AROUND TOWN MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER
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MARCH 2022
IN THIS ISSUE LATEST NEWS
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Select topics of interest at bit.ly/bhamnews.
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
EMERGENCY ALERTS & CRIMEDAR
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SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
LATEST NEWS BIRMINGHAM ISSUES PROCLAMATION IN SUPPORT OF UKRAINE The
City
of
Birmingham
issued
a
proclamation condemning the invasion and attack of Ukraine, and declaring support for the citizens of Ukraine and the democracy and freedom in which they
fight
to
retain.
Read
the
proclamation here.
CALLING ALL ARTISTS! Keep an eye on Engage Birmingham for a contest coming soon that will invite artists to submit designs for wall art at the Birmingham Ice Arena! The winning mural will be featured on the wall in their brand new party room. Keep an eye on engage.bhamgov.org for project details coming soon.
MEET THE STAFF OLIVIA BROWN, HUMAN RESOURCES GENERALIST Follow this link to learn about our new Human Resources Office staff member, Olivia Brown. Welcome, Olivia!
CITY MANAGER REPORT Looking for the inside scoop at City Hall? Download the City Manager's Report prepared for the City Commission each month. Birmingham City Manager Tom Markus provides the latest updates from city departments and a sneak peek at upcoming events, staffing changes, developments and more.
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
COMING SOON - GOVALERT CITIZEN REQUEST APP Did you know you will soon be able to submit a concern or question to the city in the time it takes to send a text using the GovAlert mobile app? Follow us on social media for an announcement coming soon! With the app, you will be able to submit your request in seconds. The request is geotargeted to help us pinpoint your location for expedited service. A submission form will also be on the city’s website at www.bhamgov.org/citizenrequests. Enjoy fast, efficient service with GovAlert soon!
CITY OFFICES & MEETINGS UPDATES CITY OFFICES The City Hall lobby remains accessible to the public through the Martin Street entrance on the north side of City Hall during regular business hours, Monday - Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Oakland County remains classified as a medium-high transmission area, and we ask the public to wear a mask while in the building. Main floor services including the Clerk’s and Treasurer's offices are accessible. Necessary in-person meetings between City Hall employees and the public take place at a designated location on the main floor of City Hall. Social distancing of six feet should be maintained during all in-person meetings. The Police Department lobby entrance on the east side of City Hall on Pierce Street continues to operate as the point of contact for all off-hour requests. Visit www.bhamgov.org/contacts to view a list of department contact numbers for services needed.
CITY MEETINGS City Commission and other city boards meet in-person with a virtual option available to the public. The virtual option is provided to help reduce the volume of people inside meeting rooms at any given time. Individuals who would like to attend meetings in person can access City Hall from the Martin Street entrance during normal business hours, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For meetings that occur after hours, visitors can access City Hall through the Police Department lobby entrance on Pierce Street. Members of the public who prefer to attend meetings virtually may learn how to participate at www.bhamgov.org/participate. You may also watch many City meetings on your local cable access channel and by web streaming on the City's Vimeo channel.
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
SECOND DRAFT REVIEW - CITYWIDE MASTER PLAN A final review session has been added and will take place at the Planning Board meeting on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m. The purpose of this additional session is to summarize the review of the second draft and prioritize the recommendations that are forwarded to the City Commission for the eventual joint meeting before preparation of the third and final draft. Information about how to participate in Planning Board meetings can be found on the City's website at www.bhamgov.org/participate. In person attendees should access City Hall through the Police Department lobby entrance on Pierce Street. You may also watch many City meetings on the local cable access channel and by web streaming at www.bhamgov.org/watch. After the Planning Board review process, a joint meeting of the City Commission and Planning Board will be held to finalize the second draft and authorize distribution of the plan for review by entities required by state planning law. We want to hear your opinion, preferences, and vision for the community’s future. You are encouraged to review the plan and share your feedback at www.thebirminghamplan.com. The site includes relevant data, surveys, documents and an email communication option to send comments directly to the planning team.
PARKS & RECREATION BOARD MEETING Learn and ask questions about Parks and Recreation Bond projects at the Parks and Recreation Board meeting on Tuesday, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. Topics on the agenda include: Annual Golf Report, Adams Park Project - Review Proposals and Public Arts Board Update.
Attend
in
person
or
learn
how
to
participate
via
Zoom
at
www.bhamgov.org/participate. Find more information about Parks & Recreation bond projects at www.bhamgov.org/parksbond.
SENIOR SERVICES Did you know seniors enjoy a wide variety of services all throughout the Birmingham community? From special events and activities to exclusive discounts and assistance, seniors have many special opportunities in Birmingham. Learn more at www.bhamgov.org/seniorservices.
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2022
SOUTH OLD WOODWARD RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT Downtown
infrastructure
improvements
will
continue this year with the South Old Woodward Reconstruction Phase 3 project between Brown and Landon. It is a continuation of the work completed in 2018 on other areas along Old Woodward,
and
reconstruction
in
project
2020 will
on
Maple.
result
in
The new
underground infrastructure and new streetscape between Brown and Landon. Residents and businesses are encouraged to sign up for the South Old Woodward Reconstruction Phase 3 Constant Contact group at bit.ly/bhamnews to receive updates throughout the project. Download frequently asked questions regarding the project here. More
information
about
the
project
can
also
be
found
at
www.bhamgov.org/oldwoodwardphase3.
MISSED THE FEB 21 PUBLIC INFORMATION SESSION? WATCH NOW A Public Information Session regarding the South Old Woodward Reconstruction project was held on Monday, February 21. Topics discussed included: Introductions for Project Team, Project Overview, Maintaining Traffic/Access During Construction, BSD Initiatives During Construction and Special Assessments. If you missed it or would like to view it again, you may watch it on the City's Youtube channel here.
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
JOIN US FOR A CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2022 AT 6:30 P.M.
Social districts and food trucks will be discussed at the City Commission workshop on Monday, March 14 at 6:30 p.m., immediately before the regularly scheduled City Commission meeting. Residents are encouraged to attend the workshops to gain a better understanding of topics and projects considered by the City Commission. The Mayor will call for public comment at the end of each workshop to ensure the City Commission has as much time as possible throughout the workshop to learn, explore, discuss and hear community input as well. Workshop agendas will be available each Thursday preceding the meetings at www.bhamgov.org/commissionagendas.
JOIN A CITY BOARD OR COMMITTEE Joining a City Board or Committee is a great way to get involved and meet others in the community!
Whether
you’re
interested
in
public
art,
transportation
or
infrastructure
improvements, we've got a place where you can share your talents and make a difference. For
a
complete
list
of
openings
www.bhamgov.org/boardopportunities.
and
requirements
for
each
board,
please
visit
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2022
SET OUT YARD WASTE STARTING THE WEEK OF APRIL 4 You may start putting yard waste bags curbside for pick up on your refuse day during the week of April 4. Only the kraft-style paper bags are acceptable, or trash containers with a "Yard Waste" decal sticker attached (no plastic bags). If you have yard waste bags prior to the week of April 4, you can either hold onto the yard waste until the curbside yard waste pick up begins, or take up to ten paper yard waste bags to SOCRRA, located at 995 Coolidge, Troy MI. For more information view yard waste guidelines at www.bhamgov.org/yardwaste or contact the Department of Public Services at (248) 530-1700.
BIRMINGHAM FIRE DEPARTMENT DONATE SOON-TO-BE DEMOLISHED HOMES OR BUSINESSES TO ASSIST WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT TRAINING Did you know you can donate your home or commercial
business
demolished exercises?
for
that
essential
Training
is
soon-to-be
firefighter
inside
a
home
training enables
firefighters to witness first hand not only what it’s like to be in a home filled with (simulated) smoke, but also several other fire safety and rescue situations. These exercises are great for teaching: Real-world scenarios (like search-and-rescue) How to size up a fire Best ways to advance hose lines through an area Roof operations and ventilation procedures Firefighter survival emergency wall breach maneuver For more information please contact Battalion Chief
and
Training
Officer,
Tom
Hughes
thughes@bhamgov.org or 248-530-1918.
at
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2022
NEWS FROM THE ICE SPORTS ARENA RIBBON CUTTING CELEBRATION: MARCH 20 AT 11:00 AM All are invited to join us for a Ribbon Cutting Celebration on Sunday, March 20, 2022 at the Birmingham Ice Sports Arena beginning at 11:00 AM. A program booklet will be available the day of the event with the schedule of activities.
Featured activities include figure
skating and hockey exhibitions along with tours of the renovated ice arena facility. We look forward to welcoming the community to celebrate
with
us
and
enjoy
the
newly
renovated facility!
NOW HIRING SEASONAL POSITIONS! The Ice Sports Arena is hiring! Openings include Ice Arena Concessions and Sales and Ice Arena Maintenance. The City offers competitive wages and provides training as needed. Visit www.bhamgov.org/jobs to find out more and apply!
STREAM HOCKEY GAMES AND OTHER EVENTS WITH LIVE BARN Never miss a moment! Stream hockey games and other activities happening at the Birmingham Ice Sports Arena on your computer, tablet or mobile device anytime, anywhere using LiveBarn! LiveBarn is a subscription-based service currently in use at over 1,000 ice arenas nationwide. Subscribers receive viewing access to all LiveBarn arenas,
and
the
ability
to
download
games
for
review/archive and share highlights via email or social media. For more information and to subscribe, click the LiveBarn button at www.bhamgov.org/icearena.
The Birmingham Ice Sports Arena is located at 2300 East Lincoln in Birmingham. Contact the arena at 248.530.1642. For questions about Ice Skating Classes, contact Connie Folk at (248) 530-1642 or cfolk@bhamgov.org.
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
NEWS FROM THE CLERK'S OFFICE BIRMINGHAM HOMETOWN PARADE RETURNS MAY 15! CALLING ALL SPONSORS, VOLUNTEERS AND PARTICIPANTS The tradition continues in 2022 as the Celebrate Birmingham hometown parade marches in Downtown Birmingham on May 15 at 1 p.m. Sponsorship of the parade is a great opportunity for area businesses to increase their presence in the community and to be an integral part of one of Birmingham’s signature events. Sponsorship packages range from the $3,500 Presenting Sponsor, which provides the broadest presence of company name and message, to the $100 Parade Friend Sponsor, which includes the company name displayed in Shain Park and on the City website. There are opportunities at all levels to sponsor a specific parade act or party activity. Participants are being sought to march in the parade, create a float, entertain and proudly represent their organization. Contact the City Clerk’s Office at (248) 530-1880 or go to bhamgov.org/parade for information and registration.
NEWS FROM THE MUSEUM AMAZING BIRMINGHAM WOMEN AND THEIR FLYING MACHINES Birmingham has had more than its share of wonderful winging women, and the Birmingham Museum’s Donna Casaceli will be sharing their stories at a free lecture at the Baldwin Public Library Thursday, March 3 at 7 p.m. (currently scheduled as virtual only). From the days of the barnstormers to the first woman astronaut, Birmingham has been at the forefront of female flight. Experience the joy of being airborne through the eyes of these homegrown adventurous aviating women. Register at the Baldwin Library website. The Birmingham Museum is currently open Tuesday – Friday from 1 to 4 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for students and seniors, and
children
5
and
under
and
Friends
members are free.
Contact museum staff at 248-530-1928 or museum@bhamgov.org for more information or for help with your questions. To see what we’ve been up to, check us out on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Youtube!
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY MARCH NEWS AND EVENTS Looking ahead to spring, we continue our series with the Birmingham Museum with a program on women in aviation, as well as Genealogy 101:Navigating Newspapers. The Kids Library Society is hosting a contest, inviting kids to create their own book covers, while the Youth Services staff takes you outside for story time! And over the course of the month, we’ll share new presentations on Michigan’s mysterious disappearances of planes, ships and people, making your own seed oils, and on the Sarah E. Ray Project. Find all of these and more at baldwinlib.org/calendar.
COMPUTER CLASS OFFERINGS Check out computer class offerings for March at baldwinlib.org/computer-classes. You can also start a new session of Gale Courses on March 16, or check LinkedIn Learning for on-demand instruction any time.
Baldwin Public Library is located at 300 W. Merrill Street in Birmingham. For more information visit www.baldwinlib.org or call (248) 647-1700.
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
NEWS FROM NEXT COMEDY & MAGIC FROM THE AMAZING KEITH FIELDS! TUESDAY, MARCH 22 AT 6:00 PM You may recognize him from his many appearances on WXYZ and FOX2 — or from his thousands of appearances on cruise ships, theaters and comedy clubs. Keith is a globetrotting entertainer who has made his home in Michigan and can often be seen head lining at The Magic Soiree, Detroit’s only Magic Dinner Theater. Keith guarantees this will be a night to remember.
THE NEWLY-CREATED OUDOLF GARDENS OF BELLE ISLE DUNCAN CAMPBELL, PROJECT LEADER & GROUND CREW WEDNESDAY, MARCH 23 AT 1:00 PM The Oudolf Gardens of Belle Isle designed by perennial garden master, Piet Oudolf (pictured), opened to the public on August 28, 2021. His work at the High Line in New York City and Lurie Garden in Chicago are major successes. What began as a love letter from Detroit, sent to Oudolf has become a reality after more than five years of hard work and perseverance. Join us to learn more about the entire herculean project starting with a simple wish, to the completion of this magnificent public garden. It has been said, a public garden designed by Piet Oudolf, arguable the world’s best garden designer, is a gift to the community that will keep on giving for generations.
ANTARCTICA ROBIN FRISCH-GLEASON, GEOLOGIST, TEACHER, ARCTIC EXPLORER WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30 AT 1:00 PM Antacrtica is a continent of extremes and a place of magnificent beauty. In this talk, Robin Frisch-Gleason will share pictures and stories from three expeditions. She will take us through a day of field research on the frozen continent and share encounters with penguins, whales and seals. Come enjoy this armchair tour of Antarctica. Robin brings a background in both geology and teaching. She received her G.A. in Geology from Oberlin College in 1982 — and her M.S. in Geology from Vanderbilt University in 1987.
NEXT IS HIRING! Next is hiring a part-time program coordinator. Please visit Next's website if you enjoy working with seniors and want to join a dynamic team while serving the community! Next proudly serves the growing 50 plus population in our community. Next is located at 2121 Midvale Street in Birmingham. Contact Next at (248) 203-5273, visit www.BirminghamNext.org or like us on Facebook.
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
BIRMINGHAM GREEN DOES YOUR PROPERTY QUALIFY FOR HISTORIC DESIGNATION? BY NICHOLAS J. DUPUIS, PLANNING DIRECTOR Historic community buildings, neighborhoods, and landscapes embody the intentions, assumptions, and lives of those who built or lived or worked in them. They have stories to tell about what the community was and how it became what it is, and that help us understand who we are. Preserving those stories can be an important part of building a healthy community. Historical value resides in the historical element itself. It may be valuable as an example of a style of architecture or an industrial process that’s no longer used, or simply for its age. Many houses that were unremarkable when they were built, for instance, have gained historical value because they’ve lasted, and are among the few left from their time. Did you know that the City of Birmingham boasts roughly 75 designated historic resources? Are you interested in exploring historic designation for your property as a way to preserve is stories or architecture? Contact the Planning Division to start the conversation!
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
BIRMINGHAM SHOPPING DISTRICT
VOTE FOR THE BIRMINGHAM FARMERS MARKET! NOW UNTIL MARCH 15, 2022 The Best of Hour Detroit readers' poll nominations are in and it's time to select the winners! VOTE for your favorite Birmingham businesses across all categories now until March 15, 2022. Winners will be announced in the June 2022 issue of Hour Detroit and online at hourdetroit.com.
See what's new in the Birmingham Shopping District! Visit www.ALLINBirmingham.com for a list of restaurants, shops and more! Sign up for our enews and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get the latest information on what's happening downtown.
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
MARCH 2022
EVENTS & ACTIVITIES
GOLF COURSES EARLY SIGN-UP BONUS INCENTIVE FOR GOLFERS! Spring is almost here, and you know what that means—the reopening of Birmingham’s golf courses! Lincoln Hills Golf Course is offering an early sign-up bonus! Residents will receive a complimentary round of golf and non-residents will receive a $25 discount. Visit the Lincoln Hills Clubhouse, located at 2666 West 14 Mile Road, Monday – Friday, March 21 – 25 and March 28 – April 1 from 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. to sign up. For more information, contact (248) 530-1670.
NOW HIRING SEASONAL POSITIONS! The Golf Courses are hiring several seasonal positions! Openings
include
both
Golf
Course
Clubhouse
and
Maintenance positions. The City offers competitive wages and provides training as needed. Visit www.bhamgov.org/jobs to find out more and to apply!
MARCH 2022
AROUND TOWN E-NEWSLETTER
Photo Credit:Chris Cook Instagram: @jchriscook