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ONE MINUTE INTERVIEW

The makings of a ‘Starr’ FOX 2 meteorologist, Central grad, glad to be back home

essica Starr is a “home-grown” girl who went to school in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District. Raised in Commerce Township, Starr graduated from Walled Lake Central High School in 2001 before she went on to get her degree from Michigan State University in climatology and geography. She then continued her education at Mississippi State University, where she earned a certificate in broadcast meteorology. After starting her television career in Lansing and Baltimore, Starr is now back home as part of the Fox 2 Weather Authority and is excited to be forecasting all four seasons that Michigan has to offer. She will also be covering Michigan-made products as part of “Made in Michigan” segments. You graduated with a degree in climatology and geography from Michigan State University before completing a certificate program in broadcasting at Mississippi State. What made you decide to get into meteorology? JS: Well, actually the certificate was in broadcast meteorology. Well, what really made me get into meteorology was that I always loved science and math. And it was a science that I could learn in the classroom, the teacher could teach it, and then I could walk outside and explain why the clouds were forming or what types of clouds those were. You know, explain why there’s lightning, explain why there’s thunder. You know — explain the why. That’s what I like. It’s very visual, and I’m a very visual learner. I like that I can learn it in a semester, and then walk outside and explain what’s happening. After school, you did some television work in Lansing and Kentucky before becoming a weekend meteorologist with Fox 45 in Baltimore. Please explain the process you had to go through to become a TV meteorologist. What was the most difficult aspect of that process?

JS: While in school at Michigan State, I did three internships. The first internship was at WDIV Channel 4 in Detroit. Then the second one was at WLNS Channel 6 in Lansing, and the last one was at WJBK Fox 2 in Detroit. So those internships are key because not only alongside your education with the university, you’re also gaining real-life experience and hands-on experience of what I’d be doing on a day-to-day basis. I would say that it’s an extremely

competitive business. And the hardest part was just getting your foot in the door — you know, having someone give you the opportunity. Once you get that opportunity, being able to prove to your bosses that you can do it. Which do you enjoy more — reporting on the weather or features? Why? JS: Weather is always my No. 1 passion. But what’s great about the job is that I do also get to do (features). I got to be able to go out into the community and relate with the people and give exposure to some things that might

•

NE MINUTE

INTERVIEW

not ever get covered because they are a little bit on the smaller scale. So I always loved that. Weather was awesome, and I loved doing that but I also loved being out with the people. What made you decide to return to Michigan? JS: My husband and I are both from here, and I always wanted to come back to Michigan. Just to come back to being by family and friends. I’m home-grown, went to Michigan State, and proud to be a Spartan and excited to be back. It all kind of came together really fast, and I left Baltimore and knew I wanted to come back. And you have to be really proactive when you’re looking for a job and be a little bit aggressive. It was just the right place at the right time. In addition to reporting on the weather, you also cover “Made in Michigan” segments. Please explain so far which has been your favorite

“Made in Michigan” segment. JS: Oh, they’ve been really great segments. I’m really excited I get to do this segment here in Michigan and in Detroit. They’ve all been really good. I think the one that covers the homeless coats and the girl who makes them down in Detroit (is my favorite) because she was such an inspiration to me. She was a girl who was still in college and making these coats for those who are homeless and who unfortunately have to sleep on the streets in Detroit. And she just had such a giving heart that it inspired me and that’s probably the best one. Of all the Michigan-made goods, which happens to be your personal favorite, and why? JS: I hate to kind of pinpoint to just one thing. The one I didn’t know before until I started doing the segment was McClure’s Pickles. They offer a spicy pickle which I just think is phenomenal. It tastes great. I’ll give you another one of the ones I was kind of surprised about because we all know the Faygos and the Bettermade Chips. They get enough press. It’s the mom-and-pop shops that are working their butts off, working their tails off to keep a business going. So I would say McClure’s Pickles and Peteet’s Famous Cheesecake in Ferndale. The country has been experiencing some extreme weather. What has been the craziest thing you’ve ever seen while covering the weather? JS: That was in Baltimore with the two back-to-back blizzards that we got. That was crazy. I mean, I’ve seen snow, but this was unreal. It was over 50 inches of snow in less than four days. The whole city completely shut down. If you could choose, where would be your ideal place to report on the weather and why? JS: My No. 1 weather phenomenon is hurricanes. I know we don’t obviously get hurricanes in Michigan, but I’m just very fascinated by them so maybe one day hopefully I’ll get to cover a hurricane and be actually out in the elements. Not in the whole hurricane, but to be able to not only track it but then I would just love to see one up close and personal. ❏

By Angela Niemi

Read more of this interview at www.spinalcolumnonline.com.

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Water-borne illnesses Pools’ hidden hazards can cause diseases By Michael Shelton staff writer

ith the hot summer weather comes lakes area residents flocking to public and private swimming pools to beat the heat. But just like the sun, those pools may contain some hidden hazards of their own. Recreational water illnesses (RWIs), including diarrhea, have the tendency to spread through pool water if swimmers don’t practice proper swimming hygiene and if pool owners and operators do not properly maintain pools and hot tubs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), RWIs spread by swallowing or having contact with contaminated water in swimming pools, hot tubs, water parks, water play areas, interactive fountains, lakes, rivers or oceans. The CDC also notes that from 2004 to 2008, reported cases of cryptosporidium, the most common RWI, increased from 3,411 to 10,500. Fortunately, according to Dr. Pamela Hackert, chief medical director with the Oakland County Health Division, RWIs are not particularly

prevalent in Oakland County. Hackert reported that so far this year, there have only been 19 reported cases of Giardia, another common RWI, and only two reports of cryptosporidium. According to Hackert and other medical experts, one of the best ways to avoid contracting an RWI is to not swallow any pool water. Swimmers who are currently suffering from a gastrointestinal illness such as diarrhea are advised to stay out of the water altogether. It is also important for swimmers to practice proper hygiene, which includes showering with soap and shampoo — not just water — before going into a pool. Showering before swimming at most public pools is not just a policy — it’s also a state law. Parents with young children are also advised to change diapers away from the pool in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and to take young children on bathroom breaks and check diapers often. Washing a child with soap and water before swimming is also important, as is washing your hands after you change a diaper or use the toilet. “Don’t wait for them to tell you that they have to go. You should also keep children’s heads above the water,” Hackert said.

The CDC also conducted a 2010 study in which it was discovered that 1 in 8 public pool inspections resulted in pools being closed immediately due to serious code violations such as improper chlorine levels. Tony Drautz, administrator for the Oakland County Health Division’s Environmental Health Department, said the department goes out and inspects public pools once in the summer and sometimes goes back for a follow-up inspection. “For the most part, if we have violations, we point them out and they are corrected,” Drautz said. The Health Division states that it inspects over 900 public indoor pools, outdoor pools and spas annually in accordance with the state’s Swimming Pool Law of 2001. Public pool operators are legally required to collect and submit water samples quarterly for analysis and to submit an operational report to the Health Division at the end of each month. The West Bloomfield Aquatic Center has rules in place, including a ban on disposable diapers at the center; and infants and toddlers must wear swim diapers or snug-fitting rubber pants over cloth diapers. In addition, anyone having a contagious, infectious condition or an open cut may not be allowed inside. Dr. Derek McCalmont, service chief

JULY 20-26, 2011

for West Bloomfield Henry Ford Hospital, said that RWIs are less common in public pools than in private pools because of various regulations. While there are laws in place for public pools, the responsibility for taking care of private swimming pools and hot tubs falls squarely on homeowners. Pool and spa retail store owners such as Bob Zacharski, vice president of Viscount Pools, say that the keys to preventing RWIs in pools are sanitation, circulation and filtration. “When any chain in that link is broken, that opens up a pool to want to grow things, primarily algae and bacteria,” Zacharski said. “Lack of circulation, filtration and chemical illness is where we run into problems with water-borne diseases.”

CDC: There are numerous types of RWIs

suppressive drugs are susceptible to more serious — and sometimes fatal — illnesses related to cryptosporidium, according to the CDC. The main diarrheal RWI is cryptosporidium, or “crypto” for short. The CDC describes crypto as a microscopic parasite that is protected by an outer shell that helps it survive even in a well-maintained pool with proper chlorine levels. Symptoms include watery diarrhea, stomach cramps or pain, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, fever and weight loss. These symptoms can last anywhere from one to two weeks if a person is healthy. However, the CDC says that some people with crypto may not have any symptoms at all. Another common RWI is Giardiasis, which, according to the CDC, is found on surfaces in soil, food, or water that has been contaminated with feces from infected humans or animals. Giardiasis can also survive outside the body for long periods of time and is tolerant to chlorine because of its outer shell. Symptoms include diarrhea, gas, greasy stools that can float, stomach or abdominal cramps, upset stomach, or nausea and dehydration. Another form of bacterial bacteria that can be spread in water is caused by Shigella, which can cause people to develop diarrhea, fever and stomach cramps. Shigella is usually spread if an infected person enters a body of water and other people drink, swim or play with the water, including in splash tables, untreated wading pools or shallow play fountains, according to the CDC. Legionella is another bacteriabased RWI that can be spread through steam coming from hot tubs that are not properly maintained and is inhaled by people, according to Hackert. It can lead to Legionnaires’ disease. Symptoms can include a high fever, chills and a cough, as well as muscle aches and headaches, but most people are known to have pneumonia, which is confirmed by a chest X-ray or clinical diagnosis. Most cases of Legionnaires’ are treated with antibiotics and most

healthy people recover, but it can also cause death. Other diarrheal RWIs can be caused by Nonovirus and E. coli. Swimmer’s ear is another common RWI in which the outer ear canal — which runs from the eardrum to the outside of a person’s head — is infected. “The warmth of your ear in that little spot with the water in it creates a perfect environment for germs to grow,” Hackert said. “When it has that opportunity to grow in a moist environment, if you don’t shake and dry your ear out, germs in your ear can overgrow.” Hackert added that symptoms include itchiness and redness in ear, as well as pain. “The difference is if you pull on your ear, it’s going to hurt quite a bit,” she said. McCalmont said that people who have previously had swimmer’s ear should consider wearing earplugs when swimming. He also advises not to use a cotton swab to clean the inside of the ear and not to use a hairpin to dig out wax, which can damage the ear canal’s thin skin. The outer part of the ear can be dried with a towel or hair dryer. Swimmer’s itch is another RWI to be aware of. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s an itchy rash that is caused by certain parasites that normally live in freshwater snails and sometimes on waterfowl. However, swimmer’s itch is shortlived and is usually cleared up by applying Benadryl cream to the rash.

Tips on private swimming pool maintenance chores While a home swimming pool is a luxury that some lakes area residents have and enjoy, it’s also a responsibility for the homeowners to properly maintain it. “A pool is exactly like a dog, you have to feed it and take care of it every day. It’s basically simple maintenance,” said Zacharski of Viscount Pools, a pool and spa company based out of Madison Heights that has a store in Waterford Township. “Even though it’s a simple process to take care of a body

PAGE 5

of water, the rule of thumb is problems occur when people become forgetful or just simply ignore it.” He said the most common situation he sees is when people don’t adjust their filtration systems after rainstorms when the temperature drops. The keys to pool maintenance, according to the CDC, are to make sure that chlorine levels are tested regularly. The recommended levels are usually between 1 and 3 parts per million (ppm). Algaecide can also be used to prevent the growth of algae. When maintaining a hot tub, it’s extremely important to check the chlorine and/or bromine levels. “Sanitizing your pool is the No. 1 priority, whether using chlorine or bromine, and how you do it, depending on what type of pool you have, inground or above ground,” said Marisa Sayers, co-owner of Terrapin Pools in Waterford. It’s also important to make sure that the pool or hot tub’s pH level is also within the recommended range of 7.2 to 7.8. Test kits are usually available at most pool and spa retailers to determine water quality and adjust chemical usage. “When you don’t sanitize your pool or keep your chlorine level up, you’re opening the door for all kinds of bacteria to get in your pool, but it’s not a difficult thing to do,” Sayers said. “That’s why you test your water on a regular basis.” It’s also important that a pool has proper filtration, be it through a sand or cartridge filter, and to regularly pump your pool’s water through the system. Vacuuming out a pool with a pool vacuum and using brushes to remove dirt from the pool’s floor and walls are also necessary to ensure a clean pool. Most pool stores provide free swimming pool water testing, as does the Oakland County Health Division at its offices in Pontiac, Southfield and Walled Lake. While the economy has certainly cut into overall purchases of pools and spas, according to both Zacharski and Sayers, Viscount Pools’ Zacharski said he believes that people are more educated now when it comes to pool maintenance. “Fifteen to 20 years ago, it was common to see people walking in with green hair,” he said. “We don’t see that anymore and I attribute that to the fact that most of the good consumers that are out there that own a swimming pool take care of it and understand it.” Learn more about RWIs at cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/rwi/. ❏

SPECIAL REPORT

The CDC adds that RWIs have a diverse range, spanning the gamut of gastrointestinal, skin, ear, respiratory, eye, neurologic and wound infections. Chemicals either in water or that evaporate from the water and cause indoor air quality problems are other causes of RWIs, according to the CDC. RWIs can also be spread in hot tubs, in which skin infections such as “hot tub rash,” as well as respiratory illnesses could be a risk. Interactive and decorative water fountains can also be breeding grounds for RWIs if they are not chlorinated or filtered. Fountains in water parks that spray water onto swimmers also rinse contaminants that are collected into the water holding area and are sprayed again. The most commonly occurring RWI is diarrhea, which generally occurs when someone swallows even just a small amount of water that has been contaminated with feces, whether they be visible particles or even small particles that have been rinsed off bodies once entering a pool. McCalmont said that many RWIs clear up on their own and are seldom fatal, but that some can have more severe consequences if they affect a young child or an elderly person. “It depends on the individual,” he said. “It’s not so much the infection that’s dangerous to you — it’s the after effects of the symptoms. If you had a skin infection because of swimming and you develop a secondary infection because of breaks of your skin if you’re elderly, it can become more serious. If you develop an illness that causes gastrointestinal symptoms, if you’re a child or elderly, you can become dehydrated.” People with weakened immune systems due to AIDS, inherited diseases that affect the immune system, and cancer and transplant patients taking immuno-

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

LAKES AREA NEWS

‘Sand-sational’ beach party to hit Walled Lake By Leslie Shepard staff writer

he Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority (DDA), in an effort with Walled Lake Parks and Recreation, is calling all beach lovers to take part in a day of fun in the sun on Saturday, July 23, as it hosts its fifth annual Beach Party complete with sandcovered streets simulating a vast beachfront. Grab your family and friends, slip on the flip-flops, don your shades and head to E.V. Mercer Beach, where a day jam-packed with entertainment awaits. This year’s beach party will run from noon until midnight. “We’re very lucky to have such a magnificent lakefront in the downtown to host an event such as this,” said DDA Executive Director Charlene Long. To transform East Walled Lake Drive into one panoramic beach, the Walled Lake Department of Public Works will be dumping 200 tons of sand onto the roadway. The “sand-sational” event will provide an all-day beer and wine tent, food vendors, and children’s activities. From noon to 5 p.m. vendors will be selling items such as clothing, jewelry, flip-flops, purses, sunglasses, sunwear, candles, and other wares. Popular brands like Avon and Pampered Chef will be exhibiting their products along with local hair salon Hair Trendz, which will be styling tresses adorned with the new craze, hair feathers. The DDA will also be doling out freebies. Audra’s Addictions will be holding a sidewalk sale, and other local

East Walled Lake Drive in Walled Lake is transformed into a panoramic beach by the city’s Department of Public Works, which dumps 200 tons of sand onto the roadway for the city’s annual Beach Party. (Photo courtesy of the Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority)

merchants will be displaying their individually decorated Adirondack chairs. The day is family-centered, and full of kids activities such as face painting, airbrush tattoos, and character drawings. Sand sculptor Dave Downs will be featured from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., in addition to the Dance Dynamics dancers, who will entertain from noon to 5 p.m. Returning from last year, the soft rock band Paradise will perform from 1-5 p.m. Kids are sure to be enthralled by “Caterpillar” man Jeb Bromfield, who will educate them about caterpillars and moths. Various food vendors will be on

“It’s an honor I was appointed,” Fortino protege she said. “I’m excited and want to the residents well.” will fill late clerk’s serveVlaeminck will step in to complete four-year term, which shoes in Waterford Fortino’s expires in November 2012. She will

By Leslie Shepard staff writer

Due to the recent death of Waterford Township Clerk Betty Fortino, the Waterford Board of Trustees has voted to appoint Deputy Clerk Kari Vlaeminck, Fortino’s protege, to fill the clerk position.

have to file candidate paperwork by next May to seek election if she hopes to continue in the clerk position. “I intend to run fair and honest elections and make sure every vote counts, just like when Betty was here,” Vlaeminck said. Fortino died on June 18. By char-

hand throughout the day. Metro Beverage will provide a full menu of hot dogs, hamburgers, Polish sausage, and fresh-squeezed lemonade. In addition, Grand Dogs will be selling hot dogs, while Johnny May will be selling flavored popcorn, and L. George’s Coney and two ice cream purveyors will have food available, as well. The city’s brand new restaurant, Town Lake Restaurant, will also be participating, serving up American and Mexican fare. Once 5 p.m. strikes, the vendors will close up shop. The Lakes Area Rotary Club, along with Hospitality House, will host a beer and wine tent. There is no charge for admission or

participation in activities during the Beach Party — only charges for food and drinks. From 5-7:30 p.m., the local rock ‘n’ roll band Damage Control will take the stage; from 8 p.m. to midnight, Fifty Amp Fuse will be in the spotlight with its large variety of classic rock ‘n’ roll. Primary parking will be accommodated off Common Street in Riley Park, as well as in the Walled Lake community lot near the Foster Farmhouse. Road closures will ensue Saturday along East Walled Lake Drive between Liberty and Witherall. Ferland will also be closed. ❏

ter, the board had 45 days to appoint a clerk to finish Fortino’s term. Vlaeminck’s tenure with the township made her an attractive candidate. “Kari has been running the office since last fall when Betty was diagnosed (with cancer), and ran the 2010 election. So she knows the mandates required by law and is the legitimate person fill those shoes,” said Supervisor Carl Solden. Vlaeminck came on board with the township in 1999. She was appointed deputy clerk in 2010, after Fortino

lauded her as “very competent” and “accustomed to working with township personnel and residents.” Vlaeminck will earn $81,963 per year as the township clerk. She opted to waive the $5,100 car allowance. “I didn’t accept the car allowance because I feel it’s a good way to save money and that could be cut.” Vlaeminck has since promoted Kathleen Dunham, a former clerk/typist in the clerk’s office for 16 years, to the position of deputy clerk on a parttime basis. ❏

JULY 20-26, 2011

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LAKES AREA NEWS

160 artists’ work grace exhibit in West Bloomfield By Leslie Shepard staff writer

he 9th annual Orchard Lake Fine Art Show — a prestigious collection of top-notch artists voted as one of the top 100 art shows in the country for the last four years — is slated for Friday, July 29 through Sunday, July 31. Hotworks.org will be hosting the outdoor event that will be held again in West Bloomfield Township at Powers and Daly roads, between 14 Mile and Maple roads. The fine arts and crafts event showcases the work of 160 worldrenowned artists that Hotworks.org Show Director Patty Narozny recruits during her travels around the country. “This is a high-quality juried event,” Narozny said. “During my travels, it has become clear that Michigan does not have the best reputation. We put on shows in Boca Raton and Estero, Fla., as well as Charlotte, N.C. and told people that 85 percent of people in Michigan are still working. By us going out of state it saved our Michigan show.” Narozny also attracts the creme de la creme by awarding $2,500 in cash prizes to some of the participating artists, as decided by a panel of esteemed judges. “We look for the best judges, those who are art professionals in the art industry and have an art education,” Narozny said. The Orchard Lake Fine Art Show is considered one of the top five premier events in Oakland County and in 2010, won eight awards from the Michigan Festivals and Events Association. “Our fine art and crafts must meet a criteria based on quality,

Dodge Park No. 5 will be jamming for Friday concert By Angela Niemi staff writer

Commerce Township is getting ready to host its second free “Concert in the Park” on Friday, July 22. The Commerce Township Parks and Recreation Committee, which spon-

The works of 160 renowned artists will be the main attraction July 29-31 at the Orchard Lake Fine Art Show, presented by Hotworks.org. Children’s activities, music entertainment and food vendors will also be featured at the event. (Photo courtesy of Patty Narozny/Hotworks.org)

technique, originality, and booth presentation,” Narozny said. Fine art in painting, sculpture, fiber, clay, glass, wood, jewelry, photography, mixed media and more will be on display for purchase. “There’s something for everyone. Everything is original and hand-made,” Narozny said. Event hours are Friday, July 29, from 6-9 p.m.; Saturday, July 30, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sunday, July 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. While admission to the event is free, a suggested donation of $5 is encouraged to support The Institute for the Arts and Education (A&E), a non-profit organization dedicated to educating and promoting fine arts and crafts among all artists and students

of all groups and diversities, and the general public. A&E will be sponsoring live art demonstrations throughout the event. Other children’s art activities provide for a hands-on experience. Kids are afforded the opportunity to enter the Chadwick Group’s Youth Art Competition, in which children in grades K-eight can enter their artwork and display it for a chance to win a $250 cash prize. “Art programs are being cut in schools and this will open up their minds for potential careers in art,” Narozny said. Local food vendors Vineyard Deli, Whole Foods Market, and Cosi will be on-site, as well as ice cream and beverage vendors.

An eclectic line-up in entertainment includes Michelet Innocent — who sings for audiences 50-yearsold and up in French, English, Spanish, and Creole — and more. Charlene Berry, a musician who plays the solo hammered dulcimer, is returning to entertain at the event. Kayte Strong, whose CD, “Born To Love You,” peaked on the Americana charts in late 2010 and also spent 10 weeks in the top 10 on the Roots Music Charts, will also be performing. Free parking will be located off Orchard Lake Road behind Beaumont Medical Center, West Bloomfield Corporate Plaza, Barnes & Noble, or at the West Bloomfield Plaza. ❏

sors the concert series, was extremely pleased with the township’s first-ever community-sponsored concert held in June. “We’re excited to host this second concert because our first was so successful and was so well received by more than 400 people who attended,” said Peter Pace, the event’s chairperson and a member of the township’s Parks and Recreation Committee. This month’s concert will feature local soloist Hillary Clark with Connor

Rendi as the opening act for the classic rock group Groove Therapy. The music is set to start at 6:30 p.m. and children’s activities will start at 6 p.m. “We’ve had excellent support from area establishments,” Pace said. “Home Depot sponsored a highly successful Kids’ Workshop last month where more than 100 children learned how to build bug boxes. They will host another similar workshop at this concert.” Meanwhile, Hungry Howie’s Pizza,

Carvel Ice Cream, and Grand Hot Dogs will be returning to sell a variety of refreshments during the concert. The concert will be held on the soccer fields at Dodge Park No. 5. Attendees can enter the park at the south entrance located on South Commerce Road between Commerce and Oakley Park roads. “The concert is a great way for local residents to enjoy an evening of family fun, good music, and appreciate our parks,” Pace said. ❏

JULY 20-26, 2011

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

PAGE 9

LAKES AREA NEWS

Seven years later, subdivision work is nearly done By Angela Niemi staff writer

ver seven years ago, Ivanhoe Huntley began developing a piece of White Lake Township property at M-59 and Williams Lake Road with duplex condominiums called Williams Lake Crossing. However, with the downturn in the economy, the developer was unable to complete the overall project, including a number of smaller side projects consisting of roads, sidewalks, and curbs. Now, the township is nearing the end of completing that project. “Whenever we have a developer looking to build, we require bond money that guarantees completion of the work,” said White Lake Township Planning Director Sean O’Neil. “In the event the developer is not able to complete their obligation in cases such as these, the township has funds to finish the work the developer did not finish. The township protects the interest of its residents and makes sure that all site work is adequately completed so that residents are not living with half-finished roads and half-completed storm water systems. The Community Development Department is very proactive when it comes to making sure that we have guarantees in place to ensure a project’s completion.” Except for a few more minor projects, the township has the

W. Bloomfield split in vote over ban on medical pot By Michael Shelton staff writer

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees has extended the township’s moratorium on medical marijuana facilities for an additional two months, from July 1 to Aug. 31. Township Trustees Howard Rosenberg, Larry Brown, and Gene Farber; and Clerk Catherine Shaughnessy voted in favor of the extension. Trustee Steve Kaplan, Treasurer Teri Weingarden and Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste

Lombardo Homes is now developing a parcel of land near Williams Lake Road and M-59 — a parcel forfeited by another developer — into single-family residences in the Bluffs at Williams Lake Crossings subdivision. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Stefano Ferri)

majority of the work completed and with money to spare, according to O’Neil. “The homeowners had some complaints about a couple of things — a few items they want to see done, such as having sod put on vacant lots and irrigated,” O’Neil said. “But we completed most of the major work. We have some bond money left over, which will go to the developer as a refund, of course. Our main goal was

to get work done for the residents and to get things done in a satisfactory manner acceptable to both the township and residents which, at the end of the day, thankfully we completed all the work and still had money left over.” Meanwhile, the parcel of land Ivanhoe Huntley was forced to forfeit when they ran out of money is now being developed by Lombardo Homes into single-family residences. The

development is being called Bluffs at Williams Lake Crossings. “We’re happy the land is being developed, and they are good quality homes,” O’Neil said. “All in all, it worked out well. Lombardo is doing quite a good job. We’re excited about it, and we’re pleased that the Williams Lake Crossing Condo improvements are almost all finished and closed out and that the vacant land is being developed.” ❏

voted against it because they are in favor of an outright ban. In a letter to the board, Gary Dovre, the township’s legal counsel, stated that Michigan lawmakers have not provided clarification on the state’s Medical Marijuana Act, which legalized the use of medical marijuana for qualified patients after an overwhelming approval by voters in the November 2008 general election. He also added that there are still court cases pending against several Michigan communities challenging their ordinances regarding medical marijuana. He noted that, while some decisions have been made, none of them were rendered in cases that can influence how West Bloomfield can address medical marijuana.

On May 17, 2010, the township board asked the Planning Commission to draft language regarding the dispensing of medical marijuana in the township. The Planning Commission recommended to the board an amendment allowing for medical marijuana home use, as permitted by state law. However, on Aug. 23, 2010, the board postponed considering the introduction of the ordinance and instead approved extending a moratorium until Dec. 31, 2010. On Nov. 15, the moratorium was extended again for another six months; however, the board didn’t indicate if the extension was six months from Nov. 15 or Dec. 31. The moratorium was extended

again by the board on May 2 to last through June 30. The state’s medical marijuana law took effect on April 4, 2009. ❏

Fall completion expected for path along Loon Lake By Leslie Shepard staff writer

The city of Wixom is gearing up to construct a bike path along Loon Lake Road to create a more walkable community using the dedicated millage approved by city voters in 2008. The 0.3-mill property tax was PAGE 10 ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

LAKES AREA NEWS

Safety path ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 9

approved for the construction, maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of paths and sidewalks within the city. So far, both Potter Road and Grand River Avenue safety paths have been completed. Within the next few weeks, the city intends to begin the Loon Lake Road safety path project that will commence at Kings Crown Court and terminate at Chanticlair Circle, on the northern side of Loon Lake Road, east and west of Loon Lake Elementary School. To inform residents about the pending project, a public meeting was held on Thursday, July 14. “The purpose of the project is to build other links for a continuous pathway given that a lot of kids walk internally through common areas and it will provide better access to and from school,” said Assistant City Manager Tony Nowicki. Eventually the pathway can hook up to Benstein Road in Commerce Township, but that will “be up to Commerce to decide that,” Nowicki said. In Wixom, however, officials compiled an itemized list of where safety paths would be constructed in the long run. “We want to fill in gaps eventually on Wixom, Beck and West Maple roads,” Nowicki said. The contractor, Italia Construction, Inc., of Washington Township was awarded the construction project with their bid of $188,216. The project is expected to be completed before the new school year begins in the fall. ❏

Board reverses its policy on closed meeting minutes By Michael Shelton staff writer

The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees has approved a resolution stating closed session minutes no longer have to be approved by the township board. Trustees Howard Rosenberg, Larry Brown, and Gene Farber; and Clerk Catherine Shaughnessy voted in favor of striking the existing policy. Trustee Steve Kaplan, Treasurer Teri Weingarden and Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste voted against ending it. The move comes six months after PAGE 11 ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

JULY 20-26, 2011

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PAGE 11

LAKES AREA NEWS

Village may use new strategy to halt VHS spread By Leslie Shepard staff writer

ue to the proliferation of viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS) in Michigan waterways, the Wolverine Lake Water Management Board has appealed to the Village Council for funds to build a disinfection station to ward off the possibility of the disease reaching the village’s namesake. The water board requested $1,500 to construct the station at the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) access site and to purchase the necessary chemicals and signage. The station is akin to a large containment tank filled with a chemical solution that is disbursed through a hand-held spraying unit. “We’ve been talking about putting in a station for a while,” said Water Management Board Chairman Cliff Yantz. “It would need to manned with volunteers to put in the solution and educate people.” VHS can spread when boats or bait are moved from bodies of water where VHS-infected fish live to where there is no VHS presence. Fish can also become infected with the virus by eating infected fish. The virus can be fatal for infected fish. “It’s become quite problematic in Michigan,” said Village Council President John Magee. “There have been outbreaks in the Great Lakes and there are worries the disease could reach fisheries and spread to other lakes.” The base of Wolverine Lake’s

Meeting minutes ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 10

the township adopted a policy on Jan. 10 requiring approval of closed session minutes by the board in an open session. As part of a system put together by Shaughnessy, each board member received a copy of closed session minutes in a sealed envelope with their name on it so that the minutes could be reviewed. Then it was up to the board members to return their copies of the minutes to Shaughnessy at the end of the next board meeting, after they were approved by the board. The copies would then be shredded and

The main goal of building and utilizing disinfection stations equipment with a hand-held spraying unit (above) is to prevent the spread of Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia (VHS), a highly-contagious disease that can be fatal for some freshwater and saltwater fishes. (Photo taken from Michigan Lake and Stream Associations website)

fishery is an aggregate of perch, walleye and crappie, all species known to be affected by VHS. However, the DNR has been monitoring state waters for any sign of VHS and in recent years found only two inland lakes that have turned up VHS-infected fish: Washtenaw County’s Baseline Lake in 2009, and

Budd Lake in Clare County in 2007 and again this year. While the council supports a disinfection station, it voted on Wednesday, July 13 to suspend releasing any funds until the permit process is in place with the DNR. “Council is very much in favor of it, but we need to get everything in

place, including the budget and permit process before we release funds for this,” Magee said. The water board was instructed to work with Village Administrator Sharon Miller on a site plan, permit process and an actual cost quote before the council would dole out the dollars needed. ❏

the Clerk’s Office would retain the only official copy of the minutes. However, Shaughnessy stated in a memo to the board that not all board members have complied with the system and that since the inception of the policy, there hasn’t been a meeting in which every board member returned their copy of the executive session minutes. “I never thought the policy was needed,” Brown said. “The information was so skeletal it was meaningless. It basically said what we went in and talked about. I said that we should let the clerk have a copy of the minutes passed around at the meeting and then have them approved.”

Kaplan said he believes in transparency and that he recommended that minutes could have been distributed in other ways by the clerk, such as a confidential e-mail. ❏

township’s home occupation ordinance. According to a draft of the amendment, there would be a section added to the township’s zoning ordinance in order to establish regulations pertaining to the administration and enforcement of home occupations and homebased businesses within the township. The general provisions of the proposed amendment state that not more than three home occupations or homebased businesses can be conducted on a premises and that such occupations or businesses may occupy an area not exceeding 25 percent of a residential floor area.

Milford set to mull changes in home occupation rules By Michael Shelton staff writer

The Milford Township Board of Trustees is expected tonight, Wednesday, July 20, to consider the introduction of amendments to the

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

Walled Lake

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JULY 20-26, 2011

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PAGE 13

LAKES AREA NEWS

Home occupations ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 11

Home-based businesses conducted in an attached garage or accessory building could not take up more than 15 percent of the floor area, if the changes are approved. The amendment would also prohibit the open storage of material, unlicensed vehicles, equipment or refuse associated with, or resulting from, a home-based business, but adds that it is not construed to prohibit the storage of tractors, riding mowers and similar vehicles. Also prohibited would be equipment for, or the ensuing byproducts of, a home occupation that would be deemed a disturbance to the public, whether it is noise, odors, or electrical interference. The amendment would allow for one unlighted sign not exceeding 2 square feet in area for a home-based business. It also states that not more than two full-time or part-time employees can be on the premises at any one time. The township will also look to introduce an amendment to include new definitions for home-based business, householder and home occupation. ❏

Commerce Road improvements the focus of new study The Milford Village Council at its Monday, July 19 meeting approved the allocation of $13,450 to pay for further investigation into the possibility of improvements along Commerce Road. The village is looking at improvements to the thoroughfare between Main and Summit streets, but Village Manager Arthur Shufflebarger said the village doesn’t know if the road needs a major repair or replacement. “The engineers will look at it more closely before preparing a grant application. The grant money would be for 2015,” Shufflebarger said. He added that he doesn’t know the amount of aid the village would be asking for at this time. According to a memo from the engineering firm of Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment, the village had a special meeting with firm representatives to discuss different strategies to obtain funding. The memo also states that the village had been considering work on Commerce Road for several years, but funding constraints and lack of federal dollars have set the project back.

The investigation of the road will be divided into three tasks by the engineers, with the first involving a geotechnical investigation, which will involve examining soil borings and pavement cores, as well as evaluating the road’s curb and gutter to see if they can be salvaged. The second task will be researching the village’s utilities to see how they would be affected by the project. The third task will include the engineers working with the village to put together an application to receive federal aid. If the village secures federal funding, the firm can then proceed with a topographic survey and a preliminary and detailed design for the project. Orchard, Hiltz & McCliment is aiming to have the first three tasks completed no later than Sept. 12. ❏

W. Bloomfield OK’s language for fire, police millages The West Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees has approved ballot language for both a proposed renewal and an increase in the township’s public safety millage to be placed before voters during the Nov. 8 election. The township will send the language to county officials for approval. The township will ask its residents in two separate ballot questions to renew the existing public safety millage at its current rate of 3.1378 mills for 10 years beginning in 2012, and also ask for an 11-year increase of 2.85 mills beginning this year. A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. The owner of a township property with a taxable value of $100,000 ($200,000 market value) currently pays $313.78 a year in taxes for public safety services. That would stay the same if the existing millage is renewed. According to the ballot language, the township would be authorized to collect up to $9.94 million in the first year. If the 2.85-mill increase is also approved, that same property owner would pay an additional $285 a year and the township would be authorized to collect up to $9.03 million in new tax revenue in the first year. “Last year’s estimates were based on continuing to allocate all general fund levies to public safety,” said Supervisor Michele Economou Ureste. “Our recent financial projections demonstrated that funding public safety with all general fund and public safety millages was not a sustainable position for the township.” ❏

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

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PAGE 15

EDUCATION

One in, one out of HVS school board race set for Nov. 8 By Leslie Shepard staff writer

A pair of Huron Valley Schools (HVS) Board of Education seats are up for grabs during the Nov. 8 general election, but a familiar face in the community will not be returning to the ballot. Long-standing board member John Knight has decided not to seek re-election after serving the community for 20 years. “It’s time for new blood on the board,” Knight said, adding he also struggled with the board’s decision to oust Chuck Dittmar from his role as board president. “I can no longer work with the current majority of the board effectively,” he said. Apparently tradition was breached when former Treasurer Sean Carlson was nominated for the board president position while Dittmar held the role after Lisa Blackwell stepped down. Dittmar had served only a few months before the board majority tapped Carlson to take Dittmar’s place at the helm. “It showed a total lack of integrity by passing over Chuck as board president,” Knight said. “They ignored years of board precedent and side-stepped him. At that point I became very disenchanted.” Knight added that it was Dittmar’s turn to serve, given his seniority. “The organizational method is that everyone who serves should have the opportunity after proving yourself and it was Chuck’s turn to serve,” Knight said. “During his brief time, he did an excellent job and put away his own agenda and thoughts.” Knight, the most tenured board member, has a term expiring Dec. 31, 2011. Board Secretary Bonnie Brown, who was appointed in 2010 to complete Debbie Squire’s term which also expires on Dec. 31, has opted to run for her first full term of office. “Though it has been a tumultuous past six months, I am committed to the providing the highest quality education to our students in Huron Valley,” Brown said. “I would very much like to remain on the board and would be honored to have the community I represent elect me.” In December 2010, the board approved a resolution to revise the election cycle for the district from odd years to even years so it aligns with state and national election cycles.

According to Carlson, elections held in odd years cost the district, and in turn cost taxpayers approximately $40,000 to $60,000 per election, while elections held in even years cost nothing. To transition to the even-year cycle, board members elected in the November 2011 and 2013 elections will have their terms extended by one year to align with the even-year cycle. Although the November 2011 ballot will state the board member is elected for a four-year term, following the election, the Board of Education will take action to extend the board seat lengths for one year in order to effectuate the policy change that was approved on Dec. 16, 2010. Candidacy paperwork must include an affidavit of identity; and either a nominating petition with a minimum of 40 signatures or maximum of 100 signatures from registered electors of the school district, or a non-refundable check of $100. Candidacy paperwork must be filed by 4 p.m. on Aug. 16. A candidate filing information packet can be requested online at www.oakgov.com or by calling the Elections Division at (248) 858-0564. Board members receive $30 per meeting for up to 52 meetings per year and receive reimbursement for boardrelated travel, including training and expenses. ❏

Huron Valley brass takes 6-percent cut with contracts By Leslie Shepard staff writer

The Huron Valley Schools (HVS) Board of Education has approved employment agreements with Central Office Administration Team employees, which opted to take a 6-percent compensation cut in light of the district’s budgetary challenges. “Our contract last year was a twoyear contract, but we reopened the contract due to budgetary concerns,” said Director of Community Relations and Fund Development Janet Roberts. The team is comprised of Roberts, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services Donna Welch, and Executive Director of Human Resources James Baker. Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Nancy Coratti is a contract employee, separate from the rest of the central office team. The contracts became effective July 1 and run through June 30. Each director was given a two-year agreement except for Welch, who was awarded a three-year contract.

The central office team is not a bargaining group, per se, but instead works directly with the superintendent. Each member’s contract has similar provisions. For 2011-12, each member agreed to a 6-percent reduction in compensation and work days were reduced by three for 2011-12. “We have a group of very strong leaders who recognize the financial challenges that all school districts are facing and who want to help with the solution,” said Superintendent Jackie Johnston. No other major changes were made to the contracts. ❏

Cyber Academy deadline nears for interested teens By Michael Shelton staff writer

The Friday, Aug. 5 deadline for open enrollment at the Waterford Cyber Academy is approaching, and academy officials will be attending the WDIV-TV Michigan School Expo at the Oakland Mall on Saturday, July 30 and

Sunday, July 31 from noon to 6 p.m. The Cyber Academy is offering open enrollment for students in grades nine-12 in the Waterford School District and Schools of Choice students who live in Oakland County and other qualifying school districts. The academy’s headquarters is located in the Covert Center on Scott Lake Road, across from Waterford Mott High School. The academy consists of 130 core, elective and Advanced Placement courses that students can take on their own scheduled time, with no daily attendance required. Courses can be taken at home, in the Covert Center, or at a computer in a public library. The academy recently completed its first year with over 100 students enrolled. Applications should be sent to the attention of the academy’s coordinator, Becky Jacques, at the Waterford Cyber Academy, 1150 Scott Lake Road, Waterford, Mich., 48328; or faxed to 248-682-0641. Applications are available online at waterford.k12.mi.us/cyberacademy. ❏

TUBBY’S GRILLED SUBMARINES Walled Lake DDA July Business of the Month

he Walled Lake Downtown Development Authority (WLDDA) Urban Design Committee awards the efforts of those businesses that add to the beautification and economic vitality of Downtown Walled Lake. This month, the Urban Design Committee recognizes Tubby’s Grilled Submarines as an example of excellence in urban design and overall appearance.

Tubby’s is located at 1102 E. West Maple Road in the Maple Plaza Shopping Center at E. West Maple Road and Gamma Street. Tubby’s took a former bank location and retrofitted it for their restaurant. The building was given a complete facelift inside and out using the very recognizable yellow and red “Tubby” colors in their signage and converting the prior teller drive-up window into their drive-thru complete with a menu board. They also took advantage of the WLDDA Design Committee Façade and Sign Grant Program. The Walled Lake Tubby’s is owned and operated by James Jarjosa. They are open Sunday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. and Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information, call (248) 859-5326 or visit their website at www.Tubby.com.

Building A Better Walled Lake

PAGE 16

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WORSHIP SERVICES Independent Baptist

United Methodist

Union Lake Baptist Church

Commerce United Methodist Church

8390 Commerce Rd. • Commerce 1155 N. Commerce Rd. • Commerce 248-363-3935 248-363-9600 www.commerceumc.org www.unionlakebaptist.org Sunday - Bible Study 9:15 a.m. & Worship Service 10:30 a.m. & 6 p.m. Wednesday Night Bible Study 7 p.m. AWANA Program 6:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. to May

Rev. Dr. Dean Wyllys Sundays - 9 a.m. Traditional Worship Service 10 a.m. Coffee Hour 11 a.m. Contemporary Worship Service Wednesday - Early Bird Prayer Service 6:30 a.m.

Lutheran

Non-Denominational

Lutheran Church of the Ascension

Orchard Grove Community Church

4150 Pontiac Lake Rd. Waterford, MI 48328 248-674-1212 lutheranchurch.ofthe.ascension@gmail.com

850 Ladd Road, Bldg. C Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-926-6584 www.orchardgrove.org

Sunday Worship 10:30 a.m. • We sew quilts every Tuesday 9 a.m. ALL ARE WELCOME

Pastor Chris Cramer Sunday Worship Services 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

Call 248-360-7355 to list your Worship Services in this space

Weeds•Reeds Muck•Bugs www.oaklandlakefront.com

SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

Internet Directory

Include your firm’s website in this weekly feature at very favorable rates. Phone 248.360.SELL (7355). AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY Aerial Graphics www.aerialgraphics.com BEACH RESTORATION TT&C Beaches www.ttcbeaches.com BOAT COVERS Bev’s Canvas Covers www.bevscanvascovers.com BOAT REPAIRS/FURNITURE American Soft Trim www.americansofttrim.com BOATS/NEW & USED Lake Ponemah Marina www.lakeponemahmarina.com BOATING SUPPLIES Boating Supply Center www.boatsupplies.com

DOCKS & LIFTS American Marine www.americanmarinesc.com GUITAR/PIANO LESSONS Music Advantage www.musicadvantage.info LAKE MANAGEMENT SERVICES Aqua Weed Control www.aquaweed.com REAL ESTATE Cyndi Robinson - Real Estate One www.cyndirobinson.com VISITING NURSES & THERAPISTS Affinity Home Care Agency, Inc. www.affinityhomecareagency.com

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JULY 20-26, 2011

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PAGE 17

COMMUNITY LIFE academic honors ❐ Caitlin Myers, daughter of Glenn & Kelly Myers of Wolverine Lake and a sophomore at Spring Arbor University in Spring Arbor, Mich., has been named to the Academic Honors List for the Spring 2011 Semester. She is majoring in education with a minor in social studies and would love to teach in the Walled Lake School District, she is a 2009 graduate of Walled Lake Central High School in Walled Lake. ❐ Hope College in Holland, Mich., has announced that freshmen and soccer players Courtney Laux and Kelsey Masserant of Novi and sophomore Sarah Krueger of Wixom, a swimmer, have been named to the 2010-11 Academic Honor Roll of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association or MIAA. The academic awards program is administered by the faculty representatives of the MIAA member colleges and the 22nd annual Academic Honor Roll consists of students-athletes who maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA for the year. This is the second year in a row that Krueger has been named.

was held at the school to help the Hope’s Heroes team. Proud of her con-

tinued relay work, Hope encourages children everywhere to be active and involved in any anti-cancer charity event.

community honors ❐ Hope Drogmiller, age 12, of Wixom, just finished her fourth Relay for Life, raising roughly $1,551,00 and working toward a cure or better treatments of cancer. Hope attended the Novi Relay for Life, a 24-hour walking relay, an American Cancer Society event which was held last month at Fuerst Park located next to the Novi Public Library. Hope will be an eighth-grader during the upcoming school year. She attends Sarah Banks Middle School and the school’s student council helped her raise $100 with a charity that day that

SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

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50 YEARS AGO July 20, 1961 Bill Urch of Bill’s TV, 1519 Union Lake Road, was named “Service Man of the Year” from Oakland County and will compete for a national title. This was a public nomination for this General Electric Service Award in a contest called “Pick Your Favorite Service Man of the Year.” People wrote 50 words or less on why they liked their television serviceman and submitted the entries. Mr. Urch is on the Board of Directors of the Union Lake Area Business Association; is active in church activities; has been of great help to the Union Lake Boys Club in the past; furnishes public address systems for Youth Home activities, churches and Union Lake Paul Bunyan Celebrations; is a member of the Elks; and this year is in charge of the tickets for Paul Bunyan Days. He is definitely an asset to the community and to the television business.

tory. Snyder is also alleged to be in violation of a zoning ordinance requirement for a protective screening of the property zoned as M-1 he is using to store materials.

20 YEARS AGO July 17, 1991 A call by one faction of the West Bloomfield Township board for a superintendent to be brought in to take on some of the duties now overseen by full-time Supervisor Sandra Draur has been met with opposition from some township residents. The change, which would involve hiring a superintendent accountable to the seven-member Board of Trustees, was suggested by Trustee Judy Holtz, after Draur announced she had appointed a new deputy to replace a resigning Kathy Haack. Lorna McEwen of Concerned Citizens of West Bloomfield (CCWB), said the timing to discuss such a proposal is off. “The reason to do it in the past was when (former supervisor John) 40 YEARS AGO Doherty was sick. Maybe a superinJuly 21, 1971 A bullet which shattered the kitchen tendent will be needed in the future, window of a Milford Township home who knows, but things are going very has resulted in the temporary closing well right now. of the shooting range at the Proud 10 YEARS AGO Lake Recreation Area. July 18, 2001 Jerry Schuelke, 27, who owns a The Walled Lake Schools Board of home approximately 300 feet from the edge of the range, said the bullet could Education voted 6-1 on Wednesday, have hit his wife, who had been in the July 11 to send both ninth-graders and 10th-graders into the new Walled Lake kitchen only minutes before. Schuelke said seven other bullets Northern High School when it opens. Since a third high school has been have hit his home since he moved in April 1 with his wife and seven-month- approved, and is now being built in the school district, the entire district is old son. experiencing another redistricting 30 YEARS AGO effort to channel students from two to July 22, 1981 three high schools. Action to seek an injunction against With the high level of enrollment Waterford Township Trustee Robert causing overcrowding, the board Snyder in Oakland County Circuit backed its approval by the need to Court was defeated on Monday, July keep the schools’ populations small. 20, by the township board, when members failed to support a motion made Headlines by Treasurer Dennis Ritter. Supervisor James Seeterlin said he of the has received a request from a Warren Past Drive resident asking the township seek injunctive relief to stop Snyder from moving heavy equipment in and out of his site. The trustee is charged with using the residentially zoned property for the business of storing his sewer contracting equipment, machinery and inven– A special feature of the Spinal Column Newsweekly –

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PAGE 21

LOCAL MATTERS

‘We’re all in this together’ ‘Local Matters’ to shine light on area businesses, communities By Tim Dmoch editor

or the fourth year in a row, a national survey of independent businesses has found that those in communities with an active “buy local” campaign have experienced markedly stronger revenue growth compared to those in areas without such a campaign. The survey, which was conducted over an 8-day period in January by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a nonprofit research and educational organization, gathered data from 2,768 independent businesses, including retailers, service providers, restaurants and others. It found that those in places with a “buy local” initiative reported revenue growth of 5.6 percent on average in 2010, compared to 2.1 percent for those elsewhere. Business owners in cities with active “buy local” campaigns reported a wide range of positive impacts on their business. Almost half reported that the campaign had brought new customers to their business and 55 percent said it had made existing customers more loyal. With those powerful results in mind, the Spinal Column Newsweekly is pleased to launch its Local Matters initiative, a new regular feature of the newspaper dedicated to fostering lakes area businesses, institutions, and communities. It’s been estimated that local purchases have a tremendous economic benefit in the community, because local businesses bank locally, hire local accountants, attorneys and designers, and advertise in local media. But that’s just the beginning. Here are just some of the benefits of patronizing local businesses. • Keeping the community unique. Many local businesses go out of their way to support their community’s culture. Residents who then shop at these businesses can discover fresh adventures in a familiar, hometown environment. Unique local businesses make a critical contribution to a diverse local character. “Having a strong base of locallyowned businesses is vital to having a robust local economy, which in turn supports local non-profits, schools, and other governmental services,” said Tami Flowers, administrator of

Unique local businesses, like those located in Highland Township’s Highland Station area along Milford Road just south of M-59, make a critical contribution to a diverse local character. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

the Highland-White Lake Business Association. “They are better for the environment, and help to give towns character with their unique offerings. When I ask people what they love about having grown up in our community, they always mention their favorite unique business that made our town different from everywhere else.” • Investment in the community. The owners of local businesses often live in the community where they do business. That helps maintain local assets, including the tax base, to foster a sustainable future for the community. Local businesses provide an anchor for neighborhoods and their infrastructure by paying local municipal, county, and state taxes. Those taxes help pay for local schools, public safety services, road maintenance, and other public services. “We must consider where our money is going and about how can it do the most good,” said Jon Gray, a member of the Wixom Downtown Development Authority (DDA) board. “We can spend it in our community

where it is, in part, convert that to our neighbors’ pay checks, then reinvest into supporting services and programs including police and fire, roads, snowplowing, the library and recreational programming. The other option is to spend our money outside our town and support similar services and programs for residents of other communities. The choice is clearly ours to make. “Our town is approximately 9.5 square miles in area, has a population of 13,498 and is home to over 700 businesses — businesses that employ our neighbors and pay taxes to help support services that primarily benefit the residential component of the community,” Gray said. “Buying local not only helps out our local businesses, but helps support our world class city services.” • Job creation. Local businesses provide jobs for people who live in the community — members of your family, your friends and neighbors. “Every time you go to the local store, restaurant or shop, one of your

neighbors is rewarded,” Gray said. “Well, not so much in the sense that we normally use the term, but that neighbor would derive a portion of their income from those purchases and be able to, in turn, purchase goods and services necessary for themselves and their family. Neighbor helping neighbor, you might say. That’s the case when you buy locally.” • Local economic development. Research indicates entrepreneurs and experienced workers are more likely to live and invest in communities that preserve the locally-owned businesses. “In towns where the community supports the local businesses, they are much more healthy and are better able to weather economic downturns,” Flowers said. • Catering to your needs. Local businesses will identify the community’s needs and meet them. Their product selection is based on what those in the community want to buy. In doing so, they are offering customers a more compelling selection of products and satisfying unique community needs. And customers can expect superior customer service when patronizing a local store owned by a member of the community. “A small store is much more responsive to their customers and the needs of the community,” Flowers said. “Yes, you might be able to save a few cents at a national chain, but if you have to make several trips there because the staff didn’t tell you everything you need to know about a product, then you’ve lost your savings — especially with the high gas prices we’re seeing these days. “If you’d had a bad experience at a local store, tell them,” she said. “I guarantee that the owners want you to have the best service possible. Many local businesses are owned by families like yours. They are working hard at making a living and they just want people to remember to give them a chance.” • Supporting local institutions. It’s common for local businesses to support non-profit organizations right in their community — from schools, to neighborhood youth sports teams, student music programs, food cupboards and more. They give back to the community that has supported them. PAGE 23 ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

PAGE 22

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PAGE 23

LOCAL MATTERS

The voices of local business Chambers of commerce key networking, promotion tools By Leslie Shepard staff writer

mall business is the backbone of our country and to support and advocate for commercial enterprise, the lakes area is fortunate to have a number of stand-out chambers of commerce with dedicated staff pounding the pavement and championing for business in the community. These chambers work to serve residents and businesses alike to enhance the quality of life in their respective jurisdictions. Chambers of commerce may work closely with local government, but are not branches of government. Rather, each acts as a voice on behalf of the business community, and provides a forum where ideas are exchanged and discussed. Moreover, each chamber provides a comprehensive business directory that is disseminated to municipal offices and libraries, and lodged within the chamber’s lobby. Other relevant information is targeted at visitors to the area as a marketing tool to promote businesses. The following is a snapshot of the chambers of commerce in the lakes area and how each one is fostering economic growth in their communities. Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce Since 1950, the Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce (LACC) has served its affiliates: the Commerce Township chamber, the Union Lake business district, the Walled Lake chamber, the Waterford Township chamber, the Wixom chamber, the White Lake Township chamber, and the Wolverine Lake chamber. This regional chamber has a membership that fluctuates between 400 and 450 businesses. Jo Alley, executive director of the

Buying local ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 21

• Helping yourself. The businesses in your community are crucial fibers in the fabric of your town’s economic base. Much of the money you spend in a neighborhood business is in turn spent at other local businesses, which

Businesses located in Wixom’s Village Center Area are represented by the Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

chamber for nearly eight years, said she has seen a shift from the momand-pop stores to the big-box conven-

ience stores in the area. “Small businesses can’t compete,” she said. “Our role is to get people to

initiates a domino effect that bolsters the whole community. “That was the impetus behind our Business Forum program,” said Wixom Assistant City Manager Tony Nowicki. “Through some discussions, we learned one local business was buying certain parts, tools, fasteners and other materials outside the city.

But we have companies in our city that provide those kinds of things.” The city’s Business Forum was started to put local businesses in touch with other local businesses to help foster the local economy and keep dollars in the city, according to Nowicki. He said the next phase of the effort is to launch the Wixom Business

think local again and to support our community.” As a result, a key LACC focus this year has been to encourage the lakes area to “Think Local First” and “Shop Local.” “It just makes good economic sense for the local economy,” Alley said. “Sometimes in an effort to find the best deal, we forget that dollars spent here stay here to help create jobs and investment in the lakes area.” Every year, the LACC holds several traditional events to benefit both the business and residential communities. In March, it puts on the popular State of the Lakes Address luncheon. “The main representative from each of communities attend and inform everyone (about) what’s going in their community, and plans for the future that might impact the business decision-making in our area,” Alley said. Keynote speakers have included Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson and U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Waterford, White Lake, Highland, Milford, Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Walled, Wixom). In June, the LACC hosts a community breakfast and awards ceremony to honor 100 outstanding people or organizations in the community. Also in June, the LACC coordinates a summer celebration as a communitywide event. Lastly, the chamber’s popular and family-oriented Expo and Taste Fest event is scheduled every November. For a small entry fee, the public can attend the event to learn more about business services and sample local restaurant food fare.

PAGE 25 ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

Connect website, which will help local businesses find other local businesses through intercommunication and local contacts. “We need to do that, because we’re all in this together,” Nowicki said. “If our neighbors survive, so do we. We’re only as strong as our weakest link. We must support these people.” ❏

PAGE 24

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PAGE 25

LOCAL MATTERS

Area chambers ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 23

On a daily basis, the LACC strives to market its business members and events, but getting the word out isn’t always that easy. “It’s difficult to market,” Alley said. “We don’t have a newspaper in the downtown area, so we do a lot of ads and try different tactics like fliers, banners — anything to market well.” One marketing tool is the membership directory that lists member businesses categorically and alphabetically. Currently, Alley is in the process of launching a new website to promote better communication. Alley’s primary role is to keep a pulse on what’s happening, both in the business and residential communities. “We want people to purchase items from our members. Knowing our business and providing referrals is important,” she said. For more information, visit lakesareachamber.com. Waterford Chamber of Commerce The Waterford Chamber of Commerce (WACC) was formed in 2001 at the behest of the Waterford Township Board of Trustees, which wanted its own chamber due to the large area of the community. Prior to forming as a chamber of commerce, it was a business association for three years. Under the direction of Executive Director Marie Hauswirth, the WACC has ballooned its membership to 530 businesses. “We are a township comprised of 36 square miles with 34 lakes and no downtown — just corridors,” Hauswirth said. “We wanted the chamber to be a community hub for business referrals, services and local information. We really have accomplished that. People call us for everything — we’re the ‘go-to’ organization.” The WACC seeks to preserve and promote the vitality and economic growth of the business community in Waterford and surrounding areas. Hauswirth said she has a litany of lofty goals that speaks to a recurring theme. “We want to be a strong advocate for business, but more importantly, we need to attract new, unique businesses and people to our corridors at large in Waterford and White Lake,” she said. Annual and special events are scheduled to familiarize the community with its businesses. “By branding the business name, and putting the logo out there, people

Businesses in the village of Milford benefit from membership in the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce. (Spinal Column Newsweekly photo/Amy K. Lockard)

can recognize the name,” she said. Apart from the annual community events, there are several annual WACC events intended to promote or educate local businesses. In January, the chamber’s annual meeting and awards dinner celebrates the year’s accomplishments and honors businesses with awards. Every March the WACC puts on a State of the Township Address event. In May, the business recognition breakfast honors businesses for longevity in the community. The chamber’s annual golf classic is held every August. This year, the event is set for Aug. 12. The chamber’s business expo event draws in 130 exhibitors on average. “It’s a one-stop shop under one roof that displays products and services,” Hauswirth explained. Historically held in October, the chamber’s business conference seeks to educate and help grow businesses by providing keynote speakers offering expertise in the field. This year’s Oct. 27 event features Patterson and Henry Ford Hospital CEO and President Gerard van Grinsven. Hauswirth has helmed the chamber for over 5 years. During her tenure, the greatest impact on fostering growth has come in the proliferation of technology. “The whole trend toward technology has been amazing,” she said. “While we still must be traditional in the print media, we are now using social media. It’s been an effective tool.” She noted entrepreneurship is on the rise. “There’s more risk-taking due to the impact of the Big 3 cutbacks, which is a positive,” she said.

Hauswirth sends out a monthly newsletter, 12,000 membership directories annually, keeps a website updated, and uses social media and enews blasts to communicate effectively throughout the community. “Our members embrace one another and network together — it’s our greatest strength,” she said. For more information, visit waterfordchamber.org. Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce In operation since 1962, the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce (HVCC) services Highland, Milford, Commerce and White Lake in an effort to promote businesses and the community at large. “We provide opportunities for businesses to network, participate and get exposure in the community to enhance it overall and help these businesses to prosper,” said Membership and Sponsorship Manager Jennifer Barrett. One of the chamber’s goals is to increase its membership of roughly 400 businesses. “We’d love see that go up 10 percent or more,” Barrett said. “We also want to provide even more benefits to our members.” As one example, the chamber has started a referral network group that meets every other week. “Each business in the group is category-specific,” Barrett said. “This way, they establish rapport, gain a greater understanding of each other’s business and refer business to one another.” The HVCC sponsors several unique events every year. The Holiday Gala includes a dinner/dance with a silent auction. In March, it hosts the Community

Showcase, a business expo. The annual egg hunt is held a week before Easter at Duck Lake Pines Park in Highland, drawing 500 to 700 kids and their families. Every summer, the highly-anticipated Milford Memories Summer Festival draws in scores of lakes area residents. This year it will be celebrating its 20th anniversary the weekend of Aug. 12-14. Each June, the HVCC hosts an annual golf outing. For the past three years, the chamber has proudly sponsored an Oktoberfest-like event called “Brewed in Michigan.” Held the first weekend in October at Baker’s of Milford, it highlights Michigan breweries and attracts between 600 and 700 people. To round out the year, the HVCC sponsors the Annual Christmas Parade in Milford during Thanksgiving weekend. In addition to annual events, the chamber has launched coffee clubs to integrate business members into the community. The HVCC schedules social mixers for breakfast, as well as after-hours mixers for an appetizer/cash bar affair at local restaurants. Another marketing and networking source for members includes a membership directory published on an annual basis. In recent months, the HVCC has formed a 20-member ambassador program to promote the chamber. The panel spearheaded the referral network group. “The ambassador group has been a critical support organization that’s helped grow our membership,” Barrett said. Looking forward, the HVCC is deliberating on forming a women’s focus business group. “We respond to what we hear from our membership and this is one initiative that’s been suggested,” Barrett said. For more information visit, huronvcc.com. Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce The Greater West Bloomfield Chamber of Commerce, founded in 1973, is the voice of business in communities including West Bloomfield, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake and Sylvan Lake. “The goal is to help each member’s business grow,” said Jules Haapala, chamber director since February 2011. “We work on a daily basis to bring business and the community together.”

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

LOCAL MATTERS

Local chambers ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 25

Spinal Column Newsweekly newsroom staff are now blogging throughout the week and are looking for your feedback.

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Currently the chamber has 172 members, a figure that continues to grow. “I’m working with a committee of the Board (of Directors) comprised of communication professionals to bring the way we communicate up to date,” Haapala said. “We are looking at everything from branding to the ways in which they communicate with membership to improving communications with the community at large to leverage our many assets. “In the short-term, we are evaluating ways to get our message out there. One of our ongoing goals is to make our website more user-friendly,” she said. The chamber is in the midst of moving toward an online directory to ensure all member information remains current, rather than solely relying on a printed version every other year. The chamber holds six annual events, starting with an annual meeting in January, and also an annual awards dinner that recognizes outstanding businesses and names a “Young Entrepreneur of the Year.” The Oakland County Chamber

Networking Event corrals about 200 business and professionals together to meet and develop business relationships. This year, the 7th annual Grub Crawl event will be held Sept. 15 from 5-10 p.m. Patrons pay one price for an evening of tasting 18 restaurant specialties and socializing, while showcasing restaurants along the Orchard Lake Road corridor. Tickets are $40 per person and are available at the chamber’s office or from the chamber booth at the Orchard Lake Fine Arts Fair. The 2011 Business Expo is scheduled this year for 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 20. The annual holiday party closes out the year in December with fun, food, friends and entertainment. A recent addition to the annual event rotating schedule is a new luncheon series headlined by Detroit Mayor Dave Bing. “More lunches with notable speakers are in the works,” Haapala said. Networking events are scheduled on a monthly basis. “Bringing business and community together is our greatest achievement,” she said. For more information, visit westbloomfieldchamber.com. ❏

Our Family – Serving Lakes Area Families for over 30 years Dr. Randy O’Dell, team leader, is a seasoned doctor with over thirty years of experience. He attended Oakland University for his pre-chiropractic studies, and received his bachelor’s and doctor of chiropractic degrees from Palmer College of Chiropractic. He has a deep and abiding interest in the care of his patients and their body’s natural healing capabilities, and is a sought-after speaker in the chiropractic profession. He is currently serving as president of Oakland County’s district of the Michigan Association of Chiropractors. Dr. Jessica Thompson (O’Dell), graduated from Life University where she was Valedictorian of the nutrition program and received her doctorate in Chiropractic. She prides herself in educating patients on a healthy lifestyle through getting adjusted, eating and sleeping well, exercising, and having a positive mental attitude. Some of her main areas of focus are pregnancy, family care, sports injury and nutrition. Dr. Matt Thompson, Matt’s goal is to provide family, friends and neighbors with natural solutions to their health goals. After studying biology at North Carolina State University, Matt earned his doctorate of chiropractic from the prestigious Life University College of Chiropractic. While in chiropractic school, he met and married Dr. Jess. Dr. Chris O’Dell first began working at O’Dell Chiropractic Center in 2005, after graduating from Life College of Chiropractic. His passion is to help people to see they are designed for health. Dr. Chris’ experience with exercise, specifically for structural correction, provides cutting edge protocols to our patients. He is committed to helping people maximize their health through reducing and eliminating toxins, maximizing nerve supply, nutrition, exercise and healthy relationships.

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LOCAL MATTERS business notes transitions changes ❐ After founding The Elegant Touch Nail Salon 25 years ago, owner Patti Rieger is handing the keys over to two long-time co-workers. Laurie Burger and Kyle Bowen, who together have nearly 30 years of experience, are keeping The Elegant Touch as is, building on its neighborly reputation while making a few changes that were showcased at an open house on Monday, July 18. The Elegant Touch has been established at its Commerce Township location for over 11 years after moving from the original West Bloomfield locale. Since its founding, the salon has become a staple in the community, focusing on a family friendly feel, as well as returning to a time Bowen describes as one of “when your manicurist was also your therapist.” Bowen and Burger will add a number of new services, in addition to their traditional nail services. These include facials, massages, pedicures, waxing and, particularly new, mobile sunless tanning. Another addition will be the introduction of GELeration, a gel manicure that lasts longer than a standard manicure. GELeration routinely lasts two to three weeks, is smudgefree, chip-resistant and won’t bubble. The Elegant Touch is also offering a healthy alternative to tanning, Sol Potion spray tan. Technicians will provide “house-call” spray tans so you no longer have to leave the comfort of your home for the beautiful glow. The Elegant Touch is now certified to sell equipment and train other salons interested in using Sol Potion. They are currently the only salon in Michigan offering this unique experience. Elegant Touch Nail Salon is located at 8133 Commerce Road and can be reached by calling 248-360-1155.

benefits ❐ Making Strides Against Breast Cancer (MSABC) is contacting local businesses to inquire if there may be any interest in participating in the first annual Oakland County Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event. This is a 5K Fun walk that will be held Oct. 1 at Independence Oaks County Park in Clarkston. The event is geared towards breast cancer awareness, honoring survivors and communicating resources available through the American Cancer Society. MSABC has been reaching out to businesses in Oakland County to inquire if there is any interest in participating by either forming a company team or letting your employees know about this event in case they have experienced the impact of

breast cancer in their lives and would like to participate. Also, since honoring survivors is one of the focuses of the event, if anyone in your organization knows of or is a survivor, MSABC would like to invite them to participate in the opening ceremonies honoring them. The kick-off party will be held 6:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 9, at the American Cancer Society, 20450 Civic Center Drive in Southfield. RSVP to Holly Soranno at 248-663-3452 or at Holly.Soranno@cancer.org. For more information, visit cancer.org/stridesonline.

chamber notes ❐ These businesses recently joined the Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce: • UBCR, LLC (Transportation); Jeffrey Schram; 4820 Holtz Drive, Wixom, Mich. 48393; jschram@ubcrllc.com; www.ubcrllc.com; phone, 248529-2600; fax, 248-529-2697. • Fitz Squared (Gift Boutique/ Collectibles/Invitations/Stationery); Jennifer Bush and Amy Jones; 345 N. Main Street, Milford, Mich. 48381; fitzsquared@gmail.com; www.fitzsquaredmi.com; phone, 248529-6525; fax, 248-529-6896. • Law Offices of Rich O’Brien, PLLC (Attorney); Rich O’Brien; 714 Mill Street, Milford, Mich. 48381; rich@milfordmilawyer.com; www.milfordmilawyer.com; phone, 248-330-6372; fax, 248-685-1439. • Beading Friendzy (Bead Store and Boutique); Stacey Lane; 431 N. Main Street, Milford, Mich. 48381; info@beadingfriendzy.com; www.beadingfriendzy.com; phone, 248-742-8440; fax, 248-896-9125. • Network One, Inc. (ComputerLearning/Sales/Service); Frank Nania; 624 N. Milford Road, Milford, Mich. 48381; fnania@net-workone.com; www.net-workone.com; phone, 248684-1119; fax, 248-684-1120. • Holy Cannoli! Gourmet Bakery, LLC (Bakery); Jim Wesley; 1095 S. Milford Road, Highland, Mich. 48357; hcannoli@comcast.net; phone, 248-529-3953 ❐ The Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce is holding a Milford Memories Volunteer Open House, noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at the chamber office, 317 Union Street in Milford. Come for light refreshments and get your “job assignment.” ❐ The Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting an Oakland Chamber Network Business Card Exchange 5:30-7:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, at Courtyard by Marriott, 315 W. 12 Mile Road in Farmington Hills. Registration is requested. Email Laura Bolyard at laura@huronvcc.com.

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

JULY 20-26, 2011

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PUBLIC SAFETY Detroit man, 36, drowns in Milford Township lake The body of a 36-year-old Detroit man was recovered from a private lake in Milford Township around 5:08 p.m. on Thursday, July 14. According to witnesses, Harry Lavon Lockhart was swimming at the Bluffs at Lakes of Milford subdivision beach with friends. However, after swimming from a dock, he soon disappeared under the surface and his friends couldn’t rescue him. The man’s body was later recovered by Oakland County Sheriff’s Department Marine Division divers. ❏

No one hurt in house fire; cause investigated West Bloomfield firefighters responded to a blaze at a residence on Marten Knoll just after 5 p.m. on Wednesday, July 13. Neighbors called 911 after they saw smoke coming from the home. Once firefighters arrived, they found no one in the house and were able to extinguish the fire after confining it to the home’s master bedroom. No injuries were reported, but the fire caused an estimated $25,000 in damage to the residence. The cause of the fire is still being investigated. ❏

Alleged assault caused by cartoon watching By Michael Shelton staff writer

West Bloomfield Township police officers arrested a 31-year-old township man last week after he allegedly assaulted his girlfriend. The incident took place at an apartment complex on Woodrow Wilson Boulevard just after 10 p.m. on Monday, July 11, when police responded to a 911 call from a distressed woman telling someone, “Get away from me!” When police arrived, they talked to the victim, who said that her boyfriend grabbed her by the neck, choked her, and threw her to the ground. She added that he also threw her cell phone to the ground and said that he was going to kill her. The assault allegedly stemmed from the victim watching a cartoon on a computer and the suspect becoming impatient with her to finish watching. Police found the suspect in the nearby Sylvan Lanes parking lot. He reportedly told police that he and the victim got into an argument and that she

Held at gunpoint Robbers sought in pizzeria hold-up By Kirk Pinho assistant editor

wo young men are at large following a Wednesday, July 13 armed robbery of two Commerce Township pizzeria employees, and the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department is looking for the public’s help in apprehending the men. Shortly after midnight on July 13, Sheriff’s Department Commerce Township Substation deputies were dispatched to the Dolly’s Pizza located at 8197 Cooley Lake Road, near its intersection with Union Lake Road. Law enforcement officials were told that the two employees were in the process of closing the store for the night; one female employee was outside waiting for the manager to exit the store. When the manager exited the store, the two suspects — one of whom was brandishing a gray semi-automatic handgun — approached the employees after hiding behind a brick wall and ordered the manager to open the store to get access to the safe and cash register, accordSuspect ing to the Sheriff’s Department. The first suspect — described as a white male between 18 and 25-years-old and standing 5-feet-11-inches with a medium build and “very noticeable blue eyes” — ordered the pair to the rear of the business to open the door. The second suspect acted as a lookout, according to the Sheriff’s Department. Officials report the manager told the first suspect that if the door was opened, the building alarm would go off. The first suspect — who was wearing a red hoodie and gray sweatpants at the time of the incident and whose composite sketch was developed with the help of one of the employees — then took the cash the employees were carrying, and both suspects were then last seen running east from the scene, according to the Sheriff’s Department. The second suspect is described as a black male between 18 and 25-yearsold, about 6-feet-tall with a thin build and wearing a dark-colored hoodie and baggy jeans. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-SPEAK-UP. ❏ threatened to call police and say he was trying to kill her, and that she smashed her own phone to the ground. After transporting the man back to the apartment complex and speaking with the victim, the suspect was arrested and issued a citation for domestic assault and battery. ❏

hood of the car. There are no suspects in the case at this time, according to police. ❏

Storms damage OCSD patrol car; cause fire The cluster of storms that blew into

the lakes area on Monday, July 18, left a trail of problems in their wake. In Commerce Township, an Oakland County Sheriff’s Department deputy found her vehicle damaged after a tree had fallen on an occupied vehicle near 105 Robin Street. She proceeded to stop traffic to allow clearance for the responding ambulance when a southbound Jeep Cherokee lost control, sliding across the wet pavement and striking another vehicle traveling southbound. Due to the collision, the latter vehicle slid into the deputy’s patrol car, causing damage to the rear quarter-panel. There were no reported injuries in the crash. In Milford Township, firefighters were dispatched to a house fire in the 2200 block of Twilight Trace at 8:28 p.m. Fire officials attribute the fire to a lightning strike during the storm. When firefighters arrived on the scene 70 percent of the house was engulfed in flames. No one was inside the home when the fire ignited. Personnel and tankers from Highland, Lyon and Green Oak townships, as well as Brighton came to the aid of Milford and Commerce firefighters already at the scene. The scorching heat and stifling humidity hampered fire-fighting efforts resulting in four firefighters being sent to area hospitals for heat exhaustion. Three Milford firefighters were conveyed to Huron Valley-Sinai while one Lyon Township firefighter was transported to Providence Park Novi. All four were treated and released. The Oakland County Sheriff’s Department fire investigation team was called in to assist with determining the fire’s origin and cause. The investigation was still open Tuesday, July 19 at press time. ❏

WEST OAKLAND’S

Tires flatted, car keyed in Orchard Lake MDOP Orchard Lake police are investigating a malicious destruction of property incident that occurred on Tuesday, July 12 in the 5000 block of Pontiac Trail. The complainant stated that she was attending a graduation party at a home while the crime was being committed. Once she left the party, she saw her vehicle had sustained two flat tires and severe keying to all four doors and the

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TRANSPORTATION

Officials: Turn lane project will make intersection safer By Leslie Shepard staff writer

Thanks to Tri-party Program funding, Waterford Township can widen south Crescent Lake Road just north of its intersection with M-59 and install a right-turn lane to mitigate traffic congestion. The Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) has awarded a contract for the project to Cadillac Asphalt. A preconstruction meeting was slated for yesterday, Tuesday, July 19, but information on that meeting was not available prior to press time. “As of right now, the project is anticipated to begin in late July or early August,” said RCOC Spokesperson Craig Bryson. The decision to make the Crescent Lake Road project a priority is based on several traffic studies that indicate the severity of traffic back-up could be reduced by installing a right-turn lane along southbound Crescent Lake Road at M-59. “I consider this project an important addition to Crescent Lake Road,” said Waterford Township Supervisor Carl Solden. “It’s a twolane highway that backs up considerably and this turn lane will eliminate some of the congestion and allow emergency vehicles to get through easier.” Total project costs are pegged at $153,000 and will be split between Waterford Township, the RCOC, and the county government. In effect since 1989, the Tri-party Program allows local communities to decide the nature of annual projects to be funded equally by the RCOC, a participating municipality and the county. Such projects usually involve small-scale work, such as widening intersections, adding turn lanes, and widening roads. By installing the right-turn lane, it’s expected to become a safer intersection for motorists and emergency vehicles by decreasing the length and time that fire and police vehicles are forced to travel southbound against traffic. ❏

M-5/PONTIAC TRAIL/MARTIN PARKWAY ROUNDABOUT (Commerce Township) • Closure: Pontiac Trail between M-5 and Welch Road. • Detour: Welch Road to Maple Road to Haggerty Road and back to Pontiac Trail, and vice versa. • Notes: Pontiac Trail east of M-5 will remain open, and traffic will be permitted to travel from northbound M-5 to eastbound Pontiac Trail and from westbound Pontiac Trail to southbound M-5, but traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction. • Completion date: Approximately Nov. 1. • Cost: $5 million. PONTIAC TRAIL/MAPLE INTERSECTION MAINTENANCE (Walled Lake) • Completion date: Sometime before the end of August. Work is taking place as crews are available on weekdays between approximately 9 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. One lane in each direction on Pontiac Trail and Maple east of Pontiac Trail will remain open. BRIDGE RECONSTRUCTION/I-96 BETWEEN MILFORD AND KENT LAKE ROADS (Milford Area) • Start date: July 9. • Completion Date: Winter 2011. • Cost: $15.5 million. • Closure: Single lane closure on I-96 in each direction between Milford and Kent Lake roads on weekends and weekdays during non-peak hours. • Notes: The first bridge reconstruction project to be undertaken will be the bridge over the Huron Valley Trail east of Milford Road. CSX RAILROAD CROSSING/BECK ROAD BETWEEN PONTIAC TRAIL AND WEST ROAD (Wixom) • Closure: Beck Road will be completely closed at the railroad tracks. Signage for alternate routes will be posted. • Completion date: Friday, July 29.

SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

JULY 20-26, 2011

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PAGE 31

ENVIRONMENT

Minimum hunting age nixed in bills OK’d by chambers By Angela Niemi staff writer

Soon, 4-year-olds could be hunting with firearms in the state of Michigan. At the end of June, both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate voted in favor of bills that would eliminate the minimum age limit of 10-years-old to receive a hunting license. The legislation also eliminates the age minimum of 12-years-old if the license is for hunting deer, bear, or elk with a firearm. House Bill (HB) 4371 and Senate Bill 207 allow a hunting license to be issued to a child under 10-yearsold as part of a Mentored Youth Hunting Program to be established by the Natural Resources Commission (NRC), which is required by the bills to be established within one year after the bills’ effective date of Sept. 1. However, before tots start scurrying the woods with their firearms for game, a few provisions must be met. Each child must have a mentor who is at least 21-years-old and who possesses a valid license to hunt, other than an apprentice license, before engaging in the program. Furthermore, an individual cannot be a mentor without presenting proof of previous hunting experience in the form of a previous hunting license or a certification of completion of training in hunter safety issued by Michigan, another state, Canadian province, or another country. While a minor under 10 could obtain a mentored hunting license, he or she could not hunt game under that license unless he or she complies with all the requirements established by the NRC. The bills also stipulate that after four years after the bills are enacted and for every four years after that, the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) would be required to submit a report to the standing committees of the Senate and House with primary responsibility for conservation and outdoor recreation to determine if the fee revenue from the program is enough to keep the program going.

lake levels LAKE LEVELS Following are the lake level readings for lakes and rivers across the western Oakland lakes area, as compiled by Oakland County Water Resources Commissioner John P. McCulloch’s office. Legal levels are denoted by elevation in feet from sea level; current levels are denoted as plus or minus the legal in hundredths of feet. River depths are measures from the river bottom, at point of measurement. WATERWAYS Cass Cedar Island Commerce Dawson Mill Pond Duck Fox Huron River Long Loon* Maceday-Lotus Middle & Lower Straits Mohawk Oakland-Woodhull Orchard Oxbow Pontiac Shawood-Walled Lake Schoolhouse Scott Sylvan-Otter Union Upper Straits Watkins White Williams

LEGAL LEVEL 929.22 934.00 906.80 928.60 1016.63 930.00 1.08 933.00 949.30 966.70 930.70 949.30 957.50 930.50 942.75 962.83 932.80 949.30 951.00 928.60 927.07 930.80 950.00 1019.10 965.42

7/1/11 +.26 +.39 +.54 +.08 +.13 +.20 +.32 +.20 +.30 +.05 Legal +.58 +.20 +.30 +.13 +.68 +.40 +.58 –1.24 +.30 +.24 +.30 –.09 +.21 +.19

7/8/11 +.13 +.40 +.50 +.23 +.05 +.10 +.10 +.10 +.14 +.08 –.09 +.28 +.19 +.20 +.13 +.60 +.32 +.22 –1.39 +.31 +.03 +.20 –.10 +.10 +.20

7/15/11 +.12 +.40 +.42 +.21 +.02 +.10 +.06 –.06 +.16 +.09 –.13 +.23 +.18 +.15 +.09 +.46 +.15 +.20 –1.50 +.31 +.20 +.10 –.21 –.01 +.21

*Reading for Loon Lake, in Waterford Township, also applies to Mohawk–Wormer Schoolhouse, Silver and Upper Silver Lakes.

The mentored hunting license would cost $7.50 and would include a resident small game license, combination deer license, all-species fishing license, spring and fall turkey hunting licenses, and resident for fur harvester license. State Reps. Chuck Moss (ROrchard Lake), Hugh Crawford (RWalled Lake, Wixom), and Lisa Brown (D-West Bloomfield, Commerce, Wolverine Lake) all sponsored HB 4371. “It encourages hunting among children under parental supervision. Hopefully, it gets people hunting. Believe it or not, hunting is one of the big industries of the state,” Moss said. The bills were also supported by the DNR, Ducks Unlimited, the Michigan Bear Hunters Association, Michigan Conservation Foundation, Michigan Duck Hunters Association, Michigan Hunting Dog Federation, Michigan Farm Bureau, and Michigan United Conservation Clubs, among others. The two pieces of legislation were presented to Gov. Rick Snyder on Wednesday, July 6. ❏

New fall deadline set for feral swine legislative action By Angela Niemi staff writer

Sporting swine — at least for now — have been spared from becoming a member of Michigan’s list of invasive species, which would make it illegal for anyone to possess or transport these animals. Back in December, when former state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Rebecca Humphries signed an order making feral swine an invasive species in Michigan, the DNR received a request from incoming legislative leaders to have more time to give the state Legislature the opportunity to regulate sporting swine hunting and breeding facilities. In order to accommodate this request, the order was set to take effect Friday, July 8. However, that date has come and gone, and while the state House of Representatives passed legislation

earlier this month that would impose tighter regulations on swine breeding and hunting facilities, the state Senate has not yet taken action on the bills. Yet, the conservation order didn’t take effect due to a request from Gov. Rick Snyder to extend the conservation order’s deadline in order to give the Senate time to act on the bills. Therefore, DNR Director Rodney Stokes has drafted a new order giving the Legislature until Oct. 8 before sporting swine is listed as an invasive species in the state of Michigan. The DNR has been working to add sporting swine to the invasive species list because feral swine pose a serious threat to the state in numerous ways. Statistical analysis of the DNR’s own evaluations of sightings or killings of invasive feral swine indicate that there’s a significant correlation to known swine shooting/hunting operations, suggesting the shooting facilities are the source of free-ranging feral swine in the state instead of swine that have escaped from domestic livestock facilities. Feral swine can pose problems ecologically, agriculturally, and medically. They are “particularly disruptive” to native wildlife because they compete for important food such as acorns and berries. They also impact deer and ground-nesting game birds like pheasant and wild turkey. Agricultural damage in the U.S. by feral swine through direct consumption, rooting, and trampling of crops and the environment is estimated at $1.5 billion annually. The invasive swine are also noted carriers of a number of diseases to which humans are susceptible, such as brucellosis, leptospirosis, salmonnellosis, toxoplasmosis, and E. coli illnesses, in addition to several significant livestock diseases. Although the state Legislature now has a chance to get all their ducks in a row, the DNR will still work on implementing the invasive species order with facility notification and visits starting before the end of the month. If state lawmakers still fail to pass legislation by Oct. 8, according to Stokes, active enforcement of the invasive species order would start April 1, 2012. ❏

PAGE 32

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PAGE 33

UPDATE

New Haines recall language filed following denial By Kirk Pinho assistant editor

Yet again, Neil Billington’s attempt to have recall petition language against a sitting state lawmaker has fallen short. But, true to his word, he filed new verbiage against state Rep. Gail Haines (R-Waterford, West Bloomfield) almost immediately after the Oakland County Election Commission’s unanimous rejection of previous language on Thursday, July 14. Citing “insufficient clarity,” the three-member county panel voted 3-0 last week to shoot down the following language that Billington, who challenged Haines in the 2010 Republican primary, had hoped to circulate for the requisite 8,613 registered voter signatures — 25 percent of the total ballots cast for governor in the 43rd state House District in the last election: “State Representative Gail Haines of District 43 supports legislation and has voted in favor of Emergency Financial Managers. By doing so, she approves the appointment of Emergency Financial Managers’ ability to take authority and funds away from local government and school districts and vest them with the state. Also, these Emergency Financial Managers have been given excessive power to invalidate legal and Haines binding contracts entered into by properly elected local authorities and, can cancel or amend existing school employees’ union collective bargaining agreements and contracts. This delegation of legislative authority is invasive and unconstitutional to those of whom it effects.” Billington’s new recall petition language is stripped bare, reading as follows: “State Representative Gail Haines on February 23, 2011, voted YES on Michigan House Bill 4214 now Public Act 4 of 2011.” PA 4 of 2011 is the Local Government and School District Fiscal Accountability Act, known largely for giving state-appointed emergency financial managers greater authority in dealing with financial crises in municipal governments and school districts.”

‘I am running’ McCulloch enters 2012 Senate race By Kirk Pinho assistant editor

ohn P. McCulloch has become the third official representing the lakes area who is seeking a higher office at the federal level, now that he has officially announced that he will seek the Republican nomination to challenge two-term U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat. McCulloch, a Royal Oak Republican who was first elected as the county’s Water Resource Commissioner in 2000, is a previous chairman of the Oakland County Board of Commissioners. He joins state Sen. Mike Kowall (R-Commerce, McCulloch Highland, Milford, Walled Lake, Wixom, Wolverine Lake, White Lake, Orchard Lake, West Bloomfield), who is running for Congress, and U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Waterford, White Lake, Highland, Milford, Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Walled, Wixom), who is running for president, in a quest for higher office at the federal level. “I am running for the United States Senate because I can no longer stand by while President Obama and his Democratic cronies in the Congress continue to mortgage America’s future on the backs of our children and their children’s children with a national debt so large it is difficult to comprehend,” McCulloch stated in a press release announcing his U.S. Senate candidacy. “The time for talk is long past due. It’s time for action, which is why I’m in this race. This great country of ours desperately needs a change of direction, one that will lead to prosperity and economic stability, rather than financial ruin.” “John McCulloch is a strong leader who is fiscally conservative “This is what got (state Rep. Marty) Knollenberg and (state Sen. Jim) Marleau, and this will definitely get her,” Billington said. A clarity hearing on Billington’s latest proposed recall petition language in front of the Election Commission is set for Thursday, Aug. 4 at 1:30 p.m.,

and believes in the Republican doctrine of smaller government which is closest to the people it is intended to serve,” Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson stated in the same news release. “John is a skilled problem-solver who boasts an enviable track record of getting things done. If elected, John will serve the best interests of the citizens of Michigan with integrity, skill and unbridled determination and enthusiasm. Michigan needs John McCulloch in the United States Senate. He’s the right man at the time in our state’s history, which is why I am supporting his candidacy.” Michigan Democrats were quick to pounce on McCulloch’s candidacy, noting that several top-tier candidates — former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, former Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land, McCotter, and former Gov. John Engler among them — have decided not to challenge Stabenow, whose latest filing with the Federal Elections Commission as of March 31 reported that she had $3 million on hand for a re-election campaign, although the Michigan Democratic Party is reporting that she has over $4 million on hand for 2012. “It’s really not surprising that top candidates do not want to challenge Debbie Stabenow,” Michigan Democratic Party Chairman Mark Brewer stated in a press release issued the same day McCulloch announced his campaign. “Debbie Stabenow is getting results on issues important to Michigan families like job creation, fighting unfair trade and protecting the Great Lakes. She is in a very strong position so it’s not hard to see why Republicans are having trouble finding a top candidate willing to run against her.” U.S. Senators earn $174,000 annually and serve six-year terms. The county’s water resources commissioner serves four-year terms and earns $138,999 a year. ❏ according to staff in the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Elections Division. Haines could not be reached for comment prior to press time, but she has defended her service in the past. “I’ve said before, I support democracy and the rights we share as

American citizens,” Haines said in an interview last month. “I work tirelessly for the people of my district and do my best to represent them in Lansing. I continue to have overwhelming support in my district.” ❏

Knollenberg seeks county treasurer’s post in 2012 race By Kirk Pinho assistant editor

Term-limited state Rep. Marty Knollenberg is running for the county treasurer’s post, effectively ending a nascent Congressional campaign. Knollenberg, a Republican who represents Troy and Clawson in Knollenberg the state House, was elected in 2006. Knollenberg has launched a website for a congressional campaign, martyknollenberg.com, but those plans are off the table given the redistricting effort that lumped him into the 11th Congressional District that’s currently held by U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-Waterford, White Lake, Highland, Milford, Commerce, Wolverine Lake, Walled, Wixom). “Kind of what I had said all along is that, to me, it doesn’t make a lot of sense to run against a Republican incumbent,” Knollenberg said. “This creates an opportunity. Knollenberg characterized himself as primarily a small business owner — he runs an insurance agency and a laundromat — while calling Meisner “essentially a lifelong politician.” “I’m busy working to protect Oakland County property values, prevent the harm of foreclosures, to help the county taxpayer recover our lost value with the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Meisner lawsuits. I’m focused on the job at hand,” Meisner said, adding that he intends to seek a second term as the county’s treasurer. “Keeping track of which office Rep. Knollenberg is running for — which is no easy task — is a little bit beyond my area of interest.” The county’s treasurer serves a four-year term and is currently paid $127,154 annually. ❏

PAGE 34

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

IN OUR OPINION

Limiting DNR land acquisition Bill seeking 4.65 million acre cap is reasonable, flexible O

ver the years we’ve heard the call over and over again from various voices, most notably from those within the Republican Party: The state, particularly the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), owns enough land already and shouldn’t be spending any more money to buy additional parcels. We admit we’ve never been too keen on that idea. However, as outlined in a bill that’s already cleared the state Senate and is now before the Michigan House of Representatives, we can get behind the notion of a cap on the amount of state land owned and managed by the DNR — especially because the cap isn’t a hardand-fast limit on acreage, but more akin to a tool that would merely restrict the acquisition of more land for the department. The DNR may soon no longer be able to buy all the land it wants, as last month the state Senate voted 24-14 to approve a bill placing a cap on the number of acres the DNR can own. The DNR currently owns 4.47 million acres of land, according to its website, which state Sen. Mike Kowall (R-Commerce, Milford, Highland, White Lake, West Bloomfield, Orchard Lake, Wixom, Walled Lake and Wolverine Lake) says is more than “any other state in the region.” Senate Bill (SB) 248 proposes to do the following: • Prohibit the DNR from acquiring surface rights if it owned, or as a result of an acquisition would own, the surface rights to more than 4.65 million acres of land; • Require the DNR to post and maintain on its website the number of acres of land on which the DNR owns surface rights, in total and by program; • Require the DNR to offer for sale at a public auction tax-reverted land that had not sold after nine months and sell the property to the qualified bidder

making the highest bid that represented a reasonable price for the property as determined by the DNR, notwithstanding its fair market value; • Delete an existing provision prohibiting the acceptance of a bid for surplus land for less than its fair market value; and • Require the DNR to estimate payments in lieu of taxes (PILT) on the land and the change in property tax revenue to local governments before acquiring surface rights. Land on which the DNR has a conservation easement and is land-platted under the Land Division Act before the bill’s effective date, if acquired by the DNR before that date, would be excluded from counting towards the acreage restriction. The bill would also exclude the following from the number of acres the DNR may own if acquired on or after the date the bill’s provisions take effect: • Land with an area of not more than 80 acres, or a right-of-way for gaining access to other land owned by the DNR; • Land that was commercial forest land on the bill’s effective date; • Land acquired by the DNR through gift or litigation; or • A trail. The bill has been referred to the House of Representatives’ Natural Resources, Tourism, and Outdoor Recreation Committee for consideration. While preserving forest land and open space is a “great thing to do,” according to Kowall, there also needs to be some limits on that power, especially when considering the revenue loss suffered by public schools and local governments when the state-owned land is taken off the property tax rolls, as well as the management difficulties the DNR has been experienc-

ing with budget and personnel cutbacks. Kowall makes some salient points, the kind that make us now back the idea of some kind of restriction on the accumulation of more land for the DNR. Each time the department — or any state, county, or local government agency — acquires a piece of land, it comes off the local property tax roll. That means the local government, county, county parks, HuronClinton Metropolitan Authority (HCMA), Oakland Community College (OCC) and other taxing authorities lose out on another chunk of revenue. Yes, there’s the distribution of PILT by the state on DNR-owned lands, but those distributions — originally intended to take the place of tax revenue, since government-owned land is tax-exempt — have taken hits over the years as the state has wrangled with sizable annual budget deficits. In addition, it’s true that those annual budget deficits have had an impact on DNR resources, including personnel, which have been whittled back. Between shrinking the DNR’s labor force and cutting its state funding, the department has less resources to manage all those millions of acres. That makes buying more land questionable. SB 248 is a pretty reasonable proposal, in that it wouldn’t shut the door entirely on the acquisition of more DNR property. With the DNR already owning 4.47 million acres, there’s still some room for growth under the proposed 4.65 million acre cap. The department also wouldn’t be kept from buying parcels 80 acres or less, even after reaching the 4.65 million acre mark. Lastly, the DNR could always go back to the Legislature to revise the acreage cap figure if a large, truly unique piece of land becomes available and is just too compelling to resist. ❏

Keeping U.S. history in focus I

t seems we were in agreement with all but one member of the state House of Representatives when the lower chamber voted 106-1 to pass legislation that would designate Sept. 11 to Sept. 17 — Constitution Day — of every year as Patriot Week in the state of Michigan. And now that the state House has done its work on House Bill (HB) 4464, we urge the state Senate to put the measure sponsored by state Rep. Gail Haines (R-Waterford, West Bloomfield) on its radar soon and give the bill swift passage. The history behind Patriot Week — which would be a state-designated celebration of America, its founding fathers, and its key documents if the legislation receives the thumbs-up from the Senate — is something all-too-American. Leah, the then 10-year-old daughter of Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Michael Warren became upset when, in a conversation with her father, she discovered “the ruining of our civic calendars, how they

have been stripped of their meaning,” Judge Warren said last month. It was there in that quintessentially American way — noticing a problem, perhaps in a conversation at the kitchen table, and striving to fix it yourself — that the idea was born. We can’t say we are inclined to disagree with Warren’s sentiment. Memorial Day and Fourth of July are terrific holidays, of course, forged in the American ethos, but sometimes their meaning becomes muddied amid day-off hoopla. As does the meaning of, for example, Constitution Day. Or other holidays commemorating who we are as a nation and the birthing pains we had to go through as a people to be where we are today. Since the judge and his daughter had that conversation two years ago, Patriot Week — more information on which can be found at www.patriotweek.org — has been commemorated at the state level each of

the past two years with bipartisan approval of a resolution in 2009 by the state Senate, and approval in both chambers of the state Legislature last year. And we are pleased to see the state House take the lead on the Haines legislation, which every member of the lakes area delegation — Haines, and state Reps. Chuck Moss (R-Orchard Lake), Eileen Kowall (RHighland, White Lake), Bill Rogers (R-Milford), Hugh Crawford (R-Walled Lake, Wixom), and Lisa Brown (DWest Bloomfield, Commerce, Wolverine Lake) — supported with a “yes” vote. Haines and everyone else supporting the measure deserve kudos for their work on the commemorative event. So now it’s the state Senate’s turn to take up the mantle. And if the overwhelming bipartisan backing of the measure in the state House is any indication, we hope and expect to see the same level of across-theboard support in the upper chamber. ❏

JULY 20-26, 2011

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MAIL BAG

A ‘huge step’ back From Alonzo Howard, Walled Lake: Florida took a huge step backwards in justice for infant murder victims today with the acquittal of Casey Anthony in the death of her daughter Caylee. I think it would be wrong for the world to attempt to lambast the jury for their decision, because I truly think they gave the verdict they deemed necessary for the evidence they were presented. What concerns me is what their feelings will be once they see how Casey reacted to the photo evidence when they weren’t in the room. There is no doubt, given the reactions of this mother, pre- and postverdict, she had a hand in what happened to her daughter. She strikes me as a psychopath, so I think it will not affect her in the least that Caylee is no longer here. But I fear that once these jurors see how she faked reactions in their presence, we may see a few of them become unable to accept the liberation they have given Casey Anthony. Rest in peace Caylee. It’s a shame it had to end this way. ❏

DOC budget reform From Dwight Henley, White Lake Township: Ithaca Superintendent Nathan Bootz and Clarkston Community Schools Superintendent Rod Rock have recently voiced their opinions over harsh educational cuts. Bootz even proposed that his district be turned into a prison. Bootz’s reasoning was that prisons receive $30,000 per prisoner each year, while schools receive only $7,000 per pupil. Rock suggests educational reforms for limiting the impact of educational cuts. Both Bootz and Rock have the solutions to educational cuts in their

Skin in the game? Recall Snyder; hit ‘reset’ on tax reform By Michael McPhee White Lake Township resident

According to the Federation of Tax Administrators, 45 states have a business tax. Of them, Michigan has the third-lowest rate after being cut by our GOP administration. To replace revenue lost in the cut, Republicans pushed through a new tax on pensions by staging a divisive public debate that pitted pensioners against 401K participants and others having neither resource. Sponsors of the new tax said: “Everyone had to share the sacrifice and put some skin in the game.” But after all was said and done, it wasn’t just some retirees who got pinched for more money. Pension or no pension, our middle and lower income families all got skinned in the process. In fact, households earning $15,000 to $54,000 pay almost 10 percent of their income to the state in various taxes, according to data from the Institute of Taxation and Economic Policy. Yet, the top 1 percent of households in the state earn $1.1 million on average and only 5 percent of that goes to the state. That equals $50,000 in tax breaks for them from the disparity built into the tax codes. Most of the inequity can be attributed to our flat-rate income tax system which is rarely used elsewhere. Nearly all other states use a “graduated rate,” as does the IRS. hands but fail to recognize them: Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) inefficiencies.

The curious presence of this large loophole after our tax codes were scoured for additional revenue reveals the hidden hand of the wealthy GOP contributors at work. They’re the very same entrepreneurs and executives who pushed for a business tax reduction to launch the reform. As a result, they now get one big tax break on top of another, even though school funding and other vital services are being scaled back. “To whom much is given, much is expected” is a noble tenet that guides many privileged people toward service in the common interest. But here, the term seems largely relegated to political contributions. Perhaps our state motto should read: “Quid pro quo” or “This for that” to reflect the attitude in Lansing these days. As we’ve seen, they’ll even spin a yarn to make a deal. The tax reform was never about the recovery of our great state because the GOP has no intention of ever restoring services and funding to previous levels. And it surely wasn’t about fairness either when tax breaks for the upper crust doubled. The tax reform was simply a “return on investment” for wealthy contributors who funded (Gov. Rick) Snyder’s campaign. It’s time to set this right; it’s time to recall Snyder and Co. from office, and then hit the reset button on tax reform again. ❏ The MDOC’s yearly budget is approximately $2 billion, taking about 23 percent of our state’s general

AROUND THE LAKES AREA

fund. Policy makers, MDOC officials, and Gov. (Rick) Snyder justify the ridiculous MDOC budget on a need to maintain public safety. Who would argue with maintaining public safety? But what these officials are doing is framing the issue in a manner that distracts citizens from our real problem and the obvious solutions. The problem is not about adjusting the prison population level, but the unnecessary cost to maintain the current incarceration level. Bootz was right in pointing out the ridiculous cost of $30,000 per year per prisoner, but he is ill-founded on the true cost basis (prisoner computers, Internet access, exercise equipment, food, etc.) for the $30,000. Contrary to Bootz’s belief, Michigan law specifically prohibits prisoner’s Internet access except for educational programming. Prisoner exercise equipment is purchased through prisoner funds that are generated from prisoner store profits. The cost spent on meals is now only $1.97 a day for each prisoner and staff wages constitute a large portion of the $1.97. Though prisoner computers are purchased by the state, these computers offer programming that brings a $2 savings for every $1 invested — based on the drastic reduction of recidivism associated with these programs. The problem is not prisoner expenditures; it is staff expenditures and MDOC inefficiencies. Over the past couple of years, the MDOC has reduced the prisoner population from 53,000 to 44,000, or approximately 17 percent. During the same time, the MDOC budget was reduced only 10 percent, from $2.2 billion to approximately $2 billion. Were this same correlation to continue, the MDOC could release every prisoner and still have $1 billion budget! So what are the problems? PAGE 36 ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

A special feature of the Spinal Column Newsweekly

WE’RE ASKING… Should the U.S. raise its debt ceiling? "No. They need to pay back the money they borrowed first. There are too many free passes."

"No. What they should do instead is cut out foreign aid for two years."

— Ken Walden, Waterford

— Con Shaw White Lake

"No. It is not fair to our kids and grandkids. We are putting a burden on them."

— Carolyn Thibidba, Commerce

"Kicking the can down the road — that's what we've been doing as a government. We have to cut spending." — Tom Tucker Union Lake

PAGE 36

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

MAIL BAG ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 35

Can anything be done to cut the ridiculous MDOC budget while maintaining public safety? Numerous means exist for reducing the MDOC budget while maintaining current prisoner population levels and public safety standards. First, our state officials are using the MDOC as a government subsidy, refusing to close the most expensive prisons when they are the only prison in the community. By closing Ojibway, Newberry, Alger, and Barraga prisons and reopening more centrally located prisons such as Muskegon, Ionia Temporary, Standish, etc. the state would save millions in transportation costs. Second, the MDOC does at least 20,000 prisoner transfers per year. Some statistics show that each transfer cost approximately $500 per prisoner. Despite this cost, many transfers are performed out of staff convenience, not necessity. Even at a cost of $300 per prisoner transfer, reducing transfers by 20 percent saves $600,000 per year. Third, the average hourly salary of transportation officers is around $25.

Privatizing our entire prisoner transportation system would save millions, especially with a more centralized MDOC. Fourth, the number of MDOC administrative staff is excessively high, creating unnecessary layers in its bureaucracy. Removing unnecessary administrative layers such as regional prison administrators and unnecessary regulatory practices would save millions. Fifth, the MDOC could completely privatize the prisoner store and eliminate numerous high-paying MDOC positions. Prisoners currently order food every three months from Access; orders could be placed monthly and all MDOC store staff

could be eliminated. Sixth, MDOC could turn back its prisoner clothing practices, again allowing prisoner’s families to order clothes (for) their incarcerated loved ones. This could save $1 million or more each year. Seventh, the MDOC could designate 4-5 prisons as the only GED facilities, thereby increasing prison classroom sizes and reducing staff. Some MDOC facilities have GED classes with only 6-12 prisoners in each class period. Yet K-12 schools are now looking at 40-60 students per class. Finally, the MDOC could capitalize on its intrainstitutional television programming station and offer college courses and Advanced Placement (AP) testing.

Mail Bag provides a forum to express your thoughts. Please limit to 275 words or less. Please type and double space. We reserve the right to edit or not publish any letter. Deadline - Friday at 12 noon. Include name, address and phone number for verification, only your name and community will be published. Letters without names will not be considered. Mail to Spinal Column Newsweekly, P.O. Box 14, Union Lake, MI 48387 or fax 24/7 to Editor 248-360-1220.

These college courses are free (donated) and AP testing is free for prisoners. This would allow prisoners to earn college credits at absolutely no cost. The effect of such education is prisoners progressing from 40-60 percent recidivism categories into the 5-20 percent categories. So long as prisoner participation is properly incentivized, the increased number of educated prisoners could save tens of millions over a 5-8 year period. Making the above changes within the MDOC would reduce the MDOC budget by at least $75 million per year within 5 years. These savings can plug the holes in our state’s budget and enhance our children’s quality of education. But unless our citizens start demanding that our governor and state officials implement the mentioned changes for a more efficient MDOC, wasteful MDOC practice will perpetuate and our children’s education will continue too suffer. Let’s solve the budget shortfalls in education by demanding a more efficient MDOC. ❏

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JULY 20-26, 2011

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PAGE 37

COMMUNITY CALENDAR ■ Commerce Township: Concert in the Park, local soloist Hillary Clark with Connor Rendi; Groove Therapy, classic rock, free outdoor concert, family entertainment, refreshments, children’s activities, 6-9 p.m. Friday, July 22, Dodge Park No. 5, South Commerce Road entrance, Commerce. 248-926-0063.

■ White Lake Township Parks and Recreation: Picnic & Movies in Hawley Park — “Secretariat,” 7 p.m., Aug. 20, Hawley Park located behind township offices, 7525 Highland Road, White Lake. whitelaketwp.com or 248-698-3300, ext. 177.

■ Huron Valley Council for the Arts: Friday Night Live, Rick & John, eclectic rock, pop and folk, open air concert, 7 p.m. Friday, July 22; and Alan Smith – New Tatoo, including folk and blues, both instrumental and vocal, 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, Milford’s downtown gazebo. 248-889-8660.

n MSU Extension: Oakland County Master Gardener Training Program, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesdays, Aug. 23-Nov. 15, Executive Office Conference Center, 2100 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford. Application deadline, Monday, Aug. 1. 248-858-0887 or email smithlin@oakgov.com.

■ City of Walled Lake: Fifth annual Beach Party, summertime activities, live entertainment/music, classic cars, noon-5 p.m. Saturday, July 23, Mercer Beach, Walled Lake Drive east on Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake. 248624-4847. ■ St. Joseph Mercy Oakland Hospital: “Learn About Minimally Invasive Shoulder Surgery” and “Lifestyle/Weight Management,” two free community seminars, 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, Franco Communications Center, 44405 Woodward, Pontiac. Registration. 1-800-3726094. ■ West Bloomfield Parks & Recreation: Hot Nights of Hot Music—The Groove Council, open air concert, light refreshments, 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, Marshbank Park, 2805 Hiller Road, West Bloomfield. 248-451-1900. ■ Huron Valley Council for the Arts: Seeking new artist submissions for The Art Shop and HVCA wants additional artists in the following mediums: original hand-crafted furniture, woodworking, sculptural woodcarving, weaving, collage/mixed media, glass (kiln formed/warm glass or blown glass), ceramics, sculpture (metals), stone, found object and leather. Deadline for new artists is Aug. 1, 2011. Visit www.huronvalleyarts.org. ■ City of Wixom: Summer Wine Tasting, 7-9 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4, Sibley Square Park, Pontiac Trail, Wixom. Tickets. 248-624-2850. ■ St. Mary, Our Lady of the Snows Parish: Summer Fair, family entertainment, Polish dinner Friday, pulled pork dinner Saturday, baked chicken dinner Sunday, 5 p.m.-midnight, Friday; noon-midnight, Saturday; 1-6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5-7, 1955 E. Commerce Road, Milford. 248-685-1482. ■ HVCA, Milford HSI Theater/Music Department: Animation Camp with awardwinning cinematographer and media artist John Prusak, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday, Aug. 15-19, Little Theater, Milford High School, 2380 S. Milford Road, Highland. 248-889-8660 or huronvalleyarts.org.

■ City of Wixom: Now collecting school supplies for Hospitality House. Donations may be made now through Wednesday, Aug. 31, at 49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom. 248-624-0870. ■ Cedar Crest Lutheran Church: Angel Food Ministries, food distribution orders taken on Sundays, 485 Farnsworth, White Lake. 248410-0946 or 248-421-9527, or angelfoodministries.com. ■ Rotary of West Bloomfield: Meeting, 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Henry Ford Medical Center, second floor, southwest corner of Farmington and Maple roads. 248-520-0095. ■ Waterford Rotary Club: Meeting, noon, Tuesdays, The Shark Club on M-59, Waterford. 248-625-4897. ■ Big Chief Chorus: Rehearsals, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Waterford Oaks Activity Center, 2800 Watkins Lake Road, Waterford. 248698-9133 or 248-563-2109. ■ Huron Valley Council for the Arts: Knitters circle, 10 a.m. Wednesdays, Highland Station House, Highland. 248-685-9015. ■ Williams Lake Church of The Nazarene: Angel Food Ministries, food distribution orders taken Wednesdays and Sundays, 2840 Airport Road, Waterford. 248-673-5911.

ities, Alzheimer’s disease, chronic mental illness, as well as the physically frail and homebound. 248-559-1147, ext. 3434.

SUPPORT GROUPS ❐ Pathway to Peace: Pet loss support group meeting, 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 25, Waterford Township Public Library, 5168 Civic Center Drive, Waterford. R.S.V.P. mszasz@unionlakepets.com or 248-3631508. ❐ Celebrate Recovery: Alcohol, drugs, gambling, sexual addiction recovery meetings, 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Life Point Christian Church, 501 Scott Lake Road, Waterford. 248682-1747. ❐ Divorce Care: Support group meeting for adults and children, 6:30 p.m. Sundays, Brightmoor Christian Church, 40800 W. 13 Mile, Novi. 248-755-9533. ❐ Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA): Meeting, 6 p.m. Fridays, Crossroads Presbyterian Church, 1445 Welch Road, Commerce. 248-807-8667 or foodaddicts.org. ❐ Over Eaters Anonymous: Recovery from compulsive eating — 12 step program, meeting, 6 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 5301 Hatchery Road, Waterford. w w w. o a . o r g / m e e t i n g s / f i n d - a - m e e t i n g online.php. ❐ Postpartum Depression Support Group: Meeting, 6:45 p.m. Thursdays, Huron ValleySinai Hospital, Commerce. 248-937-5220.

SENIOR seniorACTIVITIES activities ❐ Dublin Senior Center: Travel Show, Wednesday, July 27, 685 Union Lake Road, White Lake. 248-698-2394. ❐ Dublin Senior Center: Open swimming, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays or Fridays, Lakeland High School, 1630 Bogie Lake Road, White Lake. 248-698-2394.

■ (Breakfast) Optimist Club of Waterford: Meeting, 7:15 a.m. Thursdays, Big Boy Restaurant, M-59 and Airport Road, Waterford. 248-673-3493.

❐ Highland Adult Activity Center: Wii Bowling, noon, Tuesdays, 209 N. John Street, Highland. 248-887-1707.

■ Multi-Lakes Conservation Association: Allyou-can-eat fish fry, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Fridays, 3860 Newton Road, Commerce. 248-3639109.

❐ Milford Senior Center: Putt Putt Golf, 10 a.m. Friday, July 22, 1050 Atlantic Street, Milford. Registration. 248-685-9008 or villageofmilford.org.

■ Grace Hospice:Volunteers with reliable transportation needed to visit terminally ill patients and family members in our communities. Free training and classes are now forming. 1-888-937-4390.

❐ Richardson Community Senior Center: Knit & Crochet group, 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, 1485 E. Oakley Park, Commerce. Registration. 248926-0063 or commercetwp.com.

■ Catholic Social Services of Oakland County: Senior Companion Volunteers needed to support adults with developmental disabil-

❐ Sylvan Lake Lutheran Church: Senior Stretch and Tone, 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays and 8:30 a.m. Fridays, 2399 Sylvan Lake Lutheran Church, 2399 Figa Ave., West

Bloomfield. 248-682-0770. ❐ Waterford Senior Center: Cards, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; Detroit Tigers Game, road trip, 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 28, 3621 Pontiac Lake Road, Waterford. Registration. 248-682-9450. ❐ West Bloomfield Parks and Recreation — Senior Programs: Line Dancing, 11 a.m. Fridays at the Corners; Eastern Market trip, Saturday, Aug. 20, 4640 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield. Registration. 248-4511900. ❐ Wixom Senior Center: Travel Show @ Dublin Senior Center, 11 a.m. Wednesday, July 27, 49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom. Registration. 248-624-0870 or wixomgov.org.

PARKS parks

❐ Hess-Hathaway Park: “Park*It! Family Fun Night,” live music, character interactions, movie “Despicable Me,” 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 825 S. Williams Lake Road, Waterford. 248-674-5441. ❐ Independence Oaks County Park: Walk Michigan, family dog walk, 11 a.m. Sunday, July 24, Independence Oaks County Park, Davisburg. stasiakl@oakgov.com or 248424-7076. ❐ Indian Springs Metropark Environmental Discovery Center: Native Garden Tour and “Kids Collect and Inspect Nature Day,” Saturday, July 23; “Open LabNature Up Close,” noon-3 p.m. Sunday, July 24; “Jewels of the Night Sky,” grades 1 and up, 9 p.m. Saturday, July 30, Indian Springs Metropark, White Lake. Registration. 1800-477-3192 or 248-625-7280. ❐ Kensington Farm Center: “Fun on the Farm-Pigs, 10 a.m. Thursday, July 21; “Farmer for a Day,” ages 7-15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, Kensington Metropark, Milford. Registration. 248-6848632. ❐ Kensington Nature Center: “Exploring a Pond,” 2 p.m. Sunday, July 24, Kensington Metropark, Milford. Registration. 248-6841561 or 1-800-477-3178. ❐ Orion Oaks Dog Park: Yappy Days Pet Expo, pet adoption, vendors, doggy treats, demonstrations and fun pet activities, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday, July 31, 2301 W. Clarkston Road, Lake Orion. DestinationOakland.com or 248-858-4627. ❐ Waterford Oaks County Park: Walk Michigan, Family Walk, Saturday, July 30, and Sunday, Aug. 7, 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford. Registration. 248-858-0916 or

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LIBRARY EVENTS library events ❐ Commerce Township Community Library: Journey to the Outback,” grades K-2, 1:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21; Circus World with Doug Scheer, all ages, 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 2869 N. Pontiac Trail, Commerce. Registration. 248-669-8108 or commercelibrary.info. ❐ Highland Township Public Library: How to Train Your Dragon Party, grades 3-5, Friday, July 22, Blood Drive, noon-6 p.m. Thursday, July 28, 444 Beach Farm Circle, Highland. Registration. 248-887-2218. ❐ Milford Public Library: Stuffed Animal Sleepover, children’s program, Monday, July 25, 330 Family Drive, Milford. Registration. 248-684-0845. ❐ Walled Lake City Library: Circus World, Summer Reading wrap-up event with magician Doug Scheer, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 1499 E. West Maple, Walled Lake. Registration. 248-624-3772. ❐ Waterford Township Public Library: Family Program: Global Safari with ventriloquist Vikki Gasco-Green, ages 5 and up, 10 a.m. Monday,

July 25, 5168 Civic Center Drive, Waterford. Registration. 248-674-4831. ❐ West Bloomfield Township Public Library: Music @ Main concert series, Doug Berky, internationally acclaimed mask/movement artist, 3 p.m. Sunday, July 24, 4600 Walnut Lake Road, West Bloomfield. Registration. 248-682-2120. ❐ White Lake Township Library: Pizza Picks, Maureen Johnson’s “Little Blue Envelopes,” book discussion/pizza, grades 6-12, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 26, 7527 E. Highland Road, White Lake. 248-698-4942. ❐ Wixom Public Library: Patricia MacLachlan’s “Word After Word After Word,” book discussion/snacks, grades 3-5, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 21; Donna Leon’s “A Question of Belief,” A Commissario Gido Brunetti Mystery, adult book discussion, 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 27, 49015 Pontiac Trail, Wixom. Registration. 248-624-2512.

RELIGIOUS religious

❐ Walled Lake Church of Christ: “Big Jungle Adventure ... A Faith Journey with Jesus,” vacation Bible school, ages 3 through grade 5, Monday through Thursday, Aug. 1-4, 1403 North Pontiac Trail, Walled Lake. Registration. 248-624-4600.

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

Doetsch

Shaba

Zuk

Good

Topolewski

Payne

Parry

Kempster

Troy

Friend

All-area girls soccer team Spinal Column Newsweekly honors best players in 2011 By Michael Shelton staff writer

The Spinal Column Newsweekly is proud to present its very first All-Area Girls Soccer Team, honoring the best of west Oakland’s female student-athletes on the pitch this spring. Team selections were not only based on individual statistics, but also on nominations from area coaches, and other honors a player has received, such as conference awards. Making the final player selections is a difficult process when composing an all-area team for any sport, but with so many talented soccer players in the

lakes area, putting together the inaugural All-Area Girls Soccer Team was an arduous task. Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes/Everest Collegiate may have fell short in its quest to repeat as Division 4 state champion, but the Lakers were still the most dominant team in the lakes area this past season, completing an undefeated regular season and winning its first Catholic League C-D Division championship thanks to the efforts of five All-Area First Team members. The Lakers were not the only division champions in the lakes area, as Walled Lake Western won its first Kensington

Lakes Activities Association (KLAA) North Division crown this past season, ending Walled Lake Northern’s quest for a three-peat in the division. The Warriors are represented by three AllArea First Team members. One of the surprise teams in the lakes area this past season was West Bloomfield, which rose up to win its very first Oakland Activities Association (OAA) White Division championship thanks in part to its two senior All-Area First Team members. Also included on the All-Area First Team is Walled Lake Northern’s standout defenseman who helped the Knights

secure a runner-up finish in the KLAA North Division. FIRST TEAM Ava Doetsch Sophomore Forward Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes She may have just completed her second year of high school, but Doetsch has already been named to the Division 4 All-State First Team by the Michigan High School Soccer Coaches Association (MHSSCA). “Ava provided us with an elite goal scorer. Not only can she find the back of the net, but her speed and quickPAGE 40 ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

GIRLS SOCCER

All-area soccer ❯ ❯ ❯ ❯ PAGE 39

ness separates her from the pack,” said Lakers Head Coach Rich Ludwig. Jenny Shaba Senior Forward • Walled Lake Western Shaba was at the top of her game in her senior year as she scored 22 goals and garnered 8 assists to finish her high school career with 81 goals. Shaba played four years for the Warriors and helped lead them to the KLAA North Division title this year and earned a Division 1 honorable mention from the MHSSCA. Shaba will next head west to Grand Valley State University on an athletic scholarship. Niki Zuk Senior Forward • West Bloomfield Finishing the 2011 season with 14 goals, Zuk is considered by West Bloomfield Head Coach Jason Clark to be the Lakers’ most dangerous player and goal scorer. “Whenever we needed goals, Niki was the player we looked at to get the job done. In the last three years, Niki has scored 43 goals,” Clark said. Her efforts were key in West Bloomfield winning its first OAA

Ludwig

White Division title, and she was rewarded with her third straight AllOAA and All-District honors. Rachel Good Junior Forward • Walled Lake Western The other half of Western’s dynamic duo with Shaba, Good has garnered 43 goals and 21 assists so far in her career and has earned AllKLAA and All-District honors in her first two seasons as a Warrior. Indiana-Purdue Fort Wayne took notice of Good’s talent and offered her an athletic scholarship that she accepted. For now, she has one season remaining with the Warriors and she’ll look to go out with a bang in 2012. Meghan Topolewski Senior Midfielder Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes

The LA Vipers U-14 boys soccer team of West Bloomfield took first-place at the 2011 Soccer in the Sand Tournament in Grand Haven, held on June 26. Standing from left to right are: Coach Osama Aly, Jonathan Garcia, Jordan Werthman, Abdul Diaw, Michael Thut, Dehan Kanibile, Keeba Sanneh, Kevin Tapchom, Coach Jose Garcia and Ayooyah Aly. (Photo courtesy of Jose Garcia)

Finishing her four-year career with 89 goals and 96 assists, the captain of the Lakers was rewarded with a spot on the MHSSCA Division 4 AllState First Team. “She’s been the heartbeat and pulse of the team. Her unselfishness and leadership has been fantastic,” Ludwig said. Topolewski will next take her soccer talents to the University of Toledo. Bronte Payne Senior Midfielder • West Bloomfield Scoring 10 goals and garnering 11 assists this past season, Payne completed four years of varsity soccer as the Lakers’ Most Valuable Player and as an OAA White Division champion. “Without Bronte, it would have been hard for us to win the OAA White Division this year. She was the player that held our team together and was the hardest working player on our team,” Clark said. Playing all four seasons as a starter, Payne earned All-OAA and AllDistrict honors for four straight years. Jessica Parry Sophomore Midfielder Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes Earning a Division 4 Second Team honor from the MHSSCA, Parry may be listed as a midfielder, but she is really a jack of all trades. “We moved her a lot — she can play in the box, in the middle and the outside. She’s a very well-rounded player, her energy level never quits

and she is smart and intelligent,” Ludwig said. Parry also scored the overtime game-winning goal against Riverview Gabriel Richard that gave Our Lady its first Catholic League title. Alivia Kempster Senior Midfielder • Walled Lake Western Finishing her career with 26 goals, 25 assists, three All-KLAA selections and two All-District selections, Kempster will next head to Schoolcraft College this fall. Abbey Troy Senior Defender Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes An MHSSCA Division 4 Second Team selection, Troy continued to elevate her game year after year, according to Ludwig. “She has become a tremendous athlete and took the younger kids under her wing. I don’t think we would have made it as far as we did without her,” he said. Kelsie Friend Senior Defender • Walled Lake Northern An All-KLAA honoree, Friend finished the 2011 season with 2 goals and 4 assists and also earned a Division 1 Honorable Mention from the MHSSCA for her efforts. She will attend Eastern Illinois University. Chantelle Ludwig Senior Goaltender Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes A Division 4 First Team selection by

the MHSSCA, Chantelle Ludwig stood tall in the Lakers’ net all season. “She has put her heart and soul into the game and played with passion. It’s not everyday that you get a goaltender like her and have her solidified,” Coach Ludwig said. SECOND TEAM • Rachel Vanpoppelen, forward, Walled Lake Western; • Melissa Seymour, forward, Walled Lake Central; • Kaitlyn Golfis, forward, Waterford Mott; • Anna Robb, forward, Waterford Our Lady of the Lakes; • Rachel Shuman, midfield, Walled Lake Western; • Hannah Rhoades, midfield, Waterford Mott; • Hannah Messer, midfield, Waterford Mott; • Taylor Hotz, midfield, West Bloomfield; • Allie Morris, defender, Huron Valley Lakeland; • Alissa Neff, defender, West Bloomfield; and • Tailer Roscoe, goalie, Waterford Kettering. HONORABLE MENTION Megan Kalinik, Huron Valley Lakeland; Shelby Watts, Waterford Kettering; Lauren Merchak, West Bloomfield; Kennedy McMurrin, Walled Lake Central.

JULY 20-26, 2011

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NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD FOR HIGHLAND LAKE NOTICE OF ASSESSMENT AND RIGHT TO APPEAL Amount of Special Assessment: 2012 – 2014 Highland Lake Lot: $563.14 Notice is hereby given that the Lake Improvement Board for Highland Lake, Township of Highland, County of Oakland, has been scheduled to meet at the Highland Township Hall (205 N. John Street) at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday evening, July 14, 2010 to review, to hear objections to, and to confirm a 3-year Special Assessment Roll with respect to the Highland Lake Special Assessment District for Chemical Weed Control and all associated cost for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. The total assessment is estimated at $1,689.42 per Highland Lake Lot. Pursuant to the Special Assessment Roll, a Special Assessment of $563.14 will be levied in 2012, 2013, and 2014 against your property. Such assessments shall be due and payable on the first day of December 2011, 2012 and 2013 as part of your winter tax bill. The Special Assessment Roll will be on file at the Highland Township Offices for public examination. Any person may appear and be heard at the Assessment Hearing, which is called pursuant to the provisions of Part 309 of Act 451 of Public Acts of 1994, as amended. Act 186 of Public Acts of Michigan, 1973, as amended, provides that the special assessment must be protested at the hearing held for the purpose of confirming the Special Assessment Roll before the Michigan Tax Tribunal may acquire jurisdiction of any special assessment dispute. Appearance and protest of the special assessment at the time and place of review is required in order to appeal the amount of the special assessment to the Michigan Tax Tribunal. An owner of or party in interest in property to be assessed, or his or her agent, may appear in person to protest the special assessment, or may protest the special assessment in writing, submitted to Mr. Ricky A. DeVisch, Secretary, Lake Improvement Board for Highland Lake, One Public Works Drive, Building 95, Waterford, Michigan 48328, at or prior to the time of review, in which case personal appearance is not required. If the special assessment is protested as provided above, the owner or any party having an interest in the real property may file a written appeal of the special assessment with the Michigan Tax Tribunal within 30 days after the confirmation of the Special Assessment Roll. RICKY A. DeVISCH, SECRETARY LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD FOR S.C. 7-20 & 8-3-11 HIGHLAND LAKE

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

• Section 18.09.050.B requires a front yard parking setback to 50 feet from the centerline of Liberty Drive; 48 feet is proposed a variance of 2 feet is requested. • Section 18.09.050.C requires a 20-foot wide greenbelt between the parking and the front lot line; an 18-foot wide greenbelt is requested. • Section 18.09.050.J allows up to 75% of the lot to be covered with buildings, accessory structures, parking lots and drives; lot coverage exceeding 75% is requested. • Section 18.14.020.B.1 requires a 20 foot wide greenbelt along the front line; an 18-foot wide greenbelt is requested. • Section 18.15.020.E allows requires a 7-foot wide sidewalk where a parking space abuts a sidewalk; a 6-foot 2inch sidewalk is requested. The property is located at 47000 Liberty and zoned M-1, Light Industrial. The tax parcel number is 22-09-301-001. The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held in Wixom Council Chambers, 49045 Pontiac Trail. Persons having any questions regarding these matters are urged to attend this meeting or contact the Building Department at (248) 624-0880.

S.C. 7-20 & 8-3-11

CASE #PWT11-1798 LONE PINE VILLAS Parcel: Section 23, Lone Pine Villas Condominium Sidwell #18-23-101-068 Location: 4563 thru 4667 and 4580 thru 4652 Laurel Club Circle Request: A request to remove and replace existing storm water outfall pipes and install rip-rap discharge area vegetated with native plant materials within the 25 foot environmental features setback to a natural pond area. Applicant: Lone Pine Villas Condominium Association

Marshall Labadie, Development Services Director

Notice of Posting for Charter Township of West Bloomfield Township Board 1. Synopsis of the special meeting held on: Monday, July 11, 2011 The above synopsis shall be posted (in its entirety) at the following locations: (1) Office of the Township Clerk 4550 Walnut Lake Road (2) Main Township Library 4600 Walnut Lake Road

Catherine Shaughnessy Township Clerk S.C. 7-20-11

S.C.7-20-11

The Township will provide necessary, reasonable auxiliary aids and services to individuals with disabilities at a public meeting upon two weeks notice in writing or by calling the Township Clerk or Environmental Director at (248) 451-4800.

NOTICE TO TAXPAYERS CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF COMMERCE THE 2011 SUMMER TAX BILLS HAVE BEEN MAILED TO THE LAST KNOWN OWNER OF RECORD. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR TAX BILL OR HAVE ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING YOUR BILL, PLEASE CALL THE TREASURER’S OFFICE AT (248)960-7040.

S.C. 7-20-11

(3) Township’s website www.wbtwp.com LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD FOR HIGHLAND LAKE

CASE #PWT11-1795 PINE LAKE COUNTRY CLUB Parcel: Section 12, Pine Lake Country Club Sidwell #18-12-151-063 Location: 3300 Pine Lake Request: A request to install 14 new boat wells and to replace an existing irrigation wet well with seawall and intake pipe within the 25 foot environmental features setback and below the Ordinary High Water Mark of Pine Lake. Applicant: Pine Lake Country Club

SUSAN L. GROSS, CPFA COMMERCE TOWNSHIP TREASURER

Linda Kirby, City Clerk City of Wixom (248) 624-4557 SC: 7-20-11

Notice is hereby given that the Lake Improvement Board for Highland Lake, Township of Highland, County of Oakland, has been scheduled to meet at the Highland Township Hall (205 N. John Street) in Highland Township, Michigan at 7:00 p.m. on Monday evening, August 15, 2011 to determine the practicability of a 3-year Lake Management, Chemical Weed Control and all associated cost for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. This Hearing is called pursuant to the provisions of Part 309 of Act No. 451 of 1994, as amended.

CASE #PWT11-1783 TOBIN Parcel: Lot 31, Beardsley and Smiths Plat of Orchard Beach Sidwell #18-11-478-015 Location: 3199 Interlaken Request: An after-the-fact request to repair an existing concrete seawall through the placement of a new concrete seawall in front of the existing seawall below the Ordinary High Water Mark of Pine Lake. Applicant: Michael & Denise Tobin

If you have any questions on this matter, contact the Environmental Department at (248) 451-4818.

The Wixom Zoning Board of Appeals will conduct the following public hearings at their next regular meeting scheduled for Monday, August 8, 2011 for the following topics: ZBA CASE #015-11: BILL MYERS, MT. EVEREST MAINTENANCE, PO BOX 2183 BIRMINGHAM, MI 48012: The applicant is seeking variances to allow parking in the front yard. Variances from the Wixom Municipal Code are requested as follows:

LAKE IMPROVEMENT BOARD FOR HIGHLAND LAKE HEARING OF PRACTICABILITY

The West Bloomfield Township Wetland Review Board will hold a public hearing at the Township Board Room, 4550 Walnut Lake Road on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. to consider the following Wetland/Floodplain Permit Applications:

Detailed plans are available for inspection at the West Bloomfield Township Environmental Department, 4550 Walnut Lake Road, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A staff report, as prepared for the Wetland Review Board, will be available for review the Friday prior to the meeting.

CITY OF WIXOM

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

PAGE 41

CHARTER TOWNSHIP OF COMMERCE

NOTICE OF ADOPTION

An Ordinance Amend the Code of Ordinances, to be known as Code Amendment Ordinance No. 1.014 – Fire Code The above Ordinance have been posted, in their entirety, at the following locations; Commerce Township Offices, 2009 Township Drive; Richardson Senior Center, 1485 Oakley Park Road; Fire Station #1, 1705 Commerce Road; Fire Station # 2, 9170 Commerce Road, Fire Station # 3, 2150 Welch Road; Fire Station #4, 2401 Glengary Road;Township Library, 2869 N. Pontiac Trail; Wolverine Lake Village Office, 425 Glengary Road. Daniel P. Munro Clerk, Charter Township of Commerce S.C. 7-20-2011

FOR SALE BY THE CITY OF WALLED LAKE Sealed Bids are being accepted for the sale of the following item: 1999 Chevrolet Express Van 1500 VIN #: 1GBFG15R9X1085383 Color: Green/Tan/Beige Mileage: 137,222 2001 Volkswagon Beetle VIN # 3VWCB21CX1M451394 Color: Gray Mileage: 112,206 Km: 180,579 2006 Ford Crown Victoria VIN #: 2FAFP71W36X104676 Color: Black MILEAGE: 112,021 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer SS VIN #: 1GNET13H572153337 Color: Black Mileage: 74,066 These vehicles are available for inspection at the Walled Lake Police Department located at 1499 E. West Maple, Walled Lake MI, from now until the bid opening, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Vehicles are sold “as is”. Submit sealed bid to the City Clerk, 1499 E. West Maple, Walled Lake MI 48390 no later than Thursday, July 28, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. at which time the bids will be opened and read. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all bids. CATHERINE BUCK, CITY CLERK CITY OF WALLED LAKE S.C. 7-20 & 7-27-11

WEST OAKLAND SUPER WANT ADS SUPER RATES! SUPER REACH! PHONE 248.360.7355 • Mon.-Fri. 8:30-5 FAX 24/7• 248.360.5308 WANT ADS APPEAR ON www.spinalcolumnonline.com

NOTICES 01-08

REAL ESTATE 12-22

MOBILE HOMES 42-43

RENTALS 45-57

ABSOLUTELY FREE WANT ADS • Absolutely Free (#90): An item must be offered FREE to appear in this category. The want ad is FREE to you. One item per ad, one ad per family on any given week. Column is for non-commercial ads only. • Items under $25: Advertise an item for $25 or less and a 10-word want ad is FREE. Special rates for items over $25. • Used Vehicle: Five weeks FREE for private party vehicles. Charge your first week and we schedule it for 5 more weeks. Call to cancel when sold. • Found: Found a lost item? We will run an ad for FREE (#3/Found) to help you find the owner.

MERCHANDISE 89-138

LEISURE TIME 142-159

RECREATION

BOATS 162-179

CARS, TRUCKS CYCLES 181-196

• Reunions (#4): Published FREE for 4 weeks.

HELP WANTED 60-75

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HIGHLIGHT YOUR AD For further emphasis add an icon or shade your ad for only $5.

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JULY 20-26, 2011

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

CONVENIENT CATEGORY LISTINGS NOTICES 1 2 3 4 5 6 8

Bulletin Board Happy Ads Lost and Found Reunions Legal Notices Pathways Obituary

REAL ESTATE

JOB WANTED 77 82 83 84 85 86

Full Time Part Time/Temporary Student/Teen Babysitting Senior/Child Care Housekeeper/ House Cleaning

MERCHANDISE

12 Lakefront Homes/ Property 13 New Houses 14 Open Houses 15 Condos/Flats/Co-ops 16 Vacation Homes/ Cottages 17 Commercial/Industrial 18 Michigan/Other Areas 19 Other States 20 Vacation Land/Acreage 21 Investment/ Income Properties 22 Business Opportunities

89 Used/Wanted 90 100% Free 91 Antiques 93 Collectibles 95 Coins/Stamps 96 Diamonds/Jewelry/Gold 100 Cemetery Plots 101 Auction/Estate Sales 102 Moving Sale 103 Garage Sales 105 Building Materials 106 Tools 107 Snowblowers 109 Lawn Tractors/Mowers 110 Lawn/Garden/Sod MOBILE HOMES 111 Gravel/Sand/Dirt 42 Mobile Homes for Sale 112 Firewood 114 Business 43 Mobile Home for Rent 115 Pet Supplies RENTALS 116 Horses 45 Banquet/Party Facilities 117 Food/Produce 119 Clothing/Apparel 46 Vacation Homes/ 121 Cellular Cottages/ 122 Appliances Time Shares 47 Commercial/Industrial 125 Furniture/Rugs 49 Shopping Center Units 127 Rent To Own 128 Art/Crafts 50 Office Space 129 Household Items 52 Storage 130 Home Care Equipment 55 Houses/Condos 132 Stuff - Infant 56 Apartments 57 Rooms/Share Quarters 133 Stuff - Kid 134 Stuff - Teen HELP WANTED 137 Bargain Bin 138 Odds N Ends 60 Job Fairs/Seminars 61 Technical Fields And Lots of Others! 62 Alternative Energy 63 Employment Agencies Phone 65 Full Time/General Rhonda, Leslie 66 Accounting/Financial 67 Medical/Dental or Cindy 69 Office/Clerical for 71 Sales Positions 72 Construction Affordable Rates 74 Part Time/Temporary 75 Baby, Pet, House Sitting

248-360-7355

LANDLORDS AND INVESTORS Huge inventory or potential rental properties under $50,000.00 Several are in move in condition!!!!! Waterford, Wixom, Commerce Twp, Novi Lake Front Properties as well under $100,000.00 (Good Condition)

Nancy Neville Realtor Keller Williams Realty

248-724-6960 (Retired Landlord)

PAGE 43 Houses For Sale

NOTICES Reunions

ST. MICHAEL School Pontiac "All School Reunion" Sunday, September 18th, 11am memorial mass at Shrine Chapel of St. Mary's Seminary, 3535 Indian Trail, Orchard Lake. Reunion gathering at Santia Banquet Center, Keego Harbor after 12 noon. Family-style dinner at 1:30pm. Reservations: Lance Butler 248-335-5243 West Oakland area school reunions. FREE for 4 weeks within a 13 week period (27 word limit). Other Reunions Published 4 weeks for a total cost of $20 for 15 words; each additional 4 words $2.

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE Houses For Sale

Hartland

VILLAGE LIVING!

LANDLORDS AND INVESTORS

Large well kept home with 3 bedrooms, spacious kitchen, formal dining, office, enclosed porches, breezeway/laundry room, 2 car garage & 16x26 barn. $119,900. 3644 Avon St.

England Real Estate (248)887-9736

Everything you wanted to know about being a landlord but didn’t know who to ask

Please call to Register!

When your sale item is $ 2500 or less

Nancy Neville, Realtor

248-724-6960

RENTALS Commercial/ Industrial

Walled Lake Area

ATTRACTIVE DESIGN! Built in 2004 w/2500 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms & 3 1/2 baths. Fireplace in great room & dining room, library, formal dining, finished walk-out lower level with family room & hobby room. Private 4.14 acre setting. $385,000.

England Real Estate (248)887-9736 Vacant Land/ Acreage

2 units available for lease. 1st unit is 1587 sq. ft. 2nd 1330 is sq. ft. has 2 12X14 overhead doors.

248-669-2443 Houses/ Condos

WALLED LAKE 3 Bedroom house, newly remodeled & freshly carpeted, Walled Lake view & access, fenced yard, petsok, $895 per month.

olivermich@mac.com 248-755-5073

WHITE LAKE

FOR SALE

VACANT LAND Located in Fowlerville: 40 acres- 15 wooded, excellent hunting, possible walk-out site, $209,900. Lea Estes @

517-230-3093

3 bedroom, 1 bath, A/C. Fenced in back yard with shed. $875 per month. Jackson Blvd. & Ormond Rd. area.

248-563-3239 Apartments

Smeak RE 517-655-1316

☺

MOBILE HOMES

WALLED LAKE

1 Bedroom Apartments 2 bedroom, 1.5 bath Town Homes * $300 Moves You In*

Fawn Lake

1st Month FREE

Pontiac Trail at Maple Pre-Owned Homes: $6,000 - $25,000 Rent: $385 - $400 PLUS MOVE-IN DISCOUNTS On Select Homes

248-624-6606 EHO

(248) 624-0709

www.cormorantco.com * Call For Details *

MORE ADS ON PAGE 48

YOUR WANT AD IS

FREE

E N V E L O P E

(248) 360-SELL

Mechanically inclined people needed for Apprenticeship program to learn on specialized machinery. Paid holidays and vacations. Equal opportunity employer. Apply in person 9 am to 3 pm, M–F ~ Drug screen required. ~

24-hour Fax Line: 248-360-5308

1225 E. West Maple Rd. Walled Lake, MI 48390

Call Leslie Timko

Presented by:

Hartland

Mobile Homes for Sale

FREE FREE FREE Date: Sunday, July 17th and every other Sunday thereafter Time: 1pm to 3pm Where: Keller Williams 39500 Orchard Hill Place Novi MI 48375

(Retired Landlord)

HUSKY ENVELOPE

PAGE 44

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

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211043762 - $119,000

211017118 - $149,900

211064837 - $75,000

211070398 - $95,000

211071484 - $325,000

211036868 - $149,000

MOVE IN AND ENJOY 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, kitchen with pantry, natural fireplace

RARE GEM 5 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, brick colonial, fireplace, 4 car garage, French doors

PONTIAC LAKEFRONT 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, generous sized rooms, ceramic floors

UP NORTH LIVING 1.45 ACRES 3 bedroom, 1 bath, oak cabinets, newer roof, 3 car detached garage

FABULOUS ALL-SPORTS CEDAR ISLAND LAKE 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 164 ft. canal front, custom built lower level walkout, move-in ready

MODERN RANCH 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open floor plan, master suite with walk-in closet

D IEL MF LOO B W.

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211065937 - $95,500

211067326 - $38,000

211069633 - $332,000

211073245 - $219,900

211069626 - $250,000

211060567 - $139,900

RANCH CONDO 2 bedroom, 2 baths, ground end unit, 2 car attached garage

COLONIAL VILLAGE CONDO 1 bedroom, 1 bath, balcony overlooks pond, indoor pool, clubhouse

CUSTOM BUILT HOME 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, open great room, breakfast nook, hardwood floors, gas fireplace

PREMIUM COLONIAL 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, family room with fireplace, finished basement

STUNNING SUNSET EXPOSURE WHITE LAKE 2 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, amazing views, walkout hardwood floors, large great room

ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS RANCH! 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, updated kitchen, finished basement, lake privileges Middle Straits

RD FO TER WA

LLY

TURED HOME A FE OF THE WEEK

RD FO TER WA

CE ER MM CO

211056180 - $129,900

211068047 - $189,900

211042968 - $159,900

211061876 - $459,000

GORGEOUS SETTING 2.2 ACRES 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, large family room with fireplace, master 2 closets, barn/shed

FAIRWAY ESTATES - STUNNING! 2 bedrooms, 3 baths, granite, new carpet, tile, overlooking 16th hole

GOLF FRONTAGE 2 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, corner unit condo, finished basement, fireplace

UNION LAKEFRONT 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, kitchen with island, pantry, stone fireplace, den

ILLS

FIEL

OM BLO

RD FO MIL

ION OR KE A L

N TO FEN

211043195 - $56,500

211072511 - $375,000

211060973 - $159,000

211072150 - $165,000

FOX HILLS CONDO 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, doorwall to deck, clubhouse, pool, tennis courts

BEAUTIFUL ROLLING 10 ACRE HOME 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, open floor plan, 2 fireplaces, near Kensington, 30x40 pole barn

MOVE-IN READY 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, open floor plan, pole barn, pond

BEAUTIFUL HOME ROUND TREE SUB 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, new Andersen windows and patio doors, kitchen overlooks treed yard

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RD FO MIL

211072517 - $115,000 LL WE HO

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211062309 - $175,000

211056592 - $324,000

211013658 - $165,500

211053983 - $87,000

211037965 - $95,000

211046242 - $85,000

LAKEFRONT 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, sprawling brick ranch, 2 fireplaces

AMAZING CAPE COD 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2 lavs, finished walkout lower level, dream 2nd garage 46x40

EVERYTHING RIGHT HERE 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, 2 fireplaces, finished basement, maple kitchen, great room

BRICK RANCH 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, large lot, central air

UNION LAKE PRIVILEGES 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, huge master suite, needs updating

HUGE KITCHEN 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, doorwall to deck, 2 car attached garage

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211029327 - $590,000

211068744 - $890,000

211042316 - $57,500

211046016 - $269,000

211047838 - $68,900

211034441 - $499,000

GORGEOUS COMMERCE LAKEFRONT 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, fieldstone fireplace, finished walkout

SPECTACULAR WHITE LAKEFRONT 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, totally remodeled, master suite to deck, gorgeous views finished walkout

TOTALLY UPDATED 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, doorwall to deck, lake privileges

CUSTOM RANCH END OF CUL-DE-SAC 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, maple kitchen, hardwood floors, finished walkout, wet bar, full bath

ADORABLE CAPE COD 2 bedrooms, 1.5 baths, finished basement, many updates

LAKEFRONT DREAM HOME 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, gourmet kitchen, first floor master suite

Denotes a Real Estate One Virtual Tour

Lakes Area (248) 363-8300

ÂŠReal Estate One, Inc., 2011

JULY 20-26, 2011

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

CHERYL YEAGER

BECKY KATZMAN McCARTHY 248-790-9915

248-310-8077 cherylyeager.com

PAGE 45

Lakes Area Specialist

cherylyeager@yahoo.com

rmccarthy@RealEstateOne.com

DIN

N PE

WHITE LAKE RANCH

ALL-SPORT COOLEY LAKEFRONT

Desirable Whispering Meadows Sub, cul-de-sac setting, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, hardwood floors, first floor laundry, maple kitchen, vaulted great room with natural fireplace, skylights, Andersen windows, 4 door walls, vaulted master suite, spa tub, awesome finished walkout lower level, huge wet bar, well landscaped, sprinklers. $269,000 (cy1047T)

Stunning water views, nice sandy beach, get ready to enjoy the summer. Charming ranch cottage style home featuring 3 bedrooms, 1 bath, living room with natural fireplace, lakeside deck, water softener, newer hot water tank, 1 car detached garage. $84,000 (cy8797C)

GREAT RANCH ON HALF ACRE LOT! Great brick ranch nestled on beautiful half acre lot in desirable sub! Features, approximately 1,800 square feet, 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, spacious kitchen with eat-in area, separate dining room, both living room and family room with natural fireplace, big master bedroom with doorwall and tons of closet space, huge screened in Florida room overlooking scenic, private, fenced yard, 2 car attached garage, close to shopping & freeways. $120,000. Call Becky for details.

Real Estate One.... Announces Agent transfer assignment to serve Commerce Twp. - Lakes area!

Tom Buchanan, Realtor associate It’s official..... Your area now has a newly positioned real estate practitioner ready to assist you and your family with the sale of your property and/or the purchase of property to suit your particular needs. “The HOUSE Whisperer” With so many changes facing consumers in today’s rapidly changing real estate market, it’s more important than ever to seek the advice from an experienced local specialist.

Call Tom at 248-326-4568 ... direct line website inquiries answered promptly at

www.AskTomB.com Denotes a Real Estate One Virtual Tour

Lakes Area (248) 363-8300 • 8430 Richardson

©Real Estate One, Inc., 2011

PAGE 46

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SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

Visit us at 560 N. Milford Rd., Milford C ED A OO D W 9 4 . 1

RES

ASTER OR M O L F FIRST

$270,000 CUSTOM BUILT QUALITY HOME! •2,820 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, basement, 3-car attached garage •Living room with beautiful oak mantle •Open floor plan •211032090

ACR

E EA G

CES PLA E R 2 FI

ND EA CUT

N CLEA

11+

ES A CR

LAU BOAT

NCH

OR FLO OPEN

$344,900 AWESOME RANCH ON DUCK LAKE! •2,147 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3 baths •Many updates, second kitchen in walkout •Patio, covered deck, boat launch •211037456

PLAN

$75,000

$214,900 GREAT HOME FOR ENTERTAINING! •1,700 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •Great floor plan •Newer carpet •Very well maintained •211050056

GE LAR

BAY

D YAR

$330,000 HOME ON QUIET DUCK LAKE INLET! •2,349 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •Large rooms •Large yard •Anderson windows and custom wood trim •211060483

TE L WHI

AKE

$99,000

$314,900 WONDERFUL WHITE LAKE VIEWS! •1,700 sq. ft., 2 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •On quiet bay to main lake •Maple and granite kitchen •211028656

E NI T G RA

NEWER AND IMMACULATE RANCH! •1,258 sq. ft., 2 bedrooms, 2 baths, finished basement, 1-car garage •Hardwood floors in kitchen and breakfast room •Open floor plan •211066057

ET ARP

$140,000

$549,900 LAKEFRONT AND ACREAGE! •3,043 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 3.1 baths, basement, 3-car attached garage •11+ acres on all-sports lake •Granite kitchen and baths •211067932

RS FLOO

CHARMING WIXOM RANCH! •1,388 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 1.5 baths •Hardwood floors •Patio with private yard with lake privileges •210132913

QUI

$65,000 LAKE ACCESS ON WHITE LAKE! •825 sq. ft., 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, basement • Cute and clean • Wood floors in living room •Large fenced yard •211059951

OD WO HARD

BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF LAKE! •1,515 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 1.1 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •Open floor plan •Lots of updates •Custom designed kitchen •211030440

$75,000 ALL-SPORTS DUCK LAKE! •1,654 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, 1-car attached garage •Bright kitchen with appliances •Great room with fireplace •211048878

C ER NEW

RANCH ON HUGE LOT! •1,312 sq. ft., 2 bedrooms, 1 bath, 2-car attached garage •Open-style floor plan •Nice sized rooms •Beautiful hardwood floors •211061873

$164,900

$405,000

S E VIEW LA K

$79,000

$245,000 LAKE ACCESS ON DUNHAM LAKE! •1,924 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 3 baths, basement, 3-car attached garage •Open and airy •Great room with cathedral ceilings • Huge maple kitchen and breakfast room •211056597

ES PDAT FU O S LOT

EXQUISITE BUILDER-OWNED HOME! •4,383 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths, 3-car attached garage •2 master bedroom suites •17 ft. cathedral ceilings •Hardwood floors •2 fireplaces •211064264

5.03 BEAUTIFUL ACRES! •1,531 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 1.1 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •Family room with brick hearth •Oak floors on main level •211063667

LAN OR P FLO N OPE

AIRY

$400,000

Y ENJO

$229,449

$190,000 WALK TO DOWNTOWN MILFORD! •1,650 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •Lots of storage space •Hardwood in many rooms •211049087

AN D OPEN

ATTENTION HORSE AND ACREAGE BUYERS! •4,200 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 10.82 acres •3 outbuildings, 15 stalls and 6 pastures •211011142

CHEN E KIT AP L M R NEWE

ALL-SPORTS WHITE LAKE! •1,702 sq. ft., 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, 2-car detached garage. •Second floor master suite with jet tub •First floor laundry •211064566

8S 1,98

$299,900 GORGEOUS PRIME MILFORD PROPERTY! •3,104 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •Granite throughout •Large rooms •Huge finished basement •211048326

Serving Milford & Surrounding Areas - 248.684.1065

FT. Q.

$157,890 TWO HOMES - ONE PRICE! •1,988 sq. ft., 4 bedrooms, 2.1 baths, basement, 2-car attached garage •In-law 1 bedroom ranch apartment attached •New kitchen with stainless appliances •211030461 ©Real Estate One, Inc., 2011

JULY 20-26, 2011

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

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PAGE 47 . WP ET RC E MM CO

P. TW RD O F MIL

$729,900

INCREDIBLE HOME AND 197 FT. SHARP 2002 ON ALL-SPORTS DUCK LAKE BUILT RANCH CONDO •2 bedroom, 3 bath, hardwood flrs, fireplace •3,504 sq. ft. + fin walkout, 4 bed, 4.5 bath •Fin. basement, wet bar, bed 3, 2 car garage •2 fireplaces, 2 kitchens, 3 car garage, deck #NEW (800) 396-5204 X226 #210054085 (800) 396-5204 X259

STONE HOLLOW SUB – CUSTOM BUILT 2.62 ACRE LOT •5 bed, 3.5 bath, 3,671 sq. ft. + 1,627 walkout •Attached 3 car, 2.5 car carriage house garage #211019535 (800) 396-5204 X265 P. TW LD FIE M O BLO W.

. WP DT IEL F OM BLO W.

HIG

$149,900

$750,000

$759,900

CUSTOM BUILT - ALL-SPORTS MACEDAY LAKEFRONT!! •4 bed, 4 bath, all brick + fin. walkout •5,200+ sq. ft., 1st & 2nd flr. masters, 3 car #211017553 (800) 396-5204 X296

. WP

AN HL

2900 Union Lake, Suite 210 Commerce, MI 48382

P. TW LD FIE M O BLO W.

P. TW CE R E MM CO

248-366-7200 $509,900

$649,900

STUNNING 90 FT. OF MAIN LAKEFRONT ALL-SPORTS CASS LAKE •2,778 sq. ft., 3 bed, 2.5 bath, 2 fireplaces •2+ car garage, 3 decks, dock, seawall, shed #211063900 (800) 396-5204 X231 GE LA VIL RD O F MIL

MILLION DOLLAR VIEWS ALL-SPORTS UNION LAKEFRONT •4 bedroom, 2 bath, incredible views •Fireplace, deck, 4 car, storage loft, dock #211058164 (800) 396-5204 X211

ITE WH

L INE ER V L WO

Zillow - Preferred Agent

P. TW KE A L

$399,900

CUSTOM QUALITY BUILT 1.14 PRIVATE ACRE ESTATE •4 bedroom, 4 full bath, 2,900+ sq. ft. •Fin. daylight basement, 3 car/workshop, patio #211023447 (800) 396-5204 X241

Lakes Area’s #1 Team!

P. TW RD FO R TE WA

$394,900

$324,900

ALL-SPORTS WOODHULL/LAKE OAKLAND LAKEFRONT - STELLAR VIEWS •4 bedroom, 2 full/2 half bath, bonus room •3,500 sq. ft. with finished walkout, 3 decks #211031582 (800) 396-5204 X247

100 FT. OF ALL-SPORTS WOLVERINE LAKEFRONT - .54 ACRE LOT •2,093 sq. ft., 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, fireplace •2 walk-in closets, deck,, circular drive #211057584 (800) 396-5204 X297 P. TW RD O F TER WA

BEAUTIFULLY MAINTAINED GREEN VALLEY SUB SPECIAL •2,766 sq. ft. + fin. walkout, 4 bed, 3.5 bath •2 kitchens, fireplace, cul-de-sac lot, deck #211074305 (800) 396-5204 X234

. WP ET AK L ITE WH

$274,900

$149,900

steve@TheStocktonTeam.com

OM BLO

$139,900

SHARP RANCH - TREED LOT OVERLOOKING CROSS LAKE •3 bedroom, 2 bath, 1,321 sq. ft., updates •Part finished basement, deck, 3 car garage #211064266 (800) 396-5204 X204

P. TW RD O F TER WA

$89,900

$219,900

GORGEOUS HOME ON LARGE, GORGEOUS GERUNDEGUT BAY NICELY LANDSCAPED LOT ALL-SPORTS CASS LAKE •2,551 sq. ft., 3 bed, 2.5 bath, granite kitchen •Remodeled ranch, stone fireplace, dining rm •Fireplace, mstr w/California closet, fin basement •Corian counter kitchen, tile, crown molding #211069940 (800) 396-5204 X220 #211027050 (800) 396-5204 X280 . WP ET RC E MM CO

AFFORDABLE BIG FAMILY HOME LARGE TREED LOT •4 bedroom, 1.5 bath, spacious 1,728 sq. ft. •2+ car attached garage, patio, fenced yard #211058161 (800) 396-5204 X254

$299,900 SPECTACULAR 1.23 TREED ACRE PRIVATE GOLF FRONT LOT •3,193 sq. ft. + 1,150 sq. ft. fin. walkout, 4 bed •1st and 2nd flr. masters, 3 car, hot tub, deck #211060253 (800) 396-5204 X230

$234,900

$259,900

CHARMING HOME ON ALL-SPORTS WATKINS LAKE •1,170 sq. ft., 3 bed, deep treed lot, fireplace •Basement, 2 car garage, huge storage loft #211031579 (800) 396-5204 X251 . WP ET RC E MM CO

$299,900 ALL-SPORTS LOWER STRAITS LAKEFRONT SPECIAL •2 houses @ price of 1 •Remod 3 bed, 1 ba, garage •Lake house 1,768 sq. ft., 4 bd, 2 ba, needs TLC #211073682 (800) 396-5204 X232 . WP ET AK L ITE WH

P. TW RD O F TER WA

FULL LOG RANCH ON BEAUTIFUL & PRIVATE TREED 1.12 ACRE •4 bedroom, 3 bath, 1,863 sq. ft., fin walkout •2 story fireplace, Florida room, 3+ car attached #211035240 (800) 396-5204 X299

FIE

WHITE LAKE WATERFRONT PRIVATE WONDERLAND RANCH WITH WALKOUT TREED 3.59 ACRE SPLITABLE ESTATE •Updates & hilltop views, 3 bed, 1.5 bath •1,661 sq. ft., 3-4 bedroom, 2 bath, great rm •Fin. basement, Florida rm, 2+ car attached •Family room w/fireplace, enclosed carport #211026322 (800) 396-5204 X260 #211054335 (800) 396-5204 X210

Direct:

248-755-7600 248-755-7500

janet@TheStocktonTeam.com

$274,900

PANORAMIC ALL-SPORTS LONG LAKEFRONT VIEWS!!! •2,120 sq. ft. 2 story, 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths •Hardwood, 2 decks, 2 car garage, dock #211002164 (800) 396-5204 X274 . WP DT AN L H HIG

$159,900

Direct:

. WP ET RC E MM CO

P. TW CE R E MM CO

$299,900 GORGEOUS HOME ON ALL-SPORTS PLEASANT LAKE •1,704 sq. ft., 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, deck •Gazebo, fireplace, granite kitchen, 2 car #211031580 (800) 396-5204 X262

Janet Steve

$339,900 DEEDED BOAT SLIP ON ALL-SPORTS COMMERCE LAKE •3,019 sq. ft., 4 bed, 3 bath, 2 fireplaces •Daylight basement, deck, courtyard garage #211073119 (800) 396-5204 X224 . WP ET AK L ITE WH

. WP ET RC E MM CO

$299,900

$399,900 INCREDIBLE SUNSETS - ALL-SPORTS COMMERCE LAKEFRONT •2 future build sites, 4 bedroom, 1.5 bath •Island living, circle drive, sandy shoreline #211031823 (800) 396-5204 X285

CE ER MM CO

$349,900

ALL-SPORTS OXBOW LAKEFRONT 1.19 TREED ACRE LOT •3,271 sq. ft. + fin walkout, 4 bed, 3.5 bath •Windows galore, multi decks, 3+ garage, dock #211075518 (800) 396-5204 X271 S ILL NH TO G MIN FAR

E AK

$499,900 SPECTACULAR 2005 BUILT MAIN LAKEFRONT - GREEN LAKE •3 sty colonial, 3,230 sq. ft. + finished walkout •Florida rm, 2nd flr covered porch, 2 sty garage. #211031583 (800) 396-5204 X222

IAC NT PO

$84,900

UPDATED RANCH - 100’ WIDE LOT + TREES & IMMEDIATE MOVE-IN •3 bedroom, new appliances, fenced yard •Deck, 2+ attached garage, new driveway #211074621 (800) 396-5204 X243

$49,900

AFFORDABLE 2006 BUILT RANCH CLOSE TO EVERYTHING •3 bedroom, 2 ceramic baths + 1,256 sq. ft. •Vaulted Great rm, 2+ attached garage, porch #211072361 (800) 396-5204 X275

www.TheStocktonTeam.com

PAGE 48 Apartments

www.spinalcolumnonline.com 56

COME SEE US NOW WIXOM * MOVE IN SPECIAL* 2 BEDROOM ONLY, $595 Will Move You In !

•Playground/Pool •Free Heat & City Water

Town & Country Apartments •48200 W. Pontiac Trail

•Between Beck & Wixom Rd.

CALL US TODAY !

(248)624-3194 WALLED LAKE 2 bedroom, vertical blinds, great location. Close to everything. $625/month includes all utilities immediate occupancy.

248-425-4853 Apartments For Rent SPECIAL 1 or 2 bedroom apartments. Heat and water paid. No pets. In City of Milford.

(248)477-9192 Rooms/Share Quarters

NEED ROOMMATE to share 2 bedroom condo with cable, patio, private entrance, pool & tennis court in Farmington Hills. $500 per month including utilities. 248-860-3693 BUSINESS WOMAN looking to share 2 bedroom apartment in Novi, with female. $400 plus utilities. Call for information. 248-787-2059

EPIC HAIR STUDIO IN WHITE LAKE Is hiring 3-4 full & part time stylists. Must be honest and motivated. Great pay scale. Contact: 248-895-5177 HAIR STYLIST Experienced hair stylist with clientele needed for small intimate, upscale salon in West Bloomfield- natural product line used. Contact Sandy @ Lush Hair Studio 248-366-4474

CATV TECH Experienced only. Immediate full time positions open. Need to pass criminal background check, have a valid driver's license & must pass a drug test.

Please call

248-698-8868 PART TIME OFFICE WORK 3 days per week. Must be professional. Preferably younger female. Must be experienced. $10 per hour. 248-390-9092

Ask for Tina

NOW HIRING: Companies desperately need employees to assemble products at home. No selling, any hours. $500 weekly potential. Info:

1-985-646-1700 DEPT. MI-2319 CARPENTERS

HELP WANTED General/ Help Wanted

General/ Help Wanted

TAXI & AIRPORT DRIVERS WANTED Full or Part time Day or Night

DISPATCHER Any Day - Any Shift

248-666-2110

MEAT/ DELI COUNTER Person wanted full or part time. 248-363-2041

General/ Help Wanted

Drivers Company Drivers Needed! (Solos and Teams)

$500 SIGN-ON BONUS!!!!! •GREAT Home Time (Home Weekly!) •Health Benefits Call Now:

(866) 380-6820 Recent Driving Experience & a CDL-A is Required FALCON TRANSPORT

The Independence Village of White Lake Is now hiring for P/T housekeepers for all shifts Apply in person at: 935 Union Lake Road or fax resume to 248-360-7626 Attn: Annette

MACHINE SHOP HAND/ TRAINEE Part to full time. Lathe, milling, grinding. Please contact us via E-mail :

or apply in person 2516 Union Lake Road

Brick Layer/ Mason Experience only renovation/ new commercial/ all area of Southeast Michigan 810-360-7910

EXPERIENCED PLUMBER NEEDED

Fax resume to Keith

248-363-5864

248-889-3533 CARPENTERS

Let’s Grow Michigan.

COMMERCIAL FITNESS EQUIPMENT SERVICE TECHNICIAN 20-Year corporation in the fitness industry seeks full time field technician. Experience preferred. Benefits..

Email resume to fittech@earthlink.net

Full-time position for the degreed candidate with strong interpersonal skills, creative, flexible, organized, and selfmotivated, with exceptional planning and follow through.

School / Classroom experience needed. Part time or Full time. Walled Lake / W. Bloomfield area. Fax resume to: 248737-9517 or E-mail:

Submit resume to hr@gomaher.com FIT ZONE FOR WOMEN OF WATERFORD

administrator@ MiMontessori.com Sales Positions

Is seeking an energetic and enthusiastic person for a sales & training position. No experience necessary, we will train. Fun environment, flexible hours, mornings, evenings, weekends.

E-mail resume to: fitzonewaterford@ gmail.com or call : 248-674-9800 for more info. Accounting/Financial 66

Needed for wholesale building materials distributor in Walled Lake. Responsible for all books & records through trial balance: payroll & benefit processing. Experience required/ proficiency in Word & Excel. Knowledge of Infor Distribution Software helpful. Immediate full time position open with medical/ dental package.

248-363-9226

Are you looking for a new career? Would like to own your own business? We are the largest real estate broker and last year we sold over 17,000 properties. We expect to surpass that in the coming year.

Join us as we grow Michigan. Contact Mary Nicole 800-370-5816 or marynicole@ realestateone.com

Used/Wanted

Fax resume to 248-669-1204 or email info@hansenmarketing.com

Medical/ Dental

DIRECT CARE WORKERS Great place to work! Full time and part time D.C.W. staff needed to assist challenged adults.Trained preferred or will train.Walled Lake, White Lake & Waterford areas.

248-335-3547 Care Giver Needed 3pm to 11pm CPR/ First aid Experienced with Alzheimer's

248-866-3984 248-887-0616 C.N.A.s Part Time Afternoons and midnights Shift

No phone calls West Hickory Haven 3310 West Commerce Rd.

TEACHERS AIDE / OFFICE WORK

Stylist Wanted Very busy Fantastic Sam's salon in Commerce. Over 400 walk-in guest per week. Commission and or hourly, full or part time.

Office/ Clerical

Sales & Marketing

BOOKKEEPER/ CONTROLLER

New Construction, Remodeling, Service or Repair.

Fax resume Attention Nikkole 248-684-0953

office@ rollamaticinc.com

Needed for manufactured home community in White Lake. Duties will include refurbishing mobile homes.. Valid driver's license necessary. Tools a plus.

Needed for manufactured home community in Wixom. Duties will include refurbishing mobile homes.Valid driver's license required.

General/ Help Wanted

SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

Real Estate Career

Kathy Solan 248-363-8300 248-348-6430 Real Estate One

Items must be FREE to respondents, ad free to you. Restricted to residential. The publishing group accepts no responsibility for actions between individuals.

FREE 27" Toshiba Television, works, top of screen cuts off occasionally. 248-761-8744 FREE KITCHENAID Washing machine in need of some repair (belt replacement). 248-7664323 FREE KITTENS To good home, black and white, Walled Lake area, 248-960-3575

Auction/ Estate Sales

JOBS WANTED

101

Alison's Magnificent Obsession Estate and Moving Sales Phone: (586) 713-1652 Address of Sale:

Day Care in Commerce Twp. Homemade food. Space available for full or part time kids. Great locationLow prices. Hours 7-6pm.

Call Julie 248-225-6559 Housekeeper/House Cleaning 86

College Students Looking for House Cleaning jobs. Great Rates Call if interested 248-931-0295

MERCHANDISE FOR SALE Used/Wanted

Absolutely Free

Sorry, we do not accept ads for free dogs.

We're doubling our staff! •Do you like working with new people and new situations? •Do you have good problem solving skills? •Do you have a "Sky is the limit mentality"? If you said, "Yes", call me.

Senior/Child Care

SEA-DOO JET Skis wanted dead or dying. 1995 on ups. $200- $1400. Top $ for XP's & 947/951 or larger motors. Call Steve at 231-943-4152

SCRAP METAL Aluminum .30-.70¢/lb., Copper $2.20-$3.00/lb., Brass 1.10- 1.70¢/lb, Auto Rads. .90-1.25¢/lb. 1123 Decker, Walled Lk Mann Metals Corp. (248)960-1200

2973 Silent Woods Dr. Commerce, MI 48382 Friday & Saturday 10am to 6pm Lovely Classic solid oak dining set, all hand Amish made in perfect condition, includes dining table w/pads, six ladder back chairs, and lovely china cabinet. Beautiful Flexsteel custom couch, swan head rocker, swivel stools, coffee and end tables, lamps, etc. Noritake dinner service for 12. Deco Bakelite flatware set from the 1920's (never used, in original box). Set of Mikasa crystal, casual stemware, pretty stoneware service for 12, Fostoria console set, other collectible glass and china. Oak desk from the 1920's, includes original rolling desk chair. Two contemporary entertainment centers, tv's, Christmas, hand made quilts, depression and older glass, linens, everyday kitchen, darling primative "style" cabinet, nice patio set w/metal and glass table w/four chairs. Nice quality ladies clothing, tools, several saws, NEW dehumidifier, and more! Terms and Conditions: Cash, check, credit cards! no implied warranties, no refunds, not responsible for accidents. Please keep all children close to their guardians. For further information & pictures: estatesales.net

Garage Sales

103

RUMMAGE SALE Sunday July 24th, 10am4pm Monday July 25th, 10am-6:30pm Tuesday July 26th, 10am-4pm

Cong. B'nai Moshe 6800 Drake Rd. (south of Maple Rd.) Huge Assortment! Clothing for entire family. Baby goods, toys, housewares, home goods, small furnishings etc.

GREAT BARGAINS !! COMMERCE GOLF CLUBS, Spor ting goods, stereo equipment, clothes, odds n ends: Saturday only, 8a.m.-6p.m. 3791 Balmony, Bass Lake/ Benstein. 2841 WOODLAWN. July 21st & 22nd, 9am-5pm. Off of Glengary. HIGHLAND

Sub Sale Thurs., Fri., Sat., 9-5 Corner of Milford Road and Livingston King, Clark, Helen, McPherson Streets. PLUS SIZE Women's clothing, tools, lawn equipment & much more: Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 9a.m.-4p.m. 3201 Harvey Lake Road.

Garage Sales

103

WIXOM THURSDAY, FRIDAY, Saturday, 9am-4pm. Variety of household items. Some furniture, some collectibles & antiques. 1963 Teaneck Circle. Off Loon Lake Rd., just west of Benstein.

Building Materials 105 (3) SLIDING Doorwall screens. (1) slightly used, $20. (2) used at $10 each. All are 36" x 80" adjustable. 248623-2661

Tools

106

CRAFTSMAN METAL tool box with tray, $15.00 248787-2200

Lawn Tractors/ Mowers

109

ARIENS 911 SERIES Lawn mower - walk behind. 1991. Good condition. $80 248-6263912

Appliances

122

FREEZER, United commercial heavy duty, upright, works, $150. OBO Call between 10am-9pm. 248-669-9609

Furniture/Rugs

125

BOB'S CARPET Has great buys on plush, berber & frieze carpet. Also room size remnants $4 per yard

Call Bob

WEST BLOOMFIELD

(248)681-5771

BABY BOY Items, housewares: 8:30a.m.-5:30p.m. Thursday, Friday, Saturday, 7480 Northway off Keith, Willow/ Commerce.

NAVY BLUE leather couch with oversized chair & ottoman. Coffee table with end table. Excellent condition. Will separate. $500. 248-9603858 Leave message.

WHITE LAKE

CEDAR CREST LUTHERAN CHURCH

RUMMAGE SALE July 21st-23rd 9am-3pm Thurs., Fri. 9am-noon, $1.00 Bag Sat.

485 Farnsworth across from Dublin Elementary School 2665 GRASS VALLEY Drive. Thursday, Friday, 9am-5pm. No early birds. Lots of variety. Vintage, fishing, yard, kitchen, clothing & some free things too !

QUEEN SIZE Wooden headboard, footboard $25 for the set. Girls wooden headboard bookcase twin size $25 OBO 248-624-8857 (Walled Lake area)

Household Items

129

ANCHOR HOCKING, microwave dishes w/lids. New never used. Freeze/heat/ serve. $8. 248-623-2661

Odds N Ends

138

$20 PREPAID Phone card $12.50 I can give you a 1-800 number to verify, expires June 13, 2013. 248-623-2661.

JULY 20-26, 2011 Odds N Ends

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

138

Boats/Motors/Trailers 164

EUROPEAN 10 Stovetop Espresso maker, new in box, $10. 248-534-7004

Local & long distance Spring start up prompt service Summer Storage $59.99 RVs, trailers: fenced, gated, & lighted storage yard. Used pontoons & trailers for sale Tom 248-681-4250

PRESTO ELECTRIC Knife like new, $5 248-960-7285

BOATS/ OUTDOOR

seaway5@comcast.net

CARS/TRUCKS MOTORCYCLES

Wanted Boats/Jet Skis/ Parts 162 SEA-DOO JET SKIS WANTED DEAD OR DYING. 1995 on ups. $200$1400. Top $ for XP's & 947/951 or larger motors. Call Steve 231-943-4152

Wanted Parts/ Salvage

181

UNWANTED AUTOS LLC TOP $ Paid For Any: • Junk • Non Running • Wrecked Cars. FREE TOWING. SAME DAY PICK UP

164

(248)467-0396

DAVE'S MOBILE MARINE

ABC * UNWANTED *

•Pontoon Hauling •Inboard & Outboard Repair "We Come To You" •Buy & Sell Motors

AUTOS, CARS & TRUCKS

$200 AND UP 248-698-1062

(248)666-9248

183

Boat & Pontoon Hauling

NICKEL PLATE Railroad porcelain sign, 8in. X 8in. $20. 248-698-4168

Boats/Motors/ Trailers

Motorcycles

2004 YAMAHA R1- 1000 motorcycle. Many extras, must see. $4,500. (248)9789246

MOTORCYCLEGUARANTEE See First Want Ad Page Cars

SERVICE DIRECTORY

REPAIR/ IMPROVEMENT Appliance Repair

TONY'S APPLIANCE SERVICE Servicing all Major Appliances. •Hot water tank

SMART CAR 2008 4/2. Passion yellow. Many extras. 13,400 miles. $12,800 OBO. 248-242-6346

Vans

194

FORD E150 van 1998, new engine only 68K on it, runs great, excellent work van. $2,500 OBO 248-960-4504

Auto Dealer Specials on Pages 52 - 53

515

Cement/Concrete

Elegant Woodworking

(248)363-3804

Asphalt/Pavement 503

KEITH'S SEALCOATING • NO SPRAY •ASPHALT REPAIR + GRAVEL FILL SINCE 1983

(248)-623-7282 PAGER (248)-452-3240

CONCRETE SERVICES

Buying a Home? Let us

Look Before You Leap!

Driveways, Patios, Sidewalks, Tear-outs, Replacements, Footings, Block work. Over 30 years experience.

Afford

248-579-3979

517

MARCUCCI

C&G CEMENT

CONCRETE As Seen on ABC TV "Extreme Home Makeovers"

Quality Workmanship Residential-Commercial Over 30 years Experience STAMPED CONCRETE DRIVEWAYS • FOOTINGS GARAGE FLOORS BLOCK WORK FREE ESTIMATES Michael (248)363-4783 MILFORD LOCATION

Satisfying Customers for Over 30 Years •DRIVEWAY •PORCHES •FOUNDATIONS •BRICK •BLOCK •STAMPED/ COLORED Lic/Ins Visa/ MC Wixom

(248)684-5928

248-486-5900

248-881-3478

Carpet Installation 513 We use healthier products than most cleaning companies to help those with allergies, children, and for a healthier home.

MB QUALITY FLOOR COVERING •New Carpet & Pad Sales •Installation, Repairs, & Restretches •27 years experience •Free estimates WE WORK FOR YOU

Buy a $50 Gift Card Get $10 Back 248-818-9416

Licensed Insured

4075 Echo Drive West Bloomfield

248-561-5667

FREE

Lunghamer Buick GMC Come Meet Our Service Professionals $ BART FLOOK

ANDY MORRIS

10.00 OFF

Crescent Lake Road

Airport Road

Highland Road (M-59)

ANY SERVICE REPAIR

TIRE ROTATION WITH ANY WHEEL ALIGNMENT

NOT VALID FOR EXTENDED WARRANTY & INSURANCE DEDUCTIBLES

One coupon per visit, cannot be combined with any other offer. Limited time offer.

IS THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AGAIN? $

CERTIFIED SERVICE

POT HOLE SPECIAL

49.95

STEVE GLAZER

FREE

20.00 OFF

ROTATING & BALANCING TIRES

We will spend up to 30 minutes diagnosing any problem your vehicle has. We will provide a free estimate for any problems detected during our diagnostic check. FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC CHARGES MAY APPLY. One coupon per visit, cannot be combined with any other offer. Limited time only.

able Home Inspections

Up to 170 components inspected in a typical three bedroom home. Computer-generated, comprehensive, easy-tounderstand report summary. High resolution, color pictures provide a visual reference of problem areas. Reports are emailed to you and your Real Estate Agent. After inspection questions are always answered, even after you move into your home.

Call Bob

elegant-woodworking.com

Cement/Concrete

517

AFFORDABLE

•Mantels •Fireplace Surrounds •Furniture •Entertainment Center •Custom Cabinets •Crown Molding •Kitchen Cabinets •Custom Bars Harold Canfield

(248)360-0213 (248)698-8819

187

SALES GUARANTEE Autos, Vans, Trucks See First Want Ad Page

502

Cabinetry

PAGE 49

OVER $100.00

30-DAY PRICE MATCH ON TIRES Buy select tires and if you find a better price within 30 days of the purchase, we’ll refund the difference.

109.95

ELIGIBLE TIRE BRANDS: BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Firestone, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Michelin, Pirelli and Uniroyal.

Includes: front end alignment, rotate and force balance, inspect alignment and brakes

One coupon per visit, cannot be combined with any other offer. Limited time offer.

Not valid with other offers. Coupon valid at vehicle check-in. Limited time offer.

Lunghamer Buick GMC 5825 Highland Rd. • Waterford, MI 48327

248-461-1000

www.lunghamerbuickgmc.com

SERVICE HOURS: Mon. & Thurs. 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Tues., Wed. & Fri. 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

10 y

Sig Re n Up ce & 0000 ive

OF F

yo ser ur 1s vic r e

PAGE 50

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

LAKES AREA SERVICES (248) 360-7355

www.SpinalColumnOnline.com

Fax (248) 360-5308

IN PRINT and ON-LINE 24/7

Personal • Business • Maintenance • Improvements • Repair Cement/Concrete

517

20% OFF ALL LABOR Master, Lic. & Ins., 25 years

Driveway Specials Free Tearout All stamped concrete + all phases Fully Lic. & Ins. www.arrowcement.com 248-758-4346 524

GARAGE DOOR SPRINGS & DOOR OPENERS REPAIRED/ REPLACED AVAILABLE SUNDAY (248)640-6298 CELL CERTIFIED OVERHEAD DOOR SERVICE •Garage Doors •Repaired/ Services •New Doors/ Openers •Installed at Factory Pricing •Emergency Service Available

248-624-3161 Drywall

526

R&D DRYWALL •Hang & Finished •Small Repair •Texture Repair •Plaster Repair •Wet Sand

Ron (248)673-7665 Electricians

528

Electrical Specialist

Arrow Concrete

Doors

Electricians

528

MASTER ELECTRICIAN Insured & State licensed, 25 years experience. Prompt, courteous service. Free estimates, All types of work. Competitive prices

(248)683-7985

Experience. 24 Hour service, Free estimates. Outside plug, service upgrades, generator hook-up, all electrical jobs .

248-343-4238 Excavating

529

J.J.M BACKHOE SERVICE LLC Backhoe service & landscaping. 38 Years Experience. Small or Large Jobs. Fully insured. Free estimates.

(248)624-6458 AFFORDABLE DEMOLITION & SERVICES "Division of Rae Excavating" • BUILDING REMOVAL• • Sewer and Water • Storm Sewers • Trucking & Grading Licensed & Insured

248-624-4473 Flooring

536

EDWARD'S FLOOR COVERING •Linoleum •Ceramic Tile •Hardwood Floors •Laminate Wood 27 Years Exp. Free Est.

(248)684-5983 Handy Person

545

DU-IT-ALL HOME CARE IMPROVEMENTS Specials: •Ceramic Tile •Formica Tops & Kitchens •Exterior/Interior Painting Also, we do complete basements and all other interior work, including electric, plumbing, etc. Call today. Cell #

Handy Person

545

D & S HOME REPAIRS REMODELING •Additions •Garages •Drywall •Painting •Plumbing •Electrical •Tile •Marble •Kitchens •Baths •Basements •Decks 33 Years ... Licensed

248-684-4175 810-714-3058

TOTAL HOME SERVICE 35 Years Licensed PLUMBING • HEATING CARPENTRY • DRYWALL ELECTRICAL NEW SERVICE KITCHENS BATHS CERAMIC TILE

"The job your husband will do tomorrow." (248)887-2366 QUALITY HOME REPAIR •Carpentery & Painting •Plumbing •Kitchen & Bath remodelingCounter tops, Cabinets •Home Improvements

248-820-1286 Licensed & Insured

Heating/ Duct Work

546

THOMASON HEATING & COOLING • Furnaces • Boilers • Air Cleaners •Air Conditioners •Humidifiers Service & Replacements

Heating/ Duct Work

546

Lawn/Garden Services

Plumbing 553

HURON VALLEY HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING •Repair •Replace •Inspections •Humidifiers •Water Heaters •Night service available

LADY LIBERTY ENTERPRISES Land Dec-

(248)887-3666

College Student Looking for Lawn care, mulch/ stone & odd jobs Shawn Larkins 248-931-0295

Home Improvement

547

SHERMAN BLDG CO. •Additions •Garages •Decks •Rough & Trim Carpentry •Wood Siding •Basements •Kitchens •All outside wood repairs

248-682-1393 248-802-6554 Home Inspection

248-634-7041

Painting/ Decorating

548

248-881-3478 553

A R T Outdoor Services, LLC Spring Clean-ups • Mulch Landscaping • Lawn Service Weeding • Fully Insured Residential & Commercial

(248)891-7072

FREE ESTIMATES ON INSTALLATION

www.artoutdoorservices.com

Licensed and Insured

248-363-1615

(248)625-5719

Premier Plumbing Licensed & Insured Complete Plumbing Service New Construction & Remodel Commercial & Residential

248-363-5864 Power Washing

562

FARR'S PAINTING

Exterior & Interior Wood Repairs • Caulking Staining • Wallpaper Removal Drywall repairs • Water repairs Free Power Washing w/paint. farrshomeimprovements.com

(248) 477-7764 (248) 345-3308 VS PAINTING SUMMER SPECIAL

569

FARR'S POWER WASHING •Deck Cleaning / Staining & Sealing •Brick Cleaning •Rust & Mold Removal •Housewashing. •Painting •Deck Repairs. farrshomeimprovements.com

(248) 477-7764 (248) 345-3308 Roofing

Buying A Home? Let Us Look Before You Leap! AFFORDABLE HOME INSPECTIONS Licensed Insured STERLING HOME SERVICES

Lawn/Garden Services

orating & Maintenance, LLC. Flower bed weeding, Mulching, Brick Pavers/Repairs, Boulder Walls, Lawn Maintenance, Spring Clean-ups, Tree & Shrub Pruning. Insured.

567

571

D&D ROOFING •Siding •Gutters & Leaf Guards •Soffits & Trimwork •Decks •Windows

Doug Dible 248-431-6243

ROOF LEAKS & WATER DAMAGE REPAIRS MAHER RESTORATION www.goMaher.com "Maher Makes It Happen"

248-926-6631 PRICE IS RIGHT ROOFING

Save 20% this season on exterior/ interior painting, drywall repair, & wallpaper removal on small or big jobs. 25 years experience. licensed and insured. Same day free estimates.

•Repairs •Re-Roofs •Chimney Repair •Metal Work •Flat Roofs •Complete Roof Packages. •Siding •Gutters

248-894-3239

FREE Estimates

Plumbing

567

DAVID MAROHN • Licensed & Insured • Plumbing Repairs Bathroom Remodel Drain cleaning •40 Years Experience •Quality Service

(248)363-4976

30 Years Experience

248-408-8795 Siding

577

I.D.C. Home Service Siding, Trim & Soffitt Guaranteed Professional Installation. Lic./ Ins. References available.

Bob: 248-363-0589 idchomeservice.com

Tile

585

•Remodeling •Quality Service •New Construction • Repairs •Grout Sealing • Licensed and Insured

John Miller (248)505-8865 jmtileandmarble.com

586

Progressive Transportation Specializing in: •Appliances •Furniture •Debris Removal

25 years experience •Tree trimming •Tree & stump removal •70ft bucket lift •Free estimates •Insured

248-921-9097 Waterproofing

599

Dry Basements, LLC We Repair: •Poured Walls/ Concrete Block •Waterproofing •Cracked or Bowed Walls •Foundation Repaired Replaced •Underpinning •Crawl Space and Encapsulation •Licensed & Insured •Ron Heck, Builder (248)420-0116

Wells

603

McPherson

Call anytime for estimates & great service

248-887-4892 Tree Service

587

KODIAK TREE SERVICE

J.M. TILE & MARBLE CUSTOM WORK

Trash/Debris Removal

Tree Service

587

LOUIE'S TREE SERVICE Tree Removal •Stump Grinding Firewood • Free Estimates 20 Yrs. Exp. • Fully Insured "Will Beat All Competitors" Residential • Commercial

248-240-6143 248-240-6142 248-366-1325

MAXON'S TREE SERVICE •Trimming •Tree Removal •Stump Grinding •Lot Clearing •Firewood & Woodchips "We now have wood fencing & deliver sand, gravel, top soil."

Licensed & Insured Free Estimates

(248)887-2190

WELL SERVICE PUMPS •TANKS WELL REPAIR 2, 4, & 5 INCH

Emergency Service 7 days a week 248-

363-6464

aquawells.com All credit cards accepted

BOB WYCKOFF WELL DRILLING "If you have questions, we have answers!" •PUMPS •TANKS • WELL REPAIR

(248)310-0917

Emergency Service EASY PAYMENT PLANS No Credit Check Visa & MasterCard

JULY 20-26, 2011

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

PAGE 51

Cooley Lk. Rd. Union Lake Rd.

Commerce Rd.

Ric hard son Rd Oakley Park

WALMART

Benstein Rd.

Maple Rd.

M-5

Where You Need Us! 2199 Haggerty Rd. at Pontiac Trail

Haggerty Rd.

RIGHT HERE

Trail tiac Pon

14 Mile Rd.

Across from Lakes Professional Building

Any Service Over $175.00

~ COUPON ~

OIL CHANGE

Any Service Over $90.00

★

95*

• Check tire pressure • Caster or camber and rear adjustments are extra SC

Must present coupon when order is written. Most vehicles. Cannot be combined with other coupons or discounts. Expires 8/3/11.

One coupon per customer. Coupons may not be combined with any other offer. Expires 8/3/11. Excludes oil changes, brake promotion, tires and SRTA’S. Valid only in our service department. Must present coupon when order is written. SC

Check Engine Light Special or any Warning Light (ABS/Airbag)

FREE

Must present coupon when order is written. Cannot be combined with any other offers. GM vehicles only. Plus tax and shop supplies. Expires 8/3/11.

Fuel Injection Service HELP IMPROVE YOUR GAS MILEAGE! •Pressurized cleaning of fuel injectors •Remove combustion chamber deposits •Clean air intake system •Three Part Fuel System

10% OFF

Fuel filter Replacement

Plus tax. Most GM cars and trucks. All coupons must be presented at time of write up. Offers cannot be applied with any other offers. Expires 8/3/11.

95 +tax

GM PROTECTION PLAN

Our factory-trained technicians will perform the following:

We will LIMITED perform a ACT NOW TIME ONLY complete BEFORE OFFER computer EXPIRES scan and external diagnosis. If your vehicle displays a “Check Engine” or “Service Soon” bring this coupon in for diagnosis.

★

• Set toe-in on applicable vehicles

+tax & dep. fee with coupon

*Includes up to 5 quarts of oil and oil filter. Excludes synthetic oil and diesel engines. Most vehicles–see service advisor for exceptions. With this coupon. Coupon cannot be combined with any other offer. Expires 8/3/11.

Any Make or Model

Front End Alignment

INCLUDES:

25 Off $ 15 Off

Service Special OIOTOR L

★ WILD CARD SPECIAL ★

SAVE $30.00

Bring your GM Protection Plan Extended Service Contract to the dealer you know and trust! SERVICE CONTRACTS HONORED HERE

We Service All Makes and Models of GM Vehicles and most Domestic and Import models as well

WE OFFER: NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY • Most Repairs Completed Same Day

FREE

Enjoy your complimentary coffee while you wait • Safety Inspection* • Rental & Shuttle Service Safe & Secure After Hours Drop Off • Full Service Maintenance • Collision Repair • Work With Most Insurance Companies

Available

Expert Mechanics and Technicians • Full Paint or Touch-Ups • Expert Color Matching • We Handle Large or Small Jobs

FREE Estimates on Collision Repairs! Service, Parts and Body Shop Hours:

www.morrismotorsmi.com

Monday & Thursday 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 7 a.m.-6 p.m.

Your Hometown Car & Truck Service and Maintenance Center for over 42 Years *Diagnosis extra, brake inspection extra.

Celebrating

YEARS 11 9-20 1 96

PAGE 52

www.spinalcolumnonline.com

SPINAL COLUMN NEWSWEEKLY

Celebrating

YEARS 11 9-20 1 96

We Offer the Best Value for Less! Low Monthly Payments • Highest Quality Vehicles Purchasing a new sub-compact car can easily cost you $18,000 or more, and for that price, you’re still likely to have to compromise on features that are important to you.

Get the most from your car buying dollars, with all the features you need and want with a previously owned vehicle!

2010 NISSAN ALTIMA Was 17,995 4DR SDN IV $ CVT 2.5 S Now 17,500** #P2015 $

This 2010 Altima has a restyled hood, grille and front bumper, as well as a standard electronic stability system. It offers great fuel economy and has the classic good looks and a comfortable luxury ride. Look for power mirrors, CD player in dash, deluxe wheel covers, dual exhaust (sedan), adjustable head rests, and seats five people. The rear seatback is split and can be folded down when long items need to be carried inside the car. Under the hood this peppy Altima has 175-horsepower, 2.5-liter four-cylinder with 180 pounds-feet of torque. This one won’t last long! EPA FUEL ECONOMY • City: 23 • Highway: 32

2007 CHEVROLET UPLANDER LT $ Was 16,995 ** MINI VAN Now 16,500

2006 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO 2DR CPE LT $Was 10,900 ** #P1714A Now 9,995

#P2037

Chevrolet’s Uplander minivan, 3.9-liter V-6 engine and electronic stability system is standard. Chevrolet bills the Uplander as a crossover sport van. It has sport utility vehicle styling cues–with a sevenpassenger seating capacity which features three rows of seats, a low step-in height and sliding side doors. The Uplander also features a flexible rear cargo system that has three dividers. When the third-row bench seat is folded, the seat and storage system line up to create a level load floor. Dual zone air condition, front and rear entertainment center, rear seat, 3.9 V-6, 17” aluminum wheels, full power equipment. Very clean inside and outside, no rust, very low mileage 39,903, clean car fax report. EPA FUEL ECONOMY • City: 18 • Highway: 25

The Monte Carlo is NASCAR racing heritage! The car’s interior features low-gloss instrument-panel components and jewel-like dashboard detailing. Drive this “sporty” car on vacation today for a comfortable ride for 5 passengers. This one is equipped with split bench seats, CD player in dash, tilt steering wheel, cruise control, trip computer, chrome wheels, daytime running lights, adjustable lumbar seat(s). Must see! EPA FUEL ECONOMY • City: 21 • Highway: 31

Complete Inventory

2199 Haggerty Road @ Pontiac Trail Walled Lake • www.morrismotorsmi.com

248-624-4500

At: www.morrismotorsmi.com For Peace of Mind: most of our vehicles have warranty or service contracts available.

**For purchase with qualified credit approval. Prices are plus tax, title, license & doc fee. Call dealer for more details. Offer good thru 7/27/11. Subject to prior sale.

SALES HOURS: Mon. & Thurs.: 8:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.

Tues., Wed., Fri.: 8:30 a.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Sat.: 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.