The Paper - September 2010

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Bloomfield Hills Waterfront Setting

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Private street. Five car garage. Indoor pool.

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With views of Kirk in the Hills. Tucked away on 1.1 acres of rolling grounds. Soft contemporary with open floor plan. 5,921 sq. ft. of casual living. Bloomfield Hills schools. $749,999

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On over 2 acres with private pond. Large kitchen opens to family room with service staircase to second floor. Large bedrooms with baths. Finished lower level. $1,179,000

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

Updated seven bedroom home is situated on an almost double lot. Classic design with contemporary conveniences. Kitchen opens to family room. 3 car garage. $1,025,000

With first floor master suite. Kitchen with eatin, workstation and access to patio. Library.

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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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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 designed home with first floor master suite. Custom details and millwork. Extensive use of granite and natural finishes. 3 car garage. $680,000

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■ inside / september ■ 6: MAIL BAG Cara McAlister and Sylvia Murray

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

■ SNAPSHOTS ■ 17: John Sauvé ■ 39: David Hall

■ 27: Karen S. Bee ■ 61: Armani Hawes

■ 33: COUNTY Phyllis McMillen tapped for vacant bench seat; Contract preferences for Oakland businesses

■ 37: STATE Candidates file pre-primary Candidate may be ineligible

finance

reports;

■ 43: EDUCATION High school ballot proposals; PAC formed to promote school proposal

■ 45: BUSINESS NOTES Lido Gallery and Gifts; Fantastic Sams; SHE; Scavolini by Cucina Moda; Hall & Hunter Realtors

■ 63: MUNICIPAL Bloomfield Hills library services proposal; Judge Potts taken off transit center case; Tim Horton's plan revived; New communications provider coming to Birmingham; Medical marijuana moratorium extended again; Dawkins resigns from planning panel

■ 46: EATING OUT

■ 18

A directory of places where you can dine out; Main Course (Zazios) and Quick Bites from the restaurant scene with Eleanor Heald; Focus on Wine with Eleanor and Ray Heald

PIZZERIA PARADISE

■ 69: THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

Pizza lovers everywhere crave hand-crafted artisanal pizza that delivers satisfaction to the taste buds: The aroma of baking bread, savory spices, and rich and tangy tomato sauce topped with cheese. Luckily, there's a bounty of locally-based enterprises where pizza aficionados can become sated.

The President and CEO of The Community House, Shelley Roberts, on the fall catalog

■ 70: SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK The latest from the society and non-profit circuit

■ 78: FINAL WORD Preserving federal road improvement funding; contract preferences for Oakland businesses

■ OUR COVER

■ 9: CONTESTS ARE SET

■ 29: HATE CRIME STATISTICS

■ 47: A BRAND NEW HEADLINER

A recap of the Aug. 3 primary election races, and a look forward to the Nov. 2 general election contests in the area.

FBI figures indicate a fluctuation in the number of incidents reported in area from 2006 to 2008.

Zazios has received more media attention than any other recent restaurant opening in Birmingham.

4

THE PAPER

The Quarton Lake Waterfall, situated between Quarton Lake and the Rouge River near Maple Road in Birmingham.

Cover art and photograph by Amy K. Lockard.

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PAPER PUBLISHER / PRESIDENT: James W. Fancy BUSINESS MANAGER: Dennis Boggs EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: Carol Barr

EDITOR: Tim Dmoch Staff Writers: Brooke Meier, Leslie Owsley, Kirk Pinho, Michael Shelton Contributing Writers: Eleanor Heald, Ray Heald Staff Photographer: Amy K. Lockard ADVERTISING MANAGER: Jules Haapala Account Representatives Jill Cesarz, Dan Neumaier, Linda Stickney, Laurie Wasker Assistants: Nicole Batchik TELEPHONE SALES MANAGER: Lori Snyder Account Representatives Rhonda Libkuman, Cindy Stawick, Leslie Timko GRAPHICS ASSISTANTS: Denise Jungjohan, Karen Polatka, Marcia Reimer DISTRIBUTION: Dan Griffin ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE SUPERVISOR: Carolyn Petherbridge Assistant: Mable McCullough

MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 14, Union Lake, MI 48387-0014 OFFICE ADDRESS: 7196 Cooley Lake Road, Waterford, MI 48327-4113 TELEPHONE: 248.360.6397 • 248.360.7355 OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

■ mail bag 'No' on mega school From Cara McAlister, Bloomfield Township: With five years of school budget deficits projected, Bloomfield Hills Schools wants to spend almost all of its existing funds on one new high school and use creative economics for future needs. Superintendent Gaynor's parting gift to the district was to introduce, for the third time, the idea of a mega high school holding 1,600 to 1,800 students. Even after hundreds of thousands of dollars was spent in 2004 and 2007 to try to convince voters to go with the board's plans, they were defeated both times. Twelve people are telling us again that we will go this direction. But, this is not a done deal — we haven't voted yet. Please join me in voting against this one high school plan on Nov. 2.

Visit the school district website and view budget information for the building of this high school. It rings of fiscal irresponsibility by a school board that is determined to build.

Capital funds will be used and all of the $32 million in sinking funds will be used except for $1 million that will be expected to cover maintenance for all schools, K-12. How long will that last? Even with an expected "double digit deficit in our school district budget projected for

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Letters to the editor 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.

Letters 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 appear in print.

DISTRIBUTION: The Paper is mailed free of charge to over 29,000 homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills just before the start of each

Regina Jaye, R.E. Over 25 Years of Experience!

the next five years" per the board, we are going to spend up to $98 million that we have, plus rely on voter approval of the sinking fund and bonds in 2014 and 2015, "if needed." Someone wants this big, new school very badly. But, is it the residents?

When will residents be able to view the final building plans? We are expected to vote in a few months.

What happened to the previous building plans for a mega school that the district paid a hundred-thousand dollars for in 2004? Did we pay for it all over again? What happened to the transportation study conducted around Andover High School a few years ago that resulted in a recommendation by the Bloomfield Township police that one high school on the Andover site would cause greatly increased traffic congestion?

Why are we ignoring that study now?

Lahser and Andover High Schools have a fall 2010 enrollment of 797 and 910, respectively. The educational research I found concluded that an ideal high school enrollment is between 600 to 900 students. I could find no research supporting a high school larger than 1,200 students. We are fortunate to have two high schools from which to choose, both providing many opportunities for students to get a part in the school play, run for student government, earn a scholarship, or a varsity letter. If we have one high school, many students will not get those opportunities.

For comparison, Birmingham has two high schools, about the same age as ours. View their website and you will learn that in 2002, Birmingham renovated their schools, updated technology, and their technology/science curriculum, keeping their two high schools. Birmingham has never asked its residents to approve a mega school.

A district demographic study was also conducted early in this decade.

It predicted falling student numbers for 10 years. In a few areas of

Bloomfield, homes have started to turn over to more youthful ownership. If we are short-sighted we could end up with an over-crowded high school. Lake Orion High School has 2,500 students and uses door monitors to guard who enters and leaves the building. Is that what we want?

School administrators go with trends in education that change about every 10 years, providing book publishers and educational consultants with generous incomes. What parents know is the kids don't change. Yes, curriculum, instructional techniques and technology need to be updated constantly. But, building an expensive building to encompass a consultant's view of "conceptual education" is benefiting the builder, the architect and others, but, not the students. ■

Thanks, Dairy Deluxe From Sylvia Murray, Birmingham: You recently ran an article about the ice cream stores in the area. I would like to add a way that sets Dairy Deluxe (on Woodward and 14 Mile Road) apart.

Last summer, our special needs daughter expressed a desire to work at Dairy Deluxe. Due to her special needs (Elizabeth is mentally impaired), I was not confident that she would be able to. However, Paul Walter, the owner, was willing to employ her and make her dream of having a part-time job, like other teens, come true.

Last summer she had an easygoing job: advertising by wearing an article of clothing with the store's logo on it. This year she was able to work at the store. Once a week she helped serve ice cream. She took great pride in her work, and due to the support of all at Dairy Deluxe, she experienced success and felt that she was the member of the team.

I really appreciate the way Paul Walter was willing to reach out the differently-abled people of our community by employing our daughter. ■

month. Additional complimentary copies are available at newsstand locations.

Paid subscriptions are available for $15.00 annually, ask for our distribution department at 248.360.6397.

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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

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NOVEMBER NOMINEES

Looking back at the primary contest results, with an eye toward the area’s general election races

By Kirk Pinho

I

t didn't come with the bang of the 2008 presidential election in terms of voter turnout, but the Aug. 3 primary election provided some interesting results in top-of-the-ticket contests such as the gubernatorial race. The 2010 primary election yielded two outsider candidates for the state's chief executive, but voters in Birmingham, Bloomfield, and Bloomfield Hills overwhelmingly tapped the two incumbent candidates for state and local posts over their challengers in a year when many talking heads have been saying that incumbency is practically a political liability.

Not surprisingly, nearly every candidate who spoke with The Paper about the November general election said that jobs, the economy, and the budgets they will be working with were at the top of their list of campaign issues over the next few months. â?Ż

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The following is a breakdown of the results from the Aug. 3 primary election contested races impacting Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township, and a look forward to the Nov. 2 general election in races that are relevant to those communities.

Moss received 13,596 votes in his uncontested 2010 primary, while Candler received 4,686.

Candler couldn't be reached for comment prior to press time.

State representatives serve two-year terms and are currently paid $79,650 a year.

9th Congressional District

13th County Commission District

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Gary Peters (D-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) was unchallenged in the Aug. 3 primary, but Rocky Raczkowski, his Republican challenger in the November general election, faced three other opponents vying for the opportunity to take on Peters.

Raczkowski emerged victorious, receiving 33,457 votes in the Republican primary, while former U.S. Rep. Joe Knollenberg staffer Paul Welday collected 22,296 votes, former judge Richard D. Kuhn garnered 15,951 votes, and Anna Janek received 8,007 votes.

While most candidates The Paper spoke with either didn't mention their opponents or spoke highly of them, Raczkowski pulled no punches from the get-go.

"We plan on running a campaign of information and of choice, not the campaign that Mr. Peters will be running, and that is of misinformation and misrepresentation," he said, without specifically laying out the "misinformation and misrepresentation" in Peters's campaign. "He's already pretty much doing that."

"I'm not sure what he's referring to with that quote," Peters said in response to the charge. "Certainly the campaign we will run will be laying out the facts. Anything that we say will be based on facts and we will be offering a vision of where we need to go in Michigan in the future, and what's going to make sure we are creating jobs and, in my mind, that's supporting small businesses."

Peters said his main campaign focus will be getting out the message on the importance of job creation in the state and "getting the Michigan economy moving again."

"I will be talking about that, as well as some initiatives that I've worked on," he said. "It's about making sure we support our small businesses."

According to Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Committee, the 9th Congressional District race will be a slug-fest. Freshmen members of Congress typically are the most vulnerable, Robinson said, but added that Peters' campaign war chest is funded well enough to run a solid, aggressive campaign to retain his seat.

U.S. representatives serve two-year terms and are currently paid $174,000 annually.

County Commissioner Robert Gosselin (R-Bloomfield Township) was unchallenged in the August Republican primary, as was the Democrat he will be facing in the fall, John E. Levin.

Gosselin said his campaign will consist of serious door-to-door work and literature distribution.

"We are not going to take anything for granted," he said.

For Gosselin, who was first elected to the county's governing body in 2006, the biggest issue in the campaign is county fiscal responsibility, which he said has been achieved under Republican board control and could be jeopardized by a Democratic takeover in November.

"The county is run very efficiently by a very efficient county executive and a very efficient Board of Commissioners," he said. "They work together. We don't really want to upset that and, in our opinion, Democrats would upset that, being that they would be sending money to more of their interests and putting the county in debt more."

Levin didn't return a message seeking comment for this article.

County Commissioners serve two-year terms and are currently paid $33,742 annually.

13th State Senate District After trouncing challengers David R. Kniffin and Roi Chinn in the Republican primary, incumbent state Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) will square off against Democrat Aaron Bailey in the Nov. 2 general election.

Pappageorge, who is seeking his second and final term in the state's upper legislative chamber, garnered 78 percent of the 35,000 votes that were cast in the Republican primary. Kniffen and Chinn were only able to muster 14 percent and 8 percent, respectively.

Pappageorge earned 27,312 votes, while Kniffen received 5,036 and Chinn pulled in 2,644.

Bailey, a West Point graduate, Afghanistan war veteran, and former employee of the McKinsey & Company management consulting firm, was unopposed in the Democratic primary. He said the general election campaign will be tough, but also hinted at optimism.

"In 2006 ... he (Pappageorge) won with only 49 percent (of the vote) that year," Bailey said. "The Democrat had 48 percent, and there was a Green Party candidate that had 3 percent. There's not a third-party candidate this year, to my knowledge. I expect this to be one of the most competitive Senate races in Michigan."

Bailey said his main issues for the campaign include "aggressively pursuing new jobs in the state," as well as attracting new industries and making sure that businesses already here remain competitive.

"That's going to take a lot of serious reforms in terms of our overall tax structure here in the state so we can start rolling out the red carpet here for businesses, as opposed to putting up the red tape."

Pappageorge said that he expects a clean campaign for the seat and that, when push comes to shove, the main issues all come back to the idea of "income redistribution."

"Probably the single-most important thing that ties legislatures into knots is the issue of income redistribution," he said. "So what happens in the general election is, a whole bunch of issues, when you get right down to the bottom line, are about income redistribution."

Republicans are against income redistribution, while Democrats are largely in favor of it, according to Pappageorge.

State senators serve four-year terms and are currently paid $79,650 a year.

40th State House District Both incumbent state Rep. Chuck Moss (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) and Democratic challenger Julie Candler — who challenged Moss in 2008 — were unopposed in their respective Aug. 3 primaries.

Moss offered high praise for Candler and the work she's done in the community.

"She's a wonderful person," he said. "She is a very respected individual in the community and I think very highly of her. I think she's an exemplary person. We take Mrs. Candler very seriously."

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16th County Commission District Although incumbent County Commissioner Shelley Goodman Taub (R-Bloomfield Township) had no challenger in the GOP primary, Democrat Kathy Hagopian faced off against J. Andrew O'Connor on Aug. 3 for the chance to run against Taub, a former state lawmaker.

Hagopian pulled in 2,078 votes to O'Connor's 853.

"I was very honored by the results, from the support I had from the community," Hagopian said. "70.7 percent is a pretty astounding number."

Hagopian said the top issues for her campaign, like others seeking a seat on the county's governing board, were mainly related to jobs and the county's fiscal situation.

"I'm looking at basically the financial health, to maintain and increase the financial health of Oakland County, and to attract new business," she said. "I'm trying to increase our employment and make us a continued stable place."

Stemming from an incident in one of her first political campaigns in which some derogatory literature was distributed about her, Taub said she vows to run "a campaign that my children and grandchildren are proud of." She said her main issue is the economy.

"We have done some wonderful things in Oakland County," she said, highlighting her committee work as well as the county's Emerging Sectors and Business Roundtable programs. "We continue to bring in jobs in many different ways."

17th County Commission District Incumbent Oakland County Commissioner Marcia Gershenson (D-Bloomfield Township) said her campaign will focus on maintaining the county's financial stability and implementing initiatives, such as Commissioner Tim Greimel's (D-Rochester Hills) resolution that would require that Oakland County consider bids from local businesses that are within 5 percent of the most competitive offer on local contracts, in order to spur economic growth in the county.

A message left with her Republican challenger, Anna Marie Blake, wasn't returned prior to press time. Both Gershenson and Blake were unchallenged in the Aug. 3 primary election.

20th County Commission District Incumbent Commissioner David Potts (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) handily defeated his two Republican challengers in the Aug. 3 primary election. Potts gathered 4,440 votes, while fellow Republicans David Wisz and E. Lynne Risdon captured 2,660 and 965 votes, respectively.

Potts couldn't be reached for comment prior to press time. He will be challenged in November by Democrat Daniel K. Murray, who was unchallenged in the Democratic primary election.

Oakland County Probate Court Dana Margaret Hathaway and Kathleen Ryan will vie for a six-year term on the Oakland County Probate Court bench in November.

The two garnered the most votes in the Aug. 3 primary election, with Hathaway receiving 38,101 votes and Ryan garnering 42,453 votes.

J. Martin Brennan, Barbara Murphy, and Jamie Marie Verdi, received 34,531, 25,421, and 21,076 votes, respectively.

Primary Election Ballot Issue Results OCC Millage County voters overwhelmingly approved a 10-year, 0.7811-mill renewal for Oakland County Community College in the primary election. Countywide, 132,763 cast a "yes" vote for the levy, while 80,222 voters didn't support the measure.

The millage that was up for approval had been rolled back over the years due to the Headlee Amendment to Michigan's 1963 Constitution.

A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property's taxable value, which generally is equal to half the property's market value. The owner of a property with a â?Ż

THE PAPER

11

■ Primary election voting statistics Birmingham votes 1,633 882 457 220 1,127

Bloomfield Twp. votes 4,206 2,616 1,336 641 2,711

Bloomfield Hills votes 419 481 133 50 181

Total votes 33,457 22,296 15,951 8,007 37,838

John Pappageorge - R * David R. Kniffen - R Roi Chinn - R Aaron Bailey - D

2,430 374 238 986

6,833 983 675 2,354

760 96 75 155

27,312 5,036 2,644 13,634

40th State House

Chuck Moss - R * Julie Candler - D

2,692 978

7,271 2,347

789 158

13,596 4,686

13th Board of Commissioners

Robert Gosselin - R * John E. Levin - D

N/A N/A

988 386

N/A N/A

6,285 2,304

16th Board of Commissioners

Shelley Goodman Taub - R * Kathy Hagopian - D J. Andrew O’Connor - D

N/A N/A N/A

1,340 317 157

N/A N/A N/A

4,905 2,078 853

17th Board of Commissioners

Anna Marie Blake - R Marcia Gershenson - D *

N/A N/A

2,035 757

N/A N/A

5,443 3,675

20th Board of Commissioners

David Potts - R * E. Lynne Risdon - R David Wisz - R Daniel Murray - D

1,614 307 1,020 971

1,628 358 1,040 788

575 113 194 150

4,440 965 2,660 2,271

Probate Judge

J. Martin Brennan Barbara Murphy Jamie Marie Verdi Dana Margaret Hathaway Kathleen Ryan

726 645 510 710 927

2,158 1,456 1,245 1,804 2,529

214 159 120 161 257

34,531 25,421 21,076 38,101 42,453

2,962 Y, 1,232 N 3,829 Y, 929 N 3,768 Y, 1,003 N

7,220 Y, 4,297 N 9,001 Y, 3,457 N 8,956 Y, 3,495 N

607 Y, 410 N 874 Y, 325 N N/A

Race 9th Congress

Candidate Rocky Raczkowski - R Paul Welday - R Richard D. Kuhn - R Anna Janek - R Gary Peters - D *

13th State Senate

Oakland Community College Oakland County Parks SMART

132,763 Y, 80,222 N 176,311 Y, 54,273 N 97,829 Y, 27,437 N

* = incumbent; Y = Yes; N = No Sources: Birmingham City Clerk’s Office, Bloomfield Township Clerk’s Office, Bloomfield Hills City Clerk’s Office, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office

taxable value of $100,000 ($200,000 market value) will pay just over $78 in the first year of the renewed millage collection.

Currently, OCC has two millages that are collected. The first, a 1-mill levy that is collected in perpetuity, has been reduced to 0.8033 mills by the Headlee Amendment.

The second millage, which was up for renewal on the Aug. 3 primary election ballot, was originally approved by county voters at 0.8 mills, but also had been rolled back due to the Headlee Amendment, according to OCC Spokesman George Cartsonis.

Parks and Recreation Millage Countywide, voters by a more than a 3-1 margin supported a 10-year renewal of the Oakland County Parks and Recreation millage at 0.2415 mills for operating, maintaining, improving and acquiring parks and recreation areas and facilities.

Over 176,000 people cast their ballots in favor of the renewal, while just over 54,000 didn't support it.

The owner of a county property with a taxable value of $100,000 ($200,000 market value) will pay $24.15 a year in property taxes under the first year of the renewed millage collection.

SMART Millage In addition to the OCC and Parks and Recreation millages, voters handily approved a two-year, 0.59-mill levy to support the Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation (SMART) services. Bloomfield Hills voters didn't cast ballots on the measure, but Birmingham voters approved it by a more than 3-1 margin, and Bloomfield Township voters approved it by more than 2-1.

Birmingham voters cast 3,768 votes in favor of the measure, while 1,003 voted no.

In Bloomfield Township, 8,956 supported the ballot question and 3,495 were against it.

Currently, Oakland County allows each municipality to decide whether to place the SMART millage on local ballots. Those communities whose voters authorize a SMART millage receive bus services.

General Election State Ballot Issues Michigan voters will decide on Nov. 2 whether a state constitutional convention should be held. The issue comes before the electorate every 16 years. The last constitutional convention was held in 1994 and, if approved by voters in November, another would be held in October 2011.

Additionally, Michigan voters will decide whether officeholders should be

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constitutionally-barred from holding elected office and other public positions if they have been convicted of certain felonies.

The resolution that prompted the ballot question states: "A person is ineligible for election or appointment to any state or local elective office of this state and ineligible to hold a position in public employment in this state that is policy-making or that has discretionary authority over public assets if, within the immediately preceding 20 years, the person was convicted of a felony involving dishonesty, deceit, fraud, or a breach of the public trust and the conviction was related to the person's official capacity while the person was holding any elective office or position of employment in local, state, or federal government."

Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees Republican Brian Kepes is unopposed in running to retain his seat on the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees. Kepes was appointed to the township board in March 2009, after former trustee Greg Jamian resigned in order to fill a seat on the Oakland County Board of Road Commissioners. With no opponents, Kepes will serve the remainder of Jamian's unexpired term, until November 2012.

Township trustees serve four-year terms and are paid up to $5,500 a year.

Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills School Boards Voters in the Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills school districts will decide contested races for Board of Education seats during the Nov. 2 general election.

In the Birmingham district, board members Susan Hill and Deb Roberts have terms expiring in December. Hill filed paperwork prior to the 4 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 10 deadline to seek re-election, and will face challenges from Katie Reiter and Steve Scheidt in the race for two four-year board terms. Roberts did not file to run for reelection.

Birmingham Board of Education members are not paid to attend meetings.

In the Bloomfield Hills district, the existing terms of board members Cynthia E. von Oeyen, Martin Brook, and Mary Ellen Miller are slated to expire in December. Neither Brook nor Miller filed for re-election, but von Oeyen is among a field of five candidates in the running for three six-year school board terms. The four challengers include Mark Bank, Jacqueline El-Sayed, Aftab Farooq and Tom Shaevsky.

Bloomfield Hills school board members are not paid for their service. ■ Brooke Meier contributed to this report.

THE PAPER

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● Sexual Assault ● Assault ■ Robbery ■ Home Invasion ■ Breaking/Entering ■ Larceny ■ Burglary ▲ Vehicle Theft ▲ Vandalism ● Murder ★ Arson ✖ Drug Offenses ✪ Larceny From Vehicle

The latest crime locations by select categories from mid July through mid August, from information provided by the Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Bloomfield Township police departments.

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THE PAPER

SEPTEMBER 2010

■ snapshot

john suavé

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ohn Sauvé is an artist who believes that public art doesn't only enrich lives, but also builds communities. Through the Birmingham Public Arts Board, Sauvé was able to bring international attention to Birmingham though CityScapes, a public art project.

"I was approached to be on the committee and honored to do it," he said. "I put a proposal through for (CityScapes), I took care of finding the artists and put together fundraisers for the project."

Having been in the field of public art for over 20 years, Birmingham's reputation in the art community drew particular interest for Sauvé.

"Some of the biggest collectors are located in Birmingham and Bloomfield," he said. "My whole reason for working on the project is because I knew it was a great market for art. I put a lot of time into the show and I was more than happy to do it because of the education I received in the process."

Also the founder of the Sauvé Art Foundation, Sauvé brings culture to children who otherwise would not have the opportunity to learn and appreciate art. Working with the Boys and Girls Club of Oakland County

allowed Sauvé to interact with kids and offer them an education they might not get elsewhere.

"I'm not downplaying math and science, but creativity doesn't fit into a spreadsheet; creativity solves problems," he said. "Art allowed these children to really open up and even resulted in helping to get some children out of bad situations. It's pretty incredible what art can do for these kids."

Sauvé himself learned to love art as a young boy and is grateful to his father for playing a supportive role in his interests and dreams.

"I recall my dad taking me to the Detroit Institute of Arts as a kid," he said. "It wasn't that he was necessarily interested, but he knew I was and that's a memory that sticks with you."

Sauvé's work can still be appreciated throughout the streets of Birmingham, but it isn't accolades or money that motivates him.

"It's not a lucrative field," he said. "But it's my outlet for everything and I truly believe it's the most important thing I can do."

— Katey Meisner — The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard

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here are several kinds of pizza to choose from, each varying slightly in execution.

Some of the most popular include the New York, Chicago, Neapolitan, and California styles.

The New York-style pizza traces back to the 17th century. One prominent characteristic of New York-style pizza is the thin, soft crust. It's known for a slightly greasy run off which is due to the high butter content in the essential ingredient, mozzarella cheese.

Many New York-style pizzerias use hearth or deck ovens for baking and the sauce is thinner than most others, with fewer ingredients. The dough is made with high-protein, high-gluten flour (usually 13.5 to 14.5 percent protein) and is slightly chewy.

Chicago style-pizza, on the other hand, is identifiable by its deep-dish crust. It's typically a hearty meal loaded with ingredients. The dough rides high on the sides with the cheese strategically placed directly on the dough, followed by the toppings and a generous helping of sauce. It's finished off with a sprinkling of cheese. Baking times are usually longer due to the overall thickness of the pizza. The dough used for this style usually contains between 10.5 and 11.5 percent protein and is mixed so the consistency isn't smooth.

Margarine lines the pans to add a slightly-fried crispness which not only adds richness to the flavor, but works as a release agent to help get the baked pizzas out of the pan.

Neapolitan pizza, the oldest form of pizza, is typically made with tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. The pizza dough consists of wheat flour, natural Neapolitan yeast or brewer's yeast, salt, and water. For proper results, strong flour with a high protein content must be used. The dough is kneaded by hand or with a low-speed mixer. After the rising process, the dough must be formed by hand and may be no more than 3 millimeters thick. The pizza must be baked for 60 to 90 seconds in a 905-degree stone oven stoked with an oak-wood fire.

California-style pizza is known for its creative and non-traditional toppings first made famous by California Pizza Kitchen in the mid-1980s. The dough has the same protein content as Chicago-style pizza, but the dough is mixed until smooth for a light and airy crust.

Modern pizza originated in Italy and was first created in the Neapolitan-style pie with tomato, gradually adding cheese to make the sublime dish that is so popular today.

First introduced to the United States in the early 1900s, pizza was mainly confined to the inner-city hubs of New York and Chicago thanks to the influx of Italian immigrants.

The popularity of pizza began to spread when GI's returned to the U.S. after being stationed in Italy during World War II. Between 1945 and 1960, pizzerias began popping up all over the country.

Today there are nearly 68,000 pizzerias in the U.S. alone. According to Pizza Marketing Quarterly Annual Industry Analysis, of those pizza stores across the nation, 59 percent are independently-owned and control 51 percent of total pizza sales. Franchises and chains account for 41 percent of the market and nearly half the sales.

Pizzerias line the streets in Birmingham and Bloomfield. Apart from the big chain operations, there are about a dozen pizzerias that specialize in the culinary art of preparing the perfect pizza pie.

The following represents a sampling of these mom-and-pop operations, independent enterprises and small chains in the community that deliver the goods at a reasonable price and stand out for their unique products and inviting ambiance.

Brooklyn Pizza 111 Henrietta Street • Birmingham • 248-258-6690 Formerly the Big Chill, a gourmet gelato and cappuccino bar, Brooklyn Pizza opened under the same owners in July 1996.

"We were the first in Michigan with such a concept, and then coffee shops started popping up so we switched gears to do something unique and bought a wood-burning oven to make New York-style pizza," said owner Sam Abdelsatah, whose own secret recipes come from his days in New York.

Black-and-white photos of old New York, the roots of Brooklyn Pizza's signature dish, frame the walls. ith one of the largest outdoor seating areas in Birmingham, Brooklyn Pizza is the place to go for a leisurely meal or to simply drop in for a quick slice of pizza and a scoop of ice cream, gelato, or sorbetto. Its neighborly and homey feel along with personal service results in a loyal clientele, more like family.

"We want to give our customers an experience when they come in," Abdelsatah said. "We are a fun and family-oriented place. Sixty-five percent of our clients are kids. They start coming in at 2-years-old, have their birthdays here and we watch them go on to high school and college. Then they come back and are pushing their own kids in the stroller."

Abdelsatah tries to mix things up a bit to drum up business and offer a fun experience for patrons.

"Last year we had the members from the U.S. Pizza Team here giving pizza tossing classes and did an open buffet," he said. "It was a lot of fun and people loved it. This year we're having a similar event but people are in for a surprise — it will be even better."

The pizzas at Brooklyn Pizza are created in the New York-style, baked in wood-fired ovens and made from imported Italian ingredients. The sauce, smooth in consistency, is a simple recipe with only a handful of ingredients.

"Less is always more," Abdelsatah said.

The pizzas come in two sizes — 10-inch and 16-inch — and are priced anywhere between $9.45 and $17.95. Slices costs $2.75 for cheese-only; $3.25 for pepperoni; and $3.50 for speciality varieties. ❯

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A pizza oven at Quattro. The Paper photos/Amy K. Lockard

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REMODELED BLOOMFIELD RANCH Open floor plan, cherry and stainless steel kitchen, living room with fireplace, family room with built-ins and 2 doorwalls to newer deck.

Master suite with marble bath, slate hall bath, library, first floor laundry and most newer windows. $199,000

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GREAT INVESTMENT ON A BEAUTIFUL STREET Nice bungalow with 2 large bedrooms up and 2 on entry level (or library). Hardwood floors throughout. Lovely living room with natural fireplace, nice screened porch overlooking large backyard. Some newer windows. Excellent home to renovate or enlarge. Full basement. $225,000

WING LAKE BEACH AND LAKE PRIVILEGES Sprawling 4 bedroom - 2.5 bath on a lot and half.

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FIVE BEDROOM QUAD LEVEL ON A VERY NICE CORNER LOT Three and one half baths. Lower level has wonderful family room with brick wall fireplace and doorwall out to patio. Living room, dining room and hall have refinished hardwood floors.

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STUNNING 3 BEDROOM RANCH CONDO IN BLOOMFIELD Entry level master with 2 additional bedrooms in lower level. Extra large den, tons of built-ins. Two fireplaces. Master bedroom has great deck with beautiful views. Lower level bedroom has walkout with patio and new brick pavers. Large living room/dining room open to upper deck with views to the golf course. $222,000

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LAKEFRONT HOME IN BLOOMFIELD Enjoy panoramic views of Wing Lake from almost every room in this dramatic lakefront home. .8 acre secluded setting. Just under 8,000 sq. ft. including the finished walkout lower level. Great floor plan for living and entertaining includes elegant walk-in 11’ x 8’ bar, huge great room, lovely sun room off of the fabulous island kitchen. Magnificent master bedroom features a sitting area with view of the lake, luxurious bath and huge walk-in closets. Four bedrooms, all on the entry level, four full and two half baths. 3 car garage. $2,000,000

THE PAPER

SEPTEMBER 2010

From left to right, Brooklyn Pizza in Birmingham; My Cousin’s New York Pizzeria in Bloomfield Hills; Jon Sherer, proprietor of Crust Pizza & Wine Bar in Bloomfield Township; and Chef de Cuisine Joseph Cosenza of Quattro in Birmingham.

Some of the more popular variations include: the Margherita; Sonoma, a blend of artichoke hearts, shiitake mushrooms, spinach, sliced tomatoes and goat cheese; 3 Mushroom/3 Cheese, made with shiitake, portabella and filed mushrooms married with fontina, Reggiano-Parmigiano cheese; and the Mexican pizza, crafted with jalapeno peppers, plum tomatoes, ground beef, and cheddar cheese.

"We try to provide the best quality and atmosphere," Abdelsatah said. "I personally believe we have the best pizza around. We're one of a kind."

An assortment of salads, strombolis, and ice cream desserts are available, in addition to a complete catering service.

"Like our pizza, our gelato is made from scratch and has imported ingredients from Italy," Abdelsatah said. "We have 24 flavors on display at one time ranging from chocolate to exotic flavors such as as pink grapefruit ice to gianduia, a chocolate and hazelnut treat."

Brooklyn Pizza is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and offers take out and delivery service.

My Cousin's New York Pizzeria 42967 Woodward Ave. • Bloomfield Hills 248-874-9999 Rose Arora, co-owner with Ron Dsouza, took over My Cousin's New York Pizzeria only a year ago and is continually seeking ways to improve upon what they consider "perfection."

"We make our own sauce and we put much effort and care into our food for our customers," Arora said.

The pizzeria adapts its version of pizza from the New York style and is known for a wide range of specialty pizzas including Margherita, BBQ Chicken, and Mediterranean, which is a conglomeration of sun-dried tomatoes, feta, spinach, red onion and Kalamata olives.

Costs range from $15.95 and up depending on size (14-inches or 18-inches) and variety. ther unique pizzas served at the pizzeria include a Spinach Alfredo, which features spinach, mozzarella, grated Romano cheese, and a homemade cream sauce; or the J.J., made with pepperoni, meatballs, onions, banana peppers, mushrooms, feta and fresh tomatoes.

In addition to pizza, the "stuffer" is one of the pizzeria's best sellers. Similar to a calzone, the crust is filled with mozzarella, onion, pepperoni, mushrooms, ham, ground beef and Italian sausage — a meat lover's dream ($18.45, $24.50).

The pizzeria also serves several homemade pasta dishes such as Chicken Marsala, Chicken Parmesan, Chicken Piccata, Chicken Florentine and a neighborhood favorite, Eggplant Parmesan.

Homemade pasta sauces are also for sale in either half-pan or full-pan servings. Choices include garlic and oil; marinara; meat; and palomino, a tomato and cream sauce.

Arora said that among the few salads on the menu, the Greek salad is the hands-down favorite among customers.

"People love our salads but we are known for our

O

www.oaklandpaper.com

Greek salad," she said. "Everything is fresh and good."

While the pizzeria currently doesn't provide any gluten-free products, Arora said work is under way to incorporate a gluten-free product line.

The casual dining experience at My Cousin's New York Pizzeria is geared toward every demographic.

No alcohol is served.

Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 2 to 8 p.m.

Crust Pizza & Wine Bar 622 Telegraph, Suite 1 • Bloomfield Twp. 248-855-5855 Crust Pizza & Wine Bar, launched in 2006, morphed into simply Crust and creates pizzas in the Neapolitan style. Crust's thin crust pizzas cost between $8.50 and $12 and are available for eat-in or take-out, along with soups and salads ($4 to $11), sandwiches ($8.50), and some small plates ($7 to $9). A vast selection of well-priced wines are offered as accompaniments.

Proprietor Jon Sherer chose the pizza concept in the fast-casual food category, which continues to gain popularity among consumers who want to eat out at modest prices. He could have franchised the operation, but decided against it.

"I wanted to create my own brand," Sherer says. gainst a backdrop of bright wall colors, natural wood elements in both high-top and regular tables, an efficient open kitchen turns out Neapolitan thin-crust pizzas from a gasfired 900-degree oven that bakes generously-sized individual pizzas in 90 to 120 seconds.

At Crust, the Naples Classics category includes the Margherita, a pizza topped with crushed San Marzano tomato sauce, extra virgin olive oil, fresh mozzarella and hand-torn basil. Although a Margherita pizza is the delight of Naples, Italy, Crust raises the bar with its Original Red Pizza, topped with house-made, fire-roasted San Marzano tomato sauce. It's the business' No. 1 seller. With that sauce base, hungry patrons can choose favorite toppings of sausage and peppers. Topquality Molinari fennel sausage is accompanied by red peppers, mozzarella, provolone and a sprinkling of chopped parsley.

Then there's the "Roni," which is topped with Molinari pepperoni, mozzarella, provolone, handtorn basil and white truffle oil. For meatless options, there's the "Shroom," which features an assortment of Chianti-roasted mushrooms, mozzarella and provolone; or "Cheese, Glorious Cheese," what Italians refer to as a Quattro formaggi.

Crust also offers an option to build your own pizza. The choices are endless, with each topping priced between $1 and $3 added to the $6.50 base price.

In the three years since opening, Sherer has noticed pizza preference changes.

"There's a trend away from meat," he notes.

"Vegetarian offerings are growing in popularity, not only for vegetarian pizza toppings, but our vegetarian lasagna ($10). We've added whole wheat crust

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THE PAPER

made from flour imported from Italy and glutenfree is available now."

"For our wine selections, I've sought value-priced wines in a broad taste profile," Sherer said. "To keep the Crust concept new and fresh, I listen to our customers' requests."

In addition to several attractively-plated salads, there's soup and lasagna, as well as lunch specials available. rust offers about 40 by-the-glass or bottle wines, including a number of flavorful Italian varieties. Six-ounce pours average $6.50 to $11, and bottles run from $22 to $50. They also offer a flight of three two-ounce samples. Signature cocktails, beers and standard non-alcoholic beverages are also available.

Crust appeals to the dessert lover's dreams.

From a rotating list of 30 layered desserts at $2.50 each, served in shooter-style glasses, there are five choices daily.

Hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m. Crust also takes reservations for groups of eight or more. A sister location is located in Rochester.

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Quattro 203 Hamilton Row • Birmingham 248-593-6060 Quattro revamped its dining concept and reopened its doors in September 2009. It has been a hot spot for pizza ever since, known as an "around-the-corner" dining establishment that offers a diverse and unique menu.

"It has a casual neighborhood-feel dining experience with the service geared toward families and every demographic," said Dali Group Marketing Director Lisa Palaian, spokesperson for the restaurant. "We're in a great location and offer a great atmosphere. We're right next to the Palladium Theater, so it's a great traffic spot."

The Dali Group owns and operates Quattro, along with Birmingham restaurants Chen Chow and the Hamilton Room.

Quattro lavishes its patrons with a full lounge and bar, a full dining room, and private dining for reserved parties.

Prices are reasonable for the upscale storefront that promises ambiance, rustic fare, and fine wines.

"Wine is the biggest seller here. It's a great pairing with pizza and pasta and we have an extensive selection," Palaian said. "When a couple comes in they can have a meal under $40, including a glass of wine, so it's very affordable." uattro hand-crafted pizzas are made in the Neapolitan variation and along a wide range of preferences. The sauce is smooth, while the crust is thin. The traditional Gigi is its take on cheese and pepperoni pizza; the Fungus is a melding of roasted mushrooms and prosciutto; the Diavolo, a top seller, is a conglomerate of pepper jack, jalapeno, Tabasco and pepperoni.

Most menu items will be priced around $15.

They also have daily specials like $5 pizzas, as well ❯

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From left to right, a pizza coming out of the oven at Long Lake Market in Bloomfield Hills; Primo’s in Birmingham; and Plum Market in Bloomfield Township.

as a reverse happy hour from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Specialty pizzas are eclectic concoctions.

Chicken lovers will be tempted to try the BBQ chicken with white cheddar, red onion, barbecue sauce and mozzarella cheese — it's Quattro's second most popular creation. The Guido is comprised of sliced meatballs, spaghetti, house gravy and mozzarella. For the seafood lover, try the Rock Shrimp Pizza that is accompanied by tomato, Parmesan cheese, Alfredo sauce and mozzarella. oreover, there's a trio of meatless specialty pizzas that deviates from a traditional veggie pizza. Pizza Rustica infuses pesto, sliced tomato and mozzarella; the Bianca, a fanciful pizza, tops the crust with pears, and blue, fontina, and mozzarella cheeses.

To get the kids involved in the dining experience, Quattro offers an option of building the pizza at the table. The chef brings out the dough and toppings and the children get down to work.

Quattro caters to special dietary needs upon request and offers health-smart, gluten-free, or fatfree options.

The appetizers take it up a notch. The meatballs get rave reviews and are the real show stoppers.

"Our homemade meatballs with ricotta and tomato sauce are incredible and extremely popular," Palaian said. "Our chefs spent months perfecting them."

Quattro serves a slew of savory salads to sate the veggie appetite, such as a Caprese Salad, Baby Spinach; and its own version of antipasti. The Beets and BLT salads are unique to the area.

The Beets Salad is a mixture of arugula, walnuts, and goat cheese tossed with sherry vinaigrette, whereas the BLT Salad is like the name suggests: a bacon, lettuce and tomato spinoff tossed with bacon vinaigrette.

Quattro doesn't skimp on desserts, either. They offer cheesecake, tiramisu, hot apple cobbler, and a decadent brownie.

"We're totally different compared to other pizzerias. This is a dining experience, not a 'run in and grab a pizza,' but for those who want to get away and enjoy a night out," Palaian said. uattro recently opened for lunch, as well as dinner, and now accept reservations due to the spike in business. A full carry-out menu is now available.

Hours of operation are Monday, 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday, 11:30 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 4 p.m. to midnight; and Sunday, 4 to 9 p.m.

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Long Lake Market 1075 W. Long Lake Rd. • Bloomfield Hills 248-647-2266 The quaint, family-owned Long Lake Market has survived the rise of the convenient super stores for 40 years due to its loyal clientele, innovative marketing and stellar produce and products. Just last December the owners, Tom and Alice Currier, decided as part of the establishment's remodeling to install two-deck pizza www.oaklandpaper.com

ovens to begin selling specialty Neapolitan pizzas.

"It's slowly growing, but so far it's been successful," Alice said. "Once people taste our pizza they absolutely love it."

Chef Jack Leone is one of the reasons the business has realized immediate success. His recipes and his drive to ensure the end result is sheer perfection come from his purist philosophy.

"We use only fresh ingredients," Leone said.

"Every day at 2 a.m. I pick out what I want from our fresh produce and meats. Our dough is baked fresh daily and we only use fresh herbs like rosemary, basil and oregano in the sauce, and use a 50/50 cheese blend of mozzarella and provolone."

The market offers two to three variations of pizza each day. The pizzas are baked in the deck ovens at 650 degrees until golden. Some of those served are Margherita, BBQ Chicken, Pepperoni, and specialty pizzas. One recently created was a culmination of pear, walnut grilled chicken and Gorgonzola. Pizzas are sold by the slice ($1.99) or the by the 16-inch pie ($12.99).

Since the storefront is a market, other carry-out prepared foods are readily available, such as pasta dishes and salads for those who prefer simple taste to the extravagant. n addition, the market offers a whole range of salads that can be sold individually or familysized. One of the most popular salads is the Michigan Salad — fresh greens, dried cherries, walnuts, and blue cheese served in balsamic vinaigrette dressing. Fresh fruit, tuna, pasta and chicken salads are also hot sellers.

The Long Lake Market prides itself on its solid reputation in the community.

"Our loyal clientele recommends us and we see new customers every day," Leone said. "There are at least a half dozen chefs that shop here for our prime beef and fresh produce."

Store hours are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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Primo's 996 S. Adams Road • Birmingham 248-642-1400 Primo's in Birmingham may be one pizzeria in a small chain, but it draws a large following. Each store is independently owned and operated.

Primo's prides itself on using only the freshest ingredients. Pizza dough, made fresh daily, is then hand-tossed and cooked in a brick oven.

The sauce is made with a secret blend of herbs and spices. Primo's uses real cheese that is shredded daily into a three-cheese blend.

Known for both round and square pizza, the competition is hard pressed to match their modest pricing. A small pizza starts at $6.65; a large is $10.80; an extra large is $13.25. Each additional topping costs extra.

Besides its signature dish, Primo's offers a wide assortment of salads, pasta, chicken, ribs, and fried seafood.

In addition, there are 10 submarine sandwiches to choose from, each costing $5.99.

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They offer a full-service catering menu for that special occasion.

Unlike their competitors, Primo's is open early and closes late. Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m. to midnight; Saturday, 11 a.m. to midnight; and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.

Plum Market 3675 W. Maple Road • Bloomfield Twp. 248-594-2555 Plum Market, known as a high-traffic gourmet shop in the region, offers over 25 different specialty pizzas on a rotating basis, and the staff is continually brainstorming for more ideas to craft unique pizzas to offer their patrons.

"We're always thinking up new ideas and put each idea out as a slice of pizza and get good feedback," said Nighttime Supervisor David Beauchamp.

"If people take to them, we add them to the rotation."

One example, the Chicken Poblano Pizza, is distinguished by its poblano cream sauce with chorizo, grilled chicken raised without antibiotics; and red, yellow, and green peppers; Asiago and Parmesan cheeses; and finished with cilantro.

Plum Market prides itself on using all natural or organic products whenever possible. Their crust is offered in white or multi-grain. The tomato sauce is made from San Marzano tomatoes imported straight from Italy.

"The sauce is slightly chunky so not to disrupt the pizza vs. a classic tomato paste and water," Beauchamp said. "Ours has body and texture and is flavored with fresh garlic." izzas are baked in an open-flame wood stove to enhance the crust's flavor. The dough is first hand-tossed in an artisan style and rolled by hand for a crust that is on the thinner side.

"There are endless possibilities to creating our pizzas since we have a complementary commercial kitchen and grocery market," Beauchamp said. "We have fresh herbs at our disposal and anything in the market could end up in our pizzas. We also can cater to lactose allergies or other special dietary needs."

Specialty pizzas run $18 for a large and $15 for a classic, except on Mondays and Fridays when shoppers get a break in the price — classic large pizzas drop to $9.99 and specialty pizzas are $15.

"We're very busy on those days," Beachamp said.

Some of the more popular pizzas are the BBQ Chicken and Mediterranean with pesto sauce, artichokes, sun dried tomatoes, caramelized onions, roasted garlic, and a combination of feta, mozzarella, and Asiago and Parmesan cheeses.

"Everyone, no matter the demographic, comes in for our pizza and those who want something different like a Mexican or Meat Lovers," Beauchamp said.

Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

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Buddy's Pizza (carry-out only) 3637 Maple Road • Bloomfield Hills 248-645-0300

Established in 1936 on the corner of Conant ❯ 23

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From left to right, Buddy’s Pizza in Bloomfield Township; Pizza Papalis in Bloomfield Hills; Papa Joe’s in Birmingham; and Guido’s in Pontiac.

and Six Mile roads as a neighborhood tavern, it was not until 1946 that Buddy's first introduced its famous square pizza — the first of its kind — to Detroit. Buddy's has changed ownership over the years and has expanded to nine metro Detroit locations, including a carry-out in the Bloomfield area.

Today, more than 60 years since the introduction of "Detroit's Original Square Pizza," consistently voted No. 1 for decades, Buddy's continues to thrive. It has been recognized as one of the "Nation's Five Best Pizza Places" by The Food Network. In 2005 it was named the "Hottest Independent Pizzeria in the Nation" by Pizza Today. he deep-dish pizza comes in two sizes, 4 squares ($7.49 and up) and 8 squares ($12.99 and up). Each added topping costs $1 for the smaller pizza and $2 for the larger.

The dough is made from scratch daily; the handshredded cheese is imported from Wisconsin. One unique way Buddy's crafts their pizza is placing the pepperoni under the cheese with the sauce atop the pie. In this way, the pizza is prevented from charring and the flavor is enhanced.

Pizzas can be ordered with special dietary needs in mind, such as with no cheese, fat-free cheese, lactose-free cheese, or veggie cheese.

The newest option is to order the crust made with multi-grain or gluten-free crust.

Apart from traditional toppings, Buddy's serves up several specialty pizzas priced between $8.99 and $10.49 (4 squares) and $16.49 and $18.99 (8 squares). The Hawaiian is a creation of cheese, ham, pineapple, and Buddy's homemade barbecue sauce; the Margherita includes cheese, diced tomato, garlic, oregano, Asiago and tomato basil; and the Greek includes a feta/brick cheese blend, spinach garlic, red onion, tomato, and a hint of dill served with Greek dressing. The Florine Mark has a brick/fat-free cheese blend, spinach, mushrooms, tomato, garlic and black olives, and is served at 293 calories a slice and 9 grams of fat.

In addition to their signature entree, Buddy's offers a selection of pasta dishes served in half ($6.99) or whole ($10.49) portions.

Not in the mood for pizza or pasta? Take your pick from Buddy's extensive menu of burgers and specialty sandwiches priced anywhere from $6.49 to $8.49.

To complement any meal, Buddy's is famous for its minestrone soup, which is made from scratch daily, and its antipasto salad made with romaine and iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, diced imported ham, salami and natural Wisconsin brick cheese, all tossed in homemade vinaigrette dressing. uddy's Hours of operation are MondayThursday, 10:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.

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Pizza Papalis 4036 Telegraph Road • Bloomfield Hills 248-540-7722 Pizza Papalis borrows from Italian tradition dating back to 1830. The recipes, which are authentic, www.oaklandpaper.com

and their purist philosophy is the establishment's combination for success.

The first store opened in 1986 in Detroit. There are now nine restaurants throughout Michigan, including the Bloomfield Hills location. Apart from pizza, the full menu offers soups, crispy salads, and desserts.

The dough is made fresh daily using only the best grains available, with no chemicals or additives to achieve the perfect Chicago-style pizza. Every pie is loaded with premium Wisconsin cheese. Choice meats and vegetables, cut fresh daily, are generously heaped on top of each pizza.

Pizza Papalis takes pride in their exotic tomatoes that are derived from Italy's Agro Nocerine Sarnese region. The result is a more delicate flavor and less acidic taste.

The pizza is offered in two variations: deep-dish and thin crust. One of their most famous pizzas is the Spinach Special ($16.45 and up for deep-dish) with a three-cheese blend. Another specialty pizza is the Seafood Combo starting at $23.95 for deepdish. Thin crust pizzas are less expensive. Each style comes in three sizes.

Every Monday from 5 to 8 p.m. is Family Fun Night, when kids can build their own pizza. Kids eat for $1.

Daily specials may include a discount on wine or beer. Special promotions can be accessed online. tuffed sandwiches such as calzones and strombolis are also popular fare. Calzones and strombolis are close cousins, with the only major difference being that calzones have a higher cheese content and are in the form of a turnover shape, like a crescent before baking.

Strombolis are typically stuffed Italian bread dough.

Classic subs and pasta dishes are also available.

Pizza Papalis provides a full catering menu fit for any occasion, delivery service, and online ordering anytime.

Hours of operation are 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily.

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Papa Joe's 34244 Woodward Ave. • Birmingham 248-723-9400 The Papa Joe's gourmet market produces a pizza that's a hybrid of the Chicago- and New York-styles.

They attribute the imported Italian flour as the signature ingredient in the creation of the perfect pizza.

"We use only the best flour you can get, Caputo, which is straight from Italy," said Chef Ralph Macioce.

There are also two different crust styles to choose from: thin or pan-style. Slices cost $2.99 for meatless pizza, others are $3.49 each.

"Flour is the key to great pizza," Macioce said.

"We hand toss our dough and hand roll it. As a result, ours is nice and crispy on the outside but tender inside."

They use two types of cheese, called Grande, made with whole and skim milk for a creamy taste.

The sauce is simple but flavorful.

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"We use only San Margano tomatoes, and simple seasonings — nothing overpowering," Macioce said. "We had people go to Italy and come back and show us how to perfect a sauce and that's how ours was derived."

Some of the specialty pizzas include the Chicken Alfredo ($15.99), made with Alfredo sauce, grilled chicken breast, two types of cheese, bacon, and garnished with fresh scallions; and the Mexican ($16.99), topped with a mixture of taco and picante sauces, a cheese blend, seasoned beef, and topped with green onion, Colby cheese, lettuce and tomato.

For the health-conscious pizza lover, try their version of the Margherita, a bianco pizza, done with extra virgin olive oil and seasonings, fresh tomato and basil and topped with cheese; or the Athens, made with fresh tomatoes, spinach, feta, and black olives.

"It all comes down to quality, ingredients and knowledge of how to put everything together," Macioce said. "All kinds of people come into the store. We're not limited to Birmingham or Bloomfield, but have a huge demographic."

Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Guido's Pizza 3999 Centerpoint Parkway • Pontiac 248-333-0033 Proprietor Clint Bryant bought the Guido's franchise in 1997 when the economy was thriving.

Today, with the nearby General Motors plant vacant and businesses shutting down, times are tough.

"The economy has definitely impacted our business and we've taken a hit, but we're hanging in there," Bryant said.

Guido's has a diverse pizza menu, and unlike many pizzerias, offers three distinct savory sauces: original, chunky tomato, and spicy fire roasted. It also offers a trio of crust styles, including deepdish, hand-tossed, and thin.

"Everything is done in-house from the crust to the sauce to the cheese," Bryant said. "We use a 100 percent muenster/mozzarella blend that we make ourselves." he deep-dish and hand-tossed pizzas are in a tight race for being Guido's most popular; however, the "Big G," a 16-slice extra-large pizza, is the top seller overall.

Pizza is not sold by the slice, but patrons can purchase personal pizzas to order.

Their strombolis are another popular commodity.

"Ours is a rolled Italian sandwich cut into slices and baked," Bryant said. "It's a new item added this year and unique to us. Nowhere around here can you get anything like it."

Guido's provides an extensive catering service, in addition to a full menu of salads and premium pasta dishes.

Hours of operation are Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. ■

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■ snapshot

K

karen bee

aren S. Bee always knew she wanted to write a book, but had no idea that she would find her niche in mystery and crime writing.

"I always thought if I was going to write, it would be something humorous," she said. "How I came up with a murder mystery, I have no idea."

An avid watcher of crime television shows, Bee was intrigued by the excitement and fascinating nature of murder investigations. Thus, "Murder in Mystic Pond" became a reality.

"One day last November, this story just came to me and I started writing," she said.

Bee wrote for 15 to 20 hours each week and the book was complete in a little over three months.

The story takes place in a very wealthy suburb of Detroit and is loosely based on the Bloomfield area, where Bee grew up.

"It has some things in common with Bloomfield, but it's a fictitious place based on some of my experiences in the area," she said. "I wanted the main character to show the journey from rags to riches. The character, who is eventually murdered, starts off as a 16-year-old exotic dancer in Detroit and becomes successful enough to live in the millionaire climate."

The story struck a chord with male and female readers ranging from 18- to 70-years-old, according to Bee. "They all like it and it seems to appeal to all age groups and both genders," she said.

Bee first discovered her love of writing as a young girl. But, it wasn't until recently that she uncovered handmade books she had created at 8years-old and she realized she should be writing. With the support of her husband, who she has been with for 19 years, there was nothing stopping her from pursuing a lifelong dream.

"My husband is very supportive," she said. "In fact, he's contributing ideas for the sequel."

An avid activist, Bee met her husband through volunteer work with the Kiwanis Club. She also works on a political campaign and has served as a volunteer in the emergency room at St. Joseph Hospital.

"My sense of compassion really prompts me to help others," Bee said.

"When I'm passionate about something, I take action."

As a Lahser High School graduate, Bee still lives in Bloomfield Township and enjoys the perfect serene environment for her work as she pens the sequel to "Murder in Mystic Pond."

— Katey Meisner — The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard

HATE CRIMES FBI statistics indicate incidents fluctuated in Birmingham, Bloomfield from 2006 to 2008

By Kirk Pinho

R

ace has been at the forefront of political discussions in recent weeks, with the Obama administration ousting a U.S. Department of Agriculture employee over what were initially perceived by many in the media to be racially-charged remarks she made in a March speech to the NAACP, but later deemed — when examined in proper context — as part of a larger story about redemption and reconciliation.

Politicos, talking heads, and professors have all weighed in on the matter. What's garnered less attention than the firing of Shirley Sherrod, though, is actual hate crimes, which are tracked and classified by local police departments and reported to state police agencies and then forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) as part of the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) each year. ❯

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There seem to be few trends in the last few years regarding reported hate crimes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, and Bloomfield Hills, and local police officials generally say that there's really no way to tell how many, if any, will take place in a given year. However, if anything tangible can be identified in the statistics gathered by the FBI, it's that bias and hate remain a part of society, even if it's lurking in the shadows more than it was a half-century ago. n addition to the national attention again being paid to race, the ruling earlier this month by a California judge declaring Proposition 8's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional will cause the number of hate crimes with a sexual orientation bias to spike, according to Alicia Skillman, executive director of Equality Michigan, a Detroit organization fighting for "full equality and respect for all people in the state of Michigan regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression."

"Every time there is some room gained in the fight for equality, you usually see an increase in violence," Skillman said.

She noted that her organization fielded fewer reports of hate crimes in 2009 than in 2008, but not because people are becoming more tolerant or because there is less bias in Michigan.

"We would say the economy contributes to that," she said. "When people are struggling to eat or survive, they really don't take time to report violence against them. Sometimes they stay in abusive relationships so they can survive."

Bobbie Levine, program director for B'nai B'rith, which calls itself "the most widely known Jewish humanitarian, human rights, and advocacy organization," said that the organization isn't noticing any increase in hate crimes.

"We certainly have thoughts of it all the time, and that's why we are in a secured building," she said. "We are not experiencing any reason to concern ourselves."

Heads of law enforcement agencies, including police chiefs and sheriffs, are required each year by state law to report to the Michigan State Police information related "to crimes motivated by prejudice or bias based upon race, ethnic origin, religion, gender, or sexual orientation."

And while Betsy Kellman, executive director of the regional chapter of the Anti-Defemation League (ADL), said that she is "not seeing an increase" in hate crimes because numbers from the FBI for 2009 won't be available until October, she anticipates a spike.

"Anecdotally, I will tell you that I think they will be up," she said. "We hear about things from the Michigan Department of Civil Rights. Not only do I think the hate crimes are going to be up, I think they're (going to be) more serious."

However, what she did say has increased is the number of complaints the ADL has fielded.

"The complaints I get are usually based on some type of discrimination," she said. "You know, people are having more issues at work. People are having more issues in school. People are having more issues in the community where they work, and people know that when they face discrimination, they can call us."

She attributed that spike in complaints — although admitting that "it's hard to tell for sure" — to feelings of "frustration and anger," largely a direct result of the woeful economic situation in the state.

Some instances she pointed to included discrimination in housing situations, as well as in someone's education.

In 2008, the most recent year for which data was available from the FBI, one hate crime was reported to the FBI by local law enforcement officials. There was one hate crime reported in Bloomfield Township, and none in either Birmingham or Bloomfield Hills.

In 2007, there were five hate crimes reported in Birmingham. Bloomfield Township had two and Bloomfield Hills did not have any hate crimes.

In 2006, Bloomfield Township had three hate crimes reported. Bloomfield Hills had one, and Birmingham had none. few local law enforcement officials said that, while hate crimes were reported in their communities, they didn't have any recollection of those crimes being terribly serious. For example, the officials said that things like cross-burnings haven't been a problem in their communities.

However, they said, there are incidents that may fall under the "hate crime" category that aren't necessarily as inflammatory as some might expect, although departments still pursue the perpetrators actively and aggressively.

The following is a run-down of the available information on reported hate crimes committed in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, and Bloomfield Hills over the last few years.

I

A

Bloomfield Hills In Bloomfield Hills, Chief Richard Matott said there have not been any hate crimes that he can recall from 2009 or so far in 2010.

"We've had none at all," he said. "We don't have anything: No cross burnings or grafitti, nothing like that."

Based on the statistics, the hate crime numbers have been relatively static at zero.

Police officers in the department don't receive any special training to handle or identify hate crimes. www.oaklandpaper.com

Birmingham In Birmingham, Deputy Police Chief Mark Clemence said he couldn't recall any specifics on the hate crimes that were reported in 2007, but he didn't think they were hate crimes motivated by hate, but instead more so crimes committed by kids using racial slurs.

Clemence also said he wasn't aware of any hate crimes being reported for 2009 or in 2010 to date.

"If I remember correctly, 2006 and 2007 was when the crimes really started to get reported," he said. "When it first came to light, through legislation, there were several cases reported. Nine times, out of ten, it slowly filters away. For me, I can't even think of what those five were in 2007."

Like other departments, Clemence said just because it's classified as a hate crime, that doesn't mean it's a hate crime in the traditional sense.

"It might be something we attribute to a threat or intimidation call because the person responsible used racial or ethnic slurs," he said. "If that's the case, then we would have to classify it as a hate crime — it doesn't mean it was motivated by race or ethnicity."

The department's police officers do not receive special training when it comes to hate crimes.

"It's pretty obvious if something is a hate crime," Clemence said. "If there are symbols or slurs used, or you have a case where race, ethnicity or religion come into play, the officers know they need to fill out the correct hate crime papers."

As far as motivations, Clemence said hate isn't always the motivation in the hate crime reported.

"I think a lot of time the slurs are used by people without them knowing the impact of the word, or what it even means. I can't remember the five incidents we've had in the past, but I can remember cases where we've had inappropriate language or symbols used. It was kids who knew the words, but didn't really know what they meant or the significance of the words and symbols. I think a lack of knowledge on the part of the user is common in our reported cases."

Bloomfield Township In 2009 there was one hate crime reported, according to Cpt. Steve Cook of the ivestigations unit with the Bloomfield Township Police.

"In that case, we have a man who was saying homophobic remarks and using derogatory names when his neighbor was outside," Cook said.

In 2010, to date, there have been two hate crimes reported.

The first occured when the Jewish Federation office in Bloomfield Township received an e-mail that contained anti-Semitic remarks.

"In that case, they filed a report with us first and we then forwared the case to the FBI," Cook said. "Someone was sending the same e-mail to all Jewish Federation offices across the United States."

The second hate crime occured on July 17 when Bloomfield Township Police were called to the 400 block of Fox Hills Drive on a report that two vehicles and the car port area had been spray painted with red paint. hen police arrived, they found a Ford Explorer had the license plate painted with red paint. A Honda Accord had a "$" money symbol painted on the driver's side door window and a "V" painted on the trunk.

The car port wall near the two vehicles was spray painted with a racial slur, an obscenity and the initial "O.S.B." The Explorer is owned by a black male who lives in Bloomfield Township, and the Accord is owned by a black female living in Bloomfield Township.

According to police, the victims have no idea who may have painted their vehicles.

The incident remains under investigation.

Aside from the most recent events, there has been at least one hate crime a year since 2006. However, there has not been a noticable trend in statistics.

"Much like what the other departments have said, in most of our cases it's just kids or people using terms they don't fully understand," Cook said. "There isn't any hate behind it. We get kids who will go through the township, not targeting anyone in particular, and spray paint inappropriate symbols or racial and ethnic slurs. There is box on our reports for hate crimes. We know if a man is yelling at another male, who is gay, homophobic remarks, then he is likely homophobic and that's a hate crime. In those cases where something is spray painted and we have no known suspects, it's hard to tell what the motivation is. It then becomes the officer's opinion on what he or she saw. If that box is checked one way, it's reported as a hate crime; if it's checked the other way, then it isn't reported as a hate crime."

In Bloomfield Township officers receive diversity training but no other training on hate crimes.

"The diversity training is meant to educate our officers and ensure that everyone gets along. As far as hate crimes go, it can be pretty obvious to see which are and which aren't. If you have anti-Semitic remarks being sent to a Jewish organization or homophic remarks made towards someone who is gay, then that's a hate crime. Racial and ethnic slurs or symbols are hate crimes. All our officers are college-educated men and women; they can figure out if a crime is racially-motivated or not." ■

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■ county Phyllis McMillen tapped for vacant circuit bench seat

By Kirk Pinho Judge Phyllis McMillen of the 51st District Court in Waterford has been appointed to a vacancy on the Oakland County Circuit Court bench

by Gov. Jennifer Granholm.

“I am incredibly flattered and honored,” McMillen said on Monday, Aug. 9.

McMillen’s term on the Circuit Court bench will expire on Jan. 1, 2013, as she replaces Circuit Court Judge Mark Goldsmith, who was appointed to a federal bench seat earlier this summer.

“We very much look forward to her joining us,” said Oakland County Chief Circuit Court Judge Nanci Grant. “With her experience in the district court, we know she will be a wonderful addition to our bench.”

According to staff in Granholm’s communications office, the process for filling McMillen’s district court bench seat will include an application process in which interested candidates submit appropriate application materials, such as letters of recommendation and other qualifications,

to the Michigan Bar Association’s Judicial Qualifications committee.

Granholm’s staff then reviews background information, as well as comments from judges and attorneys in the area and makes a recommendation.

Granholm will ultimately be responsible for appointing McMillen’s district court replacement. The application deadline is Monday, Aug. 16.

McMillen has served as a district court judge since 1995.

According to the state of Michigan website, McMillen is an adjunct professor at the Cooley Law School and a faculty member with the National Drug Court Institute.

She is also vice president of the Michigan Association of Drug Court Professionals and former president of the Michigan District Judges Association. ■

Come in for a great fit

Board mulling contract preference for local businesses

By Kirk Pinho An Oakland County commissioner’s proposal to give Oakland businesses preference in Page 35 ❯

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■ county ❯ Page 33

awarding contracts remains before the Board of Commissioners’ Finance Committee, after an attempt last week to discharge the resolution from committee failed to gain enough support from the full board.

Commissioner Tim Greimel (DRochester Hills) introduced a motion to discharge his resolution from the committee, and said he would consider bringing the motion up again.

The 12 Democrats serving on the Board of Commissioners voted in favor of discharging the resolution, while the 10 Republican members of the county’s governing body that were present at the Wednesday, Aug. 4 meeting voted no. Two Republicans were not present at the meeting. Although the yes votes outnumbered the no votes, a majority of the full board (13 votes) was necessary to discharge the resolution out of the committee.

Greimel’s resolution would require that bids for goods and services originating from Oakland County businesses “shall be deemed reasonable and competitive if they are 5 percent or less above the cost of goods manufactured and/or services provided by businesses not located in Oakland County.”

Greimel said that extra costs to

county government would be off-set by spurred economic activity.

“In my opinion, that short-term increase in cost would likely be offset in the long-run by increased county revenue as a result of increased economic activity stemming from us giving contracts to county businesses.”

Commissioner Marcia Gershenson (D-West Bloomfield) said that every $10-per-week spent on local produce, for example, generates $37 million in revenues.

“If you’ve got a job (to do) and you’ve got bidders, it makes sense to give a little extra attention to local companies,” she said.

Board of Commissioners Chairman Bill Bullard Jr. (RHighland) said the reason board Republicans opposed the discharge motion was because “the committee hasn’t had time to give it due and careful consideration, and there is no reason to short cut the committee process.”

However, Bullard left the door open to voting for the resolution if it makes it out of committee.

“It’s something we would consider,” Bullard said. “We wouldn’t say ‘no’ automatically. It sort of depends on what some of the details are once it’s amended.” ■

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■ state Candidates file finance reports for pre-primary period

By Kirk Pinho State Sen. John Pappageorge (RBirmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) had a substantial fund-raising lead over his Republican primary election challengers, according to documents filed with the Michigan Secretary of State, but money was also rolling in for the Democrat who will oppose Pappageorge in the Nov. 2 general election.

Through Friday, July 23, Pappageorge, who represents the state’s 13th Senate District, had spent $185,395 on his campaign and raised $391,592. His reported campaign war chest balance after contributions and expenditures is $255,346. Pappageorge’s reported 2010 campaign debt is $125,000, according to reports filed with the Michigan Secretary of State.

Pappageorge said “you have to” raise a lot of money to be competitive in his Senate district because of, among other things, the cost of media buys in the Detroit-area market.

He said the $125,000 debt was from the sale of his house and the cost of downsizing.

“I wanted to make sure, from the very beginning, that we’d be wellfinanced,” he said.

Roi Chinn, one of Pappageorge’s GOP primary election challengers, had not submitted a campaign finance report to the Michigan Secretary of State Bureau of Elections, and David Kniffen, another challenger in the Republican primary, had raised $949 and spent $119.

On the other side of the political aisle, Democrat Aaron Bailey raised $119,561, but had spent $8,740, since he was uncontested in the primary election. His war chest balance was $109,092 through July 23.

Mike Zumberg, Bailey’s campaign manager, said the 13th Senate District race will be “one of the most competitive in the state.”

“We are going to run a very, very aggressive campaign,” he said. “We are going to look to bring in at least as much (money) as we’ve already brought in, if not more,” for the November general election campaign.

Rich Robinson, executive director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, said his “read” on the amount of campaign money being raised in Pappageorge’s district is a reflection of how competitive the 2006 campaign was for that seat.

“I’m sure he (Pappageorge) was encouraged to be very aggressive www.oaklandpaper.com

with his fund raising this time to try to discourage competition,” Robinson said.

The most recent data for the Republican candidates for the 9th Congressional District, which includes Birmingham, Bloomfield Township, and Bloomfield Hills, shows that Anna Janek hadn’t filed campaign finance statements with the Federal Elections Commission (FEC).

GOP primary election winner Rocky Raczkowski, according to the FEC through July 14, had net receipts totaling $840,784 and had net disbursements of $625,698, with a cash balance on hand of $215,088. There was also a listed campaign debt of $72,534.

Paul Welday had net receipts of $613,693, and net disbursements of $405,770, leaving $207,922 in the war chest through July 14. A $240,000 campaign debt was also reported to the FEC. Former Judge Richard D. Kuhn reported to the FEC $57,679 in net receipts, $32,723 in net disbursements, and $24,955 cash on hand.

His campaign also reported a $20,000-campaign debt to the FEC. Raczkowski will face incumbent Democratic U.S. Rep. Gary Peters in November. ■

Thomas Murdock, a Troy resident, was born in July 1990, meaning that he won’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. Section 7, Article 4 of Michigan’s Constitution reads: “Each senator and representative must be a citizen of the United States, at least 21 years of age, and an elector of the district he represents. The removal of his domicile from the district shall be deemed a vacation of office. No person who has been convicted of subversion or who has within the preceding 20 years been convicted of a felony involving a breach of public trust shall be eligible for either house of the legislature.”

Further language reads: “A person shall not be eligible to the office of state senator or representative unless the person is a citizen of the United States and a registered and qualified elector of the district he or she represents by the filing deadline, as provided in Section 7 of Article 4 of the state Constitution of 1963.”

A person identifying himself as

Candidate appears to be ineligible for state Senate seat

Murdock over the telephone said he was unable to speak at that time, and added that he would call back later. He never did. Calls placed prior to press time seeking comment weren’t returned.

Murdock’s candidate affidavit, which was provided by the Secretary of State Office, lists Bauer as the notary signatory. According to Justin Winslow, a Pappageorge campaign worker, Bauer is the political director for the Oakland County Democratic Party.

A “Tommy Murdock” is listed as one of Bauer’s Facebook friends.

Thomas Richard Murdock is the name of the individual who filed for Tea Party candidacy. The Facebook profile URL indicates an “R” middle initial and one of his “networks” is Michigan State University, which has a Thomas Richard Murdock listed as a junior political science major with the same address as the one listed on the candidate affidavit.

According to Kelly Chesney, a spokeswoman for the Michigan Secretary of State, “Candidates not possessing the qualifications for an office will not appear on the ballot.”

State senators serve four-year terms and are currently paid $79,650 a year. ■

KEEP IT SIMPLE

By Kirk Pinho A Tea Party candidate who has filed with the Michigan Secretary of State Office to run against state Sen. John Pappageorge (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township) and Aaron Bailey — the respective Republican and Democratic nominees from the Aug. 3 primary election — is apparently ineligible to run for that position in November, and seems to have ties to Oakland County Democratic Party officials.

It’s unclear if the candidate is actually a member of the Tea Party.

“This was a clumsy Democratic trick,” Pappageorge said. “(The candidate’s affidavit was) signed by the (political director) of the Oakland County (Democratic) Party.”

Jason Bauer, an Oakland County Democratic Party employee, confirmed that he signed the affidavits for several Tea Party candidates when reached earlier this month over the phone at party headquarters.

Bauer declined to discuss any disciplinary measure that was taken by Oakland County Democratic Party Chairman Mike McGuinness, who has said in published reports that the action was not a party-sanctioned endeavour.

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5058 Barber Road “The Red House Farm,” Metamora Twp., MI | $998,000 | MLS# 29097749 Historic 24 acre “Red House Farm” in the heart of Metamora Hunt country features six red buildings – a completely renovated and restored 1860’s Main House with modern amenities, Guest House, 2 Barns with fieldstone foundations and 13 Stalls, Tractor Shed, and four car Garage. Wonderful entertaining in home’s many gathering spaces. Exquisite outdoor pool and gardens. Large generator. 45 minutes to Birmingham.

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1139 Lone Pine Woods Drive, Bloomfield Hills, MI | $985,000 | MLS# 210039961 Exquisite oneof-a-kind site Condo overlooking 5 acre pond with interiors by Daniel Clancy. Extraordinary quality and details throughout. French balconied Living Room. Cherry paneled gentleman’s Library. Island Kitchen features white Rutt cabinetry complimented by Verde marble counters and large Breakfast area. First Floor Master Suite with peaked ceiling, luxurious Bath and His & Her Walk-In Closets. Spacious Family Room, Exercise Room, second Kitchen, and two Bedroom Suites in above grade Lower Level. 4 BR/4 Full & 1 Half BA.

275 Greenwood Street. Birmingham, MI | $890,000 | MLS# 210070449 Not a drive by! This wonderful in-town Birmingham transitional home has a spacious, open floor plan. Sought after First Floor Master Suite with two marble Baths and two Walk-In Closets. Double story Family Room. Living Room/ Dining Room combination with high ceilings. Great use of marble, granite and hardwood floors throughout.

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■ snapshot

david hall

N

ot quite 40-years-old, David Hall is a local business owner and an accomplished amateur golfer — and he's just getting started.

"I've had a lot of good experiences throughout the years and I've had a lot of opportunities to learn," he said. "I'll be 40 this year and it's kind of like the very beginning. There's a lot that you learn in your 20s and 30s to prepare you for the future."

Hall, previously a pitchman for Rock Financial, has since started Hall Financial in his hometown of Birmingham.

"I've been a Birmingham resident for about 10 years and I love it," he said. "It's the center of everything that I do and it's got the best downtown in Michigan, in my opinion."

Through the ups and downs of the housing industry over the past decade, Hall is confident in his ability to create a successful mortgage business that will serve the best interest of its clients.

"It's a difficult time. No one wants to see the value of their home go down, but we are continuing to find solutions to improve the situation," he said. "For some people, it's a good idea to own a home and sometimes it may be better for them to rent right now. We look at every situation and give recommendations based on that."

While Hall is 100-percent dedicated to his Birmingham mortgage firm, he's definitely not all business.

"I love to golf," he said. "I was the 1995 Michigan Amateur Player of the Year. I started playing at 10-years-old. I was on the high school team and played for U-M. Now I play in tournaments. It's a great game you can play at any age."

Though Hall comes from a small family, they're a tight-knit group.

Sadly, his mother passed away earlier this year, but he cherishes fond memories of his time with her.

"I would say my family in general has been my inspiration and I really enjoyed the times I spent with my mom," he said.

Here in town, Hall splits his time between his work, the golf course and downtown Birmingham.

"I really like to go to dinner at Big Rock and I'm always up for going to the movies," he said. "I kind of like all the restaurants and I just generally like the town."

Although the past decade has been challenging, Hall sees every experience as an opportunity.

"I feel like every step that I've taken over the past 15 years has been a positive one. I look at everything as a progression," he said. "It took a lot of time and energy to learn this profession. But, I've always enjoyed achieving things and living up to the responsibility."

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■ education Board approves ballot language for high school plan

By Brooke Meier Voters in the Bloomfield Hills School District will be asked this November to decide on two proposals that reportedly would maintain the district’s millage rate among the lowest of all Oakland County schools.

District officials said the levies would keep the current 2.17-mill tax rate while providing funding for a high-tech high school for 21st century learning, and for repair of other K-8 buildings through 2018.

The Board of Education voted Thursday, Aug. 19 to approve ballot language for a 1.43-mill bond request and a 0.74-mill sinking fund renewal to be decided by voters on Nov. 2.

Betsy Erickson, director of communications and community relations for the school district, said the proposals equal the current 2.17 mills paid by district taxpayers, and their approval is intended to replace the expiration of 0.67 mills of current bond debt in 2015 and the current 1.5-mill sinking fund in 2014.

“Approval of the bond proposal will generate $73 million to erect, furnish and equip a high school on the Andover site,” she said. “The sinking fund renewal for five years from 2014 to 2018 will generate $2.5 million annually for repair of all other district buildings, including elementary and middle schools.”

“Bloomfield Hills Schools levies the third-lowest millage among Oakland County’s 28 school districts. Only Farmington and Pontiac levy lesser amounts. At the higher rate are, for example, West Bloomfield at 6.2 mills, Huron Valley at 7.95 mills, and South Lyon at 8.5 mills,” she added.

The district plans on applying $32 million to the project using $12 million from its capital improvements fund and $20 million in sinking funds previously approved by voters.

Erickson said estimates by two construction management firms (Barton-Malow and George Auch), and one architectural firm (TMP Associates), show that the second phase of the Facilities Master Planning would cost between $92 million and $104 million, depending on the plan.

“The costs cover a new high school at $86 million to $98 million, plus moving the maintenance www.oaklandpaper.com

facility to accommodate the high school and consolidating administrators in one building for about $6 million,” she said. “The funding scenario preserves $1 million of current sinking fund money for district maintenance of K-8 buildings through 2013.”

In addition to drafting specific ballot language, the district will develop a request for proposal (RFP) for architectural and construction management services to assist the district with formulating high school design concepts, a construction time line and more specific costs.

The transition of students to one high school will be planned with input from students, parents, staff, and community members as a construction scenario becomes known, Erickson said.

The Board of Education decided in June to consolidate Andover and Lahser High Schools into one new school on the Andover campus. A new facility would likely open to about 1,600 students in 2014, with a total capacity of about 1,800 students.

The district estimates that consolidating the high schools will save $2.5 million annually.

A previous bond issue to build two new high schools on the Andover and Lahser campuses was rejected by voters in 2007. A plan in 2004 to put both schools on the Andover campus was never placed on the ballot.

Results from a May telephone poll of 300 residents, conducted by Mitchell Research in Lansing with a 5% margin of error, showed that an “astounding” 78 percent of respondents supported one new or fully-renovated high school accomplished without a current tax rate increase.

For more information about Facilities Master Planning in Bloomfield Hills Schools, visit http://strategicplan.bloomfield.org. ■

According to a release from Fellin and Roach, Bloomfield 20/20 - 2010 was formed to promote the understanding among district taxpayers of the general election millage proposal for a new high school and other facilities.

Information on the mission, objectives and activities of Bloomfield 20/20 - 2010 will be available on the PAC’s web site at www.b20202010.org; on Facebook with a page entitled B20/202010; and through e-mail at Bloomfield.20.20.2010@gmail.com.

Anyone wanting to donate contributions can mail them to Bloomfield 20/20 - 2010, P.O. Box 251762, West Bloomfield, Mich.

48325.

The Bloomfield Hills Schools Board of Education decided in June to consolidate Andover and Lahser High Schools into one new school on the Andover campus. A new facility would likely open to about 1,600 students in 2014, with a total capacity of about 1,800 students.

It’s estimated by the district that consolidating the high schools will save $2.5 million annually.

PAC formed to promote school ballot proposal

In late July, the board authorized the administration to develop Nov. 2 general election ballot language that would maintain or reduce the current 2.17 mill tax rate for district property owners.

The millage will be used to build the proposed new high school.

This would generate approximately $66 million for high school construction, and retain $3 million annually for K-8 building maintenance through a renewed sinking fund. The current sinking fund expires in 2014, and a renewal would need to be approved by voters.

The district plans on applying $32 million to the project, including $12 million in its capital improvements fund and $20 million in sinking funds previously approved by voters.

A previous bond issue to build two new high schools, one each on the Andover and Lahser campuses, was rejected by voters in 2007. A plan in 2004 to put both schools on the Andover campus was never placed on the ballot. ■

Offering excellent care to children 6 weeks through 5 years •All teachers have education degrees or credentials •Smaller class sizes for optimum care •Soccer and computer program

By Brooke Meier Bloomfield Hills Schools residents Chris Fellin and John Roach have joined together with other taxpayers of the school district to register a political action committee (PAC), Bloomfield 20/20 2010.

The PAC was registered with the Michigan Department of State on July 26.

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dweise@bslcmi.org Director: Dawn Weise

43

■ business notes Lido Gallery and Gifts, formerly The Print Gallery, has moved to 33535 Woodward Ave. in Birmingham from its previous location at 29173 Northwestern Highway in Southfield.

“We have a new gallery, a new space and a new identity,” said owner Diane DeCillis. After over 30 years in business, DeCillis decided the area surrounding the Southfield location had evolved from retail-friendly to serviceoriented and the space no longer fit their needs. “I think the Birmingham audience is very cosmopolitan and varied,” she said. “You can almost feel it when you get into the city. Birmingham has a lot to offer. We needed another venue and an audience who would be supportive of what we’re doing.”

The gallery will be seeking out local and nationally known painters and sculptors to show at Lido. “It’s something new that we’re doing and I’m making a concerted effort to find quality paintings,” DeCillis said.

Prices range from affordable to extravagant, and Lido’s offers an eclectic array of services and goods to its patrons. “We’re going to have poetry readings and lectures,” she said.

Offering paintings, vintage posters, gift items, greeting cards, dinner plates, jewelry, home accessories and custommade candy, Lido is making its mark all over the country. “We sell packaged candy bars and custom teas to museums and we recently took an order from the White House,” DeCillis said. “They saw our product and called us. They wanted the White House on a bar.” According, to DeCillis, the bars will be sold exclusively at the White House gift shop.

Additionally, Lido’s Mona Lisa candy bar will be featured on the “O list” in “O, The Oprah Magazine,” according to DeCillis.

Lido employs six staff members and is looking forward to bringing their award-winning custom framing, artwork and gifts to the area.

■ Fantastic Sams has recently opened a new salon at 2448 Franklin Road in Bloomfield Hills. Salon manager Theresa Baughman said she’s thrilled about the business venture. “It’s a brand new location and it’s centrally located between Telegraph and Woodward,” she said. “We’re getting a nice mix of people and it’s a different type of salon than this area is used to.”

The salon will offer quality cuts at an affordable price, she said. “We offer color, highlights, waxing, perms, and we serve men, women and children,” Baughman said. “We also have a couple of stylists who specialize in extensions.”

This particular Fantastic Sams is completely different than any other, according to Baughman. “As soon as you walk in, you can see that it’s an absolutely gorgeous salon. The décor is very open and it’s subtle, but it’s rich,” she said.

“The ambiance is more than your typical Fantastic Sams. Our stylists are great and very outgoing. It’s going to set us apart from other Fantastic Sams, and other salons, for that matter.”

So far, business is doing well and Baughman said that every day has been busier than the last. “We’re starting www.oaklandpaper.com

right from scratch, but we’re working on getting the word out and we have a lot of coupons out there,” she said. “We know that once you come in, you’ll want to come back.”

■ SHE, located at 4076 W. Maple Road in Bloomfield Hills, will be hosting a stock show and personal appearance by designer Heike Jarick on Thursday, Sept. 23 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Friday, Sept. 24 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Ten percent of the sales from the show will be donated to JARC, a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of people with disabilities and pro-

viding advocacy and support to their families. JARC, founded over 40 years ago, serves over 600 people affected by disabilities. The show will be hosted by owner Sharon Eisenshtadt and friends Jennifer Gilbert and Hillary Shaw.

Eisenshtadt said she is looking forward to the event and appearance by Jarick. “She’s a real woman with great style,” she said. “Her prices and fits are available for everyone and she’s very meticulous.”

As Eisenshtadt is on the JARC board, the cause is particularly special to her.

“It moves me in so many ways,” she said. “Being on the board, I have experienced working toward a cause with people who are just as passionate about our community and with the mission of continuing to enrich lives.” she said.

Eisenshtadt said she’s grateful and humbled by the opportunity to be a Bloomfield Hills business owner and help others simultaneously. “Living in the special community that I live in, I feel strongly that it’s so important to give back and it’s a value system that we’ve incorporated into our family. Now that we have a store, we have a great venue for my charity work and it’s really come full circle.”

SHE is an upscale clothing store that offers a variety of designers such as Herve Leger, Ports 1961, Velvet, Of Two Minds, Gender Bias, CP SHADES, Yigal Azrouel, Genetic Denim Jeans, Nation TShirts, and 49 Square Miles accessories and handbags. Now, in its second year in business, SHE is also offering SHE JEWELS, a collection of diamonds, colored stones and gold that have been hand-selected from around the globe.

Eisenshtadt said her time living and working in Bloomfield Hills has been remarkable. “The customers have been so gracious and lovely,” she said. “I feel like I live in this amazing community.”

■ After a brief delay, Scavolini by Cucina Moda will be opening in September at

202 E. Maple in Birmingham, and will immediately launch “Kitchens for a Cause.” The project, supporting local and regional non-profit organizations, will kickoff at the showroom on Sept.

23. “The event will be a launch party,” said owner Niki Serras. “We’re going to have food and it’ll be a way for people to get together.”

Serras is hoping to make this a regular event, and proceeds from their launch will benefit the University Musical Society (UMS).

From September 2010 to February 2011, a percentage of kitchen sales can be directed to UMS through Scavolini by Cucina Moda. “We love to do things within music and art, but that’s not the only non-profit we’re interest in supporting,” Serras said. “We’re pretty excited about it and hopefully it will be mutually beneficial for everyone.”

Serras hopes to open the showroom the first or second week of September.

The exclusive Michigan dealer offers Italian designed and manufactured kitchen cabinetry. A family-owned business, the store will feature five kitchen vignettes in a variety of materials and colors.

■ Hall & Hunter Realtors at 442 S. Old Woodward in Birmingham will host its 6th Annual Estate Sale of Antiques, Collectibles and Treasures fund-raiser for Habitat For Humanity of Oakland County on Saturday, Sept. 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “Once again this September we invite everyone in the community to come to this exciting sale that attracts those who are looking for treasures and those who have a heart for Habitat,” said Dennis J. Wolf, CEO of Hall & Hunter Realtors. “Items are donated locally and the proceeds go directly to the charity. Since its start, the event has raised nearly $100,000 for Habitat For Humanity of Oakland County.”

Through a special collaboration with Changing Places Moving Company, an agent of Arpin Van Lines, donated items from Hall & Hunter listing customers, clients, agents and many other community friends are collected and stored in the Changing Places warehouse and delivered for the one-day sale. Donation items can be dropped off Sept. 1 through Sept. 10 at the Hall & Hunter lobby, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Free pick up of larger pieces is available, and tax-deductible forms are provided upon request.

“The team at Hall & Hunter Realtors is an extraordinary partner for Habitat Oakland County,” said Sally LePla, executive director of Habitat For Humanity of Oakland County. “They have created, built and expanded the estate sale as a wonderful way to reflect Habitat’s standard of building, rehabbing and being green. By recycling fine quality furniture and home décor through the sale, they prevent landfill waste and give shoppers a chance to buy beautiful household items. The funds raised are a much needed boost in support of Habitat’s mission of eradicating poverty housing.”

Hall & Hunter has been headquartered in downtown Birmingham for over 50 years. ■

THE PAPER

Graphic Artist: Michelle Rhodes

The Community House and WRCJ FM present a series of four lovely classical music programs accompanied by a delightful brunch!

Artistic Director, Robert deMaine, Principal Cellist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, promises outstanding performances by some of the finest artists metropolitan Detroit has to offer in programs that are designed to entertain, inspire and educate audiences of all ages.

1st concert September 26, 12PM: Hai-Xin Wu, violin, and Zhihua Tang, piano 2nd concert October 31, 12PM: Icarus Trio—Richard Sherman, flute, James Wilhelmsen, piano, and Robert deMaine, cello 3rd concert February 13, 12PM: Kimberly Kaloyanides Kennedy, violin, James Van Valkenburg, viola and Robert deMaine, cello 4th concert March 27, 12PM: Kathryn Goodson, piano and Leah Dexter, mezzo soprano $25 for adults/$12 for kids for each performance (includes brunch).

Performances subject to change.

The Community House 380 South Bates Street, Birmingham, MI 48009 www.communityhouse.com 248.644.5832 45

■ 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.

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.

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.

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. 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

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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, macaroni 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

Forte 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 248.644.218

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Featuring a huge assortment of bagels, sandwiches and specialty

Leo’s Coney Island: Greek specialties, burgers and coneys are offered along with

THE PAPER

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 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.

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

SEPTEMBER 2010

■ main course New restaurant headliner opens in Birmingham

Larger portions including seafood and meats range $26 to $32. Most menu selections also include a helpful wine recommendation from Zazios’ list. In its farm to table consciousness, Zazios uses local purveyors who are listed on the menu.

By Eleanor Heald

F

or a name without a translation, Zazios has for months before opening on July 23, 2010, received more media attention than any other recent restaurant opening in Birmingham.

Zazios Restaurant, located inside the new $34 million Greenleaf Trust Building (corner of Woodward Avenue and Maple Road) garnered the first economic development liquor license in the city.

“It’s a prime spot,” says General Manager Fadi Achour, who joins Zazios with 30 years experience in the restaurant hospitality business, much of it in the Detroit metro area.

Zazios’ owners Greenleaf Hospitality Group, a division of Greenleaf Trust, a venture capital asset and wealth management firm that also owns a Zazios restaurant in Kalamazoo, opened in 2004.

(Zazios, 34977 Woodward Ave. at Maple Road, Birmingham, 248.530.6400. Sunday to Thursday 4 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday until 11 p.m. Reservations recommended, but advisable for Chef’s Table limited seating. Valet parking available.)

■

QUICK BITES LOCAL RESTAURANTS CITED FOR WINE EXCELLENCE Each year Wine Spectator magazine awards restaurants that offer a well-chosen selection of quality wine producers. This year, they include: • Big Rock Chop House, 245 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 248.647.7774;

MODERN ITALIAN Brightly colored and uniquely designed, Zazios conveys its modern Italian leanings before a diner opens the menu. The 10,000-square-foot space, seating a total of 210 among the bar, lounge and main dining areas, boasts an open-kitchen and several temperature-controlled wine cellars storing 140 different wines, 75 percent of which are Italian, ranging $30 to $50 per bottle. White tablecloths offset the attractively-colored chair backs and wall art.

Emphasis is concept-based on the Chef’s Table, accommodating up to 24 people per evening. Although a chef’s table is an attraction at many area restaurants, Zazios’ interpretation, developed by Concept Chef John Korycki to raves in the Kalamazoo location, is unique in a stadium seating with five video cameras feeding live footage of Executive Chef Matt Schellig as he prepares a signature five-course “off menu” meal. Cost is $65 per person with optional wine pairing at $30 additional.

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.

Zazios Executive Chef Matt Schellig prepares a dish featuring Hawaiian blue prawns at the new restaurant’s Chef’s Table. The Paper photo / Amy K. Lockard

If the idea of watching a chef prepare a 24-person meal live and up close then eating the preparations appeal to you, the Chef’s Table is for you.

Chef Schellig, a Culinary Institute of America grad, formerly with the Matt Prentice Restaurant Group at Shiraz and former owner of Aunt Olive’s Good Food 2Go in Birmingham, will offer recipes and tips of the trade on the “Chef’s Blog” at www.zazios.com.

MAIN MENU

A tri-fold, easy-to-navigate menu, includes a number of shareable Antipasti, of which the following “excite” Chef Schellig. Porchetta ($9), is slow-braised young earth farm pork belly with arugula, fig mostarda and sweet balsamic glaze. Salume ($12) includes imported prosciutto, marinated olives, roasted red peppers,

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. 248.593.6060

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.

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.

Quattro Cucina Italiana: A high-end setting

Rio Wraps: Features burritos, salads and deli

www.oaklandpaper.com

mozzarella and basil oil. Piatto Grande di Mare is a seafood antipasti at $12 per diner.

Novel is the restaurant’s Assaggini Tastings. Using the Italian verb assaggiare meaning to taste, the menu section is defined as little tastes. Three items priced separately between $12 and $14 can be ordered as all three for $28 under the category Giro D’Italia (Grand Tasting Platter).

Selections include: Mozzarella, Prosciutto and Balsamico.

Of the many pastas, all are housemade except Spaghetti Martelli, described as Tuscan artisanal spaghetti, Zazios’ zesty tomato sauce with local pastured pork and veal meatballs in two sizes ($9 and $16).

Garganelli ($11 and $20) is imported hand-rolled pasta quills with prosciutto, peas, roasted peppers, cream and grana padano.

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 Steve’s Deli: Classic and popular deli featuring

THE PAPER

• Cameron’s Steakhouse, 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 248.723.1700; • Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 323 N. Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 248.723.0134; • Northern Lakes Seafood Company, 39495 N. Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 248.646.7900; • Quattro, 201 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 248.593.6060; • The Rugby Grill, The Townsend Hotel, 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 248.642.5999; • Streetside Seafood, 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 248.645.9123.

Eleanor Heald is a nationally-published writer who also writes the wine column in a double byline with her husband Ray for The Paper. Suggestions for this feature and specifically for the Quick Bites section can be e-mailed to quickbites@oaklandpaper.com.

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.

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■ focus on wine Italy’s hottest wines; suggestions to try

By Eleanor & Ray Heald Wine brands gain prominence principally because there is a person or persons who believe in product excellence — from ground to bottle and motivated by dedicated owners. Then there are the people who recognize this and commit to showcasing a brand on the global wine stage.

Colleen McKettrick is among this latter. A West Bloomfield native, she began her work in the wine world shortly after graduating from the

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor.

Some 20 years later, her career took her from Michigan to France and finally to Italy in 1994, when she was invited by Marchese Lodovico Antinori to move to Bolgheri and direct international sales and development for the prestigious Tenuta dell’Ornellaia. Her successes led to the establishment of her company CMK Consulting.

After 18 years as a professional sommelier, her Athens-born husband, Vassilios Siontas, joined the company in 2000. Together, Colleen and “Vass” have succeeded in bringing attention to incredible wines, among them indigenous grape varieties (Italy boasts 290 native varieties) that are the current “hot” wines from Italy.

Our recent tasting of wines from the CMK portfolio inspired this column identifying some native varieties and suggesting a wine that is true to type for you to try.

INDIGENOUS WHITE WINES Falanghina is a very aromatic varietal found in Campania. Colli di Castelfranci 2009 Falango 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.

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.

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.

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Falanghina ($12) sports floral elements with pears, tropical fruit and citrus. Full, bright, round and delicious.

Greco di Tufo, a Greek descendant is found all over southern Italy. Colli di Castelfranci 2009 Grotte Greco di Tufo ($17) is minerally with good acid and structure; an ageable white.

Fiano has Greek origins from the 12th century and yields exotic floral wines that are luscious and full-bodied, marked by ripe pear and spiced honey flavors. Colli di Castelfranci 2008 Irpinia Fiano Paladino ($20) is rich, full, round, depthful and lovely.

Grechetto makes a full-bodied white with wild flower aromas and hints of lime. Arnaldo Caprai 2008 Grecante ($20) yields white tree fruits, citrus and apricot notes in an ambitious wine perfect for pork or chicken.

Pallagrello bianco is beginning to come into its own and makes medium-bodied, soft whites with ripe, tropical fruit notes. Terre del Principe 2009 “Le Serole” ($30) delights with delicious pineapple and ripe tropical fruits.

INDIGENOUS RED WINES Frappato is the main grape used to make the famed Sicilian Cerasuolo.

Valle dell’ Acate 2009 Il Frappato ($16) is brimming with raspberry and red fruits.

Nero d’Avola is considered the finest red grape in Sicily and makes powerful wines. Valle dell’Acate 2008 Cerasuolo di Vittoria Classico ($20), a blend with frappato, highlights red fruits and ripe plum in an easy-to-drink wine perfect for pasta with meat sauce.

Negroamaro has plummy red fruit with peppery, sweet and spicy notes in wines with ageable structure.

Rocca dei Mori 2006 Copertino ($12) is blended with montepulciano (a hearty red variety) at 30 percent in a wonderfully big and full wine that’s a steal at this price.

Pallagrello nero, a rare red beauty, produces wine with good alcohol levThe 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

els, solid acid balance, full to medium-bodied flavors and mild tannins.

It’s smooth and velvety. Terre de Principe 2007 Ambruco ($38) is smooth, generous and velvety with vanilla accents from oak aging.

DELICIOUS TUSCAN TASTES • 2006 Tenuta Monteti Caburnio ($20) and 2005 Tenuta Monteti Capalbio ($41).

If you have difficulty locating CMK wines, request help by e-mailing CMK@CMKCONSUSLTING.IT.

OTHER ITALIAN DELIGHTS • 2007 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico DOCG, $24 • 2009 Ceretto Blange Langhe Arneis DOC, $26 • 2006 Tenuta Trerose Vino Nobile di Montepulciano DOCG, $27 • 2006 Val di Suga Rosso di Montalcino DOC, $27 • 2005 Castello di Volpaia Chianti Classico Riserva DOCG, $34.

Outstanding.

• 2007 Insoglio del cinghiale, $34 (blend of syrah, cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot) • 2005 Ceretto Zonchera Barolo DOCG, $49 • 2004 Val di Suga Brunello di Montalcino DOCG, $66

ENDLESS SUMMER Sauvignon blanc is one wine that extends wine flavors enjoyed in summer. They’re fresh, lively with vibrant aromas and flavors of lemongrass, citrus, melon hints, particularly grapefruit and bright lime. Above all, they’re zesty. Try: • 2009 Woodbridge Sauvignon Blanc, $8 • 2009 Las Mulas Sauvignon Blanc, $10 • 2009 Casa Silva Sauvignon Blanc Reserva, $12 • 2009 Kenwood Sauvignon Blanc, $13 • 2009 Rodney Strong Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc, $14 • 2009 Morgan Monterey Sauvignon Blanc, $15 • 2009 Dry Creek Sauvignon Blanc, $16

• 2009 Beckmen Estate Sauvignon Blanc, $16 • 2009 Sbragia Home Ranch Sauvignon Blanc, $20 Black Star Farms scored as the biggest winner in the Michigan Wine & Spirits Competition held in August 2010. Sweepstakes Awards and Double Gold medals were awarded to the following: Best of Class (Double Gold) • Dry White: Black Star Farms 2009 Arcturos Pinot Gris • Dry Red: Bowers Harbor Vineyards 2007 Cabernet Franc, Erica Vineyard • Dessert: Fenn Valley Vineyards 2008 42 Ice Wine Best of Class (Gold) • Sparkling: Black Star Farms 2008 Sparkling Wine • Semi-Dry White: Black Star Farms 2009 Arcturos Riesling • Rosé: Forty Five North Vineyard & Winery 2009 Blanc de Pinot Noir • Semi-Dry Red: Lawton Ridge Winery NV AZO • Fruit: Uncle John’s Fruit House Winery NV Franc N Cherry Judges’ Merit Award • Chateau Fontaine 2009 Woodland White Double Gold • Black Star Farms 2007 A Capella Pinot Noir • Burgdorf’s Winery 2007 Morado • Chateau Grand Traverse 2007 Gamay Noir Reserve • Cherry Creek Cellars NV Raceway Red • Sleeping Bear Winery NV Vignoles A complete list of all gold and silver medal-winning wines can be accessed at michiganwines.com.

Eleanor & Ray Heald are contributing editors for the internationally-respected Quarterly Review of Wines, among other publications. Contact them by e-mail at focusonwine@aol.com.

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.

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.

Toast: With a modern retro style, Toast offers American dishes with a touch of southwestern taste, including signature breakfast food to burgers. B, W, L. B & L, daily; D, Monday-Saturday.

203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.258.6278.

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.

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 TOPZ: Offering homemade fare, featuring Michigan vendors and local Michigan products,

THE PAPER

(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.

SEPTEMBER 2010

Upper Straits Lake $8,000,000 Never offered on the market. Fabulous site of 10 plus acres on Upper Straits Lake. 5.96 and 6.90 acres combined can be divided as lakefront estate size home or one site of pristine acreage. 5600 and 5652 properties are being offered plus three garages and FHA approved helicopter pad. Three bedrooms, with 3.1 baths. 210085848 Presented by Ronni Keating

Lower Long Lake Frontage $3,450,000

Bloomfield Village $725,000

Spectacular setting on Lower Long Lake! Country French Estate featuring walkout lower level to private landscaped pool area with brick deck and walkways. Large backyard down to boat dock. Large room sizes with lovely views of the lake! Back stairway leads to separate suites built over garage. Warm and inviting! 210033030 Presented by Ronni Keating

Classic Bloomfield Village Colonial with family room addition. Corner private lot with large deck off back. Atrium in center of dining room, family room and kitchen. Heated Florida room and den with fireplace.

Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 210087793 Presented by Ronni Keating

Ronni Keating

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000 Equal Housing Opportunity

Bloomfield $1,500,000

Bloomfield Village $1,295,000

Stylish Contemporary set on 2 acres of beautifully manicured grounds.

Boasting over 5,600 sq. ft. of living space, this home is truly special.

Generous rooms offer perfect space for entertaining. Gorgeous white kitchen, first floor laundry, three ample bedrooms with a possible 4th, three full baths and two powder rooms. This home is a true retreat!

Presented by Sara Lipnitz

Stunning and stylish dĂŠcor with great details in this newer construction.

Great built-ins, wainscoting and thick millwork. Gourmet kitchen opens to family room, master bedroom with huge walk in closet and spa like bath, second floor laundry and finished lower level. Five bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 210010160 Presented by Sara Lipnitz

Bloomfield Hills $1,295,000

Bloomfield Village $1,100,000

Set high upon a hilltop on a private cul-de-sac and in the heart of Bloomfield Hills, this home has been meticulously updated. Style and sophistication, high end amenities and gracious living space. First and second floor master suites, neutral stone baths and gorgeous fixtures.

Gourmet kitchen. Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 210023765 Presented by Sara Lipnitz

Tucked deep into the Estate section, this home sits on three lots. Custom features, first floor master suite with his and her baths. Gracious rooms, granite/cherry kitchen, dual stairwells, mud room with informal powder room. Birmingham Schools. Five bedrooms with 6.3 baths. 210025571 Presented by Sara Lipnitz

Sara Lipnitz

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000

Oakland Township $2,850,000

Bloomfield Hills $1,990,000

Beautifully tucked within 7+ acres of Oakland Township grandeur.

Spacious European Country House has premium appointments and highend detailing throughout. Lovely guest quarters is complete with chefs kitchen. Nature, wildlife and ultimate tranquility are hallmarks of this magnificent estate. Full complement of sophisticated mechanical/electrical componentry. Six bedrooms with 9.3 baths. 210090251 Presented by Mike Cotter and Paula Law

Absolutely stunning private location beautifully set behind Bloomfield Hills Country Club. This spacious colonial features great room sizes.

Gated entry, manicured grounds and an opportunity to customize to your liking! Grand marbled foyer overlooks lovely rooms ideal for entertaining large groups. Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 210090660 Presented by Mike Cotter

Troy $1,150,000

Birmingham $799,999

Magnificent custom family Colonial. Set on over 3/4 acre manicured site.

Premium appointments, gourmet kitchen, first floor master 17x 19.

Gorgeous finished walkout with second kitchen. Multiple areas for outdoor entertaining. Bloomfield Hills Schools. Five bedrooms with 4.3 baths. 210086679 Presented by Mike Cotter and Paula Law

A bit of Paris in this beautifully presented French Townhouse! European elegance and sophistication. Filled with very custom millwork, wrought iron and exquisite stonework. Three story property exudes a gracious historic lifestyle, while providing very up to date facilities. Located in a very private cul-de-sac. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210053800 Presented by Mike Cotter and Paula Law

Mike Cotter & Paula Law

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000 Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham $1,100,000

Birmingham $849,000

Stylish in town living! Custom finishes throughout in this elegant home on a quiet, dead end street. Living room with soaring ceilings and built ins, granite kitchen opens to family room with French Doors to patio.

Finished lower level with large family room, recreation area and kitchen.

Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 210071818 Presented by Renee Acho

High end finished throughout this in town beauty! Elegant foyer with cascading staircase leads to white eat-in kitchen, study, living room with fireplace and dining room with French doors to Zen-like private yard and huge deck. Second floor with family/bonus room. Finished lower level with family room, additional bedroom and full bath. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 210055881 Presented by Renee Acho

Birmingham $799,000

Bloomfield $339,000

Elegantly remodeled Colonial! Traditional floor plan with formal living room, sun room and dining room. Completely updated kitchen with granite counters, custom cabinets and breakfast nook opens to large family room. Master suite with balcony and fully remodeled bath with jetted tub and dual vanities. Finished third floor with office. Five bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 210077920 Presented by Renee Acho

Center entrance Colonial on large fenced lot with swimming pool! Large living room, eat in kitchen, formal dining room, family room with fireplace and lovely Florida Room overlooking private yard. Separate in-law or nanny suite off main level with private entry. Bloomfield Hills Schools.

Five bedrooms with 2.2 baths. 210056309 Presented by Renee Acho

Renee Acho

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000

Birmingham $2,499,000 Exquisite residence designed by Victor Saroki, is a proud display of superb craftsmanship, tremendous attention to detail and uncompromising dedication to quality. Gourmet kitchen with top-of-the-line appliances opens to stunning family room with hand carved limestone fireplace. All heated Brazilian walnut and limestone floors with central vacuum throughout. Five bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 210091916 Presented by Cindy Obron Kahn

Bloomfield Hills $995,000

Birmingham $795,000

Stunning and fully updated in 2006. First floor master with huge custom closet and large bath. Hardwood floor throughout. Fabulous kitchen with Bosch and Sub Zero Appliances. Three bedrooms upstairs with hardwood floors and three baths with marble. Lower level new wine cellar with copper and stone and exercise room. Four bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 210026671 Presented by Cindy Obron Kahn

Fabulous Buy! Motivated! Newly painted! Wonderful Colonial featuring stunning hardwood floors, crown molding, white and cherry cabinetry and granite island. Large master suite with fireplace, two walk in closets, bath with steam shower and jetted tub. Fabulous lower level with full bath and custom built-ins and wet bar. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths.

210078169 Presented by Cindy Obron Kahn

Cindy Obron Kahn

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000 Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham $499,000 Builders own home with focus to detail and finishes! Gourmet kitchen with top of line cabinets, granite, stainless steel appliances and over looks family room with fireplace. Brazilian hardwood floors, second floor laundry and formal dining room. Close to park and downtown! Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210066068 Presented by Erin Keating-Dewald

Royal Oak $169,000 Charming Vintage Colonial in desirable Northwood subdivision. Hardwood floors, formal dining room with fireplace, wainscoting, crown moldings and finished basement with full bath. Newer windows, furnace and granite in kitchen! Spacious backyard.Charm, character, details and location! One year home warranty. Three bedrooms with two baths. 210041870 Presented by Erin Keating-Dewald

Erin Keating-DeWald

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000

Pine Lake Frontage $2,495,000

Northville Township $1,599,000

Seller of the “Ginger Bread Cottage” are motivated to sell this Landmark home, designed by William Kuni (Ford Mansion). 175 feet of frontage on private Pine Lake. Loads of charm and updates including brand new gourmet kitchen. One acre at rear of home, fronts Pine Lake Country Club, could be split. Nine fireplaces. Eight bedrooms with 5.5 baths.

210061790 Presented by Bill Tracy

Gracious and beautiful estate living on the third hole of Meadowbrook Country Club! Custom built home offers it all, stunning entrance to the incredible walk out. Open floor plan with gorgeous views, wonderful room sizes and custom touches everywhere. Expansive lot offers privacy.

Six bedrooms with 5.2 baths. Also for lease $7,000/monthly. 210071450 Presented by Bill Tracy & Christine Johnson

Independence Township $1,060,000

Birmingham $424,900

Spectacular four year old custom built home on 10.7 wooded acres. Tall ceilings, granite, travertine tile and wide plank wood floors. Large gourmet kitchen. Luxurious master suite. Four fireplaces. Media and exercise room. Finished walk-out with second kitchen, full bath and bedroom. Six bedrooms and 5.3 baths. 210001716 Presented by Bill Tracy

Open floor plan and high quality appointments throughout. Stainless appliances and granite counters. Second floor laundry. Finished daylight basement with full bath and wet bar for 1,000 sq. ft. of additional living space.

Beautiful Brazilian cherry hardwood floors. Crown molding. New paver patio.

Two car garage with loft. Fenced with electric gate. Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 210088447 Presented by Bill Tracy & Christine Johnson

Bill Tracy & Christine Johnson

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000 Equal Housing Opportunity

Bloomfield Hills $995,000

Bloomfield Hills $725,000

Just reduced! A slice of heaven in the City of Bloomfield Hills on 1.45 acres. Updated walk-out Ranch with cedar shake roof and open floor plan.

3,800+ sq ft. Finished lower level boasts an additional 2,687 sq. ft.

Hardwood floors throughout first floor. Magnificent landscape includes ornamental pond and pathways. Five bedrooms, 3.2 bathrooms. 210061035 Presented by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

Two plus acres in the City of Bloomfield Hills! Serene tranquility surrounds this spacious Ranch featuring six bedrooms with 4.1 baths.

Over 5,600 sq ft on both levels. Sunroom off the kitchen and large formal dining room with cathedral ceiling. Fenced deck and kidney shaped pool overlook huge private backyard. Six bedrooms, 4.1 baths. 210025301 Presented by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

Bloomfield Hills $595,000

Birmingham $472,500

Over $200,000 in updates in the last three years. Pristine condition and priced to sell. Beautiful fieldstone fireplace in family room. Paneled library with fireplace. First and second floor laundries. Newly finished lower level wired for home theater. New office with built-ins in master. Wine cellar.

Four bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 210086180 Presented by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

Newer Birmingham home on quiet tree-lined dead end street. Spacious square footage. Granite island kitchen with large pantry opens to informal dining area and family room. Hardwood floors.Wainscotting and crown molding. Fourth bedroom with egress window and bath in lower level.

Second floor laundry. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210093197 Presented by Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublitsky

Maureen Francis & Dmitry Koublistky

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000

Bloomfield Hills $5,999,000

Detroit $2,500,000

$500,000 Price Reduction! This true mansion sits prestigiously on a hilltop with spectacular views of its four acres. Absolutely stunning architectural details walk you through the residence. From its captivating grand foyer, palatial two story great room, expansive library and spacious formal dining room. Seven bedrooms with 8.3 baths. 210055448 Presented by Jill Beshouri

One of the grandest and largest 1870s Victorian mansions in the City of Detroit. Currently being used as a bed and breakfast, this uniquely designed mansion features ten bedroom suites with 11.1 baths, three living rooms, eight marble fireplaces, gated parking and more!

Completely renovated to perfection and located minutes rom the city’s best attractions, including Comerica park and Ford Field. 210030310 Presented by Candice Cuyler & Adrena Holman

Lake Angelus Frontage $894,000

Bloomfield $615,000

Very well kept home with fabulous views of Lake Angelus. 2,000 square foot Ranch with an additional 1,600 square footage in the finished lower level. Three fireplaces. Full deck, paver patio, stone sea wall, private road.

A fine opportunity to express yourself, decorate, update or live in this superior home. Four bedrooms with four baths. 210021618 Presented by Lee Embrey

Tucked deep into the Estate section, this home sits on three lots. Custom features, first floor master suite with his and her baths. Gracious rooms, granite/cherry kitchen, dual stairwells, mud room with informal powder room. Birmingham Schools. Five bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 210089363 Presented by Jenny Turner

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000 Equal Housing Opportunity

West Bloomfield

Bloomfield Hills

Milford

Elegant and gracious home in a cul-de-sac location.

Completely updated in 2006. Master suite with dual walk-in closets. Huge lot with pool and waterfall.

Five bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 210049606 $790,000.

Andrew Teitel

Completely renovated with exceptional and open floor plan. Spacious granite kitchen. Tranquil one acre lot with circular drive, sprinkler system, deck and gazebo. Birmingham Schools. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210089028 $599,900.

Lisa Sturdevant

Beautiful custom built brick home on 1.5 acres in quiet subdivision. Flowing floor plan includes huge eat-in kitchen with island adjacent family room. First floor master suite opens to brick paver patio. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths.

210079303 $450,000. Karen Atchoo

Troy

Troy

Bloomfield

Beautiful lot is 1.8 acres with stream and pond in Northwest Troy. Almost 6,000 sq. ft. Six bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 210058485 $399,000.

Christine Johnson

Charming brick Ranch sitting in a great northern Troy subdivision with Bloomfield Hills Schools.

Large living room overlooking private yard.

Refinished hardwood floors. Family room with natural fireplace. Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths.

210085871 $364,900. Donna Barlow

Well maintained Colonial offers hardwood floors, a bedroom suite in addition to the master bedroom. A partially finished lower level with walkout to inviting brick paver patio.

Birmingham Schools. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210092858 $359,900. Avery Weisling

Bloomfield

Bloomfield

West Bloomfield

Spectacular renovated Ranch situated on beautiful .58 acre lot in Oakland Hills Country Club neighborhood. Tuscan inspired kitchen and large great room with coffered ceiling and fireplace. Three bedrooms with 2 baths.

210089421 $345,000 Cindy Obron Kahn

Beautiful two story foyer, a kitchen designed for culinary delight with Gaggenau stoves and SubZero refrigerator. Large master suite with wood burning fireplace. Birmingham Schools. Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210068981 $314,900.

Avery Weisling

Middle Straits Lake with fabulous views. Great location in West Bloomfield and only 2.3 miles from M-5. First floor master bedroom and hardwood floors throughout. Walkout lower level. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 29079226 $294,000. David Kopko

Troy

Clawson

Troy

Move right in! Designer touches throughout. New gourmet kitchen. Hardwood floor in great room and dining room. Three full updated baths. New furnace and central air. Three bedroom with three baths.210054984 $249,000. Carol DeMercurio

Fabulous brick Ranch! Formal dining room, living room with fireplace and first floor laundry. Two bonus rooms above oversized garage with heat, air and cable. Four bedrooms with three baths.

210079826 $224,900. Bev Napier

Generous in size and designed for maximum living.

Entry level consists of large master, full bath and great storage. Bright, white and cheery kitchen with adjacent breakfast room. Two bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 210089321 $210,000. Betty Pince

SKBK Sotheby’s International Realty skbk.com Equal Housing Opportunity

Birmingham, Michigan

248.644.7000

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PAPER

248.760.2222 275 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

60

THE PAPER

SEPTEMBER 2010

â– snapshot

armani hawes

A

t just 17-years-old, Armani Hawes' philanthropic nature has inspired her to accomplish more than many could in a lifetime. Through her work with the Judson Center in Royal Oak, Hawes has taken the initiative to raise funds and personally assist those in need.

"I wanted to do something to help others and I started looking into charity centers. I decided that the Judson Center was a good fit," she said.

"They have adoption services, an autism center and they help adults with disabilities."

This summer, Hawes is volunteering at Judson's Autism Connection summer camp and gaining invaluable experience for her future.

"It can be challenging, but I want to work with kids with autism and children with special needs, so it's really a good experience."

For the past three years, Hawes has organized a garage sale, with proceeds going directly to the Judson Center.

"I send out e-mails and call people to get them to donate things they aren't using," she said. "It goes into a storage facility, which is donated, and we take it all to Lahser High School to sell."

The event has raised thousands of dollars. This year, Hawes is specifically designating all the proceeds to Judson's autism center.

Hawes, who will be a senior at Lahser High School in the fall, also finds time to play on the varsity lacrosse team and run cross country. Even with her charitable work, sports and school, she still finds time to be a regular kid.

"I like hanging out with my friends and doing normal teenage stuff," she said. "And, I babysit a lot."

Hawes was recently recognized for her efforts with the 2010 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, though she takes the acknowledgment in stride.

"I don't (volunteer) to get recognized, but it's nice that the Prudential people recognize kids."

Hawes' work will certainly help her throughout her career, as she hopes to major in psychology and special education. She attributes her drive to help others to her grandparents.

"They've done so much charity work and they're just really kind people," she said. "They instilled the importance of giving back in me and I feel it's my obligation." — Katey Meisner — The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard

BLOOMFIELD HILLS $2,995,000 Exquisite French country home built to the highest standards. Exquisite first floor master bedroom, gourmet kitchen, family room and conservatory plus pool with cabana.

BLOOMFIELD $649,000 Classic Bloomfield Village colonial with many recent updates. The master suite includes a luxe bath plus a 23-foot walkthrough closet. 4 bedrooms, 3 baths.

The Engelhardt Team Phone 248.593.0875 Cell or VM 248.931.8905 http://BirminghamMiHomes.com jnewman@hallandhunter.com

BLOOMFIELD $3,500,000 This outstanding home will remind you of the magnificence of Meadowbrook Hall. Updated with all of the modern amenities. Beautiful gardens and pool.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS $1,600,000 Timeless contemporary home with bright, open interior. 5 bedrooms, fabulous chef’s kitchen and panoramic views of landscaped gardens and stream.

Cheryl Riback Associate Broker, ABR, SRES

Phone 248.593.0769 Cell or VM 248.808.3112

■ municipal

small fund balance.

The millage would last for six years — funding up to two threeyear contracts with the library — and expire in 2016, according to Neal. The first collections would come in December if the measure is approved in the general election.

Neal said Bloomfield Hills residents should be able to expect parity between the services they and Bloomfield Township residents receive, should the millage go through.

“That would be established in the contract negotiated between the library and the city,” Neal said.

“Historically, that has been the case.

The reason we are being asked to pay the same rate as the average household in the township is so that we can get the same level of service, and also so that we are not diminishing the services of the township residents, whose library it really is.”

Mayor Pro Tem Patricia Hardy said she thought the ballot proposal was a “great” idea.

“I certainly support it,” she said.

Commissioner Sarah McClure said that she was concerned that the city still had to determine what the oper-

ating millage will be, and that she preferred to see the issue come up on the May 2 ballot rather than the general election ballot this year so residents could take that into consideration when going to the polls.

Commissioner Michael Zambricki, referring to the potential establishment of a library board in the city, said he was concerned about the idea of creating another governmental entity.

Mayor Michael McCready also expressed reservations about the potential library board — which would be an independent body — being able to raise funds, and, like McClure, the proposed date of the millage question.

Nearly all commissioners said it was best for the voters to decide the matter.

Although the City Commission has offered input on at least two separate occasions on the matter, the city’s governing body did not have authority over whether the six-year levy would go on the general election ballot, according to City Attorney William Hampton of Secrest & Wardle.

Hampton said that the final deci-

sion came down to residents who signed a petition that was required to receive at minimum 50 signatures and ended up receiving more than 120.

The commission met in a special meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 17 to discuss the issue, and clearer ballot language was put forth that, according to Hamilton, removed doubt about whether or not the proposed 0.617-mill levy could be exceeded.

The earlier ballot language left ambiguous whether more than 0.617 mills, when legal interactions with Public Act (PA) 164 of 1877 were considered, Hamilton said.

The ballot language reads: “Shall the tax limitation imposed on all taxable real and tangible personal property within the City of Bloomfield Hills, Oakland County, Michigan, be increased for said City in an amount not to exceed .617 mill ($.617 on each $1,000 of taxable value) for a period of six (6) years, 2010 to 2015 inclusive, to provide funds for the establishment of a public library in the City of Bloomfield Hills pursuant to Section 10a of 1877 PA 164 and for all other library purposes authorized by law; and shall the City levy such new additional millage for said purposes in an amount not to exceed .617 mill on all taxable property in the City which shall not be increased without a subsequent vote of the electorate; the estimate of the revenue the City will collect if the millage is approved and levied in the 2010 calendar year is approximately $498,000? The revenue from this millage will be disbursed into a library fund that is under the exclusive control of an independent public library board and may be used to contract for library service with another library.” ■

Potts’ husband, Oakland County Commissioner David Potts (RBirmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township), has been a vocal advocate for the transit center.

A Sept. 8 hearing is scheduled in front of Circuit Court Judge John McDonald on a motion that Farmington Hills-based real estate company Grand Sakwa has filed to enforce a reversion of deed provision involving a piece of property that was given for development of the proposed transit center.

Troy city attorney Lori Bluhm said the cities remain in the process of

pursuing grants to pay for the project.

The concept of a transit center first surfaced in 1999, when 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 construc-

tion 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 company.

In March 2010, Troy and Birmingham acquired Page 65 ❯

By Kirk Pinho

B

loomfield Hills voters will decide on Nov. 2 whether they will fork over extra money to pay for contracted services provided by an area library.

Under the proposal brought forth by Larry Neal, who is the executive director for the ClintonMacomb Public Library, residents will be asked in November to approve a 0.617-mill levy to support two three-year contracts with the Bloomfield Township Public Library so city residents can use the library.

A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value, which is generally equal to half the property’s market value.

The owner of a city property with a taxable value of $100,000 ($200,000 market value) would pay $61.70 in property taxes for contracted library services in the first year of the millage collection.

If the measure is approved by voters on Nov. 2, the City Commission would be tasked with establishing a provisional sixmember library board. The board members would serve as appointees until the May city elections are held. In that election, Bloomfield Hills voters would select the six members to serve on that independent body.

The top two vote-getters would receive three-year terms.

The third- and fourth-highest vote-getters would receive twoyear terms. The fifth- and sixthhighest vote-getters would receive one-year terms.

If approved by the electorate, the millage would raise about $498,000 in its first year. The contract with the Bloomfield Township Public Library would cost $463,000 in millage funds the first year, Neal said. The extra $35,000 would go for attorney fees for drafting the contract with the library and establishing a

Judge Potts taken off case involving transit center land

By Kirk Pinho Circuit Court Judge Wendy Potts is no longer responsible for presiding over legal action that has been taken regarding the proposed BirminghamTroy Transit Center, according to Jana Ecker, Birmingham’s Planning Director, and staff in the Oakland County Clerk’s/Register of Deeds office. www.oaklandpaper.com

Bloomfield Hills residents would receive services at the Bloomfield Township Public Library (above), if city voters authorize a millage proposal at the Nov. 2, general election polls. (The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Library millage proposal Bloomfield Hills voters face decision on Nov. 2

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248.669.3500 3081 Haggerty, suite 1 • walled lake SEPTEMBER 2010

■ municipal ❯ Page 63 federal and state funding,

as well as federal and state grants totaling over $8.5 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 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 selfserving 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 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.

Bluhm said that there was expected to be a hearing today, Friday, Aug. 6, at 10 a.m. regarding whether Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Potts would be allowed to hear the case. Her husband, Oakland County Commissioner David Potts (R-Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township), has been a vocal advocate for the Transit Center. An original motion for Potts’ disqualification was not granted, and Grand Sakwa is appealing that decision, according to Bluhm.

The city still has to officially respond to the lawsuit, Bluhm said.

A hearing that was set for Wednesday, Aug. 11, has been postponed until Aug. 18, but Bluhm said she wasn’t sure if the hearing would take place on that day due to scheduling conflicts.

Yet Bluhm said the project is still moving ahead as planned, “Until and unless there is a ruling that says, ‘Stop.’” www.oaklandpaper.com

Modified plans for a proposed Tim Horton’s project at Woodward Avenue and Square Lake Road in Bloomfield Township — a site now occupied by a former Bennigan’s restaurant building (above) — are expected to be submitted to the township board. (The Paper photo/Amy K. Lockard)

Reconsideration

“We are still proceeding with the site plan reviews and the transit center,” Bluhm said. “We do have a lot of grants that have been issued for the transit center.”

“We believe that we will prevail ultimately in the Circuit Court.”

R. Brent Savidant, Troy’s acting planning director, only confirmed that the lawsuit existed, but declined comment beyond that.

Birmingham City Commissioner Stuart Sherman said he believes Troy will prevail. As an attorney, he said he believes the facts are on the city’s side.

Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus said it would not be appropriate for him to comment on litigation filed against another municipality. ■

Tim Horton’s proposal back on the table Communications firm bringing services tion for the Tim Horton’s was 5

By Brooke Meier a.m. to midnight.

Bloomfield Township Board to Birmingham Despite a traffic impact study Theof Trustees has voted to reconsider final site plan approval for a proposed Tim Horton’s restaurant — a plan initially denied by the board after citing traffic concerns that reportedly weren’t addressed by the applicants.

The proposed Tim Horton’s site is located near the southeast corner of Woodward Avenue and Square Lake Road.

The denial vote took place at the Monday, July 26 township board meeting, where several residents who live along Square Lake Road, and off Square Lake Road in neighborhoods, voiced their concerns about traffic volumes.

The board decision to reconsider that denial came at the Aug. 9 meeting following a closed-door discussion with the township attorney.

“We discussed an issue with our attorney behind closed door, then came and made the motion to vote on reconsidering the project,” Supervisor Dave Payne said.

Following the successful vote to reconsider, the final site plan approval was tabled indefinitely.

“We hope to bring it back at some point in the future,” Payne said. “We want to get all the parties involved together and see if we can work out some kind of compromise.”

Patti Voelker, director of planning, building and ordinance for the township, said the site is presently occupied by a former Bennigan’s restaurant building.

The property owner had wanted to get approval for the construction of a new building at the rear portion of the property, to front on Square Lake Road, with associated site improvements, including a drive-through operation.

The proposed hours of opera-

by Metro Transportation Group, Inc. and township Traffic Engineer Mike Labadie that states the proposed Tim Horton’s restaurant would not have a significant impact on the adjacent road network, the township board denied the request for approval.

The applicant can make changes to the design in order to address the township board’s concerns; however, Supervisor Dave Payne said they will then have to start the process over before coming back before the board.

“There was a lot of concern expressed by residents that they wouldn’t be able to get out of their driveways or neighborhoods with an increased traffic volume from the proposed development,” Payne said. “There were some safety issues raised that we would need to have addressed. They would need to modify their plan before coming back.”

At the June 21 Planning Commission meeting, where the site plan was reviewed, resident Louise Dube stated her concerns.

Dube said she lives immediately adjacent to the proposed Tim Horton’s site and that currently, the traffic issues on Square Lake Road almost completely prevent her from exiting her driveway.

Arie Liebovitz, owner of the Kingswood Plaza property, at the same meeting said he supported the project.

“There has always been a high level of traffic on both Woodward Avenue and Square Lake Road,” he said. “The Tim Horton’s applicant and developer have met all the requirements of the township’s zoning ordinance and must be given consideration.” ■

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By Kirk Pinho By early next year, a new cable television, phone, and Internet service provider is expected to be up and running for residential customers in Birmingham.

The Birmingham City Commission unanimously agreed on Monday, Aug. 9, that applications from Wide Open West, commonly referred to as WOW, to provide such services in the city were properly filled out, giving the company the go-ahead from city officials to start erecting infrastructure throughout the community.

Kathy Kiste, government and customer relations manager for WOW, said that construction will begin next month and should be completed by January 2011. The necessary equipment to provide the services will be erected on existing infrastructure, so no so-called “refrigerator boxes” will be used to roll out the service.

Kiste said that WOW plans on offering only services to residential customers for the time-being, and that there are no plans for commercial services at this time.

The implementation of the cable TV, phone, and Internet services will be a phased process, she said.

“When we build, we go node by node,” she said. “We don’t turn the whole system on at once. We’ll turn on a couple nodes, market to that area, get the customers hooked up, and start (the process) again.”

“We’re looking forward to having additional competition in the community,” said Joe Valentine, the city’s human resources director and also a liaison to the Birmingham Area Cable Board.

Mayor Pro Tem Gordon Rinschler was thrilled about having Page 34 ❯ 65

■ municipal ❯ Page 65 WOW in the community to

compete with the two existing providers, AT&T and Comcast.

“I think it’s great,” he said. “I think it’s good for the city and residents to have as much competition as possible.”

“They sound like a good company.

From what I’ve heard from other people in other towns, it’s a really good company that’s customer-service-focused. I’ve heard nothing but good things about them.”

Under state law, the fees required under municipal franchise agreements are a percentage of the cable provider’s annual gross receipts in a community that are paid to the community each year.

Cable television providers also pay municipalities an annual public, educational, and government (PEG) programming fee based on a set percentage of gross annual receipts in the community. These fees are also paid back to the community to buy equipment and produce PEG programming.

The agreement between WOW and Birmingham calls for a 5-percent franchise fee and a 3-percent PEG programming fee, according to officials. ■

Township extends medical marijuana moratorium again

By Brooke Meier The medical marijuana moratorium in Bloomfield Township has been extended, again, and will now expire on Oct. 12.

The previous moratorium was set to end on Sept. 12, but Bloomfield Township officials say the township needs additional time to continue to review a possible zoning ordinance amendment to regulate medical marijuana dispensaries within the township.

The moratorium is meant to give township planners and officials time to study areas within the township where medical marijuana facilities might be permissible.

In early April, the board unanimously approved a 120-day moratorium on allowing medical marijuana dispensaries to open up in Bloomfield Township after receiving several inquiries from people interested in opening up dispensaries in the township.

“We decided to allow ourselves 90 days, so that we can get an ordinance drafted and approved,”

Supervisor Dave Payne said. “Now, that doesn’t mean it will take us until October, but we want to make sure we have enough time to address concerns.”

“We haven’t had public hearings yet, the discussion has been mostly internal, but we should have something before the Planning Commission by August or September,” he said.

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 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 other patients, and may grow 12 plants per patient. ■

Dawkins leaves position as chair of planning panel Bloomfield Hills Planning Commission Chairman Dale Dawkins resigned from the commission on Tuesday, July 13.

Dawkins cited two main reasons

for stepping down from the Planning Commission: First, that “the vision that I think the current elected commission sees for the city is quite different from mine,” particularly with regards to two new developments in the city; and secondly, the “decision to remove (former Planning Commissioner) Michael Dul,” who Dawkins called a “very well-respected landscape architect, and a very important member of the Planning Commission.”

Dul’s commission seat has since been filled.

“My vision for the city was different from the majority of the current city commission, not that I was necessarily at odds with everything they are doing,” Dawkins said. “In terms of development, my view was, I guess I would use the term ‘progressive,’ as opposed to more conservative. It’s appropriate that a (Planning Commission) chairman is more in tune,” with the elected majority’s goals.”

Former Mayor David Kellett said, “I share Dale Dawkins’ philosophy, and it’s sad to see a person of Michael Dul’s capabilities and wellrecognized expertise in the Birmingham-Bloomfield area passed aside for political reasons.” ■

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eptember is always a bittersweet time. Transitioning from the lazy, dog days of summer, back to the crazy, "back to school" days of fall. The weather is still beautiful but we all find ourselves distracted by the busy season ahead. While you are planning your routines again, take a look at our Fall Catalog to incorporate the many wonderful things we are offering.

I try to take advantage of the remaining good weather by enjoying my garden while doing some outdoor grilling. On Sept. 14, we are offering Techniques — Sauté, Grilling, Roasting, Braising and Poaching. Back by popular demand, Chef Pam Gustairs will cover many of the basic culinary skills you need to improve or enhance your cooking ability. Get ready for those holidays ahead, and join us as we build your cooking confidence. Planning a party for Oktoberfest? On Sept. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m. Chef Freeman Gunnell, a self-professed "diehard Bavarian fan," will share a traditional menu Shelley Roberts including Fresh White Sauerkraut and Red Kraut, Pork Schnitzel, Kase Spatzle, and the ever-popular Apple Strudel with Vanilla Sauce. Presented in English with the assistance of an interpreter! Wannabe foodies will not want to miss our day trip by "Taste-Full Tours" to Schoolcraft College on Friday, Sept. 24. Witness students honing culinary skills and meet instructors at Schoolcraft College Culinary School, and enjoy a full gourmet lunch in the American Harvest Dining Room. Call our travel director directly at 248-554-6583 for more information.

Thinking about a career move this fall or does all the summer buzz regarding the film industry have your interest piqued? Our well-received "Successful Job Strategies" series has returned! On Sept. 28 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., we present: The Film and Digital Media Revolution in Michigan. Michigan Film Office Workforce Development Officer Richard Jewell's mission is to develop and sustain a skilled and talented labor pool of creative film production and digital media workers that will serve as a key factor for attracting and maintaining productions in Michigan, while creating a sustainable indigenous production-making community. Registration is only $5, and includes networking.

Along the lines of the film industry, Harvey Ovshinky's popular screen writers group resumes Monday, Sept. 27, and continues monthly through February.

Looking for something creative to engage your teen in? Our Elmore Leonard Literary Arts and Film Festival includes Swag: A Crime and Mystery Fiction Short Story Contest for Teenagers! There is no entry fee, and submissions are accepted until Oct. 1. The writer must be ages 13-18 and currently enrolled in high school. First-place winner of the contest will be invited to the Gala celebrating Elmore Leonard's life and achievements on Saturday night, Nov. 13. Please visit www.elmoreleonardliteraryartsandfilmfestival.com for more information.

One of my favorite events that The Community House presents is the Birmingham House Tour, sponsored by Hall & Hunter Realtors, on Thursday, Sept. 16. Eight unique and beautiful homes in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area are featured. One home was designed by famed architect Minoru Yamasaki, who designed the Twin Towers in New York. Call right away — this event always is a sellout!

New this year is our Classical Brunch series. The Community House and WRCJ-FM will present a series of four classical music performances by the best of Detroit area musicians, along with brunch. With an exciting kick off on Sunday, Sept. 26 at noon, three additional Sunday programs are scheduled for Oct. 31, Feb. 13, and March 27. Artistic Director Robert deMaine, principal cellist with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, promises outstanding performances in programs that are designed to entertain, inspire and educate audiences of all ages.

Love art too? Magical Multiples: The Art of the Print, will be offered in a series or individually, beginning Sept. 15. In this three-week class, Art Historian Wendy Evans will talk about how different prints are made and look at a rich variety of fine artworks from incredible printmakers like Albrecht Durer, Rembrandt, Käthe Kollwitz, and Mary Cassatt.

We always get calls regarding our Influential Women series; attendees love these inspiring mornings. Linda Orlans, President of eTitle, will share with us how she went up against established, male-dominated firms, and how she persevered and successfully overcame obstacles with innovation, determination and creativity. Pre-registration is only $15, and breakfast is included.

Save the date for Thursday, Sept. 23, at 7:30 a.m. Bring a friend, and network!

For more information on our fall programs, visit www.communityhouse.com. See you at the House! ■ Shelley Roberts is President and CEO of The Community House. www.oaklandpaper.com

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■ social lights / sally gerak ■ Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation’s VIP Rooftop Party

Here is the update on the social scene from the past month. Many more photos from each event appear online each week, and past columns and photos are archived on the website for The Paper.

Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation’s VIP Rooftop Party Instead of a patriotic spin, The Target Fireworks and The Parade Company’s Flip Floppin’ VIP Rooftop Party had a summer fun theme, and more than 1,800 guests ($175, $75 under six) got in the mood. Event sponsor Charter One’s Beach Party Zone set the stage near the entrance with sand dunes, a dune rider, and beach bag giveaways. Blue Cross Blue Shield’s Get Fit Zone used popular Wii games to make a point, and Absopure’s Splish Splash Sports Zone offered interactive alpine surfer, rapid river, dual wave runners, dual hydro thunder speedboat racing and fish frenzy. Andiamo catering was also on theme with, in addition to standard picnic fare, spice rubbed barbecue chicken with mango sauce, roasted portabella mushrooms in balsamic glaze and chilled gazpacho shooters with garden garnish. Live music, especially when Alto Reed was playing his saxophone, made the dance floor jump.

Fun giveaways, like flashing eyewear and entertainment celebrities, amused young and old before the 52nd annual Zambelli pyrotechnics began. Included in the audience was a special group labeled The Squid Squad. FYI: a “squid” is a fireworks term for a small ball of light emanating energy around it. Thus, the squad comprised the early and loyal event supporters that enabled it to raise more than $150,000 for the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade Foundation.

Speaking of which, the foundation’s spectacular Hob Nobble Gobble family event is moving from Thanksgiving Eve to Nov. 20, the Saturday night before Thanksgiving, and from the State Fairgrounds to the much larger Ford Field.

The venue will enable the creative team at The Parade Company to double the number of attractions, including carnival rides for both kids and adults. For tickets ($1,000, $500, $350; $200 for children 6 and under), call The Parade Company at 313-923-7400, ext. 244 or go to www.theparade.org. Tickets are pricey, but the event is truly memorable and its proceeds help keep America’s Thanksgiving Parade rolling along Woodward Avenue. This year will be the 84th.

Cass Community Social Services’ Catch the Fireworks with Cass Left to right, top to bottom: Cheri & Joyce Pasko of Troy, Linda Orlans of Birmingham, Randy Waggoner of Royal Oak, Stephanie, Nick & Luke Orrico of Waterford. Sponsor Charter One’s Sandy Pierce (left) & her son Tommy of Milford with Patricia Mooradian of Bloomfield and Tom Pyden of Novi.

Renee Abbuhl (left), Michele McNary, Mary Neimiec and Jenny Geiger of W. Bloomfield, Judy Dunn and Julie McInnis of Commerce, Maureen Unsworth of White LakeSuzy (left) & WJR’s Mike Feezey of Farmington Hills with Maggie Allesee of Bloomfield. Megan Pierce Janowski (left) with her father /honorary event co-chair Tom and sister Jessica Pierce of Milford, Patrick Kelleher of Novi and Ben Maibach of Farmingtopn Hills. Michelle Fent of Birmingham with Just Baked’s Rob Rancour of Farmington Hills. Clarice (left) and Parade Company President/CEO Tony Michaels of Rochester Hills with Tavi Fulkerson and Bud Deneker of Bloomfield.

Cole, Scott & Lou Jacobson of Birmingham.

While parade aficionados were partying on the garage roof top, supporters of Cass Community Social Services, 270 strong, looked down on them from the air conditioned comfort of the Coach Insignia restaurant atop the adjacent GM Renaissance Center. They enjoyed fine wines and spirits and signature Matt Prentice comestibles like lobster “corn dogs,” bid $10,000 in silent and live auctions, and socialized big time while awaiting the fireworks show. They also anteed up nearly $4,000 at the Make-A-Difference station. This will help send at-risk kids to camp and provide nutritious meals for Cass residents. When the fireworks started, guests got an eye-level view of them from the 71st floor. The sixth annual event raised more than $155,000 for CCSS, whose programs are innovative and impressive under the direction of Rev. Faith Fowler. Check them out at www.casscommunity.org.

CARE House Supper Party for Partners in Mission Denise and Herb Abrash hosted an al fresco supper party around the pool at their Bloomfield Hills home for 80 CARE House loyalists. The friendly event, planned simply to say thank you for generosity, was superbly catered by Bill Roberts’ Town Tavern eatery in Royal Oak. Board president Cathy Weissenborn did give a capital campaign progress report — $2.9-million raised of the $4million needed for the new, enlarged CARE House facility where abused children begin the healing process. Ground breaking occurred in April. Seeds of Hope tours are staged each month. The next is a lunch tour on Tuesday, Aug. 17. Call 248-332-7173 to make a reservation.

Cranbrook House & Gardens Auxiliary’s Music in the Gardens Julie Ritter, Cranbrook House and Gardens Auxiliary chair, reports that even the forecast of thunderstorms accompanied by high temperatures and humidity did not deter a sold out crowd from enjoying the July 15 event. Guests strolled through the magnificent gardens before and after the storms. The decision to move the food and beverages indoors offered an additional perk to the evening, as many guests remarked on their appreciation of the beauty of 70

THE PAPER

SEPTEMBER 2010

Cranbrook House, whether it was a first time visit or return visit. Ritter also saluted event sponsor Coldwell Banker/Weir Manuel, honorary event chairs Tom and Lauren Balames, and, for their vision and commitment to bringing back the event, the auxiliary endowment committee — Judy Pardonnet, chair; Maxine Donlon, Randy Forester, Jeanne Graham, Lois Harsh, Mary Ann Krygier, Judy Lindstrom, Gerald Salerno and Colleen Smith.

■ Catch the Fireworks with Cass

Hearts and Heroes Award Kudos to Mike Bergstrom and his team at the Birmingham plumbing company, for continuing the firm’s monthly charitable program with a check for $1,000 to the Pontiac Shared Partnership — Camp Hosanna — a three-week summer literacy program for local children in secondthrough sixth-grades who need a boost in their reading and writing skills. The collaborative effort of New Bethel Missionary Baptist church of Pontiac, the Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church of Bloomfield Hills and the First Presbyterian Church of Birmingham is celebrating its second successful year. If you have a charity you’d like to nominate for a monthly $1,000 Hearts & Heroes Award, please visit ThorntonandGrooms.com and complete a nomination form.

Clockwise from lower left: Mary (left) & Bob Feldmaier of Bloomfield and Judy Mei of Birmingham. Event chairs sponsor AT&T’s Jim Murray (left) of Owosso & sponsor Ford’s Jim Vella of Canton, with committee member Marcy Hayes of Farmington Hills and Karen Henderson of Bloomfield.

George (left) & Marnie Holdefer of Canton, Maureen Cook of Bloomfield, Frannie Hayes of Birmingham. Paul (left) & Sue Nine with Msgr. Tony Tocco of Bloomfield.

■ CARE House Supper Party for Partners in Mission

BBAC’s artBLAST! The fifth annual BBAC family event attracted 350 partiers of all ages for fun with a Hollywood spin. While waiting for the night’s biggest star — the city fireworks display over the adjacent Lincoln Hills Golf Course — they drew action and super heroes in Mike Winn’s animation workshop; created prints using old film strips, embellished Daniel Cascardo’s mural, and viewed their work with 3D glasses; and created small encaustic paintings on tiles using a cold wax process. Comestibles included tenderloin sliders, curried chicken, pizza, snow cones and movie fare like popcorn and candy counter selections.

Music by the Crowned Heads of Rhythm accompanied the dining and creativity. The fireworks display was, what else, a blast. The evening provides a splendid centerpiece for family reunions, like our family had.

Less than a week after the Hollywood theme party raised friends and $20,000 for the BBAC, a real star — Miss Universe USA Rima Fakih — was the guest of honor at a breakfast there. She is an ambassador for the Pink Fund, which Molly MacDonald founded to help breast cancer patients with short term financial burdens.

www.oaklandpaper.com

Inset below: Jeff (left) & Kathy Abrash of Bloomfield with Town Tavern’s Paul Boguski. Clockwise from upper left: Campaign co-chair Cathy Weissenborn (left) with event hosts Denise & Herb Abrash of Bloomfield. John (left) & Julie Bush of Beverly Hills with Laura & Jim Ragold of Birmingham. Cindy Broderick & Mark Wayde of Bloomfield.

Doug (left) & Gina Stapleton with Cindy & Mike Stapleton of Grosse Pointe. Joe Knollenberg (center) of Bloomfield with Noreen & Terry Keating. CARE House’s Theresa Lilly (left) of Rochester Hills with Pamela Ayres, Karla Sherry & Jennie Casio of Bloomfield.

Sandie Knollenberg (left) and Denise Alexander of Birmingham.

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71

■ social lights / sally gerak ■ Birmingham Bloomfield Art Center’s artBLAST!

Founders Junior Council and Saks Fifth Avenue’s Fash Bash Preview

Top row, left to right: Event co-chair Annie Van Gelderen of Commerce (left) with new BBAC CEO Addie Langford of Detroit, her predecessor Jane Linn of W. Bloomfield, and event sponsor Dr. Mark Burnstein of Bloomfield. Doug (left) & Claudia Stroud of Birmingham with the Timothy Corey vase they bought & her parents Cap & Caroline Hall of Bloomfield. Jaclyn Morganroth (left) of Bloomfield and Caroline Geller of Birmingham. At left: Event cochair Gwenn Rosseau with her daughters / event volunteers Grace & Simone of Birmingham and Bill Schroer of Battle Creek. At right: Lisa & BBAC board chair Josh Sherbin of Bloomfield. Below, left to right: Elyse (left) & Frank Germack of Birmingham and their daughters Ella and Margot. Maggie Hughes (left) of Bloomfield, Ellie Benson of Birmingham and Jessica Morganroth of Bloomfield.

Sophia (left) & Meredith Sherbin of Bloomfield. Scott (left), Christine & MacKenzie Clein of Birmingham. Lisa (left) and Birmingham native Jeremy Gerak, now of San Antonio, TX, with Sean and Julia Gerak McEligot of Rochester, MN. Jake (left) and Johnny Gerak of San Antonio, TX with their cousins P.J. & Jack McEligot of Rochester, MN (children of the couples in preceding photo and grandsons of Social Lights columnist, Sally Gerak).

■ Founders Junior Council & Saks Fifth Avenue’s Fash Bash Preview

CARE House Benefit

Clockwise from upper right: Fash Bash cochairs Amanda Posch (left) of Grosse Pointe and Rick Bone of Rochester with committee member Ellen Rogers of Birmingham. Glass artist April Wagner (left) of Pontiac, Jennifer Fischer of Bloomfield and Toni & Andy McLemore of Detroit.

Founders Junior Council president Nicole Wagner (left) of Birmingham, SFA’s Cheryl Hall Lindsay of W. Bloomfield, Prop Art’s Denise Abrash of Bloomfield and committee member Trish Dewald of Royal Oak (looking over hot-off-the-press event invitation). Tom Schoenith (left) of Grosse Pointe telling Dave & Amanda Posch of Grosse Pointe and Nicole Wagner of Birmingham about the third Fash Bash he chaired.

Amanda Pontes (left) of Farmington and Charley & Carolyn McQueen of Bloomfield.

72

It’s time for a history lesson, class.

The first FASH BASH was held by the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Founders Junior Council in 1970. At a committee kick off of FASH BASH 2010, hosted by Saks Fifth Avenue, Tom Schoenith, who chaired the third one, recalled the early years when local notables modeled fashions from area emporiums. The runway was the outdoor swimming pool deck at the Ponchatrain Hotel and spirits were high. And sometimes wet. The event evolved over the years to become a major theatrical production staged first by Dayton Hudson’s and then Marshall Fields on the stage at the Fox Theatre. It was expanded to the Minneapolis and Chicago markets, and its stars would play the three cities. That is until Macy’s bought the company and dropped Detroit from the schedule in 2002. But the DIA’s FJC had a copyright on the FASH BASH name and, with Saks Fifth Avenue’s sponsorship, continued a less extravagant version of the fashion focused event, first in the GM Wintergarden, and through 2006 al fresco on the Beaubien Garage Roof.

In its last couple of decades, it attracted hundreds of benefactors (big check writers), and twice as many hoi poloi (cheap tickets), many in head turning (i.e. bizarre) getups.

Fast forward to 2010, the year the DIA is celebrating its 125th anniversary. SFA and FJC are reprising FASH BASH Thursday, Aug. 26.

It will also celebrate the opening of SFA’s Contemporary Collections. For tickets ($125, includes $25 SFA gift card), call Tim Burns at 313-8334025, or go to www.foundersjuniorcouncil.org/tickets.asp.

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The east side of Franklin Road just north of Northwestern Highway has been a restaurant venue since the days of Fred Graczyk’s Vineyards in the ‘50s. But it has never been more jumping than it was the evening Luciano and Monica Del Signore tossed the charity opening of their new Pizzeria Biga to benefit CARE House. Under the chairmanship of the Scott Jacobsons and the David Foltyns, nearly 700 people turned out to devour the eatery’s beers, wines, salads, roasted sweet potatoes, risotto balls, meatballs, gelato and, oh yes, the pizza. The latter is not for those who want thick and chewy pizza crust. What Del Signore’s crew takes out of the 900-degree, woodfired ovens in 90 seconds in 12-inch and 18-inch sizes is delicate and crisp. The menu informs that the dough (biga) is a naturally occurring fermentation of the milled wheat SEPTEMBER 2010

flour, purified water and a touch of sea, not commercial, yeast. Whatever.

It melts in your mouth regardless of topping. Servers were passing both white (no sauce) and red (tomato sauce) with toppings like Italian meats, cheeses, vegetables, and herbs, some of which come from Del Signore’s nearby Bacco Ristorante’s garden. (The complete menu is also available for carryout with curbside pickup at www.pizzeriabiga.com.)

The charity crowd overflowed onto the terrace where DJ Captin20 sounds inspired some to dance. Four weeks after the opening, which raised $35,000 for CARE House, manager Jeff Jetko said they have been very busy ever since. As for CARE House, its big fall fundraiser has changed to CARE Night Oct. 2 at MOCAD with a Neiman-Marcus fashion production.

A Gathering That Really Adds Up Last Thursday, four couples dined together at Birmingham’s Café Via. What made the gathering notable is that the longtime friends were all celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary. Here’s a toast to a combined 200 years of love and commitment and the celebrants: Kathy and Jack Frasco, Joyce and Tom Pappert, Pat and Jim Hurlburt, and Sandy and Dick Dauch.

■ CARE House Benefit Opening of Pizzeria Biga

Clockwise from upper left: Mara Essick (left) and her mother/event co-chair Elyse Folytn of Birmingham, event co-host Monica DelSignore of Bloomfield, co-chair Roz Jacobson of Birmingham and Danialle Karmanos of Orchard Lake. Karen (left) & Norm Ankers of Beverly Hills, Kim Hong of West Bloomfield, and Larry & Patti McLaughlin of Bloomfield. Alan Schwartz (left) of Franklin and event co-chair David Foltyn of Birmingham.

Brenda (left) & Howard Rosenberg of Bloomfield with CARE House president Pat Rosen of Birmingham. Jeff Christian (left) of Bloomfield with Sue & Van Conway of Birmingham. Justin Near of Farmington Hills and Karen Zosel of Bloomfield.

Mert & Bev Segal of Bloomfield. Emily (left) and her parents Dr. Marc & Cindy Obron Kahn of Bloomfield. Owners/event hosts Luciano & Monica DelSignore of Bloomfield.

Red Wings Ball & Golf Classic Because the Red Wings Alumni Association president serves for twoyears, that is how often the President’s Ball precedes the RWAA Golf Classic. For the first time, the gala event was held at the Townsend.

It attracted 310 guests, including representatives from the four Children’s Charities Coalition members, which, this year, shared the proceeds with the alumni’s charities.

During the cocktail hour people bid on silent auction items and chatted with retired players like Bill Gadsby, Brent Fedyk, Ed Mio, Darren McCarty, Craig Wolanin, and Vladimir Konstantinov. Jeff Roberts told the latter that his picture was prominently displayed in his daughter’s room. RWAA past president Shawn Burr served as emcee for the post dinner program. It featured videos of both charities, remarks by Pamela Ayres for the CCC, which combined serves 10,000 children annually, and award presentations.

Dr. Murray Howe accepted the Datapak Lifetime Achievement Award from association president Joe Kocur for his father Gordie Howe, and Randy Cosens accepted the Carhatt Johnny Wilson Iron Man Award from RWAA operations manager Dave Goetze. Event golf coordinator George Bowman, whose grandfather Scotty Bowman coached the Wings www.oaklandpaper.com

Above, left to right: Dennis Gershenson (left) of Franklin and Doug Etkin of Bloomfield. Judy Solomon (left) & Michael Bressler of Birmingham and Jennie Cascio of Bloomfield. Lidia Grahovac (left) and Christine Leonard of Bloomfield.

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■ social lights / sally gerak ■ Detroit Red Wings Alumni Association President’s Ball & Golf Classic

Clockwise from lower left: Event coordinator/Orchards Children’s Services’ Pamela Ayres of Bloomfield with committee member Drew Bensonson of Royal Oak. Lisa (left) & Jeff Johnston, The Community House president / CEO Shelley Roberts and John & Debbie Schrot of Birmingham.

Chuck (left) & Carol Mascari with Variety board member Bruce & Debbie Kridler of Bloomfield. Golf chair/Oakhurst pro George Bowman (left) of Clarkson, Darren McCarty of Troy, and Craig Wolanin of Rochester.

Vladimir Konstantinov (left) of W. Bloomfield and Jeff Roberts of Birmingham.

Bench Bar Culinary Challenge

■ Bench (Judges) Bar (Lawyers) Culinary Challenge

Clockwise from upper left: Host family Jamie (left), Hon. Linda and Bob Hallmark of Bloomfield and Jessica of Oxford. Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Judge Marilyn Kelly (left) of Bloomfield, committee members Denise Alexander of Birmingham and Nancy Glen of Huntington Woods and event co-chair Lavinia Biasell of Rochester Hills with Manpreet Gill of Novi. Judge Rudy Nichols (left) of Clarkston, Marty Brennan of Rochester Hiills, Judge Ed Sosnick of Bloomfield and Judge Wendy Potts of Birmingham. Winning chefs Marcia Ross (left) and Zenell Brown and Julia Perkins of Canton with her sous chef Elizabeth Luckenbach Brown of Bloomfield. DPTV producer Marcie Paul of W. Bloomfield and Dawn Schluter of Birmingham.

Judge Jim Alexander (left) of Bloomfield, Jennifer LaTosh of Ferndale, Lynn Sirich of Birmingham and Resa Jameet of Farmington Hills. Aaron Bass (left) of Birmingham and Ralph McDowell of Huntington Woods. Julie Nelson-Klein (left) W. Bloomfield and Debra Ribitwer of Bloomfield. Ed Gold of Bloomfield.

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from 1993 to 2002, detailed the plans for the next day, when 151 golfers, including 39 alumni, played at Oakhurst Golf & Country Club. The winning team was comprised of Dr. Ron Shoha, Jason May, Dan Hucul, Bob Tremblay, and Paul Sinneli.

Thanks to Kroger sponsorship and the $22,500 people bid in the silent and live auctions at the President’s Ball, the two-part event raised $89,000 for the Red Wings Alumni charities and the CCC. The latter includes Orchards Children’s Services, Variety, The Children’s Charity, CARE House and The Community House.

THE PAPER

Can judges be bought? Yes, so to speak, if they are competing in the Bench Bar Culinary Challenge. The third version of this informal charity event, organized by a dedicated committee of women lawyers chaired by Lavinia Biasell and Valerie Newman, attracted about 160 legal professionals to judge Linda Hallmark’s tented backyard to sample tasty appetizers and desserts and vote for their favorites. The voting was done with tickets that each cost $1. The lawyers loved judging the judges. When the votes were counted, Judge Colleen O’Brien’s brownies won the dessert category and Judge Karen Khalil’s spinach pie won the appetizer title. In addition to the judicial competition, there was a live cook-off between a team of three lawyers dubbed Grilled by the Hour, and a team of three judges, Grilled by the Bench. As happened last year, the lawyers (Marcia Ross, Julia Perkins and Zenell Brown) beat out the honorables (Donna R. Milhouse, Kirsten F. Kelly and Martha Anderson). Counting sponsors (and many law firms anteed up), ticket sales ($50 per person) and vote ticket sales, the third annual event raised more than $12,800 to support the WLAM (Women Lawyers Association of Michigan) Foundation Scholarship Fund, Alternatives for Girls and Crossroads for Youth.

Gathering for SKY Foundation For many years, a group of girlfriends has shared life’s yeas and boos over bridge tables and kitchen tables. Many of their get-togethers included their kids. When one of their number, Sheila Kasselman, survived pancreatic cancer and formed a foundation to fund early detection research, the group added a dimension to one of their socials. They pay to party. Judy McClelland organizes the gathering and Barb Mazur and Irv Tobocman host it in his architecturally-splendid Birmingham home.

The girlfriends make all the food and donate the wine so every penny goes directly to the Sky Foundation. They SEPTEMBER 2010

also do what they always do. They have fun. Fifty attended the second annual Girlfriends Gathering for Sky Foundation last month. (We had a conflict that night so Joan Page took the photos in the gallery.) Kasselman reported that research programs at Karmanos and Henry Ford are up and running, and that Sky has hired a grant writer. Many of the same gal pals will also be at Sky Foundation’s second annual big fundraiser, a Sunday Brunch on Nov. 7 at the Village Club. For more information go to www.skyfoundation.org.

■ Girlfriends Gathering for Sky Foundation

Clockwise from lower left: Suzanne Dietz (left) and her mother Fran Dietz of Bloomfield and sister-in-law Missy Deitz of Troy.

Niki Gallaudet (left) of Bingham Farms, Maggie Allesee of Bloomfield and Susan Foley of Birmingham. Event chair Judy McClelland (left) of Birmingham and Sky Foundation founder Sheila Sky Kasselman of W. Bloomfield. Terri Mazer (left) of W. Bloomfield, Laurie Mazur Woodward of Austin, TX, event hostess Barbara Mazer and Soozie Mazur Mendel of Birmingham. Foundation board member Judy McClelland (left) of Birmingham with Liz Barash of W. Bloomfield. Lee Vogt (left) and Patricia Sullivan of Bloomfield, Sue Neyens of Wixom, Char Terry of Bloomfield. Brittany Richter (left), Lindy Donigan of Bloomfield and Margie Moore of Beverly Hills.

A Smashing Event Ninety four junior tennis players participated in SMASH Magazine’s Clay Cup youth tournament hosted by Bloomfield Open Hunt, and more than 300 spectators turned out to cheer them.

Local winners included: 8 and Under Quick Start Boys Champion Matthew Downes, finalist Alexander Miokovic; 8 and Under Quick Start Girls Champion Susan Baenen, finalist Lauren Moceri; Girls 10s Champion Maya Solomon and finalist Elle Hartje; Boys 10s Champion Julian Hyman and finalist Michael Caserio; Boys 12s Champion Alex Matisse and finalist Andrei Paduraru; Boys 14s Champion Connor Johnston and finalist Joseph Hildebrandt; Boys 16s Champion Charlie Dillon and finalist Grant Bailey; Boys 18s Champion Michael Ziecik and finalist David Foreman.

■ Scott L. King Serving Aces for Sarcoma Benefit Dinner

Scott L. King Serving Aces A dinner and silent auction attracted 150 to the Birmingham Athletic Club to raise money for research into sarcoma — malignant tumors of the soft, connective tissue. The motivation was Birmingham native/tennis champion Scott King’s sudden death in 2008 from the rare disease. His family, including daughter Courtney, whose guests included three University of Michigan Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority sisters, kept busy helping silent auction bidders before guests adjourned for dinner. As he did last year at the inaugural Benefit Dinner, U-M’s Dr. Scott Schutze gave the crowd a research update and assured them that all their dollars were going directly to the program.

Honorary event chair Jan Frank, a sarcoma survivor, also spoke movingly about her experience, her unmistakable message being that early detection saved her life. This second fundraiser brought to $100,000 the total raised. This enables King’s family to set up a sarcoma research endowment fund in his name at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center. www.oaklandpaper.com

Clockwise from upper left: Ryan (left) Courtney and Kerry King of Bloomfield, Abby, Keith & Sydney King of Grosse Ile and cousin Matthew Peterson of Bloomfield. Birmingham native Jim Link (left) of Bethesda, MD and his sister / event co-founder Julie Link King of Bloomfield, with Larry & Mari MacKenzie of Birmingham. Committee members Lou (left) & Susan Reid with Charlie & Suzy Fritz of Bloomfield. Ruth King Ballad (left) and her niece Courtney King of Bloomfield.

Honorary chair Jan Frank of Bloomfield, Kent & Carolyn Roman of Dearborn. Jill (left) & Scott Wilkinson of Birmingham with Birmingham natives Kristi & Jeff Link, now of Traverse City. Sue (left) & Les Goldstein with Jon & honorary chair Jan Goldstein Frank and their sons Matthew & Charlie of Bloomfield. Anne Marks (left) of Bloomfield and Bill Streng of W. Bloomfield with Courtney King of Bloomfield.

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■ social lights / sally gerak ■ VIP Opening of Zazios

VIP Opening of Zazios

Above, left to right: Bob (left) & J.J. Benkert of Bloomfield with Greenleaf Hospitalty CEO Ron Elenbaas of Richland and Rosemary & Mike Cotter of Bloomfield. Birmingham mayor Rackeline Hoff (left), Barbara Balow of Bloomfield and Birmingham mayor pro tem Gordon and Geri Rinschler.

Clockwise from upper left: Bob (left) & J.J. Benkert of Bloomfield with Greenleaf Hospitalty CEO Ron Elenbaas of Portage and Rosemary & Mike Cotter of Bloomfield. Gail Barnhart (left), Sue Canvasser and Karen Clancy of Bloomfield.

Zazio’s chef Matt Schellig (center) with his parents Sue Ann and Doug Schellig of Bloomfield. Greenleaf Trust’s Bill Johnston (left) with clients Kelli & Robert Dipilla of Birmingham.

Margie Christopher (left), Yan Stewart, and Suten Hilf of Birmingham with Karen Kligman of Bloomfield. Amy Kanarios and Rich & Joan Jamo of Bloomfield with Jerry Hutcheson of Birmingham.

Alexandra (left) and her mother Linda Lipa of Birmingham.

Dr. Carl Clavena (center) with Susan & Tom McDaniel of Birmingham. (Dr. Clavena did eye surgery on Tom earlier the same day.).

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Nearly four weeks following the opening of Zazios, the very personable general manager Fadi Achour reports that business at the newest Birmingham restaurant has been “great.” He also estimates, based on chatting with the diners, that a good 80 percent of them are from the immediate Birmingham area. They report eagerly awaiting the opening as they watched the construction of the Greenleaf Trust building which houses the contemporary Italian eatery. Some of them were among the 300-plus that attended the spirited VIP Opening Party on July 22, where guests not only devoured the modern Italian cuisine, they could also see it prepared through the big kitchen window. The kitchen is directed by Bloomfield native Matt Schellig, who also presides over Zazios trademark Chefs Table.

Although this stadium-like area can seat up to 24 diners and is a perfect setting for special occasions, Achour assures that any number, including a single, will also be accommodated for the interactive and educational five-course dining experience that has proven to be very popular in the Zazios Kalamazoo restaurant. Hmm. This could add delicious excitement to dining alone. Check out the menu at www.zazios.com. You’ll notice that many dishes are offered in two sizes/prices. The Birmingham Zazios opens daily at 5 p.m. for dinner only.

Angels’ Place Golf Fore Life Angels’ Place’s 17th annual sporting fundraiser moved to Pine Lake Country Club this year and attracted 170 golfers plus 26 tennis players for the second annual tennis mixer. More than 200, including many of the players, convened on the terrace for the very social cocktail hour, enhanced by the music of Hans vonBerhthal’s Mystic Knights of Jazz, and dinner. Honorary chair Duke Scarfano thanked the dedicated committee and announced that the winning foursome was comprised of Al Steele, Paul Ciaverella, Mark Bucchi and Tom Ciavarella.

Thanks to lots of sponsors, the event raised more than $110,000 to support the 18 homes and other lifetime programs AP offers adults with disabilities. AP supporters and residents will reconvene for the Family Fun Day (see the Ahead List in this column) and all have marked their calendars for the annual dinner Thursday, Dec. 11, at which Ford CEO Alan Mulally will be the guest speaker.

THE PAPER

SEPTEMBER 2010

Forgotten Harvest Friends Forgotten Harvest board members Mike Fezzey and John Carter hosted a cocktail hour gathering for FH friends and supporters at Jack Krasula’s Bloomfield Hills home.

Guests socialized and strolled the park-like gardens before gathering inside to hear the impressive FH story from president/CEO Susan Goodell and founder Nancy Fishman. The latter confessed that 20 years ago when her goal was to rescue 1,000 meals each month, she never envisioned that FH would expand to rescue 2million meals each month as it currently does. Goodell noted that one pound of rescued fresh food equals one meal and that FH is the most efficient fresh food rescuer in the nation (96-cents out of every dollar goes to mission). She also said that the need has increased tremendously; that FH is life support for 165 welfare organizations and their goal is never to say “no.” Thus, a Capacity Campaign will be launched Oct. 19. Go to www.forgottenharvest.org.

Children’s Charities Garage Sale Lots of people got bargains at the three-day sale of donated items assembled in the former Arhaus store by volunteers from Variety, the Children’s Charity, CARE House, Orchards Children’s Services and The Community House. Furniture, jeans, CDs and toys were the biggest sellers, but one couple who said they were expecting the birth of twins really stretched their baby budget buying gently used infant essentials.

The event raised $10,000 for the Children’s Charities Coalition.

Orchard Lake Fine Art Show After eight years of staging the Orchard Lake Fine Arts Show on the Orchard Lake St. Mary’s campus, show director Patty Narozny and her Hot Works team moved it to the paved parking lots near the West Bloomfield Plaza on Orchard Lake Road south of Maple. There were 220 artists from as near as West Bloomfield (award winner Sara Frank, clay artist) and as far away as Tel-Aviv. The Friday night preview party attracted 2,000 and an estimated 25,000 visited the top-ranked show before it closed late Sunday afternoon, Aug. 1. The increased visibility, the ease of negotiating the paved grounds and the increased activity at neighboring businesses have confirmed the decision to move and the plans to return there next summer. The event also netted $5,000 for The Institute for Arts and Education which will present a Teen Art competition next year. ■ www.oaklandpaper.com

■ Angels’ Place Annual Golf Tournament

Clockwise from upper left: Event co-chairs Frank Jonna (left) of Farmington Hills, Duke Scarfano of Birmingham and Pete Treboldi of Troy.

Tennis coordinators JoAnne (left) & Bob Sparks and Dale & Joan Prentice of Birmingham. Diane (left) and board member Paul Widlak of Bloomfield with event sponsor Chuck Bullock of Plymouth. Cliff Worthy (left) with Kathy, Molly and Pat McQueen of Bloomfield. Reservation chairs Mary Letscher (left) of W. Bloomfield and Tink Henneghan of Birmingham with her husband Bill and Marianne & Jack McBrearty of Bloomfield.

■ Forgotten Harvest Friends Evening

Left to right: Event co-host Mike Fezzey (left) of Farmington Hills, Forgotten Harvest founder Nancy Fishman of Bloomfield and FH president / CEO Susan Goodell of Birmingham. Event co-host Chase’s John Carter (center) of Bloomfield with Kathy & Roger Cook of W. Bloomfield. FH’s Anna Wallblillich (center) of Franklin with Marusa Judy (left) and Betty Bright of Bloomfield.

■ Children’s Charities Coalition’s Garage Sale

Above: Kathie Ninneman (left) of Bloomfield, Jeanne Bugeaud of Warren, Katie & Theresa Lilly of Rochester Hills. At left: Mariam (left) & Jareer Hmoud with CARE House executive director Pat Rosen of Birmingham. Far left: Emily & Donna Moore of W. Bloomfield

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■ final word Preserving federal funding

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tate lawmakers, including several representing Oakland County, are throwing their support behind legislation that would allow municipalities to put up their own funding in order to meet matching fund requirements to receive federal road improvement dollars. With the state budget remaining in an annual deficit mode, Michigan is finding it increasingly difficult to allocate matching funds in order to receive its share of federal road funding. At the point the state finally is unable to meet the minimum matching funds requirement, Michigan's share of federal road funds will go to other states.

Transportation officials at various levels argue that the state can't possibly meet matching fund requirements without increases in fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. Since enacting higher fuel taxes and fees isn't likely this year — an election year — the Legislature might as well adopt the reform bill so that those municipalities that can provide matching funds will be able to do so and net some federal funds for road improvement projects.

Transportation funding shortfalls have prompted state legislators to draft new legislation allowing local road agencies and municipalities to cover matching fund requirements so they don't miss out on federal transportation dollars.

House Bill (HB) 6342, sponsored by state Rep. Marty Knollenberg (R-Troy), and cosponsored by Reps. Gail Haines (R-Lake Angelus), Eileen Kowall (R-White Lake), Hugh Crawford (R-Novi), Chuck Moss (RBirmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township), Bill Rogers (R-Milford), Tom McMillin (R-Rochester Hills), James Marleau

(R-Lake Orion), and Vincent Gregory (DSouthfield), seeks to amend Public Act (PA) 51 of 1951, which establishes the parameters of the Michigan Transportation Fund. The proposed change would enable a local jurisdiction to provide matching funds in order to receive federal funding for road projects.

Under PA 51, local agencies are required to receive between 23 and 27 percent of the state's annual federal allocation for road and transportation programs. If the bill passes, that cap would be lifted if the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is unable to provide the necessary matching funds and the local jurisdictions are able to do so to preserve the flow of federal funding.

The overall process would operate the same as it does today. MDOT would remain the coordinating agency, but instead of that department paying out the 20 percent in state matching dollars to qualify for federal road funding, local agencies or municipalities could take on that obligation, if they so choose.

The legislation has been forwarded to the House Transportation Committee, with the expectation of it being passed prior to the state adopting its 2011 transportation budget before Oct. 1.

There's a couple of reasons why the Legislature should enact HB 6342. State and county road commission officials aren't crying wolf when they say the state's fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees aren't generating enough revenue to provide the required matching funds to preserve federal allocations. Yet, it's foolish to believe lawmakers will be willing to take action to hike fuel taxes and fees in order to make sure the state can

put up enough matching funds to keep the federal dollars coming into the state. It's an election year, and not enough incumbents or challengers — Republicans or Democrats — will be willing to put their political necks on the line to make that happen. They all want to get elected, and backing a tax hike isn't going to help them achieve that goal.

Legislation lingering in the state House would raise the state's fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees. Lawmakers haven't taken up the proposal. With no realistic hope of having fuel taxes and vehicle fees raised, Michigan can expect to see its share of the federal road improvement pie dished up for other states that can provided the required matching funds. That can’t be allowed to happen.

HB 6342 would give county agencies and municipalities the option of meeting the matching fund requirements so that they get federal funding for road work. The county agencies and municipalities wouldn't be required to do this, but at least it would be an avenue available to them. As such, there's no harm in adopting the change. In fact, it could well lead to positive results (continued receipt of at least some federal funding to construct or repair roads and bridges) if the option is made available and implemented.

Now, we know that local road agencies and municipalities will probably be hardpressed to come up with the matching fund monies. However, there's no reason why those who can afford it shouldn't be given a way to obtain federal funds that can be used to improve infrastructure. HB 6342 would make that possible, and should be granted final approval. ■

County contract preferences

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akland County commissioners have been asked to consider granting the county's businesses a level of preference over companies from outside the county when it comes to awarding contracts for goods and services. The proposal is motivated by good intentions — namely, buoying business for Oakland County firms, which in turn could increase the county government's revenues. That's a nice theory, but we're not convinced it will work. The proposal, if implemented, could also undermine the competitive bidding process in a couple of ways.

County Commissioner Tim Greimel (DRochester Hills) has introduced a resolution stating that bids on goods and services originating from Oakland County businesses "shall be deemed reasonable and competitive if they are 5 percent or less above the cost of goods manufactured and/or services provided by businesses not located in Oakland County." Greimel said that any short-term increase in county

costs would likely be off set in the long-run by increased county revenue as a result of additional economic activity stemming from awarding contracts to county businesses.

The proposal has been forwarded to the Board of Commissioners' Finance Committee for review. Greimel earlier this month tried to have the resolution discharged out of the committee. That effort failed after the 12 Democrats serving on the Board of Commissioners voted in favor of discharging the resolution, while the 10 Republican members of the county's governing body that were present at the Wednesday, Aug. 4 meeting voted no. Two Republicans were not present at the meeting. Although the yes votes outnumbered the no votes, a majority of the full board (13 votes) was necessary to discharge the resolution out of the committee and place it before the full county board.

It will be interesting to see the final version of the proposal once — if at all — it's reported

out of the Finance Committee. Only then can one take a final and firm stance on the issue. In the interim, county commissioners should give the general notion of giving county firms preference in contract awards a long, hard look.

Now, more than ever, as the county faces declining revenues for next few years, it's imperative that it get the biggest bang for each and every buck. Paying county businesses more for goods and services than can be provided by a Wayne County business, for example, at a lower price counteracts that need.

The proposal could further enfeeble the entire point of a competitive bidding process, since businesses based outside the county could very well stop submitting bids on county contracts after learning of adoption of a preference policy benefiting Oakland businesses. If that happens, there could be less — or no — competition to compel Oakland County businesses to submit the lowest possible bid on goods and services. ■

I

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