PLACES TO EAT: OUR GUIDE TO NEARLY 100 LAKES AREA RESTAURANTS MARCH 2015
THE LAST
FARMERS IN OAKLAND SCARCITY OF LAND, RISING VALUES, OTHER CHALLENGES DEAD MALLS: WHY SOME CENTERS MAKE IT AND SOME DON'T LEADERS OF FAITH: WHO'S IN THE PULPITS AT HOUSES OF WORSHIP
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Time to start planning for your spring move. Call Jennifer for your free market analysis today!
Oakland County's Lakefront Specialist
Jennifer Wrobleski 248-854-3100 Office: 248-360-2900 jwrobleski@kw.com www.MichiganHomeMarketPlace.com
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Ranch on Cedar Island Lake in White Lake. $365,000
Colonial with Beacon Hill Golf Course frontage in Commerce Township. $329,900
Ranch located in White Lake. $139,900
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Pleasant Lake lakefront Ranch in Waterford. $224,900
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Cedar Island Lake ranch in White Lake. $550,000
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Commerce Twp, MI 48382
westend03.15
16
Local Religious Leaders: Who’s in the pulpit Clergy members leading others in their religion, are individually as diverse as the religions they represent in the West Oakland area.
FROM THE PUBLISHER
8 While there are still many farms left in Oakland County, it is a far cry from what is was years ago as development and other issues facing farmers.
Publisher David Hohendorf talks about the life experiences that helped shape his view and the views expressed each month in his column appearing in Westend.
CRIME LOCATOR
13
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.
IN OAKLAND
MUNICIPAL
32
SCARCITY OF LAND, RISING VALUES, OTHER CHALLENGES
New DDA land offer includes restaurant; library location criticized; lake consultant contract extended; Wise Road park work begins; community development position remains vacant; Law is new judge; treasurer appointed; plus more
BUSINESS MATTERS
38 29 The dead malls While the metro area still boasts some successful shopping malls, malls in general have serious challenges that threaten their survival.
THE LAST
FARMERS
Karma Yoga; Great Expressions Dental Centers; Radio Shack; Below the Bridge and Above.
ENDNOTE
42
DEAD MALLS: WHY SOME CENTERS MAKE IT AND SOME DON'T LEADERS OF FAITH: WHO'S IN THE PULPITS AT HOUSES OF WORSHIP
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792
Oakland's last farmers
MARCH 2015
ECRWSS Postal Customer
25
PLACES TO EAT: OUR GUIDE TO NEARLY 100 LAKES AREA RESTAURANTS
Our thoughts on the most recent concerns about the Commerce library location and the move to not replace the community development director.
FACES
15 Nancy Gad-Harf 23
Justin Ridley
37 Jim Miller
THE COVER A scenic look at the Edgewood Country Club in Commerce Township. Westend photo: G. Lynn Barnett.
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PUBLISHER David Hohendorf NEWS EDITOR Lisa Brody NEWS STAFF/CONTRIBUTORS Allison Batdorff | Rachel Bechard | Hillary Brody Kevin Elliott | Sally Gerak | Austen Hohendorf Sarah Kovan | J. Marsh | Kathleen Meisner | Bill Seklar 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
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FROM THE PUBLISHER
T
he Sunday edition of the New York Times hit my porch sometime between 5 and 6 a.m. as I was starting to write my column for this edition of Westend.
I find the early morning hours a more productive time to write, with my wife and our dog still asleep and the normal distractions of the day – phone calls, e-mails and texts from my sons who live in New York, advertisers or news sources non-existent. Each month I grapple with a variety of topics for my column – ongoing notations and related research all dutifully bookmarked in my laptop. Some months I write about topics related specifically to what we may be doing/planning at Downtown Publications. More often than not I use this space to comment on what I observe in the local world of government and politics, having followed all of this since the late 1960's. This month I decided to share some personal information about myself, which hopefully provides some insight about things that have shaped my world views, I am sure much to the chagrin of some critics who in past months have called, e-mailed or written – sometimes politely and sometimes not – to charge that I am some “radical”, and/or Westend is a “left-wing rag.” Personally, I was raised by two strong Catholic parents, both of whom passed away when I was in my early 20's, with six brothers and sisters, first in Detroit and later in the then-farmland that would become Sterling Heights. We moved there when my father's GM/Fisher Body job was relocated to the GM Tech Center in Warren. One of our favorite after-school past-times was cutting from our sparsely-populated subdivision through the migrantworker farms to reach the Clinton River, which in those days was still clean enough in which to swim.
My mother was a most devout Catholic who desperately hoped that I, as the oldest son, would some day enter the priesthood, which is why starting in second grade she required me daily to read aloud and discuss a set number of pages of St. Thomas Aquinas Summa Theologiae, before I could join with neighborhood kids in after school play. And, yes, I did my stint as an altar boy and mastered the Latin in which all rituals Catholic were then performed. It goes without saying that the three oldest children attended Catholic elementary school in Detroit. Once we hit the suburbs when I was in fifth grade, we moved into the pubic school system, although as I reached high school, I pitched my parents to join my older sister Susan in Catholic school in Utica, paying the tuition myself from a variety of jobs, including a few summers working a Belgian farm on M-59 in the summer months and fall weekends.
I spent about six years in college, which I underwrote myself with scholarships and full-time employment, eventually graduating from Michigan State University with a degree in English with considerable studies in philosophy. On occasion I freelanced movie and art reviews for the student newspaper, the State News, and helped launch a shortlived literary magazine. My baptism in the world of politics included growing up watching the civil rights marches in the South on television each night with my parents, both Republicans as I recall it now. My sophomore year in college is when the anti-war movement surrounding the Vietnam War was beginning to gain steam and I spent a few years working as a counselor at the East Lansing Draft Information Center. Watergate was also in the headlines on a daily basis. Post college, I considered myself a Republican, morphing like many others in the past 20 years to more of an Independent as both traditional political parties became more entrenched with far right or far left platform positions that I could not blindly support. I remain a fiscal conservative but lean liberal when it comes to social issues. I have long been a student of government, with a strong understanding of how local, county and state officials should – but don't always – function. I am a believer in our form of representative democracy, although I have been serving in the journalism field long enough to know that, like any system, it is not perfect, which is why I think it important to use the space in our publications to lay bare the details on a variety of topics so readers can make their own determination of how well the government is doing. As to my own column, on occasion I can be highly critical of those in power, which in this county and state often means the Republicans. But that is part of the process of keeping the government and politicians honest. Leftist? Hardly. Concerned about the direction we are heading on a variety of issues? You bet. So if you are looking for a publication that avoids controversy and gives you the “lite” version of what is happening, turn to the other publications circulating in the local area. If you seek an added voice in the public discourse, continue returning to Westend and this space each month.
David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com
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MLS 215004183 – $542,900 Inviting, open & spacious Cape Code/Colonial on a beautiful quiet cul-de-sac, marble foyer leads into redecorated open great room & dining room with a beautiful view of the picturesque woods, large first floor master bedroom with gas fireplace and recently remodeled master bath, beautiful brick paver patio leads to finished walk-out lower level with wet bar and much more! www.realestateone.com
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MLS 214126222 - $258,900 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, vaulted 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
MLS 214128289 - $679,000 Architecturally elegant, stunning, custom designed 4 bedroom, 2.5 bath Mediterranean style home situated in prime location on a highly desired street. Over 2500 sq. ft. of finished living space with a fully prepped build out for basement with plumbing installed, Brazilian Cherry hardwood floors/stairs, open kitchen with wet bar, full master suite. www.realestateone.com
MLS 215013306 - $490,000 “Private” All Sports Oxbow Lakefront located on desirable peninsula with 155’ lake frontage, seawall. Spacious comfortable 4 bedroom home offering spectacular lake views from every window, custom kitchen with 10’ ceiling, washed cherry cabinets, hardwood floor, lakeside sun room, master bedroom with dressing room, lakeside balcony, heated 3 car garage & workshop. www.realestateone.com
© Real Estate One, Inc., 2014
Lakes Area (248) 363-8300
EQUAL HOUSING
OPPORTUNITY
INCOMING The full library story Many of you are aware that township officials have decided to take part of Dodge Park V to build our new library. I have lived in Commerce Township for 30 years and one of the main goals was to have more parks and open space. So what do we do? We take one of our parks for a library. Sounds simple. Now the rest of the story: Last summer a Boy Scout named Nathan approached the township to ask permission to build a pavilion in one of its parks. You see Nathan was working on his Eagle Scout ranking and he needed this project to complete part of that. During the previous year Nathan raised over $10,000.00, all in donations, for this project. With a little of haggling, the township finally gave him permission to build it. You guessed it. They approved it to be in Dodge Park V and of course, exactly where the new library is to be located. The township agreed to this knowing that it was a high possibility the library was to be located there. The project went ahead as planned. The finished project is amazing. Now it is going to be either torn down or a feeble attempt to move it. So I'm letting the township know that I will no longer support any
(millages) or special assessments that it may bring to the citizens. Also, this means no votes for existing officials. This also includes (state representative) Klint Kesto. He is the one that got the state to lift deed restrictions on the park. Next time think about who you vote for. James Coolican Commerce
DUMP YOUR DEBT
2015
A New Year Time for “A Fresh Start”
If you are receiving a Tax Refund for 2014 Tax Filings –
YOU HAVE 3 CHOICES...
Library location
1 Spend the Money Frivolously 2 Try and Pay-Off Credit Card Debt and Medical Bills 3 Use the Money to File Bankruptcy and for pennies on the dollar dump all of your “Debt”
I think you should build the (new Commerce) library in the same DDA development area it now occupies for both enhancing the township and avoiding problems with placement, which seem to be dogging this project at every turn. Susan Bayha Commerce
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I read the publisher opinion on Dave Agema (From The Publisher/February) and not only disagree with him, but disagree with his obvious left leaning politics. He may not know this but Oakland County is a majority of conservative Republicans and Tea Party members.That’s why I live here. Craig Beach Commerce
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WESTEND
11
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 February 18, 2015. Placement of codes is approximate.
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FACES Nancy Gad-Harf ven during the dimmest days of her life, when Nancy Gad-Harf’s body was ravaged by disease, a clarity emerged that allowed her to express her soul through the artistry of jewelry making. “I think that there was a spiritual component to making beautiful things. It was an affirmation of life,” said the owner of Nancy Gad-Harf Designs. “I knew I was alive and I was making something someone would enjoy.” Gad-Harf earned a PhD in politics from Brandeis University. She was awarded a congressional fellowship and worked on Capitol Hill. While she did not pursue a career in politics, the fellowship led her to her husband, David, who was working as the legislative assistant to a senator. “I thought I might go into academics or policymaking, but for a variety of reasons, my career took a different path. I worked for 30 years in the Jewish community doing fundraising, teaching and counseling. I ran some pretty big campaigns,” she recounted. Then, in 2009, her life changed when she was diagnosed with a brain tumor. “I had to be in physical therapy and I had lost my balance. I had to relearn how to walk. I felt as if David had the brain tumor. When you watch someone you love dealing with that, it’s very stressful and frightening.” Although her career was in an upswing, Gad-Harf, a West Bloomfield resident, said she had to do something to nurture the creative side of herself. She took a class in New York, where she grew up, and she began bead weaving. Still reeling from the difficult medical ordeal, GadHarf was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. “It was stage one. I had surgery and radiation,” she said. “I felt kind of lucky, actually, because I had wonderful doctors who diagnosed the cancer early and saved my life. I was really, really lucky.” All the while, she continued to create her designs. “I officially stopped working and decided to make the most out of my friends, my family and my life. I was not going to worry so much about the little things.” She had the creative gift and, after overcoming cancer and a brain tumor, she had the tenacity to market her stunning creations. She started a unique word-of-mouth business. Today, healthy and thriving, Nancy Gad-Harf Designs are sold in Sally’s Design Boutique in West Bloomfield, Heartwear Designs in Birmingham, and Presence II Productions in Detroit. “Each piece is unique. I use glass beads and semiprecious stones, sterling silver and Swarovski crystals,” she said. “I try to weave all of these things together. I make necklaces and bracelets. There is a certain amount of emotional energy that goes into every piece. Because they are one-of-a-kind, they will never be mass produced.” The Gad-Harfs live in West Bloomfield near their son, Josh and his wife, Danielle. Jonah, their grandson, is a great source of joy. “Family is everything. Family is a connection to the past. It’s a connection to the future. It is the greatest source of love and support.”
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Story: Katey Meisner
Photo: Laurie Tennent
BY KEVIN ELLIOTT hroughout the west Oakland County area there are nearly three dozen houses of worship representing various faiths and denominations, reflecting the diverse population in Commerce, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake, White Lake, West Bloomfield and their neighboring communities. Some are small, intimate parishes, while others are large, cathedral-like houses of worship, which draw members from all over the area. There are Catholics, Protestants, Methodists, Jews, nondenominational Christians and other religions. In an interfaith region, the houses of worship and their leading clergy demonstrate both a passion for their religion and the community at large. Clergy members, those who have felt the calling to lead others in their religion and have been ordained in that religion to perform rituals and sacred functions, are individually as diverse as the religions they represent in the area. Of the five largest houses of worship, one is Jewish, one is Lutheran, and three are Catholic. These are the clergy leaders of the largest houses of worship in the area.
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WHO’S IN THE PULPIT PROFILES OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS AT SOME LOCAL HOUSES OF WORSHIP
Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent
Rabbi Harold Loss, Temple Israel 5725 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield | 248.661.5700
Rabbi Harold Loss
Originally organized in the summer of 1941, Temple Israel started with a congregation of nearly 600 members aiming to revive many of the symbols and traditions of the Jewish heritage and establish them within a Reform setting. Meeting for nine years in the auditorium of the Detroit Institute of Arts, the temple’s first sanctuary was later established in the Palmer Park area of Detroit, which served as its home for 30 years. In 1970, Rabbi Harold Loss joined Temple Israel’s clergy. As the movement of the area’s Jewish community migrated to the northwest suburbs, a new sanctuary was built in 1980 on Walnut Lake Road in West Bloomfield. In 1989, Temple Israel was expanded, and today has the largest Reform congregation in the country with more than 3,400 families and 12,000 members throughout the metro Detroit area. “It was never an intention to become the largest Reform congregation. It was really a matter of developing programs and bringing additional clergy in,” Rabbi Loss said. “The philosophy of the institution, being a traditional Reform congregation, meaning reform is a constant process of change and choosing from that which is in the past and looking to bring those things that are most meaningful into a context that will enable modern Jews to participate. “It was never our intention to be the largest in number. We try to define ourselves as having the largest, small congregation. We began by saying, ‘How do we create meaningful programs,’ and over the passage of years, many members of the Jewish community have identified with us.” Temple Israel was the first Reform congregation in the area to introduce a cantor to the service, to revive the tradition of bar and bat mitzvah. They also hold a daily morning minyan and regard wearing of a skullcap as a matter of personal choice. During it’s history, no rabbi has ever left the congregation for another sanctuary. Rabbis Loss, Paul Yedwab, Josh Bennett, Marla Hornsten, Jennifer Kaluzny, Jennifer Lader, Cantor Michael Smith and Cantorial Soloist Neil Michaels all remain actively involved in the life of the temple. “We work very much in a team structure. The concept being that the best idea wins. It’s not the rabbi who has been here the longest,” Rabbi Loss said. “From my perspective, I’ve been involved in every aspect of the congregation, from the building to developing trips to Israel. I would probably say that I’m someone who truly enjoys the role of being able to transmit this tradition of over 3,000 years to the next generation, and to find ways to make it both meaningful in their lives, and viable in terms of their ability to function within a Jewish community that is quite different than it had been many years ago.” “On a daily basis, a rabbi, minister, or priest can be called into many unique situations, and if we try to evaluate what really gives us any sense of pride or joy, it’s when you’re able to touch someone’s life,” Loss said. “One of the things you learn when you’re involved in a synagogue or church or mosque: as good as you think you may be doing, every day you’re trying to evaluate, critique and find ways of trying to make what others see as successful, even better.”
Associate Pastor Father Andrew Seba, Saint Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church 6900 W. Maple Road, West Bloomfield | 248.788.2460
Associate Pastor Father Andrew Seba
St. Thomas Chaldean Catholic Church has one of the largest congregations of any house of worship in the metro Detroit area, with about 3,200 registered families belonging to the parish. Established in 1992, the church originally held mass at St. Mary’s in Orchard Lake until the property was acquired in West Bloomfield Township and the parish was completed 1998. “It’s a very active parish, and our people are willing to serve, which is a sign for an active community,” said Father Andrew Seba, associate pastor at the church. “We started a 7:30 evening mass about a month ago. The other masses were packed. On average, there are about 500 people attending. It’s almost an anomaly, but it’s also a testament to the grace of the Holy Spirit working in the community.” Because the parish is one of the larger English-speaking Chaldean parishes in the metro Detroit area, St. Thomas holds four English masses each weekend, with additional weekday mass in English at the Eastern Catholic ReEvangelization Center in Bloomfield Hills. Chaldean mass is also held each weekday, as well as once on Sunday. Arabic mass is also held each Sunday. Fr. Seba, the youngest pastor at the church, said that because the Chaldean Church flourished independently of the Roman Catholic Church, there are some differences in tradition. For instance, about a quarter of the English mass is still spoken in Chaldean. “That’s just to help retain that tradition,” Seba said “For example, at the the beginning of the liturgy, we chant a prayer that one of our early martyrs chanted on the way to his death. The Chaldean Church, from its roots, was persecuted, and it continues to be.” Parishioners familiar with Father Seba may notice his appreciation of laughter, something he said he tries to incorporate in his homilies to help people better connect with the scripture. “When it comes to the homily, it’s the job of the priest to unravel the scriptures and help us to understand it and make it current,” he said. “Personally, I hated boring homilies. I enjoy laughing. There’s only one painting of Jesus laughing, and it’s the cheesiest picture in the world – someone needs to get on top of that.” While Seba helps with the Chaldean and Arabic masses, he said his specialty is the English mass. While he speaks Arabic, he said he doesn’t read it. Born and raised in the Roman Catholic tradition, it was at St. Joseph Chaldean Catholic Church in Troy where Seba said he became refreshed spiritually, and his desire to serve the church was revitalized. “When I was in high school, I had something I didn’t want, and I tried to avoid it at all costs. I went to Wayne State University and was a pre-med student. After the first year, I felt something in my heart, and I said to God, ‘I will give you this summer, and after that, stop bothering me.’ “I took that summer to see what other possibilities I could be called to. I went to a retreat in Chicago and it woke me up, spiritually. I became more open to the Holy Spirit and where it wanted to lead me, rather than me leading myself.”
In 2008, Seba entered the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. He received training in the language and tradition, and was appointed to St. Thomas in August of 2013, just months after former St. Thomas Pastor Frank Yohana Kalabat was appointed and ordained Bishop of Saint Thomas the Apostle of Detroit. “I enjoy working closely with them and being with them at times of their joy,” Seba said of the St. Thomas parishioners. “Weddings and baptisms are part of that, but also being with them during tragedy and sharing the love of Jesus. People think I don’t have fun. The say, ‘he’s a priest, he sits in an office all day,’ and that’s really not true.”
Pastor Father Thomas Meagher, St. Patrick Parish of White Lake 9086 Hutchins Road, White Lake | 248.698.3100 A green historical marker mounted outside the small, white chapel tells the history of White Lake’s St. Patrick Parish and how it served as the house of worship for Irish immigrants who moved to the area in the 1800s. But the historic church holds a special personal history for Fr. Thomas Meagher, who would go to the chapel with his grandparents when he was a child. “I grew up in Milford, and my grandparents had a cottage here, so we went to church at the little chapel there,” said Meagher, who was appointed as pastor of St. Patrick Parish of White Lake in 1987. “It seats about 50 people, and I was about 9 or 10 years old, that’s where we went to mass in the summertime. We could see inside the windows. I would have never thought that so many years later I would have been turning the key to the same door.” The history of the small chapel reflect’s Meagher history, as the immigrants who constructed the small chapel were from the Tipperary area of Ireland, the same location his father lived before migrating. “I think that’s an interesting part of this parish,” he said. “It was settled by Irish immigrants in the 1840s, and there’s a cemetery here that goes back that far. I think the Irish immigrants came to this area and wanted to settle in a place that reminded them of their home country.” While the small chapel still stands at the same location as it did when built in 1840, a newer building was later constructed and the church was recognized as a parish by the Archdiocese in 1948. The modern building was constructed in 1965 and dedicated in 1966. The parish was expanded in the 1970s, with two more expansions in more recent years. Today, the congregation has a membership of about 3,200 families. Additionally, the parish operates St. Patrick School for families seeking a Catholic education for their children, with curriculum for preschoolers, kindergarten, elementary and middle school students. Meagher, along with Associate Pastor Fr. John Peter Arulanadam and Deacon Michael Chesley, serve as clergy at the church. Today, the church holds a 5 p.m. mass on Saturdays; three on Sunday; a Monday and Wednesday mass; Thursday and Friday masses during the school year; and a Tuesday video mass for those who aren’t able to attend in person. “We have a studio here with volunteers,” Meagher said. “We have a reach-out center for the needy and poor, and we tie into the Open Door in town.” In terms of the congregation, Meagher said the diversity of the population has changed over time as the population has changed, still drawing parishioners of all ages. Likewise, the building has expanded through the years. “I was able to build on the good ministry that happened before me, and take it from what it was to where it is today. It’s a very active parish, with a lot of things going on. The annual fair and fish fry brings the community together. The idea is that its a very family-oriented parish, and multi-generational.” Born in Detroit, Meagher attended the University of Detroit and Sacred Heart Seminary, in Detroit, as well as St. John’s Provincial Seminary, in Plymouth Township. He was ordained in 1964, at Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament, in Detroit, and celebrated his first Mass at St. Mary Church, in Milford. Fr. Meagher served as associate pastor at St. Raymond Parish, in Detroit, from 1964 to 1972 and St. William Parish, in Walled Lake, from 1972 to 1975. He was pastor of St. Christine Parish, in Detroit, from 1975 to 1979 and St. Benedict Parish, in Pontiac, from 1979 to 1987. Later in 1987, he was made pastor of St. Patrick Parish, of White Lake, where he continues to serve. Fr. Meagher served as vicar of the Vicariate of the Lakes in 1974 and the West Detroit Vicariate in 1975-76. In 1991, he received the Cardinal Mooney Award, for which he studied in Dublin, Ireland. The oldest of five children, Meagher was the only child in the family who was called into the clergy. Today, his brother still lives on the farm on Burns Road in Milford. “You usually don’t get an assignment for more than six years,” Meagher said about his time at St. Patrick. “Maybe it will get renewed for six years after, but I was fortunate to remain here, so far.”
Pastor Father Michael Savickas, St. William Parish 531 Common Street, Walled Lake | 248.624.1421 Suburban sprawl to areas of west Oakland County, particularly in Walled Lake, has helped the congregation at St. William Parish to grow over its 75-year history. As pastor of the St. William Parish for the past 30 years, Father Michael Savickas has watched the congregation grow from about 1,600 families to about 2,200 registered families today. “The parish has grown physically over the years, but that’s only natural. We have a very active parish, with about 40 or so groups in the parish,” he said. “There is always a need. We have a school and started a pre-school last year.” With many active organizations, the parish strives to be able to offer activities to everyone, including religious education, youth or adult education, Christian Service opportunities, outreach and social activities, and of course, prayer and worship. With one of the most significant congregations in the area, the parish’s boundaries incorporate about 45 square miles, including all of Walled Lake and Wixom, and parts of Wet Bloomfield, Commerce and Novi. Regularly holding one of the largest Lenten fish fry in the county, St. William Parish maintains an active parish with several groups and organizations, as well as St. William Catholic School, with an elementary and middle school curriculum and recently opened pre-school curriculum. However, Savickas said the parish is best known for its
Pastor Father Thomas Meagher
Father Michael Savickas
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welcoming spirit that is expressed in its mission statement: “To live the Good News so joyfully that we can’t help but proclaim it.” “We are well noted for being a friendly and welcoming parish,” he said. “When you come to St. William, you can plan on eating. It seems the whole process of how we handle families, whether its in their time of grief or celebration. They are not being judged.” Born in Stamford, Connecticut, Savickas moved with his family to the Detroit area when he was about a year old. By the third grade, he felt the calling to become a priest. “It was about the third grade,” he said. “Nobody I was close to was a priest, maybe some extended family. I grew up in a very Catholic family, and it was something that was held in high regard. It was about the third grade or so when I felt I was being called. I did it right out of the 8th grade. At that time we had a high school seminary.” Savickas attended Sacred Heart Seminary, in Detroit; and St. John’s Provincial Seminary, in Plymouth Township. He was ordained in 1974, and celebrated his first mass as a deacon at St. Ambrose Church, in Grosse Pointe Park. He later served as associate pastor at St. Mary Magdalen Parish, in Melvindale, for about two years, and briefly as administrator there in 1976. He served as associate pastor at Guardian Angels Parish, in Clawson, from 1979 to 1985, before being appointed to St. William Parish in 1985, where has has continued to serve. While Savickas makes it a point to stress the importance for families to attend mass each and every week, he said he promises he “won’t yell” at those parishioners who have issues attending. Rather, he says, in his message to parents, he prefers to help them rediscover their roots and understand why bringing your family to mass is important. “I tend to be very open and friendly,” Savickas said. “Being down to earth is probably a very important element. The homilies are very practical and speak to (parishioners). I make them in a way so that they correspond to the good news in the gospel and what is happening in our lives now. There’s a correlation, so they aren’t too philosophical. People also sense that I’m spiritual and enthusiastic.”
Pastor Paul Moldenhauer, St. Matthew Lutheran Church 2040 S. Commerce Road, Walled Lake | 248.624.7676 Founded in 1945 as a mission congregation in Walled Lake’s Stonecrest area, St. Matthew Lutheran Church was first constructed at 418 Nicolet Street before the church that stands today was completed in 1958. The church later added St. Matthew Lutheran School to its ministry, which has grown in size over the years. Today, the church’s Walled Lake congregation has about 1,000 members, drawing people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures within a 10-mile radius of the campus. In addition, the church opened a second campus in Wixom. Pastor Paul Moldenhauer, who has served at St. Matthew since 1992, is the senior pastor at the church, sharing duties at the church with Pastors Rob Nelson and John Merrill. Growing up the son of a pastor, Moldenhauer knew his calling early on. “My dad is a pastor, so it’s the only thing I can ever remember I would do,” he said. “I loved to play sports, but I never wanted to play professional baseball. The only thing I wanted to do was to tell people about Jesus.” After spending four years in college, Moldenhauer spent another four years studying for the clergy. He was ordained in 1981. Prior to coming to St. Matthews, Moldenhauer spent 11 years at a church outside of Lansing. St. Matthews offers its congregation various types of worship, including a blended worship style, which incorporates basics of traditional liturgy, with a blend of traditional hymns and more contemporary worship music, organ, piano, handbells, choir and a variety of guest musicians and instruments. The style incorporates a traditional altar and pastors’ robes. A prayer and praise worship in the Walled Lake campus gym uses a contemporary format with a praise band and more participation in music. Singers and a worship leader lead worshipers in praise songs, in scripture reading and prayer. A simple altar is at the center stage, with band and singers at either side. The church’s Wixom campus offers a New Vintage worship, which uses a blend of traditional and contemporary sound and newer songs, lead by a music leader and band. “The best teacher I had was my father. He was a very good role model, and I learned a lot from him. Everyone has to learn their strengths and weaknesses, so my packages are a little different than my dad’s,” he said. The church’s Walled Lake location serves as the main campus of the ministry, home to the church offices, two worship centers and St. Matthew Lutheran School. Moldenhauer said as people change over the years, so have the styles of worship and those of the pastor. “Styles change, and people have changed over the years. We are a much more media-driven world than a generation ago,” he said. “Years ago, if someone was looking for a church, it was all about the yellow pages. Now, you have to have a good presence online. There was a day that ‘if you build it, they will come,’ and people grew up with the idea that you would go to a church, but it was only which one. That’s not the case today. We are finding the level of secularization in America increasing.” The changes have spurred the church to find new ways to connect with people. St. Matthew’s international ministry has the largest Japanese outreach in the denomination, serving about 300 people a week. The two largest impacts on the size of the congregation, Moldenhauer said, have been the amount of suburban growth and the economic downturn. “If people could sell their home and find a job out of state, they did,” he said. “There were others that left at that time. There are also more churches in the area, and the growing secularization in the American culture, which is what we face.” Despite challenges, the church continues to expand, starting their second campus in Oakland County and recently paying off its mortgage on the Walled Lake campus. But it’s the connection with people that Moldenhauer said that is most important. “Just as anybody can grow up, I think pastors grow up, too,” he said. “In my early years, I felt really good about some projects we had done, but I think God made me feel now that its not just about brick and mortar, it’s about people. When there is God in people’s lives and transformative ways, that’s what really matters.”
Pastor Paul Moldenhauer
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FACES Justin Ridley hirty-three year-old math and science prodigy Justin Ridley, from Waterford, took a small step first to Michigan Technological University, and then one giant leap to the Johnson Space Center in Houston. “You know those guys in ‘Apollo 13’ who are wearing skinny ties and smoking cigars in mission control?” said the NASA flight controller and robotics engineer. “I was one of those guys.” As a young man, Ridley was part of an elite group of students in Michigan who were chosen to attend the Oakland Science Math and Technology (OSMTech) Academy. The academy offered an intense curriculum for students who qualified. “I’ve always been interested in math and science and I excelled in them. I think in eighth grade I applied for (OSMTech) and was accepted,” he said. “That was a big influence. The math, science and technology classes were extremely focused and all the kids were very focused.” At Waterford Mott, Ridley’s life was centered around science and skiing. Once he broke his leg skiing, he zeroed completely in on academics and joined FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology), a mentoring program that helped pave his way to NASA. “(FIRST) is a partnership between high school students and engineers,” he said. Engineers are paired with students; together they design and build robots to compete in games against other schools. “It was super impactful for me. They really got me interested in (robotics).” Ridley went on to study biomedical engineering at Michigan Tech. There, he and three of his friends implemented a FIRST team with a local high school. Ridley was now the expert. Ridley also landed a coveted co-op job at NASA through Michigan Tech. He worked there for four semesters and had the opportunity to showcase his talents. “That got my foot in the door for a full-time position,” he said. “I got a job with the flight control group.” Ridley was part of a team responsible for keeping the atmosphere sufficient for astronauts aboard the space station. “We operated all the life support and environmental control systems,” he said. “You have to think of everything necessary to keep someone alive. All that equipment, our group would operate.” If there were a fire on the space station or if something broke, he was among those responsible for assisting the crew. According to Ridley, there are generally six U.S. astronauts in space at any given time. “It’s an exciting and very intense job.” After several years in mission control, Ridley moved to the robotics department. “Now, I help build things that will one day be in space.” Ridley made it to the top of his field, but has never forgotten his journey. After his usual shift, he remains at the space center to take part in their FIRST program. “(FIRST) was so impactful for me. It really helped me decide what I wanted to do with my life,” he said. “The program is focused around inspiration and I think it’s important to give that back to other high school students.”
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Story: Katey Meisner
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WEIR MANUEL
THE LAST OAKLAND FARMERS CROPLAND SCARCE, INCREASING IN VALUE; LEARNING TO DO MORE WITH LESS
BY KEVIN ELLIOTT
lark Cook wakes before the dawn every day and heads to the barn at his north Oakland County farm to milk more than four dozen cows. By 9 a.m., he collects more than 400 gallons for processing. It’s a long, laborintensive process, and one that he and his family have done for three generations. “Twice a day, every day. There are no days off. If you’re sick, someone has to be here to milk the cows,” Cook said about the inherent challenges of dairy farming. “It’s a pretty old-fashioned system. We have machines, but we still have to kneel down underneath the cow. It’s about as close to using a bucket as you can get. It’s a hard occupation to be involved in, unless you enjoy it.”
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Started in 1933 by Cook’s grandfather, the Ortonville farm was once among more than 30 dairy farms in Oakland County. Today, Cook’s Farm Dairy, 2950 E. Seymour Lake Rad, is the last remaining dairy in the county. Like most of the large farms remaining in the county, Cook has had to adapt to urbanization and other influences over the years to keep the operation going. For dairy farmers like Cook, the cost of sending their milk out for processing became too much. “We got to the point that we had to get more cows,” Cook said. “If you do that, you need more land, and all the land was going into subdivisions, so we decided to put in the processing plant.” While Cook was attending Michigan State University in the 1980s, a class project required him create a business plan, which he subsequently adopted at the family’s farm. In 1982, the dairy installed its own milk processing plant and started selling milk directly to retailers and customers. At the time, many dairy farmers may have questioned the decision to process their own milk. As it turned out, the plant was the thing that saved the farm and allows it to be successful today. “We would milk the cows, and the semi would come and take it to a processing plant. They would process it and send it out to stores, so we pretty much cut out the middle man,” Cook said. “Now we are moo-to-you.” Cook sold his first gallon of milk processed at the plant in 1982. Two years later, the farm added ice cream to its offerings. Today the dairy produces about 35,000 gallons of ice cream each year, available in nearly 30 different flavors available at Spartan retailers in the area, as well as at the farm directly. The farm also produces a variety of cheeses during the winter. In addition to dairy products, the farm owns about 200 acres of crop land, and rents another 200 acres which allows the farm to be selfsustaining by producing all of its own feed. In the fall, the farm offers pumpkins and hay rides, with tours available throughout the year. The dairy is one of just a handful of large Oakland County farms that are operating today, as cropland is scarce and increasing in value. In nearly all cases, the family farms in Oakland County remain today because they have been handed down through generations. “There are houses all the way around the farm,” Cook said. “We are kind of the last ones hanging on. “You wouldn’t be able to go out and start it. You don’t make as much as people think. It’s a modest income, and more of a tradition and family value. The ice cream has been good to us and that’s what keeps us going. If we didn’t have the processing plant, we would have been out of business a long time ago.” In 2012, Oakland County was home to a total 537 farms, making up 31,722 acres of farmland with an average size of 59 acres, according to the USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture. By comparison, the USDA’s 1969 census recorded 863 farms in the county, totaling 101,820 acres of
farmland or about 18.4 percent of the total land in the county. The average size of a farm in 1969 in Oakland County was 118 acres. Of the more than 500 farms in Oakland County in 2012, four were made up of 1,000 or more acres; seven have between 500 and 999 acres; and 21 are between 499 and 180 acres. Matt Scramlin, who serves as president of the Oakland County Farm Bureau, said while the size of the average farm in the county is getting smaller, farmers are adapting and learning to do more with less. “Some of our greenhouse growers can work on much smaller acres than I can do, and still make almost the same,” Scramlin, a fourth generation farmer in Holly. “It’s changing, but we have to adapt for that. Many of us who have had standalone farms have had to open it up to the public, but many farmers may not be that open to that many people strolling on the farm every day. Many farmers feel like they are on an island, and don’t always interact with others, but here in Oakland County, we have to. “I remember when (the Cooks) put in the processing plant at the dairy, and everyone thought he was crazy, and that it wouldn’t work.
In nearly all cases, the family farms in Oakland County remain today because they have been handed down through generations. Now he’s the only one left because of that.” Scramlin said the ground quality in Oakland County also presents its own challenges. “We are sitting on some of the largest gravel stream here, while Monroe has been able to hold off (selling farmland) because they have really good farm ground. Here in Oakland County where the ground quality isn’t as high, it was easier to sell out and move to other places.” Michigan really had three great tracts for farming, he said. Those include the thumb area in Saginaw, the west side of the state for the state’s fruit belt, and Detroit and Monroe. “Now Detroit is under concrete,” he said. “That’s how Garden City got its name. Urban farmers in Detroit probably aren’t using the same ground anymore.” Scramlin worked for the Michigan Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau in Washington, D.C., before returning to the Holly area and the family business, which includes Scramlin Southdowns, where the family produce sheep. He also works with his cousin to grow hay and straw at Scramlin Feeds, also in Holly. His uncle, Marvin Scramlin, also operates Centennial Farms, which has been in the family for more than 100 years. “The biggest difference for our family is that until 1986, my dad and uncle Marvin milked cows full time, and did a lot of cash crop farming, like
corn, soybean and wheat,” he said. “Some was sold in 1986, and then we started the feed, which is primarily horse feed.” Matt Scramlin’s father, LC Scramlin, said he and his brother took over their parent’s dairy and worked on the Centennial Farm growing up. “My brother (Marvin) lives on the family farm, where we were all raised,” he said. “I started a second building about a mile-and-a-half away. We took over in 1970 when I got out of Michigan State University, and for the next 16 years we milked cows. Dairy farming was good to our family and had been for years. In the 1980s, the milk market became saturated, and we started the feed store. We got rid of the dairy farms in 1986, and farmed about 1,700 acres. My nephew and son make a living farming. There’s not too many anymore. There are a lot of horticulture and greenhouse people.” LC Scramlin said it’s exciting to have another generation continue the family’s farming tradition. “The farmers here have adapted,” he said. “Cook’s is probably the only dairy left. A lot have taken on niche things. The Mitchell’s do a greenhouse and tours in the fall for children, and things like that. Glenn (Mitchell) does taxes at this time of year. You’ll find a good share of people that do agriculture in this county have adapted to the amount of land available, but they still find a way to be relevant.” For example, Scramlin said, there are new farmers such as Katie Flickinger, who owns and operates Garden Hoard, which propagates heirloom seeds for fruits, vegetables, flowers and herbs on small acreages of land in the Commerce and Walled Lake area. “It’s like a whole different world to me,” Scramlin said. “I didn’t even realize something like that was available, and I have pretty good roots in agriculture.” Catherine Genovese, who operates Candy Cane Christmas Tree Farm with her husband, Frank, started their 30-acre Oxford farm in 1977. The farm grows about 18 acres of various evergreen trees, and was the first tree farm in the state to install a drip-irrigation system. In 2003, they started offering living Christmas trees, which are potted trees standing just under 6-feet tall. “The farmer we bought it from had an egg operation and grew his own corn to feed the chickens. He sold the eggs locally and had been there since the 1930s,” Catherine Genovese said. “Working in the city, we had a keen interest in not living in a subdivision. We wanted to live on some land, and eventually, for it to be productive and do something good with the land. Tree farming, for us, was a good fit. We’ve been at it now for a long time, and have a very popular farm now and are very proud.” Both Frank and Catherine Genovese are board members with the Oakland County Farm Bureau, as is their son, Michael, who serves as the bureau’s Young Farmer Chair. “Even when we started, Oakland County had already changed quite a bit from the large farming operations,” Catherine Genovese said.
“Farming in Oakland County is a little different than other counties. I think you’re going to see a lot of young people that are very interested in starting a new farming endeavor, but because of the cost of land and limited supply of parcels of land, I think you’re going to find a smaller, more concentrated growing operation. Not large crops, but niche crops, like certain vegetables or organic vegetables for certain plants. They might do farmers markets, rather than selling far and wide. But sometimes it takes more work for the small guy who does a lot by hand, rather than the large guy who uses a tractor for 100 acres of crops.” Matt Scramlin also said that the acreage of a farm doesn’t necessarily represent the amount of revenue a farm will produce. Many of the people working in agriculture in Oakland County aren’t doing what many people would consider traditional farming, but they are making a living off the land, regardless. “Most don’t think of a greenhouse grower as a farmer, but we do,” he said. “They are still growing things. You can’t tell how big a farm is by it’s acreage. I’ve seen 5-acres of tomatoes that do as much as 100 acres of corn. So, here, we do some things that aren’t as much land based, but still have profitability.” Glenn Mitchell, vice president of the Oakland County Farm Bureau, is the owner and operator of Mitchell Farm in Holly. In addition to working the the family farm that was established in 1837, Mitchell and his wife, Candy, utilize eight greenhouses on the farm for plants, flowers and vegetables sold directly to the public. “The greenhouse was to adapt to the urban environment,” Mitchell said. Because much of the land in the area was already taken, expanding on the 340-acre farm would have been difficult. Today, about 200 acres of the land is farmed for corn, soybean and wheat, with about five acres dedicated to pumpkins in the fall. “The greenhouses aren’t something the family had done before,” he said. “We introduced them about 25 years ago.” However, even the greenhouses may be impacted by the economy, as many people cut back on purchasing special items, or don’t want to drive far from home, opting to purchase flowers and plants from local big box stores. Yet the urbanization of the county has been the biggest motivator of change over the years. “At one time, before I was born, my family was really into raising sheep,” he said. “With the railroad in Holly, they would herd the sheep right through the middle of town. However, urbanization also impacted the way that happened.” As herding sheep through the middle of town became impractical, another threat to the sheep began to spring up: dogs were getting into the field and killing the sheep. At the time, the farmers weren’t aware that dogs would chase the sheep until they finally expired. The result was a bit of a mystery at first, he said, as they would come across the dead animals in the field and not know what had killed them.
“Apparently, dogs enjoy chasing sheep, and they would basically run them to death,” he said. “That was the final straw.” Many years later, the family began offering tomatoes and sweet corn for sale at the farm, without taking the crops to farmers markets throughout the area, the endeavor didn’t prove to be fruitful. “It’s still a good idea for a lot of people, but you have to take it to farmer’s markets, not just selling it on the farm,” he said. While farmers in more rural areas may rely on farmers markets to sell some crops, urbanization has helped to bring customers to them, such as Long’s Family Farm, in Commerce Township. Long’s, which sits on about 120 acres of land inside Commerce Township, has an apple orchard that is about 40 acres in size, as well as an additional 80 acres across the street from the cider mill, on E. Commerce Road. The cider mill is a popular attraction throughout the fall each year. In recent years, Rob Long added family attractions to the property, such as a children’s bounce house, corn maze, hay rides and other actives. The farm also allows customers to pick their own pumpkins.
Urbanization has made some operations difficult or may even draw complaints from neighboring residents moving into the area. The farm produces asparagus that’s sold by the pound on site at a small red shed adjacent to the asparagus field near Bogie Lake Road. Sweet corn is sold pre-bagged by the half or full dozen, which they say is picked fresh each morning, along with tomatoes and garden vegetables, apples and pumpkins. For other farmers, urbanization of Oakland County has made some operations difficult or may even draw complaints from neighboring residents moving into the area. “People don’t like the smell of the farm, or having tractors on the road,” Mitchell said. With so much traffic in some places, he said it would be nearly impossible or extremely dangerous to operate farm equipment. As the economy improves, people typically start buying more land, and farms are one of the places that developers turn. For some farmers, he said, it may be difficult for them to pass on the high prices being offered for farmland. Genovese said many of the farmers working smaller farms in Oakland County must work second jobs in order to make ends meet, or often have one person working full time and a spouse who works a different, full-time job. “There are just a few that aren’t working a fulltime job,” she said. “We work full-time on the farm now that we are retired. For 20 years we
were putting into the farm before we got a penny out of it.” Matt Scramlin, who’s mother was a school teacher in Holly, said having a farming family with one of the spouses working in a different field is a common theme for farmers. “That’s a common thing throughout agriculture,” he said. “Most farmers that are actually farming — one of the spouses has a fulltime job. My mother was a teacher in Holly. There are a lot of farmers’ wives who are teachers. It behooves them to work off the farm for health insurance. Farmers and school teachers pretty much go together.” Scott Ruggles, a fourth generation farmer who operates Ruggles Farm Market in White Lake Township, said the farm has diversified its offerings over the years to adapt to the changing environment of the county. Like several other remaining farms in the area, Ruggles’ family had roots in dairy farming. However, the family later transitioned to beef cattle and eventually cash crops. A farm stand was opened two decades ago, and the farm has since expanded from about 300 acres to more than 1,000 today. “I’ve been involved in farming my whole life,” he said. “After high school, I went to Michigan State University and got a degree in Agriculture and Business Management in 2007. Shortly after that, we started boarding horses. We removed that and added a second farm market to kind of try to diversify ourselves.” The farm now has over 1,000 acres of corn, soybean, wheat, as well as about 75 acres of specialty crops, including several types of fruits and vegetables that are sold at farm stands. Ruggles farm also sells mulch and landscaping materials. Expanding the farm, he said, was a unique opportunity for the area, which was made available in part due to the recession and economic downturn. “Most of the land here is spoken for, but there was a good amount of vacant land that was sitting, and the recession kind of helped with that, so it was available to us,” he said. Ruggles is also a bit unique, as he is one of the younger farmers to own large acreage in the county. “There’s not too many (young farmers),” he said. “It’s a hard way of life, or a lot harder than a lot of other options. You have to love it, or have an advantage to stay in it. It’s rare that (a farm) is handed down, and they stay in it. And it’s almost impossible to get into it from scratch. The majority of farmers are up in age.” Back on the dairy farm, Clark Cook echoed Ruggle’s sentiment. “I’m 54 years old, but I also have a lot of miles on me,” Cook said, who has two children in college and one in high school. “I don’t know if anyone will come back and take over the farm. We are always looking for young people that want to work in livestock to come and partner with us here. Right now, (my children) all have different interests. We are going to go as long as we can, and as hard as we can until we see what’s going on.”
COMMERCE TOWNSHIP ANNUAL COMMUNITY AWARDS Nominations for the Thirty First Annual “COMMUNITY AWARDS” are now being accepted. Presentations of these awards will take place at the annual MICHIGAN WEEK COMMERCE TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY BREAKFAST Monday, May 18, 2015 Edgewood Country Club, Commerce Township Doors Open 7:00 A.M. • Breakfast 7:30 A.M. DEADLINE for nominations is THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 2015 Please return to Commerce Township “Community Awards” 2009 Township Drive Commerce Township, MI 48390 Please submit the name of the person who you feel deserves special recognition for their personal efforts, dedication and contribution towards the betterment of Commerce Township and its citizens. Please give specific reasons and information for the nomination.
“OUTSTANDING CITIZEN”
“BUSINESS PERSON OF THE YEAR”
Must be a resident of Commerce Township, including Wolverine Lake Village •Active supporter of community activities over and above those that may be a normal part of their job duties •Currently serving elected officials are not eligible.
Must own or operate a business in Commerce Township, including Wolverine Lake Village •Should have no current violations on record with the Township and/or Sheriff’s Department •Must be an active supporter of community activities over and above those that may be a normal part of their job duties. •Currently serving elected officials are not eligible.
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“PARKS AND RECREATION OUTSTANDING SERVICE AWARD”
“OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION AWARD” Need not be a resident of Commerce Township •Must be an active supporter of community activities over and above those that may be a normal part of their job duties. •Currently serving elected officials are not eligible.
Need not be a resident of Commerce Township •Must be an active supporter of programs or activities related to Parks and Recreation that primarily service the residents of Commerce Township including Wolverine Lake Village.
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PLEASE ATTACH ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TO THIS FORM
THE DEAD MALLS OF METRO AREA WHY SOME CENTERS MAKE IT AND OTHERS FAIL
BY LISA BRODY
hopping is often much more than merely the exchange of money for goods. For many people, there is the activity of going shopping, the leisurely stroll through a mall or downtown area to browse through store windows, allowing an item to catch their eye, then to casually drop in and maybe purchase it. Others are destination shoppers, heading straight to the store of their choice. Some people come to a shopping center to hang out, to see other people, to be entertained, for its dining destinations, even for exercise. For decades, shopping has been an experience, and those who create retail environments understand that sense of a mutual adventure.
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The Somerset Collection in Troy, considered one of the more successful enclosed malls Gepapix | Dreamstime.com
Shopping, and all of its attendant activities, began in earnest in 1956 in suburban America with the first fully-enclosed mall in the country, Southdale, in suburban Minneapolis. Here in southeastern Michigan, Northland Center, metro Detroit’s first iconic shopping mall located at Northwestern Highway and Greenfield Road in Southfield, was first opened in March 1954, but was not fully enclosed as a mall until 1974. Between 1956 and 2005, around 1,500 malls were built around the United States, usually in the most prime real estate locations. “In the mid’50s Dwight Eisenhower signed the Interstate Highway Act, and they constructed 54,000 miles of interstate highway. Now, what that did immediately is it provided mobility for the population which, prior to that, had been mainly rural. So they began to move into the suburbs and cities,” said Robin Lewis, author of The New Rules of Retail. “What it afforded was the ability to construct these regional malls, and they just exploded across the country.” egional malls were initially designed and built as a way to spread branches of popular department stores to nondowntown areas, as people were moving to new suburban developments. The J.L. Hudson Company built Northland Center. In the mid-twentieth century, Hudson’s had become the second largest department store after Macy’s. In 1948, architect Victor Gruen convinced the store, which had been reluctant to build branch stores, to take advantage of the suburban growth taking place during the post-World War II building boom to construct a ring of shopping centers surrounding the city of Detroit. Northland was the first to be constructed, followed by Eastland, Southland, and Westland centers. According to Time magazine, referring to malls as “pleasure domes with parking”, Northland cost $30 million to build, and the first year’s gross for the Northland Hudson’s was $88 million. “When Northland was built in the 1950s, Hudson’s customers were moving to tract homes in subdivisions,” said Jim Bieri of Stokas Bieri Real Estate. “Malls were originally tied up by Dayton-Hudson, and the developers came in later. For example, Great Lakes Crossing (in Auburn Hills) was tied up by Hudson’s for many years.” But how times – and shopping habits – have changed. Macy’s, the successor to Hudson’s, announced at the end of 2014, that it will close its Northland store at the end of April 2015. The Target store at Northland closed for good on February 1. With no anchor stores left, a vacancy rate believed to be well over 65 percent, and the mall currently in receivership, it is now what is known as a “dead mall”. What is a dead mall? It is a shopping mall with a high vacancy rate and low consumer traffic level, that is dated or deteriorating in some way, and without an anchor department store as a tenant. Northland is hardly the only dead mall in metro Detroit. Also in Oakland County, Summit Place in Waterford Township closed in 2009, with no tenants. The adjacent Sears store closed its doors in December, and the mall was placed on the township’s dangerous building’s list in
December. In January 2015, Waterford officials condemned the mall, located at Telegraph and Elizabeth Lake roads, saying it is not structurally sound and is unsafe. Township officials videotaped areas of the mall during an inspection, which is owned and operated by a management company in California, finding water leaks, mildew and animal tracks throughout the deserted building. Around the country, there are dozens of dead malls ripe for the picking – or redevelopment. Not all of the properties will remain malls; some could be repurposed as mixed-use developments, new “downtown centers”, or become school campuses, hospitals, parks, any number of infill uses. Since 2006, there has not been a single new fully enclosed mall built in the U.S. According to Natasha Geiling, writing in Smithsonian, “The 2008 recession was a gut-punch to already flailing mall systems. Between 2007 and 2009, 400 of America’s largest 2,000 malls closed. According to one retail consultant, within the next 15 to 20 years, half of America’s malls could die.” At the same time, from 2006 to 2013, ecommerce doubled. People are still shopping. They’re just shopping in different ways. While some are seeking a shopping experience, many are just looking to save money, to get in and get out. “The reality in the retail business today is that consumers want either experience or convenience,” said Billy Gershenson, vice president of leasing at Ramco-Gershenson Properties Trust, whose family originally built Summit Place Mall, as well as Tel-Twelve Mall at Telegraph and Twelve Mile roads in Southfield, which they de-malled and repurposed. “We owned it (Summit Place) and gave it back to the bank.” Gershenson said the enclosed mall business is very expensive. “Malls are very expensive to operate. Operators can only afford to operate them if sales are very high. High fashion malls like Somerset (Collection in Troy) or Twelve Oaks (in Novi) are doing well because they offer the experience,” he explained. “We go to those malls not just to shop, but to hang out, to go to the restaurants. They’re social gathering spots. Shopping could be a by-product.” “Somerset has wonderful security, great lights, good ambiance, but mostly there’s great tenants and great restaurants in a great setting. It’s one of the few malls left without kiosks. It’s a pleasure to shop there in a beautiful space,” said Bieri. “The malls that are thriving are all affluent. They are large, and they all look the same, all over the country, with very upscale anchors, like Neiman Marcus, Saks, Macy, Bloomingdale’s and Nordstrom. They appeal to an affluent customer. They have great high-end specialty stores. There are about 400 of those,” said Howard Davidowitz, chairman, Davidowitz & Associates, a national consulting and investment banking firm in New York City. “Then there are the others. They’re terrible and closing. They have mid-level anchors, like Sears, that are weak, with weak mid-level stores.”
At lower end malls – in industry parlance, D & C malls, “sales aren’t robust, so the operator can’t afford to create a really great experience, and then shoppers cease coming,” Gershenson said. “Then you have dead or dying malls.” Maria Mainville, director of strategic communications for Taubman, which owns and operates malls throughout the world, including Twelve Oaks and Great Lakes Crossing in Oakland County, concurs. “As part of the ‘promise of the modern mall’, it must be a social center for the community,” she said. “In addition, there are amenities such as Christmas displays, family activities, play areas for children, and special events that shoppers have come to rely upon. However, as is true of any industry, malls have to remain nimble to assure success in the evolving retail landscape,” adding innovative mall design, technology, free WiFi, applications, and charging stations, to maintain their relevance to varying demographics coming to malls. “Lousy malls are a lousy place to go,” Davidowitz said. “Who needs it? Shoppers don’t need it. It’s not an experience. All of the increase in wealth has gone to the top 10 percent. It’s why the top malls are doing well. The fancy malls are an experience, with fancy restaurants, fancy features. Add to that online shopping – that’s having a huge effect.” “What works is great tenants in a great market. What doesn’t is changing demographics,” said Bieri. “Retail has historically been about what is fresh and new. That’s been embedded into retail,” noted Mark Nickita, an architect and urban planner with Archive DS, as well as a Birmingham city commissioner. “In traditional or strip centers, we’ve have this continuous cycle of older malls being usurped by newer, cooler malls. If they’re not careful about being on top of things, they’re always in danger of being usurped by the newest, freshest retail concept. It goes way back. Northland and Eastland were usurped by Fairlane, which was considered futuristic.” ieri asserts that Fairlane has avoided the trap of becoming a dead or dying mall “because of Mr. Taubman’s (A. Alfred Taubman) designs. His designs are pretty remarkable. He lets the tenants be the star, not the architecture. The soffets are neutral, the stores are bright and neutral. The management was always strong. While it’s no longer a Taubman mall, they knew how to run a shopping center. It’s management that knows what it’s doing, with good security, nice landscaping, that keeps its property up. All shopping centers have good and bad to them. If there’s a bum on an empty street, you notice him. But if he’s one of 1,000, you don’t.” Nickita says that some of the retail changes are cyclical, part of the national trend away from malls in general back towards urban destinations areas. “The interest in the city (of Detroit) is very strong, and in other cities at all levels – residential, commercial, office, fun and games –there’s the continuous rebuilding of neighborhoods in Birmingham, Ferndale and Royal Oak. Urban environments are on the
uptick,” he said. “Some is cyclical. For the last 100 years, certainly the last 50 years or so, neighborhoods and the suburbs were areas of growth. It’s not a fad. It’s a truly deep-seated international trend of people moving to cities. What had been a turn away from urban environments is now a turn towards urban environments. Mixed-use environments are the way to go. That’s what Birmingham is, all within a couple of blocks of each other, integrated with each other, framed by the pedestrian aspect. The ability to walk between all of these entities is why people can access all of these amenities.” While Millennials and other demographics are enjoying urban environments, it is not precluding their use of malls, as well. Neither has increased Internet shopping. If anything, e-shopping has actually increased mall traffic, experts say, as a way of verifying purchases, both before or during the purchase process. aubman’s Mainville cited recent AT Kearney research showing that 90 percent of all U.S. retail sales happen within brick-and-mortar stores, and two-thirds of customers purchasing online actually use the physical store before and after the transaction. In the Kearney research, “discovery of products is the only stage along the transactional journey where shoppers prefer online for a select few categories. However, the majority of consumers prefer in-store retail categories, such as apparel and accessories, health and beauty, and furniture. For these categories, in addition to convenience, consumers identify stores as the preferred destination for exploring new products with a broad selection of choices.” The study also emphasizes that respondents prefer physical stores for product trial and test. Immediacy, ease and accuracy of testing are all cited as reasons. While a majority choose to purchase in-store, many do then purchase online. Across all product categories, physical stores are the site for product returns, even if items were purchased online. Interestingly, Kearney points out, teens are the demographic which prefers physical stores the most, along with seniors. “More than any other age group, Millennials prefer using multiple retail channels, be they digital or physical. And when they visit a physical location, their preference is for trips designed to accomplish many goals,” the report said. As for teens’ shopping habits, “This is a critical fact for retailers and other branders eager to engage customers early in their lives in hope of building lifelong relationships. Meeting teens where they prefer to shop requires a trip to a physical store.” Clearly, teens are seeking the experience of being at a mall, just as are the older demographics of seniors, and often, baby boomers. They want to do more than shop at the mall – they want to eat, have fun and socialize, to hang out, creating opportunities for retailers and developers. All of this provides an opportunity for those less-than-ideal mall sites, and dead malls, to renovate and repurpose their properties into new and viable destinations. “A number of dead malls will be condemned to
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execution by bulldozer, but not all,” the Smithsonian’s Geiling wrote. “In some communities, a dying mall offers an opportunity for rebirth – the chance to turn a poorly conceived shopping center into something that serves the needs of the community at large. In some cases, dying malls have been turned into office spaces, while others have found second lives as churches, community centers or even hockey rinks. By reimagining the American mall, it seems that some are finally becoming the downtown that Gruen originally envisioned – walkable, mixed use areas that bring a renewed sense of urbanism to a dying suburban landscape.” Ellen Dunham-Jones, a professor of architecture and urban design at Georgia Institute of Technology and a colleague of Birmingham’s Nickita, is the co-author of “Retrofitting Suburbia”, where she describes that as suburbs get older, there are unintended consequences of suburbanization. As properties go vacant or underperform, especially aging properties, it provides an opportunity to retrofit them into more sustainable locations. Davidowitz agrees. “We have to start off with what happened to the economy in the last six years. Before the Great Recession, one in every 12 Americans were in poverty. Now, one in six Americans are in poverty. We have doubled the numbers in poverty and lessened the middle class in America. Walmart says that 22 percent of its customers are on food stamps, and they’re seeking cheaper alternatives. Target, TJ Maxx, Walmart, they’re all off the mall, they’re cheaper guys not in malls. Middle class living standards will never improve. The future of malls is many things. They can be industrial parks, hospitals, universities or discount centers. A lot can be done with raw land. It’s a broad heading of alternative uses. They can be very useful, but they’ll be different, because a department store is not going to go there. They’re not coming back. Each community has to figure out how they want to repurpose those collapsed malls.” What all malls, successful, dying or dead, have in their favor, is location. Every single one was built near a freeway or highway. “Proximity to freeways for access was a prerequisite,” Nickita said. “They’re usually in good locations. It’s why they put them there in the first place. But the old format no longer works. It can be the opportunity to create a walkable area, to get people to walk, dine, live, shop, work. In the end, repositioning of retail happens every so often. It’s happening now because of oversaturation of malls and retail, because of the recession, Millennials and their buying position, aging of boomers, the tech environment. It’s all of those things.” Tel-Twelve is an example of a successfully repurposed shopping mall. “Repurposing malls is like turning them inside out or tearing parts down,” said Gershenson, who owns Tel-Twelve. It was originally built in 1968 as an enclosed mall with two anchor stores, K-Mart and Montgomery Ward, and a Chatham grocery store in the middle. A successful mid-level mall, it expanded four times over the decades, adding a Crowley’s department store as a third anchor in 1985, as well as a food court. But market circumstances,
such as closures of Crowley’s, Montgomery Ward and, finally, K-Mart, along with changing demographics, doomed the mall. It was demolished and rebuilt in 2001 as a power center of big box stores, or as Gershenson called them, “best-in-class” stores, such as Meier for grocery, best-in-class electronics with Best Buy, and bestin-class hardware with Lowe’s, along with DSW, Michael’s, PetSmart, and other retailers and restaurants. This inside-out mall provides shoppers with the other experience they are seeking – convenience. He noted that repurposing malls in this manner is much less costly to operate, “and then different retailers can afford to be there. That’s what’s happening at a lot of other centers and out parcels right now, like Novi Town Center and Oakland Mall, as well as Tel-Twelve. These types of initiatives are creating a new type of relevance for these kinds of properties. It opens it up to different retailers, and shoppers pull up to the retailers, and go directly in and then leave. It’s adding a level of convenience they didn’t have before.” Other successfully repurposed malls include Wonderland Village in Livonia, once a dead mall, which has been reconstructed by the Schostak Company as a new shopping center, reopened in 2007, anchored by Target and the Village of Rochester Hills, an urban streetscape of national and local retailers which replaced the former enclosed Meadowbrook Mall, both owned by Robert B. Aikens & Associates. “They’re essentially malls without a top,” said Nickita. ershenson said this form of repurposing lets both the developer and the retailer operate on a lower cost structure versus going into an enclosed mall, which has attendant high costs. While both classic enclosed malls and repurposed open air centers have “extra charges”, such as maintenance costs, taxes, insurance, in these new centers, “it’s a tenth of the costs, and the base is less in an open air center because the construction costs are less, too.” “The Northlands, the Eastlands of the world, lots of strip centers too, they have to figure out what they’re going to do,” said leasing expert John Gottesman of The Gottesman Group. “It becomes a land play. Who’s going to buy Northland? If you can take it out for $7 million and bulldoze it, you then need $100 million to redo it. It’s 150 to 170 acres in the suburbs. It becomes a land play. If you knock it down and rebuild it with residential, commercial and retail, it can work. From a pure retail point of view, you can’t fill 200 million square feet of retail with low end stores and two anchors. No one will finance it today. It’s too risky. And there’s no anchors.” “Once you lose those anchors, you’re dead,” Gershenson said. “Once you no longer have department stores, you’re done as a mall. We repurposed Tel-Twelve with best-in-class retail as an outdoor mall. It’s very exciting what’s happening. It gives the community new opportunities. There’s nothing worse than looking at a dead mall.”
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MUNICIPAL Phillips appointed as new treasurer By Kevin Elliott
The Commerce Township Board of Trustees on Tuesday, January 27, approved the appointment of Molly B. Phillips as the next township treasurer. Phillips, one of three considered for the position, will serve the remaining two years of former treasurer Susan Gross's term before running for reelection. Board members voted 4-2 to appoint Phillips, with township supervisor Tom Zoner and clerk Vanessa Magner voting against the appointment. "It came down to her and Janet (Bushey), and she got the majority of the votes," Zoner said on January 28. "She will be sworn in tomorrow." Phillips is a registered CPA with more than 30 years finance experience in the private sector. Most recently, she served on the accounting staff at the Birmingham Wellness Center in Birmingham. Phillips holds a bachelor's of business administration from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she majored in accounting and finance. The majority of her general accounting experience has been in manufacturing, auditing and procedure analysis/implementation. Phillips will replace Gross, who retired from the treasurer's position at the end of 2014, after more than 40 years with the township. Gross announced her retirement in September, giving the board until February 14 to appoint a replacement for the remainder of Gross's term. Failure to appoint a replacement would have required the township to hold a special election to determine a replacement. Gross began working for the township in 1973 as deputy treasurer, and was appointed to the treasurer's position in January of 1993. She was elected in November 1993, 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012. She was the first deputy treasurer in the state to be certified as a professional finance administrator from the Municipal Treasurer's Association of the United States and Canada. The township board in September began the search for Gross's replacement, but extended the search into January in an attempt to solicit additional resumes from potential candidates. The board 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. 32
Location of library in park challenged By Kevin Elliott
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he decision to build a 35,000-square foot library building in the northwest corner of Dodge Park 5 will effectively end the current and long-term plans for the historic 106-acre park, Commerce Township Parks and Recreation Committee members told elected officials at the Commerce Township Board of Trustees meeting on Tuesday, February 10. "About two-thirds of the park is in the north and west side (of the park)," committee member Tim Wichert told the board during a presentation intended to urge trustees to reconsider the future library location. "Basically, if that part is used for the library, we don't have a park." Members on the board of trustees have debated since April of 2014 where to build the library that will replace the township's current facility at 2869 N. Pontiac Trail. That library, a 20,000-square foot golf clubhouse that was converted into a library, was created with the understanding that it would one day be relocated. Trustees in October 2014 voted 4-3 to build the library at the Dodge Park 5 location, where the township already owns property, and has contracted with an architectural firm to begin work on plans. Board members had also considered building the library next to Commerce Township Hall, inside the Downtown Development Authority's (DDA) property known as Commerce Towne Place. Parks and recreation committee members prior to the board's decision in October had sought assurances that park enhancements and improvements would be done in accordance with the park's master plan if the library were to be constructed at Dodge Park 5. Committee members on February 10 indicated they supported the board's decision to utilize the park property, but that it would be better situated on the easterly portion of the property. Using an overhead projector to show current features of the park, Wichert explained that none of the committee's major events that have been held at Dodge Park 5 currently could be accommodated by other parks in the township. The Huron Valley Council for the Arts Art on the River event draws more than 3,000 visitors, and an international Boy Scout jamboree held in the spring would have to be cancelled if the library were built on the northwest portion of the park. Parks committee member Bill Petsch said building the library on the easterly part of the park would still allow goals in the park's master plan to be met. Despite being asked to reconsider the placement of the library, board members took no action. "I think this meeting should have been done six months ago," said township clerk Vanessa Magner.
The board subsequently interviewed five of the applicants before narrowing the number of candidates to two finalists, with one of them withdrawing, leaving Commerce Township Finance and Human Resources Director Janet Bushey as the sole finalist. Board members in December, rather than voting to appoint Bushey, sought to conduct a targeted search to solicit resumes from Commerce Township residents registered as certified public accountants with the state of Michigan. Trustee Robert Long said he had concerns about appointing Bushey because she had previously run for the clerk's position in 2012, but was defeated. Trustee Robert Berkheiser in December suggested searching for
CPAs registered with the state who live in Commerce Township, and contacting them to see if they were interested in applying for the position. The targeted search resulted in 12 new candidates. Board members narrowed that list to three finalists on January 26, with one withdrawing from the running, citing the need to run for election when the term expires as the reason, Zoner said.
Offer on DDA land includes restaurant By Kevin Elliott
The Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) has received an initial offer to
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purchase a 3.9-acre parcel of land for a proposed retail development, including a possible free standing restaurant on an area of land southeast of Commerce Township Hall, near Oakley Park Road and Martin Parkway. DDA director Kathleen C. Jackson said an offer from two developers has been received and reviewed. That offer, from developers Keith Rogers and Cary Gitre, includes a price of about $5.30 per square foot, or $900,385. Jackson said the offer was reviewed by her and Randy Thomas, of Insite Commercial, who is marketing the property for the DDA. The offer has since been returned to the developers to be updated. Jackson, as the DDA's representative, said they asked the developer to resubmit the offer in the DDA's required format. "Right now, the ball is in their court," she said. Thomas said an offer has been tendered, and that the developers have a solid reputation in the area. He said a proposed site plan has been received and he has been in communication with the developer to get a better understanding of what is being proposed. Rogers is a principal owner of Restaurant Development Advisors, based in Commerce Township. The business represents restaurants in their mission to expand into different markets nationally. As the advisors, the group works to develop plans for those expansions and assist in the implementation of the plan. Some of the national and regional restaurants the group has worked with include Ocean Prime, Mitchell's Fish Market, Kona Grill, Hyde Park Steak House and Buca Di Beppo. Further details about the proposed development weren't immediately available. The offer has not been formally presented or accepted by the full DDA board. The 3.9-acre parcel is also known as "Parcel F" under the the Proposed Unit Development project area inside the DDA project area, known as Commerce Towne Place, located north of M-5 and Pontiac Trail, between Welch and Haggerty roads. The entire project area consists of about 202 acres of buildable land, as well as 128 acres dedicated to conservation, public trails, wetlands and storm management for the project. About 70 acres is earmarked for commercial development and 140 acres for residential use. The project area is derived from two former golf 03.15
David Law appointed as district judge By Kevin Elliott
ommerce Township trustee David Law was appointed on Tuesday, February 10, by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to serve as a judge at Oakland County's 52-1 District Court in Novi. Law, who has been on the township's board of trustees since 2011 and has worked as an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan since 2009, will serve the remaining two years of former judge Dennis Powers' term. As a judge at the district court, Law will be required to leave his position on the township board of trustees. Law took the oath of office for the court on Thursday, February 19. "It's a little bittersweet," Law said on February 10, at a Commerce Township Board of Trustees meeting about the appointment. "I do enjoy being on the board, and my job at the attorney general's office." Governor Snyder made the appointment to replace Powers following the former judge's resignation announcement in September 2014. Powers term was set to expire in 2016, and he was ineligible to run for re-election due to age restrictions. He was first appointed to the bench in 1998, and retired on September 1, just before he was scheduled to appear at a disciplinary hearing regarding alleged misconduct. Powers, at the time of his announcement, said he decided to resign his seat and take care of his family rather than disrupt his remaining time with hearings. A hearing scheduled before the state's Judicial Tenure Commission was subsequently cancelled. Law, a former state representative and assistant prosecutor for Oakland County, said he was honored to be chosen for the judgeship, and was thankful the appointment process had come to a close. "It's a long process – I didn't have gray hair when it started," Law joked about the appointment process that began shortly after Powers' resignation in August. "Powers stepped down and there was a posting for an opening. Twenty-seven people applied, and they did interviews, and then cut it down to 10 people. They did a second round of interviews in December, and we've been waiting for word since then. Thankfully, I got a call this morning and they asked if I had time to take a call from the governor's office. I said, 'Yes, I think I do.'� The appointment process, which isn't subject to public disclosure, requires applicants to submit applications through the Michigan State Bar, which then ranks each applicant. The rankings and subsequent interview scores are submitted to the governor's office, which then makes the decision on who to appoint to the bench. Law will need to run for re-election following the expiration of Powers' term in 2016. Law said he was thankful for the appointment, and felt that constituents supported him in the past when he ran for public office for the Michigan House of Representatives and a run for Oakland County Prosecutor in 2008, in which he won a three-way Republican primary election with 46.3-percent of the countywide vote. In the general election, Law won the communities that make up the 52-1 Judicial District, with 56.4 percent of the votes. The court serves the lakes area communities of Commerce Township, Highland, Lyon, Milford, Walled Lake and Wixom. Law currently serves in the Child and Youth Services Division representing Michigan Department of Human Services in court proceedings. Law served as an Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor from 1998 to 2004 in the Warrants, District Court, Juvenile and Circuit Court Divisions. Prior to working for the county, he was a trial attorney with Sills, Law, Essad, Fiedler and Charboneau. He holds a Juris Doctor degree from the Detroit College of Law and a bachelor's of business administration from the University of Notre Dame. He also served as the Oakland County Republican Party Chairman from 2009 to 2010. Law was appointed to the Commerce Township Board of Trustees in February 2011, and elected to the board in 2012. He serves on the township planning commission and community library boards, and previously served on the Commerce Township Zoning Board of Appeals and Parks and Recreation Commission. Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the board will begin the local appointment process to replace Law after he is sworn into office at the court. The township board will have 45 days to make an appointment or the open position will be the subject of an election.
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courses and about 50 acres of former parkland that the DDA purchased from the state of Michigan. The project was created as an endeavor by the DDA to establish a planned development area with residential, commercial and retail sites coexisting and supporting each other in an effort to establish a downtown area for the township. The project also allowed for the construction of Martin Parkway to relieve traffic congestion in the area adjacent to the M-5 highway. In November 2014, the DDA announced a 51.37-acre retail development planned by the development firm Robert B. Aikens and Associates. That development has been described as a major lifestyle center, which includes an open-air, walkable shopping center intended to serve as a destination spot for western Oakland County. Additional plans inside the project area include: About 59.9 acres of residential development by M. Shapiro Development, which includes about 400 luxury town homes and condominium units, located north of Pontiac Trail between Welch and Martin Parkway, as well as the corner of Pontiac Trail and Martin Parkway. That property is currently under contract, and the developer is in an extended due diligence period to complete a traffic study and additional details with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. A 15.62-acre development by the Granger Group, of Grand Rapids, that will include a three-story assisted living facility, consisting of about 102 beds; another three-level, 60-bed senior, independent living facility; and 20 duplexes for senior residents. That purchase was closed on December 1, 2014. A proposed 41.8-acre residential development consisting of about 100 single-family homes to be constructed by development company Hunter Pasteur. Those proposed homes will range from 2,500 to 3,200 square foot, ranging in price from $375,000 to $450,000. The property, located south of Oakley Park Road, between Martin Parkway and Haggerty, is under contract with Hunter Pasteur, with an extended due diligence period through June 15 in order to investigate ground water issues at the site. A 15-acre property purchased by Hunter Pasteur to construct about 39 single-family homes ranging from 2,500 to 3,200 square feet to be
offered for sale between $250,000 and $350,000 is also part of the development. The developer has already begun clearing land at the site and preparing an initial road base, with model home construction underway.
Cooley Lake Inn restarts drinks Alcoholic beverage sales at a popular Commerce Township bar and restaurant have resumed following a brouhaha between the past and current owners of the Cooley Lake Inn that resulted in the temporary loss of the active liquor license at the business. Rami "Sam" Haidar, owner of the Cooley Lake Inn, 8635 Cooley Lake Road, said the spirits have been flowing at the bar since midFebruary, when an issue involving the ownership of the business' liquor license was resolved. Officials with the Michigan Liquor Control Commission on Tuesday, February 24, confirmed the business holds the proper licenses for on-site liquor sales. A dispute in January between Haidar and the former owner of the business, William Stoffanuski, of Cooley Lake Inn Inc., resulted in the transfer of the liquor license to Haidar being held up, and the suspension of alcohol sales for about a week. A letter issued February 3 from the Michigan Liquor Control Commission to Haidar stated that it had been operating under a conditional liquor license in conjunction with the transfer of ownership of the bar's Class C license. However, the commission stated that the conditional license expired upon receiving a letter dated January 28 from previous owner Stoffanuski, requesting that the license transfer and all management agreements be cancelled. "Therefore, the conditional license issued to you has expired," the letter states. "Please return the conditional license to our office and cease the sale of alcoholic beverages if you haven't already done so." Last year, Haidar filed a report with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office stating that he took ownership of the bar, but that someone had blocked him from management access to the business' Facebook
Work to begin at Wise Road park By Kevin Elliott
The first phase of a 20-year concept plan to utilize portions of the 518 acres of parkland located along Wise Road, between Carroll Lake Road and Union Lake Road, was approved on Tuesday, February 10, by the Commerce Township Board of Trustees. The project, which includes developing a parking area and trailhead on the north side of the property, is expected to be completed before the end of 2015. Commerce Township Parks and Recreation Director Emily England said the improvements will provide an access drive into the north side of the property, as well as a parking area and trail segments connecting to existing trails; park identification signage; trailhead amenities; and minor landscaping. The project is the first phase of a 20-year concept plan approved in August of 2014 by the board of trustees that aims to develop sports and recreational enhancements on 75 acres of land located on the south side of Wise Road, as well as many passive enhancements on portions of the park located on the north side of the park. Funds for the phase one project, which total about $100,000, have already been budgeted by the parks and recreation committee, and approved in the township's 2015 budget. The project was created by Living Lab Detroit, which designed the 20-year concept plan. Under the long-term plan, property on the south side of Wise Road will be developed to include a soccer complex, redesigning portions of Wise Road that bisect the park; a dog park; playgrounds; walking trails; a campground; and other enhancements. The northern portion of the park will include passive recreational opportunities under the plan. "Our suggestion is to begin working on the design and construction of the westerly parking area/trailhead that is proposed on the north side of Wise Road," Living Lab stated in its proposal for design services for the phase one project. "This is based on your available funding for 2015 and the community's top priorities for the park as expressed during the master planning process. Those priorities include walking/biking/running trails, as well as doing a project that has good visibility and would encourage public access to a large area of the park." Specifically, the first phase will include a parking area consisting of about 20 spaces; an access drive from Wise Road into the northern side of the park; developing short trail segments to connect the parking area to the existing trail network, signage near Wise Road; minor landscaping; and amenities such as trash bins, benches, and a small kiosk that could include a map of the trails, park rules, a dog waste station and other information. England said the phase one project will be finished before the end of 2015, with the potential for a phase one-B project to be completed in 2016, which could receive partial funding from a land and water conservation fund grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). The grant would require a 50-percent local match of the total project costs with a maximum grant request of $100,000. Board members approved the parks and recreation committee's request to apply for the conservation grant. The grant proposal will be prepared by Living Lab for the cost of $2,000, which was included in the parks and recreation committee's 2015 budget under grant writing expenses. Long -erm plans for the park are expected to cost between $12 and $19 million over the next two decades. The majority of the improvements to the park are expected to be funded through a 10-year millage renewed by voters in August 2014. The .3939 mill tax is dedicated for park improvements and acquisitions of open space, and generates about $665,892 each year. While the majority of the parkland is located on the north side of Wise Road, the land is subject to deed restrictions placed on the land prior to it being purchased by the township. Under the restrictions, construction of structures or recreational activities that would alter the character of the land, including removal of trees, is prohibited. Parkland on the south side of Wise Road was previously home to a Nike missile site, which was deactivated in 1974 and demolished in 1994. The township razed the remaining buildings left over from the Cold War after purchasing the property from the state of Michigan.
page. Posts to the page under the user name "Cooley Lake Inn" claimed that Haidar had agreed to purchase the business, but had failed to meet the contractual obligations. The posts have since been removed. and the page, which has more than 4,000 likes, lists weekly events, dining and drinks specials. Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said the restaurant had been the subject of several complaints last year from residents in the neighborhood, and that the township had been looking for a way to address the issues. Among the issues, he said, were complaints about noise during and after hours of service, as well as public urination in the parking lot. However, he said building officials ran into problems because it wasn't clear who actually owns the establishment. Records with the Oakland County Register of Deeds indicate that several state and federal tax liens were placed on the property in 2014 for failure to pay taxes. A notice of one federal tax lien dated December 15, 2014, lists a total of $42,291.24 in unpaid taxes. An Oakland County Certificate of Forfeiture of Real Property states that on March 1, 2014, the property would be forfeited to the Oakland County Treasurer for non-payment of property taxes in 2013. Those notices were issued to Cooley Lake Inn, Inc., owned by Stoffanuski.
Benstein Grille to get liquor license The Commerce Township Board of Trustees on Tuesday, February 10 approved the transfer of a liquor license to one restaurant and tabled a motion to approve a new license for another business. Board members unanimously approved the transfer of a Class C liquor license to the K and R Restaurant Group, which operates the Benstein Grille, located at 2435 Benstein. The liquor license was previously held by Athenian Lounge Acquisition, owner of the former Draft Sports Bar and Grill, at the same address. Under state law, the Michigan Liquor Control Commission considers the opinions of local residents, local legislative bodies and law enforcement agencies when determining whether an applicant may be issued a liquor license or permit from the state. However,
because the license is a transfer, approval of the local unit of government isn't required for the state to authorize the transfer. Applicants for liquor license transfers must still meet all state and local law enforcement requirements, as well as state and local building, plumbing, zoning, sanitation and health laws and rules. Benstein Grille is intended to be "the premier restaurant in Commerce Township," serving a variety of all American cuisine from steaks, chops, pasta, fresh seafood, sandwiches and house made desserts, according to K and R's business plan submitted to the township for review. The owners plan features for lunch, brunch, bar, dinner and gluten-free menu choices. The 4,500 square-foot restaurant, near Glengary and Benstein, will be owned and operated by Mike Richardson and Glenn Kaplan. The goal, they said, is to establish Benstein Grille as a destination spot for the western suburbs of Detroit. "The menu will feature hearty fare of the type that is frequently out of the reach of typical young professionals and families – out of reach because time frequently prevents her/him or them from cooking hearty meals like those featured on our menu," the owners stated in their plan. Board members tabled a motion to approve a new liquor license application for Violeta Bardheci LLC, owner of Donika's Coney Island, at 8143 Commerce Road. That license application is for a new tavern liquor license, which would reduce the number of available Class C liquor licenses for the township to two, if approved. Bardheci said she plans to change the menu to include Italian cuisine if the license is approved. While local municipalities have total discretion in issuing Class C liquor licenses, the license becomes property of the applicant once it is approved, and may therefore be moved out of the township at a later date, said Commerce Township attorney Phil Adkison. Board members tabled a decision on the application so that the owner could provide a full business plan, including a menu and the percentage of sales that liquor would make up for the restaurant.
Village renews lake consultant contract A test project to reduce the amount of mucky bottom sediments in Wolverine Lake will be expanded this year to include additional areas throughout the lake under a pair of contracts approved by the village council on Wednesday, February 11. Wolverine Lake Village Council unanimously approved contracting with Progressive A&E for lake management services for the next two years, for a price of $10,000 per year. Council also approved contracting with Progressive A&E for aeration management and studies for 2015, including e-coli testing, in the amount of $9,000. The $10,000 contract is essentially a two-year extension of the village's current contract with Progressive A&E to provide lake consulting services. Under that agreement, the contractor oversees various activities, such as the village's aquatic weed control program and monitoring activities related to water quality. Council last approved the contract in November 2013, which cost $10,000 for 2014, up $1,000 from the previous year. Under the contract approved on February 11, the cost for services will remain at $10,000 per year through 2016. "I think they have done a really good job in working around some issues, such as not having a (weed) harvester for a year, the weather issues, and the weed control overall has been good on the lake," said council president John Magee. "Introducing GPS (monitoring) into the treatments has added a lot of precision and more effect, with fewer chemicals." In addition to herbicide treatments and harvesting, a pilot aeration/bioaugmentation project began in 2014,
and will continue again during 2015 under a second contract approved on February 11. A monitoring program to evaluate the effectiveness of the project is underway and a separate report of those findings will be prepared in late 2015. Village council in October 2014 approved spending $500 to purchase live bacteria pellets to test muck reduction in a controlled area of the lake. The test came at the request of the village's water management board, which had suggested using the pellets in a canal area to see if it could help reduce mucky sediments from the bottom of the lake. The pellets utilize specialized bacteria strains that consume muck and organic matter from the bottom of lakes and ponds. The expansion of the project will include utilizing liquid bacteria treatments in two locations, and pellets in a third location. In addition, Progressive will conduct an aeration project in areas of the lake. Bio-remediation is a treatment process that uses naturally occurring microorganisms, such as yeast, fungi or bacteria, to breakdown or degrade substances into non-toxic substances. Aeration of the lake is intended to mix the different thermal layers of the lake system. The process allows the deepest levels of the lake to be exposed to air, thus increasing dissolved oxygen, in turn reducing pollutants and increasing the clarity and quality of the water. The two contracts will ultimately reduce some of the functions traditionally done by the village's water management board. "The board will pretty much be a policy board. Everything else is farmed out," councilman John Scott said. Wolverine Lake was formed in the 1920s by damming the outflow of several smaller lakes, thus creating
Wireless ordinance changed hanges in laws regarding the regulation and approval of cell towers and other wireless facilities spurred Walled Lake City Council members on Tuesday, February 3, to authorize changes to the city's wireless communications ordinance. City attorney Vahan Vanerian recommended that the council adopt the ordinance amendments by April 8, 2015, in order to preserve local regulatory authority over wireless communication facilities, such as cell phone towers. Failure to amend the city's ordinance to comply with changes to state and federal laws would result in the city not having any input on proposed facilities, he said.
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the 295-acre narrow lake. The average depth of the lake is about 7 feet, but reaches about 57 feet at its deepest point.
Director position at township eliminated The Commerce Township Board of Trustees on Tuesday, February 10, voted not to replace former community development department director Terry Carroll, instead opting to allow for independent contractors to provide direction for planning and building operations. The board approved creating the community development department in 2013 after Commerce Township supervisor Tom Zoner recommended combining the township's planning department with its building, water and sewer department in order to streamline some internal processes and create efficiencies. Carroll was hired in January 2014 to oversee the new department. In January 2015, Carroll resigned from the position to serve as assistant director of the Office of Grants Management for the city of Detroit. Zoner recommended to the board of trustees that they not hire a replacement for the director's position, instead expanding the range of responsibilities for consultants and township employees to include the duties previously performed by the director. The recommendation, he said, would require both consultants to rent office space in the township hall for the performance of their duties. The requirement is needed in order to comply with federal guidelines set forth by the Internal Revenue Service, Zoner said. Commerce Township attorney Phil Adkison said the contractors – Kathleen Jackson, who serves as the township's planning consultant, and Jay James, owner of KER Engineering
Changes to the state's zoning law provides that wireless communications equipment, including cellular towers, are a permitted use of property and not subject to special land use approval or other local approval under several circumstances. Additionally, new time restrictions for acting on an application for approval of a facility have gone into effect, Vanerian explained in a memo to council. Meanwhile, federal laws have limited local municipalities' ability to deny a wireless communications carrier request for cellular towers. "Federal courts have determined that if a municipality denies a carrier's request for a cellular tower which results in the carrier continuing to have a 'significant gap' in coverage, such denial is a violation of the (Telecommunications) Act," Vanerian said. "Further, a local government may not
– must be truly independent from the township. The board should basically give the consultants goals or set broad objectives, then allow the consultants to direct the necessary township staff to carry out those objectives. "But they wouldn't be able to discipline employees, and the township isn't telling the consultants how to interact with staff," Adkison said. "The minute someone meddles in that process and gets too involved in the direction of staff, then you'll have a problem." Additionally, Adkison said that both of the consultants' contracts should be modified to reflect changes if they were going to be asked to essentially run the respective departments on a day-to-day basis. Zoner, who has been overseeing the community development department since Carroll left the job in January, said the decision essentially allows the department to operate the way it did prior to the hiring of a director. For his part, Carroll said in announcing his resignation that he enjoyed his time at the township and made "several close friends." However, comments by Zoner at the February 10 meeting indicate friction between the former director and other township staff. "I think it was a great experience, but I think it was a mistake," Zoner said, who indicated that there may have been some resentment of the director's position from the staff. "I take full responsibility. Did it put someone in a position that maybe wasn't the right person – I wouldn't go that far, but I was in error. "It could have been Terry, a little. It could have been staff because they resented a newcomer coming in," Zoner said as to why he didn't feel the position should be filled. "Doing it over again may be a little risky. The union employees will like it a lot better the way it was, and that will effect morale."
regulate based on the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions, provided that the facilities comply with the FCC." The issue was addressed in a U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in a case involving West Bloomfield Township and T-Mobile, he said. The court found that the township's denial of T-Mobile's request for a cellular tower was in violation of federal law, and that denial of the tower had the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless services by T-Mobile because it resulted in the carrier having a significant gap in coverage. City council approved a motion for Vanerian to prepare the appropriate ordinance amendments to preserve the city's regulatory authority under existing law, so that the amendments may be introduced and passed by the April 8 deadline.
Marijuana growing rules introduced Concern about the potential for the number of medical marijuana facilities to attract crime in Commerce Township led the township's board of trustees on Tuesday, February 10, to approve the first reading of an ordinance to regulate local growing facilities. Commerce Township Attorney Phil Adkison informed board members that the number of medical marijuana facilities established in the township's industrial area has raised some concerns that there is a high potential for criminal activity in the area. "What has happened is that other communities have been more aggressive in attempting to regulate these cultivation operations, largely without success," Adkison said. "The process of attempting to regulate them has driven the business to low cost providers where there is no regulation, which is us." A Commerce Township medical marijuana growing operation made headlines in December when sheriff's deputies arrested a Sterling Heights man who broke into a facility in the 3200 block of Haggerty Road. The owner of the business told sheriff's dispatchers he was at home when he noticed on his security system that someone was breaking into the business. Deputies said the man entered the building by cutting a hole in a garage door and was attempting to place items into a van, including a large, black garbage bag full of marijuana, when deputies caught and arrested him. Adkison said the proposed ordinance would place some limitations on medical marijuana growing facilities, such as limiting the number of plants at one operation to 72, and other requirements. Under the proposed ordinance, an applicant for a medical marijuana cultivation facility license in the township would file an application annually with the township clerk. The ordinance would require the applicant to have a valid registry identification card; certification that the maximum number of plants the applicant will grow at the facility is 72; provide a detailed operation plan, including a logbook of those accessing the facility; a security system with cameras and recording devices; as well as other requirements outlined under the state's medical marijuana law. Existing medical marijuana 36
Vikings band to march in parade he Walled Lake Central Viking Marching Band is seeking donations to help fund a trip to New York City this November when the band will participate in the 2015 Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The band, led by director of bands Dave Rogers at Walled Lake Central High School, was one of 10 bands selected to march in the nationally known holiday tradition, and only the second band in Michigan's history to achieve the privilege of representing their school. The band was selected from 175 other marching bands that applied in 2014 to participate in the parade. "Getting this far has taken a tremendous amount of dedication, devotion and commitment from this talented student body as well as their families," said the Walled Lake Central Music Boosters press release. "Getting them to New York City will take more commitment and dedication to reach this milestone." Curt Whitworth, chairman of fundraising for the boosters, said the group is trying to raise between $85,000 and $100,000 before the trip to help subsidize the cost of the trip for parents. Between 190 and 200 students are expected to participate in the trip, as well as a number of staff and chaperones. The goal, Whitworth said, is to offset the cost of the trip by about $430 per student. "We have a multitude of fundraisers throughout the year, from golf outings to corporate grants and donations," he said. For more information visit the Walled Lake Central Music Boosters' website at wlcbands.com/band-boosters.
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cultivation facilities would be granted a temporary license to continue operation for a 90-day period following the ordinance's final approval. Licenses granted under the local ordinance wouldn't be permitted to be transferred to another person or location. Commerce Township attorney Hans Rentrop said the state's Medical Marijuana Act is "an evolving piece of legislation" and is still unclear on some enforcement issues and how they relate to confidentiality of a registered caregiver. The proposed ordinance, in its statement of purpose, reflects the ambiguity of the state and federal law regarding medical marijuana. "The township does not intend that licensing and regulation under this article to be construed as a finding that such businesses are legal under state or federal law," the proposed ordinance states. "Although some specific uses of marijuana are allowed by the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act, marijuana continues to be classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance under federal law, making it unlawful under federal law to use, manufacture, distribute or dispense marijuana, or to possess it with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense. This article is not intended to limit an individual's right to the medical use of marijuana in accord with the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act." The board unanimously approved the first reading of the ordinance.
Meanwhile, the township's planning commission on February 9 considered an additional zoning ordinance concerning medical marijuana facilities, which will be presented to the board of trustees at its next meeting in March.
Rails-to-trails plan receives approval By Kevin Elliott
A five-year plan outlining the acquisition and development of a rails-to-trails program linking a stretch of abandoned Michigan AirLine Railway between West Bloomfield and Wixom was adopted on Tuesday, February 10, by the Commerce Township Board of Trustees. The plan, created by the Commerce, Walled Lake, and Wixom Trailway Management Council, will go before the Walled Lake City Council on March 3, and passed the Wixom City Council on February 24, before it will be filed with the state of Michigan's Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Plans to convert the former rail line into a walking trail have been in the making prior to the the trailway council's creation in 2009. The plan is required to be updated every five years and kept on file with the state of Michigan in order for a community or group, such as the trailway
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council, to be eligible for state grants. The plan addresses the acquisition and future development of the former Coe railroad right-of-way into a nonmotorized pathway to be known as the Michigan Airline Railway Trailway. Members of the trailway council on March 17, 2014, approved hiring Northville-based McKenna Associates to update the council's five-year plan. McKenna also developed the council's original master plan, which was adopted in July 2009. About $3.75 million in state funding has been approved to acquire the former railway right-of-way, which is currently owned by Browner Turnout Co., of Lincoln, Nebraska. Trailway council executive director Kathleen Jackson said the group is working with the state's Natural Resources Trust Fund and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to close on the railway. It's anticipated that the closing will occur prior to April 16, 2015, she said. The railway was originally constructed in 1883 and later merged with the Grand Trunk Western Railway in 1928. The portion of the trail, formerly Coe railroad, measures about 28,000 linear feet, or 5.45 miles, through the communities of Commerce, Walled Lake and Wixom. For many years, the only remaining part of the railway that wasn't abandoned was a line running between Wixom and West Bloomfield. The Walled Lake rail station ran its last dinner train in 2008. In January 2011, the railway was formally abandoned, and in 2012, the railroad was removed between Walled Lake and the interchange in Wixom. In 2014, an abandoned rail crossing on M-5, between W. Maple and Pontiac Trail, in Commerce Township, was removed. A walking bridge will be constructed at the crossing. A cross-state "super" trail, the Michigan Airline Trail, follows what was once the Michigan Airline Railway, from South Haven to Port Huron, according to the master plan. Eleven existing multi-use trail sections follow the 200-plus mile route. When the local portion of the trail is developed, it will bridge the gap between the Huron Valley Trail, the West Bloomfield Trail and the M-5 Metro Trail. 03.15
FACES
Jim Miller etired NFL quarterback Jim Miller is a Michigan boy whose love of football began by playing catch with his older brother, Rich, at his Waterford home. “I had a good role model,” he said. “My older brother was a quarterback for Waterford Kettering. He taught me how to throw a ball. I would go up to watch him play on Friday nights.” Soon enough, Miller found himself in his brother’s shoes as the star quarterback for Kettering. Even then, he believed he would make it to the top. “I knew I could throw a football pretty good,” he said. “I was on varsity my first year and I kinda had an idea that it would be a (career).” Michigan State University was quick to snatch Miller up from high school to play ball for the Spartans. “They recruited me pretty hard,” he said. “I was rated the top quarterback in the state. I went to the Liberty Bowl my senior year. I had great coaches (at MSU) who prepared me for the pros.” In 1994, he was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers. “I was happy to get the opportunity to play and to show my wares and see if I was gonna be good enough to make the team.” During the draft and before cell phones, Miller said his landline kept ringing with friends and family waiting for the news that he had been drafted. “I was like, ‘I gotta keep this line open, Grandma!’” he chuckled. Miller played for several NFL teams and received a Super Bowl ring in 2004 while playing for the New England Patriots.
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“It was fantastic. That’s really the pinnacle of what you’re trying to accomplish.” Miller said he had some great years with the Chicago Bears, where he had an opportunity to start and to play. “I was pretty fortunate to play with some pretty great organizations,” he said. “It’s just really about the relationships. It’s about the people that you meet and the teammates in your life.” With a shoulder and a hip injury, Miller was forced to retire from the NFL in 2006. “The doctor said, ‘This is nothing you can come back from.’ That was finality for me.” Unbeknownst to Miller at the time, he had a huge career ahead of him as a football radio host. Today he is a broadcaster on Sirius NFL Radio from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. daily Eastern Standard Time. He also covers the Chicago Bears on Comcast Sports Net in Chicago and as well as the Big 10 Network. Miller made it all the way to the top and found himself right back in his home state of Michigan. “I live not even four miles from where I grew up,” he said. His focus today is his job as a broadcaster, dad, and husband to his wife, Leah, who owns Bella Artistry, a company that offers embellished sportswear. “I want to be the best broadcaster I can be and I want to be the best dad I can be.” Story: Katey Meisner
Photo: Kelly Scaccia
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Yoga studio debuts Karma Yoga will be opening its third studio – there are also locations in Bloomfield Hills and San Diego – in West Bloomfield at 6710 Orchard Lake Rd, in The Center For Yoga’s former location . “This West Bloomfield space was auspiciously brought to me so I felt it was meant to be,” said owner Katherine Austin, who opened Karma Yoga in 2003. “For the past three years, we have really grown out of the Bloomfield Hills location. We’ve been renting off-site space to run events, teacher trainings and classes.” She added that Karma Yoga will now be able to hold these events inside of its West Bloomfield Studio.
Orthodontic office opens Open wide. Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC) opened a new West Bloomfield office at 6161 Orchard Lake, Suite 201 on February 6th. “We chose West Bloomfield because there is such a high demand
in the area,” said GEDC marketing manager Dana Tucker about how the dental care providers, with over 200 offices in nine states, chose their latest location. “Orthodontists are very limited, and with so many of our general practice offices in the area, it only made sense to expand the services we offer in this community.” An Open House for the office is planned for March 13. GDEC’S National Orthodontic Director Dr. Sindy Goodman who will serve as the location's orthodontist.
Verizon center opens A new Verizon dealer store, owned by CellCity Holdings, opened in early February at 3495 W. Maple, in Commerce Township in what used to be a 7/11. The store is open is daily, and the store offers everything any other Verizon store offers. Additionally, it will also soon offer repairs for cracked screens, technology issues and anything to do with a broken cell or smart phone.
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Radio Shack unplugs The Radio Shack located at 3050 Union Lake Rd, in Commerce Township closed after the company filed for bankruptcy in early February. The Commerce location was one of the 1,784 stores that the retailer closed nationwide.
Michigan store closed Below the Bridge and Above, a gallery specializing in Michigan goods, decided not to renew its lease at 123 E Walled Lake Dr, in Walled Lake this year. The store, which opened in May 2013, focused its offerings on Michigan related products, ranging from food and wine to art and books to bath soap and candles to shot glasses and puzzles, with prices range from $370. Business Matters for the west Oakland area are reported by Sarah Kovan. Send items for consideration to SarahKovan@downtownpublications.com. Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.
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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.
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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.
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The west Oakland area is filled with discriminating diners and an array of dining establishments. Make sure the message for your restaurant reaches the right market in the right publication—Westend. Contact Heather Marquis for advertising rate information. O: 248.792.6464 Ext. 601 C: 248.242.3887 HeatherMarquis@downtownpublications.com
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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. 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.
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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.
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ENDNOTE
Library location must be reconsidered ore than a year after recommending that Commerce Township officials formulate a strategic plan for the construction of a new library, we feel we must again urge trustees to take pause in their planning to reconsider their decision on the future building's location. A presentation and request by the Commerce Township Parks and Recreation Committee in February urging the board of trustees to scrap plans to build the library in the northwest portion of Dodge Park 5, and use a less obtrusive design in the southeast portion of the park, is evidence that the board has not only failed to take the community's wishes into consideration, but is blatantly ignoring input from community stakeholders. As it currently stands, the township's 20,000square-foot library, at 2869 N. Pontiac Trail, could be accused of being a victim of its own success. Renovated about three years ago at the cost of about $400,000, the building is a former golf clubhouse that was converted into usable library space. Since the inception of that building, the township had intended to move the library location sometime in the following five years. As maintenance and space limitations at the library continued to increase, the desire to begin planning for a new library became a higher priority in early 2014. In February of 2014, we urged elected officials to develop a plan to determine the future location of the library before it became a reactionary activity. Initial discussions focused on locating the new library inside the Commerce Township
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Downtown Development Authority (DDA) project area, ideally near Commerce Township Hall. That idea, which we strongly supported, would have created a sort of civic center inside the DDA project area, which was conceived about a decade ago as a walkable downtown for Commerce, combining retail, residential, commercial office space and parkland. We have always felt that the elements of a downtown-like area would be enhanced by the library, which will be used by residents of the development, as well as easily accessed via its roads, walkways and trails. Now we are learning that a small DDA parcel that could have been used for the library may well be in the process of being sold. In May of 2014, the board discussed the possibility of locating the future library inside Dodge Park 5, a 106-acre park at Commerce and S. Commerce roads, but decided to put off a final decision on a location in order to receive input from the community after preliminarily agreeing to place it in the park the previous month. In August 2014, before an official decision on where the library would be located, the board hired architectural firm Penchansky Whisler to design a library. Architects with the firm at the time said they were led to believe the future library would be constructed at Dodge Park 5, rather than in the DDA development area. The location was confirmed in October when the board voted 4-3 in favor of directing architects to work with the library advisory board, library officials and the parks and recreation committee to build the library in the park, with trustees David Law,
Robert Long and Rick Sovel voting against the motion. While architects in January presented plans for a library based on input from the parks and recreation committee and library officials, some township board members took the firm to task for ignoring the desire of some board members to push the library into the northwest corner of the park. Architect Dan Whisler indicated at that time that parks representatives gave the impression that the northwest corner would "drastically change the way people perceive the park." Yet, the board voted to build the library in the northwest corner because a couple board members desire the library to have greater visibility from the road. Parks committee members in February basically begged the board to reconsider the location, saying construction in the northwest portion would require a new $10,000 pavilion to be taken down, as well as hamper many annual events at the park. While board members claimed they had never heard the concerns from the committee prior to the meeting, we find the claim hard to swallow. We feel it necessary, yet again, to urge board members to reconsider the location of the library and weigh the input of all stakeholders, not just the opinion of a few board members. There is still plenty of time to have the architects shift gears and change their design parameters. Decision making on the library has been like a ping pong game, and right now, the community appears to be losing a vital park asset.
Wrong path for community development recommendation to the board of trustees in February by Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner to forgo hiring a director for the recently formed community development department is a bit of a conundrum that had trustees, and ourselves, scratching our heads. Nearly two years ago, Zoner pitched the creation of the department by combining the township's planning department with the building, water and sewer department. Doing so, he said at the time, would create efficiencies and streamline some internal processes in the departments by allowing staff to be cross-trained to perform dual functions in one department. It would also require a management position to meet increasing demands on the proposed department, as well as oversee and train staff. In 2013, the board of trustees approved the merger, as well as the hiring of a director to oversee the department. In January of 2014, the
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township hired Terry Carroll to head the department. Carroll left the position after a year for a position as the assistant director of the Office of Grants and Management for the city of Detroit. Surprisingly, considering the increased level of development and building occurring in the township, instead of requesting the board immediately begin the process of replacing Carroll, Zoner recommended moving forward without a director, and the board complied. In his explanation, Zoner said he would handle personnel issues in the department, while the township's building and planning consultants could handle the functional duties that previously fell on the director. Essentially, Zoner said, Carroll was hired to be a coach and create harmony amongst staff working together, which, as it turned out, was a task that staff didn't fully accept. Nor did they appreciate the authority the new director was given, according to Zoner's comments at the February 10 board meeting.
The recommendation and decision of the board to support it is a bit perplexing. Despite claiming the department could handle the demands on the department, Zoner has indicated he will request additional staff in the very near future. Zoner's disingenuousness with board members will not help his case with the very obvious needs of the township, which have grown substantially since he first began his service to the community in 1975. As the DDA area, Commerce Towne Place, continues to grow and take off, so too will the demands upon township hall. We also feel the decision to go forward without a director gives the impression of a department being run without a rudder. The board, and Zoner, should remember that it's not the place of staff to determine whether a position will be filled. That should fall on those elected to be stewards of the township and its departments. That's a definition of leadership.
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