Rochester/Rochester Hills

DESKA: FRONT/BACK 50 • GERAK: SOCIAL LIGHTS 56

DOWNTOWN R O C H E S T E R

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R O C H E S T E R

H I L L S

SEPTEMBER 2016

PLUS

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL POLITICAL NEWS AND GOSSIP

MASS TRANSIT: RIDING INTO THE FUTURE OR A QUAGMIRE? STUDENT HEALTH: WHO IS TESTING SCHOOL WATER ENDNOTE: RTA PLAN RAISES TOO MANY QUESTIONS ECRWSS Postal Customer EDDM

DOWNTOWNPUBLICATIONS.COM

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Just call us today 7043 HILLSIDE, INDEPENDENCE TWP $1,750,000 Best buy in Oakland County with walking distance to downtown Clarkston. Enjoy Kayaking, water skiing or fishing on crystal clear spring fed Deer Lake. This property has beautiful views from every location in the home. #216055549 Ask Eric Roslonski

4899 BROOKSIDE LANE, WASHINGTON TWP $750,000 Wow! Elegant Crystal Creek home in a private wooded setting. Stately curb appeal, You have arrived!

Magnificent details abound throughout builder's own home.

Custom designed. Beautiful workmanship and quality materials throughout. Dual staircases, WoodMode kitchen cabinets, built in appliances, Sub Zero refrigerator, gas & electric Dacor range, double ovens #216042181 Ask David Elya

2122 S ROCHESTER RD, ROCHESTER HILLS $400,000 Brand new ranch! Absolutely beautiful! This is a must see! Every upgrade! Top of the line cabinets with granite counters, ceramic backsplash.

All new GE appliances stove, refrigerator, dishwasher & microwave.

Upgraded tile in foyer, kitchen nook, laundry rm & hallways. This is a split ranch with master bedroom on one side of the house and the other 2 bedrooms on the opposite side. #216072228 Ask Lily Skaug

5572 THORNY ASH RD, OAKLAND TWP $265,000 Spacious 4 bedroom, 2.5 baths, home in desirable Hidden Valley Subdivision. Located in award winning Rochester school district and sought after Stoney Creek High School. Enjoy a country like feel Just minutes from downtown Rochester. Newly refinished hardwood floors. New windows installed in 2015. This home is a must see! #216078049 Ask Samantha Johnson

Ask for:

David Elya Broker Owner “BETTER AGENTS” Locally Owned and Operated

230 PAWNEE PATH, ORION TWP $769,000 Stunning mid-century modern home featuring over 4500 sq ft of living space and 208 ft of frontage on Indianwood Lake. The rustic chic interior boasts custom features throughout, including soaring cedar-planked ceilings, curved walls, numerous built-ins, remodeled kitchen (cherry cabinets, updated appliances and granite) and spacious master suite w/ fitness room, sauna and hot tub. #216079838 Ask Traci Stolle

446 6TH STREET, ROCHESTER $429,900 Fantastic opportunity. Corner lot on the park, circa 1890 Victorian period home converted to a duplex however easily able to convert back to single residence. All original moldings, trim and woodwork. Extra deep lot. This home has lineage and is one of the true jewels of Rochester. #216077638 Ask Tom Rubin

8646 E PEARSON, SHELBY TWP $379,900 New Construction! You are home, 2800 sq ft with all the upgrades.

Lafata cabinets, granite counters, ceramic and hardwood floors.

Crown moldings, too many extras to mention. Must see this beauty, No homeowner association. Home is completed. #216069329 Ask Lily Skaug

874 DICKSON LANE, ROCHESTER HILLS $259,000 Spacious 4 bedroom, 2.1 bathroom colonial with enclosed sun porch overlooking the beautiful back yard.

Interior features include many new Pella windows throughout, newer high efficiency furnace, fantastic layout with bonus den and sun porch, large eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, family room with skylight and custom wood ceiling, partially finished basement and more. #216070042 Ask Traci Stolle

Servicing Oakland & Macomb Counties

248-652-7000 www.BrookviewRealty.com

We are located downtown next door to Lipuma’s Coney Island at: 623 N. Main Street, Rochester, MI 48307

DOWNTOWN09.16

28

Mass transit: Driving into the future or a quagmire?

The Rapid Transit Authority has voted to place on the November ballot a 20-year millage request for a mass transit plan to bring high speed bus transportation to a four-county area so voters can make the decision.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

10

The proverbial “big tent” that has been promised by the Republican party appears to be getting smaller as time goes on, as evidenced by the party platform recently adopted this summer following the national convention of delegates.

CRIME LOCATOR

15

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

OAKLAND CONFIDENTIAL

17

Our political/government gossip column details the latest, including the impact of Donald Trump on the county candidates further down the ballot; a senator's failed dream of a veto override; the strange PSA from a county official; and more.

MUNICIPAL

41

Nationally-ranked Arts & Apples festival this month; Griffin Claw brewery proposal approved; Rochester Elevator may be replaced; new hotel in Rochester Hills; fire station plans presented; Culver restaurant clears planning; plus more.

FRONT/BACK

50

Katie Deska gives us the the latest on what’s happening in the front and the back of the house in metro Detroit area restaurants with a series of short takes on the latest news and gossip for the industry.

THE COVER The historical Rochester Elevator feed and fertilizer store, built in 1880 by Charles K. Griggs. The building may end of being moved to accommodate a condo development at the site. Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent.

5(68/76

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6685 MONTICELLO, WASHINGTON TWP. 4-5 BDRM COLONIAL, UPGRADED ELEVATION, PREM LOT, 2 1/2 BATH, 2-STORY GREAT RM W/ FIREPLACE, WOOD FLRS, DINING RM, PRVT STUDY, BUTLER PANTRY, DAYLIGHT BASEMENT W/FIN ADDTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;L BDRM, 3-CAR SIDE ENTRY GAR. SS APPLS, GRANITE COUNTERS, CROWN MOLDINGS, 42â&#x20AC;?

UPR CABINETS, OAK & WROUGHT IRON STAIRCASE, NEW CARPET T/O, APPLS INC, NEW DRYER. LG 2 TIERED BRICK PAVER PATIO, W/LANDSCAPING, HOT TUB OVERLOOKS SUNSET VIEWS. $378,800. CALL CARON!

Caron Koteles Riha Associate Broker

Rochester/Rochester Hills/Oakland Twp - August 2016

S O L D

ADDRESS 255 Nawakwa 3139 Willet Avenue 532 Bolinger Street 288 Wimberly 3335 Palm Aire Court 904 Willard Avenue 706 Snowmass 162 Wynstone Circle 1028 Moran 930 Fairview Avenue 2062 South Boulevard 879 Augusta 1074 Barneswood Court 750 Willard 3122 Devondale Road 2700 Bridget Ave 3177 Devondale Road 1230 John R Road 763 Whitney Dr 3707 Briarbrooke Lane 450 Apple Hill Lane 451 Lake Forest Road 2804 Invitational 449 South Boulevard 2787 Emmons Avenue 1475 Horseshoe Bend Drive 732 Rutgers Road 2108 Kennedy 523 Springview 710 Lion Street 2729 Harrison Avenue 689 Windsong Drive 1810 Snowden Circle 3314 Aquinas 2729 Harrison Ave 652 Cherry Tree Lane Minimum Average Maximum

List Price $129,900 $144,900 $259,900 $275,000 $335,000 $349,900 $371,500 $428,595 $450,000 $975,000 $129,900 $269,000 $269,000 $141,500 $139,900 $173,500 $189,900 $253,000 $265,000 $339,000 $359,900 $379,500 $659,000 $79,500 $174,900 $279,900 $275,000 $289,900 $599,900 $324,900 $389,900 $455,000 $499,900 $269,900 $389,000 $487,500 $79,500 $322,781 $975,000

Sale Price $123,250 $125,000 $260,000 $268,000 $335,000 $349,900 $365,000 $428,595 $445,000 $950,000 $129,900 $260,000 $270,000 $139,000 $146,000 $173,500 $184,000 $250,000 $260,000 $325,000 $355,000 $370,000 $634,000 $93,500 $180,300 $275,000 $275,000 $296,000 $575,000 $314,000 $389,900 $450,000 $475,000 $265,000 $389,000 $470,000 $93,500 $317,293 $950,000

Beds Baths 3 1.1 3 2 3 2.1 3 2 4 3.1 5 3 4 2.1 3 2.1 4 3.1 4 3.2 3 1 3 2.1 3 2.1 3 2 3 1.1 3 2 3 1 5 3 3 2.1 4 3.1 4 2.1 4 3.1 4 3.1 3 2 3 2 4 2.1 3 2.1 3 2.1 5 4.1 4 2.1 4 3.1 4 3.3 5 3.1 4 3 4 3.1 4 3.1

Sqft Total 1,640 1,336 1,635 2,258 2,782 3,225 3,089 2,149 3,332 3,228 1,300 2,300 2,048 2,322 936 1,134 1,296 2,364 1,671 2,155 2,484 2,186 3,644 1,284 1,014 2,048 1,784 2,316 3,877 2,674 2,535 3,352 3,728 2,184 2,535 3,505 936 2,278 3,877

Price/Sqft $75 $93 $159 $118 $120 $108 $118 $199 $133 $294 $99 $113 $131 $59 $155 $152 $141 $105 $155 $150 $142 $169 $173 $72 $177 $134 $154 $127 $148 $117 $153 $134 $127 $121 $153 $134 $59 $137 $294

Close Date 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/1/2016 8/2/2016 8/2/2016 8/2/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/3/2016 8/4/2016 8/4/2016 8/4/2016 8/4/2016 8/4/2016 8/4/2016 8/5/2016 8/5/2016 8/5/2016 8/5/2016 8/8/2016 8/8/2016 8/8/2016

55232 MEADOW RIDGE COURT, SHELBY TWP. CUSTOM BUILT HOME ON 1+ ACRE LOT IN SHELBY TWP. CHERRY WOOD FLRS, RECESSED LIGHTING, DECORATIVE CEILINGS, OPEN FORMAL DR, STUDY W/FRENCH DOORS, 2-STORY GR. 1ST FL MSTR STE W/HIGH CEILING, VIEW OF PRIVATE YARD, MSTR BATH, WIC W/ ORGANIZERS, JETTED TUB, SHOWER. KIDS BDRMS ARE JACK & JILL SUITE. 4TH BDRM STE W/FULL BATH. KIT W/BUILT-IN, HIGH-END APPL PACKAGE, WALK-IN PANTRY, GRANITE COUNTER, ISLAND, LRG BKFST RM. STONE PATIO W/PLAYSCAPE. 3 CAR GAR W/2ND STAIRWAY TO DAYLIGHT FIN LL W/ALL ELECTRICAL, PLUMBING, SPEAKER WIRING, ETC. $540,000. CALL CARON!

575 GALLALAND AVENUE, ROCHESTER HILLS 1ST FLR MSTR BDRM, W/OPEN FLR PLAN, NEUTRAL PAINT T/O, VOLUME CEILINGS,GAS FP IN GR W/STUNNING WINDOWS, STUDY W/BI SHELVING,WORK SPACE, LG KIT, BKFST NOOK W/WOOD FLRS, SS APPLS, WICS, ADDTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;L FML DR, 1ST FLR LAUNDRY, DOORWALL TO PAVER PATIO, LANDSCAPING, 3 CAR SIDE ENTRY GAR. FULL BSMNT. NEW A/C. MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN $384,800. CALL CARON!

For a full list of August Sales, visit www.RochesterListings.com CONSISTENTLY ROCHESTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S #1 REALTOR â&#x20AC;&#x201C; REAL ESTATE ONE Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Council of Excellence

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20 Quality of school water Not all schools are required to test for lead and copper content in drinking water and testing protocol is not always followed correctly, based on Downtown newsmagazine's survey of over half the school districts in Oakland County in the past month.

18

Sheila Landis

BUSINESS MATTERS

55

Muldoon's; WoodSprings Suites; Griffin Claw Brewing Company; FirstMerit Bank; Culver's; Rochester Area Neighborhood House.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

56

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

ENDNOTE

62

Here is our take on the proposed mass transit (rapid bus) proposal and the accompanying millage request facing voters, and our thoughts on what the state should be requiring of public and private schools in terms of testing for water quality.

FACES

18 26 38 47

Sheila Landis Cec Vetraino Strine Dr. Vinder Moudgil Jody Gmyrek

METROPOLITAN

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Office:

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;I cannot say enough about Debbie Corey as a professional Real Estate Agent. She has assisted my immediate family in their search for the perfect home. In fact, Debbie has worked with us on the sale and/or purchase of 14 homes. She is always available when we call and she puts no

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2015 REALTOR OF THE YEAR FOR ROCHESTER CHAPTER OF WOMENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S COUNCIL OF REALTORS 2015 TOP RE/MAX TEAM IN SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN FOR NUMBER OF TRANSACTIONS AND TEAM COMMISSIONS

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DOWNTOWN ROCHESTER • ROCHESTER HILLS PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Katie Deska | 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 GRAPHICS/IT MANAGER Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in Rochester, Rochester Hills and parts of Oakland Township. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in Rochester and Rochester Hills.

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

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FROM THE PUBLISHER he proverbial “big tent” that Michigan Republican politicians have talked about for the past three decades got a bit smaller in recent months, as evidenced by an even stronger conservative party platform adopted at the summer convention, only to be topped off most glaringly by the Grand Traverse County Republicans in recent weeks who passed a resolution to disavow former Republican Governor William Milliken as member of the party.

T

Milliken, a native of Traverse City, is Michigan's longest serving governor, holding the office from 1969 through 1982, following stints as lieutenant governor, state senator and time spent on the Michigan Waterways Commission.

The members of the Grand Traverse group took umbrage with Milliken's endorsement of Hillary Clinton for president this year. The resolution adopted by the northern Michigan Republicans also criticized the former governor for vetoing bills when in office that would have stopped state funding of abortion in 1978, 1980, 1981 and 1982. So, according to Grand Traverse Republicans, William Milliken's “status as a Republican (will) be no longer recognized.”

It was not the first time since leaving office that Milliken ignored party labels when endorsing candidates, including Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry in 2004 and Gary Peters when he ran for U.S. Senate.

Oh, I almost forgot, Milliken also withdrew his endorsement of presidential candidate John McCain when his campaign took a decidedly negative turn when he ran against President Obama. Milliken's logic at the time: “Increasingly, the party is moving toward rigidity, and I don't like that.”

That's not to say he hasn't backed GOP candidates, including incumbent Michigan Governor Rick Snyder, but he has long been considered a state leader that was and still is most concerned with who is best qualified to govern.

Franky, I would expect nothing less from former Governor William Milliken, considered a moderate (some say moderate-to-liberal) Republican who was more than willing to cross party lines and achieve consensus on critical issues that allowed state government to function at a higher level during his administration. His concern for good government was applied equally to a host of issues, most notably to environmental considerations. We have Milliken to thank for the Environmental Protection Act in Michigan and the Inland Lakes and Stream Act. Add to that list the Open Meetings Act, among other legislative accomplishments that still benefit us today.

Much to the chagrin of metro area suburban community leaders, he also served as a strong proponent of regionalism decades before the current day converts' push of that viewpoint. Milliken was a bridge from the rest of the state to the city of Detroit during the Coleman Young administration, which probably explains why he is the last Republican governor to carry Wayne County in elections. He clearly was a visionary in terms of the importance of Detroit remaining a successful anchor for the southeast Michigan area.

My personal experiences with the former governor are probably among the most memorable moments in my early career, whether a personal session in his Lansing office where one could comfortably talk about

issues like the need for better control over expansion of lakes access development in Oakland County and the state, or his visits to our offices at the time where you could have frank talks about far ranging issues or zero in on local concerns such as the push in those years to expand/extend Northwestern Highway.

The nonsensical Grand Traverse Republicans in recent weeks were no doubt emboldened even more by the continuing swing to the right of the national party platform, which was toughened up even further to appease the conservative wing this summer.

That was not always the case with the GOP, which dating back to the 1968 convention adopted a platform that was considered more socially moderate and environmentally conscious. But by the time we got to the 1976 platform, you could see the influence of the far right. In 1976, opposition to abortion had entered the platform and by the 1990's, faith as an issue entered the party platform.

Then in 1992, we have the first mention of same-sex relationships and the rejection of same-sex couples from adopting or becoming foster parents. By the time we hit 2004, the GOP platform became more entrenched in far right verbiage, calling for a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union of a man and a woman.

The platform this year represents much of the same exclusionary thinking, despite the lip service paid by national, state and Oakland County leaders to the theory of the “big tent” that supposedly would provide for a more inclusive party to avert further national election losses and the slow death of the GOP thanks to a growing litany of litmus test issues.

And the Republican party – nationally, in Michigan and in Oakland County – have much to be concerned about this election year. With a unruly demagogue at the top of the ticket, whose ratings are spiraling downward just 60 days ahead of absentee ballots hitting the mail, there is legitimate concern that the Donald Trump backwash, coupled with the continuing takeover of the party by hard core conservative zealots, has driven supporters away from the GOP when it comes to Republican hopefuls further down the ballot.

The only hope here in Oakland – albeit one that is getter slimmer by the week – is the history in this county of voters splitting the ticket when moving from the top of the ballot to the state and county offices.

Nationally, split-ticket voting is becoming more of a rarity. According to a recent study by the Pew Research Center, only six percent of all congressional districts in the 2012 election went for one party for president and then switched to the other political party when picking a candidate for U.S. House.

Oakland's track record shows a bit more independence when it comes to moving across the aisle when casting ballots. Whether that pattern will hold in the 2016 election is anyone's guess. But county Republicans had best hope so, or the ongoing march of Democrats who have made good gains in the last couple of presidential election years in Oakland will continue. The GOP will have only itself to blame for the outcome.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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INCOMING Oakland’s 911 system Fantastic detail and coverage on E911 / NG911 in Kevin Elliott’s story (Next Generation 911/August).

He obviously has done his homework.

Mark Fletcher, ENP Chief Architect/Public Safety Solutions Avaya, New York, New York

Gravel mining story Excavating gravel (August/Downtown) — a very interesting article. Very well researched and delivered.

Ron Mack Ascent Aerospace Lake Orion

Pending legislation Thank you for (David Hohendorf’s) insightful article on the conflict of interest issue in local politics and how pending legislation might help (June/Downtown).

I've contacted my Senator and Representative – you made it clear and easy.

Looking forward to more excellent and relevant articles.

Carla Kamp Rochester Hills

Missing refugee facts Regarding 'Seeking Refuge' (August/Downtown), the article misses salient important facts.

There are 650,000 homeless Americans who are neglected totally and get only a fraction of what is offered to Muslim immigrants.

Clearly, (the article) ignores also that these immigrants are not necessarily Syrian. Only 30 percent are. Ninety percent are young males who will ask for family unification, including multiple wives, in-laws of those and whoever fits the "extended family" laws. The total extended family per one male Muslim is about 100.

A thousand immigrants mean eventually about 100,000 Muslim immigrants. Polygamous women register as "single mothers" and have all the benefits which we give to single mothers. Averagely, every Muslim woman has 4-5 children who require schools, health care, etc.

The immigrant Muslim men frequently...have different Arabic dialects, have no money, no skills and no burning sensation to be downtownpublications.com

SPEAK OUT

You Can Feel the Difference!

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

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

Americans. Islam warns against assimilation and punishes those who deviate. Islam does not believe in Democracy as the laws of man come from Allah. Those who believe in Sharia endorse a social, political, religious system that is not consistent with American laws.

Isaac Baar MD Bloomfield Township

Zero GOP options I enjoyed (David Hohendorf’s) insightful editorial regarding the election process in the August 2016 edition of Downtown newsmagazine.

It caused me to think about the August primary ballot. In Rochester Hills we were provided with zero options on the Republican side of the ballot.

Every politician ran unopposed.

This tells me the Republican party in Oakland County is only interested in putting forth their preferred candidate. Why wouldn't they encourage options within their own party? While money may still win elections, it would appear the Republican party in Oakland County still determines who gets to run for office.

Tim Srock Rochester Hills

Voice of reason I appreciate (David Hohendorf’s) essays at the beginning of Downtown newsmagazine.

A voice of reason on many topics. I was especially surprised by the one about transsexual bathroom access. Bravo.

Nicole Ward Oakland Township

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

ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS: In a year where predictions offered by political pundits are less accurate than the extended weather forecast in any given week, there is only one certainty: nothing is certain. From Donald Trump’s presidential nomination to Sen. Bernie Sander’s success in Michigan, the resulting uncertainty has many candidates on the lower portion of the November ballot worried, or hopeful, depending on their current position. “It’s a bigger crapshoot in this election than in any in recent memory,” said Dave Dulio, chair of the political science department at Oakland University.

One factor that will impact results, he said, is voter turnout.

DULIO And, with many voters unhappy with both presidential candidates, Dulio said he expects to see muted turnout at the polls. “If that’s true, it’s really driven by the folks that show up, so it’s really hard to say.”

Bill Ballenger, longtime Michigan political analyst and author of The Ballenger Report (now online only) said in mid-August that a federal court ruling on whether a ban on straight-party ticket will be upheld could have a dramatic impact on state and local races, particularly in Oakland County where Democrats have been making inroads at the county level. “Republicans are hoping banning straight-party tickets could help them, and if that doesn’t happen, that could be a big factor,” he said. Republicans in Oakland County have lost the treasurer, clerk and water resources commissioner offices in recent years. If straight-party votes favor the Democratic candidate for president, as it traditionally has, the impact on local offices could be dramatic.

“With the changing demographic in Oakland County, it’s hard to say what will happen next,” Ballenger said. “Republicans lost a lot of races they didn’t think they would. It’s hard to say if that will effect (Oakland County Executive) Brooks Patterson, but if he were to be upset, that would be huge.”

The GOP in Oakland County should watch out now that the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has just refused to reverse a lower court ruling that rejected the Republican-backed law that banned straight party ticket voting. Betting money says that any planned further appeal won’t be heard in time for this election because ballots must be printed and mailed in September to members of the armed services overseas. An over-supression effort that will clearly backfire.

BIG SHOULDERS: Earlier this summer, state Sen. Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills) was slapped in the face by, of all people, Gov. Rick Snyder, who said, sorry, don’t like that bill you sponsored that would have gotten his, and a bunch of other municipalities, off the financial hook for paying for part of the costs of widening and improving state trunk highways, like the huge I-75 project.

Senate Bill 557, which Knollenberg sponsored and was passed by the legislature on June 9, would have amended the road funding formula of the Michigan Transportation Fund law, in place since 1951, which requires that large cities pay for part of any freeway project coming through their city limits.

Snyder, however, vetoed the bill, saying it would create a patchwork of funding mechanisms around the state. In July, Knollenberg announced he would try to override Snyder’s veto, which requires a two-thirds majority in both the House and the Senate.

“He can’t do it (override) on his own. It’s a question of does he have the dexterity to bring together similar communities with like-minded goals,” said one insider who served with him in the House. “Success in that arena is all about the coalitions you build, and God love him, that has never been one of his strengths.”

One Republican Michigan senator said overriding a veto is never a good idea, recalling a time when it was successfully done under Gov. John Engler.

“The legislative body takes hell for it – they always pay for it one way or another.” However, he said, “Knollenberg carries a lot of clout in the Republican caucus. When he speaks, his words are well chosen. He has a good reputation and is well thought of” – an opinion we seldom hear. There are reports that Knollenberg is working with the governor’s staff and MDOT to change language in the bill before reintroducing it as new legislation. downtownpublications.com

WHAT WAS HE THINKING: Public Service Announcements (PSA) are important ways to get a message out, and TV, radio, cable and print newspapers and magazines all run them at no charge as a way of raising awareness about important social issues. That doesn’t change the head shaking going on about a new YouTube video PSA produced by the Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office, a 2:35 piece called “Pipe Down! Watch What You Flush,” starring water resources commissioner Jim Nash as a John Waters-inspired husband and a transvestite as his wife. In the hokey, and (we hope intentionally) humorous NASH video, Nash sits in a chair reading the newspaper while his “wife” – done up to the max – cleans the bathroom. Nash reads a “breaking news” article about how dangerous it is to the sewer system to flush dental floss, cotton balls, wipes, and cigarettes, while the “wife” flushes all those items down the toilet before the house explodes. Craig Covey, a special assistant to Nash and currently running against Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard in November, is credited for the creative concept. You’ve been forewarned.

NO OPINION: Newspapers, especially dailies, have long used a portion of their opinion pages to offer a local take on political candidates and ballot proposals – even publications with modest staffs. Such opinions are typically done in addition to political and election coverage, and clearly marked as opinion. However, that tradition has ended at The Oakland Press and its sister paper, the Macomb Daily, both of which ceased offering endorsements and local opinions on political issues. Repeated calls to Don Wyatt, vice president of news in Michigan for Digital First Media, owner of the two papers, and executive editor of The Oakland Press, weren’t returned. But sources at both publications confirmed neither have offered endorsements in at least a year.

Whether the decision to stop endorsements was based on staffing challenges (now rumored to be paper thin, excuse the pun) or other pressures isn’t known.

GORCYCA’S FATE: The nine-member Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission at its September meeting may be deciding the fate of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Lisa Gorcyca after a less than positive July ruling by an examiner charged with investigating how the judge handled a contentious divorce/child custody case for the past five years.

Gorcyca was the subject of a December 2015 Judicial Tenure Commission complaint that she had mishandled the child custody battle between two Oakland parents in a five and onehalf year case that involved three children and a total of twenty attorneys (16 for the wife), some 40 hearings and more than 100 legal pleadings. In short, the ruling said she acted GORCYCA inappropriately (sending the children to the county youth detention facility for ignoring a court order that they have lunch with their father) and made false statements during the review of her performance.

While Gorcyca has been firm in her denial of the charges, if the Judicial Tenure Commission accepts the report’s findings, members could recommend punishment to the Michigan Supreme Court, which has the final determination. Gorcyca is clearly “nervous” about the possible outcome, according to those close to the judge. Some in the legal community say that all judges in the county are now “looking over their shoulders” as a result of the complaint.

RESPECT: About 100 people allegedly showed up at the Birmingham home of Gretchen and Ethan Davidson on August 10 to shake the hand of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Ethan Davidson is the son of Bill Davidson, who passed away in 2009, and was the owner of Guardian Industries and the Detroit Pistons during its championship years. Word is that a handshake cost $2,500 a couple, although when not all of the tickets had sold, some devoted but not as wealthy donors were invited in CLINTON the door for just $100 or $200. Motown legend Aretha Franklin, who lives in neighboring Bloomfield Township, showed Hillary some love, belting out “Respect” and “Natural Woman” for the candidate and her supporters.

DOWNTOWN

17

FACES

Sheila Landis azz singer Sheila Landis has performed on the Detroit music scene since she was a young girl, compiling dozens of recordings and full-length albums and earning her seven "Outstanding Jazz Vocalist" awards from the Detroit Music Awards Foundation. Her most recent work, "Beautiful Things," was out in August as the latest release from her own label, SheLan Records.

After more than four decades in the business, Landis is refocusing on performing after juggling music and full-time work as a medical transcriber for 25 years. A resident of Rochester Hills, Landis continues to perform with her longtime partner and guitarist, Rick Matle, throughout the area, including Rochester's Arts and Apples event, Arts Beats and Eats, and several other locations in Oakland County and metro Detroit.

"Being on the road can be brutal, especially when you start getting into your 60s â&#x20AC;&#x201C; you want to sleep in your own bed. There's plenty to do in a 20-mile radius," Landis said about picking where she wants to perform. "I tell people that being a musician is like being a hunter-gatherer; you're always looking for work. If you take a vacation, it's probably a working vacation."

Landis first gained an appreciation for music on February 9, 1964, when she and millions of others witnessed The Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show. But, it was the 1972 film, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lady Sings the Blues," featuring Diana Ross that sparked her passion for jazz and the blues.

"I fell in love with jazz and the blues in the 1970s, and that's when I began my career," she said.

Answering a newspaper advertisement for a pop band looking for a certain kind of singer, Landis got a gig singing for The Vineyards.

She left the group and later began recording under her own label at the studios of Detroit musician Jack Brokensha, a percussionist with The Funk Brothers.

"I answered an ad in The Detroit News. There was a drummer that was putting together a pop group. He wanted to put together another Motown label. He was going through the prerequisites and he wanted a white girl that sounded like she had some soul. That turned out to be me," she said. "I got the gig, but it turned out to be something I wasn't comfortable in. It wasn't the right fit for me. I felt constrained."

In 1981, Landis released "Jazz Rendezvous," followed by "Bebop Angel," the following year. The work allowed her to put together her own group, named The Top Drawer. The freedom has allowed Landis to expand her style to include Brazilian and Latin flavors, blues and a variety of jazz sounds.

"To me, jazz is like an octopus. It has arms that touch the blues, and arms that touch popular music and Brazilian music," she said.

"It has arms in everything."

Meanwhile, fellow musician and partner Matle was studying jazz at Oakland University. The two met one night in Pontiac, and have been together since. "I was playing a show at The Phoenix Center, in Pontiac, and she saw me play," he said. "Somehow, we hooked up after that."

Today, the two play together as a duo and with other musicians at regular gigs and special events, sometimes inviting others to join them at neighborhood shows.

"It's never dull, and we are always evolving," Landis said. "We inspire each other and are always learning."

J

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

oncerns over student health and safety in the wake of the Flint water crisis have spurred many local school districts to step up efforts to ensure their water is free of excessive lead and copper contamination, but the lack of meaningful action at the state and federal levels may give parents and officials a false sense of security.

Of the hundreds of school buildings in Oakland County, only 31 schools are required to conduct water sampling for lead and copper levels. Under federal law, schools that receive water from a public water system, such as the Great Lakes Water Authority (formerly the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department) or municipal water systems, such as those in areas of Rochester and Waterford, arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t required to conduct water quality testing. Those requirements are mandated only for schools that receive water from their own private well systems, which include several schools in Highland Township, White Lake, Clarkston and other locations in western and northern Oakland County. That means water quality testing conducted at school districts in the Birmingham/Bloomfield and Rochester areas do so on a voluntary basis, and at their own expense.

Downtown Publications this summer contacted more than 30 public and private school districts throughout Oakland County to determine whether they conduct water testing for lead and copper, with responses from 16 districts. Of those who responded, 12 districts test at least a portion of their drinking fountains and sinks for lead or copper levels, with three in the process of testing. Of those that have already tested water, seven found at least one fixture in the district that tested higher than the federal action level for lead or copper.

Districts surveyed that found elevated levels of lead or copper included Berkley Schools; Farmington Public Schools; Huron Valley Schools; Rochester Community Schools; South Lyon Schools; Southfield Schools and the Troy School District. Each of the districts conducted additional testing when elevated levels were found, and either took the water fixture out of service permanently or until the issue was resolved.

C

SCHOOL WATER: IS IT SAFE FOR KIDS TO DRINK?

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

Districts that didn’t discover lead or copper levels above the limit set by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) may still have some presence of lead or copper. For instance, records provided by the Bloomfield Hills Schools district showed at least some presence of lead or copper at 11 of the 46 drinking fountains or sinks most recently sampled at the district.

“This is fairly new territory for us and we are implementing water testing and other measures to ensure safe drinking water for students, staff and visitors,” said Shira Good, director of communications and community relations for the Bloomfield Hills district. “We regularly review all drinking fountains and other water fixtures, considering replacement and repair where necessary. Our generous sinking fund enables us to stay on top of these kinds of issues, but we would strongly encourage the legislature to put adequate funding in place to address this ongoing concern.”

Without voluntary water quality testing, the vast majority of school districts have virtually no information about the amount of lead and copper coming from the drinking fountains and sinks within their buildings.

While the federal Lead and Copper Rule requires public water suppliers to test some locations in each community, which are shared with the public in annual “consumer confidence” reports, those results represent a minuscule portion of water taps in each municipality. Further, some of the same procedures that allowed officials to under-report lead levels in water in Flint are still being used and prescribed by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) today.

“One of the groups that (the law) doesn’t protect, ironically, is schools,” said Virginia Tech Professor Marc Edwards, who is considered one of the world’s leading experts in water corrosion in plumbing. “They tend to have the worst leadin-water problems, and there is no requirement at all to even sample there.”

Edwards’ research on elevated lead in Washington D.C. gained national attention prior to his work to expose lead in Flint’s water system. In so doing, Edwards helped to reveal “cheats” used by Flint water officials to lower findings with pressure from the Michigan DEQ. While it’s now apparent that Flint water officials were purposefully working to skew testing results there, both federal regulators and the MDEQ have failed to address flawed water sampling procedures used by schools. Some of those issues are discussed in an April 2016 report issued by the state’s Flint Water Advisory Task Force.

“Flint’s water quality sampling was fundamentally flawed, giving false assurances and an untenable basis for the MDEQ’s claims that Flint’s water system was delivering safe water,” the report states. “The series of missteps and outright errors is well documented, including sampling of pre-flushed lines, use of narrow-mouthed bottles and perhaps most egregiously, failure to select high-risk homes for

THE MAJORITY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS HAVE VIRTUALLY NO INFORMATION ABOUT THE AMOUNT OF LEAD AND COPPER COMING FROM DRINKING FOUNTAINS

testing, as required by the Lead and Copper Rule.”

Both the EPA and the Michigan DEQ state water samples should be taken at “first draw,” or the first time a water tap is turned on in the morning, in order to better determine if lead is present. That recommendation is included in the federal Lead and Copper Rule, as well as guidelines for schools and day cares that voluntarily conduct water testing. However, guidelines for schools and daycares also recommend pre-flushing lines the night before testing, which can potentially lower lead and copper levels when tested.

“If systems are pre-flushing the tap the night before collection of (Lead and Copper Rule) compliance samples, this clears particulate lead out of plumbing and biases the results by eliminating the highest lead values,” the EPA said in an e-mail to the MDEQ in regard to residential water testing in Flint.

Despite the knowledge that pre-flushing can skew results, the EPA, to an extent, and the state DEQ continue to recommend the practice for schools and daycares conducting voluntary tests.

Interim DEQ State School Drinking Water Coordinator Susan Kilmer said the department provides guidance to schools that do test drinking water, and recommends that water not sit stagnant for more than 24 hours prior to testing. That recommendation, she said, is based on guidance from the EPA. “The guidance document does instruct firstsamples in the morning, and for the water to be still for six to eight hours,” Kilmer said. “We do recommend that if the water hasn’t been used for an extended period of time that they run the water the day before. That’s what we recommend.”

The MDEQ’s guidelines for school water sampling are based on similar guidelines issued by the EPA, which recommend water remain stagnant between eight and 18 hours in an outlet or fixture before testing.

“Collect all water samples before the facility opens and before any water is used. Ideally, the

water should sit in the pipes unused for at least 8 hours but not more than 18 hours before a sample is taken,” the EPA guide states.

“However, water may be more than 18 hours old at some outlets that are infrequently used. If this is typical of normal use patterns, then these outlets should still be sampled.”

While issues in Flint went well beyond the use of pre-flushing, Virginia Tech's Edwards said it and other flawed sampling techniques can skew results and allow needless exposure to lead and copper.

“It makes lead-in-water low when you sample it, even if it's high when people are drinking it. I never understood why — if you’re trying to find a lead-in-water problem to fix it — why you would do things to make lead in water look low,” Edwards said. “The whole premise of the (lead and copper) rule was when you sample, you’re trying to find the worst case in every possible way. All of those things circumvent that intent and undermine the effectiveness of the law completely, to the point where Flint never met the lead and copper rule.

“That’s what a sick joke this has become with all of these extra steps that people drink up and basically how hard they work to not find a lead-in-water problem. It’s mind boggling.”

Other “cheats” that may lower the levels of lead-in-water sampled include removing and/or cleaning aerators installed on faucets prior to testing, which may collect lead particulates; using narrow-mouthed bottles for testing to limit the flow of water from the tap; and failing to test locations most likely to have elevated lead levels, due to lead water fixtures, service lines or lead solder.

In February, the EPA issued a memo to 49 state water directors across the United States recommending they amend sampling instructions so not to include pre-stagnation flushing. The memo also instructs sampling to use wider bottles when drawing water, and to keep aerators in place without prior cleaning directly before testing. However, the memo applies only to tests mandated under the federal Lead and Copper Rule, and not to voluntary testing.

In April, Michigan’s DEQ issued an updated version of its guide for sampling for lead and copper in schools. Within that guide, the DEQ advises “not all fixtures identified for sampling may be used on a regular basis. Therefore, it is important to run each tap to clear the faucet the day prior to sampling for a minimum of two minutes.”

In addition to some variations between the EPA and MDEQ’s sampling recommendations, the EPA’s guidelines for voluntary testing of lead and copper at schools and daycare facilities recommends a maximum threshold for lead samples at 20 ppb (parts per billion), which is higher than the 15 ppb action level it prescribes under federal law. Michigan, however, has recommended schools use a maximum of 15 ppb for lead, and is seeking to lower that level to 5 ppb, which is the same as the federal limit for lead in bottled water.

While lead is harmful to all humans, children are the most susceptible to exposure. Because

their bodies are growing, they absorb more lead than adults, and their brains and nervous systems are more sensitive to the effects of lead.

Even low levels of lead in the blood of children can result in behavior and learning problems, lower IQ and increase hyperactivity, slow growth, and lead to hearing problems and anemia. Further, lead doesn’t leave the body, but is stored in bones and accumulates over time.

Likewise, elevated copper can lead to immediate and longterm health impacts, including vomiting, diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea, liver damage and kidney disease. While the human body naturally maintains a proper level of copper, youngsters are more vulnerable to the toxic effects of copper. The EPA sets the federal action limit for copper at 1,300 ppb.

Due to a lack of specific regulations for lead and copper testing in schools, districts that do sample use varying limits to determine whether action is needed to lower the amount of lead.

While the majority of districts responding to Downtown Publication’s testing survey refer to the federal action limit of 15 ppb for lead, some use the EPA’s recommended threshold of 20 ppb, with one (Birmingham) setting limits at 10 ppb. Both state and federal limits for copper levels are capped at 1,300 ppb.

Jenna Sendra, manager of the cleanWATER team for Arch Environmental Group in Farmington Hills, said the amount of sampling done at schools that do test varies from district to district. Arch conducts water sampling and testing for several Oakland County school districts, including Bloomfield Hills Schools, Birmingham Public Schools and South Lyon Community Schools.

Sendra said the variance from schools may be due to the state of flux with recommendations by the EPA, MDEQ and changes anticipated within the state.

“There are a lot of things changing and going on, from (maximum) levels and DEQ recommendations and revisions,” she said. “It’s a tough spot, where some districts want some information, such as a few samples at each building. Others want to do all of their drinking water locations. It’s a tough time because things change so much. You could do one thing, then it changes and you have to do another.

“It’s a battle of whether you do it now and have to do more later, or wait and see how the changes play out.”

School districts in Oakland County that have had water sampling conducted at least once in the past three years include districts in Berkley, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Farmington, Huron Valley, Novi, Rochester, Royal Oak, South Lyon, Southfield, Troy and Cranbrook Education Community. School district officials in Avondale, The Roeper School, Waterford and West Bloomfield said the district will be testing facilities in August and September, respectively.

Annette McAvoy, communications supervisor for Avondale Schools, said in August that two buildings in the district were recently tested, with the remaining schools and facilities to be done after the start of the school year. Results from initial tests had not yet been returned to the district.

SOME OF THE SAME PROCEDURES THAT ALLOWED OFFICIALS TO UNDER-REPORT LEAD LEVELS IN WATER IN FLINT ARE STILL BEING USED AND PRESCRIBED

Birmingham Public Schools spokeswoman Marcia Wilkinson said the district tests for lead and other contaminants at each of the district’s schools throughout the year. The district earlier this year provided sampling results conducted in 2015 and three schools that were tested this year.

Steve King, manager of operations for the district, said the most recent sampling results for Meadow Lake (School) are from 2013 because it was through that the district was selling the building. “I have asked Arch Environmental to place Meadow Lake back in the cycle until we do actually sell the building,” he said.

According to sampling results provided by the district from Arch Environmental, the district uses a lead threshold of 10 ppb, half of what is recommended by the EPA and 5 ppb lower than that recommended by the DEQ. Testing locations include dozens, if not all, water fixtures in each of the schools, including drinking fountains, cafeteria and kitchen sinks, bathroom sinks, lounge sinks. All of the samples taken tested below 10 ppb for lead. The report didn’t indicate whether levels below 10 ppb were found at any sampling locations. Nor do results indicate any sampling for copper. Tests are also conducted for coliform and E-Coli at each of the buildings. Those samples all indicated no presence of contaminants.

Water samples in the Bloomfield Hills Schools district were taken in February at Bloomfield Hills High School, Bloomfield Hills Middle School, Bowers Academy, Conant Elementary, East Hills Middle School, Eastover Elementary School, Fox Hills School, International Academy, Lone Pine Elementary School, Way Elementary School, West Hills Middle School and Wing Lake School.

Water samples taken within the district were limited to drinking fountains and sinks that may commonly be used for drinking, as well as sinks closest to the building’s service connection.

None of the samples tested for lead levels above the EPA’s recommended action level for schools.

Overall, 35 samples taken showed no signs of

lead at all, with 11 having levels ranging from 12 ppb to 1 ppb. The district didn’t sample for elevated copper.

Locations that tested positive for lead but below state and federal action levels were: (1 ppb) at a men’s room sink at Bowers Academy; at Conant Elementary School in a kitchen sink (1 ppb), a drinking fountain next to Room 206 (2 ppb) and a fountain across from Room 103 (1 ppb); at East Hills Elementary at a cafeteria prep sink (1 ppb) and a drinking fountain in the 7th Grade Wing (2 ppb); at Fox Hills School at a drinking fountain in the back of Room F (2 ppb) and a fountain in the back of Room M (12 ppb); at International Academy at a fountain next to the main office (3 ppb); at Lone Pine Elementary at a drinking fountain in the back of Room 13 (3 ppb); and at Way Elementary at a cafeteria prep sink (6 ppb).

Rochester Community Schools in February conducted water testing at all 21 schools and facilities in the district. While none of the initial tests for lead revealed levels above 15 ppb, one lab sink in a science room at Rochester High School tested at 9 ppb, prompting the district to shut off water to that wing of the building.

Faucet fixtures in the room were replaced and additional tests were taken, said district spokeswoman Lori Grein.

“After consulting with experts, it was determined that the best course of action would be to install a recirculation pump in the laboratory wing to keep water moving through the pipes so lead cannot leach into the water,” Grein said.

Elevated copper levels exceeding the federal action level of 1,300 ppb were found in 39 of 63 samples conducted in March at Delta Kelly Elementary School. In response, the district disabled all drinking water sources at the school and provided students and staff with bottled water. Grein said DiHydro Services has since treated the copper plumbing with a food-grade solution to safeguard the water from contaminants. Subsequent testing in May was done, and all samples at the school were below the federal action level for both lead and copper.

“The safety and security of our children and staff is always a primary concern,” Grein said.

“We will continue to remain proactive in our approach to ensure the water test results at Rochester Community Schools are well below the action level set by the Federal EPA Safe Drinking Water Act. Sendra, with Arch Environmental, said mitigating copper problems is different than lead, as replacing old copper with new copper lines won’t necessarily resolve the issue.

Berkley Schools Superintendent Dennis McDavid in May notified parents that two of 22 tests conducted at the district tested positive for elevated levels of copper or lead. Those included a kitchen sink at Anderson Middle School that tested above 15 ppb for lead, as well as a kitchen sink at Avery Elementary School that was above the federal action level for copper.

“The fixtures on sinks were replaced and water samples retaken using the same method.

The water coming from those sinks is now below the action level for both lead and copper,”

McDavid said. “Out of an abundance of caution, we will conduct further tests on water outlets at Anderson.”

Diane Bauman, director of community relations for the Farmington Public Schools district, said testing in April revealed drinking fountains or sinks to have elevated lead levels in five buildings at the district. Bauman said the results were “very nominal” and were found in locations that are rarely used. A statement issued by district superintendent George Heitsch in April indicated the elevated levels were above the federal action level of 15 ppb, with the highest level found to be 37 ppb.

Cranbrook Educational Community Chief Operating Officer Rod Spearin said water sampling has been conducted throughout the campus for about 10 years, focusing primarily on lead, arsenic and E-Coli.

He said all the results have been below any government limits on contaminants.

Spearin said about 10 locations on campus are tested each year, which may include school buildings, dormitories, the Academy of Art, Institute of Science and administration buildings.

Huron Valley Schools spokeswoman Kim Root said water sampling conducted in March included two to seven samples at each school and support building in the district. Complete results of the tests, which are available on the district’s website, indicated elevated lead levels at two locations at Milford High School. Those locations included a drinking fountain near a women’s restroom and a custodial sink. Both fixtures have been taken out of service.

Milford High School is one of more than 30 schools in Oakland County that receives water from its own well, rather than a public water supply, and is therefore required to test for lead and copper under federal law. Additional schools in the Huron Valley district that are required to conduct water samples include Highland Elementary School, Apollo Center, Spring Mills Elementary School, Duck Lake Continuing Education Center, Oxbow Elementary School, Oak Valley/Country Oaks and Heritage Elementary School.

According to the DEQ, additional schools required to sample for lead and copper include: Glengary Elementary School, in White Lake; Upland Hills School, in Oxford; Leonard Elementary School, in White Lake; Bailey Lake Elementary School, in Clarkston; Dixie Baptist, in Ortonville; Oakland Schools Technical Campus, in Clarkston; Andersonville Elementary, in Clarkston; Lakeland High School, White Lake Middle School and Lakewood Elementary, all in White Lake; West Highland Christian School, in Milford; Davisburg Elementary, in Holly; Harvey Swanson Elementary, in Ortonville; Brandon Fletcher, in Ortonville; Rochester College, in Rochester Hills; Clear Lake Elementary, in White Lake; Hamilton-Parsons Elementary, in Leonard; Brooks Elementary, in Highland; Springfield Plains, in Clarkston; Rose Pioneer Elementary, in Holly; Brandon Middle School, in Ortonville; Oakview School, in Lake Orion; and Oakwood Elementary, in Ortonville.

BOTH FEDERAL REGULATORS AND THE MICHIGAN DEQ HAVE FAILED TO ADDRESS FLAWED WATER SAMPLING PROCEDURES USED

BY SCHOOLS

Dan Abrams, a special advisor and spokesman for the EPA’s headquarters in Washington D.C., said a total of 7,063 schools in the country are subject to the federal Lead and Copper Rule because they own and operate their own water systems.

Abrams said sampling data of those schools in Michigan is required to be reported to the Michigan DEQ. Although the EPA maintains a searchable database of records under the Safe Drinking Water Information System, the information available may not be easily understood by the general public. Detailed water sampling reports, he said, should be available from the state agency responsible for maintaining and enforcing the law on behalf of the EPA, which in Michigan is the DEQ. Requests for further sampling details from the MDEQ weren’t readily available or provided without a substantial fee through the Freedom of Information Act. Novi Schools Superintendent Steve Matthews said the district samples drinking water in the district every two years, with the most recent tests conducted in 2014. Those samples included 24 tests for lead and 24 for copper throughout the district. Matthews said none of the results exceeded the EPA’s action level for lead or copper. Tests will be conducted again later this year, he said.

The Roeper School, in Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham, is currently in the process of procuring a vendor to conduct testing at its buildings, said Kari Papadopoulos, director of communications and marketing for The Roeper School.

Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Shawn Lewis-Lakin said the district has sampled three buildings a year so that the entire district of nine schools is on a three-year rotation of testing.

“Because of the attention now being given to water quality, we tested all nine of our buildings over the past year. As we move forward, we plan to test annually,” he said. “DiHydro services conducts the testing for Royal Oak Schools.

They test cold water fixtures that are commonly used for human consumption (drinking

fountains, bubbler, kitchen fixtures). They test under normal use conditions.

“All of our results were below EPA standards for both lead and copper.”

South Lyon Schools Assistant Superintendent Maureen Altermatt said the district conducted water sampling this spring. The testing, which included 45 samples in K-12 buildings and three samples in the Early Childhood Center, cost the district about $6,000. The sampling included all drinking fountains and kitchen sinks.

Altermatt said two samples had elevated lead levels in excess of the EPA’s action level.

“Arch Environmental collected follow-up samples from the two locations with elevated lead to if determine the source of lead contamination is from the fixture or interior plumbing,” she said. “They said the two fixtures are likely the culprit of higher lead. The fixtures will be replaced, and in the mean time, they continue to be shut off and not used in any capacity.”

The Southfield Public School District failed to respond, but information about the water sampling conducted in April is available on the district’s website. According to the findings, four of 67 samples taken at the district’s 17 schools and facilities tested above the EPA’s action level for lead, while none tested above the action level for copper.

A second round of testing was conducted to determine the source of the contamination.

Results from follow-up tests conducted in May weren’t available in the report.

Initial results at the four locations that had elevated levels of lead included levels as low as 18 ppb, with a sink and drinking fountain testing at 130 ppb. Signage was placed at one sink faucet to indicate the water isn’t suitable for drinking, with the three other fixtures taken out of commission until the issue is resolved, Superintendent Lynda Wood said in the report.

Troy School District Director of Communications Kerry Birmingham said the district regularly tests for lead and copper, as well as other contaminants, such as air testing for radon and other pollutants.

“We have a regular schedule to test more things than lead and copper, but we did extensive testing recently,” she said. “May was the last time we tested, and we tested for lead and copper at that time in every building in the district.

The testing included hundreds of drinking fountains and sinks throughout the district.

Overall, she said sampling revealed four drinking fountains that exceeded federal guidelines, including three for lead and one for copper. All of the fountains, she said, were taken out of commission. Additional testing revealed the contamination was coming from the fixtures themselves and not the building’s larger plumbing system.

Kerry Birmingham said the entire testing process took several months to complete, due to the large number of fixtures in the district.

Following initial results of testing, she said water fountains at all buildings are flushed for three minutes prior to the start of school each day.

“This will eliminate students and staff from drinking water that has been sitting in the fountains, which has the highest risk for any contaminants,” she said.

Kerry Birmingham said fountains found to have elevated levels of lead or copper have since been replaced.

Waterford Schools Superintendent Keith Wunderlich said the district recently awarded a contract for testing across all the district’s buildings. He said in late July that testing would be done in August.

“Waterford is fortunate because we are just completing $100 million in bond construction that has upgraded all of our facilities, including pipes, restrooms and drinking fountains.”

He said testing will include about 1,500 fixtures at nine elementary buildings, two middle schools, two high schools, an early childhood center, an alternative high school and some specialized education locations.

“At $42 each, we’re looking at an expense of $63,000,” Wunderlich said. “Back when many of our buildings were on wells, we tested the water multiple times annually. Now that all of our buildings use water from Waterford Township, we receive water testing reports from the township regularly. The township does an excellent job of ensuring we receive high water quality.”

Districts that rely solely on consumer confidence water quality reports issued by local municipalities receive limited information about lead and copper, as such reports represent only a fraction of consumer taps in the community, and don’t include any schools.

Based on interviews with water providers and local public works departments responsible for sampling included in such reports, there is a complete disconnect of information between school districts and report findings.

Cheryl Porter, chief operating officer for the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA), said most water sampling used to verify lead and copper levels in consumer confidence reports are conducted by local municipalities. In general, Porter said lead and copper samples used by the GLWA are used to determine how to better understand how to formulate corrosion control measures of water when it leaves the treatment facility. Further, she said she was under the belief that school districts are required to meet more stringent requirements under the law.

Under the federal Lead and Copper Rule, 90 percent of customers in a particular community must have water that is below the federal action limit of 15 ppb, meaning that up to 10 percent of a community may receive water with lead levels above that concentration.

Municipalities conducting sampling to meet the federal rule are required to test high risk homes, starting with those that have lead service lines, followed by those with copper lines with the potential for lead solder, if available.

Despite recommendations by the EPA, it’s apparent there remains some confusion about how to meet the law. For instance, Rochester Public Works Director David Anason said the city tests for lead and copper at several

DESPITE KNOWING THAT PRE-FLUSHING CAN SKEW RESULTS, THE EPA AND THE MDEQ CONTINUE TO RECOMMEND THE PRACTICE FOR SCHOOLS

locations in the city, but indicated the sampling procedures don’t coincide with EPA recommendations.

“We have to follow certain measures,” he said. “You have to run the water for a certain amount of time and remove the aerators out of the faucet,” he said, which is a direct contradiction to EPA guidelines of the law.

In Rochester Hills, with a population of more than 72,000, a total of 13 locations were tested in 2014 for lead and copper in order to meet federal requirements. Public Works Director Allan Schneck confirmed one of those homes included a long-time city employee, but said that employee’s home was chosen at random and not intentionally. According to real estate records, the home was constructed in 1986, indicating it shouldn’t have lead plumbing or lead solder connections.

Because there is no federal or state requirement for lead and copper testing in schools, voluntary measures are currently the best indicator of contamination for local school districts.

West Bloomfield Schools Director of Communications Pam Zajac said while the district doesn’t have a regular water testing schedule, it was scheduled to conduct its first round of sampling in August.

“Going forward, a regularly scheduled testing protocol is under consideration, depending on test results and potential compliance requirements that have not yet become law.”

To date, the only statewide effort in Michigan to require schools to conduct lead and copper testing was made in January, when state Sen. Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) introduced SB 724.

The bill proposed that a public water supplier must collect water samples from drinking faucets at public and nonpublic schools in the state and have them analyzed for lead and copper contamination.

“My logic was that children are a very precious asset in the future of Michigan, and we want to make sure they have safe drinking water,” Jones said of the proposal, which has yet to be taken up by committee since being

introduced. “We wanted a mandate that all water sources be checked. Anything that is consumed.”

Jones said it’s his understanding that the bill hasn’t been taken up because the governor is seeking a more comprehensive package to address the issue.

In April, Governor Rick Snyder announced the need for a series of reforms to improve on the federal Lead and Copper Rule in the state.

“The federal Lead and Copper Rule needs to be improved immediately. It’s dumb and dangerous and in Michigan, we aren’t going to wait for the federal government to fix it anymore,” Snyder said in April. “We need to move forward with these reforms so we can better protect the health and safety of all Michiganders.”

Snyder spokeswoman Anna Heaton said the reforms must now be introduced in the legislature.

“There is not a lot of movement,” she said.

“We are hoping in the fall there will be more pickup on that.”

Amber McCann, spokeswoman for Ottawa County Republican and Senate Majority Leader Arlan Meekhof, who chairs the committee where Jones’s bill has stalled, confirmed the assessment of the bill’s history. McCann said proposals are awaiting a final report from the Joint Committee on the Flint Water Public Health Emergency. That committee last met in May. At the county level, Oakland County Board of Commissioners member David Woodward (DRoyal Oak) and Marcia Gershenson (DBloomfield Township) earlier this year introduced a resolution to establish the Oakland County Kids' Safe Drinking Water Fund to encourage all schools, childhood learning centers and childcare facilities to test drinking water. Under the proposal, the county would contribute $500,000 from its general fund balance to the drinking water fund, which would be made available for testing. Currently, the proposal is in committee.

"We need to fix it, and we have the resources to do that," Woodward said of the lead-in-water issue.

Meanwhile, measures at the federal level to improve the Lead and Copper Rule or establishing additional measures to conduct sampling at schools isn’t expected anytime soon.

“The only thing the EPA understands is that when kids are poisoned, they understand that it looks bad, but they refuse to do anything to stop it from happening,” said Edwards of Virginia Tech. “That was their attitude in Flint and (Washington) DC, and today in Philadelphia. By the time it was done, we spent a quarter million dollars to do what these agencies were supposed to do.”

Ultimately, Edwards said, communities at risk of lead poisoning have to take measures on their own to test water, as was done in Flint.

Residents and districts with lead plumbing are essentially left on their own. As for meaningful reforms, he said — they aren’t likely.

“One has to keep fighting and hope,” he said.

“Failure is not an option here. People are getting hurt, but I will believe it when I see it.”

FACES

Cec Vetraino Strine ochester Hills resident and former Cranbrook Schools teacher Cec Vetraino Strine spent decades teaching students at Brookside Elementary School before retiring in 2013. Now that community is working to help her help others battling cancer through "Cranbrook Envisions A Cure," an annual walk/run to help fund cancer research and support groups.

In the summer of 2007, Strine was diagnosed with epithelial-myopepithelial carcinoma, a rare form of cancer in the salivary gland. That November, she started a seven-week regiment of daily radiation treatment.

"My family was outstanding, starting with my husband, Steve," she said. "It was our journey together, not just mine.

He arranged his work schedule and took me to all the treatments. The other piece of it was Imerman Angels."

Founded by Jonny Imerman, a former student of Strine's, the foundation matches cancer patients with survivors who act as mentors to support those battling cancer. Reaching out to Imerman himself, Strine was matched with a mentor who had beaten the same form of cancer she was battling.

"Once you are paired, you work out how you want to be contacted," she said. "To be able to talk to someone who had been through this – that was crucial."

Following her treatments, Strine and fellow cancer survivor and Cranbrook alumna Sarah Jacobs celebrated their recovery by walking the perimeter of Kingwood Lake. The walk was later expanded and in 2009, they established the annual Cranbrook Envisions A Cure event.

With the help of folks at Cranbrook, more than 300 people attended the first community walk around the lake. Today, thousands of people participate in the event, which has raised more than $35,000 for cancer research and support groups.

Strine continues to organize the event, which will be held this year on Sunday, September 18, but the Cranbrook community is heavily involved. The 2016 event is sponsored by both Cranbrook's cross country club and tennis team, with support from many students, faculty, staff, parents, grandparents and friends. While attendance is free, the event raises funds through voluntary donations which benefit various charities.

"We have tables set up for each charity," Strine said. "If someone just goes to a table and learns about something that can help them – that's awesome. But if they feel inclined to donate, we certainly appreciate that."

While charities included in the event differ from year to year, Strine said Imerman Angels is always included. Strine has also mentored more than a dozen cancer patients through the organization since her own recovery.

Her efforts, she said, can be summarized by a quote by Maya Angelou: “I have learned that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw things back.”

"That really resonated with me," Strine said. "I'm still here, and the help from the doctors, family and Imerman Angels goes on and on. I have to give back. It was a given."

R

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

The 24th attempt at mass transit is off to a rough start but area voters will decide in November

RIDING INTO THE FUTURE OR A NEW QUAGMIRE? the fate of a rapid transit bus system to serve four metro area counties in southeast Michigan

BY LISA BRODY

hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret that Detroit, and surrounding areas, have had a 100-plus year love affair with automobiles. We love to drive them, build them, cruise them, and gaze at them. For many homeowners, a two-car garage is no longer sufficient, with threecar garages becoming more and more common in newer suburban homes. Yet, there are still many people without cars, and in need of reliable transportation. Increasingly, young people are choosing not to get their driver's licenses at 16. Millennials have received the memo, drilled into them by parents and teachers, that drinking and driving is a bad thing, and often choose ride-sharing transportation, such as Uber and Lyft, when going out for a night of fun. But for decades, other options for transit in the metro area have been scarce and unreliable.

On August 4, the board of the Regional Transit Authority of Southeast Michigan (RTA), comprised of representatives from Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Washtenaw counties and the city of Detroit, unanimously agreed to compromise language on a master plan for a regional transit millage to be placed on the November 8 ballot. The ballot issue asks voters in the four counties to approve a 1.2-mill property tax increase to fund the RTA's master plan of bus rapid transit and commuter rail to be developed over a 20-year time period. While the RTA has said the tax would cost the owner of an average home in the metro area $95 annually in additional taxes, that is only if your home has a state equalized value of $100,000, meaning you have a home worth $200,000. If you live in a $1 million-plus home in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester Hills or Oakland Township, the RTA tax you pay may be closer to $600, or more, annually.

T

Unlike with the SMART (Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation) millage, communities will not be able to opt-out of the RTA tax if it is passed by residents of three of the four counties. And homeowners would pay for it on top of the SMART millage, which was increased to a one-mill tax from .59 mills in 2014 and will expire in 2018, when it is slated to come before voters in Oakland, Macomb, Monroe and Wayne counties for a renewal.

Even if the RTA millage is approved, residents will continue to need to support SMART as a separate entity, at this point for an indefinite time. “I'm sure it will always require tax subsidies. Only about 10 to 20 percent of revenue comes from fare boxes,” said Gerald Poisson, chief deputy county executive of Oakland County, noting that Tokyo's transit system is the only one in the world that does not require a subsidy. “The ones in the U.S., millage subsidies account for about 50 to 60 percent (of revenue).”

A concern, among many, voiced by Oakland County representatives to the RTA board, Chuck Moss and Timothy Soave, is that there is no detail in the RTA master plan provided as to the likely impact of the RTA's request as an operating agency seeking state and federal capital and operating funds for the RTA services, separate from SMART, DDOT (Detroit Department of Transportation), The People Mover, or Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority. “We need to know how it will improve, at what cost, and how those costs will be allocated and funded,” Moss and Soave wrote in a 19-page draft of concerns on July 5.

If approved by voters, along with state and federal matching funds, the tax is predicted by the RTA to generate $4.7 billion over 20 years to pay for bus rapid transit lines on main corridors of Woodward, Michigan and Gratiot avenues, as well as Washtenaw Avenue between Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. It would also create a commuter rail service between Detroit and Ann Arbor, and high-end

WHILE THE RTA HAS SAID THE TAX WOULD COST THE OWNER OF AN AVERAGE HOME IN THE METRO AREA $95 ANNUALLY IN ADDITIONAL TAXES, THAT IS ONLY IF YOUR HOME HAS A STATE EQUALIZED VALUE OF $100,000. IF YOU LIVE IN A $1 MILLION-PLUS HOME, THE TAX YOU PAY MAY BE CLOSER TO $600, OR MORE. luxury bus service between Metro airport and numerous locations, as well as cover the transit service's annual operating costs. It would incorporate connections between the SMART and DDOT bus lines to provide connectivity for riders, pay for operating the People Mover, and in 2027, cover Detroit's new Qline, the M-1 Rail streetcar currently under construction along Woodward between downtown and midtown Detroit.

If approved, in the first year, using 2016 taxable values, Poisson said that Oakland County voters would pay $63.3 million into the RTA system; Wayne County voters, excluding the city of Detroit, $39.2 million; Detroit, $7.6 million; Macomb County, $30.3 million; and Washtenaw County, $18.3 million. The millage is for 20 years.

“The other years are just rough estimates, because for instance, there are increases and declines in taxable values, as well as capped growth under Headlee,” Poisson said.

If passed in November 2016, the master plan states, “The first five years of the Regional Mass Transit Plan will establish a reliable regional transit network for Southeast Michigan. The immediate implementation of new paratransit and mobility management services will expand regional mobility from the onset...the RTA will be able to introduce Cross-County Connectors, expand local airport express services in the first year of the service...After establishing a reliable regional network during the first five years of the program, the RTA will focus on expanding rapid transit in the region over the long-term. This includes opening all bus rapid transit corridors, establishing regional rail service between Ann Arbor and Detroit, and assuming operations of M-1 Rail.”

The RTA was established by the Michigan state legislature through Public Act 387 in 2012, with a 10-member board with representatives each serving three-year terms from Oakland, Wayne, Macomb, and Washtenaw counties, the city of Detroit,

Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners, and the governor of Michigan, whose representative serves as the chair without a vote.

The legislation gives the RTA the sole authority for the public transit region to apply to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for an operating grant, and requires it to submit a single consolidated application for the region and to allocate funding to public transportation providers, with currently 51.5 percent going to SMART, 47.5 percent to the city of Detroit's DDOT bus system, and one percent to the People Mover. It allows the RTA to acquire property for the system by various mechanisms, including condemnation, and appropriated $250,000 from the Comprehensive Transportation Fund to the RTA to begin implementing the state act.

But it was not all smooth sailing from there. While Gov. Rick Snyder signed it into law on December 19, 2012, creating the Regional Transit Authority, finding a CEO proved to be a hurdle.

John Hertel, the general manager of SMART and initially the choice to lead the new authority, stepped down in 2014, after never signing a contract, and ironically, never resigning from SMART, either. He just slid back into his former position. He told media at the time that he hadn't signed a contract, wasn't earning a paycheck, and couldn't hire any staff. He told one reporter he needed $2 to $3 million to develop the 110-mile system the legislation called for. It had given him $250,000. A request from the legislature for further funding, to the tune of $2 million, never came to fruition.

In the past, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) had been in control of funding, and in 2013, they transferred $7 million in federal funding from DDOT to SMART's budget, which moved urban dollars to suburban transit. Carmine Palombo, deputy executive director of SEMCOG, said, “Myself, along with a couple of MDOT staffers, along with Dennis Schornack from the governor's staff were the interim staff for the first year of the RTA until they hired an executive director and staff. After that, SEMCOG has worked with the staffers and provided them with some numbers and data.” He did not comment on the specifics of transferring the DDOT funds, but noted that SEMCOG hasn't been “as involved in putting together the master plan as the RTA.” In August 2014, Michael Ford, previously CEO of the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority, was hired as CEO of the RTA. Some critics felt that the regional transit adopted legislation was written to favor bus rapid transit, rather than any kind of light rail project, because it is less costly. According to the Harvard Kennedy Center, on average, bus rapid transit can be one-half the cost to build as light rail. “However, in some situations BRT (bus rapid transit) can be more expensive per mile than LRT (light rail transit), and some LRT systems have exceeded the per-mile cost of metro rail transit projects,” a report, “Bus versus rail: Costs, capacities and impacts,” stated.

The report also asserted that bus rapid transit is associated with greater land acquisition costs than light rail, and light rail can carry a significantly higher amount of passengers than bus rapid transit.

If the RTA does choose to opt for any rail projects, the RTA board will have to have a unanimous vote. So far, it has not been a consideration.

But how the board will decide funding was one of the final obstacles that was overcome at the final hour. The master plan originally called for majority rule – and with two members of each county, it could quickly skewer favor away from federal and state funding for a county like Oakland, towards the city of Detroit, for example. That was changed to now have similar approval to the Cobo Hall and Great Lakes Water Authority boards, where there must be one vote from every county and the city of Detroit approving a measure in order for a funding issue to be approved in order to provide fairness and an image of regionalism.

The goal of mass transit, in any region or city, is to carry people to work, whether they are rich or poor, from the city to the suburbs, or within the city; for those who cannot afford a car or choose not to use one to go to and from work or for leisure activities. For some, it's an essential part of obtaining their livelihood; for others, it improves their quality of life. In either case, proponents of mass transit note it's an essential component of economic vitality for an area.

“When you look at the Detroit region and you look at the assets, and the number of Fortune 500 companies, the number of really great educational institutions, the great talent, we're in the busiest border crossings in North America, yet why is it the Detroit region has consistently been a laggard in economic performance?” asked Sandy Baruah, president and CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber.

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“There is no one answer, but one of the glaring omissions is that successful regions have a way to move people efficiently to make money and spend money.”

This is not the first go at the rodeo for regional transit in metro Detroit. Actually, this is believed to be the 24th attempt over 40 years, although this will be the very first time it will be on the ballot for the public to vote on, according to the RTA. However, there was one previous attempt to put a mass transit issue before voters, but Gov. William Milliken, in 1974, worked to put a $1.1 billion mass transit bonding proposal on the ballot, but it failed.

“The number one myth about transit systems is about urban poor people, who cannot afford cars,” said Paul Hillegonds chairman of the RTA board. “While there is some truth to that, what a really good transit system does is it grows the outlying suburban area that is connected to the urban area. Not everyone wants to live in an urban core. Right now, millennials want to live in an urban core, and we need to cater to that. But for those who don't want to, we also need to provide people with the ability to connect with jobs and recreation. It allows them to live where they want and work where they need to.”

A 2014 study by University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute determined that 9.22 percent of households in the U.S are without cars – but that includes cities with excellent public transportation systems, like New York, which is number one, with 56 percent of households that don't have a car, and Washington D.C., where 38 percent of households are carless. Detroit ranked eighth, with 26 percent of households without a car, or about 176,865 people out of a population of 680,250 in 2013.

Believe it or not, years ago Detroit actually had successful public transportation systems, with streetcars, rail cars and buses. And despite common mythology, it wasn't the automobile companies that killed them, or proposals to develop a vital subway system, but Detroit Mayor James Couzens in 1920, and homeowners' organizations that worried that the underground mass transit would bring racial integration.

In the mid-1870s, the Detroit Railway Company carried 2.9 million people on four separate lines of horse-drawn streetcars. A decade later, electric streetcars were born, and commuter rail lines began in 1880 between Chicago and southeast Michigan. Detroit's streetcar system, which had consolidated from several independently-owned companies into one of the first municipallyowned systems in 1922, went out of business in 1956, after it was converted to all buses in 1953.

One of the first transit plans died in 1920. A rapid transit plan was created to expand the railway, bus and streetcar system with new subway routes, but Couzens vetoed a bond issue to construct a subway, and supposedly a veto override failed by only one vote.

Later in the 1920s, there was another attempt to construct a subway line from Detroit to Ford Motor Company's Rouge Complex, to move workers to and from the factory line. It was presented to voters in 1929, and supported by automakers, but the proposal failed due to opposition from homeowners' organizations who were fearful that the subway line would bring racial integration into neighborhoods.

According to Joel Batterman of Motor City Freedom Riders, a pro-transportation organization, in a historical piece on why the proposal failed, “The subway would serve the automakers and downtown businesses, they argued, at the expense of the expanding middle class, which inhabited the city's vast tract of new single-family homes and no longer relied on Detroit's extensive but slow streetcar system.”

Due to high costs during the Great Depression, streetcars began to be replaced by more economical buses, and by 1949, 10 of the 20 streetcar lines had been discontinued. Increasingly, buses were being used to transport riders throughout the city. By 1956, the same year the last streetcar rolled along Woodward, President Dwight Eisenhower signed the Federal Aid Highway Act, which authorized the construction of more than 40,000 miles of interstate highway throughout the United States.

It was official. The car was king. And here in the Motor City, as those highways were built, suburban sprawl followed.

Perhaps there was buyer's remorse, or the realization that Detroit, then one of the 10 largest cities in America, was a major city without public transportation, leaving many workers without reliable public transportation. In 1967, the Michigan legislature passed the Metropolitan Transportation Authorities Act of 1968, which created the Southeastern Michigan Transportation Authority (SEMTA), which initially included the counties of Macomb, Monroe,

Oakland, St.Clair, Washtenaw and Wayne, along with the city of Detroit, with Livingston County joining later. By 1971, all of the counties provided SEMTA funds.

According to Detroit Transit History, there were plans for SEMTA to purchase the Department of Street Railways bus system, but disagreements arose over Detroit's representation numbers on SEMTA's board, and Coleman Young administration's perception that SEMTA was not maintaining service at a “reasonable fare” for Detroiters.

Though there were several attempts to have SEMTA take over the city's bus system, it never occurred. It eventually became DDOT, and SEMTA became SMART. “Unfortunately, any dedicated source of funding to support mass transit within the entire region never materialized, and the anticipated takeover of the city-owned system by SEMTA never transpired,” Detroit Transit History wrote on its website. “What many anticipated as being a temporary arrangement between the city and its transit system has basically continued now for over (sic) 32 years.”

One of the most significant attempts at transit – and a symbol of its failure – is known as the downtown People Mover Project. It was begun in 1983, and was intended as the first phase of a connector to an intended Woodward Avenue subway. It was plagued by mismanagement, construction problems, and $66 million in cost overruns (in 1984 dollars) were projected. A federally-funded project, there were threats the feds would cease all funding for the rest of the project. Instead, Coleman Young reached an agreement with transit officials to abandon the rest of the project, and turned over operation and control of the People Mover to the city.

SEMTA became SMART in December 1988, by an act of the state legislature, downsizing the seven counties to a three-county

IF APPROVED, IN THE FIRST YEAR, OAKLAND COUNTY VOTERS WOULD PAY $63.3 MILLION INTO THE RTA SYSTEM; WAYNE COUNTY VOTERS, EXCLUDING THE CITY OF DETROIT, $39.2 MILLION; DETROIT, $7.6 MILLION; MACOMB COUNTY, $30.3 MILLION; AND WASHTENAW COUNTY, $18.3 MILLION. agency, leaving out the city of Detroit. In the mid-1990s, attempts were made to merge SMART and DDOT service, but they failed.

For many who use either system, which lacks seamless coordination, the system has failed them. The poor, those who need to get to jobs, or school, to shopping or doctor's appointments, traveling on buses often means waiting out in the open for long periods of time for a bus which may, or may not, come. It means hoping to catch a connection to another route to get to where they're going. In a metro area of 4.3 million people, it can be a ticket to nowhere.

In December 2012, after 23 other attempts, the Michigan legislature approved Act 387 of 2012, the Regional Transit Authority Act, which states it is “An Act to provide for certain regional transit authorities; to provide regional public transportation; to prescribe certain powers and duties of a regional transit authority and of certain state agencies and officials; to authorize the levy of an assessment and to provide for the issuance of bonds and notes; to collect certain taxes; to make appropriations; to provide for the pledge of assessment revenues and other funds for bond and note payments; and to repeal acts and parts of acts.”

Since its approval, the RTA has been established, with Hillegonds chairman of the board and Michael Ford its CEO. County executives appointed two representatives to the board for three-year terms, and meetings were held to develop a master plan, which was unveiled at the end of May. After what appeared to be last minute maneuverings by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel (but which were actually issues each had been addressing since last November), a regional transit authority ballot proposal for southeastern Michigan was approved to go before voters on November 8.

“We still have a ways to go, but we're hopeful that people will see the value in good regional transportation,” Ford said. Previously head of Ann Arbor's transit system, the Ann Arbor Area Transit Authority, Ford noted that a regional transit system is “good for quality of life, to get them to jobs, to educational institutions, to fresh food, doctors appointments, it creates more mobility for seniors and people with disabilities. It's not just about moving people back and forth; it's about amenities, and making the whole experience for transit riders. It builds on the foundation of the providers – of DDOT, SMART, the People Mover, and Ann Arbor Area Transit Authority.”

If voters approve the regional transit authority proposal in November, besides adding a 1.2-mill property tax to their taxes, there are questions as to how new transit will be incorporated in the metropolitan Detroit region, and when. The millage is designed to fund a bus rapid transit system with major routes built along Woodward from Detroit to Pontiac; on Gratiot from Detroit to M-59 in Mt. Clemens; on Michigan Avenue from Detroit to Dearborn, and then on to Detroit Metropolitan Airport; and on Washtenaw Avenue between downtown Ann Arbor and downtown Ypsilanti. Work on those routes would begin in 2017 through 2020.

The first bus rapid transit route to begin construction would be Woodward, which would start immediately after the millage is approved, with the goal of getting environment clearance in 2016, having construction begin in 2020, and be operational by 2022. The other route the RTA would begin quickly would be the Gratiot line, with environmental clearance planned for 2017, construction planned for 2020; and operational in 2022, with a rail activation plan to begin development in 2021.

The Michigan and Washtenaw avenue lines would be operational in 2026. Cross-county services would begin in 2018,

FOR MANY WHO USE EITHER SMART OR DDOT, THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED THEM. THE POOR, THOSE WHO NEED TO GET TO JOBS, OR SCHOOL, TO SHOPPING OR DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS, TRAVELING ON BUSES OFTEN MEANS WAITING OUT IN THE OPEN FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME FOR A BUS WHICH MAY, OR MAY NOT, COME. with lines added in staggered formation. M-59, through Oakland near Rochester into Macomb County, is scheduled to begin Commuter Express Services in 2019.

Bus rapid transit is considered a regional network that allows other transit providers to fill in with more localized service to destinations. Bus rapid transit is different than regular buses in both appearance and how it runs. In a bus rapid transit system, buses run in dedicated lanes in the center of the roadway at much higher speeds. Cars can still drive in those lanes, but signals would prioritize for the buses. As designed for here, the buses will run in the center of the roads, against medians where they exist, with priority signaling that senses when the bus is coming.

The buses operate a lot like trains, with specialized train-like wheels. Doors open flush to the platform, making it fully accessible for wheelchairs, people with disabilities, or strollers. Raised station platforms will be built in the center of the roadway, and there will be room for future economic development, such as coffee shops and dry cleaners, experts note. There are currently intended to be stops every mile along the four major bus rapid transit routes.

Ironically, when the Detroit Street Railways Commission closed down its last streetcar route in 1956, it argued that replacing streetcars with buses would allow more flexibility in scheduling routes, eliminate mid-street loading, allow curbside passenger pickup, which would increase safety, and reduce operating costs. Sixty years later, bus rapid transit proponents urge the complete opposite for the identical reasons.

“Bus rapid transit stops will not look like a regular bus stop. It's very clear what it is. In most cases, it's in the center of the road, in medians, with routes, and not with regular buses. They only stop along designated stops; you can't pull a lever and stop along the way. Those will have very specific designated stops and will have

development around those (stops), like coffee shops and dry cleaners,” Sandy Baruah said. He emphasized it will happen in the suburbs, and not just in the city, where blight would be replaced with redevelopment.

“If my experience (living previously in Portland, Oregon and Washington DC) is any indication, at first, only the early adopters will use it. It will be lonely, and then one business, and then another and another. It will grow over time,” he said. “Then later, an apartment complex will develop by the site, because people want to hit a button and just go. In DC, even in the very distressed area, we have seen great development.

“It's a process. This doesn't happen overnight,” he continued.

“Even once they're up and running, you'll still see skeptics.”

Some wonder where people will park to ride bus rapid transit.

RTA board chair Hillegonds said that some of the park and ride locations along the routes have already been identified, and others are yet to be targeted. He said there are other options, as well.

“MDOT has made arrangements (in the past) with big box stores, etc. There is flexibility in the ways to go with purchasing land (in densely populated, developed areas along routes),” he said. “It's all about growing prosperity.”

All of the stops along the way are to be determined, per the state statute establishing the RTA, by joint decision making between the RTA and local road agencies, like the Road Commission of Oakland County, and similar commissions in Macomb, Wayne, Washtenaw counties and the city of Detroit.

SMART and DDOT are incorporated into the RTA master plan as ways to provide feeder and connector routes to the bus rapid transit routes, as well as with commuter buses that can provide service in parts of Oakland and Macomb counties that do not yet connect to main routes. Currently there are 109,600 daily DDOT riders over 14 routes in the city of Detroit and 44,000 daily riders on SMART over 43 routes throughout Oakland and Macomb counties. As a matter of fact, Mark Hackel, Macomb County executive, said, “You see these little commuter buses driving around Macomb County all day long.”

Unlike Oakland County, which does not have access to public transportation from SMART in about 40 of its 61 communities because of opt-out options, “Macomb County is not an opt-out county,” Hackel said. “It makes it so much easier. There is an incredible amount of service in the northern part of Macomb County.”

Access to transit was a particular sticking point for Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, whose deputy executive Robert Daddow noted that for northern and western Oakland County, “540,000 residents in 40 communities would get virtually no service, but they would pay the millage. That's just 200,000 residents less than the entire city of Detroit who would get no service – but would pay for it. It just didn't make sense, and we have a lot of communities making resolutions against it.”

One of those communities, Rochester, passed an “Opposition to taxing local government/residents for the residents for the Regional Transportation Authority Millage” at their meeting on August 8. On the converse, Birmingham passed a resolution supporting a Coalition for Transit the same night.

In late July, Patterson's office raised again a number of objections, which also included concerns about a provision called the “85 percent rule” – where 85 percent of taxes collected in a county in a year must be spent in the county, and how that would be overseen, as well as Hackel's objection to the funding process of the board. It looked as if this attempt at putting the RTA proposal on the ballot would be derailed.

“The 85 percent is one of the things we demanded full accounting of. We wanted to look at both the expenditures and revenues. They just wanted to show us the revenues,” said Oakland County's Poisson. “The statute set an absolute floor so Oakland County, and Macomb County, and Wayne, and Washtenaw and the city of Detroit, can get their full 85 percent back. We have an ongoing discussion telling them that you need to look at growth (of the communities), you need to keep updating – because this is government, and you spend the money you have. They wanted to look back and adjust after 10 years. You can't adjust in 10 years – if you don't do it all the time, and don't have a reserve, you'll find yourself in quite a pickle. It's an ongoing conversation we're still having with them.”

Despite widespread media claims of racism and regionalism, Daddow said, “We've been talking with these folks and raising these questions since November (2015). They shared snippets with

us, but we never had the financial information, and the first time we saw the plans were in late May. Our questions were, what are our folks going to get for their tax dollars; when are they going to get it; and how can we guarantee they are going to be honored. Our questions were asked, and asked, and asked, and never answered.

We're being castigated for asking the questions. The media is so hellbent on any plan, they don't go into details.”

A week of intense discussions between the local leaders led to answers, and more satisfactory responses. A public letter was written from area CEOs of business, civic, and cultural organizations, including Quicken's Dan Gilbert, Gerard Anderson of DTE, John T. Fox of Beaumont Health and Nancy Schlichting of Henry Ford Health System, and James Nicholson of PVS Chemicals, directed to Patterson and Hackel, urging them “to come to a resolution of the issues you raised so the people of this region, as a region, can have a chance to decide something so fundamentally important to our collective future.” Whether they influenced the county executives and members of RTA leadership is unknown, but compromises were made. The RTA millage proposal went before the board, and with their county executives guidance, approvals were given to unanimously put it on the ballot.

“What you are seeing is regional collaboration at work. It's messy, but it works,” said Melissa Roy, executive director of Advancing Macomb, as well as the chairperson of the SMART board of directors. “Anything we do regionally should build a stronger region for everyone. Everyone recognizes the importance of building a regional transit system, and voters can make a decision in November.”

“You could look at it as political maneuvering, that everybody was looking at it from their own perspectives – what's best for us, what am I, my constituents getting. For the two county executives, that's a fair thing to do,” noted David Dulio, chair of the political science department at Oakland University. “Yes, it's a regional thing, yet a fair part of the bill is going to be footed by voters in Oakland and Macomb counties. They are entitled to know what they are getting. And it's what they need to do.”

According to the RTA's Ford, the finalized master plan “calls for more service for the northern Oakland County suburbs, with $40 million more over 20 years. We will be building more infrastructure, building more trunk lines, to have services that circulate in those communities, or to take you where you want to go on those main lines. We will continue working with those partners, groups, SMART, to (focus) where the needs are, to make sure the plan is relevant. I think we have to work with the communities and municipalities in partnerships to see who and what is best suited for those developments along those corridors.”

In the current master plan, which many note is a work in progress and will continue to change over the 20-year life of the RTA, SMART will provide cross-county connector service on 15 Mile, with a stop at Big Beaver at or near Somerset Collection, eastwest along 12 Mile Road, as well as a commuter express bus serving M-59.

As for east-west routes farther north, especially as the population continues to grow in northern communities in Oakland County, as projected, Ford said, “It's something we can look at. The plan is alive. Making changes is part and parcel of what the RTA is about.” At the beginning, riders will be able to utilize commuter buses, which can be called for service on demand in many instances. SMART would continue to operate the regional routes, with the RTA subsidizing the full incremental costs of increased service beyond what currently exists. The RTA will also provide funding for station upgrades and other capital projects along these corridors, and according to the current RTA master plan, routes will operate at increased frequencies, allowing for cross-county travel, with no need for further midday, evening or weekend transfers required.

However, whether or not there will be one fare for using bus rapid transit and then switching to a SMART connector, or two separate fares, is still a detail that has to be worked out, as well as the specific fare amount.

Funding amounts will also be adapted as population figures change, altering the specific number received back for the 85 percent figure. That means if there is a growth of population in Oakland and Macomb counties, with more residents paying into the RTA pot, more dollars will come back to the counties in the form of transit services annually.

As for dealing with communities that continue to opt-out of SMART services, “We will deal with it. Some will choose to pay into it,” Ford said. “But the key is, with this millage and legislation,

there is no opt out of the RTA, and we want to work with the communities to provide a level of service that is the best we can based on where they are, to connect them to a trunk line, to fixed bus lines, to bus rapid transit, cross-county transit, and paratransport, to address different needs in different parts of the community.”

Some have questioned adding airport transportation lines early in the process. Ford has an easy answer.

“It's something we can showcase and do quickly. I already did it in Ann Arbor, and did it successfully,” he responded. “We have a model that works and we can duplicate it easily. We have experience, and people have a desire to get to the airport. This way, we can show consumers quickly and easily, with reliability and feasibility, what we can do.”

He said the airport transit would be on luxury buses with storage capacity for belongings, reading lights, free WiFi, bathrooms, “all the conveniences anyone needs. We started it in Ann Arbor in 2012, and that ridership has gone gangbusters.” The Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority system is funded through a local millage, farebox revenue, and through federal funding allotments and grant awards.

A final component of the RTA is what Wayne State University Department of Urban Studies and Planning professor Robin Boyle, who is also a member of the Birmingham planning board, calls “the first mile and last mile challenge,” utilizing the new sharing economy.

“It's almost impossible for a metro area such as ours to get everyone within a mile of service. It's very difficult to do it. But the market has given us a new remarkable system to connect space – ride-sharing, ride-sourcing, with Uber, Lyft. It has changed the way we use transportation,” Boyle said.

NOW, REGIONAL TRANSIT, AND THE FUTURE FOR SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN, IS IN THE HANDS OF THE VOTERS. WILL VOTERS WHO MAY NOT SEE ITS FRUITION FOR SEVERAL YEARS, OR HAVE NO DESIRE TO UTILIZE BUS RAPID TRANSIT, BE WILLING TO INCREASE THEIR TAX BURDEN FOR THE GOOD OF THE WHOLE REGION? “It's part of the sharing economy. You don't have to own, and it's changing the way we move, changing the way we connect into public transportation systems, and it's happening all over, where public transportation systems are partnering with ride-sharing services, using Uber and Lyft as a way of connecting,” he said.

He gave the example of using the new Qline downtown to Midtown Detroit to get to a doctor's appointment at Henry Ford Hospital. “But it is raining, or hot, or you have three kids. The Qline will get you up to Grand Boulevard, but that last mile is long and tough. But, if while on the Qline, which will have WiFi, you can get a car for a few bucks to take you over to your appointment at Henry Ford. That's the way I think the world will move and I think we'll think about connectivity,” Boyle explained.

Now, regional transit, and the future for southeastern Michigan, is in the hands of the voters. Will voters who may not see its fruition for several years, or have no desire to utilize bus rapid transit or other transit, be willing to increase their tax burden for the good of the whole region?

Boyle likens it to school millages, even if you don't presently have a child in school, you want to live in a community with good schools, or gas taxes. “We all pay for freeways, but we don't all use freeways. We pay for our road systems, but we are prepared to pay for it while likely only using a small portion of it,” he said. “It's the same theory behind a transit system. You may not personally be connected within three minutes to bus service, but it's part of being a citizen of a metropolitan area. We should also contribute to improved transportation.”

“I love my cars, and I own four, but from an economic tool, regional transit can't be beat,” said the Detroit Chamber's Baruah.

“All regional transit projects are works in process, and you have to start somewhere.”

FACES Dr. Virinder Moudgil awrence Technological University President Dr. Virinder Moudgil was taught at an early age the importance of education in bettering not just one's self, but for improving the lives of others and in advancing society. Today, Moudgil relies on those lessons to guide his mission in making Lawrence Tech the pre-eminent private university in southeast Michigan.

Born and raised in India during the country's transition to independence from British rule, Moudgil later moved to the United States and settled with his wife of 40 years in Rochester Hills, where the couple has raised their own children â&#x20AC;&#x201C; both graduates of Rochester High School.

"All of them were people who had degrees, lawyers and doctors who gave up everything just to fight for the cause of freedom," he said of his father and those who influenced him as a boy in India.

"When you grow up in that environment, your personal needs become secondary. Your cause becomes, 'I have a chance to do something for others.'"

Starting with a career in the medical field and transitioning into education, Moudgil held several positions at Oakland University, including senior vice president of academic affairs and provost for more than a decade.

Moudgil earned his PhD in zoology biochemistry from Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India, and did his post-doctoral work in molecular medicine at the Mayo Clinic prior to his work in universities. He served as a prominent visiting scientist at the Boris Kidric Institute of Nuclear Sciences in Belgrade, and at the University of Paris Sud, Bicetre, in France. His scientific work has appeared in about 250 of publications, including nine books and hundreds of papers or reviews, and awards, accomplishments and affiliations in the science field alone are too many to list here. At Oakland University, he established a respected research program and helped to develop the university's new school of medicine.

"We had very active research departments on campus, but in 1999, there was some turmoil and I was nominated to be provost," he said of his taking on an administration position at his former university. "I hesitated, because we had a very strong funded program from the outside, and my ambition was to continue in the sciences. I wasn't interested in administration, but the university was more important to me than my own career."

In 2012, Moudgil was named as the seventh president and CEO of Lawrence Tech. The move from Oakland University allowed him to expand on his abilities as an administrator at a university that is already focused on advancing science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

"As a (scientific) researcher, you are very inquisitive, and you try to find answers to things that people don't know... in many ways, an academic person has the same attitude in solving problems," he said of the similarities in the fields.

Under his direction, Lawrence Tech is seeing a new period of growth in enrollment, fundraising, community outreach and campus improvements. Moudgil has a special interest in advancing cultural understanding and globalization, as evidenced by his founding of the university's Global Village Project in 2013.

Outside of the office, Moudgil spends most of his time pursuing professional endeavors, although he still enjoys watching an occasional cricket match, which he played in high school and college.

"Not in a long time," said the former high school cricket captain.

"I played in my school days and in college. Lawrence Tech has a cricket team that formed last year."

L

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Jean Lannen

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MUNICIPAL Historic district on the horizon

By Katie Deska

After conducting extensive research and working with a consultant, the Rochester Historic District Study Committee presented an update to city council on Monday, August 22, noting that 19 properties have been evaluated by the Michigan State Preservation Office and are eligible to be part of a noncontiguous historic district.

In November of 2014, city council passed the historic preservation ordinance with the purpose of safeguarding the heritage of the city, strengthening the local economy, educating citizens and fostering civic beauty. Rather than establishing a contiguous district with boundaries, the ordinance requires that property owners can voluntarily opt-in to the historic district, which would result in a non-contiguous district that is composed of multiple parcels scattered throughout the city.

Chaired by John Dziurman, who also sits on the city’s historical commission, the historic district study committee spent months evaluating hundreds of buildings, and ultimately provided a list of 54 properties to Commonwealth Heritage Group, a Jackson-based company of professional architectural historians.

Elaine Robinson, a consultant with Commonwealth, then submitted about half of the properties to the Michigan State Preservation Office to be evaluated against the state’s criteria.

“The state agrees that 19 (properties) were eligible for the national register and so are appropriate to be individual historic districts; eight are going under a second review, and three buildings were removed from the list because they’ve undergone changes so dramatic,” Robinson said during the committee’s presentation to city council. Of the 19 properties, two are city-owned parcels, namely, Mount Avon Cemetery and the pioneer-era well on the east side of Main Street.

If the owner chooses to opt-in to the historic district, the designation is recorded with the property deed and is passed along with the property to future owners. The designation establishes certain criteria that must be met to ensure the historic character of the building is maintained. At press time, two eligible property owners had expressed interest to the committee and city staff regarding opting-in to downtownpublications.com

Paint Creek hosts Art & Apples Festival he love of the arts is rooted in this community and has been for a very long time,” said Tami Salisbury, executive director of the Paint Creek Center for the Arts (PCCA), which will host the 51st Art & Apples Festival, Friday, September 9, through Sunday, September 11.

“The Art & Apples Festival began in 1965 with local residents and businesses from the Rochester community that had a love for art. They coordinated the festival for the first 20 years and then formed (PCCA) in 1983, which took over management of the festival,” Salisbury said.

Held in Rochester Municipal Park, 400 Sixth Street, and spilling into parts of downtown, the event is considered one of the best art shows in the U.S. by a leading art festival magazine. Showcasing 280 artists from across the country, each exhibiting artist is selected by a panel of jurors, and together represent a multitude of mediums including metal, glass, mixed media, printmaking, ceramics, textiles, sculpture, photography and digital art.

Live music will be played throughout the weekend, with a line-up featuring jazz by Sheila Landis, throwback tunes by the Hubbell Street Band, Motown music by Denise Davis and the Motor City Sensations, strings by the Swing Shift Orchestra, and more. Performances will also be hosted by local groups including Eisenhower Dance, 2nd Street Studio of Dance, Deborah’s Stage Door for the Performing Arts, and Rochester Community Schools high school marching bands.

A variety of food vendors will be on site, with cuisine choices raging from Tex-Mex and Hawaiian to Mediterranean, and Michigan purveyors such as Marconi’s Pizza, Rollin Stone Wood Fired Pizza, Redwood Grill, Crushed Premium Smoothie Bar, Different Twist Pretzel Bakery and Biggby Coffee.

Over 200,000 guests are expected to attend the event, which is the largest annual fundraiser for PCCA, located at 407 Pine Street in Rochester. A $5 donation per person is suggested for entry to benefit the non-profit arts organization, which offers classes, camps and exhibitions year round for children and adults.

Festival goers may park in city lots and the two decks, or utilize a free shuttle from Rochester High School to the festival. No road closures are scheduled to occur.

A complete listing of artists can be found on the website for PCCA.

T

the non-contiguous historic district.

For instance, if a homeowner optsin to the historic district, or purchases a house with that designation, and desires a new roof or new windows, there are guidelines they would have to follow. However, if the homeowner wants a new coat of paint on the interior or exterior of the house, that’s typically not an issue, said a representative with the Commonwealth Heritage Group.

Rochester has a handful of properties included on the honorary national historic register, including the Western Knitting Mill, home of the Rochester Brewing Company; the Rollin Sprague Stone Store, at 300 S. Main Street; and the Rochester grain elevator, 303 E. University. However, the building is not bound to historic preservation restrictions unless the property owner opts-in to the local historic district.

The committee is now in the midst of reaching out to all property owners, inviting them to opt-in to the district.

The historic district committee will

host a public hearing in September, in which the designated property owners will be invited to attend and ask questions. The issue will then reappear on a forthcoming city council agenda.

Rochester Hills hotel development

By Kevin Elliott

Plans to construct a four-story hotel in the 3500 block of Marketplace Circle in Rochester Hills were approved on Monday, August 8, by the Rochester Hills City Council.

WoodSpring Suites, which specializes in extended stay hotels, plans to construct a 48,104 squarefoot, 124-room hotel in the area which will offer weekly rates, according to Scott Bixler, vice president of development for the hotel chain and a former Rochester Hills city council member. Bixler said 122 of the 124 rooms will be available for guests, with two suites that will be

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maintained for management personnel at the hotel.

The hotel, which will be located adjacent to an existing Holiday Inn Express at 3544 Marketplace Circle, is expected to cost between $11 million and $12 million to build and will offer extended stays for about $380 to $450 per week.

"We spent almost a year finalizing this particular market. One key component is that there are lots of construction companies, hospital employees and business growth, and over the past couple of years we noticed growth in this particular market," Bixler said in response to whether the current market could sustain two adjacent hotels in the areas. "Holiday Inn is a competitor, but they are not a direct competitor.

Extended stay is a little different."

Bixler said WoodSpring Suites guests typically stay more than five days and less than 30, making the hotel ideal for the type of growth in the area.

Councilwoman Stephanie Morita asked whether a market analysis was available for occupancy rates, in light of the adjacent hotel, and in addition to multiple other nearby hotels.

"Yes, we have one of the highest (occupancy rates) from the standpoint of extended stay," Bixler answered.

"It's about 80 percent, which is high."

The developer in January requested that city council members indefinitely postpone a review of the plan in order to resolve some outstanding issues regarding the use of the property. Since then, the applicants have purchased the property from Grand Sakwa Acquisitions, and asked for reconsideration of the site plan approval.

"It's been a tough project," Bixler said in regard to acquiring the property. "It's the first one that has been tougher with the people we are buying from than with the city."

Council members unanimously approved the project, with council member Thomas Wiggins absent.

Condos to replace Rochester Elevator

By Katie Deska

The Rochester Elevator feed and fertilizer store, a historic landmark situated at 303 E. University Drive, stands on the site of a proposed condominium development, which was discussed at the city’s planning commission meeting on Monday, August 1, and as well as at the city council meeting on Monday, August 8.

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Built in 1880 by Charles K. Griggs on what is now the southeast corner of University Drive and Water Street, the barn was used as a grain elevator to ship crops to market by railcar, a profitable service that helped put the town on the map.

In July 2015, developer Joe Salome received feedback from the planning commission regarding a preliminary plan for a residential development at the site, and mentioned his intent to relocate the historic structure.

The development plan has been revamped over the last year, although the intent to move the barn still stands.

Salome returned on August 1, with partner Tony Ferlito, of The Ferlito Group, a Detroit development company with a portfolio that includes condos, retail and office, to hear preliminary feedback from the planning commission on the updated plan, which consists of three buildings, for a total of 42 units. The units range in size from 1,700 square feet to 2,150 square feet, and have two-car garages, storage space and varied amenities.

“We feel the scale is right to carry off that urban sense of the property, and we think the detail is right because it is in harmony with many other buildings in the downtown area,” said architect Alex Bogaerts, of Alexander Bogaerts & Associates, a Bloomfield Hills architecture firm.

Due to zoning, Salome and Ferlito must receive a special projects approval, which requires the project to contribute notable merit to the city as a whole. To that end, developers presented the relocation of the historic structure, rather than a teardown, as a point of community benefit.

“Where will the barn go?” asked commissioner Eldon Thompson.

Deputy city manager Nik Banda noted that last year the idea was to move it to a city-owned parcel but, to do so poses logistical problems

including the cost and the transport route, “with all the fiber optics,” and other infrastructure interference.

As an alternative to transporting the barn intact, “You can deconstruct the barn, and then they can put it back together and you can put it anywhere.

Oxford literally just deconstructed and moved two barns,” said Banda.

“In talking to the developer they said, ‘If you can meet out time table, we’d be willing to donate the barn,’ or however you want to put it, so that we could reuse it if possible,” he said.

“There’s a significant amount of money to bring it up to compliance and that’s another whole animal. If you ever thought of a GoFundMe page…” Banda said, referencing the crowd-funding site as a potential source of revenue.

Also, as the site’s soil is contaminated, the site itself would have to undergo rehabilitation before installing residential units.

Culver's coming to Rochester Hills

By Kevin Elliott

Plans to construct a 4,062 squarefoot Culver's restaurant at Rochester and Auburn Roads were approved on Tuesday, August 16, by the Rochester Hills Planning Commission.

Andrew Zielke, of Just Burgers & Fries, went before the planning commission to seek approval for construction of the new restaurant on about one acre of land located on the southwest corner of the Meijer property at Auburn and Rochester.

The restaurant will include indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a drive-through. Entry into the business and drive-through will be from the existing Meijer access drive, with a future connection to the property to the west. Access to the restaurant won't be available directly to or from Auburn Road, a point that was well

Rochester Hills approves Griffin Claw Brewery

By Kevin Elliott

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ochester Hills planning commissioners on Tuesday, August 16, approved site plans for the construction of a 27,252 square-foot building to house a brewery and restaurant at the former Eastside Mario's restaurant location at Crooks Road and M-59.

The approval allows for plans to move forward with a Griffin Claw Brewery and attached restaurant, including a 15,876 square-foot

received by planning commissioners, said Rochester Hills Planning Director Ed Anzek.

The planning commission unanimously approved the site plan, as well as a tree removal permit, which allows for the removal of 17 trees. The permit allows for three tree replacements at the property, with the remaining 14 trees to be planted along the west property line.

A conditional use permit to construct the drive-through at the restaurant will go before city council for final approval at a later date.

Anzek said conditional use permits are required for drive-through operations, as they may have an adverse impact on adjacent areas due to hours of operation and loud speaker boxes.

"In the case of Culver's, their location is not close to any residential areas, so there should not be any issues," he said.

Anzek said the owner told the planning commission that about 80 percent of the restaurant's business is expected to be family, sit-down dining, with a smaller percentage utilizing drive-through operations.

Culver's was started in 1984 in Sauk City, Wisconsin by the Culver family as single restaurant specializing in homemade hamburgers and frozen custard. Now a national franchise, the restaurant is known for its signature ButterBurgers, which utilizes a buttered toasted bun.

Farm-to-Table dinner, take two Back by popular demand, a second Farm-to-Table dinner will be held Sunday, September 18, an event hosted by Rochester’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) in partnership with popular Main Street restaurant The Meeting House.

warehousing and brewing facility. Construction on the brewery and restaurant are expected to begin in early September.

The new location marks a significant expansion of the Griffin Claw Brewing Company's Birmingham location, which is owned by Bonnie LePage and Mary Nicholson. Scott LePage, son of Bonnie and Norm LePage, owner of the now closed Eastside Mario's, is spokesman for Griffin Claw. Norm LePage and Ray Nicholson are owners of Birmingham's Big Rock Chophouse and the Got Rocks Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge.

The Rochester Hills location will also include the existing taproom and Clubhouse BFD building, at

Held outdoors on Walnut Boulevard, between Second and Third streets, dinner runs from 5 to 8 p.m. and boasts a harvest-inspired menu prepared by Chris Johnson, executive chef and co-owner of The Meeting House.

Served family style, the evening’s farm-fresh classics will be offered in three courses, with wine poured from Fieldstone Winery and brews from Rochester Mills Beer Co. “With the awesome turnout we had for the summer installment of the Farm-to-Table Dinner, it made perfect sense for us to start planning a fall edition,” Johnson said in a statement.

“We get to cook in a bit more of a hearty fashion and showcase those end of the summer and fall produce items that we all love so much.”

Tickets cost $100, with proceeds benefitting downtown events and promotions. To purchase, visit the Downtown Rochester website (DowntownRochesterMI.com/store), or contact the Rochester DDA.

Fire station 4 designs presented to council

By Kevin Elliott

Conceptual plans for a $4.4 million renovation to Rochester Hills' Fire Station No. 4 were given tacit approval by city's governing board on Monday, August 8, following a presentation of three different design options for the station, located at 2723 Walton Blvd., east of Adams Road.

Rochester Hills Fire Chief Sean Canto, building director Scott Cope, and construction and architectural representatives presented the design concepts, along with cost estimates and a list of pros and cons for each of the plans in order to receive direction from the council as plans move forward to begin the project.

2265 Crooks, which will remain for the time being and likely convert to Griffin Claw in the future, said Sara Roediger, manager of planning for the city.

The site was rezoned on August 8 as a regional employment center, in accordance to the city's M-59 corridor study and master plan. The entire area around the M-59 interchange is intended to serve as a regional employment center, which will include a mix of office, light industrial, commercial uses and gas stations.

The planning commission also approved a tree removal permit for the property, which will allow for the removal of 20 trees at the site, with eight to be replaced with new trees.

The presentation was an updated version of an October 2015 presentation before city council in which plans to renovate stations 1, 2, 3, and 5, along with station 4, were presented to city council. Council at that time approved renovations to all those presented, with the exception of station 4, for which council requested city administration conduct further review. Initial cost estimates for the station came in at $4.9 million in 2015.

Earlier this year, city council members approved $4.5 million from the 2016 budget for the construction of an updated station 4.

"I know some of you were involved with the presentation that we did last year and I want to let you know that we have met a few times with this team and we are very thankful to have them on board here," Cope said. "I feel a lot more comfortable and confident about the team we have before you right now and what we will be presenting this evening."

Cope said the team was looking for agreement from council to move forward with the recommended option, which would expand on the existing, 4,000 square-foot facility to a 10,010 square-foot station.

The plan has a cost estimate of about $4.4 million, with the two other proposals presented on Monday estimated at $4.5 million and $4.6 million. The design option also is expected to take the least amount of time to construct, allowing the department to utilize the existing structure while additions are being built. While the the design option includes more curb cuts and use of concrete than the other plans presented, the layout will allow for a separate visitor entry, room for more than four fire apparatus' in the bays and the ability to retain an existing cell tower at the site.

More detailed plans will come before the council at a later date for official approval.

The Rochester Hills Fire Department maintains five fire stations, including the existing station 4, which was constructed in 1976. Stations are located in each corner of the city, with one in the center of the community. The department is a combination department with full-time firefighters/paramedics and paid-oncall firefighters and EMTs who provide emergency response, as well as full-time administrative staff who provide additional support.

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Rochester repair shop seeks more parking

By Katie Deska

irk Richardson, owner of South Street Auto Care in Rochester, will appear before the planning commission again at the next meeting to further discuss the potential expansion of parking at the repair shop, 216 South Street, east of Diversion Street.

“We’re a large automobile repair shop,” Richardson told commissioners on Monday, August 1. “There’s nine to 30 cars a day that we push in and out, 15 employees on site at any given day. It’s a constant flow of cars on the parking lot.”

“We love that Kirk’s staying busy and doing a great job,” said deputy city manger Nik Banda. “But (the cars) can’t go in the driveway because it’s a fire lane.”

In March 2015, Richardson received approval from the planning commission to make improvements to the site, and to pave a new parking area. However, he has yet to construct the parking, which if completed would provide a total of 42 spaces.

“I haven’t done anything related to parking because I don’t want to pay for that twice,” said Richardson, who realized after the approval that the allotted additional parking would not be enough. He’s currently seeking permission to pave 12 spaces on top of what was already approved, for a total of 54 spaces.

City staff and commissioners discussed the importance of keeping in mind the aesthetics of the area, and Banda noted that there’s an effort afoot to clean up South Street.

Commissioners discussed potential sources of screening, “whether it be landscaping, or an island, or some sort of wall,” said commissioner Tricia DeMarco, “(to give it) some sort of softening.”

Richardson was receptive to the commission’s feedback.

“With landscaping, I can get a shovel and do that work myself, but I don’t lay brick,” he said, lightheartedly.

Richardson bought the business three years ago from the previous owner.

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2017 RARA budget approved by council

By Katie Deska

Ron Jewell, executive director of the Rochester Avon Recreation Authority (RARA), 500 E. Second Street, presented the authority’s $2.8 million budget for fiscal year 2017 to the Rochester City Council on Monday, August 8, which was approved on a vote of 6-0, with mayor pro tem Kim Russell absent.

Municipal contributions to RARA increased 1.2 percent from the year prior, with Rochester to contribute $87,000, and Rochester Hills to contribute $619,000. The grand total revenue for RARA is projected to see a 20.6 percent increase from 2016 to 2017, growing from $2.4 million to $2.9 million.

The big news, announced Jewell to council and the audience, is the recent purchase and ongoing development of the newly acquired building, located at 480 E. Second Street, adjacent to the current RARA headquarters. Notably, the revenue from building rental is projected to

increase 326 percent from fiscal year 2016 to fiscal year 2017, jumping from $66,000 in 2016 to $281,200 in 2017.

Other significant sources of projected revenue in 2017 come from programming, including day camp, adaptive classes, contracted programs, and others, for a total of $872,000, and, while dance program expenditures total $459,000, the program contributes $745,000 in revenue. “(The dance teacher) could spend $30,000 on recital uniforms,” said Jewell. “It’s a big line item, but it’s a great program, and a line we need to go with the whole package.”

Dave Word, superintendent of recreation said, “we have over 5,500 registrations (for the dance program).

We have 11 recitals with approximately 25 acts in each show.

We have over 1,200 kids in baseball and softball, and about 800 in basketball.”

Select council members praised RARA for the authority’s positive contribution to the community.

“When you sit and listen to all their doing, and all they offer to the public, it’s an astounding establishment

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there, it should be the model,” said council member Ann Peterson.

OPC spending plan for coming year set The fiscal year 2017 budget for the Older Persons Commission (OPC), 650 Letica Drive in Rochester, was approved by Rochester City Council on Monday, August 8, on a vote of 60, with council member Kim Russell absent.

Tim Soave, financial director for the OPC, presented to council an overview of the $4.2 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, which begins on October 1, 2016, and ends the following September 30. With a decrease of $61,000 from the year prior, the budget represents a continuation of the current programming offered by OPC. Despite the addition of a part-time customer service staff member, and a one percent general salary increase for employees, the costs for personnel decreased by $200,000 due to staffing changes during the last couple of years.

As for capital improvement, the 2017-2021 plan outlines the purchase of one new server in 2017, and partial replacement of the senior center’s 57 computers, with more technology items being replaced over the next four years.

“Our biggest concern is the computers,” said Soave. “Currently they’re seven to eight years old, which in IT years is ancient. So we’re in a slow process of replacing those.”

The 2017 budget lists OPC revenue at $4.1 million and expenditures at just over $4.1 million, with a contingency of $50,885. The fund balance at the start of the fiscal year is expected to be $1.5 million.

“The transparency is incredible; I want to tip my hat to your work,” council member Ben Giovanelli said to Soave.

“And with Stuart (Bikson) in his position, I know things are well looked over,” said Giovanelli referring to his fellow council member who is the chairman of the OPC governing board.

Gateway for M-59 area gets city nod The zoning ordinance amendment to introduce greater use of properties located near the M-59 and Crooks Road interchange in Rochester Hills was approved on Monday, August 8, by city council members.

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The measure was first introduced at the council's July 18 meeting, following a recommendation from the city's planning commission that council accept the first reading of the ordinance to amend the zoning code. The ordinance will impact about 24 parcels of property within a 70-acre area.

Rochester Hills Economic Development Manager Pamela Valentik said in July that the cityinitiated zoning ordinance was requested to align the zoning in the area to better fit the intended uses in the city's master plan, which prescribes developing the area as a Regional Employment Center.

The two dozen parcels are currently zoned as a mixture of B-2 (General Business); B-3 (Shopping Center Business); B-4 (Freeway Service Business); B-5 (Automotive Service); I (Industrial); and REC-W (Regional Employment Center Workplace) zonings. Under the new ordinance, a new designation of REC-I (Regional Employment Center Industrial) would allow for greater use and eliminate the existing use of B-4 zoning in the area.

The REC-I zoning, as noted in the city's master plan, is intended to create a gateway into the Regional Employment Center district and the city at the Crooks and M-59 interchange.

"Because of its unique location in the city with its orientation and direct access to M-59, and because of its location to residential neighborhoods, it's an ideal location for some higher intensity and mixed uses, which we don't necessarily find in other areas of the city," Valentik said. "Because of redevelopment pressures in the city and the increase in the market, we thought this was a good time to implement the REC-I designation at this location and help re-incentivize some of the redevelopment of those parcels."

The Regional Employment Center was identified in the city's 2007 Master Land Use Plan for the area bounded by the Clinton River Trail and Auburn Road, between Livernois and the western city boundary. It includes the majority of the city's industrial and technological uses. The M-59 Corridor Study was completed in 2012 and provided detailed recommendations for future redevelopment of REC districts.

Council members approved the ordinance, as well as a motion to amend the existing ordinance and downtownpublications.com

remove references to B-4 zoning, which will be replaced by REC-I zoning. The ordinance was unanimously approved, with council member Thomas Wiggins absent.

Rochester, Avondale school elections Four candidates have filed for three openings this November on the Avondale Schools Board of Education and two candidates have filed for an open seat on the Rochester Schools board.

Avondale seats currently held by board president Ken Hedrick, treasurer Scott Bittinger, and trustee Wayne Kakuda are due to expire at the end of 2016. Of the incumbents, only trustee Kakuda has filed to retain his position on the board, according to records from the Oakland County Elections Division.

Kuda will be facing candidates Karen Davies of Rochester Hills; Donearl L. Johnson of Auburn Hills; and Nicholas Kaltsounis of Rochester Hills.

Each of the open seats are for a four-year term.

In the Rochester Community Schools district, two people will be competing for the seat currently held by board member Jennifer Berwick, who is leaving the board after serving since 2009. Candidates Michelle Bueltel and Elizabeth Witten, both of Rochester Hills, will be vying for Berwick's seat, which will expire at the end of 2018, according to the county's election division.

Board members Kevin Beers and Sandra Fiaschetti will be running unopposed in November to retain their positions on the board, which each carry a six-year term.

A GEM IN CLARKSTON! 8364 Cotswold Lane, Clarkston, Ml. Elegant 5 bedroom, 4 full bath, 2 half bath country estate. Custom granite kitchen, great room, wood paneled library, 3 fireplaces, first floor master suite with his/her walk in closets, dressing room and a large marble bath with soaking tub and finished walk out basement with work out room and full bath. Bonus room above garage.

New Henry Ford pharmacy coming Plans to construct a 25,667 square-foot Henry Ford Pharmacy Advantage building on South Boulevard, between John R and Dequindre, were approved on Tuesday, August 16, by the Rochester Hills Planning Commission.

The site, which includes an associated parking lot and retention pond on 3.2 acres of land, will allow for the construction of a new medical office building that will house the specialty pharmacy and call center, said Rochester Hills Planning Director Ed Anzek.

Pharmacy Advantage provides care to patients with acute and chronic conditions.

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MIX IT UP! Some look for 2 stories and some look for one and some like to mix it up! First floor master BR with formal dining room, sun filled breakfast room, 2 story great room, with sky lights. 3BR and 2.5 baths. 1850 sqft. Built in 1996, full basement, convenient located in desirable area of Sterling Heights. $239,900

HONEY STOP THE CAR! Charming court setting for this stately colonial. 4 BR, 2.5 baths, Traditionally styled floor plan with library, and laundry room / mudroom off garage. Amazing size master bath and dressing room and no need to purge there are closets everywhere. Just look at that lot, sprinklers and meticulously landscaped. 2900 Sqft. Rochester Hills $324,500.

BACKYARD GUESTS ARE BEST! Super summers like this one deserve to be spent enjoying the warm weather and an ice cold drink with friends in the back yard. Yes you will love the house too.

2500 Sqft, 4 BR, 2.5 baths, newer carpet, hardwood floors, library with fireplace, exquisite gardens. Rochester Hills $339,900.

WIDE OPEN SPACES! Court location to the front and just a field of flowers to the back. Huge windows to the back let the sun shine in and allow for a view to toast to. 2400 sqft. 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths. Granite, stainless steel, beautiful recent interior paint. 3 car garage. 2nd floor laundry. amazing closet space. Built 2012, clubhouse and pool, a rare find at this price. Orion Twp $375,000.

CHANGING PLACES NEVER FELT SO GOOD! Newer feeling house so close to Oakland University. New driveway, new deck, new windows, granite counter tops, new appliances, just painted interior, hardwood floors, Recently refreshed landscape. Move right in! 4 Br, 2.5 baths. partially finished basement makes 2900 Sqft to call your own. Rochester Hills $299,900.

BIG BAD WOLF CAN'T TOUCH THIS! Brick ranch house with finished walk out basement, side entry garage, breezeway, shed, hardwood floors, newer kitchen, lighting fixtures, updated baths.

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FACES

Jodie Gmyrek hen 27-year-old Jodie Gmyrek moved into a rental home with her sister Paige, the two turned a hobby into a revenue-generating blog that chronicles furniture facelifts and home renovations, a la HGTV. Since the launch of sypsie.com three years ago, Paige moved to Nebraska, and Gmyrek got engaged. Now a first-time homeowner with her fiancé, Gmyrek maintains the Sypsie blog as she and her fiancé, Matt, update their 1979 Rochester Hills colonial.

Showcasing the duo’s work step-by-step, Gmyrek provides Sypsie’s followers with before and after photos, as well as the details of a project.

“We like to share the exact materials we use, and a lot of times, the timeline because that’s important to know going into it. And ‘dos and don’ts’ – we’ve had readers ask for that. So we do trial and error and they can read it before, and hopefully the project turns out as successful as possible,” said Gmyrek, noting that the site garners 15,000 to 25,000 views a month.

With a day job in advertising, Gmyrek admits her dream is flipping houses. For now, she said, “We do ad revenue and we’ve worked with other brands. They’ll send us a product for review,” and she’ll note tips to make a project easier.

Featured in “Good Housekeeping,” and the “budget redo” column of do-it-yourself magazine, “This Old House,” and Gmyrek and Matt’s garage workshop represents the type of transformations the two enjoy.

For $371, a sagging workbench and hodgepodge storage area were remodeled into a functioning and inviting workspace. Maintaining the neutral hues of their house, they cleaned and repainted the walls and

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floor shades of grey, installed white cabinets and drawers, and added a light-green pegboard with shelves, hanging above the new countertop, which they coated in black chalkboard paint.

“I’ve always grown up tinkering with things, taking them apart and then back together,” said Gmyrek, building projects, from floats in school until now. “It’s been a part of the family. I’ve always been DIY and into power tools, and it’s been a lot of fun to expand on that. Everything is trial and error and it’s fun to learn along the way. And next time it’s so much easier!”

Gmyrek, who grew up in Milford, settled in Rochester Hills after hearing how much her friends liked the area. “We’ve been here two years, and we love the neighborhood, having our own little spot, on top of one of the hills in Rochester Hills.” Hunting for a fixer-upper, the couple is pleased with their home purchase and the exceptional trees that fill the canopy.

“In terms of the style of our house, it’s always changing. I’m a firm believer that paint really goes a long way in a home, and it’s fun to see before and after pictures of everything. That’s my biggest tip – is to save the before and after pictures. It’s so fun to see how things have progressed,” said Gmyrek.

“We started with paint, and now the next project is an entire kitchen remodel, knocking down walls, so the scale of the projects has definitely gotten larger as we’re more familiar with things.”

Story: Katie Deska

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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.

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.

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

248.299.5281.

Chipotle Mexican Grille: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2611 S. Rochester Road, Rochester Hills,

downtownpublications.com

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

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49

FRONT/BACK Front/Back is a monthly column devoted to news stories, tidbits and gossip items about what's happening in both the front of the house and back of the house in the restaurants in the metro Detroit area.

Motoring around Jason Mood and Christopher Johnson, co-owners of The Meeting House in Rochester, have partnered with James and Gino D’Agostini to open a new food truck called Motor Powered Hospitality, with the D’Agostinis bringing their business experience to the management side of the venture.

Only recently delivered to the team, the food truck appeared at the M1 Concourse in Pontiac during the weekend of the Woodward Dream Cruise.

“It’s a full-on mobile kitchen that is decked out. We can cook anything we can do at The Meeting House in that – it has all the bells and whistles. We can do high-end food out of it, and dogs and burgers,” said Mood. “We’d like to potentially cater private parties, to participate in food truck rallies in different cities, anything that gets Motor Powered Hospitality out there.”

Mexican touch While chefs James Rigato, of Mabel Gray, and Luciano Del Signore, of Bacco Ristorante, travel overseas for an Italian pop-up, Rigato’s Hazel Park restaurant Mabel Gray will go undercover as a taqueria, led by chef Omar Ramirez, of Rigato’s first signature restaurant, The Root. Served Tuesday, September 6, through Saturday, September 24, Ramirez will bring “home cooking, fresh ingredients, moles, and recipes from my mom,” who, as a kid, he followed in the kitchen at home in Mexico. Offering a 36-ingredient mole pablano as well as a mole verde, the difference in flavors, Ramirez said, comes to the peppers, the ancho chile versus the pablano. Another one of his specialities is the posole, a stew. “You braise the pork, cook it with chiles, boil peppers, and blend it out, and make like a stock with the pork, and cook it all together. Add hominy, then garnishes – cabbage, radishes – and top with avocado.” Mabel Gray is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, at 23825 John R Road in Hazel Park. The special taqueria will be open the same hours.

Rock City relocation By early September, Hamtramck’s three-year-old Rock City Eatery will relocate to Midtown. The new space, at 4216 Woodward Avenue, allows for bigger and better cooking equipment that will serve to expand the menu.

“We got a couple pizza ovens, and with the charbroiler you can cook vegetables, and get good smoky flavor – to me that’s a big bonus.” said chefowner Nikita Sanches, who operates the restaurant with his wife, Jessica Imbronone Sanches. As an adventurous chef, he said the menu is “a mix of all different cultures, all different ingredients,” and takes inspiration from his childhood trips to the produce market in Moscow, where he was born. Menu favorites like Poutine, and Spaghetti and Beet Balls, will continue to make an appearance, accompanied by new dishes, including addictive pizzas; the daring (and more literal) Ants on a Log; and the new-fangled Lobster Roll, wrapped in rice paper and served atop yeast broth.

Affordable homemade Italian Forthcoming Italian restaurant, La Lanterna is a new project from the Barbieri family, owners and operators of Detroit’s Foxtown Grille, Grosse Pointe’s Café Nini, and the two Da Edoardo restaurants located in Grosse Pointe Grand Blanc. Opening their fifth restaurant downtown in The Albert, 1214 Griswold, Ed Barbieri, III, said, “It’s going to be across the street from my grandpa’s original location. All the recipes are from my grandpa and my dad. We’re going to have Lasagna alla Bolognese on the menu, some seafood pasta topped with fresh tomatoes, and fettuccine with meat sauce.”

As for the pizza menu, he said “Some classics and, you know how people like to freak out on the pizzas, so we’ll have some of those, too.” Serving authentic northern Italian cuisine, all the filled pastas will be handmade including the gnocchi, tortellini, and ravioli. Set to have 60 seats and a full bar, Barbieri said diners can expect it to be “very affordable for everybody.”

Ghost appears Designed as a “neighborhood steakhouse,” Grey Ghost has opened in Brush Park and is serving fresh takes on standard steakhouse dishes, along with fish, cured meats, and a “non meat” portion of the menu. Chef Joe Giacomino, along with brothers John and Dave Vermiglio, came together with beverage aficionado Will Lee of Selden Standard, to create a restaurant that’s appealing to locals and destination-diners alike. With the

reservations. 2949 Crooks Road, Rochester, 48309. 248.237.0200.

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

Johnny Black Public House: American.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.606.4479.

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

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

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

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

248.844.8900.

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

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

248.652.0089.

Kruse & Muer In the Village: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

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

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

327 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.652.9400.

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

Lino’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

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

248.656.9002.

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

248.652.9862.

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

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

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

248.652.8441.

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

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

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

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

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

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

248.375.5999.

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

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

248.453.5371.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 370 N. Adams Road, Rochester Hills, 48309. 248.340.5900.

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

423 S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.651.6534.

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

248.375.5000.

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

248.853.3366.

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

Liquor. 324 S. Main Street, Rochester,

48307. 248.608.2537.

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

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

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

Reservations, eight or more. Liquor.

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

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

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

248.759.4205.

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

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

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

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

248.853.7430.

Park 600 Bar & Kitchen: American.

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

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

248.652.2600.

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

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

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

248.601.1380.

Penn Station East Coast Subs: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

146. S. Main Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.601.4663.

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

124 W. 4th Street, Rochester, 48307.

248.841.1522.

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

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

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

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

248.651.4545.

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

Red Olive: Mediterranean & American.

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

Rochester Bistro: American-Continental.

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

248.923.2724.

Rochester Brunch House: American.

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

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

248.651.2266.

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

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. 1416 E.

Walton Blvd., Rochester Hill, 48309.

248.652.6737.

Rochester Mills Beer Co.: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

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

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

248.650.2500.

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

248.601.9300.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Soho: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.289.1179.

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

Reservations, 24 hours in advance.

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

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

248.852.1983.

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

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

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

248.759.4825.

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, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1515

E. Maple Rd, Troy, 48083.

248.689.2332.

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

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

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

248.816.3424.

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

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

Orchid Café: Thai. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

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

248.524.1944.

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

Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy, 48084. 248.816.8000.

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

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

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

248.817.2980.

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

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

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

248.646.2220.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.865.9300.

Arthur Avenue: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 260 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

248.480.0768.

Au Cochon: French. Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 260 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.7795.

Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.792.3579.

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.

counter billed as available for walk-in seating only, there’s a section that’s reservation-only. “It’s tough to deal with baby sitters, to drive into the city for 45 minutes, so we wanted to do reservations for a lot of our tables,” said Giacomino. The team, which developed relationships with farmers and meat producers, aims to defy a “pigeonhole,” and so offers items including General Tso’s Chicken Sausage, Spare Ribs with cherry barbeque and fennel slaw, Crudité and Scallop Thermidor. Housed at 47 E. Watson in Detroit, with the entrance off of to the side of Woodward, the clean shine of metal, leather, and black and white tile contrasts with raw brick, dark wood, fabricwrapped chairs, and patterned accents.

Gastropub and moonshine Offering gastropub fare and live music nightly, Rusted Crow Detroit is an expansion of Joe Schebel’s Rusted Crow Distillery in Dearborn. Located across from Grand Circus Park on the ground floor of the Kales Building, 78 W. Adams Road, the Detroit restaurant is owned by Schebel’s brother-inlaw, Freddie Giordan. Executive chef Joe Button, formerly of Andiamo Restaurant Group, created a fun menu that includes an appetizer of fried, balsamic-marinated portobello mushrooms; a salad with roasted corn; a burger topped with a mac and cheese patty; and the Oyster Po Boy, with crunchy Sriracha slaw. As a sister location to the distillery, the restaurant exclusively pours Rusted Crow Spirits –vodka, gin, rum and moonshine – along with a wide variety of craft brews. “We are emphasizing the liquor and craft cocktails. We have fresh squeezed juices, and we make our own simple syrups,” said head bartender Amanda Sibert. Live music begins at 9 p.m.

Gus’ arrives Gus’s World Famous Fried Chicken, which opened mid-August, is “literally the greatest fried chicken in the world” said Zack Sklar, partner in Schmaltz Hospitality LLC, which acquired rights to the Memphis-based franchise.

Located at 4101 Third Avenue, at Alexandrine, in Detroit, Sklar said it’s the secret recipe for the batter that makes the fried chicken the star of the show.

The eatery’s homemade pie is the runner up, followed by the sides, including creamy coleslaw, fried pickles, traditional potato salad, baked beans, and collard greens. “We’re super geeked. We’re off the beaten path, and I’ve looked to open something that’s not in the epicenter of everything that’s going on. Gus’ is for everyone. A lot of the (restaurants) opening are higher-end and are great, but our concept is for the city, for all walks of life.

Everyone loves fried chicken.” Schmaltz Hospitality LLC is a newly-formed restaurant group that splintered off of Peas and Carrots Hospitality, which is operated by Sklar, Jim Bellinson and Joshua Humphrey. The company partnered with Wendy McCrory, owner of Gus’, after Sklar’s longtime friend Zach Goodman introduced Sklar to the brand, said Jaimee Tepker, Sklar’s assistant. Diners can get chicken and a couple sides for about $7 to $10.

Pop-up relocates Beginning with a relocation within Pontiac, James and April Forbes, chefowners of The Menagerie, 31 N. Saginaw in Pontiac, are in the midst of revamping their pop-up dinner/weekly brunch concept. Service will continue at the current space through September, at which point the duo will move to 12 S. Mill Street for an October opening of the new jazz restaurant, accented with Sunday pop-ups. Chef Kyle Williams, currently the in-house brunch chef, is curating the new menu. Once it’s up and running, Williams will take over the kitchen full-time, while Sunday Brunch will be reserved for various pop-up hosts. Catch a glimpse of The Menagerie on Tom Daldin’s Under the Radar, airing on PBS Thursday, September 8.

Pop-Up Intel Yemans Street, 2995 Yemans Street in Hamtramck: Owner-operators Corrie and Matt Tinker will serve a signature brunch at the Royal Oak Farmers Market, September 24, as part of an Out to Brunch event. Jordan Ceresnie, owner of Ann Arbor-based Cheese Street food truck, and former pastry chef at The Root, hosts dinner September 29.

Front/Back is reported each month by Katie Deska. KatieDeska@DowntownPublications.com. We welcome news items or tips, on or off the record, about what's happening in the front or back of the house at metro area restaurants.

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

248.723.1700.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

248.258.9400.

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

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

Liquor. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham.

248.712.4050.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

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

248.594.4369.

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,

52

48025. 248.865.6600.

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

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

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

34977 Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.220.4237.

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

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

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

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

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

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

248.620.6100.

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

248.634.5208.

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

248.795.2077.

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

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

248.625.5660.

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

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bistro 82: French. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 401 S. Lafayette Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.542.0082.

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

248.547.6699.

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

248.268.1621.

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

Reservations. Liquor. 418 S. Washington Ave., Royal Oak, 48067. 248.544.4749.

Cork Wine Pub: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 23810 Woodward Ave., Pleasant Ridge, 48069. 248.544.2675.

D’Amato’s: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

222 Sherman Dr., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.584.7400.

Due Venti: Italian. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

220 S. Main St., Clawson, 48017.

248.288.0220.

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

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

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

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

Inyo Restaurant Lounge: Asian Fusion.

Weekend Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 22871 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, 48220. 248.543.9500.

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

Lily’s Seafood: Seafood. Weekend Brunch.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

Local Kitchen and Bar: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 344 W. Nine Mile Rd., Ferndale, 48220.

248.291.5650.

Lockhart’s BBQ: Barbeque. Sunday Brunch.

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

Oak City Grille: American. Dinner, daily.

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

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

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

248.808.6633.

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

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

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

248.850.7420.

Redcoat Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 31542 Woodward Ave., Royal Oak, 48073.

248.549.0300.

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

Royal Oak Brewery: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 215 E. 4th St., Royal Oak, 48067.

248.544.1141.

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

248.607.3127.

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

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

248.541.1186.

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

248.544.7300.

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.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 29508 Northwestern Highway, Southfield, 48034. 248.208.1680.

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

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

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

248.851.2500.

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

248.626.2982.

The Fiddler: Russian. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Thursday-Sunday. Reservations.

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

248.851.8782.

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

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

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

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

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

Prime29 Steakhouse: Steak & Seafood.

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

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

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

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

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

248.626.8585.

Sposita’s Ristorante: Italian. Friday Lunch.

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

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

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

Sweet Lorraine’s Café & Bar: American.

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

248.559.5985.

Yotsuba: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.737.8282.

West Bloomfield/Southfield

Detroit

Bacco: Italian. Lunch, Monday-Friday.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

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

Beans and Cornbread: Southern. Lunch &

5057 Viale: Italian. Lunch, daily. Dinner, Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 5057 Woodward Ave., Detroit, 48202. 313.831.9311.

Angelina Italian Bistro: Italian. Dinner,

DOWNTOWN

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.

09.16

Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations. Liquor.

1565 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.1355.

Antietam: French. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

1428 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, 48207.

313.782.4378.

Bucharest Grill: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2684 E. Jefferson, Detroit, 48207.

313.965.3111.

Cliff Bell’s: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 2030 Park Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.961.2543.

Coach Insignia: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

100 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243.

313.567.2622.

Craft Work: American. Sunday Brunch.

Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 8047 Agnes St., Detroit, 48214.

313.469.0976.

Cuisine: French. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 670 Lothrop Rd., Detroit, 48202. 313.872.5110.

The Detroit Seafood Market: Seafood.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 1435 Randolph St., Detroit, 48226. 313.962.4180.

El Barzon: Mexican. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 3710 Junction St., Detroit, 48210. 313.894.2070.

Fishbone’s Rhythm Kitchen Café: Cajun.

Breakfast, daily. Sunday Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 400 Monroe Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.965.4600.

Giovanni’s Ristorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 330 S. Oakwood Blvd., Detroit, 48217. 313.841.0122.

Green Dot Stables: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2200 W. Lafayette, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.5588.

Jefferson House: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd., Detroit, 48226. 313.782.4318.

Joe Muer Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday- Friday, Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 400 Renaissance Center, Detroit, 48243. 313.567.6837.

Johnny Noodle King: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2601 W. Fort St., Detroit, 48216.

313.309.7946.

Mario’s: Italian. Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 4222 2nd Ave., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.1616.

Midtown Shangri-la: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 4710 Cass Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.974.7669.

Motor City Brewing Works: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 470 W. Canfield St., Detroit, 48201. 313.832.2700.

1917 American Bistro: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 19416 Livernois Ave., Detroit, 48221.

313.863.1917.

Prism: Steak & Seafood. Dinner, TuesdaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 555 E. Lafayette St, Detroit, 48226.

313.309.2499.

Red Smoke Barbeque: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

Trappers Alley Shopping Center, 573 Monroe Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.962.2100.

Roma Café: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

3401 Riopelle St., Detroit, 48207.

313.831.5940.

Russell Street Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 2465 Russell St, Detroit, 48207. 313.567.2900.

Santorini Estiatorio: Greek. Lunch &

downtownpublications.com

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 501 Monroe Ave, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.9366.

Selden Standard: American. Weekend Brunch. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, daily. Liquor. Reservations. 3921 Second Ave., Detroit, 48201.

313.438.5055.

Sinbad’s: Seafood. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

100 St Clair St., Detroit, 48214.

313.822.8000.

Slows Bar BQ: Barbeque. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2138 Michigan Ave, Detroit, 48216.

313.962.9828.

Small Plates Detroit: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1521 Broadway St., Detroit, 48226. 313.963.0702.

St. CeCe’s Pub: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1426 Bagley Ave., Detroit, 48216.

313.962.2121.

Tap at MGM Grand: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 1777 Third Street, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1234.

Taqueria Nuestra Familia: Mexican.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 7620 Vernor Hwy., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.5668.

The Block: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 3919 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201.

313.832.0892.

Tom’s Oyster Bar: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday. Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 519 East Jefferson Ave., Detroit, 48226.

313.964.4010.

Top of the Pontch: American. Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservation. Liquor. 2 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.782.4313.

Traffic Jam & Snug: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

511 W. Canfield, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.9470.

24grille: American. Sunday Brunch. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. The Westin Book Cadillac Detroit, 1114 Washington Blvd, Detroit, 48226.

313.964.3821.

Union Street: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 4145 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201.

313.831.3965.

Vince’s: Italian. Lunch, Tuesday-Friday.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. Reservations.

Liquor. 1341 Springwells St., Detroit, 48209. 313.842.4857.

Vivio’s Food & Spirits: American.

Saturday Breakfast. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2460 Market St., Detroit, 48207.

313.393.1711.

The Whitney: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & High Tea, Monday-Friday. Sunday Brunch. Dinner, daily. Liquor.

Reservations. 4421 Woodward Ave, Detroit, 48201. 313.832.5700.

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina: Italian. Dinner, Wednesday-Sunday.

Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226. 313.465.1646.

Wolfgang Puck Steak: Steak & Seafood.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1777 Third St, Detroit, 48226.

313.465.1411.

Wright & Co.: American. Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 1500 Woodward Ave Second Floor, Detroit, 48226. 313.962.7711.

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

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53

THE LAST FARMERS IN OAKLAND • WHO'S IN THE PULPITS • RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS • OAKLAND ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS • CABLE TV CHANGES

LOCAL

ILLEGAL DISCHARGES INTO LOCAL WATERS • CRISIS HOTLINES • SCHOOL TRUANCY ENDGAME FOR UNIONS? • GOURMET MARKET WARS • WHO'S TRACKING YOU Downtown.

CHALDEAN MIGRATION HISTORY • LOBBYISTS SHAPING THE DEBATE • DOWNSIDE OF The leading publication SEXTING • INNOCENCE PROJECT • ONLINE EDUCATION • CONTROLLING HOUSE in Oakland County, now with a local edition serving the PARTIES • THE SHERIFF BOUCHARD INTERVIEWHills • KLU Rochester/Rochester area.KLUX KLAN • SCHOOL POLICE

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Augmented by weekly news updates IMMUNIZATION DEBATE • PLAN B REALITY • LOCAL POLICE DETECTIVES • REPORT at downtownpublications.com.

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BEGGARS WIN IN COURTS • PREDICTIVE CRIME FIGHTING • NEW LAKE ACCESS

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CHALLENGES COMMON CORE FOR SCHOOLS • RISE IN OAKLAND HEROIN • GANGS OF OAKLAND • HEIGHTENED SCHOOL SECURITY • FRACKING IN THE CROSSHAIRS NEW ROLE OF LIBRARIES • CHOOSING A NON-PROFIT • TESTING LOCAL NOISE LEVELS THE PATTERSON INTERVIEW • THE STATE OF THE LAKES • ETHICS RULES FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT • RIDING WITH A SHERIFF DEPUTY • TEEN DATING VIOLENCE

BUSINESS MATTERS

Back in action After making repairs to the bar area of Muldoon’s, 3982 W. Auburn Road in Rochester Hills, the tavern reopened in mid-August with a fresh face. On July 19, the ceiling façade hanging over the bar collapsed and injured four people. “That overhang, above the bar, with TVs around it, it was built in the 1950s – it was a freak accident,” said manager Tom Smith. “Everything but the dining room is different. From the bar, all the way down, is pretty well new. It looks a lot cleaner. It looks like a new bar – all new carpentry.” Smith noted that there are no changes to the menus, nor the prices. “We sell burgers to ribs to fish to sandwiches, appetizers, and some Mexican (food).

The Mexican is a good seller here.

We have a lot of TVs, and have specials for local Detroit sports.”

Brewery enters local market Griffin Claw Brewing Company, based in Birmingham southwest of Adams and Maple roads, is expanding into Rochester Hills, and will break ground in September.

Slated for the site of the former East Side Mario’s, 2273 Crooks Road, the 16,000-square foot brewery and attached restaurant will also include the existing taproom and Clubhouse BFD building, at 2265 Crooks, which will remain for the time being as it is, although it will likely convert to Griffin Claw in the future, said the planning manager for Rochester Hills. Pouring beers crafted by brew master Dan Rogers, who is said to have founded the first brewery in Las Vegas in 1992, Griffin Claw also has an appealing menu of eats, including a mustard-basted Beer Can Chicken, its three cheese Mac N Cheese, and a selection of burgers, salads and appetizers. The second location marks a significant expansion of the company’s frequently packed Birmingham spot, which is owned by Bonnie LePage and Mary Nicholson. Husbands Norm LePage and Ray Nicholson are owners of Birmingham’s nearby Big Rock Chophouse and the Got Rocks Diamond Crown Cigar Lounge.

Bank closings coming The Rochester branch of FirstMerit bank, 175 S. Livernois Road, will close in the first quarter of next year as a result of the firm’s acquisition

by Ohio-based Huntington Bank for $3.6 billion, a deal that was finalized in mid-August. “The entire process downtownpublications.com

(of FirstMerit) conversion to Huntington or (branch) closing will take place at the same time,” said Brent Wilder, public relations director for Huntington. “Customers will receive a mailed notice 90 days in advance of any closing with guidance on the branch that their accounts will be transferred to if they don’t take any action. They aren’t required to continue banking with Huntington, (but) of course we want them to.” The Rochester branch of Huntington Bank, located at 225 E. 2nd Street, will remain open. Within Oakland County, 12 FirstMerit branches will convert to Huntington, including locations in Auburn Hills, Lake Orion, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Southfield, Clarkston, Novi, S. Lyon, and Holly. “(The acquisition) takes us from a $70-plus billion asset institution to an approximately $100 billion asset institution,” said Wilder, who mentioned the firm is looking at February to initiate the conversion, but an official timeline is not clear.

“Customers will get a lot of advanced notice of what to expect, as well as when they will get new ATM cards, and what type of Huntington account they will be transferred to.”

RAHN’s office relocates The main office for Rochester Area Neighborhood House (RAHN), formerly located at 1234 Inglewood, has moved to 1720 S. Livernois Avenue, north of Hamlin Road in Rochester Hills. Following a brief temporary closure, service at the new location begins on Tuesday, September 6. “We start all of our intakes, anyone who needs assistance, comes to that main office first,” said Sharon Sutton, director of operations. “We have counselors who do personal counseling and caseworkers who determine the emergency need, (the services) that someone needs, and then directs them to services in our area, or within our agency.” On-site counselors offer psychological and financial services to low-income individuals, including assistance with money management, depression, anxiety, divorce, grief, as well as adjustment and self-esteem issues. A referral from one of the nonprofit’s caseworkers is required.

The RANH Food Pantry remains at 1315 Pine Street, and the Clothes Closet maintains its home at 44 Mill Street, both in Rochester. “If they need clothing and have never been to Neighborhood House, they need

to come in (to the main office) and be established as a client,” said Sutton. “We’re also working towards self-sufficiency, with budget coaching, and job coaching, and financial education.” RANH serves eligible residents in Rochester, Rochester Hills, Oakland Township, Auburn Hills, Leonard, and Lakeville.

Hotel coming to town The growing business community in Rochester Hills has prompted WoodSprings Hotels, a nationwide company, to build a new extended stay hotel, WoodSpring Suites, in the 3500 block of Marketplace Circle, near Adams Road and M59.

Each of the 122-guest rooms will be equipped with a kitchen to make for more of a comfortable extended stay, for which weekly rates are roughly $380 to $450. “We spent almost a year finalizing this particular market. One key component is that there are lots of construction companies, hospital employees and business growth,” said Scott Bixler, vice president of development for the hotel chain and a former Rochester Hills city council member. This location will be the third Michigan location of WoodSpring Suites, with the others in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo.

There are over 200 WoodSprings Hotels in the county, including a number of Value Place hotels, the company’s more affordable second brand.

New burger joint Culver’s, a fast casual franchise slinging burgers, custard and Wisconsin Cheese Curds, will open on the southwest corner of the Meijer property at Auburn and Rochester roads in Rochester Hills.

Known for its signature fresh beef ButterBurgers, sandwiched between a buttered toasted bun, the shop also offers a Flavor of the Day custard.

Started by the Culver family over 30 years ago in Sauk City, Wisconsin there are now 550 family-owned and operated restaurants in 24 states.

The Rochester Hills location will include indoor and outdoor seating, as well as a drive-through.

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55

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.

The Garden Party

1

The Garden Party The most perfect weather in the eight-year history of The Garden Party greeted more than 600 party goers ($150 ticket) arriving at the festival tent Sally Gerak at Meadow Brook Hall. Just outside the entry, pretty RGA models were selling boutonnières for men. Inside, most guests started the experience with a sparking rose’ before cruising the other 100 wine stations, including that of the Celani Family Vineyards. Food stations (27) offered such fare as truffled eggs (Bistro 82), crab salad (Bill’s), signature hamburgers (Red Coat Tavern) and lobster and crab croquets (DAC). Outside on the lawn classic cars looked right at home with the historic mansion as a backdrop. The eagerly anticipated afternoon raised more than $130,000 for trade school scholarships at Oakland Community College Culinary Studies Institute and Macomb Community College’s Applied Technology Programs.

2

3

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Beyond Basics Art Preview “I’d move in here tomorrow,” said 50-year-old Scott Houghton. He was one of 110 people ($75, two-$100 ticket) and “here” was the All Seasons of Birmingham senior community, which was hosting an art exhibit reception benefiting Beyond Basics literacy programs. Patrice Lockwood coordinated the convivial cocktail party that included the work of four artists - Marnie Fender, Valerie Allen, Armin Mersmann and Todd Burroughs. (Six of their works sold during the party with 50 percent going to Beyond Basics). Lockwood also donated the wine and champagne that people were sipping in the Bistro with hors d’oeuvres from a scrumptious buffet. In the central Piano Lounge, incoming Beyond Basics board president Jack Aronson thanked All Season’s Jerry Beznos for his hospitality, Patrice for organizing the evening and BB founder Pam Good for the program that served 6,000 children last year. The delightful evening raised $11,500 for Beyond Basics, which brings needy Detroit and Pontiac school children up to their grade reading level in six weeks.

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1. Syd & Elizabeth Ross of Bloomfield. 2. Roberts Restaurant Group’s Maria (left) & Bill Roberts of Bloomfield, Big Rock Chop House’s Norm & Bonnie LePage of W. Bloomfield. 3. Tom (left) & Nan Grobbel and Linda Schrenk of Birmingham, Jeff Christianson of Bloomfield. 4. Jan & Paul Hoge of Bloomfield. 5. Michele Dorian & Duane Walczak and Matt Walczak of Bloomfield.

6. Cheryl Hall-Lindsay (left) of W. Bloomfield, Larry Walsh and Bonnie Jobe of Bloomfield.

7. Sabrina (left) & Ryan Vaughan of Troy, Alesandra & Steve Stout of Rochester Hills. 8. Patti (left) & Mark Perrone of Troy, Sarah Deson of Birmingham.

Beyond Basics Art Preview

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1. Todd Burroughs (left) of Royal Oak, Patrice Lockwood and Pat & Laura Fenton of Birmingham.

2. Jack (left) & Annette Aronson of Bloomfield, BB co-founder/CEO Pam Good of Birmingham.

3. Suzie & Al McDonald of Birmingham. 4. Sheryl & Rick Kammer of Bloomfield. 5. Connie (left) & Ian McEwan of Birmingham, Dorie Shwedel of Bloomfield. 6. Carol & Curtis Pope of Bloomfield. 7. David Stanislaw and Linda Schrenk of Birmingham

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Variety Benefactors Reception Supporters of Variety, The Children’s Charity enjoy a warm camaraderie that was evident at the Sunday evening cocktail party hosted by Ana and Tigers pitcher Anibal Sanchez at their classic Birmingham home. About 100 people who had subscribed at the benefactor level to the Table Tops or A Star Is Born events held earlier in the spring attended the al fresco affair. The hosts were also honorary chairs of the Star event – a role that meshes with their own Sanchez’s Little Smiles charity. It treats families faced with the challenges of caring for children with health concerns to a fully-catered suite at the ballpark for a special game experience. The bountiful Caribbean buffet spread in the sprawling kitchen and gathering room attracted people inside where interior designer/past Variety president Michael Coyne’s talent is displayed. And, like many three-year-olds, when adorable Anabella Sanchez joined the party scene she could not resist dancing to the live music.

Detroit Symphony Orchestra Heroes Gala John and Marlene Boll’s endearing rags to riches story was in the spotlight at the 2016 DSO Heroes Gala & Benefit Concert. The sixth annual event attracted 250 gala guests ($1,000) and 1,200 concert only goers ($25 - $75) to Orchestra Hall for the Extraordinary Night of Broadway to honor the Grosse Pointe couple whose generosity and caring has enriched countless community institutions. Before their marriage 62 years ago, Marlene was a dancer with the Radio City Rockettes and met John, the son of Dutch immigrants, when he was a soldier. Two years later he persuaded her to come to Detroit and be his wife.

His early working years in construction were symbolized with work boots in a vignette displayed in the Max & Marjorie Fisher Music Center atrium, the red carpet reception and afterglow dance party venue. Broadway singer/actress Megan Hilty ( a Marilyn Monroe lookalike) starred with the DSO, including five musicians from the Youth Orchestra. Hilty dedicated “Almost like Being in Love” to the Bolls and got a standing ovation when she concluded with “Diamonds

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Are a Girl’s Best Friends”. DSO CEO Anne Parsons announced that the elegant evening netted more than $900,000 in support of the DSO’s commitment to transforming the lives of youth across the region through music education.

American Heart Association Heart Ball Jason Hall and Dan Mahlebashian chaired the 29th annual Heart Ball that attracted 450 people to Eastern Market. Cocktails and the silent auction ($30,000) were served up in Shed 5, where the Andiamo catering crew passed yummy appetizers, not all heart healthy, as one might expect. Guests strolled to Shed 3 for a gourmet, plated dinner and the program emceed by Rhonda Walker. It featured a live auction conducted by Wade Leist who garnered $40,450 for 10 lots. Teen heart transplant recipient Trevor Sullivan and his parents took center stage following a video depicting his journey. “I don’t know my donor…but I thank him from the bottom of my old and new heart,” Trevor said. His Passion Pitch resulted in pledges totaling $60,000 for research. Guests strolled back to Shed 5 for the PULSE After Party that kept the dance floor beating until midnight. The evening raised more than $1 million for the American Heart Association.

The Franklin Garden Club The Franklin Garden Club staged its 31st annual Garden Walk and more than 800 people ($12, $15 tickets) toured the six splendid gardens. The gardens, each with unique features, are nurtured by: Dennis Jans, Dominic Fava, John Uppenlatz, Susan Chambers, Rose Marie Battey and Marc Whitefield. Many visitors first shopped at the Made-inMichigan Artisan Market set up adjacent to the Franklin Village Gazebo. Pat Hamburg chaired the event committee comprised of Peggy Dufault, Judy Adelman, Pat Ciagne, Sue Ruby, Maureen Babicz, Sharon Wolf, Kathy Lorencz, Bobbi Cornwell, Susan Saxe, Sue Clayton and Georgia Charnas. Most of the club’s remaining members served as docents at the gardens. At the end of the week, Cindy Schiano hosted the wrap-up luncheon. The legendary Schiano hospitality was competition for conducting business, but outgoing president Cynthia Amann did pass the gavel to Ann Huston. She also said she had agreed to chair the 2017 walk and announced that the 2016 walk proceeds will enable the club to downtownpublications.com

Variety Benefactors Reception

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1. Event hosts Ana & Anibal Sanchez of Birmingham. 2. Aubrey Tobin (left) of W. Bloomfield, Faye Gornbein of Bloomfield, Dave & Jeffrey King of Birmingham, Caroline Groeneveld of Bloomfield. 3. Felicia Palazzolo-Shaw (left), Susan Cohan and Dan Glinieck of Birmingham. 4. Lois & Mark Shaevsky of Bloomfield. 5. Harvey (left) & Elaine Minkin and Carol Ziecik of Bloomfield. 6. Ana Sanchez of Birmingham with Michael Coyne of Bloomfield. 7. Susan & Matt Paroly of Bloomfield.

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1. John (left) & Marlene Boll of Grosse Pointe, Roger & Rosette Ajluni of Bloomfield. 2. Ethan & Gretchen Davidson of Birmingham. 3. Erica (left) & Ralph Gerson of Bloomfield and Dorothy Gerson of Franklin. 4. Sandra Moers (left) of Bloomfield, Barbara Van Dusen of Birmingham. 5. Ed & Linda Dresner Levy of Birmingham. 6. Bonnie Larson with Mimi Strek of Bloomfield. 7. Sally Orley of Bloomfield, George Larson of Chicago.

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1. Jessie Beld-Elliott of Bloomfield, Dan Mahlebashian of Novi. 2. Patti & Jim Prowse of Bloomfield. 3. Lee & Mary Pantely of Bloomfield.

4. Jason Hall of Detroit, Millie Hall of Southfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK give more than $9,000 to educational and environmental projects. Club members, who evidence a warm camaraderie, also host garden visits for members throughout the summer.

For membership information, go to franklingardenclub.org.

The Franklin Garden Club

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1. Pat Hamburg (left) of Bloomfield, Cindy Schiano of Franklin. 2. Cynthia Amman (left) of Bloomfield, Ann Houston of Bingham Farms. 3. Peggy Dufault (left) of Birmingham, Mary Sue Ewing of Franklin, Shirlee Kipp of Bloomfield. 4. Kae Gaskin of Bloomfield. 5. Susan Chambers ( left) of Bloomfield , Bobbi Cornwell of Lathrup Village. 6. Sharon Wolf (left) of W. Bloomfield, Lavon Cook and Jennifer Weight of Bloomfield. 7. Lynn Choudhury (center) of Bloomfield, Carol Arnold (left) and Judy Ernst of Franklin.

JVS Strictly Business Awards Luncheon

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1. John Rakolta of Bloomfield. 2. Zack Sklar and Chris McQuiston of Birmingham. 3. Derek Dickow (left) of W. Bloomfield, Ed Levy of Birmingham. 4. Lilly Epstein Stotland (left) of Birmingham and Don & Margi Epstein of Bloomfield. 5. Lena Epstein & Eric Medwed of Bloomfield.

6. Bo Jacobson (left) of Bloomfield, Lacey Jacobson of Birmingham, Carol Segal Ziecik and Mert Segal of Bloomfield. 7. Aaron Chernow (left) of Bloomfield, Jeffrey Tischler and Joshua Eichenhorn of W. Bloomfield. 8. Sandra Moers (left) of Bloomfield, Sue Lasser of Birmingham.

Detroit Economic Club Chairman’s Dinner

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1. Joe Vicari (left) of Clinton Twp., Rod & Tami Alberts of Bloomfield, Clarice Michaels of Rochester Hills. 2. Marlene (left) & Bill Emerson of Bloomfield, Sandy Pierce of Northville, Patricia Mooradian of Bloomfield. 3. Beth Chappell of Bloomfield. 4. J.R. (left) & Leslie Hesano of Birmingham, Steve Grigorian of Bloomfield, Don Whitford of Macomb.

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JVS Strictly Business Awards Luncheon If networking is your thing, the lobby of the MGM Grand ballroom was the place to be prior to the JVS Strictly Business Luncheon. Chaired

by Joshua Eichenhorn and Jeffrey Tischler, it attracted 730 and raised $300,000 for JVS (formerly Jewish Vocational Services). It is so successful because it features a keynote, power broker speaker whom everybody wants to meet (this year, John Rakolta), and bestows awards for Business Leadership, Rising Entrepreneur and Employees of the Year (this year, three). They all spoke and their stories were compelling.

Rakolta’s message concerned the urgency of a quality education for all Detroit school children. Business Leadership awardee Detroit Labs attributes its success to eschewing titles, making all employees team members and investing in them.

Rising Entrepreneur Chef Zack Sklar who, with partner Jim Bellinson, owns a flourishing restaurant business with 500 employees, said, “If you don’t build your own dreams, someone will hire you to build theirs.”

The three Employees of the Year were all job hunting when each successfully utilized different JVS programs and are now valued employees: Lacey Jacobson of REDICO LLC; Chris Stonehouse of Macomb Community College; Antonio Anderson of Action Wood 360. All had their fans in the audience.

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Detroit Economic Club Chairman’s Dinner Once a year members of the Detroit Economic Club gather at the Chairman’s Dinner, not to discuss the great issues of the day, but rather to have a good time raising money to support that mission. This year nearly 400 members and their guests ($125 & $250 tickets) convened for cocktails in the Pennsylvania Courtyard at The Henry Ford. The al fresco setting was quite conducive to serious socializing, with passed hors d’oeuvres before adjourning to the museum for the dual entrée dinner of succulent sirloin and salmon. A brief program featured DEC president Beth Chappell, DEC chairman/event sponsor Ford’s Bill Ford, event sponsor Lear’s Matt Simoncini, and event sponsor First 09.16

Merit’s Sandy Pierce as cheerleaders for the 82-year-old club’s programs.

Especially its program that annually enables 1,600 students to meet with business leaders, and its Young Leader program for the under-40 set.

Ashley Langford and Jason Wize followed their elders in the spotlight and confirmed the YL program’s efficacy. Thanks also to generous sponsors the 2016 Chairman’s Dinner raised more than $200,000.

St. Vincent DePaul Golf Classic When the golf was completed, 180 supporters of St. Vincent de Paul’s Camp Ozanam gathered for cocktails, auction action and dinner at Pine Lake Country Club. The annual fundraiser, launched 25 years ago by the late “Red” and Msgr. Jerry Martin, had a new focus this year – the late Irvin Swider, who was affectionately known as “Mr. Wonderful”. The Irvin F. Swider Eternal Flame Award will be presented annually to a person or organization that improves the lives of children. Accepting the inaugural award for the family, Mary SwiderSpresser expressed their gratitude for the honor and added, “Fr. Martin married our parents and baptized most of us (six children).” Camp Ozanam, named after the Society of St. Vincent De Paul founder Frederick Ozanam, is located on Lake Huron north of Lexington. Over a six-week period each summer it is paradise for one week to disadvantaged kids.

During the dinner program, two of them, a brother and sister, praised the friendships they made there and sang a silly camp song, “Fried Ham”. As event honoree, Detroit Archbishop Allen Vigneron was also featured in the program. Likewise golf winner Mark Angellotti.

Dr. Lucia Zamorano chaired the event which was co-chaired by Claudia Harlan, Beth Brazier-Rydesky and Brian Petterle. It raised more than $150,000 to help send 600 urban kids to summer camp.

RESTORE Purple Rain Fundraiser Because the RESTORE Foundation raises funds to sustain the Oakland County Drug Courts and because the “singer known as Prince” died in April of a drug overdose, staging a foundation benefit that put the spotlight on the star’s music made sense. It was also lots of fun. Jan Calvert, Rachel Stamler-Jonas, Rosemarie Wilson and Dan McCarthy performed great Prince songs. Think “Little Red Corvette”, “Kiss”, “On the Couch”, “I Wanna Be downtownpublications.com

St. Vincent DePaul Golf Classic

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1. Susan Swider (left) & Dr. Lucia Zamorano of Orchard Lake. 2. Roseann Royle (left) of Birmingham and Bill Brazier of Clarkston, Claudia Harlan of Bloomfield. 3. Anne Marie Veneroni (left) of Bloomfield, Yuler and Debbie Jackson of Rochester Hills. 4. Jeff Rumley (left) of Grosse Pointe, Mario Apruzzese of Rochester Hills, Tom Elward of W. Bloomfield. 5. Gu Chawney (left) of Beverly Hills, Chad and Irvin Swider of W. Bloomfield, Peter Betrus of Bloomfield. 6. Paul (left) & Sue Nine of Bloomfield, Beth Brazier-Rydesky & & Dr. Peter Rydesky of Clarkston. 7. Dave LewAllen (center) of Rochester, Ayrm (left) and Tim Ward of Detroit. 8. Patrick Donahue of Rochester.

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RESTORE Purple Rain Fundraiser

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1. Hon. Ed Sosnick of Bloomfield, Edee Franklin of Huntington Woods. 2. Bill Bullard of Highland, Valerie Straith and Kimberly Whipple of Bloomfield. 3. Leslie Craigie & John Henke of Birmingham. 4. Rachel Stanler-Jonas (left) of Royal Oak, Regina Slowey and Brian Henry of Bloomfield. 5. Hon. Colleen O’Brien (left) of Clarkston, Hon. Wendy Potts, Linda Orlans & Gerry Padilla of Birmingham. 6. Harriet Rotter (left) of Bingham Farms, Judy Komer of Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Lighthouse of Oakland County

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1. Drs. Harris & Phoebe Mainster of Bloomfield. 2. Honoree Kim Worthy (center) of Detroit, event co-chairs Sue & Paul Nine of Bloomfield.

3. Laura (left) and Harve Light of Rochester Hills, Margaret Cooney Casey of Beverly Hills. 4. Maggie Allesee (left) of Bloomfield and Juliette Okotie-Eboh of Detroit. 5. Mary (left) & Dennis Winkler of Rochester Hills, Rick & Pat David of Pontiac. 6. CJ & Patty Ghesquiere of Bloomfield.

7. Maryann Cromwell (left) of Bloomfield, Deirdre Waterman and Portia Fields-Anderson of Pontiac. 8. Dan (left) & Linda Rocheleau of W. Bloomfield, Eileen & John Ball of Bloomfield. 9. Arlene Mainster Holtzman (standing left) of Boston, MA, Brandon, Phoebe and Harris Mainster of Bloomfield, Lisa Mainster Menuck and Jill Mainster Menuck of Birmingham, Daniel Holtzman (seated left) of Boston, MA, Mark Menuck and Craig Menuck of Birmingham.

PAC(k) the Patio

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1. Dustin Heneigar (left) of Royal Oak, Jeff Bayalis and Jeffrey Imerman and Dana Sorensen of Birmingham. 2. Cassandra Gut (left) of Northville, Elizabeth Godek of Birmingham, Lisa Nederlander of Franklin. 3. Joe Covino (left) of Plymouth, Sean Metros of Bloomfield, Andrew Hopper of Ypsilanti, Karl Knas of Bloomfield. 4. Jeff Addison (left) of Royal Oak, Elizabeth Morley of Rochester, Tera Pearce and Josh Robbins of Birmingham.

5. Mollie Proctor left) of Bloomfield, Rachelle Nozero of Novi, Diane Farber of Bingham Farms, Gail Pope-Rashid of Bloomfield. 6. Barb Cebulski (left) of W. Bloomfield, Patricia LaFrance and Bryan Pike of Roseville, Amber Wehrle of Rochester, Nicole Horien of Clawson.

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Your Lover” and “Purple Rain”. But two others starred at the event which attracted 125 ($60 and up tickets) to the Iroquois Club. Angela, whose saga included 21 months in jail for armed robbery to support her drug habit, got a standing ovation because she has been in recovery for five years, has a job, a fiancé and a future.

“Addiction is a physical disease, not a value thing,” she concluded. Mark’s story about hearing the words, “Your son (23) is dead,” was also filled with pain and hopelessness in the face of the drugs that killed his son. However, drug court enabled his nephew to get well. “He’s now like a son…We need more people like you guys,” he said.

Following the two compelling testimonials to the value of the drug courts, foundation president Ed Sosnick declared, “This is the most important work I have ever done.”

Now that’s saying something, considering that “work” includes 28 years on the bench, plus time in the county prosecutor’s office and private practice. The event raised about $10,000.

Lighthouse of Oakland County For 13 years, a benefit founded by Maggie Allesee and Sue Nine to honor exceptional citizens, has been a fundraiser for Lighthouse of Oakland County. Two hundred supporters ($150 & up tickets) gathered at Oakland Hills Country Club for cocktails and silent auction bidding before a splendid seated dinner.

WJR’s Marie Osborn emceed the program that had highlights, including new Lighthouse CEO Rick David, who was like a kid in a candy shop. “(To me) CEO means Chief Enthusiasm Officer, “ he said, adding, “(It’s easy when you) are passionate about people you care about in a place you love. I feel so fortunate to be at Lighthouse,” he concluded. Former Lighthouse client Rachael Pica spoke about how much her children loved the two years they all lived in a PATH apartment while she got the skills to turn her life around. “I’m extremely grateful to PATH,” she concluded.

Citizen honorees Drs. Harris and Phoebe Mainster, who have been married for 56 years, talked about being rejected by the Peace Corps because they were married.

Undaunted, the Healer (Harris) and the Educator (Phoebe) began selffunding their own missionary trips to underserved regions throughout the world. Their first of 42 was 45 years ago with their four children. Honoree Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy who was first elected in 2004, 09.16

spoke about all the types of crime her office investigates and concluded, ”We speak for the victims of crime.”

Charles Wickins then conducted a brief live auction and pledging. Thanks also to generous sponsors, the redwhite-and-blue splashed party raised $100,000 for LOC programs that help families break the cycle of poverty.

PAC(k) the Patio The President’s Advisory Council’s first annual PAC(K) the Patio gathering attracted about 100 ($50 ticket) to the Van Dusen Terrace at The Community House. Some of them brought clothing donations for two non-profits, Jackets for Jobs and the Disabled Veterans National Foundation. The donation component was a nice fit with the mission of PAC – to advise and give counsel to the TCH president on a wide range of issues with emphasis on fostering philanthropy in the next generation. PAC cochairs Jeff Bayalis and Jeffrey Imerman briefly interrupted the sipping, supping and socializing to welcome the mostly younger professionals and thank Dana Sorensen for coordinating the cocktail party. One PAC member, Michael Leach, had an especially young date – his toddler Ellie whom he had snagged at pick up time from the house Early Childhood Center.

Meadow Brook Theatre Concert & Cuisine Oakland University’s Meadow Brook Theatre is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year as “Michigan’s answer to Broadway.” Nearly 600 supporters ($85, $125 tickets) of Michigan’s largest non-profit professional resident theatre flocked to the third annual summer fundraiser. They chatted and cocktailed al fresco before going into the lobby to peruse the silent auction ($6,250) and to sample fare from 15 food stations. But the scene inside the theatre was the raison d’être for the event.

During a very brief live auction before the concert by “Herman’s Hermits Starring Peter Noone”, MBT artistic director Travis Walter was joined on stage by Peter Noone to help generate bidding excitement, and they garnered $4,270. Noone and his band then had ‘em dancing in the aisles to such favorites as “I’m Into Something Good”, “Mrs. Brown, you’ve Got A Lovely Daughter” and “I’m Henry VIII, I Am” – all Noone hits from the ‘60s. A standing ovation and an autograph line winding though the lobby concluded the benefit evening.

Thanks also to generous sponsors, the benefit raised some $35,000.

Next on the MBT schedule is opening night of “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery” on Oct. 8. It launches the 2016-2017 season of seven productions plus seven children’s productions.

TCH Jazz on the Rocks As if to confirm that the Van Dusen Terrace at The Community House is a splendid summer spot regardless of age, the Jazz on the Rocks series kicked off there Aug. 4 with the Johnny Trudell Quartet. Ron Kischuk is the artistic director of the Thursday night series, initiated upon the recommendation of jazz aficionados John and Carol Aubry. They were celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary at the inaugural event. Before his soulful rendition of “Satin Doll”, Trudell said, “This one’s for you, Maggie.” He meant Maggie Allesee who was at a front row table with her husband, jazz pianist Bob Allesee, and Barbara Van Dusen.

Meadow Brook Theatre Concert & Cuisine

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8 1. Betty Ridan (left) and Patti Finnegan-Sharf of Bloomfield. 2. Cheryl Marshall (left) and Travis Walter, Bob & Colleen Brnabic of Rochester. 3. Donna & Jeff Buller of Rochester Hills. 4. Tom (left) & Denise Gray and Randy & Chris Barnett of Rochester. 5. John & Anita Savio of Rochester Hills. 6. Lori Holtsclaw (left) of Rochester Hills, Dawna Gierak of Detroit. 7. Judy (left) & David Garrett and Frank & Bea Lude of Rochester Hills. 8. Todd Frerichs (left) and Chris & Pete DeSteiger of Rochester Hills. 9. Donna Walker (left) of Shelby Twp., Debra Bryan of Rochester Hills.

10. Elizabeth Anderson (left) of Rochester and Diana Beauchamp of Rochester Hills.

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TCH Jazz on the Rocks

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1. Jack (left) & Shirley Porter of Bloomfield, Carol & John Aubrey. 2. Alvaro Sanchez & Raquel Amigo of Birmingham.

3. Tim & Ann Rader of Birmingham. 4. Tom Varbedian (standing) of Bloomfield, Lee Miskowski (seated left) and Jim & Barbara Suhay of Birmingham.

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

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ENDNOTE

Regional transit plan: more details needed e want to be clear right from the beginning – we are very supportive of the concept of mass transit, and absolutely believe the southeast Michigan region needs a good mass transit system linking the city of Detroit with wide flung areas of its suburbs.

But we have a problem supporting the current Regional Transit Authority (RTA) plan and the accompanying 1.2-mill proposal which will face voters on November 8, details of which can be found in a story in this edition.

Here's the gist of our overall beef: The RTA master plan stands more as a plan for a plan – meaning too much of it is still undeveloped, with too many details missing.

Every dream comes with a cost, and unfortunately, at this point in time, we have too many concerns with the dream the RTA has currently imagined. We are not willing to buy into the hazy logic that “if we build it, they will come.” One need only look at the current SMART (Suburban Mobile Authority for Regional Transportation) system that has been supported for nearly 50 years and only has 44,000 daily riders on 43 routes to realize that this logic doesn't hold up.

Ideally, we would have recommended more time to work out important and critical details of the plan, allowing the RTA to put it before voters in 2018.

Instead, it was rushed so as not to compete with the SMART millage renewal, itself a one-mill property tax, which is planned to go before voters in Oakland, Wayne and Macomb counties.

To put it in context, this is the 24th attempt in the last 40 years to create a regional transit system in metro Detroit. This one was created when the Michigan state legislature passed Public Act 387 in 2012, creating the RTA. Unfortunately, they didn't

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adequately fund it, and their first CEO, John Hertel, chairman of SMART, stepped down in 2014 without ever having signed a contract. The current CEO, Michael Ford, previously ran the Ann Arbor Area Transportation Authority. During the RTA's first year, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) had been in control of funding, but that organization is now only marginally involved.

According to Oakland and Macomb county officials, they had been asking for specific details on how the RTA would seek federal and state funding for RTA services since November 2015, along with other concerns such as how the RTA would provide some semblance of services to two-thirds of Oakland County, despite those residents paying for it for 20 years, annual accountability and equal say for voting on the RTA board.

RTA officials, members of the business community and Pavlovian critics attempted to paint with a broad brush both Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and Macomb County Executive Mark Hackel, saying they had waited until the last minute to bring up their issues in an effort to sandbag regional transit – when in reality these issues had been on the table since last fall.

Patterson and Hackel were doing their job demanding details and accountability from the RTA, and their residents expect nothing less.

While some of the executives' issues have conceptually been resolved, we remain concerned that the RTA does not know how much money they may receive in federal and state grants in operating funds.

They have projections, but nothing concrete, but are seeking the millage anyway. The plan will go forward for all concerned if three of the four counties approve the millage.

So here's the start of our major questions that no one has been able to address: What if federal money disappears 10 years down the road? We have seen such policy changes from Washington D.C. in the past. Will local residents be asked to increase their tax commitment to this system once it has been started? What about bus fares, which must be part of the ongoing operational revenues for any system? When will such details be worked out?

How will RTA officials go about buying or condemning land for stops along the routes and what will this cost be? And is it really a priority – other than as a showcase project – to create an airport shuttle system on day one?

While the RTA advertises that the tax will cost the owner of an average home in the metro area $95 annually in additional taxes, that is for a home worth $200,000, with a taxable value of $100,000. If your home is worth $1 million in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Rochester, Rochester Hills or Oakland Township, the RTA tax you pay may be closer to $600 or more annually, on top of a SMART millage tax of about the same amount. That's about $1,200 a year – real money in anyone's budget.

Lastly, we are not willing to accept the analogy that funding this mass transit effort is akin to funding local schools which contribute to the overall value of the community whether you use them or not. When schools come up for millages, we demand they tell us in detail what they will spend our money on. We think a transit plan, costing $4.7 billion over 20 years, $63 million of which will come from Oakland County in the first year, should have to do the same thing.

Bring this mass transit plan and millage request back once all the details have been worked out. That is how good government works.

Mandate annual school water quality testing ead and copper contamination discovered in at least a dozen Oakland County school districts makes clear the need for water quality testing to be required in Michigan schools, and for state lawmakers to provide adequate funding for water sampling.

Public water suppliers since 1991 have been required to test a smattering of water taps in their communities for lead and copper levels. Federal law requires that 90 percent of those taps tested fall under a concentration of less than 15 parts per billion (ppb) for lead, and under 1,300 ppb for copper. Those requirements, however, offer little evidence as to whether the plumbing at local schools are leaching contaminants into water being used by children, staff and visitors. Currently, there is no requirement for schools to test water for lead and copper on public drinking water supplies. It is a glaring oversight of the federal law, which is intended to protect populations most at risk for lead and copper poisoning: children.

In light of the Flint water crisis, some districts and private schools have taken to conducting their own water sampling programs on a voluntary basis, and at their own cost. Those results have since shown that lead and copper contamination at schools is far greater than suggested by annual water reports issued by local municipalities.

In April, governor Rick Snyder announced a series of

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reforms he hoped would be taken up at the state level to address water quality, including requiring all school districts in the state to test their water for lead and copper. The call to action instead put a freeze on legislation introduced months earlier by Republican state senator Rick Jones, which would require districts to conduct water sampling for lead and copper.

While Jones said the governor's plan would supposedly provide greater safety assurances than his bill, no alternative has been introduced by lawmakers.

Rather than waiting for a new bill, we urge lawmakers in the senate's governmental affairs committee to take up Jones' proposal, which provides a beginning for testing requirements in the state.

Testing requirements should be applied to all public schools, as well as private and parochial schools.

Parents should be assured that the schools they send their children to have safe potable water. We believe that testing should be conducted on a rotating basis each year, with all potable drinking water taps – drinking fountains and cafeteria sinks – tested once every two years. So that there is no excuse for schools abrogating their responsibility, we believe it is critical that lawmakers providing a plan to require such testing also provide the funding at the state level so districts, as required under the Headlee Amendment adopted by voters years ago. And districts should make the results available to the public on their websites in clear

language any layman can easily understand.

If state lawmakers are truly concerned about protecting the most at-risk population in the state, lead and copper testing must include all childcare facilities in the state. Michigan already requires childcare operations to be licensed by the state. With the number of parents working and utilizing childcare facilities, how can the drinking water at those buildings not be at least below the federal action limit for lead and copper?

And, while we believe state funds should be provided for testing at school districts, most childcare facilities, which are an individual business or in a home, tend to have far fewer drinking water locations than a school district. Therefore, it's appropriate to require testing at childcare facilities as a cost of doing business.

Currently, the ability to fund water sampling programs, as well as the lack of uniformity on sampling guidelines and uncertainty on future requirements is causing some school districts to forego or limit testing in their buildings. Quick and clear action on the issue at the state level is therefore needed to protect students as quickly as possible, and we would expect state lawmakers from Oakland to help lead the charge on this issue.

While some legislators and school districts may be willing to wait for the governor to push his plan, we are not. The health and safety of our children are too important for a wait-and-see attitude.

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LET US SHOW YOU HOW DIFFERENT WE AREâ&#x20AC;¦

Lynn Baker & Deby Gannes 248.379.3000 | LBaker@HallandHunter.com 248.379.3003 | DGannes@HallandHunter.com Have you heard? Lynn & Deby sell homes at EVERY price...

Yes, no home too small, no home too large, they DO sell them all!

We specialize in “cottages to castles” listings advertised on 33 websites with 660 links!

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Lynn and Deby - Hall & Hunter Realtors

ROCHESTER HILLS 3744 Thatcher | $1,675,000

CLARKSTON 7608 Devins Ridge | $999,900

ROCHESTER HILLS 1970 Oak Pointe | $949,999

Butler's Ridge French chateau with unbelievable amenties! Finished LL with theater, wine room and more. Gazebo with outdoor kitchen. Salt water pool.

Bridge Valley sub 1.62 acre site with Deer Lake privileges and view of serene pond. European flair.

1st floor master. Walkout lower level. 3-car garage.

5,987 SF | 5 BR | 4.3 Baths | MLS# 216066869

5,671 Total SF | 4 BR | 4.1 Baths | MLS# 216054263

Over an acre in a prestigious gated community. Open light-filled floor plan. Spacious 1st floor theater and master suite with patio access. Finished lower level.

5,583 SF | 5 BR | 4.2 Baths | MLS# 216080280

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 521 W. Snell Road | $849,900

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 5760 Murfield | $759,900

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP 4571 Chatford Court | $449,900

Private, charming 10-acre estate, including stunning historical home and updated 1-bedroom cottage.

Renovated kitchen. Vineyard & gardens. Must see!

Hills of Oakland first Homerama show house built by Moceri. Floor master suite leads to balcony. Finished walkout LL. Every upgrade and detail imaginable!

Cul-de-sac location with walking trail, trees & large patio in back yard! Great room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Spacious master with 2 walk-in closets & jetted tub.

5,000 SF | 6 BR | 4.2 Baths | MLS #216083327

6,347 SF | 4 BR | 4.2 Baths | MLS #216072553

3,390 SF | 4 BR | 2.1 Baths | MLS #216066361

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Hall & Hunter Realtors | 442 S. Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, MI 48009