 2015 study of herring gull eggs found the presence of PFOAs in 97 percent of 114 eggs sampled, which also included levels of PFOS. Because humans, particularly those in more urban areas, are already constantly being exposed to PFOA and PFOS, additional sources, such as military bases, contaminated industrial sites or landfills, only serve to raise risks.

While no federally identified Superfund sites in Oakland County have identified PFOA, PFOS or other PFCs specifically, some toxicologists say it's possible some contamination could be present but but just haven’t been tested for in the past.

"They are so useful in so many aspects, but they are also indestructible in the environment," Delaney said. "In many ways, we are just scratching the surface of the issue."

DeGrandchamp said most Superfund sites weren't tested for PFCs until recent years. "I've investigated many Superfund sites, probably over 100, and up until about four years ago, I didn't even call for PFC testing. The testing for PFC is a relatively recent activity," he said. "Now, we are going back to those sites where we ignored it because we didn't know how toxic they were. I would imagine every state, if you took a map and put red dots on it, it would look like measles in every state."

As scientists continue to link the number of serious health concerns to PFCs such as PFOA and PFOS, and the constant exposure to the compounds becomes more apparent, many wonder what the overall impact to the country's health is and will be in the future.

"The more we start looking for it, the more places we are going to find it. You're going to find it in the drinking water in many places," DeGrandchamp said. "What is missing: what is the people's blood levels drinking it? Are they high enough that they should be advised not to have children? Once they get in your body, there's no way to eliminate them quicker."

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MUNICIPAL City budget, millage increase approved

By Kevin Elliott

Rochester City Council on Monday, May 8, approved a $26.7 million overall budget for the 2018 fiscal year starting on July 1 which includes a .75-mill increase for road maintenance and projects.

The city's general fund budget for fiscal year 2018, which accounts for general government operations, as well as funding for major and local streets, cemetery, fire equipment reserves and parking projects, was approved at $11,215,984, with projected revenues estimated at $11,446,649. The budget includes nearly a half-million dollars in tax revenues from the .75-mill tax increase in the general fund, which will be dedicated to road projects.

The millage increase came on the heels of a report from the city's infrastructure committee, which was tasked with assessing the city's infrastructure needs and formulating a funding plan to address those needs over the next 20 years.

Council was presented with the option of two different budgets to approve, one of which includes the .75-mill increase in its general operating millage and one that did not include a millage increase. The approved increase will bring the city's operating millage to 12.7725 mills, compared to 12.0225 without an increase.

Millage rates are the rate at which taxes are levied on property, with one mill equal to one dollar per $1,000 of a property's taxable value.

A home's taxable value is generally equal to about half of its market value, meaning the owner of home with a $200,000 market value will pay about $75 more per year in taxes under the new rate.

Rochester City Manager Blaine Wing said the millage increase is the first authorized by council in about nine years. Council in 2008 authorized a millage rate of 12.4964.

That rate was reduced to 11.5964 in 2009, which remained at that amount until the increase approved by council May 8. Since 1995, the city's highest millage rate was authorized in 2001 at 12.8834 mills.

Under the city's 1965 charter, city council is authorized to levy an operating millage up to 20 mills, minus millage rollbacks from the state's Headlee Amendment, which limits property tax revenue collected by accounting for increases in property values. For fiscal year 2018, 38

Downtown hosts Open Late Thursdays hops in downtown Rochester this summer began offering customers extended hours on Thursday nights on May 11, as the city kicked off its "Open Late Thursdays" promotion.

The promotion includes more than 50 downtown businesses that remain open until at least 8 p.m. on Thursdays through August 17. In addition to longer hours, stores are offering in-store events, demonstrations, seminars, sampling and more. Plus, attendees can enjoy strolling entertainment throughout the downtown district.

Rochester Downtown Development Authority (DDA) Director Kristi Trevarrow said the promotion was undertaken in response to the DDA's visioning session last year, when over 140 attendees indicated they wanted more reasons to come downtown, including extended hours.

"We are hoping that merchants will find value in the extended hours they are open and it will continue," Trevarrow said. "We get a lot of calls asking what night businesses are open, and it's always a mixed bag.

Some do Wednesdays, Thursdays or different nights."

Trevarrow said at least 50 businesses are onboard with the new promotion, with new ones signing on each week.

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city council is authorized to levy up to 14.3633 mills.

Councilman Rob Ray, who presented a report on the city's road infrastructure prior to the budget discussion, said the committee recommended the .75-mill increase to help fund those needs. "The solution we came up with was essentially a $2 million per year campaign to address our infrastructure needs. It addresses about 80 to 90 percent of the city's needs," he said.

Ray said the committee found that, based on the most recent road assessment, about 30 percent of the city's roads are rated as "poor" condition. Under the city's current road maintenance plan, that figure would increase to about 60 percent in "poor" condition in just two years.

In 10 years, only about 10 percent of the city's roads would qualify as "good" or "fair" condition.

Ray said the millage increase would provide a funding mechanism for road maintenance and upgrades without strapping the city and future city councils with long-term debt associated with a bond issue.

The .75 millage increase will provide about $477,623 each year to the city's general fund, which would then be transferred to the city's local road fund and dedicated to road maintenance and upgrades.

Additional funds to meet the $2 million in needs each could come from a variety of funds, including Act 51 funds and a potential partnership with the city's Downtown Development Authority (DDA).

"It's a flexible spending plan," Ray said. "We delivered a system approach light years ahead of where

the city was before trying to identify and schedule these projects, and certainly how to pay for them," Ray said, in presenting the plan to council.

Council voted 4-2 to approve the budget, with council members Stuart Bikson and Ann Peterson voting against the budget, and councilman Jeffrey Cuthbertson absent. Bikson and Peterson both said they voted against the budget because they weren't in favor of the .75-mill increase.

"To me, my job is to sit up here and not raise taxes," said Bikson, who added that the millage increase, combined with a sharp increase in water and sewer rates that go into effect on July 1, equate to a significant increase for taxpayers.

The increases, he said, indicates "to me that this council wants to spend."

While he said he understands that infrastructure needs must be addressed, Bikson said he would prefer to look at ways to cut in other areas rather than raise taxes. "We never sat down with the city manager asking where cuts could be. Instead, the first thing we are going to do is raise taxes," he said.

Councilwoman Ann Peterson, who serves on the city's infrastructure committee, said she wouldn't support the proposed budget due to the millage increase, and the fact that the infrastructure plan includes potential funding from the city's DDA, which hasn't yet been approved.

"The only problem I have in this is that we are looking at figures and wanting to use future money out of the DDA to be part of that. I'm on the fence with that," she said. "Relying

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on future money without knowing what will happen. In one sense, it blows that .75 mills out of the water if something happens and that money doesn't come in."

Peterson also compared the amount the city spends per capita each year with the city of Orion Township, which spends about $342 per capita per person.

The comments drew confusion and disagreement from fellow council members.

Councilman Ben Giovanelli said the comparison of cities was neither fair or relevant, as Orion Township’s tax base has a higher percent of industrial businesses. "I understand this is difficult decision, and people have to do what they need to do," he said, "and it's an election year."

Mayor Cathy Daldin said she was confused by Peterson's position. "It was my understanding that the committee came to us with a unanimous case," she said.

Peterson took umbrage to Giovanelli's comments, insisting her decision was based on comments she received from residents.

"I'm not going to sit here as a city council person and be told I'm not a leader... I'm not going to sit here and not voice my concerns," she said.

"When I sat on the infrastructure committee, I had an issue with it the whole time, spending revenues that we haven't received yet... Whether I'm comfortable with this or not comfortable with it has nothing to do with it being an election year."

Rochester Hills gets clean annual audit

By Kevin Elliott

Auditors with Plante & Moran on Monday, May 15, gave the city of Rochester Hills an "unmodified opinion" of accounting practices for the 2016 fiscal year ending on December 31, 2016, noting the city is "financially sound."

An "unmodified opinion" is the highest rating of practices that can be given in an annual audit of municipal accounting practices, meaning that processes and accounts have been properly stated and done to the highest level of assurance.

"The city is still very financially sound," said Lisa Manetta, a partner with Plante Moran who worked on the city's audit. "In addition, we are always happy to see the quality of services and quality of life provided to residents while maintaining that standing."

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Auditors said the city's use of a five-year budget projection, low legacy costs and continuation of investing in capital outlay programs, rather than deferring maintenance for many years, has helped to put the city in a good position financially that many municipalities of similar makeup aren't experiencing.

Of particular note was the city's second consecutive year of experiencing a structural surplus for the city, meaning recurring revenues are higher than recurring expenditures. Total revenues for the city in 2016 came out to $55.8 million with expenditures totaling $55 million. In 2015, revenues totaled $53.4 million and expenditures totaled $55.4 million.

Auditor Joe Heffernan, partner at Plante & Moran, said while a structural surplus may sometimes indicate structural issues in budget planning, the city's planned spending of expenditures and the slight increase of revenues confirms a sound financial approach being taken by the city.

The increase in revenues, of which the majority comes from residential property taxes, is due primarily to increases in property values, the auditors said. An increase from 2014 to 2015 revenues included both increased property values, as well as an increase in the city's millage rate. Revenues outside of property taxes remained relatively flat, with the exception of a slight

increase in interest from investment earnings.

Expenditures increased slightly in general government and public safety funds from 2015 to 2016.

While capital outlay spending decreased from 2015 to 2016, from $14 million to $11.4 million, Heffernan said the levels show a commitment to infrastructure projects that many similar cities can't afford.

"In capital outlay, the majority of communities in southeast Michigan after 2009 or 2010 (scaled back), but they haven't come back up in that spending, and the reason they haven't come back up is because the revenue isn't there," he said. "Most communities aren't able to ramp back up to normal replacement, and are struggling with it."

Heffernan said Rochester Hills should continue to take a five-year outlook with its budget planning in order to maintain its commitments.

"There's a correlation between those communities that are doing well and their longterm financial planning," he said. "I'm convinced you have to keep doing that, not only when times are good, but when times are bad."

Auditors said an increase in 2016 of water and sewer fund activity was due to an increase in usage of those utilities, and shouldn't be counted on in future years as a recurring increase.

Overall, auditors offered one

Rochester Hills approves final Class C liquor license

By Kevin Elliott

lans to serve alcoholic beverages at one of Rochester Hills' newest brunch restaurants moved forward on Monday, May 1, as city council members unanimously approved a recommendation to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) to approve the city's final Class C liquor license for the owners of The Jagged Fork, 188. N. Adams, in the Village of Rochester Hills.

Restauranteurs Francesco and Starvos Adamopoulos, along with business partners Tom Teknos and Radu Trifon, went before city council on May 1 to request the recommendation, along with a special use permit for the restaurant, which is required by the city for all establishments seeking on-site alcohol consumption.

The Jagged Fork, which offers gourmet breakfast, brunch and lunch in a casual dining atmosphere, opened in recent weeks. The business partners said they would like to offer diners "a wellcrafted line of brunch beverages, including

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suggestion in regard to adding a segregation of duties in the city's Older Person's Commission (OPC) which they relayed to the commission, but mentioned in the city's audit report, as the city contributes to the OPC's funding.

"Taxpayers should be confident that in Rochester Hills, the folks in charge are doing well by them," said Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett.

"This is a tremendously important report card for the administration, and I'm grateful when we get a good grade."

Riverbend Park now Innovation Hills Rochester Hills City Council on Monday, May 1, unanimously approved renaming Riverbend Park to "Innovation Hills," following the submission of more than 500 recommendations to the city over a six-month selection process.

The park is the first in the city to be developed within the past two decades. However, the "Riverbend" park name proved to be confusing for some people, considering there are at least a half-dozen parks with similar names within a 20-mile radius of the park at 2800 West Hamlin Road.

Those other parks include River Bends Park in Shelby Township, which has a shooting range.

To avoid confusion, and also to provide some publicity for the park in

mimosas, Irish coffee and bloody Mary drinks."

The specialty restaurant serves high-end breakfast and lunch items, including red velvet pancakes, stuffed French toast, an array of sweet or savory crepes, eggs Benedict and other items. The restaurant is the second Jagged Fork location, with the other located in Grosse Pointe Farms. The group also owns and operates The Hudson Cafe in Detroit and Stavros Adamopoulos operates Zoe's House of Pancakes in West Bloomfield.

Class C liquor licenses are issued by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission, pending recommendation from the city where they originate.

The commission has issued 46 of the 47 licenses allocated to the city, making the Jagged Fork's license the final to be issued. The vote to recommend approval of the license followed the city's own liquor control committee's recommendation to approve the application.

"This is the last quota license we have," Rochester Hills clerk Tina Barton said. "The committee was very impressed that they had a family-owned business, and that this is a destination-type restaurant. The product they offer is very unique and we don't have a restaurant specifically like this."

hopes of garnering donations to subsidize the cost of developing the park, the city in September of 2016 announced a renaming contest for the park.

Rochester Mayor Bryan Barnett said over 500 names were submitted and reviewed by the city's naming committee, which narrowed the choices to three: Innovation Park, Inspiration Park and Winding Waters Park. Additional refining of the submissions was requested by the committee, which resulted in the "Innovation Hills" moniker.

Barnett said the city desires the park name reflects the innovative opportunities for learning and quiet escapes at the park, which includes plans for a 10-acre pond for recreational use; a crescent overlook bridge; miles of trails and boardwalks; and the region's largest universal play area for children of all abilities.

Those play areas include a sensory garden consisting of two different green spaces; a student designed and maintained area; and professionally designed garden. Early preparations for the construction of the sensory garden have already begun near the south end of the park.

"The support we have seen for this new park from our community has been overwhelmingly positive," Barnett said. "We're excited to work with our community partners to help bring Innovation Hills to life."

Several council members said they had reservations on the issuance of a license to a business that will close at 3 p.m., but supported the application following a meeting with the applicants and the city's own liquor control committee.

"It's a true immigrant story," said councilman Kevin Brown, who serves on the committee.

"Coming over here, and working their way up and taking over a pretty upscale restaurant. It's a great story. This is a pretty valuable license to us, so having a good story and a unique restaurant means a lot more than having a corporate-name bar come in and taking over."

Council members Jim Kubicina and council president Mark Tisdel concurred with Brown's assessment. Council members also noted the group's investment of about $618,000 in the new Rochester Hills space as an indicator of their commitment to the city and intent to stay within the city.

"We don't give out these Class C licenses very often. Ultimately, these are a tool for us," Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett said. "The value of these licenses on the market is formidable. This is not taken lightly."

MUNICIPAL Underage smoking, e-cigarette penalties

By Kevin Elliott

Efforts to crack down on underage smoking and the use of e-cigarettes spurred Rochester City Council members on Monday, May 22, to approve a measure to increase fines and penalties that include criminal charges for some offenses.

The changes came at the request of the city's police department, and was introduced to council on Monday, May 8, when Rochester Police School Liaison Officer Amy Drehmer told council members the use of e-cigarettes is on the rise among high school students, both nationwide and within the greater Rochester area. In addition to leading to potential health problems, she said some e-cigarettes may be used to ingest illicit drugs with little detection.

E-cigarettes are electronic devices that resemble cigarettes, but use an internal heating mechanism to warm refillable liquids into an aerosol, or vapor, that can be inhaled by the user.

Drehmer said the liquids come in a variety of flavors that appeal to younger people, most of which contain nicotine.

However, she said the devices can be used to ingest marijuana extracts or other synthetic drugs without producing a strong odor.

"I don't know what is in these cigarettes when we confiscate these,�

Drehmer said during her presentation to council members.

Because e-cigarettes don't contain actual tobacco, they aren't part of state or national laws regarding underage tobacco use. Still, many communities have passed local ordinances addressing the sale and use of ecigarettes to and by minors. Although Rochester already has ordinances on the books addressing underage tobacco and e-cigarette use, Drehmer said increasing penalties and fines in the ordinances may act as a deterrent.

"It's a start when we encounter them that we can have a stronger ordinance," she said.

Drehmer requested changes to both the possession of tobacco by minors and e-cigarette ordinances, and the Rochester Police Department worked with the city attorney to update the two ordinances.

Under the proposed amendments, fines would be increased from $50 to $100, and allow for community service to be part of any conviction. Further, penalties would be increased from a civil infraction to a criminal misdemeanor charge for second violations of the ordinance for minors, and a misdemeanor charge for the first 40

Council approves home demolition fire damaged home in the 300 block of Oak Street in Rochester will be demolished at the city of Rochester's behest, following approval on Monday, May 22, by city council to raze the structure and bill the homeowner for the associated costs.

Council voted 6-0 to approve a resolution to demolish the residential building at 325 Oak Street, with councilwoman Kim Russell absent.

Rochester City Attorney Jeffrey Kragt said the building was severely damaged in a fire and deemed unsafe and unsanitary by the Rochester building official, and subsequently condemned in March by the city.

While notice of the condemnation was sent to the homeowner along with notice requiring demolition of the structure within 15 days, the homeowner hasn't yet made any efforts to move the demolition process forward.

Rochester Fire Chief John Cieslik in April sent another letter to the property owner notifying them of the continued safety hazard and advised them that the demolition must commence by Monday, May 8, and finish by May 15, otherwise the city would take steps to have the building demolished and the cost would be added to the tax rolls.

However, the homeowner has yet to respond.

"I spoke with the owner about 90 days ago," Cieslik said. "We sent him registered letters and talked with him on the phone. I would rather we handle this and not have to bring this to council, but I don't think additional time would help the process. I don't know his personal reasons why he isn't reacting."

Under state building codes, the city may contract with a third party to demolish the building. The demolition will include the full removal of the basement and all concrete, then filling the lot with soil and seeding it with grass. The cost is estimated to be between $10,000 and $15,000, which will subsequently be added to the property owner's tax roll.

Rochester Mayor Cathy Daldin, who lives near the property, said she was pleased the issue was addressed.

"It's ridiculous. We have given them plenty of time," she said. "Before the building even went down, it was an eyesore."

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offense of selling or furnishing tobacco or e-cigarettes to minors.

Council members on May 8 approved the first reading of the ordinance amendment by a vote of 6-0, with councilman Jeffrey Cuthbertson absent.

The amendment was finalized on Monday, May 22, by a vote of 6-0 with councilwoman Kim Russell absent.

While Drehmer said a stiffer ordinance would make the current ordinances more effective and provide a greater deterrent in battling the problem, the proposed changes wouldn't be enforceable in any of the high schools in the district, as they are all located within the city of Rochester Hills.

"It's a problem she is seeing in the schools, but those people travel through our community to get there," said Rochester Police Chief Steven Shettenhelm. "We will see where that leads in the future, as far as other communities strengthening their ordinances."

Shettenhelm said the police department hadn't yet approached the city of Rochester Hills regarding their ordinances.

The city of Rochester Hills ordinance

for e-cigarettes, possession or purchase of e-cigarettes is punishable by a civil infraction and a fine of not more than $50.

Water, sewer rates increase this July Rochester Hills residents can expect an increase in water and sewer rates beginning this July of about 2.4 percent, or an increase of about $3.38 on the average bill, under a water and sewer ordinance amendment introduced on Monday, May 15.

City council unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance amendment to change the rate structure for the utilities. A final reading is expected prior to July.

Rochester Hills Chief Financial Officer Joe Snyder said the city's water and sewer technical review committee met and discussed several rate scenarios for water and sewer rates based on recent rate changes by the North Oakland County Water Authority (NOCWA), under the Great Lakes Water Authority's rate changes for water and the Oakland County

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Water Resources Commission's (WRC) increase in sewer rates.

The increases from NOCWA equated to about 4 percent, while the sewer increases from WRC was about 6.7 percent. The rate schedule also includes a decrease of about 7.7 percent in the customer charge, which includes the cost of servicing customers, meter replacement, billing and collection, meter reading, postage and other services.

"On average, for the average resident who uses about 12 units per bill, they would see their bill increase approximately 2.4 percent, bottom line total," Snyder said. "The water charge increase we are receiving from NOCWA is going to be about 4 percent and the sewer increase from the Oakland County Water Resource Commission is right about 6.7 percent, so the fact that we are rolling out a 2.4-percent increase to our customers, I think, shows good value."

Snyder said helping to soften the increase is a 13.5-percent increase in water sales from 2015 to 2016, which was due to a hot, dry summer. Those sales included a 65-percent increase in outside watering.

"That helps us to take a portion of those gains and use them over the next four years to offset future increases," he said.

Additionally, he said city council's decision in April to prepay an assessment from the WRC saves the city about $300,000 a year. That, as well as savings from being part of NOCWA – which allows the city to obtain lower water rates from the Great Lakes Water Authority by pooling with other municipalities – provides the average customer a savings of about $43 per year on their water bills.

Council inquired about other possible rate schedules, including the possibility of deferring an increase.

However, Snyder said deferring the increase would lead to larger increases in the subsequent three years. Another option to provide a slight decrease in the first year of increases from NOCWA and the WRC would also increase rates more in the long run, he said.

"That would be a slight decrease in the first year, then an eight-percent increase each year for the next three years," Snyder said.

The proposed rate structure will better suit residents on fixed incomes to manage their own budgets better, said councilman Kevin Brown.

"Overall, it's better for residents to have a slow and steady increase, rather than having it go up and down," he said.

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PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The listings include nearly all dining establishments with seating in the 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.

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

248.218.6230.

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

248.601.7777.

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

334 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.3300.

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

1234 Walton Road, Rochester Hills, 48307. 248.651.3999.

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

248.293.0665.

Chapman House: French-American.

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

248.759.4406.

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

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

248.656.1100.

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

248.299.5281.

downtownpublications.com

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

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

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.

The Meeting House is a neighborhood restaurant focusing on seasonal cooking with fresh, locally sourced ingredients combined with warm, thoughtful service and genuine hospitality. Featuring craft cocktails, MI craft beer, and an approachable wine list.

301 South Main Street Rochester 48307

248-759-4825

www.themeetinghouserochester.com Follow Us On Facebook And Instagram

Father's Day – SPECIAL – CHOICE OF DINNER:

ROAST PORK OR TURKEY with Mashed Potatoes & Vegetable Includes Soup or Salad or Cucumber-Sour Cream & Desert

OPEN 8AM-4PM

$

149

REGULAR MENU ITEMS ALSO AVAILABLE CALL FOR RESERVATIONS

10% OFF

ANY MEAL – DINE-IN ONLY Coupon must be present at time of purchase. Limit one coupon per person.

Not valid on holidays or with any other specials or offers. Expires 7.1.17

224 E AUBURN RD, ROCHESTER, MI 48307

248.293.2660

We will be closed June 29th thru July 6th

TUESDAY–SUNDAY: 8AM - 8PM • CLOSED MONDAYS

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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, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.375.9200.

Olive Garden: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2615 S.

42

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

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

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

248.759.4825.

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

248.453.5291.

Tropical Smoothie Café: American.

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

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

248.293.2660.

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

Willoughby’s Beyond Juice: American.

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

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

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

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

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

248.619.9060.

Lakes: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

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

248.646.7900.

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

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

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

DOWNTOWN

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.

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

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

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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.

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,

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48009. 248.220.4237.

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

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

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

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

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

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

248.620.6100.

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

248.634.5208.

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

248.795.2077.

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

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

248.625.5660.

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

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily.

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

248.542.0082.

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

248.547.6699.

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

248.268.1621.

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

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

248.544.4749.

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

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

248.544.2675.

D’Amato’s: Italian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

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

220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017.

248.288.0220.

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

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

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

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

Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.543.9500.

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

Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 410 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.591.5459.

Local Kitchen and Bar: American.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

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

248.291.5650.

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

248.584.4227.

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

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

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

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

Pronto!: American. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

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

248.850.7420.

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

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

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

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

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

248.544.1141.

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

248.607.3127.

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

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

248.541.1186.

Town Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 116 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.7300.

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

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

248.542.4444.

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

27799 Woodward Ave., Berkley, 48072.

248.548.7711.

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

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

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

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

29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680.

DOWNTOWN

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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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.

JVS Trade Secrets

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5 1. Aaron Chernow (center) of Bloomfield, Connie Holzer (left) and Kimberly Baker of Novi. 2. Kristen Gross (left) of Franklin, Leah Rosenbaum of Southfield, Linda Schlesinger-Wagner of W. Bloomfield. 3. Beth Gotthelf (left) and Hadas Bernard of Birmingham, Naomi Reiter of W. Bloomfield. 4. Trina Scholler Farah (left) of Bloomfield, Emily Scholler of Royal Oak. 5. Molly MacDonald (left) of Beverly Hills, Dorie Shwedel and Carolyn Koblin of Bloomfield. 6. Patricia Rodzik (left) and Suzanne Schmidt of Bloomfield.

7. Sandra Moers of Bloomfield. 8. Missy Spickler (left) and Lori Cohn of Bloomfield, Lucy Henney of W. Bloomfield.

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JVS Trade Secrets “And life goes on,” said Connie Sally Gerak Holzer, honorary chair and keynote speaker at the JVS Trade Secrets fundraising dinner. (It attracted record attendance - 560 @ $150 and up – to the Troy Marriott.)

Holzer’s unique business experience did not even begin until her car dealer husband of 52 years died when she was 70 years old.

Although the economy was in the dumps, she mortgaged the home where she had raised six children, got concessions from their 130 employees, and rebuilt the Tom Holzer Ford dealership. “You are never too old to begin a new life,” she concluded. Women to Work recipient Kimberly Baker, whose fairytale life crashed when her husband went to jail for tax fraud, praised Judy Richmond and the JVS computer program. She attended it on a scholarship. “And now..because of people in this room... I can feed my kids,” Baker said, apologizing for her tears. Last year’s keynote speaker Linda Schlesinger-Wagner and Kristen Gross co-chaired the ninth annual fundraiser. Thanks also to generous sponsors, it raised more than $260,000 for JVS services for women job seekers. Jeffrey Tischler and Randy Ruben are co-chairing the JVS Strictly Business luncheon Tuesday, June 13, at the MotorCity Casino. It will honor Olympia Entertainment president and CEO Tom Wilson, the keynote speaker.

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Habitat for Humanity Women Build Kickoff Some steering committees exist merely to give sage advice to administrators and boards. And then there’s Habitat for Humanity Oakland’s Women Build Steering Committee. Its chair Johnna Struck, president of Changing Places Moving, detailed its membership commitments to the 93 potential members gathered for lunch at the Community House. “Steering Committee members donate $500 yearly plus their time promoting, fundraising and working on the construction of the houses,” she said, adding, “Women account for 90 percent of each WB house. We call our men supporters ‘The Lucky Ten’.” Then she introduced the 2016 SC members in attendance. This included Pam Benfield, Brenda Brosnan, Laura Durkin, Kimberly Hosner Kotes, Caron Riha, Elise Lievois, Jane Lowell, Julie McKee, Linda Rea, Hilary Rnnon, Leanne Schuster, Ginger Trevarrow, Sheila Turner and herself. Three owners of Habitat houses also spoke gratefully and glowingly about their participatory experience. They were followed at the podium by UBS’s Beth Curtiss-Phyle and Nuview Nutrition’s Cindy Crandell. Before departing, 17 women committed to joining the WB Steering Committee.

FAR Sing Out 4 Kids Nearly 200 supporters of FAR’s creative and recreational therapies for community residents with special needs convened at The Community House for the non-profit’s annual sing-a-long type fundraiser. They first socialized big time, savored yummy food station cuisine and bid $5,860 for 29 silent auction items, When they settled comfortably into the cabaret-style seating, board president Mike Brennan thanked them for attending and noted that one-third of FAR’s 1,200 clients depend on scholarships. A highlight of a video was a client declaring, “I rocked my school’s talent show.” The show that followed kicked off with client Asia and music therapist Renae Murphy earning a standing ovation for their performance of “Summertime.” It ended with Greg Bator conducting a live auction and pledging that raised $18,300. In

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between generous talents had people clapping, whooping and singing to everything from beat boxing, to country and opera. Karla Sherry and Dale Hollandsworth chaired the fun that grossed $52,874 for the non-profit that was founded in 1951 by 50 enlightened parents.

An Evening of Art + Science Nearly 400 people ($250; $350) gathered at MOCAD April 20 to revel for the sake of the lifesaving medical research that is conducted at the Taubman and Forbes institutes at the University of Michigan. Some sipped signature “scientific” cocktails served in lab beakers with a dry ice chip to create a smoke effect as they considered buying the art on display.

It was created by 25 artists after conferring with U-M scientists about their work. The resulting pieces capture the genius of both worlds.

Instead of an art catalog, guests got a packet of postcards depicting most of the art, the brainchild of Forbes/ Somerset Collection’s Linda McIntosh. A DJ and a Supremes tribute trio provided upbeat music that was interrupted for brief remarks by Dr. Eva Feldman, Bobby and Julie Taubman and Nate Forbes. They thanked Peter and Danialle Karmanos, Edith Briskin and the other generous sponsors, referenced the great friendship of the Taubman and Forbes patriarchs and urged all to “celebrate life.” The fourth annual event will raise well over $300,000 which will go directly to a team working on a vaccine that aims to harness the body’s own immune system to kill deadly cancer cells.

Meadow Brook Theatre Guild Terri Bendes and Sheryl Frabotta chaired the guild fundraiser which was bigger than ever with more vendors, more raffle baskets, more door prizes and a new jewelry raffle. A full house (580 @ $30, $35, $100) attended the 36th annual version.

They crowded the pink-&-green accented hallway where 23 baskets were beautifully displayed to tempt people to buy the $2 raffle tickets. The guild’s Bake Shoppe offered enticing choices wrapped pretty enough for gift-giving. Guests took their box lunches to their seats in the theatre and savored the chicken salad croissants catered by Downtown Café before the chairs drew the names of prize winners. The show “I Love A Piano” featured favorite Irving Berlin music such as “No Business Like Show Business” and MBT Artistic downtownpublications.com

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1. Jane Lowell (left) of Bloomfield, Johnna Struck of Waterford and Julie McKee of Birmingham. 2. Mary Jo Wilson (left) of Sterling Hgts., Tammy Campbell of Rochester. 3. Pam Benfield and Deloris Carson of Rochester Hills, Mary Duenow of Lake Orion. 4. Meg Currier (left) of Beverly Hills and Rita Facchini of Rochester Hills. 5. Annabell Wilkinson (left) of Bloomfield, Cindy Randall of Oak Park, Cindy Crandell of Clarkston. 6. Michele Rhodes (left) of Birmingham, Karen Greenwood of Troy, Rickey Busler of Madison Hgts.

FAR Sing Out 4 Kids

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1. Pamela Ayres (left) and Karla Sherry of Bloomfield and Dale Hollandsworth of White Lake. 2. Lou Bitonti (left) of Rochester Hills, Annabel Cohen and Cathie Weisenborn of Bloomfield and Mike Brennan of Birmingham. 3. Ken (left) & Judy Zorn of Rochester Hills, John Ashcraft of Franklin. 4. Don Amalfitano (left) of Troy, Erin DiMarco and Jennifer Doctor of Bloomfield. 5. Cindy (left) & Dom Schiano of Franklin, Maria Harris of Birmingham. 6. Lisa Brennan (left) of Birmingham, Christine Bitonti of Rochester Hills, Jim Weisenborn of Bloomfield. 7. Karla Sherry (left) of Bloomfield, Nick & Anna Giammarco of Northville.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK An Evening of Art + Science

Director Travis Walter followed up with his trademark entertaining discourse. Thanks also to generous sponsors, the annual event raised an all-time high of more than $20,000 for the guild’s MBT support and outreach programs. For information about the guild and it’s other big event (October 19) go mbtheatre.com/theatre-guild.

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DSO Volunteer Council Musical Feast Lisa Payne not only committed to hosting the second DSO Volunteer Council Musical Feast of the 30th season, she also agreed to accommodate the waiting list when the 30 original slots filled up quickly.

Thus, 50 guests ($150 each) gathered at her Turtle Lake Estates home April 21 for the Spring Fever Soiree. During the pre-concert reception, many sipped the signature champagne cocktail. Past VC president Marjorie Saulson was especially curious to see the home because it was the DSO Show House when she chaired that fundraiser in 2001. Council rep Marlene Bihlmeyer introduced the musicians – pianist Phil Kelly and trumpet player Bill Lucas – who, like the MF hosts, donate their services.

The concert that followed featured jazzy odes to four seasons, including a soulful, original Lucas composition that Lucas played on a flugelhorn.

The last feast of the series will be hosted by Joy and Allan Nachman on June 25 in their art-filled home.

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1. Peter (left) & Danialle Karmanos of Orchard Lake. 2. Dr. Eva Feldman (left) of Ann Arbor, Bobby Taubman of Bloomfield. 3. Nate & Cathy Forbes of Bloomfield. 4. Jim (left) & Stephany Austin and Tom Goldberg of Bloomfield. 5. Graem Whyte (left) of Hamtramck, Keith Pomeroy of Birmingham. 6. Jeffery Miro (left) of Bloomfield, Elyse & David Foltyn of Birmingham. 7. Ed Levy & Linda Dresner of Birmingham. 8. Lauren & Phillip Fisher of Bloomfield. 9. John Rakolta (left), Jenni & JR Rakolta of Bloomfield. 10. Billy Taubman of Birmingham, Julie Taubman of Bloomfield.

Meadow Brook Theatre Guild

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2 1. Terri Bendes (left) of Clarkston and Sheryl Frabotta of Rochester Hills.

2. Maryann Foxlee (left) of Shelby Twp., Colleen Brnabic of Rochester, Sue Jayroe of Rochester Hills, Sue Steltenkamp of Bloomfield. 3. Karen Calavenna (left) of Rochester Hills, Lynn Jendrezewski of Canton and Corrine Alonso of Troy. 4. Nancy Larco (left) of Shelby Twp., Suzanne Hester of Rochester. 5. Mary Jo Cerget (center) of Shelby Twp., Jan Shotwell (left) and Speedy Bates of Rochester Hills.

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Impact 100 Oakland Members of Impact 100 Oakland County gathered at the Bird and Bread in Birmingham to learn how many women had donated $1,000 each for collective giving grants to non-profits in 2017, the second year of the chapter’s existence. Before the announcement, Oakland County deputy Michelle Francesco, Kelly Shuert and Connie Beckett, representatives from Variety Feeds Kids (last year’s recipient of the $100,000 grant) shared heartwarming descriptions of the program’s impact. To announce the 2017 grant total, board members then lined up with the blank side of flip cards facing out. The women cheered when all were turned and the revealed total was $201,000. This means two non-profits will be given $100,500 in 2017.

MOSAIC, the Auction for Roeper The final celebration of Roeper School’s Diamond Anniversary year attracted 180 ($125 tickets) to Forest Hills Country Club to support scholarships for Roeper students (40 06.17

percent) who get financial aid and grants for faculty and staff development. The large silent auction which featured colorful student creations raised $46,450, but that’s short of the brief live auction conducted by Charles Wickens. He got bids that totaled $26,550 before the final Adventures in Havana item assembled by Paul Borja, Steven Silk and John Sznewajs. That trip to Cuba eventually sold to nine bidders for a total of $32,000, bringing the live auction total to $58,550. Compelling remarks by Roeper’s Bob Sims and Dan Jacobs also inspired outright donations for faculty professional development totaling an event record of $41,500. The delightful evening was marked by the camaraderie of the parents who are devoted to the school founded by George and Annemarie Roeper after they fled Hitler in 1941. It netted $150,000.

DSO Volunteer Council Musical Feast

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1. Marjorie Saulson (left) of Franklin, Lisa Payne of Bloomfield. 2. Anne Parsons (center) of Grosse Pointe, Jim Hayes and Denise Abrash of Bloomfield. 3. Bill (Binky) & Susan Harvey of Birmingham. 4. Patricia Mooradian (left) and Dan Quick of Bloomfield, Lisa Bouchard of Birmingham. 5. Judy & Joel Adelman of Birmingham. 6. Bill Lucas (left) of Ann Arbor, pianist Phil Kelly of Rochester.

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MOSAIC, the Auction for Roeper Ted Lindsay Foundation Wine Tasting When the 175 guests ($125 ticket) arrived at the San Marino Club they were first offered a sample of French sparkling wine before they warmly greeted host Ted Lindsay. They also supped. The perfectly sauced beef tenderloin, chicken Florentine and pastas paired nicely with the French, California and Italian wines provided

by Jean Jacques Fertal’s Eagle Eye Imports. Celebrity pourers included winemaker /Michigan native Ted Wilson and Dayna Clark, Trevor Thompson, Eddie Mio, Joe Kocur, Karen and Frank Beckmann, Paul W. and Kim Smith, Jay Towers and Chelsea Kivell. Absent and sincerely mourned in a brief address by foundation president Lew LaPaugh were Ted’s wife Joanne, who died weeks before the fundraiser, and Dr. Jack (“Hockeytown Doc”) Finley, who would die the next day following a stroke. He also announced that Dick Scott Automotive Group has donated a 300 Chrysler to be raffled in memory of Joanne and that two Ted Lindsay Foundation/Fedorov Courage Awards are open for nomination until June 2.

Ronald McDonald House Tea Teresa Saputo and Kyla Marcial co-chaired the 8th annual Spring Tea benefiting the Detroit Ronald McDonald House. It attracted 160 guests of all ages ($60, $25 tickets) to the Royal Park Hotel. One of the youngest guests was Camden Manning, whose parents stayed at the House while she was a newborn in Children’s Hospital. During the brief program, her father Andrew downtownpublications.com

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1. Delana (left) & Paul Borja of Bloomfield, Beth Vens of White Lake. 2. Rajesh Radhakrishnan (left) & committee member Maria Welborne of Bloomfield.

3. Len & Bonnie Schemm of Bloomfield. 4. Julie Smith (left) and Steven & Tara Grekin of Bloomfield.

5. Steve Silk (left) and John Sznewajs of Birmingham. 6. Darin & Perry Keever of Birmingham.

7. Dipak Shah (left) & Sujana Gundalapalli and Lauren Stein and Jeremy Sandie of Birmingham.

8. Katie Buchman (left) of Clarkston, Denita BanksSims of Bloomfield. 9. Pam (left) & Robb Harner of Waterford, Sue Konst of Rochester.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Ted Lindsay Foundation Wine Tasting

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4 1. Lew LaPaugh (left) of Rochester Hills, Ted Lindsay of Rochester. 2. Helen Fertal of Rochester. 3. Lynn Lindsay LaPaugh (left) of Rochester Hills, Dave & Jennifer Tindall of Metamora. 4. Kyle (left), Terri & Steve Eick of Birmingham.

5. Frank & Karen Beckmann of Rochester Hills. 6. Paul W & Kim Smith of Bloomfield. 7. Mike Dore (left) of Bloomfield, Eddie Mio of W. Bloomfield, Joe Kocur of Highland.

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Manning recalled the medical saga and their two months stay at the House. He concluded, “We now consider everyone at the House our newfound family.” Thanks to a silent auction and a percentage of sales from Saks Fifth Avenue’s onsite Ippolita jewelry sale, the event raised $20,000. This will supplement the $10 charge for Ronald McDonald House rooms. They actually cost $200 to maintain but no family is turned away due to inability to pay.

Women’s Foundation Lights Camera, Action Cynthia Ford, Sandy Pierce, Faye Nelson and Andra Rush chaired Michigan Women’s Foundation’s fundraiser that brought 868 ($175 & up tickets) to the MotorCity Casino the evening of April 24. Before dinner the power brokers gathered in the Sound Board to bid (nearly $40,000) on silent auction items, network and applaud the foundation’s accomplishments as presented by CEO Carolyn Cassin and board chair Pamela Enslen.

Notable in that list would be the remarkable $21-million in economic impact from $1.5-million invested in 85 women-owned businesses. “That is what women call a return on investment,” declared Cassin. Before the evening ended, the spotlight was also placed on the foundation’s many youth programs and women’s issues like the Enough Said rape kit testing.

Regarding the latter, Cassin praised the African American 490 Challenge which raised $650,000 to finish the testing by the third quarter this year.

Thanks also to sponsors and texted gifts ($23,000-plus), the high energy evening raised more than $500,000, which, when combined with the West Michigan luncheon version of Lights, Camera, Auction, exceeds $700,000.

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Ronald McDonald House Tea

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1. Event co-chairs Teresa Saputo (left) of Rochester and Kyla Marcial of Rochester Hills. 2. Jessica Saputo (left) of Rochester, Bridgette Hernandez of Belleville and Karen Scott of Novi. 3. Jennifer Litomisky (left) of Ferndale, Vanssa Camden & Andrew Manning of Wixom. 4. Deborah Pringle (left) of Clinton Twp., Mia and Malayna Marcial of Rochester Hills, MaryAnne Campbell of Washington.5. Gavin Fell (left) of Rochester, Eli Whitesel of Novi.

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4 Project 1 Who’s Your Bartender

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1. Joelle Mansfield (left) of Bloomfield, Yvon Russell of Rochester Hills, Karla Kish and Reid Southby of Birmingham. 2. Tim Castaneda (left) and Terri Macksoud of Birmingham, Erica Mantina of Washington. 3. Laura Beckeman (left) of Birmingham, Debbie Saro of Royal Oak, Kirsten Mumma of Lake Orion. 4. Sarah Balmer (left) of Pontiac, Amy Ordona and Kelley Kennedy of Birmingham. 5. Peter Arvant (left) of Beverly Hills and Bill Girardot of Bloomfield. 6. Jay Hohauser (left) of Rochester and Todd Hohauser of Ferndale. 7. David Reich and Mary Owen of Birmingham.

8. Jessica Haddad (left) of Livonia, Kathy Spencer of Rochester. 9. Sharon VonBehren (left) of Rochester Hills and Tricia Delude of Clarkston.

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Project 1 Who’s Your Bartender The energy was palpable as more than 500, mostly young philanthropists, flocked to Birmingham’s Bird & Bread the last Tuesday in April for Project 1’s iconic fundraiser chaired by Amy Ordona, Laura Beckeman, Missy Rancilio, Terri Macksoud and Kelley Kennedy. When guests paid ($15 in advance, $20 at the door), they declared one of 12 non-profits whose advocates were tending bar. They bought drink tickets, but B&B provided superb complimentary appetizers and pizza for sustenance.

Many guests wore T-shirts that proclaimed their loyalty. The Angel’s Place bartenders even wore, what 06.17

else, halos. The ebullient evening raised more than $75,000 – $45,000 of which will be shared by the nonprofits. Project 1 is an all volunteer organization which donates all net proceeds directly to those in need.

The Village Club Foundation Awards TVCF’s reveal of its grant recipients is heartwarming, if not sensational. As foundation president Carol Litka explained at the luncheon, it followed the thorough investigation of all applicant organizations by 11 teams of three club members. Then the grants committee studied their findings and determined that 47 non-profits would get some of the $169,000 total, “...the largest ever in one year,” she noted.

The guest list (171) included 70 grant representatives. Before lunch all socialized and applauded Tyler Bouque’s rich baritone selection from “Tosca”. After lunch, there were more than a few moist eyes as three of the grant recipients told their stories. The presentations were a rewarding conclusion to the foundation’s Hearts Aglow-Giving One to Another fundraising effort.

WON Foundation Wonder Woman Awards Since the Women’s Officials Network established a foundation in 2008, it has presented awards to individuals whose community service is exceptional. This year, the awards banquet attracted 135 ($75 & up) to the San Marino Club. The 2017 awardees represented elected service – Franklin Village Clerk Eileen Pulker; the law – Judge Colleen O’Brien; corporate benevolence – DTE Foundation’s Faye Nelson and Bank of America Michigan’s Tiffany Douglas; and ministry to those in need – Cass Community Services’ Rev. Faith Fowler. From the first presentation – John Pulker’s introduction of his wife as the “woman of my dreams,” to the last speech – Rev. Faith Fowler’s humorous reminder that “...everything has a shelf life, and so do we,” the speeches were splendid and earned standing ovations. Past foundation president Deb Macon also spoke briefly about the initiatives the WON Foundation supports for young women, which had the special attention of the 23 young leader guests.

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

The Village Club Foundation Awards

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5 1. Carol Litka (left) of Troy, Linda Lang of Bloomfield. 2. Kathy Hutson (left) and Jenny Davis of Troy, Judy Shagena of Bingham Farms, Sandy Walter of Bloomfield. 3. Sani Dwyer (left), Evelyn Strader and Rose Dirsken of Rochester Hills. 4. Kathy Dalton of Bloomfield, Tyler Bouque of Troy. 5. Beth Hagenlocker (left) of Venice, CA, Sylvia Hagenlocker of Bloomfield, Lou Simpson of Birmingham. 6. Linda Bomberski (right) with Pete Keating of Troy and Barbara Williams of Rochester. 7. Linda Lang (center) of Bloomfield, Lynne Avadenka (left) of Huntington Woods, Lorraine Sherk of Troy.

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WON Foundation Wonder Woman Awards

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1. Judge Colleen O’Brien (left) of Clarkston, Faye Nelson of Grosse Pointe, Tiffany Douglas of Detroit, Eileen Pulker of Franklin, Rev. Faith Fowler of Detroit. 2. Caroline Grech (left) of Livonia, Sue Nine of Bloomfield and Coco Siewert of Birmingham. 3. Kristyn Recchia (left) of Rochester, Pat Hardy of Bloomfield. 4. Judge Wendy Potts (left) of Birmingham, Judge Jim Alexander and Layne Sakwa of Bloomfield, Deb Macon of W. Bloomfield. 5. Beth Talbert (left) of Rochester Hills, Judge Cynthia Walker of Pontiac.

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ENDNOTE

Don’t let education study gather any dust his past year, Governor Snyder assembled a 16-member gubernatorial education commission, known as the 21st Century Education Commission, which studied the state of education in Michigan, currently ranked 48th in the United States, and presented Snyder in February with an exhaustive report called “The Best Education System for Michigan’s Success: A Blueprint for Educating Michigan’s Residents to Build the Best Businesses, Win the Best Jobs, and Achieve the American Dream.” The report is frank in its assessments, that to succeed in today’s world, we as residents must provide not only more comprehensive education to our students, but we must begin educating children earlier and continue to educate them longer. It also emphasizes a reality: educated students are an economic necessity in today’s world, and that by providing appropriate and applicable education for real world jobs, Michigan will reap the economic benefit long term.

Unlike many other education reports in the past, this one is succinct, and spells out exactly how to get to the finish line. The blueprint recommends creating a K-14, rather than the current K-12, education system in Michigan; providing qualified universal access to early education for four-year-olds; determining the developmentally-appropriate readiness of children for kindergarten; focusing on learning to shift towards a student’s progression through the curriculum at their own pace, rather than at grade

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levels; provide post-secondary access to community colleges and other skill training to all students by providing access to two years of community college or trade school for all students; elevating education as a profession; and investing in an efficient and effective system of public funding to become a world leader in education.

The report spells out in detail – and the Oakland County education experts who met to discuss it for our education roundtable in this issue emphasized – that to improve Michigan’s education success, which will ultimately translate into jobs, everything begins with better, and universal, early education, followed up by the ability of students to easily attend community college or technical school, going in the words of Oakland Schools Superintendent Wanda CookRobinson, “womb to tomb.” Further, there has to be not just adoption of the blueprint, but follow through that lasts, rather than a reaction on the part of the state legislature to jump from ideology to ideology, most recently with Common Core. Ten years ago, the province of Ontario set the education priorities of literacy and numeracy, and left educators alone, with great success. As Doug Ross, former state legislator, cabinet member under former President Clinton, now an education expert and a member of the education commission, said of the state legislature, “As long as they’re changing standards every two years, we have no standards.”

The experts pointed out that the Michigan

Department of Education is currently a test-giving department, which drives the changes in standards. What Michigan students, parents, and educators need is for legislators to step away from their micromanagement of education in order to leave it to the experts, and allow for the innovations and vision that can only come from when creativity is allowed to flourish, and when wisdom is respected.

Likewise, legislators must revere education enough to recognize that it costs money, and rather than pushing silly tax cuts without any thought as to where revenue will be replaced, think about the state of Michigan, rather than their next election. It is expensive to teach our next generation, to prepare teachers – who deserve our respect, rather than denigration – in a world where a high school diploma is just the beginning of advanced education. In a post-World War II world, it was a ticket to the middle class. In our 21st century world, post-secondary education is the admission to economic prosperity. In fact, in Michigan, since 2009, 99 percent of jobs have gone to people with at least some post-secondary education.

Let’s advance from the bottom of the educational and economic heap, both for our children, and for the economic potential of our state. We have the blueprint right in front of us that can help lead us towards success. It’s up to Gov. Snyder, and all of us, to move in the right direction.

Criminalizing underage smoking is overkill easures taken by the Rochester City Council this month intended to curb underage smoking by criminalizing tobacco and e-cigarette use among minors is too excessive and may ultimately prove to be ineffective.

City council on May 22 approved an amendment to the city's code regarding the sale of tobacco to minors, as well as the sale and use of e-cigarettes and related products. Under the new ordinance, minors could be slapped with criminal misdemeanor charges for multiple violations of possession of tobacco products and e-cigarettes.

Vendors would face criminal charges on their first offense. Fines would also be increased from $50 to $100, and include eight hours of community service for each violation.

The changes came at the request of the Rochester Police Department, specifically at the urging of school liaison officer Amy Drehmer, who told council members that the use of e-cigarettes among high school students is on the rise. By stiffening up the penalties, the department is hoping to discourage minors from partaking in use of the products, as well as cut underage sales.

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Heightening the apparent need to respond with a new ordinance, Drehmer informed council members of another hidden danger of e-cigarettes: their potential use for ingesting illicit drugs.

Council members jumped on board with the increased penalties with no objection and few questions – perhaps to not appear as if they don't care about the health and well-being of children and teens. However, in doing so, council overlooked several critical issues that need to be addressed.

First off, we should note that the ordinance cannot be enforced in any of the high schools where the Rochester Police Department provides service, as all three schools are located within the city of Rochester Hills, whose ordinances categorize the offenses as civil infractions. Whether a similar ordinance has been pitched to officials in Rochester Hills – it so far hasn't been – was never questioned.

Additionally, we believe hobbling teens with a criminal conviction serves as less of a deterrent and more as a way to set them up for future failure.

As colleges and employers increase scrutiny on disciplinary records, criminal convictions have long-lasting effects. Consider that the Centers For

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates more than 3,200 youth under 18 try smoking each day for the first time, and it's not hard to imagine the havoc such a local ordinance could play with the future of those teens.

Further, some national studies have shown that harsh laws do little to actually curb underage smoking, with about 66 percent of occasional smokers and 25 percent of regular smokers acquiring tobacco from social channels, such as friends or acquaintances. Strict policies often serve to foster a perception of "forbidden fruit," heightening the desire for such products among teens.

Concerns of illegal drug use should be addressed through the city's existing ordinances, which already provide appropriate punishments.

Such ordinances also provide education and treatment options to be used by the court to limit further drug use, something the new tobacco and e-cigarette ordinances lack.

While we support efforts to address underage smoking, we believe such measures would be better thought out so as to address the problem in a realistic way and not punitively hamstring students and their future.

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