Westend: January 2015

PLACES TO EAT: OUR GUIDE TO NEARLY 100 LAKES AREA RESTAURANTS JANUARY 2015

OAKLAND

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THE PLIGHT OF THOSE LIVING BELOW ENFORCEMENT RADAR CABLE TV: BIG CHANGES POSSIBLE IN WHO OWNS THE SYSTEM CRISIS HOTLINES: LOCAL RESOURCES FOR TROUBLED TIMES ECRWSS Postal Customer PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

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248-642-3000

westend01.15

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The plight of illegal immigrants There are 150,000 undocumented immigrants living in Michigan, which is basically two percent of the workforce, many of them in Oakland County.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

8 There are numerous local, regional and national crisis hotlines to help with suicide prevention and provide general support for those in need.

CRIME LOCATOR

11

A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Commerce, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake and the Union Lake area, presented in map format.

OAKLAND

MUNICIPAL

30

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Search for township treasurer extended; private family club on lake approved; temporary contracts approved by board; water table could scuttle land deal; village changes sign ordinances.

BUSINESS MATTERS

37 28 Cable television changes Although consumers won't reportedly notice any difference in service, there are major changes taking place in who controls cable tv in Oakland.

Spot On Pet Grooming; Glenlore Golf Course; Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital; Wixom Station Food and Drink

ENDNOTE

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THE PLIGHT OF THOSE LIVING BELOW ENFORCEMENT RADAR CABLE TV: BIG CHANGES POSSIBLE IN WHO OWNS THE SYSTEM CRISIS HOTLINES: LOCAL RESOURCES FOR TROUBLED TIMES

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

The crisis hotlines

JANUARY 2015

Westend newsmagazine and Downtown Publications has reached a milestone with the January issue, and Publisher David Hohendorf reviews the mission and goals for the publishing group and monthly newsmagazine.

ECRWSS Postal Customer

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PLACES TO EAT: OUR GUIDE TO NEARLY 100 LAKES AREA RESTAURANTS

Our thoughts on the newly formed Great Lakes Water Authority and how the form of government for urban townships could be brought more up to date.

FACES

17 Steve Hamilton 23

Blake McComas

36 M.J. Abrams

THE COVER An abandoned silo on Benstein Road in Commerce Township. Westend photo: G. Lynn Barnett.

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All the amenities you are looking for! Circular drive, spacious rooms, 5 BR, 3 full & 2 half baths, finished walk-out with sauna and full kitchen. 4 car attached garage and 4 car detached garage.

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Hard to find ranch condo in pretty complex with easy access to M5. 2 bedrooms, large bath, freshly painted top to bottom. Newer windows, full basement & attached garage.

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COMMERCE | $1,600 LEASE

Classic ranch in pretty neighborhood with lake privileges. 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, 2-car attached garage and full finished basement. Fenced yard and Walled Lake Schools. Long term lease preferred. Not for sale.

10 Things to Know If You Are Selling in 2015 1. The Spring market is February to May (June is summer) 2. Now is the time to get your home ready.

3. If you have lived in your home 15+ years, consider a pre-sale inspection now to avoid a lost buyer later.

4. Size matters – but condition matters more.

5 Cute doesn’t matter if it’s cluttered and not clean.

6. Professional window washers: worth every penny!

7. There is a reason “model homes” are neutral: It Sells.

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WEIR MANUEL

PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS Allison Batdorff Kevin Elliott | Camille Jayne

STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf | J. Marsh | Kathleen Meisner

PHOTOGRAPHY/CONTRIBUTORS Jean Lannen | Laurie Tennent Laurie Tennent Studio VIDEO PRODUCTION/CONTRIBUTOR Garrett Hohendorf Giant Slayer ADVERTISTING MANAGER Jill Cesarz ADVERTISING SALES Heather Marquis GRAPHICS/DESIGN G. Lynn Barnett WEBSITE/CONTRIBUTOR Chris Grammer OFFICE 124 W. Maple Birmingham MI 48009 248.792.6464 DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS Mailed monthly at no charge to most homes in the Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Walled Lake and Union Lake area. Additional free copies distributed at high foot-traffic locations in west Oakland.

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

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

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

FACEBOOK facebook.com/westendmonthly TWITTER twitter.com/downtownpubs

Member of Downtown Publications DOWNTOWN | WESTEND | THE GUIDE

Jim Mandeville

2013 CENTURION Award Winner

Top Selling Agent

Today, Inc.

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Living in, Working in, and Supporting Our Community.

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6611 Commerce Road

FROM THE PUBLISHER

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he January issue of Westend you now hold in your hands represents a special milestone for those of us at Downtown Publications.

This edition marks the beginning of our third calendar year of publishing Westend newsmagazine for the lakes area of Oakland County, and the sixth year of operation as an independent publishing group, starting in 2010 with our first newsmagazine, Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield. Not bad for products in an industry that, to say the least, is challenged.

We would like to think that our success to this point is due in large part to the fact that we created a publication in the Commerce/Union Lake area that was lacking – one that has been able to capture the interest of readers due to our editorial content and a monthly newsmagazine that has strong and growing support of local businesses that recognized the value in getting their message out to local residents in a publication that places value on an editorial environment in which ad messages also get read.

Certainly the fact that some of us have lived in the west Oakland area and have extensive knowledge of the communities helps with the high standard we have set for the content of Westend, which is what matters most in our book.

Yes, I recognize that a few other publications had existed prior to our arrival on the scene, but I submit that other publications either carry no editorial content or if they do, none offers the commitment to editorial quality, nor the strong local focus that we present to these special communities. We already knew that lakes area residents were a discerning lot, but based on phone calls and e-mails we have received and chance personal encounters, Westend newsmagazine has been well received and is quickly becoming the dominant source of news and advertising information.

Our editorial mission for Westend newsmagazine is simple: provide a solid editorial product each month that both captures life in the communities comprised of Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Walled Lake and the Union Lake area, which includes part of West Bloomfield, White Lake and Waterford, while at the same time offering up insight about developing trends or important issues through long-form journalism features, an art form of sorts that most other publications here and across the nation have abandoned because of the time and expense involved in exploring in more detail critical issues facing local residents.

In case you are new to our publication, or are not a regular reader of this column, we capture life in the local area through our coverage each month of important decisions by the government bodies you elect to conduct your public business, be they municipalities or school districts. We also provide capsulized notes each month on what is happening in the local business community. Along with that, we offer personality profile features of those either living in this area or who have hailed from the general Commerce/Union Lake area and have accomplished something of note or made a special contribution to the community at-large. Further, we provide a guide to eating out each month, recognizing that our followers have educated palates and an acute interest in this part of the entertainment scene.

We also feel strongly that any publication has a responsibility to assume a leadership position and offer its opinions on important issues facing the local communities, which we do each month at the back of Westend in our Endnote page. No, we don’t expect everyone to agree with our editorial opinions on these issues. We offer them because we think we are especially qualified to help parse the issues due to our decades of experience in following and reporting on local government, while at the same time realizing that we are just one voice in the community. We hold a traditional view of our responsibility as a publication to serve as an unbiased provider of information in our news columns as part of our government watchdog role, but we also think it important to comment in the Endnote page when we feel debate needs to take place.

Beyond our monthly newsmagazine, we provide weekly updates on government news through our website at westendmonthly.com, which draws on average over 30,000 visitors each month. You can also find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westendmonthly) and Twitter (twitter.com/downtownpubs).

We provide a complete package of information through a variety of avenues, remain involved in the local communities, and take very seriously our role as a provider of information to local residents who in kind have shown their strong allegiance. For that we remain thankful as we look forward to continuing to bring our Westend newsmagazine to the communities in the west Oakland lakes area.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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WESTEND

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MLS 214126268 - $250,000 This lovely 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath brick ranch home features a spacious living room that is open to the dining room, large family room with wood burning fire place, beautiful Florida room is four season room with heat overlooking the large back yard, large 2.5 car garage. www.realestateone.com

MLS 214126222- $279,900 Desirable 1.5 story contemporary sits on large corner lot with a side entry garage, private back yard features a water fountain, two story entrance flows into a large great room with gas fireplace, caulted ceiling and floor to ceiling windows, large eat-in kitchen with door wall leading out to the deck area, hardwood flooring, nice size pantry, first floor master, Walled Lake Schools www.realestateone.com

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© Real Estate One, Inc., 2014

Lakes Area (248) 363-8300

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

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 Commerce Township, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake Village through December 18, 2014.

Placement of codes is approximate.

THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS OF OAKLAND LIVING BELOW THE RADAR AS UNDOCUMENTED

BY LISA BRODY

he words are inscribed on a plaque in the pedestal in the Statue of Liberty, once the first sight new immigrants to the United States glimpsed of our country: “Give me your tired, your poor/ Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.” These iconic words from the poem “New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus have long epitomized the feelings of those settling in our country from foreign lands, and remain as relevant today as when they were first penned in 1883.

We’re a nation that’s a melting pot of countries, cultures, races and colors. Our ancestors arrived on these shores seeking financial opportunities, the freedom to practice their religion, fleeing economic hardship or brutal dictatorships and wars.

Some, such as African Americans, were brought here as slaves against their will.

Fast forward to today. Those from other countries continue to flock to our borders, both legally and illegally. Whether seeking better opportunities and increased pay for highly skilled jobs, cash to fill hungry children’s bellies, or to escape intolerable situations in their native lands, the United States

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continues to be the country where others want to live, with thousands choosing metro Detroit as the place they want to make their home.

Seen from the other side of the mirror, immigration is actually economically advantageous to the communities where immigrants reside. Global Detroit, an organization which works to revitalize southeastern Michigan’s economy and a national leader in the emerging development field centered on welcoming, retaining and empowering immigrant communities as valued contributors to regional growth, notes that while metro Detroit has a lower immigrant rate, at 8 percent, than the national average of 13 percent, the area is still a global region, just as it has been historically since immigrants first swarmed here to work in the auto industry when Henry Ford offered workers $5 a day, a huge sum at the time.

“Our border with Canada, international supply chain routes, and global automotive industry have all helped attract a significantly large number of foreign companies, which...number at over 900 firms from over 35 countries,” Global Detroit states. “Simply put, there are hundreds of thousands of residents in the region who were born in another country. Metro Detroit is estimated to be the home of the largest concentration of Middle East migrants outside the Middle East – larger than New York, London or Paris...The foreign born are fairly evenly spread throughout the entire region, rather than living in specific clusters. The fact that the foreign-born are a part of nearly every community and neighborhood in southeast Michigan is extremely important to understand in light of the fact that the region scores highly on national rankings chronicling black-white segregation. We believe that the dispersion of foreign-born communities throughout the region contributes to a feeling of ‘invisibility’ among ethnic groups.”

Unlike other areas of the country, where those from Mexico and Central and South America comprise the largest groups of immigrants, the largest immigrant group in metro Detroit comes from India, with a majority of those immigrants residing in Oakland County. Those from India account for 11.5 percent of the foreignborn immigrants in metro Detroit, with a little over 20,000 immigrants in Oakland County out of a total population of 1.2 million residents. There are about 41,000 Indians living in metro Detroit. Many Asian Indians live in Novi, Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Township and Troy. Indian immigrants, in general, are highly-educated and highly skilled, particularly in the sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics, also known as STEM, which are competitively sought after by employers. Additionally, Indians typically arrive here already able to speak and write in English, which gives them an advantage over other immigrant

“The ‘immigrant belt’ runs clearly through Oakland County, starting with Novi in the southwest and moving northeast through Farmington Hills, Bloomfield Township and into Troy, with sizable populations in other municipalities as well,” said a document from Global Detroit. “Communities to the northwest and southeast of this ‘crescent’ have considerably smaller concentrations. The Asian community is highly concentrated in this county, with significant numbers of Asian Indians, Chinese, Korean, Pakistani and Japanese residents. The Chaldean (Iraqi Christians) community has established strong ties in West Bloomfield, Bloomfield Township and Farmington Hills.”

Global Detroit, in a presentation to Oakland leadership this year, statistically showed that the rates of crime among immigrants is much lower than the population as a whole, with immigration incarceration rates one-fifth the rate of those who are born in the United States. More than 40 percent of current Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, and in 2011, 28 percent of small businesses were founded by immigrants, many in fast growing sectors of the economy, such as leisure and hospitality; transportation; health and social services; construction; and education.

In the New Economy, immigrants created 25 percent of all high tech firms nationally between 1995 and 2005. Of those high tech firms, they created 52 percent of the Silicon Valley firms, and 32.8 percent of those created in Michigan and account for 25 percent of all venture-backed firms with public offerings. “In Michigan, immigrants have entrepreneurship rates three times those of native borns,” the presentation pointed out, with 64.4 percent of immigrants of working age, while only 50 percent of native born residents of working age.

Many immigrants come to the U.S. and metro Detroit to be

After immigrants from India, the second highest documented immigrant group in Oakland County comes from Iraq. Almost 10,000 Canadians reside in the county, with 7,300 Mexicans and Chinese, each, living in Oakland. Other immigrants in the county come from Japan, Germany, Korea, the Philippines and Russia. groups who have to learn the language. Many Indians arrive at our shores as students, seeking masters and doctorate degrees; many stay and work for local automotive and supply companies, engineering firms and other companies.

But some have trouble attaining their “green card”, or permanent resident card through the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, or their H1-B visa, because of prioritization and tight regulations by Homeland Security, leading many to go “off the grid” and become undocumented workers. According to the Pew Hispanic Center, there are 150,000 undocumented residents living in Michigan, up from 25,000 in 1990, or a 500 percent increase. Approximately 90,000 of those workers are seasonal migrant farm workers. Statewide, undocumented workers are 2 percent of the workforce. Nationwide, it is 5.2 percent of the workforce.

“They’re undocumented so they’re living under the radar,” said Professor David Koelsch, an immigration law professor at University of Detroit Mercy law school. “Many undocumented Indians come on temporary visas or student visas and just stay (when their visas expire). Or the company they’re working for goes out of business. So they go to work for another tech start-up or a small mom-and-pop automotive supplier. They’re all up and down Big Beaver in Troy, within shooting distance of Somerset Mall. They have a higher skill level and compensation level than many other immigrants.”

But they are still illegal, or undocumented, workers.

The second highest documented immigrant group in Oakland County comes from Iraq, with about 16,000 Iraqis living in Oakland County. Almost 10,000 Canadians reside in the county, with 7,300 Mexicans and Chinese, each, living in Oakland. Other immigrants in the county come from Japan, Germany, Korea, the Philippines and Russia.

educated. Fifty percent of all new U.S. PhDs awarded in engineering are granted to immigrants; 45 percent of all new U.S. PhDs in life sciences, physical sciences and computer science; 40 percent of all new U.S. Masters degrees in computer science, physical sciences and engineering; and 25 percent of all practicing physicians in the U.S. are currently immigrants, according to Global Detroit.

Of those immigrants residing in metro Detroit, close to 40 percent possess at least an undergraduate degree. “Those immigrants have given the Detroit metro area an incredible economic contribution,” Global Detroit asserts. “Not only is metro Detroit third in the nation (among the 25 largest metro areas) for immigrant contributions to the economy, but the immigrant community contributes more to local prosperity than almost any other.”

These educational statistics contrasts to a native-born population with educational attainment levels that include 11 percent with some high school education; 28 percent who have their high school diploma or GED; 33 percent having some college and/or an associate’s degree; 17 percent having attained a bachelor’s degree; and 11 percent with a graduate or professional degree.

“Oakland County is very diverse and more diverse than other immigrant communities around the county,” said Koelsch. “Both the documented and undocumented workers are very educated and more diverse ethnically and economically.”

“Metro Detroit has a powerful impact with highly-skilled, highlyeducated, highly-entrepreneurial rates, more even than with nonimmigrants, particularly in technological areas,” said Steve Tobocman, director of Global Detroit. “From a purely economic issue, there’s a pretty widespread agreement that it’s (immigration) a winwin for everyone. There is a pretty broad consensus among champions of commerce that immigration reform would be an economic incentive, allowing for more international students and

skilled workers to become part of our economy. It would allow for a number of aspiring workers to join the economy – there are currently 11 million undocumented workers working for lower wages, and it would give the opportunity for those folks to come above ground and join the formal economy. It would be a very good thing because they have great entrepreneurship, they would invest in their businesses, and follow greater regulations.”

The Center for American Progress concurs. The organization believes the legalization of many undocumented immigrants, an initiative recently put forth with restrictions by President Barack Obama, would economically benefit Michigan and the country as a whole by creating a 10 percent increase in wages for illegal workers that would lead to $109 billion more in local, state and federal taxes.

Their report said it would also create $392 billion extra in earning across the country.

“I’m fairly conservative, but I recognize the dynamics on this issue,” said Koelsch. “It’s a weird dynamic because they take services, so they’re a drain on services, but very minimally. It’s very difficult to access any government service from the county or the state – both have clamped down on benefits. Their kids do take public education. But they contribute back so much. They rent apartments, shop at IKEA, their kids go to public schools, and there’s a huge benefit to that. In Oakland County, we’re grayer and older than the rest of the United States. We need more life blood. If we give these kids of undocumented workers a chance, we’re creating contributors in 20 years.

“The reality is, if there wasn’t an economic reason for it (illegal immigration), it would wexist,” Koelsch emphasized.

Upwardly Global, a resource for immigrants which acts as a bridge for immigrant professionals to help them reach their potential, notes that because immigrants want to establish a new

4 million of the 11 million undocumented workers in the country.

“ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) has immediately started to screen individuals in our custody who may be affected by (the) executive actions. ICE will continue to focus its priorities on national security threats, convicted felons, gang members and recent illegal entrants. ICE officers have extensive experience conducting such screening, most recently in 2012 when Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was announced,” said Khaalid Walls, Northeast Regional Communications Director/spokesman for ICE. “From November 20 through November 29 of 2014, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations released 183 individuals from detention under prosecutorial discretion,” Walls said, indicating they were individuals no longer deemed a detention or deportation case once the executive action was in place.

For individuals already in ICE custody, in order to enhance its ability to detain and remove those who pose a national security or public safety threat, ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations are now proactively reviewing the cases of individuals in its custody.

For Michigan and Ohio, which the Detroit office covers, ICE removed 1,841 immigration offenders in 2014, from January through June. In 2013, there were 3,279 deportations, and in 2012, 3,851.

“One key point about the 2014 regional statistics is that approximately 70 percent of all removals from Michigan and Ohio were of convicted criminals, which represents a nearly 50 percent increase since 2008,” Walls said, when there were 2,151 deportations from the region.

In 2013, the number one country where illegal immigrants were deported back to was Mexico, followed by Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, India, Columbia and Albania rounded out the top 10, Walls said.

For Michigan and Ohio, ICE removed 1,841 immigration offenders from January-June of 2014.

In 2013, the number one country where illegal immigrants were deported back to was Mexico, followed by Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. Canada, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, India, Columbia and Albania rounded out the top 10. life, they usually have a higher sense of job loyalty and dedication and lower employer workforce turnover costs. It also creates a larger tax base. “Employing immigrant job seekers in professional positions brings about a higher income tax base,” according to the organization.

Not everyone agrees. Republican National Committeeman and former Michigan Rep. Dave Agema of Grandville, a strong conservative, said that undocumented immigration costs Michiganders money, jobs and threatens national security. When he was a state representative, Agema introduced several bills that would have cracked down on undocumented immigrants, claiming they are a huge financial burden on public education, healthcare, welfare, jails and human services.

Immigration action taken in November 2014 by President Obama is changing the conversation, as well as the repercussions. His executive action on immigration policy offers legal reprieve to the undocumented parents of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who have lived in this country for at least five years, removing the threat of deportation and allowing many of them to apply and receive work permits. It also expands the 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for young immigrants, under 30 years old, who arrived here as children to apply for deportation deferral and are now here legally. Immigrants older than 30 can now qualify, as well as more recent arrivals.

Everyone must reapply every three years. The executive action also includes a program to facilitate visas for people who invest in the U.S and who invest in science, technology, engineering and math – those desirable STEM – degrees.

The action will not expand visas to migrant workers, help parents of DACA immigrants – those referred to as Dreamers, nor does it offer access to the Affordable Care Act. It’s estimated it covers about

The Roby Law Firm in Royal Oak has been representing immigrants and companies with immigrants working for them since 1985, as well as assisting illegal immigrants. Principal Steve Roby points out that there are many industrial, automotive and manufacturing companies located in Michigan “who rely on foreign talent just as we rely on U.S. talent. They want the best they can find. We help companies find science, manufacturing and engineering talent. There are huge shortages for highly qualified positions for all kinds of companies,” Roby said.

The Partnership for a New American Economy’s recent report, “Closing Economic Windows: How H-1B Visa Denials Cost U.S.-Born Tech Workers Jobs and Wages During the Great Recession”, shows that existing H-1B visa lottery caps for high tech worker and students disproportionately hurt U.S. workers by depressing job and wage growth in more than 200 metropolitan areas. The report emphasizes that the technology industry would have grown substantially faster post-recession if so many H-1B visas had not been denied, leaving many companies without qualified workers.

Roby works with companies, individuals and the government to procure work and permanent visas for immigrants, assist spouses in immigration and/or travel issues, immigration compliance assurance, expatriate administration and strategies, and language assistance, with Steve fluent in Spanish, and other lawyers fluent in German and French.

Besides the firm’s work with corporations and compliance, the company’s knowledge allows it to assist undocumented workers.

“We do that simply out of policy, to people without money or talent,” he said. “We offset our fees (for undocumented workers) with our corporate work.”

The Roby firm sees a great deal of Latino workers, primarily from Mexico and El Salvador, “and now there’s a rise in undocumented

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Asians,” Roby said. “They come to us because we’re fluent in Spanish, and many of them do not have good English capabilities, so they gravitate to people like themselves, and many are unskilled and less educated. They tend to go to people who are not immigration specialists and trust them only because those people speak English, they say they know immigration, and they don’t know we have a credible firm.

“I often say there is nothing I can do – there is no legal solution at present,” Roby explained of the limitations of the law presented to him by their cases.

“They’re shocked. Then they search within their communities for someone with false promises. They’ll say, ‘Give me $1,000, or $3,000.’ Sadly, they’re often misled – about the importance of giving false statements and accurate documentation. We admonish our clients to always give truthful statements and accurate documentation. But, when you come from a culture where bribery is the custom, you’re more willing to do it.”

He emphasized that whether with legal or illegal workers, they work to educate their clients about the absolute importance of doing the right thing.

“Sadly, the community has ground them down.”

A key piece of legislation Roby believes is particularly aimed at illegal Mexicans states that if someone has two illegal entries into the United States, and they stay more than 180 days in the U.S. each time, they are permanently barred from entering the U.S ever again.

“They all want to go back and visit their mamas,” he said. “Unless there is total amnesty of this law, I have to tell them there’s nothing we can do.”

His son, attorney Tony Roby, cautions many undocumented workers who think President Obama’s action suddenly clears them that they need to be careful who they talk with. “The president’s policies have not yet been fully implemented and immigrants have to be careful because there are scammers out there.”

Tony noted that while Obama is looking to help people because of humanitarian reasons, without a question, beneath the executive action are other considerations. “The reality is the money just isn’t there. It’s not realistic or feasible to deport 11 million people,” he said.

That’s why, Tony Roby pointed out, deportations are focused on criminals.

“If you’ve been brought here as a one-year-old, it only makes sense, whether you’re from Mexico or the Ukraine,” he said. “Most don’t even speak the language. It’s not right to be exiled from the only home they’ve ever known.”

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder views immigration as having the potential to invigorate the economy, bringing workers with desirable skills, talents and education to the state – those with STEM skills. Following the president’s executive action, Snyder called on the president and congress to work together to find a long-term, comprehensive solution to the immigration problem in this country.

“Here in Michigan, we’ve demonstrated how we can work together to solve difficult problems. We are proud of our rich heritage of immigration, and know that there are talented people who can help Michigan become stronger.

Immigrants are proven job-creators and we should tap their entrepreneurial spirit to accelerate our recovery. We have thousands of students who are trained at our world-class universities who want to stay and be a part of our reinvention,” Snyder said. “I’m calling on Washington to act on Michigan’s request to have 50,000 visas for immigrants to put down roots and build their lives and careers in Detroit. It’s a plan supported by (Detroit) mayor Mike Duggan and other city leaders, and, together, we believe it will help the city – and all Michigan – grow and thrive.We also must never forget that we are a nation of laws. Our leaders in Washington need to make sure that our borders are secure, our employers have the ability to verify status and that those who have worked for years to follow the legal path to citizenship are treated fairly.”

The Michigan Office for New Americans, created by Snyder in January of 2014, has as its mission the goal to “grow Michigan’s economy by retaining global talent and promoting skills, energy and entrepreneurial spirit of our immigrant community and to make Michigan a more welcoming state,” said deputy director Karen Philippi. The office coordinates with other state agencies on immigrant issues.

“Our office is looking at the positive economic force immigration can have, most notably with STEM jobs,” Philippi said. She noted there are more than 80,000 jobs available in the talent bank, many of them STEM jobs, “and there are not enough U.S. born candidates to fill those jobs.”

A report from Georgetown University notes that by 2018, Michigan will need 274,000 STEM jobs to be filled.

“We definitely want our native-born residents to stay here, but we can’t fill all these jobs with them,” she said. “The talent needs to be supplemented.”

WESTEND

01.15

FACES

Steve Hamilton he knack for storytelling helped earn Steve Hamilton two New York Times best sellers and the opportunity to have his novel “The Lock Artist” acted out on the silver screen.

“The main character (in the Lock Artist) never says a word,” he said.

“He’s a young kid who has this skill for opening locks. The producer has someone in mind for the main character. I don’t know who it is, but you have to attach a star to it.”

Hamilton is co-writing the screenplay with producer Shane Salerno.

Salerno is a revered Hollywood talent who is also writing one of the sequels to Avatar for James Cameron.

“Misery Bay” and “Die Stranger” are two of Hamilton’s books that have made the New York Times Best Seller List.

“One character who is in a lot of my books is Alex McKnight,” Hamilton said. “He’s just a guy who came to me. I just sort of had this idea of this retired Detroit cop. He was shot on the job and he ended up in Paradise, Michigan.”

For an upcoming book, Hamilton will travel from his home in upstate New York to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to brave the treacherous roads around Lake Superior in the middle of winter.

“This is something Alex is going to do in the next book, so I want to get a feel for it,” he said. “I’m going to drive 1,200 miles around Lake Superior.”

In his most recent novel, “Let it Burn,” Hamilton took his character, Alex McKnight, back to Detroit.

T

“For ‘Let it Burn’ I just drove around Detroit and saw what it looks like now,” he said. “It’s like a war was there and nobody rebuilt it. This is the city my character came from. It’s amazing to go back and see what it looks like now.”

Hamilton himself was born in Detroit and his family moved to White Lake when he was young.

“When I was eight years old, I wanted to be a writer,” he said. “When I was 12, I tried sending my first mystery story to Ellery Queen’s (Mystery Magazine).”

Hamilton’s early influences were Edgar Allan Poe and Agatha Christie. “I always liked dark fiction and anyone who wrote on the dark side.”

After graduating from Lakeland High School, Hamilton studied computer science at the University of Michigan. A career with IBM took him to New York just after graduation.

Since retiring from IBM, Hamilton has been able to focus completely on his writing. He is currently working on another McKnight novel and a book that is a complete departure from his usual work.

Hamilton has been able to successfully share his talent with an eager audience of readers while providing for his family for three decades. Now that he has retired, he is able to reach a lifelong goal.

“I promised I’d get back to that idea of what I really wanted to do. Write.

Just to write. Just to have that be the thing that I do every day.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Julia Hamilton

CRISIS CENTER HOTLINE HELP DE-ESCALATING SITUATIONS WITH TRAINED STAFF, VOLUNTEERS THRU PHONES, TEXTING, ONLINE CHAT

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

he holidays are over. Families and friends have left, the holiday lights have dimmed. It’s just you and lots of reruns. When people are sad, alone and desperate, feeling like they have no one to turn to, it can seem like help is out of reach. Yet, metro Detroit is full of options for those needing immediate assistance or help coping with a crisis.

More than 38,000 Americans, including 1,100 people in Michigan, die by suicide each year, according to the Michigan Association of Suicide Prevention. Recent estimates indicate that there are about 12 attempts for each suicide, with older Americans – those 65 or older – the most frequent ones making those attempts.

Younger people may be having more success in their attempts, unfortunately. In total, suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States, but the second leading cause of death for people ages 15-34 years old.

For each death by suicide, it’s estimate that six to 10 survivors are left behind, or as many as 380,000 grieving loved ones across the nation, with about 11,000 in Michigan. And the trauma of losing a loved one in turn increases the chance of suicide amongst those survivors. It’s believed most suicidal people desperately want to live. However, when depression and hopelessness set in, they often can’t see alternative solutions to their problems. It is at those times when the danger is high the need for help is the greatest.

For one Oakland County resident, help came in the form of a phone call to one of the many crisis center hotlines operating in the metro Detroit area. At nearly 40, Mark (who asked his actual name be withheld due to privacy concerns), had been battling bipolar disorder for several years prior to being diagnosed with the illness. A death in the family seemingly set him into a tailspin that included a divorce filing, loss of employment and temporary homelessness. When the mother of his child voiced her concerns about child visitation due to the instability, Mark was at a loss.

“I wasn’t looking for anything to be resolved. I wasn’t looking for any insight or knowledge, really just an ear,” he said. “When I called, I felt like I didn’t want to exhaust my friends anymore.”

Out of work and off his medications, Mark said he could sense he was heading toward a crisis. Feeling that he would be criticized or ignored by friends or family, Mark reached out to a stranger and dialed the first number that appeared in an Internet search for crisis hotlines.

“They say to call for any reason, and it kind of stopped a crisis from happening,” he said. “I felt something coming on, something that could have been dangerous. It wasn’t a lark. I was asking what the line was about, and I found it helpful.”

While it’s hard to calculate figures on prevention, Mark’s personal history suggests that calling the crisis line helped to divert a crisis before it happened. A previous episode, he said, included a series of posts on Facebook which drew the attention of concerned family members. Concerned for his safety, one of his loved one telephoned the police, who then came to his home and had him transported to the hospital for his own safety. By dealing with the crisis before it became a more serious episode, Mark was able to better deal with his situation in a healthier way.

T

In Oakland County, the largest and most frequently called helpline is the one operated by Common Ground, which takes about 4,500 calls per month.

Lisa Turbeville, manager of Common Ground’s crisis hotline, said staff and volunteers at the crisis center are trained to de-escalate crisis situations and help callers solve their problems.

“A big portion is just listening. That’s something that people don’t get enough of,” she said. “It’s hard for family and friends to be objective because they know their whole story.

We don’t, so you have someone to really listen to you. A lot of times they are struggling with mental illness and have exhausted their support system. Another goal is to link them up with the help they need.”

As the contracted service provider for the Oakland County Mental Health Authority, Common Ground works with nearly 300 agencies, organizations and other service providers that can assist clients with issues regarding domestic violence, homelessness, legal, relationship and family issues, suicide, eating disorders, and other mental health issues.

Founded more than 40 years ago, Common Ground provides a lifeline to individuals and families in crisis, victims of crime, persons with mental illness, those trying to cope with critical situations and runaway and homeless youths.

The organization’s crisis line, which incorporates several different hotlines, as well as an online chat and texting service, are key to Common Ground’s services.

“A lot of young people prefer that mode of communication; also it allows us to help more people. You can only talk to one person at a time, but you can text to several people at one time. On a crisis call, you can only take one call at a time,” said Common Ground Director of Communications Lenda Jackson about the organization’s text line.

As part of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, Common Ground assists in handling crisis texts from all over the country. The organization also provides training on a national level.

“We are part of the National Suicide Prevention line, which is comprised of many crisis centers around the country, and we are one of those,” Turbeville said. “If someone calls the national line, it will go to the closest center to where they are calling from. If we aren’t available, it will go to the nearest one.”

The non-profit organization receives much of its funding through a major contract it holds with the Oakland County Mental Health Authority, as well as funding and grants from other counties it supports. Funding also comes from grants and donations.

Turbeville said the crisis center is staffed by a mixture of volunteers and staff. And while she said the organization would like to have about 100 volunteers available, they currently have about 65 volunteers, as well as six full-time staff members.

Common Ground holds training sessions three times a year, with each going through 96 hours of training, including nine hours of observation in

the crisis call center. She said volunteers usually put in time about once a week and are assisted by staff.

“We listen to their phone calls and guide them,” Turbeville said. “Any decision, like to call the police, the staff is here and it falls on them to make that decision.”

Volunteers and staff are taught to use a “crisis model” that employs a blend of communication skills, crisis theory and empathy, which also includes finding out what prompted the caller to make contact in the first place. The goal then is to de-escalate the situation to help guide the caller to a calmer state and help get them in touch with the resources they need to improve their situation.

“We teach them the basics of crisis intervention, and teach them how to de-escalate,” Turbeville said. “If they aren’t in a crisis, but are lonely, we teach then how to help someone in different situations, whether they are suicidal or dealing with substance abuse or other issues.”

Turbeville said the crisis center also receives many calls from family or friends of people who are going through a crisis and are seeking information or help for them.

According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), depression and emotional crisis often precede suicides, and in most cases, are recognizable and treatable. In fact, the foundation states most suicides are preceded by some warning of the person’s intentions. The most effective way to prevent a friend or loved one from taking their life is to recognize when someone is at risk, take the warning signs seriously and know how to respond.

Known risk factors for suicide include: previous attempts at suicide, as between 20 and 50 percent of people who kill themselves had previously attempted to take their life; talking about death or suicide, as suicidal individuals often talk about suicide directly or indirectly; planning for suicide, as people contemplating suicide often arrange to put their affairs in order or give away possessions; and depression.

Although the AFSP states that most depressed people aren’t suicidal, serious depression can be manifested in obvious sadness, but oftentimes it is expressed instead as a loss of pleasure or withdrawal from activities.

Instructors who train phone operators to deal with crisis calls state that it’s important to determine if a caller is thinking or planning on hurting themselves, and the best way to do that is to ask. Although it may be uncomfortable to ask, it’s a common misconception that asking a caller if they are thinking about hurting themselves will increase any chance that they will hurt themselves. If the caller states that they have thought about suicide or injuring themselves, finding out if they have planned how or when they will do it also helps to assess the risk of suicide. If a caller can answer “yes” to these questions, they are at a higher risk.

Mark said part of the reason for calling the crisis hotline when he did was his attempt to get an online assessment regarding bipolar disorder.

“I got to the suicide section and I answered

‘yes’ twice to the answers,” he said. “I couldn’t keep doing the assessment. It said I had to call this number immediately.”

Outside of Oakland County, there are several crisis and helplines available for people who are coping with suicide.

The Detroit Suicide Prevention Center has been operated by the Neighborhood Service Organization since 1978. The center provides a free, 24-hour phone crisis intervention and suicide prevention and information referral service.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which is available at 1.800.273.8255, is available to connect callers to a skilled, trained counselor at any crisis center in their area 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“If you feel like you are in a crisis, whether or not you are thinking about killing yourself, please call the Lifeline,” the national lifeline center states on its website. “People have called us for help with substance abuse, economic worries, relationship and family problems, sexual orientation, illness, getting over abuse, depression, mental and physical illness, and even loneliness.”

Callers who contact the national line are connected to a crisis center in the Lifeline network, which would include Common Ground in Oakland County, or other agencies for callers outside of the area. The network includes more than 150 crisis centers and provides counseling and mental health referrals day and night.

The national lifeline was launched in 2005 by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Mental Health Association of New York City.

Henry Ford Hospital hosts a 24-hour line that can connect callers to one of the facility’s psychiatrists, which is part of the hospital’s telephone and walk-in crisis counseling services.

The Dearborn Crisis Center is available to Wayne County residents who need help with a crisis, domestic violence assistance or court advocacy.

While crisis hotlines are most typically associated with suicidal callers, there are a host of other in Oakland County and the metro Detroit area that are available for help people dealing with a variety of issues.

“They don’t have to tell us their name,” Turbeville said. “We don’t even determine the crisis; they do. They don’t have to be suicidal – that is a big misconception.”

While Common Ground is able to help callers with a variety of issues, some help lines are geared toward specific causes or needs.

The national lifeline network also maintains a Veterans Crisis Line for veterans in crisis, or family and friends may also use a text service or use an online chat service. The line was established through an agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration.

Since its launch in 2007, the Veterans Crisis Line has answered more than 1.25 million calls and made more than 39,000 lifesaving rescues. In 2008, the crisis line added an anonymous online chat service and has engaged in more than 175,000 chats. In November 2011, the crisis line

looking to speak to someone for help or guidance, Funding for the center comes mainly from introduced a text messaging service to provide there are two main helplines available to callers. another way for veterans to connect with donations from individuals, corporations and Locally, the Affirmations Helpline provides confidential, round-the-clock support, and has organizations, with about a third of the center’s peer counseling, empathy and community since responded to more than 24,000 texts. funding coming from grants. resources for lesbian, gay, bisexual and With the exception of Common Ground, “The majority tends to come from very transgender (LGBT) people. perhaps one of the most frequently called help generous individuals,” Fitzgerald said. “And there The Affirmations center, which is based in lines in Oakland County is operated by HAVEN. is never enough funding.”

Ferndale, provides volunteers who participate in HAVEN also maintains a text line and an online The Affirmations help line is staffed by two comprehensive training on LGBT concerns, chat service. part-time employees and is open six evenings per including coming out, gender identity, intimate HAVEN is Oakland County’s only week. There are also master’s level counselors partner violence, suicide prevention and more. comprehensive program for victims of domestic and volunteers available who undergo training The helpline is available Monday through violence and sexual assault. The non-profit prior to working at the center’s helpline.

Saturday, 3-8 p.m. A representative from organization provides shelter, counseling, “I’m surprised at the number of national calls Transgender Michigan is also available to answer advocacy and educational programming for about we get that don’t come locally,” Fitzgerald said. trans-specific questions on the helpline from 6:3030,000 people each year.

“It could be that someone is afraid that someone 9 p.m. Additionally, older adults and seniors are Raechel Decker, development director for local is going to know who it is.” able to speak with someone every Tuesday and HAVEN, said about 5,000 people called the Fitzgerald said as one of the longest running Friday, from 4-7 p.m. organization’s crisis line last year. programs of its kind, he is hopeful that they will John Fitzgerald, interim executive director for “It started as a sexual assault hotline, and we be able to add some new models to the program, Affirmations, said the organization’s help line is have expanded our services over the years,” particularly additional training for all its staff and the oldest, longest running program at the Decker said. “We speak with victims directly, and volunteers, including those who don’t work the organization. friends and family that are seeking resources for helpline. Currently, staff is able to transfer calls to “It actually started out of someone’s basement someone. We also get calls from adult survivors of Common Ground when someone calls the when the program started,” he said. “It was set sexual assault, maybe something that happened helpline outside the normal hours of operation. up as a model for empathy listening. Most of of as a child. We get those kinds of calls as well.”

“We want to be a resource for anyone who the calls are resource calls, but occasionally, they HAVEN’s crisis line is staffed by a mix of staff calls into the building,” he said. “We may want to try the words aloud to a stranger: ‘I am and volunteers, with staff maintaining more of a consolidate and train everyone. I think it’s a huge gay.’ Most callers, though, tend to be looking for a supervisory role, Decker said. resource that was needed in the community, and resource, or they really want someone to listen for “We do get a fair number of suicidal calls, but continues to be needed, and is probably due for a few minutes.” they are quickly evaluated and sent off to a more an update.”

When the founders of Affirmations came up appropriate agency. Some callers are homeless with the idea to form some 25 years ago, there In addition to the local Affirmations line, a and just looking for a warm bed. We do get was no place for someone in southeast Michigan national hotline is available for young people, people that are in an immediate situation. to call for help or resources in the LGBT ages 13-24, which has been available 24/7 since Perhaps they just fled a home and don’t know community, Fitzgerald said. From there, he said 1998 by The Trevor Project. where to go or what to do next. We talk to them the idea expanded not only into a helpline, but The Trevor Project was started by the creators about safety planning and options.” into a full community center, including a place for of an award-winning short film about a boy HAVEN receives about half of its funding support groups. Today, programs include “little bit named Trevor. The producers of the film realized through federal and state resources and local of everything,” he said. there was no place for people like Trevor to turn, government funding, with the remaining half “We have everything from youth programs to and they began recruiting mental health experts coming from private fundraising. older adult programming that meet here, such as to figure out how to build the infrastructure for a While some crisis lines tend to see spikes Coming Out Over Coffee to a transgender-life nationwide, 24-hour crisis line. Today, the project during the holiday season, Decker said HAVEN support group, and a ton of different 12-step offers free, confidential and secure services on the tends to receive more calls just after the holidays. programs that meet in the building.” telephone.

“We get a lot of calls in So far, the Trevor Project lifeline January,” she said. “People will receives about 36,000 calls per say, ‘if we can get through year, and educates about 15,000 Christmas, things will be different.’

• Affirmations: Operates a helpline providing peer counseling, empathy and people a year with training.

There is that sense, and the fact community resources for the LGBT community at 1.800.398.GAYS. While training may differ for that when children are in the Operated Monday through Saturday, 3-8 p.m. different kinds of hotlines, home, mom isn’t able to make • Common Ground: 24-hour crisis and resource hotline at 1.800.231.1127 for Turbeville said the crisis center these types of phone calls, so we free, confidential counseling, information and referrals.

Text line at doesn’t use any scripted materials see more of a spike in early 248.809.5550; and live chat at the website www.commongroundhelps.org. when talking with callers.

January.”

Essentially, she said they allow the • Dearborn Crisis Center: 313.823.2530.

Turbeville also said that it caller to talk and explain why they • Detroit Suicide Prevention Center: 313.224.7000 or 1.800.241.4949. seems to be a myth that there are are calling that day, which allows • HAVEN: 248.334.1274 or 1.877.922.1274 for HAVEN’s 24-hour crisis line for more calls during the holiday the crisis worker to determine those in crisis related to domestic or sexual violence or abuse. HAVEN also season. whether or not there is a crisis, and “The holidays aren’t necessarily maintains a text line at 248.334.1290 and a chat service at its website at what the problem is. However, she busy,” she said. “March and April www.haven-oakland.org. said, the crisis line isn’t intended have always tended to be the • Henry Ford Hospital: 313.916.2600 psychiatrists on call 24 hours a day. to be a substitute for therapy or busiest times of year. That’s when • Michigan Department of Community Health Crisis Hotline: other resources. the calls spike. I’m not sure why. It 1.866.289.2641.

“We get creative and try to could be the changing of the • National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1.800.784.2433. come up with other options for seasons. People have been holding • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1.800.273.TALK (8255). them,” she said. “We try to get on for winter, and the school year • The Trevor Project: 1.866.488.7386. National LGBT issues line for young them a plan before they get off the begins. When kids go back to people, ages 13-24. phone or chat, or text. At least for school, we have a lot of parents • Veterans Crisis Line: 1.800.273.8255, then press the number 1. that night, we can help them come call, too.” up with solutions that will work for For young people dealing with Compiled by Kevin Elliott sexual orientation issues and them.”

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WEIR MANUEL

FACES Blake McComas n a snowy winter day in March of 2013, Blake McComas, captain of the cross country team at Lakeland High School, was running down Bogie Lake Road with his teammates when he was struck by a vehicle.

“We were right past Northern (high school) and trying to turn down Sugden (Road),” McComas said.

“I wasn’t paying attention and a car came by. I was a little too close and it swept my right leg out and broke my leg in three spots.”

McComas’ teammates didn’t notice what had happened immediately, he said. When drivers began to honk their horns, his fellow runners realized their team captain had been hit.

“A lot of them were just in shock,” he said. Some went looking for help and a friend stood by, reassuring him that he would be ok.

McComas’ family was called on the cell phone of the driver who unintentionally struck him. He was able to speak to his mother while waiting for help.

The National Honor Society student was taken to Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital where he and his parents waited to hear from a physician to learn he would be able to walk again.

“In the hospital, I was more worried about ever running again,” he said. “It took about week for the doctor to say I would be able to run or even walk ever again.”

Once McComas had the hope he needed, he rigorously pursued physical therapy.

In the late 2013 cross country season, McComas was able to run at two track meets.

“I had a lot of people around me who helped me through this major accident and I think they were all happy to see me out and running with the team again,” he said. “They made a pretty big deal out of it. My parents were happy to see me be able to do what I love to do.”

Throughout his difficult experience, McComas graciously recognized one person in particular who stood by him as he endured pain, sadness and eventual victory.

“My brother Cody sat by my side for most of the ordeal,” he expressed emotionally. “I got injured around spring break time and I heard him talking to my parents about going down to Florida and he declined to go. He said he wanted to be up here ‘helping Blake.’”

The accident has shaped McComas’ future and his career goals.

“I’m hoping I can run a marathon over the summer. It would be fun,” he said. “I want to be a nurse in the ER. I’ve always had an interest in nursing and the medical field. After being in the hospital for a week, I ended up volunteering (at Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital).”

Following his recovery, McComas placed third at the Mustang Invitational and was runner-up at the Lakeland-Milford dual meet. His team was also the state runner up in 2014.

“I was very grateful for where I finished in certain meets. I couldn’t have had a better senior year. It feels amazing.”

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Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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CHANGE COMING FOR CABLE TV NEW COMPANY TAKING OVER IF COMCAST, TIME WARNER CABLE MERGER HAPPENS

BY LISA BRODY

hen you press your TV remote, you want to know whatever you turn on will be there instantly. Ditto your Internet service. All of us are looking for fast, reliable connections to provide us with the instant gratifications we are seeking, whether for business, school work or streaming services. And we each rely upon the cable providers in our communities to supply us with these services.

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For a majority of those who live in Oakland County, their cable and Internet services are provided by Comcast. But perhaps for not much longer. Unbeknownst to many residents, a proposed merger between Comcast and fellow provider Time Warner Cable will prompt Comcast to divest itself of its Michigan cable operations in a swap with Charter Communications, which will form a new company, GreatLand Connections. GreatLand, which will be comprised of 66 percent of Comcast shareholders and 33 percent of Charter Communications, will be run by Michael Willner, a 40-year executive of the cable industry who was put in that position in May 2014 by Comcast, Time Warner Cable and Charter executives.

But what will happen to your cable TV and Internet service if and when these changes occur? Both Comcast and local cable boards assure that nothing will change for individuals and businesses.

“What will change on Day One – nothing,” said Michelle Gilbert, vice president of public relations for Comcast. “There will be service agreements in place between Comcast and GreatLand to ensure minimal disruptions to consumers.” o what is going on? And why will a merger – or actually, a corporate takeover – between two cable giants, with a third poking its head in, have any potential impact on local lives? It all comes down to money, both big money, in the form of corporate cable impact, and local franchise fees which are paid to municipalities and their cable boards. And ultimately, we, as consumers, may potentially get financially squeezed by an increase in cable fees when contracts expire, despite denials on all sides.

It all began in late November 2013, when both Comcast, the largest cable telecommunications company in the United States, sought advice on a possible bid for Time Warner Cable, the second largest American cable company. In January 2014, Charter Communications, which is currently the fourth-largest cable operator, but the tenth largest telephone provider, made three attempts to buy Time Warner Cable, offering $37.4 billion.

Time Warner Cable fought the Charter purchase, and Comcast bid $45.2 billion for Time Warner Cable; Charter fought the deal initially, forecasting difficulties with the regulatory review process. By April 27, Charter and Comcast came to a deal, entailing a swap of subscribers, and Charter dropped its opposition.

Under the current deal, if approved, according to Comcast, Comcast will acquire Time Warner Cable by exchanging each of Time Warner Cable’s 284.9 million shares for 2.875 shares of Comcast’s stock. Then, Comcast will sell 1.4 million of Time Warner Cable’s subscribers to Charter Communications for $7.3 billion.

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Comcast will divest itself of 2.5 million subscribers, including those it has in Michigan, to a new public company, called GreatLand Connections. It will be owned 66 percent by Comcast shareholders and 33 percent by Charter, which will manage its network and customers. Finally, when that is all put in place, Comcast and Charter will swap about 1.6 million subscribers with each other.

Why all the swapping? It’s for the same reason Time Warner Cable was hotly pursued.

It’s all about control of desirable cable and Internet subscribers, with Time Warner Cable the provider for New York City and its vicinity, Los Angeles, San Diego, most of Texas, and key areas in 29 states. Comcast and Time Warner Cable don’t directly compete for customers and there is not any physical overlap in their respective service areas.

Charter, which was founded in 1993 in St. Louis, has grown as a corporation through acquisitions of other cable companies and through swaps with other systems to improve the geographic clustering of its systems.

According to Forbes Magazine on April 28, 2014, Charter agreed to the swap of territory with Comcast in “an even tax-efficient exchange whose intent is to improve the geographic spread of both companies.”

In a nutshell, it’s advantageous for each of the corporations to swap because it provides them with more subscribers in contiguous territories.

But that is still all speculative, because the original deal, the Comcast purchase of Time Warner Cable, which they are calling a “merger”, is still up in the air, and may not come to pass. Currently, it is in the process of being approved by both the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) before the acquisition can be completed. Each corporation’s shareholders approved the proposed takeover in October.

The FCC and DOJ could each potentially block the sale because Comcast’s acquisition of Time Warner Cable could represent a cable telecommunications monopoly, especially since as of March 31 of 2014, Comcast had 22.6 million and Time Warner Cable had 11.2 million video subscribers, and together the two companies will serve 33 percent of paid TV customers in the U.S. Comcast has been considering selling off about 3 million more subscribers since the announcement of the sale, because that divestiture would bring Comcast’s share of the U.S market just below 30 percent, and that threshold has previously been used by the FCC as a strict limit on the TV market share for one company.

The FCC’s review of the acquisition began on April 8, when Comcast filed its public interest statement, and the antitrust division of the DOJ announced it was looking into the proposed combined company on March 6.

Furthermore, about 25 states around the country, through their attorney generals, are conducting probes of the acquisition, notably California, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Florida and Connecticut. Sam Gustin of Time Magazine noted that it’s typical for a proposed merger of this size because the deal has the potential to affect millions of consumers around the country.

“There’s really nothing happening at this point. We’re still waiting,” Comcast’s Gilbert said. “The FCC recently started the 180-day clock they set for the merger to go through (on October 31). Earlier this year, they had stopped the clock in order to allow franchises to review the information provided to them.”

The FCC regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, telephone, wire, satellite and cable in all 50 states.

The 180-day timeline “represents the commission’s goal of completing action on assignment and transfer of control applications (i.e., granting, designating for hearing, or denying) within 180 days of the public notice accepting the applications. Routine applications are decided well within the 180day mark,” states the FCC. “It is the commission’s policy to decide all applications, as expeditiously as possible consistent with the commission’s regulatory responsibilities.

Although the commission will endeavor to meet its 180-day goal in all cases, several factors could cause the commission’s review of a particular application to exceed 180 days.

The timeline is intended to promote transparency and predictability in the commission’s process. The commission occasionally receives requests by outside parties to ‘stop the clock’ for a particular transaction. The timeline carries with it no procedural or substantive rights or obligations, but merely represents an informal benchmark by which to evaluate the agency’s progress on a particular transaction. Accordingly, stopping the clock is a decision purely within the commission’s discretion. Further, although the commission seeks to meet the 180-day benchmark in all cases, its statutory obligation to determine that an assignment or transfer serves the public interest takes precedence over the informal timeline. The commission’s failure to release an order within the 180-day benchmark is not indicative of how it will resolve the issues raised in this proceeding.” hile the telecommunications industry is supportive of the Comcast/Time Warner Cable deal, there is widespread opposition to it, including from U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D-Detroit). Conyers has been a critic of big corporate mergers in general, and said in May that a combined Comcast/Time Warner Cable would have 30 percent of the cable market, at least 40 percent of the broadband market, 19 of 20 of the biggest cable markets, a

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major Spanish-language channel, as well as movies, television shows, and sports programming, in the form of Comcast SportsNet, MLB Network, NBC Universal, New England Cable News, and SportsNet New York.

“Comcast is a cable company and a programmer. That raises a double concern with me,” said Conyers, who was unavailable for this article. “I don’t know if it’s resolvable.” ublic Knowledge, a non-profit public interest group based in Washington D.C., is interested in choice in the digital marketplace and an open standard of end-to-end Internet, and is currently sending out e-mail petitions to local individuals urging them to “Stop the Mega Comcast Coalition.”

The e-mail reads in part: “Comcast is seeking permission from the Federal Communications Commission to merge with Time Warner Cable. This would result in a giant corporation on the path to dominate the high-speed broadband market. If the merger is approved, Comcast-Time Warner Cable would control the wires in about half of the U.S households that subscribe to high-speed broadband. Its control over broadband connections, cable TV lineups, and the devices people increasingly use to access video content would give it a make-or-break power over much of the content ecosystem.”

Further, the e-mail emphasizes in bold text, “The Comcast-TWC merger threatens these ideals (a diverse American media and technological marketplace) and runs counter to our antitrust and communications laws.”

Large companies which depend upon highspeed Internet and cable access, such as Netflix and DirectTV, have been outspoken in their opposition. So have over 56 consumer advocacy and public interest groups, according to The Consumer Watchdog, including the Parents Television Council, the Writers Guild of America and the Media Alliance.

It’s still up in the air as to whether there will be a merger, but most analysts do believe that it will be approved by both the FCC and DOJ. And that means that Oakland County residents who have had Comcast as their telecommunications provider will actually have Charter providing their service, via the new company, GreatLand. Most local cable franchise organizations, which have contracts with cable providers, anticipate no change in service.

“That’s the million dollar question,” said Gary Allison, cable coordinator for the Waterford Cable Commission. “I’ve reached out to Comcast and they haven’t responded.”

While it feels like Comcast has the monopoly on cable operations, the idea that cable television was a monopoly was actually put to an end by Michigan’s legislature in 2007, when they passed Michigan PA 480, which states that any cable provider may deliver service to a community upon filing a

form with a local community. No governmental agency monitors or sets rates, channel lineups, programming or service areas. Michigan PA 480 also provides specific penalties for failure to provide service. If there’s only one cable provider in an area, the law makes clear that it’s due to business considerations on the part of a cable company, not because of franchise limitations.

Since the passage of Michigan PA 480, communities in Oakland County have seen other entrants in the cable field. “PA 480 changed the competitive playing field to statewide franchising from local franchising for new cable entrants, because it’s not just technically ‘cable’ anymore – it’s cable and telecommunications,” said Elaine McLain, chairman of the Birmingham Area Cable Board, an all volunteer organization that handles cable affairs, including maintaining revenue streams to communities, handling residents’ cable complaints, inviting competition from cable companies, and providing public, educational and governmental (PEG) programming for Birmingham, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin.

PEG is the public access, educational and government access programming which is supported by telecommunication companies paying a percentage of their gross revenues to local communities so they can provide programming for the public good, whether it’s televising municipal meetings, school programs or other shows.

In 2007, AT&T applied for a state franchise to offer video services and was approved.

“Technically, AT&T isn’t cable. Their U-verse is IPTV, which is Internet Protocol TV, like where the Internet is controlling the TV. But their entry changed the playing field,” explained McLain.

In April 2006, Bloomfield Township adopted a resolution expressing support of local control of cable franchising and opposing Michigan Senate and House of Representatives bills, which AT&T and Verizon actively lobbied for, that would eliminate local cable franchise agreements. However, the legislature, and presumably, the telecommunication companies, prevailed, and statewide franchising became law, although individual communities continue to receive franchise fees for providing access to their community’s rightof-way. The right-of-way can be above ground on traditional telephone poles, or dug underground.

Each cable company, by state law, pays the local municipality five percent of their gross revenues in the form of franchise fees.

“Under an interlocal agreement, the communities keep 60 percent of that revenue and 40 percent is sent to the local cable board,” said McLain. “Each cable company must pay a percent of their gross revenues for

PEG fees (public, educational, and government programming), and those fees go directly to the cable board for PEG production and capital equipment that is involved in PEG usage.”

The percentage of gross revenues for PEG fees varies among local community boards.

“The stipulation in the Uniform State Video franchise law (PA 480) was that PEG fees must be at least two percent. Most of us have been receiving three percent, so we’ll likely see a drop of one percent,” Greg Kowalski, director of community relations for Bloomfield Township as well as general manager of Bloomfield Community Television, who is in the midst of negotiating Bloomfield Township’s franchise agreement with Comcast. “Our contract has expired, but it has been extended. But there’s no worry about a continuation of service to customers.

“Residents will see a name change on their bill and that’s about it,” said Kowalski.

Richard Lehmann, Huntington Woods finance director and treasurer of the Intergovernmental Cable Communications Authority covering Huntington Woods, Royal Oak, Troy, Ferndale, Clawson, Berkley, Pleasant Ridge, Auburn Hills, Oakland Township, Rochester and Rochester Hills, isn’t as optimistic. “I think that after the cable act was passed, the landscape changed. Anything is possible. Most franchise agreements, which are for 15 years, are almost up, and I think there will be a lot of changes on the PEG side.

The franchise fee is more hard-pressed. That is a payment for the right-of-way, and we all have to pay for it as consumers. These companies have to pay for the right-of-way as cable companies. PEG is different, though, so that’s where we’ll see changes.

“A lot of the baseline of the education and government portion was based on local governments using local televisions to get their information out,” Lehmann continued. “Today, we live in such a digital age that it’s not as important. They’ll make a case, I’m sure, that PEG is not as important because you’re throwing good money after bad in an era of streaming, and supporting local TV stations isn’t something they need to do. And the state could care less. It will not be good for the consumer. For local municipalities, it figures to add up to hundreds of millions of dollars.” ot every community has been as fortunate as Birmingham and Bloomfield in receiving large PEG fees. Ian Locke, executive director of Orion Neighborhood Television, said Comcast has the majority of their subscribers, with a small amount of customers in the community choosing AT&T Uverse. Their contract with Comcast expires in June 2015, and they are not yet in franchise contract negotiations. They too receive a five percent franchise fee, but only one percent annually in PEG fees from Comcast.

Clawson, Troy, Ferndale, Huntington Woods, Oakland Township, Rochester, Rochester Hills, Royal Oak, Berkley, Pleasant Ridge, and Waterford all receive one percent in PEG fees as well as a five percent franchise fee.

Members of the Greater West Bloomfield Cable Commission – West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor, Sylvan Lake, and Orchard Lake – receive two percent in PEG fees in addition to their five percent franchise fee. “There won’t be any changes in PEG fees because it’s dictated by the state,” said Dave Albery, executive director of Greater West Bloomfield Cable Commission.

In western Oakland County, eight communities which are members of the Western Oakland County Cable Authority – Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wixom, White Lake Township, Highland Township, Milford Township, Milford Village and Lyon Township – receive just one-half percent in PEG fees plus five percent franchise fees. In early December, Wolverine Lake Village voted to exit the authority.

Tom Zoner, Commerce Township Supervisor and its representative to the authority, said the total revenue of the authority is a little under $150,000 a year, with Comcast as the primary cable provider, and some communities having AT&T Uverse in some places.

“Our Comcast (franchise) agreement is up December 31. There is no new contract, so it’s falling under the statewide cable agreement, that says the existing format with the existing cable company stays the same,” he said.

Because AT&T isn’t technically cable, but uses Internet lines to provide the cable access, they do not pay franchise fees to communities.

“Those that are wireless say that they don’t have to provide this (fees) to receive the stream to communities,” Birmingham’s McLain said.

“Satellite providers do not pay any franchise or PEG fees to communities. ‘Cable’ means traditional cable TV and IP services.”

AT&T is known for their U-verse service.

AT&T U-verse uses a fiber optic technology and computer networking which they assert brings better digital TV, faster Internet and is ideal for smart phones. However, it is acknowledged by several cable board executives that their high-speed Internet is not as fast as Comcast’s.

Further, while AT&T entered Oakland County in 2007, they did so in a very tightly controlled, edited fashion. “Only about 20 percent of homes can get AT&T, and they have announced they will not build more,” said Bob Borgon, the former executive director of Birmingham Area Cable Board. “There are a lot of frustrated residents who want it but can’t get it because they use a whole new wiring that only reaches a certain amount of houses.

They’re very limited in their reach and they like to cherry pick the residents in the area they want to serve.” omcast is the most pervasive and prominent cable and telecommunications presence in Oakland County, available to consumers in every community except for Novi, Farmington, and Farmington Hills and Oxford, Oxford Township, Addison Township and Leonard Village in northern Oakland County.

Eric Angott, operations manager for Southwest Oakland Cable Commission, which provides cable and Internet for those three communities, said they have Brighthouse Cable and AT&T Uverse. Southwest Oakland Cable Commission receives one percent in PEG fees, along with five percent in franchise fees.

“We are one of the little islands in Oakland County,” Angott said. “I think we are the only area in Oakland County without Comcast. We will not be affected at all (by the change).”

“This whole change going on, we’re in calm waters because we’re already with Charter,”

said Oxford Area Cable Communications Commission Dave Kenny.

What will life be like under GreatLand Connections? Residents have Charter Communications’ past performance to go by as a gauge, and there is cause to for some concern. Charter has had an uneven history of growth and contraction, including filing for bankruptcy in 2009. They restructured and refinanced, and came out of it.

In 2007, PCWorld magazine ranked Charter’s cable Internet service as the worst among 14 major Internet providers, and in their February 2008 issue, Consumer Reports said their TV/Internet/phone bundle was the worst of all the major national carriers. According to PC Magazine, since, there have been improvements, however, it was reported by the Associated Press on Monday, January 21, 2008, that during a routine sweep of inactive accounts, Charter accidentally deleted the email accounts of about 14,000 customers, and the data could not be retrieved.

Willner, GreatLand’s incoming CEO, has assured local franchise boards that e-mail accounts will be preserved “If the Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger does go through, GreatLand will be the fifth largest cable provider in the country, and they will provide cable, Internet and phone services,” said Comcast’s Gilbert. She said customers have nothing to worry about because it is the network which Comcast has installed which provides the services, which has nothing to do with Charter. “GreatLand is in essence taking over Comcast. The name is changing. They are taking over Comcast’s assets,” she explained.

“It’s no longer entertainment,” McLain said of the telecommunication industry. “It’s connections for those who may have no other way to be connected to the outside world, their family, or the government.”

Cable options in local communities • Addison Township Charter

• Bloomfield Township Comcast; AT&T

• Keego Harbor Comcast; AT&T

• Oxford Comcast

• Walled Lake Comcast; AT&T

• Auburn Hills Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Commerce Township Comcast; AT&T

• Leonard Comcast

• Oxford Township Comcast

• Waterford Comcast; AT&T

• Beverly Hills Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Farmington Brighthouse; AT&T

• Lyon Township Comcast; AT&T

• Pleasant Ridge Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• West Bloomfield Comcast; AT&T

• Berkley Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Farmington Hills Brighthouse; AT&T

• Milford Township Comcast; AT&T

• Royal Oak Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• White Lake Comcast; AT&T

• Bingham Farms Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Franklin Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Milford Village Comcast; AT&T

• Rochester Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Wixom Comcast; AT&T

• Birmingham Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Ferndale Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• NOVI Brighthouse; AT&T

• Rochester Hills Comcast; WOW; AT&T

• Wolverine Lake Village Comcast; AT&T

• Bloomfield Hills Comcast; AT&T

• Highland Township Comcast; AT&T

• Orchard Lake Comcast; AT&T

• Sylvan Lake Comcast; AT&T

Compiled by Lisa Brody

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MUNICIPAL Water table could dampen DDA deal

By Kevin Elliott

A $2.65 million purchase agreement between the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) and a Novi-based homebuilder was stalled on Tuesday, December 16, after high ground water tables were discovered beneath the surface of a proposed residential development site in the Commerce Towne Place development.

The proposed development would consist of about 100 single-family homes between 1,500 and 2,400 square feet and a 70-acre park on 43 acres of land west of Martin Parkway and adjacent to Haggerty Road. The DDA and Hunter Pasteur Homes in September signed a purchase agreement for the land, subject to a due diligence period by the developer to inspect the land.

“Hunter Pasteur did preliminary ground water testing, which revealed the presence of high ground water tables that may affect their ability to construct the proposed homes,” DDA Director Kathleen Jackson said at the DDA’s December 16 meeting. “These findings, in turn, may affect their offer.”

Jackson said preliminary results showed such high water tables in some areas that Hunter Pasteur’s engineer said that basements can’t be built. In some cases, significant soil fill may be required and underground utility costs will far exceed their ability to construct the project.

A water table is the level of water below the ground that is saturated with water. Water table levels fluctuate throughout the year in relation to snow and rain. However, the range that a water table fluctuates is typically determined by an area’s topography.

Hunter Pasteur CEO Randy Wertheimer said while work may be done to construct homes and basements in areas with high water tables, the costs may hinder the overall project. In order to better determine the scope of the work and related costs, engineers recommended conducting a hydrological study of the land.

“We are excited and want to work through this,” Wertheimer said, adding that until a more conclusive survey is conducted, it is impossible to know if the related building costs are too high, which could cost nothing in some areas or as much as $1 million.

Jackson said she and the DDA’s 30

Board supports private club rezoning lans by a metro Detroit businessman to open and operate a private club on the southeast side of Union Lake in order to hold private parties for friends and family throughout the year received initial unanimous approval on Tuesday, December 9, from the Commerce Township Board of Trustees.

Patrick McInnis, CEO of Fathead LLC, purchased the vacant property at 2261 Union Lake Road in hopes of using the lakefront property as a private clubhouse of sorts to host occasional parties for his family and friends. The plan requires the property to be rezoned from B-1 (local business) to B-2 (community business), as only the B-2 designation allows for a special land use for private clubs.

Previously, on Monday, December 1, at a public hearing, the township’s planning commission took input from at least 20 people about the request, the majority of whom spoke in favor of the request.

Two residents living near the property raised concerns about potential noise issues. The planning commission approved the request and related special land use request with several conditions and recommended the rezoning request to the board of trustees.

“We tried to address the concerns that we felt were likely to occur,” said township attorney Phil Adkison. “The agreement isn’t one that runs with the land, but with this particular applicant. It’s an agreement with a one-year term, so if it works out, you may want to consider extending or changing it.”

Adkison said the agreement includes measures to keep noise at a minimum by restricting amplified music to six times a year, and by only allowing it between certain hours, as well as other specifications regarding parking, docking and other issues.

McInnis said since purchasing the property and building, he has improved the site considerably.

“There was a squatter living in there,” he told the board. “The building was run down with rats and mice. It was a mess and had been broken into. It’s now much improved.”

McInnis said he has six family members who also live on the lake, and that gatherings tend to end up at his house. The objective, he said, is to create a place where the large family can meet and hold gatherings about six times a year.

“I wanted to turn this into a family venue,” he said.

Board members said the property had been vacant for about 10 years prior to McInnis purchasing the property. Trustees approved the introduction of the rezoning request, 6-0, with trustee Robert Berkheiser not in attendance, but final approval will have to come from the board at its next meeting in January.

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engineers, DDA chairman Jim Gotts and marketing consultant Randy Thomas of Insite Commercial had discussions with Hunter Pasteur prior to the December 16 meeting.

“Through those discussions we felt it would be reasonable to pay for a more detailed analysis of the water table,” Jackson said, adding that such an analysis would be useful in any further transactions should Hunter Pasteur not proceed. Additionally, Hunter Pasteur has agreed to reimburse the DDA for the cost of the analysis should they proceed and finalize the purchase agreement.

The cost of the study was estimated to be between $14,900 and $20,000, and would be conducted by McDowell Associates in the spring season when water tables are typically at their highest.

“The quality of this product is good.

They don’t want slab (foundations) or multiples, so they need to really look at that property and see what the value is,” Gotts said. “It will require investment in a number of hydrological wells, which will be at their highest in the spring. The proposal was that if the DDA would consider investing in this survey.”

The DDA board voted to approve funding the study at a cost not to exceed $20,000, with township supervisor Tom Zoner voting against the motion, and board member Dave Smith abstaining from the vote. The board also agreed to extend Hunter Pasteur’s due diligence period until June 16.

“The township board may not agree with this,” Zoner said about the board’s decision to fund the study.

Board member Mark Stacey said he feels the purchase price of the

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property shouldn’t necessarily be reduced due to unforeseen costs to the developer. Rather, he said a major commercial development recently announced by the DDA and Birmingham-based Robert B. Aikens and Associates likely increases in value since the Hunter Pasteur deal was proposed. In October, the DDA announced it accepted a $10.5 million purchase agreement with Aikens to build a massive lifestyle center in the DDA’s project area.

“We spent about $20,000 to find out if we have an issue, and then you say you aren’t lowering the price,” Wertheimer said. “We can’t afford to pay what we agreed, plus another $1 million. We already spent a significant chunk of money to see we have a problem, but if you have a million dollar problem, we would have to walk away. I don’t think I’m expecting that whatever we find the problem to be – say $100,000 – then I’m going to ask for $100,000 off the price. That’s my intention, but we should be able to know what the property is worth.”

Commerce extends treasurer search

By Kevin Elliott

The search to replace outgoing Commerce Township Treasurer Susan Gross was extended for the third time on Tuesday, December 16, following a second round of interviews by the township board.

Board members met December 16 expecting to interview two finalists for the treasurer’s job, which will be vacant effective December 31, when Gross’ resignation takes effect.

However, one of the two finalists rescinded her application prior to the interview, leaving Commerce Township Finance and Human Resources Director Janet Bushey as the sole remaining finalist.

Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the unnamed finalist rescinded her application, citing financial security. It wasn’t clear if the reason referred to the salary and benefits of the position, or the fact that township treasurer positions are elected positions and therefore are subject to the whims of voters every four years, board members speculated.

The treasurer’s position includes a salary of $78,000 per year, plus benefits.

Gross announced her resignation and retirement in September, with her resignation becoming effective on December 31, 2014. The board has 45 days after the effective resignation 01.15

Contracts approved for only short time

By Kevin Elliott

he Commerce Township Board of Trustees on Tuesday, December 9, gave temporary approval to several contract employee agreements in hopes of resolving potential insurance coverage issues and a perceived conflict of interest for one employee.

Five contract agreements up for consideration were approved until the end of January, including contracts with an independent contractor, KER Engineering; a plumbing and mechanical contractor agreement; an electrical inspection contractor agreement; and a consulting agreement with township planning consultant Kathleen Jackson.

Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the insurance issue stems from a situation regarding an in-ground swimming pool that was approved

by Jay James, of KER Engineering, who is contracted by the township to act as the township’s building official. Zoner said a disagreement between the pool owner and a neighbor has since resulted in a lawsuit that may potentially cost the township money for approving the pool in a location where it wasn’t zoned to be permitted.

Trustee Rick Sovel suggested working with the contractors to look into the possibility of requiring the contractors to personally carry additional liability insurance.

“I feel if a contractor gets in a situation that costs us money, if we are legally on the hook for something, that maybe we have some sort of requirement about insurance to cover that,” Sovel said.

The board voted to approve the contracts through the end of January while township officials and the contractors explore the availability and feasibility of additional insurance coverage.

Several board members at the meeting also expressed concern about what they perceive as a conflict of interest in contracting with Kathleen Jackson as the township’s planning consultant. Jackson currently serves as the township’s planning consultant and the the township’s Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) director, where she advocates for developing and selling the property.

Trustee David Law, in August, voiced his displeasure that a master pathways plan devised by the township planning commission was altered by the DDA prior to going to the full township board for approval. Law, who serves as the board’s liaison to the planning commission, said at the time that the change “seemed to water down what we did in planning.” The pathways issue resulted in trustee Robert Long questioning whether there is a conflict of having Jackson serve in both positions, a point that was brought up again in October by some board members.

“When things come before the planning commission, you are the consultant,” Long told Jackson at this meeting. “But if something comes before the commission that is from the DDA – I’m not sure it’s a legal conflict, but it certainly is awkward – with you on both sides of the issue, it could be awkward for members of the planning commission with you sitting on the other side of the table.”

Jackson said she has excused herself from her role as planning consultant when a DDA property is up for review in front of the planning commission. Further, in those cases, she contracts with an outside engineering company to serve as the planning consultant on issues that may have potential conflicts.

“I’ve heard this about the conflict, and I’m not really sure what it is or what I can do more to remove myself,” Jackson said.

Law said he has been impressed by the job that Jackson does for the township, but did voice his displeasure when the pathways plan was changed without any notice to the planning commission. However, he added that whether the conflict is real or perceived, the discussion was a good way to “clear the air.”

The board agreed to extend Jackson’s contract until the end of January, with all board members voting in favor with the exception of trustee Robert Berkheiser, who was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.

“In the meantime, Kathleen can try to think of ways to address this,” Long said.

T takes place to appoint a new treasurer to serve in the position until the 2016 general election, at which point the appointee would be required to run for re-election to maintain the position. If the board fails to make an appointment by February 14, the township would be required to hold a special election for the treasurer position.

The board of trustees in October extended the treasurer’s search after receiving only six applications. In November, the board said it had received a total of 12 applicants, with one of those withdrawing their application prior to being interviewed.

The board subsequently interviewed five of the applicants before narrowing the number of candidates to two finalists.

Trustee David Law said following the first round of interviews that he felt the board had a good field of candidates from which to choose.

“I believe the township board selected two candidates that could do the job well, as difficult it will be for them to step into the void that Sue Gross’ retirement will leave us,” Law said. “As you know, Sue did a tremendous job as our township treasurer and she will be missed.”

Despite the withdrawal of one of the finalists, the board elected to proceed with Bushey’s interview on Tuesday.

“My feeling is that you probably have the best person here today,” Zoner said, suggesting the board vote to appoint Bushey.

Board members voted 5-1 to table the vote, with Zoner dissenting.

Meanwhile the board advised Commerce Township Clerk Vanessa Magner to write letters to possible candidates through a targeted search designed to solicit additional candidates. Board members agreed to seek certified accountants within Commerce Township and Wolverine Lake Village. Under state law, candidates don’t have to have any certifications, with the only requirements being that candidates are township residents (which also includes Wolverine Lake Village), are registered to vote, and are 21 years of age or older.

The deadline for the extended search was set for January 8, with the issue to be taken up again at the board’s January 13 meeting.

Law said he supported the motion to continue the targeted search.

“I think we had some qualified candidates,” he said. “If we are talking about posting the job in the same manner as before, I’m not going

to be up for that. We have done it twice. We had some good candidates, but I’m surprised we didn’t see more,” he said.

Trustee Rob Long agreed, saying the board needs to find more creative ways to advertise so that they have more people applying for jobs or bidding on contracts. He also voiced some concern about appointing Bushey without seeking additional candidates, citing her 2012 bid for the Commerce Township clerk position, in which voters failed to support her despite an endorsement from the incumbent at the time.

In 2012, former Commerce Township Clerk Dan Munro announced he was leaving his position to take a job in the private sector. Despite the announcement, Munro had failed to withdraw from the running in time to have his name taken off of the November ballot. He subsequently endorsed Bushey for the position, indicating he would resign and recommend appointing Bushey if he won the election. Despite the endorsement, Munro won the election by a vote of 10,809 to 5,376, or 66.34 percent to 33 percent.

“I sit on this board because I was elected by the voters, and so were all of you,” Long said. “Jan ran and was overwhelmingly not elected by the voters.”

Village approves sign, storage rules The Wolverine Lake Village Council on Wednesday, December 10, approved seven ordinance amendments regarding electronic signs and temporary storage structures.

The ordinance amendments, which were introduced in November, received final approval by unanimous vote. The village’s planning commission reviewed and approved the ordinance amendments prior to them being introduced to the council in November.

Ordinance numbers 106-A91, 106192, 106-A93 and 106-A94 were amended to clarify definitions of electronic message and electronic signs, as well as to prescribe restrictions, prohibitions and limitations of such signs.

Council member Brian Nedrow said the amendments continue to prohibit revolving signs, but that the language in the amendments makes the ordinance easier to understand.

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PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Westend 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 westendmonthly.com and in an optimized format for your smart phone (westendmonthly.com/mobile), where you can actually map out locations and automatically dial a restaurant from our Places To Eat.

Anaam’s Palate: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2534 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.242.6326.

Applebees Neighborhood Grill: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 9100 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.698.0901.

Backyard Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 49378 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.926.9508.

Bayside Sports Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 142 E. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.3322.

Biffs Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

3050 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.366.7400.

Big Boy Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 5834 Highland Road, Waterford, 48328. 248.674.4631.

Big Boy Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

800 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.624.2323.

Big Boy Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Beer & Wine. 7726 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.363.1573.

Billy’s Tip N Inn: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6707 Highland Road, White Lake Township, 48383. 248.889.7885.

Blu Nectar: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday - Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

1050 Benstein Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.859.5506.

Boon Kai Restaurant: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1257 S. Commerce Road, Commerce, 48390.

248.624.5353.

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

5223 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.674.9464.

Carino’s Italian Restaurant: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 500 Loop Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.926.5300.

Carrie Lee’s of Waterford: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

7890 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.9045.

Casey’s Sports Pub & Grill: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 1003 E West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.5200.

CAYA Smokehouse Grille: Barbeque. Dinner, Tuesday - Sunday. No reservations. Liquor.

1403 S. Commerce Road, Wolverine Lake, 48390. 248.438.6741.

westendmonthly.com

China Garden: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. 49414 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.960.8877.

China House: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 901 Nordic Drive, White Lake Township, 48386.

248.889.2880.

China King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 4785 Carroll Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.363.9966.

CJ’s Brewing Company: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

8115 Richardson Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.366.7979.

Coffee Time Café: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1001 Welch Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.624.0097.

Coyote Grille: American. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 1990 Hiller Road, West Bloomfield, 48324. 248.681.6195.

Dairy Queen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 10531 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386.

248.698.2899.

Daniel’s Pizza Bistro: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2510 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.363.7000.

Dave and Amy’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

9595 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386.

248.698.2010.

Dave’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations.

901 Nordick Drive, White Lake, 48383.

248.889.3600.

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit: Barbecue. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 4825 Carroll Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.360.4055.

Dobski’s: American, Polish. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6565 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.363.6565.

Eddie’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1749 Haggerty Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.960.1430.

El Nibble Nook: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations for 6 or more. Liquor.

2750 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48323. 248.669.3344.

El Patio Mexican Restaurant: Mexican.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

7622 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.5231.

Five Guys Burgers & Fries: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 5134 Highland Road, 48327. 248.673.5557.

Gest Omelets: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily until 4 p.m. No reservations.

39560 W. 14 Mile Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.0717.

Golden Chop Sticks: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 47516 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.3888.

Grand Aztecha: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6041 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322.

248.669.7555.

WESTEND

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O: 248.792.6464 Ext. 601 C: 248.242.3887 HeatherMarquis@downtownpublications.com

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34

Greek Jalapeno: Greek, Mexican. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

6636 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.363.3322.

Green Apple Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 7156 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.366.9100.

Haang's Bistro: Chinese/Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 225 E. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.926.1100.

Highland Grille: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 7265 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.8830.

Highland House: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 2630 E. Highland Road, Highland, 48356.

248.887.4161.

Highland House Café: American, Pizza.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

10719 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.698.4100.

Hong Kong Express: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 5158 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.673.7200.

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

248.360.4150.

Jennifer’s Café: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 4052 Haggerty Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.360.0190.

Jenni1’s Restaurant: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1186 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.8240.

Jeff's Kitchen: Asian. Lunch & Dinner daily.

Reservations. 1130 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.8896.

Kennedy’s Irish Pub: Irish/American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1055 W. Huron Street, Waterford, 48328. 248.681.1050.

L George’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1203 S. Commerce Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.960.5700.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6845 Highland Road, White Lake, 484386. 248.889.5361.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 4895 Carroll Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.366.8360.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2210 Teggerdine, White Lake, 48386. 248.779.7085.

Leon’s Food & Spirits: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 29710 S. Wixom Road, Wixom, 48393. 248.926.5880.

Lion’s Den: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 4444 Highland Road, Waterford, 48328.

248.674.2251.

Lulu’s Coney Island: Greek. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1001 Welch Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.1937.

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

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

248.851.2500.

Mexico Lindo: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6225 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.3460.

Mezza Mediterranean Grille: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1001 Welch Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.926.2190.

Moonlight Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1123 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.859.5352.

Nick & Toney’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday; Sunday until 3 p.m. No reservations. 9260 Cooley Lake Road, White Lake, 48386.

248.363.1162.

North Szechuan Empire: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39450 W. 14 Mile Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.960.7666.

On The Waterfront: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 8635 Cooley Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.363.9469.

Panera Bread: Bakery, Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

5175 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.618.0617.

Pepino’s Restaurant & Lounge: Italian.

Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 118 W. Walled Lake Drive, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.624.1033.

Red Lobster: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 479 N. Telegraph Road, Waterford, 48328.

248.682.5146.

Red Robin: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 3003 Commerce Crossing, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.2990.

Root Restaurant & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Liquor. 340 Town Center Blvd., White Lake, 48386. 248.698.2400.

Rudy’s Waffle House: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 674 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.7550.

Samuri Steakhouse: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 7390 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.661.8898.

Shark Club: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6665 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.4161.

SIAM Fushion: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 6845 Highland Road, White Lake Township, 48386.

248.887.1300.

Siegel’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3426 E. West Maple Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.926.9555.

Sizzl in Subs & Salads: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2051 N. Wixom Road, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.0009.

WESTEND

Socialight Cigar Bar & Bistro: American.

Lunch & Dinner daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 6139 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.669.0777.

Swasdee Thai Restaurant: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6175 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.926.1012.

Sweet Water Bar & Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 7760 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.363.0400.

Taqueria La Casita: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 49070 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.926.1980.

Thai Kitchen: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 7108 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.886.0397.

The Lake’s Bar & Grill: American. Lunch, Tuesday - Sunday; Dinner daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 2528 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.366.3311.

The Library Pub: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

6363 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.896.0333.

TJ’s Sushi & Chinese Restaurant: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 8143 Commerce Road, Commerce Township, 48382.

248.363.3388.

Ultimate Sports Bar Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

Liquor. 47528 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.859.2851.

Uptown Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

3100 West Maple Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.960.3344.

Village Grill: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1243 N. Commerce Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.366.3290.

Volare Risorante: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 49115 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.7771.

VR Famous Fried Chicken: American, Cajun. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 47520 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.926.6620.

White Palace: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6123 Haggerty Restaurant, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.313.9656.

Wilson’s Pub n Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

2256 Union Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.363.1849.

Wixom Station Food and Drink: American Contemporary. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 49115 Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393. 248.859.2882.

Wonton Palace: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 5562 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.683.5073.

Woody’s Café: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 235 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.624.4379.

01.15

FACES

M.J. Abrams uthor of the children’s book “Chubby Wubbles: A Ferret’s Tale,” M.J. Abrams, takes readers on a heartwarming journey with a boy and his beloved ferret, Chubby.

“I always felt I had a book inside me, but it never really came to fruition.

I would start a book and get bored after three pages.”

In 2005, Abrams began writing the 24-page book based on his son, Jeffrey, and the real life Chubby Wubbles. “I took all the pictures in the book. Each photo on the page is a reflection of what’s going on in that page. You can kind of relate to how he looks with how the story is flowing.”

The unlikely children’s book author grew up in Detroit and graduated from Walsh College with a degree in accounting. As a young man, Abrams enjoyed collecting baseball cards, comic books, and stamps. Like a lot of boys, he dreamt of playing sports for a living.

“I thought I’d be a baseball player or something to do with sports. But I was drafted into the army in 1964. I was stationed overseas in Munich just after the Vietnam War started.”

Upon his return in 1966, Abrams began working for Ford Motor Company. He and his wife had two boys, Mark and Jeffrey. The boys and their ferret later inspired Abrams to publish his first work.

Abram’s older son, Mark, had acquired Chubby from a friend. Jeffrey took ownership of the ferret and became a main character in Abram’s book.

Through real photos, events and some imagination, Abrams writes of Chubby escaping from the apartment where he lives with Jeffrey. “A lot of

A

the things in the book are true,” he said. “But, of course you have to make up a few things to make it interesting.”

The mischievous ferret’s curiosity gets the better of him and he finds himself face-to-face with wild animals.

“Jeffrey saves him,” Abrams said. “They think about their friendship and how they’ll never lose each other again.”

Trafford Publishing, Abram’s publishing company, gave the story a gold seal of literary excellence. The book it is available through Trafford, eBook, Amazon, and at Barnes and Noble.

“For a children’s book, you usually don’t see a lot of dialogue,” Abrams said. “This has maybe a few paragraphs per page. What makes it kind of unique is it’s more of a real story rather than a fantasy because of the photos. There are a lot of things that are involved in the story. There is a wide range of emotions that sweep through the book from beginning to end.”

Abrams has an idea for a follow up children’s book involving two ferrets.

In the meantime, the longtime West Bloomfield resident and his wife enjoy traveling the globe. The two will be traveling to the South Pacific next month.

“I worked for Ford Motor for 40 years. Everything I’ve done has been steady. I’ve been married for 43 years, raised a couple good kids, and had a couple of good pets.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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BUSINESS MATTERS Pet groomers opens Spot On Pet Grooming has opened at 8164 Cooley Lake Road in White Lake Township, for a full service grooming at one of the few groomers in the area that accepts both canine and feline friends. “Many groomers don’t do cats,” said Dawn Lyons, who recently opened Spot On Pet Grooming. “I’m one of the only ones that does cats. And I take all breeds of dogs.” Lyons said she has been grooming dogs for about 25 years, but recently decided it was time to open her own business. When she discovered the White Lake Township shop, just over from a Pet Supplies Plus, she said she found the perfect location. Lyons said each of the fullservice dog grooms includes oatmeal shampoo wash, coat conditioner, drying, brushing the dog’s teeth, nail trim and other extras that typically cost extra at other groomers. It’s that attention to detail and little extras that Lyons said sets her apart from other groomers. Essentially, she said, “we treat each dog like our own. My last boy was a Rottweiler/labrador mix, and now I have another,” she said of her own dogs. “I like large breed dogs. And, if we get a very large breed dog that won’t get in the tub, we have a shower here that I can use for the large dogs.” Prior to starting her own dog grooming business, Lyons started doing kennel work and took care of a pet store at a pet center in Petoskey. She then began attending dog shows with her former employer, and when her dog groomer quit, Lyons took over grooming for shows. “She taught me how to do it,and I love to do it,” Lyons said.

Golf course closes Nearly a half century after opening, the Glenlore Golf Course, 2000 Sleeth Road, in Commerce Township, has ceased operations and won’t be re-opening for the 2015 golf season.

“It’s been an honor and privilege to provide the community with a great golfing experience for all of these years,” said owner Mike Ryan, who purchased Glenlore in 1983.

“Thousands of golfers, both young and old, played their first round of golf at Glenlore, and we have enjoyed a very loyal following throughout our stewardship of Glenlore. We wish all westendmonthly.com

of our golfers the very best, and we thank them for their loyal patronage of Glenlore.” Glenlore first opened in 1965, about a dozen years after Al and Lee Kocsis purchased a 40-acre plot of land with the intention of opening a golf course. By 1966, Glenlore had opened a full 18-hole course. The course was sold to the Gary Breeden family, and later purchased in 1983 by Ryan. Ryan, who was unable to be reached for comment, said the course closed for the 2014 season on December 15, and won’t re-open in the spring of 2015.

The Glenlore website states that the course will cease operations on January 1, 2015. Ann Parvin, LPGA teaching professional at Glenlore for the past 30 years, will continue to teach locally and has launched a website – annparvingolf.com – to establish her schedule and contact information.

New hospital CEO The Detroit Medical Center (DMC) Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, located at 1 William Carls Drive in Commerce Township, has promoted Karen Fordham from Huron Valley-Sinai COO to the CEO position effective January 1. Fordham will replace Andrei Soran, who took the role of DMC Chief Operating Officer on July 1. Fordham has more than 15 years of experience in healthcare operations, and has been with the DMC since 2007 in several administrative position. As COO, Fordham had direct oversight of service line development, strategic planning and growth, physician recruitment, outpatient imaging centers and oversight of the radiology leadership team across the entire DMC system. She also led construction of Huron Valley-Sinai’s ICU, private room renovations and the re-opening of a Children’s Hospital of Michigan inpatient pediatric unit at the hospital. Prior to DMC, Fordham served in administrative roles for Oakwood Healthcare System, Spectrum Health and ProMe Healthcare. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Michigan University. Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital is one of nine hospitals and institutes operated by the Detroit Medical Center. “We are thrilled for Karen to lead in this role,

and have a CEO who has worked her way up through DMC,” said DMC CEO Joe Mullany. “Karen’s strong stewardship and system experience helped guide Huron Valley-Sinai through transition and will serve the hospital well in the ever-changing healthcare landscape.”

Rail-inspired restaurant The advent of the nation’s railroad system helped to place several of Oakland County’s small towns on the map in the 1800s. Now, Wixom Station Food and Drink at 49115 Pontiac Trail in Wixom, pays homage to the history of railroads in America while offering a large menu of contemporary American cuisine and drinks. As the name implies, Wixom Station, located near the city’s historic train depot, is adorned with train memorabilia, including signs and historic photos from Wixom’s past. However, the restaurant’s menu is a departure from other restaurants started by Wixom Station co-owners Tony and Frank Shushtari, who operate Loccino Italian Grill in Troy and Alfoccino restaurants in Auburn Hills and Farmington Hills. Simon Gorvokovic, who worked as head chef at the Loccino Italian Grill, has also moved to the Wixom Station location, where he also is a co-owner.

“They wanted to try something a little different,” said manager Katie Durkee. “The location we have is a great location, and there is an Italian restaurant across from us, so we have a more Americanized menu.” Wixom Station describes itself as an American Contemporary restaurant, offering cut-to-order steaks, gourmet pizza, burgers, sandwiches and salads. The menu also features some Italian items, such as lobster ravioli, chicken tortellini and other offerings.

In all, the bar offers eight different beers on tap, three of which are made in Michigan, and a selection of 28 different bottled beers, including eight which are made in Michigan.

Wintertime seating at the restaurant is large enough to host parties or banquets, with seating for 147 people, with room for an additional 60 on the patio during warmer months.

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

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ENDNOTE

Time to review structure of townships aws aren't written in stone, and the search for a new treasurer in Commerce Township provides a good example of why some laws should be updated to meet the needs of today's municipalities.

This past September, Commerce Township Treasurer Susan Gross announced that she would be retiring from the township at the end of 2014, after working for four decades at the township offices, including 21 years as township treasurer. While the township board of trustees didn't waste any time in starting the search to replace Gross, the search has been extended twice when only a dozen candidates applied for the job. Of the 12 who applied for the job, two pulled their names out of the running, citing financial concerns and job stability.

While governmental jobs rarely keep pace with their private sector counterparts, the fact that the township officers of supervisor, clerk and treasurer, are elected positions – meaning whoever is appointed to serve the remaining two years of Gross' term will have to run for reelection to keep the job – has proven a deterrence to some well-qualified candidates

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from applying for the job. However, under state law, the only requirements for such positions are that candidates be township residents, registered to vote and over the age of 21.

Once those limited requirements might have made sense when determining job qualifications.

The state's township law was passed in 1947, and we feel it is time to update the law to address the requirements of some of today's growing townships. While Commerce Township and other lakes area municipalities have often been fortunate enough to find qualified people who have grown with their communities, the needs of what have developed into urban townships require more specific sets of skills and knowledge to be effective in their elected positions. Townships are usually much larger than adjacent cities, with their city managerform of government, and today have the same, if not even greater, demands upon civic leaders.

Residency cannot be the only qualification upon which leadership is based.

We feel now is an appropriate time for stakeholders, such as the Michigan Township

Association, to push for changes to the 1947 law to allow for townships to look outside their communities to hire the best qualified candidate for township treasurer positions, much the way cities are able to hire treasurers and clerks.

Such a change would require rethinking the political structure of township boards, but there already is precedent at the township level.

States law already permits township boards to appoint a township superintendent or township manager to perform the duties and responsibilities of the elected township supervisor position. Amending the law to allow the same for treasurer positions makes sense for townships, especially in areas like metro Detroit.

Therefore, it seems as if it would now make sense to allow townships to hire the best qualified candidates, as cities do, rather than the best qualified resident.

While looking at the law now wouldn't do much to help solve Commerce Township's current treasurer opening, we believe modifying the law sooner, rather than later, would benefit Commerce Township and others in the state in the long run.

Regional water authority good first step ust a year after a proposal to lease the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department (DWSD) infrastructure was labeled “dead on arrival”

by Oakland County officials, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA) last month held its first organizational meeting with representatives from Detroit, Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

While Oakland County Deputy Executive and water authority board member Robert Daddow said there are still a number of issues to address before the authority is officially up and running this coming spring, we are pleased to see months of negotiations have finally created a regional water authority that provides fair representation for all ratepayers, and provides a means to address some of the largest problems in the aging water and sewerage system.

Daddow, who was appointed to the regional water board in October by Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, said initial proposals by former Detroit Emergency Manager Kevyn Orr and advisors with law firm Miller Buckfire were unsatisfactory. Specifically, the proposal would have had suburban communities pay about $9 billion into the system over 40 years, with no guarantee that money would stay in the system to pay for infrastructure and operations.

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Further, Oakland County officials stressed the importance of setting up a regional authority that would provide fair representation for each of the suburban communities paying into the system.

However, Daddow said Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan entered the discussion and agreed that money paid into the system should stay there and be used to support operations and infrastructure, rather than be used to provide added income to the city of Detroit’s general fund.

Of the some 4 million people who receive services from the (DWSD), about 1.22 million are in Oakland County, with another 1.2 million in Wayne and 850,000 in Macomb County. In total, suburban communities provide about 80 percent of the department’s revenues, which total more than $750 million annually. Yet, suburban representation on the DWSD’s current sevenmember Water Board of Commissioners has been limited to three members since 1960.

Under the new authority, the GLWA will be operated by a six-member board, with three members representing the counties, two representatives from the city of Detroit, and one representative for areas served by the DWSD outside of Detroit and the three other counties, who will be appointed by the governor’s office.

The GLWA will lease the regional assets from the city for 40 years at the rate of $50 million per year.

Under the agreement that allows the GLWA, all lease payments must stay within the system to fix the city’s failing infrastructure. Detroit must use the $50 million annual lease payments only for capital improvements to the system and may not use them to support payments to its general fund.

The agreement also requires the city of Detroit to be responsible for paying for its local system operating costs. Further, the agreement establishes a $4.5 million Water Resources Affordability Fund to assist those most in need throughout the entire GLWA area.

Although there are bound to be some wrangling among the new authority’s members during the due diligence period, we are pleased to see 15 months of negotiations, including five months of federal court-ordered confidential mediation, result in an agreement that has been needed for nearly 40 years. And we feel confident that the players involved in the GLWA will continue to work together in the best interest of ratepayers and the structure that has allowed the metro Detroit region to grow and flourish as a region since the late 1950s.

It’s an excellent start that is long overdue.

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