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Observer & Eccentric | Sunday, May 15, 2011
online at hometownlife.com
LOCAL NEWS
County clerk brings service to Southfield
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for Michigan Youth Arts, an alliance of arts education organizations, according to Witz. “We’ve focused on indulgences through the years. This year we’ve added the attraction to healthy living,” Witz said. “It’s always about keeping things fresh, presenting new things every year.” Witz kicked off the press conference with the presentation of a plaque to Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, acknowledging AB&E’s ranking as the Fourth Best Art Show nationwide in terms of sales, and the only Michigan show ranked among the Top 10 out of 600, according to the Art Fair Source Book. “To be the fourth best is amazing,” said Patterson, the co-founder of the AB&E with Witz. “(The first year) dumped $15 million in a down economy and that’s good numbers.” The festival expansion will add space for 15 more restaurant or catering booths, increasing the total to 71 and turning the AB&E into the largest food event in the U.S., according to Witz. The expansion on Center Street will also create a Ford Arts Beats & Eats BBQ Alley, featuring a lineup of six restaurants, including Lockhart’s BBQ, The Oxford Inn, Smokin’ Joe’s BBQ, Jackson Five Star Catering and Bo’s Roaster. Another new attraction will be a “top chefs” challenge, as part of Holiday
SOUTHFIELD - The Oakland County Clerk’s Mobile Office is heading to the Southfield Public Library on Thursday, May 19. Anyone who lives in the area or surrounding communities is welcome. The Mobile Office will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the library, located at 26300 Evergreen Road, in JOHN STORMZAND | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Southfield. “Our office in Pontiac can There was dancing in the streets during the 2010 Arts, Beats and Eats in Royal Oak, where record be a long way for people, especrowds spilled out onto downtown streets. cially with gas prices today. We’ve put most of our services on our web site, but we realize Market’s and Mirepoix Cooking School’s, rants is unmatched. that there are people without “The Duel,” according to Witz. “We had tremendous success (in 2010), Internet access or those who Stacy Sloan, special events director for and we hope we can build on it, have as may be more comfortable with Holiday Market, described the challenge successful or more success than (last personal service. And there are of eight elite chefs as the “brainchild” of year),” Ellison said. “A lot of restaurants some services that are just betTom Violante Jr., Holiday Market owner. made their whole year (economically) on ter done in person.” The winner will receive $10,000, Sloan that weekend. The exposure is immeasurThe Mobile Office pilot projsaid. able, economic benefits are great, which is ect will offer one-day stops in “It’ll be very exciting to see who gets to why we want (the festival) back.” each of the western, eastern, take home the top prize,” Sloan said. Music lineups will be announced in Royal Oak Mayor Jim Ellison, who sat August, according to Witz. at the stage with other dignitaries, said the AB&E’s impact on downtown restauskowalsk@hometownlife.com | (313) 222-2047
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Southfield will host a version of Senior Feud (a fun spoof of the original show, Family Feud). This realistic, high-tech game show system has it all — questions, sound effects, real digital scoring and lots of prizes. Throughout the expo, The Entertainment Network will have fun-filled activities available every hour, including
northern and southern portions of the county. The Mobile Office is a nofrills operation. Employees set up shop in borrowed space with laptop computers and printers so they can provide customers with on-the-spot copies of birth certificates, death certificates and other public records. Normal copy fees apply. Citizens can access many services. Bullard stressed there is no additional expense associated with the Mobile Office because resources, including employees and computers, are simply being redeployed in regional locations. For more information, residents may visit The Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds web site at www.oakgov. com/clerkrod or call (248) 8580560.
name that tune, TV trivia and more. Want to win a prize? Come to the Senior Expo and play. Web Editor Larry Ruehlen will be on hand to answer web-based questions and help seniors who want to learn more about Facebook and Twitter. Photojournalist John Heider will be on hand to shoot a video montage of seniors at the event. Stop by the O&E exhibit for more information.
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