Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield

GERAK: SOCIAL SCENE • HEALD: PAUL JENKINS’ WHAT CRÊPE?

STATE LAKES OF THE

GOOD NEWS FOR LOCAL WATERWAYS IN OAKLAND

DAY IN THE LIFE: RIDING ALONG WITH BIRMINGHAM POLICE OFFICER CYBER POLICIES: HOW SCHOOLS HANDLE THE WIRED GENERATION SHARED SERVICES: BEYOND JOINT DISPATCHING PROPOSAL

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DOWNTOWN06.13

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State of the lakes Both state environmental officials and private consultants say that the lakes in Oakland County far surpass waterways in other areas.

CRIME LOCATOR

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FACES

71: Laurie Tennent

123: John Hartom

129: Allan Nachman

139 143

BUSINESS MATTERS

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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Jonah and the Whale, by Carl Milles, Cranbrook Educational Community, Bloomfield Hills. Downtown photo/Austen Hohendorf.

DOWNTOWN P

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DOWNTOWN • WESTEND • BLACK BOOK • 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: Jacqueline Galvin Graphics/IT Manager: Chris Grammer News Editor: Lisa Brody

News Staff/Contributors: Allison Batdorff, Hayley Beitman, Hillary Brody, Kevin Elliott, Sally Gerak, Eleanor & Ray Heald, Austen Hohendorf, Garrett Hohendorf, 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

THE COVER

Bombshell Salon; The Tutoring Center; Bozeman Watch Company; Sidney Blake North; Twisted Fruit; Compass Group.

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.

Paul Jenkins' What Crepe? in Birmingham: working to change what perception the masses have of crepes.

SOCIAL LIGHTS

Shared dispatching proposed; Two new police chiefs; liquor license transfer denied; theater wants liquor restrictions lifted; Park Street rezoning; citizen input sought,; plus more.

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Delicious, complex and affordable Italian wines from the montepulciano grape.

AT THE TABLE

CITY/TOWNSHIP

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How local education officials are keeping up with regulating the wired generation now in the schools.

138

38: See Jane Rock

59: Omar Jon Ajluni

Cyber policies

Downtown takes a ride with a Birmingham police officer to see what's encountered on a typical shift in the city.

FOCUS ON WINE

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

24: Adam Bleznak

Day in the life

Public safety dispatch proposal on Bloomfield Hills; unfinished business on Birmingham bistro rules and regulations.

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.

06.13

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FROM THE PUBLISHER

T

here's been considerable coverage of late in the trade and business press and online news reports about the latest round of cutbacks at the online Patch news organization owned by AOL, with some suggestion that perhaps the socalled hyper-local approach to providing news content is not a viable model.

Nothing could be further from reality as far as we are concerned.

Patch was founded in 2007 by Tim Armstrong and acquired for $7 million in 2009 by AOL, supposedly to be one of the saviors for AOL as part of a business plan to offer news/ad content to help offset declining subscription revenues.

More recently, AOL acquired the Huffington Post from Arianna Huffington as part of the same effort to shore up the ailing AOL. While certainly the Patch effort nationwide has set some strong benchmarks in terms of unique visitors to its sites, 10 million on average at the start of 2012, it has been beset with major financial problems that have forced a major decline in the amount of original local news appearing on its sites, including those in Michigan.

As outlined by the Nieman Journalism Lab at Harvard, Patch has grown to around 1,000 local sites nationwide, but its recent history is marked by a constant shift in both editorial focus and reductions in staffing.

Locally we had our own issues with Patch, even when it first hit the scene, in terms of aggregating (lifting and rewriting) stories from Downtown, most of the time with attribution, mixed with some original reporting by Patch staffers.

In the first major cutbacks at Patch, freelance writer budgets were severely cut or eliminated, then there was a push to increase the number of bloggers on the sites to replace staff-generated news stories. So the latest effort to bring Patch to profitability is to rely on free contributors in each local community to fill the pages of Patch. It is no wonder that the founder of the Huffington Post has reportedly distanced herself from efforts to fix the Patch mess.

Most recently, on a national basis Patch has eliminated editors and is either combining local sites or having editors pull double-duty. The result has been even less local news appearing on Patch sites and more of the insipid features that asks the readers their favorites businesses or what to do with closed business locations in a community – all part of a national directive for all Patch editors.

In comparison, our website – downtownpublications.com – just in the last two weeks broke stories about the rejection by the Michigan Liquor Control Commission of a local restaurant license ownership transfer; a proposal to share public safety dispatching between Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills; the attempt by the Maple Theater to have restrictions lifted on serving liquor there; and safety path development in Bloomfield Township, just to name a few.

These stories appearing on the website for Downtown were developed by News Editor Lisa Brody, so it is not like we have a much larger staff than the local Patch sites, which carried none of these important local stories.

Frankly, Patch is not the first national outfit to attempt to develop a string of local news sites online. Several similar efforts have been tried, and have failed, in the past decade and I am sure there will be others.

But it's not an indication that a business model that relies on a strong focus on local news cannot be successful, either online or in a printed format, or a combination of the two.

We would like to think that the publication you are now reading, and our companion website, is testament that a hyper-local news effort can be made to work.

David Hohendorf Publisher DavidHohendorf@downtownpublications.com

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INCOMING Thanks for inclusion I want to thank you so very much for including me in the Faces section of your May 2013 issue. Newly “arrived” to this landscape of raising awareness about Detroit's important place in history – through my efforts to restore the Sibley House – is truly an amazing adventure.

Downtown Birmingham/Bloomfield gave me the opportunity to share my personal journey for the city that I cherish. Continued great success!

Deborah J. Gillespie, Bloomfield Hills

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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.

Gillespie Faces I so enjoyed your article about my cousin Deborah Gillespie (May/Downtown).

She and I only just met in December 2012 as I was searching for a family portrait that was loaned to Christ Church Cranbrook some time ago. Sadly, the portrait is missing but I gained connection with a wonderful family member I would never have met otherwise.

She is a treasure to Detroit with her deep love of history, family, and the preservation of all that is dear. My mother, Elizabeth (Crombie) King, my aunt Mary (Crombie) Jacobsen and their family were members of Christ Church Cranbrook and I am proud to be part of the family.

Thank you again.

Elizabeth Dames, Vista, California

Refreshing publication Amid the overall decline of print journalism, your publication is a refreshing example of how thoughtful, in-depth content and crisp design delivers a consistently engaging, enjoyable read. Downtown is a terrific example of what an ambitious community paper can achieve.

It's always a pleasure spending time with your publication.

Jim Bowe, Bloomfield Hills downtownpublications.com

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It was built 1924-27 & is considered a fine example of Tudor-revival American architecture. Now privately owned, it was recently restored over a three-year period with much of the original decor & elements preserved.

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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 May 16, 2013.

Placement of codes is approximate.

16

DOWNTOWN

06.13

WHAT THE COPS SEE A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A BIRMINGHAM POLICEMAN

BY LISA BRODY

T

he long held belief that cops hang out at donut shops, schmoozing with the locals, eating cream-filled pastries and drinking coffee while waiting for a crime to occur couldn't be farther from the truth for today's police officers. Over the last several years, municipalities have experienced significant budget shortfalls, forcing reductions in spending for public safety. The end result is there are less cops out on the streets taking care of all of us, watching our homes and businesses, and protecting our communities.

Birmingham police officer Ryan Kearney

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Once upon a time, the primary task a police officer was charged with was getting into his police car and driving around the area, listening to the police radio and keeping his eyes out for scofflaws. Today's technology has provided tremendous advances in law enforcement, and with it, a change in job demands. Today's squad cars are decked out more like a mobile office than a simple automobile, with computers mounted on the dashboards, mobile printers (to print out tickets, among other things) located near the accelerator, microphones mounted into rear view mirrors and on the officers, numerous mirrors, several lights, squad radios within the car and on the officer, so there is barely room for the officer to comfortably fit into the driver's side of the automobile. That also means that policemen and women have few minutes for downtime, for time to head into the donut shop or the hamburger joint, to have a break and catch up, or to just have a break. Whether or not a municipality has seen an uptick or not in crime, the workload for an officer has risen.

Birmingham, a city of 20,103 people, according to 2010 census figures, has a police force with 30 officers, down from a high of 36 in 2005. They reduced their force through retirements and attritions.

T

o maximize efficiency, the Birmingham Police Department Patrol Division has three shifts covering a 24-hour day, with three sergeants and 21 uniformed officers divided up over those three shifts. A key objective is for the uniformed officers to be visible to the public, respond to calls for service, enforce traffic laws, investigate motor vehicle accidents, conduct preliminary investigations of criminal offenses, and to be available to the public for all of their needs.

There is an investigative division with four investigative corporals, including one who is a school liaison officer. This division is responsible for follow-up investigations involving crimes, liquor and narcotics violations, liquor license applications and employee background checks. One officer is assigned to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration to serve with investigative groups.

“The primary goal of the department is protection of life and property, prevention of crime and apprehension of criminal perpetrators. The department strives to provide the best possible police service to the residents of the city and to those who work, travel, and shop here,” the Birmingham Police Department's website reads. Those are clearly the objectives of every municipal police department.

On a recent Friday night, Downtown rode along with a Birmingham police officer on an afternoon shift, which is 4 p.m. to midnight, to share the experience of what a typical Birmingham officer encounters on a basic shift. What we learned is that there is no average night, and that every day is a new day.

In Birmingham, which has its own dispatch room at the police station at 151 Martin Street, also provides dispatch services for Beverly Hills. For each shift, there are two dispatchers working at all times (minus breaks), providing dispatch for all police, fire and emergency services.

Birmingham police officer Ryan Kearney is celebrating his 10-year anniversary with the Birmingham Police Department this June. His first few years with the department, he worked the midnight shift, and now works the afternoon shift. In a given month, he, and all of the other officers in the department, work a 28-day schedule, with the officers with the most seniority picking their days off within that schedule first. In each 28-day schedule, each officer gets eight days off, working eight-hour shifts on the other 20 days, which creates a 40-hour work week.

“We can work with each other. You can put in for days off, or for a single day off here or there,” he said. He had just had a three-day weekend, and was looking at the following Monday off, but as the 28-day schedule was nearing its conclusion, Kearney said he was looking at a longer stretch of days working without a day off, “which is one of the downsides. But it all works out.”

For Kearney, working the afternoon shift works out for his family. His wife, an elementary special education teacher in Livonia, is out early in the morning, and with two young boys, his schedule allows them to avoid needing child care. And even though he has been with the department for

10 years, officers in Birmingham stick around – Kearney is still low enough on the seniority rank that he currently is not eligible to move up to days.

The Friday evening we rode along with Kearney, he was one of three officers out on the roads of Birmingham, handling all of the residents and visitors to the downtown and neighborhoods.

“For the most part, you can handle the city with three officers,” Kearney said. Each officer rides solo in his or her own squad vehicle. During the daytime shift, a routine traffic stop is easily handled with one officer, but during the evening or midnight shift, a second officer always rides over to provide backup, just in case it is needed.

The city does utilize auxiliary police officers, which is a volunteer police unit, trained and uniformed, whose officers wear police uniforms and are specially trained. Auxiliary officers provide extra foot patrol service on the downtown streets on weekend nights, and serve regularly at high school athletic events and at special events such as the Dream Cruise, Village Fair and parades. Kearney acknowledges their assistance, but skeptically downplays their contribution.

“They're voluntary. They're definitely a help with special events, when we need more officers on the ground walking around, but they're also, they have to be with another officer to answer a call, and they can't respond to our important situations when we need help,” he said.

A call of a domestic situation, a possible breaking and entering, or an assault, a fight at a restaurant, bar or nightclub, always necessitates a second squad car. It's simply too dangerous at any time for a solo police officer to enter the situation alone, and an auxiliary officer cannot provide that assistance. Kearney notes that some circumstances are difficult for only two or three officers, regardless.

“A big fight at the Palladium (Uptown Palladium theaters, on Hamilton Row), for example, which we've had, then you're just holding your own.

The low priority calls get held. If there's four officers, then at least we're two-and-two,” he noted.

But that's hardly every night, or even a frequent occasion. The night we're out, a spring May evening which is a bit cool, there are teens and tweens milling about on Old Woodward, chatting and flirting, but causing no trouble. The restaurants and bars in the downtown area are humming, but trouble-free.

Obviously, that's how the police prefer it.

A typical afternoon/evening shift can see a little of everything, depending on the day and time of year.

“We get a little bit of everything. We get accidents, frauds, larcenies. As the evening goes along, we get assaults, domestics, intoxicated. If we get time, we do traffic. It's a little quieter right now. Into the summer it gets busier,” Kearney said. When asked if the downtown Birmingham area atmosphere has changed since the closing of South Bar in August 2012, and Hamilton Room, in March 2013, Kearney responded, “It seems to be a little bit quieter. We'll see a little bit more in the summer. Obviously, there are still bars, and with bars, there's always going to be problems.”

Viewing the city from the front seat of a police vehicle provided a perspective of civilian kindness, of routine traffic stops and traffic challenges, of investigations and mundane inspections, of observations of the downtown and of neighborhood streets, all of which emphasize the importance of having police patrolling the city and feet on the ground.

O

ur first incident of the night came from a good samaritan.

At 7:45 p.m., someone came in to the police station and turned in a wallet that they had found in front of Margot's Salon and Spa on Townsend Street, with $1,030 in cash inside. There was no driver's license inside; after Kearney did some investigative work, it was discovered the wallet belonged to a 15-year-old who had been at the salon with her mother. The wallet was positively identified by the mother and daughter, who verified that everything was still intact in the wallet, and they left happy and satisfied with the excellent police work.

Next, Kearney left the station after refilling his water bottle, checked his patrol car, and proceeded to do a drive through of the Peabody parking

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garage. “If we've got the downtown beat, like I have tonight, they like us to check out the downtown structures,” he said. He drove carefully through each floor, shining a light on any lone vehicles on lower or top floors, and then parked at the top of the garage in order to write up an earlier accident report and update his call list while quietly listening to the Tigers game on the radio in the background.

W

here once a cop could sit in his squad car, listening to the baseball game and staring into space, today everything must be written up and processed before a shift is completed. If, like the shift we rode along with, it's relatively quiet, with few calls or emergencies, officers have time to park and write up accidents, traffic stops, larcenies, and other updates on their computers during the shift; otherwise, they stay and finish all of the paperwork, perhaps for hours afterwords.

“We've gone more and more paperless,” Kearney said, working on the computer in his squad car, which he said was new, and demanded several more steps than their previous technology. “We used to print everything out at the end of the shift from everyone. There used to be an individual page for each call. Now, there's just a printed shift recap at the end of the shift.”

As Kearney finishes typing up an accident report which occurred earlier in the afternoon, a call comes in at 8:28 to back up another officer on an OWI – a possible drunk driver (operating while intoxicated) at Bowers and Adams. The other officer calls in the license plate to dispatch, where she places it into the radio log and can simultaneously pull up any information on the driver.

As we pull up to the possible OWI and the other officer, we learn from the other officer our back up is not needed. It's an older gentleman who hasn't had a drink in 30 years. It's uncertain why it appeared he was driving while intoxicated. We all proceed on our way.

With nothing urgent occurring in Birmingham, it's time to stake out a spot on Southfield Road just north of 14 Mile, and work traffic, in an attempt to catch speeders, drunk drivers, or any other person driving erratically or inappropriately.

Kearney's eyes are all over the place, constantly attuned to the cars driving past, neighbors walking their dogs, cars pulling in and out of the neighborhood where the police car is parked, his computer, all while simultaneously listening to the dispatcher's radio and the Tigers in the background.

Being a cop was something that Kearney says he always wanted to do.

He enjoys the freedom and independence it affords him within his shift, of doing his own thing. “You're out there doing good, and arresting people for doing things they shouldn't have been doing, keeping order, and it can be fun and exciting,” he said.

There are difficult days, and difficult calls, especially certain domestic calls, child abuse or suicides. “It's one of those things; it's the job. If it was someone you knew, or one of your own family, it would probably tear you up.

It still does, but you have to put it behind you,” he notes. When asked how he separates it from his own family, how he can compartmentalize it and put it away, he answers, “You just do. Sometimes it's hard. Things definitely affect you. Especially, I have two little kids, and you get a call with little kids and you see it yourself, and it's tough.”

One of the most difficult incidents for Kearney to personally process and deal with was an incident a few months ago, when a breastfeeding mother fell asleep and suffocated her baby to death. It was ruled accidental. “I heard that call come out, and I tried to process it. I had to follow up on the story myself to see it, and you see he (the infant) didn't make it, and you see that, and it's really tough to separate. You think, it can happen to anybody, and knowing how tired and exhausted you are as a parent yourself. She didn't do anything wrong; there wasn't any trauma, she was just exhausted.

You have to give death notifications sometimes. Maybe from an accident. Or after welfare checks, where a family member calls, they might be out-ofstate, and says, we talk to this family member pretty often, we can't get ahold of him, maybe the phone is busy, or we talk to him every Tuesday, and we go and find him passed away in the house. Then you have to turn downtownpublications.com

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06.13

around and make that call. Or suicides and stuff – it always gets to you a little bit because you just want to think somebody could have done something. That you would have known if it had gotten that bad. You think, 'what if?'”

News reports of officers being killed or targeted in the line of duty definitely get to Kearney, especially now that he has a wife and young family. “Things happen everywhere. You compare some of those places, like Columbine or Newtown, to Birmingham,” he said. “And that's what people think. Nothing ever happens in Birmingham. They leave their cars unlocked, or their purses or laptops on the seat, because nothing ever happens in Birmingham. But it happens everywhere, and sometimes that's why people go to those cities; it's where the wealth is and the higher-end things are, and people don't watch it as much. They assume it can't happen here.

“As far as the domestics, the suicides, mental illness, it's everywhere.

We see it. A lot of those people are paranoid, so they come to the police, or call the police. They're abnormal to the rest of society, but we come in contact with them very frequently. While people put on a face, we go on those calls.”

K

earney talks as he drives through various Birmingham neighborhoods, checking quiet local streets. He drives around Seaholm High School, up and around the parking lot and playing fields, to make sure everything is as it should be. That evening, there is an event at Seaholm, and all the parking lots are full of cars. The fields are bare and quiet, the lights out.

Next he slowly drives over to Quarton Elementary School, which is empty save for a lone parked car in the rear parking lot. As he drives past Quarton, he shines spotlights into classroom windows, slowly illuminating the school, checking playground equipment, bushes and trees and that lone car, making sure nothing untoward is happening on school grounds.

Later, he'll drive around Booth Park, carefully checking out the playground equipment and the shrubbery in the back, where a couple years ago teens congregated to hang out and smoke pot.

“We check out the schools, the alleys, all the places people are not supposed to go,” Kearney said.

At 9:20, Kearney and another officer receive a call for a residence alarm at a home on Townsend. After checking out the home, front and back, with the homeowner's small dog peering out the glass front door, the two officers determine it's a false alarm, and Kearney writes up a false alarm sticker to place on the resident's front door.

Kearney said that if officers are available, they always get dispatched in twos to an alarm, “or to anything that could be serious. If there is a brawl, or shots fired, then everyone is sent,” he said.

As he drives back into the downtown area, he spots a white Mercedes SUV go through a red light on S. Old Woodward, and then stop in the middle of the street. His overhead police lights go on, and he pulls the woman driver over, while simultaneously punching her license plate number into his car computer. “She has quite a record,” he noted, seeing that the female driver has three previous speeding tickets and two accidents in her recent record.

After going to the woman's car, he returns, stating that she said she realized what she had done as soon as she did it, but it was too late. She told Kearney that she had just left the office and was headed to pick up Thai food. “I'm going to write her up for impeding traffic,” he said, which is a fine, but does not give points to the woman's record, because it is a nonmoving violation.

After he gave the woman the violation, he noted she was not as appreciative of the reduced violation as he thought she should have been.

“You just can't take things personally, though,” he said.

Unlike a traffic stop, which is seen first-hand, most situations in which a police officer finds him or herself is investigating a circumstance after the fact. “We always have to investigate, and what you learn as a police officer, there's always two sides to every story,” Kearney observed. “At least.” downtownpublications.com

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FACES

Adam Bleznak

B

loomfield Hills native Adam Bleznak is the COO of Woodbury Management by day. After work, he is the program director for Oakaloosa Music Festival, a new music and dance party taking place this summer in Detroit.

Bleznak grew up in Bloomfield Hills where he attended Cranbrook Schools since kindergarten. There, he was a member of the band, football and tennis teams and served as editor of the sports section of the newspaper.

“My life was enjoyable from the perspective of being a youth in the Bloomfield area,” he said. “I was always interested in music from a really young age.”

Deciding to attend the University of Michigan was an easy decision for Bleznak because of its sports teams and school spirit. “I grew up a Michigan fan. Our (family business') flagship property is in Ann Arbor and my family has been ticket holders for the football team since the late 1960s.”

Graduating with a degree in history, he applied and was accepted to multiple law schools, but decided to join the family company Bleznak Real Estate Investment Group instead. “I graduated on April 30 and on May 1, I was the manager of new apartments and starting learning how to manage the community.”

Bleznak became involved with a group his grandfather started called Motor City Youth Initiative and continued his involvement through Detroit Sports Zone. As a member of the board, he was entrusted with the task of finding creative ways to help sustain programming, and developed the idea of throwing a music festival in Detroit.

The Oakaloosa Music Festival will take place on July 27 at Historic Fort

Wayne in Detroit. “We chose this setting because we felt it was kind of a hidden gem in the community,” he said.

Mash-up artist Girl Talk is the headliner, with Grammy award winning hiphop group Bone Thugs-n-Harmony performing what will be their first show together in Detroit in 10 years. “This is kind of a reunion tour they are doing.

We're looking forward to a very diverse and exciting crowd,” he said.

The event will fund programming for Detroit Sports Zone, support local charities, and provide a platform for artists to showcase their talent.

“I'm excited about this event because Oakaloosa has become what I do in my free time. I work normal full time hours managing apartments and sometimes even more. The music festival, I generally focus spending 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. everyday,” he said.

Bleznak said his hidden agenda might be to bring all of his friends back home. “I thought if I put together a really incredible program in the city of Detroit I could draw those kids back, even if it's just for a weekend. Make them a little homesick, I guess.”

After dedicating many hours, advice and financial support, Bleznak's parents, siblings and girlfriend have been his driving force. “Even if I fall short with this event, I never let distractions get in the way of what the original goal was.”

He returns to the Birmingham area multiple times a week and hopes to move there from Ann Arbor within the next year.

“As my friends who are my age start to move home, they're moving back to Birmingham and Bloomfield and I want to be part of that. I see it as a wonderful place to raise a family and I want to be there for a really long time.”

Story: Hayley Beitman

Photo: Laurie Tennent

COMPETENCE, INTEGRITY AND PERSONALIZED ATTENTION

Mullett Lake $12,900,000

Bloomfield $4,200,000

Romantic Gatsby-esque masterpiece on 1,528 feet of pristine shoreline on crystalline Mullett Lake in northern Michigan. This gated, private estate sits on over 14 acres of pine forest. At nearly 15,000 sq.ft., the home offers 10 bedrooms, a 1,400 sq.ft. great room, 10 car garage and spectacular vistas from the sweeping 130' veranda.

This lakefront architectural gem majestically is situated on 1.27 acres on the north shore of all-sports Upper Long Lake. Private, gated entry. The home is a marvel of space, natural light and lake views from all rooms. Luxurious first floor master suite, gourmet kitchen, indoor sports/basketball court plus an infinity pool offering serenity and lake views.

West Bloomfield $1,849,000

Birmingham $745,000

Gorgeous Pine Lake landmark home rebuilt in 2001. Stunning lake views from the wraparound front porch or private lakeside deck. Spectacular granite kitchen with premium appliances. Must-see master bath featured in the Detroit News. 5 bedrooms, 3 full plus 3 half baths, 3 car garage with boat bay, 5 fireplaces and much more. Bloomfield Hills schools.

Renovated 4 bedroom beauty combining old world character and modern amenities. White kitchen with granite adjoins family room with 9' ceilings.

Master with fireplace, walk-in closet, dressing area with built-ins and multi-head stone shower. 2nd floor sound insulated laundry. Professionally finished lower level with 11' ceilings, tile bath and office.

Birmingham $629,000

Royal Oak $329,000

Walk to dining, shopping and park from this charming, 4 bedroom colonial.

Open concept chef’s kitchen with AGA stove and generous counter seating. 3rd floor master suite has vaulted ceilings, sitting room and fabulous bath. Vintage dual French doors from dining room open to deck, patio and outside play area.

Lower level family room or dream playroom.

Enjoy skyline views from the penthouse floor at Royal Oak’s Skylofts. Living/dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows, bamboo floors and fireplace opens to island kitchen featuring maple cabinets, granite and stainless appliances. Master suite has walk-in closet and large balcony to enjoy the sunsets. This top floor unit offers extra high ceilings and the best vistas in town.

248.644.3500 t HallandHunter.com 442 S. Old Woodward, Birmingham, MI 48009

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SUCCESSFUL

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HALL & HUNTER.

MELINDA ALLEN LYNN BAKER GAYLE BARKER PATTY BLAIR CAROLYN BOWEN-KEATING JOAN BROWN NANCY BUCK JOANN BUESSER JOANNE CARTER BECCA CHAPMAN DAVID CLEGG RON CLEM MEREDITH COLBURN JEAN COLBY KEVIN CONWAY LANIE HARDY COSGROVE EMILY DAY SANDY DEMETRIOU CHRISTINE DRINKWATER CHRIS EDWARDS GINNY FISHER FRANK FLYNN JULIE FLYNN GORDON FOX DEBY GANNES HOLLY GEYER TIFFANY GLIME EVA GOREN JANET GRAHAM PAM GRAY ESTER GREIG GAIL GROUT ANNA GULOYAN KRISTI HAMED LESLIE HARDY KIM MINASIAN HAWES TIM HERTZLER SUSAN HILL SAL IMPASTATO KATHLEEN JARDINE SAM KAPLUNOV GILLIAN LAZAR WENDY LEONARD JO LINCOLN DONYALE MAHORN VICKIE MCASKIN BILL MEADE KELLY MOODY JOY MORRIS JOHN NEWMAN ELLEN NEWVILLE GARY NEWVILLE KARIN NIHLS RITA M. O’BRIEN TOM O’BRIEN MONA PARLOVE SHONDELL PATTERSON DOROTHY PERROTTA MICHAEL PERROTTA NANCI RANDS NANCY REIZEN CHERYL RIBACK LYNDA SCHRENK DANA SHAGENA SUE SIMON KELLY SMALL PAM STOLER VIOLET VESTEVICH ADAM WAECHTER CHI-CHI WARD MADELON WARD MICHAEL WATTS TED WIDLUND DIANA WOLAK SCHMIDT BRAD WOLF DENNIS WOLF DEE WRIGHT AMY SUZANNE ZIMMER DENISE ZUCKERMAN

THE REAL DIFFERENCE IN REAL ESTATE Nanci J. Rands Associate Broker

248.701.9000 Meredith Colburn Associate Broker

248.762.5319

Bloomfield Hills $2,999,000

Birmingham $2,495,000

Franklin $3,995,000

An incomparable Post Modern Masterpiece on 3.3 wooded acres. Sophisticated and functional living spaces. Living Room overlooks Pool and Tennis Court. Private Master retreat. Finished walk-out Lower Level. 4 car garage.

Spectacular in daylight and when illuminated at night.

2004 built in-town home with exceptional amenities. 4 fireplaces. Gourmet Island Kitchen. Breakfast Room with French doors to bluestone courtyard. Spacious Family Room overlooks outdoor living spaces. Library. Splendid Master. Finished Lower Level. 3 car garage with private apartment. Generator.

Exceptional 2001 Tringali-designed English Tudor replica on 2.48 acres. Gated drive opens to pond, fountain and walkways. Over 10,000 sq. ft. of luxury. 4 Bedroom Suites. Wine Cellar and Tasting Room. Exercise Facility and Dojo. Two heated garages with capacity for 8 cars.

LAKEFRONT BUILD SITE

Bloomfield $687,500 Sophisticated Contemporary Condo on Wabeek Lake, sweeping lawn and sunset views. Open floor plan. Large balcony overlooks lake. Sleek gourmet Kitchen with Breakfast Area. Library retreat. Elegant first floor Master Suite. 2 Bedrooms up. Finished Lower Level walk-out.

Bloomfield Gilbert Lake $749,000 Beautiful lakefront acre site with wide vistas of Bloomfield Hills’ Gilbert Lake, framed by mature trees. Gently sloping site will accommodate a large home with walk-out. Perk test and survey available.

Birmingham $1,150,000 Impeccable 2003 built Home in the Poppleton Park area.

Spacious with a flowing layout. Wide crown moldings and cherry floors. Gourmet Island Kitchen opens to Family Room. Handsome 2-story Library. Outstanding Master Suite includes a private Office. Elevator. 3 car garage.

www.RandsColburn.com

®

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442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

NANCI J. RANDS & MEREDITH COLBURN

Bloomfield $2,995,000 On a private, landscaped hilltop overlooking Wing Lake, this historic property was restored and expanded in 2001 to extraordinary elegance and functionality. Molded plaster ceilings, tumbled travertine floors, carved beams and sculptures. Over 6,000 sq. ft. with an additional 4,000 feet in the finished Lower Level. Grand entry Foyer with domed rotunda. The Living Room is highlighted by a mural depicting Edsel Ford’s 1st transcontinental Model T journey. The Cook’s Kitchen features an octagonal island and casual dining area. 4-seasons Sun Porch.

A 38-foot gallery leads to the 1st floor Master Suite. Two 2nd story Bedroom Suites. Lower Level houses an impressive Wine Cellar, Entertainment Room & Exercise Facility. 3 car garage. Lake views and privileges.

Nanci J. Rands

248.701.9000

www.RandsColburn.com

www.RandsColburn.com

Meredith Colburn

248.762.5319

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

THE PERROTTA REAL ESTATE TEAM Two generations, 41 years combined experience and one goal: Educated Buyers & Sellers = Results!

Dorothy Perrotta

Michael Perrotta

248.217.7222

248.672.0494

dperrotta@hallandhunter.com

mperrotta@hallandhunter.com

Associate Broker

Richw

Realtor

perrottarealestate.com

Burt Lake $925,000

Bloomfield Hills $1,750,000

Build your dream retreat in Northern Lower Michigan! Two adjoining wooded lakefront lots on Burt Lake, a 27 square mile all sports lake which is part of Michigan’s inland waterway. 340 ft. & 578 ft. of sandy bottom lake frontage. Lots can be sold separately or as one parcel. On a paved road with natural gas & electricity at property line.

Dramatic openness in this extraordinary newer contemporary. Unique towering windows, soaring ceilings, dual staircases and a series of decks and balconies contributes to the home’s majestic feel.

Features include 5 luxurious bedroom suites, 4 fireplaces, a grand DeGuilio kitchen, au pair/guest suite plus a finished walk-out lower level.

SOLD

Bloomfield $269,999

Bloomfield $450,000

Bloomfield

The perfect home on almost an acre in desirable Westacres.

Open floor plan with kitchen open to great room and dining room. 4 bedrooms, 2 baths including full bath with master bedroom. Ample storage and a first floor laundry. Short walk to community beach and club house.

5 bedroom, 4 bath center entrance colonial features large rooms and a great floor plan. Outstanding Westchester Village location. Master bedroom with large walk-in closet and full bath. All bedrooms are on the second level. Close to shopping and schools.

Outstanding open floor plan, large windows and natural light. Premium southern exposure offers views of nature center. 4 bedrooms, 4.1 baths plus a finished walkout lower level including a second kitchen area and the 4th bedroom. Newer hardwood in great room. 3 car garage.

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

THE INTEGRITY OF HALL & HUNTER, THE POWER OF CHRISTIE’S

Amy Zimmer

Tiffany Glime

Christine Drinkwater

Realtor

Realtor

Realtor

248.469.6430

248.930.5656

248.318.4745

HallandHunter.com LAKEFRONT

Sylvan/Otter Lake $489,900

Birmingham $1,595,000

Lakefront living at its finest! Premiere private locale in Harbour Pointe. Large deck overlooks wetlands and bird sanctuary. Dramatic 2-story entry. Island Kitchen and Breakfast Room open to Family Room. Spacious Master Suite with balcony, oversized walk-in closet and spa-like Bath.

Walk-out Lower Level includes sauna, 2nd Kitchen, full Bath and Rec Room. Sound system. 2nd floor Laundry. Hardwood floors refinished March 2013. Deeded boat dock on Sylvan/Otter Lake.

Stunning brick and limestone four story townhome located in the heart of Birmingham. The just-completed interior is distinctly elegant and beautifully appointed with a spacious floor plan and five fireplaces. Gourmet kitchen overlooks the bluestone patio. Luxurious master suite with tray ceiling and marble bath. Elevator to all four floors. Three bedrooms, four baths plus a two car attached garage.

azimmer@hallandhunter.com tglime@hallandhunter.com

cdrinkwater@hallandhunter.com

®

®

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS

Lynda Schrenk

Mona Parlove Associate Broker

Realtor

248.514.0685

248.760.6026

HallandHunter.com

Farmington Hills $1,900,000

Birmingham $1,200,000

An exceptionally rare opportunity in the City of Farmington Hills. This 10 +/– acre residential site overlooking the private Franklin Hills Country Club will accomodate the estate of your dreams. The treed, lush, quiet property is nestled between the communities of Bloomfield Township and Franklin.

Your private “up north” location, without the drive.

This 4 bedroom 4 bath home was completely renovated in 2002. Gracious foyer, gourmet kitchen with large granite center island opens to two-story great room and paver patio. Wood floors on first and second levels. Paneled library. Finished basement with fireplace, daylight window, kitchen and full bath. The extra large, private backyard is beautifully landscaped. 3 car attached garage.

Visit rockridgelot.com for more information.

SOLD

Aerial view of lot lines

Birmingham listed at $3,250,000 Exquisite home boasts quality craftsmanship and sweeping views of Quarton Lake. Gourmet kitchen.

Walnut floors and alder trim throughout. Master suite retreat with marble bath and mosaic tile floor.

Lower level has travertine floors, theatre room, wine cellar and steam shower.

®

®

442 S. Old Woodward Birmingham, MI 48009

STATE OF THE LAKES HIGHLY VALUED FOR THEIR BEAUTY AND BENEFITS

BY KEVIN ELLIOTT

M

ichigan has more than 11,000 inland lakes, supporting a recreational industry that has been valued at $15 billion per year.

Locally, inland lakes, streams, ponds and tributaries, which cover about 20 percent of Bloomfield Township and one third of the north and west Oakland lakes area, are highly valued for their beauty and benefits to the people who live and play nearby.

Living Beautifully Beyond Four Walls

, , and Staff h my n y L , n le elpful wit and h d n Dear G a l u f eer ed eing so ch k with such a talent b s y a lw a ave a to wor u all for hen you h pleasure w Thank yo t a d e o r o g g a . It is Life is yn Duffy. landscape L s a r e n esig gracious d ine to enjoy. em rst started to fi e garden lik w n e tion 5, wh since 199 as been your atten tinues d e g n a h con nt h have c ne consta e has evolved and o A lot may t u b r, e room scap ogeth my living . My land working t d m r o a r y f y w olor m ie ail in cope of c ar. The v s e o y id h c le every det a a r e k y couch o me more changing m t r h e m g v li o e r e f n d a to is view x. such joy. It nd I can enjoy the e m s ce to rela g la in p r t A b c e r. f a r e e ap ut the y garden is y m througho ; a e r e a sitting ine was th m t a h t out in the e tell m and ntinue to r ’s house o a c e y le t p s o la e at I had a it that p rden on h a t m g d g m a e t in s h t m u ll Im elco d te am. nd most w up” with pride an a t s ie tt a good te e e r k ff p a u m p “ e I think w ur and garden to om Four Seasons. I fr family for s n o s a e lot of help S our with my F g in k r o w orward to Looking f rs. many yea

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Photos © Gene Meadows

Offices in Birmingham, Oak Park and Traverse City

By Appointment 248.543.4400 fourseasonsgardencenter.com

While data from the most recent survey available of inland lakes across the country isn’t expected to be released from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for at least a year, findings from the EPA’s National Lakes Assessment survey conducted in 2007 indicate that Michigan’s inland lakes are among the best quality in the nation.

“We’ve got good lakes. We don’t have the amount of problems that some other states do,” said Mike Walterhouse, an aquatic biologist with the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ). “We have a few lakes with problems that we are trying to address, but a few of them are in the same places that have been problematic for years… we have a non-attainment list, and none of the lakes over there (in Oakland County) are on the list.” exter limnologist Wally Fusilier, who spent decades researching inland lakes throughout southeast Michigan as the owner of Water Quality Investigators, said he issued grades based on a water quality index consisting of nine different tests to every lake he surveyed.

“There are some nice lakes and some not so nice lakes, and more times than not, I don’t know why the nice lakes are nice rather than the bad lakes being bad,” Fusilier said.

“Pine Lake (in West Bloomfield) was always a nice lake, yet it had all these expensive homes around it with lots of fertilizer from lawns going into the lake, yet the only time we ever spotted any real problems was at the storm sewers. Other than that, it was pretty nice.

“Then you have Green Lake (also in West Bloomfield), which is right in that area, too,” Fusilier continued. “One year it had a horrendous algae bloom for the whole summer, and then – that’s it. It has been gone. I don’t know what caused it.”

That makes a lake far less desirable to live on and around. Pristine, transparent lakes are clearly the most desirable.

Measuring water transparency, or how far light can travel in the water, helps to determine whether suspended partials or dissolved materials are impacting the water’s clarity. The main types of suspended particles that affect clarity are algae and sediment.

Transparency readings are taken by lowering a Secchi disk, which is essentially a weighted disk suspended from a calibrated line that is lowered and raised into the specific points in a lake until the disk isn’t visible.

Secchi disk measurements across the nation have been taken each year on July 4 since 1994 in conjunction with the “Great American Secchi Dip-In,” started by Kent State University scientist Robert Carlson.

Readings are taken by scientists and

D

volunteers and include more than 7,000 different waterbodies. Fusilier said the data results from the Secchi Dip-In indicate that Michigan has some of the most pristine inland lakes in the nation in terms of water clarity.

Walterhouse said the EPA’s survey also indicates Michigan’s inland lakes are in good condition when compared to lakes across both the northern Midwest region and nation.

Researchers contributing to the EPA survey sampled a total of 1,028 lakes across the country and processed more than 600,000 measurements, including those taken at 50 different inland lakes in Michigan. Analysis of the data was conducted to look for indicators of water quality, such as nutrients, dissolved oxygen and algal density; biological health indicators, such as phytoplankton and zoo plankton, like algae and microscopic organisms; recreational use quality, including algal toxins and pathogens in the water that may be harmful to humans and wildlife; and physical habitat quality indicators, such as wildlife coverage along the lakeshore and shallow waters.

The national survey found that 56 percent of the nation’s lakes are in good biological health, with 21 percent in fair condition and 22 percent in poor biological condition.

Ratings were based on an index of phytoplankton and zooplankton taxa loss, or the percentage of taxa observed compared to those that are expected when compared to conditions at least-disturbed lakes in the nation.

The MDEQ classifies lakes based on their biological productivity, or trophic status.

Water quality samples of Michigan’s lakes have found that about 20 to 30 percent of the state’s lakes are considered high quality, or oligotrophic, lakes with low levels of phosphorous and few plants or algae, which would be able to support a cold-water species, Bindu Bhakta with Michigan State University Extension in Oakland County says in an article for the office. She said about 45 to 65 percent of the state’s lakes have moderate levels of phosphorous, plants and algae, and are considered mesotrophic, or good quality; about 15 to 22 percent of lakes in the state are considered eutrophic, with abundant phosphorous and plant; and about 4 to 5 percent are considered hypertrophic, with extremely high levels of phosphorous and excessive plants or algae.

Scientists say the length of time it takes to degrade a lake’s productivity depends upon its trophic status, depth and other factors, but typically decrease in quality rather than increase. In general, the lower the condition of the lake, the more susceptible it is to phosphorous and other nutrient pollution.

“Once you start down that slope, it’s hard

to reverse, and things are going to change pretty quick,” Walterhouse said. “Not that you are going to fill it in – ultimately what happens is that you have a lake and it’s going to turn into a swamp over thousands of years.”

Concerns raised in a recent scientific report that a harmful algae bloom – which covered about 2,000 square miles of Lake Erie in 2011 – could be the beginning of a trend associated with changing climate and land use aren’t likely to hold much water with local riparian property owners, based on the overall state of inland lakes in Michigan.

Nutrients, particularly phosphorous, may enter a lake as sewage, septic tank leachate, fertilizer runoff, soil erosion, animal wastes, and other forms. As more nutrients enter a lake, the more fertile the water body is to plant and algae growth. The rapid buildup of algae in a lake, called an algae bloom, is considered harmful if it can damage other organisms – including humans – through the production of toxins or by other means.

A report published in April 2013 by the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) called “Taken By Storm: How Heavy Rain is Worsening Algal Blooms in Lake Erie,” suggests the record-breaking algae bloom that covered much of Lake Erie nearly two years ago could be a sign of things to come, as intense storms brought about by global warming are exacerbating farm runoff and flooding waterways with an overabundance of nutrients to feed similar events in the future. ccording to the NWF’s report, the Lake Erie basin contains the largest percent of agricultural land in the Great Lakes region.

The report’s authors say that the potential for an increased nutrient load into the lake was made possible by changing land use and wetland loss, coupled with the abundance of phosphorous from farm fertilizer and animal waste. When heavy rains in the spring of 2011 created runoff from farm fields, a blast of nutrients was delivered to the lake, resulting in the historic algae bloom.

The Lake Erie bloom, which peaked in October 2011, was composed almost entirely of toxic blue-green microcystis algae.

Concentrations of mycrocystin, a liver toxin produced by the algae, peaked at about 224 times World Health Organization guidelines, researchers said.

MDEQ's Walterhouse said that while there has been an increase of harmful algae blooms in Michigan in recent years, there haven’t been any related deaths of people or animals, although there have been in other states with shallower lakes and high phosphorous concentrations, such as Ohio.

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06.13

“They are having big-time issues with it, to the point where it’s some pretty scary stuff,” he said. “We have seen it in a few lakes, but nothing like other states are.”

Although high levels of nutrients in lake water may spur algae, Fusilier said there weren’t any recorded spikes in nutrient concentrations in Green Lake during the year the algae bloom occurred. In general, nutrient concentration levels and overall water quality doesn’t tend to change dramatically over longer periods of time.

“Something else changes,” Fusilier said, of the anomalous condition. “I don’t know what that is, and I don’t think anybody else does either.”

Walterhouse said that zebra mussels – a filter-feeding invasive species of mollusk that has infested the Great Lakes and the region’s inland lakes – take in toxic algae during the feeding process, but don’t eat it. Instead, zebra mussels are able to recycle harmful algae back into the water.

“So, they clean up the water,” he said, “but they don’t do us any favors with the harmful algae blooms with cyano bacteria.”

Zebra mussel infestations in many of the state’s lakes may be responsible for some increases in water clarity. The small mollusks attach themselves to hard, submerged

surfaces where they take in water and filter out algae as food, excreting their waste as sediment. A single zebra mussel is capable of filtering about a liter of water each day.

“Zebra mussels changed the game for a lot of lakes. They really filtered a lot of things out, which really isn’t good for the rest of the myoba out there,” Walterhouse said.

“Basically, they are competing for the bottom of the food chain, which is the basis for building fish communities and everything else. But it makes clear water.” he EPA has a national survey listing the top 10 “stressors,” which may include anything from pollutants entering a lake to drawing down a lake’s level. Jane Herbert, with the MSU Extension office in Kalamazoo, said one key to reducing stressors is to make sure lakefront property owners are aware of actions that could be hurting a lake.

Among the top stressors listed by the EPA are loss of lakeshore habitat; deterioration of shallow water habitat; poor physical habitat complexity; and human disturbances.

Development of shoreline property, as well as redevelopment which changes the natural habitat at the edge of the lake, has been “sort of a continual assault” over the past 40 or 50 years, Herbert said. In order to educate

T

Chemical application permits As of May 15, a total of 470 permit applications were requested this year to conduct aquatic nuisance control activities in Oakland County. Of those, 380 chemical application permits were issued by the department, with one request withdrawn by the applicant and the remainder not yet through the water bureau’s review process.

Permit requests to chemically treat lakes, ponds and other water bodies in west Oakland County and the Birmingham/Bloomfield area are typically made by lake improvement boards, homeowner associations, special assessment districts, local municipalities and individuals. Some local lakes and 2013 permit applicants listed in the MDEQ’s database included: Bogie Lake, Bogie Lake Canal Homeowners.

Brendel Lake, Lakewood Village HOA. Carroll Lake (Area 2), Carroll Lake Area 2 Homeowners.

Cass Lake, Aquatic Management Services Inc. Cedar Island Lake, Aquatic Management Services, Inc. Cedar Island Lake, Cedar Island Burgess Bay SAD. Cedar Island Lake, Cedar Island Stopke Bay SAD. Cedar Island Lake, Coledale Bay SAD. Cedar Island Lake, Degrand Bay Property Owners.

Cedar Island Lake, Golden Shores HOA. Chalmers Lake, Woodcrest Farms HOA. Cranberry Lake, Equity Life Styles.

Cranberry Lake, Lakepro, Inc. Crescent Lake, Aquatic Services Inc. Elizabeth Lake, PLM Lake & Land Management Corp.

Flanders Lake, Flanders Lake Estates Association.

Forest Lake, Forest Lake Canal SAD. Fox Lake, Commerce Township.

Fox Lake, Commerce Township.

Gilbert Lake, Gilbert Lake Protective Association.

Green Lake, Green Lake Association.

Kirkwood Lake, Kirkwood Lake Preservation Association.

property owners about healthy habitats, she said the office will be launching a webinar program titled, “Introduction to Lakes,” which will be geared toward lakefront property owners and local municipalities.

MSU Extension recommends lakefront property owners, lake associations and local governments support setbacks and overlay zones that preserve natural shoreline and wetland areas that remain on a lake.

Shorelines that are fully developed may include a shoreline demonstration area for public or private frontage and educating neighbors on the benefits of natural shorelines to lake health.

Walterhouse said the MDEQ is also making efforts to encourage natural habitat in shoreline construction or redevelopment by providing sample ordinances to some local governments, as well as taking steps to reduce nutrients and limit other threats to lake quality.

“Basically, there are too many sea walls going in and interfering with all the biological processes that happen along the shoreline, not just for fish, but for mammals, amphibians, reptiles and everything else that uses that important edge area,” he said. “We have staff now that are trying to get people more interested in using native vegetation

Lake Ona, Lake Ona Home Owners Association.

Lake Sherwood, Lake Sherwood Association, Inc. Long Lake, Long Lake Property Owners Association.

Lotus Lake, Lake Forest Estates, Inc. Lower Straits Lake, Commerce Township.

Meadow Lake, Meadow Lake Farms Civic Association.

Minnow Lake, Hills of Lone Pine Association.

Mirror Lake, HIllpointe On Mirror Lake COA Neva Lake, Lakewood Village HOA. North Commerce Lake, Lisa Brandt.

Orange Lake, Orange Lake Improvement Board.

Oxbow Lake, Oxbow Lake-Danforth Homeowners.

Oxbow Lake, Oxbow Lake Syndicate.

Pleasant Lake, Eagles Landing HOA. Pontiac Lake, Pontiac Lake Weed Harvesting Company.

Reed Lake, Commerce Township.

Round Lake, Round Lake Lake Board.

Sodon Lake, Sodon Lake HOA. South Commerce Lake, Michael D. Marra.

Square Lake, Disappearing Lake Association.

Tull Lake 1, Twin Lake Improvement Board.

Tull Lake 2, Twin Lake Improvement Board.

Upper Lake Sherwood, Sherwood Farms Condominium Association.

Upper Long Lake, Upper Long Lake Board.

Upper Straits Lake, Joyce Cook.

Upper Straits Lake, RC Bankers Sandy Beach Association.

Vhay Lake, Vhay Lake Property Owners Association.

Wabeek Lake, Wabeek Lake SAD. Walled Lake, Savin Lake Services, Inc. Walnut Lake, Bloomfield Square Lake Association.

White Lake, White Lake Citizens League.

Wing Lake, Wing Lake Inc. Wolverine Lake, Village of Wolverine Lake.

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DOWNTOWN

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and things like that, instead of sea walls. We are still trying to control erosion – instead of coming in with a truck load of concrete or steel pile and driving it down, (we encourage) them to actually use some rocks here and there, and just vegetation to buffer the shoreline from wave energy.”

In addition to preventing soil erosion, natural vegetation helps to filter pollutants out of rainwater runoff before it enters a lake.

Other entities, such as the Michigan Natural Shoreline Partnership, offers contractors a certificate to participate in a training course focusing on the use of natural habitat in construction. The DEQ said a recent ban on phosphorous in fertilizer and legislation restricting the use of nutrients in dishwasher detergents should help quality.

In addition to zebra mussels, other invasive aquatic species of animals and plants remain a concern, as native and non-native species fight for control. Attempts to eradicate one nuisance species can sometimes have negative impacts by inviting another.

“Ideally, you kill that invasive stuff off and the hope is usually to get some more native vegetation back in there. That’s our hope,” Walterhouse said. “A lot of lakeshore owners just assume there were no weeds out there at all. That’s why we have a whole group of people here issuing weed control permits.”

While the health and productivity of a lake is an area of concern for scientists, general

thoughts on lake quality may be more subjective.

“It depends on your point of view,” Fusilier said. “If you’re a fisherman, then you’ll want a more productive lake because you’ll have more fish. If you’re a boater, a sailor, or a jet skier, then you don’t want a very productive lake because you’ll have too many weeds and things like that. So, it really depends on your point of view on the lake. Certainly, good lakes have people who want to live on them, and poor quality lakes have people that want to live on them. And lakes like acid lakes, even though there’s nothing living in them, people still think they’re neat lakes because nothing will grow in them so they are plant free, so they’re just sparkly lakes.” he MDEQ regulates the chemical control of certain aquatic nuisance species when they impair the use or enjoyment of the water. The use of aquatic herbicides usually requires a permit from the department’s aquatic nuisance control program, particularly when targeting species in inland lakes, ponds, streams, wetlands and other areas where there is standing water at the time of treatment.

Aquatic species may include various forms of algae, such as chara; submerged plants, such as pond weeds and milfoils that are located underwater; floating-leaf plants, such as lilies; and emergent plants, such as cattails rushes.

Regardless of reports and testing, Fusilier

T

said he imagines that lake quality will deteriorate over a longer span of time for inland lakes.

“I can’t make a blanket statement to say lakes are getting better, but my guess is that they’re gradually going to get worse,” he stated. “For example, I used to swim in Maceday Lake back when I was in high school – back in the fifties – and that was a nice lake with no weeds or anything. Certainly, it’s got more weeds and everything now, but that’s a long period of time.”

Controlling weeds, he said, can be tricky. If too much vegetation is lost, he said, it’s possible to attract algae. If an herbicide treatment kills all the weak plants and not stronger aquatic plants, soon you’re going to have a plant you won’t be able to control at all, he said.

“A lot of times, when you kill aquatic plants, the nutrients are still there, so you get an algae bloom. Sometimes they will use copper sulfate to kill the algae, but that’s only effective for a couple of days, then it goes right back. I know one lake in Oakland County that was using copper sulfate about 13 times during the summer, and it really has a poor water quality because of it. I don’t usually describe a lake as a yucky lake, but that was a yucky lake. The people wouldn’t even use the lake. They wouldn’t even look at the lake or walk along the shoes or anything because it was in such bad shape.”

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37

FACES See Jane Rock

A

t the age of fifteen, singer Sydney Taylor and drummer Mia Paige of See Jane Rock have opened for the Temptations and the Four Tops at Motown's 50th anniversary. Though they are only freshman at Andover, these twin sisters have dreams bigger than just heading to college.

“We were born here in Michigan and we pretty much grew up here all our lives. My dad was in a band when we were born. Basically, the day we came home from the hospital he was with his band,” Sydney said.

Sydney and Mia spent most of their youth following in their father's footsteps and playing in talent shows. “We used to come downstairs and just watch him play and that's kind of how we got inspired,” Mia said.

The freshmen at Andover balance their time between recording songs and going to school. “I just like going to school. I think it's fun to be able to accomplish all the work that you do,” Sydney said. They try to record most of their music during school breaks or long weekends.

Around the age of nine or ten, guitarist Chase Chappell joined the band. “We had a friend who lived down the street in first grade and she played with us for a little while. Finally we put an ad in the newspaper and we got Chase on the guitar,” Sydney said.

See Jane Rock's music is a combination of pop, rock, and Motown soul, with Sydney writing a majority of the songs herself.

The girls have been recording with Atlanta-based producer Johnny Andrews. “He heard us and basically donated his time because he believed in the girls so much,” their dad Mark Schmier said.

They are working on releasing their first album and will be traveling to New York to work with manager Rick Smith.

“Basically we're trying to figure out what songs we're going to put on the album,” Sydney said.

Mia said her proudest moment was opening for the Temptations and the Four Tops at DTE in 2008. “We were playing in front of 10 to 15 thousand people. At first I thought I was going to fall off the stage from seeing all those people, but the second time it came around (in 2009), it was amazing.”

See Jane Rock has been featured on the Mitch Albom Radio Show and has performed at Universal Studios, Detroit River Days, Tiger Stadium and many other local venues.

The Bloomfield Hills twins are very supportive of the anti-bullying movement Defeat the Label. “The song we're doing a music video for (Sing It) is mainly about doing what you believe in and feel right doing,” Sydney said.

The band is currently comprised of five members, including Chase Chappell on the guitar, Andrew Schachinger on keyboard and Randy Martin on bass.

“I really want to go on tour, that's one of my biggest things. I think it would be so fun and I really want to experience that,” Sydney said.

Looking towards the future, both Sydney and Mia plan on attending college to study music.

“It's insane to think about doing something besides music as a future career,” Sydney said. “There's really no way I could think of anything different. It's just a part of me.”

Story: Hayley Beitman

Photo: Lians Jadan

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Extra-ordinary 1920’s French Country Stucco Tudor... ...perfectly positioned on one of Birmingham’s most prestigious streets. Features include: spacious and open light filled floor plan, hardwood floors, charming moldings, doors, Pewabic tile, beamed ceilings, nook and crannies; updated “cooks kitchen” with Sub-Zero, double stainless steel ovens, granite counters; updated baths, windows and expertly maintained. Stunning landscaping, stone patio, cascading waterfall and circular stone drive. $1,000,000 (213042414)

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Cul-de-sac lot on a .84 acre private wooded setting in Northville. Four staircases, five fireplaces, Shoenbeck crystal chandeliers, custom Bertch cabinetry, two-story great room, spacious family room off kitchen with exposed beams and cathedral ceiling, executive study with judges paneling and coffered ceiling, first floor master bedroom, phenomenal finished lower level with media room (2009), new bar (2008), game room, wine cellar, extra room, craft room, second office, 2x6 construction, Pella windows, indoor pool and spa, new roof tear-off (2010). WOW! $1,600,000 (213030713)

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The most incredible equestrian compound... ...in southeastern Michigan, situated on 49.07 acres halfway between Ann Arbor and Plymouth. The main house is a custom, Frank Lloyd Wright inspired executive home with more than 7,000 square feet of living space on 14.33 acres with its own sidwell. The barn has a 2,400 square foot “caretaker’s cottage”, a 2,500 square foot party room, 11 horse stalls, and parking for eight cars. No expense has been spared and this cannot be duplicated. $2,500,000 (213009329)

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Brownstone style townhouse... ...in downtown Birmingham. High-end finish detail. 9’ ceilings, 8’ doors (1st level), wood floors, balcony off kitchen, two-car attached garage. Kitchen with granite, wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, finished lower level with fireplace, bath, wet bar and storage. $999,000 (213041068)

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Charming 1930’s Connecticut... ...Colonial situated on a beautifully landscaped .5 acre lot in one of Birmingham’s finest areas. Extraordinary quality and vintage decorative elements. Exposed hardwood flooring, custom moldings, updated kitchen. Spacious pine-paneled library with cathedral ceiling and fireplace. Lovely threeseason porch overlooks slate patio and gardens. 1339 square feet of lower level living space. Pride of ownership is evident in this wonderful home. $975,000 (213021282)

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Experience this fabulous... ...1951 built Gutsey home, plaster walls, plaster moldings, spacious rooms with exquisite details. The best of the foyers in the village - two story! Landscaping to take your breath away. You must see this home! $969,000 (213027703)

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Live an exceptional way... ...in this Rochester mansion. 4800+ square feet of luxury and still time to pick some of your finishes. Expand even further in the walk out lower level that has been prepped for your plans. Hand hewn curved railings, sculped niches, private library, several fireplaces, substancial columns and crown trim build ups, and old world craftsmanship applied to the stone and wood will leave a breathless impression. $800,000 (31141079)

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The pool is open... ...and ready for summer! Live your dream vacation yearround. Gorgeous California Class ranch on 1.23 secluded acres. Enjoy your home/private resort and lounge by the pool and spa, then wander through the wooded path to Walnut Lake. Award-winning Bloomfield Hills Schools. Bonus workout/fifth bedroom on lower level. Call Lorraine for attributes too numerous to mention. $675,000 (213039424)

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Lovely Bloomfield Village classic The moment you enter you will feel the warmth and coziness of this five bedroom home. Enjoy casual entertaining in the extra large eating area/family room open to the kitchen overlooking the large fenced yard. Three door walls are ideal for keeping an eye on the kids playing or ease of summer patio parties. Guests can also enjoy a formal atmosphere in the generous living and formal dining rooms. Finished lower level. Updated baths and kitchen. $665,000 (213025560)

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Absolutely stunning and sophisticated... ...East Oak River home with award-winning Troy Schools.

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Pending

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Newer Bloomfield gem!

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Gracious Franklin Colonial... ...with 5000+ square feet! Each room is more impressive than the last. Dramatic room sizes with great layout and flow. Beautiful hardwood floors and floor to ceiling windows. Fabulous master suite with his and her walk-in closets. Hers with dressing room and marble vanity. Guest suite with walk-thru closet and full bath. Views from across the back of private professionally landscaped yard and expansive deck. $624,000 (213044950)

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Custom built mid-century modern... ...perfectly located on Wing Lake. Stunning east facing lot with lovely walkways, gardens, patio, decking and screened gazebo. Updated kitchen with granite counters, dramatic volume ceiling living room with gorgeous views, cozy den, amazing walk-out with second kitchen, first floor laundry, and tons of possibilities. Must see this special home. $585,000 (213044276)

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Beautiful custom built... ...Bloomfield Colonial with Birmingham Schools. Soaring ceilings from grand foyer through living room. Extra large custom windows for great views and natural lighting. Formal dining room. Eat-in kitchen with granite and hardwood floors, opens to family room. Currently has two bedrooms with upstairs den, which may be converted back to third bedroom. Full-sized finished lower level with tall ceiling and many storage closets. $574,900 (213034780)

Heathers Stratford model... ...largest units in Heathers-wonderfully updated overlooking lake and eighth tee. Granite kitchen, marble foyer, quality throughout. Two-way fireplace separates dining and living rooms. Master with cathedral ceilings and fireplace.

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O

mar Jon Ajluni grew up surrounded by music. He honed his talents as a composer and sound designer while living in New York and has recently moved back to Michigan to create music in Detroit.

“I was sort of out of the womb with music. When my mother was pregnant with me she had an inclination at an estate sale to purchase a piano, and that turned out to be the vehicle that allowed me to begin my journey as a composer,” he said.

Ajluni attended Bloomfield Hills Middle School, and Lahser and Model high schools, where he found himself constantly making music.

“I was always doing it. In school, I was doing it on lunch breaks. In the cafeteria, kids would have me play anything on the piano. They knew I was able to play anything I heard. They'd say 'play Mario Brothers or Jurassic Park or Star Wars' and I was able to do that sort of instantly,” he said. “A lot of my early education in music was my ear. I had perfect pitch.”

After high school, Ajluni moved to Chicago to attend DePaul's School of Music and transferred to Berklee College of Music in Boston, where his compositions changed the political landscape of the college. “I left both institutions with some serious creative differences, but I did amazing things. I was at Berklee for 12 weeks and opened up a new electronic department, of which I was asked to co-lead the next semester as a freshman.”

Young, eager and inspired, Ajluni moved to New York and composed music for film, video games, fine arts, fashion and commercial media. “I had to stay busy and create. This was a time of study.”

One of his arrangements was featured on FOX's So You Think You Can Dance. “You can hear my strings in there, they're all dancing to it,” he said. He also composed the score for the documentary One: The Movie.

His first “proper” introduction to the industry was working with composer Michael Montes of Sacred Noise, a well-known music house in New York.

“I was getting really nerdy and creating my own sounds from scratch.

One of the sounds I titled 'Salvadoria',” he said. He used the sound name to create Salvadoria, LLC. “What was at one time a project title and sound ended up being the place where I make music.”

With New York becoming too noisy, expensive and saturated for his ambitions, Ajluni moved back to Michigan about a year ago. “I came back to Detroit to get some space, to start putting money back into my business and growing it. I can do my work from anywhere.”

Ajluni lives in Detroit's Eastern Market and visits Bloomfield Hills often to see his supportive family. “I like the suburbs. It's nice, familiar, nostalgic,” he said.

“As a composer, I want to be able to make art that benefits or showcases the city. I want to work with talented directors,” he said. “I like to take commissions and produce music for events like the Linda Dresner fashion show. Events like that, I want to be a part of.”

Ajluni also hopes to begin performing again. “I had a really low profile in New York and since I moved back, but I guess you could say I'm starting to break out of my shell.”

Story: Hayley Beitman

Photo: Andreas Joseph

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◊

CYBER POLICIES

HOW SCHOOLS HANDLE THE WIRED GENERATION

BY LISA BRODY

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ith every touch of a letter on a keypad, whether its on a desktop computer, a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, you're leaving an indelible impression out in the netherlands of the technological world – in the 'cloud'. It's called your digital footprint, and unlike a permanent marker, or a school's permanent record, this one really, truly, never goes away.

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528 COVINGTON - $827,900 Classic Bloomfield Village Tudor! Spacious, charming with an open floor plan into large gourmet kitchen with granite and sunny breakfast room. Extensive hardwoods main and under some carpets upstairs. Finished lower level with nanny suite.

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4889 WEST BLOOMFIELD LAKE RD - $550,000 Wonderful Georgian Colonial sitting on a hill with over an acre of well manicured grounds! Gracious circular marble foyer, first floor master bedroom suite with fireplace and exceptional bath. Cherry library. Gourmet Island Kitchen.

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Distinctive Quality. Reputation for Excellence.

Just ask a celebrity, like Kim Kardashian or Pamela Anderson, whose sex tapes are perpetually on rewind on the Internet. While they may not mind that their digital footprint lasts a lifetime, for parents, it's a very scary proposition. Our kids are wired in and connected to the world in ways that are difficult for some of us to imagine, and complicated and exhausting for educators to keep up with.

In a world of texting, sexting, Twitter, Facebook, Foursquare, Google Plus, online gaming, Google, and a cyber world changing at millisecond speed, how are schools supposed to develop policies to keep up? As adults, we recognize that we need to protect our children from abuses and predators, but we also recognize that this is an arena where we are behind the eight ball, and the younger generation is propped holding the pool cue. everal local schools, both public and private, were hesitant to respond to this story, partially it seems because they have not updated their cyber policies to match current headlines.

Once, just decreeing that no cell phones were allowed in school was sufficient. Many still prohibit cell phone use, including texting, in class. But that was before Columbine and Newtown, before cell phones became smart phones and in Birmingham and Bloomfield area schools, practically ubiquitous amongst students.

Now, both safety and practicality dictate that there is a cell phone, more likely an iPhone or Android, in every student's pocket or school bag.

In addition, many students also have a laptop, tablet, or Kindle stowed away in their backpack, as well, providing them constant access to the Internet and information.

“Ten years ago, a typical kid in this area would have a laptop, but no Internet connection.

Maybe a boy would play games on it, or they would use Word to write papers on it,” John Birney, president of Brother Rice High School noted. “Now, they all have a smartphone with email and Internet access. They can Google the answer while the teacher is asking the question.

They're on Twitter and Facebook. They have cameras that can record everything. You have this extraordinary piece of equipment in your hand.

“Before Columbine in 1999, phones were prohibited in schools, but since then, and especially since Newtown (in December 2012), for everyone's safety, for navigation, you name it, a child must have at least one device,” Birney continued. “Our kids tend to have a smartphone and something else. I'd say 75 to 90 percent have their own laptop, smartphone, tablet or Kindle. They have the ability to access the Internet, play games. Can you really do justice to a student if you're not utilizing these tools?

You have to find a way to blend in these tools by using these tools in a quasi regular basis. I really question a school who says they're a computer free zone.”

“Cyber policies is an interesting term,” acknowledged Alex Noordhoorn, director of network services for Bloomfield Hills Schools.

“We've all had computers in our schools since the late '80s. We used to call the policies 'acceptable use policies.' Our district is rewriting

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them for next school year, there have been so many changes. I think the biggest difference we're really addressing is the rise in social media, which did not exist before, and the constant online access the students have with smartphones. Five years ago, that was outside the realm of possibility.”

Noordhoorn said student cell phones are not permitted in the district's elementary schools, and that middle school and high school students are allowed to bring them into the buildings.

“They are generally allowed if they are used respectfully,” he said. “They're not allowed to be used while teachers are teaching, but students are allowed to use them between periods and outside of the building. It varies from (school) building to building, depending upon the administrator.”

When smartphones first became popular, there was an initial concern nationwide amongst educators about photographs of tests, texting of answers to other students, and other cheating and plagiarism issues. Noordhoorn said Bloomfield Hills Schools has worked its way around the issue by doing a lot of testing directly on computers, and timing the tests, “so that it doesn't happen as much as it once did.

“We found when cell phones first came around, there was a bit of a problem,” he acknowledged. “But teachers have adapted.

Now they time tests. Assessments have changed. There are less quizzes, which can be a problem, and more projects done in class.”

Birney said that respecting the technology, and the student, is key. “If you have a child who is untrustworthy, the Internet can be very dangerous. If you have a child who is trustworthy, with good values, the Internet is a wonderful thing, with wonderful opportunities.

A student may turn to YouTube, for example, to figure something out. That's fantastic. A teacher who draws a line in the sand is going to be very unhappy.”

Noordhoorn said right now Bloomfield Hills' cyber policies are written to the student's grade level, allowing the same policy to follow the student from kindergarten through 12th grade.

The most significant change in their district's policy, he noted, is where the emphasis on the policy is placed. “Before the policy was written from the point of view of the computer – don't damage the computer; don't eat or drink near the computer, etc. Now, we've recognized we needed a broader policy. Kids are bringing in their devices from home, and they have way more wireless devices, so we have to view it from the student's point of view. We reiterate the importance of being a responsible citizen of the Internet, and how they have to be able to relate back to the code of student conduct. We're tying them together more cohesively in order to integrate them together. They previously had been written at different times. Now, we're formulating them together, understanding that the code of student conduct is always a living document that has to be updated frequently.

“We're bringing the acceptable use document up to line and referring to changes that are necessary to make to make it more up to date in this area,” he said.

Birmingham Public Schools district spokesperson Marcia Wilkinson said that all

students and staff must sign the schools' Technology Acceptable Use Form, which acknowledges they have read the technology code of ethics and agree to be responsible.

“Two years ago, we put in a complete WiFi system in all our buildings and instructional spaces, and a guest network, which allows students to bring in their devices and sign in and use their devices at school,” said Dr. Joseph Hoffman, assistant superintendent for instruction for Birmingham Schools. He noted the system is closely monitored with Internet filtering to make sure students only get to appropriate Internet sites.

“This fits in with our 21st century learning because we did it for instructional purposes,” Hoffman noted. “As students bring in their devices, teachers can utilize them to go beyond the school's four walls. It really opens the school's walls and provides access to the resources of the whole world. When we were students, we would go to the library and get a book that was 10 years old. Today, students have access to primary sources.”

Kevin Galbraith, Birmingham Schools executive director for information and technology, said, “I think it's changed, too, how media centers are used. Media specialists are trained to help students to be moved to be critical thinkers. They also help them narrow their searches from wide ranges.” offman said that they encourage visits to certain social media sites, but not all. “Facebook is blocked in the district, but Wikis and blogs are available, and used quite a bit in our education in order for students to access and publish their work. We believe they enrich students' education. We also feel it's important to provide good modeling of social media behavior.”

Birmingham Schools encourage students to bring their own devices to school, whether it's their smartphone, laptop, iPad, or other device.

Galbraith said, “In a typical 24-hour period on our entire guest network, there were 3,200 nondistrict owned devices visiting across the district.”

Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Brother Rice’s approaches to the use of technology in school show how policies and implementation are still evolving.

“All teachers are trying to figure this out, and we're still in flux,” Birney pointed out. “I'd be stunned if any teachers have figured it out. As a teacher you have to find a way to make technology your friend, so learning is enhanced versus impeded, rather than being distracted by it. As a teacher, it's looking at it and asking, how do I ensure when I'm teaching that I am being effective? With 21st century education, that says that learning is much more collaborative, and the computers are right there as part of it – they must be. Teachers who stand up in front of a class and lecture for 45 minutes are dinosaurs, and any schools not utilizing technology regularly as part of their curriculum is falling behind.”

“Girls and boys have different perspectives of social media. In middle school, boys are using it for gaming; girls are using it for social means,” pointed out Julie Bianchi, middle school director

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at Detroit Country Day School, who recently held a three-day middle school digital footprint program to get out in front of the issue with both students and parents. She said the first day focused on the positive aspects of the digital world. “It's not going away for kids – it's going to keep growing,” she asserted. Subsequent days emphasized the hurdles and dangers, and included a visit from the Oakland County Sheriff's office, who discussed online safety, cyber postings, inappropriate postings, such as sexting, and cyberbullying.

“The emphasis in the school is stressing the importance of how it is never going away,” said Detroit Country Day Chief Academic Officer and Upper School Director Tim Bearden. “Kids don't want to think about that or recognize it. Instead of the computer shut down of 'control, alt, delete', we use the phrase 'control, alt, think', to emphasize to always think about what you are thinking about and posting.”

“They have to keep hearing it. It's like eating your vegetables,” said Bianchi.

While cell phones are permitted in the Upper School or Middle School building, they are not supposed to be on in a classroom “unless a teacher is using it for a purpose, like accessing it for information gathering or as an information tool,” Bearden said. Bianchi pointed out that sometimes apps are utilized, “like a pedometer in phys ed to gauge a workout.”

Bearden said that Detroit Country Day's cyber policy underlines the importance that a graduate should be technologically and informationally literate. “They overlap across the curriculum.

Teachers force students to gather information

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and share that information technologically in a secure environment. We model the behavior in order for them to publish their work in a positive manner – so they can access Twitter in a way that is positive, to follow people who they would never have been able to gather information from otherwise.”

“When someone goes to Google you in ten years to hire you, let it be good,” Bianchi said.

“Let them see the good you've done for the community.”

In dealing with students, faculty often feels outmanned and out-of-step with tech savvy students. “I tell our educators that even though we don't know as much technology as the student, we have to develop a sense of competency, or we risk losing credibility with them, especially if we force them to do things that they know aren't as efficient as they know how to do them,” Bearden said. earden points out a significant generational misconception. “One of the things that is interesting is we always think this generation doesn't write a lot or communicate, but actually, these kids publish more than any generation in history – it's just via Twitter, Facebook, e-mail and texts,” he said. “They're writing an awful lot of stuff, and disclosing a lot about themselves. Their lives are an open book.

Adults will say kids don't communicate, but there's been a shift from face to face in the way they communicate. The diary is out there, on Twitter and Facebook. They'll put on Facebook things they would not say face to face. Our job is working with them to understand that's

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publishing – and it's permanent. It's creating an understanding of the cyberworld of how it's interpreted or misinterpreted, depending on the audience.

A school which has traditionally chosen to not utilize technology for individual students is Cranbrook Schools, at least at their Upper School level, preferring a collaborative approach with Smartboard white boards which can then be downloaded onto websites and accessed later by students, despite advances with individual technological devices and students' personal access to them. It is unclear if that is still Cranbrook's approach, as they declined to be interviewed for this story; instead, their Director of Communications Clay Matthews provided a statement which reads, in part, “Cranbrook Schools is in the process of examining its technology use policies, and is broadening its technology committee for the coming school year...the committee will evaluate policies that deal with schools and the every-changing social media landscape, as well continue the conversation on the use of contemporary technology in the curriculum.”

Matthews stated that cell phone use, including texting, by students is only permitted at the Upper School, and only when students are not in class.

“Our students can have cell phones with them, but they must be turned off and not using them during class. While we do not have any limits on our access to the Internet at Roeper, students must sign an acceptable use policy which outlines what they may or may not do. If they misuse the network or the Internet, they will

65

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no longer be granted access,” Carrie Hammers, communications director of Roeper Schools, said.

“We begin to talk about student's cyber footprint at the elementary level – that what you put out there is forever. That message continues throughout our different levels. Ultimately, we feel that it is important to teach responsibility to the students. We talk in classes about the dangers that exist and how to make good choices. We monitor the students' network/Internet use as much as possible.”

She explained that in school, students are not allowed to play online games or to go to various sites. “They're only allowed to access websites for school uses. We actually don't have as many issues with it as parents do at home.”

In Roeper's Acceptable Use Policy, students learn they can go to The Roeper School public and community web sites; can utilize e-mail with people from all over the world; can access information and news from media and governmental sources; go to public domain software and shareware of all types; enter discussion groups on a virtually unlimited number of topics; and gain access to many local and university library catalogs, as well as the Library of Congress, for research purposes. They may use their own devices on the school's wireless network.

While they acknowledge that there is inappropriate material on the Internet and it's next to impossible to control that, their policy reads: “Roeper firmly believes that the valuable information and interaction available on this worldwide network far outweighs the possibility that users may procure material that is not

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consistent with the educational goals of the school. As with other aspects of school life, students are expected to act responsibly and make principled choices with this freedom and privilege,” recognizing that students will go to the Internet, and providing them the independence and responsibility to utilize it appropriately.

On the converse, there are expected ethics and “netiquette” required by users. Appropriate language is expected, whether in e-mail, texting, Twitter, Facebook, or other communicative formats.

“In other words, do not harass, insult, bully, threaten or attack others.”

Illegal activities are prohibited. They also do not want information transmitted which could identify themselves or other students or staff – ie, no last names, addresses, or phone numbers.

They also make clear to students that e-mail is not guaranteed to be private, and any messages relating to, or supporting illegal activities can be reported to school administrators and/or legal authorities. hese are wise and important tips for more than just school use. Research shows that kids are increasingly targets of predators of all sorts, including for identity theft. In 2012, the number of identity theft victims reached 12.6 million, an increase of 1 million from 2011, and according to the AllClear ID 2012 Child Identity Theft Report, approximately one in every 40 households with young children are currently affected.

“Criminals target children because kids have clean credit records and the theft can go

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undetected for years,” said Robert Chappell, a Virginia state police officer and author of “Child Identity Theft: What Every Parent Needs to Know”. He pointed out that the Federal Trade Commission “consistently states that children are 6 percent of America's identity theft victims. This means that more than 700,000 children were victimized last year.”

A key tip Chappell gives is not to reveal personal information on social media sites.

That includes gaming sites. Kids with gaming systems connected to the Internet often play against unknown opponents, or on mobile game apps on smartphones. Experts warn that predators and crooks looking to defraud players can lure in unsuspecting gamers, and GPS devices on smartphones, which encourage users to “check in” can unintentionally telegraph their whereabouts to the world.

That doesn't mean taking away the devices altogether. After all, kids have been raised with them, and they're not going anywhere.

“We have to meet the kids where they are.

They're not coming to meet us halfway,” Detroit Country Day's Bianchi noted. “They're 'screenagers', because they've grown up on screens.”

Brother Rice's Birney agreed. “The clear direction, either grudgingly or not, is to find a way to blend these tools into education. The only way to engage these students in this society is to utilize these tools. Any white collar parent who doesn't want their child to use these tools is being contradictory because you still need to gain their interest.”

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FACES

Laurie Tennent

L

aurie Tennent is an internationally-recognized photographer specializing in wedding photography who has traveled around the world shooting photographs while maintaining her business in Birmingham for over 25 years. One of her most cherished achievements, a series of oversized botanical portraits, will soon make their way to various indoor and outdoor locations across Michigan.

Bloomfield Hills resident Tennent received her first camera from her dad, who is the former entertainment critic for The Detroit News.

“I was going to graduate early and go into marine biology, I was really into that, and I got in an accident and was stung by a man o'war and found out I'm allergic to everything in the ocean,” she said. “They said you need to come back to school for another semester so I did and took all art classes.”

She became immersed in art at Seaholm High School, even taking supplementary photography classes at Groves, then attended Center for Creative Studies to study fine art photography. “A lot of my work is very organic and specimen-like, which I think comes from that early interest in science and biology,” she said. “I worked all through college as a waitress and a bartender, and I call that my minor degree in psychology.”

Tennent went to work for a portrait studio, conducted workshops at the BBAC, and taught private lessons, which she continues to do. “I went to work at the Rubiner Gallery and really learned from there how to get your work in galleries. I learned the business side of being an artist.”

Working in a gallery in Paris for three months, Tennent discovered her love of travel. Upon returning to Michigan, she opened Eton Street Gallery

and moved the business to various locations in Birmingham before settling as Laurie Tennent Studio.

“I've basically had my business in and around Birmingham but I love the Rail District,” she said. “There are two aspects to the business, fine art and artwork that I do and commercial work, which includes weddings, portraits and events,” she said. Tennent has traveled everywhere from Italy to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico photographing weddings.

“Two things I love are photographing and traveling.” In trying to figure out how to combine both passions, Tennent came up with the idea to photograph botanical gardens and create oversized portraits to permanently display in nature.

“ArtPrize was kind of the launch of this concept,” she said. “I worked with a company to print them on aluminum so they can be outside all year long, hence the show that's going to be at Planterra and the Robert Kidd Gallery.”

Cranbrook House and Gardens will also host Tennent's botanical portraits early next year.

A portion of the proceeds from a show at Planterra on June 17 will go to CCS to benefit student supplies and projects. The show will also honor her mother, an artist and CCS alum.

“She was a big influence. She is in the end stages of dementia at 71 years old and June 17 is her birthday,” Tennent said. “For me, it's very much about my mother and how important it is that she exposed us to a lot of art and culture when we were young.”

Story: Hayley Beitman

Photo: Ben Scheiwe

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP Dispatch service committee formed

License transfer approved on appeal

By Lisa Brody

By Lisa Brody

The establishment of a subcommittee, which includes commissioners Mike Dul and Stuart Sherr, to review dispatch service options was approved at the Bloomfield Hills City Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 14, by a vote of 3-1, with mayor Sarah McClure dissenting and commissioner Mike Zambricki not present for the discussion or vote.

The discussion regarding the city's dispatch services came up following a letter city manager Jay Cravens received on Thursday, May 9, from Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie, regarding consolidating dispatch services. “I think it's important not to ignore Savoie's letter.

We owe it to our taxpayers to at least explore four options, and we can look at others,” Cravens told commissioners at their meeting.

Cravens noted that besides Bloomfield Township, Birmingham has also expressed an interest in sharing dispatch services. Another option would be to do nothing, leaving all operations as is. The city could explore consolidation with other Oakland County communities; they could talk with neighboring Troy; and the city could discuss dispatch sharing with the Oakland County Sheriff's Office, which provides services for several Oakland County municipalities, Cravens noted.

Savoie wrote in his letter to Cravens that the township needs to hire two new dispatchers in the next two months. “If the city and township were to consolidate dispatching services, we would hire two of your dispatchers and then handle all of Bloomfield Hills' dispatching services,” Savoie wrote.

Savoie said that while specifics would still need to be worked out, he anticipates the fee charged to Bloomfield Hills would be $125,000 per year for dispatching services, with an increase expense provision provided for future years. Savoie also said he is not concerned about the length of the contract, and wants it to be a mutually beneficial situation, “a win/win for each municipality.”

Commissioner Pat Hardy said she knew people would be asking commissioners what the motivation was. Cravens said, “We would decrease the cost for providing these services, and what services they can downtownpublications.com

A

ntonino “Nino” Cutraro, the new partner at the revamped Bella Piatti restaurant in Birmingham, was initially denied a liquor license at a May 1 meeting of the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) but an appeal hearing with the MLCC overturned the ruling on May 23.

The MLCC, in its initial denial, stated that it considers past history of applicants. Cutraro was the past owner and operator of several restaurants and establishments, including Intermezzo and Enoteca in Detroit, Sangria in Royal Oak, Ultimate Sports Bar & Grill in Pontiac, and Amici's Italian Village in Farmington Hills. The MLCC cited sales to intoxicated persons; allowing intoxicated persons to consume; allowing fights on the premises; failure to comply with all state and local building, plumbing, zoning, sanitation, health laws and rules; sales to minors; non-sufficient checks; selling alcoholic beverages out-of-doors in an area not approved by the commission; sell and/or transfer of a license without MLCC approval; and allowing a person whose name does not appear on the license to derive use and benefit.

The commission further finds, the decree stated, that “the approval of the request to transfer 50 percent membership interest in Bella Piatti LLC from Robert VanHellemont to Antonino Cutraro, could have a negative impact on the health, welfare and safety of the general public.”

However, in its reversal, which was unanimous by a three member panel, the MLCC recognized that Cutraro has not had any violations since 1999, and since that time and a subsequent denial, he has been approved twice by the MLCC for liquor licenses.

“The violation history cited by the MLCC to support the recent denial concerned Mr. Cutraro’s operation of very large nightclubs in the early 1990’s.

Mr. Cutraro has been out of the nightclub business since that time and has owned and operated first class restaurants,” said Kelly Allen, attorney for Cutraro, who she said was raised in Rome and “whose most recent endeavors have offered exquisite traditional Italian cuisine.”

Bella Piatti, an Italian restaurant at 167 Townsend in Birmingham, reopened on February 13 of this year with a new management team and chef after closing at the end of 2012. Liz Cutraro told Downtown Publications at the time that she and her husband Nino came in to the restaurant with a management agreement to redo the restaurant and run it as they saw fit. The owners of Bella Piatti, Mindy Lopus and Bob VanHellemont, divorced, and as part of their settlement, “Mindy took Tallulah's (on Bates in Birmingham), and Bob got Bella Piatti,” Liz Cutraro said.

Earlier this spring, Birmingham city commissioners approved a transfer of 50 percent of VanHellemont's ownership in Bella Piatti to Cutraro, contingent upon MLCC approval.

provide. The proposal, the point that intrigued me, is that the employees that we have will have jobs to go to.

In previous years, with previous options, that would not have been an option and they would have been out of a job.”

Dul noted that there are a lot of good aspects to the proposal, “and as a commission, we'd be remiss at not looking at this proposal.”

Sherr concurred. “This is just a motion to gather more information. If this is correct, this has the potential to save the city a tremendous amount of money. It would be irresponsible of us not to gather more information.

This has to ensure that there would be no loss of services to our residents.

This is not a final decision,” he said.

McClure disagreed. “In my opinion, I do not want to proceed

with this. I have a couple issues. In the next 30 to 60 days, we'll be hiring a new chief. A new police chief has a right, or the expectation of a right, of reviewing everything. This came up in 2010, and there was some miscommunication on both sides,” she said. “Would this save us money?

Perhaps. It's not always about saving money. I'm not sure this is what our residents would want. I feel to do dispatch now is not right.”

“Whoever is going to be hired is going to be pretty sharp and figure it out, and 60 percent of our residents wanted us to look at combining services,” Dul countered.

“Consolidation of services, among or between municipalities, is a common practice, and we would still be covering alarms and vacations from this office,” Sherr noted. “You

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lose nothing from gathering information. What does it hurt to go forward?”

“I look at it as a research project, and I would go ahead with the two accepted people moving ahead,” Hardy said.

Interim Police Chief Terry McDonnell was consulted, and he said, “My opinion is fact finding is good. You should sit down with members of dispatch who can tell you exactly what they do. It's just information gathering.”

The subcommittee was approved and will report back to the full commission with its findings at the next commission meeting.

Township alters poverty exemption Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously adopted a revised resolution for the poverty exemption for paying homestead property taxes at their regular meeting on Monday, May 13. Bloomfield Township Assessor Bill Griffin explained that the previous guidelines for the homestead property amendment, expired in 2011, featured a detailed formula for determining whether a homeowner met the poverty exemption. Instead, Griffin said, the new resolution will base it on 3.5 percent of a person's actual income in order to qualify for a poverty exemption.

In order to qualify for a poverty exemption, a homeowner must come before the township's board of review.

They cannot own any other property, and they cannot have more than $20,000 (combined) in a checking or savings account, per person, residing in the property. The resolution states that there cannot be a poverty exemption granted that would reduce a township property owner's taxable value to less than $1,000. Griffin also stated that because of the higher property values and incomes within the township, the federal property threshold would be multiplied by 250 percent for those applying.

Griffin told trustees that each year, the township receives between five and ten poverty exemption requests, and they give out seven to eight exemptions per year. “They're not meant to go on ad infinitum,” Griffin said.

“We felt we did not want people to be removed from their homes because of hardship, because they're elderly, or ill,” township supervisor Leo Savoie said.

73

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Gaudard becomes new police chief Bloomfield Township Deputy Police Chief Geof Gaudard was elevated to police chief at the township’s board meeting on Monday, May 13.

Gaudard follows in the footsteps of retiring police chief Kirt Bowden, who has served in the position since May 2007. Bowden's retirement was effective May 16.

Gaudard has been with the Bloomfield Township Police Department since 1987. He rose through the police ranks, and has served in a variety of positions, including field training officer, defensive tactics instructor, firearms and patrol rifle instructor, patrol sergeant, patrol and administrative lieutenant, and captain of patrol and investigations. In 2008, he completed a select three-month course at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

In addition, he was the commander of law enforcement operations for the 2004 Ryder Cup at Oakland Hills Country Club in Bloomfield Township, and the 2008 PGA Championship, also at Oakland Hills.

Gaudard is a highly-respected member of the township’s police force, according to township officials. He was named Officer of the Year in 1993 and

1998. He graduated from Ferris State University in 1986 with a BS in criminal justice, and received a staff and command degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2005.

Bloomfield Hills hires public safety chief

By Lisa Brody

Bloomfield Hills city commissioners interviewed four final candidates for police chief at a special meeting Tuesday, May 21, and after going into closed door session, voted 4-1, with commissioner Stuart Sherr dissenting, to offer David Hendrickson, currently administrative captain with the Warren Police Department, the position of chief of public safety in Bloomfield Hills.

City Manager Jay Cravens tendered the offer to Hendrickson on Wednesday, May 22, and Hendrickson accepted. While salary and benefit details have not been finalized, Hendrickson said he is “super excited about the job, and I'm looking to stay a while in Bloomfield Hills.” He expects to start within the next 30 days.

The other finalists were Bruce Smith, former public safety director in Oak Park, currently a consultant with Chesterfield Township Police;

Bloomfield Hills Interim Chief Terrance McDonnell; and Canton Deputy Chief of Police Bruce Kerr.

Hendrickson has spent his entire 26 years in law enforcement with the Warren Police Department, rising in rank to his current position, which is the third in charge, handling all personnel, training, and budget for the $36 million, 235-person department.

“I'm very successful in my department, and I want to bring that success here,” he told commissioners during his interview. “I've had a broad range of success and experiences. I've been able to bridge gaps between the department and unions, the department and the city council, and I've had a lot of community connectiveness. I really spent time changing the culture of the department from one of entitlement to responsibility and professionalism. I have a solid reputation, and I bring solid knowledge.”

He was asked by commissioners how he would handle a much smaller department in a city with different socioeconomic demographics, and he responded, “I'll pass on all of my knowledge over the last 26 years. I will mentor them and teach them so they can take over so you will never need to go through this process again.”

When reached following accepting the position, he said of his desire to be

chief in Bloomfield Hills, “It's a personal goal. It's like a NFL quarterback who doesn't want to coach in the NFL, but wants to coach at the college level. I've been here and done it. I want a different atmosphere. It's very exciting, and I'll be able to utilize all of my talents, and I'll be the leader.

I'm looking to stay a long, long time.”

Mayor Sarah McClure was pleased with all of the candidates the city received from all over, but especially the four finalists. “We were fortunate. I think all of them were qualified and we had great options,” she said. Of Hendrickson, she said, “He brings a lot of fresh skills and budget experience.

He will do a good job, and I think he will be a great asset to our city. We were looking for a guy who would be a leader for our city.”

“We started out with more than 30 candidates that responded to our search and that the subcommittee evaluated, and we narrowed the list down to four,” Sherr said. “As a whole committee, we looked at these four candidates with the goal of hiring a chief. In closed session, we unanimously narrowed it down to the two best candidates,” Hendrickson and Smith. “I simply thought Bruce Smith was a better fit for the community. I'm not saying anything against David Hendrickson, and now that he has been chosen, I will absolutely support him.”

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP

Theater wants liquor restrictions lifted

By Lisa Brody

Bloomfield Hills approves budget

By Lisa Brody

Bloomfield Hills City Commissioners unanimously approved a budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year, which begins July 1 at a special commission meeting held May 1.

The approved 2013-2014 budget has projected revenues of $15.2 million against projected expenses of $15.2 million. The city's millage rate was maintained at the current rate, 10.24 mills. The city's general fund, which is the city's principal operating fund, accounting for all of the city's finances that are not accounted for in a specific fund, such as roads, is anticipated to have expenses of just under $9 million. The water and sewer fund, established in 2004, which deals with the operations that provide water and sewer services to citizens that are financed by user charges, projects expenses of $3.5 million. The capital projects fund, which is the road construction fund, is projected to have expenses of $833,000. The fund was created in 2007 to account for significant road repair and reconstruction in the city.

The city's revenues are comprised chiefly of property taxes, followed by state and weight tax revenues that are restricted for road construction uses. The drug forfeiture fund is made up of funds from money or property seized by public safety officers during drug raids.

For the fiscal year 2013-2014 budget, city officials anticipate revenues of $8.9 million into the city's general fund; $4.1 million to the water and sewer services fund; and $833,000 to the capital projects fund.

“For the first time in five years, the city will see an increase in property taxes. Homes sales have increased, helping to somewhat ease the economic difficulties faced by most municipalities. For 2013-2014, the 1.68 percent increase in property tax values will equate to approximately $113,000 in additional revenue,” the budget report stated.

Within the general fund, property taxes comprise $7.1 million of anticipated revenue for the upcoming fiscal year. Licenses and permits are expected to bring in $605,860; with the 48th District Court paying the city $440,000 for the fiscal year, a decrease from $469,445 in fiscal year 2012-2013.

The largest expenditure in the general fund is public safety, at $4.1 million, accounting for approximately 46 percent of the budgeted general fund. Salaries and public works comprise the remainder of the expenditures.

“Pension contributions continue to increase, which is partially offset by savings in health care due to a change to an HSA plan by public safety officers,” stated the budget report, prepared by city treasurer Karen Ruddy.

City Manager Jay Cravens said that to balance the budget, they will be going into the city's undesignated fund balance for $111,000. “We have about $500,000 in it,” he said. “It has been like a savings account for the city.”

The fund balance is defined as a reserve amount within a fund that is the accumulation of the difference in revenues and expenditures over years. Cravens said the city will need it in the upcoming fiscal year due to increases in retiree benefits, an area they are looking to find savings, especially in health care benefits.

“Through their union, they decided to go with Blue Cross Blue Shield or Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO1, which are pretty costly,” he said, rather than health care options other city employees are utilizing. “We're going to see if we can find something less costly with similar benefits. We've been talking to our insurance representative, Cornerstone Municipal Benefits, and they'll be making a presentation to the city commission in a few weeks to look at options.”

Cravens said Cornerstone is concerned by what the Affordable Care Act is offering, and “the fact that Blue Cross Blue Shield is changing what policies and programs will be available, and what is in the old union contract will not be available. We don't want to promise X if in six months it won't be available anyway due to the Affordable Care Act.” Cravens said taking care of that and finding those savings is “lowlying fruit for this year – how to meet our obligation to our retirees while reducing our costs. We'll also continue to tighten our belts where we can.”

He said in the next year, the city hopes to see property values increase more, to match higher assessed values and current sales prices.

J

onathan Goldstein, the owner of the Maple Theaters in Bloomfield Township, came before the Bloomfield Township Board of Trustees on Monday, May 13 to request that they lift the restrictions on the theater's liquor license, but, by a vote of 6-1, with trustee Brian Kepes dissenting, the trustees tabled the request until Tuesday, May 28, pending a review by township attorney Bill Hampton.

At the board of trustees meeting on June 25, 2012, the Maple theater owners and trustees agreed the theater would only serve alcohol to patrons who had purchased a ticket to see a movie at one of the theater's three theaters, and they agreed to a six-month probationary period after the owners received their license from the state and began serving alcohol, after which the township and trustees would review the license and determine whether to extend serving liquor to anyone walking in the theater's doors.

Goldstein said on Monday night that “in the six-and-half months we've been open, we've adhered to all of the rules, so we're respectfully requesting to be considered for a full liquor license with no restrictions.

Customers come in and request a drink and they're not seeing a movie.

They're having a dessert, or they're with a friend who's having a coffee.

We explain we can't serve them and they leave.”

Goldstein continued, noting the theater would like to expand the food and beverage operations beyond the coffee shop. “It's also about food. Our food is pretty good. We would like to grow our food/cafe. But we're not willing to unless we're able to lift the liquor restrictions, to let people come in who want to watch a ball game, like any other restaurant or bar.”

Township Supervisor Leo Savoie asked Goldstein for a breakdown of the theater's revenue, which Goldstein did not have on hand, but said that alcohol comprises about 3 to 5 percent of sales for the whole complex, with movie tickets making up 50 percent of revenue, and food and non-alcohol beverages making up the remaining 45 percent.

Savoie asked, “Are we still keeping the two drink maximum in place?”

Goldstein responded, “We're asking for the complete restrictions to be lifted, but we would be willing to work with that.”

Trustee Neal Barnett said he was very much in favor of lifting the restrictions while keeping the two drink maximum in effect, and Kepes noted the theater has become a community gathering spot. “We have already had conversations with attorneys, and we said we'd give it six months. I think we should lift the ticket restrictions. I think it's silly to make someone buy a ticket. It's utilizing the whole front of the theater when movies aren't playing.”

Treasurer Dan Devine disagreed. “I think by virtue of the ordinance that was created for the cinema, it makes the liquor incidental to the cinema. The gentleman speaks of his operation as a restaurant – it's not a restaurant; it's a cinema. The other operations (in the township) with liquor licenses are restaurants. The food is what drives the business. If we ease the restrictions, we are allowing people to go for a drinking experience, not for a theater experience, and that is not what the ordinance allows. Also, the parking was approved for a theater, not for an alcohol, restaurant experience. There are not enough parking spaces now. If we allow the gentleman to have what he wants, we would have a bar in the township, and we do not have bars in the township. To accommodate this request would require rezoning and revising of the ordinance itself.”

Clerk Jan Roncelli said, “You're supposed to be a theater with a coffee shop on the side. AMC, the second largest theater chain in the country, has a strict two-drink policy only for theatergoers. I do not think we can make any kind of decision tonight based on the ordinance.”

Attorney Mark Roberts, substituting for Hampton, noted the decision is a policy determination because the request satisfied the original agreement.

Savoie said, “The original ordinance did not say someone has to have purchased a ticket.” He recommended tabling the request until the next trustee meeting to get a further opinion from township legal counsel, as well as parking studies from township planner Patti Voelker, “so we have all the details we need when we make a decision.”

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HAZELWOOD - BIRMINGHAM This beautifully appointed newer all brick home in downtown Birmingham has a unique first floor master suite and recently updated master bath with his and hers vanities, deep tub & steam shower and spacious walk-in closets for both him and her. Large open granite kitchen with culinary-grade appliances, open to family room. Beautiful wood-paneled living room with cathedral ceiling, large dining room, 3 large upper bedrooms. Basement is partially finished with media room. Full epoxy floors and generator.

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LAKEVIEW - BIRMINGHAM Located walking distance from downtown Birmingham, Booth Park, Holy Name and Quarton Lake, this 4 bedroom 2.1 bathroom home has the design integrity of the original home with today’s modern twist of updates throughout. Updates include new windows, newer roof, 2 car attached garage, large bonus room, large master bedroom, WIC closet, white marble master bath, deep soaker tub with separate shower.

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$935,000 VINEWOOD - BIRMINGHAM Great in-town location just steps from everything Birmingham has to offer. Welcome to this 3700 sq ft, 4 bed, 3.1 bathroom, reclaimed brick colonial home.

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Park site rezoning recommended

By Lisa Brody

A consultant from LSL Planning recommended to the Birmingham Planning Board at its meeting on Wednesday, May 8, that the city rezone a vacant property at 404 Park Street, situated on the corner of Park, Oakland and Woodward.

The property has been vacant since 1999 and had previously been zoned for a single family residence.

The property has been the center of controversy for the last several months, as a developer, BurtonKatzman Development Company, petitioned the city to conditionally rezone the lot from single family to general business, in order to develop the site and build six-unit row-house townhouses for lease. Residents of the adjacent neighborhood, known as the “Little San Francisco” neighborhood due to its topography, have written to the city, sent petitions, and spoken out at numerous city planning and zoning meetings, objecting to the rezoning and development of the site.

Birmingham City Commissioners, at their February 25 meeting, sent the conditional rezoning request back to the planning board, with prejudice, to allow the planning board the opportunity to study conditional rezoning and make a recommendation.

Brad Strader, president of LSL Planning, and Kathleen Duffy, project planner, studied the area, and noted that the lack of a buffer in the parcel creates difficulties, and did not recommend the zoning be kept as single family. He noted that even in the highest market conditions, there was no interest in the development of a single family residence.

Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker had told city commissioners in February that “the property has been vacant for 24 years, and no one has been willing to purchase it and build a single family home. There are negative impacts (on the property) on three roads, and there is no private space on the property to have a private rear yard.”

She noted that the site used to be in the interior of a neighborhood, but as other homes were torn down, the downtown business community built up around it. “The overlay, downtown district now extends to Oakland, the former Ring Road,” she said. She downtownpublications.com

noted that 60,000 vehicles go by Woodward and Oakland each day.

Birmingham planner Matt Baka said that the planning board will look at what kind of setback should go on the parcel and recommend the appropriate zoning. “The planning board will take it slow and do it right,” he said, noting there is no public hearing set.

“The city wants to be respectful of the neighbors, but it also has to keep in mind the master plan and do what is right for the city,” Baka said.

Birmingham okays 2013-14 budget Birmingham city commissioners unanimously approved the city's 20132014 fiscal year budget, which will begin July 1 and include a millage decrease for residents, at the Birmingham City Commission meeting on Monday, May 20.

City officials have been working on budget appropriations for several months, holding a public hearing in April.

Estimated revenues for the upcoming fiscal year are $28.25 million, with a balanced and equal amount of estimated expenditures. City finance director Sharon Ostin informed commissioners that the final taxable value on property values created additional revenue to the city's general fund of $262,760. Additionally, because of the increase in property values, the city's millage was decreased to 15.0735 mills, down .3906 mills from the 20122013 fiscal year.

In the upcoming budget, $19 million in revenue is dedicated to the city's general fund; $5.4 million from the automobile parking system fund; and $3.5 million is from the local streets fund.

Key expenditures delineated in the budget are $12.3 million for public safety; $11.2 million to the sewage disposal fund; and $3.5 million to the local streets fund.

Ostin told commissioners that the additional revenue of $262,760 will provide funding for Quarton Lake maintenance costs, provide sufficient funding to provide a 28-hour work week for Allen House Museum (Birmingham Historical Museum) director position and a part-time assistant, as well as provide additional funding for a 12-hour a week museum assistant.

“Anytime we can lower taxes, I support it,” commissioner Mark Nickita said in approving the budget.

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Wood Lake Frontage $2,599,000 A private retreat on Wood Lake in the city of Bloomfield Hills ! This custom built estate features dramatic stone entrance with a hill top setting and panoramic views of the lake. Featured in design magazines for superior quality and unique design. Fabulous! Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 213040393

Bloomfield Hills $995,000 Unique home on a fabulous lot in the City of Bloomfield Hills! First floor features master suite with newer bath and closet area. Panoramic views of large private landscaped lot. New maple floors, many new windows and door walls. Three fireplaces. walkout lower level to brick patios, three car garage and generator. Five bedrooms with three baths. 213049060

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Birmingham $1,695,000 Stunning newer home on a beautiful street! Boasting the finest finishes available. Hand scraped walnut floors, thick mill work, premium fixtures, six fireplaces and custom details. Huge gourmet kitchen opens to family room. Handsome den could also be a 6th bedroom suite. Master suite is amazing with two fireplaces, built-ins and dressing room. Finished lower lever with stone wine cellar, ample storage and recreation room. Newly landscaped lot offers privacy and fire pit. Five bedrooms with 6.2 baths. 213041474

Franklin $1,350,000 Exceptional estate home located on a prime lot in the Heart of Franklin. Updated gourmet kitchen, designed by John Morgan. Gracious floor plan that has been seamlessly added onto through the years. Spectacular grounds with in-ground pool. Hardwoods, beamed ceilings, thick crown and built-ins.

Mechanically updated and well maintained. All this located on over two acres. Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213042626. Co-listor Cindy Obron Kahn

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Rochester Hills $15,000,000 Exquisite European Manor complete in 2006 and built to exacting standards. Located in one of Oakland County’s most prestigious environments, gated and perfectly placed upon 7 glorious acres featuring a spring fed pond, sophisticated landscape details and complete privacy. 22,000 square foot main house with five bedrooms, 15 baths, in-law/Au Pair suite and bonus room, finished walkout, five fireplaces, 3 1/2 car attached garage and two story, 10,000 square foot, 30 car museum garage with office.

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Gorgeous Chef ’s Kitchen with top of the line appliances, breakfast room with fireplace and sitting area. Stunning two story foyer. Spacious Master Retreat Suite with spa like bath and custom dressing room. Five additional bedroom suites complete the second floor. Fantastic finished lower level with high end kitchen and work out room. Lush landscaped lot with fabulous patio with fireplace for entertaining.

Fabulous Home In Bloomfield Village $1,999,500 • 6 Bedroom Suites • 6 Full and 2 Half Baths • 3 Car Attached Garage • Magnificent Lot with Lush Landscaping • Featured in Detroit Home Magazine

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Birmingham $2,195,000 Perfect blend of casual and formal living overlooking Rouge River, this beautiful home is located in Heart of Downtown Birmingham. Interior space is as beautiful as the views with open two story foyer, light filled living room with fireplace, breakfast room off gourmet de Giulio kitchen and spectacular finished lower level walk out with wine room, wet bar, two story recreation room and French doors to patio. Three patios/decks. Hilltop setting.

Includes 1/5 undivided interest in adjacent property. Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213048062

Bloomfield $1,125,000 Wonderful custom Tudor with open floor plan and hardwoods throughout. Large rooms with lovely views, custom library, granite kitchen with breakfast room and sun room. Master includes sitting area, white marble his/her bath and large closets. Walkout with great deck and private yard. Four car garage.

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Lake Angelus Frontage $1,899,900 Fabulous views from every room from this Beautiful Hidden Gem on the South Shore. One plus acres with 100'+ lake frontage with almost 7,000 square feet of living space. This newer construction has a five car heated garage, finished walkout with 13' ceilings. Full deck and patio across the lakeside of home. Sandy frontage with permanent dock to park all of your toys. Cedar and Stone with custom cedar roof. Paved Road. Six bedrooms with 5.2 baths. 213039803.

Lake Angelus Frontage $1,699,000

Lake Angelus Frontage $1,499,000

Fabulous newer built/slightly used. Breathtaking views from every room from this South facing Transitional Home. Over 9,500+ square foot of living space.

Beautiful hardwood floors, granite, marble, too much to list. Cherry kitchen with high-end appliances, two large islands, first floor master bedroom.

Finished walkout lower level, four car extra high garage. Sandy frontage and backs to nature preserve. Five bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 213044944.

Fabulous updated Cape Cod on Pristine Lake Angelus. Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths in main house, one bedroom with one bath in guest house or in-law suite attached to main house. Beautiful updates in the last year include; master bath, kitchen, all the baths on first floor. Newer roof, furnace, air conditioning, water heater. Seven car heated garage. Estate setting and with the original Ice House from Frederick Fisher Estate. 213040916.

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Augusta Township $2,399,000 Attention to detail in this Country Estate is an understatement. Walk into the grand entrance and foyer anchored by the warmth of the fireplace. This open floor plan home has all the amenities one would desire. Main floor master bedroom with a large master bath and walk in closet. Rough-cut pine paneled flooring, cedar and stone accents this beautiful Country Estate. A perfect entertainers paradise, sit down in one of the many rooms that are surrounded by large open windows, take in the scenery of the horses grazing, pool deck and the nature that surrounds this beautiful country estate. Indoor and outdoor riding arena, fourteen heated box stalls, heated observation room outfitted for entertaining. Four bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 213038393

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Bloomfield $999,999 2007 Custom-built all brick Colonial by Maplewood Homes. Located on over .Seven acres adjacent to stream and small pond. Quality amenities, hardwood floors, crown moldings, granite and millwork throughout. Gourmet kitchen with huge granite island, high-end appliances. First floor master suite and laundry. Great room with soaring ceiling and fireplace. Ten foot basement with five large daylight windows. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213038484

Bloomfield $679,900

Birmingham $579,900

Completely renovated Ranch with premium upgrades and amenities throughout. Former builder's personal home. Exquisite decor, luxurious master suite with separate spa and shower, fireplace and custom millwork.

Gourmet kitchen with Viking stove, granite and custom tile work. Almost an acre treed lot with partial lake views. Located in the family friendly Meadow Lake Subdivision. Great curb appeal. Birmingham schools. Don't miss this one! Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213037767

Beautiful Victorian home within easy walking distance to Birmingham.

Wrap around porch, hardwood floors, gourmet kitchen with stainless steel appliances, ledger stone fireplace and antique mantle, master suite with Jacuzzi tub and separate shower, finished basement currently with fourth bedroom, brick paver patio, granite and corian counter tops. Second floor laundry. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213039400

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Deer Lake Frontage $2,195,000 Secluded, hill-top setting on desirable, all-sports Deer Lake. European Classic featuring gourmet kitchen, three story floating staircase, three master suites, sauna room, grand lower level wet bar, theater room, seven fireplaces, all new upgrades from 2004 to present, guest quarters, infinity swimming pool with two tier waterfall, professional landscaping, Motivated Seller-Relocating! Four bedrooms with 5.1 baths. 213030919

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Lake Charlevoix Frontage $11,995,000 This unparalleled 69 acres with over 3000 of lakefront footage is truly unbelievable. The property includes a barn, boathouse, covered bridge, ponds, a stream and pasture land. You will be in paradise. The exquisite log home and guest house will accommodate family and friends comfortably. 1400+ square foot guesthouse offers living room, kitchen, and two bedrooms. Five bedrooms with 3.1 baths. Presented by Mike Cotter

Manchester Township $9,975,000 Most unique property available today in Southern Michigan. Value is in the land, 2000 contiguous acres of prime land including a 100 acre lake. Opportunities exist to create a private recreational retreat or a conservation development design or a nature preserve. Civil war Italianate home ready to be restored.

213023102 Presented by Beverly McCotter

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West Bloomfield $7,500,000 Undiscovered masterpiece built in 2004. 20,000 square feet of living space on five wooded acres. Celebrity living with tennis court, gym, in-ground pool, hot tub, dry sauna. Additional kitchen, bar, multi-purpose room, great for entertaining and sports. Adorned with 18th century castle inspiration.

Secluded environment, yet close to city amenities. Private walking trails with stream. Highest quality construction with unique detail.

Seven bedrooms with 7.4 baths. 213037220 Presented by Maria Constante & Dawn Williams

Walnut Lake Frontage $3,399,900 Spectacular Updated West Bloomfield Lakefront Estate! An Entertainers' Delight. Gourmet kitchen, top of the line appliances, great room offers high ceiling, fantastic views of the lake and fabulous bar. Floor to ceiling windows. Possible first floor master, formal dining room, billiards room, nanny suite and your own private Night Club!! Guest house and attached garage, large enough to house five cars. Six bedrooms with 8.3 baths. 212092152 Presented by Nancy Beachum

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Bloomfield Hills $3,200,000 Exquisite Bloomfield Estate built by artisans from around the world. This estate home is situated on over 1.2 acres with a walkout setting. Stunning manicured grounds. The first floor has second kitchen, dining and family rooms, billiards room, sauna, steam shower, full service bar, elevator, gym. Five fireplaces.

Six car garage. A Very Special Home! Five bedrooms with 6.1 baths. 213012024 Presented by Cindy Obron Kahn

Bloomfield Hills $2,450,000 Wonderful in every way describes this spacious and beautifully appointed two story European style home. All the sought after luxury features include; recent designer kitchen with premium everything i.e. pair of 36" Sub-Zeros. Beautifully manicured grounds with pool, gardens, privacy & lovely patio areas. Fabulous lower level with wine cellar, pool bath and full kitchen to facilitate outside dining. Full host of recent updates.

Five bedrooms with 6.2 baths. 213045037 Presented by Mike Cotter & Paula Law

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Birmingham $1,599,000 Custom family home in Quarton Lake. Kitchen with Wood-Mode cabinets, walk-in pantry, wet bar, subzero refrigerator-freezer, Themador and granite.

Wonderful family room with built-ins and fieldstone fireplace overlooking backyard. Hardwood floors and new carpet. Stunning entry foyer overlooking two story winding staircase and back staircase. Great first floor laundry and mud room. Huge master suite with his/hers walk in closets and custom cabinets. Pella windows. Extensive use of crown molding and wainscot. Super finished basement. Five bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 213045924 Presented by Michael Sbrocca

Birmingham $1,198,700 Spectacular English Country Cottage originally built in 1927 and expanded in 2007 offers charm and character of a bygone era along-side today's modern conveniences. Custom Grabill, Cherry kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances. New master suite with fireplace and bath with Euro Shower and Spa tub. Three stories of stunning architectural details including coved and two story ceilings plus plaster walls. Library with judge's paneling. Too many wonderful touches to list. A must see! Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213044541 Presented by Kathy Lyons

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Bloomfield $1,249,900 Euro-Contemporary built in 2005 on 2.25 acres. Very private setting only minutes from Birmingham. Berloni kitchen with subzero refrigerator, Wolf stove, with granite counters. Great room with open floor plant with hardwood floors throughout. Super views in every room overlooking wooded backyard. Newly installed basketball court. Master suite with the finest finishes. Second floor laundry. Finished basement. Motivated Seller! Three bedrooms with 4.1 baths.

213036699 Presented by Michael Sbrocca

Birmingham $1,495,000 Immaculate and pristine home with access to Gilbert Lake! Private 1+ acre lot. Foyer with marble floor and circular staircase. Gourmet center island kitchen with granite, Brazilian cherry. Hearth room with fireplace. Family room with hardwood floors, vaulted ceiling, skylights, wall of windows to yard. Formal living room with coved ceilings and fireplace. Formal dining room and quaint study. Master bedroom with his/her closet areas and bath. All bedrooms are spacious with custom millwork. Three bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213047148 Presented by Mia Bardy

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Birmingham $1,199,000 Walk to town from this exceedingly attractive brick Colonial. Grand staircase from foyer to master suite with fireplace, his/hers walk in closet and luxurious bath. de Giulio kitchen with eating space, butler's pantry servicing living and dining rooms. French doors to intimate garden professionally landscaped.

Completely finished lower level with additional bedroom and full bath. A complete residence with Birmingham's pleasures at hand.

Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213036758 Presented by Betty Pince

Franklin Village $1,085,000 Franklin Village at its best! Beautifully nestled on an ultra private three acre site is this magnificent Cape Cod overlooking the Franklin River, wildlife and serenity. This spacious property includes three bedrooms, three baths, library and both family and large keeping room. Four car attached garage, walkout lower level, Cedar Shake roof, new HVAC, and expansive deck. All of this and close to the magic of the Village. Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213025427 Presented by Mike Cotter

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Oxford $1,249,900 Spectacular Post and Beam home with 75 rolling, open, wooded acres. Designer perfect kitchen with Bosch Sub Zero, five star appliances, granite and maple floors. Two and half story great room with massive Fieldstone fireplace. First floor master, library, finished lower level with fireplace, bar, exercise room, sauna, in-ground pool, heated pool house and cabana. Six car garage, dog kennel, beautiful Morton barn, caretakers home, dairy barn and out buildings.

Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 212107747 Presented by Lee Embrey & Dave Busch

Fenton $899,000 Beautiful custom built log lodge home on 13.44 wooded acres. Two story great room with custom stone fireplace, large country kitchen with granite. Finished lower level with recreation room with stone fireplace and exercise room. Stunning indoor pool with vaulted ceiling and door walls to 3,000 square foot deck that overlooks a large stocked pond. Three car garage, 40 x 60 Pole Barn with horse stall and corral and separate three car garage with 1950’s soda bar/party area. Four bedrooms with 4.3 baths. 212110689 Presented by Jim Casey

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Birmingham $1,499,000 Custom built home by The Deneweth Company. This gracious 4600 square foot Colonial is situated on a wonderful private corner lot. Boasts flowing and open floor plan with superb features including soaring ceilings, bright gourmet cook's kitchen and great room with fireplace. Magnificent lower level full kitchen (15x14) and entertainment/media area. Located in Quarton Lake Estates on one of the best streets! Four bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 213045309 Presented by Cindy Obron Kahn

Birmingham $1,380,000 One of a kind Contemporary European style home on a park like setting close to downtown Birmingham and Rouge River trails! Spectacular open floor plan, two story great room with stone fireplace, light oak floor and big windows. Large dining room, premium gourmet custom kitchen with top of the line appliances. Beautiful master suite with skylights, luxurious bath, sauna and terrace. State of the art patio with built in GE grill. Brick and stone castle on double lot. Just gorgeous! Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213045756 Presented by Silvia Stan

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Bloomfield Hills $1,100,000 Exceptional retreat nestled in the woods features all the perks of estate living yet only five minutes from downtown Birmingham! Unique open floor plan; great room with vaulted ceilings, soaring windows, custom stone walls and Aspen like step down living area. Intimate loft with fireplace overlooks great room.

Lower level walk out boasts Tuscan style wine room, bar area with wine cellar (holds 600 bottles) and theater room with eight reclining chairs, 110" screen state of art technology. Swimming pool and hot tub. Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 213045817 Presented by Jenny Turner

Bloomfield Township $829,900 Spectacular lakefront site! An incredible view of lake and grounds through soaring windows greet you as you enter the marble foyer of this custom built home

by Sebold and Kage. Similar views seen throughout. Kitchen remodeled in 1993 with premium stainless steel appliances added in 2004. Master bath with heated floors was remodeled in 2006. Extensive and incredibly beautiful landscaping. Paver driveway added in 2000. Generator. Attention to detail in every inch. This one is special! Four bedrooms 3.1 baths. 213043608 Presented by Linda Eriksen

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Birmingham $935,000 Close to downtown, this home has the design integrity of the original home with today's modern twist of updates throughout. Updates to include, new windows, newer roof, two car attached garage, large bonus room, large master bedroom walk in closet, white marble master bath, deep soaker tub with separate shower. Open flow from the kitchen to the family room. Part finished basement. Professionally landscaped, with pergola in the backyard.

Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213037828 Presented by Dan Gutfreund

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Bloomfield $599,000 Amazing home with views of Oakland Hills and the signature 16th hole.. Spacious and airy, this home is drenched with natural light showing off the gorgeous 5" plank oak floors. Redone in 2010. Kitchen with top of the line stainless steel appliances. Large open floor plan ideal for entertaining, yet has cozy reading areas for getting away. Family room in back of the house has a wall of sliding glass doors to backyard, two tiered deck. Beautiful views looking onto park like yard. Four bedrooms with three baths. 213024237 Presented by Kris Barich & Molly Henneghan

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Lake St. Clair Frontage $949,000 Incredible opportunity to own a fabulous high end new construction home on Lake St. Clair. Features include; gourmet kitchen with state of the art appliances, master suite with balcony, fireplace, wet bar and luxurious bath with double shower, sinks and Jacuzzi tub. Extensive use of moldings, trim work, hardwood floors, elevator, spacious lot that will easily accommodate a pool, potential for fifth bedroom and bath. Enjoy spectacular sun rises every morning.

Four bedrooms with four baths. 213047415 Presented by Mia Bardy

Birmingham $849,000 Gorgeous in-town Birmingham newer construction home with the finest finishes. Fabulous open kitchen with Merillat cabinets, stainless and granite. Butler pantry with wine refrigerator. Gorgeous hardwood floors through-out. Huge master suite with spa bath. Second floor laundry. Finished lower level with recreation area. This is the perfect home for today's modern and sophisticated buyers! Four bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213044085 Presented by Renee Lossia Acho

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Duck Lake Frontage $799,000 Majestic Estate located on private Duck Lake in the Lakes of Indianwood with pond in front yard. Loaded with granite, cherry hardwood flooring, mahogany fireplaces, gourmet kitchen, heated tile flooring and wrought-iron spindles. Five-car plus garage, unbelievable bonus room, fully finished lower level with walk out to lake for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, close to Indianwood Golf Course, Lake Orion schools, Polly Ann trail. Private setting with balconies overlooking lake. Five bedrooms with 4.2 baths. 213044953 Presented by Susan Johnson

Oakland Township $675,000

Williams Lake Frontage $418,900

Beautiful turn key home! Freshly painted inside and out with extensive hardwood flooring on the entry level, first floor laundry, dual staircases, gorgeous two story family room adjacent to kitchen which features large granite center island with seating, dual built in ovens and breakfast area. The walk out lower level offers a family room, recreation room, full service bar and direct access to the paver patio. Four bedrooms with 3.1 baths. 213043548 Presented by Chris Johnson & Gerry Etue

Fantastic Cape Cod on private/all sports Will ams Lake! Beautiful hardwood floors, first floor master with huge walk in closet. Very spacious kitchen with cherry cabinets, granite, fabulous views of the lake! Florida room off kitchen. Spacious living room with great fireplace! Walk out basement, two car garage. Nice deck off kitchen. Fifty feet of lake frontage.

Move right in and enjoy the lake! Three bedrooms with two baths.

213044233 Presented by Audrey Faust

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Metamora $759,000 Beautiful "Hunt Country" Cape Cod on 19 rolling acres with miles of spectacular country views, brick foyer, welcoming great room with fireplace and three season room. Chef 's kitchen with high end appliances, granite counters, large dining room, beautiful first floor master suite with fireplace, two large bedrooms up, large family room with wood burning stove, geo-thermal, three stall horse barn, run-ins, paddocks, extra garage, pond, prime location. Exceptional home! Three bedrooms with 2.2 baths. 213043773 Presented by Lee Embrey

West Bloomfield $625,000

Troy $329,000

Highly Coveted Chelsea Park Subdivision. One of the larger homes in the subdivision located in "The Reserve" on a fantastic private lot with circular drive. House has been maintained like new. Great floor plan with front and rear staircase, two powder rooms on first floor, two story family room with bridge, three full baths upstairs, and huge kitchen open to family room.

Subdivision has tennis courts, sidewalks and playground.

Four bedrooms with 3.2 baths. 213045819 Presented by Kathy Manoogian

Bright and beautiful like new condo in most desirable location of development, backing to pond. First floor master bedroom has vaulted ceiling, large closets and master bath with granite counters, soaking tub and separate shower. Lovely kitchen with granite counters, wood floors and premium stainless steel appliances. Two story great room with gas fireplace is open to dining room.

Two bedrooms upstairs plus bonus room. First floor laundry. This is it!

213034645 Presented by Linda Eriksen

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Bloomfield $699,900 Contemporary Ranch with Birmingham schools, Southern exposure, four car garage and circular driveway. Renovation and addition with premium upgrades and amenities including; exquisite decor, luxurious master suite with jetted tub, all bedrooms are suites with walk in closets. Gourmet kitchen with high-end stainless steel appliances and granite. Several skylights for abundance natural lighting. Wired for sound system, cable and satellites. Egress window, 9 ft ceiling and finished bath in lower level. Dual furnaces, air conditioning and four season sun room. Four bedrooms 5.2 baths. 213038658 Presented by Rosa Lau

Farmington Hills $584,500

West Bloomfield $350,000

A beautiful newer home. Spacious and bright. Located in a very desirable and beautiful historic area. Sits in a charming cul-de-sac of only six homes all built by the same builder. Great layout with large rooms, formal dining room, updated kitchen with granite and stainless steel appliances, dramatic two story great room with fireplace, wonderful first floor master bedroom with large bath and walk in closets. Finished lower level with kitchen, media room, bedroom with full bath.

Three car garage. Immaculate! 213037062 Presented by Candice Culyer

Gorgeous custom built home in scenic neighborhood, open floor plan is perfect for entertaining. Gourmet granite kitchen with stainless steel appliances, island and snack bar overlooks spacious great room with fireplace. Bright sun room walks out to wrap around deck. Master has dressing room and large bath. Library has built-in bookshelves. Immaculately maintained, new carpet and fresh paint and hardwood floors. Professionally landscaped close to shopping, expressways. Perfection! Three bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213036471 Presented by Susan Kissick

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Long Lake Frontage $599,900 Premier location on all sports and private Long Lake. This home has it all. Boasting finished walkout basement, granite kitchen and hardwood floors throughout. New roof 2013 and new exterior paint 2012. Hot tub/spa hook up on deck. Private beach access for homeowners. Home is on a cul de sac and perfect location on the lake. A beautiful home. Lake Orion schools. Five bedrooms with 4.1 baths. 213044811 Presented by Lisa & Tony Scaccia

Bloomfield $599,000

Bloomfield $249,900

Beautiful, classic four bedroom Colonial situated on 1/2 acre professionally landscaped lot with paver patio. Lovely formal living and dining rooms.

Updated, large eat-in kitchen opens to family room with brick gas fireplace which leads to sun-filled four seasons room. Hardwood floors throughout.

Large master suite with updated bath. Finished lower level with ample storage.

New furnace, hardwood floors, driveway and painted through out in the last year. Move right in! 213027420 Presented by Ann Greenberg

Move right into this updated Colonial. Spacious deck overlooking large yard just in time for summer entertaining! All newer mechanicals, entry door and windows with plantation shutters. Hardwood floors on both floors.

Kitchen opens into family room with natural fireplace. Finished basement with B-dry system, drywall, berber carpet, built-ins and glass block windows. Driveway seal coated and new garage door opener in 2012.

Four bedrooms with 2.1 baths. 213045649 Presented by Beverly Napier

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CITY/ TOWNSHIP City safety path contracts approved Bloomfield Township trustees unanimously approved a bid for the 2013 safety path program, but a request by township engineering and environmental director Wayne Domine to create an additional safety path in a median of Telegraph Road between E. Quarton and W. Quarton was shot down by trustees, who were concerned over pedestrian safety.

The safety paths to be constructed this summer are a short segment on the south side of Maple, from W. Bradford to Westbourne, which will create a continuing safety path for residents from Birmingham to West Bloomfield, Domine said. On the northern part of the township, the safety path on the north side of Square Lake Road from Bloomfield Crossings to Opdyke will be completed, creating a safety path all the way to Troy, he said.

Domine said this year's paths follow the Bloomfield Township Safety Path Master Plan.

He said the township only received two bidders, and trustees agreed with him to award the work to the lowest bidder, Italia Construction, which has done previous work for the township, in the amount of $493,831.30.

In addition, both Domine and township Supervisor Leo Savoie said they have received several e-mails and phone calls regarding a pedestrian crossing at Quarton and Telegraph, which Domine said was constructed as part of the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) road construction project in 2010. “Leo and I have seen pedestrians stranded in the median,� Domine said.

He noted that the way the road jogs,

S. Woodward corridor work delayed

By Lisa Brody

A

two-day design charrette was held on May 1 and 2 for the S. Woodward corridor, but further work for the area of Birmingham along Woodward between Lincoln and 14 Mile Road has been put on hold pending the results of regional transit committees, Birmingham Planner Matt Baka said. “We don't want to develop a plan for the area that we have to rework later,� Baka said. “We want to incorporate everything.�

The S. Woodward corridor has been on the Birmingham Planning Board's radar for a while as an area that has needed cleaning up and focus. The charrette was a two-day design and workshop, led by consultants LSL/Hamilton Anderson/Land Use USA, who have been collecting data and compiling reference materials for a market study on the corridor for the past several months. Residents and the business community were invited to attend and communicate their ideas and conceptions for the area. “We received lots of good input, but because of everything else that is going on with Woodward, we're going to sit back for a few months and let them play out,� Baka said. “The best way to have them play out is to coordinate all of the other committees.�

Baka is referring to regional committees such as Complete Streets from the Woodward Avenue Action Association, a group of six municipalities, including Birmingham, which is looking at reconstructing Woodward as a road for many different transportation uses, from 8 Mile Road to Pontiac.

Another is the Woodward Rapid Transit Alternatives Analysis, through SEMCOG; and Birmingham committees, Multi-modal plan, which is examining every street and roadway in order to create a transportation master plan for the next 20 years; and the South Gateway Plan, which is examining ways to create a southern entrance to Birmingham.

Baka said as reports are updated, they will be posted on the website transformwoodward.org.

He said he expects LSL consultants to provide Birmingham with a coordinated plan in October.

there are no lights or crosswalks to assist pedestrians. The township has contacted MDOT to see if there were any alternatives to the current configuration, and MDOT agreed to a one-quarter mile safety path, with stop signs and crosswalks, in the median along Telegraph, to W. Quarton.

Domine said the costs would need to be born by the township, which, along with engineering and a pedestrian push button light, would come to

approximately $146,000. Domine requested awarding the contract to Italia Construction along with the rest of the safety path work.

Trustees were concerned about the safety of a path in the middle of median, with traffic whizzing by at 50 to 60 miles per hour. “I've never seen a safety path in the middle of a median.It seems to me it would be very dangerous. I'm wondering if there are any other proposals we could get from

MDOT,� said trustee Brian Kepes.

Trustee Neal Barnett and clerk Jan Roncelli concurred.

Savoie said, “This isn't a good solution, so I suggest we contact MDOT for help creating something going across, or to take what they have there out.�

Request for a new K-9 put on hold Chance, Bloomfield Hills' canine officer, is “not measuring up� to the tasks he has been asked to perform, interim police chief Terrance McDonnell told Bloomfield Hills city commissioners at their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 14.

McDonnell told commissioners that officer Jay Reynolds, who handles the K9, was interested in purchasing a multipurpose dog, at no cost to the city, which could be trained for drug seizure, tracking, search and rescue, and building searches. However, mayor Sarah McClure objected, insisting it would cost the city too much money for training costs, veterinary bills and other expenses. Commissioners voted 4-1, with commissioner Pat Hardy disagreeing, to wait to see a full run down of costs and benefits of having a new K-9.

McDonnell told commissioners that most police agencies around Bloomfield Hills have dogs similar to the kind Reynolds is interested in acquiring, a Czech Shepherd, specially trained in Ohio by world class trainers. “Bloomfield Township has two, Birmingham and Southfield each have one,� he said. He said they have a dog ready for Reynolds, and did not know if they would hold the dog for the department while commissioners further debated the necessity of a qualified K-9.

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222 ASPEN BIRMINGHAM Exceptional home on a great street. Beautiful gourmet kitchen. First floor master, 3 car garage and finished basement. $1,780,000

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1377 HAZEL BIRMINGHAM Four bedroom 2006 build on a large lot. Open flr plan includes a gourmet kitchen with granite tops and stainless steel appliances. $689,900

1823 YORKSHIRE BIRMINGHAM Four bedroom colonial on a great 80 ft wide lot in Birmingham Estates. Two car attached garage. Andersen doorwall to a back patio & a beautiful backyard w/sport court. $424,900

4663 HEDGEWOOD BLOOMFIELD HILLS 4 bedroom colonial on a nice lot with Birmingham schools. Finished basement. 2 1/2 car side entrance garage. $349,900

17215 BIRWOOD AVE BEVERLY HILLS 3 bedroom, 3 bath brick ranch. Updated kitchen w/newer white cabs. Finished bsmnt has rec rm, 3rd full bath. Nice deck on fenced lot. $244,900

1456 MELTON BIRMINGHAM Brick ranch in Sheffield Estates. 3 BR, 2 bath.

Finished basement. $209,900

Previous to Chance, the city had a more qualified K-9, and between the two, McDonnell said over a period of 10 years, “the dog brought in more than $10,000 in narcotics.” He noted that “over the last six years, a substantial amount of drugs were found by 'big snuffs', as I call them, by the previous dog. They paid for themselves.”

City manager Jay Cravens noted that “through drug forfeiture, with a better dog, we can recoup better costs.”

Because the Bloomfield Hills' officers are public safety officers, sharing a 24hour shift as police and fire, McClure said, “Because the dog only works with his handler, and officer Reynolds is only here about eight or nine days a month (as a police officer), the costs are quite high. If he were on a police schedule, the dog would be here quite a lot.”

She demanded a budget before approving the new K-9 request.

Commissioner Mike Zambricki said, “It makes sense to have some sort of analysis to be presented.”

Historic committee standing reviewed

By Lisa Brody

A request by Birmingham city staff to change the standing committee of the Historic District Study Committee back to an ad hoc committee, which it once was, was postponed by city commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday, May 20, after historic district study committee members described their efforts to work with the city on historic preservation, and commissioners said more examination was needed.

Birmingham Planning Director Jana Ecker explained to commissioners that at this year's long range planning meeting, a question arose regarding the status of the historic district committee's role as a standing committee. She explained that it was created in 2001 as an ad hoc committee which looked at historic districts in the city, and became a standing committee in 2006, moving into historic preservation and studying the potential for applications for historic preservation. A memo by city manager Bob Bruner to dissolve the committee and make it an ad hoc committee again sparked concerns as to whether that was permissible.

Ecker told commissioners that a meeting with a certified local government official referred them to PA 169, which said that it does not downtownpublications.com

Birmingham, Michigan | 248.644.7000 | skbk.com

have to be a standing committee, but can be either a standing or an ad hoc committee. Ecker recommended to commissioner an ordinance change from a standing committee for the historic district committee to an ad hoc committee “that shall meet as needed by the city commission,” she said, noting that the city manager feels “they should be given direction on projects from the top down rather than generating projects.”

Commissioner Rackeline Hoff asked, “So they've been meeting for seven years. Has the committee been given any direction? Maybe we've been remiss for not giving them any.”

Commissioner Gordon Rinschler noted that since 2006, there have been no requests for additions for historic preservation status, and that perhaps the committee should be working under the auspices of the city's historic museum.

Historic district committee member Russ Dixon said, “The history of the HDC goes back 40 years. Change the ordinance and make it a study commission, and let us go on with our work. But this is really the subject of a workshop, not a public hearing.”

It was noted that part-time planner Sheila Bashiri is a certified historic preservationist, and that she is on the planning department's payroll, whereas the historic museum has limited staff and budget.

No action was taken in order to look into the matter further.

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With nearly 30 years as a Birmingham resident, Michael Sbrocca is your local expert whether you’re buying or selling. He has 25 years of real estate experience spanning from new construction, remodeling, commercial and land development. His wealth of knowledge will provide you the tools required to achieve your desired results. Contact Michael, your local expert today.

New planning appointment made A vacancy at the Bloomfield Hills Planning Commission resulted in the appointment of a zoning board of appeals alternate to the position.

At a special meeting of the Bloomfield Hills City Commission on Wednesday, May 1, resident Susan McCarthy was appointed to the planning commission to fill the remainder of Virginia Fox's term. The appointment is effective June 1, and ends December 31, 2013.

Fox recently submitted her resignation from the planning commission. She did not give a reason for her resignation, said city clerk Amy Burton.

McCarthy has been an alternate to the Bloomfield Hills Zoning Board of Appeals. She will have to resign from that board in order to serve on the planning commission, Burton said.

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FACES

John Hartom

J

ohn Hartom and his wife Lisa Blackburn formed Empty Bowls at Lahser High School as a way to help support a local food drive. Their nonprofit, the Imagine/Render Group, has helped turn a grassroots effort into an international fight against hunger.

“My dad was a cop so we were working class,” Hartom said about his childhood in Dearborn. At the age of five, his dad suffered from multiple heart attacks, disrupting the family's security. “I didn't think of us as poor by any means, but there was an issue of living on the edge.”

In his youth, Hartom enjoyed art and became involved in community service projects at Edsel Ford High School in Dearborn. “It was very much a racist town. It got my attention. It started a little bit of awareness,” he said.

In 1966, he moved to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan, where he earned a degree in sculpture and received his teaching certification.

“It was an incredibly liberating experience to leave really white Dearborn and suddenly be in a community in Ann Arbor with people from all over the world.”

“My number was relatively middle of the road in the draft lottery. I didn't want to go to Vietnam. I thought let's look into education. When I student taught, it was the first day that I decided that was what I wanted to do.”

He taught at high schools in Ypsilanti and Adrian for six years before moving to Bloomfield Hills, where he taught art at Andover High School for 12 years and Lahser High School for ten years.

While speaking with the community service director of Bloomfield Hills Schools, Hartom learned the district was short on funds in supporting a local food drive because one school decided not to participate.

“With one school of 300 kids not participating, they were $300 short. I said my students can help! I just blurted it out but when I went home, I realized I had no idea what that meant.”

The Empty Bowls project was the brainchild of a discussion between Hartom and his wife Lisa that night. It began with his students creating 120 handmade clay bowls, just enough for the Lahser High School staff.

“What happened that day was the kids served the soup and Lisa and I shared a couple words about hunger. We did the event and then we surprised them and said, 'We'd like you to keep your bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls.'” A few audience members wept.

“We realized we had a remarkable opportunity to continue it, but more importantly a responsibility because the day had been magic,” he said. “We called it Empty Bowls, which proved to be a really powerful thing because it's a universal message.”

Hartom and Blackburn began writing materials and distributing them as a way to spread hunger awareness and education.

Their nonprofit organization, the Imagine/Render Group and all-volunteer board, was formed a year later to support the cause. The original idea has since progressed into an international effort, which continues to grow everyday.

“We have several people in Michigan on the board,” he said.

The couple continues Empty Bowls in their current community of Burnsville, North Carolina. “This is what we do. When we're not working, we're volunteering.”

Story: Hayley Beitman

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FACES

Allan Nachman

B

loomfield Township resident Allan Nachman is a dedicated volunteer, accomplished real estate attorney and of counsel to Butzel Long. He recently began sharing his passion for the arts through Cabaret (313), a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing cabaret entertainment to the metro Detroit area.

Nachman grew up in Detroit, a car aficionado, his enthusiasm fueled by his proximity to the auto industry. His early exposure to opera and symphony was through recordings his parents would play throughout the house.

“My dad was a real estate developer and I worked with him in the summers and never went to camp. Real estate intrigued me and I decided that I wanted to become a real estate attorney. I never really considered any other occupation,” he said.

Nachman attended the University of Michigan, receiving both his B.A. and J.D. Two courses in art and music history helped shape his interest in the arts.

Upon graduation from the University of Michigan Law School, Nachman worked for two real estate firms, one of which he helped grow from three lawyers to 28 lawyers.

“Our firm disbanded and I was asked to join the Butzel Long law firm, which I am still affiliated with,” he said. “I've been a real estate lawyer since 1964.”

In the late 1970s, he began developing industrial and high-tech office buildings in the metro Detroit area, which he continues to own and manage with his daughter, Elanah Hunger.

About a year ago, Nachman met Birmingham resident Sandi Reitelman, and discovered a common interest. “She had a passion for cabaret music, as I did.” The two decided to bring the genre of cabaret singing to Detroit and formed a nonprofit organization called Cabaret (313) to bring prominent stars to the area and sponsor performances.

Two soirées, one in Birmingham and one in midtown Detroit, were already a hit. “We've had literally sell-out performances. People are on waiting lists. Starting this fall, we will be bringing cabaret to midtown and downtown Detroit in various venues.” The next performance will take place in June in Grosse Pointe.

So far, Cabaret (313) has been generously supported by “friendraisers”. “Many people have given us wonderful contributions to assist our efforts of bringing this genre to Detroit,” he said.

Nachman is no stranger to giving himself, having volunteered his time and efforts to an overwhelming number of organizations and communities. “I was active in the organized Jewish community with the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and eventually became president of the United Jewish Foundation of Metropolitan Detroit a few years back,” he said.

He has served on the boards of the Hospice of Michigan for many years and most recently was chair of the Friends of Modern and Contemporary Art (FMCA) of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA). The Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Michigan Opera Theater are also very important organizations to him as a supporter of the cultural arts.

Nachman has lived in Bloomfield Township with his wife Joy, for 26 years. They are prolific art collectors and frequently travel to New York to see cabaret singers perform at Cafe Carlyle, the Metropolitan Room and the Oak Room at Algonquin Hotel, which are among a few of their favorite places to enjoy cabaret shows in New York.

“My goal is to continue to be totally active between business, my volunteer activities and hopefully to see an even greater success with Cabaret (313). Retiring is not in my vocabulary.”

Story: Hayley Beitman

Photo: Laurie Tennent

Jill Beshouri Focusing On Families A Birmingham resident for nearly 20 years, Jill knows first hand what the city has to offer. Jill and her husband chose to raise their family in Birmingham because of its hometown feel a beautiful downtown, quaint neighborhoods, close knit community life, great schools, a wonderful place to raise a family. Jills family has put down their roots. It's about quality of life.

Its about Family. It would be Jillâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s privilege to assist you and your family.

For more information about me please visit my website

jbeshouri.maxbroock.com Percentage of my commissions donated to Birmingham School Athletics

2 7 5 S . O l d Wo o d w a r d Av e Birmingham, MI 48009

248.496.9464

BUSINESS MATTERS Mother-daughter salon Bombshell Salon is opening at 580 N. Old Woodward in Birmingham on Friday, June 7. Owner Sue Fontanesi will be opening the new hair salon with her daughter, Melissa. “We’re a motherdaughter team, which is cool. She’s moving in from Chicago. We grew up in Birmingham and are opening our business in Birmingham,” Sue said.

“We’re going to open June 7. We are going to have six stylists and we are platform artists for Kevin Murphy.” The new salon will specialize in color, cutting and session styling.

The Tutoring Center The Tutoring Center will open at 765 E. Maple Road in Birmingham this July.

Franchisee and center director Sarah Rappaport is opening the 1,200 square foot space with her husband, Matt. “I will be the first franchisee in Michigan,” she said. Rappaport worked as a science teacher at a charter school in Southfield for 10 years. After growing frustrated with changing policies and administrative issues, she decided to quit her job and look for an opportunity to work with students. “I stumbled across the Tutoring Center. They are based out of California. I wasn’t looking to be a franchisee. I was just completely blown away because this company is so different than Sylvan (Learning Center) and Kumon and some other companies I had heard about and learned about,” she said. “They take a really unique instructional approach to learning called the Rotational Approach to Learning,” originally designed to help students with Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to improve their focus.

The space will offer two classrooms and be able to tutor 12 children per hour with one-to-one instruction. “If the build-out goes according to plan, I’m looking to open mid-July, just in time for summer programs which prevent the summer brain drain,” Rappaport said.

“We are very proud of this new after school learning center, but we are most excited about the potential it represents for the residents of this community. We have done something important that will improve children’s lives for years to come,” she said. Free diagnostic testing will begin in June.

Watch company coming Those with time on their hands will enjoy the new Bozeman Watch Company, which is scheduled to open at 235 Pierce Street in the old Stacey Leuliette location this June. downtownpublications.com

The Birmingham location will be the company’s first showroom outside of Montana, where they are headquartered. “We are truly excited to finally have a wonderful spot in beautiful downtown Birmingham,” co-founder and CEO Christopher F. Wardle said. “We look forward to participating in becoming a member of the Birmingham community.”

Wardle said they are preparing prints for the remodel and the Birmingham plans are very similar to Bozeman Watch Company’s other showrooms in Montana. Wardle is from Michigan and is excited to bring a showroom to his hometown. “Bozeman Watch Company, which has always utilized designers, engineers and manufacturers in the Detroit area as a part of its production, places faith in the metro Detroit area with placement of its first midwest showroom and technical office relocation.”

Sydney Blake North Sydney Blake North opened in March in the lower level of 730 N. Old Woodward in Birmingham. Owner Diana Boesky opened the Old Woodward location on Friday, March 15. “The salon is a boutique style salon that is very small and intimate,” she said. “It’s very exclusive. It’s a six chair salon. It has a beautiful walk-out lower level with sliding doors with a beautiful patio that overlooks the ravine.” The Sydney Blake North location in the lower level has two entrances, a front door and sliding back door. They offer hair services and feature Boesky’s exclusive jewelry line, Diana Blake Collection.

THE CORNERSTONE OF NEW CONSTRUCTION – A WELL-BUILT MORTGAGE. START WITH A CONSTRUCTION-TO-PERMANENT MORTGAGE LOAN FROM CHARTER ONE.

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Yogurt shop closes Twisted Fruit, a self-serve frozen yogurt shop, has closed at 3630 W. Maple in Bloomfield Township. The yogurt shop, located at Maple and Lahser roads, opened in August 2011.

On November 1, 2012, Twisted Fruit posted a message to their local customers on their Facebook page, “At Twisted Fruit we hope that all of you have had a great season. We are closing for the winter and reopening in the spring. We hope that all of you have a safe and warm winter!” Management noted they are not reopening.

Business Matters for the BirminghamBloomfield area are reported by Hayley Beitman. Send items for consideration to HayleyBeitman@downtownpublications.com.

Items should be received three weeks prior to publication.

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

Mortgages are offered and originated by RBS Citizens, N.A. Charter One is a brand name of RBS Citizens, N.A. (NMLS ID# 433960).

All loans are subject to approval. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. 1119

DOWNTOWN

131

WOLVERINE LAKE

WHITE LAKE

LIVONIA

COMMERCE TWP

Spacious Wolverine Lake home with lake privileges. Just a short walk to sub boat launch, beach and park.

213046876. $137,000

Well maintained and updated cape cod w/all sports Cedar Island lake Privileges.

Full finished walk out basement.

213042862. $94,900

Bring your finishing touches! This spacious ranch is located right across from the school and community pool ready for you to enjoy summer!

213023327. $169,000

Waterfront w/awesome floor plan. Soaring ceilings & windows w/exceptional water/wildlife views.

213045565. $400,000

WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

MILFORD

FERNDALE

FARMINGTON HILLS

Quality built ranch on 1.35 acres!

Located well in popular Franklin Oaks Subdivision. This is one of the best lots in the area. Backs to stream and mature trees. 212101339. $299,000

Prime Milford Location for this beautiful country home on 3 acres. Many upgrades, finished lower level walkout, insulated Pole barn. 213012988. $429,000

Wonderful 1998 rebuilt Dutch Colonial.

Specious kitchen leads out to pressed concrete patio and newer deck, fenced yard. 213008302. $122,900

Outstanding detached site condo in much sought after "Fairways of Copper Creek" golf community. 1st floor master suite.

New Trax deck overlooking the golf course. 213033675. $330,000

PONTIAC

SOUTHFIELD

BLOOMFIELD TWP

ORION TOWNSHIP

Hardwoods through out most of home.

Newer furnace & a/c, siding , windows, shingles. Seller will entertain land contract. 213010392. $34,000

Great starter home or downsizer! Land contract available! 212093560. $74,900

Beautiful setting for this classic brick home sitting on 1.12 acres in Bloomfield Township. Inground pool. 213024043. $425,000

Stunning Toll Brothers home backing to natural preserve with spectacular view. 2 staircases, crown molding, harwood floor & tile. 213004021. $415,000

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

SOUTHFIELD

PONTIAC

BLOOMFIELD HILLS

Charming 3 bedroom ranch in beautiful Southfield community.

Large living room and spacious family room. Dining room and hardwood floors.

212107108. $64,900

Beautiful remodeled ranch. New kitchen w/oak cabinets, new counter tops, paint, new bath, roof, furnace, carpet thru out. 211040871. $89,000

Executive condominium in great location near Birmingham offers sophisticated living. Three gorgeous levels in neutral decor with tasteful upgrades. 213046458. $369,000

FARMINGTON HILLS

DEARBORN HEIGHTS

HIGHLAND TWP

Greeted by beautiful front entry doors, 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bath. Dream kitchen w/brazilian cherry wood floors. 4 season sunroom. 213028266. $329,900

Ranch with extra large lot. Hardwood floors thru out. New roof, spacious 2 car garage with separate work shop.

213029013. $89,900

1 of a kind historic 1870's farmhouse on 5.1 acres. Very private. Many updates. Pole barn, tack barn w/workshop. 2 large fenced in pastures w/sheds.

213047775. $384,900

RELOCATION SERVICES 1-888-21-HOMES WEST BLOOMFIELD TWP

RELOCATING?

DEARBORN

Enjoy this gorgeous & sophisticated architectural design soft contemporary with Darb Lake Beach privileges.

213023841. $349,000

OUR RELOCATION DEPARTMENT

Nice brick 3 bedroom bungalow with 1.5 baths, fireplace, newer roof, basement and garage. 213035018. $104,900

OFFERS LOCAL HOMEFINDING ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS RELOCATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-21-HOMES

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

LIVONIA

BRIGHTON

DETROIT

LATHRUP VILLAGE

Beautiful large lot compliments this sprawling spacious brick ranch home.

Large living room with natural fireplace.

Entertaining size family room plus attached garage. 213034974. $114,900

Rare custom home in Dutchman Farms!

Unparalleled quality throughout this 2990 sq ft home. This home is immaculate, neutral and ready to move into. 213017240. $549,900

Two bedroom two bath . Two swimming pools, exercise room and 24 hour security. 213033933. $38,500

Spacious 3 bedroom on large double lot.

Good flow, updated kitchen w/granite.

Master suite with private bath. New central air. 213047064. $149,900

OCEOLA TWP

OAKLAND TWP

DEARBORN

WATERFORD TWP

Nearly new and ready to move in!

Located in much sought after Hidden Creek Community. Exceptional island kitchen with open floor plan to family room. 213046893. $234,900

Spectacular updated Goodison Place Colonial with updates throughout. Kitchen with granite & built in appliances, hardwood floors throughout first floor.

Professionally decorated by top local designer. 213045596. $716,900

Dearborn Towers condo offers 2 bedrooms and 2 full baths, great floor plan.

Enjoy the pool! 213042776. $73,900

3 bedroom bungalow in Waterford, nice size rooms. 213014102. $39,900

NORTHVILLE

NOVI

DETROIT

LIVONIA

One of a kind Northville estate on treed and professionally landscaped 4.5 acres with creek. A 6000+ sf stone tudor with custom details throughout. 211063530. $1,990,000

Spacious Colonial with 5 upper level bedrooms. Hardwood floors in entry, kitchen and family room. 3 car garage.

213037021. $420,000

Quality brick home, large rooms, two car garage. Land contract terms available.

213017082. $59,500

Freshly painted interior. Move in Ready!

Bay window in living room, newer flooring in kitchen, covered front porch.

Large treed lot. 213041228. $57,850

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

ORION

HOWELL

HOWELL

Traditional layout, open two story foyer, nice kitchen with lots of storage! Master suite has huge walk in closet. This is a must see!

213045339. $274,900

Historically Significant 1890 Victorian 95% restored. Original woodwork, floors, hardware and doors. 10â&#x20AC;&#x2122; ceiling, gorgeous parlors, updated kitchen and bath. 213012659. $269,900

4 years new! Large Windsor Model home in much sought after Hidden Creek Sub. This beautiful neutral home has it all! 213037396. $289,000

FARMINGTON HILLS

WHITE LAKE

WHITE LAKE

Builder's own home with unlimited upgrades! Frank Lloyd Wright inspired.

200 feet on exclusive Coventry Lake.

First floor in-law suite. Short walk to downtown Franklin.

213017409. $965,900

Open floor plan 3 bedroom, 3 bath home with private access and dock to White Lake. All hardwood and tile floors. Master suite with deck.

Beautifully landscaped and views of White Lake. 213045218. $204,900

Quality built brick ranch with main lake frontage. Enjoy all sports Tull Lake. Full walkout lower level. Extensive decking.

213042820. $330,000

RELOCATION SERVICES 1-888-21-HOMES FARMINGTON

RELOCATING?

FARMINGTON HILLS

Wonderful Chatham Hills brick ranch situated right on the park backing to 32 acres of parks, ponds and walking paths. 213036605. $219,900

OUR RELOCATION DEPARTMENT

Ultra Contemporary 5200/Sq Ft walkout. Dramatic 2/story cylinder tower. Marble floor and curved walls begins your tour. Outstanding home!

213046512. $425,000

OFFERS LOCAL HOMEFINDING ASSISTANCE AS WELL AS NUMEROUS RELOCATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. CALL TOLL FREE 1-888-21-HOMES

One of the 10 largest real estate firms in Michigan with multiple offices serving Metro-Detroit Bloomfield Hills (248) 647-8888 | Farmington Hills (248) 855-2000 West Bloomfield (248) 360-9100 | Livonia (734) 462-9800

CLICK or CALL Today (248) 647-8888

Today, Inc. www.century21today.com

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PRIVATE DINING ACCOMMODATIONS ALSO AVAILABLE. Outdoor patio coming soon!

www.Camerons-SteakHouse.com Birmingham 248.723.1700 136

DOWNTOWN

06.13

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.

220: American. Lunch & Dinner, MondaySaturday. Reservations. Liquor. 220 Merrill Street, Birmingham, 48009.

248.645.2150.

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.

Beau Jacks: American. Lunch, MondaySaturday; Dinner, daily. No reservations. Liquor. 4108 W. Maple, Bloomfield Hills, 48301.

248.626.2630.

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.

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. No reservations. 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.

Chen Chow Brasserie: Japanese. Dinner, daily. Reservations. Liquor. 260 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009. 248.594.2469. downtownpublications.com

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.

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, Monday-Saturday. 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.

Fox Grill: American. Lunch, Monday through Friday; Dinner, daily. Sunday brunch. Reservations. Liquor. 39556 Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304. 248.792.6109.

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,

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137

FOCUS ON WINE Discover the delight of Marramiero d’Abruzzo wines

By Eleanor and Ray Heald

t’s exciting to discover new, delicious, complex and affordable wines! That’s how we felt following a blind tasting of Italian wines. When the identity of the wines was revealed, we realized that our discovery was the red wines produced from the montepulciano grape, not to be confused with the Tuscan town of the same name.

After tasting as many montepulcianos as we could find available in the United States, we traveled to Italy’s regions of Le Marche, Molise and Abruzzo, where montepulciano d’Abruzzo is the most popular red wine grown and produced.

Located along the Adriatic Coast, these regions are separated from Tuscany, Umbria and Rome, to the west, by the Apennine Mountains. Abruzzo is mountainous with the only flat areas straddling river valleys.

I

Modern improvements About ten years ago, with a new generation taking the winemaking reins and investment capital on the increase, wine quality began to make major strides in these regions.

Green harvest (removal of excess crop) is now a common technique that ensures total physiological grape maturity.

Vertical shoot positioning allows more direct sun exposure on the fruit.

The most obvious cellar improvement, aside from modern equipment and the use of oak barrels for premium reds, is the employ of outstanding consultants.

Luciano Del Signore, chef/proprietor of Bacco Ristorante in Southfield, introduced us to the wines of Azienda Marramiero, a producer of excellent, well-priced wines of Abruzzo. When Marramiero’s general manager, Antonio Chiavaroli, was in Michigan, we had the opportunity to visit with him and taste his wines.

Following World War II, Dante Marramiero created Azienda (farm) Marramiero. Using pecorino and trebbiano, the white grapes of Abruzzo, as well as the red montepulciano, he replanted vineyards on land which belonged to his family for over a century. At harvest, the fruit is all picked by hand and gently pressed to preserve the wine’s gentle aromas and flavors.

White wines 2011 Marramiero Pecorino Sessanta Passi IGP, $16, made from young vines. Fresh, lively white peach and flower aromas. Great as an aperitif.

2010 Marramiero Pecorino Superiore DOC Abruzzo, $22.

Made from mature vines, it shows a rich, depthful personality and pleasant minerality. Enjoy with fish, chicken, veal or pasta with cream sauce.

Birmingham, 48009. 248.646.1222.

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 & 138

2011 Marramiero Trebbiano d’Abruzzo “Dama”, $14. Made with hand-harvested fruit which received 24-hour skin contact and a gentle press followed by a cold fermentation.

The wine boasts fresh, bright acidity and long floral finish.

2010 Marramiero Trebbiano d’Abruzzo “Anima”, $17. A vineyard select wine with intense, creamy, harmonious impressions. Try it with a rich cioppino.

2010 Marramiero Trebbiano d’Abruzzo “Altare”, $33. Barrel fermented in French and Slavonian oak and then aged 18 months in 100 percent new French oak. Pale golden color, oak spice, notes of saffron and citrus.

Red wines 2010 Marramiero Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC “Dama”, $15. A smooth, drinkable red wine highlighting dark red fruits, flowers, and spice.

Try it with salume and dry cheeses.

2007 Marramiero Montepulciano d’Abruzzo DOC “Inferi”, $37. Harvested from old vines, the juice was macerated on the skins, given a long, cool fermentation and aged 18 months in new French oak. Deep flavors of dark fruits, cocoa and oak spice. Perfect with a dry aged and grilled ribeye steak.

Wine picks Last month, we recommended a bevy of wines for summer enjoyment. Here are a few more.

Italy: 2009 Gabbiano Alleanza, $35 (Rosso di Toscana); 2009 Feudi di San Gregorio Falanghina, $23; and 2011 TerreDora Dipaolo Falanghina, $15.

Argentina: 2012 Alamos Red Blend, $13 (50 percent malbec).

California: 2010 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir, $55. 2011 Tablas Creek Cotes de Tablas, $30, and 2010 Tablas Creek Esprit de Beaucastel, $55, were produced from the same four estate-grown varietals, propagated from Chateau de Beaucastel estate budwood cuttings. “Esprit” showcases mourvedre and “Cotes” shows the influence of grenache in the blend. If possible, try both side-by-side for an intriguing palate education.

2012 Rodney Strong Charlotte’s Home Sauvignon Blanc, $17 – superb value.

2010 Dry Creek Foggy Oaks Chardonnay, $20 – outstanding.

2011 Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, $50 – simply delicious.

2010 Patz & Hall Hyde Vineyard Chardonnay $58 – classic Carneros.

Eleanor & Ray Heald have contributed to numerous international publications including the Quarterly Review of Wines. Contact them by e-mail at focusonwine@aol.com.

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.

Leo’s Coney Island: American.

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, daily. No reservations. 154 S. Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

DOWNTOWN

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.

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, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily. No reservations. 183 North Old Woodward Avenue, Birmingham, 48009.

248.644.2181.

Northern Lakes Seafood Co.: Seafood.

Lunch, Monday-Friday; Dinner, daily.

No reservations. Liquor. 39495 North Woodward Avenue, Bloomfield Hills, 48304. 248.646.7900.

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.

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 06.13

& 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 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.

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.

What Crepe?: French. Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner, Tuesday-Saturday, Breakfast & Lunch, Sunday. No reservations. 172 N. Old Woodward, Birmingham, 48009. 248.792.5634.

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

248.566.3566

AT THE TABLE What crêpe? The question is definitely answered

By Eleanor Heald

S

and raw pecans. Spicy Chicken Truffle, $13.75, is pan seared marinated chicken breast, swiss cheese, spinach and truffle zip made with a spicy kick.

These three favorites from a long list of options are folded more like a wrap. Only two options: Crêpe de Crevette, $14.75, with marinated shrimp and Garlic Parmesan, $16.50, with crusted smoked salmon, are folded traditionally.

Besting sweet favorites are the Chocolate Eclair, $11; Nutty Monkey, $13.25 (think banana split); and Mixed Berry $10.25.

It’s not what, but who accomplishes this kitchen mastery. In his early 30s, Schoolcraft culinary grad Chef Rob Gunter, works in tandem with self-taught and highly motivated, 20something Erik Stephenson, who fits into the culture of What Crêpe?

temming from the French, via the Latin crispa, crêpes originated from Brittany, a region in northwest France. However, these thin pancakes are now widely served around the world with a variety of fillings, both savory and sweet.

This conjures up my first memory – a sidewalk crêperie about a block away and in view of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Crêpe in hand, tourists marvel at one of the famous Paris icons.

Actually, you can find sidewalk crêperies along many busy Paris streets. There’s little difference in the prodBistro license uct – they are all delicious.

In February 2013, What But you know how it is with Crêpe? was granted a your first memorable expeBirmingham bistro rience! license.

Plans are to alter Paul Jenkins, 39 yearsthe interior to add tables old and best known as “PJ,” at the front windows and opened What Crêpe? in eight seats at the bar to Birmingham on Valentine’s increase interior seating Day 2012. “Birmingham,” to 42. A dining platform PJ says, “is a great market with 23 seats in two parkfor brand presence. ing spots on N. Old Additionally, I live two Woodward will offer warm blocks away and can walk weather outdoor eating to work. My challenge is to options. change the way the masses Wine, beer and spirits think about a crêpe. It’s will be offered, but until more than a breakfast or bistro plans are completdessert menu item.”

What Crêpe?’s atmos- Garlic Parmesan Crusted Smoked Salmon - garlic parmesan smoked salmon, ed, beverages remain juices, soda, coffee and phere is Old World, visually capers, red onion, avocado, tomatoes, house made dijon dill sour cream tea. focused on the architecture open face. Downtown photo: Laurie Tennent/Laurie Tennent Studio of the Eiffel Tower. A French cultural experience is enhanced by Edith Piaf, the hallmark What crêpe? 172 N. Old Woodward (north of Maple on the of French female singers, who grabs your listening pleasure east side), Birmingham, 248.792.5634. Tuesday-Thursday with her rendition of “Non, Je ne Regrette Rien,” also fea- 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday until 9:30 p.m. Saturday 9 a.m.-9:30 tured in the 2010 film “Inception.” Other vocalists and bands p.m. Sunday until 3 p.m. Parking: street metered and city of an earlier era keep that period alive as background music. structure. Other locations: 317 S. Washington Ave, Royal Oak, 248.629.9391; and 241 E Liberty St., Ann Arbor, 734.369.3207.

Palate pleasures What Crêpe?’s menu is not solely crêpes. In standard format, the menu begins with appetizers, which feature QUICK BITES crispies with a choice of dips. Crispies are housemade from After recently being named Chef of the Year by the over-cooked crêpes. Dips are both savory and sweet and American Culinary Federation’s Michigan Chefs de Cuisine range from $7 to $16. Like all items on the menu, portions Association, Birmingham’s Big Rock Chop House Executive Chef Brian Henson has gone on to win a Silver Medal at the are generous and shareable.

Four salads ($5 to $14) abound with fresh ingredients and American Culinary Federation’s Regional Chef of the Year can be styled to suit vegetarian or vegan preferences using competition held in Little Rock, Arkansas. His winning preparation was Prosciutto Wrapped Rabbit, Rabbit Stuffed the large “Build your Own” menu section.

Birmingham manager Brian Speer identified the three Polenta, Morel & Rabbit Ragout with Collard Greens, Carrot most popular savory and sweet menu items. Signature Puree and English Peas.

Ribeye Truffle, $16.50, features pan-seared rib eye steak, Eleanor Heald is a nationally published writer who also writes the spinach, wild mushrooms, swiss cheese and signature truf- wine column in a double byline with her husband Ray for fle zip sauce. The Obvious, $13.50, showcases pan seared Downtown. Suggestions for Quick Bites section can be e-mailed house marinated chicken, caramelized apples, spinach, feta to QuickBites@downtownpublications.com.

HERE'S TO OUR LOCAL GRADS...

AND TO OUR GREAT SCHOOLS. Whether you're welcoming home your favorite grad that left the nest, or cheering for our grads of tomorrow, your home needs might be changing. I can help no matter what stage of life you might be at. Because every moment is here to be cherished. And, the journey should be a great one, whether it's to the dorm, buying your first home, finding something a little bigger - or moving back to someplace a little smaller. Here's to Life's Journey, our Teachers and Our Schools...And, Here's To Our Hard-Working Kids!

Lorraine Yalman Office: (248) 644-6300 Cell: (248) 425-7426 Email: lyalman@cbwm.com Web: cbwm.com/lyalman All Star

294 East Brown Street Birmingham, MI

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THE COMMUNITY HOUSE

Make A Change, Naturally

TCH Events Celebrate Michiganders Young Michigan Professionals: June 6th, 6:30-9:30 p.m. TCH will be celebrating young professionals (age 23-39) on our outdoor terrace to thank all those who have either stayed in Michigan or returned to Michigan after college. Our Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a hosting a “Networking Uncorked” evening with tastings by Unique Wine Cellars, Chambord vodka, Jack Daniels and Herradura tequila; biscotti by Cooper Street Cookies and appetizers. No charge; register at www.tchserves.org or call 248.644.5832.

Celebrating Nonagenarians! – 90 And Beyond: Luncheon, Thursday, June 13th. As far as TCH is concerned, we could never celebrate, honor and thank those enough who built our beautiful community. We are proud to host our second annual “90 and Beyond” luncheon for nonagenarians (that’s anyone 90 years old and older) from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Last year we had a capacity crowd as children, grandchildren, friends, neighbors and advisors saluted people in their 90s. The room was filled with magical energy as we honored and thanked these wonderful citizens. We also had a few businesses that were over 90 years old, who we hope to welcome again.

Camille Jayne

How It Works: Thanks to Bank of Birmingham, 90 year olds come free to the luncheon ($35 for those under 90). They are accompanied by their children, grandchildren, friends and neighbors. We ask that the 90+ year olds give us a “then and a now” photo (one from their past and one current). When our guests come in, we will have professional photographer, Aly Darin, take photos of them. Once in the Wallace ballroom enjoying a catered TCH lunch, we will put up each 90+ year old honoree’s photos on our big screen as we tell the crowd a few fun facts about each of their lives. We then present them with a thank you, keepsake gift.

We’re celebrating Birmingham’s 1st Thursday

EVERY Thursday!

5-7 pm thru 8/31

Through the Decades Presentation: We will have a fun presentation on “Cars and Stars Through the Decades” – showcasing one car each decade starting in 1920 through 2010, along with famous movie stars who owned that car, and highlight the top song and movies during that decade.

European facial.............only $44.99 Swedish Massage ...........only $44.99 Pedicures ...........................only $29.99

Our Wonderful Sponsors: Aly Darin Photography, Baldwin House, Brookdale Senior Living, Cadillac of Novi, Heartland, Next Step 4 Seniors, and Southfield Chrysler Jeep are helping us celebrate. Register at www.tchserves.org or by calling 248.644.5832.

Farm To Table Block Party Celebrating MI Grown: Saturday, Sept. 7. What better way to celebrate our community than to have a block party for up to 1,000 people on a Saturday afternoon with food and drink all made in Michigan? We’re blocking off the streets around TCH. From 4-8 p.m., people will sample chef tastings from 25 local restaurants, local winery and brewery tastings (also for sale), fresh produce from local farmers, honey, jams, chocolates, cheeses, coffee and teas, breads, desserts, and more. We’ll have a farm animal petting area and live music. Baldwin Library will host a fun event for children at 3 p.m. Kate and Robb Harper, co-publishers of the incredible “edible WOW” magazine, are co-chairing our event.

Training + Talent + 30 Years Experience = TRUST

Chefs and Merchants are Lining Up to be part of what is sure to be an annual, signature event. Already participating restaurants are: 220, Commonwealth Café, Forest Grill, Fox Grill, Northern Lakes Seafood, Peabody’s, Roast, The Root, Townhouse Bistro, Try it Raw. Merchants so far are: Great Harvest Breads, Imerman Cake Company, Marcia’s Munchies, Market Square, Peteet’s Cheesecakes, Slow Jams, Cooper Street Cookies, Tea and Spice Exchange – and we’ve just started putting the word out. The PSD is our partner, and Beaumont Hospital and the Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber will join us as well. $35/adult; $10 per child. Price includes two drinks. Sponsorships, restaurants, and merchant vendors booths are still available. To register: www.tchserves.org or call 248.644.5832. Rain or shine (we have the interior of the House reserved just in case), join us!

Don’t Forget: Bulletproof Your Success ™ Lecture June 12th: “Communication Excellence – The Art of Woo.” 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $35. Register at www.tchbulletproof.org Camille Jayne is President & CEO of TCH. downtownpublications.com

DOWNTOWN

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DMC Physician Most medical insurance accepted

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Here is the update on the recent social scene. Many more photos from each event appear online each week at downtownpublications.com where readers can sign up for an e-mail notice when the latest social scene column is posted.

Past columns and photos are also archived at the website for Downtown.

Oakland Bar Foundation’s Signature Event

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1. Foundation president Liz Luckenback (left) with judge Karen McDonald and Jeff Weiss of Birmingham.

2. Event chair Chuck Moore (left) of Birmingham and Mark St. Peter of Royal Oak. 3. Caitlin (left) and Kaveh Kashef (left) of Grosse Pointe, with Scott Taylor of Berkley and Patrick McCauley of Birmingham.

4. Judge Kathy McCann (left) of Livonia with Deborah Ribitwer and judge Jim Alexander of Bloomfield.

5. Robert Sosin (left) of Royal Oak with Jonathan and Sandra Green of Bloomfield and Lynn Sirich of Birmingham. 6. John (left) and Debbie Schrot and their son-in-law Jeffrey Johnston of Birmingham. 7. Tom Kirvan of Birmingham with Anne Tull of Petoskey. 8. Jason Liss (left) of Bloomfield, Karen Safran of Commerce, and Pat King of Canton. 9. Tessa (left) and Jeff Bagalis of Birmingham with Clarice and Ray Roth of W. Bloomfield. 10. Diane Dietle (left) of Commerce with executive director Lisa Stadig Elliot of Milford.

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Lighthouse Clutch for a Cause luncheon

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1. Lighthouse Volunteer of the Year Sue Nine (center) of Bloomfield with event co-chairs Vicki Vlasic (left) and Sheryl Briggs of Orchard Lake. 2. Event co-chair Kathy Broock Ballard (left) of Orchard Lake and Mollie Proctor of Bloomfield.

3. Lighthouse board chair Laurie Horvath (left) of W. Bloomfield and speaker Becky Sorensen of Bloomfield. 4. Joy DeCinso (left), Patty Guesquiere and Alia Dietz of Bloomfield. 5. Eva Dodds (left) of Bloomfield, Sherry Thomas of Milford and Kathy Cubbin and Cindy Van Dusen of Bloomfield. 6. Anna Rea (left) of Birmingham and Linda Kane of Bloomfield. 7. Sally Mezzey (left) of Birmingham and Judy Anderson of Bloomfield.

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Oakland Bar Foundation’s Signature Event There must have been at least a few adversaries in the crowd of 400-plus Sally Gerak lawyers and judges at the bar foundation’s fundraiser at Oakland Hills Country Club, but you’d never have known it from looking. Everybody was on the schmooze - socializing, sipping and supping at the sold-out-with-a-waiting-list cocktail gathering. No dummies, the bar members have learned that sponsors get first dibs for the $125 tickets so there are too many to name. Know that the biggest check-writing sponsors were Flagstar Bank, Conway Mackenzie and Computing Source. Their generosity led the way to a record-setting event total of $266,200, to the great delight of foundation president Liz Luckenback, who did not stop grinning all night. The funds are earmarked for local legal aid and education nonprofits. For more information, visit www.ocba.org.

Lighthouse Clutch for a Cause luncheon The fun was in the bag, so to speak as 110 guests checked out the donated purses in the silent auction at the Orchard Lake Country Club luncheon. And there were big bargains, with such treasures as a $2,000 Gucci going for a fraction of the retail cost. In all, the bidding for the 57 donated purses totaled $10,000-plus. The highlights of the luncheon program were brief speeches about personal experiences by event co-chair Vicki Vlasic and Becky Sorensen and the volunteer experiences of Lighthouse Career Dressing coordinator Karen Lockman. The latter made a compelling case for donations to her program. Kathleen Gwinn was likely the happiest guest. She won the raffle for the ruby red crystal Judith Leiber clutch worth several thousand dollars. The event raised a nifty $30,300 for the social service agency.

The next Lighthouse fundraiser is the Salute America on June 21 at Oakland Hills Country Club. Laura Stapleton and Ann Godfrey Endres are chairing the event which will honor Humble Design’s Treger Strasberg and The Village Club Foundation. For tickets ($150), visit www.LighthouseOakland.org or call (248) 972.1493.

An Evening for Starfish Family Services What began 50 years ago as the Northwestern Child Guidance Clinic evolved into Starfish Family Services in 1998. Its vision, according to CEO Ann Kalass, is that all children start school ready to succeed. Nearly 350 Starfish supporters celebrated that vision during a party at The Henry Ford. Arriving guests, including gold sponsor Phillip Fisher, were welcomed by happy Head Start kids. All savored a strolling dinner and musical review by a University of Michigan performance group. It featured the “PNC Grow Up Great” song, a salute to the volunteers from PNC Bank who received the Starfish Great Hearts Award. Starfish board chair Jonathan Citrin presented it to PNC regional president Ric DeVore who noted that “…early childhood education is the best investment we can make.” Guests also collaborated on a colorful mosaic art work, applauded Starfish parent Darrin Little‘s testimonial and accepted gold sponsor Ford Fund’s invitation to send tweets from the party. Ford gave Starfish $10,000 for the tweets, bringing the evening’s proceeds to some $65,000 to help Starfish serve more than10,000 children and families each year.

Beyond Basics’ Come Together for Children And speaking of school success, 250 supporters of Beyond Basics were celebrating exactly that across the road at The Henry Ford’s

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK An Evening for Starfish Family Services

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1. Donna and PNC’s Ric DeVore of Bloomfield.

2. Sponsors Bob (left) and Susie Citrin with their son / board and event chair Jonathan Citrin and Nicole Antakli of Birmingham. 3. Gold sponsor / board member Phillip Fisher (center) of Bloomfield with his daughter Amanda (left) of Birmingham and his wife Lauren. 4. Jim (left) and Suzanne Bologna of Birmingham and Peggy Krug of Commerce. 5. PNC’s Boyd Pethel and his wife Jan of Birmingham, Dennis Pheney of Farmington Hills and SFS CEO Ann Kalass of Northville.

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Beyond Basics’ Come Together for Children

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3 1. Gary and Beyond Basics co-founder Joanne Wagerson of Bloomfield.

2. George Blaha (left) of Troy, Ethan Gross of W. Bloomfield, Dr. Clara Smith of Detroit and Pam Good of Birmingham. 3. Linda Orlans (left) of Birmingham with Thirkell students Ciara Cade and Keith Hightower of Detorit. 4. Mike and Annette Dul of Bloomfield. 5. Jack Krasula (left) of Bloomfield and Ira Jaffe of Farmington Hills. 6. Holly Hunt (left), Denise Marks, Susan Sohn of Bloomfield and Diane Zane of Birmingham.

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Band of Angels’ Starry Night Gala

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1. Band of Angels founder / CEO Cynthia Hutchison and her husband Joe of Rochester Hills. 2. Cathy and John Roberts of Bloomfield. 3. Lisa and Andre Pidun of Bloomfield.

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Lovett Hall the same night as the abovementioned event. For eight years, Beyond Basics volunteers have been working with students and teachers at Thirkell Elementary in Detroit and it was among the top-ranked in the recent Excellent Schools Detroit report. No wonder there was a standing ovation for its principal, Dr. Clara Smith, when she received the Education Hero award from BB board chair Ken Gross and BB co-founder Pam Good. Other honorees applauded were Josh Linkner, Karen O’Keefe, and David and Jackie Ellis. Many in the crowd sported blinking lapel stars, symbols that they had donated $300 to support a student for 12 months. And Dan Stall garnered $45,000 in the short live auction that followed the awards portion of the program. Combined with the silent auction ($11,000), the event proceeds totaled $175,000 which will help BB conduct writing, publishing and art programs in addition to getting low performing children reading at grade level in six weeks.

Band of Angels’ Starry Night Gala Cynthia Hutchison founded Band of Angels in 1994 to increase awareness and opportunity for individuals with Down syndrome. This year its annual Starry Night Gala fundraiser attracted 160 to the Townsend for auction bidding, dinner, dancing and a program. Hutchison began the latter by noting that young people with Down syndrome “…work harder to sit, crawl, stand and talk than their peers. And yet they face each day of school and work with vigor and joy and perseverance. They are our inspiration.” A video of Owen Grosser’s miraculous basketball shot that went viral on You Tube and speaker 22-yearold Abby Loy verified Hutchison’s declaration. Loy, a community college student, presented “The Truth about Down Syndrome.”

She received a standing ovation when she concluded with the wish to be an inspiration to others. Thanks to sponsors, the silent auction ($10,000), live auction bidding conducted by Charles Wickins ($28,000) and a gift from the Knights of Columbus, Starry Night 2013 raised $65,000.

Karmanos Cancer Institute Dinner Proud workers escorted the 550 guests down hallways into the gigantic guts of the General Motors’ Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center for the 31st annual Karmanos Dinner. For the social hour, folks gathered at stand up tables or in comfortable lounge groupings. Many checked out the glistening display of the diamond pave cuff bracelet Tapper’s donated for a raffle that raised $20,800. Static displays of a quirky, moss-covered Chevy Volt and the edgy 2014 Stingray Corvette convertible both attracted lots of attention, for different 06.13

SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK reasons. Greenery and fabric screened some stacks of equipment, but the silent assembly line seemed to be begging for someone to push the “start” button. When guests gathered at elegantly dressed tables for the dinner created by Forte Belanger, they first saw an inspirational patient story featuring Mary Adzigian’s experience at Karmanos (“I’m a walking miracle,” said she). It let everybody know why they were there. And when event chairs GM’s Mark Reuss and his wife Kim took center stage, Mark gave a call out to plant manager Doneen McDowell, UAW Shop Chairman Don La Forest, and all the workers for making the facility shine for the soiree. He also confirmed GM’s continued support of Karmanos, announcing that the 2014 dinner chairs will be GM VP/CFO Dan Ammann and his wife Pernilla. A brief live auction of eight packages, conducted by Spanky Assiter, raised $140,000. He’s the same Barrett-Jackson auctioneer who got Rick Hendrick to bid $1 million last month for the first 2014 Stingray GM gave to Karmanos. Entertainment by The Four Tops, dancing and dessert concluded the evening.

But the beneficence of the sponsors, especially Chevrolet, GM and the GM Fund ($400,000), led the record-setting $2,534,635 and will live on in Karmanos’ state-of-thescience cancer research and cancer care.

Karmanos Cancer Institute Dinner

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4 1. Event chairs Kim (left) and Mark Reuss with their son Grant of Bloomfield and Cheryl Hall Lindsay of W. Bloomfield. 2. Danialle (left) and Peter Karmanos of Orchard Lake with Vivian Pickard of Bloomfield. 3. Event sponsors Lil (left) and Alex Erdeljan of Bloomfield and Stephanie and Barry Zekelman of Windsor, ONT. 4. Jeff (left) and Ina Levinson of Bloomfield with event pioneer Doreen Hermelin and Mel Lester of Bingham Farms. 5. Jennifer and David Fischer and the Corvette Stingray that sold at auction for $1 million to benefit Karmanos. 6. Raghad Farah (center) of Fenton with Gretchen Davidson (left) and Marisa Stutz of Birmingham. 7. Irwin and Roberta Madorsky of Bloomfield. 8. Elyse Foltyn (left) of Birmingham and Fair Radom of Bloomfield.

9. Barbara (left) and Larry Schiff of Bloomfield with Sandy and Alan Schwartz of Franklin. 10. Dick and Eleanor Gabrys of Bloomfield.

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Academy of the Sacred Heart Benefit Michelle and Mark Jonna and their crew of wizards told Academy of the Sacred Heart loyalists to “Follow the Yellow Brick Road,” and 220 did just that the night Benefit 2013 concluded. The field house was abloom in poppies as parents and alums bid $40,000 for the 150 silent auction items, including treasured student artwork.

They also dined on Land of Oz, Emerald City and Kansas theme cuisine created by the Jonna family’s Plum Market. And when ASH-alum dad Rip Hayes got the bidding going on 30 items, they applauded the winning bid of $8,000 for the Modern Marvel upscale club/play house created by talented friends of the academy. They also cheered the winning bidders of the Super Bowl XLVII in NYC ($10,000), which brought the live auction total to some $80,000. But the biggest cheer came from Holly and Steve Powell when the raffle ticket they held was drawn as the winner of a six-day, all expense trip for six to Disney World. A Patron Afterglow with toe tapping tunes by The Hard Lessons ( ASH staffers Augie and Korin Visocchi) wrapped up the yearlong effort that’s expected to raise some $380,000 to supplement tuition at Michigan’s oldest independent school.

Garden Club’s Lilly Land Fashion Luncheon The Bloomfield Hills branch of the 06.13

Women’s National Farm & Garden association is more commonly called the Bloomfield Hills Garden Club. It was started by Mrs. Henry Ford in 1929 and is old enough to count several generations of some families as members. Lynn Ferron chaired one of its uncommon non-member events planned to raise funds for service projects. It brought 150 members and their friends to The Townsend which became Lilly Land – as in Lilly Pulitzer. Because Lilly designer Paige Smith’s grandmother Dodie Smith and mother Shelly Smith are both club members, she designed the colorful invitations and programs for the lunch and fashion show. And because Ferron is an avid booster of Northwood University, she engaged students from NU’s fashion marketing degree program to model the fashions from the Lilly Pulitzer Somerset store. Diana Day and Maureen D’Avanzo’s young granddaughters joined the college girls on the runway. Before the show, club president Elise Fisher Hayes thanked seven past presidents “…for planting seeds of influence, radiance and culture.” These were Cecily O’Connor, Lynn Stinson, Joanne Brody, Judy McCarthy Lodish, Stephanie Kemp, Bev Moore and Sis Fisher. The latter, along with Dodie Smith, also designed the Lillyesque center pieces Before the Palm Beach-like luncheon concluded, Ferron announced that the little souvenir flower care booklet was a reprisal of one Marilyn Flint’s grandmother had created for the club in 1973. She also said proceeds from the event will enable the club to refill its grant program and noted that the 2,000 daffodil bulbs they donated to the city of Bloomfield Hills are blooming at Long Lake and Woodward.

Academy of the Sacred Heart Benefit

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5 1. Event chairs Matt (left) and Michelle Jonna of Bloomfield with Michelle and Victor Saroki of Birmingham. 2. Head of school Sister Bridget Bearss (left), event coordinator Duffy Wineman and her fiancé Jack Marwil of Bloomfield. 3. Susan Chae (left) of Waterford, Andrea Yuhn of Birmingham and Keenie Feiger of Bloomfield. 4. Mike (left) and Debbie Gerard of Birmingham with Jim and Lisa Bardy of W. Bloomfield. 5. Terry (left) and Mary Earls with Gary and Marie Kadlec of Bloomfield. 6. Laura (left) and Andy Sheets of Waterford with Sheila and Alan Ray of Bloomfield.

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1 Women’s Division Project HOPE’s Linda Juracek-Lipa chaired a splendid luncheon that celebrated Project HOPE’s Women’s Division 50th year of existence.

Nine WD presidents were in attendance, as was Jeffrey Bauer, whose late mother Addie was one of the founding members.

The barbershop quartet Coda Honor entertained the 65 guests with song before Sue Nine did likewise with perfectly chosen words. These included recollections of very fancy fundraisers, including a 1977 Ascottheme party in Grosse Pointe and the gala opening event for the Renaissance Center.

The original S.S. Hope, which was used to deliver medical assistance around the world, has been replaced by land-based support programs and fundraising has changed since the WD was founded. But the women continue to provide funds for Health Opportunities to People Everywhere, and each president got a certificate of appreciation from Project HOPE headquarters in Millwood, VA. downtownpublications.com

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7 1. Club president Elise Hayes (left), Maureen D’Avanzo and event chair Lynn Ferron of Bloomfield. 2. Past president Sis Fisher (left) with Barbara Ghesquiere and Alice Aikens of Bloomfield, Margie Smith of Birmingham and Lynn Duffy of Milford. 3. Nancy (left), Dodie and Shelly Smith of Bloomfield. 4. Christa Schwartz (left), Donna Leland and past president Lynn Stinson of Bloomfield.

5. Past presidents Joanne Brody (left) and Cecily O’Connor of Bloomfield. 6. Past presidents Judy McCarthy Lodish (left) and Stephanie Kemp of Bloomfield. 7. Kathy Antonini (left), Connie Salloum and past president Bev Moore of Bloomfield. 8. Mitzi Martin (left) with her daughter Makenzie and Peyton and mother Diana Day of Birmingham. 9. Kathy O’Keefe (left) of Birmingham and Laurie Akroyd of Bloomfield. 10. Kathy Breech (left) and her mother Margie Nederlander of Bloomfield.

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK HAVEN’s Promenade of Hope

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HAVEN’s Promenade of Hope HAVEN’s annual Promenade of Hope attracted 370 supporters to the Royal Park Hotel where 125 arrived early for the VIP reception in the sun drenched Conservatory.

Before dinner they joined the throng perusing the silent auction, which raised $26,585.

The dinner program had highlights. A 16year-old honor student named Dymond Harding kicked it off with a powerful song.

Emcee/host Diana Lewis revealed for the first time that she witnessed domestic violence in her own home that “…looked wonderful from the outside… (but) I cried more than I smiled.” Survivor Julie Frawley got a standing ovation when she finished telling about the horror of an intruder raping her 26 years ago and how HAVEN helped her recover, gave her hope and stood by her in court where the rapist got a life sentence. A brief live auction raised $16,400 and Pam Wyett held the winner in the 52-card raffle. Thanks also to Kelly Services and other generous sponsors, the event raised $272,755. Supporters continue to work on gathering more Seeds of Hope, actually half of the capital campaign goal of $5 million needed to break ground for HAVEN’s new facility.

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1. Event chairs Meg Gordy (left) of Beverly Hills and Lara Phillip of Rochester Hills with decorations chair Deb Roelofs of Troy. 2. 52-card raffle winner / committee member Pam Wyett of Bloomfield. 3. HAVEN CEO Beth Morrison (left) of Bloomfield with featured speaker / survivor Julie Skotzke and board chair Terry Merritt of Novi. 4. Emcee Diana Lewis of Farmington Hills with sponsor Ford’s Brad Simmons of Birmingham. 5. Committee member Lynda Ronie (left) of Bloomfield with pioneer supporter Beth Lieberman of W. Bloomfield. 6. Gregg and committee member Carole Brumm of Bloomfield. 7. Jerry (left) and Mary Ann Lievois of Bloomfield and Pietro Sarcina of Troy.

8. Beth Chappell (center) of Bloomfield with Ki and Kevin Hammer of Farmington Hills. 9. Alicia Masse (left) of W. Bloomfield with Barbara Whittaker of Bloomfield who is bidding in super silent auction on Artisanal Firebowl. 10. Erika Walker (left) of Rochester Hills and Susan Foley of Birmingham.

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Project Healing Waters’ Healing on the Fly Here’s a new one on me – Project Healing Waters. It uses fly fishing, fly tying education and outings to help rehab disabled soldiers and veterans. Strictly volunteers, PHW staged their first local fundraiser at the Iroquois Club and 140 attended, including Manresa’s Fr. Gregory Hyde who did the invocation. After he heard PHW pioneers Steve Ladd and Paul Rucciuti describe the scope and value of the healing power of solitude and nature, he offered the vets retreats at Manresa. Two veterans who lost limbs in battle were special guests.

John Swanson said he totally forgot his pain during the two hours he was tying his first fly and since has developed a passion for fly tying and the lifelong skills PHW imparts to veterans. Jessica Clements, who was given a 2 percent chance of living after taking a roadside bomb in Iraq in 2004, has been so heroic that PHW presented her one of two custom bamboo fly fishing rods – the Jessica Rod. Jud Street paid $2,000 for Jessica Rod #2 in the live auction that followed dinner. Mark Wayde, Cindy Broderick, Charles Wickins, Ladd and Rucciuti put together the fundraiser in a mere two months. They are very pleased that the inaugural local effort netted roughly $60,000 for PHW. This includes the proceeds from the silent auction ($10,000), live auction ($20,000) and dedicated giving ($23,000). For more information about the project devoted to healing those who serve, go to www.projecthealingwaters.org.

06.13

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SOCIAL LIGHTS/SALLY GERAK Project Healing Waters’ Healing on the Fly

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1. Event chair Mark Wayde (left) of Bloomfield with veteran Jessica Clements and her fiancé Shane Slagle of Canton, OH. 2. Committee members Steve Ladd (left) of Carson City, Cindy Broderick of Bloomfield and HW regional director Paul Rucciuti of Davenport, IA. 3. Committee member Charles Wickins (left) with George Whitehead and Peter Sobelton of Birmingham. 4. Karla Sherry (center) of Bloomfield with John Street (left) and Ron McCormick of Birmingham.

5. Veterans Joe Gabelsberger (left) and Ray Mebarak of Grosse Pointe with Fr. Greg Hyde and Hugh Buchanan of Bloomfield. 6. Jim Ross (left), Rich Sorensen and Lary Goldman of Bloomfield. 7. Bloomfield banker Nave Grewal (left) of Oxford and David Underdown of Birmingham.

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Kadima’s Healthy Body Healthy Mind

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Bound Together’s High Tea Since it was founded in 1994 by some retired Pontiac teachers, Bound Together has provided Pontiac elementary school students no cost, individualized reading, writing and mathematics tutoring and healthy dinners three days per week. Based at Pontiac’s All Saints Episcopal Church, it receives no public funding and is dependent on donations and its own fundraising. To that end, it staged its first High Tea and 85 supporters (at $15 per) attended. It featured elegant tea fare, entertainment by two of the young participants accompanied by pianist Steve Wogaman, and a fun auction of donated purses. BT executive director Jane Porter was pleased that the tea raised enough money to cover program costs for a month. To support this program, go www.boundtogetherpontiac.org.

Cinco de Mayo The first ever fundraising event at the Oakland County Farmers Market attracted 300 for music, art, great food and camaraderie. Car dealer Bill Golling and Carmen Martinez were the honorees the fiesta that was co-presented by Centro Multicultural La Familia, a social service agency, and the Oakland County Parks Foundation. Nonstop activities included: strolling and Mariachi musicians, Mexican cuisine, Aztec and Folkloric dancers, bingo, soccer demos, a silent auction, art exhibit, cooking demonstration by MSU instructors and Dancing under the Stars with DJ Onda Latina. The colorful party netted nearly $20,000 for CMLF to provide bilingual services to children and families.

1 1. Deenie Urban (left) and Kerri Bekowitz of W. Bloomfield, Susan Kohl of and Lee Ann Murtland of Farmington Hills. 2. Daniella Sprecher of W. Bloomfield and Jannie Teitelbaum of Bloomfield.

3. Event chairs Barbara Cohn (left) of W. Bloomfield, Michele Saulson of Franklin and Robin Tobin-Murav of Farmington Hills.

Kadima’s Healthy Body Healthy Mind The Maple Theatre is proving to be a good venue for some fundraisers. More than 250 people gathered there for a delicious continental brunch catered by Annabel Cohen and socializing in the lobby before adjourning to a theater for the program.

Michelle Saulson, co-chair with Robin Tobin-Murav and Barbara Cohn, welcomed all and introduced a well-crafted video about Kadima. It provides a wealth of services for individuals and their families affected by psychiatric disabilities. Then spiritual medium Rebecca Rosen, who had so wowed the crowd last year that she was invited back, did not disappoint. She amazed the audience with the accuracy of her readings. The event raised $20,000, including the $2,000 raised by a raffle for a private reading with Rosen. Kadima supporters will convene again on Monday, July 15, for the annual golf outing at Franklin Hills Country Club and Tuesday, Oct. 1, for the Annual Benefit at the Fisher Theatre to see “Miss Saigon”. For information, go to www.kadimacenter.org.

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American Diabetes Association Unmasked Gala More than 325 guests, including cochairs Bob Binson and Tom Brisse, attended the 21st annual Commitment for a Cure gala at the MGM Grand. All frolicked amid the carnival ambiance featuring masks, feathers, confetti and Mardi Gras dancers.

During the social hour, Ben Sharkey sang while guests bid nearly $18,000 on hundreds of donated items. Highlights of the program emceed by WDIV’s Brandon Roux, a Type 1 diabetic, included: a brief live auction that raised $12,500, including $3,000 that someone paid for a winsome Labrador puppy; Catherine Martin’s acceptance speech when she was honored; and Youth Ambassador Jade Gamber’s introduction of a video about Camp Midica for kids with diabetes. Guests followed up the video by pledging $38,000 for camperships.

Energetic dancing to pop tunes by Fifty Amp Fuse concluded the soiree. It raised more than $200,000 for the ADA. Variety’s A Star is Born There was a fun, Parisian spin on Variety’s gala fundraiser hosted by Paul and Mary Glantz at their Emagine Theatre in Royal Oak late in April. Mimes, street artists and music makers (Renni Kaufmann and his daughter Esther), a flower market and décor by Gerych’s Graziella accented the atrium lobby.

Many of the 400 guests devoured their selections from the gourmet buffet at French café tables. But the star of the evening, television journalist Bob Woodruff, who was inducted into Variety’s Michigan Celebrity Hall of Fame at the theatre, seemed to be most impressed that he was “...back in Royal Oak.” The Bloomfield native noted that he was born at Royal Oak’s Beaumont Hospital and recalled his parents’ report that he slept for 12 straight hours the first night they took him home.

Woodruff’s celebrity is rooted in his amazing recovery from a bomb he took in Iraq in January 2006. It required him to spend 36 days in a medically-induced coma to minimize brain injuries. It also motivated him and his wife Lee to start the Bob Woodruff Foundation which has raised $12 million-plus for wounded soldiers. Some old pals from his school boy days at Cranbrook were in the crowd. “No stories now, Ms. Aikens,” he admonished Susan Post as they laughed at his memories of 1970s bad hair and clothes.

Following the Woodruff’s award presentation which was emceed by Glenda Lewis, guests had to make choices. Some, like Joyce Shuert, danced up a storm to the Royce and Jenn Band in the Skybox. Some bowled in their black tie garb. Some took in a movie.

Most savored some French pasties. Many were still raving about the party chaired by Kathy Broock Ballard and Len Dillion two weeks later. It raised $110,000 for Variety’s support of children in need. downtownpublications.com

Variety’s A Star is Born

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5 1. Honoree Bob Woodruff (right) of Rye, NY with his brother Dave (left) and Lee Ann Woodruff of Bloomfield. 2. Event co-chair Kathy Broock Ballard (right) with her parents Joy and Bo Broock of Orchard Lake. 3. Event hosts Paul and Mary Glantz of Lake Angelus. 4. Kevin (left) and Sheila Dillon with Pamela and Len Dillon of Bloomfield.

5. Ren Carlton (left) and Kellie and Matt Shuert of Bloomfield with Nathan Mersereau of Livonia.

6. Sarah Post (left), Amy and Scott Murphy, Jill Ray and Lisa McFarland of Bloomfield. 7. Sue Marx (left) of Birmingham with Yvan Silva and sponsor Henry Baskin of Bloomfield. 8. Kathy (left) and Kirk Martin of Bloomfield with Cheryl and Steve Briggs of Orchard Lake. 9. Stuart (left) and Lisa Stoller and Ruthie and Marty Seltzer of Birmingham. 10. Chris (left) and Amy Burford of Novi and Mike, Robin and Mia Deighan of Birmingham.

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Junior League 60th Anniversary Gala

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1. JLB president Amy Dolliver Louwers (left) and Gala director Linda Krause of Birmingham. 2. Event co-chairs Lisa Krueger (left) of Birmingham and Merrily Seranian of Royal Oak. 3. JLB founder the late Betty Williams’ family: Bill (left) and Wendy Williams Powers and Rick Williams and his wife Karen of Bloomfield and award-winning architects Tod Williams and his wife Billie Tsien of NYC. 4. A founding member Eleanor Paton (left) with Toni Johnson of Bloomfield.

5. Maggie Allesee (left) of Bloomfield and pioneer member Ginny O’Brien of Birmingham. 6. Mark (left) and 2011 president Michelle St. Andrew of Beverly Hills, 2010 president Katie Marinelli of Royal Oak, 2006 president Keri Boyd of Birmingham with Allen Talbert of Grosse Pointe. 7. 2002 president Alice Currier (left) of W. Bloomfield, 1995 & 2009 president Susan Foley of Birmingham and committee member Heather Gillespie of Bloomfield. 8. Dr. Tom Varbedian of Bloomfield with his daughter Susan Lucken of Birmingham. 9. 1998 president Patty Ghesquiere (center) of Bloomfield with Cheryl Hall Lindsay (left) of W. Bloomfield and Renee Godin of Farmington Hills.

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Humane Society Bow Wow Brunch

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Humane Society Bow Wow Brunch More than 600 animal lovers gathered at the Dearborn Inn for the 24th annual Michigan Humane Society fundraiser. They were greeted by co-chairs Denise Lutz and Linda Axe and MHS CEO Cal Morgan. They sipped champagne as they socialized, browsed the large silent auction ($32,000), schmoozed the seven four-legged adoptables hoping for new homes, and made donations to get some good guys out of the virtual doghouse. Quicken Loans’ Jay Farner garnered the most “bail” donations, $11,219 of the $39,102 pledged. The others were Mark Reuss, Sophia Yauck, Jennifer Hammond, Jean Jennings, Les Gold, Jim Johnson, the 97.1 FM Morning Show Hosts and an MHS rescue dog named Dorothy. The highlight of the brunch program was a very spirited live auction of 11 items conducted by Joe Walker. The most dollars, $7,000, were bid for the opportunity to put your pet’s picture on the cover of the 2014 MHS Calendar dollar.

In all, the live auction raised $37,350, bringing the event gross to $340,000. And four of the adoptables found new homes.

Project SEARCH Benefit Project SEARCH, a one year school-to-work internship program at Henry Ford Hospital in West Bloomfield, provides employment and job skills training for individuals with disabilities. Sally Mezey, mother of one of the interns, rides the unique bikes at Real Ryder Revolution in Birmingham and was pleased that owner Leslee Blatnikoff said “yes” to staging a Project SEARCH fundraiser there. “We had nearly 50 participants, a DJ and refreshments. The three instructors donated their time so all the money collected (nearly $4,000) will go directly to Project SEARCH,” said Mezey, adding, “It has been a wonderful year for our son, Carl, and we are very happy that this program is now available in our community.”

3 1. Judy Anderson (left) of Bloomfield with event co-chair Linda Axe of Grosse Pointe. 2. Robert (left) and Carole Wendzel of Bloomfield with board members Marianne Endicott of Grosse Pointe and event co-chair Denise Lutz of Versailles, KY. 3. Ray (left) and Rita Dallavecchia of Bloomfield with Tim Turner of Brighton. 4. Laura Yauck (left) of Novi with her daughter Sophia of Birmingham. 5. Judge Wendy Potts (center) of Birmingham with Wendy Silverman (left) and Rosemary Cotter of Bloomfield.

Junior League 60th Anniversary Gala Diamond-shaped crystal decorations accented the party scene at Oakland Hills Country Club for the Junior League of Birmingham’s celebration - “Still Sparkling after Sixty Years.” It attracted a capacity crowd (250) to the very place where the league’s charter had been signed 60 years ago.

A large photo collage contained memories for many, like Tom Varbedian, whose late wife and two of their daughters smiled from it at onlookers. A large silent auction set up in the grill attracted attention during the champagne splashed reception hour, as did the veranda, thanks to welcome mild weather. During the program, JLB president Amy Lowers noted that the league had raised $7.8 million and contributed 1.15 million volunteer hours in the past 60 years, and Rick Williams spoke about his late mother Betty, who founded the Birmingham league. Noting that she was a consummate volunteer, an incredible fundraiser and Australian, he imitated her putting the squeeze on friends - “It’s time to lighten your wallet,” he said with her accent. “She would be proud (of this evening),” he concluded. Many finished the evening on the dance floor with DJ Roland Calip, Jr. of DEFTMIX making the music. The party proceeds ($75,000 gross) will support the league’s current projects aimed at combating childhood obesity.

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

06.13

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Consolidation an important consideration

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arlier in May, Bloomfield Township Supervisor Leo Savoie sent Bloomfield Hills City Manager Jay Cravens an offer to consolidate Bloomfield Hills' public service dispatch services with Bloomfield Township, and Cravens quickly presented the proposal to Bloomfield Hills city commissioners, urging them to set up a subcommittee to look at dispatch consolidation opportunities. Cravens recognizes, as we do, that the affluent, yet small, municipality may realize both a financial savings as well as improved service for its residents by sharing services with another jurisdiction.

According to Bloomfield Hills financial documents, the city is currently paying approximately $300,000 in wages and benefits for three full-time dispatchers, as well as another $75,000 a year for part-time dispatchers.

Bloomfield Township's proposal offers to hire two of the three full-time dispatchers, leaving the other for Bloomfield Hills public safety clerical or other work. A previous consolidation concern for Bloomfield Hills had centered on putting any employees out of work; this proposal alleviates that. Savoie said that while specifics would still need to be worked out, he anticipates the fee charged to Bloomfield Hills would be $125,000 per year for dispatching services, with an increase expense provision provided for future years. Savoie also said he is not concerned about the length of the contract, and wants it to be a

beneficial situation, “a win/win for each municipality.”

Cravens has also had some preliminary talks about dispatch services with Birmingham City Manager Robert Bruner, a municipality which already provides dispatch services to neighboring Beverly Hills. “We're not looking to bowl for dollars,” Cravens said. “It's about service, and if there's a savings, I'd recommend going with that one. We'd be crazy not to.”

Most of the Bloomfield Hills commissioners are enthusiastic about looking at proposals for some public service consolidation, recognizing both the opportunity to save the community money and to provide their fellow citizens with far better services. Currently they are only examining dispatch services, but fire services should also be examined, with less than 5 percent of their public service officers' calls demanding fire department services, and only 1 percent of those annually actually requiring fire services. Bloomfield Hills' public safety emergency training is at the lowest possible level to maintain public safety (combined police and fire) organization accreditation, as medical first responders.

Neighboring Bloomfield Township's Fire Department has 63 firefighters who are all trained as paramedics, at the highest certification level.

The possibility of fire and emergency response services being consolidated between Bloomfield Township and Bloomfield Hills has been

estimated by some as saving each community $1 million annually while providing as fast, if not faster, response time to residents.

We are concerned that mayor Sarah McClure is acting as an obstructionist, despite her personal label as a financial steward of the city, arguing against even looking into the possibility of dispatch consolidation, stating at a recent city commission meeting, “Would this save us money?

Perhaps. I'm not sure this is what our residents would want,” while at the same meeting refusing to approve a K-9 which would improve police functionality for minimal costs.

Residents, regardless of where they live, want fast emergency response from police, fire and emergency responders. If a dispatcher who is situated in a nearby town can provide that service faster and cheaper, residents are more than satisfied – they are elated. Bloomfield Township's services can, and will, be less expensive to Bloomfield Hills residents.

Birmingham may offer a proposal for less costly dispatch services as well. Both can offer as good, if not better, services more efficiently, without putting any employees out of work.

It is up to leaders to lead. Whether hired into the position, or elected into one, it is important to be more than a parrot of a community's opinions.

Sometimes, it means being the person to lead your fellow citizens along the superior path.

In Bloomfield Hills, that time is now.

Oversight needed for liquor license transfers

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ccording to the Michigan Liquor Control Commission (MLCC), Antonino “Nino” Cutraro, the new partner at the revamped Bella Piatti restaurant in Birmingham, was intially denied a liquor license at a May 1 meeting of the MLCC. The MLCC listed a whole host of reasons for the denial of the liquor license, which was a transfer request from current owner Robert VanHellemont to Cutraro.

The MLCC, in its decree, stated that it considers past history of applicants. Cutraro, who has owned several past establishments in the metro Detroit area over the years, from Ultimate Sports Bar in Pontiac to Intermezzo in Detroit and Sangria in Royal Oak, apparently racked up a list of what the MLLC considered serious and egregious violations over the years.

The denial was overturned on appeal by Cutraro.

What concerns us is that Birmingham city

commissioners and police should have picked up on them. Prior to coming before the MLCC for approval, which the MLCC denied as “having a negative impact on the health, welfare and safety of the general public,” the city commission had to approve the request to transfer 50 percent ownership interest in Bella Piatti LLC from VanHellemont to Cutraro.

Unlike a bistro liquor license, economic development license, or general Class C liquor license which may come before the city commission and is thoroughly discussed and vetted, including with an investigation by the city's police department, this particular liquor license transfer was included on a recent city commission consent agenda. That means there was no discussion or presentation, and it was summarily approved by all of the present commissioners along with all of the other items on the consent agenda prior to getting on with

the more “important” items on the evening's agenda.

Clearly, anyone coming into Birmingham to do business utilizing any kind of a liquor license should be as clearly investigated and evaluated, regardless if they are applying for a new license or for a transfer. Landlords do pro forma checks on businesses or individuals applying to put a new retail establishment or business in the city, and the lack of due diligence on the part of Birmingham officials shows a laxity of professionalism and care that absolutely must be caught in the bud.

In this case, the assumption that there was going to be a professional restaurateur going in to help resuscitate the Italian eatery, and therefore there was no need to check further, backfired. It turned out that his footprints were long, and visible to those, like the MLCC, who took the time to look.

20

Years

Luke Marton

lmarton@mimutual.com (248) 214-1306 NMLS# 179915

Christian Newberry

cnewberry@mimutual.com (248) 895-8660 NMLS# 13314

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