Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield

GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • HEALD: EDDIE MERLOT'S STEAKHOUSE

OCC AT THE CROSSROAD COMMUNITY COLLEGE WORKS TO RECREATE ITSELF FOR FUTURE

FUNDRAISING FOR SCHOOLS HUGE SUMS OF MONEY BEYOND BAKE SALES

FRACKING IN CROSSHAIRS OPPOSITION MOUNTS FOR DRILLING METHOD

Michigan’s Leading Realtor City of Bloomfield Hills Vaughan Triangle on Lake Placid Over 11,000 Sq. Ft. of Custom Craftsmanship State of the Art Technology $5,670,000

City of Bloomfield East Coast Style Newer Construction Designed For Entertaining And Casual Living First Floor Owners Wing A GEM! $3,499,000

Bloomfield Hills Lakefront with European Craftsmanship and Distinctive Details Spectacular Views $3,375,000

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

City Of Bloomfield Completely Renovated Wallace Frost Estate Home On Almost 3 Acres With Carriage House Walk to Cranbrook $3,329,000

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

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

City of Birmingham Custom End Unit Condo With 3 Full Floors of Luxurious Living Outdoor Terraces Ideal for Entertaining $2,195,000

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

City Of Bloomfield Hills Sprawling Home Perched On Endicott Lake With Sunset Views Rebuilt With Open Floor Plan And Multiple Gathering Areas $1,695,000

Walk to Birmingham From This Custom 4 story Contemporary Spectacular Interior Details Rare Walk Out Lower Level With Bar 5th Bedroom And Bath $1,595,000

Bloomfield Hills Tudor Style Home With Gilbert Lake Privileges. Oversized Family Room With Bar That Looks Over Pool Bloomfield Hills Schools. $1,570,000

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

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

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

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

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

Bloomfield Township Home With Open Floor Plan Over An Acre Setting With Pool And Green Space $1,075,000

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

Updated Bloomfield Village Colonial Centrally Located.

Formal Rooms With An Open Floor Plan. Master Wing With Large Bath And Walk-In Closet. $949,000

46

KATHYBROOCK.COM DOWNTOWN

08.12

4th Generation Realtor Walk to Downtown Birmingham From This Custom Corner Lot Home With Daylight Finished Basement $949,000

Quarton Lake “Gem” On Quiet Street. Complete With Formal Dining Room, Living Room, Office And Large Family Room Addition.

Owners Suite! $949,000

Bloomfield Township Gated Community Model Home With Large Formal Living Spaces Kitchen Opens For 2 Story Family Room $925,000

5 Bedroom Newer Home With Open Floor Plan First Floor Owners Suite Private Setting With Walnut Lake Privilege $897,000

Renovated Quarton Lake Colonial With Flowing Floor Plan, Mud Room 3 Car Garage And Large Owners Suite $895,000

Bloomfield Hills Estate Property Bloomfield Hills Schools

Almost 8,000 Sq.Ft. Living Space Bedroom Suites First Floor Master Walkout Lower Level $804,000

Newer Construction Tudor in Oakland Township Finished walkout lower level Golf Course Views $779,000

Bloomfield Village Home Situated On A Private Setting. Fully Fenced With Professional Gardens. Formal Living Room, Dining Room And Family Room. $649,000

Cass Lake Bay Front With Sunset Views. Soft Contemporary With New Granite Kitchen.

Master With Marble Bath.

Open Floor Plan. $599,000

Walk to Birmingham Build Your Dream House

City of Orchard Lake Buildable Walkout Site Exquisite 2 Acres With Lakefront Out lot

$495,000

$489,000

$549,500-$824,900

K A T H Y BROOCK BALLARD 248.318.4504 Sought After “Willits” Street In Downtown Birmingham. Steps From Shopping And Dining.

Classic Tudor With New Kitchen And Powder Room. Charming! $779,000

City of Bloomfield Acreage Mid Century Modern Hilltop Setting Surrounded by Majestic Trees $729,000

Walk To Birmingham From This Prime Cul-De-Sac Location.

Don’t Buy A Condo When You Can Have A Private Residence With Minimal Maintenance. $589,000

Rare Bloomfield Village Ranch With Updated Kitchen And Master Bath.

Oversized Garage.

Fabulous Gardens. $559,000

KATHY@MAXBROOCKHOMES.COM

kathybroock.com

275 S. Old Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 48009

OVER 45 MILLION SOLD YEAR TO DATE

downtownpublications.com

DOWNTOWN

47

DOWNTOWN09.13

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27 45

OCC at the crossroads

Fracking concerns

Critics state-wide of fracking as a method to tap Michigan oil and gas reserves are making their concerns known.

Oakland Community College is having to recreate itself to address the future role of the educational institution.

CRIME LOCATOR

10

FOCUS ON WINE

120

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

FACES 47: Sami Mei Lofman

101: Tom Tjaarda

105: Erica May

107: Mary Muller

111: Kelly Rogers Victor

121

CITY/TOWNSHIP

124

BUSINESS MATTERS

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

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

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134

Choopy, by Mark di Suvero, on S. Old Woodward south of 555 Building, Birmingham. Downtown photo/Austen Hohendorf.

DOWNTOWN P

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DOWNTOWN • WESTEND • BLACK BOOK • THE GUIDE 124 WEST MAPLE ROAD BIRMINGHAM MI 48009 P: 248.792.6464 downtownpublications.com facebook.com/downtownpublications • twitter.com/downtownpubs

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

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

DOWNTOWN

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

ENDNOTE

THE COVER

Dance Academy of Bloomfield Hills; Legacy Dental Group; Waserman Project; Liberty Way Realty; Maple; Vibe Credit Union; plus more

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

Eddie Merlot's in Bloomfield is distinctly different than other steakhouses that have cropped up in the local area.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

ACLU sues Birmingham; options for Baldwin Library; hookah bar denied; Christian school approved; Blue Mercury coming; Hot Mama signs lease; November elections; plus more

113

Donald Hess started in the wine business in 1978 and now has eight wineries on four continents, including the United States.

AT THE TABLE

17: Marla Drutz

52

School fundraising

Raising adding money for local schools has moved way beyond the bakes sales we all knew growing up.

Fracking does not belong in Oakland County; Hookah bars a no in downtown.

INCOMING: We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Birmingham/Bloomfield community. The traditional Letters to the Editor in Downtown are published in our Incoming section, and can include traditional letters or electronic communication. Your opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com; or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI, 48009.

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

09.13

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

GROSSE POINTE

TWO GREAT DESIGNERS...ONE GREAT CAUSE

FALL & HOLIDAY COLLECTION

GROSSE POINTE SEPTEMBER 25 10 AM - 8 PM

BLOOMFIELD HILLS SEPTEMBER 26-27 10 AM - 6 PM

JEWELRY COLLECTION & PERSONAL APPEARANCE

BENEFITING

2013 COMMITTEE Amy Ben-Ezra Joanne Leider Kimberly S. Goodman Niki Fink

Nicole Eisenberg Julie Yaker Treger Strasberg Stephanie Freedman

Jennifer Gilbert Courtney Colton Karen Rosset Kathy Finkle

Julie Rothstein Loren Stone Nikki Raime Kim Campau

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

NEXT TO LEE’S SPECIALTY

4076 W MAPLE RD 248.594.8181

J.J. Curis Cathy Crane Jessica Kosic Kris Scarfone

Michelle Haggarty Chin Revard Anne Vanker Deborah Caputo

GROSSE POINTE

she-stores.com

IN THE VILLAGE

16888 KERCHEVAL PL 313.571.3365

FROM THE PUBLISHER

F

or the past decade the hot topic in the retail community, locally and across the nation, has been the loss of revenue to the Internet and online retailers where customers can sometimes find the same items from brick-and-mortar operations for less money, mainly because the online operator does not have the overhead, including local personal and property taxes that help underwrite the local community and the public schools.

I was reminded of this most recently by the owner of one of the upscale downtown Birmingham retail stores who shared his experience with customers that on a routine basis shop his home goods store to inspect items and then head home to continue their shopping online in hopes of beating his price and possibly the state sales tax.

In the case of this particular retailer, he told one disturbing story about a customer that spent over an hour in his store, asking advice, looking at sample items, then took products home to see how they looked in her home, only to return days later to bring the items back without making a purchase. His suspicion was that the customer, having the exact items, prices and manufacturers at her disposal in the comfort of her home, spent the time to scour the Internet in an attempt to beat his pricing, probably with no delivery charge, and possibly avoiding paying the Michigan six percent sales tax.

Of course, there is no legislating bad manners or behavior that borders on bad taste, but lawmakers could finally address the tax issue if for no other reason than the overwhelming amount of tax revenue lost each year to Internet-based retail operations, estimated in Michigan to be almost $250 million, coupled with another $200 million lost with phone and mail order sales.

variety of reasons, legislation addressing the online retail tax collection seems to bog down at every turn.

Michigan lawmakers are now considering some tweaks to state tax law in a pair of bills known at the Main Street Fairness Act, similar to legislation that failed for lack of action in previous sessions. But even if it is adopted in both chambers, any minor adjustment here or in other states will have little effect unless the U.S. Congress focuses on this issue.

There is a push in Washington, not the first and certainly not the last, to impose a uniform Internet sales tax on retail transactions or require state taxes to be collected at the time of a sale. The Marketplace Fairness Act (S.336) was introduced in February and has bi-partisan support from some key members of congress.

The legislation would impose a uniform tax on Internet retail sales and would exempt small businesses that transact less than $1 million in out of state sales. Two contentious portions of the bill that might lead to its defeat are an opt out provision for any state that does not want to collect this uniform tax for those states that do not have a sales tax and a requirement that before a state can receive the revenues generated by this tax, the state must simplify state taxes where multi-jurisdiction taxes are now imposed.

There is also concern at the federal level, on the part of some conservative Republicans, that an Internet tax would be viewed as a tax increase (it's not), clearly a rather twisted logic from members of the GOP that used to be viewed as a friend of business.

Then there is a certain faction in congress which thinks that Internet sales tax collection should be made part of a push underway for overall tax reform, no doubt a kiss of death for addressing an issue of importance for local brick-and-mortar retail business owners.

The prevailing logic a decade ago, and in some quarters still today, held that the Internet was something new and e-commerce should be allowed to flourish, so any attempt at taxation would smother innovation in the online retail community.

Of course, don't forget the lobbyist factions, which interestingly seem to be divided on this issue. Supporters include Macy's, Office Max, Saks and even Amazon, squaring off against a group operating under the banner of NetChoice, which includes Facebook, Yahoo and AOL.

As it stands today, online retailers must collect state sales taxes if the retailer has a physical presence in the state, either a brick-and-mortar store or a warehouse, for example.

You get the picture. A recipe, once again, for inaction at the federal level.

There have been attempts to create an equal playing field, but for a

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

available at

A Touch of Lace 4036 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302 phone: 248.645.5223 | fax: 248.645.5227 email: atouchoflace@aol.com | atouchoflace.com Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Evenings and weekends available upon request

CRIME LOCATOR

NORTH

Map key

Sexual assault

Assault

Murder

Robbery

Breaking/entering

Larceny

Larceny from vehicle

Vehicle theft

Vandalism

Drug offenses

Arson

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills through August 16, 2013.

Placement of codes is approximate.

THE REAL DIFFERENCE IN REAL ESTATE Nanci J. Rands Associate Broker

248.701.9000 Meredith Colburn

Associate Broker

248.762.5319

www.RandsColburn.com JUST LISTED

Franklin $1,695,000

Birmingham $3,250,000

Outstanding 2005 custom build on private landscaped site. Airy and filled with light. Soaring ceilings. Flowing floor plan. Dramatic 2-story foyer. Stunning Family Room has 2-way fireplace to Breakfast Room and island Kitchen. Formal Dining Room and Butler's Pantry. Elegant fireplaced Master Suite with Sitting Room. Pressure sewer. Finished Lower Level. 4 car garage.

Exquisite French Normandy architecturally designed home in Quarton Lake. Designer’s own renovated to perfection 2010-2012. Custom finishes and cabinetry. Sumptuous Master Suite.

Lower Level has Wine Cellar, Theatre and Exercise Room, 6th Bedroom, Bath. Private corner lot with extraordinary landscaping, new patio, gas fireplace, French fountain. Elevator.

Bloomfield Hills $1,449,000

Bloomfield Hills $1,990,000

This distinguished Tudor is in the heart of Bloomfield Hills on a beautiful private acre. Over 6,000 sq. ft. of living space, with 5 Bedrooms, 4 full and 2 half Baths. The two-story Foyer opens to Library and Living Room. Cathedral ceilinged Great Room. Master Suite has fireplaced sitting area, his and her baths and huge closets. Finished walk-out. 4 car garage.

Impressive contemporary estate on 2.28 acres. Over 6700 sq. ft. of living space. 4 Bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half Baths. Courtyard and pool. Flowing floor plan. Banquet-sized Dining Room overlooks Living Room. Luxurious Master Suite. All bedrooms are suites with balcony or deck.

Gourmet island Kitchen. Expansive Lower Level. Four car garage. Cabana and greenhouse.

®

®

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

NANCI J. RANDS & MEREDITH COLBURN SALE or LEASE

Franklin $3,995,000

Birmingham $2,495,000

Franklin $1,200,000

Exceptional 2001 Tringali-designed English Tudor replica on 2.48 acres. Gated drive opens to pond, fountain and arched walkways. Over 10,000 sq. ft. of luxury. 4 Bedroom Suites.

Cook’s Kitchen opens to Hearth and Breakfast Rooms. 3-Season Sun Porch. Wine Cellar and Tasting Room. Exercise Facility and professional Dojo. Two heated garages with capacity for 8 cars.

2004 built in-town home with exceptional features. Over 6,800 sq. ft. of living space with an additional 2,900 square feet in finished Lower Level. 6 Bedrooms, 6 full and 2 half Baths plus private apartment over 3 car garage. Gourmet Island Kitchen. Breakfast Room with French doors to courtyard.

Spacious Family Room overlooks outdoor living spaces. Library.

Outstanding opportunity to build your dream home on a 3.37 acre estate property in Franklin Village. Construction plans available for a Michael Willoughby designed New England-style cedar shake home. Existing 1920’s home, with over 4,000 sq. ft., has tremendous charm and is perfectly suited for renovation. Also for lease $3,450/mo.

Bloomfield Hills $2,999,000

Bloomfield $2,995,000

An incomparable Post Modern Masterpiece on 3.3 wooded acres. Over 10,000 sq. ft. of sophisticated and functional living spaces. Meticulous attention to textures and detail. Wide gallery halls. Living Room overlooks pool and tennis court. Private Master retreat. Finished walk-out Lower Level. 4 car garage. Spectacular in daylight and when illuminated at night.

On a private landscaped hilltop overlooking Wing Lake, this historic property was restored and expanded in 2001 to extraordinary elegance and functionality. Over 6,000 sq. ft. of quality and sophistication with an additional 4,000 sq. ft. in the beautifully finished Lower Level. Grand foyer with domed rotunda. 1st floor Master Suite. Cook’s Kitchen. Wine Cellar.

JUST LISTED

Bloomfield $995,000

Birmingham $398,500

Birmingham $875,000

Landmark 1920's French Norman estate on a spectacular 1.49 acre riverside site. Timeless appeal with original hardware and Pewabic tile. Warmly paneled Living Room with limestone fireplace. Elegant Library. 1st floor Bedroom.

Arched entries to Solarium-style Family Room. Cedar Shake roof. Perfect for renovation/expansion. Double lot.

Popular Birmingham neighborhood west of Woodward.

1,740 sq. ft. 3 Bedrooms, 2 full and 1 half Baths. Pergo floors. Main floor is bright and open with vaulted ceiling and skylights. Kitchen has stainless appliances. Large Master Bedroom and Bath. Brick paver path and porch. Large deck and hot tub. Move-in ready.

Great in-town Colonial expanded/renovated in 1997.

Exquisite crown moldings. Hardwoods throughout 1st floor. Bookcase-lined Living Room. 2-way fireplace between Family Room and Breakfast Room. Cherry Kitchen. 1st floor Laundry. Fireplaced Master Suite has separate Sitting Room and a sky-lit office. 3rd floor Suite.

www.RandsColburn.com Nanci J. Rands 248.701.9000

Meredith Colburn 248.762.5319

PREMIERE BIRMINGHAM LOCALE

Birmingham $1,575,000 Walk to town from this stunning brick home located on one of Birmingham’s most sought after streets. Over 4500 square feet of living space plus a fully finished Lower Level. 5 Bedrooms, 5 full & 1 half Baths. Extensively detailed finish carpentry and trim work throughout. Dramatic entry Foyer opens to the magnificent 2-story Great Room with French doors to the slate terrace & private rear grounds. Elegant 1st floor Master Suite has a luxurious marble Bath with dual vanities & heated floors. Additional Bedrooms are all suites with private Baths. Gourmet island Kitchen with sky-lit Breakfast Room and gas fireplace. Richly paneled Library. Finished Lower Level has a Recreation Room, Fitness Room, Game Room, 5th Bedroom, full Bath, storage. 3-car side entry Garage.

Tremendous value and outstanding location!!

Meredith Colburn

www.RandsColburn.com

248.762.5319

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

Ginny Fisher

Mona Parlove

Realtor

Associate Broker

248.593.0518

248.514.0685

HallandHunter.com

GinnyFisher Homes.com

Bloomfield $1,875,000 Farmington Hills $1,900,000 An exceptionally rare opportunity in the City of Farmington Hills. This 10 +/– acre residential site overlooking the private Franklin Hills Country Club will accomodate the estate of your dreams. The treed, lush, quiet property is nestled between the communities of Bloomfield Township and Franklin.

Your private “up north” location, without the drive.

Pristine 4 bedroom, 4 bath executive retreat in a private gated enclave. 7,000+ sq.ft. Formal living room with vaulted ceiling, grand entry center hall, paneled custom-detailed library. Renovated Millennium cherry kitchen opens to spacious family room. Beautifully finished walkout lower level with potential 5th bedroom. 4 fireplaces. Paver terraces, expansive decks plus 4-car garage.

Visit rockridgelot.com for more information.

Bloomfield Hills $1,189,000 In time for school! Immediate occupancy on this serene estate setting. Privacy and elegance with over 6,000 sq.ft. of living space. Designed for easy family living and gracious entertaining with a 2-story foyer, oversized living and dining rooms and a renovated first floor master retreat with his/ her baths, heated floors, oversized walk-in closet and more. 2nd floor children’s wing with playroom.

Fully finished lower level is great teen/guest retreat with fireplace, wet bar, bedroom and bath.

Aerial view of lot lines

gfisher@hallandhunter.com

®

®

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

EXPECT THE BEST – GET THE BEST

Cheryl Riback

Associate Broker, ABR, SRES

248.808.3112 criback@hallandhunter.com Rich

PENDING

PENDING

Bloomfield $4,200,000

Birmingham $1,785,000

Lakefront architectural gem on 1.27 acres on the North Shore of Upper Long Lake! A marvel of space, light and lake views from all rooms. Approx. 9,672 sq.ft. of living space.

Private, gated entrance. Luxurious first floor master suite, gourmet kitchen, family and great rooms. Indoor sports/basketball court and infinity edge pool. 248.808.3112

Stunning, custom-designed new construction on a hill top overlooking a large, private yard. Gorgeous detailing. 5,100 sq.ft. 5 bedrooms, 4 baths, fabulous master suite with large dressing room. Dream kitchen and breakfast room with walk in pantry. 2nd floor laundry, 3 car garage. Finished lower level with daylight windows. 248.808.3112

PENDED IN 1 DAY

SOLD IN 1 WEEK

NEW LISTING

Birmingham listed at $430,000

Birmingham listed at $540,000

Franklin $1,189,000

Prettiest home in Birmingham. Completely rebuilt in 2010.

Open gourmet custom kitchen with island, breakfast bar, new SS appliances. Living and dining room with gas fireplace. Master with loft. Large landscaped yard, patio, 2 balconies and travertine front porch. 248.808.3112

Spacious newer construction features crown moldings, wainscoting, hardwood floors. Library with French doors, granite and stainless kitchen, luxury master with tray ceiling, 2 walk in closets and granite bath. 2nd floor laundry. 2 car garage with loft. 248.808.3112

Exquisite site condo in Franklin, part of the Albert Kahn Estate. 10- and 12-foot ceilings. Kitchen with views of ravine. Lower level walkout with daylight windows.

Hardwood floors throughout main floor. Year-round sun room. Unbelievably spacious and impressive! 248.808.3112

CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

Please Join Us for Hall & Hunter’s

Estate Sale of

Antiques, Collectibles & Treasures To Benefit Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County

Saturday, September 7, 2013 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Hall & Hunter Realtors 442 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham Donations of gently-used antiques, furniture, collectibles and other items (no clothing or bed linens, please) are welcome. For free pick up of larger items, please contact Gillian Lazar or Pam Gray at 248.644.3500.

Tax deduction forms provided upon request.

gďŹ sher@hallandhunter.com

For More Information, Visit:

HallandHunter.com or call 248.644.3500

FACES Marla Drutz

W

hile major metropolitan newspapers are struggling to maintain operations across the nation, local television stations in Detroit are moving into the future with enthusiasm. At least, that's the view taken by Marla Drutz, vice president and general manager of WDIV-TV, on the outlook of the Detroit television market.

“Right now is a great time to be in local television,” Drutz said, a Bloomfield Hills resident who moved to the metro Detroit-area nearly three decades ago from Ohio. “For a long time, it felt like it wasn't advancing.”

Drutz, who joined the station in 2008, has a vantage point that includes the area's top Nielsen ratings for its 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts, as well as a website – www.clickondetroit.com – with the highest comScore of any local news outlet in the Detroit marketplace. Her optimism seems to stem more from growing opportunities than from current ratings holdings alone. Beyond providing online and mobile news consumption through the station's website and apps, Drutz said WDIV is returning, at least in part, to locally-produced shows that provide context and discussion to events.

“When I first came to Detroit, there was a lot of locally produced programming by all of the stations,” Drutz said.

“What I've seen, not just in Detroit but it mirrors a nationwide pattern as well, and that's the reduction of locally produced talk shows, but an increase of locally produced news.”

Drutz said two reasons for the reduction of locally produced shows, such as “Kelly and Company” or “Sonya,” with Dr. Sonya Friedman, are the high cost of production and today's viewers demand for immediacy. Nationally syndicated talk shows, she said, became available to local stations and filled in the gap, allowing for focus to shift to local news.

Now, she said, there is a return to locally produced shows.

“For them to be successful, you have to have a studio audience, you have to coordinate guests and do more,” she said of past studio talk shows. “The model is more difficult.”

“Live in the D,” which debuted at 11 a.m., Aug. 12, is WDIV-TV's latest effort to provide a platform for local conversation about happenings in both metro Detroit and beyond. The show, which is co-hosted by Local 4 News anchors Guy Gordon and Karen Drew, has elements of a daytime newscast with guest-driven conversations.

“Hopefully, our viewers would describe it as timely and relevant with today's news with a lot of conversation of what is happening in our community and an effort to showcase a lot of positive things happening in our community,” Drutz said. “People want more than just the chaos reports of what's gone wrong. I think this show will afford us the opportunity to provide that...”

In terms of her own future, Drutz said she feels fortunate to be in her position with WDIV-TV, which she accepted in July 2008, having previously spent 19 years with WXYZ-TV. The station change, she said, was like having a baseball coach visit the pitching mound in the sixth inning.

“The coach usually asks them if they have anything left,” she said. “I got a chance to have someone come out to ask me if I have what is needed and necessary. Without hesitation, I grabbed the ball.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Esme McClear

Living Beautifully Beyond Four Walls

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Photos © Gene Meadows

Offices in Birmingham, Oak Park and Traverse City

By Appointment 248.543.4400 fourseasonsgardencenter.com

OCC AT THE CROSSROADS CREATING A COMMUNITY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT FOR 21ST CENTURY

BY LISA BRODY

O

akland Community College (OCC), while currently enjoying the highest enrollment numbers in its almost 50-year history, is simultaneously experiencing an identity crisis.

Chancellor Tim Meyer PhD would not necessarily express it in those words, preferring to emphasize the popularity of many of the institution's diverse range of programming, its outreach to various student populations, it's affordability, and it's ability to foresee occupational changes by working directly with providers.

“Like our region, Oakland Community College is in the process of recreating itself.

We are focused on increasing the relevancy and responsiveness of our academic programs as well as greater operational efficiency,” Meyer wrote in recent OCC outreach material. “One of our most significant methods for ensuring our relevance is through our connections – with business and industry, K – 12 and universities, the workforce development agencies, economic developers, and community-based organizations.”

Yet, for as many students as they enroll among all of their campuses, many in affluent and educationally-driven Oakland County are not aware that the five campus institution is no longer merely a stop along the way for students considering four-year universities, a place to pick up a class or two during a summer lull, nor just a vocational school, as it was 30 years ago or so, but a college where they can obtain a full RN nursing degree, become a dental hygienist, attend an award-winning culinary arts school, or become retrained in the latest technological health care, manufacturing or industrial jobs.

OPENING CONCER T – 2013/14 SEASON

Birmingham Bloomfield Symphony Orchestra presents

A Farewell Concert with Maestro Charles Greenwell celebrating 25 years with the BBSO

Gabriel Bolkosky, Violin Beethoven: Symphony No. 7 Mendelssohn: Violin Concerto in E Minor Mendelssohn: Fair Melusine, Op. 32

“Passing of the Baton” Dinner honoring Charles Greenwell at Pine Lake Country Club Saturday, October 26th at 6:30 pm.

The public is cordially invited.

Tickets available by phone and online.

Charles Greenwell, Conductor Sunday, October 20, 2013 – 7:00 pm Seaholm High School Auditorium 2436 W. Lincoln, Birmingham

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“Years ago, community colleges were virtually seen as a spin off of vocational and technical school and a junior college, and we maintain that identity. Half of our students come to us with the idea of transferring to a four-year college. We're a high quality, inexpensive first experience twoyear college. The other half come to us because they're interested in or have a vocational pursuit and are interested in employment,” Meyer said.

“Half of our programming is transfer, and half of our programming is vocational.” hat has changed, Meyer emphasized, is the level of quality OCC is delivering, with top-notch nursing, health care and culinary programs, excellent faculty, enrichment programs, IT and other programming, as well as the institution's ability to respond quickly to economic data to provide programming that is responsive to the economic data coming from Oakland County's Emerging Sectors, Automation Alley, and Medical Main Street, as well as major health care institutions.

“A lot of (available) data is historic. We are looking forward,” he noted.

Yet, despite meeting business and technological needs, a majority of students attending OCC continue to seek out liberal arts and business classes. Many of these students will later transfer to four-year universities after getting their collegial start, some transferring after receiving two-year associate's certificates.

Some business students are “young wanna be entrepreneurs who want enough background information to open up their business, and others transfer on to Walsh College,” said Janet Roberts, executive director of marketing and communications for Oakland Community College, noting that Walsh College, in Troy, provides more advanced business degrees, providing a symbiotic relationship with the twoyear associate degree from the community college.

In 2012, southeast Michigan, beginning to climb out of the morass of The Great Recession, had the highest number of skilled trade job postings in the United States, but the number of qualified candidates to fill those jobs did not measure up. A large number of retirees and graduates leaving the state created a void in several job sectors, Roberts noted. OCC has been working to fill the void by developing programs to meet the employment sector's need through the use of real time data, and offering apprenticeship and internship programs in high demand areas.

In April 2013, OCC was awarded contracts totaling over $3.1 million to train 190 new employees at two Oakland County firms; in 2012, OCC received $7.5 million in training funding and trained 529 new employees for five major companies in the county.

“The deficiency we have is the lack of students in areas where the job growth is needed,” Meyer said. “We have some of the greatest trades and instructors. We have a hard time finding students interested in these courses and trades because of the social perspective of skilled trades. It's not your father's or your skilled trade anymore – it is a high-paying, highly skilled career.”

The Oakland Community College district was established by the Oakland County electorate on June 8, 1964, with two initial campuses when it

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opened in September 1965, Highland Lakes, in a renovated hospital in Union Lake, and Auburn Hills, in a former Army Nike missile site in Auburn Heights.

In September 1967, the Orchard Ridge Campus in Farmington Hills was built and opened. At the time it opened, it was state-of-the-art and architecturally award-winning. A Southeast Campus was first housed in Oak Park, and then expanded through a purchase and remodeling of buildings at a second site in Royal Oak. In 1980, the Oak Park facilities were replaced by a new campus in Southfield, and Royal Oak's facilities were replaced by a completely new campus complex which opened in 1982.

Each of the five campuses offer liberal arts and developmental courses (remedial classes in language arts and mathematics). The Orchard Ridge campus hosts the culinary arts program while nursing is only taught at their Highland Lakes campus; sonography courses, and other health science courses are taught at their Highland Lakes and Southfield campuses.

Available courses in the system include dental hygiene; HVAC engineering associate's degree; criminal justice and law enforcement administration associate's degree; emergency medical technician (EMT) and paramedic associate's degree; auto mechanic's degree; firefighter's associate degree; medical radiologic technology/radiation therapist associate's degree; landscaping and groundskeeping; legal assistant and paralegal associate's degree; electrical technology; massage therapy; cosmetologist; among many others, all for approximately $2,100 a semester for a Michigan resident.

Of OCC's two-year nursing program which results in an RN degree, “it tends to be one of the larger, most successful nursing programs, and most successful in terms of competency, in the (board) exam to get an RN degree,” Meyer said, boasting that it's not unusual for a class of OCC nursing graduates to have 100 percent pass rate on their board exams. While some nurses head directly to hospital placements, others matriculate to four-year universities to achieve a BSN degree.

All told, between the five OCC campuses, Meyer said the school “is arguably in the top three higher education institutions in the state as providers,” noting they had nearly 30,000 students in their last full semester.

Affordability is a key component for many attending OCC, which is approximately $75 a credit hour. OCC is supported by a county-wide millage, which was renewed in 2012 with 60 percent of Oakland County voters supporting the millage. The millage, at 0.8 mills, accounts for 60 percent of the college's annual revenue.

Meyer said that students who attend OCC pay only about 30 percent of their tuition, with the rest offset by that county-wide millage. The remaining 10 percent of funding comes from the state, which was increased in the last legislative session. The school will receive an additional 2 percent from the state this year, provided they do not raise tuition more than 4 percent. “We are a donor county, not a recipient county. The tuition is significantly subsidized by the property owners of the county,” he said. “We take education to our students, versus students coming to their education.”

National statistics point out that by 2018, over 60 percent of the the nation's jobs will require

some college education. OCC officials say they are poised to fill much of that local need through the specificity of their degree and certificate programs.

“We're a non-traditional school. A lot of our students come to us undefined, from a career and aspiration point of view, and because they're undefined, they're unmotivated and we provide a lot of opportunity for them to discover themselves.

We provide a lot of support. It's not devastating financially for somebody to say, 'I really didn't want to be this, I found out I want to be that.'

They can do that while being at home, while still having their friends, still having a part-time job.

We do not uproot somebody just so they can find out that's not what they do not want to do. They can come to OCC and be supported in their educational journey of self-discovery, and that's a huge value proposition,” Meyer said.

Another issue the school encounters is one that most colleges and universities around the country are seeing – the large demand for remedial education for incoming students. “A large number of our students require developmental work,” Meyer acknowledged. “Nationally, 50 percent of the students who graduate from high school need developmental education, either in math or in language. It's a real sad commentary because it used to be you had a high school diploma and it meant you were ready for college or to do other things. Students are required to take a placement exam to see where they are scholastically, both in English and math. From that placement exam results, from our data, 40 percent are below college readiness in English, and 70 percent are below competency in math, which requires us to provide a significant effort in developmental education.”

Providing for both students' needs, as well as the job market's, has led to some soul searching on the part of the chancellor and the board of trustees. While realignments had been done previously, both for curriculum and services, Meyer, who assumed his position in January, 2008, felt a complete appraisal needed to be looked at, analyzed and tackled.

In an effort to evaluate the community college from every single aspect, Meyer approached the school's board of directors about hiring outside professional consultants. In March 2012, College Brain Trust of Sacramento, California, was given a two-year contract, for $500,000, “to look at us completely and put a mirror up to us,” Meyer said.

“It's something we should do periodically, just like we do a financial audit periodically.” Their contract will conclude on March 31, 2014.

Three parts of the report have been released, with more to still be presented to the school's seven-member board of trustees before being more widely distributed. eyer said the price for the consultation, review and plan was typical, reasonable and comparable to other consulting companies offering similar two-year consulting contracts. The school is in the process of receiving, reviewing and disseminating College Brain Trust's report.

In June 2013, OCC's faculty association filed a lawsuit against the school in Oakland County Circuit Court alleging that administrators refused to respond to a Freedom of Information Act request asking for a complete report from College Brain Trust.

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Meyer responded, “Typical faculty/administration tension. The contract was signed by the board, and the faculty felt there was a different pathway.”

Mary Ann McGee, a psychology instructor at the Orchard Ridge campus and president of the Oakland Community College Faculty Association, disagreed. “In 2006-2007, we had an academic redesign that was collaborative between the faculty and the administration, that looked at programs and services. The chancellor came in 2008. I think he wanted his own process.” he also said the faculty association was upset about the amount of money spent for an outside consulting service, especially in light of years of belt tightening and cost cutting at the college. “We have been told that the college had a structural deficit, what with the economic recession we're coming out of, and property taxes down and tax collections delayed because of the lag time,” she said. “The college has done a lot of budget cutting in the last few years to keep things in line, and we understand that. What we don't understand is the executive administration not being in meetings with us in the usual structure, not participating like they have in the past, and we (the faculty) were asking why decisions were being made, and weren't getting any answers.”

College Brain Trust consultants spent time on campus meeting with all of the constituents – administrators, faculty and students. A variety of reports were prepared and sent to the college's executive administration in a series of reports, to review, beginning in the spring of 2013. Once reviewed, Meyer said they were presented to the board, and then made public. Some of the reports have still not been presented and made public.

The Oakland Community College Faculty Association was not satisfied with not seeing the reports at the same time as the board, and filed Freedom of Information Act requests to the college, which were denied. Appeals were also denied. Currently, the association has filed for access and are waiting for the circuit court to set a hearing date. In the meantime, several of the reports have been made public, and the association has had access to them.

“We were hearing and being told conflicting information about restructuring (OCC), and about divisions needing to be eliminated, but no one saw any reports, but we knew College Brain Trust had submitted them to the college,” McGee said.

“The college has already reorganized the administration. It's disconcerting to be told 'we're not hiring, we're not making changes', when there were already changes being made and people being hired in administration positions.”

As to why the complete report was not released at once, Meyer answered that, “This was the first time ever a consultant had done this kind of work for Oakland Community College. We had to be sure the data was done accurately. We needed to go through the reports, and we wanted to be sensitive to who and how it would be read and interpreted.”

McGee acknowledged that what she had been hearing was rumor and conjecture, but affirms that made it even more important that the faculty and all the constituents have easy access to the reports.

Now, having seen the reports, she said, “Like all consultants' reports, there are some good stuff

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there, but I'm not seeing what the great benefit to the organization is for the cost.”

According to their website, College Brain Trust says they provide a customized top-down review, analysis and report followed up by mentoring of an institution's leaders. Their services are provided to community colleges, private colleges, state colleges and universities, non-profits, corporations, and state education agencies. Their services are designed to help community colleges develop educational master plans, strategic plans, and finance and budgeting systems, as well as meet accreditation challenges.

“Leading a college is much like governing a community – it requires wisdom, strategic insight, business acumen, and the ability to engage and motivate others toward a common vision. The resulting experience and expertise are remarkably transferable,” they explain.

In their executive summary regarding academic policies and procedures, College Brain Trust wrote, “Oakland Community College is undergoing a fundamental transformation, consciously moving away from a decentralized operation based at the campus level to a more centralized operation through which planning, budgeting, and policy development occur on a college-wide basis.” It recognized that “Oakland Community College is a proud institution with an excellent reputation. It services approximately 74,000 students at five campuses, and offers a wide array of services and programs for students pursuing transfer, CET certificates, and job skills. However, Oakland is facing future budget shortfalls of almost $40 million per year, due to anticipated declines in millage income through 2015. Now, it must adapt to a period marked by volatile change if it is to continue to provide the distinctive, high quality educational services the community has come to expect.”

They acknowledged that the largest administrative unit in the college, Academic and Student Affairs, “and the one most responsible for addressing the mission, the transformation is particularly challenging.” They criticized the policies and procedures from the board of trustees related to the central mission of the school, which is to address the instructional and support needs of students, as the most out-of-date and least developed, without a clear vision for student success.

“The college needs to clarify the scope of policies and procedures it wishes to define as 'academic,'” the consultants wrote. Noting that OCC intends to follow the path, “Many community colleges are combining academic and student affairs administrative components to emphasize the need for a close partnership of instructional programs and the student support services.”

They also chastised the school's board, noting, “While the primary focus of this study is on academic policies, the CBT recommends that all Board policies be reviewed for currency, consistency with recent organizational changes, and adequacy of policy statements and procedures.”

Among the areas where the college needs to direct its attention is towards analyzing and more appropriately disseminating the data it collects, as well as using it when making programing decisions. Critical information that has been gathered is not being shared among all of the necessary constituents, whether they are faculty needing to know when and which

courses to schedule, assessing student learning outcomes, or for non-academic departments which need to integrate consistent messaging and programing.

Further, the consultants noted that each individual campus is rooted in their local communities, and their respective campus presidents maintain strong relationships with high schools, local businesses, chambers of commerce and local governments, but not with one another, leading to a lack of a big picture for the community college as a whole. Both as a means to respond to companies seeking adequately trained employees, for student recruitment and for fundraising, this is a critical puzzle piece which the consultants pointed out should be fitted in to ensure continued success as a college and for future financial stability. ollege Brain Trust also pointed out that there was an almost universal complaint that college communication is poor, and while they said that is difficult to pin down, “it appears to have to do with transparency and accountability,” they wrote. The consultant also noted there should be the development and implementation of internal communication and training strategies to explain the importance of the planning project and to mobilize the entire OCC community to support it, as all constituencies will benefit from their participation and support.

As McGee pointed out, some administrative changes have already been implemented. New presidents have been installed at the Highland Lakes and Auburn Hills campuses.

Recommendations to either close or consolidate the child care centers at Orchard Ridge, Royal Oak and Highland Lakes (there were no longer child care centers at Southfield or Auburn Hills) were implemented over the summer, with the decision to completely close all of the college's child care centers, despite offering an early childcare instructional program.

College Brain Trust determined that the child care centers were supported by significant subsidies from the general fund, with a disproportionately high cost for the small number of children served. They found the organizational structure unclear, with a lack of consistent training for administrators and child care coordinators on the enrollment software. They also found that most students in the early childcare instructional program did outside internships. They also determined, most importantly, that the centers did not serve the most needy student parents.

They determined they were not financially sustainable, and they lacked a clear relationship to the core mission of the schools.

They offered a choice to the college: to eliminate all of the child care centers in the Oakland Community College district; close Royal Oak; close Orchard Ridge; maintain just one child care center.

According to Roberts, administration made the decision over the summer to close all of the child care centers, and as of this fall, they will be permanently closed.

As more reports becomes available, and analysis is made, expect more changes at OCC. Not everyone will be happy. But the viability and sustainability of the system is the priority of the administration.

And ultimately, for many of Oakland County's students.

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FRACKING

DRILLING FOR GAS, OIL IN OAKLAND COUNTY

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

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he influence of oil and gas in our lives is inescapable. From the time we wake up until after we go to sleep, natural gases and petroleum-based products are used in the manufacture, delivery or consumption of nearly all the goods and services we come into contact with everyday. Considering that the price of crude oil is growing with our dependency on fossil fuels, it's no surprise oil discussions have changed from miles per gallon to barrels per acre.

While the search for oil and gas in Oakland County started in the 1930s, the number of lakes in the county made reaching reservoirs difficult and restricted access to more open, less populated areas.

Technological advances in the industry, such as seismic exploration, horizontal drilling techniques and hydraulic fracturing (fracking) have opened more areas to oil and gas development in recent years, and with it, potential risks to the environment and public health and safety.

Jack Lanigan, a geologist with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ), said most companies exploring and drilling in Oakland County are searching for oil, as natural gas reserves are high and prices are low. “They are all looking for oil,� said Lanigan, who monitors oil and gas operations in southeast Michigan for the MDEQ's office of oil, gas and minerals.

In Oakland County, there are at least 21 active oil wells in operation, which produced 49,716 barrels of oil in 2012 and 56,244 barrels in 2011. Oil production in Michigan, which is the fifteenth largest oil-producing state in the nation, increased more than 6 percent from 2011 to 2012, according to the Michigan Oil and Gas News, based in Mount Pleasant. A barrel of oil is equal to about 42 gallons.

Major oil developments in the state's northern Lower Peninsula utilizing high-volume hydraulic fracturing are the main contributors to the state's increase in overall production. ydraulic fracturing, or fracking, is a way of tapping a reservoir to allow oil or gas to flow back to the surface, or completing a well, after the initial wellhole has been drilled. The method uses high-pressured water mixed with sand and chemicals to crack the layers of rock surrounding the oil or gas reservoir.

When the reservoir is fractured, sand remains in the cracked rock, holding it open and allowing gas or oil to pass through and reach the surface. More traditional “cased-hole” techniques complete the drilling process by drilling several small holes, or perforations, in the rock to allow the gas or oil to reach the surface. While fracking may produce more oil and economic reward, critics say the process poses a potential risk to a region's ground and surface water, as well as other environmental resources.

To date, fracking hasn't been used in any Oakland County oil and gas developments.

Lanigan said most of the oil and gas wells that were completed in Oakland County in the past 60 years have since been classified as “dry holes” and have been capped in accordance to state regulations. The MDEQ regulates and enforces the oil and gas process, from a development's initial permitting to the closure of a well. The process, Lanigan said, determines the type of drilling and safeguards that are permitted, as well as ensuring operators have proper permission from land owners and mineral rights.

Oil and gas developers obtain mineral rights through leases, and typically offer mineral rights owners a per-acre bonus, as well as a percentage of royalties if a well becomes productive and profitable. The majority of leases in Oakland County are held by Traverse City-based Jordan Development, which has agreements with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, several municipalities and private landowners.

Royalty payments from state-owned land in Oakland County totaled about $145,845 from January to June this year, according to Tracie Bonner, unit supervisor of the Revenue Verification Unit at the DNR. About $269,433 in royalties were received in 2012; $298,459 in 2011; and $271,341 in 2010.

Bonner said royalty amounts are based on production units or reservoirs that are producing oil or gas, which may cross county lines.

“There's a lot going on in Oakland County,” said Curtis Talley Jr., a farm and business management educator with Michigan State University Extension. “We have a lot of calls from Oakland County residents. Oil companies are leasing entire subdivisions and building lots. There are a lot of people who have been approached with (mineral rights) leases that just own a house.”

Figures for mineral rights leases on privately-owned property are not available.

Talley hosts public education meetings throughout the state for MSU Extension to help private landowners navigate the business of mineral rights leases. Property owners in White Lake, Waterford and Springfield townships have been approached in the past two years by oil companies seeking permission to extract minerals below their land. Some companies are offering lease bonuses in the state that range from $25 to $200 per acre, Talley said.

In addition to bonuses for signing a lease, private mineral rights owners typically have more leeway to negotiate leases than the DNR. “The royalties for landowners is not pocket change,” Talley said.

Waterford Township Supervisor Gary Wall said the township signed a lease agreement with Traverse City-based Jordan Exploration this year which included a bonus of $80,891 for leasing oil and gas rights to 641.13 acres of township-owned land throughout Waterford.

“Waterford signed a contract with them back in the spring with a no fracking guarantee clause,” Wall said. “Fracking is a big concern of residents in the township.”

“I told them that (oil companies) are going to drill the wells, you can't stop them – that's state regulated. We are on the bottom of the totem pole. If the state says they are going to allow (drilling) in your community, they are going to do it once they get enough landowners together. If that's the case, I said, 'let's make sure you're not going to frack.' It makes me sleep a little better at night. You have to do whatever you can to to protect your assets as best you can.”

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Ben Brower, vice president of Jordan Exploration, said the company is focusing current exploration in Oakland County on areas in White Lake, Waterford and Springfield townships, where the company has procured lease agreements with public and private mineral rights owners.

“We have a couple of wells operating and a couple more with permits coming,” Brower said, confirming a recent well construction in Springfield Township, just north of White Lake. “White Lake was our first well. We are testing a second well now. The results are confidential.”

Calls to White Lake Township supervisor Greg Baroni regarding oil and gas drilling in the township weren't returned.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said while there are thousands of acres of parkland in Commerce, the township hasn't been approached regarding any oil or gas developments. However, state parkland purchased by Commerce Township from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources did not include mineral rights.

Wynn Berry, a real estate professional and former Downtown Development Authority director in Commerce Township, said testing conducted by exploration companies 25 or 30 years ago in the township resulted in two exploration wells. The wells, one at 14 Mile and Haggerty, and the other near the Birmingham Gun Club, around Richardson and Martin roads, didn't result in any commercial production of gas or oil.

“They tested nearly every major mile road or so,” Berry said. “They did hit oil, but my recollection is that it had a high sulfur content, so they didn't use it.”

Documents obtained from the DNR indicate thousands of acres of mineral rights are being leased by Jordan Development near Proud Lake, including an area between Sleeth and Wixom roads to the north, Old Plank Road to the west, Glengary to the south and Bass Lake Road to the east. State-owned mineral rights have also been leased in Union Lake, in areas near Cass Lake, Carrol Lake and Long Lake.

The majority of state-owned parkland that has been leased in Oakland County is classified as “non developmental” parcels, meaning that oil and gas may be removed from the land; however, no drilling operations may disturb the surface.

The DNR has been leasing state-owned oil and gas rights through the public auction process since 1929. The auctions are held twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. The next oil and gas lease auction is scheduled for October.

Historically, funds received from oil and gas lease auctions and royalties were used to fund the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund, which is used to purchase land or rights for recreational purposes. However, the fund was capped in May 2011 after reaching its constitutional limit of $500 million.

Revenue from state-owned oil and gas rights is now deposited primarily into the State Park Endowment Fund, which is used for operations, maintenance and capital improvements at state parks, and for the acquisition of land or rights in land for state parks, according to Julie Manson, Oil and Gas Lease Management Unit supervisor with the DNR's Mineral Management Section.

Although the parks endowment fund is the primary beneficiary of leasing revenue, Manson said the trust fund still processes grants each year.

“It's also interesting to note that through fiscal year 2012, projects in Oakland County have received the large majority of these grants,” she said.

There were 143 grants totaling over $77 million. evenue from oil and gas lease auctions hit an all-time high in May 2010 when oil and gas prospectors paid over $178 million for a total of 118,117 acres, for an average of $1,507.14 per acre. Previously, the highest dollar-per-acre average was $315.94 in September of 1981. The record sale was due as much to the speculation of oil and gas reserves in the northern part of the state's lower peninsula as any other reason. No leases for stateowned land were purchased during the record sale.

Revenue from leases on state-owned land located in Oakland County in October 2012 was $38,720 for 3,876.60 acres of land; $616,514 in May 2012 for 18,347.32 acres; and $765 for 50.57 acres of in October 2010. No leases were offered in Oakland County in May 2010 or October 2011. Eleven acres within the county which were offered in May 2013 didn't receive any bids.

While the largest holder of oil and gas leases on state-owned land in Oakland County is Jordan Development, Brower said Jordan isn't interested in expanding south, particularly to the Birmingham/Bloomfield areas, as there is little state-owned land and high population density. In addition to developments in White Lake, Waterford and Springfield townships, the company holds leases at with the Huron-Clinton Metropark Authority in Milford, where the company operates wells at Kensington Metropark.

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Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie said there hasn't been any discussions about oil and gas drilling in the township.

Only one small parcel, less than one acre, just south of Square Lake Road between Opdyke and Squirrel, has been identified by the DNR as available for mineral rights lease in Bloomfield Township. Several acres just outside the township bordering Orchard Lake are also listed in the DNR's mineral rights inventory as available for lease.

“I have yet to hear that there are any type of reserves in the area,” Savoie said. “I know there are some close by in Waterford and northern Oakland County.”

Savoie said the township would oppose any kind of oil or gas development in Bloomfield Township, and would use all available resources to stop it.

“Something like that, we would oppose from day one,” he said. “If I knew of someone trying to put a derrick in someone's backyard, we would be out there and our building department would classify it as an ancillary structure.

It just wouldn't happen without a court order.”

While oil and gas drilling hasn't encroached upon the Bloomfield Township border, a spokesman with Sunoco Logistics confirmed a natural gas pipeline project along Long Lake Road between Franklin and Telegraph in Bloomfield Township, which is expected to carry about 20,000 barrels of ethane gas a day, beginning in September.

Jeff Shields, with Sunoco Logistics, said yellow markers in the area are part of the Mariner West project, which will transport gas from western Pennsylvania to Sarnia, Ontario, for use in the petrochemical market. The gas is used in the manufacture of some plastics.

“Mariner West is scheduled to start pumping about 20,000 barrels of ethane a day in September, with the ability to expand up to 50,000 barrels a day in the first quarter of 2014,” he said.

Despite the potential for oil and gas development to provide new sources of revenues to public and private landowners, some public officials don't think the price is worth the risk it poses to the environment and the public.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash said he and many residents in the county are greatly concerned about oil and gas development, particularly the possibility of fracking. Nash started conducting a series of town hall meetings in September 2012 to raise awareness and education about oil and gas drilling.

“Fracking is the most obtrusive,” Nash said. “It uses an insane amount of freshwater that has to disappear from the hydrological cycle. It's a much more dangerous operation, to me, by far. The traditional shallow (drilling) has been going on for decades, and that has it's own problems.” epending on the type of hydraulic fracturing operation, the amount of fresh water needed during the operation may range from 50,000 gallons to more than 20 million gallons, according to the MDEQ. Withdrawal of water for oil and gas operations is exempt from Michigan's Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act, which regulates water withdrawals from natural water aquifers in the state. Instead, the MDEQ requires well operators to perform a water withdrawal impact assessment.

Twenty million gallons of water, in terms of a visual representation, would be equivalent to an Olympic-sized pool with a length of nearly a mile.

The MDEQ categorizes a hydraulic fracturing operation as “high volume” as the operation uses more than 100,000 gallons of water per day when averaged over 30 consecutive days. The department requires that observation wells are installed to monitor freshwater wells if they are located within a quarter mile of the proposed project.

Brower said Jordan has no plans for fracking operations in Oakland County.

“Even if it's not fracking, the operations and things they are doing are very intrusive into our community, and there is potential for spills,” Nash said. “There are just issues around drilling. Most drilling has historically been done in very small populations. When looking at large populated areas, it could have a huge economic impact and affect property values if it spills in a river or lake.”

Nash said harmful vapors that can escape the area around a wellhead can result in higher incidents of respiratory problems among residents. The increase in traffic of heavy trucks can also stress local infrastructures, he said. While the issues have raised concern with the public, Nash said specific information about what the public may be exposed to during the process is limited.

“This is the wealthiest industry in the history of the planet, and they have an endless amount of money to promote it,” he said. “We don't have a

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lot of money behind it. We have our voices. They've been spending a lot on public relations. That's what we are up against.”

In July, the American Petroleum Institute launched an online, print, radio and television advertising campaign in Michigan and eight other states aimed at addressing the public's concern about fracking. The ad features statements by a Colorado family that said fracking operations on their familyowned ranch has been safe for the land, water and air.

John Griffin, executive director for API's Associated Petroleum Industries of Michigan division, said oil and gas operations have been ongoing in southeast Michigan for decades without incident or disruptions to residents.

“If you haven't been exposed to the oil and gas industry in your county, it's easy to demagogue the oil and gas industry,” Griffin said. “We have a few things out there in our history that would give people a healthy dose of skepticism, and I accept that. The MDEQ has strict regulations that you have to follow. Every once in a while someone does something wrong. That's why we have laws and prosecutors.”

In July, Calgary-based Encana Oil and Gas spilled 300 to 400 gallons of flowback fluid consisting of water, brine and other chemicals at a drilling operation in Kalkaska County, near Traverse City in northern lower Michigan. The MDEQ, which cited the company, stated the fluid was inadvertently leaked from a tank while cleaning a wellhole that was being prepared for production testing.

Charlevoix-based Ban Michigan Fracking, which is petitioning to stop fracking in Michigan through a state-wide ballot initiative in 2014, lists the potential for fracking fluids to leak during on-site mixing and injection operations as one of the main public health hazards of fracking.

The group, and others in the state, such as Nash and state Rep. Jeff Irwin (DAnn Arbor), are pushing for oil and gas companies to disclose the specific contents of fluids used during the hydraulic fracturing process. he MDEQ indicates that 9.5 percent of fracking fluid is water and sand, with the remaining ingredients consisting of varying chemicals. While the department lists some of the chemicals that are commonly used, such as hydrochloric acid and other potentially hazardous substances, specific ingredients aren't made available to the public due to trade secrets.

Irwin, along with Reps. Gretchen Driskell (D-Saline) and Adam F. Zemke (DAnn Arbor), have introduced eight bills designed to make more information about fracking available.

“These deep, horizontal fracking operations should disclose the chemicals they are pumping underground, and they should be held publicly accountable for their massive water use,” Irwin said. “Nobody should be allowed to pump a nearby creek or well dry. My colleagues and I are introducing legislation to make sure this process is safe and transparent.”

Specifically, the bills would: • Require the disclosure of chemicals used in the fracking process and a report the water used when it exceeds 100,000 gallons.

• Give municipalities and individuals the opportunity to request public hearings before fracking permits are issued.

• Allow local units of government to control fracking operations in their communities.

• Create a public-private industry advisory committee to study the effects of fracking and make recommendations.

• Increase the setback distance of fracking operations from residential areas, schools, hospitals, day care centers and parks.

Griffin said the oil and gas industry is watching the bills but “isn't terribly worried” they will be enacted anytime soon.

“We will still need oil and natural gas for a long time,” he said. “This idea that we can somehow legislate away oil and natural gas and still live lives as we know it just isn't true.”

Strict regulations enforced by the MDEQ, and measures taken by the industry, are already helping to protect the public and environment, according to Griffin. And while he said there have been instances of where mistakes have been made, much of the information about drilling, particularly fracking, are based more on myth than facts.

“Burning faucets – it's just not true” he said, referencing a phenomenon that was highlighted in the 2010 documentary “Gasland,” in which the filmmaker tied gas well fracking to well water contamination. Griffin cited a 1965 publication issued by the Michigan Department of Public Health in which the department said methane gas from natural deposits is sometimes emitted directly from water faucets in homes through seepage.

“I can understand why they are concerned,” Griffin said, “but people filling their tanks with gasoline every day are more exposed to oil and gas than if they had an oil or gas line in their yard.”

T

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DOWNTOWN

09.13

MORE DOUGH THAN BAKE SALES NEW DIRECTIONS FOR SCHOOL FUNDRAISERS

BY LISA BRODY

S

tacy May Klein recalls that as an incoming Brookside School Cranbrook parent years ago, her first stop as a volunteer parent philanthropist was working the bake sale table at the annual Fall Festival.

“I was asked if I would do it, and I said sure. Then you move through and up. Before I knew it, I was chairing Kaleidoscope (a large-scale fundraiser for Brookside that annually raises in the mid-six figures) in a few years,” the mother of two daughters, now at Cranbrook's Upper School, recalled. “You find your thing and your people. I decided I would step up (to chair it) when there wasn't one. Then I volunteered to chair the Annual Fund (for Brookside) if someone else would chair Kaleidoscope. Then I was chairing all of Annual Fund, then the Schools' Development Committee and I was a Board of Governor.”

Klein's involvement going from bake sale to Board of Governor may not be typical for parent volunteers in today's world, but it's not atypical, either.

Decades ago, before there was the term “helicopter parent”, nor the actual parenting style, most parents showed up to cheer their kids at football and basketball games, chaired bake sales and t-shirt sales, went home and put their feet up on the Barcalounger and called it a day.

Bake sales, the provence of parent and student fundraising since the days of Betty Crocker, were once the no-brainer of helping out your child's school or after-school activity, like Girls or Boys Scouts, in order to have a little extra cash for field trips or class parties. After all, who doesn't like brownies and chocolate chip cookies? Soon, high achieving parents recognized they could offer their hard-earned professional talents to their children's educational realm, at the same time that schools, both private and public, realizing that they could capitalize on parents' talents to raise significantly more money for their institutions than those bake sales could raise, often to offset lost funds due to school budget cuts to public schools, and tuition shortfalls and capital campaigns for private institutions.

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“Mothers coming from the workforce and taking time off to raise their kids, they're powerhouses and can really make a difference,” noted Klein. “If they were a great marketing person, or advertising person, or financial person, they're going to be great as a parent volunteer. They're looking to use their talents to benefit their kids now.

“Everything is so competitive today,” she continued. “We all look at it as, 'how can I help my kid, how can I help provide for them, help get them the best athletic field, the best athletic equipment, the best sound equipment?' You throw fun parties that bring people together where their interests are similar.”

“School fundraising is a business, and these parents are very entrepreneurial people,” noted Cranbrook Schools' spokesperson Clay Matthews.

“Anyone who has chaired (Brookside's) Kaleidoscope can go on and run the United Nations, between their diplomacy skills and business acumen.”

“If you can find engaged parents – all schools enjoy those – with expertise, they're great to collaborate on their preferred future for their institutions,” said Denita Banks-Sims, director of development for The Roeper School. ver the years, the metamorphosis from bake sales to serious fundraising came about as opportunities arose to sponsor books in the school's libraries (soon to transition to multimedia centers) in their children's names. Candy, popcorn and gift wrap paper sales became competitive sports. And then, the highticket, and highly profitable, school fundraiser was born. In recent years, private schools have been seeking to tap into the parent and alumni pipeline via annual funds.

Annual funds are organized efforts to obtain monetary gifts on a yearly basis to support, at least partially, the general operations of a nonprofit organization. Funds are most successfully raised through direct solicitation efforts, or through professionally produced mailers. An annual fund solicitation may take place more than once a year, but it can be relied upon for its regularity. Gifts given are usually unrestricted income, and often represent a substantial percentage of a non-profit's income.

“The donor does not receive any tangible benefit – it is a true philanthropic process,” said Sandy Rees of the Foundation Group. The goal of an annual fund, she points out, is to generate reasonably predictable funds to pay for ongoing operating expenses; to create a solid donor base of supporters who give year after year. She emphasized that it provides the opportunity to cultivate donors and build relationships for the future as it also creates a pool of potential volunteers for the institution.

Arlyce Seibert, director of schools at Cranbrook Schools, noted that of Cranbrook's Annual Fund, “There is the need to educate parents and alumni why you can't depend on tuition dollars alone. The schools depend on numerous donations for technology, special programming, scholarships, salaries, professional development, and many other things. Annual fund is how we support our

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Summer Institute for Professional Development for our faculty.”

Parent volunteers who work with the Schools' Development Office on the annual fund are trained to inform parents, parents of graduates, and alumni that tuition only covers approximately 85 percent of a student's education.

For many years, Detroit Country Day Schools held an annual all schools (PreK–12) auction each May in addition to requesting donations to the schools' annual fund. A year or so ago, the administration and parents disbanded the auction, choosing to put all efforts towards the annual fund. Many parents still support booster activities as well, which provide more modest sums to individual athletic and arts activities.

“At Detroit Country Day School, our core fundraising efforts focus on increasing contributions to our annual fund, endowment and capital needs programs. These resources support the variety of initiatives that advance the DCDS educational mission at our campuses, and ensure we achieve excellence in academics, arts and athletics,” said Susan Murphy, director of external affairs. “Throughout the year, we connect and reach out to our alumni, families, employees and friends in the hope that they will make DCDS one of their philanthropic priorities. These relationships, along with the commitment and support they provide, are of vital importance to our fundraising and community goals.”

In addition to parents' commitment to providing to a school's annual fund, the Foundation Group's Rees said, “The success of the annual fund is directly related to the support it receives from the leadership of the organization. Having 100 percent giving from your board will help ensure the success of the campaign in the community. Some donors may choose not to give if they think your board isn't fully supporting the campaign.”

For many parents, the ability to write a check – or even put it on their credit card – solves their financial and school involvement issue in one fell swoop. No feeling nickel-and-dimed by numerous small fundraisers. Others enjoy being exempted from a social obligation, and the big ticket fundraiser that comes with it.

President of the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) Council for Birmingham Public Schools Marnie Lewbel said that while they are not calling it an annual fund, it is nonetheless an annual fund. “Many of our schools are moving towards asking for a direct donation. It usurps all of the Sally Foster wrapping papers, the pizza kits, the bake sales. The idea is that if every family gave $50 or $100, we would make up the same difference as all of those sales, where a portion goes to the kit manufacturer, rather than directly to the schools. With budget cuts, we try to provide services and augment opportunities with PTSA funds so there’s not so much coming out of parents' pocket expenses.”

Bloomfield Hills Schools Superintendent Robert Glass said that while his district does not currently have a direct donation or annual fund campaign, “We are working with our foundation to explore it.

It's one of the strategies we're considering.”

Lewbel noted that at the high school level, booster club fundraising continues to exist in addition to the direct donation approach, and parents expect to participate in booster club support.

“Sports financing today is out-of-pocket. It's now pay-to-play. If you're participating, you're paying to be on the competitive high school team (at Groves or Seaholm high schools). They have to cover the costs to participate, and they have to turn to the parents to cover the costs. Booster clubs do that,” she said.

“Meeting the needs of kids through a public educational institution cannot be met by a bake sale, and yes, I'm grateful they take place,” said Birmingham Public Schools Superintendent Daniel Nerad. “I am grateful for the generosity of our parents and community members. The range of their support is significant, and I'm grateful for their willingness to play such a significant role.

“On the other hand, it does concern me with the decrease of funding for public education, that many of these things were previously funded by school districts in the past, and we're no longer able to provide them. It troubles me because you cannot operate a school district on that basis.

We're not in dire straits – but I don't like that trend,” Nerad continued, noting that parents approach him asking where are the limits of the “ask”. He says because of legislative budget cuts, they have to rely on the gradual increase in fundraising for these needs.

Yet annual funds are not the singular effort for most schools, with many preferring parent involvement and the creation of a sense of community it endeavors.

Bloomfield Hills Schools parents sponsor a variety of fundraisers, both active and passive.

Parent Liz Fellowes notes that most fundraising in the district is done at the elementary or middle school level, with most high school fundraising coming in the form of booster club events. “At the elementary level, auction fundraisers are more effective because the PTO (parent-teacher organization) supplements more programs, whether it’s speaker visits, author visits, assemblies, helping to buy equipment, buying art tables, or years ago funding the kitchen at West Hills Middle School or the climbing wall at West Hills,” Fellowes said. ewbel said that, for elementary and middle schools in the Birmingham district, silent auctions or family carnivals, often in conjunction with auctions, are popular fundraisers. “Every school is autonomous in how they run their show,” she said, noting that the amounts raised vary from school to school. “Some schools are larger, and some schools are smaller, and don't raise as much. The amounts range upon the feeder pattern of the school. One school nets as much as $50,000 from an event, and there is a lot of competition between the schools.”

A popular way for Bloomfield Hills parents to support their schools without a lot of effort is through what parent Leah Abel, Lone Pine Elementary PTO president terms “passive fundraising”.

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“We have quite a few partnerships with companies like Amazon, where if you log onto the school's PTO website, there's a link to Amazon, and as long as you enter Amazon through that site, Lone Pine gets a cut of the purchase. Target, Kroger, Plum and Hiller's all have ways for Lone Pine families to sign up to benefit Lone Pine, and whenever the family shops there and uses the store card, Lone Pine gets a cut,” she said.

Last year, just Lone Pine Elementary School was able to raise approximately $2,400 for its PTO via such passive fundraising. She noted that cutting box tops off of many common household products and turning them in, where their value is worth 10 cents, has netted the school about $1,100 a year. Each Bloomfield Hills school in the district benefits from similar passive fundraising efforts.

Barb Kaufman, PTO president at West Hills Middle School, said, “We utilize a $10 membership fee and passive fundraising efforts like the Kroger, boxtops, Amazon and Target programs to generate enough money to cover our school spirit, fun and community building efforts like fall festival, spring carnival, the celebration of fifth grade exhibition, art fair and ice cream social, end of year recognition programs, eighth grade graduation party, and activity afternoons as well as support and appreciation of teachers and general business.” bel said that it’s PTOs in the district provide academic, staff and community servicerelated expenses, as well as teacher gifts, teacher appreciation meals a few times a year, offer PTO-run programs like WordMasters, a national program for third through eighth grade students that teaches vocabulary and other language skills. Money raised also supports Junior Achievement where parent volunteers teach students economic lessons. Other supportive events are fundraisers at restaurants like California Pizza Kitchen and Smashburger, where on specified days, the school partners with the restaurants so that any school family who brings in the flyer can get a cut of the food purchases to come back and benefit the school.

Chalkfly, a new initiative for Bloomfield Hills' PTO, “is a website where parents can buy all the school supplies they need for a student with one click of a button, depending on their child's grade level,” Abel said. “Five percent of the proceeds come back to Lone Pine.

“The PTO brings in author visits and assemblies for the students community. We run evening Book Clubs, one meeting per grade, to encourage students and parents to read and talk about the books together. The Green Committee makes sure that Lone Pine attains Evergreen Status – which is the highest designation for Michigan Green Schools, and works with the Beautification Committee to create green spaces,” Abel continued. “This past year at Lone Pine we made a rain garden in front of the school with the help of PTO funds and school family donations.”

Additionally, each month, the PTO sponsors at least one social event for all of the families of the school community, such as a welcome back to school pizza party, Fall Festival at the School Farm, Donuts with Dads, a bowling bash, movie nights,

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bingo night, Special Persons Day, International Festival, Art Fair, ice cream social, Celebration of Learning, and Fun Fair/Spring Carnival.

“This year, the PTO is also gearing up to create an Outdoor Learning Classroom, and PTO funds will help in the creation of it,” Abel reported.

“Spearheaded by teachers, and supported by students and the PTO, we're excited about the creation of a new outdoor space where teachers can bring their classes on nice days and teach in a natural setting.”

“As a principal, I always appreciated parent fundraising,” Bloomfield Hills' Glass said. “It really benefits each individual school, depending on what that school needs. It's a huge benefit to the culture of the school.”

Cranbrook Schools has found passive fundraising, in the form of what they call their Scrip programming, to be a strong way to fundraise that has a huge untapped potential.

“It's shopping with a purpose because it comes back to you. It's not just Cranbrook. It's an ideal way to fundraise for a church, school or any organization,” said Seibert. “It's the ability to spend thoughtfully because you're putting your money to good use.”

This form of passive fundraising allows anyone to designate their Kroger, Plum, Target, Starbucks, or other applicable shopping card to a school, and a percentage that is spent comes back to the school.

You don't spend anything extra. But the three or five percent the store is willing to tithe back to the organization goes to the school (or church, or other organization) of your choice.

“It's maximizing your dollars and in an economy where your concerned about your money, it's the easiest thing to do,” Seibert said. “It crosses any institution and any economic barrier.”

Seibert said that currently Cranbrook is earning approximately $80,000 a year from their Scrip program. “We could get so much more if we could get greater participation,” she said, noting that many parents, alumni, and parents of graduates don't always remember to sign up for the program.

Seibert noted that while the financial participation from all revenue sources is important, and one they rely on, “fundraising is as much friendraising and community building. It's a way of people coming together with a common vision, a common purpose for a common need. Even though these revenue sources are so important, it's important the way the two come together that speaks to the school's values, and that's what our volunteers say, and what raises our sights together.”

“People are looking for a sense of community, and they want to give to things that matter to them,” explained Cranbrook's Klein. “The thing is to find the niche that means something to them and their kids.

I made two best friends through chairing Kaleidoscope.”

Patricia Krzok, president of the Roeper Parent Community (RPC) association, said from the RPC perspective, “It's about building a community. We do not raise money; we raise involvement and we create a community. The more people who feel like they're part of the community, the more generous they are with their time and their

resources. We feel time is very important, too.”

“At Roeper, it's particularly gratifying when an engineer, who's a photographer in his spare time, wants to photograph athletic events or a play in his spare time. That's a gift. It draws you closer to your own child, the faculty, and the staff. And it adds to the bottom line,” said Roeper's Development Director Banks-Sims. “We can't afford a full-time photographer, so that parent is fulfilling a niche with his volunteer efforts.” he notes that everything from grassroots efforts to multimillion capital campaigns, to large scale fundraisers, which take the form of their annual auction, are appreciated for the participation given by parents.

“At the highest point, we've raised $4 million for capital improvements, and over the years, several million dollars for financial aid and scholarships. But we have bake sales, too, which raise more modest sums. Sometimes they go towards one special project, maybe to purchase more books for the library, or a class trip. Or in keeping with our emphasis on independence and global awareness, it may go to Haiti refugees or to stave off invasive species in Lake Michigan, relating back to our curriculum and to helping others,” she said.

Krzok noted Roeper's emphasis is “one of the concerted efforts of the school is not to ask for money everywhere, so when there is the ask, it is more effective. The consolidated ask is through the Development Office, so when they do the ask, people feel commitment and are willing to give.”

Many schools are not resting on their fundraising laurels, and are venturing into new endeavors to continue their fundraising and community building.

Banks-Sims said Roeper will hold a new scholarship event in March 2014 to help underwrite financial aid called the Mariann Hoag Scholarship Dinner, which will be in addition to their annual auction.

“It's an opportunity to honor Mariann, who worked for Roeper for 60 years, and was like a third founder. It will be school wide, and global, as well,” she said. “We will have alums from around the world hosting dinners in their homes simultaneously on the same night.”

The last couple of years, Cranbrook has begun P@rtybook, an online opportunity to host events, large or small, with monies raised going to support Cranbrook's faculty and educational programming.

Last year, in it's second year, it raised over $20,000.

Events included progressive dinner parties, martini parties, cooking classes, gallery or museum events, family events, even bidding to see a taping of CBS' The Big Bang Theory (producer Bill Prady is an alum) in Hollywood.

“Social media is becoming very important,” said Seibert. “It's useful in ways for people to join together, over distances, to make an event more interesting.”

In addition to P@rtybook, she said that Brookside's Kaleidoscope silent auction now is monitored by its own apps on attendees' phones. “It adds a little excitement, it's something a little different, but they're still engaging with others at the party. It's a way of bringing technology into the process itself.”

It's a long way from mom's cupcakes.

S

FACES

Sami “Mei” Lofman

S

ami “Mei” Lofman, in many ways, is like most 11-year-old girls: she likes ice cream, listening to Taylor Swift, and thinks sunflowers are pretty. Then, she opens her mouth and begins singing.

Watching some of the videos she's posted to her YouTube account, “SamiMei21,” you might wonder how the voice you hear connects to the little girl singing to the camera. Dancing on the roof, rocking on a swing, or standing on the stage, Sami is relaxed when she is singing or playing guitar, allowing the little girl behind the big voice to show through in her songs and her lyrics.

“I don't really have stage freight,” Sami said. “I get nervous before I get on stage, but then it all goes away.”

Sami has already had considerable stage experience.

Starting at about age seven at theatre camp at The Roeper School in Birmingham, she has performed songs of her own and others at many places, including Birmingham's Farmers Market and Shain Park and the Majestic Theater in Detroit.

And don't worry too much about Sami falling off the roof in her YouTube video – she's a competitive rock climber.

“She loves performing, she loves making people excited through her music,” said Sami's mom, Elana Lofman.

Lofman said Sami started taking piano lessons when she was about seven years old. When she was eight, she wrote a book, “Some Bugs Are,” which was published online at mypublisher.com. She later started writing her own songs; her first, called “Pieces of the Puzzle, she did with the help of her piano instructor. In 2012, Sami started taking lessons at Axis Music Academy in Birmingham. Lofman said she makes sure Sami gets the classes she wants and encourages her passion for music, but she's careful not to push her daughter.

“I'm a big believer that you have to follow your heart, no matter what you do,” Lofman said. “If you aren't following your dreams, then nothing is going to feel accomplished. I don't help her with songs and music. I get the lessons she needs and get her to the places she needs to go, but she kind of figures it out on her own, and she keeps her own schedule.”

Last year, Sami learned how to play the guitar, something she uses when making up her own songs.

“It's always hard at first when you are learning a new instrument,” Sami said. “But if you enjoy it, it doesn't matter how you are because it's fun and that's the point.”

While the summer is coming to a close and Sami will head back to classes at Hillel Day School, in Farmington Hills, looks forward to performing at the Farmers Market again. Another favorite show, she said, was the special performance she did with Axis Music Academy for Kids Kicking Cancer.

What's it like to perform and meet kids like her facing issues that even adults have trouble facing?

“I didn't have any trouble making friends,” she said. “They are exactly like us, but just a little different.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP Contested races for city commission Both Bloomfield Hills and Birmingham voters will be deciding contested races for city commission in the November 5 election this year.

In Birmingham, there will be three of the seven commission seats open for election, and all three incumbents filed for re-election by the Tuesday, August 13 deadline.

Commissioners Mark Nickita, Rackeline Hoff and Stuart Sherman each filed to run in November, facing off against challenger Vicki Walsh, who ran unsuccessfully two years ago for a commission seat.

Birmingham City Commission seats are non-partisan, and commissioners serve for four years.

They meet bi-monthly, on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, are paid $5 a meeting and serve on commission committees.

Sherman said he is running for his third term because, “We've worked so hard guiding Birmingham through this economic downturn, now we can again work on making Birmingham the place that people want to be, both today and in the future.”

Walsh, a Macomb County prosecutor, said she has the same motivation as two years ago, which is to bring a fresh perspective to Birmingham. “I'm a young working mother in Birmingham, and I don't see us represented in the city commission. I've been looking to give back. I do that every day in Macomb.”

Also running for re-election are Birmingham Library Board members Sheila Brice, Andrew Harris and Frank Pisano, who are unopposed in November.

In Bloomfield Hills, three commission seats will be open.

Commissioners Stuart Sherr and Pat Hardy filed for re-election, while long-term commissioner Mike Zambricki has decided to hang up his commissioner hat. Residents Mark Kapel and Mike Coakley have also filed to run.

“I've decided not to run for reelection this term to focus more time on my paying job with Art Van, and I want to spend more time with my wife and family,” Zambricki said. He was first elected in March 1989, 52

ACLU sues Birmingham over fur protester

By Lisa Brody

T

he American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Michigan filed a federal lawsuit on Thursday, July 25, on behalf of Beth Delaney of Ferndale, an animal rights activist who was arrested in December 2012 by Birmingham police for demonstrating in front of Ceresnie & Offen's store, alleging police misused the city's loitering ordinance to violate her civil rights.

The lawsuit was filed against the city of Birmingham, Birmingham police officers Matthew Baldwin and Ulrich Schwarz as individuals.

According to the lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division, Delaney, 38, is a 20-year political activist dedicated to ending animal cruelty. She claimed she took part in her first protest outside of Ceresnie & Offen, a fur store on S. Old Woodward, nearly 20 years ago. The lawsuit claims she had never had an incident with police, security guards, or the public while protesting or distributing literature for her group, Southeast Michigan Animal Rights Team (SMART), prior to December 12, 2012, when SMART arranged for its members, including Delaney, to hold signs and distribute information pamphlets on the public sidewalk outside the fur store.

According to the lawsuit, Delaney arrived that day outside the store at 2 p.m. holding a sign depicting two bunny rabbits with the slogan, “Fur kills; don't buy it.” At around 2:40 p.m., an employee at the fur store called the police to report the protesters. According to Dan Korobkin, ACLU attorney, the employee did not claim that the SMART members were interfering with pedestrian traffic or blocking the store’s entrance.

“In response to the call, two Birmingham police officers used a surveillance camera to observe the protesters and saw that they were peacefully assembled, holding up signs and distributing literature. The police told the protesters that they had to be moving at all times, which is absolutely not true,” Korobkin said. “There is no law that says that. We read the city's loitering ordinance, and there's nothing in it that says someone has to keep moving. They cannot block someone on the sidewalk, and they can't block the entrance to the business. Beth was not doing any of that.”

Delaney was arrested after questioning officers and asserting her free speech rights, charged with loitering, a misdemeanor offense punishable by up to 90 days in jail.

Korobkin said Delaney contacted the ACLU, and after investigating the situation, including obtaining a copy of the surveillance tape, he said the charges against her were dismissed.

Korobkin said they filed suit against the city of Birmingham because a police department is part of the city. “In order to change the practices of a police department, you sue the city. It's clear the issue is not limited to these two officers. The Birmingham Police Department is in need of training of what loitering means and what it means to protect the rights of demonstrators on a public sidewalk,” he said. “We're suing the two individual officers because they were not following the local ordinances and officers are under an obligation to properly enforce the law.”

Birmingham city manager Bob Bruner said he had no comment at the time of filing.

Korobkin said Birmingham has a few weeks to respond to the lawsuit.

before commission elections were changed first to May and then to November. He noted that when he steps down, he will have served for 24 years and eight months.

“Somebody should quit before they hit 25 (years),” he joked.

Sherr, a real estate developer and businessman who was appointed

last December to fill the remainder of the term of former commissioner and current state Rep. Mike McReady (RBloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, Birmingham) said, “running a city is like running a business. My skill set and experience are perfect for the job.” His top issues for the city, he said, are

DOWNTOWN

personal safety, financial security and community character.

Hardy said, “I represent a segment of Bloomfield Hills that I believe is important to represent, those who believe that sensible change is important.” She said she would like to serve again to see the next library millage pass and to see the completion of the Woodward Hills assisted living project.

Kapel, who ran unsuccessfully a year and a half ago, said he had thrown his hat in the ring again “because there are a number of things we could be doing better. I'm sorry we gave away our right to an annual election, now electing commissioner biannually. I would try to get more residents involved in attending commission meetings.”

Bloomfield Hills City Commission seats are non-partisan, and commissioners serve for two years.

They meet once monthly, on the second Tuesday of the month, are paid $5 per month and serve on commission committees.

In addition to the commission election, there will be four charter amendments on the November ballot. The first is for residents to approve electing commissioners for two-year terms on odd-year November elections. The second charter amendment would provide for an organizational meeting of the city commission where commissioners choose the mayor and mayor pro tem after the election, to be moved from the Monday following the election to the regularly scheduled Tuesday commission meeting.

The third charter amendment would institute a conflict of interest provision, preventing any commission member from voting on a contract or expenditure of city money if he or she has any financial interest in the proceeds of the contract or expenditure. It would authorize the commission to implement the conflict of interest by resolution.

The fourth charter amendment would change the final date the commission could prepare their annual budget from the 10th day in May to the second Tuesday in May. In two years, all five Bloomfield Hills commission seats will be open at the same time.

09.13

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Bloomfield Hills $429,000 Meticulously maintained Colonial on an oversized manicured lot. Boasting four bedrooms, 2.5 baths this home is move in ready. Generous room sizes, stylish decor and fantastic location are just the start. Granite kitchen, huge mudroom, 3 season room and finished lower level. Home has been loved and it shows. Park like setting make this home hard to resist. A must see! 213075627

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Oakland Township $2,250,000 Beautifully tucked within 7+ acres of Oakland Township grandeur. This spacious European Country House with premium appointments and high-end detailing throughout. Lovely guest quarters is complete with chefs kitchen. Nature, wildlife and ultimate tranquility are hallmarks of this magnificent estate. Beautifully developed outdoor areas with gorgeous porch and patios. Full complement of sophisticated mechanical/electrical componentry including elevator and 100KW generator. Six bedroooms with 9.3 baths. 213060920

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213072719

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New York City in Birmingham! Fabulous downtown condo redone top to bottom with phenomenal high end finishes throughout. First floor has incredible open spaces with custom floating steel staircase, gorgeous hardwood floors, unique industrial style doors and tons natural light. Kitchen designed by Eurocraft with large center island and sleek custom cabinets. Master suite features his/her dressing rooms, vanity areas and private sitting room. Lower level features private office, third bedroom, full bath and work out area. 213078927

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Lake Angelus Frontage $1,899,900

Lake Angelus Frontage $974,900

Fabulous views from every room from this Beautiful Hidden Gem on the South Shore. One plus acres with 100'+ lake frontage with almost 7,000 square feet of living space. This newer construction has a five car heated garage, finished walkout with 13' ceilings. Full deck and patio across the lakeside of home. Sandy frontage with permanent dock to park all of your toys. Cedar and Stone with custom cedar roof. Paved Road.

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Move-in condition home with four bedrooms, 2.5 baths, six car oversize garage for all your toys. Over 3,000 square feet all on one floor with views of the lake from all rooms. Nicely updated with neutral colors. Granite kitchen opens to great room. Deck with beautiful mature landscaping on almost one acre. Everything you are looking for in a lake home. 213051048.

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Just steps from downtown Birmingham, this two bedroom brownstone townhouse comes complete with a three floor elevator, hardwood flooring throughout, separate study/library, open kitchen to family room, private deck and terrace. This home backs onto a beautiful view of a wooded ravine. Attached 2 car lower level garage entry and ample room for visitor parking. 213076781

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Bloomfield Hills $595,000

Surrounded by million dollar-plus homes. Beautifully treed and landscaped four acre lot with up North feel. Home awaits your decorating touch but features four large bedrooms including a possible au pair suite, master bedroom sauna, steam shower and jetted tub. Finished basement with bar and fireplace, nice open kitchen, sun room, in-ground swimming pool and much more. A must see. 213068319

Wonderful custom built home on gorgeous lot! This home offers a wonderfully open floor plan with entry level office, four bedrooms, private master suite, gorgeous living room with hardwood flooring and floor to ceiling windows overlooking the beautiful and private yard with mature perennial gardens.

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A casual stroll to downtown from this completely renovated doll house!

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Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213072520

Beautiful soft contemporary with private Wing Lake beach and dock privileges across the road. Private commons area in back with tennis court. Over half acre of tranquil, landscaped grounds. Custom-built home good for entertaining with open floor plan and amazing light. Spacious kitchen with windows overlooking grounds. Loft style with spiral stair case to master bedroom, with private deck and his/her closets. Finished walk out lower level. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213075451

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Birmingham $1,850,000 In town and Holy Name area! Truly a home to live in and enjoy! Spacious open foyer, hardwood floors, walnut library, Mahogany doors, crown moldings, two powder rooms on first level and first floor laundry room. Large breakfast area in kitchen overlooking private rear yard and patio.

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Bloomfield Hills $3,899,900 History, grace, grandeur and beauty! A feeling of solidity, strength and impeccable English country style surrounds you throughout every step of this home. Unsurpassed workmanship, detail and quality are everywhere, awaiting your discovery. A few of the many updates include; new wiring, heating, electrical and a spare no expense kitchen done to breathtaking detail by The Kennebec Company and will surpass every expectation. Generously sized rooms, sun light, storage, irreplaceable finishes, two swimming pools and a world class spa retreat. An Estate for the most discerning! 213059957

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Oakland Township $1,199,999 Private Country Setting with view of pond and nature trails surrounding property. Wrap-around porch with sunrise and sunset views. Pool house with kitchen, bedroom and bath. Lower level is complete with kitchen, game room and bedroom suite, heated floors, heated exterior pavers. 33'x14' bonus room. Close to Rochester. Seven bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 213051986

Addison Township $997,500

Bloomfield Hills $624,900

Transitional Contemporary with four levels of living space perched on a hilltop overlooking 6+acres, in-ground pool and fabulous landscaping.

Open floor plan takes in nature's view from all windows, many floor to ceiling, unique angles, soaring ceilings, kitchen and closet custom cabinetry, molding through out, hardwood flooring. Anderson windows, Gaggenau, Bosch, Electrolux, Sub-zero appliances, granite throughout.

Spectacular kitchen skylights. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213072690

Extremely motivated seller! Outstanding Contemporary with scenic views of Orange Lake situated on approximately one acre with Bloomfield Hills schools. State-of-the-Art kitchen/granite and newer master suite, wraparound balconies to take in extremely scenic view from most locations throughout the home. Attention to detail in every aspect of the home.

Energy efficient with passive heating, an absolute GEM! Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213079521

Susan Johnson

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Lake Charlevoix $11,995,000 This unparalleled 69 acres with over 3000 of lakefront footage is truly unbelievable. The property includes a barn, boathouse, covered bridge, ponds, a stream and pasture land. You will be in paradise. The exquisite log home and guest house will accommodate family and friends comfortably.

Five bedrooms with 3.1 baths plus 1400+ sq ft guesthouse. Presented by Mike Cotter

Manchester Township $9,975,000 Most unique property available today in Southern Michigan. Value is in the land, 2000 contiguous acres of prime land including a 100 acre lake.

Opportunities exist to create a private recreational retreat or a conservation development design or a nature preserve. Civil war Italianate home ready to be restored. Presented by Beverly McCotter & Bill Vandercook

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Bloomfield Hills $2,995,000 Elegant Bloomfield Hills Estate Home on over two manicured acres. This beautifully update home offers a grand entrance with marble flooring, four well appointed bedroom suites including master with marble bath and fireplace, large formal dining room and four car garage. Hardwood floors throughout first floor. Finished lower with theater, bar and family room. Bonus third level! 212022826 Presented by Cindy Obron Kahn

Bloomfield Hills $1,995,000 Kitchen and Master Bath Featured In Detroit Home Autumn 2009 Issue! Gorgeous 30x14 kitchen with top of the line appliances, breakfast room with fireplace and sitting area and beautiful two story foyer. Spacious master with fireplace, spa like bath and custom dressing room. Five bedroom suites, finished basement with high end kitchen, billiards and exercise room. Lush landscaped lot with multiple patios perfect for entertaining. 213051113 Presented by Renee Lossia Acho

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Metamora $1,750,000 Beautiful Farm Colonial situated on the most pristine 220 acres with spring fed stocked fish pond. This home has four bedrooms, three car garage and a three car pole barn. Updated within the last 10 years; granite, hardwoods, windows, cedar roof and private large Gunite in-ground pool with lush landscaping. Property has old hardwood forests, 50 acres tillable, trails throughout, turkey, deer. For the horse enthusiasts the property sides to "Mt Christie Estates". Your own private paradise. 213081523 Presented by Lee Embrey

Bloomfield HIlls $1,725,000 Stunning classic Tobocman Contemporary on over one acre. 6035 square foot of space with impeccable grounds and gorgeous views. Master suite with view to lovely in-ground pool. Three large en-suites and huge great room with studio-ceiling, clerestory windows, wall of glass and overflowing natural light always. Huge, modern kitchen with subzero and Bosch appliances, granite counters, lots of custom cabinets. Fabulous lower level party/media room. 213067316 Presented by Mike Srbocca

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Birmingham $1,800,000 Prime location on Birmingham's most prestigious street. This attractive brick home was renovated and expanded in 1997. Tiimeless white kitchen with granite, first and second floor laundry rooms, family room and adjacent billiards room lead to fabulous back yard. Very large bonus room over three car garage offers multiple possibilities. Generator that powers entire home. Exterior features include in-ground pool, beautiful landscaping and more. Move right in and enjoy.

Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 213063163 Presented by Linda Eriksen

Bloomfield Hills $1,499,000 Must see interior to appreciate architectural elements and finish. Kitchen with fireplace features Bosch, Subzero, Miele and Thermador stainless steel appliances. Romantic master suite with spa bath, dressing table and fireplace. French doors lead guests from interior living spaces to beautiful brick terrace and yard. Third floor bonus room (30X20) with wet bar, skylights and storage area. Expansive finished lower level. Five bedrooms with 4.3 baths. 213006317 Presented by Darlene Jackson

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Dryden $1,050,000 Stunning Cotswold Cottage in the Heart of "The Metamora Hunt" surrounded by 5.35 acres of hardwood forest. Custom everything in this 2002 built masterpiece. Mural painted walls by Gretchen Gill. Copper, brass, 150 year old hardwoods, marble, granite, limestone and Viking appliances. Stone and custom landscape. Andersen windows and natural gas heat. You walk through the front door and feel like you are home. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213078666 Presented by Lee Embrey

Birmingham $1,290,000 Stunning Contemporary European style home on a park like setting close to downtown Birmingham and Rouge River trails! Spectacular open floor plan, two story great room with stone fireplace, light oak floors and big windows. Large dining room, premium gourmet custom kitchen with top of the line appliances.

Beautiful master suite with skylights, luxurious bath, sauna and terrace. State of the art patio with built in GE grill. Brick and stone castle on double lot. Just gorgeous! Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213069864 Presented by Silvia Stan

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Bloomfield Hills $775,000-$1,400,000 "Barton Hills' this new gated community is exquisitely located within the city of Bloomfield Hills. Architectural, construction review and approval are required. Some architectural concepts are available for consideration. Development is beautifully treed, has wonderful contour and grand views.

213058789 Presented by Mike Cotter

Barrington Park $476,000 - $900,000 The newest City of Bloomfield Hills gated community offers this superb lot; a natural walkout overlooking the pond and beautifully treed lot. A full set of plans for the exquisite home that could be built are available or bring your own plans. Different lots to choose from. 213059497 Presented by Kathy Lyons

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Birmingham $1,250,000 Stunning newer construction with Quarton Lake's finest views from all three floors of builder's former home. Exquisite entertaining spaces, both indoors and out. Wonderful master suite. Third floor suite with bar and private balcony on lake. Finished lower level features full kitchen, egress window and full bath.

Oversized garage offers ample storage. Lovingly cared for and updated by current owners. Presented by Maureen Francis

Bloomfield Hills $894,000 Immaculate and pristine home with access to Gilbert Lake! Private 1+ acre lot. Foyer with marble floor and circular staircase. Gourmet center island kitchen with granite, Brazilian cherry. Hearth room with fireplace. Family room with hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling, skylights, wall of windows to yard. Formal living room with coved ceilings and fireplace. Formal dining room and quaint study. Master bedroom with his/her closet areas and bath. All bedrooms are spacious with custom millwork. Finished lower level. Paver patio with built-in fireplace and sprinkler system. Four bedrooms with four baths. 213079136 Presented by Robert Gleason

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Middle Straits Lake Frontage $944,900 BEST BUY ON THE LAKE! Magnificent, light, airy six bedrooms, 4.5 bath, Country French home, 6,177 sq ft on three levels. Vaulted gourmet kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Entry level, new 5" hand-scraped hickory wood flooring. Three gas fireplaces great room, den and 20 x 25 master bedroom suite, master bath with heated floors, walk-in marble shower. Finished lower level walkout has full kitchen, mahogany, Irish pub bar + two bedrooms. Southern exposure, 127 ' lake frontage. Award winning Walled Lake schools. 213036575 Presented by RW Watson

Birmingham $899,000 Landmark Birmingham home! This lovely 1928 Colonial has original details from top to bottom including wood paneled foyer with beautiful staircase, library with fireplace, gorgeous solarium, stunning wide plank flooring. Large open Mackenzie Childs tiled kitchen, seven spacious and bright bedrooms, daylight lower level, beautiful yard with gardens, patios and decks. Wonderful home for those who appreciate historic architecture. 7,000 square foot home on 1/2 acre.

213057662 Presented by Cindy Obron Kahn

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Lake Oakland Frontage $999,000 Great location on Lake Oakland. 172 feet frontage on a quiet bay on main lake. Quality custom built open floor plan with soaring windows and ceilings.

Chef 's kitchen, first floor master, walk-out lower level with bedroom suite, exercise room, wine cellar, subdivision, private beach and parks. Cedar decks and paver patios. Colorado pink granite seawall, dock. boat, docks, new hoists included. Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213072825 Presented by Michelle Yurich

Birmingham $989,000 Fantastic Quarton Lake Estate Tudor. Â Over 4300 square feet with an open floor plan and an abundance of windows. Five bedrooms, 3.1 baths. Gorgeous master suite boasts his/hers walk-in closets. Three fireplaces and multiple archways add to the charm of this amazing home. An additional 700 square foot apartment is located over the garage. Presented by Tammy Hernandez

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Birmingham $959,000 Quiet dead end street and close to town! 3,700 sq ft home features stone and hardy plank exterior, detach two car garage, custom trim package, Knotty Alder library with built in cabinets, top of the line cabinetry in kitchen and baths, granite countertops throughout, Oak flooring on first floor. Master suite with large walk in closet and double vanity in master. Spacious guest bedrooms and second floor laundry. Builder provides one year home warranty. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213061967 Presented by Courtney Monigold

Birmingham $799,000

Metamora $749,000

Beautiful and immaculately kept family home in one of Birmingham's best locations. This home has all the character of a 1928 Tudor with all the updates and features of today. Situated on a lot and half of meticulously manicured grounds, featuring two decks and beautiful patio, this property has it all. Recent additions include a spacious great room and new state of the art kitchen, huge master suite and oversized two car garage. Four bedrooms with 2.2 baths.

213075614 Presented by Molly Henneghan & Kris Barich

Drastically Reduced! Motivated Seller! Beautiful English Country home on 27 acres with Flint River frontage. Charming keeping room with fireplace, magnificent living room with fireplace and bay window. Spacious Chef 's kitchen with granite and wood counters, breakfast room with bay window. Huge master suite with fireplace, second master suite and in-law suite with kitchen.

Spectacular Florida room with lap pool, English gardens, pond and pole building. Five bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 213077205 Presented by Lee Embrey

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Island Lake Frontage $995,000 A one of a kind romantic mountain lodge on a private high setting with 180 feet of canal frontage on Island Lake. Massive great room opening to the dining room, kitchen with it's Tennessee ledge rock, brick and wood soaring windows and round fireplace pit all add to the ambiance of this special residence. Newer features as well as the original ones all add to its unique charm. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213068990 Presented by Sue Lozano

West Bloomfield $679,900

Novi $515,000

Over $1,000,000 has been invested into this Alexander Bogarts Designer Showcase. Degulio kitchen with Siematic Pearwood cabinets, Subzero, Bosch, Thermador. Vogue custom built-ins throughout, hardwood floors, whole house generator, stunning master suite with marble steam shower, heated floors and Jacuzzi, granite laundry room, finished walk-out lower level with full kitchen and bath. Private gorgeous lot. Highly acclaimed Bloomfield Hills schools.

Four bedrooms with 3.3 baths. 213074207 Presented by Kathy Manoogian

Open floor plan. Family room with fireplace opens to nice large white kitchen and breakfast room. Two story vaulted foyer and living room, library with built-ins and French doors. Large formal dining room with butlers pantry. Generous master suite with his and her walk in closets.

Lots of privacy from the rear patio and deck. New central air. New roof 2009. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213069925 Presented by Kathy Haack

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Farmington Hills $574,000 A beautiful newer home. Spacious and bright. Located in a very desirable and beautiful historic area. Sits in a charming cul-de-sac of only six homes all built by the same builder. Great layout with large rooms, formal dining room, updated kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances, dramatic two story great room with fireplace, wonderful first floor master bedroom with large bath and walk in closets. Finished lower level with kitchen, media room, bedroom with full bath. Three car garage. Immaculate! Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213064699 Presented by Candice Cuyler

Bloomfield Hills $375,000

Birmingham $315,000

Beautiful, open floor plan in Wabeek Golf Community. Foyer opens to spacious, sunlight great room with vaulted ceiling, fireplace and extensive use of marble to adjoining dining room. Door walls lead to balcony overlooking natural setting and manicured atrium. Library with built-ins. Nicely done kitchen and breakfast room. First floor laundry. Two large bedrooms on entry and two in finished lower level with family room and sauna. Four baths with custom marble vanities and imported fixtures. 213078912 Presented by Ann Greenberg

Gorgeous well maintained Tudor loaded with charm and comfort. Newer kitchen with granite, huge dining room with a wall of sliding glass to amazing wrap around deck. Comfortable living room with gas fireplace, bedrooms are decorated with hand painted murals. Bathrooms are totally redone and an extra shower is conveniently located in refinished basement for early risers. Three bedrooms with 1.1 bath. 213065119 Presented by Kris Barich & Molly Hennghan

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Birmingham $339,000 This true walk to town Colonial has too many updates to list! Flowing floor plan includes living room with fireplace, fabulous maple/granite/stainless kitchen that opens to the lovely dining room with French doors leading out to a large, pergola covered deck and manicured yard. Impeccable inside and out with new siding, windows, copper plumbing, electrical, driveway, insulation, furnace, air conditioning and ductwork. The list goes on! Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213079214 Presented by Laurie Glass

Rochester Hills $337,500

Beverly Hills Village $239,900

This beautiful Ranch home sits upon the nicest and most private lot in the neighborhood providing for very peaceful and tranquil living. It features an open and spacious floor plan with an abundance of natural light, vaulted ceilings, hardwood flooring, and a finished walk-out basement.

One of the basement bedrooms can be used as an office or can be converted back to a bedroom. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213072563 Presented by Lisa & Tony Scaccia

Adorable Ranch on large lot. Well maintained, this home has an updated kitchen with granite and new appliances, hardwood floors throughout.

New furnace in 2011, new hot water heater in 2009. Fully finished basement with bar adds an additional 800+ sq ft of living space. Finished laundry room and storage galore! All appliances stay. Two car garage.

Three bedrooms with 1.1 baths. 213081852 Presented by Julie Dean

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP Baldwin has three building options

By Lisa Brody

Baldwin Public Library in Birmingham has been presented with three concept plans from Quinn Evans Architects, who was awarded a contract from the Birmingham City Commission in May to design schematics for renovation and addition work as requested by the Joint Library Building Committee, which committee members are reviewing and will narrow it down for architectural drawings at their meeting on Thursday, August 22.

Baldwin Library Director Doug Koschik said the the committee was given “just concept plans for our initial review. Things are blocked out.

It's very rough. They've blocked out the overall building and given us rough price estimates. The purpose is to give information to the committee to determine the path or paths to proceed on, and then the committee will direct the architects which plan or plans to pursue.”

Financing for any future building or renovation would need to come from a bond issue put before Birmingham residents, likely sometime in 2014. While residents of Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Bloomfield Hills have contracts with the library, as the city of Birmingham owns Baldwin Library, only Birmingham residents have the final say and would pay for a millage on the cost of construction.

Concept A would cost $16.1 million for construction, furnishings, technology upgrades and to bring the building up to ADA compliance.

Koschik said this plan would leave all of the existing building intact and add about 1,000 square feet on it on the south side, on Merrill Street, increasing the size of the youth room by about two-thirds and provide six study rooms. Additionally, it would create a new circulation area and new entrance that would be on street level, rather than the current stairs and lengthy ramp.

Concept B would cost $17.3 million, and calls for the current youth room, which is part of the 1960 addition to the library, to be torn down and the space to be reconstructed. “It accomplishes what Concept A accomplishes, but Concept B is more flexible,” Koschik said. “The architects have downtownpublications.com

determined the youth room is the least flexible space in the library as it was built on slab, so it is difficult to bring in technology and add basement space. It would allow for a new area of the building that would be more flexible in the future.”

Concept C, at a cost of $22.5 million, would take down both the 1960 and 1980 additions, leaving only the original 1927 building, which would be enhanced. A new building would be built in the shape of a rectangle on Merrill Street stretching from Chester to Bates the full length of the block, two stories tall with a basement. The new building would be integrated and connected to the original library on the main floor in the center of the block.

“From the standpoint of exposing the original building, this would do the most of the three concepts,” Koschik said. “We would be taking down two additions which wrap around the building and would be separating the old from the new. The 1927 building would be completely exposed on its east, west and north sides.”

Koschik said he currently does not have a preference for a certain conceptual plan, and neither do committee members. “We're in the process of digesting this information.

We're thinking it over and discussing it. We'll get together on the 22nd, and our choices will narrow.”

Andres Duany, the urban planner who created Birmingham's 2016 Master Plan, had recommended turning the library around and returning its main entrance to the original Martin Street entrance, which parallels the one at City Hall.

Koschik said that the architects' did not believe a full entrance would be possible on Martin Street.

“All three plans call for the entrance to remain on Merrill,” he said. “However, there remains the possibility that a door would be put on Martin Street, possibly with a patio and garden, but not a main door.”

After the August 22 meeting, Koschik said the committee will meet at least once more with the architect in September, and “by October we do hope to have a plan, including architectural drawings to take to the library board, the planning board, historic district committee, and the city commission.

Our goal is to have a plan in place

by December 2013.”

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Birmingham denies hookah bar request

By Lisa Brody

A request by the owner of a potential business for downtown Birmingham, to be called Burn Hookah Club, appealed the decision of the Birmingham building department to the city's board of zoning appeals, where the denial as a tobacconist was upheld as a non-permitted use in the downtown.

Paul Weisberger, the attorney for Burn Hookah Club, whose owners also own Churchill's Bistro Cigar Bar in the downtown area, spoke to the zoning appeals board at their meeting in July, asserting that a hookah club is a social club more than a tobacconist. He explained to the board that hookah lounges have multiple hoses that people share to smoke shisha tobacco on premises in a relaxed social environment.

Bruce Johnson, building department head, said he had previously ruled that hookah lounges were tobacconists, which are not permitted in the B-4, or downtown district. “There are some

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areas in the city where a tobacconist is permitted, but not in the downtown,” he said. “We do not see it as a social club.” The city's Triangle and Rail districts both permit tobacconists.

He also said that Weisberger and Burn Hookah Club did not say exactly where they wanted to open their operation, other than in the downtown district.

The zoning ordinance states that if 75 percent or more of sales are from tobacco or tobacco-related products, it is a tobacconist. Zoning appeals board members, after questioning Weisberger, pointed out that 95 percent, or more, of sales would come from tobacco, making it a tobacconist.

Appeal board members unanimously concurred with Johnson, ruling that the proposed Hookah Burn Club is a tobacconist, and therefore not permitted in downtown Birmingham.

Johnson said the club has the option to appeal the appeals board decision to Oakland County Circuit Court. “Any decision of the board of zoning appeals can be appealed during a certain time period at the circuit court. The time frame is either 30 days after a ZBA ruling is issued in writing,

or 21 days after the minutes are approved from a ZBA meeting,” he said.

Weisberger could not be reached for comment.

Blue Mercury store heading to downtown

By Lisa Brody

Blue Mercury, a national beauty, makeup, skincare and spa retailer, will be opening up in downtown Birmingham in the former Salon 6 location on W. Maple Road.

Dan Brashear, director of operations for Blue Mercury, confirmed that the retailer had signed a lease for the space at 172 W. Maple Road. “We expect to open in the very near future,” Brashear said. “We are eager to open as soon as possible.”

This will be the second Blue Mercury store for Michigan; the first will open in Ann Arbor in September.

The Birmingham store is scheduled to open in late fall 2013.

Established in Washington D.C., Blue Mercury was founded in 1999 by Marla and Barry Jon Beck, who

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continue to personally choose each location themselves. Megan Mastroianni, director of marketing and public relations for Blue Mercury, said Marla fell in love with Birmingham, it's ambiance, “and loved the boutique Tender, the huge lululemon, all the restaurants, and said you could spend a whole day enjoying the town, and that we'll be on the most chic street.”

Mastroianni said the store prides itself on being “that neighborhood makeup store. Marla still chooses every lipstick, lotion, every product. We really pride ourselves on personalized service.” She said the entire staff is trained every two weeks on all of the products, which include Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, Nars, Clinique, La Roche, Trish McEvoy, Fresh, Oribe, Fekkai, Bumble and Bumble, and many others.

The Birmingham location will be approximately 2,000 to 2,500 square feet, and include a spa in the rear, offering massages, waxing and facials.

Blue Mercury offers a loyalty program, as well as a popular holiday party with special samples from all of their vendors and discounts for their clients, Mastroianni said.

87

Commission studying Bruner compensation The Birmingham City Commission has hired a consultant to study what local city managers earn, inclusive of salary and benefits, as they review city manager Bob Bruner's current contract and prepare to offer him a new contract, which they hope to have completed by early October.

Bruner was hired in February 2011, to replace former city manager Tom Markus who left to go to Iowa.

Bruner, who previously was the city manager of Ferndale, received a three-year contract earning $118,000 a year plus benefits. Bruner's threeyear contract expires in February 2014, and the commission has said it would like to resolve the issue well before the expiration.

“It's pretty complicated. It's not just salary, it's vacation time, time off, sick time, car, mileage. We want to look at the total compensation,” said mayor George Dilgard.

Birmingham city commissioner Gordon Rinschler said the

compensation of the city manager is the commission's business and in order to perform that obligation with workmanlike due diligence, they have hired a consultant who will perform a market study of comparable municipalities “to see what similar communities pay their city managers, as well as their retirement packages, benefits, vacation time, do they give them a car or housing,” Rinschler said. “It's not so much the salary but what is in the rest of the package, like how much will the city contribute to their defined contribution retirement package.”

The commission authorized the payment of $5,000 to Mark Nottley of Municipal Consulting Services out of Ann Arbor for those services at their July 22 commission meeting. Dilgard said he is the “go to person for this kind of work, and he just finished similar work for Bloomfield Hills and Rochester.”

Nottley will be looking at 10 cities throughout the state of Michigan, some larger, some smaller, Dilgard said. “There's not really a comparable

city in the state of Michigan to Birmingham,” he said.

“It's to not just get the numbers, but to put them in perspective,” Rinschler said.

Research done by Downtown Publications indicates that neighboring Bloomfield Township pays supervisor Leo Savoie $142,349 plus benefits. West Bloomfield Township supervisor Michele Economou Ereste is paid $142,000 plus benefits. As of 2010, Bloomfield Hills city manager Jay Cravens was paid $110,000 plus benefits. Rochester Hills mayor Bryan Barnett currently earns $105,148; a raise was recently approved, to begin in 2014, which will bump him up to $111,119.

Hot Mama store coming to city

By Lisa Brody

Hot Mama, a casual chic store designed to “make moms look and feel hot”, according to its website, has signed a lease at 128 S. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham, where the

young persons clothing or “streetwear” and sneaker shop Double Up currently is operating.

Hot Mama has three other stores in Michigan, in the Village of Rochester Hills, on Washtenaw in Ann Arbor, and in East Grand Rapids. The Birmingham store is reportedly scheduled to open in March of 2014.

The first Hot Mama store opened in Edina, Minnesota in 2004, after the founder, Megan Tamte, became a firsttime mother seven years before then and had difficulty finding good-looking, comfortable and well-fitting fashionable clothing.

The store carries a large variety of designer denim, including AG, Paige and Seven for All Mankind; casual tops and sweaters; skirts, dresses, pants, leggings, and scarves and jewelry accessories.

Calls to the owner of Double Up to determine that store's plans were not returned, although one source said that Double Up currently is not under lease for the S. Old Woodward site. Double Up has two other locations, in East Lansing and Ferndale, besides the Birmingham store.

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS - $2,999,000

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS - $1,750,000

BLOOMFIELD HILLS - $1,399,000

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FRANKLIN - $1,200,000

RARELY OFFERED 2 STORY PENTHOUSE CONDO W/ELEVATOR ON THE TOP FLOOR OF BIRMINGHAM'S FINEST DOWNTOWN CONDO DEVELOPMENT. DRAMATIC 2 STORY FOYER AND LIVING ROOM. SOUTHERN EXPOSURE FEATURES PRIVATE TERRACES W/VIEWS AND SOUNDS OF SHAIN PARK. FIRST FLOOR MASTER. 24 HOUR CONCIERGE SERVICE AND HEATED UNDERGROUND PARKING FOR 3 CARS AS WELL AS A PRIVATE STORAGE AREA. 2ND FLOOR FEATURES A BEDROOM, BATH AND SITTING AREA.

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP City to address cemetery issues In an effort to appease residents upset about a service contract with Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit for Birmingham's Greenwood Cemetery, the city of Birmingham will hold a public meeting on Tuesday, September 10, at the Baldwin Public Library at 7 p.m.

Greenwood Cemetery is a historic cemetery located off Oak Street north of Greenwood Street, west of Old Woodward in Birmingham, which was established in 1821 over almost 8 acres and contains almost 3,000 gravesites, of which 650 date to the 19th century. Notables buried in the cemetery include Elijah Willets, Birmingham's first mayor Harry Allen, Martha Baldwin, George Gough Booth and Ellen Scripps Booth, creators of Cranbrook, and Marshall Fredericks.

The city of Birmingham has owned and operated Greenwood Cemetery since 1946.

At the June 24 Birmingham City Commission meeting, commissioners

voted 4-3 to enter into a 10-year service agreement with Historic Elmwood Cemetery in Detroit, which partnered with the Catholic Cemeteries of the Archdiocese of Detroit due to proximity, with Elmwood providing the operations and maintenance of the cemetery for the city in exchange for 100 percent of the interment services and 25 percent of the sale of reclaimed burial sites. Currently, according to city manager Bob Bruner, there are no burial plots available at Greenwood, and the city has an interest list with over 100 people on it to get into the cemetery.

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

While commissioners Rackeline Hoff, Tom McDaniel and Stuart Sherman voted against the contract, city staff recommended it because Birmingham currently spends upwards of $50,000 a year to maintain the cemetery. Resident

Dorothy Conrad voiced concern at the meeting that the city's historic board and the public should have had the opportunity to review the plan and contract. Upon approval of the contract at the meeting, Bruner said it took effect, although there is a 90day escape clause by either side.

Since the meeting, the city has heard from some residents concerned about the control and maintenance of the cemetery.

“I think the key issue is misunderstanding in what has changed (at the cemetery) in the short term,” he said, which is why city officials scheduled the meeting.

He said the city has been looking at removing a road between sections L and K, but that was in the works prior to the Elmwood contract.

“The agreement is only changing who is going to be digging the burial holes. The actual landscape contract is not going to be changed. The city bid that out many years ago, and that is not going to be changed this year,” Bruner said. “Next summer, it will be up to Elmwood, as the prime contractor, to decide who they want to subcontract to. They may want to

use Holy Sepulchre, which is the archdiocese cemetery in Southfield, which is only 10 miles away.

Elmwood is 20 miles away.”

As to how Birmingham chose Elmwood in the first place, Bruner said it was because they were the only one to submit a bid. He said the city needed to get out of the cemetery business because there are no longer any plots available to sell, and “being nearly full, we only have about a dozen burials a year.”

Bruner said there may be people who believe that the city no longer controls the cemetery, “but it is still city owned-and-operated. The city manager still has the ability to make the rules and regulations. We'll go over all of that at our community meeting in September.”

Representatives from Birmingham, Elmwood Cemetery, and the Archdiocese of Detroit will speak and answer questions regarding the cemetery management agreement and other pertinent issues relating to Greenwood Cemetery at the September 10 meeting at 7 p.m. at the Rotary Room at Baldwin Library.

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New Christian school approved for church Christian Leadership Academy was unanimously approved by the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees for final site plan and special land use at their meeting on Monday, August 12, to occupy a portion of the Bloomfield Hills Baptist Church at 3600 Telegraph Road.

The school would use the portion of the church building that no longer is being used by the church for classrooms, in a rear addition to the church which was constructed in 2004, township planning director Patti Voelker told trustees in her presentation. Voelker said that school leadership anticipates up to 150 students at the most, which the building, parking lot and traffic assessment has determined can be accommodated.

“There are 221 parking spaces provided and the school requires well below that number,” Voelker said of the K-12 Christian school. “With about 150 students, there would be about 65 to 70 cars generated during

pickup and drop off, including teachers' cars. There will be no school busses. If the student population increases to more than 200 students, the pick up and drop off area would need to be relooked at by the township.”

She said at this point, there were no lighting changes needed to the building, nor the parking lot.

Tony Antone, a Christian Leadership Academy parent and board member, spoke to the trustees, telling them, “We're a very small classical Christian school, with a heavy emphasis on public speaking.

We're very civic-focused. We teach Latin between third and eighth grades. Of our 10 graduates in our last school year, they achieved more than $900,000 in academic scholarships.

“We were started in 2004 by five moms and we've always been seeking permanence,” Antone continued, noting they have rented space in a series of other church locations, but are looking to make this their permanent school location. “This is a perfect fit – it's turn-key.” He said they have 114 students registered for

the upcoming school year. “We always have between 120 and 140 students. We are small by design.”

Trustee Neal Barnett asked about after school outdoor activities on the property, and Antone said they will have little use for the outdoor land.

“Our sporting activities will be inside the building, mostly basketball and volleyball,” he said.

The township trustees' board room was filled with Christian Leadership Academy supporters, who emphasized they want to be good neighbors with those on all sides of the church.

A few residents from surrounding neighborhoods expressed concerns about traffic congestion, noise and the impact a school could have on property values. Anthony Luciano, who lives in the Bloomfield Chase subdivision just north of the school, said, “Our only real concern is traffic.

If you pull out of our condo community and turn right, you are literally at their entry point,” he said.

“We're concerned about noise and the negative effect on property values.”

Philip Christie said, “I live directly south of the church's southern lot line

and I'm concerned about my property value. Do people really want to live next to a school and a church? We know there's going to be more traffic.

It's a little bit of a dangerous situation. I don't have support. I'm alone up here.”

Township supervisor Leo Savoie told them that township traffic advisor Mike Labadie had studied the situation and recommended to not redirect the school's traffic flow.

“We're talking 65 cars, including teachers coming in early,” Savoie said. “If there's a problem, we can address it quickly at a later date.”

Plans for new project receive approval

By Lisa Brody

The Birmingham Planning Board gave unanimous approvals to the preliminary site plans and a community impact study for a new proposed multi-use development for 400 S. Old Woodward, the current location of Green's Art Supply.

At their meeting on Wednesday, July 24, the planning board reviewed

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the community impact study, which is required for any development larger than 20,000 square feet, senior planner Matthew Baka said, and did not see any negative impact upon the city of Birmingham for the proposed development. A community impact study reviews the environmental impact, traffic impact, planning and zoning issues, noise, air quality, public safety and other community issues a development bring.

The planning board also approved the preliminary site plan, but the applicant will need to come back before the board for final site plan approval once final architectural and engineering drawings are complete.

“They received enough feedback from the board to go back and do more thorough drawings now,” Baka said. “They hope to come back before us August 14 for final site plan approval, but it's up to them to get their stuff done.”

The applicant, Joseph Jonna of Troy, is proposing to build a threestory building with an approximate footprint of 22,900 square feet. The first floor would include two retail tenant spaces and a covered rear parking lot for 19 spaces; the second floor would be for office tenants; and the third floor would be six residential condominium units.

Green's Art Supply, which has been in Birmingham for decades, is a one-story building at the corner of S. Old Woodward and Daines. The proposed building would have a single access drive off of Daines, according to the applicant's submission.

They will not need to go before the Birmingham city commission for approval.

Developer buys Bloomfield Park

By Lisa Brody

Grand/Sakwa Properties, LLC of Farmington Hills, which has developed over five million square feet of retail, mixed use and residential properties and is one of the midwest's largest private real estate developers, has purchased the foreclosure rights to Bloomfield Park, a 90-acre site in Bloomfield Township and Pontiac which began construction as lifestyle center, but downtownpublications.com

which was abandoned in 2008, following the banking and real estate collapse now known as the Great Recession.

“They have positioned themselves to take it over,” said Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, noting Grand/Sakwa are still in their 60-day due diligence period of reviewing all the property's documentation and financial records. “They came to us to see what financial incentives are available, which our staff is looking at, because they have to tear down what's there. It'll be a multi-million dollar demolition. There is money available from the state and county.

We're still figuring it out.”

Calls to representatives from Grand/Sakwa Properties were not returned.

Originally the Bloomfield Park vision of local developer Craig Schubiner was to create a lifestyle center with residential, commercial, retail and entertainment in northern Bloomfield Township and Pontiac, north of Square Lake Road along Telegraph. Schubiner assembled the land parcels and then in 2006 Coventry Real Estate Advisors of New York and Developers Diversified Realty (DDR) of Beachwood, Ohio became involved with the project. Work began on parking structures but stopped in November 2008, with partially completed structures left unprotected to the elements. Eventually, the project fell into foreclosure, with Coventry and DDR owing Wells Fargo Bank over $40 million on a 2008 acquisition loan. The partially built structures will now need to be demolished before new work can be done, according to local officials.

Sources within Bloomfield Township's government confirm meetings with Grand/Sakwa on the Bloomfield Park acquisition. These sources, as well as Oakland County's Patterson, said that Grand/Sakwa currently is considering a multi-use development for the site, including retail on the front portion, and medical and corporate offices.

Patterson said that while the developer is not currently looking at single family homes for the site, they may consider some condos at a later date.

Grand/Sakwa owns and manages assets in Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi and Florida.

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Bloomfield Hills looks forward

By Lisa Brody

Having successfully approved a tree ordinance, moved city elections to oddyear November general elections, hired a new public safety chief, and achieved other objectives, the Bloomfield Hills city commission unanimously approved city manager Jay Craven's 2013-2014 city goals on Tuesday, August 13, in order to look forward with city objectives.

The 2013-2014 city goals range from funding of road projects to financial issues, from continuing the city's beautification efforts to considerations of service consolidation. Some of the goals will continue efforts that are currently in the works by administrators, staff and commissioners, while others are new objectives for city leaders.

Among the goals Cravens presented to commissioners is one to investigate and find possible funding sources for city signs at entry points into the city at Long Lake, Cranbrook, and Lone Pine roads, and to work with CN railroad to improve the appearance of the railroad overpass at Long Lake and Kensington roads. Cravens will spearhead both of these projects. He will also evaluate a Celebrate Bloomfield Hills day event and compensation studies.

Cravens will work with commissioners Sarah McClure and Michael Dul to continue beautification efforts and develop a program for next spring.

An on and off review of multiple trash haulers versus a single hauler will be brought up again, with the review of the city's waste management regulations to see if they need to be updated. There is a concern that waste recycling is not being uniformly provided by all waste haulers in contradiction to the city's regulations, as well as what is practiced by neighboring communities.

A multi-year financial forecast, going forward towards 2015, is tasked to city treasurer/financial director Karen Ruddy in order to properly budget for 2014-2015, as well as to establish a fund balance policy and to integrate specific software systems.

In the public safety realm, sought after goals include considering participating in various certification programs, resolving the cell tower/CLEMIS issue, and determining whether the city should consolidate its dispatch operations with another municipality, despite talks with Bloomfield Township failing in 2013. downtownpublications.com

An important goal assigned to chief David Hendrickson is to fully staff and train his department, per state requirements, and to analyze the current 24-hour schedule and its impact on overtime costs.

City clerk Amy Burton will update the city's code of ordinances and streamline the city's applications and forms to allow them to be filled out on the city's website.

Township adopts ethics principles The Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees unanimously approved a resolution to adopt a Michigan Townships Association Principles of Governance and Ethical Conducts, to commit themselves to “safeguard our community's health, safety and general welfare”, at their Monday, August 12, regular board meeting.

In presenting the principles of governance and ethical conducts, township supervisor Leo Savoie said the township board had approved a similar document several years before, but that it had been changed by the Michigan Townships Association (MTA), and he felt it was important for Bloomfield Township to recognize it and approve it.

By approving and signing the principles of governance, trustees pledge to “insist on the highest standards of ethical conduct by all who act on behalf of this township; bring credit, honor and dignity to our public officers through collegial deliberations, and diligent, appropriate responses to constituent concerns, and actively pursue education and knowledge, and embrace best practices.”

They also pledge to practice openness and transparency in their decisions and actions, and strive for compliance with all state and federal statutory requirements, as well as refuse to participate in any decisions or activities for personal gain, at the expense of the best interests of the township. They also will continue their practice of treating all persons with dignity, respect and impartiality, without prejudice or discrimination.

Township treasurer Dan Devine questioned the line about “striving for compliance with all state and federal statutory requirements, when some laws are unreasonable for local governments.”

Savoie and township clerk Jan Roncelli pointed out that “strive” was the key word. “It means you are trying to comply,” Savoie said.

The trustees voted 6-0, with trustee Dave Buckley absent.

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t's a rare occurrence for an American to be asked to create a legendary Ferrari sports car. Birmingham High School graduate Tom Tjaarda has designed two.

“That was a unique experience,” Tjaarda said from his design studio in Turin, Italy, where he has lived for the past half-century since leaving Birmingham. “I never knew Enzo Ferrari directly, but I saw him come in the office. One time I saw him, I had designed the (330 GT 2+2 Pininfarina) and he thought it was too American looking. It had four head lights. It took him four months to digest it. I later found out he actually drove it himself for his own car for a year-and-a-half.”

Tjaarda left Michigan for Italy in 1959 and became one of the most prolific automobile stylists of the post-war era while working for Ghia, Pininfarina and De Tomaso. Some of his 80 or more creations include the Fiat 124 Pininfarina Spider, De Tomaso Pantera, Ferrari 330 GT 2+2, Ferrari 365 GT California Spider, the Shelby Series II, the Spider Innocenti 950, the Tjaarda Mustang GT special and others.

Today, Tjaarda owns his own design company and is working on new projects. He is now practicing industrial design for a company in China, creating lamps and other everyday items.

“The transition isn't that difficult,” he said. “Cars were easy for me because of my father, but anything regarding design always came easy to me. Every project you have in front of you, you have to analyze what the priorities are.”

Tjaarda's father, John Tjaarda, was a product and auto designer best known for developing the 1936 Lincoln-Zephyr and creating the first

unibody design for a car. But it was architecture Tom originally pursued while attending the University of Michigan. An industrial design course and professor who pushed him to perfect his first automobile creation changed those plans and helped land him his first job at Ghia directly out of college.

While Tjaarda doesn't make it back to the Detroit area very often from Turin, he clearly remembers the last time he visited his old high school, now named Seaholm High School, and his experience at the Woodward Dream Cruise.

“I stumbled onto it by chance, about 10 years ago,” Tjaarda said. “I saw all these cars, and I saw a guy with a De Tomaso Pantera, and he recognized me. We started talking and he asked me to drive with him and take a cruise down Woodward – it sounded like something we did in high school.”

“When I buy car, I drive it for practical use,” Tjaarda said of his Fiat Croma SUV. As for the future of design, he said the process is much different today than many years ago. Looking at the similarities in designs from manufacturers throughout the world, Tjaarda said traits that were once unique to America, Europe or Asia are being shared universally.

“Back in the 1960's, there was a very big difference,” he said. “The United States had these huge cars, and in Europe they were smaller and more elegant. Now it's a little different because of globalization. There are more international designs all over. Now they're driving big American cars all over, and the ones in America are getting smaller.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Vaile Shelton

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5575 SHADOW LN BLOOMFIELD HILLS Spectacular acre lot on Gilbert Lake.Large eat-in kitchen w/granite counters & center island. Elevated deck and finished walkout lower level. Bloomfield schools. $1,399,900

137 DOURDAN BLOOMFIELD HILLS Home to be built. An exclusive development of million dollar plus homes. 5 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 1st floor master, 3 car garage. $1,199,000

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CHRIS PERO Associate Broker

248.797.0784 CELL cgpero@yahoo.com

For additional information and pictures, visit www.chrispero.com

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Bloomfield Hills $3,899,900

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History, grace and beauty joined forces in 1924 resulting in a classic yet refined home. Many updates and amenities. 11,000 square feet English Tudor Estate on 3 acres. Superb detailed workmanship throughout. Spare no expense kitchen by The Kennebec Company. Wolf and AGA stoves, Sub-Zero's and custom butcher block island. Private hilltop setting overlooking a gunite pool. Spa with endless pool, seven fireplaces, superb tranquil gardens. Master retreat, three en suites, six bedrooms with 7 fireplaces. Superb views. Four car garage. 213059957

Custom family home in Quarton Lake. Kitchen with Woodmode cabinets, walk-in pantry, wet bar, Sub-Zero appliances, thermador and granite. Wonderful family room with builtins and fieldstone fireplace over looking backyard. Hardwood floors and new carpet.

Stunning entry foyer overlooking two story winding staircase and back staircase. Great first floor laundry/mudroom. Huge Master Suite with his/hers walk-in closets and custom cabinets. Plus four large Bedrooms with three full baths. Pella windows. Extensive use of crown moldings and wainscot. Finished Basement. Three car garage. 213067332

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Bloomfield Hills $1,725,000 Stunning classic Tobocman Contemporary on over one acre in Bloomfield Hills. 6035 square foot of space with impeccable grounds and gorgeous views. Master suite with view to lovely in-ground pool. Three ensuites and huge great room with studio-ceiling, clerestory windows, wall of glass and overflowing natural light at all times. Huge, modern kitchen with Sub-Zero and Bosch appliances, granite counters, lots of custom cabinets. Fabulous lower level party or media room. Four car garage. 213067316

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248.709.9119 415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

FACES

Erica May

A

s the soon-to-be wife of Detroit Tiger's pitcher Max Scherzer, Erica May admits she subscribes to some odd or irrational superstitious beliefs.

“Superstitions? I have a lot, especially being a pitcher myself,” said the 27-year-old Colorado native who spends stretches of the baseball season in Birmingham. “There are actually studies that show they can cause an increase in the level of play among players.”

While Scherzer has his own secret superstitions that may or may not be contributing to his exceptional pitching season, May said there are some superstitions that she and many of the players' wives follow without question.

“Anything you do that might have changed the energy – like if you get up and leave your seats and they start going on a scoring streak – don't come back. That should go for all the fans,” she joked.

Speaking from the couple's home in Scottsdale, Arizona, May was removed from the attention surrounding Scherzer and his record-setting season with the Detroit Tigers; in August, the Missouri native became the first player in the club's history to start the season with a 18-1 record. The couple will celebrate another first on November 23, when they plan to wed after eight years of dating.

“People want to take photos more and ask for autographs more,” May said of the attention Scherzer receives in Detroit and Birmingham, where she often drags him out for veggie burgers at Toast and Luxe. “That's from having a better season, but it's also being in a city longer. The other nice thing with being with the team for several years, is you can take more of a front seat role in the community.”

The attention allows May and Scherzer to contribute to the community in special ways, such as creating “Scherzer's Superstars,” which the couple launched in conjunction with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Metropolitan Detroit to host young people and their mentors at Tigers games each week.

May also has been working with the Tigers organization to promote wildlife awareness and endangered species, an issue she has been involved with since she was young. Last year, May worked with the organization to partner with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create a “Save the Vanishing Species” stamp, which has generated more than $2.1 million to support conservation of endangered species. May, who while volunteering at the Phoenix Zoo learned about the Detroit Tigers “Pennies for Paws” program, a coin collection campaign at Comerica Park to benefit endangered tigers, worked with the team to take efforts to the next level.

Scherzer's support for the cause has led to a series of public service announcements that will be airing this month, as well as efforts to educate his teammates.

“He wants to educate them and let them know what's going on,” May said.

“I think a lot of people know tigers are endangered, but not the true extent of the issue. Maybe they don't know that only six percent of captive tigers are owned by zoos, and the rest are in someone's basement or garage.

“There's a misconception in our society that having these pets is exotic or it's cool. It isn't,” she said. “They don't belong in someone's home. People aren't equipped to take care of them and they are going to end up in someone's basement or end up being put down.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Mark Cunningham

Brian Dimmer DEDICATED & DETERMINED

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248.396.6733 415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

FACES

Mary Muller

M

ary Muller's artistic talent was apparent at an early age. “I was interested in art all my life,” said the former Bloomfield Hills resident.

“I used to draw all the time, and I took all the art classes that I could. My fifth-grade teacher told my mother, 'make sure she gets all the art she wants, because she has an ability.'”

While her elders encouraged Muller's ability during her school years, her passion for art continued long after graduating in 1952 from Bloomfield Hills High School in a class of only 24 students. More than six decades later, her drive hasn't slowed. She now teaches realism painting to about 70 students per week at her studio in Des Moines, Iowa, where she has been commissioned throughout her career to paint portraits of the state's governor, several supreme court justices, university officials and hundreds of others. Muller also produced a set of DVDs to help people learn basic drawing, as well as original works of art.

As a teacher, Muller has gone beyond the studio. In 2004, she began teaching art lessons at the Iowa Correctional Institute for Women in Mitchellville, Iowa, where she started the Inmate Art Program.

“What I really enjoy doing is making good artists out of people,” she said. “It wasn't easy in prison.”

Although it takes years to make a career, Muller hoped that time served by the inmates could be spent partially learning a craft that might provide income in the future. Likewise, she said there's no doubt providing a creative outlet to inmates might help improve self image, confidence and

positive changes in their lives. The program, Muller said, helped to provide some of the tools the women might find inaccessible to them most of the time. Muller, through the program, supplies art supplies on her own, and with the help of donations. Student works are also sold at Muller's website and at the county courthouse. Proceeds are used to help pay for art materials.

“As an artist, you have to find your own material to paint,” she said. “I don't teach how to come up with that. I use a lot of photos in my work. I shoot landscapes and people. They don't have that ability (in prison).”

Muller's formal art education started after she left Michigan and attended the Principia College in Elsah, Illinois, where she graduated with a degree in studio art. Marriage and family life took her to Des Moines, where she studied under Dimitar Krustev and began teaching art to bring in extra income. She also studied with well-known portrait painter Robert Brackman. She drew more than 1,000 charcoal sketches for people at fairs and malls.

“I found most people are not as good looking as they see in the portrait when they get done,” she said. “The things people don't like about themselves, like someone with a bald head, you wouldn't put a black background behind them, so you pose people so their best features are apparent. Many people have things they want expressed in a portrait, so you know what they want and work with it. I like to take about 50 photos of people and work with those.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Sam Buckton

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DOWNTOWN

09.13

FACES

Kelly Rogers Victor

K

elly Rogers Victor is a philosophy professor who has examined the mind-body connection for years. Only after taking a special interest in her own nutrition did the two come together outside the classroom in a harmonious concept.

Victor, who lives in Bloomfield Village with her husband David and four children, said she was having issues with infertility and began looking at the foods she was putting into her body. When her plans for a family came to fruition, she put her academic career on hold to focus on it. Now, Victor is bringing all of her experiences together in a blog, www.kaleandkant.com.

“You want to think about what you are saying, what you're doing, and also what foods you are putting in your mouth,” she said, “in order to look at how you are treating your body and how you are respecting yourself. All of that really comes together here.”

Named for kale, the green leafy vegetable that's considered one of the healthiest foods in the world, and influential German philosopher Immanuel Kant, Victor uses the blog to share everything from philosophy, parenting, nutrition and recipes, to help others.

“Really, it's just all my thoughts about all the stuff I'm interested in, which is whatever I'm thinking about that day or week,” Rogers said. “I jot down information and share it with whoever might care to read or learn about it.”

While the writings may sound scattered by the basic explanation, Victor is able to pinpoint the universal meaning to some of the everyday occurrences common to our domestic lives.

“We are given the tools of rationality and thought, and a successful life has to be guided by these tools. They are what make us human and are what can lead to our fulfillness,” Victor said. “I'm not saying that is all there is to happiness, but taking time to think through and reflect on the meaning of things and the implication of things, you really clarify a lot of things to yourself, and I think it really does make you a happier and better adjusted person.”

To better adapt to her newfound role of offering nutrition advice, Victor is working to complete her certification as a health coach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. She uses philosophy to help others lead an examined life, which encompasses wellness of body, mind and spirit.

If the unexamined life isn't worth living, as Socrates suggested, then Victor's blog is a goldmine for anyone looking to dig deeper than the surface meaning of our experiences. And while Victor holds a PhD in philosophy from Columbia University, readers won't need one themselves to relate to her writings.

“Philosophy is for everyone,” Victor said. “I don't view it as an abstract, etherial subject that's detached from the world we live in and detached from reality. When I was in graduate school and getting my doctorate in philosophy, people would just be completely bewildered; 'what in the world could you possibly use that information for?' I've always felt that's it's relevant and really makes a difference to your everyday living, that you're thinking things through in a careful way, and it really does apply to your life.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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BUSINESS MATTERS Dance Academy moves

Art gallery expands

Lucy Date and her staff of four other dance teachers are moving the Dance Academy of Bloomfield Hills from its current location at 43243 Woodward to a larger location at 42727 Woodward in Bloomfield Township. The academy, which celebrates its 10-year anniversary this month, is scheduled to open for classes again on September 5, Date said.

“It’s a larger space with better visibility on Woodward,” she said of the 3,000 square foot building, which features three dance rooms, new hardwood floors, carpeting, mirrors and a 500 square foot lobby. “We are really happy to have been able to have found it. I always wanted to get a more visible space.”

Date opened the Bloomfield Hills Dance Academy in September 2003, holds teacher certification through the Cecchetti Council of America and has taught dance for 26 years. The academy offers classes in ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop dance, as well as musical theatre and pre-school classes. “We have been fortunate in the economy,” Date said about the longevity of the studio. “We have maintained a great group of customers and have a great teaching staff. We are still offering what we have done for 10 years, but at a larger, better facility.”

An 1,100 square-foot extension to the Wasserman Project art gallery, 2163 Cole Street, in Birmingham’s Rail District, will open September 21, with an exhibit by New York painter Joshua Abelow. The added space, which will be called “Wprocess,” will be dedicated to featuring the work of younger and emerging artists, as well as large-scale non-commercial installations, Darlene Carrol, director for the Wasserman Projects said. The addition, which was formerly space utilized by Arkitektura In Situ, at 2131 Cole, will bring the total space of the gallery to just under 4,000 square feet.

New owners same store New owners of the Birmingham children’s boutique, The Purple Bear, 244 E. Maple, are keeping the children’s store’s name, website and Facebook page after taking over the popular shop in August. Patience Wright, who opened the children’s lifestyle boutique a decade ago, said in August that she sold the shop and new owners would maintain it in the same fashion. “I sold the store to a national brand,” she said. “They bought the name, the intellectual property rights and will be doing the website and Facebook, so it will be a similar store. They are keeping the name and logo.” Wright said she her last day operating the store was August 4. The boutique stocks infant and kid’s wear, along with toys, artwork and books. downtownpublications.com

Neurobehavioral center A Brain Balance Achievement Center office has moved into the former Lido Gallery location at 3353 Woodward in Birmingham. The center offers a specialized “Brain Balance Program,” which is an individualized, non-medical approach to helping children with neurobehavioral and learning difficulties. The center is one of 54 national franchise locations that work with children with ADD/ADHD, dyslexia and Asperger’s. The center fills the space of the former Lido Gallery, which closed in July after 35 years of business.

New realty office A new satellite location of Liberty Way Realty has opened at 801 South Adams in Birmingham,which will allow agents to meet clients from the Birmingham/Bloomfield area at more centralized location. Headquartered in Lake Orion, Liberty Way Realty services all of Oakland County and now has two office locations in the county, as well as an office in Grand Blanc. Eight agents will share the two Oakland County offices.

Dentist joins group Legacy Dental Group, 950 S. Old Woodward, increased its team of dentists to four in July with the addition of Dr. Steven Grabiel, who joined doctors Jeffrey Grabiel, John Mills and Ralph Wilkie. Steven Grabiel, a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, is available Tuesday through Saturday, with extended late hours two days per week. The dental group has been offering restorative, cosmetic and family dentistry at the Birmingham location since 1989.

Dr. Steven Grabiel is a member of the American Dental Association, the Michigan Dental Association, the Oakland County Dental Society and the

Young Dentists of Oakland County Dental Society. He also provides general dentistry at community clinics in the state and has done dental mission work in Panama.

Antique store moves Items at Merwin’s Antique Gallery were coming off the shelves in August as the business moved from it’s former location at 558 N. Old Woodward in Birmingham to a new shop a few doors down at 554 N. Old Woodward. The shop, which buys and sells antiques and conducts estate sales, closed for the move and was slated to reopen at the new location by mid-August.

Credit union in downtown Vibe Credit Union will be opening a Birmingham branch location in early September at 163 W. Maple in downtown Birmingham. Tyler Ross, chief marketing director for the credit union, said a date of September 9 has been targeted for the opening. “We are waiting for the interior to be finished,” Ross said. The credit union, which has locations in Berkley, Novi and Southfield, is expanding to Birmingham, Royal Oak and Sterling Heights this year.

Clothier closes Men’s clothing boutique Maple, inside Complex at 168 W. Maple in downtown Birmingham, closed last month after operating at the location for a year-and-a-half. Brandon Schram, who opened and operated the store with business partner Brad Friedman, said new opportunities and a lack of available time to properly operate the store brought the decision to close. “It’s not that we couldn’t keep it going, but we couldn’t divide our time up enough to keep it going,” Schram said. Despite closing the store, the long-time friends plan to continue the line in the future and offer the line at other stores. “It’s unfortunate,” Schram said about the closing, “but there are other opportunities that came into our lives.”

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DOWNTOWN

113

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

WHITE LAKE

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

STERLING HEIGHTS

Beautiful 4 bedroom 2.2 bath Colonial on private street. Ceramic foyer, spacious living and dining room, finished basement. Circular driveway.

213055721. $199,000

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

Full finished walk out basement.

213075660. $91,500

Updated eat in kitchen and quartz counter tops, freshly painted, refinished hardwood floors, cork floor in great room.

Non-motorized lake.

213053447. $749,000

Large recently remodeled eat in kitchen w/plenty of oak cabinets, 2 pantries, all appliances included. Oak hardwood floors in living room. 213080128. $90,000

PONTIAC

WEST BLOOMFIELD

PONTIAC

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

Pristine condition & terrific location.

Updated throughout. Updated roof and furnace, newer flooring. 213084317. $129,900

Exceptional Quad level home on magnificent 1/2 acre. Large rooms, cathedral ceiling, extensive hardwood flooring. 213069641. $249,900

Well maintained ranch sits on 3 lots with 2 detached garages for a total of 3 cars.

Clean, well kept with an open floor plan.

213082263. $52,900

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

This is a must see! 213075016. $499,900

OAK PARK

MACOMB TWP

BLOOMFIELD TWP

ST CLAIR SHORES

Lovely well built home offers large living room, dining area, enclosed porch and finished basement. 213079516. $64,900

Horse lover's paradise! Live the way you always dreamed in this sprawling 3 bedroom, 2 full bath ranch with corrals, stables & 8 acres of field and meadow for your horses. 213065373. $349,900

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

Fieldstone fireplace, finished basement.

213066857. $429,900

Completely remodeled in 2010. Newer kitchen w/cherry wood cabinets and granite counters, windows throughout, updated baths and refinished hardwood floors. 213069235. $180,000

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SOUTHFIELD

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

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

213035549. $79,900

Spectacular custom built home in Bloomfield Hills. Two story foyer, winding staircase, bridge overlooking huge marble foyer & family room. Cherry wood floors, granite, crown moldings. 213077432. $1,479,000

WATERFORD TWP

BIRMINGHAM

ROYAL OAK

Stunning Waterford ranch. Nestled on over 1/2 acre fenced lot offering barn with loft. Home features hardwood floors, prof. remodeled kitchen. 6 car capacity pole barn. 213054994. $149,900

abulous move in condition, totally renovated condo in downtown Birmingham! Beautiful south/west view, private balcony. Gorgeous granite kitchen. 213075496. $149,900

Move in ready 3 bedroom Royal Oak ranch. Newer roof, furnace & H2O tank. Formal living room boasts fireplace & hardwood floors. Sellers ready to sell-bring an offer!

213050995. $199,000

RELOCATION SERVICES 1-888-21-HOMES FARMINGTON HILLS

RELOCATING?

FERNDALE

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

Kitchen open to nice family room with fireplace. 213061535. $189,000

OUR RELOCATION DEPARTMENT

Cute little house that needs some love. retro kitchen, hardwood floors, nice newer cement driveway with plenty of parking space. Garage and fenced yard. 213078300. $59,900

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

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

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WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

FARMINGTON HILLS

SOUTHFIELD

FRASER

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

213040439. $250,000

Rare custom home in Dutchman Farms!

Unparalleled quality throughout this 2990 sq ft home. This home is immaculate, neutral and ready to move into. 213078449. $320,000

This is the one! Contemporary colonial in Robert Estates Sub. Cathedral ceilings, newer roof, furnace & water tank. 3.5 car garage.. 213035115. $139,900

Nice solid brick home. Lots of curb appeal. Nice covered porch on back. 3 good sized bedrooms and bath and a half. 213079152. $94,900

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

ORCHARD LAKE

WHITE LAKE

DEARBORN

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

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

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

Unique quad home looking for new owners. Lovely family room & finished bsmt. Large master. 2.5 car garage.

213057677. $134,900

Large two story home, 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, partially finished basement. Large front porch. 213055720. $100,000

WEST BLOOMFIELD

OCEOLA TWP

DETROIT

ROYAL OAK

This home shows pride of ownership.

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

213039710. $385,000

Walk out to nature from this amazing culde-sac home. Large 4 bdrm with entertainers island kitchen, formal dining room and living room, dual access fireplace.

Premium lot.

213069971. $324,900

Quality brick home, large rooms, two car garage. Land contract terms available.

213017082. $59,500

First time home buyer special.

Remodeled kitchen with new cabinets and ceramic floor, recently refinished hardwood floors in living room and bedrooms, recently painted. Remodeled bathroom. 213059698. $115,000

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

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

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

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

NOVI

FARMINGTON

BIRMINGHAM

3 Story town home features 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths in great Novi location. Bright & airy unit, 9' ceilings on main level. Kitchen has doorwall to private balcony. Complex has pool and clubhouse. Private entry.

213077125. $168,000

Nicely maintained brick ranch w brand new roof. Remodeled kitchen with maple cabinets, tons of counter space. Newer furnace & central air.

213053253. $139,900

Unique and high quality custom built home in 2009. Bonus room above garage is 400 sq ft.. Outstanding interior design. 213055625. $539,000

BIRMINGHAM

FARMINGTON HILLS

WHITE LAKE

Two heating systems, wired for networking and surround sound system.

Basement plumbing prepared for wet bar, additional laundry and storage.

213072123. $859,000

Lovely updated Westbrooke Manor colonial. Maple kitchen with granite counters & ceramic floor. Newer furnace & central air. Updated baths.

Neutral carpet thru out. 2 car attached garage.

213070763. $230,000

Quality built brick ranch with main lake frontage. Enjoy all sports Tull Lake. Full walkout lower level. Extensive decking.

213042820. $295,000

RELOCATION SERVICES 1-888-21-HOMES FARMINGTON HILLS

RELOCATING?

BIRMINGHAM

The Mark Arnold house was built in 1837. It is of Greek Revival Architecture and a designated historic resource. Well executed restoration features. Needs finishing. 213050079. $109,900

OUR RELOCATION DEPARTMENT

Character, charm & modernization.

Kitchen overlooks great room w/volume ceiling, gas fireplace and sky lights. Exquisite living & dining rooms. 213063868. $569,900

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

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

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Harvest Festival Sunday, Sept. 15

EVERY SUNDAY thru 0$50#&3 t 9am–3pm

End of Season Celebration

Located on N. Old Woodward just north of Booth Park

Sunday, Oct. 20

BIRMINGHAM

Now O Until 3 pen p.m.

Fresh Cut Flowers t Produce t Organics t Baked Goods t Kids Crafts t Prepared Foods Live Entertainment t Annuals & Perennials BirminghamFarmersMarket.org

118

DOWNTOWN

09.13

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

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

248.645.2150.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.865.9300.

Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.792.3579 Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42805 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Township, 48304. 248.499.6867.

Beau Jacks: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday; Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.626.2630.

Bella Piatti: Italian. Lunch & Dinner,

Tuesday-Saturday.

Reservations.

Liquor.

167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

Beyond Juice: Contemporary. Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

No reservations. 270 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.7078.

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

Reservations. Liquor. 245 South Eaton Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.647.7774.

Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8880.

Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.645.6879.

Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.258.6690.

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

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

248.642.4000.

Cafe Via: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 310 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.8800 Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115

The Birmingham/Bloomfield area is home to discriminating diners and an array of dining establishments.

SEAFOOD SPIRITS STREETSIDE

“Neighborhood Favorite” - Zagat

Award of Excellence 2012 - Wine Spectator Magazine

273 PIERCE IN DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM | 248.645.9123 S t r e e t s i d e S e a f o o d . c o m

Outdoor patio now open!

Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.723.1700.

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

248.758.1221.

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

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

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

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

248.540.7220.

Commonwealth: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.9766.

Cosi: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 101 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.9200.

Deli Unique of Bloomfield Hills: Deli.

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

248.646.7923.

Dick O’Dow’s: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.642.1135.

Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Alcohol. Reservations. 37000

Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 176 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.9888.

Also 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.258.9939.

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

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

Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli.

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

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American.

Dinner, daily.

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

Forest Grill: American. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.258.9400.

Fox Grill: American. Lunch, Monday through Friday; Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304. 248.792.6109.

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DOWNTOWN

119

FOCUS ON WINE Hess Family Estates from around the world

By Eleanor and Ray Heald

D

onald Hess was 20 years old when his father died in 1955 and left him with a run-down Swiss brewery.

Confident of his entrepreneurial talents, he revitalized the business and by 1968 sold it for $48 million.

Hess possessed an incredible ability for finding water using a special pendulum devise. He used his talent in the Swiss mountains to discover a high altitude source of mineral water. He then used the beer profits to start Valser Wasser and turn it into an enormously profitable company, eventually producing 130 million liters of mineral water annually.

In an effort to expand his water business in the United States, he traveled to Napa Valley to purchase a water company. That effort failed, but on the trip he discovered California wine and it inspired the idea for another beverage investment.

His high altitude experience in Switzerland attracted him to potential vineyard land on Mt. Veeder in the Mayacamas Range of eastern Napa Valley. It didn’t hurt that land prices in 1978 were very cheap compared to today. His first entry into the wine business became The Hess Collection.

Today, Hess Family Estates includes eight wineries on four continents: Glen Carlou, South Africa; Peter Lehman, Australia; Amalaya and Colomé, Argentina; Hess Collection, Artezin, MacPhail, and Sequana, California.

Hess also knows how to hire bright, talented winemakers. We had the opportunity to visit with Randle Johnson, winemaker at Colomé and Artezin. It is obvious that Johnson loves making and drinking zinfandel, one of our favorite red wines. His preferred California region for growing the variety is Mendocino County’s Ukiah Valley because it features warm days, cool nights and the soil is well drained. After fermentation he ages the wine in seasoned French oak barrels to delicately spice the wine without overpowering fruit character.

Zinny zin Johnson’s idea of classic zinfandel highlights, “moderate alcohol in a wine that is red fruit driven with a bright aroma profile and flavors of raspberry, cranberry, boysenberry, loganberry, black pepper, nutmeg and currants.” This is what he calls a “zinny zin.”

Johnson also makes a Mendocino County petite sirah and explains, “Petite sirah was not successful in the Rhone because the compact grape clusters held rain water and therefore developed botrytis and mildew, but

Fuddrucker’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Beer & wine.

42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.333.2400.

Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek.

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

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American. Liquor. Dinner, TuesdayFriday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. 575 S. Eton Street, 120

it was very successful in Napa Valley’s dry climate.”

At Artezin, Johnson also makes small lot wines from heritage varieties like mourvedre, charbono, carignan and verdelho. You can get these wines shipped to you. Just Google Artezin.

Johnson travels to South America to make wines at Colomé and Amalaya, sister brands located in the Salta region of northwest Argentina, bordered by Chile and Bolivia. He explains, “The vineyards are some of the highest in the world starting at 5500 ft. and going up to 9500 ft. elevation. We grow and produce wines from torrontes (Toron-TEZ) and malbec grape varieties.

Torrontes is a genetic cross between the mission grape and muscat of Alexandria which explains the exhuberant aroma profile in the wines.”

Hess Family Wines not to miss Amalaya White 2012 $12. A blend of 85 percent torrontes and 15 percent riesling is very floral, fresh and crisp.

A great aperitif.

Colomé Torrontes 2011 $15. Intense floral aroma.

Amalaya Malbec Blend 2011 $18. Raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate notes in a light red wine great with burgers.

Colomé Estate Malbec 2010 $30. The great red variety of Argentina.

Artezin Zinfandel 2011 $18. A zinny zin.

Artezin Petite Sirah 2010 $25. Big flavors in a drinkable version.

Best of the best late summer wine picks Château Miraval Cotes de Provence Rosé $30, is a blend of cinsault, grenache, syrah and rolle (vermentino). Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt own Château Miraval, a 1,200-acre estate with 150 acres of organic vineyards. The Perrin family of Château de Beaucastel in Châteauneuf-du-Pape produced the wine for Jolie-Pitt.

2011 Davis Bynum Russian River Chardonnay $30 2011 Robert Mondavi Napa Valley Fumé Blanc $32 2012 J Vineyards Pinot Gris $15 2012 Beckmen Purisima Mountain Grenache Rosé $18 2011 Gallo Signature Santa Lucia Pinot Noir $35 2011 Talbott Logan Pinot Noir $25 2011 Patz & Hall Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir $45 2010 Gallo Signature Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon $40 2011 XYZin $16 – superb value Eleanor & Ray Heald have contributed to numerous international publications including the Quarterly Review of Wines. Contact them by e-mail at focusonwine@aol.com.

Birmingham. 248.712.4050.

Hogan’s Restaurant: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

6450 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.1800.

Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American.

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

248.203.9111.

Hunter House Hamburgers: American.

Breakfast, Monday-Saturday; Lunch &

Dinner, daily. No reservations. 35075 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.7121.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4369.

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

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

DOWNTOWN

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

248.333.1166.

La Marsa: Mediterranean. Lunch & dinner daily. Reservations. 43259 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.5800.

Leo’s Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.9707. Also 6527 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.646.8568.

Little Daddy’s Parthenon: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.647.3400.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing. No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.6051.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.3663.

Mountain King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 469 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2913.

New Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai.

Breakfast, Monday-Thursday; Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. No reservations. 183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.2181.

Northern Lakes Seafood Co.: Seafood.

Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 39495 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7900.

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

Original Pancake House: American.

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

248.642.5775.

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

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

248.253.9877.

Peabody’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.5222.

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

Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.3122.

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

Qdoba: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 795 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.988.8941.

Also 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304. 248.874.1876 Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270.

Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & 09.13

Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.8977.

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

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

Stacked Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Delivery available.

No reservations. 233 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.5300.

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

248.932.0800.

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

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

248.645.9123.

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

Reservations. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.333.3887.

Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009.

248.258.9830.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

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

248.731.7066.

The Corner Bar: American. Dinner.

Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations.

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

The Gallery Restaurant: American.

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

248.851.0313.

The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688.

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

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

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

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

248.258.6278.

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

248.593.7881.

Townhouse: American.

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

248.792.5241.

Village Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

653 S. Adams.

Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.7964.

What Crepe?: French. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Breakfast & Lunch, Sunday. No reservations. 172 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5634.

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

248.566.3566

AT THE TABLE Eddie Merlot’s – a distinctly different steakhouse

By Eleanor Heald

N

Singleton credits him as “having the ability to mold the menu to his artistry” and assures that “he has the push to be perfect” as the leader of anywhere from 12 to 15 cooks on the busiest of evenings.

Add the Lounge Menu to main offerings and it seems the selections are endless, from an array of charcuterie, $4 average, through flatbreads, burgers and sandwiches, $6-$12.

ame a top chef. How about Mario Batali? He has a Las Vegas steakhouse, Carnevino Italian Steakhouse, with a distinctly regional theme. Yet, when steakhouses began their meteoric rise last century, parMore than beef ticularly in major U.S. cities, a theme was almost secThe 22-oz prime bone-in ribeye steak, $59, is the most ondary to the atmosphere, best described as clubby. popular. Chef Strabbing suggests ordering it with a gorRed leather banquettes gonzola and bacon crust and dark wood trim added with a side of caramelized elegance that was highbrussels sprouts and lighted by white tablecrispy diced bacon, $10. cloths and napkins, highTake Singleton’s suggesend china and well-poltion and pair it with a ished glassware. Server glass of 2010 Stag’s Leap dress code was a tuxedo.

Wine Cellars Hands of Steaks were (and still Time, $17, or any personal are) the finest prime beef. choice from the wellA variety of classic potato priced wine list. accompaniments ranged If you enjoy seafood, from an enormous one try the Seared (U-10) Sea pound baked potato to a Scallops with orange ginhouse-style Pommes ger vinaigrette, appropriAnna. Wines were and ately plate garnished, $32. continue to be top-of-theThere’s more, so line cabernets. The bar much more, but you can featured large, shaken, discover the myriad not stirred, martinis. options by making a table Prime Bone-In Ribeye Steak. Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent So, when I write booking. “steakhouse,” you probably have in mind some of the same concepts I’ve mentioned. In the Downtown area, Eddie Merlot’s, 37000 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills we have a plethora of steakhouses. Diners can choose 248.712.4095. Hours: Monday-Thursday 5-10 p.m. them for the variety of cuts, length of aging or general Until 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Sunday 5-9 p.m. atmosphere, including the lounge and bar area, which Lounge open one hour before and one hour after dining grow more handsome as new spots open. One, however, room hours. Parking on premise. is distinctly different. That’s Eddie Merlot’s.

QUICK BITES September promises to be a month of foodie delights.

Expectations Congratulations to proprietor Bill Roberts, who celeYet, if we expect one thing, it’s a cooked-to-order brates a 30th anniversary at Birmingham’s Streetside steak because all other trappings aside, it’s all about the Seafood (273 Pierce Street). He purchased the location as steak and how the diner expects that it’s served. One Richard & Reiss and brought it to prominence as the rule: if it’s not as ordered, request that it be taken back area’s most notable seafood house. to the kitchen – no excuses honored.

Mex (6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township), is Steakhouses in major cities have well-trained waitgoing full tilt, after its opening late last month. Zack staff. General manager Steve Singleton says, “excellent Sklar, executive chef/owner of Birmingham’s popular service is part of the overall Eddie Merlot’s feel – and is Social Kitchen, takes diner’s palates on a trip to experijust as important as the steak experience itself. Service ence true Mexican flavors in his newest venue. Food is must be top-notch with the highest level of attention to authentic, made in house Mexican, with unexpected detail.” twists in a fun menu.

Main dishes $12-$16.

In addition to beef, today’s steakhouse generally A trip to Wolverine Lake (1403 South Commerce) offers a varied lounge menu, fresh seafood and a variety brings you to C.A.Y.A Smokehouse Grill, the new kitchen of sides to accompany the house signature cuts. Eddie of chef Jeff Rose, late of Birmingham’s Toast. His casual, Merlot’s offers a lot more. yet sophisticated menu includes dishes we like to eat – fresh seafood, mussels, steaks and chops.

Eddie Merlot’s At month’s end, The Stand (34977 Woodward, Ste Several factors create the “distinctly different” 100, Birmingham), featuring the inventive food of executive chef-partner Paul Grosz (also owner of Cuisine in moniker. It starts at the front entrance and continues Detroit), opens under the descriptor “Modern Eurointo the ultra-modern dining room, bar-lounge and private dining areas. Vibrant colors, stained glass, high-end American Bistro.” Main dishes will run $18-$35. Bar menu is small plates at $7-$12 average. fabrics from floor to table tops add a note of distinction.

Eleanor Heald is a nationally published writer who also writes That is formally enhanced by orders delivered from the wine column in a double byline with her husband Ray for the kitchen under the direction of Executive Chef, 29Downtown. Suggestions for Quick Bites section can be e-mailed year-old, talented and well-spoken Matt Strabbing. to QuickBites@downtownpublications.com.

A

rtfully uniting extraordinary properties with extraordinary lives.

SKBK SOTHEBY’S INTERNATIONAL REALTY

WELCOMES

Lisa LaBelle

I transitioned into real estate in early 2012 after a successful twenty year career in radio advertising, marketing and management. My passion is crafting campaigns that work with technology today. I joined SKBK Sotheby's because I recognized in them these same traits I value as the keys to my success.

llabelle@skbk.com

248.470.0474 415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

THE COMMUNITY HOUSE TCH: A Model For Others The focus on Detroit to make it financially sound is critical to all of us. Individuals, corporations and taxpayers are putting money into businesses, cultural entities and educational excellence to make Detroit a destination city. Investing in the right entities will help make Detroit a great place to work and live, thus raising the value of the area.

Why am I writing about this? Not only because I, too, care about the rebuilding of Detroit, but because we have a very successful and unique model for driving people into a downtown, and contributing significantly to building and sustaining a vibrant community right here in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area – and it’s a nonprofit called The Community House.

Here’s TCH’s unique model that has been helping our community for 90 years: 1. Provide a nonprofit whose mission is to be the Camille Jayne educational, cultural and wellness gathering hub for the area’s families and business professionals; 2. Offer classes, programs, youth theatre, camps, and social spaces that are open for any child, adult or senior citizen to partake of at modest market prices; 3. Showcase Michigan artists and vendors through art shows, music concerts, and food festivals to attract people from the surrounding zip codes to come into the city; 4. Provide a free venue to the public to hear civic speakers – such as L. Brooks Patterson (coming November 19th) - as well as free seminars on financial, legal and/or health topics; 5. Do this to bring in 200,000 people a year through our doors, who then shop and eat in town, providing a constant flow of people that help keep the retail establishments thriving; 6. Raise money to provide classes, programs and venue space for people who can’t afford to pay for them, thus helping our community get stronger.

“Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel agents point out to potential home buyers that TCH is a unique community asset; and as one of the crown jewels of Birmingham is all about outstanding experiences and making a difference in people’s lives - helping those in the community who are able, as well as those who are underprivileged,” says CEO Kelly Sweeney.

Addison Township | $899,900 Outstanding custom built Victorian on ten acres of pristine park-like setting. Two-story great room with floor to ceiling windows and stone fireplace.

Custom gourmet kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite, two islands, and top-of-the-line appliances.

Hearth room with salt water tank. Open family room with doorwall to deck overlooking pond.

Spacious master bedroom with vaulted ceilings, bay window and private deck. Fabulous finished lower level with bedroom, full bath, second kitchen and walkout. Unfinished 1,000 square feet above garage. 60x40 pole barn.

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Critically, TCH needs local people to recognize we are as valuable an asset as libraries and schools; however, unlike libraries and schools, TCH gets no support from millage or taxes. Similar to Detroit is the need for more donations, so TCH can continue being a model example of how to attract people into a city, thus allowing us to continue our mission of making our area a vibrant place to live. It’s a model that’s important to keep going.

TCH Happenings in September: • TCH Farm to Table Strolling Block Party Food Festival on Sat, Sept. 7th (4 p.m.-8 p.m.): Help sustain Michigan through growing/buying food with Michigan ingredients. We’re blocking off the streets around TCH for food booths and family fun. If it rains – no problem – we’ll take the party completely inside TCH! Sample tastings of local chefs (including certified Master Chef Daniel Hugelier) from 20 restaurants as they explain how they’ve prepared their tastings. Enjoy Michigan ales, wine and spirits. Buy Michigan ready-made sweets, coffee/tea, honey and jams. Farmers will sell their harvests. Animal balloons, glitter tattoos and live music. $25 ($10 for children under 12) includes chef’s tastings and one drink ticket.

We thank our sponsors Attorneys Title Agency, Beaumont Health Systems, ChildSafe, edible WOW, and Mills Pharmacy & Apothecary; and our media sponsors WXYZ Channel 7; 96.3 WDVD; The Detroit Free Press. Sign up today at www.tchserves.org or 248.644.5832.

• Bulletproof Your Success™ Professional Development Lecture – Wed., Sept 11th, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Streamlined Strategic Planning process for both your career and your work. Camille Jayne uses this technique successfully for every company/industry she advises. Register at: www.tchbulletproof.org.

• New Leap N Learn Dance Curriculum for pre-school children now being offered at TCH Dance Academy! Designed to introduce children to the basics of dance movement while engaging their imagination. Contact Renee Wood at reneew@tchserves.org or 248.594.6415.

Bloomfield Hills | $395,000 Exceptional Service. Outstanding Results.

Lisa Masters Realtor® 248-212-4231

lmasters@cbwm.com

294 E. Brown Street Birmingham, MI 48009

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

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene. Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted.

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

BBAC Fine Art of Summer

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BBAC Fine Art of Summer More than 100 supporters ($150-per person) of the Birmingham Bloomfield Sally Gerak Art Center sipped and supped at historic Wabeek Manor, the Tudor style home architect Albert Kahn designed for James Couzens. It is now the home of Enid and Gary Goodman, who welcomed guests in the Grand Foyer. Not only were the Goodmans gracious and friendly hosts, providing detailed room guides and inviting all to explore the entire three floors, they have been exceptional stewards of the historic treasure which had been hopelessly neglected for many years. The restoration they oversaw required far more than the three years of original construction (1924-1927). In fact, it took Enid three years simply to clean, a few pieces at a time, all the sterling and bronze hardware throughout the house. And like the Couzens, they engaged local and European artisans in the project. I’m sure the Couzens would be pleased with, for example, the formal dining room where a superb buffet was lighted by a chandelier and sconces Enid found in Murano.

But as glorious as the interior restoration is, the gardens and the pool are equally magnificent. Enid credited James Meyers of Historical Courtyards and Gardens as “a super hero” landscape designer. The project won first place in Detroit Home’s 2006 Best Pool Design. The classical features have whimsical counterpoints like a bistro table and chairs with candelabra in the shallow end of the pool and a handsomely dressed bed for poolside lounging. You can see more of the features at www.historicalcourtyards.com/residential/wabeekmansion. The al fresco setting, a popular gathering place after people toured the house, epitomized The Fine Art of Summer. Thanks to sponsors like TriMas, Patty and Ken Eisenbraun, Honigman, Fred Avery and U.S. Trust, proceeds will support the BBAC’s educational and access programming. Go to www.BBArtCenter.org for the center’s fall program schedule.

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1. Event hosts Gary (left) and Enid Goodman of Bloomfield with sponsors Annie VanGelderen, BBAC CEO, and her husband Glenn of Commerce. 2. Kevin Price (left) of Rochester Hills, Marie Marcotte of Birmingham and Linda Sutherland of Southfield looking over the buffet spread on the dining room table. 3. Caterer Anabel Cohen and Bob Michaels. 4. Susie Citrin (left) of Birmingham, Andrea and Ely Tama of Farmington Hills and Sara and Mike Frank of W. Bloomfield. 5. Kareem George (left) and Fritz Morsches of Franklin and Lynn Gandhi of Bloomfield with her husband Bharat. 6. Caterer Anabel Cohen (left) and Laura and Rich Marsolais of Bloomfield. 7. Susie Citrin (left) of Birmingham and Joyce Leban of Bloomfield.

8. Lou (left) and Ellen Demaris with Nancy and Chris Chafut of Bloomfield. 9. Malverne Reinhart (left) of Ann Arbor, Carol Breen of Birmingham and Janet Reinhart Hall of Bloomfield. 10. Lou and Ellen Demaris of Bloomfield checking out garden statue of Pan.

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ChildSafe Michigan’s Gala Celebration ChildSafe Michigan, which evolved from ChildHelp Michigan but focuses strictly on finding forever homes for Michigan children in foster care, sold out its first fundraiser (300 plus) at the Townsend. Andrea Partrich Brown and Cathy Sosnick Schwartz chaired the soiree which they dubbed Celebrities, Cards & Monte Carlo. The celebrities in attendance were athletes from Danny Sillman’s Compass Management Group. And they surely caused a lot of excitement during the VIP cocktail hour as the foster and adopted kids scrambled to get autographs and pictures taken with stars like University of Michigan quarterback Devin Gardner. We were also pleased to meet Gardner’s fiancée, who said she’ll be starting med school in the fall. Gaming tables were available for diversion before and after the program, live auction and dinner. The program featured award presentations to ChildSafe loyalists Keith Pomeroy and Doug Carey. The live auction offered one-of-a-kind experiences and trips and raised $109,000 of the $200,000 event total. Not too shabby for an inaugural effort.

Rose Hill Annual Golf Invitational Greg Schwartz chaired the 22nd annual golf Invitational fundraiser for the residential treatment center for adults with serious mental illness. It attracted 110 golfers to Bloomfield Hills Country Club. They were joined by more guests for the social hour and fine buffet dinner at which Rose Hill Center co-founder Dan Kelly thanked them for the “best ever” event net ($100,000). However, the highlight of the dinner program was the testimony by Stephen Lindsay, who entered Rose Hill in March, 2012, and is now living in a transition apartment there. “It’s been quite a journey,” he reported, adding that he had felt like running away. However, he has learned responsibility, patience, perseverance, communication and “...the courage to face my problems…I’m living proof that (RHC’s therapy) works,” he concluded. All guests took home some of the 1,400 rose bushes the RHC residents grow at the 400-acre center in Holly. BHCC valet

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chief Tony Coburn and his crack team helped load the bushes into their cars.

Stonycroft Hills Charity Golf Invitational Because the “other” country club in the city of Bloomfield Hills would like to round out its membership rooster, Ed Murphy, Robert Dempster, Robert Hill and Bruce Mansfield coordinated a golf invitational to introduce 14 media types to their beautiful nine-hole layout. They were joined by 16 SHC members who were able to explain the Chief Pontiac tree carving that guards the eighth tee. Play qualified some for a charity putting contest which Mansfield won. By virtue of being Mansfield’s playing partner for the round, WDFN’s Matt Shepard got to name the charity that would receive the $500 the club collected for the purpose. He named Oakland County Children’s Village. Membership information for the club is available at www.membermanager.net/Stonycroft Lighthouse PATH’s Salute America Salute America, which Sue Nine and Maggie Allesee originally founded to benefit a now defunct social service agency, was always patriotic in spirit. But its scheduling near Independence Day and pairing with Lighthouse PATH, which supports vulnerable families as they transition to self-sufficiency, has been a perfect match for the past 10 years.

The 215 guests (at $125 each) who gathered at Oakland Hills Country Club for the salute heard a compelling testimony from a former client.

“Ten years ago I made a total mess of my life,” confessed Priscilla Lewis.

The saga of that mess included domestic abuse, drugs, jail and the loss of her children and home. Then Lighthouse PATH, where she got counseling and parenting skills, answered her prayers. “The biggest thing I learned was how to say “No’….I thank God for PATH. It was exactly what I needed,” adding that she is now one year away from her college degree, is an intern at Lighthouse PATH, and able to give back.

Lewis received a rousing ovation, as did each of the two event honorees - Treger Strasberg, who founded the life-changing non-profit Humble Design (www.humbledesign.org), and The Village Club Foundation, which has given more than $1 million to community non-profits. In addition to downtownpublications.com

ChildSafe Michigan’s Gala Celebration

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1. Event co-chairs Andrea Partrich Brown (left) and Cathy Sosnick Schwartz of Birmingham. 2. Event cochairs Joel Brown (left) and Charlie Schwartz of Birmingham with Compass Management Group’s Jordan Dumars of Bloomfield and co-founder Danny Sillman of Birmingham. 3. Honoree Keith Pomery (left) with Cheryl and honoree Doug Carey of Bloomfield. 4. Laura (left) and Stephen Trudeau and Elizabeth Brazilian of Birmingham. 5. Susu Sosnick (left) and Marcia Nodel of Birmingham. 6. Gail Tuikkanen (left) of Birmingham, Betsy Reich of Sylvan Lake and Jennifer Hammond and her husband Brad Morton of Troy.

7. Russ Fodale (left), Vicki Cicone and Teri and Tom Spiro of Bloomfield. 8. Cassidy Ivanko (left), Caroline Geller and Claire Schwartz of Birmingham. 9. Elizabeth Brazilian (left) and her cousin Brian Manoogian of Birmingham and Brian’s mother Alice Manoogian of Bloomfield. 10. Event co-chairs Andrea Brown and Cathy Schwartz of Birmingham displaying live auction total ($109,600) Photo: Doug Ashley.

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Rose Hill Annual Golf Invitational

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1. Rose Hill Center founder Rosemary Kelly (standing right) of Bloomfield with Steve Lindsay (seated right) and his family John (left), Brian and Felicia Lindsay of Rochester.

2. Second place team: Rose Hill founder Dan Kelly (left) of Bloomfield, his daughter Mary Jo Martin of Grosse Pointe, Benny LaSala of of Troy, and Dr. Lewis Rosenbaum of W. Bloomfield. 3. First place finishers, the Walsh Team: Mike (left) of Farmington Hills, Dick of Bloomfield, Pat, holding Luke, of South Bend, IN and Dan of South Lake, TX. 4. Event sponsors Judith (left) and Ned Darin of Bloomfield and Jeannine Gundle of Farmington Hills. 5. Event chair Greg Schwartz (left) of Bloomfield with Rose Hills director Ben Robinson of Rochester. 6. Jim (left) and Brigitte McLernon of Bloomfield and BHCC valet chief Tony Coburn of Auburn Hills.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK the uplifting program, the evening also featured serious socializing, cocktails, a strolling dinner, a silent auction ($10,705), a live auction ($10,400) emceed by WOMC’s Stacey DuFord and dancing to the 1964 Redding Band. Generous sponsorship by the Bank of Birmingham and others brought the event total to $92,000.

Lighthouse PATH’s Salute America

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1. Event co-chairs Lauren Stapleton (left) of Bloomfield and Ann Godfrey Endres of Rochester Hills. 2. Honoree Humble Design co-founder Treger Strasberg (right) and her husband Rob of Birmingham, with HD COO Lindsay Krempa (center) of Royal Oak. 3. Incoming PATH president Teri Fenner of Bloomfield, Lighthouse’s Priscilla Perkins of Troy and honoree Village Club Foundation’s president Rita Margherio of Orchard Lake.

4. Becky Prior (left) of Bloomfield with sponsor Bank of Birmingham’s Rob and Laurie Farr of Beverly Hills. 5. Kathy (left) and past board chair Larry Goss of Orchard Lake and Monica and Matt Schwanitz of Bloomfield. 6. Noelle Schiffer and Andy Basile of Birmingham. 7. Linda Silvasi (left) of Bloomfield, Cheryl Hall Lindsay of W. Bloomfield and Mary Kroneman of Birmingham. 8. Janette Keramedjian (left) of Orchard Lake and Village Club president Linda Wilson of Birmingham. 9. Mark Foster of Birmingham and Mimi McCullough of Bloomfield. 10. C.J. Ghesquiere (left) of Bloomfield and David Lindsay of W. Bloomfield.

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The Parade Company’s VIP Party

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1. Kathy (left) and Parade board chair Eric Larson of Bloomfield with Parade CEO Tony Michaels and his wife Clarice of Rochester. 2. Rich and Beckie Sorensen of Bloomfield. 3. Patrick (left) and Laura Fenton with Adam Fenton and Kaitlyn Cooper of Birmingham. 4. David (left), Eli, Evan and Elyse Foltyn of Birmingham. 5. Cole (left), Roz, Luke and Scott Jacobson of Birmingham. 6. Fair Radom (left) of Bloomfield, Gerry Padilla of Grosse Pointe and Linda Orlans of Birmingham. 7. The Larson party: Dean Leventis (standing left) of Chicago, Mark VanFaussien and Parade Company chair Eric Larson of Bloomfield, Paige Larson (seated left) of Chicago, Beth and Michael Willoughby of Birmingham, Ann Robertson of Rochester, Tricia VanFaussien and Kathy Larson of Bloomfield.

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The Parade Company’s VIP Party A sold-out throng (2,000-plus at $200 per adult, $100 per 6 & under) frolicked at the Miller Garage the night Target presented the Ford Fireworks show. They entered on level 6 just below the rooftop, got their Clownie sail bag and collected goodies like Achatz pies, danced on the FirstMerit Bank dance floor and took virtual Hydro Thunder and Super Bike rides in the Blue Cross Blue Shield activity zone. The Comcast sports area was also popular, and, proceeding to the roof, music by 50 Amp Fuse on the Ford main stage to make the time pass while awaiting darkness.

Andiamo Italia filled the food buffet tables with tasty fare for all ages where, no surprise with Ford’s new event sponsorship, we spotted more Ford dealers than in the past. The spectacular fireworks accompanied by tremendous music are, of course, the raison d’etre for the party, which provides funds for America’s Thanksgiving Parade. Hob Nobble Gobble is the next big family fun night on the Parade Company’s schedule. It is Friday, Nov. 22 at Ford Field. Check it out at www.theparde.org.

The Roostertail Foundation Gatsby Party The Schoenith Family soiree celebrating Tom’s 70th birthday was a party for the ages. All ages, i.e. there were three generations among the 1,200 guests and the talented planners didn’t miss a trick in the Gatsby themed festivities. There was everything from revelers in vintage swimming suits frolicking in a drivewayside swimming pool, bubble machines and a high catwalk with skimpy-costumed dancers, many recruited from the Wayne State Theatre department. A Shantytown bar erected outside sported vintage fabrics on the makeshift tables, laundry on a clothesline and a caged rooster. Music on both levels of the 55year old nightclub kept the dance floors crowded with guests, most of whom wore flapper-era clothing.

There was even a police raid, orchestrated by Tom and Diane’s kids 09.13

Michael, Mary Kay and John.

Many of the guests had Roostertail memories. Rosette Ajluni recalled the night 50 years ago when she wanted Roger to take her out to celebrate the birth of their twins, Sonia and Marie, who were still in the hospital. She got all gussied up to go to the Roostertail. Rosette remembered being so disappointed when they were turned away at the door because she did not have a driver’s license to prove she was 21. “So we went to (neighboring) Sinbad’s,” she said. The invitation requested “no birthday gifts” but noted that The Roostertail Foundation was embarking on an LED relighting of Detroit Block by Block and donations to it would be greatly appreciated. Since Tom’s late father and Roostertail founder Joe Schoenith’s business was the Gale Electric Company, here’s betting he would have endorsed the project.

Royal Baby Shower benefiting HAVEN The folks at Athena Group (financial services) wanted to plug into the royal baby phenomenon and benefit a charity. HAVEN was happy to oblige.

A High Tea and Baby Shower attracted several dozen guests ($40 tickets), most of whom wore stylish hats and all of whom brought baby gifts for the abused moms who seek refuge at HAVEN’s shelters. They also signed a card congratulating the royal parents that was sent to the Brits. Next on the HAVEN fund and friend raising schedule is a Tailgate Party to Tackle Domestic & Sexual Violence, Saturday, Sept. 21 at Birmingham Country Club. Geared toward engaging HAVEN’s male supporters, it will offer big screen viewing of the scheduled games (U of M vs. Connecticut at 1 p.m. and MSU vs. Notre Dame at 3:30 p.m.); onsite cigar rollers, special liquor tastings, putting contests, raffles, a live auction, valet parking, Texan BBQ buffet, beer and wine. For tickets ($125) call Kristi Pavlak at 248.322.3705; Kristi Pavlak at 248.322.3705; or go to www.HAVENOakland.org.

Variety’s Kovan Golf Classic Rick Frazier, David Kennedy, Tom Kennedy and Greg Manuel had the lowest score of all the 178 golfers who played in Variety, The Children’s Charity’s annual Kovan Golf Classic at Birmingham Country Club. Others with bragging rights include Mike Krupic who hit the longest drive, Ed Tomlin who hit closet to the in and downtownpublications.com

The Roostertail Foundation Gatsby Party

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3 1. Tom Schoenith (right) with Richard and Jane Manoogian of Grosse Pointe. 2. Ellen Rogers (left) and Annette DeLorenzo of Bloomfield.

3. Rosette Ajuluni (center) and her twin daughters Sonia Pastore (left) and Marie Coyle of Bloomfield.

4. Michele and Brian Schubot of Bloomfield.

5. Millie (left) and Bob Pastor of Bloomfield and their daughter Karen of White Lake. 6. Carol Minowitz (left) of Bloomfield and her granddaughter Mary Buchzeiger of Clarkston.

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Variety’s Kovan Golf Classic

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4 1. Nathan Mersereau (left) of Livonia, Edwin Shaw of Birmingham, Jeff Beckett of Troy and Ren Carlton of Bloomfield. 2. Enterprise’s Rick Williams with Bruce Migdal of Bloomfield. 3. Chris Gaudette (left) and Marty Seltzer of Birmingham, Lyle Shuert of Bloomfield and Berry Haseldon. 4. Debbie and Herb Knowles of Birmingham. 5. Judy Solomon and Michael Bressler of Birmingham. Photos: Doug Ashley.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Mike Broad who won the putting contest. All sipped and supped following play and the good guys who won raffle dollars gave their winnings back to Variety. The event, which netted $78,000, is staged in memory of the Bruce Kovans’ son Jonathan, who passed away at age six, and Variety board member Eric Kovan’s brother Bradley who was a new doctor when he passed away. Variety supporters are looking forward to the popular Lights, Camera Auction event which is Tuesday, Oct. 8 at Emagine Theatre Novi.

Manresa’s The Master’s Garden

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5 1. Event co-chair Ann-Marie Ciceri (left) of Bloomfield with Terri Weber of Royal Oak and Jay Hansen of Pleasant Ridge. 2. Manresa board chair Phyllis Look (left) of Royal Oak with Meg Eib of Bloomfield. 3. Kathy Sherry of Bloomfield. 4. Holly Mona (left) of W. Bloomfield, Hana Najor of Bingham Farms, speaker Michael Stafford of Clarkston and Gretchen Gonzalez and Jan Brown of Bloomfield.

5. Carlo Clavenna (standing left) of Birmingham, Elaine Maderal of Bloomfield, Pam Freeman (seated left) and John Cunningham of Auburn Hills and event co-chair Marilyn Rice of Oak Park. 6. Mary Ann Stella and Kate Stella of Bloomfield. 7. Diane Rowe (left) of Toledo, Jan Elsman of Bloomfield and Karen Brown of Troy. 8. Phyllis Noda (left) of Troy, Sally Janecek of Waterford and Grace Seroka of Bloomfield. 9. Loraine Schobloher (left) of Troy and Kathy Hayes of Bloomfield. 10. Carol Chisholm (left) of Bloomfield and Carole Sugrue of Troy.

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Manresa’s The Master’s Garden One of Bloomfield Hills’ most picturesque properties – the Manresa Jesuit Retreat House – was open to the public at the inaugural Gardening in Harmony with Nature event. It featured tours of the house and grounds, music by Jill Jack, box lunches (courtesy of Chicken Shack and Whole Foods), a raffle, 20 vendors, two demonstrations (life in the stream and composting) and five speakers. Some of the 283 paying guests had come especially to hear Fr. Bernie Owens’ talk because they knew the longtime (17 years) Manresa staffer will soon leave for a new assignment in Africa.

In his passionate plea for “EcoSpirituality” he spoke about the need to live simply and respect the earth because the “…spirit of God is in all things.” He got a standing ovation when he concluded with quotes by St. Francis of Assisi, Chief Seattle and a Hindu philosopher. The idyllic, sevenhour event raised $16,000 for the retreat house. The upcoming 10th annual Spirit of Manresa Dinner and Auction will raise a whole lot more.

That event, which was launched by Judd Hart in tribute to his late father Leon Hart, is Saturday, Sept. 21 at the Troy Marriott. For tickets ($135 & up), call (248) $644-4933 or go to www.manresasj.org.

Rhonda Walker Foundation Monica Atchoo and Cindy Denhar hosted a charity evening of Great Women & Great Shopping at Denhar’s sister’s Bloomfield home and 150 guests attended. They sipped, supped and bought baubles at Atchoo’s booth (www.purple-skyjewels.com) and picture frames and home accessories at Denhar’s booth (www.Cindysgiftsonline.com), but the raison d’etre for the party was to raise awareness for Rhonda Walker’s foundation. And that mission was accomplished when all paused their serious 09.13

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Rhonda Walker Foundation

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1. Virgine Denhar (center) of Beverly Hills with her daughters event hosts Connie Yasso (left) and Cindy Denhar of Bloomfield. 2. Luisa DiLorenzo (left) of Birmingham, Deborah Ribitiwer of Bloomfield and event co-host Monica Atchoo of Orlando, FL. 3. Janine Yasso (left) and Nicole Denham of Bloomfield. 4. Katy Gariepy (left) of Bloomfield with Laura Bayoff-Elkins of Beverly Hills, Rhonda Walker of Franklin and Donna Turner of Waterford. 5. Jane Esshaki (left) of Bloomfield, Renee Jonna of Orchard Lake and Laura Jonna of Keego Harbor. 6. Irma Elder (left) of Bloomfield, Sabah Hichme of Sterling Hgts., and Rosemary and Contessa Bannon of Beverly Hills. 7. Lauren Yasso (left) of Bloomfield, Crystal Meram of Washington and Joni Longyear of Farmington Hills.

8. Jackie Layne (left) of W. Bloomfield and Daniella Henderson of Birmingham. 9. Janice Morse (left) of Bloomfield and Lamya Kory of Beverly Hills. 10. Laura Nadhir (left) and Vivian Belcastro of W. Bloomfield and Kimberly Salmon of Bloomfield.

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Jim Stella Charity Exhibition Opening

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1. Artist Jim Stella of Bloomfield with his wife Lisa (left) and her sister Michelle Meixner of W. Bloomfield. 2. Dan Wisniewski (left) of Oakland and Studio D’s Robert Dempster of Bloomfield. 3. Caroline Rooney Dempster (left) of Bloomfield, with Paul and Annemarie Gilliatt Kokx of Waterford.4. Anne (left) and Stephen Stella of Farmington Hills, Gordon Gilliatt of Royal Oak and his sister Heather Delicato of Bloomfield. 5. Renee Jamil (left) of Macomb, David Branch of Birmingham and Barbara Gulli of Farmington Hills.

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poolside socializing to listen to Walker and three of her participants. “(Our mission is)…to make girls into women…(give them skills) to even the playing field,” Walker explained.

And before each of the three articulate girls spok, Walker bragged that 100 percent of her participants, all inner city students, graduate from high school and college. Do go to www.RhondaWalkerfoundation.org to learn more about the all-volunteer foundation. It certainly proves that WDIV’s Walker is oh so much more than a pretty face.

Jim Stella Charity Exhibition Opening Robert Dempster’s Studio D, which is tucked in among a row of front doors on the south side of the Robot Garage on Eton Road, was a perfect venue for displaying Bloomfield Hills artist Jim Stella’s colorful, large scale canvases. Their graffiti-like quality and thoughtnudging messages with some words misspelled seemed right at home in the simple setting. Sixty people, many of them members of the artist’s and his in-laws’ large families, sipped, snacked and told stories. My favorite was of Jim and Lisa Gilliatt Stella’s honeymoon. “We went to Italy with the entire Stella family,” said Lisa with a smile. She refined it bit, adding that she and Jim did spent the first two weeks together before meeting up with the rest of the clan, led by her father-in-law the late Frank Stella. The visionary civic leader, known for his generosity and his friendship with presidents, popes and opera singers, would surely be pleased that Jim donated proceeds of his sales that night to Gleaners Community Food Bank. Stella’s exhibition at Studio D has closed but you can see his work at www.JimStella.com. He also had a piece juried into last year’s Art Prize in Grand Rapids.

IVC Power of Music concert International Visitor’s Council Detroit, an organization that administers foreign exchange programs for the U.S. State Department, hosted a concert and social at the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn. Guests included participants in the IVC’s leadership program, performers, artists, music professors and folks from event sponsor DTE Energy. Guests networked and nibbled before five delegates performed original guitar, oud, vocal and wind instrument pieces. For more 09.13

information about membership and activities of the IVC, which changes perceptions of the U.S. one visitor at a time, go to www.IVCDetroit.org.

Dancing with the All Stars The night 450 fans (at $300 each) converged on The Joe to raise money for helping people with Autism Spectrum Disorder was a Sure Fire Big Deal. The arena caterers eschewed hot dogs in favor of beef tenderloin and the managers were veterans. They included Jack’s Place for Autism cofounders retired Tigers catcher, now broadcaster Jim Price and his wife Lisa, whose son Jackson has autism; co-chairs Kari Ross Dombrowski, a former sports broadcaster and wife of the Tigers CEO; and Cheri Bailey, who honed her event planning talent the years she managed Bloomfield Open Hunt; plus the trainers from Bloomfield Hills Fred Astraire Studio.

Although the fans were disappointed that Miguel Cabrera was on the injured list, the game line-up was first class as was the bench. Before the dance competition there was some good natured horseplay when Cabrera paid $1,500 for a Jim Leland-autographed jersey and a guest paid $500 to take passes from Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. Torri Hunter and WDIV’s Bernie Smilovitz had fun emceeing the show that featured Andy Dirks, Ramon Santiago, Anibal Sanchez’s wife Ana, Max Sherzer’s fiancé, Matthew Safford’s girlfriend, Ryan Broyle’s wife and the pros from Freed Astaire, who made everybody look like pros. Santiago and Lada Reschilova Mountain were declared the winners based on the voting with dollars. The All Star evening raised $290,000 for Jack’s Place for Autism.

Angels Place Golf & Tennis Classic “This is the best turnout (250 golfers, 40 tennis players) we’ve ever had,” honorary chair Duke Scrafano told the Angels Place supporters gathered at Pine Lake Country Club for the dinner following play. And he should know. He chaired the first 20 golf fundraisers before turning over the reins this year to Frank Jonna, Ted Pearse and Peter Treboldi. The cocktail hour had featured lots of socializing, a silent auction and a raffle.

Thanks also to generous sponsors, the 21st annual event netted more than $150,000 for the organization that provides lifetime homes and services to people with developmental disabilities. Guests were reminded that the downtownpublications.com

Dancing with the All Stars

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1. Event co-chair Kari Ross Dombrowski (center) of Bloomfield with Miguel and Rosangel Cabrera of Birmingham. 2. Event co-chair Cheri Bailey (left) of Bloomfield with JP co-founder Jack Price of Washington and Tigers infielder Ramon Santiago of Detroit. 3. Al Kaline (left) of Bloomfield with Tigers manager Jim Leyland. 4. Wade (left) and JP board member Sally Mezey of Birmingham with Jennifer Palmer and Annette Royce of Bloomfield. 5. Mike (left) and Adele Acheson of W. Bloomfield, Erin Brockhaus of Birmingham and JP board member Lisa Petrella and her husband Ennio of Orchard Lake. 6. Cathy Maiorana (left) and Cindi Weinert of Bloomfield. 7. Prince Fielder (left) of Birmingham with Ashley Williams and Ken Greene of Houston, TX. 8. Fred Astaire’s Jordan Cowan dancing with Diana Larionov of Bloomfield. 9. Ana Sanchez of Birmingham dancing with Fred Astaire’s Mike Fonseca. 10. Emcee Bernie Smilovitz (right) with Detroit Lions’ Matthew Stafford who gave flowers to his girlfriend Kelly Hall after she danced.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK AP Annual Dinner, starring Detroit Tigers CEO Dave Dombrowski, is Thursday, Dec. 5 at The Henry.

Angels Place Golf & Tennis Classic

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1. AP board president Pete Treboldi (left) of Troy, sponsor Medwest Associates’ Paul Lopez of Hinsdale, IL, and event honorary chair Duke Scrafano of Birmingham. 2. Event co-chair Frank and Judy Jonna of Bloomfield. 3. Tennis co-chairs Dale Prentice and Bob Sparks of Birmingham with their wives Joanne Sparks and Joan Prentice. 4. AP executive director Cheryl Loveday (left) with Marty Nagle of Royal Oak, his mother / AP co-founder Loretta Nagle Ryan and Jim Ryan of Bloomfield. 5. First place team: Dan Vitch (left) of Bloomfield, Kevin Desmond of Birmingham and Max Ritter and Terry Desmond of Bloomfield. 6. Pat O’Leary (left) of Beverly Hills, Marianne McBrearty of Bloomfield and committee member Kathy Frasco of Birmingham. 7. Kim Koval Whelan (left) and her father, a past AP board president Bob and Patti Koval of Troy with Molly, Pat and Cathy McQueen of Bloomfield.

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The Pink Fund’s Rosé Wine Tasting

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1. Laura Howard (left) and her daughter Kristin of Farmington Hills and Courtney Chennault and her mother Carla of Bloomfield. 2. Lisa Ritter (left) with Laurie Tennent and her husband Gordon Cox of Bloomfield. 3. Lynn Gillow (left) of Birmingham, Betsy Reich of Sylvan Lake and Mollie Proctor of Bloomfield. 4. Pink Fund founder Molly McDonald (left) of Beverly Hills, Jill Jordan of Farmington Hills and Bret Chennault of Bloomfield.

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The Pink Fund’s Rosé Wine Tasting When Franklin Grill manager Deborah Sands wanted to do a little charity event featuring rosé wines she searched the Internet for a charity that had a pink accent and selected The Pink Fund. It gives short-term non-medical financial assistance to breast cancer patients. Until she contacted its founder Molly McDonald with the offer, she did not realize that McDonald and her husband were regular customers at the Franklin eatery. The Rosé Wine tasting attracted 28 (at $25 each) to the lovely Franklin Grill patio on a perfect summer evening. In addition to seven refreshing wine selections from three countries, Sands also provided a spread of savory hors d’oeuvres, an MOT string trio and a raffle of goodies she got her vendors to donate. The affable al fresco affair raised $1,100 and provided a forum for McDonald to give a fiscal year-end report. “I am thrilled to report that The Pink Fund provided financial assistance to 248 women…That is an increase of 620 percent over the number of women we helped in our previous fiscal year. On their behalf, we paid out $228,792 in basic non-medical financial aid, a 329 percent increase over the previous fiscal year.” All agreed this news deserved a toast.

With rosé wine, of course.

AVANTI! MusicFest Over the years Social Lights has spotlighted countless fundraisers for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, because, as Barbara Van Dusen said at this year’s Heroes Gala, “A great city needs a great orchestra.” At that event we met Judy Doyle, who heads up a group we did not previously know existed – SOS (Save Our Symphony).

“It’s a grass roots non-profit formed during the strike of 2011 to keep our world class orchestra in Detroit,” she explained. It does have monthly meetings, to which any music lover is invited, but no dues and no pricey ticket fundraisers. It has joined with the musicians’ organization (MDSO) to support the MDSO’s AVANTI! Summer MusicFest directed by Kevin Good. It’s a six-day intensive training “camp” for teen musicians at Derby Middle School. This second summer’s session attracted 175 kids (at $300 each, some with scholarship assistance) including many returnees from last year. It culminated with two concerts that attracted 800 ($20 tickets) to the Methodist church sanctuary and more than 1,000 (no charge) to Orchestra Hall. They all featured young musicians on stage with the pros. On Friday night, we saw violinist Sofia Pokrzwa perform solo, Elsa Koran conduct DSO musicians and the AVANTI choral conducted by Ken Dewey. All earned standing ovations. For more information about SOS, go to www.SaveOurSymphony.

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

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ENDNOTE

Fracking doesn't belong in Oakland County

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hose of us who live and enjoy Oakland County find numerous reasons why we cherish the county, from its efficient county government, well-maintained communities, parks, golf courses, and especially, its numerous lakes and waterways. We boat and jet ski, fish, sail and row, erect homes on their shores, and relax as we treasure both the public and private lakes in Oakland County.

Michigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes; according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, in Oakland County, there are 164 lakes, from Alderman Lake in Milford to Wormer Lake in Waterford. The key objective with every one of the lakes, rivers and streams in the county is their environmental preservation.

There are many environmental threats to our lakes, from pesticides and runoff to climate change. Some we can control, and some are beyond our powers. Preventing the introduction of fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a critical step for those who want to preserve the sensitive environment of Oakland County.

Fracking is a way of tapping a reservoir to allow oil or gas to flow back to the surface, or completing a well, after the initial wellhole has been drilled. The method uses high-pressured water mixed with sand and chemicals to crack the layers of rock surrounding the oil or gas reservoir. When the reservoir is fractured, sand remains in the cracked rock, holding it open and allowing gas or oil to pass through and reach the

surface. More traditional “cased-hole” techniques complete the drilling process by drilling several small holes, or perforations, in the rock to allow the gas or oil to reach the surface. While fracking may produce more oil and economic reward, the process poses a potential risk to a region's ground and surface water, as well as other environmental resources.

To date, fracking hasn't been used in any Oakland County oil and gas developments.

Leases from oil and gas companies to mineral rights on public and private land can be quite lucrative as they're paid on a per-acre basis, plus a percentage of royalties if a well becomes productive and profitable. Many local communities which have permitted leases on mineral rights on old wells have no fracking guarantee clauses. A key understanding with drilling is that not only can they go straight down for several miles, but once they are below ground, they can go horizontally over to other areas, underground.

Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner Jim Nash said he and many residents in the county are greatly concerned about oil and gas development, particularly the possibility of fracking.

Nash started conducting a series of town hall meetings in September 2012 to raise awareness and education about oil and gas drilling.

“Fracking is the most obtrusive,” Nash said. “It uses an insane amount of freshwater that has to disappear from the hydrological cycle. It's a much

more dangerous operation, to me, by far. The traditional shallow (drilling) has been going on for decades, and that has it's own problems.”

Depending on the fracking operation, the amount of fresh water needed during the operation may range from 50,000 gallons to more than 20 million gallons – or the size of a mile-long Olympic pool.

Withdrawal of water for oil and gas operations is exempt from Michigan's Natural Resources Environmental Protection Act, which regulates water withdrawals from natural water aquifers in the state. Instead, the MDEQ requires well operators to perform a water withdrawal impact assessment.

Nash points out that even if it's not technically fracking, the operations being done are intrusive to Oakland County's communities, and could have a large economic impact if any drilling were to spill into a river or a lake. Take for example, the Enbridge oil pipeline spill in Talmadge Creek in July 2010. The Kalamazoo River is still being cleaned up, with the EPA finding more and more environmental problems as a result of the spill.

Besides environmental spills to our waterways, fracking and well drilling can release harmful vapors that can escape the area around a wellhead, causing respiratory problems among residents. The increase in heavy truck traffic can stress local infrastructures.

Protecting our environment, both natural and man made, is paramount. Fracking, and its derivatives, don't belong in Oakland County.

Keep hookah bars out of downtown

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ost of us have no idea what a hookah bar is, nor have ever entertained the thought of visiting one. Popular in the Middle East, South Asia, parts of Great Britain, and college towns, a hookah bar or lounge is an establishment where patrons share a flavored tobacco called shisha from a communal hookah which is placed on a big shared table.

There are currently no hookah bars operating in Birmingham, which by city ordinance would only be permitted to operate in the city's Rail District or the Triangle District, and are strictly prohibited from the downtown Birmingham area.

But an attorney representing Burn Hookah Club applied for a permit in the central business district in Birmingham, to have a hookah bar somewhere in downtown Birmingham, without giving a specific location, asserting that it is a social club, not a tobacconist establishment.

Bruce Johnson of Birmingham's building

department ruled that hookah lounges were tobacconists, which are not permitted in the B-4, or downtown district, by ordinance. The attorney, Paul Weisberger, who also represents Churchill's Bistro Cigar Bar and the former Churchill's Tobacconist, both on S. Old Woodward, appealed to the Birmingham Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). Weisberger would not state where his client was contemplating opening the proposed hookah bar in the downtown area, but the former Churchill's Tobacconist location is currently vacant.

In July, Weisberger spoke to the ZBA, once again asserting that a hookah club is a social club more than a tobacconist. Birmingham's zoning ordinance states that if 75 percent or more of sales are from tobacco or tobacco-related products, it is a tobacconist. ZBA members, after questioning Weisberger, pointed out that 95 percent, or more, of sales would come from

tobacco, making it a tobacconist. The club still has the option to appeal the ZBA decision to Oakland County Circuit Court.

We applaud Birmingham leaders and commission members for having the foresight to have developed an ordinance, acting on behalf of residents, to protect the central business district from business operations which they recognize do not belong in the downtown area. We concur with Johnson and the ZBA that the hookah bar would absolutely be a tobacconist and not a social club, and that its primary purpose would be to sell tobacco to people coming into its environs.

Frankly, it's not an image that fits with what city leaders and residents envision for the downtown area.

If Burn Hookah Club wants to open in Birmingham, they could choose a location in the Rail District or the Triangle District, both east of Woodward, with greater possibility of success.

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