Westend: Novermber 2014

PLACES TO EAT: OUR GUIDE TO NEARLY 100 LAKES AREA RESTAURANTS NOVEMBER 2014

GOURMET

WARS MARKET FIGHTING TO CAPTURE THE GROCERY CONSUMER UNIONS: ENDGAME OR NOT FOR MICHIGAN ORGANIZED LABOR? TRUANCY: MEETING COMPULSORY EDUCATION CHALLENGE ENDNOTE: COMMERCE DOWNTOWN BECOMING REALITY ECRWSS Postal Customer PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ROYAL OAK, MI 48068 PERMIT #792

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP | $1,675,000 Custom 2002 built-Resort style living in very coveted Pine Cove Villas exclusive neighborhood. Exquisite details, 142 feet of all-sports lake frontage, incredible panoramic views, in-ground pool, spa, sauna, 19 foot paver bonfire gas fireplace at shoreline overlooks Lower Straits Lake.

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $1,650,000 Fabulous home in Bloomfield. Stunning marble two-story foyer with dramatic curved staircase welcomes you into this custom built home.

Floor to ceiling windows, hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen, over looks beautiful wooded-serene lot. All bedrooms are en-suite.

MILFORD TOWNSHIP | $499,900 Welcome home to prestigious Mystic Hills Estates of Milford. Tucked into a cul-de-sac for privacy. Soaring ceilings, 2-story foyer. Opulent master w/updated bath. Walk-out lower level.

NOVI | $449,900 This desirable brick colonial in Liberty Park has the best of both worlds! Features a 2-story living & dining room; master suite has a private bath with jetted tub. Hardwood floors.

WHITE LAKE TOWNSHIP | $415,000 Fall is a great time to buy lakefront! This custom home has 80 feet of sandy lake frontage and over 3,000 sq. ft. of living space available in this distinctive floor plan. MANY updates.

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP | $199,999 Over 3,000 sqft - Brick & vinyl exterior, snack counter in the kitchen, updated master bath, hardwood flooring, open floor plan, 2-sided fireplace, fireplace in walk-out lower level.

WATERFORD TOWNSHIP | $149,900 Fabulous home on beautiful park-like setting.

Nearly 3/4 acre. Huge private deck. Natural brick fireplace. Oversized, insulated and heated garage. Great location with easy access to M59.

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP | $99,900 Cozy, updated, 3 bedroom ranch is move-in ready. Located in a quiet neighborhood. Walk to Lower Straits Lake, where there is a private association beach & picnic area.

Celebrating Home 248-694-9371 | cbwm.com Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

WEIR MANUEL

westend11.14

11

17 27 Gourmet grocery market

School absences

Unions struggle

There's a battle underway to capture the gourmet grocery shopper as consumers demand more than the old-style grocery stores from the past.

Often unnoticed and easily overlooked, truancy and excessive absences lead to problems for students and schools.

The face of unions is changing as organized labor groups struggle to replenish membership ranks which have dwindled.

PLACES TO EAT: OUR GUIDE TO NEARLY 100 LAKES AREA RESTAURANTS NOVEMBER 2014

9 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.

32 MUNICIPAL Major retail/lifestyle center announced for Commerce downtown area; township makes final library location decision; Byers museum status move put on hold; Wolverine Lake pocket parks; lakes area road closures; township and DDA budgets approved; muck pellet trial underway on Wolverine Lake; and more.

GOURMET

WARS MARKET FIGHTING TO CAPTURE THE GROCERY CONSUMER UNIONS ENDGAME OR NOT FOR MICHIGAN ORGANIZED LABOR? TRUANCY: MEETING COMPULSORY EDUCATION CHALLENGE ENDNOTE: COMMERCE DOWNTOWN BECOMING REALITY

Salvation Army Thrift Store; Lakes Discount Pharmacy; Dale’s Custom Jewelry and Repair; Ropp Orthopedic Clinic.

42 ENDNOTE

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

Our thoughts on the announcement of a major retail/lifestyle center in the future Commerce downtown area; and the recent raises handed out at the taxpayer funded Detroit Institute of Arts.

THE COVER The barn at the farm of Rob and Chris Long in Commerce, long-time favorite destination for seasonal produce and fruit.

Westend photo: G. Lynn Barnett.

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

41 BUSINESS MATTERS

FACES 15 Mike Scobie 25 Cory Wright 40 Nick Martin

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DOwNtOwN • westeND • tHe GUIDe 124 west MAPLe ROAD BIRMINGHAM MI 48009 P: 248.792.6464 downtownpublications.com facebook.com/downtownpublications • twitter.com/downtownpubs

­Publisher:­David Hohendorf Ad­Manager:­Jill Cesarz Ad­Sales:­Heather Marquis Graphics:­G.Lynn Barnett News­Editor:­Lisa Brody

News­Staff/Contributors:­Allison Batdorff, Rachel Bechard, Hillary Brody, Kevin elliott, sally Gerak, Austen Hohendorf, Garrett Hohendorf, Jean Lannen, J. Marsh, 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.

11.14

Watch for our huge

November Sale SStarting November 12th in Bloomfield Hills

'HWURLW 313-873-8300

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

hen our two sons were younger, we took them to the polling places where we cast our ballots so they could see firsthand the voting process. As they grew up, they watched as we transitioned to absentee ballots as our daily schedules became more complicated with a variety of demands. Now of voting age, they, too, vote by absentee ballots cast by mail.

The experience of our youngest son as he went through the process of getting an absentee ballot for the November general election, which included address errors and delays, however, has hardened my view that we must move to allowing ballots to be cast over the Internet, despite some earlier reservations.

His experience is not unique, according to a report issued earlier this year from a special Presidential Commission on Election Administration, which outlined a number improvements needed in our national system and the coming election system problems that will be on the doorsteps of local municipalities in the short-term future.

According to the commission, the human factor as part of the absentee ballot process can lead to delivery errors and delayed or missing ballots. So I am not singling out our local municipal clerk’s office which, like others in the county and state, deals with an overwhelming task every two years in managing elections under heavy public scrutiny. From what I have seen after years of observing government, the clerks’ offices in Oakland County function very well.

But the current system for absentee voting has its limitations beyond the comedy of errors, either on the part of local officials or voters themselves, that can take place when trying to get a ballot.

Add to that, the commission tells us, absentee ballots are considered the “method of choice” for voter fraud, although it is quick to add that it is rare, despite what you hear from some legislators across the country pushing for stricter voter ID laws that are looking to be more of an effort at voter suppression than anything else.

Absentee ballot voting has grown considerably across the nation in the last two decades, reaching levels of 50 percent or more of the vote totals in some communities. On a national basis, you can thank absentee ballots for the fact that one-third of all votes are cast before election day. Two states have even moved to all-mail elections.

Yet voting by mail is an archaic system of casting ballots. It is labor intensive, adds to the work load in a clerk’s office, and one would

have to assume increases the cost of elections.

Thirty-two states now offer some form of Internet voting for military and overseas voters. Internet voting was also implemented in some states in the midAtlantic region after Hurricane Sandy, most notably in New Jersey, because voters either couldn’t get to the polls or the polling places were destroyed.

No doubt there are concerns about Internet voting, both with the security of servers hosting the voting information and with voters’ own personal computers where the votes would be cast. And, as I have noted in a past column, one’s confidence in an Internet vote has to be shaken by the invitation from the District of Columbia for hackers to challenge its voting system in a 2010 test run. Within 36 hours, students from the University of Michigan were able to access the names and passwords of over 900 voters in the system. But just in the last few years there has been marked improvement on the security front, as well as ballot encryption, moving us closer to the goal.

Great strides have already been made in moving parts of the election system to an online model. Twenty-four states now offer online voter registration, which the commission noted was “rapidly establishing itself.” The commission further noted that online registration was increasing the “accuracy of voters rolls” and improving voter list management, along with providing “protections unavailable in paper-based systems” and increasing voter confidence.

Then there are the cost savings. The state of Washington noted an 18-cent per registrant savings. Small you say? Then look at Delaware which has recorded a $100,000 savings over a four-year period using online voter registration.

It will most likely be the cost equation that drives more states to look toward Internet voting. With the number of voters actually going to a polling place in decline, thanks to absentee ballots, municipalities are facing an approaching obsolescence with current voting machines and software that is nearing its end of life, most of which was acquired with the help of federal funds in 2003, funds which are not in the pipeline today for replacement purchases.

Online voter registration, improved voter list management, Internet voting – that is the future we must move toward, rather than spending millions in each state to maintain the current system that no longer best serves a voting public that is used to managing dayto-day life through the Internet.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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ELEGANT CUSTOM BUILT IN SHORES OF GLENWOOD SUB FINISHED WALK-OUT WITH REC ROOM & WET BAR • 5,407 Living SF, 4 Bed, 3.5 Bath, Dining Room with Butlers Pantry • 2 Story Great Room- Stone Fireplace, Granite Kitchen/Nook-SS Appliances • Library,1st Floor Master Ste-Jet Tub Bath,1st Floor Laundry, 3 Car Garage

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CONTEMPORARY WITH IN-GROUND POOL ON 5+ ACRES BACKING TO CRANBERRY LAKE

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• 2,640 SF, 4Bed, 2.5Bath, Dining & Great Room with Gorgeous Lake Views • Island Kitchen-SS Appliances, 1st floor Master Suite w/Bath, 2nd Floor Loft • Bonus Room, 1st Floor Laundry, 2 car attached Garage, Seawall, Dock

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Murder

Robbery

Breaking/entering

Larceny

Larceny from vehicle

Vehicle theft

Vandalism

Drug offenses

Arson

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Commerce Township, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake Village through October 23, 2014.

Placement of codes is approximate.

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RealEstateOne.com

MLS 214105621- $318,000 Super sharp, super clean home has it all! First floor master or mother-in-law suite with full bath and walk in closet, enormous basement with egress window, 9’ height and endless possibilities, all bedrooms have en suite full baths and walk in closets, living room with vaulted ceiling and gas fireplace. www.realestateone.com

MLS 214106561 - $219,500 Three bedroom, two full bath Colonial with hardwood floors in family room, kitchen and nook, huge living room, family room has bay window and gas fireplace, kitchen with breakfast bar and door wall to great deck for outdoor enjoyment, master bedroom has two closets and two linen closets, nice sized fenced yard, Walled Lake Schools. www.realestateone.com

MLS 214103713 - $229,900 Location! Location! Comfortable well-loved 4 bedroom, 2 bath home on a great lot in desirable Colberry Park. Living room with hardwood floor, crown molding and door wall to two-level deck, updated Oak eat in kitchen, hardwood floors in all bedrooms, new bath with heated tile floors, granite counter. www.realestateone.com

MLS 214105353 - $145,000 Charming two bedroom, two bath ranch on a mature tree lined street, great location! This home has everything you need, two full updated baths, basement garage large fenced in yard, enclosed porch, patio in the back, roof is in great shape, newer hot water tank. www.realestateone.com

MLS 214104525 - $240,000 Enjoy lake-living on All Sports Cooley Lake! Beautifully maintained ranch with an open floor plan, large living room with vaulted ceilings & door wall which leads to large entertaining deck for summer fun! Spacious kitchen with island, snack bar and dining room all with spectacular views of the lake. www.realestateone.com

MLS 214111023 - $399,999 Multi generational home! Room for returning college student, parent, aunt, etc. with the in law quarters attached! Separate apartment offers a kitchen, living room, full bath with jetted tub, bedroom and private entry. Spacious custom ranch with expansive windows offers views of the private 2.5 acre setting. www.realestateone.com

MLS 214110936 - $245,900 It’s all about location for this unique 4 bedroom, 3 bath home with separate in law quarters. Seller has added lots of updates including all new windows, kitchen, newer first floor master bath and laundry room, two separate entrances, spacious private, wooded lot, huge bonus room on second level. www.realestateone.com

© Real Estate One, Inc., 2014

MLS 214111538 - $305,000 Spacious ranch style home in Commerce Pines sub, all new windows, great room with 16’ ceilings overlooks wooded private backyard, split bedroom floor plan includes master with two walk in closets, deluxe full bath and door wall to terrace, beautifully landscaped, finished walkout basement with all new carpet. www.realestateone.com

Lakes Area (248) 363-8300

MLS 214110095 - $154,900 Great location in the perfect location! End unit backs to private common area near 155 acre Hickory Glen Park, beautifully decorated with neutral colors throughout, open floor plan. Updated kitchen featuring 42 inch cherry cabinets, hardwood floors, large master suite with cathedral ceilings, immaculate move in condition! www.realestateone.com

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

SATISFYING THE CONSUMER GOURMET SPECIALTY MARKETS

BY LISA BRODY

rganic, locally sourced fruits and vegetables from nearby Michigan farms, brought in by trucks in the last 12 hours.

Exotic African and southeast Asian delicacies known to only the most accomplished and well-traveled chefs.

Unique balsamic vinegars, extra virgin olive oils (knowns as EVOOs), exotic spices and seasonings, scratch baked goods, homemade prepared foods, and gourmet cheeses from around the globe.

Once, as in a dozen years ago, for the home cook or regular grocery shopper to find ingredients outside of the mainstream was a difficult task. Grocery store shelves were filled with routine items determined by central buying systems and distributed from warehouses, notably with labels from large corporate conglomerates like Proctor and Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, and General Foods attached. But as the everyday consumer has become more health

conscious and aware of the foods they are putting in their bodies, as well as more knowledgeable via cooking shows of unusual ingredients and cooking trends, they want the opportunity to easily purchase them from purveyors of quality goods, often small local specialty stores. And local grocers, neighborhood markets and national grocery chains are looking to compete, understanding how the desires of the marketplace translates to a hungry, eager buyer. avid Fikes, vice president of consumer affairs for the Food Marketing Institute in Washington D.C., noted that for many decades, the supermarket industry played to the middle, “giving good value but moderate quality. Today, people want more premium or they want to skew down. They want meats that are organic, high quality, or consumers are willing to trade down. They might prefer the service at a high-end store, but they prefer the cost savings. So today, all of the growth is in value or in the premium ends of the market, and the midmarket is losing money.”

Translated, in today’s marketplace, people prefer to shop at big box stores, like Costco, Sam’s Club or Aldi, to save money, or to go to specialty grocers for their premium purchases. The everyday neighborhood grocery store, with its basic everyday items, has fallen out of favor.

According to the Grocery Manufacturers Association, in 1949, the average grocery store carried 3,750 product choices. In 1965, that number grew to 7,300, and bumped up to 14,145 by 1980. Today, the average grocery store carries nearly 39,000 different products for consumers to choose among.

At the same time, the move to construct bigger and bigger supermarkets, which began in earnest in the 1990s, has sputtered. At the time, grocery chains saw promotional value in increasing the size of their stores by having larger stores that could carry more products – claiming in ads that their stores offered more to customers. It was an era of “bigger is better.” And the consumer agreed, buying into the philosophy of one-stop shopping.

Today, marketers have recognized that the allure of bigger is better has begun to wane, with many customers, from mature shoppers to Boomers and Millennials, preferring specialty markets where they can choose select offerings, from premium meats and seafoods, organic fruits and vegetables, and more often, prepared foods. On a national scale, it’s believed the success of smaller chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, and locally, Plum Market, Hiller’s, and Snook’s Butcher Shoppe, among others, are forcing the hand of grocery chains like Kroger to re-evaluate their store designs, responding to customers who are looking for shorter shopping trips that don’t demand extensive wandering and hunting through thousands of products in a massive supercenter.

“Five years ago, most shoppers had a primary store they shopped at. Today, most people are shopping at five or six different channels to satisfy all their choices,” Fikes said.

A marketing study done by the Food Marketing Institute, of which Kroger is a member, according to Fikes, notes that “Health and wellness has emerged as one of the central guiding principles of

today’s eating culture. The trend toward fresh, less processed foods has brought store perimeters into center stage and connected them to core consumer values, including health and wellness, nutrition and product sourcing. The vast majority (90 percent) of consumers say they purchase locally grown products at least occasionally. When a product is locally grown, it is considered more fresh and seasonal (by 86 percent). At a high level, the most successful grocery retailers have won by abandoning the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach that has historically characterized supermarket food retailing. Two versions of this strategy have had particular success of late: retailers with a ‘premium/fresh’ focus, based heavily on the fresh perimeter and ready-to-eat foods, targeting affluent consumers or those willing to pay more on certain occasions, and those retailers providing extreme value/savings.”

Locally, that model has been adopted even by mainstream grocery stores, as evidenced by the updating at the Kroger store at Orchard Lake Village on Orchard Lake Road in West Bloomfield, and the completely new store in Commerce Township on Union Lake Road. The new store, at 2905 Union Lake Road, was opened a year ago, in October 2013, and at 95,000 square feet, not only replaced an older store nearby, it was built to compete with local big box stores while still offering neighborhood conveniences, Kroger officials said. The store added a new sushi section, a new homemade soup and sandwich area in an improved deli department, a new olive shop and a gourmet cheese shop. In addition, the produce section was greatly expanded to include an enlarged organic produce area, expanded meat and seafood area, as well as improved and expanded floral area, bakery and natural foods departments. he Cyphers Agency, an Annapolis, Maryland, marketing agency, noted in a piece on August 4, 2014, that the five big grocery trends that have food marketers pacing the aisles are that traditional groceries are losing market share fast because specialty stores are an exciting growth area, as are online services.

Beyond healthy, consumers want value and convenience. “Led by Millennials, Americans want it all,” they wrote. “We are starting to rate value over price as the recession fades for many.

Convenience grows even more important. But we also demand healthy options. Fresh foods are selling at higher rates, from fruits and vegetables to the meat case.”

Consumers, they noted, are also much savvier.

And while most consumers hate shopping, they desire a better experience while they do it, responding to smaller stores, chefs, butchers, nutritional guidance, demonstrations and classes.

The other key trend the agency noted was that cooking at home is back on the rise, with more Americans preparing food at home, and expressing a desire to become better cooks.

Fikes agrees with all of these trends, noting it informs purchasing decisions. “Boomers are pantry shoppers. They make their list all week and plan and shop differently than Millennials. Millennials make a list, but they do it right before going based upon their appetite or a recipe that strikes their

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fancy. Further, 25 percent of their meals are something they have purchased that day. They are more geared towards immediate gratification, and they prefer stores that fulfill their immediate needs, where there is ready-to-eat and displays with specialized ingredients.” hole Foods, whose corporate goal is offering quality organic food that meets high social as well as health standards, first opened in 1980 in Austin, Texas, when there were less than a half dozen natural supermarkets nationwide. Obviously, that’s changed drastically. Today, there are more than 350 Whole Foods stores in the U.S. and Canada. Whole Foods entered the Detroit market in 1997, after acquiring six Merchant of Vino stores from Ed and Juliette Jonna.

Literature about the West Bloomfield Merchant of Vino store, on Orchard Lake at 14 Mile Road, notes it is a full-service, all-natural and organic grocery store.

Healthful foods, as well as those meeting special dietary requirements, are high on their commitment list. Recently, their website added a lengthy list of ingredients that are unacceptable for consumption, and they include artificial colors and flavors, aspartame, bleached flour, and foie gras as well as lead soldered cans, carmine, and nitrates, among many others. They emphasize the products they carry are free of antibiotics, added growth hormones, are not genetically-modified (GMO), and follow strict humane and nutritional protocols.

Noting they share a true partnership with farmers and ranchers, “We believe the humane treatment of animals should be guided by an attitude of care, responsibility and respect. We work closely with our farmers and ranchers to focus on raising animals for high quality, greattasting meat.”

“I think there’s an entire movement on eating fresh,” noted Brian Bandyk, marketing director for Livonia’s Westborn Market. “Today’s consumers want to eat fresh, eat freshly-prepared foods, scratch prepared foods, and are straying from processed foods. You don’t have to be gourmet, you just have to be fresh. That’s true of everyone. It’s not just one demographic.”

Bandyk said that where food is sourced from is not as important to boomers as it is to Millennials, who are concerned about where food is from, how it was raised and its provenance.

“Prepared foods, for all demographics, is a growing segment for us in all of our locations,” he said. “People want scratch made, freshly-prepared foods because of time, or lack of it. It’s people’s lifestyles. There’s not a lot of time for meal planning, but they don’t want fast food. So people are choosing us over that. They may choose a pizza, but they want an artisanal pizza.”

Westborn, which opened its first store in Dearborn 52 years ago as a corner fruit stand, calls itself an international marketplace today, with a unique combination of the freshest produce, choice meat, gourmet groceries, bakery, floral design, and wine. “We are dedicated to being the best in every category of service we provide,” they state on their website.

“We’re a community-based market. Our

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business model is to serve our neighbors – we’re like their pantry,” Bandyk said, add that the store’s success is solely dependent upon the ability to provide an unparalleled level of service to customers. “We must always regard our customers as friends and respect our employees as family.”

Justin Hiller understands the value of employees as family. The vice president of Hiller’s Markets is a third-generation owner of the 70-year old company.

Their flagship store is in Commerce Township at 14 Mile and Haggerty, with a newer store at Commerce and Union Lake roads. The Maple and Orchard Lake store in West Bloomfield has been open for many years, serving the community, originally by the store’s previous name, Shopping Center Market.

“Hiller’s is a full service store. We try to accomplish the synergy between affordable prices and high quality products,” Hiller said. “We are a true one-stop shop for the quality shopper.”

Besides offering a complete complement of grocery and cleaning supplies, the market offers a full selection of international and ethnic products, gluten-free, low-salt and other dietary merchandise.

“We cater to all of the major lifestyles of metro Detroit. Organic products represent more than 20 percent of our store. We have organic products as an alternative to every mainstream product,” Hiller said. “You can shop for high end unique products and still find affordable mainstream products.”

Local merchandise has been an area that Hiller’s has sought to highlight for many years. “We have always catered to the cottage industries of Michigan. Hiller’s has always been a platform for local companies in Michigan. We want to be a launch pad to help other Michigan companies succeed,” he said.

Hiller said that every store has trained butchers on site in their full service butcher shops, so that customers can have any request accommodated at the time of their visit. In addition, all of their ground meats are ground fresh every day, throughout the day. iller’s full service delis have cooks at every store, “in order to be as diverse as possible to offer people affordable meal options,” said Hiller. “You can shop every day and have different choices. It’s a deep menu, with international products, vegetarian options, multiple side dishes, salads. It’s a little bit of everything. We offer an everyday shopping experience for everyone with aggressive, affordable pricing options.”

He’s proud of the fact that the stores offer a wide variety of new and unique products, to the point that many local chefs shop the stores. But he said they are also cognizant that in the last few years, “customers have been more budget conscious. As the economy has been getting stronger over the last year, people are more willing to treat themselves with higher-end products.”

As shoppers search for the new and unique, other specialty markets have found niches to differentiate themselves in the marketplace.

Jocelyn Fuller, vice president of creative and marketing for Plum Market, at Maple and Orchard Lake in West Bloomfield, said, “We are committed

to offering the very best selections of natural, organic, local, and specialty items in a full-service shopping experience. Our buyers’ focus is on organic items and growing our organic selection in every department – this sets us apart from our competitors. Choosing organic supports farmers and producers who believe in good health, quality foods, and earth-friendly, sustainable agricultural practices.” uller noted that Plum features all natural hormone and antibiotic-free meats; their seafood department is stocked with fresh sustainable selections delivered daily; they feature locally made products and other locally-owned businesses; and produce is bought from both local and organic farms. “Guests frequent us for the highest quality food and essentials for achieving a healthier lifestyle,” she said. “And by incorporating national brand staples, we ensure full-service shopping at competitive price points, and provide a well-rounded selection for primary shopping needs.” Frequent shoppers often receive e-mailed discounts.

The Plum Kitchen, where they offer daily prepared food options, features restaurant-caliber items made fresh daily from hundreds of Plum Kitchen recipes, ranging from traditional Italian and Mediterranean dishes to contemporary and seasonal choices, and even classic comfort foods.

Fuller pointed out there is a self-serve salad bar, all natural soup, and a carving station with all natural rotisserie chickens and made-to-order artisan pizzas.

Another notable feature at Plum is their wine department, cultivated by master sommelier Madeline Triffon. A wide and unique selection and case prices for individual bottles helps to drive customers to Plum.

“We believe wine should be approachable, accessible and something for everyday, not just special occasions,” Fuller pointed out. “It should be a part of your meal and part of the way you think about creating a menu.”

The West Bloomfield Plum store offers a full service wine bar that hosts fun and informative tastings on Thursdays, and offers a large selection of domestic, imported and craft beer.

Snook’s Butcher Shoppe on S. Milford Road in Highland, also known as Colasanti’s Market before Ken Snook purchased the business from the Colasanti family in 2008, is an independent specialty market which offers shoppers a full butcher shop, deli, prepared foods, produce, an inhouse bakery and a full greenhouse.

“It’s our 35th year in business as a butcher. Ken leased the space as a butcher before he bought the rest in November 2008,” said store manager Denise Guckin. The full-fledged butcher shop not only offers a wide selection of meats, “but we have an in-house smoker, and we make our own sausage and jerky and other items. People are always amazed that we make our own smoked meats.”

The deli counter focuses on lots of Michigan products, including Golden Legacy, Dearborn and Kowalski. “We have a large selection of made in Michigan products throughout the store. We have jams and pasta noodles from the Amish in Cass City. We also buy a lot of produce from the Amish.

We have people calling for the Amish tomatoes and produce. I post it on our Facebook page when I get it in. I also get great corn from a farmer in Dundee, who grows it without any GMOs. We also carry local honey, because it’s important to eat honey from where you live. We have some honey from as close as Brighton and Howell.”

Snook’s in-house bakery makes their own breads, as well as buying from the Crust bakery in Fenton “to offset our demand. And our bakery manager makes fresh cannolis, brownies and seasonal baked goods.”

A full greenhouse attached to the store offers seasonal fare, from annuals to plant in the spring to fresh-cut Michigan Christmas trees and wreaths, poinsettias, and other offerings “all from Michigan farmers,” in November and December.

A newer development was adding a chef to their kitchen for meals to go, offering everything from pot roast tips to smoked salmon to roast turkey. “In the last two years, our grab and go meals have exploded by 300 percent because he’s such an amazing chef,” Guckin said, with all age groups and demographics clamoring for the offerings.

As an added service to the local community, Guckin said they offer a daily 10 percent discount on fresh produce to seniors 60 and over, as well as to active military and veterans.

“Depending on the time of year, going to a regular grocery store won’t meet the large demand for unique items and won’t give you the large selection of apples, or in winter, the large selection of oranges, that we can,” said Jodie Herdman, general manager of Joe’s Produce in Livonia.

The gourmet market offers “a lot of unique fresh items, and we make of lot of in-house items,” she said. “We cater to a lot of different cultures and ethnicities. We find out what foods they want and we work to satisfy their desires.”

In addition to the groceries, dairy, meat and seafood store, and floral departments, Herdman said the bakery makes most items from scratch, as does the adjacent bread store, “with lots of high calorie pastries.” An in-store cafe offers shoppers different coffees, teas, some of those delicious pastries cakes and cupcakes.

Another popular in-store destination is their ready-to-eat area, which includes their specialty pizzas made in stone ovens. “They’re made fresh throughout the day. And while there are always cheese and pepperoni, they change every day,” she said.

Other prepared food options, which are hot and ready to eat, include pulled pork, rotisserie chicken, other chicken dishes, pork chops, and other specialties. There’s also a self-serve salad bar made from the store’s produce. “They change it up daily. There’s not a regular menu in order to attract everyone,” said Herdman.

The store sees different demographics throughout the day. “The retired crowd comes in mid-afternoon,” she said. “They say it’s easy because they’re on their own and they don’t have to buy a whole package of chicken. After work, people stop in on their way home. We also see the working crowd at lunch.”

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S e r v i n g t h e L a k e s A r e a f o r o v e r 3 0 Ye a r s

FACES

Mike Scobie rom scoring goals for Walled Lake Central’s soccer team to taking the 1997 and 1998 Michigan Jaguars Girls Green to the state cup championship, coach Mike Scobie has lived out his life on local soccer fields in Commerce Township.

“We used to play back in Dodge Park when we were kids,” he said. “We would hang out back there in high school.”

For Scobie, taking the position as general manager of the local CW3 (Commerce, Walled Lake, Wixom, Wolverine Lake) Soccer Association was an opportunity to infuse his community with the enthusiasm he has maintained for the game. “It’s a good, safe, healthy place to play and learn.”

The league practices at local schools and parks, but they travel the U.S. to compete against rival teams. “I leave tomorrow for Muscatine, Iowa. We go all over the midwest and we go to Disney right after Christmas.”

Scobie’s enthusiasm for the sport began when he was four years old. “I started in the Lakes Area Youth Soccer League. I liked it right away. Anything that involves running around and keeping score, I think is a good time.”

With a vast interest in sports, he needed to hone in on which sport he would pursue. Steve Emert, Scobie’s gym teacher at Loon Lake Elementary School, made his decision to pursue soccer an easy one.

“Mr. Emert thought I had some potential for the game.” Scobie was invited to join the Livonia Wolves Soccer Club. “When I was asked to do that, it was obviously a big deal. That was the springboard.”

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Scobie was fortunate to have a large fan base in the stands. “My greatgrandma lived with us at the time and she came to all my games. My grandparents and parents would come, too.”

At Walled Lake Central, Scobie played outside-mid and center-mid. “Walled Lake Central had a good group and a great coach, Nate Hunter. We still get together and play an alumni game with guys like Scott Emert and Scott Wickham.”

Following high school, Scobie found himself on the opposite side of the game as a coach. The opportunity was both rewarding and challenging.

“I think I was immediately confident and immediately humbled. I thought I knew what I was doing and I was gonna knock it out of the park. It was much more complicated than I thought.”

Scobie earned a United States Soccer Federation (USSF) A license and a USYSA National Youth license. His education, experience and devotion to the game paid off when he led his players to win 2011 and the 2015 state cup championship.

Recently, he bought a home in Wolverine Lake and is now able to give kids in his community the experience and leadership he was once offered.

“I never really knew what I wanted to do. The one thing I knew was that I never wanted to work in an office or work 9 to 5. My office is the soccer field most the time. It’s everything I think I could ask for.”

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Jean Lannen

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ATTENDANCE PROBLEMS ABSENTEEISM IMPACTS BOTH THE STUDENT AND DISTRICT

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kipping school, cutting class or playing hooky.

Whatever name you give it, truancy and excessive absences can lead to serious problems for students and schools. Surprisingly, the issue is one that often goes unnoticed and can be easily overlooked.

National data shows that students with higher absenteeism rates have lower scores on national standardized tests, reinforcing a growing body of research confirming the connection between school attendance and achievement, according to Attendance Works, a national and state initiative that promotes better policy and practice around school attendance. Yet, each year, between 5 million and 7.5 million students across the nation miss nearly a month of school. In Michigan, more than 25 percent of the state’s students are chronically absent, missing 10 percent or more of the school year.

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“They are trying to raise awareness for families that chronic absenteeism is causing a problem for kids,” said Carolyn Claerhout who heads pupil, corporate and district services for the Oakland Schools.

“Attendance Works spoke at the district on September 11. They are trying to get attention drawn to chronic absenteeism. That’s not truancy.”

Truancy is a measure of how many students miss school without an excuse. Under state law, a student who misses 10 or more days of school due to unexcused absences is considered truant. Chronic absence is a measure of how many students miss 10 percent of the school year, or 18 to 20 days, due to both excused and unexcused absences and suspension.

Despite the different definitions, both truancy and chronic absenteeism have similar impacts on students. t the earliest ages, a lack of attendance means less exposure to language rich environments, with chronic absences serving as an early warning sign that a student is behind in reading by the third grade, failing courses in middle and high school, and likely to drop out of school, according to Attendance Works.

Attendance may also predict college enrollment and persistence.

A state-by-state analysis of national testing data demonstrates that students who miss more school than their peers score lower on the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP), according to Attendance Works. This is true at every age, in every racial and ethnic group, and in every state and city examined. In many cases, the students with more absences have skill levels one or two years below their peers.

Despite the importance of attendance, many districts may overlook the problem of absenteeism and truancy because it’s possible they are looking at the wrong data. For instance, a school may have a high average daily attendance rate and also have a problem with truancy, according to the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Safe and Drug-Free Schools. That’s because the average daily attendance rate doesn’t capture the full picture of students who are chronically absent. It’s entirely possible, the office said, that 30 percent of a student body is considered chronically absent even though 90 percent of the students are in class on an average day.

Average daily attendance rates refer to the percentage of a school’s student body that attends school on a typical day. A district or school may often refer to average daily attendance when discussing absenteeism or truancy. For example, a student may be absent twice a month, contributing to the school’s chronic absenteeism rate. However, they are in attendance for most of the month.

“We feel very fortunate. We think our families understand that attendance is important. Students can’t learn if they aren’t attending class,” said Judy Evola, marketing and community relations director for Walled Lake Consolidated Schools, noting elementary attendance rates at the district are between 96 and 98 percent.

Attendance data maintained by the Center for Educational Performance and Information (CEPI) indicates a 94.94 percent attendance rate at Walled Lake Western High School, which is one of the highest rates in the county.

However, 22.69 percent of the school’s students, or 341 students, were chronically absent during the 2012-13 school year. Statewide, Michigan school districts have an average attendance rate of 93.3 percent, but a chronic absenteeism rate of 28.51 percent. Average daily attendance rate for all districts included in the Oakland Intermediate School District for the 2012-13 school year was 94.4 percent, while chronic absenteeism rates were 23.81 percent, indicating about 45,500 students are missing 10 percent of the school year, or an average of two days per month.

Data from the CEPI database shows absentee rates vary from district to district, with little evidence that attendance rates directly correspond with absentee rates. For instance, the Ferndale School District had an attendance rate of 76.69 percent, and a 42.57 percent absentee rate; while the Oak Park School District had a slightly higher attendance rate (88.15 percent) and a much higher absenteeism rate (59.65 percent). Meanwhile, Pontiac Schools recorded an attendance rate of 89.67 percent and an absenteeism rate 48.38 percent.

Data wasn’t available for several school districts including Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Novi. Figures for Walled Lake schools were only available for Western High School. The wide differences in figures and

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availability of data is indicative of the difficulty tracking and comparing absenteeism, as well a truancy.

“Our pupil services team doesn’t do any specific calculations or reporting on truancy/chronic absenteeism,” said Shira Good, spokeswoman for Bloomfield Hills Schools. “However, we know from talking to our building administrators that we do enjoy a very high attendance rate and we attribute that to our fantastic parent community. They are heavily involved in the schools, supportive of the schools and supportive of school rules. It takes a strong school-to-home connection to make these things happen and we appreciate the ongoing support of parents.”

Marcia Wilkinson, spokeswoman for Birmingham Schools, said the district had three cases of truancy last year that were turned over to the county’s truancy officers. She said the majority of the district’s district’s unexcused or willful absences are at the secondary level.

Claerhout from Oakland Schools said confusion on how to report figures to the state has been an issue, and skews some of the data, and causing part of the problem. Likewise, each district maintains its own attendance policies, determining what is considered an excused or unexcused absence.

“The CEPI, the state has that data, but everyone will tell you it’s fatally flawed because districts don’t know what their definition of chronic absenteeism is,” Claerhout said. “The schools have had some districts report more truants than they have in their building. There has been some confusion on how to report those kids. You can’t even look across the board and say that one district has more than another.”

Bill DiSessa, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Education, confirmed that the data collected in the CEPI database isn’t particularly useful because there isn’t a uniform definition of unexcused absences.

“The state is going to give you one number, because they are looking at how many kids have missed 10 days unexcused,” Claerhout said. “If you ask me, I get about 1,200 referrals a year. We enforce the Compulsory School Attendance law, and that’s based on referrals. I don’t even know the numbers for chronic absenteeism.” he Walled Lake Consolidated School District recognizes different absences at different grade levels. For instance, at the senior high school level, the district recognizes three different types of absences: excused absences are those done with parental notification within two days after the student’s return to school; unexcused absences are all other absences with the exception of suspensions, debarments and failure to complete prearranged absence forms within the specified time; and explained absences resulting from a suspension.

Barb Leaf, who heads up pupil accounting at Walled Lake, said families who will be gone for two weeks or more for vacation, travel or other related reasons, are asked to re-enroll their children when they return.

“We sort of drop them,” she said. “They aren’t here, and we don’t know if and when they are coming back. Sometimes they come back when they say, and sometimes they don’t, so we can’t keep them on the books.”

The Birmingham School District’s attendance policy states that several factors may be reasonable excuses for time missed at school, including illness; recovery from an accident; required court attendance; professional appointments; death in the immediate family; observation or celebration of a bona fide religious holiday; with other absences deemed acceptable by the superintendent. The district discourages family trips, however, they are considered excusable. Further, each school may develop specific procedures as long as the intent of the district’s policy is maintained.

“If there are excused absences, there is no limit,” Wilkinson said about the allowed number of absences.

She said students aren’t turned over to the county for truancy, as the district works with its own truancy officer. “We try to meet with the families and see if we can work something out,” she said. “We have a high attendance rate.”

The Troy School District’s attendance policy states that students may be excused for personal illness or a death in the family. However, family vacations should be planned during holidays outlined in the school calendar.

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The Royal Oak School District has differing attendance policies for elementary, middle and high school levels. The policies prescribe various steps to address attendance issues and defines excused absences at the high school level. Under the policy, absences may be excused for personal illness, family illness or family emergencies, as well as school-sponsored activities.

Additional allowances may be determined by each school administrator.

The Bloomfield Hills School District grants each building the “flexibility to address parent notification of attendance issues as is appropriate for their student body,” Good said.

“If you ask the building staff, I think you’ll find a mix of personal phone calls, face-to-face meetings and standard letters sent when certain thresholds are met. Handling will likely differ based on grade level,” Good said. “A building administrator will decide when to contact the (Oakland Schools) truancy representatives. There are guidelines for building staff to follow, but there is an expectation that building staff will make every effort to resolve an issue before involving the (Oakland Schools) staff.”

The majority of districts have their own policies that are followed prior to truancy cases being turned over to Oakland Schools. he process for addressing truancy in the county was first addressed in 1998, when the prosecutor’s office and superintendents from the 28 school districts in Oakland County partnered to form the Early Truancy Intervention Program. At the time, the program targeted students in the second and third grades who were exhibiting signs and characteristics of early school failure. In 2005, the Oakland County Truancy Task Force was created, a collaboration of public schools, state, county and community agencies. In 2008, the Oakland County Early Truancy Intervention Protocol was adopted by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office, the Oakland County Superintendents Association and Oakland Schools.

The process for reporting truancy starts at the district level and its attendance policy, which defines excused and unexcused absences. Once a student accumulates 10 full absences, the district is to review the student’s attendance history, grades and progress, as well as contact parents or guardians. The district or school may then develop an action plan to correct the problem, which may include utilizing resources such as the school, psychologist, social workers, youth assistance or other community organizations. If a district exhausts all its options and 20-25 absences are accumulated, the district is to refer the case to the Oakland Schools Truancy Program.

“When they get to 20 or 25 absences, we recommend they refer it to us.

Then we try to find out why that child isn’t attending and try to break that barrier down,” Claerhout said. “If that doesn’t work, we send it to the prosecutor’s office, and then we take them to court.”

Once a case is referred to the county, the Oakland Schools’ truancy officers investigate the situation. Certified letters are sent to parents or guardians, and a review and agreement with the parent or guardian is worked out. Further absences are then reported to the Oakland Schools’ truancy officer by the district. The final option for the Oakland Schools’ is the ability to request intervention from the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

“We are sort of a last resort,” said Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper, who said many issues can be addressed by sending a letter from her office to the parents. “It becomes very effective.”

Letters indicating that a student’s continued unexcused absences have violated the student/district agreement are first sent from the prosecutor’s office to parents or guardians. If absences continue, the prosecutor’s office may then petition the court for a hearing, with charges or prosecution being the last step.

“By the time it gets to the prosecutor’s desk, you have already had district action. There are meetings with parents, and it goes through many steps before it gets to us,” Cooper said. “Only after everything is exhausted is there a charge that is brought.”

In the 2012-13 school year, a total of 202 letters were sent to parents and guardians from the prosecutor’s office, Cooper said. However, only 61 of those cases went on to be petitioned to the court. Of the 61 that were petitioned, 11 resulted in subsequent charges. As of Oct. 14, Cooper said 227 letters were

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11.14

sent out in the 2013-14 school year, resulting in 44 petitions and just one charge.

“They try everything to bring them to school before bringing any action against them,” Cooper said.

Charges against the parent or guardian may be brought against them if the student is 12 or under, and may include educational neglect. Older students may be charged with truancy. Cooper said the majority of students receive probation if they are entered into the juvenile system. In 2012, the court dismissed seven charges; seven were placed on the court’s consent calendar, in which charges may be dropped if the defendant complies with the court’s demands; eight students were placed with a new guardian or removed from a home; 36 received probation; two received warnings; and one was admitted to drug court.

Cooper said there are currently seven open cases that haven’t been decided regarding truancy for the 2013-14 school year, while four were dismissed; 23 were placed on probation; two received consent judgements; and six were placements or removed. ooper said parents of younger students are responsible for making sure they are in school, therefore educational neglect is an appropriate charge. At the high school level, parents may not be aware a student is skipping school, so the consequence more often falls upon the student.

“It seems to work quite well,” Cooper said of the process. “It starts in the schools, so they have all sorts of things they can utilize to bring truant individuals back into the school system.

“We can be very proud of what we do in this county. It’s a joint relationship with the schools, the parents and social workers, and they exhaust everything they can before going to the ISD, and after that they continue to work with the family. Even when they ask for the prosecutor’s letter, that is still effective. We work very hard with the kids.”

While the county’s protocol addresses the legal aspects of unexcused absences, it doesn’t address excessive excused absences. Currently some districts are working to address chronic absenteeism that doesn’t rise to the level of truancy, yet continue to have the same effects on achievement.

Chloe Silm, Success Program Director with Waterford Schools, said the district is doing a variety of different things to address attendance.

“At five absences, we have teachers make contact with parents. At seven, we send a letter to the family. At 10, the counselor at the secondary level, or myself, will talk about some of the barriers of being at school, and what we can do as a team,” she said.

The goal, Silm said, is to intervene early and see what can be done to support the family, rather than waiting until a truancy problem arises.

“We know now that it’s not just truancy in the legal aspect, but it reflects on the education of the student and the district,” she said. “Last year, we started an aggressive campaign. We created a logo and a slogan: Every Day Counts, Don’t Let Absences Add Up. We’ve been trying to get the word out.

We will send e-mails on the first of the month to all the families in the district with some basic attendance tips or data, or ways that parents can promote attendance at home.”

Silm said the district took a look at its attendance policy last year, after working with Attendance Works. Since then, the district has worked to address attendance problems early on. Efforts at the Waterford district are particularly effective because they focus on what can be done to get the student to school, rather than focusing solely on excused or unexcused absences. Other districts also have internal steps that are taken before issues are referred to the county.

“What we’ve come to learn is that poor attendance is a very complex issue,” she said. “There are all sorts of reasons why kids miss school.

Transportation, homelessness, where they are living on someone’s couch or moving from place to place, or an ill parent; the list goes on and on as to why kids are absent. Some have anxiety about coming to school. We see what we can do as a district to support that student.

“It really depends on the individual situation. We are learning a lot about how complex it is, and all the different barriers.”

C

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ince our conversion to Sotheby’s 8 years ago SKBK has realized steady growth in our market share throughout the area.

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Luxury real estate is just not local – homes must be marketed to include the global consumer. Nearly half of all the visits to the Sotheby’s International website are from outside the US. Here are a few key points about our marketing – our results demonstrate the success of this approach.

Global Media – Our 2014 global media plan will generate 800 million impressions through handselected media powerhouses whose innovation, experience and international impact help drive awareness for the extraordinary properties our network represents Global Reach – Innovation, Experience, International Exposure: With over 14,000 sales associates in approximately 720 offices and 52 countries and territories, our network members utilize all that is current to present a home in a unique way.

SothebysRealty.com – attracts more consumers to search, view and inquire than any other luxury real estate website.

• 10,000,000 visits yearly • 70,000,000 page views yearly • 12 focused minutes per visit • 45% visits from outside US Aerial photography – we provide aerial videos of every home we market over $500,000 – scan the adjacent QR code to see a sample video.

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Market Share | By Dollars SKBK MarKetS More Homes Over $1.5 Million 25.75%

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FACES Cory Wright ocal entrepreneur Cory Wright is skillfully combining his devotion to the Great Lakes State and his savvy business sense to promote Michigan made products. “We launched Mitten Crate in September 2013,” Wright said.

“There’s a ton that goes into it. There are a ton of people in Michigan creating great food. We wanted to champion those people.”

Mitten Crate ships a monthly package that Wright calls “retail-faced shelf stable products.” The content of the crates is unknown to the consumer until they receive it.

“The boxes aren’t refrigerated. We ship all of your spices, chips, salsa, beef jerky and candy products and more.”

Wright and his business partner Andrew Chmielewski work with companies they have personally vetted. “We’ve used 72 different products to date,” he said. “It’s always different producers and different products.”

Considering Michigan’s notorious “snow birds,” who travel to warmer climates during the harsh winter months, 30 percent of their crates are gifts to the recipient. “Kids will send (crates) to their parents as gifts. We have hundreds of customers. Half our orders are subscriptions and 20 percent are corporate clients.”

Wright, a Waterford Kettering alumnus, constantly fields e-mails from people who are starting new products and want to be included in a Mitten Crate.

“We’re always knocking on people’s door and they’re knocking on our door. Sometimes it’s a shame we can’t do two or three boxes a month.”

Determined to ensure the quality of each Mitten Crate, Wright and his business partner travel from Monroe to Traverse City to personally shake the hands of small business owners and test potential items.

“We do limit the amount of crates we can produce.

We’re never going to ship out more than 1,837. It’s the year Michigan gained statehood. The reason we decided to limit it is we never want to get too big that we get away from our initial goal. We never want to grow big enough that we have to use big companies to meet the demands.”

As the unique and prospering business is experiencing exponential growth, Wright’s company gives back to the community in a considerable way. For each crate shipped, three meals are given to Gleaners Food Bank.

“The reason for creating a company is to create profit, but it takes so little to give back to people who need food,” Wright reasoned. “If we were going to give to a charity, it’s going to be to people who don’t have as much food as we have. We were definitely familiar with Gleaners. It seemed to be the one food bank that everyone was familiar with and has the most reach.”

Wright, who played hockey for Kettering’s varsity team, is an outdoorsy guy who loves playing sports and going camping in his limited free time. Most of all, he is focused on helping Michigan products thrive.

“We just want to help people who have great food products and get them to the people who want products we think have what it takes.”

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Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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CHANGING FACE OF UNIONS FIGHTING FOR RELEVANCE AND NEW MEMBERSHIP

BY LISA BRODY

abor unions, credited with helping workers achieve fair wages, benefits and good working conditions, as well as the creation of a mass middle class in America in the second half of the 20th century, has fallen from favor as the calendar has turned the page to the 21st century.

Once the savior of the working man (and woman), today membership in labor unions has fallen to just 9.4 percent of the workforce in Rust Belt states like Michigan – a far cry from the 30 percent and more of the total workforce they boasted as recently as 1983.

In the 30 years or so since a third of the labor force belonged to a union, numerous factors have played into reduced membership numbers.

Globalization has moved jobs not only to other regions of the United States, but around the world. Technological progress has often meant that more skilled workers are needed to do a job, or that different, more highly-trained skills are needed by an increasingly diverse worker pool. A new economy,

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based on the Internet, referred to as the “Google economy”, which is a knowledge-based economy, has arisen in the 21st century, and those workers do not seek the broad protective shoulders of a union. Further, in the last decade, the economic crisis now referred to as the Great Recession hammered more nails into the coffin of the unions, beleaguered by legacy costs and retirees with heavy pensions and benefits. Where once union membership dominated in the private sector, today most union members are public sector workers, employed as municipal workers, government employees, teachers, and police and firefighters.

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et, union leaders and activists assert that their eulogies are being written prematurely. While some industries, such as manufacturing in traditional fields like automotive have been permanently altered, with membership numbers skewed lower than previously seen in decades past, those in union leadership see new avenues for unionization in the private sector: for low skilled fast food workers, the continuation to organize health care workers as that sector mushrooms in growth, along with their efforts to stay relevant and influential in the political sphere.

The American labor union movement first began in the 19th century, with the advent of the Industrial Revolution. Textile mills, hiring large amounts of young women and children, were the first factories built in the United States. As the need grew for more and more textiles, factory owners and managers hired primarily unskilled women and children, often immigrants, because they were cheaper or even “free workers.” With no laws regarding hours, wages or working conditions, these factories became crowded, filthy sweatshops where workers were paid by the number or pieces they completed.

After several horrific fires swept factories in Massachusetts and other eastern states with numerous casualties, labor unions developed to give workers a voice in their working place, helping to set up laws and rules with penalties for owners.

Union membership remained low post-World War I, and transitory in most industries until the mid-20th century, as labor unions benefitted from New Deal policy decisions of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration in the 1930s, which coincided with the growth and modernization of the automotive industry. The Wagner Act, also known as the National Labor Relations Act of 1935, remains the foundational statute for U.S. labor law, guaranteeing the basic rights of private sector workers to organize into trade unions, engage in collective bargaining for better terms and conditions at work, and take collective action, including to strike if they find it necessary. The act also created the National Labor Relations Board, which conducts elections that can require employers to engage in collective bargaining with labor unions.

Unions allege corporations and management began to chip away at the NLRA from the

beginning, with a judgement by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1940 upholding the First Amendment and freedom of speech by management to challenge union supremacy, and culminated in the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947, restricting the activities and power of labor unions.

Organized labor membership peaked nationwide in 1954, with almost 35 percent of the population belonging to a union, and according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the total number of union members reached its height in 1979, with an estimated 21 million members. As Daniel Disalvo stated in National Affairs in the article “The Trouble with Public Sector Unions” in Fall 2010, “In today’s public sector, good pay, generous benefits, and good security make possible a stable middle class existence for nearly everyone from janitors to jailers.”

Membership began to decline in the 1980s due to several factors, including the incursion of imported automobiles from Japan and Germany, globalization of industry around the world, and technological advances. With these changes have come a decline in wages and benefits.

“From the end of World War II to 1980 was the golden era of capitalism,” said Frank Joyce, former United Auto Workers communications director. “That’s when unions were growing, the economy was growing, benefits were growing.

The economy was better distributed much more equitably than they are now. Today, the recent trends point to inequality and stagnation. For the middle class, it’s pretty widely understood that there’s more inequality, greater stagnation, and greater wage inequality, and a lot of that is because of union busting.”

“In a big picture sense, the decline in unions fits into the decline of the American economy at the moment,” noted Lou Glazer, president of Michigan First, a think tank. “Because of globalization and technological changes, industry needs less people, and there are more people competing for the jobs there are, which depresses wages. Politics increasingly is tilting towards the employers and away from the employees. Two factors are playing out, by not having minimum wage keep up with inflation, and the political climate is weakening unions through right to work. The net effect for jobs that produced the mass middle class is there is no longer enough, and the ones that are there are not high paying jobs. While labor unions have nothing to do with the number of low skilled jobs, they do have a responsibility for the pay, and weakened unions have seen pay and benefits go down.”

G

lazer said politics have weakened unions, and that climate has been very effective.

“That was the purpose of the politics – so they did what it meant to do.”

“Unions are able to elevate wages for working people, but on the other hand, it made the state (of Michigan) unable to retain companies. That’s the two sides of the argument. We’ve seen stagnating wage levels while employment numbers have been increasing,” John Mogk, law professor specializing in urban law and policy at

Wayne State University’s law school, pointed out.

“Labor has a role in elevating income levels so more individuals who are employed can earn a living wage,” which, he pointed out, forced many companies to leave the state because they could not afford to pay the wages.

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he political Pandora’s Box was borne out in what is referred to by Gov. Rick Snyder as the Lost Decade in Michigan, from approximately 2001 to 2011, when he changed the Michigan Business Tax during the Great Recession. In 2012, the Michigan legislature passed, and Snyder signed into law, Right to Work legislation, making Michigan a state that cannot mandate union membership, and the game was forever altered.

“Right to Work states tend to be low wage states,” Glazer said. “Michigan increasingly, especially for low skilled jobs, was, and is, a low wage state, before and since Right to Work. It began before the Great Recession, but it has occurred primarily in the last decade. Wages are falling all throughout the economy, with benefits going down, but most significantly in low education attainment jobs.”

“Right to Work is designed to make the already difficult lives of employees more difficult,” said Joyce. “It poses a challenge to unions to be clearer and more focused on the importance of membership. The intent and goal of Right to Work is to drive down membership. It’s too soon to tell what the impact is. It’s up to how the UAW and other unions respond to it. It’s hard – but it’s not impossible. Unions have always had an uphill battle. Otherwise there wouldn’t have been the Flint sit-down battle (with General Motors in 19361937), or overcoming difficult bargaining (over the years). It just depends on specific issues at specific times.”

Besides Right to Work, Glazer said politics itself have made it more difficult for unions, “and some of it is just the structure of the economy itself. We have a more knowledge-based economy. A lot of new jobs being created, like with Quicken and Google, it’s a new economy, a new knowledgebased economy. Those workers have never been in a union, and never will be. It’s those in lower skilled jobs who historically were powerful, and no longer are.”

Union leadership is not sitting still, resting on its laurels, looking back on old photos of worker strikes and remembering the good ol’ days. Unions are self-perpetuating entities which need members in order to exist and thrive. With traditional industrial factories requiring less union workers, and public sector employees seeing reduced benefits due to a recognition on the part of governments, both large and small, and boards of education regarding unfunded liabilities for retirees, unions are looking for new workers to unionize. Today, casino workers are unionized, as are engineers, many health care workers, and there is a concerted effort to mobilize and unionize fast food workers.

“What most unions have done today is they are being very careful about incurring the costs of going through the traditional NLRB process, such

as in Chattanooga (Tennessee), where, in an amazingly historical case you had a company that said, ‘we’re fine with unions, they fit our business model’, but interestingly the threats (to unionization) came from the political community, not from the corporation,� said Roland Zulio, research scientist at the University of Michigan Institute for Labor, Employment and the Economy.

T

he United Auto Workers sought to unionized a Volkswagen plant in Chattanooga; on September 9, 2014, German union IG Metall and the Volkswagen Global Group Works Consigned a letter of intent with the UAW to organize workers at that plant as a UAWrepresented facility, after workers in the plant voted 712 to 626 in February to reject UAW representation. It was considered a significant setback to the UAW. “Everybody gets it now that we’re in a different economy. We’re facing far different obstacles. It’s very challenging,� said Joyce. “A union is an asset that can enhance my potential for success – that is a mindset, a conscious decision. Or you can see it as a liability, as a cost, something I want to get rid of. Management made a choice.� “The threat of denying money to Volkswagen if it went union, in stark terms, from the political community, is the opposition unions face. It’s public aggression,� Zulio said. “That model is just not productive. It’s very easy for an employer to take a few steps to discourage organizing.

Arguably, the law was set up to encourage

live? We’ve got the question wrong. It’s helpful to get those questions. That’s the role of union, and what they get right.�

Zulio said the Fight for 15, which is the term for the movement to unionized fast food workers and get them a $15 an hour wage, is being underwritten by SEIU, Service Employees International Union, which also represents restaurant, hotel, and building service workers, with about 2 million workers nationally.

Twenty years ago, Zulio said, no one thought of fast food as an industry that needed to be unionized, as it was largely populated with youthful workers in their first jobs, and transitory workers. “For some folks, today, it’s no longer a transitional job. Fast food jobs are now jobs people have to live on,� he pointed out. “Will they form unions? They having a lot of difficulty getting to that step. But it is becoming an international movement, and part of unions figuring it out, taking it to the next level, is trying to raise that base. It’s part of what unions have always been about. And part of the unique environment of the United States has been allowing unions to rise, working to rectify workplace injustice. “Labor is trying to use other types of tactics to gain a voice,� he said. “That’s what the system does. It seeks power either through bargaining or through politics. And unions have always had political involvement. One way for a worker to get his voice heard is to sit down with management for ongoing relationships. When workers have a voice, but then if it’s closed off and they make it impossible for workers to have a voice, they turn to politics.�

organizing, but the law has been set on its head.�

Zulio said the labor movement is really an amorphous entity which grows in different ways to respond to the times. “One of the ways it has responded (to changes) is by connecting with people who don’t belong to a union but are sympathetic to them, who believe in strong public services, gainful employment, fair wages and universal health care. It’s incredibly hard for a union to negotiate for a better wage if the rest of a community is impoverished, because there’s always someone else waiting for that job. In today’s economic environment, holding onto a halfway decent job is paramount. There’s the fear someone else will take your job.� “It’s a vicious cycle. The more that lose economic leverage, the more they lose political power, and then they lose economic power, and that’s the situation we find ourselves in now,�

Joyce said. “It’s the reality of the world we’re in now. Employers have all of the power and employees have none. Some believe nothing lasts forever. Unions are now organizing fast food workers, asking for $15 an hour. It parallels the early days of union organizing, with similarities to the automobile industry and other machinery, when durable goods were emerging. Fast food is an important part of the economy. The question is, how do we find economic talking point to improve workers’ lives?�

Joyce said the $15 an hour fast food wage “helps the overall economy because if you make more money, you can spend more money. What’s wrong with making enough money for people to

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Zulio pointed out that union efforts at organizing retail workers at mass merchandisers, such as Walmart, has not proven to be effective because it has been too costly for union organizers, and “Walmart is well-known for having a well-oiled machine as a strategy. It’s not a negative one against unions. Sometimes the most effective approach is a positive one, but emphasizing the positive of the company, the loyalty of the worker,” he said. “They refer to workers as Walmart ‘associates.’ They use employees in ads, and they’re called ‘models.’ These small displays of affection and flattery – there are some workers who really believe it’s fine even though they’re paid very low wages.”

oving forward, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the labor force is projected to grow .5 percent per year between 2012 and 2022, with occupations and industries related to healthcare projected to add the most new jobs.

Occupations that typically require post-secondary education will grow faster than occupations that need just a high school diploma or less.

In those years, with baby boomers aging, workers 55 and older will make up one-quarter of the work force by 2022, and both men and women are expected to slow labor force growth, which will decline from 63.7 percent in 2012, to 61.6 percent in 2022. Because of the aging of the workforce, different services and goods will be needed, with 10.8 percent of the employment growth projected to be in service-providing industries. According to the

bureau, the health care and social assistance sector is projected to grow at an annual rate of 2.6 percent, adding 5 million jobs by 2022, or one-third of the total projected increase in jobs. Employment in construction is projected to grow 2.6 percent annually, equalling 1.6 million new jobs over the decade.

As for education and training, the bureau projects that 19 of the 30 occupations projected to grow fastest between 2012 and 2022 will require some form of post-secondary education (college or career training) in order to enter the job force.

These jobs will also see higher median wages, at $57,770 in 2012, and are projected to grow faster, at 14 percent in the decade, than occupations that typically require just a high school diploma or less, where starting median salaries are $27,670, with a 9.1 percent growth rate for the decade.

These projections do not portend well for union members or organizers, whose private sector members tend to have non-secondary education levels. The UAW notes the gaming industry is relatively new to Detroit, after the three casinos opened downtown facilities in 1999 and 2000.

“More than 6,000 workers there, however, are standing by a tried-and-true principle: If you want decent wages, good benefits, and a fair workplace, you need to have a union contract,” the UAW website says. “Workers at all three casinos – MGM Grand, Motor City, and Greektown – became union members shortly after the facilities began operating, when a majority at each workplace signed union cards. Dealers, cage clerks, slot technicians, pit clerks and other workers at the casinos are UAW members.”

“The UAW is one of four unions to join together as part of the Detroit Casino Council, a coalition that represents union workers at the three casinos,” said Neil Anderson, a dealer at Greektown Casino who was a member of the bargaining committee.

Health care workers choosing representation are part of the Service Employees International Union, which was launched in 2007 to represent doctors, nurses, lab technicians, home care and nursing home workers, environmental service workers, and dietary aides. Nationwide, they have 1.1 million members, including 470,000 in Michigan.

Joyce believes the UAW, and unions as a whole, will prevail, because union membership is not now, nor has it ever been, strictly blue collar. He is a member of the United Writers Union, a UAW local, as a freelance writer.

“One of the things that is not widely known is that the UAW is not just an industrial union. It has a long tradition of representing white collar workers as far back as the 1940s, when it came to representing engineers at Chrysler, and the UAW created the Technical Office of Professionals (TOP),” he said. “There’s quite a spectrum of who belongs to the ranks, and there has been for a long time. Most of the employees in the state of Michigan belong to the UAW, including all of the government workers. There’s the casino dealers.

There are engineers. There is the National Writers Union. Agriculture. The UAW has, and continues to help and elevate a lot of women to leadership, such as Cindy Estrada, who came out of Local 6000, and is currently the first woman to ever head a Big Three bargaining department (for General Motors).”

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31

MUNICIPAL Lifestyle center set for new downtown

By Kevin Elliott

Plans to build a massive lifestyle center in Commerce that would serve as a commercial destination spot for western Oakland County moved forward on Tuesday, October 21, at the township’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) monthly meeting, as the DDA accepted a $10.5 million purchase offer for more than 20 acres of land along Martin Parkway in the Commerce Towne Place area.

Lifestyle centers act as a both a shopping center and mixed-use development, combining retail functions found at traditional shopping malls with community and leisure space and uses.

“Our intent is to build an open-air, walkable shopping center,” said Birmingham-based developer Bruce Aikens, vice chair of Robert B. Aikens and Associates. “I live about 10 minutes from the site, and have been here since 1993. I grew up near Birmingham, and the frustration out here is that there is no community meeting place. There are strip malls and strip centers, but no town. We saw this site as a phenomenal opportunity to create that, and that is our intent.”

The proposed development would provide the key commercial element to the DDA’s Commerce Towne Place project, a 330-acre area north of M-5 and Pontiac Trail between Haggerty and Welch Roads that will include a mix of residential, commercial and retail sites combined with conservation areas, public trails, parkland and natural areas.

“We spent a lot of time discussing the plan over the past two years,” said DDA chairman James Gotts. “I can assure you what they will build here will be the finest of the fine, not a sea of asphalt.”

Discussions between Aikens and the DDA began more than 18 months ago, but scant details about the proposed development had been released to the public until the October 21 meeting, as the DDA agreed to an exclusive confidentiality agreement with the developer while Aikens worked on securing tenants for the development.

While Aikens said many of the future tenants are currently in the state’s marketplace, many currently 32

Wolverine discusses neighborhood park ess than a dozen residents on Wednesday, October 22, attended a special meeting of the Wolverine Lake Village Council to discuss the proposed development of a neighborhood park on Oak Island Drive.

Village Administrator Sharon Miller said residents expressed mixed feelings about the creation of a small neighborhood park on Oak Island Drive, with the largest concern being that the park retain its natural features and not have an excess of pavement or asphalt.

The village council in December of 2013 agreed to a recommendation by the village’s parks and recreation board to provide basic amenities at neighborhood parks, or pocket parks, the village establishes in the future.

Those features would include items such as trash receptacles, signs, benches or picnic tables, and limited play areas, such as a swings.

Additionally, council authorized setting aside $125,000 in 2015 for the purchase of land for potential pocket parks if land becomes available.

Council president John Magee said the idea is to establish park land on the south side of the village, whose residents don’t have the same ease of access to Clara Miller Park as those on the north side of the Village.

Miller said comments from the meeting will be discussed with the parks and recreation board next month, with further recommendations from the board provided to the full council in December.

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have only one store, some of which are represented at the Somerset Collection in Troy. However, the Commerce Township development would more closely resemble Aikens’ outdoor development at the Village of Rochester Hills, but on a larger scale.

“Residents have always said there isn’t a downtown in Commerce,” said township treasurer Susan Gross. “The vision was for there to be space inside of (the development) where there would be a fairly large gathering space for outdoor concerts, fairs, farmer’s markets and other outdoor stuff. This is about three times the size as the Village of Rochester Hills.”

The DDA board unanimously approved the purchase offer from Aikens, with board members Dan Lublin and Tim Hoy absent.

Aikens is the developer of the 375,000-square foot Village of Rochester Hills lifestyle center in Rochester Hills; a 904,000-square foot retail development in Covington, Louisiana, that includes a 479,000square foot lifestyle center; as well as several other large retail and residential developments in Michigan and across the country.

While site plans have yet to be submitted to the township for review, the development is intended to be constructed in two phases, said DDA Director Kathleen Jackson. “The first phase will have one or two anchor stores, retail and outlots,” she said.

Aikens said plans are to build the first phase as soon as all aspects of the deal are finalized and the development’s main anchor is secured. The second phase would likely begin in two to three years, and include additional commercial anchors, retail and restaurants.

The Aikens development will serve as the main component of the Commerce Towne Place development, and the first commercial development to be approved by the DDA board. In August, the DDA approved a $3 million purchase agreement with The Granger Group, of Wyoming, Michigan, which plans to build a three-phase senior living development that will include assisted living and independent living facilities. The DDA in September approved a $2.65 million purchase agreement with Hunter Pasteur Homes of Novi for about 43 acres of land to build about 100 homes ranging from 1,500 to 2,400 square feet, as well as a 7-acre park. The DDA also finalized a second agreement with Hunter Pasteur this year, which has since broken ground on a 15-acre development consisting of about 39 single-family homes. The DDA last year approved a purchase agreement with M. Shapiro Development Company for the purchase of about 59 acres of land for the construction of about 400 stacked-ranch homes and townhouses.

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Library location in Dodge Park okayed

By Kevin Elliott

Plans to build an $8 million library to replace the current Commerce Township Public Library took another step forward Tuesday, October 14, as township trustees selected Dodge Park V as the location of the future library at their township board meeting.

The township’s current library, at 2869 N. Pontiac Trail, is a 20,000square foot golf clubhouse that was converted into a library building. That library was established with the understanding that it would one day be relocated. Earlier this year, trustees agreed to begin moving forward with planning for the new library, as improvement and maintenance costs for the existing library continue to rise.

Discussions about the future library’s location began in April when the board unofficially agreed to move forward with the library project using Dodge Park V as the building’s location. Commerce Township supervisor Tom Zoner said he suggested the site because the township already owns the land, it’s in a central location, and the available space at the site provided for future expansion. Zoner also said he believes placing the library at Dodge Park V will help provide an economic stimulus for the township’s village area.

In August, board of trustee members approved contracting with Ann Arbor-based architects Penchansky Whisler to design the library. However, board members subsequently questioned the proposed location and discussed the possibility of building the library next to the Commerce Township Hall, inside the Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) property known as Commerce Towne Place. The board met to discuss the two locations on September 30 with members of the DDA, planning commission, library advisory board, and parks and recreation committee, as well as representatives from Penchansky Whisler.

While representatives from Penchansky Whisler said either of the two locations would be an excellent spot for the future library, each has its own challenges and unique benefits.

Essentially, the board was presented with two options: a single-story library at the park location, or a two11.14

story structure inside the DDA area.

Board members on Tuesday finalized the park location, voting 4-3 in favor of directing the architect to work with the library advisory board, library officials, and the parks and recreation board to build the library at Dodge Park V, with a total budget not to exceed $8 million, including architectural and construction fees.

Board members David Law, Robert Long and Rick Sovel voted against the motion.

Construction of the new library will be funded primarily from the township’s library fund, which is underwritten by a 0.30-mill library millage. Additional money is available from the library’s operating millage.

In total, the township has about $8 million available for the construction of a new library.

While the location of the library will be at the park, the exact placement of the building and parking lot won’t be known until after architects conduct design work.

Trustee Long said he would like the library as close to Commerce and S. Commerce roads as possible in order to provide the best visibility. The board also discussed whether deed restrictions on the portions of the land could be lifted by the state legislature.

State Rep. Klint Kesto told the board he believes the restrictions could be lifted, which would allow the building to be placed closer to the roadway.

“The position should be where it is visible,” Long said. “The library could be the seed to help Commerce Village. It’s very important to me that the library is as close to that intersection as possible.”

Wolverine Lake hires part-time officer Former Wolverine Lake Police Officer Bob McGhee retired from the village’s police department after a decade of service, but will return to patrols as a temporary, part-time officer.

The Wolverine Lake Village council on Wednesday, October 8, approved hiring McGhee on a temporary basis to fill in for another officer who will be out for several months on a medical leave, said Wolverine Lake Police Capt. John Ellsworth.

“Not to violate HIPPA, but there will be a larger family when she returns,” Ellsworth said, referencing the reason for the officer’s medical leave. “Our part-time officer is pregnant and will be off for six to

eight months. Officer McGhee retired from our department after 10 years.

He can only work a limited time, so it really works well for both.”

McGhee retired from the department about three years ago.

Under department policy, an officer may work limited hours for the department after retirement. The department has five, full-time officers, including the captain and four patrol officers, as well as three part-time officers and a part-time marine patrol officer.

Byers museum decision on hold An effort to designate Commerce Township’s historic Byers Farmhouse as a museum at the township board of trustees meeting on Tuesday, October 14, was put on hold, as the board sent the issue back to the parks and recreation committee for further discussion and recommendation.

Township supervisor Tom Zoner, on September 22 at a parks and recreation committee meeting, brought up the idea of designating the farmhouse as a museum. By doing so, Byers Farmhouse would

become eligible for additional grants, as well as about $150,000 in the township’s museum fund, which has been collecting interest for nearly two decades.

“I brought it up because they have been talking about it as a museum,” Zoner said. “There is more potential to get grants for restoration as a museum.”

An engineering report by Bud Engineering estimates the farmhouse needs about $30,000 in repairs and improvements in order to make it safe for visitors. Currently, the farmhouse is subject to occupancy restrictions because of problems with the walls and floor. The farmhouse will also require additional work to bring it up to current day code. However, Zoner said even the $30,000 in work prescribed in the engineer’s report won’t make the structure suitable for a museum. That, he said, would take additional work and would expand the use of the house.

Revenue in the township’s museum fund was raised by the township’s former museum committee, which received a grant and held fundraisers to raise funds to construct a museum years ago. The fund currently has about $150,000 to $160,000, Zoner said.

Wolverine Lake to test muck pellets

By Kevin Elliott

ucky bottom areas may become a distant memory in Wolverine Lake if testing of specialized bacteria pellets approved by the Wolverine Lake Village council prove to be an effective treatment.

Council members on Wednesday, October 8, approved a $500 expenditure to use live bacteria pellets to test muck reduction in a controlled area of the lake. The test came at the request of the village’s water management board, which had suggested using the pellets in a canal area to see if it could help reduce mucky sediments from the bottom of the lake.

The pellets utilize specialized bacteria strains that consume muck and organic matter from the bottom of lakes and ponds. The exact type of pellets, location and time they will be used will be determined with the assistance of the village’s lake consultant.

Councilman Ed Sienkiewicz said he felt the pellets should be tested in an area that won’t be disturbed by boaters.

“I don’t think putting it in the canal – whether it works or if it doesn’t work – is right,” he said. “All it takes is one boat to come by and turn its motor around, and it will blow all the loose muck right where it’s been decaying for months. The bottom is suspended muck. I was under the impression we were going to find a place on the lake where nobody goes in or out, or nobody swims.”

Councilman Pat Nagy emphasized the importance of finding a way to measure the amount of mucky sediments on the test area before and after the test, in order to determine the effectiveness of the pellets.

Council members also questioned the timing of the test, and whether it should wait until the spring or summer, rather than only a few months prior to ice developing on the lake.

Council approved the release of $500 for the pellets, with the timing and area to be determined by the lake consultant.

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Janice Leonhardt – a former township employee, parks and recreation committee member and historical society member – said the former committee had “raised an enormous amount of money over the years,” and had some concerns about designating the farmhouse as a museum, as well as using the museum funds.

“Before you convert it into a museum, more homework needs to be done,” she said.

Treasurer Susan Gross also said she wanted to be sure that the farmhouse wasn’t being used as a place to throw the museum money simply because it is in need of restoration.

The board agreed to send the issue back to the parks and recreation committee for further discussion, and requested that Leonhardt take part in some discussions with the committee.

The farmhouse, which was originally constructed prior to 1850, had been used by two generations of the Byers family, according to oral historian Glen Ruggles. The Victorian frame farmhouse was built to replace a log cabin built on the grounds by Abram Walrod, who moved to the area from New York state in 1825.

Last year, the farmhouse underwent an emergency repair when one of the walls of the building separated from the roof. The wall was repaired by installing an aircraft cable above the ceiling to pull the walls and roof back together.

In April, Jim Meenahan, president of the Friends of Byers Homestead, urged the board of trustees to have the township’s engineering consultant look at the farmhouse and barn to determine what work was needed. In July, the township approved hiring Bud Design Services of Grand Blanc, to conduct an assessment of the house. The report did little more than confirm what the township already knew, Zoner said.

At the meeting, the board approved $3,600 in repairs for the south side of the Byers Barn, which wouldn’t be included in the museum designation.

The work, which will be done by Rousseaux’s Excavating, will include removing the dirt from the south side of the barn and creating a swale ditch for water to run east and west.

The contractor will then install a fourinch edge drain and tie into the existing pipe that runs into the river.

The excess dirt on the site will be moved to the south so seed and mulch can be placed in the disrupted areas.

Budget, millage set by township board

By Kevin Elliott

The Commerce Board of Trustees on Tuesday, October 14, unanimously approved the township’s millage rates and budget for 2015, which includes about $6.3 million in general fund revenues and no increases in municipal tax levies.

The budget estimates about $6.3 million in general fund revenues for 2015, slightly higher than the $6.1 million estimated in 2014. Total expenditures from the fund are estimated to be about $6.2 million, which includes more than $3.2 million in contributions from the township to the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to pay down bond debt.

The largest expenditures are from the general fund, including more than $3.2 million in advances from the township to the DDA. The township’s Oakland County Sheriff’s Fund, which is used to pay for police services from the sheriff’s office, includes $4.5 million in revenues and $4.5 million in expenditures, with $27,000 more anticipated in revenues.

The township’s fire fund includes about $3 million in revenues, with about $2.94 budgeted for expenditures.

The third highest number of expenditures outside of the general fund are in the township’s improvement and building fund, which calls for $2.7 million in expenditures in 2015 and estimated revenues of $2.8 million.

The special assessment rate for police services is up from 2.11 mills in 2014. The board set the 2015 special assessment for police services at 2.56 mills. Voters in 2010 approved a special assessment district, which doesn’t include Wolverine Lake Village residents, with a maximum of 2.7 mills. The increase in the police millage is the only increase in millage rates or SAD rates in the 2015 budget. One mill is equal to $1 per $1,000 of the taxable value of a home per year, with the taxable value of a home typically equal to about half the market value of a home.

The 2015 special assessment rate for fire protection services was set at 1.8045 mills. Voters in 2010 approved a special assessment for fire protection services, with a maximum rate of 2.7 mills.

34

Commerce addresses DDA roads, taxes

by Kevin Elliott

A system of private roads will be permitted in the Commerce Downtown Development Authority’s (DDA) project area, and tax-exempt organizations won’t be allowed, under a two measures approved Tuesday, October 14, by the Commerce Township Board of Trustees.

The measures came in the form of two amendments to the Planned Unit Development (PUD) agreement, which guides all development in the project area between M-5 and Richardson Road and between Haggerty and Welch, known as Commerce Towne Place. When complete, the 330acre area is expected to be a mix of residential and business developments, including commercial/retail developments, houses, apartments and a senior living development. The PUD serves as the guiding agreement for the DDA and developers.

Because the mission of the DDA and Commerce Towne Place is to generate tax revenue, the first amendment to the PUD states that, until all bonds sold to finance improvements within the PUD have been repaid, all land in the project area can only be sold for uses that produce capturable taxes. The amendment therefore precludes the DDA and/or future owners from selling the property to non-profits and flipping the property.

The second amendment removes a requirement for public roads to be constructed to the east and west of the current library and township hall roundabouts, and allows for private roads to be constructed.

DDA Director Kathleen Jackson said developers that are seeking to purchase land in the project area prefer private roads because they feel their maintenance standards are higher than those required by the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC). Those standards include snow plowing, street cleaning and pothole/crack repairs. The construction of private roads also means that the township will be able to dictate speed limits, rather than allowing the RCOC to set the speed limits.

Jim Galbraith, representative for M. Shapiro Development, said private roads can be designed so that motorists won’t use subdivisions as a means of bypassing main roadways.

“With a public road, the first thing you think of is someone using it as a cut-through, and that’s the last thing you want coming through this neighborhood,” he said. “We’ll have a softer alignment and be able to narrow the road. And we can bring features closer to the road. It gives us much more flexibility in terms of design.”

Jackson said utilizing private roads will also allow for on-street parking, which is typically discouraged on publicly owned roads.

Additionally, features such as signs, benches and buildings closer to the road “tighten up the edge” of the road and provide for more of a downtown, pedestrian friendly feel, which is one of the goals of the project.

The board unanimously approved both amendments.

The township’s personal property tax levy was set at 1.41 mills, and is expected to generate about $2.4 million for the township’s general fund.

Minor changes to the budget were made prior to approval at Tuesday’s meeting at the motion of trustee Bob Berkheiser. Among the changes was reducing a pay increase from 3 percent to 2 percent for library staff, which is the same as other township employees. Berkheiser also pulled funding for a communications/marketing librarian.

The changes were unanimously approved.

Board approves 2015 DDA budget

By Kevin Elliott

A $5.3 million budget for the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) for 2015, which includes more than $3.2 million in advances from the township to pay for bond debt, was approved by the Commerce Board of Trustees on Tuesday, October 14.

“We are showing a budget without land sales because we have good prospects but we aren’t sure when they are going to close, or if they will

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for sure, so we had to propose a worst case scenario,” said Commerce Township DDA board member Mark Stacey.

While a total of $3.2 million in fund transfers from the township are included in the budget, Stacey said if land sales are finalized next year, that number could decrease or be cancelled.

The approved budget includes total revenues estimated at $1.23 million, which is generated by captured taxes and interest income. Stacey said captured taxes are expected to be down about $136,000 due to changes at the Michigan Tax Tribunal, which is the state’s administrative court that hears tax appeals for all Michigan taxes.

Debt owed by the DDA includes interest and principal payments on bonds used for the $10 million purchase of the former El Dorado Country Club in 2004, and $14 million spent to purchase the Links of Pinewood golf course in 2006 and 2007, as well as 50 acres of Huron Clinton Metropolitan land and contiguous parcels. The goal of the project, north of M-5 between Welch and Haggerty roads, was to enhance the economic stability of the township, to allow for the preservation of open space, and to alleviate traffic congestion with the creation of the Martin Parkway.

About $600,000 in additional expenditures are included in the 2015 budget from the 2014 approved budget, with the majority due to an increase in principal bond debt.

Additional increased expenditures include an additional $7,800 for an administrative assistant for DDA Director Kathleen Jackson; and an additional $75,000 for legal services related to land sales.

Key to repaying the DDA’s debt is the development of a mixed use area that includes commercial and residential developments, named Commerce Towne Place. In 2013, the DDA accepted the first two purchases for portions of the land from developers, including a $5.15 million purchase agreement between the DDA and M. Shapiro Development Company. The DDA accepted an agreement in August 2013 from Hunter Pasteur Homes of Novi to purchase 14.9 acres for $1.04 million for a residential housing development.

“That’s the budget with no land sales,” Stacey said. “As it is now, if we could close on the deals in the next year, that would significantly change.

We think land sales will net us about $9.8 million next year.”

11.14

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35

Lakes Area Youth Assistance

Thank You

to our community and to all the generous contributors for making this a RECORD BREAKING YEAR!!!!!!

2014 “Taste of the Lakes”

Because of your commitment, our mission to strengthen youth and families through volunteer involvement will continue to grow to meet our community’s needs. Thank You!

Date e h t Saveth Annual s

15 e Lake 5 h t f o Taste ber 24, 201 m Septe

Our Gracious Host

Edgewood Country Club

Platinum Sponsor $2,000.00

Team Ashley

Gold Sponsor $1,000.00 Abby Rubenson Cup Commerce Chargers DTE Energy Foundation Republic Services

Silver Sponsors - $500.00

All-City Refrigeration • Basic Rubber & Plastics Co. • Behr-Hella Thermo Control, Inc. • DMC-Huron Valley-Sinai Hospital • Giffels-Webster • Grand Steel Products • Greis Jewelers Integrated Health Care Associates Dr. Park-Davis & Dr. Syed • Kerr Engineering, Inc. • Lakes Area Rotary Club • Dr. Joseph C. Lepak & Dr. Lauryl Lepak-Krumm DDS Muffler’s and More • Michael J. Rygiel- State Farm • Seglund Gabe Quinn Gatti & Pawlak, PLC • Shuman Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram • Valenti Trobec Chandler-Mike Miller Walled Lake Education Association • Walled Lake School Employees Federal Credit Union

Bronze Sponsors - $250.00

Bronze Bearings/Pro-Tec Machine Inc • Dr. Jamie Cramer • Denny & Chris Dewitt • Devany Donigan Eidemiller • Energy Saver Homes • FireClass/FiberClass Insulation Kemp, Klein, Umphrey, Endelman & May Foundation • Herman Klingelhofer • Joe Kucik • Danny Lada Lynch & Sons Funeral Home • Michigan College Funding • Mortgage 1 Inc.-Teri Ciucci Nedrow Refractories Co. • Panther Global Technologies • Pontiac Trial Pharmacy • Powell Engineering, Michael C. Powell • Shelving + Rack Systems, Inc. Spencer Roofing • Squeals Landscaping Inc. • Mark Steinberg-UBS Financial • Tuffy Auto Service Center • Unitex Direct Inc.-Uniforms & Equipment Solutions • Walled Lake Marathon

~Distinguished Participating Restaurants~

2Booli • Applebee’s Neighborhood Grille • Big Tommy’s Parthenon • Bonefish Grill • C.A.Y.A. Smokehouse Grill • CJ’s Brewing Co. • Cold Stone Creamery • Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Edgewood Country Club • Edible Arrangements • Fiesta Fajitas & Margaritas • Great Harvest Bread Co. • Happy’s Pizza • Jet’s Pizza • Nino’s Italian Bakery • Rudy’s Waffle & Pancake House The English Tea Garden • The Melting Pot • Tim Hortons • Toasted Oak Grill & Market • Uptown Grille • Willson’s Pub n’ Grill 95.5 Radio – Mojo in the Morning Agape Salon & Spa All Tire & Auto Service Center Always Sunny American Plastic Toys, Inc. Annie’s Party Shop Aspirant Massage Bay Pointe Tanning Below the Bridge and Above Biff’s Coney Island Body Language Buttercream Bakeshop Buzz Click Photography Camp Bow Wow Carpet One/Modern Floors Cattails Golf Club The Cheesecake Factory Cleveland Cavaliers Clifford Smart Middle School PTSA Commerce Elementary PTA Commerce Village Vet Community Dental of Walled Lake Crosswinds Aviation Dairy Twist Café Davis Iron Works, Inc.

Detroit Zoological Society DQ of Walled Lake Dublin Elementary PTA Dunkin Donuts – Commerce Edgewood Country Club Jane Edson Einstein Bros Bagel Elton Black & Son Funeral Home of White Lake Fathead Fitness 19 Beverly Fitzpatrick Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Four Points Farm G.E.B. Collision, Inc. James R. Geisler Middle School Sandy George Brenda Gile Glengary Elementary PTA Glengary Tavern & Tap Grandby Mold, Inc. Graphik Concepts, Inc. Great Clips Great Lakes Ace Hardware-Union Lake, MI Mary Helen Guest Elementary PTA Hadley’s Towing-Farmington Hills

Generous Contributors

Hands on Stress Management Peggy Hawke The Henry Ford Hickory Woods Elementary PTA Highland House Home Depot – Commerce HomeGoods Donation Department HoMedics Husky Envelope Insite Commercial – Randy Thomas Jasmine Nails & Day Spa Jennifer’s Café Jonstar Keith Elementary PTA Kings Island Paul and Debra Kirkwood Representative Klint Kesto Lakeside Towing Lakeview Market Library Sports Pub & Grill Beverly List Loon Lake Elementary PTA Magpie Oil Change Mainstreet Marketplace Max & Erma’s

The Melting Pot Michigan College Funding Michigan Science Center MTU Hypnosis Muffler’s and More New Bright Quality Toys Oakley Park Elementary PTA Oakland County Medical Examiner’s Office Oakland County Parks Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Office Furniture Solutions O’Reilly Auto Parts Pampered Chef – Kathy Ferguson Park West Gallery PartyLite, Inc.-Angie Klebba-Pesta Paul’s Automotive Penguin Toilets Pepino’s Restaurant & Lounge Marty Perpich Pet Smart-Commerce Plymouth Whalers – Compuware Arena RoJo Mexican Bistro Salon 7 Darlene Sandel Joan Sare

Shark Club Specs eyewear studio Steve & Rocky’s Restaurant Super Car Wash Systems Team Ashley Total Sports Complex Tru Salon Spa Unitex Direct Inc-Uniforms & Equipment Solutions Nancy vanLeuwen Verizon Wireless Shop - Commerce Wags N’ Whiskers Pet Salon Walled Lake Community Education Center Walled Lake Northern PTSA Walnut Creek Middle School PTSA Watkins Flowers WESTEND Whirlyball of Novi Wilson Marine Wixom Elementary PTA Wolverine Lake Party Store Wolverine Lake Police Department Wonderland Lanes Xclusive Tan

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

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

Applebees Neighborhood Grill: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

Backyard Coney Island: American.

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

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

248.669.3322.

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

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

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

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

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

800 N. Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.624.2323.

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

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

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

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

1050 Benstein Road, Walled Lake, 48390. 248.859.5506.

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

248.624.5353.

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

5223 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.674.9464.

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

248.926.5300.

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

7890 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.9045.

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

248.669.5200.

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

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

westendmonthly.com

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

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

248.889.2880.

China King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.363.9966.

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

8115 Richardson Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.366.7979.

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

1001 Welch Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.624.0097.

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

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

248.698.2899.

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

248.363.7000.

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

9595 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386.

248.698.2010.

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

901 Nordick Drive, White Lake, 48383.

248.889.3600.

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

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

248.363.6565.

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

1749 Haggerty Road, Commerce Township, 48390. 248.960.1430.

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

2750 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48323. 248.669.3344.

El Patio Mexican Restaurant: Mexican.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

7622 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327.

248.666.5231.

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

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

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

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

248.960.3888.

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

248.669.7555.

WESTEND

come as you are

C.A.Y.A. THANKSGIVING TO GO 8-10 People $150 Meal includes:

12-15 People $225 Meal includes:

18-20 People $300 Meal includes:

The west Oakland area is filled with discriminating diners and an array of dining establishments. Make sure the message for your restaurant reaches the right market in the right publication—Westend.

Contact Heather Marquis for advertising rate information.

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

37

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38

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

6636 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.363.3322.

Green Apple Restaurant: American.

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

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

248.926.1100.

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

248.666.8830.

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

248.887.4161.

Highland House Café: American, Pizza.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

10719 Highland Road, White Lake, 48386. 248.698.4100.

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

248.673.7200.

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

248.360.4150.

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

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

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

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

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

248.669.8896.

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

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

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

248.960.5700.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

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

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

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

248.366.8360.

Leo’s Coney Island: American/Greek.

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

Leon’s Food & Spirits: American.

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

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

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

248.674.2251.

Lulu’s Coney Island: Greek. Breakfast,

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

1001 Welch Road, Walled Lake, 48390.

248.669.1937.

Maria’s Restaurant: Italian. Dinner, daily.

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

248.851.2500.

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

248.666.3460.

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

248.926.2190.

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

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

248.363.1162.

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

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

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

5175 Highland Road, Waterford, 48327. 248.618.0617.

Pepino’s Restaurant & Lounge: Italian.

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

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

248.682.5146.

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

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

Rudy’s Waffle House: American.

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

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

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

248.666.4161.

SIAM Fushion: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

248.887.1300.

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

WESTEND

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

248.960.0009.

Socialight Cigar Bar & Bistro: American.

Lunch & Dinner daily. Reservations.

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

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

Sweet Water Bar & Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

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

248.926.1980.

Thai Kitchen: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

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

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

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

248.366.3311.

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

6363 Haggerty Road, West Bloomfield, 48322. 248.896.0333.

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

248.363.3388.

Ultimate Sports Bar Grille: American.

Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

248.960.7771.

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

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

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

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

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.

11.14

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FACES

Nick Martin rom a world that relies heavily on technology to a place where it barely exists, Nick Martin backpacked 20 miles through the wilderness of the Colorado Rocky Mountains for five arduous days.

“To be honest, I was pretty excited,” he said. “But it’s harder than you think. You can be the most fit person and then you go up to 10,000 and 20,000 altitudes. You have to have some motivation to keep going.”

Through a Central Michigan University honors course, Martin conquered the wilderness hike with 40 pounds on his back and a wealth of survival tools. The “Leave No Trace” motto for backpackers was strongly emphasized and executed by the group of 13. Martin learned how to leave little or no sign of his trek through the mountains. From using the bathroom to hanging his food away from the campsite to avoid a bear encounter, the Leave No Trace technique is essential for the safety of both the backpackers and the wildlife.

“Use (Leave No Trace) or get yourself in a bad situation,” Martin said. “We were trained to minimize damage while out there and, should there be a problem, what is the nearest point out to civilization.”

Martin was instructed on how to pack appropriately to minimize the need to use survival tactics.

“We learned what’s feasible to carry. Every bit of weight counts,” he said. “We learned how to set up a tent in case a storm is coming in. We learned to plan ahead and be prepared.”

Jordan Bruursema and Bob Dvorak, instructors of the course, accompanied the students on their journey to the desolate region of the Rocky Mountains. The teachers coached the students on how to handle any situation, from encountering wild animals to fire safety, but once the group hit the trail, the students were in charge.

“They let us lead. They were there to make sure we’re not going to get in trouble and die out there.”

The young outdoorsman is working toward an information systems degree at CMU, but for nearly a week the technology guru left all electronics behind.

“For me, it is interesting to get away from it all,” he said. “The biggest thing is you feel so disconnected from everything. It can be a good and a bad thing. The lack of being able to talk to people at home can wear on you, but the simplicity of nature really makes giving up that technology for a week worth it. It really helps you figure out what you want and who you want to be in your life.”

For the Commerce native, the opportunity to test his ability to survive in the wilderness is an experience he said he will carry with him throughout his life.

“You get to know everyone on the team. Not just face value,” he said. “That kind of trip, you really have to learn to work as a team and build those relationships. I don’t think you can learn that in any classroom.”

F

Story: Katey Meisner

Photo: Jean Lannen

BUSINESS MATTERS Wine & Spirits Discount Center

Salvation Army moves The Salvation Army Walled Lake Thrift Store, 1154 E. West. Maple, in Walled Lake, has moved to a larger location at 730 N. Pontiac Trail, in Walled Lake. The new location will expand the available space from about 24,000 square feet to more than 44,000 square feet at the Pontiac Trail location. The new thrift store, which is at the site of a former Farmer Jack grocery store, opened on October 25.

The store replaces the 24,341-square foot building in the Maple Plaza that has been in operation since October of 2001.

New pharmacy owner Lakes Discount Pharmacy, located at 2300 Haggerty Road, Suite 1070, in West Bloomfield, formerly named Lakes Professional Pharmacy, is operating under new ownership.

Pharmacist Chris Roos, owner of the pharmacy, said the business is a small neighborhood drugstore offering traditional prescription services, quality products and friendly service. Prior to taking over the Lakes Discount Pharmacy location, Roos had owned several Jan’s Discount Pharmacy locations, including two in Detroit. The new location is slightly less than 1,000 square-feet, and located inside the Lakes Professional Building, which houses several medical offices.

However, the main reason Roos said he chose the West Bloomfield location is its proximity to his own home. “It’s only five miles from my house,” he said. “Basically, we are a small apothecary. We tried to update the store, and we offer more minor pharmaceuticals and a light array of over-the-counter items, as well as pop and chips, and stuff like that.”

Jeweler retiring Dale Uranis has been designing jewelry for decades, but after 30 years in business he has decided to retire and close Dale’s Custom Jewelry and Repair, 933 N. Pontiac Trail, in Walled Lake. “I’m 71, and it’s about time to do some fishing,” Uranis said.

“The last day of business is Halloween. We are going to dress up, and that will be the last day of business. I have to try to find something to do with all the stuff.”

Uranis said he is trying to find a new home for his equipment, one where he hopes that a new generation of jewelers will learn the craft. Uranis said he would like to mentor someone who wants to learn, much the way he first got interested in jewel crafting. westendmonthly.com

“My cousin taught me how to cut stones about 50 years ago,” he said.

“I couldn’t find enough mountings, so I started doing my own.” From there, Uranis purchased the casting machine he has used at his own shop for three decades, and started learning the trade on his own. “I started reading books, and actually taught myself,” he said. One of the first pieces of jewelry he created was for Dunkin Donuts, which included a silver baker boy with a tray of donuts.

Another commission was for the cast of the play Nicholas Nickleby at Wayne State University. “I did charms for everyone on the cast, and I did those in silver, years ago,” he said.

Another original mold he carved was a dog with 14-inch ears, as well as the charm he wears around his own neck of his 45-caliber handgun. “I used to love to do that stuff,” he said of carving custom molds. “Usually I would do them on my day off.” Once he ties up all the loose ends at the shop, Dale said he looks forward to fishing on Wolverine Lake, and hunting and spending time with his 3-year-old Golden Retriever. Of course, he’ll also spend time with his wife, Carol, with whom he has run the store for the past 30 years, albeit, slightly less time since he will be out fishing more. “It’s just the two of us,” he said about the staff at the store.

“We’ve been married for 51 years, and we enjoy each other’s company and work together every day.”

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Pain reliever for patients Ropp Orthopedic Clinic located at 2075 E. West Maple Rd., Suite B207, in Commerce Township, has recently installed a new Hi-Fidelity Prosthetic Interface system to help reduce or eliminate prosthetic pain for patients.

The system is the first of its kind in Michigan, and the most biomechanically advanced socket system in the world, according to the clinic. “This is the latest in socket design technology for amputees, and I’m proud to offer it in my practice,” said Jeffrey Ropp, CP and president of the clinic. Unlike traditional sockets that simply fit the periphery of the limb, the new interface system captures and controls the residual femur, and allows for increased stability, range of motion, energy efficiency, performance, comfort and control. Ropp Orthopedic Clinic provides a full range of services for amputees and other physically challenged adults and children.

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ENDNOTE

A downtown begins its rise in Commerce early a decade of planning by the Commerce Township Downtown Development Authority (DDA) to create a downtown area for the township took a major step forward on Tuesday, October 21, when the plans for an outdoor lifestyle center were announced. We want to applaud the DDA for bringing about the lynchpin of what will become Commerce’s downtown.

The announcement, which was made by members of the DDA board and executives from commercial real estate development firm Robert B. Aikens and Associates, signifies the largest development for the 330-acre DDA project area, known as Commerce Towne Place. Described as an outdoor “town-scape” that will be about three times the size of Aikens’ Village of Rochester Hills development, this development will serve as the foundation for the township’s planned downtown project.

Aikens, which has offered the DDA about $10.5 million for more than 20-acres of land in the project area, plans to build an open-air, walkable shopping center that will serve as a retail destination spot for western Oakland County, as well as a community meeting place, according to Bruce Aikens, the company’s vice chair. The intent, Aikens said, is to develop a spot that would rival places like Rochester or Birmingham, as well as other places that leverage their “Main Street” characteristics to draw shoppers and visitors to their locales.

Since its inception, the DDA’s vision was to create a downtown area on two former golf courses and park land located north of M-5 and

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Pontiac Trail, between Welch and Haggerty roads.

Beginning in 2003, the DDA began acquiring land in the area, in part to relieve traffic congestion, as well as enhance the long-term economic stability of the township and preserve 125-acres of open space on the property. Since that time, the DDA has faced and overcome several obstacles to the development, including push back from some residents in the area and some trustees, as well as a massive downturn in the economy in 2007 that stalled land sales in the project area for years.

While the DDA was able to complete the construction of Martin Parkway, the first purchase offer for developable land in the area wasn’t made until 2013, when M. Shapiro Development Company offered $5.15 million for 60-acres of land to build about 400 stacked ranches and/or townhouses. Additional parcels have since been sold or are currently under contract for residential developments, as well as an agreement for a senior housing and assisted living development.

However, the major retail development needed to anchor the entire project area had remained unsecured until the October 21 announcement.

The original vision that the DDA had for the area was for a comprehensive development which offers a “healthy, comfortable environment for young and old to learn, shop, work, dine and recreate and life to its fullest in the 21st Century,” according to DDA Director Kathleen C. Jackson.

As part of that initiative, Aikens will seek to gather shops, restaurants, entertainment venues and lifestyle services in an architecturally rich outdoor town-scape that takes full advantage of

the natural elements and incorporates artful and interactive public spaces, she said.

The announcement of Aikens company’s involvement in the DDA project area is good news. Aikens, which was founded more than 40 years ago, has built a solid reputation for success by anticipating shopping trends. The company has developed successful shopping centers across the midwest and southern United States. From regional malls and lifestyle centers in Louisiana, Florida and Michigan, to strip centers and office buildings, Aikens has a proven history of developing projects that invigorate communities.

For residents and township officials who have had difficulty conceptualizing the DDA’s vision for a walkable, self-sustaining downtown for the township, the Aikens development provides a glimpse of the future. That hopefully is a future that includes a Commerce Township downtown area that competes with and rivals more traditional local downtowns, such as Milford, Plymouth or other Main Street communities.

Further, we have always felt that the development of a new downtown area in the township offers the community an advantage over older downtown areas in Oakland County and elsewhere. While many older communities are now adding developments to their downtown areas to entice residents of all ages to inhabit their communities, Commerce Towne Place presents a unique opportunity to develop the community from square one. Aikens’ towns-scape offers the DDA the added certainty, now that the the retail anchor of the project has been secured, to move forward with clarity.

Accountability, transparency for the DIA he decision by leadership at the Detroit Institute of Arts to provide retroactive raises to its two top executives just as the Detroit bankruptcy trial was reaching its closing arguments not only was a tone deaf move, it showed that those running the museum may be out of touch with those who continue to support the museum, many of whom are from Oakland County.

For about fifteen months, since Detroit emergency manager Kevin Orr filed for bankruptcy protection for the city of Detroit, the topic of selling the DIA’s valuable and treasured art collection has been front and center, and quite controversial. It is a topic that has created an uproar from not only art corners, but city and state officials, and its protection has been strongly supported by Oakland County commissioners.

Originally, several city creditors wanted to sell DIA artwork, allegedly worth millions, to satisfy the debt. A deal, known as the “grand bargain” bankruptcy deal, approved by the Michigan legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Snyder, as well as the Detroit City Council, where the state will send $195 million to Detroit to offset pension cuts to retirees, and the DIA and philanthropic

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foundations have pledged $466 million to protect the prized art work. Unions, bond insurers and other creditors have all signed off on the deal, and the deal is now awaiting final judgement by U.S bankruptcy judge Steven Rhodes, anticipated to be rendered the first week of November.

What has become controversial is that amidst this financial quandary, during the bankruptcy trial, the board of the DIA deemed it an ideal time to bestow retroactive raises upon its two top executives, back dated to 2012. DIA Director Graham Beal received a 13 percent raise, increasing his salary to $514,000 annually, and executive vice president Annmarie Erickson received a 36 percent salary increase, to $369,000. Each raise also included a $50,000 bonus.

Per a 2012 approved tri-county millage, the Oakland County Arts Authority each year collects $11 million for the DIA to help keep its doors open. Oakland County commissioners came out in favor of the millage in 2012 – but many commissioners, both Democrats and Republicans, are now appalled at the insensitivity at the raises given. We are as well.

We’re not in a position to evaluate whether or

not Beal and Erickson have earned their raises; but when an institution, such as the DIA, is at the center of a financial maelstrom, it shows a lack of sensitivity and accountability to those who are contributing to their salaries – the taxpayers of Oakland County. Eugene Gargaro, DIA board chairman, stated that in the future no bonuses or raises will be given out unless the money is first approved by the Oakland County Arts Authority and the authorities from Wayne and Macomb counties. He said it is part of the museum’s effort to be more transparent and accountable on how funds are being managed.

That is an important part of the process towards transparency and full oversight. While some county commissioners advocated ending the county’s millage support in light of the raises, we think that would be throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The grand bargain came about, as did the millage, because of the importance of maintaining and protecting the museum for future generations.

Let’s hope the DIA gains the wisdom it needs to conquer this latest problem and learns to work in full partnership with the community which supports it.

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