Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield

GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • J. MARCH: BLOOMFIELD 5TH TAVERN

SCAMS PREYING ON THE OLD, YOUNG, VULNERABLE IN OAKLAND COUNTY

OUR AIR QUALITY WHAT WE BREATHE IN THE S.E. REGION

WOLVERINE BOOT CAMP POSSIBLY COMING TO HOMETOWN NEAR YOU

ENDNOTE: OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AUGUST PRIMARY

Bloomfield Hills Luxury Estates $3,299,000

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DOWNTOWN07.14

19

29 37 Wolverine Boot Camp Ralph Kinney would like to start in Oakland an academic boot camp for non-violent offenders but the odds don't look good.

CRIME LOCATOR

17 27 35 53 67 69

WHAT WE BREATHE IN THE S.E. REGION

WOLVERINE BOOT CAMP POSSIBLY COMING TO HOMETOWN NEAR YOU

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Claire Erwin ENDNOTE: OUR RECOMMENDATIONS FOR AUGUST PRIMARY

Shea Renne

THE COVER

Pink Pump closes; Gas Station TV sale; Palladium renovation plans approved; Birmingham Biggby closes; pot growing facility hearing postponed; Surnow buys major city building; plus more.

DISTRIBUTION: Mailed monthly at no charge to homes in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills. Additional free copies are distributed at high foot-traffic locations.

For those not residing in the free mail distribution area, paid subscriptions are available for a $12 annual fee.

Phone 248.792.6464 and request the Distribution department or go to our website (downtownpublications.com) and click on “subscriptions” in the top index and place your order on-line or scan the QR Code here.

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DOWNTOWN • WESTEND • THE GUIDE 124 WEST MAPLE ROAD BIRMINGHAM MI 48009 P: 248.792.6464 downtownpublications.com facebook.com/downtownpublications • twitter.com/downtownpubs

Publisher: David Hohendorf Ad Manager: Jill Cesarz Ad Sales: Heather Marquis Graphics: G. Lynn Barnett News Editor: Lisa Brody

News Staff/Contributors: Allison Batdorff, Rachel Bechard, Hillary Brody, Kevin Elliott, Sally Gerak, Austen Hohendorf, Garrett Hohendorf, J. Marsh, Kathleen Meisner, Laurie Tennent

DOWNTOWN

Society reporter Sally Gerak provides the latest news from the society and non-profit circuit as she covers recent major events.

ENDNOTE

A replica of the Statue of Liberty at Liberty Island, outside of Brooklyn Pizza on Henrietta Street in downtown Birmingham. Downtown photo: G.Lynn Barnett.

P

5th Tavern in Bloomfield Township needs to address poorly executed food dishes and an ill-informed staff.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

Eugene Strobe

55

6

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OUR AIR QUALITY

MUNICIPAL

KLM Bike & Fitness; Elie Wine Company; Found Objects; Catherine Kellie Studios.

AT THE TABLE

SCAMS PREYING ON THE OLD, YOUNG, VULNERABLE IN OAKLAND COUNTY

Vicki Sarge

Here's a look at air quality in southeast Michigan and, more specifically, the Oakland environmental attainment record.

75

A recap of select categories of crime occurring in the past month in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills, presented in map format.

Geoff George

The air we breathe

Oakland law enforcement officials are dealing with the aftermath of a variety of con artists schemes in the county.

BUSINESS MATTERS

GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • J. MARCH: BLOOMFIELD 5TH TAVERN

FACES

Scams in Oakland

Our recommendations on candidates and ballot issues appearing on the August 5 primary election ballot.

INCOMING: We welcome feedback on both our publication and general issues of concern in the Birmingham/Bloomfield community. The traditional Letters to the Editor in Downtown are published in our Incoming section, and can include traditional letters or electronic communication. Your opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com; or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI, 48009.

Letters must include your full name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

07.14

There are 2 CRIMES up here: 1. Not staying at the beach til sunset.

2. The rare (but sadly, it does happen) burnt croissant.

Yes, it is Paradise

Yes, you do deserve a place up here. veryone dreams of a place in Traverse City. Some want downtown living. Some simply have to have a place on the Old Mission Peninsula while others crave the wide open spaces and adorable little villages of Leelanau County.

Good news – we’re on top of all of those places. From Frankfort to Charlevoix, we’ve got it covered. Better news – we have the best connections in the north. Once we get what you’re looking for, we find it – whether it’s on the market or not. 26 years of doing this has taught us a thing or two about success. You’ll like dealing with us. Good listeners, great negotiators, really thorough knowledge of the market – so say our happy clients.

The Jack Lane Team 231.995.0000 Okay, more good news – you can tune into Jack’s weekly radio show “Ask the Real Estate Guy with Jack Lane!”

Saturday mornings from 8 to 9 on that amazing thing called the internet. It’s a fun show about baseball, local goings on and, by and by, real estate up here in the beautiful north. www.wtcmradio.com, then click “listen live”. After 12 fun years (yes, even during the Great Recession), we have listeners from all over the world, now – once you tune in, you’ll become a regular. It’s a pleasant way to start your Saturday morning. It’s funny – and it’s a great little peek into this lovely world, up here.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

eaders of the July issue of Downtown will find that we have offered up our editorial endorsements, in the Endnote section at the back of the publication, on candidates and election issues that will be appearing on the August 5 primary ballot.

The August primary election, for all intents and purposes, is starting to take place this month thanks to the growth in the number of voters who choose to cast absentee mail ballots, which in most communities are expected to be mailed out beginning at the end of June or start of July.

An increasingly important factor in all elections, absentee ballots in some communities represent almost half of votes cast in a primary election. Ten to twenty years ago, the absentee ballot voter was generally considered the older voters in the community, but that image has been altered as work and travel schedules have changed for a larger percentage of registered voters, so a much wider swath of the voting public has moved to absentee voting as a matter of convenience. With this changing voting demographic, the long sought after segment of registered voters has become even more important in determining the outcome of elections.

Smart candidates know to work the absentee voter applications as they arrive at the township and city halls, often times through direct mail outreach to get their candidacy noticed before a ballot is cast. Likewise, in recent elections we have made every effort to provide candidate and issue information early enough for those voting by absentee ballots. For this primary election, we relied on questionnaires supplied to all candidates, answers to which you can find at our website, downtownpublications.com. For the November general election, we will be using a combination of in person interviews and questionnaires.

While the July issue contains our editorial opinion on primary candidates and issues appearing on local ballots, we will repeat these endorsements in our August issue for those voters who still choose to go to the polls for the primary.

As to our decision to carry candidate answers to our questions for the primary election on our website, the vast majority of homes in the areas where Downtown Publications distributes monthly newsmagazines have access to computers and the Internet.

Nationally, 80 percent of homes have at least two computers and

that number increases as household income rises, according to the most recent census data.

Obviously, we take elections seriously at our publishing group. We feel one of our obligations at Downtown Publications is to provide information so that voters can make better, informed decisions, particularly in an environment where potential voters are bombarded by candidates and special interest groups pushing their messages on multi-media platforms leading up to a vote.

We spend countless hours here discussing candidates and, in the case of incumbents, researching voting records, before we make our recommendations to our readers. In the case of the primary election, our first concern is to determine who we think would best represent their particular political party in the November general election contest. Against that background, we look at both a candidate's position on issues, ability to articulate that position and whether a candidate has the ability to wage a strong campaign on behalf of his or her political party.

Because of the way in which political districts are gerrymandered in Michigan and in Oakland County, where there is a Republican leaning for the most part, we also are acutely aware that in some races, the primary election really determines the most likely victor come the general election.

Remember, this is a primary election, so you will be casting votes in only one political party. For primary election balloting in Michigan, you don't have to declare a political party to vote in a primary.

However, you will be casting ballots for candidates in either the Republican or Democrat column on the ballot, not both, a critical point if you don't want your ballot discounted because you crossed over and voted for candidates in both parties. In some past elections there have been a considerable number of ballots discounted because of this error.

Please take the time to visit downtownpublications.com for candidates' views on issues and check out our recommendations on both candidates and ballot issues in our Endnote at the back of this issue. While we are only one of many voices in the community who weigh in on candidates and election issues, we think we provide an informed view you won't find in many other places.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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Bloomfield Twp $2,600,000

One of the largest lots and most charming homes on Lower Long Lake, featuring 400 ft of Lake Frontage, 1.36 acres of picturesque and private grounds, this home is the epitome of luxury estate living. The elegant ranch has views of the lake from nearly every room and a finished walk-out that takes you to a large yard and to the water's edge. The stylish kitchen was designed by Mutchler, and no expense was spared from the dual granite islands, Grabill cabinets, top of the line appliances and two antique chandeliers. The breadth of the master suite is amazing, including a threeseason porch, custom walk-in closet, laundry and library. The exterior of the home mirrors the interior's luster with stunning wrap-around lake views, artisan masonry, copper accents and cedar shake roof. From your private dock, boat under the bridge to Forest Lake Country Club for dinner, cruise serene Lower Long Lake, or go through the canal to all sports Upper Long Lake. Award winning Bloomfield Hills schools. Presented by Nancy Karas

Orchard Lake $1,995,000

Once in a lifetime opportunity to own a truly remarkable home nestled on exclusive Dow Ridge overlooking the lake & exquisite grounds. Handcrafted one of a kind construction from the soaring ceilings with exposed trusses, artisan library paneling, wide plank pine floors & beautiful stonework. Picture yourself relaxing by the 2-story stone fireplace or enjoying the view from the hexagon fr. cook in a chef's kitch with top of the line appliances,sub o, isle seating & lakeside break nook. 1st floor guest ste feels like your own bed & breakfast. Dual staircases take you to the upstairs loft with 3 distinctive bdrm stes & the lakeside mstr retreat. His/her walk in closets, dress area & elegant master bath. Architecturally original & breathtaking w/extraordinary attention to detail. Finished daylight ll for billiards, hanging out & entertaining, mini kitchen & full bath. Incomparable Orchard Lake lakefront with over 200' of waterfront. Feel like you are up north, but minutes away from it all! Presented by Melanie Bishop

West Bloomfield $1,150,000

Spectacular Pine Lake contemporary lakefront western sunset views. Home was completely rebuilt in 1992 & renovated in 2012. 4,700 sq ft, perfect for indoor & outdoor entertaining. All new roof, gutters, skylights, two decks with tempered glass railings. New gourmet granite kitchen, stainless steel appliances, kitchen-aid six burner gas cooktop/grill, counter-top seating for six. Private library with sliding glass doors. New windows on the west side of the home. New flooring & carpeting throughout. 2nd floor office. Master Suite faces lakefront, private deck. New spa-like master bath, jetted tub, oversize shower. Large custom walk-in closet. Jack & Jill features new bath & each room with granite vanity area. 3rd floor bonus room, great for home theater, exercise area, granite cabinetry, sink & refrigerator. Lower level walkout full bath for lakefront use & wine cellar. New brick paver patio. Home is very deceiving from the road, must get inside to fully appreciate. Amazing!

Presented by Jeff & Matt Barker

Bloomfield Hills $1,499,950

Welcome to this fabulous 1999 rebuild! Luxurious sophistication throughout this entire Bloomfield Hills contemporary residence set on one of the most gorgeous lots in the hills. This home offers amenities galore from the private gym & indoor spa to an amazing handcrafted spiral staircase. Soaring architecture, unique design, the finest finishes throughout with natural light from enormous custom cathedral windows. Gourmet granite kitchen w/ deluxe appliances include subzero, Bosch, cherry cabinets, island and oversized walk in pantry.

Breakfast room walks out to the stunning deck. First floor aster suite w/ wic, luxurious bath w/ jetted tub and sep shower, w/o lower level w/ full suite. wet bar & entertaining room. This home is perfect for guests or enjoying your family! Presented by Mayur Joshi & Melinda Nagler

4130 TELEGRAPH ROAD BLOOMFIELD HILLS MICHIGAN 48302 • 248-644-4700

Max Broock Realtors Bloomfield Twp $1,350,000

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Stunning Ranch With Rare Sunrise & Sunset Views & 325 Feet Of Lake Frontage On Lower Long Lake With Access To Forest Lake And The All Sports Upper Long Lake. Southern Exposure And Natural Light. Classic Clifford Wright Mid-century Modern With Hints Of Oriental Motifs. The Home Features Serene White Walls With Select Walnut Accents, Sohji Screens, A Two Way Fireplace, High Peaked Ceilings & Circular Skylights.

Huge Entry Level Master Suite, And Lower Level Walkout With Two Additional Beds, Bath, Kitchen, Family Room, Fireplace, Sauna, & Artist Studio. Impeccably Maintained, Bright & Vibrant. Private Setting Sandy Beach, Dock & Screened Porch. Newer Roof, AC, Furnace, Water Heater & Multiple Decks. Award Winning Bloomfield Hills Schools & A Short Walk Or Boat Ride To Forest Lake Country Club. Presented by Nancy Karas

Bloomfield Twp $739,000

Gorgeous Bloomfield Crossing colonial! The largest floor plan in the sub on a premium half acre+ lot backing to private wooded area. Over 4200 sq ft with 5 bedrooms and 6 baths. All beautifully updated with a very open floor plan. Grand two story foyer. Mahogany paneled library with French glass doors. Kitchen with granite and large island opens to family room with cathedral ceilings and fireplace. Spacious master suite with double vanities and large closet. Princess suite and Jack and Jill baths for upper children's rooms. Basement has full bath and bar area. Bloomfield Hills schools! Presented by Kate Hayman.

Farmington Hills $675,000

HIDDEN TREASURE - on scenic 2.41 acre land - French Country Home with 4,794 SFT , 4 BR /3 .1 Bath - Charm and Quality!! Estate like driveway leading to the entrance and circles around front area of the home.

Professionally landscaped with lots of beautiful brick paver accents, landscape lightning and oversized patio in the back. Great-Room with Bay- WINDOW offering picturesque views of beautiful backyard. REAL Master suite with 16x13 Master Bath and entrance to library. Cedar and Trex 3 Season room ( 700 SFT) with sundance hot tub, remote controlled sky-lights. Full house generator, built-in safe, etc... House offers wonderful floor plan for entertaining and has just been waiting to continue its happy stories. Surrounded by similar large lots and million $ Homes and set back off Fourteen Mile that you hardly see the road.

Presented by Kerstin Baumann & Tom Richard.

Bloomfield Hills $449,000

Here is a colonial like no other in the city of Bloomfield Hills. The lush, blooming landscaping alone will impress you! This home truly shows pride of ownership! Meticulously maintained. Kitchen updated w/granite, Sub-Zero, 40" cabinets. Some hardwood floors exposed; the rest under ALL the carpeting. Family Room was blown out; floor to ceiling Pella/Anderson windows + skylights. Lite/bright - fabulous gathering spot. 4 large bedrooms. 1st floor laundry; partially finished lower level; storage galore + cedar closet; side-entry garage. The lot is simply gorgeous. Bloomfield Hills schools. You'll settle in to get into the new, gorgeous high school next year!! Easy access to Woodward.

Presented by Natalie Marz

4130 TELEGRAPH ROAD BLOOMFIELD HILLS MICHIGAN 48302 • 248-644-4700

Jeff & Matt Barker Voted Best Realtor

by Hour Detroit

31235 Woodside Dr., Franklin Vlg. 5 br, 5.3 ba, 9,618 sq. ft.

Alexander Bogaerts Designed.

4 Car Gar. Birmingham Schls. $1,995,000

2514 Comfort St., West Bloomfield 7,350 Sq. Ft., 6 BR, 5.1 BA 104 on All-Sports Walnut Lake Finished Walkout, Birmingham Schls $1,950,000

1475 Tottenham Rd., Bloomfield VlG. 5 br, 3.3 ba, 4,731 sq. ft.

Over 1 Acre, Private Lot. Birmingham Schls. $1,495,000

3108 Middlebelt Rd., West Bloomfield 5 br, 4.1 ba, 4,537 sq. ft.

45 on All-Sports Pine Lake Western Views. Bloomfield Hills Schls. $1,150,000

1351 Cedar Bend Dr., Bloomfield Twp 5 br, 7 ba, 6,018 sq. ft.

Granite, Hdwd & Marble Throughout.

1 Acre Lot. Bloomfield Hills Schls. $1,150,000

1215 Hidden Lake Dr., Bloomfield Twp 5 br, 6.2 ba, 7,570 sq. ft.

Finished Walkout. 3/4 Acre Lot. 4 Car Gar. Bloomfield Hills Schls. $949,900

1587 Heronwood Ct., Bloomfield Twp 4 br, 4.2 ba, 4,742 sq. ft.

24-hr Manned Gated. 1/2 Acre Lot. Bloomfield Hills Schls. $799,900

862 S Glenhurst Dr., Birmingham 4 br, 2.1 ba, 2,745 sq. ft.

In-ground Pool. Brick paver Patio.

Birmingham Schls. $650,000

1773 Golf Ridge Dr. S., Bloomfield Hills 5100 Kings Gate Way, Bloomfield Hills 5,300 Sq. Ft., 5 BR, 4.1 BA 4,300 Sq. Ft., 4 BA, 4.2 BA Magnificent Master Bath Wabeek Golf Community, 3/4 acre lot Half Acre Lot, Bloomfield Hills Schls Pvt. tennis ct., Bloomfield Hills Schls $650,000 $650,000

5030 Oakbrooke Dr., West Bloomfield 4 br, 3.2 ba, 6,652 sq. ft. Condo 1st Flr Mstr. Finished Walkout.

Birmingham Schls. $599,900

2615 Sylvan Shores, Waterford 2,900 Sq. Ft., 4 BR, 2.1 BA 50 on All-Sports Sylvan Lake 3 seasons sun room $599,900

Ranked Top 1% of Realtors Nationally America s Best Real Estate Agents ~ Real Trends Real Estate All-Stars ~ Hour Media

248.425.6000 jeff@jeffbarkerhomes.com | www.jeffbarkerhomes.com 4130 Telegraph Rd | Bloomfield Hills | 48302

NANCY KARAS Nancy Karas is ranked in the top 5% of Real Estate Professionals out of nearly one million realtors across the country, specializing in the Oakland county real estate market, waterfront properties, luxury estates and executive relocation.

nine exceptional water properties

BLOOMFIELD TWP Lower Long Lakefront, 6,469 total finished sq ft, 5 beds, 3.2 baths, 1.36 acres, 400+ feet of lake frontage, fin walkout LL, Bloomfield Hills schools. $2,600,000

BLOOMFIELD TWP Lower Long Lakefront 4,446 total finished sq ft, 3 bed, 3 bath, .9 acres. Tobocman designed ranch, fin walkout LL, Bloomfield Hills schools. $1,550,000

BLOOMFIELD TWP Lower Long Lakefront 6,425 total fin sq ft, 4 bed, 3.1 bath, .9 acres. Mid-century modern ranch, fin walkout LL, Bloomfield Hills schools. $1,350,000

BLOOMFIELD TWP Chalmers Lake Priv 5,630 total finished sq ft, 4 bed, 3.2 bath, 2 acres. Elegant, soft contemporary, 3 car, Bloomfield Hills schools. $1,149,000

WEST BLOOMFIELD Pine & Orchard Lake Views 5,391 total finished sq ft, 4 bed, 4 bath, .5 acres. 2006 built contemporary, fin walkout LL, Bloomfield Hills schools. $940,000

BLOOMFIELD TWP Forest Lake Waterfront 6,247 total finished sq ft, 4 bed, 5.1 bath, 1.5 acres. 5 FP, 3 terraces, fin walkout LL, Bloomfield Hills schools. $939,000

WATERFORD Eagle Lakefront – All sports 2,693 total finished sq ft, 4 bed, 3 bath, .21 acres. 1991 Blt. Ranch, fin walkout LL, multi decks. $289,000

MILFORD On 3 private acres with pond 2,872 total finished sq ft, 4 bed, 3.1 bath, fin LL Colonial in horse country, near Kensington Park. $289,000

G N DI N PE

BLOOMFIELD TWP Forest Lake Waterfront 4,945 total finished sq ft, 4 bed, 2.2 bath, 1.09 acres. 3 car heated garage, fin walkout LL, Bloomfield Hills schools. $895,000

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4 1 3 0 Te l e g r a p h R o a d

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MICHIGAN

48302

248.644.4700

INCOMING Control your dogs Birmingham's Pembroke Park has gone to the dogs.

At various times during the day one can see as many as three loose dogs running free in the park, encouraged by their owners who have purposely unleashed their pets. How thoughtless of you pet owners to create such an unsafe environment for everyone else who uses the park. All dogs can and do bite, despite the protests of “not my dog” from owners.

And when it happens, the dog(s)

SPEAK OUT

We welcome your opinion on issues facing the Birmingham/Bloomfield communities.

Opinions can be sent via e-mail to news@downtownpublications.com or mailed to Downtown Publications, 124 West Maple Road, Birmingham MI 48009.

While we don’t have a specific word limitation, we reserve the right to edit for length.

sometimes pay the ultimate price, not the thoughtless owner.

If you want your dogs to run free, take them to Birmingham's dog park at Lincoln Hills or to one of the other nearby dog parks in our area.

Otherwise, respect Birmingham's leash ordinance; pet clean up ordinance; and the sign at the park that clearly states: 'no dogs allowed'.

Michael Kowalski, Birmingham

Liberals also guilty I have enjoyed your newspaper immensely since it's inception.

However, I was extremely disappointed in the recent From the Publisher (June 2014).

As with the mainstream media, David Hohendorf writes of the conservative PAC's and their influence on elections with little mention of the liberal PAC's or unions trying to influence elections.

I don't like all the negative advertising from either position. I wish we could just hear from the candidates telling us what they plan to do to solve all our problems, but that is not how it is.

However, it is not fair to say it is just the conservatives. Shame on you.

Linda Bokovoy, West Bloomfield

SIGN UP TODAY Get the latest news online from the leading news organization for the Birmingham and Bloomfield area.

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AUGUST EDITION LETTERS

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Downtown will not be accepting letters from candidates or those endorsing candidates, or letters of support or opposition to ballot issues in our August edition.

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34645 Woodward Ave. Birmingham, MI 48009

248.220.4485

DOWNTOWN

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CRIME LOCATOR

NORTH

Map key

Sexual assault

Assault

Murder

Robbery

Breaking/entering

Larceny

Larceny from vehicle

Vehicle theft

Vandalism

Drug offenses

Arson

These are the crimes reported under select categories by police officials in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills through June 13, 2014.

Placement of codes is approximate.

THE TH HE SECRET SEC CRET IS S OUTT

DISCOVER DISC SC CO COVER BIRMINGHAM’S BIRMING M NG GHAM’S G GHAM AM’S S MOSTT UNIQUE N Q CON CONCEPT CONCEPT NC STORE Stop p in and discover Mills PPharmacyy + Apothecary Apothecary. p yy. The same g great neig neighborhood ghborhood store you have k for f over 65 yea y ars, rennovated exxpanded p d d ffeaturing g worl l beauty b h e known years, d and d expanded world ld class prod ducts in the y and d a gourmet gourmet convenience conven nience market, h Apothecar A h k Epicure. products Apothecary

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LOCAL BOOT CAMP LOCATION SOUGHT WOLVERINE CAMPUS PROJECT SEEKING HOME IN OAKLAND COUNTY COMMUNITY

R

BY LISA BRODY

alph Kinney has a dream of helping those who’ve gotten themselves into trouble with the law to redeem themselves, placing short-term offenders into an academic boot camp where they could attain academic and career services, wellness and substance abuse prevention courses, and behavior modification.

He has been working with the state of Michigan to achieve that goal, and has sought to place his first boot camp on a site in Pontiac in Oakland County near the Bloomfield Township border. While that site recently fell through, he is looking at other Oakland County locations.

Officials in Oakland County government, however, want nothing to do with it.

Kinney is a former assistant Wayne County executive and deputy chief at the Wayne County Sheriff’s Department, who was fired by county executive Robert Ficano in 2007, allegedly for reporting the illegal usage of county money and for refusing to campaign for Ficano. He filed a whistleblower lawsuit against Ficano in 2010, alleging corruption and cronyism, and claimed he was owed $50,000 in back pay and other damages. Kinney lost the lawsuit, as well as its appeal.

Today, according to his LinkedIn page, Kinney is an experienced investigator and entrepreneur. Since January 2011, he has been chief executive officer of the Wolverine Campus Project.

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07.14

While Kinney did not return numerous calls left for him by Downtown Publications, Nancy Mouradian, who said she is acting as the communications director for the Wolverine Campus Project, said it is “still in its infancy, which would be an academic boot camp for non-violent offenders.” She affirmed the architects for the project were Kinney and the late Dr. Arthur M. Carter.

According to the white paper, first created in November 2013, which Mouradian said former Macomb County Prosecutor Carl Marlinga (now a probate court judge in Macomb County) helped craft, the Wolverine Campus Project is an academic boot camp designed to divert short-term offenders from prison to a secure on-campus, 24/7, residential private facility, for those who have been sentenced to terms of under 24 months.

The boot camp would offer education and career training, thereby creating new taxpayers, Kinney asserted in the paper. he proposal stated that those eligible would be short-term felons who may qualify for up to 12 months of academic and career services. The Wolverine Campus Project would hypothetically offer everyone entering the facility, within their first 10 days, diagnostic testing in digital literacy courses, in wellness and substance abuse prevention courses; behavior management and ethicsbased behavioral courses; work study and/or apprenticeships; and based upon individual assessments, special education towards high school completion; general education towards high school completion; and S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) college courses.

To enroll these prisoners into the Wolverine Campus project, wherever it ends up, according to the boot camp’s proposal, the prisoner’s defense attorney would need to apply to the county prosecutor for a diversionary sentence. The county prosecutor would then recommend a diversion sentence at the boot camp to the circuit court judge, who has the discretion to place the prisoner there, pursuant to sentencing guidelines.

Then, hypothetically, the Wolverine Campus boot camp would accept the prisoner for enrollment.

Until a few weeks ago, Kinney was telling Oakland County officials, local officials, retired judges, proposed investors, the Michigan Department of Corrections and others that he intended to purchase and place the boot camp facility at 2000 Centerpoint Parkway in Pontiac, a vacant industrial property which was at one time part of the larger Pontiac Central Manufacturing and Assembly Plant Campus. The property includes a 1.2 million square foot former engineering building and a paved parking lot.

But the Centerpoint campus posed significant issues to others. Adjacent property owners, most notably Linden Nelson, chairman and CEO of Michigan Motion Picture Studios, was not delighted at the prospect of having a boot camp with felons, short-term or otherwise, at a large property next door to his movie studio, especially with large scale productions such as “Batman Vs. Superman”, starring Ben Affleck, among others, filming at Michigan Motion Picture Studios.

Also located at or near the Centerpoint campus is a school, Kids Now Childhood Development Center, Hewlett Packard and Ultimate Soccer Arenas.

Township officials in Bloomfield Township, Auburn Hills and Waterford weren’t thrilled, either. Pontiac, especially the Centerpoint campus, is at the edge of Bloomfield Township’s border. “I’m pretty emphatic that Bloomfield Township residents would oppose that facility being there,” said Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie.

Savoie recounts a luncheon he was at of about 15 to 20 invited guests in early May where the featured guest was Kinney. Also at the meeting were several retired judges, including Barry Grant and Fred Messner, and Bloomfield Township Police Chief Geoff Gaudard. Kinney described to the group his proposed project, and announced that “he has a buy in from (Oakland County Sheriff Mike) Bouchard’s office. I knew that to not be true. I turned to Gaudard, and he indicated as well that Bouchard is not in favor of this.”

Undersheriff Mike McCabe confirmed that. “Anyone who says the sheriff supports the Wolverine project is a liar,” McCabe told Downtown.

“I told Kinney at this lunch that I’m not looking for a convicted felon to have free access to our community, to come and go to a trade school,” Savoie said. “They kept defending the concept, rather than the location.

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Kinney said, ‘We want a location that doesn’t feel like a prison, but like they’re part of society.’ As far as I’m concerned, I don’t know that they’ve earned the right to come and go in our society. As part of it, they would enroll these felons in local schools and trade school, and receive tuition reimbursement. So they’d be out in the community rather than having educators brought into the boot camp. It should be done within their confinement rather than walking the streets of Oakland County.

“I’ve got real reservations about locations near our community. I like the concept – any way you can give someone a way to have a trade and let them make money is good. But giving them free reign in our community is not good. How do you make our residents and our law enforcement feel safe?

Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson is also against having a private short-term felon boot camp within the county, as is Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper – who was unaware of its possibility until contacted for this article.

“I have not heard hide nor hair about this. I’ve never talked to him,” Cooper exclaimed. “It’s essentially a privatized boot camp. It’s a scam.

Legally, he can’t do it with juveniles. Further, it incenses me that someone is going around using my name and my colleagues’ names without our permission. It’s just plain fraud. If you want to use my name, or the sheriff’s, or Brooks (Patterson), you better get our permission first.”

Oakland County Circuit Court Chief Judge Nanci Grant said she had never heard of the Wolverine Campus Project.

Kinney’s spokesperson, Mouradian, said, “Nothing has been finalized in Oakland County, but he has been looking.”

As of May 21, the Centerpoint location is a dead deal. Nelson said he received a letter from Kinney stating that he was pulling the Wolverine project from 2000 Centerpoint Parkway. The letter continued, “We are no longer pursuing any site in the city of Pontiac.”

Savoie thought that the Wolverine Campus Project had turned to the Centerpoint Parkway site after being turned down on a Southfield site by Southfield officials, but Mouradian could not confirm this and Southfield officials could not be reached.

Mouradian confirmed that the team was not looking at any sites in the city of Pontiac at this time, but could not identify where they were looking.

She said he may be looking in Macomb or other counties as well as Oakland for an initial site, but was not certain.

Prosecutor Cooper also brought up a key question. “Where is the state money coming from? There is no money. Of course you want to help troubled kids. But this is not the way,” she said.

The Wolverine Campus Project included a signed letter, dated October 23, 2013, from Jeffrey Seskin of JSS Management in Plymouth, a solid waste management company, which stated that JSS Management, in partnership with its strategic equity partners, would provide Wolverine Campuses a commitment to provide matching funds with the state of Michigan of up to $4 million. hile Seskin did not return repeated calls, Russ Marlin, public information specialist for the Michigan Department of Corrections, said that “We (the state) cannot match funds. We have told them that. They need to find all of their own start up funding, self-fund the project, and then partner with the sheriff.”

Unlike Oakland County and local officials, Marlin is in favor of the project, if the details can be worked out. He said he has met with Kinney and his associates several times over the past year.

“In concept, what he is trying to do is revolutionary and could be great,” Marlin said.

He explained that the department of corrections is experiencing an adjustment to the type of prisoners they are receiving. “What we are seeing is a sharp increase in short-termers, those who are given two-years or less of a sentence. More than 50 percent of our intake each year are these prisoners,” Marlin said. “There’s a misconception that people are sentenced to long prison sentences. About 5,000 inmates per year come to prison with two years or less, and often they have spent time in a county prison for a while, so they get credit for that time, so they may only be in prison for a year or 18 months.”

Marlin said that is the group that Kinney and the Wolverine Campus

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Project boot camp is targeting. “It’s offering prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges an option, as a way to sentence them, and then move them back into society,” he asserted. “If you go to prison, and let’s say you had a stable home, employment – it would all be severed. You could go to a prison in the UP, for example, away from your job, your family, and all for a short term. We’re really limited to what services and rehabilitation we can offer to those inmates.”

Bob Maxfield, interim dean of the School of Education at Oakland University, noted that years ago, Children’s Village of Oakland County had a successful boot camp operated through the court system. “The money for these kinds of services has dried up, leaving youths and young adults with nothing but getting locked up somewhere,” Maxfield said. “My opinion is, the more we have for them, the better. Putting teens in prison is reprehensible.

School districts and local colleges can help. When I was superintendent with Farmington Schools, we helped with Children’s Village, as well as Boys’ and Girls’ Republic, which doesn’t exist anymore, that used to be a residential facility on Nine Mile. Farmington Schools provided the educational aspect.”

The Wolverine proposal states the educational service provider will be Bay Mills Community College, out of Saginaw, but Mouradian said she currently could not confirm that.

While this would technically not be a juvenile boot camp, Marlin said that most offenders who come into the corrections system are a younger demographic, between the ages 18 and 22. y state statute, MCL 400.1303, only the department of corrections “shall establish one or more juvenile boot camps to house or train juveniles who are ordered to participate in a juvenile boot camp program after commitment under that section to a county juvenile agency for placement.” Further, MCL 400.1304 states that the program “shall provide a program of physically strenuous work and exercise, patterned after military basic training, and other programming as the department determines, including at a minimum educational and substance abuse programs, and counseling. A juvenile boot camp program shall be restricted to juveniles of the same sex.”

Cooper stated that the Wolverine Project, if it ever gets off the ground, must deal with offenders older than 18, because “juvenile facilities must have a license from the Department of Human Services,” she said. “No nongovernmental agency can be licensed, per DHS. It can’t be an overnight treatment, only a daytime treatment center.”

However, Marlin said the Wolverine Campus Project could fall under the Prisoner Reimbursement to the County Act of 1984, which states that a county can seek reimbursement of up to $60 a day per prisoner for the cost of maintaining a prisoner.

“I told Ralph (Kinney) and the Wolverine people there is a need for this, and a need to house these people. They can do it cheaper than we can. We’re more geared for longer sentences. Our average sentence is 4.5 years, and our average cost per inmate is $34,000,” Marlin said. “If a local judge is going to sentence someone for only a year, maybe it would make more sense for them to stay in their local community.”

And keep those correctional dollars local.

But there’s a bit of an issue. Those local dollars? The $60 a day for up to 365 days would have go to the county sheriff’s office, and not to the private operator, like Kinney and the Wolverine Campus project. “They must partner with the local sheriff’s office,” Marlin stated emphatically. “We cannot reimburse a private entity. We would pay the sheriff’s office, and they would pay the Wolverine group. Otherwise we would have to accept RFPs (Request for Proposals) from lots of groups, and we don’t do that.”

In order to accomplish that, Marlin explained, all parties have to agree to participate in a felon’s plea bargain. “It’s been decided. The person is definitely going to prison. He signs off. The prosecutor signs off, the defense attorney has to sign off, and the circuit court judge has to sign off. All of the parties have to sign off on it for it to go through. Then if the person stays local, the county gets reimbursed by the DOC for up to a year.”

Therein lies the rub. While in theory, finding a productive alternative to putting adult youth in prison and throwing away the key sounds ideal, the practicum places risks and burdens upon communities.

“Kinney seemed like a very good and very sincere man, who was genuinely caring, genuinely concerned, and he had a genuine interest in helping these felons,” Savoie said. “He’s seen the system, and the system has failed. I just don’t think this is good for our community or any community.”

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hile many cinematographers are moving out of Michigan to pursue a career in film, Geoff George has used his knowledge and connections in the Detroit area to establish himself close to home.

“It’s my home. I grew up here and I have the same appreciation for the city as the suburbs I grew up in,” said George, who was raised in the Bloomfield area and has since moved to Detroit. “People that come in from other countries are blown away by Detroit, and not just the ruins. That’s a component, but the fact that we have a great museum, and great night life... people that shoot film all over the world are coming here and saying, ‘this is an amazing place.’”

A cinematographer, photographer and camera professional, George has worked on videos for local artists such as Insane Clown Posse, Eminem, Matt Jones and others, as well as feature films such as “The Myth of the American Sleepover,” “Restitution,” Jim Jarmusch’s “Only Lovers Left Alive,” as well as various work for other clients such as MTV, TruTV, Slate Magazine, Chevy, Team Detroit and others. Most recently, George worked in the camera department on “Lost River,” a film written and directed by Ryan Gosling about a single mother who is swept into a dark underworld with a son who discovers a secret underwater town.

“This ‘Lost River’ film, I think will be one of the more significant films that was shot here,” George said. “(Gosling) uses Detroit as a fictional world.

Some of the ruins can be overplayed. I think the best filmmakers haven’t just used it as a backdrop for destruction, but as inspiration for a creative work of art. ‘Lost River’ is very much in that vein.”

The movie premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May and is scheduled for theaters in October.

In addition to his work shooting with the camera, George said he enjoys work as a camera technician and assistant.

“In simplest terms, you’re the tech of the digital cameras,” he said, explaining the work. “You are choosing the right settings and adjusting for the perfect temperature and settings, downloading footage and organizing it.

It’s a new position that has come up on film sets. Using digital equipment requires a new skill set, and you have to have someone a little more tech savvy.”

George said his familiarity with the city, as well as his flexibility and talent with the camera has helped his career.

“I was able to help a few of the productions in finding locations, and I got a reputation as a person who had a lot of knowledge about the city, and a lot of jobs started coming in,” he said. “As an assistant in the camera department, I was also a knowledgable Detroit guy. So I stayed in Detroit because a lot of opportunity was presented to me here that I might not have had in Los Angeles.”

Through his local work and connections with local crews, George started his own production company, GSG Films. Through the work of his production company, he said he uses local crews and people that he has known since his start in the business, helping himself and others in the Detroit film business.

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THE LASTEST CONS BEING PERPETRATED IN OAKLAND AND HOW TO AVOID THEM

BY LISA BRODY AND KEVIN ELLIOTT

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n Ohio woman named Susan in January began harassing a Commerce Township man, sending him love letters, leaving phone messages and, finally, showing up at his door step, unannounced. Sound too good to be true? It might be for some lonelyhearts, but it wasn’t for the 67-year-old man, who had no idea who the woman from Hartville, Ohio was, and why she was stalking him. He wasn’t interested in her.

His idea of a date with her was to call the cops.

Turns out he was a victim of a “catfish” dating scam, where his identity was stolen to create an online dating profile. On the Internet, a “catfish” is a person who uses another person’s identity to create an online profile on social media or dating sites. The term “catfish” was taken from a documentary about the unscrupulous practice.

The man told deputies at the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office’s Commerce Township Substation that around January 13 he had been out of town for a vacation and returned home to find love letters in his mailbox from a woman with an Ohio return address. The man told deputies he didn’t know the woman and had no idea how she came to write the letters to him, nor how she was aware of any of his personal information. The man also told deputies that he received a phone call on the same night he returned home from the same woman, according to his caller ID, but didn’t answer the call. The man told authorities he didn’t know the woman and wanted the calls and letters to stop.

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Then, in a bizarre twist, sheriff deputies were subsequently called to the man’s home a few days later after the woman showed up at his home. The woman, who admitted to sheriff deputies that she had written the love letters, said she did so after meeting someone who had apparently used the man’s identity to create a profile on the dating website Christianmingle.com. However, she admitted that the man was indeed not the man she believed she had met on the website. The woman then left and stated she wouldn’t return. here’s an old saying that there’s a sucker born every minute. And that’s what scammers and con men (and women) are certainly counting on. They prey on the vulnerable, the naïve, the young, and the old. It could be you, or your loved ones.

They can be so slick and professional. It really could be – and often is – anyone.

Confidence tricks, con, con man, scam, grifter, hustle, bunko, swindle, flimflam, gaffle, bamboozle, marks, suckers, shills. Whatever you call it, it’s wrong and it’s definitely illegal.

“There’s no lack of ingenuity on the part of scammers,” Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said. “Some are just new takes on old scams. Some of the most common that we see are the bank e-mail where you are supposed to click on a link and fill in all your personal information. I actually got one today, but I don’t bank with Citibank – if you did and you got it, you might end up filling that out and giving them all your personal information.”

According to the Federal Trade Commission, “Crooks use clever schemes to defraud millions of people every year. They often combine sophisticated technology with age-old tricks to get people to send money or give out personal information. They add new twists to old schemes and pressure people to make important decisions on the spot. One thing that never changes: they follow the headlines – and the money.”

The Federal Trade Commission, which compiles complaints of fraud, estimated in its 2011 national fraud survey that some 25.6 million adults aged 18 and older, had been victims that year. Sadly, some had been victims more than once. In 2011, there were a total of 37.8 million reported scam incidents nationwide.

No matter which kind of scam, scammers usually start by laying some foundation work, or preparation if needed, to put the scheme they have cooked up into motion. The first thing they do is approach the victim, usually in a very preplanned way, and then move to the build-up, in which they rouse the interest of the victim. The convincer is the part of the scam where the scammer gives an apparent or real payoff to those conspiring, in order to settle their doubts.

This is like the bunko or shell game or other hustle when you let the victim win, in order to let them think they can win. It entices them to believe there is really something in it for them.

The hurrah, or the point in the scam where there’s a twist, is a sudden crisis or unexpected development, in which the victim is forced to act. Then the victim is led into the in-and-in, the point in the scam where the the victim is

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coerced in on the scam. If there’s a conspirator, this is where the shill puts their money in to make the victim think it’s OK, that they’re safe and protected from being victimized.

“Would you like to be a Mystery Shopper?” the email begins, according to Bloomfield Township Police. “There are several variations of this scam. Bottom line, you end up giving a crook personal information that could make you vulnerable to identity theft, or you just end up sending them money, usually via GreenDot Money Cards. Beware any e-mail you get from someone you don’t know, and definitely don’t give them any information or send them any money! We have received reports of two township residents being scammed this week in this very manner,” they warned residents via Facebook.

A Bloomfield Township resident learned the hard way this very lesson, signing up to be a Walmart “secret shopper.” Instead she was scammed out of $1,900.

In May, the woman came into the police station to report that she had been scammed after she signed up to be a Walmart “secret shopper”. She told police she had received a money order in the amount of $1,900, which she was told to deposit into her bank account, and she did.

She was then instructed, she informed police, to take out $1,450 in cash, and send that money through Western Union to an address in Georgia. She was also told she could make two $30 purchases within the next few days at Walmart. The remaining $200, she was told, she could keep as profit.

Two days later she received a text from her bank informing her that her bank account was overdrawn because the original $1,900 money order had been fraudulent.

Bouchard said another scam involves people who claim to be software security experts with Microsoft or another computer company of some kind who want to gain remote access to your computer. Then they are able to hold your computer “hostage” until you pay them. Another take on that, he said, are calls from people claiming to be with a payday loan company or something similar and telling the victim that they or a family member are behind on payments and that they are going to be sued or arrested if they don’t pay immediately. The callers typically tell the victims that payment must be made with a Green Dot card, so the funds aren’t able to be tracked.

“If someone is trying to extort money from you over the phone or computer, don’t do it,” Bouchard said, explaining that when investigators with the sheriff’s department do call, they aren’t seeking a payment over the phone. “We might call and ask someone to come in, if there is an issue. We wouldn’t call and say ‘you have to pay’ over the phone.

Typically, we would have someone come out and chat and walk the person through the case.”

“Green Dot (money card) scams seem to be the most prevalent right now,” said Birmingham Police Commander Terry Kiernan. “They call a business or a person and claim to be from DTE, for example, and say you owe X amount of

money for the electric company, and if you don’t pay by this afternoon, they will turn off your power. For example, they will call a restaurant or small business that has to remain open, and if DTE turned off the power, they’d close. The owner is panicked, and doesn’t remember at that moment that they paid their bill.

“They tell them to put the money directly on these Green Dot Visa cards. It puts money directly on them – it’s the new version of wiring money. The next step, they tell them to give them the number off of the Green Dot card with the security number and then they transfer the number and get the money.”

Bingo. Scam completed. Money gone.

“The thing is, Green Dot cards are not traceable at all, from a local police standpoint,” Kiernan said.

Additionally, noted Sergeant Kimberly Cumerford of Bloomfield Township Police, “These scams are hard for us to prosecute because most of them come from overseas. We see a lot of the Green Dot Visa card scams because they transfer the money, forcing you to go to Rite Aid, CVS, or Kroger, and have you pay over the phone.”

For example, in May, a Bloomfield Township woman discovered she had been scammed out of $3,300 by a man claiming he was an officer with the “Federal Crimes Department”, which does not exist, and she needed to buy money cards to pay past due taxes. hen Bloomfield Township police officers were called to her residence, the woman told police she had been contacted by someone claiming to be an officer with the “Federal Crime Department”, who was working with the collections department. He identified himself as “Jack Gates.” The woman was told she needed to immediately purchase Green Dot Money Cards in order to pay her past taxes.

She was told she needed to give “Gates” the information from the Green Dot Money Cards, or she would be arrested. After giving “Gates” the information, she was told she would not be arrested.

After speaking with her relatives, the woman realized she had been scammed out of approximately $3,300.

The case was been turned over to the department’s investigations division, but Cumerford noted, “Once you transfer it into other money orders or Western Union into other accounts, it becomes even more untraceable.”

Another common scam in the county that the sheriff’s office sees comes from swindlers posing as representatives of the Affordable Care Act who gather the victims’ personal information over the phone or by email.

“One that’s been around a long time, and is successful, is nicknamed the ‘4/19 Scam’ or ‘The Nigerian Scam,’” Bouchard said. “It starts out ‘dear sir,’ we have all this money…ultimately, you have to submit some money or bank account information to claim the prize, and that’s when they get your money.”

Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper warns that identity theft via computers is often our own fault – because we give out

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information, leave passwords out where people in our homes can readily access them, use notso-safe online shopping sites, and don’t shred our personal documents.

“People, especially seniors, say to us all of the time, ‘I’m not online so I don’t have to worry.’ Yes, you do. Anyone can go on Google Earth and know how many doors your house has. These swindlers can know anything,” she said. “Think about it. If you have a Kroger card, how do you think you get coupons just for what you buy? Credit cards are selling all of your information. People are picking up our garbage – and picking through our garbage, looking for identity information. You must shred everything so that they cannot even get your date of birth.”

She also cautions against buying anything online if there is not a “lock” when you go to pay.

“When you’re shopping online, look at the address line. If you don’t see a lock, do not shop!” she said. rust is a big issue, Cooper warns, especially regarding computer and computer site passwords. “Because you might have maids and repair people, if your computer or a site is not locked, they have access to your computer, and all of your information,” she pointed out. “People put their passwords next to their computers because they’re trusting, and then someone sees it and gains access to everything. With identity theft, these people are so skilled you’ll never know until you go for a credit score. Or you won’t know until bills come, or a service contract, or a denial of credit.”

She said that people will buy access to different reputable sites, such as VISA, a bank, American Express, “even the FBI, because it’s easy to duplicate their logos. So do common sense things. Remember your bank will not ask you to verify your account number, your Social Security number, neither by phone or by computer. It’s imperative to remember that if they’re calling you, do not give out anything, ever. If you’re the one initiating the phone call or computer message, that’s different.”

A major scam throughout Oakland County – and the country – from February through April of this year was an IRS scam. “Many prominent people are having their taxes filed – only it’s not them,” said Bloomfield Hills Chief David Hendrickson. “When they go to file their taxes, they’re told they’re already filed. They have to file an affidavit that it’s not them. It’s a form of identity theft.”

Ultimately, the IRS is responsible for investigating and resolving the identity theft.

Kiernan said about 20 Birmingham residents, whose name and Social Security number were stolen, had someone else receive anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000 each in IRS refunds in their name.

“It’s happening more now because filing is all electronic,” Kiernan said. “We take the initial report because the IRS needs a police report; there’s a form the IRS has given us. The victim then sends it to the IRS with the police report.

The IRS has to void out the first tax report so the IRS does not hit the person with points or fines.

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You can really be hit with a lot of points and fines if you don’t do the proper paperwork.

Ultimately, with the IRS, it’s up to you to prove you’ve been scammed.”

Beyond identity theft, the FTC said they have received numerous reports of scammers posing as IRS officials continuing to call people telling them they owe taxes and better pay up. If not?

They threaten to arrest or deport people, revoke a license, or even shut down a business. How do they do it? They actually rig their caller ID information to make it appear as if the IRS is calling, or sometimes make a follow-up call claiming to be the police.

“It’s called ‘spoofing’ phone numbers,” said Cumerford. “They use a devise so that it looks like it’s coming from somewhere else, like a local 248 number, when it’s really coming from somewhere overseas. This has become fairly common. For the recipient, there’s no way to know it’s not real. They think it’s a local number, and in all actuality, it’s not. People have caller ID, and they’ll write down the number and go to call it back, and if they do call it back, it’s not a real number, or someone who has no idea their number is being used. Our fraud detectives have ways to determine the fraud.

It’s unbelievable the lengths people will go to scam people.”

Even the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office has seen this happen. Bouchard noted they received a report about a call and “The device made it appear the caller was placing the phone call to the victim from an actual number used by the sheriff’s office. The victim’s caller identification showed the call was coming from the sheriff’s office, and the caller used an actual sheriff’s detective’s name.

“The bottom line is: never share your personal information, and never comply with an immediate demand for money,” Bouchard said.

“If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.”

The main component in every scam is greed, be it that of the fraudster or, in some cases, that of the victim. For instance, in the Nigerian scams, like “mystery shoppers,” the victim believes they will get a lot of money for completing a few simple tasks, one of which includes sending a check or cashing a check for the person, which will result in a big payout for the victim. In the end, they lose their own money. ther victims may be asked to participate in a scam that would bring some questionable activity upon themselves. Other scams play on victims’ fear for the safety of their family or themselves. One such scam, Bouchard said, involves calling elderly victims and claiming to be a relative in legal trouble and in need of a bond while vacationing overseas. The caller claims to be a relative and asks for bond money via Western Union or some other means.

That happened to a local man, who was called in April from someone who identified himself as a U.S. Agent working in Mexico City.

The person told the man that his grandson had been arrested and that he needed to post over $1,200 for bond.

The man was instructed to wire the money to the alleged agent through Western Union. The

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man did as he had been instructed, and then was called a second time, and was told to wire over $1,100 more, which he did as well.

The next day, the man attempted to contact the alleged U.S. agent he had been speaking with, and could not reach him. The man also had begun to suspect he was being scammed, which he confirmed by contacting his grandson.

Those who have been scammed, particularly seniors, are usually very embarrassed that they’ve fallen for these swindles. The scams affect people at all economic levels, in all cities, townships and villages. Boundaries don’t matter to swindlers.

“Sometimes, even when they do fall for it, they feel stupid, so they don’t report it,” Bouchard said. “They say they should have known better, and they don’t want to be further embarrassed.”

“I would suspect there are many more people who are scammed than report it,” Cumerford said. “A lot of people are embarrassed once they realize they’ve been scammed.”

“With the elderly, often they’re so embarrassed they won’t tell anyone or won’t report it to the police, or won’t even stop their accounts at the bank because they’re embarrassed,” agreed Kiernan. “Yet, if they report it, we have a shot at catching or stopping it.”

“People want to believe,” said Cooper. “As you get older, people don’t want to believe the terrible things in the newspapers can happen to them. Also, with seniors, boundaries of suspicion and caution drop.”

Bouchard said another scam that people should be on the lookout for as the weather continues to warm involves fraudulent maintenance workers. Often the workers will claim they are doing work in the neighborhood and offer to check your roof for possible repairs or some other service. Once they gain approval, the “workers” may claim you need unneeded services.

“They offer to do it on the cheap, on the spot, for cash,” Bouchard said. “A lot of folks say ‘yes.’

Then they go up on the roof, have lunch, and hit the roof with a hammer once in while and pretend they are fixing something.” Local police have similar reports of driveway resurfacers who turn out to have sprayed oil on driveways and then taken off, as well.

“Never let anyone do any work without checking their references. Say, ‘thanks, but no thanks.’ More importantly, don’t open your door to them. You don’t know they aren’t going to force their way in. If you don’t know them and why they are there, there is no reason to let them in.”

If you find yourself the victim of identity theft or another scam, don’t flail yourself. Report the incident to police and place an initial fraud alert, the FTC advises. Immediately order your credit reports and then create a log of all of the telephone calls you received, including the date of each call, and the names and phone numbers, if you know them, of who contacted you. Send documents, not originals, to the appropriate agencies. And if you’re not sure who to contact, seek help. Besides local police, the FTC has consumer information guidelines online at consumer.ftc.gov. Get help from someone you trust, such as an attorney.

Lifestyle...Living “These people just bought a home...where?

...ask their broker.”

RE Krausmann & Associates LLC Matching Homes to Lifestyles and Living Bob Krausmann / Broker 275 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009 (248) 371-9999

FACES

Vicki Sarge

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ore than 30 years ago, Vicki Sarge moved away from the Birmingham area to pursue a career in fashion, but the English transplant still draws her inspiration from her native home in Metro Detroit as a jewelry designer.

“I grew up here in the 1970s, hippie, rock-n-roll era. I went to the Grande Ballroom and all the rock ‘n roll stuff. What really identified me as a person and a designer is Detroit,” Sarge said. “All my friends were into vintage things, so I started buying old clothes in high school and started wearing vintage things before it was cool, and growing up with the MC5 and Iggy and the Stooges – that defined me as a person and musical taste.”

It’s a bit of that Detroit influence that Sarge says comes out in some of her latest jewelry designs, which mixes precious stones with new and unique materials.

“The materials we use are probably a little less crystal-based,” Sarge said of her own designs since leaving Erickson Beamon, whom she worked with for decades. “Erickson was more crystal based. I’m using a little more metal and chain mail and really not so much crystal. A little more like the YSL look.”

Sarge started her career at a little store called Paraphernalia that was located on Old Woodward in Birmingham, but the travel bug soon bit her and she moved to England shortly after turning 18 years old. After a year, Sarge returned home for a stint, then traveled to Hong Kong and finally moved to

New York City in 1975. Then, in 1985, she moved to England and began a long career with Erickson Beamon.

“At Erickson Beamon, we really defined fashion, designer jewelry with things like these big statement necklaces. For 30 years, we were at the top of the game, but I wanted to branch out and do something for myself. Make it a little more modern, and bring that Detroit rock ‘n roll feeling into it.”

Sarge will be bringing some of London to Birmingham in October for an exhibition at Linda Dresner with London milliner Stephen Jones. The event, she said, will coincide with an event at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Detroit, where European fashion journalist Hamish Bowles and Anna Wintour, of Vogue magazine, will give a talk.

“People are fascinated by Detroit. If I say I’m from Detroit, people want to know all about it. There are enough good people trying to bring energy back to the city,” Sarge said. “It’s like a resurgence, and I really feel like it will happen. The people I know who have stayed in Detroit are very creative people that don’t want to go to New York or Los Angeles. You kind of lose your soul there, and it’s more of an honest feel here.

“It’s a very honest place. When I started the company, the two things I wanted were integrity and truthfulness. I really looked inside myself. It makes Michigan kind of great.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Jean Lannen

EVERY BREATH WE TAKE THE QUALITY OF AIR IN OAKLAND COUNTY

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

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egardless of who we are, where we live, what we do, or what our beliefs are, it’s the one true substance we can’t live without. We like to say it’s important to take a breath of fresh air, to clear our heads in the fresh air, yet could the air we breathe be making us sick?

Possibly, according to the American Lung Association, which recently released its 2014 State of the Air report. The report, which looks at ozone and particle pollution across the country, gave Oakland County a failing grade for ozone levels, or what we commonly call smog. Yet, experts with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and regulators with the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) say all of metro Detroit, including Oakland County, meet federal standards for ozone pollution.

Which is a way of saying, yes and no.

“We disagree with the way they do it,” Joan Weidner, air quality specialist with the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), said of the Lung Association’s report. “They don’t use EPA standards; they use their own standards. It’s very misleading.

We don’t agree with the way they characterize the data.”

Part of Weidner’s role with SEMCOG is to work with the DEQ to achieve permanent air improvements to show the area is meeting the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for various pollutants, including particulate matter, ozone, lead, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Overall, Michigan is meeting all of the national air quality standards with exception of lead levels in Ionia County and sulfur dioxide levels in southwest Detroit and the adjacent downriver community, according to the MDEQ. “They have a lot of concerns about pockets (of pollution), so areas with a lot of diesel traffic, areas like that, they are working to keep those localized areas cleaner,” Weidner said of the Lung Association’s report. “Certainly, in southwest Detroit, where there’s such a high industry concentration, you’ll see an impact, but we meet national standards.” verall, the State of the Air report shows that there are many areas of the country that have continued making reductions in year-round particle pollution. The lower levels of particle pollution is a direct result of transitioning to cleaner diesel engines and the clean-up of coal-fired power plants, according to the American Lung Association. Ozone pollution, on the other hand, has been one of the hardest pollutions to reduce.

Ozone is the most widespread pollutant in the United States, as well as one of the most dangerous, according to the American Lung Association. Often called smog, ozone is a gas molecule that is harmful to breathe and attacks lung tissues by reacting chemically with it. The ozone layer found high in the upper atmosphere may shield the earth from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, but ozone air pollution at ground level can cause other health problems.

According to the Lung Association, researchers found the risk of premature death increases with higher levels of ozone. It’s particularly harmful in the hot summer months, when ozone can lead to shortness of breath; wheezing; coughing; asthma attacks; increased respiratory infections; increased susceptibility to pulmonary inflammation; and increased need for people with lung diseases, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), to receive medical treatment and to go to the hospital. Inhaling ozone may affect the heart as well as the lungs.

A 2006 study linked exposures to high ozone levels for as little as one hour to a particular type of cardiac arrhythmia that itself increases the risk of premature death and stroke. A French study found that exposure to elevated ozone levels for one to two days increased the risk of heart attacks for middle-aged adults without heart disease. And the American Lung Association states several studies around the world have found increased risk of hospital admissions or emergency department visits for cardiovascular disease.

The EPA also found ozone causes harm.

According to a 2013 review on ozone pollution, ozone pollution poses multiple, serious threats to health, including worsened asthma and COPD; the likeliness to cause early death; likeliness to cause cardiovascular harm, such as heart attacks, strokes, heart disease and congestive heart failure; possible harm to the central nervous system; and possible reproductive and developmental harm.

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Ozone forms in the atmosphere from gasses that come from vehicle exhaust, industrial smokestacks and other sources. The gasses react and form smog when they come into contact with sunlight. The main ingredients for ozone come from nitrogen oxides, hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, as well as carbon monoxide. Oil, coal, gasoline and some chemicals are the primary source of ozone pollutants.

Ozone pollution is particularly harmful on hotter days, and often trigger “ozone action day” warnings from the National Weather Service. The warnings are developed using the Air Quality Index, a color-coded scale that the EPA developed to track ozone and particle pollution.

The index ranks air pollution on a scale of 0 (perfect) to 500 (hazardous) for air pollution levels that pose an immediate danger to the public.

Under the Air Index, an orange warning signifies air that is “Unhealthy for sensitive populations,” which includes small children, older adults and people suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems. A red warning denotes “unhealthy” air for all people, meaning everyone should limit outdoor exertion. According to the Lung Association, Oakland County experienced 18 orange ozone days in 2013 and one red ozone day, down slightly since 1996.

Mary Maupin, air quality analyst for the MDEQ, also said the Lung Association’s grading system skews air pollution figures because it uses a different formula and methodology.

Therefore, it’s not uncommon for an area meeting national air quality standards to be given a low grade by the Lung Association.

“It’s always a problem when grading the air comes out,” she said. “They are looking at old data, and they use a different formula than we use for the EPA. That’s how an attainment area can get an F.” espite the conflicting opinions on just how harmful the air in Oakland County is in 2014, there is clear agreement that the federal Clean Air Act is helping to improve air quality across the country. While the Lung Association’s report showed that national air quality worsened in 2010-2012, it is much cleaner than a decade ago.

Still, 47 percent of the nation lives where pollution levels are too often dangerous to breathe, according to the report.

“We’ve demonstrated progress. We are much cleaner than in the 1970’s or the 1990’s,” Weidner said. “Even in the past decade, there has been a lot of improvement. It’s confusing because the standards change. The air hasn’t gotten dirtier, but it’s a tougher standard.”

In addition to grading ozone levels in the county, the State of the Air report looks at particle pollution, which includes a mix of tiny solid and liquid particles suspended in the air.

Referred to as fine Particulate Matter by the EPA and MDEQ, the tiny suspended particles are categorized as either PM-10 – or particles that are larger than 10 microns – or about oneseventh the diameter of a single human hair – and PM-2.5, those particles which are smaller than 2.5 microns. The larger particles may be composed of dust, pollen, mold or other sources, while fine particles may come from combustion particles, organic compounds, metals or other sources.

Because the particles are so small, they may become trapped in a person’s lungs. If small

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enough, fine particles may even pass into a person’s bloodstream. Similar to how ozone reacts with the body, particle pollution may trigger illness, hospitalization or premature death.

The State of the Air report gave Oakland County an “A” grade for 24-hour particle pollution, meaning there were no warnings for particle pollution in 2013. The report also gave Oakland County a passing grade for annual particle pollution levels.

The ALA method of analysis for ozone and particle pollution is done by assigning increasing weights to days when air pollution levels reach higher ranges. The figures are added together to come up with a weighted average, and grades are based on that calculation. For year-round levels of particle pollution, the Lung Association uses annual average levels calculated by the EPA. “We are happy to report continued reduction of year-round particle pollution across the nation, thanks to cleaner diesel fleets and cleaner power plants,” said Harold Wimmer, National President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

“However, this improvement represents only a partial victory. We know that warmer temperatures increase risk for ozone pollution, so climate change sets the stage for tougher challenges to protect human health. We must meet these challenges head on to protect the health of millions of Americans living with asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. All of us – everyone in every family – have the right to healthy air.” ocally, reducing ozone levels has been a long and challenging process. The EPA in 2008 strengthened ground-level ozone, raising the standard from .08 parts per million to .075 parts per million. Areas that fail to meet national standards are considered nonattainment areas, and may be subject to some industrial permit restrictions. Oakland County, along with 16 others in the state at the time, were designated non-attainment areas, including Wayne, Washtenaw, St. Clair, Monroe, Macomb, Lenawee Livingston, Lapeer, Benzie, Manistee, Muskegon, Ottawa, Kent, Allegan and Berrien counties. The seven-county Detroit-Ann Arbor area, which includes Oakland County, had ozone levels of .082 at the time.

“Breathing air containing high levels of ozone, a key ingredient in smog, can reduce lung function, trigger respiratory symptoms, and worsen asthma or other respiratory conditions.

Ozone exposure also can contribute to premature death, especially in people with heart and lung disease. High ozone levels can also harm sensitive vegetation and forested ecosystems,” the EPA said in a letter to the MDEQ. Working with SEMCOG, the MDEQ began working on improvements and preparing documentation in an effort to have the EPA redesignate the area as being in attainment. The MDEQ, based on updated ozone monitoring, requested the EPA reconsider the Detroit-Ann Arbor designation. The updated data, according to the MDEQ, showed that only one ozone monitor in the state, which was located in Holland, showed ozone levels above the 2008 standards. On Dec. 9, 2011, the EPA changed the designation for ozone in the entire state to unclassifiable/attainment for the 2008 standards.

“We are showing really good trends in all the region,” SEMCOG’s Weidner said. “There is more

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than one monitor for all of these (pollutants), and high and low values are all trending downward – but the standards are getting tougher to meet.” ow certain areas are designated is determined by the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Ambient air is the atmosphere outside of our homes and buildings. Primary national standards are set at levels aimed to protect the public’s health.

Secondary standards also exist. All of the standards are based on scientific studies conducted over many years and reviewed every five years to determine if revisions should be made. Standards are expressed in micrograms per cubic meter or parts per million over a specified period of time. The standards are used to regulate six categories of pollutants: particulate matter (both PM-2.5 and PM-10), sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, carbon monoxide and lead.

The most recent standards were set in 2008.

However, the EPA is in the process of reviewing the standards, which could result in new, tougher regulations.

“They will announce by the end of the year if they are going to strengthen the standards,” Weidner said.

For those areas designated as non-attainment areas, lowering levels may translate to restrictions or tighter permitting on some industry.

“If you are designated non-attainment, you have some limitations,” Weidner said. “Some kinds of industry can’t locate there or expand, unless they do something to offset (pollution).

You have to identify real reductions in the region that will offset (expansion). It makes it tougher.”

Limitations based on ozone levels aren’t currently an issue in the Detroit-Ann Arbor area, but the industry has recognized sources for sulfur dioxide that already face limitations.

“We are looking at four companies that need to reduce sulfur dioxide to develop our plan for attainment: EES Coke Battery; US Steel; a DTE power plant; and Carmeuse Lime,” she said.

“Oakland County isn’t showing levels above the standards at their monitor.”

Maupin said the MDEQ is currently working on a plan to meet the national sulfur dioxide standards by working with the source industries.

“Hopefully they are willing to do some reductions,” Maupin said of the four companies.

“Otherwise, we will have to do some regulations or legislation.”

The question still remains, however, as to if and how the state will make changes to its air monitoring network if national air quality standards are increased by the EPA in 2015.

Maupin also said the EPA has already proposed new greenhouse gas regulations for existing power plants, but that the department is still sifting through the 450 pages of the document and taking comments to return to the EPA. Last month, the Obama administration announced a proposed rule intended to cut carbon-dioxide emissions from power plants by as much as 30 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. The “Clean Power Plan” also aims to cut particle pollution, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide by more than 25 percent.

Under the plan, each state will have different goals for cutting emissions, depending on the types of energy produced in their state. Utilities may use various methods for reducing emissions, including implementing more efficient

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technology, using cleaner alternatives, or participating in cap-and-trade programs, which allow low emissions states to sell credits to higher emissions states.

Meanwhile, the MDEQ continues current monitoring operations to meet federal air quality standards under the Clean Air Act. The MDEQ’s Ambient Air Monitoring Network Review is conducted annually to determine if any changes are needed to the state’s air monitoring network, based on history, population, distribution and modifications to the federal monitoring requirements under the Clean Air Act. According to the 2015 report, reductions may need to be made to the monitoring network if additional funding isn’t found. Additionally, stronger requirements may be harder to meet without additional funds.

“The MDEQ cannot implement all of the new monitoring requirements without new funding and concomitant reduction in other monitoring equipment due to financial and staffing limitations,” the report states. “Although the EPA has requested funding to support these endeavors, it is unknown if adequate funds will be made available. As a result of state and local air agencies in Region 5, with assistance from the Lake Michigan Air Directors Consortium, they drafted a proposal to identify which monitoring activities can be implemented and which are too costly. As funding becomes available or as changes to the NAAQS are finalized, the MDEQ may be able to gradually implement more of the requirements.”

“Funding is an issue every appropriation year,” Maupin said. “With the federal sequestration, the EPA’s budget has been cut.

So, they proposed cutting grants to the state for different things we do. They are proposing cutting many monitors, specifically our speciation monitors that tell us what kind of particle is being collected on a specific filter. We relied heavily on that to develop our strategy to lowering particulates.

“Those monitors are for particles. Now we are talking about ozone standards, and we know the contributing pollutants to ozone are VOCs and NOx. Combustion sources for NOx includes cars, power plants and sources that have boilers and any kind of combustion, including fires. VOC’s are paints, gas, diesel and a lot of chemicals.

Source points have been fairly well controlled over the past decades. The wider, smaller sources are probably bigger contributors to the whole, such as dry cleaners, gas stations and boats. There are a lot of different sources,” Maupin continued. he state’s air monitoring network consists of about 48 different monitoring locations, some of which monitor the air for multiple pollutants. Of the total in the state, those that are located in Oakland County include monitor locations in Oak Park, Pontiac and Rochester. Statewide, air quality monitoring consists of several air monitoring networks, including those that monitor lead, ozone, particulate pollution and its makeup; carbon monoxide; nitrogen dioxides; sulfur dioxide, trace metals, volatile organic compounds, carbonyl; polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon; and meteorological measurements.

Monitoring of lead is required for point sources, or identified sources of lead pollution, that emit a half ton of lead or more. However, those facilities where modeling indicates little likelihood of violating the NAAQS may be able to obtain a waiver. Statewide, only Belding,

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Michigan, in Ionia County, is currently listed as a non-attainment area for lead pollution.

In terms of ozone monitoring, the MDEQ’s report states that the Oak Park and Port Huron monitors are the only ozone sites in Oakland and St. Clair Counties, respectively, while Oak Park is violating the 0.075 ppm 8-hour ozone NAAQS, while Port Huron is not. The Ann Arbor area is required to have two ozone monitors, which consists of an Ypsilanti monitor and the downwind monitor in Oak Park. Because there isn’t sufficient space in Washtenaw County to house a downwind monitor to measure maximum ozone concentrations, the Oak Park site is used, even though it is outside of the boundary of the Ann Arbor area. The MDEQ said in its report that it plans to keep the current configuration to preserve historical trend data. ne change that may impact local ozone monitoring could be a more stringent ozone standard and monitoring season for ozone. If the EPA sets a more stringent ozone standard, the length of Michigan’s ozone season may have to be reevaluated, according to the report. The current ozone season in Michigan runs annually from April 1 through September 30.

The report also notes the reduction of PM-2.5 amounts measured since 2010, which has reduced the number of PM-2.5 monitoring sites required to be operated in some areas. However, the PM-2.5 monitoring site in Oak Park will continue to operate under the state’s plan.

The amount of PM-2.5 pollution in Oakland County was an issue in the past and the basis for a lawsuit filed by Oakland County more than a decade ago that requested the EPA re-designate the county as an attainment area. County officials argued at the time that Oakland County was wrongfully designated as a non-attainment area for fine particulate matter pollution because the source of the pollution was outside of the county’s borders.

“When they established the PM-2.5 standard, the state designated the entire seven-county area as non-attainment,” Weidner said. “The bulk of that decision was due to cars. Oakland County filed suit against them because the monitor in the county showed they weren’t exceeding the standards. In the meantime, a plan was developed and put into place to address that problem. All the counties were later redesignated as attainment.”

At the time, there had been discussions about whether or not the state would resume annual emissions testings for vehicles, a requirement that was eliminated in 1995. Maupin said the concern that vehicle emissions tests would return was based on inspection and maintenance programs required for non-attainment areas under the federal Clean Air Act. She said the issue isn’t likely to come up again based on fine particulate pollution, but future regulations could have different impacts.

“At this point, whether we will be required to under a new, tighter ozone standard would depend on how we are classified,” Maupin said, adding that summer weather is another factor that can skew ozone levels from year to year. “The National Ambient Air Quality Standard is a threeyear average. Remember, in 2012, it was very hot and dry. We had high ozone levels throughout the country, so as long as 2012 is in the three-year average, our numbers aren’t looking so good.

“Next year, 2012 drops off, so next year is the average we will be looking at when the EPA sets a new standard.”

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BLOOMFIELD HILLS $785,000 3 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 2,567 Square Feet MLS# 214042787

- NEW LISTING -

BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE $1,299,000

Ranch with full walk-out on 2 picturesque acres in Chelmsleigh. Great as-is or perfectly suited for renovations/new build.

Spacious updated colonial with stately columned entry and circular aggregate drive. Expansive upper level. 3-car garage.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS $865,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 4,204 Square Feet MLS# 214055631

Phenomenal 2004 renovation and remodel of a classic hilltop Colonial on a beautifully landscaped corner lot. 3-car garage.

real difference in Real Estate T heRandsColburn.com

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442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Waechter A dam associate broker 313.801.8018 akwhallandhunter@gmail.com

-NEW LISTING -

BIRMINGHAM | $1,450,000 2 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,384 Square Feet MLS# 214053679

Stunning turn-key in-town townhouse. Granite island kitchen with sitting area opens to family room and private terrace. Brazilian hardwood floors. Elevator to all levels. 5 fireplaces. 2nd floor laundry. Finished lower level. Heated 3-car garage.

BLOOMFIELD HILLS | $1,399,000 5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 5,414 Square Feet MLS# 214017285

Spectacular setting on the 4th fairway of Bloomfield Hills Country Club. Large living areas and vaulted ceilings. Master suite and laundry on first floor.

Expansive teenage/in-law suite. Beautiful granite kitchen. Natural gas/whole house generator.

-NEW LISTING -

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $1,299,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,601 Square Feet MLS# 214049231

Gilbert Lake living on almost one acre of beautifully manicured grounds. The finished walkout lower level adds 2,200+ square feet and includes fireplace, rec room, wet bar, wine cellar and hot tub. Enjoy spectacular views all year long!

-NEW LISTING -

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $1,199,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 4,729 Square Feet MLS# 214059298

Secluded wooded setting near Kirk of the Hills.

Granite kitchen opens to family room. Master suite with private balcony. 1st floor laundry.

Finished lower level with possible 5th bedroom.

Lush yard with elevated brick paver patio.

Co-listed with Jason McKevitt, 248.202.1380

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442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Waechter A dam associate broker 313.801.8018 akwhallandhunter@gmail.com

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $3,500,000 5 Bedrooms 6 Full, 2 Half Baths 8,445 Square Feet MLS# 214027178

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Extraordinary 3.93 acre estate built by Mosher Dolan and designed by Art-Harrison. Meticulous attention to details, custom-milled wood work/carpentry and 4 fireplaces. The gourmet granite kitchen with premium appliances accesses a blue stone terrace. All en suite bedrooms. A master retreat offers a stunning marble/mosaic shower, Bain Ultra Tub and private blue stone balcony. Walkout 4400+ sq. ft. lower level includes spacious family room, game area, full-service wet bar overlooking billiard space, 5th bedroom suite and exercise room with steam shower. 6+ car garage(s).

or a private showing, please F contact me by phone or email

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442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Cheryl Riback

associate broker,

ABR, SRES

248.808.3112 criback@hallandhunter.com

2644 INDIAN MOUND ROAD S. | BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE | $2,900,000 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 5,996 Square Feet MLS# 214050550

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A spectacular landmark home located within desirable Bloomfield Village. This original estate home — known as “Red Oaks” — was remodeled in 2009 while preserving the original architectural details. Professionally decorated by renowned designers and featured in Home and Garden Magazine. Luxurious, private living at its finest surrounded by magnificent gardens and pool. New kitchen and bathrooms, as well as living room, large dining room, family room, enclosed porch and library. A truly exceptional property in a very sought-after area.

cheryl’s listings at V iew hallandhunter.com

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442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

olly Geyer H realtor 248.506.7345 hgeyer@hallandhunter.com

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS $2,199,000 5 Bedrooms 6 Full, 2 Half Baths 7,000 Square Feet MLS# 213074271

Gracious home on 1.5 5 Bedrooms acres backing to Cranbrook. 6 Full, 1 Half Baths En suite bedrooms. 5 custom 6,391 Square Feet fireplaces. Luxurious details MLS# 214057115 throughout.

- NEW LISTING -

CITY OF BLOOMFIELD HILLS $975,000 3 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 3,484 Square Feet MLS# 214054706

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- PRICE REDUCTION -

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP $999,000

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP $1,790,000

Spectacular custom home 5 Bedrooms on 1.26 acres. Gourmet 5 Full, 2 Half Baths kitchen opens to family 4,543 Square Feet room. Saltwater pool and MLS# 214048713 private landscaped yard.

- NEW LISTING -

BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE $600,000

2+ acres. Dramatic stone 4 Bedrooms fireplace. Master Suite 2 Full, 1 Half Baths opens to wraparound deck 2,999 Square Feet overlooking pool/grounds.

MLS# 214050999 Fabulous lower level.

Open floor plan great for entertaining. Spacious eatin kitchen opens to family room. Hardwood floors throughout. Nice-sized lot.

Desirable Chestnut Run North. Five spacious bedrooms. Traditional floor plan. Finished lower level.

Oversized 3-car garage.

TROY $279,000

4 Bedrooms 2 Full, 1 Half Baths 1,998 Square Feet MLS# 214050777

Beautiful, large corner lot in popular Raintree Sub. Eat-in kitchen opens to family room with wet bar and patio. 1st floor laundry.

holly’s listings at V iewhollygeyer.com

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442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

Baker and Lynn Deby Gannes 248.379.3000 CHRISTIE’S INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE

lbaker@hallandhunter.com

248.379.3003 dgannes@hallandhunter.com

ACT NOW TO ENJOY

Summer in a New Home!

Selling? Call us today for a free market analysis.

OAKLAND TOWNSHIP NEW PRICE | $2,099,000 6 Bedrooms 9 Full, 3 Half Baths 8,895 Square Feet MLS# 214058362

ROCHESTER HILLS $1,199,999

Private estate on 7+ acres.

4371 sq. ft. in finished walkout. Connected wing with separate entrance.

Elevator. Heated terrace.

5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 5,378 Square Feet MLS# 214039418

FRANKLIN VILLAGE NEW PRICE | $980,000 6 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 4,034 Square Feet MLS# 214055619

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1/2 acre+ site with views 4 Bedrooms of a private pond and 4 Full, 1 Half Baths conservation area. 2620 sq.

3,794 Square Feet ft. walkout lower level. 3-car MLS# 214048879 garage. Full house generator.

SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP NEW PRICE | $692,000

Hilltop setting on a 2.59 acre lot - one of the best in sub. Magnificent views from every room. Terrazzo floors.

Finished walk out LL.

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FRANKLIN VILLAGE NEW PRICE | $999,999

4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Bath 3,354 Square Feet MLS# 214057298

Wooded acre backing to a 52-acre nature preserve.

1st floor master suite with private covered deck.

Waterfall with koi pond.

Cul-de-sac backing to woods.

2-story living room. 1st floor master. Finished LL with kitchen, bedroom, family room with 106” screen.

ADDISON TOWNSHIP $649,900 4 Bedrooms 3 Full, 2 Half Baths 4,948 Square Feet MLS# 214032085

High hilltop 2.3-acre wooded site. Kitchen Studio kitchen with breakfast room & travertine floors. Walkout lower level. 3+ car garage.

iew Lynn and Deby’s listings at

LynnandDeby.com

442 South Old Woodward Avenue | Birmingham, Michigan 48009

442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009

248.644.3500

Ginny Fisher realtor

Amy Zimmer and

Tiffany Glime 248.469.6430

azimmer@hallandhunter.com

248. 593.0518

248.930.5656

gfisher@hallandhunter.com

tglime@hallandhunter.com

BLOOMFIELD HILLS | $1,699,000 4 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 4,800 Square Feet MLS# 214050438

Private gated enclave on ravine setting. Total of 7000+ square feet. Renovated Millennium cherry kitchen opens to family room.

Finished walkout with possible 5th bedroom.

Lower paver terraces. 4-car garage.

- NEW LISTING -

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $819,900 5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 2 Half Baths 3,848 Square Feet MLS# 214057892

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Large, private setting deep in sub. Light-filled great room opens to 2012 patio renovation with stone amphitheater-style seating. Chef ’s kitchen. Expansive master suite. Wine cellar in finished lower level. 3-car garage.

BIRMINGHAM | $625,000 3 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 2,674 Square Feet MLS# 214037186

Beautiful home close to Pierce School and parks. Gourmet maple kitchen. Brazilian cherry floors. Master suite with fireplace and limestone bath. 1st/2nd floor laundries. 2.5-car garage with bonus room. Finished lower level.

and other listings at V iew these hallandhunter.com

442 South Old Woodward Avenue Birmingham, Michigan 48009

248.644.3500

Jason McKevitt

Emily Day

jmckevitt@hallandhunter.com

eday@hallandhunter.com

realtor 248.202.1380

- NEW LISTING -

BIRMINGHAM | $519,000 3 Bedrooms 3 Full, 1 Half Baths 1,622 Square Feet MLS# 214057582

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Steps from Barnum Park and downtown!

Granite/stainless kitchen with island opens to eating area and family room. Finished lower level. 2+ car garage. Private rear yard with brick paver patio. Co-listed with Adam Waechter.

realtor, SRES 248.229.0147

- NEW LISTING -

BLOOMFIELD HILLS | $862,500 2+ Acres 5 Bedrooms 4 Full, 1 Half Baths 6,481 Total Sq. Ft.

Sprawling 2003 renovation offers a back yard of total privacy! Gourmet kitchen, formal dining and family rooms — all with views of nature. 1st floor master and study. Finished walk-out lower level with fireplace.

and other listings at V iew these hallandhunter.com

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The only publication of its kind in Birmingham/Bloomfield.

Quality editorial environment.

Produced by local residents from offices in downtown Birmingham.

It’s never too early to explore your options, so speak with Marilyn Johnson today.

MARILYN JOHNSON NMLS ID# 697433 810-441-1377 marilyn.s.johnson@charteronebank.com

Join the local business leaders, almost 400 of whom use Downtown on a regular basis, in our August issue.

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All loans are subject to approval. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. 1213

52

DOWNTOWN

07.14

FACES

Eugene Strobe

E

ugene Strobe started taking classical guitar lessons when he was 12 years old. By the time he finished high school, he was offering lessons and playing just about any instrument put in front of him.

“I started giving lessons when I was about 18, after high school,” said Strobe, who has been teaching lessons at Detroit Guitar in downtown Birmingham for about three years. “I had some high school friends that wanted to learn. Then I started individual private lessons.”

Always willing to throw down on a jam session with other musicians, Strobe it seems has been a member or sat in with almost every rock group in Detroit, including The Sights, The Sirens, The Gore Gore Girls, The Alphabet, the Blades of Grass, and the Lion. He has also been a member of The Witches since 2000, and fronts his own psychedelic rock project, Cosmic Light Shapes.

“It’s a project I’ve been working on for a number of years,” Strobe said about Cosmic Light Shapes, who plans on releasing its debut record in August. “I have a drummer friend, and we started playing together as Cosmic Light Shapes about four or five years ago. We went to Jim Diamond’s recording studio in 2013, and recorded it. It’s psychedelic rock.”

Strobe said the record will be available on vinyl and digital download, as well as some limited discs for sale at shows. He also plans on releasing a limited run VHS tape version of the album, in an attempt to “try to one-up all the record labels that are doing vinyl.”

Meanwhile, Strobe continues to play regularly with Troy Gregory and the Witches while continuing to teach in Birmingham, making music his full-time career after leaving a 15-year stint as an art facilitator at the Detroit Institute of Arts.

“I’ve been in The Witches since 2000, and they’ve been a band since 1996,” Strobe said. “I was playing drums at the time. (Troy) Gregory got to know me and said he would like to have me play guitar with The Witches.

We had a rehearsal the next week and I was in.”

In addition to teaching private lessons for the past eight years, Strobe was previously music director at the Rochester School of Rock for two years, and has helped to open other music schools in metro Detroit. Instruction, he said, involves a lot of beginning students who are just learning fingering basics and technique. However, teaching how to play often involves a bit of rock education.

“It comes up in natural conversation,” Strobe said. “A kid comes in and they want to learn the latest song by Green Day or something, and you tell them that they were influenced by the Sex Pistols and the Ramones, and that they were influenced by The Stooges, and you end up giving them a timeline of rock ‘n roll. You get them to see how it evolved, and a little more retro-rock, and sometimes they like that more. It’s not just a facsimile to what happened before.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Jean Lannen

MUNICIPAL Surnow purchases Wachler building

By Lisa Brody

Birmingham real estate developer Jeff Surnow, who purchased and renovated the former Birmingham Post Office and Birmingham Schools Administrative building, both in downtown Birmingham, has purchased the David Wachler & Sons Jewelers building at 100 S. Old Woodward in Birmingham.

Surnow said that he is currently exploring several options as to what he would build or renovate at one of the major corners of downtown Birmingham. “I don’t know what I’m going to be doing yet. I’m formulating it by researching various options,” he said. He said he is currently working with the Birmingham planning department, building department, engineering department, private architects, and structural engineers, to see whether it makes sense to renovate the three-story building and build up, or to knock down the building and build a new five-story building on the site, which would include residential on the top two floors.

“It’s a very deeply involved project.

In my opinion, it’s a prime gateway corner in downtown Birmingham. I have to get it right,” Surnow said.

“It’s about improving the city and making it better. The creative juices are really flowing for me. I look at what makes a community and what brings in outsiders to the city.”

He said he is taking his time in the process, and all of the building’s current tenants, from the jewelers to the five or six office tenants, are remaining in the building.

“Everything is status quo. There are no surprises. No one is being asked to leave. On the contrary. All of the leases will be extended,” he said. If renovations commence, tenants will be temporarily relocated to other Surnow properties, he said.

David Wachler & Sons is a familyowned jeweler which first opened in Detroit in 1922; it has been at the corner of Maple and Old Woodward for over 30 years. They have five years on a lease with Surnow, with another five-year option, owner Buzz Wachler downtownpublications.com

Palladium renovation gets first okay

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enovation of the Palladium Building in Birmingham from two levels of retail and two movie theater levels to one story of retail, two stories of office, a modified movie theater, underground parking and three rooftop residential units was recommended for approval for the building’s new owner by the Birmingham Planning Board on Wednesday, May 28.

The Palladium Building, at 202 N. Old Woodward, was sold to Bloomfield Hills’ A.F. Jonna Development and Management Co. in March, with the intention of completely renovating and modifying the existing building, owner Arkan Jonna confirmed at the time. The 140,000 square foot mixed use retail and entertainment development had been owned by Related Real Estate in New York City.

Currently, the Palladium 12 movie theaters are the only operational business in the building, although the theaters are under new management, which was built and opened in 2001, and once housed Buca di Beppo, a Brazilian steakhouse, Tower Records, City Cellar and Blue Martini, and later Chen Chow Brasserie, Barrio and Hamilton Room, and Arhaus furniture.

According to a memo prepared by Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker, the existing Palladium Building was approved by consent judgment on May 5, 1999. Under the terms of the consent judgment, the court approved the preliminary and final site plans for the building, and the planning board had the authority to approve only the design of the building and the proposed streetscape.

Ecker told planning board members that while Jonna plans to renovate the building and change some of the building’s uses, he will maintain the same building footprint. While the first floor will remain retail, the window sizes will need to be increased. Jonna intends to convert the basement level retail space into underground parking with 41 parking spaces to support the new office and residential uses proposed for the building. This lower level parking garage will be accessed by a new ramp accessed off of Ferndale Avenue.

The current second floor, now part of the Palladium movie theater, is proposed to be split into two floors of office space. “Both floors will fit within the existing envelope of the second floor as the floor is currently built for stadium-style theater seating,” Ecker wrote in her memo to planning board members. The existing third floor of the building is proposed to remain as a movie theater, although it would now become the fourth floor.

In keeping with many of Birmingham’s mixed use buildings, Jonna would add a partial fifth floor with three residential units. These could be accommodated into the building’s design without exceeding the existing building’s height on the highest portion of the roof, which is slightly over 71 feet, planning board members were informed.

While the planning board gave first approval to the site plan, it still needs final site plan approval from the the planning board and then the city commission, and then go before the U.S. District Court for final approval, as the existing consent judgement continues to control the development and use of the property, including all renovations.

confirmed.

“I’m staying. I’ll still be part of the building,” Wachler said. “It’s very exciting for me. Everything has really fallen into place for me. Surnow is the type of guy I wanted to be involved

with. We have a partnership. He’s the managing partner. I’m looking forward to developing a new store with him.”

Surnow said he is looking to lease the Bank of America space, which the

DOWNTOWN

bank is vacating as of Friday, June 27.

The space is approximately 3,000 square feet.

Surnow said he approached the renovations of his other two Birmingham office properties in the same deliberate manner in order to create the best possible properties for his tenants, and for the city. “Before doing the original post office, I had never done anything like this before. I had built more traditional office buildings. It was my first renovation and the most fun experience of my life,” he said. “Other people got it.

Tenants said this is what I want. I never had a building before where when customers came in, they wanted to give tours of the building.”

Both the post office building at 320 Martin Street and the former school administration building at 550 W. Merrill Street feature smaller rental office spaces of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 square feet with communal meeting and kitchen areas, and shared conference spaces. “It’s the way people in Birmingham meet,” Surnow said.

Pink Pump closes two local stores Pink Pump, a clothing, shoe and accessory store with locations in Birmingham, Bloomfield Township and Royal Oak, closed both their Birmingham and Bloomfield Township stores, according to owner Tawny Thieu.

Thieu said the Bloomfield Township store, located in the Bloomfield Plaza at Maple and Telegraph roads, closed the second week of June. The Birmingham store, in downtown Birmingham at 150 W. Maple Road, would shut down by the end of June, but the store was closed earlier. Both stores are closing because their leases were up, Thieu said, and she is not renewing the leases.

“I’m just moving on to other stuff,” she said. “I am keeping the Pink Pump flagship store in Royal Oak (at 309 S. Main Street), as well as two P2 stores.”

The P2 stores, which also feature clothes and shoes, are located in Royal Oak and Oakland Mall.

55

Hearing postponed on pot facilities

By Lisa Brody

The Birmingham City Commission requested city staff provide them with more information on permitting medical marijuana growing operations in the Rail District, and the appropriate location to place them, requesting more time to study the facts and look at all potential areas in the city.

The item was pulled from the city commission’s consent agenda on Monday, June 9, after a letter from architect Frank Carnovale, whose office is in the Rail District, stated to commissioners that placing medical marijuana growing facilities in the Rail District would turn the area of Birmingham into a “ghetto.”

In May, Birmingham planning board members learned from city attorney Tim Currier that the board should consider the zoning change to allow and control medical marijuana establishments as a permitted use in

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the city due to a recent ruling by the state’s highest court. Prior to this request, Birmingham had an ordinance that has prohibited the facilities, as well as medical marijuana dispensaries, anywhere in the city on the grounds that marijuana is considered a controlled substance under federal law.

Medical marijuana was approved by 63 percent of Michigan voters in 2008. Since then, individual municipalities have grappled with how to handle individual rights of medical marijuana patients, the rights of state-approved caregivers, and municipalities which have chosen to give preference to federal law. A Michigan Supreme Court decision in 2013, however, ruled that all Michigan municipalities must follow the provisions relating to the state’s Medical Marijuana Act and allow for facilities in their communities.

“If it is allowable in the state, and if our ordinance does not permit it, what happens,” a planning board member asked at a recent meeting.

Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker responded, “It would end up in litigation. They do not tell us where, but we have to allow it. It could be anywhere (in the city). It is a growing operation. It’s not like you as a member of the public can just walk in and buy something off of the shelf.

They’re permitted a certain number of patients, and a certain number of plants. There’s no specific look to the building.”

Due to the mixed use permitted in the Rail District, that it’s eastern border is the railroad tracks, it has the Birmingham Police Department’s shooting range adjacent at Kenning Park, and there is no single family residential in the district, the planning department recommended the district as the preferred area for permitted growing operations.

Anyone requesting to have a growing operation would need to apply for a special land use permit, which must be approved by the city commission.

Commissioner Gordon Rinschler stated at the meeting that “this

DOWNTOWN

public hearing would be in the summer. This thing seems to be flying under the radar. Rescheduling to generate more interest makes sense to me.”

Commissioner Mark Nickita noted that allowing a licensed growing operation in the city is required by state law, “or it will be placed where we may not want it. My only concern is, we may not have taken a look at all of our options, and seen all of the criteria for where we should put it. I just want to look at all of the facts before we make any determinations.”

Commissioner Tom McDaniel first asked if retail sales of medical marijuana to the public were permitted, and he was told they were not. “The issue is having a secure place, which is the theory of the MX (Rail) District. It’s easier for the police to access and control it there. But we’ll get answers from staff on why no other area of town meets the right criterial.”

Birmingham city clerk Laura Pierce said no future date for the public hearing was set.

07.14

Celebrating Home

248-792-8833 | cbwm.com

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel: Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

WEIR MANUEL

BIRMINGHAM | $724,900 In-town and fabulously renovated throughout. Spectacular landscaping and private grounds. Deep lot with fire pit, Koi ponds, patio areas, and room for a pool. Large living room, separate dining room, gourmet kitchen, and family room with views of rear yard. Exquisite master with walk-in closet, dressing area, and luxurious bath. Third floor bedroom suite. Recreational room. Three-car garage has 653 finished sqft above. A true oasis in the city.

Presented by: Diedre "Didi" Etue | T: 248-639-4818 | detue@cbwm.com

Celebrating Home

248-792-8833 | cbwm.com

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel: Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

WEIR MANUEL

BLOOMFIELD VILLAGE | $1,899,000 Classic magnificent Bloomfield Village Colonial with 5 bedroom suites, gracious formal living and dining rooms with extensive moldings, wonderful family room with walls of windows overlooking an estate size lot. Cook’s kitchen with oversized granite counter bars, 3 ovens, 2 dishwashers and large breakfast room. Extensive hardwood flooring, first floor laundry and generator. Old world charm you don’t want to miss.

Presented by: Erin O’Neill | T: 248-639-4857 | eoneill@cbwm.com

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $1,650,000 Fabulous home in Bloomfield. Stunning marble two-story foyer with dramatic curved staircase welcomes you into this custom built home. Floor to ceiling windows in great room, hardwood floors throughout gourmet kitchen, butler station, formal dining room, living room, and judges-paneling study that over looks beautiful wooded-serene lot with abundant wildlife. Updated kitchen Granite counter tops and Bosch appliances.

Presented by: Roberta Smith | T: 248-365-7644 | rsmith@cbwm.com

Celebrating Home

248-792-8833 | cbwm.com

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel: Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

WEIR MANUEL

Spotlight on...

Penny Toth’s entrepreneurial spirit and

Penny isn’t interested in the quick sale, she

dedication to customer service began at five

listens, really listens, she wants to build a

years old standing on a box behind the counter

life-long relationship with her clients. Her

at her parent’s shop, helping customers

personality and business philosophy get results

package and wrap their gifts.

making her a top corporate relocation agent

Perfectly reflecting her passions of world

and earning her the distinction of Hour Detroit

traveling and cooking, this sparty earned her

Real Estate All Star.

BA in French and art history at Michigan State,

Want to learn more about Penny? Visit her

and followed that up with a culinary degree at

website at cbwm.com/ptoth

Schoolcraft College. She’s an avid reader and

Penny Toth

gardener, who also believes in giving back and is an active supporter in metro Detroit’s arts

248-731-5869 | ptoth@cbwm.com www.cbwm.com/ptoth

and charities.

BIRMINGHAM | $650,00 Fresh, unique & compelling describes this lovely modern style home. Completely renovated.

Presented by: Mary Francis McCaleb T: 248-365-7397 | mmccaleb@cbwm.com

BIRMINGHAM | $669,000 Charming and distinctive 1926, 4 bed, 3.1 bath home in rarely available Birmingham Estates.

Presented by: Mary Ellen Borovich T: 248-731-5886 | mborovich@cbwm.com

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $639,900 Extra special “East Coast” styled Colonial, elegantly decorated, updated to perfection Presented by: Rebecca Meisner T: 248-639-4814 | rmeisner@cbwm.com

BIRMINGHAM | $615,000 Remodeled ranch includes all new stainless steel appliances, granite counters in kitchen.

Presented by: Barbara Czerniewski T: 248-365-7607 | bczerniewski@cbwm.com

BIRMINGHAM | $559,000 Located within walking distance of the elementary school. Updated kitchen w/granite.

Presented by: Patricia Moran T: 810-344-4540 | pmoran@cbwm.com

BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $349,000 Sharp, meticulously cared for home in popular Hickory Heights. Most rooms freshly painted.

Presented by: Erna Whitmire T: 248-639-7949 | ewhitmire@cbwm.com

Celebrating Home

248-792-8833 | cbwm.com

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel: Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

WEIR MANUEL

BIRMINGHAM | $899,000 Charming 1930’s Connecticut Colonial situated on a beautifully landscaped .5 acre lot in one of Birmingham’s finest areas.

Presented by: Robert Dundon T: 248-733-5901 | rdundon@cbwm.com

BIRMINGHAM | $885,000 Character abounds in this stunningly updated stone faced 1930’s Colonial with beautiful archways, moldings, and hardwood floors.

Presented by: Rebecca Meisner T: 248-639-4814 | rmeisner@cbwm.com

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP | $849,000 This home offers privacy, curb appeal, and panoramic southern exposure lake views!

Presented by: Kendra McConnell Hurd T: 248-365-7620 | kmhurd@cbwm.com

BIRMINGHAM | $639,000 Enjoy walking to town from this sought after Birmingham neighborhood-Holy Name area.

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BIRMINGHAM | $629,900 Wonderful upgraded 1922 Colonial on 80x141 lot located walking distance of downtown Birmingham.

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BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $489,000 Open, light, roomy with gorgeous views describes this stunning renovated home.

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WEST BLOOMFIELD | $399,900 Desirable and well cared for home updated for todays living with Bloomfield Schools.

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BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP | $269,000 Birmingham Schools-- Wonderful ranch has it all!

3 bedrooms, 3 full baths, finished lower level.

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Celebrating Home

248-792-8833 | cbwm.com

Coldwell Banker Weir Manuel: Locally Owned and Operated Since 1950.

WEIR MANUEL

MUNICIPAL City looks at leasing lots for parking

By Lisa Brody

The city of Birmingham is looking to ease its parking crunch by leasing lots and extra parking spots from property owners who are not currently using them, members of the Principal Shopping Board (PSD) board were informed on Thursday, June 12.

An influx of high-tech companies into Birmingham in recent years has increased the demand for monthly parking permits at the city’s parking structures, causing demand to exceed supply in all five of the city-owned parking garages, Birmingham city engineer Paul O’Meara told both the PSD board, parking committee, and city commission during its long-range planning session this winter. In addition, PSD executive director John Heiney said the city’s retail is currently at over 95 percent occupancy.

The Advisory Parking Committee, and a new offshoot, the Ad Hoc Parking Study Committee, a subcommittee which was formed this spring, will be considering how best to to meet the increasing needs for both permit and visitor parking in downtown Birmingham.

Heiney said in May the Advisory Parking Committee took some action, including advising city staff to seek out additional lots in the city owned by private property owners that could be available to be leased by the city for parking. “The city would then shuttle people into the downtown area,” he said. “Some of the lots are in the Triangle District, and some are in the downtown area. There are also some additional private parking spots that may not be in use which could be leased.”

He said staff is also determining if the Pierce Street parking structure or the N. Old Woodward structure would be best for expansion to provide additional parking.

Birmingham has five parking garages at pivotal points in the downtown area to accommodate shoppers, diners, and office workers.

They are the Pierce Street structure; Park Street structure; Old Woodward structure; Peabody Street structure; and the Chester Street parking structure. The Auto Parking System constructed the five current structures from 1966 to 1989.

O’Meara reported that once the Chester Street garage opened in 1989, there was a period of little growth in the downtown area.

62

Birmingham’s Gas Station TV sold

G

as Station TV ((GSTV) in Birmingham, which broadcasts TV and advertising content at gas stations around the United States, was purchased by Detroit-based Rockbridge Growth Growth Equity LLC, for between $100 million and $200 million.

GSTV, located at 255 S. Old Woodward, has 2,600 stations using its services in 42 states, after first being founded in Oak Park in 2006 with a five-station pilot in Dallas. CEO David Leider, CFO and COO Stephen Keuhn and Mo Alcaptan, Executive Vice President, will all stay with the company after it has been acquired by Rockbridge, which is owned by Dan Gilbert, founder of Quicken Loans, Brian Hermelin and Kevin Prokop.

GSTV provides exclusive content from ESPN, CNN’s Headline News and Buzz Today, Bloomberg TV and AccuWeather at gas station pump monitors.

“Investing in an industry-leading and growing company like GSTV is a natural fit for Rockbridge,” said Prokop, who also serves as Rockbridge’s managing director. “GSTV’s management team has proven video at the pump to be a successful media growth category, and GSTV has emerged as the clear leader in the space.”

“Partnering with Rockbridge empowers us to build upon our leadership position in the industry and bring a GSTV screen to every community in the country,” said Leider.

Leider also said that they intend to remain in downtown Birmingham.

“We expect GSTV will remain in Birmingham for the foreseeable future and will discuss future growth plans with management,” he said.

At the same time, demand remained consistently strong at the Pierce Street Structure, at Pierce and Merrill streets, and to a lesser extent, he said, in the Peabody Street structure. “With the passage of the Downtown 2016 Master Plan, and its new liberal zoning rules that would encourage more building, the Advisory Parking Committee became concerned that the system was not going to be able to handle the increase in demand,” O’Meara wrote in a memo.

However, since the growth in demand was not imminent at that time, the city took no action. Since, several buildings have been built as well as the construction of a lot of residential space. With the decline of the economy in 2007, the parking system was able to continue to meet the needs of most businesses.

Fast forward to 2013, and there has been an explosion of development and new businesses into downtown Birmingham. One key change is that while a previous business may have had four or five employees, newer tech companies coming to Birmingham are filling desks with numerous people on computers, increasing the number of employees requiring parking permits at the parking structures. For example, the former Jacobson’s store on Maple is now McCann Detroit advertising agency, with several hundred employees parking in the Chester Street structure.

Biggby Coffee site in downtown closes The Biggby Coffee at 112 S. Old Woodward in downtown Birmingham closed Sunday, June 15, after fourand-a-half years in the city.

Staffers at the coffee shop informed patrons that the shop closed because the store’s owners have decided not to renew its lease.

The brightly-colored Biggby Coffee is the antithesis to Starbucks, which was lodged right across the street. A dog-friendly establishment, with students studying and men playing chess, and others meeting have long found it a cozy spot in downtown Birmingham.

The Birmingham Biggby was coowned by siblings Joe and Rose Glendinning, along with a Biggby in Bloomfield Township at 1952 S. Telegraph Road. Joe is an attorney who moved to Australia in 2013, and Rose is a former investment banker in Boston. They opened the Birmingham Biggby in March 2010.

“My brother Joe and I took a different approach from the ‘Michigan flight’ story you read about,” Rose said upon opening the Birmingham store. “We decided now was the perfect time to move back to the area to invest in our future here, and Biggby Coffee represented the perfect business opportunity to us. We both come from big corporate cultures, and this is just the opposite setting we were both seeking. We’re certainly having a lot of fun with it.”

“Thank you for everything

DOWNTOWN

Birmingham. We’ve had a great run,” Rose said, regarding the closing.

“Come visit us in Bloomfield.”

Valet service for shoppers halted

By Lisa Brody

An attempt to ease parking concerns for downtown Birmingham shoppers by providing valet parking has been discontinued, at least temporarily, for lack of use.

The Birmingham Principal Shopping District (PSD) had sponsored valet parking service on Saturdays in April and May from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., yet there were few takers.

The service provided by In-House Valet, the valet service for The Townsend Hotel, cost $4, regardless of how long a shopper left their car with them. The valet destination was in front of the Birmingham 8 Theatre was chosen “because everyone knows where it is. It’s a great landmark,” John Heiney, PSD executive director said.

But many shoppers didn’t realize the valet located there, also in front of Hyde Park Steakhouse, was for shoppers and not the restaurant.

The choice to offer valet was prompted by requests from many Birmingham retailers. “We’ve had a lot of conversations from our merchants,” said Heiney. “Customers tell many of our merchants that this would be a valuable service. We had hoped to make parking in Birmingham convenient and hasslefree during the busy spring season.”

Heiney said they learned a lot from their initial offering in case they do it again in the future. “There is interest in offering it again, perhaps over the holidays,” he said. “We have several questions as well. Should we offer it at multiple locations? If so, how much staff do we need, and where do they park the cars?”

He said the PSD is also in discussions with the city of Birmingham, which is examining parking issues in light of a crunch of parking spaces, from street parking to parking structures. “As part of the city’s parking solution, can or should valet be part of the parking? And going forward, should it be looked at on certain days of the week?”

He said that those are issues that should be looked at by the Birmingham Ad Hoc Parking Committee, currently in formation.

The PSD representative on the committee is Richard Astrein.

07.14

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Lot Price. $699,900

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248.797.0784 CELL cgpero@yahoo.com

275 S OLD WOODWARD BIRMINGHAM

Over $100 Million Closed Since 2011

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Beau’s approved for later closing at night At a public hearing for special land use approval at the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees meeting on Monday, June 9, the new owners of Beau’s restaurant in the former location of Beau Jack’s received approval, by a vote of 4-2, to stay open until midnight rather than the 1 a.m. they requested, and can continue to offer entertainment similar to the piano bar Beau Jack’s always offered, as long as garbage is picked up during normal daytime hours.

In Bloomfield Township, by ordinance, all Class C and tavern liquor licenses are only permitted to stay open until 9 p.m. unless they receive special land use approval to stay open later. Most that have received that permission can stay open until 11 p.m., although a few are permitted to stay open until midnight.

Beau Jack’s had been open until 11 p.m. on Saturdays.

In its original request before the township planning commission, Beau’s proposed to be open from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. - midnight, Sundays through Thursdays, and 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Fridays and Saturdays. They revised their application to stay open until 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays, which the planning commission approved, stating they wished to capitalize on diners coming from late movies across the street at the Maple Theater.

However, trustees strongly differed on the new restaurant’s closing hours, especially after residents adjacent to MEX restaurant, which the new owners also own, spoke during the public hearing, stating there have been continual problems with parking, and most notably, garbage pickup at 3 a.m., which several trustees were irate to learn.

Township treasurer Dan Devine said that he was not in favor of staying open until 1 a.m. “Once you’re open until 1 in the morning, you’re catering to a new element that’s not in the township. That’s ok. That’s what Birmingham and Royal Oak is ok for. Our money is to stay in the neighborhoods,” he said. “It’s like we’re compromising our standards and bending over backwards for commercial rather than bending over backwards for the neighborhoods.

Once we do it, we’re done. We can’t go backwards. Once we go to 1 a.m., we’ve broken new ground. We’re a bar town. How do you say no to Cafe ML, Roadside and others when they say they want to stay open until 1?” downtownpublications.com

Devine also chastised the owners.

“By reputation, you’re in a similar situation as you’re in at MEX, right by neighborhoods. You don’t have a favorable history, with garbage pickup at 3 a.m. They’ve shown themselves to not be worthy of it at this time.”

Township clerk Jan Roncelli noted that other township restaurants don’t attract a crowd after midnight. “We shouldn’t set a precedent,” she said.

Trustee Brian Kepes disagreed. “I think with the movie theater across the street, it would be nice to go across after a late movie and get a bite to eat.”

Trustee Neal Barnett concurred.

“Our demographics are changing.

There are no businesses in the township available for people who have been to a sporting event downtown, and they stay downtown instead of coming here.”

Trustee Dave Buckley asked Roncelli how late the theater is open, and she answered until 12. “Well then, they would come right in and ask for 1 (a.m.) to keep their business. Why wouldn’t they?” Buckley asked.

Township supervisor Leo Savoie countered that Beau Jack’s was there for many years. “You’re talking about one or two hours (more). As for the condos (next door), they were set up as apartments, and condos and apartments are designed as apartments and zoned as buffers to residential neighborhoods. This shouldn’t impact them,” Savoie said.

An initial motion by Devine to keep the hours to 11 p.m., as well as garbage pick up from 9-5 weekdays, failed for lack of support. A second motion, to permit daily hours until midnight, other than Sunday nights until 11 p.m., and trash pick up per the ordinance (7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday – Saturday), was approved by a vote of 4-2, with Kepes and Barnett opposing the motion, and Corinne Khederian absent.

The new owners, Peas and Carrots Hospitality LLC, which also owns Bloomfield Township’s MEX restaurant and Birmingham’s Social Kitchen, told trustees they plan to open the new establishment August 1.

They are in the midst of renovating the restaurant, which will have a total of 166 seats, and a second floor which will accommodate kitchen prep and wine storage.

While the current restaurant only has 59 parking spaces, and 102 spaces are required, per township requirements, as with the previous restaurant, additional parking is being allowed at the adjacent property to its east, Goldsmith Jewelry at 4104 W. Maple Road.

HUNGER KEEPS UP ON CURRENT EVENTS, TOO.

DOWNTOWN

1 IN 6 AMERICANS STRUGGLES WITH HUNGER.

TOGETHER WE’RE

Hunger is closer than you think. Reach out to your local food bank for ways to do your part. Visit FeedingAmerica.org today.

65

me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...

In it s not about... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...

It s all about me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...

248-470-0474 | lisalabelle.com me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me... me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...me...

Real Estate,

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

FACES

Claire Erwin

S

ummers at her family’s northern Michigan cabin on the Au Sable River were a bit different than Claire Erwin’s childhood home in Bloomfield Hills.

“Especially growing up there, I’ve always been interested in the environment and fascinated by it,” said the recent Cranbrook Kingswood graduate. “In my generation, it seems there aren’t a lot of people interested in it.”

It’s that time in Grayling that sparked Erwin’s interest in the environment and led to several projects that earned her recognition recently as a 2014 Detroit Free Press Michigan Green Leader in the Young Leader category.

Erwin was still in middle school when she joined the Huron Pines conservation group to plant trees and eradicate invasive plant species. That interest led her to start the Cranbrook Kingswood Beekeeping club during her sophomore year in high school.

“My dad and I were watching TV, and there was a goofy cooking show on where they went to the bee hive and got honey,” Erwin explained about the origins of her beekeeping club. “I thought, ‘what if we became beekeepers.’

Within a month, we were doing it.”

Erwin said the hives, which are still maintained by the Cranbrook Kingswood Beekeeping Club and kept at the Cranbrook Institute of Science, had trouble and that the bees died. However, wild honey bees have since taken over the hives and are doing well, she said.

“When they die, they all die. One week they are buzzing around, the next week they are silent. It’s crazy. I think it was 90 percent of bee hives in Michigan died this year. It’s really sad,” she said. “I just checked on them,

and there are actually wild honey bees that have taken over the hives,” she said. “It looks like they are here to stay.”

While some people are scared of bees, Erwin said she and the other members of the club are excited to take care of the bees, even if it is a “pain” at times.

“I’ve been stung so many times. I’ve always been really jealous of the bee keepers who aren’t wearing any suits — they say if you trust the bees, they trust you,” Erwin said. “I tried it, and I got stung about 12 times.”

Erwin’s most recent project involves a mobile garden, named Garden on the Go. The project aims to encourage gardening among Detroit youths.

Constructed in the back of an open trailer, the garden is shared with nearly 500 children.

“Some were very confused, and some would get very excited,” she said about the reactions to the mobile garden. “They would jump on the side and put their hands in the dirt – that was my favorite part. We were really just encouraging them to plant at home. You don’t need a lot of space.”

Erwin, who was also named to a two-year term as a member of the state Department of Natural Resources Youth Board, will be attending the University of Michigan this fall.

“I’m thinking about business school, and doing environmental studies and business. Something with sustainability in business. I want my job to revolve around the environment. I have an internship at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago this summer. I definitely want to be involved with the environment, but I’m still feeling it out.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

BUYING OR SELLING? Let me help connect the perfect buyer for your home. I can help you stage, and market your property to get you top dollar.

Call me to get the best possible outcome for your home.

Sandra Treboldi 248-672-9669 streboldi@skbk.com sandrasproperties.com

415 S. Old Woodward | Birmingham, MI 48009

68

DOWNTOWN

07.14

FACES

Shea Renne

T

he road to Broadway starts this summer in Wichita, Kansas for former Seaholm student and Bloomfield Hills native Shea Renne.

“I’m officially there in August,” Renne said about her plans to move to New York City following her graduation from the University of Michigan where she earned a fine arts degree in musical theater in May. “It’s crazy because I’m such a planner. I love doing things in advance, but in this business, you have no idea. It’s an open book, and you have to be open for anything. I’ve never felt more ready.”

Renne will be performing this summer with Music Theatre Wichita and the Municipal Theatre Association of St. Louis. The midwest tour follows a grueling showcase session in May in New York with her theater program. The showcase featured graduates of the U of M program, and was attended by dozens of talent agents.

“One of the main reasons we audition for the school is because it’s a guaranteed showcase,” Renne said. “We’ll perform in front of agents in New York, and they can get in touch with us for jobs. I’ve been rehearsing for weeks,” she said. “I”ll be singing, ‘Making Love Out of Nothing At All,’ by Air Supply.”

While it can be nerve wracking, auditioning is nothing new to Renne, who started performing in elementary school. It was in fifth grade that her voice teacher encouraged Renne to pursue musical theater.

“I was a swimmer, and my mom and I were shocked,” Renne said. “Then I started taking voice lessons and became serious about it in high school. I

was in ‘Footloose’, and two seniors told me about the program. It came as a shock to me because I never thought about pursuing it seriously, but that gave me a lot of confidence.”

It was at swim meets that Renne started singing the national anthem.

She later started singing at other venues, including Detroit Shock and Detroit Pistons games.

“It started at swim meets, before a meet, then continued in high school at games,” Renne said about singing the national anthem. “My stepfather at the time worked for Detroit Country Day School, and Joe Dumars’ son was playing there. He asked me to make an audition tape and sing, and I sang it there pretty frequently.”

This summer, Renne will be in the ensemble for “Seussical” at the MUNY in St. Louis, and play Liat in “South Pacific,” at the Music Theatre of Wichita.

Previous roles include Lovely Lady in “Les Miserables”; Anna in “Spring Awakening”; and parts in “Dance With Me,” “Bat Boy,” “Crazy For You,” “Cabaret,” “Miss Saigon,” and “Rent.”

As far as auditions, Renne suggests preparing as best you can, and faking it until you make it.

“It’s something you have to be comfortable with,” Renne said about audition jitters. “From a young age, I have tried to go in as the most confident person in the world, even if I’m nervous. It’s a lot about preparation and getting ready in advance.”

Story: Kevin Elliott

Photo: Laurie Tennent

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Nice brick home. Slate entry to generous Sized living room. Kitchen overlooks family Room. Updated windows, roof, furnace & Central air. Door wall to private back yard. Great closet space and utility area. All Appliances. 214050149 $89,900

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Welcoming Marble entry. Massive 2 story Great rm w/20’ Contoured ceiling & granite fireplace & white Wool carpeting.

64 French style floor length Doors and windows. Formal Dining. Built-ins. Private elevator & so much more! Must See! 214037096 $650,000

3227 Sq Foot, 4 bedroom, updated Chalet.Master with sitting room & wall length closets/& vanity. Walk out Balcony Terrace. Huge Dining rm with fireplace.

Center Island Kitchen with 2 sinks, Stainless appliances & Butlers pantry.

Great Room with fireplace & More.

214028606 $359,900

Surprise Package Interior! Just renovated with open floor plan. New kitchen cupboards, granite counters & stainless Appliances. Grt rm with fireplace. Dining rm, Fam Rm & Breakfast rm. Gleaming Hardwood on 1st floor. Two new ceramic baths, one on main and one in LL. French doors to bright sunroom. Full Finished Walk- Out lower level. 214040725 $229,000

Beauty, Country & History complete This majestic home on very private 2.27 Acres.

First time on Market. Living rm with elegant fireplace w/ detailed mantle & custom molding. Hardwood flooring.

Pecan cabinets & custom pantry in kitchen. LL Walk-out complete –Kitchen, Bedroom, bath & Sitting area, perfect in-law or Nanny suite. 214018541 $659,000

Beautiful 3 bedroom brick ranch. Formal Dining room, Large Living room. Family room with fireplace. Professionally finished basement. Very well maintained.

Door wall from Family room to large back yard and two car attached garage.

214017834 $199,900

Turn key residential assisted living company for sale In highly desirable area. 100% occupied. Currently earning Average net margins of 49%. Sale includes residential property, State license, existing clients, furnishings, equipment, inventory, Referral contracts & marketing materials. 213203602 $499,000

Beautifully updated ranch with walk-out Basement On estate sized lot. Updates include Kitchen cabinets, Countertops & new appliances. 2 renovated bathrooms Are handicap accessible with roll in showers. Family Room with pergo flooring and door to exterior. New Landscaping, interior and exterior paint and so much more. 213116308 $375,000

Bring the HORSES! Over 10 acres of rolling land Including fenced pasture and woods. Home is a Quad level with oversized eat-in kitchen with wood Floors and windows on all sides. Just a few steps to Upper level with 3 bedrooms including huge master, Hardwood floors, door to balcony for relaxing fantastic views. Family room & Sun room with skylights. 214040911 $344,900

Well maintained ranch with large family room Addition, updated kitchen with dining area & loads of storage. Beautiful wood floors in kitchen and bedrooms (as well as under carpet in Liv rm). Large rec room in basement and newer garage floor. 214044955 $344,900

Charming ranch on almost 1 full acre.

Surrounded by million dollar homes with views Of all sports “Square Lake”. Value is in the land but This home has great character with a large living room With fireplace, coved ceilings, a library/family room With second fireplace, Oak kitchen, formal dining & master Bedroom with bay window and built-ins. 214056150 $299,900

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Custom built, recently remodeled country Setting home! Custom gourmet kitchen with wood Cabinets and extensive granite island. Open floor plan great for entertaining. Views from every window Including pond view. Professional landscaping with Trex decks, stone patio, brick walkway & More Luxurious finished lower level. 214003650 $569,000

Short Sale Price approved! 4 bedrooms 2/5 bath colonial In desirable Kingsbury Heights. Newer furnace & Central air. Newer ceramic baths, water heater & ceiling Fans.

Oak cabinets in kitchen. Master bedroom with Double closets.

214031513 $189,900

One of a kind updated home. Large Double foyer, kitchen with vaulted ceiling, Hickory cabinets, granite, ceramic back- Splash and floor.

Beautiful cherry wood Throughout living rm, stairs and hall. Deep Crown moldings. Great room addition.

214044604 $259,999

1st Flr laundry. Large Island Kitchen has ceramic flooring. Huge master with bay window overlooking wooded back yard. Ceiling fans in all bedrooms. Sprinkler system. Cedar Deck. 2.5 car garage. Close to Downtown Northville! 214039971 $290,000

Spacious Novi Ranch. 2545 Sq Feet on Private wooded lot. 9 Ft ceilings through-Out .Home is well maintained and in very Good condition. Great room with 12 ft ceiling & Gas fireplace.

Lg bedrooms with jack & Jill Bath.

Huge full basement. 214054443 $339,000

Chalet Style Lakefront in popular Sought after location. Spectacular main Lake views. Finished walk-out LL. Private Setting across the street from beautiful Bloomer Park. Extra deep 370 foot lot. 214051974 $489,000

Updated Oxbow Lakefront on double lot! Oversized gourmet granite kitchen with Maple cabinets, SS appliances, Island, built- In wine rack and under cabinet lighting. Great rm with cathedral ceiling & bay window.

Newer carpet, doors, septic, doorwalls, Cental air & siding, too much to list! 214026306 $336,000

Spacious waterfront in popular location. Enjoy all sports Duck Lake! 45 bedrooms & 2.5 baths in over 2500 sq ft. Newer siding and Deck & windows. All new 6 panel interior doors. You’ll love the great waterfront views from The private master bedroom balcony.

214037514 $376,000

Quality built brick ranch on cul-desac! Recently refinished hardwood floors. Large fireplace and oversized bow window in Living room. full finished walk-out basement.

214048928 $289000

Former builders model in Park View Heights. May upgrades. 4 bedrooms & 3.5 baths.

Finished Walk-out basement. 3 car attached garage.

Mainenance Free deck and nice landscaping. Kitchen with Granite counter tops and stainless steel Appliances. 214056686 $369000

State Licensed Adult Foster Care Home – Earning margins of 43% 48% monthly. 1st Flr features 3 full baths, Lg Great Rm and huge kitchen.

Living space for owners or staff in LL with full kitchen, bath and bedrooms.

Easy access to hospitals and freeways. 214019824 $389,000

Bloomfield Colonial With Circular Drive And Built-In Pool. Large Living Rm With Flr To Ceiling Windows, Formal Dining, Lg Kitchen, Family Rm With Gas Fp And Doorwall To Back Yard And Pool. The Upstairs Has a Lg Master suite & 2 More Bedrooms.

213068702 $294,900

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divorce@davepottsjd.com 07.14

BUSINESS MATTERS Florist closing Nature’s Touch Flowers & Gifts, 2527 W. Maple, Bloomfield Township, is closing, and hoping to move in the future. Molly Donaghue, who bought the flower and gift shop in October of 2013, said she hopes to find another location in Birmingham. “There are a lot of accidents at that intersection,” Donaghue said of the shop’s current location on Maple at Cranbrook. “I even got into an accident. And the parking is pretty bad.” Donaghue said she made her final decision to move locations when her rent was raised less than a year after purchasing the business. A fitness teacher for years, Donaghue said she bought the business that she had always been familiar with because her sister was working at the flower shop when the former owner decided that she was going to sell. And, while Donaghue said the business is closing, she said the majority of customers place orders over the phone or through the shop’s website. Both the phone number and website, www.naturestouchflowers.co, will remain available for orders.

Bike shop gliding up road Customers used to the location of KLM Bike & Fitness, 33502 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, won’t have to travel far to get to the shop’s new location a few doors up the road at 33600 Woodward. The location will offer a “bigger and better” shop for staff and customers when the move is complete at the end of July. KLM was started in 1996, and took its name from owner Sheri L. Marciniak’s daughter’s initials, Katie Lynn Marciniak. The store also has a second location on Rochester Road in Rochester Hills.

Wine company welcome After more than 20 years of business in downtown Royal Oak, Elie Boudt has moved his business, Elie Wine Company, to 1601 E. 14 Mile Road at the corner of Woodward in Birmingham. Boudt said the new location offers customers better parking than the downtown Royal Oak location. “We specialize in French and Italian wine. We are one of the biggest in Michigan and have a very thoughtful selection that puts together some of the finest wines, at all different levels,” Boudt said. Boudt said he has traveled extensively to find new wines and learn face-to-face from the seminal producers of the Old World, and to bring those insights back to his customers. Opened in 1992, Boudt said Elie Wine Company strives to identify hard-to-find wines that his customers will appreciate downtownpublications.com

and savor. The move to Birmingham from Royal Oak involved moving more than 10,000 bottles of wine, all done without a casualty, Boudt said. The new store has as much charm as the old shop, but with more space to display at least one bottle of every wine in the inventory and organize them in a logical way, he said.

New Found Objects locale Location, location, location – it’s the only thing that matters in property.

It’s also the reasoning behind the move of Found Objects from 241 E. Merrill Street in Birmingham in June to a new shop at 168 S. Old Woodward, said co-owner Laurie Kay. “It has better exposure,” Kay said, noting the abundance of foot and vehicle traffic on Old Woodward.

“The space is actually a little smaller.” Despite the smaller space, Kay said she hopes the new location will help to continue the success the store has found since opening in March of 2013. “It’s been good. It’s going really well.” Found Objects is a luxury lifestyle store for men and women featuring exclusive brands of clothing, shoes, accessories, beauty and home decor.

New photography studio Catherine Kellie said she was more or less daydreaming when she thought about opening her own photo studio, Catherine Kellie Studios, at 887 E. Maple in Birmingham. “The whole move kind of fell into my lap,” she said, remembering how she was simply toying with the idea of moving her business out of her home. “Before I knew it, I was signing the contract.

It’s almost like Birmingham chose me.”Kellie moved into her downtown studio just before June, but will be holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 24. So far, Kellie said, the experience has been wonderful. Kellie specializes in high school senior photos and women and boudoir photography. She also offers shoots for maternity photos, family photos, engagements and weddings. Kellie said she blends traditional photography with photo-journalism and a “splash of fashion” to create unique portraits that meet the needs of her clients.

Fitness center opens The recent opening of Life Time Fitness Athletic at 4106 Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, marks the seventh Life Time Fitness location in Michigan for the Minnesota-based company. The 73,000-square-foot building is nearly three times the size of the first store opened by the chain in 1992. The Bloomfield location has

been in the works for several months and features a state-of-the-art workout facility, indoor pool, cafe and spa. The new facility offers hightouch personalized services and arrangements that are found at other Life Time clubs, as well as instructors and programs for groups or individuals. Pilates, yoga studios, an indoor lap pool and up-to-date resistance machines are part of the new location, along with certified personal trainers, nutrition coaches and other services. The location also features LifeSpa: a full-service, lavish day spa offering with the latest in massage and relaxation therapy, and a comprehensive range of body, hair, nail and skin care services. The fitness center also offers a Life Time Kids Academy, a new membership program designed for kids from three months to 11 years old.

Unique boutique Local boutique owner Dessi Salzmann is revealing a secret: her quaint shop, Dessi’s Boutique, 237 Willits Alley, in Birmingham, is open for business. “They call me the secret store because not a lot of people know I’m here,” Salzmann said about the location on Willits Alley, just off of Maple in downtown Birmingham. “A lot of my business is from word-ofmouth. My customers really like me, but they need to talk more.”

Salzmann, who has been in the retail fashion business in metro Detroit since 2010, moved to the alley location this spring from her former location on Main Street in Royal Oak. Prior to that, Salzmann was on Cole Street in Birmingham. She moved to the metro Detroit area about seven years ago from Munich. The boutique offers unique and exclusive items for clients to create timeless fashion with the air of sophisticated European elegance and casual, chic flair.

Salzmann personally collects her pieces from Germany, Italy, France, New York and Los Angeles from designers not represented in the United States, bringing her clients items they won’t find everywhere. “I try to keep away from the corporate, chain stores,” she said, preferring to get to know her customers to determine what styles they might like the most. “It’s like going to a psychologist. I have to learn who they are.”

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DOWNTOWN

P U B L I C A T I O N S 124 WEST MAPLE ROAD BIRMINGHAM 48009

Business Matters for the Birmingham Bloomfield area are reported by Kevin Elliott. Send items for consideration to KevinElliott@downtownpublications.com.

Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

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DOWNTOWN

07.14

PLACES TO EAT The Places To Eat for Downtown is a quick reference source to establishments offering a place for dining, either breakfast, lunch or dinner. The complete Places To Eat is available at downtownpublications.com and in an optimized format for your smart phone (downtownpublications.com/mobile), where you can actually map out locations and automatically dial a restaurant from our Places To Eat.

5th Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 2262 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9607.

Andiamo: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 6676 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.865.9300.

Bagger Dave's Legendary Burger Tavern: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 6608 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.792.3579 Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 42805 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Township, 48304.

248.499.6867.

Bella Piatti: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

167 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.494.7110.

Beyond Juice: Contemporary. Breakfast & Lunch daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. 270 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.7078.

Big Rock Chophouse: American. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor.

245 South Eaton Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.7774.

Birmingham Sushi Cafe: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 377 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.8880.

Bistro Joe’s Kitchen: Global. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Liquor Reservations. 34244 Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.0984 Bloomfield Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 71 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.645.6879.

Brooklyn Pizza: Pizza. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 111 Henrietta Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6690.

Café ML: New American. Dinner, daily.

Alcohol. Call ahead. 3607 W. Maple Road, Bloomfield Township.

248.642.4000.

Cafe Via: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 310 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.8800 Cameron’s Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 115 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.723.1700.

China Village: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. 1655 Opdyke, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.758.1221.

Churchill's Bistro & Cigar Bar: Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

116 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.4555.

Cityscape Deli: Deli. Lunch & Dinner, Monday-Saturday. No reservations. Beer.

877 W. Long Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.540.7220.

Commonwealth: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 300 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.9766.

downtownpublications.com

Cosi: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & wine. 101 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.9200.

Deli Unique of Bloomfield Hills: Deli.

Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 39495 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7923.

Dick O’Dow’s: Irish. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 160 West Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.642.1135.

Eddie Merlot's: Steak & seafood. Dinner, daily. Alcohol. Reservations. 37000 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.712.4095.

Einstein Bros. Bagels: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. No reservations. 176 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.9888. Also 4089 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.258.9939.

Elie’s Mediterranean Cuisine: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. No reservations. Liquor. 263 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.647.2420.

Embers Deli & Restaurant: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, daily. Dinner, Monday-Friday. No reservations. 3598 West Maple Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.645.1033.

Flemings Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar: American. Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 323 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.723.0134.

Forest Grill: American. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. Liquor. 735 Forest Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9400.

Fuddrucker’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No Reservations. Beer & wine.

42757 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.333.2400.

Greek Island Coney Restaurant: Greek.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 221 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222.

Griffin Claw Brewing Company: American.

Liquor. Dinner, Tuesday-Friday, Lunch & Dinner, Saturday and Sunday. 575 S. Eton Street, Birmingham. 248.712.4050.

Hogan’s Restaurant: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 6450 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.626.1800.

Honey Tree Grille: Greek/American.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, daily. No reservations. 3633 W. Maple Rd, Bloomfield, MI 48301. 248.203.9111.

Hunter House Hamburgers: American.

Breakfast, Monday-Saturday; Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 35075 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.646.7121.

Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse: American.

Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 201 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.594.4369.

IHOP: American. Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2187 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301. 248.333.7522.

Kerby’s Koney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 2160 N. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304.

248.333.1166.

La Marsa: Mediterranean. Lunch & dinner daily. Reservations. 43259 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, 48302.

248.858.5800.

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78

Leo’s Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.9707.

Also 6527 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.646.8568.

Little Daddy’s Parthenon: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 39500 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.647.3400.

Luxe Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily; Late Night, 9 p.m.-closing.

No reservations. Liquor. 525 N. Old Woodward Ave., Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6051.

Market North End: Mediterranean. Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Sunday. No reservations. Liquor. 474 N. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.712.4953.

MEX Mexican Bistro & Tequila Bar: Mexican. Lunch, Monday-Friday, Dinner, daily. Liquor. 6675 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Township, 48301.

248.723.0800.

Mitchell’s Fish Market: Seafood. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 117 Willits Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.646.3663.

Mountain King: Chinese. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 469 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.2913.

New Bangkok Thai Bistro: Thai. Breakfast, Monday-Thursday; Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, daily. No reservations.

183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.2181.

Nippon Sushi Bar: Japanese. Lunch & Dinner daily. No reservations. 2079 S. Telegraph, Bloomfield Township, 48302. 248.481.9581.

Olga’s Kitchen: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Also 2075 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.451.0500.

Original Pancake House: American.

Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 33703 South Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.642.5775.

Panera Bread: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 100 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.203.7966.

Also 2125 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.253.9877.

Peabody’s: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 34965 Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.5222.

Phoenicia: Middle Eastern. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 588 South Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.3122.

Pita Cafe: Middle Eastern. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 239 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.6999.

Qdoba: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 795 East Maple Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.988.8941.

Also 42967 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Township, 48304.

248.874.1876 Roadside B & G: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor.

1727 S. Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7270.

Rojo Mexican Bistro: Mexican. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 250

DOWNTOWN

Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.792.6200.

Salvatore Scallopini: Italian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Beer & Wine. 505 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.644.8977.

Sanders: American. Lunch, daily. No reservations. 167 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.3215.

Social Kitchen & Bar: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations, parties of 5 or more. Liquor. 225 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.4200.

Stacked Deli: Deli. Breakfast & Lunch, Monday-Saturday. Delivery available. No reservations. 233 North Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.593.5300.

Steve’s Deli: Deli. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6646 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield, 48301.

248.932.0800.

Streetside Seafood: Seafood. Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

Reservations. Liquor. 273 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.645.9123.

Sushi Hana: Japanese. Lunch, MondayFriday; Dinner, Monday-Saturday.

Reservations. 42656 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.333.3887.

Sy Thai Cafe: Thai. Lunch & Dinner, daily.

No reservations. 315 Hamilton Row, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.9830.

Tallulah Wine Bar and Bistro: American.

Dinner. Monday-Saturday. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 55 S. Bates Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.731.7066.

The Corner Bar: American. Dinner.

Wednesday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.647.2958.

The Bird & The Bread: Brasserie. Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 210 S. Old Woodard, Birmingham, 48009.

248.203.6600.

The Gallery Restaurant: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 6683 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, 48301. 248.851.0313.

The Moose Preserve Bar & Grill: American. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 2395 S. Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48302. 248.858.7688.

The Rugby Grille: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. Reservations.

Liquor. 100 Townsend Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.642.5999.

The Stand: Euro-American. Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations. Liquor.

34977 Woodward, Birmingham, 48009.

248.220.4237.

Toast: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; Dinner, Monday-Saturday. Reservations.

Liquor. 203 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.258.6278.

Touch of India: Indian. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 297 E. Maple Road, Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.7881.

Townhouse: American. Brunch, Saturday, Sunday. Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 180 Pierce Street, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5241.

Village Coney Island: American. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations.

653 S. Adams. Birmingham, 48009.

248.593.7964.

Whistle Stop Diner: American. Breakfast & Lunch, daily; No reservations. 501 S. Eton Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.566.3566

07.14

AT THE TABLE 5th Tavern suffering from poor execution all around

By J. March

I’ve been in restaurants for over 25 years in some way, shape or form, so naturally when the movie Chef came out I went to see it not once but twice.

It’s charming, funny, has an amazing cast and the industry references are dead on.

For me, one of the best scenes was when Chef confronted a food critic regarding his harsh words. I won’t give it all away for those who have yet to see it but I will say that it resonated in my mind for the last few days. The people who do what I do as a profession really do have passion for their craft. A passion that I completely understand. It drives me every day. That’s what makes writing this column a bit of a slippery slope.

Having been on the other side of harsh reviews and overly critical guests, I know how a poor review can cut to the bone. I also know that food is subjective. One person’s favorite dish is another’s most hated. I consider all of these things when I put finger to key. In no way do I feel like I am the definitive voice on what’s good and what’s not. I offer observations in hopes that chefs or owners take a subjective look and consider said observations. If at the end of the day, they think I’m wrong, then so be it. Their passion is no less than mine so I can only respect that. However, in the name of integrity, I feel that honesty, my truth, is the best policy. Having said that, I offer you my truth about the recently opened 5th Tavern in Bloomfield Township.

Owned by George Lucaj of Georges Restaurant and Village Place and Jerry and Louis Sanchez of Grand Tavern in Rochester Hills and Farmington, 5th Tavern is named appropriately as the fifth property they own. According to the bartender, the owners opened the Tavern to showcase the talent of long-term kitchen employees whose vision they believed in. The space is vast with high ceilings, a centered bar, high top tables and a wall that doubles as wine storage. Part sports bar, part steak house, part family eatery, the concept is as confusing as the unbelievably long menu that goes from bar food to steak house to family eatery.

While waiting for our guests we had a cocktail at the bar. After hearing that there wasn’t a cocktail menu, we ordered an Old Fashioned and a Negroni. After explaining to our bartender what was in a Negroni, we were informed that they did not have Campari. We settled for a Margarita instead. Neither cocktail was offensive. However the margarita had no salt and the Old Fashioned had sweet vermouth and, rather than a sugar cube, a packet of Sweet and Low. Understanding that not every bar has a self proclaimed mixologist or a focus on craft drinks, I am still of the opinion that Mr. Boston should always be close at hand and the classics should be prepared..well, classically. Draft beers included some locals and every day domestics and the glass selections for wine were safe and inclusive of most varietals.

Appetizers for our table consisted of Tenderloin

Macadamia Nut Chicken, Field Berry Salad, and Cedar Plank Scottish Salmon. Downtown photo: Jean Lannen

Tips in a shoyu cream sauce (which the server could not definitively explain other than to say it was creamy), calamari with marinara, crab cakes with a lemon cream sauce and spring rolls with a cilantro dipping sauce. The tips were tough and overly sauced. The crab cakes had great flavor and were packed with sweet lump crab but were ice cold. The spring rolls were fried so long the insides were impossible to identify but the calamari was dredged perfectly, tender and delicious.

Chicken Pasta soup and Salmon Salad arrived next. Moist and flavorful, the salmon was delicious but out of place were chunky apricots and an overly sweet raspberry vinaigrette. Creamy and flavorful as a broth, the soup was laden with overcooked pasta and absent the snap peas listed on the menu.

Though there to review dinner, the American Style Kobe burger caught my eye. Kobe came on the scene years ago and until recently, wasn’t allowed on American soil. In the absence of it, ranchers have turned to what they call “American Style”. The American style of Kobe beef comes from the same breed of cattle raised in Japan. Called Waygu, a Japanese name that means Japanese cattle, they began arriving in the United States around the 1990’s. Supposedly rich in flavor due to extremely well marbled meat, it’s usually synonymous with disappointment, as true Kobe runs so high in price it has been replaced by its bland American counter part. This burger was no exception and painfully overcooked. To add insult, when we inquired about what American Style Kobe was, our server simply informed us it was “raised in America”.

Moving onto dinner entrees, the Macadamia Nut Chicken arrived. Though nicely coated, what lie underneath was dry, previously frozen chicken breast covered in an abundance of the same shoyu cream sauce that the tenderloin tips swam in.

Chilean Sea Bass pan seared with herbed garlic butter was served. Though firm like Sea Bass, it was steak-like in texture and ate like an over cooked scallop.

Progressively we moved to meat in the form of Lamb Shank and Ribeye. The Ribeye was cooked to a perfect medium rare which had us wondering why it was so tough. Though listed with Zip sauce on the menu, when we inquired about its absence the server informed us that the herbed butter on top was the same as Zip Sauce. The lamb shank had good flavor but included large pieces of foil that must have been used in the cooking or storing process.

The root vegetables listed were cooked hours beyond recognition and had carmelized to the point of being bitter. Lyonnaise potatoes came as a side and again were overcooked and obviously frozen at some point. The sautéed spinach and mushrooms were greasy and tasted faintly of bacon grease and beef stock.

Along with this course we ordered a bottle of Laetitia which was one of very few wines that were fairly priced on the menu. Served about 15 degrees too warm, we had to send it back three times to get it up to temperature.

The dessert tray had three offerings. Tiramisu, cheesecake and a chocolate cake of sorts. The chocolate cake and cheesecake were both overly dense and dry and the Tiramisu was lady fingers and mascarpone with little or no espresso or Kahlua, making it also too dry to eat.

Obviously this experience was more than just a little disappointing. And as I stated earlier, my goal is not to tear down something that I am sure means a lot to someone. However, in an over-saturated market that is full of savvy diners, this is not a place that will last long as it stands. On top of poorly executed food, the server was ill-informed and disinterested in what was, at the very least, a lucrative table and no less than three managers were on the floor and not one made a visit to ask how things were. There are a lot of options for dining these days and sadly in the restaurant biz you rarely get a second chance at making a first impression.

5th Tavern, 2262 South Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills 48322. 248.481.9607 Hours of operation are Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m until 12 a.m and Sunday from 10 a.m until 10 p.m.,with brunch from 10 a.m until 2 p.m. Prices vary from $5-$33. Happy Hour 3 p.m - 6 p.m. Monday - Thursday with various drink and appetizer specials. No reservations; handicap accessible; on premise parking.

J. March has 25 years experience in the restaurant industry in southeast Michigan, including certification as a sommelier. If you have short restaurant items for our Quick Bites section, e-mail to QuickBites@downtownpublications.com.

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07.14

THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

The right financing is the perfect framework

for your new home.

Good Names Joined Together for Permanence What’s in a name? The Community House is an extremely recognized name in the area. The word “community” means a social unit of any size that shares common values. The word “house” conjures up a safe, permanent or semipermanent gathering place for individuals, families, or a building in which people meet for a particular activity.

These definitions certainly fit our beloved Community House on Bates Street. For the past 91 years, many people have associated The Community House (TCH) as a permanent “crown jewel” serving the Birmingham/Bloomfield area. For many, it is the “Good Housekeeping seal of approval” for credibility and quality in community education, social interaction and important outreach impact programs that serve the underprivileged.

Camille Jayne

What is amazing over the past two and a half years is that whenever I run into people out and about in the community – or within the halls of TCH – they inevitably say two things to me. One is: “you and your team are doing a great job, keep up the good work;” and the other is: “The Community House is such an important institution in this area that we just count on it always being here.”

I couldn’t agree more with both those statements. Our team has done an amazing job in the past two and a half years “righting the ship” with new programs, classes and outreach programs to get the “House” back to financial stability. Many in the community – individuals, businesses and some foundations (including many new friends) – have contributed to helping us stabilize.

Even more amazing, however, is many still do not realize TCH is a non-profit with no funding from tax dollars. Moving from stability to long-term permanence and sustainability is a central goal and critical challenge for nonprofit institutions – such as TCH, along with the DIA, the DSO, MOT and many others. Although stable in our operations, none of us wants to be faced with the possibility of closing when external, unforeseen circumstances come upon us. A significant endowment protects non-profits from economic downturns, business interruptions (or in the case of TCH, having our entire HVAC system blow up or needing an entirely new roof.) Sustainability also allows a non-profit to make longer term commitments to new programming that does not take away from the day to day operational needs.

Good Names Joined Permanently Together: Permanence is heavily dependent on a solid endowment, which we don’t have at TCH. One way for TCH to ensure we will always be here is through legacy naming gifts. We hope more people or companies who care about the Birmingham/Bloomfield community and want to have their family or company name legacy associated with this community, will think of TCH for a legacy naming gift. We would love to have our good names joined together – ensuring permanence in this community for both for years to come.

Around the House Happenings: June 19th Professional Development Lecture & Networking: “Creating Innovative Ideas:” This lecture will teach business professionals about “disruptive innovation” to generate innovative ideas that are different, and will help them stand out in the marketplace to increase awareness and interest in whatever they are doing. The last 30 minutes are for networking with others. $25 (add $10 for lunch.) Register at www.tchserves.org or by calling 248.644.5832.

June 27th TCH Announces New Youth ParkArt in Shain Park June 27th : TCH will host ParkArt on Friday, June 27th from 5-9 p.m. in Shain Park. Sponsored

by Huntington Bank, ParkArt is a youth oriented artful evening that includes 10 hands-on youth art projects. Admission to the event is free; with a $5 per art project fee. Proceeds from ParkArt benefit TCH 21st Century Leaders and iCount Childhood Obesity Prevention outreach programs. Registration is not required.

Camille Jayne is President and CEO of TCH. downtownpublications.com

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usbank.com/mortgage 81

ALSA of Michigan’s Legacy of Hope Gala

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Variety’s A Star is Born

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Variety’s A Star is Born Never mind that the star of the show was born 89 years ago and a last minute infirmity prevented her from attending her induction into the Michigan Celebrity Hall of Fame party at the Royal Oak Emagine Center. As emcee Robin Shwartz declared, “Elaine (Stritch) would say the show must go on.” And on it Sally Gerak went. With Broadway pizzazz. And some help from the legendary actress’ s friends who came from NYC – girlfriend Julie Keyes, pianist Rob Bowman and singer Scott Coulter who sang, in Stritch’s honor, “Tomorrow” as an anthem for living life. Before and after the boffo program, more than 400 fans and supporters of Variety, the Children’s Charity had many amusements. Not the least of which were savoring Rennie and Esther Kaufmann’s Sounds of Broadway music and the eight, superb strolling supper stations with NYC eatery themes. Event co-chairs Felicia Palazzolo Shaw and Kathy Broock Ballad were effusive in their praise of host Paul Glanz’s generosity, their committee, the sponsors and members ($1,000 donation) of the newly formed Wish Upon a Star Club. The event netted $150,000 for all the special needs children who Variety nurtures through various programs.

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1. Robin Schwartz (center) with Felicia Palazzolo Shaw (left) of Birmingham and Kathy Broock Ballard of Orchard Lake 2. Rob Bowman of NYC with Mark and Lois Shaevsky of Bloomfield 3. Scott Coulter (center) of NYC with Allan (left) and Joy Nachman of Bloomfield and Sandi and Claude Reitelman of Birmingham 4. Jeff Hurlbert (left) of Lake Angelus with Midge Moran and Libby and Bryan Palmer of Birminghan 5.

Michael Coyne (left) of Bloomfield and Connie Beckett of Troy 6. Mike Acheson (left) of W. Bloomfield with Paul and Mary Glantz of Lake Angelus and Jennie Casio of Bloomfield 7. Arnie Weingarden (left) and Joanne Danto and Ruthie and Marty Seltzer of Birmingham 8. Karen (left) and Chris Gaudette with Ed and Felicia Shaw of Birmingham 9. Kevin and Fiona Coyne of Birmingham 10. Alexis Reid (left) of Royal Oak with Henry Baskin and Lynne Wood of Bloomfield

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Henry Ford Derby in the D Derby in the D, the evolution of Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute’s 21-year-old Shoot for the Cure basketball-theme fundraiser, is a welcome addition to the charity scene. The inaugural event attracted nearly 600 people to the Motor City Casino Sound Board, for cocktails, mint juleps, hors d’oeuvres and Kentucky Derby watching on a giant screen, followed by dinner, auctions and dancing in the adjacent ballroom. Red roses and fetching hats were ubiquitous, with prizes for several “bests.”

Best Hat - Jennifer Dulchavsky; Best Bow Tie, Dr. Scott Dulchavsky; Best Dressed Woman - Suzanne Zack; Best Dressed Man - Paul Cammalleri. Steve Mahoney won the drawing for the Derby raffle prize of a $4,000 travel voucher – determined from among those who had selected California Chrome as the race winner. Dinner time entertainment was provided by artist Dave Santia, who was speed-painting likenesses of Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander and Kid Rock for emcee Steve Gargaro to sell in a mini live auction. Thanks also to the silent auction of 69 items and generous sponsors, the inaugural Derby in the D raised $300,000 to help the HFNI win the race against neurological and spinal disorders.

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Henry Ford Neuroscience Institute’s Derby in the D

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1. Dr. Scott and Jennifer Dulchavsky of Birmingham 2. Laurel (left) and Dr. Steve Kalkanis of Bloomfield with Dr. Tom and Zelly Mikkelsen of W. Bloomfield 3. Stephanie McIntire (left) of San Francisco with Andrea Levy of Franklin and Brigitte and Mort Harris of Bloomfield 4. Former Bloomfield resident Dave Smith (left) of Harbor Springs, Andy Anderson and Michel Williams of Bloomfield and John Wert of Grand Rapids 5. Navot Shoresh and his wife Dr. Betty Chu of Bloomfield 6. Sharon (left) and Dr. Chuck Taylor and Steve and Elaine Sturman of Bloomfield 7. Lynn (left) and Dr. Michael Seidman with their son Kevin of W. Bloomfield

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Wish Upon a Teen Derby Benefit The same sporting event as reported above also inspired another fundraiser at Bloomfield Open Hunt. It was hosted by Birmingham digital marketing and advertising company Shift Digital to benefit Wish Upon a Teen, a national non-profit dedicated to helping teenagers with life-threatening illnesses and/or autism. Nearly 200 people, many in Churchill Downs attire, attended Wish Upon a Derby where festivities included a silent auction, raffle and interactive games like the popular race simulator. They also applauded “Best Hat” winner Melanie Mack, “Most Dapper Man” winner Chris Abraham and WUaT members Tabby, who sang “Let it Go” and Ross, who spoke earnestly about how he has benefited from the programs. The event raised more than $20,000, which will help WUaT encourage teens like Tabby and Ross. For more information, visit www.wishuponateen.org.

07.14

Shift Digital’s Wish Upon A Teen Derby Benefit Winston Canine Cancer Foundation Benefit Mindy, Paul and Harrison Dunbar hosted the 12th annual benefit for the foundation they established in 2001 in memory of their beloved golden Labrador who lost his cancer battle. They welcomed 125 guests to Oakland Hills CC for cocktails, a strolling dinner and silent auction bidding. The crowd included WCCF’s two founding vets, Dr. Kevin Windsor and Dr. Kathy Christy as well as two former beneficiaries - Pause with a Cause working dogs and their owners. The evening’s highlight was an informative presentation by veterinary oncologist Christine Swanson. She spoke about comprehensive clinical programming available for canines with cancer and the research’s relationship to human cancer treatment. The evening raised $30,000 for research as well as care for working dogs with cancer.

Color of Rain Red Carpet Premier The local premier of the Hallmark movie based on New Day Foundation for Families’ Gina and Michael Spehn’s book “The Color of Rain” attracted a sold out crowd to Royal Oak’s Emagine Theatre on May 15. The enthusiastic audience included the Spehns’ five children and the stars of the movie, Lacey Chabert and Warren Christie. The film follows the couple as they grieve, heal and find love after the tragic death of their first spouses six weeks apart. They eventually date, marry and blend two families to become a modern day Brady Bunch. They also established the foundation, which benefited from the premier proceeds, to help young families affected by the financial and emotional burdens caused by cancer.

Boys & Girls Clubs’ Award Luncheon Naming Maureen D’Avanzo the 2014 awardee was a savvy call by the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Women’s Association leadership.

Because her dedication to many organizations includes the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theatre, a splendid string quartet entertained the 125 guests at the Detroit Athletic Club luncheon. Plus MOT founder David DiChiera was pleased to make the award presentation. That DiChiera personally knew Matilda R. Wilson, the award’s namesake, made his remarks particularly pertinent. “(Like Mrs. Wilson), Maureen is an example of volunteerism at its best,” he concluded, but not before commending her husband Jerry for enabling Maureen…”to do all the amazing things she does.” Remarks by the B&GC Youth of the Year Brianna Simmons, who credited the clubs with giving her hope, friends, confidence and a second chance and will start college in the fall, made everyone feel really good about supporting the clubs. Past honorees in attendance included Kathy Antonini, Bev Moore, Judie Sherman, Valerie Straith, Sylvia Hagenlocher and this reporter. Including sponsorships and 47 scholarship pledges, the 38th annual event raised $20,500.

CCFA Fashion Show Luncheon About 300 supporters of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of American gathered at Knollwood Country Club for the seventh annual Fashion Show Luncheon. Before lunch guests sipped, socialized and perused the silent auction and pick their own prize raffle. The pre-luncheon program, emceed by Fox 2’s Amy Matthews, featured Rebecca Turner telling about her son’s struggle with Crohn’s Disease since toddlerhood and his happy experience the first time he attended the CCFA Camp Oasis for children last summer. Beaumont’s Dr. Harry Wasvary also brought news of updates in the field, noting that people were intrigued when they explored the 30-foot, inflatable colon occasionally displayed at Beaumont. The Saks Fifth Avenue runway

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1. Betty Jordan (left) and Michelle Soto of Bloomfield 2. Chris Abraham (left) of Bloomfield with George Nikollaj 3. Melanie Mack of Birmingham 4. Teen singer Tabby of Birmingham 5. Teen speaker Ross of Birmingham 6. Claire, Sam and Hilary Morgan of Bloomfield 7. Steve and Teresa St. Andre of Bloomfield 8. Jill Dodson (left) of Royal Oak, Emma Bondy of Bloomfield and Lori Pessina of Birmingham

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Women’s Association Boys & Girls Clubs Spring Award Luncheon

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3 1. Linda Gillum (left), honoree Maureen D’Avanzo, and member Kathy Martin of Bloomfield 2. Julie Beals (left) of Bloomfield and Jaime Rae Turnbull of Clarkston 3. Lynn Ferron of Bloomfield 4. Judie Sherman with Til Klem of Bloomfield and Dan Pienta of Troy 5. Judy Kelliher with Jerry D’Avanzo of Bloomfield 6. Gloria Clark (left) Grosse Pointe, Kay Albertie of Orchard Lake and Anne Morley and Holly Beth Moncher of Bloomfield 7. Christine Provost (left) of Birmingham, Mary Meek, Patty Ghesquiere and Nancy Smith of Bloomfield

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK CCFA Fashion Show Luncheon

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show, staged during lunch, showcased daytime fashions. The event raised more than $90,000, thanks to generous sponsors and prize donors.

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Spring into Belle Isle Gala The inaugural Spring into Belle Isle Gala attracted 220 Detroit Historical Society supporters to the island. Benefactors ($350-tickets) arrived early for wine receptions aboard three yachts docked at the Detroit Yacht Club. Benefactors then joined patrons ($200-tickets) at the Dossin Great Lakes Museum from which trolley tours of the island departed.

Much conversation during dinner centered on all the positive changes taking place on Belle Isle.

Thanks also to generous sponsors,the inaugural spring gala raised $40,000 for the DHS.

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1. Anthonie Burke of Novi, Kathy Bradbury of Gregory and Randi Glantz of Bloomfield 2. Anita Taylor (left) with Sharon Taylor of Bloomfield 3. Julie Wells (left) and Wendy Petherick of Birmingham with Katie Bowman Coleman of Bloomfield 4. Beckie Sorensen (left) and Gail Pope Rashid of Bloomfield 5. Jane Synnstvedt (left) of Birmingham, Nancy DeAngelis and Trudy Foster of Bloomfield and Lynn Rubin of W. Bloomfield 6. Christie Couch (left) of Bloomfield and Zoi Seremetris of Romeo 7. Marian Rey McIntyre (left) of Bloomfield, Margie Kowal and Jeanne Petzold of Birmingham 8. Steve Kalczynski of Birmingham with Jennie Petrovic of Shelby Twp. 9. Alexandra (left) and Paula Duffy with Julie Marx of Bloomfield 10. Dana Sorensen (left) of Bloomfield and her Albion sorority sisters Meredith Miller, Jennifer Polinski and Betsy Kruppe

Spring into Belle Isle Gala

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1. John O’Brien (left) of Bloomfield, Jeffrey Groehn of Huntington Woods and Mary Ann Bury of Grosse Pointe 2. Liz O’Brien (left) of Bloomfield and Tiah McKenney of Detroit 3. Tayna Matthews (center) of Detroit with Teresa and Jim Gierlach of Royal Oak

Oakland Literacy Council’s Wine & Food Festival at Simply Good

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1. Rita Lindstrom (center) of Birmingham with event co-chairs Judy Bryce (left) of Farmington Hills and Cate Hallisy of Clarkston 2. Judy Lindstrom (center) of Bloomfield with event co-founders Mary Rosenbusch of Rochester and Bob Gaylor of Rochester Hills 3. Wine consultant Dan Michael (left) of Napa, CA with Birmingham’s Simply Good chefs / owners Shanny and Bill Apodaca

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Founders Junior Council’s ArtSeen “Samurai: Beyond the Sword”, the exhibition that recently closed its three-month stay at the DIA, inspired the sell-out crowd of 125 young professionals who convened there for one of the Founders Junior Council’s ArtSeen evenings. Chaired by Ron Victor and Nicole Bopp, the party officially began when Victor interrupted the cocktail hour by loudly sounding a “gong” after which all were ushered into the Family Fitting Room for the seated sushi and sake tasting and a martial arts demonstration by aikido performers. Curator Birgitta Augustin also noted some highlights of the exhibit which showed the samurai not only as fierce warriors but also as patrons of the arts. For information about the FJC membership, whose major fundraiser – FASH BASH – is Thursday, Aug. 14, go to http://www.dia.org/fjc.

Oakland Literacy Council at Simply Good The first of the two-part Motor City Wine and Food Festival brought a capacity crowd (30 at $200 each) to Birmingham’s Simply Good, Shanny and Bill Apodaca’s kitchen and food emporium. The festival, the brain child of adult literacy advocates Bob Gaylor and Mary Rosenbusch, was launched to raise funds for the Oakland Literacy Council. As do the Simply Good cooking students who fill up the scheduled cooking classes there, guests learned how to prepare their scrumptious dinner menu.

They also savored wines selected by Gallo’s Dan Michael who came from California for the event.

Many also perused the gourmet carryout selections and kitchen accessories on display. Thanks to generous sponsors, the educational and entertaining evening raised $10,000 to provide free tutoring to adults who are unable to read.

TCH Donor Appreciation Dinner Cocktails and camaraderie preceded the dinner Bank of Birmingham and Bitcentral sponsored for the capacity crowd of the Community House donors. They applauded the TCH Chefs, the good financial and program news conveyed in a video and by TCH CEO Camille Jayne and keynote speaker Dave Trott. The latter, who chairs the TCH board, noted that “change is tough” and thanked Jayne for “…running this place like a business…risking new programs…and her conservative handling of expenses.” He then did a David Letterman-type, 10 reasons why the TCH is worthy 07.14

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Founders Junior Council’s ArtSeen

of support and why people give. The number one reason – Americans have a generous spirit because we are free – earned resounding applause.

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1. Ron (left) and Heather Victor of Birmingham, Danny Victor and Carrie Weiner of Bloomfield 2. Kristin Lusn (left) of Birmingham and Jaclyn Trop of Los Angeles, CA 3. Trish Dewald (left) of Royal Oak, Kathy Huber of Rochester Hills, Amy Zimmer of Bloomfield and Elise Gabrielson of Berkley

Christ Child Society’s pour les enfants

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7 1. Event chairs Madelon Ward (left) of Bloomfield and Pamela Hildebrand of Birmingham 2. Woman of the Year Lanie Cosgrove (left) of Birmingham and CCS president Elaine Szot of Troy 3. Martie Hart (left) of Birmingham and Patty Jessup and Lisa Meter of Bloomfield 4. Sisters Anne Marie Udell (left) and Carolyn Gleish of Birmingham 5. Sarah DuBay, Courtney Lowman and Jackie Albertie of Birmingham 6. Maggie Lane (left) of Beverly Hills with Kathleen Bergmann, Carolyn Fascetti and Donna Bergmann of Bloomfield 7. Laura Schreiner of Bloomfield

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3 1. Gayle (left) and Richard Burstein of Bloomfield with Tiffany Williams of Madison Hts. 2. Dana Locniskar (left) of Bloomfield with Marah Casey of Beverly Hills and her fiancé Austin Shapiro of Bloomfield 3. Tiffany Williams of Madison Hts., Peter Remington of Birmingham and Margaret Casey of Beverly Hills 4. Megan Wilbur of Detroit with Dana Locniskar of Bloomfield Hills

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Christ Child Society’s pour les enfants Event co-chairs Pamela Hildebrand and Madelon Ward eliminated the long check-in lines at the sold out (332) luncheon this year by posting the table assignments in alpha order on a large poster displayed in the lobby at Pine Lake Country Club. This enabled guests to start socializing immediately or head to the 15 vendors’ booths to shop.

When several ladies bought the same cerise and chartreuse jacket at Marilyn’s booth, one of the buyers suggested they should all check with one another to avoid wearing it to the same event.

However, Mary Jo Dawson thought it would be more fun if they all showed up at the same event in the same colorful jacket. Guests also bought tickets for the pick-your-own-prize raffle of 30 goodies before settling in for the luncheon program.

Highlights included the strong Mothers’ Day theme expressed both in Pat Hardy’s introduction of the 2014 CCS Woman of the Year, her daughter Lanie Hardy Cosgrove, and Lanie’s acceptance of the honor from president Elaine Szot. Szot also gave a shout out to those on the guest list who had been CCS members for at least 25 years. Following lunch, RGA Model Management’s Cheryl Hall Lindsay narrated the Spring Trend show of fashions from L.K. Bennett, Halston Heritage and Max Mara.

Thanks also to sponsors Hall & Hunter Realtors, the annual spring luncheon raised nearly $30,000.

Imerman Angels Michigan Launch Party Jonny Imerman, a Bloomfield native now living in Chicago, was back home for the Michigan launch of his non-profit Imerman Angels. The spirited event at the Birmingham Athletic Club, coordinated by the new Michigan director Duffy Wineman, attracted 225, including many of Imerman’s friends from school days at Cranbrook. The brief program comprised compelling testimony from Jonny, who twice fought testicular cancer, as well as Harvey Weaver and Julie Halpin about the benefit of connecting with someone “who knows what I’m going through.” Imerman Angels staffers carefully match a person touched by cancer with a Mentor Angel who has fought and survived the same type of cancer. Personalized matches are also provided for cancer caregivers with experienced caregivers. These relationships provide hope and comfort from someone who is uniquely familiar with the experience.

This personalized matching service is absolutely free and available to anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world. To get or give support or to volunteer, go to www. Imermanangels.org.

Teach For America – Detroit’s Inaugural Gala Teach For America, a national organization founded in 1990 that recruits and trains college graduates to teach children living in poverty, came to Detroit in 2010. It now has more than 300 teachers working with 2,000 students in 80 Detroit schools. It staged its first benefit at the Max Fisher 07.14

Music Center and 250 attended. After the cocktail reception, the energetic and talented Mosaic Singers had guests clapping to Pharrell Williams’ “Happy” song before dinner. The program that followed included remarks by former Detroit TFA director Dr. Annis Stubbs, now a national VP, and the introductions of honorees Tonya Allen, Ralph Bland and Mike Brennan by someone who knew them best – their spouses. Four TFA teachers also made moving personal statements about their vocation and their dedication to it. Like all TFA teachers, they are committed to teaching for two years in high-needs schools and to become lifelong leaders in the movement to end educational inequity. TFA - Detroit Executive Director Tiffany Williams, herself a product of DPS, echoed Stubbs declaration that “…poverty is not destiny” and promised “…we won’t stop fighting until each school makes you proud.” The evening raised more than $50,000, including the $10,000 check Dana Locniskar brought from Bank of America.

SOS Spring Luncheon & Boutique More than 125 South Oakland Shelter supporters gathered at the Birmingham Athletic Club to shop at 21 boutiques before and after having lunch at tables where the centerpieces were Button Bouquets made by event co-chair Tawnya Bender and her sister-in-law, Jan Bender. They also heard a client’s moving personal story of how SOS helped her get back on her feet. “I am now a student at Baker College and I thank you,” she concluded. The annual event raised about $6,500 for the non-profit that provides temporary shelter and services to the homeless. Learn more about its mission at www.southoaklandshelter.org.

A Night for Sight Fine Wine Auction The 13th annual Alliance for Vision Research benefit wine auction had an Italian theme - “A Night in Piemonte.” This is because Bruno Cingolani, noted Italian chef/owner of the acclaimed Dulcis Vitis restaurant in Alba, Italy, and Riccardo Sgarra of the award-winning Paolo Scavino Piemonte winery offered their involvement to event leaders who were dining there courtesy of a previous wine auction purchase. The local event attracted 180 (at $500 and up), including many ophthalmologists, to The Townsend for a beautiful evening. It offered enough auction action to make connoisseurs happy but not so much as to produce the seemingly endless cacophony of mega auctions. Sixteen lots in the silent auction brought bids of $20,000, and another 16 in the live auction brought $100,000. The latter included the $15,000 times two that the Italian excursion for two to Tuscany and Piemonte garnered. The bidding was topped off by another $31,000 in pledges after pediatric retina surgeon Dr. Kim Drenser spoke about “...the children I care for.” The next night 40 supporters (at an additional $200 each) attended the Wine Maker’s Dinner at The Stand for which Chef Bruno prepared a multi-course Italian meal paired with selections from the Scavino Winery.

The 2014 event added $240,000 to the $1 million plus awarded in grants since the event was launched in 2001. downtownpublications.com

Imerman Angels’ Michigan Launch Party

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1. Jack Marwil (left) and Debby and Herb Sloan of Bloomfield 2. Jonny Imerman (second from right) of Chicago, with Susan (left) and oncologist Andy Muskovitz and Makenzie Martin of Birmingham 3. Jeff Imerman of Birmingham with Joanie Sneyd of Bloomfield 4. Julia Halpin (left) of Ferndale, with Harvey Weaver of St. Clair Shores and Duffy Wineman of Bloomfield 5. Jane Imerman left) of Birmingham with Lois and Milt Zussman of Bloomfield 6. Sam (left) and Katie Valenti of Bloomfield with Dr. Samir Noujaim of Troy 7. Rick and Penny Persiani of Birmingham 8. Midge Moran (left) with her daughters Georgene Moran of Birmingham and Gretchen Marsh and her husband Bob of Bloomfield 9. Mikki Gardner (left) of Birmingham with Roger and Aimee Mali of Franklin

SOS Spring Luncheon & Boutique

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1. Tawnya Bender (left) of Bloomfield and Lynn Oates of Rochester 2. Michelle Judson (left) of Bloomfield, Mary Barlow of Remus and Sarah Barlow Doyle of Ferndale 3. Tawyna Bender (left) of Bloomfield, Courtney Hewett of South Lyon and Tami Chaushoff of Dearborn

Studio D Benefit for Gleaners

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1. Mollie and James Procter of Bloomfield 2. Andrea (left) and Erik Morganroth (right) with Jason and Nancy Unger of Birmingham 3. Randy and Nancy Thomas of Birmingham 4. Turkia and Zoe Mullin of Birmingham with R.G. Dempster of Bloomfield

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK A Night for Sight

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1. Marshall (left) and May Chin of Bloomfield with Dr. Frank and Karen Nesi of Grosse Pointe 2. Dr. Paul (left) and Ann Fecko of Bloomfield and Gary Mach of Beverly Hills 3. Dr. Luisa DiLorenzo and Dr. Joe Skoney of Birmingham 4. Bob (left) and Marilyn Rauth of Bloomfield and Nickole and Dr Evan Black of Troy 5. Riccardo Sgarra (left) of Alba, Italy and Nidal Daher of Bloomfield 6. Judge Marc Barron (left) of Birmingham, Debbie and Michael Berger of W. Bloomfield and Joseph Saker of Birmingham 7. Rebecca and Matthew Brown of Birmingham

HAVEN Benefactor Party

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1. Teri and Chuck Moore of Birmingham with Susan Pepper of Franklin 2. Julie Ritter of Birmingham and Mohammed Qazi of W. Bloomfield 3. Carl and Julia Camden of Bloomfield 4. Nicole Davies (left) of Birmingham with Carole and Gregg Brumm of Bloomfield 5. Cheryl and Fred Adams of Bloomfield 6. Joy Seguin (left) and Sallie Amalfitano with Beth Morrison of Bloomfield

AAUW’s Lavish Luncheon

1 1. Sue Longstreet (left) of Bloomfield and Kathy Rice of Troy 2. Pam Hoffman (left) of W. Bloomfield, Joanne Brown of Bloomfield and Sandy Dickerson of Waterford 3.

Barbara Small (left) of Birmingham and Carol Pyke of Bloomfield 4. Peggy Werner (left) and Collette Stager of Bloomfield 5.

Callie Schmidt (left) of Bloomfield and Kathleen Kern of Farmington Hills

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HAVEN Raise the Roof Gala party Because HAVEN board member Chuck Moore knew that big things are happening at the domestic abuse-fighting non-profit agency, he got his firm Conway Mackenzie to host a cocktail celebration at Bloomfield Hills Country Club. The guest list included the benefactors and sponsors of the inaugural Raise the Roof Gala, so named because HAVEN is building a new home. The hospitality was first rate and HAVEN CEO Beth Morrison got hearty applause when she told the crowd “…we have surpassed our (capital campaign) goal…and will break ground on June 18.”

Then Tracey Thompson spoke. “I am a survivor and I am proud to say that,” she began. The University of Michigan graduate’s story recounted an apparently privileged life married to prince charming “…who held me hostage and beat me.”

She landed in a hospital where “…a lady from HAVEN was the first person to validate me… I never went back...My life has changed completely.

HAVEN is a place to learn to grow,” she concluded.

AAUW Birmingham Branch Luncheon The American Association of University Women’s Birmingham Branch’s scholarship luncheon attracted nearly 150 members and their friends to Pine Lake Country Club. During the social hour, which was enhanced with music by pianist Curtis Posuniak, most guests kept busy buying raffle tickets and trying to decide which of the 20 raffle baskets created by the study groups they would like to own. They could also peruse the display of vintage hats arranged by Adria Shields.

The latter, along with Barbara Gash, did a fine, post-luncheon Vintage Fashion presentation. It was notable for the splendid dresses Shields brought from her private collection. Before the basket winners’ names were drawn, eight members modeled current fashions from Franklin Village Boutique. The event netted $5,000 to be used for scholarship assistance to local students. Carol Pyke, Dorie Marshall and Pam Hoffman are chairing the AAUW’s 88th annual used book sale Sept. 5-7 at the Birmingham Masonic Temple.

Information for donating books will soon be posted on birmingham-mi.aauw.net.

Gleaners Benefit at Studio D More than 200 art and music buffs stopped in at Robert Dempster’s Studio D for the opening of Nancy and Jason Unger’s “Abundant Fields” exhibition of new dimensional works. People were intrigued by the way the Ungers’ collaborations combine art, photography and architecture. Eric Morganroth was the winning bidder in an auction of one piece to benefit Gleaners Community Food Banks. Music by Café Boheme (aka Dempster, Michael Ogorek and Zach Plantus) energized the scene in the Eton Street art and music gallery (www.NewStudioD.com).

Send ideas for this column to Sally Gerak, 28 Barbour Lane, Bloomfield Hills, 48304; email samgerak@aol.com or call 248.646.6390.

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ENDNOTE

Our endorsements for August primary

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irmingham, Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills voters on Tuesday, August 5, will be deciding a number of primary election contests, including the U.S. Congress 11th District and the Michigan Senate 13th District, as well as local ballot questions in Bloomfield and Bloomfield Hills and a county mass transportation millage.

Because it is a primary election, as a voter you will be casting ballots, either at the polls or by absentee ballot, only in one party to determine who would be that party’s best standard bearer going into the November general election. Our endorsements are based on answers candidates gave to our questionnaires, which had to be returned for consideration, along with knowledge we may have of some candidates. Candidate responses on the issues can be found on our website, downtownpublications.com.

U.S. Congress 11th District Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills (Republican) There is an incumbent in this race, Kerry Bentivolio of Milford, often referred to as the “accidental congressman” because he was the lone Republican on the ballot in 2012 once the prior congressman, Thad McCotter, failed to make the ballot due to falsified petitions that were brought to light.

This congressional district, which stretches into the west Oakland area and part of western Wayne County, was redrawn in the latest reapportionment to make it an even safer Republican district with the addition of Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, and the elimination of some communities in western Wayne, so Bentivolio was basically assured a general election victory. But that does not mean he belongs in congress.

Overall there is a disturbing fringe element aura surrounding Bentivolio. We went beyond the outrageous public pronouncements made by the incumbent, from his initial willingness to conduct a public hearing in the district on chemtrails, the name the conspiracy crowd gave to the alleged practice of the federal government spraying mind altering drugs or toxins on the American public through jet exhaust, to his suggestion that impeaching the president would be a “dream come true.” Instead, we reviewed over 100 bills and resolutions to which he gave support in 2013, and which included his call for repeal of the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, preventing the government from collecting income taxes except in time of war declared by congress. And that’s just one of the fringe positions he has taken. Of course, there is also his support of the devastating government shutdown in 2013, which wreaked havoc on the economy of the country, and the fact that even after a compromise was struck in congress, Bentivolio still voted to keep the government gridlocked.

Frankly, the weirdness factor is just too much for us and, if it hasn’t already, eventually will render Bentivolio isolated and ineffective in terms of representing this district.

Fortunately there is a strong alternative in this primary race, DAVID TROTT of Birmingham, an owner of multiple businesses that include a real estate firm, title companies, publications, and law firms.

Trott is a consistent, reasoned conservative who has been involved in Republican party politics for years, and has been in the trenches, so to speak, dating back to even before his stint on the staff of Bill Broomfield when he represented much of this district decades ago in congress. Trott currently has the backing of all the trusted Republican leaders in the county.

He has demonstrated that he can run a strong campaign and has the skill set to be the standard bearer for Republicans going into the November general election contest. And, if Trott moves beyond the general election, his business and political experience will serve the district well.

(Democrat) Two Democrats, Anil Kumar and Bobby McKenzie, rise above the others seeking their party’s nomination for the 11th Congressional District.

Unfortunately, the two share such similar viewpoints on each of the issues, from job growth and gun control to immigration reform and foreign policy, that we had difficulty distinguishing one from the other.

However, we have been more impressed with the campaign that we see being run by ANIL KUMAR, despite the union endorsements McKenzie has been piling up. Kumar is an immigrant success story; a physician with a first-hand perspective of the Affordable Care Act, and, at latest reporting, may have a more sizable war chest to wage a campaign.

Michigan Senate 13th District Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills (Republican) This district, which has been represented by term-limited Republican Sen. John Pappageorge for the last eight years, represents not only Birmingham and Bloomfield Hills, but also Troy and Rochester. A field of five seeking the GOP nomination includes three former Republican state representatives.

We give the nod to CHUCK MOSS, who previously represented the House 40th District which covered this local area. A very capable past chair of the Michigan House Appropriations Committee, he is a knowledgeable and seasoned legislator. We believe he would be the best standard bearer for the Republicans in November, albeit in an uphill race from a smaller geographical base from this part of the district.

(Democrat) On the Democratic side, RYAN FISHMAN has demonstrated that he is taking the primary very seriously, despite being in a Republican leaning district. He understands the issues, is taking an energetic approach to the campaign and fundraising, reaching out to various demographics, and could prove a worthy opponent come November, regardless of the Republican bent of this district.

SMART Millage Increase SMART, which operates public transportation throughout Oakland County and the region, is requesting a renewal and an increase of the .59 mills it currently levies to one mill for 2014 to 2017, estimating that the new tax will generate approximately $27 million when levied in 2014.

According to SMART, since 2008, it has lost $48 million in revenue due to lower property values, and despite operating and wage cuts and concessions, its budget is still off by about $11 million.

Additionally, its bus fleet has aged to the point that 80 percent of the vehicles have more than 500,000 miles on them, straining maintenance capabilities, and there is no funding for replacement busses. If approved, voters will see the increase on their tax bills at the end of the year. While 37 communities in Oakland County opt-out of SMART service, including Bloomfield Hills, we recommend voters in Birmingham and Bloomfield Township vote YES to continue this vital transportation service.

Bloomfield Township Ballot Proposals There are two public safety millage renewals for Bloomfield Township. Public Safety A, which seeks to continue to levy up to 1.1336 mills for 10 years, 2014-2023, raising $3.7 million annually, replacing a millage that expired in 2013. Public Safety B is a millage renewal of up to .6941 mills for a period of 10 years, 2016-2025, which would raise just under $2.3 million annually. It would replace a millage expiring in 2015. All township millages are collected during winter (December) taxes; the last time Public Safety A was collected was December 2013, and if renewed it would be collected this December. If renewed, Public Safety B will not be collected until 2016.

For Bloomfield Township, police, fire and public dispatch represents about 70 percent of the annual budget, to the tune of $26.7 million. At $5.9 million, these two millages comprise about 22 percent of the total public safety operational funding, an important part of keeping the community safe. We recommend a YES vote.

The township is also requesting a renewal of its senior services millage, to continue staffing and operating the Bloomfield Township Senior Center at .2439 mils for another 10 years, commencing with the December 2014 tax bill. It is estimated the proposal will generate $792,000 in its first year.

The center was built about five years ago through a capital improvement program bond, and its budget of $1.6 million is supported half by the senior services millage and half through programs and fees.

This asset to the community should continue to be supported, and we recommend a YES vote.

We also support a renewal of the safety path millage with a YES vote for another five years of .4839 mills, which would generate $1.6 million in 2015. If renewed, taxpayers would see it on the December 2014 tax bill. Begun in 1998 with an original levy of .53 mils for five years, and renewed twice for five years each, the township has successfully installed safety paths throughout the township, connecting it to other communities, and creating a walkable environment. A 2008 master plan determined where and when safety paths would be installed, and projects remain to be completed, as well as ongoing maintenance.

Bloomfield Hills Library Millage Renewal Residents in Bloomfield Hills finally enjoy the use of a community library, at Birmingham’s Baldwin Library. They are being asked to continue the .39 mils per year for full library privileges, with the change from three years for the millage to six years.

It is estimated the city will collect approximately $286,000 in 2015, after residents pay the millage with their December 2014 taxes. We urge a YES vote to continue offering this important service to residents.

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