Westend: May 2013

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WESTENDMONTHLY.COM

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WHO ARE YOU WHAT DEMOGRAPHICS SHOW ABOUT WEST OAKLAND AREA

REAL ESTATE UPDATE: DEMAND, CONFIDENCE ON THE WAY BACK TEEN DATING VIOLENCE: NOT ALWAYS REPORTED; VICTIMS GETTING YOUNGER ENDNOTE: THE MUCH NEEDED WATER TOWER IN COMMERCE TOWNSHIP

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WESTEND05.13

21

10 34

Teen dating violence Dating violence, including rape, among teens is a major issue, although for a variety of reasons it is not always reported to authorities.

Who are you

Real estate market

What demographics say about the current population in the Commerce, Walled Lake and Union Lake area.

Sales and buyer confidence are picking up as we head into the stronger real estate months.

8 CRIME LOCATOR 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.

41 MUNICIPAL Township transfers DDA bond payment funds; Michigan's largest Kroger store; marine patrol contracts okayed; bridge passes inspection, Commerce award winners; hospital cutbacks uncertain; plus more

53 BUSINESS MATTERS Below the Bridge & Above: Michigan Goods; Tractor Supply Company; Peet's Coffee House; On the Dunes

54 ENDNOTE Our editorial mission and plans for Westend newsmagazine; the search for a home for the water tower in Commerce.

THE COVER Michigan Department of Natural Resources access site for Union Lake off Union Lake Road.

DISTRIBUTION: Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in the Commerce, Walled Lake and Union Lake area.. Additional free copies are distributed at high foot-traffic locations.

For those not residing in the free mail distribution area, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual fee. Go to our website (westendmonthly.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order on-line or scan the QR Code here.

4

FACES 19 Lisa Boesch

33: Scott Johnson

39: Stephen Clark

45: Colette Brandenberg

DOWNTOWN P

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

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

News Staff/Contributors: Allison Batdorff, Hayley Beitman, Hillary Brody, Sally Gerak, Eleanor & Ray Heald, Austen Hohendorf, Garrett Hohendorf, Kathleen Meisner, Laurie Tennent

WESTEND

INCOMING: 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 traditional letters or electronic communication. Your opinions can be sent to westend@downtownpublications.com; or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI, 48009. Letters must include your full name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

T

he publication you are now reading is the premier issue of Westend, a full-color monthly newsmagazine mailed to 24,000 homes in an area that includes Commerce Township, Walled Lake, Wolverine Lake and the Union Lake area, which encompasses the southeast corner of White Lake, the southern tip of Waterford and the western edge of West Bloomfield.

Westend is part of the Downtown Publications group that has operated out of offices in downtown Birmingham for the last several years, producing a monthly newsmagazine, Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield, for that part of Oakland County.

None of us are new to the world of publishing. The initial group that launched Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield, and now Westend, bring decades of experience to this endeavor.

In my case, I spent over 35 years, until April of 2010, running the publishing group that produced the Spinal Column. My wife Suzette and I raised two sons while living on Long Lake in Commerce and eventually White Lake in White Lake Township.

When I made the determination to start my own publishing organization, I was fortunate enough to assemble a group that included Lisa Brody as news editor, Jill Cesarz as ad manager, Chris Grammer as the manager of graphics/IT, and reporter Kathleen Meisner, all veterans who had worked with me in the lakes area.

As some quick background, Lisa Brody brings over 25 years experience as a writer and editor, and experience and knowledge of the issues in the west Oakland lakes area. Chris Grammer has 15 years experience in graphic production of print publications and in the IT field, and is currently a resident of the lakes area. Jill Cesarz has 20 years experience in both print, on-line and outdoor media sales and currently lives in the west Oakland area.

They are joined by Hayley Beitman, part our group for the past year, who will provide reporting on west Oakland issues and government news, and Jacqueline Galvin, who will handle the majority of advertising sales for Westend, also a west Oakland resident.

So the launch of Westend is a homecoming of sorts for those of us at Downtown Publications. We bring you this first monthly issue after some leaders in the lakes area business community contacted me late last year with concerns that the local publication that had served the area for decades had basically abandoned its long-held role as the provider of critical information about the west Oakland area. Our editorial approach, outlined in more detail in the Endnote page at the back of this issue, will be more substantive.

As you will note in this premier issue of Westend, we have strong support from the key businesses in west Oakland. They recognized the need for a publication that was willing to fill the traditional role of a news publication – reporting on the actions of local government and issues of interest to local residents, along with editorial commentary as we add our voice to the debate about key local concerns.

Westend will arrive in your mailbox the first week of each month. On a more frequent basis, the print edition will be augmented by an online website, westendmonthly.com, that we will be updating at least once each week and more frequently as breaking news happens. The website, which went live several weeks ago, allows us to bring you more immediate news such as police reports and news about government meetings and actions as they occur. Please take the time to visit our website and sign up on the home page to receive e-mail notification each week as we update the site.

We are also encouraging feedback about Westend, now and in the future. Your input helps us produce a more relevant monthly newsmagazine. You are able to access the e-mail addresses of all of our staff from westendmonthly.com and my e-mail address is listed at the bottom of this page.

Lastly, our thanks to the advertisers you find in this premier issue.

Without their support, Westend would not have been possible.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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WHO ARE YOU DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT OF COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, WOLVERINE LAKE, WALLED LAKE

BY VICTORIA MITCHELL

W

hen visiting west Oakland County, or the lakes area, as many in-the-know call it, it is easy to be swept away by the scenic views and lure of blissful lake living. Scrolling neighborhoods, lakes filled with laughter and adirondack chairs surrounding backyard barbecues bring a vision of idyllic family gatherings and Tiki Torch parties. But who really is a lakes area resident?

Historically, a lakes area resident is a white middle-aged conservative. In Walled Lake, residents were once lured by the salaries of the auto industry and in Commerce Township farming was the trade of choice. Families in Commerce Township are still referred to by where their farms once stood and what they harvested with their bare hands for roadside produce stands. But times have changed dramatically in the lakes area, economically and by the volume of residents that now call western Oakland County home.

According to data compiled by Kurt Metzger, director of Data Driven Detroit, the population in Walled Lake, Commerce Township and Wolverine Lake has increased dramatically since the 1960s.

Once a quiet rural community, Commerce Township reported a total population of 9,608 in 1960, according to the U.S. Census. When compared to the now burgeoning township's population, the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau reveals a community of 35,874. The township has nearly quadrupled from its farming heydays. And farming isn't the leading industry anymore. According to the Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs Department, today's top employers in Commerce Township are Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, Walled Lake School District, Meijer Inc., and Williams International Corporation.

The topographical landscape of the township has also dramatically changed with commercial development and the construction of M-5 bringing residents and shoppers westward. The evolution of the township has brought families with higher educations, earning money at jobs paying considerably more than fruit and vegetable stands. According to the 2010 census, the median income of a Commerce Township resident is $81,916.

Commerce Township, Walled Lake, and Wolverine Lake, along with the rest of western Oakland County, has always been a fairly homogenous and conservative community, and that hasn't changed over time. Bill Ballenger, publisher and editor of Inside Michigan Politics, said the lakes area is predominantly and consistently Republican.

“Almost anywhere, with very few exceptions in Michigan, that you have sparsely populated farmland, rural areas, small towns, and maybe some suburban development, it's going to be Republican,” he said. With sweeping generalizations, Republicans, and therefore

lakes area residents, are described as white individuals with small town family values, most likely primarily Christian, married with strong family units, and earning their income through private sector jobs.

The Republican nature of the lakes area based in rural communities like Commerce Township can be attributed to the farmers who raked the land before the population explosion. “One of the reasons farmers are conservative and Republican is they are independent, self-sufficient businessmen. It's really what they are,” Ballenger said, adding they grow their own crops, wage war with the elements and the weather and depend on the markets to determine price. “By and large farmers are kind of hard-nosed businessmen and so forth, and that is kind of a characterization of a Republican,” he said.

Traditional attributes of a Republican include a reluctance to depend on taxpayer money, which mirrors the farming roots of western Oakland county and the heritage of Commerce Township. Independent and selfsufficient, typically farmers do not want handouts from the government and are determined to be left alone to make their way economically.

The roots grown in Walled Lake soil are of a much different nature. Instead of seeds placed thoughtfully in the soil for a strong crop, the growth of the city is attributed to the metal and steel of the automotive industry.

“The auto industry was a boom for Walled Lake, but it also has been an economic downturn for us,” said Walled Lake Mayor Pro Tem Linda Ackely.

In the booming automotive days, Ackely said, the auto workers who settled near plants would come to the city for the Walled Lake Amusement Park and Walled Lake Casino.

She tells tales of traffic being bumper-tobumper throughout the city, and roadside stands selling sodas handed out to stuck motorists. “Walled Lake became a destination,” she said. When the Ford Wixom plant opened in 1957, it brought even more people and businesses to Walled Lake, helping grow the city into a blue collar community.

“Then unfortunately, when the Wixom plant closed you saw how the auto industry affected us in the opposite way, with the downturn of the economy,” Ackley said. “They weren't making stops in Walled Lake like they used to make and there were a couple of development plans for the city that the day the Wixom plant announced they were moving out, they fell through.” The Wixom plant rolled its last Lincoln Town car off the assembly line in 2007.

Metzger said the population in Walled Lake was 3,550 in the 1960s, before growing to 6,999 in 2010. Metzger noted the largest population jump in Walled Lake occurred in the 1980s and 1990s, when the population increased by nearly 3,000 people. The first decline in population coincided with the

Wixom plant closing, forcing the city to lose about 300 residents between 2000-2010.

Metzger said in 2010, Walled Lake lost another 100 people.

According to the Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs Department, the top employers in Walled Lake today are the Walled Lake Consolidated School District, American Plastic Toys, Inc., Matrix System Automotive Finishes, and Husky Envelope, Inc. The different landscape in Walled Lake has produced a crop of slightly different residents than Commerce Township. The age of its residents is older, and the city isn't flush with young families in starter homes. According to the 2010 Census, Walled Lake consists of more non-family households and those living alone. Walled Lake also has a higher population of renters versus home owners and fewer residents with four-year college degrees or post-graduate coursework.

The Village of Wolverine Lake, located right in the center of Commerce Township, is a unique community as its roots cannot be traced back to a specific trade or industry. The village is not defined by autos or apples, but is instead completely centered around water.

Wolverine Lake was created in the 1920s through a private damming project by a local dentist and developer. What was once six small lakes was turned into a 265-acre lake which today the community surrounds as its focal point.

Metzger said the population in Wolverine Lake Village has been decreasing moderately since the 1980s when it reached its peak, with 4,968 residents. In the 1990s, Wolverine Lake had 4,727 residents and in 2000, there were 4,415 people living in the village. According to the 2010 census, there are now 4,312 residents in the municipality.

Like Walled Lake, neighboring Wolverine Lake has an older population than the strong younger family presence seen in Commerce Township. According to the 2010 census, 75 percent of the village's population is 21 or older, with just 30 percent of the family household's reported having children. The residents who live in Wolverine Lake are passionate and close knit, as evidenced by the village outings to ballgames and other metro Detroit destinations, and its decades-long Tiki Torch party held on July 3 of every year.

Wolverine Lake's focus is squarely on its residents, not on commercial development, which it has little of. According to the Oakland County Economic Development & Community Affairs Department, the top employers in Wolverine Lake are DNL Construction, Walled Lake Schools Employee Credit Union, and the Village of Wolverine Lake, a lean government where one municipal leader serves multiple positions as the administrator, clerk and head of the department of public works.

As all three west Oakland communities change in their unique ways, Walled Lake,

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LOCAL 05.13

Commerce Township and Wolverine Lake are becoming slightly more diversified. Slightly.

The overwhelmingly predominant ethnic race in all three communities and throughout western Oakland County is Caucasian.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census data, nearly 89 percent of Walled Lake residents reported Caucasian or white as their race. In Commerce Township, nearly 94 percent reported their race as white, and in Wolverine Lake, 96 percent reported their race as white. According to data compiled by Metzger, the percentage of residents in all three communities reporting themselves as Caucasian is down from 2000, evidence of a slight change in racial composition. In 2000, nearly 96 percent of Commerce Township residents reported their race was white, producing a 2 percent change.

According to Metzger's data, in 2000, approximately 94 percent of residents disclosed their race as Caucasian, representing a 5 percent more racially diverse community. In 2000, 97 percent of Wolverine Lake residents reported their race as white, revealing a one percent change.

Commerce Township The Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Department describes Commerce Township as a heavily wooded lakes area community in the western portion of Oakland County which is comprised of a string of small lakes and winding roads. The department further details Commerce Township as a primarily residential community which has pleasant views of the scenery and year-round lake and river recreation. Although considered primarily residential, county officials said the township began to expand in in the 1980s as commercial and industrial parks were constructed, along with the addition of DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital.

The extension of the M-5 highway, an almost

21-mile state trunkline highway which begins in Commerce Township as the Haggerty Connector, linking in with I-96 in Novi, has provided major transportation access to the area. Commerce Township is also home to the Proud Lake State Recreation area, which comprises 4,700 acres of beautiful rolling hills, two lakes, pine tree forests and over 20 miles of hiking and biking trails. It occupies a large portion of the township.

The township encompasses 29.8 square miles of Oakland County land with 40,186 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau. According to data collected by the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), total population in 2010 was 35,874, and is expected to grow to 41,628 in 2040; however, the council did not predict the township would see more than 40,000 residents until after 2020.

According to the census data, the average age of a Commerce Township resident is 40.2 years of age. Residents 62 and older comprise about 14 percent of the total population, while residents 24 years and younger make up onethird of the township's total population. The ratio of men to women is fifty-fifty.

The median income of a Commerce Township household, according to the 2010 census, is $81,916. Nearly 56 percent of households reported making $50,000 or more, with nearly 17 percent of households indicating they were making $150,000 or more.

Ninety-eight percent of Commerce Township residents reported in the 2010 census that they were of a homogenous race, with almost 94 percent of the population stating they were Caucasian (white) on the census survey. The next highest reported race in 2010 was Hispanic or other race, at 2.6 percent, and then Asian, with a total of 2.4 percent, followed by black or African American at 1.6 percent. Five residents reported being Native Hawaiian or

The way the political winds blow

By Lisa Brody

W

estern Oakland County has long been traditional Republican turf, which dates back to its origin as an agricultural base which grew to encompass automotive plants, automotive suppliers and other industries.

Today, Commerce Township, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake have evolved as southeastern Michigan sprawl has searched for farm land to clear for development. Yet, by and large, election results appear to bear out that the communities are holding tight to their Republican roots.

Oakland County has historically been Republican, but as the county becomes more of an ethnic mix, Democrats are encroaching in on their territory, with the southeastern portion of Oakland County consistently voting Democratic, and West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills and Birmingham showing inroads in some elections.

Bill Ballenger, editor of Inside Michigan Politics who is also a former state representative and state senator, noted that western Oakland County has a history of being Republican territory. “I think the west end of the county is more rural and suburban and small town, and probably the most sparsely populated part of the county just because of demographics and population trends over the years,” he said, adding more rural areas and small towns with some suburban development tend to generally lean Republican. “Democrats tend to do well are communities with population spillover from Detroit like Ferndale.”

other Pacific Islander. It is primarily a nativeborn locality, with 92 percent of residents having been born in the United States.

Commerce Township is a family-oriented community, with over 75 percent of respondents reporting they are married couples living as a family, with the average household size as three. Thirty-six percent of the population are families with children under the age of 18. The percentage of households with individuals 65 or older is 20 percent. Two percent of the population reported living with an unmarried partner.

According to RealComp II statistics, a realtor multi-listing service, the median home sales price for Commerce Township during the time period of April 10, 2012 through April 9, 2013 was $178,784. The number of sales during the same period was 565. Census data shows that 90 percent of Commerce Township residents own their own homes, with the other 10 percent residing in the township as renters.

Commerce Township is a moderately welleducated community, with 94.4 percent of residents reporting having graduated from high school or higher. Forty percent of Commerce Township residents have earned their bachelor's degree from a four-year university or a graduate or professional degree. Nearly 10 percent of the township residents report veteran status.

Walled Lake The Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Department describes the city of Walled Lake as an “Oakland County Mainstreet community noted for its bustling community enveloped by a country atmosphere that takes pride in its heritage and history.”

The city is described as having quaint shops and restaurants and is easily accessed from I96. Residents and visitors alike describe it as an enjoyable lake community.

David Dulio, Ph.D., Oakland University associate professor and chair of the department of political science, said communities like Pontiac, Ferndale, Southfield, Oak Park, Madison Heights and Hazel Park have become more blue collar and Democratic.

He said the shift in Oakland County over the past few decades is a big part of why Michigan has voted for the Democratic presidential candidate the last five or six election cycles. He added that with the economic changes, and a strongly Republican legislature, including a Republican governor, Republicans should probably be doing better, although they have traditionally been solid in the western part of the county when looking at past presidential elections results.

Political leanings of a community can be determined through the election results of University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University regent board races. These political contests are rarely publicized and voters often aren't familiar with the candidates.

Therefore, the contests are truly the tea leaves of the area, as most voters cast their ballots in those races based on party affiliation, if they vote in them at all.

Commerce Township's election results, including Wolverine Lake Village votes, according to the university board elections of 2008 and 2012, show the communities were solidly Republican despite the election in Michigan of a Democrat for president, Barack Obama. In both election years, with the exception of Democrat Denise Ilitch, who came in second with 24.22

The city is small, covering a land mass of only 2.5 square miles with 6,999 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau.

According to data collected by SEMCOG, the total population in 2000 was 6,713, and with an anticipation it will grow to 7,678 in 2040.

According to census data, the average age of a Walled Lake resident is currently approaching middle aged, at 39.4. Seventyseven percent of Walled Lake residents are 21 or older, and nearly 17 percent of residents are over 61. When looking at census data, residents are fairly evenly divided between all age groups, with the exception of those 70 and older. There are more women than men living in the community, with a 45 percent male to 55 percent female ratio.

The median income of a Walled Lake household, according to the 2010 census, is $48,135.

Nearly half of all households, 49 percent, reported making $50,000 or more, while nearly 55 percent of households reported making $49,999 or less. Three percent of Walled Lake households reported making $150,000 or more.

Nearly 89 percent of the population of Walled Lake reported in the 2010 census that they were Caucasian or white. The next highest race reported on the census was black or African American at 4.4 percent. Hispanics, according to the data, were at nearly 4 percent.

The community has 2.8 percent Asians. Eightyfive percent of the population reported being born in the United States.

A little more than half of all Walled Lake households are family households, with nearly 24 percent of families saying they have children younger than 18 living with them.

However, a majority of Walled Lake homes are made up of a couple, with 3 percent of residents reported living with an unmarried partner.

According to RealComp II statistics, the

median home sales price for Walled Lake during the time period of April 10, 2012 through April 9, 2013 was $75,750. The number of sales during the same period was 124. Census data from 2010 indicates that nearly 62 percent of residents own their home, while the other 38 percent rent to be in the community.

The education level of residents indicate that 88 percent of residents have graduated high school and gone on to some level of college, while 27 percent have their bachelor's degree or graduate or professional degree. Approximately 7 percent are veterans. While unemployment rates have dropped since 2010, at that time 60 percent of the population was employed, with 11 percent reporting they were unemployed.

Wolverine Lake The Oakland County Planning and Economic Development Department describes The Village of Wolverine Lake as a residential community built around a 265-acre, all-sports lake. Residents have access to the lake through community parks, and some subdivision parks have created swimming beaches and boat launch facilities for residents.

There is also public access to Wolverine Lake through a public access site off of Glengary Road.

The village is 1.69 square miles in land size, with 4,312 residents, according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau. According to data collected by SEMCOG, the council is predicting a steady decline in population throughout the next 20 years.

According to the census data, the average age of a Wolverine Lake resident is 42.7. A mature community, 75 percent of the Wolverine Lake population is 21 or older, evenly divided between males and females. The largest proportion of residents falls squarely in the age group of 45-49, making up 10.5 percent of the village.

The median income of a Wolverine Lake household, according to the 2010 census, is $72,598. Nearly 72 percent of households

percent of the vote with strong name recognition in the 2008 University of Michigan board of regents election, all other top regent vote getters in both 2008 and 2012 were Republicans. In 2012, Dan Horning and Robert Steele, both Republicans, were Commerce Township's University of Michigan choices; yet two Democrats, Mark Bernstein and Shauna Ryder Diggs prevailed statewide. They chose Melanie Foster and Jeff Sakwa in the MSU race; Foster and Democrat Joel Ferguson won. Commerce chose Michael Busuito and Satish Jashti, both Republicans, for Wayne State, while two Democrats, Sandra Hughes O'Brien and Kim Trent, took the overall vote.

Walled Lake results reflect the mixture of west Oakland Republicans and blue collar union-oriented Michigan Democrats that make up the constituency of the city. In the 2012 election for the boards of the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, in Walled Lake, a Republican and Democrat were chosen for each race.

Walled Lake voters selected Hughes O'Brien and Busuito for Wayne State University; Foster and both Ferguson and Jeff Sakwa, another Democrat, for Michigan State; and Bernstein and Horning for Michigan. The also split their vote in the 2008 general election, with the exception of the Michigan State trustee election where two Republicans were selected.

Ballenger said he believed mixed results in the 2012 election still demonstrate a Republican showing from the area because Barack Obama carried Michigan by almost 10 percent over Romney statewide. He also pointed out that U.S. Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow beat Republican

reported making $50,000 or more, with 11 percent of households reported making $150,000 or more.

According to the 2010 census report, Wolverine Lake is a primarily Caucasian community, with 96 percent of the population reporting that they are white, and 91 percent reporting being born in the United States. The next highest reported race on the census was Hispanic was 2.4 percent, followed by Asian, with 1.2 percent of the population, and black or African Americans at almost 1 percent.

Focused on the lake, Wolverine Lake is a family-oriented community, with 70 percent of Wolverine Lake residents living in a family household; of those, 29 percent have children younger than 18. The average household size is 2.5 persons. Almost a quarter of the community, 24 percent of residents, live alone.

Nearly 3 percent of the population reported living with an unmarried partner.

According to RealComp II statistics, the median home sales price for Wolverine Lake during the time period of April 10, 2012 through April 9, 2013 was $107,950. The number of sales during the same period was 59. A preponderance of Wolverine Lake residents own their own homes, at 86 percent, with the other 14 percent renting.

Wolverine Lake attracts well-educated residents, with 93 percent of residents reporting that they have graduated from high school or have attended some college, and nearly 30 percent have their bachelor's degree or graduate or professional degree. Of those who reside here, 11 percent are veterans.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 60 percent of residents reported being employed, with 61 percent of village residents in the workforce women. Five percent of residents reported being unemployed. The majority of residents commute outside of the community to work.

Pete Hoekstra by almost 20 percent in the U.S. Senatorial campaign, “and that impacts everything right down the ticket, including educational races.”

Ballenger said looking at university elections is a good index for determining a community's base of party strength, and is indicative of a community's true orientation.

Dulio concurs, saying “the 2012 voter turnout was heavily driven by the Obama campaign.”

Yet Dulio said using educational races to determine a community's political leaning is a fair assessment. “It is a common strategy to use a race like say, state board of education, to figure out an area or state's partisanship, especially in a place like Michigan where we don't have party declaration on voter identification.”

Dulio said that although the analysis is common, he does not believe it is completely reliable. He explained the thought behind using that strategy is that by the time voters get to that part of the ballot they are usually using party identification for their choice or are showing their strong partisanship by voting for their party.

But when looking at political leanings, Dulio said you don't always need to over think the process. He said by looking at state representatives and senators, you can also determine a community's political standing. All of the state senators and representatives and the Oakland County commissioner representing Commerce Township, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake are Republicans.

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Lisa Boesch

L

isa Boesch mused of becoming an artist since she was just a little girl living in White Lake; today she is the owner and art designer of a prospering national clothing company ellembee. ellembee, phonetically named using her own initials, Lisa Marie Boesch, has sold over 42,000 of Boesch’s own printed designs on Etsy.com, and at over 80 locations across the U.S. The tenacious industrialist has screen printed her drawings on each and every garment by hand since the inception of the business five years ago. Her fierce passion and vigor for the arts began many years prior.

“I would always do art projects with my Aunt Gaylene,” Boesch said.

“She is an incredible artist and I think she cultivated that in me. I was always doodling, coloring and sewing.”

During her education in the Walled Lake School District, Boesch was mesmorized by the arts. Mentored by Adair Hinds, former art instructor at Walled Lake Central High School, Boesch derived a great deal of encouragement from Hinds.

“He taught several of the art classes,” she said. “I really related to him.

He let us be creative and encouraged us to try different avenues.”

After studying at the Art Institute of California following high school, Boesch worked as a bedding designer in California before being laid off and subsequently returning to Michigan. In 2008, she moved back to White Lake and was compelled to start her own business.

“I didn’t want to work for anyone and I didn’t want anyone to work for me,” she said. “I gave myself six months to see if I could get (ellembee) to

fly. I learned to screen print by watching You Tube videos. My mom let me run the business out of her house for the first four years.”

After putting her first original design on Etsy.com, the T-shirt was promptly purchased by a woman in Seattle, and Boesch said she knew quickly she had a viable product.

Inspired by nature, ornate patterns and floral antique design, her handdrawn and graphically created prints are sold at Yellow Door Art Market in Berkley and One Salon in Novi in southeastern Michigan. According to Boesch, her T-shirt entitled “Twigs” was purchased by singer Bob Seger for his son. “I was so excited.”

Due of ellembee’s success, Boesch has been able to move her operation to a warehouse in Wixom, where she has a small team of invaluable seasonal workers.

“It is a true blessing. I have help prepping, but I still print them all by myself.”

Throughout the arduous but fulfilling venture, she cites her family as the anchoring force that impelled her success.

“The sky was the limit. Whatever I wanted to do, they supported me,” she said. “It’s been such a blessing and it’s brought us close together.”

Recently, Boesch was able to achieve another lifelong goal by purchasing her first home in Milford.

“I walk into my house and I feel so blessed. This is my life and I’ve worked hard for this.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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“She was MAD,” Karlyn recalls. “She was like ‘what are those people thinking?’”

The television story told of Steubenville, Ohio, where two teenaged male football players were convicted last month of raping a 16-year old girl after an under-aged drinking party. The number of videos, pictures and texts before, during, after and about the assault vaulted the case into the national spotlight, as did the small town’s protection of the football players and incidents of cyber-bullying the victim. The girl was from West Virginia and was so intoxicated she could not walk.

Sharolyn Sykes didn’t mince words with her daughters.

“Right is right and wrong is wrong. That girl could’ve walked around that party buck-naked, and it still doesn’t matter. As soon as she says 'no' or she’s too drunk to say it, then it’s rape, and no one – no matter what they’re wearing or how much they’re drinking -- deserves to be raped.”

Sharolyn also spoke to her children about dating violence, the role of social media in their family’s life, adding the cautionary note about how Steubenville could happen right here in Oakland County and likely has.

“We can’t act like things like that don’t happen here,” Sharolyn said. “Those boys in Ohio just got caught.”

Trenton Mays, 17, and Ma'Lik Richmond, 16, the convicted perpetrators, will serve juvenile prison sentences of at least one year. Mays got another year for taking nude photos of the unconscious girl.

That might be just the first round of punishments.

Ohio’s Attorney General Mike DeWine already has brought charges against two teens who posted online threats against the victim in the wake of the conviction and has convened a grand jury to find out who knew about the assault and either didn’t report it, or actively covered it up.

But it won’t be just teens, parents, school officials and football coaches in the courtroom this month. The whole teenage sexual violence mindset is on trial. Steubenville is just the name on the map.

“This kind of thing doesn’t happen in a vacuum,” says Christy Cardinal, Director of Prevention and Education at Oakland County’s Haven.

“Unfortunately, it happens everywhere, every weekend, and the community responses we’ve seen in the news are pretty typical.”

Haven is the Oakland County Center for sexual assault treatment and counseling. Cardinal additionally reaches out to area schools, talking to 8,000 to 12,000 students a year about dating violence, sexual consent and respect.

“We know that teens using their cell phones to take a picture of an assault is valuable in terms of gathering evidence. But we’d rather see them use that cell phone to dial 9-1-1,” Cardinal said.

“I believe that prevention and education are the key,” said Pauline Pruneau, health consultant with Oakland Intermediate Schools. “One of the things we instill in schools, as an actual part of a new curriculum, called Skills for Life and Health, are modules for healthy relationships, teaching students the skill development for communication, listening, so they can develop positive relations. As they move on, they need to recognize unhealthy relationships, both those with unhealthy physical and unhealthy mental abuse.”

The ideal is to make consent, sexual or otherwise, a part of character education from pre-kindergarten forward, to help children and adolescents understand themselves and each other, and give them confidence to speak up when situations go awry, Cardinal said.

“Consent can be as simple as asking ‘would you like to go to a movie or to dinner?’ instead of assuming,” Cardinal said. “We’d like to see a new model of behavior where respect is the minimum, and consent is just the starting point.”

But there’s a long way to go from here to there, she said.

“I do believe that it is possible to stop attacks like (Steubenville) if we work towards a culture where we respect each others’ bodies,” Cardinal said. “But I don’t know that we’re doing a good enough job or reaching the right people yet.”

Nationally, there are about 200,000 rapes, attempted rapes, and sexual assaults in the U.S. every year, and 44 percent of these victims are under 18 years

old. Teens especially – more than 80 percent - know their attackers.

In Michigan, which ranks fourth on the state list of criminal sex cases, the largest group of victims fell between the ages of 15-19 years old, according to the Michigan Incident Crime Report of 2010. The second largest group falls between the ages of 10-14 years of age. The third highest batch of victims is under ten years old. Ninety-seven percent of victims were women, and 88 percent knew their attackers.

That said, where teenagers, sex and violence intersect, numbers are notoriously hard to come by.

Incidents usually happen behind closed doors. Sexual shame and fear of humiliation or retribution means crimes go unreported more often than not, at rates between 60 to 95 percent. Plus, teen incidents often happen when drugs and alcohol are being used, so crimes go unreported because of concerns about getting in trouble for illegal drug use or underage drinking.

Erica Dovitz, a graduate of Walled Lake Central High School, said that in high school, she didn't see, or feel, a lot of sexual pressure. “In high school, I didn't see it as much. There wasn't the forcefulness or the pressure. It was like, until you got your driver's license, you really only interacted with the boys at school,” she said.

At college, she noticed a distinct difference. The West Bloomfield resident attended Western Michigan University, joining a sorority, and often attending fraternity parties where both males and females got drunk. “I think there is an expectation from certain guys, if they go to a party or a bar, they expect you to go home with them if they buy you a drink,” she said.

“It's not all boys, but there are some. You have to be smart about it, and what you're getting yourself into. On the other hand, there are a lot of fraternity guys who were very protective of friends who were girls.”

She recalls some incidents with friends that had the potential to turn violent or out of control if there hadn't been intervention on the part of friends. “I was at a party once and a guy was touching me, being very aggressive and very creepy.

I complained to a friend, this other guy, and my friend went and kicked the guy out of the party,” she remembered. “My friend did not want me to think this was OK at his party. It's such a sensitive thing in the Greek system – they want to put out a positive persona. They are hypersensitive to the perception of aggressiveness and inappropriateness, and didn't want anyone to be violated or associated with that stigma.”

At another party, Dovitz said, a girl friend of hers had gotten really drunk, and a guy had led her into a bathroom. “He wasn't violent with her, but another friend and I had to go and physically take her out of the bathroom,” she said. “He was trying to convince me and my friend that she was fine, even though she wasn't.

He was trying to persuade her, and she couldn't tell the difference. We took her home.”

Birmingham Groves High School social worker Susan Rogers says that “shame” plays a significant role in keeping local teens from reporting what they’ve seen or experienced.

“It’s not a socioeconomic issue because we see teens from a variety of backgrounds,” Rogers said. “It’s more of a shame issue, and the desire to maintain that impression that everything is always fine.”

Cardinal sees the same thing at Haven, she said.

“People won’t come forward because they don’t want to cause a problem or rock the boat,” Cardinal said. “Or they’re afraid no one will believe them.”

One disturbing local trend is that those seeking Haven’s services are getting younger, Cardinal said.

“In Oakland County, our numbers are skewing younger,” she said. “We’re seeing more patients who are 13-15 years old than before.”

After 25 years in the Birmingham public school district, Rogers’s trends are more psychological, as students now are pretty well informed about what criminal sexual conduct entails and the age of consent.

“They know and are taught that alcohol is the number one date rape drug and information like that,” Rogers said. But most cases have “a strong psychological component,” she says.

“It’s more like ‘this is normal for me. This is what I’ve grown up with. This is what I’ve seen with my parents and I don’t deserve any better than this,” Rogers

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said. “Or maybe they believe it’s the only way to have a relationship is to hang on to what they have, no matter what that is.”

Indeed, the teenage dating world is a confusing place these days. Teens know their life expectancy is much longer, and are not in the market for “’til death do us part” in high school, and often, college. More career options and less focus on having children lends itself to a more “casual approach” in general.

“At the bars now, there are three kinds of guys,” Dovitz explained, who is now in the working world.

“One kind of guy is stuck on 'I'm going to get wasted and get her to come with me.' Guy number two is, I'm going to meet a girl and get her to marry me. The third guy is someone who is actually normal, that you can talk to, and maybe something will develop. You just have to wait out the weirdos.”

The term “hook up culture” has been used to describe the casual attitude toward sex and relationships, and while television depictions of this are laughable, Karlyn says that concept is spot on.

A friend was recently dumped via dramatic text message saying, “I’m too young to settle down. I want to be free.”

“We laughed at it, but that’s partially true for all of us,” Karlyn said. “I can’t think of a role model couple right now that’s considered a ‘healthy relationship.’ There’s no cutesy couple at school that everyone wants to be like. Maybe for a few days or something, but then there’s always a party, a hook up, and you hear all about it.”

Dating is different these days, affirms Rogers.

“There’s a casualness about sex, and a tolerance for dating around and not being with one person,” Rogers said. “Yet it’s often mixed with this ironic drive to have a girlfriend/boyfriend ‘because everyone else has one.'”

About 72 percent of eighth and ninth graders are “dating,” according to "love is respect," a teen-centered collaboration of Break the Cycle and the National Dating Abuse Helpline.

“We have middle school and elementary curriculums teaching relationship skills that have proved to be effective,” said Oakland Intermediate Schools' Pruneau. “I think it's important to provide health education, and it should begin at the elementary level, because even at the elementary level there is conflict, and they need to learn to resolve it. There can be difficult relationships, and they need to learn to deal with issues, or when to walk away. They need to learn when to seek help, or even what to do as a friend when you know they are in an abusive relationship.”

Yet there can be violence within even these casual relationships. Nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. Girls and young women between the ages of 16 and 24 sustain almost triple the national average of violence caused by their intimate partner. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2011 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Center said almost 10 percent of high school students said their partner hit, slapped, or physically hurt them on purpose in the 12 months prior to the survey.

Being a teenaged victim can hurt later in life, as one in five women and nearly one in seven men who ever experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010 National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey. Violence can also lead to poor academic performance, drug and alcohol use, eating disorders, depression and suicide.

Teens also struggle to keep perspective in the over-sexualized and permissive media landscape. It influences the teenage view of what sex is really like, Cardinal said.

“Pornography makes sex look a lot different from reality, giving adolescents a skewed view of what sex looks like and even feels like,” Cardinal said.

Also disturbing are sexualized depictions where consent is questionable, leaving teens to wonder if it’s less of an imperative, Cardinal said.

There’s also no real “safe sex” scare tactic used anymore, a change from the HIV/AIDS threat in the eighties and nineties, she said.

“Teens think they’re invincible,” Rogers said.

The constant barrage of social media also poses challenges, as 24-hour access

to peers makes it hard for teens to establish boundaries and parents struggle with how much is too much independence, virtual or otherwise.

Teens, of course, adapt and exploit the digital world much easier than their parents.

While their long-in-the-tooth parents look up old friends on Facebook or Skype with so-and-so’s grandkids, today’s teens actively incorporate social media into their persona. It’s about connection, sure, but it’s also “show-and-tell” who you are, and because it’s high school and college, it's about how cool you are.

Your pages tell the tale of your popularity. How many friends do you have? Are you checking in at cool places? How funny are your captions? What’s your status? Are you tweeting something juicy? How fast can you throw up a snarky Instagram page?

Twitter adds a new element into the equation, one that some kids aren't big on, yet others tweet every thing they do - from the moment they awake to the moment they enter Dreamland.

“You Tweet every minute of your life so you can prove that you have one,” Karlyn said.

And then there’s the “subtweeting,” an act defined by the Urban Dictionary as the "subliminal tweet", or directly referring to a particular person without mentioning their name or directly mentioning them.

Like this: “So-and-so is talking to my boyfriend.

It’s so annoying!”

All of your followers know who it is but you haven’t mentioned anyone by name. It’s talking about someone behind their back in front of them, and can get totally out of hand, Karlyn said.

In relationships, social media and texting can be the glue that holds relationships together and/or the wedge that drives them apart. Knowing your love interest’s every move can be fodder for jealousy, but it can also be a way to get in some friendly banter in a free moment.

And once a relationship is announced on social media, then it’s legit, Karlyn said. And social media now offers nearly unparalleled access to your love interest, a fact that teenagers take advantage of while parents stay in the dark, according to a survey conducted by Teenage Research Unlimited (TRU).

The survey found that nearly one in four teens in a relationship (24 percent) communicated with their partner via cell phone or text every hour between midnight and 5 a.m. One in three teens (30 percent) say they are text messaged between 10-30 times hourly by a partner.

The report also found that 82 percent of parents, whose teens were emailed or texted 30 times per hour, did not know this was happening.

But the opportunity has a dark side. Almost two-thirds of teens say their boyfriends/girlfriends spread rumors about them on cell phones and social networking sites. Another 68 percent say their partner shared private or embarrassing pictures/videos pictures of them.

In potentially abusive relationships and stalking, cell phones and social media give power brokers more access to their victims, Cardinal said.

“Before social media, if the teen was being abused by someone at school, when the school day ended, access to the victim ended. Now that access doesn’t end, and that can be increasingly psychologically damaging,” Cardinal said.

The practice, called “sexting”, is also illegal.

“Boy, it takes only one second on that cell phone and everyone has it,” Pruneau points out. “It's critical to make them aware of the legal ramifications of sending photos over the Internet or their phones.”

She noted it is a criminal offense. “It's child pornography, and they can be prosecuted for that. We work closely with the Oakland County Prosecutor's Officer on these cases, and Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper talks to kids about these issues. Schools and parents just need to call her office for advice or counsel.”

Pruneau said that parents and students can access a website through Oakland Schools on the topic, and that it is really important that students have someone in their life to connect with, whether it's a teacher, counselor, parent, or other adult.

“In high school, both my parents were really open about what to look for, and how to be treated right,” Dovitz said. “They did not shield me from rape

THERE’S A CASUALNESS ABOUT SEX, AND A TOLERANCE FOR DATING AROUND AND NOT BEING WITH ONE PERSON

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or sexual violence. We talked about it, as well as in health class in school. It can be helpful. Someone who is sheltered, if their parents don't talk with them, they might now know what to do. It's always better to be informed about what to do, and then you can follow the right protocol.”

In recent headline cases, social media played a part in perpetuating tragedies, as victims were terrorized by the continuous and cruel dissemination of the images and video of their attack. Fifteen-year old Californian Audrie Pott woke up to “Blank (NAME) was here” written on intimate parts of her body after becoming intoxicated at a friend’s sleepover.

Humiliating photos of her circulated around school. She committed suicide and her parents are lobbying to get the three 16-year old boys facing charges of sexual battery to be tried as adults. A funeral was also held in Nova Scotia in April for 17-year-old girl Rehtaeh Parsons. The teen committed suicide after being allegedly gang-raped as a 15-year-old, and pictures taken of the attack circulated at her school.

Social media also played a prominent role in the Steubenville case. One kid’s video shot that night showed an intoxicated teen joking about the rape.

Text messages introduced at the trial may implicate the high school’s head football coach awareness early on. Other adolescents posted videos and comments on Facebook about the intoxicated girl or tweeted them on Twitter. There were flurries of text messages. In a quote widely publicized, the victim’s mother told the two convicted boys at the trial, "You were your own accuser, through the social media that you chose to publish your criminal conduct on.”

Social media coverage in high-profile cases like Steubenville also often prompts a spike in sexual assault reporting, Cardinal said.

“Our numbers go up, which means more people are seeking services, which is a good thing,” Cardinal said. “We have to be aware that it’s not the rape numbers rising but an increase in help-seeking behavior.”

There’s nothing inherently “evil” about social media, but teens do need to be careful, Cardinal said.

Rogers agrees.

“Teens absolutely have to consider everything they put online or text,” Rogers said.

And at the end of the day, it's imperative that parents are engaged, teaching teens to do the right thing.

“Steubenville was the perfect storm,” Rogers said. “The alcohol, the party, and the lack of parental supervision and limitations were important factors in that situation.”

That several communities rallied around the boys who committed the rape because of their athletic affiliation is “unfortunate, but it happens sometimes,” Rogers said. Mentoring responsible behavior means a lot to teens who have an eagle eye for hypocrisy.

“Teens need to talk to people with credibility,” Rogers said, adding that a good mentor can help kids see things differently.

“The term ‘self esteem’ is so overused and archaic anymore, but it really does start there,” Rogers said. “Teens need to know that they’re worth it to take the next step.”

But in general, most adults are still trying to understand this issue, as teenage dating violence has only recently come to the forefront of our social consciousness, pushed there by the telling statistics and horrific events.

And adults trying to understand the issue through an adult framework will likely miss the key differences between teen and adult relationships.

Until that day, the CDC asks parents to watch for signs of dating violence, like trauma, anxiety, isolation and withdrawal.

On the perpetrators side, parents need to watch their children for risk factors that could lead to violence, including friends who believe that sexual violence is okay, emotional trauma, alcohol use, problem behaviors, exposure to harsh parenting, inconsistent discipline and a lack of parental supervision, monitoring and warmth.

Talking to her girls before school that March morning as Sykes did is probably the best any parent can do. Because the world can be a dangerous place for teens and young adults.

“We’re going to see more cases with this kind of exposure,” Cardinal said.

“We’re going to see more cases like Steubenville.” westendmonthly.com

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Scott Johnson

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ntertainer Scott Johnson has captivated audiences around the world and even landed a small role on CSI: Las Vegas, but his first act was performed in his Commerce Township childhood home.

“Every Christmas, my uncle would give me a magic set and I would do magic for the family,” Johnson said. “I was always singing and doing impressions. I knew I wanted to be in show biz.”

Johnson began tap dancing at 4-years-old and was later trained at the American Dance Academy in Commerce Township. He began to hone his acting skills through the Walled Lake School District.

“At Clifford Smart (Junior High), Mr. (Hugh) Schulkins encouraged me to get into the business. He was definitely a mentor,” Johnson said. “At Walled Lake Central (High School), Mr. (Dennis) Bixler helped me get on track with my school work. He was a big help to me.”

Through the American Dance Academy, Johnson won the title of Mr. Dance Olympus and was afforded the opportunity to travel the country and refine his artistry. He gleaned more knowledge from Broadway choreographers and talents such as Mia Michaels, choreographer on Fox’s “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“The techniques they showed me helped me be able to get jobs.”

After graduating from Walled Lake Central High School, Johnson worked on cruise ships as a singer, dancer and producer.

“It was amazing,” he said. “I was 19-years-old at the time and working for

Norwegian Cruise Lines. I went to Venice, France, Spain, Russia, Israel, Morocco, Norway and Germany.” After performing on several cruise lines over a period of seven years, Johnson returned to the U.S. and landed a part as a police officer on CSI: Las Vegas.

“I was living in Las Vegas at the time and saw a local ad for extras,” he said. “I put in a head shot and resume and they called me for that job. It was great. I was also an extra in (the 2003 film) Head of State with Chris Rock and was able to meet him.”

Today, Johnson lives in Tennessee where he performs in a variety show at the Smoky Mountain Opry.

“I’ve been working with that show for three years,” he said. “It’s a different part of my life. I have my own home with my two dogs and I can have all my friends come over.”

Johnson has traversed the globe pursuing a life in entertainment, but he still makes time each year to return to Commerce, the town that gave him his start and to the family which emboldened his dreams.

“I come back when the theater closes in January,” he said. “I see my family and friends and I like to go to Woody’s On The Trail (restaurant) in Walled Lake.”

Johnson is indebted to those in his life who helped bolster his extraordinary career, but his devotion will always be to life on the stage.

“It is everything I ever wanted. I am definitely living the dream.”

Story: Katey Meisner

REAL ESTATE A MARKET REENERGIZED

BY VICTORIA MITCHELL

L

ooking for a new home used to be a thoughtful process. Hopeful homeowners would linger over home listings with a cup of coffee, envisioning where their children would play in the backyard or how perfectly their armoire would fit in the master suite. Realtors would shuffle their clients from home to home, leisurely walking them through each and every home, seeking perfection. There was time to weigh the pros and cons of each property for days before making the monumental financial and family decision.

There was time to ponder finding the perfect home, and then to pursue the ideal mortgage. Time was on each and every home visitor's side. It was a buyer's market, with an overabundance of homes on the market. Becoming a homeowner, whether for the first time or the last, was a ritualistic process filled with weeks of excitement, contemplation and hope.

This was as true in the western Oakland County market as it was anywhere in metropolitan Detroit over the last several years. An upside down housing market, subject of the real estate crash and the Great Recession of 2008, left western Oakland County awash with an overabundance of homes on the market, many the result of foreclosures and short sales. Housing values throughout the lakes area plummeted, and a buyer could take their time and purchase some of the increased inventory for a song.

Flash forward to 2013, and the tune has certainly changed. Real estate agents throughout western Oakland County are back to the days of rapidly writing offers for hopeful buyers in their cars.

Real estate agent after real estate agent recounted tales of writing offers for the same house, each buyer anxious to get their mounting bid before they even had a chance to fall in love with the house, before they could imagine walking down the stairs, imagine their head on the pillow, or making coffee in the kitchen.

The robust uptick has happened faster than many experts anticipated. According to Seaver Title Agency in Farmington Hills, in 2011, which appeared in a North Oakland County Board of Realtors newsletter in October 2011, “Home prices are unlikely to recover before 2020 and mortgage defaults will persist for years, reports a survey of bank risk managers. The survey, which was conducted by the Professional Risk Managers' International Association, found that 49 percent of respondents do not expect housing prices to rise back to 2007 levels for another nine years...The findings, which authors called a 'decidedly pessimistic outlook,' are a sharp reversal from cautious optimism the survey respondents (previously) expressed. In addition, 73 percent of surveyed bankers say they expect mortgage defaults to remain elevated for at least another five years.”

However, Robert Daddow, deputy executive of Oakland County, noted that, despite his own prognosis initially forecasting no rise in the real estate market until close to 2020, the county has seen a great deal of stabilization on its assessment rolls.

While home prices are up, and inventory is way down, sales prices throughout the area remain off the peak they realized in 2006 and 2007, and many experts still believe those prices won't be seen for a while.

Jim Mandeville, a lakes area realtor for 25 years with Century 21 Today in West Bloomfield, said he would describe today's real estate market as fast-paced. Mandeville said the quantity of on-the-market residential properties in Oakland County decreased 24.5 percent in 2012, while the number of sales in 2012 actually increased nearly 5 percent over 2011. “This is telling us there is a strong demand for homes and the buyer confidence is very positive,” he said.

O

akland County realtors specializing in the lakes area are repeating the same story: Once a home goes on the market, regardless of the home, or where it's located, there are often multiple offers, bidding wars, with cash always sweetening the pot. “We are really low on inventory,” said Kathy Broock Ballard, a realtor with Max Broock Realtors in Birmingham who specializes in lakes area homes. She emphasized that she has never seen a market with such high demand in her 25 years in the business. “Even in 2003 and 2004, when the market was taking off, you had inventory,” she noted.

Steve Stockton of The Stockton Group at Keller Williams Realty agreed. “In the last 18 months, the market has moved from an oversupply to an undersupply, which has caused an appreciation of values,” he said, adding the increase of values in western Oakland County has outpaced even national records. “Nationally, they're seeing 15 percent increase in appreciation, and we're above that year-over-year.”

Victoria Brown, a lakes area resident, experienced this new fastand-furious market first-hand while going through the home selling and purchasing process. For Brown, lattes and lingering while making her decisions wasn't an option. While she had hoped to contemplate her home purchasing, and selling, experience, she was thrust into a situation of the highest-and-best wins the pot.

After putting her Commerce Township condominium on the market, she received six offers on it in three days. “I got over asking (price) for it, and I got cash,” Brown said, adding she went with the highest and best offer she received. Brown made a $16,000 profit after owning the condo for four years.

Stockton noted the condominium market is an area that has really taken off. “Condominiums are at a huge premium. There are none available on the market. If you bought one in 2010 for $40,000, at the bottom of the real estate market, you can now sell it for about $120,000,” he said.

Brown's home purchasing experience was equally frenzied. “We would put offers in on homes and we would be outbid by five, 10, 15 thousand, and we would go in at asking (price),” she said. “We got to the point where we were just done.” Brown didn't waiver and was finally the winner of a bidding war when securing her new West Bloomfield house.

“The tempo, the speed of the market, the price increases, and the number of buyers have all increased on a monthly basis,” said Bill Haviland, president of the North Oakland County Board of Realtors and a licensed realtor for 43 years. He said this frenetic pace started about the second-half of 2012. He attributes the market urgency to a number of factors, including buyers' concerns that interest rates and home values will go up, and there are more buyers returning to the market who walked away from their homes in 2007 and subsequent years. “The buyer has to get there almost immediately,” he said.

K

aren Thomas, associate broker and realtor at the Commerce Township Coldwell Banker, said she attributes the low housing inventory to the down economy, saying many homeowners are still underwater on their mortgages, so that even if they want to sell, they find that they can't unless they are able to bring the difference to the closing, or if they qualify for a short sale. A short sale is where a seller sells the home for less than their mortgage, and the mortgage holder agrees to release the seller from their lien on the property and accept less than the money that is owed on the property. Sometimes the mortgage holder goes after the seller for the deficiency; sometimes they don't. “Many sellers don't have the funds to bring to close to make up the difference; many that do, don't want to,” Thomas said.

The empowered housing market also tells another story. It is indicative of an improving Oakland County economy. Oakland County's Daddow said property values are starting to come back.

Daddow said in 2012, countywide taxable values declined by 24.7 percent. The 2013 county fiscal budget was built with a one percent decline in property tax values and the county came in at a zeropercent decline. Daddow said the fiscal year 2014 budget is built with a zero-percent increase and fiscal year 2015 with a 2 percent increase in tax values. “It's a good sign,” Daddow said. “We're moving in the right direction, but it's not robust yet.” Older communities like Hazel Park and Oak Park are still struggling, he said. Daddow said he is seeing green shoots in western Oakland County, evidenced by some residential construction permit-pulling and outward migration in the northern and western portion of the county, including the lakes area.

Bidding wars, rushed listings and westward migration are strong indicators that people want to live in the lakes area. With scenic, curvy roads, glistening waterways and a vacation-like lifestyle, lake living is a Michigan gem. And in western Oakland County, lake living is matched with excellent public education, caring neighbors and economic development, including restaurants and movie theaters, that this area of the county had not seen in the past. “Lakefront property is golden in many ways,” Haviland said. “And I think lakefront buyers are different people.” He said most lakefront home and property owners usually stay longer and are constantly reinvesting in their homes. “It's a home and an entertainment center,” he said.

Stockton said that currently there is the smallest inventory available for lakefront and lake-accessed property in the last 15 years. “In terms of the good years, 2004, 2005, which were the peak, there were a lot of lake homes available, but people weren't buying.

Today, they're buying. The market has been very brisk. We tied our best year – in 2005, in the first quarter of this year. And this real estate market is definitely continuing because the car industry is still booming, bringing in transferees, which is fueling the demand for housing.”

Mary Nicole, manager of Real Estate One Commerce and in the real estate business since 1992, said another lure of the lakes area is

the newfound affordability. “We have a lot of people looking in the lakes area – they are savvy buyers – and they are realizing they can probably…afford a $300,000 home because of the low interest rates that they probably couldn't have afforded before,” she said.

Home mortgage interest rates are hovering around the 4 percent rate. “You don't want to wait to live on a lake,” Nicole said. “The prices and the interest rates aren't going to last.”

A current 30-year fixed rate mortgage is hanging at 3.61 percent, according to bankrate.com, a rate that is one of the lowest in decades for home mortgages.

But the beauty and uniqueness of the lakes area market is challenging when pricing a home and educating buyers and sellers on how much a lakes area home should sell for. Lakes area real estate experts say each lakefront home has to be individually valued.

And lakefront homes must be individually compared. “You could be next to somebody who is $200,000, and down the street is a $1 million property,” Nicole pointed out.

The size of the lake, age and size of the home, and the lake location are all factors when determining a lakes area home value.

“I've been selling lakefront homes for over 20 years,” Mandeville said.

“The lakefront market is very rewarding to be a part of. These homes tend to be very different to market and sell.”

L

akefront and lake-privilege homes carry a superior value to non-lakefront and non-lake-privilege homes, adding to the intricacy of their evaluation. This complicates the ability of assessors to adequately determine the values of non-lakefront or privilege homes, and to always match their sales prices. Yet, realtors affirm that lakefront homes are being accurately valued and sold.

Experts say more homes with lake privileges are selling this spring.

According to data compiled by Century 21, the number of homes sold this year with lake access has increased 27 percent. This is compared to the homes without lake access, which have increased 20 percent, still a robust number. “Many buyers are finding that having access to an all-sports lake is a nice benefit without a big price tag,” Mandeville said.

Real estate experts say the complicated nature of the lakes area market can also lead to appraisal issues, meaning a home may not appraise for what the seller is asking. Broock Ballard said appraisals are still a problem and often can lead to a cash sale. Once rare, real estate experts say cash sales are much more prevalent in today's market, and not just for investment properties. Cash is often utilized as a tool in the highest and best offer bidding war, too. Thomas said in the lakes area, the majority of her cash sales are for the higher-end homes valued over $600,000.

Foreclosures are another undeniable part of the current market; however, the number of foreclosures seen in the lakes area is decreasing. Mandeville said so far this year, bank-owned inventory has dropped by 36 percent. “This is definitely reducing any downward pressure on home values,” he said. He noted that banks have been more willing to work with home owners that may still be upside down or have had above-market interest rates. Mandeville said short sales have increased this year by 30 percent over last year, and lenders are continuing to work to modify some of those mortgages. Stockton noted that bank-owned and short sales are selling “as fast as they bring them out, and the prices for those have increased as well.”

When considering the new spring 2013 market, the question becomes, do I sell my house? Just last year, many sellers pulled their homes off the market because they couldn't get even a single offer.

The brightness of the 2013 real estate market, especially for those interested in putting their homes up for sale, is undoubtedly encouraging, especially in the lakes area where listings are limited and sales prices are being driven up by bidding wars.

“Now is the time to sell,” Broock Ballard emphasized, adding it is the basic economic law of supply and demand that is forcing buyers to pay more due to a lack of inventory, which therefore increases the

sales prices of homes. But she cautions that while a seller shouldn't become unrealistic about the price they set, they don't need to place a low, safe listing price either, as the market demanded just a few years ago.

“This is probably the best time to market their homes since 2005,” Stockton pointed out. “But a lot of people think they're going to wait another year to see if there are going to be more gains in values.

There likely aren't going to be the same leaps in appreciation. The newer homes in new neighborhoods, if they're clean, we're getting two or three offers. But the older, tired out homes are not getting as much action.”

Real estate experts say the market is still in a rebuilding mode as values are slowly climbing back up. “The values have been moving off the bottom since about the spring of 2011, and it's been gaining speed in the last three quarters,” Nicole said.

RealComp II data compiled for the lakes area shows there is still ground to be made up when analyzing median home sales prices for Commerce Township, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake. The data shows values are not close to where they were five years ago, when the real estate market crashed.

The median sales price for residential homes in Commerce Township from mid-April 2012 though 2013 was $179,000 for lakefront and lake privilege homes, and $178,568 for homes not on a lakefront and without lake privileges. This compares to mid-April 2007 through 2008, when the median sales prices were $240,000 and $212,000, respectively.

In Walled Lake, the median sales price for residential homes from mid-April 2012 though 2013 was $81,000 for lakefront and lake privilege homes, and $70,500 for non-lakefront and privilege homes.

This compares to mid-April 2007 through 2008, when the median sales prices were $101,500 and $122,800 respectively.

The data further shows the median sales price for residential homes in Wolverine Lake from mid-April 2012 though 2013 was $140,900 for lakefront and lake privilege homes, and $75,000 for homes not on the lake and without lake privileges. This compares to mid-April 2007 through 2008, when the median sales prices were $156,500 and $150,000, respectively.

B

roock Ballard described the market best when she said the market is exuberant, not euphoric. According to sales data at her office, the homes valued in the $150,000$250,000 price range are still a little soft. “I can't say where that market is going right now,” she said.

Booming back, she said, is the $400,000-$900,000 price range, where inventory does not exist. She encourages anyone in that market who is on the fence about selling to take the plunge and take advantage of what she refers to as “this unbelievable market because no one is quite sure how long it will last.”

The shortage of homes has also caused realtors to become resourceful and to dig in deep when trying to find homes to list.

“With the reduced inventory, I have had to reach out to find home owners that may consider selling,” Mandeville said. “In many cases there are limited available homes to choose from.” The lakes area realtor said he has found some success selling homes of past clients or non-listed properties in certain areas.” This has been an important part of my spring business,” he said.

Haviland said a 7 percent increase per year has been pretty consistent since 2007, adding he does not believe the more recent 13 percent increase in home prices is sustainable. “There is no question that the market is up,” Haviland said. “The question becomes, how much and for how long. And then it gets a lot harder.” Real estate experts also don't expect the shortage of homes to last through 2015, when experts forecast that interest rates are expected to increase.

“In general, this is a fab era,” said Stockton. “There is low inventory, high demand, and low interest rates. Does it get any better than that?”

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FACES

Stephen Clark

S

tephen Clark, evening co-anchor for WXYZ-TV (Channel 7), has been in front of the camera for decades reporting on the most compelling and powerful current events. He covered the terrorist attacks of September 11, the conflict in Bosnia, and the L.A. Riots, but this charismatic newsman has never considered himself particularly gregarious.

“I grew up in a military family,” he said. “We moved every couple years so I was kind of a ‘blend in’ guy. Curiosity led me into this business.”

As the son of a service member, Clark said he often wondered why his father never urged him to join the Armed Forces.

“I remember a conversation with my dad. I asked him why he never encouraged me to go into the military and he said, ‘You ask too many questions.’”

After spending a good amount of time growing up in Colorado, Clark earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Northern Colorado-Greeley.

“I was exposed to radio on the college campus and got my foot in the door.” By his junior year in college, Clark had a position with a radio station in Greeley, and was working as a freelance photographer. “I was kind of working before I even got out of college.”

Clark went on to report as a news anchor in Kansas, Denver, San Diego and New York. In 2002, he was convinced by colleague Bill Carey to move to Detroit.

“Bill (Carey) is probably the closest I’ve had to a professional mentor,” he said. “He guided me through the later years of my career.”

Bearing the responsibility of covering national and international devastation, 9/11 personally impacted Clark and he has returned to Ground Zero nearly every year since the attack to broadcast memorial reports.

“You see where we were and where we are today. After standing in the middle of that devastation and going back 10 years later, it’s encouraging.

We’re getting passed it.”

As a father, Clark was also impacted by the public outrage following the Rodney King incident in Los Angeles.

“The Rodney King riots affected me a lot,” he said. “I had young kids at the time and I was concerned about my safety as a reporter.”

In his free time, Clark is a singer and songwriter. His modern country band, Trending Topics, plays at local benefits and festivals.

Above all, Clark is a devoted husband of 26 years to his wife, Larenne.

His hope professionally is to shape the way people think about their community and the world through his work.

“That’s why I’m a journalist,” he said. “I want to explain why we are the way we are and how we got to where we are. I want to add a grain to the consciousness of society.”

Clark has lived in a myriad of towns across the U.S., but the welltraveled newsman is proud to call Commerce Township home.

“I feel like I’m on vacation every time I come home from work. This is as much home as any place I’ve ever been.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Jean Lannen

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MUNICIPAL Decker Road set for spring construction

By Victoria Mitchell

Walled Lake officials approved a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Tuesday, April 16, green-lighting planned road construction on Decker Road for this summer.

The unanimous city council vote authorized the reconstruction and improvement of Decker Road between W. Maple and S. Commerce roads.

“It is needed and it is only fair that we take care of that part of the community now,” said Linda Ackley, Walled Lake mayor pro tem.

The total project cost is $1.04 million with Walled Lake's portion costing $188,700. The remainder of the project will be paid by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration under the Surface Transportation Program.

Ackley said the expected start date is mid-June or early July.

However, the exact date depends on the weather and the contractor's schedule. The project will be on the MDOT May contract bidding schedule.

The project is expected to be complete in November, with the exception of the stretch of Decker Road impacting Mary Helen Guest Elementary School. Ackley said it is the city's goal to complete that northern section of the roadway before school starts and then move south.

Walled Lake City Manager Dennis Whitt said there will be suggested and posted detours throughout the construction period. Whitt said there will most likely be road closures, but the road will always be open to local traffic.

The construction area is mainly residential with a few businesses.

Ackley said there are businesses and residential areas that may only be accessed from Decker Road.

Ackley said the road project was originally approved by city council in March 2012 when Walled Lake was scheduled for a 2015 start date.

Because some communities pulled out of state and federal projects because they didn't have the matching local money, the city was able to coordinate the necessary approvals to move Walled Lake to the 2013 construction schedule, Ackley said. westendmonthly.com

Township hosts Community Breakfast

By Hayley Beitman

C

ommerce Township will be hosting its 29th annual Community Breakfast on Tuesday, May 21, at 7 a.m. at the Edgewood Country Club, and presenting a number of community recognition awards.

According to committee chair Pat Dohany, the goal of the community breakfast is to honor ordinary people from the community who have done extraordinary things. “The event originated 29 years ago as part of the township's sesquicentennial celebration,” Dohany said. “The tradition's carried on ever since.”

Awards are given out in five categories each year, with the exception of the Outstanding Citizen Award which will not be given out this year.

“We quite frankly didn't get nominations, which is really unusual,” Dohany said.

Keith Erdman, who has lived in the Commerce area since 1970, will receive the Outstanding Contribution Award. He has served the township in various capacities, including through his involvement with Good Fellows, Hospitality House, American Legend, Rebuilding Together, house captain, the D.A.R.E. Program, as president of the Eagles and as a member of Multi Lakes. He organizes numerous fundraisers for organizations such as the Rotary Club, ALS Ride, Diabetes Research Center and U of M Trauma Burn Center. “He's done so many things in the community and that's what the Outstanding Contribution Award is all about,” Dohany said.

Commerce Village Veterinary Hospital will receive the Business Beautification Award this year. The building at 605 Commerce Road was formerly used as a contractor's office and once served as Commerce Township's fire station. Recent improvements made by Dr. Andrea Putt and her husband Brent include adding a parking lot and eliminating a vacant building, adding vitality to the area.

T & S PETRO is this year's recipient of the Business Beautification Award for new construction. When owner Jim Hamade proposed his gas station concept, he was open to suggestions to make the new oil change business both pedestrian friendly and beneficial to the community. “It was an abandoned gas station,” Dohany said. “It had been an eye sore for years and years and years.”

Paul Waling, Sr. will be honored as Business Person of the Year as the owner of Dairy Twist at 2660 Benstein Road. Since 1980, he has served Walled Lake, Milford, Wolverine Lake and Farmington Hills with his donut, cone and ice cream shops. His current business, The Dairy Twist, mentors young employees and sponsors school organizations and community events, including the Wolverine Lake Water Safety Program and Desert Angels.

Mike Snyder has been honored with the Parks and Recreation Community Breakfast Award. He is involved with Commerce Little League and has served as president, secretary and as a member of the board of directors. As president, he served as the liaison to the Parks and Recreation Committee.

Doors for the community event at Edgewood Country Club will open at 7 a.m., with breakfast being served at 7:30 a.m. Those interested in attending must purchase tickets in advance at the township treasurer's office, as a sell out is expected, according to Dohany.

The project will take place in two phases. The first phase will include paving work along Decker Road from W. Maple Road to S. Commerce Road, including curb and gutters, storm sewer and drainage improvement work.

The second phase of the project will include irrigation system work along Decker Road from W. Maple to

S. Commerce roads.

Ackley said the city council would also like to have the N. Pontiac Trail and Decker intersection improved to coincide with the the Decker Road project. The Walled Lake city engineer is researching the idea and discussions are taking place with the Road Commission for Oakland County, Ackley said.

WESTEND

Village Pathway Committee created The Wolverine Lake Village council unanimously established a committee Wednesday night, April 10, to further its United Neighborhoods pathway project which has as its goal the creation of a walking path around Wolverine Lake.

The ad-hoc Village Pathway Committee was established during the council's regular meeting. Council President John Magee said the main purpose of the committee is to research a pathway at South Commerce Road.

The temporary committee is not a decision making body. “It's really a recommending body,” Magee said.

Magee said as the project moves closer to South Commerce Road, they need more focus because plans will include talking with Walled Lake, potentially talking with Commerce Township, and exploring grant opportunities.

Throughout the last few years, Magee said, the project has addressed some of the biggest connectivity issues, including the Benstein walkway and a portion of the South Commerce pathway between Wolverine Drive and Shankin Road. He said it has also worked on pathways and bike path markings for the internal village roads.

But one of the areas not specifically addressed by Wolverine Lake's master plan, Magee said, is South Commerce.

“In terms of a plan going forward, we're going to have to see,” he said.

Magee said the challenge will be figuring out how to best hook up bits and pieces of existing walkways to create a safe pathway from Shankin to Oakley Park. At that point, he said, the pathway would hook up into more Commerce paths.

As it stands now, the Walled Lake walkways extend on the west side of South Commerce Road all the way to Shankin Road.

Magee said there is also a bit of sidewalk on the east side on the main stretch of South Commerce and in the Wolverine Lake panhandle on the west side from Oakley Park most of the way to Glengary.

Magee will sit on the committee along with councilmen Patrick Nagy and John Scott. The parks and recreation board will be asked for volunteers, and village administrator Sharon Miller said she will post a notice on Wolverine Lake's website looking for resident participation.

41

Meeting held to discuss DDA plans

By Victoria Mitchell

Major players with an interest in the future of Commerce Township gathered Tuesday, April 23, to discuss the importance of communicating a common vision for development in the Michigan Interstate 5 corridor.

Members of the Commerce Township Board of Trustees, Downtown Development Authority (DDA), and planning commission held a special quarterly meeting in township hall, reiterating they are in support of one another and the future of Commerce Township.

Commerce Township Supervisor Thomas Zoner said the purpose of the meeting was to focus on what the township board thinks should be happening on the DDA property, learning what recent moves the DDA has been working on regarding the property, and to keep the planning commission in tune to what is happening in the project area. DDA members said they hoped to understand what the board of trustees' current vision is for the area, and to receive guidance from trustees on development objectives for the property.

The main topic of discussion was the DDA-owned property located where M-5 ends through Oakley Park Road.

The more than 325 acres were purchased with bond funding. The original concept was that the bond debt would be retired as property was sold off and developed, but the township general fund is now being tapped to make the payments because of the downturn in the economy. With the economy beginning to recover, the property is beginning to generate interest, according to township officials.

Randall Thomas, president and CEO of Insight Commercial, who has been charged with marketing and selling the DDA property, said developers are starting to inquire about the piece of property pegged as Commerce Town Center – a community gathering spot for township residents. The property already includes the new township library and township hall off of Martin Road Parkway.

“Had you told me three years ago we would have the activity that we 42

Commerce assists DDA with cash flow

C

ommerce Township officials on April 9 authorized an $800,000 payment to the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) as part of ongoing support to make necessary bond and interest payments due in 2013 on an $80 million DDA bond issue.

Total principal, interest and fees anticipated to be due from the DDA in 2013 is $3.884 million. This brings the total transferred to the DDA by the township since March of 2012 to $3.25 million.

The original purpose of the Commerce Township DDA was to make enhancements and improvements within the DDA area, including bringing sewer and water to parts of the township, in hopes of providing needed services and increase the tax base overall while strengthening the community. The DDA requested the bonds be issued a number of years ago to purchase about 325 acres of land, some of which was used for the construction of Martin Parkway which ends at M-5. An estimated 200 acres was scheduled to be sold for residential and retail development.

“The DDA borrowed a lot of money and it all has to be repaid,” said Township Supervisor Thomas Zoner. Zoner said the assistance is not odd in today's economy, adding municipalities and schools districts throughout the state are in financial distress. He said Commerce Township is in the position to help.

“Financially, I think we are very secure,” Zoner said, adding ultimately the township has to pay the bill when the DDA can not pay its bond commitments.

Zoner noted that the property the DDA purchased was once worth $160 million but was valued at $25 million following the 2007 economic crash. “It is a lesson learned,” he said.

But Zoner said he is optimistic the DDA project will rebound. He said eventually the authority will be able to sell property within the district to generate revenue.

“The DDA is looking to make some enhancements in the very near future for groundbreaking,” Zoner said.

have now, I would absolutely say you are crazy,” he said, adding he has been marketing the property for the past 16 months.

Thomas said he has one purchase offer for the southwest portion of the property and has two letters of intent for land purchases in the northeast portion of the property. Both letters of intent for the northeast portion are for residential developments.

Thomas said he can not release any details on pending sales deals. He did, however, say in the past 90 days he has started to see some retail interest, adding retail and restaurants usually follow residential development.

“Now that the black eye has been taken off of Michigan, we really look at Michigan as a market that has potential,” Thomas said.

Thomas said he is pleased with the amount of activity and that he has quality developers at the table presenting concepts.

“I think as a community, all of us working together, the board, the planning commission, the DDA, I

think that we all have one goal and that is to sit down and see something evolve that we can all be proud of, and I think that is the direction we are going,” said Dave Smith, a DDA board member.

After a lengthy of discussion during the meeting centered on how they all need to work together, DDA Chairman James Gotts said the message is they are all on the same team.

Kathleen Jackson, Commerce Township planner and DDA director, said she wants all the groups to improve communication and come up with the best product they can, while providing Thomas with clear guidance.

Huron Valley cuts still undetermined DMC announced on April 19 it will be making staffing cuts, including laying off 300 employees and reducing executive salaries, but it is uncertain if or when any cuts will occur at DMC Huron Valley-

WESTEND

Sinai Hospital in Commerce.

According to a statement issued

by DMC hospitals CEO Joe Mullany, the cuts are in response to the revenue shortfalls healthcare providers across the country are facing as a result of the 2 percent sequestration of Medicare funds and further reductions in payments from the state of Michigan Medicaid programs to hospitals.

“DMC needs to address the magnitude of these financial shortfalls this year and in the next several years, finding expense reductions equal to our anticipated revenue reductions,” he wrote.

Mullany stated the company would be reducing salaries for corporate executives, vice presidents and higher, for the company's fourth quarter, along with reducing and realigning staff, resulting in the 300 layoffs. DMC is also looking into offering a voluntary retirement incentive for employees nearing 65 years of age.

A DMC Hospital spokeswoman Sarah Collica said the realignments and adjustments are still being made so there is no word yet on how the cuts would impact DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital in Commerce Township. The hospital, located at 1 William Carls Drive, at Sleeth and North Commerce roads, has 1,400 employees.

DMC Huron Valley-Sinai President Lynn Torossian posted a blog in response to the cuts, saying it is her team's responsibility to encourage innovation, open-mindedness, understanding and a receptiveness to change for all of Huron ValleySinai's employees. Torossian stated the changes are necessary for the Commerce Township hospital to grow. “They do not mean an attack on our employees which we value so much, nor do they mean a worsened patient experience,” she wrote.

Torossian stated Huron Valley-Sinai is proactively preparing itself for what is to come so it can continue DMC's work of serving its community.

DMC Huron Valley-Sinai was founded in 1986 and has doubled in size since its opening.

The hospital was purchased by Vanguard Health Systems, a forprofit business, in December 2010. It 05.13

New water tower location?

By Victoria Mitchell

P

was added to the Commerce Township tax roll in 2011 following a change in its non-profit status to forprofit. Commerce Township Treasurer Susan Gross said the hospital pays about $1.2 million in taxes.

Wolverine Lake bridge inspection The Oak Island Bridge in Wolverine Lake, which runs from Oakview Road onto Oak Island, passed its recent inspection, according to Wolverine Lake Village engineer Michael Powell.

“The bridge is in great shape,” Powell said.

Powell made the announcement Wednesday night, April 10, during Wolverine Lake's regular meeting, where council members unanimously approved paying the $2,250 inspection fee.

Powell said structural calculations and weight limits were verified and concurred with previous inspections.

He said the wood is very firm and there is no structural degradation of the bridge whatsoever.

Powell recommended that in the next two to four years the Wolverine Lake Department of Public Works apply some additional, modern-type preservatives to the bridge to continue its maintenance.

County marine patrol contracts approved Commerce Township trustees unanimously accepted an agreement with the Oakland County Sheriff's Department at their Tuesday, April 9, regular meeting for marine patrol service on three of the township's lakes.

The North Commerce Lake, Lake Sherwood and Lower Straights Lake communities requested the service.

Each community reimburses the township for the cost, which supervisor Thomas Zoner said costs approximately $1,300 per lake association or group for 40 hours of weekly patrol.

This year's meeting marked the first time Long Lake opted out of the agreement since the county began charging municipalities for the service to patrol lakes three years ago. Long

Lake is a 156-acre lake located in the northeast corner of Commerce Township. The lake has a publicaccess site off of Cooley Lake Road and an annual fireworks display.

Zoner said sheriff marine patrol is not required by the township for barge firework displays. He said sheriff deputies would require spectators to stay a minimum of 2,000 feet away from a firework barge.

The Oakland County Sheriff's Department used to patrol Oakland County lakes at no cost to the residents, but because of state budget cuts, the costs have been passed on to municipalities that request the service. Because many municipalities cannot afford to pay for the marine patrols, neighborhood associations requesting patrols are charged for the service.

State's largest Kroger coming to Commerce Plans for a super Kroger are underway at a site adjacent to the grocer's current Commerce Township location at Commerce and Union Lake roads on property that once housed a local Kmart store.

Brandon Barrow of Kroger consumer communications said the new 90,000-square-foot store will feature expanded grocery, deli, meat, frozen foods, drug and seafood departments and more organics and natural foods. The location will also feature additional check-out lanes.

“It is going to be the largest Kroger store in the state of Michigan,” Barrow said.

The current Kroger store will close once the new store is open. Kroger executives are pushing for an end-ofthe-year grand opening for the enlarged and enhanced market, according to Barrow.

Barrow said the new location will actually be where the first Commerce Kroger opened in 1979. Kroger moved to its current spot in 1999.

New construction for the super Kroger has already started. The corporation has razed the old Kmart building.

The current Kroger was remodeled a couple of years ago and a new Kroger fuel station recently opened on the property.

lans for a water storage facility in Commerce Township are moving forward as township officials on Tuesday, April 9, considered a new location to construct a tower.

Soil testing will be scheduled for an unrestricted, townshipowned portion of east Dodge Park No. Five, located at South Commerce and Commerce roads, to see if the ground can support the two-million gallon structure.

Further discussion is expected by the board in June, and township supervisor Thomas Zoner said he hopes residents will come out and let their opinions be heard. There are about 6,000 residents on Detroit water in the township.

The supervisor explained the original intent was to erect a water tower in Commerce Township to offset peak water flow times, saving money for Detroit water customers.

“I think that the people, if they really do think and believe that the water tower is something that will benefit the system, (will) then come to the township board and tell the board that that's what they wish to have done,” Zoner said.

Determining a site would bring a five-year search, often met by residential push-back, to a close. Zoner noted the delay has been costly.

A tower was originally proposed to go beside DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, at an estimated cost of $5.5 million. Zoner said that site was chosen because it is the highest location in the township, which is optimal for downward water flow and the height pressure the system requires for nearby water lines.

Other sites considered in the past five years included behind Fire Station No. 1 at 1705 Commerce Road, at an estimated cost of $7 million because of the lower elevation.

“Every time we are going down hill, you add footage to the tower because you have to have it a certain height,” Zoner said.

Zoner estimates the cost for the Dodge Park site at about $8 million. He said the tower would still be visible to residents, but not as close to residential neighborhoods as other considered sites.

If the Dodge Park site does not work, officials would consider the former Nike missile site, at an estimated cost by Zoner of about $8.65 million. The Nike site is located along Wise Road between Carroll Lake and Union Lake roads.

Trustee Robert Berkheiser said constructing a water tank instead of a tower is still under consideration. He also didn't want to rule out the Nike site.

A tank is an underground water storage structure. Zoner said dimensions for a tank could be 100-feet wide by four-stories high or 50-feet wide by eight-stories high.

Berkheiser said during the Tuesday night meeting that he is considering options on the table as he works to address the three issues of finding lower prices, stabilizing water lines and keeping a tower out of residents' backyards.

“All I am saying is we should be looking at the areas that are furthest away from residents,” Berkheiser said during the meeting.

Zoner said he does not feel a tank is the best financial solution for the township. He said although construction of a tank may be about $2 million less to construct initially, in the long run it would be more expensive to residents and have a shorter life.

Resident Mark Stacey spoke out during the Tuesday night meeting in favor of constructing the tower. Stacey said he sees the difference between water rates in Commerce and Novi, which has a tower. “Every quarter when I open my water bill I think, “Why hasn't someone made a business decision about a tower?' Do something,” he told trustees.

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Rockin’ Under The Stars with music by

…and opening band!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

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6:00 pm - Gates Open 6:30 pm - Opening Band performs 8:00 pm - Fifty Amp Fuse performs Bring your lawn chairs and enjoy an evening of musical entertainment with your family, friends and neighbors. Food , beer, wine and soft drink concessions available throughout the event. No coolers or carry-ins permitted.

$5 per person 12 & under FREE Multi Lakes Conservation Association 3860 Newton Road, Commerce

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44

WESTEND

05.13

FACES Colette Brandenburg

P

rofessional choreographer Colette Brandenburg is conquering the Los Angeles dance scene and training Hollywood’s hottest hoofers through her dance company, the LA Follies.

“We perform all over,” Brandenburg said. “We did a Christmas show with David Hernandez from American Idol at different venues across southern California.” The LA Follies, created by Brandenburg and Shannon Zimmerman, also performed at a private event at the former home of singer Rick James, and recently performed at the Playboy Mansion.

“We didn’t get to meet Hugh (Hefner), but we got to see the grotto.”

Brandenburg, a Commerce Township native, studied under Evelyn Kreason and Judith Willacker and began dancing at the age of four.

“I loved it,” she said. “I did my first Nutcracker when I was seven. We would do shows at West Bloomfield High School.”

A Walled Lake Central High School graduate, Brandenburg served as class president, acted in school musicals and plays, and was involved in competitive speech and debate. By the age of 18, Brandenburg had acquired a diverse and remarkable resume.

After high school, she went on to Lewis & Clark College in Oregon where she studied International Affairs and French. Despite her gravitation to the arts, Brandenburg was on the path to a degree in law.

During her sophomore year in college, Brandenburg studied abroad in France and decided to move to New York for the summer. There she applied to and was accepted into the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater School.

“When I went to Ailey, I became changed,” she said. “I always loved dancing. It’s an intense discipline and I was always attracted to the arts, but didn’t know where I fit in until I went to Ailey.”

At her parents behest, Brandenburg finished college, but moved back to New York soon after to follow her true passion in dance and choreography.

“I was working two full-time jobs and taking 14 dance classes a week,” she said. “There is a level of intensity and high standards that pushes you to a different level.”

Seeking a more manageable schedule and traditional lifestyle, Brandenburg moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a freelance choreographer and co-founded the LA Follies. Today, she focuses more on choreography, her natural craft, as opposed to dance. “(LA Follies) is a kick line with a contemporary twist,” she said. “Kind of like a Rockettes of the west.”

Brandenburg returns to Commerce Township twice a year to visit family and friends.

The astute and conventional girl from Commerce, Michigan, now galvanizes audiences with her polished dance steps and provocative moves.

“I’m definitely surprised,” she said. “I never thought I’d live in LA. I didn’t turn out the way I thought I would.”

The accomplished choreographer said she cannot imagine settling down or permanently returning to Michigan at this time.

“When you’re establishing yourself, you just have to take every job that comes your way.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Julie Klima

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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.

Amazing House Chinese Restaurant: Chinese.

Lunch & Dinner, Monday–Friday, 3-10 p.m. No reservations. 1130 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.8896.

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.

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.

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

China House: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner,

westendmonthly.com

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.

China Queen: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 1130 E Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.8896.

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 Mariachi Mexican Restaurant: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 602 N Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.926.6180.

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

WESTEND

Mother’s Day Brunch HOSTS

AT THE RESERVE AND DINNER AT BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE

Treat your mom to a day of delicious food and fun by taking her to BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE’S annual Mother’s Day Brunch on Sunday, May 12, 2013 at THE RESERVE. There will be two seatings, the first will be from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and the second from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Brunch will begin with a champagne toast and will feature a variety of chef’s stations. Cost is $49 for adults, $24 for children ages 6-11 and $10 for children 5 and under. Cost excludes tax, tip and valet.

BIG ROCK CHOPHOUSE will also be open for dinner that evening.

Dinner menu begins at 5 p.m. Reservations are strongly suggested.

For more information, call 248.647.7774.

248.647.7774 • bigrockchophouse.com

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51

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Pontiac Trail, Wixom, 48393.

248.960.3888.

Grand Aztecha: Mexican: Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6041 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.669.7555.

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.

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.

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

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

Kennedy’s Irish Pub: Irish/American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

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

248.960.5700.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

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

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

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

248.366.8360.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

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

Leon’s Food & Spirits: American.

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

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

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

248.674.2251 Lulu’s Coney Island: Greek. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1001 Welch Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.669.1937.

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

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

248.851.2500.

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

248.666.3460.

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

No reservations. 1001 Welch Road, Commerce Township, 48390.

248.926.2190.

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

Nick & Toney’s: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday; Sunday until 3 p.m. No reservations.

9260 Cooley Lake Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.363.1162.

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

On The Waterfront: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

8635 Cooley Lake Road, Commerce Township, 48382. 248.363.9469.

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

5175 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.618.0617.

Pepino’s Restaurant & Lounge: Italian.

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

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

248.682.5146.

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

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

Rudy’s Waffle House: American.

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

Samuri Steakhouse: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor.

7390 Haggerty Road, Wet Bloomfield, 48322. 248.661.8898.

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

248.666.4161.

SIAM Fushion: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.887.1300.

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

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

248.960.0009.

WESTEND

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.

2484.363.3388.

Town Lake Family Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. 1186 E. West Maple Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.7550.

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.

Walled Lake Coney Island & Pizza: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations.

1203 Commerce Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.624.8531.

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.

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.

05.13

BUSINESS MATTERS Michigan Goods opens If you are a troll or Yooper, then you belong at Below the Bridge & Above: Michigan Goods, a new store that offers Michigan-related products ranging from food and wine to art and books, from bath soap and candles to shot glasses and puzzles, with prices range from $3 to 70. The new store celebrated its grand opening in April, welcoming customers at 123 E. Walled Lake Drive in Walled Lake. “Below the Bridge & Above is supporting trolls’ and Yoopers’ small businesses in Michigan,” said store owner Susan Voydanoff, explaining that trolls live below the Mackinac Bridge and Yoopers live above the bridge.

“My absolute favorite (product) is Rocky Top Farm’s blackberry preserves,” Voydanoff said. She recently received a shipment from Eastern Market in Detroit which includes McClure’s Bloody Mary Mixer and pickles, which were instant sellers.

Voydanoff has lived on both sides of the bridge, and recently returned to

westendmonthly.com

troll status last year. Knowing she wanted to open a store supporting her home state, Voydanoff needed the perfect location. “I came over 14 Mile Road and got to the top of the hill last summer, and I saw the lake, and I felt like I was up north,” she said. “And everything just fell into place.”

Voydanoff said she is now a proud supporter of Michigan and Walled Lake, inviting everyone to experience her store.

“It is the kind of place you can sit down and look at a book, hang and hear the story about Lavender Hill Farm’s soaps,” she said.

Tractor Supply Company Tractor Supply Company is opening in White Lake Township this fall. The business is headed to the former Blue Duck bar location at 10150 Highland Road. The business sells everything from tractors and trailers, generators, clothing, as well as pet supplies and pet containment systems. The next closest location is in New Hudson.

White Lake Township Planning Director Sean O’Neil said Tractor

Supply will be razing the Blue Duck and building a new store on the property. The demolition was expected to take place in late April or early May. A longtime, favorite watering hole, the Blue Duck closed its doors the middle of April.

Caribou Coffee remains Despite the announcement that some Michigan Caribou Coffee locations would be closing, the Commerce Township shop will remain open for business but will have a name change.

According to Caribou Coffee Co. corporate offices, the coffee shop located at 2220 Union Lake Road, will remain open and change into a Peet’s Coffee House in the next 12 to 18 months.

Corporate officials would not specifically comment on whether he Commerce location would stay open throughout the transition or if current employees would be retained. Caribou Coffee CEO and President Mike Tattersfield issued this statement: “The Peet’s team knows what an incredible culture and employee base

WESTEND

we have at Caribou, and that extends to retail locations around the country.

For coffeehouses that are transitioning, the Peet’s team is looking forward to meeting with Caribou team members to explore potential opportunities.”

Caribou Coffee Co. announced in April that it would be closing 80 underperforming midwest and east coast locations on April 14. The announcement stated 88 shops would be converted into a Peet’s Coffee House.

Summer sports destination On the Dunes is set to open in Commerce Township in May, bringing lakes area residents a sports facility with a restaurant and bar. The new business is in the old Stock Building Supply location at 2055 Haggerty Road.

Commerce Township Planner Kathleen Jackson said the complex will include 10 volleyball courts, an indoor golf simulator and a bar and restaurant.

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

53

ENDNOTE

Westend: our editorial mission, plans

T

his page, Endnote, normally is reserved each month for editorial commentary on issues of concern in the Commerce Township, Wolverine Lake, Walled lake and Union Lake area. But because this is our inaugural issue, we are using part of this space to tell you about our plans for Westend, the mission of this publication and our goals for the future of this newsmagazine.

Westend is full-color monthly newsmagazine mailed to 24,000 homes in the area described as Union Lake, Commerce, Wolverine Lake and Walled Lake. We also distribute additional copies at about 20 to 25 high foot traffic locations in the local communities.

Our goal each month is to bring local residents a complete package of information that will include several long-form journalism style features focused on issues important to the area; news about decisions made by local governments and the school board; news of openings, closings and milestone anniversaries from the business community; profiles of local residents, still residing here and elsewhere, who have made their mark in the world; a guide to dining establishments in the general area; and editorial opinion from the publishing group on key local issues.

We offer a traditional approach to journalism for our readers, one that provides that Westend serve as “publication of record” for what is

taking place in the government, and a role that includes being the watchdog, so to speak, when we think a more aggressive approach to the news is necessary.

Our many decades of experience as students of government qualify us to bring you unvarnished coverage of local officials, which we feel is an important role of any local publication – one that other print products in this area have abandoned in what one can only assume is a concern only for profits. While our publishing group is also business that must concern itself with the bottom line, philosophically we feel that we have an obligation to the community to fulfill a long-standing tradition of being the guardian of the public's interests, providing critical information so that an informed population can weigh in when necessary.

Dating back to 1974, members of our publishing group have been instrumental on a number of issues in the west Oakland lakes area, ranging from being on the ground floor of bringing a unified community approach to cable television franchises in the area; attempts at open space preservation efforts; forcing the state to rethink its approach to lake access legislation; exposing conflicts of interest on the part of government officials during the development of M-275 and M-5, just to name a few.

Westend also continues to provide something forgotten by most publishing ventures – long-

form features on key issues facing the area. Each edition we tackle, in longer feature form, concerns we think are shared by many residents in the west Oakland area.

In future issues we anticipate receiving feedback from members of the public at large.

The feedback we receive in the form of traditional letters to the editor or e-mail correspondence will appear at the front of Westend each month and will be labeled Incoming. We encourage your comments because your voice is important if there is to be a community dialogue. Your thoughts on topics you would like to see covered in Westend are also always welcome and can be sent in in private emails to either the publisher or news editor.

Our opinions as a publishing group as a whole will appear in Endnote each month. Editorial commentary is one way we can lend our voice, just one of many, to the public discussion about local issues.

We have also launched a companion website – westendmonthly.com – which we encourage everyone to visit. We will be updating this site at least weekly, if not more often, as a means of keeping you informed between monthly issues of Westend.

Hopefully you will share our excitement about Westend as we fill a vacuum that has existed in this area in terms of a legitimate news publication.

Time to build a water tower in Commerce

C

ommerce Township has been searching for the perfect site to build a water tower for the past five years, grappling with residents who don't want it built in their backyards or within their sight lines, as well as residents and businesses who need relief from escalating water bills. The longer the debate continues, the higher the costs will be, both to build the tower, and for those who have to continue to pay the climbing tab from Detroit Water and Sewerage, which currently provides water to the township.

A 2010 study from the Oakland County Water Resources Commission estimated that the township would realize savings of approximately $1.3 million a year by building the projected 145 foot tall tower.

A tower was originally proposed to go beside DMC Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital, at an estimated cost of $5.5 million. Commerce Township Supervisor Tom Zoner said that site was chosen because it is the highest location in the township, which is optimal for the downward flow of water, and the height pressure the system required for nearby water lines. But residents in the nearby Mount Royal subdivision objected, concerned their property values would decline.

Other sites considered in the past five years included behind Fire Station No. 1 at 1705 Commerce Road, at an estimated cost of $7 million because of the lower elevation. Residents opposed that location, as well.

“Every time we are going down hill, you add footage to the tower because you have to have it a certain height,” Zoner said.

Now soil testing has been scheduled for an unrestricted, township-owned portion of east Dodge Park No. Five, located at South Commerce and Commerce roads, to see if the ground can support the two-million gallon structure. Zoner estimates the cost for the Dodge Park site at about $8 million. He said the tower would still be visible to residents, but not as close to residential neighborhoods as other considered sites. If it's deemed unacceptable, officials would consider the former Nike missile site, at an estimated cost of about $8.65 million. The Nike site is located along Wise Road between Carroll Lake and Union Lake roads.

At some point, a decision must be made by township officials to proceed with the water tower before costs climb even higher. At a recent township board of trustees meeting, trustee

Robert Berkheiser said the township should look at the option of building a water tank instead, as well as keeping a water tower out of residents' sight lines.

Yet Zoner has consistently pointed out that a water tank is not a wise long-term financial option for the township. While it will have lower upfront construction costs, over time it will cost residents more and have a shorter life span.

Additionally, only a water tower can assure residents of having all of the water they demand during peak water usage hours of 6 to 9 a.m., and 6 to 9 p.m.

There is always someone who cries NIMBY – not in my backyard. There will never be one perfect site. As can be seen by looking at other communities, a water tower is not detrimental to the area, and soon becomes part of the visual environment.

Becoming part of a community sometimes means doing things that bring benefit to the community as a whole. Making a well-considered decision for where the water tower should go for the long-term benefit of Commerce Township residents needs to be done now, before the costs go up even further.

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