The Paper - October 2010 by Kingsett

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Bloomfield Hills Waterfront Setting

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City of Bloomfield Hills

East coast style classic ... rebuilt in 2005. Formal rooms with contemporary conveniences compliment the flow and function of this “perfect” property. Walk to Cranbrook Educational Community. $2,099,000

Designer Perfect New Construction

In the City of Bloomfield. First floor master suite with private access to formal library. All bedroom suites with marble baths. 4 car garage. Dual staircases. Turn key! $1,895,000

Bloomfield Hills Masterpiece

Look no further for that newer construction, custom designed, classic home. Dual owners suites. Finished lower level media, wet bar, exercise room and wine cellar. Heated 4 car garage. $1,698,700

LD O S Orchard Lake Newer Construction

With almost 9,000 sq. ft. of living on all 4 floors. Six plus bedrooms. Finished walkout with second kitchen. Sunset views. Bloomfield Hills schools. $1,650,000

Quarton Lake Landmark Home

This seven bedroom home is situated on an almost double lot. Classic design with contemporary conveniences. Kitchen opens to family room. Butler’s pantry. 3 car garage. $945,000

Executive Home on Private Street

Neutral décor with granite kitchen that opens to 2 story great room. Judge’s library. Large bedrooms and master suite, 4 car garage. $629,000

New Construction in City of Bloomfield

Custom details include “Kitchen Studio’s kitchen, 5 fireplaces, all bedroom suites with marble baths, designer flooring and millwork throughout. Dual staircases, 4 car garage. $1,595,000

Bloomfield Hills Lakefront

On an almost one acre setting with panoramic views of water. Newer construction designed for entertaining. Finished walkout lower level with bar and rec room. Bloomfield Hills $1,549,000 schools.

Classic Bloomfield Hills Estate Home

On almost 2 acres. Completely remodeled in 2005. Elegant yet incorporating today’s contemporary conveniences. Five plus car garage. $699,000

All-Sports Pine Lake

Lakefront home with walkout lower level. Southwest facing. Long deep lot. Ideal recreational opportunity or build your dream home. A great destination location. $599,000

Bloomfield Hills Gated Community

City of Bloomfield Hills Waterfront

New Construction in Birmingham

Orchard Lake Lakefront

Large executive home with hardwood floors throughout. Kitchen opens to family room. Formal library. Finished walkout lower level rec room with bar and pool. $989,000

Millcreek Builders new construction. Complete with 5 bedrooms. Kitchen opens to family room. An owners suite like “The Ritz”. Walk to schools. 3 car garage. $690,000

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On rolling acreage. Private cul-de-sac setting. Ranch style with open floor plan and walkout lower level. Separate guest accommodations. $949,000

Condo alterative living. Partially furnished. Completely updated. Finished lower level. 4 car garage. One plus acre. Quiet cul-de-sac street. $689,000

City of Bloomfield Hills

With first floor master suite. Kitchen with eatin, workstation and access to patio. Library. Walk to Bloomfield Hills Country Club. Preferred site condo. $559,000

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West Bloomfield California Style

Contemporary with custom details throughout. Formal library. Family room with bar. Master with dual closets. $439,000

Franklin Community

Build you own estate home in the heart of Franklin on 1.73 acres corner lot. Surrounded by multi-million dollar homes. $399,000

City of Bloomfield Hills

Rare ranch style detached condo. Large kitchen with deck. Living room with fireplace. Dining room. Library. Finished walkout lower level. $397,000

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Birmingham Renovation Ranch

Updated kitchen opens to great room with fireplace. Perfect condo alternative with low maintenance. In quiet neighborhood. $139,000

■ inside / october ■ 6: MAIL BAG Richard Rosenbaum; Neil Stoloff; Colleen Zemantis; Cara McAlister; Joan G. Berndt; and many more

■ 21: CRIME MAP A locator guide to specific categories of crime in the local area

■ SNAPSHOTS ■ 19: Michael and Leah Warren ■ 27: Elmore Leonard ■ 41: Grace Kowalski ■ 30: Richard Hobson ■ 52: Bill McElhone

■ 33: COUNTY Sosnick tapped for ‘Tea Party’ probe

■ 35: EDUCATION Selection of firms for high school project delayed; Administration building on the market

■ 37: STATE Johnson gets GOP nod; Tax breaks proposed

■ 39: BUSINESS NOTES Coldwell Banker Weir Mutual; Powerhouse Birmingham; Wireless Network; Fredrick Jewelers; Zuma Coffee House; The Gallery Restaurant; Russell Hardware Company; Sam and Lola’s; Cardiology and Vascular Associates; Birmingham Geek; Papa Romano’s; Zazio’s

■ 42: EATING OUT A directory of places where you can dine out

■ 45: MUNICIPAL

■ 12

ART AS INVESTMENT VEHICLES

People have always decorated their homes and businesses with art. In a tough economy, many would think that wouldn’t bode well for galleries and dealers. You might want to rethink that assumption.

9/11 steel study; Transit center plans; New bistro ordinance; Medical marijuana public hearing; medical marijuana ordinance; Day program gets eviction reprieve; Barnum Park panel formed

■ 50: SOCIAL SCENE Virtuoso Salon holds Fashion’s Night Out fundraiser

■ 53: THE COMMUNITY HOUSE The President and CEO of The Community House, Shelley Roberts, on the Classical Brunch and more

■ 54: FINAL WORD Medical marijuana law; Tax breaks for businesses

■ OUR COVER

■ 23: LANSING AND ITS OTHER INFLUENCE PEDDLERS

■ 31: THE WHEELS ON THE BUS GO ROUND AND ROUND

A look at state lobbying regulations and requirements, as well as how politicos perceive the sometimes maligned issue-influencers.

How school districts and private schools in Birmingham and Bloomfield fared on their annual bus inspections.

THE PAPER

The offensive and defensive lines of the Birmingham Seaholm and Bloomfield Hills Lahser varsity football teams, respectively, faced off on Sept. 10. Cover art and photography by Amy K. Lockard.

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■ mail bag First-time BHS ‘no’ vote Mystified by omission From Richard Rosenbaum, Bloomfield Hills: For the first time in 42 years, I will be voting no for a Bloomfield Hills School District millage proposal. Here are a few of the many reasons. First, I support the idea of one consolidated high school because of the declining enrollment trends, but am totally against the $100-million project that will involve the demolition of Andover High School and the present Board of Education administrative office building, as well as the construction of a new high school and a new Board of Education administration building. The proposed Somerset-type pedestrian bridge over Andover Road to connect the two new buildings is the last straw. The board has already decided that Lahser students will be combined with those at Andover. Now it can use the $32 million that it has in hand to build the necessary new classrooms at Andover to accommodate the incoming Lahser students. Second,the Model School and the Alternative School should be areas within the one Bloomfield Hills High School building. The International Academy should move to the vacated Lahser building. Two out of three Bloomfield applicants — our best and brightest — to the International Academy now can’t get in this school because of lack of space. There should be two high school principals, custodians, librarians and cafeteria managers in Bloomfield Hills, not five. The third is salaries. Superintendent Glass at $180,000 earns more than Gov. Granholm at $180,000. Former Superintendent Gaynor, at $205,000 plus $21,000 in fringes, earned more than the U.S. Secretary of Education at $196,000 or a Supreme Court Justice at $208,000. The district has three middle school principals each earning about $125,000. This is an absurdity. Professionals, like teachers and physicians, at a school or a hospital should earn more than the administrators. Finally, put our scarce financial resourcesinto programs and more qualified teachers, not bricks and mortar. Wasting money on a new high school with luxuries sends the wrong signals to the students, especially in these harsh economic times. How many of our American-born Bloomfield Hills graduates can speak a foreign language? All of our students should master a foreign language and also be encouraged to study a musical instrument for several years. ■

From Neil Stoloff, Bloomfield: There was a glaring omission from The Paper’s recent list of “stand-out” pizzerias in the area: Tomatoes Apizza on 14 Mile Road east of Middlebelt. I realize many fine pizzerias had to be excluded from such a list, but Tomatoes is a special case. Last year, GQ magazine published a list of the 25 best pizzas on earth, and Tomatoes Apizza made the cut. The Detroit News called it “pure perfection.” They have the only coalfired pizza oven in the area, and indeed one of only a few anywhere in the country. The restaurant’s owner, Mike Weinstein, is a gourmet chef who chose to specialize in pizza after convincing one of the world’s masters to share his knowledge. His quirky criteria for hiring staff apparently emphasizes affability and attention to detail. It all adds up to a unique dining experience. I’m just one of many regulars. I am mystified. How could you not include among the area’s standouts, the only pizza in the area to be named one of the best in the world? ■

High school needed From Colleen Zemantis, Bloomfield Hills: While Bloomfield 20/20-2010 is a vocal group I definitely believe it is not representative of the majority of the district, nor looking out for the best interest of the students or the taxpayers involved. Bloomfield Hills Schools have educated my four children and they graduated with the ability to excel in ranked vniversities in 4 states. The fact that the BHSD has been able to maintain the high level of education and stay fiscally responsible with the drop in enrollment (which was expected) and the current economic climate (not expected) shows a great deal of forethought and dedication on the part of the school board and the district employees. Today’s education must include technology to a degree the present schools were not built to sustain. Also, the competition the district is facing from other school districts who are enticing students is great. Most districts that have the same level of housing have new schools and those looking to move are taking that into account when they purchase. This does not even deal with the cost to repair our dated facilities. For the education level to be maintained, as well as our housing values to be sustained, we need to have a new school built. This has been in discussion for years and the

THE PAPER

time is imperative. The fact that we can do this without a tax increase is amazing! As a taxpayer, homeowner and parent of former BHSD students, I am excited about the present building plans and look forward to the passage of the millage renewal in November so we can move ahead and finish this needed project. I know most of my neighbors and friends feel the same. ■

Why go into debt? From Cara McAlister, Bloomfield Hills: To the Bloomfield Hills School Board: please focus on education, not building elaborate building complexes. Try to become competitive with the private schools, International Academy and Cranbrook by offering a more challenging curriculum, taught by inspired educators with the latest training in relevant, real world subjects to prepare our students for the changing real world. Offer more subjects. Specialize in new technology related classes. Hire more teachers so we have smaller class sizes. Use your imagination and your PhDs in education. Stop focusing on elaborate building schemes and stop asking us to trade our short-term, fixed rate millage for a 30-year, variable rate millage that could cause our taxes to increase as our home values decrease. Don’t ruin the advantage we’ve had in Bloomfield for years — spending more per student than others, with relatively lower taxes and less use of our buildings than others. Taxpayers, notice what the private schools do. They focus on curriculum to prepare students to excel in college and real life, not on showy, huge building complexes. Young adults: register to vote by Friday, Oct. 1, in person, to request an absentee ballot. You can register even if you are not 18 years old until Nov. 2. Join with your parents to vote “no” and “no” to two new taxes that we don’t need on Nov. 2. We have at least $32 million with which to renovate a high school now. Why go into debt? ■

We owe it to our kids From Joan G. Berndt, Bloomfield Hills: This is a specific response to Cara McAlister (“‘No’ on mega school”), whose letter appeared in the September issue of The Paper. First, do not confuse projected budget deficits (instructional monies) with capital outlay project monies. Second, to have spent money on “final building plans” for Page 8 ❯ OCTOBER 2010

MY PASSPORT DOESN’T SAY

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■ mail bag ❯ Page 6 residents to see would be

wasting a lot of tax dollars if the voters reject the renewal of the two millage questions. Then you folks would be screaming about wasting money and lack of fiscal responsibility, etc. Third, the previous transportation study to which Ms. McAlister refers is no longer valid because along with this new high school proposal comes one to alleviate the transportation congestion by extending Franklin Road south of Long Lake, providing another access to a new building. Fourth, it is hard to convince folks who have been brainwashed by the “small school theory” that a 1,200- to 1,400-student high school offers more opportunities, not less, for all students. More students allow for more sections of classes, for more variety of classes, for more opportunities to take courses which are currently unavailable at Andover and Lahser, without students having to be bused back and forth to the school which provides the class he or she needs. Talk about a waste of educational time and taxpayer money! A large school can accommodate many levels of band, orchestra, choir; it can offer many different opportunities in drama, speech, even dance. The chances for TV and radio participation and production are increased, especially with all of it now in one geographic location. More experiences in the visual arts will be possible because, again, there will be more students to fill up the classes. More foreign language, AP and specialized technological classes can be available. And as for sports (please don’t let the tail wag the dog here) more sports not currently offered can be a reality and more JV opportunities can be extended. Remember, you do need a considerable number of students to make all this work. Fifth, the writer states that “Birmingham has never asked its residents to approve a mega school.” Not true. I grew up in Bloomfield Township, but in the Birmingham School District. In the early 1950s some BPS taxpayers were all fired up because the Board of Education had purchased land out “in the boonies” to build a big, modern, state-of-theart brand new high school. Baldwin might be falling apart, but it “was downtown where it belonged.” Birmingham High School (which became Seaholm) was opposed by the same sort of residents who lacked a vision for the future as those who now oppose the new Bloomfield Hills High School. Needless to say, the negative naysayers were outvoted, BHS opened in 8

1952, the community was delighted, and the students were well served by a beautiful new building which offered so much more to support the outstanding educational program. Not only that, because it was “ahead of its time” it attracted many new families to the BPS district and brought several students back to our public schools from private schools in the area. Finally, Ms. McAlister states that “curriculum, instructional techniques and technology need to be updated constantly.” May I also suggest that the buildings which must supply the venue for updated technology also need the means to offer that technology. A point comes when renovating an old building is far more expensive, not only in dollars, but in community property value issues, and school district marketing advantages, than building a 21st century high school. Let us not deceive ourselves and “throw good money after bad,” as the old saying goes. I urge the Bloomfield Hills School District taxpayers, especially including those of us who are senior citizens (because we are a very large voting block) to vote YES on both millage issues. We owe it to our kids, our community, our future. ■

Proposal is folly No. 3 From Linda Ulrey, Bloomfield Hills: Sky bridges? Big new administration buildings? Seventy-three million dollars in taxpayer money and with interest over 30 years, nearly $300 million? So this is what our Board of Education in Bloomfield Hills has been up to again? Haven’t they learned anything? Twice before, taxpayers have defeated mega school proposals but the board’s wish list only grows with unrealistic and overthe-top proposals. This school board continues to make decisions in isolation, excludes the community and residents from any meaningful dialogue. The BHS board continues to waste time, opportunity and dollars pursuing their pipe dreams. Here we go again with Gaynor’s folly No. 3. ■

Harmful weir impacts From David Richter, Bloomfield Hills: Today I learned about “the weir” — a small overflow-type dam commonly used to raise the level of a river or stream, according to Wikipedia, and some of its harmful impacts on our local environment. It was constructed over 50 years ago to help control lake levels on a few of our local lakes and until a reconstruction or improvement 2 years ago it always allowed some flow.

Since that reconstruction, the Rouge River tributary through the Johnson Nature Center will sometimes flood and sometimes dry up and stop, and the culvert nearby on Club Drive required extensive rebuilding last summer that closed Franklin Road for much of the summer. Who knows what other impacts this obstruction has caused? I think this is very worthy of some local investigative journalism. ■

Take ‘no’ for an answer From John F. Boyle, Bloomfield Hills: On Frank Beckman’s radio program, BHSD’s Superintendent Rob Glass was asked by Frank what was the necessity for eliminating two fully-functioning Bloomfield Hills high schools to be replaced by a new $100 million mega complex. Glass’s main argument was that, as enrollment declined at both Andover and Lahser high schools, reducing their attendance to around 800 students each, at that level it would be impossible for the district to offer a fullrange academic and arts curriculum at both sites. A school population of over 1,000 in each building is required, he stated. This claim must come as a complete surprise to the parents of the 795 tuition-paying students at the world-renowned Cranbrook Kingwood Schools. These parents pay $26,450 dollars a year to not have their children, grades 9 through 12, housed in a mega-complex facility. One of the other arguments advanced by the BHSD’s board in yet this third try at selling a mega-complex high school, while acknowledging declining student enrollment, is that the resultant over-capacity in the near future will attract out-ofdistrict, non-resident students, to attend our schools on a tuition basis. For that, we are expected to go into hock for the next 30 years. How are we to believe the cost and savings estimates bandied about by the board when there are no firm plans available to be examined? When we taxpayers approved in 2004 the extra $5 million a year, 10year sinking fund, to be dedicated to maintaining and upgrading our schools, the board then at its April 11, 2006 meeting all signed a formal resolution, the first item of which stated: “The Board of Education will maintain the Andover and Lahser High School facilities at their current respective campuses.” When will the BHSD board take “No” for an answer and do what the voters authorized and the board promised? ■

THE PAPER

Support library proposal From Homa Hasnain, Bloomfield Hills: I am writing this letter after reading (an article) about the library issue for Bloomfield Hills residents. We moved to Bloomfield Hills last year after buying a house here because of the great school district. It was a shock to find out that we do not have borrowing privileges at the Bloomfield Township Public Library or the Baldwin Public Library, even though our 9-year-old daughter is a student in the Birmingham School District. Without the full use of a high-quality library it is hard to provide an excellent education for our children. We have become so disheartened with this issue that we do not advise any family or friends to buy a house in Bloomfield Hills as education for us and our future generation is our priority. We fully support Larry Neal’s proposal 100%. ■

New school a mistake From John A. Kaichen, Bloomfield Hills: We taxpayers in the Bloomfield Hills School District are being asked to approve two taxes on Nov. 2. They want us to pay for a fancydancy high school, jamming together all students from both Lahser and Andover high schools into one new school. That’s a mistake. Vote no! ■

‘Yes’ on library millage From Marilyn Mast, Bloomfield Hills: A recent article in The Paper has described the efforts to obtain library services for residents of the City of Bloomfield Hills. With the collapse of the former contract with the Bloomfield Township Library, and the predicted closing of the Troy Public Library, residents who wish to have library services seem to have nowhere to turn. A resident of the city, Larry Neal, has proposed a ballot question for a millage to fund a Library Board to investigate and pay for library services, whether through founding our own library or purchasing services from a nearby facility, such as Bloomfield Township Library or Baldwin Public Library. As a resident of the city myself, I support this millage. The City of Bloomfield Hills is recognized nationwide as one of the premier residential locations in the country. In order to maintain high property values, good library services are a must, along with good schools. An appointed, and later Page 9 ❯ OCTOBER 2010

❯ Page 8 elected, Library Board for

the city makes good sense to me. I urge fellow residents of the City of Bloomfield Hills to vote for this millage in November. ■

Keep quality education From Ann Bieneman: The two high schools in Bloomfield Hills are going to be consolidated onto a single site. Regardless of the decision to renovate the current building or build a new building, the Board of Education needs to hire facilitation, planning, design and construction firms to get the job done. The board is following a procedure that is open, public and inclusive to decide which firms will contribute to this project. The district is moving forward at a steady pace to ensure we have facilities in place for the students in our district. This process must take place regardless of the success of the Nov. 2 millage proposals. This RFP (request for proposal) process is entirely separate from the Nov. 2 millage issue. Bloomfield NOW supports the construction of a new high school facility. Educational strategies, technology, and funding laws have changed significantly since the Andover building was built. Today’s classrooms are larger to allow for group work. Technology that is essential to education in today’s world was beyond the dreams of the architects of the existing building. Our view of a safe layout for a school building has changed in the last decade. Perhaps most importantly, under Proposal A, utility and maintenance costs come out of the district’s precious, state-limited operational budget. A more efficient modern building allows us to devote as much operational money as possible to our instructional budget. Greater building efficiency is directly related to the quality of instruction we can afford. The bond proposal and sinking fund renewal combined will maintain the current tax rate for Bloomfield residents. This millage rate is the third-lowest levied by Oakland County school districts, exceeding only those in Pontiac and Farmington. By approving it, we maintain the high level of educational quality that brings families to Bloomfield Hills. ■

Time to move forward From Mary Belden, West Bloomfield: I moved to this area with my family in 2003. When we decided where we wanted to live in the metro area, the quality of the public schools was our No. 1 priority. As a result, we chose the Bloomfield Hills district. www.oaklandpaper.com

Ever since then, the district has been embroiled in a controversy over what to do about their aged high schools. I can’t count the number of meetings, public forums, workshops and focus groups that have been held to resolve this issue — all open to anyone who chose to participate. We have a highly capable, elected school board. We have an awardwinning school district administration. We continue to turn out some of the best-prepared high school graduates in the state. (I am the proud parent of one such grad, and will, in two years, be equally proud of another!) Our school board has decided we need to merge our two high schools and create one new upto-date facility. I agree. My own children will not benefit, but many, many more students coming after them will. Our high schools are thoroughly outdated. Our funds are severely limited. The time for action is upon us. We can resolve this issue with no increase in our tax burden, and save millions of dollars in operating costs at the same time! If we fail to do this, our property values and the education of future district children will be compromised. I will be voting yes and yes on the November ballot, and encourage all my neighbors to do so as well. It’s time for Bloomfield to support our children by providing the physical facilities they deserve, instead of requiring them to succeed in spite of our current outdated high schools. We’ve discussed this to death – it’s time to move forward! ■

Board squelched trust From J.S. Roach, Bloomfield Hills: On Aug. 19 in their study session, the Bloomfield Hills School District revealed it would cost about $5 million to formulate specific plans to establish the amount of money needed to remodel or build a new high school at the Andover site to serve the total high school population of the Bloomfield Hills School District. The district, belatedly, has issued three purchase requests to architects and consultants to assist in developing those specifications. Output from that exercise, plans for the high school project, including cost estimates, will not be available until after the Nov. 2 election. In the meantime, the Board of Education passed a resolution to place questions on the November ballot to establish a new level of taxation for the sinking fund and a new general obligation unlimited tax bond (to partially finance the construction of the buildings called for by that undeveloped plan). The finance plan

calls for funding approximately $100 million by a combination of retained taxes (unspent, but collected) and the new, 30-year debt obligation for $73,025,000. We were told the planning will go forward regardless of the outcome of the Nov. 2 millage proposal. Apparently, Plan B is to ask again after the district knows what it “needs.” Taxpayers are being asked to approve a spending level acknowledged to be “on the high end.” Contrary to our prior experience, the board wants taxpayers to trust this local unit of government not to collect authorized taxes it does not need — trust that has been squelched by their non-inclusive, imperious style of governance. Vote no. Any questions? ■

Failed to do homework From Erik Winkelman, Bloomfield Township: The Bloomfield Hills School District (BHSD) Board of Education approved language for a new and economically repressive millage to be voted on by the taxpayers of the district. The BHSD prides itself on being a district that believes in the educational motto, “Comprehensive Education at its finest!” One of the key components of high school... is the assignment of copious amounts of homework. It is a key element contributing to both educational performance and excellence. Therefore, by example, we should expect nothing less from the BHSD board. And yet, they propose that the BHSD electorate approve the continuation of current millages, and new millages, in excess of more than 2.00 mills. We, the taxpayers of the BHSD, don’t even know what the project will look like or how it will function as a 21st century school. Therefore the millage should be defeated and I urge all those voting on November to vote “no”! Why? This BHSD Board of Education didn’t do their homework! Did the BHSD build a community consensus regarding a possible new and/or remodeled high school? No! They didn’t do their homework! Is the BHSD both sensitive and in touch with the economic depression that Michigan is now living through? No! They didn’t do their homework! Is the BHSD community aware of the scope and eventual costs of the proposed project? No! They didn’t do their homework!

THE PAPER

Did the BHSD go out for competitive design bids for the project and have a public presentation of the best thinking of those competing designs for this project, so the BHSD community would know that they would be voting and paying for? No! They didn’t do their homework! Did the BHSD look at other high school remodels in nearby communities, such as West Bloomfield and Birmingham, and report back to the community about both the positives and negatives of those projects? No! They didn’t do their homework! Did the BHSD attempt a comprehensive effort to find those contractors who could provide the best, cost-effective solutions, for either a remodeled and/or new high school, and report back to the BHSD community about the results of those efforts? No! They didn’t do their homework! Did the BHSD review the survey results of the May 2007 millage defeat, which specifically indicated that the voters would approve of a remodeled high school, but not a new one, and continues to arrogantly ignore the results of that post-May 2007 election survey? No! They didn’t do their homework! Did the BHSD demonstrate how this new millage proposal would likely pass, considering the overwhelming defeat of the May 2007 millage proposal? No! They didn’t do their homework! Was the public made aware that this latest millage proposal is much more costly, and for a longer time — period — than what was proposed in May 2007? No! They didn’t do their homework! Did the BHSD took a look at the recent national phenomenon of voter dissatisfaction with all things government, and/or that looks like government spending, through increased taxes and measure that as a contributing factor to yet another millage proposal defeat? No! They didn’t do their homework! Did the BHSD tell the voters that one of the millage proposals will mean increased taxes for up to 30 years, even if property values continue to decline, and these possible, ever-increasing taxable amounts to retire the bonds don’t even require a vote?! No! They didn’t do their homework! Should the voters living within the BHSD defeat this recently proposed millage ? Yes! And yes again! Why? Because shame on them! They didn’t do their homework! ■ 9

■ mail bag What are they thinking? From Marian Nimback, Bloomfield Hills: Regarding the Bloomfield Hills millage proposal that supports building a new high school, we need to ask the question, "If having a new mega high school facility is supported by the community (i.e. a questionable recent poll), why are so many Bloomfield Township citizens so very angry and at odds with the Board of Education?" I attended my first Board meeting last month when the board voted on and approved the millage proposal that will be on the November ballot. Many community members came to the meeting to express their views both for and against this issue. I was amazed at the obvious disdainful attitude shown by the board towards those individuals who cared enough about the issues to actually come to the meeting and speak. A short 3-minute time limit was imposed on anyone who wanted to speak and two board members didn't even bother to attend. What is three minutes when we are talking about a 35-year commitment in taxes? Every supporting argument for the mega school starts with, "The

need for a new 21st century facility." Other than new bricks and mortar, what is lacking right now? Certainly it isn't technology we are building for. Technology will have completely changed by the time the last brick is laid. We have leftover sinking funds that were voted on to renovate all district buildings. Those funds are now slated to be diverted to a new Andover High School. Why wasn't Lahser High School renovated as promised? Where are the other schools in the district going to get funds for upcoming needed renovations? Will more millages be required for more sinking funds? By the Board of Education's own predictions back in April 2008, enrollment will decline until at least 2018; revenues will decline until at least 2018. In every one of their six predicted strategies to balance the budget, virtually all showed a reduction in revenue, a reduction of money in the general fund, and an increase in their expenses. (See the Strategies for Financial Success page on school's website). Here are their own words: "Declining enrollment and rising costs will cause a cumulative fiveyear operating deficit of more than $35 million. This exceeds the dis-

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trict's fund balance (savings account) and would put BHS in true deficit — not permitted by law — if it completely exhausts its general fund balance by 2012-13." With their own dire financial predictions, why would the board go forward with this terrible plan for a mega high school now? What are they thinking? Yes, they want a new 21st century facility. Well, hello, there are 90 years left in this century. Put this plan on hold until it is embraced by the whole community. Right now, the board needs to be fiscally responsible, concentrate on educating our students, and give the tax-payer a break. I definitely will vote "no" loud and clear on these two new millages. ■

End costs not known From Pat Guidone: The Bloomfield Hills Board of Education is asking the voters to give them a blank check to build a complex (for which) as of now there is no plan in place! At a time when housing values continue to decrease, they are asking us for new monies for a new single high school telling us that they will save $2.5 million — but it will take us until 2040 to pay off the debt. It’s a variable rate loan; they don’t know the end cost. It’s irresponsible spending in this economy. We gave them the sinking fund to repair, renovate and upgrade all of the buildings and they refused to do anything with the high schools. I hope everyone votes no and no to this lavish unnecessary plan. ■

Delighted with proposal From Katie Wiese, West Bloomfield: I am delighted that the Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education has committed to operating one high school by Fall 2012

at the Andover High School site. Hindsight is 20/20, and we can waste a lot of energy pointing fingers and discussing the past. Instead, we need to move forward based on the current realities of school funding and the dismal state of the Michigan economy. Our community is well educated and has always valued and supported public education. Now, we have the opportunity to create a high school facility that reflects the values of our community. The first step in determining how the children of our district will be educated is the selection of a facilitation, planning and design consulting firm to manage this large project. The district has followed a very transparent bidding and selection process and will begin moving our district forward by awarding a contract. Let the facts speak for themselves: AAA bond rating with Moody’s Investor Service; Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials International for the past ten years; Meritorious Budget Award from ASBO for excellence in the preparation and issuance of the school system’s annual budget; the only school district in Oakland County operating without a deficit and BHSD residents have one of the lowest tax debts in Oakland County. I am confident that BHSD will continue their tradition of prudent management as this project continues. I am an active and involved community member. I will continue to be involved and informed as these plans progress — no blank check here! None of my children will benefit from a new high school facility, but I look forward to being able to provide a quality education to the next generations of students. ■

Talk to Birmingham-Bloomfield Your opinions are important so let us know what you think. Mail Bag provides our readers with a forum to express their thoughts on important issues. We reserve the right to edit all letters. Letters for Mail Bag should be submitted by mid-month to appear in the next issue and must include the writer’s name, address and phone number for verification. Only the writer's name and community will be printed. Letters can be sent via e-mail to news@thescngroup.com, submitted through the website for The Paper (oaklandpaper.com) or by mail to P.O. Box 14, Union Lake, MI 48387. ■

THE PAPER

OCTOBER 2010

ART AS IN Area galleries buck downward business trend as people see artwork as sound purchase, not just decor By Alex Lundberg

riedrich Nietzsche once said, "We have art in order not to die of the truth." It might not be that serious, but people have always decorated their homes and businesses with pieces of art. Whether it's a collection of old masterpieces that could hang in the Detroit Institute of Arts or crayon and macaroni noodle displays by the kids tacked to the refrigerator with magnets, it's hard to think of a home or workplace that doesn't incorporate some form of art. The economy has been tough lately and discretionary purchases like dinners out and nights at the theater are made more carefully than they have been in the past. Many would think that would be a bad sign for art dealers, but people are still purchasing pieces of art for their homes and offices. More than that, they're also looking for the kinds of pieces that will appreciate in value as the years pass. Because of the economic downturn, small businesses are taking a hit. This is very much the case for art and antique galleries. Ben Kiehl, managing director at the Robert Kidd Gallery, located at 107 Townsend in Birmingham, said business has shifted to respond to the climate and people are buying

art as a way of making money, as well as pleasing their senses. "The trend right now is for investment art," Kiehl said. "People are buying art from famousname artists. It's more expensive but it holds its value better. Sometimes it's a better investment than just leaving the money in the bank." Kiehl's gallery deals mostly in paintings, realist and contemporary art, but also offers sculpture by some well-respected local names. The work of Harry Bertoia and Marshall Fredericks â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who are each linked to the Cranbrook Academy of Art â&#x20AC;&#x201D; are available. One of Fredericks' best known works, "The Spirit of Detroit" in front of the Coleman A. Young building in downtown Detroit, gets a fresh Red Wings jersey every year during the National Hockey League playoffs. Yet that's not to say that a big name trumps aesthetics. Kiehl said people might be buying with an eye toward a future sale, but they generally don't buy things they don't like. If it's not going to hang on a wall somewhere, it's probably not going to be purchased. "People don't buy what they don't enjoy," he said. "People don't buy things they think are hideous, no matter how much a piece might appreciate over time."

Both Kiehl and the owner of the gallery, Ray Fleming, said they understand that many customers aren't there to purchase art as an investment â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they're just looking for items to decorate their homes. The two men have degrees in art and can walk even a neophyte through the process of buying paintings and sculptures. "We can explain to our clients why a particular painting is strong," Kiehl said. "We can explain the construction of a piece, and talk about how the colors accent it so they can make a good purchase. Most galleries are run by dealers, not artists." Dan Winter, owner of The Woodward Gallery located at 33501 Woodward, runs a private gallery by appointment only. He sells contemporary art, art of the 1950s and 1960s, as well as vintage sports memorabilia. He said people generally buy what they can afford and right now they're looking to afford established artists. "They're not jumping out and buying like they used to," Winter said. "People are more cautious now in general. They're buying less decorative art and going to auctions more often." They're going to auctions, he said, because they're most often looking for artists who are already proven quantities. The investors that

VESTMENT

used to dump their money into CDs five years ago are now looking for high-end automobiles and art because they can appreciate over time at a better rate than the financial markets. "Alexander Calder (a sculptor) is a good example." Winter said. "Things of his that went for between $9,000 and $10,000 seven years ago are selling for $40,000 to $50,000 today." Great art can be bulletproof, financially speaking. Winter said a metal sculpture by Swiss artist Alberto Giacometti recently set an all-time record for sales price at auction. The 6foot bronze statue, "L'Homme qui marche, I (The Walking Man, I)," sold for more than $100 million at auction at Sotheby's in London. But people looking to invest shouldn't fixate on sculptors of the 1950s and 1960s, for instance. Instead, they should judge pieces on their own merits. Art isn't like fashion where hemlines and collar styles change from one year to the next. "Art should be timeless," Winter said. "Something painted in the 1920s and 1930s should still be fresh and have appeal to a person seeing it for the first time today. That's what separates good art from bad art." Caroline Ashleigh, owner of Caroline Ashleigh Appraiser and Auctioneers at 1000 S. Old

Woodward, specializes in understanding the art market for collectors as well as investors. She's done work with auction houses like Sotheby's, has appeared in Forbes Magazine, The New York Times, Inside Edition, and has more than once weighed in on PBS's "Antiques Roadshow." Right now, the trend that's getting a lot of attention is mid-century modern art, according to Ashleigh. "The hottest stuff right now is 1950s and 1960s abstract art," she said. "It's in demand right now and also affordable." Ashleigh said work by artists like George L.K. Morris was going for less than $15,000 five years ago, and now commands twice that at the auction houses. All of the artworks of that style and from that era are selling well but are still more affordable than items created by luminaries like Jackson Pollack. The market is a little down. "There's little action in the housing market and that has some effect on the sales of art and furnishings," Ashleigh said. "But when interest and desire are strong, that's an ideal time to invest in or buy and sell these kinds of artists. Art glass is selling really well right now, too." Glass art from the 1980s and 1990s by artists such as Toots Zynsky, Don Dailey and

William Morris are big locally through the work of the Habatat Gallery in Royal Oak. Known internationally, the gallery has long roots in metro Detroit through the patronage of wealthy collectors and trendmakers in southeast Michigan. Tony DeWinter, owner of DeWinter's and Chase Antique Art Gallery at 251 Merrill in Birmingham, said there isn't really a sense of trends in antiques the way one would see in regular retail establishments. "When Jacqueline Kennedy moved into the White House, she sparked an interest in antiques in general," he said. DeWinter said the kinds of pieces he offers are things that accent or complement a room and he's got something for almost any room. There's art deco, art nouveau, furniture from the English regency and Edwardian periods, French art glass, oil paintings, items by Faberge, long-case clocks from the 1700s and items of pre-revolutionary Russian art, some of it the one-time property of the family of deposed Czar Nicholas II. As expected, the down economy hasn't exactly helped DeWinter's business, but he's still in business and expanding. "It has affected me but we have an international clientele," DeWinter said. "It's down, butX

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you have to think that things will get better. We just did an expansion; we're twice as big now." According to DeWinter, the gallery carries investment-grade, museum-quality art and antiques from around the world. He takes a couple of trips to Europe each year and his long relationship with his suppliers has given him access to items and objects not available at other galleries. While art is certainly something people put in frames or on a pedestal, it can also be the guiding theme of an entire room. Some people search through galleries to find a painting that fits a particular space perfectly, and others create their spaces with a feeling for the art that will go there before the drywall goes up. Lucy Earl, the owner and president of the interior design firm Jones Keena & Co., said art can be made to accent a space in a home or office at any price point. It's not about the dollars and cents value of a piece, but instead about the atmosphere the buyer wants to create. "It depends on the project. We find art that fits the client's budget," she said. "We have major clients who we help purchase major pieces for thousands of dollars. We also have fantastic clients who aren't interested in those kinds of pieces but want something that works. Art is complicated â&#x20AC;&#x201D; there are so many layers. We like our projects to have beautiful artwork but you don't have to have masters." Jones Keena keeps a stock of artwork they collect while on buying trips around the country and in Europe to go in their retail space. But when they buy, very often they're thinking of ideas they have for interior spaces they're either working on or will be in the future. "With new construction we're working with the architects, either designing the trim, cabinetry and floors or just adding our input," Earl said. "With existing spaces, we help people come up with a point of view." She said all art requires people to think in a certain way and the designers at Jones Keena work with their clients to decide how they want their spaces to affect the people who will be in them. Some people know exactly what www.oaklandpaper.com

Art and Frame Shop

Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center

they want the point of view to be, while others need help deciding what that is and how to achieve it. Since the market for new construction has dwindled, the focus at the design firm has shifted to work on existing homes, and that market is doing just fine. "Business is fantastic," Earl said. "There are a lot of people with jobs and means who are investing in their properties because they know they can't sell them. They're going to be there longer so they're redesigning their bedrooms and kitchens. Normally new construction is a huge part of our business but the people who used to be retiring and moving into condos or young families who would be purchasing larger homes are staying put." The Birmingham-Bloomfield Art Center (BBAC), situated at 1516 S. Cranbrook, has a simple mission statement: "The BBAC connects people of all ages and abilities with visual arts education, exhibitions and other creative experiences." Since 1957, the center has been putting people in contact with all different forms of creative expression. BBAC Director Diane Taylor said "art for all" has been the center's guiding principle for years. "We provide opportunities for people to enhance their lives by exposure to the visual arts," she said. "We offer 500 classes a year and we have 24 exhibits a year in our four gallery spaces." And it's not just paintings of dogs playing cards. The most recent featured art displays at the BBAC were "Tattoo: Off the Skin," featuring the work of local tattoo artists; an exhibit by the Birmingham Society of Women Painters; and "It Could Happen To you," a presentation centered around Alzheimer's disease by artist Cindi Ford. The BBAC will display the artwork of Charles McGee, "Signatures: Charles McGee & Students," Oct. 1 through Oct. 10. The show will include more than 20 of the artist's works as well as projects his students have created. An artist who works in paint, sculpture and assemblages, McGee is an established Detroit THE PAPER

Woodward Gallery

artist as well as a highly dedicated teacher of artists with more than 18 years at Eastern Michigan University, as well as the BBAC. And it's not just about exposure to art; you can learn art at the BBAC. "We offer classes for residents 2-and-a-half years old to older than 90," Taylor said. "We take all levels of experience from level zero to expert." The BBAC has classes in painting, drawing, ceramics, metals, weaving, jewelry, sculpture, print-making, photography and fashion illustration. The organization also helps art students prepare portfolios for entrance to prestigious art schools like the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, as well as top-notch institutions in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles. There's also a gallery shop where you can purchase pieces in several different mediums, including paint, jewelry, ceramics, glass and many others. Of course, once you have your purchased or completed art picked out, you'll probably want to have it on display. Jill Haury is the owner of the Art & Frame Station at 215 Peabody in Birmingham. Art & Frame, formerly The Great Frame Up, sells a wide variety of collectables and some consumables. "We've got quite a bit of Michigan-made pieces," Haury said. "About 75 percent of what we sell is made in the state." The business has painted glassware, furniture, greeting cards, soaps from Frankenmuth, items from the Davisburg Candle Factory, and paintings and photography from all over the state. They even have a line of preserves and condiments from Pam's Pantry in Grand Ledge. But like the company's name implies, more than 90 percent of their business is in framing items of all sorts. They do corporate jobs, walk-in work, and will put a border around almost anything people bring in the door. A good portion of their business lately has been "shadow-boxing," the framing of three-dimensional items. "It's not a flat frame," Haury said. "People come in here with things like a Tiger Woods glove or a Tiger Stadium bleacher seat. We've done two Olympic torches." 15

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The most innovative item they've done is a piece commissioned by the wife of a professional basketball player. The shadow-boxed piece included a basketball, a net and tiny replicas of the various NBA trophies the player had accrued over a lifetime in the game, all set against a background of a miniaturized basketball court. She said the piece took her and her workers between 80 and 100 hours to complete. Haury said a fifth of her framing work is high-end art, pieces that retail or auction for up to $1 million. The rest are things of a more intangible or personal value, a line of business she's trying to cultivate. DeWinter’s and Chase "If there's something you're keeping in a shoebox, something you got on vacation, why not put it in a frame?" she said. Some of Haury's customers come to her with refrigerator art — something their children turned in for an elementary school art project — and some children have found their parents' old third-grade art and have had that framed as art for their homes. The act of putting something into a frame commemorates it, she said, and raises it from a curio or oddity into an heirloom. As a commemoration of a life in architecture, a family brought their patriarch's old drafting tools and had them set in a shadowbox around a picture of him. What was once a collection of antiquated drawing materials that would have languished on a shelf is now a conversation piece that celebrates the career of a loved elder. "If you have your grandfather's World War II papers, get them framed," Haury said. "They'll become important to the family and something the kids will want to have as their own someday." The newly-opened Lido Gallery and Gifts at 33535 Woodward has a selection of curios, museum gifts and assorted prints of all sizes — from 5-by-7s up to nearly one story tall — for every taste. "We have specialty teas, art hoodies, jewelry, chandeliers ..." said Robert Kidd Gallery owner Diane DeCillis. "We also have a design room for custom framing." Most of what is offered at the Lido Gallery is a reprise of DeCillis' last gallery, The Print Gallery, which was on Northwestern Highway in Southfield. What's new at the Birmingham location is an exhibition gallery which will feature a rotation of Michigan artists' works. First featured in the exhibition space will be works by Erica Podwoiski and Dennis Bruce Spencer. The gallery had a soft opening on Aug. 7, and the grand opening is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 8. Another new offering at the new location is a wholesale business featuring, among other things, fine art-themed candy bars. "Masterpiece Sweets" are candy bars imprinted with renderings of classical art — Van Gogh's "Starry Sky," for instance — that have been featured in O Magazine and will soon grace one of the most storied tables in the world. "We're currently making a set of White House candy bars," DeCillis said. "They have been ordered for the White House in Washington D.C." Along the same lines, the operation is putting out a large order of candy bars on commission for St. Jude's Children's Hospitals. The bars will feature art by children being treated and the wrappers will carry biographical information about the artists. ■ www.oaklandpaper.com

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■ snapshot

akland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren and his 11-year-old daughter, Leah, are taking up Lady Liberty’s torch of rejuvenating the American spirit by founding Patriot Week, a dedicated time for Americans to celebrate their heritage by participating in a series of events that reaffirm the first principles of the Declaration of Independence. Anchored by the significant date of September 11, the anniversary of the terrorist attacks, and September 17, Constitution Day, the grassroots initiative lines up a variety of activities tailored to the needs of each participant. Inaugurated in 2009, the movement is quickly gaining ground across the country, touching lives and revitalizing patriotism. "America, unlike any other country in the world, is founded on a set of principles in our Constitution and Declaration of Independence," Warren said. "We have over the last few generations devalued our civic holidays and have all lost real meaning. Leah and I decided that it was time to start a new tradition to celebrate America, keying in on first principles, founding fathers and great patriots, key documents and speeches and historical flags.” Leah and her father brainstormed together to launch the initiative. "Leah's advice often blossoms into something significant for Patriot Week," he said. The principles portrayed during the week include revolution, the rule of law, social compact; protection of unalienable rights; gender and race equality; and limited government. "We’ve hit a low point in our history about recognizing the importance

michael and leah warren

of our first principles,” Warren said. “Our social studies scores and general knowledge is really disappointing and makes for a bad mix if we want to remain a free people.” Warren said that unlike other countries such as France or Germany, which are defined by language, culture, and tradition, America is defined by its first principles. “They should apply to everything we do in public policy, and undergird our whole society,” he said. Thanks to the Warrens' efforts, patriotic enthusiasm is sweeping the nation, beginning with Michigan legislators and dignitaries. Both the Michigan State House and Senate adopted resolutions in its support. "If you can get the House and Senate to agree on something, that’s significant,” he said. Judge Warren is a former member of the Michigan State Board of Education, teaches constitutional law at Cooley Law School, and sits on the board for the Michigan Center for Civic Education. He graduated from Wayne State University and the University of Michigan Law School. Patriot Week has spread expontentially and Warren said he's humbled by the response. “It’s not just locally-oriented, although we’re the center of gravity, but now it’s gaining ground around the state and county and all political persuasions have embraced it.” — Leslie Shephard-Owsley — The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard

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THE PAPER

OCTOBER 2010

ver the past several years, the term "lobbyist" has entered the American lexicon as somewhat of a dirty word. People often think of lobbyists operating in the U.S. Capitol in smoke-filled rooms conducting deals for their clients by essentially bribing lawmakers to vote with their clients' business or political interests at the forefront of their psyche, rather than what's best for the good of their constituency. But in reality, according to Oakland County lawmakers serving in Lansing, the craft of lobbying is much less controversial than that, particularly in the state Capitol, where almost universally legislators who spoke with The Paper said that lobbyists are an integral part of the

suspenders with a big cigar in their mouth, doling out money to people and then forcing them to vote with them, and that's simply not true," said Mitchell, who is a registered lobbyist but said that he doesn't actually do much direct lobbying in light of his company's primary focus on public affairs. "Everybody thinks of a lobbyist as some big corporation. They don't think about it as environmental groups. They don't think about it as organizations who have banded together to get the Legislature to pass legislation favorable to their causes. You have organizations like veterans, senior citizens, so just about anybody who wants to get something out of government has lobbyists."

Lobbyists and Lobbying Agents Registered in the Area Community

Type

Name

Lobby Signatory

Total Expenditures Most recent report filed

Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Birmingham Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Hills Bloomfield Bloomfield Bloomfield Bloomfield Bloomfield

Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist Lobbyist

Agent Agent Agent Agent Agent Agent Agent

Agent

Agent Agent Agent

Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity (ABATE) Brogan & Partners Convergence Marketing, Inc. Cannabis Patients United City of Birmingham Coalition for Interior Design Registration MCP Development Michigan Motion Picture Studios, LLC Michigan Youth Arts Association Real Property Law Section State Bar of Michigan Robert Strong Donald Tucker Williams Consulting Services, LLC Richard Burstein Colombo & Colombo PC Construction Association of Michigan Terence Donnelly Philip Grashoff, Jr. Norman Hyman Jewish Community Relations Council Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit Kallas & Henk, PC Charles Albert LeFevre Oakland Community College Oakland County Bar Association Karen Pifer Pulte Homes Inc. & subsidiaries Reis Northville, LLC Taubman Company Robert Taubman The Association for Fairness for Nursing Homes Grant Trigger Karolyn Zande Ackerman, Ackerman & Dynkowski Advantage Consulting Group Lisa Canada International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 324 Nancy Quarles

Robert A. Strong Marcie Brogan David F. Brogren John Van Fossen Sandra Johnstone Emmett Moten Steven J. Lemberg Kim Dabbs Mark K. Krysinski N/A N/A David W. Williams N/A Lawrence F. Raniszeski Patrick Baker N/A N/A N/A Robert Cohen Lori E. Lieberman Constantine N. Kallas N/A Cheryl A. Kozell Lisa Stadig Elliot N/A Gregory M. Nelson Grant Trigger Robert Taubman N/A Timothy Spiro N/A N/A William B. Wortz Nancy Quarles N/A Lisa Canada N/A

$3,500.00 $0.00 $3,550.00 $88.50 $6,300.00 N/A $25,200.00 $0.00 $8,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $5,376.77 $0.00 $0.00 $25,112.00 $3,500.00 $0.00 $0.00 $19,000.00 $25,548.00 $0.00 $1,400.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $0.00 $16,175.00 $0.00

Source: Michigan Secretary of State Records

democratic process simply working to get their views heard. They help get the job done and provide institutional knowledge to lawmakers who oftentimes are inexperienced and don't know the political and legal history behind certain issues, many said. "Lobbyists are a prime target for the public's ire, and I think that's misplaced in many ways," said David Dulio, chairman of the political science department at Oakland University. Steve Mitchell, president of Mitchell Research & Communications, Inc., implicitly agreed. "Lobbyists are often painted as sort of these fat cat guys, holding their www.oaklandpaper.com

State Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills) expressed similar sentiments. "The popular thing at election time is to rail against the special interests," he said. "When you take that apart, I'm not sure what that means. School officials are lobbyists." Lobbyists are regulated at the state level by Public Act (PA) 472 of 1978, commonly referred to as the Michigan Lobby Registration Act. Under the state law, state level elected officials or appointed public officials are "lobbyable," according to the Michigan Secretary of State website. PA 472 requires people who make expenditures or receiveXX

THE PAPER

compensation or reimbursement for lobbying to register and report as lobbyists or lobbyist agents with the Secretary of State's Bureau of Elections. Each calendar year, the monetary thresholds for registering as a lobbyist or lobbyist agent are adjusted to reflect changes in the Detroit Consumer Price Index under modifications to PA 472 that were enacted in 1986. The threshold for registering as a lobbyist agent — an individual or firm that's paid or reimbursed to lobby public officials on behalf of an employer or client — is $550 or more a year. That threshold was $575 for 2009. or a lobbyist — generally a corporation, association, or other organization that pays or reimburses a lobbyist agent or other employee for lobbying public officials — the reporting threshold for 2010 is $2,200 during any one-year period. In addition, a lobbyist who expends more than $550 in a one-year period to lobby a single public official must also report with the Secretary of State Office in Lansing. There are also other rules in place with regards to ethics in Lansing. Transactions of $1,100 or more between a registered lobbyist or lobbyist agent and a public official, or a member of that official's immediate family or any business with which the individual is associated must be reported, as well as travel and lodging expenses of more than $725 paid in connection with public business. In addition, food and beverage expenses for one month of more than $54 for a public official — or $350 or more for a public official between Jan. 1 and the close the of books for a single reporting period — must be reported, along with the name of the official, and their office or title. Lobbyists and lobbyist agents are required to file two reports annually with the Michigan Secretary of State, even if there have been no activities or expenditures to disclosure for the particular reporting period. The summer report must be filed by Aug. 31 of each year, and covers the time between Jan. 1 and July 31; the winter reporting period runs from Aug. 1 through Dec. 31, and must be submitted by Jan. 31 of the following year. Not all of the lobbyist agents listed in the chart accompanying this report are lobbyists in the common usage of the term. Robert Strong of the Association of Businesses Advocating Tariff Equity (ABATE) said his organization is a conglomerate of "large industrial customers located in Michigan that consume large quantities of electricity and natural gas." Strong said ABATE is simply advocating for reasonable rates based on the costs of providing services and "gets involved" in energy-related legislation that comes before the state Legislature. Asked whether he has noticed a shift in the amount of influence lobbying groups have in Lansing, he said he didn't. He also added that he believes that the reporting requirements for lobbyists are adequate. "I guess my only point would be that lobbyists on particular issues are very, very knowledgeable about that particular issue and bring something to the table," he said. Several other people listed by the Secretary of State as registered lobbyists or lobbyists agents didn't return calls seeking comment prior to press time. Oakland University's Dulio attributed a lot of what some perceive to be a hike in lobbyists' influence in Lansing to the implementation of term limits on state lawmakers, but said that lobbyists have "always been influential." "That would go back to the founding period," he said. "Lobbying and lobbyists are nothing new." "Once term limits were enacted, you started to see lobbyists in Lansing become more important," Dulio said. "Now, it's the lobbyists who have all the experience. Legislators, just by the time they start to figure out how things work, where everything is, they are term limited." Public watchdogs such as the Michigan Campaign Finance Network have been calling for tighter regulations on reporting, timeliness of reporting, as well as more detailed breakdowns of how lobbying money is spent. "The point is, anything of any value given should be disclosed," said Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network. "Multi-client firms report how much they spend lobbying and they have

to name their clients, but they don't have to say how much they spend representing whom. They should be doing them. It should be how much, and reporting on what bill, budget, or regulation they are lobbying for." "It's just way too vague," Robinson said of the reporting criteria. "When we (the Michigan Campaign Finance Network) published this list of the top lobbyists, I often feel like I'm doing them a marketing service." Mitchell said that Michigan's reporting requirements for lobbyists are "pretty stringent." "What comes first, the chicken or the egg?" Mitchell said. "Are you changing your viewpoint because you're getting contributions from some big lobbying group, or are they supporting you because you agree with them? Those are the questions that have to be asked." Robinson said he's skeptical that stricter lobbying reforms would be enacted any time soon in Lansing. So was Dulio, who said that, while he thought additional disclosure about lobbyist expenses would be a good thing, the fact that it would be lawmakers enacting the reform would make it difficult for any meaningful additional reporting requirements to be passed. "Many times, those reforms are in conflict with (lawmakers') best interest, and that makes it less likely that those would occur," Dulio said. Yet lawmakers, in general, believe some measure of lobbying reform could be necessary. State Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills) said that the influence of lobbyists is "always the same," but said that he's most effectively lobbied by his constituents and the elected officials in the communities he represents in Lansing. "Any neighbor or citizen who calls me up, they are going to have more access and better than any one of the big lobbying firms," Moss said, while adding that he is "fine" with more stringent reporting requirements for lobbyists. "Local elected officials, same deal," he said. His opponent in the November general election, Democrat Julie Candler, said she believes additional lobbying reform would be a boon for the democratic system because "there is too much control by the lobbyists." "The numbers are staggering when you look at the number of lobbyists who are working in Lansing," she said. "It's rather appalling." Asked how she would minimize lobbyists' impact on her decisionmaking in Lansing if elected, she indicated it would be a tough task but one that she's up for. "It would be pretty hard to do because (lobbyists) are all over the place, but I think that a conscientious representative of the people of Michigan should be very wary of what these people are advocating and should weigh whether it's to the advantage of the people of Michigan, or the company the lobbyist represents." appageorge said he believes there are three kinds of lobbyists: those that educate lawmakers and lay out both perspectives on given issues; those that argue only for their own position on an issue; and those who make lawmakers think "they are really not giving you the whole story" about a particular debate. "It's not hard to figure out who those are," Pappageorge said, adding that for him, there has been no change in the amount of influence lobbyists have over his decision-making. "Frankly, when I have an issue that I need more information on, I call up a half a dozen people and say, 'Would you sit around a table with me and talk about this issue?' And there will be people sitting at the table who disagree with you." Pappageorge, who is seeking his second term in the state Senate, touted a bill he introduced in 2007 that died in the legislative process. Senate Bill (SB) 380 would have barred public officers from soliciting or accepting "a gift or reimbursement of out-of-state travel expenses from a person required to be registered as a lobbyist agent." It also would have prohibited public officers from soliciting or accepting any contributions, as defined under the Michigan Campaign Finance Act, "in any facility or portion of a facility owned or leased by the state that is used primarily for the conducting of government business." An individual who violated that subsection of the law would have been considered guilty of a misdemeanor that would have carried a punishment of not more than 90 days in jail or a fine of $1,000 or the amount of the contribution accepted, whichever was greater. ■

THE PAPER

OCTOBER 2010

■ snapshot

elmore leonard

lmore Leonard, one of Michigan’s most accomplished writers, is renowned all over the globe, but the Bloomfield Hills community is fortunate to count him as one of its own. Leonard has 44 novels, 30 short stories, and several film screenplays under his belt, including his new novel, Djibouti, which hits bookshelves Oct. 12. Many of his works have inspired popular movies like Out of Sight, 3:10 to Yuma, Get Shorty, and Jackie Brown. To celebrate his achievements, the Community House in Birmingham is hosting an Elmore Leonard Literary Arts Festival on Nov. 13-14. Leonard multitasks as an executive producer for the FX television series Justified, which premiered last March and will air another season featuring one of Leonard’s favorite characters, the iconic U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens. Now Leonard is busy writing a narrative form to give the show's writers more material. His novels adapted into screenplays don't always follow his exact story line, but Leonard isn’t fazed by it. “I understand movies have to be a little different,” he said. "3:10 to Yuma has been made into a movie twice. The second adaptation had more action and more story and I liked it until the end when the action took away from the idea of the story.” Leonard has always had a passion for writing. “It started in the 5th grade when I read ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ and wrote a play for the class," he said. He earned the sobriquet "Dutch" after the Major League pitcher Dutch Leonard in high school. After serving in the Navy during WWII, he enrolled at the University of Detroit-Mercy.

He became a voracious reader, gravitating toward luminaries like Steinbeck and Hemingway. “Hemingway was great because he had so much white space on the pages and wrote realistically, but he didn’t have a sense of humor,” he said. “There are things I want to say that are funny.” In 1950, Leonard — who started off writing westerns — sold his first 14,000-word novelette to a men’s magazine for $1,000. When he switched genres in the late 1950s, his notoriety grew. A halfcentury later, Leonard is published in 30 different countries. His famous non-fiction book, The 10 Rules of Writing, was initially penned on a whim but he now sees it as gospel. “I wrote them somewhat in jest but now I don’t want to break any of those rules,” he said. Leonard rubs shoulders with all the literary greats but doesn't view himself as a “literary” writer, per se. “They write in their point of view but to me that’s not the way to do it,” he said. “I write from each character’s point of view My books are realistic and naturalistic — especially the dialogue. If it sounds like writing I rewrite it." A product of “old school” ways, Leonard writes his rough drafts by hand before typing them out on an electric typewriter. He also writes spontaneously, allowing the characters freedom. “After about 300 pages, then I think of an ending,” he said. Leonard may be 85-years-old, but his days of writing are far from over. "I don't know what comes next but I like to write, so why not?" — Leslie Shephard-Owsley — The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard

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■ snapshot

richard “cousin don” hobson

ichard “Cousin Don” Hobson is a born and bred American farmer. His wide straw-brimmed hat, scruffy beard, and country colloquialisms, together with his life-long expertise distinguishes him as the market master of the Birmingham Farmer’s Market. Apart from heading up the market in Birmingham for the last eight years, he runs the Rochester Farmer’s Market and his own family farm, Hickory Hill, in Clifford. Hobson lined up 72 vendors in Birmingham this year. The open air market offers locally- and regionally-grown produce, garden plants and flowers, organic and prepared foods, cheeses, breads, home items and hand-crafted wares. Despite the economic downturn, the pedestrian traffic is increasing. “Dollar for dollar it’s a little lighter even though we have more customers, but vendors are increasing and the movement to come back to natural foods has only increased since the economy went down,” he said. Hobson has a few ideas up his sleeves for next year. “I've decided to be a better market master and that will make the market better also,” he said. “We may add a tomato or pesto fest next year and try to do more venues in that capacity.” In conjunction with the market, he organizes the Hay Days event that he characterizes as the “finest days of all.” Livestock, tractors, corn shellers and sheep shearing are just some of the highlights. Hobson is a man in great demand. When Zazio’s opened in Birmingham recently, the executive chef asked Hobson to provide produce

and lamb for the restaurant. Hobson only grows pesticide-free produce and noted it's tougher and more costly to grow organic but he believes in natural and healthy eating. His mantra on the road is: “Know a farmer, get connected, and know your food.” “Chemicals cost a lot of money but if you plant the field you won’t have to come back until the harvest,” he said. “When you’re organic, you have to cross that field 7 to 8 times and knock down the weeds. It doesn’t produce the quantity and costs seven times the amount to grow organic.” Family-owned for five generations, Hickory Hill stretches across 80 acres and was first settled in 1888 by Hobson’s great grandfather. “Back in those days, all worked so everyone could get a farm like the Amish still do,” he said. Today, the family still works side-by-side to run the farm. Hobson’s true passion has always been the livestock, a critical component of organic farming. “You need livestock because cows eat the grass and weed it and you need them for the manure,” he said. “It's a 'circle of life' for it to move in the right direction and that’s what makes the organic scenario.” Hobson’s perspective has also changed direction. Instead of solely growing produce, he’s promoting agriculture so people are educated about fresh and healthy eating. “To be a better American farmer I am promoting agriculture to make sure city folks have the same opportunity I have.” — Leslie Shephard-Owsley — The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard

irmingham and Bloomfield parents can rest assured that the buses their children will be riding to school this year are safe for travel, but how the buses will be inspected in the near future is still up in the air. Bloomfield Hills Public Schools, Brother Rice, Cranbrook and Detroit Country Day saw all their bus fleets pass the state's annual bus inspections with flying colors in recent months, while the Birmingham School District and Sacred Heart saw the majority of their buses pass their latest inspections, with a few buses having to be repaired. "We see the (Michigan State Police) as the best brand in the U.S. when it comes to school bus inspections," said Paul Wegmeyer, transportation supervisor for Hope Public Schools and co-chairman of the Michigan Association for Pupil Transportation's (MAPT) Legislative Committee. "We have a long-standing relationship with the police. They are a great asset and are highly credible." However, a struggling economy could once again threaten the stability of the Michigan State Police's bus inspection unit. According to Sergeant Chris Hawkins, legislative liaison for the Michigan State Police, the state bus inspection program could see its allocation cut by two-thirds to just over $420,000 for the 2011 fiscal year, which begins on Friday, Oct. 1. The inspection program's allocation was $1.4 million for the current, 2010 fiscal year. "This was the governor's recommended decrease and it was concurred with by both the state House and Senate," Hawkins said. "The State Police budget has not passed yet, but that is the current projection at this time. We inspect just over 17,000 school buses annually and losing two-thirds of our budget is not something that we can maintain." Hawkins added that there are currently a few school bus inspection bills being considered in Lansing, including one that would make schools responsible for certifying their own mechanics and inspecting their own buses. "We would then conduct random inspections and audits, so there would still be a little third-party oversight," Hawkins said of the legislative proposal. Wegmeyer said MAPT is strongly recommending to the state Legislature that it use part of the state's share of a $26-billion state aid bill that was recently signed by President Barack Obama to help restore funding for the school bus inspection program for the 2011 fiscal year. He added that the MAPT would like funding brought back up to about $1.1 million and the state Legislature give them and all interested parties a chance to propose reforms and a reasonable time to have them implemented. "If they scale their operations back, we face less inspections by the State Police or face inspections by local bus mechanics and more training would be needed," he said. "We're embracing reform as a way to save money, but we're concerned about safety and we hope the Legislature has the same priority." It was around this time last year that the Michigan Legislature went so far as to propose the elimination of the state school bus inspection program altogether, before funding for the 2010 fiscal year was eventually allocated. According to Sergeant Sharon VanCampen of the Michigan State Police Traffic Safety Division, if the State Police Motor Carrier Division continues to implement annual bus inspections and charges school districts individually for that service, costs will escalate. Michigan's school buses undergo a 198-point inspection each year, beginning Sept. 1 and ending Aug. 31. State inspections are required annually by state law through the Pupil Transportation Act of 1990. The statute states that an inspection may be conducted at any time and at any location, on or off a school site, and as frequently as the State Police officials consider necessary to ensure passenger safety. Michigan school districts have approximately 17,000 vehicles transporting more than 850,000 students annually over 10 million miles. The State Police Motor Carrier Division's Bus Inspection Unit is currently responsible for the state-mandated annual inspection of every public, private, denominational, parochial, and charter school vehicle transporting pupils to or from school or a school-related activity. School districts currently don't have to pay for the inspections. At this time, the bus inspection funding is allocated to the Michigan Department of Education, which remits it back to the Michigan State Police. There have been past attempts to make Michigan school districts responsible for school bus inspection costs, including a push by Gov. Jennifer Granholm in 2005 to change mandatory bus inspections to a voluntary program. The state House eventually rejected Granholm's recommendation that funding for mandatory school bus inspections be eliminated. The Headlee Amendment, which added several provisions to Michigan's 1963 Constitution, prohibits the state from mandating that local governments provide new services unless the state reimburses them for any necessary increased costs they may incur. The state is also prohibited from reducing the state-financed portion of the necessary costs of any existing activity or service that state law requires of local governments. The State Police Motor Carrier Division employs two part-time school bus inspectors who cover the Upper Peninsula, and nine other full-time inspectors divvy up the rest of the state school districts' fleets. Inspectors are delegated 32

a certain number of vehicles to check based on a geographical area. Each bus inspection takes about 45 minutes. Each certified inspector regularly receives updated training and proficiency testing to ensure they are current on all equipment changes, legal amendments, and any new policies governing school bus safety. Vehicles that have been inspected are identified with a sticker placed on the front windshield. During the inspection process, vehicles are tagged to denote that they either need immediate attention or minor repairs, or that the vehicles have passed, meaning they met all inspection criteria and are approved to be on the road. Vehicles rejected by inspectors receive a "red" tag. These are vehicles found to have at least one item that had either the potential to cause a break down or pose a passenger safety hazard. Michigan law requires the repair of all red tag items prior to the transportation of any passenger. Vehicles receiving a "yellow" tag are not in a completely satisfactory condition, but are safe for operation, with only minor problems. By law, these vehicles must be repaired within 60 days. Wegmeyer said that while most of the state's school buses pass inspections, some school districts rely solely on the state inspection program because their transportation programs are less than adequate, and some have higher red tag rates than normal as a result. "We reviewed our current inspection program with experts at Michigan State University's College of Engineering, Traffic and Safety Department, and are looking at reform measures," Wegmeyer said. "The Legislature would like to see the transportation programs at schools do the inspections themselves. I don't think the industry is ready for that yet. We may be able to get there sometime, but you can't just throw the switch." He added that the MAPT hopes to see school districts incorporate elements of self-inspection, but still have oversight from the Michigan State Police. "It may take two years to develop a policy and reform, but right now we're asking for the state policy until a solid reform program can be identified," Wegmeyer said. "We hope to have better methods for preventative maintenance that are uniform across the state and have better training for mechanics and bring them up to a benchmark." Last July, Granholm signed legislation under which school bus drivers would be required to meet specific physical requirements put forth under the Code of Federal Regulations, but "with an exemption for individuals with diabetes who (have) been granted a waiver under the Motor Carrier Safety Act or who were employed as bus drivers on the bill's effective date." The bill was first brought to light by state Rep. Gail Haines (R-Lake Angelus) and is expected to save school districts $600,000 by reducing the costs they incur by providing health examinations to school bus drivers. The following are the results of the state's latest school bus inspections in the Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township areas. BLOOMFIELD HILLS SCHOOLS The Bloomfield Hills School District surrendered 58 buses for inspection and had all 58 pass their most recent inspections — a feat that Besty Erikson, director of communications and community relations for the school district, said has happened often in the last few years. "We've consistently had all of our buses pass inspection," she said. Brian Goby, director of physical plant services for the district, said the state inspection took place on Feb. 9, 2010. To ensure the fleet is in compliance, Goby said the district's mechanics inspect the entire fleet every two months. The average age of a bus in the Bloomfield Hills Schools fleet is eight years. "The last bus was purchased in 2006," Goby said. "We are currently targeting a 12-year replacement schedule but this varies depending on mileage and condition. New buses will be purchased when the replacement criteria is met." The cost of a new bus varies, but typically is more than $70,000. "The prices vary depending on specifications and equipment," he said. When the district purchases a new bus, the old bus is sold to offset costs. BIRMINGHAM SCHOOLS The Birmingham School District, according to the state, surrendered 79 buses for inspection. All but one bus passed inspection — one that was red tagged. The district outsources its transportation program oversight to Durham School Services. Calls to the company were not returned prior to press time. ACADEMY OF THE SACRED HEART The Academy of the Sacred Heart surrendered 10 buses to the state for inspection. Nine buses passed, and one was red tagged. BROTHER RICE Brother Rice had four buses inspected by the state; all four passed inspection. DETROIT COUNTRY DAY Detroit Country Day had a total of 17 buses inspected, and all 17 passed inspections. CRANBROOK Cranbrook has 12 buses in its fleet. All 12 buses were inspected, and all 12 passed inspection. ■

THE PAPER

OCTOBER 2010

â&#x2013; county Sosnick tapped for grand jury to probe â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tea Partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cases By Alex Lundberg One of the Michigan political dramas that has drawn significant attention this summer has been ratcheted up another notch as the Oakland County Circuit Court has impaneled a grand jury of one to further investigate so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tea Partyâ&#x20AC;? candidates for area offices. The court authorized Judge Edward Sosnick to take six months to look into whether election law was broken when suspicious candidate paperwork was filed in almost two dozen races. The judge can extend his warrant to investigate for another six months if he feels the need to do so. The decision comes on the heels of the Michigan Supreme Courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision not to hear the case of 23 so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tea Partyâ&#x20AC;? candidates who were barred from appearing on the November general election ballot by the state Court of Appeals late last month. The high court decided 5-2 not to hear the case and, therefore, not hear an appeal of the lower courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling. The appeals court held that the candidates didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t meet the technical requirements to appear on the ballot. The effort to place so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tea Partyâ&#x20AC;? candidates on ballots all over the state is alleged to be a ploy by Democrats to throw chaff in the faces of Republican and conservative voters who might be predisposed to vote for authentic Tea Party candidates. Oakland County Clerk Ruth Johnson has handed over files relevant to the so-called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tea Partyâ&#x20AC;? candidates to the state Attorney Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office, as well as the FBI. County Executive L. Brooks Patterson called for the grand jury investigation into whether the controversy involves a violation of election law. Oakland County Republican Party Chairman David Law said the contro-

versy over fake Tea Party candidates has had the effect of strengthening the GOPâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hand in terms of drawing new members. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People are upset,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;A number of them have come in to help, people who havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t been involved in politics before. Obviously, they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t feel itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the right way to do politics.â&#x20AC;? He said the real Tea Party, which is the movement of small-government activists, has been a good thing for the Republican Party. People who believe in keeping government accountable for its actions have found a voice in the movement and most of them have a lot in common with the GOP, according to Law. Law said the bogus Tea Party candidates, on the other hand, have been thrown into the political debate to confound voters. He added that he hopes people look closely at candidates who use the Tea Party name in their political advertising. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They can cause confusion,â&#x20AC;? Law said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hope people pay attention and see those candidates for what they are â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Democrats in fake clothing.â&#x20AC;? Two Oakland County Democratic Party employees â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Jason Bauer, the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s former operations director, and Mike McGuinness, the former chairman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; have stepped down in recent weeks. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bauerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name that appears on many of the questionable candidate filings as the witnessing notary. One of the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tea Partyâ&#x20AC;? candidates was seeking the right to challenge state Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, Bloomfield Hills), but it appears as if he would have been ineligible to hold that elected office because of his age. Thomas Murdock, a Troy resident, was born in July 1990, meaning that he wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be 21 until next July, according to his candidate affidavit filed with the state Bureau of Elections. Under the Michigan Constitution, a person must be 21 years of age to serve as a state lawmaker. â&#x2013;

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■ education Selection of firms for high school project delayed By Brooke Meier The committee that will advise the Bloomfield Hills Board of Education on awarding contracts for a proposed high school construction project has given itself a bit more time to choose facilitation, planning, design and consulting firms. Contracts for the project will be awarded on Thursday, Oct. 7. Betsy Erikson, director of communications and community relations for Bloomfield Hills Schools, said the district’s selection committee decided to take more time to weigh the merits of the various firms who have bid on the high school project. “They want to check some references and confer with each other,” Erikson said of committee members. “(Originally there was) a tight timeline, and they felt there wasn’t a reason to rush.” The selection committee will take more time to come to a measured recommendation, but the Board of Education will be the one making the call on who gets the contracts and who doesn’t. “Selection committee members will provide multiple perspectives for the board and administration to consider before a decision is reached,” said Superintendent Robert Glass. “Ultimately, however, the board and administration will be working with these firms and will be held accountable for the results.” Erikson said that once retained, a consultant will develop a process for facilitating community consensus on a plan for a new high school on the Andover High School site. An inclusive design process is expected to conclude by April 1. Opportunities for design committee membership and community engagement will be announced once the facilitation, planning and design firm is on board. “We intend to make our high school design process as open and inclusive as possible to reach a true community consensus,” Glass said. “We have an opportunity to design a high school that truly reflects the will of all of our stakeholders. This facility will be accountable to our community for several generations.” The Board of Education voted in June to merge Andover and Lahser high schools as part of the five-year Deficit Prevention Plan. On Nov. 2, voters will determine what funds the district will have to improve the Andover site for about 1,600 students. With voter approval, a bond proposal on the general election ballot for 1.43 mills will provide about $73 million toward the project’s total cost of $97.5 million. Together www.oaklandpaper.com

with a sinking fund renewal at 0.74 mills, the taxpayer obligation would stay the same as it is now at 2.17 mills, due in part to the pending retirement of existing millage collections. Erikson said the district’s intention is to continue with the first contract for facilitative planning and design, regardless of what happens at the November polls. “We will continue the process of design because the merger is happening,” she said. “We have to put 1,600 kids on the Andover site. Something has to be designed there. That process will continue. I am not sure what would happen to the architecture and construction management bids because the project or timeline might change.” Chris Fellin, one of the founders of Bloomfield 20/20-2010, said voters shouldn’t be spun by manipulative information coming from the school district. Bloomfield 20/202010 is a political action committee (PAC) that was formed in opposition to the ballot proposals. “First, the new high school isn’t a done deal — voters must approve an enormous 30-year tax on Nov. 2,” Fellin said. “This information would lead you to believe that this is a done deal. Second, this is a charade in the name of community input. The district said, ‘A committee of 19 community members interview ...’ then later they name those involved and only one community member was a part of the committee. The rest were board members, administration members, teachers, two students and two parents. This is another shameful example of how the district is attempting to manipulate the public every chance it gets.” Other residents, like Ann Bieneman — a parent of three children in the Bloomfield Hills district — support the proposals. Bieneman is a member of Bloomfield NOW, a PAC formed in support of the ballot proposals. “Educational strategies, technology, and funding laws have changed significantly since the Andover building was built,” she said. “Today’s classrooms are larger to allow for group work. Technology that is essential to education in today’s world was beyond the dreams of the architects of the existing building. Our view of a safe layout for a school building has changed in the last decade. Perhaps most importantly, under Proposal A, utility and maintenance costs come out of the district’s precious, state-limited operational budget. A more efficient modern building allows us to devote as much operational money as possible to our instructional budget. Greater building efficiency is directly related to the quality of instruction we can afford.” ■

Birmingham district administration building on market By Alex Lundberg Because the state keeps cutting away pieces of the financial pie for local school districts, the Birmingham Public School District has had to liquidate another one of its buildings to keep fiscally-afloat. The district is selling its current administration building, located at 550 W. Merrill, to a developer in an effort to save money. “We’re trying to reduce the footprint of the district,” said Birmingham Public Schools Director of Community Relations Marcia Wilkinson. “We’re going to be moving into one of the two high schools. We haven’t decided which.” The administration building was designed to house 65 people, and cost-saving measures over the years have winnowed that number to about 35 administrators and staff. Since the staff doesn’t need that much room — and the district can’t justify heating and cooling costs for that much space — the personnel will set up shop elsewhere. Wilkinson said the decision boils down to fiscal issues. “Since 2002, our budget has been reduced by $23 million,” Wilkinson

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said. “We’ve lost funding every year since 2002. Our per-pupil foundation grant has not kept pace with inflation.” Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker said the school district had found a buyer for the old administration building, but rezoning the property was a condition of the sale. To help the process along, the City Commission approved rezoning the property from residential to office use. So far, all the city knows about the future of the site is there’s going to be a renovation. “They’re going to enclose the first floor,” Ecker said. “There is currently parking under the building. They’re planning to enclose the first floor and turn it from parking into office space.” The Birmingham City Commission unanimously approved the site’s rezoning, 7-0, on Monday, Aug. 23. Commissioner Tom McDaniel said the rezoning “helps us all” and that the measure gets the property back on the city’s tax rolls. “It’s a good deal for our citizens all the way around,” he said. However, Commissioner Mark Nickita expressed reservations during the public hearing about a precedent for identifying a particular lot or parcel and rezoning it because of a certain circumstance. The building is expected to eventually house medical offices. ■

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■ state Ruth Johnson gets GOP nod in race for secretary of state By Alex Lundberg Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Ruth Johnson beat out four other Republican candidates to represent the GOP in the race to become the next Michigan Secretary of State. She will face off against Democratic candidate Jocelyn Benson in November. Johnson said her nomination as the GOP’s candidate was never a foregone conclusion and that she is “thrilled, honored and humbled” to carry the banner for her party. She said she’d be bringing a track record of achievement, not ideology, to Lansing. “I’m running on proven results,” Johnson said. “My department has won 14 national awards for innovation and identity protection. I’ve shrunk the size of my department and cut more than $1 million from my budget.” Johnson has owned her own business, and has been a member of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners and the Michigan House of Representatives. She was elected to her current post in 2004 and was Republican gubernatorial candidate Dick DeVos’s running mate in 2006. But while she’s making her run for the statewide office, she said her current job isn’t going to suffer. “I’m still going to be the clerk,” Johnson said. “On the weekends I’ll be campaigning in different parts of the state.” One of the items that will stay firmly on her radar is the recent revelation that Democratic party operatives allegedly tried to place fake “Tea Party” candidates on the ballot to confuse voters. “(Oakland County Executive) Brooks Patterson has called for a

grand jury,” she said. “To try to deceive people and siphon votes away from people who are concerned about waste in government, how dare they?” She said the incident proves the state needs a criminal elections unit to prevent future attempts at voter fraud, a preventative tool she said Benson isn’t interested in. “My opponent doesn’t want a requirement for photo ID to vote,” Johnson said. “She wants same-day registration. That’s an open door to increased election fraud.” Patterson said Johnson’s experience as a legislator and county clerk showed party officials she has the skills needed to be the Secretary of State. That she is clerk in the most populous area in Michigan drove home the point that she’d be ready to handle the entire state’s elections, he said. If she wins the post, her successor as the county’s clerk will be chosen by the judges of the Oakland County Circuit Court. The secretary of state is currently paid $124,900 and serves four-year terms. The next person to hold that post will be sworn in on Jan. 1, 2011. ■

Tax breaks sought for businesses hurt by road projects

business. That’s the kind that causes them to consider scaling back on employees.” Patterson’s proposal would give local communities the option to offer up to 50 percent property tax reductions to businesses affected by extended road construction projects. State Sen. Michael Bishop (RRochester) and state Rep. Gail Haines (R-Waterford, West Bloomfield) reportedly have agreed to have Patterson’s proposal drafted as legislation for introduction in their respective chambers. Patterson has pointed toward extensive construction work this summer along Telegraph Road as an example of why his proposal is necessary. Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) Spokesman Rob Morosi said ongoing construction along Telegraph Road is actually three individual projects. The first is a resurfacing of northbound and southbound lanes from 8 Mile Road to I696, the second is a reconstruction of the roadway in both directions from 12 Mile Road to Long Lake, and the third is a reconstruction of the northbound lanes from Square Lake Road to Orchard Lake Road. The Telegraph Road resurfacing and reconstruction work was preced-

ed by the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) contacting landowners with information about planned lane shifts and closures. Morosi said the owners of 450 parcels were notified, although that number doesn’t reflect the accurate number of Telegraph Road businesses impacted by construction. In the case of a shopping area or strip mall, such parcels are counted as a single notification, with the responsibility for contacting individual businesses falling to the owner. Craig Bryson, spokesman for the RCOC, said there’s always an outcry from businesses when area streets get torn up. “This comes up with every major construction project,” he said. “We sympathize, but it’s a tough situation. You can’t tear up and rebuild a road without interrupting traffic.” The RCOC has no control over the Telegraph Road project and has no say over how any taxing authority does its business, according to Bryson. He said he agrees that the Telegraph Road project is more involved than others in the recent past. “The size and duration is something,” he said. “It’s a bigger and longer project than others around the area. I’ve never heard of anyone getting tax relief before.” ■

By Alex Lundberg Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson is asking Lansing officials to provide tax relief for businesses affected by protracted road construction projects. County Media and Communications Officer Bill Mullan said the request comes on the heels of unprecedented outcry from Oakland County businesses. “We were starting to hear from businesses who were really hurting,” he said. “Some of them were seeing a 20- to 50-percent drop in their

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GORGEOUS RESTORED FARMHOUSE! Orig landmark home built in 1880 and totally rebuilt in 2000. All season room, family rm, granite kitchen. Master w/ WIC & bath w/ jetted tub. Walk to downtown Birmingham. SOU 588 $949,000 JUST REDUCED! KATHY WILSON - 248.283.0365

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FABULOUS REDECORATED GEORGIAN COLONIAL On a quiet cul-de-sac this Bingham Farms home features first floor master bedroom suite w/ 2 WICs, Whirlpol tub w/ separate shower. Spacious kitchen w/ granite counters and premium appls. All bedrooms are suites, first floor laundry, full finished lower level w/ gym and recreation rm. Extensive hardwood flooring and wood paneled library. WOO237 $1,395,000 • $8,500 L KATHY WILSON - 248.283.0365

MAGNIFICENT 5 BEDROOM NEW COLONIAL 2005. Bloomfield. Over 8,000 sq. ft. of living space including walk-out LL. This home was built using the finest quality materials, close attention given to every detail. Many of the feats include: double mstr suite, gourmet kit overlooking fam rm & lovely grounds. Mahogany lib. w/ built-ins, custom frnt dr & woodwork t/o. Professional sport crt w/ lighting.$1,199,000 THE APAP TEAM - 248.283.0329

ONE OF A KIND HOME Situated on parklike setting w/ aprx. 2.5 acres. This home is apx. 7000 sq. ft. inlc walk-out & has been cmplt updtd using the highest quality mtrls avail. Few of the updates incl: Brazilian chry hrwd, state of the art home auto system (control 4), custom kit featured in Hour Maazine Ads & cover of Lafata’s Cab Broch. Updated Bth, wine cellar, Hm thtr & more. $1,499,000 THE APAP TEAM - 248.283.0329

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MAGNIFICIENT ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN In downtown B’ham. Newer from the ground up. This home features gourmet kit w/ SS appliances, granite cters, crown mldgs, hrdwd flrs, vaulted ceilings, French doors leading to stone paver patio & custom fireplace in great room. Master suited features tray ceiling, bay window, dual sinks, glass shower & WIC. Space above garage is partially finished adding another 200 sq. ft. Professionally landscaped. THE APAP TEAM - 248.283.0329

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A MOST UNIQUE CONTEMPORARY ON RAVINE! Perfect for executive couple! Backs to Rouge River & ravine. Hardwd flrs. Cozy den, dr w/ sitting area. Great rm with hidden wet bar. Granite kitchen. 1st flr laundry, mater w/ 22 ft WIC, marble bath. One block from downtown Birmingham. GRE200 $939,000 KATHY WILSON - 248.283.0365

GORGEOUS SOFT CONTEMPORARY Absolutely model perfect, soft contemporary home on extra large lot. 4br, 4.2 bath. 4691 sq. ft. U shaped home creates a very private courtyard. FF mstr bdrm suite with his & her WIC. Formal dining rm w/ fp, game room prepped for fp. Home wired for sound, central vac and alarm. Steam shower, 10’ bsmt, 12 cable drops. Home completed in 2005. Excellent buy! BIR115 $825,000 KATHY WILSON - 248.283.0365

MAGNIFICIENT RENOVATED COLONIAL Newer kitchen w/ granite and s.s Appl. Dramatic 2 story foyer with balcony. Fabulous mstr ste w/over 800 sq. ft. of living space sep Private stairway to mstr suite w/ sitting room and fireplace, 2 walk-in closets, stone bath w/ whirlpool tub & granite counters. Freshly painted, gorgeous crown moldings, french doors. Furnace & AC brand new, roof 2006 & new landscaping. $349,900 THE APAP TEAM - 248.283.0329

FABULOUS FAMILY HOME! Most incredible yard! 100 x 130 double lot. Redone colonial w/ large bonus room on 2nd floor. Granite kitchen, first floor master, tons of closet space. Parially finished lower level w/ carpeted crawl space. Attached garage and additional shed for storage. BIR 186 $359,000 KATHY WILSON - 248.283.0365

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POPPLETON PARK NEW CONSTRUCTION! WOW features & design; Brazilian Cherry floors, custom moldings & crowns, transom doorways, GOURMET kitchen w/ 8 x 4 island! FAB bedroom suites. Bsmt prepped for theatre! Elegant in-town Birmingham! DEBBIE BERG - 248.283.0316

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OPEN CONTEMPORARY ON QUIET STREET Excellent contemporary home on pretty over half acre lot on quiet residential portion of HIckory Grove. Wonderful golf community boasts easy access to course. Open, bright fp with lots of oversized windows. Deck off mstr ste overlooks professionally landscaped yard. Wonderful center atrium & sunroom. FF laundry, daylight lower level, cathedral ceilings, meticulously maintained! HIC275 $399,900 KATHY WILSON - 248.283.0365

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DOWNTOWN BIRMINGHAM 2 blks to Townsend Htl. Magnificient historic prop. originally built in 1886 has been 100% restored w/ the highest quality & craftsmanship. Features Brazilian cherry flrs, detailed moldings, custom kit w/ granite, Wolf and SubZero appliances, cherry Lbry, 5 fps, 4.5 baths, finished LL, 3 car garage, carriage house w/ 750 sq. ft. of unfinished space. THE APAP TEAM - 248.283.0329

WONDERFUL FAMILY HOME ON 1.38 ACRE LOT Huge updated kitchen w/ large breakfast area - tons of storage and ff laundry w/ mud room & .5 bath. FF mbr w/ large dressing room and office area that can be WIC. Additional br & den or 3rd br on ff. Wonderful gr w/ bar plus formal dr & lr. 2 large bedrooms up. Finished basement w/ high ceilings. Motivated seller, new to market, excellent buy and location. TOT152 $899,000 KATHY WILSON - 248.283.0365

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BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED BUNGALOW Features 3.5 garage, hw floors, fresh paint, organic garden. Upper suite offers full bath, kitchen, bedroom and living room. Perfect for the sandwich generation, investor seeking rental property or fabulous master suite. 3 Bedroom with 2 full baths. $143,900 DEBBY BENEKER - 248.283.0372

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Tim Smith – Branch Manager 248.770.3717 t.smith@bankofamerica.com THE PAPER

SEPTEMBER 2010

■ business notes Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel, headquartered in Birmingham, recently announced that its relocation and property management divisions are expanding to Troy on Sept. 7 to better serve clients. The divisions, helmed by Carolyn Bowen-Keating, will be heading to the CBWM Troy Sales Office, located at 4700 Rochester Road. ■ Since it’s opening in May, Powerhouse Birmingham has built up its membership to 550 and is growing stronger every month, according to Club Director Jaclin Ruscitti. “The area needed a club,” Ruscitti said. “We are taking fitness to the next level. We’ve been in the business a long time and know how to run a club by putting in top-of-the line products and services. Avid workout people know the difference.” Powerhouse moved into the former Oakland Athletic Club location at 400 East Brown. It revamped the building by constructing a state-of-the-art fitness center complete with Yoga, spinning, and aerobics studios, new showers, coded wooded lockers, and a steam sauna — all laid upon marble-tiled flooring. “We are a full fitness center outside of a pool with professional instructors in a beautiful environment,” Ruscitti said. “In

the future we may be bringing in a Pilates instructor to teach reformers.” Currently business is booming and it hasn’t even hit the busy season yet. “It’s all good,” Ruscitti said. “For just opening during the slow summer months, we exceeded our membership expectations.” ■ Wireless Network, a Verizon Wireless retailer, recently named Marty Rosen as the organization’s new general manager. Rosen has accumulated over 20 years in cellular sales experience. In his new role, he will take the lead in generating sales and solidifying client relations throughout Bloomfield Hills, White Lake Township, Rochester, Warren, Oxford and Sterling Heights. ■ Fredrick Jewelers has relocated its business three suites west of its previous location in the Bloomfield Village Square Plaza. The building facade was redesigned with accents of rich marble and brick, creating a distinguished appearance. Fredrick Jewelers offers a variety of designer jewelry and has recently obtained a gem dealer license. ■ After two years, The Zuma Coffee House, formerly Java Hut, is finally erecting a permanent sign with hopes of attracting more foot traffic. Owners Richard and Lisa Spicko worked with city officials for months before receiving the stamp of approval in mid-September. “We’ve never had a sign on the marquee, just a banner, so it’s exciting to finally get a sign,” Richard said. “We are

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also painting the facade in line with Zuma Coffee House rather than Java Hut. The brick-red and gold color scheme will be reflected on the sign.” Richard said he hopes the sign will attract more business, even though sales are up from last year. “We’re doing better than the previous by a fair amount, but a new sign will get us more recognition and visibility from the street,” he said. Zuma Coffee House sells more than coffee and espresso. Try the turkey chili, minestrone or cheddar broccoli homemade soups, or a variety of pastries and sandwiches. “We are committed to serving the best cappuccinos and coffees in Birmingham,” he said. “We use only the freshest beans and pure water. We are a step above the chains.” Richard is in the process of adding more vegan and vegetarian items to its menu. ■ The Gallery Restaurant, a landmark family eatery located at 6638 Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills since the early 1980s, recently added seasonal seating to replicate a European cafe setting. The new dining area is set up with four tables that accommodate 16 people. It’s adjacent to the restaurant in the Bloomfield Plaza. “People like to eat outside in the open, so we decided to do something that resembles a European cafe,” said owner Stefanos Becharas. The restaurant, known for its “gallery” of artwork, still attracts guests despite the heavy traffic congestion due to construction along Telegraph Road. “Though the traffic is a disaster, we still have have people who come in and like to sit in the cafe,” Becharas said. To set the cafe apart from the main dining room, the owner has erected signs in English, Greek, Hebrew, Italian, and French that translate into “European Cafe.” Seasonal dining is permitted from May through October. The Gallery Restaurant has a sister location in Southfield. Both establishments serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. ■ In celebration of its centennial anniversary, Russell Hardware Company, located at 36280 Woodward Avenue in downtown Birmingham, is in the throes of planning a year-end sale tentatively slated for November or December. Russell Hardware Company was opened in 1910 under the name McBride House of Hardware by original proprietor Harry McBride. Last year, passionate and visionary owner Bill McBride passed away, leaving a significant void. Family friend Alan Brown took the helm out of respect for Bill, as vice president and general manager. “My father and Bill were the best of friends,” Brown said. “We aren’t blood relatives, but darn close. I started working with Bill in high school but he always asked me to come back. I returned to run the purchasing department and stayed another 10 years and then left for 12. Prior to his death, Bill asked me to come back and run the place for him. It’s been a difficult year since he was like a father to me.” Bill’s brother, Jack McBride, is the majority owner but depends on Brown to handle operations.

“I came back on board in late 2006 and did an expansion of the showroom and a complete facelift,” Brown said. Over the years, the company has morphed into a respected decorative and

architectural hardware and plumbing supplier. “The owners wanted to gradually get out of the general hardware business and put the emphasis on decorative and builder’s hardware and decorative plumbing,” Brown said. “In 2006, we put in new product lines and categories, especially decorative plumbing.” Brown said the business’ breadth of decorative plumbing and doorwall hardware is far greater today than it was just 10 years ago. “There’s a greater selection and the public knows about the products, that’s the most dramatic difference,” he said. Two years ago Brown sunk $350,000 into hardware and software installation and revamped the business’ website. “Start to finish my technology is state-of-the-art,” he said. “We made the investment so when the economy rebounds we’ll be lean, without a lot of expense on top.” Business is just beginning to turn the corner after a prolonged lull due to the plunge in the economy. “There’s very little new construction and that was the big part of the business, but now we’re seeing a rebound in home renovations,” he said. According to Brown, the company has survived 100 years because of its business ethic. He said he takes pride in his 16 employees, many of them seasoned veterans. “Our customer service is attentive to detail and we have integrity in the business,” he said. “People deserve what they expect and they get it here. We have a highly-trained staff and many of them have been with us for almost 25 years.” ■ The Sam and Lola’s apparel boutique will begin renovating its existing storefront in the next few months. The quaint shop located at 580 North Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham provides contemporary fashion for children and high-end contemporary clothing for women. “We’ve been here three years and the the front is awful right now,” said coowner Bridget Sagmani. “We tried painting over it, but needless to say we’re glad to have a new storefront.” The city approved the remodel in midSeptember. The project consists of renovating the existing storefront by replacing the wood

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with stone and adding an entrance and new windows. It’s scheduled to be completed by December. ■ Cardiology and Vascular Associates is in the process of consolidating two former locations into one renovated state-ofthe-art existing office building at 42557 Woodward Avenue, south of Square Lake Road. The 23,000-square-foot building is undergoing an overhaul from the ground up, including a new parking lot and landscaping enhancements. The facility will house a team of cardiologists and associated medical professionals that will work together to provide comprehensive service to their patients. “It will improve the quality of care for the patients and be head and shoulders above other practices,” said Technical Director for Nuclear Cardiology Joe Mueller. “Now the physicians and services will all be in one place; therefore, the communication between the doctors will improve.” Testing and bloodwork will be conducted on site, and prescriptions can be filled at the independent pharmacy, an added benefit. A staff of nine cardiologists and five internists will move over from the St. Joseph Professional building in Pontiac and an office building located down the road from the new facility. The medical associates specialize in cardiology and vascular intervention techniques using high-tech equipment for cutting-edge technology. Renovations commenced in May and are expected to be completed and movein ready by Oct. 21. ■ Whether you are computer-savvy or technology-challenged, Birmingham Geek’s opening in downtown Birmingham is meant to provide the community with computer service and support. Co-owners Mac Nutter and Michael Weinberger, together with parent company Pro Active Technologies, opened a few months ago

Michael Weinberger in the former 1-800 Flowers location to attract pedestrian traffic and establish a good rapport with clients. “Our intent was to open a store with a neighborhood feel where we know our customers’ names and offer a friendly alternative,” said Marketing and Advertising Coordinator Christina Francis. Nearly 25 years of computer expertise is shared between the three owners, who pass it along to their patrons. Some of the services rendered at Birmingham Geek include virus removal, data transfer, on-site service, wireless networking, web design, trouble shooting, Mac and PC repair, and computer training.

■ business notes ■ In celebration of his 10th anniversary as a Papa Romano’s franchise owner, Moshe Serour took the plunge and recently relocated his store from Beverly

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Hills to the corner of Maple and Cranbrook in Bloomfield Township. A ribbon-cutting ceremony inaugurated the opening on Aug. 31. “We are very excited about the added visibility on Maple and the new customers that have discovered us,” Serour said. “Yet we are close enough to continue serving our loyal customers in Birmingham and Beverly Hills who have come to be like family over the past 10 years. We’re involved in the community, giving back to the schools and helping our great local charities like Orchard Children’s Services and sponsoring dinner at a local church that provides shelter to the homeless.” The new location features state-ofthe-art ovens that are eco-friendly and energy-efficient, and is a pilot training site for new franchisees and store managers.

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■ Zazios of Birmingham is setting the table for an intimate dinner party as it hosts its first Toscana Winemaker Series, the Diadema Wine Dinner with owner Alberto Giannotti on Oct. 5 beginning at 6:30 p.m. This month the wine is derived from the Donatella Cinelli Colombini winery and presented by its owner and wine maker, Violante Gardini. The evening consists of a five-course meal that is complemented by wine. “The wine maker meets with our Executive Chef Matt Schelliz and matches the food and wine,” said General Manager Fadi Achour. “We’ll be doing one these events every month at the chef’s table with stadium-style seating, so it’s very interactive and fun. The wine maker will be on hand to answer guest questions. People will be afforded the opportunity to purchase wine to take home. The cost is $125 per person with food, wine, tax and tip included. The event is limited to 36 people to make the evening more fun and intimate. “It’s very popular at our restaurant in Kalamazoo and will be our first in Birmingham,” Achour said. Call Zazio’s at 248.530.6400 for reservations. ■ Business items from the BirminghamBloomfield community are reported by Leslie Shepard-Owsley. E-mails to leslieowsley@thescngroup.com must be received two weeks prior to publication.

OCTOBER 2010

■ snapshot

grace kowalski

race Kowalski’s lyrical movements and tenacious drive for perfection has earned her a spot in one of the most illustrious ballet programs in the country for the second year in a row. The 15-year-old Birmingham resident attended the School of American Ballet in New York City on a full scholarship and was one of only 200 students accepted into the program out of thousands who auditioned internationally. “It is an honor when so many other people want it, and to get it is such a great feeling,” Kowalski said. Kowalski practices 15 hours a week, excluding Saturday rehearsals. She annually performs The Nutcracker, a spring recital and travels to Regional Dance America to attend Three’s Company, a collaboration with Chicago and Ohio dance troupes. Kowalski is insightfully grounded and views her life as a balancing act between family, school and perfecting her craft. “I don’t get a lot of sleep,” she said. “If my homework isn’t done by the time I get home from school, I’ll do it during my 15 minute breaks.” Kowalski cites her dance instructor as the catalyst for her success. “It comes down to my director and how she pushes us to do our best,” she said. “It's my director who gets me this far.” Kowalski’s love of ballet began at the tender age of 3, when her mother took her to see The Nutcracker performed. “I saw the mice running around and thought that if I worked really hard I could be one of them, so that became my goal,” she said.

By the time Grace turned seven, she wanted to pursue ballet exclusively rather than spread herself too thin by taking other forms of dance. “I guess I just had a love for ballet,” she said. "It takes more concentration than let's say tap, and my teacher at the time suggested I try Geiger’s studio (the Geiger Classic Ballet Academy in Bloomfield Hills) for more training.” Grace’s rigorous training and demanding schedule has made her acutely aware of her family’s constant support. “My family does everything for me,” she said. “My brothers give up so much for me and never complain, even if we can't go on vacation.” Being selected as one of the best among her peers two years running may be a high point for some, but Grace said that one of her proudest moments was dancing for the underprivileged and seeing the sparkle in their eyes. “Performing in front of those who can't afford it and knowing they came to watch me means a lot,” she said. Kowalski views ballet as a character builder that teaches strong work ethic and is the capstone to everything she endeavors to do. "Ballet is really hard, but if you slack off you won't succeed,” she said. “Like everything in life you have to want it and work for it. You can’t give up just because it’s hard. Ballet gives you determination, poise and confidence — everything you need in life.” — Leslie Shephard-Owsley — The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard

■ eating out The Eating Out directory for The Paper is just that, a guide to dining establishments where patrons can go to eat. Many, if not most, of these eateries also allow for takeout orders. If an establishment serves beer(B), wine(W) or liquor (L), the listing indicates such. Likewise, if breakfast (B), lunch (L) or dinner (D) is served, we indicate by code and then the days it is offered. 220: A one-of-a-kind Birmingham restaurant specializing in steaks and fresh seafood with an Italian flair, complemented by a fine selection of distinguished American, Italian and global wines. Located in the historic Edison Building in the heart of downtown Birmingham. B, W, L. L & D, Monday-Saturday. 220 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.2150. Akshay Indian Cuisine: Featuring Indo Chinese, South Indian, Northern Indian and Tandoori (Clay Oven) dishes. Spicy flavors compliment the relaxed and elegant atmosphere. Reasonable pricing makes Akshay Indian Cuisine a local favorite. L & D, Tuesday Sunday. 1615 S. Opdyke Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.858.2315. Andiamo: Andiamo’s offers Northern Italian decor amid a chic dining spot. A favorite among many area celebrities. Featuring traditional Italian dishes in an elegant dining room or live music in the lounge. An extensive wine list and selection of desserts. B, W, L. L & D, daily. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301. 248.865.9300.

roni and cheese, mashed potatoes and casseroles to pair with a main dish. L & D, daily. 42983 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.334.5559. Brandy’s Steakhouse: A cozy ambiance, private dining room and traditional dishes can be expected at Brandy’s. Offering salads, seafood, pastas and Brandy’s signature steaks. B,W,L. L, Monday-Saturday; D, daily. 1727 South Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.338.4300. Breakaway Deli: Breakaway Deli features a variety of house sandwiches as well as a meatfree zone for vegetarians. B & L, MondaySaturday; D, Monday-Friday. 71 West Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.642.2900. Brooklyn Pizza: Brooklyn Pizza features New York-style pizza by the slice, homemade cookies and ice cream. L & D, daily. 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6690. Cafe Via: A high-end downtown eatery featuring an elegant setting as well as a patio courtyard. Grilled salmon, roasted chicken, crabcakes and lambchops are some favorites at Cafe Via. B, W, L. L & D, Monday-Saturday. 310 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8800. Cameron’s Steakhouse: Featuring dry aged and prime steak with an impressive wine list. Cameron’s is a classic steakhouse. B, W, L. D, daily. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.1700.

Beau Jacks: Known for its superior whitefish and popular salads, Beau Jacks offers certified black angus beef as well as vegetarian and heartconscious items. The menu features chili, onion loaf, baked spinach and artichoke dip, croissants and wraps. B, W, L. L, Monday-Saturday; D, daily. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.2630.

Chen Chow Brasserie: The decor and menu selection at Chen Chow Brasserie create a most elegant dining experience. Main courses include Pan Seared Tofu, Tamarind Glazed Salmon, Miso Sea Bass, Steamed Halibut, Dashi & Udon and more. Extensive wine list. B, W, L. D, daily. 260 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.2469.

Beyond Juice: Offering Meal-in-a-Cup creations, sandwiches and a variety of desserts. Greek, seasoned chicken, tuna and garden salads also available, along with homemade Belgian waffles and jumbo muffins. B & L, daily; D, Monday-Saturday. 270 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.7078.

China Village: A warm environment featuring China Village’s famous sesame and General Tso’s Chicken. L & D daily. 1655 Opdyke, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.758.1221.

Big Boy: Big Boy features its classic diner burgers, breakfast specials and popular dessert menu. With its famous Big Boy sandwich and soup and salad bar, its a hometown diner for the whole family. B, L & D, daily. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.642.0717. Big Rock Chophouse: Big Rock Chophouse’s 4-star, award-winning menu offers flavorful recipes centered around enormous, hand-cut aged steaks, lamb chops and fresh seafood. Featuring an on-site brew house, the restaurant also boasts an extensive wine cellar, complete with more than 400 fine wine and champagne selections. B, W, L & D, Monday-Saturday. 245 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774. Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Featuring Japanese and American fusion-style fare, the cafe specializes in sushi, beef teriyaki, bibimbap and some kobe beef. The atmosphere is a relaxing, familystyle environment. L & D, daily. 377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8880. Birmingham Tower Deli: Gourmet delicatessen located in downtown Birmingham features Boars Head meats and cheeses, soups, salads, burgers and pizza. Catering available. B, L & D, Monday-Friday. 280 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Ste. 105, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.9730. Bloomfield Deli: With a large selection of sandwiches and wraps, Bloomfield Deli also offers several different varieties of grilled cheese sandwiches, grilled chicken wraps and breakfast sandwiches. Also offering fresh salads and a salad bar with 20 different vegetables and fruits. B & L, Monday-Friday. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.645.6879. Boston Market: Features sirloin, beef brisket, turkey, meatloaf and rotisserie chicken. Boston Market offers soup, steamed vegetables, maca-

Cityscape Deli: Cityscape offers homemade soups and a wide variety of custom carved sandwiches, pasta salads, bean and couscous and Hungarian beef goulash. Homemade healthy sides compliment fresh deli sandwiches. B, L & D, Monday-Saturday. 877 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.540.7220. Cosi: With a signature flatbread, sandwiches, melts, soups, salads and a kids menu, Cosi offers options for all diners. B, W. B, L & D daily. 101 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.9200. Crust: An upscale restaurant, with an open kitchen and dining room decor with natural wood elements. Full menu includes Neapolitan, thin crust pizzas, salads, sandwiches and small plates. B, W, L. L and D, daily. 6622 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301. 248.855.5855. Deli Unique of Bloomfield Hills: A menu featuring eight different deli sandwiches and an extensive breakfast menu. B & L, daily. 39495 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7923. Dick O’Dow’s: Offering Irish classics and home cooking, including stuffed chicken, wild Irish salmon and, of course, shepherd’s pie. B, W, L. L & D, daily. 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.1135. Einstein Bros. Bagels: Featuring a huge assortment of bagels, sandwiches and specialty coffees. B & L, daily. 176 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.9888. Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Lebanese dishes from stuffed grape leaves to taboulee and humus. B, W, L. L & D, Monday Saturday. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2420. Embers Deli & Restaurant: Pita sandwiches, soups, burgers, hot dogs and melts available. An extensive breakfast menu includes egg specials, breakfast roll-ups, omelettes, breakfast sandwiches and sides. B &L, daily. 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.645.1033.

Forest Grill: Forest Grill’s seasonal menu showcases house-made charcuterie, raw bar, clay oven-baked pizzas and traditional bistro dishes. Influenced by French, Italian and contemporary American cuisine with an emphasis on simplicity and flavor. Extensive wine list, including a number of regional wines from boutique vinters and Michigan vineyards. B, W, L. L, Monday-Friday; D, Monday-Saturday. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9400. Forté Restaurant: With beautiful decor and lavish cuisine, Forte offers a complete dining experience, including an extensive wine list. Renowned chefs present a complete breakfast menu as well. B, W, L. B, L & D, daily. 201 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.7300. Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: An American steakhouse with a contemporary flair featuring aged prime beef, market fresh seafood and an award-winning wine list. B, W, L & D, daily. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134. Fuddrucker’s: With simple recipes and madefrom-scratch buns, Fuddrucker’s offers burgers, chicken, fish, salad, and a kids menu. B, W. L & D, daily. 42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.333.2400. Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Featuring sandwiches, salads and Coney Island classics. Breakfast is available anytime. B, L & D, daily. 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222. Hogan’s Restaurant: Casual atmosphere and homemade fare, Hogan’s offers steak, seafood, burgers, a vegetarian and children’s menu. A tavern-type environment is also available to patrons. B, W, L. L & D, daily. 6450 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.626.1800. House of India: A casual dining experience with traditional east Indian fare featuring vegetarian plates and specialties such as lamb curry and Tandoori chicken. L & D, daily. 1615 S. Opdyke, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0201. Hunter House Hamburgers: Featuring high quality, gourmet hamburgers. Recently voted Number One Burger in Michigan by Food Network Magazine and “20 Burgers You Must Eat Right Now” in June 2009 Gourmet Magazine. B, Monday-Saturday; L & D daily. 35075 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.7121. IHOP: From creatively flavored pancakes to steaks, sandwiches and salads, IHOP is best known for its breakfast fare. B, L & D, daily. 2187 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.333.7522. Jade Tiki Restaurant: Authentic Chinese cuisine serving signatures dishes like Sesame Chicken, General Tsao's Chicken, Szechwan Chicken, Sweet & Sour Pork, and Beef & Broccoli. Carry out available. B, L. L & D, daily. 3250 S. Boulevard, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.852.8181. Kerby’s Koney Island: Kerby’s offers a special chili recipe, lean meats and a wide variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner specialties. B, L, & D, daily. 2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills. 248.333.1166. Kirk’s Open Pit Bar B Que: Serving barbecue ribs that are slow cooked and covered in a smoky sauce, Kirk’s also offers barbeque and broasted chicken, seafood, homemade macaroni and cheese, peach and apple cobbler, and sweet potato pies. B, L & D, Tuesday- Sunday. 33766 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7010. La Marsa: Authentic recipes are the secret ingredient for La Marsa's continued success. Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine is served in a casual dining atmosphere. From kabobs to rice pudding, fare is healthy and fresh. Signature items include tabboulli, hommous, lamb chops, and chicken kabobs. L & D, daily. 43259 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.5800.

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Leo’s Coney Island: Greek specialties, burgers and coneys are offered along with omelettes, breakfast specials, soups and salads. B, L & D, daily. 6527 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301 (248.646.8568) and at 154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.8568. Little Daddy’s Parthenon: Featuring Greek fare, like hand-carved gyros, Little Daddy’s Parthenon offers oven roasted turkey, gourmet sandwiches and house-made food. B, L & D, daily. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.647.3400. Max & Erma’s: Features a family-friendly environment with a variety of burgers, an assortment of salads and a signature tortilla soup, plus steaks, ribs and fajitas. B, W, L. L & D, daily. 250 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.1188. Mirage Cafe: Mediterranean fare with healthy options and menu items made fresh daily. Among customer favorites are the chicken lemon rice and lentil soup, chicken shawarma and chicken cream chop. The cafe also offers Caribou Coffee, smoothies and an assortment of desserts. L & D, daily. 297 E. Maple Avenue, Birmingham 48009. 248.731.7768. Mitchell’s Fish Market: Accepting daily delivery of a wide variety of fresh fish flown in from all coasts, the atmosphere is that of an upscale seafood restaurant. Also features a lively bar area. B, W, L. L & D, daily. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.3663. Mountain King: Chinese restaurant serving fried rice, sesame chicken, General Tso’s chicken and standard Chinese favorites. L & D, daily. 469 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2913. New Bangkok Thai Bistro: Featuring a Thai atmosphere and variety of Thai specialties such as duck, noodles, seafood and curries. Also offering soups, salads, fried rice and appetizers. B, Monday Thursday; L, Monday-Friday; D, daily. 183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2181. Northern Lakes Seafood Co: Serving a signature lobster reuben for lunch and a Chilean sea bass for dinner. The seasonal menu includes a soft shell crab, lobster bisque and Columbia river king salmon. B, W, L. L, Monday-Friday; D, daily. 39495 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.0370. Old Woodward Deli: With a wide variety of sandwiches, soups, and salads, Old Woodward Deli prides itself on delivering fresh and homemade meals. Reubens are the No. 1 best seller. Hours are 10 a.m.-2:45 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. 768 N. Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.0768. Olga’s Kitchen: Olga’s offers fresh and unique flavored appetizers, sandwiches, soups and salads. Grilled to-order Olga bread available. L & D daily. 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500 and at 138 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2760. Peabody’s: With rustic beams and subtle lighting, Peabody’s offers unique sandwiches and salads, along with fresh seafood, house prime rib, signature steaks and pastas. B, W, L. L & D, daily. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.5222. Pancake House: Best known for breakfast fare, the Original Pancake House has a varied menu. B, L & D, daily. 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5775. Panera Bread: A variety of soups, sandwiches and desserts., plus an on-site bakery. B, L & D, daily. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48309. 248.203.7966 and at 2125 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.253.9877. Pasta Fagioli: Pasta Fagioli brings the taste of southern Italy to every table. Offering a large variety of homemade pastas and unique entrees at moderate prices. Favorites include angel hair pasta infused with lobster, shrimp and portobello mushrooms tossed in fresh tomato basil

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sauce; spinach and ricotta ravioli; and a smorgasbord of chicken and veal dishes. It's namesake soup, Pasta Fagioli, is comfort food for the soul. Delectable desserts such as Tiramisu and Ray's Ice Cream, and Spumoni, complement any meal. L & D, weekdays; D, weekends. 2398 Franklin Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.332.1111. Phoenicia: A special dining experience, Phoenicia offers all the traditional dishes of Lebanon. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. B, W, L. L, Monday-Friday; D, daily. 248.644.3122. Pita Cafe: Middle Eastern fare featuring chicken shawarma, sweet salad, fattoush, Greek salad, lambchops, seafood and taboulee. Pita Cafe is known for its fantastic garlic spread. L & D, daily. 239 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.6999. Pizza Papalis & Rio Wraps: Full menu includes rio wraps, pizzas, salads, soups, pasta and desserts; known for its Chicago-style deep dish pizza. L & D, daily. 4036 Telegraph Road, Ste.106, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.540.7722. Qdoba: A one-of-a-kind Mexican grill restaurant, Qdoba features tacos, salads, nachos, quesadillas and more. L & D, daily. 795 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.988.8941. Quattro Cucina Italiana: A high-end setting offering Osso Buco and Branzino filet among several signature Italian dishes. With a relaxing, open atmosphere, Quattro features a variety of pastas, soups, salads and an extensive wine list. B,W,L. L, Monday-Friday; D, daily. 203 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.606 Quiznos: A signature toasting style creates crisp edges, melted cheese, sizzling meat and warm bread. Choose from over 20 oven-toasted subs, five flatbread chopped salads, 10 sammies, five torpedoes & bullets and soups. Offering a full children’s menu and new, on-site catering. L & D daily. 185 N Old Woodward,

Birmingham, 48009. 248.540.7827. Rio Wraps: Features burritos, salads and deli wraps. L & D, daily. 42805 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.540.7722. Salvatore Scallopini: Salvatore Scallopini offers fresh prepared daily Italian dishes, appetizers and a variety of desserts. B, W. L & D, daily. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977. Sandella’s Flatbread Cafe: A casual cafe offering health-conscious options. Grilled paninis, sandwiches, grilled flatbreads, chopped salads and quesadillas are featured. L & D daily. 172 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200 South: Gourmet southwest fare set in an atmosphere akin to South Beach Miami. Homemade fare includes signature items such as swordfish, fish tacos, and grilled tuna. Large outdoor patio in front with a full length bar inside, private dining, and dancing club at the rear. Extensive wine and cocktail lists. B, W, L. L & D, daily. Open 7 days a week, 11 p.m.-2 a.m. 210 S. Old Woodward Ave., Ste. 100, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.8133. Steve’s Deli: Classic and popular deli featuring a wide variety of soups, sandwiches and deserts. B, L & D, daily. 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.932.0800. Streetside Seafood: Streetside has developed a reputation for fresh fish, oysters and other seafood on a seasonal menu B,W,L. L, MondayFriday; D, daily. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.9123. Sushi Hana: Sushi Hana’s menu includes tempura, teriyakis, yakitori, fried egg, seafood, vegetables and more. Offers traditional Japanese fare as well as some Korean dishes. L, MondayFriday; D, Monday-Saturday. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.3887. Sy Thai Cafe: A casual dining atmosphere, Sy

Thai serves orange duck, noodle dishes, stirfried mussels with onions and all the usual Thai classics. L & D, daily. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830.

taste, including signature breakfast food to burgers. B, W, L. B & L, daily; D, Monday-Saturday. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: Featuring wine varieties from regions all over the world, Tallulah offers wine by the bottle, half bottle and glass. American fare is on the menu with a farmto-table concept. Dishes are made fresh daily with organic, local products. Indoor and seasonal patio seating available. B, W, L. B, D, Wednesday-Sunday. 155 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.731.7066.

Tokyo Sushi & Grill: A cozy sushi bar offering sashimi, soba noodle dishes, teriyakis, tempura, all the traditional Japanese dishes, and, of course, sushi. L & D, daily. 225 E. Maple Rd., Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6501.

The Corner Bar: Part of the Townsend Hotel complex, The Corner Bar offers a lighter fare from 5-7 p.m. that includes sliders and salads. B, W, L. D, Wednesday-Saturday. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2958. The Gallery Restaurant: Family restaurant in an art gallery environment offering full menu. American fare includes omelettes, sandwiches and a variety of salads. B, L & D, daily. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.851.0313. The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: The Moose Preserve features a full menu, including fresh fish, barbecue ribs and certified black angus steak. B, W, L. L & D, daily. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688. The Phat Sammich: Offers 70 different sandwiches, five daily soup specials and salads. Homemade fare is prepared fresh daily and weekday lunch delivery is available. L & D, daily. 34186 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0860 The Rugby Grille: Conveniently located inside Birmingham’s Townsend Hotel and offering a luxury dining experience. B, W, L. B, L & D, daily. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999. Toast: With a modern retro style, Toast offers American dishes with a touch of southwestern

TOPZ: Offering homemade fare, featuring Michigan vendors and local Michigan products, TOPZ prides itself on its air-baked, non-fried fries, nuggets, onion rings, burgers, chili and soups. L & D, daily. 327 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.220.1108. Whistle Stop Cafe: Voted among the best diners in America by Good Morning America, this eatery boasts of its local roots and feel. B & L, daily; D, Monday-Friday. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.5588. Zazios: Featuring modern Italian cuisine along with an extensive wine list and an interactive Chef's Table. The 10,000-square-foot space boasts a bi-level kitchen, seating for 210, thermoelectric wine cellars, the Z Lounge, a 40-seat bar with an extensive martini list, and private dining. Italian fare infused with a Mediterranean influence. Signature small plate items include seared sea scallops, polenta with telaggio fonduta, and crisp shrimp and calamari. Assaggini tastings, and pastas, seafood, and meat entrees available. B, W, L. D, daily. 34977 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.530.6400. Want your eating establishment listed? There is no charge for this directory in The Paper but there are a couple of rules. An eatery must be located in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township or Bloomfield Hills and must have tables where patrons can dine in. Send your information via fax (248.360.1220) or e-mail to news@thescngroup.com.

INDIANA…October 2 PENN STATE…October 30 PURDUE…November 13 OHIO STATE…November 27 This Fall, Flagship Private Air’s “Big Ten Shuttle” will make sure you’re at every game - whether it’s home or away. Charter your own private plane from Pontiac or Troy and arrive in South Bend, Bloomington, State College, West Lafayette or Columbus in time for kick-off. Call 734.929.1477 today to reserve your seat aboard Flagship Private Air.

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■ municipal Commissioners to study use of 9/11 steel in memorial By Alex Lundberg The Birmingham City Commission will be further researching whether or not to use structural steel from the World Trade Center in a proposed memorial that’s intended to be placed at the Adams Road fire station. DeAnn Ervin presented the petition to the commission and explained that her friend, Kia Pecorelli, lost her husband when the first plane hit the World Trade Center. She was pregnant at the time and nine years afterward she was still feeling the pain. The two of them came to the City Commission meeting on Monday, Sept. 13 to present a petition against the use of World Trade Center steel in any memorial. Using steel that was once part of that building is offensive, Ervin said, and there’s no reason for a memorial to be offensive to anyone. “The city should plant a tree or create a garden fountain,” she said. “We shouldn’t use an image of death.” She said Pecorelli and the rest of the more than 100 petition signers don’t oppose the placement a 9/11 memorial in the city, but they do take issue with the use of steel from the actual Ground Zero site. Commissioner Scott Moore said there are no villains in this particular situation. “Everybody’s good here, everybody’s right here,” he said. “What we’ve heard tonight is material and substantial but there is no wrong party.” He said when he and the rest of the commission thought the memorial was a done deal when it was presented to them in July and didn’t know that Pecorelli had such strong feelings about the issue. The memorial is being paid for entirely with private funds but it’s being proposed for a public space, the Adams Road fire station. Moore said he would like for there to be a middle ground struck between the people who signed the petition and the family that is paying for the memorial. “Unless there’s a compromise, (the commission) will make a decision.” Commissioner Tom McDaniel said there was no reason the memorial couldn’t be made without the steel from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey. According to city officials, the fairly-small structure will paid for by a local family Page 46 ❯ www.oaklandpaper.com

Transit center site plan shaping up Birmingham planners to consider final OK in coming months By Kirk Pinho

he Birmingham Planning Board has granted approval to a preliminary site plan for the proposed Birmingham/Troy Transit Center and is expected to consider final site plan approval in the coming months, and the Troy Planning Commission has made a recommendation that the Troy City Council approve the plans. The two planning bodies’ decisions came in a joint meeting held Wednesday, Sept. 8. Additional discussion will take place among Birmingham Planning Board members in the coming months before they consider approval of a final site plan. The Troy City Council will vote on the preliminary site plans at some point soon, before the Troy Planning Commission proceeds with deliberations on a final site plan, according to Birmingham City Planner Jana Ecker. Troy Planning Director R. Brent Savidant couldn’t be reached prior to this posting for comment. In other transit center news, an evidentiary hearing for a new court motion filed by Grand Sakwa has been postponed from its originallyscheduled date of Wednesday, Sept. 8. Instead, a status conference has been tentatively slated for Sept. 29, according to Troy City Attorney Lori Bluhm. “It’s a normal thing,” she said. “It’s really to get the scheduling on the case perfect.” While Birmingham officials haven’t closed on two parcels of property owned by the Birmingham School District, the transactions are moving forward, Ecker said. The two small parcels are situated at the end of Holland Street, west

of Eton, and would provide access to the intermodal transit center. The proposed transit center has been on the communities’ radars for over a decade. It’s expected to consist of an Amtrak platform, a public plaza, parking, a pedestrian tunnel and sidewalks for access to the platform in Birmingham and linkage to the transit center building, which would be located in Troy. The concept of a transit center first surfaced in 1999, when developer Grand Sakwa sought to purchase the former Ford New Holland Tractor site in Troy. Grand Sakwa filed a lawsuit against Troy to get the zoning the firm wanted for the site. A consent judgment in that suit allowed for the development Grand Sakwa desired, with the stipulation that the firm give the city of Troy a portion of the land, approximately 4 acres, along the railroad tracks at the TroyBirmingham border for use as a transit center, as long as construction began by June 2010. Under the consent judgment in the lawsuit entered on June 2, 2000, the parcel located near Maple and Coolidge roads in Troy has since become Midtown Development and Midtown Square. Grand Sakwa argues in its new motion that the consent judgment stipulated, at least in part, on the transit center being fully-funded by June 2, 2010, and that if that didn’t occur, the property would revert back to the development company. In March 2010, Troy and Birmingham acquired federal and state funding, as well as federal and state grants totaling over $8.5

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million to fully fund the center. Final plans are being drawn, but construction has not yet begun. “The Transportation Center has not been constructed and Plaintiff (Grand Sakwa) reasonably believes that the Transportation Center was not fully funded as of June 2, 2010, as required by Paragraphs 12 and 13 of the Judgment and Deed,” the company’s new motion states. The new court documents also state: “The City (of Troy) has admitted that the Transportation Center must be fully funded in order to avoid the reversion of the Transportation Center Parcel to Plaintiff.” The new motion also states that the city attorney requested additional time, until the end of 2015, to fund the project. After correspondence between Grand Sakwa and Troy officials, according to the court documents, Troy responded eight days after the June 2 reversion date “through self-serving statements” that they had “potential commitments for funding” that “fulfilled the requirements” set forth in the June 2, 2000 consent judgment. The lawsuit requests the Oakland County Circuit Court to declare that the property has reverted back to Grand Sakwa, that the city of Troy execute a quit claim deed on the property, that an evidentiary hearing be scheduled “to determine whether Defendant City (Troy) has funded the Transportation Center” as stipulated by the original consent judgment, and that costs and attorney fees for Grand Sakwa are paid for by Troy. ■ 45

■ municipal ❯ Page 45 who had a relative survive

the terrorist attacks in New York City. In February, the Birmingham Public Arts Board explored whether there was enough financial support to move forward with a memorial proposal. The board determined in a meeting that month that about $20,000 was needed to obtain a piece of steel for use as a public art display or memorial. Other communities are working to get pieces of the World Trade Center steel for memorials, as well. The City of Wixom is planning fund raising events to offset the cost of transporting a piece of structural steel for their 9/11 memorial project. ■

New ordinance allows bistros in city’s Rail District The Birmingham Planning Board has unanimously approved an ordinance that would allow for bistro operations in a substantial portion of the city’s Rail District. The ordinance, which was approved unanimously on Wednesday, Sept. 8, must still get the City Commission’s blessing. Matt Baka of the Birmingham

Planning Department said a final decision from the city’s governing body on the expanded bistro area could come by late next month. A public hearing would have to be held before the commission votes on the matter. Mayor Pro Tem Gordon Rinschler said that while traffic has been a concern for some residents in the past and he expects that issue to arise again with the proposal to expand the city’s bistro operation area, he also expects that a majority of the City Commission will support the proposal. Bistro license applicants must undergo a rigorous process in order to provide al fresco service in the city. The City Commission can only dole out two bistro licenses to new business each year, and two bistro licenses to established businesses without liquor licenses each year. “It’s a very well-controlled, tight process,” Rinschler said. Bistros are currently allowed in the downtown area and the city’s Triangle District under 2007 rules the City Commission passed. Originally, the Rail District was included in the plans for bistros, but city officials wanted to offer bistros in the well-established downtown and Triangle District areas first as a

test of their success, according to Baka. Thus far, the effort has been successful. “I think that the bistros have been a spectacular success,” Rinschler said. The Rail District’s boundaries are Eton Road, the railroad tracks to the east, and Lincoln to the south. ■

Public hearing on medical marijuana ordinance planned By Brooke Meier A public hearing on a proposed medical marijuana ordinance is expected to be held at the Bloomfield Township Planning Commission’s first meeting in October, before the proposal is presented to the township board. Township officials have discussed several possible provisions in a medical marijuana ordinance, including: • Defining medical marijuana usage for a patient; • Prohibiting cultivation and/or distribution; • Allowing up to two medical marijuana patients per residential dwelling;

• Clarifying the purpose of registration; and • Permitting medical marijuana usage in R-1, R-2, R-3 One-Family, RM Multiple Family, and PRD Planned Residential Development districts. “We are still working on the ordinance language and draft staff reports,” said Patti Voelker, the township’s director of planning, building and ordinance. “We are still having discussions on what that final language will be. That won’t be finalized until we have the information finalized for the meeting packets.” In July, the township extended its medical marijuana moratorium until Oct. 12. The moratorium is meant to give township planners and officials time to study areas within the township where medical marijuana facilities might be permissible. As part of the moratorium, an appeals board was put in place to allow medical marijuana caregivers an opportunity to make their case, and possibly receive approval to do business in the township, while township officials draft a proposed ordinance. In November 2008, Michigan became the 13th state in the nation to legalize marijuana for medical use by an overwhelming statewide vote. The law requires patients Page 47 ❯

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■ municipal ❯ Page 46 to carry identification

cards issued by the state, and caregivers to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility. A caregiver can help up to five patients, and may grow 12 plants per patient. In April, Bloomfield Township Supervisor Dave Payne informed the township board that officials were discussing limiting all medical marijuana facilities to operate in a research park district off Franklin Road, north of Square Lake Road. Payne, and the township board, have stressed in the past that medical marijuana is strictly a land-use issue for the township. ■

Medical marijuana ordinance adopted by Bloomfield Hills By Alex Lundberg Bloomfield Hills residents may use medical marijuana if prescribed to them, but a new ordinance passed by the City Commission forbids its cultivation or sale. At its Tuesday, Sept. 14 meeting, the city’s governing body voted unanimously to prevent anyone from creating a dispensary or so-called “compassion club” anywhere within city limits. City Attorney William Hampton said coming up with a way for patients to legitimately use prescribed marijuana but prohibit providers from cultivating or distributing the medicine seems to be the common action for most cities and townships around the state. “It’s what’s being done by most enlightened communities,” he said. The ordinance allows medical marijuana patients to use the drug at their home only. What the commission doesn’t want, he said, is a storefront operation in the business district. The other thing they don’t want is an armed showdown arising from a misunderstanding. “It’s a problem from a law enforcement point of view,” he said. “The real problem is people violating the law by flagrantly selling marijuana. That’s a serious problem.” The word from the Obama administration is that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) is to respect state laws regarding medical marijuana, but open sales are not legal and within the DEA’s scope of duties to pursue. “When the DEA comes to bust a drug ring, they knock down doors,” Hampton said. “Someone might think their house is being robbed and pull a gun.” www.oaklandpaper.com

New programming Bloomfield system launches shows

loomfield Community Television (BCTV) premiered two new shows late last month. The first, Real People, is produced by Dwight Presser and directed by BCTV staff member Steve Rota. The show profiles ordinary people with interesting lives. The first episode features Michael Slanaker, a butcher at Long Lake Market, and Nancy Johnson Chavez, a personal trainer. The second, Five Star Cooking at Home, is produced by John Prepolec and also directed by Rota. The show centers around “Johnny Prep,” a talented chef who shares recipes and techniques as he demonstrates cooking for the family with flair and an emphasis on locally produced foods. In the first episode, viewers can learn how to cook mouth-

All of this, he said, can be added to the list of things the state Legislature needs to address when they put a finer point on the law concerning medical marijuana. “The law was created by the initiative process, not the Legislature, and it’s poorly written,” he said. “Without clarification from the Legislature, a lot of cases are going to end up in court. They need to step up to their responsibilities.” Mayor Pro-Tem Pat Hardy agreed, saying that state lawmakers need to “take the bull by the horns” and clean up the law so that there aren’t so many gray areas where people can get into trouble. “I know some people, a young husband and wife, who got a license and were growing in their home,” she said. “They saw those raids last month and they were terrified. The citizens of Michigan approved of (medical marijuana) by ballot initiative. It should be allowed.” While there is no way of knowing how many Bloomfield Hills residents are directly concerned with the legal state of medical marijuana — the lists of patients and caregivers are exempt from Freedom of Information Act requests — 62 percent of city residents voted to allow use of the drug for medicinal purposes when it appeared on the 2008 ballot. ■

watering pasta dishes. Both Presser and Prepolec are Bloomfield Township residents who began their association with BCTV by attending a volunteer workshop. Anyone interested in learning camera techniques, producing a show or volunteering on current shows can sign up for the next workshop scheduled for Tuesday, Sept. 21. People interested in attending can choose from two sessions. The first will be from 10 a.m. to noon, and the second from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. There is no charge to attend. The workshop will cover basic camera operation and procedures, and qualifies attendees to serve as crew on both studio and on-location shoots. To register, call BCTV at 248433-7790. ■

Event to promote DIA in Birmingham later this month By Alex Lundberg Organizations, businesses and individuals who treasure the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) are holding events all around the metro Detroit area to raise awareness, and funds, for a jewel of a museum. She, a women’s clothing store at 4076 West Maple Road in Bloomfield Hills, will host a trunk/designer show from clothing designer Gender Bias from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 22 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 23. The designer will be at the store both days and 10 percent of all sales on those days will go to benefit the DIA. DIA Founders Junior Council President Nicole Wagner, a Birmingham resident, said the event at the upscale women’s clothing store is just one of a series being run all over the Detroit area. “We had the ‘Cirque’ masked ball at several venues over the summer and Art Scene events over the past year,” she said. “All of them are set up to get young people interested in the DIA.” Six years ago, Wagner herself was one of those people who was lured to an Art Scene event downtown. She had just returned to the area from Chicago and was reconnecting with her hometown.

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“I fell in love with the DIA all over again,” she said. Sharon Eisenshtadt, the owner of She, said the DIA is a wonderful, important and under-appreciated asset. “We have a great resource with the DIA. It’s a great museum right here in our city and a lot of people don’t take advantage of it,” she said. “It’s an amazing, beautiful place that people should support.” The stock show is the second DIA event held at She in the past two years. For more information about the Detroit Institute of Arts, visit the museum’s website at www.dia.org. For more information about She, visit the store’s website at www.shebloomfield.com. ■

Day program for adults gets eviction reprieve from judge By Brooke Meier A judge has granted an extension to a temporary restraining order that will allow an adult day program for 93 severely cognitively- and/or physically-impaired adults to stay in the former Meadow Lake Elementary School building in Bloomfield Township. The New Gateways program has been leasing 60 percent of the former elementary school, a building owned by Birmingham Public Schools, since 2000 and never encountered any problems, according to their attorney, Barry Powers. “This is a non-residential day program that provides these adults with educational programming and life skills training, largely through the use of state and federal government benefits,” he said. On Wednesday, Sept. 1, Oakland County Circuit Court Visiting Judge Edward Avadenka approved a “stipulated status quo order” that permits the New Gateways program to remain in place and operating at Meadow Lake until Oct. 6. The trouble for New Gateways, whose lease with the school district ends in March 2011, began on Aug. 10. According to Powers, a person living in a home next to the school called the state Fire Marshal and filed a complaint. The complaint was said to be so serious that it warranted a site inspection. There was construction taking place in the portion of the school not used by New Gateways. That end of the school houses two French schools, according to Powers. “They had been doing some construction, but that had nothing to do with the New Gateways program and there was no construction on the portion of the school (New Gateways) leases,” he said. Page 48 ❯ 47

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Dingman came to inspect the building and, according to his report, found several things meriting citations in the portion of the school under construction. The citations were issued to the district. In addition, according to Powers, Dingman â&#x20AC;&#x201D; unbeknownst to New Gateways â&#x20AC;&#x201D; inspected a portion of its side of the building and found a violation: One of the building exits led to a slope and Dingman said wheelchairs wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be able to get out safely in the event of a fire. Powers said a citation was issued to the school district for the exit problem and on Aug. 19 New Gateways received an e-mail stating they needed to cease operations and vacate the facility by 5 p.m. the next day, Friday, Aug. 20. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t reasonably expect a program like this to be able to up and leave in just a day,â&#x20AC;? Powers said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get the 30-days notice they are warranted under the law.â&#x20AC;? In addition, he said such a disruption could cause severe, irreparable damages to many of the adults who attend the program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have a psychotherapist who said as much in the papers we submitted in the lawsuit,â&#x20AC;? Powers said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Because many are cognitivelyimpaired, it can be very difficult for them understand and adjust to such a big change. They have formed friendships through this program that gives them an opportunity to get out of the community homes, institutions or their familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s homes where they live. To take that away in just one day isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fair.â&#x20AC;? Powers said just the sight of the staff packing things in boxes was enough to make some of the program attendees physically ill with stress. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We had some parents who decided to just keep their kids at home because it was too much for them,â&#x20AC;? he said. Following the notice to leave, one of the parents, Francis â&#x20AC;&#x153;Garâ&#x20AC;? Thomson, and several others called state Rep. Chuck Moss (RBirmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township), who was able to get the state Fire Marshall to grant the program a one-week extension. On Monday, Aug. 23, the fire inspector for Bloomfield Township, a representative of the Birmingham Public Schools, two builders and two engineers from the Birmingham district met at the Meadow Lake building to discuss and address the issues identified in the fire marshalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inspection report. The necessary material suppliers and labor were contracted and it was expected that the corrective action plan, put together by those in attendance, would be completed no later than Wednesday, Aug. 25. On Thursday, Aug. 26, Steve King, director of operations for the school district, reportedly told New

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Gateways that the state fire marshal refused to review the plan of corrective action or cooperate in any way with the school district or New Gateways. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The state fire marshal informed King that the state was going to remove New Gateways from the Meadow Lake building because, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;New Gateways is not an educational program and should not be located in a school,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? the lawsuit documents state. New Gateways had until Friday, Aug. 27 to leave the building. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They were told anyone left in the building after 5 p.m. on Aug. 27 would be arrested and charged with a misdemeanor,â&#x20AC;? Powers said. On the eve of eviction, Powers filed an emergency lawsuit against the state and the school district, alleging that they violated New Gateways and its attendantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; rights to due process and equal protection under the law. That day, Friday, Aug. 27, a judge granted a temporary restraining order that would keep the fire marshal from evicting New Gateways until Wednesday, Sept. 1. Then Wednesday, they were granted an additional 36 days. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This whole thing is wrong on so many levels. We didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to have to take things this far but we have no choice,â&#x20AC;? Powers said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There is no reasonable reason why the district canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t allow them to operate until their lease is up next year. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been here for 10 years without a problem.â&#x20AC;? Earlier this year the building was put up for sale, and Powers said that might be a motivating factor behind recent developments. Joy Yearout, a spokesperson for the state Attorney Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office, said the office couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t comment on ongoing litigation and any further comments would have to be deferred to the fire marshal. The Fire Marshalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t return calls for comment prior to press time. Marcia Wilkinson, director of community relations for the school district, also declined to comment on the lawsuit. However, she did confirm that the building is listed on the market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;New Gateways has been a great asset to our district,â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve rented the space to them and have had a successful partnership since 2000. The building is for sale, and our goal has been that New Gateways would have enough time to find another suitable location. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a current buyer, but we had hoped that the process would take long enough for (New Gateways) to have enough time to move. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unfortunate that things have recently taken place that have changed that. I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t comment on the litigation, but I can confirm theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been a great partner.â&#x20AC;? All parties are expected back in court on Oct. 6. â&#x2013; OCTOBER 2010

■ municipal Township holding open house after two-year absence

Man’s body recovered Norris Lee had been missing for two weeks

By Brooke Meier The Bloomfield Township Open House is back after a two-year hiatus and will be held Oct. 10 from noon to 5 p.m. on the Bloomfield Township campus west of Telegraph Road, south of Long Lake Road. The event is free and will showcase the results of capital improvement projects that have taken place over the last two years at the township campus. Maps of parking lots and locations of activities are available online and at the event. “I think this is a wonderful event for the community,” said Bloomfield Township Clerk Jan Roncelli. “Prior to the hiatus, we had anywhere between 1,000 and 2,000 residents attending the event.” Roncelli said the Open House is a great place to take kids. “There are so many kid-friendly events. It’s a great place to come and enjoy a day of family fun,” she said. The Bloomfield Township Fire Department will stage exciting fire demonstrations that teach valuable lessons. They will extinguish live fires and put on presentations in the fire safety trailer to show people how to handle home emergencies. Those attending can tour the newly renovated Central Fire Station and get an up-close look at a survival flight helicopter. Sparky, the fire department’s dog, will also mingle in the crowd. Cider, hot dogs and cookies will also be available to those that come hungry. The Bloomfield Township Police Department will also be hosting a series of events. Kids can ride in a patrol car, while teens and adults who have drivers’ licenses can try driving a golf cart while wearing “drunk goggles.” People can also tour the police station, look at confiscated property and see how fingerprints are taken. The animal shelter will also be open for tours. While touring, people can learn more about pet adoptions. The popular K-9 dog demonstration will also be back, along with a few new activities like a scavenger hunt for kids. There will be food at the police station as well, including cider, donuts and chili. Public services will give kids temporary tattoos and have face painting available. Kids can also have their picture taken while sitting on a large road grader. Parents can learn more about West Nile virus, oak wilt and other www.oaklandpaper.com

By Alex Lundberg

fter two weeks of searching, the body of an 85-year-old Birmingham man was found in a wooded area near Woodward Avenue. Norris Lee, an Alzheimer’s patient who went missing Friday, Sept. 3, was found in the area of Woodward and Oak on Friday, Sept. 17 by search teams. An autopsy has been ordered to determine a cause of death. Lee had last been seen alive at the Community House in downtown Birmingham, where he had been dropped off for a regularly scheduled lunch appointment. Birmingham police officers, family and members of the community fanned out around the Birmingham area looking for the man. It was assumed that he had become disoriented and wandered away. The search for Lee included his former places of business, friends’ houses, and area restaurants he used to frequent. Checks on his bank accounts and other resources were made to see whether he had tried to withdraw funds to possibly purchase tickets on a bus or other public transportation. Lee’s daughter, Jennie Stinson, said Men’s Club events at the Community House were some of Lee’s favorites and a cornerstone of his week. “That’s the last place we would have thought he’d run into trouble,” she said. “He had friends there, and it was the one place he was not in physical contact with my mother at all times.” She said her father wasn’t the stereotypical Alzheimer’s patient; he knew where he was and who he was — he knew the Detroit Tigers’ roster — he just had problems with dates and times. In his prime, when he was an accountant with the Burroughs Corporation, he was a man who worked hard and did good in his time off. “He was very passionate about social justice,” Stinson said. “He worked with (Christian anti-

important topics. People can also see what really goes through a sewer line and watch the impact a leaky faucet has on your water meter. The Planning Division will show how the Clearzoning ordinance software works and a video that shows people how building codes protect the public’s safety will be shown.

hunger charity) Bread for the World, Meals on Wheels, and he volunteered with the ACLU.” Stinson said her father was the kind of person who lobbied for aid for the poor, domestically and internationally, and was a strong believer in the protection of people’s rights. He was a “decent” golfer and a 45-year member of his church Norris Lee choir. Lee was diagnosed with the disease in 2009. “He graduated from Virginia Tech with a degree in accounting and he stopped being able to balance his checkbook,” Stinson said. “It came over him fast, relatively speaking.” She said Lee was found lying on his side in the woods with his shoes tucked away beneath him as if he had laid down for a nap. She’s comforted by the idea that her father didn’t suffer, and has nothing but thanks for the members of the police department and the community who helped the family during these recent, harrowing weeks. “The Birmingham Police Department did a wonderful job, they could not have done better,” Stinson said. “They and the people in the community, many who never knew my father, were really wonderful to us. If you have to be lost somewhere, you better hope it’s in a place like Birmingham.” Lee is survived by his wife, Nancy, daughters Jennie and Deborah, and three grandchildren. Memorial services, arranged by the Thomas Lynch and Sons Funeral Home in Clawson, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 at the First United Methodist Church of Birmingham, 1589 W. Maple. Information on memorial contributions can be found by calling Lynch and Sons at 248-435-0660. ■ The Ordinance Division will dispense helpful information about play structures, sheds, hot tubs and fire pits. Bloomfield Community Television will invite residents into the state-ofthe-art video production truck used to shoot footage of concerts, parades and other events in the community. People can watch them-

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selves on TV and learn how to become involved in local television programing. Last, but not least, attendees can tour the Senior Center that opened in 2009. There, people can see where the Friendship Club members find recreation and care during the day. For more information on the event visit www.bloomfieldtwp.org. ■

Panel formed to mull improvements in Barnum Park By Alex Lundberg Concerned neighbors and city officials are going to put their heads together to decide what additional improvements could be implemented at Birmingham’s Barnum Park. At the Monday, Aug. 23 meeting of the Birmingham City Commission, the city’s governing body voted to create the ad hoc Barnum Park Steering Committee, a group that will solicit public opinion and make suggestions about the best course to take with the property. Barnum Park, bordered by Frank, George, Pierce and Purdy Streets north of Lincoln Street, used to be the Barnum Center, a part of the William Beaumont Hospital complex. The new steering committee, made up of members of the City Commission, the Parks and Recreation Board and interested residents, will review possible projects that could be undertaken and refer their suggestions to the city. Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus said park improvements that will be done, if any, will be funded with donated money. “There are some residents who want to raise more money for the park, but there will be no more public money spent,” he said, adding that the new steering committee will decide what to do. Birmingham Director of Public Services Lauren Wood said there’s still money left over from the Phase 1 renovation of the park. The first stage of work at the park centered around demolition of existing structures and the installation of a baseball diamond, walking paths and the planting of trees throughout. What to do with the rest of the money is the focus of the ad hoc committee’s upcoming meetings. “There’s about $28,000 of the original $75,000 remaining,” she said. “The committee wants to talk about further greening, but they also want to talk about raising additional funds.” Markus said approximately $1 million has been spent bringing the park to the point where it is now. ■ 49

■ social scene

From left to right in the bottom row are Virtuoso Salon stylist Quinn Wilson, stylist Ada Mocka, owner Barsoum Bouchar of Bloomfield Hills, stylist David Reinhold II, and makeup artist Becca Weber standing with their models for the VIP reception and fundraiser.

From left to right, Jo Anna Yaksich of Bloomfield Hills, Daena Nicholas of Brighton, and Zack Yaksich of West Bloomfield, representing Alana’s Flu Foundation.

Fashion’s Night Out at Birmingham’s Virtuoso Salon

David Reinhold II (left) and Michelle Mcdermott of Birmingham

Fashionistas, hipsters and curious people watchers all came out to Birmingham’s commercial hub on Sept. 10 for Fashion’s Night Out, an official spinoff of an event of the same name that debuted last year as part of New York Fashion Week. In Birmingham, several of the city’s merchants hosted special Fashion’s Night Out events to celebrate fashion, design, and the community. Virtuoso Salon in Birmingham used the occasion to host a VIP reception and fundraiser to benefit Alana’s Flu Foundation. All the donated proceeds from the event were directed to the foundation, which works to help provide influenza immunizations. Needless to say, Birmingham was injected with fun, festivities and philanthropy. The Paper staff photographer Amy K. Lockard was granted access to the Virtuoso Salon event and snapped these photos that evening.

From left to right, Sam Hutson, David Reinhold, Shannon Lumetta, Pat Reinhold, Judy Hutson, Dawn Korzenewski, Dawn Hutson, and Diane Korzenewski. 50

Model Ashley Springer and stylist Ada Mocka.

From left to right, Jo Anna Yaksich, Michelle Bommarito, and Robert Stewart.

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OCTOBER 2010

Elissa Appelman Scigliano

At left are the models who sported the Virtuoso Salon stylists and makeup artists creations during the Fashion’s Night Out event on Sept. 10. Fashion’s Night Out, which was observed by dozens of Birmingham merchants, provided Virtuoso Salon with an opportunity to host a VIP reception and fundraising event benefiting Alana’s Flu Foundation.

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Funky and colorful hairstyles were on full display as the crew from Virtuoso Salon and models struck a pose for our staff shutterbug.

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■ snapshot

or a decade, former Executive Director of the Birmingham Historical Museum and Park Bill McElhone was the premier expert on Birmingham history. Due to the economy’s downswing, his position with the museum was reduced. Now he is embarking on a new adventure akin to a pioneer on the frontier and is adding another chapter to his own history book as he moves west to head up the Kalamazoo Valley Museum. McElhone taught museum studies for a time at Oakland University and may do so again in Kalamazoo. During his 10-year tenure in Birmingham, McElhone set the tone for transforming the Allen and Hunter houses and city park into the Historical Museum and Park. He contributed to the strategic plan approved in 2008, and oversaw the restoration of the John West Hunter House that dates back to the 1820s. He lobbied for barrier-free access to both the Hunter and Allen houses, an effort that paid off right before his departure. “It was to make the museum more inclusive so everyone felt welcomed and could come through the same door,” McElhone said. He also conducted lectures and tours, and developed the museum’s budget. He was widely published in local newspapers and cultivated a greater understanding of the community's heritage. “Historic charm is part of the community and we celebrate local history by making it known,” he said. According to McElhone, he views history not only as a story in a specific time period, but in the context of how people live day to day. “It’s important to look back to move forward,” he said. “History and

bill mcelhone heritage along with other amenities that make up our communities are all part of the puzzle that makes up community and contributes to our quality of life.” McElhone has been a history buff since he was a youngster. By the age of 16 he knew he was called to work in museums and landed a summer job at Henry Ford Museum that only fostered his love of history all the more. Two of the most interesting characters McElhone has come across include Martha Baldwin, who established the first library in Birmingham and is the Baldwin Library's namesake; and John Bigelow, a local merchant and Civil War veteran. McElhone earned his master's degree in history from Wayne State University in Detroit and a Bachelor’s of Arts Degree in history and art with a minor in museum studies from Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant. In 2008, the Birmingham Historical Society — which is now the Friends of the Historical Museum and Park — bestowed McElhone with the prestigious Heritage Award for his significant contribution to heritage and local history. McElhone leaves a mark on many as he leaves Birmingham. Now it's up to volunteers to take up the mantle of preserving the city’s history. “I will certainly miss the community and the many people who helped with the success of the museum, but it’s left in good hands and they will move the museum forward to celebrate the local story." — Leslie Shephard-Owsley

â&#x2013; the community house

Meadow Brook Theatre

very September and October, The Community House, like other nonprofit organizations, is very busy with special events. This is because of the beautiful weather which brings our supporters, many of whom go south for the winter and north for the summer, back home. Consequently, when Kathie Ninneman, our wonderful Special Events Director, suggested adding a new event, I was skeptical. Boy, was I wrong! Kathie surveyed those people who attended our Jazz on the Terrace series during the summer of 2009. Most of those surveyed indicated that they would like to see The Community House host a classical music series. This was right up Kathieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alley: she is a classical music fan who sings in the St. James Church choir and plays hand bells. First, a partnership with classical radio station Shelley Roberts WRCJ 90.9 FM was formed and a talented and energetic committee was created. I finally made a contribution to the effort by persuading my accomplished, bright, and organized friend, Sandi Reitelman, to chair the committee. Sandi, together with her committee, have planned an exciting event, Classical Brunch, which is already wildly popular. Classical Brunch is a series of four concerts which will be preceded by a delicious brunch. Brunch begins at noon followed by the performance at 1 p.m. We are honored to have DSO Principal Cellist, Robert deMaine, as the Artistic Director. When asked to support the event, Mr. deMaine said, "It is crucial that we expand and continue to foster the best music-making in metro Detroit, and if I can be one small (or large) part of that, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be honored. I'm really excited about this. I have many ideas for repertoire and programming, and am very happy to bring them to this project." That Robert did! Following are the dates of the Classical Brunches and the names of the musicians: â&#x20AC;˘ Oct. 31 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Icarus Trio: Richard Sherman, flute, James Wilhelmsen, piano, and Robert deMaine, cello; â&#x20AC;˘ Feb. 13 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, violin, James Van Valkenburg, viola and Robert deMaine, cello; and â&#x20AC;˘ March 27 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Kathryn Goodson, piano and Leah Dexter, mezzo soprano I am very grateful for the support of the Erb Foundation and Honigman Miller Schwartz and Cohn LLP, which is sponsoring the February program. I also appreciate our musician sponsors: Connie and Ian McEwan, Cecilia Benner, Doreen Bull and PVS Chemicals, Inc. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available. If you are interested, please call me at 248-594-6409. Patron tickets for each program are $50 with preferred seating (tables will be closer to the stage), and Friend tickets are $25. Tickets for children 12-years-old and under are $12. To attend the concert only, the cost is $10. Seating is at tables of 10. Tickets can be purchased online at www.communityhouse.com or by calling 248-644-5832. In addition, I am pleased that The Community House is inaugurating another new special event in November. The brainchild of Board members, Kathy Wilson and Jackie Sefferman, The Elmore Leonard Literary Arts and Film Festival, will be celebrated Nov. 10 through 13. The Festival is comprised of a teen short story competition, competitions for filmmakers and screenwriters, and a gala honoring Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own Elmore Leonard. Join us in celebrating the life and accomplishments of one of Michiganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s treasures. Please go to www.elmoreleonardliteraryartsandfilmfestival.com for information about sponsorship and festival events. I can't wait for the fun, festive and elegant gala, and I hope to see you there! Be sure to see our website, www.communityhouse.com for our October programs and events. The headliner is the 25th anniversary of the OUR TOWN Art Show and Sale. Join us on Wednesday, Oct. 13 for the Opening Night Party, come to the free exhibit and sale from Thursday, Oct. 14 through Saturday, Oct. 16, wear your favorite hat to Tea on the Terrace on Thursday, Oct. 14, and enjoy the Young Professionals Night on Friday, Oct. 15. Also, if you are young or young at heart, you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to miss TUG, our sponsored groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s signature event, Boo Blast Road Rally and After Party 2010 on Friday, Oct. 22. It begins with a competitive road rally on the streets of Oakland County and ends with an after party at The Community House celebrating the victors. Proceeds from this event benefit the Judson Center and The Community House. I look forward to seeing you at The Community House! â&#x2013; Shelley Roberts is President and CEO of The Community House. www.oaklandpaper.com

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■ final word Medical marijuana law changes

ord of raids conducted last month at three Oakland County locations where alleged violations of the state's medical marijuana law occurred was bad news for genuinely ill people who receive legitimate benefits from the use of medical marijuana. Raids in Waterford and Ferndale resulted in the arrest and arraignment of over a dozen people, and the confiscation of a large amount of marijuana, growing equipment, guns, and other illegal drugs. News of the raids plays right into the hands of the naysayers and hand-wringers who have bemoaned the state's medical marijuana law, and prompted calls for the Legislature to take action to stem abuse. While our initial inclination was to resist the notion of changes in the medical marijuana law, some revisions may well be necessary in order to preserve the marijuana option for those who use the substance to get relief from painful and debilitating conditions. More than $750,000 worth of marijuana was seized in raids by the Oakland County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Enforcement Team (NET), and 15 people were arraigned on charges including possession and manufacturing with intent to deliver marijuana. According to Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, the raids were conducted after his department received complaints about the targeted businesses. Over 60 percent of Michigan voters supported medical marijuana use at the November 2008 polls. Approval of Proposal 08-1 led to enactment of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act (MMMA), which permits physicianapproved use of marijuana by registered patients with debilitating medical conditions, including cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, multiple sclerosis (MS), and other conditions

as may be approved by the state Department of Community Health. It also allows individuals, known as caregivers, to grow limited amounts of marijuana for qualifying patients in an enclosed, locked facility. Under the MMMA, a registered caregiver can acquire 2.5 ounces of usable marijuana and grow up to 12 marijuana plants for a qualifying, registered patient. One individual caregiver can assist up to five patients, as long as the caregiver hasn't been convicted of a felony drug offense. At a press conference held after the NET raids, Bouchard and Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper called on the Legislature to revise the MMMA. Cooper advocated creation of state-run dispensaries as an option to caregiver/patient relationships. Scores of communities — including Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township — have enact moratoriums on the cultivation and distribution of marijuana for medical use, or even ordinances banning medical marijuana facilities and activities beyond registered patients using the substance in the privacy of their own homes. The moratoriums and ordinances, and the municipal officials who have enacted them, often cite "dispensaries." On one hand, that's been disappointing, as the MMMA has no provisions for dispensaries. Yet, the allegations and charges related to last month's raids lend credence to the perception that dispensaries are in fact operating in the state, outside of the MMMA's provisions. Even if the allegations are proven to be unfounded and all those charged after last month's raids are proven innocent, those cases and others like them will be pointed to by some as justification for moratoriums and ordinances restricting or prohibiting medical marijuana

operations. They also provide fodder for those who would like to prohibit medical marijuana use as a means to treat the symptoms of some terrible diseases and conditions. As such, we're now open to the idea of enacting changes in the MMMA, if only to preserve the medical marijuana option for truly sick and suffering people. Cooper may be on to something with the idea of establishing state-run marijuana dispensaries. As long as there's a demand for marijuana and money to be made, there will be some caregivers who abuse the current system and seek to sell the substance to those who aren't registered patients. That's why we're intrigued by Cooper's suggestion of state-run dispensaries. The distribution of marijuana to registered patients through state-owned and operated dispensaries would go a long way toward eliminating system abuse. Lawmakers should consider authorizing medical marijuana distribution through Department of Community Health buildings, or even allowing the state to designate county health department buildings as the source of marijuana for registered patients. This could help law enforcement officials to focus their attention and resources on making sure those growing marijuana for state dispensaries aren't also producing the substance for illegal use, rather than having to watch out for abuse among so-called caregivers, patients, medical personnel, various businesses, and support groups. Such a system could prompt funding concerns, but we suspect that kind of change would minimize illegal drug activity perpetrated under the guise of providing a compassionate treatment option those who are suffering. ■

Proposed tax breaks for businesses

akland County Executive L. Brooks reportedly has found a pair of state lawmakers to sponsor legislation to implement his idea of providing property tax relief to businesses negatively impacted by road construction projects. Although it's necessary to review the pending legislation before taking a final stand on the issue, one can't help but wonder whether taxing authorities can afford to give up any of their tax revenue at this time, no matter how helpful it would be to the business community. Patterson has proposed giving local communities the option to offer up to 50 percent property tax reductions to businesses affected by extended road construction projects. State Sen. Michael Bishop (R-Rochester) and state Rep. Gail Haines (R-Lake Angelus) reportedly have agreed to have Patterson's proposal drafted as legislation for introduction in their respective chambers. Patterson's request for such legislation was prompted by an unprecedented outcry from county businesses. According to one county official, some of the county businesses reaching out to Patterson have cited 20 to 50 percent

declines in business volume, which could force employee layoffs. Patterson has pointed toward extensive construction work this summer along Telegraph Road between Eight Mile and Orchard Lake roads as an example of why his proposal is necessary. We're interested in seeing the actual legislative language that Bishop and Haines introduce. Only then will it be possible to make a final judgment on the formal proposal. In the meantime, based on what we now know about Patterson's idea, the suggested tax relief initiative seems to have a couple of decent components. The first is that Patterson apparently has recommended that any tax breaks should be left up to municipalities. That's a far better way to approach the issue than mandating tax relief for businesses — a proposition that may not be practical for a number of reasons. We like the sound of letting a municipality decide whether to extend a 5-percent tax break, a 50-percent tax break, or anything in between. Such a provision may lead to more tax breaks than might be extended if the percentage of relief is set in stone.

There are a lot of additional issues and details that will have to be flushed out in the Bishop and Haines bills, including some kind of provision addressing the proximity of road construction to a business eligible for tax relief, the maximum duration of any tax break, and how public schools' revenue streams would be impacted, if at all. We're not sure any local governments can really afford another loss of revenue, no matter how temporary or how sympathetic they may be to the plight of businesses struggling to stay in operation. Voters in many communities are being asked to consider either new millage levies or Headlee Amendment rollback ballot questions on Nov. 2, as local governments seek to maintain the services they currently provide. Not only do we question whether many municipalities would voluntarily forego some revenue at this time, but also the logic of local governments forfeiting tax revenue while they're cutting back on police, fire, and public works personnel — for example — thereby further jeopardizing response times or the level of services that can be provided to businesses and the greater community. ■

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Thank you to all our partners and the community for a successful 2010 Hall & Hunter Estate Sale to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Oakland County. Due to your generous response, we have raised over $120,000 for the charity since the event’s start.